whimsical
adj.1) spontaneously fanciful or playful.
2) given to whims; capricious.
3) quaint, unusual, or fantastic.
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emulate
vb. (tr).
1) to attempt to equal or surpass, esp by imitation.
2) to rival or compete with.
3) to make one computer behave like (another different type of computer) so that the imitating system can operate on the same data and execute the same programs as the imitated system.
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precarious
adj.1) liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous.
2) archaic dependent on another's will.
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latent
adj.1) potential but not obvious or explicit.
2) (of buds, spores, etc.) dormant.
3) pathology (esp of an infectious disease) not yet revealed or manifest.
4) (of a virus) inactive in the host cell, its nucleic acid being integrated into, and replicated with, the host cell's DNA.
5) psychoanal relating to that part of a dream expressive of repressed desires.
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saturate
vb.1) to fill, soak, or imbue totally.
2) to make (a chemical compound, vapour, solution, magnetic material, etc.) saturated or (of a compound, vapour, etc.) to become saturated.
3) (tr) military to bomb or shell heavily.
;adj.4) a less common word for saturated.
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apathy
n.1) absence of interest in or enthusiasm for things generally considered interesting or moving.
2) absence of emotion.
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audacious
adj.1) recklessly bold or daring; fearless.
2) impudent or presumptuous.
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arduous
adj.1) requiring great physical or mental effort; difficult to accomplish; strenuous.
2) hard to endure; harsh.
3) hard to overcome or surmount; steep or difficult.
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stint
vb.1) to be frugal or miserly towards (someone) with (something).
2) archaic to stop or check (something).
;n.3) an allotted or fixed amount of work.
4) a limitation or check.
5) obsolete a pause or stoppage.
;n.any of various small sandpipers of the chiefly northern genus Calidris (or Erolia), such as C. minuta (little stint)
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embellish
vb. (tr).
1) to improve or beautify by adding detail or ornament; adorn.
2) to make (a story) more interesting by adding detail.
3) to provide (a melody, part, etc.) with ornaments.
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analogous
adj.1) similar or corresponding in some respect.
2) biology (of organs and parts) having the same function but different evolutionary origin.
3) linguistics formed by analogy.
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satiate
vb. (tr).
1) to fill or supply beyond capacity or desire, often arousing weariness.
2) to supply to satisfaction or capacity.
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ingenuous
adj.1) naive, artless, or innocent.
2) candid; frank; straightforward.
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capricious
adj.characterized by or liable to sudden unpredictable changes in attitude or behaviour; impulsive; fickle
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stolid
adj.showing little or no emotion or interest
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pelt
vb.1) (tr) to throw (missiles) at (a person).
2) (tr) to hurl (insults) at (a person).
3) (intr; foll by along, over, etc.) to move rapidly; hurry.
4) (intr; often foll by down) to rain heavily.
;n.5) a blow.
6) speed (esp in the phrase at full pelt).
;n.1) the skin of a fur-bearing animal, such as a mink, esp when it has been removed from the carcass.
2) the hide of an animal, stripped of hair and ready for tanning.
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spectrum
n., pl -tra [-trə].
1) the distribution of colours produced when white light is dispersed by a prism or diffraction grating. There is a continuous change in wavelength from red, the longest wavelength, to violet, the shortest. Seven colours are usually distinguished: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red.
2) the whole range of electromagnetic radiation with respect to its wavelength or frequency.
3) any particular distribution of electromagnetic radiation often showing lines or bands characteristic of the substance emitting the radiation or absorbing it.
4) any similar distribution or record of the energies, velocities, masses, etc., of atoms, ions, electrons, etc.
5) any range or scale, as of capabilities, emotions, or moods.
6) another name for an: afterimage.
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bolster
vb. (tr).
1) (often foll by up) to support or reinforce; strengthen.
2) to prop up with a pillow or cushion.
3) to add padding to.
;n.4) a long narrow pillow or cushion.
5) any pad or padded support.
6) architecture a short horizontal length of timber fixed to the top of a post to increase the bearing area and reduce the span of the supported beam.
7) a cold chisel having a broad blade splayed towards the cutting edge, used for cutting stone slabs, etc.
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stigma
n., pl stigmas or for sense 7 stigmata [ˈstɪgmətəˌ stɪgˈmɑ:tə].
1) a distinguishing mark of social disgrace.
2) a small scar or mark such as a birthmark.
3) pathology.
a) any mark on the skin, such as one characteristic of a specific disease.
b) any sign of a mental deficiency or emotional upset.
4) botany the receptive surface of a carpel, where deposited pollen germinates.
5) zoology.
a) a pigmented eyespot in some protozoans and other invertebrates.
b) the spiracle of an insect.
6) archaic a mark branded on the skin.
7) (plural) Christianity marks resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ, believed to appear on the bodies of certain individuals.
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craven
adj.1) cowardly; mean-spirited.
;n.2) a coward.
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reticent
<No meaning yet.>
propensity
n., pl -ties.
1) a natural tendency or disposition.
2) obsolete partiality.
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dupe
n.1) a person who is easily deceived.
2) a person who unwittingly serves as the tool of another person or power.
;vb.3) (tr) to deceive, esp by trickery; make a dupe or tool of; cheat; fool.
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elicit
vb. (tr).
1) to give rise to; evoke.
2) to bring to light.
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perennial
adj.1) lasting throughout the year or through many years.
2) everlasting; perpetual.
;n.3) a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two years.
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eulogy
n., pl -gies.
1) a formal speech or piece of writing praising a person or thing, esp a person who has recently died.
2) high praise or commendation.
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tacit
adj.1) implied or inferred without direct expression; understood.
2) created or having effect by operation of law, rather than by being directly expressed.
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fervor
<No meaning yet.>
harangue
vb.1) to address (a person or crowd) in an angry, vehement, or forcefully persuasive way.
;n.2) a loud, forceful, or angry speech.
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converge
vb.1) to move or cause to move towards the same point.
2) to meet or cause to meet; join.
3) (intr) (of opinions, effects, etc.) to tend towards a common conclusion or result.
4) (intr) mathematics (of an infinite series or sequence) to approach a finite limit as the number of terms increases.
5) (intr) (of animals and plants during evolutionary development) to undergo convergence.
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alleviate
vb. (tr).
to make (pain, sorrow, etc.) easier to bear; lessen; relieve
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ostentatious
adj.characterized by pretentious, showy, or vulgar display
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derivative
adj.1) resulting from derivation; derived.
2) based on or making use of other sources; not original or primary.
3) copied from others, esp slavishly; plagiaristic.
;n.4) a term, idea, etc., that is based on or derived from another in the same class.
5) a word derived from another word.
6) chemistry a compound that is formed from, or can be regarded as formed from, a structurally related compound.
7) mathematics.
a) Also called: differential coefficient, first derivative.
b) the rate of change of one quantity with respect to another.
8) finance a financial instrument, such as a futures contract or option, the price of which is largely determined by the commodity, currency, share price, interest rate, etc., to which it is linked.
9) psychoanal an activity that represents the expression of hidden impulses and desires by channelling them into socially acceptable forms.
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devolve
vb.1) (foll by on, upon, to, etc.) to pass or cause to pass to a successor or substitute, as duties, power, etc.
2) (intr; foll by on or upon) law (of an estate, etc.) to pass to another by operation of law, esp on intestacy or bankruptcy.
3) (intr; foll by on or upon) to depend (on).
4) archaic to roll down or cause to roll down.
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alacrity
n.liveliness or briskness
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transgression
n.1) a breach of a law, etc.; sin or crime.
2) the act or an instance of transgressing.
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divest
vb. (tr; usually foll by of).
1) to strip (of clothes).
2) to deprive or dispossess.
3) property law to take away an estate or interest in property vested (in a person).
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strut
vb. struts, strutting, strutted.
1) (intr) to walk in a pompous manner; swagger.
2) (tr) to support or provide with struts.
3).
;n.4) a structural member used mainly in compression, esp as part of a framework.
5) an affected, proud, or stiff walk.
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inundate
vb. (tr).
1) to cover completely with water; overflow; flood; swamp.
2) to overwhelm, as if with a flood.
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implacable
adj.1) incapable of being placated or pacified; unappeasable.
2) inflexible; intractable.
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goad
n.1) a sharp pointed stick for urging on cattle, etc.
2) anything that acts as a spur or incitement.
;vb.3) (tr) to drive with or as if with a goad; spur; incite.
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engender
vb.1) (tr) to bring about or give rise to; produce or cause.
2) to be born or cause to be born; bring or come into being.
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delineate
vb. (tr).
1) to trace the shape or outline of; sketch.
2) to represent pictorially, as by making a chart or diagram; depict.
3) to portray in words, esp with detail and precision; describe.
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disparage
vb. (tr).
1) to speak contemptuously of; belittle.
2) to damage the reputation of.
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antipathy
n., pl -thies.
1) a feeling of intense aversion, dislike, or hostility.
2) the object of such a feeling.
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pragmatic
adj.1) advocating behaviour that is dictated more by practical consequences than by theory or dogma.
2) philosophy of or relating to pragmatism.
3) involving everyday or practical business.
4) of or concerned with the affairs of a state or community.
5) rare interfering or meddlesome; officious.
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exigency
n., pl -gencies or -gences.
1) the state of being exigent; urgency.
2) (often plural) an urgent demand; pressing requirement.
3) an emergency.
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impassive
adj.1) not revealing or affected by emotion; reserved.
2) calm; serene; imperturbable.
3) rare unconscious or insensible.
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aver
vb. avers, averring, averred (tr).
1) to state positively; assert.
2) law to allege as a fact or prove to be true.
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inert
adj.1) having no inherent ability to move or to resist motion.
2) inactive, lazy, or sluggish.
3) having only a limited ability to react chemically; unreactive.
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levity
n., pl -ties.
1) inappropriate lack of seriousness.
2) fickleness or instability.
3) archaic lightness in weight.
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reprobate
adj.1) morally unprincipled; depraved.
2) Christianity destined or condemned to eternal punishment in hell.
;n.3) an unprincipled, depraved, or damned person.
4) a disreputable or roguish person.
;vb. (tr).
5) to disapprove of; condemn.
6) (of God) to destine, consign, or condemn to eternal punishment in hell.
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discordant
adj.1) at variance; disagreeing.
2) harsh in sound; inharmonious.
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caustic
adj.1) capable of burning or corroding by chemical action.
2) sarcastic; cutting.
3) of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved surface.
;n.4) Also called: caustic surface.
5) Also called: caustic curve.
6) chemistry a caustic substance, esp an alkali.
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scuttle
vb.1) (intr) to run or move about with short hasty steps.
;n.2) a hurried pace or run.
;vb.1) (tr) nautical to cause (a vessel) to sink by opening the seacocks or making holes in the bottom.
2) (tr) to give up (hopes, plans, etc.).
;n.3) nautical a small hatch or its cover.
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presumptuous
adj.1) characterized by presumption or tending to presume; bold; forward.
2) an obsolete word for presumptive.
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buttress
n.1) Also called: pier.
2) any support or prop.
3) something shaped like a buttress, such as a projection from a mountainside.
4) either of the two pointed rear parts of a horse's hoof.
;vb. (tr).
5) to support (a wall) with a buttress.
6) to support or sustain.
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pungent
adj.1) having an acrid smell or sharp bitter flavour.
2) (of wit, satire, etc.) biting; caustic.
3) biology ending in a sharp point.
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relegate
vb. (tr).
1) to move to a position of less authority, importance, etc.; demote.
2) (usually passive) chiefly Brit to demote (a football team, etc.) to a lower division.
3) to assign or refer (a matter) to another or others, as for action or decision.
4) (foll by to) to banish or exile.
5) to assign (something) to a particular group or category.
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dormant
adj.1) quiet and inactive, as during sleep.
2) latent or inoperative.
3) (of a volcano) neither extinct nor erupting.
4) biology alive but in a resting torpid condition with suspended growth and reduced metabolism.
5) (usually postpositive) heraldry (of a beast) in a sleeping position.
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magnanimity
n., pl -ties.
generosity
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connoisseur
n.a person with special knowledge or appreciation of a field, esp in the arts
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elegy
n., pl -gies.
1) a mournful or plaintive poem or song, esp a lament for the dead.
2) poetry or a poem written in elegiac couplets or stanzas.
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propitiate
vb. (tr).
to appease or make well disposed; conciliate
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proscribe
vb. (tr).
1) to condemn or prohibit.
2) to outlaw; banish; exile.
3) (in ancient Rome) to outlaw (a citizen) by posting his name in public.
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pedantic
adj.of, relating to, or characterized by pedantry
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artless
adj.1) free from deceit, guile, or artfulness; ingenuous.
2) natural, without artifice; unpretentious.
3) without art or skill.
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apprise
or A .pprize.
;vb. (tr; often foll by of).
to make aware; inform
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solicitous
adj.1) showing consideration, concern, attention, etc.
2) keenly anxious or willing; eager.
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disparate
adj.1) utterly different or distinct in kind.
;n.2) (plural) unlike things or people.
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dogmatic
adj.1).
a) (of a statement, opinion, etc.) forcibly asserted as if authoritative and unchallengeable.
b) (of a person) prone to making such statements.
2) of, relating to, or constituting dogma.
3) based on assumption rather than empirical observation.
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empirical
adj.1) derived from or relating to experiment and observation rather than theory.
2) (of medical treatment) based on practical experience rather than scientific proof.
3) philosophy.
a) (of knowledge) derived from experience rather than by logic from first principles.
b) (of a proposition) subject, at least theoretically, to verification.
4) of or relating to medical quackery.
;n.5) statistics the posterior probability of an event derived on the basis of its observed frequency in a sample.
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morose
adj.ill-tempered or gloomy
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belie
vb. -lies, -lying, -lied (tr).
1) to show to be untrue; contradict.
2) to misrepresent; disguise the nature of.
3) to fail to justify; disappoint.
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metamorphosis
n., pl -ses [-ˌsi:z].
1) a complete change of physical form or substance.
2) a complete change of character, appearance, etc.
3) a person or thing that has undergone metamorphosis.
4) zoology the rapid transformation of a larva into an adult that occurs in certain animals, for example the stage between tadpole and frog or between chrysalis and butterfly.
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levee
n. US.
1) an embankment alongside a river, produced naturally by sedimentation or constructed by man to prevent flooding.
2) an embankment that surrounds a field that is to be irrigated.
3) a landing place on a river; quay.
;n.1) a formal reception held by a sovereign just after rising from bed.
2) (in Britain) a public court reception for men, held in the early afternoon.
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forestall
vb. (tr).
1) to delay, stop, or guard against beforehand.
2) to anticipate.
3).
a) to prevent or hinder sales at (a market, etc.) by buying up merchandise in advance, etc.
b) to buy up (merchandise) for profitable resale.
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imperturbable
adj.;n.ot easily perturbed; calm; unruffled.
Derived words:
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irresolute
adj.lacking resolution; wavering; hesitating
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disseminate
vb. (tr).
to distribute or scatter about; diffuse
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