Set 18 Flashcards
baggie
/ˈbæɡi/
(n.) a small, clear plastic bag, often used for storing food or other small items
She packed her sandwich in a baggie before heading to work.
detritus
/dɪˈtraɪtəs/
(n.) debris or discarded material resulting from destruction or decay
After the storm, the beach was littered with detritus from the wrecked boats.
> active word-forming element in English and in many verbs inherited from French and Latin, from Latin de “down, down from, from, off; concerning” (see de), also used as a prefix in Latin, usually meaning “down, off, away, from among, down from,” but also “down to the bottom, totally” hence “completely” (intensive or completive), which is its sense in many English words.
> Etymonline
squish
squish
/skwɪʃ/
verb
1 to make a soft sucking sound by moving in or through something soft and wet; to crush or squeeze something soft or wet, often making a squelching sound
…She squished the ripe tomato in her hand.
…His wet shoes squished with every step.
2 INFORMAL
to squash something, especially something soft and wet, or to become squashed
…The ice cream squished out of the sandwich as he took a bite.
…I sat down and squished the cushion.
noun
a soft, squelching sound made when something is crushed or compressed
…The squish of mud under his boots was unmistakable.
…She heard the squish as she stepped on the wet sponge.
> “squeeze, squash,” 1640s, probably a variant of squash (v.), perhaps by influence of obsolete squiss “to squeeze or crush” (1550s). Related: Squished; squishing.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline
abstemious
/æbˈstiːmiəs/
(adj.) exercising restraint, especially in eating or drinking: TEMPERATE /ˈtempərət/, abstinent, austere, moderate, self-disciplined, self-denying, restrained, self-restrained, nonindulgent, sober, ascetic
He led an abstemious lifestyle, avoiding excessive indulgence in food and alcohol.
> “sparing or moderate in eating or drinking,” c. 1600, from Latin abstemius “sober, temperate, abstaining from wine,” from assimilated form of ab “off, away from” (see ab-) + stem of temetum “strong drink,” which is related to temulentus “drunken.” Etymologically it refers only to abstaining from alcoholic drink, but it was extended in Latin to temperance in living generally. Related: Abstemiously; abstemiousness.
> Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
imprint
imprint
verb /ɪmˈprɪnt/
1 to mark or stamp (something) with a design, symbol, or pattern
…The company’s logo was imprinted on all their products.
…The footprints were deeply imprinted in the wet cement.
2 to fix (something) firmly in someone’s memory or mind
…The tragic event was permanently imprinted in her memory.
…Early experiences can imprint themselves on a child’s mind.
3 (in animal behavior) to learn and remember a specific stimulus at a critical period
…Baby ducks imprint on the first moving object they see.
…The young birds imprinted on their mother.
noun /ˈɪmprɪnt/
1 a mark or impression made by pressing
…The dinosaur left its imprint in the ancient mud.
…You can still see the imprint of the seal in the wax.
2 a lasting influence or effect
…Her teaching left a lasting imprint on her students.
…The war left its imprint on the entire generation.
3 publisher’s name and address in a book
…The book’s imprint showed it was published in London.
…The small press released books under its own imprint.
> imprint (v.): formerly also emprint, late 14c., imprenten, emprenten, “to mark by pressure, stamp; to impress on the mind or memory,” from Old French empreinter “to stamp, engrave, imprint,” from empreinte “mark, impression, imprint” (13c.), noun use of fem. past participle of eimpreindre “to impress, imprint,” from Vulgar Latin *impremere, from Latin imprimere “to impress, imprint,” from assimilated form of in- “into, in, on, upon” (from PIE root en “in”) + premere “to press, hold fast, cover, crowd, compress” (from PIE root per- (4) “to strike”).
> per- (4): Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to strike,” an extended sense from root per- (1) “forward, through.” It forms all or part of: compress; depress; espresso; express; impress (v.1) “have a strong effect on the mind or heart;” imprimatur; imprint; oppress; oppression; pregnant (adj.2) “convincing, weighty, pithy;” press (v.1) “push against;” pressure; print; repress; reprimand; suppress.
> Etymonline
manor
manor
/ˈmænə/
noun
1 a large country house or estate, traditionally owned by nobility or landed gentry
…The old manor had been in their family for generations.
…The historic manor was converted into a luxury hotel.
2 the principal house of a landed estate, historically the residence of a feudal lord
…The lord of the manor held court in the great hall.
…Peasants worked the fields surrounding the manor.
3 a district over which a feudal lord held authority
…The manor included several villages and farmlands.
…The medieval manor was a self-sufficient economic unit.
> c. 1300, maner, “mansion, habitation, country residence, principal house of an estate,” also “a manorial estate,” from Anglo-French maner, Old French manoir “abode, home, dwelling place; manor” (12c.), noun use of maneir “to dwell,” from Latin manere “to stay, abide,” from PIE root men- (3) “to remain.” As a unit of territorial division in Britain and some American colonies (usually “land held in demesne by a lord, with tenants”) it is attested from 1530s.
> Etymonline
emissary
/ˈemɪseri/
(n.) a person sent on a special mission as a representative: ENVOY /ˈenvɔɪ/, ambassador, diplomat, delegate, attaché, legate, consul, plenipotentiary, minister; agent, representative, deputy, factor, proxy, surrogate, liaison, messenger, courier, herald; informal go-between
Japan is sending two emissaries to Washington to discuss trade issues.
> “person sent on a mission,” 1620s, from French émissaire (17c.) or directly from Latin emissarius “a scout, a spy,” literally “that is sent out,” from emissus, past participle of emittere “send forth” (see emit).
> emit (v.): “to send forth, throw or give out,” 1620s, from Latin emittere “send forth,” from assimilated form of ex “out” (see ex-) + mittere “to send” (see mission). Related: Emitted; emitting.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
pull away
pull away
/pʊl əˈweɪ/
1 to move forward or away from something, especially in a vehicle
…The car pulled away from the curb.
…The train slowly pulled away from the station.
3 to withdraw emotionally or physically from someone
…After the argument, he started pulling away from his friends.
…He pulled away when she tried to hold his hand.
…She felt her partner pulling away from their relationship.
3 to gradually move ahead or gain a lead in a competition
…Our team started pulling away in the second half.
…The leading runner began to pull away from the pack.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
curdle
curdle
/ˈkɝːdəl/
verb
1 to separate into lumps or solid parts, especially when a liquid thickens or sours: CONGEAL /kənˈdʒiːl/, CLOT, thicken, condense
…The milk curdled after being left out overnight.
…Adding lemon juice to cream can make it curdle.
2 (figurative) to cause a feeling of horror or dread
…The eerie silence curdled her nerves.
→ make your blood curdle
to make you very frightened
…His scream was enough to curdle my blood.
> 1630s (earlier crudle, 1580s), “to thicken, cause to congeal, change or form into curd” (transitive), frequentative of curd (v.) “to make into curd” (late 14c., from the noun; see curd). Intransitive sense of “to coagulate, thicken” is from c. 1600. To curdle (one’s) blood, in the figurative sense of “inspire horror” is from c. 1600. Related: Curdled (1580s); curdling (1690s, almost always of blood and in the figurative sense).
> curd (n.): “coagulated or thickened part of milk,” c. 1500, metathesis of crud (late 14c.), which originally was “any coagulated substance,” probably from Old English crudan “to press, drive,” perhaps via ancestor of Gaelic gruth (because cognates are unknown in other Germanic or Romance languages) from a PIE *greut- “to press, coagulate.”
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline
shoo
shoo
/ʃuː/
verb
1 to drive away or frighten away by making noises or gestures
…She shooed the birds away from her garden.
…He shooed the cats from the kitchen.
2 to urge someone to go somewhere or leave (often in a casual or playful way)
…The mother shooed her children to bed.
…The shopkeeper shooed the loiterers away.
interjection
used to drive away animals or birds
…“Shoo! Get away from here!”
…“Shoo! Shoo!” she called to the pigeons.
bob
bob
/bɑb/
verb
1 to move up and down in a short, quick motion
…The boats bobbed on the waves.
…Her head bobbed to the music.
2 to move quickly up and down or back and forth
…The cork bobbed on the water’s surface.
…Apples were bobbing in the tub at the Halloween party.
3 to cut (hair) in a bob style
…She bobbed her hair in the trendy 1920s style.
…The stylist bobbed her long hair into a short cut.
noun
a short, quick up-and-down or back-and-forth movement
…He gave a bob of his head in agreement.
…The bird made a quick bob before taking flight.
winnow
winnow
/ˈwɪnoʊ/
verb
1 to separate grain from chaff by using wind or air current
…Farmers winnowed the grain by tossing it in the air.
…The machine winnowed the wheat from the husks.
2 to remove (separate) the unwanted parts from something
…The committee winnowed the applicants down to ten finalists.
…We need to winnow out the weak proposals.
3 to analyze and evaluate carefully to select the best
…The editors winnowed through hundreds of submissions.
…The process helped winnow the strongest candidates.
noun
the act of separating grain from chaff
…The winnow of grain was a daily task on the farm.
> late 14c., from Old English windwian “to fan, winnow,” from wind “air in motion, paring down,” see wind (n.1). Cognate with Old Norse vinza, Old High German winton “to fan, winnow,” Gothic diswinþjan “to throw (grain) apart.”
> Etymonline
persevere
per‧se‧vere
/ˌpɜːrsəˈvɪr/
(v.) to continue trying to do something despite difficulties or obstacles; If you persevere with something, you keep trying to do it and do not give up, even though it is difficult: PERSIST, continue, carry on, go on, keep on, keep going, not give up, struggle on, hammer away, be persistent, be determined, see/follow something through, keep at it, show determination, press on/ahead, be tenacious, be pertinacious, stand one’s ground, stand fast/firm, hold on, hold out, go the distance, stay the course, plod on, plow on, grind away; informal soldier on, hang on, plug away, peg away, stick to one’s guns, stick at it, stick it out, hang in there, bash on
…She had to persevere through many setbacks before finally achieving success.
…Even though he was tired, he persevered and finished the race.
persevere with
…He persevered with his task until he had succeeded in collecting an armful of firewood.
persevere in (doing) sth
…She had persevered in her claim for compensation.
…She persevered in her studies and graduated near the top of her class.
per‧se‧ver‧ance /ˌpɜːsəˈvɪərəns $ ˌpɜːrsəˈvɪr-/ noun
> “to persist in what one has undertaken, to pursue steadily a design or course,” late 14c., perseveren, from Old French perseverer “continue, persevere, endure” and directly from Latin perseverare “continue steadfastly, persist,” from persevereus “very strict, earnest,” from per “very” (see per) + severus “serious, grave, strict, austere,” which is probably from PIE root segh- “to have, hold,” on the notion of “steadfastness, toughness.” Related: Persevered; persevering.
> The verb persevere comes from the Latin root persevereus which means “continue steadfastly, persist” and that word comes from two others, per- for “very” and severus for “strict.” So, today, the connotation of the word is to persist in a methodical way despite obstacles or distractions.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Vocabulary.com, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
groan
groan
/groʊn/
verb
1 to make a deep, low sound expressing pain, despair, or displeasure
…He groaned in pain after falling down.
…The students groaned when the teacher announced a pop quiz.
2 (of objects) to make a low creaking sound under pressure or strain
…The old floorboards groaned under their weight.
…The ship’s timbers groaned in the heavy seas.
3 to complain in a low, troubled voice
…Everyone groaned about the long waiting time.
…She groaned at the thought of more overtime work.
noun
a deep, low sound expressing pain, distress, or disapproval
…A groan of disappointment filled the room.
…He let out a groan as he lifted the heavy box.
Figurative Usage:
…The economy groaned under the weight of debt.
…The system was groaning from overuse.
> From Middle English gronen, granen, from Old English grānian (“to groan; lament; murmur”), from Proto-West Germanic *grainōn, from Proto-Germanic *grainōną (“to howl; weep”), from Proto-Germanic *grīnaną (“to whine; howl; whimper”).
> Wiktionary
tepid
tepid
/ˈtɛpɪd/
adjective
1 moderately warm; lukewarm (especially relating to liquid)
…The bath water had become tepid.
…She took a sip of the tepid coffee.
2a lacking force or vigor
…The company made a tepid attempt at reform.
…Their relationship had become tepid over time.
2b showing little enthusiasm or energy; unenthusiastic
…The play received a tepid response from critics.
…The audience gave only tepid applause.
> c. 1400, tepide, of liquids, “moderately warm, lukewarm,” from Latin tepidus “lukewarm,” from tepere “be moderately warm,” from PIE root *tep- “to be warm” (source also of Sanskrit tapati “makes warm, heats, burns,” tapas “heat, glow; austerity;” Avestan tafnush “fever;” Old Church Slavonic topiti “to warm,” teplu “warm;” Old Irish tene “fire;” Welsh tes “heat”).
> Etymonline
prong
prong
/prɔːŋ/
noun
1 a pointed projection, part, or branch
…The fork has four prongs.
…The deer’s antlers had several prongs.
2 one branch or path of a plan, strategy, or approach
…The investigation had three prongs.
…A two-pronged approach to solving the problem.
3 a sharp projecting part
…The prong of the belt buckle was broken.
…The electrical plug has three prongs.
verb
to pierce or stab with a pointed object
…He pronged the potato with a fork to check if it was done.
…The gardener pronged the soil with a tool to aerate it.
> prong (n.): early 15c., prange “sharp point or pointed instrument;” mid-15c., pronge “agony, pain,” from Anglo-Latin pronga “prong, pointed tool,” of unknown origin, perhaps related to Middle Low German prange “stick, restraining device,” prangen “to press, pinch.” See also prod, which might be related. The sense of “each pointed division of a fork” is by 1690s.
> Etymonline
solemnity
solemnity
/səˈlemnəti/
noun
1 the state or quality of being serious and dignified
…The solemnity of the funeral service moved everyone present.
…They observed the ceremony with great solemnity.
2 (usually solemnities) a formal or ceremonious occasion
…The solemnities of a royal coronation.
…Religious solemnities were observed throughout the year.
3 formal or dignified character
…The judge’s face carried an air of solemnity.
…The solemnity of the courtroom was intimidating.
> solemn /ˈsɑːləm/ (adj.): mid-14c., solemne, solempne, “performed with due religious ceremony or reverence; sacred, devoted to religious observances,” also, of a vow, etc., “made under religious sanction, binding,” from Old French solempne, solemne (12c., Modern French solennel) and directly from Latin sollemnis, sollempnis “annual, established, religiously fixed, formal, ceremonial, traditional,” a derivative of sollus “whole, unbroken, complete” (from PIE root sol- “whole, well-kept”), though the etymology is uncertain for the -emnis.
> Etymonline
inebriate
inebriate
verb /ɪˈniːbrɪˌeɪt/
1 to make someone drunk or intoxicated
…The strong wine quickly inebriated him.
…She was inebriated after drinking too many cocktails.
2 (figuratively) to exhilarate or stupefy as if by alcohol
…The success inebriated him with confidence.
…She was inebriated by the atmosphere of celebration.
noun /ɪˈniː.bri.ət/
a person who is habitually drunk
…The old inebriate stumbled out of the tavern.
…The town had little patience for inebriates causing trouble.
adjective /ɪˈniː.bri.ət/
intoxicated or drunk
…He staggered in an inebriate state.
…Her inebriate laughter echoed through the hall.
> late 15c., from Latin inebriatus, past participle of inebriare “to make drunk,” from in- “in” (from PIE root en “in”) + ebriare “make drunk,” from ebrius “drunk,” probably from PIE root *hegwh- “to drink.”
> Etymonline
freight
freight
/freɪt/
noun
1 goods transported by truck, train, ship, or aircraft
…The company specializes in the freight of industrial materials.
…The freight arrived at the port ahead of schedule.
2 the cost of transporting goods
…The store includes the freight charges in the final price.
…International freight can be expensive for small businesses.
3 a load or burden, either literal or figurative
…His words carried an emotional freight.
…The freight of responsibility weighed heavily on her.
verb
1 to transport goods in bulk
…The company freights raw materials across the country.
…The cargo was freighted by rail.
2 (figurative) to load or burden with meaning or emotion
…His speech was freighted with sorrow.
…The novel is freighted with deep symbolism.
→ be freighted with
be laden or burdened with
…Each word was freighted with anger.
> fraught (adj.): This apparently is from a North Sea Germanic source, Middle Dutch vrecht, vracht “hire for a ship, freight,” or similar words in Middle Low German or Frisian, apparently originally “earnings,” from Proto-Germanic *fra-aihtiz “property, absolute possession,” from *fra-, here probably intensive + *aigan “be master of, possess” (from PIE root *aik- “be master of, possess”). Related: Fraughtage.
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
uncharacteristic
/ˌʌnˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk/
(adj.) not typical or usual for a person or thing
His sudden outburst of anger was uncharacteristic of his normally calm demeanor.
mitten
/ˈmɪtən/
(n.) a type of glove with a separate section for the thumb and a single covering for the other fingers
She put on thick wool mittens to keep her hands warm in the snow.
centipede
/ˈsɛntɪˌpiːd/
(n.) a long, segmented arthropod with many legs, typically moving quickly and found in damp environments
She shuddered as a centipede scurried across the bathroom floor.
> “venomous, many-legged, insect-sized arthropod,” 1630s (earlier in English in Latin form centipeda, by 1530s, centipes 1560s), from French centipède, from Latin centipeda “many-footed arthropod,” from centum “hundred” (see hundred) + pedis, genitive of pes “foot” (from PIE root ped- “foot”). Related: Centipedal.
> Etymonline
epiphany
epiphany
/ɪˈpɪfəni/
noun
1 a sudden realization or insight
…She had an epiphany about her career while traveling abroad.
…In the middle of the discussion, he experienced an epiphany that changed his perspective.
2 (Epiphany) a Christian holiday celebrating the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles, observed on January 6
…Many Christians celebrate Epiphany with special church services.
…Epiphany marks the visit of the Magi to baby Jesus.
> early 14c., “festival of the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles” (celebrated Jan. 6; usually with a capital -E-), from Old French epiphanie, from Late Latin epiphania, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular), from late Greek epiphaneia “manifestation, striking appearance, festival held in commemoration of the appearance of a god at some particular place” (in New Testament, “advent or manifestation of Christ”), from epiphanes “manifest, conspicuous,” from epiphainein “to manifest, display, show off; come suddenly into view,” from epi “on, to” (see epi-) + phainein “to show” (from PIE root bha- (1) “to shine”).
> bha- (1): **bhā-*, Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to shine.”
It forms all or part of: aphotic; bandolier; banner; banneret; beacon; beckon; buoy; diaphanous; emphasis; epiphany; fantasia; fantasy; hierophant; pant (v.); -phane; phanero-; phantasm; phantasmagoria; phantom; phase; phene; phenetic; pheno-; phenology; phenomenon; phenyl; photic; photo-; photocopy; photogenic; photograph; photon; photosynthesis; phosphorus; phaeton; sycophant; theophany; tiffany; tryptophan.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit bhati “shines, glitters;” Greek phainein “bring to light, make appear,” phantazein “make visible, display;” Old Irish ban “white, light, ray of light.”
> Etymonline
table stakes
/ˈteɪbəl steɪks/
(n.) the minimum resources, requirements, or conditions needed to participate in a situation, often used in business or poker contexts
In today’s competitive job market, a college degree is just table stakes for many positions.
latrine
/ləˈtriːn/
(n.) a communal toilet or bathroom facility, especially in a military camp or other temporary location
The soldiers were assigned to clean the latrines as part of their daily duties.
porcupine
/ˈpɔːrkjʊˌpaɪn/
(n.) a rodent with a coat of sharp quills used for defense
The porcupine raised its quills when it sensed a predator nearby.
corral
corral
/kəˈræl/
noun
1 an enclosure or pen for confining livestock, especially cattle or horses
…The horses were safely kept in the corral overnight.
…They built a new corral near the barn.
2 an enclosed area for holding or restricting movement
…The children’s play area was corralled by a wooden fence.
…A corral of shopping carts stood outside the supermarket.
verb
1 to gather and confine (livestock)
…The cowboys corralled the cattle before sunset.
…They corralled the horses into the stable.
2 to gather and confine (people or things)
…The teacher corralled the excited students back into the classroom.
…The police corralled the protesters into a designated area.
3 to take control of; to contain
…The manager corralled the situation before it got out of hand.
…They tried to corral the spread of rumors.
> corral (n.): 1580s, “pen or enclosure for horses or cattle,” from Spanish corral, from corro “ring,” Portuguese curral, a word of uncertain origin. Perhaps ultimately African, or from Vulgar Latin *currale “enclosure for vehicles,” from Latin currus “two-wheeled vehicle,” from currere “to run,” from PIE root kers- “to run.” In U.S. history, “wide circle of the wagons of an ox- or mule-train formed for protection at night by emigrants crossing the plains” (1848).
> Etymonline
kennel
kennel
/ˈkɛnəl/
noun
1 a small shelter or house for a dog
…The dog slept in its kennel in the backyard.
…They built a sturdy wooden kennel for their pet.
2 a place where dogs are bred, trained, or housed temporarily
…They left their dog at a kennel while they were on vacation.
…The kennel specializes in training service dogs.
verb
to put or keep a dog in a kennel
…They kenneled their dogs before traveling abroad.
…The rescued puppies were kenneled until they found homes.
in the wake of
“In the wake of” is an idiom that means following directly behind or as a result of something. For example, “Famine often comes in the wake of war”: in the aftermath of, following, because of, as a result of
…But his life rapidly unravelled in the wake of his triumph.
…Famine followed in the wake of the drought.
…They also might enable companies to resume the building projects they abandoned in the wake of the December 1994 peso devaluation.
> The phrase alludes to the waves made behind a passing vessel. The word “wake” refers to the choppy water behind a boat. If you’re in a boat with a propeller or motor, you can see the wake behind you as you’re moving.
speak for yourself
(phr.) used to tell someone that your opinion or situation is different from theirs; used to disagree with someone who claims to represent your views
“We all hate winter sports.” “Speak for yourself! I love skiing and ice skating.”
dot the i’s and cross the t’s
to pay a great deal of attention to the details of something, especially when you are trying to complete a task
…The negotiations are almost finished, but we still have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s.
> Cambridge Dictionary
salty
salty
/ˈsɔːlti/
adjective
1 containing or tasting of salt
…The soup was too salty for her taste.
…Sea water is naturally salty.
2 INFORMAL
angry, irritated, or resentful
…He was salty about not getting picked for the team.
…Don’t be salty just because you lost the game.
3 (of language or humor) crude or coarse
…The sailor was known for his salty language.
…Her salty remarks made everyone laugh.
4 (of a person) tough or aggressive
…The salty old sea captain had many stories to tell.
…He’s a salty veteran who’s seen it all.
salient
salient
/ˈseɪliənt/
adjective
1 most noticeable or important; standing out prominently
…She summarized the salient points of the report.
…His most salient feature was his piercing blue eyes.
2 projecting outward or extending beyond a surface
…The castle was built on a salient rock formation.
…The salient angles of the fortress provided strategic defense.
noun
a part that juts out or projects, especially in a military position
…The army defended the salient against enemy attacks.
…The salient in the battlefield made their position vulnerable.
> mid 16th century (as a heraldic term): from Latin salient- ‘leaping’, from the verb salire. The noun dates from the early 19th century.
> The heraldic sense “leaping” and the sense “projecting outward” are borrowed from Latin salientem, the accusative form of saliēns (“springing, leaping”), present participle of saliō (“leap, spring”, verb). The senses “prominent” and “pertinent” are relatively recent, and derive from the phrase salient point, which is a calque of the Latin punctum saliēns, a translation of Aristotle’s term for the embryonal heart visible in (opened) eggs, which he thought seemed to move already.
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Wiktionary
crease
crease
/kriːs/
noun
1 a line or fold in fabric, paper, or another material caused by bending or pressing
…She ironed out the creases in her dress.
…He folded the letter carefully along the crease.
2 a wrinkle or line on the skin
…A deep crease formed on his forehead as he frowned.
…Laughing too much gave her tiny creases around her eyes.
3 a marked line or area in sports, especially in cricket or hockey
…The batsman stood at the crease, ready to play.
…The goalie positioned himself just outside the crease.
verb
1 to make a fold or wrinkle in something
…He creased the paper before putting it in his pocket.
…Her pants were creased from sitting too long.
2 to become wrinkled or folded
…The pages of the old book had begun to crease.
…His brow creased in confusion.
> 1660s, “long or thin mark made by doubling or folding,” altered from creaste “a ridge,” perhaps a variant of crest (n.), via meaning “a fold in a length of cloth” (mid-15c.) which produces a “crest.” In sports, first in cricket (1779), where originally it was cut into the ground. As a verb, “to make creases in,” from 1580s. Related: Creased; creasing.
> Etymonline
shoehorn
shoehorn
/ˈʃuːˌhɔːrn/
noun
a curved tool used to help slide the heel into a shoe
…He used a shoehorn to put on his tight dress shoes.
…The hotel provided a shoehorn in the closet for guests.
verb
1 to force something into a small or insufficient space
…They shoehorned all their luggage into the tiny trunk.
…The director shoehorned too many subplots into the movie.
2 to fit something awkwardly or unnaturally
…She tried to shoehorn a joke into the conversation.
…The new policy was shoehorned into the existing regulations.
sit/sat/sat
…She sat quietly in the corner of the library, reading her favorite book.
…We sat around the table discussing our plans for the weekend.
…He sat on the park bench, enjoying the cool breeze.
blighted
/ˈblaɪtɪd/
(adj.) damaged, ruined, or affected by disease or decay
The abandoned neighborhood was filled with blighted buildings and overgrown lots.
> blight (n.): It is perhaps from Old English blæce, blæcðu, a scrofulous skin condition and/or from Old Norse blikna “become pale” (from the group including bleach, bleak, etc.). The word came to be used in a general way of agricultural diseases, with or without suggestion of invisible baleful influence; hence the figurative sense of “anything which withers hopes or prospects or checks prosperity” (1660s).
> Etymonline
fulcrum
fulcrum
/ˈfʊlkrəm/
noun
1 the point or support on which a lever moves
…The seesaw turns on its fulcrum in the middle.
…The crowbar’s fulcrum was placed under the heavy stone.
2 a thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation
…The library serves as the fulcrum of academic life on campus.
…This policy became the fulcrum of the entire reform movement.
> in mechanics, “a prop, a support” (on which a lever turns), 1670s, from Latin fulcrum “bedpost, foot of a couch,” from fulcire “to prop up, support.”
> Etymonline
anguish
anguish
/ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
noun
severe mental or physical pain or suffering
…She watched in anguish as her child was taken away.
…His face was twisted with anguish after hearing the tragic news.
verb
to suffer intense pain or distress
…He anguished over the difficult decision for weeks.
…She had been anguishing about her son’s illness.
> anguish (n.): c. 1200, “acute bodily or mental suffering,” from Old French anguisse, angoisse “choking sensation, distress, anxiety, rage” (12c.), from Latin angustia (plural angustiae) “tightness, straitness, narrowness;” figuratively “distress, difficulty,” from ang(u)ere “to throttle, torment” (from PIE root angh- “tight, painfully constricted, painful”).
> Etymonline
vase
/veɪs/ or /vɑːz/
(n.) a container, usually made of glass or ceramic, used for holding flowers or decoration
She placed a bouquet of roses in a crystal vase on the dining table.
> late Middle English: from French, from Latin vas ‘vessel’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
grunt
grunt
/ɡrʌnt/
noun
1 a short, low sound made by a person or animal, often expressing effort or dissatisfaction
…He let out a grunt as he lifted the heavy box.
…The pig made a loud grunt while eating.
2 INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
a low-ranking soldier or worker, often doing hard or routine tasks
…As a new recruit, he started as a grunt in the infantry.
…The office grunts did most of the tedious paperwork.
verb
1 to make a short, low sound, often due to exertion or annoyance
… He just grunted and carried on reading his book.
2 If a person or animal grunts, they make short low sounds in their throat
…Grunting with effort, she lifted me up.
> Old English grunnettan, of Germanic origin and related to German grunzen; probably originally imitative.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English
remittance
remittance
/rɪˈmɪtəns/
noun
1 a sum of money that is sent as a payment, especially to someone in another place
…He sends monthly remittances to his family back home.
…The country’s economy heavily depends on overseas remittances.
2 the act of sending money as payment
…The remittance of funds takes about three business days.
…Please ensure prompt remittance of the outstanding balance.
> remit (v.): late 14c., remitten, “to forgive, pardon,” from Latin remittere “send back, slacken, let go back, abate,” from re- “back” (see re-) + mittere “to send” (see mission). Secondary senses predominate in English.
> Etymonline
polymath
/ˈpɑːliˌmæθ/
(n.) a person with extensive knowledge in multiple subjects or fields
Leonardo da Vinci was a true polymath, excelling in art, science, and engineering.
> early 17th century: from Greek polumathēs ‘having learned much’, from polu- ‘much’ + the stem of manthanein ‘to learn’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
redress
redress
/rɪˈdrɛs/
verb
1 to correct or remedy (something wrong or unfair)
…The company took steps to redress the gender pay gap.
…The court sought to redress the injustice done to the victims.
2 to compensate someone for a wrong or grievance
…The government promised to redress the victims of discrimination.
…They demanded that their grievances be redressed.
noun
1 remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance
…The customers sought redress for the faulty products.
…The new law provides redress for workers who face harassment.
…Financial redress was offered to those affected by the scandal.
2 correction of something unfair or wrong
…They fought for redress of social inequalities.
…The policy aims to provide redress for past discrimination.
> redress (v.): mid-14c., redressen, “to correct, reform” (a person; a sense now obsolete); late 14c., “restore, put right” (a wrong, error, offense); “repair; relieve; improve; amend,” from Old French redrecier, redresier, “reform, restore, rebuild” (Modern French redresser), from re- “again” (see re-) + drecier “to straighten, arrange” (see dress (v.)). Formerly used in many more senses than currently. Related: Redressed; redressing.
> Etymonline
esplanade
/ˈɛspləˌneɪd/ or /ˌɛspləˈnɑːd/
(n.) a long, open, level area, often next to a body of water, used for walking or leisure
They took an evening stroll along the esplanade, enjoying the ocean breeze.
> “open space, level or sloping, especially in front of a fortification,” 1590s, from French esplanade (15c.), from Spanish esplanada “large level area,” noun use of fem. past participle of esplanar “make level,” from Latin explanare “make level, flatten,” from ex “out” (see ex-) + planus “flat” (from PIE root pele- (2) “flat; to spread”). Or perhaps the French word is from or influenced by Italian spianata, from spianare.
> pele- (2): pelə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning “flat; to spread.” It forms all or part of: airplane; dysplasia; ectoplasm; effleurage; esplanade; explain; explanation; feldspar; field; flaneur; floor; llano; palm (n.1) “flat of the hand;” palm (n.2) “tropical tree;” palmy; piano; pianoforte; plain; plan; planar; Planaria; plane (n.1) “flat surface;” plane (n.3) “tool for smoothing surfaces;” plane (v.2) “soar, glide on motionless wings;” planet; plani-; planisphere; plano-; -plasia; plasma; plasmid; plasm; -plasm; -plast; plaster; plastic; plastid; -plasty; Polack; Poland; Pole; polka; protoplasm; veldt. It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Greek plassein “to mold,” plasma “something molded or created;” Latin planus “flat, level, even, plain, clear;” Lithuanian plonas “thin;” Celtic **lanon* “plain;” Old Church Slavonic polje “flat land, field,” Russian polyi “open;” Old English feld, Middle Dutch veld “field.”
> Etymonline
grommet
/ˈɡrɑːmɪt/
(n.) a reinforced eyelet, often made of metal or plastic, used to protect or strengthen a hole in fabric or other material
She threaded the rope through the grommet to secure the tent.
> From obsolete French gromette (“curb chain”) (modern spelling gourmette).
> Wiktionary
creak
creak
/kriːk/
verb
1 to make a harsh, squeaking or grating sound
…The old wooden floorboards creaked under her feet.
…The rusty door hinges creaked when opened.
2 to move with a creaking sound
…The rocking chair creaked back and forth.
…The ancient bed creaked whenever he turned over.
noun
a harsh, squeaking sound made by something being moved or stressed
…She heard a creak on the stairs.
…The creak of leather shoes echoed in the quiet hall.
…There was an eerie creak coming from the attic.
> Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘croak’): imitative.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
winded
/ˈwɪndɪd/
(adj.) out of breath, typically from physical exertion
After running up the stairs, he was too winded to speak.
quill
quill
/kwɪl/
noun
1 a large feather, especially one used for writing in the past
…The writer dipped his quill into the ink and began to write.
…Old manuscripts were often written with quills.
2 the hollow, central shaft of a feather
…The bird’s quill was strong and sturdy.
…She examined the quill structure under a microscope.
3 a sharp, spiky spine of a porcupine or hedgehog
…The porcupine raised its quills in defense.
…A quill got stuck in the dog’s paw.
> From late Middle English quyl, which is first attested in the early 15th century with the meanings “fragment of reed” and “shaft of a feather”, probably from Low German and Middle Low German quiele, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH- (“to pierce, stick”).
> Wiktionary
jug
jug
/dʒʌɡ/
noun
1 a large container with a handle and a spout, used for holding and pouring liquids
…She poured milk from the jug into her cereal.
…A jug of lemonade sat on the picnic table.
2 (the jug) INFORMAL
a prison or jail
…He spent a night in the jug after the bar fight.
…The criminals were thrown into the jug for their crimes.
verb
1 INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
to put someone in jail
…The police jugged the suspect for disorderly conduct.
…He was jugged for tax evasion.
2 to stew or cook food slowly in a covered container
…They jugged the rabbit with wine and spices.
…The meat was jugged for hours to enhance the flavor.
reflect
reflect
/rɪˈflɛkt/
verb
1 If a person or a thing is reflected in a mirror, glass, or water, you can see an image of the person or thing on the surface of the mirror, glass, or water
be reflected in something
…She could see her face reflected in the car’s windshield.
2 to show or express something
…His actions reflect his true character.
…The low sales reflect a decrease in customer demand.
3 to bounce back light, heat, or sound from a surface
…The lake reflected the clear blue sky.
…The mirror perfectly reflected her image.
4 to think deeply or carefully about something
…He took time to reflect on his past decisions.
…After the meeting, she reflected on their discussion.
> late 14c., reflecten, “turn or bend (something) back, reverse;” early 15c., “to divert, to turn (something) aside, deflect,” from Old French reflecter (14c.), from Latin reflectere “to bend back, bend backwards, turn away,” from re- “back” (see re-) + flectere “to bend” (see flexible). Of mirrors or other bodies or surfaces, “to shine back light rays or images,” early 15c., later also of heat or sound. The meaning “to turn one’s thoughts back on, resolve matters in the mind” is from c. 1600. Related: Reflected; reflecting.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline
limbo
limbo¹
/ˈlɪmboʊ/
noun
1 an uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; a state of neglect or oblivion
…The project was in limbo for months awaiting approval.
…Their visa applications were stuck in limbo.
…His career has been in limbo since the company restructured.
→ in limbo
in a state of uncertainty or inactivity
…The negotiations were in limbo following the disagreement.
…Their lives were left in limbo during the legal proceedings.
2 (in Catholic theology) the supposed abode of unbaptized but innocent souls
…According to medieval Catholic belief, unbaptized infants went to limbo.
…The concept of limbo was widely discussed in religious debates.
limbo²
/ˈlɪmboʊ/
noun
a West Indian dance in which the dancer bends backward to pass under a horizontal bar
…She was skilled at limbo dancing.
…The limbo bar was lowered after each successful pass.
verb
to perform the limbo dance
…Tourists limboed under the bar at the beach party.
…The contestants limboed lower and lower.
scavenge
scavenge
/ˈskævɪndʒ/
verb
When you scavenge, you pick through discarded things looking for whatever is salvageable and can be reused. If you’re looking for a replacement part for a vintage car, you might scavenge at the dump for a suitable part.
If you’re a freegan you’ve embraced the idea of trying to live for free, recycling and reusing what others have discarded, leaving a small footprint on the planet. You’re on the lookout for good places to scavenge, such as the dumpster behind a busy supermarket, where you might find edible food, or the trash bins at clothing stores, where wearable clothing is tossed out. Vultures, hyenas, and other animals that feed on carrion — dead animals — also scavenge.
1 to search for and collect discarded or leftover items
…The homeless man scavenged for food in the trash.
…They scavenged old wood to build a shelter.
2 (of animals) to feed on dead or decaying matter
…Vultures scavenge the remains of dead animals.
…Hyenas are known to scavenge carcasses left by larger predators.
3 to salvage /ˈsælvɪdʒ/ useful materials from waste or debris
…The mechanic scavenged parts from broken cars.
…She scavenged fabric scraps for her quilt.
> scavenge (v.): mid 17th century (in the sense ‘clean out (dirt)’): back-formation from scavenger, from scavager “tax collector, someone who cleans streets” ((15-19 centuries)), from scavage “tax on goods sold” ((15-19 centuries)), from Old North French escauwage “examination”
> scavenger (n.): Originally the Middle English word skavager referred to a customs collector who collected scavage, or a toll on foreign goods brought in to sell. In the late 14th Century, scavengers were people hired to clean the streets. Later, the word was used for animals who ate decaying creatures. Later still, the “scavenger hunt” became popular as a game where people have to find items on a list. Anyone who hunts for and collects castoffs could be called a scavenger.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Vocabulary.com, Etymonline
hoof
hoof
/huːf/
noun (plural: hooves /huːvz/ or hoofs /huːfs/)
1 the horny part of the foot of an ungulate animal
…The horse’s hooves needed new shoes.
…The deer left hoof prints in the mud.
2 INFORMAL
a human foot
…He stubbed his hoof on the chair leg.
…Get your hooves off the coffee table!
verb
1 INFORMAL
to walk or travel by foot
→ hoof it
…We had to hoof it when the car broke down.
…They hoofed it across town.
2 to dance
…They were hoofing it on the dance floor.
Phrases:
on the hoof: (of livestock) alive and not yet slaughtered
…Cattle prices on the hoof have increased.
put one’s hoof in it/put one’s foot in it: to say something awkward or embarrassing
…He really put his hoof in it at the dinner party.
foothills
/ˈfʊtˌhɪlz/
(n.) low hills at the base of a mountain range
The hikers set up camp in the foothills before beginning their ascent of the mountain.
cramp
cramp
/kræmp/
noun
1 a sudden, painful muscle contraction
…She stopped running due to a cramp in her leg.
…Drinking water can help prevent muscle cramps.
2 a restriction or limitation on movement or activity
…Tight shoes gave him a cramp in his toes.
…The small workspace put a cramp on his productivity.
verb
1 to cause a painful muscle contraction
…Swimming in cold water can cramp your muscles.
…His hand cramped from writing for too long.
2 to restrict or hinder movement or action
…The heavy backpack cramped his ability to walk freely.
…Lack of funding cramped the project’s progress.
confidant
/ˈkɑːnfɪˌdænt/ or /ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/
(n.) a person with whom one shares private matters or secrets, trusting them not to reveal them
She considered her sister to be her closest confidant, always sharing her deepest thoughts.
> mid 17th century: alteration of confident (as a noun in the same sense in the early 17th century), probably to represent the pronunciation of French confidente ‘having full trust’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
engorge
/ɪnˈɡɔːdʒ/
(v.) to fill something to excess; to cause to swell by filling with blood or other fluid; to eat greedily until completely full
- The heavy rains caused the river to engorge and overflow its banks.
- The mosquito’s body became engorged with blood after feeding.
> late 15th century (in the sense ‘gorge; eat or fill to excess’): from Old French engorgier ‘feed to excess’, from en- ‘into’ + gorge ‘throat’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
dugout
dugout
/ˈdʌɡˌaʊt/
noun
1 a shelter or trench dug into the ground, often used in military or survival situations
…The soldiers took cover in a dugout during the attack.
…Early settlers lived in dugouts to protect themselves from harsh weather.
2 a covered bench area where players and coaches sit during a game, typically in baseball or softball
…The team cheered from the dugout as their batter stepped up.
…The coach called the players back to the dugout for a strategy discussion.
3 a small boat made by hollowing out a log, traditionally used by indigenous peoples
…They paddled down the river in a dugout canoe.
…The museum displayed an ancient dugout carved from a single tree.
butte
/bjuːt/
(n.) an isolated, steep-sided hill with a flat top, typically found in arid regions
The lone butte rose dramatically from the desert landscape, standing tall against the horizon.
gangrene
/ˈɡæŋɡriːn/
(n.) the death and decay of body tissue due to a lack of blood supply, often caused by infection or injury
If left untreated, the severe frostbite could lead to gangrene and amputation.
> “putrefaction or necrosis of soft tissues,” 1540s, cancrena, from Latin gangraena (Medieval Latin cancrena), from medical Greek gangraina “an eating or gnawing sore,” literally “that which eats away,” a dissimilated, reduplicated form of gran- “to gnaw,” from PIE root *gras- “to devour” (see gastric).
> Etymonline
nub
nub
/nʌb/
noun
1 a small lump or protuberance
…There was a nub of cartilage on his ear.
…The pencil was worn down to a nub.
2 the main point, central idea, or essence of a matter
…The nub of the argument was about resource allocation.
…Let’s get to the nub of the problem.
> “knob, lump, bump, protuberance,” 1590s, variant of dialectal knub, which is probably a variant of knob. Figurative meaning “point, gist” is attested by 1834.
> Etymonline
simp
“’Simp’ is slang for a person (typically a man) who is desperate for the attention and affection of someone else (typically a woman),” said Connor Howlett, then a digital strategist in New York City in 2021, in an email to CNN. “Think the energy of puppy dog eyes but manifested in a romantic, human form,” Howlett said.Feb 19, 2021
> CNN
frivolity
/frɪˈvɑːləti/
(n.) lack of seriousness; lightheartedness or silliness
Amid the serious discussion, his jokes added a touch of frivolity to the atmosphere.
> frivolous (adj.): mid-15c., from Latin frivolus “silly, empty, trifling, worthless,” diminutive of *frivos “broken, crumbled,” from friare “break, rub away, crumble” (see friable). In law (by 1736), “so clearly insufficient as to need no argument to show its weakness.”
> Etymonline
emancipate
/ɪˈmæn.sɪˌpeɪt/
(v.) to set free from legal, social, or political restrictions: FREE, liberate, set free, release, let loose/out, set loose/free, discharge; unchain, unfetter, unshackle, untie, unyoke, uncage, unbridle
The movement sought to emancipate enslaved people and grant them equal rights.
> early 17th century: from Latin emancipat- ‘transferred as property’, from the verb emancipare, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out’ + mancipium ‘slave’ (from manus “hand” (from PIE root man- (2) “hand”) + capere “to take,” from PIE root kap- “to grasp”).
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
at the top of one’s lungs
/æt ðə tɑːp əv wʌnz lʌŋz/
(phr.) as loudly as possible
- She screamed at the top of her lungs when she saw the spider crawling toward her.
- The babies in the nursery all were crying at the top of their lungs.
> Dictionary.com
pally
/ˈpæli/
(adj.) friendly in an informal or overly familiar way
- She’s pally with Steven.
- Don’t get too pally with your boss - it’s better to maintain professional boundaries.
- I don’t like how he gets all pally with everyone when he wants something.
> From pal + -y.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Wiktionary
rustic
rustic
/ˈrʌstɪk/
adjective
1 of, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside
…They stayed in a rustic cabin in the woods.
…The restaurant had a rustic charm.
2 simple, unsophisticated, or rough
…The furniture was made in a rustic style.
…They served rustic bread with dinner.
3 made of rough wood or other natural materials
…The rustic fence was made of unpeeled logs.
…A rustic bridge crossed the stream.
4 lacking refinement or sophistication
…His manners were rather rustic.
…The rustic lifestyle appealed to city-weary urbanites.
noun
a person from the countryside; a rural person
…The city dwellers looked down on the rustics.
…The simple wisdom of rustics often surprises urban sophisticates.
> mid-15c., rustik, “associated with the country, rural,” from Latin rusticus “of the country, rural; country-like, plain, simple, rough, coarse, awkward,” from rus (genitive ruris) “open land, country” (see rural).
> Etymonline
plaintive
/ˈpleɪn.tɪv/
(adj.) sounding sad or mournful; expressive of suffering or woe; A plaintive sound or voice sounds sad: MOURNFUL, sad, wistful, doleful, pathetic, pitiful, piteous, melancholy, melancholic, sorrowful, unhappy, wretched, woeful, grief-stricken, broken-hearted, heartbroken, desolate, heart-rending, forlorn, woebegone, disconsolate
- We could hear the plaintive cry of a wounded animal in the woods.
- She sang a plaintive melody that brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
> plaintive (adj.): From Middle English pleintif, plentyff, from French plaintif (“aggrieved, lamenting”), from plainte (“lament, complaint”); see plaint.
> plaint (n.): From Middle English plainte, borrowed from Anglo-Norman plainte (“lamentation”), plaint (“lament”), and Old French pleinte (“lamentation”), pleint (“lament”) (modern French plainte), from Medieval Latin plancta (“plaint”), from Latin planctus (“a beating of the breast in lamentation, beating, lamentation”), from past-participle stem of plangere “to lament; to strike (the breast, in grief or mourning),” from PIE root plak- (2) “to strike.”
> Collins English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline, Wiktionary
hardscrabble
hardscrabble
/ˈhɑrdˌskræbəl/
adjective
1 characterized by or requiring great effort and struggle for survival or progress
…They grew up in a hardscrabble farming community.
…Life was hardscrabble during the Great Depression.
2 providing meager returns for great effort; barely yielding a living
…The family worked hardscrabble land that barely produced enough to eat.
…It was a hardscrabble existence in the mining town.
formidable
formidable
/ˈfɔːmədəbəl, fəˈmɪd- $ ˈfɔːr-/
adjective
1 inspiring fear or respect due to size, strength, or ability
…The army faced a formidable enemy on the battlefield.
…She has a formidable reputation as a lawyer.
2 difficult to overcome or deal with
…Climbing the mountain was a formidable challenge.
…The team faced a formidable task in rebuilding the city.
3 impressively powerful or capable
…His formidable intellect made him a great scientist.
…The boxer’s formidable punches intimidated his opponents.
> Borrowed from Middle French formidable, from Latin formīdābilis (“formidable, terrible”), from formīdō (“fear, dread”).
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Wiktionary
hackle
hackle
/ˈhækəl/
noun
1 (usually plural - hackles) the erectile hairs along an animal’s neck and back that rise when the animal is angry or alarmed
…The dog’s hackles rose when it sensed danger.
…The cat’s hackles stood up at the sight of the intruder.
2 a long feather on a rooster’s neck
…The rooster’s colorful hackles shimmered in the sunlight.
…Fishermen use hackles to make fishing flies.
3 (idiomatic) anger or irritation, especially in the phrase “raise one’s hackles”
…His rude comment raised my hackles.
…The unfair treatment raised the workers’ hackles.
verb
to cut or dress (flax or hemp) with a hackle tool
…The workers hackled the flax before spinning.
…Hackling was an important step in fiber processing.
malarkey
ma‧lar‧key
/məˈlɑːrki/
INFORMAL
meaningless talk; nonsense
…He dismissed the politician’s promises as nothing but malarkey.
> Of unknown origin; the word was popularized by the Irish-American cartoonist Thomas Aloysius (“Tad”) Dorgan (1877–1929), who started using it in cartoons on March 9, 1922.
> Wiktionary
comped
“Comped” is short for “complimentary,” which means something is provided free of charge, often as a courtesy or benefit.
demoralize
/dɪˈmɔːrəˌlaɪz/
(v.) to weaken the confidence or spirit of someone; to discourage
The constant criticism began to demoralize the team, making them doubt their abilities.
kinship
kinship
/ˈkɪnʃɪp/
noun
1 the state of being related by blood or family ties
…Their kinship was evident in their similar facial features.
…She felt a deep sense of kinship with her ancestors.
2 a close connection or bond between people or groups
…There was an instant kinship between the two strangers.
…The shared experience created a strong kinship among the team members.
cadaver
/kəˈdævɚ/
(n.) a dead human body, especially one used for medical research or dissection
Medical students studied the cadaver to learn about human anatomy.
> “a dead body, a corpse,” late 14c., from Latin cadaver “dead body (of men or animals),” probably from a perfective participle of cadere “to fall, sink, settle down, decline, perish,” from PIE root kad- “to fall.” Compare Greek ptoma “dead body,” literally “a fall” (see ptomaine); poetic English the fallen “those who have died in battle.”
> Etymonline
recalcitrant
recalcitrant
/rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/
adjective
stubbornly disobedient or resistant to authority or control
…The recalcitrant student refused to follow the teacher’s instructions.
…Despite repeated warnings, the recalcitrant employee continued to break company policies.
noun
a person who is resistant to authority or control
…The government struggled to deal with political recalcitrants.
…He was known as a recalcitrant who always challenged the rules.
> recalcitrant (adj.): “refusing to submit, not submissive or compliant,” 1823, from French récalcitrant, literally “kicking back” (17c.-18c.), from Late Latin recalcitrantem (nominative recalcitrans), present participle of recalcitrare “to kick back” (of horses), also “be inaccessible,” in Late Latin “to be petulant or disobedient;” from re- “back” (see re-) + Latin calcitrare “to kick,” from calx (genitive calcis) “heel” (see calcaneus). Used from 1797 as a French word in English.
> Etymonline
earmark
earmark
/ˈɪəmɑːk/
verb
1 to set aside or designate something, especially money, for a specific purpose
…The committee earmarked funds for the new library.
…The funds were earmarked for educational programs.
2 to mark livestock, specifically on the ear, for identification purposes
…Farmers earmark their cattle to show ownership.
…Each sheep was earmarked with the ranch’s symbol.
noun
1 a mark on an animal’s ear used for identification
…The sheep bore the ranch’s distinctive earmark.
…The earmark helped identify the lost cattle.
2 a distinctive feature or characteristic
…The writing style was an earmark of that author.
…The design had all the earmarks of modern architecture.
3 (US politics) funds set aside for a specific project or purpose, often added to a larger legislative bill
…The bill contained several earmarks for local projects.
…Lawmakers debated the number of earmarks in the budget.
dough
dough
/doʊ/
noun
1 a mixture of flour, water, and other ingredients that is kneaded and shaped into bread, pastries, etc.
…She kneaded the dough until it was smooth and elastic.
…Let the pizza dough rise for an hour.
2 INFORMAL
money
…He’s making plenty of dough in his new job.
…The project will cost a lot of dough.
rudiment
rudiment
/ˈruːdɪmənt/
noun
1 (usually plural: rudiments) basic principles or elements; fundamentals
…She learned the rudiments of piano playing.
…Every student must master the rudiments of mathematics.
2 (Biology) an undeveloped or primitive form of an organ or structure
…The whale has rudiments of hind limbs.
…These plants show rudiments of vascular tissue.
3 an undeveloped or beginning stage of something
…The project was still in its rudiment and needed more planning.
…The scientist studied the rudiments of early life forms.
> 1540s, “element or first principle of a science or art,” from French rudiment (16c.) or directly from Latin rudimentum “early training, first experience, beginning, first principle,” from rudis “unlearned, untrained” (see rude).
The sense of “anything in an undeveloped state” is by 1560s. Related: Rudiments.
> Etymonline
smelt
smelt
/smelt/
verb
1 to extract metal from ore by heating and melting
…They smelt iron ore to produce steel.
…The factory smelts copper day and night.
2 past tense and past participle of “smell” (mainly British English)
…She smelt the roses in the garden.
…He smelt something burning in the kitchen.
noun
a small silvery fish of the family Osmeridae
…Smelt are often caught during their spring spawning runs.
…The fishermen brought in a large catch of smelt.
varsity
varsity
/ˈvɑːrsəti/
noun
1 (mainly US) the principal team that represents a school, college, or university in a particular sport
…She made the varsity basketball team in her sophomore year.
…The varsity squad played in the championship game.
2 (British, South African) a university
…He studied economics at varsity.
…The varsity campus was located in the city center.
> mid 17th century: shortening of university, reflecting an archaic pronunciation.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
blotter
blotter
/ˈblɑːtər/
noun
1 a sheet or pad used to absorb excess ink or moisture
…He placed the document on a blotter to dry the ink.
…The old-fashioned desk had a leather blotter for writing.
2 an official record or log, especially of daily police reports
…The officer entered the incident into the station’s blotter.
…The crime was listed in the police blotter.
paunch
/pɔːntʃ/
(n.) a large, protruding belly, especially on a man
- He adjusted his belt to accommodate his growing paunch.
- His paunch showed through his tight shirt.
- Years of sedentary living had given him a noticeable paunch.
> late 14c. paunce, “the human belly,” from Old French pance (Old North French panche) “belly, stomach,” from Latin panticem (nominative pantex) “belly, bowels” (source also of Spanish panza, Italian pancia); which is possibly related to panus “swelling” (see panic (n.2)).
> Etymonline
lank
/læŋk/
(adj.) long, thin, and often limp or straight in appearance
His lank hair hung over his eyes, giving him a disheveled look.
> Old English hlanc “loose and empty, meagerly slim, flaccid,” from Proto-Germanic *hlanka-, forming words meaning “to bend, turn,” perhaps from PIE root *kleng- “to bend, turn,” with a connecting notion of “flexible” (compare German lenken “to bend, turn aside;” see flank (n.)).
> Etymonline
bring sth/sb off
bring sth/sb off
1 → bring sth off
to succeed in doing something difficult: PULL OFF
…Despite the challenges, the team managed to bring off a last-minute victory.
2 → bring sb off
to give someone or oneself an orgasm
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English
gravely
gravely
/ˈɡreɪvli/
adverb
1 in a serious or solemn manner
…He gravely announced the bad news.
…She nodded gravely in agreement.
2 to a degree that gives cause for alarm
…The patient was gravely ill.
…His mistake gravely affected the outcome.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
chase away
chase away
phrasal verb
1 to force someone or something to leave
…The dog chased away the intruders.
…She tried to chase away her fears and doubts.
2 to cause something unpleasant to disappear or leave
…The sunshine chased away the morning fog.
…Music chased away her sad thoughts.
transgressive
transgressive
/transˈɡresɪv/
adjective
1 involving a violation of moral, social, or artistic boundaries
…The film featured transgressive themes that shocked audiences.
…Her transgressive behavior challenged social norms.
2 going beyond accepted limits or boundaries
…The artist was known for transgressive works.
…The novel contained transgressive ideas about religion.
3 relating to or characterized by the violation of conventional rules
…The performance was intentionally transgressive.
…Their transgressive lifestyle defied social expectations.
sloshed
/slɒʃt/
(adj.) very drunk
He was so sloshed that he could barely stand.
zing
zing
/zɪŋ/
noun
energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness
…The performance lacked zing.
…The new recipe added some zing to the dish.
verb
1 to move rapidly, making a high-pitched ringing or whining noise
…The bullet zinged past his head.
…The baseball zinged over the fence.
2 NORTH AMERICAN
to attack or criticize sharply
…He zinged the budget deal in interviews with journalists.
> early 20th century: imitative.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
seminary
/ˈsɛmɪnəri/
(n.) a school for training people to become priests, ministers, or rabbis
He decided to enter the seminary to study for the priesthood.
> From Latin sēminārium, from sēmen (“seed”). Compare seminar.
> Wiktionary
weld
weld
/weld/
verb
1 to join pieces of metal or plastic by heating to melting point
…The mechanic welded the broken parts together.
…They welded steel plates to reinforce the structure.
2 to unite or merge firmly together
…The team’s shared experiences welded them into a cohesive unit.
…Years of cooperation welded the two organizations together.
noun
a joint made by welding
…The weld was strong and seamless.
…They inspected each weld carefully.
taint
taint
/teɪnt/
verb
1 to contaminate or pollute (something): CONTAMINATE, pollute, adulterate, infect, blight, befoul, spoil, soil, ruin, destroy
…The world’s last great wilderness is being tainted by pollution.
2 to affect with a bad or undesirable quality; If a person or thing is tainted by something bad or undesirable, their status or reputation is harmed because they are associated with it: TARNISH, sully, blacken, stain, besmirch, smear, blot, blemish, stigmatize, mar, corrupt, defile, soil, muddy, foul, dirty, damage, injure, harm, hurt, debase, infect, poison, vitiate, drag through the mud, blot one’s copybook
…Opposition leaders said that the elections had been tainted by corruption.
…a series of political scandals that has tainted the political stars of a generation
noun
a contaminating mark or influence; A taint is an undesirable quality which spoils the status or reputation of someone or something: TRACE, touch, suggestion, hint, tinge, tincture; SMEAR, stain, blot, blemish, slur, stigma, tarnish, scar, black mark, spot, imperfection, flaw, fault, defect, blot on one’s escutcheon
…There was a taint of corruption in the organization.
…The meat had a taint of spoilage and was unsafe to eat.
> taint (v.): From late 14c. as “to dye, impart color,” from Anglo-French teinter, Old French teindre “to dye, color,” from Latin tingere (see tincture, tint). Teintour as an English surname, meaning probably “one who dyes clothes,” is from late 12c.
> Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
sputum
/ˈspjuːtəm/
(n.) a mixture of saliva and mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract, typically as a result of infection or other disease and often examined microscopically to aid medical diagnosis.
The doctor examined the patient’s sputum for signs of infection.
> late 17th century: from Latin, neuter past participle of spuere ‘to spit’ (see spew (v.)).
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
phlegm
phlegm
/flɛm/
noun
1 thick mucus produced in the respiratory system, especially during illness
…He coughed up phlegm due to his cold.
…Drinking warm tea can help clear phlegm from the throat.
2 calmness or composure in difficult situations
…She showed remarkable phlegm in the face of danger.
…Despite the chaos, he maintained his phlegm and handled the crisis smoothly.
…Phlegm and determination carried them through many difficult situations.
> late 14c., fleem, fleume, “viscid mucus, discharge from a mucous membrane of the body,” also the name of one of the four bodily humors, from Old French fleume (13c., Modern French flegme), from Late Latin phlegma, one of the four humors of the body, from Greek phlegma “morbid, clammy bodily humor caused by heat;” literally “inflammation, flame, fire, heat,” from phlegein “to burn,” related to phlox (genitive phlogos) “flame, blaze,” from PIE *bhleg- “to shine, flash,” from root bhel- (1) “to shine, flash, burn.”
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
booger
booger
/ˈbʊɡər/
noun
1 a piece of dried or sticky mucus from the nose
…The child wiped a booger on his sleeve.
…He sneezed and felt a booger in his nostril.
…Donald Trump has temporarily replaced the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office after Elon Musk’s son seemingly wiped a booger on it during their viral visit to the White House last week.
—Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
2 another term for bogeyman
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster
mucus
/ˈmjuːkəs/
(n.) a thick, slippery substance produced by the body to protect and lubricate surfaces
Her nose was blocked with thick mucus from the cold.
> “viscid fluid secreted by the mucous membranes of animals,” 1660s (replacing Middle English mucilage), from Latin mucus “slime, mold, mucus of the nose, snot,” from PIE root *meug- “slippery, slimy,” with derivatives referring to wet or slimy substances or conditions (source also of Latin emungere “to sneeze out, blow one’s nose,” mucere “be moldy or musty,” Greek myssesthai “to blow the nose,” myxa “mucus;” Sanskrit muncati “he releases”). Old English had horh, which may be imitative.
> Etymonline
soaking
soaking
/ˈsoʊkɪŋ/
adjective
completely wet or saturated
…He came inside, soaking from the heavy rain.
…Her soaking clothes clung to her skin.
noun
the act of being immersed in liquid for a period of time
…The shirt needed a soaking to remove the stain.
…After a long day, she enjoyed a soaking in the tub.
> soak (v.): Old English socian ‘become saturated with a liquid by immersion’; related to sucan ‘to suck’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
soak
soak
/soʊk/
verb
1 to immerse something in liquid to absorb it
…She soaked the beans overnight before cooking.
…He soaked his feet in warm water after a long day.
2 to become completely wet
…The rain soaked through his clothes.
…She got soaked when the car splashed a puddle.
3 to absorb or take in a large amount of something
…The sponge soaked up the spilled juice.
…He sat quietly, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere.
noun
an act of immersing or being immersed in liquid
…She enjoyed a long soak in the bathtub.
…The shirt needed a good soak to remove the stain.
> Old English socian ‘become saturated with a liquid by immersion’; related to sucan ‘to suck’.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
frolic
frolic
/ˈfrɑːlɪk/
verb (frolics, frolicking, frolicked)
1 to play and move about cheerfully and energetically
…The children frolicked in the meadow.
…The puppies frolicked around the yard.
2 to play about with someone in a flirtatious or sexual way
…He denied allegations that he frolicked with a secretary.
noun
1 a lively and playful activity
…Their beach trip was filled with fun and frolic.
…The kittens engaged in a frolic on the carpet.
2 flirtatious or sexual activity or actions
…her poolside frolics
> “make merry, have fun, romp playfully,” 1580s, from frolic (adj.) “joyous, merry, full of mirth” (1530s), from Middle Dutch vrolyc “happy,” a compound of vro- “merry, glad” + lyc “like” (see like (adj.)). The first part of the compound is cognate with Old Norse frar “swift,” Middle English frow “hasty,” from PIE *preu- “to hop” (see frog (n.1)), giving the whole an etymological sense akin to “jumping for joy.” Similar formation in German fröhlich “happy.” Related: Frolicked; frolicking. As a noun from 1610s.
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
munchie
munchie
/ˈmʌntʃi/
noun (plural munchies) (usually munchies)
1 INFORMAL
snack foods eaten to satisfy hunger
…He bought munchies for the movie night.
…The cabinet was full of munchies.
2 INFORMAL
(the munchies) a strong desire to snack or eat
…Late-night munchies kept him awake.
…She got the munchies after exercising.
> “food or snack,” 1959, plural of munchie “snack eaten to satisfy hunger” (1917), from munch (v.); sense of “craving for food after smoking marijuana” is U.S. stoner slang attested by 1971. Munch (n.) “something to eat” is attested from 1816.
> munch (v.): late Middle English: imitative (with -n- perhaps by influence of crunch).
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
on all counts
/ɒn ɔːl kaʊnts/
(phr.) in every way or regard
- The judge found him guilty on all counts.
- I’m afraid I disagree with you on all counts.
> Cambridge Dictionary
whoosh
whoosh
/wuːʃ/
verb
1 to move with a rushing sound
…The train whooshed past the platform.
…The wind whooshed through the trees.
2 to cause to move with a rushing sound
…The fan whooshed cool air into the room.
…She whooshed the paper airplane across the yard.
noun
a rushing or whistling sound
…The whoosh of passing cars.
…There was a whoosh as the door closed.
interjection
used to indicate swift movement or a rushing sound
…“Whoosh!” went the rocket as it launched.
…The starlings gather, then suddenly—whoosh!—flocks rise and swirl.
> mid 19th century: imitative.
> Oxford Dictionary of English
impediment
impediment
/ɪmˈpɛdɪmənt/
noun
1 a physical problem that makes speaking, hearing, or moving difficult
…He had a speech impediment that made communication challenging.
…The injury became a serious impediment to his athletic career.
2 a hindrance or obstruction in doing something; a situation or event that makes it difficult or impossible for someone or something to succeed or make progress; Something that is an impediment to a person or thing makes their movement, development, or progress difficult: HINDRANCE, obstruction, obstacle, barrier, bar, handicap, block, check, curb, brake, restraint, restriction, limitation, encumbrance, deterrent; drawback, setback, difficulty; informal fly in the ointment, hiccup, facer; British informal spanner in the works; North American informal monkey wrench in the works
impediment to
…His lack of experience was an impediment to his promotion.
…The heavy snow was an impediment to travel.
> c. 1400, from Old French empedement or directly from Latin impedimentum “hindrance,” from impedire “impede,” literally “to shackle the feet,” from assimilated form of in- “into, in” (from PIE root *en “in”) + pes (genitive pedis) “foot,” from PIE root *ped- “foot.” Related: Impedimental.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
statuary
/ˈstætʃʊəri/
(n.) statues considered as a group
The museum’s garden was filled with classical statuary.
> 1560s, “art of making statues;” 1580s, “statue sculptor,” from Latin statuaria (ars) “(art) of sculpture.” The noun is thus the fem. of the adjective statuarius “of statues” (also as a noun, “maker of statues”), from statua “an image, statue, monumental figure” (see statue).
The meaning “statues collectively” is from 1670s. As an adjective, “of or pertaining to statues,” 1620s, from the noun or from Latin statuarius.
> statue (n.): “figure of a person or animal made in a solid substance, of some size and in the round,” late 14c., from Old French statue, estatue “(pagan) statue, graven image” (12c.), from Latin statua “image, statue, monumental figure, representation in metal.” This is properly “that which is set up,” a back-formation from statuere “to cause to stand, set up,” from status “a standing, position,” from past participle stem of stare “to stand” (from PIE root sta- “to stand, make or be firm”).
> Etymonline
murk
/mɜːk/
(n.) darkness caused by smoke, dirt, or clouds; The murk is darkness, dark water, or thick mist that is very difficult to see through.
The boat disappeared into the murk of the foggy night.
> “gloom, darkness,” c. 1300, myrke, from Old Norse myrkr “darkness,” from Proto-Germanic *merkwjo- (source also of Old English mirce “murky, black, dark;” as a noun, “murkiness, darkness,” Danish mǿrk “darkness,” Old Saxon mirki “dark”)
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Etymonline
grateful
/ˈɡreɪtfʊl/
(adj.) feeling or showing appreciation for something received or done
She was grateful for his help during the difficult time.
> 1550s, “pleasing to the mind,” also “full of gratitude, disposed to repay favors bestowed,” from obsolete adjective grate “pleasing, thankful,” from Latin gratus “pleasing” (from suffixed form of PIE root gwere- (2) “to favor”) + -ful.
> gwere- (2): gwerə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning “to favor.” It forms all or part of: agree; bard (n.); congratulate; congratulation; disgrace; grace; gracious; grateful; gratify; gratis; gratitude; gratuitous; gratuity; gratulation; ingrate; ingratiate.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit grnati “sings, praises, announces;” Avestan gar- “to praise;” Lithuanian giriu, girti “to praise, celebrate;” Old Celtic bardos “poet, singer.”
> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
save for
/seɪv fɔːr/
(phr.) except for
The room was empty save for a single chair in the corner.
