 | Term | Definition |
| |
belie |
v. hide; camouflage; represent something as different than it actually is; behave in a manner that is not fitting (a station or position, from a traditional point of view) |
| |
belittle |
v. disparage; depreciate; scorn, criticize |
| |
bellicose |
adj. belligerent, quarrelsome |
| |
belligerence |
n. warlike attitude, aggressiveness; hostility |
| |
benediction |
n. blessing, prayer, invocation |
| |
benefactor |
n. kindly helper; patron, sponsor, donor |
| |
beneficiary |
n. one who benefits from something |
| |
benevolence |
n. generosity, kindness |
| |
benevolent |
adj. generous, kind |
| |
bent |
n. inclination, tendency; aptitude, natural talent; partiality, fondness |
| |
bequeath |
v. endow, leave property to someone in a will; pass on, transfer to another |
| |
berate |
v. scold, rebuke, reproach |
| |
bereft |
adj. deprived of the possession or use of something |
| |
beset |
v. harass; attack, besiege |
| |
besiege |
v. surround, encompass, lay siege to, beleaguer |
| |
bespeak |
v. reserve in advance; order goods or services; show, bear witness |
| |
bewail |
v. cry, wail; grieve |
| |
bibliographer |
n. compiler of bibliographies |
| |
bibliography |
n. list of books by a particular author or on a particular subject; list of source materials used in the preparation of a scholarly work |
| |
bicker |
v. quarrel, squabble, dispute, argue |
| |
bifurcate |
v. split into two, divide into two |
| |
bigot |
n. person who is intolerant of differing ideas and beliefs, prejudiced person |
| |
bile |
n. bitter liquid secreted by the liver; bitterness |
| |
bilk |
v. cheat out of money, defraud; slip away from |
| |
biped |
n. animal which walks on two legs; two-legged creature |
| |
bit |
bit:drill=blade:razor |
| |
blandishment |
n. persuasion; flattery |
| |
blandness |
n. mildness, agreeableness; nondescriptiveness, dullness |
| |
blasphemy |
n. sacrilege, irreverence, impiety |
| |
blaze |
v. flare up, ignite; glow, shine; be publicized |
| |
blighted |
v. destroy, ruin; cause to wither and die (of a plant) |
| |
bliss |
n. joy, happiness, rapture |
| |
blithe |
adj. happy, carefree |
| |
blizzard |
n. severe snowstorm |
| |
blotch |
v. cover with large stains |
| |
blowhard |
n. boaster, braggart |
| |
blundering |
v. make a stupid mistake; move back and forth in a clumsy manner, move blindly, grope |
| |
blunt |
attenuation:strength=bluntness:sharpness bluntâ—‡whet |
| |
bluster |
n. noise of waves; noise of a strong wind; boastfulness; threat; blustering:speak=swaggering:walk |
| |
boggle |
v. prevent; hesitate; be shocked, be awed; shock |
| |
bogus |
adj. not genuine, artificial, counterfeit, sham |
| |
boisterous |
adj. noisy, loud; stormy; excited |
| |
bold |
adj. brave, courageous, daring; forward, blunt; rude; in boldface |
| |
bolster |
v. support, strengthen, reinforce |
| |
bolt |
n. latch; screw; flash of lighting; arrow; roll of fabric; escape |
| |
bombast |
n. trite cliches, hackneyed expressions, empty words |
| |
bombastic |
adj. ornate, florid; inflated, exaggerated |
| |
boon |
n. favor; kind deed; granted request; blessing boonâ—‡misfortune |
| |
boor |
n. rude person, uncultured person |
| |
botany |
n. branch of biology dealing with plant life |
| |
boulder |
n. large rounded rock |
| |
bouquet |
n. bunch of flowers, nosegay; fragrance of a wine; compliment |
| |
bout |
n. session; fit of illness or drinking; athletic match |
| |
braggart |
n. arrogant boaster, show off |
| |
braid |
grooved:striated=braided:stranded |
| |
braided |
adj. woven together |
| |
braiding |
n. something made of braided material; trimming used for decorating clothes or draperies; braids (collectively) v. weave into a braid; decorate with a thin strip of fabric |
| |
brat |
n. obnoxious child, annoying child |
| |
bravado |
n. boasting, pretense of bravery, foolhardiness; bravery |
| |
bravura |
n. brilliant execution or display |
| |
brawl |
v. quarrel; participate in a noisy fight |
| |
brazen |
adj. brass, metallic; insolent, impudent |
| |
brazenly |
adv. wantonly, shamelessly, insolently |
| |
breach |
n. violation, infringement; crack, gap |
