en.out

being	be | biː | verb (singular present am | am, əm | ; are | ɑː, ə | ; is | ɪz | ; plural present are; first and third singular past was | wɒz, wəz | ; second singular past and plural past were | wəː, wə | ; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive were; present participle being; past participle been | biːn, bɪn | ) 1 (usually there is/are) exist: there are no easy answers | there once was a man | there must be something wrong | I think, therefore I am. • be present: there were no curtains around the showers | are there any castles in this area? 2 [with adverbial] occur; take place: the exhibition will be in November | the opening event is on October 16 | that was before the war. • occupy a position in space: Salvation Street was on his left | she was not at the window. • stay in the same place or condition: he's a tough customer—let him be. • attend: I'm at school doing A levels. • come; go; visit: he's from Missouri | I have just been to Thailand | the doctor's been twice today. 3 [as copular verb] having the state, quality, identity, nature, role, etc., specified: Amy was 91 | the floor was uneven | I want to be a teacher | father was not well | it will be Christmas soon | ‘Be careful,’ Mr Carter said. • cost: the tickets were £25. • amount to: one and one is two. • represent: let A be a square matrix of order n. • signify: we were everything to each other. • consist of; constitute: the monastery was several three-storey buildings. 4 informal say: last time I saw her she was all ‘You need to quit smoking!’. auxiliary verb 1 used with a present participle to form continuous tenses: they are coming | he had been reading | she will be waiting. 2 used with a past participle to form the passive voice: it was done | it is said | his book will be published. 3 [with infinitive] used to indicate something that is due or destined to happen: construction is to begin next summer | his mum was never to see him win. • used to express obligation or necessity: you are to follow these orders | they said I was to remain on board. • used to express possibility: these snakes are to be found in North America | she was nowhere to be seen. • used to hypothesize about something that might happen: if I were to lose | if I was to tell you, you'd think I was mad. 4 archaic used with the past participle of intransitive verbs to form perfect tenses: I am returned. PHRASES as was (also that was) as someone or something was previously called: former Sex Pistol John Lydon (Rotten, as was) | General Dunstaple had married Miss Hughes that was. the be-all and end-all informal a feature of an activity or a way of life that is of greater importance than any other: is food and comfort the be-all and end-all? be oneself act naturally, according to one's character and instincts: I want him to have the confidence to be himself. been and — (also been and gone and —) British informal used to express surprise or annoyance at someone's actions: they've been and carted Mum off to hospital. not be oneself not feel in one's usual physical or mental state: I'm not myself this morning. not to be not destined to come about: everyone wanted a happy ending, but it was not to be. were it not for (also if it were not for) used in forming a clause expressing that a specified person or thing prevented a particular outcome: were it not for the strikes, we would have seen much better results | I would have had fun on the vacation were it not for this. -to-be [in combination] of the future: my bride-to-be. PHRASAL VERBS be across (be across something) British fully understand all the details of an issue or situation: it became obvious that he was not across the issues they were discussing. be at (be at something) British informal be doing or trying to do something: what are you at there? be away dialect leave or set out at once: I'm away to my work. be off go away; leave: he was anxious to be off | be off with you! ORIGIN Old English bēon, an irregular and defective verb, whose full conjugation derives from several originally distinct verbs. The forms am and is are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sum and est. The forms was and were are from an Indo-European root meaning ‘remain’. The forms be and been are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin fui ‘I was’, fio ‘I become’, and Greek phuein ‘bring forth, cause to grow’. The origin of are is uncertain. USAGE For a discussion of whether it is correct to say that must be he at the door and it is I rather than that must be him at the door and it is me, see usage at personal pronoun.
french	French | frɛn(t)ʃ | adjective relating to France or its people or language: the French government | her accent is very French. noun 1 [mass noun] the language of France, also used in parts of Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada, in several countries of northern and western Africa and the Caribbean, and elsewhere: I am fluent in French | [as modifier] : French lessons. 2 (as plural noun the French) the people of France collectively: the French, they say, live to eat. 3 short for French vermouth. French is the first or official language of over 200 million people and is widely used as a second language. It is a Romance language that developed from the Latin spoken in Gaul, the northern dialects coming to dominate after Paris became the capital in the 10th century. French became widely used owing to the cultural influence and colonial expansion of France from the 11th century, and it had a very great influence on English as the language of the Norman ruling class. PHRASES pardon my French (also excuse my French) informal used to apologize for swearing. DERIVATIVES Frenchness noun ORIGIN Old English Frencisc, of Germanic origin, from the base of Frank.
eat	eat | iːt | verb (past ate | ɛt, eɪt | ; past participle eaten | ˈiːt(ə)n | ) [with object] 1 put (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it: he was eating a hot dog | [no object] : she watched her son as he ate. • have (a meal): we ate dinner in a noisy cafe. • informal bother; annoy: she knew what was eating him | OK, Linley, what's eating you? • US informal absorb (financial loss or cost): if we had to, we could probably eat the cost. 2 vulgar slang, mainly US perform fellatio or cunnilingus on (someone). noun (eats) informal light food or snacks: these make great party eats. PHRASES eat someone alive informal (of insects) bite someone many times: we were eaten alive by mosquitoes. • exploit someone's weakness and completely dominate them: the defence lawyers would eat him alive on a written comment like that. eat one's heart out suffer from excessive longing for someone or something unattainable: I could have stayed in London eating my heart out for you. • [in imperative] informal used to indicate that one thinks someone will feel great jealousy or regret: eat your heart out, those who missed the trip. eat like a bird informal eat very little. eat like a horse informal eat a great deal. eat money Nigerian acquire money dishonestly, typically by extorting or embezzling funds: the governor was accused of eating money. eat someone out of house and home informal eat a lot of someone else's food: he would eat them out of house and home if he continued to run through biscuits at his present rate. eat one's words retract what one has said, especially in a humiliated way: they will eat their words when I win. have someone eating out of one's hand have someone completely under one's control: the guys have the crowd eating out of their hand right away with a few jokes. I'll eat my hat informal used to indicate that one thinks that something is extremely unlikely to happen: if he comes back, I'll eat my hat. PHRASAL VERBS eat away (eat something away, eat away something) wear something away; gradually erode something: the bacteria produce an acid that eats away the enamel coating that protects teeth. eat away at (eat away at something) wear something away; gradually erode something: sinkholes happen when water eats away at underground rock, creating pits and craters. • gradually use something up: fees and insurance premiums can eat away at your savings | figurative : the lack of success started eating away at his confidence. • (eat away at someone) cause persistent anxiety or distress to someone: the knowledge of his affair still ate away at her. eat in have a meal at home rather than in a restaurant. eat into (eat into something) damage something by eroding or corroding it: these liquids can discolour the surface or even eat into the top layer of concrete. • use up a quantity of profits, resources, or time: sales were hard hit by high interest rates eating into disposable income. eat out have a meal in a restaurant: there were plenty of places to eat out in the city centre. eat up 1 (eat something up, eat up something) eat all of something: if you don't eat up your carrots, you won't get dessert | Breakfast is here! Eat up. • enjoy something greatly: their fans ate up every minute of it. 2 (eat something up, eat up something) use resources or time in very large quantities: the operating system eats up 200Mb of disk space. • encroach on something: villagers fear that the countryside will be eaten up by concrete. 3 (eat someone up, eat up someone) dominate the thoughts of someone completely: he sits thinking about everything that could go wrong and it just eats him up | I'm eaten up with guilt. ORIGIN Old English etan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eten and German essen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin edere and Greek edein.
essen	Essen | ˈɛs(ə)n | an industrial city in the Ruhr valley, in north-western Germany; population 583,200 (est. 2006). 
erode	erode | ɪˈrəʊd | verb [with object] (of wind, water, or other natural agents) gradually wear away (soil, rock, or land): the cliffs on this coast have been eroded by the sea. • [no object] (of soil, rock, or land) be gradually worn away by natural agents: soft sedimentary rocks have eroded away. • gradually destroy or be gradually destroyed: [with object] : this humiliation has eroded what confidence Jean has. • Medicine (of a disease) gradually destroy (bodily tissue): many had their upper incisors missing and their maxillae eroded | (as adjective eroding) : vascular injury due to eroding ulcers. DERIVATIVES erodible adjective ORIGIN early 17th century: from French éroder or Latin erodere, from e- (variant of ex-) ‘out, away’ + rodere ‘gnaw’.
fi	today	today | təˈdeɪ | adverb on or in the course of this present day: she's thirty today | he will appear in court today. • at the present period of time; nowadays: millions of people in Britain today cannot afford adequate housing. noun this present day: today is a rest day | today's match against United. • the present period of time: the powerful computers of today | today's society. PHRASES today week British a week from today. ORIGIN Old English tō dæg ‘on (this) day’. Compare with tomorrow and tonight.
if	if | ɪf | conjunction 1 (introducing a conditional clause) on the condition or supposition that; in the event that: if you have a complaint, write to the director | if you like I'll put in a word for you. • (with past tense) introducing a hypothetical situation: if you had stayed, this would never have happened. • whenever; every time: if I go out she gets nasty. 2 despite the possibility that; no matter whether: if it takes me seven years, I shall do it. 3 (often used in indirect questions) whether: he asked if we would like some coffee | I wonder if she noticed. 4 [with modal] expressing a polite request: if I could just use the phone, I'll get a taxi | if you wouldn't mind giving him a message? 5 expressing an opinion: that's a jolly long walk, if you don't mind my saying so | if you ask me, he's in love. 6 expressing surprise or regret: well, if it isn't Frank! 7 (with implied reservation) and perhaps not: the new leaders have little if any control. • used to admit something as being possible but relatively insignificant: if there was any weakness, it was naivety | ‘We both saw him.’ ‘So what if you did?’. • despite being (used before an adjective or adverb to introduce a contrast): she was honest, if a little brutal. noun a condition or supposition: there are so many ifs and buts in the policy. PHRASES if and only if used to introduce a condition which is necessary as well as sufficient: Alice will come if and only if Charles and Edward are both going to be there. if and when at a future time (should it arise): most of these plans can be altered if and when the situation changes. if anything used to suggest tentatively that something may be the case (often the opposite of something previously implied): I haven't made much of this—if anything, I've played it down. if I were you used to accompany a piece of advice: I would go to see him if I were you. if not perhaps even (used to introduce a more extreme term than one first mentioned): hundreds if not thousands of germs. if only 1 even if for no other reason than: Willy would have to tell George more, if only to stop him pestering. 2 used to express a wish, especially regretfully: if only I had listened to you. if so if that is the case. ORIGIN Old English gif, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch of and German ob. USAGE If and whether are more or less interchangeable in sentences like I'll see if he left an address and I'll see whether he left an address, although whether is generally regarded as more formal and suitable for written use.
down	down1 | daʊn | adverb 1 towards or in a lower place or position, especially to or on the ground or another surface: she looked down | the sun started to go down | he put his glass down | he swung the axe to chop down the tree. • at or to a specified distance below: you can plainly see the bottom 35 feet down. • downstairs: I went down to put the kettle on. • expressing movement or position away from the north: they're living down south. • to or at a place perceived as lower (often expressing casualness or lack of hurry): I'd rather be down at the villa | I'm going down to the pub. • British away from the capital or major city: there are eight trains a day, four up and four down. • British away from a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge: he was down from Oxford. • (with reference to food or drink swallowed) in or into the stomach: she couldn't keep anything down. • so as to lie or be fixed flush or flat: she stuck down a Christmas label. • [as exclamation] used as a command to a person or animal to sit or lie down: down, boy! • referring to a crossword answer which reads vertically: how many letters in fifteen down? 2 to or at a lower level of intensity, volume, or activity: keep the noise down | the panic was dying down | at night it would cool down. • to or at a lower price, value, or rank: output was down by 20 per cent | soup is down from 59p to 49p. • to a finer consistency, a smaller amount or size, or a simpler or more basic state: I must slim down a bit | a formal statement that can't be edited down | thin down an oil-based paint with spirits. • from an earlier to a later point in time or order: buildings in England down to 1540 | everyone, from the President down to the bloke selling hot dogs, wants her dead. 3 in or into a weaker or worse position, mood, or condition: the scandal brought down the government | he was down with the flu. • losing or at a disadvantage by a specified amount: United were 3–0 down. • used to express progress through a series of tasks or items: one down and only six more to go. • (of a computer system) out of action or unavailable for use: the system went down yesterday. • (down with —) shouted to express strong dislike of a specified person or thing: crowds chanted ‘Down with America!’. 4 in or into writing: Graham noted the numbers down carefully | taking down notes. • on or on to a list, schedule, or record: I'll put you down for the evening shift. 5 (with reference to partial payment of a sum of money) made initially or on the spot: pay £5 down and the rest at the end of the month. 6 (of sailing) with the current or the wind. • (of a ship's helm) moved round to leeward so that the rudder is to windward and the vessel swings toward the wind. 7 American Football (of the ball or a player in possession) not in play, typically through progress being stopped. preposition 1 from a higher to a lower point of (something): up and down the stairs | tears streaming down her face. • at or to the part of (a river or stream) that is nearer the sea: a dozen miles or so down the Thames. • moving or at a point further along the course of (something): he lived down the street | I wandered down the road. • informal at or to (a place): she was tired of going down the pub every night. 2 throughout (a period of time): astrologers down the ages. adjective 1 [attributive] directed or moving towards a lower place or position: the down escalator | click on the down arrow. • relating to or denoting trains travelling away from the main terminus: we travelled on the first down train. 2 [predicative] unhappy or depressed: he's been so down lately. 3 [predicative] (of a computer system) temporarily out of action or unavailable: sorry, but the computer's down. 4 [predicative] US informal supporting or going along with someone or something: you got to be down with me | she was totally down for a selfie | ‘You going to the movies?’ ‘Yo, I'm down.’. • aware of and following the latest fashion: a seriously down, hip-hop homie. 5 [attributive] Physics denoting a flavour (variety) of stable quark having relatively low mass and an electric charge of −1/3. In the Standard Model protons and neutrons are composed of up and down quarks. verb [with object] informal 1 knock or bring to the ground: 175 enemy aircraft had been downed | he struck Slater on the face, downing him. • American Football put (the ball) out of play deliberately by touching one's knee to the ground while holding the ball or touching the ball itself to the ground: Jones downed the ball in the end zone. 2 consume (something, typically a drink): he downed five pints of cider. • Golf sink (a putt): he downed a 20-foot putt for victory. noun 1 informal a period of unwelcome experiences or negative mood: there had been more downs than ups during his years at the company | everyone gets their downs, their depressive periods. 2 American Football a chance for a team to advance the ball, ending when the ball carrier is tackled or the ball becomes out of play. A team must advance at least ten yards in a series of four downs in order to keep possession. PHRASES be down on British informal feel hostile or antagonistic towards: I was really down on him after his poor performance last season. be down to 1 be attributable to (a particular factor or circumstance): he claimed his problems were down to the media. • be the responsibility of (a particular person): it's down to you to make sure the boiler receives regular servicing. 2 be left with only (the specified amount): I'm down to my last few pounds. down in the mouth | ˌdaʊn ɪn ðə ˈmaʊθ | informal unhappy; dejected. down on one's luck informal experiencing a period of bad luck: he plays the part of a scriptwriter down on his luck. down tools British informal stop work, especially as a form of industrial action: the union instructed its members to down tools. down to the ground informal completely; totally. down town into or in the centre of a town: I went down town to do a few errands. have someone or something down as (also put someone or something down as) judge someone or something to be (a particular type): I never had Jake down as a ladies' man. have a down on British informal feel hostile or antagonistic towards: she had a real down on Angela. ORIGIN Old English dūn, dūne, shortened from adūne ‘downward’, from the phrase of dūne ‘off the hill’ (see down3).
remember	remember | rɪˈmɛmbə | verb 1 [with object] have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something from the past): I remember the screech of the horn as the car came towards me | no one remembered his name. • bear (someone) in mind by making them a gift or making provision for them: he has remembered the boy in his will. • pray for the well-being of: the congress should be remembered in our prayers. • (remember someone to) convey greetings from one person to (another): remember me to Charlie. • (remember oneself) recover one's manners after a lapse: she remembered herself and sat up straighter. 2 [with infinitive] do something that one has undertaken to do or that is necessary or advisable: did you remember to post the letters? • [with clause] used to emphasize the importance of what is asserted: you must remember that this is a secret. DERIVATIVES rememberer noun ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French remembrer, from late Latin rememorari ‘call to mind’, from re- (expressing intensive force) + Latin memor ‘mindful’.

away	away | əˈweɪ | adverb 1 to or at a distance from a particular place, person, or thing: she landed badly, and crawled away | they walked away from the vicarage in silence | we'll only be away for four nights. • at a specified distance: when he was ten or twelve feet away he stopped | we have had patients from as far away as Wales. • at a specified future distance in time: the wedding is only weeks away. • towards a lower level; downwards: in front of them the land fell away to the river. • conceptually to one side, so as no longer to be the focus of attention: the Museum has shifted its emphasis away from research towards exhibitions. • (with reference to a sports fixture) at the opponents' ground: Oh what fun it is to see the Mariners win away | we are away to Morecambe on Saturday. 2 into an appropriate place for storage or safekeeping: he put away the pistol. 3 into non-existence: Marie felt her distress ebbing away. 4 constantly, persistently, or continuously: there was Morrissey crooning away. adjective (of a sports fixture) played at the opponents' ground: tomorrow night's away game at Leicester | an away victory. • relating to or denoting a sports team that is playing at the opponents' ground: the away side scored first | away fans chanted and cheered. noun an away match or win. ORIGIN Old English onweg, aweg ‘on one's way’ (see a-2, way).

post	post1 | pəʊst | noun 1 a long, sturdy piece of timber or metal set upright in the ground and used as a support or marker: follow the blue posts until the track meets a road. • a goalpost: Robertson, at the near post, headed wide. • (the post) a starting post or winning post. 2 a piece of writing, image, or other item of content published online, typically on a blog or social media website or application: in a recent post, he cautioned investors to be wary of these predictions. verb [with object] 1 display (a notice) in a public place: a curt notice had been posted on the door. • put notices on or in: we have posted all the bars. 2 announce or publish (something, especially a financial result): the company posted a £460,000 loss. • [with object and complement] publish the name of (a member of the armed forces) as missing or dead: a whole troop had been posted missing. • publish (a piece of writing, image, or other item of content) online, typically on a blog or social media website or application: she posted a photo of herself with the singer on Twitter | I'll post an article next week revealing the results of the poll | the list was promptly posted all over the internet | the company posted the news on its blog yesterday. 3 (of a player or team) achieve or record (a particular score or result): Smith and Lamb posted a century partnership. PHRASES go to post (of a racehorse) start a race: only four of the fifteen entries go to post. PHRASAL VERBS post up Basketball play in a position near the basket, along the side of the key: Jordan settled for jumpers instead of using his five-inch height advantage to post up. ORIGIN Old English, from Latin postis ‘doorpost’, later ‘rod, beam’, probably reinforced in Middle English by Old French post ‘pillar, beam’ and Middle Dutch, Middle Low German post ‘doorpost’.

measles	measles | ˈmiːz(ə)lz | plural noun [treated as singular] an infectious viral disease causing fever and a red rash, typically occurring in childhood: women queue to have their children immunized against measles | a severe case of the measles. • a disease of pigs and other animals caused by the larvae of the human tapeworm. ORIGIN Middle English maseles, probably from Middle Dutch masel ‘pustule’ (compare with modern Dutch mazelen ‘measles’). The spelling change was due to association with Middle English mesel ‘leprous, leprosy’.

savagery	savagery | ˈsavɪdʒ(ə)ri | noun (plural savageries) [mass noun] 1 the quality of being fierce or cruel: a crime of the utmost savagery | she was treated with particular savagery by cartoonists. 2 (chiefly in historical or literary contexts) the condition of being primitive or uncivilized: without adult society, the children descend into savagery | the progress of civilization over savagery. 

blad	
use	use verb | juːz | [with object] 1 take, hold, or deploy (something) as a means of accomplishing or achieving something; employ: she used her key to open the front door | the poem uses simple language. • [with object and adverbial] treat (someone) in a particular way: use your troops well and they will not let you down. • exploit (a person or situation) for one's own advantage: I couldn't help feeling that she was using me. • apply (a name or title) to oneself: she still used her maiden name professionally. • take (an illegal drug): they were using heroin daily | [no object] : had she been using again? 2 take or consume (an amount) from a limited supply: we have used all the available funds. 3 [in past, with infinitive] (used to | juːst | ) describing an action or situation that was done repeatedly or existed for a period in the past: this road used to be a dirt track | I used to give him lifts home. 4 (be/get used to | juːst | ) be or become familiar with (someone or something) through experience: she was used to getting what she wanted | he's weird, but you just have to get used to him. 5 (one could use) informal one would like or benefit from: I could use another cup of coffee. noun | juːs | [mass noun] 1 the action of using something or the state of being used for a purpose: modern trains are now in use | a few years after penicillin came into use | the water mill went out of use in 1960 | theatre owners were charging too much for the use of their venues | the software is ideal for use in schools. • the ability or power to exercise or manipulate one's mind or body: the horse lost the use of his hind legs. • [count noun] a purpose for or way in which something can be used: the herb has various culinary uses. 2 the value or advantage of something: what's the use of crying? • Law, historical the benefit or profit of lands, especially lands that are in the possession of another who holds them solely for the beneficiary. 3 the habitual consumption of a drug: theft and dealing financed their heroin use. 4 the characteristic ritual and liturgy of a Christian Church or diocese. PHRASES be any use (also be of any use) be useful: he had to remain focused if he was to be any use in the search | to be of any use, the photos must be up to date. be no use 1 be pointless: it was no use trying to persuade her | it's no use having facilities without proper management. 2 (also be of no use) not be useful or effective: a grenade is no use in an open space. be of use be useful: a pair of goggles would be of use. have one's uses informal be useful in certain respects: I know you don't like him, but he has his uses | an army training has its uses. have no use for be unable to find a purpose for; have no need for: he had no use for a single glove. • informal dislike or be impatient with. make use of use for a purpose: they made use of a variety of methods in their research. • benefit from: they were educated enough to make use of further training. put something to good use use something in an effective and beneficial way: he wanted to put his experience to good use. use and wont formal established custom: the painter followed the religious use and wont of his time. use someone's name cite someone as an authority or reference: you could use my name—if they know you work for me, they might open up. PHRASAL VERBS use up (use something up, use up something) use all of a stock or supply of something: the money was soon used up | these towns have already used up their water quotas for the period. • (use something up, use up something) find a purpose for something that is left over: I might use up all my odd scraps of wool to make a scarf. • (be used up) informal (of a person) be exhausted or emotionally drained: she was tired and used up. ORIGIN Middle English: the noun from Old French us, from Latin usus, from uti ‘to use’; the verb from Old French user, based on Latin uti. USAGE The construction used to is standard, but difficulties arise with the formation of negatives and questions. Traditionally, used to behaves as a modal verb, so that questions and negatives are formed without the auxiliary verb do, as in it used not to be like that and used she to come here? In modern English this question form is now regarded as very formal or awkwardly old-fashioned and the use with do is broadly accepted as standard, as in did she use to come here? Negative constructions with do, on the other hand (as in it didn't use to be like that), though common, are informal and are not generally accepted. There is sometimes confusion over whether to use the form used to or use to, which has arisen largely because the pronunciation is the same in both cases. Except in negatives and questions, the correct form is used to: we used to go to the park all the time, not we use to go to the park all the time. However, in negatives and questions using the auxiliary verb do, the correct form is use to, because the form of the verb required is the infinitive: I didn't use to like mushrooms, not I didn't used to like mushrooms. See also usage at utilize.

blob	blob1 | blɒb | noun a drop of a thick liquid or viscous substance: blobs of paint. • a spot of colour: the town is much more than a brown blob on the map. • an indeterminate roundish mass or shape: a big pink blob of a face was at the window. • informal a score of 0 in a game: he made a string of blobs then hit a hundred. verb (blobs, blobbing, blobbed) [with object] put small drops of thick liquid or spots of colour on: her nose was blobbed with paint. DERIVATIVES blobby | ˈblɒbi | adjective (blobbier, blobbiest) ORIGIN late Middle English (denoting a bubble): perhaps symbolic of a drop of liquid; compare with blotch, blubber1, and plop.

anomie	anomie | ˈanəmi | (also anomy) noun [mass noun] lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group: the theory that high-rise architecture leads to anomie in the residents. DERIVATIVES anomic | əˈnɒmɪk | adjective ORIGIN 1930s: from French, from Greek anomia, from anomos ‘lawless’.

skit	skit | skɪt | noun a short comedy sketch or piece of humorous writing, especially a parody: a skit on daytime magazine programmes. • North American a short informal performance intended to educate or inform: students will create skits about bullying and go to each elementary school to perform them. ORIGIN early 18th century (in the sense ‘satirical comment or attack’): related to the rare verb skit ‘move lightly and rapidly’, perhaps from Old Norse (compare with skjóta ‘shoot’).

starling	starling1 | ˈstɑːlɪŋ | noun a gregarious Old World songbird with a straight bill, typically with dark lustrous or iridescent plumage but sometimes brightly coloured. Family Sturnidae (the starling family): many genera and numerous species, in particular the speckled Sturnus vulgaris, widely introduced elsewhere. The starling family also includes the mynahs, grackles, and (usually) the oxpeckers. ORIGIN Old English stærlinc, from stær ‘starling’ (of Germanic origin) + -ling.

eldest	eldest | ˈɛldɪst | adjective (of one out of a group of related or otherwise associated people) of the greatest age; oldest: Swift left the company to his eldest son, Charles. ORIGIN Old English ieldest, eldest, of Germanic origin; related to German ältest, also to eld and old.

heinous	heinous | ˈheɪnəs, ˈhiːnəs | adjective (of a person or wrongful act, especially a crime) utterly odious or wicked: a battery of heinous crimes. DERIVATIVES heinously adverb heinousness noun ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French haineus, from hair ‘to hate’, of Germanic origin.

pseudocyesis	pseudocyesis | ˌsjuːdəʊsʌɪˈiːsɪs | noun technical term for phantom pregnancy. ORIGIN mid 19th century: from pseudo- ‘false’ + Greek kuēsis ‘conception’.

spacey	spacey | ˈspeɪsi | (also spacy) adjective (spacier, spaciest) informal unaware of one's surroundings or in a state of euphoria, especially as a result of taking drugs: I remember babbling, high and spacey. • (of popular, especially electronic music) drifting and ethereal: a spacey ballad | spacey synths. 

dalliance	dalliance | ˈdalɪəns | noun a casual romantic or sexual relationship: Jack was not averse to an occasional dalliance with a pretty girl | [mass noun] : MPs have the opportunity for dalliance, as they are away from home for much of the week. • a period of brief or casual involvement with something: Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system. ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense ‘conversation’): from dally + -ance.

yay	yay1 | jeɪ | exclamation informal expressing triumph, approval, or encouragement: Yay! Great, Julie! ORIGIN 1960s: perhaps an alteration of yeah.

pleat	pleat | pliːt | noun a double or multiple fold in a garment or other item made of cloth, held by stitching the top or side. verb [with object] fold into pleats: she was absently pleating her skirt between her fingers. DERIVATIVES pleater noun ORIGIN late Middle English: a variant of plait. The written form of the word became obsolete between c. 1700 and the end of the 19th century.

grifter	grifter | ˈɡrɪftə | noun North American informal a person who engages in petty or small-scale swindling: I saw him as a grifter who preys upon people. 

swindling	swindle | ˈswɪnd(ə)l | verb [with object] use deception to deprive (someone) of money or possessions: a businessman swindled investors out of millions of pounds. • obtain (money) fraudulently: he was said to have swindled £62.5 million from the state-owned cement industry. noun a fraudulent scheme or action: he is mixed up in a £10 million insurance swindle. ORIGIN late 18th century: back-formation from swindler, from German Schwindler ‘extravagant maker of schemes, swindler’, from schwindeln ‘be giddy’, also ‘tell lies’.

ravage	ravage | ˈravɪdʒ | verb [with object] cause severe and extensive damage to: the hurricane ravaged southern Florida. noun (ravages) the destructive effects of something: his face had withstood the ravages of time. • acts of destruction: the ravages committed by man. DERIVATIVES ravager noun ORIGIN early 17th century: from French ravager, from earlier ravage, alteration of ravine ‘rush of water’.

kerfuffle	kerfuffle | kəˈfʌf(ə)l | noun [in singular] British informal a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views: there was a kerfuffle over the chairmanship. ORIGIN early 19th century: perhaps from Scots curfuffle (probably from Scottish Gaelic car ‘twist, bend’ + imitative Scots fuffle ‘to disorder’), or related to Irish cior thual ‘confusion, disorder’.

burden	burden | ˈbəːd(ə)n | noun 1 a load, typically a heavy one. • a duty or misfortune that causes worry, hardship, or distress: the tax burden on low-wage earners. • the main responsibility for achieving a specified aim or task: the burden of establishing that the authority had misused its powers rests upon the prosecution. • a ship's carrying capacity; tonnage: the schooner Wyoming, of about 6,000 tons burden. 2 (the burden) the main theme or gist of a speech, book, or argument. 3 archaic the refrain or chorus of a song. verb [with object] load heavily: she walked forwards burdened with a wooden box. • cause (someone) worry, hardship, or distress: they were not yet burdened with adult responsibility. PHRASES burden of proof the obligation to prove one's assertion. ORIGIN Old English byrthen, of West Germanic origin; related to bear1.

especious	
specious	specious | ˈspiːʃəs | adjective superficially plausible, but actually wrong: a specious argument. • misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive: the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty. DERIVATIVES speciosity | -ʃɪˈɒsɪti | noun speciously | ˈspiːʃəsli | adverb speciousness | ˈspiːʃəsnəs | noun ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense ‘beautiful’): from Latin speciosus ‘fair’, from species (see species).

gilded	gild1 | ɡɪld | verb [with object] cover thinly with gold: in 1436 he gilded and painted statues for Bruges Town Hall | figurative : the first rays of the sun were gilding the grassy hillside. PHRASES gild the lily try to improve what is already beautiful or excellent. [misquotation, from ‘To gild refined gold, to paint the lily; to throw perfume on the violet, … is wasteful, and ridiculous excess’ (Shakespeare's King John vi. ii. 11.).]DERIVATIVES gilder | ˈɡɪldə | noun ORIGIN Old English gyldan, of Germanic origin; related to gold.

peddler	peddler | ˈpɛdlə | noun 1 a person who sells illegal drugs or stolen goods: a drug peddler. • a person who promotes an idea or view persistently or widely: peddlers of dangerous Utopianism. 2 mainly US variant spelling of pedlar. USAGE See usage at pedal1.

condescending	condescend | kɒndɪˈsɛnd | verb [no object] show that one feels superior; be patronizing: take care not to condescend to your reader. • [with infinitive] do something in such a way as to emphasize that one clearly regards it as below one's dignity or level of importance: he condescended to see me at my hotel. ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense ‘give way, defer’): from Old French condescendre, from ecclesiastical Latin condescendere, from con- ‘together’ + descendere ‘descend’.

loggerel	
bewitcher	bewitch | bɪˈwɪtʃ | verb [with object] 1 enchant and delight (someone): they both were bewitched by the golden luminosity of Italy. 2 cast a spell over (someone): a handsome prince who had been bewitched by a sorceress. DERIVATIVES bewitcher noun bewitchment | bɪˈwɪtʃmənt | noun ORIGIN Middle English: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + witch.

airlift	airlift | ˈɛːlɪft | noun an act of transporting supplies by aircraft, typically in a blockade or other emergency: a massive airlift of food, blankets, and medical supplies. verb [with object] transport (troops or supplies) by aircraft: helicopters were employed to airlift the troops out of danger. 

consensus	consensus | kənˈsɛnsəs | noun [usually in singular] a general agreement: [with clause] : there is a growing consensus that the current regime has failed | [as modifier] : a consensus view. ORIGIN mid 17th century: from Latin, ‘agreement’, from consens- ‘agreed’, from the verb consentire.

stonk	stonk | stɒŋk | military slang noun a concentrated artillery bombardment: a mortar stonk. verb [with object] bombard with concentrated artillery fire: woods and farmsteads were routinely stonked by German guns. ORIGIN 1940s: said to be formed from elements of the artillery term Standard Regimental Concentration.

beget	beget | bɪˈɡɛt | verb (begets, begetting; past begot | bɪˈɡɒt | or archaic begat | bɪˈɡat | ; past participle begotten | bɪˈɡɒt(ə)n | ) [with object] literary 1 (especially of a man) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction: they hoped that the King might beget an heir by his new queen. 2 cause; bring about: killings beget more killings. DERIVATIVES begetter | bɪˈɡɛtə | noun ORIGIN Old English begietan ‘get, obtain by effort’ (see be-, get).

peep	peep1 | piːp | verb [no object] look quickly and furtively at something, especially through a narrow opening: his door was ajar and she couldn't resist peeping in. • (peep out) come gradually or partially into view: the sun began to peep out. noun [usually in singular] a quick or furtive look: Jonathan took a little peep at his watch. • a momentary or partial view of something: black curls and a peep of gold earring. ORIGIN late 15th century: symbolic; compare with peek.

revolting	revolt | rɪˈvəʊlt | verb 1 [no object] take violent action against an established government or ruler; rebel: the Iceni revolted and had to be suppressed. • refuse to acknowledge someone or something as having authority: voters may revolt when they realize the cost of the measures. 2 [with object] cause to feel disgust: he was revolted by the stench that greeted him. • [no object] archaic feel disgust: 'tis just the main assumption reason most revolts at. noun an attempt to end the authority of a person or body by rebelling: a country-wide revolt against the government | [mass noun] : the peasants rose in revolt. • a refusal to continue to obey or conform: a revolt over tax increases. ORIGIN mid 16th century: from French révolte (noun), révolter (verb), from Italian rivoltare, based on Latin revolvere ‘roll back’ (see revolve).

hive	hive | hʌɪv | noun 1 a beehive. • the bees in a hive. • a thing that has the domed shape of a beehive. 2 a place in which people are busily occupied: the kitchen became a hive of activity. verb [with object] place (bees) in a hive: smoke is used to subdue bees when taking and hiving a swarm. • [no object] (of bees) enter a hive. PHRASAL VERBS hive off (hive something off, hive off something) mainly British separate something from a larger group or organization: the printing department was hived off in a management buyout. ORIGIN Old English hȳf, of Germanic origin.

provisional	provisional | prəˈvɪʒ(ə)n(ə)l | adjective 1 arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later: a provisional government | provisional bookings. • British (of a driving licence) to be obtained before starting to learn to drive and upgraded to a full licence on passing a driving test: Norman as yet had only a provisional licence. • (of a postage stamp) put into circulation temporarily, usually owing to the unavailability of the definitive issue. 2 (Provisional) denoting the unofficial wings of the IRA and Sinn Fein established in 1969 and advocating terrorism: the Provisional IRA. noun 1 a provisional stamp. 2 (Provisional) a member of the Provisional wings of the IRA or Sinn Fein. DERIVATIVES provisionality | prəvɪʒ(ə)ˈnalɪti | noun provisionalness noun 

thread	thread | θrɛd | noun 1 a long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibres used in sewing or weaving: he had a loose thread on his shirt | figurative : the thread that bound them had snapped. • [mass noun] cotton, nylon, or other fibres spun into long, thin strands and used for sewing: she put her needle and thread away. • literary a long, thin line or piece of something: the Thames was a thread of silver below them. 2 a theme or characteristic running throughout a situation or piece of writing: a major thread running through the book is the primacy of form over substance. • (in online communication) a sequence of linked posts or messages. • Computing a programming structure or process formed by linking a number of separate elements or subroutines, especially each of the tasks executed concurrently in multithreading. 3 (also screw thread) a helical ridge on the outside of a screw, bolt, etc. or on the inside of a cylindrical hole, to allow two parts to be screwed together. 4 (threads) informal, mainly North American clothes: his fine threads and fashionable specs. verb [with object] 1 pass a thread through the eye of (a needle) or through the needle and guides of (a sewing machine): I can't even thread a needle | she threaded up the machine with the right cotton. • [with object and adverbial of direction] pass (a long, thin object or piece of material) through something and into the required position for use: he threaded the rope through a pulley. • put (something) on a thread, chain, etc. that passes through it, especially in such a way as to connect a number of things by passing a thread through each: Connie sat threading beads | thread the buttons on to a length of cotton. • [no object, with adverbial of direction] move carefully or skilfully in and out of obstacles: she threaded her way through the tables. • interweave or intersperse as if with threads: his hair had become ill-kempt and threaded with grey. 2 pluck hairs from (the eyebrows or another part of the body) using a twisted cotton thread: I had my eyebrows threaded today. 3 cut a screw thread in or on (a hole, screw, bolt, etc.): we're laser-cutting holes to be threaded for screws. PHRASES hang by a thread be in a highly precarious state: their lives were hanging by a thread. lose the thread (also lose one's thread) be unable to follow what someone is saying or remember what one is going to say next: she lost the thread of the conversation after a time. DERIVATIVES threadlike | ˈθrɛdlʌɪk | adjective ORIGIN Old English thrǣd (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch draad and German Draht, also to the verb throw. The verb dates from late Middle English.

escholar	
time	time | tʌɪm | noun 1 [mass noun] the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole: travel through space and time | our conception of time | one of the greatest wits of all time. • the continued progress of existence as affecting people and things: things were getting better as time passed. • time or an amount of time as reckoned by a conventional standard: it's eight o'clock New York Time. • (Time or Father Time) the personification of time, typically as an old man with a scythe and hourglass. 2 a point of time as measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon: the time is 9.30. • a moment or definite portion of time allotted, used, or suitable for a purpose: the scheduled departure time | shall we fix a time for the meeting? • (often time for/to do something) the favourable or appropriate time to do something: it was time to go | it's time for bed. • (a time) an indefinite period: travelling always distorts one's feelings for a time. • (also times) a portion of time in history or characterized by particular events or circumstances: Victorian times | at the time of Galileo | the park is beautiful at this time of year. • (also times) the conditions of life during a particular period: times have changed. • (Times) used in names of newspapers: the Oxford Times. • (one's time) one's lifetime: I've known a lot of women in my time. • (one's time) the successful, fortunate, or influential part of a person's life or career: in my time that was unheard of. • (one's time) the appropriate or expected time for something, in particular childbirth or death: he seemed old before his time. • an apprenticeship: engineering officers traditionally served their time as fitters in the yards. • dated a period of menstruation or pregnancy. • [mass noun] the normal rate of pay for time spent working: if called out at the weekend they are paid time and a half. • the length of time taken to run a race or complete an event or journey: his time for the mile was 3:49.31. • British the moment at which the opening hours of a pub end: the landlord called time. • short for full time: he scored the third five minutes from time. • Baseball & American Football a moment at which play stops temporarily within a game: the umpire called time. 3 [mass noun] time as allotted, available, or used: we need more time | it would be a waste of time. • informal a prison sentence: he was doing time for fraud. 4 an instance of something happening or being done; an occasion: this is the first time I have got into debt | the nurse came in four times a day. • an event, occasion, or period experienced in a particular way: she was having a rough time of it. 5 (times) (following a number) expressing multiplication: eleven times four is forty-four. 6 [mass noun] the rhythmic pattern of a piece of music, as expressed by a time signature: tunes in waltz time. • the tempo at which a piece of music is played or marked to be played. verb 1 [with object and adverbial or infinitive] plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done: the first track race is timed for 11.15 | the bomb had been timed to go off an hour later. • perform (an action) at a particular moment: Williams timed his pass perfectly from about thirty yards. 2 [with object] measure the time taken by (a process or activity, or a person doing it): we were timed and given certificates according to our speed | [with clause] : I timed how long it took to empty that tanker. PHRASES about time used to convey that something now happening or about to happen should have happened earlier: it's about time I came clean and admitted it. against time with utmost speed, so as to finish by a specified time: he was working against time. all the time constantly or very frequently: the airfield was in use all the time | we were in and out of each other's houses all the time. at one time in or during a known but unspecified past period: she was a nurse at one time. at the same time 1 simultaneously; at once: answer the telephone promptly and try to pick up a pencil and notepad at the same time. 2 nevertheless (used to introduce a fact that should be taken into account): I can't really explain it, but at the same time I'm not convinced. at a time separately in the specified groups or numbers: he took the stairs two at a time. at times sometimes; on occasions: she is at times cruel and ruthless. before time before the due or expected time. behind time late: she was now behind time and had to rush. behind the times not aware of or using the latest ideas or techniques; out of date: the children considered dad to be behind the times. call time on British announce or signal the end of (an activity): she has decided to call time on her tennis career. for the time being for the present; until some other arrangement is made. give someone the time of day [usually with negative] be pleasantly polite or friendly to someone: I wouldn't give him the time of day if I could help it. half the time as often as not: he's so clever, half the time I can't keep up with him. have no time for be unable or unwilling to spend time on: he had no time for anything except essays and projects. • dislike or disapprove of: he's got no time for airheads. have the time 1 be able to spend the time needed to do something: she didn't have the time to look very closely. 2 know from having a watch what time it is: as he gets close to me, he asks if I've got the time. in no time (also in less than no time) very quickly or very soon: the video has sold 30,000 copies in no time. in one's own time 1 (also in one's own good time) at a time and a rate decided by oneself: the desire of the child to be free to do things, to create in his own way and in his own time. 2 (US on one's own time) outside working hours; without being paid: I painted mostly in my own time. in time 1 not late; punctual: I came back in time for Molly's party. 2 eventually: there is the danger that he might, in time, not be able to withstand temptation. 3 in accordance with the appropriate musical rhythm or tempo. keep bad time 1 (of a clock or watch) record time inaccurately. 2 (of a person) be habitually unpunctual. keep good time 1 (of a clock or watch) record time accurately. 2 (of a person) be habitually punctual. keep time play or rhythmically accompany music in time. lose no time do a specified thing as soon as possible: the administration lost no time in trying to regain the initiative. not before time used to convey that something now happening or about to happen should have happened earlier: a new law is proposed to curb this type of blatantly dishonest description, and not before time. no time a very short interval or period: the renovations were done in no time. on time punctual; punctually: the train was on time | we paid our bills on time. out of time 1 at the wrong time or period: I felt that I was born out of time. 2 not in accordance with the appropriate musical rhythm or tempo: every time we get to this part in the song, you are out of time. pass the time of day exchange greetings or casual remarks. time after time (also time and again or time and time again) on very many occasions; repeatedly. time and tide wait for no man proverb if you don't make use of a favourable opportunity, you may never get the same chance again. time flies used as an observation that time seems to pass very quickly: people say time flies when you're having fun | my daughter started school in September—oh, how time flies. [translation of tempus fugit.] time immemorial a time in the past that was so long ago that people have no knowledge or memory of it: markets had been held there from time immemorial. time is money proverb time is a valuable resource, therefore it's better to do things as quickly as possible. the time of one's life a period or occasion of exceptional enjoyment. time of the month euphemistic the time during which a woman or girl has her period; an occurrence of menstruation: they assume that if I am upset about anything, it must be my time of the month. time out of mind a time in the past that was so long ago that people have no knowledge or memory of it: from time out of mind, a wooden bridge connected the two peoples. time was there was a time when: time was, each street had its own specialized trade. time will tell (also only time will tell) the truth or correctness of something will only be established at some time in the future: time will tell whether Benson is right. PHRASAL VERBS time out Computing (of an operation) be cancelled automatically because a predefined interval of time has passed without a certain event happening. • (time something out, time out something) (of a computer or a program) cancel an operation automatically because a predefined interval of time has passed without a certain event happening: connections are timed out when they're not in use. ORIGIN Old English tīma, of Germanic origin; related to tide, which it superseded in temporal senses. The earliest of the current verb senses (dating from late Middle English) is ‘do (something) at a particular moment’.

scholar	scholar | ˈskɒlə | noun a specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities: a Hebrew scholar | a phrase borrowed from the Indian scholar Ananda Coomaraswamy. • mainly archaic a person who is highly educated or has an aptitude for study: Mr Bell declares himself no scholar. • a university student holding a scholarship: a Rhodes scholar. • archaic a student or pupil. ORIGIN Old English scol(i)ere ‘schoolchild, student’, from late Latin scholaris, from Latin schola (see school1).

dweeb	dweeb | dwiːb | noun North American informal, derogatory a boring, studious, or socially inept person. DERIVATIVES dweebish adjective ORIGIN 1980s: perhaps a blend of dwarf and early 20th-century feeb ‘a feeble-minded person’ (from feeble).

dweeb	dweeb | dwiːb | noun North American informal, derogatory a boring, studious, or socially inept person. DERIVATIVES dweebish adjective ORIGIN 1980s: perhaps a blend of dwarf and early 20th-century feeb ‘a feeble-minded person’ (from feeble).

abasement	abasement | əˈbeɪsm(ə)nt | noun [mass noun] the action or fact of abasing or being abased; humiliation or degradation. 

abased	abase | əˈbeɪs | verb [with object] (usually abase oneself) behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone): I watched my colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French abaissier, from a- (from Latin ad ‘to, at’) + baissier ‘to lower’, based on late Latin bassus ‘short of stature’. The spelling has been influenced by base2.

escourge	
scourge	scourge | skəːdʒ | noun 1 historical a whip used as an instrument of punishment. 2 a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering: the scourge of mass unemployment. verb [with object] 1 historical whip (someone) as a punishment: our people did scourge him severely. 2 cause great suffering to: political methods used to scourge and oppress workers. ORIGIN Middle English: shortening of Old French escorge (noun), escorgier (verb), from Latin ex- ‘thoroughly’ + corrigia ‘thong, whip’.

caucus	caucus | ˈkɔːkəs | noun (plural caucuses) 1 (in some US states) a meeting at which local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention: Hawaii holds its nominating caucuses next Tuesday | he stumbled through the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. 2 a conference of members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction: Mr Kerry attended the morning caucus in the Old Senate Chamber where his fellow Democrats selected the new minority leadership. • the members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction, considered as a group: she is renowned for her ability to unite her caucus. • an informal group composed of legislators who have shared concerns or interests: a member of the Congressional Black Caucus | the Knesset's Christian allies caucus. 3 a group within an organization or political party which meets independently to discuss strategy or tactics: up to fifty caucuses met daily on conference grounds to discuss lobbying strategies | he was forced out by a hard-left caucus which had taken over his constituency party. verb (caucuses, caucusing, caucused) [no object] mainly US hold or form a legislative caucus: Republicans briefly caucused | there is one Independent who caucuses with the Democrats. • (of a voter) attend an electoral caucus, especially on behalf of a particular candidate: more than half of those young people that caucused yesterday caucused for Barack Obama. ORIGIN mid 18th century: perhaps from Algonquian cau'-cau'-as'u ‘adviser’.

chisel	chisel | ˈtʃɪz(ə)l | noun a long-bladed hand tool with a bevelled cutting edge and a handle which is struck with a hammer or mallet, used to cut or shape wood, stone, or metal: cut away the tiles with a broad-bladed steel chisel. verb (chisels, chiselling, chiselled; US chisels, chiseling, chiseled) [with object] 1 cut or shape (something) with a chisel: chisel a hole through the brickwork. 2 informal, mainly North American cheat or swindle (someone) out of something: he's chiselled me out of my dues. DERIVATIVES chiseller | ˈtʃɪz(ə)lə | noun ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old Northern French, based on Latin cis- (as in late Latin cisorium), variant of caes-, stem of caedere ‘to cut’. Compare with scissors.

drudge	drudge | drʌdʒ | noun a person made to do hard menial or dull work: I felt like a household drudge. verb [no object] archaic do hard menial work: her husband was drudging in the smoke of London. ORIGIN Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin; perhaps related to drag.

crooner	crooner | ˈkruːnə | noun a singer, typically a male one, who sings sentimental songs in a soft, low voice. 

bombastic	bombastic | bɒmˈbastɪk | adjective high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated: bombastic rhetoric | bombastic music that drowned out what anyone was saying. DERIVATIVES bombastically | bɒmˈbastɪk(ə)li | adverb 

indicative	indicative | ɪnˈdɪkətɪv | adjective 1 serving as a sign or indication of something: having recurrent dreams is not necessarily indicative of any psychological problem. 2 Grammar denoting a mood of verbs expressing simple statement of a fact. Compare with subjunctive. noun Grammar a verb in the indicative mood. • (the indicative) the indicative mood. DERIVATIVES indicatively adverb ORIGIN late Middle English: from French indicatif, -ive, from late Latin indicativus, from the verb indicare (see indicate).

binge	binge | bɪn(d)ʒ | noun a period of excessive indulgence in an activity, especially eating, drinking, or taking drugs: he went on a binge and was in no shape to drive | a drinking binge. verb (binges, bingeing or binging, binged) [no object] indulge in an activity, especially eating, drinking, or taking drugs, to excess: some see the whole weekend as a chance to binge | she binged on ice cream. • [with object] watch multiple episodes of a television programme over a short period of time: I've binged seasons one through seven in the past week | every so often he might binge a Netflix show | [no object] : I binged on all six episodes in two days | I have to get back to binging on the four seasons I’ve missed. DERIVATIVES binger noun ORIGIN mid 19th century: from English dialect binge ‘to soak a wooden vessel’.

acute	acute | əˈkjuːt | adjective 1 (of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree: an acute housing shortage | the problem is acute and getting worse. • (of a disease or its symptoms) severe but of short duration: acute appendicitis. Often contrasted with chronic. • denoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease: an acute ward | acute patients. 2 having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd: an acute awareness of changing fashions. • (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed; keen: an acute sense of smell. 3 (of an angle) less than 90°. • having a sharp end; pointed. 4 (of a sound) high; shrill. noun short for acute accent. DERIVATIVES acuteness | əˈkjuːtnəs | noun ORIGIN late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.

magnanomous	
goo	goo | ɡuː | noun [mass noun] informal 1 a sticky or slimy substance: he tipped the grayish goo from the test tube. 2 excessive sentimentality. ORIGIN early 20th century (originally US): perhaps from burgoo, a nautical slang term for porridge, based on Persian bulġūr ‘bruised grain’.

broad	broad | brɔːd | adjective 1 having a distance larger than usual from side to side; wide: a broad staircase. • (after a measurement) giving the distance from side to side: the valley is three miles long and half a mile broad. • large in area: a broad expanse of paddy fields. 2 covering a large number and wide scope of subjects: the company has a broad range of experience. • having a wide range of meanings or applications; loosely defined: our range of programmes comprises three broad categories. • including many people of many kinds: the polls registered broad support for Labour. 3 general; without detail: a broad outline of the legal framework for pension schemes. • (of a hint) clear and unambiguous; not subtle: a broad hint. • (of a phonetic transcription) showing only meaningful distinctions in sound and ignoring minor details. 4 somewhat coarse and indecent: the broad humour has been toned down. 5 (of a regional accent) very noticeable and strong: the words had a distinct tang of broad Lancashire. noun North American informal, dated a woman: I get drunk, follow the pretty broads, and make a fool of myself. PHRASES broad in the beam informal (of a person) fat around the hips. in broad daylight during daylight hours, and surprising for this reason: the kidnap took place in broad daylight. DERIVATIVES broadness | ˈbrɔːdnəs | noun ORIGIN Old English brād, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breed and German breit.

loafer	loafer | ˈləʊfə | noun 1 a person who avoids work and spends their time idly. 2 a leather shoe shaped like a moccasin, with a flat heel: his handmade Italian loafers. ORIGIN mid 19th century: perhaps from German Landläufer ‘tramp’, from Land ‘land’ + laufen (dialect lofen) ‘to run’.

skirry	
scary	scary | ˈskɛːri | adjective (scarier, scariest) informal frightening; causing fear: a scary movie. • uncannily striking or surprising: it was scary the way they bonded with each other. DERIVATIVES scariness noun 

thistle	thistle | ˈθɪs(ə)l | noun 1 a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the daisy family, which typically has a prickly stem and leaves and rounded heads of purple flowers. Carlina, Carduus, and other genera, family Compositae. 2 a thistle as the Scottish national emblem. This is usually identified as the Scotch thistle or cotton thistle (Onopordum acanthium). DERIVATIVES thistly | ˈθɪs(ə)li | adjective ORIGIN Old English thistel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch distel and German Distel.

secular	secular | ˈsɛkjʊlə | adjective 1 not connected with religious or spiritual matters: secular buildings | secular attitudes to death. Contrasted with sacred. 2 Christian Church (of clergy) not subject to or bound by religious rule; not belonging to or living in a monastic or other order. Contrasted with regular. 3 Astronomy of or denoting slow changes in the motion of the sun or planets. 4 Economics (of a fluctuation or trend) occurring or persisting over an indefinitely long period: there is evidence that the slump is not cyclical but secular. 5 occurring once every century or similarly long period (used especially in reference to celebratory games in ancient Rome). noun a secular priest. DERIVATIVES secularity | sɛkjʊˈlarɪti | noun secularly | ˈsɛkjʊləli | adverb ORIGIN Middle English: secular (sense 1 of the adjective, sense 2 of the adjective) from Old French seculer, from Latin saecularis, from saeculum ‘generation, age’, used in Christian Latin to mean ‘the world’ (as opposed to the Church); secular (sense 3 of the adjective, sense 4 of the adjective, sense 5 of the adjective) (early 19th century) from Latin saecularis ‘relating to an age or period’.

cinism	
weekday	weekday | ˈwiːkdeɪ | noun a day of the week other than Sunday or Saturday: [as modifier] : the weekday rush hour. 

patience	patience | ˈpeɪʃ(ə)ns | noun [mass noun] 1 the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious: you can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the rubbish | I have run out of patience with her. 2 British any of various forms of card game for one player, the object of which is to use up all one's cards by forming particular arrangements and sequences. Also called solitaire. PHRASES lose patience (also lose one's patience) become unable to keep one's temper: even Laurence finally lost patience with him. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French, from Latin patientia, from patient- ‘suffering’, from the verb pati.

banter	banter | ˈbantə | noun [mass noun] the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks: there was much good-natured banter. verb [no object] exchange remarks in a good-humoured teasing way: the men bantered with the waitresses. DERIVATIVES banterer | ˈbantərə | noun ORIGIN late 17th century: of unknown origin.

newsletter	newsletter | ˈnjuːzlɛtə | noun a bulletin issued periodically to the members of a society or other organization. 

curt	curt | kəːt | adjective rudely brief: his reply was curt. DERIVATIVES curtly | ˈkəːtli | adverb curtness | ˈkəːtnəs | noun ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense ‘short, shortened’): from Latin curtus ‘cut short, abridged’.

arrears	arrears | əˈrɪəz | plural noun money that is owed and should have been paid earlier: he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent | mortgage arrears. PHRASES in arrears (also mainly Law in arrear) 1 behind with paying money that is owed: two out of three tenants are in arrears. • (of payments made or due for wages, rent, etc.) at the end of each period of work or occupancy: you will be paid monthly in arrears. 2 (of a competitor in a sports race or match) having a lower score or weaker performance than other competitors: she finished ten metres in arrears. ORIGIN Middle English (first used in the phrase in arrear): from arrear (adverb) ‘behind, overdue’, from Old French arere, from medieval Latin adretro, from ad- ‘towards’ + retro ‘backwards’.

dysania	
anomie	anomie | ˈanəmi | (also anomy) noun [mass noun ] lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group: the theory that high-rise architecture leads to anomie in the residents. DERIVATIVES anomic | əˈnɒmɪk | adjective ORIGIN 1930s: from French, from Greek anomia, from anomos ‘lawless’.

meek	meek | miːk | adjective quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive: she brought her meek little husband along. ORIGIN Middle English me(o)c (also in the sense ‘courteous or indulgent’), from Old Norse mjúkr ‘soft, gentle’.

nefarious	nefarious | nɪˈfɛːrɪəs | adjective (typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal: the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates. DERIVATIVES nefariously | nɪˈfɛːrɪəsli | adverb nefariousness | nɪˈfɛːrɪəsnəs | noun ORIGIN early 17th century: from Latin nefarius, from nefas, nefar- ‘wrong’ (from ne- ‘not’ + fas ‘divine law’) + -ous.

hagiographer	hagiographer | ˌhaɡɪˈɒɡrəfə | noun 1 a writer of the lives of the saints. • a biographer who treats their subject with undue reverence. 2 Theology a writer of any of the Hagiographa. 

privy	privy | ˈprɪvi | adjective 1 (privy to) sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private): he was no longer privy to her innermost thoughts. 2 archaic hidden; secret: a privy place. noun (plural privies) 1 a toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building. 2 Law a person having a part or interest in any action, matter, or thing. DERIVATIVES privily | ˈprɪvɪli | adverb ORIGIN Middle English (originally in the sense ‘belonging to one's own private circle’): from Old French prive ‘private’ (also used as a noun meaning ‘private place’ and ‘familiar friend’), from Latin privatus ‘withdrawn from public life’ (see private).

carrion	carrion | ˈkarɪən | noun [mass noun ] the decaying flesh of dead animals: a crow wheeled over the hills in search of carrion. ORIGIN Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French caroine, caroigne, Old French charoigne, based on Latin caro ‘flesh’.

lariat	lariat | ˈlarɪət | noun a rope used as a lasso or for tethering. ORIGIN mid 19th century: from Spanish la reata from la ‘the’ and reatar ‘tie again’ (based on Latin aptare ‘adjust’, from aptus ‘apt, fitting’).

mollify	mollify | ˈmɒlɪfʌɪ | verb (mollifies, mollifying, mollified) [with object ] appease the anger or anxiety of (someone): nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationists. • rare reduce the severity of (something): the women hoped to mollify the harsh wilderness environment. DERIVATIVES mollification | mɒlɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n | noun mollifier | ˈmɒlɪfʌɪə | noun ORIGIN late Middle English (also in the sense ‘make soft or supple’): from French mollifier or Latin mollificare, from mollis ‘soft’.

chastising	chastise | tʃaˈstʌɪz | verb [with object ] rebuke or reprimand severely: he chastised his colleagues for their laziness. • dated punish, especially by beating: the General cruelly chastised them with a whip. DERIVATIVES chastisement | tʃaˈstʌɪzmənt, ˈtʃastɪzmənt | noun chastiser | tʃaˈstʌɪzə | noun ORIGIN Middle English: apparently formed irregularly from the obsolete verb chaste (see chasten).

corollary	corollary | kəˈrɒləri | noun (plural corollaries) a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved. • a direct or natural consequence or result: the huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of expenditure cuts. adjective forming a proposition that follows from one already proved. • associated or supplementary: the court did not answer a corollary question. ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin corollarium ‘money paid for a garland or chaplet; gratuity’ (in late Latin ‘deduction’), from corolla, diminutive of corona ‘wreath, crown, chaplet’.

escutcheon	escutcheon | ɪˈskʌtʃ(ə)n, ɛˈskʌtʃ(ə)n | noun 1 a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms. 2 (also escutcheon plate) a flat piece of metal for protection and often ornamentation, around a keyhole, door handle, or light switch. PHRASES a blot on one's escutcheon a stain on one's reputation or character. escutcheon of pretence a small shield within a coat of arms, bearing another coat or device to which the bearer has a claim, especially one to which a man's wife is heiress. DERIVATIVES escutcheoned adjective ORIGIN late 15th century: from Anglo-Norman French escuchon, based on Latin scutum ‘shield’.

conundrum	conundrum | kəˈnʌndrəm | noun (plural conundrums) a confusing and difficult problem or question: one of the most difficult conundrums for the experts. • a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle. ORIGIN late 16th century: of unknown origin, but first recorded in a work by Thomas Nashe, as a term of abuse for a crank or pedant, later coming to denote a whim or fancy, also a pun. Current senses date from the late 17th century.

diletante	
veranda	veranda | vəˈrandə | (also verandah) noun a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor: I'll be on the veranda. • Australian New Zealand a roof over the pavement in front of a shop. DERIVATIVES verandaed (also verandahed) adjective ORIGIN early 18th century: from Hindi varaṇḍā, from Portuguese varanda ‘railing, balustrade’.

knave	knave | neɪv | noun 1 archaic a dishonest or unscrupulous man. 2 (in cards) a jack. DERIVATIVES knavery | ˈneɪv(ə)ri | noun (plural knaveries) ORIGIN Old English cnafa ‘boy, servant’, of West Germanic origin; related to German Knabe ‘boy’.

scourge	scourge | skəːdʒ | noun 1 historical a whip used as an instrument of punishment. 2 a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering: the scourge of mass unemployment. verb [with object] 1 historical whip (someone) as a punishment: our people did scourge him severely. 2 cause great suffering to: political methods used to scourge and oppress workers. ORIGIN Middle English: shortening of Old French escorge (noun), escorgier (verb), from Latin ex- ‘thoroughly’ + corrigia ‘thong, whip’.

encumbrance	encumbrance | ɪnˈkʌmbr(ə)ns, ɛnˈkʌmbr(ə)ns | noun an impediment or burden: the horse raised its hind leg as if to rid itself of an encumbrance | [mass noun] : for parents, childhood is too long a period of encumbrance. • Law a mortgage or other claim on property or assets: details of encumbrances on property. • archaic a person, especially a child, who is dependent on someone else for support. ORIGIN Middle English (denoting an encumbered state; formerly also as incumbrance): from Old French encombrance, from encombrer ‘block up’ (see encumber).

conveyancer	conveyancing | kənˈveɪənsɪŋ | noun [mass noun] the branch of law concerned with the preparation of documents for the conveyance of property. • the action of preparing documents for the conveyance of property. DERIVATIVES conveyancer | kənˈveɪənsə | noun 

enebro	
gaol	jail | dʒeɪl | (British also gaol) noun a place for the confinement of people accused or convicted of a crime: he spent 15 years in jail | [as modifier] : a jail sentence. verb [with object] put (someone) in jail: the driver was jailed for two years. ORIGIN Middle English: based on Latin cavea (see cage). The word came into English in two forms, jaiole from Old French and gayole from Anglo-Norman French gaole (surviving in the spelling gaol), originally pronounced with a hard g, as in goat.

scrap	scrap1 | skrap | noun 1 a small piece or amount of something, especially one that is left over after the greater part has been used: I scribbled her address on a scrap of paper | scraps of information. • (scraps) bits of uneaten food left after a meal: he filled Sammy's bowls with fresh water and scraps. • used to emphasize the lack or smallness of something: there was not a scrap of aggression in him | every scrap of green land is up for grabs by development. • informal a small person or animal, especially one regarded with affection or sympathy: poor little scrap, she's too hot in that tight coat. • a particularly small thing of its kind: she was wearing a short black skirt and a tiny scrap of a top. 2 (also scrap metal) [mass noun] discarded metal for reprocessing: the steamer was eventually sold for scrap. • [often as modifier] any waste articles or discarded material: we're burning scrap lumber | he painted scenes on cardboard shirt boxes and other scrap material. verb (scraps, scrapping, scrapped) [with object] discard or remove from service (a redundant, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), especially so as to convert it to scrap metal: a bold decision was taken to scrap existing plant. • abolish or cancel (a plan, policy, or law): he supports the idea that road tax should be scrapped. ORIGIN late Middle English (as a plural noun denoting fragments of uneaten food): from Old Norse skrap ‘scraps’; related to skrapa ‘to scrape’. The verb dates from the late 19th century.