adamant

adjective

| admnt |

refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind: he is adamant that he

is not going to resign.

noun archaic
a legendary rock or mineral to which many, often contradictory, properties
were attributed, formerly associated with diamond or lodestone.

DERIVATIVES

adamance

noun .

adamancy | -mns | noun

ORIGIN

Old English (as a noun), from Old French adamaunt-, via Latin from Greek
adamas, adamant,untamable, invincible (later used to denote the hardest
metal or stone, hence diamond), from a- not + daman to tame. The phrase
to be adamant dates from the 1930s, although adjectival use had been
implied in such collocations as an adamant heart since the 16th cent.

adept

adjective | dept |
very skilled or proficient at something: he is adept at cutting through red
tape | an adept negotiator.

noun | adept dept |

a person who is skilled or proficient at something: they are adepts at kung
fu and karate.

DERIVATIVES

adeptly | dep(t)l | adverb .

adeptness | dep(t)ns | noun

ORIGIN

mid 17th cent.: from Latin adeptus achieved, past participle of adipisci
obtain, attain.

aloof

| lo of |

adjective

not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant: they were courteous but
faintly aloof | an aloof and somewhat austere figure.
conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste: he
stayed aloof from the bickering.

DERIVATIVES

aloofly

adverb .

aloofness | lo ofns | noun

ORIGIN

mid 16th cent.: from A-2 (expressing direction) + LUFF. The term was
originally an adverb in nautical use, meaning away and to windward!, i.e.,
with the ship's head kept close to the wind away from a lee shore, etc.,
toward which it might otherwise drift. From this arose the sense at a
distance literally or figuratively.

arbitrary
adjective

| rbtrer |

based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or

system: his mealtimes were entirely arbitrary.
(of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of
authority: arbitrary rule by King and bishops has been made impossible.
Mathematics (of a constant or other quantity) of unspecified value.

ORIGIN

late Middle English (in the sense dependent on one's will or pleasure,
discretionary): from Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter judge, supreme ruler,
perhaps influenced by French arbitraire .

arduous
adjective

| rjo os |

involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring: an arduous

journey.

DERIVATIVES

arduously | rjwsl | adverb .

arduousness | rjo osns | noun

ORIGIN

mid 16th cent.: from Latin arduus steep, difficult + -OUS.

blatant
adjective

| bltnt |

(of bad behavior) done openly and unashamedly: blatant lies.

completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious: forcing herself to resist his
blatant charm.

DERIVATIVES

blatancy | bltns | noun

ORIGIN

late 16th cent.: perhaps an alteration of Scots blatandbleating It was first

used by Spenser as an epithet for a thousand-tongued monster produced by
Cerberus and Chimera, a symbol of calumny, which he called the blatant
beast. It was subsequently used to mean clamorous, offensive to the ear,
first of people (mid 17th cent.), later of things (late 18th cent.); the sense
obtrusive to the eye, unashamedly conspicuous arose in the late 19th
cent.

candor

| kandr |

(Brit. candour)

noun

the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness: a man of

refreshing candor.

ORIGIN

late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin candor whiteness. The
current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.; the development of the senses
paralleled that of CANDID.

cantankerous
adjective

| kantaNGk()rs |

bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative: a crusty, cantankerous

old man.

DERIVATIVES

cantankerously | kantaNGk()rsl | adverb .

cantankerousness | kantaNGk()rsns | noun

ORIGIN

mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish

cantauction and rancorous (see RANCOR) .

capricious
adjective

| kpriSHs kprSHs |

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior: a

capricious and often brutal administration | a capricious climate.

DERIVATIVES

capriciously | kpriSHsl kprSHsl | adverb .

capriciousness | kpriSHisns kprSHisns | noun

ORIGIN

early 17th cent.: from French capricieux, from Italian (see CAPRICCIOSO) .

commodious
adjective

| kmds |

formal (especially of furniture or a building) roomy and comfortable.

archaic convenient.

DERIVATIVES

commodiously
commodiousness

adverb .
noun

ORIGIN

late Middle English (in the sense beneficial, useful): from French
commodieux or medieval Latin commodiosus, based on Latin commodus
convenient.

concur
verb
1

| knkr |

(concurs, concurring, concurred) [ no obj. ]

be of the same opinion; agree: the authors concurred with the majority |
they concurred in the creation of the disciplinary procedures | That's
right, the chairman concurred.
(concur with) agree with (a decision, opinion, or finding): we strongly
concur with this recommendation.

happen or occur at the same time; coincide: in tests, cytogenetic

determination has been found to concur with enzymatic determination.

ORIGIN

late Middle English (also in the senses collide and act in combination):
from Latin concurrere run together, assemble in crowds, from contogether with + currere to run.

congenial
adjective

| knjnl |

(of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that

are similar to one's own: his need for some congenial company.
(of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one's taste or
inclination: he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony
soul.

DERIVATIVES

congeniality | knjnald | noun .

congenially

adverb

creed
noun

| krd |

a system of Christian or other religious belief; a faith: people of many

creeds and cultures.
(often the Creed)a formal statement of Christian beliefs, especially the
Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed.
a set of beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions: liberalism was more
than a political creed.

ORIGIN

Old English, from LatinCREDO.

digress

| dres |

verb [ no obj. ]

leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing: I have digressed a

little from my original plan.

DERIVATIVES

digresser

noun .

digressive | dresiv | adjective .

digressively | -resivl | adverb .
digressiveness | -resivnis | noun

ORIGIN

early 16th cent.: from Latin digress- stepped away, from the verb digredi,
from di- aside + gradi to walk.

flippant
adjective

| flipnt |

not showing a serious or respectful attitude: a flippant remark.

DERIVATIVES

flippantly | flip()n(t)l | adverb

ORIGIN

early 17th cent.: from FLIP1 + -ANT, perhaps on the pattern of heraldic terms
such as couchant and rampant. Early senses included nimble and
talkative, hence playful, giving rise to the current use lacking
seriousness.

genesis

| jenss |

noun [ in sing. ]

the origin or mode of formation of something: this tale had its genesis in
fireside stories.

ORIGIN

early 17th cent.: from Greek (see GENESIS) .

inviolable
adjective

| invlbl |

never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored: an inviolable rule of chastity |

the PolishGerman border was inviolable.

DERIVATIVES

inviolability | invlbild | noun .

inviolably | invlbl | adverb

ORIGIN

late Middle English: from French, or from Latin inviolabilis, from in- not +
violabilis able to be violated (from the verb violare).

jargon 1
noun

| jrn |

special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or

group and are difficult for others to understand: legal jargon.
a form of language regarded as barbarous, debased, or hybrid.

DERIVATIVES

jargonistic | jrnistik | adjective .

jargonize | jrnz | verb

ORIGIN

late Middle English (originally in the sense twittering, chattering, later

gibberish): from Old French jargoun, of unknown origin. The main modern
sense dates from the mid 17th cent.

jargon 2
noun

| jrn |

(also jargoon

| jro on | )

a translucent, colorless, or smoky gem variety of zircon.

ORIGIN

mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian giargone; probably ultimately related
to ZIRCON.

lacerate

| lasrt |

verb [ with obj. ]

tear or make deep cuts in (flesh or skin): the point had lacerated his neck |
(as adj. lacerated) : his badly lacerated hands and knees.
criticize forcefully or severely: her true venom seems reserved for the
media itself as she lacerates our obsession with celebrity | (as adj.
lacerating) : a lacerating critique of the war.

ORIGIN

late Middle English: from Latin lacerat- mangled, from the verb lacerare,
from lacer mangled, torn.

legacy
noun

| les |

(pl. legacies)

an amount of money or property left to someone in a will.

a thing handed down by a predecessor: the legacy of centuries of
neglect.

adjective Computing
denoting software or hardware that has been superseded but is difficult to
replace because of its wide use.

ORIGIN

late Middle English (also denoting the function or office of a deputy,

especially a papal legate): from Old French legacie, from medieval Latin
legatia legateship, from legatus person delegated (see LEGATE) .

manifold
adjective

| manfld |

many and various: the implications of this decision were manifold.

having many different forms or elements: the appeal of the crusade was
manifold.

noun
1

[ often with modifier ] a pipe or chamber branching into several openings:

the pipeline manifold.
(in an internal combustion engine) the part conveying air and fuel from
the carburetor to the cylinders or that leading from the cylinders to the
exhaust pipe: the exhaust manifold.

technical something with many different parts or forms, in particular:

Mathematics a collection of points forming a certain kind of set, such as
those of a topologically closed surface or an analog of this in three or
more dimensions.
(in Kantian philosophy) the sum of the particulars furnished by sense
before they have been unified by the synthesis of the understanding.

DERIVATIVES

manifoldly
manifoldness

adverb .
noun

ORIGIN

Old English manigfeald; current noun senses date from the mid 19th cent.

monotonous
adjective

| mntns |

dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest: the statistics
that he quotes with monotonous regularity.
(of a sound or utterance) lacking in variation in tone or pitch: soon we
heard a low, monotonous wailing of many voices.

DERIVATIVES

monotonously | mntnsl mnd()nsl | adverb

morose
adjective

| mrs |

sullen and ill-tempered.

DERIVATIVES

morosely | mrsl | adverb .

moroseness | mrsns | noun

ORIGIN

mid 16th cent.: from Latin morosus peevish, from mos, mor- manner.

negligible
adjective

| neljb()l |

so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering; insignificant:

sound could at last be recorded with incredible ease and at negligible cost.

DERIVATIVES

negligibility | neljbild | noun .

negligibly | -bl | adverb

ORIGIN

early 19th cent.: from obsolete French, from ngliger to neglect.

obligatory
adjective

| blitr |

required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory: use of seat belts in

cars is now obligatory.
so customary or routine as to be expected of everyone or on every
occasion: after the obligatory preamble on the weather he got down to
business.
(of a ruling) having binding force: a sovereign whose laws are obligatory.

DERIVATIVES

obligatorily | blitrl | adverb

ORIGIN

late Middle English: from late Latin obligatorius, from Latin obligat- obliged,
from the verb obligare (see OBLIGE) .

obstinate
adjective

| bstnt |

stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action,

despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
(of an unwelcome phenomenon or situation) very difficult to change or
overcome: the obstinate problem of unemployment.

DERIVATIVES

obstinately | bztntl bstntl | adverb

ORIGIN

Middle English: from Latin obstinatus, past participle of obstinare persist.

omnipotent
adjective

| mnipd()nt |

(of a deity) having unlimited power; able to do anything.

having ultimate power and influence: an omnipotent sovereign.

noun (the Omnipotent)

God.

DERIVATIVES

omnipotently

adverb

ORIGIN

Middle English (as a divine attribute): via Old French from Latin omnipotentall-powerful.

ostensible

| stensb()l stensb()l |

adjective [ attrib. ]

stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so: the delay may have
a deeper cause than the ostensible reason.

DERIVATIVES

ostensibility | -stensbilit | noun

ORIGIN

mid 18th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin ostensibilis from Latin
ostens- stretched out to view, from the verb ostendere, from ob- in view
of + tendere to stretch.

paraphrase
verb [ with obj. ]

| perfrz |

express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or

spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity: you
can either quote or paraphrase literary texts.

noun
a rewording of something written or spoken by someone else.

DERIVATIVES

paraphrasable adjective .
paraphrastic | perfrastik | adjective

ORIGIN

mid 16th cent. (as a noun): via Latin from Greek paraphrasis, from
paraphrazein, from para- (expressing modification) + phrazein tell.

peevish
adjective

| pviSH |

easily irritated, especially by unimportant things: all this makes Steve

fretful and peevish.

DERIVATIVES

peevishly | pviSHl | adverb .

peevishness | pviSHns | noun

ORIGIN

late Middle English (in the sense foolish, insane, spiteful): of unknown
origin.

personable
adjective

| prs()nb()l |

(of a person) having a pleasant appearance and manner.

DERIVATIVES

personableness

noun .

personably | -bl | adverb

pliant

adjective

| plnt |

pliable: pliant willow stems | figurative : an economy pliant to political will.

DERIVATIVES

pliancy | plns | noun .

pliantly

adverb

ORIGIN

Middle English: from Old French, literally bending, present participle of plier
.

pragmatic
adjective

| pramadik |

dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on

practical rather than theoretical considerations: a pragmatic approach to
politics.
relating to philosophical or political pragmatism.
Linguistics of or relating to pragmatics.

ORIGIN

late 16th cent. (in the senses busy, interfering, conceited): via Latin from
Greek pragmatikos relating to fact, from pragma deed (from the stem of
prattein do). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

precocious
adjective

| prkSHs |

(of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age

than usual: he was a precocious, solitary boy.
(of behavior or ability) indicative of early development: a precocious
talent for computing.
(of a plant) flowering or fruiting earlier than usual.

DERIVATIVES

precociously | prkSHsl | adverb .

precociousness | prkSHsns | noun .
precocity | prksd | noun

ORIGIN

mid 17th cent.: from Latin praecox, praecoc- (from praecoquere ripen fully,
from prae before + coquere to cook) + -IOUS.

proximity
noun

| prksimd |

nearness in space, time, or relationship: do not operate microphones in

close proximity to television sets.

ORIGIN

late 15th cent.: from French proximit, from Latin proximitas, from proximus
nearest.

prudent
adjective

| pro odnt |

acting with or showing care and thought for the future: no prudent money
manager would authorize a loan without first knowing its purpose.

ORIGIN

late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin prudent-, contraction of
provident- foreseeing, attending to (see PROVIDENT) .

Renaissance

| rensns |

the revival of art and literature under the influence of classical models in
the 14th16th centuries.
the culture and style of art and architecture developed during the
Renaissance.
(as nouna renaissance) a revival of or renewed interest in something: rail
travel is enjoying a renaissance.

ORIGIN

from French renaissance, from re- back, again + naissance birth (from
Latin nascentia, from nasci be born).

resolute
adjective

| rezl(y)o ot |

admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering: she was resolute and

unswerving.

DERIVATIVES

resoluteness | rezl(y)o otns | noun

ORIGIN

late Middle English (in the sense paid, describing a rent): from Latin
resolutus loosened, released, paid, past participle of resolvere (see
RESOLVE) .

retort 1
verb

| rtrt |

[ reporting verb ] say something in answer to a remark or accusation,

typically in a sharp, angry, or wittily incisive manner: [ with direct speech ]
: No need to be rude, retorted Isabel | [ with clause ] : he retorted that
this was nonsense | [ no obj. ] : I resisted the urge to retort.

[ with obj. ] 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 wittily incisive reply to a remark: she opened her mouth
to make a suitably cutting retort.

ORIGIN

late 15th cent. (in the sense hurl back (an accusation or insult)): from Latin
retort- twisted back, cast back, from the verb retorquere, from re- in
return + torquere to twist.

retort 2
noun

| rtrt |

a container or furnace for carrying out a chemical process on a large or

industrial scale.

historical a glass container with a long neck,

used in distilling liquids and other chemical
operations.

verb [ with obj. ]

heat in a retort in order to separate or purify:
the raw shale is retorted at four crude oil works.

retort2 2

ORIGIN

early 17th cent.: from French retorte, from medieval Latin retorta, feminine
past participle of retorquere twist back (with reference to the long recurved
neck of the laboratory container).

saturated
adjective
1

| saCHrdd |

holding as much water or moisture as can be absorbed; thoroughly soaked.

Chemistry (of a solution) containing the largest possible amount of a
particular solute.
[ often in combination ] having or holding as much as can be absorbed
of something: the glitzy, media-saturated plasticity of Los Angeles.

Chemistry (of an organic molecule) containing the greatest possible

number of hydrogen atoms, and so having no carboncarbon double or
triple bonds.
denoting fats containing a high proportion of fatty acid molecules without
double bonds, considered to be less healthy in the diet than unsaturated
fats.

(of color) very bright, full, and free from an admixture of white: intense and
saturated color.

saturate

verb | saCHrt | [ with obj. ]

cause (something) to become thoroughly soaked with liquid so that no
more can be absorbed: the soil is saturated.

 cause (a substance) to combine with, dissolve, or hold the greatest

possible quantity of another substance: the groundwater is saturated
with calcium hydroxide.
magnetize or charge (a substance or device) fully.
Electronics put (a device) into a state in which no further increase in
current is achievable.
(usu. be saturated with) fill (something or someone) with something until
no more can be held or absorbed: they've become thoroughly saturated
with powerful and seductive messages from the media.
supply (a market) beyond the point at which the demand for a product is
satisfied: Japan's electronics industry began to saturate the world markets.
overwhelm (an enemy target area) by concentrated bombing.

noun | saCHrt | (usu. saturates)

a saturated fat.

adjective | saCHrt | literary

saturated with moisture.

DERIVATIVES

saturable | saCH()rb()l | adjective ( technical)

ORIGIN

late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense satisfied): from Latin
saturat- filled, glutted, from the verb saturare, from satur full. The early
sense of the verb (mid 16th cent.) was satisfy; the noun dates from the
1950s.

sporadic
adjective

| spradik |

occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or

isolated: sporadic fighting broke out.

DERIVATIVES

sporadically | spradk()l | adverb

ORIGIN

late 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek sporadikos, from sporas,
sporad- scattered; related to speirein to sow.

subjugate

verb [ with obj. ]

| sbjt |

bring under domination or control, especially by conquest: the invaders

had soon subjugated most of the native population.
(subjugate someone/something to) make someone or something
subordinate to: the new ruler firmly subjugated the Church to the state.

DERIVATIVES

subjugation | sbjSHn | noun .

subjugator | sbjdr | noun

ORIGIN

late Middle English: from late Latin subjugat- brought under a yoke, from
the verb subjugare, based on jugum yoke.

supposition
noun

| spziSH()n |

an uncertain belief: they were working on the supposition that his death
was murder | their outrage was based on supposition and hearsay.

DERIVATIVES

suppositional | spziSH()n()l | adjective

ORIGIN

late Middle English (as a term in scholastic logic): from Old French, or from
late Latin suppositio(n-) (translating Greek hupothesis hypothesis), from
the verb supponere (see SUPPOSE) .

tawdry
adjective

| tdr |
(tawdrier, tawdriest)

showy but cheap and of poor quality: tawdry jewelry.

sordid or unpleasant: the tawdry business of politics.

noun archaic
cheap and gaudy finery.

DERIVATIVES

tawdrily | -drl | adverb .

tawdriness | tdrns | noun

ORIGIN

early 17th cent.: short for tawdry lace, a fine silk lace or ribbon worn as a
necklace in the 16th17th centuries, contraction of St. Audrey's lace:Audrey
was a later form of Etheldrida (died 679), patron saint of Ely, England, where
tawdry laces, along with cheap imitations and other cheap finery, were
traditionally sold at a fair.

uncanny
adjective

| nkan |

(uncannier, uncanniest)

strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way: an uncanny feeling

that she was being watched.

DERIVATIVES

uncannily | nkanl | adverb .

uncanniness | nkanns | noun

ORIGIN

late 16th cent. (originally Scots in the sense relating to the occult,
malicious): from UN-1not + CANNY.

unscrupulous
adjective

| nskro opyls |

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair.

DERIVATIVES

unscrupulously | nskro opylsl | adverb .

unscrupulousness | nskro opylsns | noun

urbane
adjective

| rbn |

(of a person, especially a man) suave, courteous, and refined in manner.

DERIVATIVES

urbanely | rbnl | adverb

ORIGIN

mid 16th cent. (in the sense urban): from French urbain or Latin urbanus
(see URBAN) .

vanguard
noun

| vanrd |

a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas: the

experimental spirit of the modernist vanguard.
a position at the forefront of new developments or ideas: the prototype
was in the vanguard of technical development.
the foremost part of an advancing army or naval force.

DERIVATIVES

vanguardism | -izm | noun .

vanguardist noun

ORIGIN

late Middle English (denoting the foremost part of an army): shortening of

Old French avan(t)garde, from avant before + garde guard.

warrant
noun
1

| wrnt |

a document issued by a legal or government official authorizing the police

or some other body to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some
other action relating to the administration of justice: magistrates issued a
warrant for his arrest | an extradition warrant.
a document that entitles the holder to receive goods, money, or services:
we'll issue you with a travel warrant.
Finance a negotiable security allowing the holder to buy shares at a
specified price at or before some future date.
[ usu. with negative ] justification or authority for an action, belief, or
feeling: there is no warrant for this assumption.

an official certificate of appointment issued to an officer of lower rank than

a commissioned officer.

verb [ with obj. ]

justify or necessitate (a certain course of action): that offense is serious
enough to warrant a court martial.
officially affirm or guarantee: the vendor warrants the accuracy of the
report.

PHRASES

I (or I'll) warrant (you)

dated used to express the speaker's certainty about a fact or situation: I'll
warrant you'll thank me for it in years to come.

DERIVATIVES

warranter | wrn(t)r | noun

ORIGIN

Middle English (in the senses protector and safeguard, also, as a verb,
keep safe from danger): from variants of Old French guarant (noun),
guarantir (verb), of Germanic origin; compare with GUARANTEE.

wry

| r |

adjective

(wryer, wryest or wrier, wriest)

using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor: a wry smile | wry

comments.

(of a person's face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust,

disappointment, or annoyance.
archaic (of the neck or features) distorted or turned to one side: a
remedy for wry necks.

DERIVATIVES

wryly | rl | adverb .
wryness | rns | noun

ORIGIN

early 16th cent. (in the sense contorted): from Old English wrgiantend,
incline, in Middle Englishdeviate, swerve, contort.