 | Term | Definition |
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chimera (ki-MEER-uh, ky-) |
1. (n) A fanciful fabrication; illusion. 2. (n)An organism having genetically different tissues. |
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sphinx (sfingks) |
1. (n) A mysterious, inscrutable person. |
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harpy (HAR-pee) |
1. (n) A predatory person. 2. (n) A bad-tempered woman. |
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halcyon (HAL-see-uhn) |
1. (n) A kingfisher. 2. (n) A mythical bird, with the kingfisher, that was fabled to nest at sea about the time of winter solstice and to calm the waves during incubation. 3. (n) Calm; quiet; peaceful; undisturbed; happy; as, "deep, halcyon repose." 4. (n) Marked by peace and prosperity; as, "halcyon years." |
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sub rosa (suhb-ROH-zuh) |
1. (adv) Secretly; privately; confidentially. 2. (adv) Designed to be secret or confidential; secretive; private. |
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disparate (DIS-puh-rit; dis-PAIR-it) |
1. (adj)Fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind. 2. (adj) Composed of or including markedly dissimilar elements. |
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lilliputian (lil-i-PYOO-shuhn) |
1. (adj) Very small. 2. (n) A very small person. |
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fustian (FUHS-chuhn) |
1. (n) A kind of coarse twilled cotton or cotton and linen stuff, including corduroy, velveteen, ect. 2. (n) An inflated style of writing or speech; pompous or pretentious language. 3. (n) Made of fustian. 4. (n) Pompouse; ridiculously inflated; bombastic |
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pantagruelian (pan-tuh-groo-EL-ee-uhn) |
1. (adj) Enormous. 2. (adj) Displaying extravagant and coarse humor. |
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amalgam (uh-MAL_guhm) |
1. (n) An alloy of mercury with another metal or metals; used especially (with silver) as a dental filling. 2. (n) A mixture or compound of different things. |
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Simon Legree (SY-muhn li-GREE) |
1. (n) A harsh taskmaster. |
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contrite (KON-tryt; kuhn-TRYT) |
1. (adj) Deeply affected with grief and regret for having done wrong; penitent; as,"a contrite sinner." 2. (adj) Expressing or arising from contrition; as, "contrite words." |
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gargantuan (gar-GAN-choo-uhn) |
1. (adj) Gigantic. |
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moiety (MOY-uh-tee) |
1. (n) One of two equal parts; a half. 2. (n) An indefinite part; a small portion or share. 3. (n) ONe of two basic tribal subdivisions. |
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babbitt (BAB-it) |
1. (n) A self-satisfied narrow-minded person who conforms to conventional ideals of business and material success. |
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sentient (SEN-shee-uhnt; -tee-; shuhnt) |
1. (adj) Capable of perceiving by the senses; conscious. 2. (adj) Experiencing sensation or feeling. |
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parsimonious (par-suh-MOH-nee-uhs) |
1. (adj) Sparing in expenditure; frugal to excess. |
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acumen (uh-KYOO-muhn; AK-yuh-muhn) |
1. (n) Quickness of perception or discernment; shrewdness shown by keen insight. |
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sideburns (SYDE-burnz) |
1. (plural noun) Hair grown on the sides of a man's face, when worn with an unbearded chin. 1 |
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cavil (KAV-uhl) |
1. (intransitive v) TO raise trivial or frivolous objections;to find fault without good reason. 2. (intransitive v) TO raise trivial objections to. 3. (n) A trivial or frivolous objection. |
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dundrearies (dun-DREER-eez) |
1. (n) Long flowing sideburns. |
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umbrage (UHM-brij) |
1. (n) Shade; shadow; hence; something that affords a shade, as a screen of trees or foliage. 2.a (n) A vague or indistinct indication or suggestion; a hing. 3.b (n) Reason for doubt; suspicion. 4. (n) Suspicion of injury or wrong; offense; resentment. |
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Vandyke (van dyk) |
1. (n) A short, pointed beard. |
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Van Dyke (van dyk) |
1. (n) A short, pointed beard. |
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vandyke (van dyk) |
1. (n) A short, pointed beard. |
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fetter (FET-uhr) |
1. (n) A chain or shackle for the feet; a bond; a shackle. 2.(n) Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint. 3. (v) TO put fetters upon; to shackle or confine. 4. (v) To restrain from progress or action; to impose restraints on; to confine. |
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blue (BLOO-beerd) |
1. (n) A man who marries and kills one wife after another. |
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paean (PEE-uhn) |
1. (n) A joyous song of praise, triumph, or thanksgiving. 2. (n) An expression of praise or joy. |
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Jericho (JER-i-ko) |
1. (n) A place out of the way; an unspecified place; a place of concealment. |
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subfusc (sub-FUHSK) |
1. (adj) Dark or dull in color; drab, dusky. |
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latitudinarian (lat-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un; -tyoo) |
1. (adj) Having or expressing broad and tolerant views, especially in religious matters. 2. (n) A person who is broad-minded and tolerant; one who displays freedom in thinking, especially in religious matters. 3. (n) A member of the Church of England, in the time of Charles II, who adopted more liberal notions in respect to the authority, government, and doctrines of the church the generally prevailed. |
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tirade (TY-raid; tih-RAID) |
1. (n) A long angry speech; a violent denunciation; a prolonged outburst full of censure or abuse. |
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cicerone (sis-uh-RO-nee) |
1. (n) A tour guide. |
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obtrude (uhb-TROOD; ob-) |
1. (transitive v) To thrust out; to push out. 2. (transitive v) To force or impose (one's self, remarks, opinions, ect.) on others with undue insistence or without solicitation. 3. (transitive v) To thrust upon a group or upon attention; to intrude. |
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svengali (sven-GAH-lee) |
1. (n) A person who manipulates and exercises excessive control over another for sinister purposes |
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Potemkin village (puh-TEM(P)-kin) |
1. (n) An impressive facade or display that hides an undesirable fact or state; a false front |
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lucullan (loo-KUHL-uhn) |
1. (adj) Lavish, luxurious |
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boulevardier (boo-luh-var-DYAY; bul-uh) |
1. (n) A frequenter of city boulevards, especially in Paris. 2. (n) A sophisticated, worldly, and socially active man; a man who frequents fashionable places; a man-about-town. |
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jeremiah (jer-uh-MY-uh) |
1. (n) A person who complains continually, has a gloomy attitude, or one who warns about a disastrous future. |
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cadge (KAJ) |
1. (transitive v) To be or obtain by begging; to sponge. 2. (transitive v) To beg; to sponge. |
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tartfuffe (tahr-TOOF) |
1. (n) A hypocrite who feigns virtue, especially in religious matters. |
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aright (uh-RYT) |
1. (adv) Rightly; correctly; properly; in a right way or manner. |
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ruminate (ROO-muh-nayt) |
1. (intransitive verb) To chew the cud; to chew again what has been slightly chewed and swallowed. 2. (transitive v) To think again and again; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to reflect. 3. (transitive v) To chew again. 4. (transitive v) To meditate or ponder over; to muse on. |
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listless (LIST-lis) |
1. (adj) Having no desire or inclination; indifferent; heedless; spiritless |
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garboil (GAHR-boil) |
1. (n) Confusion, turmoil |
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vehement (VEE-uh-muhnt) |
1. (adj) Characterized by intensity of emotions or convictions, or forcefulness of expression. 2. (adj) Characterized by or acting with great force or energy; strong |
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point-device (point di-VYS) |
1. (adv) Completely; perfectly 2. (adj) Perfect; precise; meticulous |
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ribald (RIB-uld or RY-bawld) |
1. (adj) Characterized by or given to bulgar humor;coarse |
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scrannel (SKRAN-l) |
1. (adj) Thin 2. (adj) Unmelodious |
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forgo (for-GO) |
1. (transitive v) To abstain from; to do without |
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sweven (SWEV-uh) |
1. (n) Dream; vision |
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schadenfreude (SHOD-n-froy-duh) |
1. (n) A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others. |
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ween (ween) |
1. (verb) To think, suppose, believe. |
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grandee (gran-DEE) |
1. (n) A man of elevated rank or station. 2. (n) In Spain or Portugal, a nobleman of the first rank. |
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patina (PAT-n-uh; puh-TEEN-uh) |
1. (n) The color or incrustation which age gives to works of art; espectially, the green rust which covers ancient bronzes, coins, and metals 2. (n) The sheen on any surface, produced by age and use. 3. (n) An appearance or aura produced by habit, practice, or use. 4. (n) A superficial layer or exterior. |
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harridan (HAIR-uh-din) |
1. (n) A worn-out strumpet; a vixenish woman; a hag. |
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countermand (KOWN-tuhr-mand; kown-tuhr-MAND) |
1. (transitive v) To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given. 2.(transitive v) To recall or order back by a contrary order. 3. (transitive v) A contrary order. 4. (transitive v) Revocation of a former order or command. |
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jackanapes (JAK-uh-nayps) |
1. (n) An impertinent conceited person. |
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gundygut (GUHN-di-guht) |
1. (n) A voracious eater; a greedy person. |
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bagatelle (bah-uh-TEL) |
1.(n) A trifle; a thing of little or no importance. 2.(n) A short, light musical or literary piece. 3.(n) A game played with a cue and balls on an oblong table having cups or arches at one end. |
