fancy words 1 Flashcards

Question

longshoreman

Answer 1

verb [with object] (eke something out) make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it frugally: the remains of yesterday's stew could be eked out to make another meal. * manage to make a living with difficulty: many traders barely eked out a living.

Answer 2

adjective (wryer, wryest or wrier, wriest) 1 using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humour: a wry smile | wry comments. 2 (of a person's face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance. 3 archaic (of the neck or features) distorted or turned to one side: a remedy for wry necks.

Answer 3

noun (plural levities) [mass noun] the treatment of a serious matter with humour or lack of due respect: as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop.

Answer 4

noun an official licence issued by the Roman Catholic Church to print an ecclesiastical or religious book: the imprimatur for this edition was granted by Cardinal O'Casey. * a person's authoritative approval: the original LP enjoyed the imprimatur of the composer.

Answer 5

useless; pointless.

Answer 6

noun a heated greenhouse in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown: [as modifier] : hothouse plants. * an environment that encourages rapid growth or development, especially in a stifling or intense way: [as modifier] : the hothouse atmosphere of the college. verb [with object] educate or teach (a child) to a high level at an earlier age than is usual: a school that had a reputation for hothousing its girls.

Answer 7

adjective (snarkier, snarkiest) informal, mainly North American critical or mocking in an indirect or sarcastic way: snarky remarks. * bad-tempered or irritable: Bobby's always a bit snarky before his nap.

Answer 8

noun [mass noun] a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant: the refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering | [in singular] : a brief respite from the heat. * a short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out: a Letter of Licence, by which creditors agreed to postpone claims, brought only temporary respite. verb [with object] rare postpone (a sentence, obligation, etc.): the execution was only respited a few months. * archaic grant a respite to (someone, especially a person condemned to death): some poor criminal … from the gibbet or the wheel, respited for a day.

Answer 9

adjective 1 looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering: she was pale and haggard | Alex's haggard face. 2 (of a hawk) caught for training as a wild adult of more than twelve months. Compare with passage hawk. noun a haggard hawk.

Answer 10

adjective 1 annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand: he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse. * difficult to understand, especially deliberately so: some of the lyrics are a bit obtuse. 2 (of an angle) more than 90° and less than 180°: an obtuse angle of 150°. 3 not sharp-pointed or sharp-edged; blunt: it had strange obtuse teeth.

Answer 11

noun a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam. * archaic a large sea wave. verb [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of fabric) fill with air and swell outwards: her dress billowed out around her. * (of smoke, cloud, or steam) move or flow outward with an undulating motion: smoke was billowing from the chimney.

Answer 12

noun 1 a protective garment worn over the front of one's clothes and tied at the back: a striped butcher's apron | [as modifier] : I reached into my apron pocket. * a garment similar to an apron that is worn as part of official dress, as by a bishop or Freemason. * a sheet of lead worn to shield the body during an X-ray examination. 2 a small area adjacent to another larger area or structure: a tiny apron of garden. * a hard-surfaced area on an airfield used for manoeuvring or parking aircraft: the pilot was instructed to park on the main apron. * (also apron stage) a projecting strip of stage for playing scenes in front of the curtain. * US an area of asphalt where the drive of a house meets the road. * the narrow strip of a boxing ring lying outside the ropes. * Geology an extensive outspread deposit of sediment, typically at the foot of a glacier or mountain. 3 [often as modifier] an endless conveyor made of overlapping plates: apron feeders bring coarse ore to a grinding mill. PHRASES tied to someone's apron strings too much under someone's influence and control: we have all met sturdy adults who are tied to mother's apron strings.

Answer 13

wary and unwilling to take risks: the officials were very circumspect in their statements.

Answer 14

verb 1 [with object] give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition): the powers accorded to the head of state | [with two objects] : the national assembly accorded the General more power. 2 [no object] (accord with) (of a concept or fact) be harmonious or consistent with: his views accorded well with those of Merivale. noun an official agreement or treaty: opposition groups refused to sign the accord | a peace accord. * [mass noun] agreement or harmony: the government and the rebels are in accord on one point.

Answer 15

adjective (shaggier, shaggiest) (of hair or fur) long, thick, and unkempt: the mountain goat has a long, shaggy coat. * having long, thick, unkempt hair or fur: a huge shaggy Alsatian. * having a covering resembling rough, thick hair.

Answer 16

verb | əˈtɛnjʊeɪt | [with object] 1 reduce the force, effect, or value of: this research provides a glimmer of hope that coral reefs can attenuate the effects of ocean acidification. * reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation): the filter must severely attenuate frequencies above 10 Hz. * reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism), especially when preparing a vaccine: the first live vaccine was insufficiently attenuated and produced a significant disease. 2 reduce in thickness; make thin. adjective | əˈtɛnjʊət | rare reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness: the doctrines of Christianity became very attenuate and distorted.

Answer 17

tot1 | tɒt | noun 1 a very young child: dancing classes for tiny tots. 2 mainly British a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink such as whisky or brandy: a tot of brandy. 3 (tots) US short for tater tots: the burger came with a side of tots. tot2 | tɒt | verb (tots, totting, totted) [with object] (tot something up) mainly British add up numbers or amounts: she totted up some figures. * accumulate something over a period of time: he has already totted up 89 victories. tot3 | tɒt | verb (tots, totting, totted) [no object] British informal salvage saleable items from dustbins or rubbish heaps: there was only a bent figure of a man totting among the refuse.

Answer 18

verb [no object] (of a bird) tidy and clean its feathers with its beak: reed buntings preened at the pool's edge | [with object] : the pigeon preened her feathers. * (also preen oneself) (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance: adolescents preening in their bedroom mirrors. * (preen oneself) congratulate or pride oneself: it did not prevent them from preening themselves on their achievement.

Answer 19

noun a single piece of cloth wrapped round the hips, typically worn by men in some hot countries as their only garment.

Answer 20

noun a casual romantic or sexual relationship: Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl | [mass noun] : MPs have the opportunity for dalliance, as they are away from home for much of the week. * a period of brief or casual involvement with something: Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system.

Answer 21

noun | ˈaʊtriːtʃ | [mass noun] the extent or length of reaching out: the loving outreach of God to the world. * an organization's involvement with or influence in the community, especially in the context of religion or social welfare: the growth of evangelistic outreach | [as modifier] : outreach centres. verb | ˌaʊtˈriːtʃ | [with object] reach further than: their pack outreached and outwitted the Welsh team. * [no object] literary stretch out one's arms: they stood with earnest eyes, and arms outreaching.

Answer 22

adjective relating to drama and the theatre: thespian talents. noun an actor or actress: an ageing thespian.

Answer 23

1 portray or show (an object or view) as closer than it is or as having less depth or distance, as an effect of perspective or the angle of vision: seen from the road, the mountain is greatly foreshortened. 2 prematurely or dramatically shorten or reduce (something) in time or scale: our experience is that it is usually a mistake to try to foreshorten the process | (as adjective foreshortened) : Leicestershire won by 133 runs in a foreshortened contest.

Answer 24

noun a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe: repairing stereos and making contraptions out of spare electronic bits.

Answer 25

verb [with object] formal solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim): MPs were urged to abjure their Jacobite allegiance.

Answer 26

noun a person who behaves in a way that spoils others' pleasure, especially by not joining in an activity: ‘Don't be a spoilsport, Sidney.’.

Answer 27

adjective (of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome: insuperable financial problems.

Answer 28

A Chiefly British term for underhanded conduct or gamesmanship in a sport, with the intention of gaining an advantage. Typically refers to association football.

Answer 29

noun a slotted hinged metal plate forming part of a fastening for a door or lid, fitted over a loop and secured by a pin or padlock: the hut was always locked by a large padlock securing a hasp. * a slotted hinged plate on a trunk or suitcase with a projecting piece which is secured by the lock. verb [with object] archaic lock (a door, window, or lid) by securing the hasp over the loop of the fastening: she went to the window and hasped it.

Answer 30

adjective obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree: they were served by obsequious waiters.

Answer 31

adjective Geometry (of a spheroid) lengthened in the direction of a polar diameter. Often contrasted with oblate1.

Answer 32

denoting or relating to an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest: rich artefactual material from campaigns of excavation.

Answer 33

noun [mass noun] balance of forces or interests: this temporary equipoise of power. * [count noun] a counterbalance or balancing force: capital flows act as an equipoise to international imbalances in savings. verb [with object] balance or counterbalance (something): as a piece of language it is as delicately equipoised as any.

Answer 34

noun 1 the edge of a person's hair, especially on the forehead. 2 [as modifier] very thin or fine: a hairline fracture | a hairline crack.

Answer 35

noun a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco: the only man to reach double figures in the second-innings debacle.

Answer 36

verb [no object] (of a person or animal) emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger: he bellowed in agony. * [reporting verb] shout something with a deep loud roar: [with object] : he bellowed out the order | [with direct speech] : ‘Not sausage and mash again!’ he bellowed. * [with object] sing (a song) loudly and tunelessly: a dozen large men were bellowing ‘Jerusalem’. noun a deep roaring shout or sound: a bellow of rage.

Answer 37

verb [with object] 1 raise (a difficult subject) for discussion: he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening. 2 pierce (a cask) to draw out liquid: he watched a pot boy broach a new cask. * open and start using the contents of (a bottle or other container): boxed wines will remain in good condition for up to four months once broached. 3 [no object] (of a fish or sea mammal) rise through the water and break the surface: the salmon broach, then fall to slap the water.

Answer 38

verb (stymies, stymieing, stymied) [with object] informal prevent or hinder the progress of: the changes must not be allowed to stymie new medical treatments.

Answer 39

adjective feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong: a contrite tone.

Answer 40

noun a short excursion or journey made for pleasure: her regular jaunts to Europe. verb [no object] go on a short journey for pleasure: they went jaunting through Ireland.

Answer 41

verb (jots, jotting, jotted) [with object] write (something) quickly: when you've found the answers, jot them down. noun [usually with negative] a very small amount: you didn't care a jot | I have yet to see one jot of evidence.

Answer 42

noun a bulbous narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid, typically enclosed in a wicker cover.

Answer 43

noun [mass noun] a person's honesty and sincerity of intention: why would you cast aspersions on my bona fides? * [treated as plural] informal documentary evidence showing that a person is what they claim to be; credentials: he set about checking Loretta's bona fides.

Answer 44

noun 1 [mass noun] goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft: a decline in the amount of freight carried by rail. * the transport of goods by truck, train, ship, or aircraft: the truck-based system can outperform air freight at distances of up to seven hundred miles. * a charge for transport by freight: a bill indicating that the freight has been paid. 2 US a freight train: I can hear the regular wail of the twelve o'clock freight from my house. 3 a load or burden: these warm winds deposit their freight of moisture in showers of rain. verb [with object] 1 transport (goods) in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft: the metals had been freighted from the city. 2 (be freighted with) be laden or burdened with: each word was freighted with anger.

Answer 45

adjective 1 rich in, covered with, or producing oil; oily: fabrics would quickly become filthy in this oleaginous kingdom. 2 exaggeratedly and distastefully complimentary; obsequious: candidates made oleaginous speeches praising government policies.

Answer 46

verb [no object] come together to form one mass or whole: the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams. * [with object] combine (elements) in a mass or whole: his idea served to coalesce all that happened into one connected whole.

Answer 47

1 mainly Anatomy nearer the front, especially in the front of the body, or nearer to the head or forepart: the veins anterior to the heart. The opposite of posterior. 2 formal coming before in time; earlier: an incident anterior to her troubles.

Answer 48

verb [with object] persuade (someone) that an idea or belief is mistaken: he quickly disabused me of my fanciful notions.

Answer 49

adjective proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects: sexual harassment is a serious and insidious problem.

Answer 50

verb | pɒnˈtɪfɪkeɪt | [no object] 1 express one's opinions in a pompous and dogmatic way: he was pontificating about art and history. 2 (in the Roman Catholic Church) officiate as bishop, especially at Mass: he pontificated at three Christmas Masses. noun | pɒnˈtɪfɪkət | (in the Roman Catholic Church) the office or period of office of a pope or bishop: Pope Gregory VIII enjoyed only a ten-week pontificate.

Answer 51

noun a large long-handled spoon with a cup-shaped bowl, used for serving soup or sauce: she dipped the ladle into the casserole dish. * a container for transporting molten metal in a foundry. verb [with object and adverbial] serve (soup, stew, or sauce) with a ladle: she ladled out onion soup. * provide (information, advice, etc.) lavishly or overgenerously: he was ladling out his personal philosophy of life.

Answer 52

adverb mainly North American with the edge uppermost or towards the viewer: 40-feet long slabs of steel, mounted edgewise one atop the other. PHRASES get a word in edgewise [usually with negative] mainly North American contribute to a conversation with difficulty because the other speaker talks almost without pause: I didn't get a word in edgewise for an hour.

Answer 53

adjective (of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy: an ungainly walk.

Answer 54

assimilate (a smaller entity) into a larger one: fragmented aspects of the self the subject is unable to sublate.

Answer 55

noun (plural penumbrae | pɪˈnʌmbriː | or penumbras) 1 the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. * Astronomy the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse. * Astronomy the less dark outer part of a sunspot, surrounding the core. 2 a peripheral or indeterminate area or group: an immense penumbra of theory surrounds any observation.

Answer 56

adjective grossly unfair and morally wrong: an iniquitous tax | these awards remain an iniquitous system.

Answer 57

adjective 1 (of vegetation) growing too thickly and coarsely: clumps of rank grass. 2 having a foul or offensive smell: breathing rank air. * informal very unpleasant: the tea at work is nice but the coffee's pretty rank. 3 [attributive] (especially of something bad or deficient) complete and utter (used for emphasis): rank stupidity | a rank outsider.

Answer 58

a strong glove with a long, loose wrist. take up the gauntlet accept a challenge: Washington had no choice but to take up the gauntlet. throw down the gauntlet issue a challenge: he threw down the gauntlet to cabinet colleagues.

Answer 59

adjective well chosen or suited to the circumstances: a felicitous phrase. * pleasing and fortunate: the view was the room's only felicitous feature.

Answer 60

noun [mass noun] informal an attractive combination of vitality and glamour: a summer collection with pizzazz.

Answer 61

adjective archaic generously given or giving; bountiful: the earth yields a bounteous harvest.

Answer 62

verb [with object] sterilize (a female animal) by removing the ovaries: the animals must be spayed or neutered before they are given up for adoption.

Answer 63

verb [with object] add (something) to the beginning of something else: you forgot to prepend ‘I personally believe’ to the statements you are making. * Computing attach (a piece of data) to the beginning of another: in this case, you must prepend the server name to the database name, separated by a period.

Answer 64

accept something reluctantly but without protest: Sara acquiesced in his decision.

Answer 65

link (things) together in a chain or series: some words may be concatenated, such that certain sounds are omitted. concatenation - a chain of things

Answer 66

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily: she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.

Answer 67

adjective 1 (typically of a young person) tending to commit crime, particularly minor crime: delinquent teenagers. 2 formal failing in one's duty. * North American in arrears: delinquent accounts. noun a delinquent person: juvenile delinquents.

Answer 68

noun [mass noun] technical the action or capacity of smelling; the sense of smell.

Answer 69

adjective 1 involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt: the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams. 2 dirty or squalid: the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading.

Answer 70

(of a remark or idea) lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse: this point may now seem obvious and trite.

Answer 71

noun 1 used in reference to an activity, cause, etc. that is currently fashionable or popular and attracting increasing support: the environmental bandwagon is feeling mighty crowded | concerns over the risk posed by this emerging technology threaten to derail the bandwagon. 2 (especially formerly) a wagon used for carrying a band in a parade or procession: the colourful bandwagon was later purchased for use in circus parades.

Answer 72

noun [mass noun] a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy: she was overcome by lassitude and retired to bed.

Answer 73

verb [with object] immunize (someone) against a disease by introducing infective material, microorganisms, or vaccine into the body: most of the troops had been inoculated against anthrax | the country will have enough vaccine stockpiled to inoculate the entire population | figurative : students are inoculated against the notion that history can be turned in its course by individuals. * introduce (an infective agent) into an organism: the microorganism can be inoculated into laboratory animals. * introduce (cells or organisms) into a culture medium: 0.5 ml of the specimen was inoculated into each tissue culture flask.

Answer 74

a teacher or propounder of mystical doctrines.

Answer 75

noun a sudden panicked rush of a number of horses, cattle, or other animals: the herd was fleeing back to the high land in a wild stampede. * a sudden rapid movement or reaction of a mass of people in response to a particular circumstance or stimulus: a stampede of bargain hunters. * [often in names] (in North America) a rodeo: the Calgary Stampede. verb [no object] (of horses, cattle, or other animals) rush wildly in a sudden mass panic: the nearby sheep stampeded as if they sensed impending danger. * [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of people) move rapidly in a mass: the children stampeded through the kitchen, playing tag or hide-and-seek. * [with object] cause (people or animals) to stampede: the raiders stampeded 200 mules | figurative : don't let them stampede us into anything.

Answer 76

verb collapse or cause to collapse violently inwards: [no object] : both the windows had imploded | [with object] : the plasma implodes the fuel. * [no object] end or fail suddenly or dramatically: can any amount of aid save the republic from imploding? | he lost money when the market imploded.

Answer 77

verb (enthrals, enthralling, enthralled) [with object] 1 capture the fascinated attention of: she had been so enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold. 2 (also inthrall) archaic enslave: it is as hard and dangerous to inthrall a people that would live free.

Answer 78

adjective neat and trim in dress and appearance (typically used of a man): he looked very dapper in a dark silk suit.

Answer 79

verb [with adverbial of direction] (with reference to a soluble chemical or mineral) drain away from soil, ash, or similar material by the action of percolating liquid, especially rainwater: [with object] : the nutrient is quickly leached away | [no object] : pesticides and fertilizers that leach into rivers. * [with object] subject (soil, ash, etc.) to a leaching process: ash is readily leached.

Answer 80

verb [with object] 1 tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement: the horse had been tethered to a post. 2 use (a smartphone) in order to connect a computer or other device to the internet: check if Wi-Fi access is free in the lobby or tether your phone. noun a rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement: regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows.

Answer 81

noun a building such as a shed or barn that is built on to or in the grounds of a house. * mainly North American an outside toilet. verb [with object] store or accommodate away from the main storage or accommodation area: books outhoused in the annex take longer to deliver.

Answer 82

adjective relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance: a hard, dour, humourless fanatic.

Answer 83

| ˈʒwiːsɒ̃s, French ʒwisɑ̃s | noun [mass noun] formal physical or intellectual pleasure, delight, or ecstasy.

Answer 84

adverb cautiously; carefully: they walk warily down the street, terrified of being caught. * in a way that shows a lack of trust; suspiciously: she looked at him warily.

Answer 85

the doctrine of salvation.

Answer 86

verb [with object] extract (metal) from its ore by a process involving heating and melting: coal was used to smelt the steel for the tinplate. * extract a metal from (ore) by smelting: the ores are smelted in a blast furnace.

Answer 87

noun [in singular] the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral. * used in reference to an announcement, event, or sound that warns of the end of something: emails and text messages are sounding the knell for the written word. verb [no object] (of a bell) ring solemnly, especially for a death or funeral. * [with object] proclaim (something) by or as if by a knell.

Answer 88

adjective exuberantly or triumphantly joyful: she gave a gleeful chuckle.

Answer 89

adjective (of a child) having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an earlier age than is usual or expected: a precocious, solitary boy. * (of behaviour or ability) having developed at an earlier age than is usual or expected: a precocious talent for computing. * (of a plant) flowering or fruiting earlier than usual.

Answer 90

verb (prods, prodding, prodded) [with object] poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object: he prodded her in the ribs | [no object] : she took up a fork and prodded at the food. * stimulate or persuade (someone who is reluctant or slow) to do something: they attempted to prod the central bank into cutting interest rates. noun 1 a poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object: he gave the wire netting an experimental prod. * an act of stimulating or reminding someone to do something: you need a gentle prod to remind you that life is only what you make it. 2 a pointed implement, typically one discharging an electric current and used as a goad: a cattle prod.

Answer 91

noun 1 a charge or claim that someone has done something undesirable; an accusation: there are grounds for inquiring into the imputations of misconduct against him. * [mass noun] Theology the action or process of ascribing righteousness, guilt, etc. to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another: the writings of the apostles tell us that imputation of the righteousness of Christ is given to us if we receive Christ. 2 [mass noun] Finance the assignment of a value to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes: the imputation of interest will increase her taxable income.

Answer 92

(plural sequelae | sɪˈkwiːliː | ) (usually sequelae) Medicine a condition which is the consequence of a previous disease or injury: the long-term sequelae of infection.

Answer 93

put forward (an idea or theory) for consideration by others: he began to propound the idea of a ‘social monarchy’ as an alternative to Franco.

Answer 94

parity1 | ˈparɪti | noun [mass noun] 1 the state or condition of being equal, especially as regards status or pay: parity of incomes between rural workers and those in industrial occupations. parity2 | ˈparɪti | noun [mass noun] the fact or condition of having borne children: the relationship between breast cancer and parity was investigated. * the number of children previously borne: very high parity (six children or more).

Answer 95

adjective having lustre; shining: large, lustrous eyes.

Answer 96

verb (past and past participle waylaid) [with object] stop or interrupt (someone) and detain them in conversation or trouble them in some other way: he waylaid me on the stairs.

Answer 97

peeve | piːv | verb [with object] annoy or irritate: that was the one thing that peeved him. noun a cause of annoyance: another peeve of mine is these so called reality shows.

Answer 98

adjective 1 simple and unsophisticated: homespun philosophy. 2 (of cloth or yarn) made or spun at home. * denoting a coarse handwoven fabric similar to tweed. noun [mass noun] homespun cloth: clad in homespun.

Answer 99

adjective relating to marriage or the relationship between a married couple: conjugal loyalty.

Answer 100

verb (decries, decrying, decried) [with object] publicly denounce: they decried human rights abuses.

Answer 101

adjective saturated with liquid, especially water; soaked through: his clothes were sodden. * [in combination] having drunk an excessive amount of a particular alcoholic drink: a whisky-sodden criminal. verb [with object] archaic saturate (something) with water: the rains have soddened the earth.

Answer 102

verb [with object] give new energy or vigour to; revitalize: the exercise and fresh air rejuvenated me | a new challenge may be just what he needs to rejuvenate his career | the Central Bank announced bold stimulus measures to rejuvenate the economy. * restore a youthful appearance to: exfoliation rejuvenates the skin. * Geology restore (a river or stream) to a condition characteristic of a younger landscape: the streams, rejuvenated by the earlier retreat of the sea, have cut sharp V-shaped canyons in their lower courses.

Answer 103

noun a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and used to trap animals or hang people: he began to choke as the noose tightened about his throat | a hangman's noose | figurative : the West is exploring ways to tighten the economic noose. * (the noose) death by hanging: he earned a reprieve from the noose. verb [with object] put a noose on (someone): she was noosed and hooded, then strangled by the executioner. * catch (an animal) with a noose: the animal was eventually noosed and sedated by dog handlers. * form (a rope) into a noose: Gomez had noosed a coil of rope around his neck.

Answer 104

verb [with object] pay attention to; take notice of: he should have heeded the warnings. noun [mass noun] careful attention: if he heard, he paid no heed | we must take heed of the suggestions.

Answer 105

energy, style, and enthusiasm: they performed with uncommon elan onstage.

Answer 106

casual, comfortable clothing designed to be suitable both for exercise and everyday wear: athleisure is perfect for travelling | [as modifier] : the company was a pioneer of the athleisure trend that has swept the fashion world.

Answer 107

adjective 1 having angles or sharp corners: angular chairs | Adam's angular black handwriting. * (of a person or part of their body) lean and having a prominent bone structure: her angular face.

Answer 108

adjective giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen; threateningly inauspicious: there were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.

Answer 109

made for a particular customer or user: a bespoke suit | bespoke kitchens | bespoke software systems | group tours and bespoke itineraries. * making or selling bespoke goods, especially clothing: the bespoke tailors of Savile Row.

Answer 110

noun 1 a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization: nurses are the linchpin of the National Health Service. 2 a pin passed through the end of an axle to keep a wheel in position.

Answer 111

noun [mass noun] informal the formal and technical language of legal documents: the typed pages were full of confusing legalese.

Answer 112

verb (ossifies, ossifying, ossified) [no object] 1 turn into bone or bony tissue: these tracheal cartilages may ossify. 2 become rigid or fixed in attitude or position; cease developing: our political system has ossified.

Answer 113

follow suit (in bridge, whist, and other card games) play a card of the suit led. * conform to another's actions: Spain cut its rates by half a per cent but no other country has followed suit.

Answer 114

verb [no object] look or gaze in a lascivious or unpleasant way: bystanders were leering at the nude painting. noun a lascivious or unpleasant look: he gave me a sly leer.

Answer 115

noun an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something: he had developed an infatuation with the girl | I hope this is merely a passing infatuation | [mass noun] : the thrill of infatuation.

Answer 116

noun archaic or literary an utter coward: come on, you poltroons!

Answer 117

verb (past and past participle hamstrung) [with object] cripple (a person or animal) by cutting their hamstrings. * severely restrict the efficiency or effectiveness of: we were hamstrung by a total lack of knowledge.

Answer 118

adjective (scrawnier, scrawniest) (of a person or animal) unattractively thin and bony: he had a scrawny physique and a protuberant Adam's apple | she was small and scrawny and the sinews in her neck stood out. * (of vegetation) meagre or stunted: straggly trees and occasional tufts of scrawny grass.

Answer 119

verb [with object] 1 wrap or cover for warmth: everyone was muffled up in coats and scarves. 2 cover or wrap up (a source of sound) to reduce its loudness: (as adjective muffled) : the soft beat of a muffled drum. * make (a sound) quieter or less distinct: his voice was muffled | figurative : the trade unions fear their voice within the party is being muffled. noun [usually as modifier] a receptacle in a furnace or kiln in which things can be heated without contact with combustion products: a muffle furnace.

Answer 120

a secret political clique or faction: a cabal of dissidents. * archaic a secret intrigue.

Answer 121

1 (of organic matter) decaying or rotting and emitting a fetid smell: a butcher who sold putrid meat. * of or characteristic of rotting matter: the putrid smells from the slaughterhouses. 2 informal very unpleasant; repulsive: the cocktail is a putrid pink colour.

Answer 122

adjective (of a voice) rough and low in pitch: she spoke with a gruff, masculine voice. * abrupt or taciturn in manner: Robert's gruff, no-nonsense approach.

Answer 123

noun underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activities: a firm that investigates commercial skulduggery.

Answer 124

noun a person in a group who becomes separated from the others, typically because of moving more slowly: a few stragglers lingered, talking as they slipped on their coats | figurative : we can expect to see a flow of legal pressures pushing stragglers towards sustainability. * something that grows or spreads irregularly or apart from others of its kind: these small trees are the remnant stragglers of their species | I use wax on my chin and lip about once a week, and pluck stragglers in between.

Answer 125

verb | ˈrʌfhaʊs | [no object] act in a boisterous, violent manner: they roughhouse on street corners. * [with object] handle (someone) roughly or violently: he had them roughhoused by his servants. noun | ˈrʌfhaʊs | a violent disturbance: I shouldn't like to be up against you in a roughhouse.

Answer 126

adjective [attributive] occurring or produced as a result of something: restructuring and the resultant cost savings. noun technical a force, velocity, or other vector quantity which is equivalent to the combined effect of two or more component vectors acting at the same point: the resultant of mechanical forces pulling in different directions.

Answer 127

restrict or impede (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult: she was encumbered by her heavy skirts | they had arrived encumbered with families.

Answer 128

noun [mass noun] Physics the intensity of light emitted from a surface per unit area in a given direction. * the component of a television signal which carries information on the brightness of the image.

Answer 129

adjective genuine; real: she was a bona fide expert. adverb mainly Law without intention to deceive: the court will assume that they have acted bona fide.

Answer 130

verb [no object] (pander to) gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or taste or a person with such a desire or taste): newspapers are pandering to people's baser instincts. noun dated a pimp. * archaic a person who assists the immoral desires or evil designs of others: the lowest panders of a venal press.

Answer 131

noun a red, swollen mark left on flesh by a blow or pressure: she slapped his cheek and a bright red weal sprang up on it. * Medicine an area of the skin which is temporarily raised, typically reddened, and usually accompanied by itching. verb [with object] mark with a weal: his neck was wealed and raw.

Answer 132

verb [no object] make a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain or distress: he winced at the disgust in her voice. noun an instance of wincing.

Answer 133

adjective 1 vigorous or incisive in expression or style: the White Paper makes trenchant criticisms of health authorities. 2 archaic or literary (of a weapon or tool) having a sharp edge: a trenchant blade.

Answer 134

1 [mass noun] a game in which small balls are hit and then allowed to roll down a sloping board on which there are holes, each numbered with the score achieved if a ball goes into it, with pins acting as obstructions. 2 a thing regarded as too unimportant or easy to be worth much consideration: dealing with these boats was a mere bagatelle for the world's oldest yacht club. 3 a short, light piece of music, especially one for the piano.

Answer 135

noun a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally owned it: she was wearing the medal he gave her as a keepsake.

Answer 136

adjective having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd: they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation.

Answer 137

1 enjoyment and enthusiasm in doing something: Hawkins tucked into his breakfast with gusto. * [in singular] archaic a relish or liking: he had a particular gusto for those sort of performances.

Answer 138

verb [no object] fly or rise high in the air: the bird spread its wings and soared into the air | figurative : when she heard his voice, her spirits soared. * maintain height in the air without flapping wings or using engine power: the gulls soared on the summery winds. * increase rapidly above the usual level: the cost of living continued to soar.

Answer 139

noun (the foreground) the part of a view that is nearest to the observer, especially in a picture or photograph: the intricate garden depicted in the foreground. * the most prominent or important position or situation: issues which have occupied the political foreground in recent years. verb [with object] make (something) the most prominent or important feature: sexual relationships are foregrounded and idealized.

Answer 140

noun [mass noun] formal depraved or wicked behaviour or character: acts of moral turpitude.

Answer 141

verb [no object] crouch down in fear: children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted.

Answer 142

noun [mass noun] a fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn. * a light, thin, and insubstantial or delicate material or substance: [as modifier] : a fine gossamer fabric that clung to her skin.

Answer 143

verb [no object] 1 British pull a grotesque face. 2 (usually girn) Scottish & Northern English complain peevishly.

Answer 144

a minor dispute or disagreement: she had occasional contretemps with her staff. * an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence: the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night.

Answer 145

noun [mass noun] a feeling of annoyance or disapproval: he started hanging around the local pubs, much to the displeasure of his mother. verb [with object] archaic annoy; displease: not for worlds would I do aught that might displeasure thee.

Answer 146

a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement: his weird mixed metaphors and non sequiturs.

Answer 147

noun 1 [usually in singular] a thing that is helpful or beneficial: the route will be a boon to many travellers. 2 archaic a favour or request.

Answer 148

(of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed: an indelible marker pen. * not able to be forgotten: the story made an indelible impression on me.

Answer 149

noun (plural didicois) British, often offensive a Romani, Traveller, or other person from an itinerant community, in particular one who is not of pure Romani descent.

Answer 150

noun literary the sky or heaven.

Answer 151

adjective 1 just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary: a still inchoate democracy. * confused or incoherent: inchoate proletarian protest. 2 Law (of an offence, such as incitement or conspiracy) anticipating or preparatory to a further criminal act.

Answer 152

noun a row or commotion: a child is raising a ruckus in class | [mass noun] : there's enough ruckus over identity cards.

Answer 153

adjective not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does: he was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical.

Answer 154

adjective 1 relating to or along a tangent: a tangential line. 2 diverging from a previous course or line; erratic: tangential thoughts. * hardly touching a matter; peripheral: the reforms were tangential to efforts to maintain a basic standard of life.

Answer 155

adjective 1 dark or dull in colour or tone: the night skies were sombre and starless. 2 having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness: he looked at her with a sombre expression.

Answer 156

noun a sudden strong rush of wind. * a sudden burst of something such as rain, sound, or emotion: gusts of rain and snow flurried through the open door. verb [no object] (of the wind) blow in gusts: the wind was gusting through the branches of the tree.

Answer 157

verb [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a river or road) follow a winding course: a river that meandered gently through a meadow. * wander at random: kids meandered in and out. * [no object] (of language, thought, etc.) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose: a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders. noun (usually meanders) a winding curve or bend of a river or road: the river flows in sweeping meanders. * [in singular] an indirect or aimless journey: a leisurely meander round the twisting coastline road. * an ornamental pattern of winding or interlocking lines.

Answer 158

adjective fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way: a frenetic pace of activity.

Answer 159

adjective beyond what is normal or natural: autumn had arrived with preternatural speed.

Answer 160

a person's orders or command: they had assembled at his behest.

Answer 161

noun (plural sheaths | ʃiːðz, ʃiːθs | ) a close-fitting cover for the blade of a knife or sword. * a structure in living tissue which closely envelops another: the fatty sheath around nerve fibres. * a protective covering around an electric cable. * (also sheath dress) a woman's close-fitting dress. * mainly British a condom.

Answer 162

noun a wooden walkway across sand or marshy ground. * North American a promenade along a beach or waterfront, typically made of wood.

Answer 163

noun [mass noun] the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance: the ebullience of happy children.

Answer 164

noun a club or party at which people dance to recorded pop music.

Answer 165

the excessive display of concern or distress: this is no time for more hand-wringing about bias in the media | [modifier] : now that tax season is over, hand-wringing season has begun as many business owners worry about whether an audit may be in their future.

Answer 166

supreme blessedness: the expression of beatitude the religious sometimes adopt. * (the Beatitudes) the blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–11). * (His/Your Beatitude) a title given to patriarchs in the Orthodox Church.

Answer 167

adverb in a curious or unusual way that provokes dry amusement: monkeys were drolly portrayed in human roles | Will drolly expressed his scepticism.

Answer 168

verb [no object] lose strength or momentum: the music faltered, stopped, and started up again | her smile faltered and then faded. * speak hesitantly: [with direct speech] : ‘A-Adam?’ he faltered. * move unsteadily or hesitantly: he faltered and finally stopped in mid-stride.

Answer 169

verb (usually astroturf) [with object] 1 cover (a sports field or other area) with a layer of Astroturf: the garden has been astroturfed for ease of maintenance | (as adjective astroturfed) : astroturfed tennis courts. 2 disguise (an orchestrated marketing or public relations campaign) in such a way as to present it as having arisen from unsolicited public comments: there's a suspicion that he astroturfed the campaign behind the scenes | they alleged that the petition could have been astroturfed.

Answer 170

verb [no object] pretend to be ill in order to escape duty or work: while some thought I was malingering, they couldn't see the pain I dealt with | the doctor concluded he was malingering.

Answer 171

verb move or cause to move rapidly in a circle or spiral: [with object] : the dog yelped frenetically, wildly gyrating her tail. * dance in a wild or suggestive manner: strippers gyrated to rock music on a low stage

Answer 172

adjective deserving or causing public disgrace or shame: the party risked ignominious defeat.

Answer 173

adjective technical or literary relating to, occurring, or active in the evening.

Answer 174

noun the two middle pages of a magazine, often taken up by a single illustration or feature: pull-out-and-keep centrefolds on superior quality paper | [as modifier] : a centrefold poster. * an illustration on a centrefold, typically a picture of a naked or scantily clad model.

Answer 175

adjective [attributive] just mentioned or stated; preceding: the foregoing analysis of the economic class structure. noun (the foregoing) [treated as singular or plural] the things just mentioned or stated.

Answer 176

verb [no object] waste time; be slow: she mustn't dawdle—she had to make the call now. * [with adverbial of direction] move slowly and idly in a particular direction: Ruth dawdled back through the wood.

Answer 177

1 the action of prohibiting or forbidding something: the interdiction of the slave trade. 2 the action of intercepting and preventing the movement of a prohibited commodity or person: the interdiction of arms shipments | [as modifier] : drug interdiction operations. * Military the action of impeding an enemy force, especially by bombing lines of communication or supply: battlefield air interdiction | [count noun] : air, ground, and naval interdictions.

Answer 178

noun 1 an evil spirit or demon. * (the fiend) archaic the Devil. * a very wicked or cruel person: Britain's most notorious sex fiend. 2 informal an enthusiast or devotee of a particular thing: a football fiend.

Answer 179

noun informal a slow-witted person.

Answer 180

adjective 1 small in degree; inconsiderable: a slight increase | a slight ankle injury | the chance of success is very slight. * (especially of a creative work) not profound or substantial; rather trivial or superficial: a slight romantic comedy. 2 (of a person or their build) not sturdy; thin or slender: she was slight and delicate-looking. verb [with object] 1 insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention: he was desperate not to slight a guest. 2 archaic raze or destroy (a fortification): a Council determined whether the Fort should be kept or slighted. noun an insult caused by a failure to show someone proper respect or attention: an unintended slight can create grudges | he was seething at the slight to his authority. PHRASES not in the slightest not at all: he didn't mind in the slightest. the slightest — [usually with negative] any — whatsoever: I don't have the slightest idea.

Answer 181

characterized by an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction: the aporetic conflict of law and morality. * Rhetoric expressing doubt: aporetic dialogues.

Answer 182

adjective (of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age: a tall, gaunt woman in black. * (of a building or place) grim or desolate in appearance: gaunt tenement blocks

Answer 183

verb [with object] deprive (a person in holy orders) of ecclesiastical status: he had left his diocese one step ahead of a move to defrock him | (as adjective defrocked) : a defrocked French Catholic priest. * deprive (someone) of professional status or membership of a prestigious group: the Supreme Court found him in contempt of the tribunal and defrocked him as an appeals court judge.

Answer 184

giving or indicating a good chance of success; favourable: the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious. * archaic favourably disposed towards someone: there were points on which they did not agree, moments in which she did not seem propitious.

Answer 185

PHRASAL VERBS dilate on (dilate on something) speak or write at length on a subject: the faithful could hear the minister dilate on the role religion could play.

Answer 186

noun [in singular] a soft lustre on a surface: black crushed velvet with a slight sheen | figurative : he seemed to shine with that unmistakable showbiz sheen. verb literary shine or cause to shine softly: [with object] : men entered with rain sheening their steel helms | [no object] : her black hair sheened in the sun.

Answer 187

noun 1 informal a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object: a clout round the ear. 2 [mass noun] informal influence or power, especially in politics or business: I knew she carried a lot of clout. 3 archaic a piece of cloth or article of clothing. 4 Archery a target twelve times the usual size, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its centre and used in long-distance shooting. * a long-distance shot that hits a clout. 5 short for clout nail. verb [with object] 1 informal hit (someone or something) hard: I clouted him round the head. 2 archaic mend with a patch: he helps the women clout their pans.

Answer 188

adjective (especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection: this argument is clearly untenable.

Answer 189

verb [usually with negative] make or cause to make the slightest movement: [no object] : the queue in the bank hasn't budged | [with object] : I couldn't budge the door. * [no object] (budge up or US budge over) informal make room for another person by moving: budge up, boys, make room for your uncle. * [usually with modal] change an opinion: [no object] : he wouldn't budge on his decision.

Answer 190

verb [with object] 1 isolate or hide away: she is sequestered in deepest Dorset | the artist sequestered himself in his studio for two years. 2 another term for sequestrate: their property was sequestered by Parliament. 3 Chemistry form a chelate or other stable compound with (an ion, atom, or molecule) so that it is no longer available for reactions: non-precipitating water softeners use complex phosphates to sequester calcium and magnesium ions | (as adjective sequestering) : the organic sequestering agent EDTA. noun US a general cut in government spending: if the budget deal hadn't gone through, there would have been a sequester of at least $100 billion.

Answer 191

adjective prepared to obey others unquestioningly: she was subservient to her parents. * less important; subordinate: he expected her career to become subservient to his. * serving as a means to an end: the whole narration is subservient to the moral plan of exemplifying twelve virtues in twelve knights.

Answer 192

noun [mass noun] the quality of being open and honest; frankness: a man of refreshing candour.

Answer 193

adjective showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery; corrupt: local customs officers are notoriously venal | their generosity had been at least partly venal.

Answer 194

adjective (nimbler, nimblest) quick and light in movement or action; agile: with a deft motion of her nimble fingers. * (of the mind) able to think and understand quickly: her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn.

Answer 195

noun [mass noun] the process of carefully and critically examining something: we need a thorough vetting of the issues related to crude oil supplies. * the process of investigating someone thoroughly, especially in order to ensure that they are suitable for a job requiring secrecy, loyalty, or trustworthiness: the vetting of people who work with children.

Answer 196

excessive talkativeness, especially on trivial matters: the character's comic garrulity. garrulous

Answer 197

noun an extensive or impressive collection: a deliciously inventive panoply of insults. * a splendid display: I leaned forward to take in the full panoply of tourist London. * historical or literary a complete suit of armour.

Answer 198

verb [with object] add (something) to the end of a written document: the results of the survey are appended to this chapter.

Answer 199

verb [with object] (it behoves someone to do something) formal it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something: it behoves the House to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative. * [with negative] it is appropriate or suitable; it befits: it ill behoves Opposition Members to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries.

Answer 200

adjective extremely stupid or foolish: Lydia ignored his asinine remark.

Answer 201

demagogue | ˈdɛməɡɒɡ | noun a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument: a gifted demagogue with particular skill in manipulating the press. * (in ancient Greece and Rome) a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people: the Athenian demagogues had definite and valuable functions within the state. verb [with object] US rhetorically exploit (an issue) for political purposes in a way calculated to appeal to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people: he seems more interested in demagoguing the issue in media interviews than in dialogue | [no object] : they routinely leap to conclusions that are not supported by any evidence and start demagoguing and fearmongering.

Answer 202

adjective (punier, puniest) small and weak: white-faced, puny children. * poor in quality, amount, or size: the army was reduced to a puny 100,000 men.

Answer 203

noun [mass noun] the state of knowing everything: the notion of divine omniscience | his reputation for near omniscience and infallibility.

Answer 204

expressing or characterized by vehement opinions; loud and forceful: he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover

Answer 205

noun 1 US historical a body of men summoned by a sheriff to enforce the law. * (also posse comitatus | ˌkɒmɪˈteɪtəs | ) British historical the body of men above the age of fifteen in a county (excluding peers, the clergy, or the infirm), whom the sheriff could summon to repress a riot or for other purposes. [comitatus from medieval Latin, ‘of the county’.] 2 informal a group of people who have a common characteristic or occupation: tea was handed round by a posse of mothers. * a group of young people who socialize together, especially to go to clubs or raves: the followers of the so-called Techno phenomenon, the vibed-up whistle posse.

Answer 206

verb 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a fluid) slowly trickle or seep out of something: blood was oozing from a wound in his scalp | honey oozed out of the comb. * [no object] slowly exude or discharge a viscous fluid: her mosquito bites were oozing and itching like mad. 2 [with object] give a powerful impression of (a quality): she oozes a raunchy sex appeal. noun 1 [mass noun] the sluggish flow of a fluid: I picked a fruit and watched the ooze of fig milk from the stem. 2 an infusion of oak bark or other vegetable matter, used in tanning.

Answer 207

verb move or cause to move rapidly round and round: [no object] : leaves whirled in eddies of wind | [with object] : I whirled her round the dance hall. * move or cause to move rapidly: [no object, with adverbial of direction] : Sybil stood waving as they whirled past | figurative : a kaleidoscope of images whirled through her brain. * [no object] (of the head, mind, or senses) seem to spin round: Kate made her way back to the office, her mind whirling. noun 1 [in singular] a rapid movement round and round. * frantic activity of a specified kind: the event was all part of the mad social whirl. 2 [with adjective or noun modifier] a specified kind of sweet or biscuit with a spiral shape: a hazelnut whirl. give something a whirl informal give something a try. in a whirl in a state of confusion: Laura's mind was in a whirl.

Answer 208

adjective 1 excessively theatrical or dramatic in character or style: a histrionic outburst. * Psychiatry denoting a personality disorder marked by shallow volatile emotions and attention-seeking behaviour. 2 formal of or concerning actors or acting: histrionic talents. noun 1 (histrionics) melodramatic behaviour designed to attract attention: by now, Anna was accustomed to her mother's histrionics. 2 (histrionics) archaic dramatic performances; the theatre: he loved the theatre and everything which savoured of histrionics. 3 archaic an actor.

Answer 209

seek to obtain (something, typically food or money) at the expense or through the generosity of others or by stealth: he had managed to scrounge a free meal | we stopped scrounging for cigarettes | [no object] : we didn't scrounge off the social security. * (often scrounge something up) North American search for or obtain by searching.

Answer 210

noun 1 a hollow object used to contain something: fast-food receptacles. 2 North American an electrical socket. 3 mainly Zoology an organ or structure which receives a secretion, eggs, sperm, etc. 4 Botany an enlarged area at the apex of a stem on which the parts of a flower or the florets of a flower head are inserted. * a structure supporting the sexual organs in some algae, mosses, and liverworts.

Answer 211

noun [mass noun] the state of feeling remorseful and penitent: to show contrition for his crime he offered to do community service. * (in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession: prayers of contrition.

Answer 212

verb [with object] take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met: the power of courts to sequestrate the assets of unions. * take forcible possession of (something); confiscate: in November 1956 the property was sequestrated by the authorities. * legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors: (as adjective sequestrated) : a trustee in a sequestrated estate. * declare (someone) bankrupt: two more poll tax rebels were sequestrated.

Answer 213

verb [no object] informal depart quickly or hurriedly; run away: when he saw us, he skedaddled.

Answer 214

1 [mass noun] something or someone that one vehemently dislikes: racial hatred was anathema to her | [in singular] : the usual norms of decorum are an anathema to him. 2 a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine: the Pope laid special emphasis on the second of these anathemas. * literary a strong curse: the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas.

Answer 215

adjective very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail: she dressed with fastidious care. * very concerned about matters of cleanliness: the child seemed fastidious about getting her fingers dirty.

Answer 216

noun (plural rostra | ˈrɒstrə | or rostrums) 1 a raised platform on which a person stands to make a public speech, receive an award or medal, play music, or conduct an orchestra: speaker after speaker stepped up to the rostrum | the winner's rostrum | the composer moved from keyboard to rostrum. * a raised platform supporting a film or television camera: [as modifier] : a rostrum camera. 2 mainly Zoology a beaklike projection, especially a stiff snout or anterior prolongation of the head in an insect, crustacean, or cetacean: these beetles are very easily recognized by the rostrum or beak.

Answer 217

verb [with object] mention (a number of things) one by one: there is not space to enumerate all his works. * formal establish the number of: 6,079 residents were enumerated in 241 establishments.

Answer 218

1 something regarded as worthless; rubbish: there are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross. 2 foreign matter, dregs, or mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal: alchemists tried to create gold from dross.

Answer 219

noun a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others: staff were under enormous pressure and there was no time for laggards. adjective slower than desired or expected: a bell to summon laggard children to school.

Answer 220

an innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.

Answer 221

the appearance of being true or real: the detail gives the novel some verisimilitude.

Answer 222

noun a person who lends money at interest on the security of an article pawned.

Answer 223

the decaying flesh of dead animals: a crow wheeled over the hills in search of carrion.

Answer 224

noun 1 a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, or similar: the shaft of a golf club | the shaft of a feather. * an arrow or spear. * a column, especially the main part between the base and capital. * a long cylindrical rotating rod for the transmission of motive power in a machine. * each of the pair of poles between which a horse is harnessed to a vehicle: the shafts of a horse-drawn wagon. 2 a ray of light or bolt of lightning: a shaft of sunlight. * a sudden flash of a quality or feeling: a shaft of inspiration. * a remark intended to be witty, wounding, or provoking: he directs his shafts against her. 3 a long, narrow, typically vertical hole that gives access to a mine, accommodates a lift in a building, or provides ventilation. 4 vulgar slang a man's penis. * (the shaft) North American informal harsh or unfair treatment: the executives continue to raise their pay while the workers get the shaft. verb 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of light) shine in beams: brilliant sunshine shafted through the skylight. 2 [with object] vulgar slang (of a man) have sex with. * informal treat (someone) harshly or unfairly: I suppose she'll get a lawyer and I'll be shafted.

Answer 225

noun 1 [in singular] the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization: the negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN. 2 (in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athene (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.

Answer 226

adjective 1 done without good reason; uncalled for: gratuitous violence. 2 given or done free of charge: solicitors provide a form of gratuitous legal advice.

Answer 227

adjective (burlier, burliest) (of a person) large and strong; heavily built: I saw a burly figure approaching | a big, burly man.

Answer 228

adjective impossible to subdue or defeat: a woman of indomitable spirit.

Answer 229

adjective 1 complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree: the press are embarrassingly fulsome in their appreciation. 2 of large size or quantity; generous or abundant: the fulsome details of the later legend.

Answer 230

verb (covets, coveting, coveted) [with object] yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another): I covet one of their smart bags.

Answer 231

adjective abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food: she was so emaciated she could hardly stand.

Answer 232

morally correct behaviour or thinking; righteousness: Mattie is a model of rectitude.

Answer 233

noun informal the tossing of a coin to make a decision between two alternatives. * a situation in which any of two or more outcomes or options is equally possible or equally attractive: in the end it was a toss-up between the mussels, the crispy prawn parcels, and the smoked trout.

Answer 234

noun 1 a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to or from an area or building: the crowd was halted in front of the police cordon. 2 a fruit tree trained to grow as a single stem. 3 Architecture a projecting course of brick or stone on the face of a wall. verb [with object] (cordon something off) prevent access to or from an area or building by surrounding it with police or other guards: the city centre was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two stores.

Answer 235

a person or thing situated away or detached from the main body or system: a western outlier in the Andaman archipelago. * a person or thing differing from all other members of a particular group or set: an outlier in Faulkner's body of work | then there are the corporate outliers, people who just don't fit into the culture of the company.

Answer 236

make (information) known: the teachers imparted a great deal of knowledge to their pupils. * bestow (a quality): shiitake mushrooms impart a wonderfully woody flavour to the salad.

Answer 237

noun (plural dinghies) a small boat for recreation or racing, especially an open boat with a mast and sails. * a small inflatable rubber boat.

Answer 238

1 deceitful: a duplicitous philanderer. 2 Law (of a charge or plea) containing more than one allegation.

Answer 239

the final part of a play, film, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved: the film's denouement was unsatisfying and ambiguous. * the outcome of a situation, when something is decided or made clear: I waited by the eighteenth green to see the denouement.

Answer 240

adjective | ˌʌndəˈhand, ˈʌndəhand | 1 acting or done in a secret or dishonest way: underhand dealings. 2 another term for underarm: underhand bowling | [as adverb] : I served underhand. * with the palm of the hand upward or outward: an underhand grip.

Answer 241

noun a reply, especially a sharp or witty one: she would have made some cutting rejoinder but none came to mind. * Law, dated a defendant's answer to the plaintiff's reply or replication.

Answer 242

verb [with object] make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features: blue silk embellished with golden embroidery. * make (a statement or story) more interesting by adding extra details that are often untrue: followers often embellish stories about their heroes.

Answer 243

a horse or pony of a light breed with a high-stepping trot, used in harness. * [usually as modifier] a horse-drawn vehicle kept for hire: a hackney coach.

Answer 244

offensive noun (especially in Ireland) a Protestant. adjective (especially in Ireland) Protestant.

Answer 245

adjective (of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter: the turbid estuary. * confused or obscure in meaning or effect: a turbid piece of cinéma vérité.

Answer 246

1 promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters: the ruler's tyrannical and licentious behaviour | unlike many of the artists who frequented the Soho scene of the 1960s, he did not lead a licentious life.

Answer 247

adverb with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval: the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition | a waiter looked askance at his jeans.

Answer 248

noun a witty remark: Peter ate heartily with a quip about being a condemned man. * archaic a play on words: tricks of controversy and quips of law. verb (quips, quipping, quipped) [no object] make a witty remark: [with direct speech] : ‘Flattery will get you nowhere,’ she quipped.

Answer 249

instil (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent instruction: I tried to inculcate in my pupils an attitude of enquiry. * teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction: they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture.

Answer 250

noun [mass noun] 1 dirt ingrained on the surface of something: the windows were thick with grime. 2 a genre of popular music influenced by UK garage, typically characterized by a minimal, prominent rhythm, a very low-pitched bassline, and vocals by an MC. verb [with object] blacken or make dirty with grime: the windows were grimed like a coal miner's goggles.

Answer 251

1 (usually vicissitudes) a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant: her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune. 2 [mass noun] literary alternation between opposite or contrasting things: the vicissitude of the seasons.

Answer 252

adjective travelling from place to place: itinerant traders. noun a person who travels from place to place.

Answer 253

verb [with object] express discontent or sorrow over (something): it was no use bemoaning her lot.

Answer 254

noun a curved instrument used for easing one's heel into a shoe. verb [with object and adverbial] force into an inadequate space: people were shoehorned into cramped corners.

Answer 255

money that is owed and should have been paid earlier: he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent | mortgage arrears. in arrears (also mainly Law in arrear) 1 behind with paying money that is owed: two out of three tenants are in arrears. * (of payments made or due for wages, rent, etc.) at the end of each period of work or occupancy: you will be paid monthly in arrears. 2 (of a competitor in a sports race or match) having a lower score or weaker performance than other competitors: she finished ten metres in arrears.

Answer 256

verb call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge: her sister was arraigned on charges of attempted murder. * find fault with; censure: social workers were relieved it was not they who were arraigned in the tabloids.

Answer 257

adjective showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others: his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.

Answer 258

adjective 1 in the form of a cloud or haze; hazy: a giant nebulous glow. * another term for nebular. 2 (of a concept) vague or ill-defined: nebulous concepts like quality of life.

Answer 259

verb [with object] (especially of an emotional or physical shock) make (someone) unable to think or react properly: she was dazed by his revelations. noun [in singular] a state of stunned confusion or bewilderment: he was walking around in a daze.

Answer 260

verb [with object] remonstrate with or rebuke (someone) angrily: Mum took Anna away, scolding her for her bad behaviour. * [no object] (of a bird) call loudly and persistently: the gulls wheeled and scolded above the lake. noun dated or US a person who nags or grumbles constantly (typically used of a woman): his mother was the village scold | the fiscal scolds insist that reform will make everything even worse.

Answer 261

adjective (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others: she'd put herself in an invidious position. * (of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust: it seems invidious to make special mention of one aspect of his work.

Answer 262

Chemistry, mainly British the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with: carbon always has a valency of 4. Compare with valence. * Linguistics the number of grammatical elements with which a particular word, especially a verb, combines in a sentence: ‘give’ has a valency of three in ‘I (1) gave it (2) to him (3)’.

Answer 263

noun [mass noun] soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas: leather upholstery. * the art or practice of upholstering furniture.

Answer 264

verb [with object] be a warning or indication of (a future event): other new measures are foreshadowed in the White Paper.

Answer 265

verb (schleps, schlepping, schlepped) [with object] haul or carry (something heavy or awkward): she schlepped her groceries home. * [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a person) go or move reluctantly or with effort: I would have preferred not to schlep all the way over there to run an errand. noun 1 a tedious or difficult journey: a rush hour schlep to the airport and back. 2 another term for schlepper: all the schleps who say that 2010 was the beginning of a new decade are wrong.

Answer 266

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect: she hated the insolent tone of his voice.

Answer 267

adjective conducive to success; favourable: it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election. * giving or being a sign of future success: they said it was an auspicious moon—it was rising. * archaic characterized by success; prosperous: he was respectful to his auspicious customers.

Answer 268

verb [with object] summarize and state again the main points of: he began to recapitulate his argument with care. * Biology repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during development and growth: many features of regeneration in the peripheral nervous system recapitulate development.

Answer 269

noun a deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

Answer 270

adjective having or showing knowledge of events before they take place: a prescient warning.

Answer 271

noun informal a large, shapeless mass of something, especially soft food: great dollops of cream | figurative : a dollop of romance here and there. verb (dollops, dolloping, dolloped) [with object and adverbial of direction] add (a large mass of something) casually and without measuring: she stopped him from dolloping cream into his coffee.

Answer 272

verb [with object] hold out or put forward (something) to someone for acceptance: she proffered a glass of wine | he proffered his resignation. noun literary an offer or proposal.

Answer 273

adjective so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing: it's ludicrous that I have been fined | every night he wore a ludicrous outfit.

Answer 274

appearing true or real

Answer 275

verb 1 [reporting verb] say something in answer to a remark, typically in a sharp, angry, or witty manner: [with direct speech] : ‘No need to be rude,’ retorted Isabel | [with clause] : he retorted that this was nonsense. 2 [with object] archaic repay (an insult or injury): it was now his time to retort the humiliation. * turn (an insult or accusation) back on the person who has issued it: he was resolute to retort the charge of treason on his foes. * use (an opponent's argument) against them: the answer they make to us may very easily be retorted. noun a sharp, angry, or witty reply: she opened her mouth to make a suitably cutting retort.

Answer 276

adjective short-sighted: most myopic children can be fitted with glasses to correct their vision. * lacking foresight or intellectual insight: the government still has a myopic attitude to public spending.

Answer 277

noun [mass noun] formal the state of having limits or bounds: one quickly senses the finitude of his patience.

Answer 278

noun [usually in singular] a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something: he has a penchant for adopting stray dogs.

Answer 279

noun a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or for reducing soft solids to a pulp: puree the potatoes through a sieve | rinse the lentils in a sieve under running water. * used figuratively with reference to the fact that a sieve does not hold all its contents: she's forgotten all the details already, she's got a mind like a sieve. verb [with object] put (a food substance or other material) through a sieve: sieve the flour and sugar together in a bowl | (as adjective sieved) : dredge with sieved icing sugar. * (usually sieve something out) remove (unwanted items): filters sieve large particles out of the water to prevent them from harming the pumps. * [no object] (sieve through) examine in detail: lawyers had sieved through her contract.

Answer 280

oblate1 | ˈɒbleɪt | adjective Geometry (of a spheroid) flattened at the poles. Often contrasted with prolate. oblate2 | ˈɒbleɪt | noun a person who is dedicated to a religious life, but has typically not taken full monastic vows.

Answer 281

noun a large irregular patch or unsightly mark on the skin or another surface: red blotches on her face. verb [with object] cover with blotches: her face was blotched and swollen with crying.

Answer 282

adjective technical having a random probability distribution or pattern that may be analysed statistically but may not be predicted precisely.

Answer 283

noun an opening, hole, or gap: the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling | the genital aperture of an insect. * a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera: a refracting telescope with an aperture of 3 inches.

Answer 284

noun Zoology a hoofed mammal.

Answer 285

feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire: he gave her a lascivious wink.

Answer 286

adjective barely sufficient or adequate: companies with scant regard for the safety of future generations. * [attributive] barely amounting to a specified number or quantity: she weighed a scant two pounds. verb [with object] mainly North American provide grudgingly or in insufficient amounts: he does not scant his attention to the later writings. * deal with inadequately; neglect: the press regularly scants a host of issues relating to safety and health.

Answer 287

noun [in singular] British informal a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views: there was a kerfuffle over the chairmanship.

Answer 288

adjective 1 in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect: a derelict Georgian mansion | the barge lay derelict for years. 2 mainly North American shamefully negligent of one's duties or obligations: he was derelict in his duty to his country. noun 1 a person without a home, job, or property: derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag. 2 a ship or other piece of property abandoned by the owner and in poor condition: she had been a derelict recommissioned for this journey.

Answer 289

very worried and upset: distraught parents looking for a runaway teenager | he is terribly distraught.

Answer 290

verb lose or cause to lose lustre, especially as a result of exposure to air or moisture: [no object] : silver tarnishes too easily | [with object] : lemon juice would tarnish the gilded metal. * make or become less valuable or respected: [with object] : his regime had not been tarnished by human rights abuses. noun [mass noun] dullness of colour; loss of brightness. * a film or stain formed on an exposed surface of a mineral or metal: he was removing tarnish from the candlesticks. * damage or harm done to something: the tarnish on Alan's personal reputation.

Answer 291

conceal oneself on a ship, aircraft, or other passenger vehicle in order to travel secretly or without paying the fare: he stowed away on a ship bound for South Africa.

Answer 292

noun a person (used to express importance or elevated status): it was no less a personage than the bishop. * a character in a play or other work: the key explains who all the personages in the paintings are.

Answer 293

adjective (of an animal, especially a horse) nervous or excitable; easily scared: a skittish chestnut mare | the birds are skittish and will take flight when disturbed | figurative : skittish investors withdrew their money from equity markets. * (of a person) playfully frivolous or unpredictable: Ripley had been travelling the world ever since moving to New York as a skittish newspaper reporter.

Answer 294

noun [mass noun] informal incomprehensible technical jargon: interface cards came with instructions written in terse technobabble.

Answer 295

(of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate: I developed a tropical sore that festered badly. * (of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive to the senses: piles of mouldy grey paper festered by the sink. * (of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference: below the surface, the old antagonisms festered. * (of a person) deteriorate physically and mentally in isolated inactivity: remand prisoners are left to fester in our jails while they wait for trial.

Answer 296

1 outstandingly bad; shocking: egregious abuses of copyright. 2 archaic remarkably good.

Answer 297

1 having no or insufficient voluntary control over urination or defecation: elderly, incontinent parents. 2 lacking self-restraint; uncontrolled: the incontinent hysteria of the massed pop fans.

Answer 298

noun an aggressive or unkempt dog, especially a mongrel: a mangy-looking cur. * informal, derogatory a contemptible man: you can choose to help the vulnerable and poor, or be a ruthless cur.

Answer 299

verb | ɪˈniːbrɪeɪt | [with object] make (someone) drunk; intoxicate: it is a rum-based drink designed more to inebriate the masses than to please the palate | those who feel inclined are free to inebriate themselves. noun | ɪˈniːbrɪət | a drunkard: he was marked down as an inebriate. adjective | ɪˈniːbrɪət | drunk; intoxicated: he had been known to get hopelessly inebriate | inebriate times by the Bay.

Answer 300

an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person.

Answer 301

verb [no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a horse) move with high springy steps: the pony was prancing around the paddock. * (of a person) walk or move around with ostentatious, exaggerated movements: she pranced around the lounge impersonating her favourite pop stars. noun an act or instance of prancing.

Answer 302

* a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized: they tend to regard grammar as the touchstone of all language performance.

Answer 303

adjective (terser, tersest) sparing in the use of words; abrupt: a terse statement.

Answer 304

noun 1 a sign or warning that a momentous or calamitous event is likely to happen: many birds are regarded as being portents of death. * [mass noun] future significance: an omen of grave portent for the tribe. 2 literary an exceptional or wonderful person or thing: what portent can be greater than a pious notary?

Answer 305

noun (plural tableaux | ˈtabləʊz | or tableaus) a group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history; a tableau vivant: in the first act the action is presented in a series of tableaux.

Answer 306

noun 1 a two-masted square-rigged ship, typically having an additional lower fore-and-aft sail on the gaff and a boom to the mainmast: the brig sailed to the coast of Norway to avoid capture. 2 informal a prison, especially on a warship: the crew threw him in the brig.

Answer 307

transform in a surprising or magical manner: his home was transmogrified into a hippy crash pad.

Answer 308

adjective derogatory making a show of being morally superior to other people: what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?

Answer 309

verb speak or act in an evasive way: he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions.

Answer 310

verb 1 [with object] literary make (a liquid) turbid or muddy by disturbing the sediment: winds roil these waters. * [no object] (of a liquid) move in a turbulent, swirling manner: the sea roiled below her | figurative : a kind of fear roiled in her. 2 [with object] US make (someone) annoyed or irritated.

Answer 311

noun an extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property: tinder-dry conditions sparked fears of a conflagration in many drought-devastated communities.

Answer 312

adjective oppressed or treated badly by people in power: a downtrodden proletarian struggling for social justice.

Answer 313

intransigent | ɪnˈtrɑːnsɪdʒənt, ɪnˈtransɪdʒənt | adjective unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something: her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent. noun an intransigent person.

Answer 314

a thing that someone believes to be real but that exists only in their imagination: it really was Ross and not a figment of her overheated imagination.

Answer 315

adjective dangerously or extremely fast: he drove at breakneck speed.

Answer 316

adjective very weak or slight: the tenuous link between interest rates and investment. * very slender or fine; insubstantial: a tenuous cloud.

Answer 317

lacking flavour; weak or tasteless: mugs of insipid coffee. * lacking vigour or interest: many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works.

Answer 318

a greyish-white crystalline deposit of frozen water vapour formed in clear still weather on vegetation, fences, etc.

Answer 319

verb make or become wider, larger, or more open: [no object] : her eyes dilated with horror | [with object] : the woman dilated her nostrils | (as adjective dilated) : dilated pupils.

Answer 320

adjective giving or indicating a good chance of success; favourable: the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious.

Answer 321

stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so: her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio. * (of an unwelcome situation) very difficult to change or overcome: the obstinate problem of unemployment.

Answer 322

a form of fraud in which belief in the success of a non-existent enterprise is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money invested by later investors: a classic Ponzi scheme built on treachery and lies.

Answer 323

adjective neatly skilful and quick in one's movements: a deft piece of footwork. * demonstrating skill and cleverness: the script was both deft and literate.

Answer 324

the blood, as being necessary to life. * the indispensable factor or influence that gives something its strength and vitality: the movement of coal was the lifeblood of British railways.

Answer 325

noun [mass noun] a person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience: the team showed their true mettle in the second half.

Answer 326

noun (plural potpourris) [mass noun] a mixture of dried petals and spices placed in a bowl to perfume a room. * a mixture or medley of things: he played a potpourri of tunes from Gilbert and Sullivan.

Answer 327

verb | ˈʌndjʊleɪt | [no object] move or go with a smooth up-and-down motion: the surface of the liquid undulated gently | her body undulated to the thumping rhythm of the music. * have a smoothly rising and falling form or outline: the landscape rolled and undulated for miles in every direction. adjective | ˈʌndjʊlət | Botany & Zoology (especially of a leaf) having a wavy surface or edge.

Answer 328

adjective 1 fat, round, or bulging: a bulbous nose. 2 (of a plant) growing from a bulb: the bulbous buttercup.

Answer 329

adjective (rowdier, rowdiest) noisy and disorderly: it was a rowdy but good-natured crowd. noun (plural rowdies) a noisy and disorderly person: we are accused of being rowdies in the pub.

Answer 330

adjective (especially of a person) having an untidy or dishevelled appearance: they were unwashed and unkempt.

Answer 331

noun (usually tribulations) a cause of great trouble or suffering: the tribulations of being a megastar. * [mass noun] a state of great trouble or suffering: his time of tribulation was just beginning.

Answer 332

noun a concluding piece of music: a long orchestral postlude | figurative : an audacious postlude to a distinguished career. * an epilogue or afterword.

Answer 333

noun [mass noun] inactivity or dormancy: this method has been shown to induce sleep-like quiescence in adult animals.

Answer 334

verb (belies, belying, belied) [with object] 1 (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something): his lively, alert manner belied his years. 2 fail to fulfil or justify (a claim or expectation): the quality of the music seems to belie the criticism.

Answer 335

adjective like glass in appearance or physical properties: a coarse-grained rock with much grey vitreous quartz. * (of a substance) derived from or containing glass: vitreous china.

Answer 336

verb (groks, grokking, grokked) [with object] US informal understand (something) intuitively or by empathy: corporate leaders seemed to grok this concept fairly quickly. * [no object] establish a rapport: nestling earth couple would like to find water brothers to grok with in peace.

Answer 337

1 [with object] openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention): the advertising code is being flouted. 2 [no object] archaic mock; scoff: the women pointed and flouted at her.

Answer 338

noun a growth of long hair on the neck of a horse, lion, or other mammal: the horse was rushing about in the field, tossing its mane. * a person's long flowing hair: he had a mane of white hair.

Answer 339

adjective [predicative] not quite right; inappropriate or out of place: there was something amiss about his calculations. adverb wrongly or inappropriately: the prime minister may have constructed his cabinet a little amiss.