Robert's personal dictionary ==ACTS== abandon/abnegate/forego/forgo/forsake/give up/relinquish/renounce/resign/waive v. to part with a claim, possession, privilege or right _cede/concede/deliver/release/relinquish/surrender/yield _v. to relinquish to another, esp. by demand or under duress __forfeit/lose __v. to yield a right, property, etc. by punitive consequence of some crime, error or offense abandon/desert/desolate/drop/forsake v. to withdraw support, companionship or aid for someone or something; to leave behind and alone abandon/give up/quit/resign v. to give up an occupation, office or position _abdicate _v. to formally resign from a high authority or office, as a throne _surrender/yield _v. to resign in favor of a successor abate/attenuate/cut/decrease/diminish/drop/lessen/lower/mitigate/moderate/mollify/reduce/relax/remit/slack(en)/slake/subdue/temper/weaken v. to diminish force or intensity _dwindle/pare (down)/taper _v. to gradually diminish _assuage/mitigate/moderate/mollify/relax/slack(en) _v. to render less severe abate/attenuate/decline/decrease/diminish/drop/fail/fall off/flag/lessen/lower/lull/mitigate/moderate/reduce/relent/remit/slack (off)/slacken/subside/temper/weaken v. to become less forceful or intense _dwindle/taper (off)/wane _v. to gradually diminish _mitigate/moderate/relax/relent/slack(en)/subside _v. to become less severe abate/attenuate/curtail/cut/decrease/diminish/drop/lessen/lower/reduce/retrench v. to reduce an amount or degree _dwindle/pare (down)/taper _v. to gradually retrench _minimize _v. to diminish to the smallest possible volume or degree _slash _v. to drastically curtail abate/attenuate/decline/decrease/diminish/drop/fall (off)/lessen/lower/reduce v. to be reduced in quantity or degree _dwindle/taper (off) _v. to gradually abate attenuate/contract/curtail/cut/decrease/diminish/lessen/minify/reduce/shrink v. to make smaller _compress _v. to reduce the length of data by encoding it, often by archival _dwindle/pare (down)/taper _v. to gradually attenuate _minify/minimize _v. to shrink to the smallest possible magnitude attenuate/contract/decline/decrease/diminish/fall off/lessen/reduce/shrink v. to become smaller _detumesce _v. (of a penis) to shrink from an erect, sexually aroused state _dwindle/taper (off)/wane _v. to gradually attenuate attenuate/decrease/diminish/drop/lessen/reduce/weaken v. to cause to be weaker attenuate/decline/decrease/diminish/drop/fail/flag/fall off/lessen/reduce/weaken v. to become weaker _wane _v. to gradually flag attenuate/drop/decrease/diminish/lessen/lower/reduce/shrink v. to reduce the quality or value of attenuate/decline/decrease/diminish/drop/fall off/lessen/lower/reduce/shrink v. to lose value or quality curtail/cut/decrease/diminish/lessen/reduce/retrench/shrink v. to decrease an extent _dwindle/pare (down)/taper _v. to gradually curtail _minimize _v. to lessen to the smallest possible extent decline/decrease/diminish/lessen/reduce/shrink v. to lessen in extent _dwindle/taper (off) _v. to gradually decline abatement/attenuation/curtailment/cut(back)/decline/decrease/decrement/drop/diminishment/diminution/fall/reduction/retrenchment/shrink/slash n. an act of making or becoming less in amount, scale, significance, size, etc. _decrement/taper _n. a gradual reduction __attrition __n. a gradual reduction of strength or efficacy consequent of sustained attack, harassment or pressure __n. a prolonged decrease of membership or personnel who aren't replaced sequent to retirement, resignation or expiry _detumescence _n. diminution of swelling: the subsidence of anything swollen, esp. a penile erection _minimization _n. diminution to the smallest possible grade, measurements or quantum abbreviate/abridge/clip/curtail/foreshorten/truncate v. to terminate before a complete, intended or proper end or extent; to cut short abdication n. a formal resignation from an office and all its powers and responsibilities, esp. that of a regent abet v. to assist or encourage the achievement of a misdeed abet/aid/assist/back/help/minister [to]/serve/subvent v. to furnish service or resources to ease accomplishment _aid/help/minister [to]/relieve/subvent/succor _v. to provide services or supplies to someone in a period or occasion of asperity or calamity _subserve _v. to be useful or helpful to someone or something abetment/aid/assistance/help/ministration/service/subvention n. an affordance of help _aid/help/ministration/relief/subvention/succor _n. any provision of assistance or care during a disaster or other instance of hardship abidance/accordance/adherence/compliance/conformity n. action in adherence to conventions, edicts, laws, rules or standards abide**/adhere*/comply***/conform*/defer*/follow/hew*/keep*/obey/observe v. (often followed by *to, **by or ***with) to act in accordance with commands, conditions, desires, laws, proprieties, rules, etc. _conform*/observe _v. (*usu. followed by to) to comply with customs, traditions or societal standards or norms abjure/abstain*/avoid/eschew/forbear/refrain*/refuse/resist/withhold* v. (*usu. followed by from) to restrain oneself from doing something _abstain _v. to forbear voting, as in a legislature _deny/refuse/withhold _v. to abstain from bestowing or giving _waive _v. to refrain from claiming, enforcing or insisting upon abjure/abnegate/abstain*/avoid/deny**/dispense with/eschew/forgo/forego/resist v. (usu. followed by *from or **oneself) to elect not to partake of or indulge in something; to do without _crucify/mortify _v. to suppress or subdue one's sensual appetites and passions by abnegation or disciplinary exercises abjuration/abnegation/abstention/abstinence/abstinency/denial/eschewal/resistance/self-denial n. the act of refusing the indulgence of one's own desires or appetites ablate v. to wear away or dissipate by erosion, evaporation, melting or vaporization ablute/bathe/lave/wash v. to cleanse one's body with soap and water ablution n. the act of cleansing one's body with soap and water, as in a shower or bathtub absolve/acquit/discharge/dispense/excuse/exempt/exonerate/free/release/relieve v. to relieve from a liability, obligation, responsibility or task, esp. that to which others are subject absolve/clear/exculpate/exonerate/vindicate v. to free from culpability or guilt, and any consequences or penalties ensuant therefrom absquatulate/bolt/decamp/flee/fly/run/scoot/scram/skedaddle/skip/take flight/vamoose v. to quickly, abruptly depart, esp. to escape or elude something or someone _abscond/absquatulate/decamp _v. to furtively flee __flit __v. to abscond to elude obligation absterge/wipe v. to clean something by rubbing it with a cloth, paper towel, etc. v. to remove by rubbing, esp. with a cloth abstract/filch/glom/lift/nab/nick/pilfer/pinch/purloin/steal/swipe/take/thieve v. to take something without its owner's consent or any intention of restitution _crib/lift/plagiarize/poach/steal _v. to appropriate someone else's ideas, music, writings, etc. and present them as one's original work __autoplagiarize __v. to plagiarize one's own work abstract/prescind/remove/take/withdraw v. to take something off, away or from an occupied location or position, as by grasping, lifting or pushing _scrumble _v. to scrape or scratch something from or out of abstraction/removal/remotion/withdrawal n. an act of taking something off, away or from a spot or situation by seizing, raising or pushing accede/acquiesce/bow/defer/submit/yield v. to courteously, often reluctantly assent to another's desire, judgment or opinion accept/adopt/assume/bear/shoulder/undertake (for) v. to take on or over a duty, obligation, position or responsibility _accede/adopt _v. to assume a dignity, right, office or title accommodate/accord/conciliate/conform/harmonize/parallel/reconcile/square/tally v. to bring two or more things (as perspectives, opinions, data, accounts, etc.) into consonance or agreement; to make compatible _coordinate/match/mesh _v. to produce an attractive combination, usu. of attire or furnishings and esp. by harmonizing colors or patterns _syncretize _v. to conciliate (and often consolidate) disparate or converse principles, practices or beliefs, as of religions, philosophies or ideologies _synchronize _v. to cause to occur or operate concurrently or at a corresponding rate accommodate/afford/furnish/provide/provision/render/supply v. to give something needed or wanted to be used or expended for necessity or comfort _accommodate/bestow/billet/harbor/house/lodge/quarter/shelter/stow _v. to furnish with shelter or living quarters __billet/canton/quarter __v. to accommodate military personnel _aliment/maintain/provide (for)/subsist/sustain _v. to provide necessaries or sustenance for, as food or shelter _allot/deal*/dish out/dispense/distribute/divide/dole*/lot/mete*/parcel*/portion*/share* _v. (*usu. followed by out) to give out (or issue assigned) portions or shares to recipients __allot/apportion/deal*/divide/lot/mete*/prorate/share* __v. (*usu. followed by out) to dispense proportionally __dole* __v. (*usu. followed by out) to distribute small portions __ration __v. to parcel out fixed portions, usu. of provisions _clothe/dress/enclothe/rig (out, up) _v. to supply with clothing __costume/outfit __v. to furnish with an ensemble or costumes _equip/fit (out)/furnish/gear/outfit/provide/rig (out, up)/supply _v. to provision with equipment required to implement a specific task or function __arm/weaponize __v. to equip with weaponry __instrument __v. to outfit with instruments _provision/victual _v. to supply with edibles, esp. for travel _scant/stint _v. to provide in restricted, frugal, often inadequate quantities _tenon _v. to supply with a tenon accomplish/achieve/attain/compass/consummate/do/effect/effectuate/fulfill/manage/nail/reach/realize v. to successfully bring an ambition, objective or desired result to fruition accord/bestow/confer/give/grant v. to give or present a title, status, right, privilege, honor, degree or benefit _authorize/commission/empower/invest/warrant _v. to accord authority to implement a task or function __delegate/depute __v. to empower someone as a representative or substitute _authorize/commission/legitimate/license/permit/sanction _v. to grant official or formal permission to do something accost/affront/confront v. to meet someone with defiant, disputatious or inimical intent or address accustom/attune/condition/habituate/wont v. to physically or psychologically familiarize and consequently make comfortable with something by constant, frequent or prolonged exposure, esp. by habit, iteration or practice _acclimate/acclimatize/accommodate/adapt _v. to accustom to a new climate or environment _condition/desensitize/harden/indurate/inure/season/toughen _v. to accustom to something exceptionable by experience or protracted subjection _domesticate/naturalize _v. to introduce and habituate plants or animals to a new environment accustom/wont v. to become conditioned to something _acclimate/acclimatize/accommodate/adapt/adjust _v. to become attuned to a new climate or environment acquire/cultivate/exercise/train v. to develop, improve or refine a lineament, physique, proficiency, etc. by education, exertion or training acquire/gain/garner/get/land/obtain/secure v. to come into possession of something, as by effort, purchase or request _accumulate/amass/collect/cumulate/gather/garner/raise _v. to gradually acquire friends, information, knowledge, property, strength, resources, wealth, etc. __agglomerate/aggregate/bunch/clump/cluster/lump (together)/mass __v. to gather into a single cluster or mass __hoard/stockpile __v. to accumulate a store of some resource reserved for future or emergency expenditure _chisel/finagle/gazump/grift/mulct/rook/shark/swindle/wangle _v. to obtain something by deception _exact/extort/force/screw/squeeze/wring _v. to garner by coercion or force _extract/force/wrest/wring _v. to obtain by some forcible or toilsome essay necessitated by resistance _jangle/wrangle _v. to gain by argument _procure _v. to acquire by some operose, specialized or unusual effort _receive _v. to get something offered or delivered _reclaim/recoup/recover/regain/repossess/retrieve _v. to secure something previously filched, mislaid or otherwise lost actuate/arouse/enkindle/excite/galvanize/goad/incite/instigate/move/prompt/provoke/rouse/spark/spur/stimulate/urge v. to cause (a person or people) to do something _agitate/ferment/foment/incite/instigate/raise/stir up _v. to provoke discord, recalcitrance, trouble, etc. __solicit __v. to incite another or others to commit a crime or crimes _coerce/compel/constrain/drive/force/impel/make/oblige/press/urge _v. to forcibly provoke (a person or people) to do something, as by dint of authority, intimidation, pressure, violence, etc., and usu. against their will __bind/constrain/impel/obligate/oblige/pressure __v. to compel with moral pressure or requirements __bind/obligate/oblige __v. to impel by legal measures or requirements __coerce/dragoon __v. to constrain with violence or threats _convince/induce/make/persuade/prevail (on, upon) _v. to spark by suasion _sting _v. to actuate by acute irritation addle/decay/decompose/fester/perish/rot/taint v. (of organic matter) to gradually deteriorate or cause to disintegrate ensuing chemical action of bacterial or fungal growth _fester/putrefy _v. to decay and emit a miasma adhere/agglutinate/bind/bond/cohere/cling/unite v. (of multiple substances, constituents, etc.) to stick or hold together in a single mass and resist separation adhere/cleave/cling/stick v. to hold fast to a surface, substance or object adhere/cleave v. to be devoted to a cause, conviction, faith, ideology, party, person, etc. adhere (to)/stick to v. to implement a plan or procedure without divergence adjudge/adjudicate/arbitrate/decide/determine/judge/referee/umpire v. to examine and submit a formal, conclusive judgment regarding and thusly resolve a conflict, disputed matter or other problem adjudicate/decide/judge v. to serve as a judge of a competition ad-lib/extemporize/improvisate/improvisatize/improvise v. to create, compose or perform without preparation administer/administrate/amenage/conduct/control/direct/guide/head/manage/operate/oversee/run/superintend/supervise v. to work in an executive role: to command the affairs of an organization, as a business or government admit/intromit/receive v. to allow to enter; to grant entry to, as though an entranceway adumbrate/augur/betoken/bode/forecast/foreshadow/foreshow/foretoken/portend/prefigure/presage/type v. to indicate, show or suggest what may transpire in advance; to be an omen of some future occurrence _adumbrate _a. to vaguely presage _foretoken/forewarn/portend/presage _v. to betoken in monition advance/boost/cultivate/encourage/forward/foster/further/help/nurture/promote v. to aid or contribute to the progress, growth or development of a project, person, enterprise, cause, etc. affix/annex/append/attach/fasten/tack v. to attach something to something else _anchor/clamp/fasten/fix/fixate/glue/moor/rivet/secure _v. to affix firmly or securely to obviate movement or loss _brad _v. to tack with brads _prefix/prepend _v. to attach before or at the fore _postfix/subjoin/suffix _v. to annex at the end _tack _v. to fasten with a tack or tacks affront/cut/discourtesy/irreverence/indignity/insult/offense/slight/snub n. a deliberately offensive or discourteous act _cut/slight/snub _n. intentionally incivil inattention affront/cut/disoblige/indignify/insult/miff/offend/pique/snub v. to treat rudely, so to provoke anger or indignation _affront _v. to openly or publicly offend _cut/slight/snub _v. to ignore or regard with insouciance as an expression of disrespect agglutinate v. to effect adhesion to a substance or surface, as with glue or any other adhesive agent aggravate/exacerbate/worsen v. to make worse _compound _v. to worsen by a factor's addition or increase agitate v. to arouse public interest in a matter and usu. support for a related cause air (out)/aerate v. to expose to or supply with circulating, usually fresh air, esp. to cool, dry or deodorize _air (out)/ventilate _v. to aerate an enclosed space to displace stale or contaminated air therein airt/direct/guide v. to disclose or indicate a particular direction to a site or other destination alight/debark/disembark/land/light v. to exit or descend in egress from a plane, ship, train or other vehicle _deplane _v. to disembark from an airplane following landfall _detrain _v. to exit or induce to leave a railroad train alight/land/light v. to descend from the air to settle upon a surface, as an aircraft, bird, skydiver, spacecraft, etc. allocate/allot/appropriate/assign/destine/earmark/intend v. to reserve (resources, as time, space, funds, etc.) for a specific, often special purpose _allot/apportion _v. to proportionally earmark allure/attract/becharm/beguile/bewitch/captivate/charm/enchant/enthrall/fascinate/magnetize/mesmerize/seduce/spellbind/tempt/wile v. to affect jubilance or engrossment, as with one's charm and beauty alternate/interchange/rotate v. to occur or proceed in consecutive turn, as two or more events, elements, conditions or actions amalgamate/coalesce/combine/compound/conflate/conglomerate/consolidate/consort/fuse/incorporate/integrate/meld/merge/synthesize/unify/unite v. to join into a single, coherent entity or whole _admix/blend/commingle/commix/compound/immingle/immix/intermingle/intermix/meld/mingle/mix _v. to smoothly and inseparably combine one substance (esp. a fluid) with another _brigade _v. to unite troops into a brigade amalgamation/coalescence/combination/conflation/conglomeration/consolidation/fusion/incorporation/integration/merger/synthesis/unification/union n. the action or process of combining individual elements into one body or group amble/paseo/perambulation/promenade/ramble/saunter/stroll n. a leisurely, ordinarily public walk ambulate/itinerate/journey/locomote/move/peregrinate/travel/wend v. to go from place to place _ambulate/tread/step/walk _v. to move at a moderate pace by stepping forward in alternation upon a surface __amble/linger/mosey/perambulate/promenade/ramble/saunter/stroll/tootle __v. to walk at a slow pace with a leisurely bearing __circumambulate __v. to walk around something ___perambulate ___v. to circumambulate a site (as a forest, manor, etc.) to officially inspect and record its bounds __dodder/lurch/pitch/reel/shake/stagger/stumble/swag/teeter/totter __v. to walk unsteadily ___dodder/shake/totter ___v. to feebly stagger ___wobble ___v. to teeter from side to side __hobble/limp __v. to walk inelegantly or haltingly with an uneven gait when lame or injured __noctivagate __v. to walk nocturnally __step __v. to walk a short distance __surbate __v. to make one's feet sore by (usu. excessive) walking _caravan _v. to peregrinate in or as though in a procession of vehicles, people or animals _v. to travel in a capacious covered wagon drawn by equine _v. to locomote in a van equipped with household amenities, esp. on holiday _cover/cross/cut/measure/peregrinate/range/ride/thwart/travel/traverse _v. to move or pass across, over or through __ply/run/shuttle __v. to travel a route regularly, usu. by vehicular means ___commute ___v. to traverse one's commute regularly, as between work and home __wade __v. to laboriously range something (usu. water) ___ford ___v. to wade a ford _divagate/drift/expatiate/extravagate/maunder/meander/ramble/range/roam/rove/stray/stroll/wander _v. to locomote aimlessly, sans route, purpose or destination __extravagate __v. to meander beyond specified limits or bounds __noctivagate __v. to wander at night _mill _v. to move confusedly about _meander/ramble _v. to peregrinate along a circuitous or sinuate route _slalom/tack _v. to move in a zigzag course ambuscade/ambush/bushwhack/waylay v. to await and attack from an occulted situation ambuscade/ambush n. a sudden attack from a concealed locus ameliorate/amend/better/emend/enhance/help/improve/meliorate/mend v. to make better _amend/correct/fix/mend/rectify/redress/remediate/remedy/repair/revise/right _v. to make whatever's wrong right by eliminating an error, flaw or problem __doctor/fix/furbish/mend/recondition/repair/service __v. to restore something worn, decayed or damaged to sound or functional condition, ordinarily by replacing faulty or broken components thereof ___cobble ___v. to mend footwear, esp. boots or shoes ___patch ___v. to hastily mend something _complete/consummate/perfect/polish _v. to render flawless _rarefy/rarify/refine _v. to improve something by eliminating its crude characteristics; to make elegant or polished ameliorate/better/improve/meliorate/mend v. to become better amenage/cicurate/domesticate/domiciliate/gentle/reclaim/tame v. to reduce (usu. an animal) from a wild to a domestic disposition and condition amplify/augment/boost/enlarge/escalate/expand/increase/magnify/raise/swell v. to make larger augment/enlarge/escalate/expand/grow/increase/swell v. to become larger _wax _v. to gradually enlarge amplify/augment/boost/heighten/increase/raise/strengthen v. to render stronger augment/heighten/increase/strengthen v. to become stronger _wax _v. to gradually strengthen amplify/augment/enlarge/escalate/expand/extend/increase v. to increase an extent augment/enlarge/escalate/expand/extend/grow/increase v. to become greater in extent _wax _v. to gradually expand amplify/boost/enhance/enlarge/escalate/heighten/increase/intensify/magnify/raise/strengthen/swell v. to increase force or intensity enlarge/escalate/grow/heighten/increase/intensen/intensify/strengthen/swell v. to become more forceful or intense _wax _v. to gradually intensify augment/boost/enlarge/escalate/expand/heighten/increase/raise/swell v. to increase the amount of _accresce/accrue/accumulate/cumulate/gather/grow _v. to increase by progressive addition __agglomerate/bunch/clump/cluster/mass __v. (of multiple constituents) to accumulate into one cluster or mass _treble/triple _v. to increase or multiply threefold augment/enlarge/escalate/expand/grow/heighten/increase/swell v. to become more numerous _accresce/accrue/accumulate/cumulate/gather/grow _v. to increase by progressive addition __agglomerate/bunch/clump/cluster/mass __v. (of multiple constituents) to accumulate into one cluster or mass _treble/triple _v. to increase or multiply threefold _wax _v. to gradually swell amuse/distract/divert/entertain/tickle/treat v. to distract one's attention from serious or soporific matters or concerns with any agreeable, amusing or stimulating entertainment _disport/sport _v. to entertain oneself with a pastime _fete _v. to entertain with a feast or festival _regale _v. to entertain to great delight anachronize v. to assign an inaccurate time to an artistic work, document, edifice, event, etc. _misdate _v. to anachronize an erroneous date analyze/anatomize/dissect v. to conduct a finical, systematic examination of a subject's constituents to ascertain their interrelations, its essence or structure, or to identify causes, consequences or factors _analyze _v. to conduct a chemical analysis of analyze/psychoanalyze v. to treat mental and emotional disorders (as neuroses or psychoses) by investigating, patefying and analyzing conscious and unconscious anxieties, conflicts or impulses, esp. by means of free association, or behavioral or oneiric interpretation anchor/fasten/fix/fixate/moor/secure v. to render immobile or stationary angle/cant/incline/lean/rake/slant/slope/tilt/tip v. to move or lift at an angle diverging from a level position, so that one end or side is higher than the other in a slanting, oblique or diagonal position or direction annex/assume/appropriate/arrogate/expropriate/usurp v. to take possession of something for one's own use, esp. illegally or without permission _assume/supplant/usurp _v. to forcibly or illicitly appropriate control of authority or a position _expropriate _v. to appropriate for public use _seize/wrest _v. to swiftly and forcibly arrogate something __commandeer __v. to arbitrarily seize annex v. to appropriate and integrate a territory or country into the domain of a city, county or country, esp. by dint of force, as of conquest or occupation annihilate/efface/eliminate/eradicate/erase/expunge/exterminate/extinguish/extirpate/obliterate/remove/uproot v. to destroy entirely; to render completely nonexistent _atomize/nuke _v. to obliterate with nuclear weapons appear/arise/begin/come/commence/emerge/engender/form/initiate/issue/originate/proceed/rise/spring/start/stem v. to come into existence _conceive _v. to commence in a particular manner _spring _v. to suddenly begin appease/assuage/gratify/indulge/quench/sate/satiate/satisfy/slake v. to fulfill a desire or (esp. edacious) appetite to satisfaction _appease/assuage/quench/slake _v. to sate one's thirst by drinking _bask/luxuriate/revel/wallow _v. to indulge oneself in delightful, voluptuary pleasure apply/bestow/employ/use/utilize v. to apply or put something (as a tool or resource) to service in assay of a function _exercise/exert _v. to efficaciously utilize a right, privilege, influence, authority or faculty _exploit/work _v. to apply to the greatest advantage _handle/manipulate/operate/ply/wield/work _v. to deftly and carefully use an instrument, as a tool or weapon _press _v. to use in a manner or for a purpose not initially intended appoint/assign/constitute/create/designate/make/name/nominate/propose v. to select someone for a membership, office or position approach/come/draw near [or] close/near v. to spatially or temporally move near or nearer to something or somebody arise/attend/come/ensue/eventuate/follow/issue/proceed/result v. to occur as a consequence or effect arouse/awake/awaken/rouse/wake (up)/waken v. to cause a person or people to wake from sleep arrange/collocate/marshal/order/organize v. to assemble (constituents) into a convenient, orderly or proper whole _codify/methodize/organize/systematize/systemize _v. to arrange in abidance with a method _collate _v. to organize (data, pages, texts) in a logical or numerical sequence _grade/graduate/rank _v. to collocate in a series according to a scale of quality or rank _stagger _v. to order in an alternating or overlapping pattern, as on the sides of an axis or in successive shifts of labor artifice/chicane(ry)/dupery/fraud/fraudulence/knavery/legerdemain/skulduggery/skullduggery/trickery/wile n. the use of tricks to deceive someone, esp. to achieve a political, legal or financial purpose ascertain/check/confirm/determine/establish/find/see/verify v. to learn or prove with surety by dint of calculation, experiment, inquiry, inspection, investigation, observation, study or survey asphyxiate/smother/stifle/suffocate v. to kill by obturating respiration to deprive of oxygen v. to succumb to a lack of oxygen aspirate v. to suck (a substance, as fluid) out: to draw out or away, or remove by suction assay/attempt/essay/seek/try/undertake v. to apply effort to accomplish an objective _agonize/endeavor/exert/strain/strive/struggle _v. to arduously essay assemble/collect/congregate/congress/convene/flock/forgather/foregather/gather/mass/meet/muster/rally v. (of people) to come together for conference or activity assign/designate/detail/name/relegate v. to pick someone to implement a particular task or function _delegate/depute/devolve _v. to assign a task, responsibility or function to somebody (esp. a subordinate) as one's authorized agent assimilate v. to conform or adapt to one's environment or culture _acculturate _v. (of an individual or cultural, ethnic or social group) to assimilate culturally; to conform to previously foreign and esp. prevailing cultural characteristics and norms assimilate/conform v. to become like something else v. to render something akin to something else assimilate/absorb v. to receive and integrate concepts, culture or people into a broader society or culture, esp. by adapting them to the predominant cultural ethos assort/categorize/class/classify/divide/group/label/range/relegate/sort v. to assign someone or something to a (taxonomic, social, organizational, economic, artistic, altitudinal, etc.) category _bracket _v. to classify two or more people or things together _taxonomize _v. to classify organisms into hierarchical groups based on correspondent genetic and physical properties assume/adopt v. to take on a certain attribute, bearing or form assure/ensure/guarantee/insure/see/secure v. to make certain that something has been or shall occur or be effectuated atomize v. to reduce a substance to motes or a fine spray v. to project a fluid (esp. perfume) as a fine spray aby/atone/compensate/expiate/pay/redeem/redress/repair/right v. to furnish reparation for an error, fault or misdeed atonement/compensation/expiation/redress/reparation/satisfaction n. any act of making amends for one's deficiency, mistake or trespass attach/colligate/combine/conjoin/connect/couple/join/link/unite/yoke v. (of constitutents or components) to bring, put or come together _suture _v. to join flesh, skin, etc. by means of suture _tenon _v. to join with a tenon attachment/combination/conjugation/conjunction/connection/coupling/jointure/juncture/linkage/union n. an act of bringing, placing or coming together _suture _n. the act of sewing two bodily surfaces together, as the skin of an open wound attenuate/extenuate/thin v. to become or render fine, slender or thin _emaciate/extenuate/macerate _v. to render extremely, unnaturally thin, usu. by starvation autodidactics n. the process of instructing oneself avoid/banish/dislodge/drive (out)/eject/expel/oust/rout v. to impel flight; to force out or away from a place _banish/proscribe/relegate _v. to expel from a locality or country, esp. by diktat as a punitive measure; to force to move out or away __banish/exile/expatriate/ostracize/proscribe/relegate __v. to banish someone from their country ___ostracize ___v. to temporarily, democratically banish someone __deport __v. to expel a foreigner from a country, usu. on grounds pertaining to illegal status or criminality _rout/scatter _v. to occasion a disarrayed departure by drubbing avoid/eschew/forbear/shun v. to deliberately stay away from someone or something disapproved, detested or feared ax/discharge/displace/dismiss/fire/sack/terminate v. to end an employee's occupational engagement baby/coddle/cosset/indulge/mollycoddle/overindulge/pamper/pet/spoil v. to treat, protect, provide and care for with excessive indulgence, as one might a pet or child, esp. to the eventual detriment of their character balk/bar/bilk/cumber/embarrass/encumber/frustrate/hamper/hinder/hobble/impede/incumber/obstruct/stymie v. to restrict or retard activity or advancement; to be a hindrance to _interdict _v. to cumber an enemy force by destroying its channels of travel, supply or communication ballast v. to fill and fashion the bed of a railway line or road with coarse gravel or crushed stone bamboozle/cheat/chicane/chouse/cozen/dupe/fool/fox/gull/hoax/hoodwink/hornswoggle/illude/shaft/sucker/tricher/trick v. to secure an advantage or victory through deception or trickery _crib _v. to surreptitiously use a crib whilst assaying an examination, test, etc. bar/blackball/ostracize v. to exclude from a community, group, profession or society bar/block/choke/clog/jam/obstruct/obturate/occlude/stop v. to impede passage through, esp. with an obstacle bare/betray/demonstrate/disbosom/disclose/display/enucleate/evidence/evince/exhibit/expose/manifest/patefy/produce/reflect/reveal/show/uncover/unveil v. to lay open to view; to make visible, apparent or known bare/denude/husk/strip/unclothe/uncover/unveil v. to deprive something of its covering; to make naked or bare _excoriate/flay/skin _v. to strip skin from an organism _flense _n. to strip skin or blubber from the body of a seal, whale, etc. _hull/husk/shell/shuck _v. to strip a husk or husks from denudation n. the removal of a covering or surface bathe/deluge/drown/engulf/flood/immerse/inundate/overflow/overrun/overwhelm/submerge/swamp/whelm v. to overspread or cover completely with a fluid (esp. water), as during a flood bathe/infuse/penetrate/perfuse/permeate/suffuse v. to flood or spread over or through with liquid _drench/fill/imbue/impregnate/interpenetrate/permeate/pervade/saturate/soak/steep _v. to infuse completely or thoroughly battle/clash/combat/engage/fight/scrap/struggle v. to violently oppose someone or something, as by grappling, an acral exchange of blows or the use of weapons _grapple/wrestle _v. to engage in proximate, unarmed combat by atteming to seize and throw one's opponent to the ground rather than cuffing, punching or kicking _parry/stop _v. to deflect an attack, as a blow or thrust in fencing become/flatter/suit v. (of accoutrements, maquillage, vesture, etc.) to enhance someone's appearance or attractiveness bedizen n. to decorate or ornament in a garish or tasteless manner beetle/scurry/scutter/scuttle v. to move or run with short, fleet steps, often covertly beget/cause/create/effect/effectuate/elicit/encompass/engender/father/generate/induce/inspire/make/mother/occasion/produce/prompt/provoke/raise/spawn/trigger v. to bring about or give rise to an event, condition, situation or response _converge _v. (of efforts, factors, perspectives, etc.) to engender a common conclusion, condition or result _redound _v. to ultimately produce an effect or consequence begin/commence/initiate/launch/start v. to prompt or perform the first or earliest part of an action, process or undertaking thereof _auspicate _v. to commence by performing a procedure (as a wassail) or holding a ceremony intended to confer good luck or beget fortune _recommence/restart/resume _a. to begin anew beleaguer/besiege/invest/siege v. to surround a region, locale, etc. with a military force or forces, esp. to compel surrender belittle/dwarf v. to make something seem small or smaller, usu. in contrast to the magnitude of another or others belt/bind/(be)gird/(be)girt v. to encircle and secure with a flexible band, such as a bandage, belt, cord, girdle, etc. belt/careen/career/hurtle/race/rip/rush/streak/tear v. to move at high or full acceleration in a specified direction, often uncontrollably bend/bob/bow/incline v. to incline one's body, head or knee to express gratitude, politesse, salutation, submission or veneration berth v. to provide with a bed (esp. a bunk) on a train or passenger ship beset v. to attack from all sides; to siege from circumference besiege/deluge/flood/inundate/overburden/overload/overtax/overwhelm/swamp/whelm v. to encumber someone with a suplusage of tasks, interaction, information, activity, etc. with which they're obliged to contend betise/folly/idiocy/imbecility/inanity/stupidity n. a stupid act, esp. a mistake betrayal/disloyalty/infidelity/perfidy/treachery/treason n. a deliberate breach of confidence, faith, fidelity or trust bicker/flicker/gutter v. (of flame, esp. that of a candle) to burn unsteadily, usu. immediate to extinguishment bicker n. to flow rapidly, with a rippling or gurgling sound bind/cohere v. to stick or hold together, as any mass composed of discrete parts bind v. to indue cohesion to a mass, as of ingredients blackball v. to exclude someone from an activity or esp. a society via the negative vote of a backstair ballot conducted by said fraternity blackball v. to vote against _veto/negative _v. to reject an enactment by exercise of a veto; to refuse to endorse or assent blanch/blench/pale v. to turn pale, as from illness, horor or shock blaze/blazon/display/exhibit/parade v. to show conspicuously and esp. publicly blemish/blot/blotch/imbrue/imbue/maculate/spot/stain v. to mark something with dirty or discolored patches of dirt, dye, ink, paint, etc. that are difficult (if possible) to remove _imbrue _v. to stain with blood _smear _v. to blotch with a greasy, oily or otherwise viscous substance maculation n. the act of spotting or staining something boil/ebullition n. (of a liquid) an act or process of bubbling and vaporizing when heated to a certain temperature bolster/brace/buttress/cement/consolidate/fortify/harden/reinforce/strengthen v. to make (a condition, contention, position, structure, etc.) stronger or defensible _flank _v. to guard or strengthen the flank of a military force or its position boost/enhance/heighten/increase/raise/swell v. to increase the degree of grow/heighten/increase/swell v. to become greater in degree bother/cumber/discommode/disoblige/disturb/incommode/inconvenience/trouble v. to cause difficulty at someone's expense or discomfort bounce/jounce v. to proceed by repeatedly striking and rebounding from a surface bounce/bound/carom/rebound/reverberate/ricochet/recoil/resile v. to spring back or away from an impact with a surface bounce/bound/carom/rebound/ricochet/recoil/repercussion n. an act or instance of jerking or springing back from an impact bound/circumscribe/confine/constrain/constrict/curb/fetter/handcuff/limit/manacle/restrain/restrict/shackle/withhold v. to keep activity, movement, scope, selection, etc. within specified abstract, quantitative, spatial or temporal bounds _cabin _v. to circumscribe within a small space, such as that of a cabin _hobble _v. to begird or fetter an animal's legs to inhibit its movement __spancel __v. to hobble by fettering with a spancel _immure/imprison/incarcerate/jail _v. to confine someone involuntarily in or as though in a prison _shackle _v. to restrain someone by securing their wrists or ankles with shackles __cuff/handcuff/manacle __v. to shackle one's wrists with handcuffs __enfetter/fetter __v. to shackle one's ankles with fetters to impede and restrain ambulation bound/circumscribe/define/delimit/delineate/demarcate v. to determine or mark the bounds or limits of something brace/gird/nerve/steel v. to prepare oneself for action or asperity brazen v. to unrepentantly, confidently, audaciously face or endure a trial or challenge breathe/clothe/confer/endow/endue/gift/impart/indue/invest/lend v. to furnish with a feature or facility, as by design or inspiration _bless _v. (as of a deity) to invest with beauty or an aptitude _individualize/individuate _v. to endue with an individual character breed/engender/procreate/propagate/reproduce v. (of organisms) to sexually or asexually produce offspring _increase/multiply/proliferate _v. (of a population) to augment by propagation _pullulate _v. to breed rapidly and profusely, so to become common breed/propagate v. to induce animals to reproduce by natural processes, often by controlled selection bring/carry/convey/move/remove/shift/take/transfer/transport n. to take from one place to another, as by manual effort or vehicular effect broadcast/circulate/diffuse/disperse/disseminate/propagate/spread v. to distribute or scatter (fluid, information, seed, etc.) over a broad area, or to many people _advertise/air/broadcast/publicize/spread _v. to publicly disseminate information, esp. news __circularize __v. to publicize by distribution of circulars __post/placard/bill __v. to publicize or announce with placards broadcast/circulation/diffusion/dispersal/dispersion/dissemination/propagation/spread n. the spread or transmission of something to a wide or wider area or group brush/graze/kiss/shave v. to touch, scrape or rub something lightly in passing buckle/warp v. to deform or contort when subjected to pressure, moisture or heat bulldoze/cow/daunt/dismay/intimidate v. to chasten, dissuade or overcome by eliciting fear or awe, as with threats _ballyrag/browbeat/bulldoze/bully/bullyrag/hector/swagger/terrorize _v. to intimidate with glowering, a domineering deportment or overbearing and threatening language, esp. to coerce _bully _v. to intimidate smaller or weaker people with strength or power burr v. to create a burr by casting, cutting or drilling burr/deburr v. to remove an edge's or area's burr, usu. by smoothing or sanding burst/detonate/explode/fulminate v. to violently, suddenly, usu. stridently break or fly open or apart attendant of internal pressure or combustion v. to prompt an explosion _blast _v. to effectuate, form, obliterate, open, shatter, etc. with an explosion buss/kiss/osculate/smooch v. to touch the pursed lips to or press one's lips to another's as an expression of concupiscence, love, reverence or salutation _peck _v. to kiss briefly or perfunctorily bustle/flurry/hustle v. to move or act with agitated or busy and speedy, energetic excitation bypass/circle/circumvent/skirt v. to pass around an area or obstacle bypass/cheat/circumvent/dodge/duck/elude/evade/parry/shirk/sidestep/skirt v. to slyly avoid response to queries or attendance to responsibilities, problems, issues or duties call/christen/denominate/designate/dub/entitle/name/nominate/style/tag/term v. to give a name to an individual, collective or class calve v. (of icebergs and glaciers) to split and shed smaller masses of ice camp (out)/encamp/pitch v. to temporarily lodge in tents, huts or cabins at an established campsite or wooded locality _bivouac _v. to camp at an unsheltered site or in improvised shelters canal(ize) v. to provide a locale with a canal v. to excavate a canal through canalize v. to convert a river into a canal cancel/compensate/counteract/counterbalance/counterpoise/countervail/negative/neutralize/offset v. to void, mitigate or nullify by exerting an equal and opposite influence of weight, force or effect cannibalize v. to consume the flesh of one's own species cannibalize v. to remove functional components from a machine (esp. a vehicle) to repair or enhance the function of another cant n. a motion that tilts, turns or oversets something canvass/poll/survey v. to investigate prevailing sentiment and behavior by soliciting and recording public opinion (esp. that of people residing in a specific district) caper/cavort/disport/frisk/frolic/gambol/lark/prance/rollick/romp/skylark/sport v. to skip, run, leap or dance playfully; to play in a frisky, exuberant manner _rollick/romp _v. to gambol rumbustiously capsize/knock [OR] tip [OR] turn over/overset/overturn/upset v. to (often accidentally) turn something from an upright or normal position onto its top, side, face or back castigate v. to inflict severe punishment catalog/inventory/itemize/list v. to create an itemized list catalog/enter/inscribe/inventory/itemize/list v. to record an item or items to or in a list _index _v. to itemize a datum in an index _inscribe/register _v. to formally inscribe a property, name, event, activity, etc. in a register __manifest __v. to register in a manifest _log _v. to enter a distance, incident, speed or time in the log of an aircraft or vessel catch/handle/prehend/take v. to manually take hold of something or someone _catch _v. to catch something falling or flying _catch/clutch/grab/seize/snatch _v. to suddenly prehend __catch/grapple/grasp/grip __v. to firmly seize _catch/clutch/grasp/grip/take _v. to prehend tightly or firmly _catch/grab/seize _v. to forcibly take cause/effectuation/elicitation/excitation/generation/induction/provocation/trigger n. any process or action that prompts a result, occurrence or condition cease/discontinue/end/halt/pretermit/quit/stint/stop/surcease/suspend/terminate v. to bring a state or activity to its end; to prompt to stop doing something _prorogue _v. to discontinue a session of a parliament or other legislative assembly without dissolving it cessation/discontinuance/discontinuation/halt/stint/stop(page)/surcease/suspension/termination n. the act or process of bringing a proceeding, condition or activity to an end chance*/come*^/encounter/find/happen*/light*/stumble*^ v. (usu. followed by *on or upon, or ^across) to discover something or meet someone without intention or expectation change/commute/exchange/shift/swap/switch/trade v. to substitute, give or receive something for another, usually of a correspondent type or comparable value change/exchange/interchange v. to give and receive reciprocally, esp. to satisfy disparate or converse needs or desires charivari/chivaree/shivaree v. to serenade a freshly wed couple with noise chasten/check/constrain/control/curb/inhibit/repress/smother/stifle/subdue/suppress/swallow/tame v. to consciously restrain an action, emotion, impulse or reaction chasten/correct/discipline v. to induce moral improvement by punishment circle/circumgyrate/circumgyre/circumrotate/gyrate/gyre/revolve/rotate/swivel/turn/wheel v. to move around a central point or axis; to turn on or as on a swivel or pivot _gyre/reel/spin/twirl/whirl _v. to revolve rapidly _pivot _v. to wheel on a precise point _precess _v. to rotate or spin in a wobbling motion so that the axis of rotation sweeps conically, as a gyroscope, planet or top _swing _v. to swivel on an off-center point circumvent/euchre/fox/outfox/outmaneuver/outsmart/outwit v. to best by dint of cunning, ingenuity, intelligence, machination or wit circumvention n. the act of evading by passing around civilize/cultivate/educate v. to impart culture, teach or refine discrimination of taste or judgment and develop intellectual faculties by edification and education clamber/scrabble/scramble n. to climb quickly, laboriously and often feverishly, esp. on one's hands and feet clarify v. to render limpid by removing impurities or solids, esp. by heating or filtering clasp/clip/cuddle/embosom/embrace/enclasp/enfold/fold/gather/hold/hug/squeeze/umarmen v. to tightly, passionately hold someone in the arms to one's bosom, esp. as a demonstration of love or affection cloister/insulate/isolate/seclude/segregate/sequester/sequestrate v. to shut off from social intercourse or activity; to confine so to be alone clout/hit/sock/strike/wallop/whomp v. to forcefully, usu. sharply bring an extremity, tool, weapon, etc. into contact with someone or something, as during combat or construction _beat/belabor/drub/hammer/larrup _v. to strike vigorously and repeatedly __batter/clobber/pound/slog/thump __v. to beat with heavy blows __birch __v. to belabor with or as with a birch rod or bundle of birch twigs __cane __v. to drub with or as if with a cane __drub/flog/larrup/squail/thrash __v. to larrup with a stick ___club/cudgel ___v. to flog with or as with a club __flagellate/flay/flog/larrup/lash/scourge/thrash/whang/whip __v. to larrup with or as though with a whip __flail/thrash/thresh __v. to beat with or as though with a flail __hammer __v. to belabor with or as if with a hammer, esp. to drive nails into wood __lam/lambast(e)/larrup/tan/thrash/thresh/trounce/wallop/whale __v. to beat severely or thoroughly __pommel/pummel __v. to hammer by or as by punching __thwack/whack __v. to drub with a flat object __whang __v. to larrup with a thong _boot/kick/spurn _v. to strike with one's foot or feet _clout/cuff/skelp/slap/smack/spank/spat/swat/whack/whomp _v. to wallop sharply with an open hand __spank __v. to slap somebody's derriere (esp. repeatedly) as a punishment or stimulation _clout/punch/sock _v. to whomp with a clenched fist _club/cudgel _v. to clout with a club __bludgeon __v. to whomp with a short, heavy club _flay/lash/whip _v. to strike with or as though with a whip __quirt __v. to whip with a quirt _hammer _v. to hit with a hammer, esp. to drive nails into wood __peen __v. to strike with a hammer's peen _slap/skelp/smack/swat/thwack/whack/whomp _v. to sock with a flat object _whang _v. to strike with a thong cobble v. to make footwear, esp. boots or shoes codify v. to systemize procedures, laws or rules into a code coil/gyrate/spiral/twist/wind/wreathe v. to move in or along a spiral course, esp. around a fixed point coitus interruptus/onanism/withdrawal (method) n. a method of contraception by which coitus is initiated, but the penis is deliberately withdrawn ere ejaculation collimate v. to adjust an optical instrument's line of sight collude/connive/conspire/intrigue v. to furtively contrive and collaborate to realize a deceitful, fraudulent or illegal objective collusion/connivance/conspiracy/intrigue n. surreptitious scheming and cooperation in furtherance of a deceitful or illegal plot commend/commit/consign/entrust/give/intrust/trust v. to deliver something or someone to the care, protection or safekeeping of another compete/contend/contest/strive/vie v. to endeavor to surpass, defeat or gain an advantage over another or others with whom one is in competition, as in a game, campaign, contest, venture, etc. competition/contention/contest/rivalry n. an endeavor intended to surpass that of opponents, as participants in a contest or professionals of a bailiwick, esp. to attain some prize or profit concur/converge/meet v. to come together at a point from different directions, as roads, lines, objects in motion, etc. concur/converge v. (of lines, moving objects, etc.) to move or draw together to a specific position condition/program v. to train someone to deport themselves or respond in a predetermined manner condone/excuse/forgive/overlook/pardon/remit v. to relinquish blame or resentment concerning a transgression, offense, mistake or discourtesy conduce/contribute v. to aid the effectuation of a particular result conjuration/legerdemain/magic/prestidigitation/sleight of hand n. any performance of illusionary magic or card tricks wherein utilization of superb manual dexterity is exercised conscript/draft/impress/induct/press v. to recruit someone compulsorily into military service consign/commit v. to commit permanently and irrevocably, as to death, incarceration, reposition, etc. consignment/commitment n. the act of committing someone to confinement in a prison or mental hospital constitute/establish/father/found/institute/make/plant v. to formally or legally set up and initiate a community, institution, organization, society, etc. constitution/establishment/foundation/institution n. the act or process of formally or legitimately initiating a community, confraternity, institute, etc. consume/expend/use v. to exploit and consequently diminish the supply of a resource _deplete/drain/exhaust/finish _v. to expend the totality of a resource's supply consummate v. to complete a marital union with coitus after its wedding v. to fulfill sexually, usu. by intercourse consumption/expenditure/use n. any act or process of utilizing and thusly dissipating resources _depletion/exhaustion _n. the consumption of a resource exceeding its replenishment contend/cope/deal/face/fight/grapple/handle/manage/tackle/wrangle v. to struggle to overcome an adversity or challenge, esp. with some degree of success copy/recreate/replicate/reproduce v. to produce an analogous copy of something copy/duplicate/replicate/reproduce v. to create an exact or identical reproduction of something _exemplify _v. to duplicate a sealed document as a certified copy _manifold/multiply _v. to create several copies of something (such as a page, document, pamphlet, book, etc.) with carbon paper, a mimeograph or a photocopier coquetry/dalliance/flirtation n. playful conduct intended to excite casual sexual interest cordon v. to bar access to or from a site or building by surrounding it with police officers, sentinels, soldiers, warships, etc. corral v. (of animals) to drive into and confine in a corral v. to dispose wagons in an annular formation akin to a corral coruscation n. a striking or staggering exhibition of talent, wit or brilliance cram/crowd/jam/pack/squeeze/stow/stuff v. to forcibly fill a space, place or receptacle tightly, esp. in excess of its intended capacity create/father/generate/innovate/invent/originate v. to produce something hitherto nonexistent crime/cruelty/depravity/fault/immorality/iniquity/injustice/malefaction/misdeed/sin/trespass/turpitude/villainy/wickedness/wrong n. a wicked, unjust or immoral act _abomination/atrocity/enormity/outrage _n. an exceptionally egregious malefaction _impropriety/indiscretion/peccadillo/solecism _n. a paltry sin crowd/flock/pullulate/pour/press/serry/shoal/stream/swarm/throng/troop v. to congress or move about in great numbers, as a crowd of people, flock of birds, automotive traffic, etc. cultivate v. to seek the society of someone; to court acquaintance or friendship cultivate/dress/subdue/tame/till/work v. to prepare land by plowing and fertilization to raise crops cultivate/grow/raise/rear/tame v. to nurture the growth of a plant or crop cunctation/deferment/deferral/delay/postponement/procrastination/suspension/waiver n. the act of putting off (an activity, event, etc.) to a future time _cunctation/delay/procrastination _n. (often habitual) deferral ensuing indolence _reprieve/respite _n. any punitive postponement defer/delay/intermit/postpone/procrastinate/prorogue/remit/suspend/waive v. to put off to a later time _delay/procrastinate _v. to needlessly and habitually or lazily remit _reprieve/respite _v. to postpone someone's punishment (esp. an execution) _temporize _v. to prolong a discussion or process by deferment or prevarication to gain time or induce a compromise custom/habit/practice/wont n. a routine, habitual activity cut/do/execute/exercise/fulfill/give/implement/make/perform v. to carry out an action or function _commit/perpetrate _n. to execute a crime or other misdeed _discharge _v. to perform the functions and obligations of an office or post _duplicate/iterate/redo/reiterate/repeat/replicate _v. to do again __reiterate __v. to do repeatedly, insistently, often excessively damage/harm/hurt/injure/mar/scathe v. to cause damage to something and impair its function or diminish its value damage/gride/harm/hurt/injure/scathe/wound v. to effect or inflict a bodily injury _vitriol/vitriolize _v. to injure by burning with vitriol dance/flit/play/skip/twinkle v. to move with swift, nimble expedition, esp. in flight dandle v. to gently bounce a baby in one's arms or on one's knee dart/dash/fly/glint/leap/race/scoot/shoot/whip v. to swiftly, suddenly move and esp. run dash/festinate/hasten/hie/hurry/race/rush/scramble/speed/zap/zip v. to act or move quickly or expeditiously debilitate/devitalize/emasculate/enervate/enfeeble/incapacitate/prostrate/tire/weaken v. to reduce someone to physical or mental weakness _drain/exhaust/fatigue/frazzle/jade/prostrate/tire/weary _v. to enfeeble by protracted or strenuous exertion _overtire _v. to tire excessively, often to a point of collapse _sap _v. to perniciously or gradually weaken decamp v. to pack and leave a camp or camping ground decay/decline/degenerate/deteriorate/ebb/erode/lapse/sink/slide/slip/wither/worsen v. to gradually become worse declension/decline/degeneration/degradation/descent/deterioration/ebb n. a (ordinarily gradual) process of changing to a worse or inferior state decline/deteriorate/droop/fade/fail/flag/languish/waste/weaken/wilt/wither v. to become physically weak; to wane in strength and vigor _languish/pine (away) _v. to waste away ensuing severe compunction, grief, longing, etc. decoct n. to extract an essence or flavor from a substance by boiling it decouple/detach/discerp/disconnect/disjoin/disjoint/dissever/disunite/divorce/part/separate/sever/split/sunder/uncouple/unfasten/unyoke v. to take apart _divide _v. to separate into groups, parts, sections, etc. __bisect __v. to divide into two parts ___bisect/halve ___v. to divide into two equal parts ___bifurcate/bisect/fork ___v. to divide into two branches _prorate _v. to proportionately divide disjoin/disjoint/dissever/disunite/part/separate/sever/split/sunder/uncouple/unfasten v. to come apart _divide _v. to split into groups, parts, sections, etc. detachment/disconnection/discretion/disjunction/disjuncture/disseverance/disseverment/disunion/separation/severance n. the act or process of taking apart or breaking a connection deed/exploit/feat n. an intrepid, notable or extraordinary achievement defection n. disavowal of and departure from one's country to reside in another n. desertion of an allegiance in favor of its opposition defenestrate v. to throw someone or something through or from a window defenestration n. the act of throwing a person or thing through or from a window defile v. (of soldiers) to march in single file or columns delegation/deputation/devolution n. an act of sanctioning someone (esp. an adjutant) to act in one's stead as their representative deliver/dispatch/mail/post/send/ship v. to transmit correspondence or a parcel to an address, ordinarily by a postal carrier _consign _v. to post sold goods _express _v. to post by a special messenger or fleet conveyance delivery/dispatch/shipment n. conveyance of mail or packages to an address _consignment _v. dispatch of merchandise to a vendee departure/egress/egression/emergence/emersion/exit/leave n. the act of coming or going out deploy v. (of a mechanism or personnel) to be triggered to action or function deposit/emplace/lay/locate/park/place/plant/posit/position/put/repose/set/situate/stick v. to put in a particular place or position _bestow/reposit/save/store/stow _v. to set something aside for future use __cache __v. to store in a cache __pack/stow __v. to carefully store an object or objects in a container, esp. for transportation or storage _bury/inhume/inter _v. to plant remains in a grave _cloak/conceal/hide/secrete _v. to place or keep something, someone or oneself out of sight, discovery or disclosure __cache/stash __v. to secrete weapons, valuables, provisions, larder, etc. in a cache _deploy _v. to position troops, artillery or vehicular forces in battle formation _v. to be so arrayed _entomb/inter/sepulcher/sepulchre _v. to posit a corse in a vault _entrain _v. to deposit in a train _insert/inset/introduce _v. to set or place in _insert/interject/interpolate/interpose _v. to place between other elements __interleave __v. to interpose something in regular alternation between the layers or parts of something else _replace/restore/return _v. to bring, put, send or take something back to its quondam or rightful place or position depredate/desolate/destroy/devastate/fordo/harry/havoc/ravage/ruin/wreck v. to violently lay waste to and consequently leave barren, as by an invading army or tornado depredate/despoil/loot/pillage/plunder/ransack/reave/rifle/spoil/strip v. to rob of currency, goods, valuables, etc. often collectively, during hostile raids provoked by war, riots, etc. _sack _v. (of a military force, esp. an army) to reave a locale captured during a military campaign depredation/despoliation/loot/pillage/plunder/predation/spoliation n. the act of robbing money or goods during a raid in a period of war or civil disorder _sack _n. the plunder of a locality captured during a military campaign; usu. committed by an army deprive/devest/dispossess/divest/expropriate/strip v. to take authority, property, rights, status, etc. from someone _beguile*/bilk/burn/cheat/chisel/chizz/con/cozen/defraud/diddle/euchre/finagle*/fleece/gazump/grift/gyp/hornswoggle/mulct/rook/scam/sting/swindle/trick* _v. (*usu. followed by out of) to deprive another or others by dint of deceit deracinate/displace/uproot v. to forcibly relocate or necessitate migration of an individual or social or ethnic group from their provenance or homeland to a new, foreign locality or environment deracinate/eradicate/extirpate/uproot v. to pull or tear up or out by or as though by the roots, as one might a plant from earth derive/descend v. to originate from a (cognate, lineal, etc.) source or origin designate/indicate/mark/point (out)/show v. to spatially or figuratively indicate a direction, location or presence despoilation/despoilment/despoliation/loot/pillage/plunder/rapine/robbery/spoil/spoilation/spoliation n. a forcible or violent and often collective act of theft destine/earmark/intend/mean v. to set apart for a particular recipient, as a gift or harm destine/fate/foreordain/ordain/predestine/predetermine/preordain v. to determine a course of destiny or events beforehand, usu. irrevocably detract/distract/divert v. to draw someone's attention away from something devolve v. to decentralize authority, as that of a federal government to a provincial, regional or local administration disadvantage/handicap v. to impose an unfavorable condition upon someone discard/disposal/jettison n. an act of divesting oneself of something discern/distinguish/perceive/pick out/note/notice/observe/spot v. to detect with one's senses discerp/pull/rive/tear v. to forcefully pull something apart or into pieces _avulse/discerp/pluck/pull _v. to pull off or away _pull/rend/rip/rive/tear _v. to violently or vigorously tear __rend __v. to rip one's clothing or hair when livid or grieving _dilacerate/dilaniate/discerp/fritter/shred _v. to discerp into strips or fragments discharge/disgorge/eject/emanate/emit/expel/issue/void v. to give or send forth an effluence of gas, light, liquid, etc. _exhale _v. to emit air, gas, vapor, etc. __fume __v. to exhale fumes _exude/ooze/percolate/seep/transude _v. to gradually discharge, as through pores or other tiny apertures __weep __v. to exude fluid _eradiate/irradiate/radiate/shed _v. to issue rays or waves of light or heat _vent _v. to expel liquid, steam, etc. through an opening, as a vent disengage/disentangle/extricate/untangle v. to free or release from complication, difficulty, entanglement, involvement, obligation, etc. disobedience/noncompliance n. a refusal to abide or obey _insubordination/recusancy _n. noncompliance against (usu. established) authority __contumacy __n. resolute recusancy __defiance __n. open, valorous insubordination __mutiny/rebellion __n. active opposition to authority or convention ___contumacy ___n. steadfast mutiny ___mutiny ___n. (of sailors or soldiers) rebellion against superior officers dispatch/grease/ice/kill/liquidate/smoke/waste v. to deprive one of life; to cause somebody's death _dispatch/eliminate/execute/grease/ice/murder/smoke/terminate/waste _v. to inexcusably or unjustifiably and unlawfully kill someone, usu. posterior to premeditation __assassinate/execute/hit/terminate __v. to murder by secrecy or surprise, esp. for a political purpose _decimate _v. to kill a large segment of a group or population _dispatch/execute _v. to kill a condemned person by legal sanction, ordinarily as a punitive measure __burn __v. to dispatch by burning, as at the stake __burn/electrocute/fry __v. to execute by electrocution, usu. with an electric chair __halter/hang __v. to dispatch someone by girding their neck with a rope hung from above and swiftly removing the support upon which they stand ___gibbet ___v. to execute someone by hanging them from a gallows ___v. to exhibit corpses by hanging them from a gibbet __guillotine __v. to execute someone by decapitation in a guillotine _lapidate/stone _v. to kill someone by hailing them with stones _slay _v. to violently dispatch disregard/ignore/neglect/overlook/pretermit v. to refuse to acknowledge something or someone _prescind _v. to withdraw one's attention from a person or thing diverge/divide v. to be, extend or move in various directions from a common point _bifurcate/fork _v. to diverge into two branches _divaricate _v. to diverge at a broad angle dodder/falter/lurch/pitch/reel/shake/stagger/stumble/swag/teeter/totter/wamble v. to move unsteadily _dodder/shake/totter _v. to feebly stagger _wobble _v. to wamble from side to side lurch/pitch/reel/shake/stagger/swag/totter/wamble/wobble n. an unsteady movement dribble/drivel/drool/slabber/slaver/slobber v. to let or have saliva trickle from one's mouth drive/impel/prick/propel/urge v. to forcibly induce motion forward or onward _harry _v. to impel by attack or blows _prick/spur _v. to impel a horse with the spurs of one's boots __rowel __v. to urge a horse with the rowels of one's spurs drown/flood/overflow/overrun/swamp v. to quickly fill beyond capacity with an overflowing abundance or superfluity, as with a liquid ease/facilitate/simplify v. to make a procedure, activity, etc. easier eddy/swirl/whirl v. (of gas or fluid) to flow in a twisting, circular current edify/enlighten v. to promote and develop someone's moral values or intellectual faculties by instruction efface v. to make oneself inconspicuous or inobtrusive elicit/educe v. to develop or draw out from a latent or potential state eluctate (out) v. to struggle out of a place, condition, circumstance, etc. embalm v. to preserve a dead body with the application of balm or arterial infusion of chemicals, esp. formaldehyde embrocation n. the act of applying a lotion to skin, as an ointment, emollient, liniment, etc. egress/emerge/issue v. to come forth or go out from, esp. into view emergence/appearance n. an act or process of becoming apparent sequent to concealment empale/impale/skewer/stick/transfix/transpierce v. to pierce through or fixate with any sharp instrument such as a stake or spear _skewer _v. to transpierce on or with a skewer _spike _v. to impale with or on a spike enable/empower/capacitate v. to invest or afford the opportunity, power, means or knowledge to realize a task or function enatation n. the act of swimming away from something or somebody n. escape by swimming enclosure/envelopment/inclosure n. the act of surrounding something on all sides, esp. land or cattle with fencing encroach/entrench/impinge/infringe/invade/trespass v. to advance beyond established or recognized limits, esp. at the expense of someone's authority, privacy or rights encroachment/entrenchment/impingement/infringement/intrusion/invasion/trespass n. stealthy or gradual entry to or assumption of another's rights, property, position or authority without right or permission enforce/impose v. to oblige compliance with and observance of laws and rules enkindle/ignite/inflame/kindle/light v. to set (something or someone) aflame ensue/follow/supervene v. to occur immediately after entombment/interment/sepulture n. ceremonial placement of a corpse in a tomb entrain v. to board a train entrance/hypnotize/mesmerize/trance v. to induce a trance state akin to slumber wherein the subject is unusually susceptible to suggestion erode/fret v. to grind or wear down, off or away, as by pressure or motion _abrade/abrase/chafe/corrade/fret _v. by erode by friction, as by rubbing or scraping erosion/fret n. any act or process of wearing matter down, off or away, usu. by continuous motion or pressure _abrasion/attrition/corrasion/detrition/fret _n. erosion by friction, as wood rubbed by sandpaper or rock particles corraded by flux of wind, water or ice espousal/engagement/betrothal n. (of a couple) the act of pledging commitment to a forthcoming marriage evert/invert/reverse v. to turn inside out execute/run v. (of a computer) to activate a program or process an instruction exhume/disinter v. to excavate a gravesite and unearth its corpse, customarily for the purpose of reburial or medical investigation express/press n. to squeeze fluid (esp. juice) out, as from a tube or fruit extravagate v. to exceed normal limits, as of etiquette fail/neglect/omit/pretermit v. to heedlessly or indifferently leave something undone, as a task _forget _v. to inadvertently neglect consequent of a mnemonic lapse _elide/miss/omit _v. to neglect to include someone or something; to leave out fascinate/transfix v. to render someone motionless with a fixed stare or evocation of horror, awe or astonishment fecundate/fertilize/impregnate/inseminate v. to cause an egg, female animal or plant to develop a new individual by imparting to it male reproductive material fecundate v. to make or be fruitful or prolific fete v. to honor with a celebration or regale fidget v. to move about with squirming, shifting or jerking motions attendant of anxiety or impatience filigree v. to fashion or adorn with filigree, as from a precious metal flail/thrash/thresh/toss/welter v. to move with erratic jerks or sweeps, like a flail; to wave, swing or toss wildly about flank v. to attack down or from the sides flit n. a decampment executed to avoid obligations, esp. the payment of a debt flow/flux/fluxion/stream n. any action or process of continuous, invariant movement, as of air or water _confluence/conflux _n. an act or process of flowing together _effluence/efflux/effluxion/outflow _n. a process or action of flowing out _inflow/influx/influxion/inset _n. an act or process of flowing in foment v. to soothe skin or muscles by bathing with warm water and/or applying ointment forage n. the act of searching for comestibles and provisions v. to seek provender or provisions, esp. across a broad expanse forfeit/forfeiture n. the surrender of something as a penalty ensuing a mistake, fault, breach of engagement, etc. freshen/reanimate/re-energize/refresh/regenerate/reinvigorate/rejuvenate/renew/repair/restore/revitalize/revive/revivify v. to restore or impart fresh vitality, strength, life, health, impetus, energy, etc. furl v. to neatly roll or fold and secure a fabric article such as a flag, garment or sail fuse/weld v. to melt the end or edge of a metal or plastic object with intense heat to conjoin it with another fusillade/salvo/volley n. a simultaneous or successive discharge of multiple firearms, missiles or artillery _broadside _n. the fusillade fired by a warship's broadside fusillade/volley v. to attack with a fusillade _broadside _v. (of a warship) to volley a broadside gape/yawn v. to be or become wide open gauge/measure/mensurate/mete v. to ascertain the quantity, capacity or dimensions of something or somebody, esp. with an instrument _girt _v. to measure the girth of something genuflect v. to bow while bending one knee to a floor as an expression of reverence or worship gerrymander v. to divide a region into electoral districts with intent to provide the candidates of a political party with an unfair advantage n. an act, instance or result of gerrymandering gimlet v. to pierce or bore holes in wood with a gimlet glean v. to gather a crop's usable residuum (usu. grain) after a harvest graze/range v. to situate or tend animals (esp. cattle or sheep) in a field, meadow, etc. while they graze _pasture _v. to graze animals in a pasture gutter v. (of a candle) to melt away as wax drips or streams from the waxen pool surrounding the wick hash/mince v. to chop into small pieces _dice _v. to mince into small cubes impel/incentivize/motivate v. to afford an incentive to do something implant/impress/imprint/inculcate/infix/infuse/ingrain/instill v. to teach data or establish an idea or attitude with persistent iterations or admonishments _indoctrinate _v. to instill a doctrine or ideology in a person or group and condition them to accept it unconditionally, without misgivings or critical deliberation individuate v. to form into a discrete entity infuse/steep v. to immerse tea, herbs, bark, etc. in liquid to extract a salutary, savory or other soluble property insinuate v. to subtly introduce or maneuver oneself into a position or someone's society, esp. by cajolery or other means of ingratiation interpenetrate v. (of multiple elements) to mutually penetrate each other or one another interfere/interpose/intervene v. to involve oneself, esp. to alter, preclude or stymie an action or development _intercede/intermediate/interpose/liaise/mediate _v. to intervene between parties with an intent to reconcile differences, disputes or other problems intersperse/sprinkle v. to intervallically distribute or scatter inter alia _dot/pepper _v. to intersperse plenteously _interlard/intersperse/sprinkle _v. to diversify with other things distributed or interposed at intervals, as particolored stripes of a pattern inversion/overturn/reversal n. an act of turning something upside down invert/overturn/reverse/upturn v. to turn something upside down irrupt v. to suddenly or forcibly enter a room or other area jerk/jolt/jounce/snap/twitch v. to act, move or shift with a sudden, spasmodic motion jilt/dump v. to abruptly or heartlessly reject or abandon a lover jog/trot v. to run at a moderate or slow, steady, leisurely pace n. a brisk yet unhurried pace of running journey/passage/peregrination/travel/trip/voyage n. an act of traveling (esp. a long distance) to a destination _divagation/evagation/expatiation/oberration/pererration/roam/rove/vagation/wander _n. aimless travel bereft of course, destination or objective __extravagation __n. oberration exceeding some limit or perimeter __noctivagation __n. the act of walking or wandering during the night juxtapose/collocate/appose v. to array side by side or in a particular propinquity, esp. to emphasize contrast of the disposed constituents lapidate/stone v. to pelt someone with stones legation n. the dispatch of an envoy on a diplomatic mission lope v. to run or move with a long, swinging or bounding stride n. a steady gait of long or bounding strides lucubrate v. to study strenuously, esp. at night migrate/move/relocate/remove/resettle/transmigrate/transplant v. to journey from one country or zone to another, so to settle and reside therein _migrate/transmigrate _v. to relocate periodically or seasonally molder v. to disintegrate naturally into dust nuance/refine/subtilize v. to render subtle or invest with greater subtlety nullify/neutralize/negative/negate v. to render ineffectual or otiose obeisance n. any gesture that expresses deference or homage, as a bow, curtsy, genuflection, kowtow, nod, salaam, etc. obscurantism n. any intentional evasion of clarity; the practice of deliberately obviating the disclosure of facts or details obscure/obnubilate/obfuscate/muddy/fog/darken/confuse/cloud/blur/befog/becloud v. to make a concept, nuance, situation, etc. uncertain or incomprehensible obtrude/intrude/inflict/impose/force/foist v. to force something (esp. one's presence, participation or opinion) upon others when unwarranted or unbidden obtrude/extrude v. to push or thrust out or forward obviate v. to dispose of a need in advance optimize v. to render as effective, functional or useful as possible whilst maximizing efficiency v. to obtain the most from; to exploit fully v. (of a computer program) to program or modify to attain maximal efficiency in storage capacity, cost, execution or retrieval optimize v. to assert or adhere to a sanguine, hopeful and confident perspective paddock v. to confine horses in a paddock palpate v. to examine part of a body by touching it parallel/collimate v. to place, make, extend or be adjacent and equidistant to something else pare v. to peel or trim an outer layer, integument, edge, coating, etc. by cutting perambulation n. a hike around a locale's perimeter conducted to examine and document its measurements pillory v. to punish by locking in a pillory pillory/gibbet v. to expose to public mockery or abuse pirouette n. a rapid spin of one's body performed on a pedal ball or points of the toes v. to execute a pirouette, usually as part of a dance ply/practice/prosecute/pursue v. to regularly or assiduously perform one's craft, endeavor, pastime or vocation _prosecute _v. to pursue a project to completion ply v. to conjoin strands of yarn or rope, or clay by weaving, twisting or molding precipitate v. to violently hurl or throw downward precipitate v. (of condensed water vapor) to fall from clouds as snow, sleet, rain or hail predate/foredate/antedate v. to assign a date preceding actuality preoccupy v. to occupy or appropriate before another or others prepossess v. to favorably impress someone beforehand presume v. to venture without permission or sanction progression/progress/headway/advance(ment) n. forward movement toward a locality or other destination n. development toward a specific objective, often actualized as cumulative achievement propagate v. to transmit one's hereditary attributes to offspring or a sequent generation propagate v. (of thermic, photic, elecromagnetic, compressive or aural waves) to move through a medium (esp. air), often in a particular direction propagate/transmit v. (of thermic, photic, elecromagnetic, compressive or aural waves) to send through a medium (esp. air), often in a particular direction prospect v. to explore a region or site therein for useful or valuable substances such as gold, minerals or oil, esp. by means of experimental drilling or excavation prostitute/sell out/whore v. to compromise one's integrity or degrade oneself by the exercize of one's talents in pursuit of a base or unworthy objective for pecuniary or other gains prostitute/whore v. to exchange sex for money pry/prize/lever v. to exert force with a lever to move, open, raise or separate something purl v. to flow with a gently curling or rippling motion rebate v. to blunt the edge or point of a sharp weapon rebuild/reconstruct/remake v. to build or form something again ulterior to its damage, destruction or deterioration reclamation/reclaim/redemption/reformation n. the act of rehabilitating one's constitution, conduct or reputation reconcile/make [OR] patch up v. to make peace with someone; to restitute friendly relations recondition/refurbish/rehabilitate/rejuvenate/renew/renovate/restore v. to return a building, furnishing, painting, vehicle, etc. to an earlier or original condition by extensive repair or remodeling reconnaissance n. preliminary exploration or survey of an area conducted to obtain information reconnoiter/scout v. to survey an area to acquire data v. to survey an area (esp. an enemy position) to acquire tactical or logistical data recrudesce v. (usu. of disease, misfortune, etc.) to recur after a dormant period reestablish/reinstate/reinstitute/remit/restitute/restore v. to return to a former condition, position or rank reformation n. an act or process of altering economic, political or social conditions, institutions, practices or laws to curb or obviate abuse or dysfunction, esp. that ensuant of malfeasance regress/relapse/retrogress/retrovert/revert v. to return to a prior or less developed condition or comportment, usu. that which is inferior or worse relay n. the act of passing something from an establishment, collective or individual to another or others v. to pass something from one station, group or person to another or others relegate/reduce/downgrade/demote/degrade v. to lessen to an inferior rank or status _declass _v. to downgrade one's social class or status relinquish/release/quit v. to manually let go of something or someone; to free from one's grip renege (on)/break v. to fail or refuse to fulfill a promise or obligation repose/intrust/entrust v. to place confidence or trust in a person or thing reprisal/requital/retaliation/retribution/revenge/vengeance n. punishment inflicted in return for an injury or transgression _reprisal _n. any retaliation against an enemy in wartime, as the destruction of property or execution of POWs repudiate v. to reject someone's or something's authority or validity rest/repose/relax v. to suspend physical activity or movement to disport or rejuvenate oneself _recess/break _v. to cease work or study to relax awhile return/repair v. to come or go back to a place or person return/restore/replace/render v. to bring, give, send or take something back to its owner rinse v. to wash under a fluxion of or by immersion in water riposte n. a fencing counterattack performed immediately subsequent to one's effective parry of an opponent's lunge v. to execute a return thrust after parrying roister/revel/party/make merry [OR] whoopie/cavort v. to celebrate with raucous and jubilant conviviality _wassail/party/carouse _v. to revel whilst drinking or inebriated; to cavort drunkenly ruin/pauperize/impoverish/immiserate/destitute/beggar v. to make a person or locale poor; to reduce to poverty ruffle/riffle/flick (through) v. to rapidly or absently turn or flip through with one's fingers, esp. the pages of a book, magazine, etc. saunter n. a careless, leisurely gait scratch/scotch/score/nick v. to cut a superficial notch or line, as on cardboard to facilitate bending _notch/nick _v. to incise with an angular or V-shaped cut or indentation scour/scrub v. to polish or cleanse by vigorous rubbing, as with a detergent or abradant scrabble n. to frantically scrape, grope or dig with one's hands, hooves, paws, etc. scratch/scrawl/scrabble/scribble v. to write or draw something in an awkward, hasty, often sprawling fashion without concern for its legibility or recognizability scribe v. to mark or score a ceramic, metal or wooden surface with a scriber to indicate where it's to be cut scruple v. to be constrained by moral or ethical considerations; to waver or hesitate to do something that one adjudges potentially wrong scud/skim/skate v. to glide lightly and swiftly on or over a surface segregate v. to impose separation of a racial, religious or other group from a populace segue v. to smoothly transition from one condition, element, function or situation to another sequestrate/sequester/segregate/isolate v. to separate from others or one another, as a jury during a trial and deliberations sex n. any sexual activity intended for procreation or pleasure _acokoinonia _n. sex sans ardor or desire _amation/lovemaking _n. sex between lovers _onanism/masturbation _n. manual stimulation of the genital organs to derive sexual pleasure and ultimately attain orgasm _sex/(sexual) intercourse [OR] congress _n. penetrative genital contact or coupling between two or more individuals __avowtry/advoutry/adultery __n. consensual sexual congress between a married individual and someone who isn't their spouse __sex/(sexual) intercourse [OR] congress/copulation/coitus __n. sex by which a male's erect penis is inserted into a woman's vagina _sodomy/buggery/anal sex [OR] intercourse _n. intercourse via the anus _sodomy/oral sex/cunnilingus/cunnilinctus _n. oral stimulation of the clitoris or pudendum _sodomy/oral sex/fellatio(n) _n. oral stimulation of the penis shape/mold/model/form v. to fashion into a particular shape, as by sculpting _broach _v. to shape or enlarge a hole with a broach _contour _v. to shape the outline of, esp. to fit within or in juncture with something else __bevel/cant/chamfer __v. to cut or reduce an edge or corner from an orthogonal shape to an oblique, symmetrical form; to contour to a bevel _cut _v. to form by cutting _dimension _v. to model to particular dimensions _hammer _v. to form by beating with a hammer __peen __v. to bend, enlarge, smooth or straighten by striking with a hammer's peen _knurl _v. to impress (a component) with a fine series of ridges short shrift/summary treatment n. any brusque, scant, unsympathetic treatment that ordinarily precedes a rejection or dismissal siphon v. to convey a liquid from one container into another by means of initial suction and atmospheric pressure v. to withdraw or transfer funds or resources over a protracted duration, esp. by illicit means slack(en)/relax/loosen v. to become or permit to be less taut, as of a cable, line, etc. slake/slack v. to create calcium hydroxide by mixing lime and water or deliquescing lime sluice v. to accommodate with a sluice v. (of water) to direct, flow, drain, irrigate or release from or through a sluice v. to wash (usu. sediment) with water streaming through a sluice v. to transport (usu. logs) down or through a sluice sober v. to make or become sober posterior to inebriation sortie/sally n. an armed attack from a besieged situation v. to attack from a beleaguered position speed/quicken/hurry/hasten/expedite/accelerate v. to increase speed of progress, occurrence or development _precipitate/anticipate _v. to abruptly or prematurely engender an incident or situation split/rive v. to break or divide an object (such as a log or cabbage head) from end to end by striking _cleave _v. to split with a sharp instrument, as an axe or cleaver spurn/scorn/reject/rebuff v. to contemptuously reject someone or something squail v. to hurl a stick or sticks at something squire v. to escort a woman as or in the manner of a squire stanch v. to stop an effluxion, esp. of blood from a wound steady/stabilize/fix v. to make or become stable in condition, position or quality stint/skimp/scrimp/economize v. to spend or expend money or other resources minimally in providence or parsimony stoop/descend/deign/condescend v. to debase oneself morally, esp. by lowering one's standards to effectuate a reprehensible or otherwise shameful act; to demean oneself by acting in an unworthy, undignified or dishonorable way stop/prohibit/prevent/preclude/obviate/hinder/forfend/forefend/deter/avoid/avert v. to keep from occurring _prevent/forestall/forfend/forefend _a. to avert something by means of precautionary measures _thwart/stymie/stop/snooker/scuttle/prevent/hinder/handcuff/frustrate/foil/discomfit/disappoint/defeat/dash/confound/bilk/bar/balk/baffle _v. to stop (someone) from accomplishing something; to successfully oppose a plan, endeavor, desideratum, ambition, action, etc. __prevent/forestall/anticipate __v. to dash by acting in advance stultify v. to cause someone or something to appear inconsistent, silly or stupid stultify v. to make futile, impuissant or otiose, esp. by frustrating stupefy/stun/daze v. to dull or benumb one's senses or intellect by or as though by a blow or shock _muddle/besot _v. to stupefy with inebriation or infatuation sublimate v. to divert energy of physical, instinctual and esp. libidinous impulses to endeavors of productive or socially acceptable activity substantiate/realize/incarnate/embody/actualize v. to render actual; to give existence, real form or substance to a concept, objective, etc. _incarnate/embody _v. to actualize in a human form _reify/objectify _v. to make an abstraction concrete or real subvert v. to undermine the power and authority of and ultimately overthrow an established system, institution or leader, esp. in a surreptitious manner supervene (on, upon) v. to happen additionally, irrelevantly or unexpectedly supplant/supersede/replace/displace v. to take the place or assume the role, position or function of something or someone anterior supple v. to make or become flexible suppress/restrain/inhibit/curb/constrain/bridle v. to suspend activity or ideas suppress/subject/subdue/stifle/squelch/squash/repress/quell/pacify/overpower/dompt/crush/compel/adaunt v. to forcibly vanquish rebellion or havoc, esp. to establish one's dominance surf v. to ride the face of a wave toward shore, esp. while standing on a surfboard surf/browse v. to navigate from one broadcast or online channel, site or page to another with a television or web browser surveil/follow v. to monitor the activities of an (ordinarily suspect) individual or group survey v. to examine, determine and record the borders, elevation, extent, form, position, topography, etc. of a tract, harbor, coast, etc. by means of linear and angular mensuration in accordance with geometric and trigonometric principles, esp. for cartographic purposes survive/subsist/live/exist v. (usu. followed by on) to sustain one's life by consumption of aliment, or acquisition of money or other resources swash v. to move about in water with a splashing sound sway/incline/dispose/bias v. to influence someone's opinion in favor of a certain partiality or attitude _prepossess/prejudice/predispose/predetermine _v. to bias in advance sweep/scour/ransack/comb v. to search thoroughly swill/slop v. to feed beasts with swill swoop/stoop/souse/pounce v. to suddenly sweep or spring down upon to attack, as in predation tabulate/tabularize/table v. to array or enter data in a tabular format tack n. a course of action divergent from another antecedent v. to alter one's course of action taint/pollute/maculate/foul/defile/corrupt/contaminate/befoul v. to make filthy or impure, esp. with waste substances tally/score/rack up/notch/chalk up v. to gain a point, goal, run, etc. in a game or contest v. to record the score of a game tarmac/macadamize v. to construct or pave with macadam temporize v. to act adaptively in accordance with current, temporary occasions or circumstances tender/proffer/offer/give/extend v. to present for acceptance or rejection _tender/present _v. to formally offer for receipt or refusal title/nominate/entitle/designate v. to assign a title to, as an artistic work tonsure v. to shave someone's head tout/flog/ballyhoo v. to advertise with aggressive, brazen, hyperbolic enthusiasm transmigrate/reincarnate v. to be born anew as another person posterior to one's death transmogrify/transform/transfigure/mutate/metamorphose/convert/change v. to change in or an appearance or perceptible form transpose/transmute/transform/mutate/metamorphose/convert/change v. to experience a radical alteration of or change the structure, form or character of transpose/rearrange/permute v. to change the order, positions or sequence of numerous objects or elements in a group transposition/rearrangement/permutation n. the act or process of changing the (often linear) order of a disposal, permutation or sequence of grouped articles or constituents transpose/switch/reverse/invert/interchange/counterchange v. to set each of two items in the place of one another transubstantiate/transmute/transform/convert/commute v. to change one substance into another, as lead into gold! _lignify _v. to transmute into wood, as by deposition of lignin in cellular walls trap/net/entrap/ensnare/catch v. to capture in or as if in a baited device, hidden pit, etc. _tangle/net/mesh/entangle/enmesh/catch _v. to catch in or as one would with a net _tangle/snare/entangle/ensnare/enmesh/catch _v. to trap with or as though in a snare travail/toil/sweat/strain/moil/labor/grind/drudgery n. any painful or strenuous work _slog _n. lengthy labor travail/toil/sweat/slave/moil/labor/grind/drudge v. to engage operose work _slog _v. to toil a long while traverse/thwart/span/range/pass/cross/cover v. to extend or reach across, over or through _arch _v. (of an arch) to span traverse v. to ascend, descend or cross a slope via a diagonal or zigzag course while skiing trip/stumble v. to momentarily lose one's balance or footing and nearly fall, esp. after catching one's foot on something troop/socialize/mix/fraternize/consort/associate v. to keep company with an individual or fraternity in a genial manner _whore/wench _v. to consort with whores trumpery/tommyrot/nonsense/humbug/hokum/bunk/bosh/baloney n. desipient action or activity tumble/precipitate/plunge/plummet/pitch v. to fall forward or down swiftly, sharply or headlong undergo/suffer/receive/meet (with)/experience v. to be subjected to or present at an occurrence _undergo/sustain/suffer _v. to experience tribulation, injury, pain or loss undermine/sap v. to excavate beneath a situation, fortification or building, esp. to collapse it undertaking/project/enterprise/endeavor/business n. an important or difficult task, esp. that which requires preparative deliberation _foray _n. an initial endeavor beyond one's usual compass of activity _venture _n. a parlous, uncertain enterprise undulate/wave v. to have or confer a wavy appearance or form (esp. a contour or pattern), as that of a liquid surface _ripple/riffle _v. to form or prompt small waves unseat/remove/oust/eject/displace/dislodge/discharge/depose/cashier v. to expel from a position or office uplift/sublime/gentle/exalt/ensky/ennoble/elevate/dignify v. to elevate to a high degree of moral excellence or spiritual purity; endue with a greater dignity or nobility of character valet v. to serve as a personal attendant responsible for his employer's apparel and sundry other tasks v. to attend to a hotel's patrons or cruise vessel's passengers veer/swerve/stray/skew/sheer/diverge/deviate/depart (from)/cut v. to (often abruptly) turn aside or away from a straight or plotted course _yaw _v. to temporarily (often momentarily) swerve veer v. (of wind) to shift clockwise in direction vitiate/subvert/pervert/degrade/deprave/debauch/debase/corrupt v. to lower or ruin one's moral character, usu. by intemperance or sensuality vitiate/spoil/pervert/mar/impair/degrade/debase v. to reduce efficacy, quality or value, usu. by damage vitriolize/pickle v. to treat and esp. clean metal by immersion in dilute sulfuric acid volley v. to discharge or be dispersed concurrently in rapid succession, as though in a volley volley n. a badminton, football or tennis return executed by hitting or kicking the ball or shuttlecock before it lands v. to strike and return a (cricket, football, tennis, etc.) ball before it hits the ground wager/stake/play/lay/gamble/bet v. to pledge something (usually a sum of money) as a forfeit if one's forecast of a future event should prove erroneous, usually in return for a corresponding pledge by another or others if the aforementioned prediction is accurate _parlay _v. to stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager _v. to transform any gain into another of greater value by investment shake/quassation/agitation n. the act of moving something quickly and jerkily up and down or from side to side waggle/shake/jounce/diddle/agitate v. to move an object up and down or from side to side with brisk, vigorous, jerking motions _joggle/jiggle _v. to shake slightly; to move or cause to move with short, wagging bobs or jerks _rock/convulse _v. to agitate with violent force wanton v. to engage in numerous (usu. fugacious) sexual relations with several people, often indulgently or impulsively; to act promiscuously _philander _v. to indulge intercourse or an affair with a woman or women one can't or won't marry __whore __v. to philander with a prostitute or prostitutes welter/wallow/swell/surge/heave/billow v. to suddenly, forcibly rise or advance, as a wave or crowd wassail/toast/pledge/drink v. to celebrate, honor or wish someone or something well as an expression of benevolence by raising one's glass together with others before quaffing their contents waste/wanton*/trifle*/squander/misspend/dissipate/consume v. (*usu. followed by away) to use or expend money, time or resources uselessly or carelessly, esp. in a rash, foolish, frivolous or extravagant manner _fritter _v. (usu. followed by away) to squander gradually, little by little _trifle*/shilly-shally/piddle*^/lounge*/lollygag/loiter*/loaf*/lallygag/idle*/dilly-dally/diddle^/dawdle*/dally* _v. (usu. followed by *away when transitive or ^around) to waste time by doing nothing or anything frivolous wave/undulate/roll v. to smoothly, usu. gently rise and fall or move from side to side, as waves _ripple/riffle _v. to flow with a light or faint undulation wave/wafture n. the act of moving one's hand side-to-side to signal someone or express salutation or farewell wigwag/wave/vacillate/swing/sway/rock v. to move back and forth or side to side, often at a fixed speed _vacillate/oscillate _v. to move or back and forth at an invariant rate wince/shy/shrink/resile/recoil/quail/flinch/cringe/blench/arsle v. to suddenly draw back, as in fear, pain, revulsion or shock _cower _v. to quail fearfully winnow/fan v. (of a breeze, breath or other current) to blow on, off, over or through winnow/fan v. to separate grain from chaff with a focused, vigorous air current winnow/garble/cull (out) v. to select the best or most qualified constituents of a group or list, esp. by a process of elimination withdraw/retire v. to depart from participation in an activity or consort of a group _sequester/sequestrate _v. to withdraw into solitude; to seclude oneself withstand/resist/repugn/oppose/fight/dispute/counteract/counter/combat v. to act against a person, force, enterprise, etc. _uprise/rise/revolt/rebel/mutiny _v. to openly oppose a government or other ruling authority with subversive and esp. violent techniques wobble/shudder/shiver/shake/rock/quake/jounce v. to move with quick, jerking, often irregular motions _vibrate/tremble/quiver/quaver/quake/pulsate/palpitate/flutter/flicker _v. to shake with slight, rapid movements _judder _v. to shake or vibrate with spasmodic or violent celerity yield/surrender/succumb/submit/render/give up/capitulate/bow v. to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and subject oneself to their will, power or authority surrender/submission/capitulation n. the act of subjecting oneself to the dominion or power of an opponent after conceding defeat ==ANATOMY== achromasia n. an absence of dermal pigmentation acute/keen/sensitive/sharp a. of a highly developed physical sense or faculty amygdala n. either of an almond-shaped pair of masses composed of gray matter within the temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres, which comprise part of the limbic system and are involved with the generation of fear and aggression anterior a. located on or near the front plane of a body or an organ anteriors n. incisors and canines, distinguished in the dental array before posterior premolars and molars appendage/extremity/limb/member n. a functional, external bodily structure that projects from the trunk, as an arm or leg ass/backside/behind/bottom/buns/butt/buttocks/caboose/can/cheeks/derriere/fanny/fundament/gluteus maximus/heinie/keister/nates/posterior/prat/rear/rump/seat/stern/tail/tochus/tush n. the fleshy, adipose pair of protrusions constituting the lower rear of the human trunk on which one sits atrium n. a bodily cavity or chamber _atrium/auricle _n. either of two cardiac chambers from which blood is conveyed to the heart's ventricles; the right atrium receives deoxygenated bood and the left oxygenated from the pulmonary vein __(atrial) auricle/auricula atrii __n. a small, conical, muscular pouch projecting from the upper anterior portion of each cardiac atrium _cistern(a)/reservoir _n. a sac or cavity containing (commonly lymph or cerebrospinal) fluid _gullet/pharynx _n. a membranous cavity of the alimentary canal linking the mouth and nasal passages to the esophagus _lacuna _n. a (conventionally minute and osteal) cavity, space or depression containing cartilage or osseous matter __fontanel __n. any of a fetus's or infant's cranial lacunae covered by membrane _vestibule _n. any bodily cavity, channel or chamber leading to or opening into another (as of the inner ear, urethra or vagina) auricle/pinna n. the visible, protruding, cartilaginous structure of the external ear auditory/aural/auricular a. of or regarding auditory modality auricular a. shaped like a pinna bandy/bowlegged a. (of legs) laterally excurvate at the knees beefy/brawny/buirdly/burly/hefty/husky/meaty/muscly/muscular/stalwart/strapping/sturdy/thewy a. possessing a heavy, stout build of thoroughly developed and pronounced musculature _Herculean _a. extremely brawny _mesomorphic _a. muscular for the prominence of structures developed from tissues of the embryonic mesoderm bodily/corporal/corporeal/physical a. of or regarding the body _aural/auricular/otic _a. of or pertaining to the ear _bony/osteal/osteochondral _a. of or concerning bone __cranial __a. of or pertaining to the skull __hyoid __a. of or pertaining to the hyoid bone or associated structures __osteal/skeletal __a. of or regarding the skeleton _buccal _a. of, near, regarding or forming the facial cheek __bucconasal __a. regarding the cheek and nose together _buccal/oral _a. of, concerning, or within the mouth __nasobuccal __a. respecting or connected with the nose and mouth together _cardiac/cordial/coronary _a. of or concerning the heart __auricular __a. of or concerning the atrial auricle __coronary __a. of or pertaining to the coronary arteries _cephalic _a. of or regarding the head __cranial __a. of or pertaining to the cranium ___temporal ___a. of, concerning, within or proximal to the cranial temples _crinal _a. of or pertaining to hair _dermal/dermatic/dermic _a. of or regarding the skin _genial _a. of of pertaining to the chin _guttural _a. of or pertaining to the throat _hepatic _a. of, resembling, regarding, affecting or occurring in the liver _inguinal _a. of, regarding or situated in the groin _lienal/splenetic/splenic _a. of or relating to the spleen _muscular _a. of or relating to muscle or muscles __sartorial __a. of or relating to the sartorius _ocular/optic/optical/ophthalmic _a. of or regarding the eye __sclerotic __a. of or relating to the sclera of the eyeball _penile/phallic/priapic _a. of, regarding or resembling a penis _pulmonary/pulmonic _a. of, concerning or affecting the lungs _scapular(y) _a. of or concerning the scapula or shoulder body/carcass/corpus n. the totality of an organism's physical structure _cadaver/carcass/corpse/corpus/corse _n. a dead body, esp. that of a human bosomy/busty/buxom/chesty/pneumatic/stacked a. endowed with large, often prominent breasts boss n. any extant, external organic mass _eminence/eminency _n. a (ordinarily osseous) projection or protuberance from the surface of a body part __spur __n. an unnatural eminency _excrescence _n. any prominent, often anomalous outgrowth or protuberance such as a wart, nodule, carbuncle or blister brow/eyebrow/supercilium/vallum n. (usu. curved or arched) hair growing over each brow canal/channel/tube n. a tubular passage or cavity though which air or nutriments are conveyed _duct _n. a vessel through which lymph or glandular secretions (such as tears or bile) issue _esophagus/gullet/oesophagus _n. a muscular, tubular constituent of the alimentary canal lined with mucous membrane that connects the throat to the stomach _trachea/windpipe _n. a large membranous tube reinforced by cartilage rings that extends from larynx to bronchial tubes to convey air to and from the lungs caul/pileus n. a portion of the amnion that may cover the head of a fetus upon parturition cephalic a. within, upon or near the head chiasma n. a crossing or junction of two tracts, such as ligaments or nerves colon n. the longest portion of the large intestine, which extends from the cecum to the rectum commissure n. a joint between two bones n. the line where the upper and lower lips or eyelids meet n. a band of nervous tissue connecting the cerebral hemispheres, spinal laterals, etc. condyle n. a bone's rounded, terminal protuberance, which forms an articulation in conjunction with another connate/coadunate a. (of similar parts or organs) conjoined in growth _adnate _a. (of anatomical structures) conjoined to a functionally dissimilar organ, extremity, etc. corpus n. that main portion of an organ or other bodily structure n. any distinct, functional organic tissue, esp. an organ curvaceous/curvy/voluptuous a. (of a figure) having pronounced, sensual curves _buxom/Rubenesque/zaftig _a. plumply, pleasantly curvaceous dissepiment/septum (pl. dissepiments/septa) n. any partition (often a membrane) that divides two bodily cavities, chambers or tissues dorsal a. of, concerning or located on the back or upper surface of an organ, organism or part ectopia n. a bodily structure's or organ's abnormal position or location, attendant of congenital disorder or injury ectopic a. (of organs) atypically disposed epiglottis n. a thin flap of cartilage that's depressed while swallowing to cover the glottis and thus preclude the passage of comestible matter into the larynx epithelium n. membranous tissue consisting of superficial cells, whether external (skin) or internal (cortices, etc.) erythrism n. unusually red crinal pigmentation excrescent a. of or constituting an excessive or abnormal outgrowth or enlargement, as a wart extremity n. a hand or foot _hand/mitt/paw _n. the prehensile extremity of an arm comprised of the palm, fingers and thumb __manus __n. the joint hand and wrist femur/thighbone n. a bone in the leg connecting the pelvis to the knee, the strongest and longest in the human body flank n. the side between ribs and hip fubsy/fubby a. short and chubby glabrous n. (of skin) smooth and hairless gorge/gullet/thrapple/throat/throttle n. the passage linking the posterior mouth to the anterior portion of the neck or rear of the mouth, including the fauces and pharynx gynecomastia n. an enlargement of male breasts, commonly consequent of hormone imbalance or therapy hairy/hirsute/pilose a. covered with (usu. when growing) hair _barbate/bearded/bewhiskered/whiskered/whiskery _a. hairy on one's cheeks and chin _downy/fuzzy/(molli)pilose/silky _a. growing or covered with soft, fine hair _griseous/grizzled _a. fully, peppered or streaked with gray hair _rough/shaggy _a. possessing or covered with long, coarse hair haunch n. the hip, buttock and upper thigh of a human heterologic(al)/heterologous a. of anatomy dissimilar in structure or evolutionary origin; derived from a different species homologous a. of organs corresponding in position, structure and evolutionary origin, though not necessarily of function hyoid n. a horseshoe- or U-shaped bone that supports the tongue, situated in the neck's anterior midline betwixt chin and thyroid cartilage inhibition n. any stimulation of an organ's or bodily part's nerve supply that suppresses its function insula/island of Reil n. pyramidical areas in each cerebral hemisphere within the sylvian fissure and beneath the frontal and temporal lobes, which process autonomic functions, emotions and sensations intramural a. within a cavity's or organ's walls intrinsic a. (of certain nerves and muscles) located within or belonging solely to the organ or body part on which it acts ithyphallus n. an erect penis lachrymal/lacrimal a. concerned with the secretion of tears a. of, comprising, pertaining or proximate to glands that secrete tears larynx/voice box n. a muscular organ within the anterior trachea and connected to the hyoid bone that contains elastic vocal cords, which produce sonant sound when vibrated by a current of breath that passes between them limber/lissom(e)/lithe/lithesome/supple a. capable of moving or bending one's limbs freely and flexibly, esp. by virtue of a slender physique lineaments/features n. a countenance's characteristic constituents: eyes, nose, mouth, chin, etc. lean/macilent/meager/spare/thin a. possessing a light physique of minimal muscularity _asthenic/ectomorphic _a. macilent for the prominence of structures derived from the embryonic ectoderm's tissues _bony/emaciated/gaunt/scrawny/skeletal _n. extremely, unnaturally thin, usu. in consequence of starvation _rangy _a. lean and long-limbed __gangling/gangly/lank/lanky __a. ungracefully rangy and tall _slender/slight/slim/svelte/willowy _a. elegantly, attractively, often delicately thin __sylphlike __a. (of a woman or girl) gracefully, attractively, often delicately thin _spindly _a. tall and usu. frailly spare lunule/lunula n. the white, crescent area at a fingernail's base melanism n. crinal or dermal darkness caused by high concentrations of melanin Morton's toe [OR] foot n. a condition whereby a second toe exceeds the length of the adjoining first nare/naris/nostril n. either of the nose's two exterior apertures nevus n. an inborn or acquired dermal maculation _beauty spot [OR] mark/birthmark _n. any congenital dermal blemish _beauty spot [OR] mark/mole _n. a small, often raised and usu. dark nevus node n. a finger's joint or knuckle nodule n. a small, usually uncommon swelling consisting of tissue or a cellular aggregate ocular/optic/optical/visual a. of or pertaining to eyesight ocular a. of a form or function resembling that of the eye osteal/osseous/bony a. consisting of or resembling bone _skeletal _a. forming a skeleton outgrowth/process n. a natural prolongation or projection from or within an organism's body, as an osseous protuberance _node _n. any natural bulge or swelling of an anatomical structure or organ, as those interspersed along the course of a lymphatic vessel __nodule __n. a small node philtrum n. the shallow, cleft groove extending from the nose to the upper lip physis n. any portion of a bone that lengthens with growth pilus/hair (pl. pili/hair) n. any of the fine, pliant, cylindrical filaments growing from a mammal's epidermis _feat/curl _n. a lock of curly hair _thatch _n. thick, unruly hair resembling thatched roofing material _tussock/tuft/tuffet _n. a bunch of hair growing or fastened together pore n. any of numerous, minute dermal orifices through which perspiration is exuded prognathous a. possessing a protruding lower jaw protrusible/protrusile a. (of a limb or other body part) capable of outward or forward thrust proximal a. situated nearer or nearest to a body's midline, or a limb's or bone's point of attachment pudendum/vulva (pl. pudenda/vulvae) n. the external female genitals pulmonary/pulmonate a. possessing lungs purlicue n. the space betwixt thumb and forefinger rudiment n. any undeveloped or immature part or organ, esp. that of an embryo primitive/rudimental/rudimentary a. (of an organ or appendage) in the first or an early stage of formation or growth sartorius n. the longest muscle in the human body, situated at the fore of the thigh and extending obliquely from the hip to the inner tibia; the sartorius aids rotation of the leg into the cross-legged position assumed by a seated tailor steatopygous a. possessing especially fat buttocks suture n. a stabile osteal (and usu. cranial) joint or line of junction talus/astragal(us)/anklebone n. the large bone that forms the ankle joint in articulation with the tibial condyle testis/testicle/nut/bollock/ballock/ball n. either of two male ovoid reproductive glands within the scrotum that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens throb/race/flutter v. (of the heart) to beat rapidly _thump/throb/pound _v. to throb heavily or violently _palpitate/flutter _v. to pulsate with excessive or irregular celerity ventral/abdominal a. of, concerning or located on the belly, abdomen or underside of an organism vestigial/rudimentary/rudimental a. (of an organ or appendage) no longer serving a function, and thus nonfunctional, degenerate or atrophied in occurrence or persistence viscus (pl. viscera) n. any internal (esp. abdominal) organ located within one of the body's main cavities ==ARCHITECTURE, FIXTURES & FURNISHINGS== abutment n. a member which receives the thrust and supports the lateral pressure of an arch, vault, span, etc. n. a structure supporting one end of a bridge addition/annex/extension n. any room or array of rooms added to an existing building _ell _n. a terminal, perpendicular extension aerie n. any edifice (esp. a residence) situated high on a hill or mountain alcove/bay n. a recess in a wall, usu. to accommodate a bed or bookshelves altar (Christian) n. a table in a Christian church where communion is administered n. a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are placed, or religious rites performed ambo (Christian) n. one of two raised, oblong pulpits in which the gospels and epistles were read in early Christian churches amphitheater n. any alfresco and oviform or circinate building wherein tiers of seats ascend progressively from a central space, as an arena or stage annex n. an adjunct building associated with a central facility antechamber/anteroom n. a room that provides entry to another adjacent that's larger, as a waiting room _vestibule _n. a proportionally small antechamber between a building's exterior doors and interior antimacassar/tidy n. a protective (usu. cloth) cover laid over the headrest or an arm of a chair, sofa, etc. to forfend wear, maculation, etc. apiary/bee house n. an edifice containing numerous beehives, conventionally wherein they're raised for harvest of their honey apse n. a building's domed, vaulted or sloping recess or projection of semicircular or polygonal conformation, esp. the east end of a church, where its altar is located _tribune _n. the apse of a basilica containing the Bishop's throne arcade n. an arched or covered passageway normally flanked by shops _loggia _n. a gallery or arcade of at least one side open to air (regularly supported by columns), esp. one constituting part of a house facing or dominant of a garden arch n. a curved, usu. vertical structure that spans and forms the upper edge of an opening (as that of a doorway or bridge) and supports its overhead or lateral weight v. to span (an opening, etc.) with an arch _extrados _n. an arch's upper or exterior curve or surface _intrados _n. an arch's interior curve or surface _archway _n. an arch over a passageway or entranceway _arcade _n. a series of arches supported by a colonnade, either freestanding or comprising part of a wall __arcature __n. an arcade constructed on a small scale _proscenium (arch) _n. an arch framing the aperture between stage and auditorium _viaduct _n. a sequence of arches supported by a row of piers or towers built to carry a canal, road or railroad over a valley or other low elevation arch n. a structure shaped like an inverse U _extrados _n. an arch's upper or exterior curve or surface _intrados _n. an arch's interior curve or surface _archway _n. an arch over a passageway or entranceway architrave n. a molded frame bordering a door or window _plinth _n. a block at the intersection of a baseboard and door's architrave armoire n. a large cabinet or wardrobe art nouveau n. a French school of decorative art, architecture and design popular from the late 19th century to WWI characterized by ornate, stylized motifs depicting the sinuous outlines of vegetation and other natural forms: leaves, vines, flowers, bodily contours, etc. astragal/bead n. a convex, typically semicircular or beaded molding disposed at the head or base of a column, or to close the clearance gap of a door or pair thereof atelier/studio n. a room in which an artist or designer works atrium n. an ordinarily skylighted square or orthogonal central hall or court lit from above, into which rooms or galleries open at one or multiple levels n. the central court of an ancient Roman house distinguished by its open roof attic/garret/loft n. a room or space directly beneath a roof, which may be utilized for lodging or storage _mansard _n. a garret beneath a mansard roof attic n. a low story or (usu. decorative) wall above a classical facade's cornice awning n. a rooflike projection (fashioned of canvas, another tough fabric or flexile plastic) supported by a frame and installed over a doorway, deck, window or storefront to provide shelter from sunlight or precipitation _canopy _n. a lengthy awning extending over a doorway to its contiguous sidewalk's curb azotea n. a flat roof baluster/banister/spindle n. one of a railing's series of columnar supports balustrade/banister n. a bridge's, terrace's or stairwell's railing or handrail supported by balusters bandstand n. a raised platform on which a band performs baseless a. (of a column) without base between the shaft and pedestal basin/sink n. a stationary basin connected to a fauceted water supply and drainpipe, with which one may wash their hands, face, kitchenware, etc. _lavatory/washbasin/wash-hand basin/washstand _n. a bathroom's basin bastion n. a projecting portion of a fortification (such as a rampart) enabling deployment of multidirectional defensive fire bedframe/bedstead n. the frame of a bed, often comprehending a headboard and springs berth/bunk n. a (usually tiered) bed of a vessel or train bollard n. a (usu. cylindrical or conical) post constructed of wood, steel, concrete, etc. that is ordinarily paired or arrayed in rows to demarcate areas, prevent entry or passage of traffic, etc. boss/stud n. an ornamental projection, as of a vaulted ceiling or roof _crochet/crocket _n. a Gothic architectural ornament fashioned to resemble curved foliage (as buds or leaves) projecting from the sloping angles and edges of pinnacles, spires or gables brace/bracing (pl. braces/bracing) n. any structural member that stiffens and imparts steadiness to a framework _puncheon _n. a short, upright post employed as a vertical strut for structural framing bungalow/cabana/cottage n. a small house of a single story and broad front porch, usually located near a lake or beach, or in a rural vicinage _bower _n. a (usu. attractive or charming) rural cottage _chalet _n. a bungalow designed in the style of a chalet buttery/larder/pantry/spence n. a room or closet in which food is reposited buttery n. a storeroom in which liquors and wines are stocked buttress n. an integral projecting support (usually constructed of stone or brick) that supports the wall of a building v. to provision or reinforce [a structure] with a buttress cabana/cabin/hut/hutch/shack/shanty n. a small dwelling of simple or crude construction, often serving as a provisional domicile _chalet _n. the hutch of a herder in the Swiss Alps _hovel _n. a wretched, squalid or otherwise unsavory hut _jacal _n. a hut constructed of daubed wattle and a thatched roof _wickiup _n. a Native American hut composed of a frame covered with brushwood, grasses or mats canopy n. a (commonly fabric) covering suspended on pillars or posts over a bed, throne, altar, statue, fountain, etc. _ciborium/baldachin (Christian) _n. a canopy standing on four pillars over an altar _valance _n. a length of decorative drapery hung from the canopy of a bed to screen its structure canopy v. to furnish or cover with a canopy cellarage n. a space of or area in a cellar n. cellars collectively chalet n. a wooden house of Swiss provenience distinguished by its low roof and extremely broad eaves chancel (Roman Catholic) n. the space in a church circumferent of its altar, usu. enclosed by a lattice or railing and occupied by the clergy and often the choir charnel house n. a building or vault in which corpses or bones are heaped or deposited chifforobe n. a tall furnishing containing drawers of one side opposite space wherein vesture is hung cistern n. a reservoir or tank in which water is stored, esp. that utilized to supply taps or flush toilets cloister/ambulatory n. a covered walk of a convent, cathedral, monastery or college, commonly flanked by a wall and a colonnade open or leading to a courtyard coffer/caisson/lacuna n. a recessed panel in a ceiling, dome, vault or soffit coffer v. to decorate with coffers columnar/columniform/columnlike a. having the form of a column columnar a. characterized by or comprising columns concourse n. a large, broad, open space within or before a building where crowds can walk, as those in an airline terminal conduit/duct n. a tube or pipe containing electrical cables and wires n. a tube or pipe through which air, gas, liquid, etc. is conveyed _flue _n. a duct through which smoke or other waste gases exhausted by a fireplace, furnace or gas heater passes cope/coping n. the top layer or course of a masonry wall, the upper surface of which is usually canted to shed precipitant water cope v. to furnish with a cope corbel n. any member that projects from the face of a wall to support a cornice or arch v. to supply, support with or construct a corbel cornice n. a horizontal, ornamental molding that crowns or completes a wall, abutting or flush perpendicular to the ceiling v. to furnish, finish or decorate with a cornice cove n. any concave molding cove/coving n. an incurvate surface joining a room's wall and ceiling cresset n. a metal cup or basket mounted on a pole in which oil or pitch is burnt to illumine an area crib n. a baby's bed, the high sides of which incorporate slats crossbeam/crosspiece/trave/traverse n. a transverse beam, bar, brace, joist etc. fixed or placed over another or something else; a horizontal member that extends across something _lintel/supercilium _n. a horizontal member (as a beam or architrave) supporting superincumbent weight over a door, window or pillars by means of resistance to crosswise fracture _transom/traverse _n. a reinforcing horizontal crosspiece above a window or door demarcating it from a window atop cupola n. a small, often domed structure surmounting and adorning a ceiling, roof or dome dais n. a low, raised platform on which a lectern, throne or seats of honor are installed derrick n. a tall, commonly pyramidal framework erected over an oil well or other boring on or from which boring equipment, drill tubes and lengths of pipe are supported, suspended, hoisted or lowered dolmen n. a neolithic stone formation presumed to be a tomb, comprising two large, upright stones topped by a transverse capstone door/doorway n. an entrance barred and opened by a door _doorsill/threshold _n. a doorway sill: horizontal shelf or slab of hardwood or stone constituting the foot of a doorway _portiere _n. a curtain hung over a door or in a doorway dormer n. a roofed, windowed projection built into a sloping roof _dormer/dormer-window _n. a dormer's or gablet's upright window _eyebrow _n. a small dormer shaped as a gently arched curve over a flat base downcast n. a ventilation shaft through which air enters a mine drafter/draftsman n. a skilled drawer who renders technical plans and blueprints of buildings and machines draining tile/draintile n. one of several hollow tiles comprising a drain embankment n. a long, artificial mound of stone or earth built to avert flooding, provide protection or support a road or railroad _bulwark/rampart/vallum _n. a defensive embankment raised to surround a place, which is often topped by a parapet _parapet _n. any embankment that protects soldiers (as those entrenched) from enemy fire _revetment _n. a facing (usu. embodying masonry) that consolidates an embankment embank/bank v. to protect, enclose, enable passage or confine within specified limits with a bank or mound of earth or stone _rampart/bulwark _v. to protectively encircle with or as though with a rampart enfilade n. a collinear conformation of interior doors affording a lengthy vista when all are open entablature n. a superstructure of moldings and bands laid horizontally upon columns to support a roof, encompassing: _architrave/epistyle _n. a beam resting upon the capitals of columns _frieze _n. a sculptured, horizontal band betwixt architrave and the cornice, usually carved in bas-relief _cornice _n. the topmost projection crowning an entablature entresol/mezzanine n. a low, intermediate story between two others (usu. the first/ground and second/first floors) of a building escritoire n. a compositional desk containing drawers and compartments, on the surface of which one writes escutcheon/scutcheon n. a thin, often ornate plate installed around a keyhole, doorknob, light switch, etc. to adorn and protect these fixtures facade/face/front/frontage/frontal/frontispiece n. the fore of a building, often facing a street or lot and embellished with decorative features _frontispiece _n. an ornamental facade festoon/swag n. drapery, a garland or a curtain suspended from each end and hanging decoratively to its center folly n. an extortionate, ornamental building of no practical value constructed to resemble towers, temples, castles, mock Gothic ruins, etc. in a garden or park, usually to satisfy a singular conceit or fancy footstall/pedestal n. a base or support on which a column, statue, obelisk, vase, etc. is mounted _plinth/socle _n. a block or slab on which the base of a column, pedestal or pier rests foyer/(entrance) hall/lobby n. a large room in a building at its entrance _foyer/lobby/vestibule _n. a small entrance hall frieze n. a continuous, horizontal band of painted, sculpted or calligraphic decoration adorning the walls of a room, which may depict scenes in a succession of discrete panels gable (end, wall) n. a wall topped by a gable _gable _n. the upper, triangular portion of a wall beneath and between the sloping ends of a pitched roof __gablet __n. a small gable built over a niche, tabernacle, etc. gable n. a decorative, triangular feature resembling a gable, usu. above a door or window grotto/grot n. a construction or excavation concocted to resemble a small cave or cavern, esp. that of an 18th-century parterre header/bonder n. any brick or stone laid at a right angle to the face of a wall, so that only its short end is apparent hogan n. a Navajo dwelling built of logs, stones, etc. and covered with mud or sod, the entrance of which traditionally faces east landing n. an intermediary platform in a staircase punctuating consecutive flights of stairs lavabo n. a washbowl anchored to the same wall as the spigoted tank above it that supplies its water lavatory/bathroom/balneary n. a room equipped with a washbowl, toilet and/or bidet, shower and/or bathtub lavatory n. a building equipped with washbowls, toilets and occasionally showers, often designed for public accommodation lean-to n. a roof of single slant, the upper edge of which abuts a wall n. any shelter whose roof is composed of a single slope listel/list/fillet n. any flat, narrow molding interposed betwixt two others loggia n. a theater's open balcony loophole n. an orifice or slit in a wall through which air and light can pass, or small arms may be discharged lounge/waiting area n. a spacious public room in a hotel, theater, club, airport, etc. furnished with seating where people wait, lounge, read, relax, etc. _parlor _n. a small, rather private lounge in a club, hotel, inn, etc. mansard (roof) n. a sloping, quadrilateral roof marquee/marquise n. a (often hemispherical) rooflike projection over a theater entrance, blazoning the titles of features and names of stars exhibited therein marquee n. a large tent (usu. featuring open sides) employed for social or commercial functions such as a garden party marquetry n. inlaid, wooden, particolored veneers that form patterns or images, utilized to decorate furniture _parquetry _n. geometric or mosaic marquetry fashioned to ornament furnishings and esp. floors __parquet (floor) __n. a floor composed of parquetry mezzanine n. the lowest balcony in a theater, stadium, etc. _n. the foremost rows of such a balcony mezzanine (floor) n. a floor beneath a theater stage, from which various contrivances (such as traps) are operated minaret n. a Mosque's slender tower surrounded by projecting balconies, on which a muezzin stands whilst calling Mossulman faithful to prayer monument/memorial n. any structure (statue, plaque, shrine, cenotaph, headstone, etc.) erected in commemoration of persons or events mortice/mortise n. a recessed slot, notch or hole carved into wood or stone to receive a tenon (to form a joint) or a mortise lock _tenon _n. a projecting end of a wooden piece contoured to be inserted into a mortice and form a joint motif n. a design's or pattern's (often successively) repeated figure, form, shape, etc. muntin n. a rigid wooden or metal bar or strip retaining adjacent window panes narthex (Christian) n. an early Christian or Byzantine church's lobby or portico leading to its nave by way of a railing or screen nave (Christian) n. the central area of a church flanked by aisles, spanning from its narthex to its chancel newel (post) n. a post to which the handrail of a balustrade terminates at a staircase's beginning, end or landing niche n. a shallow recess (usually in a wall) where a statue or other ornament is placed for display _tabernacle (Roman Catholic) _n. a niche wherein a statue or relic is enshrined ormolu n. gilded brass or bronze, often used to fashion fixtures, furniture mounts and other adornments n. any of numerous, gilt copper, tin or zinc alloys, utilized as a decorative component of architecture, furnishings, jewelry, etc. ossuarium/ossuary n. any place (such as a vault) wherein human bones are deposited oubliette n. a dungeon, the sole ingress and egress of which is an aperture though its ceiling outwork n. a subsidiary defensive structure positioned beyond and before the principal fortification pale/paling/picket (pl. pales/paling/pickets) n. one in a row of pointed, upright, wooden posts, stakes or strips forming a fence parapet n. a low, protective wall or barrier along the edge of a roof, balcony or bridge parlor/lounge/front (or) living (or) sitting room n. a room in a private residence where denizens and guests may sit, converse, relax and engage disports parterre n. an ornamental, diversified flower garden in which flower beds and paths are arrayed to form a pattern parquet n. an area of a theater's or auditorium's main floor where spectators are seated _parterre/parquet circle _n. the rear of the parquet beneath the balcony parquet v. to construct flooring with parquetry pavilion n. a large, peaked, extravagant tent sporting crenellated adornments, customarily utilized at a show or fair pergola n. a trellised arbor or passageway supported on columns, the framework of which is covered by trained climbing or trailing vegetation perpendicular a. of or pertaining to the last phase of English Gothic church architecture prevalent from the late 14th to middle 16th centuries, typified by broad arches, large windows of vertical tracery and flamboyant fan vaulting pillar n. an upright structure composed of stone, steel, brick, etc., employed either to support a superstructure such as an entablature or arch, or freestanding as an ornament or monument _column _n. a decorative cylindrical or polygonal pillar usu. topped by a capital and resting on a base _n. anything that approximates the shape or function of a column __annulet __n. a ringed band or molding circumferential to the shaft or capital of a pillar __colonnade __n. a series of equidistant columns supporting a roof, entablature or arcade ___arcade ___n. a series of arches supported by a colonnade, either freestanding or comprising part of a wall ____arcature ____n. an arcade constructed on a small scale ___hypostyle ___n. a columned hall or chamber ___peristyle ___n. a circumferent colonnade about a building, court, garden, porch, etc. ___n. any architectural space so encompassed __pilaster __n. a rectangular column projecting from a wall _newel _n. a central supporting pillar from or around which the steps of a spiral staircase project or encompass in a helical formation pitch n. a roof's rake plinth (course) n. a protruding, continuous course of stones at a wall's base porch/lanai n. an external, covered (usu. roofed) platform before a house's doorway _veranda(h)/porch/lanai _n. a (usu. roofed and partly enclosed) porch extending contiguous along a house's exterior and level with its ground floor portico/porch n. an open, roofed, columned walkway affixed to a building, usually comprising a porch or leading to an entrance proscenium/forestage/apron n. the part of a theater stage before the curtain or between curtain and orchestra _proscenium (arch) _n. an arch framing the aperture between stage and auditorium _proscenium (wall) _n. a wall demarcating stage from auditorium in modern theaters puncheon n. a broad, heavy length of rough timber applied as a floorboard quarrel n. a small square or diamond windowpane of a latticed window quoin/coin/coign n. a wall's exterior angle or corner ramada n. a roofed shelter of open sides rampant a. (of an arch or vault) rising from one abutment to asymmetrically rest at another or opposite of a higher level rostrum/podium n. a raised platform on which someone stands whilst delivering a speech or conducting an orchestra rotunda n. an annular, often domed building or room sacristy/vestry (Christian) n. a room within a church where sacred vessels and vestments are reposited and ecclesiastics habilitate selvage n. decorative fringe extending from either end of an oriental rug selvage n. a plate or surface through the slot of which a lock's bolt passes sideboard/credenza/credence/buffet n. an article of furniture positioned to a dining room's side, the shelves and drawers of which contain utensils, vessels, plates or table linen solarium n. a room, porch or gallery exposed to sunlight through either a skylight or glass walls spire/steeple n. a tapering, acute conical or pyramidal structure upon a building, esp. a tall tower of a church or temple _fleche/spirelet _n. a slender spire above the intersection of a Gothic church's nave and transepts _steeple _n. a church tower and spire stoop n. a set of steps leading to a small porch before a house's threshold tailing n. any portion of a beam, corbel, rafter, etc. embedded in a wall teak n. the hard, substantial, yellowish-brown wood of teak trees, which is resistant to insects and warping, and utilized in the construction of ships and furniture terrazzo n. polished flooring material comprised of marble or granite chips embedded in mortar tesserae n. small squares of marble, glass, earthenware, etc. employed in the innovation of and comprising mosaics tessellate v. to decorate a surface (esp. a floor) with a configuration of tesserae thatch n. plant stalks or leaves (straw, rushes, palms) used as roofing n. a roof composed of thatch v. to roof with thatch (flush) toilet/throne/privy/lavatory/commode n. a plumbing fixture fitted with a hinged seat in which one excretes, which is cleared of waste by a hydrous eddy transom (window)/fanlight n. a window above a door or larger window that's usually hinged to a crosspiece over the door trestle n. a massive, braced framework of metal and/or timber constructed to support an elevated structure, as a railroad bridge valance (board)/pelmet/cornice n. an ornamental wooden board or metal strip fitted at the top of a window casing or doorway to conceal fixtures valance/pelmet n. a length of decorative drapery fitted at the top of a window casing or doorway to conceal fixtures valance/dust ruffle n. a pleated or gathered length of decorative drapery affixed to the frame of a bed to screen the space beneath it valance v. to furnish or adorn with a valance or valances vernacular n. architecture concerned with domestic and utilitarian purposes according to local culture a. (of architecture) concerned with the normative domestic and functional rather than the monumental viga n. a rafter fashioned from a peeled, trimmed tree trunk, the end of which projects from the adobe wall containing its tailing villa n. a large, opulent rural residence comprising extensive grounds n. an ancient Roman provincial home comprehending residential quarters and farm buildings surrounding a courtyard vitrine/showcase/display case n. a cabinet or case paneled by glass sheets wherein items of a shop, museum or home are displayed wainscot/wainscoting/wainscotting n. any (usu. wood) facing, lining or paneling applied to a room's interor walls wainscot n. the lower portion of a wall finished with a material varying from that of the upper v. to line or panel a room's walls with wainscoting wattle n. a frame comprising poles, rods or stakes interwoven with twigs, reeds or branches, usu. to form a fence or wall n. matter bestowed to fashion a wattle v. to construct a wattle wing n. an ancillary or laterally projecting portion of an edifice v. to provide a wing to a building ==ASTRONOMY== accretion n. the convergence and cohesion of matter drawn (as objects or gases) by gravitation to augment a celestial object (such as Jupiter) albedo n. the photic ratio of sunlight received to reflected by a celestial body anomaly n. as observed from the sun, a planet's angular deviation from its last perihelion apogee n. the point in a moon's or satellite's orbit at which it's furthest from the planet around which it revolves asterism n. a (usually denominated) cluster of stars smaller than a constellation azimuth n. the horizon's arc measured clockwise from the south point n. the direction of a celestial object expressed as the distance from the horizon's south point cislunar a. of, concerning or situated within the space between the earth and the lunar orbit conjunction n. an apparent alignment of two or more celestial bodies in the same celestial longitude _syzygy _n. (literally: "yoked together") a triplex conjunction, as of the sun, moon and earth egress/emersion n. the reappearance of a celestial body following an eclipse empyrean/firmament/heavens/sky/sphere/welkin n. the great, dome-shaped, outdoor expanse of overhead air, the nocturnal aspect of which appears a concavity or vault on which celestial bodies are projected horoscopy n. the positions of the heavenly bodies at the time of one's birth ingress/immersion n. the obscurity of a celestial body in the shadow of or behind another, as during an eclipse line [OR] parallel of latitude/parallel n. any of several imaginary lines circumferent of the Earth and parallel to its equator that represent degrees of latitude latitude n. the angular distance between an imaginary, equatorial line encircling a heavenly body and a point anywhere north or south of it, ordinarily expressed as degrees and minutes luminosity n. the radiance of a star, esp. as compared to that of Earth's sun novilunar/novilunary a. of, regarding, or resembling the new moon novilune/new moon n. the moon during a phase when its disc is fully obscured for conjunction with the sun orrery n. a small planetarium consisting of an apparatus illustrating the relative sizes, positions and motions of a solar system's planetary bodies, which are represented by the rotations and revolutions of balls turned by wheelwork paraselene n. a lucent image of the moon on a lunar halo perigee n. a point in the orbit of a moon or satellite at which it's nearest to the planet around which it revolves period n. the time during which a body rotates once on its axis n. the time that elapses when a planet or satellite revolves once in orbit around its primary plenilunar/plenilunary a. of, regarding, or resembling the full moon plenilune/full moon n. the moon during a phase when its disc is fully illuminated by the opposing sun prominence n. incandescent gas erupting from the sun's surface that resembles a tongue and rises to an altitude of several hundred thousand kilometers _filament _n. a prominence seen before the solar disc refraction n. the illusory elevation of a celestial body caused by atmospheric refraction sublunar(y) a. positioned beneath the moon umbra n. the portion of a celestial body's shadow where a source of illumination is wholly occulted, as during an eclipse n. a sunspot's dark center Ursa Major/Great Bear n. the most prominent northern constellation, which rotates around the North Star; seven of its stars embody the Big Dipper _Big Dipper _n. an asterism of Ursa Major resembling a dipper Ursa Minor/Little Bear n. the northernmost constellation, which rotates about its North Star; its seven constituent stars comprise the Little Dipper _Little Dipper _n. the ladle-shaped asterism of Ursa Minor _North Star/Polaris/polar star/polestar/pole star _n. the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, located at the end of the Little Dipper's handle; the Earth's northern axis points toward it Vesper/Hesperus/evening star n. a brightly illumined planet (usu. Venus) visible during dusk in the western sky wane v. (of the moon) to display a surface of dwindling illumination between the full and new moons n. the period during which the moon's surface becomes progressively darker wax v. (of the moon) to display a surface of escalating illumination whilst passing from new to full zenith n. the highest evident point in the orbit of a celestial body above the horizon of an observer n. a celestial point directly above an observer ==ATTIRE== accessory/accouterment/accoutrement/trapping n. an adjunct, often ornamental article of attire extrinsic to an ensemble _aiguillette/aglet _n. a tagged, ornamental cord or braid worn by certain officers from the shoulder of a military uniform _baldric _n. a (usu. bedight) leather belt or silk sash worn over one shoulder and across one's chest, from which a sword's scabbard or trumpet is slung _bangle _n. a rigid (usually plastic or chrome) bracelet or anklet _broach/brooch _n. a rather large, decorative pin or clasp worn by women __breastpin __v. a brooch worn on the breast, esp. to secure a garment __fibula __v. a metal broach worn to clasp articles of attire in ancient Greece and Rome _buckle _n. a shoe's or hat's ornamental skeuomorph resembling a buckle _chevron _n. a badge or insignia composed of V-shaped stripes denoting noncomissioned rank or span of service _cordon _n. an ornamental cord or ribbon; worn by military personnel diagonally across the breast as insignia of honor or rank _crown/diadem _n. ornamental headgear (usu. a circlet or headdress) fashioned of a precious metal and often bejewelled, worn by a monarch as a symbol of their royalty _epaulette _n. an ornamental fringed shoulder strap, commonly of a military uniform _lavaliere _n. an ornamental, often jeweled pendant worn on a chain necklace; designated for the Duchesse de La Vallière, a consort of Louis XIV _peplum _n. a flared ruffle affixed to the waist of a blouse, bodice, dress or jacket, as a flounce _plume/panache _n. a decorative feather or cluster of feathers mounted to a helmet or headdress _pompom _n. a decorative ball or tuft of wool, feathers or other fluffy material applied to ornament hats and slippers _stickpin _n. a pin with an ornamental head used to secure an ascot or necktie _tassel n. a pendant adornment consisting of a fastened tuft of cords aglet n. a tubular metal or plastic sheath that seals each end of a shoelace or cord to facilitate passage through eyelets amulet/charm/mojo/periapt n. a talismanic trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to confer a magical protection against evil or disease apparel/attire/clothes/clothing/dress/garb/garments/habiliments/raiment/togs/vesture/vestments/wear n. tailored articles designed to be worn on a person's body _costume/ensemble/getup/outfit/rig _n. a coordinated set of clothes worn together, ordinarily for a specific occasion or objective _array/attire/finery _n. expensive, extravagant or ostentatious attire, accessories or ornaments _costume/dress/garb/habit _n. a sort or fashion of clothing _haberdashery _n. men's habiliments and accouterments purveyed by a haberdasher apparel/array/assume/attire/clothe/don/dress/enclothe/endue/garb/garment/habilitate/habit/indue/invest/tog (out, up)/vesture v. to put clothing on one's own body _array/attire/dress _v. to garb in fine, often elaborate or elegant clothes _bedizen _v. to dress in meretricious or strikingly tasteless vesture apparel/array/attire/clothe/dress/enclothe/garb/garment/habilitate/habit/invest/vesture v. to put clothing on someone else's body _array/attire _v. to garb in fine, often elaborate or elegant clothes _bedizen _v. to dress in meretricious or strikingly tasteless vesture applique n. ornamentation applied in dressmaking consisting of one material sewn onto another v. to decorate by sewing applique to bootie/bootee n. a soft, socklike, ordinarily knitted or crocheted shoe worn by babies n. a boot of short leg worn by women breechclout/loincloth n. a simple garment consisting of a cloth that covers one's loins or hips buckle n. a (usu. rectilinear) frame fitted with a hinged prong designed to pass through the perforations of a belt or strap to join its ends n. a shoe's or hat's ornamental skeuomorph resembling a buckle v. to secure or decorate with a buckle buskin n. a laced calf- or knee-high boot _desert boot _n. a laced, suede buskin of soft soles buskin/cothurnus n. a laced boot or shoe of thick soles worn by an Athenian tragic thespian to elevate his stature cameo n. a brooch's or ring's medallion engraved with a profile in raised relief camiknickers/camiknicks/teddy a. a lingerie undergarment that covers a female's torso and crotch, akin to yet more loose and diaphanous than a bodysuit or swimsuit camisole/underbodice n. a short, sleeveless undergarment for women, usually worn under a sheer blouse camisole n. a short negligee casque/headpiece/helmet n. any hard, often padded and strapped hats worn by solidiers, police officers, firefighters, cyclists, athletes, et al. to protect the skull _casque _n. an ornate, visorless, often conical helmet worn during the 15th and 16th centuries chemise/sark/shift n. a loose, waistless dress that hangs from its wearer's shoulders n. a loose, shirtlike women's undergarment chukka (boot)/turf boot n. an ankle-high boot laced through two or three pairs of eyelets, commonly fabricated of suede or calfskin clothe/dress/enclothe/rig (out, up) v. to supply with clothing _costume/outfit _v. to furnish with an ensemble or costumes cobble v. to make or mend footwear, esp. boots or shoes combat boot n. a rugged, laced, thick-soled boot worn by soldiers in combat congress boot [OR] gaiter [OR] shoe n. an ankle-high shoe featuring elastic lateral gussets cope n. a long, loose cloak worn by a priest or bishop over an alb or surplice in a procession or during a litugical function crinoline n. a stiff, often hooped petticoat tailored of crinoline crinoline/hoopskirt n. a campanular framework of horizontal hoops worn under a woman's long, full skirt n. the aforementioned skirt cuff n. a fold or band at the end of a sleeve cuff/turnup n. an upturned fold at the end of a trouser leg dapper/jaunty/natty/pert/saucy/sharp/smart/smug/snappy/spiffy/spruce/trim a. attractively, often stylishly neat of raiment or appearance doublet n. a man's short, padded, close-fitting jacket worn in Western Europe from the 14th through the 17th centuries ermine n. the expensive white fur of the ermine weasel, often used to trim raiment fallal n. any flashy article of attire, as jewelry gantlet/gauntlet n. a glove distinguished by its flared or extended cuff, worn by laborers, drivers, cyclists, athletes, et al. gird(le)/belt v. to encircle the waist, abdomen or a limb with a band, belt or girdle guayabera n. a collared, often embroidered shirt of short sleeves and large pockets that's buttoned and pleated at the front gumboot n. a calf- or knee-high rubber boot haberdasher n. a vendor of men's vestments haberdashery n. a haberdasher's shop, where men's attire is sold half boot n. any calf-high boot halter (top)/halterneck n. a woman's top fastened behind the neck and waist that leaves its wearer's arms, shoulders and upper back bare haversack n. a sturdy bag containing provisions, carried by a single strap on one's back or over one's shoulder Hessian boot n. a man's knee-high, tasseled leather boot huaraches n. sandals of uppers fashioned from interwoven leather strips and low heels inset/gusset n. a piece of material sewn into a garment to strengthen or enlarge one of its parts, as a shirt's collar, undergarment's inguinal region or congress gaiter's elastic strips jabot n. a decorative lace frill or ruffle cascade extending from the neckline down the front of a woman's a shirt or blouse jackboot n. a large, stout, knee-high leather military boot jumper/sweater n. a crocheted or knitted garment covering the arms and abdomen jumper n. a loose jacket worn by workmen and sailors n. a coverall worn by children jumper/pinafore (dress)/pinny n. a collarless, sleeveless dress tied or buttoned at back and worn over other raiment, esp. a blouse or sweater kaftan/caftan n. a cotton or silk cloak belted by a sash of long, broad sleeves that extends to the ankles; worn by men in the Levant n. a women's dress style concocted in imitation of the kaftan cloak kidskin n. soft, smooth leather tanned from the hide of a young goat mackintosh/raincoat/slicker n. a waterproof coat, usu. worn during rainstorms _mackintosh _n. a raincoat fashioned of rubberized, waterproof cotton or wool fabric mochila n. a bag of traditional design slung from the shoulder, and native to South America overshoe n. waterproof footwear that protects one's shoes from precipitant or terrestrial moisture n. fabric footwear that deters scuffing of soles on a floor _rubber/gumshoe/golosh/galosh _n. a waterproof overshoe ordinarily fashioned of rubber and worn to protect shoes from water or snow __arctic __n. a high, buckled gumshoe panoply n. a complete suit of armor, including arms _casque _n. an ornate, visorless, often conical helmet worn during the 15th and 16th centuries _cuirass _n. a medieval body armor comprised of two contoured metal plates fashioned to cover and shield its wearer's torso __cuirass/breastplate __n. an armor plate that covers and protects one's chest; the forepart of a cuirass _gantlet/gauntlet _n. an armored glove consisting of mail or plate, commonly a constituent of a knight's panoply _pauldron _n. an article of plate armor (one of a doublet) worn over the shoulder and upper arm pantaloons n. tight men's trousers extending from the waist to the ankle, the instep of which is supported with straps; widely worn during the 19th century peignoir n. a loose dressing gown worn by women placket n. any aperture or slit of a garment that eases its habilitation _armscye _n. an aperture of a garment through which the arm passes and to which a sleeve may be sewn placket n. a piece of cloth sewn beneath a closure with buttons, eyes, hooks, snaps, zips, etc. placket n. a pocket of a woman's skirt plume v. to bedeck with a plume preen/primp/prink/titivate v. to dress or groom oneself with elaborate care puttee/putty n. a strip of cloth wound helically from ankle to knee, frequently included as part of a military uniform during World War I and the interwar period raglan n. an overcoat having big sleeves without seams at the shoulders rebozo n. a lengthy scarf worn by Mexican women over the head and shoulders riding boot n. a laceless boot worn for equestrian engagements roquelaure n. a hooded cloak of knee's length worn by men in the 18th and 19th centuries rowel n. a sharp, spiked wheel to which the shank of a spur terminates, used to impel a horse rucksack/knapsack/backpack n. a robust canvas, leather or nylon bag carried on one's back by a doublet of shoulder straps, often supported by a light metal or plastic frame ruff n. a wide, starched, pleated, projecting collar worn by both sexes in the 16th and 17th centuries, characteristic of Elizabethan and Jacobean costume sartorial a. of or pertaining to a tailor or to tailoring a. of or regarding apparel scapular(y) (Roman Catholic) n. a loose, sleeveless, often cowled monastic garment worn over the shoulders seersucker n. light cotton or rayon fabric, the texture of which features crinkled or puckered stripes serape n. a long, often colorful and fringed woolen shawl similar to a blanket worn by men, esp. in Mexico shako n. a tall, stiff, plumed cylindrical military dress hat sporting a visor and bedecked with a metal plate or badge singlet n. a man's collarless (and often sleeveless) undershirt ski boot n. a stiff, padded boot that is locked with a binding to a ski slicker n. a long, loose water-repellant coat fashioned of oilskin soutache n. a narrow braid (usually composed of silk or rayon) used to trim vestments, esp. robes and pajamas tassel v. to afford or adorn with tassels top boot n. a high boot, the cuff or upper portion of which incorporates a fabric or leather of contrasting color or texture undress/unclothe/uncase/strip/divest/disrobe/discase/devest v. to remove one's own or someone else's clothes vest/waistcoat/weskit n. a short, collarless, sleeveless garment usu. worn over a shirt vested a. supplemented by or worn with a vest vesture n. something that covers or cloaks like a garment waders n. waterproof hip boots or a waterproof garment covering the legs and abdomen, worn by anglers whilst fishing wear v. to have clothing, ornaments or appurtenances on one's body _attire/dress _v. to wear clothing of a particular variety or in a distinctive manner weft n. woven fabric _brocade _n. (usu. heavy) weft interwoven with a raised, ornate design, often with gold or silver thread _crinoline _n. a stiff, coarse fabric (usually woven of horsehair and cotton or linen thread) used as interlining, esp. for hats _fustian _n. a rugged fabric woven of cotton and flax _a. fashioned from fustian cloth _selvage _n. a length of woven fabric's finished edge that's weaved or knit to preclude curling, fraying or raveling Wellington (boot) n. a waterproof knee-length boot constructed of rubber or plastic wimple n. a cloth headdress worn by medieval women and nuns over the head and about the neck and ears zoot suit n. a flashy suit of extreme cut popular in the 1940s, characterized by a long, loose jacket with padded shoulders and sprawling lapels, and baggy, tapering pants ==BEAUX ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT== abbreviate/abridge/compress/condense/cut/foreshorten v. to shorten a speech, recording, novel, play, motion picture, etc. by omitting some of its portions or details while retaining its essential elements and substance _abbreviate/abridge/compress/condense/cut/epitomize/foreshorten _v. to shorten something written or spoken, such as a speech, essay, novel, poem, et cetera, by lessening the words therein, yet retaining its purport abstract/nonfigurative/nonrepresentational a. of artwork in which real or natural objects or forms are neither depicted nor represented; not representational abstract/nonobjective/nonrepresentational a. of artwork wherein natural objects or figures aren't realistically represented abstract/abstraction n. an abstract composition, novel, painting, sculpture, etc. _stabile _n. an abstract, stationary sculpture (usu. constructed of sheet metal, wire, wood, etc.) consisting of fixed units acrostic n. text (as a poem) in which certain letters, such as the first or last of each line, spell a word or message acrostic/acrostical a. of, like, or regarding an acrostic or acrostics act/enact/personate/play/portray/render/represent v. to perform the role of a character or roles of characters in a stage play, radio play, motion picture, etc. _create _v. to be the first to render a character _ham/overact/overplay _v. to portray with exaggerated emotion _interpret _v. to act a role in accordance with one's individual conception of a character _underact/underplay _v. to play a part with with deliberate restraint and/or subtlety, or inadequate expressiveness addendum/appendix/codicil/supplement n. supplementary text affixed to a publication's or document's body _index _n. an addendum comprising an alphabetized list of subjects (events, names, places, words, etc.), each entry of which features the number of a page or numbers of pages on which its subject is mentioned or treated to enable reference _v. to supplement a text with an index _v. to itemize a datum in an index addendum/postscript n. a note appended to a letter posterior to its signature, and usually introduced by "P.S." ad libitum a., av. at one's pleasure; at liberty (affording a performer discretion in regard to tempo or omission of accessory accompaniment) adoxography n. refined composition in address of a trivial topic air/beam/broadcast/transmit v. to transmit audio, video, or audiovisual content (features, serials, news, commercials, etc.) heard or viewed by radio, television, Internet, etc. _radiobroadcast _v. to beam by radio _relay _v. to control or retransmit (a signal, message, etc.) with a relay _simulcast _v. to broadcast simultaneously across multiple mediums or services (radio and/or televisional channels, streaming websites), esp. when presented or dubbed in different languages _telecast/televise _v. to broadcast via television __cablecast __v. to telecast by a service of cable TV _webcast _v. to transmit via the Internet, as on a streaming channel anthology/florilegium n. a collection comprised of written (usu. literary) passages or works, such as short stories, poems, plays, essays, etc. _omnibus _n. an anthology of reprints indited by a single author or in treatment of related subjects or themes anticlimax/bathos n. an abrupt, ludicrous transition from sublimity or significance to triteness or triviality apercu/argument/brief/conspectus/digest/outline/overview/precis/resume/sketch/summary/summation/synopsis n. a brief, condensed description conveying the substance or basic points of a subject _abstract/brief/epitome/outline/precis/resume/synopsis _n. a summary of a text, as a book, essay, etc. __argument/synopsis __n. an abstract of a literary work's chapter, plot, premise, or topic apological/fabular a. of, concerning, or being a fable or fables apologue/fable n. a short, fictitious story that promotes a truth or principle, characters of which are speaking animals, plants, objects, etc. armature n. a sculpture's supporting (usu. wooden or metal) framework auctorial/authorial a. of, by, concerning, or characteristic of an author augment v. to increase a major or perfect interval by a semitone v. to slow tempo or meter, as for a dramatic or stately passage autograph/character/chirography/handwriting/penmanship n. a manual, individual mode of writing _cacography _n. poor, sometimes illegible penmanship __scrawl/scribble __n. sprawling, irregular, hasty cacography _calligraphy/chirography _n. beautiful, decorative, usu. elegant handwriting autoschediastic/extemporal/extemporaneous/extemporary/extempore/extemporized/impromptu/improvisate/improvisational/improvised/improviso/offhand a. done, performed, created, or said without forethought, preparation, or rehearsal bambocciade n. a painting that depicts a grotesque scene from a rural or ordinary setting bathos n. triteness or triviality of style belles-lettres/polite literature n. literature as fine art, valued for its esthetic qualities belletristic a. of, concerning, or typical of belles-lettres a. written in assay of and regarded for aesthetic merit rather than content bildungsroman n. a novel treating of the intellectual, moral, psychological, social, or spiritual development of its protagonist during his or her formative years bookplate n. a label pasted in or onto a book that states its ownership or position in a library boustrophedon n. a scriptory method whereby lines are written in alternation from right to left and left to right a. (of written lines) alternately inscribed from right to left and left to right bowdlerize/expurgate/sanitize v. to alter or obliterate passages accounted offensive, obscene, or otherwise unacceptable before publication or performance bricolage n. construction or innovation with whatever is immediately available n. that constructed or created with whatever is immediately available caesura/cesura/pause/|| n. a pause in a line of verse within the Greek or Latin metrical foot, or at the English mid-line calligraphy/chirography/penmanship n. the art or practice of beautiful, decorative handwriting cameo n. the technique of carving in low relief on a gemstone, shell, etc. so that the colors of its raised design and background contrast n. such bas-relief of disparate hues n. the gem or other substance so engraved cameo n. a brief, graphic literary sketch or dramatic scene cancel/cross out/delete/expunge/scratch/strike (out, through) v. to mark text as erroneous or obsolete by drawing a horizontal line through its center canon/criterion/standard n. a type or model by which a work of art may be qualitatively appraised, judged, and compared canon n. a contrapuntal musical composition in which a melody of one part is repeated in others in the same or related keys _round _n. a repetitive song for which a second group commences to sing the same part sung by a preceding group when they've proceeded to sing its second phrase, and so on cantabile/cantilena n. a smoothly fluid, lyrical, instrumental or esp. vocal melody, passage, or movement cast/players n. the performers of a stage play or motion picture censor v. to examine mail, literature, cinema, music, etc. and expurgate content therein accounted morally or politically unacceptable chiaroscuro n. a technique introduced during the Renaissance whereby painted contrasts of light and darkness convey an impression of volume n. the effect of chiaroscuro n. a painting containing chiaroscuro chyron n. text or graphics superimposed at the bottom of a broadcast television (usu. news or sports) program's image or frame, often in a scrolling banner collate v. to painstakingly, often analytically compare texts or other data, esp. to detect discrepancies colophon n. a printer's or publisher's monogram, logo, or trademark printed on a book's spine, title page, last page, or dust jacket n. a printer's or publisher's inscription printed in a book (usu. on its last page) detailing its date and location of production, publication, etc. comedic/comic/comical/thalian a. of of pertaining to comedy company/ensemble n. a collaborative circle of theatrical performers _troupe _n. a theatrical company that tours numerous venues consort/ensemble n. a small party of musicians who perform together _broken consort _n. a consort who play musical instruments of several families _choir _n. an ensemble of singers _consort/whole consort _n. an ensemble who play musical instruments of the same family, such as a string quartet or woodwind trio __skirl __n. a whole consort of bagpipers corpus n. a complete collection of writings by an author, group, or demographic, of an age, genre, or idiom, or pertaining to a particular topic _historiography _n. a corpus of historical literature corps de ballet n. dancers of a ballet troupe who perform together and are assigned no solo parts corrigenda/errata n. a list of a printed work's errors and their corrections that's printed on a separate slip, page, or pages corrigendum/erratum n. an error to be corrected in a printed work couplet/distich n. two rhyming, consecutive lines of verse credo (Christian) n. a musical setting of The Nicene Creed cutback/flashback n. a sequence or episode in a fictional story depicting a precedent event n. a transition to such a scene cyclorama/panorama n. a continuous picture or pictures displayed on the wall of a cylindrical room, usu. simulating a panorama n. a large, upstage, usu. incurvate wall or curtain emplaced as a background delete/efface/erase/excise/expunge/obliterate v. to remove text entirely, as by rubbing or wiping it out delineate/depaint/depict/depicture/picture/portray/represent v. to produce a visual likeness of anything, as a drawing, painting, photograph, etc. _delineate/describe/draw/limn/line/portray/trace _v. to depict a subject by inscribing lines and marks on a surface with a chalk, charcoal, crayon, pen, pencil, stylus or other inscriptive instrument __chalk __v. to describe with chalk __circle/circumscribe/encircle/ring __v. to trace a circle around ___circumscribe ___v. to minimally encircle a figure to touch as many of its points as possible __charcoal __v. to line with charcoal __crayon __v. to delineate with a crayon or crayons __pencil __v. to portray with a pencil __sketch __v. to draw simply, crudely, quickly, and often tentatively ___delineate/describe/draft/feature/outline/trace ___v. to sketch the contours of a subject ___draft ___v. to sketch preliminarily __trace __v. to copy a drawing by delineating its lines on a translucent, superjacent sheet of paper _depaint/impaint/limn/paint/portray _v. to picture with paint or paints _foreshorten _v. to shorten lines in a picture to create an illusion of depth deposition n. a work depicting Christ's descent from the cross desultory/discursive/excursive/meandering/rambling a. (of speech or writing) characterized by impulsively, irrationally aimless address of several successive subjects digressing/digressive/discursive/excursive a. (of speech or writing) departing temporarily from a principal pith or topic diminish v. to reduce a minor or perfect interval by a semitone diminuendo/decrescendo n. (of music) a wane in volume or force n. a musical passage in which diminuendo is effectuated n. a dynamic mark indicating that its passage is diminuendo a. (of music) dwindling loudness av. (of music) played diminuendo diminution n. the statement of a theme in notes of lesser duration, usually half that of those preceding disjunct a. (of melodies) progressing by intervals exceeding seconds drafter/draftsman n. a skilled drawer _illustrator _n. a draftsman who describes works for publications, esp. books or magazines dramatis personae n. the characters of a fictive narrative, usu. of a play or motion picture n. a list of a play's characters, usu. ordered by first appearances dramaturgic(al) a. of or relating to the arts of dramatic composition or production dyslogy n. written censure edit/emend/emendate v. to correct and improve text _revise _v. to study and emend text, as that of a manuscript __edit/redact __v. to preparatorily revise and arrange (and sometimes condense, compile, or annotate) for publication __sanitize __v. to revise a document to preclude identification of its author's sources elegiac(al) a. representing or expressing dolor, as that of an elegy elliptic(al) a. (of writing) extremely succinct elogy/encomium/eulogium/eulogy/panegyric/panegyry/tribute n. a formal, often lofty composition that praises someone or something _elogy/epitaph/eulogium/eulogy _n. an encomium for someone who has recently died encomium n. a literary genre, works of which are composed of five elements: 1. prologue; 2. protagonist's birth and upbringing; 3. protagonist's feats; 4. comparative praise of protagonist; 5. epilogue enlarge v. to produce a photographic print larger than its source negative entr'acte/intermission/interval n. an interval betwixt two acts of a theatrical performance _entr'acte/interlude _n. a musical, terpsichorean, dramatic, or comedic entertainment performed during an entr'acte envoi/envoy/l'envoi/l'envoy n. a brief, conclusive, dedicatory or commentarial stanza of certain poetic forms, esp. ballades equestrian a. (of a sculpture, painting, etc.) depicting or representing someone on horseback essay n. a prosaic composition of short or moderate length treating of a subject _exposition _n. a detailed, explanatory essay __discourse/disquisition/dissertation/monograph/paper __n. a long, formal exposition ___disquisition/dissertation/tractate/treatise ___n. a systematic disquisition ___dissertation/thesis ___n. a paper penned by a student evidencing his or her research of a subject ____antidotary ____n. a treatise on the subject of antidotes ____iconography ____n. a dissertation regarding pictures and statuary ____nomography ____n. a tractate concerning laws, and usu. their authorship ____thaumatography ____n. a treatise about natural wonders _prolusion _n. a precursory essay __foreword/introduction/preamble/preface/proem __n. a prolusion (usu. of an article or a book) that introduces its subject, purpose, etc. ___exordium ___n. an essay's introduction ___preamble/proem ___n. a purposive preface to a statute, constitution, etc. ___prolegomenon ___n. a formal, interpretive, often scholarly or critical proem ethos n. the moral aspect of a character that determines or prompts their comportment or actions excursus n. a detailed discussion of a particular point in a book, usually printed as a constituent of an appendix n. any diegetic digression exegesis n. a critical explanation or interpretation (esp. of Biblical scripture) _eisegesis _n. an exegesis expressing the author's personal opinions as exposition extravaganza/spectacle/spectacular n. any spectacular, elaborate entertainment facetia/jeu d'esprit (pl. facetiae/jeux d'esprit) n. a witty, usu. amusing written work, such as an essay or story _lampoon _n. a satirical jeu d'esprit _squib _n. a brief facetia farce n. a light comedy of crude characterization and broad humor, the plot of which depends on skillfully exploited circumstances and ludicrously improbable situations in which much buffoonery and horseplay ordinarily occur n. the broad humor of a farce n. the genre of farcical comedy _burletta _n. a farcical operetta fertile/prolific a. producing many artistic (literary, painted, musical, architectural, theatrical, cinematic, etc.) works _voluminous _a. literarily prolific filigree n. delicate, intricate, lacelike ornamentation of gold, platinum, silver, or other fine, twisted, intertwined wire v. to fashion or adorn with filigree, as from a precious metal a. like, or made of or into filigree finale n. the last movement of a musical composition _coda _n. the final passage of a composition or movement thereof florilegium n. a beautifully illustrated book concerning flowers flue (pipe)/labial (pipe) n. an organ pipe, the tone of which is produced by an effluence of air passing across its sharp or liplike fissure folio n. a sheet of paper folded once to form two leaves (four pages) of a book n. any book or manuscript of folio pages measuring the largest common size (presently, 15 inches) a. having or relating to the format of a folio n. the printed number of a book's page fresco n. a durable technique of painting with watercolors on wet plaster n. a painting pictured with watercolors on wet plaster v. to paint with watercolors on wet plaster frontispiece n. an illustration that precedes and usu. faces the title page of a book or chapter therein furor scribendi a. an ardor for writing gambist n. a musician who plays the viola da gamba hagiography n. a biography of a saint or saints n. composition of a hagiography n. a partial biography that idealizes its subject, often in an exaggerated or propagandistic manner hallelujah/halleluiah/alleluia n. any sacred musical composition based on the hosanna, "hallelujah" hamartia n. a fatal flaw that effectuates the downfall of a tragedy's protagonist harmonic a. of or regarding (usu. euphonic) audial tones sounded concurrently, as notes in a chord a. or or relating to a musical line complementing a melody harmonic/harmonious a. characterized by or producing (usu. euphonic) audial tones sounded concurrently, as notes in a chord harmonize v. to write a harmony for a melody; to add notes or chords to produce harmony v. to sing or play in harmony historiography n. the inditement of history n. study of the practice, principles, and discipline of history, and techniques and chronicles of historians hymnody (Christian) n. the act or art of singing hymns n. hymns of a particular period or church _psalmody (Christian) _n. the act or art of singing psalms hymnody/hymnology (Christian) n. the composition of hymns n. the (usu. artistic or historical) study of hymns n. hymns collectively _psalmody (Christian) _n. the composition of psalms _n. any musical arrangement of a psalm _n. psalms collectively hypotyposis n. a graphic and picturesque description of an occurence or scene iconography n. the study of portraits and portraiture n. the study of artistic symbols and representative art n. symbols utilized in an artistic work, oeuvre, genre, movement, etc. ictus n. metrical or rhythmical stress or accent _arsis _n. the stronger portion of a metrical foot, which contains the long syllable of quantitative meter or stressed syllable of qualitative meter idiom/manner/artistic style n. the style of a particular artist, movement, period, school, etc. _burin _n. an engraver's artistic style _diction/expression/language/phrase/phraseology/phrasing/verbalism/verbiage/wording _n. a style of writing, determined by the selection, disposition, and application of written words __euphuism __n. an artificial, plethoric, prosaic style of the Elizabethan era imitating that of John Lyly and named for his character Euphues, characterized by its profuse annomination, antitheses, Latinisms, and complex similes and syntax __n. any similarly declamatory diction __Gongorism __n. the purple, poetic style of Spanish Baroque lyric poet and Catholic priest Luis de Gongora y Argote, which is distinguished by its Latin terminology and syntax, references to classical mythology, metaphors, hyperbole, paradoxes, and neologisms __n. a magniloquent, ordinarily professed, often paronomastic phraseology idiomatic(al) a. of or similar to an artistic style impromptu n. a brief musical composition that is or seems to be extemporized, and is usu. played solo inlay card n. a card or pamphlet included in a cassette's or disc's packaging, which contains credits, artwork, acknowledgements, lyrics, productional details, a conspectus, etc. in medias res av. in the midst of successive events, esp. those of a narrative inset n. a small picture inserted within the bounds of a larger one v. to decorate with an inset intaglio n. the art of incisive carving (distinguished from that in relief) n. a design or figure incised or engraved below the surface of any hard material n. a gemstone, seal, jewelry, etc. carved or etched in intaglio v. to carve or engrave in intaglio intensify v. to increase a photographic negative's or plate's contrast interlard/intersperse/sprinkle v. to diversify or embellish (usu. prose or dialog) by irregularly interjecting therein that which is unusual, unique, quotational, idiomatical, etc. _farce _v. to interlard (prose, dialog, etc.) with jokes or quips _pepper _v. to frequently intersperse interleave v. to furnish a book with an interleaf or interleaves, esp. to protect illustrated pages interpolate v. to insert words, passages, etc. into a text for purposes of revision or falsification interval n. the difference between the pitches of two notes, expressed numerically: a fourth is the interval between B and E; a third is the interval between C and E introduce/precede/preface v. to afford a preface to a book, essay, etc. inversion n. positional reversal of tones in a chord or interval, usu. effected by raising the lowest note by an octave n. a contrapuntal variation of a melody or part in which all ascending intervals are interchanged with descending intervals and vice versa ithyphallic a. (of painting, sculpture, etc.) depicting an erect penis lacuna/hiatus n. a blank page or missing portion, usu. of an ancient manuscript leaf n. a single sheet of paper comprising two pages printed or written on its sides _flyleaf _n. a book's blank leaf preceding or succeeding its content _folio _n. a leaf that's numbered on only one of its sides/pages _insert/inset _n. an extra leaf or leaves (usu. bearing advertisements) that are bound, tipped, or loosely inserted into a book, magazine, newspaper, etc. _interleaf _n. a (usu. blank) leaf bound between others printed in a book, ordinarily to protect illustrations, or on which notes may be written _page _n. one (usu. printed or written) side of a leaf literally/literatim av. (of textual replication) letter for letter lilt n. a light, lively, graceful musical rhythm n. a cheery dance, tune, song, movement, etc. with such a rhythm v. to sing or play an instrument with such a rhythm lilting a. (of a rhythm) sprightly, buoyant, and graceful literati n. literary people longueur n. a long, often tedious period, portion, or passage in a literary or dramatic work lucubration(s) n. a laboriously composed, often pedantic literary work marginal a. printed or written in a page's margin (mass) medium n. any public, widespread means of communication: print, cinema, radio, television, Internet, etc. medium n. a solvent with which pigment is mixed to produce paint, or paint is mixed to extenuate its viscosity n. a substance used to produce an artistic work: oil, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolor, clay, marble, etc. medley/pastiche n. a musical composition embodying passages or sections of others melodic a. of or concerning melody _monodic(al) _a. of or regarding monody melodic/melodious/tuneful a. containing or producing melody _monodic(al) _a. (of a composition) having a single melodic line or vocal part metric(al) a. of or composed in poetic meter or verse a. of musical meter metrician/metrifier/metrist n. a composer of metrical verses, as a lyricist or poet _lyricist _n. a metrician who indites a song's lyrics _poet [OR] poetess/versemonger/versesmith/versifier _n. a metrist who writes poetry __poetaster [OR] poetastress/rhymester __n. a poet who writes poor or mediocre verse __sonneteer/sonneter/sonnetist __n. a versesmith who composes sonnets mimesis n. any representation or imitation of reality (esp. nature and human behavior) in artistic media minuet n. a slow, graceful, regal court dance in triple time for groups of couples that consists of a coupee, a high step, and a balance, which was popular in the 17th and especially 18th centuries n. a musical work in triple meter composed for the minuet, often as a movement of a sonata, suite, or symphony monody n. a musical composition whose melody consists of a single line or voice monologue/monology n. a long, uninterrupted, dramatic speech recited by a single character in a fiction _soliloquy _n. a monologue voiced in solitude by a character to himself or herself, intended to convey hitherto unspoken reflections motif n. a recurrent concept, theme or topic n. a design's or pattern's (often successively) repeated figure, form, shape, etc. oeuvre n. the totality of an artist's output omnilegent a. reading everything a. having read everything oratorio n. a dramatic yet unstaged musical composition based on a religious text or theme, and performed by vocalists and orchestra ornate a. (of text or speech) distinguished by elaborate rhetorical constructions and devices, and unusual or recondite language _aureate/empurpled/florid/flowery/overwrought/purple _a. excessively ornate __aureate/bombast/bombastic/bombastical/declamatory/flatulent/fustian/grandiloquent/grandiloquous/inflated/lexiphanic/magniloquent/magniloquous/orotund/plethoric/plethorical/rhetorical/tumescent/tumid/turgid/turgidous __a. loftily, ostentatiously, often pompously purple ___euphuistic/euphuistical ___a. (of prose) alliteratively tumid in the idiom of John Lyly ___Gongoristic ___a. poetically, metaphorically, hyperbolically bombastical in the style of Gongorism _sesquipedalian _a. inclined to bestow long words overleaf av. on the other side of a leaf (the opposite page) paean/pean n. a song expressing jubilation, praise, or triumph n. (Greek) a hymn of praise or exultation, ordinarily sung to invoke or thank an ancient deity, esp. Apollo page/paginate v. to number the pages of (a book, booklet, document, etc.) pagination/paging n. the act of numbering pages pagination n. the figures written or printed on numbered pages palimpsest n. a page, parchment, tablet, etc. that's been written upon repeatedly, on which traces of earlier, effaced texts are still visible a. written upon more than once parable n. a short, moral, allegorical tale set in reality that teaches a comparative lesson parabolic/parabolical a. of, regarding, like or expressed as a parable pastiche n. an architectural, artistic, cinematic, dramatic, literary, or musical work devised in imitation of a previous work, or in the style of another artist _parody/spoof _n. a comedic, often farcical, ironic, nonsensical, or satirical pastiche __burlesque/travesty __n. a parody that ridicules its subject farcically pathos/poignancy n. a quality that evokes emotions (esp. pity or sorrow), usu. for a character or characters _bathos/gloppiness/maudlinism/mawkishness/mush(iness)/sappiness/sentimentality/schmaltziness/schmalziness/soppiness/slushiness/syrup(iness) _n. excessive, false, or treacly pathos personification n. artistic ascription of human qualities to things or ideas n. artistic humanization of an abstract attribute phantasmagoria n. theatrical entertainment of the 18th and 19th centuries involving ghostly illusions, esp. those cast by a magic lantern picaresque a. of or describing witty, amusing rogues and their adventures a. of or pertaining to an episodic, satirical, originally Spanish genre of fiction depicting the adventures of knaves pitch n. the relative auditory quality of a tone or note determined by the vibrative frequency of its sound waves n. a standard of pitch to which musical instruments are tuned (usu. the A above middle C) v. to set the musical key of (a tune, a voice, an instrument) v. to sound a note of a particular pitch prologue n. a play's introductory speech or verses n. a novel's prefatory chapter prosaic/unpoetic/unpoetical a. concerning or possessing the diction of prose protean a. (of an actor or actors) extremely versatile quadrille n. a French square dance performed by four couples and comprising five or more integral movements n. music composed for a quadrille in 2/4 or 6/8 time quarto n. a paper size (measuring 7.5"-10" x 10"-12.5") consisting of printed sheets (measuring 15"-20" x 20"-25") that are twice folded and cut to form four leaves (eight pages) a. having four leaves to the sheet n. a book of quarto dimensions n. a size of British writing paper (measuring 10" x 8") recapitulate/reprise v. to repeat a musical composition's earlier tune, motif, theme, etc. recension n. a critical revision of a text (esp. a literary work) incorporating those most plausible elements gleaned from varied sources n. the edited text of a recension reprint n. a new edition or impression of a book, pamphlet, newspaper, article, etc. that has been printed or published before v. to print or publish a new edition or impression of a book, pamphlet, newspaper, article, etc. that has been printed or published before _offprint _n. a reprint of an article or excerpt first contained in a larger publication _v. to reprint an article or excerpt from a larger, previous publication restore v. to amend damage, decay, or alteration of a painting, statue, etc. to repair it to its former or original state roman a clef n. a novel in which actual people, places, and events are fictionalized rubric n. a title, heading or initial letter printed in red text or a special typeface, esp. in an early manuscript or book ruffle n. a soft, steady drumbeat v. to beat a drum with a low, constant rhythm score n. a written or printed form of a musical composition, on the large pages of which parts written for different instruments appear on separate staves n. (often incidental) music composed for a motion picture or stage play scrivener/scribe/penman/copyist/amanuensis n. someone employed to manually pen copies of documents and manuscripts segue v. to proceed or play an ulterior movement, section or song without interruption from that preceding serial a. pertaining to or composed in accordance with a technique whereby notes are disposed in tone rows _dodecaphonic _a. of, concerning, consisting of or composed as twelve-tone serial music serial/series n. anything broadcast or published in installments at regular intervals simulacrum/semblance/likeness/image/effigy n. a carved, drawn, molded, painted, photographed, sculpted, etc. representation of a person or thing _petroglyph _n. a prehistoric image carved or incised on rock _phallus _n. any image of the penis signifying male reproductive power __ithyphallus __n. any depiction of an erect penis skirl v. to play bagpipes v. (of bagpipes) to emit a shrill wail n. the stridulous wail produced by bagpipes sonnet n. a poem consisting of 14 lines written in conformity to a fixed rhyming scheme v. to praise or celebrate in a sonnet staccato a. marked by or composed of sharply disconnected notes, parts or sounds that are crisply clipped n. performance or enunciation in this manner stylometry n. study of a work's style intended to ascertain its author, esp. that of a text's phraseology or idiolect suspension n. the prolongation of one chord's tone or tones into another sequent that usu. generates a temporary dissonance n. a tone or tones so protracted synchronism n. artistic representation of events that occurred at different times in the same work tableau (vivant)/picture (pl. tableaux vivants/pictures) n. a static representation of a dramatic scene or historical incident embodying one or more silent, costumed, immobile people arranged in poses, esp. on a stage threnody/requiem/lament/elegy/dirge/coronach n. music of mourning composed or performed in commemoration for the deceased transpose v. to transfer a narrative or paradigm from one place, period or context to another transpose v. to rewrite or perform a piece of music in another key trash/garbage/dreck n. shoddy, worthless art or entertainment _pap/pabulum/pablum/froth/corn _n. banal, bland, unsubstantial trash _treacle/schmalz/schmaltz/hokum/corn _n. hokey art or entertainment treble/soprano n. the highest singing voice of a female or boy n. a passage or part composed for soprano n. a singer who sings or instrument that sounds in the soprano range a. having or denoting the soprano range or a soprano performer trompe l'oeil n. visual illusion in art, esp. as employed to credibly present a painted detail as a three-dimensional object n. a painting or design intended to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object twattle/twaddle/trumpery/tripe/tommyrot/rubbish/nonsense/piffle/humbug/hooey/hokum/hogwash/gibberish/folderol/codswallop/bunk/bosh/bilge/baloney/balderdash n. meaningless or ludicrous writing _blarney _n. duplicitous nonsense _twattle/twaddle/fustian/claptrap/bombast _n. pompous or pretentious writing underline/underscore v. to mark (usu. text) with a subjacent line n. a line drawn beneath text upbeat/pickup/anacrusis n. an unaccented beat preceding the first of a sequent measure upbeat n. a conductor's upward stroke directing performance of an anacrusis variorum n. an edition containing juxtaposed versions of a text or notes by various scholars, editors or other commentators a. of, concerning or consisting of a variorum vernacular a. spoken or written in a vernacular or patois write/pen/make/indite/compose/author v. to create a composition, essay, novel, play, poem, etc. _affix/add _v. to further write __append __v. to add an appendix or supplement __prepend __v. to add something at the beginning, as a foreword or proem __suffix/subjoin/append/affix __v. to affix at or from an end _dwell/dilate _v. (usu. followed by on or upon) to write at (usu. detailed) length in treatment of a subject __expatiate/expand/enlarge/elaborate/dilate __v. (usu. followed by on or upon) to dilate in greater detail _lucubrate _v. to write arduously, esp. at night _v. to indite scholarly content _panegyrize/eulogize _v. to pen enthusiastic laudation of something or someone _rave _v. to pen in address of something with wild zest! _score _v. to write a musical score for a movie or play _sonnet _v. to compose a sonnet xylopyrography/poker painting n. an art or technique of rendering pictures or designs on wood with a heated stylus ==BODILY FUNCTIONS== assimilate v. to convert victuals into substances readily absorbed by the body succeeding digestion v. to metamorphose food into living tissue by anabolism bear/birth/deliver/mother/produce v. (of a woman) to give birth to a baby birth/childbirth/delivery/parturition n. the act of giving birth by expulsion of a child or children from the womb beget/engender/father/generate/procreate/reproduce v. (of a man and woman) to produce children blush/crimson/flush/glow/redden v. to color reddish or pinkish when ill, impassioned or physically engaged _blush/flush _v. to abruptly redden when ashamed, guilty or embarrassed blushed/crimson/flush/flushed/glowing/reddened a. perfused with blood and thus reddened by ailment, exertion or evocation of emotion _blushed/flushed _a. suddenly crimson for chagrin, guilt, modesty or shame breathe/respire v. to draw air into and expel air from one's lungs _breathe (in)/inhale/inspire _v. to breathe oxygen, smoke, etc. into the lungs through one's nose or mouth __aspirate __v. to inhale liquid or a foreign object __sniff/snuff __v. to nasally inhale ___v. to audibly, momentarily snuff _breathe (out)/exhale/expire _v. to orally or nasally discharge carbon dioxide, smoke, etc. from one's lungs __snort __v. to noisily, forcibly exhale through one's nostrils, often to express despite or resentment _sniffle/snuffle _v. to breathe strepitently, as when congested _snore _v. to snortingly breathe through the nose (and often mouth) whilst asleep conception/fecundation/fertilization/impregnation n. the act of becoming pregnant; fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon that effects a fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote cry/lachrymate/water/weep v. to produce or shed tears in response to intense emotion or physical stimulus detumesce v. to cause or experience a declension of penile erection egest/eliminate/evacuate/excrete/pass v. to discharge waste (as feces or urine) from the body _defecate/evacuate/poop/purge/shit/void _v. to evacuate fecal matter from one's bowels through one's anus _micturate/pee/piddle/piss/tinkle/urinate/void _v. to egest urine from the bladder eruct/burp/bolk/belch v. to orally eject wind from the stomach with cacophony expectorate/spit v. to forcefully expel (saliva, phlegm, etc.) from the mouth expectoration/spit n. forced oral expulsion, as of saliva or phlegm fart/flatulation n. a voluntary or reflexive emission of intestinal gas through the anus fart/flatulate/toot v. to expel intestinal gases through the anus gustation/gustatory modality/(sense of) taste n. the faculty by which one perceives and severalizes bitter, salty, sour and sweet properties in one's mouth horripilation n. erection of goose bumps and bodily hair provoked by chill, chagrin or fear laxation/defecation n. the elimination of fecal waste from the bowels through the anus masticate/manducate/chew v. to bite, crush and grind vittles with the teeth ere swallowing mastication/manducation/manduction n. the act of biting, crushing and grinding food in one's mouth, so to soften it for swallowing menstruate/flow v. to discharge the menses (blood and other matter) from the lining of the uterus each month parous a. having given birth _multiparous _a. bearing multiple offspring, esp. during one birth _oviparous _a. producing eggs from which one's offspring hatch __ovoviviparous __a. producing eggs from which young hatch within a mother's body _viviparous _a. birthing live young instead of eggs perspire/sudate/sweat v. to secrete moisture through epidermal pores sternutate/sneeze v. to suddenly, spasmodically emit air (and often nasal secretions) from one's nose and mouth, usu. when the mucous membrane is irritated sternutation/sneeze n. an abrupt, explosive expulsion of air (and often nasal matter) through the nose and mouth systole n. rhythmic cardiac contraction by which blood is pumped through the aorta and pulmonary arteries urination/uresis/piss/pee/micturition/micturation/emiction n. the discharge of urine _enuresis _n. involuntary urination victual/manducate/ingest/eat/consume v. to masticate, savor and swallow food vomit/upchuck/spew/retch/regorge/purge/puke/heave/disgorge/barf v. to eject the stomach's contents through the mouth _regurgitate _v. to disgorge undigested or semi-digested food vomit(us)/purge/puke/heave/emesis/disgorgement/barf n. reflexive oral discharge of the stomach's contents _regurgitation _n. emesis of undigested or partially digested food ==BOTANY== abaxial/dorsal a. facing away from an axis (as the undersurface of a leaf from a stem) Abies alba/European silver fir/silver fir n. a coniferous evergreen of gray bark and needlelike leaves native to mountainous central and southern European regions Abies amabilis/amabilis fir/Pacific silver fir/red silver fir n. a medium to tall fir of western North America characterized by its tiered branches and conic crown; when crushed, its leaves smell of orange Abies concolor/Concolor fir/white fir Abies lowiana/California white fir/Colorado fir/white fir n. a tree of medium to tall height endemic to central or western United States distinguished by its narrow crown, acuate leaves and soft wood acacia n. any among several ordinarily spiny trees and shrubs of leguminous genus Acacia yielding alternating, bipinnate, compound leaves or leaves of flattened stalks from which dense inflorescences of small white or yellow flowers grow _Acacia farnesiana/cassie/huisache/mimosa bush/scented wattle/sweet acacia/sweet wattle _n. a thorny shrub or small tree of tropical and sub-tropical American provenance, the fragrant yellow flowers of which are used as a key ingredient of perfumery adaxial/ventral a. facing toward an axis (as the face of a leaf to a stem) alder n. any among the varied deciduous shrubs and trees of genus Alnus yielding toothed leaves that alternate with coned catkins; alder bark is employed as an ingredient in dyeing and tanning, while its wood is exploited for the construction of bridges for its prolonged resistance to rot when submerged aloe n. any of various plants of the genus Aloe yielding rosettes of juicy, spiny leaves and red, orange or yellow tubular flowers from long stalks ambrosia/bloodweed/ragweed n. any weed of the North American genus Ambrosia, the green flowers of which produce airborne, profuse pollen that provokes hay fever armature n. any of a plant's defensive organs (such as thorns) or protective coverings (as a carapace) artemisia n. any herbaceous plant of the genus Artemisia possessing green or gray and fragrant foliage and small discoid flowers: mugwort, sagebrush, tarragon and wormwood aster n. any daisies of genus Aster topped by radiate flower heads of white, pink and violet rays encompassing a yellow disk; most bloom in Autumn attenuate a. (of a plant's extremity) tapering to a slim or narrow point or span balsam n. any tree or shrub (esp. the Balsam fir) yielding balsam benthos n. plants growing at the bottom of a pond, sea, stream, etc. bifid a. deeply cleft into two parts or lobes, as a petal or leaf bine n. a twining or winding stem of any climbing plant, as that of a woodbine or hop blight n. any among several bacterial, fungal or viral diseases (as mildew or smut) that afflict plants, of which wilting or death are symptomatic bloom/blossom/efflorescence/florescence/flower n. a time when or process or condition whereby plants produce flowers boss n. any extant, external, often swollen organic mass _nodule/tubercle _n. a small, rounded swelling or protuberance growing from a plant botany/flora/vegetation n. the totality of plant life in a particular habitat, region or period Brachychiton acerifolius/flame durrajong/flame tree/Sterculia acerifolia n. a tree of south Australia producing panicles of brilliant scarlet flowers Brachychiton australis/broad-leaved bottletree/flame tree n. a north Australian tree bearing white flowers and broad leaves bracken n. a large, coarse fern sporting triangular, usu. triplex fronds n. a cluster of bracken briar/Erica arborea/tree heath n. an ericaceous Mediterranean shrub or small tree in the heath family, the woody roots of which are used to fashion tobacco pipes burl n. a convex, wooden projection growing from a tree's trunk or branch caducous a. shed at an early stage of development, as a plant's sepals calyx n. the collective whorl of a flower's sepals comprising an external floral envelope or layer of the perianth that encloses its petals to protect its developing bud _sepal _n. one green, leafy constituent of a calyx _monosepalous/gamosepalous _a. of a calyx embodying one sepal _disepalous _a. of a calyx comprising two sepals _trisepalous _a. of a calyx containing three sepals _polysepalous _a. of a calyx embodying a variable or indefinite number of parts _gamosepalous _a. of a calyx consisting of united or partially united sepals, as those of the primrose candelilla n. two waxy shrubs of western Texas and Mexico: Euphorbia antisyphilitica or Pedilanthus pavonis Capparis spinosa/caper n. a spiny, trailing, capparidaceous shrub of the Mediterranean that yields pale to white lilac flowers, the buds of which contain red, pulpy fruits carrizo n. a tall reed of North America possessing wide leaves and large, pluming panicles catclaw n. an erect shrub, the small spines of which produce racemes of white to yellow flowers Ceratopetalum gummiferum/Christmas bush/Christmas tree n. an Australian tree or shrub bearing red flowers, often bestowed as a Christmas decoration chlorosis n. an unusual white or yellow hue of green plant tissue symptomatic of a chlorophyllous scarcity cholla n. any of various spiny, cylindrical, arborescent cacti of genus Opuntia in Mexico and the southwestern United States _nopal/prickly pear _n. any cacti of the genus Opuntia sporting spiny and flattened or cylindrical stem joints, red, orange and yellow flowers, and (often esculent) ovate fruit Christmas tree n. any evergreen or simulacrum thereof ornamented with lights and gimcrackery, conspicuously emplaced as a principal interior Christmas decoration cling/clingstone n. any fruit (esp. peach) of flesh that adheres tightly to its pit deathcamas n. poisonous plants of the Zigadenus genus native to North America Delonix regia/flamboyant/flame tree/peacock flower/Poinciana regia/Royal poinciana n. an extravagant tree or shrub native to Madagascar, widely planted in tropical and sub-tropical regions for the vivid beauty of its immense racemes of scarlet and orange flowers diurnal a. (of flowers) only open during daylight hours dwarf oak n. a shrublike, deciduous tree of the United States yielding a sweet, edible nut endemic n. a plant native to a specific region etiolated a. pale and wilting for a dearth of sunlight everlasting (flower) n. any of various plants (as of genera Anaphalis, Gnaphalium, Helichrysum and Helipterum) that bloom flowers retaining their form and color after they've been culled and dried exuberant/gross/lush/luxuriant/profuse/rampant/rank/riotous/wanton a. abundant in vegetal growth firethorn/pyracantha n. any rosaceous, thorny shrub of genus Pyracantha distinguished by evergreen foliage and brilliant red and orange berries fugacious a. withering, fading or (of caducous parts) shed early gentian n. any of various gentianaceous plants of genera Gentiana or Gentianella sporting brilliant blue, red, white or yellow flowers groundsel n. any plant of the genus Senecio, esp. S. vulgaris: a common weed bearing small, rayed, usu. yellow flowers graft v. to integrate a shoot or bud with another growing plant by collocation or insertion grama (grass) n. any among varied dense American grasses of genus Bouteloua that are usually grown as pasture grasses graminaceous/gramineous a. of, regarding or denoting grasses gutta-percha n. any tropical tree of the sapotaceous genera Palaquium and Payena haulm/stalk/stem/stock (pl. halm/haulm/stalks/stems/stocks) n. the main, vascular body or axis of a herbaceous plant heliophilia n. botanical attraction or adaptation to sunlight heliotropic a. growing, turned or turning toward light, esp. sunlight hull/husk/shuck n. the dry, membranous integument of some seeds or fruits, as walnuts or corn hull/husk/shell/shuck v. to strip a husk or husks from ilex n. any among the various shrubs or trees of genus Ilex, esp. the holly and inkberry indigo n. any of multiple leguminous shrubs or herbs of genus Indigofera growing pinnate compound leaves and racemes of red or purple flowers inflorescence n. an array of flowers growing from a common stem or stalk n. a cluster of flowers _panicle _n. a branched inflorescence _raceme _n. an inflorescence comprising stalked flowers growing along a common stem, those buds at the base of which are the first to mature and bloom __panicle __n. a compound raceme juniper n. any coniferous, evergreen shrub or tree of the genus Juniperus yielding spiny or scaly leaves and berrylike cones liverwort/hepatic n. any of numerous small, green, nonvascular plants of class Hepaticopsida that grow in wet areas, embody a flat, lobed thallus or leafy, mosslike matter and reproduce by dint of encapsulated spores Lophophora williamsii/mescal/peyote n. a spineless, globy cactus native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, the tubercles (peyote buttons) of which contain mescaline and occasion hallucinogenic effects when chewed maguey n. various large Mexican agaves exploited as a source of fiber, mescal and the sap from which it's distilled mesquite/algarroba n. shrubs and small trees of genus Prosopis autochthonic to arid regions of the Americas; notable for their spiny, bipinnate leaves and sugary beanlike pods, and employed as forage and firewood monkeyflower n. herbaceous perennials of the Mimulus genus aboriginal to western North America, the flowers of which resemble a monkey's physiognomy necrosis n. any circumscribed decay and death of plant tissue resultant of disease or frost _canker _n. any necrotic fungal or bacterial disease of woody plants that inflicts localized damage to trunks, branches or twigs nopal n. any of several cacti of genus Nopalea that resemble the prickly pear Nuytsia floribunda/flame tree/fire tree/Christmas tree n. a shrub or small tree of western Australia, notable for its vivid yellow-orange flowers and parasitism to the detriment of contiguous vegetation ocotillo n. a desert candlewood shrub native to Mexico and the southwestern United States yielding long, spiny stems and clusters of tubular scarlet flowers that blossom from the tips of its branches osculate v. to be relegated to an intermediary class between two taxonomic groups palo verde n. any among varied, leguminous, spiny desert shrubs and trees of genus Cercidium/Parkinsonia featuring green bark and yellow flowers, and indigenous to Mexico and the southwestern United States panic grass n. any grass of genus Panicum (notably millet), many of which are grown for fodder and grain parenchyma n. (ordinarily soft, succulent) essential cellular tissue composed of divisible cells distinguished by thin walls comprising the pulp of fruits or pith of stems, bark, roots, etc. _pith _n. the soft, spongy central cylinder within the stems of most flowering plants primarily comprised of parenchyma perennial n. any plant that survives in excess of two years, or indefinitely a. (of a plant) living three or more seasons persistent a. (of a floral extremity) retained; never shed, as certain leaves or the scales of a pine cone photophilia/photophily n. the need of some plants for exposure to powerful sunlight photosynthesis n. the process by which algae, plants and some bacteria synthesize carbohydrates as sustenance from carbon dioxide, (usu. aqueous) hydrogen and inorganic salts with solar energy absorbed by their chlorophyll phototropism n. motion or growth of a sessile organism toward or away from light phytology/botany n. a branch of biology dedicated to the study of botanical physiology, genetics, classification, diffusion, ecology and economic significance piñon (pine)/pinyon (pine) n. pine trees of northern Mexico and southwestern United States bearing edible seeds pith v. to remove the pith from a plant's stem poblano n. a thick, dark green Mexican chili pepper of hot, poignant flavor pollinate v. to convey pollen to or deposit pollen on and thusly fecundate a floral stigma or coniferous ovule prostrate/procumbent a. growing flat along the ground _decumbent _a. laid or growing otherwise prostrate to an erect tip quince n. a small, rosaceous tree or shrub indigenous to west Asia blooming white to pink flowers and yielding a hard, ovate, xanthous fruit n. the firm, yellow, acerbic fruit of the quince tree or shrub, usu. bestowed as an ingredient of jellies or preserves sacahuista n. a flowering grass native to North America sarsaparilla n. any among numerous climbing, prickly, tropical American plants of genus Smilax bearing serrated, cordate leaves, the large, redolent roots of which are used to produce a flavoring n. dried roots of a sarsaparilla plant scrog n. a branch, bush or shrub whose growth has been stunted, as by etiolation scrub oak n. any of various small oaks forming shrublike bosks soapweed n. a tall, arborescent yucca of the southwestern United States sotol n. plants of genus Dasylirion and the agave family distinguished by panicles of whitish flowers, and slender, spiny leaves; autochthonal to the southwestern United States and contiguous northern Mexico stamen n. a flower's protruding, pollen-bearing reproductive organ comprised of a filament and anther _filament _n. the slender stalk of a stamen that supports its anther __anther __n. a pair of lobes extending from the extremity of a stamen's filament in which pollen accrues to be ultimately discharged and borne upon the wind or harvested by bees stomate/stoma/pore n. one of numerous minute epidermal apertures in a leaf or stem through which gases and water vapor pass that enable transpiration or absorption succulent n. a plant whose fleshy leaves or stems contain water, such as cacti or sedums a. (of a plant) possessing thick, fleshy, juicy tissues sycamore/plane tree/buttonwood/buttonball n. any of the deciduous trees of genus Platanus, distinguished by its flaky bark, lobed leaves and hanging, hirsute fruit clusters; its wood is often exploited as tinder sycamore n. a deciduous, Eurasian maple tree notable for its greenish flowers, winged fruits and lobed leaves tassel n. the tufted head of some plants, esp. that growing from a cornstalk's tip and sporting prominent stamens v. to form or grow tassels teak n. a tall tree of east Indian provenance now widely planted in western Africa and the tropical Americas for harvest of its durable, attractive timber terrestrial/telluric a. growing on land or from soil tiller n. a lateral shoot sprouting from the base of a graminaceous stem v. (of plants) to grow shoots sprouting from the root, or base of a stalk transplant v. to unearth a plant and replant it elsewhere trefoil n. any leguminous, European plant of the Trifolate or Lotus genera bearing trifoliate compound leaves and small, dense flowers of white, yellow, red or purple hues tussock/tuffet n. a thick clump or tuft of vegetation (esp. grass), the length or density of which exceeds that circumferent uva-ursi/bearberry n. a creeping evergreen dwarf shrub bearing leathery, astringent leaves, pink flowers and vivid, ruddy berries verdure/greenery/green n. green, lush vegetation or foliage thereof verdure/verdancy n. the vibrant viridity of flourishing vegetation vernation/prefoliation n. the arrangement of young (folded/coiled/rolled) leaves in a bud ere it opens violet n. any prostrate plant of genus Viola typified by flowers of irregular white, yellow, blue or purple petals wallflower/Cheiranthus cheiri n. any perennial of genus Erysimum native to southern Europe that grows inflorescences of all colors (esp. yellow and orange) and naturalizes on cliffs or walls whitethorn n. a thorny Eurasian shrub bearing carmine berries and dense clusters of scarlet to white flowers wiregrass n. any grass of wiry roots (as Bermuda grass) or stems (as A. stricta or A. purpurea) xylology n. a branch of dendrology concerning the structure of wood ==CEREBRATION== aboulia/abulia n. pathological indecisiveness: a psychological impairment of resolution absorb/assimilate/imbibe/ingest v. to mentally learn and consequently comprehend information absorbed/captivated/engrossed/immersed/intent/monopolized/obsessed/preoccupied/prepossessed/rapt a. exclusively and obsessively intrigued by something _absent/abstracted/distrait/preoccupied _a. engrossed in one's own thoughts __absent/absent-minded/distrait __a. so preoccupied that one is unaware of other matters, esp. what is happening about oneself absorption/captivation/engrossment/fixation/immersion/obsession/preoccupancy/preoccupation/prepossession/raptness n. the mental state of being fascinated by something to the exclusion of all else _abstractedness/abstraction/preoccupancy/preoccupation _n. excogitative immersion abstract/abstraction/concept/conception/construct/notion n. a purely theoretical idea not associated with any specific instance abstract/abstraction/abstract entity/concept/conception/construct/notion n. a general idea derived or educed from specific instances _beau ideal/ideal _n. a concept of perfection deemed an exemplar __imago __n. an ideal conception of someone (usu. a parent) formed during childhood that subconsciously persists into one's adult years acalculia n. incapacity to perform basic arithmetic account/adjudge/consider/count/deem/esteem/find/hold (to be)/judge/rate/reckon/regard (as)/take (for)/think/view (as) v. to subjectively believe or perceive to be a specific way _abstract _v. to consider theoretically, without thought of a specific example _admire/appreciate/approve/esteem/favor/prize/regard/respect/value _v. to rate highly in reflection of one's admiration _belittle/deprecate/depreciate/derogate _v. to adjudge less impressive, significant or valuable than it actually is or appears __downgrade/minimize/trivialize/vilipend __v. to depreciate something as piffling _compare/confer/equiparate/liken _v. to regard people or things as correspondent _criticize/deplore/disapprove/discountenance/reprobate _v. to rate something disapprovingly; to regard as reprehensible or wrong _equate/identify _v. to regard something or someone as equal to another or others _individualize _v. to count something individually acuity/acuteness/incisiveness/insight/keenness/penetration/perceptiveness/perceptivity/percipience/percipiency/perspicaciousness/perspicacity/subtlety n. a precise and profound capacity for comprehension _acumen/astuteness/canniness/discernment/discrimination/judiciousness/perspicaciousness/perspicacity/sagaciousness/sagacity/sapience/shrewdness/wisdom _n. a faculty to render valid judgment in consort with one's insight _clairvoyance/clairvoyancy _n. intuitive insight acute/astute/incisive/insightful/keen/penetrating/penetrative/perceptive/percipient/perspicacious/piercing/prehensile/sharp/subtle a. endowed with profound, accurate understanding _astute/cagey/canny/discerning/discriminating/judicious/perspicacious/sagacious/sapient/sharp/shrewd/subtle/wise _a. possessing sound judgment exercised in accordance with acuity _clairvoyant _a. intuitively perceptive addle/amaze/baffle/bamboozle/becloud/bedevil/befog/befuddle/bemuse/bewilder/cloud/confound/confuse/discombobulate/discomfit/disorient/floor/flummox/flurry/fog/fox/muddle/mystify/obfuscate/obnubilate/perplex/puzzle/stump/throw v. to frustrate someone's comprehension aim/design/intend/mean/meditate/plan/propose/purpose/think v. to have in mind as an intention or objective afflatus n. a strong, often sudden creative impulse; divine inspiration agile/alert/apt/bright/clever/dexterous/intelligent/nimble/prehensile/quick/smart/subtle a. prompt to learn and comprehend accord/agree/assent/coincide/concur v. to harmonize in opinion or sentiment amnesia n. partial or complete loss of memory symptomatic of cerebral injury, shock, hysteria, disease, etc. _paramnesia _n. mnemonic distortion prompting a confusion of reality and (usu. oneiric) fantasy _n. inability to remember the meanings of words apercu/insight n. a profound, often sudden comprehension regarding a property or quiddity by means of percipience or intuition apophenia n. the erroneous colligation of patterns and connections from random data apparent/clear/distinct/evident/frank/glaring/luminous/manifest/marked/obvious/overt/palpable/patent/plain/sharp/transparent/trenchant/unmistakable/visible a. readily understood apprehend/catch/compass/comprehend/discern/fathom/follow/get/grasp/perceive/prehend/see/seize/twig/understand v. to intellectually lay hold of a concept or communicative tenor appraise/approximate/assess/calculate/estimate/evaluate/gauge/judge v. to approximately judge the value, number, quantity or extent of by calculation, reasoning or practical experience _criticize _a. to analytically judge _misprize/underestimate/underrate/undervalue _v. to evaluate or esteem an inadequate value _prorate _v. to assess proportionately _review _v. to conduct a formal assessment of troops, esp. those comprising the formation of a ceremonial parade ambit/area/compass/horizon/purview/orbit/range/region/scope/sphere/territory n. a span of comprehension, experience, interest, knowledge or perspective _breadth/liberality/sweep _n. an especially broad purview arrest/attract/catch/engage/fascinate/grab/interest/intrigue/occupy v. to inspire curiosity or interest _absorb/consume/engage/engross/fixate/immerse/monopolize/obsess/preoccupy/prepossess/rivet _v. to engage or intrigue obsessive interest or attention to the exclusion of other thoughts artistic/creative/cunning/imaginative/ingenious/innovative/innovatory/inspired/inventive/original/subtle/visionary a. easily conceiving and implementing many novel ideas associate/connect/link/relate v. to establish a causal, imaginative, logical, natural or syntactic connection or relation _colligate _v. to relate factors or observations by an applicable hypothesis _correlate _v. to demonstrate or establish a complementary, mutual or reciprocal relation au fait/au courant/abreast a. possessing reliable, detailed, current knowledge of something; fully informed belief/confidence/credence/faith/reliance/trust n. firm acceptance of some perceived verity capacity/faculty n. a mental ability, as those of intellection, perception or speech cerebrate/reflect/think v. to apply one's mind for decision, invention or reason _brood (on, upon, over)/dwell (on, upon) _v. to cerebrate of something persistently and often sullenly _cogitate/consider/contemplate/debate/deliberate/excogitate/meditate*/mull^/muse/ponder*^/reflect*/ruminate*/speculate*/think (about) _v. (often followed by *on, upon or ^over) to think intently in deliberation about a subject or subjects with prolonged care __consider/contemplate/meditate/think __v. to consider as a possible though uncertain intention __introspect __v. to deliberate on one's own thoughts and feelings __retrospect __v. to ponder the past cerebration/intellection/mentation/thought n. exercise of the intellect: the action or process of using one's mind to conceive, consider or reason in concern of something _cogitation/consideration/contemplation/debate/deliberation/excogitation/meditation/reflection/rumination/speculation/thought _n. careful and profound intellection __introspection __n. analytical excogitation of one's own feelings and thoughts __retrospect/retrospection __n. reflection on past events, matters or people _lucubration _n. laborious cerebration chimera/dream/fantasy/pipe dream n. a grotesque product of the imagination; a vain, foolish or incongruous fancy cogitation/consideration/musing/reflection n. a carefully considered thought about something cogitative/contemplative/deliberative/excogitative/meditative/musing/pensive/pondering/reflective/ruminant/ruminative/speculative a. deeply, thoroughly thoughtful _introspective _a. mulling over one's internal cogitation and feelings cognition n. the mental act or process of knowing, which encompasses awareness, intuition, judgment, perception and reasoning _perception _n. awareness by means of sensory faculties __interoception __n. perception of internal bodily sensations __proprioception __n. neurological perception of corporeal motion and position _reasoning _n. the rational act or process of analysis, deduction and judgment cognitional/cognitive a. of or relating to cognition concentrate/focus/pore v. to commit one's attention to something, esp. when reading or studying conception/excogitation/formation n. the creation of an idea, as a theory, principle, plan, explanation, etc. in one's mind conceive/design/form/make/produce v. to develop and form an idea, opinion, project, theory, etc. in one's mind by intellectual exertion _concoct/contrive/design/devise/excogitate/formulate _v. to adapt, design or press with ingenuity and skill _concoct/create/invent/excogitate _v. to imaginatively conceive something new, as a concept or device _concoct/fabricate/invent _v. to form a falsity or fiction _contrive/design/devise/hatch/plan/machinate/scheme _v. to design a (usu. detailed or involved) procedure or program for the realization of an objective __contrive/design/devise __v. to cleverly plan __compass/contrive/hatch/intrigue/machinate/plot/scheme __v. to covertly contrive a (usu. evil) stratagem __contrive/scheme __v. to devise with malevolent, malicious or treacherous intentions conclude/deduce/derive/educe/infer v. to establish a conclusion by reasoning derived from evidence or premises conclude/decide/determine/purpose v. to reach a decision concerning a matter, esp. a course of action _resolve _v. to decide with resolution _predetermine _v. to decide in advance conflate/confound/confuse/jumble/muddle v. to mistake two or more concepts, people or things as being the same by ignorance of their distinctions craze/derange/disorder/distract/madden/unbalance/unhinge v. to unsettle the reason of; to render insane daze/grogginess/stupor/stupefaction/trance n. a state of stunned confusion inhibiting coherent thought or feeling delusion/illusion n. an erroneous, commonly delusory mental representation of something perceived demarcate/differentiate/discern/discriminate/distinguish/secern/secernate/separate/severalize v. to perceive a difference or differences in or between people and things; to recognize as distinct differ/disaccord/disagree/discept/discord/dissent/diverge/vary v. to have a disparate opinion dyslogia/dyslogy n. incapacity to verbally communicate concepts or reason symptomatic of mental disorder entrenched/firm/fixed/implanted/impressed/imprinted/inculcated/ingrained/instilled/inveterate/planted/set/unshakable a. (of a conviction or habit) firmly established and unlikely to change evocation n. imaginative re-creation exclude/eliminate/elide v. to omit from consideration extrapolate/generalize v. to reference specific instances in comparative address of others; to infer an unknown from something that is known extrapolate v. to extend the application of a method or conclusion (esp. one based on statistics) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable. v. to attempt to gain knowledge of that neither known nor experienced by extrapolating extrapolation n. an inference about the future or some hypothetical situation based on known facts and observations fecundity/creativity n. the intellectual productivity of a creative imagination fixate/obsess v. to be constantly engrossed by a person or thing in an exclusive and neurotic manner fixation/fixed idea/idée fixe/obsession n. an idea in concern of which one is compulsively preoccupied _coprophilia _n. a fixation on feces and defecation _loganamnosis _n. an obsession to recollect a forgotten word _monomania _n. an obsession with a single subject or idea forgetful/oblivious/unmindful a. tending not to remember _amnesiac/amnesic/amnestic _a. suffering partial or total personal mnemonic loss ensuant of brain damage, illness, psychological trauma or shock hebetude/languor/lassitude/stupor/stupefaction n. mental lethargy heresy/heterodoxy/unorthodoxy n. any belief, conjecture or opinion discordant with those established or official impression/inkling/notion/sense n. a vague idea impute/give/credit/attribute/attach/assign/ascribe/accredit v. to regard as resulting from, created or caused by, characteristic of or belonging to a source, origin or person _impute/charge/blame/affix/accuse _v. to attribute responsibility or esp. culpability to a cause, group, person or source _arrogate _v. to unjustifiably ascribe to another individuation/individualization n. discrimination of an individual from its generic group or species intuit/divine v. to know or comprehend by dint of intuition lethologica n. a psychological disorder whereby mnemonic lapses of key words inhibit one from articulating themself mnemonic a. of or regarding memory a. aiding or intended to boost memory n. any means by which memory may be elicited, as a correlation, formula, rhyme or verse nescience/inscience/ignorance n. want or lack of knowledge parturient a. on the verge of innovating a new idea percept n. an impression of something perceived, developed as a consequence of perceptual thought processes prefigure/anticipate v. to imagine or consider beforehand prescind v. to disunite something or someone from another or others in thought or consideration prevision/foresight n. the power to presage events or trends prevenient to their occurrence previsional/prescient a. of, concerning or characteristic of prescience prevision/previse/foresee/foreknow v. to know what will transpire in advance prospicience/prevision/prescience/foresight/foreknowledge n. predictive knowledge of future events prospicient/previsionary/prescient/foresighted/foreknowing a. possessing knowledge of events before they occur reify/hypostatize v. to deem an abstraction concrete or real; to attribute material reality to a concept sensitive a. acutely aware of and quick to detect or respond to subtle changes, signals or influences sensitivity/sensibility/esthesia/aesthesia n. faculty for intellectual or aesthetic awareness, feelings, distinctions, discernment, predilections, etc. suppress/restrain/inhibit/curb/constrain/bridle v. to suspend activity or ideas tenacious/retentive/recollective a. possessing a good memory; easily recalling facts and impressions theorize/suspect/surmise/suppose/speculate/reckon/presuppose/presume/infer/imagine/hypothesize/guess/fancy/expect/divine/devise/conjecture/assume v. to expect or imagine as true or probable without verification, based on limited evidence theory/suspicion/surmise/surmisal/supposition/supposal/speculation/presumption/inference/hypothesis/guess/divination/conjecture/assumption n. a belief, conclusion, proposition or opinion based on incomplete or inconclusive evidence thick/slow/purblind/opaque/obtuse/dull/dense a. slow to learn or comprehend for a deficiency of intelligence, or mental or personality disorder velleity n. a wish without sufficient impetus to prompt action view/prospect/outlook/expectation/anticipation n. a belief, aspiration or tentative vision concerning the future vivid/graphic a. (of a memory) conveying or evoking the accuracy, clarity, freshness and realism of immediate experience vivid a. (of one's imagination) forming distinctly realistic images will/volition n. the mental faculty of concious, deliberate choice and determination of action _velleity _n. the weakest grade of volition will/volition/selection/resolution/option/election/determination/decision/choice n. an act or instance of asserting a concious choice or decision wiliness/trickiness/subtlety/sneakiness/slyness/guile/foxiness/deviousness/cunning/craftiness/craft/artifice/artfulness a. intelligence manifest as deceptive skill ==COLLECTIVES== alignment/alliance/bloc/coalition/confederacy/confederation/federacy/federation/league/union n. an association of people, groups or countries (esp. those bound by a pact or treaty) to advance their common interests and achieve specific objectives _axis _n. an international alliance formed to coordinate foreign and military policy army/concourse/confluence/crowd/crush/flock/herd/horde/mass/multitude/press/serry/shoal/throng/troop n. a large, concentrated gathering of people _doggery/mob/rabble _n. a robustious or disorganized crowd _drove _n. a moving multitude assemblage/assembly/company/congregation/convention/convocation/council/gathering/meeting/rally/troop n. a group formally convened for a common purpose _congress/convention _n. a formal, discussional assembly of delegates from a political party, labor union, vocation, etc. who confer in concern of common interests _contingent _n. a representative group (as a delegacy) constituting part of a larger convocation __delegacy/delegation/deputation/mission __n. a party of representatives or delegates ___legation ___n. a diplomat (esp. one subordinate to an ambassador) and their staff association/band/consortium/corps/crew/organization/outfit/partnership/party/society/syndicate/team/troop n. any group of people engaged in an endeavor or activity brigade n. an army subdivision comprised of multiple infantry battalions, squadrons or regiments cadre/cell n. a body of activists constituting the smallest unit or nucleus of a larger political movement or organization cadre n. a nucleus of professional servicemen required to establish and train a new or newly expanded military unit cast/players n. the performers of a stage play or motion picture claque n. a group employed to acclaim an act or performer claque n. an obsequious group, as one's retinue clowder/cludder/clutter n. a group of cats _glaring _a. a clowder comprised of cats who are uncertain of one another _kindle _n. a litter of kittens commonality/commonalty/herd/hoi polloi/mass/masses/mob/multitude/populace/public/rabble/third estate n. the (often inferior or philistinic) common people, as distinguished from artistic, intellectual, political, military and other notables company/ensemble n. a collaborative circle of theatrical performers _troupe _n. a theatrical company that tours numerous venues consort/ensemble n. a small party of musicians who perform together _broken consort _n. a consort who play musical instruments of several families _choir _n. an ensemble of singers _consort/whole consort _n. an ensemble who play musical instruments of the same family, such as a string quartet or woodwind trio __skirl __n. a whole consort of bagpipers contingent n. a body of troops dispatched to succor a larger force in a campaign convoy n. a group of vehicles that travel together, often to guarantee mutual protection cordon n. a series of police, soldiers or guards enclosing, guarding and preventing access to or from an area, building or thing cortege/entourage/equipage/retinue/suite/train n. a body in the company or attendance of someone, usually a dignitary or other notable couple/duo/dyad/pair/twosome n. two people regarded together, as partners, siblings, spouses, et al. detail n. military personnel assigned to perform a task doggery n. a group of dogs gemeinschaft n. a group bound by personal (ethnic, familial, religious, etc.) relations gesellschaft n. a society united by impersonal formal, practical or professional relationships induct/initiate/receive v. to accept people into an exclusive society or group, usu. by a rite legation n. jointly, a diplomatic minister (esp. an envoy) and his suite literati n. literary people ogdoad/octet n. a group of eight people parity n. the number of liveborn children a woman has delivered patriciate/gentry/gentility/elite/aristocracy n. any (often hereditary) upper or ruling class of nonpareil wealth and preponderant influence, as a peerage posterity n. all of a progenitor's descendants n. all future generations of people presbytery (Presbyterian) n. those ministers and elders who compose a presbytery schism/scission/split n. division of a group into opposing factions school/shoal n. any large group of aquatic animals (esp. fish) that swim in confluence, esp. during migration _gam _n. a school of whales skirl n. a group of bagpipers sortie n. troops engaged in an attack from a sieged situation span/pair n. a harnessed, driven pair of oxen, mules or horses _yoke __a span linked by a yoke succession n. multiple animals, people or vehicles following one another _caravan _n. a succession of pack animals or vehicles traveling together, usu. in single file _column/file/line/train _n. an orderly succession of individual constituents __cavalcade/procession __n. an orderly, formal, often ceremonious succession ___cavalcade ___n. a procession of equestrians, carriages or cars ___cortege ___n. a funeral procession __defile __n. a single file of soldiers ==COLORS== band/bar/streak/stria/striation/stripe n. an elongated strip of contrasting color banding n. the presence or formation of striae blue n. a color between green and violet in the chromatic spectrum, as that of a clear sky or sunlit sea _aquamarine _n. a light blue-green or greenish blue color _azure/cerulean/sky blue _n. a rich, bright, clear blue color, as that of a cloudless sky _baby blue _n. a pale shade of blue _cyan _n. a greenish-blue color _midnight blue _n. an extremely dark blue _navy (blue) _n. a dark blue color _peacock blue _n. a greenish-blue color akin to that of a peacock's neck _powder blue _n. a soft, pale blue color _Prussian blue _n. the deep blue color of Prussian blue pigment _royal blue _n. a deep, vivid blue color _sapphire _n. a bright blue color _steel blue _n. a dark, bluish-gray color _ultramarine _n. a brilliant, deep blue color blue a. of a color between green and violet in the chromatic spectrum brown n. a dark color of yellowish or reddish hue, as of dark wood or rich soil _amber _n. a brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown color _bay _n. a reddish-brown color _beige _n. a light greyish-brown or pale sandy yellowish-brown color __buff __n. a yellowish-beige color of undyed leather __ecru __n. the pale beige color of unbleached linen _biscuit _n. a pale brown _burnt sienna _n. a deep reddish-orange to reddish-brown color akin to that of sienna darkened by heating _camel _n. the light, yellowish-brown color of camel hair _caramel _n. the rich, light brown color of caramel _chestnut _n. a deep reddish-brown color, as that of chestnuts _dun _n. a dull, grayish-brown color _fawn _n. a light yellowish-brown color _hazel _n. a light reddish-, greenish- or golden-brown color, as that of certain irises _khaki _n. a dull yellowish-brown color _mahogany _n. a rich, reddish-brown color, as that of mahogany wood _oatmeal _n. a grayish-beige color flecked with brown _rust _n. a red-orange-brown color resembling iron oxide __rufous __n. a reddish-brown hue of rust _sand _n. a light yellow-brown color like that of sand _sanguine _n. a dark reddish-brown color akin to that of dried blood _sable _n. a grayish, yellowish brown resembling that of the sable's fur _sepia _n. a rose-brown color prominent in fin de siecle monochrome photographs _tan _n. a pale or yellowish-brown color _tawny/fulvous _n. an orange- or yellowish-brown color _umber _n. a dark, reddish-brown color __burnt umber __n. a dark brown color brown a. of a dark color of yellowish or reddish hue _amber _a. of a brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown color _bay _a. colored reddish-brown _beige _a. dyed a light greyish-brown or pale sandy yellowish-brown __buff __a. of a light yellow-beige color _biscuit _a. light brown of color _dun _a. of a dull, grayish-brown color _nut-brown _a. of a rich, dark brown color _sable _a. of a grayish, yellowish brown _sepia _a. of a rose-brown color _tawny/fulvous _a. of an orange- or yellowish-brown color cerise n. a deep to vivid reddish-pink color a. of a deep or vivid reddish-pink color chatoyancy n. a property of changeable color or luster immediately conditional on the angle of applied light, as that of a gemstone cut as a cabochon chroma/intensity/saturation/vividness n. chromatic purity: the vividity of a color contingent on its grade of distinction from diluting white (chromatic) spectrum n. a band of colors visible when white light is dispersed (as by a prism or diffraction grating) representing photic wavelengths: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red chromatic a. of, pertaining to or produced by color or colors chromatics/chromatology n. the scientific study of colors clinquant/tinseled a. glittering with gold and silver color/dye v. to indue with a hue or change the color of v. to assume a or another color; to become colored _blue _v. to render or become blue _brown/embrown _v. to make or become brown in color _empurple/purple/purpurate _v. to render or become purple _green _v. to turn or become green _perfuse/suffuse _v. to spread or flood over or through with (a) color __imbue/saturate __v. to perfuse entirely _encarnadine/incarnadine/redden _v. to make red __crimson/encarnadine/incarnadine __v. to make or become a deep purplish-red color __encarnadine/incarnadine __v. to render the color of flesh __vermilion __v. to dye something vermilion/cinnabar _tincture/tinge/tint _v. to impart a slight or faint coloration _yellow _v. to turn yellow, esp. by aging coral n. light yellowish-pink hues a. of any coral colors colorful/multicolored/multihued/polychromatic/rainbow/varicolored a. displaying, possessing or embodying a variety of colors _changeable _a. chromatically varying when viewed from different angles __chatoyant __a. mutably colored or lustrous, as gems or silk __iridescent __a. disclosing a play of lustrous colors resembling those of a rainbow ___nacreous/opaline/opalescent/pearlescent/pearly ___a. radiating a milky iridescence, as that of an opal or illumined mother-of-pearl _particolored _a. varicolored in discrete sections _variegated _a. marked with patches, spots, streaks, etc. of various colors damask n. a grayish-pink color, as that of the damask rose dichroism/dichromaticism n. (of uniaxial crystals) chromatic variation exhibited from two different axes n. (of chemical solutions) variation of colors at differing concentrations dim/drab/dull/muted/quiet/restrained/sad/sober/somber/subdued a. (of colors) neither bright nor vivid _dingy/dirty/muddy _a. of a dark, dull, murky hue discolored by impurities; neither bright nor clear gold n. the bright, lustrous, metallic yellow or yellow-brown color of gold gold/golden/gilt/aureate a. of a bright, lustrous, metallic yellow or yellow-brown color gradation/nuance/shading n. a minute dissimilarity between tones, shades or colors green n. a color between yellow and blue in the spectrum of thriving grass or emeralds _aquamarine _n. a light blue-green or greenish blue color _jade (green) _n. a vivid spectrum of greens varied from bluish- to yellowish-green _olive _n. a dull grayish-green color, as that of an unripe olive _pea green _n. a yellowish-green color like that of pea soup green a. of the color between yellow and blue in the spectrum; similar to the color of fresh grass _greenish/virescent/viridescent _a. slightly green hue/chromaticity n. the quality of a color as determined by a dominant wavelength and purity independent of brightness, by which is it severalized as a gradation or variety of red, green, blue, yellow, etc. indigo n. a color betwixt blue and violet in the chromatic spectrum; a deep violet-blue iridescence n. polychromatic coloration akin to that of a rainbow or prismal light _opalescence/pearlescence _n. milky iridescence, such as that of an opal orange n. a bright reddish-yellow color of the chrononymous citrus fruit _burnt sienna _n. a deep reddish-orange to reddish-brown color akin to that of sienna darkened by heating orange a. colored a reddish yellow, as that of a ripe orange purple n. any color amid blue and red in the spectrum _aubergine/eggplant _n. a blackish purple color _violet _n. a bluish-purple color disposed at the far end of the spectrum purple a. of a spectral hue between blue and red _violet _a. of a bluish-purple color red/sanguine n. any of various colors resembling the color of blood afore orange and opposite violet in the spectrum _amaranthine _n. a reddish-rose color _blush _n. a red, rosy or pink tinge _cardinal _n. a rich, vivid red color _carnation/encarnadine/incarnadine _n. that pale red or pale pink of flesh _cherry/cherry-red _n. a rich, bright or deep red of cherries _crimson/incarnadine _n. a deep purplish-red color __carmine __n. a vivid, reddish hue of crimson __rose __n. a light crimson or warm pink color of roses _maroon _n. a dark brownish-red color _ruby/ruby-red _n. an intense purplish-red color _scarlet _n. a brilliant, slightly orange-red color __cinnabar/vermeil/vermilion __n. an especially orange scarlet hue _wine red _n. a dark red color like that of red wine __burgundy __n. a deep, reddish-purple color like that of burgundy wine red/rubicund/ruddy/sanguine a. of a color at the spectral terminus of blood, cherries or rubies _carnation/carnationed/encarnadine/incarnadine _a. pale red or pale pink, like flesh _cherry/cherry-red _a. of the rich, bright or deep reds of cherries _crimson/encarnadine/incarnadine _a. of a deep purplish-red color _scarlet _a. of a brilliant, slightly orange-red color sable/black n. an achromatic color of maximum darkness and no hue a. of black tarnish n. any discoloration of a metal surface effectuated by corrosion or esp. oxidation tincture/tinge/tint n. a faint shade or slight coloration _blush _n. a red, rosy or pink tinge vivid/vibrant/rich/brilliant/bright a. (of colors) of intense saturation and radiant brightness yellow n. a color of sunflowers or ripe lemons amidst orange and green in the spectrum _amber _n. a brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown color _beige _n. a light greyish-brown or pale sandy yellowish-brown color __buff __n. a yellowish-beige color of undyed leather __ecru __n. the pale beige color of unbleached linen _lemon (yellow) _n. the brlliant yellow color of the lemon fruit _mustard _n. a dark yellow color, as that of the condiment yellow/xanthous a. of the color intermediate between orange and green in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk _amber _a. of a brownish-yellow or yellowish-brown color _bay _a. colored reddish-brown _beige _a. dyed a light greyish-brown or pale sandy yellowish-brown __buff __a. of a light yellow-beige color ==COMESTIBLES, CONSUMPTION & COOKERY== albedo n. a citrus fruit's soft, white, interior rind anthropophagism/anthropophagy/cannibalism n. the consumption of human flesh by humans appetizing/palatable/sapid/savory/tasty/toothsome a. (of food or drink) possessing a flavor pleasing to one's gustation _ambrosial/dainty/delectable/delicious/luscious/nummy/scrumptious/toothsome/yummy _a. (of food or drink) extremely appetizing _piquant/racy/savory/spicy/tangy/zesty _a. pleasantly pungent or tart of flavor aubergine/eggplant n. the oval, glossy and black-purple, green, white or yellow fruit of the nightshade eggplant (Solanum melongena), which is prepared and eaten as a vegetable blanch/parboil v. to boil vegetables briefly until they're partially cooked as a preparative measure to whiten, ease peeling, neutralize distasteful pungency, etc. bodega n. a warehouse wherein wine is stored and aged brackish/distasteful/unappetizing/unpalatable/unsavory a. objectionable to one's taste; having an unpleasant flavor _acerbic/acid(ic)/acrid/bitter/sharp/sour/tart _a. having a harshly biting, usu. unsavory taste __acidulent/acidulous __a. slightly sour broach n. a spit on which meat is roasted buttery a. containing, spread with, resembling or akin to butter cachou n. a pill eaten to freshen or sweeten one's breath n. an edible metallic ball calzone n. a baked or deep-fried Italian turnover consisting of pizza dough filled with cheese, meat and vegetables caper n. a pickled floral bud of Capparis spinosa employed as a tangy garnish or condiment of relishes or sauces chine n. a cut of meat containing a portion of an animal's backbone v. to cut meat along or across the spine when butchering cocotte n. a small casserole in which an individual portion is cooked and served epulose a. feasting to surfeit esculent/edible/eatable/comestible a. fit to be eaten flank n. a meaty cut from the fleshy part of an animal's side between its ribs and leg garlic n. the pungent, aromatic bulb of the garlic plant, used as an ingredient, esp. for culinary seasoning gustation/gustatory modality/(sense of) taste n. the faculty by which one perceives and severalizes bitter, salty, sour and sweet properties in one's mouth gustation/taste n. the act of discerning the savor of a substance in one's mouth or in contact with one's tongue hash n. diced meat and potatoes that are browned or reheated in gravy or sauce, often with other vegetables hash/mince v. to chop ingredients (esp. meat and vegetables) into small pieces _dice _v. to mince into small cubes interlard v. to mix lean and adipose meat leguminous a. relating to or consisting of legumes: alfalfa, beans, clover, peas, etc. mull v. to heat, spice and sweeten a potable, esp. wine or wassail nonpareil n. colored sugar beads applied as a topping on candies and cookies n. a flat chocolate disk coated with nonpareil pilon/piloncillo/sugarloaf n. a conical loaf of sugar pinole n. meal comprising ground corn or wheat, mesquite or toasted chocolate beans, spices, sugar, etc. piñon (nut)/pinyon (nut) n. comestible seeds of the piñon pine poblano n. a thick, dark green Mexican chili pepper of hot, poignant flavor potable/drinkable a. safe or suitable for drinking potation/potable/drinkable/drink/beverage n. any liquid fit to drink _aguardiente _n. Iberian brandy distilled from grape pomace _n. (often potent) Latin American liquor derived from sugarcane and commonly flavored with anise _ale _n. dark, heavy malt liquor fermented from cereal (esp. barley); comparable to yet exceeding the weight and acerbity of beer _amontillado _n. a pale, dry sherry of Spanish origin _burgundy _n. any red or white wine produced in France's region of Burgundy _gimlet _n. a cocktail comprising equal parts gin or vodka and lime juice, and occasionally a mite of sugar _grappa _n. an unaged Italian brandy distilled from grape pomace subsequent to pressing _mead _n. liquor of fermented honey and water _mescal _n. colorless Mexican liquor distilled from fermented agave sap _plonk _n. cheap, usually inferior wine _pulque _n. a thick, light, milky alcoholic drink produced from the fermented juice of certain agave plants, esp. the maguey _sarsaparilla _n. a soft drink (such as root beer) flavored with extracts of sarsaparilla roots or comparable artificial flavors _tiswin _n. an alcoholic potation brewed from corn _wassail _n. a heated beverage concocted of ale, beer or mulled wine spiced or sweetened with roasted apples or sugar; imbibed at festivities, esp. Christmas prickly pear n. the fruit of a prickly pear cactus prandial a. of or concerning a refection, esp. dinner _postprandial _a. suceeding a meal, esp. dinner _preprandial _a. preceding a meal, esp. dinner provender/meat/food/edible(s)/eatable(s)/comestible(s) n. any solid or semisolid nutriment that's eaten _provender/pasture/forage/fodder/feed _n. grass, hay or other vegetation eaten by grazing animals such as equine or cattle _vittle/victual _n. food eaten by humans __viand __n. an article of victual ___bonne bouche (pl. bonnes bouches) ___n. a tasty tidbit of food quail n. quail flesh, which may be roasted or broiled if young, or otherwise braised quince n. the firm, yellow, acerbic fruit of the quince tree or shrub, usu. bestowed as an ingredient of jellies or preserves reduce v. to inspissate sauce, gravy, broth, etc. by boiling it repast v. to serve food _ply _v. to insistently lavish someone with victuals and drink _treat/regale/feast _v. to provide with choice or abundant food or drink repast/refection/meal n. food which is served and eaten at one occasion _spread/regale/feast/banquet _n. an extravagant repast of resplendent preparation, often eaten in celebration _snack/refreshment/nosh/collation/bite _n. a light, informal repast ristra n. a string on which preserved foodstuffs such as chilies, garlic, onions, dried fruit, etc. are threaded to be hung rusk n. a slice of sweet, raised bread, baked twice until browned and crisp _zwieback _n. a rusk that's baked as a loaf, sliced and toasted saporous/saporific/sapid/flavorous/flavorful a. full of flavor savor/relish v. to appreciatively taste food with delight shirr v. to bake shelled eggs succulent/juicy a. (of food, ingredients, etc.) profuse with juice surfeited/satiated/sated/replete/full a. fed to satiety _surfeited/stuffed/replete/overfed/gorged/glutted/farctate(d)/crammed _a. immoderately full tangy/sharp/racy/pungent/poignant a. (of flavors) keenly potent treacle/golden syrup n. a pale, gold cane syrup used to sweeten cakes, ice cream, puddings, etc. as an ingredient or topping treacle/theriac/molasses n. dark, viscous brown syrup derived from refinement of raw sugar, ordinarily used as an ingredient trifle n. layered sponge cake soaked in brandy, rum or sherry and spread with cream, custard, jam or jelly; may be adorned with fruits, nuts or chocolate morsels tripe n. the esculent lining of a ruminant's stomach vapid/tasteless/savorless/insipid/flavorless/flat/bland a. bereft of flavor victual/ingest/eat/consume v. to masticate, savor and swallow food _surfeit/stuff/snarf/overgorge/overeat/ingurgitate/guzzle/gourmandize/gormandize/glut/gorge/engorge/englut/devour/cram/binge _v. to eat greedily or excessively; to make a pig of oneself _snack/nosh/nibble _v. to eat sparingly, esp. betwixt meals or when partaking of manifold morsels __graze __v. to eat a succession of snacks in lieu of meals _repast/feast _v. to eat an opulent meal victual/provision v. to supply with edibles, esp. for travel victual v. to acquire comestibles vittles/victuals/viands/provisions/provender/larder/commissariat n. a stock or supply of foods ==COMMUNICATION & SPEECH== acclaim/acclamation/applause/cheers/eclat/ovation/plaudit(s) n. a loud, enthusiastic demonstration of praise expressed by clapping or shouts, ordinarily intended to honor or welcome someone or something acclaim/applaud/cheer v. to salute with clapping, shouts or other vociferations of approval acknowledge/admit/allow/avow/cede/concede/confess/grant v. to agree or accept that something is true or valid, esp. after first denying or resisting as much _admit/avouch/avow/confess/disbosom _v. to admit of a fault or to a crime _concede _v. to acknowledge defeat in a contest acknowledgement/admission/allowance/avowal/concession/confession/grant n. (usu. reluctant or begrudging) agreement concerning or acceptance of a truth _resipiscence/resipiscency _n. admission that one was or is mistaken act/affect/assume/counterfeit/dissemble/fake/feign/masquerade/pretend/profess/sham/simulate v. to register pretence by adopting a false attribute, bearing or sentiment _dissemble/dissimulate _v. to conceal one's true feelings, motive, personality or thoughts by pretence with intent to deceive _malinger _v. to dramatize or dissemble illness as an excuse to shirk act/affectation/appearance/display/facade/front/guise/masquerade/pose/pretense/semblance/show/simulation n. any deceptive comportment, exhibition or representation intended to impart a spurious, often respectable impression _charade _n. a conspicuous pretense _veneer _n. any pleasant or gratifying facade adjure/appeal/beg/beseech/conjure/crave/entreat/impetrate/implore/invoke/obsecrate/obtest/plead/pray/press/solicit/supplicate/urge/woo v. to request humbly, earnestly, often urgently _besiege/importune/ply/press/woo _v. to entreat persistently, often in an irksome manner __dun __v. to persistently importune in concern of overdue payment admonishment/admonition/caution/caveat/monition/warning n. cautionary advice concerning something imminent, esp. danger or other unpleasantness admonitory/cautionary/exemplary/monitory/warning a. acting or serving to warn; instructing by way of admonition or caution advert (to)/mention/refer (to)/reference v. to briefly, often adventitiously speak of something _adduce/cite _v. to mention (examples, reasons, sources, etc.) as evidence, as during an argument _allude _v. to reference obliquely or tacitly _cite/instance _v. to reference an instance as an example advise/apprise/inform/instruct/notify/tell v. to make someone aware of something, such as a salient fact or situation _admonish/caution/exhort/monish/warn _v. to inform someone of possible trouble or danger; to advise caution concerning a certain act _assure/certify/tell _v. to inform positively, with certainty and confidence _brief _v. to apprise by synopsizing _disbosom/disclose/discover/divulge/expose/leak/release/reveal/tell _v. to notify others of information previously known only to a select few, or which was intended to be kept a secret __babble __v. to rashly or foolishly disbosom __betray __v. to treacherously divulge _previse _v. to advise in advance advise/counsel/recommend v. to suggest a course of action or option as advantegeous, prudent, sound, etc. advocate/boost/champion/commend/endorse/favor/promote/recommend/support v. to speak or argue in favor or praise of someone or something, esp. publicly _adopt/espouse _v. to accept and endorse a cause, idea, ideal, ideology, principle, etc. as one's own _urge _v. to insistently promote affirm/allege/assert/asseverate/attest/aver/avouch/avow/certify/contend/declare/maintain/predicate/profess/state/swear v. to frankly, positively express that something is so with confidence and certitude _claim _v. to assert that which is uncertain or questioned __pretend/profess/purport __v. to claim insincerely __profess __v. to claim an accomplishment, knowledge of a subject or proficiency of a practice or profession _insist _v. to aver with persistence or resolution affirmation/allegation/assertion/asseveration/averment/avowal/declaration/predication/profession/protestation/statement n. a confident, positive, often emphatic statement of fact or belief _argument/contention/thesis _n. an assertion advanced to be maintained or proven in argument _claim _n. a declaration of something disputed or unverified affront/contumely/cut/denigration/disparagement/insult/irreverence/revilement/slur n. a rude, disparaging or belittling remark intended to offend or hurt aforementioned/aforesaid/foregoing a. previously mentioned or stated alas*/regrettably/sadly/unfortunately av., *int. an expression of concern, grief, pity or regret alluded/hinted/implicit/implied/inexplicit/insinuated/silent/suggested/tacit/understood/unspoken a. suggested, though not perspicuously expressed or explicated allure/entice/lure/tempt/wile v. to attract or induce someone to do something by extending an (advantageous, cibarious, monetary, sexual, etc.) impetus allusion/hint/implication/inkling/innuendo/insinuation/intimation/suggestion n. an indirect or covert indication, suggestion or reference ambiguity n. an expression whose meaning cannot be determined from its context animadversion/criticism/deprecation/disapproval/reprehension n. any expression of unfavorable assessment _acrimony/attack/disparagement/invective/obloquy/vilification/vitriol/vituperation _n. bitterly abusive criticism, denunciation or insult _animadversion/attack/blame/castigation/censure/chastisement/condemnation/disapproval/excoriation/obloquy/opprobrium/reproach/reprobation _n. scathing criticism __blast/fulmination __n. violent excoriation __commination/denunciation __n. open or public condemnation ___fulmination ___n. violent denunciation _dyslogy _n. a written or spoken reprehension of something or somebody animadvert*/blame/criticize/deprecate/reprehend v. (usu. followed by *on or upon) to communicate a negative assertion or opinion concerning perceived faults, iniquity, etc. _animadvert*/attack/blast/castigate/censure/chastise/clobber/condemn/crucify/deplore/excoriate/flay/hammer/pan/rail^/reproach/reprobate/savage/scathe/scorch/scourge/slam/slash/vituperate/whip/zing _v. (usu. followed by *on, upon, ^at, against) to harshly or severely criticize __decry/denounce/fulminate* __v. (usu. followed by *against) to openly or publicly castigate _attack/declaim*/denigrate/disparage/fulminate*/invect/inveigh*/rail*^/revile/slur/vilify/vilipend/vituperate _v. (usu. followed by *against, ^at) to reprehend abusively, angrily, bitterly or contemptuously __decry __v. to publicly disparage apophasis/paraleipsis/paralipsis n. a mention of or allusion to something by claim that it won't be mentioned aporia n. an expression of uncertainty regarding what to say, which course to pursue, where to begin or end, etc. aposiopesis/reticence n. an abrupt verbal cease in the midst of a sentence indicating a reluctance to continue, as that prompted by misgiving applaud/approve/commend/laud/praise v. to express a positive opinion, as esteem or approval, of something or someone _acclaim/applaud/ensky/exalt/extol/glorify/laud/magnify _v. to ardently praise __acclaim/celebrate/proclaim __v. to publicly applaud __eulogize/panegyrize __v. to verbally extol __hymn __v. to exalt by singing a hymn or hymns _sonnet _v. to praise or celebrate in a sonnet argue/contest/controvert/debate/dispute v. to verbally express divergent or opposing views or opinions by submission of reasons or data in a contentious, often heated exchange _altercate _v. to passionately argue _altercate/argue/bicker/dispute/feud/fight/hassle/quarrel/wrangle _v. to angrily (and usu. clamorously) controvert __bicker/squabble/spat/tiff __v. to quarrel in concern of a pissant matter _contend/contest _v. to strenuously debate argument/contestation/controversy/debate/disagreement/disceptation/disputation/dispute/variance n. a conversation in which disagreement regarding divergent or opposing perspectives is expressed _altercation _n. an impassioned variance _affray/altercation/argument/bicker/disagreement/dispute/feud/fight/fracas/fuss/hassle/jangle/quarrel/rhubarb/wrangle _n. a choleric, often clamant contestation __bicker/squabble/miff/spat/tiff __n. a negligible quarrel _contention _n. arduous debate _contretemps _n. a minor, rather mortifying disagreement _controversy/dispute _n. a public argument arrogate v. to (usu. presumptuously) claim for oneself without justification articulate/deliver/emit/enunciate/express/phrase/pronounce/say/speak/state/talk/tell/utter/verbalize/vocalize/voice v. to verbally communicate emotions, information, intentions, opinions, etc. with articulated speech _add _v. to further voice, usu. following a pause __subjoin/suffix __v. to add at the end, as of a conversation _address/bespeak _v. to speak to someone or many people _announce/annunciate/blaze/blazon/declare/enounce/enunciate/herald/predicate/proclaim _v. to publicly state _articulate/enounce/enunciate/pronounce _v. to speak with accuracy and clarity _babble/blabber/gab _v. to speak incessantly __babble/blabber/chatter/gab/jabber/prate/prattle/twitter/yabber/yak/yatter __v. to rapidly blabber about trivial matters _babble/blabber/gab/maunder/palaver _v. to idly express __babble/palaver/prate/prattle/yak/yatter __v. to gab diffusely _babble/blather/blither/gibber/piffle/prattle/twaddle _v. to voice poppycock _babble/jargon/jargonize/maunder _v. to utter unintelligibly __babble/gabble/gibber/jabber/yabber __v. to speedily maunder __rave __v. to wildly babble, as one may in delirium _burr _v. to speak by prounouncing the letter R with a trill _v. to pronounce the letter R with a trill _call (out)/clamor/cry (out)/halloo/holler/resound/shout/vociferate/yell _v. to say stridently with shock, remonstrance, elation, agony, etc. __ejaculate/exclaim __v. to suddenly vociferate __halloo __v. to shout "halloo" _cant _v. to vocalize in a singsong tone _converse/discourse/speak/talk _v. to engage in conversation; to contribute to an exchange of verbal communication __amplify (on) __v. to discourse at length __chat/confabulate __v. to converse in a casual and informal manner __discuss/parley __v. to talk about a subject ___parley ___v. (of enemies) to discuss terms of surrender during an armistice ___speculate ___v. to discuss idly or casually and conjecturally, without certitude or sufficient reason to formulate a conclusion _coo _v. to pronounce softly or lovingly in a gentle voice _curse/imprecate/swear _v. to deliver obscene or profane language _dilate*/dwell*/perorate/spout _v. (*usu. followed by on or upon) to speak at (usu. detailed) length in treatment of a subject __dilate/elaborate/enlarge/expand/expatiate __v. (usu. followed by on or upon) to dilate in greater detail __bloviate/spout __n. to pompously perorate __perorate __v. to formally or magniloquently dilate _elide _v. to omit or slur a phone, syllable, etc. in pronunciation _ingeminate/iterate/reiterate/repeat/restate/retell _v. to state again __reiterate __v. to say repeatedly and often insistently, esp. to emphasize or clarify __verbigerate __v. to incessantly repeat a word, phrase or sentence for affliction of a mental disorder _inject/interject/interpolate/interpose _v. to emit something abruptly, esp. as an aside or interruption during a conversation _pipe/shrill _v. to shrilly speak _rasp _v. to talk with a grating voice _rave _v. to talk about something with frantic gusto! _snuffle _v. to verbalize with a nasal tone _spout/verbalize _n. to speak diffusely _susurrate/whisper _v. to speak surd and softly under one's breath, so as not to be easily heard _twitter _v. to speak briskly and tremulously _volley _v. to utter simultaneously or in quick succession aspersive/calumniatory/calumnious/defamatory/denigrating/denigratory/scandalous/scurrile/scurrilous a. of the contrivance or dissemination of disparaging claims about someone to damage their reputation assemble/call/convene/convoke/gather/rally/raise/summon v. to call upon people to congregate at a meeting or for an activity assure/certify v. to assure somebody of a verity with the intention of inspiring confidence _reassure _v. to assure again, esp. by iteration attest/evidence/prove/substantiate/verify v. to establish that something is so by presentation of sound argument or evidence _attest/certify/confirm/corroborate/fortify/substantiate/support/sustain/validate/verify _v. to support the certainty or validity of something with cumulative or supplemental proof _confound/confute/debunk/disprove/explode/falsify/negative/rebut/refute _v. to prove to be false; to overthrow an assertion, notion or theory with disceptation or evidence babble/gibberish/jargon n. unintelligible speech _babble/gabble/gibber/gibberish/jabber/yabber _n. brisk babble badinage/banter/chaff/jest/joke/rib/tease v. to confabulate with light, playful joking badinage/banter/chaff/persiflage/pleasantry/raillery/sport n. light, playful, teasing repartee exchanged in friendly and frivolous good humor bamboozle/befool/betray/cheat/chicane/cozen/deceive/dupe/fool/fox/gull/hoodwink/humbug/illude/misinform/mislead/trick v. to prompt erroneous belief with falsehood or prevarication _beguile/delude/mislead _v. to deceive by agency of cunning _bluff _v. to befool with a pretense of aggression or assurance bamboozlement/betrayal/deceit/deception/dupery/humbug(gery) n. the conviction of someone to falsity by lies or equivocation _bluff _n. deceit by confident or aggressive simulation banality/bromide/cliche/commonplace/platitude n. a trite or stereotyped remark or statement, often of instructive or prescriptive purport and intended to soothe or placate behest/charge/command(ment)/dictate/direction/directive/enjoinment/imperative/injunction/instruction/order n. a statement by which one directs someone to do something _commandment/decree/diktat/edict/mandate/ordinance/rescript _n. a formal or official order _countermand _n. a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command _fiat _n. an arbitrary command bid/charge/command/dictate/direct/enjoin/instruct/order/tell v. to direct someone to do something, esp. when empowered with authority _defile _v. to command or compel (troops) to march in single file belittle/derogate/diminish v. to detract from someone's or something's authority, dignity or eminence, as with invective or by distinction bemock/contemn/deride/flout/indignify/mock/scoff/scorn v. to express contempt for; to speak of with derision betise/folly/idiocy/imbecility/inanity/stupidity/vacuity n. a dumb remark blandish/blarney/cajole/coax/inveigle/palaver/wheedle v. to persuade, manipulate or influence by charm, flattery or gentle exhortation blandishment/blarney/cajolery/palaver n. charming flattery or promises intended to persuade or win favor blatant/clamant/clamorous/noisy/strident/vociferous a. conspicuously and offensively loud; disposed to vehement outcry bluster/boast/brag/crow/gasconade/gloat/rodomontade/roister v. to speak of one's achievements, possessions, function, position or abilities with excessive pride and vanity boast/brag/gasconade/jactitation/jactation/rodomontade n. verbal self-assessment expressing conceit _braggadocio _v. unfounded or pretentious bluster bray/guffaw/roar n. a burst of loud, hearty laughter v. to laugh loudly and boisterously brief/compact/concise/crisp/curt/succinct/summary/terse a. expressing much with few words; briefly comprehensive _compendious _a. succinctly stating the totality of a subject's basic substance _elliptic(al) _a. extremely succinct _lapidary _a. precisely, concisely, elegantly expressed and thus fit to be engraved to stone _pithy/sententious _a. forcibly, substantially terse broach/moot/raise v. to introduce a subject for discussion or dispute broadcast/circulate/diffuse/disperse/disseminate/propagate/spread v. to distribute or scatter (fluid, information, seed, etc.) over a broad area, or to many people _advertise/air/broadcast/publicize/spread _v. to publicly disseminate information, esp. news __circularize __v. to publicize by distribution of circulars __post/placard/bill __v. to publicize or announce with placards broadcast/circulation/diffusion/dispersal/dispersion/dissemination/propagation/spread n. the spread or transmission of something to a wide or wider area or group bruit/rumor (pl. dish/gossip/hearsay/rumor/rumors/scuttlebutt) n. an item of unverified information in popular circulation _canard _n. a deliberately false rumor or story, often calumniatory of intention bruit/dish/gossip/rumor v. to disseminate a rumor or rumors, usually by casual conversation bum/cadge/grub/mooch/schnorr/scrounge/shnorr/sponge v. to freely obtain or seek to freely obtain by asking or wheedling at the expense or generosity of others burr n. a uvular trill of the letter R common to some northern English and Scottish accents call/clamor/cry/holler/outcry/shout/vociferation/yell n. a loud, inarticulate utterance voiced of surprise, delight, pain, protest, opposition, convocation, etc. _caterwaul/screech/shriek _n. a shrill cry, as that of cats in estrus _exclamation/ejaculation _n. an abrupt outcry _halloo _n. a cry of "halloo" cant/pious platitudes n. insincere palaver of a moral, religious or political nature carp/cavil/niggle/quibble/quip v. to raise annoying, trivial objections, esp. as a means to prevaricate n. an irritating, irrelevant distinction or objection, usu. advanced to evade the topic of an argument or debate catechize v. to examine by means of query or interrogation challenge/confound/contest/contradict/contravene/controvert/counter/deny/disaffirm/gainsay/impugn/negate/negative v. to speak contrary to an assertion; to claim that a statement is not true, esp. by contending the opposite _impeach _v. to challenge the honesty, veracity, validity or integrity of _repudiate _v. to reject as false character/characterize/delineate/depaint/depict/depicture/describe/image/portray/render v. to communicate a representation of an abstraction, person, thing, etc. _assimilate/compare/confer/equiparate/liken/parallel _v. to portray people or things as similar to one another _amplify/dilate/elaborate/enlarge/expand/expatiate _v. (usu. followed by on or upon) to add further details or related information to one's description _belittle/deprecate/depreciate/derogate/downplay _v. to character as less important, impressive or valuable than it genuinely is or seems __downgrade/downplay/minimize/trivialize __v. to depreciate something at the lowest possible or conceivable consequence or worth _define _v. to delineate the essence, nature or properties of something or someone _delineate _v. to describe precisely _depict/describe/narrate/recite/recount/rehearse/relate/report/tell _v. to depict an account of an event, experience, story, etc. _equate _v. to render something or somebody as equivalent to another or others _represent _v. to characterize someone or something as possessing a particular property clarify/elucidate/enucleate/explain/explicate/exposit/expound/interpret v. to make clear, comprehensible or plain with communicative description; to dispel confusion or ignorance with communication _abstract/brief/encapsulate/epitomize/outline/sketch/summarize/synopsize _v. to succinctly exposit the pith and/or summarized main points of an account or report _amplify/elaborate _v. to elucidate in greater detail _demonstrate/example/exemplify/illustrate _v. to enucleate with an example or comparison _exposit/expound _v. to present, analyze and explain an account, concept, hypothesis, principle, theory, etc. in systematic detail, esp. to elevate discourse _preface/premise _v. to introduce by advance explication _ravel/unravel _v. to clarify by distinguishing aspects or events from one another, esp. by itemization cogent/potent/valid a. pellucid, coherent and forcefully convincing collogue v. to confer secretly colloquy n. a conversation or conference, esp. one formally arranged communique/declaration/dictum/proclamation/pronouncement n. a formal or authoritative announcement from an official source connote/predicate v. (of a word, phrase or object) to suggest or signify a meaning or notion concomitant to that which is central or literal contentious/controversial/eristic(al)/polemic(al)/thorny/vexed a. of, involving or likely to arouse dispute or argument conundrum/enigma/puzzle/riddle/stumper n. a confounding query or statement phrased to implicate deliberation so to determine its meaning or answer, esp. that based on paronomasia convocation n. the act of calling people together, esp. to attend a convention crisp/laconic/spartan/terse a. communicating with few words _abrupt/brief/brusk/brusque/curt/gruff/snappish/snappy/terse _a. discourteously laconic debrief v. to interrogate someone (esp. a military or diplomatic figure) to obtain an exhaustive report in concern of a mission or undertaking delivery/diction/elocution/expression/language/locution/phrase/phraseology/phrasing/speech/verbalism/verbiage/wording n. a mode of vocal expression, determined by the selection, disposition, and application of spoken words delivery/diction/enunciation n. the articulation of speech as estimated by its intelligibility to an audience demonstrate/emanate/evince/exhibit/express/exude/ooze/radiate/reflect/register/show v. to exhibit or give expression to a quality or feeling by one's acts, appearance, attitude, behavior or countenance demur/expostulation/objection/protestation/remonstrance/remonstration n. the act of expressing earnest, forceful opposition or protest demur/fuss/objection/protest/protestation/remonstrance/remonstration n. a communication (esp. an exclamation or argument) of protest or dissent derisive/derisory/disdainful/jeering/mocking/scoffing/scornful/sneering/taunting a. expressing disdain or derision, as for someone or something deemed inferior or noisome desultory/discursive/excursive/meandering/rambling a. (of speech or writing) characterized by impulsively, irrationally aimless address of several successive subjects detail/enumerate/itemize/list/number/recite/recount v. to count over or tell off one after another as a list of individual items; to state names, facts, etc. in sequence deviate/digress/divagate/ramble/stray v. to depart from a principal topic to address concomitant matters in verbal or written discourse diffuse/garrulous/prolix/verbose a. using or containing a tedious excess of words _ambagious/circumlocutious/circumlocutory/periphrastic/periphrastical _a. needlessly, circuitously verbose diffusion/prolixity/verbalism/verbosity n. overuse of words n. the quality or condition of lexical overabundance _ambage/circumlocution/periphrase/periphrasis _n. a verbosely indirect mode of expression digressing/digressive/discursive/excursive a. (of speech or writing) departing temporarily from a principal pith or topic disabuse v. to free someone from an erroneous belief disambiguate v. to dispel any uncertainty, esp. by means of unequivocal communication disquisition/dissertation n. an elaborate analytical or expository treatise or discussion in treatment of a particular subject dissuade/discourage/deter v. to persuade someone against pursuit of an action or course thereof, often by instilling doubt or fear of consequences dissuade/expostulate v. to reason with someone for the purpose of dissuasion distort/misrepresent/pervert/skew/sophisticate/twist v. to practice sophistry: to deliberately misinterpret or misconstrue a meaning to mislead or deceive distorted/misrepresented/perverted/skew/twisted a. maliciously misinterpreted, as calumny or any duplicitous communication drift/import/intent/meaning/purport/sense/significance/signification/substance n. the semantic content of a communication or expression _connotation/overtone _n. an expression's suggestive, secondary, commonly implicit purport _drift/implication/import/intent/purport/significance/signification/strain/tenor _n. tacit meaning _gist/meat/sense/strain/substance _n. the essential, most significant import, as of a matter, speech, story, etc. __spirit __n. a profound and usu. unspecified strain ellipsis n. any omission of supererogatory words from speech elocution/oratory n. an expert manner of speaking entailing control of voice and gesture n. the study and practice of public speaking elogy/encomium/eulogium/eulogy/panegyric/panegyry/tribute n. a formal speech delivered to praise someone or something _elogy/epitaph/eulogium/eulogy _n. an encomium for someone who has recently died eloquence/fluency/volubility n. facility of speech and writing eloquent/fluent/voluble/articulate a. characterized by or readily expressing oneself with perspicuous and cogent language emit/utter/vocalize/voice v. to produce sounds, as a bark, growl, shout, etc. _call (out)/clamor/cry (out)/holler/resound/shout/vociferate/yell _v. to loudly vocalize with shock, remonstrance, elation, agony, etc. __bay/howl/ululate __v. to utter a long, loud, emotional cry __ejaculate/exclaim __v. to suddenly vociferate _coo _v. to voice a low, murmuring sound akin to the characteristic notes of pigeons or doves _pipe _v. to emit in a piercing tone emphasized/emphatic/explicit/intense/stressed/strong/vehement a. expressed with perspicuous force of speech or action epigram n. a witty or sarcastic saying or writing of aphoristic brevity equivocate/palter/prevaricate/tergiversate/waffle v. to express oneself with ambiguous or circumlocutory language to evade, mislead or withhold information example/exemplify/instance/instantiate v. to present an example of (something); to show with an instance exposition n. an extensive, systematic interpretation or explanation of a specific topic extravaganza n. an extravagant flight of sentiment or language exult/glory/jubilate/rejoice v. to feel or express extreme joy, happiness, elation; to be ecstatic with joy _triumph _v. to jubilate for victory exultation/jubilation/jubilee/rejoicing n. any expression of delight fabrication/falsehood/falsity/invention/lie/mendacity/story/untruth n. a deliberately false statement _whopper _n. a great or heinous lie felicity n. a gratifying capacity for expression glib/pat/slick a. artfully persuasive in speech, though superficial and insincere harangue v. to deliver a forceful, virulent speech homily/preachment n. a tedious, didactic, moralizing discourse hint/imply/insinuate/intimate/predicate/purport/suggest v. to express, indicate or state indirectly honorific n. an expression of respect impromptu/ad lib n. an extemporaneous speech or remark incantation n. a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to induce magical effects interjection/exclamation n. an abrupt remark, conventionally an interruption or aside expressing surprise such as "oh!" or "dear me!" interlard/intersperse/sprinkle v. to diversify or embellish speech by irregularly interpolating therein that which is singular, humorous, or irrelevant, as quotations, jeux d'esprit, jeremiads, epigrams, anecdotes, etc. _farce _v. to interlard (a speech, etc.) with jokes or quips _pepper _v. to frequently intersperse invoke/appeal (to) v. to request the aid of an authority or external party for justification or substantiation irrespondence n. dereliction of response, esp. in pertinence to correspondence jeremiad n. a long, mournful complaint or list of woes knell/toll v. to proclaim or summon by or as though by a knell lascivious/libidinous/lubricious/lubricous/passionate/salacious/sultry a. expressing concupiscence libelous a. defamatory by means of written or pictorial expression mellifluous a. of a smooth, euphonious verbal cadence mewl/pule/whimper/whine v. to cry feebly or softly mimicry/mimesis/impersonation/imitation n. an act of copying another's idiolect, personality, temperament and often appearance in performance, esp. for the amusement of others _takeoff/parody/impression/impersonation/burlesque _n. a risible, hyperbolized, often satirical impression non sequitur n. a statement or reply immaterial to what preceded it nosism n. use of the collective, first-person "we" when speaking of oneself omit/forget v. to neglect to mention someone or something ornate a. (of text or speech) distinguished by elaborate rhetorical constructions and devices, and unusual or recondite language _aureate/empurpled/florid/flowery/overwrought/purple _a. excessively ornate __aureate/bombast/bombastic/bombastical/declamatory/flatulent/fustian/grandiloquent/grandiloquous/inflated/lexiphanic/magniloquent/magniloquous/orotund/plethoric/plethorical/rhetorical/tumescent/tumid/turgid/turgidous __a. loftily, ostentatiously, often pompously purple _sesquipedalian _a. inclined to bestow long words opine v. to express one's opinion overstate/overcharge/magnify/hyperbolize/exaggerate/dramatize/amplify v. to enlarge beyond bounds or truthful portrayal; to represent something as larger, greater, better or worse than it actually is palliate/extenuate v. to conceal or minimize the gravity of a mistake or offense with exposition, excuses or apologies parapraxis/Freudian slip n. a minor mnemonic, practical or verbal error interpreted as the betrayal of a repressed emotion or motive pejorative/dyslogism n. a disparaging word, phrase, expression, etc. pejorative/dyslogistic a. (of a word, phrase, expression, etc.) possessing or endowed with a negative or disparaging connotation peremptory/imperative a. (usu. of commands) permitting neither controversion nor refusal peremptorily/imperatively av. in an imperative and commanding manner admitting possibility for neither denial nor refusal perorate v. to conclude a speech by recapitulating perspicuous/pellucid/luculent/lucid/limpid/intelligible/comprehensible/clear a. clearly expressed and easily understood perspicuousness/perspicuity/pellucidity/lucidness/lucidity/limpidity/comprehensibility/clarity a. clarity of expression or statement polemicize/polemize v. to engage in or contribute to a controversy, esp. by way of argumentative dispute preface n. a series of preliminary remarks spoken as introductory to a speech or discourse profess v. to confess one's faith in or allegiance to prolixity/surplusage/verbiage n. a nimiety of spoken or written words propagate v. to spread information, customs, etc. from one person to another proposition n. an invitation for sexual activity v. to suggest or offer an engagement of sexual intercourse question/query/interrogatory/interrogative/interrogation/inquiry/enquiry n. a sentence or expression phrased to solicit information rant/fulmination/diatribe/denunciation/denouncement/declamation/broadside n. a bitter, vehement discourse condemning someone or something _tirade/philippic/harangue/declamation _n. a protracted denunciation, usu. delivered as a speech recrimination/countercharge n. an accusation in response to another recriminations n. mutual, exchanged accusations rejoinder/repartee/riposte/retort n. a quick, witty, usu. incisive reply to a remark, question, insult, criticism or accusation chide/reprehend/reproach/reprove v. to express critical disappointment in someone or disapproval of their actions, esp. those of a child, student, underling, et al., often to chasten them _admonish/chide/monish _v. to reprove mildly, if firmly _berate/castigate/censure/chastise/chide/flagellate/lambast(e)/objurgate/rate/rebuke/reprehend/reprimand/reproach/reprove/scold/upbraid/whip _v. to harshly reprehend __lecture __v. to scold at some length __reprimand __v. to formally or officially chastise reprehension/reproach/reproof/reproval n. a critical expression of disappointment or disapproval _admonishment/admonition/monishment _n. a gentle yet earnest reproach _castigation/censure/chastisement/objurgation/rebuke/reprehension/reprimand/reproach/reproof/reproval _n. emphatic or severe reproval __lecture __n. a protracted objurgation __reprimand __n. a formal or official rebuke reproving/reproachful/reprehensive/disapproving a. expressing disappointment or disapproval repudiate/renounce/reject/disown/disclaim/disavow/deny v. to cast off: to refuse acknowledgement of, relinquish all responsibility for, or deny connection and association with _recant/forswear/foreswear/abjure _v. to formally (often solemnly) disavow or retract, usu. upon oath ribaldry/raunch n. lewd, vulgar humor rident a. laughing ridicule/derision n. contemptuous, jeering laughter sciolism n. any pretentious exhibition of knowledge or scholarship of which one possesses merely superficial conversance seduce v. to persuade someone to participate in sexual intercourse, as with cajolery or dalliance slanderous a. defamatory by oral expression snoop/pry/nose v. to inquire intrusively in concern of someone's private affairs solecism n. a grammatical error of speech or writing soliloquy/monology n. the act of speaking to oneself, esp. when alone sotto voce a., av. (of speaking or singing) softly verbalized, so as not to be overheard spoonerism n. the accidental transposition of two phonemes in words of the same phrase or sentence, as "that backed pin" for "that packed bin;" named for W.A. Spooner, an English university don and Anglican priest prone to such mispronunciations suasion/persuasion n. the act of provoking action or influencing belief by appeals to reason or understanding subtilize/refine v. to specify fine distinctions (as among words or semantics) in discussion suggest/submit/render/propound/propose/present/pose/offer/moot/advance v. to proffer an idea, perspective, plan or theory for consideration or acceptance sulk/pout/mope v. to silently express saturnine resentment, esp. by glowering tautology n. a statement that is necessarily true by the virtue of multiple corresponding propositions: "Either he'll arrive on time or he won't." temporize v. to prolong a discussion or process by deferment or prevarication to gain time or induce a compromise translate/render v. to convert something by speech or writing from one language into another travesty/parody/mock/mimic/impersonate/imitate/burlesque v. to copy someone's action, mannerisms or speech to ridicule or deride them, and often to entertain others turgidity/tumescence/rhetoric/orotundity/magniloquence/grandiloquence/flatulence/bombast n. an excessive or pretentious use of lofty verbal ornamentation twattle/twaddle/trumpery/tripe/tommyrot/rubbish/nonsense/prattle/poppycock/piffle/moonshine/jargon/humbug/hooey/hokum/hogwash/guff/gibber(ish)/folderol/flapdoodle/drool/drivel/codswallop/bunk(um)/bosh/blather/bilge/baloney/balderdash/babble n. senseless or preposterous speech _claptrap/blarney _n. deceitful nonsense _twattle/twaddle/jargon/gibber(ish)/fustian/claptrap/bombast _n. pompous or pretentious talk twit/taunt/sneer/shaft/sarcasm/jibe/jeer/gibe/barb n. an aggressive, caustic, usu. contemptuous remark directed at someone to insult or provoke twit/tease/taunt/sport/scoff/ridicule/needle/mock/jibe/jeer/flout/gibe/deride v. to subject someone or something to sarcastic derision; to make fun of sport/ridicule/mockery/derision n. speech intended to humiliate by making light of a person or thing valediction n. the act of saying farewell valediction/valedictory (address, oration) n. a farewell oration, esp. that delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of the graduating class vaticinate/prophesy/prognosticate/presage/predict/foretell/forecast/divine/bode/bespeak/augur v. to declare a future event or trend in advance, often from present facts or indications _augur _v. to presage from interpretation of an omen vaticination/prophecy/prognostication/prediction n. the act of telling future events or trends ere they transpire vaticination/prophecy/prognostic(ation)/prognosis/prevision/presage/prediction/forecast/divination n. any advance averment or estimate concerning future events or trends verbigeration n. compulsive, usu. crazy and continuous reiteration of words, phrases or sentences vernacular a. spoken or written in a vernacular or patois vilification/traducement/smear/malignment/denigration/defamation/calumny/calumniation/aspersion n. any malicious, mendacious accusation or misrepresentation of someone or something intended to besmirch their reputation _libel _n. published or broadcast aspersion _traducement/slander/calumny/calumniation _n. verbal defamation vilify/traduce/smear/malign/denigrate/defame/calumniate/asperse v. to maliciously misrepresent or lie about someone or something to damage their reputation _libel _v. to traduce via publication or broadcast _traduce/slander/calumniate _v. to vilify viva voce vituperative/vitriolic/virulent/trenchant/stinging/sharp/searing/scorching/scathing/pungent/pointed/peppery/mordant/mordacious/invective/incisive/cutting/caustic/blistering/bitter/biting/astringent/acrimonious/acrid/acidulous/acidulent/acerb(ic) a. harshly critical or insulting vivid/graphic a. (of an account) conveying or evoking the accuracy, clarity, freshness and realism of immediate experience voluble/talkative/loquacious a. disposed to profuse speaking _garrulous _a. exceedingly talkative, esp. regarding trivial matters zinger/witticism/sally/quip/jeu d'esprit/jest/facetia/crack/bon mot (pl. zingers/witticisms/sallies/quips/jeux d'esprit/jests/facetiae/cracks/bons mots) n. a witty, usu. amusing remark ==CONDITIONS== aberration/abnormality/anomaly/irregularity/peculiarity n. deviation from a normal or common order, type, form or rule _pathology _n. any (mental, social, etc.) condition divergent from that deemed normal or healthy abject/crummy/miserable/sorry/wretched a. suffering an appallingly unfortunate and often hopeless or humiliating condition or circumstances ablaze/afire/aflame/alight/ardent/blazing/burning/fervent/fervid/flagrant/flaming/fiery/inflamed/ignited a. on fire; emitting flames abound/crawl/pullulate/swarm/teem v. (of a place) to be abundant or supernumerary with animals, people, plants, vehicles, etc. absolution/acquittal/exoneration/pardon/release/remission/remittal n. formal discharge from duty, guilt, obligation, penalty or punishment abyss/chasm/divergence/divide/division/gap/gulf n. a broad, often irreconcilable difference or division of perspective or situations between people or groups, which often engenders tension or hostility accepted/authoritative/canonic(al)/established/recognized/standard a. predominantly or officially accepted as reliably accurate or true _definitive/finative _a. standard and complete accompanying/associated/associative/attendant/collateral/concomitant/connected/related a. existing or occurring in accompaniment or association with something else _attended/fraught _a. accompanied by a condition or element, as peril _correlate(d)/correlative _a. reciprocally or mutually related, so that each implies the other accord/agree/check/coincide/conform/consist/consort/correspond/equate/fit/harmonize/jibe/match/mesh/parallel/square/suit/tally v. to be consistent or compatible in accounts or characteristics _cohere/consist _v. to be logically or aesthetically connected and therefore consistent acme/apex/apogee/apotheosis/bloom/climax/crest/crown/culmination/efflorescence/florescence/flower/height/meridian/ne plus ultra/peak/pinnacle/prime/summit/tiptop/top/zenith n. the highest point or stage of development, quality or achievement at which something is best, perfect or successful advancing/afoot/progressing/underway a., av. currently in active progress adventitious/exogenic/exogenous/exterior/external/extraneous/extrinsic/outside a. originating externally adynamia/debilitation/debility/enervation/enfeeblement/faintness/feebleness/incapacitation/infirmity/languor/prostration/weakness n. a dearth of strength or vitality _exhaustion/fatigue/frazzle/lassitude/prostration/tiredness/weariness _n. deprivation of energy or strength consequent of exhaustive activity, as labor __inanition __n. exhaustion resulting from a lack of nourishment adynamic/debilitated/devitalized/enervate(d)/enfeebled/etiolated/faint/feeble/incapacitated/infirm/prostrate/weak(ened) a. bereft or deprived of strength or vigor _bushed/drained/effete/exhausted/fatigued/frazzled/jaded/lassate/prostrate/spent/tired/wearied/weary/worn _a. depleted of energy and physical strength or mental resources sequent to some formidable or protracted toil, and requiring sleep _sapped _a. gradually, often insidiously weakened ail v. to be ill or unwell ajar a., av. slightly open ambulant/ambulatory/itinerant/itinerating/journeying/locomoting/peregrinating/peripatetic/traveling/wending a. moving about _afoot*/ambulant/ambulatory/peregrinating/peripatetic/walking _a., *av. [traveling] on foot __noctambulant __a. nocturnally peripatetic _divagating/drifting/erratic/expatiating/extravagant/extravagating/fugitive/maundering/meandering/migrant/migratory/oberrating/pererrating/rambling/ranging/roaming/roving/straying/vagrant/wandering _a. locomoting without purpose, plan or destination __errant/roaming/roving __a. drifting in search of adventure __extravagating __a. straying beyond a border __migrant/migratory/nomadic/vagabond/vagrant __a. wandering while homeless __mundivagant __a. roving globally __noctivagant/noctivagous __a. divagating during the night _meandering _a. traveling on a devious or anfractuous course amorphous/formless/shapeless/unformed/unshaped a. having neither definite form nor distinct shape anomy/anomie/anomia n. (of an individual, group or society) an absence of social, moral or ethical values arduous/hard/labored/laborious/strenuous a. exerting tremendous effort attached/colligated/conjoined/connected/copulate/coupled/joined/linked/united/yoked a. physically connected by a link, as railway cars attachment/colligation/conjugation/conjunction/connection/connectivity/junction/juncture/link/union/yoke n. the state of being joined together attendant/consequent/consequential/ensuant/ensuing/following/resultant/resulting/sequent a. occurring or produced as an effect or result _incident(al) _a. likely to occur in consequence attingent/contiguous/tangent/touching a. in physical contact with something else barefoot/discalced a. vestured of no footwear bastard(ly)/illegitimate/misbegot(ten)/natural/spurious a. born to unwed parents become/befit/beseem/fit/suit v. to be appropriate to someone or something's circumstance, constitution, gravitas, stature, etc. bedlam/brouhaha/chaos/clutter/commotion/confusion/disorder/disruption/disturbance/havoc/jumble/maelstrom/mayhem/pandemonium/pother/stir/storm/turbulence/turmoil/upheaval/welter n. a state of violent, wild, confused disorder or agitation _ballyhoo/clatter/hubbub/hullabaloo/ruckus/ruction/rumpus/tumult/uproar _n. a clamant commotion beggar v. to exceed someone's or something's resources, limits or faculties beggary/deprivation/destitution/impoverishment/indigence/need/neediness/necessitousness/necessitude/pauperdom/pauperism/pauperization/penury/poverty/privation/want n. a severe lack of necessaries such as food, money, material possessions or means of support bereft/deprived/destitute/immiserated/impoverished/indigent/necessitied/necessitous/needy/pauperized/penniless/penurious/poor a. lacking necessaries; poverty-stricken bespeak/betoken/denote/designate/indicate/mean/portend/signify v. to be an indication, sign or symptom of binding*/compulsory#/imperative^/incumbent*/mandatory^/necessary#^/obligatory*^/required^ a. (oft. followed by *on/upon to, #to, ^that) required as a duty or responsibility blameworthy/culpable/guilty/peccant/sinful a. responsible for an iniquity blemished/blotched/blotted/imbrued/maculate(d)/spotted/stained a. (esp. of fabric) marked with colored or dirty patches that are difficult or impossible to eliminate broken/dead/down/inoperable/inoperative/kaput a. (esp. of devices) not functioning _defective/down/faulty/malfunctioning _a. inadequately performing an intended or expected function __temperamental __a. working with erratic, unpredictable inconsistency and consequently unreliable burning/clamant/dire/exigent/imperative/imperious/necessitous/pressing/urgent a. demanding or requiring immediate action, aid, attention or resolution, as an emergency call for/compel/demand/exact/force/necessitate/oblige/require v. (of circumstances or imperative) to impose action or obligation as requisite cancellation/revocation n. the state of being cancelled causeless/uncaused a. occurring or existing without cause or apparent cause _spontaneous _a. happening without evident external cause ceaseless/constant/continual/continuous/incessant/nonstop/perpetual/relentless/steady/sustained/unbroken/unceasing/uninterrupted/unrelenting/unremitting a. acting, functioning or occurring continuously without pause or slack celebrity/fame/popularity/renown n. a state of being widely known to many in a locality, region, nation, culture, etc. _celebrity/distinction/eminence/fame/greatness/honor/illustriousness/popularity/renown/reputation _n. widespread (local, regional, national, cultural, etc.) repute __preeminence __n. incomparable renown chance/odds/outlook/likelihood/probability n. the likeliness that a future event will occur _prospect _n. any probability of success of choice/favored/preferred a. esteemed with partiality: admired, appreciated or enjoyed above others _favorite/preferent _a. preferred excusively beyond any other or others chosen/elected/picked/preferred a. selected in preference, esp. in lieu of others common/predominant/prevailing/prevalent/rampant/rife/widespread a. accepted, existing, occurring or practiced frequently and prominently in an area or culture, or during a particular period _omnipresent/ubiquitous/universal _a. found or existing everywhere compose/comprise/constitute/form/make v. (of constituents) to be part or the entirety of something comprehend/comprise/contain/embody/embrace/encompass/include/incorporate v. to possess (classes, components, elements or members) as part or parts of something larger _comprehend/encompass/include _v. to contain something in its entirety, often as part of a broader purview __cover/span __v. to encompass a particular ambit comprise/consist (of)/contain/embody v. to be composed of conditional/contingent**/dependent/depending/hinging/incident*/subject* a. (usu. followed by on or upon, **of or *to) determined or influenced by certain conditions or resultant circumstances connote/entail/implicate/imply/import/involve/mean/necessitate v. (of an action, activity or condition) to occasion or impose as a logical or necessary circumstance, condition, concomitance or consequence constraint/control/inhibition/limitation/repression/restraint/restriction/suppression n. any condition by which someone or something is restricted or subject to the imposition of limitations contentedness/eudaemonia/wellbeing n. a contented state of happiness, good health, prosperity and comfort contingence/contingency n. a condition of being dependent on some event or action contingent/possible/uncertain a. of that which may occur yet can't be presaged with surety correlate v. to relate reciprocally or mutually cosignatory a. signing collectively crapulous/crapulent a. indisposed or suffering ensuant to gross intemperance of cibarious or alcoholic consumption crowded/serried a. (of people) pressed together cumulative/accumulative/accretive a. increasing or growing by successive addition dangerous/dicey/hazardous/maliferous/parlous/perilous/risky/treacherous/unsafe a. fraught with uncertainty and some risk of harm or death _precarious/treacherous _a. dangerously insecure or unsteady, esp. if liable to fall dead/deceased/departed/expired/late/perished a. not living; no longer alive _dying/moribund/terminal _a. on the verge of death; breathing one's last decrepitude/dilapidation n. a state of deterioration ensuant of old age or long use denote/image/import/mark/mean/represent/signify/symbolize/type/typify v. to constitute a symbol of depletion/exhaustion a. a state whereby a supply or resource has been wholly consumed despoliation n. a state whereby a person or group have been reaved of possessions, esp. by a mob designate a. appointed to but not yet installed in office detached/disconnected/disjoined/disjunct/distract/disunited/parted/separated/severed/unattached/unconnected a. not joined together: set or taken apart detachment/disconnectedness/disconnection/disjunction/disjuncture/disseverance/disseverment/distractedness/disunion/inconnection/parting/separation/severalty/severance n. a state of being disconnected detriment/harm/injury n. the state of being harmed or damaged differ/vary v. to be different from one another difference/disparity/dissimilarity/dissimilitude/distinction/unlikeness/variance n. the state of being neither similar nor equivalent to another or others _conflict/contradiction/contrariety/disagreement/discrepance/discrepancy/incompatibility/incongruence/incongruity/inconsistency/variance _n. a difference between conflicting claims, facts or opinions _contradistinction _n. a distinction determined on the basis of contrasting or opposing properties _nicety/nuance/shade/shading/subtlety _n. any subtle variance of character, color, feeling, expression, meaning, sound, taste, tone, etc.; a slight or delicate distinction disambiguation n. clarification resulting from the removal of ambiguity disappearing/evanescent/vanishing a. fading (usu. apace) from sight, memory or existence disgrace/dishonor/disrepute/ignominy/infamy/shame n. a loss of respect, honor or esteem _odium/opprobrium _n. disgrace arising from despicable, shameful conduct _obloquy _n. dishonor ensuant to public censure or calumny disparity/inequality n. a lack of equality downtrodden/oppressed/repressed/subdued/subjugated/tyrannized a. cruelly or unjustly suppressed by any authoritarian class or entity dysania n. a condition in which rising from bed is difficult eclat n. exceptional or blatant success elected/elective a. selected or appointed by a vote _elect _a. elected though not yet inducted to office eleemosynary a. dependent on charity a. supported by or subsisting on charity embody/epitomize/image/impersonate/incarnate/incorporate/personate/personify v. (of someone or something) to reflect or represent an abstraction, attribute, ethos, principle, sentiment, spirit, etc. entire/intact/inviolate/pristine/pure/sound/unblemished/undamaged/undefiled/unharmed/unhurt/unimpaired/uninjured/unmarred/unscathed/unspoiled/unspoilt/unsullied/untouched/virgin/whole a. free or safe from violation, desecration, injury or damage epitomize/exemplify/image/represent/typify v. to be an example of a group or sort by manifesting or possessing its integral characteristics equality/equation/equipollence/equipollency/equivalence/equivalency/identity/parity n. a state of having the same value, status, significance, function, force, amount, etc. as another or others _coequality/equality/equity/parity _n. functional or occupational equality eremitism/reclusion/retirement/seclusion n. the condition of a reclusive lifestyle, withdrawn from society extant/surviving a. still in existence; neither destroyed nor extinct exterior/external/extrinsic/outside a. existing outside a. acting or operating from without exterior/external/outer/outside a. located beyond a boundary or enclosure extramural n. happening or conducted beyond the premises or courses of a college or university fissiparous a. (of unicellular organisms) reproducing by fission flowing/fluent/streaming a. (of fluids) in motion _effluent/outflowing _a. flowing out or forth _influent/inflowing _a. flowing in or into (state of) flux n. a condition of dubiety concerning progress prior to action or the institution of a new order (usu. ensuing a significant event) forcible/vigorous a. achieved or implemented by (usu. physical) force forfeit(ed)/confiscate(d) a. punitorily seized or surrendered functional/functioning/operable/operational/operating/operative/working a. able to serve a purpose or perform a function geophilic/geophilous a. living underground, esp. for a stage of one's life greasy/oily/pinguid/unctuous a. soaked, smeared or coated with grease or oil immobile/motionless/quiescent/static/stationary/still/unmoving a. not moving impecuniosity/impecuniousness/pennilessness n. a state in which one lacks money impulsive a. (of a physical force or forces) acting fugaciously, even momentarily inaction/inactiveness/inactivity/inertia/stasis n. a state whereby neither activity nor attendant change transpires _abeyance/abeyancy/suspension _n. temporary cessation or inactivity _dormancy/quiescence/quiescency _n. quiet inaction incumbent a. (of an official) presently holding an office independent/substantive a. existing or functioning without another or others; neither subordinate nor collective inert a. possessing neither inherent power of nor resistance to influence of mobility infrangible/inviolable a. never to be violated, transgressed, profaned, infringed or dishonored inhere/reside v. to be inherent in something; to belong intrinsically and essentially insularism/insulation/isolation/seclusion/segregation/sequestration n. a state of being alone and detached from other people or things intermural n. engaged by or occurring between multiple institutions intramural n. transpiring or performed in an (usu. educational) institution inversion n. assumption of a gender role traditionally assigned to the opposite sex ipse-dixitism n. an authoritarian atmosphere consequential of dictatorial utterance isolated/segregated/separated/sequestered/sequestrated a. set or kept apart from others manqué*/unfulfilled/unsuccessful a. (*postpositive) stymied in essay or enterprises to realize one's ambition mean/medium/middle n. a state intermediate between extremes moribund/stagnant/stagnating/static a. neither progressing nor developing attendant to inactivity or neglect nascent/incipient/inchoate/inceptive/emerging/emergent/beginning a. commencing existence, and thusly germinal or unformed nihility/nonexistence/nothingness/nullity n. an absence or cessation of existence or life novitiate n. a state wherein one is a tyro of a vocation or religious order open/outstanding/pending/undecided/undetermined/unsettled a. awaiting conclusion, confirmation, decision, resolution or settlement perfunctory a. (of a task or function) done routinely, with minimal if any effort or reflection plenitude/plenteousness/plentifulness/plentitude n. a condition of being full or complete plurality n. the state of being plural _dualism/duality/duplicity _n. any dual or twofold state possibly/perhaps/perchance/peradventure/mayhap/maybe/conceivably av. it's possible or conceivable, though uncertain that; by chance postremogeniture/ultimogeniture n. the condition of being the lastborn of a parity postulate/precondition/prerequisite/requirement/requisite/sine qua non n. something required as a prior condition for a subsequent occurence or existence prefigure/anticipate v. to be a forerunner or prior version of something not yet created or introduced primogeniture n. the state of being a firstborn offspring, esp. to the same parents as one's siblings Pyrrhic a. (of a victory) countervailed by staggering losses, esp. those commensurable of the defeated party rapport/intimacy/friendship/comradeship/companionship/camaraderie/bond n. a harmonious, sympathetic relationship of mutual, empathic understanding reclamation/reclaim/redemption/reformation n. a state of moral rehabilitation regent a. acting or functioning as substitute for an absent sovereign renascent/resurgent/reviving a. repairing to new activity, popularity or prevalence subsequent to a period of dormancy or unpopularity repeated/recurring/recurrent/perennial a. done or occurring repeatedly _frequent/continual _a. recurring often _quotidian/everyday/diurnal/daily _a. recurring every day _nightly _a. happening every night _novennial _a. recurring every ninth year reprieve/respite n. temporary relief from harm or discomfort similitude/similarity/semblance/resemblance/likeness/correspondence/comparability/affinity n. the state of being or appearing alike sober a. neither drunk nor affected by any other drug somnolence/sleepiness/drowsiness n. a very sleepy state soporific/somnolent/snoozy/slumberous/sleepy/drowsy/dozy a. needing, prone or fit to sleep spurned/snubbed/shunned/scorned/rejected/rebuffed a. suddenly or contemptuously dismissed _jilted/dumped _a. abruptly rebuffed by a lover stature/repute/reputation/prestige/note/honor/greatness/eminence/distinction/cachet n. a high degree of respect, importance or influence proceeding from some impressive development or achievement _reputation/renown/popularity/illustriousness/honor/greatness/fame/eminence/distinction/celebrity _n. widespread (local, regional, national, cultural, etc.) repute __preeminence __n. incomparable renown sublimate(d)/refined/purified a. (of a substance) cleansed of impurities subsist/live/exist/be v. to possess objective existence or reality suitability/propriety/appropriateness n. a condition of being right, proper or fitting thriving/prospering/flourishing a. realizing success or progress torpor/torpidness/torpidity/listlessness/lethargy/lassitude/languor n. dull, often drowsy sluggishness attending a dearth of energy tranquility/still(ness)/serenity/rest/repose/relaxation/quiet(ude)/peace(fulness)/calm(ness) n. a restful condition entailing an absence of tension, stress, anxiety or activity tricky/touchy/ticklish/thorny/tender/sticky/sensitive/prickly/delicate/awkward a. (of a situation) easily upset, consequently difficult to manage and necessitating discreet tact, prowess or diplomacy unbid(den)/uninvited a. not invited, as to one's home unchaste a. sexually experienced; not vestal vacuity/vacancy/senselessness/pointlessness/mindlessness/inanity n. a total absence of meaning, ideas or intelligence vacuity/vacuum/void n. the absence of matter virtually/practically/nigh/nearly/near/almost av. not quite attained, completed, implemented, realized, etc. virtuous/virgin(al)/vestal/pure/chaste a. in a state of sexual virginity windy/windswept a. exposed to winds workable/viable/realizable/practicable/possible/feasible/executable/attainable a. capable of being accomplished or realized _reifiable _a. capable of being realized as something concrete or manifest wretchedness/woe/trouble/tribulation/trial/rigor/misery/hardship/discomfort/asperity/affliction/adversity n. a condition or circumstance of extreme difficulty, distress or suffering that tests forbearance or endurance ==COUNTENANCE== agape/gaping a. with one's mouth wide open, as in astonishment or awe askance/askant/asquint av. with a sidelong or oblique glance aspect/countenance/(facial) expression/visage n. an appearance effected by a facial gesture that registers a particular reaction, mood or emotion blush/erubescence/erubescency/floridity/flush/rosiness/rubescence/rubicundity n. a facial reddening, esp. that induced by exertion, illness, passion, etc. _bloom/flush/glow/rosiness/rubicundity/ruddiness _n. a fresh, healthy floridity denoting vigor or youth _blush/flush/rubescence _n. sudden rubicundity generated by abashment, guilt or modesty blushing/erubescent/florid/flushed/glowing/red/rosy/rubescent/rubicund/ruddy/sanguine a. red of complexion, suggesting fervency or exertion frown/lour/lower/scowl v. to contract one's brows and turn down the edges of one's mouth to convey anger, indignation or sullen discontent n. a frowning countenance gape n. a staring, open-mouthed expression radiating astonishment glare/glower v. to stare with an angry or saturnine countenance n. a sore or sour stare grimace n. an ugly, contorted countenance expressing pain, disgust or wry amusement v. to contort one's face so to indicate a negative mental or emotional state leer/ogle v. to stare suggestively or obliquely, esp. with libidinous intent; to glance or gaze with a sly, malign, immodest or lecherous expression n. a cunning, fresh or lusty aspect pout v. to express disapproval or petulance by projecting one's lips pout/moue n. a sullen protrusion of the lips emanating annoyance or distaste smilet n. a small smile sneer v. to smile contemptuously, as by curling one's upper lip; to express contempt or scorn with a smile n. a jeering visage of a curled upper lip white/wan/pallid/pale/colorless/bloodless/blanched/ashen a. (of one's complexion) unnaturally deficient of color, indicating emotional distress, physical malady or lassitude wry/distorted/contorted a. (of facial features) twisted to exude disgust, disappointment or annoyance ==DISPOSITION & DEPORTMENT== abandoned/debauched/dissipated/dissolute/fast/intemperate/jaded/nice/overindulgent/profligate/unregenerate/wanton a. indulging and often corrupted by a nimiety of sensual pleasures abstemious/restrained/temperate a. observing prudent moderation, esp. in regard to consumption of food and drink _dry/sober _a. free of alcoholism; abstemious in one's consumption of alcohol __teetotal __a. eschewing alcoholic beverages entirely acerbity/acrimony/bitterness/virulence n. a harsh, bitter demeanor acquisitive/avaricious/avid/covetous/esurient/grabbing/grabby/grasping/greedy/prehensile/rapacious a. ardently, immoderately desirous to obtain wealth or possessions _covetous _a. esurient for the property of others __envious/jaundiced/jealous __a. discontentedly or resentfully covetous acquisitiveness/avarice/avariciousness/avaritia/avidity/covetousness/cupidity/greed/rapacity n. an insatiable, reprehensible lust for wealth or property, especially in gross excess of that needed or deserved _covetousness/pleonexia/pleonexy _n. cupidity for the property of another or others acquit/act/bear/behave/carry/comport/conduct/deport/quit v. to behave in a certain manner, esp. when interacting with others adamant/constant/decided/decisive/determined/dogged/firm/immovable/inflexible/intent/intractable/mulish/obdurate/obstinate/persevering/persistent/persisting/pertinacious/purposeful/resolute/resolved/rigwiddie/rocky/set/stable/stalwart/staunch/steadfast/steady/stiff/stubborn/tenacious/unfaltering/unrelenting/unwavering/unyielding a. fixed firmly in intention or purpose: undeviating from a course of action _balky/restive _a. liable to stop and obstinately refuse to proceed, as a mule or pettish child _clamorous/importunate/strident/urgent _a. persistent in entreaty, esp. to a point wherein annoyance is provoked or intrusion imposed _headstrong/perverse/wayward/willful _a. intractably intent on doing or having whatever one pleases, notwithstanding consequence _pigheaded _a. stupidly obstinate adamant/decided/decisive/determined/firm/immovable/inflexible/intractable/intransigent/mulish/obdurate/obstinate/persevering/pertinacious/resolute/rigwiddie/rocky/stalwart/staunch/steadfast/steady/stubborn/uncompromising/unfaltering/unregenerate/unrelenting/unwavering/unyielding a. unshakably adherent to a conviction, opinion, position or principle _calcified/fossilized/ossified/rigid/set/unregenerate/unyielding _a. intractably adherent to a convention, habitude or perspective; resistant to change _immovable/implacable/inexorable/obdurate/relentless/unappeasable/unrelenting _a. not to be placated or persuaded by request or obsecration _pigheaded _a. stupidly obstinate adverse/aggressive/antagonistic/antipathetic(al)/churlish/hostile/inimical/oppugnant/rancorous/surly/unfriendly/virulent a. not friendly: characterized by or actuated to enmity affection/bent/disposition/habit/inclination/leaning/ply/predisposition/tendency n. a tendency to behave, feel or think a certain way _affection/fondness/inclination/liking/partiality/predilection/preference/propensity/taste _n. a tendency favoring something or someone, esp. in lieu of others __affinity __n. a natural predilection __fancy __n. a capricious and usu. sudden liking __love/penchant __n. a strong, especial fondness __weakness __n. a self-indulgent partiality _penchant _n. a powerful, distinct disposition _proclivity/propensity _n. an inherent inclination agreeable/amenable/biddable/compliant/conformable/docile/gentle/meek/obedient/submissive/supple/tame/tractable/yielding a. disposed to compliance or consent _acquiescent _a. implicitly submissive _abject/meek/obsequious/servile/slavish/subservient/supple _a. excessively, often pathetically or miserably obedient __bootlicking/fawning/groveling/obsequious/servile/sycophantic/toadying/toadyish __a. subservient in an ingratiating and fulsome manner, usu. to win favor and obtain advantage __maritorious __a. obsessively obsequious to one's husband __uxorious __a. (usu. affectionately) servile to one's wife alacritous/animate/animated/bouncy/bright/bubbly/crisp/effervescent/energetic/feisty/flush/lively/lusty/mercurial/peppy/perky/pert/racy/sparkling/spicy/spirited/sprightly/spunky/vibrant/vigorous/vital/vivacious/warm/zippy a. behaving in a manner expressive of one's copious (cheery, enthusiastic, forceful, etc.) energy _ebullient/exuberant _a. uninhibitedly vivacious alacrity/animacy/animation/bounce/bubbliness/brio/effervescence/effervescency/elan/energy/esprit/feistiness/liveliness/pep/peppiness/perkiness/pertness/sparkle/spirit/spiritedness/sprightliness/spunk/verve/vibrance/vibrancy/vigor/vim/vitality/vivaciousness/vivacity/zing/zip n. a personality's abundantly energetic cheer, force, gusto, etc. _ebullience/exuberance/exuberancy _n. unreserved verve allure(ment)/appeal/attraction/attractiveness/charm/enticement/fascination/lure/magnetism/pull n. the power to please, entice or attract with beauty or charisma aloof/cool/distant/offish/remote/unapproachable/upstage/withdrawn a. neither friendly nor loquacious; coolly reserved and unsociable ambivalent/dithering/doubtful/dubious/hesitant/indecisive/infirm/irresolute/oscillating/tentative/torn/uncertain/undecided/unsettled/unsure/vacillating/waffling/wavering a. incapable of resolving one's opinion or choosing a course of action amenance/attitude/bearing/behavior/comportment/conduct/countenance/demeanor/deportment/manner/mien n. the way in which one behaves and conducts oneself, esp. in radiation of their character or immediate temper _custom/habit/habitude/way/wont _n. an inveterate demeanor or leaning angelic(al)/beatific/clean/decent/ethical/good/honest/honorable/just/moral/noble/pure/righteous/sainted/saintlike/saintly/sinless/uncorrupted/undefiled/unsullied/upright/upstanding/virtuous a. morally excellent; possessing or manifesting immaculate virtue anthropophagous/cannibalistic a. (of humans) inclined to ingest human flesh antipathetic(al)/averse/disinclined/indisposed/loath/loth/reluctant/unwilling a. opposed [to]; neither willing nor eager to do something antithalian a. opposed to or deploring fun or merriment apathetic/cool/dispassionate/emotionless/expressionless/impassive/inexpressive/phlegmatic(al)/stolid/stony/undemonstrative/unemotional/unexpressive a. exhibiting or comporting oneself with little or no emotion _apathetic/disinterested/indifferent/perfunctory/unconcerned/uninterested _a. showing no interest or concern __blase/jaded __a. uninterested or bored in consequence of exhaustive experience, exposure, indulgence, or observation __blithe/casual/cavalier/insouciant/nonchalant __a. relaxedly apathetic __inconsiderate/insensitive/thoughtless/unthinking __a. disagreeably, often rudely unconcerned about the needs, feelings, or sensibilities of others __degage/detached/dispassionate/passionless __a. emotionally uninvolved, and thus objective and impartial __madcap/rechless/reckless/retchless/temerarious __a. careless of (often dicey) consequences _nonpassionate/passionless/unpassionate _a. expressing no passion aplomb/composure/cool/equanimity/equilibrium/phlegm/poise/repose/sangfroid/self-possession/temper n. calm, confident mental and emotional self-control, esp. in a state of pressure or tension apologetic/compunctious/contrite/penitent/regretful/remorseful/repentant/rueful/sorry a. expressing distress, sorrow and regret for one's sins or malefactions apt/disposed/given/inclined/liable/minded/predisposed/prone/subject/tending/willing a. (usually followed by "to") naturally or favorably compelled to think, act or perform in a particular way argumentative/cantankerous/confrontational/contentious/controversial/disputatious/disputative/dissentious/eristic(al)/feisty/pugnacious/quarrelsome a. disposed to dispute or disagree, esp. so to provoke argument _eristic(al) _a. disputative for the sake of argument or prevalence thereof; often employing specious arguments to attain this end arrogance/assumption/conceit/egoism/egotism/hubris/immodesty/narcism/narcissism/philauty/pride/vainglory/vanity n. inflated, inordinate, overbearing self-regard or presumption _condescension/haughtiness/hauteur/loftiness/lordliness/pride/sniffiness/snobbery/snobbiness/snobbishness/snootiness/superciliousness/supercilium/superiority/swagger _n. overbearing, intolerable pride manifest as disdain or disregard for others arrogant/boastful/cocksure/cocky/conceited/egotistic(al)/immodest/narcissistic/proud/vain/vainglorious a. exhibiting undue, magnified, often insufferable pride and self-esteem _cavalier/condescending/grand/haughty/lofty/lordly/patronizing/proud/sniffy/snobbish/snobby/snooty/snotty/supercilious/superior/swaggering/uppish/uppity _a. contemptuously, condescendingly proud: emanating arrogant, dismissive disdain in conviction of one's superiority artless/green/guileless/ingenuous/innocent/naif/naive/simple/unguarded/unsophisticated/unworldly a. characterized by or exuding credulity, unaffected simplicity and a dearth of guile or wordly experience askance/askant/distrustfully/mistrustingly/suspiciously av. with an attitude of cautious, uncertain speculation application/assiduity/assiduousness/care/conscientiousness/diligence/industriousness/operosity/sedulity/sedulousness/thoroughness n. constant and attentive effort, as to a task or endeavor assiduous/careful/conscientious/diligent/industrious/operose/painstaking/sedulous/thorough a. exerting or characterized by heedful and unremitting effort atrabiliar/atrabilious/bilious/bitchy/cantankerous/choleric/crabbed/crabby/cranky/crotchety/dyspeptic/feisty/fractious/frampold/fretful/grouchy/grumpy/hasty/hotheaded/irascible/irritable/liverish/nettlesome/ornery/peckish/peevish/peppery/perverse/pettish/prickly/splenetic/temperamental/testy/tetchy/touchy/waspish a. prone to anger or annoyance; often rankled by nugatory matters _petulant _a. abruptly, capriciously, often childishly saturnine or splenetic atrabiliousness/bile/biliousness/bitchiness/choler/crabbiness/crankiness/dander/feistiness/fractiousness/fretfulness/grouchiness/grumpiness/irascibility/irritability/liverishness/orneriness/peckishness/peevishness/pepperiness/perversity/pettishness/prickliness/spleen/temper/testiness/tetchiness/touchiness/waspishness n. a disposition of agitated anger _petulance/petulancy _n. sudden, whimsical, usu. immature choler atrocious/barbaric/barbarous/beastly/brutal/brutish/cruel/ferocious/fiendish/flagitious/harsh/horrible/immane/inhuman/mean/monstrous/sadistic/savage/truculent/vicious a. liable to deliberately or apathetically inflict suffering upon others audacious/bodacious/bold/brave/courageous/daring/doughty/feisty/gallant/gutsy/gutty/hardy/heroic/lionhearted/mettlesome/nervy/plucky/skookum/spunky/stouthearted/unflinching/unshrinking/valiant/valorous a. steadfastly confident and resolute when confronting challenge, danger or fear _adventuresome/adventurous/audacious/daring/venturesome/venturous _a. inclined to brave risk or assay difficult or unusual enterprises _audacious/dauntless/fearless/intrepid/undaunted _a. utterly courageous; impervious to deterrence, fear or intimidation _audacious/foolhardy/temerarious _a. impetuously brave audacity/boldness/bravery/courage/daring/feistiness/gallantry/hardiness/heart/heroism/lionheartedness/mettle/nerve/pluck/spunk/stoutheartedness/valiance/valor n. determined readiness to confront danger, difficulty or risk without or in spite of fear _audacity/dauntlessness/fearlessness/intrepidity _n. a categoric immunity to discouragement, fear or intimidation _audacity/temerity _n. rash daring austere/dour/grim/relentless/rigid/rigorous/severe/stern/strict/unbending/unsparing a. harshly and inflexibly assertive of authority, the exercise of discipline and observance of rules bananas/bats/batty/berserk/bonkers/buggy/certifiable/cracked/crackers/crazed/crazy/cuckoo/demented/deranged/disturbed/dotty/gaga/insane/loco/loony/loopy/lunatic/mad/meshuga/non compos mentis/nuts/nutso/nutty/screwy/unbalanced/unhinged/wacko/wacky a. mentally ill, maladjusted or otherwise unsound, and consequently impaired of normal perception or comportment and incapable of safe or lucid interaction _psycho/psychopathic/psychotic _a. afflicted by a severe, chronic mental disorder severely distorting one's perception and apprehension of reality _schizophrenic/schizoid _a. suffering from a mental disorder characterized by delusion, hallucination and a withdrawal from reality _touched _a. slightly crazy barefaced/impenitent/obdurate/remorseless/shameless/unabashed/unapologetic/unashamed/unblushing/uncontrite/unregenerate/unrepentant/unrepenting a. expressing neither remorse nor guilt for one's malefactions baseness/degeneracy/depravity/folly/immorality/iniquity/turpitude/villainy/wickedness n. a deviation from moral or spiritual values; an aversion to rectitude bashful/chary/coy/demure/diffident/farouche/modest/mousy/nice/offish/shy/timid/timorous a. reticent, hesitant or quietly anxious for a dearth of confidence or assurance _private/retiring/withdrawn _a. shy and fond of solitude; avoiding contact or interaction with others bellicose/belligerent/combative/pugnacious/truculent a. apt or avid to fight beneficent/benevolent/benign/benignant/gentle/good/goodhearted/gracious/humane/kind/kindhearted/kindly/mansuete/meek/nice/tenderhearted/warm/warmhearted a. inclined or seeking to help or be good to others _affable/amiable/approachable/benevolent/benign/congenial/cordial/friendly/genial/gentle/kind/nice/warm/warmhearted _a. pleasantly kind, as a friend would be __affable/approachable __a. gratifyingly easy to converse or consort with _beneficent/bounteous/bountiful/freehanded/generous/handsome/kind/lavish/liberal/munificent/openhanded/prodigal/unselfish/unsparing/unstinting _a. inclined to give or share with others, often in large amounts _caring/compassionate/empathetic/empathic/gracious/kind/kindhearted/kindly/sympathetic/tenderhearted/warm/warmhearted _a. tending to feel and exhibit solicitude or sorrow regarding the troubles of others _cheerful/generous/magnanimous/ungrudging _a. generous in forgiveness; loth to sustain a grudge blemish/failing/fault/flaw/frailty/shortcoming/weakness n. any moral defect of one's character _fault/foible/vice/weakness _n. a minor failing blithe/blitheful/blithesome/bright/buoyant/cheerful/cheery/genial/glad/jolly/lighthearted/merry/upbeat a. posessing or emanating a pleasantly happy humor _sanguine _a. merrily optimistic bounteousness/bounty/freehandedness/generosity/largess(e)/lavishness/liberality/munificence/openhandedness/prodigality n. a disposition which prompts one to give to or share with others brainish/foolhardy/hotheaded/impetuous/improvident/madcap/precipitant/precipitate/precipitous/rash/sudden/temerarious a. acting or given to act without sufficient deliberation, esp. in concern of consequence _brainish/impulsive/madcap/precipitant _a. (usu. suddenly) thoughtlessly subject to action actuated by megrim _madcap/rechless/reckless/retchless/temerarious _a. careless of (often dicey) consequences foolhardiness/impetuosity/impetuousness/improvidence/rashness/precipitateness/precipitousness/temerariousness n. an inclination to act without due reflection _impulsiveness/impulsivity _n. provoked by impulse instead of mentation _recklessness/temerariousness _n. indifference regarding consequence brooding/broody/dour/farouche/glowering/glum/grumpy/moody/moping/morose/pouting/saturnine/sour/sulky/sullen a. exuding an irascibly gloomy or sardonic temperament buffoonery/clowning/harlequinade/japery n. desipient yet jocose, comic and esp. animated behavior cagey/canny/careful/cautious/chary/circumspect/discreet/guarded/nonconfrontational/politic/prudent/tactful/wary a. cautiously judicious of deportment or expression, esp. to attain an advantage or preclude affront, danger, detriment or contretemps calm/degage/halcyon/limpid/placid/relaxed/secure/serene/tranquil/unflustered/unperturbed/unruffled/untroubled a. free from tension, anxiety or agitation; at ease calm(ness)/peace/placidity/repose/relaxation/security/serenity/tranquility n. a disposition free from stress or severe emotion captious/carping/censorious/hypercritical/overcritical a. predisposed to detect and object to (usu. minor or trivial) faults careless/derelict/forgetful/heedless/inadvertent/inattentive/neglectful/negligent/remiss/slack/thoughtless/unmindful/unthinking a. applying inadequate attention and care to one's responsibilities, as of work or duty character/decency/goodness/honesty/honor/integrity/morality/nobility/probity/rectitude/righteousness/scrupulousness/uprightness/virtue/virtuousness n. confirmed, unshakable moral excellence by virtue of principled morality and sincerity charity/clemency/grace/lenience/leniency/lenity/mercy/quarter n. mercifulness proceeding from tolerance or compassion in concern of one or those whom one is sanctioned to judge, chasten, punish or harm chary/dainty/fastidious/finical/finicky/fussy/nice/particular/persnickety/picky a. especially or excessively anxious or insistent in concern of one's specific needs or requirements, and all aspects thereof chilly/cold/cool/distant/frigid/frosty/glacial/icy/impersonal/unaffectionate/unfriendly a. destitute of affection, enthusiasm, sympathy or any warmth of bearing chronic/confirmed/customary/habitual/hardened/ingrained/inveterate/wonted a. of, consequent of, possessed of or fixed by an acquired, established pattern of behavior or practice that is unlikely to change civil/civilized/cordial/courteous/deferential/gentle/gracious/mannerly/obeisant/polite/respectful a. demonstrating regard for others with friendly, considerate and accommodating behavior _chivalrous/gallant/gentle _a. attentive and courteous to women _gracious _a. condescendingly polite civility/cordiality/courtesy/courteousness/deference/graciousness/obeisance/politeness/respectfulness n. polite and obliging conduct evincing respect for others _comity _n. mutual cordiality, as between two or several people or parties _politesse _n. formal courtesy coltish/frisky/frolicky/frolicsome/kittenish/ludic/playful/sportive/tricksy/wanton a. fond of and disposed to exuberant play companionable/convivial/Falstaffian/forthcoming/gregarious/jovial/outgoing/sociable/social a. cheerful, friendly and engaged in the society of others complacent/smug a. proudly, immoderately satisfied and content with one's facility, achievements or advantages complexion/constitution/disposition/humor/makeup/mettle/nature/spirit/temper/temperament n. an individual's unique character, mentality, mood and predisposition evinced by their actions, reactions and demeanor compulsive/pathological a. related to, resulting from or impelled by an irresistible psychological urge, esp. one contrary to one's conscious will or purport confiding/credulous/dupable/green/gullible/trustful/trusting/unsuspecting/unsuspicious a. predisposed too eagerly to trust or believe what one is told congenial/sympathetic n. (of people) correspondent in partialities, personality, etc. and consequently compatible constancy/devotion/faith/faithfulness/fealty/fidelity/loyalty/troth n. faithful dedication, as of a friend or spouse to another _allegiance/fealty/fidelity _n. loyalty of activists to their cause, citizens to their nation or subjects to their sovereign _ardor/zeal _n. impassioned loyalty _piety/piousness _n. reverent, familial (esp. filial) fealty constant/dedicated/devoted/faithful/fast/firm/liege/loyal/staunch/steadfast/true/unswerving a. affording or demonstrating constant support or allegiance to a person or institution _ardent/zealous _a. fervently faithful convincible/persuadable/persuasible/suasible a. open to persuasion, as by contention _flexible/impressible/impressionable/malleable/manipulable/pliable/pliant/susceptible/tractable _a. extremely responsive to persuasion; easily influenced __amenable/suggestible __a. susceptible to suggestion conviviality/gaiety/jollity/jouissance/joviality/merriment n. a temperament characterized by or conducive to friendly, lively sociality costive/laggard/lazy/pokey/poky/sluggish/tardy a. languidly slow, esp. surprisingly or undesirably so courtly/dignified/distinguished/eximious/gallant/grand/lofty/lordly/majestic/proud/regal/sedate/stately a. deporting oneself with deliberate, serious aplomb worthy of respect courtliness/dignity/gravitas/gravity/loftiness/lordliness/majesty/regality/sedateness/stateliness n. serious, formal composure crisp/laconic/spartan/terse a. communicating with few words _abrupt/brief/brusk/brusque/curt/gruff/snappish/snappy/terse _a. discourteously laconic dallying/dawdling/dilatory/laggard/lollygagging a. liable to delay, usu. for sluggishness or abstraction disobedient/fractious/indocile/noncompliant/recalcitrant/unruly a. averse to obedience; neglecting or refusing to comply _contumacious/refractory _a. obstinate in defiance of command or control _obstreperous _a. stridently disobedient _restive _a. impatient with control, delay or inhibition _boisterous/disorderly/fractious/obstreperous/rambunctious/raucous/riotous/robustious/rough/rowdy/rumbustious/unruly/wild _a. clamorously, uninhibitedly and vigorously ungovernable and often disruptive _contrary/froward/peevish/perverse/wayward/willful _a. determined to dissent or do the converse of whatever is expected or desired _insubordinate/recalcitrant/recusant _a. neither submissive nor obedient to authority __contumacious/refractory __a. stubbornly insubordinate __defiant __a. boldly recalcitrant __mutinous/rebellious __a. actively resisting authority or convention ___contumacious ___a. intractably rebellious ___mutinous ___a. (of soldiers or esp. sailors) inclined to rebellion against superior officers fractiousness/indocility/recalcitrance/recalcitrancy/unruliness n. a disinclination to obey or submit _contumacity/refractoriness _n. adamant recalcitrance _obstreperousness _n. stridulous indocility _recalcitrance/recalcitrancy _n. unruliness in opposition to (usu. established) authority __defiance __n. open, valorous recalcitrancy __rebelliousness __n. disposed to combat authority or convention ___contumacity ___n. obdurate rebelliousness demeaning/discreditable/disgraceful/dishonorable/disreputable/ignoble/ignominious/inglorious/mean/opprobrious/scandalous/shameful/undignified a. of comportment or action evoking or deserving disgrace or shame caddish/discourteous/disrespectful/impertinent/impudent/impolite/incivil/irreverent/rude/uncivil/ungracious a. expressing an offensive lack of respect for another or others _abrupt/brief/brusk/brusque/curt/gruff/snappish/snappy/terse _a. discourteously laconic _audacious/brash/brassy/brazen/cheeky/fresh/impertinent/impudent/insolent/lippy/nervy/pert/presumptuous/sassy/saucy/smart _a. boldly uncivil __cool __a. calmly insolent _contumelious _a. scornfully disrespectful _flip/flippant/irreverent _a. casually or playfully rude discourtesy/disrespect/impertinence/impoliteness/incivility/irreverence/rudeness/uncivility/ungraciousness n. insulting comportment destitute of cordiality _assumption/audacity/brashness/brass/brazenness/cheek/chutzpah/effrontery/face/freshness/gall/impertinence/impudence/insolence/nerve/pertness/presumption/sass/sauce/sauciness/ _n. bold incivility _contumely _n. contemptuous disrespect dishonest/false/lying/mendacious/untruthful a. deliberately purporting falsehoods dishonesty/improbity/mendacity/untruthfulness n. a propensity to profess lies disloyal/faithless/false/inconstant/perfidious/punic/recreant/renegade/traitorous/treacherous/unfaithful/untrue a. characterized by or inclined to betrayal of confidence or trust _insidious _a. subtly or secretly treacherous dissolute/fast/immoral/libertine/licentious/loose/profligate/unethical/wanton a. unrestrained by morality or moral convention _cyprian/easy/fast/libertine/licentious/loose/sportive/wanton/whorish _a. unprincipled and unrestrained in concern and pursuit of sexual matters; receptive to sexual advances __bed-hopping/cyprian/easy/fast/licentious/loose/promiscuous/sluttish/slutty/swinging __a. characterized by or indulging casual, frequent and transient sexual relationships eccentricity/foible/oddity/peculiarity/quirk/tic n. an odd, distinctive behavioral habit or trait _idiosyncrasy/peculiarity _n. a specific individual's quirk effete/degenerate/decadent a. frivolously sybaritic or dissolute, reflecting a cultural or moral declension elegance/grace/poise/presence n. an elegant, dignified or imposing deportment erratic/moody/mercurial/temperamental/unstable a. emotionally mutable; prone to frequent changes of moods and sequent behavior _capricious/changeable/fickle/flighty/impulsive/inconstant/mercurial/variable/volatile/wayward/whimsical _a. subject to and consequently prone to suddenly act in accordance with impulse rather than necessity or reason evil/immorality/iniquity/vice/wickedness n. grossly immoral or unfair conduct _viciousness/villainy _n. outrageous iniquity extraversion/extroversion n. interest in or concern with one's environment and other people, instead of oneself faineant/idle/inactive/indolent/inert/lazy/lusk/otiose/shiftless/slothful/sluggard(ly)/sluggish a. disinclined to activity or exertion fastidious/meticulous/nice/painstaking/punctilious/scrupulous/thorough a. precisely attentive to and concerned with accuracy and detail fearful/fearsome/shy/timid/timorous/trepid a. easily frightened _cowardly/craven/gutless/pusillanimous/recreant/spineless _a. barren of courage or resolve; contemptibly fearful __dastardly __a. malicious and recreant flightiness/frivolity/frivolousness/jocularity/levity/lightheartedness/silliness n. the trait of being happily, playfully carefree and facetious, often at the expense of due respect; neither serious nor sensible free-thinking/latitudinarian/undogmatic a. independent from and unswayed by authority, dogma or ideology frigid/cold a. sexually unresponsive, insensate or indisposed genuine/honest/sincere/straight/truthful/veracious/veridic/veridical a. predisposed to tell the truth _aboveboard/blunt/candid/direct/downright/explicit/forthright/frank/free-spoken/ingenuous/open/outspoken/plain(-spoken)/straight/straightforward/upfront _a. honest, unequivocal and unreserved of expression genuineness/honesty/sincerity/straightness/truthfulness/veracity n. a predisposition to tell the truth _bluntness/candor/directness/explicitness/forthrightness/frankness/ingenuousness/openness/outspokenness/plainness/straightforwardness/straightness _n. direct, unalloyed sincerity hopeless/incorrigible/incurable/irreclaimable/irredeemable/unredeemable/unreformable a. impervious to correction or reform huffy/tetchy/touchy a. prone to perceive an affront to oneself, be it actual or imagined; defensively hypersensitive indulgence/lenience/leniency/lenity n. a predilection to gratify or accommodate someone or others inquisitory/probing/searching a. sedulous and percipient in scrutiny, inquiry or investigation insularity n. ignorance of or indifference to concepts, cultures, peoples, experiences, etc. beyond the bounds of one's breadth interfering/intruding/intrusive/invasive/meddlesome/meddling/obtrusive/officious a. disposed to involve oneself unbidden in the affairs of others, esp. with a disruptive or offensive comportment introversion n. introspective interest or occupation exclusive of sociality or externalities ithyphallic/lascivious/lewd/libidinous/salacious a. apt to or characterized by great sexual desire, interest or indulgence _cyprian/dirty/goatish/lascivious/lecherous/lewd/libidinous/prurient/raunchy/salacious/wanton _a. excessively lascivious _priapic _a. preoccupied with male sexuality jestful/jocose/jocular/jokey/playful/waggish a. disposed to or characterized by playful jest _facetious/tongue-in-cheek _a. irreverently or insincerely jocular __biting/caustic/cutting/incisive/mordacious/mordant/piercing/sarcasmous/sarcastic __a. spitefully tongue-in-cheek; expressing derision with sneering, witty irony __deadpan/dry/wry __a. phlegmatically facetious; of humor expressed with an impassive pretense __sardonic/wry __a. cynically facetious _scurrilous _a. crudely or offensively jestful lachrymose/tearful/weeping/weepy a. crying or liable to weep mimetic/imitative a. characterized by or exhibiting or apt to imitation of behavior or a process morbid a. uncommonly intrigued by death or macabre events mordacious/snappish/snappy a. (of a human or animal) apt to bite officious a. assertive of one's authority in an irritatingly domineering manner optimistic/upbeat a. hopeful for, confident of or anticipating the best possible circumstances, conditions, results, etc. _sanguine _a. merrily optimistic patience/longanimity/forbearance n. a calm or good-natured tolerance of delay, incompetence or provocation peremptory/overbearing/masterful/magisterial/imperious/imperial/domineering/dictatorial/autocratic/authoritative/authoritarian a. characteristic of a dictator: apt to enjoin with disregard for the opinions or desires of others personality/temperament n. the totality of a person's distinctive, aggregate behavioral, emotional, mental and social attributes perverted/perverse/kinky/deviant a. of, characterized by, involved in, appealing or disposed to atypical sexual predilections or practices philistinism n. intractably smug, ignorant and conventional indifference or hostility to artistic, intellectual and spiritual values, refinement or enterprise prescriptive/dogmatic a. of, pertaining or prone to an autocratic, often pedantic imposition or enforcement of a rule, method or perspective proprieties/manners/etiquette/decorums n. conventional standards of behavior deemed correct for public or social interaction _protocol _n. etiquette of formal diplomacy propriety/decorum/decency/correctitude n. compliance with established standards of correct or appropriate behavior, speech, attire, etc. puerile/juvenile/jejune/infantile/immature/childish/callow a. evincing, suggesting or characteristic of a child's emotional or intellectual development, esp. manifest as silliness or frivolity precise/punctilious n. exactly adherent to etiquette and formalities quiet/reserved/restrained/reticent a. cooly formal and disinclined to emotional demonstration reserve/reticence/taciturnity n. an aversion to communication; volunteering nothing unnecessary reserved/reticent/silent/taciturn/uncommunicative/untalkative a. indisposed to communicate with others sanctimonious/pious/pietistic(al)/pharisaic(al) a. blatantly, hypocritically or hyperbolically pious or righteous savoir faire n. knowledge of how to comport oneself with aplomb and grace in any situation sententious a. given to sanctimonious moralizing, esp. as expressed with adages a. apt to utter maxims slaughterous/sanguinary/murderous/homicidal/cutthroat/butcherly/bloodthirsty a. zealous for slaughter sober v. to make or become more serious, sensible and solemn solemnity/sobriety/seriousness/gravity/gravitas n. a serious, commonly ruminative demeanor solicitous/concerned/careful a. characterized by or exuding anxious care or concern solicitously av. in a concerned, restive manner steady/staid/somber/solemn/sober/serious/grave a. of or evincing an extremely serious, often pensive bearing or appearance bereft of cheer or mirth sublime/sublimate/rarefied/noble/lofty/grand/exalted/empyreal/eminent/elevated a. of superior moral or intellectual character superficial/shallow/facile a. destitute of intellectual or emotional depth; only comprehending or concerned with whatever is manifest tendentious/tendencious a. possessing or registering a specific and deliberate tendency tendentious/tendencious/prepossessed/prejudiced/prejudicial/biased a. harboring or exuding an emphatic or resolute prejudice in favor of or opposition against something or someone _partial _a. favorably tendentious __partisan __a. biased in favor or support of a person, party, creed or cause _sexist/gendered _a. biased in favor of or against one gender or the other trifle/sport/jest/frivol/dally v. to behave in a frivolous manner trumpery/tommyrot/tomfoolery/piffle/nonsense/humbug/bunk/bosh/baloney n. inane behavior unctuousness/unctuosity/unction/smarminess/oleaginousness/oiliness/greasiness/butteriness n. exceedingly suave, affected ingratiation unctuous/smarmy/oleaginous/oily/greasy/fulsome/buttery a. effusively, unpleasantly, insincerely polite, flattering or ingratiating unembarrassed/unblushing/unashamed/unabashed/shameless a. neither feeling nor expressing chagrin or discomfiture unforgiving a. antipathetic to remit a slight or other discourtesy upstart/parvenu/nouveau riche a. characteristic of someone whose paucity of social graces (esp. ostentation) or acceptance belies a position ensuing his or her recent economic or social advancement urbane/suave/smooth/polished/debonair a. elegantly, confidently charming, agreeable and courteous whilst conveying sophistication violent/outrageous a. prone to violence voluble/talkative/loquacious a. disposed to profuse speaking _garrulous _a. exceedingly talkative, esp. regarding trivial matters watchful/wary/wakeful/vigilant/sharp/hawk-eyed/argus-eyed/awake/alert a. scrupulously observant, esp. for danger or trouble whiny/querulous/peevish/grouchy/fretful a. prone to complain, esp. in a petulant and grating manner wicked/villainous/vile/unscrupulous/unregenerate/unprincipled/unconscionable/sordid/sinister/sinful/reprobate/perverted/perverse/pernicious/nefarious/naughty/miscreant/malign/iniquitous/immoral/ignoble/evil/depraved/corrupt/base/bad a. bereft of moral scruples or principles and characterized by or disposed to malefaction _flagitious _a. criminally wicked; predisposed to or characterized by lawless brutality wily/vulpine/tricky/tricksy/trickish/subtle/sneaky/sly/shrewd/shifty/sharp/scheming/Machiavellian/guileful/foxy/devious/designing/cunning/crafty/calculating/artful a. apt to or skilled in the achievement of one's ends by deceitful or circuitous means ==ECONOMICS== allowance/pay/spence/stipend n. a fixed sum regularly disbursed, esp. to cover one's expenses, as to a student or Anglican vicar _pittance _n. a scanty stipend amalgamation/merger n. the consolidation of two or more commercial companies into a single enterprise, by which a new entity is engendered or the dominant firm absorbs those subordinate annuity n. a fixed sum paid annually n. the right to receive or obligation to remit an annuity annuity/rente n. income from capital investment remitted at set (usu. yearly) intervals, often for the remainder of the recipient's lifetime appreciate/gain/rise v. to increase in price or value arbitrage n. a simultaneous or contemporaneous purchase and sale of commodities, currencies or securities in different markets to profit from their disparities of price v. to practice arbitrage by purchasing and selling assets in distinct markets arrears/arrearage n. a sum of money owed constituting an overdue debt n. a state of dereliction regarding an unpaid pecuniary debt back/bankroll/finance/fund/sponsor/stake/subsidize/subvent/support/underwrite v. to provision or allocate funds for a purpose or endeavor; to guarantee financial support _capitalize _n. to afford capital as a means to realize an undertaking barter n. trade conducted by exchange of goods and commodities in lieu of monetary transaction barter/exchange/swap/trade n. the act of furnishing goods or services to receive others desired v. to interchange goods or services commercially without the use of money bill/invoice/reckoning/tab n. an itemized list of charges and fees summated to a total owed for goods and services provided _check/tab _n. a bill on which the enumerated costs of refections served at a restaurant or drinks in a tavern are registered businessman n. anyone employed or engaged in a commercial or industrial enterprise buy/emption/purchase n. the act of exchanging money for a product or service n. anything obtained in exchange for money _coemption _n. the purchase of a commodity's entire supply as a means to control its price buyer/client/customer/emptor/patron/purchaser/vendee n. anyone who purchases goods or services _frequenter/habitue/patron/regular _n. a frequent or habitual customer, usu. of a retailer or hotel _monopsonist _n. the sole vendee of a commodity or service in a market _oligopsonist _n. one of very few purchasers in a market, whose scarcity affords them leverage in concern of costs _scalper/tout _n. someone who purchases bulk tickets to an event so to resell them at a profit cabotage n. commerce implemented along a coast n. the act of conducting trade along a coast cargo/consignment/delivery/freight/lading/shipment n. goods transported and delivered by a ship, motor vehicle or aircraft _payload _n. that portion of cargo that generates revenue capital n. wealth (esp. money) available or employed to initiate or finance a business venture caveat emptor n. "let the buyer beware" -- a commercial principle asserting that without a warranty, a vendee assumes all risk of quality cellarage n. a fee charged for the storage of goods or personalties in a cellar chit n. a voucher of any sort for a product or service owed, esp. a repast clear/discharge/liquidate/pay/quit/settle/square v. to pay the totality of a debt coemptive a. of or regarding an effort to procure the totality of a commodity's supply coinage/nomisma/specie n. monetary currency in the form of stamped (usually discoid) metal pieces _gold _n. coins minted from gold compensate/indemnify/pay/recompense v. to provide something (esp. money) in acknowledgement of damage, injury, loss or suffering for which one is responsible compensate/pay/recompense/remunerate/reward v. to give money in exchange for a service such as work, a favor or some other effort compensate/indemnify/recompense/refund/reimburse/remunerate/repay/restitute v. to pay in compensation for expenses or losses compensation/earnings/pay/recompense/remuneration/wage(s) n. payment in exchange for a service fulfilled _emolument _n. recompense earned from employment __pay/salary/stipend __n. a constant sum paid at regular intervals for services, esp. to a professional _pittance _n. exiguous earnings debt/score n. something owed, esp. money defalcate/embezzle/misappropriate/peculate v. to steal or misuse assets (esp. money) entrusted to one's care deficiency/deficit/loss/red ink n. the monetary amount by which the costs (as expenditures or liabilities) of operating a business exceed its revenue divest/disinvest v. to sell, dispose of or withdraw from an investment duopolist n. one of but two suppliers of a product or service in a market duopolistic a. of or concerning a market in which but two entities purvey goods and services duopoly n. a market condition defined by the concentration of a commodity's or service's availability when vended by only two sellers duopsonistic a. of or relating to a market in which but two emptors purchase a particular product or service duopsony n. an economic condition in which only two customers exist in a market to purchase a specific product or service economize/retrench v. to frugally limit, decrease or minimize expenses emporeutic/trade a. of or concerning the purchase, sale and exchange of commodities, products and services emporeutic a. of or regarding merchandise emptional a. subject to or available for purchase endow v. to provide or bequeath with a permanent fund or source of income endowment n. funds or property donated to a collective, individual or institution exchangeable/fungible/replaceable a. subject to exchange, return, replacement or negotiation for another of correspondent or equivalent substance or function exchequer/finances/funds/purse/treasury n. the monetary resources of a corporation, government, institution or individual fat/gainful/juicy/lucrative/profitable/remunerative/remuneratory a. providing or producing profit fiat money a. legal (usually paper) currency, the value and purchasing power of which is established by diktat of the issuing government; neither based on nor convertible into gold, silver or specie fleece/gazump/gouge/overcharge/rook/screw/soak/sting v. to charge an extortionate price for a product or service; to rip off glut v. to oversupply a market with a commodity or service so that supply exceeds demand and the cost of the aforementioned surplusage plummets hypothecate v. to pledge money or property as collateral without transfer of title or possession incidental (expense)/minor expense n. an expense neither budgeted nor specified and often contingent, as meals, taxi fare, tips, etc. inflated/overpriced/steep/stiff a. (of goods and services) charged at a price exceeding value _exorbitant/extortionate/extravagant/outrageous/unconscionable _a. (of prices) grossly exceeding a reasonable or usual value __prohibitive __a. likely or purposed to deter purchase by virtue of an unconscionable price __usurious __a. (of interest rates) extortionate irredeemable a. (of paper and esp. fiat money) convertible into neither coin nor gold or silver liquidate v. to convert assets (esp. securities) into cash liquidate v. to settle the affairs of and dissolve a business or estate by assessing and discharging its liabilities (esp. debts) with its apportioned assets lot/parcel n. an amount of emptional commodities or merchandise market/purvey/sell/vend v. to exchange goods for money merchandise/trade/traffic v. to profit by buying and selling goods and commodities merchandising/trade/trafficking n. the act or profession of purchasing and vending goods for profit monetary/pecuniary a. of or pertaining to money _monetary _a. of or relating to coinage or other currency monopolism n. policy, practices and a system immanent to monopolies monopolist n. a person who or firm that enjoys exclusive control of a commodity or service in a market n. an exponent of monopoly monopolistic n. of or characterized by a market or products and services thereof manufactured, sold or controlled exclusively by a single entity monopoly n. a market condition in which only one seller provides a product or service n. the exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market n. a company or other enterprise exercising sole control of a product or service n. the commodity or service subject to aforementioned exclusivity monopsonistic a. of or pertaining to the single emptor in a market monopsony n. a market condition in which a single purchaser exists for products or services offered by numerous sellers multiopoly n. an absence of limit or restriction appertaining to the number of sellers offering a particular product or service multiopsony n. a market condition in which a number of potential buyers is indefinite nominal a. (of a cost or price) nugatory in contrast to the genuine value a. of, regarding or comprising a rate of interest or return unadjusted for inflation or compounding obligate v. to commit funds, property or other assets as security to the fulfillment of an obligation oligopolist n. an advocate of extremely limited competition in a market oligopolistic n. of or pertaining to a market condition in which relatively few sellers compete oligopoly n. a situation wherein the presence of scant few sellers in a market enables any among them to exert a significant impact oligopsonistic n. of or relating to a market in which very few buyers exist oligopsony n. a market condition wherein a paucity of emptors can exploit their position to influence prices to their advantage pecuniary a. comprising money a. entailing a monetary penalty, as a fine prospectus n. a document describing a forthcoming enterprise, project or security, usually distributed to prospective investors n. a formal, written offer to sell securities that exposits a plan for a proposed business enterprise, filed with the SEC as a constituent of a registration statement recuperate v. to recover from or a financial loss remit v. to send money as a payment or gift remitment/remittance n. a a sum of money sent (as by post or Internet) as a payment or gift rentier n. someone whose income is derived from property rents, bond interest or other investments repossess v. to retrieve a personalty (esp. a car) when its purchaser defaults on its payments repudiate/disaffirm v. to refuse to acknowledge a debt and liquidate accordingly repudiation/disaffirmation/disaffirmance n. refusal to concede or discharge a debt (esp. by public authorities) retail n. the sale of merchandise and commodities in relatively small quantities to consumers v. to sell goods individually or in small quantities directly to consumers speculate v. to invest at a risk of loss steuerlich a. of or concerning taxes subsidy n. foreign aid paid by one sovereign or nation to another to purchase their cooperation or neutrality subvention/subsidy n. a grant of financial aid (cash; insurance; interest-free or low-interest loans; rental rebates; tax credits, deductions or exemptions) furnished by a government or other benefactor to: __an economic sector, to maintain or reduce market costs __a particular commercial enterprise or business that benefits the public welfare __a scientific institution or group whose work is esteemed socially or economically auspicious __an artistic or educational institution (as museums) adjudged culturally significant or informational subsidiary (company) n. a public company, the controlling interest (a majority or totality of its stock) of which is owned by another firm sumptuary a. (of laws or statutes*) regarding or *regulating excessive expenditure trade name/marque/brand (name) n. the name of a product, product line or service tranche n. an installment or portion, as of a loan or securities treasury n. a corporate, governmental or institutional department responsible for the collection, management and expenditure of revenue _exchequer/fisc _n. a royal or national treasury; originally, the public treasury of Rome or Emperor's private purse valuation/evaluation/estimation/assessment/appraisement/appraisal n. the act or process of valuing: estimating value or worth n. an (often expert or official) estimate of something's value valuation n. an assessed monetary value or price welsh v. to fail to pay a debt, esp. that incurred whilst gambling ==EVENTS== abruption n. an abrupt instance of breaking off or away, as consituents from a mass accident/chance/consilience/fluke/fortuity/happenstance/stroke n. any unexpected, unplanned incident that occurs without apparent cause _caprice/fluctuation/vagary _n. any abrupt or unanticipated occurrence representing change __vicissitude __n. a vagary of circumstance or fortune at a distinctive period in one's life, or the development of something _fluke _n. a happenstance yielding good fortune _upset _n. an improbable, unforeseen outcome, esp. that of a competition antecedent n. a preceding instance, event or cause armageddon n. any crucial, catastrophic conflict from which cataclysmic destruction eventuates Armageddon (Christian) n. the ultimate, climacteric battle between the forces of good and evil precursive to the Day of Judgment, as foretold in the Apocalypse of Saint John armistice/cease-fire/truce n. an abeyance of hostilities during which two opposed parties negotiate terms of peace assignation/tryst n. a surreptitious rendezvous, esp. one scheduled by lovers augury/auspice/foreboding/foretoken/omen/portent/presage(ment)/prodigy/prognostic/sign n. an event interpreted as an indication of a forthcoming occurrence (the) ax/discharge/dismissal/dismission/sack/termination n. the elimination of someone's employment ban/enjoinment/forbiddance/interdiction/outlawry/prohibition/proscription n. the act or an instance of restraining action, admittance, exposition, expression, sale, etc. in accordance with a law bashing/beating/clobbering/debacle/drubbing/hammering/licking/massacre/pasting/pounding/rout/shellacking/slaughter/thumping/thrashing/trouncing/walloping/whipping n. a disastrous, decisive, resounding defeat bedlam/brouhaha/commotion/confusion/disorder/disruption/disturbance/furor/pandemonium/pother/stir/storm/upheaval/upset n. a scene of fevered, confused, possibly brutal disorder or agitation _ballyhoo/clatter/hubbub/ruckus/ruction/rumpus/tumult/uproar _n. a clamant commotion _flurry _n. a brief, excited, commonly precipitate instance of commotion blitzkrieg n. a military campaign executed to attain a swift and decisive victory, esp. by dint of aerial bombardment supported by tank encroachment bomb/bust/catastrophe/clinker/clunker/debacle/disaster/dog/fiasco/flop/turkey/washout v. a complete, humiliating, often preposterous failure bonanza/godsend/windfall n. a sudden, advantageous happening that brings good fortune, esp. that actualized as great wealth bridal/espousal/marriage/nuptial(s)/wedding n. a ceremony confirming and celebrating the matrimonial union of two people, as a husband and wife _bridal _n. a wedding feast burial/inhumation/interment/sepulture n. the ritual deposition of a corpse in a grave caesura/cesura/interval/letup/pause n. a temporary discontinuance, as of action or speech _lull _n. a calm interval during which activity or noise wanes, as during a storm or conversation calamity/cataclysm/catastrophe/disaster/tragedy n. an event inflicting great damage, hardship or loss, as a flood or volcanic eruption carnival/celebration/festival/festivity/fete/fiesta/gala/jubilation/jubilee/merrymaking n. a day, night or other period or occasion of jubilant celebration, ordinarily held outdoors and often featuring ceremonies, a feast or entertainment _festival/fete/fiesta _n. a (usu. ceremonial) celebration of a religious holiday, esp. a saint's day __Carnival (Roman Catholic) __n. a frolic fiesta contiguously anteceding Lent _anniversary/festival _n. a gala of a prior event perennial on its annual date __jubilee __n. any gala celebrating a (25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, etc.) anniversary _frolic/jamboree/merrymaking/revel(s)/wingding _n. a rowdy, clamorous festivity casus belli n. any event that provokes or is exploited to justify initiation of war charivari/chivaree/shivaree n. a cacophonic mock serenade for newlyweds, usu. performed with noisemakers climacteric n. a period (esp. a year) when crucial events and their consequences transpire coincidence/consilience n. an uncanny, contingent concurrence or similitude of events or circumstances without evident causal relation commute n. a routine journey of some distance to and from an occupational locale concomitant/concomitance/attendant/accompaniment n. an event that occurs simultaneously or in connection with another; a parallel, related or concurrent happening confluence/concourse n. any occurrence whereby people come together contingence/contingency/contingent/eventuality/possibility n. a circumstance, event or result that may transpire contretemps/scrape n. an unforseen and embarrassing or inopportune incident corollary/attendant n. a direct, practical consequence or result that follows naturally coup (d'etat)/putsch/takeover n. a sudden, often violent appropriation of an overthrown government's power and authority, from which a new government ordinarily stems crepuscle/crepuscule/dusk/evenfall/gloam(ing)/nightfall/twilight n. the evening period immediately succeeding sunset, ere the lambent sky darkens debacle n. fissuring of fluvial ice, from which flooding may proceed contradiction/contrariety/discordance/discrepance/discrepancy/divergence/incongruity/variance a. an instance in which a claim, datum or opinion varies from another or others, often unexpectedly donnybrook/fracas/melee n. a rowdy, crowded, confused fight entr'acte/intermission/interval n. an interval betwixt two successive acts of a theatrical performance _entr'acte/interlude _n. a musical, theatrical or terpsichorean entertainment performed during an entr'acte excursion/jaunt/outing/sally n. a brief trip, esp. for pleasure festival n. a (commonly recurring) program of cultural events, entertainment, exhibition or competition (such as cinematic screenings, dances, musical performances, theatrical stagings, etc.), usu. presented at a particular locus flurry/flaw n. a sudden gust of wind n. a brief, light, windy snowfall or rain shower formation n. any natural process that causes something to form gaudy n. an academic event such as a formal dinner or student celebration held at certain British colleges and universities gantlet/gauntlet n. a punishment wherein an offender walks or runs between two rows of armed men who switch him as he passes hecatomb n. a prodigious loss of life, esp. by slaughter inauguration n. the formal beginning or initiation of any movement, period, course of action, etc. inauguration/inaugural n. a formal ceremony conducted to acknowledge and celebrate the admission of an appointee or elect nominee to an office inauguration/induction/initiation/installation/installment n. a formal admission to an office, outfit or position insurgence/insurgency/insurrection/putsch/rebellion/revolt/rising/sedition/uprising n. an open, organized and violent or subversive resistance to state authority, ordinarily represented by a conflict in which one faction attempts to wrest control from another intifada(h) n. two uprisings effected by Palestinian Arabs: __a revolt in the Gaza Strip and West Bank protesting the Israeli occupation therein that commenced in December of 1987 and persisted to September, 1993 __an insurrection provoked by Ariel Sharon's visitation to the Temple Mount spanning September of 2000 to February, 2005 jubilee n. a special anniversary of existence or activity, as the 25th, 50th, 75th, etc. longueur n. a boring period metamorphosis/permutation/transformation n. a complete change in character or condition neolithic n. the latter duration of the Stone Age in west Asia (9000-6000 B.C.) and Europe (4000-2400 B.C.), when primitive agriculture and stock rearing, and ground or polished stone tools and weapons prevailed a. of, relating to or denoting the latter Stone Age Pyrrhic [OR] Cadmean victory n. a victory in which the conqueror's losses are tantamount or proportional to those of the thwarted pluvial n. a period distinguished by increased, intense or copious rainfall preamble/preface/preliminary/prelude/prologue/prolusion n. an event preceding and often preparing for another of greater or principal importance precedent/example n. an instance or act that may be instantiated to justify posterior, parallel occurrences or circumstances probation/novitiate n. a period when a neophyte of an occupation, position, religious order or other society is tested in appraisal of their character, proficiency or qualifications; their engagement thenceforth may be incident to their proven accomplishment prom(enade) n. a formal dance held at and attended by students of a school or college at the end of an academic year rapprochement/reconciliation n. a restoration or resumption of cordial relations rash n. a series of contemporaneous and usu. unpleasant recurrences renaissance/renascence n. any cultural revival of the arts, sciences and learning Renaissance/Renascence n. a European revival of the arts influenced by classical models, arising in Florence in the 14th century and diffusing throughout the continent and British Isles through the mid-17th century n. the culture and artistic styles prevalent during the Renaissance repercussion/reverberation n. a remote or indirect consequence of an event or action reprise/recurrence n. any repeated occurrence rest/respite/recess/intermission/breather/break n. a brief period of repose or recreation during which work or other exertion is suspended schism/scission/split n. division of a group into opposing factions shift/spell/stint/trick/turn n. a scheduled period or assigned share of work soiree n. an evening party ordinarily held at a private house where attendants nosh, dance, discourse, etc. sortie n. the flight of a combat aircraft dispatched to a mission spell/stint/stretch/turn n. an sustained period during which something happens or is done switch/swap/substitution/shift/replacement/exchange/commutation/change n. an instance wherein one thing or person is exchanged for another vicissitudes n. mutability in life, nature or fortune, esp. successive alternations from one condition or circumstance to another visitation n. any appearance or arrival of a supernatural being, esp. a deity n. an instance of divine calamity, castigation, relief or reprisal wait/holdup/delay n. a time during which some action or occurrence is awaited whammy n. a grievous or frustrating setback woe/trouble/tribulation/trial/trauma/suffering/ordeal/misfortune/cross/crisis/affliction/adversity n. an experience during which some severe difficulty, frustration, upset or misery is endured ==FEELINGS & SENSATIONS== abash/ashame/chagrin/confound/discomfit/discountenance/embarrass/humble/humiliate/mortify/shame v. to inspire uncomfortable self-consciousness and a consequent lapse of dignity or pride abashed/awkward/chagrined/discomfited/disconcerted/embarrassed/mortified/sheepish a. feeling or betraying self-conscious anxiety ensuant of contretemps or awareness of a fault ache/languish/long/pine/yearn/yen v. to passionately, despondently desire something or someone not present or available acute/exquisite/intense/keen/piercing/sharp a. (of an emotion or sensation) profoundly or sharply felt, as any extreme pain or pleasure adoring/amative/amatorial/amatorian/amatorious/amatory/amorous/enamored/loving/romantic/warm a. inclined to, inflamed with or displaying love _amative/amatorial/amatorian/amatorious/amatory/amorous/erotic/sportive _a. sexually romantic affect/arouse/awaken/elicit/evoke/excite/inspire/kindle/move/penetrate/pique/provoke/touch/wake/waken v. to occasion an emotional sensation or response _arouse/commove/enkindle/excite/fire/flush/ignite/inflame/kindle _v. to affect excitation or fervor affection/arousal/elicitation/evocation/excitation/inspiration/provocation n. any act that excites an emotion or emotive response afflict/ail/hurt/pain/rend v. to inflict mental or emotional suffering _abash/agitate/bother/cark/commove/concern/confuse/discombobulate/discomfit/discomfort/discompose/disconcert/discountenance/dismay/disquiet/distract/distress/disturb/exercise/faze/flurry/fluster/fret/perturb/rattle/ruffle/shake/throw/trouble/unnerve/unsettle/upset/vex/worry _v. to disrupt the composure of; to inflame anxiety _agonize/anguish/distress/dretch/excruciate/plague/rack/rend/rive/torment/torture _v. to pain greatly _prick/smart/sting _v. to keenly pain __twinge __v. to suddenly sting afflict/ail/hurt/pain/trouble v. to cause physical pain _agonize/anguish/dretch/excruciate/plague/rack/torment/torture _v. to inflict severe pain _burn/prick/smart/sting _v. to afflict with sharp pain __twinge __v. to induce an acute, abrupt pain affright/alarm/consternation/dismay/fright/panic n. abrupt, extreme fear excited by an awareness of danger aggravate/anger/antagonize/burn/frost/irritate/provoke/rankle/rile/rouse v. to arouse choler _aggravate/annoy/antagonize/bother/bug/chafe/devil/displease/exercise/fret/gall/importune/irk/irritate/madden/miff/molest/needle/nettle/niggle/peeve/plague/rankle/rile/ruffle/trouble/vex _v. to elicit mild anger __badger/bedevil/beset/bother/devil/harass/harry/hassle/hound/nag/persecute/pester/plague/press/torment __v. to annoy with persistent criticism, importunity, inquiry or solicitude _aggravate/anger/enrage/exasperate/incense/infuriate/madden/outrage/provoke _v. to excite extreme anger or indignation agitated/antsy/anxious/disquiet/edgy/itchy/jittery/jumpy/nervous/overwrought/perturbed/queasy/restive/restless/squirrelly/tense/troubled/twitchy/uneasy/unquiet/unsettled/uptight a. manifesting mental or emotional strain provoked by ennui, anxiety or discontent as nervous impatience or tetchiness agitation/distress/fret/lather/perturbation/stew/sweat/swither/trouble/upset n. anxiety concomitant of active worry aflame/agog/avid/eager/enthusiastic/keen/warm/zestful a. feeling or radiating stimulated interest, enjoyment, appreciation or anticipation _ambitious/avid/eager/greedy/keen/solicitous/voracious/zealous _a. enthusiastic to achieve an objective __alacritous __v. merrily eager _ardent/warm _a. passionately enthusiastic _ebullient/exuberant _n. effusively zestful avidity/avidness/eagerness/enthusiasm/gusto/heart/relish/vigor/vim/zest/zestfulness/zing n. lively enjoyment, interest, approval or appreciation _ambition/avidity/avidness/eagerness/keenness/lust/voracity/zeal _n. a positive feeling that one desires to do or have something __alacrity __n. cheerful zeal _ardency/ardor/lust/passion _n. intense zest _ebullience/exuberance/exuberancy _n. gushing gusto alienation/disaffection/estrangement n. a loss or dearth of sympathy for others allay/alleviate/assuage/comfort/ease/help/lenify/mitigate/palliate/relieve/soothe/stanch v. to subdue physical pain or discomfort, as with treatment or ingestion of an agent allay/alleviate/assuage/comfort/ease/help/lenify/mollify/pacify/quell/quiet/relieve/soothe/stanch v. to remit a painful or vexing emotion (agitation, anxiety, despondence, fear, grief, etc.), esp. by calming _allay/mollify/pacify/placate _v. to diminish one's choler amaze/astonish/astound/boggle/confound/daze/dumbfound/flabbergast/floor/shock/stagger/stupefy/stun/surprise v. to dull or excite senses with shock or wonder; to overwhelm or render speechless with amazement analgesia n. an absence of pain n. an inability to feel pain anger/choler/dander/dudgeon/hackles/ire n. a potent feeling of extreme animosity, displeasure or belligerence _acrimony/bitterness/dudgeon/gall/indignation/offense/pique/rancor/resentment/umbrage _n. bitter anger or annoyance in response to inquity or unfair treatment __jaundice __n. (usu. envious) rancor inspiring imprudence _aggravation/exasperation/furor/fury/ire/lividity/outrage/passion/rage/wrath _n. extreme, often violent anger angry/choleric/cross/irate/mad/sore/wroth a. feeling or expressing anger, hostility or resentment _aggravated/annoyed/antagonized/bothered/bugged/chafed/cross/deviled/displeased/galled/importuned/irked/irritated/maddened/miffed/needled/nettled/niggled/peeved/plagued/rankled/riled/tormented/troubled/vexed _a. frustrated and mildly angry, esp. by frequent or petty annoyances _acrimonious/aggrieved/bitter/embittered/disgruntled/galled/indignant/piqued/rancorous/resentful _a. feeling resentment in response to injustice or unfair treatment __jaundiced __a. injudiciously, often jealously disgruntled __virulent __a. intensely indignant _aggravated/apoplectic/boiling/enraged/exasperated/fuming/furious/incandescent/incensed/infuriated/irate/livid/outraged/raging/seething/wrathful/wroth _a. exceedingly, fiercely angry angst/malaise n. an acute yet unspecific feeling of despondent anxiety or dread apathetic/emotionless/immovable/impassive/insensible/stolid/stony/unemotional a. feeling no emotion _apathetic/careless/disinterested/indifferent/insensible/unconcerned/uninterested _a. neither interested nor concerned __blase/jaded __a. uninterested or bored in consequence of exhaustive experience, exposure, indulgence, or observation __blithe/casual/cavalier/insouciant/nonchalant __a. relaxedly apathetic __callous/careless/heartless/heedless/inconsiderate/insensitive/thoughtless/uncaring/unfeeling/unthinking __a. disagreeably, often rudely unconcerned about the needs, feelings, or sensibilities of others __degage/detached/dispassionate/passionless __a. emotionally uninvolved, and thus objective and impartial __madcap/rechless/reckless/retchless/temerarious __a. careless of (often dicey) consequences _nonpassionate/passionless/unpassionate _a. feeling no passion appease/assuage/calm/gentle/hush/lull/mollify/pacify/quiet/settle/soothe/still/tranquilize v. to render (someone or people) calm, as by assurance calm [OR] settle (down)/lull/still/tranquilize v. to become tranquil apologetic/compunctious/contrite/penitent/regretful/remorseful/repentant/rueful/sorry a. feeling distress, sorrow and regret for one's sins or malefactions appease/gruntle/placate/propitiate v. to evoke a friendly or favorable disposition, as by indulgence or palaver _conciliate/propitiate _v. to placate so to overcome one's distrust, hostility or rancor _humor _v. to insure one's pleasure or satisfaction by accordance of or adherence to their notions, wishes or whims ardency/ardor/fervency/fervor/fire/glow/incandescence/intensity/passion/vehemence/warmth n. intense emotive warmth, esp. of devotion, fondness, enthusiasm, etc. _furor scribendi _a. an ardor for writing ardent/burning/fervent/fervid/fierce/fiery/impassioned/incandescent/inflamed/intense/passionate/torrid/vehement/warm a. feeling, emanating or engendered by powerful emotion _infatuated _a. imbued with a potent yet foolish, unreasoning or fleeting passion, esp. of love _perfervid _a. greatly impassioned aroused/erotic/horny/sexy/stimulated a. sexually excited; feeling carnal desire _concupiscent/goatish/horny/lascivious/libidinous/lustful/lusty/passionate/prurient/randy _a. intensely aroused assurance/certainty/certitude/confidence/sureness/surety n. firm conviction that something is true; freedom from doubt barefaced/impenitent/obdurate/remorseless/shameless/unabashed/unapologetic/unashamed/unblushing/uncontrite/unregenerate/unrepentant/unrepenting a. feeling neither remorse nor guilt for one's malefactions beatific/blissful/delighted/ecstatic/elated/enchanted/enraptured/euphoric/exalted/exhilarated/exultant/glad/gleeful/joyful/joyous/jubilant/overjoyed/radiant/rapt/rapturous/rhapsodic/thrilled/transported a. feeling great rapture or delight; exuberantly or triumphantly happy bliss/delectation/delight/ecstasy/elation/enchantment/euphoria/exaltation/exhilaration/exultation/felicity/gladness/glee/joy/joyance/jubilation/jubilance/jubilancy/rapture/transport n. a feeling of extreme, exciting, often overwhelming happiness blaze/ebullition/flaw/gust/outburst/passion/sally n. an abrupt, passionate, often violent emotive discharge _passion/tantrum/temper/tirret/wax _n. a cross or wroth outburst boredom/ennui/tedium n. a feeling of listless dissatisfaction occasioned by a lack of engagement or excitement buckle v. to succumb to or collapse under emotional pressure caprice/fancy/humor/impulse/megrim/spleen/vagary/whim/whimsy n. a sudden, inexplicable desire or shift of bearing, opinion or temperament _urge _n. a potent involuntary (usu. physical) or instinctual impulse caring/compassionate/gracious/sympathetic a. feeling concern or sadness for someone's adversity carnal/fleshly/sensual a. of, pertaining to or distinguished by physical (esp. sexual or gastronomic) appetites, needs and passions _carnal/erotic/venereal _a. of or pertaining to sexual appetites and desire commiseration/compassion/pathos/pity/ruth/sympathy n. empathic feelings of sorrow for the misfortunes of others charge/infuse/suffuse v. to permeate or pervade with (an) emotion chasten/check/constrain/control/curb/inhibit/repress/smother/stifle/subdue/suppress/swallow/tame v. to consciously restrain an action, emotion, impulse or reaction complacence/complacency/smugness n. a feeling of contented, usu. conceited self-satisfaction contempt/despite/disdain/scorn n. a derisive feeling that someone or something is beneath consideration or offensively worthless cutting/keen/lancinate/lancinating/piercing/shrewd/stabbing a. suddenly and acutely painful, as though inflicted by a sharp instrument delirious/fevered/feverish/frantic/frenetic/frenzied/hysterical/mad/manic/nympholeptic/overexcited/overwrought/wild a. characteristic of or affected by violent, irrepressable excitation _nympholeptic _a. hysterical in concern of a desideratum desolate/forlorn a. miserably, hopelessly lonely disgust/nauseate/repel/repulse/revolt/sicken v. to ignite physical nausea, or aversion or loathing by affront to aesthetic or moral sensibilities dislike/disrelish/distaste n. a negative feeling in concern of something or someone _abhorrence/abomination/animosity/animus/antipathy/aversion/detestation/disgust/enmity/execration/hate/hatred/hostility/loathing/nausea/odium/repugnance/repulsion _n. intense dislike __misopaterism __n. detestation of one's father __revulsion __n. violent, usu. sudden aversion dislike/disrelish/distaste v. to feel displeasure for something or someone _abhor/abominate/contemn/despise/detest/execrate/hate/loathe/misprize _v. to ardently or severely dislike; to account as repugnant doubt/doubtfulness/dubiety/dubiousness/incertitude/peradventure/uncertainty n. a state of unsurety concerning something; a dearth of conviction dread/reverence/veneration n. profound respect and awe for someone or something dyspepsia/indigestion n. sensations of bloating, heartburn, nausea and abdominal discomfort or pain symptomatic of impaired digestive function enamor v. to inflame with love for someone enjoy/like/relish/savor v. to derive or receive pleasure from something _delight (in)/love/revel (in) _v. to take tremendous pleasure in or from esurient/hungry a. craving food _famished/ravenous/starving _a. extremely hungry _edacious/esurient/gluttonous/greedy/ravenous/voracious _a. desiring an esculent plenitude or nimiety _peckish _a. slightly hungry esthesis/sensation n. any fundamental, unelaborated awareness of physical or perceptual stimulation _kinesthesis _n. esthesis of bodily and appendicular motion exult/glory/jubilate/rejoice/swoon v. to feel extreme joy, happiness, elation; to be ecstatic with joy _triumph _v. to jubilate for victory affection/fondness/liking/relish n. a feeling favoring someone or something _affinity _n. a natural affection _fancy _n. a capricious and usu. sudden liking _love/passion/philia _n. a warmly potent, often unparalleled fondness __ablutophilia __n. a passion for bathing and showering __adoration __n. profound, perfervid and devoted love __ailurophilia __n. a passion for cats __autophilia/philauty __n. a great philia for oneself __enophilia/oenophilia __n. a love of wine __ergasiophilia/ergophilia __n. a love for work or exercise __hydrophilia __n. a love for water __kopophilia __n. a (usu. libidinous) love for fatigue __logophilia __n. a love of words __medorthophilia __n. prurient passion for an erect penis __mysophilia __n. a freaky love of filth __photophilia __n. a love of light __pyrophilia __n. a love for fire __taphophilia __n. a passion for cemeteries, graves and funerals __xenophilia __n. a love for foreign comportments, cultures, customs, and peoples infatuated a. imbued with a potent yet foolish, unreasoning or fleeting passion, esp. of love kinaesthesia/kinesthesia n. sensations enabling perception of one's bodily motion, position, tonus, weight, etc. languor/dreaminess n. a comfortable, sluggishly relaxed feeling limen/threshold n. a point at which a stimulus is sufficiently strong to be perceived or distinguished from another, and below which it cannot liminal a. of, regarding or at the threshold of sensory perception; barely perceptible lovesick a. languishing with love, usually for one absent mania n. an excessive, excited, intensely obsessive desire, enthusiasm or affection for something or someone _ablutomania _n. an immoderate desire to wash, esp. one's hands _ailuromania _n. a peculiar, often excessive love of cats _automania _n. an immoderate fondness for solitude _copromania _n. an aberrant obsession with feces _edeomania _n. an (often medorthophilic) fixation on genitals _egomania _n. an obsession with oneself; severe egocentrism _eleutheromania _n. a wild desire or enthusiasm for freedom _empleomania _n. a pathological desire to secure governmental employment _eremiomania _n. an extreme enthusiasm for stillness _ergasiomania/ergomania _n. an obsessive lust for labor or exercise _erythromania _n. an excessive liking for rubescence _heliomania _n. a curious adoration for the sun _hydromania _n. an excessive thirst or adoration for water _hylomania _n. an extreme zest for wood _kathisomania _n. a mania favoring sitting _litigiomania _n. a compulsion to pursue legal disputes _logomania _n. a boundless avidity for words or speech _misomania _n. hatred of everything _musomania _n. a strange love for mice _mythomania _n. an odd compulsion to lie or exaggerate _oniomania _n. an excessive compulsion to purchase all sorts of products _phonomania _n. an antic love for noise _photomania _n. an excessive love for light _pyromania _n. a pathological desire to initiate fires _xenomania _n. an irrational passion for foreigners, their cultures and customs (sense) modality n. a particular form of sensory perception, as visual, tactile, auditory, etc. nausea/qualm/queasiness/sickness/wamble n. gastrointestinal distress antecedent of a vomitive impulse nauseated/qualmish/queasy/sick/wambly a. feeling sickness of the stomach, mild disorientation and an involuntary impulse to vomit orexis n. any physical desire _eros/libido/sex _n. sexual desire __concupiscence/lust/passion __n. potent sexual desire _esurience/hunger _n. a desire for food kindled by an innate need for nutriment __famishment/ravenousness __v. severe hunger __edacity/esurience/ravenousness/voracity/voraciousness __n. an excessive desire to eat pang/prick/stitch/twinge n. a sudden, acute, localized pain paraphilia n. any deviant sexual conduct, fetish, fantasy, addiction or activity _ablutophilia _n. a paraphilia of prurience provoked by bathing or showering _algolagnia/masochism _n. a paraphilia in which carnal pleasure is prompted by degradation, domination, humiliation or physical pain inflicted by another or others __catagelophilia __n. masochism moved by ridicule and consequent mortification _algolagnia/sadism _n. erotic gratification kindled by the infliction of pain on another or others _aquaphilia _n. lasciviousness affected by water and swimsuits _coprophilia _n. a state of salacity inspired by feces or defecation thereof _exhibitionism _n. a condition in which sexual satisfaction is derived from the public exposure of one's genitals to strangers _haphephilia/haptephilia/naphephilia _n. a paraphilia whereby eros is evoked when touched by oneself or another, usu. in erogenous zones _kopophilia _n. a paraphilia involving libido piqued by fatigue _medorthophilia _n. lubricity penetrated by an erect penis _podophilia _n. sensuality aroused by feet, usu. in concern of their shape, size, odor, pedicure, adornment, footwear, etc. _scopophilia/scoptophilia/voyeurism _n. a state whereby eroticism's elicited by viewing nude bodies (esp. unclothed genitals) or sexual intercourse of any sort pensive/wistful a. evincing, feeling or characterized by vague or reflective longing or melancholia phobia n. an intense, irrational, irregular, persistent fear of something _ablutophobia _n. a weird fear of bathing or washing _aelurophobia/ailurophobia/elurophobia/felinophobia _n. a deviant dread of cats _agoraphobia/agrophobia _n. an unusual fear of wide or (usu. crowded) public places _amychophobia _n. an abnormal fear that one may be clawed or scratched _aquaphobia/hydrophobia _n. an unnatural fear of water __aquaphobia __n. a fear of drowning _automysophobia _n. an abnormal fear of uncleanliness _autophobia/autophoby/eremiophobia/eremophobia/monophobia _n. an aberrant fear of being alone _autophoby _n. an atypical fear of referencing oneself or being vain _bathmophobia _n. an unnatural fear of walking _blennophobia/myxophobia _n. an excessive fear of slime _bromidrosiphobia _n. an anomalous fear that one has minging body odor _catagelophobia _n. a weird fear of mockery _claustrophobia/cleistophobia _n. an unusual and irrational fear of being in enclosed (and usu. cramped) or narrow places _coprophobia _n. a distinct fear of feces _dikephobia _n. an uncommon trepidity of or distaste for justice _ecophobia/oecophobia/oikophobia _n. a strangely unwarranted fear of one's home _eleutherophobia _n. a queer fear of freedom _enophobia/oenophobia/oinophobia _n. an aberrant hatred for wine _ergasiophobia/ergophobia _n. an unreasonable fear or hatred of work __ergasiophobia __n. an illogical fear that one can work capably _erythrophobia _n. an odd fear of blushing or red colors _haphophobia/haptophobia/thixophobia _n. an unusual fear of touching or of being touched by another or others _hylephobia/hylophobia _n. an atypical terror of wood or forests _kathisophobia _n. an uncommon fear of being seated _kopophobia/ponophobia _n. an excessive, uncommon fear of physical or mental fatigue _logophobia _n. an eccentric fear of or distaste for words _medorthophobia _n. a potent and morbid fear of an erect penis _misophobia/musophobia/mysophobia _n. an atypical fear of dirt _ochophobia _n. an unconventional fear of vehicles _opiophobia _n. a physician's irrational fear regarding the prescription of opioid medication _photophobia _n. an anomalous fear of light __phengophobia __n. a bizarre fear of sunlight __photangiophobia __n. an irregular fear of photic pain __selaphobia __n. a unique fear of coruscations _pyrophobia _n. an extreme, aberrant fear of fire _thaasophobia _n. a strange fear of inactivity _xenophobia _n. a potent or unfounded odium or fear of strangers, foreigners or anything accounted unfamiliar presentiment/presage/premonition/divination n. a distinct, intuitive feeling that something is imminent _presentiment/presage/premonition/foreboding _n. a presentiment of misfortune or iniquity pride/plume/congratulate v. to feel (often complacent) self-satisfaction regarding an achievement or fluke rectal tenesmus n. a sensation of incomplete defecation restless/itchy/fidgety/antsy a. too bored or impatient to relax restlessness/itchiness/fidgetiness n. ennui or impatience expressed as incessant motion or activity sad/triste/tristful/unhappy a. feeling an unpleasant emotion; not happy _atrabiliar/atrabilious/blue/crestfallen/dejected/depressed/despondent/dispirited/down/downcast/downhearted/gloomy/glum/low/melancholic/melancholy/morose/triste _a. feeling or afflicted with severe, oppressive, lingering, often chronic sadness __heartsick __a. extremely depressed _crestfallen/demoralized/despondent/discouraged/disheartened/dispirited _a. saddened by a loss of courage, enthusiasm or hope _disconsolate/inconsolable/unconsolable _a. sad beyond solace _doleful/dolorous/grieved/grieving/lugubrious/mournful/sad/sorrowful/triste/tristful/woebegone/woeful _a. profoundly unhappy for misfortune, as a loss, disappointment or death __brokenhearted/heartbroken __a. crushed by intense grief __lugubrious __a. immoderately or affectedly mournful _miserable/wretched _a. severely or utterly triste sapidity/relish n. the gustatory sensation experienced when an aliment is taken into the mouth scruple/qualm/misgiving/compunction n. a pang or tide of anxiety or doubt prompted by ethical considerations that inhibits activity of moral dubiety sensitivity/sensibility n. the capacity possessed by an organism to perceive and respond to sensations somnolence/sleepiness/drowsiness n. torpidity felt when one is ready or fit to sleep solicitude/solicitousness n. a feeling of anxious or excessive concern surrender/resignation/abandonment n. a yielding of oneself to an emotion, esp. despair terror/panic/horror/dread n. any intense, profound, usu. overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety _affright _n. sudden terror velleity n. the lowest degree of desire yo-yo/wobble/waver/vacillate/teeter/sway/shilly-shally/oscillate/hover/dither/dilly-dally/alternate v. to fluctuate indecisively regarding dissimilar or antipodal options, opinions or feelings ==FIGURES== aberrant/anomaly/character/deviant/eccentric/erratic/oddball/oddity/weirdo n. one whose deportment or characteristics substantially discord from those of their peers or demographic abhorrence/abomination/asshole/bete noire/cocksucker/cullion/cunt/detestation/dickhead/fink/fuckface/hate/jerk/motherfucker/rat/scumbag/shithead/swine/twat/whoreson/wretch n. someone who evokes or deserves loathing or disgust _bastard/dick/prick _n. a male detestation _bitch/cunt/gorgon _n. a female asshole _coward/craven/poltroon/recreant _n. a detestably fearful or irresolute person, esp. one who shrinks from or avoids exertion, pain or hazard __cur/dastard __n. a malicious coward adjunct/assistant/junior/secondary/subaltern/subordinate/subsidiary/underling/vassal n. anyone employed of an inferior class or rank, or in any subservient role to the authority of another or others _lackey/lickspittle/minion _n. a fawning subaltern _mate _n. any officer junior in rank below the master of a commercial vessel __(first) mate __n. a commanding officer of a merchant ship directly subordinate to its captain adjutant/aide/assistant/auxiliary/coadjutant/coadjutor/helper/subsidiary n. one who aids another or others, often in an ancillary capacity adherent/advocate/advocator/apostle/backer/booster/champion/devotee/evangelist/exponent/partisan/promoter/propagandist/proponent/supporter/votary n. someone who actively and ardently promotes a cause, endeavor, person, policy or organization _bastion _n. someone who defends or maintains a principle, conviction or attitude _janissary/liegeman/stalwart _n. a steadfast supporter or follower _mainstay/pillar/rock _n. an essential or prominent supporter _monopolist _n. an exponent of monopoly _oligopolist _n. an advocate of extremely limited competition in a market adjudicator/arbiter/arbitrator/judge/umpire n. someone appointed or elected to verify the objective truth of and conclusively resolve a disputed issue adulator/bootlicker/flatterer/flunky/lackey/lickspittle/minion/spaniel/sycophant/toady n. a (commonly servile or insincere) person who cajoles others (esp. their superiors) to attain favor or advantage by ingratiation adventurer [OR] adventuress/argonaut n. anyone engaged in a perilous yet rewarding venture affirmer/alleger/attestant/attester/avoucher/avower/asserter/asseverator/certifier/claimant/contender/declarer/professor n. someone who states a claim with assurance Aga/Agha n. a military commander or civil official of a Muslim nation, esp. Turkey agent/ambassador/commissary/delegate/deputy/envoy/proxy/representative/secondary/surrogate/vicar n. a person appointed or otherwise authorized to represent or act on behalf of others, as at a conference agronomist n. an expert on the subjects of soil management and field-crop production airhead/ass/birdbrain/blockhead/bonehead/butthead/changeling/chowderhead/chucklehead/chump/clod/clot/cretin/dickhead/dimwit/dingbat/dolt/donkey/doofus/dope/dork/dullard/dumbhead/dumbo/dumdum/dummy/dunce/dunderhead/fathead/fool/goof/goofball/goon/halfwit/idiot/imbecile/jackass/klutz/knucklehead/lamebrain/loggerhead/loon/meatball/meathead/moron/mouth-breather/muttonhead/nincompoop/ninny/nitwit/numbskull/oaf/palooka/peabrain/pillock/pinhead/putz/retard/schlep/schlub/schmuck/shithead/simpleton/stupe/thickhead/turkey n. a stupid person _ape/dork/gawk/goon/klutz/lout/lubber/lummox/oaf/palooka/schlep/schmuck/turkey _n. an ungainly moron __galoot/lug/ __n. an awkward, doltish man _bozo _n. a male dolt alderman n. an elected member of a municipal legislative body, such as a local council almoner n. someone who distributes alms on behalf of a household or institution almsman/eleemosynary n. one who subsists on charity _beggar/cadger/mendicant/mooch(er)/panhandler _n. a pauper who survives on whatever he or she can cadge from others by begging _remittance man _n. an emigrant or expatriate reliant on money dispatched from home alternate/proxy/relief/replacement/sub/substitute/succedaneum/surrogate n. a person acting or serving in lieu of another, esp. in their absence amazon/virago n. a powerful, valorous, aggressive woman anachronism n. a person who seems displaced in time, or whose peculiarities are typic of another age analog/counterpart/equivalent/match/obverse/parallel/similitude n. a person or thing similar, resembling or correspondent to another in value, significance, function, or characteristics anathema n. someone who's despised anathema n. any person or thing anathematized by clerical or papal authority android/automaton/droid/robot n. a machine designed to resemble a human, replicate certain human functions and lineaments, and perform routine and mechanical tasks on demand n. a person who works or deports themselves in a mechanical, monotonous or phlegmatic manner anthropophagus/cannibal n. a human who eats human flesh apostate/recreant/tergiversator n. someone who renounces a religion, ideology, or any other faith, cause or principles _defector/renegade/turncoat _n. one who abandons a cause, faith, movement, etc. for another archetype/byword/epitome/example/exemplar/exemplification/image/model/paradigm/prototype/specimen n. someone representative of a group or type _avatar/byword/embodiment/epitome/image/incarnation/personification _n. anyone who typifies or exhibits an attitude, concept, principle, quality or spirit __quintessence __n. a perfect or purest embodiment arriero n. one who transports goods with pack animals, esp. mules ass/boob/chump/clot/donkey/doofus/fathead/fool/goof/goofball/goon/halfwit/idiot/jackass/moron/muttonhead/nincompoop/ninny/nitwit/putz/sap/shithead/simpleton/twat n. someone bereft of wisdom, good sense or sound judgment auspex/augur (Roman) n. a religious official of ancient Rome who interpreted omens (esp. those educed from avian activity) to advise authorities regarding matters of public policy backer/benefactor [OR] benefactress/contributor/donor/friend/giver/patron/sponsor/underwriter n. a person who aids people, causes, institutions or enterprises, esp. with monetary endowments backstabber/betrayer/rat/recreant/traitor n. someone disloyal to a cause, party, nation, friend or trust _collaborator/quisling _n. a traitor who colludes with and abets an occupying enemy force banterer/chaffer/persifleur/quiz/railleur n. one who participates in raillery with others barrator n. a grossly litigious individual bawd/cocotte/cyprian/doxy/fille de joie/harlot/hooker/hustler/moll/prostitute/slut/strumpet/tart/tramp/trollop/trull/wench/whore n. a woman who solicits and accepts payment for sexual intercourse beau/buck/coxcomb/dandy/fop n. a man prompted by vanity to immoderate concern for his attire and appearance beau ideal/best/exemplar/flower/ideal/jewel/model/nonesuch/nonpareil/paradigm/paragon/perfection n. a person adjudged a peerless exemplar of excellence or perfection bedlamite/loon(y)/lunatic/madman [OR] madwoman/nut/wacko n. a deranged individual _psychotic _n. someone afflicted with psychosis _schizophrenic _n. a person suffering from schizophrenia bird/chick/lass/wench n. a young woman _baggage/hussy _n. a lippy lass _damsel/demoiselle/maid/maiden/miss _v. a young, unmarried woman _sylph _n. a slender, graceful young woman blabber(mouth)/chatterbox/chatterer/gasbag/magpie/prattler/windbag n. someone who prates, esp. in concern of trivial subjects _popinjay _n. a conceited, garrulous person bon vivant/bon viveur/epicure/epicurean/hedonist/sensualist/sybarite/voluptuary n. a person devoted to the pursuit and indulgence of refined and luxuriant pleasures, esp. those of superlative food and drink bore/bromide/mundane n. someone whose convictions, discourse or diversions are tediously trite or prosaic bourgeois/burgher n. a citizen of the middle class boy/lad/stripling/tad n. a male child bricoleur/handyman n. a skilled worker assigned or employed to execute varied, often minor tasks, esp. those pertinent to maintenance or repair bricoleur n. any artist, craftsman or designer who innovates by exploiting a diverse assortment of available resources, often to assure some economy of invention boyar/bolyar n. a Bulgarian, Kievan Rus'ian, Moldavian, Moscovian, Russian or Wallachian aristocrat subordinate to the prince of his respective nation, of an order abrogated by Peter the Great in 1711 buck/gallant/swell n. a dashing, fashionable young man bursar n. the treasurer of an educational institution, as a school, college or university businessman n. anyone employed or engaged in a commercial or industrial enterprise busybody/interloper/meddler/quidnunc n. one who meddles in or pries into other peoples' affairs buyer/client/customer/emptor/patron/purchaser/vendee n. anyone who purchases goods or services _frequenter/habitue/patron/regular _n. a frequent or habitual customer, usu. of a retailer or hotel _monopsonist _n. the sole vendee of a commodity or service in a market _oligopsonist _n. one of very few purchasers in a market, whose scarcity affords them leverage in concern of costs _scalper/tout _n. someone who purchases bulk tickets to an event so to resell them at a profit caballero/cavalier/chevalier/gallant n. a chivalrous gentleman caballero/equestrian/horseman/horseback rider n. someone accomplished in equitation campesino n. a farmer or peasant in Latin America candy-ass/milksop/milquetoast/sissy/wimp/wuss n. a craven, dithering or impuissant person Cavalier/Royalist n. a royalist supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War caveator n. someone who files a caveat with a court censor n. someone who reproves or condemns others censor n. an inspector authorized to review content and expurgate or wholly suppress anything therein rated obscene or politically unacceptable chapman/hawker/packman/peddler/pedlar n. an itinerant vendor who purveys goods on the street, at carnivals, or door to door _cheapjack _n. a hawker of shoddies _mountebank _n. entertaining purveyors of quack medicines whose chicanery, comedy and anecdotes are exploited to sell their wares _pitchman _n. a packman who sells small items, usu. at a stand chief/governor/head/honcho/leader/lord/regent/ruler n. anyone who governs or rules a group, institution, region, country, etc. _alcalde _n. a Spanish or Latin American mayor invested with judiciary authority _demagogue _n. a leader of the hoi polloi _despot/dictator/tyrant _n. an immane, oppressive autocrat or authority figure _dynast _n. a hereditary ruler _heresiarch _n. the leader of a heretical sect _jefe _n. any military or political leader _liege/suzerain n. a feudal lord or sovereign commanding and entitled to fealty and service _nabob/nawab n. a Muslim governor of an Indian province designated by and sustaining the sovereignty of the Mughal Emperor _regent _n. someone who rules a country during the absence, incapacity or minority of its sovereign _satrap _n. a provincial governor of ancient Persia _n. a subsidiary chief _suzerain _n. a sovereign exercising hegemony over a dependent country's foreign affairs, usu. while affording it domestic autonomy chorine/chorus girl n. a female choral singer or dancer in a musical production cibolero n. a colonial Spanish buffalo hunter active in New Mexico and Texas n. a Mexican buffalo hunter active in New Mexico and Texas cipher/cypher/nobody/nonentity/nothing/zero n. an individual bereft of influence, significance or value civilist n. a student of civil law cleric/divine/ecclesiastic/priest n. a trained member of a religious order authorized to conduct religious worship, as an imam, minister, priest or rabbi _archpriest (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest of the first rank in a cathedral chapter, acting as chief assistant and subordinate only to its bishop _canon (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest who is a permanent member of a cathedral chapter's staff _n. a monk of the Augustinian or Premonstratensian Canons _coadjutor (Roman Catholic) _n. a bishop designated to assist and succeed a diocesan bishop _cordelier (Roman Catholic) _n. a Franciscan friar of the order of the Friars Minor _curate (Protestant) _n. any cleric who administers a parish _n. a clergyman who assists a rector or vicar __parson/rector (Anglican) __n. an Anglican divine who manages a parish and collects its tithes as his income of this benefice __vicar (Anglican) __n. an Anglican curate paid a stipend in lieu of the tithes allocated to a rector __rector (Episcopalian) __n. a clergyman supervising a parish _imam/imaum (Islam) _n. a Muslim cleric who leads recitation of prayer in a mosque _oracle _a. a priest or priestess in classical antiquity who purported to serve as a divine medium and presaged future events _minister/parson (Protestant) _n. a cleric of a Protestant denomination, as a pastor or rector __pastor (Christian) __n. a minister in charge of a church and its congregation _prelate/hierarch _n. any ecclesiastic of high rank or office, as an abbot, archbishop, bishop or cardinal __abbot (Roman Catholic)/archimandrite (Eastern Orthodox) __n. a priest who oversees a monastery __primate/archbishop (Roman Catholic) __n. a bishop of the higest rank who presides over the archdiocese or archbishopric of a province or country ___metropolitan ___n. an archbishop whose purview extends to one or multiple suffragan sees __Primate (of all England)/Archbishop of Canterbury (Anglican) __n. the Church of England's chief bishop, whose influence as a leader guides the global Anglican church __vicar (Roman Catholic) __n. a Roman Catholic priest assigned the delegacy of a prelate (as a primate, bishop, abbot, et al.) or the pontiff _provincial (Christianity) _n. any cleric (as an archbishop or metropolitan) presiding over an ecclesiastic province __metropolitan (Eastern Orthodox) __n. a provincial ranking betwixt an archbishop and a patriarch _rector (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest administering a Roman Catholic institution, as a university, religious house or Jesuit seminary _shrift father (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest to whom confession is recited _vicar (Anglican) _n. a clergyman in the Church of England acting as a substitute or deputy for a rector or bishop _vicar (Episcopal) _n. an Episcopal cleric governing a chapel coeval/contemporary n. a person of approximately the same age as or period of another cognate/kin/kinsman [OR] kinswoman/relation/relative/sib n. one related to another by blood and esp. a common ancestor _agnate/patrikin/patrisib _n. someone consanguine by birth from the same father or descent of a common male ancestor as another _ancestor/antecedent/antecessor/ascendant/forebear/forefather/parent/predecessor/primogenitor/progenitor _n. somebody from whom one is descended, esp. a person antedating a grandparent __primogenitor __n. the earliest ancestor of a lineage _collateral _n. a cognate of variant lineage _enate/matrikin/matrisib _n. someone kin to another of a common mother or matrilineage cognoscente/connoisseur/maven n. a discerning expert possessing specialized knowledge or refined taste, esp. that in appreciation of the fine arts _enophile/oenophile _n. an enthusiast or cognoscente of wines _epicure/epicurean/gastronome/gastronomer/gastronomist/gourmet _n. a connoisseur of cuisine boasting an acute and discerning palate compulsive n. someone whose propensities or behavioral patterns are governed by psychological compulsion concessionaire/concessionnaire/concessionary/concessioner n. one who holds, owns or operates a concession concierge n. a member of a hotel's staff who manages luggage conveyance, messages and tour and event reservations for guests and residents n. a (usually French) resident caretaker of an apartment complex or hotel who monitors traffic, transports luggage, handles mail and performs janitorial services confidant/confidante/intimate/repository n. someone to whom private matters are confided conscript/draftee/inductee n. someone drafted for military service consigner/consignor n. a person who or firm that consigns goods, as by sea or rail consort n. the spouse of a reigning monarch constructionist n. someone whose interpretation of laws (esp. a governmental constitution) is specific and esp. stringent contributor/newswriter/newspaperman/pressman/reporter n. a journalist employed to pen news articles for newspapers or broadcast media outlets _correspondent _n. a newswriter who reports from a distant (usu. foreign) locality controversialist/debater/disputant/eristic/polemic n. a person engaged in or disposed to argument _polemicist/polemist _n. someone adept in dispute: an expert eristic correspondent n. someone who communicates by delivery and exchange of letters cosignatory/cosigner n. anyone who signs a document jointly with another or others cottager/cottier n. anyone domiciled in a cottage cow n. a repellent fat or doltish woman criminal/convict/con n. anyone who's been legally convicted of a crime _repeater/recidivist _n. someone repeatedly convicted of criminal activity, esp. for their iteration of the same offense criminal/crook/culprit/felon/lawbreaker/malefactor/offender/perp/perpetrator/wrongdoer n. someone who has committed a crime _abettor/accomplice/confederate _n. someone who assists a perpetrator in the execution of a crime __accessary/accessory __n. an accomplice who's absent during the commission of the crime abetted _arsonist/firebug/incendiary _n. someone who destroys property with fire, esp. by commission _bandit/brigand/picaroon _n. an armed thief (usu. affiliated with a criminal outfit) who ambuscades travelers __highwayman __n. a bandit who waylays and robs travelers on a road or other path ___road agent ___n. a highwayman who preys on stagecoaches croupier n. an attendant at a gaming table who oversees play, collects bets, pays money, deals cards, etc. culprit/evildoer/felon/malefactor/malfeasant/miscreant/reprobate/scoundrel/sinner/transgressor/villain/wrongdoer n. a person engaged in villainy, who commits evil acts _beguiler/bilk(er)/cheat(er)/chiseler/cozener/defrauder/diddler/finagler/fleecer/fraud/gazumper/grifter/gyp/gypper/gypster/rook/scammer/scamster/slicker/shark/swindler/tricheur/tricker _n. anyone who prevails or deprives someone of something by chicanery; one who mulcts others for attainment or advantage __confidence [OR] con man/stinger __n. a swindler who bilks his targets with a confidence game __rook/sharp(er) __n. a diddler who plies his fraud by gambling, usu. in card or dice games _despot/dictator/tyrant _n. an immane, oppressive autocrat or authority figure _freebooter/looter/marauder/pillager/plunderer/raider/reaver _n. anyone seeking or violently purloining goods, esp. during wartime _reprobate (Calvinism) _n. an irreclaimable sinner predestined to everlasting damnation cynosure n. someone who strongly attracts attention and admiration dauphin n. formerly (1349-1830), the French King's eldest son and direct heir to his throne dawdler/laggard/lagger/loiterer/poke/slowpoke/snail/straggler n. a person who proceeds very slowly and consequently lags behind Delaware/Lenape n. any member of an Indian tribe that inhabited the Delaware and Hudson river valleys and localities betwixt before migrating west posterior to their deracination by post-European settlement demagogue/rabble-rouser n. an agitator (esp. a political activist or leader) who obtains support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices, esp. by manipulative, mendacious or unprincipled means devil/dynamo n. an extremely energetic, forceful, productive person devil/knave/picaroon/rapscallion/rascal/reprobate/rogue/scalawag/scamp/scapegrace/scoundrel/varlet n. a person destitute of moral scruples given to deceit or mischief, esp. one rated charming Dey n. formerly, the governor of Algiers antecedent of French conquest in 1830 n. a kindly, avuncular person of middle or old age diplomat n. any government official constituted to represent their country abroad by conducting negotiations concerning thorny issues and maintaining cordial political and economic relations _ambassador _n. a sanctioned diplomat of the highest rank installed as a permanent delegate of one's country in another __nuncio __n. a papal ambassador: any diplomat representing the Holy See at a foreign capital or court ___internuncio/internuncius ___n. a papal envoy ranking immediately beneath a nuncio _attache _n. a staff member of an embassy or legation, esp. a specialist delegated to serve in a specific capacity _charge d'affaires _n. a diplomat of the lowest rank, junior to a minister plenipotentiary _n. a diplomat acting as a surrogate for an absent or incapacitated ambassador or other government minister _consul _n. an official residing in a foreign nation, tasked with protecting and ministrating traveling and expatriate compatriots and furthering commercial interests __consul general __n. a consul of superior rank stationed in a foreign city of commercial significance who supervises other consuls and consular offices thereof _emissary/legate _n. a messenger or representative dispatched to fulfill a diplomatic mission __envoy/legate __n. a diplomat dispatched on a pro tempore or special mission _envoy/envoy extraordinary/minister plenipotentiary _n. an accredited diplomat of second rank, subordinate to an ambassador __internuncio/internuncius __n. a papal envoy ranking immediately beneath a nuncio disbeliever/nullifidian n. someone who does not believe, as in a theory, rumor, religion or idea docent n. a comprehensively educated guide who conducts tours in a cathedral, gallery, museum, etc. dog/gorgon n. an ugly woman _beast _n. a hideous woman _beldam(e)/crone/hag/witch _n. an elderly gorgon doorkeeper/doorman/gatekeeper/porter n. someone employed to guard and attend the entrance or gateway of a public or private edifice doyen [OR] doyenne n. the eldest or senior member of a group or profession drafter/draftsman n. a skilled drawer, esp. one who renders technical plans and blueprints of buildings and machines _illustrator _n. a draftsman who describes works for publications, esp. books or magazines dragoon n. a European calvalryman armed with short muskets or carbines and trained to combat mounted or afoot, prevailing from the 17th century through World War I drover n. someone who drives sheep and cattle, esp. to market _muleteer _n. one who impels mules duopolist n. one of but two suppliers of a product or service in a market dupe/fool/gull/pigeon/sap/victim n. a person who's been tricked or swindled: a victim of chicanery, esp. that facilitated by their credulity dyspeptic n. a person afflicted by indigestion ectomorph n. a person whose build is lean and rather delicate empiric/quack n. a charlatan who pretends to be a doctor or professes medical skill or qualifications ensign n. formerly, an army's lowest rank of commissioned officer, who carried the ensign or flag of a company or regiment n. a commissioned officer of the lowest rank in the navy (subordinate to lieutenant junior grade and superior to chief warrant officer), corresponding to the grade of second lieutenant in the army epigon/epigone n. a mediocre or inferior follower or imitator of someone, esp. an artist eremite/hermit/recluse/seclusionist/solitary n. someone living alone, withdrawn from society _anachoret/anchoress [OR] anchoret/anchorite/eremite/hermit _n. a religious recluse ergophile n. somebody who loves to work exponent/interpreter n. anyone who expounds, elucidates or interprets _exegete _n. a person proficient in analysis and interpretation (esp. of religious texts) factotum n. an assistant or employee tasked with a manifold sweep of labor and responsibilities farrier n. someone who shoes horses fashion plate/clothes horse a. someone who consistently, almost exclusively wears vesture of current fashion feudatory/helot/liege (subject)/liegeman/serf/vassal n. an agricultural laborer bound by feudal servitude and allegiance to perform labor in exchange for residence, protection and legal or customary rights furnished by his suzerain _villain/villein _n. a free feudal tenant of medieval England subject exclusively to his respective leige, to whom he paid rent or performed services in exchange for the land on which he resided frequenter/habitue/regular n. one who often visits a place _fixture _n. a constant frequenter gallant/squire n. a man who attends or escorts a woman gambist n. a musician who performs the viola da gamba gamine n. a vagrant girl who roams urban streets; a female urchin n. any girl distinguished by some pert, boyish or impish appeal gendarme n. an armed police officer in a Francophone country or region gossip(er)/gossipmonger/quidnunc/rumormonger n. one keen to learn and disseminate scuttlebutt guidon n. a soldier who carries a guidon haberdasher n. a vendor of men's vestments hardliner n. a member of a political party, faction or society who adheres intractably to an ideology, policy or principle harpy/harridan/hellcat/jade/shrew/termagant/virago/vixen n. a bilious, usu. contentious woman prone to reproach _battle-axe/bitch/gorgon/virago _n. an irascible, imperious woman _fishwife _n. a crude, usu. unsophisticated shrew hierarch n. anyone who occupies a position of authority in a hierarchy honoree n. a recipient of an honor, as an accolade hostler/ostler n. someone who cares for horses, esp. at an inn _farrier _n. a noncommissioned, equestrian military officer who tends to horses _stableman _n. one who cares for horses at a stable hostler n. an engineer who services or maintains a large vehicle (as a bus or train) or its engine hypochondriac/valetudinarian/valetudinary n. a person who is anxiously, often morbidly obsessed with their health, and liable to believe that they are or will become ill despite an absence of symptoms ignicolist/pyrolater/pyrolator n. one who worships fire improvisatore/improvvisatore [OR] improvisatrice/improvvisatrice n. someone who extemporally conceives and performs rhymes, poems, or songs incumbent/occupant/officeholder n. one who occupies an office, position or post to which they were appointed or elected incurable n. a person whose disease is incurable inquirer/interlocutor/querent/questioner n. someone who asks a question interlocutor n. a person engaged in conversation _conversationalist _n. one disposed to or adroit in conversation intersex/gynandromorph/epicene/androgyne n. someone possessing morphological and physiological characteristics of both genders; at birth, neither an unambiguous male nor female identity can be ascertained _hermaphrodite/androgyne _n. a gynandromorph that has both male and female genitals intestate n. one who perishes without a legal will invalid/valetudinarian/valetudinary n. someone suffering from or incapacitated by disability or chronic illness irredentist n. someone prescribing annexation or restitution to their country of any territory it once possessed or to which it's culturally or ethnically related Janissary/Janizary n. a soldier of the Turkish infantry's elite class comprising the Sultan's personal guard from the 14th through the early 19th century jilt n. one who abruptly, capriciously rejects a lover journeyman/craftsman/artisan/artificer n. a skilled worker of a trade, esp. that entailing manual handicraft _brazier _n. one who fashions articles from brass _hooper/cooper _n. someone who constructs or mends wooden barrels, casks and tubs _lapidist/lapidary _n. an artisan who cuts, engraves and polishes precious stones journeyman n. a trained worker employed on a daily wage jumper n. someone who jumps Laconian/Spartan n. a citizen of Sparta landlubber/lubber n. anyone unfamiliar with the sea or unaccustomed to seamanship landsman n. someone domiciled or employed on land lapidary/lapidarist n. an expert on the subject of precious stones and the lapidary art latitudinarian n. someone of broad or tolerant convictions, esp. in pertinence to religion n. an Anglican of the 17th-19th century opposed to the dogmatism endemic to the Church of England, whose exegesis was based on reason legist n. a legal expert, such as a lawyer _feudist _n. a specialist on the subject of feudal law _Justinianist _n. a historian whose expertise pertains to the codification and revision of Roman laws enacted by the 6th-century Byzantine emperor Justinian _pandectist _n. the author of a complete legal code _publicist _n. a specialist of public or international law logophile n. one who loves and enjoys words madcap n. an impetuous or impulsive person magnate/mogul/tycoon n. a wealthy, powerful, influential person, esp. an industrialist _baron _n. a mogul of a particular sphere or industry manciple n. a steward who purchases provisions for a college or monastery Manichean/Manichee n. an adherent of Manichaeism medic n. a medical practitioner serving in the armed forces who administers triage and dispenses first aid at combat sites metrician/metrifier/metrist n. a composer of metrical verses, as a lyricist or poet _lyricist _n. a metrician who indites a song's lyrics _poet [OR] poetess/versemonger/versesmith/versifier _n. a metrist who writes poetry __poetaster [OR] poetastress/rhymester __n. a poet who writes poor or mediocre verse __sonneteer/sonneter/sonnetist __n. a versesmith who composes sonnets milord n. a term of address for an English nobleman, esp. one peregrinating throughout continental Europe mistress/lass/ladylove/inamorata/dulcinea/doxy n. a female lover or sweetheart Mogul n. a member of a dynastic Muslim empire that dominated India and areas of the Deccan from 1526 through the early 18th century monopolist n. a person who or firm that enjoys exclusive control of a commodity or service in a market n. an exponent of monopoly moor n. a Muslim of mixed Arab and Berber descent in north Africa (specifically, of Morocco, Algeria, Tunis and Tripoli) muadhdhin/muazzin/muezzin (Islam) n. a mosque's cryer, who vociferously convokes the Islamic faithful to prayer from its minaret five times daily mumpsimus n. one who obdurately adheres to a fallacious belief, idea, ideology, etc. or persists in unsound enunciation, practice, routine, etc. nabob n. a wealthy person (esp. a Briton) who amassed a fortune in India naif n. an ingenuous and often confiding person neoteric n. a modern person who accepts and advocates new concepts, trends or fashions noctambulant n. anyone active, awake or walking during the night noctambulist/sleepwalker/somnambulator/somnambulist n. someone afflicted with somnambulism, who tootles whilst asleep nonperson/unperson n. someone whose existence isn't acknowledged by a government or news media outlets for objectives of political expedience; an officially ignored person oblate n. a layperson dedicated to religious life, esp. one affiliated with a monastic order onanist/masturbator n. anyone who excites genital stimulation manually or by means exclusive of coitus _frotteur _n. someone who masturbates by rubbing against someone else ornament n. anyone who contributes to the beauty, credit, glory or honor of a group or period orthoepist n. a specialist of correct or accepted pronunciation outlier n. someone who resides some distance from their workplace pandemoniac n. someone who engenders chaos patrician/aristocrat n. a (often hereditary) person of high or noble social status; a member of the governing or upper class n. an individual of cultivated partialities and carriage penitent n. a person who repents for his or her iniquity perceiver/percipient n. one who perceives, as with their senses or intellect pettifogger n. a petty, niggling, often reprobate lawyer of a minor practice pissant n. a picayune person plenipotentiary n. any agent (esp. a diplomat) fully vested with the authority to act independently in representation of their government prescriptivist n. someone who believes that acceptable practices (esp. of language) should be prescribed by an authority rather than be determined by the usage of the general public _orthoepist _n. one of several orthoepists who proposed to reform English orthography to better reflect enunciation during the 17th and 18th centuries prospect/candidate/applicant n. someone who applies and is considered for an office, prize, honor, etc. prospect n. someone esteemed a likely success qualifier n. a person or team who qualify for competition or a final round thereof recidivist/reversionist n. someone who retroverts to precursive, undesirable patterns or modes of behavior rector n. the principal of certain universities or colleges recusant/rebel/nonconformist/maverick/dissident/dissentient/dissenter n. someone who refuses to submit to authority, observe propriety or comply with prevailing convictions or practices rentier n. someone whose income is derived from property rents, bond interest or other investments ribald n. a lewd, vulgar and amusing person rip n. a debauched individual _cyprian/floozy/hussy/jade/slut/strumpet/tart/tramp/trollop/wanton/wench/whore _n. a sexually immodest or promiscuous woman _playboy/rake/rakehell/roue _n. a fashionable or wealthy man of profligate and promiscuous appetites _prodigal/profligate/spendthrift/squanderer/waster/wastrel _n. a person who dissipates resources or money in self-indulgence and reckless extravagance Roundhead/Parliamentarian n. a partisan supporting Parliament during the English Civil War; designated in derisory reference by their opponents to the Puritans in their ranks, whose hair was cropped circumferent to their noggins rustic/provincial/peasant/countrywoman [OR] countryman/bucolic n. someone who resides and works in a rural area, as a farmer or shepherd sawbones/surgeon n. a physician who specializes in and performs surgery scrivener/scribe/penman/copyist/amanuensis n. someone employed to manually pen copies of documents and manuscripts scold n. anyone who constantly chastises or criticizes segregate n. someone who is or has been segregated separatist/separationist n. a proponent of cultural, ethnic, political or religious secession from a dominant body, organization, party or country sibyl n. a female prophet n. (Greek, Roman) a female oracle or prophet of antiquity _sibyllist _n. one who believes or follows a sibyl or sibyls sinologist/sinologue n. a student of Chinese history, culture, civilization, language and literature slaver/slave dealer [or] trader n. someone who procures and purveys slaves slaver/slaveholder/slaveowner n. one who owns slaves solipsist n. one convinced that only their own mind or self exists spiritualist/spiritist/medium n. a clairvoyant who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead sprite/pixie/fay/fairy/faerie n. a tiny, mischievous, magical humanoid usu. possessing the power of flight stenographer/shorthand typist n. someone skilled in the transcription of speech (esp. dictation) in shorthand format stentor n. a speaker (often an orator) possessing an oddly or exceptionally loud voice stoker n. someone assigned to tend and feed fuel to a furnace, as that of a steam locomotive or steamship supernumerary n. an added or superfluous person supernumerary/extra n. a minor actor assigned no dialogue, as one portraying a constituent of a crowd sutler n. a merchant who accompanies an army unit or maintains a store at an army post to purvey provisions to its soldiers suttee n. a Hindu widow who cremates herself on her husband's funeral pyre sylph n. a slender, graceful girl tar/seaman/seafarer/salt/sailor/rating/matelot/mariner/Jack n. anyone proficient in seamanship who directs or ministrates a vessel's navigation _lubber/landsman/landlubber _n. an unseasoned sailor _shellback/sea dog/(old) salt _n. a veteran sailor, esp. of advanced years _shellback _n. any sailor who's crossed the equator teacher/professor/preceptor/pedagogue/instructor/educator n. someone who teaches, esp. someone who imparts instruction and education to young people terrestrial/tellurian/earthling n. an inhabitant of the earth tiller n. a cultivator who tills land to prepare soil for crop planting tout n. someone who advertises or solicits potential customers, voters or patrons with an especially brazen carriage n. one who sells advice concerning racehorse speculation tribune n. an official elected by the plebeians of ancient Rome to protect their interests, esp. against the abuses of patrician magistrates tyro/tenderfoot/rookie/novitiate/novice/neophyte/newcomer/initiate/greenhorn/freshman/beginner/apprentice n. an inexperienced person new to a field, activity or circumstance ultracrepidarian n. one who advises or opines regarding matters of which they're ignorant or incompetent undine (Paracelsus) n. a mortal, soulless, usu. female elemental being that inhabits water upstart/parvenu/nouveau riche/arriviste n. someone suddenly flourishing in a higher economic or social class in which they've neither achieved reception nor adopted proprieties valet (de chambre)/manservant/man n. a male attendant responsible for his employer's habiliments and other mundane duties valet n. a servant (as of a hotel or cruise ship) who attends to patrons, esp. in concern of cleaning, laundry and pressing vampire n. an undead, sentient, nocturnal corpse sporting protrusible canine teeth who rises at night to drink the blood of the living _lamia _n. a female vampire vasir/vazir/vesir/vezir/vizier/vizir/wazir n. an official, minister or advisor of high rank in a Muslim government, esp. that of the Ottoman Empire vidette n. an army outpost's mounted sentry visitant/visitor n. one who pays a visit to another or others for any or no purpose wallflower n. a diffident, awkward or neglected attendant of a social function too farouche to interact with others present whoreson/love child/illegitimate/by-blow/bastard n. any offspring of unwed parents wisp n. a small, spare person, esp. a child wizard/witch [OR] warlock/thaumaturgist/thaumaturge/sorceress [OR] sorcerer/magus/magician/magian/mage/enchantress [OR] enchanter n. one possessing magical powers who practices sorcery wraith/visitant/spook/specter/shadow/shade/phantom/ghost/apparition n. the incorporeal, often visible spirit of a deceased individual _revenant _n. a returning ghost _wraith _n. an apparition of someone witnessed shortly anterior to their death (usu. as an augury) xanthochroid n. a person of fair hair and complexion ==GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, LOCATIONS & TOPOGRAPHY== abrasion/attrition/corrasion/erosion n. a gradual process by which land is worn away by abrasive action of wind, water and ice abbey (Roman Catholic) n. a convent managed by an abbess n. a monastery supervised by an abbot n. a church constituting an annex of a monastery or convent abyss/chaos/chasm/crevasse/gulf n. a sheer fissure of monumental or fathomless depth, as a gorge agglomerate n. volcanic rock consisting of fused rounded and angular fragments ait/eyot/islet n. a small island, esp. of a lake or river alcove/arbor/bower n. a shaded, leafy recess or shelter formed by entwined tree boughs, climbing vines or both in a garden, copse or wood bower/embower v. to enclose or shelter within or as though in a bower alfresco/outdoor(s)/out of doors/outside/thereout a., av. in the open air; outside a building ambit/border/(outer) boundary/bounds/bourn/brim/circumference/compass/edge/end/fringe/limits/marge/margin/mete/periphery/perimeter/rim/skirt/verge n. the outermost limit of any area or surface, at which it terminates or ends; a place or point furthest from the center annex n. an annexed territory or country anticline n. an arched, stratified rock formation antipode n. one of two places located at diametrically opposite global positions archipelago n. a large chain, cluster or group of islands, such as the Aegean Islands or Myeik Archipelago area/belt/part/region/section/territory/zone n. any portion of a country, county, city, town, etc. distinguished by particular attributes area/expanse/extent/reach/region/sheet/stretch/sweep/tract n. any space of land or water comprising a broad, continuous surface arete n. a sharp, narrow mountain ridge engendered by glaciation that demarcates cirques or valleys arrondissement n. an municipal district of a French city arrondissement n. an administrative subdivision of a French department, itself comprised of numerous cantons _canton _n. a subdivision of a French arrondissement backcountry/backlands/backwoods/boondocks/boonies/bush/hinterland/outback/sticks n. any remote or uninhabited and esp. undeveloped rural vicinage bagnio/bawdyhouse/bordello/brothel/cathouse/whorehouse n. an establishment where men pay to fuck trulls bagnio n. a public Italian or Turkish bathhouse balk n. an unplowed strip of land _headland _n. a balk at the margin of an arable field bank/banking/camber/cant/superelevation n. the lateral rake of a road's or track's bend (from inner to outer edge) enabling runners or vehicles rounding it to maintain speed by reducing the effects of centrifugal force bank/incline/slope/talus n. inclined land, as that of a hill or riverbank _acclivity/ascent/upslope _n. an upward slope _bank(s)/waterside _n. an incline contiguous to a body of water, as a channel or lake __bluff __n. a steep bank __riverbank/riverside __n. a bank adjoining a river _declension/decline/declivity/descent/dip/downgrade/downslope/pitch _n. a downward slope __coast __n. any declivity down which one can coast, as on a bicycle or sled _escarpment/scarp _n. a steep slope formed by erosion or faulting bar(room)/beer hall/cantina/dramhouse/pub/saloon/tavern n. a public establishment in which liquor is served _rathskeller _n. a basement beer hall _shebeen _n. an unlicensed tavern of picayune disrepute barranca/barranco/canyon/coulee/defile/gorge/ravine n. a narrow valley or passage formed by aqueous erosion betwixt precipitous hills or mountains that comprise its steep walls, esp. that through which a stream flows _gulch _n. an especially circumscribed ravine __arroyo __n. a gulch that's ordinarily dry, save after heavy rainfall basin/pan n. a large, often concave depression in the earth's surface _basin _n. an area wherein rock strata decline to a common center bastion/citadel/fortress/stronghold n. any extremely fortified and secure location _citadel _n. a fortress commanding or defending a surrounding or proximal city bay n. a recess of land partially encompassed by hills bay/bight n. a body of water partly enclosed by seaboard, the wide outlet of which renders access to a sea benefice/feud/fief/vassalage n. a landed feudal estate or territory, tenure of which is incident to the service or labor of a helot for its liege benthic division/benthonic zone/benthos n. the bottom of a body of water, as a lake, river or ocean billet/cantonment/quarters n. lodging for military personnel, esp. in a private home _cantonment _n. an army's winter quarters birthplace/cradle/provenance/provenience/source n. a place or point of origin: where something originated _birthplace _n. wherever someone was born _cradleland/urheimat _n. a region where an ethnic group originated bistro n. a small restaurant _estaminet _n. a small, often squalid bistro or cafe where alcoholic potables are sold bodega n. a warehouse wherein wine is stored and aged bog/bogland/fen/fenland/mire/morass/quag/quagmire/slack/wetland n. an area of moist, spongy ground consisting of moss and peat boscage/boskage/bosk/brake/brush(wood)/coppice/copse/thicket n. a concentrated growth of bushes, small trees or similar vegetation _bush _n. a copse of shrubs _chaparral _n. a bosk of evergreen shrubs and trees (usu. evergreen oaks) in the southwestern United States, most prevalent in central and southern California _covert _n. a thicket where game or other wild animals may hide or secure shelter brook/rill/rivulet/streamlet n. a small stream Burgundy n. a region and quondam province of central France famed for its wines buttery n. a shop purveying light meals, frequented by students of certain British universities buttress n. a rock formation protruding from a hill or mountain calaboose/calabozo/jail n. a facility where the arraigned awaiting trial or bail, or offenders convicted of misdemeanors are detained caldera n. a huge crater ensuing the collapse or explosion of a volcano's summit or center camber n. a slight convexity at the center of a road's surface camp/campground/camping area [OR] ground [OR] site/campsite/encampment n. a (usu. sylvan) locus where a party may camp in tents or alfresco, esp. that furnished with bathrooms and cooking grills _bivouac _n. a temporary encampment ordinarily established in an unsheltered area, where campers either sleep in the open or beneath a makeshift shelter _n. a military encampment where soldiers reside pro tempore canton n. a small, territorial division of a country, esp. one of Switzerland's 23 states v. to divide into cantons carrel(l) n. a partitioned desk, or a small cubicle or room containing a desk intended for private study, esp. in a library cascade/waterfall n. a steep, copious fall of flowing water from a height, usu. over a precipice _cascade _n. a succession of small, shallow waterfalls over a rocky, often steplike declivity _cataract _n. a large waterfall cinder/scoria/slag n. cindery, crusty, dark, porous, solidified cellular lava cirque/corrie/cwm n. a bluff, incurvate mountain basin, which often forms the head of a glacier or stream clay [OR] pug mill n. a mill in which clay is mixed to create bricks or crafts cloister n. a residence of religious seclusion, as a convent or monastery coast/litoral/littoral/seaboard/seacoast/seashore/seaside/shore/strand/waterside n. land or a region adjoining the sea _beach/sand(s)/strand _n. a swath of sand and pebbles along a shoreline _bight _n. a seashore's broad indentation _rimland _n. the seaboard of a country or continent littoral/waterside a. of or concerning any shore, such as that bordering a lake, river, ocean or sea _coastal/seaside _a. of or regarding a coast by the sea waterside a. (of land) bordering a lake, river, ocean or sea _coastal/seaboard/seaside _a. (of a coast) bordering a sea commissary n. a cafeteria, restaurant or snack bar of a motion picture studio Cotopaxi n. a volcano situated in the Andes of central Ecuador; at a height of 19,347 feet, it's Earth's tallest active volcano coulee n. a small, intermittent stream, esp. that coursing through a canyon coulee n. a stream of molten lava n. a sheet of congealed lava _malpais _n. the rough, often spiked surface of a coagulated lava stream cove/niche n. any sheltered recess in a mountainside debouche/egress/exit n. a passage through which one leaves a place, as a doorway or gateway debris/detritus/rubble n. particles of loose material (gravel, rocks, silt, stone fragments, etc.) broken or worn away by attrition from a mass _scree/talus _n. a mass of rocky rubble that covers or constitutes a slope at the base of a cliff or hillside, or on a mountainside demesne/district/precinct/region/ward n. an administrative, electoral, etc. division of a county, city or town _bailiwick _n. a district wherein a bailie or bailiff possesses jurisdiction _precinct _n. a demesne under the jurisdiction of and patrolled by a particular police unit _quarter _n. a cultural region of a city or town _sector/zone _n. a ward intended for a specific purpose (as residence or commerce) and therefore subject to certain restrictions of construction denudation n. an erosive process by which rock strata are bared and subsequently exposed by elemental ablation Don n. a river in western Russia flowing mostly south for 1,162 miles southeast of Tula to the Sea of Azov dosshouse/flophouse n. a cheap, seedy boarding house emplacement n. a (usu. fortified) position where artillery or other military weapons are situated enclave n. a distinct locality, country or territory thereof entirely encompassed by another, esp. that which is culturally or ethnically disparate enclave/exclave n. a geographically isolated region of one nation that's wholly surrounded by another or others enclosure n. an area that has been enclosed for some purpose by a fence or wall _corral/fold/pig [OR] cow [OR] cattle pen _n. a fenced enclosure in which livestock are confined _paddock _n. a fenced field near a barn or stable where horses graze _n. an encosure at a racetrack where horses are saddled, paraded and mounted preceding a race environs/outskirts/purlieus n. surrounding locations or districts, esp. those of a city, as a suburb entrance/entranceway/entry/entryway/ingress/portal/threshold n. a passage through which one enters a place, as a doorway or gateway _archway _n. an entry under an arch _door/doorway _n. an entrance barred and opened by a door _subingression _n. any subtle, concealed or secret entrance eon/aeon n. the longest division of geological time (minimally, 500,000,000 years) during which the eonothem rock strata is formed, comprising two to fourteen eras _era _n. several hundred million years when the erathem rock strata is formed, consisting of numerous periods __period __n. the primary unit of geologic time representing the formation of a standard rock system; constituted of epochs ___epoch ___n. tens of millions of years during which a series of rock strata is laid down, comprehending multiple ages ____age ____n. millions of years during which a stage of rock strata is formed eonian/aeonian a. of, regarding or composing a geological eon Escorial/Escurial n. the church, mausoleum, monastery and palace of Spanish sovereigns, located 27 miles northwest of Madrid and constructed from 1563 to 1584 esker n. a long, narrow, steep, sinuous ridge composed of coarse sand and gravel once deposited by a meltwater stream running beneath a glacier estaminet n. a small, often squalid bistro or cafe where alcoholic potables are sold extramural a. located beyond the bourn of a locality, as of a city or town finca n. any rural estate in Spain or Latin America _hacienda/estancia _n. a large estate in Spain or Latin America, esp. a ranch or farm __hacienda __n. the central house of such an estate floodplain n. a plain composed of sediment (usu. clay, sand, silt, etc.) deposited during the floods of a river it neighbors ford n. a shallow place in a river or stream that may be traversed afoot fronton n. a building (as an arena) where jai alai or pelota are played fulgurite n. slender, usu. tubular glassy rock generated by lightning when it strikes and fuses rock or sand galena n. a gray, heavy mineral mined from hydrothermal veins notable as the primary ore of lead (geological) formation n. an array of strata distinguished by correspondent characteristics, which constitute the rudimentary lithostratigraphic unit gendarme n. the sharp rock pinnacle of a mountain ridge Gondwanaland n. one of twain supercontinents split from the greater supercontinent Pangaea during the Precambrian eon, which sundered in the middle Mesozoic Era; its erstwhile constituents eventually became Africa, the Indian subcontinent, South America, Australia and Antarctica granary n. an agricultural region yielding bounteous grain Green River n. a river of 730 miles' length that rises in western Wyoming's Wind River Mountains and flows southward through northwest Colorado and eastern Utah to become a tributary of the Colorado River n. a river rising from south-central Kentucky that courses 384 miles northwest to confluence as a tributary of the Ohio River grotto/grot n. a small, often picturesque cave or cavern gully n. any deep ditch or channel occasioned by heavy, protracted rainfall _couloir _n. a mountainside's gully, esp. that of the Swiss or French Alps haberdashery n. a haberdasher's shop, where men's attire is sold heath(land) n. an open tract of sandy, uncultivated land where shrubby, prostrate plants (esp. heather) flourish hinterland n. an area neighboring or surrounding and dependent on a port or town n. any land or region beyond a coastal district holt/hurst/wood/woods n. a wooded area smaller than a forest, the bushes, grasses, shrubs, etc. of which are dominated by a single or few species of trees _boscage/boskage/bosk/coppice/copse _n. a little holt of small trees and bushes _covert _n. a hurst where game or other wild animals may hide or secure shelter _grove/holt _n. a small (usu. dense and isolated) wood containing minimal if any undergrowth army [OR] field hut n. a temporary military shelter insular a. of, regarding or constituting an island a. located or domiciled on an island interchange n. a motorway intersection comprised of interconnected roads and bridges devised to preclude decussation of traffic flow intersection/junction n. any place where two or more routes (esp. roads or railways) converge or conjoin _confluence _n. a junction where two or more streams (esp. rivers) or glaciers join to flow together _crossing/crossroads/intersection/junction _n. anywhere two or more roads meet and cross one another _gantlet _n. an intersecting section of otherwise collateral railway tracks inversion layer n. a layer of the atmosphere in which temperature increases with height jade n. a semiprecious stone composed of either the nephrite or jadeite minerals, the color of which ranges from rich green to white and is applied primarily to fashion gemstones or sculptures jakes/privy/outhouse n. a small outbuilding constructed over a deep, narrow pit in which one sits on and defecates through a hole in its seat or bench Jidda n. a seaport on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia traveled by Mohammedan pilgrims en route to Mecca kiva n. a subterranean or semi-underground chamber in a Pueblo Indian village used for religious rites and councils lake/loch/mere n. a lengthy inland body of fresh or salt water lazaret/lazarette/lazaretto/lazar house/pesthouse n. a hospital where people suffering from infectious diseases (esp. leprosy or plague) are quarantined and treated lee n. an area sheltered from wind legation n. the official headquarters and residence of a diplomat at a foreign court or seat of government lineament n. any prominent, linear topographic feature that denotes or reflects an underlying geological structure, as a fault lithology n. physical attributes of rocks or rock formations (as color, composition and texture) by which they may be classified n. the scientific study and classification of rocks loam n. soil composed of clay, sand, silt and decomposing vegetable matter locale/locality/location/locus/place/position/site/situation/spot n. a particular area, esp. one where an activity occurs or something exists _locale/locality/site/scene/setting/stage/venue _n. wherever an event or action (esp. a congregation) occurs or has transpired marl n. crumbly, fine, friable deposit rich with a mixture of clay, calcium and magnesium carbonates and shell fragments employed as fertilizer to enrich soil lacking lime merestone n. any stone serving as a landmark to designate a boundary milieu/surroundings n. a social or cultural environment mire/morass/quag/quagmire/slack/slough n. a soft, wet area of muddy ground that yields underfoot mogul n. a small, hard mound of snow on a ski slope forming a bump monocline n. a singlar incline of stratified rocks moor(land) n. an expanse of open, uncultivated land, the peaty soil of which is normally covered with bracken, coarse grass, heather and moss n. a game preserve comprised of moorland Mull n. a mountainous island off the coast of western Scotland in the Inner Hebrides nook/rincon n. an interior bend, corner or recess of a cliff, mountain, river, etc. Orange River n. a river in Lesotho, South Africa that flows 1,367 miles westward from the Drakensberg mountains to the Atlantic Ocean outlier n. an isolated portion of a rock stratum separated by erosion from its formation and subsequently surrounded by older rocks outlook n. wherever something may be seen Parnassus n. a mountain in central Greece standing 8,061 feet/2,457 meters, at the foot of which Delphi was located petrifactive/petrific a. converting organic matter into stone a. concerning the process or condition of petrification petrified a. (of an organic substance, esp. wood) fossilized by a suffusion of dissolved minerals and unchanged in form _petrific/petrifying _a. experiencing petrification plateau/tableland n. an elevated area of land featuring a level surface _butte _n. a tall, flat hill of precipitous flanks _mesa _n. a broad tableland of one or multiple steep sides larger than a butte plash/plashet/puddle n. a small pool, esp. of rainwater playa n. the flat bed of a desert basin that's occasionally covered with water porphyry n. dark, igneous, reddish-purple rocks containing large crystals (usu. feldspar) embedded in a mineral groundmass posada n. a Spanish or Latin American inn pothole n. a hole in a paved surface (esp. a road) produced by detrition of precipitation, pressure, etc. precinct n. a subdivision of a city or town under the jurisdiction of a police force or unit thereof precipice/steep/cliff/bluff n. a high and steep or sheer rock face _palisades _n. a line of cliffs _scarp/escarpment _n. a lengthy cliff sequent of erosion or faulting premises n. a tract of land and all buildings thereon presbytery/rectory (Roman Catholic) n. a parish priest's residence presbytery (Presbyterian) n. churches in a presbytery's jurisdiction principality/princedom n. a state or territory ruled by a prince promenade/paseo/parade/esplanade n. a public walk of grass or pavement where pedestrians may perambulate, as of a resort _alameda _n. a promenade lined with and shaded by (usu. poplar) trees _boardwalk _n. a seashore esplanade constructed of wooden boards _mall _n. a shaded or sheltered promenade promontory/point/ness/mull/head/headland/foreland/cape n. an elevation of land or rock that precipitously projects into a lake or sea beyond a conterminous bank or coastline _bluff _n. an especially steep, usu. broad headland presidio n. a Spanish garrison, as in colonial Mexico ratchel n. any gravelly stone rathskeller v. a basement beer hall or restaurant Red River n. a river flowing 730 miles from China's southern Yunnan province through northern Vietnam to the Gulf of Tonkin n. a 1,360-mile tributary of the Atchafalaya and Mississippi Rivers that rises biramous in the Texas Panhandle and courses eastward as the border between Texas and Oklahoma and Texas and Arkansas, through Arkansas and Louisiana into the Mississippi Rivers rimrock n. rock constituting the perimeter of an elevation, esp. a plateau rookery n. wherever a rookery nests scabland n. elevated, barren, rocky land _scabrock _n. outcropping scabland scullery n. a small room neighboring a kitchen where vegetables are prepared, and dishes and utensils are washed and reposited shale n. fissile rock formed by compression of sedimentary layers rich in clay sierra n. a rugged mountain range of irregular or jagged peaks in Spain or the Americas silica n. the insoluble, refractory, white dioxide form of silicon, a crystalline compound that occurs naturally as agate, flint, quartz, sand, etc., and is bestowed to manufacture abrasives, ceramics, concrete and glass _quartz _n. hard, lucent silica found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks: the most common of minerals, and utilized in the manufacture of abrasives, cement and glass __amethyst __n. purple or violet quartz, often fashioned into gemstones __chalcedony __n. translucent to transparent and often milky or grayish quartz consisting of microscopic crystals, slender fibers of which are disposed in parallel bands ___agate ___n. fibrous chalcedony of particolored bands ___carnelian/cornelian ___n. semitransparent, pale to deep reddish-yellow to reddish-brown chalcedony ___onyx ___n. chalcedony of alternating black and white striations, often used as gemstones __chert __n. siliceous, sedimentary rock primarily composed of microcrystalline quartz __jasper __n. an opaque, cryptocrystalline variant of quartz colored brown, red or yellow _sinter _n. a white, porous, siliceous incrustation deposited from hot mineral springs siliceous a. comprised of, containing, regarding or resembling silica spall n. a chip, flake, fragment or splinter from a piece of ore, rock or stone stratigraphy n. a branch of geology treating of the age, composition, denomination, deposition, distribution, relegation of rock strata to discern their history _lithostratigraphy _n. the scientific study and relegation of rock strata based on their distinct lithography storehouse/salvatory/repository/depository/deposit n. a facility where things can be deposited for preservation, safekeeping or storage _granary _n. a storehouse where threshed grain is stowed subsoil/substrate/substratum/undersoil n. a layer of soil betwixt topsoil and bedrock swamp/swampland/wetland n. permanently waterlogged and seasonally flooded land distinguished by riotous vegetation swale n. a (usu. damp, elongate and narrow) depression in a tract of land, wherein especially riotous vegetation often grows tarmac(adam)/macadam n. a paved surface consisting of crushed, compressed stone bound by bitumen and tar topography n. the configuration of a region's surface, including all its natural and artificial features _n. the aforementioned features thereof n. a survey of a purlieu's or location's natural and artificial surface features n. a delineation or detailed graphic representation (as a map or chart) of a place's or region's surface features that specifies their relative positions and elevations umbra/shade n. an extent wholly shaded under a shadow such as that contrived by an opaque object's obnubilation or a lunar eclipse upland/highland n. land or a locality of a relatively high elevation a. of, pertaining to or located in an elevated region valley/vale/dale n. an elongated lowland betwixt hills, mountains or other uplands through which a river or stream usually courses _dell _n. a small, ordinarily wooded valley _glen/hollow _n. a small, narrow valley, esp. one flanked by mountains vault/tomb/sepulture/sepulchre/sepulcher/repository/burial chamber n. a stone edifice where corpses are interred, often underground vicinity/vicinage/purlieu/neighborhood/environs n. an area or territory near, encompassing or immediate to a particular location void/vacuum/vacuity/vacancy n. a locus devoid of matter wallow n. a pool of water or mud where animals (esp. bears) roll about for enjoyment warren n. an overcrowded residential building or zone _rookery _n. a decrepit warren whinstone n. any of several varieties of hard, dark rocks _basalt _n. a dark, hard, igneous, often vitreous rock composed of olivine, plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene zenana/serail/seraglio/harem/hareem n. living quarters in a Muslim household reserved for females ==GEOMETRY & SHAPES== across/athwart/crosswise/thwart/transversely av. (usu. extending or placed) from one side to another across/athwart/thwart prep. from one side to the other acutangular a. acutely angled acute a. (of an angle) less than 90 degrees aligned/colinear/collinear a. located at different points in or on the same straight line _tandem _a. of multiple things arranged in single file _av. one behind or following the other ambit/border/(outer) boundary/bounds/bourn/brim/circumference/compass/edge/end/fringe/limits/marge/margin/mete/periphery/perimeter/rim/skirt/verge n. the outermost limit of any area or surface, at which it terminates or ends; a place or point furthest from the center _ambit/circuit/circumference/compass/perimeter _n. the enclosing outer boundary of a closed plane figure __n. the margin of a circle ___arc ___n. any continuous portion of a curve's circumference, as that of a circle or ellipse ____quadrant ____n. a quarter of a circle's circumference; an arc of 90 degrees anfractuous/bending/curving/flexuous/meandering/serpentine/sinuate/sinuous/tortuous/twisting/twisty/voluminous/winding a. shaped in, following a course of or containing profuse twists, turns, curves or bends angle/cant/incline/lean/rake/slant/slope/tilt/tip v. to move or lift at an angle diverging from a level position, so that one end or side is higher than the other in a slanting, oblique or diagonal position or direction apex/apogee/crest/crown/height/peak/pinnacle/summit/tiptop/top/vertex n. the highest point of something arc/arch v. to form an arch or curve of similar conformation _camber _v. to arch faintly at center (surface) area n. the extent of a bounded two-dimensional surface arrangement/array/configuration/disposal/disposition/formation/grouping/layout/placement/positioning n. a particular spatial organization of things or people _alignment _n. formation in a straight line _conformation _n. any symmetrical arrangement of components or constituents _panoply _n. a comprehensive or resplendent array _permutation/rearrangement/transposition _n. a configuration ensuing rearrangement _stagger _n. an alternating disposition _tandem _n. an arrangement of two or more objects or persons in succession askew/aslant/awry/bevel/beveled/cant/crooked/diagonal/inclined/oblique/skew/slant/slanting/slantwise/sloping a. of an acute or obtuse angle; neither perpendicular nor parallel to a line _abrupt/steep _a. slanting sharply whether rising or falling, as of an angle, contour, precipice, flight of stairs, etc. in ascent or descent __abrupt/precipitous/sheer __a. extremely steep; nigh perpendicular _fastigiate _a. beveled to a point _gentle/gradual _a. (of an angle, contour, slope, etc.) slanting slightly in ascent or descent auricular a. shaped like a pinna bevel/cant/grade/gradient/inclination/incline/rake/slant/slope/tilt n. an acute or obtuse angle, surface or position; any line or surface deviant from a level position _bevel/chamfer _n. the oblique inclination of a line or surface that meets another _declension/decline/declivity/descent/dip/downslope/pitch _n. a downward incline or slope _pitch/rake _n. the specific angle of a slope: a degree of deviation from a horizontal or vertical plane bevel/cant/grade/incline/lean/rake/shelve/slant/slope/tilt/tip/verge v. (of a surface or line) to be in a sloping position deviant from the horizontal or vertical, whereby one end or side is higher than the other bevel/chamfer n. an oblique, symmetrical surface at an edge or corner bifurcate(d)/biramous/cleft/cloven/forficate/forked/pronged/split a. divergent, divided or separated into two branches, prongs, tines, etc. buckle/twist/warp n. a distortion of shape or form such as a bend, bulge, kink, etc. camber n. a slight arching or convexity (as of a road's surface) campaniform/campanular/campanulate(d) a. shaped like a bell or campana centroid n. the centerpoint of any body chiasm/chiasma/decussation n. an intersection or crossing of two lines or tracts in the form of an X circumambient/compassing/enclosing/encompassing/surrounding a. extending on all sides of at once _circumambient/circumferent/compassing/encircling/encompassing _a. circularly surrounding circumference/perimeter n. the length of a circumference circumscribe v. to draw a geometric figure around another so that the circumferent and enclosed forms contact at points yet never intersect close/contiguous/immediate/near/proximal/proximate a. within a short distance of another or other things _nearest/proximal/proximate _a. immediately preceding or succeeding in position or sequence; spatially closer than any other __abutting/adjacent/adjoining/bordering/conterminous/contiguous/coterminous/immediate/neighboring __a. next to or directly nearby; sharing a common border ___alongside/beside ___av. adjoining along, to or at the side of ____abreast ____av. alongside one another and facing the same direction ___flush ___n. attingently abutting coextensive/conterminal/conterminous/coterminous a. sharing and within a common boundary coil/whorl n. any gathered or wound and conjoined series of loops, rings or spirals _coil _n. any individual ring or loop therein columnar/columniform/columnlike a. having the form of a column commensurable/commensurate/proportional/proportionate a. corresponding in proper or relative size or dimensions configuration/conformation/contours/fashion/figure/form/mold/shape n. any spatial attributes, esp. those defined by outline _contour/figure/line/outline _n. a line that defines or represents the outer configuration or bounds of an object or figure contorted/convolute(d) a. coiled or rolled together in overlapping folds or whorls, as shells, petals or leaves contour n. a feature (or order or arrangement of features) of any complex structure cordate/cordiform/heart-shaped a. shaped like a heart crinkle/rimple/wrinkle n. any small crease, furrow or ridge effectuated by crumpling, folding or shrinking crucial/cruciate/cruciform a. having the shape of a cross curvature n. a degree to which something is curved n. a curved condition curve n. a continuously bending line without angles curve/arc n. any curved shape or form _curlicue _n. an ornamental curve, curl or twist of plastic design or calligraphy _lemniscate _n. two isobilateral loops that meet at a central node, as the infinity symbol or contours of a shotgun's twin barrels _oval/ellipse _n. a closed symmetrical curve which is either prolate or oblate, resembling a circle of which the polar or equatorial diameter is elongated _parabola _n. a symmetrical plane curve formed by the intersection of a cone and a plane parallel to an element of the curve _spheroconic _n. a nonplane curve comprising intersecting surfaces of an oblique cone and a sphere centered at its vertex _spiral/helix _n. a curve wound uniformly at a constant angle on a cylindrical or conical axis _spiral/helix/gyre _n. a curve that winds around and away from a central point _squiggle _n. a short, irregular curve or twist that curls and loops _undulation _n. a wavy curve of a form or pattern bent/compass/crooked/curvate/curved/curvilineal/curvilinear a. shaped as a curve _annular/circinate/circular/orbicular/ringed/round _a. having the shape of a circle or ring; shaped to a circumference of constant equidistance __rotiform __n. round in a wheel's shape _arcuate/bowed _a. curved like an arc or bow _elliptic/elliptical/oval/ovate _a. of, pertaining to or having the form of an ellipse _excurvate _a. curving or bulging outward __convex __a. excurvate in a spherical or annular shape ___biconvex/convexo-convex/lentiform/lenticular ___a. bilaterally convex; shaped like a lens _globular/globy/orbicular/spherical _a. possessing the shape of a globe or sphere: curved entirely equidistant from a fixed, central point _incurvate _a. curved or curving inward _v. to curve inward __concave/hollow __a. incurvate in the shape of a sphere's interior _involute _a. curled or rolled inward or spirally from a margin or edges, as leaves in vernation _oval/ovate/oviform/ovoid _a. curvilinear in the shape of a leaf or egg; broader at the base _parabolic(al) _a. of, similar to or possessing the form of a parabola _sinuate _a. of or having a margin of undulate or sinuous indentations formed by alternate rounded notches and lobes __crenate(d)/scalloped __a. (of a rim) shaped in a series of curved projections, as that of a leaf or shell _undulant/undulate/undulating/wavy _a. of or having a wavelike form or pattern that rises and falls smoothly curvilineal/curvilinear a. following, characterized or bounded by curved lines depressed/indented/recessed/sunken a. lower than a surrounding surface diameter n. a straight line passing through the center of a circle or sphere and meeting at each end its circumference or surface n. the length of a diameter, representing the width of the circle or sphere diverge v. to be, extend or move in various directions from a common point _bifurcate/fork _v. to diverge into two branches _divaricate _v. to diverge at a broad angle equidistant a. at equal distances; equally distant equilateral n. any figure wholly comprised of equal sides n. any side equal in length to others extant/jutting/projecting/protruding/salient a. extending outward from a surface or shape flank/side n. any lateral subfigure, esp. a surface flank v. to be situated at one or each side of something or somebody hypotenuse/hypothenuse n. the side of a right triangle opposite its right angle incumbent/superincumbent/superjacent a. lying or resting upon something else inscribe v. to draw a geometric figure wholly within another so that the enclosed and circumferent forms contact at as many points as possible without intersecting isometric a. of equal dimensions _coextensive/commensurate/conterminal/conterminous/coterminous/equivalent _a. of an equal spatial range or extent _equiangular _a. of or having equal angles _equilateral _a. of or having sides of equal length knurled a. (of a surface or edge) raised with small ridges lateral a. of, concerning or situated at a side or sides _equilateral _a. of or having sides of equal length _lateral/sidelong/sideward/sideways/sidewise _a. directed or inclined to, or proceeding or extending from one side _multilateral _a. possessing or composed of multiple sides __bilateral __a. of, having or pertaining to two sides __quadrilateral __a. of or formed by four sides __trilateral __a. possessing or involving three sides lobation/lobe n. any rounded projection locus n. a curve, surface or other figure formed by all points that satisfy a particular equation of the relation between coordinates, or are determined by specific mathematic conditions lunule n. anything shaped in the form of a crescent magnitude/measurements/proportion/scale n. the relative spatial properties of something meeting/junction/join/intersection/crossing n. a point at which lines or pathways intersect, branch or converge; a central or connecting point _node/crunode _n. a junction at which two of a curve's branches intersect _tacnode/osculation _n. treble tangency of two curves or surfaces metric (function) n. the function of a topological space that provides a value equal to the distance between any two points therein nearness/propinquity/proximity/vicinity n. any state of spatial closeness oblate a. (of a spheroid) flattened at the poles; having an equatorial diameter exceeding the polar diameter oblong n. an object or plane figure (such as a rectangle or ellipse) deviating by its unidirectional elongation from a square or circle a. of or having an elongation of form by which one dimension exceeds the other, as that of a rectangle or ellipse obtuse a. (of an angle) greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees obtuse angle n. an angle between 90 and 180 degrees obtuse/dull/blunt a. neither sharp nor pointed oriented a. aligned, located or positioned in a particular direction or in relation to compass points or other specific surroundings orthogonal/orthographic(al) a. of, involving or pertaining to an angle or angles of 90 degrees to a specific line, plane or surface osculate v. (of two branches in a curve) to touch so as to have a common tangent at the point of contact oval/ovoid n. an egg-shaped object or surface parallel/collateral a. extending in the same direction, invariably equidistant and never convergent or divergent parallel n. any among a set of parallel, geometric lines or planes point n. an object without dimensions, extension, etc. possessing only a position, as an intersection prolate a. (of a spheroid) elongated at poles; having a polar diameter exceeding the equatorial diameter proportionate v. to render multiple things proportionate quadrilateral/tetragon n. a polygon constituted of four sides _parallelogram _n. a tetragon comprised of parallel opposite sides __rhomb/rhombus/rhomboid/lozenge/diamond __n. a parallelogram of four equal sides, two of which are acute and two obtuse; an oblique-angled equilateral parallelogram, of which only the opposite sides and angles are equal ___rhomb/rhombus/rhombohedron ___n. a parallelepiped comprised of six equal rhombuses quadrant n. an area within a circle's quadrant and two perpendicular radii n. any of a plane's four areas divided by two Cartesian coordinate axes quadrille a. ruled in squares, as a pattern of graph paper rectilineal/rectilinear a. characterized by, consisting of, contained by, forming or moving in a straight line or lines _orthogonal/orthographic(al)/perpendicular/rectangular _a. intersecting at or consisting of right angles, surfaces or axes sector n. a plane figure enclosed by two radii of a circle or ellipse and the arc betwixt them semicircle n. half of a circle or its circumference shape/mold/model/form v. to fashion into a particular shape, as by sculpting _contour _v. to shape the outline of, esp. to fit within or in juncture with something else __chamfer/cant/bevel __v. to cut or reduce an edge or corner from an orthogonal shape to an oblique, symmetrical form; to contour to a bevel _corrugate _v. to form or shape into folds or alternate ridges and grooves by contraction, pressure, bending or drawing _cut _v. to form by cutting _dimension _v. to model to particular dimensions _extrude _n. to form or shape a ductile substance (metal or plastic heated to a malleable state, Play-Doh) by forcing it through a die or other aperture _knurl _v. to impress (a component) with a fine series of ridges _tabulate _v. to shape or cut with a flat surface sharp/pointy/pointed/needlelike/keen/acute/acuate a. tapering to or terminating in a fine point sharp/keen a. possessing a tapered, effectual cutting edge subjacent/underlying a. positioned beneath or below something else subtend v. to extend under so to enclose or surround v. to be opposite to and delimit an angle or side superficies/superfice/periphery/outside/external/exterior n. any external, visible surface or aspect, as of a body surface/superficial/outward/outside/outer/external/exterior a. of, on, near, occurring at or affecting a surface symmetric(al)/regular a. identically conformed or configured on opposite sides of a point, plane or line _isobilateral/bilateral/bilaterally symmetric(al) _a. symmetrical on each side of an axis tangent n. a curve, line or plane that touches another without intersection a. touching a curve at a single point, or along one line without intersecting tangential a. of, relating to or acting along or in the direction of a tangent tessellate v. to precisely fit identical shapes together, esp. to cover a plane surface triangle/trigon n. a polygon of three sides and three angles undulate/wave v. to have or confer a wavy appearance or form (esp. a contour or pattern), as that of a liquid surface _riffle/ripple _v. to form or prompt small waves undulate/roll v. to occur in rounded and wavy curves wry/twisted/distorted/contorted/awry/askew a. oddly bent or turned to one side x-axis n. the horizontal reference axis of a two- or three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, on which the abscissa is measured, and from which the ordinate is measured _abscissa/abscisse/x coordinate _n. the coordinate of a point's horizontal position in a plane's Cartesian coordinate system, representing its distance from the y-axis measured parallel to the x-axis y-axis n. the vertical reference axis of a two- or three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, on which the ordinate is measured, and from which the abscissa is measured _ordinate/y coordinate _n. the coordinate of a point's vertical position in a plane's Cartesian coordinate system, representing its distance from the x-axis measured parallel to the y-axis ==LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS== #/crosshatch/hash/octothorpe/number [OR] pound sign n. a typographic symbol of two vertical lines intersected by two horizontal lines, symbolic for the word number or representing a cartographic village ablaut/apophony/gradation/grade n. an alternation of vowels in related words or forms (esp. tenses thereof) that indicates a distinction of their grammatical function (sing, sang, sung, song) acceptation n. the conventionally recognized meaning of a word or phrase acronymic/acronymous a. of or distinguished by acronyms, application thereof, or appellation thereby adage/byword/maxim/paroemia/proverb/saying/saw n. an old, observational, instructive, often admonitory statement commonly accepted as veritable _aphorism/apophthegm/apothegm/dictum/gnome/maxim/proverb _n. a pithy adage adjunct n. any word, phrase, or clause (usu. that which is prepositional or adverbial) used to extend, augment, or modify the meaning of a word or phrase, but which is not among the main constituents (subject, object, predicator, complement) in a sentence affix n. one or multiple letters or syllables added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form: a prefix, infix, or suffix v. to attach a prefix, infix, or suffix to a word to modify its definition _prefix _n. an affix prepended to a root or another prefix (im-, dis-, un-, re-, pre-) _v. to add a prefix to a word _infix _n. an affix interjected into a word _v. to insert an infix into a word _postfix/suffix _n. an affix appended to a stem (-s, -ment, -ness, -ed, -ly) _v. to subjoin a suffix to a word agglutinate v. to form words by combining morphemes agglutinative a. (of words) composed of multiple morphemes or words (as portmanteaus) a. (of language) characterized by lexical agglutination, as German, Hungarian, Turkish, etc. allegoric/allegorical a. of, constituting, containing, resembling, or relating to a figurative treatment of one subject under the narrative guise of another allegory n. a figurative statement or narrative whereby one subject is represented by another analogous in characteristics or circumstances to advance a particular perspective anapest n. a trisyllabic measure consisting of two syllables that are short or unstressed, then a third that's long or stressed, as kerosene anapestic/anapestical a. concerning, containing, or composed of an anapest or anapests anaphor n. a word (usu. a pronoun) that refers to another to forefend repetition _antecedent _n. an anaphor's referent; a word, phrase, or clause to which an (anaphoric) pronoun refers, as "runners" in "Runners who excel" anastrophe/inversion n. rhetorical reversal of the usual order of words in a phrase or sentence: "I don't know where he's going"/"Where he's going, I don't know" antonym/counterterm n. a word whose meaning is the opposite of another (and others synonymous): "strong" to "weak" antonymic/antonymous a. (of words) converse in meaning appellation/appellative/denomination/designation/name/nomenclature/nomial/nominal/title n. an identifying word or phrase by which someone, something, or somewhere is known, addressed, classified, or distinguished from others _agnomen/byname/cognomen/handle/moniker/nickname/sobriquet _n. an affectionate, derisive, familiar, or humorous name appended to or substituted for someone's or something's real name __hypocorism/hypocoristic/pet name __n. an affectionate agnomen used by lovers _agnomination/cognomen/cognomination/family name/ruskin/surname _n. a hereditary or adoptive name common to all members of a family __matronym/matronymic/metronym/metronymic __n. a family name derived from a mother's or maternal progenitor's forename __patronym/patronymic __n. a surname derived from a father's or agnate ancestor's given name _alethonym _n. one's real name _alias/nom de guerre/pseudonym _n. a false name, as that assumed by an author or entertainer __nom de plume/pen name __n. an author's pseudonym __screen name/stage name __n. an entertainer's nom de guerre _caconym _n. an erroneous denomination _denomination _n. a classification's designation _eponym _n. a word or name derived from a person's denomination, as bowdlerize, Brannock Device, lavaliere or spoonerism _n. a name from which an eponym is derived, such as Thomas Bowdler, Charles F. Brannock, Francoise Louise de la Baume Le Blanc, Duchesse de La Valliere, or William Archibald Spooner _euonym _n. an apposite appellative _matronym/metronym _n. a mother's name _patronym _n. a father's designation apposition n. a grammatical relation between two (usually sequent) nouns or nominal phrases of the same referent and syntactic relation to other elements in a sentence, as "acute auteur" and "Eric Rohmer" of "Many critics panegyrized acute auteur Eric Rohmer as the nouvelle vague's most vital." archaic a. (of a word, phrase, parlance, vocabulary, etc.) antiquated, and thus rare and not in current use archaism n. an archaic word, phrase, idiom, etc. aspirate n. a phone (usu. a stop) pronounced with an exhalation of breath, as b, d, k, t n. the glottal fricative h, articulated with a verbal rush of air v. to forcefully enounce a sound (usu. a stop) with an exhalation of breath that sounds audible friction v. to pronounce the sound h at the beginning of a syllable or word a. (of a phone, usu. a stop) pronounced with forceful exhalation assimilate v. to enunciate a consonant similarly to another adjoining (esp. preceding) it attributive a. (of an adjective or noun) adjoining its modified noun or pronoun beheadment n. the excision of a word's initial letter that produces a different word: crack becomes rack blend/portmanteau/portmanteau word n. a word comprising the merger of two, as motel (motor & hotel) buzzword n. a word of jargon that's become stylish in its vocation, or popular culture catachresis n. misuse of a word _malapropism/malapropoism _n. absurd, often amusing catachresis by confusion of one word with another of similar pronunciation __malaprop/malapropism __n. any instance of malapropism catchphrase/catchword/shibboleth/slogan n. a phrase famously associated with a cause, character, group, product, or property catchword/shibboleth n. a word famously associated with a cause, character, group, product, or property character n. any conventional written or printed symbol, usu. a letter or diacritic _letter _n. any character in an alphabet, which usu. represents a phone, such as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J __rune/runic letter __n. any character of ancient Germanic alphabets used from approximately the 3rd through 13th centuries, particularly in Scandinavia and Britain _diacritic/diacritical mark _n. a sign, point, or mark added or attached to a letter to indicate its particular pronunciation, stress, or distinction from another similar __acute (accent) __n. a diacritical mark placed above a vowel to indicate that its pronunciation is stressed, tense, pitched, close, or long __circumflex (accent)/^ __n. a diacritic written or printed over some (usu. transliterated) letters to indicate their pronunciation __diaeresis/dieresis/umlaut __n. a diacritic consisting of two dots over a vowel (usu. the second of two successive) signalling that it's sounded as a separate syllable __grave (accent)/` __n. a diacritical mark written or printed above a vowel (esp. the French open E) to specify its pronunciation __tilde/~ __n. a diacritic used in various ways, usu. to denote a palatal nasal sound in Spanish phonetics __umlaut __n. a diacritic consisting of two dots over a rounded front vowel character/cipher/code/cryptograph/cypher n. a covert system of writing with characters or other symbols representing numbers, letters, words, or phrases to secure secrecy of communication character/cipher/code/cryptogram/cryptograph/cypher n. an encrypted message cipher/code/cypher/encipher/encode/encrypt v. to convert ordinary text into code decipher/decode/decrypt v. to convert code into ordinary text cipher/cypher n. the key to a cipher's substituted or transposed characters or symbols cognate a. (of languages or words) descended from the same lingual form or language n. a word derived from the same ancestral word as another from a different language, such as English helmet to German helm collocate v. (of a word or words) to occur in a collocation, as fall and love in "fall in love" collocation n. any frequent or commonplace arrangement or juxtaposition of words, esp. those of phrases or cant: "loss [of] life," "purchase [a] product" conjunction/conjunctive/connective n. a word with which words, clauses, phrases or sentences are conjoined and coordinated (and, as, because, but, if, unless, while, etc.) _copula/copular verb/linking verb _n. a verb (such as appear, be, go, is, or seem) that conjoins a sentence's subject and predicate conjunctional/conjunctive a. of, pertaining to, or being a conjunction or the grammatical relation between linguistic units connected by a conjunction correlative n. either of two or more words or phrases that are mutually related, such as either and or, or neither and nor a. (of correlatives) associated in use, or complementing one another declension n. the inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives for case, gender, and number _n. any of of these words' entire set of inflectional forms n. a class of those nouns, pronouns, and adjectives that possess the same or similar inflectional forms diachronic/diachronistic a. of, pertaining to, or analyzing the historical development of a language or lingual phenomenon diacritic/diacritical a. of, regarding, or serving as a diacritic dialect/idiom/language/parlance/speech/tongue n. a style of verbal expression _dialect/idiom/speech/tongue/vernacular _n. a phonologically, grammatically, and lexically distinct geographical, social, or professional variety of a language __dialect/patois __n. a rural or regional vernacular ___n. an inferior dialect _idiolect/language/speech _n. a person's individual language _jargon/lingo/parlance/vernacular _n. specialized speech regarding a particular subject or vocation __gobbledygook __n. abstruse, verbose, often periphrastic jargon _lingo/slang _n. extremely informal, ephemeral, and metaphorical parlance spoken subculturally or casually __argot/flash __n. secret slang of thieves _vernacular/vulgate _n. ordinary, informal language, as distinguished from standard, literary, or scientific speech diffuse/garrulous/prolix/verbose a. using or containing a tedious excess of words _ambagious/circumlocutious/circumlocutory/periphrastic/periphrastical _a. needlessly, circuitously verbose diffusion/prolixity/verbalism/verbosity n. overuse of words n. the quality or condition of lexical overabundance _ambage/circumlocution/periphrase/periphrasis _n. a verbosely indirect mode of expression diphthong n. a sound comprising two vowels in a single syllable, pronunciation of which is voiced as one vowel gliding to another (as oi in coil) diphthong/diphthongalize/diphthongize v. (of vowels) to render or pronounce as a diphthong disambiguate v. to clarify and so eliminate any uncertainty from an ambiguous sentence, phrase, or other linguistic unit, esp. to establish grammatical or semantic meaning eclipsis/ellipsis n. any omission of a sentence's word or words that are syntactically essential, yet supererogatory to comprehension elliptic(al) a. (of a sentence, expression, etc.) of or subjected to ellipsis eggcorn n. a word or phrase derived from the misunderstanding of another that's nearly homophonous, as "For all intensive purposes" in lieu of "For all intents and purposes" (similar: malapropism, mondegreen) ejaculation/exclamation/expletive/interjection n. any abrupt, grammatically independent utterance that conveys emotion, as "Alas!" or "Oh!" or "Ouch!" or "Yow!" or "Ha!" or "Huh!" _epiphonema/epiphoneme _n. an exclamation concluding a discourse, usu. by summary or recapitulation _expletive _n. a profane interjection elision n. omission of a letter or syllable within a word, or between two _apheresis/procope _n. elision of a word's first letter, letters, sound, or syllable _apocope _n. elision of a word's last letter, letters, sound, or syllable _contraction _n. elision marked by an apostrophe that denotes the conversion of a word (free morpheme) or words into a clitic (bound morpheme) or clitics _syncope _n. elision of a letter, letters, sound, or syllable inside a word epenthesis n. insertion of a letter or syllable into a word epithesis n. subjunction of a letter to a word of unaltered meaning etymon/primitive/radical/radix/root n. an original or earliest known word from which others may have been derived figure/figure of speech/image n. a nonliteral or unusual word or phrase _abscission _n. an image of aposiopesis, usu. being a character's unfinished sentence _adnomination/agnomination/alliteration/annomination _n. repetition of sounds at the beginnings of consecutive or semi-successive words, usu. in a phrase: "petrifying personifications by parturition" _adnomination/agnomination/annomination/paronomasia/pun/wordplay _n. any humorous exploitation of homophones __adnomination __n. alliterative wordplay _anaphora _n. iteration of a word or phrase to begin consecutive clauses, verses, sentences or paragraphs: "This is our home, this is our livelihood, this is our community" _antistrophe/epiphora/epistrophe _n. iteration of a word or phrase to conclude consecutive clauses, verses, sentences or paragraphs: "We want no drugs, we use no drugs, we have no drugs" _assonance _n. repetition of the same or similar vowels: "a loose, boozy housewife" _chiasmus _n. reversal of two parallel phrases: "Rover went in; out went Max" _dysphemism _n. an offensive or derogatory expression substituted for another deemed pleasant or neutral _n. any instance or employment of a dysphemism _euphemism _n. an inoffensive, indirect or vague expression substituted for another regarded as offensive or inordinately harsh _n. utilization of a euphemism _onomatopoeia/onomatopoesis _n. a word that sounds like its meaning, as burble, buzz, clap, hiss, plonk, purl, zing _n. the use of words that sound like their definitive actions or objects _personification/prosopopeia/prosopopoeia _n. ascription of human qualities, form or character to concepts or inanimate objects _polysyndeton _n. rhetorical, repetitive use of successive conjunctions, usually without punctuation: "We laughed and walked and ate and read and listened and slept together" _prosopopeia/prosopopoeia _n. an image in which an absent, deceased or imaginary person acts or verbalizes _trope _n. a nonliteral figure of speech, as a metaphor, simile or synecdoche __irony __n. an (often humorous) statement or connotation thereof that's not to be taken literally in context __metaphor __n. the comparative use of a word or phrase to refer to something with which it isn't literally synonymous to imply similarity: "he's an unmovable boulder for his obstinacy" __metonymy __n. substitution of something's part or property to identify it or something related: "The bassoon there isn't playing well tonight;" "You desperately need to get off the bottle" ___synecdoche ___n. metonymy whereby a part represents its whole or vice versa: "church" in lieu of congregation; "transistor" for transistor radio; "Holland" as the Netherlands; "sands" of desert or beaches; "law" for a peace officer; "steel" instead of girders; "vinyl" for an LP record; "suit" for business executive ____pars pro toto ____n. synecdoche naming a salient part of an entity in reference to it: "Beijing's policies were incrutable" ____totum pro parte ____n. synecdoche naming some whole in reference to a part thereof: "From Canada come these North American goods" __simile __n. a trope wherein two heterogeneous things are compared: "she's as pretty as a picture;" "he's as indecisive as a bisexual in an orgy" __syllepsis/zeugma __n. a figure of speech in which a word or phrase has the same syntactic relation to two or more others in the same phrase or sentence, but denotes them differently, often to contrast literal and metaphorical relations: "he took leave first of his senses, then of his house" fricative/spirant a. of, regarding, or indicating a fricative grammalogue/ideogram/logogram/logograph n. a graphic symbol that represents a word or phrase, as &, %, 8, @, $ homonym n. a word that's spelled and pronounced like another or others of different meanings (lead, pay) homonym/homograph n. one of several words of different meanings that are identically spelled, irrespective of pronunciation (bear, lead, wear) homonym/homophone n. a word that's pronounced like another of a different meaning, regardless of whether they're spelled alike (air and heir, bare and bear, pair and pare and pear, wear and where) hypotaxis n. the subordination of clauses and phrases to others, as those linked by conjunctions ideogram/ideograph n. a written symbol that directly represents an idea or entity instead of a word, phrase, or phoneme, as a numeral or Chinese character idiomatic(al) a. common to or characteristic of a particular language, or the ordinary manner of its expressions a. containing or employing numerous idioms impersonal a. (of a verb) without a specified subject in third-person, singular forms: "It is gusty out there" a. (of a pronoun) indicating no particular person instantiate v. to cite a specific instance or usage of a word lexicon/vocabulary n. all of a language's words n. the lexical stock known to or used by a group or individual _argot/cant/idiom/jargon/language/lingo/patois/slang/vernacular _n. a vocabulary peculiar to a certain art, class, occupation, science, subculture, or trade __argot/cant/flash __n. private jargon of thieves meronym/partonym n. a term naming that which is a part of something else (hubcap to tire; tire to truck) modifier/qualifier n. any word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or limits another _adjective _n. a word ascribing an attribute to a noun or pronoun __adnoun __n. an adjective applied as a noun __attributive __n. an adjective adjoining the noun or pronoun that it modifies to form a nominal phrase _adverb _n. a word or phrase that modifies a participle, verb, adverb, or adjective, and expresses time, location, degree, circumstance, cause, etc. __disjunct/sentence adverb __n. an adverb or adverbial phrase induing a context (technically, politically) or attitude thereof (frankly, obviously) to its sentence _degree _n. any of an adjective's or adverb's three forms specifying relative intensity, quality or quantity: the positive (large), comparative (larger), or superlative (largest) degrees mondegreen n. a misheard, consequently misinterpreted and often comic phrase, esp. of a verse, slogan, lyric or aphorism (similar: eggcorn) motto/slogan n. a distinctive phrase of an enterprise, family, movement, organization, party, sect, or product that communicates its chief goal, principle, or purpose native/vernacular a. pertaining to or spoken as one's mother tongue; neither learned nor imposed as a second language nomenclatural/nominal a. of, pertaining to, or constituting a name or names _agnominal _a. of or regarding a nickname __hypocoristic __a. of or relating to a pet name _alethonymic/alethonymical _n. of, respecting, or using one's true name _appellative _a. of, regarding, or serving for the assignment of names _caconymic _a. of or respecting an unsuitable or offensive nominal _cognominal/surnominal _a. of or concerning a surname or surnames _eponymic _a. of or relating to a name derived from that of a person, or a person's name that inspired those of others _eponymous _a. of, about, or being someone after which somebody, someplace, or something is named _a. named after someone _euonymic _a. of or being an appropriate designation _matronymic/metronymic _a. of, regarding, or derived from a mother's or female ancestor's name _multinomial/multinominal/multinominous/polynomial _a. of, characterized by, or consisting of several nomials __binomial/binominal/binominous __a. of, regarding, composed of, or having two names, as those of taxonomized flora and fauna __quadrinomial/quadrinominal __a. of, concerning, or comprising four names __trinomial/trinominal __a. of, being, or referencing three (usu. taxonomic) names _patronymic/patronymical _a. derived from a father's or male forebear's name _pseudonymic/pseudonymous _a. of, concerning, using, or known by a fictitious appellation nominal/substantive a. of, pertaining to or headed by a noun or nominal phrase _substantive _a. substituted for a noun nominative n. the nominative grammatical case, which indicates the subject (usu. a noun, pronoun, or nominal phrase) of a finite verb in inflected languages n. a word or other element in the nominative case a. of, concerning, being, or in the nominative case noun/substantive n. a word that designates a person, place, or thing, which may function as the object or subject of a verb _appellative/common noun _n. a noun naming any or all of the articles or members in a class, as banana, cat, girl, or videocassette _nominal/substantive _n. a word (esp. an adjective or pronoun) functioning as a noun _nominal (phrase)/noun phrase/substantive _n. a phrase containing and serving the role of a noun _pronoun _n. a superordinate word used in substitution for specific nouns: I, you, she, he, it, this __personal pronoun __n. a pronoun inflected for case that indicates a (usu. antecedent) person or people: it, I, you, me, we, us, them, they, he, she, him, her __reflexive __n. a reflexive pronoun: myself, herself, himself, themselves ornate a. (of text or speech) distinguished by elaborate rhetorical constructions and devices, and unusual or recondite language _aureate/empurpled/florid/flowery/overwrought/purple _a. excessively ornate __aureate/bombast/bombastic/bombastical/declamatory/flatulent/fustian/grandiloquent/grandiloquous/inflated/lexiphanic/magniloquent/magniloquous/orotund/plethoric/plethorical/rhetorical/tumescent/tumid/turgid/turgidous __a. loftily, ostentatiously, often pompously purple orthoepist n. a specialist of correct or accepted pronunciation n. one of several orthoepists who proposed to reform English orthography to better reflect enunciation during the 17th and 18th centuries orthoepy n. the study of correct or accepted pronunciation orthographic(al) a. of or concerning (usu. proper) spelling orthography n. a method of spelling, as with an alphabet or other characters that represent lingual sounds n. a branch of linguistics treating of spelling and letters n. correct spelling in accordance with established usage palindrome n. a word, phrase, passage, sentence, number, etc. spelled correspondently backward as forward palinlogue n. a word that may be reversed of spelling to another, esp. in reference to a theme, riddle, etc. parallel a. (of clauses or phrases) syntactically correspondent parataxis n. any consecutive apposition of sentences, or clauses or phrases within sentences, sans conjunctives: "Gloaming is upon us; let's take a walk." parse v. to analyze a sentence by specifying its constituent parts of speech and their forms, functions, and syntactic interrelations, so to determine its structure's grammatical validity v. to grammatically describe a word in a sentence by identifying its part of speech, inflectional form, syntactic functions and relations, etc. pejorative/dyslogism n. a disparaging word, phrase, expression, etc. pejorative/dyslogistic a. (of a word, phrase, expression, etc.) disparagingly or censoriously connoted phone n. a single sound of speech _consonant _n. a phone uttered with some obstruction of breath passing through the oral cavity __fricative/spirant __n. a continuant consonant characterized by the audible friction of breath passing through a constricted or partially obstructed vocal tract (f, h, s, th, v, z) __sibilant __n. any consonant sounded by hissing: ch, s, z, sh, zh __surd __n. any consonant uttered with breath, and without vibration of the vocal cords _phoneme _n. a small, singly regarded family of similarly pronounced phones that are phonetically represented by the same symbol __allophone __n. any of a phoneme's distinctly pronounced variations _sonant _n. a phone generated by vibration of the vocal cords _vowel _n. a syllable's dominant sound, voiced with minimal restriction through the oral cavity pidgin/jargon/contact language n. a hybridized, grammatically simple language comprised of a small vocabulary derived from those of two or more languages, and spoken by those who don't share a common language polysemantic/polysemic/polysemous a. (of a word or words) having or characterized by multiple meanings or interpretations polysyllabic/polysyllabical a. (of a word or words) consisting of three or more syllables a. containing or characterized by polysyllables _sesquipedal/sesquipedalian _a. (of a word or words) quite long, usu. encompassing more than five syllables polysyllable n. a word of three or more syllables _sesquipedalian _n. a lengthy polysyllable of five or more syllables polysyndetic a. (of writing or speech) characterized by and containing polysyndeton prenominal a. anteceding a noun, as an adjective preposition n. a word or phrase anteceding a noun, pronoun, or other substantive to grammatically or semantically relate it to another constituent in the same sentence: after, at, before, by, in, from, for, of, on, since, to, with, etc. prescriptive a. regarding, based on, or endeavoring to impose lingual rules preverbal a. preceding a verb, as an adverb prolixity/surplusage/verbiage n. a nimiety of spoken or written words punctuation mark n. any of several marks or characters employed to punctuate text, as to indicate expression, or grammatical or syntactical structure, and especially divisions thereof _./period/full stop/full point _n. a punctuation mark suffixed to and concluding declarative sentences, some imperative sentences and abbreviations __.../ellipsis __n. three successive periods indicating a textual omission, or a pause or hesitation _!/bang/exclamation mark/exclamation point _n. a punctuation mark appended to an exclamatory sentence, expressing ardor, astonishment or command __?!/interrobang __n. a punctuation mark comprising a juxtaposed or superimposed exclamation point and an interrogation point, which concludes an exclamatory question _?/question mark/interrogation point/interrogative _n. a punctuation mark subjoined to an interrogative sentence __?!/interrobang __n. a punctuation mark comprising a juxtaposed or superimposed exclamation point and an interrogation point, which concludes an exclamatory question _,/comma _n. a punctuation mark interjected to denote divisions in a sentence (separate clauses and items of a list), brief pauses of speech, and numeral thousands _:/colon _n. a punctuation mark applied after the final word of a clause to introduce an additional, applicable series, epitome, example, explication or quotation _;/semicolon _n. a punctuation mark paratactically interjected between and conjoining a compound sentence's related and independent clauses, or a list's complex items _'/apostrophe _n. a superscript punctuation mark importing the omission of a letter or letters in a (usu. contracted) word (they're), or a possessive noun (Martin's lyrics) _-/hyphen _n. a punctuation mark inserted between portions of certain compound words or names, words of a phrase, or syllables of a word divided between two sequent textual lines _//diagonal/separatrix/shilling mark/slant/(forward) slash/solidus/stroke/virgule _n. an oblique character interposed to separate alternatives, data, verses or a URL's components reciprocal n. a term (esp. a phrase) expressing a mutual action or relationship to another reflexive a. of, regarding, or being a transitive verb whose subject and direct object have the same referent a. of, regarding, or being a pronoun suffixed with -self to indicate that it's an object with the same referent of a reflexive verb's subject (oneself, myself, himself, herself) semantic/semantical a. of or relating to lingual meaning a. of or regarding semantics semantics/semasiology/sematology/semology n. the linguistical study of meaning in language, the functions of words and nonverbal symbols that represent concepts, and their diachrony semantic satiation n. temporary divestment of a word's perceived meaning consequent of its inordinate repetition or examination sibilant a. (of phones) characterized by or uttered as a hissing sound solecism n. a grammatical error of speech or writing sonant/voiced a. (of phones) sounded by vibration of the vocal cords speech/vernacular n. an ethnic group's, region's, or country's native language substantive a. denoting or expressing existence substrate/substratum n. the language of an aboriginal people that influences the form or lexicon of that spoken by their conquerers, and by which it's supplanted surd/unvoiced/voiceless a. (of phones) produced with the breath, sans sonance of the vocal cords syllepsis n. application of a word or expression performing dual syntactic functions in a single sentence, usu. to govern or modify multiple words of differing case, gender, logic or number: "dined" in "both he and they dined with us" syncretic/syncretical/syncretistic/syncretistical a. of, relating to, or characterized by a language's diachronistic decrement of inflections syncretism n. the diachronic fusion of different inflected forms, from which a reduction of inflections proceeds synonym n. a word semantically identical or correspondent to another or others _hypernym/superordinate _n. a word that is less specific than another that's semantically related (building to abbey; computer to PC; tool to shovel; animal to cat) _hyponym/subordinate word _n. a word that is more specific than another of analogous meaning (fork to cutlery; shark to fish; raisin to fruit) syntactic/syntactical a. of, pertaining to, or conforming to the rules of syntax syntax/syntaxis n. the pattern or structure of words in a phrase or sentence n. proper structure of a sentence realized by the appropriate arrangement of its words and phrases n. a set of rules governing how words are combined to form phrases or sentences n. a branch of linguistics addressing syntactical subjects tautologous/tautological/tautologic/redundant/pleonastic a. of, concerning, containing, or characterized by semantic repetition in excessive words tautology/redundancy/redundance/pleonasm n. an expression's needless semantic repetition: "true fact," "free gift," "wise sage," "wet fluid," "smell with one's nose" n. a tautologous expression temporal n. the semantic role of a nominal phrase that designates the time or state of action denoted by the verb a. related to or denoting time or tense tittle/dot n. a dot over a lowercase i or j translate/render v. to convert something by speech or writing from one language into another triliteral n. a word comprised of three letters n. a root of three consonants a. consisting of three letters, esp. consonants trope n. language used in a figurative sense valence/valency n. the number of grammatical elements with which a verb interacts in a sentence verb n. a word expressing an action or mode _continuative/durative _n. a verb in the durative aspect, which expresses continuous action __n. the durative verbal aspect _copula/copular verb/linking verb _n. a verb (such as appear, be, go, is, or seem) that conjoins a sentence's subject and predicate _imperative _n. a verb in the imperative mood expressing commands, requests, and permission _indicative _n. a verb in the indicative mood, used to convey factual and commonplace statements _(grammatical) mode/mood _n. a verbal form depending on how its clause pertains to its writer's or speaker's declaration, intention, or desire about reality __conditional/conditional mood __n. a mood used to denote that something's contingent on something else __conjunctive mood/conjunctive mode/subjunctive/subjunctive mode/subjunctive mood __n. a mood that expresses an act or state that's possible or anticipated, but not (yet) actual __imperative/imperative mood __n. the mood expressing a command, request, or permission __indicative/indicative mood __n. that mood of a verb applied in factual, objective, and commonplace statements __optative/optative mood __n. a mood expressing a wish _non-finite verb/verbal/verbid _n. a verbal form that doesn't function as a predicate for lack of a subject; a noun or an adjective derived from a verb __gerund __n. a verbal operating as a verbal noun, homographic but functionally dissimilar to present participles __infinitive __n. a verbid of neutral inflection __participial/participle __n. a non-finite verb used as a noun or an adjective; these form verbal phrases paired with auxiliary verbs that express tense (have been, will be) and participial phrases as adjectives (the going rate) _optative _n. a verb in the optative mood, which expresses a wish _preterit/preterite _n. a verb in the preterit tense, as went or grasped __past perfect/pluperfect __n. a verb in the pluperfect tense denoting an act or event finished before another _tense _n. any form of a verb that specifies when an action happens, or state of being exists _n. a verb's inflected form indicating tense __past/past tense __n. the basic tense referring to that which has occurred ___preterit/preterite ___n. a verbal tense signifying a past action or state ____past perfect/pluperfect/pluperfect tense/plusquamperfect/preterpluperfect ____n. a verbal tense describing an action or event that was completed before another __present/present tense __n. the basic tense indicating what's presently happening __future/future tense __n. the basic tense adverting to what may or will happen _subjunctive _n. a verb expressing or depicting a possible or hypothetical act or state verbal a. of, concerning, derived from or possessing the function of a verb _continuative/durative _a. of, concerning, or being a verb or verbal aspect expressing continuous action _copular _a. being or regarding a copula _impersonal/unipersonal _a. (of verbs) attributing an action or condition to an indefinite subject with a third-person pronoun (usu. "it") lacking an antecedent: "it is still raining" _modal _a. of, regarding, or relating a clause's mood __conditional __a. (of a verb) expressing contingence __conjunctive __a. pertaining to the conjunctive mood __conjunctive/subjunctive __a. (of a verb) inflected to indicate what is possible, imagined, or hypothetical, but not actual __imperative __a. of or relating to the imperative mood __a. (of a verb) expressing a command, request, or permission __indicative __a. of or regarding the indicative mood __optative __a. respecting the optative mood _participial _a. of, about or being a participle _tensal _a. of or concerning verbal tense __past __a. (of a tense) communicating an action that's occured or state that existed in the past ___preterit/preterite ___a. (of a tense) describing an anterior act or condition ____past perfect/pluperfect ____a. (of a tense) relating an action or event concluded before another verbalize/verbify v. to convert a noun, adjective, etc. into a verb vernacular a. spoken or written in a vernacular or patois vernacular/vulgar/vulgate a. being, regarding, or characteristic of everyday language ==LATIN ON LOAN== ad libitum a., av. at one's pleasure; at liberty (affording a performer discretion in regard to tempo or omission of accessory accompaniment) a fortiori av. all the more; for an even stronger reason a posteriori a. of, regarding, involving or denoting reasoning illated from observation, experiment or experience in lieu of theory or first principles a. derived from or requiring evidence, experience or observation for validation or support a priori a. of, employing, pertaining to or signifying reasoning deduced from a theory or general principle instead of empirical observation a. inferred from theoretical deduction rather than observation or experience a. known to be so, and thus requiring no evidence or experience for validation or support ante meridiem/A.M. a. before noon caveat emptor n. "let the buyer beware" -- a commercial principle asserting that without a warranty, a vendee assumes all risk of quality de minimis a. too trifling to merit consideration ex nihilo a., av. out of or from nothing de novo av. from the beginning et alia [OR] et alii [OR] et aliae/et al. av. and others (people) et cetera/etc. av. and others; and the rest; and so forth (referencing an anteceding list's further items of the same type) ex officio a., av. by virtue or as consequence of an office or position ex parte a. partial; favoring something over another fait accompli n. "accomplished fact" -- an irreversible accomplishment furor scribendi a. an ardor for writing in extremis av. moribund; nearly dead av. "in extremity" -- in extreme or pressing circumstances infra dignitatem/infra dig a. beneath one's dignity in medias res av. in the midst of things in situ a. in its original location or position inter alia av. among other things in toto av. in entirety lex talionis n. the law of retaliation: that revenge exacted should correspond to the mode and severity of the offense committed mirabile auditu intj. wonderful to hear mirabile dictu intj. wonderful to tell mirabile visu intj. wonderful to see mutatis mutandis av. with all necessary changes having been fulfilled nolens volens a., av. whether someone wants or likes something or not non compos mentis a. not of sound mind nota bene v. note well: observe carefully or take special notice non sequitur n. a statement or reply irrelevant to what preceded it; literally, "it does not follow" n. a conclusion or inference that does not follow from its evidence or premises obiter dictum n. any remark voiced in passing parabellum "prepare for war" pari passu av. at an equal pace or rate per se av. "in itself," intrinsically -- with respect to its inherent nature pons asinorum n. a problem or challenge that taxes the faculty of an inexperienced individual post meridiem/P.M. a. between noon and midnight pro forma a., av. (done or produced) in accordance with form or propriety pro rata av. in proportion pro tempore a., av. for the time being: temporary or temporarily sine qua non n. an essential condition or thing; a factor, requirement or state that's absolutely necessary sui generis a. constituting an individual class: unique summum bonum n. the supreme or greatest good, wherein all moral values inhere, or from which they're derived vade mecum n. something carried about to be used regularly ==LAW== abeyance n. a condition wherein the ownership of property (as that of an estate) has yet to be ascertained or assigned abolish/abrogate/annul/rescind/repeal v. to formally or legally terminate a custom, institution, law or practice abolishment/abolition/abrogation/annulment/repeal n. the act of revoking a custom, institution, law or practice accessary/accessory a. aiding or abetting a criminal act accredit/approbate/approve/confirm/formalize/ratify/sanction/validate v. to formally authorize, legally sanction and express assent of, responsibility for or obligation to an agreement, contract or treaty, esp. by contribution of one's seal or signature accredited/authorized/commissioned/empowered/enabled/invested/sanctioned/warranted a. endowed with legal or official authority _sceptered _a. invested with royal authority, as symbolized by the possession of a scepter accretion n. an increase in a beneficiary's share of an estate that transpires when a co-beneficiary dies, fails to satisfy a stipulaton or relinquishes their inheritance accuse/charge/criminate/incriminate/inculpate/indict v. to charge with a crime; to aver that someone has comitted a criminal act _charge/indict _v. to formally accuse someone of a crime, esp. in an affidavit or court of law acquittal n. a juridical exoneration (determined by a judge or jury) of a defendant from a criminal charge adjudge/adjudicate/hear/judge/try v. to preside as judge of a case or trial adjudication/decision/decree/judgment/resolution/ruling n. a judicial decision or edict rendered subsequent to a hearing, esp. that of admiralty, divorce, equity or probate adjudication/decision/finding/judgment/resolution/verdict n. the conclusion of a jury appertaining to an issue submitted to its judgment for examination and trial, as that of a criminal case or inquest aggravated a. (of a criminal offense) distinguished by a salient, often egregious aspect imparting an especially grave significance angary n. the legal right of a belligerent to sequester or destroy the property of a neutral state or its citizenry contingent upon remuneration antinomia/antinomy n. a law's ostensive or actual contradiction of another antinomic a. of or concerning a conflict between two or more laws arson/incendiarism n. the deliberate, criminal ruination or destruction of property by fire attach/confiscate/impound/seize v. to take forcible possession of property by legal authority _commandeer/confiscate/requisition _v. to seize for use or service, esp. as a shift _sequester _v. to occupy, requisition or seize enemy property, usu. after an invasion attainder (English common law) n. a state whereby a convicted or condemned criminal's civil rights are revoked averment/verification n. an affidavit that attests to the veracity of an allegation and readiness of a pleader to corroborate it bailiwick n. a district wherein a bailie or bailiff possesses jurisdiction ban/bar/debar/embargo/enjoin/forbid/inhibit/interdict/nix/outlaw/prohibit/proscribe/suppress/veto v. to refuse sanction of activity, admission, exhibition, puveyance, etc., esp. by legal authority; to make illegal _censor/suppress _v. to interdict the public distribution of politically unacceptable content, as a broadcast, publication, screening, etc. _enjoin _v. to restrain or prohibit by issuing an injunction ban/enjoinment/forbiddance/interdiction/outlawry/prohibition/proscription n. the act or an instance of restraining action, admittance, exposition, expression, sale, etc. in accordance with a law ban/enjoinment/forbiddance/prohibition n. an official or legal restriction of action, admittance, exposition, expression, sale, etc. _embargo _n. any commercial prohibition _interdict/interdiction _n. an enjoinment ordered by a court or administrative official barrator n. a grossly litigious individual barratrous a. of or pertaining to excessive litigation barratry n. any egregiously persistent engagement of litigation bequeath/devise/leave/will v. to dispose of or grant property to designated heritors or other beneficiaries by dictate of one's will _devise _v. to bequeath real estate _entail _v. to restrict the inheritance of real property to a designated succession of heirs bind/obligate/oblige v. to impel by legal measures or requirements Black Maria/paddy [OR] patrol [OR] police wagon/police van n. a van used by police to transport prisoners calaboose/calabozo/jail n. a facility where the arraigned awaiting trial or bail, or offenders convicted of misdemeanors are detained case [or] common law n. law based on juridic precedents rather than statutes caveat n. a legal notice filed with a court or officer thereof to suspend a proceeding (especially that held in concern of probate) until its filer is provided notification or a hearing caveator n. someone who files a caveat with a court civilist n. a student of civil law codicil n. a supplement to a will; a testamentary instrument intended to alter a will which has been executed collusion n. a covert agreement between two or more persons (esp. a lawsuit's putative opponents) to secure a judicial decision to advance an illegal objective commute v. to reduce a sentence or penalty to another of attenuated severity condition/provision/proviso/stipulation/term n. a clause in a contract, will or other legal document specifying a condition to be observed or requirement attained, upon which the instrument's effect is contingent connivance n. any passive, implicit assent or encouragement of illegality constitute/enact/legislate/make v. to authorize a bill or proposal as law _promulgate _v. to enact a law or court decree by communique constructionist n. someone whose interpretation of laws (esp. a governmental constitution) is specific and esp. stringent coverture n. a woman's legal status of matrimony criminal/convict/con n. anyone who's been legally convicted of a crime _repeater/recidivist _n. someone repeatedly convicted of criminal activity, esp. for their iteration of the same offense criminal/crook/culprit/felon/lawbreaker/malefactor/offender/perp/perpetrator/wrongdoer n. someone who has committed a crime _abettor/accomplice/confederate _n. someone who assists a perpetrator in the execution of a crime __accessary/accessory __n. an accomplice who's absent during the commission of the crime abetted _arsonist/firebug/incendiary _n. someone who destroys property with fire, esp. by commission _bandit/brigand/picaroon _n. an armed thief (usu. affiliated with a criminal outfit) who ambuscades travelers __highwayman __n. a bandit who waylays and robs travelers on a road or other path ___road agent ___n. a highwayman who preys on stagecoaches criminate/implicate/incriminate/inculpate/involve v. to indicate or disclose or bracket involvement in criminal activity cumulative a. (of evidence) substantiating whatever prior evidence had confirmed a. (of punitive sentences) consecutive defalcate/embezzle/misappropriate/peculate v. to steal or misuse assets (esp. money) entrusted to one's care demurrer n. a formal objection to an opponent's point conceding its factual verity while repugning its relevance or validity demur v. to respond to a point by entering a demurrer_ detention/durance vile n. a state or period during which the accused is confined while awaiting trial (obiter) dictum n. an opinion or observation voiced by a judge regarding a point of law that's tangentially or incidentally relevant to a case over which he presides, and therefore not legally binding docket n. a court calendar listing impending cases and the disputant parties thereof v. to append or interpolate a suit or case to a docket docket v. to draft a summary or abstract of a legal document and inscribe it in a register devest/divest v. to legally deprive someone of property or legal rights _oust _v. to divest someone of realty easement n. a limited right afforded to one owner of property over that of another, as of passage or free access to water engross v. to produce the final or canonical draft of a legal document engrossed a. written formally in a large clear script, as a deed or other legal document enquiry/inquirendo/inquiry/investigation/percontation/probe n. an official, systematic, investigative examination concerning a matter of public interest entail n. an entailed estate entail/fee-tail n. exclusive tenure of an estate attributing its inheritance to a specific line of heirs exculpatory a. (of evidence or testimony) verifying that a suspect or defendant is not guilty of a wrongful or criminal act execute v. to discharge a judicial sentence v. to implement a contract, will or other legal instrument in accordance with its terms v. to formally sign a will or other legal instrument in the presence of witnesses exemplify v. to duplicate a sealed document as a certified copy ex parte a. (of a hearing, motions or orders) granted by petition to or for the sole benefit of a single party, as a restraining order; translated: "for one party" a. (of a judicial decision) that decreed without all involved parties present final/indefeasible/irrevocable/peremptory/unappealable a. not to be annulled, voided, recalled, retracted, revoked, overturned, etc.; not open to appeal or challenge forensic a. of or regarding the application of scientific and technological methods or techniques in criminal investigation a. used in, concerning or befitting a court of law forfeit/forfeiture/penalty n. a right, privilege or article of property subject to surrender by a legal penalty imposed for criminal activity or a breach of engagement fugitation n. a judicial sentence passed on an indicted person who's absent for trial that declares him or her a fugitive from justice n. flight from justice gist n. the ground or purpose of a legal action graft n. an illicit profit or advantage, esp. that attained by the abuse of authority gravamen n. the tenor or material grounds of a criminal or civil charge n. the most significant aspect of an accusation germane to a defendant's alleged crime imperium n. authority to enforce the law by command of state apparatuses inculpatory/inculpative a. (of evidence or testimony) indicating or proving a suspect's or defendant's guilt indictment/charge n. a formal accusation of a serious crime (bill of) indictment n. a formal document penned by or for a prosecutor that charges an accused party with a criminal offense, signed by a court official and presented to a grand jury injunction n. a court order issued to oblige or debar a course of action injunction/interdict/interdiction n. a court order that prohibits a specific activity, as a cease and desist letter bidding surcease of an act on pain of legal action inquest n. a judicial inquiry conducted to determine the facts of an incident, esp. that prompted by a coroner to ascertain the cause of an unexpected death; ordinarily held before a jury n. the jury appointed to hear an inquest n. the adjudication of an inquest intestate a. (of a person) possessing no legal will a. (of property) uncovenanted in disposal by any will n. one who perishes without a legal will jactitation n. a false, potentially injurious boast or avowal (esp. a claim of marriage) that was once legally actionable judicatory/judicial/juridic(al) a. of or pertaining to the administration of justice judicial a. of or concerning judicial proceedings judicial/judiciary/juridic(al) a. of, relating or appropriate to judges, the office and functions of a judge or courts of law juridic(al)/legal a. of or regarding jurisprudence or law jurisprudence/law n. the systematic totality of laws, rules and principles imposed by a policial authority or legal system n. a juridic branch, as contract law, matrimonial jurisprudence or medical law _pandect(s) _n. a national legal code jurisprudence/law/legal philosophy n. a branch of philosophy concerned with law and those principles by which courts abide legalism n. strict, usu. literal legal conformity legalize/legitimate/legitimize/validate v. to make legal legist n. a legal expert, such as a lawyer _feudist _n. a specialist on the subject of feudal law _publicist _n. a specialist of public or international law legitimate v. to demonstrate or affirm as just and legitimate legitimate a. (of a child) born to parents who are lawfully wed v. to accord legitimacy to a bastard by a legal process licit/legitimate/legalized/legal/lawful/just a. conforming to, authorized or sanctioned by law litigiomania n. a compulsion to pursue legal disputes litigious a. of, subject or relating to litigation a. zealous to resort to legal action as a means to prevail or resolve matters misdemeanor n. a criminal offence deemed less significant than a felony, commonly punishable by a fine or jail term not exceeding a year's duration moratorium n. a legally sanctioned cunctation of an obligation's fulfillment nihil dicit n. a refusal by a defendant to plead or reply nomism n. religious observance of law or laws nomocracy n. a system of government based on jurisprudence nomography n. the art of drafting laws n. a monograph on the authorship of laws nonage n. a period or state of legal minority ownership/property/proprietorship n. a legal right to possess or dispose of something _severalty _n. individual ownership of (usu. real) property pandectist n. the author of a complete legal code pettifogger n. a petty, niggling, often reprobate lawyer of a minor practice order n. a direction delivered by a court or judge entered on a court record yet not necessarily included in a verdict or final judgment panel/jury n. a party of (ordinarily twelve) people convened to render a verdict on the basis of evidence submitted them in the course of a court trial panel n. a comprehensive register of people convoked for jury duty precedent n. an adjudication that may be institutionalized as an authoritative standard, or invoked or instantiated as a justification in address of ulterior resolutions for comparable cases premise n. expository or prefatory text introducing a legal instrument, as a deed probate n. a court proceeding by which a will is validated or invalidated n. a judicial certificate legitimating a will's authenticity and conferring to its executors the power to administrate an estate n. the act of proving that an instrument purporting to be a will was signed and executed in accordance with legal requirements v. to establish the legal validity of a will in probate court purview n. the body (excluding its preamble), scope or limit of a statute, which comprises the total extent of its intention or provisions recuse v. (of a judge or attorney) to disqualify and excuse oneself from participation in a particular case in regard to some potential conflict of interest or partiality v. to challenge the qualification of a judge, prosecutor or juror on a basis of incompetence, bias or conflict of interest rejoinder n. an answer voiced by a defendant during the second stage of a common law pleading in response to the plaintiff's replication, intended to confute or deny averments thereof remit/remand v. to refer a legal case to a lower court, usu. with directions pertaining to the aforementioned case remitment/remit/remission n. the act of referring a case to an inferior court for further deliberation or action replevin n. a legal retrieval of stolen property incident to juridic determination n. a writ of replevin replevin/replevy v. to recover moveables by dint of a replevin reprise(s)/reprize n. a payment, duty or deduction tendered per annum by an estate or manor, esp. an annuity respite/reprieve v. to intermit the imminent punishment of a convict, esp. an execution rubric/title n. the titular heading of a legislative bill, statute or civil code's chapter, which may precis its purview sequestrate/sequester/distress/distrain v. to legally assume the assets of a party until their debt has been paid or other claims of creditors satisfied sequestrate v. to legally transfer a bankrupt's property to a trustee that allots those holdings to creditors statute/legislative act/legislation/enactment n. a law formally enacted by a legislative body statutory a. of, related to, authorized, enacted, permitted, prescribed or punishable by statute stultify v. to attest or prove that a defendant is of unsound mind or incompetent to stand trial or testify, thus absolving them from legal responsibility so that the execution of some judicial act may be forestalled sumptuary a. (of laws or taxes*) pertaining to, *prohibiting or regulating behavior to preserve social morality surrender n. the delivery of a fugitive or other principal named in a suit into lawful custody n. the act of yielding oneself or being delivered to bail surrogate n. a judge who presides over the probate of wills and testaments, and adjudicates the settlement of estates traverse v. to formally deny a lawsuit's allegation in pleading uncovenanted a. not assured, bound, granted or proscribed by a contract vested a. absolute, settled, static and without contingency, as a right or law a. legally entitled to the immediate possession of property, or a future benefit of property or revenue, as from a pension void/vitiate/vacate/revoke/rescind/quash/overturn/nullify/null/negate/invalidate/defeat/avoid/annul v. to impair or cancel the legal effect or validity of (a contract, deed, indictment, law, ruling, etc.), esp. by invocation of a specific law's contravention _abate _v. to vacate a writ ==MAGIC & PARAPSYCHOLOGY== aeaeae/conjuration/magic/sortilege/thaumaturgy/witchcraft/witchery/witching/wizardry n. the act, art or practices of focusing and manipulating supernatural forces to influence, effect or control with a variety of techniques _apotropaism _n. incantatory or ritual thaumaturgy that wards off evil or bad luck _black magic _n. magic used to fulfill evil intentions __sorcery/sortilege/warlockry/witchcraft/witchery/witching/wizardry __n. black magic bestowed and enabled by the subvention of evil spirits ___demonomagy ___n. sorcery realized with the help of (usu. invoked) demons _incantation _n. witchery by vocal recitation of charms or spells _white magic _n. conjuration practiced for righteous aims __theurgy __n. white magic conferred and aided by benevolent spirits amulet/charm/mojo/periapt n. a talismanic trinket or piece of jewelry usually hung about the neck and thought to confer a magical protection against evil or disease charm/mojo/talisman n. an engraved or representational object (esp. an article of jewelry) worn for the magical benefit of its purported apotropaic, empowering or lucky properties _amulet _n. a talisman worn on a necklace _juju _n. a west African charm conjuration/evocation/invocation n. the magical act of summoning spirits, demons or other supernatural entities, esp. by incantation conjure/evoke/invoke v. to summon or dictate a spirit or demon with a magical incantation or spell cryptaesthesia/extrasensory perception (ESP) n. perception or communication beyond physical modalities _clairvoyance/clairvoyancy/telegnosis _n. the power to perceive objects, events or beings beyond the natural range of the senses __clairaudience __n. the extrasensory ability to hear beyond a usual spatial, spiritual or temporal range __precognition __n. clairvoyant prospicience: the paranormal ability to foresee events or situations ___metagnomy ___n. precognition induced in a hypnotic trance __psychometry __n. a clairvoyant capacity to divine facts concerning events or people by touching objects related to them divination/hariolation n. the supernatural act, art or practice of disclosure or prognostication _aeromancy _n. divination by interpretation of atmospheric conditions, as the weather __austromancy __n. aeromancy by examination of winds, esp. the south wind __ceraunomancy/ceraunoscopy/keraunomancy __n. aeromancy by the study of lightning and thunder __chaomancy __n. aeromancy of aerial visions __meteormancy/meteoromancy __n. aeromancy exercised by the observation of meteors and shooting stars __nephelognosy __n. aeromancy derived from the examination of clouds _aleuromancy _n. divination communicated via slips of paper baked into doughballs _alphitomancy _n. divination whereby barley is sifted _ambulomancy _n. divination performed by walking __gyromancy __n. ambulomancy by which one circumambulates a central point, the crucial significance of which is usu. ascribed to the location where one falls in such a course _amniomancy _n. divination derived from inspection of the embryonic sac or amniotic fluid within _anthropomancy _n. divination involving the entrails of corpses _arithmancy/arithmomancy/arithomancy/numerology/numeromancy _n. a study of numbers (as a birthdate) to determine their preternatural significance _logarithmomancy _n. arithmancy concerning logarithms _aspidomancy _n. divination derived from scrutiny of a shield _astrology/genethliacs/genethlialogy/horoscopy _n. divination whereby the influence of the sun, moon and planets on activities, occurrences and personal characteristics is interpreted by studies of their motions and positions _astromancy/sideromancy _n. divination performed by an examination of the stars _augury _n. divination inferred from omens _axinomancy _n. prediction involving the use of an axhead or hatchet's head _capnomancy _n. divination conducted by the scrutiny of smoke _cartomancy _n. divination by the utility of playing cards _catoptromancy/enoptromancy _n. divination performed with a mirror and interpreted from its reflections _cephalomancy _n. hariolation performed by measurement of a skull _ceromancy _n. divination whereby the shapes of melted wax dropped into water are interpreted _chalcomancy _n. divination executed by the scrutiny of brass vessels _cheirognomy/cheiromancy/chirognomy/chiromancy/palmistry _n. a mode of divination whereby one's temperament is established or future and fortune prevised by an examination of the lines, marks and patterns on their palms and fingers _chronomancy _n. divination performed to ascertain the precise time when one must act _cleromancy/sortilege _n. prediction performed by drawing lots __astragalomancy/cleromancy/cubomancy __n. sortilege by which dice are thrown and futures are forecast by words formed from letters on the dice __belomancy __n. cleromancy interpeted from marks or words written on arrows which are randomly drawn from a quiver __bibliomancy/stichomancy __n. divination whereby randomly selected passages in a book (esp. the Holy Bible) are predictively interpreted ___rhapsodomancy ___n. bibliomancy whereby poetry is analyzed for predictive meaning __pessomancy/psephology/psephomancy __n. cleromancy performed by drawing or casting marked pebbles _crystallomancy/gastromancy _n. divination performed with a crystal or crystals, esp. a crystal ball _demonomancy _n. divination implicating a demon or demons _dowsing/rhabdomancy _n. divination whereby underground minerals, water, etc. are located with the use of a rod or wand _gastromancy _n. hariolation interpreted from gastric noises _geloscopy/gelotoscopy _n. hariolation discerning the individuality or future of a person from his laughter _geomancy _n. prophecy interpreted from a pattern of sand or soil tossed onto the ground _n. divination by which lines connecting randomized dots are analyzed _graptomancy _n. divination interpreted from someone's handwriting _hematomancy _n. bloody hariolation _hieromancy/hieroscopy _n. hariolation via the perusal of sacred objects or sacrificial remains __crithomancy __n. hieromancy performed by strewing, then studying grain or meal over the bodies of sacrificed animals __extispicy/haruspication/haruspicy __n. hieroscopy performed by scrutinizing the entrails of sacrificed animals _hydromancy _n. divination conducted by the scrutiny of aqueous motion and appearance __gastromancy __n. hydromancy performed by examination of a glass filled with water __lecanomancy __n. hydromancy given by the observation of water in a basin __pegomancy __n. hydromancy by which fountains or springs are studied for omens _ichnomancy _n. determination of one's personality by inspection of their footprints _ichthyomancy _n. hariolation performed by scrutinizing the head or entrails of fish _idolomancy _n. divination involving an idol or idols _lithomancy _n. divination done with the use of rocks or (usu. precious) stones _logomancy _n. divination derived from the scrutiny of words, usu. in conversation _margaritomancy _n. divination divined from a study of pearls _metopomancy _n. divination conducted by scrutiny of facial lineaments _molybdomancy _n. hariolation deduced from the motion of molten lead _moromancy _n. erroneous or asinine divination _nomancy/onomancy _n. hariolation interpreted from the study of letters, as of a name or in a graphological context _oenomancy/oinomancy _n. divination based on the observation of wine's properties _omphalomancy _n. divination by which a mother's future parity is predicted by counting the number of knots in her newborn's umbilical cord _oneiromancy _n. divination (esp. prediction) by interpretation of dreams _onychomancy _n. divination by inspection of fingernails _oomancy _n. divination applying eggs _osteomancy/osteomanty _n. hariolation performed by scrutinizing bones __omoplatoscopy __n. osteomancy by inspection of shoulder blades ___scapulomancy ___n. omoplatoscopy whereby a shoulder blade is heated by fire that inflicts cracks and fissures interpreted as omens ___spatulamancy ___n. omoplatoscopy utilizing an animal's shoulder blade(s) __sternomancy __n. osteomanty by study of a breastbone _pedomancy/podomancy _n. divination by study of the soles of the feet _phyllomancy _n. divination performed by studying leaves _pseudomancy _n. intentionally inaccurate or deceptive divination _psychomancy/sciomancy _n. hariolation imparted by communication with ghosts __necromancy/nigromancy __n. prognostication derived from communication with spirits of the deceased _pyromancy _n. divination by or connoting fire or flames __alomancy/halomancy __n. pyromancy performed by tossing salt into fire __anthracomancy __n. pyromancy performed by the scrutiny of burning coals __botanomancy __n. pyromancy by which fiery leaves and branches are studied for signs ___daphnomancy ___n. pyromancy by which laurel leaves are burnt __causinomancy __n. pyromancy involving the survey of objects tossed into a fire __empyromancy __n. pyromancy by which fire and smoke are interpreted __lampadomancy/lychnomancy __n. pyromancy derived from study of a lamp's or torch's flame __pyroscopy __n. pyromancy whereby a sheet of paper is burnt on a white surface and the resultant stains are scrutinized __sideromancy __n. pyromancy involving the observation of flames, smoke, shapes and sparks caused by the contact of straws burnt on a hot iron _pythonism _n. divination as done by Pythia, the high Dephic priestess _radiesthesia _n. the application of a pendulum to perform hariolation __cleidomancy/clidomancy __n. radiesthesia whereby a suspended key is bestowed __coscinomancy __n. radiesthesia whereby prophecy is determined by the movement of a sieve suspended by shears __dactyliomancy __n. divination implemented by application of a suspended finger ring _scatomancy _n. divination executed by an examination of feces __spatalamancy/spatilomancy __n. scatomancy of faunal feces _schematomancy _n. prediction of a person's future based on the study of their physical appearance _scyphomancy _n. divination by use of a cup _selenomancy _n. hariolation derived from lunar scrutiny _spasmatomancy _n. hariolation whereby a person's spasms and twitches are observed to augur their future disease _spodomancy _n. divination accomplished by the scrutiny of ashes __tephramancy/tephromancy __n. spodomancy interpreted from an examination of patterns in a sacrifice's ashes _stignomancy _n. divination performed by perusing that carved in a tree's bark _sycomancy _n. hariolation fulfilled by the study of figs or fig leaves _theomancy _n. hariolation by a divinely inspired person, as an oracle _theriomancy/zoomancy _n. prevision inferred from faunal action, movement or behavior __alectoromancy/alectryomancy __n. divination derived from the letters disclosed as a cock eats kernels of corn that mantle them __hippomancy __n. theriomancy interpreted from caballine movements and sounds __myomancy __n. zoomancy derived from the color and movements of mice __ophiomancy __n. theriomancy executed via the scrutiny of anguine motion or color __ornithomancy/ornithoscopy __n. zoomancy based on avian flight and vociferation _tyromancy _n. hariolation based on the scrutiny of cheese, esp. while coagulating _uromancy _n. divination by the observation of urine _xylomancy _n. divination exercized with (usu. small) pieces of wood incantation n. a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to induce magical effects invultuation n. a function of witchcraft in which a wax sculpture or doll fashioned in the likeness of someone is burnt, melted, stabbed, etc. to inflict parallel pain on the accursed subject metaphysical/mystic/mystical/occult/paranormal/preternatural/supernatural/supernormal/transcendental/weird a. of events, phenomena (as clairvoyance, telekinesis or telepathy) or manifestations (as ghosts or shades) to which a scientific or natural explanation cannot be ascribed philter/love potion n. a magic potion, esp. one which kindles love and desire for a particular person sprite/spirit/pixie/fay/fairy/faerie n. a tiny, mischievous, magical humanoid usu. possessing the power of flight talismanic a. invested with a protective magical power witch/spellbind/hex/fascinate/enthrall/ensorcell/enchant/charm/bewitch v. to cast a spell over someone to render them immobile, impressible or subject to other magical influences and effects thereof witched/spellbound/hexed/fascinated/enthralled/ensorcelled/enchanted/bewitched a. captive to, entranced, or influenced by a magical spell wizard/witch [OR] warlock/thaumaturgist/thaumaturge/sorceress [OR] sorcerer/magus/magician/magian/mage/enchantress [OR] enchanter n. one possessing magical powers who practices sorcery wraith/visitant/spook/specter/shadow/shade/phantom/ghost/apparition n. the incorporeal, often visible spirit of a deceased individual _revenant _n. a returning ghost _wraith _n. an apparition of someone witnessed shortly anterior to their death (usu. as an augury) ==MARINE & NAUTICAL== aft a. at or toward the stern apparel n. any vessel's equipment: anchor, cordage, sails, etc. argosy n. a large merchant ship, usu. one carrying a rich and opulent cargo n. a fleet of argosies bail n. to empty or remove water from a boat by filling a receptacle with it and emptying it over the vessel's side ballast n. any heavy material (gravel, sand, iron) placed to stabilize a vessel v. to stabilize a ship by depositing a heavy substance in its bilge or hold bay/bight n. a body of water partly enclosed by seaboard, the wide outlet of which renders access to a sea becalm v. to deprive a sailing vessel of the wind required to propel it berth n. a ship's allocated place at a dock, wharf or pier n. adequate space (esp. from a shoreline) in which a vessel may maneuver or navigate berth/dock v. to enter and moor at a berth, dock, pier, etc. _wharf _v. to dock or moor at a wharf berth/moorage/mooring(s) n. wherever a ship can be moored, esp. a pier _dock/jetty/pier/wharf _n. a platform supported by piles or pillars that extends from shore over water, where vessels may land to moor and stock or discharge _dock/slip _n. a berth betwixt two piers _wharf/quay _n. a landing pier constructed of solid masonry or steel and disposed parallel to a navigable river's shoreline or harbor's waterfront to facilitate landing and transfer of cargo bilge n. the curvilinear portion of a vessel's hull where its incurvate sides converge to its bottom _chine _n. the point where the side and bottom of a flatbottom boat intersect n. a hull's lowermost internal portion v. to breach a bilge and effect a leak v. to flood at the bilge, ensuing a leak bilge (water) n. water accumulated in the bilge of a ship, esp. that which stagnates bitt v. to wind and secure a line around a bitt or bitts bitt/bollard n. a short, thick, firm post on the deck of a ship or landing of a wharf or pier, around which mooring lines are secured _bitts _n. two strong, framed, vertical posts bolted to the deck beams at the fore of a ship, to which cables or ropes are fastened __bitt-heads __n. the posts of bitts _bollard timber/knighthead _n. either of of two timbers rising just within the stem in a ship, on either side of the bowsprit, to secure its interior end _kevel _n. a strong bollard or cleat to which large ropes (esp. hawsers) are belayed bower n. an anchor carried at and submerged from a ship's bow, esp. one of a duad cabotage n. navigation in coastal waters n. commerce implemented along a coast n. the act of conducting trade along a coast caisson n. a float employed to raise a sunken vessel caisson n. a pressurized, watertight chamber in which construction is implemented underwater caisson/cofferdam n. a large box fastened to the side of a ship for the underwater repair of its hull canal a. long, narrow, artificial waterway constructed to admit inland passage of vessels or convey water for irrigation _acequia _n. an irrigation canal careen/heel/list v. (of a vessel) to incline laterally, usu. attendant of a leak or unbalanced cargo cetacean a. of, pertaining or belonging to the marine order Cetacea and its members: dolphins, porpoises, whales _delphine _a. of, regarding or characteristic of the dolphin coast v. to sail near or by a coast cordage n. a vessel's cords or ropes, esp. those of its rigging _hawser _n. a large, heavy cable or rope with which a vessel is moored or towed _ratlin(e) _n. any of several small ropes horizontally fastened to a ship's shrouds and used as a ladder cove n. a small, sheltered recess of a shoreline; a wee inlet dockyard/shipyard n. a waterside array of docks, dry docks, warehouses and workshops where ships are constructed, maintained and repaired dory n. a small, narrow rowboat featuring a flat bottom, high sides and an acute stem ensign n. a national flag, banner or standard flown by a (usu. naval or military) vessel to indicate its provenance escutcheon n. the portion of or a plate fixed to a vessel's stern on which its name is blazoned estuary n. the wide tidal debouchure of a large river where its current meets the sea's tide, containing an admixture of fresh and salt water euripus n. a sea channel distinguished by strong, tempestuous and unpredictable currents firth/frith n. a long, narrow coastal inlet, often part of an estuary fleet/navy n. the largest organized unit of naval vessels grouped to attain an objective under the direction of a single commander n. multiple warships organized as a tactical unit, normally under one command _armada _n. any fleet of warships _flotilla _n. a small naval fleet _n. a fleet of small naval vessels flotsam n. the wreckage of a sunken ship or its cargo found floating on the water fluke n. either of two broad, flat, trilateral plates projecting from an anchor's arm designed to catch in the ground fore a. at or toward the bow gaff n. an iron hook fixed to a handle or shaft used to land fish v. to hook, impale or land with a gaff gaff n. a spar rising aft from a mast to support the head of a quadrilateral fore-and-aft sail gimlet v. to turn an anchor by its stock with a motion akin to that of a gimlet grapnel/grapple/grappling n. a light anchor for small boats terminating in three or more flukes groundswell n. a broad, deep swell or undulation in the sea, often provoked by a distant storm or earthquake gunwale/gunnel n. the upper edge or planking of a vessel's side harbor/haven/port n. a sheltered coastal area where vessels may dock or anchor, often containing piers or jetties _marina _n. a luxury harbor where pleasure vessels and small boats may dock harborage n. shelter for vessels, as that afforded by harbors harborside n. the area directly contiguous to a harbor harpoon n. a barbed missile or throwing spear affixed to a line and used to catch sharks, whales and other large marine animals v. to spear with a harpoon _fluke _n. a harpoon's barbed head head n. a ship's lavatory jetsam/jetsom/jettison n. cargo or other refuse cast overboard (usu. in accordance with a shift to lighten the vessel) that have either sunk or washed ashore _lagan/ligan _n. jetsom affixed to a buoy to enable recovery jettison v. to forcibly discharge cargo from a ship whilst at sea to lighten its load, esp. as a shift during an emergency jumper n. a line fastened to preclude the jumping of a yard or mast kedge v. to draw a vessel forth by retracting the line of a light anchor submerged some distance away n. a small, light anchor normally employed to kedge a ship keelson n. a fortifying longitudinal girder fixed above and parallel to a vessel's keel landing n. anywhere (a dock, pier, wharf, etc.) people or cargo may be landed _landing stage _n. a platform -- either floating or a constituent of a pier or wharf -- onto which passengers disembark or cargo is unloaded _levee _n. a landing for riverboats landlubber/lubber n. anyone unfamiliar with the sea or unaccustomed to seamanship landsman n. someone domiciled or employed on land lee n. any side away from the wind's direction a. at, of, on, pertaining to or toward a side away or sheltered from wind leister n. a fishing spear terminating to treble prongs used to transfix fish v. to spear with a leister (sea) loch n. a long, narrow, partially landlocked sea inlet, occasionally interposed betwixt steep cliffs luff n. the leading edge of a fore-and-aft sail v. to steer a sailing vessel closer or directly into the wind, prompting her sails to flap v. (of a sail or sails) to flap whilst losing wind maelstrom n. a colossal, powerful, violent whirpool manifest n. a comprehensive customs document in which a ship's or plane's crew, cargo and passengers are itemized mast n. a tall post positioned at a vessel's centerline from which sails, spars and derricks are slung, navigation is conducted and navigation lights, signal lamps, radio aerials, etc. are hung _foremast/fore-mast _n. the first mast, fore of the main-mast _mainmast/main-mast _n. the tallest of a vessel's masts, usually situated at the ship's center _mizenmast/mizzenmast/mizzen-mast _n. the second or third mast proximately aft of the main-mast mate n. any officer junior in rank below the master of a commercial vessel _(first) mate _n. a commanding officer of a merchant ship directly subordinate to its captain moor v. to immobilize a vessel by anchoring or fastening lines to bollards moorage n. the act of mooring a vessel n. a charge or payment for the use of moorings oakum n. loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unraveling old ropes; impregnated with tar, it's used to caulk seams of wooden ships octopine a. of or regarding the octopus odobenine a. of of concerning the walrus offing n. any area of the sea visible from a coast pay v. to coat a ship's seams with a waterproofing substance such as tar, pitch or asphalt pelagic a. of, pertaining to or inhabiting open seas or oceans rather than waters proximate to or surrounded by land pennon/pennant/burgee n. a tapering, conventionally triangular flag flown at the masthead of a commissioned vessel to provide signal or identification pharology n. the practice or techniques of guiding ships with signal lights, as those shone from lighthouses phocine a. of, pertaining or belonging to Phocinae, family of the harbor and harp seals piscine a. of, pertaining to, resembling or characteristic of fish _elasmobranch/selachian _a. of, concerning or belonging to the cartilaginous Elasmobranchii/Selachii: dogfish, rays, sharks and skates pitch v. (of a vessel's bow and stern) to dip and rise in alternation n. the interchanging rise and fall of a ship's bow and stern port/larboard n. the left forward side of a vessel a. of, on or regarding the port av. to or toward the port quayside n. an area adjoining a quay or system thereof rudder n. a steering mechanism consisting of a hinged, vertical plate mounted to the stern of a vessel _tiller _n. a bar or lever used to turn a boat's rudder school/shoal n. any large group of aquatic animals (esp. fish) that swim in confluence, esp. during migration _gam _n. a school of whales scow n. a large, orthogonal boat, usu. a light freighter scud v. to run a vessel before a gale with scant (if any) sail set scyphozoan a. of, concerning or belonging to Scyphozoa, the class of true marine jellyfishes seize v. to bind a rope to another or a spar setline/trawl (line) n. a long, buoyed fishing line extended across a span of sea to which shorter hooked, baited lines are fastened at intervals shoal n. a submerged sandbank visible at low tide shoal/shallow n. any stretch of shallow water, which often comprises a navigational hazard skiff n. a small, shallow, often flatbottom boat propelled by sail, oars or motor starboard n. the right forward side of a vessel a. of, on or pertaining to the starboard av. to or toward the starboard stem/prow/head/fore/bow n. the forward end of a vessel _cutwater _n. the forward edge of a bow stern n. the rear end of a vessel _taffrail _n. a stern's upper portion, which is often ornately carved _n. a rail around a stern, often above its transom _transom _n. a flat surface forming a vessel's horizontal stern surf/breakers n. sea waves that break to foam on a shore tack v. to alter the course of a sailboat _tack/beat _v. to change course by turning a vessel's head windward, so to redirect the wind to its opposite side; often executed along a zigzag course _n. any such windward course _n. an act of tacking tar/seaman/seafarer/salt/sailor/rating/matelot/mariner/Jack n. anyone proficient in seamanship who directs or ministrates a vessel's navigation _lubber/landsman/landlubber _n. an unseasoned sailor _shellback/sea dog/(old) salt _n. a veteran sailor, esp. of advanced years _shellback _n. any sailor who's crossed the equator thimble n. a grooved metal ring fixed to line any of a sail's eyes to forfend tears or corrasion thwart n. a broad trave used as a seat in a rowboat or skiff tide n. the cyclic rise and fall of the sea level occasioned by lunar and solar gravitational influences v. to drift or ride with the tide v. to be carried by the tide veer v. to steer a vessel away from the wind; to turn the stern windward _broach _v. to veer broadside to wind and wave wake n. a track of waves or turbulence left by a vessel's passage through water wharf v. to store or discharge at a wharf v. to supply with a wharf or services thereof wharfage n. wharves (collectively) n. the utilization of a wharf n. accommodations furnished for the loading, unloading or storage of goods at a wharf n. charges or payment tendered for those aforementioned services whitecap n. a wave swelling to a broken, foamy crest windlass n. a winch comprehending a horizontal drum or barrel on which rope or chain is wound when lifting a load to which it's secured; utilized on ships to hoist anchors v. to raise or haul with a windlass yawl n. a sailing vessel possessing two masts: a mainmast and mizzenmast or jiggermast aft of its rudderpost yawl n. a ship's small boat rowed by a crew of four to six ==MATHEMATICS== 0/aught/cipher/cypher/naught/nought/null/ought/zero n. a digit denoting an absolute absence of quantity and a mathematical element that yields the same number as another to which it's added or subtracted analyze/dissect v. to conduct a mathematical analysis of a problem, equation, etc. arithmology n. the conveyance of a concept by dint of a mathematical device calculate/cipher/compute/cypher/figure/reckon v. to verify by the execution of a mathematical procedure _add (up, together)/sum (up)/summate/total _v. to ascertain the aggregate or total of several items, numbers, quantities, etc. added together _count/enumerate/number/numerate/reckon/tally _v. to determine the number or amount of, usu. by checking or naming one after another _prorate _v. to calculate proportionately commensurable a. having the same divisor or measure; precisely divisible by the same unit, as 14 and 21 of 7 constant n. an unspecified quantity of invariant value in a specific mathematical context n. any symbol representing such an amount count/counting/enumeration/numeration/reckoning n. the act of counting, esp. by reciting numbers in (usu. ascending) order disjoint a. (of two or more sets) having no common elements equation n. a mathematical (usu. algebraic) statement asserting the equipollence of two expressions exponent/index/power n. a superscript number or variable indicating the number of times a number or expression it succeeds and surmounts is multiplied by itself parity n. a relation between a pair of integers: if both are odd or even, they have the same parity proportional a. (of multiple quantities) possessing a constant or the same ratio quotient n. the ratio of two quantities to be divided n. a number obtained by division transpose n. a matrix formed by interchanging the rows and columns of another transpose v. to reverse the position and sign (to maintain equality) of a term in an algebraic equation variable n. a quantity to which any among a set of values may be assigned n. a symbol (usu. an alphabetical character) emblematic of a variable, as a, b, c, x, y, etc. a. characteristic of a variable: possessing no fixed quantitative value ==MEASUREMENT & QUANTITIES== abounding/abundant/ample/bounteous/bountiful/considerable/copious/extensive/full/fulsome/generous/huge/lavish/liberal/massive/opulent/plenteous/plentiful/plenty/profuse/rich/rife/substantial/substantive/tremendous/vast a. of, yielding, characterized by, or available or existing in great quantity or supply _excess/extra/overabundant/plethoric/redundant/superabundant/supererogatory/superfluous/supernumerary/surplus/wanton _a. exceedingly abundant; of a quantity surpassing requirement, normality, necessity, expectation, desire or consumption amount/measure/quantity/quantum/volume n. however much or many constitute what one may quantify _abatement/decrease/reduction _n. a quantum by which something has been decreased _abundance/amplitude/lot/mass/plenitude/plenteousness/plentifulness/plentitude/plenty/profusion/quantity/stack/volume/wealth _n. a large quantity of something __embarrassment/excess/glut/nimiety/overabundance/overplus/plethora/superabundance/superfluity/surfeit/surplus/surplusage __n. an immoderate abundance exceeding desire, necessity or requirement __amplitude/fill/plenty __n. any abundance that normally comprises a full supply _allocation/allotment/cut/dividend/lot/moiety/portion/quantum/ration/share/slice/tranche _n. a parceled amount of a sum divided between two or more people or groups __cut/share/slice __n. a portion of profit __quota __n. a proportional allocation _basin/basinful _n. the amount a basin can contain _bit/dash/dot/modicum/ounce/shred/sprinkle/sprinkling/tad/touch/trifle _n. a small measure __atom/drop/grain/hint/iota/particle/scintilla/scruple/shade/smidge(n)/smidgin/soupcon/speck/trace __n. a tiny, often scarcely detectable bit __grain/jot/particle/tittle/whit __n. the smallest scruple of anything _dearth/paucity/scarcity _n. an insufficient amount _deficiency/deficit/insufficiency/lack/shortfall/shortage/want _n. a quantity by which something is deficient _increase/raise/rise _n. a quantity by which something has increased _lot/parcel _n. an amount of emptional commodities or merchandise _measure/modicum _n. a moderate volume _precipitation _n. the measure of hail, rain, sleet or snow that falls to earth at a particular place during a specified period of time _puncheon _n. the volume of a puncheon (70 to 120 gallons) used as a measure _(polar) vector _n. any variable quantity (usu. force or velocity) specified by a magnitude and a direction aught/nada/naught/nil/nix/nought/nothing/null/zero/zilch/zip/zippo n. a complete absence of quantity battalion/host/lot/mass/multiplicity/multitude/plurality/stack n. a great number of things or people Brobdingnagian/colossal/elephantine/enormous/gargantuan/giant/gigantic/grand/great/huge/humongous/immane/immense/jumbo/mammoth/massive/mastodontic/mighty/monstrous/mountainous/prodigious/stupendous/titanic/tremendous/vast/whopping a. extremely or exceptionally large bushel n. a British unit of dry or fluid measure equivalent to 8 Imperial gallons, 36.38 liters, 2,219.36 cubic inches or 0.03637 cubic meters n. a United States unit of dry measure equal to 35.24 liters, 64 pints, 4 pecks, 2,150.42 cubic inches and 0.03524 cubic meters butt n. 126 U.S. gallons, two hogsheads or approximately 477 liters commensurable/commensurate/proportional/proportionate a. corresponding in proper or relative amount, degree or size commensurable/commensurate a. subject to measurement by a common standard decade n. a group or set of ten deficient/exiguous/insufficient/meager/measly/paltry/poor/scanty/slender/stingy a. inadequate in amount dimensions/magnitude/measurements/proportions/size n. something's spatial properties _enormity/enormousness/grandness/greatness/hugeness/immanity/immensity/magnitude/size/vastness _n. prodigious proportions _magnitude/measurements/proportion/scale _n. relative size dram/drachm(a) n. a unit of apothecary weight equal to one-eighth of an ounce, or sixty grains duad/dyad/twain/two/twosome n. two items or units accounted as a set or group _brace/couple/couplet/doublet/duad/duo/dyad/pair _n. twain correspondent or equivalent articles or constituents usu. intended to be used together entropy n. a thermodynamic quantity representing the amount of energy in a process or system that is no longer available for work furlong n. a spatial unit equal to 660 feet, 201.168 meters, one-eighth of a mile or 220 yards gill n. a small unit of liquid measure equal to a quarter of a pint, four fluid ounces or 118 milliliters longitudinal a. of or pertaining to longitude or length measure/metric/metrology/scale n. any system or standard of related measures that facilitates mensuration or quantification of specific properties _metric system _n. a decimal system of weights and measures based on the units of longitudinal meter (39.370079 inches), ponderary gram (0.0022046226 pounds) and quantitative liter (1.0566882 liquid quarts), first proposed by French astronomer and mathematician Gabriel Mouton in 1670, and standardized in France in the 1790s metric(al) a. of or relating to measurement _quantitative _n. of or regarding mensuration of quantity _volumetric(al) _a. of, concerning, employing or involving measurement by volume metric a. of or regarding distance metric a. of or pertaining to the metric system or the meter metrology n. the science and scientific study of measurement ponderary a. of or concerning weight score n. a group or set of twenty scruple n. a unit of apothecary weight equal to 20 grains stature/height n. the vertical distance between the lowest and highest points of an object or someone standing upright ternary/threefold/treble/trifold/tripartite/triple/triplex a. involving or consisting of three components, parties, units, etc. threefold/treble/trifold/triple a. three times as great, many or much ==MEDICINE== ablate/extirpate v. to surgically remove an organ or bodily structure _amputate _v. to ablate a limb, digit or portion thereof _decerebrate _v. to abstract the cerebrum, or cut the spinal cord or arteries at the brain stem, to terminate cerebral function _enervate _v. to extirpate a nerve or portion thereof _enucleate _v. to extirpate an intact eye, tumor, etc. from its cover or capsule abrade/bark/chafe/gall/graze/scrape/scratch v. to wear (usu. superficial) skin off or away by application of friction _graze/scratch _v. to chafe slightly abrasion/gall/scrape n. a (usu. light) dermal wound inflicted by friction _graze/scratch _n. a minor abrasion abscess n. a localized cumulation of pus surrounded by inflamed, infected tissue, as a boil, carbuncle or whitlow acute a. (of a disease or symptoms thereof) severe, yet fugitive adjuvant n. an appurtenant drug immixed or administered with another (esp. an antigen) to enhance its effect aetiology/etiology n. a branch of medical science concerning the causes and origins of disease n. a disease's cause or source agglutinate v. to induce cohesion of bacteria, red blood cells, etc. alcoholic/bibulous/boozy a. addicted to alcohol alleviant/palliative n. a remedy that assuages pain without curing the malady from which it eventuates, as an anodyne _analgesic/anodyne/painkiller _n. an agent (esp. a drug) that allays pain, as acetaminophen __demulcent __n. a (usu. mucilaginous) substance that relieves irritation of inflamed skin or esp. mucous membranes by coating them with a soothing, protective film amentia/idiocy n. extreme mental retardation analgesia n. an inability to feel pain n. an absence of pain, esp. that induced without a loss of consciousness analgesic/analgetic/anodyne a. alleviating or eliminating pain anaudia n. the absence or loss of one's aural modality anosmia n. diminution or loss of one's sense of smell, usu. consequent of a lesion afflicting the olfactory nerve, nasal obturation or disease anterograde a. of amnesia inhibiting the development of memories subsequent to causal trauma antidotary n. a treatise on the subject of antidotes antigen a. any substance that foments the production of antibodies and excites an attendant immune response, as bacteria, foreign blood cells or toxins antitrismus n. an inability to close the mouth caused by a tonic muscular spasm aphasia n. an inability to communicate by or discern spoken or written language resultant of brain damage _anomia _n. aphasia manifest as mnemonic lapses whereby names cannot be recalled _dysphasia _n. aphasia symptomatic of a cerebral lesion _paraphasia _n. aphasia impairing the ability to recall the appropriate words to express oneself apoplexy/cerebrovascular accident/CVA/ictus/stroke n. an abrupt loss of brain function (usu. ensuant to a cerebral hemmorhage) effecting unconsciousness and cerebral anoxia that may inflict neurological damage from which paralysis, speech impairment, a coma or death may issue asthenic a. of, regarding or afflicted by asthenia: suffering from an abnormal paucity of bodily strength or vitality astringent/styptic n. a substance (esp. a drug or lotion) that causes contraction and constriction of bodily tissues and canals a. contracting or constricting tissues or blood vessels, often to curb or obstruct the secretion of bodily fluids atony n. an abnormal dearth of muscular tension or tonus attenuate v. to diminish the virulence of a bacterium or virus, as by heating bilious/biliary a. of or pertaining to bile _biliary _a. conveying bile _a. of or regarding bile ducts _bilious/choleric _a. of an immoderate secretion of bile or any disorder so symptomatic _bilious/liverish/livery _a. suffering from or suggesting a liver disorder or resultant gastric distress blackout/deliquium/faint/swoon/syncope n. an abrupt, spontaneous, temporary loss of consciousness caused by an immediate drop in blood pressure or cerebral hypoxia blackout/faint/swoon v. to lose consciousness, suddenly and pro tempore bruise/contuse v. to inflict an injury that discolors skin by rupturing blood vessels without puncturing the epidermis bruise/contusion n. an injury by which unbroken skin is discolored by ruptured, underlying blood capillaries caduceus n. the winged wand entwined by a twain of serpents and possessed by the numinous Greek/Roman herald Hermes/Mercury, utilized as an emblem of the medical profession canker/ulcer/ulceration n. an open dermal sore that heals slowly, to which an abscess is often concomitant _canker (sore) _n. an ulcerous open sore of one's lips or interior oral lining carious a. (of teeth or bone) decayed cataract n. partial or complete opacity of the ocular lens that inflicts impaired vision or blindness chlorosis/greensickness n. an anemia affecting adolescent girls suffering a deficit of iron, of which palpitation, enfeeblement and yellow-green skin are symptomatic communicable/contagious/infectious/infective a. (of a disease or causative agent thereof) capable of being transmitted from one individual to another comorbid a. (of maladies) coexisting or concurrent comorbidity n. contemporaneity of multiple illnesses, diseases, etc. concretion n. a solid, ordinarily inorganic mass in a bodily cavity or tissue formed by local accumulation n. the accretive process by which a concretion is formed _calculus _n. a concretion (usu. composed of mineral salts) that forms in bodily ducts or hollow organs, esp. the gallbladder or kidneys conglutination/union n. any healing process of reintegration whereby the edges of a wound or a broken bone's parts grow together consumption n. any condition whereby bodily tissues waste away, such as pulmonary tuberculosis contagious/infectious/infective/pestiferous/pestilent a. (of an organism or individual) carrying or spreading a contagious disease crepitation/crepitus n. a crackling noise within the chest sounded during pneumonia or other diseases afflicting the lungs n. the rude sound of a broken bone's edges when they rub against one another diagnostic a. of, concerning or employed in the identification and evaluation of an illness, injury or any other malady diarrhea/flux n. an intestinal disorder that occasions frequent, surplus egestion of liquid fecal matter disarticulate/disjoint/dislocate/luxate v. to separate bones at their joints disarticulated/disjointed/dislocated a. (of bones) disconnected at their joints diseased/morbid/pathologic(al) a. of, concerning, causing, caused or altered by disease dispense v. to prepare and distribute (usu. prescription) medication dress v. to apply medicine, bandages, etc. to a wound dyspepsia/indigestion n. sensations of bloating, heartburn, nausea and abdominal discomfort or pain symptomatic of impaired digestive function dyspeptic/indigestive a. appertaining to or afflicted with indigestion emetic/nauseant/vomit(ive) n. a medicine (either an agent or drug) that induces vomiting empiric/quack n. a charlatan who pretends to be a doctor or professes medical skill or qualifications endemic n. a disease or disorder peculiar to people of a certain region, locality or ethnicity endemic(al) a. (of a disease) predominant among or exclusive to people of a particular territory, site or ethnicity enervation n. the extirpation of a nerve or portion thereof engorge v. (of an organ, skin, etc.) to swell or cause to tumesce with blood, water or other fluid epidemic a. (of a disease) spreading rapidly by infection to affect many people of a locality or population concurrently epistaxis/nosebleed n. bleeding from the nostril evert v. to turn a bodily structure or organ outward or inside out febrile/fevered/feverish/feverous/pyretic/pyrexial/pyrexic a. of, concerning, manifesting symptoms of or suffering from a fever feverish/feverous/pyretic a. inducing fever fistula n. an anomalous bodily duct or passage produced by a congenital disorder, disease or injury connecting an abscess, cavity or organ to the dermal surface or another organ gangrene/mortification/necrosis/sphacelus n. localized death, decomposition and putrefaction of living cells proceeding from infection or hypoxia _infarction _n. localized necrosis ensuing obstruction of the blood supply to an organ or tissue gangrene/mortify/necrose/sphacelate v. (of living tissue) to gradually die and decay ensuant to a hypoxic, infectious or diseased condition geriatrics n. the branch of medical science treating of diseases and problems specific to elderly people gerontology/gerocomy n. the scientific study of the aging process and problems unique to the elderly graft/implant/transplant n. an organ or living tissue (esp. skin) surgically transferred from one part of a body to another, or from a donor's body to that of a recipient v. to surgically remove an organ or other tissue from one part of a body to another, or from a donor's body to that of a recipient graft/transplant n. a surgical operation whereby living tissue is transplanted hypochondria/hypochondriasis n. a psychological disorder whereby one suffers from anxious prepossession regarding illness hypochondriac/valetudinarian/valetudinary n. a person who is anxiously, often morbidly obsessed with their health, and liable to believe that they are or will become ill despite an absence of symptoms a. obsessively, often morbidly concerned about one's health hypoxia/anoxia n. a shortfall of oxygen in arterial blood, inspired gases, organs or tissues icteric/jaundiced a. affected by jaundice, of which dermal and ocular yellowing eventuates icterus/jaundice n. yellowing of the skin and the whites of one's eyes prompted by an accumulation of bile (bilirubin) pigment in the blood, which is in turn symptomatic of gallstones, an obstruction of the bile duct, hepatic infection, hepatitis or anemia incurable/irremediable/untreatable a. (of a disease) incapable of being cured incurable n. a person whose disease is incurable infarct(ion) n. necrotic or dead tissue resulting from a deficient supply of blood infectious/infective/pestiferous/pestilent/pestilential a. producing disease _virulent _a. extremely infective influenza/grippe/grip/flu n. an acute, febrile, highly infectious viral disease entailing prostration, respiratory inflammation and alternating fever and chills infuse v. to introduce a fluid into a body through a vein for therapeutic purposes intumescence n. any distended organ or body part invalid/valetudinarian/valetudinary n. someone suffering from or incapacitated by disability or chronic illness a. suffering from or disabled by injury or illness a. of, for or regarding invalids inversion n. the anomalous position of an organ turned upside down or inside out, as the upper portion of the uterus when pulled into the cervical canal succeeding childbirth irritable a. (of an organ or appendage) exceptionally sensitive to stimuli jactitation/jactation n. extremely restless tossing whilst reposed, usu. induced by illness laxative n. any agent (usu. a drug or food) that induces defecation a. stimulating laxation _aperient _n. a mild laxative _a. gently laxative lazaret/lazarette/lazaretto/lazar house/pesthouse n. a hospital where people suffering from infectious diseases (esp. leprosy or plague) are quarantined and treated lethargy n. a condition of extreme torpor symptomatic of a disease lockjaw/trismus n. an early symptom of tetanus, whereby a tonic mandibular contraction locks one's jaws shut so that they're difficult or impossible to open metastasize v. (of cancerous cells or pathogenic microorganisms) to spread throughout the body via blood or lymphatic vessels mimesis n. any disease generating symptoms characteristic of another n. palpable symptoms engendered by hysteria of a disease that isn't present modality n. any method of therapy that requires physical treatment, as surgery or electrotherapy nostrum n. a bogus, ineffectual medicine prepared and administered by a quack obdormition n. appendicular numbness and subsequent paresthesia induced by pressure applied to a nerve or prolonged dearth of movement palpate v. to examine an area of a body or organ by touching, esp. as a means of diagnosis paresthesia n. a tingling, pricking, itching or burning sensation elicited by damage to or pressure on (as of obdormition) peripheral nerves, neurological disorders, deficient circulation, and sundry other diseases parturient a. at the threshold of giving birth; in labor a. in the process of giving birth pathology/pathobiology n. the branch of medical science concerning the origins, development, processes, and effects of diseases pathology n. the condition of an organ, tissue or fluid afflicted with disease n. the aggregate manifestations (esp. those evinced as symptoms) of a disease periodontal disease/pyorrhoea n. inflammation of gums inflicting suppuration and loosed teeth pharmacology n. the science of drugs, by which their sources, chemistry, properties, preparation, effects and clinical applications are studied pharmacopoeia/pharmacopeia n. a book containing a list of medicinal drugs, their formulas, applications, dosages, effects and preparation, usu. issued by an official authority and regarded as an authoritative standard photopathy n. any pathological effect induced by light _photalgia _n. ocular pain provoked by fulgency _photophobia _n. uncommon sensitivity to light, often symptomatic of optic inflammation __photodysphoria __n. severe photophobia phototherapeutics/phototherapy n. treatment of a (usu. dermal) disease by exposure to light, including infared and ultraviolet radiation pill/tab/tablet n. a compressed dose of medicine in the form of a small capsule, disk, pellet or tablet, intended for oral consumption _lozenge/pastille/troche _n. a small, medicated candy tablet that's chewed or slowly dissolved in the mouth, usu. to sooth irritated or inflamed jugular tissues _pilule _n. a small pill placebo n. a faux, inert medication administered or sham procedure conducted for the psychological benefit of a patient who presumes its authenticity n. an inactive substance administered to a control group as ostensive medicine in experiments conducted to determine the efficacy of a drug pregnant/gravid/expectant/enceinte a. carrying a developing fetus or fetuses in one's uterus (medical) prognosis n. a prediction regarding the pending course and outcome of a disease or disorder n. the prospect of recovery from a disease prophylaxis n. prevention of or protection from disease quinine n. a bitter drug derived from cinchona bark utilized to treat malaria rash/efflorescence n. a dermal eruption or cluster thereof inflicted by allergy, infection, etc. refractory/obstinate a. (of an illness, infection or afflicted tissue) resistant or unresponsive to treatment remission n. a subsidence or abeyance of (and attendant respite from) a disease's symptoms rheum n. a watery discharge of the mucous membranes that seeps from the eyes or nose, as during a cold rheumatism n. any of numerous painful, stiffening disorders afflicting bones, joints, muscles, tendons or nerves such as bursitis, osteoarthritis, and back and neck pain _rheumatoid arthritis/atrophic arthritis _n. a chronic autoimmune disease inflicting symptoms of joint inflammation (and incident deformity), osteoporosis, vascular inflammation (vasculitis), dermal bumps (rheumatoid nodules) and lung disease rhinitis n. inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes sawbones/surgeon n. a physician who specializes in and performs surgery sclerosis/induration n. the hardening of a bodily tissue commonly provoked by inflammation or neoplastic infiltration sclerotic/sclerosed a. relating to or affected by sclerosis scurfy/scaly/leprose/lepidote/furfuraceous a. producing or coated with shredded, peeling or flaking dry skin, as dandruff snowblind a. temporarily blinded by snowlight somatophrenia n. a valetudinarian inclination to imagine or hyperbolize illness or injury soporific/hypnotic n. an agent (esp. a drug) that induces sleep spasm/seizure/paroxysm/ictus/fit/convulsion n. sudden, involuntary muscular contractions prompting contorted, violent, irregular movements; ordinarily excited by neurological disorders such as epilepsy sprue n. a chronic, primarily tropical disease incurring intestinal malabsorption from which anemia, diarrhea, emaciation, flatulence and ulceration eventuate stenosis/stricture n. abnormal constriction of a bodily duct or passage, as a canal subsultus n. any unusual bodily twitching _jactitation/jactation _n. muscular subsultus suppurate/fester v. (of a wound or sore) to generate or discharge pus _abscess _v. to form an inflamed and localized accretion of pus suture n. the act of sewing two bodily surfaces together, as the skin of an open wound v. to join flesh, skin, etc. by means of suture n. fine surgical thread (usu. catgut, silk thread or wire) used to sew two bodily surfaces together n. an organic, usu. dermal seam or scar attending a surgical stitch symptom n. any divergence of physical or mental function or features (esp. an impairment) that indicates and characterizes a disease or other disorder symptomatic a. of, according to, betraying, concerning or constituting a symptom or symptoms telangiectasia/telangiectasis n. chronic, unnatural dilation of capillaries or terminal arteries generating raised, red dermal blotches, usu. consequential of alcoholism or exposure to extreme cold travail/parturiency/labor n. the ultimate stage of a pregnancy, spanning the onset of uterine contractions to childbirth _confinement/accouchement _n. the duration of a parturiency _n. a woman's condition in labor theriac n. any ointment or potion applied or ingested as the antidote to a poison treacle n. any of various medicinal compounds formerly dispensed as antidotes for poison triage n. prioritization of emergency patients and apposite allocation of medical treatment on the bases of need, exigency and probable benefit unguent/unction/salve/ointment n. a medicinal fluid or lotion applied externally to treat, soothe or palliate a contusion, irritation, sprain. etc. _balsam/balm _n. a fragrant salve __balsam __n. a fragrant ointment containing a balsam _liniment/embrocation _n. an ointment applied to skin to soothe stiffness, soreness, sprain or inflammation wale/weal/welt n. a raised dermal mark caused by a blow or lash, esp. that inflicted by a whip zoonosis n. any infectious disease transmitted between species, esp. from animals to humans zoonotic a. of diseases transmitted from one species to another and esp. from animals to humans, as rabies or trichinosis ==MISCELLANY== abundance/argosy/plenty n. a great or rich supply of anything _glut/overabundance/oversupply/superfluity _n. a supply exceeding need accolade/award n. any prize (such as a trophy, medal, laurel, ribbon or palm) or privilege signifying approval or distinction in recognition of an achievement or merit accretion n. biological growth by addition, esp. adhesion of usu. individual parts or particles adjunct/appendage/attachment n. a subordinate part added or attached to something larger or more important _complement/supplement _n. something added to complete or compensate for the deficiency of something else aegis/auspice(s)/patronage n. support, protection or sponsorship provisioned by a particular person or organization aetiology/etiology n. the study or science of causes, causation and causality agglomerate n. a clustered mass or collection of things allograph n. a proxy's signature ambit/area/compass/orbit/purview/range/region/scope/territory n. an extent of activity or function _sweep _n. an extremely wide orbit ambit/area/compass/range/scope n. a range of applicability _sweep _n. an extremely wide scope ambit/area/compass/jurisdiction/orbit/purview/range/remit n. an extent of authority, control or influence ambit/area/compass/purview/range n. a span of familiarity or competence _sweep _n. an extensive purview anachronism n. anything chronologically misplaced, esp. that which is conspicuously demode analog/counterpart/equivalent/match/obverse/parallel/similitude n. a person or thing similar, resembling or correspondent to another in value, significance, function, or characteristics anathema n. something that's loathed anthropopsychism n. any attribution of a soul corresponding to that of a human to nature aperture/opening/orifice/void n. a natural or artificial open or vacant space, as a gap, hole, slit, slot, etc. _gap/hiatus/lacuna/void _n. any empty space or interval aphrodisiac n. an agent (such as a food, drink or drug) that stimulates sexual desire appointment/berth/billet/job/place/position/post/situation n. a position of employment, esp. in an organization _legation/legateship _n. the office or post of an envoy arcanum/enigma/mystery/secret n. a thing or event that's unknown, inexplicable or inscrutable, the obscurity of which arouses curiosity arcanum/elixir n. an alchemic remedy archetype/byword/epitome/example/exemplar/exemplification/image/model/paradigm/prototype/specimen n. something typical of a particular class or group artifice/contrivance/expedient/shift n. a convenient solution that may be immoral or unethical assortment/medley/mélange/miscellanea/miscellany/mixture/omnium-gatherum/potpourri/salmagundi/variety n. any collection of heterogeneous things _chaos/clutter/confusion/farrago/gallimaufry/hash/hodgepodge/jumble/medley/mélange/mingle-mangle/mishmash/omnium-gatherum/pastiche/ragbag/welter _n. a confused, usu. messy miscellany attitude n. the incline of an aircraft's axes relative to the ground, horizon, wind, etc. aught n. anything at all autology n. study of oneself avatar/byword/embodiment/epitome/image/incarnation/personification n. any tangible thing that represents or demonstrates an attitude, concept, principle, quality or spirit _quintessence _n. the perfect or purest epitome azoology n. the study of inanimate natural phenomena bagatelle/fluff/frippery/frivolity/trifle/trinket/triviality n. something of negligible value or significance _bauble/bibelot/chachka/falderal/falderol/folderol/kickshaw/knickknack/novelty/tchotchke/trinket _n. an ornamental article bereft of significant function or value __gaud/geegaw/gewgaw/gimcrack __n. a gaudy bauble bailiwick/forte/metier/niche/specialty n. a professional or avocational pursuit for which one evinces an assured aptitude ballast n. anything providing or endowing stability battledore (and shuttlecock) n. a racket game played with flat wooden paddles (battledores) and shuttlecocks that anticipated badminton beau ideal/best/creme de la creme/exemplar/flower/ideal/jewel/model/nonesuch/nonpareil/paradigm/paragon/perfection n. something deemed an unrivaled model of excellence or a kind of perfection bellicism n. a preference for or advocacy of war billet/note n. a brief, customarily informal letter billet n. a short, thick chunk of wood, usu. expended as firewood biosophy n. self-improvement by means of autodidactics and intuition bit/crumb/fleck/fraction/fragment/gobbet/mite/mote/ounce/particle/scintilla/scrap/shred/smidge(n)/smidgin/speck/tittle n. a tiny piece of anything bracket/brand/breed/category/class/classification/fashion/genus/grade/kind/manner/nature/rubric/sort/species/stamp/strain/type/variety n. a division or grouping of people or things distinguished by shared traits or attributes brisance n. the shattering force of a high explosion, influenced primarily by its detonation pressure burr n. a rough or ragged edge or surface area (usu. on metal) after it's been cast, cut or drilled cachet/seal n. an official, distinguishing mark signifying approval, authenticity, endorsement or sanction cachet n. an inscription stamped or printed on postal envelopes, which often commemorates a special event caisson n. a horse-drawn cart or wagon of two wheels that carries artillery ammunition and coffins during military funerals caparison/trappings n. a horse's ornamental covering or harness caravan/van n. a covered truck equipped with sleeping and dining facilities, or a hold intended for the transport of chattel or people n. a large, covered, horse-drawn wagon cartography/chartography n. the art, practice and techniques of delineating maps and charts chatoyant n. a gemstone that's variably lustrous, esp. a cat's eye a. (of gems, usu. cabochons) reflecting a single photic streak chattel/movable/moveable (pl. chattels/gear/movables/moveables/personal property/personalty) n. any movable article of personal property (appurtenances, books, clothing, discs, electronic devices, furniture, utensils, vehicles, etc.), distinguished from realty chimera n. any macabre or grotesque monster, esp. one comprising parts of various animals chreotechnics n. practical, indispensable domains of activity or trade: agriculture, commerce and manufacturing clod/clot/clump/gobbet/lump/mass n. a compacted, indefinitely or irregularly shaped piece of matter, esp. earth or clay _chunk/gobbet/hunk _n. a large, thick clump __gobbet __n. a hunk of raw meat compact/concordat/contract/covenant/pact/treaty n. a formal or official agreement between parties _concordat (Roman Catholic) _n. a pontifical pact with a secular government regarding Catholic legality _pact/treaty _n. a (usu. written) concordat between multiple nations, as that assuring irenicism or mutual trade contour (line) n. a line described on a map connecting points of equal elevation above or below sea level cooperage n. the labor of a cooper copy/duplicate/facsimile/manifold n. an identical reproduction, esp. a mimeograph or photocopy of a document correlate/correlative n. either of two or more mutually related or complementary things counterfeit/fake/forgery/pinchbeck/postiche/sham n. any false imitation presented as authentic crib/pony/trot n. a translation, list of correct answers or other illicit aid utilized furtively by students when taking exams cumulus n. a thick, white or gray and fluffy, bulbous or billowing cloud possessing a flat base ordinarily related to fair weather and ascending air currents curriculum n. a specific course of academic study in a school or university n. all curricula afforded by an educational institution cynosure n. something that provides guidance, such as Polaris n. something that strongly attracts attention and admiration data point/datum/fact n. an item of factual information derived from measurement, research or experience _outlier _n. an exceptional statistical datum of a graph or diagram notable for either its miniscule or massive size relative to an adjacent data point or its location significantly removed beyond a main cluster of data points; outliers are often indicative of aberrant factors or errors in measurement desideratum/essential/necessary/necessity/need/requirement/requisite/sine qua non/want n. anything indispensable, esp. something required for the realization of a particular objective desideratum/desire/want/wish n. something wanted despite/mauger/maugre/notwithstanding prep. in spite of (used to introduce a statement contrasting, contradicting or citing exception to some prior purport) detriment n. anything that causes damage or harm diligence/stage/stagecoach n. a horse-drawn coach of four wheels in which mail and passengers are conveyed, usu. on a fixed, plied route dust devil n. a small whirlwind that lofts and incorporates light debris, dust, leaves, sand, etc. eddy/purl n. a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind issuing from a fluxion of air or fluid at variance with a main current or stream egocentrism n. a juvenile psychological stage during which a child is ignorant of extraneous, dissimilar opinions and perspectives enclosure/inclosure n. something enclosed in an envelope with a covering letter, esp. a supporting document enfilade n. sweeping gunfire discharged along a target's length, as a row of troops n. any target vulnerable to a sweep of gunfire v. to rake with a sweep of gunfire ephemeral/ephemeron/fugitive (pl. ephemera/ephemerals/fugitives) n. anything that briefly exists; that which lives, or is applied or enjoyed for a fleeting duration epitaph n. a tombstone's or mortuary monument's commemorative inscription concerning the interred individual ergology n. the study of the psychological and physical effects of labor ersatz n. an artificial, usu. inferior substitute or imitation esoterica n. obscure or highly specialized subjects or articles exclusive/scoop n. a news report initially published in a newspaper or magazine, or broadcast in a newscast in advance of rival outlets fervor/ardor n. intense heat fillip/goad/impetus/impulse/incentive/inducement/motivation/spur/stimulus n. something that stimulates action _sting _n. a keen inducement fire n. any instance of fire _balefire/bonfire _n. a large, alfresco fire kindled as a beacon or for entertainment or warmth _conflagration/deflagration/empyrosis/fire/flagration _n. a destructive, often widespread fire flank n. one side of a military or naval formation flexitime/flextime n. a system that permits employees to schedule their own working hours, esp. those when they commence and conclude labor gemmary n. scientific knowledge of gems gloss n. a superficially or delusively attractive or impressive appearance gold n. anything that's precious, beautiful, brilliant or superior, and thusly likened to gold gradation/scale n. a progressive series of degrees represening a range of competence, intensity, rank, quality or value _cut/degree/gradation/grade/level/notch/step _n. a graded position in a scale of intensity, proficiency, quality, rank or value groundswell n. a surge or progressive swell of public sentiment or opinion headway/headroom/clearance n. vertical space available to accommodate passage beneath something hierarchy n. a tiered system of arrangement or classification according to significance n. a system or organization whereby people or groups are ranked in accordance to their status or authority hither a. situated on this or a nearer side hitherward/hither/here av. to or toward this place inset/insert/insertion n. something inserted or to be inserted integument n. an organism's outer protective layer: skin, rind, shell, cuticle, etc. irenicism n. any endorsement of peace or conciliation largess(e) n. gifts (esp. of money) given in a spirit of munificence leviathan n. anything gargantuan of size, or possessing tremendous power lignification n. transmutation of a substance into wood list(ing)/catalog n. a series of names, titles, etc. written or printed in a consecutive sequence of alphabetic or other systematic order _listing/entry _n. an individual item in a list _synchronism _n. a chronological, usu. tabular list of historical people, events and things arrayed to demonstrate their contemporaneity lithophany n. a process whereby decorative porcelain objects or components are impressed with figures, which are translucent when backlit lozenge n. a charge in the shape of a solid diamond, esp. one on which the arms of an unmarried or widowed woman are displayed lusus naturae n. a freak of nature; one who or that which is congenitally deformed or unusual medium/environment n. any external substance or surrounding in which an organism resides and thrives _substrate/substratum _n. a surface on which an organism lives, to which it's either affixed or on which it moves, esp. that which provides it sustenance medium n. an agency or means enabling an activity, communication or conveyance, as instrumentation, language, vehicles, etc. _medium _n. any means or instrumentality with which information is propagated miasm/miasma n. a foreboding, unpleasant, unwholesome atmosphere surrounding or emanating from something microcosm n. a relatively small system, situation, location, individual or community representative in part or whole of some larger, encompassing analog n. humanity regarded as the epitome of the universe miscue n. a faulty shot in billiards, by which the cue tip slips upon striking the cue ball mumpsimus n. an unreasonable or erroneous belief, custom, ideology, pronunciation, practice, routine, etc. to which someone intractably adheres nexus/link/couple n. the means of juncture between connected things, esp. those linked in a series niche n. a position esp. apposite for its occupant node n. any computer or peripheral thereof connected to a network _client _n. any computer or program thereof that accesses or conveys data from a network nomocracy n. a system of government based on jurisprudence nostrum n. any pet scheme or remedy propounded to solve a problem (esp. one intended to enact social improvement or political reform) without any objective basis for its asserted efficacy notation n. a system or series of specialized figures or symbols that type elements, numbers, quantities, tones or values omnibus/motorbus/(motor)coach/bus/autobus n. a large, long motor vehicle that carries numerous passengers by road, esp. one that serves the public for a fare on a fixed route _charabanc _n. a large bus used for sightseeing tours _jitney _n. a small bus that transports passengers for a cheap fare ontology n. the branch of metaphysics in which the nature of being and existence are studied onus/millstone/load/incumbrance/encumbrance/cumbrance/cumber/burden/albatross n. an onerous obligation or responsibility, esp. in pursuit of a specified objective order/grouping/disposal/array n. an arrangement of numerous related elements (things or people) organized in accordance with a particular pattern, method or logic _succession/series/sequence/order _n. a linear disposal __nexus __n. a connected series or group _transposition/permutation _n. an order ensuing rearrangement ornament n. anything that contributes to the beauty, credit, glory or honor of a group or period ossature/carcass n. any underlying framework or skeleton pall n. anything that covers or shrouds to gloomily darken or obscure pall n. any disconsolate atmosphere panacea n. a solution for all problems n. a remedy for all diseases panatela/panatella/panetela/panetella n. a long, slender cigar parfleche n. any article fashioned of parfleche, as bags, shields, soles, etc. pestilence/canker n. any malign or insidious and especially tenacious influence phantasmagoria/phantasmagory n. a series of things seen or imagined in rapid substantive, photic, and chromatic succession and alteration, as in a dream pile/mound/heap/cumulus/cumulation/accumulation n. a (usu. large) collection of objects laid or lying upon one another, often haphazardly _shitpile/midden/dunghill/dungheap _n. a mound comprising feces, esp. animal droppings _stack _n. an orderly or organized pile plasmodium n. an amoeboid, motional, multinucleate mass of protoplasm that ingests food, constituting the vegetative phases of plasmodial slime molds n. any of several parasitic protozoans of genus Plasmodium, some of which cause malaria plurality/relative majority n. the number of votes cast for a winning candidate or party, often short of 50% plurality n. the number by which a winner's votes exceeds those of the runner-up plutocracy n. government by the wealthy n. a state or society ruled by the wealthy n. a wealthy class that dominates a government propaedeutic n. a subject or course of study precursive to advanced study of an art or science prospectus n. a printed brochure delineating and advertising a forthcoming project, enterprise or academic course to attract potential members, clients, investors or students psephology n. the sociological or statistical study of political elections pseudelminth n. anything that resembles an intestinal worm rampart/fortification/defense/bulwark n. that which secures safety, fortifying and defending from assault, damage or injury resemblance/similitude n. something that resembles something else reverse/opposite/inverse/converse/contrary/antithesis/antipode n. something which or someone who is the direct opposite of another in sequence, character, effect, position, direction, etc. rubric n. an authoritative rule pertaining to conduct or procedure samiel/simoom/simoon n. a hot, strong, sandy wind of the Arabian and Saharan deserts scintilla/spark n. a bright, fiery or sparkling particle score n. the facts of a situation score n. the totality of a team's or competitor's points scored in a game or contest score/mark/grade n. a letter or percentage representing assessed quality, esp. that of a student's work score/notch n. an angular indentation or incision in a surface or edge, esp. one denoting a single item of a tally _kerf/carf _n. a groove, incision or notch cut by a tool, esp. an axe or saw _tally _n. a notch incised on or in a tally shoddy n. anything of inferior quality, esp. products or fabric skein n. thread or yarn wound in a long, loose coil n. anything akin or reminiscent of such a coil, as a lock of hair slipstream n. the rear airstream generated by an aircraft's propeller n. the airstream behind any moving object or vehicle that reduces air pressure and produces forward suction spoor n. a visible track or trail, esp. of a wild animal followed by a hunter in pursuit of game spot/speckle/speck/mark/macule/macula/fleck/dapple n. a small, contrasting patch of color, light or texture _dot _n. a circinate macule squib/firecracker n. a firework comprised of a cardboard tube filled with explosive powder, the fuse of which burns to sound a sibilance ere exploding statute n. a permanent rule established by an organization or institution stria/striation n. any of a number of tiny, parallel grooves, such as the scratches left by a glacier on rocks, or the streaks or ridges in muscle tissue substrate/substratum n. any underlying layer sulky n. a light carriage of two wheels, drawn by one horse and admitting a single occupant sum/pith/nub/meat/marrow/kernel/heart/gist/essence/core n. the most vital, important, essential or choice part of anything, esp. an idea or experience suzerain n. a state exerting hegemony over another's foreign affairs, usu. while affording it domestic autonomy tactic/strategy/stratagem/shift/scheme/plan/device/contrivance/artifice n. a detailed, systematic procedure intended to realize an objective _maneuver/machination/ploy/gambit _n. any clever scheme intended to obtain an advantage _schedule/program/docket/agendum/agenda _n. a temporally organized plan for matters (duties, events, etc.) awaiting attendance, usually formatted as a list _scheme/plot/machination/intrigue/device/design _n. a wily, covert plan for an illegal, sinister or underhanded purpose _strategy _n. a scheme carefully executed over a prolonged period _subterfuge/shift/evasion/dodge _n. a devious stratagem intended to effect evasion or circumvention _wile/trick/shift/ruse/dodge/device/deceit/contrivance/artifice _n. a deceptive tactic concocted to befool, snare or stymie __stratagem/ruse/ploy __v. a wile intended to confound, cozen, ensnare, foil or outwit an opponent tally/score n. any record of an amount tally n. one of two books, sheets of paper, etc. on which corresponding data of an account is recorded n. any account or score recorded on wood or paper, esp. that kept in duplicate taxonomy n. the branch of science concerned with the classification of organisms n. any classification of organisms into groups based on similitude of structure, genetic origin, etc. n. the practice of classifying plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships telesis/telesia n. "planned progress:" the advancement of society by dint of harnessed natural and social processes, and an adherence to scientific method thither a. located on that farther side thitherward/thither/there av. to or toward that place threshold/start/outset/opening/inception/commencement/beginning n. the initial temporal or spatial point of a new state, experience, endeavor, journey, etc. _verge/brink _n. a point beyond which something occurs tonsure n. a shorn portion of one's head, as a cleric's crown tide n. anything that fluctuates, rises and falls, waxes and wanes like the waters of a tide timetable/schedule n. a chart listing the departure and arrival times of trains, buses or airplanes tribute/testimonial n. anything given or done in expression of esteem or appreciation tribute n. periodic payments signifying subservience, tendered by one nation or ruler to another in exchange for peace or protection tribute/protection n. payment extorted by racketeering gangsters on threat of violence (treasure) trove n. any secreted store of valuable or delightful articles of usu. unknown proprietorship, esp. that which is buried vector n. an aircraft's direction, course or compass heading verity/truth/fact n. a belief, idea, principle, etc. verified or commonly accepted as true wager/stake/bet n. something (esp. money) risked by pledge on the outcome of a game, venture or future event _parlay _n. a wager embodying the sum of a precursive bet and its winnings _n. a cumulative series of wagers, by which accrued winnings are utilized as a stake for others subsequent windrow n. a row of dust, leaves, snow, etc. heaped or swept together by eolian force n. a row or line of hay, grain, etc. left to dry anterior to being raked into cocks or heaps v. to arrange hay or other crops in windrows wisp n. a small or twisted piece, bunch or amount of something slender, as a tuft of grass, lock of hair or bundle of hay withal/too/therewithal/moreover/likewise/furthermore/besides/also av. in addition; as a further matter (used to introduce a new or related factor or consideration) yet/whilst/while/though/notwithstanding/howbeit/although conj. in spite of the fact that (used to introduce or conclude a statement contrasting, contradicting or citing exception to some prior purport) yet/withal/though/still/notwithstanding/nonetheless/nevertheless/natheless/nathless/however/howbeit av. in spite of; all the same (used to introduce or conclude a statement contrasting, contradicting or citing exception to some prior purport) ==PHILOSOPHY & LOGIC== abstract/academic/conceptual/imaginary/metaphysical/notional/theoretic(al) a. existing in thought or as an idea without physical or concrete existence; conceived apart from any specific object or instance abstract/abstraction/concept/conception/construct/notion n. a purely theoretical idea not associated with any specific instance abstract/abstraction/abstract entity/concept/conception/construct/notion n. a general idea developed by derivation of common aspects or attributes from specific examples _beau ideal/ideal _n. a concept of perfection deemed an exemplar __imago __n. an ideal conception of someone (usu. a parent) formed during childhood that subconsciously persists into one's adult years (a)esthetics n. the branch of philosophy treating of taste and beauty as perceived or contrived in art or nature, wherein the evaluative criteria that apply to art are expatiated a posteriori/inductive a. of, regarding, involving or denoting reasoning illated from observation, experiment or experience in lieu of theory or first principles a posteriori/empiric/empirical/experiential/experimental a. derived from or requiring evidence, experience or observation for validation or support a priori/deductive/syllogistic(al) a. of, employing, pertaining to or signifying reasoning deduced from a theory or general principle instead of empirical observation a priori/deductive a. inferred from theoretical deduction rather than observation or experience a priori a. known to be so, and thus requiring no evidence or experience for validation or support argument/contention/thesis n. an assertion advanced to be maintained or proven in argument _polemic _n. a controversial argument, esp. one deploring or exploding an opinion or credo axiom n. a universally established or accepted principle axiom/maxim/truism n. an obviously true statement canon/criterion/precept/tenet n. a fundamental rule or principle of established validity in a religion, philosophy or field of art or science that governs belief, conduct and procedure, and in compliance with which something may be judged, decided or compared Cartesian a. of or relating to Rene Descartes, his philosophy or his mathematics n. an adherent of Cartesian theory, thought or methods casuistry n. a resolution of moral conundra (esp. those occasioned by an apparent discordance of principles) attained by an illustrative analysis of instances in which said principles are applicable cognition/information/knowledge n. whatever is known cognition/percept n. an object of perception; any object or phenomenon that's perceived cohere/consist v. to be logically connected and therefore consistent colligation n. the logical or causal connection of isolated facts by a hypothesis consilience a. accord of inductions derived from discrete data sets conundrum/poser/puzzle(r) n. a difficult, insoluble, paradoxical or perplexing problem credo/creed/doctrine/dogma/ideology/persuasion n. any system of principles or convictions, esp. that which constitutes the ethical or intellectual foundation of an economic, philosophical or political institution _hedonism _n. a doctrine that esteems the pursuit of pleasure as the summum bonum _n. a credo that equates morality and gratification __Epicureanism __n. a hedonistic creed propounded by Epicurus contending that the world is a contingent combination of atoms, and that cultivation of and indulgence in pleasure and luxury (contrasted with pain and anguish) represents a moral ideal (Hegelian) dialectic n. an exchange or debate of two logical arguments intended to conciliate two contradictory propositions (thesis and antithesis) to yield a new theory (synthesis) rather than establish the verity of either dialectic n. any collocation, interaction or resolution of discrepant concepts dialectic(al) a. of, concerning or employing dialectic egocentrism n. the philosophy positing that one is the center of his or her universe egoism n. the belief that the summum bonum is self-interest Epicurus (341?-270 B.C.) n. Greek philosopher who asserted that the world is a random aggregation of atoms, and that pleasure is the greatest good to which one can aspire Epicurean a. of or relating to Epicurus or Epicureanism n. a disciple of Epicurus or exponent of Epicureanism epistemic n. of, regarding or involving knowledge epistemic/epistemological a. of, appertaining to or prompted by epistemology epistemology n. the branch of philosophy concerning the foundations, nature, methods, scope and validity of knowledge eristic/polemics n. the art or practice of logical (often specious) disputation forensic/rhetorical a. of, regarding, applied or suitable to public debate or argument generalization n. the process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances n. a general statement or concept obtained by inference from specific cases generalization/induction/inductive reasoning n. reasoning by inference from detailed facts to general principles heuristic n. any educational method or procedure that stimulates a student's interest in learning by promoting assessment, experimentation and investigation a. of or regarding educational methods encouraging a student's initiative for experimentation and evaluation a. advancing discovery or learning a. encouraging or enabling someone to discover or learn something for themselves heuristic/experimental a. of or pertaining to any speculative procedure or contrivance employed as a means to approximate or resolve a problem heuristic rule n. a rule or set thereof, by abidance of which one is expected to better the likelihood that they'll resolve a problem hypothesis n. a provisional surmisal propounded to explicate an obervation, phenomenon or problem, from which argument or investigation may proceed inconsistency/mutual exclusivity/repugnance n. a relation between contradictory propositions individuation n. development of individual instances from general or universal phenomena inversion n. a method of reasoning by which the antithesis of a proposition is inferred from its own argument just/legitimate/logical/rational/reasonable/sound a. of, according to, derived from or predicated on reason, a particular method of reasoning or sound judgment meliorism n. a doctrine asserting that the world may be bettered by positive human effort non sequitur n. a conclusion or inference that does not follow from its evidence or premises ontological a. of or relating to the quiddity or nature of being a. of or relating to the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature of existence paradox n. an evidently ludicrous or contradictory statement that may be true, as "ultimately, we're just beginning" paralogism n. any illogical or unsound averment or thesis _enthymeme _n. a contention wherein a premise or premises are omitted on the basis that they're patent _fallacy _n. an erroneous statement or argument predicated on an invalid premise or inference __ignoratio elenchi __n. a fallacious refutation of a proposition extraneous to its substance, and perhaps germane to a related matter _paradox _n. an assertion of integral self-contradiction, as "nobody will attend such a crowded screening" __aporia __n. an intrinsic, insoluble paradox or logical disjunction of an argument, postulate, theory, etc. _paralogism _n. an inadvertently incorrect contention or conclusion _sophism/sophistry/syllogism _n. a subtle, specious argument physiosophy n. the total body of wisdom regarding nature polestar/pole star n. any guiding rule or principle posit/postulate v. to assert or assume a necessity, reality or verity as a basis for debate or reasoning proposition n. a statement that affirms or denies something, and may be true or false _axiom/posit/postulate _n. a proposition deemed self-evident or true, proposed as a basis for discussion or reasoning _converse _n. a proposition ensuant to the interchange of predicate and subject: "no virtue is vice; no vice is virtue" or "some soot is filth; some filth is soot" _corollary _n. a proposition sequent of another and proven by the same rationale _obverse _n. a proposition derived from another by negation of its predicate and a reversal of its quality from affirmative to negative, or vice versa: the obverse of "she's always intrepid" is "she's never trepid" _premise/premiss _n. a proposition assumed or proven to be true, from which a conclusion is inferred, or on which an argument is based _theorem _n. a proposition systematically deducible from postulates or premises Pyrrhonism n. Pyrrho's Skeptic doctrines postulating that the preservation of tranquility and disregard of life's extraneous circumstances (in light of perceptual unreliability) are the bosom of wisdom pyrrhonism n. absolute skepticism quintessence/ether n. the notional fifth and highest element (after air, earth, fire and water); the Pythagoreans believed that ether was the substance composing all heavenly bodies and latent in all physicality ratiocination n. a process of logical and methodical reasoning reification/hypostatization n. the ascription of corporeality to an abstraction rudiments/postulates/fundamentals/fundamental [OR] first [OR] basic principles/basics n. basic, irreducible assumptions or concepts that cannot be deduced from any others and constitute the basis or foundation of a method, system or theory scruple n. an ethical or moral principle that restrains iniquity shibboleth n. a conventional principle or belief, esp. one ordinarily adjudged superannuated or irrelevant Socratic method [OR] debate/maieutic method n. an interrogative mode of instruction whereby a preceptor addresses their students with a succession of dialectic or logical queries to actuate critical thought and induce an apprehension of knowledge by response; employed by Socrates to elicit verities from his students solipsism n. the theory asserting that only one's own mind or self may be acknowledged or verified sophistry/casuistry n. a deliberately delusory, fallacious and artful method of disputation or reasoning subsume v. to classify or include an idea, instance, proposition, etc. in a more comprehensive or inclusive category v. to deem an instance or case as part of a rule or principle summum bonum n. the supreme or greatest good, wherein all moral values inhere, or from which they're derived syllogism n. deductive reasoning whereby a conclusion is derived from two premises: "Every virtue is laudable; efficiency is a virtue; therefore: efficiency is laudable." _premise/premiss _n. either of a syllogism's two propositions, from which a conclusion is educed __major premise [OR] premiss __n. a syllogism's first premise, which contains its predicate: "All birds have feathers..." __argument/mean/minor premise [OR] premiss __n. the second premise of a syllogism, which posits its subject: "A duck has feathers..." _conclusion/deduction _n. a proposition inferred from the major and minor premises of a syllogism: "...ergo, a duck is a bird" _enthymeme _n. a syllogism containing a tacit or unstated premise or conclusion syncretism n. the conciliation, fusion or union of different religions, principles, philosophies, ideologies, cultures, etc. tautology n. a statement that is necessarily true by the virtue of multiple corresponding propositions: "Either he'll arrive on time or he won't." telos (pl. tele/teloi) n. the ultimate purpose or end of a process tenable/sound/justifiable/defensible a. capable of being maintained in argument theory n. a coherent set of hypotheses that exposit a class of phenomena, esp. those that are widely accepted in a particular field verity n. an enduring or indispensable aesthetic or ethical truth of fundamental significance ==POSITIONS== akimbo a., av. with hands on hips and elbows projecting sidelong assume/pose/strike v. to take on a particular position or attitude, esp. to be drawn, painted or photographed attitude n. a position or posture reflecting one's mood or immediate emotion couchant a. (of a cat) seated with body resting on legs and head raised equestrian/mounted a. seated upon horseback prostrate v. to cast oneself face-forward on the ground, as in humility, reverence or submission v. to lie facing the ground or an underlying surface, as in submission prostrate/prone/procumbent a. lying facedown, with one's ventral side to the ground or a surface reel/stagger v. to stand unsteadily rest/lie v. to assume a horizontal position on the ground, in a bed or reclining chair, etc. _rest/recumb/recline/lie _v. to lie by leaning back; to rest in an (usu. slightly) inclined position _rest/repose/couch _v. to lie while resting _rest/repose _v. to lie when dead resting/prostrate/prone/decumbent a. lying flat, as on the ground or a bed resting/recumbent/reclining/decumbent/accumbent a. lying back at a slight cant, esp. in a comfortable position resupine/supine a. lying face upward upon one's back sprawl v. to sit or lie with one's limbs awkwardly spread n. an ungainly posture whereby arms and legs are spread in an inelegant manner stoop/couch/bend v. to lean one's body forward and down from the waist n. an inclination of a body's top half forward and downward _crouch/couch _v. to bend one's knees and stoop _n. a crouching act or posture welter/steep v. to lie drenched in a fluid (esp. blood) ==QUALITIES== A1/ace/bang-up/beautiful/boss/brilliant/choice/crack/dandy/divine/fine/exceeding/excellent/exceptional/eximious/exquisite/fab/fabulous/fantastic/first-rate/glorious/grand/great/high-grade/high-quality/magnificent/marvelous/outstanding/premium/prime/quality/recherche/select/sensational/smashing/special/splendid/splendiferous/super/superb/superior/surpassing/swell/terrific/top-notch/transcendental/tremendous/uncommon/wonderful n. of exceptional quality or merit; extremely good _best/first-class/first-rate/incomparable/matchless/nonpareil/peerless/prime/prize/sublime/supreme/top-grade/top-notch/top-quality/ultimate/unequaled/unexampled/unmatchable/unmatched/unparalleled/unrivaled/unsurpassable/unsurpassed _a. without equal by virtue of superlative excellence, eminence or singularity abated/attenuate(d)/decreased/depressed/diminished/ebbed/lowered/mitigated/moderated/mollified/reduced/relaxed/relented/remitted/slackened/slaked/subdued/subsided/tempered/weakened a. lessened of effect, force or potency _declined/dwindled/failed/tapered/waned _a. gradually diminshed aberrant/abnormal/anomalous/antic/atypical/bizarre/curious/deviant/different/eccentric/exceptional/extraordinary/freaky/funny/irregular/odd/oddball/offbeat/outre/peculiar/queer/singular/strange/uncommon/unconventional/unfamiliar/unique/unnatural/unusual/weird a. departing from or different than any average, accepted or expected standard constituting normality; out of the ordinary _rare/recherche _a. seldom experienced, found or occurring _remarkable _a. conspicuously odd abhorrent/abject/abominable/accursed/cheap/contemptible/cursed/damnable/despicable/detestable/disgusting/execrable/hateful/heinous/loathsome/lousy/miserable/nauseating/odious/scummy/scurvy/stinking/wretched a. provoking, deserving or esteemed in arrant contempt or hatred abiding/aeonian/eonian/enduring/everlasting/perennial/permanent/perpetual/persistent a. continuing or lasting for an indefinitely long span; seeming to never end or cease ability/accomplishment/adeptness/adroitness/capability/capacity/competence/deftness/facility/faculty/power/proficiency/skill/technique n. a quality that enables fulfillment of an action or function, usu. acquired by practice _ability/aptitude/bent/endowment/faculty/flair/genius/gift/instinct/knack/talent/verve _n. an inherent, congenital, often superior proficiency in assay of a particular discipline or purpose _accomplishment/adeptness/expertise/genius/mastery/prowess/virtuosity _n. comprehensive knowledge of a subject or consummate skill in pursuit of a discipline _adroitness/deftness/dexterity/handiness _n. manual skill __legerdemain/prestidigitation/sleight of hand __n. exceptional dexterity conducing or employed in the execution of conjuring tricks _art/artistry _n. creative or artistic competence _craftsmanship _n. occupational technique _sprachgefühl _n. a (often instinctual) proficiency for or sensitivity of language able/accomplished/adept/adroit/capable/competent/deft/mean/practiced/proficient/skilled/skillful/subtle a. possessing or exhibiting ability in practice of a discipline or execution of a task _accomplished/complete/consummate/expert/gifted/master/masterful/masterly/polished/practiced/virtuoso _a. possessing or demonstrating exceptional mastery or skill _adroit/deft/dexterous/handy _n. skilled in the use of one's hands: manually proficient _slick _a. smoothly, efficiently, often cunningly adroit abominable/abysmal/appalling/atrocious/awful/deplorable/dreadful/execrable/flagitious/frightful/ghastly/god-awful/grievous/heinous/horrendous/horrible/monstrous/rotten/shocking/terrible/vile a. extremely or outrageously bad _egregious/flagrant/glaring/gross _a. conspicuously horrible _infandous/unspeakable _v. too horrible to be mentioned or discussed aboriginal/autochthonal/autochthonic/autochthonous/indigenous/native a. originating in a specific area, as of a region or country absolute/arrant/categoric(al)/complete/consummate/downright/gross/outright/perfect/plain/positive/pure/rank/real/sheer/stark/strict/teetotal/thorough/thoroughgoing/total/unadulterated/unalloyed/unconditional/undiluted/unequivocal/unmitigated/unqualified/utter a. possessing or exemplifying a specified characteristic without restriction, limitation or exception; utilized as colloquial intensifiers, usu. of pejorative context absolute/despotic/full/paramount/plenary/plenipotentiary/sovereign/supreme a. (of power or authority) subject to neither conditions nor restriction abstract/abstruse/baffling/bewildering/confusing/dark/enigmatic/mysterious/mystifying/obscure/opaque/perplexing/puzzling/recondite/sphinxlike a. difficult to comprehend or severalize accessorial/accessory/adjunct/adjuvant/adminicular/ancillary/appurtenant/assistant/assisting/auxiliary/collateral/subsidiary/supplemental/supplementary a. furnishing added support; functioning in a supporting capacity acceptable/adequate/fair/fine/nice/palatable/passable/satisfactory/sufficient/tolerable a. just so good to suffice accepted/accustomed/conventional/customary/orthodox/prevalent/regular/standard/usual/wonted a. required by, or conforming or according to accepted or ordinary use, standards or practice accidental/casual/chance/contingent/fortuitous/incidental a. happening by chance rather than intent or design _coincidental _a. incidental, yet concurrent or seemingly related accordant/coincident/compatible/concordant/concurrent/congruous/consistent/consonant/consorting/correspondent/corresponding/harmonious a. matching or in agreement with the actions, feelings, function, sentiments, etc. of another or others accuracy/exactness/fidelity/truth/truthfulness/veracity/verity n. conformity to truth or fact accurate/correct/evidential/just/justified/legitimate/sound/substantiated/valid/warranted/well-founded/well-grounded a. in accordance with verified facts actual/authentic/bona fide/genuine/kosher/legitimate/real/substantial/substantive/true/veridic/veridical/veritable a. truly and verifiably what it is represented or claimed to be; in no way artificial, counterfeit or spurious acute/big/consequential/crucial/epochal/important/key/major/material/momentous/pivotal/polar/significant/vital/weighty a. of a decision, event, phenomenon, etc. entailing great significance, effect or consequence adhesive/clingy/sticky/tenacious a. apt or designed to cling to a surface or another object _tacky _a. slghtly sticky, esp. afore drying, as paint or glue adipose/sebaceous a. of or pertaining to fat _adipose/fat/fatty/pinguid _a. containing or consisting of fat _adipose/fatty/sebaceous _a. resembling fat _fatty _a. derived from fat _sebaceous _a. secreting fat adjunct/assistant/junior/subaltern/subordinate/subservient/subsidiary a. connected as or serving in a position of inferior (often secondary) rank ad rem/applicable/apposite/apropos/germane/material/pertinent/relevant a. logically relating or significant to an immediate matter adulterate(d) a. degraded by admixture with impure or inferior elements advantageous/auspicious/benign/bright/favorable/fortunate/promising/propitious/rosy/toward a. presenting providential circumstances or auguring success advantageous/behovely/beneficent/beneficial/constructive/effective/effectual/favorable/friendly/fruitful/helpful/invaluable/kind/productive/profitable/serviceable/useful/valuable a. conducive to the pursuit or realization of an objective _accessorial _n. nonessential yet useful _expedient _a. serviceable, though possibly improper or unethical adverse/contrary/disadvantageous/inauspicious/unfavorable/unfortunate/unhappy/unpromising/unpropitious/untoward a. opposed to one's interests or welfare; likely to preclude success or development advising/apprising/informative/instructional/instructive/notifying/revealing a. serving or meant to inform; supplying information aeolian/eolian/windy a. of or pertaining to wind _aeolian/eolian _a. arranged, carried or produced by wind _blowy/blustering/blustery/furious/windy _a. bounteous of strong winds __gusty/gusting __a. abruptly blustery _katabatic _a. (of winds) blowing downward (esp. downhill), ordinarily during nocturnal periods when air cools and condenses aeonian/ageless/amaranthine/endless/eonian/everlasting/interminable/perennial/permanent/perpetual/sempiternal/stable/undying/unending a. continuing, enduring, existing or lasting forever; never ending or ceasing affecting/emotional/emotive/moving/poignant/rousing/stirring/touching a. enkindling the emotions _abashing/agitating/bothering/bothersome/carking/commoving/concerning/discombobulating/discomfiting/discomforting/discomposing/disconcerting/discountenancing/dismaying/disquieting/distracting/distractive/distressful/distressing/disturbing/exercising/fazing/flurrying/flustering/fretting/hurtful/painful/perturbing/ruffling/shaking/troublesome/troubling/troublous/unnerving/unsettling/upsetting/vexing/worrisome/worrying _a. eliciting distress __harrowing/heart-rending/traumatic __a. severely upsetting __poignant __a. acutely agitating _aggravating/annoying/bothering/bothersome/bugging/chafing/deviling/displeasing/galling/grating/importuning/infernal/irksome/irritating/maddening/miffing/molesting/nettlesome/niggling/peeving/pesky/pestiferous/pestilent/pestilential/plaguing/provoking/rankling/rebarbative/riling/tiresome/troublesome/trying/vexatious/vexing _a. exciting mild anger or frustration __badgering/bedeviling/bothering/bugging/deviling/harassing/harrying/hassling/hounding/nagging/persecuting/pestering/plaguing/tormenting __a. persistently irritating by some mode of importunity, as nagging __besetting __a. constantly annoying or troubling _agreeable/alluring/appealing/attractive/cheerful/congenial/engaging/enjoyable/felicific/felicitous/glad/gratifying/ingratiating/kindly/likable/nice/pleasant/pleasing/pleasurable/satisfying _a. to one's liking; eliciting pleasure __amusing/amusive/diverting/entertaining __a. distracting one's attention by provision of enjoyment __charming/delightful/divine/enchanting/glorious/heavenly/jolly/lovely/merry __a. extremely pleasurable _aphrodisiac(al)/erotic/lascivious/lubricious/lubricous/prurient/salacious/sensual/sexy/sultry/venereal _a. stimulating sexual desire or excitement __dirty/lascivious/lecherous/lewd/obscene/prurient __a. provoking lechery _awful/creepy/fearful/fearsome/formidable/frightening/redoubtable/scary/spooky _a. inspiring fear __alarming/frightful/scary __a. suddenly frightening ___chilling ___a. numbingly alarming __appalling/creepy/direful/dread(ful)/frightful/ghastly/ghoulish/grim/grisly/gruesome/hideous/horrendous/horrible/horrid/horrific/horrifying/macabre/morbid/nightmarish/petrifying/shocking/terrible/terrific/terrifying/tremendous __a. extremely fearful; arousing great fear or dread, esp. by depiction or evocation of death, decay or injury _brackish/disagreeable/displeasing/distasteful/exceptionable/frightful/icky/objectionable/offensive/rebarbative/repellent/ugly/unpalatable/unpleasant/unsavory/vile _a. not pleasant or enjoyable; kindling distaste __abhorrent/antipathetic(al)/disgusting/filthy/foul/fulsome/gross/icky/loathsome/nasty/nauseating/nauseous/noisome/obscene/odious/offensive/rebarbative/repellent/repugnant/repulsive/revolting/sickening/ugly/vile/vomitous/yucky __a. profoundly disagreeable to one's senses or sensibilities; exciting visceral or somatic disgust or aversion __bawdy/blue/dirty/filthy/indecent/ithyphallic/lewd/obscene/raunchy/salacious/scabrous/smutty/unsavory/vulgar __a. morally or socially exceptionable, esp. erotically so __blatant/flagrant/gross __a. glaringly offensive __horrible/horrid/monstrous/obnoxious/outrageous/vile __a. highly distasteful __indelicate __a. mildly offensive _heart-rending/lachrymose/melancholy/mournful/sad _a. kindling sadness __black/bleak/blue/cheerless/dark/dejecting/depressing/desolate/disconsolate/dismal/disheartening/dispiriting/dreary/gloomy/melancholy/melancholic/mournful/overcast/sad/sulky __a. evoking depression __doleful/dolesome/doloriferous/dolorific/dolorous/grievous/heartbreaking/lachrymose/lamentable/mournful/sad/sorrowful/woeful/woesome __a. affecting grief, as that of the bereaved __miserable/wretched __a. touching great unhappiness __pathetic/piteous/pitiable/pitiful __a. eliciting or deserving commiseration agglomerate(d)/agglomerative/bunched/clumped/clustered/conglomerate/lumped/massed a. gathered or formed together into a (usu. incoherent) mass agile/deft/light(-footed)/lightsome/lissom(e)/nimble/volant a. quick, light and well-coordinated in movement or action _withy _n. tough and nimble agrestic/agrestical/country/rural/rustic a. of or regarding the country, rather than towns or cities ajar/conflicting/discordant/dissonant/incompatible/incongruous/inconsistent/inconsonant/inharmonious/unharmonious a. at variance with the actions, feelings, function, sentiments, etc. of another or others _clashing/jarring _a. strikingly or shockingly incongruous affinity/analogy/comparability/comparison/correspondence/likeness/parallel/resemblance/semblance/similarity/similitude n. the quality of being alike akin/analogous/comparable/conformable/correspondent/corresponding/equiparable/kindred/like/parallel/similar a. alike in character, form or function (esp. in a manner illustrative of the constitution of those compared), though not identical _homologous _a. corresponding in relative position or structure akin/cognate/consanguine/consanguineal/consanguineous/kin a. of the same ancestry; related by blood of familial relation or descended from a common ancestor _agnate/agnatic/paternal _a. mutually cognate by a common father or lineage thereof _collateral _a. consanguineous by a differing lineage _enate/enatic/maternal _a. consanguine by a mother or her lineage alacritous/blistering/brisk/expeditious/fast/fleet/hasty/quick/rapid/sharp/smart/snappy/speedy/swift a. acting, moving, occurring or reacting with formidable speed _lightning _a. suddenly swift alacrity/briskness/celerity/expedition/haste/quickness/rapidity/speed/swiftness n. great speed of action or motion alacritously/avidly/eagerly/enthusiastically/gladly/readily/willingly av. done or felt without reluctance, hesitation or compunction aldermanic/aldermanly a. of, regarding or similar to a member of a municipality's legislative body alleged/apparent/ostensible/ostensive/professed/purported/putative/reputed/seeming/supposed a. represented, claimed or appearing as such, though not necessarily so alleviating/alleviative/alleviatory/anodyne/lenitive/mitigating/mitigative/mitigatory/palliative a. relieving or moderating distress, pain or sorrow allographic n. of or concerning a representative's signature allure(ment)/appeal/attraction/attractiveness/charm/enticement/fascination/lure/pull n. the power to provoke pleasure, interest and admiration; any attractive quality alluring/arresting/attractive/captivating/compelling/compulsive/engaging/enthralling/fascinating/interesting/intriguing/occupying/striking/succulent a. arousing and regularly retaining curiosity and interest _absorbing/engrossing/fixating/obsessive/preoccupying/prepossessing/riveting _a. extremely interesting, occupying the totality of one's attention _juicy _a. provocatively, often indelicately or scandalously fascinating amalgamated/coalesced/combined/compound(ed)/conflated/consolidated/fused/incorporate(d)/integrated/melded/merged/unified/united a. joined or formed into a single, coordinated entity, mass or whole amazing/astonishing/astounding/incredible/marvelous/miraculous/portentous/prodigious/staggering/startling/stupefying/stupendous/surprising/unbelievable/wonderful/wondrous a. exciting great wonder or surprise by virtue of significance, improbability or exceptional singularity ambage/ambiguity/equivocacy/equivocality/oracularity n. incertitude attendant of multiple possible interpretations or indefinite meanings ambagious/ambiguous/equivocal/obscure/oracular a. admitting numerous possible meanings or interpretations thereof amenity/appeal/attraction/charm/gratification/pleasure/pleasantness n. a pleasing property _delightfulness/gloriousness/pleasure _n. a fantastically felicific feature ample/capacious/commodious/large/roomy/spacious/voluminous n. containing plenteous space amusing/comic(al)/funny/humorous/laughable/mirthful/risible a. eliciting laughter _absurd/antic/cockamamie/daffy/desipient/farcical/footling/inane/laughable/ludicrous/preposterous/ridiculous/silly _a. risible or hysterical by virtue of foolishness or incongruity _Attic _a. subtly, elegantly witty _bawdy/Rabelaisian/raunchy/ribald _a. humorously lewd __gamey/gamy/racy/risqué/spicy __a. slightly, usu. suggestively raunchy _droll _a. weirdly or whimsically funny _facetious/tongue-in-cheek _a. irreverently or insincerely amusing __biting/caustic/cutting/incisive/mordacious/mordant/piercing/sarcasmous/sarcastic __a. spitefully tongue-in-cheek; expressing derision with sneering, witty irony __deadpan/dry/wry __a. phlegmatically facetious; of humor expressed with an impassive pretense __sardonic/wry __a. cynically facetious _hilarious/hysterical/priceless/riotous/uproarious _a. extremely funny, esp. when provoking hearty or irrepressible laughter _lambent _a. (of wit or humor) effortlessly, playfully brilliant anchored/fast/fastened/firm/fixed/moored/rigid/rooted/secure(d)/stable/stationary/steadfast/steady a. firmly, immovably, often permanently emplaced or implanted androgynous/epicene a. sexually ambiguous; possessing traits of both or neither gender anemic/bloodless/dull/flaccid/lackluster/languid/languorous/lethargic/lifeless/listless/lusterless/sluggish/spiritless/supine/torpid/vapid a. lacking vitality _languescent _a. gradually becoming languid anile a. of or like a feeble or senile old woman anomic a. afflicted by a destitution of values antipodal/antithetic(al)/counter/contrary/converse/diametric(al)/inverse/opposed/opposite/polar/reverse(d) a. exclusively and mutually different in action, character, direction, effect, meaning, nature, order, position or relation and thusly incompatible _dichotomous _a. (of two parts or varieties) converse apocryphal/bogus/false/fake/faux/inauthentic/phony/sham/spurious/unauthentic a. not genuine, or what it's purported to be _bogus/counterfeit/factitious/fake/false/faux/forged/phony/pinchbeck/sham _a. fabricated as a credible imitation of something for a fraudulent or deceptive intention apodictic/certain/definite/impregnable/incontestable/incontrovertible/indisputable/indubitable/irrefutable/positive/sure/unassailable/undeniable/unquestionable a. not subject to denial, dispute or doubt; impossible to disaffirm by virtue of verity apotropaic a. designed or intended to deter or dispel evil applicable/apposite/appropriate/apropos/apt/becoming/befitting/condign/congruous/felicitous/fit/fitting/meet/opportune/proper/suitable a. aesthetically, logically, etc. acceptable or palatable for an occasion, purpose or situation applicably/appositely/appropriately/apt/becomingly/befittingly/congruously/duly/felicitously/fittingly/meetly/opportunely/properly/suitably av. in a due, fit or becoming manner; as anything ought be aqueous/watery a. of, regarding, consisting of or resembling water _aqueous/hydrous _a. containing water __watery __a. containing excess water _pluvial/rainy _a. of, relating to or characterized by rain _pluvial _a. distinguished, formed or effected by a plenitude of rainfall _vadose _a. of, being, derived from or regarding water occurring or available above the water table arcane/cabalistic/cryptic(al)/dark/enigmatic/mysterious/mystic/mystical/mystifying/obscure/occult/oracular/secret/shadowy a. of a secret or hidden meaning arcane/esoteric/occult/rarefied/recondite a. intended for or understood by only a select few of specialized knowledge or interest arctic/bitter/freezing/frigid/frosty/frozen/gelid/glacial/icy/nippy a. extremely, often bitingly cold arduous/challenging/demanding/difficult/exigent/formidable/grueling/hard/heavy/Herculean/laborious/operose/stiff/strenuous/taxing/toilsome/tough/uphill a. compelling or demanding tremendous, exhausting physical or mental exertion _sisyphean _a. interminably operose and ultimately futile aristocratic/blue/noble/patrician/titled a. of, regarding, belonging to or characteristic of hereditary nobility arresting/blazing/conspicuous/glaring/marked/noticeable/outstanding/prominent/pronounced/salient/striking a. extremely evident by virtue of some distinct prominence or attribute; attracting attention artificial/artificious/factitious a. created by humans instead of natural processes _ersatz/factitious/fake/false/faux/imitation/simulated/synthetic _a. fabricated as an artificial (and usu. inferior) substitute for something else ascetic(al)/austere/nonindulgent/spartan a. characterized by, pertaining to or suggesting severe self-discipline and abstention from all indulgences and luxuries asceticism/austerity/nonindulgence n. uncompromising self-discipline and rigorous abstinence from indulgence and luxury asinine/brainless/cretinous/daft/dense/dim/dimwitted/doltish/dopey/dumb/fatuous/halfwitted/idiotic/imbecile/imbecilic/inane/mindless/moronic/senseless/simpleminded/stupid/unintelligent/vacuous/witless a. distinguished by a dearth of intelligence _cloddish/gaumless/gormless/oafish _a. barren of intelligence and vitality: sluggishly and usu. clumsily stupid _fatuous _a. smugly stupid assorted/diverse/diversified/heterogeneous/manifold/miscellaneous/mixed/multiple/multiplex/variable/varied/variegated a. consisting of or incorporating differing components, elements, features or forms _multifarious _a. copiously diversified atavistic/atavic a. relating to or characteristic of regression to a primitive or ancestral type or character Attic n. of, concerning or characteristic of ancient Attica, neighboring Athens or the Athenians Attic n. elegantly simple or pure attribute/character/characteristic/difference/distinction/earmark/feature/hallmark/lineament/peculiarity/point/property/quality/tenor/trait n. a distinctive property by which individuals or objects may be identified or distinguished _aspect/complexion/facet/phase _n. a quality of a circumstance, condition, problem or subject _character/identity/individuality/ipseity/ipsism/mold/self _n. an aggregate of attributes that distinguish one person or thing from others __nature/quality/strain __n. an intrinsic or inborn individuality _commonality _n. a character shared by several _eccentricity/oddity/peculiarity/singularity _n. an odd property _feature/hallmark/point _n. any conspicuous characteristic _haecceity/individuality/singularity _n. a unique trait _property/quality/strain/trait _n. any inherent lineament attritional a. of or concerning any gradual attenuation of strength, substance, number, or membership _attritive _a. effectuating or promoting a gradual diminution of strength, substance, number, or membership autoschediastic/extemporal/extemporaneous/extemporary/extempore/extemporized/impromptu/improvisate/improvisational/improvised/improviso/offhand/unpremeditated a. without preparation or forethought ad lib/autoschediastically/extemporally/extemporaneously/extemporarily/extempore/impromptu/offhand/unpremeditatedly av. without preparation or premeditation austere/bare/chaste/plain/restrained/severe/simple/stark/unadorned/undecorated/unembellished/unornamented a. without ornament; sparsely adorned awkward/bulky/bunglesome/clumsy/clunky/cumbersome/elephantine/hulking/ponderous/ungainly/unhandy/unmanageable/unwieldy a. difficult to use, convey or carry for an irregular conformation, excessive magnitude or immoderate weight awkward/clumsy/gawky/graceless/incoordinate/inelegant/inept/uncoordinated/ungainly/ungraceful a. lacking grace or coordinated ease of movement backstair(s)/clandestine/covert/furtive/secret/sly/sneaky/stealthy/surreptitious/undercover/underhand(ed) a. used, performed, obtained, devised or achieved in concealment bad/baleful/baneful/damaging/deleterious/detrimental/evil/harmful/heinous/hurtful/inimical/injurious/malefic/maleficent/malevolent/malign/malignant/mischievous/noisome/pestilent(ial) a. inflicting damage or harm _destructive/impetuous/pernicious/pestiferous/rough/ruinous/violent _a. exerting, inflicting or involving injurious or destructive force __Procrustean __a. intended to violently or arbitrarily enforce compliance _insidious/pernicious/subtle _a. operating or proceeding with surreptitious inconspicuity to ultimately malign effect bad/bum/cheap/cheesy/chintzy/crummy/dismal/inferior/lousy/low-grade/low-quality/mean/miserable/poor/schlocky/shabby/shoddy/substandard/tacky a. of low or inadequate quality, as a performance, product, service, etc. _abominable/atrocious/bum/execrable/terrible/trashy/woeful/wretched _a. extremely or especially inferior baleful/dark/dire/direful/forbidding/foreboding/menacing/minacious/minatory/ominous/portentous/prodigious/sinister/threatening a. portending misfortune, menace, harm, evil or cataclysm ballast n. any attribute imparting stability balneal a. of or regarding baths or bathing banal/bromidic/cliche(d)/commonplace/corny/hack/hackneyed/hoary/mundane/musty/overused/overworked/shopworn/slavish/stale/threadbare/timeworn/tired/trite/uncreative/uninventive/unoriginal a. lacking originality (usu. ensuing exploitation of exhausted concepts, trends or tropes), and often consequently predictable, embarrassing or dull _conventional/institutional _a. banal by unregenerate adherence to convention _pedestrian/prosaic/prosy/unimaginative/uninspired _a. stale for a shortfall of imagination bankrupt*/deficient/lacking/wanting a. (usu. followed by in or *of) not possessing a sufficiency of a quality _barren/bereft/destitute/devoid/free*/innocent/vacant/void _a. (usu. followed by of or *from) wholly without an attribute or capacity baroque/elaborate/embellished/extravagant/exuberant/flamboyant/florid/luxuriant/ornate/rococo a. sumptuously ornamented and distinguished by intricacy and complexity of detail barren/effete/infecund/infertile/sterile/unfruitful a. unable to procreate bathetic/cloying/cornball/corny/drippy/gooey/hokey/icky/kitschy/mawkish/mushy/saccharine/sappy/schmaltzy/schmalzy/sentimental/sickly/sloppy/slushy/soppy/soupy/syrupy a. immoderately or artificially emotional beddable/cute/desirable/foxy/luscious/lush/sensual/sexy/sultry/toothsome a. (of a person) sexually attractive or exciting _nubile _a. (of a woman) foxy and sexually mature befouled/begrimed/besmirched/cruddy/dirty/feculent/filthy/foul/grimy/grubby/grungy/mucky/raunchy/smutty/soiled/sordid a. smudged, smeared, ingrained or covered with filth _crummy/flyblown/sordid/squalid _a. abhorrently filthy, usu. attendant of poverty or neglect _greasy _a. grungy with grease _smutty/sooty _a. begrimed with soot bifid a. deeply cleft into two parts or lobes, as a petal or leaf bilateral a. pertaining to, affecting or essayed by two or both sides, parties, etc. bloated/bulging/dilated/distended/swollen/tumefied/tumid/turgid/turgidous a. enlarged or expanded by internal gaseous or fluid pressure _intumescent/puffy/tumescent _a. slightly swollen _varicose _a. uncommonly tumefied boring/dreary/dry/dull/flat/humdrum/insipid/irksome/jejune/stodgy/tame/tedious/tiresome/tiring/uninteresting/vapid/wearisome a. not especially or remotely interesting _deadly _a. exceedingly, painfully tedious bourgeois a. of, belonging to, concerning, composing or representative of the middle class bracing/brisk/crisp/energizing/fortifying/invigorating/lively/strengthening/vitalizing/vivifying a. induing vitality and energy; stimulating health and strength _refreshing/reinvigorating/rejuvenating/restorative/revitalizing/reviving/revivifying _a. energizing anew brackish a. slightly salty, as briny sea water immingled with the fresh water of an estuary brassy/brazen a. consisting or constructed of brass a. similar to the color or durability of brass buckish/coxcombic/coxcombical/coxcomical/dandy/dandyish/foppish a. of, regarding, resembling or characteristic of a dandy buoyant/floatable/floaty a. able or apt to float upon or rise to the surface of a liquid or gas burdensome/onerous/oppressive/taxing/trying a. difficult to bear, as grueling labor or repression caliginous a. dim, misty and consequently gloomy callow/fledgling/green/inexperienced/untrained a. innocent of practical or required experience or training canonic(al) a. relating or conforming to established and usu. procedural rules caustic/corrosive/mordant a. capable of burning, corroding, dissolving or destroying matter (esp. living tissue) by chemical action _vitriolic _a. exceedingly corrosive celebratory/festal/festival/festive/festivous/gala a. of, for, concerning, involving or suitable for a festival changeable/fluctuant/fluid/inconstant/labile/mutable/unsettled/unstable/variable/variant a. apt to change _volatile _a. suddenly or violently labile changeless/constant/firm/fixed/immutable/invariable/invariant/static/steady/unchanging/uniform/unvariable/unvarying a. not or never changing; remaining the same chaotic/disorderly/disruptive/rowdy/stormy/tempestuous/troublesome/tumultuous/turbulent/uproarious a. causing or characterized by excited or confused unrest, disorder or conflict characteristic/distinctive/distinguishing/individual/special/typical a. signifying a quality or character of a person or thing that distinguishes it from others _essential/immanent/inbuilt/indigenous/inherent/innate/integral/intrinsic(al)/native/natural/substantive _a. existing as a permanent, essential characteristic of something or someone __congenital/connate/inborn/inbred/inherited/innate/native/natural __a. intrinsic from birth, as an aptitude or physical trait _idiosyncratic _a. distinguishing a person or group charitable/eleemosynary a. of, involving or pertaining to generosity for the benefit of those in need _benevolent/charitable/philanthropic _a. exercising and demonstrating munificence for the poor and needy by furnishment of money, property or work charmed/fortuitous/fortunate/lucky/providential/serendipitous a. enjoying, or characterized or occurring by favorable chance chic/fashionable/modish/stylish/swanky/trendy a. conforming to and thus characteristic and representative of a currently popular trend or style chill/chilly/cool/fresh/nippy/parky a. appreciably, moderately, often uncomfortably cold chintzy/flash(y)/garish/gaudy/glaring/glitzy/loud/meretricious/showy/tawdry/tinselly a. ostentatiously and crudely or tastelessly colorful or ornate circuitous/circular/devious/indirect/roundabout/tortuous a. deviating from a direct course to a longer route or method; not straightforward classic/exemplary/highest/ideal/model/ultimate a. representing the unequaled excellence of a class or kind; worthy of imitation classic/exemplary/model/paradigmatic/representative/typic(al) a. of, concerning or comprising an accurate, distinctive example of a class, quality or type _archetypal/archetypic(al)/prototypal/prototypic(al) _a. exemplary of an original type or model _archetypal/archetypic(al)/quintessential _a. of, regarding or forming a perfect or purest example classifiable/categorizable a. qualified for arrangement or organization in a class or category climacteric/critical/crucial/pivotal a. of, distinctive of or comprising a decisive phase or moment coherent/cohesive/tenacious a. holding together _adherent/adhering/adhesive/agglutinate(d)/bonded/coherent/cohering/clinging/consistent _a. sticking or stuck together, as by glue or another adhesive coherent/compatible/consistent a. in sound, logical concord: never erroneous by discrepancy coherent/logical/lucid a. capable of thinking and expressing oneself in a perspicuous, consistent manner collective a. of, characteristic or expressive of a group _collaborative/collective/combined/concerted/conjoint/cooperative/joint/united _a. collectively conducted, created, planned or realized _common/conjoint/joint _a. collectively and equally owned or shared comme il faut/conventional/correct/decorous/formal/proper/orthodox/right/seemly a. conforming to etiquette or protocol commendable/exemplary/laudable/meritorious/praiseworthy a. deserving or worthy of praise or esteem compatible a. (of hardware) capable of joint function or interaction _interoperable _a. (of different computers or systems) able to exchange and share data _a. (of software) executable on a computer or in an operating system _portable _a. (of software) capable of functioning or being compiled for execution in different operating systems _a. (of files) accessible with different programs complete/entire/full/grand/integral/total/undivided/whole a. constituting an undiminished entirety; containing all essential or necessary elements or parts condign a. (of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved condonable/excusable/forgivable/pardonable/remittable/venial a. fit to be excused or forgiven, as a minor affront or trespass confused/desultory/disconnected/disjointed/disordered/disorganized/incoherent/incoordinate/unconnected/uncoordinated a. lacking a logical or coherent sequence or continuity connectivity n. a potential or capacity to be connected n. a capacity for hardware interconnection consecutive/sequent/sequential/straight/successive a. characterized by or occurring in continuous succession: following one after the other consubstantial n. of the same essence, nature or substance [as something else] controllable/governable/manageable a. subject to control _docile/tractable _a. easily controlled or managed convenable a. able to be assembled, esp. with ease convivial/festive/frolic/holiday/jolly/jovial/merry a. (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively and enjoyable conviviality/festivity/gaiety/jollity/joviality/merriment n. a milieu characterized by or conducive to friendly, lively sociality cosignatory a. signed jointly cumulative/accumulative/accretionary a. characterized or generated by, or attendant of growth by gradual addition or inclusion cursory/hasty/hurried/passing/rushed/sudden a. briskly performed, without attention to detail; not thorough _hurried/overhasty/precipitate/precipitous _a. excessively hasty dangerous/dicey/hazardous/parlous/perilous/risky/treacherous/unsafe a. fraught with uncertainty and some risk of harm or death _precarious/treacherous _a. dangerously insecure or unsteady, esp. if liable to fall dash/elan/flair/panache/pizazz/pizzazz n. vigorous, distinctive, elegant style deceitful/deceiving/deceptive/duplicitous/fallacious/false/misleading/treacherous a. done or intended to deceive; inducing belief in what is not true deceiving/deceptive/delusive/delusory/fallacious/false/illusional/illusionary/illusive/illusory/misleading/shadowy a. (usu. unintentionally) likely to prompt false belief defensible/tenable a. able to be sustained or defended against assault or injury _impenetrable/impregnable/inviolable/unassailable _a. sufficiently robust or otherwise secure to resist attack and frustrate invasion or entry deficient/exiguous/inadequate/insufficient/measly/mingy/scanty/skimpy/slender/stingy a. lacking in needed or desired size, extent or degree delinquent/derelict a. failing to fulfill what one's duty, obligation or responsibility requires deluxe/de luxe/grand/lavish/Lucullan/lush/luxe/luxuriant/luxurious/luxury/opulent/plush(y)/posh/rich/ritzy/sumptuous/swank(y) a. of, conducing, distinguished by or furnishing superb, elaborate quality and splendid, elegant luxuriance, esp. that necessitating great expense demanding/exacting/nice/severe/testing a. requiring exceptional sedulity, skill or resources de rigueur a. required by etiquette or protocol a. required by present fashion diaphanous/filmy/gauzy/gossamer/sheer/vaporous a. fine and translucent, as a thin, light fabric didactic(al)/educational/instructional/instructive/preceptive a. intended or serving to instruct, as by teaching _propaedeutic _a. of, concerning or furnishing exordial instruction difference/disparity/dissimilarity/dissimilitude/unlikeness/variance n. the quality of being neither similar nor equivalent to another or others _contradiction/contrariety/disagreement/discrepance/discrepancy/incompatibility/incongruence/incongruity/inconsistency/variance _n. a difference between conflicting claims, facts or opinions _nicety/nuance/shade/shading/subtlety _n. any subtle variance of character, color, feeling, expression, meaning, sound, taste, tone, etc. different/differing/dissimilar/distinct/diverse/unalike/unlike a. not like another's or each other's character, form, nature or quality _different/various _a. (of multiple things or people) unlike one another _discrepant/incompatible/incongruent/incongruous/inconsistent _a. (of multiple accounts, claims, opinions) differing _diverse/heterogeneous _a. of a dissimilar type __disparate __a. fundamentally and entirely heterogeneous _variant _a. different from others of the same type or standard different/discrete/distinct/individual/separate/single a. existing as or constituting a different or independent constituent, entity or occurrence discreteness/distinctness/individuality/separateness/singleness/singularity n. the quality of being distinct from others dilatory a. intended to postpone, esp. by dint of some temporizing diversion directly/forthwith/immediately/instanter/instantly/promptly/straightaway/straightway av. without delay; at once downcast a. directed downward, as one's eyes or a trajectory driving/impelling/impulsive/propelling/urging a. causing or forcing to move forward or onward duality/duplicity n. any quality distinguished by or reflecting two parts or aspects dynamism/energy/force/health/heartiness/might/power/robustness/strength/sturdiness/vigor/vim/vitality n. any physical or mental faculty for intense or operose exertion _beef/brawn/might/muscle/sinew/strength/thew(s) _n. muscular power or strength easy/effortless/facile a. requiring or achieved with paltry or no difficulty easily/effortlessly/facilely/readily av. without difficulty or inordinate effort edifying/enlightening/illuminating/luminous a. furnishing moral or intellectual instruction; imparting knowledge, understanding or insight effective/effectual/efficacious/operative/powerful a. producing or capable of producing an intended or desired result or effect _efficient _a. effectual with minimal effort, expense or waste effeminate/epicene/unmanly/womanly a. (of a male) possessing or exhibiting feminine characteristics elective/electoral a. of, based on or pertaining to selection by vote emblematic(al)/representative/symbolic(al) a. of, regarding or serving as a visible symbol of something, esp. a particular property or concept emetic/nauseant/vomitive a. inducing vomiting emollient a. softening or smoothing, esp. to skin endemic a. peculiar or confined to a certain region or population, as an organism, disease or condition enormous/exceeding/exceptional/extraordinary/fantastic/great/prodigious/surpassing/tremendous/vast a. far surpassing a typical amount, degree or extent epicurean/hedonistic/sybaritic/voluptuary/voluptuous a. of, regarding, having or characterized by luxuriant, often refined predilections or habits, esp. in regard to cuisine; devoted to sensual pleasure equal/equivalent/even/matching a. identical in value, quantity, degree, force, significance, etc. equestrian a. of or pertaining to horsemen or horsemanship a. of, regarding or composed of knights or other breeds of mounted warriors, esp. the Holy Roman Empire's imperial free knights eroding/erosive a. wearing matter down, off or away by pressure or motion _abradant/abrading/abrasive/chafing/corrading/corrasive _a. eroding by application of friction (esp. rubbing) erroneous/false/inaccurate/incorrect/mistaken/untrue/wrong a. not correct: containing, characterized by or derived from error _meretricious/specious _a. superficially or seemingly plausible, yet false ethopoetic a. evincing character ethos/climate n. the distinctive temperament of a culture or an era manifest by its prevailing values, convictions, aspirations, etc. Eurocentric/Europocentric a. treating of and focused on European culture, history and peoples evil/immorality/iniquity/wickedness n. a quality distinctly contrary to morality evocative/redolent/reminiscent/resonant/suggestive a. eliciting memories, images or feelings, esp. by similitude to that visualized excessive/exorbitant/extravagant/immoderate/outrageous/unconscionable/unreasonable a. (of demands) exceeding all bounds of reason or propriety exchangeable/fungible/replaceable a. subject to exchange, return, replacement or negotiation for another of correspondent or equivalent substance or function exclusive/private/sole/unshared a. owned by or restricted to a single person or party exclusive a. not admitting something or anything else exoteric/external/exterior/outside a. of or regarding the outside exoteric/popular a. intended or suitable for the general public by virtue of an essentially accessible quality experimental/provisional/provisionary/tentative/trial a. adopted, attempted, established or performed as an experiment on an uncertain or temporary basis extraneous/immaterial/impertinent/inapplicable/inapposite/irrelevant a. not germane to certain circumstances or an immediate matter _digressive/peripheral/tangential _a. of superficial relevance extravagant/improvident/infrugal/lavish/prodigal/profligate/profuse/spendthrift/thriftless/wasteful a. unfettered in an excessive, imprudent expenditure of funds or other resources extrinsic/extraneous a. neither contained in nor forming the essence of something: not inherent facile a. working or acting with ease or fluency facile/oversimplified/simplistic/superficial a. (of theories or arguments) ostensibly neat and comprehensive in disregard of pertinent complexities or nuances factious/schismatic(al) a. of, concerning or consequent of faction _breakaway/separatist _a. of or regarding exponents of cultural, ethnic, political or religious secession from a group, organization or country _factious/fissiparous/schismatic(al) _a. prone to dissever into smaller groups or factions, esp. from a larger association _schismatic(al) _a. fomenting division between dissenting or opposed factions feckless/helpless/impotent/impuissant/ineffective/ineffectual/otiose/powerless/prostrate a. destitute of ability, influence, or power; unable to take effective action feckless/incapable/incompetent/ineffective/inefficient/inept/inexpert/maladroit/unable/unfit/unskilled/unskillful a. vacant of the proficiency or knowledge required to execute a task or fulfill a responsibility fecundity/fertility/fruitfulness/luxuriance/productiveness n. any quality or power that enables or conduces healthy and bounteous production, esp. of offspring fecund/fertile/productive a. producing or capable of producing new growth (crops, fruit or other vegetation) or offspring (eggs or progeny) _fecund/fertile/fruitful/luxuriant/prolific/productive _a. amply fecund; bearing fulsome productive or reproductive growth filial a. of, regarding or beseeming an offspring a. denoting a generation or sequence of generations succeeding that of the parental firm/fixed/immutable/inalterable/inflexible/invariable/stabile/unalterable/unchangeable/unvariable a. not subject or susceptible to change or variation, as of form, quality or nature fixed/immobile/immobilized/immovable/stabile/stationary a. incapable of moving or being moved fluid/inconstant/mutable/shifting/unsettled/varying a. constantly changing folly/foolishness/imprudence/indiscretion/injudiciousness n. any destitution of good sense or sound judgment, esp. that engendering disaster _improvidence/improvision/infrugality/thriftlessness _n. imprudent mismanagement of resources and concerns foolishness/immateriality/inconsequence/inconsequentiality/indifference/insignificance/marginality/negligibility/paltriness/pettiness/puniness/slightness/smallness/superficiality/triviality/unimportance n. any dearth of significance forbidding/grim/severe/stern a. unpleasantly threatening in manner or appearance forceful/forcible/intense/mighty/powerful/vigorous a. characterized by, demonstrating, exerting or possessing force and power formidable/great/impressive a. admirable by virtue of exceptional strength, intensity, excellence, enormity, etc. fumid/smoky a. abounding in, filled with, disgorging, obnubilated by or smelling of smoke geared/oriented/tuned a. adapted, adjusted, designed or optimized for specific needs, purposes, circumstances or individuals _customized _a. created or modified in accordance with personal specifications gendered a. pertaining, distinctive or becoming to either the female or male sex glory/grandeur/magnificence/majesty/pageantry/pomp/resplendence/splendor/splendiferousness/stateliness/sumptuousness n. sumptuous, imposing beauty and elegance exhibited publicly gold(en) n. of, pertaining to, consisting or constructed of gold _gilt/gilded/aureate _a. coated with gold leaf or paint grandiose/pompous/pontifical/portentous/pretentious a. characterized by an extravagant, ostentatious exhibition of gravitas or significance, esp. that purposed to impress and betraying insufferable vanity greasy/pinguid a. resembling, containing or consisting of grease halcyon/idyllic a. of a period characterized by pleasant repose or eudaemonia healthful/healthy/salubrious/salutary/wholesome a. promoting good health of mind or body; beneficial to one's health hedonic a. of or concerning hedonism or hedonists _epicurean _a. relating to or suitable for an epicure _sybaritic(al) _a. pertaining to sybarites hermitic(al)/eremitic(al) a. of or characterized by austere solitude or a lifestyle thereof honorific a. conferring or demonstrating honor or respect hydrokinetic a. of or concerning fluidal motions or their causative forces igneous/pyrogenous a. produced by fire immaterial/incorporate/incorporeal/insubstantial/intangible/metaphysical/nonmaterial/unsubstantial a. not composed of matter; neither material nor physical immaterial/indifferent/insignificant/little/nugatory/null/unimportant a. of no importance whatsoever _de minimis/desipient/dinky/fiddling/foolish/footling/frivolous/inconsequential/inconsiderable/insignificant/light/lilliputian/little/marginal/negligible/niggling/nugatory/paltry/peripheral/petty/picayune/piddling/piffling/pissant/slight/small/superficial/trifling/trivial/unimportant a. of such minor significance as to warrant disregard impenetrable/incomprehensible/inscrutable/sphinxlike/unfathomable/unintelligible a. impossible to comprehend impersonal a. without personal reference, relation or connection impersonal a. possessing neither a personality nor human traits; not existing as a person incompatible/irreconcilable a. of any variance entailing mutual opposition or inconsistency beyond resolution indelible/inerasable/unerasable a. (of marks, stains, etc.) impossible to erase or obliterate indomitable/indomptable/insuperable/insurmountable/invincible/unconquerable a. incapable of being surmounted or overcome indomitable/indomptable/invincible/unbeatable/unconquerable a. impossible to subdue or defeat ineluctable/ineludible/inescapable/inevitable/unavoidable a. impossible to escape or evade; certain to happen ineluctably/inescapably/inevitably/necessarily/perforce/unavoidably av. (done or occurring) by necessity or force of circumstance inexplicable/unaccountable/unexplainable a. impossible to explain intermediary/intermediate/mean/middle a. existing, graded, located or occurring between two stages, points, extremes, etc. in time, place, order, etc. or of status, size or quantity _average/mean/medial/median/medium/mesial/middle/middling _a. centrally intermediate between two extremes or limits of a property such as degree, quantity or size _mesomorphic _a. existing in an intermediary state between liquid and crystal internecine a. of or pertaining to conflict within a group, organization, nation, etc. a. mutually destructive: ruinous or fatal to both or all belligerent parties intumescent a. (of a coating or sealant) swelling when heated to protect underlying material or seal a gap irreducible a. incapable of being decreased, reduced or simplified lachrymal/lacrimal a. of or regarding tears lapidary a. of or concerning gemstones a. of or pertaining to the art of cutting, engraving, polishing and setting precious stones liege a. of or relating to the feudal relationship between a suzerain and vassal manifold a. comprised of or simultaneously operating correspondent or identical devices matrilineal/matrilinear a. tracing, regarding or predicated on maternal descent memorable a. readily remembered _haunting _a. (of memories) persistently perturbing, pleasant or poignant _indelible/unforgettable _a. permanently memorable; too affecting, evocative, impressive or potent to ever be forgotten meretricious/whorish a. of, relating to or characteristic of a prostitute meritable/meritorious a. deserving a reward multifaceted/multiplex a. having many aspects _myriad _a. innumerably multifaceted natural/physiurgic n. produced by natural (instead of human or supernatural) forces or phenomena neonatal a. of or relating to newborns new/neoteric/fresh a. recently created, introduced, obtained or produced _novel/original/innovative/groundbreaking/fresh _n. unprecedentedly, uniquely or strikingly new nominal a. (of aerospace technology or operations) normally or acceptably functioning or accomplished normative a. of, regarding or prescribing an established or ordinary standard novelty/freshness n. originality by virtue of being new and unique, esp. refreshingly so novercal a. of, pertaining to or idiosyncratic of a stepmother null/otiose/paltry/useless/worthless a. serving no practical purpose oleaginous/oily/pinguid a. of, characteristic of, composed of, containing, regarding or resembling oil _oleaginous _a. producing oil omnibus a. including, pertaining to or providing for several items, matters or objects simultaneously oneiric a. of, regarding or suggestive of dreams parallel a. of, concerning or involving the simultaneous performance of multiple operations _multiplex _a. of, concerning or involving transmission of multiple, concurrent signals or messages along a single channel or circuit of communication passe/outmoded/outdated/obsolete/demode/antiquated a. no longer fashionable patrician a. of, regarding, characteristic of or belonging to the aristocratic families of the Roman Republic, who held the nigh-totality of senatorial and praetorian offices patrilineal/patrilinear a. based on, pertaining to or tracing paternal descent pedagogic(al) a. of or characteristic of a teacher philatelic(al) a. of or pertaining to philately, the study and collection of postage stamps and postmarks plenary a. (of a meeting) to be attended by all members, who might otherwise convene in smaller groups plutocratic(al) a. of, pertaining to or typical of a state or society governed by the wealthy polymorphous a. possessing or assuming various forms or appearances presaging/prefigurative/portending/foretokening/foreshowing/foreshadowing/betokening/auguring/adumbrative a. suggesting, representing or indicating in advance _presaging/ominous/portending/forewarning/foretokening/foreboding _a. foreshadowing in warning of some future calamity or evil preparatory/preparative/preliminary/prefatory/precursory/precursive/introductory/initiatory/exordial a. of a prevenient action, event, text, etc. that presents or prepares for a principal event or subject prescriptive a. regarding, establishing or dictating rules, laws or instructions prevalent/prevailing/preponderating/preponderate/preponderant/predominating/predominate/predominant/controlling/ascendant a. possessing or exerting superior power or influence _ascending/ascendant/advancing _a. rising in power or influence priapic a. immoderately concerned with masculinity and male sexuality princely a. of, regarding, befitting or exemplary of a prince probative/probatory/trial a. designed or serving for testing or trial, as to provide demonstration or evidence protean a. easily adopting various forms, shapes, roles, etc. provincial/parochial a. characteristic of a province's trifling and unsophisticated inhabitants provincial a. of, regarding, belonging to or associated with a rural administrative division of a country or empire punitive/penal a. of or concerning punishment _penal _a. prescribing punishment _punitory/punitive/punishing _a. inflicting or intended as punishment purposive a. serving a purpose purposive/purposeful/purposed/intentional/intended/deliberate a. posessing, indicating or acting for a purpose quiddity/kind/essence n. someone's or something's inherent, invariant nature reciprocal/mutual a. given, expressed, experienced, felt or done by each of two or more parties toward the other or others redoubtable/grand/considerable a. commanding or worthy of respect or honor _venerable/reverend/dread _a. deserving or commanding profound respect and awe, usu. by virtue of advanced age, attainment, identity or position refractory/uncontrollable/ungovernable/unmanageable/unruly a. impossible to control, govern, manage, restrain, etc. saprogenous/saprogenic a. generating bacterial or fungal decomposition of organic matter saprogenous/saprogenic/putrid a. produced by or otherwise consequent of putrefaction scholastic/educational a. of or pertaining to systematic instruction, esp. that taught at a school or university _academic _a. of or regarding institutionalized education sepulchral/funereal a. of or resonant of a funeral or inhumation sepulchral a. of, relating to or redolent of a tomb sere/withered a. shriveled and shrunken for want of moisture or aliment serial a. of, regarding, consisting of, occuring or arranged in a series serial/nonparallel a. of or concerning the successive performance of multiple operations single/singular/sui generis/unique a. constituting an individual class; being the only one of its kind slaughterous/sanguineous/sanguine/sanguinary/bloody a. regarding, provoking, ensuing, connoting or characterized by bloodshed soporific/soporiferous/somnolent/somnific/somniferous/slumberous/sleepy/hypnotic/hypnogogic/hypnagogic/drowsy a. inducing sleep or somnolence specious/gilded a. deceptively attractive or gratifying sphingine/sphinxlike a. like or resembling a sphinx spontaneous/reflexive/reflex/involuntary/instinctive/impulsive/automatic a. incited, elicited or done by natural impulse without conscious volition or intention straggly/straggling/sprawling/rambling a. spreading, growing or disposed in an irregular, often untidy manner, as paths, buildings, vegetation, etc. sublime/sublimate/rarefied/noble/lofty/grand/exalted/empyreal/eminent/elevated a. of superior spiritual, moral, intellectual or aesthetic character, standards or values suffusive/saturant/pervasive/permeative/permeant/perfusive/penetrative/penetrating/penetrant/interpenetrative/interpenetrant/infusive a. (of fluid, light, etc.) apt or able to spread or penetrate throughout sullen/sluggish/slack/lusk a. slow to act or respond to stimulation superannuated/outmoded/outdated/obsolete/musty/antiquated a. no longer commonly used, esp. when superseded _obsolescent _a. becoming or increasingly outmoded supererogant/supererogative/supererogatory a. executed beyond requirement or expectation surrogate/foster a. concerning, involving or acting as a parent and guardian of a child who is neither cognate nor legally adopted tensile a. of or relating to tension terrestrial/terrene/telluric/tellurian/earthly a. of, regarding or representing the earth or life thereon terrestrial a. of, pertaining to, occurring on or belonging to land threatening/sullen a. (of the sky) darkened by ominous clouds portending inclement weather thriftiness/thrift/providence/frugality/economy n. sparing prudence in the management and utilization of resources (money, food, etc.) titular/nominal/formal a. (of a position, status or title) existing in name only, though bereft of authority or power _emeritus _a. retired from active duty or office but retaining one's honorary, nominal title or rank _honorary _a. (of a position or title) nominal and honorably conferred tough/substantial/strong/stout/solid/hardy/durable a. highly resistant to wear, pressure, decay or damage; not easily breached or broken by adverse conditions or careless handling _substantial/sturdy/stout/staunch/stalwart/rugged/robustious/robust _a. durably constructed _perdurable _a. extremely durable torrid/sultry/stifling/sizzling/searing/scorching/scalding/roasting/fiery/equatorial/burning/broiling/blistering a. extremely, often uncomfortably hot _tropical/sweltering/sultry/sticky/steamy/oppressive _a. (usu. exceedingly or excessively) hot and humid tortuous/tangled/labyrinthine/knotty/involved/involute/Gordian/convoluted/complicated/complex/Byzantine a. puzzlingly, often deviously or hopelessly intricate trappings/accoutrements n. evident, emblematic, usu. characteristic features or objects associated with a particular role, scenario, state, etc. tricky/touchy/ticklish/thorny/tender/sticky/sensitive/prickly/delicate/awkward a. (of a situation) easily upset, consequently difficult to manage and necessitating discreet tact, prowess or diplomacy troglodytic a. of or concerning a cave-dweller, esp. that of a prehistoric era tumbledown/tatty/shabby/seedy/ruinous/rickety/ratty/ramshackle/mean/dilapidated/derelict/decrepit/decaying/crummy/creaky/bedraggled a. in a deplorable condition of severe disrepair and deterioration sequent to age, neglect or use underlying/ultimate/rudimentary/prime/primary/fundamental/elementary/elemental/basic a. of, concerning or affecting first principles or basic aspects of a subject unrestricted/unrestrained/uninhibited/ungoverned/unfettered/uncurbed/uncontrolled/unconstrained/unchecked/unbridled/unbounded/rampant/free a. not restricted, restrained or controlled usual/unremarkable/unexceptional/stock/regular/quotidian/ordinary/normal/mundane/household/habitual/familiar/everyday/customary/conventional/commonplace/common/average/accustomed a. widely or frequently encountered, expected, experienced or observed viable a. (of a fetus or newborn) adequately developed to survive thereout its uterus a. (of seeds, eggs, etc.) capable of life, growth and development prior to hatching, germination, etc. vital/requisite/required/necessary/indispensable/imperative/essential/critical a. categorically needed to achieve an objective or fulfill a function _prerequisite _a. required by circumstance or dictate as a prior condition volant/volatile a. capable of flight volatile/explosive a. apt to provoke violence or calamity vulturous/vulturine/raptorial/rapacious/predatory/predacious a. subsisting on live prey _ravening _a. ravenous and rapacious; esurient whilst hunting for prey wanton/unprovoked/gratuitous a. following from, executed with or distinguished by malice without justification, motivation or provocation whimsical/visionary/romantic/quixotic/fanciful a. extravagantly, impractically, unrealistically imaginative and idealistic wild/tempestuous/stormy/rigorous/raging/inclement/furious/foul a. (of weather) distinguished by plenteous precipitation and fierce winds, thunder or lightning _squally _a. briefly tempestuous woolly/vague/shadowy/obscure/nebulous/misty/indistinct/indiscernible/hazy/fuzzy/faint/dim/blurry/blurred/bleary a. difficult to discern for a deficiency of distinct character, form or shape worldly/terrestrial/terrene/temporal/sublunary/secular/mundane/material/earthly/carnal a. of, concerned with or peculiar to the present physical world or matters thereof in lieu of the spiritual xanthochroic/xanthochroous a. of or concerning ethnic groups and individuals of light hair and skin zeitgeist n. the spirit of a time: predominant trends of thought or sentiment characteristic of a historical period ==RELIGION, THEOLOGY & MYTHOLOGY== abbey (Roman Catholic) n. a convent managed by an abbess n. a monastery supervised by an abbot n. a church constituting an annex of a monastery or convent ablution n. a ceremonial rite of bathing that lustrates one's body and soul n. liquid (usu. water) used to cleanse one's body, esp. as a function of a religious rite ablution (Roman Catholic) n. the ritual washing of sacred vessels or a priest's hands absolution/shrift (Roman Catholic) n. an ecclesiastical remission of one's sins administered by a priest in the sacrament of penance absolution (Roman Catholic) n. the act of absolving one of their sins; sacred redemption as declared by a priest in the sacrament of penance n. the condition of being so absolved ensuing that sacrament accurse/anathematize/anathemize/ban/beshrew/comminate/curse/execrate/imprecate/maledict v. to wish or invoke evil or misfortune upon someone or something anathema/ban/curse/execration/imprecation/malediction n. a verbal evocation (usu. addressed to a deity or other supernatural power) to inflict evil, doom or cataclysm on a person or collective _anathema (Roman Catholic) _n. a formal ecclesiastical curse of excommunication, usu. pronounced by a pope or archbishop _n. any person or thing anathematized by clerical or papal authority aegis (Greek, Roman) n. the goatskin shield of Zeus or Athena (Jupiter or Minerva), at the center of which the Gorgon's head is fastened agape (Christian) n. a spiritual, asexual love for God, Christ or other people, often accounted a paragon of Christian sentiment n. a religious meal conducted as a token of Christian fellowship, held by early Christians to commemorate the Last Supper Alcyone (Greek) n. the daughter of Aeolus, so aggrieved by the death of her husband King Ceyx that she drowned herself and was transmuted by divine intervention into a kingfisher altar (Christian) n. a table in a Christian church where communion is administered n. a raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are placed, or religious rites performed _baldachin/ciborium (Christian) _n. a canopy standing on four pillars over an altar _corporal _n. a white linen cloth upon an altar on which the Sacrament's ciborium and chalice are laid ambo (Christian) n. one of two raised, oblong pulpits in which the gospels and epistles were read in early Christian churches anachoret/anchoress [OR] anchoret/anchorite/eremite/hermit n. a religious recluse anchoritic/eremitic(al) a. of, regarding or beseeming religious recluses or their practices "Anathema Maranatha" (Abrahamic) n. an emphatic expression of anathema; Maran atha: "Our Lord cometh" annihilationism n. a doctrine asserting that the souls of wicked people are eradicated upon death, rather than condemned to an afterlife of suffering on earth or in hell antinomianism (Christian) n. a theological doctrine asserting that Christians may achieve salvation solely by bestowal of faith and divine grace, fulfillment of which exempts them from scriptural, moral or civil laws apostasy/tergiversation n. renunciation of or departure from a religion, political party, ideology or cause, often in favor of another apostatize/tergiversate v. to abandon one's party, faith or convictions apostate/recreant/renegade/tergiversator n. someone who renounces a religion, ideology, or any other faith, cause or principles apostolic(al) (Christian) a. of, regarding or contemporaneous with Christ's twelve Apostles a. of, concerning or derived from the practices and doctrines of Christ's twelve Apostles apostolic(al)/pontifical/papal (Roman Catholic) a. of or pertaining to the pope, deemed the successor of St. Peter _pontifical _a. befitting or characteristic of a pope or pontiff _papal _a. ordered by or subject to a pope apotheosis/deification n. the exaltation of a person to the rank of a god _egotheism _n. deification of oneself apotheose/apotheosize/deify v. to esteem someone as a god or godlike; to worship as or exalt to the position of a god _idolize _v. to worship a material object (esp. a simulacrum) as a deity or representation thereof Argonaut (Greek) n. any of the heroes who sailed with Jason to Colchis on the Argo on his quest to claim the Golden Fleece Armageddon (Christian) n. the ultimate, climacteric battle between the forces of good and evil precursive to the Day of Judgment, as foretold in the Apocalypse of Saint John n. the Armageddon's locus assume (Christianity) v. (of God) to intromit someone's soul into heaven atonement (Christian) n. the reconciliation of man and God engendered by Christ's redemptive life and sacrificial death n. the lineaments of God or Christ as epitomized in mankind attrition n. penitence for one's sin provoked by a fear of damnation rather than the love of God auspex/augur (Roman) n. a religious official of ancient Rome who interpreted omens (esp. those educed from avian activity) to advise authorities regarding matters of public policy autolatry n. worship of oneself avatar (Hindu) n. the manifestation of a Hindu deity (esp. Vishnu) in superhuman, human or animal form bedamn/damn v. to condemn to divine, eonian punishment belief/credo/creed/faith/religion n. any system of beliefs, principles and practices fundamental to a form of theistic worship benediction n. an invocation of divine blessing usu. performed at the conclusion of a religious service Benediction (Roman Catholic) n. a brief service comprehending prayers, a Eucharistic hymn and the blessing of the congregation and sacrament benefice (Roman Catholic) n. an endowed church office furnishing a fixed income and property to its hieratic beneficiary benefice/rectory (Anglican) n. an endowed church office (commonly that of a rector or vicar) furnishing a fixed income and property to its holder benefice (Roman Catholic, Anglican) n. the property or revenue of a benefice v. to afford a benefice breviary n. a priest's book containing hymns, psalms and prayers recited daily in the divine office during the canonical hours Broad Church (Anglican) n. a latitudinarian Anglican party, movement and doctrine of tolerance and reason that assumed de facto preponderance in the Church of England during the 18th century caduceus (Greek, Roman) n. the winged staff twined by a brace of serpents carried by the messenger god Hermes (Mercury) canon/criterion/precept/tenet n. a fundamental rule or principle of established validity in a religion, philosophy or field of art or science that governs belief, conduct and procedure, and in compliance with which something may be judged, decided or compared canon (Christian) n. the Bible's collective books recognized by any Christian church as genuine holy scripture n. an ecclesiastical decree or law promulgated to regulate morality or practice canon (Roman Catholic) n. a prayer of the Mass consecrating the Host to be consumed n. a complete register of saints recognized by the Roman Catholic church canonic(al) (Christian) a. of or included in the Biblical canon a. of, relating to, prescribed by or in accordance with canon law catafalque (Roman Catholic) n. a structure shaped to resemble a coffin and draped with a pall, signifying the corpus at a Requiem Mass catechesis (Christian) n. oral religious instruction imparted to children or converts antecedent to baptism or confirmation, often conveyed via maieutic method catechetic(al) (Christian) a. of, regarding or involving oral religious insruction in preparation of a baptism or confirmation catechize (Christian) v. to instruct someone in the rudiments of Christianity by means of Socratic method Catholic (Christian) a. of or pertaining to the ancient, undivided Christian church a. of or relating to any Christian church (Anglican, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, etc.) asserting representation of the foregoing church of antiquity, esp. those perpetuating the apostolic succession of bishops Catholic (Roman Catholic) a. of or concerning the Roman Catholic church censer/thurible n. a container wherein incense is burned during religious services chancel (Roman Catholic) n. the space in a church circumferent of its altar, usu. enclosed by a lattice or railing and occupied by the clergy and often the choir Chimera (Greek) n. Typhon's daughter: a distaff, fire-breathing monster embodied of a lion's head, goat's body and serpent's tail ciborium (Roman Catholic) n. a lidded vessel shaped like a goblet in which the consecrated bread or wafers of the Eucharist are contained cleric/divine/ecclesiastic/priest n. a trained member of a religious order authorized to conduct religious worship, as an imam, minister, priest or rabbi _archpriest (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest of the first rank in a cathedral chapter, acting as chief assistant and subordinate only to its bishop _canon (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest who is a permanent member of a cathedral chapter's staff _n. a monk of the Augustinian or Premonstratensian Canons _coadjutor (Roman Catholic) _n. a bishop designated to assist and succeed a diocesan bishop _cordelier (Roman Catholic) _n. a Franciscan friar of the order of the Friars Minor _curate (Protestant) _n. any cleric who administers a parish _n. a clergyman who assists a rector or vicar __parson/rector (Anglican) __n. an Anglican divine who manages a parish and collects its tithes as his income of this benefice __vicar (Anglican) __n. an Anglican curate paid a stipend in lieu of the tithes allocated to a rector __rector (Episcopalian) __n. a clergyman supervising a parish _imam/imaum (Islam) _n. a Muslim cleric who leads recitation of prayer in a mosque _oracle _a. a priest or priestess in classical antiquity who purported to serve as a divine medium and presaged future events _minister/parson (Protestant) _n. a cleric of a Protestant denomination, as a pastor or rector __pastor (Christian) __n. a minister in charge of a church and its congregation _prelate/hierarch _n. any ecclesiastic of high rank or office, as an abbot, archbishop, bishop or cardinal __abbot (Roman Catholic)/archimandrite (Eastern Orthodox) __n. a priest who oversees a monastery __primate/archbishop (Roman Catholic) __n. a bishop of the higest rank who presides over the archdiocese or archbishopric of a province or country ___metropolitan ___n. an archbishop whose purview extends to one or multiple suffragan sees __Primate (of all England)/Archbishop of Canterbury (Anglican) __n. the Church of England's chief bishop, whose influence as a leader guides the global Anglican church __vicar (Roman Catholic) __n. a Roman Catholic priest assigned the delegacy of a prelate (as a primate, bishop, abbot, et al.) or the pontiff _provincial (Christianity) _n. any cleric (as an archbishop or metropolitan) presiding over an ecclesiastic province __metropolitan (Eastern Orthodox) __n. a provincial ranking betwixt an archbishop and a patriarch _rector (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest administering a Roman Catholic institution, as a university, religious house or Jesuit seminary _shrift father (Roman Catholic) _n. a priest to whom confession is recited _vicar (Anglican) _n. a clergyman in the Church of England acting as a substitute or deputy for a rector or bishop _vicar (Episcopal) _n. an Episcopal cleric governing a chapel cloister n. a residence of religious seclusion, as a convent or monastery n. life in a cloister colloquy n. an informal conference wherein discussions of theological matters are conducted commination (Anglican) n. a liturgical recitation of divine threats against sinners performed during Ash Wednesday concordat (Roman Catholic) n. a pontifical pact with a secular government regarding Catholic legality confess (Roman Catholic) v. (of a penitent) to profess one's sins to a priest or to God in the presence of a priest to obtain absolution v. (of a priest) to hear a penitent's confession, so to subsequently administer his or her absolution _shrive (Roman Catholic) _v. (of a priest) to hear a confession of, assign a penance to and absolve a penitent _v. to avow one's sins to a priest, receive absolution and perform one's delegated penance conjuration/invocation n. a prayer for a deity's aid, forgiveness or guidance consecration/devotion/devoutness/godliness/piety/piousness/religiosity/religiousness n. earnest dedication to God and ardent observance of religious tenets consubstantial n. (of the Holy Trinity) of the same divine essence, despite their dissimilar aspects contrition n. sincere repentance for one's sins inspired by a love of God cope (Roman Catholic) n. a long, loose cloak worn by a priest or bishop over an alb or surplice in a procession or during a litugical function credence n. a small table adjoining an altar on which bread, wine and vessels of the Eucharist are placed ere the consecration of those elements credo (Christian) n. a musical setting of The Nicene Creed creed (Christian) n. any proclamation of essential Christian belief, as The Apostles' Creed _credo _n. The Apostles' Creed _n. The Nicene Creed, being the third constituent of Roman Catholic Eucharist discalced a. (of friars or nuns) barefoot or indued with sandals divine/godly/numinous/supernatural a. of, regarding, from, expressed by, characteristic of or being a deity doctrine/dogma/gospel/tenet n. a sanctioned body of principles immanent of a religion and appurtenant to matters of morality and faith ecclesiastic(al) (Christian) a. of or concerning a church or the Christian church ecumenic(al)/oecumenic(al) (Christian) a. of or pertinent to the global Christian faith a. purposed for or concerned with constituting and advancing unity among religions and denominations thereof elemental n. an inhabitant of an element (earth, fire, water, wind) existing in an intermediary state between living humans and spirits eschatological a. of or regarding the finality of mankind and the world eschatology n. a doctrine or branch of theology concerned with conclusive events: death, the Second Coming, the Last Judgment, and the ultimate destiny of humankind ethereal/incorporeal/inner/spiritual a. of, pertaining to or affecting the spirit or soul evangelist (Protestant) n. an itinerant, missionary or occasional preacher Evangelist (Christian) n. any of the four Apostles who authored the New Testament's Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke or John evangelist/gospeler (Christian) n. a preacher who instructs of or professes faith in the gospels evangelist/revivalist n. someone (often a clergyman) who advocates or leads a religious revivial exegesis n. a critical explanation or interpretation of Biblical scripture exegete n. a person proficient in analysis and interpretation of religious texts extramundane a. of, regarding, existing or occurring beyond the physical world or universe festival/fete/fiesta n. a (usu. ceremonial) celebration of a religious holiday, esp. a saint's day _Carnival (Roman Catholic) _n. a frolic fiesta contiguously anteceding Lent genuflect v. to bow while bending one knee to a floor before a religious superior or image as a demonstration of worship hagiography n. a biography of a saint or saints n. composition of a hagiography halcyon (Greek) n. a mythical bird that nested on the sea's surface during the winter solstice, and possessed the power to calm winds and waves hallelujah/halleluiah/alleluia (Christian) n. any sacred musical composition based on the hosanna, "hallelujah" hecatomb (Greek, Roman) n. a public sacrifice of 100 oxen to the ancient gods heresy/heterodoxy n. any belief, doctrine or opinion at variance with a religion's established tenets heresiarch n. the innovator or chief exponent of a heresy n. the leader of a heretical sect homily/sermon n. a religious disquisition ordinarily proclaimed by a cleric in address of a moral or scriptural topic, intended to edify their congregation hosana/hosannah (Christian) _i., n. an impassioned exclamation of praise or adoration to God _hallelujah/alleluia (Christian) __i., n. a hosanna, literally: "praise the Lord!" hymnody (Christian) n. the act or art of singing hymns n. hymns of a particular period or church _psalmody (Christian) _n. the act or art of singing psalms hymnody/hymnology (Christian) n. the composition of hymns n. the (usu. artistic or historical) study of hymns n. hymns collectively _psalmody (Christian) _n. the composition of psalms _n. any musical arrangement of a psalm _n. psalms collectively ignicolist/pyrolater/pyrolator n. one who worships fire imam/imaum (Islam) n. a Muslim spiritual guide and esteemed authority of Islamic theology and law n. one in a succession of seven or twelve divinely inspired Shiite religious leaders descended from Muhammad in petto (Roman Catholic) a., av. (of cardinals papally appointed but not disclosed in the consistory) secret, private; secretly, privately interdict (Roman Catholic) n. a punitory ecclesiastical or papal censure rescinding a person's or locality's privileges of certain sacraments (save communion) and Christian burial invocation n. a prayer obsecrating God for succor or forgiveness Lamia (Greek) n. the beauteous queen of Libya and consort of Zeus, whose children were either abducted or murdered by Hera, and who resorted in her envious, dolorous madness to devour the children of others -- a transgression that metamorphosed her into a serpentine monster latitudinarian (Anglican) n. an Anglican of the 17th-19th century opposed to the dogmatism endemic to the Church of England, whose exegesis was based on reason latitudinarianism n. tolerance and freedom of opinion in matters pertaining to religious belief and exegesis lavabo (Roman Catholic) n. a large stone washbasin of a medieval monastery leviathan (Judaism, Christianity) n. an immense, monstrous sea beast prominent in the Tanakh and Old Testament Manichaeism n. a syncretic religion founded by the Persian prophet Manes in the third century that coalesced and reconciled Zoroastrian dualism of light and dark, Gnostic philosophy, selected tenets of Christianity, Buddhist ethics and Babylonian folklore; though broadly propagated throughout the Roman Empire, Manichaeism declined to moribundity by 1000 A.D. Manichean a. of or relating to Manichaeism or Manichees Manichean/Manichee n. an adherent of Manichaeism muadhdhin/muazzin/muezzin (Islam) n. a mosque's cryer, who vociferously convokes the Islamic faithful to prayer from its minaret five times daily Muse (Greek) n. any of nine sororal goddesses born to Zeus and Mnemosyne, each of whom presided over and inspired afflatuses of an art or science narthex (Christian) n. an early Christian or Byzantine church's lobby or portico leading to its nave by way of a railing or screen nave (Christian) n. the central area of a church flanked by aisles, spanning from its narthex to its chancel nomism n. religious observance of law or laws numen (pl. numina) (Roman) n. a deity or spirit that inhabits or presides over an object or place nuncio (Roman Catholic) n. a papal ambassador: any diplomat representing the Holy See at a foreign capital or court _internuncio/internuncius _n. a papal envoy ranking immediately beneath a nuncio oblate n. a layperson dedicated to religious life, esp. one affiliated with a monastic order oblation n. any offering to a god, as a libation or sacrifice oblation (Roman Catholic) n. the offering of consecrated elements during the Eucharist oracular a. of, pertaining to or assuming the authority of an oracle oracular/prophetic(al)/sibyllic/sibylline/vatic(al) a. of, resembling, regarding or characteristic of a prophet or prophecy; pertaining to or associated with mystical or spiritual interpretation _Delphian/Delphic _a. cryptically prophetic _oracular _a. gravely prophetic paean (Greek) n. a hymn of praise or exultation, ordinarily sung to invoke or thank an ancient deity, esp. Apollo Panacea (Greek) n. a goddess of universal remedy who healed the ailing with a poultice, born to Asclepius and Epione pantheism n. belief in and worship of all gods n. a doctrine asserting that: __a) God is the totality of the universe and all its phenomena __b) the universe is a manifestation of God patrimony (Christian) n. an ecclesiastic estate or endowment physiolatry/physitheism n. worship of nature physitheism n. ascription of physicality to deities and other divine beings posada (Roman Catholic) n. a Latin American Christmas festival in which the legend of Joseph and Mary's search for accommodation is dramatized prelapsarian a. of or regarding the period or condition preceding the fall of Adam and Eve presbytery (Presbyterian) n. a local court comprising its vicinity's church ministers and elders n. those ministers and elders who compose a presbytery n. ecclesiastic government of and by a presbytery n. churches in a presbytery's jurisdiction presbytery/rectory (Roman Catholic) n. a parish priest's residence primacy (Christian) n. the office, period, province or rank of a senior bishop, primate or the pope profess v. to asseverate one's faith in a religion and its doctrine, or allegiance to its order v. to take the vows of and join a religious order or congregation v. to admit someone into a religious order propitiation n. the appeasement of a deity, esp. that attained with a conciliatory offering providence (Christianity) n. guardianship and guidance as exercised by God n. any manifestation of God's foreseeing care for and protection of his creatures n. God in a context of providence provision (Roman Catholic, Anglican) n. an appointment to an ecclesiastical office (esp. a benefice) pyrolatry n. worship of fire recusants (Roman Catholic, Anglican) n. noncompliant English Catholics of the 16th to 18th centuries who refused to attend Anglican church services and suffered legal and social penalties for their recalcitrance redemption (Christian) n. salvation from sin effectuated by the death of Christ (Protestant) Reformation (Protestant) n. a religious movement of the 16th century commenced by John Calvin, Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, et al. as an endeavor to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in the schismatic inception and institution of the Protestant churches reliquary n. a receptacle in which holy relics are reposited reprobate (Calvinism) n. an irreclaimable sinner predestined to everlasting damnation a. rejected by God and condemned to amaranthine damnation v. (of God) to abandon or consign to eternal damnation rubric (Christian) n. directions for the conduct of Christian church services, often printed with red ink in a liturgical text, as a prayer book, missal, hymnal, etc. sacerdotal/priestly/hieratic(al) (Roman Catholic) a. of or regarding priests or a priesthood sacrament (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) n. one of seven traditional Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox or Anglican ceremonies instituted by Christ to accord sanctifying grace: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointment of the ailing, matrimony or ordination n. either of two sacred Protestant rituals that confer consecration: baptism and the Eucharist _(Holy) Communion/Eucharist/Mass/Sacrament (Christian) _n. a sacrament in which bread and wine representing Christ's divine body and blood are consecrated and consumed by a congregation sacrament/Eucharist (Christian) n. the consecrated elements eaten during the Eucharist sacristy/vestry (Christian) n. a room within a church where sacred vessels and vestments are reposited and ecclesiastics habilitate sacrosanct a. inviolable by virtue of a sacred condition sanctify/hallow/consecrate/bless v. to render or declare holy and dedicate to a religious purpose by means of religious ceremony sanctify/purify/cleanse v. to free from guilt, sin or spiritual corruption _lustrate _v. to purify by means of a religious ritual or ceremony, as propitiation or ablution scapular(y) (Roman Catholic) n. a loose, sleeveless, often cowled monastic garment worn over the shoulders schism (Christian) n. a formal division within or separation of a church into two denominations n. the secession of a group in dissent regarding doctrinal variance schismatic(al) a. of, distinguished by or fomenting division between dissenting or opposed factions shrift (Roman Catholic) n. a confession of sin communicated to a priest, and his subsequent absolution of the professing penitent n. the act of confessing one's sins in the presence of a priest sibyl n. (Greek, Roman) a female oracle or prophet of antiquity _sibyllist _n. one who believes or follows a sibyl or sibyls simony (Roman Catholic) n. traffic of ecclesiastic appointments, benefices, indulgences or relics _barratry _n. traffic of ecclesiastical preferments Stentor (Greek) n. a mythical herald of the Trojan War who possessed an exceptionally loud voice and perished after losing a shouting contest with Hermes stoup/stoop (Roman Catholic) n. a basin containing holy water, into which the faithful might dip their fingers before crossing themselves; ordinarily mounted to a wall immediate to an entrance for the convenience of worshipers succubus/succuba n. a female demon believed to inflict a pernicious effect while engaging sleeping men in sexual congress supernal/heavenly/ethereal/empyrean/empyreal/divine/celestial a. of or pertaining to heaven as the abode of God suttee n. the customary, suicidal autocremation of a Hindu woman upon her husband's funeral pyre n. a Hindu widow who cremates herself on her husband's funeral pyre sylph (Paracelsus) n. a mortal, soulless, usu. female elemental being that inhabits the air syncretism n. the conciliation, fusion or union of different religions, philosophies, ideologies, cultures, etc. tabernacle (Roman Catholic) n. a bedight box emplaced upon a church's altar that contains the sacrament n. a niche wherein a statue or relic is enshrined thaumatogeny n. the belief that the origin of all life was a miracle thaumaturgy/wonderworking n. the execution of miracles theophany n. a visible (but not perforce material) manifestation of a deity beheld by a human or humans theurgy n. divine, often miraculous intervention in human affairs transubstantiate (Roman Catholic) v. to transmute the Eucharist (bread and wine) into the body and blood of Christ uncovenanted (Abrahamic) a. neither committed to a relationship with God through the appointed means of grace nor assured His divine promises or salvation undine (Paracelsus) n. a mortal, soulless, usu. female elemental being that inhabits water vampire n. an undead, sentient, nocturnal corpse sporting protrusible canine teeth who rises at night to drink the blood of the living _lamia _n. a female vampire vespers (Roman Catholic) n. that sixth of the divine office's seven canonical hours, first recurring during the early evening and now a public service every Sunday and fete day _placebo (Roman Catholic) _n. vespers of the office for the dead vespers/evensong/Evening Prayer (Anglican) n. an evening service of prayer and Biblical readings visitation n. any appearance or arrival of a supernatural being, esp. a deity n. an instance of divine calamity, castigation, relief or reprisal ==RIGHTS & PRIVILEGES== access/admission/entrance/entry/ingress n. the right or permission granted to enter annuity n. the right to receive an annuity antecedence/precedence/precedency/priority n. the right to be attended before others or furnished preference _primacy _n. the state of being the first in position, rank or significance: priority exceeding and preceding that of all others choice/discretion/disposition/election/option n. the freedom or power to act or decide in accordance with one's own judgment clout/influence/pull/sway n. the power to exert an effect, exploit an advantage or realize an objective by dint of one's wealth, eminence or social or political connections command/imperium/mastery n. the supreme right to command disherison n. the act of cancelling someone's inheritance n. a state of disinheritance easement n. a limited right afforded to one owner of property over that of another, as of passage or free access to water egress/exit n. the right to exit elective a. (of a group or populace) accorded the authority to elect entail/fee-tail n. exclusive tenure of an estate attributing its inheritance to a specific line of heirs hegemony n. the supremacy, leadership or preponderant influence of one country, class or ethnicity over another or others _suzerainty _n. the hegemonic authority, power or domain of a suzerain latitude/leeway/liberty/scope n. freedom or opportunity to do or think what one pleases morganatic a. of a legitimate marriage between a royal or noble and a peer of lower rank; neither the inferior of the betrothed nor their offspring may accede to titles or inherit property of the superior noblesse oblige n. a moral obligation of the wealthy or elite to acquit themselves with prodigality and politesse towards those less privileged ownership/property/proprietorship n. a (usu. legal) right to possess or dispose of something _severalty _n. individual ownership of (usu. real) property patrimony/birthright n. an inheritance by right of birth (esp. that of primogeniture) perquisite/prerogative n. a right or privilege reserved exclusively by a particular person or group _primogeniture _n. an eldest offspring's prerogative of inheritance primogenitive a. of or pertaining to a firstborn offspring's precedent patrimony principality/princedom n. the sovereignty or jurisdiction of a prince veto/negative n. executive or legislative power to prevent or quash legislation ==SCENTS== aromatic/odiferous/odoriferous/odorous/redolent/smelling a. possessing or emitting a distinctive odor _aromatic/fragrant/perfumed/redolent/scented _a. distinguished by or emitting a pleasant odor _fetid/foul/funky/gamy/malodorous/mephitic/minging/noisome/odiferous/odoriferous/odorous/pongy/rank/reeking/smelly/stinking/stinky _a. emanating an offensive odor _poignant/pungent/racy/sharp/tangy _a. (of scents) keenly potent effluvium/fetor/malodor/mephitis/reek/stench/stink n. a foul, potent, possibly poisonous odor penetrate/perfuse/permeate/suffuse v. to diffuse a scent over or through _embalm/perfume/scent _v. to permeate with a fragrancy __incense __v. to embalm with incense _fill/impregnate/interpenetrate/permeate/pervade/saturate _v. to suffuse throughout petrichor n. the pleasant scent of rain on earth or rock, most readily perceptible following a rainstorm, esp. that occurring posterior to a prolonged period of warm, dry weather ==SIGHTS & LIGHTS== (visual) acuity n. sharpness of vision: the visual faculty to perceive fine detail apparent/clear/conspicuous/distinct/evident/manifest/noticeable/observable/obvious/overt/palpable/patent/plain/visible a. clearly revealed to one's sight; easily seen bathe/perfuse/permeate/suffuse v. to overspread with light behold/discern/eye/observe/see/sight/view v. to visually perceive with one's eyes _behold/consider/examine/eye/eyeball/inspect/note/observe/peruse/regard/scan/scrutinize/sift/study/survey/view/watch _v. to view thoroughly, rigorously, attentively and often minutely, esp. in assessment __sift __v. to scan so to isolate or discern whatever is most germane or significant __spy __v. to furtively watch __survey __v. to examine comprehensively _contemplate/consider _v. to observe in rumination _descry/espy/spot/spy _v. to catch sight of something distant or indistinct, esp. with strenuity __glimpse/sight __v. to briefly (usu. momentarily) espy _gaze/ogle/stare _v. to directly, fixedly view someone or something with fascination, hostility, intent, vacuity, etc. __gaure/gaze __v. to stare in amazement __goggle/stare __v. to gaze with one's eyes wide open, as in stupefaction __ogle __v. to gaze flirtatiously or salaciously bicker/blink/flicker/glimmer/twinkle v. to shine with a wavering, unsteady light, as a candle or star _glimmer/glimpse _v. to flicker dimly _shimmer _v. to bicker softly bird's-eye/panoramic a. of or exhibiting a very broad, extensive view, as from the perspective of an altitude or distance catoptric a. of or regarding reflection or reflectors (esp. mirrors) carcel n. a French photic standard approximating 9.74 candelas, predicated on the output of a Carcel lamp that consumes forty-two grams of colza oil per hour whilst emitting a flame of forty millimeters' height cast/project/throw v. to put or send forth light, shadow, etc. on a surface _image/project _v. to cast an image coruscate/flash/gleam/glint/scintillate/spark v. to emit light briefly and suddenly _flash/gleam/glint/glisten/glister _v. to gleam by reflecting light _blink/scintillate/twinkle/wink _v. to flash in intermittence __twinkle __v. to twinkle in reflection _coruscate/scintillate/sparkle _v. to coruscate with bright, usu. small points of light __glister/glitter/sparkle/twinkle __v. to sparkle by reflection of light blink/coruscation/flash/gleam/glimpse/glint/scintilla/spark n. an abrupt, fleeting, fulgent light _blink/flicker/glimmer/glimpse/shimmer/twinkle/wink _n. an intermittent gleam _glisten/sparkle/twinkle _n. a gleam consisting of little sparks __glister/glitter/sparkle __n. a reflected sparkle crepuscular rays n. rays of sunlight visibly shed from specific points, such as cloudy lacunae disappearing/evanescent/vanishing a. fading from sight, usu. apace downcast a. looking downward ignis fatuus/will-o'-the-wisp n. nocturnal, phosphorescent light that flickers, flits and hovers over swampy ground, surmised to eventuate from combustion of effluvium lucence/lucency/luminance/luminosity/luster/shine n. the state or quality of emanating light _blaze/brightness/brilliance/brilliancy/effulgence/fulgency/incandescence/refulgence/refulgency/resplendence/resplendency/shine/splendor _n. intense or extreme lucency _incandescence/incandescency _n. luminosity of a substance heated to a high temperature _n. incandescent light _irradiance/irradiancy/radiance/radiancy _n. shine of photic rays _lambency _a. soft luminance _luminescence _n. any emission of light unrelated to thermal generation at relatively low temperatures, usu. caused by biological and/or chemical processes _n. luminescent light __chemiluminescence __n. luminescence caused by a chemical reaction __n. chemiluminescent light ___bioluminescence ___n. chemiluminescence produced by living organisms such as fireflies, glowworms, jellyfish, certain bacteria or fungi, etc. __fluorescence __n. luminescence issued by a substance irradiated by electromagnetic radiation, as visible light or x-rays __n. fluorescent light ___phosphorescence ___n. fluorescence that persists awhile after its generative radiation has ceased ___n. phosphorescent light __triboluminescence __n. luminescence generated by friction, as by certain crystals when they're crushed lucent/luminous/lustrous/photogenic/shining/shiny/splendent a. emitting light _beaming/beamy/irradiant/radiant _a. radiating beams of light _blazing/bright/brilliant/effulgent/fulgent/fulgid/incandescent/refulgent/resplendent/shining/splendent _a. very luminous; emanating copious light __blinding/dazzling/glaring __a. blindingly blazing __glowing __a. steadily splendent _incandescent _a. splendent with heat _lambent _a. softly, gently luminous _luminescent _a. emitting light neither generated by nor radiating heat __chemiluminescent __a. luminescent for a chemical reaction ___bioluminescent ___a. (of living organisms) chemiluminescent __fluorescent __a. luminescent when exposed to electromagnetic radiation ___phosphorescent ___a. enduringly fluorescent, as from the slow oxidation of phosphorous __triboluminescent __a. luminescent when chafed, crushed, torn, etc. magnify v. to increase the apparent size of something, as by the refraction of a lens obscure/obnubilate/obfuscate/eclipse/fog/cloud/befog/becloud/adumbrate v. to make less visible _obnubilate/cloud/becloud _v. to obscure with clouds _veil/shroud/shade/screen/occult/obscure/mantle/mask/hide/fog/enshroud/cover/conceal/cloud/cloak/block/beshroud/befog/becloud _v. to cut or shut off from view __obnubilate/cloud/becloud __v. to shroud with clouds obverse a. facing or turned toward an observer opaque a. admitting neither the passage of light nor concomitant visibility; not transparent or translucent optics/opties/photics/photology n. the science or scientific study of light _optics _n. a branch of physics treating of vision and the functions, generation, phenomena, propagation and properties of light __catoptrics __n. a branch of optics concerned with visual reflection, esp. mirrored images __dioptrics __n. a branch of optics dealing with photic refraction __catadioptrics __n. a branch of optics addressing photic reflection and refraction _pharology _n. the study of signal lights, such as those of lighthouses _photodynamics _n. a branch of biology concerning the effects of light on living organisms, as plants or animals parallax n. an apparent, erroneous shift in an object's position consequent of its observer's phantasmagoria/phantasmagory n. a fluid, illusory, often oneiric series of associated images, as phantasms phosphenes n. rings or spots of visual light induced by excitation of the retina, as by pressure applied to the eyeball under a closed eyelid photic a. of or regarding light photogenic a. caused or created by light photokinesis n. movement stimulated by exposure to light _phototaxis/phototaxy/phototropism _n. responsive motion to or from light __phototropism __n. motion or growth of a sessile organism toward or away from light photolysis n. chemical decomposition caused by exposure to light photometry n. measurement of photic properties, esp. illuminative intensity _actinometry _n. measurement of thermal intensity of violet and ultraviolet light _polarimetry _n. measurement of photic polarization refraction/refringence n. the deflection of light passing from one medium to another in which its velocity differs _birefringence/double refraction _n. split of an unpolarized ray of light into two polarized, unequally refracted rays, as through certain crystals refringence n. refractive intensity similitude/semblance/resemblance/likeness/image/affinity n. visual or apparent similarity _simulacrum _n. a vague, unreal or superficial likeness sight/spectacle n. anything seen or well worth seeing _perspective/prospect/scene/view/vista _n. a (usu. alfresco, extensive) sight of a location __aspect/outlook __n. a vista seen from a specific site __panorama __n. a broad, unobstructed view of a surrounding area, esp. a landscape or seascape __vista __n. a perspective beheld through a long, narrow passage, as between rows of buildings or trees spectrogram/spectrograph n. a photograph or graphic of a spectrum tenebrous/tenebrious/tenebrific/stygian/obscure/murky/gloomy/dusky/dim/dark a. dimly illumined; lacking light _umbratile/shady/shadowy/dusky _a. stygian or replete with shadow or shadows translucent/semitransparent/pellucid/lucent a. permitting the passage of light so diffused that things or people positioned behind, beneath or beyond are obfuscated umbratile/umbratic(al) a. of or concerning shade or shadows vitreous/transparent/pellucid/lucent/limpid/glassy/clear a. admitting an absolute passage of light, so that whatever's or whoever's situated behind, beneath or beyond can be clearly seen weak/wan/pale/feeble/faint/dull/dim a. (of light) not bright; of very low intensity ==SOUNDS== assimilate v. (of a sound) to make or become similar cacophonic/cacophonical/cacophonious/cacophonous/discordant/disharmonious/dissonant/grating/harsh/inharmonic/inharmonious/noisy/rough/rude/strident/stridulant/stridulous/unharmonious a. offensively coarse to the ear _blaring/clamant/clamorous/loud/noisy/raucous/strepent/strepitent/strident/stridulant/stridulous _a. loudly discordant _gravelly/guttural/hoarse/rasping/raspy/throaty _a. (of a voice) harshly grating __croaking/croaky/gruff/hoarse __a. (of a voice) gutturally deep in pitch __hoarse/husky/throaty __a. (of a voice) slightly hoarse crackle/crepitation n. sharp, slight snapping sounds crepitation/crepitus n. a crackling noise within the chest sounded during pneumonia or other diseases afflicting the lungs n. the rude sound of a broken bone's edges when they rub against one another dulcet/euphonic/euphonical/euphonious/euphonous/harmonious/mellisonant/melodic/melodious a. pleasant to the ear _liquid/mellifluent/mellifluous/smooth _a. euphonically flowing __mellow/rich _a. softly dulcet __rich __a. richly mellow gluck/glug n. the repeating gurgle of liquid poured from a bottle hush/quiet/quieten/settle/still/silence v. to make silent hush/quiet/quieten/settle/still v. to become quiet knell/toll n. the sound of a bell rung slowly, esp. to herald a death, funeral or hour v. (of a bell) to ring slowly and somberly, esp. during a funeral loud/strident a. (of sound) great in volume and intensity _blaring/clamant/clamorous/loud/noisy/raucous/strepent/strepitent/strident/stridulant/stridulous _a. loudly discordant _brasslike/brassy/brazen _a. harshly, loudly, metallically resonant, as the ringing sound produced by a brass instrument _piercing/sharp/shrill/strident/stridulant/stridulous _a. keenly strident and high-pitched _plangent _a. loudly resounding _stentorian _a. (of a voice) extremely loud murmur/murmuration/susurration/susurrus n. any faint, indistinct sound, often speech murmured/susurrant/susurrous a. (of sound, often speech) soft and indistinct noctisonance n. a sound or sounds heard at night peal/ring n. a sustained, strident, ordinarily reverberant noise or succession thereof, as that of large bells _n. a peal produced by bells pitch n. a sound's individual height or depth, determined by its frequency purl/babble n. the murmuring sound produced by flowing, rippling water v. (of a liquid, usu. water) to produce such a sound refraction/refringence n. the deflection of sound passing from one medium to another in which its velocity differs refringence n. refractive intensity resonance/reverberance/reverberation/sonority/sonorousness/vibrance/vibrancy n. a condition or quality of sonic prolongation by reflection and sympathetic vibration _plangency _n. loud resonance resonant/resonating/resounding/reverberant/reverberate/reverberating/ringing/sonorous/vibrant a. (of sound) protracted and often amplified by reflection and vibration _plangent _a. loudly resounding _ringing/silvery _a. clearly resounding resonant/sonorous a. producing or augmenting sonority resound/reverberate/ring v. to sound with prolonged reflection and vibration _peal/whang _v. to loudly resound __peal/ring __v. (of bells) to sound with a peal whilst swinging _ring _v. to reverberate clearly _roll/rumble _v. to reverberate deeply, as thunder or drums roll/rumble n. a low, sustained, sonorous sound, as that of thunder skirl v. (of bagpipes) to emit a shrill wail n. the stridulous wail produced by bagpipes snore/stertor n. the noise of hoarse or labored, snorting, somnial respiration soniferous a. generating or conducting sound staccato n. sound (esp. noise) distinguished by brief, abrupt sunderance a. (of sounds) shortly, suddenly severed volume/loudness n. the gradation of sonic intensity whang n. the sharp, snapping sound of a whip's blow zing n. a short, sharp buzz of high pitch, as of a shot bullet or tautly plucked string v. to sound a zing, usu. by speeding zip n. a brief, keen, hissing sound, as of an object in flight v. to produce a zip by festinating ==SUBSTANCES== ablution n. liquid (usu. water) used to cleanse one's body, esp. as a function of a religious rite abrasive/abradant n. any substance that wears, scrapes or grinds away, often to buff, clean, hone, polish, sand or smooth, as sandpaper, pumice, emery or other powdered surface cleansers adjuvant n. an appurtenant drug immixed or administered with another (esp. an antigen) to enhance its effect agglomerate n. volcanic rock consisting of fused rounded and angular fragments amalgamation n. a procedure by which precious metals (esp. gold and silver) are extracted from their ores when treated with mercury to create an amalgam amber n. a hard, lucent fossil resin of yellow, orange, red, brownish-yellow or tawny coloration, harvested from extinct coniferous trees; often used as a component of jewelry or other ornaments astringent/styptic n. a substance (esp. a drug or lotion) that causes contraction and constriction of bodily tissues and canals baize n. woolen or cotton fabric napped to emulate felt, dyed bright green and utilized as a covering for cue sporting tables and lining for firearms cases ballast n. coarse gravel or crushed rock or stone laid as a foundation for street tarmacadam and railroad ties n. a mixture of coarse and fine, sandy gravel aggregate with which concrete is made balsam n. any of various fragrant oleoresins derived from trees (esp. the Balsam fir) and shrubs, and used as an ingredient in medicines and perfumes n. a fragrant ointment containing a balsam bile/gall n. a bitter, alkaline, brownish- or greenish-yellow fluid secreted by the liver, stored in the gallbladder and discharged during digestion into the duodenum, where it conduces emulsification, digestion and absorption of consumed fats, and neutralizes acids blacking/lampblack n. fine soot derived from the smoke of burnt carbonaceous materials that's bestowed as a pigment and ingredient of carbon electrodes, dynamo brushes, explosives, fertilizers, lubricants and matches bonanza n. an especially rich vein, pocket or mine of ore boneblack/bone charcoal n. a residual black pigment created by roasting bones in airtight receptacles and used as a filtering medium, polish ingredient and sugar decolorant bromide n. any compound comprehending bromine, such as methyl bromide n. a salt of hydrobromic acid composed of bromine and another element _(potassium) bromide _n. a white, soluble, crystalline bromide formerly employed in photographic emulsion and lithography, and as a sedative; superseded in its latter function by safer drugs and discontinued in 1975 caoutchouc/gum elastic/rubber n. an extremely elastic material of light cream to dark amber colors obtained from the latex or sap of tropical plants (usu. of the Hevea and Ficus species) that's polymerized by coagulation, dried, dyed, finished and fashioned into various products: automotive tires, elastic bands, electrical insulation, etc. caustic/corrosive n. any substance capable of chemically burning, corroding or dissolving another, esp. living tissue _calcium oxide/calx/(burnt [OR] calcined [OR] fluxing [OR] unslaked) lime/quicklime _n. a white, lumpy, caustic crystalline powder used as an industrial alkali, flux and refractory, to produce calcium hydroxide, and to manufacture glass, insecticides, paper, steel, etc. _mordant _n. a corrosive bestowed in etching _(oil of) vitriol/sulfuric acid _n. a colorless to brown (depending on its purity), dense, oily, highly corrosive acid readily miscible with water; utilized extensively as an industrial and scientific reagent, and in the manufacture of detergents, drugs, dyes, explosives, fertilizers, paints, pigments, etc. chaw/chew/cud/quid/wad n. a piece of something chewable or chewed, such as a stick of gum or plug of tobacco chenille n. a thick, soft, tufted cord or yarn composed of cotton, silk or worsted velvet applied in embroidery, fringing, trimmings, etc. n. a fabric consisting of chenille, from which bathrobes, bedspreads, rugs etc. are fashioned cinder/scoria/sinter/slag/tailings n. vitrified refuse resulting from smelted metal or ore _dross _n. oxidized, mostly metallic scum that forms on molten metal surfaces cinder/scoria/slag n. cindery, crusty, dark, porous, solidified cellular lava cinnabar n. a heavy, vermilion mineral comprised of mercuric sulfide; the chief source of mercury coir n. the coconut husk's prepared fiber applied as a component in the manufacture of rope, matting, etc. concretion n. a hard, solid mass formed by the local, cohesive accumulation of matter, esp. within a mass of sediment n. the process by which matter accrues into a concretion debris/detritus/rubble n. particles of loose material (gravel, rocks, silt, stone fragments, etc.) broken or worn away by attrition from a mass _scree/talus _n. a mass of rocky rubble that covers or constitutes a slope at the base of a cliff or hillside, or on a mountainside n. scattered fragments of something that has been destroyed or broken into pieces, esp. demolished buildings duff n. decomposing matter (esp. leaves and branches) covering a forest floor effluvium/miasm/miasma n. noisome vapors emanating from putrescent matter or other waste emollient/ointment n. any agent (esp. a cream or lotion) applied to skin to soften or soothe it essence n. a concentrated extract of a substance _attar/ottar/otto _n. a fragrant, floral essential oil, often exploited as a base for perfume _essence/spirit _n. liquid essence, usu. extracted by distillation _quintessence _n. a pure essence containing the most concentrated form of its principle exudate/ooze n. any liquid substance oozed, esp. through pores fiber/fibril/filament/filum/strand/thread n. a single, slender structure of natural or synthetic substance, such as hair, string or wire _fibril/filament _n. an especially or relatively small fiber flatus n. intestinal gas accrued of bacterial fermentation or swallowed air in or from the stomach flux n. any substance that induces or conduces flow or fusion, as to refine metals by merging with impurities to form disposable slag, avert the oxidation of fused metals or facilitate the flow of plastics during mold injection foam/froth/spume n. a cumulation of small gas bubbles produced by agitation or fermentation on a fluid surface frieze n. a heavy, coarse woolen fabric featuring a long nap, usu. only on one side fulgurite n. slender, usu. tubular glassy rock generated by lightning when it strikes and fuses rock or sand galena/galenite n. a gray, heavy mineral mined from hydrothermal veins notable as the primary ore of lead gingham n. cotton fabric composed of dyed yarn and woven in checked, plaid or striped patterns gold n. a shiny, yellow, incomparably pliable and ductile metallic element of great intrinsic monetary value; resistant to corrosion and immune to oxidation, yet soluble by contact with chlorine and aqua regia _gilt/gilding _n. a coating of gold leaf or paint applied to a surface or other object gutta-percha n. the milky, whitish liquid latex of the gutta-percha tree n. a rubbery substance derived from the aforementioned congealed latex, utilized as an element of dental cement, electrical insulation and golf balls gypsum n. hydrous calcium sulfate: a colorless, white or xanthous mineral bestowed as an ingredient of cement, fertilizer, glass, paint, plaster of Paris, plasterboard and school chalk isomer n. any of multiple compounds composed of dissimilar atomic arrays of the same molecular formula jargon/jargoon n. a smoky or translucent, colorless or pale yellow variety of zircon humectant a. any substance that absorbs or promotes retention of moisture _moisturizer _n. a cosmetic cream or lotion applied to skin that restores to it moisture or promotes retention thereof hydrargyrum/mercury/quicksilver n. a silvery, poisonous, metallic, heavy, fluid element applied as an active component of barometers, batteries, thermometers and vapor lamps indigo(tin) n. a dark blue crystalline compound extracted from the indigo plant and broadly bestowed as a textile dye jade n. a semiprecious stone composed of either the nephrite or jadeite minerals, the color of which ranges from rich green to white and is applied primarily to fashion gemstones or sculptures kidskin n. soft, smooth leather tanned from the hide of a young goat kinnikinic/kinnikinnic(k)/killikinick n. a concoction of certain dried leaves and bark smoked with or as a substitute for tobacco by Native Americans and pioneers loam n. soil composed of clay, sand, silt and decomposing vegetable matter n. a mixture of moist clay, sand and straw packed to produce foundry molds and plaster walls maguey n. fiber obtained from the magueys, usu. applied in the manufacture of rope marl n. crumbly, fine, friable deposit rich with a mixture of clay, calcium and magnesium carbonates and shell fragments employed as fertilizer to enrich soil lacking lime meconium n. dark green mucoid matter primarily composed of bile, epithelial cells and mucus, which accrues in fetal intestines and ultimately comprises a newborn infant's first excretion (culture [OR] growth) medium n. a nutritive liquid or gelatinous substance in which tissues, microorganisms or (bacterial, fungal, faunal, floral) cells are cultivated for scientific uses medium n. any substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed medium n. an intervening substance (esp. air) through which force or signals may be transmitted as a means to impart effect or convey communication to the senses medium n. a solvent with which pigment is mixed to produce paint, or paint is mixed to extenuate its viscosity n. a substance used to produce an artistic work: oil, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolor, clay, marble, etc. niter/potassium nitrate/saltpeter n. a white or colorless crystalline mineral compound generated by nitrification in soil and used as an ingredient in explosives, gunpowders, fertilizers, matches, preservatives, pyrotechnics and rocket propellants oakum n. loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unraveling old ropes; impregnated with tar, it's used to caulk seams of wooden ships ocher/ochre n. any of numerous soils primarily embodying alumina, ferric oxide and silica; utilized as red and yellow pigments _ruddle _n. red ochre, usu. applied to mark sheep _v. to dye or mark with ruddle ormolu n. gilded brass or bronze, often used to fashion fixtures, furniture mounts and other adornments n. any of numerous, gilt copper, tin or zinc alloys, utilized as a decorative component of architecture, furnishings, jewelry, etc. _pinchbeck _n. an alloy composed of copper and zinc employed as fake gold parfleche n. rawhide depilated by soaking in lye and water and dried on a stretcher patina n. a green or brown film or crust consisting of oxide that gradually forms on the surface of bronze or copper _verdigris _n. a green to aqua patina composed of copper sulfate or copper chloride and resulting from atmospheric oxidation on brass, bronze or copper exposed to air or seawater for protracted durations pee/piss/urine n. acidulous, commonly yellowish excretory liquid filtered from blood by the kidneys, containing waste matter that's egested via the urethra phlogiston n. a hypothetical chemical once believed to be a volatile ingredient of all combustible substances and released as flame during combustion pitch n. any of varied thick, sticky, dark substances distilled from petroleum, coal or wood tar, and applied to caulk, pave, roof and waterproof n. a natural bitumen (such as asphalt) used for many of the same purposes n. a resin derived from a coniferous tree's sap porphyry n. dark, igneous, reddish-purple rocks containing large crystals (usu. feldspar) embedded in a mineral groundmass precipitation n. water formed by atmospheric condensation that falls from clouds to earth: hail, rain, sleet or snow priming n. any explosive substance used to ignite a charge, as gunpowder quinine/quinia n. a white, bitter, crystalline or powdered alkaloid extracted from cinchona bark and used as an active ingredient of antimalarial treatments radium n. a lucent, extremely radioactive metallic element found minutely in uranium ores, the decay of which produces alpha rays and radon gas; applied for radiotherapy and as an ingredient of luminescent paints ratchel n. any gravelly stone reagent n. any reactive substance used in chemical analysis and synthesis as a means to detect, examine, measure or produce other substances rheum n. a watery discharge of the mucous membranes that seeps from the eyes or nose, as during a cold rime n. an incrustation of ice formed when supercooled water droplets in fog freeze on contact with solid objects n. any coating akin to rime, as frozen mud or slime scurf n. any flaky or scaly matter that flakes or peels from a surface _scurf _n. dry, scaly, exfoliated shreds of skin __dandruff __n. scurf of the scalp shale n. fissile rock formed by compression of sedimentary layers rich in clay silica n. the insoluble, refractory, white dioxide form of silicon, a crystalline compound that occurs naturally as agate, flint, quartz, sand, etc., and is bestowed to manufacture abrasives, ceramics, concrete and glass _quartz _n. hard, lucent silica found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks: the most common of minerals, and utilized in the manufacture of abrasives, cement and glass __amethyst __n. purple or violet quartz, often fashioned into gemstones __chalcedony __n. translucent to transparent and often milky or grayish quartz consisting of microscopic crystals, slender fibers of which are disposed in parallel bands ___agate ___n. fibrous chalcedony of particolored bands ___carnelian/cornelian ___n. semitransparent, pale to deep reddish-yellow to reddish-brown chalcedony ___onyx ___n. chalcedony of alternating black and white striations, often used as gemstones __chert __n. siliceous, sedimentary rock primarily composed of microcrystalline quartz __jasper __n. an opaque, cryptocrystalline variant of quartz colored brown, red or yellow _sinter _n. a white, porous, siliceous incrustation deposited from hot mineral springs _tektite _n. any of numerous small, rounded, vitreous, silicate glass objects dyed from brown to green, presumed resultant of meteoritic impact slurry n. any fine suspension of insoluble particles in a liquid, as cement, clay, coal or feces in water or oil spraint n. a piece of otter feces substrate n. any substance on which an enzyme acts sustenance/pabulum/nutrition/nutriment/nutrient/nourishment/food/aliment n. any matter ingested to nourish the body _provender/meat/food/edible(s)/eatable(s)/comestible(s) _n. any solid or semisolid nutriment that's eaten __provender/pasture/forage/fodder/feed __n. grass, hay or other vegetation eaten by grazing animals such as equine or cattle __swill/slop(s) __n. solid and fluid esculent refuse (as table scraps) fed to animals, esp. pigs and goats __vittle/victual __n. food eaten by humans ___viand ___n. an article of victual sweat/sudor/perspiration n. saline fluid excreted by sweat glands through dermal pores sweat n. moisture (esp. droplets) wept from something, as that condensed on a cold surface tarmac(adam) n. coarse, crushed stone immingled with tar and bitumen, and compressed (usually by a steamroller) to pave a surface teak n. the hard, substantial, yellowish-brown wood of teak trees, which is resistant to insects and warping, and utilized in the construction of ships and furniture theriac/treacle n. any of various medicinal compounds (usu. ointments or potions) formerly dispensed and applied or ingested as antidotes for poison travertine n. a porous, sedimentary limestone formed by precipitation of calcium carbonate; colored white, cream, tan and rusty, and utilized as a construction material; bounteous deposits exist and are quarried at Tivoli, near Rome unguent/unction/salve/ointment n. a medicinal fluid or lotion applied externally to treat, soothe or palliate a contusion, irritation, sprain. etc. _balsam/balm _n. a fragrant salve __balsam __n. a fragrant ointment containing a balsam _liniment/embrocation _n. an ointment applied to skin to soothe stiffness, soreness, sprain or inflammation volatile n. a substance that evaporates readily at ordinary pressures and temperatures vomit(us)/spew/puke/barf v. any matter orally ejected from one's stomach wastewater/sewer water/sewerage/sewage n. water mixed with waste matter during ablution, flushing or a manufacturing procedure channeled through sewers _effluent _n. wastewater discharged from a factory, nuclear plant, sewage system, etc. into another body of water whinstone n. any of several varieties of hard, dark rocks _basalt _n. a dark, hard, igneous, often vitreous rock composed of olivine, plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene, which constitutes most of the oceanic floor ==TEXTURE & CONSISTENCY== attenuate/extenuate/rarefy v. to make or become less dense _cut/dilute/extenuate/reduce _v. to attenuate the consistency or viscosity of a fluid bendable/bendy/flexible/flexile/limber/lissom(e)/lithe/pliable/pliant/supple/withy/yielding a. readily flexed, esp. without sustaining damage coagulate(d)/congealed/curdled/gelled/jelled a. (of a liquid) thickened (usu. by cooling) to a semisolid or gelatinous state _clotted _a. curdled into one or several soft, thick lumps condense/inspissate/thicken v. to render or become thick or thicker of consistency or viscosity _coagulate/congeal/set _v. (of a liquid, semifluid or semisolid) to solidify, as by cooling, drying, freezing or thickening _coagulate/congeal/curdle/gel/jell/set _v. (of a liquid) to change or cause to change to a semisolid or gelatinous state, usu. by thickening __clot __v. to congeal into a soft, viscous mass or lump deliquium/dissolution/liquefaction/liquification n. transformation of solid into liquid matter dissolve/flux/liquefy/liquidize v. to make or become a liquid _condense/liquefy/liquidize _v. (of a gas or vapor) to flux, usu. by cooling _deliquesce/dissolve/liquefy/liquidize/melt _v. (of a solid) to liquefy, ordinarily by heating __defrost/thaw/unfreeze __v. to melt from a frozen state _deliquesce _v. (of a solid) to liquidize by absorbing moisture from air ductile/malleable/moldable/plastic/workable a. capable of being shaped when subjected to pressure _pliable/tractable _a. very malleable; easily molded _ductile/tensile/tractile _a. malleable to protraction fusil(e)/fusible/meltable a. subject to melting immiscible/immixable/unmixable a. (of liquids) incapable of being mixed, as oil and water miscible/mixable a. (of liquids) capable of being mixed; forming a homogeneous mixture when coalesced sectile a. capable of being cut smoothly, as with a knife slippy/slippery/lubricous/lubricious/lubric a. likely to occasion slipping; difficult to hold firmly, or stand or walk on by detriment of a greasy, wet, slimy or otherwise exceedingly smooth surface soften/mollify/emolliate v. to make soft or softer; to render less hard _steep/macerate _v. to soften by soaking unyielding/unbending/stiff/rigid/inflexible/firm a. not flexible when subjected to pressure: not to be or not easily bent _rigidulous _a. slightly or somewhat stiff wispy/fine a. (of hair, smoke, thread, etc.) extremely light and slender ==TIME== aeon/age/eon n. any indefinitely long span aeonian/ageless/dateless/eonian/eternal/everlasting/sempiternal/timeless a. without beginning or end; of an infinite duration afore/before/earlier/formerly/once/preveniently/previously av. (existing or occurring) at a previous time _heretofore _av. before now; ere the present time _heretofore/hitherto _av. until now _theretofore _av. before a previous time _theretofore/thitherto _av. until then afore/before/ere conj., prep. (being or happening) at an earlier time age/epoch/era/period n. any historical span distinguished by particular characteristics, conditions, events, personalities, phenomena or zeitgeist anachronic(al) a. out of proper chronological order; chronologically jumbled anachronistic/anachronous a. chronologically misplaced; erroneous of date or period antecede/antedate/forego/precede/predate v. to exist or occur during an earlier time antecedent/anterior/earlier/precedent/preceding/prevenient/previous/prior a. existing or occurring before in time or order antecedence/antecedency/anteriority/precedence/precedency/priority n. a state of being or occurring earlier approaching/coming/forthcoming/near/upcoming a. temporally close; soon to occur _forthcoming/imminent/impendent/impending/pending/proximate _a. about to occur; to happen at any moment brief/ephemeral/fleeting/fugacious/fugitive/passing/quick/short/temporal/transient/transitory/volatile a. existing or occurring in brevity; lasting only for a short time _momentary _a. lasting but a moment; especially ephemeral coetaneous/coeval/coexistent/concurrent/contemporaneous/contemporary/simultaneous a. existing at the same time; of the same age, generation or period coetaneous/coextensive/commensurate/conterminal/conterminous/coterminous a. (of several events, processes, etc.) of the same duration coextensive/coincident/concurrent/contemporaneous/contemporary/conterminal/conterminous/coterminous/simultaneous/synchronic/synchronous a. occurring during the same span coincide/concur v. to happen simultaneously coincidence/concurrence/conjunction/contemporaneity/simultaneity/synchronicity/synchronism/synchrony n. a temporal correspondence of multiple events, the simultaneous occurrence of which ordinarily denotes no causal relation contiguous/immediate/nearest/proximal/proximate a. occurring directly before or after; immediately preceding or succeeding in time; temporally closer than any other daily/diurnal a. of or happening during daytime _daily/diurnal/everyday/quotidian _a. recurring every day _daily _a. issued every day decade n. ten consecutive years _luster/lustrum _n. five successive years; a half-decade Devonian (Period) n. the fourth period of the Paleozoic Era (approximately 405 to 345 million years ago), historically distinguished by the advent of amphibians, insects and forests, and the evolutionary development of lobe-finned fish a. of, being, concerning or incipient during the Devonian Period diachronic/diachronistic a. of, pertaining to, or analyzing the historical development of a phenomenon duly/promptly/punctually/readily av. at an agreed, scheduled or specified time eon/aeon n. the longest division of geological time (minimally, 500,000,000 years) during which the eonothem rock strata is formed, comprising two to fourteen eras _era _n. several hundred million years when the erathem rock strata is formed, consisting of numerous periods __period __n. the primary unit of geologic time representing the formation of a standard rock system; constituted of epochs ___epoch ___n. tens of millions of years during which a series of rock strata is laid down, comprehending multiple ages ____age ____n. millions of years during which a stage of rock strata is formed eonian/aeonian a. of, regarding or composing a geological eon nearness/propinquity/proximity n. any state of temporal closeness nightly/nocturnal a. of, pertaining to, active or occurring during the night _nightly _a. appearing, happening or performed every night novennial a. done or recurring every ninth year a. lasting nine years postremote a. more remote in ulterior time or order preremote a. more remote in anterior time or order proximo av. of, in or during the next month span v. to extend across a period of time temporal a. of or pertaining to time ulterior/posterior/succeeding/subsequent/sequent/later/following/after a. existing or occurring later in time or order ultimo av. of, in or during last month unpunctual/tardy/overdue/late/delayed/belated/behindhand a. transpiring, arriving, accomplished, etc. ulterior to an accepted, expected or scheduled time whilom/sometime/quondam/past/once/old/former/erstwhile/bygone a. of, belonging to, existing or occurring during a previous time; that once was whilom/sometime/once/formerly/erstwhile/erst av. in the past; at an earlier time weekly a. of or concerning a week _hebdomadal/hebdomadary/weekly _a. occurring once every seven days, or every week ==TOOLS, DEVICES & COMPONENTS== accessory/accoutrement/adjunct/appurtenance/attachment/supplement n. an additional, subordinate item or component that enhances or extends capability or function _peripheral _n. an accessorial computing device, as an external storage drive, keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. actinometer n. an instrument that measures intensity of radiation _pyrheliometer _n. an actinometer that measures intensity of solar radiation aerial n. any radio's or television's antenna aglet n. a tubular metal or plastic sheath that seals each end of a shoelace or cord to facilitate passage through eyelets alpenstock n. a long, stout staff that terminates to an iron point plied by mountain climbers amphora n. a large, ovoid, earthenware jar of ancient Roman or Greek origin distinguished by a narrow neck and twin handles that extend from its lip to its shoulder, which was used to contain oil or wine aperture (stop) n. a (usu. adjustable and circinate) component of an optical instrument (such as a camera or telescope) that limits an amount of light admitted to its lens or mirror apparatus/appurtenances/equipage/equipment/gear/kit/outfit/paraphernalia/rig/tackle n. any selection of articles (as tools, instruments, attire, etc.) bestowed to execute a particular operation or activity _impedimenta _n. bulky, encumbering equipage _panoply _n. a warrior's integral outfit of arms and armor attache (case) n. a flat, shallow, rectangular briefcase in which documents are carried automaton n. a mechanism programmed to perform a series of functions and act in response to a range of circumstances axletree n. a crossbar supporting a vehicle (as a cart or wagon) terminating to opposite spindles on which a twain of wheels revolve baggage/dunnage/luggage n. receptacles in which one bestows one's personalty (esp. clothes and toiletries) while traveling, as bags, suitcases or trunks _impedimenta _n. heavy or bulky baggage that encumbers ballast n. any heavy material (gravel, sand, iron) placed to stabilize a vessel n. heavy, stabilizing material loaded on an airship or hot-air balloon that's jettisoned to achieve greater altitude ballast n. a device that maintains an electrical circuit's current ballast resistor/barretter n. a resistor inserted into a circuit to moderate changes in current, esp. those ensuant of temperature fluctuations bauble n. a court jester's mock scepter, fashioned in parody of his king's bevel (square) n. twain hinged rules with which one can mensurate or delineate angles of various sizes or inclinations bier n. a stand on which a corpse or coffin containing a corpse is laid afore its inhumation _catafalque _n. an adorned bier on which a corpse or coffin rests before or during a funeral bight n. any curve or loop in a rope bight/slack n. the (usu. middle) loose portion of an extended rope boss n. a thick, enlarged portion of a hub, shaft, wheel, etc. to which another is coupled or keyed brad n. a thin wire nail sporting a small head or lateral projection in lieu of a head Brannock Device n. an instrument used to measure a foot's proportions to ascertain an appropriate correspondent shoe size brazier n. a metal pan in which coals or charcoal are burnt to heat an area n. a metal receptacle in which charcoal or coal are burnt to grill food broach n. a toothed, tapered, elongate cutting tool used to shape or enlarge a hole broach n. a spit on which meat is roasted broadside n. the collective totality of a warship's lateral armament buckle n. a (usu. rectilinear) frame fitted with a hinged prong designed to pass through the perforations of a belt or strap to join its ends n. a shoe's or hat's ornamental skeuomorph resembling a buckle buckler n. a small, round shield held by a handle or worn on one's forearm bungstarter n. a wooden mallet used to loosen the bung of a cask burl n. wood sliced from a tree's burl and used decoratively as a veneer burr n. a handheld, electric rotary file used to remove burrs caisson n. a chest in which ammunition is stored caisson n. a float employed to raise a sunken vessel caisson/cofferdam n. a large, watertight box fastened to the side of a ship for the underwater repair of its hull canopy n. the transparent covering of an aircraft cockpit constructed of glass or plastic canopy n. a parachute's hemispheric, folded, expanding component composed of silk or nylon, which fills with air to decelerate one's descent cantle n. the rear, upcurved portion of a saddle carboy n. a large plastic or glass bottle cased in a crate or basket, usu. applied to contain corrosive liquids cartouche/cartridge n. a cylindrical case containing a bullet and priming for small arms, esp. handguns, rifles and shotguns censer n. a container wherein incense is burned cistern n. a reservoir or tank in which water is stored, esp. that utilized to supply taps or flush toilets clamshell (bucket) n. a large industrial dredging bucket of two hinged parts akin in shape to the shell of a clam compact n. a small, flat, hinged, cosmetic case designed to be carried in a purse, in which an integrated mirror, compartmented pressed powder(s) and powder puff are contained cupola n. a vertical, cylindrical blast furnace wherein metals (esp. iron) are remelted ere casting cupola n. a plane's, tank's or warship's plastic or glass dome under which a gunner is seated demiculverin n. a cannon that launches a ball weighing between nine and thirteen pounds derrick n. a simple crane embodying a movable boom equipped with cables and pulleys secured to the base of a stabile, upright beam, ordinarily utilized to shift cargo device/implement/tool/utensil n. an item used to perform a manual or mechanical function _contraption/contrivance/device _n. a (usu. ingenious) mechanical, electric or electronic implement __appliance __n. a device employed to perform a domestic function, as a washing machine, toaster, refrigerator or dishwasher __gadget/widget __n. a small contraption __instrument __n. any contrivance applied to control, measure, monitor or record __medium __n. a type of electronic device on which information is stored and accessed: discs, magnetic tape, floppy, flash and hard drives, etc. _instrument _n. an implement designed for the execution of precision work dispatch box n. a locked case in which documents or valuables are reposited drop/gallous/gallows (tree)/gibbet n. a wooden frame comprised of two uprights supporting a traverse from which a noose is suspended to gird the neck of a condemned person executed by hanging _gibbet _n. a wooden structure resembling a gallows from which corpses of executed convicts were hung for public exhibition dunnage n. loose material laid beneath and betwixt articles of cargo to avert damage _excelsior _n. fine curled or curved softwood shavings employed as packing or stuffing dynamo/generator n. a machine that converts mechanical into electric energy, embracing a coil (the armature) that rotates between the poles of its electromagnet (the field magnet) and elicits the flow of electric current in the aforementioned armature enchiridion/handbook/vade mecum n. a compendious manual or reference book furnishing information or instruction regarding a locale, implement, or other topic escapement n. a mechanism in a timepiece comprising an escape wheel and anchor that controls its wheel and periodically impels a pendulum or balance escapement n. a mechanical component of a typewriter carriage embodying pawls and a toothed rack or wheel that regulates its sidelong motion escapement n. a mechanism in a piano that permits a hammer to fall clear of a string after striking so not to dampen its resonance escritoire n. a hinged case containing writing materials that opens to a surface on which one may write escutcheon/scutcheon n. a shield or emblem of a shield's conformation on which a coat of arms is blazoned felloe n. a rim of a wooden wheel (or portion thereof) to which spokes are attached _duledge _n. any dowel joining the ends of felloes that compose the circle of a gun carriage's wheel ferrule n. a plastic or metal sleeve, ring or cap affixed to the end of a shaft (as a handle, tube, stick, etc.) to impart durability and forestall splitting or wear n. a metal band (such as that of a pencil's eraser or paintbrush's bristles) that forms a joint or stengthens the instrument of which it's a constituent filament n. a thin (usually tungsten) wire in a light bulb or electric lamp heated to incandescence by its conduction of an electric current finery n. a charcoal hearth in which cast or pig iron is converted into wrought iron flail n. a tool employed to implement manual threshing comprehending a staff or handle hinged to a free-swinging swipe pole or bar n. an ancient weapon adapted from the farming tool, composed of a handgrip coupled by a chain to a spiked metal ball fletching n. an arrow's feathers fluke n. any lateral barb or barbed head of an arrow, fishhook, harpoon, spear, etc. foible n. the weaker half of a sword's blade extending from its center to tip foil n. the reflective, metallic sheet or coating constituting a mirror's backing forte n. the stronger half of a sword's blade, from hilt to center frizzen n. a flintlock action's pivoted metal upright situated over its flash pan that encloses the priming against which a flint strikes furnace lining n. the lining of a furnace's interior walls, which is composed of refractory material fusee/vesuvian n. a match sporting a large head that burns slowly and can't be easily extinguished, usu. employed to light cigars fusil n. a lightweight flintlock musket gaff n. an iron hook fixed to a handle or shaft used to land fish v. to strike, impale or land with a gaff gaff/spur n. a sharp metal spike strapped to the leg of a gamecock gimbal n. a pair of rings mounted on axes that pivot perpendicular to enable a component device (such as a ship's compass) to remain horizontal even as its support tilts grapnel/grapple/grappler/grappling (hook [OR] iron) n. an iron shaft fastened to a rope at one end and at the other terminating in one or multiple hooks or clamps; used for grasping, holding or climbing grapnel/grapple/grappling n. a light anchor for small boats terminating in three or more flukes graver n. any tool used to engrave _burin _n. a tool with a rounded hilt terminating in an acute, beveled point, applied to engrave or carve marble, metal or wood _scauper/scorper _n. a fine chisel, the tip of which is square or arcuate, used to clear lines or large areas when engraving wood or metal grip/haft/handgrip/handle n. any component designed to be held in one's hand, so to be lifted, moved or operated _haft/hilt _n. the handle of a weapon, as a battle-ax, dagger or sword __pommel __n. a knob protruding from the hilt of a weapon, usu. a sword _helve/hilt _n. the handle of a tool, as an ax, chisel, driver, hammer, hatchet, pick, etc. guidon n. a small military flag or pennant utilized as a marker or standard by a unit, esp. a calvalry regiment halter n. an implement consisting of rope or straps fit about the head of an animal (usu. a horse) with which it's lead, restrained or secured _hackamore _n. a halter of rawhide or rope applying controlling pressure to its wearer's nose, the wide band of which can be lowered to shroud a horse's eyes; utilized primarily to gentle foals _headstall/headpiece _n. the portion of a halter that girds a horse's head hasp n. a metal clasp, the hinged, slotted strap of which passes over a staple to which it's fixated with a bolt, pin or padlock headstall/headpiece n. the portion of a bridle that girds a horse's head hobble/shackle n. a rope or strap with which an animal is hobbled _spancel _n. a noosed rope used to hobble an animal, esp. a sheep, horse or cow hod n. an open box fixed atop a pole in which bricks or mortar are carried against one's shoulder horn/pommel/saddlebow n. a saddle's arched forepart howitzer n. a short cannon that fires shells at medium velocity to steep trajectories irons/shackles n. a pair of metal rings or bands linked by a chain or bar and locked around someone's wrists or ankles to inhibit their movement _bracelets/cuffs/handcuffs/manacles _n. shackles girding the wrists to restrain appendicular or manual motion _fetters _n. shackles fastened about the ankles or feet to cumber ambulation jack n. any of various (usu. portable) mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic tools utilized to raise heavy objects at relatively short heights jack n. a mechanical or electronic device that rotates a spit jumper (cable [OR] lead) n. a short length of wire used to complete an electrical circuit or bypass a break therein jumper n. any rugged steel bar or bit with a tapered tip used to bore rock or drill holes with rapid and repeated impact, as that of a hammer drill or jackhammer kevel n. a masonry hammer used to break and crudely contour stone, the head of which is flat at one end and tapered to a wedged point at the other key fob n. a small, usu. flat object attached to a keyring or keychain, ordinarily composed of plastic or fiberglass and molded to be readily and comfortably handled knurl n. a small ridge or bead (usu. one in a series) intended to aid prehension, as on the edge of a revolver's hammer or a thumbscrew v. to impress (a component) with a fine series of ridges lariat/lasso/reata n. a long rope terminating to a running noose applied to catch an animal lariat n. a rope used to tether a grazing animal, as to a post or picket leister n. a fishing spear terminating to treble prongs used to transfix fish louver n. a series of narrow, usu. equilateral openings framed with slant, overlapping, fixed or movable fins or slats through which air or light are received while blocking rain n. any of a louver's fins or slats manifold n. a pipe or chamber that branches into multiple apertures linked as inlets or outlets to enable the concurrent flux of liquids or gases morral n. a feedbag fashioned of thick, tough cloth (usu. canvas) ossuarium/ossuary n. any receptacle containing human bones, as an urn pallet n. a low, portable, wooden platform on which goods (usu. cargo) are stored or transported, through the open ends of which a forklift's forks are admitted pallet n. a potter's tool used to mix and model clay that's composed of a handgrip and flat blade or plate, comparable to a spatula pannier n. one of a brace of bags, baskets or packs slung over a person's shoulders, the back of a pack animal or stern of a bicycle or motorcycle peen n. the spherical or wedged end of a hammer's head opposite its flat striking face photodrome n. a device that regulates coruscations to effect the illusion that a revolving object is still or moving in opposite rotation n. an apparatus that generates unusual effects with flashes reflected by disks upon which patterns or figures are rendered photometer n. an instrument that measures an attribute or attributes of light, esp. radiance _polarimeter _n. a photometer that measures degrees of photic polarization _spectrophotometer _n. a photometer that measures, records and compares varied wavelengths in a photic spectrum pillory n. a wooden framework mounted on a post, in holes of which the wrists and neck of the penalized are locked; thereafter, the captive is exposed to public scorn placard/bill n. a salient written or printed sign that's publicly posted _poster _n. a large placard posted to advertise or publicize plumb line n. a cord from which a metal weight is suspended, used to ascertain verticality or depth from a specific point _plumb bob/plummet _n. the (usually conical, lead) metal weight hung from the end of a plumb line (two- [OR] three- [OR] four- [OR] five-, etc.) ply n. one of several strands twisted together to make yarn, thread or rope n. one of several layers of cloth, paper or wood, as those constituting a sheet of plywood, square of toilet paper, etc. portmanteau n. a large suitcase fashioned of stiff leather that opens to a pair of hinged compartments pritchel n. a tool with which a blacksmith or farrier punches or enlarges a horseshoe's nail holes puncheon n. a large cask, the capacity of which varies from 70 to 120 gallons quirt n. a riding whip embodying a short, stiff, stout handle and plaited leather lash ramrod n. a rod applied to clean a firearm's barrel n. a rod used to insert the charge of a muzzleloading firearm relay n. an electrical device that activates or severs connections in a circuit in response to a minor alteration of current or voltage in another revetment n. any barricade intended to shield against explosives, ordinarily comprising sandbags or stones rheostat n. an adjustable resistor designed to respond to variance of current without opening the electrical circuit of which it's a component, as that of a light slider rigwiddie n. that portion of a carthorse's harness connecting it to its cart ristra n. a string on which preserved foodstuffs such as chilies, garlic, onions, dried fruit, etc. are threaded to be hung rowel n. a sharp, spiked wheel to which the shank of a spur terminates, used to impel a horse rudder n. a steering mechanism consisting of a hinged, vertical plate mounted to the stern of a vessel _tiller _n. a bar or lever used to turn a boat's rudder n. a hinged airfoil mounted at an aircraft's vertical stabilizer that occasions horizontal course changes when pivoted scribe(r)/scratch awl n. a handgrip from which a thin, acuate steel spike projects; used to score wood, metal, ceramic, brick, etc. to indicate where it's to be cut selvage n. any surrounding, surplus strip or frame, as that of stickers, postage stamps, or plastic or metal components setline/trawl (line) n. a long, buoyed fishing line extended across a span of sea to which shorter hooked, baited lines are fastened at intervals setline/trotline n. a long fishing line extended athwart a river or stream to which shorter, hooked, baited, intervallic lines are affixed shackle n. a padlock's U-shaped bar shisha/sheesha/narghile/nargileh/kalian/hookah/chicha/calean n. an oriental pipe encompassing an urn wherein marijuana or (often fruit-scented) tobacco smoke is cooled by passage through water, affixed to a long, flexible tube through which it's aspirated sideboard n. a removable board fitted to the side of a wagon, truck or trailer to expand its lateral capacity siphon n. a tube extended from liquid in a vessel to a nether external level, through which the liquid is first drawn from the vessel by suction or immersion to enable atmospheric pressure and gravity to convey further liquid skelp n. curved and welded tubular sheet or plate metal skeuomorph n. an ornamental object, feature or design fashioned to resemble a functional component or a precursory substance or design, as electric tea kettles, simulated automotive woodgrain, faux buckles and the emulation of any software interface derived from calculators, calendars, drum machines, keyboards, modular synthesizers, notebooks, rotary phones, etc. _buckle _n. a shoe's or hat's ornamental skeuomorph resembling a buckle spectrogram/spectrograph n. a photograph or graphic of a spectrum spectroscope n. any instrument with which a spectrum of light or other radiation is generated and analyzed, usually embodying a collimating lens and a prism _spectrograph _n. a spectroscope that records spectra, as by photographing them to produce spectrograms stob n. any short, straight length of wood, as a post, stake or stump stoker n. a mechanical contrivance that feeds fuel (usu. coal) to a furnace strop(per) a. a thick, tethered leather strip on which razors are sharpened substrate n. a semiconductor foundation on which an integrated electronic circuit is fabricated or posited sudarium n. a cloth or handkerchief used to wipe sweat from the face swivel n. any coupling device or component (as a pivot or link) on which a fastened part or object may turn freely _pivot _n. any point, pin or short shaft on which a component it supports rotates or vacillates, as an axle, capstan, fulcrum, gudgeon, or hinge __fulcrum __n. a pivot on which a lever turns tally n. a wooden stick on which notches or scores denoting items of an account (esp. amounts paid or pending) are cut; a wood tally is often halved to furnish each of two parties with its record tankard n. a large drinking mug featuring a single lateral handle and hinged lid, ordinarily crafted from silver or pewter tapadera n. the leather covering of an American saddle's stirrup taper n. a slim candle n. a long, wax-coated wick applied to light candles, gas, etc. thermometer n. an instrument used to measure temperature, most commonly constructed as a sealed glass tube, a bulb of which contains mercury or dyed alcohol that expands as temperature rises and contracts as it falls in a thin column to a point on a graduated scale printed on the tube or its frame, which indicates the temperature _clinical thermometer _n. a small thermometer employed to measure bodily temperature, which is placed under the tongue or armpit, or within the rectum _gas thermometer _n. a thermometer that measures temperature by scanning the volume of gas at a constant pressure, or pressure of gas at a constant volume _pyrometer _n. a thermometer that detects and gauges high temperatures __optical pyrometer/pyrophotometer __n. a pyrometer that optically or photometrically measures temperature _resistance thermometer _n. a thermometer that metes temperature from the resistance of a coiled, usu. platinum wire or semiconductor _thermocouple _n. a thermometer consisting of two conjoined semiconductors or wires of different metals, which functions by producing electromotive force when heat is applied to both thimble n. a grooved metal ring fixed to line any of a sail's eyes to forfend tears or corrasion throttle n. a valve regulating fluid flux, usu. that of an engine controlling the quantity of fuel or mixed fuel and air into its cylinders n. a lever or pedal controlling a throttle v. to choke or moderate a fluid's flow with a throttle tiller/cultivator n. a farm implement or machine used to fragment soil and deracinate weeds with shovels or blades traces n. a couple of sidelong leather straps or chains flanking and linking harnessed draft beasts to a vehicle, plow or whippletree thereof trank n. a piece of leather from which a single glove is cut n. the body of a glove, sans thumb, gussets and fourchettes trestle/horse n. a movable framework consisting of a horizontal beam supported by a pair of sloping legs, a dyad of which are often used to bear a flat surface such as a tabletop vernier (scale) n. a small, graduated ancillary scale fixed parallel to another and calibrated to designate fractional degrees of the superior's gradations a. of, pertaining to or fitted with a vernier wadcutter n. a specialty bullet with a flat front designed for paper target shooting water gate/penstock/floodgate/head gate n. a gate that regulates a flow of water passing through a conduit _sluicegate/sluice/head gate _n. a sluice's floodgate wimble n. any hand tool used to bore holes _(screw) auger _n. a wimble comprising a cross handle affixed to a shaft that terminates in a leading helical screw, used to bore holes in wood or ice __gimlet __n. a small auger ___broach ___n. a gimlet designed to tap casks windlass n. a winch comprehending a horizontal drum or barrel on which rope or chain is wound when lifting a load to which it's secured; utilized on ships to hoist anchors ==ZOOLOGY== aerie n. any bird's esp. lofty nest amble n. the peculiar sauntering gait of a horse, by which both sidelong legs move simultaneously, alternating with those opposite animal/faunal a. of, regarding, typical of or derived from an animal or animals _anguilline/anguine/colubrine/serpentine _a. of, about or akin to a snake or snakes __viperine __a. of, regarding, resembling or characteristic of the viper _anisopteran _a. of or pertaining to the order Anisoptera (damselflies, dragonflies) _apian _a. of, regarding or resembling bees _avian _a. of, pertaining to or characteristic of birds __gallinaceous __a. of, belonging or relating to, or characteristic of birds of the order Galliformes: chickens, ducks, grouse, pheasants, quail, turkeys, etc. __passeriform/passerine __a. of, concerning or belonging to the order Passeriformes, as blackbirds, cardinals, crows, finches, jays, larks, sparrows, starlings, thrushes, etc. __strigine __a. of, related or analogous to an owl or owls _camelid/cameline _a. of, about or belonging to the family Camelidae or its members: alpaca, camels, guanaco, llama, vicuña _canine _a. of, relating or kindred to a dog or dogs _a. of, regarding or belonging to the family Canidae (dogs, coyotes, foxes, jackals, wolves) __lupine __a. of, typical of, pertaining or analogous to a wolf or wolves _ceratorhine/rhinerocerine _a. of or regarding the rhinoceros _cetacean _a. of, pertaining or belonging to the marine order Cetacea and its members: dolphins, porpoises, whales __delphine __a. of, regarding or characteristic of the dolphin _cricetine _a. of or about gerbils and hamsters, rodents of the subfamily Cricetinae _elephantine _a. of, pertaining or similar to the elephant _equine _a. of, pertaining or belonging to the family Equidae, which includes donkeys, horses and zebras __asinine __a. of, about or akin to a donkey or donkeys __caballine/equine _a. of, concerning, characteristic of or comparable to a horse or horses __hippotigrine/zebrine __a. of, regarding or resembling a zebra or zebras _felid/feline _a. of, pertaining or belonging to the family Felidae, which comprehends wild and domestic cats, cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, tigers _a. like or typical of a cat __leonine __a. of, regarding, resembling or characteristic of a lion or lions __pardine __a. of or pertaining to the leopard __tigrine __a. of, concerning, distinctive or similar to a tiger or tigers _gastropod(ous) _a. of, concerning or beloning to Gastropoda, a class of mollusks comprehending cowries, limpets, slugs, snails and whelks __limacine __a. of or regarding slugs _hippocampine _a. of of about the sea horse _hippopotamian/hippopotamic/hippopotamine _a. of, regarding or like a hippopotamus _hyenine _a. of or pertaining to hyenas _hystricine _a. of, relating or corresponding to porcupines _lemurine/lemuroid _a. of, resembling, regarding or belonging to the indruses' and lemurs' family Lemuroidea _lepidopteran/lepidopteral/lepidopterous _a. of, regarding or belonging to order Lepidoptera, which embodies butterflies, moths and larval caterpillars _leporine _a. of, about, similar or individual to hares and rabbits _macropine/macropodine _a. of or related to the kangaroo _mastodontic _a. of, regarding, resembling or characteristic of a mastodon _murine _a. of or concerning any rodent of family Muridae, as the house mouse and brown rat _musteline _a. of, resembling, relating or belonging to the family Mustelidae, comprised of badgers, ferrets, martens, minks, otters, polecats, skunks and weasels __lutrine __a. of or relating to the otter __meline __a. of or about the badger __mephitine __a. of or regarding a skunk or skunks _myrmecophagine _a. of or pertaining to the anteater of family Myrmecophagidae _octopine _a. of or regarding the octopus _odobenine _a. of of concerning the walrus _phocine _a. of, relating to, resembling or affecting seals _a. of, pertaining or belonging to Phocinae, family of the harbor and harp seals _piscine _a. of, pertaining to, resembling or characteristic of fish __elasmobranch/selachian __a. of, concerning or belonging to the cartilaginous Elasmobranchii/Selachii: dogfish, rays, sharks and skates _porcine _a. of, regarding or resembling pigs __suilline __a. of or concerning the hog _procyonine _a. of or relating to the raccoon _ranine _a. of, regarding or resembling a frog or frogs _reptilian _a. of, regarding, resembling or characteristic of reptiles __chelonian __a. of, like, regarding or belonging to the order Chelonia (tortoises, turtles) ___testudine ___a. of or pertaining to the tortoise __crocodilian/crocodiline __a. of, regarding or resembling a crocodile __a. of, relating or belonging to the order Crocodilia (alligators, caimans, crocodiles, gharial) _ruminant _a. of, concerning or belonging to Ruminantia, a suborder comprised of artiodactyl mammals possessing quadripartite stomachs, and who chew reguritated cud, as antelopes, cows, deer, giraffes, goats and sheep __alcelaphine __a. of or concerning the family Alcelaphinae (antelopes, hartebeest, wildebeest) __bovine __a. of, regarding, resembling or belonging to the ruminant family Bovinae, which encompasses buffalo, cows, oxen, etc. ___taurine ___a. of, concerning or similar to a bull __caprine/hircine __a. of, regarding or resembling a goat or goats __a. of, concerning, distinctive or belonging to the family Caprinae (goats, ibex, sheep) __cervine __a. of, relating or similar to deer __a. of, about or belonging to the family Cervidae (deer, elk, moose) __giraffine __a. of or regarding giraffes __ovine __a. of, relating to or typical of sheep _sciurine _a. of, relating or belonging to the Sciuridae, a family of rodents that incorporates chipmunks, marmots and squirrels _scyphozoan _a. of, concerning or belonging to Scyphozoa, the class of true marine jellyfishes _soricine _a. of or pertaining to the shrew or its family, Soricidae _talpine _a. of, regarding or resembling Talpinae, a subfamily of primarily Eurasian moles _tolypeutine _a. of or pertaining to the armadillo _ursine _a. of, regarding or resembling a bear or bears _vulpecular/vulpine _a. of, concerning, resembling or characteristic of a fox or foxes antlers n. deciduous, typically branched horns growing from the head of a deer, elk or moose _attire _n. a male deer's antlers armature n. any of an animal's defensive organs (such as claws, teeth) or protective coverings (as a carapace) _carapace/shell _n. a hard, protective external casing, as a turtle's integrated dorsal plates, crustacean's exoskeleton, etc. apiary/bee house n. an edifice containing numerous beehives, wherein they're usually raised for harvest of their honey basilisk n. a small American lizard of genus Basiliscus bearing a cranial crest and webbed toes that enable it to run upright across an aquatic surface bay n. an animal of reddish-brown coloration, esp. a horse possessing a black mane and tail benthos n. animals inhabiting the bottom of a lake, river, sea, etc. bird/fowl n. a beaked, feathered, oviparous, winged mammal, many species of which possess the power of flight _avifauna _n. indigenous birds of a specific region or period _coot _n. a waterbird of genus Fulica distinguished by its black head and neck, white bill and dark gray plumage _fowl/gallinacean _n. any domestic or game bird of the order Galliformes widely hunted or bred for its meat and eggs, as chickens, ducks, grouse, pheasants, quail, turkeys, etc. __coturnix/quail __n. small, gallinaceous European game birds of genus Coturnix, correspondent to partridges and typified by brown, camoflaged plumage and short tails _halcyon/kingfisher _n. any nonpasserine bird of the family Alcedinidae, characterized by its large cranium, short tail, brilliant plumage and long, sharp bill; kingfishers that reside proximal to water feed on fish; those of forests predate insects and lizards __halcyon __n. a kingfisher of genus Halcyon prevalent in warm regions of Asia and Africa _heron/hern _n. any among a variety of wading birds in the family Ardeidae possessing spearlike bills and long legs and necks _lanner (falcon) _n. a large falcon of southern Europe, southern Asia and north Africa distinguished by gray and brown dorsal plumage and a white breast __lanner __n. a female lanner falcon __lanneret __n. a male lanner falcon _owl _n. any among several (usu. nocturnal) birds of prey constituting the order Strigiformes, characterized by a broad head, flat face, large eyes encompassed by feathered facial disks, small and hoooked bill, short neck, hooked and feathered talons and fluffy plumage that muffles its flight _passerine _n. perching birds of the order Passeriformes possessing four toes of prehensile faculty; most are diminutive and songbirds, and hatchlings of these breeds are helpless: blackbirds, cardinals, crows, finches, jays, larks, sparrows, starlings, thrushes, etc. __finch __n. any of varied passerine of the family Fringillidae possessing short, stout bills employed to crack seeds: bullfinches, chaffinches, canaries, goldfinches, and siskins __n. any similar birds of the families Cardinalidae and Emberizidae: cardinals, grosbeaks and sparrows ___cardinal ___n. a crested North American songbird, males of which sport vivid red plumage __grackle __n. any North or South American blackbird of the family Icteridae and genus Quiscalus, whose plumage is iridescently black __lark __n. passerine of family Alaudidae, distinguished by their dull plume, melody and long hind claws ___Alauda arvensis/skylark ___n. a songbird of Europe, Asia and northern Africa of brown-speckled plumage that sings melodiously whilst hovering at terrific heights __rook __n. a gregarious Eurasian passeriform bird, notable for a bare patch of skin about the base of its bill and proclivity to nest and roost at the tops of trees __shrike __n. any carnivorous songbird of the family Laniidae, distinguished by its robust, severely hooked bill and propensity to predate insects and small vertebrates by empalement on thorns, barbed wire, etc. _parrot _n. any of many compact tropical and subtropical birds of the order Psittaciformes distinguished by their vibrant plumage, short, hooked bill, and select capacity to mimic human speech __macaw __n. any among various large Latin American parrots of genera Ara and Anodorhynchus characterized by stout bills and long tails __parakeet/paroquet __n. a small, slim parrot possessing a tapering tail _plover _n. a shorebird of family Charadriidae distinguished by its thick neck, short bill and tail, and compact, rounded body _stint _n. any among the smallest sandpipers of genera Erolia or Calidris found in Eurasia or Alaska _(long-tailed) sylph _n. any of several South American hummingbird species boasting brilliant green, blue and purple feathers; males of these species have extremely long, forficate tails _tern _n. any among various seabirds of genus Sterna bearing cleft tails and long, slim wings, which are smaller than gulls _visitant _n. a migratory bird that resides somewhere pro tempore birdcall/birdsong/pipe n. the chirping, whistling and song of a (usu. passerine) bird blue n. a small butterfly of the family Lycaenidae bearing blue wings bobtail n. a short or docked tail n. any animal possessing a short or truncated tail a. having a short tail brood/cletch/clutch n. a group of chicks who've hatched together browse/graze v. (of herbivorous animals) to feed on grass or other herbage, as in a meadow _pasture _v. to graze in a pasture caducous a. shed at an early stage of development, as an amphibian's gills canter n. a horse's or other quadruped's smooth, triple-beat gait between the velocity of a trot and a gallop _lope _n. a leisurely canter caterwaul n. the shrill, yowling sonant verbalized by a cat whilst rutting cayuse/(Cayuse) Indian pony n. a small, strapping range pony endemic of the western United States, gentled and employed by Native American tribes (esp. the Cayuse) and cowboys chine n. an animal's spine cinnabar (moth)/Callimorpha jacobeae n. a large, black European moth sporting vivid red patches, the larvae of which feed on leaves of ragwort clowder/cludder/clutter n. a group of cats _glaring _a. a clowder comprised of cats who are uncertain of one another _kindle _n. a litter of kittens clutch n. a set of eggs in simultaneous incubation coelenterate/cnidarian n. any radially symmetrical invertebrate of phylum Cnidaria, formed of a saclike internal cavity and single orifice ringed with tentacles furnished with stinging structures: corals, hydras, jellyfish and sea anemonies coprophagous a. feeding on feces, as certain insects or Teutons couchant a. (of a cat) seated with body resting on legs and head raised cow n. a mature, usu. domesticated female ox exploited for its milk or beef n. a mature female mammal, as an elephant, moose, seal, whale, etc. coypu/nutria n. a large, aquatic rodent native to South America that possesses large teeth, a long, thick tail, and webbed feet, and resembles a small beaver crepitation n. defensive discharge by certain beetles of an acerbic fluid croche n. a small bud or knob protruding from and topping a deer's antler cur/mongrel n. a dog of mixed breed _cur _n. a vicious or substandard mongrel dace n. any among a variety of small, bluish-green or jade freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae dam n. a domestic, quadrupedal mother, such as a mare or sow doggery n. a group of dogs _pack _n. a ravening doggery diurnal a. (of animals) active during the daytime dory n. any among varied marine fish of order Zeiformes possessing spiny dorsal fins and slim, ovate bodies drift/drive/drove n. a driven herd of livestock, esp. of oxen, sheep or swine entomology n. that branch of zoology pertaining to the study of insects ermine/Mustela erminea/short-tailed weasel/stoat n. a weasel of the Northern Hemisphere notable for its black-tipped tail and lush, dark brown fur, which blanches during winters erythrism n. atypical redness of plumage escutcheon n. pubic hair growing from the perineum betwixt a cow's udder and vulva, attributes of which were esteemed an index of milking qualities flank n. the fleshy or muscular portion of an animal's side between its ribs and hip flehmen position [OR] reaction [OR] response n. the act of curling back an upper lip to expose incisors and canines while inspiring orally flukes n. flat, bilateral lobes to which a cetacean's tail terminates fluke n. any parasitic flatworm _monogenean _n. an ectoparasite of class Monogenea whose entire life cycle is spent fastened to a fish _trematode _n. a fluke of class Trematoda that fastens itself with hooks or suckers to its host frog n. horny, durable, elastic matter centered in the sole of an equine's foot gregarious/social a. living together in colonies, herds, hives, flocks, etc. and often adherent to an organized and hierarchical system gunnel n. a small, narrow fish of the family Pholidae distinguished by its long dorsal fin and small or absence of pelvic fins; rife in the coastal waters and tidal pools of northern seas hack/jade/nag/rip n. an old or worn-out horse halophile n. any organism that requires a saline environment haunch n. jointly, the loin and leg of a quadruped husky/Eskimo dog n. a powerful Arctic sled dog distinguished by its pricked ears, curled tail and dense, coarse double coat imago n. a sexually mature insect posterior to its metamorphosis katydid n. a large, green grasshopper of genus Microcentrum and family Tettigoniidae possessing long antennae; males of this species emit a stridulous song when they rub organs of their forewings together leviathan n. a gargantuan marine animal, esp. a whale lobo n. a large timber wolf of the western United States malander n. a dry, scabby or scurfy eruption behind an equine's knee malandered n. (of equines) suffering from or bearing malanders mastodon(t) n. a tusked, immane, hirsute, extinct mammal akin to the elephant that flourished worldwide from the Oligocene to Pleistocene epoch, secerned by its dental array and stockier, more robust build from those of the mammoth mimicry/mimesis n. the defensive resemblance of an animal or plant to another or an inanimate object developed to enable concealment or convey an unappetizing impression mygale n. a genus of large, pilose spiders that trap their prey in subterranean tubes rather than webs (ecological) niche n. the function, position or role of an organism or species within its environment and community neigh n. the prolonged, snorting, stridulous clamor of a horse v. (of a horse) to vocalize this noise _nicker/whinny _n. a soft, gentle neigh _v. (of a horse) to emit a nicker noctiluca n. any creature that glows in darkness, esp. bioluminescent marine dinoflagellates of genus Noctiluca osculate v. to be relegated to an intermediary class between two taxonomic groups peccary n. two species of piglike mammals autochthonous to North America _collared peccary/javelina _n. a peccary possessing a gray coat ringed with a white collar peltry n. numerous undressed pelts persistent a. (of a faunal organ) retained; not shed upon maturity phototropism n. motion or growth of a sessile organism toward or away from light plumage/plume n. collectively, a bird's feathers plume/preen v. (of birds) to smooth or clean feathers with the beak pout/eelpout n. a bottom-dwelling fish of the family Zoarcidae, resident in cool or cold seas and distinguished by its broad head, thick lips and elongated body, the dorsal and anal fins of which extend along its tail pout/hornpout/horned pout/bullhead/Ameiurus [OR] Ictalurus nebulosus n. a freshwater catfish native to eastern North America and readily identified by its large head, oral barbels and spined dorsal and pectoral fins predate/prey/raven v. (of a predatory animal) to hunt for, kill and eat an animal of another species predation/prey n. killing and consumption by a predator of its prey prehensile/prehensory a. (of an extremity) adapted to seize or grasp, esp. by wrapping around and clutching an object remuda n. an equine herd from which ranch hands select their daily mounts rookery n. a group of nesting birds n. wherever a rookery nests ruminate v. (of ruminants) to chew cud posterior to its regurgitation rostrum n. any natural projection of an animal's anterior head, as a beak or snout scapular n. any feathers covering the shoulders of a bird school/shoal n. any large group of aquatic animals (esp. fish) that swim in confluence, esp. during migration _gam _n. a school of whales scute/scutum n. one of several thick, horny or bony plates or scales, as of a turle's shell, armadillo's banded armor, crocodile's back, etc. shoat n. a weaned piglet siphon n. a tubular organ (of clams, mollusks, squids, etc.) through which liquid (usu. water) is drawn or discharged skein n. a flock of ducks or geese in flight snail n. any lusk, freshwater or terrestrial gastropod mollusk that can withdraw its entire internal body into its voluted shell _helix _n. a terrene snail of genus Helix solifugae n. spiders distinguished by large, fierce fangs squamous/squamose/scaly a. comprised of, or covered or coated with scales stentor n. a trumpet-shaped protozoan of the genus Stentor that ravens other microorganisms in freshwater ponds with its spiral, ciliated orifice stridulate v. (of insects, esp. the cricket) to produce a strident, often chirping sound by rubbing organs together stifle n. a joint between a quadruped's hind femur and tibia homologous and inverse to the human knee _hock _n. a joint diametric yet homologous to the human ankle in gallinaceous legs and some quadrupedal hind legs terrestrial/terrene a. inhabiting dry land venomous a. containing, secreting or capable of injecting venom by biting or stinging vinegarroon n. a whip scorpion of Mexico and the southern United States that sprays a fluid of vinegary odor when disturbed (rabbit) warren n. a network of subterranean rabbit burrows interconnected by tunnels wisdom n. a group of wombats wisp n. a flock of snipe Copyright 2012-2024 Robert Buchanan