The Ever Evolving Fourth Edition

Lexicon

Kevin
NEADLEY
 a
a.fore.men.tioned |adjective
denoting a thing or person previously mentioned :
songs from the aforementioned album.

a.vant-garde ¦noun (usu. the avant-garde) a.fi.ci.o.na.do ¦noun ( pl. -dos)

new and unusual or experimental ideas, esp. in the
a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic
arts, or the people introducing them : works by artists of
about an activity, subject, or pastime : aficionados of the
the Russian avant-garde.
finest wines.
adjective
favoring or introducing such new ideas : a controversial
avant-garde composer
au.tar.ky ¦noun
a.sym.met.ri.cal |adjective economic independence or self-sufficiency.
•a country, state, or society that is economically
having parts that fail to correspond to one another in
independent.
shape, size, or arrangement; lacking symmetry : the
church has an asymmetrical plan with an aisle only on one side.
•having parts or aspects that are not equal or ap.a.thy ¦noun
equivalent; unequal in some respect : the asymmetrical
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern : widespread
relationship between a landlord and a tenant.
apathy among students.
DERIVATIVES
asymmetric adjective
asymmetrically adverb
ad hoc ¦adjective & adverb
formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose
only : [as adj. ] an ad hoc committee | the discussions were
on an ad hoc basis | [as adv. ] the group was constituted ad
hoc.
ac.tiv.ism ¦noun
the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to
bring about political or social change.
DERIVATIVES
activist noun
ad.verse ¦adjective
preventing success or development; harmful;
unfavorable : taxes are having an adverse effect on
production | adverse weather conditions. See note at
hostile .
DERIVATIVES: adversely
am.biv.a.lent ¦adjective
having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about
something or someone : some loved her, some hated her, few
were ambivalent about her | an ambivalent attitude to
terrorism.
DERIVATIVES
ambivalence noun
ambivalently adverb
al.lude ¦verb [ intrans. ] ( allude to)
suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at : she had a
way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name.
• mention without discussing at length : we will allude
briefly to the main points.
ax.i.om ¦noun
a statement or proposition that is regarded as being
established, accepted, or self-evidently true : the
axiom that supply equals demand.
ad lib ¦verb ( ad libbed , ad libbing ) al.tru.ism ¦noun
speak or perform in public without previously the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless
preparing one's words : Charles had to ad lib because he'd concern for the well-being of others : some may choose to
forgotten his script | she ad libbed half the speech. work with vulnerable elderly people out of altruism.
• Zoology behavior of an animal that benefits another
at its own expense.
ac.me ¦noun
the point at which someone or something is best, DERIVATIVES
perfect, or most successful : physics is the acme of scientific altruist noun
knowledge. altruistic ¦ adjective
altruistically ¦ adverb

ac.ri.mo.ni.ous ¦adjective
(typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter : an ap.o.plec.tic ¦adjective informal
acrimonious dispute about wages
overcome with anger; extremely indignant : Mark was
apoplectic with rage at the decision.
DERIVATIVES
acrimoniously adverb DERIVATIVES
apoplectically adverb
 anachronistically ¦adverb
an.tith.e.sis ¦noun
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of
someone or something else : love is the antithesis of
selfishness.
allude ¦ verb [ intrans. ] ( allude to)
• a contrast or opposition between two things : the suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at : she had a
antithesis between occult and rational mentalities. way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name.
•a figure of speech in which an opposition or • mention without discussing at length : we will allude
contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of briefly to the main points.
words that are the opposites of, or strongly
contrasted with, each other, such as “hatred stirs
up strife, but love covers all sins” : his sermons were
full of startling antitheses.

a.nach.ro.nism ¦noun b
a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other bul.wark ¦noun
than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is
conspicuously old-fashioned : everything was as it would a defensive wall.
• figurative a person, institution, or principle that acts
have appeared in centuries past apart from one anachronism, a
bright yellow construction crane. as a defense : the security forces are a bulwark against
• an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a
the breakdown of society.
period to which it does not belong.

DERIVATIVES
anachronistic ¦adjective
 •(of an organization) serving a charitable rather
be.la.bor ¦verb [ trans. ] than a profit-making purpose : a benevolent fund.
1 argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail :
critics thought they belabored the obvious. DERIVATIVES
2 attack or assault (someone) physically or verbally : benevolence noun
Tyndale seized every opportunity to belabor the Roman Church. benevolently adverb

bel.lig.er.ence ¦noun be.hest ¦noun

aggressive or warlike behavior : the reaction ranged from a person's orders or command : they had assembled at
wild enthusiasm to outright belligerence. his behest | the slaughter of the male children at the
behest of Herod.

but.tress ¦noun be.nign adjective

a projecting support of stone or brick built against a 1 gentle; kindly : her face was calm and benign | his benign
wall. but firm manner.
• figurative a source of defense or support : there was a • (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable
demand for a new stable order as a buttress against social •not harmful to the environment : [in combination ]
collapse. an ozone-benign refrigerant.
verb [ trans. ]
• figurative increase the strength of or justification for; DERIVATIVES
reinforce : authority was buttressed by religious belief. benignly adverb

be.nev.o.lent ¦adjective
well meaning and kindly : a benevolent smile.

be.moan ¦verb
express discontent or sorrow over (something) : single
women bemoaning the absence of men.
be.lat.ed ¦adjective
coming or happening later than should have been the
case : a belated apology.
c
con.du.cive ¦adjective
making a certain situation or outcome likely or
possible : the harsh lights and cameras were hardly
conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

DERIVATIVES
belatedly adverb cy.no.sure ¦noun
belatedness noun
a person or thing that is the center of attention or
admiration : the Queen was the cynosure of all eyes.
ba.nal ¦adjective
so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring : carte blanche ¦noun
songs with banal, repeated words.
complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best :
DERIVATIVES we were given carte blanche.
banality ¦noun ORIGIN late 17th cent.: French, literally ‘blank
paper’ (i.e., a blank sheet on which to write whatever
banally adverb one wishes, particularly one's own terms for an
agreement).
 DERIVATIVES
cir.cum.vent ¦verb [ trans. ] capriciously adverb
find a way around (an obstacle). capriciousness noun
• overcome (a problem or difficulty), typically in a
clever and surreptitious way : terrorists found the airport
checks easy to circumvent. cir.cum.spect ¦adjective
• archaic deceive; outwit : he's circumvented her with some of
wary and unwilling to take risks : the officials were very
his stories. circumspect in their statements.
DERIVATIVES
DERIVATIVES
circumvention noun circumspection ¦ noun
circumspectly adverb
con.cur.rent ¦adjective
existing, happening, or done at the same time : there
are three concurrent art fairs around the city. ca.coph.o.ny ¦noun ( pl. -nies)
a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds : a cacophony of
DERIVATIVES deafening alarm bells | figurative a cacophony of architectural
concurrently adverb styles | songs of unrelieved cacophony.

DERIVATIVES
ca.pri.cious ¦adjective cacophonous adjective

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood

or behavior : a capricious and often brutal administration | a
capricious climate.
ce.re.bral ¦adjective cor.dial ¦adjective
1 of the cerebrum of the brain : a cerebral hemorrhage | warm and friendly : the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed.
the cerebral cortex. •strongly felt : I earned his cordial loathing.
• intellectual rather than emotional or physical :
photography is a cerebral process. DERIVATIVES
2 Phonetics another term for retroflex . cordiality ¦noun
cordially adverb
DERIVATIVES
cerebrally adverb
car.i.ca.ture ¦noun
co.erce ¦verb [ trans. ] a picture, description, or imitation of a person or
thing in which certain striking characteristics are
persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by
exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque
using force or threats : they were coerced into silence.
effect.
See note at compel .
• the art or style of such exaggerated representation :
• obtain (something) by such means : their confessions
there are elements of caricature in the portrayal of the hero.
were allegedly coerced by torture.
•a ludicrous or grotesque version of someone or
DERIVATIVES something : he looked like a caricature of his normal self.
coercible adjective
DERIVATIVES
coercion noun
caricatural adjective
caricaturist noun
co.lo.ni.al.ism ¦noun
the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial
political control over another country, occupying it
with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
DERIVATIVES
colonialist noun & adjective
cur.tail ¦verb (often be curtailed)
reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on :
civil liberties were further curtailed.
• ( curtail someone of) archaic deprive someone of
(something) : I that am curtailed of this fair proportion.
DERIVATIVES
curtailment noun
can.dor ¦( Brit. candour) noun
the quality of being open and honest in expression;
frankness : a man of refreshing candor.
col.lude ¦verb
come to a secret understanding for a harmful
purpose; conspire : university leaders colluded in price-
rigging | the president accused his opponents of colluding
with foreigners.
DERIVATIVES
colluder noun
con.note ¦verb
(of a word) imply or suggest (an idea or feeling) in
addition to the literal or primary meaning : the term
“modern science” usually connotes a complete openness to
empirical testing.
• (of a fact) imply as a consequence or condition : in
that period a log cabin connoted hard luck.
DERIVATIVES
connotative ¦adjective
clan.des.tine ¦adjective con.com.i.tant ¦adjective
kept secret or done secretively, esp. because illicit : she naturally accompanying or associated : she loved travel,
deserved better than these clandestine meetings. See note at with all its concomitant worries | concomitant with his
secret . obsession with dirt was a desire for order.
noun
DERIVATIVES a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows
clandestinely adverb something : some of us look on pain and illness as
clandestinity ¦noun concomitants of the stresses of living.

DERIVATIVES
con.fab ¦ noun concomitantly adverb

d
an informal private conversation or discussion : they
wandered off to the woods for a private confab.
• a meeting or conference of members of a particular
group : this year's annual American Booksellers Association
confab. det.ri.men.tal ¦adjective
verb ( -fabbed , -fabbing ) [ intrans. ] tending to cause harm : releasing the documents would be
engage in informal private conversation : Peter was detrimental to national security | moving her could have a
confabbing with a curly-haired guy. detrimental effect on her health.

DERIVATIVES
detrimentally adverb
dis.po.sit.ion ¦noun
1 a person's inherent qualities of mind and
character : a sweet-natured girl of a placid disposition.
•[often with infinitive ] an inclination or tendency : the
cattle showed a decided disposition to run | the judge's
disposition to clemency.
the power to deal with something as one pleases : if
Napoleon had had railroads at his disposition, he would
have been invincible.
de.praved ¦adjective
morally corrupt : a depraved indifference to human life.
THE RIGHT WORD
There are many terms to describe the dark side of
human nature.
Someone who preys on young children would be
considered depraved, a term that means totally
immoral and implies a warped character or a twisted
mind (: a depraved man who stole money from his own mother
and eventually murdered her).
di.chot.o.my ¦noun
a division or contrast between two things that are or
are represented as being opposed or entirely
different : a rigid dichotomy between science and
mysticism.
dis.sen.sus ¦noun
widespread dissent : analysis reveals notable dissensus in
evaluations of occupational roles.
dis.par.ity ¦noun ( pl. -ties)
a great difference : economic disparities between
different regions of the country | the great disparity of weight
between the sun and the planets.
dog.ma ¦noun
a principle or set of principles laid down by an
authority as incontrovertibly true : the Christian dogma
of the Trinity | the rejection of political dogma.
dis.sent ¦verb [ intrans. ]
hold or express opinions that are at variance with
those previously, commonly, or officially expressed :
two members dissented from the majority | [as adj. ]
( dissenting) there were only a couple of dissenting voices.
dis.dain.ful ¦d s de nf l¦adjective
showing contempt or lack of respect : with a last
disdainful look, she turned toward the door.
DERIVATIVES
disdainfully adverb
disdainfulness noun
dil.i.gence 1 ¦noun
careful and persistent work or effort.
de.duce ¦verb
arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as
a logical conclusion : little can be safely deduced from
these figures | [with clause ] they deduced that the fish
died because of water pollution.
DERIVATIVES
deducible adjective
de.bunk ¦verb [ trans. ]
expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or
belief) : the magazine that debunks claims of the paranormal.
•reduce the inflated reputation of (someone), esp. by
ridicule : comedy takes delight in debunking heroes.
DERIVATIVES
debunker noun
debunkery noun
dé.tente ¦noun de fac.to ¦ adverb
the easing of hostility or strained relations, esp. in fact, whether by right or not : the island has been de
between countries : a serious effort at détente with the facto divided into two countries. Often contrasted with de
eastern bloc. jure .
adjective [ attrib. ]
denoting someone or something that is such in fact : a
des.pot.ism ¦noun de facto one-party system.
the exercise of absolute power, esp. in a cruel and
oppressive way : the King's arbitrary despotism.
•a country or political system where the ruler holds de.funct ¦adjective
absolute power. no longer existing or functioning : the now defunct
communist common market.
de.ri.sion ¦noun
deft ¦adjective
contemptuous ridicule or mockery : my stories were
greeted with derision and disbelief. neatly skillful and quick in one's movements : a deft
PHRASES piece of footwork.
hold (or have) in derision archaic regard with • demonstrating skill and cleverness : the script was both
mockery. deft and literate.

DERIVATIVES DERIVATIVES
derisible ¦adjective deftly adverb
deftness noun
 e
ex.po.si.tion ¦noun
1 a comprehensive description and explanation of an
idea or theory : an exposition and defense of Marx's
writings.
esprit de corps ¦noun
a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty
shared by the members of a particular group. en.am.or ¦( chiefly Brit. enamour)
verb ( be enamored of/with/by)
be filled with a feeling of love for : it is not difficult to see
e.gal.i.tar.i.an ¦adjective why Edward is enamored of her.
of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all • have a liking or admiration for : she was truly enamored
people are equal and deserve equal rights and of New York.
opportunities : a fairer, more egalitarian society.
noun
a person who advocates or supports such a principle. ev.a.nes.cent ¦adjective chiefly poetic/literary
soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence;
quickly fading or disappearing : a shimmering evanescent
e.gre.gious ¦adjective bubble. See note at temporary .
1 outstandingly bad; shocking : egregious abuses of
copyright. DERIVATIVES
evanescence noun
DERIVATIVES evanescently adverb
egregiously adverb
egregiousness noun
 endogenously adverb
ex.as.per.ate ¦verb
irritate intensely; infuriate : this futile process exasperates
prison officials | [as adj. ] ( exasperated) she grew em.bel.lish ¦verb
exasperated with his inability to notice anything | [as adj. ]
make (something) more attractive by the addition of
( exasperating) they suffered a number of exasperating
decorative details or features : blue silk embellished with
setbacks.
golden embroidery.
DERIVATIVES • make (a statement or story) more interesting or
exasperatedly adverb entertaining by adding extra details, esp. ones that are
exasperatingly adverb not true : she had real difficulty telling the truth because she
exasperation ¦noun liked to embellish things.

DERIVATIVES
en.dog.e.nous ¦ adjective embellisher noun

having an internal cause or origin : the expected rate of

infection is endogenous to the system. Often contrasted with e.qua.nim.i.ty ¦noun
exogenous .
• Biology growing or originating from within an mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper,
organism : endogenous gene sequences. esp. in a difficult situation : she accepted both the good and
• chiefly Psychiatry (of a disease or symptom) not the bad with equanimity.
attributable to any external or environmental factor :
DERIVATIVES
endogenous depression. equanimous ¦ adjective
• confined within a group or society.

DERIVATIVES
e.gre.gious ¦adjective ex.u.ber.ant ¦adjective
1 outstandingly bad; shocking : egregious abuses of filled with or characterized by a lively energy and
copyright. excitement : giddily exuberant crowds | flamboyant and
2 archaic remarkably good. exuberant architectural invention.
•growing luxuriantly or profusely : exuberant foliage.
DERIVATIVES
egregiously adverb
egregiousness noun DERIVATIVES
exuberance noun
exuberantly adverb
ex.tol ¦verb ( extolled , extolling ) [ trans. ]
praise enthusiastically : he extolled the virtues of the e.mol.lient ¦adjective
Russian peoples. See note at praise.
having the quality of softening or soothing the skin :
DERIVATIVES an emollient cream.
extoller noun •attempting to avoid confrontation or anger;
extolment noun soothing or calming : the president's emollient approach
to differences.
ex.ac.er.bate ¦verb [ trans. ] DERIVATIVES
make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) emollience noun
worse : the forest fire was exacerbated by the lack of rain.

DERIVATIVES
exacerbation ¦noun

ech.e.lon ¦noun
1 a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or
society : the upper echelons of the business world.
• [often with adj. ] a part of a military force
differentiated by position in battle or by function : the
rear echelon.
2 Military a formation of troops, ships, aircraft, or
vehicles in parallel rows with the end of each row
projecting further than the one in front.
extrapolated to other patient groups. | [ intrans. ] it is always
dangerous to extrapolate from a sample.
• estimate or conclude (something) in this way :
attempts to extrapolate likely human cancers from laboratory
studies.
DERIVATIVES
extrapolation ¦- le ʃ(ə)n¦ noun
extrapolative ¦-lət v¦ adjective
extrapolator noun

em.bar.go ¦noun ( pl. -goes) er.ro.ne.ous ¦adjective

an official ban on trade or other commercial activity
with a particular country : an embargo on grain sales wrong; incorrect : employers sometimes make erroneous
| the oil embargo of 1973. assumptions.
•an official prohibition on any activity.
DERIVATIVES
erroneously adverb
erroneousness noun
ex.trap.o.late ¦verb
extend the application of (a method or conclusion,
esp. one based on statistics) to an unknown situation
by assuming that existing trends will continue or
similar methods will be applicable : the results cannot be
 f
feu.dal ¦adjective
according to, resembling, or denoting the system of
feudalism : feudal barons.
•absurdly outdated or old-fashioned : his view of
fal.li.ble ¦adjective patriotism was more than old-fashioned—it was positively
capable of making mistakes or being erroneous : feudal.
experts can be fallible.

DERIVATIVES
fru.gal ¦adjective
fallibility ¦noun sparing or economical with regard to money or food :
he led a remarkably frugal existence. See note at
economical .
fa.tal.ism ¦noun • simple and plain and costing little : a frugal meal.

the belief that all events are predetermined and DERIVATIVES

therefore inevitable. frugality ¦noun
•a submissive attitude to events, resulting from such frugally adverb
a belief. frugalness noun
DERIVATIVES
fatalist noun
fatalistic ¦- l st k¦ adjective
fatalistically ¦- l st k(ə)li¦ adverb
fac.toid ¦noun foi.ble ¦ noun
a brief or trivial item of news or information. 1 a minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's
•an assumption or speculation that is reported and character : they have to tolerate each other's little foibles. See
repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact. note at fault .

fer.vent ¦adjective fe.brile ¦adjective

having or displaying a passionate intensity : a fervent having or showing the symptoms of a fever : a febrile
disciple of tax reform. See note at eager . illness.
• archaic hot, burning, or glowing. • having or showing a great deal of nervous
excitement or energy : a febrile imagination.
DERIVATIVES
fervency noun DERIVATIVES
fervently adverb febrility ¦

for.lorn ¦adjective
1 pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely : forlorn figures
at bus stops.
2 (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be
fulfilled; hopeless : a forlorn attempt to escape.

DERIVATIVES
forlornly adverb
forlornness ¦noun
feck.less ¦adjective har.dy ¦adjective ( -dier , -diest )
(of a person) lacking in efficiency or vitality : a feckless robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions.
mama's boy. •(of a plant) able to survive outside during winter.
•unthinking and irresponsible : the feckless exploitation of
the world's natural resources.
het.er.o.ge.ne.ous ¦adjective
DERIVATIVES
fecklessly adverb diverse in character or content : a large and heterogeneous
fecklessness noun collection.

DERIVATIVES

h
heterogeneity ¦noun
heterogeneously adverb
heterogeneousness noun

hub.ris ¦noun hap.haz.ard ¦adjective

excessive pride or self-confidence. lacking any obvious principle of organization : the
•(in Greek tragedy) excessive pride toward or kitchen drawers contained a haphazard collection of silver
defiance of the gods, leading to nemesis. souvenir spoons.
DERIVATIVES DERIVATIVES
hubristic ¦adjective haphazardly adverb
haphazardness noun
 i
har.bin.ger ¦noun
a person or thing that announces or signals the
approach of another : witch hazels are the harbingers of
spring.
• a forerunner of something : these works were not yet
im.passe ¦noun
opera, but they were the most important harbinger of opera. a situation in which no progress is possible, esp.
because of disagreement; a deadlock : the current
political impasse.
hith.er.to ¦adverb
until now or until the point in time under discussion : in.ter a.li.a ¦adverb
there is a need to replace what has hitherto been a haphazard
among other things : the study includes, inter alia,

computers, aircraft, and pharmaceuticals.

method of payment.
in.sol.vent ¦adjective

unable to pay debts owed : the company became insolvent.

•relating to insolvency : insolvent liquidation.

DERIVATIVES

insolvency noun
in.trac.ta.ble ¦adjective in.cum.bent ¦adjective
hard to control or deal with : intractable economic 1 [ predic. ] ( incumbent on/upon) necessary for
problems | intractable pain. (someone) as a duty or responsibility : it is incumbent on
•(of a person) difficult; stubborn. all decent people to concentrate on destroying this evil.
2 [ attrib. ] (of an official or regime) currently holding
DERIVATIVES office : the incumbent president had been defeated.
intractability ¦noun noun
intractableness noun the holder of an office or post.
intractably adverb

in.can.des.cent ¦adjective
in.con.tro.vert.i.ble ¦adjective
emitting light as a result of being heated : plumes of
not able to be denied or disputed : incontrovertible proof. incandescent liquid rock.
• (of an electric light) containing a filament that glows
DERIVATIVES
white-hot when heated by a current passed through it.
incontrovertibility ¦ noun
• extremely angry : she was incandescent at the way the
incontrovertibly adverb IRS acted.
• of outstanding and exciting quality; brilliant :
Mravinsky's incandescent performance of Siegfried's Funeral
March.

DERIVATIVES
incandescence noun
incandescently adverb
 DERIVATIVES
inferential ¦adjective
in.fi.del.i.ty ¦noun ( pl. -ties) inferentially ¦adverb
1 the action or state of being unfaithful to a spouse or
other sexual partner : her infidelity continued after her
marriage | I ought not to have tolerated his infidelities. in.dig.nant ¦adjective
2 unbelief in a particular religion, esp. Christianity.
feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is
perceived as unfair treatment : he was indignant at being
il.lic.it ¦adjective the object of suspicion.
DERIVATIVES
forbidden by law, rules, or custom : illicit drugs | illicit indignantly adverb
sex.

DERIVATIVES in.tel.li.gi.ble ¦adjective

illicitly adverb able to be understood; comprehensible : this would
illicitness noun make the system more intelligible to the general public.

DERIVATIVES
in.fer.ence ¦noun intelligibility ¦noun
a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and intelligibly adverb
reasoning.
•the process of reaching such a conclusion : his
emphasis on order and health, and by inference
cleanliness.
 j
jux.ta.pose ¦verb
place or deal with close together for contrasting
effect : black-and-white photos of slums were starkly
juxtaposed with color images.
ju.ris.pru.dence ¦noun
the theory or philosophy of law. DERIVATIVES
•a legal system : American jurisprudence. juxtaposition noun
juxtapositional adjective

k
DERIVATIVES
jurisprudent adjective & noun
jurisprudential ¦ adjective

kil.ter ¦noun (in phrase out of kilter)

jin.go ¦ jin.go.ism ¦ out of harmony or balance : daylight savings throws
a vociferous supporter of policy favoring war, esp. in everybody's body clock out of kilter.
the name of patriotism.
noun chiefly derogatory
extreme patriotism, esp. in the form of aggressive or
kudos ¦noun
warlike foreign policy. praise and honor received for an achievement.

DERIVATIVES
jingoist noun
jingoistic adjective
 l m
lex.i.con ¦noun ( pl. -cons or -ca )
1 the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of
knowledge : the size of the English lexicon.
leit.mo.tif ¦noun
a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary
composition, associated with a particular person,
idea, or situation.
mis.no.mer ¦noun
a wrong or inaccurate name or designation : “king
crab” is a misnomer—these creatures are not crustaceans at all.
•a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term : to call
this “neighborhood policing” would be a misnomer.
mag.nan.i.mous ¦adjective
very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or
someone less powerful than oneself.

laissez-faire ¦noun DERIVATIVES

magnanimity ¦noun
a policy or attitude of letting things take their own
course, without interfering. magnanimously adverb
• Economics abstention by governments from
interfering in the workings of the free market : [as
adj. ] laissez-faire capitalism.

DERIVATIVES
laissez-faireism noun
mel.an.chol.y ¦noun ma.lev.o.lent ¦adjective
a deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness. having or showing a wish to do evil to others : the glint
• another term for melancholia (as a mental of dark, malevolent eyes | some malevolent force of nature.
condition).
• historical another term for black bile . DERIVATIVES
malevolence noun
adjective malevolently adverb
sad, gloomy, or depressed : she felt a little melancholy | the
dog has a melancholy expression. mo.dus vi.ven.di ¦
• causing or expressing sadness; depressing : the study
makes melancholy if instructive reading. an arrangement or agreement allowing conflicting
parties to coexist peacefully, either indefinitely or until
DERIVATIVES a final settlement is reached.
melancholic ¦- k l k¦ adjective • a way of living.

melancholically ¦- k l k(ə)li¦ adverb

mo.dus op.e.ran.di ¦
a particular way or method of doing something, esp.
mon.o.lith.ic ¦adjective one that is characteristic or well-established : the
volunteers were instructed to buy specific systems using our usual
1 formed of a single large block of stone.
modus operandi—anonymously and with cash.
• (of a building) very large and characterless.
•the way something operates or works.
2 (of an organization or system) large, powerful, and
intractably indivisible and uniform : rejecting any move
toward a monolithic European superstate.
 n
ma.lign ¦adjective
evil in nature or effect; malevolent : she had a strong and
malign influence.
speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner :
don't you dare malign her in my presence.
nex.us ¦noun ( pl. same or -uses )
a connection or series of connections linking two or
DERIVATIVES more things : the nexus between industry and political power.
maligner noun • a connected group or series : a nexus of ideas.
malignity ¦noun •the central and most important point or place : the
malignly adverb nexus of all this activity was the disco.

mod.i.cum ¦noun [in sing. ] nep.o.tism ¦noun

the practice among those with power or influence of
a small quantity of a particular thing, esp. something favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs.
considered desirable or valuable : his statement had more
than a modicum of truth. DERIVATIVES
nepotist noun
nepotistic ¦adjective
 o
os.ten.ta.tious ¦adjective
characterized by vulgar or pretentious display;
designed to impress or attract notice : books that people
buy and display ostentatiously but never actually finish.
om.nip.o.tent ¦adjective
(of a deity) having unlimited power; able to do DERIVATIVES
anything. ostentatiously adverb
•having ultimate power and influence : an omnipotent ostentatiousness noun
sovereign.

DERIVATIVES o.pine ¦verb [ reporting verb ] formal

omnipotence noun
omnipotently adverb
os.ten.sibly ¦adverb [ sentence adverb ]
apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually :
portrayed as a blue-collar type, ostensibly a carpenter.
hold and state as one's opinion : [with direct speech ]
“The man is a genius,” he opined | [with clause ] the critic
opined that the most exciting musical moment occurred when the
orchestra struck up the national anthem.
o.pac.i.ty ¦noun
the condition of lacking transparency or
translucence; opaqueness : thinner paints need black added
to increase opacity.
ordain ¦verb [ trans. ] op.u.lent ¦adjective
1 make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish : the opulent
orders on. comfort of a limousine.
2 order or decree (something) officially : equal • wealthy : his more opulent tenants.
punishment was ordained for the two crimes.
• (esp. of God or fate) prescribe; determine DERIVATIVES
(something) : the path ordained by God. opulence noun
opulently adverb
DERIVATIVES
ordainer noun
ordainment noun om.i.nous ¦adjective
giving the impression that something bad or
unpleasant is going to happen; threatening;
ob.fus.cate ¦verb [ trans. ] inauspicious : there were ominous dark clouds gathering
render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible : the spelling overhead.
changes will deform some familiar words and obfuscate their
etymological origins. DERIVATIVES
•bewilder (someone) : it is more likely to obfuscate people ominously adverb
than enlighten them. ominousness noun

DERIVATIVES
obfuscation ¦noun
obfuscatory adjective
 p
o.paque ¦adjective ( opaquer, opaquest)
not able to be seen through; not transparent : the
windows were opaque with steam.
• figurative (esp. of language) hard or impossible to
understand; unfathomable : technical jargon that was
opaque to her. pan.a.ce.a ¦noun
DERIVATIVES a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases : the
opaquely adverb panacea for all corporate ills | the time-honored panacea, cod
opaqueness noun liver oil.

DERIVATIVES
op.pro.bri.um ¦noun panacean adjective
harsh criticism or censure : his films and the critical
opprobrium they have generated. pal.pa.ble ¦adjective
•the public disgrace arising from someone's shameful
conduct : the opprobrium of being closely associated with able to be touched or felt : the palpable bump at the bridge
thugs and gangsters. of the nose. See note at tangible .
• (esp. of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to be

almost touched or felt : a palpable sense of loss.

• clear to the mind or plain to see : to talk of dawn raids
in the circumstances is palpable nonsense.

DERIVATIVES
palpability ¦- b l ti¦ noun
palpably adverb
prom.is.so.ry ¦adjective chiefly Law
conveying or implying a promise : statements that are
promissory in nature | promissory words.
• archaic indicative of something to come; full of
promise : the glow of evening is promissory of the
splendid days to come.
pro.cras.ti.nate ¦verb [ intrans. ]
delay or postpone action; put off doing something : it
won't be this price for long, so don't procrastinate.
DERIVATIVES
procrastination ¦noun
procrastinator noun
procrastinatory adjective
pos.ter.i.ty ¦noun
all future generations of people : the victims' names are
recorded for posterity.
• archaic the descendants of a person : God offered
Abraham a posterity like the stars of heaven.
pe.ruse ¦verb [ trans. ] formal
read thoroughly or carefully : the pursed lips of an auditor
perusing an unsatisfactory set of accounts.
•examine carefully or at length : Laura perused a
Caravaggio.
pe.ru.sal ¦noun formal
the action of reading or examining something : I
continued my perusal of the instructions.
pro.po.nent ¦noun
a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or
project : a collection of essays by both critics and proponents
of graphology.
pro.cure.ment noun
the action of obtaining or procuring something :
financial assistance for the procurement of legal advice | the
company's procurements from foreign firms.
pen.sive ¦adjective pro.voc.a.tive ¦adjective
engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction,
thought : a pensive mood. esp. deliberately : a provocative article | his provocative
remarks on race.
DERIVATIVES •arousing sexual desire or interest, esp. deliberately.
pensively adverb
pensiveness noun DERIVATIVES
provocatively adverb
provocativeness noun
pre.ten.tious ¦adjective
attempting to impress by affecting greater
importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually
pro.pi.tious ¦adjective
possessed : a pretentious literary device. giving or indicating a good chance of success;
favorable : the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious.
DERIVATIVES • archaic favorably disposed toward someone : there
pretentiously adverb were points on which they did not agree, moments in which
pretentiousness noun she did not seem propitious.

DERIVATIVES
pol.ly.an.na ¦noun propitiously adverb
propitiousness noun
an excessively cheerful or optimistic person.
per.me.ate ¦verb [ trans. ]
spread throughout (something); pervade : the aroma of
soup permeated the air | [ intrans. ] his personality has begun
to permeate through the whole organization.
DERIVATIVES
permeation ¦noun
per.en.ni.al ¦adjective
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite
time; enduring : his perennial distrust of the media.
• (of a plant) living for several years : tarragon is
perennial. Compare with annual , biennial .
•(esp. of a problem or difficult situation) continually
occurring : perennial manifestations of urban crisis.
DERIVATIVES
perennially adverb
par.a.dox.i.cal ¦adjective
seemingly absurd or self-contradictory : by glorifying the
acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making
them trivial.
DERIVATIVES
paradoxically adverb : [ sentence adverb ]
paradoxically, the more fuel a star starts off with, the sooner it
runs out.
pe.nul.ti.mate ¦adjective [ attrib. ]
last but one in a series of things; second to the last :
the penultimate chapter of the book.
prag.mat.ic ¦adjective
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.
DERIVATIVES
pragmatically adverb
pro.bi.ty ¦noun formal pre.clude ¦verb [ trans. ]
the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty prevent from happening; make impossible : the secret
and decency : financial probity. nature of his work precluded official recognition. See note at
prohibit .
pen.u.ry ¦noun •( preclude someone from) (of a situation or
condition) prevent someone from doing
extreme poverty; destitution : he died in a state of virtual something : his difficulties preclude him from leading a
penury. normal life.

DERIVATIVES
par.ti.san ¦noun preclusion ¦noun
preclusive ¦adjective
1 a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.
2 a member of an armed group formed to fight
secretly against an occupying force, in particular one
operating in enemy-occupied Yugoslavia, Italy, and par.ti pris ¦noun ( pl. partis pris pronunc.
parts of eastern Europe in World War II.
same)
adjective
a preconceived view; a bias.
prejudiced in favor of a particular cause : newspapers
adjective
have become increasingly partisan.
prejudiced; biased.
DERIVATIVES
partisanship noun
pas.tiche ¦noun pug.na.cious ¦adjective
an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight : the
work, artist, or period : the operetta is a pastiche of increasingly pugnacious demeanor of politicians.
18th century styles | the songs amount to much more than • having the appearance of a willing fighter : the set of
blatant pastiche. her pugnacious jaw.
• an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces
taken from various sources. DERIVATIVES
•a confused mixture or jumble : his speech is a pastiche pugnaciously adverb
of false starts and unfinished sentences. pugnacity ¦- nas ti¦ noun

pleth.o.ra ¦noun ( a plethora of) per.ti.nent ¦adjective

an excess of (something) : a plethora of committees and relevant or applicable to a particular matter;
subcommittees apposite : she asked me a lot of very pertinent questions | the
unreleased section of tape was not pertinent to the
investigation.
pro.fess.ed.ly adverb
ostensibly; apparently (used in reference to something DERIVATIVES
claimed or asserted, possibly falsely) : restrictions pertinence noun
professedly designed to stop the use of political propaganda. pertinency noun
pertinently adverb
 r
prof.li.gate ¦adjective
recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of
resources : profligate consumers of energy.
•licentious; dissolute : he succumbed to drink and a
profligate lifestyle.
rat.i.fy ¦verb ( -fies, -fied) [ trans. ]
sign or give formal consent to (a treaty, contract, or
DERIVATIVES
agreement), making it officially valid. See note at
profligacy ¦-gəsi¦ noun
approve .
profligately adverb

q ret.i.cent ¦adjective
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily : she
was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.

DERIVATIVES
quid pro quo ¦noun ( pl. quos) reticence noun
reticently adverb
a favor or advantage granted or expected in return
for something : the pardon was a quid pro quo for their help
in releasing hostages.
rec.i.pro.city ¦noun
the practice of exchanging things with others for
mutual benefit, esp. privileges granted by one country
or organization to another.

re.nege ¦verb
go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract : the
administration had reneged on its election promises.
• another term for revoke (sense 2).
•[ trans. ] archaic renounce or abandon (someone or
something).
DERIVATIVES
reneger noun
ret.i.cent ¦adjective
not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily : she
was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.
s
sine qua non ¦noun
an essential condition; a thing that is absolutely
necessary : grammar and usage are the sine qua non of
language teaching and learning
sty.mie ¦verb ( -mies , -mied , -mying or -
mieing ) [ trans. ] informal
prevent or hinder the progress of : the changes must not
be allowed to stymie new medical treatments.

DERIVATIVES:
reticence noun su.per.flu.ous ¦adjective
reticently adverb unnecessary, esp. through being more than enough :
the purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information
sec.u.lar ¦adjective ser.en.dip.i.ty ¦noun
1 denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that the occurrence and development of events by chance
have no religious or spiritual basis : secular buildings | in a happy or beneficial way : a fortunate stroke of
secular moral theory. Contrasted with sacred . serendipity | a series of small serendipities.

Economics (of a fluctuation or trend) occurring or DERIVATIVES

persisting over an indefinitely long period : there is serendipitous adjective
evidence that the slump is not cyclical but secular. serendipitously adverb

DERIVATIVES
secularism noun sol.ace ¦noun
secularist noun comfort or consolation in a time of distress or
secularity ¦noun sadness : she sought solace in her religion.
secularization ¦ noun
secularize verb
secularly adverb san.guine ¦adjective
1 cheerfully optimistic : they are not sanguine about the
sac.ro.sanct ¦adjective prospect.

(esp. of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too DERIVATIVES

important or valuable to be interfered with : the sanguinely adverb
individual's right to work has been upheld as sacrosanct. sanguineness noun

DERIVATIVES
sacrosanctity ¦noun
syc.o.phant ¦noun sac.ro.sanct ¦adjective
a person who acts obsequiously toward someone in (esp. of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too
order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer. important or valuable to be interfered with : the
individual's right to work has been upheld as sacrosanct.
DERIVATIVES
sycophancy noun DERIVATIVES
sycophantic ¦adjective sacrosanctity ¦noun
sycophantically ¦adverb
su.per.la.tive ¦adjective
so.lic.it ¦verb ( -ited , -iting ) 1 of the highest quality or degree : a superlative piece of
skill.
ask for or try to obtain (something) from someone : he
2 Grammar (of an adjective or adverb) expressing the
called a meeting to solicit their views. See note at beg .
•ask (someone) for something : historians and critics are highest or a very high degree of a quality (e.g., bravest,
most fiercely). Contrasted with positive and
solicited for opinions by the auction houses.
comparative .
DERIVATIVES
solicitation ¦noun
sub.sume ¦verb (often be subsumed) tem.er.i.ty ¦noun
include or absorb (something) in something else : most excessive confidence or boldness; audacity : no one had
of these phenomena can be subsumed under two broad the temerity to question his conclusions.

u
categories.

DERIVATIVES
subsumable adjective
subsumption ¦noun
un.ten.a.ble ¦adjective

t (esp. of a position or view) not able to be maintained

or defended against attack or objection : this argument
is clearly untenable.

tan.gi.ble ¦adjective DERIVATIVES

untenability ¦ noun
perceptible by touch : the atmosphere of neglect and
abandonment was almost tangible. untenably adverb
• clear and definite; real : the emphasis is now on tangible
results.
noun (usu. tangibles) un.eq.uiv.o.cal ¦adjective
a thing that is perceptible by touch.
leaving no doubt; unambiguous : an unequivocal answer
DERIVATIVES | he was unequivocal in condemning the violence.
tangibility ¦ noun DERIVATIVES
unequivocally adverb
tangibleness noun unequivocalness noun
tangibly ¦ adverb
 v
un.am.big.u.ous ¦adjective
not open to more than one interpretation : instructions
should be unambiguous.

DERIVATIVES: unambiguity, ve.he.ment ¦adjective

unambiguously showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or
intense : her voice was low but vehement | vehement criticism.
u.biq.ui.tous ¦adjective DERIVATIVES
present, appearing, or found everywhere : his vehemence noun
ubiquitous influence was felt by all the family | cowboy hats vehemently adverb
are ubiquitous among the male singers.

DERIVATIVES vi.va ¦
ubiquitously adverb
ubiquitousness noun exclamation
ubiquity noun long live! (used to express acclaim or support for a
specified person or thing) : “Viva Mexico!”

noun
a cry of this as a salute or cheer.
 w
volte-face ¦noun ( pl. same)
an act of turning around so as to face in the opposite
direction.
•an abrupt and complete reversal of attitude,
opinion, or position : a remarkable volte-face on taxes.
where.with.al ¦noun
the money or other means needed for a particular
vir.u.lent ¦adjective purpose : they lacked the wherewithal to pay.

1 (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful

in its effects.
• (of a pathogen, esp. a virus) highly infective.
2 bitterly hostile : a virulent attack on liberalism.
z
DERIVATIVES zeitgeist ¦noun
virulence noun the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of
virulently adverb history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time :
the story captured the zeitgeist of the late 1960s.

va.de me.cum ¦noun

a handbook or guide that is kept constantly at hand
for consultation.