coup

coup [koo] (plural coups)

noun

1. seizure of political power: the sudden violent overthrow of a government and seizure of political power, especially by the military 2. successful action: a success that is unexpected and achieved with exceptional skill Getting the author to come and speak was quite a coup. 3. feat of bravery: among some Native American peoples, a feat of bravery during battle, especially touching an enemy warrior without harming him

[Late 18th century. Via French, "blow" < medieval Latin colpus < Greek kolophos "blow with the fist"]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

alarmist
alarmist (plural alarmists)

noun

1. somebody spreading fear: somebody who spreads unnecessary fear or warnings of danger 2. somebody easily scared: somebody who becomes afraid easily

-alarmism, noun -alarmist, adjective

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

foe
foe [f] (plural foes)

noun

enemy: an enemy or opponent of somebody or something (formal)

[ Old English gef < Indo-European, "hostile"]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

detain
detain [di tyn] (past and past participle detained, present participle detaining, 3rd person present singular detains)

transitive verb

1. delay progress: to hold back or delay somebody or something 2. hold in custody: to restrain or keep somebody or something in custody

[15th century. Via Old French detenir < Latin detinere "hold back" < tenere "hold, keep"] -detainable, adjective -detainment, noun

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

solidarity
solidarity [sll drrtee]

noun

mutual agreement and support: harmony of interests and responsibilities among individuals in a group, especially as manifested in unanimous support and collective action for something

[Mid-19th century. < French solidarit < solidaire < solide "solid"]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

solidarity
solidarity [sll drrtee]

noun

mutual agreement and support: harmony of interests and responsibilities among individuals in a group, especially as manifested in unanimous support and collective action for something

[Mid-19th century. < French solidarit < solidaire < solide "solid"]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

escort
noun
[ss kwrt]

(plural escorts)

1. protector on journey: one or more persons accompanying somebody or something as a guard or guide, or as a mark of honor 2. male social partner: a man accompanying a woman on a social occasion 3. hired social partner: a man or woman who is hired to accompany another person as a companion, especially to a social event or entertainment 4. MILITARY accompanying military vessel or aircraft: one or more warships or fighter aircraft accompanying a larger, more vulnerable ship or aircraft as protection 5. protection on journey: protection or restraint provided by an escort proceed under escort

transitive verb [ss kwrt, ss kwrt] (past and past participle escorted, present participle escorting, 3rd person present singular escorts)
go with somebody as escort: to accompany somebody or something as an escort The butler will escort you to the door.

[Late 16th century. Via French escorte < Italian scorta < scorgere "to guide," via assumed Vulgar Latin excorrigere < Latin corrigere (see correct)]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

tailored
tailored [tylrd]

adjective

1. made to fit neatly: describes clothes marked by a neat fit with trim lines and a clean and formal or severe look 2. made for particular purpose: made or adapted for a particular purpose 3. made by tailor: made individually by a tailor

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

negotiate
negotiate [n gshee yt] (past and past participle negotiated, present participle negotiating, 3rd person present singular negotiates)

verb

1. transitive and intransitive verb discuss terms of agreement: to attempt to come to an agreement on something through discussion and compromise 2. transitive verb navigate something successfully: to manage to get past or deal with something that constitutes a hazard or obstacle A canoe can negotiate these waters when the wind is calm. 3. transitive verb FINANCE sell something: to transfer ownership of a financial instrument such as a check or

security to somebody else in exchange for money

[Late 16th century. < Latin negotiat-, past participle of negotiari "do business" < negotium "business" < neg- "not" + otium "leisure"] -negotiator, noun

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

cosmopolitan
cosmopolitan [kzm pllit'n]

adjective

1. made up of diverse peoples: composed of or containing people from different countries and cultures 2. showing cultural diversity: showing the influence of many countries and cultures the city's cosmopolitan atmosphere 3. international in scope: having worldwide relevance or scope events of national and cosmopolitan importance 4. knowledgeable and refined: showing a breadth of knowledge and refinement from having traveled widely his wide-ranging and cosmopolitan interests 5. ECOLOGY occurring worldwide: describes plants or animals growing or occurring in many different parts of the world

noun (plural cosmopolitans)

1. well-traveled person: a sophisticated traveler to many different countries 2. cocktail: a cocktail consisting of vodka, orange-flavoured liqueur, cranberry juice, and lime juice

[Mid-17th century. < cosmopolite]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

spook
spook [spook] noun (plural spooks) (informal)
1. ghost: a ghost or a ghostly figure 2. Same as spyn (sense 1)

verb (past and past participle spooked, present participle spooking, 3rd person present singular spooks)
1. transitive verb haunt somebody: to haunt somebody as a ghost 2. transitive verb startle somebody: to startle or make an animal or person feel uneasy 3. intransitive verb be frightened: to feel frightened or uneasy

[Early 19th century. < Dutch]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

bombshell
bombshell [bm shl] (plural bombshells)

noun

1. ARMS artillery explosive or bomb: an artillery shell or a bomb 2. surprising news: an unexpected and shocking piece of news (informal) 3. stunning woman: a very good-looking and glamorous woman (dated informal)

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

summon
summon [smmn] (past and past participle summoned, present participle summoning, 3rd person present singular summons)

verb

1. transitive verb call somebody into court: to order somebody to appear in court by serving a summons 2. transitive verb send for somebody: to send or be a signal for somebody to come We were summoned to his presence. 3. transitive verb convene group: to call together a formal or official body They summoned a meeting to debate the issue. 4. transitive verb call upon somebody: to request or require somebody to do something She summoned him to help her. 5. intransitive verb manage to get something: to gather the resources, especially courage or strength, to cope with or do something trying to summon up the courage to tell him the news

[13th century. Via French < Latin summonere "remind secretly" < sub- "under" + monere "warn"]

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

deploy
deploy [di ply] (past and past participle deployed, present participle deploying, 3rd person present singular deploys)

verb

1. transitive and intransitive verb ready military force: to position troops, weapons, or resources in a specific area in readiness for action, or take up position in this way 2. transitive verb use something: to put something to use

[15th century. Via French dployer < Latin displicare "unfold" < plicare "to fold"] -deployable, adjective -deployer, noun -deployment, noun

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

mistrust
mistrust [miss trst]

noun

suspicion: suspicion about or lack of confidence in somebody or something

transitive verb (past and past participle mistrusted, present participle mistrusting, 3rd person present singular mistrusts)
be suspicious of somebody or something: to be suspicious of and unable to trust or rely on somebody or something

-mistrustful, adjective -mistrustfully, adverb

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

grouse 2
grouse [growss] (past and past participle groused, present participle grousing, 3rd person present singular grouses)

intransitive verb

complain: to complain regularly and continually, often in a way that is not constructive (informal)

[Early 19th century. Origin ?]

-grouse, noun -grouser, noun

Word Key: Synonyms

See complain.

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

confide
confide (past and past participle confided, present participle confiding, 3rd person present singular confides)

verb

1. transitive and intransitive verb tell something secret: to tell somebody something that is to remain secret or private He later confided to me that he had not wanted the position at all. He'd been foolish enough to confide in her. 2. transitive verb give over to somebody's care: to entrust somebody with something such as a valuable object or an important task (archaic)

[15th century. < Latin confidere "put your trust in" < fidere "to trust" < fides "trust"] -confider, noun

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

gangsta
gangsta [gngst] noun (plural gangstas)
1. gang member: a member of an urban street gang 2. MUSIC rap performer: somebody who performs gangsta rap

adjective
of gangs and gangsta rap: relating to or characteristic of urban street gangs, their activities, or gangsta rap

Microsoft Encarta 2007. 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.