Years ago there was a site packed with all sorts of wonderful archaic words. It was both a pleasure to explore and inspiration to reference. Sadly, the domain seems to have expired and is now squatted by a California Hotels page. I’ve reproduced what I can of the site’s old content here and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
“Welcome to Luciferous Logolepsy, a collection of over 9,000 obscure English words. Though the definition of an English word might seem to be straightforward, it is not. There exist so many adopted, derivative, archaic or abandoned words in what we loosely define as the English Language, that a clear-cut definition seems impossible.
For the purposes of this project though, words are included that may stretch any basic definitions. Particular attention has been paid to archaic words, as they tend to be more evocative – as if their very age lends additional meaning or overtones.”
| Word | Type | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| a cheval | phrase | 'on horseback'; astride; straddling. |
| a corps perdu | phrase | 'with lost body'; impetuously; in desperation. |
| a fond | phrase | 'to the bottom'; thoroughly. |
| a la belle étoile | phrase | 'under the beautiful star'; in the open air at night. |
| a la mort | phrase | 'to the death'; mortally. |
| a mensa et thoro | adjective | 'from table and bed'; applied to judicial separation of husband and wife. |
| a outrance | phrase | 'to the utmost'; to the death. |
| ab initio | phrase | from the beginning; from the very start or outset |
| ab irato | phrase | from an angry man: hence, not to be taken tooseriously |
| ab ovo | phrase | from the egg: from the very beginning, hence completely and in great detail; throughly or voluminously |
| abderian | adjective | pertaining to foolish or excessive laughter |
| abdominous | adjective | having or pertaining to a distended stomach |
| abliguration | noun | extravagance in cooking and serving |
| ablutomania | noun | a mania for washing oneself |
| abscissin | noun | hormone which triggers the fall of autumn leaves in certain trees |
| absquatulate | verb | to leave hurriedly, suddenly, or secretly |
| abstersive | adverb | serving to cleanse or purge |
| acalculia | noun | the inability to work with numbers |
| acapnotic | noun | person who doesn't smoke |
| acariasis | noun | infestation with mites or ticks; the itch. |
| acaricide | noun | substance killing mites. acaricidal, adjective |
| acarpous | adjective | Botany, not yielding fruit. |
| acatalepsy | noun | state of being impossible to understand; Philosophy, sceptic doctrine that knowledge cannot be certain. acataleptic, adjective |
| acataleptic | adjective | incomprehensible |
| acaudate | adjective | lacking tail. |
| acaulescent | adjective | lacking a stem. |
| accensor | noun | Roman Catholic, acolyte. |
| acceptilation | noun | the settlement of a debt without payment |
| accessit | noun | honourable mention of one who comes nearest to a prize. |
| acciaccatura | noun | Music, very short note played before a longer note; short appoggiatura. |
| accismus | noun | rhetorical device of pretending to refuse. |
| acclivity | noun | slope upward. acclivitous, acclivous, adjective |
| accolent | adjective | neighbouring. |
| accouchement | noun | childbirth. accoucheur, accoucheuse, noun male and female midwife respectively |
| accrementition | noun | Biology growth by addition of similar matter. |
| accrescent | adjective | Botany, growing larger even after flowering. |
| accubation | noun | act or state of reclining at table; Medicine, accouchement. |
| accumbent | adjective | Botany, (of plants) lying against something. |
| acediast | noun | a person who is slothful or wickedly lax when it comes to spiritual or religious matters |
| aceldama | noun | field, or scene, of bloodshed. |
| acephalist | noun | the balky maverick who acknowledges no head or superior or authority |
| acephalous | adjective | lacking a head or a leader; lacking the first syllable or foot (of a hexameter). |
| aceric | adjective | pertaining to the maple. |
| acerose | adjective | like a needle. |
| acerous | adjective | without horns or antennae. |
| acersecomic | noun | one who has never had a haircut |
| acervate | adjective | Botany, growing in heaps; clustered. |
| acervation | noun | heaping up. |
| acervuline | adjective | resembling small heaps |
| acescent | adjective | becoming, or tending to be, sour. |
| acetabulum | noun | cuplike hollow on hipbone to receive thighbone. |
| acetarious | adjective | applied to plants used in salads. |
| acetometer | noun | instrument measuring strength of acetic acid or vinegar. acetometry, noun |
| achar | noun | kind of pickles. |
| achene | noun | small one-seeded fruit of plant; naked seed. |
| acherontic | adjective | darky, gloomy, forbidding |
| achlamydeous | adjective | Botany having neither petals nor sepals. |
| acholous | adjective | lacking bile. |
| achondroplasia | noun | condition where cartilage does not develop normally, resulting in dwarfism. |
| achor | noun | Medicine, archaic, eruption on the scalp. |
| achromatopsia | noun | color-blindness, where only white, grey and black are visible. |
| achromia | noun | Medicine, pallor. achromic, adjective |
| acronychal | adjective | Occurring at nightfall |
| achroous | adjective | colorless. |
| acicula | noun | a needle-shaped prickle, spine or crystal. acicular, adjective aciculate, adjective having bristles or spines; with scratched appearance. |
| acidophilic | adjective | easily stained by acid dyes; thriving in acid environment. |
| acidulous | adjective | sharp or sour in taste or manner. acidulate, v. |
| acierage | noun | process of steel-plating. acierate, v. make into steel. |
| aciform | adjective | needle-shaped. |
| acinaciform | adjective | having shape of scimitar. |
| aciniform | adjective | shaped like cluster of grapes; full of seeds, like a grape. |
| acinous | adjective | containing small seeds or drupes. |
| acipenser | noun | sturgeon. |
| aclastic | adjective | non-refractive. |
| aclinic | adjective | applied to line passing through all points where there is no magnetic inclination. aclinic line, magnetic equator. |
| acology | noun | science of medical remedies. |
| acomia | noun | baldness. |
| aconite | noun | the monk's-hood or wolf's-bane plant. |
| aconitine | noun | poisonous alkaloid obtained from aconite. |
| acopic | noun | & a. Medicine, curative of fatigue. |
| acor | noun | Medicine, stomach acidity. |
| acosmism | noun | doctrine denying existence of universe distinct from God. acosmist, noun |
| acotyledon | noun | plant without differentiated seed lobes. acotyledonous, adjective |
| acouasm | noun | a ringing sound in the head |
| acoumeter | noun | instrument measuring keenness of hearing. acoumetry, noun |
| acousma | noun | ringing noise in head. |
| acquittance | noun | payment of, or release from, debt; full receipt. |
| acraein | noun | foul-tasting butterfly's juice |
| acrasy | noun | anarchy, disorder. |
| acratia | noun | impotence. |
| acritochromacy | noun | color-blindness. |
| acroamatic | adjective | esoteric, told only orally. |
| acroatic | adjective | pertaining to profound learning |
| acrocephalic | noun | pertaining to pointed heads; someone with apointed head |
| acrodont | adjective | (of a tooth) fused with the jaw; having such teeth. |
| acrogen | noun | Botany, any flowerless plant where growth takes place at the tip of the main stem. acrogenous, adjective |
| acrolith | noun | statue with wooden trunk and stone head and extremities. |
| acrologic | adjective | pertaining to initials. |
| acromegaly | noun | gigantism; enlargement of extremities, head, jaw, etc., due to excess secretion of pituitary gland. acromegalic, adjective |
| acromonogrammatic | adjective | applied to verse in which each line begins with letter with which preceding line ended. |
| acronychal | acronycal | ,adjective" |
| acronyx | noun | ingrowing nail. |
| acrophony | noun | The use of a word starting with a letter of the alphabet as the name of the letter. |
| acroscopic | adjective | Botany, facing, or moving to, apex. |
| acrospire | noun | the first real shoot developing in a germinating grain seed. |
| acroteric | adjective | pertaining to or affecting the extremities. |
| acroterion | noun | Architecture, ornament or its pedestal at angle of pediment. |
| acrotic | adjective | pertaining to surface. acrotism, noun failure of pulse. |
| actamer | noun | a substance preventing the growth of bacteria in cosmetics and soaps. |
| actinism | noun | property of solar radiation of causing chemical change. actinic, a.; actinic glass, glass opaque to actinic rays. |
| actino-chemistry | noun | chemical study of actinism; photo-chemistry. |
| actinograph | noun | instrument for calculating time of photographic exposures. |
| actinoid | adjective | star-shaped; like rays. |
| actinology | noun | science of chemical effects of light. |
| actinometer | noun | instrument measuring heating power of the sun's rays; Photography, instrument for calculating exposure times. actinometry, noun |
| actinomorphic | adjective | Botany, having symmetrically radiated shape. |
| actinomycosis | noun | parasitic disease in men and cattle resulting in inflammation of jaw; 'lumpy jaw'. |
| actinophone | noun | instrument in which sound is produced by actinic rays. actinophonic, adjective |
| actinotherapy | noun | use of ultra-violet and other actinic rays in medical treatment. |
| actum ut supra | phrase | 'done as above' (abbr. a.u.s.). |
| aculeate | adjective | Botany, bearing many sharp points; Zoology, having sting; incisive. |
| aculeiform | adjective | thorn-shaped. |
| acuminate | adjective | pointed; tapering; v.t. sharpen; v.i. end in point. |
| acuminulate | adjective | very sharply pointed; ending in minute point. |
| acushla | noun | term of address: darling. |
| acutorsion | noun | twisting artery with needle to stop bleeding. |
| acyanopsia | noun | color blindness towards blue. |
| acyrology | noun | incorrect diction. |
| ad baculum | phrase | to the rod: appealing to or suggesting the use of force to settle the question |
| ad captandum (vulgus) | phrase | 'to capture' the affection or suit the taste (of the crowd). |
| ad captandum benevolentiam | phrase | with intent to win good will or favor |
| ad captandum vulgus | phrase | with intent to take in the public: designed to court the crowd emotionally, even if using unsound reason |
| ad crumenam | phrase | to the purse: appealing to greed or to the hearer's pocket |
| ad finem | phrase | 'to the end' (abbr. ad fin.). |
| ad hanc vocem | phrase | 'to this word' (abbr. a.h.v). |
| ad hunc locum | phrase | Law, 'at this place'; on this passage (abbr. ad loc. ; a.h.l.). |
| ad ignorantium | phrase | to ignorance: depending for its effect on thehearer's not knowing something essential; arguing that something is true because it has not been proven false, or challenging another to disprove rather than endeavoring to prove |
| ad interim | adjective | 'at interval'; meanwhile; for the present (abbr. ad int.). |
| ad judicium | adjective | to judgment: appealing to the common sense of mankind or to the judgment of the people |
| ad libitum | adjective | 'at one's pleasure'; as much or long as desired; Music, according to desire of performer (abbr. ad lib.). ad-lib, v.i. & t. speak impromptu, especially (of actors) jokes, words, etc., not written or rehearsed, or to replace forgotten lines; a. said on the spur of the moment; n. an ad-lib statement. |
| ad locum | adjective | 'at the place' (abbr. ad loc.) |
| ad misericordiam | adjective | to compassion: appealing to a sense of pity or mercy; asking compassion |
| ad populum | adjective | to the people: appealing to popular sentimental weaknesses rather than to facts or reasons |
| ad rem | adjective | to the matter: to the point; pertinent to the matter |
| ad unguem | adjective | to the fingernail: with great precision; finely |
| ad usum | adjective | 'to usage'; according to custom (abbr. ad us.) |
| ad valorem | adjective | in proportion to value, especially of import duties of a percentage of the value of the imports (abbr. ad val.). |
| ad verbum | adjective | to the word: word for word; literally; verbatim |
| ad verecundiam | adjective | to modesty: appealing to traditional values, reverence for authority, or sense of prestige; requiring an opponent to offend against decorum |
| ad vitam aut culpam | adjective | 'to life or misdeed'; so long as good behaviour lasts. |
| adactylous | adjective | lacking fingers, toes or claws. adactylia, noun congenital lack of toes or fingers. |
| adaxial | adjective | on, beside, or turned towards, axis of an organ, organism, or plant. |
| additament | noun | thing added. |
| addititious | adjective | pertaining to, or resulting from, addition; Astronomy, applied to force increasing gravitation between planet and satellite. |
| adduct | verb | (of muscles) draw towards a central axis. adductor, noun such a muscle. |
| adeciduate | adjective | evergreen. |
| adelphogamy | noun | form of marriage in which brothers share a wife or wives. |
| ademonist | noun | person denying existence of demons or the Devil. |
| ademption | noun | Law, revoking by testator, donor, etc., of legacy, donation, etc., by previously paying sum or parting with object bequeathed. |
| adenia | noun | Medicine, enlargement of glands. |
| adeniform | adjective | gland-shaped. |
| adenitis | noun | inflammation of glands. |
| adenoma | noun | usually non-lethal tumour of gland. adenomatous, adjective |
| adenopathy | noun | glandular disease. |
| adenotomy | noun | incision into or removal of gland. |
| adephagous | adjective | gluttonous |
| adespoton | noun | anonymous saying, poem, etc. |
| adevism | noun | denial of legendary gods. |
| adhibit | verb | grant admittance to; apply; attach. |
| adiabatic | adjective | without losing or gaining heat. adiabatic gradient, rate of change in temperature of rising or falling air. |
| adiabolist | noun | person denying existence of the Devil. |
| adiactinic | adjective | not transmitting actinic rays. |
| adiaphoresis | noun | absence or lack of perspiration. adiaphoretic, n & adj. (drug) preventing perspiration. |
| adiaphoristic | adjective | theologically indifferent |
| adiaphoron | noun | (pl. -ra), matter of indifference; Theology, religious observance left to conscience; amoral matter. adiaphorism, noun belief in doctrine of adiaphora. adiaphorist, noun adiaphoristic, adj. applied to certain controversies on religious observances. adiaphorous, adj. neutral; indifferent, neither right nor wrong (of conduct, etc.) |
| adiaphorous | adjective | neutral; neither right nor wrong; neither deleterious nor salubrious |
| adiapneustia | noun | defective perspiration. |
| adiathermic | adjective | impervious to heat. adiathermancy, noun |
| adient | adjective | tending to expose an organism to, or turn it towards, a stimulus or situation. |
| adipescent | adjective | becoming fatty. |
| adipic | adjective | Chemistry, pertaining to fatty or greasy substance. |
| adipsy | noun | lack of thirst. adipsous, adjective Medicine, quenching thirst. |
| adit | noun | entrance, especially horizontal passage into mine. |
| adjectitious | adjective | added, thrown in |
| adjuvant | adjective | helping; Medicine, remedial; n. such drug. |
| admaxillary | adjective | near or connected with jaw. |
| adminicle | noun | something that helps or supports; corroboratory evidence; explanatory proof |
| adnate | adjective | Botany closely attached; related; grown together especially unusually. adnation, noun |
| adnomination | noun | punning |
| adonize | verb | adorn oneself (of men). |
| adoptionism | noun | doctrine that Christ was Son of God by adoption and not birth. adoptionist, noun & a. |
| adoral | adjective | near to mouth. |
| adosculation | noun | sexual impregnation by contact only; wind-pollination. |
| adoxography | noun | good writing on a trivial subject |
| adrectal | adjective | close to rectum. |
| adrenergic | adjective | released or activated by adrenalin. |
| adscititious | adjective | not essential; supplemental; superfluous"adsorb" |
| adsum | adjective | 'I am present'. |
| adumbral | adjective | shadowy. |
| adumbrate | verb | shadow forth; outline; sketch out. adumbrative, adjective adumbration, noun |
| aduncous | adjective | hook-shaped; crooked. aduncity, noun inward curvature. |
| adust | adjective | (sun) burnt or scorched; dried up by heat; gloomy, sad. |
| advection | noun | horizontal movement of an air mass, causing temperature changes. |
| advenient | adjective | due to outside causes. advenience, noun |
| adventitious | adjective | Medicine, Botany, added from without; not essential; accidental; casual; acquired; adventive. |
| adventive | adjective | Botany, (plant) not completely naturalized or growing out of natural habitat. |
| adversaria | noun | pl. collection of notes and comments; commonplace book. |
| adversative | adjective noun | Grammar, (word or clause) expressing opposition or antithesis. |
| adynamic | adjective | lacking strength; causing weakness. adynamia, n.. |
| adynaton | noun | magnifying or exaggerating an actual event by reference to something impossible |
| adytum | noun | inner sanctuary of temple; secret room. |
| aedile | noun | head of ancient Roman office of works. aedility, noun aedile's office. |
| aedoeology | noun | study of generative organs. |
| aegagrus | noun | mountain goat of Asia Minor. |
| aegilops | noun | stye in inner corner of eye. |
| aegrotat | noun | 'he or she is ill'; certificate of student's illness for absence from university lectures or examination. aegrotat degree, degree given to student absent from examination by reason of illness. |
| aeneous | adjective | like brass. |
| aenos | noun | use of erudite words or allusions to appeal to the learned |
| aeolipyle | noun | first steam engine, with globe made to revolve by steam jets, described in 1st century AD. |
| aeolistic | adjective | long-winded. |
| aeolotropic | adjective | having different physical properties in different positions or directions. |
| aepyornis | noun | large fossil bird of Madagascar. |
| aeriform | adjective | lacking substance, unreal; gaseous. |
| aerobiology | noun | the biology of airborne particles and organisms. |
| aerodonetics | noun | science of gliding. |
| aerogenic | adjective | derived from air; gas-forming. aerogenesis, noun |
| aerolite | noun | meteorite. |
| aerology | noun | study of physical properties of atmosphere, especially meteorological. |
| aeromancy | noun | divination by the state of the air; weather forecasting. aeromantic, adjective |
| aeromechanics | noun | science of mechanical properties of gases. |
| aerometer | noun | instrument measuring weight or density of gases. aerometry, noun such measurement; pneumatics. |
| aeronomy | noun | study of chemical and physical phenomena in the upper atmosphere. aeronomic, adjective |
| aeropause | noun | level above surface of earth above which ordinary aircraft cannot fly. |
| aerophagia | noun | neurotic habit of swallowing air. |
| aerophobia | noun | fear of air, draughts. |
| aerophore | noun | apparatus for inflating lungs, especially of still-born child. |
| aerophyte | noun | plant obtaining all nourishment from the air; epiphyte. |
| aeropleustic | adjective | pertaining to aerial navigation. |
| aeroscopy | noun | observation of varying air conditions. |
| aerose | adjective | brassy. |
| aerospace | noun | the Earth's atmosphere and space beyond it. |
| aerosphere | noun | the entire atmosphere surrounding the Earth. |
| aerostat | noun | lighter-than-air craft. aerostatic, adjective aerostatics, noun science of gases in equilibrium. aerostation, noun navigation of aerostats. |
| aerugo | noun | rust, especially of copper and brass; verdigris. aeruginous, adjective |
| aesculaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like horse-chestnut; belonging to the horse- chestnut family of plants. |
| aesculapian | adjective | relating to that which is medical or to the artof healing |
| aesthesia | noun | sensibility, sense perception. |
| aesthesiogenic | adjective | causing sensation. |
| aesthesiometer | noun | instrument measuring acuteness of sense perception. |
| aesthesis | noun | sense perception, aesthesia. |
| aestival | adjective | of summer. aestivation, noun Zoology, sleepiness in animals during summer; Botany, arrangement of organs in flower bud. |
| afebrile | adjective | free from fever. |
| afferent | adjective | carrying towards, especially of nerves carrying impulses to centres. |
| affiche | noun | poster; placard. |
| affinal | adjective | related by marriage. |
| affined | adjective | closely related; connected. |
| afflatus | noun | divine breath; inspiration. afflation, noun act of breathing upon; inspiration. |
| afflux | noun | flowing towards or together. |
| affranchise | verb | liberate from servitude, debt etc. |
| affreightment | noun | hiring of a ship to carry freight; such a contract. |
| affricate | noun | rub; grate on;, noun Phonetics, sound, as or, comprising a stop developing into a fricative. affrication, noun affricative, n., adjective |
| affusion | noun | pouring liquid on, especially in baptismal ceremony or as medical treatment. |
| afreet | noun | in Arabian mythology, an evil spirit or giant monster. |
| afrormosia | noun | a dense tropical hardwood resembling teak, used for furniture and panelling. |
| afterdamp | noun | poisonous gas (mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen) remaining after explosion of fire-damp in mine; choke-damp. |
| agalactia | noun | Medicine, absence or lack of milk secretion. agalactic, agalactous, adjective |
| agamic | adjective | non-sexual. |
| agamogenesis | noun | non-sexual reproduction. agamogenetic, adjective |
| agamy | noun | lack of marriage or sexual reproduction. |
| agastopia | noun | admiration of a particular part of someone's body |
| agelast | noun | somebody who absolutely never laughs |
| agenesis | noun | incomplete development of body or part of body. agenesic, adjective |
| agenhina | noun | a guest at an inn who, after having stayed for three nights, was considered one of the family |
| agenocratia | noun | opposition to birth control |
| ageotropic | adjective | Botany, turning away from the earth; apogeotropic. |
| ageustia | noun | absence of sense of taste. |
| agger | noun | earth rampart or bank, especially Roman. |
| aggeration | noun | heaping up; mound raised by prehistoric people when erecting standing stones. aggerose, adjective in heaps; having many heaps. |
| aggerwator | noun | locks of hair that frame the face |
| agglomerate | verb | collect, especially into a mass; a. so collected; clustered; n. Geology, rock comprised of angular volcanic fragments. |
| agglutinate | verb | join firmly; thicken; make like glue; coagulate; Philology, make compound words by additions. agglutinin, noun substance in blood causing coagulation. agglutinogen, noun substance causing production of agglutinin. agglutinative, adjective applied to agglutinated words or languages containing many such words. agglutination, noun |
| agglutination | noun | compound-word formation from discrete word elements, or the creation of derivatives and inflections, by added affixes, e.g. 'disestablishment' from 'dis', 'establish',and 'ment' |
| agio | noun | charge made when cash is given for paper currency, or one currency is exchanged for another. agiotage, noun such exchange; speculation; brokerage. |
| agiotage | noun | playing the stock market |
| agist | verb | Law, care for, feed cattle, horses, for payment. agistment, noun this practice; pastureland available for this. |
| aglossal | adjective | Zoology, lacking tongue. |
| aglutition | noun | state of being unable to swallow. |
| agminate | adjective | grouped. |
| agnate | adjective | having same male forefather; allied; Law, related on father's side; n. such relative. agnation, noun kinship. |
| agnathous | adjective | lacking jaws. agnathia, noun |
| agnogenic | noun | of unknown cause |
| agnoiology | noun | the study of ignorance |
| agnomen | noun | additional name. agnomination, noun surname; punning; alliteration. |
| agnosia | noun | loss of ability to recognize familiar things or people."agnosy" |
| agomphious | adjective | toothless. |
| agon | noun | struggle, contest (especially athletic); conflict between main characters in a play, novel etc. agonist, noun competitor; protagonist in literary work. agonistic, a., competitive; striving for effect. |
| agonic | adjective | applied to line drawn through all places where magnetic north is the same as true north. |
| agonist | noun | a struggler; a person who is contending, whether in a mental or spiritual conflict or against an opponent for an athletic prize |
| agonistic | noun | combative; strained for the sake of effect |
| agraffe | noun | hook, especially on piano-string to prevent rattle. |
| agraphia | noun | inability to write due to form of aphasia. |
| agrestial | adjective | growing in country, fields (especially of weeds). |
| agrestic | adjective | of the countryside; rustic, uncouth. |
| agriology | noun | study of customs of primitive peoples. |
| agrology | noun | scientific study of soils. agrological, adjective |
| agrostology | noun | Botany, study of grasses. agrostologic(al), adjective agrostologist, noun agrostography, noun description of grasses. |
| agrypnia | noun | sleeplessness. agrypnotic, noun & a. (stimulant) causing wakefulness. |
| agynary | adjective | Botany, lacking female organs. |
| ahimsa | noun | principle of non-violence towards any living creature, in Hinduism and Buddhism. |
| ahypnia | noun | insomnia. |
| aiger | noun | tidal wave in river; bore. |
| aigrette | noun | spray of feathers; any object in that shape; egret. |
| aiguille | noun | 'needle'; sharp point; peak. |
| ailurophile | noun | one fond of cats. ailurophilia, noun ailurophobe, noun one with dread of cats. |
| ailurophobe | noun | the person who can't stand cats |
| airmonger | noun | the man or woman who is attracted to visionary ideas and projects |
| aischrolatreia | noun | worship of filth, dirt, smut; obscenity cult |
| ait | noun | small island in river or lake; eyot. |
| akinesia | noun | paralysis of motor nerves. akinetic, adjective |
| ala | noun | (pl. -lae ) 'wing'; wing- shaped projection. |
| alalia | noun | loss of speech. |
| alamode | noun | soft, light silk, used in 19th century for shawls, dresses, etc. |
| alanine | noun | an amino-acid occuring in protein. |
| alar(y) | adjective | like or pertaining to a wing or shoulder. |
| alastrim | noun | disease like, or mild form of, smallpox. |
| alate | adjective | winged. alation, noun state of having wings; disposition of wings in insect. |
| alaudine | adjective | belonging to bird family which includes the skylark; like or pertaining to skylark. |
| alb | noun | long white priestly garment. |
| albescent | adjective | becoming white; whitish. |
| albicant | adjective | growing white. albication, noun formation of white patches in plants. |
| albificative | adjective | able to whiten. |
| albiflorous | adjective | having white flowers. |
| alborado | noun | morning song. |
| albuginea | noun | white of eye; white fibrous tissue. albugineous, adjective like white of eye or egg. |
| albugo | noun | Medicine, white spot on cornea of eye; leucoma; Botany, white rust. |
| albuminuria | noun | presence of albumin in urine. |
| aleatoric | adjective | (of electronic music) with random elements inside a framework. |
| aleatory | adjective | dependent on chance; pertaining to gambling or luck. |
| alectryomachy | noun | cock-fighting. |
| alegar | noun | sour ale; malt vinegar. |
| aleger | noun | in good spirits, happy |
| alembic | noun | ancient distilling apparatus; purifying or transforming apparatus or act. alembicate, v. distil. alembicated, adjective rather too refined (of literary style). |
| aleph | noun | first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. |
| alethiology | noun | study of nature of truth. |
| aleurometer | noun | instrument measuring gluten content of flour. |
| aleurone | noun | protein granules in plant seeds; external protein layer of cereal seeds. |
| alevin | noun | young fish, especially salmon just hatched. |
| alexia | noun | inability to read due to aphasia. |
| alexipharmic | adjective noun | (antidote) against poisoning. |
| alexipyretic | noun | & a. (drug) curative of fever. |
| alexiteric | noun | & a. preventive of contagion; antidote against poison. |
| alfet | noun | test in which an accused person plunges his hand into vat of boiling water |
| alfin | noun | bishop in game of chess |
| algedonic | adjective | pertaining to pain, especially in association with pleasure. |
| algedonica | noun | the science of pleasure and pain |
| algefacient | adjective | cooling. |
| algid | adjective | chilly, especially during fever. algidity, noun |
| algific | adjective | making cold. |
| alginuresis | noun | Medicine, painful urination. |
| algivorous | adjective | feeding on algae. |
| algogenic | adjective | producing pain; reducing body temperature. |
| algolagnia | noun | taking sexual pleasure in inflicting or enduring pain. algolagnic, adjective algolagnist, noun |
| algometer | noun | instrument measuring sensitivity to pain. algometry, noun |
| algophobia | noun | morbid dread of pain. |
| algor | noun | coldness; shivering fit in fever. |
| algorism | noun | art of calculating, especially in Arabic numeration; arithmetic. algorismic, adjective |
| algous | adjective | pertaining to algae. |
| alias | adjective | otherwise called; n. assumed name. |
| alible | adjective | nourishing. |
| alicyclic | adjective | denoting organic compounds that are both aliphatic and cyclic, i.e. aliphatic in chemical behaviour but having their carbon atoms in a ring. |
| alidade | noun | instrument used in surveying & navigation. |
| alienism | noun | study of mental disease. alienist, noun expert in alienism; American, psychiatrist specialising in legal aspects of mental illness. |
| aliferous | adjective | having wings. |
| aliform | adjective | like a wing. |
| aligerous | adjective | winged. |
| aliment | noun | food; nourishment. alimental,, adjective affording food. alimentary, adjective pertaining to food; nourishing; alimentation, noun act of feeding or being fed. alimentative, adjective nourishing. |
| alimentotherapy | noun | Medicine, treatment by dieting. |
| aliped | adjective | having winged feet; n. such an animal. |
| aliphatic | adjective | pertaining to fat; Chemistry, applied to group of organic compounds, including the fats, having open-chain structure. |
| aliquant | adjective | (number) not dividing exactly into another number; not aliquot. |
| aliquot | adjective noun | (number) contained an exact number of times in another number; equal share; v.t. divide into equal parts. |
| aliter | adjective | 'otherwise'; Law, requiring a different rule. |
| alk | noun | resin obtained from turpentine tree. |
| alkahest | noun | universal solvent sought by alchemists. |
| alkalify | verb | & v.i. change into alkali. |
| allagrugous | adjective | grim and ghastly |
| allantiasis | noun | sausage poisoning. |
| allantoic | adjective | pertaining to allantois; sausage-shaped. allantoid, adjective |
| allantois | noun | sac-like fetal membrane developing into umbilical cord and forming part of placenta. |
| allative | noun | & a. Grammar, (case) expressing motion towards. |
| alliaceous | adjective | having smell or taste of garlic; belonging to the onion family of plants."alligation" |
| allision | noun | intentional collision, especially of ships. |
| allocatur | noun | Law, (certificate of) allowance of costs. |
| allochromatic | adjective | pertaining to change of color; variable in color. |
| allochroous | adjective | changing in color. |
| allochthonous | adjective | foreign |
| allocution | noun | authoritative or exhortatory address; Roman Catholic, formal papal address to College of Cardinals. |
| allodium | noun | property under absolute ownership; freehold; American, estates in fee simple. allodial, adjective |
| allogamy | noun | cross-fertilization. allogamous, adjective |
| allogeneous | adjective | different in kind. allegeneity, noun |
| allograft | noun | surgical graft from a non-identical donor. |
| allograph | noun | writing especially signature, for another; opposite of autograph. |
| allolalia | noun | form of aphasia in which words are spoken at random. |
| allomerism | noun | Chemistry, variation in constitution without variation in form. |
| allometry | noun | study of growth of a part of an organism in relation to the whole. |
| allonge | noun | Commerce, slip of paper attached to bill of exchange for additional endorsements. |
| allonym | noun | other person's name assumed by writer; work published under an allonym. allonymous, adjective |
| allophone | noun | any of several speech sounds regarded as variants of a given phoneme. |
| allopurinal | adjective | synthetic drug used against gout. |
| allosematic | adjective | having imitative protective coloration. |
| allotheism | noun | worship of strange gods |
| allotriophagy | noun | the craving for weird food |
| allotropy | noun | existence of an element in more than one form. allotrope, noun form taken by allotropic element. allotropic, adjective |
| alluvion | noun | impact of water on shore; flood; alluvium. |
| almagest | noun | comprehensive treatise or textbook, especially on astronomy, generally the treatise of Ptolemy. |
| almandine | noun | kind of violet-colored garnet. |
| almira | noun | furniture for storing, e.g. cupboard or chest. |
| almoner | noun | official who distributes alms; hospital official who interviews prospective patients, etc. almonry, noun place for alms distribution. |
| almucantar | noun | Astronomy, circle of celestial sphere parallel with horizon; parallel of altitude; telescope that, in rotating, sweeps out curves of this kind. |
| alnico | noun | trademark, permanent magnet alloy of aluminium, nickel and cobalt, with some iron and sometimes copper. |
| alogia | noun | speech defect due to brain lesion, etc. |
| alogism | noun | unreasonableness; absurdity |
| alopecoid | noun | fox-like. |
| alpestrine | adjective | pertaining to alpine zone. |
| alphosis | noun | Medicine, lack of skin pigmentation. |
| alsike | noun | pink-flowered clover, grown as forage. |
| alsinaceous | adjective | like or pertaining to chickweed; belonging to chickweed family of plants. |
| altarage | noun | offerings at altar; payment for masses for dead; certain payments to priest. |
| altazimuth | noun | instrument measuring altitude and azimuth of heavenly bodies. |
| alterative | adjective | causing change; Medicine, changing gradually to healthy state; n. drug or other treatment changing nutritional processes. |
| alterity | noun | state of being different. |
| altiloquence | noun | pompous, high-sounding speech. |
| altisonant | adjective | high-sounding, pompous. |
| altivolant | adjective | flying high. |
| alula | noun | part of a bird's wing, corresponding to thumb. |
| alveary | noun | beehive; outer canal of ear. |
| alveola | noun | (pl. -lae ) Botany, small cavity, especially in surface of an organ. |
| alveolar | adjective | pertaining to alveolus; bearing alveolae; Phonetics, pronounced with tongue and alveolus; n. sound so pronounced. alveolar arch, tooth-bearing part of upper jaw. |
| alveolate | adjective | having many deep cavities; like a honey-comb. |
| alviducous | adjective | purgative. |
| alvine | adjective | pertaining to belly or intestines. |
| amadelphous | adjective | gregarious. |
| amandine | noun | albumin in sweet almonds; cold cream composed of that substance. |
| amanous | adjective | lacking hands. |
| amanuensis | noun | (pl. amanuenses ), employee who writes from dictation; secretary. |
| amaranthine | adjective | eternally beautiful; unfading; everlasting |
| amarthritis | noun | arthritis of several joints. |
| amaryllis | noun | belladonna lily; any of several similar plants; poetic name for country girl. |
| amative | adjective | amorous. |
| amatol | noun | explosive composed of T.N.T. and ammonium nitrate. |
| amatorculist | noun | an insignificant or hypocritical lover |
| amaurosis | noun | loss of sight without noticeable change in eye, due to failure of optic nerve; gutta serena. amaurotic, adjective |
| amazia | noun | absence of breasts dating back to one's birth |
| ambages | adjective noun | archaic, circuitous path or approach; circumlocution. ambagious |
| ambari | noun | fibre-yielding plant of E Indies; kenaf. |
| ambatch | noun | spongy wood, often used for rafts |
| ambisinister | noun | left-handed in both hands; awkward. |
| ambit | noun | scope, limits. |
| ambivert | noun | someone who is both extroverted and introverted. |
| amblyopia | noun | partial loss of sight not due to disease of eye; early stage of amaurosis. |
| amblysia | noun | phrasing in such a way as to forewarn or to cushion a dire announcement, but sometimes thereby alarming in itself |
| ambo | noun | raised place or pulpit in early Christian Church. |
| ambry | noun | niche containing sacred vessels in chancel. |
| ambsace | noun | double ace; lowest score; bad luck. |
| âme damnée | noun | lost soul'; dupe; tool; devoted follower." |
| amebicide | noun | substance killing amoebas. |
| amelification | noun | formation of tooth-enamel. |
| ameloblast | noun | enamel-producing cell of tooth. |
| amende | noun | fine; reparation. amende honorable, public apology; full reparation for dishonour. |
| amenorrhoea | noun | abnormal absence or arrest of menstruation. |
| ament | noun | catkin. amentaceous, adjective like or composed of catkins. amentiferous, adjective bearing catkins. amentiform, adjective catkin-shaped. |
| amentia | noun | severe, usually congenital, mental deficiency. |
| amerce | verb | punish, especially by fine. amercement, noun amerciable, adjective |
| ametropia | noun | abnormality in optical refraction, resulting in inability to focus images on the retina. ametropic, adjective |
| ami de cour | noun | the fairweather or foul-hearted friend |
| amiantus | noun | asbestos with silky fibres. amianthine, adjective |
| amice | noun | Roman Catholic, white linen square covering shoulders of celebrant priest. |
| amicicide | noun | murder or murderer of a friend. |
| amicron | noun | one of the smallest microscopically detectable particles. |
| amicus humani generis | noun | a philathropist |
| amine | noun | compound derived from ammonia. |
| aminobutene | noun | synthetic pain-relieving drug, less addictive than morphine. |
| amitosis | noun | direct cell division. amitotic, adjective |
| ammophilous | adjective | sand-loving. |
| ammotherapy | noun | medical treatment by sand baths. |
| amour-propre | noun | self-love; self-respect. |
| ampelideous | adjective | of or like the vine. |
| ampelotherapy | noun | Medicine, grape cure."amphibole" |
| amphibolic | adjective | able to turn backwards or forwards, especially of joints and limbs; ambiguous; like amphibole. |
| amphibolite | noun | rock composed of amphibole; hornblende. |
| amphibology | noun | ambiguous speech; equivocation; quibble. amphibolous, adjective |
| amphibolous | adjective | susceptible of two meanings; ambiguous; equivocal,e.g. 'we'll engage them in battle hopefully after our reinforcementsarrive.' |
| amphichroic | adjective | producing two colors. amphichrome, noun such a plant. amphichrom, noun |
| amphicoelous | adjective | Zoology, having both surfaces concave. |
| amphictyonic | adjective | applied to ancient Greek council of state-deputies. amphictyany, noun league of adjacent states. |
| amphicyrtic | adjective | with both sides convex. |
| amphigean | adjective | found or occuring throughout the world |
| amphigony | noun | sexual reproduction. |
| amphigory | noun | nonsensical writing |
| amphilogism | noun | circumlocution. |
| amphimixis | noun | interbreeding; joining of germ plasm of two individuals in sexual reproduction. |
| amphipodous | adjective | Zoology, having both walking and swimming feet. |
| amphiprostyle | adjective noun | (building) with columns at each end but not at sides. |
| amphirhinal | adjective | with two nostrils. |
| amphisbaena | noun | Mythology double-headed serpent able to move in both directions; kind of worm-like lizard. |
| amphiscian | noun | & a. (inhabitant) of tropics, whose shadow falls in different ways according to the time of year. |
| amphivorous | adjective | both carnivorous and herbivorous. |
| amphoteric | adjective | of both kinds; Chemistry, reacting as either alkali or acid. |
| ampicillin | noun | an improved form of penicillin taken by mouth. |
| amplexus | noun | the mating embrace of frogs and toads. |
| ampliative | adjective | supplementary. |
| ampollosity | noun | bombast; pompous style |
| amurcous | adjective | stinking; filled with dregs |
| amyctic | adjective | irritating; abrasive |
| amygdala | noun | (pl. -lae ) any almond-shaped formation in body, e.g. tonsil. |
| amygdalin | noun | glucoside in bitter almonds, used as an expectorant. amygdaline, adjective pertaining to almonds; pertaining to tonsils. |
| amygdaloid | noun | basaltic rock with almond-shaped cavities, adjective almond-shaped. |
| amylolysis | noun | conversion of starch into soluble products in digestive process. amylolytic, adjective |
| amyotonia | noun | deficiency of muscle tone. |
| anabasis | noun | (pl. -ses ) upward journey; military advance inland, especially of Persians and Greeks under Cyrus (401 BC); Medicine, first phase of disease; increase of fever. anabatic, adjective ascending; Meteorology, (of wind) moving upwards. |
| anabiosis | noun | return to life after seeming death. |
| anacampserote | noun | something which can bring back a lost love |
| anacardic | adjective | pertaining to cashew nut. |
| anacathartic | noun | & a. (drug) causing vomiting. |
| anachorism | noun | foreign to a certain locality; geographically impossible |
| anachronic | adjective | out of (chronological) order; out of date. |
| anaclitic | adjective | overly dependent on another |
| anacoluthon | noun | an abrupt shift in midsentence in syntax to another construction |
| anacreontic | adjective | jovial, festive and amatory |
| anacrusis | noun | unaccented syllable(s) at beginning of verse-line, or such notes at beginning of piece of music. anacrustic, adjective |
| anadem | noun | band; wreath; fillet. |
| anadiplosis | noun | rhetorical device of repetition of last word of one clause at beginning of next. |
| anadipsia | noun | Medicine, abnormal thirst. anadipsic, adjective |
| anadipsic | adjective | pertaining to excessive thirst |
| anadromous | adjective | ascending, especially of fish that ascend rivers to spawn. |
| anemotrophy | noun | insufficient nourishment of blood. |
| anaeretic | adjective | Medicine destructive. |
| anaerophyte | noun | Botany, anaerobic plant. |
| anagalactic | adjective | Astronomy, beyond our galaxy; not galactic. |
| anagapesis | noun | lack of interest in former loved ones |
| anagenesis | noun | tissue regeneration. |
| anagnorisis | noun | denouement in play, arising from recognition. |
| anagoge | noun | spiritual exaltation; mystical interpretation of sacred works such as the Bible. anagogic(al), adjective mystical. |
| anagogig | adjective | relating to things spiritual and mystical; occult;gnostic |
| analects | noun | selected parts of a literary work or works |
| analects | noun | collection of writings; literary gleanings. analectic |
| analemma | noun | graduated scale in figure-of-eight, showing difference between actual time and that shown by the sun. |
| analeptic | adjective noun | Medicine, restorative. |
| anallagmatic | adjective | Mathematics, unchanged in shape by inversion. |
| analphabet | noun | an illiterate, or one who is literally ignorant of the abc's |
| anamnesis | noun | act of reminiscence; history of medical case. anamnestic, adjective |
| anamnestic | adjective | reminiscent; aiding the memory |
| anamorphosis | noun | distorted image only recognisable if viewed through appropriate device; method of making such images; Biology, evolution by slow changes; Botany, abnormal change of shape. anamorphoscope, noun device for viewing anamorphosis. |
| anandrious | adjective | impotent. |
| anandrous | adjective | Botany, without stamens. |
| ananias | noun | a teller of untruths; liar (from a follower of the apostles who was struck dead for lying) |
| ananthous | adjective | having no flowers. |
| ananym | noun | name written backwards as pseudonym. |
| anaphora | noun | repitition of a word or phrase in successive clauses,sentences, or paragraphs for rhetorical effect, e.g. a sure man |
| anaphrodisia | noun | absence of sexual desire. anaphrodisiac, noun & a. (drug) reducing sexual desire. |
| anaphroditic | adjective | asexually produced. |
| anaplasia | noun | reversion of plant or animal cells to a simpler form. |
| anapodictic | adjective | undemonstrable |
| anaptotic | adjective | Philology, with weakened or no case inflections. |
| anaptyxis | noun | insertion of a vowel between two consonants for ease of pronunciation. |
| anarthrous | adjective | Zoology, non-jointed; Grammar, without the article (of Greek nouns). |
| anastomosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) intercommunication between branches of blood-vessels, nerves, etc., or of rivers; formation of network. anastomotic, adjective |
| anastrophe | noun | rhetorical device of reversing natural order of words; inversion. |
| anatocism | noun | compound interest; taking such interest. |
| anatreptic | adjective | defeating, refuting |
| anaudia | noun | loss of voice. |
| anautarchia | noun | perpetual unhappiness |
| ancilla | noun | a sidekick who helps another to accomplish or master something difficult or complicated |
| ancipital | adjective | having two faces or edges; double-headed; twofold. |
| ancistroid | noun | having shape of hook. |
| ancon | noun | Architecture, one of a pair of brackets supporting a cornice. |
| ancoral | adjective | like an anchor; hooked. |
| ancylostomiasis | noun | infestation with hookworms, leading to anaemia. |
| andabate | noun | one who is hoodwinked, in the dark or virtually blind to the realities of a situation |
| androcentric | adjective | revolving around men; regarding the male sex as primary. |
| androcephalous | adjective | with human head. |
| androcracy | noun | domination of society by men. androcratic, adjective |
| androgyne | noun | hermaphrodite; effeminate man; masculine woman. androgynism, noun |
| androlepsia | noun | international governmental kidnapping forpolitical gain"andromedotoxin" |
| androphagous | adjective | cannibal. |
| androphilic | adjective | preferring the male sex, or humans rather than animals. |
| androphobia | noun | dread or hatred of men. |
| androphonomania | noun | homicidal mania. |
| androphorous | adjective | Zoology, having male organs. |
| androsphinx | noun | figure with man's head and lion's body. |
| androsterone | noun | androgenic steroid male hormone. |
| anechoic | adjective | free from echoes and reverberations; sound-absorbent. |
| anele | verb | archaic anoint; administer extreme unction to. |
| anemochord | noun | kind of pianoforte having strings vibrated by air currents. |
| anemograph | noun | recording anemometer. anemogram, noun record made by an anemograph. |
| anemophilous | adjective | Botany, pollinated by wind. anemophile, noun such plant. anemophily, noun such pollination. |
| anemophobia | noun | morbid dread of high winds, hurricanes, etc. |
| anemoscope | noun | any instrument indicating direction of wind. |
| anencephaly | noun | state of lacking a brain or a part of the brain. anencephalic, anencephalous, adjective |
| anenterous | adjective | lacking intestine or stomach. |
| anergy | noun | absence of energy; loss of immunity. |
| aneroid | adjective | not using liquid. aneroid barometer, instrument measuring atmospheric pressure by recording the movements of the surface of an air- tight box. |
| anesis | noun | Medicine, abatement of symptoms; Music, tuning to lower pitch. |
| aneurin | noun | thiamine. |
| anfractuous | adjective | winding, tortuous |
| angary | noun | right of belligerent to take or destroy property of neutral, subject to compensation. |
| angelus | noun | prayer(s) said at early morning, noon and sunset. angelus bell, bell calling to prayer at such times. |
| angiitis | noun | Medicine, inflammation of vessel. |
| angiography | noun | technique for X-raying major blood vessels, using dye opaque to X-rays. |
| angioid | noun | like blood or lymph vessel. |
| angiology | noun | study of blood and lymphatic system. |
| angioma | noun | tumour due to dilated blood vessels. angiomatosis, noun state of having many angiomas. angiomatous, adjective |
| angiospasm | noun | sudden contraction of blood vessels. angiospastic, a.; n. substance causing angiospasm. |
| angiotomy | noun | dissection of or incision into blood vessel. |
| angostura | noun | Brazilian tree and its bark; tonic fluid extracted from the bark. |
| anguiform | adjective | having shape of snake. |
| anguilliform | adjective | having shape of eel. |
| anguine | adjective | pertaining to or like a snake. |
| anhedonia | noun | the inability to be happy |
| anhedral | noun | denoting the angle at which the main planes of an aircraft are inclined downwards to the lateral axis. |
| anhelation | noun | shortness of breath. |
| aniconic | adjective | without idols; (of objects of worship) portrayed symbolically rather than representationally. aniconism, noun worship of object symbolising but not representing god; iconoclasm. |
| anicular | adjective | old-womanish, weak; feeble-minded |
| anidian | adjective | (of an embryo) shapeless. |
| anile | adjective | like a very old woman; imbecile. |
| anililagnia | noun | sexual desire for older women |
| aniline | noun | poisonous substance obtained from indigo, nitro-benzene, etc., used in manufacture of dyes; a. applied to dye prepared with aniline. |
| animadversion | noun | generally adverse criticism |
| animadvert | verb | take notice; comment; criticize; reprove. animadversion |
| anion | noun | negatively charged ion. anionic, adjective |
| aniseed | noun | dried fruit of anise; cordial made from it. |
| anisometropia | noun | condition of eyes having unequal refractive power. anisometropic, adjective |
| anisosthenic | adjective | of unequal strength. |
| ankus | noun | elephant goad with hook and spike. |
| ankylosis | noun | joining together of bones or hard parts; resulting stiffness. ankylose, v.i. (of bones) to fuse or stiffen in this way. |
| ankylostoma | noun | lockjaw. |
| ankyroid | adjective | having shape of hook. |
| anlace | noun | short double-edged sword or long dagger. |
| annatto | noun | reddish dye used for coloring foodstuffs; tropical American tree from seeds of which it is obtained. |
| anneal | verb | strengthen; temper, especially by subjecting to great heat and slow cooling. |
| annectant | adjective | connecting; Biology, linking, especially of species. |
| annomination | noun | play on words; pun. |
| annos vixit | phrase | 'lived (so many) years'; was aged (abbr. a.v.). |
| annotine | noun | one-year-old, especially bird after first moult. |
| annuent | adjective | nodding, especially of muscles that nod the head. |
| annulism | noun | ringed structure. |
| annunciate | verb | announce; proclaim. Annunciation, noun announcement of the Incarnation to Mary, mother of Jesus; feast celebrated on Lady Day (March 25); Annunciation lily, madonna lily. annunciative, annunciatory, adjective |
| anoa | noun | wild ox of Celebes. |
| anobiid | noun | one of the family of beetles which includes the deathwatch and the furniture beetle. |
| anocathartic | adjective noun | (drug) causing vomiting or expectoration. |
| anode | noun | Electricity, positive terminal; electrode by which current enters, or to which electrons flow. anodal, anodic, adjective anodize, v. coat with protective film electrolytically. |
| anodon | noun | hingeless and toothless bivalve; freshwater mussel. |
| anodontia | noun | absence of teeth. |
| anodyne | adjective | painless, soothing |
| anoesia | noun | imbecility. |
| anoesis | noun | Psychology, mere reception of impressions without understanding or intellectual effort. |
| anoestrus | noun | period between two periods of sexual activity in animals. anoestrous, adjective |
| anoetic | adjective | pertaining to anoesis. |
| anogenic | adjective | Geology, formed from below; plutonic. |
| anolyte | noun | Electricity, portion of electrolyte about anode. |
| anomalistic | adjective | Astronomy, pertaining to anomaly. anomalistic month, interval between two perigees of moon. anomalistic year, interval between two perihelion passages of Earth. |
| anomaloscope | noun | device for testing for color blindness. |
| anonymuncule | noun | an insignificant anonymous writer |
| anoopsia | noun | upward squint. |
| anopheles | noun | kind of mosquito. anopheline, adjective |
| anopisthographic | adjective | bearing writing, etc., on one side only. |
| anorchous | adjective | without testicles; or gutless |
| anorthography | noun | inability to write correctly due to imperfect muscular co-ordination. |
| anosmia | noun | loss of sense of smell. anosmic, adjective |
| anosognosia | noun | the lack of interest or belief in the existence of one's disease |
| anourous | adjective | lacking a tail, especially applied to frog. |
| anovulatory | adjective | not associated with ovulation; suppressing ovulation. |
| ansate | adjective | having a handle. ansate cross, ankh. ansation, noun handlemaking. |
| Anschauung | noun | intuition; sense awareness of perception |
| anserine | adjective | like or pertaining to a goose; foolish. |
| antalgic | adjective noun | (drug) alleviating pain. |
| antanaclasis | noun | a phrasing in which the topic or key word is repeated, sometimes with a different sense or connotation, for a play on words, e.g. the business of america is business"" |
| antapex | noun | Astronomy, point 180° from that to which sun is moving. |
| antarthritic | adjective | (drug) used against gout. |
| ante mortem | phrase | 'before death'. |
| antecedaneous | adjective | before in time."antefix" |
| antelucan | adjective | pertaining to or occurring before dawn |
| antemetic | adjective noun | (drug) preventive of vomiting. |
| antemundane | adjective | before the Creation. |
| antenatal | adjective | before birth. |
| antenuptial | adjective | before marriage. |
| antepaschal | adjective | before Easter or the Passover. |
| antepast | noun | foretaste, especially a first course. |
| antependium | noun | altar frontal; similar cloth on pulpit or lectern. |
| antepenult | noun | antepenultimate syllable or word. antepenultimate, adjective third from last. |
| antephialtic | adjective | preventive of nightmares |
| anteprandial | adjective | before dinner. |
| antevenient | adjective | preceding. |
| antevert | verb | to displace a body organ forwards. anteversion, noun |
| antevocalic | adjective | immediately preceding a vowel. |
| anthelion | noun | kind of solar halo opposite sun; antisun. |
| anthelmintic | noun | (remedy) used against intestinal worms. |
| anthemion | noun | (pl. -ia) flat cluster of leaves or flowers as ornament in classical art; Architecture, honeysuckle ornament. |
| anther | noun | Botany, male, pollen-bearing organ of flower. antheral, adjective antherozoid, noun male sexual element in lower plants; spermatozoid. |
| antheridium | noun | (pl. -dia) male organ in cryptogams. |
| anthesis | noun | the process or period of flowering. |
| anthimeria | noun | the using of one part of speech for another for a strking effect |
| anthomania | noun | great love of flowers. |
| anthophagous | adjective | feeding on flowers. |
| anthophilous | adjective | flower-loving; feeding on flowers. |
| anthophorous | adjective | Botany, flower-bearing. |
| anthorism | noun | a counterdefinition, or a delineation or description differing from that of an opponent |
| anthotaxy | noun | Botany, disposition of flowers in cluster. |
| anthozoan | noun | sea-anemone; coral polyp; any creature of the natural class Anthozoa. anthozoan, anthozoic, adjective anthozooid, noun coral polyp. |
| anthracoid | adjective | resembling anthrax; resembling carbon, coal or charcoal. |
| anthropogenesis | noun | study of human generation or evolution. anthropogenetic, adjective |
| anthropogenic | adjective | pertaining to the effect of human beings on the natural world. |
| anthropogeography | noun | study of geographical distribution of human beings. |
| anthropoglot | noun | animal with human-like tongue; parrot. |
| anthropolatry | noun | worship, deification of a human being. |
| anthropolith | noun | petrified human remains. |
| anthropometry | noun | measurement of parts and functions of human body, especially as part of study of evolution. |
| anthropopathy | noun | ascribing human feelings to a god or inanimate object. anthropopathic, adjective |
| anthropophaginia | noun | a cannibal |
| anthropophobia | noun | fear of meeting people; fear of society |
| anthropophuism | noun | ascribing human nature to God. |
| anthropopsychism | noun | ascribing human-like soul to nature. |
| anthroposcopy | noun | evaluation of human bodily characteristics by inspection rather than anthropometry. |
| anthroposociology | noun | study of effect of environment on race, and vice versa. |
| anthroposophy | noun | knowledge of human nature; human wisdom; form of mysticism akin to theosophy. anthroposophical, adjective |
| anthropotheism | noun | belief that gods have human nature or are only deified human beings. |
| anthropotomy | noun | human anatomy. |
| antibasilican | adjective | opposed to principle of monarchy. |
| antiblastic | adjective | opposing growth, especially of harmful substances; giving natural immunity. |
| antibrachial | adjective | pertaining to forearm. |
| antibromic | adjective | causing the elimination of odors; deodorizing |
| anticholinergic | adjective | blocking nerve impulses, in order to control intestinal spasms. |
| antichresis | noun | (pl. -ses ) possession and enjoyment of mortgaged property by mortgagee in lieu of interest payments. |
| anticlastic | adjective | having transverse and opposite curvatures of surface. |
| anticline | noun | Geology, upward fold. anticlinal, adjective anticlinorium, noun arch-shaped group of anticlines and synclines. |
| anticous | adjective | Botany, turning away from axis. |
| anticryptic | adjective | Zoology, having protective resemblance to environment. |
| antidromic | adjective | (of nerve fibres) conducting impulses in the opposite direction to normal; Botany, twining towards right and left in members of one species. |
| antifebrile | noun | & a. preventive or curative of fever. |
| antigalactic | adjective noun | preventive of milk-secretion. |
| antihydropic | adjective noun | (drug) used against jaundice. |
| antilapsarian | adjective noun | (person) denying doctrine of the fall of Man. |
| antilibration | noun | counterpoising. |
| antilogarithm | noun | number of which logarithm is a power of 10 or other base (abbr. antilog.). |
| antilogism | noun | Logic, statement containing three propositions two of which contradict the third. antilogistic, adjective |
| antilogous | adjective | contrary; inconsistent |
| antilogy | noun | self-contradictory statement. |
| antimetabole | noun | repetition of words or ideas in different order. |
| antimetathesis | noun | repetition of parts of antithesis in reverse order. antimetathetic, adjective |
| antineuritic | adjective noun | preventive of neuritis, especially applied to vitamin B or food containing it. |
| antinomian | noun | one believing that belief in Christ frees someone from normal legal and moral obligations. |
| antinomy | noun | an inconsistency, or built-in contradiction; opposition of one law to another |
| antiodontalgic | adjective noun | (drug) used against toothache. |
| antiorgastic | adjective noun | sedative. |
| antipedobaptist | adjective noun | (person) denying validity of infant baptism. |
| antiperistasis | noun | opposition; resistance; denying an inference while admitting the fact on which it is based. |
| antiphlogistic | noun | & a. (drug) used against inflammation. |
| antiphon | noun | a response said or sung as part of the liturgy; a psalm etc. sung alternately by two choirs. antiphonal, adjective (of music) sung alternately. |
| antiphrasis | noun | Rhetoric use of a word in the opposite sense to its usual one, for humorous or ironic purposes. |
| antipodagric | adjective | used against gout. |
| antipruritic | adjective noun | (drug) alleviating itching. |
| antipsychiatry | noun | treatment of mental illness not relying on drugs, etc. |
| antipyrotic | adjective noun | (treatment) used against burns. |
| antirachitic | adjective | preventive of rickets, especially applied to vitamin D or food containing it. |
| antiscians | noun | persons living on opposite sides of equator but in same longitude. |
| antiscorbutic | noun | & a. preventive of scurvy, especially applied to vitamin C or food containing it. |
| antisideric | adjective noun | (substance) counteracting effect of iron. |
| antispast | noun | metrical foot comprising an iambus followed by a trochee. |
| antistasis | noun | the defense of an action that prevented something worse from happening |
| antistrophe | noun | stanza answering strophe in Greek chorus, recited during movement from left to right. antistrophic, adjective |
| antistrumatic | noun | remedy for scrofula. |
| antithalian | adjective | disapproving of festivity and laughter. |
| antithrombin | noun | substance in blood preventing coagulation of blood. |
| antitoxic | adjective | neutralizing poison. antitoxin, noun antibody, especially obtained from infected animal. |
| antitropic | adjective | Zoology, symmetrically reversed, as right and left hands. antitrope, noun such appendage. antitropy, noun state of being antitropic. |
| antitussive | noun | & a. (drug, etc.) that alleviates or prevents coughing. |
| antitype | noun | object or person prefigured by the type or symbol. antitypic, antitypical, adjective |
| antitypy | noun | resistance to penetration or alteration."antizymic" |
| antoecial | adjective | applied to places in opposite hemispheres but in same latitude and longitude. antoecians, n.pl. persons living in such places. |
| antonomasia | noun | literary device of using descriptive epithet or phrase instead of person's name; using proper name as epithet. |
| antrorse | adjective | Biology, turning upward and forward. |
| antrum | noun | (pl. -ra) sinus; cavity, especially leading into nose. |
| anuptaphobia | noun | fear of staying single |
| anuran | noun | any of the order of amphibians which includes frogs and toads. |
| anuresis | noun | inability to urinate. anuretic a. |
| anuria | noun | inability to produce urine. |
| anurous | adjective | lacking a tail, especially applied to frog. |
| aolist | noun | a person who claims to be inspired--to feel within that sudden wind of genius or artistic urgency; the wind is sometimesmore like a draft |
| aorist | noun | Grammar, (tense) signifying happening in unrestricted or unspecified past. aoristic, adjective indefinite; pertaining to aorist. |
| apaesthesia | noun | loss of feeling in limb. |
| apaetesis | noun | the angry putting aside of a matter to be takenup later |
| apagoge | noun | Mathematics, argument by reductio ad absurdum. apogogic(-al), adjective |
| apagogic | adjective | pertaining to a proof by reductio ad absurdum; an indirect demonstration of a proof |
| apandrous | adjective | having non-functioning male organs (of fungi, etc.). |
| apanthropy | noun | dislike of being with people; love of solitude |
| apatetic | adjective | Zoology, having protective imitative coloration or shape. |
| apercu | noun | a quick, penetrating insight; immediate impression,intuition, or estimate |
| aperient | noun | & a. laxative (medicine). aperitive, adjective |
| apetalous | adjective | Botany, lacking petals. |
| aphaeresis | noun | cutting off beginning of word. aphaeretic, adjective |
| aphagia | noun | inability to swallow. |
| apheliotropic | adjective | growing away from the sun. apheliotropism, noun |
| aphemia | noun | loss of power of articulate speech; motor aphasia. |
| aphephobe | noun | the person who doesn't like being touched |
| aphesis | noun | (pl. -ses) loss of unaccented vowel at beginning of word. aphetic, adjective |
| aphilophrenia | noun | a feeling that one is unloved or unwanted |
| aphis | noun | (pl. -ides, plant-louse; member of genus Aphis which includes greenfly, etc. aphidiphagous, adjective feeding on aphides. |
| aphonia | noun | loss of voice. aphonic, adjective voiceless. |
| aphotic | adjective | without light. |
| aphrasia | noun | inability to speak, or to make intelligible phrases. |
| aphylly | noun | absence of leaves. aphyllous, adjective |
| apiaceous | adjective | parsley-like; belonging to plant family including carrot, parsley, etc. |
| apian | adjective | pertaining to bees. |
| apical | adjective | at the summit or tip; Phonetics, pertaining to a consonant formed with help of tip of tongue. apicad, adv. towards the summit. |
| apiculate | adjective | (of leaves) having short point at tip. |
| apiculture | noun | bee-keeping. apiculturist, noun |
| apiology | noun | study of bees. |
| apivorous | adjective | eating bees. |
| aplanat | noun | aplanatic lens. aplanatic, adjective free from spherical aberration. aplanatism, noun |
| aplasia | noun | Medicine, incomplete development. aplastic, adjective |
| aplotomy | noun | simple surgical cut. |
| apocarteresis | noun | suicide by starvation |
| apocatastisis | noun | restoration; Medicine, relapse; subsidence; Astronomy, reversion to same position; Theology, conversion of whole world to Christianity. |
| apocentre | noun | point in orbit opposite centre of attraction. apocentric, adjective different from archetype. apocentricity, noun |
| apocope | noun | cutting off end of word. apocopate, v. & a. |
| apocrisis | noun | replying to one's own arguments |
| apocrustic | adjective noun | astringent (medicine). |
| apocynthion | noun | point in an orbit of the moon which is farthest from the moon's centre. |
| apodeictic | adjective | evident; demonstrable; incontrovertible. |
| apodiabolosis | noun | diabolical treatment |
| apodictic | adjective | absolutely certain or necessarily true;uncontestable |
| apodixis | noun | indisputable evidence or proof |
| apodosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) main clause in conditional sentence. |
| apodysophilia | noun | feverish desire to undress |
| apogaic | adjective | pertaining to apogee. |
| apogamy | noun | Biology, interbreeding in a separated group which has no characteristic differentiating it from parents; Botany, non-sexual reproduction in some ferns. |
| apogeny | noun | Botany, sterility. apogenous, adjective |
| apogeotropic | adjective | Botany, bending up or away from the ground. apogeotropism, noun |
| apograph | noun | copy; facsimile. apographal, adjective |
| apolaustic | adjective | given to enjoyment; self indulgent |
| apolegamic | adjective | Biology, pertaining to selection, especially sexual. |
| apologue | noun | parable, moral tale. |
| apolune | noun | point in the orbit of body revolving round the moon that is farthest from the centre of the moon. |
| apomecometer | noun | instrument measuring height and distance. |
| apomict | noun | organism reproducing by, or formed by, apomixis. |
| apomixis | noun | non-sexual reproduction. apomictic, adjective |
| apomnemonysis | noun | quoting an approved authority |
| apophasis | noun | rhetorical device of emphasizing a fact, by pretending to ignore or deny it. |
| apophthegm | noun | brief wise saying. apophthegmatic, adjective |
| apophyge | noun | Architecture, curve between shaft and base, or between shaft & capital, in a column. |
| apophysis | noun | offshoot; projecting part, especially of bone. apophyseal, apophysial, adjective apophysate, adjective Botany, having an apophysis. |
| aporia | noun | professing to be at a loss as to what to say, where to begin, or how to express something; true or feigned doubt or deliberation about an issue |
| aposematic | adjective | Zoology, giving warning, applied to coloration, odour, etc., of animals. |
| aposiopesis | noun | a conscious breaking off in the middle of a sentence because of emotion, a dramatic change in thought, or, sometimes, a shifting to understatement or irony |
| apostasy | noun | desertion from religion or similar body. |
| apostate | noun | & a. (person) committing apostasy. apostatize, v.i. change one's religious allegiance; forsake one's principles. |
| apostil(le) | noun | comment; note in margin. |
| apotelesm | noun | casting of horoscope. |
| apothegm | noun | a concise formulation of a truth; an aphorism |
| apothem | noun | perpendicular from centre of regular polygon to any of its sides. |
| apothesis | noun | Medicine, setting of broken limb. |
| apotropaic | adjective | averting or combating evil. apotropaism, noun such magical practice. |
| apotypic | adjective | differing from type. |
| appanage | noun | perquisite; provision, such as land or office, for younger son(s) of king or high official. |
| apparitor | noun | herald; harbinger; officer executing order of ecclesiastical court. |
| apperception | noun | perception of inner meaning, and of relation of new facts to facts already known; mental assimilation; state of being conscious of perceiving. apperceptive, adjective apperceive, v. |
| appersonation | noun | delusion of insane person that he is another, generally famous, person. |
| appetence | noun | strong desire; craving; powerful instinct. appetent, adjective |
| appetible | adjective | desirable. appetition, noun yearning. |
| applanate | adjective | flattened. applanation, noun |
| appoggiatura | noun | Music, short note placed before a longer one. short appoggiatura, acciaccatura. |
| apport | noun | tangible object caused to appear by spiritualist medium; production of such object. |
| appose | verb | to place (things) side by side or next to each other. |
| apposite | adjective | appropriate, fitting, apt, suitable |
| apposition | noun | juxtaposition; Grammar, putting two nouns or phrases together as attributive or adjunct terms; relationship of such nouns or phrases. appositive, adjective"appulse" |
| apraxia | noun | impaired ability to execute complex muscular movements. |
| aprosexia | noun | inability to concentrate on anything |
| apse | noun | rounded extension at end of building, especially at east end of church; Astronomy, apsis. |
| apsidal | adjective | having shape of apse; pertaining to apsides. |
| apsis | noun | (pl. -sides ) Astronomy, point at which heavenly body is most or least distant from centre of attraction. higher apsis, most distant point. lower apsis, least distant point. |
| apteral | adjective | (of classical temple) having columns at front or back only; (of church) lacking aisles: apterous. |
| apterous | adjective | lacking wings. |
| apterygial | adjective | wingless; finless. |
| aptronym | noun | a name befitting the occupation, role or nature of a person or character, e.g. doctor sawbones |
| aptyalism | noun | lack or absence of saliva. |
| apyretic | adjective | without fever. apyrexy, noun absence or abatement of fever. |
| apyrous | adjective | non-inflammable. |
| aqua regia | noun | 'royal water'; mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids which dissolves some metals. Used in etching and by alchemists to dissolve gold. |
| aquarelle | noun | method of painting in transparent water-color; such painting. aquarellist, noun artist painting aquarelles. |
| aquarist | noun | person who studies aquatic life; owner of an aquarium. |
| aquatint | noun | (print made by) a method of etching having effect of water- color drawing. |
| arachnophagous | adjective | eating spiders. |
| araneid | noun | spider; a. pertaining to spiders. araneiform, adjective shaped like a spider. araneology, noun study of spiders. |
| araneous | adjective | like a spider's web; transparent; delicate. |
| araphorostic | adjective | seamless. |
| arbalest | noun | cross-bow with mechanism for drawing string. |
| arboraceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a tree; wooded. |
| arboreous | adjective | having many trees. |
| arborescent | adjective | branched; having shape or growth like a tree. arborescence, noun |
| arborical | adjective | pertaining to trees. |
| arboricole | noun | living in trees. |
| arboriform | adjective | shaped like a tree. |
| arborize | verb | take on or give tree-like shape. arborization, noun |
| arborous | adjective | pertaining to trees; composed of trees. |
| arbuscle | noun | dwarf tree; shrub-like tree. arbuscular, adjective |
| arbuscule | noun | tuft of hairs. |
| arbustum | noun | (pl. -ta) copse; orchard. |
| arbutus | noun | strawberry tree. |
| arcate | adjective | shaped like a bow. arcature, noun small or blind arcade. |
| arc-boutant | noun | (pl. arcs-boutants [pron. same]) flying buttress. |
| archaeozoic | adjective | living in the earliest geological era. |
| archecentric | adjective | pertaining to archetype. |
| archeolatry | noun | worship of archaic customs, expressions, etc. |
| archididascalos | noun | headteacher of school etc. archididascalian, adjective |
| archiepiscopal | adjective | pertaining to an archbishop. |
| archil | noun | dye obtained from certain lichens; lichens yielding this. |
| archimage | noun | (pl. -gi ) great magician. |
| archimandrite | noun | superior of large monastery of Greek Church; abbot. |
| architectonic | adjective | pertaining to architecture, or to the systematization of knowledge; resembling architecture; structural; showing constructive ability; n. pl. science of architecture; constructive skill. |
| architrave | noun | beam resting directly on columns; epistyle; moulding at head and sides of window or doorway. |
| archivolt | noun | curved moulding on face of arch. |
| archizoic | adjective | pertaining to earliest living things. |
| archology | noun | theory of origins; science of government. |
| archon | noun | a chief magistrate of ancient Athens. archontic, adjective |
| arcifinious | adjective | having a frontier which forms a natural defence. |
| arciform | adjective | shaped like an arch. |
| arctogeal | adjective | pertaining to the region including Europe, Africa, Asia and N America. |
| arctoid | noun | like a bear. |
| arctophile | noun | person who loves or collects teddy bears. |
| arcuate | adjective | bow-shaped. arcuation, noun |
| arcus senilis | noun | 'senile ring'; whitish ring round iris in eyes of old people. |
| areca | noun | several palm trees, especially the betel. areca nut, betel-nut. |
| arenaceous | adjective | like or consisting of sand; growing in sand. |
| arenicolous | adjective | living in sand. |
| arenilitic | adjective | pertaining to sandstone. |
| arenoid | adjective | like sand. |
| arenose | adjective | sandy; containing much sand. |
| areography | noun | description of surface of planet Mars; descriptive biogeography. |
| areology | noun | study of planet Mars. |
| Areopagus | noun | highest legal tribunal in ancient Athens; any important tribunal. Areopagite, noun member of such a tribunal. |
| aretaics | noun | science of virtue. |
| aretalogy | noun | relation of wonderful deeds of a god or hero. |
| argent | noun | silver; silver-like. argentate, argenteous, argentic, argentine, argentous, adjective argentiferous, adjective yielding silver. argentine, noun silvery metal. argentometer, noun instrument measuring strength of silver solutions. |
| argil | noun | clay, especially used in pottery. argillaceous, argillous, adjective containing clay; clay-like. argilliferous, adjective yielding or containing clay. argilloid, adjective like clay. |
| argol | noun | crust formed on long-kept wine. |
| Argus | noun | monster with a hundred eyes; careful watcher. Argus-eyed, adjective ever watchful. argus, noun any of several small brown butterflies with eyespots. |
| argute | adjective | quick; sharp; shrill; astute; subtle. |
| argyrocephalous | adjective | with silvery or shining head. |
| arietta | noun | short aria. |
| ariose | adjective | characterized by or like melody. |
| aristarch | noun | severe critic. |
| aristarchian | adjective | extremely critical |
| aristology | noun | art or science of dining. aristological, adjective aristologist, noun |
| aristophrenia | noun | condition of having a superior intellect |
| arithmancy | noun | divination by numbers. |
| arithmocracy | noun | rule of the numerical majority |
| arithmogram | noun | number composed of numerical values assigned to letters in a word. arithmocracy, noun government by the majority. arithmography, noun representing a number with letters having numerical values. arithmomania, noun obsession with numbers, especially compulsion to count things. arithmometer, noun early adding machine. |
| armiferous | adjective | carrying weapons or arms. |
| armiger | noun | armour-bearer; knight's squire; person bearing heraldic arms. armigerous, armigeral, adjective |
| armillary | adjective | like, pertaining to or composed of rings. armillary sphere, celestial globe composed only of rings marking equator, tropics, etc. |
| armipotent | adjective | having strong armament. armipotence, noun |
| armisonant | adjective | resounding with the clash of arms. |
| arnica | noun | genus of plants including the mountain tobacco; tincture obtained from mountain tobacco used for bruises, etc. |
| aroint | verb | archaic, (imperative) begone! |
| arquebus(e) | noun | ancient hand gun supported on tripod. arquebusier, noun soldier armed with arquebus. |
| arras | noun | tapestry, especially covering wall. arrasene, noun embroidery material of silk and wool. |
| arrect | adjective | raised up; attentive. |
| arrha | noun | (pl. -ae ) pledge; earnest money. arrhal, adjective |
| arrhenotoky | noun | to only give birth to boys |
| arrhizal | adjective | rootless. |
| arrière-ban | noun | summoning by king of his feudatories and their vassals to military service; vassals so called; the nobility. |
| arrière-pensée | noun | hidden meaning; ulterior motive; mental reservation."arris" |
| arriviste | noun | pushful, ambitious person. |
| arrogate | verb | take or claim beyond one's rights. arrogation, noun |
| arrondissement | noun | largest subdivision of a French department. |
| arsinotherium | noun | rhinoceros-like fossil mammal. |
| arthralgia | noun | pain in a joint. |
| arthrosis | noun | joint or articulation connecting two bones. |
| articular | adjective | pertaining to joints. |
| artuate | verb | to tear limb from limb |
| arum | noun | large-spathed plant, called 'cuckoo-pint' or 'lords and ladies'. arum lily, calla lily. |
| arundinaceous | adjective | like or pertaining to a reed. |
| arvicoline | adjective | living in the fields or countryside. arviculture, noun cultivation of fields. |
| ascian | noun | one without a shadow: applied to the inhabitants of the torrid zone, where the sun is vertical at noon for a few days every year |
| ascidian | noun | sea-squirt. |
| aseismic | adjective | free from earthquakes; designed to withstand earthquakes. aseismatic, adjective reducing or withstanding effect of earthquakes. |
| ashlar | noun | squared building stone; stonework composed of these; thin, dressed stone for facing rough wall. ashlaring, noun partition in attic to cut off angle made by rafters and floor. |
| asomatous | adjective | incorporeal; lacking body. asomatophyte, noun Botany, plant in which body and reproductive cells are undifferentiated. |
| asparaginous | adjective | pertaining to, like or eaten like asparagus. |
| asperate | adjective | rather rough; v.t. make rough. asperation, noun |
| asperge | verb | sprinkle. asperges, noun Roman Catholic, ceremony of sprinkling holy water. |
| aspergil | noun | Roman Catholic, brush-like implement used to sprinkle holy water. |
| aspergillus | noun | (pl. -li ) minute fungus forming mould. aspergilliform, aspergillosis, noun animal disease caused by aspergilli. |
| asperity | noun | roughness, acrimony. |
| aspermatism | noun | failure of male generative powers. aspermic, adjective |
| aspersorium | noun | Roman Catholic, vessel holding holy water; aspergil. |
| asperulous | adjective | Botany, rather rough. |
| asphalia | noun | emphatic guaranteeing of what one is saying, as by assuring others, wagering about the truth of something |
| aspheterism | noun | doctrine that there should be no private property. |
| asphodel | noun | kind of liliaceous plant; daffodil; Literature, flower of the Elysian fields. bog asphodel, British grass-like moorland plant. |
| aspidate | adjective | shield-shaped. |
| asportation | noun | removal, especially crime of removing property. |
| assecuration | noun | marine insurance. |
| assentaneous | adjective | acquiescent. |
| assentation | noun | ready, insincere assent. assentatious, adjective willing to assent. assentator, noun flatterer; one assenting insincerely or conniving. assentatory, adjective |
| asseverate | verb | to state positively, emphatically |
| assibilate | verb | pronounce with sibilant sound or hiss. assibilation, noun |
| assiduity | noun | unremitting care; unflagging or obsequious attention. assiduous, adjective |
| assoil(zie) | verb | pardon; absolve; acquit; release. assoilment, noun |
| assuetude | noun | custom or habit |
| assumpsit | noun | Law, contract (not under seal); suit for breach of such contract. |
| assurgent | adjective | ascending; Botany, upward-curving. assurgency, noun |
| astasia | noun | inability, due to imperfect muscular co-ordination, to keep erect. |
| astatic | adjective | unstable; in neutral equilibrium; Electricity, not tending to assume a definite position. astatic pair, pair of magnetized needles of opposite charges. astatics, noun study of equilibrium of body under known forces. |
| astatine | noun | radioactive element of the halogen group. |
| asteism | noun | an ingeniously polite insult |
| asteria | noun | gem cut so as to show asterism. |
| asterial | adjective | starlike; n. a fossil starfish. |
| asteriated | adjective | having star-like rays. |
| asterism | noun | constellation of stars; group of asterisks; appearance of star-like reflection by certain crystals. asterismal, adjective |
| asthenia | noun | debility. asthenic, adjective weak; of slender build; weakening. |
| asthenophobe | noun | the circumspect stoic, the stiff-upper-lip afraid to admit to weakness of any sort |
| asthenopia | noun | optical weakness, especially muscular. asthenopic, adjective |
| asthenosphere | noun | hypothetical layer of fluid matter below rigid surface of earth's crust. |
| astomatal | astomous" | adjective |
| astragal | noun | ankle-bone; rounded beading or moulding on column; pl., dice. astragalar, adjective astragalomancy, noun divination by ankle-bones or dice. astragalus n. Medicine, ankle-bone. |
| astrakhan | noun | closely-curled black or grey fur from fleece of karakul lambs: cloth resembling this. |
| astraphobia | noun | morbid fear of thunder and lightning. |
| astrict | verb | astringe. astriction, noun astrictive, adjective |
| astringe | verb | bind; brace; restrict; constipate. |
| astrogate | verb | guide (spaceship, etc.); v.i. navigate in space. |
| astrognosy | noun | knowledge of fixed stars. |
| astrogony | noun | theory of the origin of the stars. |
| astroid | noun | star-shaped. |
| astrolatry | noun | worship of stars. |
| astrolithology | noun | study of meteorites. |
| astrophile | noun | person fond of learning about stars. |
| astucious | adjective | having keen perception; of astute and penetrating discernment |
| astylar | adjective | Architecture, lacking columns. |
| asymptote | noun | line approaching a curve but meeting it only at infinity. asymptotic, adjective |
| asyndetic | adjective | not connected by conjunctions: I came, I saw, I conquered |
| asyndeton | noun | rhetorical device of omitting conjunctions. asyndetic, adjective |
| asynergy | noun | Medicine, lack of co-ordination, especially of muscles. |
| asyngamy | noun | Botany, failure to effect cross-fertilization due to asynchronous development of flowers. |
| atactic | adjective | asyntactic; irregular; pertaining to ataxy. |
| ataraxia | noun | imperturbability; utter calmness |
| ataraxic | adjective | of or pertaining to freedom from anxiety or emotional disturbance; calm and imperturbable |
| ataraxy | noun | tranquillity of mind; imperturbability. ataractic, ataraxic, noun & a. (drug) able to calm or tranquillize. |
| ataxaphasia | noun | inability, due to imperfect muscular co-ordination, to speak sentences. |
| ataxy | noun | inability to co-ordinate muscles; lack of order. ataxic, adjective |
| ateknia | noun | childlessness. |
| atelectasis | noun | incomplete dilatation or collapse of lungs. |
| ateliosis | noun | imperfect development; dwarfism. |
| atelophobe | noun | the driven perfectionist, one with a morbid fear of having things less than perfect |
| athanasia | noun | immortality |
| atheling | noun | Anglo-Saxon noble; prince, especially heir apparent. |
| athermanous | adjective | impervious to radiant heat. athermancy, noun |
| atherogenic | adjective | leading to atheroma. |
| atheroma | noun | fatty degeneration of the arteries. atherosclerosis, noun hardening of the inner lining of the arteries with fatty degeneration. atheromatous, adjective |
| athetise | verb | to spurn, reject |
| athetosis | noun | nervous twitching of fingers and toes. |
| athrepsia | noun | complete debility in children. athreptic, adjective |
| athymy | noun | melancholy. |
| atlantes | noun | pl. male figures used as columns. |
| atmogenic | adjective | Geology, of atmospheric origin. |
| atmology | noun | study of laws of watery vapour. |
| atmolysis | noun | method of separating gases of different densities. |
| atmometer | noun | instrument measuring rate of evaporation into atmosphere. atmometry, noun |
| atokous | adjective | lacking offspring. |
| atomy | noun | very small creature; skeleton. |
| atrabilarian | noun | a gloomy hypochondriac |
| atrabilious | adjective | very melancholic; hypochondriac. |
| atrament | noun | very dark liquid; ink. atramentous, adjective |
| atresia | noun | lack or closing of a passage of the body. atretic, adjective |
| atrichia | noun | baldness. |
| atrous | adjective | jet black. |
| attainder | noun | loss of civil rights, formerly result of outlawry or death sentence. |
| attaint | verb | pass sentence of attainder on; sully; attach disgrace to; infect; n. dishonour; misfortune. attainture, noun |
| attemper | verb | alter quality by addition or mixture; moderate. attemperate, v. archaic, moderate temperature. attemporator, noun apparatus for moderating temperature. |
| attingent | adjective | touching, in contact. |
| attrahent | adjective | attracting; drawing towards or forward; n. such thing or muscle. |
| au fait | adjective | 'to the fact'; having complete and up-to-date knowledge; conversant. |
| aubade | noun | musical piece performed at or describing dawn. |
| auctorial | adjective | pertaining to an author. |
| audile | noun | person whose mental processes are stimulated more strongly by hearing than by other senses; a. pertaining to such persons; auditory. |
| audiogenic | adjective | caused by sound waves, especially of high frequency. |
| aularian | adjective | pertaining to hall |
| aulete | noun | flautist. |
| aulic | adjective | courtly; ceremonious. |
| aurated | adjective | gilded. |
| aureate | adjective | golden-colored; ornate. |
| aureity | noun | properties of gold. |
| aureomycin | noun | trademark, an antibiotic drug extracted from a soil mould, used in treatment of infections, especially of eyes, skin, etc. |
| auric | adjective | pertaining to, like or composed of gold. |
| auricle | noun | external ear; ear-shaped appendage; upper cavity of heart. |
| auricomous | adjective | having golden hair; making hair golden. |
| auricular | adjective | pertaining to hearing, or to the ear; spoken secretly. auricular finger, the little finger. |
| auriculate | adjective | having ears or ear-shaped outgrowths; lobed; ear-like. |
| auriferous | adjective | containing gold. |
| auriform | adjective | ear-shaped. |
| aurify | verb | change into gold. aurific, adjective producing gold. aurification, noun working with gold. |
| auriphrygia | noun | gold embroidery. auriphrygiate, adjective |
| aurist | noun | specialist on the ear and its diseases. |
| aurous | adjective | pertaining to, containing, or made of gold. |
| aurulent | adjective | gold-colored. |
| auscultate | verb | Medicine, listen to sounds in human body; examine in this manner. auscultation, noun auscultative, adjective auscultator, noun person practising auscultation; stethoscope. auscultatory, adjective |
| auscultation | noun | the process of listening |
| auslaut | noun | final sound of syllable or word. |
| autacoid | noun | hormone. autacoidal, adjective |
| autarchia | noun | perpetual happiness |
| autarchy | noun | absolute sovereignty; autocracy. autarchic, autarchical, adjective |
| autecology | noun | the ecology of the individual organism. |
| autoangelist | noun | one who does his own communicating |
| autocephalous | adjective | Ecclesiastical, self-governing. autocephaly, noun |
| autochthon | noun | native; aboriginal species. autochthonous, adjective autochthony, noun |
| autochthonous | adjective | native, aboriginal, indigenous |
| autoclesis | noun | introducing an idea or subject by seeming to refuse discussion of it, thereby arousing interest |
| autoecious | adjective | (of fungus, etc.) passing through all life stages on same species of host. |
| autogamy | noun | self-fertilization. autogamic, autogamous, adjective |
| autogenesis | noun | spontaneous generation. autogenetic, adjective |
| autogenous | adjective | self-generated. |
| autognosis | noun | knowledge of self, especially the appreciation of one's own emotional conflicts |
| autointoxication | noun | poisoning due to toxins produced in body. |
| autokinesis | noun | voluntary or automatic movement. autokinetic, adjective |
| autolatry | noun | self-worship. |
| autological | adjective | self-descriptive, or being a word that exemplifies what it means, e.g. english" is english |
| automorphic | adjective | formed after its or one's own pattern. automorphism, noun |
| autonym | noun | writer's own name; work published under own name. |
| autophagy | noun | devouring of cell constituents by enzymes of same cell. autophagous, adjective |
| autophobe | noun | the socializer who does not like to be alone |
| autophobia | noun | fear of solitude. |
| autophony | noun | apparent distortion of one's own voice due to infection or stoppage of ears; sound of auscultator's voice as reverberating in patient's chest. |
| autophyte | noun | plant able to organize its foodstuffs; nonsaprophytic plant. autophytic, adjective |
| autoplasty | noun | grafting tissue from patient's own body. autoplastic, a.; Biology, pertaining to self-adaptation to environment; pertaining to autoplasty. |
| autoschediasm | noun | improvization. autoschediastic, adjective |
| autoschediastic | adjective | impromptu; on the spur of the moment |
| autoskeleton | noun | internal skeleton. |
| autostrada | noun | motorway. |
| autotelic | adjective | having itself as its only purpose. |
| autothaumaturgist | noun | the coy or cagey person whose mission is to appear mysterious or quite remarkable |
| autotheism | noun | belief in self-subsistence of God the Son; deification of oneself. |
| autotheist | noun | the individual who is not only self-centered but self-deifying, or at least self-worshipping |
| autotomy | noun | reflex loss of part of the body to save the whole (in lizards, etc.) |
| autotrophic | adjective | Botany, nourishing itself; autophytic. |
| autotropic | adjective | Botany, tending to grow in straight line. |
| autotype | noun | facsimile; true copy. autotypy, noun process of producing such copies. |
| auxanometer | noun | instrument measuring rate of growth of plants. |
| auxesis | noun | an ordering of thoughts expressed in a sequence of ascending importance |
| auxin | noun | Chemistry, substance increasing growth of plants; plant hormone. |
| auxograph | noun | instrument recording variations in volume. |
| auxology | noun | science of growth. |
| auxotonic | adjective | according or due to growth. |
| avellaneous | adjective | hazel. |
| avenaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like oats. aveniform, adjective like oats in shape. |
| avenous | adjective | lacking veins. |
| aventurine | noun | glass containing golden or green flecks; quartz containing mica flakes. |
| averruncate | verb | avert; weed out. |
| avicide | noun | killing of birds. |
| avicular | adjective | pertaining to small birds. |
| aviculture | noun | rearing of birds. |
| avifauna | noun | birdlife of a region. |
| avigation | noun | aerial navigation. |
| avirulent | adjective | (of bacteria) not virulent. |
| avolitional | adjective | involuntary. |
| avulsion | adjective noun | act of pulling away part of body, either by injury or surgery. Avulsive |
| axenic | adjective | free of parasites and similar forms of life; surgically sterile. |
| axifugal | adjective | centrifugal. |
| axil | noun | upper angle between leaf and stem, or branch and trunk. axile, adjective |
| axilla | noun | (pl. -las, -lae ,) armpit; shoulder. axillary a. of arm-pit; of or growing in an axil. |
| axiniform | adjective | having shape of axe-head. |
| axiology | noun | study of ultimate values. axiological, adjective axiologist, noun |
| axonometry | noun | measurement of or by axes. axonometric projectio, noun method of representing three-dimensional object in two-dimensional drawing. |
| axunge | noun | medicinal lard or grease. |
| azofication | noun | nitrogenization of soil by bacteria. azofier, noun bacterium causing azofication. |
| azoic | adjective | lacking life, especially of geological period. |
| azoology | noun | study of inanimate nature. |
| azote | noun | nitrogen. azotaemia, azotemia, noun excess of nitrogen in blood. azotic, adjective azotize, v. combine with nitrogen. |
| azoth | noun | alchemists' name for mercury; Paracelsus' postulated panacea. |
| azulejo | noun | brightly colored tile of Near East, Spain and Holland. |
| azygous | adjective | unpaired; odd. |
| azym(e) | noun | unleavened bread; Passover cake; pl. feast of such bread. |
| babag | noun | argument or fight |
| babery | noun | bizarre architectural ornamentation |
| baccaceous | adjective | like a berry; bearing berries. |
| baccate | adjective | pulpy; like a berry; bearing berries. |
| bacchante | noun | a frenzied woman, as at a rousing orgy or let-it-all-hang-out cult ceremony |
| bacciferous | adjective | bearing berries. bacciform, adjective berry-shaped. baccivorous, adjective feeding on berries. |
| bacteriotropic | adjective | affecting bacteria. |
| bacteritic | adjective | caused or marked by bacteria. bacteroid, adjective like bacteria; n. irregularly shaped form of bacterium, especially found in plant root-nodules. |
| baculus | noun | stick; rod; symbol of power. baculiferous, adjective bearing canes, reeds, etc. baculiform, adjective rod-shaped. baculine, adjective pertaining to rod or punishment therewith. |
| badaud | noun | an idle, markedly stupid individual who believes just about anything and is a half-witted gossip |
| badigeon | noun | mixture of plaster and ground stone, or glue and sawdust, for repairing masonry and woodwork respectively; v.t. repair with badigeon. |
| badinage | noun | banter. |
| baffona | noun | a woman with a slight moustache |
| bagasse | noun | dry residue, especially of sugar cane and beet after extraction of juice, and plants after removal of fibre. |
| baimaiden | noun | female underground miner |
| balandra | noun | single-masted Spanish cargo ship. |
| balaniferous | adjective | bearing acorns. |
| balanism | noun | use of suppositories or pessaries. |
| balanoid | adjective | acorn-shaped; pertaining to acorn barnacles; n. acorn barnacle. |
| balata | noun | elastic gum obtained from milk-tree of Brazil. |
| balatron | noun | a joker; a clown |
| balbriggan | noun | knitted cotton fabric used in underwear. |
| balbuties | noun | Medicine, stammering. |
| baldachin(o), baldakin, baldaquin | noun | silk and gold fabric; fabric canopy over throne, altar, etc.; stone canopy over altar. |
| baldric(k) | noun | shoulder belt for sword, etc. |
| balistarius | noun | (pl. -ii ) crossbow-man. |
| balistraria | noun | cross-shaped opening in fortress wall for discharge of arrows. |
| balize | noun | pole bearing beacon, etc., on sea-shore. |
| balladromic | adjective | (of missiles, etc.) maintaining course towards a target. |
| balletomane | noun | person fanatically devoted to ballet. balletomania, noun |
| ballistite | noun | kind of smokeless explosive power. |
| ballottement | noun | diagnosis of pregnancy by sharp pressure, causing movement of foetus. renal ballottement, diagnosis of floating kidney by same means. |
| balneal | adjective | pertaining to bathing. balneary, noun bathing-place; medicinal spring. balneation, noun bathing. balneatory, adjective |
| balneography | noun | treatise on baths. balneographer, noun author of such. |
| balneology | noun | science of medical application of baths. balneological, adjective balneologist, noun |
| balneotherapy | noun | treatment by natural waters. balneotherapeutic, adjective balneotherapeutics, noun |
| balsamical | adjective | unctuous, mitigating, soothing, balmy |
| banausic | adjective | common, ordinary, and undistinguished; dull and insipid |
| banderilla | noun | dart stuck into bull at bull-fight. banderillero, noun bull-fighter wielding this. |
| banderol(e), bandrol | noun | small streamer, flag or banner. |
| bandobast | noun | practical, detailed organization; settlement. |
| bandog | noun | fierce dog on chain; mastiff. |
| bantling | noun | brat; illegitimate child. |
| baraesthesia | noun | ability to perceive pressure. |
| baragnosis | noun | loss of ability to perceive weight. |
| baragouin | noun | gibberish |
| barathea | noun | worsted fabric with twill hopsack weave; silk or silk-and- worsted fabric with lightly ribbed or pebbled weave. |
| barbastelle | noun | long-eared species of bat. |
| barbate | adjective | bearded; tufted; barbed; having awns. |
| barbel | noun | fleshy appendage on head of certain fishes; carplike fish having a barbel. barbellate, adjective bristly. |
| barbet | noun | brightly plumaged toucan-like tropical bird of Old World; kind of long- haired poodle. |
| barbette | noun | gun platform behind parapet; armoured protection of gun platform on ship. |
| barbican | noun | tower on or beyond outer wall of city or castle. |
| barbigerous | adjective | having beard. |
| barbitone | noun | a sleep-inducing drug; veronal. |
| barbotine | noun | kaolin paste used to ornament pottery. |
| barbule | noun | hooked out-growth on barb of feather. barbullate, adjective barbellate. |
| barcarole, barcarolle | noun | gondolier's song. |
| barghest | noun | goblin, often dog-like, appearing as portent of death. |
| barkhan, barchan | noun | crescent-shaped sand dune. |
| barley-break | noun | Old English catching game. |
| barognosis | noun | ability to perceive weight. |
| barogram | noun | recording made by barograph. |
| barograph | noun | instrument continuously recording atmospheric pressure. |
| barology | noun | science of weight and gravitation. |
| baroscope | noun | weather-glass. baroscopic(al), adjective |
| barothermograph | noun | instrument recording simultaneously pressure and temperature, especially atmospheric. |
| barouche | noun | four-wheeled four-seater carriage with folding hood and separate driver's seat. barouchet, barouchette, noun light barouche. |
| baroxyton | noun | Music, large bass brass wind instrument. |
| barquentine, barkentine, barkantine | noun | three-masted vessel with square-rigged foremast and fore-and-aft rigged main and mizzen masts. |
| barracoon | noun | enclosure in which slaves or convicts were confined. |
| barratrous | adjective | pertaining to the habitual causing of fights |
| barratry | noun | unlawful action by captain or seamen injuring owner or freighter of ship; inciting to litigation or riot; simony. barrator, noun person habitually entering into quarrels and law-suits. barratous, barratrous, adjective quarrelsome; guilty of barratry. |
| bartizan | noun | small overhanging turret. |
| barycentre | noun | centre of gravity. barycentric, adjective |
| baryecoia | noun | Medicine, hardness of hearing. |
| baryphony, baryphonia | noun | difficulty of speech. baryphonic, adjective |
| barysphere | noun | area of earth underlying lithosphere. |
| baryta | noun | barium oxide. barytes, noun barium sulphate. |
| barythymia | noun | nervous depression. |
| bascule | noun | balanced lever. bascule-bridge, noun drawbridge raised by falling counterpoises, as Tower Bridge, London. |
| basial | adjective | pertaining to kissing. basiate, v. kiss. basiation, noun |
| basifugal | adjective | Botany, growing away from base, or at apex only. |
| basilar | adjective | pertaining to or at the base. |
| basipetal | adjective | Botany, growing from top to base. |
| basophobia | noun | a fear of falling which makes one afraid to stand up |
| bastinado | noun | (pl. -oes) beating on soles of feet; v.t. administer such punishment to. |
| bathic | adjective | pertaining to depths, especially of sea. |
| bathmism | noun | energy or force of growth. bathmic, adjective |
| batholith, batholite | noun | Geology, mass of intruded igneous rock below surface and of great depth. batholithic, batholitic, adjective |
| bathyal | adjective | pertaining to zone of sea from 180 metres/600 feet to abyssal zone. |
| bathybic | adjective | pertaining to or dwelling in deepest zone of sea. |
| bathycolpian | adjective | deep-bosomed |
| bathylimnetic | adjective | living at bottom of lake or marsh. |
| bathymeter | noun | instrument for deep-sea sounding. bathymetric, adjective pertaining to vertical distribution of organisms in sea. bathymetry, noun process of measuring depths of sea. |
| bathyorographical | adjective | pertaining to or showing depths below and heights above sea level. |
| bathypelagic | adjective | living in deep sea. |
| bathyseism | noun | earthquake taking place at great depth. |
| bathysmal | adjective | pertaining to deepest part or bottom of sea. |
| bathysophical | adjective | pertaining to knowledge of deep-sea life and conditions. |
| batiste | noun | fine linen; cambric; fine cotton or wool fabric, especially as treated for use as antiseptic dressing. |
| batology | noun | scientific study of brambles. batological, adjective batologist, noun |
| batophobia | noun | fear of heights, or of being close to high buildings.batrachian |
| battels | noun | pl. accounts of Oxford college, especially for provisions. |
| batten | verb | to thrive and grow fat by feeding |
| batter | verb | Architecture, recede as it rises (of a wall); n. such inclination. batter rule, plumb-line of such walls, falling within base. |
| battological | adjective | pertaining to unnecessarily repetitive writing or speaking |
| battology | noun | an unnecessary repetition. battological, adjective battologize, v.i. battologist, noun |
| battue | noun | driving of game towards guns; shooting-party of that kind; massacre of helpless persons. |
| batture | noun | raised bed of sea or river. |
| baudekyn | noun | baldachin. |
| bavardage | noun | small talk or chitchat; idle chatter |
| bayla | noun | a song and dance routine done by gypsies |
| bdelloid | adjective | pertaining to leech; leech-like in appearance; n. leech. bdellometer, noun cupping-glass for surgical bleeding. bdellotomy, noun surgical application of leeches. |
| bdelygmia | noun | a litany of abuse; string of execrations |
| beccafico | noun | European songbird, considered a table delicacy, especially in Italy. |
| bechic | adjective | curative of cough. |
| becket | noun | hook-like device of rope, wood or metal to secure ship's ropes, etc. |
| bedizen | verb | dress gaudily. |
| bee-bread | noun | mixture of honey and pollen stored by bees for food. |
| beele | noun | miner's pick with two sharp ends. beeleman, noun worker using a beele. |
| beestings | noun | first milk of cow after birth of calf. |
| beeswing | noun | scum found at surface of aged wine |
| beguine | noun | member of religious order of lay sisters, especially of Belgium; rumba-like dance of French W Indies. beguinage, noun convent of beguines. |
| bel esprit | noun | (pl. beaux esprits, ) genius; witty person; wit. |
| beldam | noun | a repulsive older woman |
| belemnite | noun | bullet-shaped molluscan fossil. belemnitic, adjective |
| belemnoid | adjective | dart-shaped. |
| bel étage | noun | main storey of building. |
| belleric | noun | kind of myrobalan. |
| bellicism | noun | war-mindedness. |
| belliferous | adjective | bringing war. |
| belling | noun | deer's cry at mating time. |
| bellipotent | adjective | powerful in war. |
| bellonion | noun | mechanical musical instrument consisting of drums and trumpets. |
| bellote, ballote | noun | holm-oak acorn. |
| belocolus | noun | magic stone held by a soldier which will make him invisible |
| beloid | adjective | arrow-shaped. |
| belomancy | noun | divination using arrows. |
| belonoid | adjective | needle-shaped. |
| belvedere | noun | turret, or open shelter on roof, giving fine view; summer-house. |
| ben trovato | phrase | 'well invented'; a. well expressed; n. such speech or thought. |
| bencher | noun | senior member of an Inn of Court. |
| bend sinister | noun | diagonal line on coat of arms indicating bastardy. |
| benedick | noun | newly married husband, especially one formerly a confirmed bachelor. |
| benefic | adjective | favourable, especially astrological. |
| benefice | noun | church living; v.t. endow with a benefice. beneficed, a., holding a benefice. |
| beneficiate | verb noun | prepare for smelting. beneficiation |
| benison | noun | blessing. |
| benthos | noun | sea-bottom's flora and fauna. benthic, benthoic, benthonic a. |
| berceuse | noun | cradle-song; lullaby. |
| bergamot | noun | variety of pear; essence obtained from rind of variety of pear-shaped orange; fruit and tree yielding such essence; snuff scented with such essence; aromatic plant of mint family. |
| berg�re | noun | 'shepherdess'; kind of 18th-century chair and sofa. berg�rette, noun kind of country song or dance. |
| berkelium | noun | radioactive, metallic element made artificially. |
| bernicle | noun | barnacle-goose. |
| bersaglieri | noun | Italian sharpshooter corps. |
| bestiarian | noun | animal-lover, especially opposed to vivisection. bestiarianism, noun |
| bête noire | noun | 'black beast'; pet abomination; bugbear. |
| bêtise | noun | foolishness; foolish or stupid act. |
| béton | noun | concrete made by mixing gravel with cement and sand. |
| betulin(ol) | noun | resinous extract of birch bark; birch camphor. |
| bevatron | noun | synchrotron-like apparatus for accelerating charged particles to an immensely high level. |
| bezel | noun | sloping edge of cutting tool; edge and facet of cut gem; flanged groove holding watch- or clock-glass; v.t. grind to edge; bevel. |
| bezoar | noun | stone-like mass found in stomach of ruminants, formerly used in East as antidote to poison. bezoardic, adj. |
| bialate | adjective | with two wings. |
| bibacious | adjective | fond of drinking. bibacity, noun |
| bibble | verb | to drink often or much; or to drink or eat noisily |
| bibelot | noun | small object of art; trinket; curio. |
| bibitory | adjective | pertaining to drinking. |
| biblia abiblia | noun | books that are no books: books of no human interest or worthless as literature |
| bibliobibuli | noun | those who read too much, and hence tend to be unaware of or oblivious to the real world |
| biblioclasm | noun | destruction of books; destructive criticism of Bible. biblioclast, noun person so destroying or criticizing. |
| bibliognost | noun | person having deep knowledge of books. bibliognostic, adjective |
| bibliomancy | noun | divination by reference taken at random in book, especially in the Bible. |
| bibliopegy | noun | art of book-binding. bibliopegic, adjective bibliopegist, noun book- binder. |
| bibliopoesy | noun | making of books. |
| bibliopole | noun | bookseller, especially of rare books. bibliopolery, bibliopolism, bibliopoly, noun selling of books. bibliopolar, bibliopolic, adjective bibliopolist, noun bibliopolistic, adjective |
| bibliosoph | noun | bibliognost. |
| bibliotaph | noun | person keeping his or her books secret or locked up. bibliotaphic, adjective |
| bicameral | adjective | having two Chambers or Houses. bicameralism, noun bicameralist, bicamerist, noun person advocating such legislative system. |
| bicapitate | adjective | two-headed. |
| bice | noun | green or blue pigment. |
| bicephalous, bicephalic | adjective | having two heads. |
| bichord | adjective | Music, having two strings, especially two strings for each note. |
| bicipital | adjective | pertaining to biceps; bifurcating. bicipitous, adjective having two heads or extremities. |
| bickern | noun | anvil pointed at both ends. |
| bicollateral | adjective | having two sides the same. bicollaterality, noun |
| biconic | adjective | having shape of two cones with bases together. |
| biconjugate | adjective | Botany, having a pair each member of which is divided into a pair. |
| bicorn | adjective | having two horns or points. bicornuate, bicornuous, adjective |
| bicrural | adjective | two-legged. |
| biddery, bidree | noun | alloy of several metals on which gold and silver are inlaid. |
| bident | noun | two-pronged instrument; sheep aged two years. bidental, bidentate, adjective having two prongs or teeth. bidenticulate, adjective having two small teeth. |
| biduous | adjective | lasting two days. |
| bien-aimé | noun | (fem. -aim�e pron. same) 'well beloved' (person). |
| bien aise | noun | 'well being'; comfort. |
| bienséance | noun | proper, correct or fitting thing; pl. the proprieties. |
| bifacial | adjective | having distinct upper and lower surfaces; having both sides the same; having two faces. |
| bifarious | adjective | in two rows; twofold; pointing in two directions. |
| bifer | noun | plant flowering or fruiting twice a year. biferous, adjective |
| bifid(ate) | adjective | divided into two portions; forked. bifidity, noun |
| bifilar | adjective | having two threads, especially of measuring instrument. |
| bigeminate | adjective | biconjugate. bigeminal, adjective arranged in pairs. |
| bigener | noun | hybrid arising from two genera. bigeneric, adjective pertaining to two genera. |
| bigrid | adjective | applied to thermionic valve having two grids and combining functions of two valves. |
| bijugate, bijugous | adjective | having two overlapping heads, said of coin struck to two persons; Botany, with two pairs of leaflets. |
| bilboes | noun | pl. fetters, especially long iron bar with sliding shackles used to imprison persons on ship. |
| biliary | adjective | pertaining to bile. |
| biliteral | adjective | consisting of or using two letters; n. such linguistic root. |
| billon | noun | alloy of precious metal with larger quantity of base metal. |
| biloquist | noun | person with power of speaking in two distinct voices. |
| biltong | noun | strips of dried meat. |
| bimanous, bimanal | adjective | having two hands; pertaining to human species. bimanual, adjective requiring or using two hands. |
| bimarine | adjective | situated between seas. |
| bimaxillary | adjective | pertaining to both jaws. |
| bimensal | adjective | occurring every two months.bimestrial |
| bimetallism | noun | currency system in which both gold and silver are standard money. bimetallic, adjective bimetallist, noun advocate of bimetallism. bimetallistic, adjective |
| bimillenary | noun | space of two thousand years. bimillennium, noun (pl. -ia) two thousand years. |
| binate | adjective | double; in couples. bination, noun celebration by a priest of Mass twice on the same day. |
| bine | noun | flexible shoot of climbing plant, especially hop. |
| binnacle | noun | fixed case or stand for ship's compass. binnacle list, list of sick men on man-of-war. |
| binocle | noun | binocular instr. |
| binotic | adjective | binaural. |
| binotonous | adjective | consisting of two notes. |
| biocoenosis, biocenosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) association of living creatures in a certain area. biocoenotic, adjective |
| biogen(e) | noun | ultimate component part of protoplasm. |
| biogenesis | noun | theory that life derives only from living matter. biogenetic, a.; biogenetic law, recapitulation theory. biogenesist, noun adherent of biogenesis. |
| biogenous | adjective | produced from living organism; giving life. |
| biogeny | noun | history of evolution of living organisms; biogenesis. biogenic, adj. |
| biogeography | noun | study of geographical distribution of plants and animals. biogeographic(al), adjective |
| biognosy, biognosis | noun | sciences of life collectively. |
| biograph | noun | early form of cinematograph. |
| biokinetics | noun | study of changes during development of organism. |
| biolinguistics | noun | study of relations between physiology and speech. |
| biologism | noun | biological theory; use of biological terms. biologistic, adjective |
| biolysis | noun | destruction of life or organic substance. biolytic, adjective |
| biometrics, biometry | noun | calculation of length of human life; statistical biology. biometric, adjective biometrician, noun student of biometrics. |
| bionergy | noun | vital force. |
| biont | noun | physiologically independent living organism. |
| biophagous | adjective | feeding on living organisms. biophagy, noun |
| biophilism | noun | belief that animals have rights which human beings should respect |
| biorgan | noun | physiological organ. |
| bioscope | noun | form of cinematograph. bioscopy, noun med. examination of body for presence of life. |
| biosis | noun | life, as distinguishing living organisms. |
| biostatics | noun | study of physiological relations between structure and function. |
| biostratigraphy | noun | determination of age, etc., of sedimentary strata from fossils which they contain. |
| biotaxy | noun | biological classification. |
| biotelemetry | noun | automatic transmission over a distance, for measurements of the condition, functions, etc., of a living creature, e.g. of an astronaut on space flight. |
| biotin | noun | growth-promoting vitamin of the vitamin B complex, found in liver and yeast. |
| biotope | noun | area having uniform conditions and supporting a particular, uniform association of animal life. |
| biotype | noun | all organisms having the same genetic constitution. |
| biparous | adjective | bringing forth two offspring at a birth. |
| bipennate | adjective | having two wings. |
| bipropellant | noun | rocket propellant consisting of fuel and oxidizer stored separately until ignition. |
| biramose, biramous | adjective | divided into two branches. |
| bireme | noun | (galley) having two banks of oars. |
| biretta | noun | Roman Catholic, cleric's square cap. |
| bise | noun | cold, dry north wind of Switzerland, Italy and S France. |
| bisonant | adjective | having two sounds. |
| bisontine | adjective | pertaining to bison. |
| bisque | noun | point allowed to tennis player; stroke(s) allowed to golfer; extra turn allowed to croquet player; kind of rich thick soup; pottery fired but not glazed. |
| bissext | noun | intercalary day. bissextile, adjective containing the bissext; intercalary; n. leap-year. |
| bistort | noun | a plant with twisted astringent root; snake-weed. |
| bistoury | noun | small, narrow surgical knife. bistournage, noun a method of castration. |
| bistre | noun | brown pigment derived from wood soot. |
| bisulcate | adjective | with two grooves; cloven. |
| biune, biunial | adjective | combining two in one. biunity, noun |
| biunial | adjective | combining two in one |
| bivariate | adjective | denoting a quantity that depends on two variables. |
| biventral | adjective | with two bellies. |
| biverbal | adjective | relating to two words; punning. |
| bivious | adjective | offering two paths or directions. |
| bivocal | noun | diphthong. bivocalize, v. place between two vowels. |
| blain | noun | sore; blister. |
| blanquette | noun | stew of white meat in white sauce. |
| blastogenesis | noun | reproduction by budding; theory of inheritance of characters through germ-plasm. blastogenetic, blastogenic, adjective pertaining to germ cells. |
| blende | noun | zinc sulphide; name of several lustrous metallic sulphides. |
| blendling | noun | hybrid. blendure, noun mixture. |
| blennoid | adjective | like mucus. blennogenic,blennogenous, adjective generating mucus. blennorrhoea, noun mucus discharge. blennorrhoeal, adjective |
| blennophobia | noun | morbid fear of slime. |
| blenny | noun | long, slender, spiny-rayed marine fish. |
| blepharal | adjective | pertaining to eyelids. blepharism, blepharospasm, noun muscular spasm of eyelid. blepharitis, noun inflammation of eyelids. |
| bletonism | noun | faculty of water divining. |
| blissom | adjective | with strong sexual desires; in rut. |
| blowtop | noun | a person who becomes angry very easily or quickly |
| blucher | noun | leather half-boot. |
| blunge | verb | v.i. mix clay and water for pottery; blend. blunger, noun apparatus for such mixing. |
| boanthropy | noun | a type of insanity in which a man thinks he's an ox |
| boatel, botel | noun | waterside hotel for sailing enthusiasts. |
| bobstay | noun | rope attached to and steadying bowsprit. |
| bocage | noun | boscage; decorative representation of trees, leaves, etc. |
| bocking | noun | coarse baize; smoked herring. |
| bogie | noun | wheeled undercarriage of a rail vehicle; railway coach; truck for coal, etc. |
| bolar | adjective | pertaining to clay. |
| bolection, bilection | noun | projecting part of moulding round panel. |
| bolide | noun | large meteor; 'fire-ball'. |
| bolometer | noun | instrument measuring small amounts of radiant heat electrically. bolograph, noun photograph made with a bolometer. bolometric, adjective |
| bolthead | noun | long, straight-necked glass vessel for distilling; matrass. |
| bolus | noun | large pill; any round mass. bolus alba, china clay. |
| bombardon | noun | deep bass double-reeded wind instr. |
| bombasine, bombazine | noun | twilled, black, worsted, worsted-with-silk or worsted-with- cotton dress material. bombazet(te), noun thin smooth-surfaced worsted fabric. |
| bombe | adjective | bulging or curved outward, especially such furniture, embroidery, etc. |
| bombic | adjective | pertaining to silk-worm. |
| bombilate, bombinate | verb noun | buzz; boom. bombilation, bombination |
| bombous | adjective | rounded; convex. |
| bombycine | adjective | bombic. |
| bon ton | phrase | 'good tone'; high society; good breeding. |
| bona vacantia | noun | Law, unclaimed property, especially of a person who has died intestate. |
| bonasus | noun | aurochs. |
| bonbonniere | noun | dainty sweetmeat box. |
| bonce | noun | large playing marble; kind of marbles game. |
| bonification | noun | betterment; payment of bonus. boniform, adjective like or seeming good. bonify, v. improve; make good. |
| bonne | noun | female servant. |
| boracic | adjective | pertaining to or derived from borax. boracic acid, former name for boric acid. boracous, adjective |
| borasco, borasca, borasque | noun | Mediterranean squall. |
| borborology | noun | the stomach-like rumbling of unclean talk |
| borborygm | noun | the noise made by gas in the bowels; a fart |
| borborygmite | noun | a dirty mouth, or practitioner of spurcitious--foul and obscene--language |
| borborygmus | noun | rumbling of gas in the stomach. borborygmic, adjective |
| bordereau | noun | (pl. -x) invoice; detailed bill; memorandum. |
| borracha | noun | crude rubber; rubber tree. |
| bort | noun | ground diamond fragments, used in polishing, etc. borty, adjective |
| bos in lingua | noun | an ox on the tongue: a weighty reason for silence |
| boscage, boskage | noun | thicket of trees or shrubs. |
| bosch | noun | wood; bush. bosch-bok, noun bush-buck; kind of antelope. bosch-man, noun Bushman. bosch-vark, noun kind of wild pig. bosch-veldt, noun bush country. |
| bosky | noun | covered with trees |
| bosselated | adjective | covered with or formed into knobs. |
| botargo | noun | relish made from tunny's or mullet's roe. |
| botryoid(al) | adjective | having shape of cluster of grapes. botryose, adjective with flowers in clusters that develop upwards from base.bottine |
| bottomry | noun | raising loan on ship as security. |
| boucherize | verb | preserve by impregnating with copper sulphate. |
| bougie | noun | wax candle; flexible medical instrument for insertion into body passages; suppository. |
| boule | noun | advisory council or senate of ancient Greece. bouleuterion, noun (pl. -ia) assembly-place. |
| boules | noun | form of bowls played in France. |
| bouleversement | noun | overturning, upset. |
| boult, bolt | verb | sift. boultel, noun sifting cloth. boulter, noun one who sifts; sieve; fishing line with many hooks. |
| bouquetin | noun | ibex of the Alps. |
| bourasque | noun | borasco. |
| bourdon | noun | Music, bass drone, as of bagpipe. |
| bourse | noun | foreign money-market. |
| boustrophedon | noun | an ancient style of writing in which the direction of the lines alternated |
| bouts-rimés | noun | 'rhymed endings'; composition of verses to given rhymes; verses so composed. |
| bovrilise | verb | to condense an ad to essentials; to epitomize |
| bow-chaser | noun | ship's gun for firing ahead. |
| bowyer | noun | maker of bows (the weapons). |
| boyau | noun | (pl. -aux ) winding trench; zigzag |
| bracciale | noun | wall socket or bracket. |
| brachial | adjective | pertaining to arm; arm-shaped. brachiate, v.i. swing by arms from place to place; a. having arms. brachiation, noun brachiferous, adjective having arms or branches. brachiotomy, noun amputation of arm. |
| brachistocephalic, brachistocephalous | adjective | having skull of which breadth is 85 per cent or more of length. |
| brachycatalectic | adjective | with two syllables lacking from end; n. such verse line |
| brachycephalic, brachycephalous | adjective | short-headed; having skull of which maximum breadth is 80 per cent or more of maximum length. brachycephalism, noun |
| brachycerous | adjective | having short horns or antennae. |
| brachydactylous, brachydactylic | adjective | having short digits. brachydactylism, brachydactyly, noun |
| brachygraphy | noun | short-hand. brachygrapher, noun stenographer. brachygraphic(al), adjective |
| brachylogy | noun | condensed expression; laconic speech. |
| brachymetropy, brachymetropia | noun | shortsightedness. brachymetropic, adjective |
| brachypodous | adjective | having short legs or stalk. |
| brachypterous | adjective | having short wings. |
| brachyure | noun | short-tailed animal, bird, etc. brachyuran, noun a crab. |
| bract | noun | leaf from axil of which flower is produced. bracteal, adjective bract-like. bracteate, adjective bearing bracts. bracteiform, adjective bract-shaped. bracteole, noun small bract; bract at base of flower. bracteolate, adjective having bracteoles. bracteose, adjective having many bracts. |
| bradycardia | noun | (abnormally) slow heart rate. bradykinetic, adjective moving slowly. |
| bradykinin | noun | blood hormone causing dilation of blood vessels. bradytelic, adjective evolving at a slower rate than normal. |
| brail | verb | truss sail; haul up. brails, n.pl. cords on edge of sail for trussing. |
| branchial, branchiac | adjective | pertaining to gills. branchiate, adjective having gills. branchicolous, adjective living in gills. branchiform, adjective gill-shaped. |
| brash | noun | slight sickness; broken pieces of rock or ice; collection of fragments; a. rash; brittle; lifeless. water-brash, noun pyrosis. |
| brassage | noun | charge for minting coin, difference between value of metal, with cost of minting, and face value. |
| brassard | noun | armlet; arm-badge. |
| brattice | noun | partition, especially in mine gallery to regulate ventilation or support sides or roof; v.t. erect brattice. brattice cloth, canvas sheet for regulating ventilation in mine. |
| braxy | noun | apoplectic disease of sheep; meat of sheep dead from disease, especially from braxy; a. sick with or dead from this disease. |
| breccia | noun | Geology, aggregate of angular rock fragments. breccial, adjective brecciation, noun making into brecciae. |
| breedbate | noun | someone looking for an argument |
| bressummer | noun | beam or girder over opening and supporting a wall. |
| breviate | noun | summary; precis. |
| brevicaudate | adjective | having short tail. |
| brevifoliate | adjective | having short leaves. brevilingual, adjective having short tongue. breviloquence, noun laconic manner of speech. breviped, adjective having short legs. brevipennate, adjective having short wings. |
| brewster | noun | brewer. Brewster Sessions, court hearing applications for liquor trade licences. |
| Briarean | adjective | pertaining to Briareus, monster in Greek legend with hundred hands; having many hands. |
| bricole | noun | indirect stroke, especially in real tennis, in which ball is hit against wall or rebounds from it; and billiards, in which ball hits cushion between the two contacts of a cannon. |
| bridewell | noun | prison; house of correction. |
| brigantine | noun | two-masted ship, square-rigged on foremast only. |
| brimborion | noun | something useless or nonsensical |
| britannia metal | noun | cheap white alloy of copper, zinc, antimony and bismuth, with lead. |
| brocatel(lo) | noun | kind of variegated marble; thick figured silk used in upholstery. |
| brock | noun | badger. brocket, noun stag in its second year; Brazilian pronged deer. brock-faced, adjective having white mark on face. |
| broderie | noun | embroidery-like pattern. broderie anglaise, mixture of solid and open-work embroidery. |
| brogan | noun | coarse, strong shoe; brogue. |
| bromatology | noun | treatise on or study of food. |
| bromidrosis | noun | the secretion of foul-smelling sweat; body odor |
| bromine | noun | non-metallic chlorine-like element found in seawater and mineral springs. bromize, v. compound with bromine; prepare photographic plate with bromide. bromism, noun condition due to excessive use of bromide. brominated, adjective compounded with bromine. |
| brontephobia, brontophobia | noun | dread of thunder and lightning. |
| brontide | noun | sound like distant thunder, due to seismic causes. |
| brontograph | noun | instr. recording discharges of atmospheric electricity. brontogram, noun record made by this. |
| brontology | noun | study of thunder. brontometer, noun brontograph. |
| brose | noun | kind of porridge; broth. Athole-brose, mixture of whisky and honey. |
| brotus | noun | any extra measure without charge, such as a baker's dozen |
| brouette | noun | small two-wheeled carriage; kind of four-seater motor car. |
| brucellosis | noun | an undulant fever of cattle. |
| brucin(e), brucina | noun | strychnine-like poison derived from nux vomica plant. |
| bruit | noun | sounds in chest symptomatic of disease; rumour; v.t. report; spread abroad. |
| brumal | adjective | pertaining to brume or winter. |
| brumby, brumbie, brumbee | noun | wild horse. |
| brume | noun | mist or fog. brumous, adjective |
| brummagem | noun | making an imposing display but inferior and of little worth; showy but cheap |
| brunneous | adjective | dark brown. |
| brutum fulmen | noun | failed thunderbolt: empty noise or idle threat |
| bruxism | noun | grinding of teeth, especially in sleep. |
| bruxomania | noun | the habit of unconsciously grinding the teeth, especially in sleep, or under stress |
| bryology | noun | study of mosses and liverworts; plant life of such kind of a region. bryological, adjective bryologist, noun bryophyte, noun moss or liverwort. |
| bubo | noun | (pl. -oes) swelling with inflammation of lymphatic gland, especially of groin. bubonalgia, noun pain in groin. bubonic, adjective |
| bubulin | noun | compound obtained from cow dung, used in calico printing |
| buccal | adjective | pertaining to mouth or cheek. |
| buccan | noun | framework over which meat is roasted or dried; v.t. dry meat on such. |
| buccate | adjective | with protruding cheeks. |
| buccinal | adjective | having shape or sound of trumpet. buccinator, noun muscle forming cheek- wall. buccinatory, adjective |
| buccula | noun | double chin |
| bufonite | noun | toadstone. |
| bullace | noun | small wild plum fruit and tree. |
| bullate | adjective | puckered; with blistered appearance. bullation, noun |
| bullion | noun | gold or silver in the mass, especially uncoined. bullionist, noun upholder of metallic currency. |
| bullish | adjective | Commerce, anticipating or associated with a rise in price. |
| buphthalmia | noun | enlargement of eye. buphthalmic, adjective |
| burbot | noun | long, slender, freshwater fish of cod family; eel-pout. |
| burette | noun | graduated glass measuring tube; Ecclesiastical, sacramental cruet. |
| burgee | noun | small triangular pennant of yacht, etc. |
| burgensic | adjective | pertaining to citizen or freeman of borough. |
| burin | noun | engraver's tool; graver. burinist, noun engraver. |
| burletta | noun | light comic opera. |
| burnettize | verb | saturate with zinc chloride solution to prevent decay. burnettizing, noun such process, invented by Sir W Burnett. |
| burrstone | noun | flinty rock used for millstones; millstone made of this. |
| bursa | noun | (pl. -sae or - sas) sac, especially fluid-filled at point of friction in joint, etc. bursal, adjective pertaining to bursa; pertaining to states revenue. bursitis, noun inflammation of bursa. |
| buskin | noun | high boot; thick-soled boot (also called cothurnus) worn by actors in ancient Greek tragedy; classic tragedy. |
| butte | noun | steep, isolated hill. |
| byssus | noun | filamentous tuft ('beard') by which molluscs attach themselves; fine flax and fabric woven from it. byssaceous, adjective consisting of fine threads; like a byssus. byssal, adjective byssiferous, adjective having a byssus; tufted. byssine, adjective silky; the fabric byssus. byssogenous, adjective producing a byssus. byssoid, adjective like a byssus; fibrous; cottony. |
| bywoner | noun | sub-tenant of farm; agricultural labourer. |
| cabochon | noun | convex-cut, polished stone. en cabochon, cut in that manner. |
| cabotage | noun | coastal navigation; restriction of internal air services to a country's own carriers. |
| cabotin | noun | medical quack |
| cacaesthesia | noun | morbid sensation. |
| cacation | noun | excretion |
| cacemphaton | noun | a harsh-sounding word or phrase |
| cacestogenous | adjective | caused by unfavorable home environment |
| cachaemia | noun | poisoned condition of blood. cachaemic, adjective |
| cachalot | noun | sperm whale. |
| cache-sexe | noun | small cover for the genitals. |
| cachexy, cachexia | noun | generally unhealthy physical or mental state. cachectic, cachexic, adjective |
| cachinnate | verb | laugh harshly and loudly. cachinnation, cachinato, noun cachinatory, adjective |
| cachinnation | noun | loud or immoderate laughter |
| cachou | noun | lozenge for sweetening the breath. |
| cachucha | noun | quick Spanish dance, with castanet accompaniment. |
| cacique | noun | a slightly pompous person |
| cacodoxical | adjective | heretical |
| cacodoxy | noun | heterodoxy. |
| cacoepy | noun | incorrect pronunciation. cacoepist, noun cacoepistic, adjective |
| cacoethes | noun | strong desire; bad habit. cacoethic, adjective |
| cacogastric | adjective | dyspeptic. |
| cacogen | noun | an anti-social person |
| cacogenics | noun | study or process of racial deterioration. cacogenic, adjective |
| cacography | noun | incorrect spelling or writing. cacographer, noun bad speller. cacographic(al), adjective |
| cacology | noun | bad pronunciation; impropriety of wording or unacceptable diction |
| caconym | noun | bad or wrongly derived name. caconymic, adjective |
| cacophenism | noun | an unfairly harsh or derogatory word ordescription |
| cacophrenic | adjective | pertaining to an inferior intellect |
| cacotechny | noun | a corrupt state of art |
| cacozelia | noun | studied affectation in diction or style, as in aspeech filled with pedantic latinisms and inkhorn words |
| cacuminal | adjective | pertaining to point, top or crown. cacuminate, v. sharpen. cacumination, noun cacuminous, adjective pointed. |
| cadastre | noun | register of lands, their values and owners. cadastral, adjective cadastration, noun making this. |
| cadge | verb | to hawk or peddle, as fish; or to beg, sponge or fleece |
| cadi | noun | local judge in Islam. |
| cadit quaestio | phrase | the investigation drops: the argument or case collapses; that dispenses with the issue |
| caducous | adjective | fleeting; transient; unenduring |
| caecum | noun | (pl. -ca), blind outgrowth at junction of large and small intestines, terminating in vermiform appendix. caecal, adjective caeciform, adjective shaped like a caecum. caecity, noun blindness. |
| caenogenesis | noun | development in individual of processes not common to its species. caenogenetic, adjective |
| caesaropapacy | noun | secular possession of highest ecclesiastical power. |
| caesious | adjective | pale blue-green. |
| caespitose, cespitose | adjective | growing in tufts. |
| cagamosis | noun | unhappy marriage |
| caitiff | adjective | base; despicable; cowardly; wicked |
| calamus | noun | feather quill; reed used as pen; Malacca and rattan cane palm. |
| calascent | adjective | increasing in warmth |
| calcareous | adjective | pertaining to limestone; consisting of carbonate of lime. |
| calcariferous | adjective | spurred. calcariform, calcarine a. spur-shaped. |
| calceiform | adjective | slipper-shaped. |
| calcicole | noun | plant thriving on limy soil. |
| calcimine | noun | whitewash. |
| calcine | verb | convert or be converted into powder or lime by burning; roast. calcination, noun calcinatory, a.; n. vessel for calcination. |
| calcitonin | noun | hormone secreted by the thyroid gland, controlling the rate of bone destruction. |
| calcivorous | adjective | applied to plants thriving on limestone. |
| calcographer | noun | one who draws with crayons |
| calefacient | adjective | warming. calefaction, noun calefactive, adjective calefactory, a.; n. warm room or vessel. |
| calelectricity | noun | electricity caused by changes in temperature. calelectric(al), adjective |
| calender | noun | mangle or press, especially to produce glazed surface. |
| calends | noun | pl. first day of month in ancient Roman calendar. at the Greek calends, never. calendal, adjective |
| calenture | noun | sunstroke, or other fever or delirium due to heat. |
| calepin | noun | a dictionary, esp. a polyglot dictionary |
| calescent | adjective | becoming warm. calescence, noun |
| caliduct | noun | conduit for hot fluid. |
| caliginous | adjective | obscure; dim; misty; dark |
| caligo | noun | dim-sightedness. caliginous, adjective dim; obscure. |
| caliology | noun | study of birds' nests. caliological, adjective caliologist, noun |
| calipee | noun | edible jelly-like substance found on underside of turtle |
| callipygian, callipygous | adjective | having well-shaped buttocks. |
| callisection | noun | vivisection of anaesthetized animals. |
| callisteia | noun | beauty prizes. |
| callisthenics, calisthenics | noun | strengthening and beautifying exercises. |
| callithumpian | noun | a noisy demonstration |
| callomania | noun | the delusion that one is beautiful |
| calodemon, calodaemon | noun | good spirit. |
| calomel | noun | strong purgative, compound of mercury, acting on liver. |
| calotte | noun | skull cap, especially of Roman Catholic clergy; small dome. |
| calque | noun | word or phrase directly translated from one language and used in another. |
| caltrop | noun | spiked device laid on the ground to disable enemy horses or vehicles. |
| calumniate | verb | slander. calumnious, calumniatory, adjective calumny, calumniation, calumniator, noun |
| calvarial | adjective | pertaining to crown of head. |
| calvities | noun | baldness. calvous, adjective |
| calyx | noun | (pl. -lyces ) outer whorl of generally green floral leaves (sepals) in flower. calycate, adjective having calyces. calyciform, adjective calyx- shaped. calycine, adjective pertaining to calyces. calycoid, adjective calyx-like. |
| camarilla | noun | political secret society, especially of king's favourites. |
| cambism | noun | theory of commercial exchange. cambist, noun person dealing in bills of exchange. cambistry, noun study of international exchange. |
| cambium | noun | soft enveloping tissue of trees from which new tissues are formed. cambial, adjective cambiform, adjective like cambium in nature or function. cambiogenetic, adjective producing cambium. |
| camera lucida | noun | instrument containing prism by which image of object is projected onto flat surface, where it may be traced. |
| cameralism | noun | economic theory in which public revenue is sole measure of national prosperity. cameralist, noun adherent of cameralism. cameralistic, adjective pertaining to public revenue. cameralistics, noun study of national finance. |
| camerate(d) | adjective | divided into chambers. cameration, noun division into chambers; vaulting. |
| camerlingo, camerlengo | noun | papal treasurer. |
| camion | noun | flat, low, four-wheeled truck or dray. |
| camisade, camisado | noun | attack by night. |
| camlet | noun | fine dress fabric of silk and camel-hair, or wool and goat's hair. camleteen, camletine, noun imitation camlet of hair and worsted. |
| camorra | noun | secret terrorist organisation, especially of 19th-century. camorrism, camorrist, noun |
| campaniform | adjective | bell-shaped. |
| campanology | noun | study and knowledge of bells; bell-making; bell-ringing. campanological, adjective campanologist, noun campanist, noun expert on bells; bell-ringer. |
| campanulate, campanular, campanulous | adjective | bell-shaped. |
| campestral, campestrial | adjective | pertaining to or thriving in open countryside. |
| canaille | noun | the mob; rabble. |
| canaster | noun | coarse tobacco. |
| cancellate(d), cancellous | adjective | marked with network of lines; having a sponge-like structure. |
| cancriform | adjective | crab-shaped; Medicine, cancer-like. cancrivorous, adjective feeding on crabs. cancrizans, adjective moving crab-wise or backwards; Music, having theme repeated backwards. cancroid, adjective crab-like; cancer-like. |
| cancrine | noun | reading the same backwards as forwards |
| candent | adjective | white-hot. |
| candescent | adjective | glowing. candescence, noun |
| canephorus | noun | (pl. -ri) sculpture of a young man or woman carrying a basket on head. |
| canescent | adjective | becoming white; hoary. canescence, noun |
| cang(ue) | noun | wooden yoke, inscribed with list of his offences, hung round criminal's neck in China. |
| canicular | adjective | pertaining to dog star or dog days. |
| canities | noun | whiteness of hair. |
| cannel | noun | kind of fine, brightly burning coal. |
| cannellate(d) | adjective | fluted. cannelure, noun groove, especially in cartridge. |
| cannular, cannulate | adjective | hollow; tubular. |
| canorous | adjective | sweet-sounding. |
| cantabank | noun | second-rate ballad singer |
| cantatory | adjective | pertaining to singer or singing. |
| cantatrice | noun | female singer. |
| cantharides | noun | medical preparation of dried Spanish flies, formerly used as a diuretic or aphrodisiac. cantharidal, adjective cantharidate, v. treat with this. cantharidean, cantharidian, adjective made of this. cantharidism, noun condition due to excessive use of this. |
| canthus | noun | angle between eyelids at corner of eye. canthal, adjective |
| cantilena | noun | smooth, flowing melody or vocal style. |
| cantor | noun | liturgical singer and leader of prayers in synagogue; precentor. cantoral, cantorial, adjective pertaining to the north, or precentor's, side of choir. |
| capacitance | noun | Electricity, ability to store an electric charge; measure of such ability. capacitor, noun device for accumulating electric charge. |
| capias | noun | writ of arrestment. |
| capistrate | adjective | hooded. |
| capitate | adjective | head-like. capitatim adv. per head. capitation, noun counting or levying by the head, i.e. per person; poll tax. capitative, adjective per person. |
| capitular | adjective | pertaining to cathedral chapter. capitulary, noun statute or member of such chapter. |
| caporal | noun | coarse tobacco. |
| capote | noun | lady's long hooded cloak. |
| capreolate | adjective | having tendrils. |
| capric | adjective | pertaining to goat. caprid, noun goat. |
| caprifoliaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like honeysuckle; belonging to honeysuckle family of plants. |
| caprine, caprinic | adjective | pertaining to or like goat. |
| capripede | noun | satyr. |
| caprylic | adjective | of or pertaining to an animal odor |
| capsicum | noun | plant yielding (e.g. red or green) peppers; its fruit. |
| captation | noun | attempt to obtain applause or recognition. |
| captious | adjective | intended to confuse or artfully entangle inargument; deceptive or sophistical |
| caracole | noun | half turn by trained horse; caper; v.i. make such turn. |
| caravanserai, caravansary | noun | Eastern inn, especially for accommodation of caravans. |
| caravel, carvel | noun | small three- or four-masted ship of 15th and 16th centuries; Turkish battleship. |
| carbacidometer | noun | instrument measuring quantity of carbon dioxide in air. |
| carbasus | noun | lint; gauze. |
| carbomycin | noun | antibiotic drug obtained from a soil fungus, used chiefly against respiratory infections. |
| carcanet | noun | jewelled necklace or collar. |
| cardophagus | noun | (pl. -gi ) eater of thistles; donkey. |
| careen | verb | heel over; turn on side for repairs. |
| caricology | noun | study of sedges. caricography, noun description of sedges. |
| carillon | noun | peal of bells. carilloneur, carillonist, noun player on carillon. |
| carinate | adjective | like or having a keel. carinal, cariniform, adjective keel-shaped. carination, noun |
| cariole, carriole | noun | light one-horse carriage or cart; Canadian, kind of sleigh. |
| caritative | adjective | charitable. |
| carmagnole | noun | wide-lapelled, buttoned jacket of Piedmont; costume of Jacobin French revolutionaries, including the carmagnole, red cap and tricolor sash; French revolutionary song and dance. |
| carminative | adjective | pertaining to farting |
| carminative | noun | & a. (medicine) expelling wind. |
| carnassial | adjective | (of teeth) adapted for tearing. |
| carnelian | noun | hard, red variety of chalcedony. |
| carneous | adjective | like or of flesh; flesh-colored. carnifex, noun executioner. carnification, noun conversion into flesh. carnificial, adjective pertaining to executioner or butcher. carniform, adjective flesh-like. carnify, v. convert into or become like flesh. carnivorous, adjective flesh-eating. carnose, adjective fleshy. |
| carnet | noun | customs licence for temporary importation of motor vehicle. |
| caronamide | noun | substance that prolongs the action of penicillin by preventing its excretion. |
| carpel | noun | Botany, pistil; organ forming part of pistil. carpellary, adjective carpellate, adjective having carpels. carpid(ium), noun small carpel. |
| carpitis | noun | arthritis of carpus. |
| carpogenous | adjective | fruit-producing. carpolith, carpolite, noun fossil fruit or seed. carpology, noun study of fruit structure. carpophagous, adjective feeding on fruit. |
| carpus | noun | (pl. -pi ) wrist; small bones of wrist. carpal, adj. |
| carrageen | noun | kind of dark red, branched seaweed; Irish moss. |
| carrel, carrell | noun | booth for individual study in library. |
| carriwitchet | noun | an absurd, riddling question, somewhat ofa hoax; teasing quibble; pun |
| carron oil | noun | lotion, composed of limewater and linseed oil, formerly used for burns. |
| carronade | noun | kind of short, light ship's gun. |
| cartogram | noun | map showing statistical information diagrammatically. |
| cartomancy | noun | divination or fortune-telling by playing-cards. |
| caruncle | noun | fleshy outgrowth. caruncular, carunculous, adjective carunculate, adjective having caruncles. |
| caryatid | noun | sculptured female figure acting as pillar. caryatidal, caryatic, adjective |
| casease | noun | enzyme decomposing the casein in milk and cheese. |
| casemate | noun | bomb-proof room in fortification. |
| casern(e) | noun | garrison's barracks. |
| cassation | noun | annulment. Music, a serenade-like instrumental composition for outdoor performance. court of cassation, highest French court of appeal. |
| cassideous | adjective | helmet-shaped. |
| cassidony | noun | lavender. |
| cassiterite | noun | native dioxide of tin, the chief ore of tin. |
| castanean, castanian | adjective | pertaining to chestnut. castaneous, adjective chestnut-colored. |
| castrametation | noun | art of laying out a camp. |
| castrensian | adjective | castral. |
| castrophrenia | noun | the belief that one's thoughts are beingstolen by enemies |
| casualism | noun | doctrine that all things happen by chance. |
| casuist | noun | sophist; resolver of questions of conscience. casuistic, adjective casuistry, noun study of rules of right and wrong; application of such rules to particular cases; false reasoning, especially on moral matters. |
| casuistry | noun | the determining of right and wrong in matters of conduct or conscience, or the applying or principles of ethics, particulary in instances that are complex or ambiguous; false, deceptive reasoning about law or morals |
| casus belli | noun | event which justifies a declaration of war. |
| catabaptist | noun | opponent of infant baptism. |
| catabasis | noun | (pl. -ses ) decline of disease. catabatic, adjective |
| catabolism | noun | destructive chemical processes in living creatures. catabolic, adjective catabolize, v. |
| catachresis | noun | incorrect use of a word or phrase, especially from any etymological misunderstanding |
| catachresis | noun | use of wrong words. catachrestic, adjective |
| catachthonian, catachthonic | adjective | subterranean. |
| cataclasis | noun | (pl. -ses ) Geology, deformation of rocks by crushing and shearing. cataclastic, adjective |
| cataclasm | noun | breaking down. cataclasmic, adjective |
| catacosmesis | noun | an ordering of words in descending order ofimportance; anticlimactic sequence in phrasing |
| catacoustic | adjective | pertaining to echoes. catacoustics, noun study of echoes. |
| catadioptric | adjective | pertaining or due to both reflection and refraction of light. catadioptrics, noun study of such phenomena. |
| catadromous | adjective | migrating from fresh to salt water to spawn. |
| catafalque | noun | fixed bier for lying-in-state. |
| catakinetic | adjective | destructive of energy. |
| catalectic | adjective | lacking a syllable at end. catalexis, noun |
| catalepsy | noun | rigid or trance-like fit. cataleptic, adjective cataleptiform, adjective like catalepsy. |
| catallactic | adjective | pertaining to exchange. catalactics, noun study of commercial exchange. |
| catalysis | noun | alteration in speed of chemical reaction due to introduction of a substance which remains unchanged. catalyse, v. catalyst,, noun such introduced substance. catalytic, a.; n. catalyst; alterative. catalytic converter, noun device for reducing toxic emissions from internal-combustion engine. |
| catamite | noun | boy kept for homosexual purposes. |
| cataphasia | noun | speech disorder involving constant repetition of word or phrase. |
| cataphoresis | noun | movement, due to application of electricity, of particles through fluid; injection of drugs electrically. cataphoretic, adjective |
| catarolysis | noun | cursing to let off steam |
| catastaltic | noun | a. (drug) exercising restraint; astringent. |
| catastasis | noun | (pl. -ses ) climax or culmination of drama. |
| catchpole, catchpoll | noun | bumbailiff. |
| catechu | noun | astringent substance extracted from fruit, wood or leaves of several tropical plants including acacias and areca palm. |
| catechumen | noun | person receiving instruction, especially in religion. catechumenate, catechumenism, noun status of a catechumen catechumenical, adjective |
| catena | noun | chain; series. catenoid, catenular, catenulate, adjective chain- like. catenarian, adjective pertaining to chain or catenary. catenary, adjective chain-like; n. curve assumed by chain suspended between two points. catenate, v. join together like a chain; a. chain-like. catenation, noun |
| cathedra | noun | throne; bishop's or professor's chair. ex cathedra, (Latin) 'from the chair'; authoritative. cathedratic, adjective |
| catholicon | noun | panacea. |
| catholyte | noun | portion of electrolyte about cathode. |
| cation | noun | positively charged ion moving towards cathode in electrolysis. |
| catogenic | adjective | Geology, formed from above; sedimentary. |
| catoptric | adjective | pertaining to reflection of light. catoptromancy, noun divination by gazing into mirror or crystal. catoptrics, noun study of reflection. |
| cattalo | noun | a cross between domestic cattle and N American bison. |
| caudal | adjective | pertaining to tail. caudad, adv. towards tail. caudate, adjective tailed. caudiform, adjective tail- like. |
| caul | noun | membrane sometimes covering head of new-born infant, and regarded as lucky. |
| cauline | adjective | Botany, growing on stem. cauliform, adjective like a stem. cauligenous, adjective borne on stem. caulescent, adjective with aerial stem. caulome, noun stem structure of plant. caulotaxy, noun disposition of branches on stem. |
| causerie | noun | a light and informal conversation; brief,conversational essay |
| cautery | noun | medical instrument used for searing wounds, etc.; use of such instrument cauterant, a.; cauterize, v. |
| cavatina | noun | simple song or melody. |
| cavernicolous | adjective | living in caves. cavernulous, adjective full of small cavities. |
| cavicorn | adjective | with hollow horns. |
| cavil | verb | find fault; n. querulous objection. |
| cavo-relievo | noun | sculpture in which highest part is level with surface of stone; hollow relief. |
| cedilla | noun | mark under letter C to show that it should be pronounced S. |
| cedrate | adjective | citron. |
| ceilidh | noun | informal gathering with music, dancing etc. |
| ceilometer | noun | instrument measuring the distance between cloud ceiling and Earth's surface. |
| celadon | noun | porcelain with greyish-green glaze; pale greyish green. |
| celation | noun | concealment. celative, adjective |
| celature | noun | process of embossing metal. |
| celerity | noun | swiftness. |
| celibatarian | noun | & a. (person) advocating celibacy. |
| celidography | noun | description of sun's or planet's surface markings. celidographer, noun |
| cellulosic | adjective | plastic made from cellulose. |
| celoscope | noun | Medicine, instrument for examining body cavities. |
| cembalo | noun | dulcimer; harpsichord; any musical instrument with hammers to strike strings. cembalist, noun player on a cembalo. |
| cenacle | noun | dining-room, especially room in which the Last Supper was held. |
| censer | noun | receptacle for incense. |
| cental | noun | measure of weight equivalent of 100 lb. |
| centesimal | adjective | counting or counted by hundredths. centesimate, v. punish by punishing (especially executing) every hundredth man. centesimation, noun |
| centimetric | adjective | less than 1 metre in length (of very short radio and radar waves). |
| centrobaric | adjective | pertaining to centre of gravity. |
| centuple | adjective | hundredfold; v.t. increase a hundredfold. |
| centuriate | adjective | divided into hundreds. centuriation, noun |
| cepaceous | adjective | like an onion. |
| cephalosporin, ceporin | noun | antibiotic drug extracted from cephalosporium mould, of very wide application. |
| cephalothorax | noun | body, or head with thorax, of spiders, crustaceans, etc. cephalothoracic, adjective |
| ceraceous | adjective | like wax. ceral, adjective pertaining to wax or cere. |
| cerate | noun | medical unguent composed of wax, lard, etc.; a. having a cere. cerated, adjective covered with wax. |
| ceratoid | adjective | horny; like or shaped like horn. |
| ceraunoscope | noun | ancient instrument used to simulate the sound of thunder. |
| cere | noun | wax; wax-like protuberance at base of upper part of bird's bill. cerous, adjective pertaining to or like a cere. |
| cerebrotonic | adjective | having a shy, inhibited temperament associated with ectomorphy. cerebrotonia, noun |
| ceriferous | adjective | yielding wax. |
| cermet | noun | a strong alloy of a metal with a heat-resisting compound, especially used for turbine blades and similar objects. |
| cernuous | adjective | Botany, drooping; hanging. |
| cerography | noun | writing on wax; painting with wax colors; encaustic painting. ceroplastics, noun wax modelling. |
| certiorari | noun | writ for transference of hearing to superior court, or calling for production before superior court of records of a lower court. |
| cerumen | noun | wax of ear. ceruminiferous, adjective yielding this. ceruminous, adjective pertaining to this. |
| ceruse | noun | white lead. |
| cervical | adjective | pertaining to the neck or cervix. |
| cervine | adjective | pertaining to or like deer. |
| cervisial | adjective | pertaining to beer. |
| cesious | adjective | blue-grey. |
| cetane | noun | an oil found in petroleum. cetane number, number representing ignition value of diesel oil, being the percentage of cetane in a mixture used for testing by comparison. |
| ceteris paribus | phrase | 'other things being equal'. |
| chaetophorous | adjective | bearing bristles. |
| chagrin | noun | disappointment annoyance; vexation; v.t., disappoint deeply; annoy. |
| chaise | noun | light, two-wheeled carriage, especially with suspended body. |
| chalastic | noun | laxative. |
| chalcedony | noun | blue or grey variety of quartz. chalcedonic, chalcedonous, adjective |
| chalcography | noun | engraving on brass or copper. chalcolithic, adjective pertaining to copper or bronze age. chalcotript, noun person who takes rubbings of ornamental brasses. |
| chalicosis | noun | stone-cutters' lung disease, due to inhaling stone dust. |
| chalone | noun | glandular secretion curbing activity. chalonic, adjective pertaining to this; restraining. |
| chalybeate | adjective | containing salts of iron; n. such water, medicine, etc. |
| chamaecephalic | adjective | having a flattened skull. chamaecephalus, noun (pl. -li ) such person. chamaecephaly, noun such condition. |
| chambr� | adjective | at room temperature (of wine). |
| chamma | noun | cloak-like Abyssinian garment. |
| champerty | noun | Law, crime of aiding another's lawsuit in order to share in gains therefrom. champertous, adjective |
| chancre | noun | syphilitic ulcer. chancriform, adjective like a chancre. chancroid, noun local sore resembling a chancre. chancrous, adjective like or having these. |
| chantage | noun | blackmail. |
| chapbook | noun | small popular book, formerly of songs, etc., sold by pedlars. chapman, noun pedlar. |
| chapelle ardente | noun | 'burning chapel'; framework bearing burning candles over coffin or catafalque. |
| charcuterie | noun | (shop selling) cold meats made from pork. |
| charientism | noun | a gracefully veiled insult |
| charivari | noun | medley, especially of noises; mock musical performance with whistles, utensils, etc. |
| charpoy | noun | light bedstead. |
| charqui | noun | dried strips of meat; jerked beef. charqued, adjective cut into strips and dried. |
| chasmogamy | noun | opening of flower for fertilization. chasmogamic, chasmogamous, adjective |
| chasmophilous | adjective | fond of nooks, crannies, crevices, and chasms |
| chatoyant | adjective | with lustre that seems different colors in different lights; n. stone which shines with a wavy band of light; cat's-eye. |
| chaussure | noun | foot covering. |
| chef-d'oeuvre | noun | (pl. chefs - pron. same) masterpiece. |
| chela | noun | (pl. -lae ) pincer-like claw of e.g. crab, scorpion. cheliferous, adjective having pincers. cheliform, adjective |
| chelonian | noun | (pertaining to) tortoise or turtle. chelonid, noun sea turtle. |
| chemin-de-fer | noun | 'road of iron'; railway; a kind of baccarat. |
| chemokinesis | noun | increase in activity caused chemically. chemolysis, noun decomposition chemically caused. chemonuclear, adj. pertaining to or arising from both a chemical and a nuclear reaction. chemoprophylaxis, noun prevention by means of a chemical drug. chemoreceptor, noun sense organ that responds to chemical stimuli. chemotaxis, noun movement of organism towards or away from chemical substance. chemotherapy, noun medical treatment by chemicals attacking disease-producing organism. chemotropism, noun growth in response to chemical stimulus. |
| chemurgy | noun | industrial organic chemistry. |
| chermany | noun | type of baseball played in southern U.S. |
| cherophobia | noun | fear of gaiety |
| chersonese | noun | peninsula. |
| cheval de bataille | noun | war-horse: one's favorite subject or argument, often to a tiresome degree |
| cheval-de-frise | noun | (pl. chevaux- ) spiked bar on wall or window-sill. cheval glass, full-length mirror in frame. |
| chevaline | noun | equine; n. horseflesh. |
| chevelure | noun | head of hair. |
| chevet | noun | east end of (especially French Gothic) church or chancel. |
| cheville | noun | an unnecessary word added to round off a sentence or complete a line of verse |
| chevrette | noun | kind of thin kid leather. |
| chiasma | noun | (pl. -mata) cross-shaped configuration especially in pairing chromosomes. |
| chiasmus | noun | (pl. -mi ) inversion of order of corresponding elements of two parallel phrases, as in born under one law, to another bound. chiastic, adjective |
| chignon | noun | knot or 'bun' of hair; pad over which hair is arranged. |
| chiliad | noun | one thousand (years). chiliadal, chiliadic, adjective chiliagon, noun thousand-sided figure. chiliarch, noun ancient Greek or Roman officer in charge of a thousand men. chiliasm, noun belief in second incarnation of Christ as king of world; millenarianism. chiliast, noun adherent of such belief. chiliastic, adjective |
| chillum | noun | hookah; bowl of hookah; tobacco-smoking. chillumchee, noun brass wash basin. |
| chimera, chimaera | noun | imaginary monster; bogy; impossible idea. chimerical, adjective imaginary; fanciful; fantastic. |
| chine | noun | backbone; cut of meat adjoining backbone; saddle; ridge; small ravine; v.t. cut into pieces. |
| chinoiserie | noun | decoration, furniture etc. imitating Chinese design. |
| chionablepsia | noun | snow blindness. |
| chiragra | noun | gout of the fingers. |
| chiral | adjective | pertaining to hand; turning to either left or right. chirality, noun chirapsia, noun massage. |
| chirr | verb | make trill sound like a grasshopper. |
| chirurgeon | noun | archaic, surgeon. chirurgery, noun surgery. chirurgic, adjective |
| chlamys | noun | horseman's loose cloak of ancient Greece. chlamydate, adjective having a mantle. chlamydeous, adjective Botany, pertaining to floral envelope. |
| chloral | noun | oily liquid obtained from chlorine and alcohol; (properly chloral hydrate) sleeping draught obtained from chloral. chloralism, noun condition due to abuse of this. |
| chloramphenicol | noun | an antibiotic drug originally isolated from a soil micro- organism, effective against various bacterial and viral diseases. |
| chlorochrous | adjective | greenish. |
| chlorometer | noun | instrument for measuring chlorine, especially in bleaching powders. |
| chlorosis | noun | anaemia in young women; green sickness; similar condition of plants, due to lack of light. chlorotic, adjective lacking chlorophyll. |
| choanoid | adjective | funnel-shaped. |
| chokedamp | noun | asphyxiating gas, mainly carbon dioxide, of mines. |
| cholecyst | noun | gall bladder. cholecystectomy, noun removal of gall bladder. cholecystitis, noun inflammation of gall bladder. |
| cholelithiasis | noun | production of gall-stones. |
| choli | noun | short, close-fitting blouse worn under a sari. |
| choliamb | noun | iambic trimeter having trochee or spondee in third foot. choliambic, adjective |
| cholic | adjective | pertaining to bile. |
| choller | noun | double chin. |
| chololith | noun | gall-stone. chololithic, adjective |
| chondral | adjective | cartilaginous. chondric, adjective chondrification, noun conversion into cartilage. chondrogenesis, noun production of cartilage. chondroid, adjective like cartilage. chondrosis, noun formation of cartilage. chondrostean, chondrosteous, adjective with cartilaginous skeleton. |
| choragus | noun | leader of chorus in ancient Greek drama; person officiating at festival. |
| chorditis | noun | inflammation of vocal cords. |
| chorea | noun | nervous disease marked by involuntary twitchings. chorea minor, St. Vitus's dance. choreic, choreal, adjective |
| choreutic | adjective | pertaining to choral song and dance. |
| choriamb | noun | metrical foot comprising a trochee and an iambus. choriambic, adjective |
| choric | adjective | pertaining to chorus in ancient Greek tragedy. |
| chorion | noun | membrane enclosing amnion. chorial, chorionic, adjective |
| choripetalous | adjective | with petals separated. chorisepalous, adjective with sepals separated. |
| chorograph | noun | instrument finding position of a place from angles enclosed by lines between it and three other known places. |
| chorography | noun | geographical description of a region. chorology, noun study of geographical distribution. chorometry, noun surveying of land. |
| chose jug�e | noun | 'judged thing'; settled matter, on which further argument is useless. chose in action, Law, thing, such as mortgage, debt etc., in respect of which there is a right of legal action. chose in possession, thing, as goods and chattels, in ownership. |
| chrematistic | adjective | pertaining to gaining of money. chrematistics, noun study of money. |
| chrestomathy | noun | a collection of choice literary pieces |
| chromaesthesia | noun | mental association of colors with tastes, sights, sounds, figures, etc. |
| chromatin | noun | protoplasmic substance in cell nucleus, forming chromosomes and carrying hereditary characters. |
| chromatism | noun | occurrence of abnormal coloration. |
| chromatopathy | noun | disease causing abnormal coloration of skin. |
| chromophilous, chromophilic | adjective | Chemistry, readily staining. chromophobe, adjective staining only slightly. |
| chromoptometer | noun | instrument measuring eye's sensitivity to color. chromoptometry, noun |
| chromotypography | noun | printing in colors. chromoxylography, noun printing in colors from wooden blocks. |
| chronogram | noun | phrase or sentence certain letters of which form a date, generally in Roman figures. chronogrammatic, adjective chronogrammatist, noun composer of this. |
| chronopher | noun | electrical contact-maker for transmitting time signals. |
| chronophotography | noun | taking of a set of photographs of a moving object at regular intervals. |
| chronoscope | noun | instrument measuring very small intervals of time; chronometer in which figures are seen through apertures in dial. chronoscopy, noun |
| chronostichon | noun | chronogrammatic line of verse. |
| chronothermometer | noun | chronometer whose rate is altered by temperature changes. |
| chronotropic | adjective | affecting rate of pulse. chronotropism, noun |
| chrysanthous | adjective | yellow-flowered. |
| chryselephantine | adjective | made of, or ornamented with, ivory and gold. |
| chrysocarpous | adjective | having yellow fruit. |
| chrysochlorous | adjective | greenish-gold in color. |
| chrysochrous | adjective | golden yellow. |
| chrysology | noun | economic study of precious metals and their value. |
| chrysophilist, chrysophilite | noun | lover of gold. |
| chrysopoetics | noun | manufacture of, or transmutation into, gold. |
| chrysoprase | noun | green variety of chalcedony used as gem. |
| chrystocrene | noun | Geology, rock formation resembling glacier. |
| chthonian | chthonic | adjective |
| chthonic | adjective | dwelling or reigning in the underworld as deities or as spirits; infernal; ghostly |
| churrus | noun | hemp resin; leather bag for drawing water from well. |
| chyle | noun | milky fat-containing fluid secreted into blood by lactic vessels in small intestine. chylaceous, adjective chylific, adjective producing chyle. chyliform, adjective like chyle. chylocauly, noun Botany, possession of fleshy leaves. chylopoiesis, noun production of chyle. chylous, adjective consisting of chyle. |
| chyme | noun | semi-liquid partly digested food leaving stomach. chymiferous, adjective containing chyme. chymiflcation, noun conversion of food into chyme. chymous, adjective |
| chypre | noun | mixture of resins, etc., used in perfumery. |
| cibation | noun | feeding. cibarian, adjective pertaining to mouth. cibarious, adjective pertaining to food. |
| cibophobia | noun | dislike for food. |
| ciborium | noun | (pl. -ria) vessel holding consecrated wafers; canopy over altar. |
| cicatrice, cicatrix | noun | scar. cicatricial, adjective cicatricle, noun small scar. cicatricose, adjective scarred. cicatrize, v.i. & t. heal; grow over. |
| cicerone | noun | (pl. -ni ) guide escorting tourists, sightseers. ciceronage, noun |
| cicisbeo | noun | (pl. -bei ) married woman's lover or escort. |
| ciconine, ciconian | adjective | like or pertaining to a stork. |
| cigling | noun | buzzing noises made by a swarm of locusts |
| cilice | noun | hair-cloth; hair shirt. |
| cillosis | noun | muscular spasm of upper eyelid. |
| cincture | noun | girdle. |
| cinemograph | noun | instrument recording speed, especially of wind. |
| cinenchymatous | adjective | laticiferous. |
| cinerary | adjective | pertaining to ashes, especially of cremated body. cinerarium, noun place where ashes of cremated bodies are deposited. |
| cinerial | adjective | pertaining to like or colored like ashes. cinereous, cineritious, adjective like ashes. |
| cingulate | adjective | having girdle. cingular, adjective ring-shaped. |
| cinquain | noun | group of five, especially five-line stanza. |
| cipolin | noun | green-streaked white marble. |
| cippus | noun | (pl. -pi) small column marking burial- place or landmark. |
| circinate | adjective | ring-shaped; rolled into a close spiral. |
| circumambient | adjective | surrounding on all sides. circumambiency, noun |
| circumcrescent | adjective | growing over or round. circumcrescence, noun |
| circumesophagal | adjective | about or along the gullet. |
| circumferentor | noun | surveyor's angle-measuring compass instrument. |
| circumfluent | adjective | flowing round. circumfluence, noun |
| circumforaneous | adjective | wandering, especially from street to street; vagrant. |
| circumfulgent | adjective | shining about or round. |
| circumfuse | verb | surround with liquid; pour round. circumfusion, noun |
| circuminsular | adjective | surrounding an island. |
| circumjacent | adjective | surrounding. circumjacence, circumjacency, noun |
| circumlittoral | adjective | next to shore. |
| circummigrate | verb | wander from place to place. circummigration, noun |
| circumsolar | adjective | revolving round sun. |
| circumvallation | noun | surrounding trench or rampart. |
| circumvolant | adjective | flying round. |
| circumvolute | verb | twist; wind round. circumvolution, noun revolution; fold; circumlocution. circumvolutory, adjective |
| cirrate | adjective | having tendrils. |
| cirrhosis | noun | Medicine, hardened or fibrous condition, especially of liver. cirrhotic, adjective |
| cirriped | noun | parasitic marine crustacean, as barnacle. cirropodous, adjective |
| cisalpine | adjective | on this side of the Alps, especially on the southern or Roman side. cisandine, adjective on this side of the Andes. cisatlantic, adjective on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. ciselysian, adjective on this side of Elysium or heaven. cismarine, adjective on this side of the sea. cismontane, adjective on this side of mountains; desiring limitation of papal power. cisoceanic, adjective on this side of ocean. cispadane, adjective on this (southern) side of the River Po. cispontine, adjective on this side of bridges, e.g. on north side of Thames. cisrhenane, adjective on this side of the Rhine. |
| cisvestitism | noun | wearing weird or inappropriate clothes |
| cithara | noun | ancient lyre-like stringed musical instrument. citharist, noun player on this. |
| citreous | adjective | lemon-colored. citric, adjective pertaining to or derived from lemons and other acid fruit. citrine, adjective lemon-colored. citron, noun large lemon-like fruit. citrous, citrus, adjective pertaining to or like citron. |
| cittosis | noun | an abnormal desire for strange foods |
| cladistics | noun | Biology, method of animal classification by shared characteristics. |
| cladoptosis | noun | annual shedding of twigs. |
| clairaudient | adjective | able to hear sounds not actually present, as spirit communications, etc. clairaudience, noun |
| clairsentient | adjective | able to perceive sensations not actually present. clairsentience, noun |
| clamant | adjective | loud; insistent. clamatory, clamorous, adjective loud. |
| clancular | adjective | clandestine. |
| clangour | noun | loud, often repeated noise. |
| claque | noun | group of paid applauders. claqueur, noun member of this. |
| clastic | adjective | detachable into component parts; Geology, composed of fragments. |
| clathrate | adjective | lattice-like. clathroid, adjective clathrose, adjective marked with lattice-like lines or grooves. |
| claudent | adjective | shutting. |
| claudicant | adjective | limping. claudication, noun |
| claustral | adjective | cloistral. claustration, noun confinement, especially in convent. |
| clavecin | noun | harpsichord; carillon keyboard. |
| claviature | noun | keyboard; fingering system. |
| clavicembalo | noun | (pl. -li ) harpsichord. |
| clavicytherium | noun | harpsichord-like musical instrument. |
| claviger | noun | club-bearer; key-keeper or caretaker. clavigerous, adjective |
| clavis | noun | (pl. -ves ) key; glossary. |
| clavus | noun | (pl. -vi ) purple stripe worn on toga by persons of high rank in ancient Rome; corn (on foot); intensely painful headache. |
| cledonism | noun | using circumlocution to avoid speaking words deemed unlucky. |
| cleg | noun | gad fly; horse-fly. |
| clem | verb | starve. clemmed, adjective famished. |
| cleocentric | adjective | pertaining to the belief that fame is everything |
| clepsydra | noun | water-clock. |
| clerestory | noun | windowed part of nave wall rising above aisle roof. |
| clerisy | noun | educated or literary people collectively. |
| cleromancy | noun | divination by casting lots. cleronomy, noun inheritance. |
| clevis | noun | any securing device, U-shaped and with a pin between the extremities. |
| clew | noun | corner of sail to which ropes are attached; v.t. haul on this when changing sail. |
| climacteric | adjective | critical; forming a turning-point or crisis; n. turning-point, especially in life of individual, generally reckoned at 21, 35, 49, 63 and 81 years of age; 'change of life', menopause. grand climacteric, 63rd or 81st year of life. climacterical, adjective |
| clinamen | noun | (pl. -mina) bias. |
| clinocephalic, clinocephalous | adjective | having a saddle-shaped skull. clinocephalus, noun (pl. -li ) such person. clinocephaly, noun |
| clinodromic | adjective | moving at an angle, especially of missiles travelling at an angle to a moving target. clinoscopic, adjective pertaining to missiles travelling in line with a moving target. |
| clinology | noun | study of organism's retrograde development after passing maturity. clinologic, adjective |
| clinomania | noun | excessive desire to stay in bed |
| clinometer | noun | instrument measuring angle of slope. clinometric, a., clinometry, noun |
| clinophobia | noun | morbid fear of going to bed. |
| clinquant | adjective | glittering; showy; n. tinsel; meretricious work of art. |
| clithridiate | adjective | keyhole-shaped. |
| cloaca | noun | (pl. -cae ) sewer; watercloset; Zoology, passage or chamber receiving all bodily excretions in birds, reptiles, etc. cloacal, adjective |
| clonic | adjective | irregularly spasmodic. clonicity, noun |
| clou | noun | 'nail'; cynosure. |
| clupeoid | noun | & a. (fish) like a herring. |
| clypeus | noun | shield-shaped plate on an insect's head. clypeate a. shaped like a round shield. |
| clysis | noun | Medicine, washing-out of body cavity. |
| clysmian | adjective | pertaining or due to flood. clysmic, adjective cleansing. |
| clyster | noun | an injection into the anus; an enema |
| cnemis | noun | shin bone. cnemial, adjective |
| coadjuvant | adjective | co-operating. coadjuvancy, noun |
| coadunate | adjective | combine into one;, adjective united. coadunation, noun coadunative, adjective |
| coagment | verb | cement together. |
| coapt(ate) | verb | join or fit together. coaptation, noun |
| coarctate | adjective | closely pressed together. coarctation, noun constriction. |
| cocciferous | adjective | bearing berries. |
| coccus | noun | (pl. cocci, ) spherical bacterium. |
| cocotte | noun | flirt; prostitute; kind of casserole. |
| coctile | noun | baked. |
| coddum | noun | old-fashioned guessing game |
| codon | noun | a character, or group of characters, in the genetic code carried by the living cell, which directs the formation of a particular amino-acid. |
| coelialgia | noun | pain in belly. |
| coelom | noun | body cavity. coelomate, adjective having this. coeliac, adjective |
| coemption | noun | gaining monopoly in a commodity by buying all available supplies. coemptor, noun person practising this. |
| coenaculous | adjective | fond of eating, especially suppers. |
| coenaesthesis | noun | Psychology, sensation as a whole. |
| coenotrope | noun | Psychology, conduct characteristic of a group. |
| coessential | adjective | Religion, formed from same substance. |
| coetaneous | adjective | contemporary. |
| coeval | noun | & a. (person or thing) of same age; of same length of time. |
| cogitabund | adjective | meditative |
| cognomen | noun | (pl. -nomens, -nomina) family name; nickname. cognominal, a.; n. namesake. cognominate, v. |
| cognovit | noun | Law, admission by defendant of justice of plaintiff's case. |
| cohibit | verb | restrain. cohibition, noun cohibitive, adjective |
| coign | noun | corner; angle; viewpoint. |
| coinstantaneous | adjective | occurring at same instant. coinstantaneity n. |
| colation | noun | filtering. |
| colchicum | noun | meadow saffron; autumn crocus. colchicine, noun extract of this used as specific against gout. |
| coleopterous | adjective | pertaining to beetles and weevils; having hard anterior wings. coleopteran, noun such insect. coleopteroid, adjective beetle-like. coleopterology, noun study of such insects. |
| colibri | noun | humming-bird. |
| coliform | adjective | like a sieve. |
| collet | noun | flange holding a gem; metal collar or sleeve. |
| colletic | noun | adhesive (substance). |
| colligate | verb | bind together; collate facts for deduction of principle therefrom. colligation, noun |
| collimate | verb | make parallel; adjust into line; adjust line of sight. collimation, noun collimator, noun device in optical instrument for adjusting line of sight or producing parallel rays. |
| collocution | noun | conversation. collocutor, noun speaker in this. |
| colloid | noun | mixture between a solution and a fine suspension; jelly-like substance. colloidal, adjective |
| colloquy | noun | a conversation or dialogue; serious or formal conference |
| collotype | noun | method of printing illustrations from hardened gelatin film. |
| colluctation | noun | conflict |
| collutory | noun | mouthwash. |
| colluvial | adjective | pertaining to a mass of filth |
| colluvium | noun | Geology, mixture of rock fragments. colluvial, adjective |
| collyrium | noun | (pl. -ia) eye wash or ointment; suppository. |
| colocynth | noun | kind of cucumber forming ingredient of purgative; 'bitter apple'. |
| colophony | noun | rosin. |
| coloratura | noun | highly ornamented, virtuoso (musical passage); singer, especially soprano, of such music. |
| colubrine | adjective | snaky, sneaky, cunning |
| columbaceous | adjective | pertaining to pigeons. columbarium, noun collection of pigeon- holes; cinerarium. columbine, adjective like a dove. columboid, adjective like a pigeon. |
| columniation | noun | use or arrangement of columns in a structure. |
| colure | noun | celestial circle intersecting other at poles. equinoctial colure, such circle passing through equinoctial points. solstitial colure, such circle at right angles to equinoctial colure. |
| colytic | adjective | restraining; antiseptic. |
| comate | adjective | hairy. |
| comatulid | adjective | having hair that is neatly curled |
| comburent | adjective | burning; n. substance aiding combustion. comburivorous, adjective consuming by burning. |
| comiferous | adjective | tufted. |
| commatic | adjective | divided into short stanzas or lines; pertaining to comma. commatism, noun |
| commensal | adjective | living and feeding together; n such organism; symbiont. commensalism, commensality, noun |
| commensurable | adjective | measurable by same standard; proportionate. commensurate, adjective proportionate; v.t. make proportionate. commensuration, noun |
| commentitious | adjective | imaginary |
| commere | noun | gossiping woman; female compere. commerage, noun gossip. |
| commination | noun | denunciation; threatening or cursing |
| comminatory | adjective | accusing publicly; denunciatory; threatening |
| comminute | verb | pulverize. comminution, noun |
| commissure | noun | seam; joint; cleft. commissural, adjective |
| commonalty | noun | common people. |
| commonition | noun | warning. |
| commorant | noun | (person) residing or dwelling. commorancy, noun |
| commoratio | noun | dwelling on a point by repeating it in different words |
| commorient | adjective | dying together |
| comose | adjective | with tuft of hair. comoid, adjective like a tuft of hair. comous, adjective hairy. |
| complanate | adjective | level. complanation, noun act of levelling. |
| complect | verb | to connect together; intertwine |
| completory | noun | compline. |
| compossible | adjective | able to coexist or coincide with other thing. |
| compotation | noun | drinking together |
| compote | noun | mixed fruit with syrup; mixed savoury dish. compotier, noun dish for this. |
| comprador(e) | noun | native major-domo; Chinese native agent or manager. |
| comprecation | noun | praying together. |
| comprobatio | noun | complimenting one's judges or audience togain their favor |
| compte rendu | noun | 'account rendered'; report. |
| compurgation | noun | vindication; that which vindicates |
| conarium | noun | pineal gland. conarial, adjective |
| conation | noun | mental striving. conative, a.; Grammar, expressing endeavour. |
| concamerated | adjective | divided into chambers. concameration, noun vaulting; vaulted roof. |
| concatervate | adjective | heaped up |
| concavo-convex | adjective | with one side concave and other convex. concavo-concave, adjective concave on both sides. |
| concertante | adjective | Music, exhibiting or needing great skill and brilliancy; alternating tutti passages and passages for a group of soloists. |
| concettism | phrase | love of or use of literary conceits, intellectual analogies, or erudite comparisons |
| conchers | noun | docile cattle |
| conchyliated | adjective | obtained from molluscs. conchyliferous, adjective bearing a shell. |
| conciliabule | noun | secret meeting of plotters. |
| conciliar | adjective | pertaining to council. |
| concinnity | noun | skill and harmony, esp. of style, in a literary work; elegant arrangement |
| concinnous | adjective | harmonious; fit; elegant. concinnity, noun |
| conclamation | noun | shouting together. conclamant, adjective |
| concolorate | adjective | having same color on both sides. |
| concordia discors | noun | 'discordant concord'; armed truce. |
| concresce | verb | grow together; coalesce. concrescence, noun concrement, noun concretion. |
| concubitant | adjective | marriageable. concubitancy, noun concubitous, adjective concubitus, noun coition. |
| concupiscence | noun | strong appetite; excessive sexual desire |
| concupiscent | adjective | having strong sexual desires. concupiscence, n lust. |
| condign | adjective | deserved; adequate; appropriate. |
| conductitious | adjective | hired; for hire. |
| condyle | noun | knuckle-like prominence at end of bone. condylar, adjective condyloid, adjective near or shaped like this. |
| confelicity | noun | pleasure in other's happiness. |
| conferva | noun | greenish algae on surface of stagnant water. conferval, confervoid, confervous, adjective |
| confiteor | noun | 'I confess'; n. prayer confessing sins. |
| conflation | noun | a combining or blending of two or more versionsof a text; confusion or mixing up |
| confute | verb | prove to be wrong; overcome in argument. confutation, noun |
| conge | noun | leave, especially to go; dismissal; bow. congelire, permission to elect. |
| congelation | noun | act or state of freezing solid. |
| congener | noun | person or thing of same kind. congeneracy, noun congeneric, congenerous, adjective |
| congenetic | adjective | having common origin. |
| congeries | noun | conglomeration; heap or mess. |
| conglobate | adjective | ball-shaped; v.i. & t. form or be formed into a ball-shaped mass. conglobation, noun |
| conglobulate | verb | form into a ball. conglobulation, noun |
| conglutinate | verb | join together; glue;, adjective stuck together. conglutinant, noun & a. glueing or healing (substance). conglutination, noun conglutinative, adjective |
| conjunctiva | noun | membrane lining eyelid and joining it with eyeball. conjunctival, adjective conjunctivitis, noun inflammation of this. |
| connate | adjective | congenital; joined together from birth. connation, noun connatural, adjective congenital; having same nature. |
| connumerate | verb | count together. connumeration, noun |
| conoid | noun | somewhat conical (object). conoidal, adjective |
| consanguinity | noun | blood-relationship. consanguineal, consanguineous, adjective |
| consectaneous | adjective | logical consequence; corollary |
| consecution | noun | logical advance in argument; sequence. consecutive, adjective following in uninterrupted or logical order. |
| consenescence | noun | growing old together. |
| consensus gentium fallacy | phrase | the fallacy of arguing that an idea is true because most people believe it or because it has been said throughout history |
| consentaneous | adjective | agreeing; unanimous; suitable. consentaneity, noun |
| consentient | adjective | agreeing; unanimous. consentience, noun |
| consignificant | adjective | synonymous; meaningless unless used with another word. consignification, noun meaning in context. consignify, v. |
| consilient | adjective | agreeing in inferences drawn from different premises. consilience, noun |
| conspecies | noun | species belonging to same genus; variety. conspecific, adjective belonging to same species. |
| conspectus | noun | general view or outline; summary. |
| conspue | verb | spurn; despise. |
| conspurcate | verb | to pollute; defile |
| constate | verb | establish upon positive evidence. constatation, noun |
| constringe | verb | cause to contract; constrict. constringent, adjective constringency, noun |
| constructio ad sensum | phrase | construction according to sense, or framing a sentence from word sense rather than by adhering to standard grammar |
| constuprate | verb | to violate, to debauch |
| consuetude | noun | custom, tradition |
| contabescent | adjective | wasting away. contabescence, noun |
| contango | noun | Commerce, charge paid by purchaser for postponing payment from one settling day to next; v.i. permit such postponement. contango day, the day, second before settling day, on which such arrangements are made. |
| conte | noun | short story. conte pieux, moral story. conteur, writer of these. |
| contect | verb | cover. contection, noun |
| contemn | verb | view with contempt, scorn, and disdain; despise |
| contortuplicate | adjective | twisted back upon itself |
| contra bonos mores | phrase | 'against good morals'; harmful to public morality. |
| contra mundum | phrase | 'against the world'; in defiance of all accepted belief. |
| contra pacem | phrase | 'against the peace'. |
| contrabass | noun | & a. (voice or instrument) one octave lower than bass; double-bass. |
| contractile | adjective | able or causing to grow smaller. contractility, noun |
| contrahent | noun | & a. (party) entering into contract. |
| contrapuntal | adjective | pertaining to counterpoint. contrapuntist, noun expert in counterpoint. |
| contraremonstrant | noun | a remonstrator against remonstrance |
| contrectation | noun | handling; the love play preceding sexual intercourse; act of caressing someone, especially furtivelyor against their will |
| contubernal | noun | & a. cohabiting (person). |
| contumacious | adjective | obstinate; rebellious. contumacy, noun contumacity, noun such act. |
| contumely | noun | insult; contempt. contumelious, adjective |
| contuse | verb | bruise. contusion, noun contusive, adjective |
| conurbation | noun | city surrounded by large number of urban districts. |
| convenances | noun | the proprieties; conventions. |
| conventicle | noun | chapel; meeting-house; nonconformist assembly. conventicular, adjective |
| conventual | adjective | pertaining to convent; n. inmate of convent. |
| convexo-concave | adjective | convex on one side and concave on other. convexo-convex, a., convex on both sides. |
| copaiba | noun | kind of oily resin. copaibic, copaivic, adjective |
| copal | noun | kind of resin used in varnishes, etc. |
| coparcener | noun | joint heir. coparcenary, noun & a. |
| cophosis | noun | deafness. |
| copolymer | noun | a compound of high molecular weight produced by polymerizing two or more different monomers. copolymerize v.i. & t. to become or make into a copolymer. |
| copremia | noun | poisoning resulting from chronic constipation. |
| coprolalia | noun | use of obscene language. coprolaliac, person practising this. |
| coprolite | noun | fossilized feces. coprolith, noun hard mass of fecal matter. coprolitic, adjective |
| coprology | noun | study of filth or faeces, or of obscene literature. |
| coprophagy | noun | feeding on dung. coprophagan, noun dung beetle. coprophagous, adjective |
| coprophemia | noun | obscene language |
| coprophilia | noun | love of obscenity. coprophilous, adjective living in or feeding on dung. |
| coprostasis | noun | constipation. |
| coprozoic | adjective | living in dung. |
| copula | noun | link; verb, especially part of to be, linking subject and predicate. copular, adjective |
| copyhold | noun | tenure of manor land at will of lord of manor; land so held. copyholder, noun holder of such land. |
| coquillage | noun | shell-like decoration. |
| coracle | noun | light round wicker boat covered with skin. |
| coram populo | phrase | 'in the presence of the public'; for appearance's sake. coram judice, before a judge. coram paribus, before one's equals or peers. |
| corbel | noun | supporting projection from wall. |
| corbiculate | adjective | like a small basket; pertaining to bee's pollen-holding organ. |
| cordate | adjective | heart-shaped. cordiform, adjective |
| coriaceous | adjective | like or consisting of leather. |
| coriander | noun | plant yielding seeds used in medical and in curries and pickles. |
| corkage | noun | charge made by hotel keeper for serving bottle of wine, or for consumption in his hotel of bottle purchased elsewhere. |
| cornea | noun | transparent hard material protecting eyeball. corneal, adjective |
| cornemuse | noun | ancient bagpipe-like instrument. |
| corneous | adjective | horny. corniculate, adjective having horns or horn-like outgrowths. cornific, adjective producing horn or horns. corniform, adj., horn-shaped. cornigerous, adjective bearing horns. |
| corniche | noun | coastal road, especially one running along a cliff face. |
| cornute | noun | cuckold; a. with horn-like outgrowths. cornuted, adjective horned; horn- shaped. |
| coronach | noun | dirge. |
| coronagraph | noun | astronomical instrument by which the solar corona can be observed in full sunlight. |
| coronoid | adjective | beak-shaped. |
| corposant | noun | flamelike electrical discharge from ship's masts, steeples, etc., in thundery weather; St. Elmo's fire. |
| correption | noun | shortening in pronunciation. |
| corrie | noun | round hollow in hillside. |
| corrigendum | noun | (pl. -da) thing to be corrected; erratum. |
| corrivate | verb | make to flow together. corrivation, noun |
| cortinate | adjective | cobweb-like. cortinarious a. |
| cortisone | noun | hormone, essential to life, secreted by cortex of adrenal glands; synthetic equivalent of this obtained from ox-bile or sisal. |
| corundum | noun | exceptionally hard mineral, crystallized alumina, used, when transparent, as gem. |
| coruscate | verb | sparkle; flash. coruscant, adjective coruscation, noun |
| corvine | adjective | pertaining to or like a crow. corviform, corvoid, adjective |
| corybant | noun | priest, votary or attendant of Cybele, ancient goddess of nature. corybantic, adjective pertaining to wild and noisy rites performed by these; n. wild, frenzied dance. |
| corymb | noun | flat-topped raceme-like inflorescence. corymbiate, corymbiform, corymbose, corymbous, adjective corymbiferous, adjective bearing these. |
| coryphaeus | noun | a leader of a school of thought, a religious movement, a political party or group |
| coryza | noun | cold in head. |
| cosmesis | noun | preservation of bodily beauty, especially of face. cosmetic, noun & a. cosmetician n. maker, seller, etc. of cosmetics. cosmetology, noun art of using cosmetics. |
| cosmocracy | noun | government of whole world. cosmocrat, noun ruler over world. cosmocratic, adjective |
| cosmogenic | adjective | produced by action of cosmic rays. |
| cosmogony | noun | study or theory of the origin and development of the universe or the solar system. cosmogonal, cosmogonic, adjective |
| cosmorama | noun | series of views of different parts of world. cosmoramic, adjective |
| costal | adjective | pertaining to ribs. costard, noun ribbed variety of apple. costate, adjective having ribs; ridged. costalgia, noun pain in ribs. costectomy, noun removal of rib. costellate, adjective finely ribbed. |
| costive | adjective | slow or stiff in the expression of opinions and in action and reaction generally |
| coteau | noun | (pl. -eaux ), divide between valleys; valley-side. |
| cothurnus | noun | (pl. -ni ), buskin. cothurnal, cothurnian, adjective pertaining to cothurnus or tragedy. cothurnate, adjective wearing cothurnus. |
| cotyledon | noun | first, embryonic seed leaf of plant. cotyledonal, cotyledonary, cotyledonous, adjective cotyloid, adjective cup- shaped. |
| couchant | adjective | Heraldry, lying, especially with head raised. |
| coulisse | noun | groove, especially in timber, for thing to slide in; back- stage place; lobby. |
| couloir | noun | deep cleft in mountain; corridor. |
| countercaster | noun | a contemptuous word for a bookkeeper or accountant;a person dealing in numbers |
| counterpoise | noun | equal and opposite weight or force; v.t. counterbalance. |
| counterpole | noun | exact opposite. |
| coup de plume | phrase | stroke of the pen: a literary attack |
| coup d'essai | phrase | trial stroke: a trial or warmup piece; an effort serving as practice |
| couvade | noun | custom among some peoples, whereby the husband of a woman giving birth simulates pregnancy and labour. |
| couveuse | noun | incubator for human infants. |
| couvre-feu | noun | curfew; scuttle-shaped device for covering fire at curfew. |
| coverture | noun | Law, status of married woman. |
| covin(e) | noun | collusion; fraud. covinous, adjective |
| covinous | adjective | deceitful, conspiring |
| coxalgy, coxalgia | noun | pain in hip. coxalgic, adjective coxitis, noun inflammation of hip joint. |
| cozen | verb | to cheat or fool |
| crambe repetita | phrase | warmed-over cabbage: annoying repitition or a tiresome, harped-on old story |
| crankle | noun | to break into bends and turns, as a stream |
| crapulous | adjective | given to gross excess in drinking or eating; debauched intemperance |
| crasis | noun | constitution; blending; running together of two vowels to form a long vowel. |
| crassamentum | noun | clot of blood. |
| crassilingual | adjective | thick-tongued |
| cratometer | noun | instrument measuring power of magnification. cratometry, noun |
| craton | noun | Geology, large, relatively stable section of earth's crust, forming the basis of a continent or ocean. |
| creancer | noun | guardian; mentor. |
| creatic | adjective | pertaining to flesh or meat. creatophagous, adjective flesh-eating. |
| credence | noun | belief; Ecclesiastical, small table or sideboard for sacred vessels. |
| cremnophobia | noun | dread of precipices. |
| crenate | adjective | scalloped. crenation, crenature, noun |
| crenitic | adjective | pertaining to mineral springs. crenotherapy, noun medical treatment by mineral springs. |
| crenulate | adjective | minutely crenate. crenulation, noun |
| creophagous | adjective | carnivorous. creophagia, creophagism, creophagy, noun eating of flesh. creophagist n. |
| crepehangar | noun | a gloomy person; a pessimist |
| crepitate | verb | crackle. crepitant, adjective crepitation, crepitus, noun |
| crepuscular | adjective | pertaining to twilight; appearing or active at twilight. crepuscle, crepuscule, noun twilight. crepusculine, adjective |
| crescograph | noun | instrument recording plant growth. |
| cresset | noun | hanging light-giving brazier. |
| cretify | verb | change into chalk or lime. cretifaction, cretification, noun |
| cri de coeur | phrase | cry from the heart: an ardent, impassioned declaration, appeal or lament |
| cri de guerre | phrase | war cry: a martial motto or slogan, as used ona heraldic device |
| cribriform | adjective | like a sieve. cribrous, cribrose, adjective cribration, noun sifting. |
| criminis | noun | partner in crime; accomplice. |
| crimp | noun | person luring or 'shanghaiing' sailors aboard vessel; v.t. so to obtain sailors for ship. crimpage, noun rate paid to crimp. |
| crinal | adjective | pertaining to hair. crinite, adj. Biology, covered in soft hair or tufts. |
| crinoid | adjective | like a lily in shape; n. Zoology, one of a class of sea creatures with round body and feathery arms. |
| crinose | adjective | hairy. crinosity, noun |
| criophore | noun | sculptured figure of man carrying ram. criosphinx, noun sphinx with ram's head. |
| crispate | adjective | curled; crisped. crispation, crispature, noun curling; shudder. |
| cristate | adjective | bearing crest. cristiform, adjective crest-shaped. |
| criticaster | noun | an incompetent, inferior critic |
| cromlech | noun | prehistoric monument, comprising a flat stone resting horizontally on two vertical stones or circle of stones. |
| crosier, crozier | noun | shepherd's crook-like staff borne by abbot or bishop. |
| crotaline | adjective | pertaining to rattle-snake. crotalic, crotaliform, crotaloid, adjective like a rattlesnake. |
| crounotherapy | noun | medical treatment by mineral waters. |
| croze | noun | groove in the staves of a barrel into which the endpiece fits. |
| cru | noun | vineyard; category in classification of certain French wines. |
| cruciate | adjective | cross-shaped or Y-shaped; marked with cross; v.t mark with cross. cruciation, noun torture; cruciate state. |
| cruentation | noun | oozing of blood, especially from dead body. |
| cruorin | noun | hemoglobin. |
| crural | adjective | pertaining to leg, especially thigh. |
| crurophilous | adjective | liking legs |
| cruse | noun | small earthenware pot. |
| crux criticorum | phrase | cross for critics: a riddle or puzzle for the critics |
| crymodinia | noun | rheumatism due to cold. crymotherapy, noun use of cold as medical treatment. |
| cryophorus | noun | instrument demonstrating freezing of water by its evaporation. cryophoric, adjective |
| cryoscopy | noun | determination of freezing points. cryoscope, noun instrument used in this. cryoscopic, adjective |
| cryptaesthesia | noun | clairvoyance. cryptaesthetic, adjective |
| cryptal | adjective | pertaining to or like a crypt. |
| cryptoclastic | adjective | Geology, composed of tiny fragments. |
| cryptoclimate | noun | climate of the inside of a building or other enclosed structure. |
| cryptogam | noun | non-flowering or non-seeding plant. cryptogamian, cryptogamic, cryptogamous, adjective |
| cryptogenic | adjective | of unknown origin. cryptogenetic, adjective |
| cryptophyte | noun | plant whose buds or seeds develop underground or under water. |
| cryptorchidism | noun | condition in which one or both testes do not descend normally. |
| cryptozoic | adjective | living hidden, or in darkness. |
| crystallomancy | noun | divination by a crystal ball. |
| crystic | adjective | Geology, pertaining to ice. |
| crystograph | noun | painting or writing on glass. |
| ctenoid | adjective | with comb-like edge. cteniform, adjective comb-like. |
| ctetology | noun | Biology study of acquired characteristics. |
| cuculine | adjective | pertaining to or like a cuckoo. cuculiform, adjective like a cuckoo. cuculoid, adjective |
| cucullate | adjective | hooded; hood-shaped. cuculliform, adjective hood-shaped. |
| cucurbit | noun | gourd-like chemical vessel, main part of still or alembic. cucurbitine, adjective like gourd seed in shape. |
| cui bono | phrase | to whose benefit: to what end or for what good (more strictly, who stands to gain from this) |
| cuirass | noun | armour for breast and back. cuirassier, noun horse-soldier wearing this. |
| culiciform | adjective | like a mosquito. culicifuge, noun substance killing mosquitoes. |
| cullion | noun | rascal; orchid root; man orchid. |
| culm | noun | grass stem. culminal, adjective |
| cultrate | adjective | shaped like a knife blade; sharp-edged. |
| culverin | noun | kind of ancient small cannon. |
| cumshaw | noun | tip; gratuity. |
| cumulose | adjective | containing small heaps. |
| cunabular | adjective | pertaining to cradle or original dwelling; pertaining to incunabula. |
| cunctation | noun | delay. cunctator, noun procrastinator. |
| cunctative | adjective | tardy, dilatory |
| cunicular | adjective | pertaining to underground passages or burrows; burrow- dwelling. |
| cupel | noun | small dish, especially of bone ash, or furnace hearth for cupellation. cupellation, noun refining or separating precious metals. |
| cupreous | adjective | pertaining to or like copper. |
| cupressineous | adjective | pertaining to or like the cypress. |
| cupric | adjective | applied to compounds of bivalent copper. cupro-nickel, noun alloy of copper and nickel used for making 'silver' and 'nickel' coins. cuprous, adjective applied to compounds of univalent copper. |
| cupulate | adjective | cup-shaped; having a cup-shaped appendage. cupuliform, adjective cup-shaped. |
| curette | noun | surgical instrument for scraping sides of body cavity; v.t. use a curette on. curettage, noun use of this. |
| curiology | noun | picture-writing. curiologic(al), adjective curiologics, noun |
| curlicism | noun | literary indecency |
| currente calamo | phrase | with a running pen: fluidly or offhand |
| curricle | noun | light two-horse two-wheeled carriage. curricular, adjective pertaining to carriages and driving; pertaining to curriculum. |
| cursorial | adjective | adapted for walking or running. cursorious, adjective |
| curtal | adjective | short; curtailed; n. person wearing short garment; animal with docked tail. |
| curtate | adjective | shortened; short. curtate distance, Astronomy, distance of heavenly body from sun or earth in ecliptic plane. curtation, noun difference between curtate distance and true distance. |
| curtilage | noun | courtyard; land attached to house. |
| curule | adjective | applied to curved-legged chair occupied by high officials of ancient Rome. curule leg, outward-curving furniture leg. |
| curvet | noun | leap; bound; leap of trained horse with forelegs first raised, immediately followed by raising of hind legs. |
| curvulate | adjective | slightly curved. |
| cushat | noun | wood-pigeon or ring-dove. |
| custos morum | phrase | 'keeper of morals'; censor. custos rotulorum, keeper of the rolls. custos sigilli, keeper of great seal. |
| cutis anserina | phrase | goose bumps. |
| cyaneous | adjective | sky-blue. |
| cyanometer | noun | instrument measuring blueness. cyanometric, adjective cyanometry, noun |
| cyanosis | noun | heart condition or disease causing blueness of surface of body; blue disease. cyanotic, adjective |
| cyathiform | adjective | cup-shaped. |
| cyclarthrosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) pivot joint. cyclarthrodial, adjective |
| cyclazocine | noun | synthetic drug protecting against the addictive effects of the morphine group. |
| cyclitis | noun | inflammation of ciliary muscle. |
| cyclometer | noun | instrument measuring arcs of circles or revolutions of bicycle wheel. |
| cyclophoria | noun | squint due to weakness of an eye muscle. |
| cycloplegia | noun | paralysis of ciliary muscle. cycloplegic, adjective |
| cyclostyle | noun | apparatus for printing copies from a handwritten stencil. |
| cyclothymia | noun | mental condition of alternating moods of euphoria and depression. cyclothyme, noun person having such moods. cyclothymic, adjective |
| cyclotomy | noun | incision into ciliary muscle. cyclotome, noun instrument used in this. cyclotomic, adjective |
| cyesis | noun | pregnancy. cyesiology, noun medical study of this. |
| cyesthes | noun | maternity clothes |
| cyllosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) congenital deformity, especially clubfoot. |
| cymbiform | adjective | boat-shaped. cymbate, adjective cymbocephalic, cymbocephalous, adjective having head with forehead receding and back projecting. |
| cymograph | noun | instrument for tracing outlines of projections, profiles, etc. |
| cynanche | noun | any inflammatory disease of throat, etc. |
| cynanthropy | noun | form of insanity in which patient has delusions of being a dog. |
| cynarctomachy | noun | bear-baiting with dogs. |
| cynegetics | noun | hunting. |
| cynocephalous, cynocephalic | adjective | having dog-like head or face. cynocephalus, noun flying lemur; mythological ape with dog's head. |
| cynoid | adjective | dog-like. cynopodous, adjective having dog-like claws. cynorrhodon, noun dog-rose. |
| cynophobia | noun | morbid fear of dogs. |
| cynosure | noun | guiding star; object of common interest. cynosural, adjective |
| cyphonism | noun | pillorying as punishment. |
| cyprian | adjective | lecherous, licentious, and lewd |
| cyprinoid | adjective | pertaining to or like a carp. |
| cypripareunia | noun | sexual intercourse with a prostitute |
| cypseline | adjective | pertaining to or like a swift. cypseloid, adjective |
| cytherean | adjective | pertaining to Venus; n. votary of Venus. |
| cytitis | noun | inflammation of skin. |
| dacrygelosis | noun | condition of alternating laughing and crying |
| dacryops | noun | moistness of the eye. |
| dactylioglyph | noun | engraver of gems, especially for rings. dactyliographic, adjective dactyliography, noun study of gem engraving. dactyliology, noun study of finger-rings. |
| dactylitis | noun | inflammation of fingers and toes. |
| dactylogram | noun | finger-print. dactylography, noun study of finger-prints. |
| dactyloid | adjective | like a finger. |
| dactylology | noun | sign language; deaf and dumb language. |
| dactylomegaly | noun | abnormal largeness of fingers and toes. |
| dactylonomy | noun | counting on the fingers. |
| dactyloscopy | noun | comparison of fingerprints for identification. |
| daddock | noun | centre of rotten tree |
| daedal | adjective | ingeniously contrived or intricate; skillfully and artistically crafted |
| daemon | noun | inward spirit; personality; genius. daemonic, adjective |
| damascene, damaskeen | verb adjective | ornament (metal) with wavy patterns; a. pertaining to such art or to damask. damascene blade, sword made in Damascus or ornamented with damascening. |
| damier | noun | large-squared pattern. |
| damnosa hereditas | phrase | 'burdensome inheritance'. |
| damnum fatale | phrase | Law, loss resulting from act of God. |
| dapifer | phrase | bearer of meat to table; steward. |
| darnel | noun | tall, awned grass, a weed of corn-fields. |
| dartre | noun | any eczema-like skin disease. dartrous, adjective |
| dashpot | noun | shock-resisting device, using air or liquid. |
| dasymeter | noun | device for measuring the density of gases. |
| dasyphyllous | adjective | with downy leaves. |
| dasypoedes | adjective noun | birds having downy young. dasypoedal, dasypoedic |
| dasypygal | adjective | having hairy buttocks |
| dation | noun | act of giving; conferment. |
| dauerschlaf | noun | long drug-induced sleep, used as psychiatric remedy. |
| davit | noun | ship's small crane, especially for lowering boats. |
| dawk | noun | printer's mark in shape of dagger |
| de aequitate | phrase | 'by equity'; by justice if not by right. |
| de jure | phrase | adv. 'by right'; rightful. |
| de nouveau | phrase | 'again'; afresh. |
| de novo | phrase | 'from the beginning'; afresh. |
| de trop | phrase | 'too much'; unwanted; in the way. |
| dealate | verb noun | rob or divest of wings. dealation |
| dealbation | noun | whitening. |
| deambulatory | noun | ambulatory; a. wandering. |
| deasil | verb | to move in a clockwise direction |
| debellate | verb noun | conquer. debellation, debellator |
| debenture | noun | official certificate of right to receive payment; bond; any company security other than shares. debenture stock, class of shares, holders of which are guaranteed repayment but cannot demand it until default or winding up of company. |
| debouch | verb noun | issue into open place; n. outlet. debouchment, noun act of debouching; river mouth. |
| debridement | noun | surgical removal of dead tissue from wound. |
| decad | noun | group of ten. decadal, adjective decade, noun period of ten years. |
| decadescent | adjective | tending to become decadent. |
| decadic | adjective | pertaining to decimal system. |
| decalcomania | noun | art of transferring a design from paper to another surface; transfer. |
| decalescence | noun | sudden increase at certain temperature in amount of heat absorbed. |
| decalvant | adjective | depilatory. |
| decameral | adjective | divided into ten. decamerous, adjective Botany, having parts in tens. |
| decapod | noun | ten-legged crustacean, including shrimps, lobsters, etc. decapodal, decapodan, decapodous, adjective |
| decarch | noun | member of decarchy; commander over ten. decarchy, noun rule by or ruling body of ten persons. |
| decarnate | adjective | divested of bodily form. |
| decastich | noun | ten-line poem. |
| decastyle | noun | portico with ten columns. |
| decatize | verb | cause to uncurl by steaming or damping. |
| decemvir | noun | member of decemvirate. decemviral, adjective decemvirate, noun ruling body of ten persons. |
| decimestrial | adjective | consisting of or lasting ten months. |
| declivity | noun | downward slope. declivitous, declivous, adjective |
| decoct | noun adjective | extract the essence of flavor of, as by boiling |
| decollate | verb | to behead |
| decompensation | noun | Medicine, inability of heart to maintain adequate circulation. |
| decorticate | verb noun adjective | divest of bark, peel, husk, skin, etc.; flay;, adj. lacking such outer layer. decortication, decorticator, n. |
| decrepitate | verb noun | v. make to crackle by roasting. decrepitation, n. |
| decrescent | adjective | v. make to crackle by roasting. decrepitation, n. |
| decretal | noun | decree, especially papal; a. pertaining to decree. decretist, noun student of decretals. decretive, decretory, adjective pertaining to or like a decree. |
| decrudescence | noun | diminution in disease. |
| decubitus | noun | act or attitude of lying down. decubital, adjective pertaining to or resulting from this. |
| decumbence, decumbency | noun | decubitus. decumbent, adjective decumbiture, noun confinement to bed. |
| decuple | adjective | tenfold; arranged in tens; n. such amount; v.i. & t. multiply by ten. |
| decurrent | adjective | running downwards; elapsing. decurrence, noun |
| decurtate | adjective | shortened; v.t. curtail. decurtation, noun |
| decurve | verb | curve downwards. decurvation, noun |
| decussate | verb | X-shaped; to make an x; intersect |
| dedition | noun | surrender. |
| defalcate | verb | to embezzle |
| defeneration | noun | usury |
| defenestration | noun | the act of throwing a thing or person out of a window |
| defervesce | verb noun | v. become cool; lose interest. defervescence, n. defervescent, adj. pertaining to or causing cooling; n. such drug. |
| defilade | noun | protection provided by obstacles or fortifications against enemy fire; v.t. arrange (fortifications) for this purpose. |
| definiendum | noun | (pl. -da) thing to be defined. |
| definiens | noun | (pl. -ientia ) something that defines. |
| deflagrate | verb noun | v. burn up suddenly. deflagration, deflagrator, n. |
| deflocculate | verb noun | v. disperse in fine particles. deflocculant, adj. & n. |
| defluent | adjective | flowing down. defluxion, noun discharge of mucus from nose. |
| dégagé | adjective | (fem. -ée) 'disengaged'; at ease; unworried. |
| deglutinate | verb noun | v. unstick; remove glue or gluten from. deglutination, n. |
| deglutition | noun | act or power of swallowing. deglutitious, adjective deglutitory, adjective aiding swallowing. |
| degrugger | noun | university degree, originally from Oxford |
| degust, degustate | verb noun | taste, savour. Degustation |
| dehiscent | adjective | gaping; discharging contents (e.g. seeds) by bursting open. dehiscence, noun |
| Dei gratia | phrase | 'by the grace of God' (abbreviation D.G.) |
| Dei judicium | phrase | 'judgement of God'; trial by ordeal. |
| deictic | adjective | directly proving or demonstrating; Linguistics, specifying the person, thing, etc., referred to. |
| deiparous | adjective | giving birth to god or Christ. |
| deipnosophist | noun | a skillful dinner conversationalist |
| deipotent | adjective | with god-like power. |
| deja lu | phrase | already read: a sense of familiarity or recognition in something read |
| dejecture | noun | excrement |
| delation | noun | laying information against a person. delator, noun informer. delatorian, adjective |
| delator | noun | an informer or accuser |
| delectation | noun | enjoyment. |
| delectus | noun | chrestomathy. |
| delendum | noun | (pl. -da) thing to be deleted. |
| deligation | noun | bandaging. |
| delignate | verb | v. remove wood or woody matter from. |
| deliquesce | verb | melt away; gradually dissolve |
| delirament | noun | raving; a foolish story |
| delitescent | adjective | hidden; inactive |
| deltiology | noun | hobby of collecting post-cards. |
| demegoric | adjective | pertaining to demagogic speech. |
| démenti | noun | official denial. |
| demephitize | verb | v. purify (air). demephitization, n. |
| demersal | adjective | sinking to bottom. demersion, noun |
| demesne | noun | estate; territory; unrestricted possession of land. demesnial, adjective |
| demi-monde | noun | class of women of doubtful reputation. demi-mondain, adjective demi-mondaine, noun woman of that class. |
| demit | verb | relinquish, abdicate. demission, noun |
| demiurge | noun | inferior god who created world; creative power or spirit. demiurgeous, demiurgic, adjective |
| demivierge | noun | woman who is sexually promiscuous but remains technically a virgin. |
| demogenic | adjective | applied to societies based on citizenship rather than kinship. |
| demonifuge | noun | charm against evil spirits. |
| demophil(e) | noun | friend of people; person fond of crowds or the masses. demophobe, noun person disliking the masses or crowds. |
| demophobe | noun | a people-hater |
| demulcent | adjective noun | soothing (substance) demulsify, v. extract from an emulsion. demulsion, noun soothing. |
| demurrage | noun | delay by charterer of a vehicle's or vessel's loading, departure, etc.; payment for such delay. demurrer, noun Law, objection to pleading. |
| denary | adjective | of ten; tenfold; decimal n. ten; group of ten; one tenth. |
| dendrachate | noun | moss agate. |
| dendral | adjective | living in trees; arboreal. dendriform, adjective tree-like; branched. |
| dendrochronology | noun | analysis of the annual rings of trees to date past events. |
| dendrograph | noun | instrument recording growth of tree's girth. dendrography, noun such recording; treatise on trees. |
| dendroid | adjective | tree-shaped. |
| dendrology | noun | study of or treatise on trees. dendrologic(al), dendrologous, adjective dendrologist, noun |
| dendrophilous | adjective | fond of or inhabiting trees. |
| denier | noun | originally a unit of weight (about 81/5 troy grains) of silk, rayon, nylon, etc.; later, an indication of the fineness of such yarns, the lower the denier number the finer the yarn. |
| denticle | noun | small tooth or tooth-like part. denticulated, adjective with small, tooth-like prominences. |
| dentigerous | adjective | bearing teeth. |
| dentil | noun | small rectangular block, one of a row used as ornamentation, especially beneath a cornice. |
| dentilingual | adjective noun | (sound) pronounced (as th) with tongue against teeth. |
| dentiloquist | noun | one who speaks with clenched teeth |
| dentinasal | adjective noun | (sound) pronounced (as n) with nasal passage open and tongue against upper teeth or teeth-ridge. |
| dentiphone | noun | audiphone. |
| denumeration | noun | Mathematics, determination of number of things able to fulfil certain conditions. denumerable, adjective countable. |
| Deo volente | phrase | 'God being willing' (abbreviation D.V.) |
| deobstruent | adjective noun | (medicine) removing obstacles; purgative. |
| deontology | noun | science of moral duty. deontological, adjective deontologist, noun |
| deoppilate | verb noun adjective | v. & t. remove obstructions (from). deoppilant, n. & a. deoppilation, n.deoppilative, adj. |
| deordination | noun | disorder; abnormality. |
| deorsumversion | noun | a turning downward |
| deosculate | verb | to kiss affectionately |
| depascent | adjective | eating. |
| dépaysé | adjective | (fem. -ée pron. same) 'away from natural country or environment'; lost; out of one's element. |
| depeculation | noun | an embezzling of public funds |
| dephlogisticate | verb | to make fireproof |
| depotentiate | verb noun | v. divest of power; weaken. depotentiation, n. |
| depredate | verb | plunder; ravage. depredation, noun |
| depurate | verb noun | v. purify. depurant, n. & a. depuration, n. depurative n. & a. |
| deracinate | verb | extirpate; eradicate; abolish completely |
| dermatoglyphics | noun | (study of) lines forming fingerprints and other skin patterns. dermatograph, noun fingerprint or other impression of skin markings. dermatography, noun description of skin. |
| dermatoid | adjective | skin-like. |
| dermatome | noun | instrument for cutting skin. dermatomic, adjective |
| dermographia, dermographism | noun | condition in which slight pressure, as of writing, on skin causes red mark. dermographic, adjective |
| dermoid | adjective | skin-like. |
| dernier cri | phrase | 'last cry'; latest fashion; newest discovery. |
| desacralize | verb | divest of supernatural qualities; remove taboo. desacralization, noun |
| descant | noun | a commenting or discussing at length, esp. withg reat interest or fervor |
| descry | verb | discern; detect. |
| desiderate | verb | desire strongly; regard as lacking. desideration, noun desiderative, adjective desideratum, noun (pl. desiderata) desired thing; condition; thing regarded as lacking. |
| desiderium | noun | yearning. |
| desidious | adjective | slothful |
| desinent(ial) | adjective | terminal. desinence, noun ending. |
| desipient | adjective | foolish, silly |
| desition | noun | ending; cessation. desistive, adjective final. |
| desman | noun | aquatic mole-like animal of Russia and Pyrenees; its fur. |
| desmid | noun | species of algae. desmidian, noun desmidiology, noun study of such. |
| desmoid | adjective | like a ligament. |
| desmology | noun | study of ligaments or bandaging. desmotomy, noun cutting or anatomy of ligaments. |
| despiteous | adjective | spiteful, malevolent. |
| despumate | verb | to skim; to take the scum off |
| desquamate | verb noun adjective | v. -i. peel off, or cause to peel off in scales. desquamation, n. desquamatory, adj. & n. desquamative, adj. |
| desucration | noun | removal of sugar. |
| detersion | noun | act of cleansing. detersive, noun & a. detergent. |
| detinue | noun | Law, illegal detention of another's personal property; writ for recovering such detained property. |
| detrude | verb | push down or out. |
| detrusion | noun | act of detruding. detrusive, adjective |
| deuterium | noun | heavy hydrogen, the oxide of which is heavy water used to slow down neutrons emitted in nuclear fission. |
| deuteropathy | noun | secondary illness. deuteropathic, adjective |
| deutoplasm | noun | yolk of egg. deutoplasmic, adjective |
| devenustate | verb | to deprive of beauty |
| devoir | noun | duty; best of which one is capable pl. respects; attentions; courtesy. |
| devorative | noun | capable of being swallowed whole |
| dextral | adjective | on right-hand side. dextrality, noun use of right limb, eye, etc., more than left. dextrally, adv. towards right-hand side. |
| dextrocardia | noun | condition in which the heart is on the right-hand side of the chest. |
| dextrocular | adjective | using right eye more than left. dextrocularity, noun |
| dextrogyratory | noun | turning to the right. dextrogyration, noun |
| dextrorotatory | adjective | turning to the right, especially turning plane of polarized light to right. dextrorotation, noun |
| dextrosinistral | adjective | extending to right and left; applied to the left-handed person using right hand for writing. |
| dextroversion | noun | turn to the right. |
| diabrosis | noun | perforation, especially by ulcer. diabrotic, noun & a. corrosive (thing). |
| diachronic | adjective | pertaining to the development of phenomena through time. diachrony, noun |
| diachylon | noun | kind of sticking plaster. |
| diaclasis | noun | fracture; refraction. diaclastic, adjective |
| diaconal | adjective | pertaining to deacon. diaconate, noun deacon's jurisdiction or office; the order of deacons. |
| diacope | noun | deep incision; the separation of a word by the interpolation of another or others, as in absogoddamlutely |
| diactinic | adjective | able to transmit actinic rays. diactinism, noun |
| diadem | noun | crown; fillet. |
| diadermic | adjective | pertaining to penetration through skin. |
| diadromous | adjective | migrating between fresh and salt water. |
| diagraph | noun | instrument for enlarging or reducing drawing, diagrams etc. |
| dialectic(s) | noun | art of logical and analytical argument. dialectical, adjective pertaining to or given to dialectic; logical. dialectician, noun person skilled in dialectic. |
| diallage | noun | concentration of several separate arguments upon a single point |
| diallelus | noun | (pl. -li ) arguing in a circle. |
| dialogue des sourds | phrase | dialogue of the deaf: a discussion in which the participants pay no attention to one another's argument |
| dialysis | noun | rational disposing of reasons for or against something; dismembering or reasoning away |
| diamesogamous | adjective | Botany, not self-pollinated. |
| diandrous | adjective | Botany, having two stamens. |
| dianoetic | adjective | pertaining to reasoning. dianoia, noun faculty of discursive reasoning. |
| diapason | noun | loud, harmonious burst of music; entire gamut or compass; principal organ-stop. |
| diaplasis | noun | (pl. -ses) setting of fractured or dislocated bone. |
| diapnoic | adjective noun | mild(ly) diaphoretic. |
| diapositive | noun | Photography, slide. |
| diapyesis | noun | discharge of pus. diapyetic, noun & a. |
| diarchy | noun | government by two rulers. diarchial, diarchic, adjective |
| diarthrosis | noun | joint permitting free movement. |
| diaskeuasis | noun | editorial revision |
| diastase | noun | digestive ferment converting starch into sugar. diastatic, adjective |
| diastasis | noun | separation of bones without fracture; final phase of heart dilation. |
| diastomatic | adjective | through pores. |
| diastrophe | noun | Geology, deformation, upheaval, etc., of earth's crust. diastrophic, adjective diastrophism, noun such geological process; result of diastrophe; any such process of upheaval or drastic change. |
| diasyrm | noun | rhetorical device of damning by faint praise. |
| diathermic | adjective | transmitting heat rays. diathermacy, diathermancy, diathermaneity, noun diathermanous, diathermous, adjective diathermotherapy, noun medical treatment by diathermy. diathermy, noun heating, by electrical means, of subcutaneous tissues; electric current used in diathermy. |
| diathesis | noun | (pl. -ses ) congenital susceptibility or aptitude; predisposing factor. diathetic,, adjective |
| diatyposis | noun | vivid presentation by means of exciting language |
| dicacity | noun | oral playfulness; talkativeness |
| dicaeology | noun | rhetorical device of defending oneself by pleading justification. |
| dicerous | adjective | having two antennae or horns. |
| dichaeologia | noun | a defense of failure or disgrace, as by blaming extenuating circumstances, inadequate help, or betrayalby friends |
| dichogamy | noun | coming to maturity at different times of male and female elements of plant or animal, to avoid self-fertilisation. dichogamic, dichogamous, adjective |
| dicotyledon | noun | plant having two cotyledons. dicotyledonary, dicotyledonous, adjective |
| dicrotic | adjective | (of the pulse) having a double beat. dicrotism, noun |
| dictum de dicto | phrase | saying from a saying: a secondhand report, hearsay |
| didascalic | adjective | didascalar |
| didelphian | adjective noun | marsupial. didelphic, didelphous, adjective |
| didicoy, diddicoy | noun | person who lives like a gypsy but is not a true Romany. |
| didymous, didymate | adjective | growing in pairs. |
| diectasis | noun | lengthening verse line by introducing extra syllable. |
| dieldrin | noun | a persistent chemical pesticide, generally forbidden in the U.K. since 1964. |
| dielectric | adjective noun | Electricity, non-conducting (substance). dielectrical, adjective |
| dies faustus | phrase | auspicious or favourable day'. dies infaustus, unlucky day'. |
| diffinity | noun | absence of affinity. |
| diffluent | adjective | flowing away or melting with ease. diffluence, noun |
| diffugient | adjective | dispersing. |
| digastric | adjective | biventral. |
| digenesis | noun | successive sexual and non-sexual reproduction. digenetic, adjective |
| digeny | noun | sexual reproduction. digenous, adjective |
| dight | verb | archaic, clad; v.t. clothe. |
| digitalis | noun | heart stimulant obtained from foxglove leaves. digitalism, noun condition due to over-use of this. |
| digitate | adjective | having or resembling fingers. digitation, noun |
| digitigrade | adjective | walking on toes only; n. such animal. |
| digladiation | noun | fight; dispute. |
| diglossia | noun | co-existence of a (in social and literary terms) higher and lower form of the same language. |
| diglot | noun | bilingual person |
| digoneutic | adjective | producing two broods in a year. |
| digonous | adjective | with two angles. |
| digraph | noun | two letters with one sound only (e.g. ph). digraphic, adjective |
| dihedral | noun | angle between an aircraft wing and the horizontal. |
| dilatory | adjective | procrastinating; slow. |
| dilogical | adjective | ambiguous; having a double meaning |
| dilogy | noun | intentional ambiguity; emphatic repetition of word, etc. |
| diluent | adjective noun | diluting (agent). |
| dimerous | adjective | arranged or divided in two parts. |
| dimidiate | verb | halve. dimidiation, noun |
| dimissory | adjective | giving permission to go; dismissing. |
| dinic(al) | adjective | pertaining to vertigo. |
| dioecious | adjective | having male and female organs in separate individuals. dioecism, noun |
| dioestrum | noun | period of sexual inactivity between 'heats'. dioestrous, adjective |
| dionym | noun | name containing two terms. dionymal, adjective binomial. |
| dioristically | adverb | in a distinguishing manner |
| diorthosis | noun | correction; straightening, especially of deformed limbs. diorthotic, adjective |
| diotic | adjective | affecting both ears. |
| diphyletic | adjective | descended from two genealogical lines. |
| diphyodont | adjective | having two successive sets of teeth. |
| diplasiasmus | noun | the incorrect doubling of a singgle [sic] letter |
| diplegia | noun | paralysis of corresponding parts on both sides of body. |
| diplocephalus | noun | double-headed monster. diplocephalous, adjective diplocephaly, noun |
| diploid | adjective | double, especially having double normal chromosome number. diploidy, noun such state. |
| diplopia | noun | double vision. diplopic,, adjective |
| dipnoous | adjective | having both lungs and gills. dipnoan, noun such fish; lungfish. |
| dipody | noun | verse measure of two feet; dimeter. |
| dippoldism | noun | beating or whipping school children |
| dipsetic | adjective noun | (thing) causing thirst. |
| dipsomania | noun | uncontrollable desire for drink, especially alcohol. dipsomaniac, noun sufferer from this. dipsomaniacal, adjective |
| dipsosis | noun | great thirst due to disease. |
| dipterous | adjective | having two wings. dipteral, a.; Architecture, having double colonnade. dipteran, noun such fly. dipterology, noun study of two-winged insects. |
| diptote | noun | Grammar, noun with two cases only. |
| directoire | adjective | signifying style of low-necked, high-waisted dress, and curving Oriental furniture, of the Directory period (179599) in France. |
| diremption | noun | a violent or final separation |
| dirigent | adjective | guiding. |
| dirigisme | noun | state control of economic and social affairs. dirigiste, adjective & n. |
| diriment | adjective | Law, nullifying, especially as regards impediments to marriage. |
| disagio | noun | charge made for exchanging depreciated or foreign money. |
| discalced | adjective | bare-foot. discalceate, noun & a. bare-foot (friar or nun). |
| discarnate | adjective | having no body;, v. deprive of bodily existence. |
| discept | verb noun | v. -i. discuss; dispute. disceptation, disceptator, n. |
| discerp | verb | tear off, or to pieces. discerptible, adjective discerption, noun |
| discinct | adjective | partly or loosely clad; having belt removed. |
| disembogue | verb | v. -i. debouch; discharge into sea, etc.; eject. |
| diseuse | noun | (masc. diseur ) reciter. |
| disgeneric | adjective | of different kind or genus. |
| disjecta membra | phrase | scattered members: disjointed quotations or fragments; verbal bits and pieces |
| disjection | noun | dispersion; scattering. |
| disomus | noun | (pl. -mi ) monster with two bodies. disomatous, adjective having two bodies. |
| dispendious | adjective | extravagant; costly. |
| dispermous | adjective | having two seeds. dispermy, noun union of two sperm cells and one ovum. |
| dissentaneous | adjective | disagreeable; negative |
| dissepiment | noun | partition, especially of tissue. dissepimental, adjective |
| dissilient | adjective | bursting open or apart. |
| dissimulate | verb | feign; pretend. dissimulation, noun dissimulative, adjective |
| distich | noun | verse couplet. distichous, adjective arranged in two rows. |
| distrain | verb | Law. seize goods in default of payment. distraint, noun |
| distrait | adjective | inattentive; abstracted. |
| dit | noun | 'said'; commonly known as; reputed to be. |
| dithecal | adjective | having two cells. dithecous, adjective |
| ditheism | noun | belief in two equal gods, especially one good and one evil. ditheist, noun ditheistic(al), adjective |
| dithyramb | noun | emotional speech or essay |
| dithyrambic | adjective | any wild, frenzied, or emotional speech or writing |
| ditokous | adjective | producing two offspring at a birth, or offspring of two kinds. |
| ditrichotomous | adjective | divided into two or three parts. |
| diuturnal | adjective | lasting long time. diuturnity, noun |
| divagate | verb | to wonder or stray; or digress; deviate |
| divaricate | verb noun | v. -i. bifurcate; a. wide-spreading. divarication, n. bifurcation; straddling; disagreement; ambiguity. |
| diversivolent | adjective | looking for trouble or an argument |
| diverticulum | noun | blind passage or branch; caecum. diverticular, adjective diverticulate, adjective having such. |
| divulse | verb | rend apart. divulsion, noun divulsive, adjective |
| dixi | phrase | 'I have spoken'; let that suffice or settle the matter. dixit, 'he has spoken'; person's statement, especially without corroboration. |
| dixit | noun | an unconfirmed, sometimes dogmatic statement |
| dizen | verb | dress in a gaudy fashion |
| do ut des | phrase | 'I give that you may give'; reciprocal agreement or concession. |
| docimasy | noun | experimental testing or inquiry. docimology, noun treatise on this, especially on assaying metals. docimastic, adjective |
| docta ignorantia | phrase | learned ignornace |
| dodecafid | adjective | divided into 12 parts. |
| dodecarch | noun | member of dodecarchy. dodecarchy, noun government by 12 persons. |
| dol | noun | basic and smallest unit for measuring the intensity of pain, equal to the faint sensation felt when heat rays are first applied to the skin. |
| dolabrate, dolabriform | adjective | shaped like axe-head. |
| dolce far niente | phrase | 'sweet to do nothing'; pleasant idling. |
| dolent | adjective | mournful. |
| dolichocephalic, dolichocephalous | adjective | long-headed; having skull of which maximum breadth is less than 80 per cent of maximum length. dolichocephalus n. (pl. -li ) such person. dolichocephaly, noun |
| dolichocercic | adjective | having long forearms. |
| dolichocnemic | adjective | having long legs. |
| dolichofacial | adjective | having long face. |
| dolichopodous | adjective | having long feet. |
| dolichoprosopic | adjective | having very long and narrow face. |
| dolioform | adjective | shaped like a barrel. |
| dolorific | adjective | causing sorrow or pain. |
| dolorifuge | noun | something that relieves sadness |
| dolorimetry | noun | measurement of pain. |
| dolus bonus | phrase | good deceit: in roman and civil law, permissible bargaining and cunning in selling, as in the case of amerchant's overpraising of his products |
| dolus malus | phrase | evil deceit: in roman and civil law, unlawful deceit or misrepresentation growing out of evil intentor malice |
| domatologist | noun | paid housekeeper |
| dominie | noun | school master; archaic () parson. |
| dop | noun | kind of coarse brandy; cup for holding diamond during cutting. |
| dormition | noun | act of falling asleep; death. dormitive, noun & a. soporific. |
| dormy, dormie | adjective | winning in golf by as many holes as remain to play. |
| dorsiventral, dorsoventral | adjective | having differentiated front and back, or upper and lower, surfaces. dorsiventrality, noun |
| doryphorus, doryphoros | noun | sculptured figure of spear-bearer. |
| dos-à-dos | adjective | back to back; n. such seat, etc. |
| dosimetry | noun | measurement of doses; medical system in which very few drugs in strictly regulated doses are prescribed. |
| dossal | noun | ornamental hanging at the back of an altar or the sides of the chancel. |
| dosser | noun | covering for the back of a throne; bag or basket carried on the back; a person who sleeps in dosshouses. |
| dotterel, dottrel | noun | several kinds of plover, including ringed plover. |
| dottle, dottel | noun | plug of tobacco left in a pipe after smoking. |
| douane | noun | customs house. douanier, noun customs official. |
| doublette | noun | artist's copy of own work. |
| douceur | noun | 'sweetness, sweetener'; bribe; gratuity; gentleness of manner. |
| doulocracy, dulocracy | noun | government by slaves. |
| doxastic | adjective | pertaining to opinion |
| dracone | noun | towed flexible container for transporting liquids by water. |
| dragoman | noun | (pl. -mans or - men) guide and interpreter. dragomanic, adjective |
| dragonnade | noun | cruel persecution; violent invasion or punitive expedition. |
| dree | verb | endure. |
| drepaniform | adjective | like a sickle in shape. drepanoid, adjective like a sickle. |
| droit | noun | 'right'; law; justice. droit du seigneur, feudal lord's right to enjoy female vassal on her wedding night. droitural, adjective pertaining to right to property. |
| dromic(al) | adjective | pertaining to foot-race course; Architecture, with long, narrow plan. |
| dromond | noun | large medieval sailing ship. |
| dromos | noun | avenue or entrance-way to a building; passage to a tomb; ancient Greek race course. |
| drosometer | noun | instrument measuring amount of dew. drosograph, noun such recording instrument. |
| droze | noun | to drip like a candle |
| drugget | noun | coarse cloth used especially as floor-covering. |
| drumlin | noun | long glacially-formed hill. |
| drysalter | noun | dealer in dried goods, foods, chemicals, etc. drysaltery, noun |
| dubiety | noun | doubt; doubtful matter. dubious, adjective doubtful; suspicious; questionable. dubiosity, noun dubitation, noun doubting; hesitation. dubitative, adjective signifying doubt. |
| Duecento | noun | the thirteenth century. |
| duenna | noun | chaperone; governess. |
| dulcify | verb | sweeten; mollify. dulcification, noun dulcigenic, adjective yielding sweetness. |
| dulia | noun | Roman Catholic, veneration accorded to saints. |
| dulosis | noun | enslavement, especially of certain ant species. dulotic, adjective |
| dumose, dumous | adjective | bushy. dumosity, noun |
| dunlin | noun | species of sandpiper. |
| dunnage | noun | packing material for protecting cargo. |
| duramen | noun | heartwood of tree. |
| durance | noun | imprisonment. |
| durity | noun | hardness. durometer, noun instrument measuring hardness. |
| dvandva | noun | a compound word, neither element of which is subordinated to the other, as bitter-sweet |
| dwaal | noun | state of befuddlement. |
| dwale | noun | deadly nightshade. |
| dwergmal | noun | echoes from rocks |
| dyarchy | noun | dual form of government. dyarchic(al), adjective |
| dygogram | noun | graph showing amount, at all positions, of deflection of compass due to iron of ship. |
| dysaesthesia | noun | loss of sense of touch. dysaesthetic, adjective |
| dysarthrosis | noun | diseased or abnormal condition of joint. |
| dyschroa, dyschroia | noun | skin discoloration. |
| dyschromatoptic | adjective | color-blind. dyschromatopsia, noun |
| dyscrasia | noun | Medicine, constitutional weakness. dyscrasic, adjective |
| dysergia | noun | deficient muscular co-ordination. |
| dyskinesia | noun | loss of power of voluntary movement. dyskinetic, adjective |
| dyslogia | noun | inability to express ideas in speech due to mental deficiency. |
| dyslogy | noun | unfavourable speech; censure. dyslogistic, adjective |
| dysmenorrhea | noun | painful menstruation. dysmenorrheal, adjective |
| dyspepsia | noun | severe indigestion, especially chronic. dyspeptic, a.; n. person suffering from this. |
| dysphagic | adjective | having difficulty in swallowing. dysphagia, noun |
| dysphasia | noun | impairment of speech co-ordination, due to brain disease or injury. dysphasic, adjective |
| dysphemia | noun | stammering. dysphemism, noun substitution of a derogatory or offensive word for an ordinary one; word so substituted. |
| dysphemism | noun | the use of a disparaging or disagreeable term asa substitute for a standard, inoffensive one, e.g. old ladyfor girlfriend; gratuitous derogatory expression |
| dysphonia | noun | inability to pronounce sounds, due to physical abnormality or disease. dysphonic, adjective |
| dysphoria | noun | generalized feeling of being ill or depressed. dysphoric, adjective |
| dyspnea | noun | difficult breathing. |
| dysteleology | noun | denial of a final cause or purpose of life. |
| dysthymia | noun | despondency. dysthymic, adjective |
| dystocia | noun | difficult childbirth. dystocial, adjective |
| eagre, eager | noun | tidal bore. |
| ebeneous | adjective | pertaining to or like ebony. ébéniste, noun cabinet-maker who veneers furniture; ebonist. ebonist, noun worker in ebony. |
| ebriection | noun | mental breakdown from too much boozing |
| ebriose | adjective | drunk. ebriosity, noun |
| ebrious | adjective | tending to overimbibe; slightly drunk |
| eburnean, eburneous | adjective | like, pertaining to or made of ivory. eburnated, adjective like ivory. eburnation, noun disease in which cartilage or bone becomes very hard and dense like ivory. |
| ecbatic | adjective | Grammar, signifying result without intention. |
| ecbolic | adjective noun | (drug) helping childbirth or causing abortion. |
| ecchymosis | noun | discolored spot due to effusion of blood into tissue. ecchymosed, adjective |
| ecclesiarch | noun | church ruler. ecclesiarchy, noun government by clerics. |
| ecclesiolatry | noun | an all-consuming devotion to the church |
| ecclesiology | noun | study of ecclesiastical art, decoration, etc. ecclesiological, adjective ecclesiologist, noun |
| eccoprotic | adjective noun | purgative. eccoprophoric, adjective like a purgative in action. |
| eccrinology | noun | study of excretion and secretion. eccritic, noun & a. purgative. |
| ecdemic | adjective | originating elsewhere; not endemic. |
| ecdemomania | noun | compulsive wandering |
| ecdysis | noun | moulting of outer skin, etc. |
| echinulate | adjective | having small spines. echinuliform, adjective like small spines. |
| echolalia | noun | habitual or pathological repitition of others' words or remarks |
| echometer | noun | device measuring the duration of sounds. |
| echopraxia | noun | habitual repetition of others' actions. |
| eclipsis | noun | omission of a grammatical element necessary to the full meaning of a sentence |
| ecmnesia | noun | loss of recent memory with retention of earlier memories |
| ecophobia | noun | dislike of home. |
| ecphonesis | noun | exclamation |
| ectasis | noun | dilatation. ectatic, adjective |
| ecthlipsis | noun | (pl. -ses) in Latin, omission of final m. |
| ecthyma | noun | skin eruption bearing several pustules. |
| ectobatic | adjective | efferent. |
| ectocranial | adjective | pertaining to exterior of skull. |
| ectoderm | noun | outermost membrane and tissue. ectodermal, ectodermic, adjective ectodermosis, noun disease of the ectoderm. |
| ectogenesis | noun | development outside body. ectogenic, ectogenous, adjective |
| ectomorph | noun | psychophysical type with long thin bones and large surface relative to weight, often inhibited and shy. ectomorphic, adjective ectomorphy, noun |
| ectoparasite | noun | parasite on surface of animals. ectophyte, noun such plant parasite. |
| ectorhinal | adjective | pertaining to exterior of nose. |
| ectozoon | noun | (pl. -zoa) external parasite. ectozoan, ectozoic, adjective |
| ectype | noun | copy; non-eternal being or idea. ectypography, noun etching in relief. |
| ecumenical | adjective | world-wide; pertaining to whole church. ecumenicalism, noun promotion of Christian unity. ecumenicity, noun |
| edacious | adjective | jocular, pertaining to eating; gluttonous. edacity, noun |
| edaphic | adjective | pertaining to or conditioned by soil; indigenous. edaphology, noun study of soils. edaphon, noun living organisms in soil. |
| edea | noun | the external genitals |
| edentate | adjective | belonging to the order including anteaters, armadillos, and sloths, lacking incisor and canine teeth. |
| edipol | noun | a mild oath |
| educe | verb | bring out, develop; elicit. educible, adjective educt, noun substance separated out unchanged from another decomposing substance. eduction, noun act of educing; exhaust stroke of steam or internal-combustion engine. eductive, adj. |
| edulcorate | verb | to sweeten or purify |
| eesome | adjective | pleasing to the eye |
| efferent | adjective | carrying away; conveying outwards; n. such nerve, blood-vessel, etc. |
| effictio | noun | personal description, as a head-to-foot catalogue of one's outward appearance |
| effiguration | noun | elaborate, detailed description of an object oran event |
| efflation | noun | an emanation; a puff |
| effleurage | noun | gentle stroking used in massage. |
| effloresce | verb noun adjective | v. -i. flower; burgeon; Chemistry, become powder when exposed to air; develop a powdery crust. efflorescence, n. efflorescent, adj. |
| effodient | adjective | burrowing. |
| effulgent | adjective | radiant; bright. effulgence, noun |
| egest | verb | excrete. egesta, n.pl. excrements. egestion, noun egestive, adjective |
| eidetic | adjective | (of visual etc. images) exceptionally vivid; n. person having very vivid mental pictures. |
| eidolon | noun | phantom. eidolic, adjective eidolism, noun belief in ghosts. eidolology, noun study of mental imagery. |
| eirenic, irenic | adjective | promoting peace. eirenicism, noun such state of mind. eirenicon, noun such act. eirenics, noun theology aiming at religious unity. |
| eirenicon | noun | a statement to bring into harmony or sythesize conflicting doctrines; articulated compromise or reconciliation |
| eisegesis | noun | incorrect explanation of text, especially of Bible, by distorting the meaning to fit preconceived ideas. eisegetical, adjective |
| ekistics | noun | scientific study of human settlements. |
| elaeometer | noun | device measuring the specific gravity of oils. |
| elaterid | noun | click beetle. elateroid, adjective |
| elaterium | noun | aperient extracted from a species of cucumber. |
| elaterometer | noun | instrument measuring pressure of gas. |
| eldritch | adjective | weird, eerie, ghastly, horrifying |
| elecampane | noun | large yellow-flowered plant, with root from which sweetmeat is made. |
| electret | noun | a non-conductor having permanent positive and negative poles, the electrostatic equivalent of a permanent magnet. |
| electrolier | noun | chandelier for electric lamps. |
| electromerism | noun | ionization of gases. |
| electromotive | adjective | pertaining to electric motion; causing electric current. electromotive force, amount of electric energy; voltage; potential (abbr. e.m.f.). |
| electrophorus | noun | (pl. -ri) instrument consisting of ebonite disc, electrified by friction, and metal plate in which positive electricity is induced from the disc. electrophoric, adjective |
| electropositive | adjective | positively charged; passing to cathode in electrolysis; basic; n. such substance. |
| electrotype | noun | plate for printing consisting of soft mould covered with metal electrolytically; v.i. & t. make electrotype (of). electrotypy, noun |
| electuary | noun | medical remedy in syrup. |
| eleemosynary | adjective | pertaining to charity; living on charity |
| elegiac | noun | Prosody, verse line of five dactyls with marked caesura; a. pertaining to or written in such verse line; mournful. elegiac couplet, dactylic hexameter followed by dactylic pentameter. elegiacs, noun verses written in elegaic metre or couplets. elegy, noun |
| elenchus | noun | a refutation of an opponent's conclusion, esp. througha syllogistic proof of an alternative conclusion |
| eleutheromania | noun | strong desire for freedom. eleutheromaniac, noun & a. |
| elide | verb | Phonetics. suppress or omit in pronunciation. elision, noun |
| éloge | noun | eulogy; laudatory funeral oration. |
| eluant, eluent | noun | solvent used in elution. eluate, noun solution resulting from elution. |
| elucubrate | verb | to work studiously |
| elumbated | adjective | weak in the loins |
| elute | verb | wash out; purify or separate by washing. elution, elutor, noun elutriate, v. purify by washing and straining. elutriation, elutriator, noun |
| eluvium | noun | detritus from weathering of rock. eluvial, adjective |
| elydoric | adjective | with both oil and water colors. |
| elytron, elytrum | noun | (pl. -ra) insect's hardened forewing, forming case for hind wing. elytral, adjective elytriferous, elytrigerous, adjective bearing elytra. elytriform, adjective like elytra. |
| emarcid | adjective | wilted. |
| emarginate | adjective | having notched edges. emargination, noun |
| emblic | adjective | kind of myrobalan. |
| embolalia | noun | the use of virtually meaningless filler words, phrases, or stammerings in speech, whether as unconscious utterings while arranging one's thoughts or as a vacuous, inexpressive mannerism |
| embonpoint | noun | corpulence. |
| embouchement | noun | opening of passage. embouchure, noun river mouth; mouthpiece; placing of lips, etc., about mouthpiece of musical instrument. |
| embow | verb | arch, vault. embowed, adjective |
| embracery | noun | Law, offence of attempting to influence a jury or juror. embrace, v. embracer, noun |
| embranchment | noun | branching out; branch, ramification. |
| embrangle | verb | confuse, perplex. |
| embrasure | noun | loophole in fortifications; window-opening with slanted sides. |
| embrocation | noun | lubricating or rubbing the body with liniment,oil, etc. |
| embulalia | noun | inserting of nonsense into speech, as inschizophrenia |
| emenctae naris | phrase | of a wiped nose: of matured judgment; of nice discernment |
| emiction | noun | urination; urine. emictory, noun & a. (drug) promoting urination. |
| emmenagogue | noun | drug aiding menstruation. emmenagogic, adjective emmeniopathy, noun menstruation disorder. emmenology, noun study of menstruation. |
| emmenology | noun | the study of menstruation |
| emmetropia | noun | perfect refraction of eye. emmetropic, adjective |
| emolument | noun | salary; profit. |
| empaestic, empaistic | adjective | embossed. |
| empasm | noun | scented powder concealing odour of perspiration. |
| empennage | noun | tail assembly of an aircraft. |
| emphractic | adjective noun | (substance) closing skin pores. emphraxia, emphraxis, noun obstruction, especially of pores. |
| emphysema | noun | Medicine, swollen state of tissue due to air or gas, especially in lungs. emphysematous, adjective so swollen; bloated; bladderlike. |
| emphyteusis | noun | contract granting possession of land for long period on certain conditions. emphyteutic, adjective |
| empleomania | noun | a mania for holding public office |
| emporeutic, emporetic | adjective | pertaining to trade; n. merchandise. |
| empressé | adjective | (fem. -ée pron. same) in haste; eager. empressement, noun show of affection. |
| empressement | noun | extreme politeness |
| emption | noun | buying. |
| empyema | noun | (pl. -ta) collection of pus in body cavity, especially in pleural cavity. empyemic, adjective |
| empyrean | adjective noun | (pertaining to) the sky; heaven. empyreal, adjective |
| emulgent | adjective | draining; purifying; pertaining to kidneys; n. drug stimulating bile. |
| emunctory | adjective noun | excretory (organ). |
| en clair | phrase | in plain, uncoded language, as in unclassified military communication |
| enallage | noun | Grammar, exchange of part of speech, gender, tense, etc., for another. |
| enantiomorph | noun | either of a pair of asymmetric figures that are mirror images of each other, e.g. a pair of hands. |
| enantiosis | noun | rhetorical device of ironically stating the opposite of what is meant. |
| enarthrosis | noun | ball-and-socket joint. |
| enate | adjective | growing out; n. relation on mother's side. enatic, adjective related on mother's side; having same mother. enation, noun outgrowth; enatic relationship. |
| encaenia | noun | festival commemorating dedication or foundation. |
| encaustic | adjective | burnt in; n. painting with wax colors fixed by heat. |
| enceinte | adjective | pregnant; n. fortification enclosing fortress or town; cathedral close. |
| encephalon | noun | (pl. -la) the brain. encephalograph, noun X- ray photograph of brain. encephaloid, adjective brain-like. encephaloma, noun brain tumour. |
| enchiridion | noun | a manual or handbook |
| enchorial | adjective | native, endemic |
| enchylema | noun | fluid part of protoplasm. enchylematous, adjective |
| enclitic | adjective | dependent, especially of word or particle attached to preceding word in pronunciation; n. such word or particle. enclisis, noun pronunciation of enclitic word. |
| encomic | adjective | applied to closely curled woolly hair. |
| encomium | noun | (pl. -ia) eulogy. encomiast, noun composer of such. encomiastic, adjective |
| endeictic | adjective | demonstrating. |
| endermic | adjective | acting by absorption through the skin. |
| endiablee | verb | to put the devil into |
| endocardium | noun | membrane lining heart cavities. endocardiac, endocardial, adjective endocarditis, noun inflammation of this. |
| endogamy | noun | marriage to person of same tribe only. endogamic, endogamous, adjective |
| endogeny | noun | growth from within. endogenesis, noun endogeny. endogenetic, endogenic, adjective produced internally; pertaining to geological processes occurring within earth. endogenous, adjective developing or originating within. |
| endophagy | noun | cannibalism among members of same tribe; erosion of internal tissue. |
| endophasia | noun | internalized, inaudible speech. |
| endophyte | noun | endoparasitic plant. endophytic, adjective |
| endosmosis | noun | movement of substance into organ from surrounding fluid. |
| endothermy | noun | surgical introduction of electric needle or knife into tissues to produce heat. endothermic, endothermous, adjective pertaining to absorption of heat. |
| energumen | noun | person possessed by evil spirit; fanatic. |
| enervate | verb | weaken. enervation, enervator, noun enervative, adjective |
| enfleurage | noun | exposure of oils to scent of fresh flowers in perfume-making. |
| engastration | noun | the stuffing of one bird inside another |
| engrail | verb | decorate with curved notches; give serrated appearance to. |
| enissophobia | noun | fear of being reproached |
| enjambement | noun | running-over of sense or sentence from one verse line to next. |
| ennead | noun | set of nine. enneadic, adjective |
| enneaeteric | adjective | happening every ninth year. |
| enneagon | noun | nine-sided plane figure. enneagonal,, adjective |
| enneahedron | noun | nine-sided solid figure. enneahedral, adjective |
| enneatic | adjective | occurring once every nine times, days, years, etc. |
| enosiophobia | noun | fear of having committed an unpardonable sin |
| enphytotic | adjective | endemic (disease) of plants. |
| ensate, ensiform | adjective | sword-shaped. |
| ensynopticity | noun | the ability of taking a general view of something |
| entablement | noun | platform of a pedestal, supporting a statue. |
| entelechy | noun | Philosophy, perfect realization of end or cause. |
| enteric | adjective | pertaining to intestines; n. typhoid fever. enteritis, noun inflammation of intestines. enterography, noun description of intestines. enteroptosis, noun dropping and protrusion of intestines. |
| entheomania | noun | an abnormal state in which one thinks oneis inspired |
| enthetic | adjective | (especially of infectious disease) introduced into the body from without. |
| enthymeme | noun | an argument or formulated conclusion in which a premise is understood but not stated, whether in reasoning, advertising, or humor |
| entify | verb | make or regard as separate substance or entity. entifical, adjective entification, noun |
| entitative | adjective | regarded as entity alone, apart from attendant circumstances. |
| entomophagous | adjective | feeding on insects. entomophilous, adjective pollinated by insects. |
| entophyte | noun | parasitic plant living within another plant or animal. entophytal, entophytic, entophytous, adjective |
| entopic | adjective | Anatomy, in the normal position. |
| entoptic | adjective | pertaining to interior of eyeball. entotic, adjective pertaining to interior of ear. |
| entozoon | noun | (pl. -zoa) internal parasite. entozoal, adjective entozoan, noun & a. entozoology, noun study of these. |
| entre nous | adverb | 'between ourselves'. |
| entrechat | noun | dancer's leap in which legs are quickly crossed or heels tapped. |
| entrepôt | noun | warehouse; importing for re-export. |
| entresol | noun | mezzanine floor. |
| enuresis | noun | inability to control urination; urine discharged involuntarily. |
| enzootic | adjective noun | (disease) attacking animals. |
| eo ipso | phrase | by it itself: by that fact alone |
| eoan | adjective | of dawn or east. |
| eonism | noun | adoption of opposite sex's manners, clothes and mentality, especially by a man. eonist, noun transvestite. |
| eosophobia | noun | depression caused by fear of dawn |
| epact | noun | difference, represented by a number, between solar and lunar year, or calendar and lunar month; age of moon at start of calendar year. epactal, adjective intercalary. |
| epagoge | noun | inductive reasoning. epagogic, adjective |
| epanadiplosis | noun | Rhetoric, repetition at end of sentence of word used at beginning. |
| epanalepsis | noun | Rhetoric, repetition. epanaleptic, adjective |
| epanodos | noun | Rhetoric, return to theme from digression; repetition (of sentence) in reverse order. |
| epanorthosis | noun | correcting or retracting a statement even while making it, or thinking better of what one has begun to say |
| epeiric | adjective | (of sea) within the continental shelf. |
| epeirogeny | noun | geological formation of continents, oceans, etc. epeirogenic, adjective |
| epenthesis | noun | (pl. -ses ) introduction of sound into word; removal of vowel into preceding syllable. epenthesize, v. epenthetic, adjective |
| epenthis | noun | insertion of a letter or syllable into a word for pronunciation ease |
| epergne | noun | central ornament on table. |
| epexegetic | adjective | providing additional explanation or clarification |
| ephebic | adjective | of a youth just entering manhood |
| ephectic | adjective | habitually suspending judgment. |
| ephelis | noun | (pl. -lides, ) freckle. |
| ephemeromorph | noun | lower forms of life that defy animal orvegetable classification |
| ephemeron | noun | (pl. -ra) thing, especially insect, living for a day only. ephemeral, ephemerous, adjective short- lived. ephemerid, noun may-fly. ephemeris, noun (pl. - rides, almanac showing daily positions of heavenly bodies. |
| ephod | noun | garment of Jewish priest. |
| ephor | noun | magistrate of Sparta. ephoral, ephoric, adjective ephorate, noun office of ephor; whole body of ephors. |
| epicaricacy | noun | taking pleasure in others' misfortune |
| epicedium | noun | (pl. -ia) elegy; dirge. epicedial, adjective |
| epicene | adjective | 1. effeminate, unmanly 2. belonging to or partaking of the characteristics of both sexes |
| epichorial | adjective | belonging to a particular area. epichoric, epichoristic, adjective |
| epicolic | adjective | applied to lower abdomen lying over the colon. |
| epicrisis | verb | praising or disparaging by paraphrasing or citing somebody else |
| epicritic | adjective | responding to small variations in temperature and touch. |
| epideictic | noun | for rhetorical or impressive effect; demonstrative or dramatic |
| epideictic(al) | adjective | displaying. |
| epidiascope | noun | projector for use with opaque as well as translucent objects. |
| epididymis | noun | (pl. -didymides ) convoluted duct at rear of testicle storing sperm. |
| epigamic | adjective | attracting opposite sex at breeding time. |
| epigastrium | noun | part of abdomen lying over the stomach. epigastrial, epigastric, adjective |
| epigeal, epigean, epigeous | adjective | living or growing near the ground. |
| epigenesis | noun | biological theory of the development of the embryo, through progressive differentiation of originally undifferentiated cells. epigenetic, adjective epigenist, epigenesist, noun |
| epigenous | adjective | growing on the (upper) surface of an organism. |
| epigone, epigon | noun | disciple, follower, imitator, especially in later generation. |
| epigones | noun | followers who are less gifted, lesser lights, inferior imitators |
| epilate | verb | remove (hair). epilation, noun |
| epilegomenon | noun | an added remark |
| epimorphic | adjective | passing several stages of growth in same form, especially of segmented insects. epimorphosis, noun |
| epimyth | noun | moral of story. |
| epinician | adjective | in celebration of victory. epinicion, noun song of victory or triumph. |
| epipastic | noun | medical dusting powder. |
| epiphenomenon | noun | secondary phenomenon associated with and apparently due to another. epiphenomenal, adjective |
| epiphora | noun | watering of eyes. |
| epiphoric | adjective | pertaining to a torrent of tears |
| epiphysis | noun | (pl. -ses ) separately ossified portion of bone, joining to main portion later. epiphysis cerebri, pineal body. epiphysary, epiphyseal, adjective |
| epiplexis | noun | asking a question as a form of reproach, or arguing that a sensible person must surely see the truth |
| epiplexis | noun | Rhetoric, reproof. epiplectic, adjective |
| epiploce | noun | rhetorical crescendo. |
| epipolism | noun | fluorescence. epipolic, adjective epipolize, v. |
| epipterous | adjective | Botany, having wings or wing-like projections at apex. |
| episcopicide | noun | the killing of a bishop |
| episematic | adjective | (of coloration) assisting recognition between members of same species. |
| epispastic | adjective noun | (substance) causing blister as medical remedy. |
| epistaxis | noun | nose-bleeding. |
| epistemophilia | noun | abnormal preoccupation with knowledge |
| epistrophe | noun | Rhetoric, repetition of same phrase at end of successive sentences. epistropheal, epistrophic, adjective |
| epitasis | noun | part of drama in which action is developed; crisis of disease. |
| epithymetic | adjective | pertaining to appetite, sexual and otherwise |
| epitimesis | noun | adverse criticism; reproof. |
| epitonic | adjective | subjected to too great strain. |
| epitrope | noun | conceding a point in an argument in such a qualified or ironic way as to make it seem unimportant or injurious to one's opponent, or to make one's opponent the butt of ridicule |
| epizeuxis | noun | emphatic verbal repitition |
| epizeuxis | noun | repetition for emphasis. |
| epizoon | noun | (pl. -zoa) external parasite. epizoan, noun & a. epizoic, adjective |
| epizootic | adjective noun | (disease) epidemic among animals. |
| epopee | noun | epic poem or poetry. epopean, adjective epopoeist, noun writer of epics. |
| epopt | noun | person initiated into mysteries. epoptic, adjective |
| epos | noun | epic poem or poetry; collection of lays dealing with same theme. |
| epulary | adjective | pertaining to banquet. epulation, noun |
| epulosis | noun | formation of scar. epulotic(al), noun & a. (substance) aiding epulosis. |
| equilibrist | noun | person who performs feats of balancing, tight-rope walker. |
| equiparent | adjective | having same mutual relationship. equiparate, v. level; equalize. |
| equipoise | noun | state of equilibrium; counterpoise; v.t. counterpoise. |
| equipollent | adjective | having equal force or power; having same meaning though differently expressed. equipollence, equipollency, noun |
| equiponderate | verb | be equal in power, force, importance etc.; counterbalance. equiponderance, noun equiponderant, adjective |
| equitation | noun | horse-riding. equitative, adjective |
| equivoque | noun | an ambiguous statement or passage, often intentionally evasive or phrased to have two possible interpretations |
| equivorous | adjective | eating horse-flesh. |
| erectarine | noun | crude rhythm instrument consisting of a mop handle with bottle caps |
| eremic | adjective | pertaining to sandy desert. |
| eremite | noun | hermit. eremitage, noun eremitic(al), adjective |
| eremology | noun | study of deserts. eremophyte, noun plant living in desert. |
| ereption | noun | the act of snatching away |
| erethism | noun | excessive irritability or excitability |
| ergograph | noun | instrument measuring work involved in contracting a muscle. ergology, noun study of work's effect on mind and body. ergonomics, noun scientific study of work conditions, equipment and operations, to promote efficiency. ergophile, noun lover of work. ergophobia, noun hatred of work. |
| ergoism | noun | fussy adherence to logical protocols or forms |
| ergosterol | noun | chemical substance in the body developing into vitamin D on exposure to sunlight. |
| ericaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like heath plant; belonging to the heath family of plants. ericetal, adjective composed of heath plants. ericeticolous, adjective living on heaths. ericineous, adjective ericaceous. ericoid, adjective like a heath plant. ericophyte, noun plant growing on heaths. |
| erigible | adjective | capable of being erected |
| erinaceous | adjective | pertaining to the hedgehog |
| eriometer | noun | optical instrument for measuring the diameters of fibres or particles by the diffraction of light. |
| eriophyllous | adjective | with woolly leaves. |
| eristic | adjective | pertaining to dispute or argument. |
| erogenesis | noun | production of sexual desire. erogeneity, noun erogenetic, erogenic, erogenous, adjective |
| erotesis | noun | rhetorical questioning. erotetic, adjective |
| erotographomania | noun | mania for writing love letters |
| erotology | noun | the description of methods of lovemaking; the science of love |
| erotomania | noun | abnormally strong sexual desire. erotomaniac, noun & a. |
| errabund | noun | wandering; erratic |
| errhine | adjective noun | (substance) causing sneezing. |
| erubescent | adjective | becoming red. erubescence, noun |
| eruca | noun | (pl. -ae) caterpillar. eruciform, adjective caterpillar-like. erucivorous, adjective feeding on caterpillars. |
| eructation | noun | the action of voiding wind from the stomach through the mouth; belching |
| erumpent | adjective | bursting forth. |
| erysipelas | noun | disease marked by fever and inflammation of skin, especially of face; St. Anthony's fire. erysipelatoid, erysipelatous, adjective like erysipelas. erysipeloid, noun non-febrile disease resembling erysipelas. |
| erythema | noun | inflammatory redness of skin. erythemic, erythematous, erythematic, adjective |
| erythraean, erythrean | adjective | red. erythraemia, noun excessive production of red blood corpuscles. erythrism, erythrochroism, noun excessive redness of hair, etc. erythrocyte, noun red blood corpuscle. erythrodermia, noun reddening of skin. erythroid, adjective reddish. erythrophobia, noun fear of red light, or of blushing. erythropia, erythropsia, noun seeing all objects red. |
| escalier | noun | staircase. escalier dérobé, secret or back stairs. |
| eschar | noun | scab. escharoticm, noun & a. caustic (substance). |
| eschrolalia | noun | dirty (fecal) language |
| escritoire | noun | writing-table. escritorial, adjective |
| esculent | adjective noun | edible (thing). |
| esemplastic | adjective | forming, by imagination, disparate partsinto a whole; aesthetically unifying |
| esodic | adjective | afferent. |
| esotropia | noun | convergent squint. esotrope, noun person having this. esotropic, adjective |
| espalier | noun | lattice, especially for trained fruit tree; such tree. |
| espièglerie | noun | mischievousness; mischievous trick. |
| esprit de l'escalier | phrase | wishful thinking of a witty comment or retort that one should have made earlier; hindsight wit |
| essorant | adjective | soaring. |
| estivate | verb | to spend the summer |
| estop | verb | Law, preclude, especially by estoppel. estoppage, estoppel, noun principle preventing a person denying a fact he/she has previously alleged to be true. |
| estrapade | noun | a horse's attempt to dump its rider |
| estreat | verb | Law, extract from court's records in order to prosecute; n. copy or extract of record, especially of fines, etc. |
| esurient | adjective | hungry greedy; avaricious; covetous |
| etat present | phrase | an exhaustive summary of up-to-date knowledge about a subject, as opposed to new information or original thought |
| etesian | adjective | occurring annually or periodically, especially such Mediterranean north wind in summer. |
| ethmoid | adjective | pertaining to bones forming nasal cavity and division between nostrils; of the nasal area; n. such bone. ethmoidal, adjective |
| etiolate | verb | make pale or sickly, especially by depriving of light. etiolated, adjective etiolation, noun |
| etui | noun | needle-case; small case for toilet articles, etc. |
| euchology | noun | prayer-book. euchological, adjective |
| eucrasy, eucrasia | noun | state of general good health. |
| eudaemonia | noun | true happiness |
| eudemon | noun | good spirit. eudemonic, adjective causing happiness; pertaining to eudemonism. eudemonics, noun conduct based on eudemonism; art of being happy. eudemonism, noun philosophical theory that happiness is ultimate moral good and criterion. |
| eudiaphoresis | noun | normal perspiration. |
| eudiometer | noun | instrument measuring and analysing gases and purity of air. eudiometric(al), adjective eudiometry, noun |
| eudipleural | adjective | bilaterally symmetrical. |
| eugenesis | noun | fertility between hybrids. eugenesic, eugenetic, adjective |
| euhemerism | noun | belief that mythological gods were deified early heroes. euhemerist, noun euhemeristic, adjective |
| eumenorrhea | noun | normal menstruation. |
| eumerism | noun | collection of similar parts. eumeristic, adjective |
| eumoirous | adjective | someone who is lucky or happy as a result of being good |
| eumorphous | adjective | well-formed |
| euneirophrenia | noun | peace of mind after a pleasant dream |
| eunomy | noun | state of orderliness and good rule. |
| eupathy | noun | state of contentment and moderation. |
| eupatrid | noun | aristocrat, especially of ancient Greece. |
| eupeptic | adjective | having good digestion. eupepsia, noun |
| euphelicia | noun | healthiness resulting from having all one's wishes granted |
| euphenics | noun | biological improvement of human beings after birth. |
| euphrasy | noun | eyebright plant. |
| euphuism | noun | affected style of writing full of high-flown language and far- fetched metaphors, especially in imitation of Lyly's Euphues (157980). euphuist, noun writer of such style. euphuistic, adjective |
| euphuistic | adjective | displaying excessive elegance of language; high-flown and affected diction |
| eupnea | noun | normal breathing. |
| eupraxia | noun | correct or normal action. eupractic, adjective |
| euripus | noun | (pl. -pi ) narrow channel with swift currents. |
| eustatic | adjective | pertaining to worldwide changes in sea-level. eustasy, noun |
| eusystolism | noun | the use of initials, instead of full words,in the interests of delicacy, e.g. sob |
| eutaxy | noun | orderly management. eutaxic, adjective |
| eutectic | adjective noun | (alloy) having lowest possible melting point. eutexia, noun state of having low melting point. |
| euthenics | noun | study of improvement of human conditions of life, especially to increase efficiency. euthenist n. |
| euthermic | adjective | producing warmth. |
| euthymia | noun | mental tranquility |
| eutony | noun | pleasantness of sound of word. |
| eutrophy | noun | state of being well nourished; (of area of water) state of being over-rich in organic and mineral nutrients which promote plant life at the expense of animal life. eutrophic, a.; n. tonic. eutrophication, noun process of becoming eutrophic, especially owing to pollution. |
| eutropic | adjective | turning with sun. |
| evaginate | verb | turn inside out; protrude by so turning; a. evaginated. evagination, noun |
| evection | noun | alteration in moon's orbit caused by solar attraction. evectional, adjective |
| eventerate | verb | to rip open; to open by ripping the belly |
| eventration | noun | protrusion of intestines from abdomen; dropped state of abdomen; evisceration. |
| evulgate | verb | make widely known. evulgation, noun |
| evulsion | noun | act of uprooting or tearing out. evulsive, adjective |
| ex concesso | phrase | reasoning on the basis of an opponent's premiseor admission of something |
| ex professo | phrase | expressly or avowedly |
| exallotriote | adjective | foreign. |
| exanthema | noun | (pl. -ta) (disease marked by) eruptions or rash, as measles. exanthematic, exanthematous, adjective |
| exarch | noun | viceroy; travelling bishop of E Church. exarchal, adjective exarchate, noun office or jurisdiction of exarch. |
| exarticulate | verb | dislocate; cut off at joint. exarticulation, noun |
| exaugurate | verb | to secularize; to desecrate |
| excalation | noun | omission or loss of part or unit from series. |
| excaudate | adjective | tailless. |
| excerebrose | adjective | having no brains |
| exclave | noun | part of a country surrounded by foreign territory. |
| excogitate | verb | think up, devise; think out. excogitation, noun excogitative, adjective |
| excrescent | adjective | constituting an excess; superfluous; supernumerary |
| excrescent | adjective | growing out from main body; redundant. excrescential, adjective excrescence, noun such thing. |
| excursus | noun | lengthy discussion, especially appended to book; digression. excursive, adjective digressive, rambling. |
| exeat | noun | 'let him go out'; permission to be absent or late. |
| execrate | verb | curse; loathe. execrable, adjective loathsome. execration, noun execrative, execratory, adjective |
| execration | noun | contemptuous denunciation; express loathing;a curse |
| exemplum | noun | a brief tale or anecdote offered to bolster an argument or suggest a moral, as in a medieval sermon |
| exenterate | verb | to literally or figuratively disembowel |
| exequatur | noun | document recognizing foreign consular officer, or permitting Roman Catholic bishops to rule their church and publish papal bulls. |
| exercitor | noun | person having right to ship's profits. exercitorial, adjective |
| exergasia | noun | repeating a point by using different figures of speech to give the impression of saying something new |
| exergue | noun | space at base of figure on coin containing date. exergual, adjective |
| exheredate | verb | disinherit. exheredation, noun |
| exigent | adjective | exacting; urgent. exigible a. chargeable. exigence, exigency, noun urgent need or requirement; necessary condition. |
| exiguous | adjective | sparse; slender. exiguity, noun |
| eximious | adjective | select; excellent. |
| exocentric | adjective | (of a phrase) having a different grammatical function from any of its constituent words. |
| exocrine | adjective | secreting externally. |
| exoculate | verb | to poke out one's eyes |
| exodontia | noun | teeth extraction. exodontist, noun |
| exodromy | noun | stabilizing movement of exchange. exodromic, adjective |
| exogamy | noun | marriage to person not of same tribe, family, etc., only. exogamic, exogamous, adjective |
| exogenous | adjective | growing or originating from outside, or due to external factors. exogenetic, exogenic, adjective |
| exopathic | adjective | Medicine, due to external causes. |
| exophagy | noun | cannibalism outside tribe or family. exophagous, adjective |
| exophthalmic | adjective | pertaining to or marked by protrusion of eyeball. exophthalmos, exophthalmus, noun such condition. |
| exoptable | adjective | extremely desirable |
| exordium | noun | (pl. -ia) opening portion of speech or writing. exordial, adjective |
| exosculate | verb | the kiss, esp. heartily |
| exoteric | adjective | popular; capable of being understood by uninitiated; n. uninitiated person. exotericism, noun |
| exotropia | noun | outward squint. |
| expatiate | verb noun adjective | v. -i. speak or write at length. expatiation, n. expatiatory, adj. |
| expergefacient | adjective | awakening. expergefaction, noun |
| expergefaction | noun | an awakening |
| expiscate | verb | to examine or discover skillfully |
| explaterate | verb | to blab, gab, or run off at the mouth |
| explicandum | noun | (pl. -da) Philosophy, thing, e.g. term, to be explained. explicans, noun thing or part that explains or gives the meaning. |
| expromissor | noun | person relieving another of debt by taking it upon himself. expromission, noun |
| expugnable | adjective | capable of being captured by storm. |
| exsanguine | adjective | lacking blood. exsanguinate, v. drain blood from. exsanguineous, exsanguinious, exsanguinous, adjective |
| exscind | verb | cut out; uproot. |
| exsert | verb | thrust out. exserted, adjective protruding. |
| exsibilate | verb | to reject with a hissing sound |
| exsiccate | verb | desiccate. exsiccation, exsiccator, noun exsiccative, adjective |
| exstrophy | noun | Medicine, having organ especially bladder, turned inside out. |
| exsuccous | adjective | lacking sap. |
| exsufflate | verb | blow away. exsufflation, noun blowing out; forced breathing. |
| extirpate | verb | to pull out by roots |
| extramundane | adjective | outside the known world or universe. |
| extramural | adjective | outside the walls or fortifications; outside, but under the aegis of, a university or other institution. |
| extravasate | verb | flow or filter out; expel from a vessel, especially blood; pour out; n. such fluid. extravasation, noun |
| extrorse | adjective | facing away or out. |
| exuviae | noun | pl. cast-off skin, etc., of animal. exuviable, exuvial, adjective exuviate, v.i. & t. slough; shed. |
| eyot | noun | little island |
| fabaceous | adjective | like a bean. |
| fabiform | adjective | bean-shaped. |
| fabulist | noun | recounter of fables; liar. |
| facies | noun | Medicine, facial expression, as symptom; general aspect or appearance. |
| facinorous | adjective | extremely wicked; depraved; infamous |
| facon de parler | phrase | way of speaking: manner of expression |
| factice | noun | vulcanized oil, used as substitute for rubber. |
| factitious | adjective | artificial; spurious. |
| facula | noun | small bright patch on sun |
| facundity | noun | eloquence |
| fadaise | noun | an obvious or silly remark |
| faex | noun | dregs. faex populi, the rabble. |
| fagaceous | adjective | belonging to beech family of trees. |
| faience | noun | glazed decorative earthenware. |
| faineant | adjective | lazy, indolent |
| falcate | adjective | sickle-shaped. |
| falchion | noun | broad curved sword. |
| faldstool | noun | prayer desk; bishop's round armless chair. |
| falsidical | adjective | giving false impression. |
| famicide | noun | a slanderer; a destroyer of one's reputation |
| fanfaronade | noun | boasting; bluster; blast on trumpets. |
| fanion | noun | small marking flag. |
| farctate | adjective | full; crammed; plethoric |
| farcy | noun | disease affecting lymphatic glands of horses and cattle. |
| fard | verb | to put on makeup, to fard your face |
| fardel | noun | cumbersome bundle |
| farina | noun | flour or meal of cereals, nuts, etc. farinaceous, adjective like or consisting of flour. farinose, adjective like or yielding flour; mealy. |
| farobank | noun | establishment where the gambling game of faro is played |
| farouche | adjective | wild; gauche; shy. |
| farrago | noun | a mixture of diverse objects, hodgepodge |
| farrier | noun | horse-shoeing smith. farriery, noun art or place of shoeing horses. |
| farrow | verb | give birth (of pigs); n. act of giving birth to pigs; litter. |
| fasces | noun | bundle of rods with an axe carried before ancient Roman magistrates, symbolizing authority. |
| fascia | noun | (pl. -ae ) band of color; band or layer of connective tissue; name-board over shop; dashboard. fasciate, fasciated a. tied round with a band or fillet; striped. fasciation n. |
| fascicle | noun | small bundle; part of book published separately; collection of written or printed sheets. |
| fascine | noun | bundle of sticks used in building fortifications. |
| fasti | noun | n. -pl. pl. record; register; calendars of ancient Rome. |
| fastigate | adjective | pointed. fastigiate, adjective narrowing at apex, fastigium, noun (pl. - gia) roof; top; gable. |
| fastuous | adjective | arrogant; showy. |
| fata morgana | noun | mirage. |
| fatidic | adjective | foretelling the future; prophetic; divinatory |
| fatiferous | adjective | destructive; deadly |
| fatwa | noun | proscription pronounced by Islamic religious leader. |
| faucial | adjective | pertaining to fauces. faucitis, noun inflammation of fauces. |
| fauteuil | noun | 'armchair'; stall seat in theatre; membership of French Academy. |
| faux naif | phrase | falsely simple or naive; feigning artlessness |
| faveolate | adjective | honey-combed. faviform, adjective honeycomb-like. |
| favonian | adjective | like the west wind; mild |
| favus | noun | contagious parasitive skin desease. |
| feazings | noun | an unraveled rope end |
| febricant | adjective | causing fever. febricity, noun feverishness. febrific, adjective feverish; febricant. |
| febricula | noun | slight fever |
| febrifuge | adjective noun | (drug) allaying fever. febrifugal, adjective |
| febrile | adjective | characterized by or symptomatic of fever; feverish. febrility, noun |
| februation | noun | exorcism; religious purification |
| fecit | phrase | 'made (it)'. |
| feculent | adjective | containing or covered with filth; faecal; turbid. feculence, noun |
| fedifragous | adjective | treacherous, deceitful |
| fefnicute | noun | hypocrite; sneak |
| felicific | adjective | producing happiness |
| feliform | adjective | cat-like. feline, adjective |
| fellness | noun | destructive cruelty |
| felloe | noun | outer edge of a wheel, also the rim of a tire |
| felo de se | noun | (pl. felones ...) self-murder or self-murderer. |
| felon | noun | criminal. felonious, adjective felony, noun serious crime. |
| feme | noun | Law, woman. feme covert, married woman. feme sole, unmarried woman or widow. |
| femicide | noun | killing or killer of woman. |
| feneration | noun | usury |
| feracious | adjective | productive of good results; fruitful |
| feretory | noun | shrine; chapel for bier; bier. |
| feria | noun | (pl. -ae ) feast day; holiday; Ecclesiastical, day neither feast nor fast. ferial, adjective |
| feriation | noun | taking a holiday; not working |
| ferine | adjective | feral. |
| ferity | noun | wild state; barbarism. |
| ferruginous | adjective | ferreous; pertaining to or colored like iron rust. ferruginate, v. stain with iron compound. |
| ferule | noun | rod or flat ruler for punishment. ferulaceous, adjective reed-like. |
| fervescent | adjective | becoming feverish. fervescence, noun |
| fescennine | adjective | obscene; lewd; licentious; scurrilous |
| fescue | noun | stick used by teacher as pointer; several tall kinds of grass. |
| fess, fesse | noun | horizontal band across a shield. |
| festina lente | phrase | 'make haste slowly'. |
| festination | noun | haste; hurrying walk, symptom of some nervous diseases. |
| festucine | adjective | straw-colored. |
| fetial | adjective | pertaining to declaration of war and peace; heraldic. |
| fetor | noun | stench. |
| fettle | noun | health or well-being |
| fewterer | noun | a dog-keeper |
| fiacre | noun | small hackney carriage. |
| fibrin | noun | fibrous protein in blood formed in clotting. fibrination, noun condition of having excessive fibrin in blood. fibrinogen, noun substance in blood producing fibrin. fibrinosis, noun disease marked by fibrination. |
| fibroma | noun | (pl. -ta) benign fibrous tumour. fibromatous, adjective |
| fichu | noun | sheer, triangular cape worn over the shoulders |
| ficiform | adjective | fig-shaped. ficoid, adjective fig-like. |
| fictile | adjective | pertaining to pottery; moulded; able to be moulded into shape or new shape. fictility, noun |
| fideism | noun | depending on faith rather than reason |
| fideism | noun | reliance on faith alone. |
| fidicinal | adjective | pertaining to stringed musical instrument. |
| fidimplicitary | adjective | fully trusting someone |
| figuline | adjective | fictile; n. clay vessel, object. figulate, adjective made of clay; fictile. |
| figurant | noun | (fem. figurante ) ballet dancer who dances only with group; minor character in play. |
| figurate | adjective | having a definite shape or form; Music, florid. |
| filar | adjective | pertaining to thread; having threads across eye-piece. filarial, filarian, filarious, adjective pertaining or due to thread-worms. filariasis, noun infestation with thread-worms. filariform, adjective thread-like. |
| filature | noun | drawing out or reeling of silk threads; apparatus or factory for doing this. |
| filicide | noun | killing or killer of own child. |
| filiciform | adjective | fern- or frond-shaped. filicoid, adjective fern-like. |
| filiferous | adjective | bearing threads. filiform, adjective thread-like. filigerous, adjective flagellate. filipendulous, adjective hanging by a thread. |
| filiopietistic | adjective | pertaining to ancestor worship |
| filipendulous | adjective | hanging by a thread or string |
| filoselle | noun | floss-like silk. |
| fils | noun | son. |
| fimble | noun | female hemp plant |
| fimbrial | adjective | pertaining to or having a fringe. fimbriate, adjective fringed; v.t. fringe; hem. fimbriation, noun fimbricate, adjective fringed. fimbrillate, adjective having small fringe. |
| fimetarious | noun | growing or living in excrement |
| fimetic | adjective | pertaining to dung. fimicolous, adjective living in dung. |
| finial | noun | ornament at apex of gable, etc.; pinnacle. |
| firman | noun | Oriental ruler's edict, authorisation, etc. |
| fissilingual | adjective | having a forked tongue |
| fitch | noun | hair of polecat; brush of such hair. fitchew, noun polecat. |
| fizgig | noun | a woman who flirts and gads about |
| flabellate | adjective | fan-shaped. flabelliform, adjective flabellation, noun use of fan to cool. |
| flagitate | verb | demand repeatedly. flagitation, noun |
| flagitious | adjective | outrageous, flagrantly wicked, scandalous,vicious |
| flambeau | noun | (pl. -beaux ) burning torch. |
| flamen | noun | pagan priest. flamineous, adjective pertaining to flamen. flamenical, adjective |
| flammeous | adjective | flame-colored. flammulated, adjective ruddy. flammulation, noun flame-colored or flame-shaped marking. |
| flaneur | noun | an intellectual trifler |
| flatulopetic | adjective | pretentious, pompous, inflated |
| flavedo | noun | yellowness, especially of plants. flavescent, adjective turning yellow. flavic(ant), adjective yellow; yellowish. flavid, adjective golden yellow. |
| fleer | verb | to laugh lecherously or derisively |
| flense, flench | verb | cut up or skin, especially whale or seal. |
| fleurette | noun | ornament in the shape of a small flower. |
| flews | noun | pl. pendulous lips; chops |
| flexanimous | adjective | mentally flexible |
| floccify | verb | to consider worthless |
| floccilation | noun | searching for imaginary objects |
| floccose | adjective | woolly. |
| flocculate | verb | collect into lumps or tufts; a. having hairy tufts. flocculent, adjective woolly; consisting of soft flakes; tufted. flocculence, noun flocculus, noun (pl. - li ) flake; small tuft. flocculation, noun |
| floriated, floreated | adjective | decorated with flowers and leaves. |
| florilegium | noun | (pl. -gia) collection of flowers; description of flora; anthology. |
| floruit | phrase | 'he flourished'; period during which person lived (abbr. fl.); dates indicating when a person was active, especially in brackets after person's name. |
| fluminous, fluminose | adjective | pertaining to or having many rivers. |
| focillate | verb | to comfort |
| fodient | adjective | pertaining to digging. |
| Foehn | noun | dry warm wind blowing down northern slopes of Alps. |
| foiter | noun | riddle or puzzle |
| foliaceous | adjective | pertaining to, like or consisting of leaves or laminae. |
| folie a' deux | phrase | a shared psychosis or delusion, especially one passed from one to another |
| foliferous | adjective | bearing leaves. foliform, adjective leaf-shaped. |
| foliolate | adjective | pertaining to or having leaflets. folioliferous, adjective bearing leaflets. |
| fomes | noun | (pl. -mites ) substance carrying infection. |
| fons et origo | phrase | 'source and origin'. |
| fontinal | adjective | growing by or in springs. |
| foramen | noun | (pl. -mina ) small orifice. foraminate, adjective having such; v.t. pierce. foraminous, adjective |
| foraneous | adjective | pertaining to forum. |
| forcipate | adjective | like forceps. |
| fordo | noun | to exhaust through overwork |
| forfex | noun | pair of scissors |
| forficate | adjective | deeply forked. forfication, noun |
| forisfamiliate | verb | to disinherit; to shed parental authority |
| formication | noun | the feeling that bugs are crawling on you |
| forslug | verb | to lose or destroy by sluggishness |
| fossa | noun | (pl. -sae) depression or cavity, e.g. in bone. |
| fossarian | noun | a clergyman moonlighting as a gravedigger |
| fossick | verb | search for by turning or picking over, especially for gold; rummage. fossicker, noun |
| fossorial | adjective | for use in digging. fossor, noun grave-digger. |
| fother | verb | to stop a leak |
| foudroyant | adjective | striking, as lightning; sudden, dazzling |
| foveate, foveated | adjective | pitted. foveolate, adjective bearing small pits. |
| fraenum, frenum | noun | fold of membrane restraining an organ, as beneath the tongue. |
| framis | noun | comic doubletalk blending actual words with made-up words |
| frampold | adjective | peevish, touchy, quarrelsome |
| franion | noun | the perennial hedonist, reveler |
| freemartin | noun | sterile female twin calf. |
| fremescent | adjective | an incipient murmur; becoming noisy |
| fremitus | noun | vibration. |
| fretum | noun | (pl. -ta) constriction. |
| frigoric | adjective | pertaining to cold. frigiferous, frigorific, adjective causing cold. |
| fringilline | adjective | like a finch; belonging to finch family of birds. fringillaceous, fringilliform, fringilloid, adjective finch- like. |
| frisette | noun | curly fringe, often of artificial hair, worn on the forehead. |
| frisket | noun | parchment or paper mask used in printing or retouching work. |
| frit | noun | prepared material from which glass is made. |
| fritillary | noun | several kinds of spotted butterfly and bulbous plant. |
| frondesce | adjective noun verb | v. -i. open leaves. frondiferous, frondigerous, adjective bearing leaves or fronds. frondiform, adjective frond-shaped. frondivorous, adjective feeding on leaves. frondose, adjective having or like leaves. frondescence, noun frondescent, adjective |
| frontogenesis | noun | meeting of two different air currents creating weather front. |
| frottage | noun | rubbing, especially the making of rubbings on thin paper of objects underneath, e.g. ornamental brasses. |
| frotteur | noun | someone who gets their kicks by rubbing against people in crowds |
| froward | adjective | perverse; willfully contrary; obstinately disobedient;refractory |
| fructuous | adjective | productive; fruitful; profitable |
| frumenty | noun | dish of hulled wheat boiled in milk, with sugar. frumentaceous, adjective like or made of grain. |
| frustraneous | adjective | vain, useless |
| fucatory | adjective | counterfeit; deceitful |
| fucus | noun | (pl. -ci ) kind of flat seaweed; rockweed. fucoid, noun & a. (plant) like seaweed. fucous, adjective |
| fugacious | adjective | fleeting; ephemeral; transitory; evanescent |
| fugleman | noun | soldier standing in front of others to demonstrate drill, etc.; model. |
| fulgent | adjective | radiant. fulgid, adjective glittering. |
| fulgurant | adjective | like lightning. fulgurate, v.i. flash. fulgurating, adjective Medicine, applied to intense sudden pains. fulgurous, adjective flashing. |
| fuliginous | adjective | like soot. fuliginosity n. |
| fuliguline | adjective | pertaining to or like a sea duck; belonging to sea duck family of birds. |
| fullams | noun | cheater's dice |
| fulmar | noun | gull-like sea bird. |
| fulminate | adjective noun verb | v. -i. explode; thunder; denounce in loud or violent manner. fulminant, adj.Medicine, developing suddenly. fulmineous, fulminous a. pertaining to or like thunder and lightning. fulmination, fulminator, n. fulminatory, adj. |
| fulsome | adjective | excessive or overdone to the point of being in bad taste or even at times nauseating |
| fulvous | adjective | tawny. fulvescent, adjective somewhat tawny. |
| fumacious | adjective | fond of smoking |
| fumatory | noun | place for fumigating. fumiduct, noun smoke vent. |
| funambulist | noun | a tightrope walker |
| fundiform | adjective | sling-shaped. |
| fundus | noun | base of an organ or part furthest from its opening. |
| funest | adjective | harbinger of evil or death |
| fungible | adjective noun | (thing) mutually interchangeable. |
| funicular | adjective | pertaining to small cord, rope or tension. funicular railway, cable mountain railway. funiform a. cord- or rope-like. funipendulous, adjective hanging by a rope. |
| furacious | adjective | thievish |
| furcate, furcal | adjective | branched. furcellate, adjective slightly branched. furcation, noun |
| furcula, furculum | noun | (pl. -lae or - la) any forklike part, especially the wishbone. |
| furibund | adjective | furious, enraged |
| furmety | noun | frumenty. |
| furor loquendi | phrase | a passion to speak |
| furor scribendi | phrase | a passion to write |
| furore | noun | outburst of public indignation; outburst of enthusiasm. |
| furuncle | noun | boil. furuncular, furunculous, adjective furunculoid, adjective like a boil. furunculosis, noun outbreak of boils. |
| fusarole | noun | Architecture, decoration resembling a string of beads. |
| fuscous | adjective | dark in color; tawny. |
| fusee | noun | large-headed match; spirally grooved spindle used as counter weight in old clocks. |
| fusiform | adjective | spindle-shaped. fusoid, adjective |
| fussock | noun | a big, fat woman |
| fustian | noun | pompousness, pretentiousness |
| fustigate | verb | to beat; to criticize severely |
| fusuma | noun | sliding paper screen separating rooms in Japanese house. |
| fuzee | noun | red signal light used by RR to warn approaching trains |
| fyrdung | noun | military training session |
| gabelle | noun | tax on salt. |
| gaberlunzie | noun | a wandering, or licensed, beggar |
| gabion | noun | wicker-work cylinder filled with earth or stones for building fortifications, harbour bars, etc. gabionade, noun structure made with gabions. |
| gadoid | adjective noun | (fish) of the cod family. |
| gadroon | noun | form of fluting; Architecture, notched moulding. |
| gaduin | noun | substance occurring in cod-liver oil. |
| galactophagist | noun | a milk drinker |
| galanty | noun | shadow play. |
| galea | noun | Biology, helmet-shaped structure. galeate, galeiform, adjective helmet-shaped. |
| galeanthropy | noun | the delusion that one has become a cat |
| galericulate | adjective | covered with a hat |
| galilee | noun | church porch, or chapel at entrance. |
| galimatias | noun | gibberish; confused, meaningless jargon |
| galingale | noun | ginger-like plant, or sedge, with aromatic root used in medicine. |
| galleass | noun | large armed 16th-century vessel with oars and sails. |
| galliard | adjective | gay; gallant; n. lively 16th-century dance. |
| galliardise | noun | great merriment |
| gallimaufry | noun | hash of liver and other organs; hotch-potch. |
| gallinaceous | adjective | like a chicken or pheasant |
| gallionic | adjective | indifferent; careless; irresponsible |
| gallipot | noun | small ceramic pot for medicine, etc. |
| galloway | noun | breed of small horse and black cattle. |
| galumptious | adjective | tiptop; first-rate; superlatively good |
| galvanic | adjective | pertaining to direct current from electric battery; giving or receiving shock. galvanism, noun current electricity; study of electric currents and their effects. galvanize, v. treat with galvanic current; stimulate into sudden excitement; coat with zinc. galvanometer, noun instrument measuring small electric currents. galvanoscope, noun instrument indicating presence and direction of small electric currents. |
| gambier | noun | yellow dye and astringent substance obtained from a vine of Malaysia. |
| gambrel | noun | horse's hock; kind of roof with pentagonal gable. |
| gambrinous | adjective | full of beer |
| gamelotte | noun | fibre for paper, etc., obtained from sedge. |
| gamic | adjective | sexual; requiring or resulting from mating. |
| gamogenesis | noun | sexual reproduction. gamogenetic, adjective |
| gamophobia | noun | fear of marriage |
| ganch | verb | to execute by impaling on stakes or hooks |
| gandoura, gandurah | noun | short, loose, sleeveless garment of Levant and Asia Minor. |
| gangue | noun | rock or earth yielding ore. |
| ganister | noun | kind of flinty rock used for road faces and lining furnaces. |
| ganoid | adjective | applied to hard, smooth, bright fish-scales; having such scales; n. fish with such scales. |
| ganoin | noun | (enamel-like substance forming) the surface of ganoid scales. |
| ganosis | noun | reducing shine of marble, especially on naked parts of statue. |
| gapeseed | noun | anything that causes stares; or someone who stares |
| garboil | noun | confusion |
| garderobe | noun | wardrobe; private room, privy. |
| garganey | noun | kind of teal. |
| garniture | noun | embellishment, ornamentation. |
| gasconade | noun | boasting; bravado |
| gaskin | noun | part of the hind leg of a horse |
| gasogene, gazogene | noun | apparatus for aerating liquids. |
| gastriloquist | noun | ventriloquist. gastriloquial, adjective gastriloquism, noun |
| gastrolater | noun | glutton. gastrolatrous, adjective gastrolatry, noun gluttony. |
| gault | noun | heavy clay. |
| gavage | noun | forcible feeding. |
| gazophylacium | noun | a treasury |
| geal | adjective | pertaining to the earth. |
| geck | noun | an object of scorn; a dupe |
| geest | noun | old superficial alluvial soil. |
| Geflugelte Worte | phrase | winged words: eloquent language; expressions that have traveled from one language to another |
| Gegenschein | noun | soft light in sky opposite sun; counter-glow. |
| gelasin | noun | dimple-like dent which appears in your cheeks when you smile |
| gelastic | adjective | pertaining to or used in laughing |
| gelid | adjective | cold; frozen. |
| gelogenic | adjective | laughter-provoking |
| geloscopy | noun | determining someone's character or future by the way they laugh |
| gemebund | adjective | a constant moaning |
| gemel | adjective | in pairs; twin. |
| geminate | verb | double; arrange in pairs; a. so arranged. geminiflorous, adjective having paired flowers. geminiform, adjective double. geminous, adjective |
| gemmule | noun | small gemma. gemmulation, noun production of gemmule. gemmuliferous, adjective bearing gemmules. |
| genarch | noun | head of family. |
| genesic | adjective | pertaining to generation or genital organs. genesiology, noun study of heredity or procreation. genesiurgic, adjective connected with generation. |
| genethliac(al) | adjective | pertaining to nativity and position of star at birth. genethlialogy, noun casting of nativities. |
| genethliacon | noun | a birthday poem |
| genetotrophic | adjective | denoting a defect in metabolism which prevents the normal assimilation of essential food elements. |
| genetous | adjective | congenital. |
| genetrix | noun | (pl. -rices) mother. |
| genicon | noun | a sexual partner imagined by one who is dissatisfied with their partner |
| geniculate | adjective | abruptly bent. geniculation, noun |
| genome | noun | complete set of chromosomes of a particular organism. genomic, adjective |
| gens | noun | (pl. gentes) ancient Roman clan; group with common male ancestor. |
| gentilitial | adjective | pertaining to nation or family; of high birth. gentilitious, adjective |
| geochrony | noun | chronology used in geology. geochronic, adjective |
| geocyclic | adjective | pertaining to earth's rotation or revolution; revolving round earth. |
| geodynamic | adjective | pertaining to forces within the earth. geodynamics, noun study of such forces. |
| geognosy | noun | geological study of materials forming the earth. geognost, noun student of geognosy. geognostic, adjective |
| geogony | noun | theory or study of formation of the earth. geogonic(al), adjective |
| geoid | noun | figure of the earth. geoidal, adjective |
| geomancy | noun | divination by lines and figures. geomantic, adjective |
| geophagous | adjective | eating earth. geophagia, geophagism, geophagy, noun |
| geophilous | adjective | living in or on the ground; growing under the ground. |
| geophyte | noun | plant growing in earth. |
| geopolitics | noun | study of relationship between geographical situation and politics of a nation. |
| georama | noun | map of world on inside of globe viewed from within. |
| georgic | adjective | pertaining to agriculture; rural; n. such poem. |
| geoscopy | noun | examination of earth and soil. geoscopic, adjective |
| geoselenic | adjective | pertaining to earth and moon. |
| geostrophic | adjective | pertaining to deflection due to earth's rotation. |
| geotaxis, geotaxy | noun | Biology, movement directed by gravitation. geotactic, adjective |
| geotechnics | noun | study of increasing the habitability of earth. |
| gephyrophobia | noun | morbid fear of bridges and passing over or under them. |
| gerascophobia | noun | fear of growing old |
| geratic | adjective | pertaining to old age and decadence. geratology, noun biological study of decadence. |
| gerendum | noun | (pl. -da) thing to be done. |
| german | adjective | of same parents; of one's parent's brother or sister. cousin-german, first cousin. |
| geromorphism | noun | condition of appearing older than one is |
| gharry | noun | light horse-drawn carriage. |
| giaour | noun | infidel; Christian. |
| gibus | noun | opera hat. |
| gid | noun | brain disease of sheep. |
| giddhom | noun | a frantic galloping movement made by cows when plagued with flies |
| gigot | noun | leg of mutton. |
| gilravage | verb | to celebrate noisily; to go on a rampage |
| ginglymus | noun | hinge joint. ginglymoid, adjective pertaining to or like a ginglymus. |
| girandole | noun | cluster of water-jets or fireworks; fountain with spreading spray; any such radiating ornament. |
| girasole | noun | an opal which turns red in the sunlight |
| girning | verb | act or process of contorting one's face; snarling |
| glabrous | adjective | free from hair or down; hairless; bald |
| gladiate | adjective | sword-shaped. |
| glair | noun | white of egg; any similar substance; v.t. cover with glair. glaireous, adjective |
| glandiform | adjective | acorn-shaped. glandiferous, adjective bearing acorns. |
| glaucescent | adjective | somewhat glaucous. |
| glaucous | adjective | grey-green; green-blue; yellow-green. |
| glebe | noun | soil; land attached to benefice. glebe house, parsonage. |
| gledge | noun | to squint the eyes |
| gleet | noun | mucous discharge, especially from urethra; v.i. emit such discharge. |
| glenoid | adjective | shaped like a shallow depression. |
| glirine | adjective | dormouse-like. gliriform, adjective |
| globigerina | noun | (pl. -ae ) protozoon living in surface waters of the sea. globigerina ooze, deposit of the chalky shells of globigerinae on the sea floor. |
| globulicide | adjective noun | (substance) destroying blood corpuscles. globulicidal, adjective globulimeter, noun instrument measuring red corpuscles in blood. globulin, noun kind of protein in blood. |
| glochidiate, glochideous | adjective | barbed; bristly. |
| glomerate | adjective | collected compactly together. glomeration, noun |
| glomerule | noun | compactly clustered flower-head. glomerulate, adjective |
| glomerulus | noun | (pl. -li) intertwined cluster of organisms, nerve fibres, etc., especially capillaries in the kidney. glomerular, adjective |
| glossal | adjective | pertaining to tongue. glossalgia, noun pain in tongue. glossator, glossographer, noun writer of glosses or commentaries. glossectomy, noun removal of tongue. glosseme, noun smallest meaningful unit of a language. glossitis, noun inflammation of tongue. glossoid, adjective tongue-like. glossolalia, glossolaly, noun gift of tongues. glossology, noun terminology; study of language; medical study of tongue. glossopathym, noun disease of tongue. glossophagine, adjective feeding with tongue. glossoplegia, noun paralysis of tongue. |
| glossolalia | noun | nonsensical talk; gibberish |
| glucagon | noun | pancreatic hormone which raises blood-sugar level and reduces appetite. |
| glume | noun | dry bract of grass flower. glumaceous, glumose, adjective like or composed of glumes glumiferous, adjective bearing glumes. |
| gluside | noun | saccharin. |
| glutition | noun | act of swallowing. |
| glycaemia | noun | presence of glucose in the blood. |
| glyptic | adjective | pertaining to carving, especially of gems. glyptics, glyptography, noun gem-carving. glyptology, noun study of gem engravings. |
| gnathal, gnathic | adjective | pertaining to jaw. gnathism, noun formation of upper jaw; use of such formation as basis for classification. gnathonic, adjective flattering. |
| gnathonic | adjective | falsely flattering; fawning; sycophantic; parasitic |
| gnomic | adjective | full of aphorisms or maxims; or wise and pithy |
| gnomon | noun | anything that points out time of day by its shadow |
| gnotobiosis | noun | rearing of organisms in germ-free environment. gnotobiote, noun germ-free animal. gnotobiotic, adjective |
| gobemouche | noun | a gullible person |
| godemiche | noun | a dildo |
| godet | noun | panel inserted to make skirt flare. |
| gomphosis | noun | growth of tooth into bone cavity. |
| gonalgia | noun | pain in knee. |
| gonfalon | noun | hanging banner. gonfalonier, noun standard-bearer; medieval Italian magistrate. |
| gonion | noun | (pl. -nia) angle, especially of lower jaw. goniometer, noun instrument measuring angles. goniometry, noun trigonometry. |
| gonitis | noun | inflammation of knee. |
| gonoblast | noun | reproductive cell. gonochorism, noun separation of sex, dioecism; development of sex differentiation. gonocyte, noun gamete-producting cell. |
| gormandize | verb | eat greedily or voraciously, noun gourmandise. |
| gorsedd | noun | assembly for giving prizes, degrees, etc., at close of eisteddfod; meeting of bards and druids. |
| gracile | adjective | slender. gracility, noun |
| gradatim | adverb | 'step by step' |
| gradin | noun | one of a tier of steps, seats, etc. |
| gradine | noun | instrument used by sculptors |
| gradus | noun | abbreviation of gradus ad Parnassum, dictionary used in composition of Latin verses. |
| graip | noun | pitchfork used for hurling manure |
| grallatory, grallatorial | adjective | pertaining to wading birds. |
| graminaceous | adjective | grass-like; pertaining to grass family of plants. gramineal, gramineous, adjective graminivorous, adjective feeding on grass. graminology, noun study of grasses. graminous, adjective grassy. |
| grammalogue | noun | word represented by one shorthand sign; such sign. |
| grammaticaster | noun | a petty grammarian; a pretentious grammaticalpedant |
| grammatolatry | noun | worship of letters or words |
| grandgousier | noun | person who will eat anything and everything |
| grandisonant | adjective | sounding great; pompous. grandisonous, adjective |
| grangerize | verb | illustrate, especially by interleaving, with additional pictures. grangerism, noun |
| granulocyte | noun | kind of white blood cell. granulocytic, adjective |
| grapholagnia | noun | a more than passing interest in obscenepictures |
| graphometer | noun | angle-measuring instrument. |
| graphospasm | noun | writer's cramp. |
| grapnel | noun | small anchor or hook. |
| grassation | noun | act of attacking violently; a lying in wait to attack |
| graticulate | verb | divide (pattern, etc.) into squares for easiness of reproduction. graticulation, noun graticule, noun grid of lines used with the eyepiece of a microscope, telescope, etc., for measuring or locating objects; grid of lines on a major chart. |
| gratis dictum | phrase | an unsolicited or voluntary remark; mere assertion |
| gratuitous | adjective | done freely; needless; groundless. gratuity, noun gift of money; tip. |
| gratulant | adjective | expressing joy or satisfaction; congratulatory |
| gravamen | noun | (pl. -mina) substance of a grievance or charge. |
| gravedo | noun | cold in the head. |
| graveolent | adjective | having a rank smell; fetid; stinking |
| gravid | adjective | pregnant. gravida, noun pregnant woman. |
| gravific | adjective | that which makes heavy or produces weight |
| greave | noun | armour covering lower leg. |
| greaves | noun | tallow refuse. |
| gregarian | adjective | belonging to the herd or common sort |
| gremial | noun | pertaining to bosom or lap; n. bishop's apron. |
| gressorial | gressorious | adjective |
| grike | noun | crack or slit in rock or stone |
| grilse | noun | young salmon. |
| grisaille | noun | glass painted with grey pigment. |
| griseous | adjective | grizzled. |
| grisette | noun | young working girl. |
| grivoiserie | noun | lewd and lascivious behavior; a lewd act |
| groak | verb | to watch people silently while they're eating, hopingthey will ask you to join them |
| grobianism | noun | rudeness; boorishness |
| gromatic | adjective | pertaining to surveying. gromatics, noun surveying, especially of camp. |
| groyne | noun | wooden breakwater. |
| gruine | adjective | like or pertaining to crane (bird). |
| grume | noun | clot; clotted liquid. grumose, adjective comprising a cluster of granules. grumous, adjective clotted. |
| gryllid | noun | cricket (insect); a. pertaining to or like cricket; belonging to cricket family of insects. |
| guaiacum | noun | resin of a tropical American tree, used as rheumatic remedy. |
| guddle | noun | to catch fish barehanded |
| guepard(e) | noun | cheetah. |
| guerdon | noun | reward |
| gug | noun | coalmine shaft that slopes downward |
| gugusse | noun | a young, effeminate man who trysts with priests |
| guilloche | noun | architectural ornament of intertwined curved lines or bands. |
| guimbard | noun | jew's-harp. |
| guipure | noun | kind of large-patterned heavy lace. |
| gules | adjective noun | Heraldry, red. |
| gulosity | noun | enormous appetite; greediness |
| gumbotil | noun | dark sticky clay, formed by the weathering of boulder clay or glacial drift. |
| gunge | noun | market; granary. |
| gurgitate | verb noun | v. -i. bubble. gurgitation, n. ebullition. |
| gustation | noun | act of tasting; sense of taste. gustatory, adjective |
| gutta | noun | (pl. -ae) drop. gutta-percha, noun rubber-like substance. gutta rosacea, acne rosacea. gutta serena, amaurosis. guttate, adjective like a drop; having spots like drops. guttiferous, adjective yielding gum. guttiform, adjective drop- shaped. guttation, noun exudation of drops of moisture. . |
| gutturotetany | noun | throat spasm causing stammer. |
| gyascutus | noun | a huge, imaginary, four-legged beast with legson one side longer than on the other, enabling it to walkeasily on hillsides |
| gymnophobia | noun | fear of nudity |
| gynaecocracy | noun | domination of society by women. gynaecocratic, adjective |
| gynaecology | noun | branch of medicine dealing with diseases of women, especially disorders of the reproductive system. gynaecologic(al), adjective gynaecologist, noun |
| gynaecomania | noun | sexual craving for women. |
| gynaecomorphous | adjective | having female form or characteristics. |
| gynandromorph | noun | animal having both male and female characteristics. gynandromorphic, adjective gynandromorphism, noun |
| gynecoid | adjective | of or like a woman |
| gyniatrics | noun | treatment of women's diseases. |
| gynics | noun | knowledge of women. |
| gynoecium | noun | (pl. -cia) Botany, pistils collectively. |
| gyrinid | noun | whirligig beetle; a. like or pertaining to this; belonging to the gyrinid family of beetles. |
| gyrograph | noun | instrument recording wheel's revolutions. |
| gyromagnetic | adjective | denoting the magnetic properties of the spinning electron in an atom. |
| gyromancy | noun | fortunetelling by walking in a circle until dizzy; the fortune is determined by where the person falls |
| gyrostatics | noun | study of rotating bodies and their properties. |
| gyrovagues | noun | monks who wander from one monastery to another |
| gyve | verb | to chain someone up in shackles |
| habiliments | noun | clothing, especially for a particular purpose; equipment, fittings. |
| habromania | noun | extreme euphoria |
| hachure | noun | line used in shading maps to indicate steepness of slope; v.t. shade with hachures. |
| hadeharia | noun | constant use of the word 'hell' |
| hagiarchy | noun | government by priests. hagiocracy, noun government by holy persons. |
| hagiarchy | noun | government by religious types |
| hagiolatry | noun | worship of saints |
| hagiology | noun | description of holy persons or writings; study or writing of saints' lives; list of saints. hagiologic(al), adjective hagiologist, noun |
| hagioscope | noun | opening in transept wall for viewing altar. hagioscopic, adjective |
| Hakenkreuz | noun | swastika. |
| halation | noun | spreading of light, seen as bright blur at edges in photographs. |
| halfpace | noun | dais; small landing on staircase. |
| halibios | noun | collective life of sea. halibiotic, adjective |
| halieutics | noun | fishing |
| halitus | noun | breath; exhalation. halituous, adjective halituosity, noun |
| hallel | noun | psalm(s) of praise. |
| hallucal | adjective | of or pertaining to the big toe |
| hallux | noun | (pl. -uces) big toe; hind toe of birds. hallucal, adjective |
| haloid | adjective | like salt; n. halide. halolimnic, adjective applied to sea creatures adapted to fresh-water life. halomancy, noun divination by salt. halometer, noun device for measuring the crystals of salts. halophilous, adjective growing in salt water. halophyte, noun plant growing in salty soil or water. haloxene, adjective unable to live in salt water. |
| halotic | adjective | easy to catch |
| hamadryad | noun | wood nymph associated with one particular tree; king cobra. |
| hamal | noun | porter; litter-bearer; male servant. |
| hamartiology | noun | division of theology dealing with sin. hamartiologist, noun |
| hamartithia | noun | mistake-prone |
| hamartophobia | noun | fear of sin or sinning |
| hamate | adjective | hooked; hook-like. hamiform, adjective hook-shaped. hamirostrate, adjective with hooked beak. |
| hanaper | noun | box for documents |
| hapax legomenon | noun | (pl. -legomena) word or phrase of which there is only one recorded use. |
| hapaxanthous | adjective | having one flowering period only. |
| haplography | noun | accidental omission of letters, words or lines in copying. |
| haploid | adjective | single; Biology, having the specific chromosome number; n. such cell. haploidy, noun state of being haploid. |
| haplology, haplolaly | noun | omission of syllable(s) of word in pronunciation. haplologic, adjective |
| haplotype | noun | single species contained in a genus. |
| haptodysphoria | noun | unpleasant sensation felt by some peoplewhen touching peaches, cotton, or similar surfaces |
| harageous | adjective | rough and bold |
| harengiform | adjective | shaped like a herring. |
| hariolate | verb noun | v. -i. prophesy; tell fortunes. hariolation, n. |
| harmattan | noun | dry east wind blowing from Sahara. |
| harpagon, harpago | noun | grapnel; harpoon. |
| harpaxophobia | noun | fear of robbers or of being robbed |
| harpocratic | adjective | relating to silence |
| hartal | noun | general strike. |
| hartshorn | noun | plantain; sal volatile. |
| haruspex | noun | a fortuneteller who used animal innards and lightning for her predictions |
| haslet | noun | animal's fry or entrails, especially braised or compressed into a meat loaf. |
| haslock | noun | wool on sheep's throat. |
| hastate | adjective | spear-shaped; like blade of halberd. |
| hatchment | noun | diamond-shaped escutcheon bearing deceased person's arms. |
| hauberk | noun | tunic-like coat of mail. |
| haulm | noun | stalks of potatoes, beans, etc. |
| haustellum | noun | (pl. -la) sucking proboscis. haustellate, adjective having a haustellum, as a fly. haustorium, (pl.- ia) food- absorbing outgrowth from fungus or parasitic plant. haustorial, adjective haustellate. |
| haut monde | noun | 'high world'; high society. haut ton, noun high fashion; bon ton. |
| haute école | noun | 'high school'; mastery of difficult horsemanship. |
| havelock | noun | cloth hanging from back of soldier's cap as protection against sun. |
| havildar | noun | sepoy sergeant. |
| haysel | noun | haymaking season. |
| hebdomad | noun | (group of) seven; a week. hebdomadal weekly; consisting of a week. hebdomadary, adj. |
| hebdomadal | adjective | once every seven days; weekly |
| hebephrenia | noun | schizophrenia occurring at puberty. hebephrenic, adjective |
| hebesphalmology | noun | study of juvenile delinquency |
| hebetate | verb | make or become blunt or dull; a. dull-witted. hebetation, noun hebetative, adjective |
| hebetic | adjective | pertaining to or occurring at puberty. |
| hebetude | noun | dullness, stupidity |
| hecatomb | noun | sacrifice of one hundred animals; wholesale slaughter. |
| hecatontarchy | noun | government by 100 persons. |
| hecceity | noun | that which makes something different from anything else |
| hectic | adjective | habitual, especially in wasting diseases; consumptive; popularly, excited; feverish. |
| hectograph | noun | duplicating machine using gelatine slab; v.t. duplicate thus. hectographic, adjective hectography, noun |
| hederaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like ivy. hederate, adjective crowned with ivy. hederic, adjective hederiferous, adjective bearing ivy. hederiform, adjective shaped like ivy leaves. hederigerent, adjective bearing or ornamented with ivy. hederose, adjective having much ivy. |
| helcology | noun | Medicine, study of ulcers. helcoid, adjective ulcer- like. helcosis, noun ulceration. helcotic, adjective |
| heliacal | adjective | near or pertaining to sun. |
| heliofugal | adjective | moving away from sun. |
| heliology | noun | astronomical study of sun. heliologist, noun |
| heliophilous | adjective | attracted by sunlight. heliophilia, noun heliophile, heliophiliac, noun |
| heliophobia | noun | dread or avoidance of sunlight; excessive sensitiveness to sunlight. heliophobe, noun heliophobic, adjective |
| heliophyte | noun | plant flourishing in sunlight. heliophytic, adjective |
| heliosis | noun | sun scorching of plants; sunstroke. |
| heliostat | noun | instrument using a mirror to reflect sunlight in a fixed direction, used for studying the sun or signalling messages. |
| heliotaxis | noun | movement towards or away from sunlight. heliotactic, adjective |
| hellebore | noun | several kinds of plant, especially the Christmas rose; alkaloid poison extracted from hellebore root. |
| helminth | noun | intestinal worm. helminthagogue, noun anthelmintic. helminthiasis, helminthism, noun infestation with helminths. helminthic, adjective helminthoid, adjective like helminth. helminthology, noun study of helminths. helminthous, adjective infested with helminths. |
| helminthophobia | noun | fear of being, or becoming, infestedwith worms |
| helobious | adjective | dwelling in marshes. helodes, noun marsh fever; a. marshy. |
| heloma | noun | Medicine, corn. helosis, noun state of having corns. |
| helotomy | noun | cutting of corns. |
| helve | noun | handle; hilt. |
| hemagogue | adjective noun | (drug) promoting discharge of blood or menstrual flow. hemagogic, adjective |
| hemarthrosis | noun | extravasation of blood into joint. |
| hematencephalon | noun | hemorrhage into brain. |
| hematherm | noun | warm-blooded animal. hemathermal, hemathermous, hematothermal, adjective |
| hematic | adjective noun | (drug) acting on blood; pertaining to, like, or colored like, blood. |
| hematobic | noun | parasitic in blood. hematobious, adjective hematobium, noun (pl. -ia.), such organism. |
| hematocele | noun | cavity or tumour containing blood. |
| hematocryal | adjective | cold-blooded. |
| hematonic | adjective noun | (drug) stimulating formation of blood. |
| hematopoiesis | noun | formation of blood. hematopoietic, adjective |
| hematorrhoea | noun | discharge of blood. |
| hematuria | noun | presence of blood in urine. |
| hemeralopia | noun | ability to see only in faint or no light; day blindness. hemeralope, noun hemeralopic, adjective |
| hemeraphonia | noun | able to speak only at night |
| hemerology, hemerologium | noun | calendar. |
| hemialgia | noun | pain in one half of body or head. hemianopsia, hemianopia, noun blindness affecting half the field of vision. hemicrania, noun hemialgia of the head. hemifacial, adjective pertaining to one side of face. hemiplegia, noun paralysis of one half (left or right) of body. |
| hemiptera | noun | order of insects containing the bugs. hemipteral, hemipteroid, hemipterous, adjective hemipteran, hemipteron, noun bug. hemipterology, noun study of hemiptera. |
| hemitery, hemiteria | noun | congenital malformation. hemiteratic, adjective |
| hemogastric | adjective | marked by gastric hemorrhage. |
| hemolysis | noun | destruction of red blood corpuscles. hemolytic, adjective |
| hemophthalmia | noun | discharge of blood into eye. |
| hemoptysis | noun | spitting of blood. |
| hemospasia | noun | drawing of blood to part. hemospastic, noun & a. |
| hendecagon | noun | 11-sided plane figure. hendecahedron, noun 11-sided solid figure. hendecasyllable, noun verse line of 11 syllables. |
| hendiadys | noun | use of two nouns joined by and, instead of a noun and an adjective. |
| henism | noun | philosophical belief that existence is of one kind only. |
| henotic | adjective | promoting harmony or peace. |
| heortology | noun | study of religious festivals, year, etc. heortologion, noun calendar of feast days. |
| hepatic | adjective | pertaining to or like liver; liver-colored; n. liver medicine; liverwort. hepatology, noun botanical study of liverworts. hepatitis, noun inflammation of liver. hepatoid a. like liver. |
| hephaestic, hephaestian | adjective | pertaining to Hephaestus, Greek god of fire and iron-working; pertaining to smiths. |
| heptad | noun | group of seven. |
| heptameride | noun | writing in seven parts. heptameter, noun verse line of seven feet. heptamerous, adjective having seven divisions; Botany, having the parts of flower in sevens. heptapody, noun heptameter. |
| heptarch | noun | member of heptarchy. heptarchal, heptarchic, adjective heptarchy, noun government by seven persons; group of seven allied but independent kingdoms, especially of Anglo-Saxon England. |
| heptasyllable | noun | verse line or word of seven syllables. heptasyllabic, adjective |
| hepteris | noun | galley with seven banks of oars. |
| hereditament | noun | inheritance; hereditable property. hereditable, adjective capable of being inherited. |
| heresiarch | noun | leading heretic. heresiography, heresiology, noun study of or treatise on heresies. |
| heresy | noun | unorthodox religious belief. heretic ), noun heretical, adjective hereticate, hereticize, v. denounce as heretic. hereticide, noun killer or killing of heretic. |
| heriot | noun | payment to feudal lord on death of tenant. |
| herisson | noun | pivoted beam with iron spikes, protecting wall, passage, etc.; soldier's punishment of being made to sit astride a herisson. |
| heritor | noun | owner; inheritor. heretrix, heritrix, noun heiress. |
| hermeneutic | adjective | explaining; interpreting. hermeneutics, noun definition of laws of interpretation of Scriptures. |
| Herrenvolk | noun | 'master race'; superior nation. |
| hesperian | adjective | of the west; western; occidental |
| hesternal | adjective | pertaining to yesterday. |
| hesternopothia | noun | a pathologic yearning for the good olddays |
| hesychastic | adjective | soothing. hesychasm, noun omphaloskepsis. |
| heterism | noun | extra-marital sex; communal marriage |
| heterize | verb | transform. heterism, noun variation. |
| heterochiral | adjective | laterally inverted. |
| heterochromatic | adjective | pertaining to or having different colors. heterochromia, heterochromy, noun state of being heterochromatic. heterochromous, adjective |
| heterochthonous | adjective | foreign |
| heteroclite | adjective | abnormal; irregular; n. such word, thing or person. |
| heterodyne | noun | Radio, production of 'beats' by superimposition of oscillations of slightly different frequency upon the waves being received; use of this 'beat' frequency in radio reception; interference, especially whistle, due to heterodyne; v.i. produce heterodyne; cause interference thus. s. |
| heteroepy | noun | pronunciation different from standard. heteroepic, adjective |
| heterography | noun | spelling different from standard, or in which same letter represents different sounds. |
| heterolateral | adjective | pertaining to opposite sides. |
| heterologous | adjective | differing; comprising different parts or parts in different proportions. heterologic(al), adjective heterology, noun |
| heteromorphic | adjective | of abnormal form; having different forms. heteromorphism, noun heteromorphous, adjective |
| heteroousia | noun | difference of substance. heteroousian, a.; n. Theology, adherent of belief that Son is of different substance from Father. |
| heteropathy | noun | allopathy; excessive sensitivity. heteropathic, adjective |
| heterophemy | noun | accidental speaking or writing of words different from those meant. heterophemize, v.i. heterophemism, heterophemist, noun |
| heterophoria | noun | squint due to weak muscle. heterophoric, adjective |
| heterosis | noun | tendency of a cross-bred individual to show greater vigour and capacity for growth than its parents. |
| heterotaxis | noun | abnormality in arrangement. heterotactic, heterotactous, heterotaxic, adjective |
| heterotelic | adjective | existing for an outside or extraneous purpose |
| heterotopia | noun | displacement of an organ from its normal position in the body. heterotopic, adjective |
| heterotrichosis | noun | having variegated colored hair. |
| heterotropia | noun | squint. |
| hexad | noun | group of six. hexadic, adjective |
| hexapod | noun | insect; a. pertaining to insects; having six feet. |
| hexarchy | noun | group of six allied but independent states. |
| hexeris | noun | galley with six banks of oars. |
| hibernacle | noun | winter quarters. hibernacular, adjective hibernaculum, noun (pl. -la) hibernacle; winter bud. |
| hic jacet | phrase | 'here lies'; epitaph. hic sepultus, 'here is buried'. |
| hidalgo | noun | gentleman; noble of lower rank. |
| hidrosis | noun | perspiration, especially excessive. hidrotic, noun & a. (drug) causing perspiration. |
| hiemal | adjective | pertaining to winter. |
| hieracosphinx | noun | sphinx with head of hawk. |
| hieratic | adjective | priestly, especially applied to ancient Egyptian writing used for religious works. |
| hierocracy | noun | government by clerics. hierocratic, adjective |
| hierofastidia | noun | dislike of holy things |
| hierogram | noun | sacred symbol. hierogrammat(e), noun writer of sacred annals or hieroglyphics. |
| hierography | noun | writing on religious subjects. hierology, noun religious knowledge or tradition; hagiology. |
| hieromachy | noun | quarrel between clerics. hieromancy, noun divination by sacrificed objects. |
| hierurgy | noun | religious worship or work. hierurgical, adjective |
| hinterland | noun | inland area behind coast or coastal town. |
| hippiater | noun | horse-doctor. hippiatric, adjective hippiatry, hippiatrics, noun |
| hippocrepiform | adjective | shaped like a horseshoe. |
| hippoid | adjective | pertaining to or like a horse. |
| hippology | noun | study of the horse. hippological, adjective hippologist, noun |
| hippophagous | adjective | eating horse-flesh. hippophagi, n.pl. eaters of horse-flesh. hippophagism, hippophagy, noun |
| hippophile | noun | lover of horses or horse-riding. hippophobia, noun dread of horses. |
| hippotomy | noun | horse's anatomy. hippotomical, adjective hippotomist, noun |
| hircarra(h) | noun | spy; messenger. |
| hircine | adjective | pertaining to or like goats; indecent. hircinous, adjective with goat-like odour. |
| hircismus | noun | stinky armpits |
| hirrient | adjective noun | trilled (sound), as r. |
| hirsutorufous | adjective | red-haired |
| hirudinean | adjective noun | (pertaining to) leech. hirudine, adjective hirudinoid, adjective like a leech. |
| hirundine | adjective | pertaining to or like a swallow; n. such bird. hirundinous, adjective |
| hispid | adjective | bristly. hispidity, noun hispidulate, hispidulous, adjective with minute bristles. |
| histology | noun | study of or treatise on organic tissue. histological, adjective histologist, noun histography, noun description of such tissues. histolysis, noun decay of same. histopathology, noun (study of) effects of disease on tissues. |
| hodiernal | adjective | pertaining to today. |
| hodometry | noun | measurement of length of ship's voyage. hodometrical, adjective |
| holagogue | noun | drug expelling all morbid humours. |
| holarctic | adjective | pertaining to or being the whole arctic region. |
| holism | noun | philosophical theory that evolutionary factors are entities and not constituents; theory that a complex system is more than the sum of its parts. holistic, adjective holistic medicine, medicine that considers the whole person, including psychological and social factors, rather than treating just the symptoms of a disease. |
| holm | noun | river island; river plain. |
| holmgang | noun | a duel fought on an island |
| holobaptist | noun | believer in baptismal immersion. |
| holocrine | adjective | applied to gland whose secretion is composed of its own disintegrated cells. |
| holocryptic | adjective | undecipherable. |
| holophote | noun | apparatus for directing most or all of available light in one direction. holophotal, adjective |
| holophrase | noun | single word expressing complex idea. holophrasis, noun use of holophrase. holophrastic, adjective |
| holophrasis | noun | a whole phrase or idea expressed in one word |
| holophytic | adjective | obtaining food by photosynthesis. holophyte, noun |
| holoplexia | noun | general paralysis. |
| holosteric | adjective | entirely solid. |
| holotype | noun | original type specimen used in defining and describing a species or variety. holotypic, adjective |
| holozoic | adjective | obtaining food by eating complex matter, in the manner of an animal. |
| hominal | adjective | pertaining to mankind; human. hominid n. & a. (pertaining to) a fossil ape-man. hominiform, adjective having human shape. hominivorous, noun man-eating. hominoid, noun & a. man- like (animal). |
| homocentric(al) | adjective | concentric. |
| homochiral | adjective | identical in form. |
| homodyne | adjective | Radio, pertaining to detection of radio wave with wave of exactly same frequency. |
| homoeochronous | adjective | developing at same period of offspring's as of parent's life. |
| homoeophony | noun | similarity of sound. |
| homoeoteleutic | adjective | having same or similar endings. homoeoteleuton, noun use of such words in close proximity. |
| homograph | noun | word having same spelling as, but different meaning from, another. homographic, adjective having different symbol for each sound. homography, noun |
| homoiousia | noun | similarity in substance. homoiousian, a.; n. Theology, adherent to belief that Son is of essentially similar but not identical substance with Father. |
| homolateral | adjective | on the same side. |
| homologate | verb | confirm; approve; agree. homologation, noun |
| homologous | adjective | exactly or relatively corresponding in structure. homologize, v. make homologous. homologue, noun such thing. homology, noun |
| homomerous, homomeral | adjective | having similar parts. |
| homoousia | noun | sameness of substance. homoousian, a.; n. Theology, adherent to belief that Son is of same substance with Father. |
| homophylic | adjective | of same race. homophyly, noun similarity due to common ancestry. |
| homotaxis | noun | similarity of arrangement. homotactic, homotaxeous, homotaxial, homotaxic, adjective |
| homozygote | noun | organism or cell having the same alleles for a particular inherited characteristic. homozygosis, noun condition of being a homozygote. homozygotic, adjective |
| horal | adjective | pertaining to hour(s); hourly. horary, adjective marking the hours; hourly; lasting for an hour only. |
| horapthia | noun | a neurotic preoccupation with one's youth |
| horme | noun | Psychology, vital energy directed to an active purpose. hormic, adjective hormist, noun believer in horme as fundamental psychological factor. |
| hornbook | noun | ancient child's schoolbook comprising alphabet, digits, etc., on parchment covered with sheet of horn. |
| horography | noun | account of the hours; art of constructing timepieces. horographer, noun |
| horologe | noun | timepiece. horologer, horologist, noun watch-maker. horologic, adjective horology, noun clock-making; science of measuring time. horometry, noun measurement of time. |
| horrent | adjective | a. bristling. horrescent, adjective expressing horror. |
| horripilation | noun | bristling of hair or creeping of flesh, due to cold, fright, etc. horripilate, v.i. & t. cause or suffer this. |
| horrisonant | adjective | making horrible sound. |
| horrisonous | adjective | sounding very bad; horribly discordant |
| hospitate | verb | welcome; be guest. hospitation, noun |
| humectant | adjective noun | moistening (substance). humectation, noun |
| humicubation | noun | lying on the ground in penitence |
| hustings | noun | political platform |
| hyaline | adjective | glassy; transparent. hyalescent, adjective becoming or somewhat glassy. hyalography, noun engraving on glass. hyaloid, adjective like glass. hyalopterous, adjective with transparent wings. |
| hydatid | noun | fluid-filled cyst, especially containing tape-worm larva. hydatidinous, adjective hydatiform, adjective like a hydatid. hydatigenous, adjective producing hydatid. |
| hydracid | noun | oxygen-less acid. |
| hydragogue | adjective noun | (drug) causing discharge of water. |
| hydrargiric | adjective | pertaining to mercury. hydrargiria, hydrargiriasis, hydrargirism, hydrargirosis, noun mercurial poisoning. |
| hydremia | noun | excessively watery condition of blood. hydremic, adjective |
| hydriotaphia | noun | urn burial. |
| hydrogenic | adjective | Geology, formed by water. hydrogeology, noun study of geological action of water. |
| hydrognosy | noun | historical description of earth's water surface. |
| hydromancy | noun | divination by water. |
| hydron | noun | plastic which is rigid when dry and soft when wet. |
| hydrophanous | adjective | becoming transparent when immersed in water. hydrophane, noun such kind of opal. |
| hydrophid | noun | sea snake. hydrophoid, adjective |
| hydrophyte | noun | plant growing in or by water. hydrophytic, adjective |
| hydropic(al) | adjective | dropsical. hydropigenous, adjective causing dropsy. |
| hydropot | noun | water-drinker. |
| hydrotaxis | noun | movement towards or away from water. |
| hydrotechny | noun | use of water for driving machinery, etc. hydrotechnic(al), adjective hydrotechnologist, noun |
| hydrothorax | noun | water liquid in the pleural cavity. |
| hydrotic | adjective noun | (drug) expelling water or phlegm. |
| hydrotimetry | noun | measurement of hardness of water. hydrotimeter, noun instrument used in this. hydrotimetric, adjective |
| hyetal | adjective | pertaining to rain. hyetograph, noun rain gauge; chart of average rainfall. hyetography, noun study of rainfall distribution. hyetology, noun study of all precipitation. hyetometer, noun rain gauge. hyetometrograph, noun recording hyetometer. |
| hygrophanous | adjective | seeming transparent when wet, and opaque when dry. hygrophaneity, noun |
| hygrophilous | adjective | Botany, living in water or moist places. |
| hygrophthalmic | adjective | moistening the eye. |
| hygrothermal | adjective | pertaining to heat and humidity. hygrothermograph, noun instrument recording humidity and temperature. |
| hyle | noun | matter. hylic, adjective material. hylism n. materialism. |
| hylomorphism | noun | materialist conception of universe. hylomorphic(al), adjective hylomorphist, noun hylomorphous, adjective having material form. |
| hylopathism | noun | belief in capability of matter to affect spirit. hylopathist, noun |
| hylophagous | adjective | eating wood. |
| hylotheism | noun | identification of God with matter or universe. hylotheist, noun hylotheistic(al), adjective |
| hylotomous | adjective | cutting or boring in wood. |
| hylozoism | noun | belief that all matter has life. hylozoist, noun hylozoistic(al), adjective |
| hymenopterous | adjective | having four membranous wings. hymenoptera, n.pl. (sing. hymenopteron) order including such insects. hymenopterist, noun student of hymenoptera. hymenopterology, noun study of hymenoptera. . |
| hyoid | adjective noun | (pertaining to) U-shaped bone at base of tongue. |
| hyoscine | noun | sleep-inducing drug obtained from plants of nightshade family. hyoscyamine, noun similar drug obtained from henbane. |
| hypaesthesia | noun | incomplete sensory power. |
| hypaethral | adjective | roofless. |
| hypalgesia | noun | diminished sensitivity to pain. |
| hypengyophobia | noun | fear of responsibility |
| hyperacusis, hyperacusia | noun | abnormal keenness of hearing. |
| hyperaemia | noun | excess of blood in a part. hyperaemic, adjective |
| hyperaesthesia | noun | excessive sensitivity. hyperaesthetic, adjective |
| hyperalgesia | noun | undue sensitiveness to pain. |
| hyperaphia | noun | abnormal keenness of touch. |
| hyperbaton | noun | (pl. -ta) inversion of normal word order. hyperbatic, adjective |
| hyperborean | adjective noun | (dweller) in extreme north or cold. |
| hyperbulia | noun | undue eagerness for action; rashness. |
| hypercathexis | noun | desire amounting to mania for an object. |
| hyperdulic | adjective | venerating Virgin Mary highest of all human beings. hyperdulia, noun |
| hypergamy | noun | marriage with person of same or higher caste only. |
| hypergolic | adjective | applied to rocket fuel which ignites spontaneously on contact with an oxidizing agent. |
| hyperhedonia | noun | abnormal pleasure from doing ho-hum things |
| hyperkinesia, hyperkinesis | noun | muscle spasm; hyperactive condition of children. |
| hypermeter | noun | hypercatalectic verse line; person above average height. hypermetric(al), adjective |
| hypermetropia | noun | longsightedness. hypermetropic(al), adjective hypermetropy, noun |
| hyperopia | noun | hypermetropia. hyperope, noun hyperopic, adjective |
| hyperosmia | noun | abnormal keenness of sense of smell. hyperosmic, adjective |
| hyperphysical | adjective | supernatural. |
| hyperpnea | noun | abnormally fast breathing. |
| hypertrichosis | noun | excessive hairiness. |
| hypertrophy | noun | excessive growth of a part; v.i. grow to abnormal size. hypertrophic, hypertrophied, adjective |
| hyphema, hyphaemia | noun | anaemia; extravasation of blood. |
| hypheresis | noun | omission of sound, syllable or letter from word. |
| hypnagogic | adjective | causing sleep; occurring while falling asleep or waking. |
| hypnesthesis | noun | impaired sensitivity. hypnesthetic, adjective |
| hypnoid | adjective | sleep-like. |
| hypnopedia | noun | process of introducing information into the brain while asleep. |
| hypnopompic | adjective | preventing or dispelling sleep; occurring while waking. |
| hypobole | noun | rhetorical device of anticipating objections in order to refute them. |
| hypobulia | noun | diminution in ability to act or decide. hypobulic, adjective lacking willpower. |
| hypocathexis | noun | abnormal absence of desire for an object. |
| hypocaust | noun | ancient air chamber or series of chambers for heating rooms. |
| hypochondrium | noun | either of two regions of the upper part of the abdomen. |
| hypocorisma | noun | pet name. hypocoristic(al), adjective |
| hypodynamia | noun | diminution in strength. hypodynamia cordis, hypodynamia of the heart. |
| hypogastric | adjective | pertaining to lower middle abdominal region. hypogastrium, noun that region. |
| hypogeal | adjective | subterranean. hypogean, adjective growing underground. hypogeic, adjective hypogeiody, noun surveying underground. |
| hypogene | adjective | Geology, plutonic. hypogenic, adjective |
| hypogeous | adjective | hypogean. hypogeum, noun (pl. - gea) underground part of building. |
| hypoglottis | noun | underpart of tongue. hypoglossitis, noun inflammation of this. |
| hypolimnion | noun | lower, colder layer of water in a lake. |
| hypometropia | noun | shortsightedness. |
| hyponasty | noun | stronger growth on the under side of a plant part. hyponastic, adjective |
| hyponychial | adjective | underneath finger- or toe-nail. |
| hypophobia | noun | lack of fear |
| hypophonic, hypophonous | adjective | Music, acting as accompaniment. |
| hypophrenia | noun | feeble-mindedness. hypophrenic, adjective |
| hypophysis | noun | pituitary gland. hypophyseal, hypophysial, adjective hypophysectomy, noun removal of pituitary. hypophyseoprivic, hypophyseoprivous, adjective due to deficient pituitary secretion. |
| hypopnea | noun | abnormally shallow breathing |
| hyposmia | noun | deficient sense of smell |
| hypostasis | noun | (pl. -ses ) support; hypostatised substance; essential substance; Medicine, sediment; hyperaemia of an organ; Theology, substance of the Trinity; person of the Trinity; whole personality of Christ. hypostatic, adjective hypostatize, v. regard as separate substance; assume (hypothetical thing) to be real. |
| hyposthenia | noun | debility. hyposthenic, adjective |
| hypostrophe | noun | Medicine, relapse or turning over; Rhetoric, return to main theme after digression. |
| hyposynergia | noun | incomplete co-ordination. |
| hypothecate | verb | mortgage; deposit as security. hypothecary, adjective hypothecation, noun hypothecatory, adjective |
| hypotrichosis | noun | lack of hair. |
| hypotyposis | noun | vivid description. |
| hypsiloid | adjective | like letter upsilon. |
| hypsography | noun | topographical relief, and its observation; the representation of this in maps. hypsometry, noun measurement of heights above sea-level. hypsophobia, noun dread of heights. |
| hyssop | noun | kind of mint, remedy for bruises. |
| hysteresis | noun | lag in the effect of a change of force, especially in magnetisation. hysteretic, adjective |
| hysterogen(ic) | adjective | produced or developed later; causing hysteria. |
| hysteroid | adjective | like womb or hysteria. |
| hysteron proteron | noun | inversion of natural order or sense, especially of words; fallacy of proving or explaining a proposition with one presupposing or dependent on it. |
| hysteropathy | noun | disease of womb. hysterorrhexia, noun rupture of womb. hysterotomy, noun Caesarean cut. |
| iamatology | noun | medical study of remedies. |
| iatric(al) | adjective | medical. iatraliptics, noun medical treatment by rubbing with oil. iatrochemistry, noun application of chemistry to medical theory and treatment. iatrogenic, adjective applied to a disease or condition induced in a patient by a doctor or medical treatment. iatrology, noun medical science or treatise. iatrotechnics, noun practical therapeutics. |
| iatromisia | noun | dislike of doctors |
| ichnite | noun | fossil footprint. |
| ichnogram | noun | a footprint |
| ichnography | noun | map; ground plan; making of maps and plans. ichnographic(al), adjective |
| ichnology | noun | geological study of fossil footprints. ichnomancy, noun divination by footprints. |
| ichor | noun | watery fluid discharged from wound; fluid supposed to fill veins of Greek and Latin gods. ichorous, adjective ichorrhoea, noun discharge of pus-like fluid. |
| ichthus, ichthys | noun | amulet or talismanic carving in shape of fish. ichthyic, adjective pertaining to fishes. ichthyism, noun fish-poisoning. ichthyofauna, noun fish life of region. ichthyography n. treatise on fishes. ichthyoid, adjective fish-like. ichthyolatry, noun worship of fishes. ichthyolite, noun fossil fish. ichthyology, noun study of fishes. ichthyomorphic, adjective fish-shaped. ichthyophagy, noun eating of fish. ichthyophagist, noun ichthyornis, noun toothed fossil bird of America. ichthyosaur(us), noun large fossil marine reptile. ichthyosis, noun congenital disease characterized by thickened, scaly skin. ichthyotoxism, noun fish-poisoning. |
| ichthyomancy | noun | fortunetelling with fish offal |
| iconolagny | noun | sexual stimulation from pictures or statues |
| icteric | adjective | pertaining to jaundice; n. remedy for jaundice. icterine, icteritious, icteritous, adjective yellowish. icteroid, adjective like jaundice; yellow. icterus, noun jaundice. |
| ictus | noun | stress in verse; Medicine, fit; sudden pulsation or stroke. ictic, adjective |
| ideate | verb | form ideas; imagine; conceive. ideation, noun ideational, ideative, adjective |
| idee fixe | phrase | a fixed, obsessive idea; unyielded notion, conviction or focus |
| idem per idem | phrase | the same by the same: describing an allusion,illustration, or reference that adds nothing to the understandingof a matter |
| idem sonans | phrase | sounding the same: the principle in law that themisspelling of a word or name in a case, contract, etc., doesnot invalidate the document |
| ideogeny | noun | study of origin of ideas. ideogenetic, adjective initiating ideas. ideogenical, adjective ideogenous, adjective of mental origin. |
| ideogram, ideograph | noun | symbol in picture-writing representing idea of thing; any symbol universally recognized. ideography, noun |
| ideopraxist | noun | one who puts ideas into practice |
| idioblast | noun | isolated cell differing greatly from surrounding cells or tissue. idioblastic, adjective |
| idiochromatic | adjective | having characteristic coloration. |
| idiocrasy, idiocrasis | noun | constitutional peculiarity. idiocratic, adjective |
| idioelectric(al) | adjective | able to be electrified by friction. |
| idioglossia | noun | secret speech or language, especially invented by children; psychological condition in which speech is so distorted as to be unintelligible. |
| idiograph | noun | trademark. idiographic(al), adjective pertaining to or dealing with the individual or unique. |
| idiolalia | noun | mental state characterized by use of inventedlanguage |
| idiolalla | noun | crazy condition in which the victim makes up his own language |
| idiomorphic, idiomorphous | adjective | having its own peculiar or proper form. |
| idiopathy | noun | peculiar characteristic; disease not caused by another. idiopathetic, idiopathic(al), adjective |
| idioplasm | noun | part of protoplasm bearing hereditary characteristics; germ plasm. idioplasmatic, idioplasmic, adjective |
| idiospasm | noun | localized cramp. idiospastic, adjective |
| idiothermous, idiothermic | adjective | warm-blooded. idiothermy, noun |
| idioticon | noun | a dialect dictionary |
| idolothyte | adjective noun | (sacrifice) offered to idol. idolothytic, adjective |
| idolum | noun | (pl. -la) phantom; fallacy. |
| idoneous | adjective | apt; suitable |
| ignavia | noun | idleness; laziness |
| ignavy, ignavia | noun | laziness. |
| ignis fatuus | noun | (pl. ignes fatui ) 'foolish fire'; light produced over marshland; will-o-the wisp; any misleading idea or thing. |
| ignoratio elenchi | phrase | ignorance of the refutation: the fallacy ofarguing astray from the point at issue; stressing or 'proving'what is irrelevant |
| ignoscency | noun | forgiveness; a forgiving nature |
| ignotum per ignotius | phrase | the unknown (explained) by means of the more unknown: an annoyingly obscure explanation |
| ileum | noun | last part of small intestine. ileac, adjective ileitis, noun inflammation of ileum. ileus, noun complete obstruction of intestine. |
| ilium | noun | (pl. ilia) bone forming part of pelvis; hip bone. iliac, adjective pertaining to the loins. iliacus, noun flexor muscle of thigh. |
| illachrymable | adjective | unable to cry |
| illaqueate | verb | to catch or trap |
| illation | noun | inference; act of inferring. illative, a.; n. such word (as therefore). |
| illeism | noun | affected or excessive use of the third-person pronoun'he' or 'one', esp. in reference to oneself |
| illicitator | noun | an auctioneer's shill |
| illinition | noun | act of rubbing on. |
| illocutionary | adjective | pertaining to or describing an utterance that,reflecting the speaker's emotions, conveys more or something otherthan its literal meaning, such as a question implyingdissatisfaction |
| illutation | noun | a mud bath |
| illuvium | noun | (pl. -iums, -ia) material removed from soil layer by rainwater and deposited in lower layer. illuvial, adjective illuviate, v.i. undergo illuviation. illuviation, noun accumulation of illuvium. |
| imago | noun | (pl. -goes, -gines ), adult form of insect. |
| imbat | noun | periodical cool wind of Cyprus and Levant. |
| imbonity | noun | lack of good qualities |
| imbreviate | verb | draw up as a brief; enrol. |
| imbricate | adjective | overlapping; v.i. & t. be or make imbricate. imbrication, noun intricacy. imbricative, adjective |
| imbrue | verb | dye; soak. |
| imbrute | verb | degrade; become brutish. |
| immanent | adjective | indwelling; inherent; all-pervading. immanence, noun |
| immarcescible | adjective | indestructible |
| immeability | noun | state of being impassable or lacking power to pass. |
| immerd | verb | to cover with excrement |
| immerge | verb | plunge in; immerse oneself in something. immergence, noun |
| imminution | noun | diminution. |
| immorigerous | adjective | rude, boorish |
| immortelle | noun | everlasting dried flower. |
| immund | adjective | unclean; foul; filthy |
| immunoassay | noun | determination of presence and quantity of a substance through its action as an antigen. |
| immure | verb | imprison; entomb. |
| impacable | adjective | not pacifiable. |
| impactite | noun | slag-like glassy object found on surface of the earth, probably formed from rock melted by the impact of a meteor. |
| impanation | noun | introduction or embodiment of Christ's body in Communion bread. impanate, adjective |
| imparity | noun | disparity. imparisyllabic, noun & a. (word) having different number of syllables in different cases. |
| impasto | noun | application of pigment thickly, in painting; such pigment. |
| impavid | adjective | not afraid; fearless; undaunted |
| impeccant | adjective | sinless |
| impecunious | adjective | poor. impecuniosity, noun |
| impennate | adjective | flightless; pertaining to penguins; n. penguin. |
| imperator | noun | commander, ruler. |
| imperdible | adjective | incapable of being lost |
| imperscriptible | adjective | not recorded. |
| impetigo | noun | pustulous skin disease. impetiginous, adjective |
| impetrate | verb | ask for; obtaining by asking. impetration, noun impetrator, noun impetrative, adjective |
| impignorate | verb | mortgage; pawn;, adjective pawned. impignoration, noun |
| impinguate | verb | to fatten |
| impostumate, imposthumate | verb | form or inflict an abscess. impostumation, noun |
| imprecate | verb | pray for (evil); curse. imprecation, noun imprecatory, adjective |
| improcreant | adjective | sexually impotent. |
| improlificate | verb | to impregnate |
| impropriate | verb | transfer (ecclesiastical revenue) to layman. impropriation, impropriator, impropriatrix, noun |
| impudicity | noun | shamelessness. |
| in camera | phrase | 'in private chamber'; in secret; in private. |
| in esse | adjective | 'in existence'. |
| in invidiam | phrase | in ill-will or to excite prejudice |
| in malam partem | phrase | in bad part: in a bad sense |
| in media res | phrase | in the middle of the thing, or directly into thecourse of a story of plot without any preliminaries |
| in posse | adjective | 'in possibility'. |
| inamorato | noun | (fem. -ta) lover; beloved person. |
| inaniloquent | adjective | loquacious, windy, garrulous |
| inanition | noun | emptiness; starvation; exhaustion. |
| incalescent | adjective | becoming warm or warmer. incalescence, incalescency, noun |
| incanous | adjective | covered with soft white hairs. |
| incardinate | verb | make cardinal; receive (priest) from another diocese. |
| incarnadine | adjective | crimson; flesh-colored; v.t. dye crimson. |
| inconcinnity | noun | unsuitableness; ineptitude |
| incondite | adjective | crude, unfinished |
| inconnu | noun | (fem. -ue) unknown person; stranger. |
| incrassate | verb | to make or become thick or thicker; to thicken;inspissate |
| increpation | noun | criticism, censure |
| incretion | noun | internal secretion; hormone. incretionary, incretory, adjective |
| incroyable | noun | fop. |
| incruental | adjective | bloodless |
| inculcate | verb | impress on mind by frequent repetition. inculcation, noun inculcative, inculcatory, adjective |
| inculpate | verb | to blame, accuse, incriminate |
| incunabula | noun | (sing. -lum) early printed books, especially printed before AD 1500; any early or beginning period. incunabulist, noun student of these. incunabular, adjective |
| incuse | adjective noun | (impression, especially on coin) stamped in. |
| indaba | noun | palaver; conference. |
| indagate | verb | investigate. indagation, indagator, n.indagative, adjective |
| Index Librorum Prohibitorum | phrase | 'list of forbidden books' of the Roman Catholic Church. Index Expurgatorius, list of books allowed only in expurgated form. |
| indictum sit | phrase | let it be unsaid |
| indite | verb | compose; write down; describe. inditement, noun |
| indoles | noun | inherent disposition. |
| induciae | noun | pl. armistice. |
| indue | verb | put on; assume; endow; supply. |
| indumentum | noun | (pl. -ta, -ums) thick, woolly or hairy covering. |
| indurate | verb | harden. induration, noun indurative, adjective |
| indurated | adjective | obstinate, hardened, unyielding, made unfeeling |
| ineluctable | adjective | inevitable; irresistable |
| inenerrable | adjective | indescribable |
| inerm(ous) | adjective | Botany, without prickles. |
| inexpugnable | adjective | that cannot be taken by assault or storm; unconquerable; impregnable |
| inexsuperable | adjective | insurmountable, impassable |
| infandous | adjective | too horrible to mention, unspeakably awful |
| infandous | noun | something so bad it should never be mentioned |
| infarct | noun | portion of dead and scarred tissue in an organ resulting from congestion or blockage of a blood vessel serving it. infarction, noun |
| inferiae | noun | pl. sacrifices to beings of underworld. |
| infeudation | noun | granting of feoff; transfer of tithes to layman. |
| inficete | adjective | dull, unfunny, deadly serious, humorless |
| inflorescence | noun | flowering; arrangement of flowers in a plant; flower cluster or head. inflorescent, adjective |
| infracaninophile | noun | champion of the underdog |
| infract | verb | infringe. infraction, noun violation, especially of law. |
| infucation | noun | putting on make-up |
| infumate(d) | adjective | blackish; smoky. |
| infundibular, infundibulate | adjective noun | adjective |
| infuscate(d) | adjective | brownish; obscured. |
| infusoria | adjective noun | n. -pl. pl. (sing, -ian) class of protozoa found in water. infusorial, infusorian, adj. infusoriform, infusorioid, adj. like an infusorian. |
| ingannation | noun | deception; fraud |
| ingeminate | verb | repeat; reiterate; to emphasize by repetition |
| ingle | noun | fire in a fireplace |
| ingler | noun | crooked horse breeder |
| ingluvies | noun | bird's crop. ingluvial, adjective |
| ingluvious | adjective | gluttonous |
| ingravescent | adjective | continually becoming more severe. |
| ingravidate | verb | to impregnate |
| inguinal | adjective | pertaining to or near the groin. |
| ingurgitate | verb | swallow up; guzzle. ingurgitation, noun |
| ingustable | adjective | tasteless |
| inhere | adjective verb | v. -i. belong intimately and by nature; be a part of. inhesion, inherence, n.inherent, adj. innate; fixed; settled; constituting an inseparable part or attribute. |
| inhume | verb | bury. inhumation, noun |
| iniquitous | adjective | unjust; wicked. iniquity, noun |
| innascible | adjective | without a beginning |
| innoxious | adjective | harmless. |
| inopinate | adjective | unexpected. |
| inosculate | verb | unite; combine; blend. inosculation, noun |
| inquiline | adjective | living in another's nest or dwelling; n. such animal. inquilinism, inquilinity, noun inquilinous, adjective |
| inquinate | verb | to corrupt |
| insalubrious | adjective | unhealthy, deleterious |
| insapory | adjective | tasteless |
| inscenation | noun | mise en sc�ne. |
| insolate | verb | expose to sunlight. insolation, noun such exposure; sunstroke; medical treatment by sun-bathing; radiation from sun. |
| insouciance | noun | indifference; carefreeness. insouciant, adjective |
| instauration | noun | restoration to former excellence. instaurator, noun |
| insufflate | verb | blow on or into; breathe upon. insufflation, noun insufflator, noun |
| insulse | adjective | tasteless, flat, insipid |
| insusurration | noun | whispering in the ear; insinuation |
| intarsia | noun | pattern of inlaid wood; art of making such patterns. intarsiate, adjective |
| intellection | noun | superhuman knowledge; act or exercise of intellect; synecdoche. |
| intemerate | adjective | undefiled. |
| intempestive | adjective | inopportune; out of season. intempestivity, noun |
| intenerate | verb | soften. inteneration, noun |
| intension | noun | intensity; intensification; exertion of mind or will; Logic, properties implied by a concept or term. |
| inter alia | phrase | among other things |
| inter se | phrase | 'among themselves'. |
| interamnian | adjective | between rivers. |
| intercalary | adjective | inserted in the calendar; bissextile; leap (year); interpolated. intercalate, v. intercalation, noun |
| intercalation | noun | an insertion or interposing, as of a word between other words in a sentence |
| intercardinal | adjective noun | (point) half-way between two cardinal points of compass. |
| interciliary | adjective | between eyebrows. |
| intercolline | adjective | between hills. |
| intercosmic | adjective | between or among stars. |
| intercostal | adjective | between ribs. |
| interdigitate | verb | to interlace the fingers |
| interfenestral | adjective | between windows. interfenestration, noun such distance. |
| interfluvial | adjective | between two rivers flowing in same direction. interfluve, noun such area. |
| intergern | verb | to snarl back |
| interjacent | adjective | situated between; intervening. interjacence, interjacency, noun |
| interlunar | adjective | pertaining to period between old and new moon. interlunation, noun such period; interval of darkness. |
| internecion | noun | mutual destruction |
| internuncio | noun | go-between; papal emissary. |
| interoceptor | noun | sensory receptor responding to stimuli arising within the body, especially the viscera. interoceptive, adjective |
| interosculate | verb | intermix; have common biological characteristics. interosculant, adjective intersecting. interosculation, noun |
| interpellate | verb | arraign or question for explanation. interpellant, adjective interrupting; n. person interpellating. interpellation, noun interpellating; interruption. interpellator, noun |
| interpellation | noun | a formal questioning or challenging regardingan action or policy |
| intersilient | adjective | suddenly emerging in the midst of something |
| intertessellation | noun | complicated interrelationship. |
| intertonic | adjective | between accented sounds or syllables. |
| intertrigo | noun | inflammation of skin caused by friction between moist surfaces. intertriginous, adjective |
| intima | noun | (pl. -ae ) Anatomy, inner lining of organ or vessel. |
| intorsion | noun | twisting, twining. intort, v.i. |
| intrados | noun | interior curve of arch |
| intravasation | noun | Medicine, entrance of externally formed matter into vessels. |
| intra-vitam | adjective | during life. |
| introit | noun | psalm or hymn chanted at approach to altar of celebrant priest; first part of Roman Catholic Mass. |
| introjection | noun | incorporation of external ideas and attitudes into one's own personality. introject, v. |
| intromit | verb | insert; admit. intromission, noun intromittent, adjective |
| introrse | adjective | inward facing. |
| inula | noun | elecampane. inulaceous, inuloid, adjective like inula. |
| inunct | verb | anoint. inunction, noun act of anointing; ointment; rubbing of ointment into skin. inunctum, noun lanolin ointment. |
| inusitate | adjective | obsolete |
| invaginate | verb | sheathe; infold; draw part of tube, etc., inside other part. invagination, noun act of invaginating; part invaginated; intussusception. |
| inveterate | adjective | confirmed; long-established. inveteracy, noun |
| invination | noun | inclusion or embodiment of blood of Christ in Communion wine. |
| inviscate | verb | make sticky; entrap with sticky substance. inviscation, noun |
| invita minerva | phrase | minerva being unwilling: without any naturaltalent or inspiration |
| involucre | noun | covering, especially whorl of bracts in plant. involucral, adjective like an involucre. involucrate, adjective having an involucre. |
| involute | adjective | curved spirally inwards; complicated. involution, noun |
| invultuation | noun | stabbing of wax image of person to be injured as form of witchcraft. |
| iodoform | noun | antiseptic made from iodine and alcohol. iodotherapy, noun medical treatment with iodine. |
| ipse dixit | phrase | he himself has said (it): an unsupported assertion, or a presumption bearing no evidence of its truth or validity |
| ipsedixitism | noun | dogmatism |
| ipseity | noun | selfhood. |
| ipsism | noun | masturbation |
| ipsissima verba | phrase | the very words |
| iracund | adjective | easily provoked, quick-tempered, irascible |
| irade | noun | Muslim edict, especially sultan's decree. |
| irascent | adjective | becoming angry. irascible, adjective easily angered; irritable. irascibility, noun |
| iridic | adjective | containing iridium; pertaining to iris of eye. |
| iridology | noun | diagnosis based on examining iris of eye. iridologist, noun |
| irisation | noun | iridescence. iriscope, noun apparatus producing iridescence. |
| iritis | noun | inflammation of iris of eye. iritic, adjective |
| irredenta | adjective | 'unredeemed'; applied to part of country under another's rule. irredential, adjective irredentism, noun policy of attempting to recover such region to country that has lost it. irredentist, noun |
| irrefragable | adjective | indisputable; unbreakable. |
| irrefrangible | adjective | that cannot or should not be broken; inviolable |
| irremeable | adjective | allowing of no return; irrevocable. |
| irreptitious | adjective | creeping stealthily |
| irrumation | noun | fellatio |
| irrupt | adjective verb | v. -i. burst in; enter violently. irruption, n. irruptive, adj. |
| isagoge | noun | introduction. isagogic(al), adjective isagogics, noun introductory study of Bible. |
| isagogic | adjective | introductory |
| isallobar | noun | line on map passing through all places with equal changes in pressure over a certain period. |
| isanemone | noun | line on map connecting all places with same wind velocity. |
| isarithm | noun | line on map passing through places of same density of population. |
| ischialgia | noun | sciatica. ischialgic, adjective |
| ischidrosis | noun | suppression of perspiration. |
| ischium | noun | (pl. -ia) bone forming base of each half of pelvis. |
| isinglass | noun | form of gelatine made from fishes' air bladders; agar-agar. |
| isobath | noun | line of map passing through all points of equal depth below water. |
| isocheim | noun | line on map passing through all places with same average winter temperature. isocheimal, isocheimenal, isocheimic, adjective |
| isochronous | adjective | lasting equal time; recurring at equal intervals. isochronal, isochronic(al), adjective isochronize, v. isochronism, noun isochronon, noun chronometer. |
| isochroous | adjective | of uniform color. |
| isoclinal | adjective noun | (line on map passing through all places) with same magnetic dip; having equal inclination. isoclinic, adjective |
| isocracy | noun | equal rule; possession of equal power by all. isocrat, noun isocratic, adjective |
| isocryme | noun | isotherm for coldest period of year. isocrymal, isocrymic, adjective |
| isodiabatic | adjective | pertaining to equal heat transmission. |
| isodynamic | adjective | pertaining to or having equal force. isodynamia, noun |
| isogenesis | noun | sameness of origin. isogenetic,, isogenic, isogenous, adjective isogeny, noun |
| isogeotherm | noun | line connecting points of equal temperature below the earth's surface. |
| isogloss | noun | a line of a dialect map delimiting localities in which some feature of speech is found. isoglossal, adjective |
| isogonal | adjective | having equal angles. isogonic, a.; n. line on map passing through all places with same magnetic declination. |
| isography | noun | imitation of other person's hand-writing. isographic(al), adjective |
| isohel | noun | line on map passing through all places with same hours of sunshine. |
| isohyet | noun | line on map passing through all places with same rainfall. isohyetal, adjective |
| isokeraunic | adjective noun | (line on map connecting places) with equal or simultaneous occurrence of thunderstorms. |
| isomer | noun | compound of same elements in same proportions by weight as another, but having different structure and properties. isomeric, adjective isomerize, v. isomerism, noun isomerous, adjective having same number of parts, peculiarities, etc. |
| isonomy | noun | equality of legal rights. isonomic, isonomous, adjective |
| isonym | noun | word of same derivation or form as another; cognate word. isonymic, adjective isonymy, noun |
| isopiestic | adjective | isobar(ic) |
| isopleth | noun | line on map passing through places with same numerical values for a meteorological feature. |
| isopolity | noun | equality of political rights. isopolitical, adjective |
| isopsephic | adjective | numerically equal. isopsephism, noun |
| isopycnic | adjective noun | (line passing through points) of equal density. |
| isorropic | adjective | of equal value. |
| isoseismal | adjective noun | (line on map passing through places) of same intensity of earthquake shock. isoseismic(al), adjective |
| isostasy | noun | state of equilibrium due to equal pressure on all sides. isostatic, adjective |
| isothere | noun | isotherm for average summer temperature. isotheral, adjective |
| isotron | noun | device for separating isotopes. |
| ithyphallic | adjective | indecent; pertaining to verse line of three trochees. |
| ixiodic | adjective | pertaining or due to ticks. ixiodian, ixiodid, noun & a. (pertaining to) a tick. |
| izles | noun | sparks and soot coming out of a chimney |
| izzard | noun | ancient word for the letter Z |
| jabot | noun | long frill in front of bodice. |
| jacinth | noun | orange-colored variety of the gem hyacinth. jacinthe, noun orange color. |
| jaconet | noun | kind of thin cotton fabric, especially with one side glazed. |
| jactancy | noun | boasting. jactation, noun boasting; Medicine, tossing or shaking of body. |
| jactitation | noun | loud or public bragging; or excessive twitching and restlessness |
| jaculation | noun | hurling or darting, as of spears. jaculiferous, adjective with arrow-like prickles. jaculatory, adjective |
| jaculative | adjective | darting, sporadic |
| jagannath | noun | juggernaut. |
| jalousie | noun | blind or shutter with slats slanting upwards and inwards. |
| jambolan | noun | plum-like tree of Java with fruit used as astringent and drug. jambool, jambul, noun jambolan. |
| jampan | noun | kind of sedan chair. |
| janiceps | noun | monster with two heads which look in opposite direction |
| Janiform | adjective | like the Roman god Janus; two-faced. |
| jannock | adjective | pleasant; outspoken; honest; generous. |
| jaspé | adjective | mottled or streaked with color. |
| jecoral | adjective | pertaining to the liver. jecorize, v. impregnate with ultra-violet rays; make similar in value to cod-liver oil. |
| jejunator | noun | one who fasts |
| jennet | noun | small Spanish horse; she-ass. |
| jentacular | adjective | pertaining to breakfast. |
| jeofail | noun | mistake made by a lawyer in court |
| jeremiad | noun | mournful prophecy, story or complaint. |
| jerque | verb | examine papers of (a ship) for smuggling attempts, etc. jerquer, noun customs officer who jerques ships. |
| jess | noun | ringed strap round hawk's leg. |
| jeunesse dorée | phrase | 'gilded youth'; rich young people. |
| jobation | noun | tedious criticism |
| jocoserious | adjective | a combination of funny and serious |
| jointure | noun | settlement of estate on wife to become effective on death of husband; v.t. settle jointure on. jointress, jointuress, noun woman holding jointure. |
| jongleur | noun | medieval wandering minstrel; troubadour; juggler. |
| jorum | noun | large bowl containing drink; its contents. |
| jugal | adjective | pertaining to cheek or cheek bone. |
| jugate | adjective | in pairs; applied to two overlapping heads on coin. jugation, noun |
| jugular | adjective | pertaining to neck or throat; n. such vein. jugulate, v. kill by cutting throat or strangling; check by drastic measures. |
| jugulate | verb | to check or suppress by extreme measures; or to cut the throat of |
| jumelle | adjective | in or with pairs. |
| jumentous | adjective | having a strong animal smell |
| juncaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a rush; belonging to rush family of plants. |
| jural | adjective | pertaining to law or legal rights. juramentum, (Latin) n. ( pl. - ta) oath. jurant, noun & a. (person) taking oath. jurat, noun sworn public officer; magistrate; municipal officer of Cinque Ports; statement at end of affidavit showing circumstances in which it was sworn. juration, noun swearing. juratorial, adjective pertaining to jury. juratory, adjective pertaining to oath. |
| jurisconsult | noun | legal expert. |
| jus | noun | (pl. jures) law; legal power or right. jus gentium, law of nations. jus inter gentes, international law. jus primae noctis, droit du seigneur. |
| jus et norma loquendi | phrase | the law and rule of speaking: common usage |
| jussive | adjective | Grammar, signifying command. |
| juvenescent | adjective | becoming young. juvenescence, noun |
| juvenilia | noun | pl. writer's or artist's youthful, early works. |
| jyngine | adjective | pertaining to or like a wryneck; belonging to wryneck subfamily of birds. |
| kaddish | noun | Jewish prayers for the dead. |
| kairin | noun | a fever reducing drug, named after a Greek word meaning in-the-nick-of-time |
| kakemono | noun | Japanese vertical wall-picture or inscription mounted on a roller. |
| kakidrosis | noun | secretion of malodorous perspiration. |
| kakistocracy | noun | government by the worst citizens |
| kakorrhaphiophobia | noun | fear of failure |
| kalokagathia | noun | a combination of the good and the beautiful in a person |
| kalon | noun | the kind of beauty that is more than skin deep |
| kalopsia | noun | condition where things appear more beautiful thanthey really are |
| kampong | noun | Malay village. |
| kaolin | noun | china clay, used in porcelain manufacture and in medicine. |
| kaon | noun | Physics, elementary particle of the meson family. |
| karaka | noun | tree with edible seeds and fruit. |
| karakul | noun | sheep of Central Asia; curled black fleece of its lambs. |
| karimption | noun | a crowd; a mass |
| karyokinesis | noun | cell division, especially of nucleus. karyoplasm, noun protoplasm of cell nucleus. karyotin, noun sustainable matter of nucleus. |
| kashruth | noun | the state of being kosher |
| katabasis | noun | military retreat. katabatic a. moving downhill, sinking (of winds). |
| kathakali | noun | highly stylized form of S Indian drama, using dance and mime. |
| katharometer | noun | instrument measuring alterations in composition of gas mixture. |
| kathenotheism | noun | polytheism with a head god |
| katowse | noun | a ruckus, tumult, din |
| kauri | noun | gum- and timber-yielding tree of New Zealand; its white timber; its resin found in lumps in ground. |
| keckle | noun | nautical term meaning to wind something with a rope |
| keddah | noun | elephant trap. |
| kedge | noun | small anchor; v.t. move (ship) by hauling on anchor dropped ahead from boat. |
| kedogenous | adjective | produced by worry |
| keelivine | noun | lead pencil |
| keelson | noun | wooden or steel structure lengthwise within ship's frame to bear and distribute stress. |
| kef | noun | sleepiness, caused by drugs; hashish, etc. |
| kelim | noun | woven rug, made in W Asia. |
| keloid | noun | fibrous skin tumour, especially over scar; raised scars forming pattern on body, in certain African tribes. |
| kelt | noun | salmon after spawning. |
| kenophobia | noun | fear of empty or open spaces |
| kerasine | adjective | horny. |
| keratogenic | adjective | able to cause growth of horn, skin, hair, etc. keratogenous, adjective horn-producing. keratoid, adjective horny. keratode, noun keratose substance. keratose, noun & a. (substance) of horny fibres. keratosis, noun excessive growth of horny tissue of skin. |
| keraunograph | noun | instrument detecting distant thunderstorm; pattern made by lightning on struck object. keraunoscopia, keraunoscopy, noun divination by thunder. |
| keraunophobia | noun | fear of thunder and lightning |
| keraunoscopia | noun | fortunetelling by thunder |
| kerdomeletia | noun | excessive attention to material wealth |
| kerlerap | verb | to cavort; to play |
| kermes | noun | red cochineal-like dye made from dried bodies of certain female insects of Mediterranean; evergreen oak on which these insects feed. |
| kerogen | noun | kind of bitumen found in oil shale. kerosene, noun fuel oil also called paraffin. |
| kerygma | noun | christian preaching |
| kerygmatic | adjective | pertaining to preaching, especially of gospel. |
| ketch | noun | two-masted fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel. |
| ketone | noun | chemical compound of carbon, obtained by distilling salts of organic acids. ketonaemia, noun presence of ketone, especially acetone, in blood. ketonic, adjective ketonize, v. convert into ketone. ketogenesis, noun production of ketone, especially in diabetes. ketosis, noun presence of excess of ketone in body. |
| khamsin, khamseen | noun | hot wind of Egypt blowing from Sahara; dust storm. |
| khoja(h) | noun | title of respect for teacher or wise man. |
| kia ora | phrase | 'be well'; good health! |
| kibe | noun | chapped place on skin; ulcerated chilblain. |
| kickshaw | noun | a tidbit or delicacy |
| kieselguhr | noun | fine powder once used in dynamite |
| kieselguhr | noun | powdery substance, mainly silica, used in filters, explosives, etc. |
| kilderkin | noun | measure of capacity, about 18 gallons; cask holding that amount. |
| kinesalgia | noun | muscular pain. kinesiatrics, noun medical treatments by muscular movements. |
| kinin | noun | hormone causing contraction of smooth muscle; hormone that promotes cell division and development in plants. |
| kino | noun | red gum containing tannin, obtained from several tropical trees. |
| kippage | noun | commotion, confusion, excitement |
| kitmegur | noun | butler |
| kitthoge | adjective noun | left-handed or awkward; or a left-handed orawkward person |
| klepht | noun | brigand. klephtic, adjective klephtism, noun |
| klong | noun | canal. |
| kloof | noun | ravine. |
| knissomancy | noun | fortunetelling by incense-burning |
| knout | noun | whip with leather and wire thongs; v.t. flog with a knout. |
| knuller | noun | chimney sweep who solicits his services door to door |
| knur | noun | knob; knot in wood. |
| koftgari | noun | inlaying of gold on steel. |
| kohl | noun | dark eye make-up used in Asia. |
| kokum | noun | pretending to be sympathetic |
| kompology | noun | braggadocio |
| koniology | noun | study of dust and germs in atmosphere. koniometer, koniscope, noun instrument measuring amount of dust in air. |
| kopje | noun | hillock. |
| kopophobia | noun | fear of physical or mental exhaustion |
| korfball | noun | basketball-like game played between two teams of six men and six women each. |
| kosmokrator | noun | the ruler of the world |
| kourbash | noun | whip of hide; v.t. flog with a kourbash. |
| krasis | noun | addition of water to Communion wine. |
| kreatophagia | noun | the eating of raw meat |
| kris | noun | Malay dagger with scalloped blade. |
| kukri | noun | broad curved Gurkha knife. |
| kumiss | noun | fermented camel's milk, used as a beverage by Asian nomads |
| kwistgoed | noun | a spendthrift |
| kymatology | noun | study of wave motion. |
| kymatology | noun | the science of waves |
| kymograph | noun | instrument recording pressure curves, etc. kymographic, adjective |
| kyphosis | noun | inward curvature of the spine. kyphotic, adjective |
| kyphotic | noun | a person who has a hump on his back |
| labanotation | noun | a method of writing down the movements, etc., of ballet diagrammatically. |
| labefact, labefy | verb | weaken. labefactation, labefaction, noun |
| labefy | verb | to weaken |
| labellate | adjective | lipped. labelloid, adjective lip-like. labellum, noun (pl. - la) lip of flower's corolla. |
| labidophorous | adjective | with a pair of pincer-like organs. |
| labile | adjective | prone to change; unstable |
| labiodental | adjective | pertaining to or pronounced with lips and teeth; n. such sound, as f. labiomancy, noun lip-reading. labionasal, noun & a. (sound) pronounced with lips and nasal passage, as m. labiovelar, noun & a. (sound) pronounced with rounded lips and back of tongue raised, as w. |
| labrose | adjective | thick-lipped. |
| lacertilian | noun | another name for a lizard |
| laches | noun | negligence; carelessness. |
| lachrymal | adjective | pertaining to tears and weeping; n.pl. organs secreting tears; crying fits. lachrymary, adjective lachrymation, noun lachrymator, noun substance or gas causing tears. lachrymatory, noun narrow-necked vase; tear-bottle. lachrymiform, adjective tear-shaped. lachrymist, noun weeper. lachrymogenic, adjective causing tears. lachrymose, adjective tearful. |
| laciniate | adjective | fringed; jagged, slashed. laciniform, adjective like a fringe. laciniose, adjective lacinulate, adjective with fine or small fringe. laciniation, noun |
| lacis | noun | network; filet lace. |
| laconicum | noun | a steam bath |
| lactarium | noun | dairy. lactary, adjective pertaining to milk. |
| lactate | verb | v. -i. secrete milk; suckle young; n. salt or ester of lactic acid. lactation, n. |
| lacteal | adjective | pertaining to milk; n. & a. (vessel) conveying chyle. lactean, adjective milky. |
| lactescent | adjective | like milk; secreting milk; yielding milky substance. lacteous, adjective milky. lactescence, noun |
| lactivorous | adjective | living on milk |
| lacuna | noun | (pl. -ae ) gap; interval; hiatus. lacunal, lacunose, lacunar, lacunary, adjective |
| lacuscular | adjective | pertaining to pools. |
| lacustrine | adjective | pertaining to lakes. lacustral, adjective lacustrian, a.; n. lake-dweller. |
| ladrone | noun | robber. ladronism, noun brigandage. |
| laevoduction | noun | movement leftwards. laevogyrate, laevorotatory, adjective turning to left, especially plane of polarized light. laevoversion, noun turning of eyes to left. laevulose, noun kind of very sweet sugar obtained from sucrose. . |
| lagan | noun | goods lying on sea-bed, often at marked spot. |
| lagena | noun | (pl. -ae) flask. lageniform, adjective flask-shaped. |
| lagnosis | noun | satyriasis |
| lagophthalmus, lagopthalmos | noun | condition of incomplete closure of eye. lagopthalmic, adjective |
| lagotic | adjective | having rabbitlike ears |
| laic | adjective | not clerical or ecclesiastical; lay. laicism, noun anticlericalism. laicize, v. divest of ecclesiastical nature; give over to lay control. |
| lallation | noun | infant's talk, or speech similar to it; pronunciation of r as l. |
| lallophobia | noun | fear of speaking |
| lalochezia | noun | filthy talk to relieve tension |
| laloplegia | noun | loss of speech caused by paralysis. |
| lama | noun | Tibetan monk or priest. lamaic, lamaistic, adjective lamaism, lamaist, noun lamasery, noun lama monastery. |
| lambent | adjective | shining gently or playing about surface; flickering; gently radiant. lambency, noun |
| lambert | noun | unit of brightness: brightness of surface radiating one lumen per square centimetre. |
| lambrequin | noun | ornamental hanging over upper part of window or along the edge of a shelf; border pattern with draped effect used in ceramics; covering for helmet. |
| lamella | noun | (pl. -ae ) thin plate or layer. lamelloid, adjective like lamella. lamellose, lamellar, lamellary, adjective lamellated, adjective composed of such. lamellation, noun |
| lamia | noun | mythical monster with snake's body and woman's head and breasts. |
| lamiaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like mint; belonging to mint family of plants. |
| lamina | noun | (pl. -ae) thin plate or layer; flake. laminal, laminose, laminous, laminar, laminary, adjective laminate, v.i. & t. split into laminae; bond several laminae together; plate with metal; a. shaped like or composed of laminae. lamination, noun |
| lammergeier | noun | eagle- and vulture-like bird of prey, largest of Europe; bearded vulture. |
| lampadedromy | noun | foot race with lighted torches, especially relay race in which torch is passed on. lampadephore, noun torchbearer. |
| lampadomancy | noun | fortunetelling with the flame of a torch |
| lamprophony | noun | speaking in clear, loud voice. |
| lampyrid | adjective noun | (pertaining to) glow-worm or fire-fly. lampyrine, adjective |
| lanameter | noun | mechanical means of determining quality of wool. lanate, adjective woolly. |
| lanceolate | adjective | having shape of lance-head, especially tapering at each end. lanceolation, noun |
| lancinate | adjective | lacerate; pierce. lancination, noun |
| landau | noun | four-wheeler carriage with folding hood and removable top. landaulette, noun coupé with folding hood. |
| landes | noun | pl. desert or marshy lowlands beside sea. |
| languescent | adjective | becoming tired |
| languet(te) | noun | tongue-like appendage or outgrowth. |
| laniary | adjective noun | canine (tooth). laniariform, adjective |
| lanugo | noun | woolly down, especially covering human fetus. lanuginose, lanuginous, adjective downy. |
| lapactic | adjective noun | purgative. laparectomy, laparotomy, noun operation for removal of part of wall of abdomen. |
| lapicide | noun | stone-cutter. |
| lapidate | verb | stone to death. lapidation, lapidator, noun |
| lapideous | adjective | of or cut in stone. lapidicolous, adjective living under stones. lapidific, adjective forming stone. lapidify, v. turn into stone. |
| lapillus | noun | small fragment of volcanic rock |
| lappaceous | adjective | prickly. |
| lappet | noun | flap or fold (on garment); fleshy lobe. |
| lapsus calami | phrase | a slip of the pen; lapsus pennae |
| lapsus linguae | noun | (pl. same) 'slip of the tongue'. lapsus memoriae, slip of memory. |
| larboard | noun | archaic, port. |
| lares | noun | n. -pl. pl. local or tutelary gods. lares and penates, household gods. |
| larine | adjective | pertaining to or like gulls. |
| larithmics | noun | study of population statistics. |
| larmoyant | adjective | tearful; weeping. |
| lascar | noun | native sailor or soldier. |
| lasher | noun | weir; water in or pool below weir. |
| lassipedes | noun | tired feet |
| lasslorn | adjective | stood up by one's lady |
| latebricole | adjective | living in holes. |
| lateen | adjective | applied to triangular sail rigged on spar forming angle of 45° with mast. lateener, noun lateen-rigged vessel. |
| laterigrade | adjective noun | (animal) moving sideways or crab-wise. |
| laterite | noun | Geology, red clay formed by weathering of oxide- bearing rocks. lateritic, adjective lateritious, adjective brick-red in color. |
| lateroversion | noun | Medicine, sideways displacement of organ. |
| latescent | adjective | becoming latent. |
| laticostate | adjective | having broad ribs. latidentate, adjective having broad teeth. latipennate, adjective having broad wings. latirostrate, adjective having broad beak. |
| latitidinarian | noun | characterized by liberality in opinion or inaction; tolerant in one's views |
| latitudinarian | adjective noun | (person) having broad and free views, especially religious. latitudinarianism, noun |
| latitudinous | adjective | (of attitude, interpretation) having breadth. |
| latrant | adjective | snarling, complaining |
| latticinio | noun | kind of glass with white veins. |
| laureate | adjective | crowned with laurel wreath as prize or sign of distinction; n. such person, especially poet; prize-winner;, v. bestow laurel wreath on. laureation, noun |
| laurence | noun | bending of lightwaves by heat as seen on pavement on hot summer day |
| lavage | noun | washing (out). lavation, noun |
| laxation | noun | act of loosening; state of being loosened. |
| layette | noun | clothing, bedding, etc., for new-born child. |
| lazar | noun | leper; any plague-stricken person. lazaretto, noun leper hospital. |
| lazarole | noun | medlar. |
| lecanomancy | noun | fortunetelling by looking at water in a basin |
| lecheur | noun | a devotee of oral intercourse; a licker |
| lecithal | adjective | having yolk. lecithity, noun |
| lectern | noun | reading desk. lection, noun variant reading in a particular edition of a text. |
| lectionary | noun | list of parts of Scriptures ordered to be read in churches. |
| lectual | adjective | necessitating confinement to bed. |
| leggiadrous | adjective | graceful |
| leguleian | adjective | like lawyer; pettifogging; n. lawyer. leguleious, adjective |
| leguminous | adjective | applied to plants with seeds in pods. legume, noun vegetable; leguminous plant grown as forage; pod. leguminiform, adjective pod-shaped. leguminose, adjective |
| leiotrichous | adjective | smooth-haired. leiotrichy, noun leiophyllous, adjective smooth-leaved. |
| leister | noun | trident for spearing fish. |
| lemma | noun | (pl. -mas, -mata ) Logic, major premise; (argument or theme used as) the title of a composition; Lexicography, word considered as a headword, accompanied by all its inflected forms. Botany, flowering glume of grass. |
| lemnaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like duckweed; belonging to duckweed family of plants. |
| lemures | noun | spirits of dead. |
| lenitive | adjective noun | soothing (drug); gentle laxative; palliative. lenity, noun gentleness; leniency. |
| lenocinant | adjective | lewd |
| lentic | adjective | pertaining to or living in still water. |
| lentiginous | adjective | full of freckles |
| lentigo | noun | (pl. -tigines ) freckle or freckle-like condition. lentiginous, adjective freckly; scurfy. |
| lentitude | noun | slowness; lethargy. lentitudinous, adjective |
| lentoid | adjective | lens-shaped. |
| leodicean | adjective | lacking religious fervor; or lacking strong feelings generally; indifferent |
| leontiasis | noun | kind of leprosy giving leonine appearance to face. leontiasis ossea, hypertrophy of facial bones. |
| lepidopterous | adjective | having four scale-covered wings. lepidopteran, lepidopteron, noun (pl. -ra) such insect, as moth or butterfly. lepidopterology, noun study of such insects. lepidopterologist, noun |
| lepidosis | noun | scaly skin disease. lepidote, adjective scurf-covered. |
| leporid | adjective | pertaining or belonging to the family comprising rabbits and hares; n. animal of this family. leporine, adjective pertaining to or like a hare. |
| leptocephalous | adjective | having very narrow head. leptocephalia, noun such condition. leptocephalus, noun (pl. -li ) larva of conger eel; conger eel; leptocephalous person. |
| leptochroous | adjective | having very thin skin. leptochroa, noun |
| leptodactylous | adjective | having slender toes |
| leptologia | noun | subtle speech or quibbling |
| leptophyllous | adjective | having long thin leaves. |
| leptorrhine | adjective | (person) with long thin nose. leptorrhinism, noun |
| lestobiosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) mode of life characterized by furtive stealing, especially as found where two species of ant live side by side. |
| Lethe | noun | river of Hades in Greek mythology, whose waters grant oblivion; forgetfulness of past; peace of mind. Lethean, adjective lethiferous, adjective deadly. |
| lethiforous | adjective | deadly; destructive |
| lethologica | noun | inability to remember the right word |
| lethonomia | noun | a propensity for forgetting names |
| leucocyte | noun | white corpuscle of blood. leucocytic, adjective leucocytoid, adjective leucocytosis, noun increase in number of leucocytes in blood. |
| leucoma | noun | whiteness and thickening of cornea. leucomatous, adjective |
| leucomelanous, leucomelanic | adjective | a. having dark hair and eyes, and fair skin. |
| leucopenia | noun | decrease in number of leucocytes in blood. leucopenic, adjective |
| leucophyllous | adjective | with white leaves. |
| leucopoiesis | noun | formation of leucocytes. leucopoietic, adjective |
| leucotomy | noun | lobotomy. |
| leucous | adjective | white; fair; albino. |
| levant | verb | v. -i. flee from creditors. |
| levator | noun | (pl. levatores ), muscle raising limb or part. |
| levigate | verb | make smooth; polish; mix thoroughly; reduce to powder or paste; a. smooth. levigation, levigator, noun |
| levirate | noun | custom requiring a man to marry his brother's widow. |
| levisomnous | adjective | watchful |
| lewisite | noun | Chemistry, blistering liquid, derived from arsenic and acetylene, used in war; Geology, yellow or brown mineral containing antimony. |
| lex | noun | (pl. leges ) law. lex domicilii, law of the country where a person is domiciled. lex fori, law of the country where an action is brought. lex loci, law of the country where a transaction, tort, etc. occurs. lex non scripta, unwritten law. lex talionis, law of an eye for an eye; law of equal retaliation. |
| lexiphanic | adjective | using many long words; bombastic. lexiphanism, noun |
| lexiphanicism | noun | priggish, over-latinized writing; pretentious vocabulary or grandiose phraseology |
| liaise | verb | v. -i. establish and maintain contact; co-operate. liaison, n. communication, contact and co-operation; illicit sexual relationship; thickening agent for soups and sauces; pronunciation of normally silent final consonant before word beginning with a vowel. |
| libanophorous | adjective | yielding incense. libaniferous, libanotophorous, adjective |
| libeccio, libecchio | noun | south-west wind. |
| liberticide | noun | destruction or destroyer of liberty. liberticidal, adjective |
| librate | verb | v. -i. oscillate before settling into equilibrium; be poised; balance. libration, n. Astronomy, apparent swinging of moon's visible surface. libratory, adj. |
| libriform | adjective | like liber. |
| licentiate | noun | certificated member; person with licence to practise. licentiation, noun |
| licit | adjective | lawful. |
| lictor | noun | magistrate's attendant bearing fasces in ancient Rome. lictorian, adjective |
| lidar | noun | system of using lasers in the same way as radar: acronym of Light Detection and Ranging. |
| lienal | adjective | pertaining to spleen. lienic, adjective lienitis, noun inflammation of spleen. |
| lientery | noun | diarrhoeal discharge of incompletely digested food. lienteric, adjective |
| lierne | noun | Architecture, short secondary rib connecting principal ribs especially in Gothic vaulting. |
| ligate | verb | tie. ligation, noun ligature, noun tie; link; bandage; two conjoined letters, as fl. |
| ligneous | adjective | wood-like; containing wood. lignescent, adjective rather woody. lignicolous, adjective living in wood. lignify, v.i. & t. become or make woody. ligniperdous, adjective destroying wood. lignite, noun woody brown coal. lignum vitae, Latin, 'wood of life'; several W Indian and other varieties of guaiacum tree. |
| ligule | noun | thin outgrowth at junction of leaf and leafstalk. ligulate, adjective having ligule; strap- shaped. liguloid, adjective like ligule. |
| limacine | adjective | pertaining to slugs. limaceous, adjective limacoid, adjective slug-like. |
| limation | noun | polishing; smoothing; correction of astronomical errors. |
| limbate | adjective | having border, especially (Botany) of different color from the rest. limbation, n |
| limbus | noun | border. |
| limen | noun | (pl. limens, limina ) Psychology, threshold; limit below which a stimulus becomes imperceptible. |
| limes | noun | (pl. limites ) ancient Roman fortified boundary. |
| limicolous | adjective | living in mud. limicoline, adjective living on shore; pertaining to wading birds. |
| liminal | adjective | pertaining to or at threshold. |
| limitrophe | adjective | situated on border or along boundary; adjacent. |
| limivorous | adjective | swallowing mud. |
| limn | verb | portray; paint; delineate. limner, noun |
| limnetic | adjective | pertaining to or inhabiting fresh water. limnobiology, noun study of freshwater life. limnology, noun general study of lakes and ponds. limnophilous, adjective inhabiting freshwater ponds. |
| limoniad | noun | meadow nymph. |
| limophoitos | noun | insanity due to lack of food |
| limosis | noun | urgent desire to eat chalk |
| limuloid | adjective noun | (pertaining to) king crab. |
| linaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like flax; belonging to the flax family of plants. |
| linctus | noun | medicated syrup for throat. |
| linden | noun | lime tree. |
| lineaments | adjective noun | n. -pl. facial features or outline; distinctive characteristics. lineamental, adj. |
| linguiform | adjective | tongue-shaped. |
| liparoid | adjective | fatty. lipase, noun enzyme hydrolysing fats. lipogenous, adjective fat-producing. |
| lipogram | noun | composition in which all words containing a certain letter or letters are omitted. |
| lipography | noun | accidental omission of a letter or syllable. |
| lipoid | adjective | like fat. lipoidal, lipoidic, adjective lipolysis, noun disintegration of fat. lipoma, noun ( pl. - mata ) fatty tumour. lipomatosis, noun presence of many lipomata; obesity. |
| lipothymy, lipothymia | noun | swoon. lipothymial, lipothymic, adjective |
| lippitude | noun | soreness or bleariness of eyes. |
| lipsanographer | noun | writer about relics. lipsanotheca, noun holder for relics. |
| liquate | verb | separate or purify (metals) by heating to liquify certain components. |
| liquescent | adjective | melting. liquescence, liquescency, noun |
| lissotrichous | adjective | having straight hair. lissotrichan, lissotrichian, adjective lissotrichy, noun |
| literation | noun | representation of sounds by letters. |
| lithiasis | noun | formation of calculi in body. |
| lithochromy | noun | painting on stone. lithochromatics, noun chromolithography. |
| lithoclase | noun | Geology, crack in rock. lithoclast, noun stone breaker; stone- breaking instrument. |
| lithogenesis | noun | study of rock formation; calculi formation. lithogenetic, adjective lithogenous, adjective producing stone. |
| lithoid(al) | adjective | stone-like. litholatry, noun worship of stones. lithology, noun study of rocks or calculi. lithontriptic n. & a. (substance) dissolving stones in bladder. lithophagous, adjective swallowing or burrowing in, stone lithophilous, adjective growing among stones. lithophyte, noun plant growing on rock. lithopone, noun white pigment used in paints consisting of a mixture of zinc sulphide and barium sulphate. lithosphere, noun earth's outer crust. lithotomy, n.cutting for stone in bladder. lithotrity, noun breaking up stone in bladder. |
| litmus | noun | dye obtained from lichens, used in chemical tests, being turned red by acid and blue by alkali. |
| litotes | noun | rhetorical device of understatement. |
| littoral | adjective | pertaining to or on seashore; n. such region |
| liturate | adjective | spotted. |
| livedo | noun | blueness of skin due to congestion. |
| lixiviate | verb | separate by washing with solvent; treat with lye, etc. lixiviation, noun lixiviator, noun lixivium, noun solution resulting from lixiviation; lye. |
| lobate | adjective | having lobes. lobal, lobar, adj. lobe-like. |
| lobule | noun | small lobe. lobular, lolulate(d) a. having lobules. |
| locative | adjective noun | Grammar, (case) signifying place where. |
| locellus | noun | (pl. -li ) compartment of cell. locellate, adjective divided into locelli. |
| lochetic | adjective | waiting for prey; in ambush. |
| lockrums | noun | ideas that aren't very popular |
| locomobile | adjective noun | self-propelling (machine). |
| locoum, lokoum | noun | Turkish delight. |
| loculus | noun | (pl. -li) cell; cavity; compartment. locular, loculate, adj having or divided into loculi. loculation, noun |
| locum tenens | noun | 'holding place'; deputy. |
| locus classicus | phrase | a place of the highest class: illustrative, model passage from a literary work or classic that is commonly citedfor its style, usage, etc. |
| locus communis | phrase | a public place: commonplace passage that is often quoted; cliche expression |
| loganamnosis | noun | a mania to recall forgotten words |
| logodaedaly | noun | verbal legerdemain, esp. in the imaginative or capricious coining of new words; word skill |
| logogogue | noun | person laying down law about words. |
| logogram, logograph | noun | sign representing word. logogrammatic, adjective logography, noun reporting, as of speeches, etc., in long-hand by relays of writers. |
| logolepsy | noun | an obsession with words |
| logolept | noun | a person who is obsessed with words |
| logomachy | noun | a dispute over words; semantic contentious getting away from issues or reality |
| logometer | noun | device or scale for measuring chemical equivalents. logometric, adjective |
| logomisia | noun | disgust for particular words |
| logopedia | noun | study of speech defects. |
| loimic | adjective | pertaining to plague. loimology, noun study of plague. |
| longanimity | noun | silent suffering while planning revenge |
| longe | noun | rope or place for training horses. |
| longeron | noun | structure running length of aircraft fuselage. |
| longinquity | noun | remoteness |
| longueur | noun | a long and tedious section of a book, play, etc. |
| loppett | noun | to stumble while walking or running |
| loquitur | verb | v. -i. 'he (she) speaks'. |
| lordosis | noun | forward spinal curvature. lordotic, adjective |
| lore | noun | space between eye and beak or snout. loral, adjective loreal, noun & a. (scale, etc.) situated on the lore. |
| lorgnette | noun | pair of spectacles or opera glasses on a handle. |
| loricate | adjective | cover with protective layer; encrust; plate. lorication, noun |
| lotic | adjective | pertaining to or living in fast-flowing water. |
| lotophagous | adjective | lotus-eating; indolent. lotophagi, noun pl. lotus-eaters; day-dreamers. |
| louche | adjective | disreputable; morally dubious. |
| lovertine | adjective | addicted to love-making |
| loxodograph | noun | device for recording ship's course. loxodrome, noun line on globe equally oblique to all meridians. loxodromics, noun sailing on loxodromes. |
| loxophthalmus | noun | squint. |
| loxotic | adjective | slanting, distorted |
| lubricity | noun | slipperiness; wiliness; indecency; lubricious, lubricous, adjective |
| lucarne | noun | dormer window. |
| lucent | adjective | shining; clear. lucence, lucency, noun |
| lucernal | adjective | pertaining to lamp. |
| luciferous | adjective | illuminating, literally and figuratively |
| lucriferous | adjective | profitable, lucrative |
| lucripetous | adjective | money hungry |
| luctation | noun | a struggle for success |
| luctiferous | adjective | sad and sorry |
| lucubrate | adjective noun verb | v. -i. study laboriously, especially at night; work by artificial light. lucubration, n. act or result of lucubrating; over-elaborated literary work. lucubrator, n. lucubratory, adj. pertaining to night work; laborious. |
| lucubration | noun | to burn the midnight oil; suggesting pretentious,laborious study |
| luculent | adjective | readily understood; clear; lucid |
| lucus a non lucendo | phrase | an absurd word derivation; illogical explanationor non sequitur |
| ludibrious | adjective | ludicrous; making fun of |
| ludibundness | noun | playfulness |
| ludicropathetic | adjective | ludicrous and pathetic |
| ludification | noun | deriding |
| lues | noun | syphilis; any similar disease. luetic, adjective |
| Luftmensch | noun | someone with his head in the clouds |
| lugehovey | noun | pawnshop |
| lumbrical | adjective | (pertaining to) small muscle of palm or sole. |
| lumbricine | adjective | pertaining to or like an earthworm. lumbriciform, lumbricoid, adjective like an earthworm. lumbricosis, noun infestation with intestinal round- worms. |
| lunate | adjective | crescent-shaped. lunation, noun changes of moon; interval between successive new moons. |
| lunette | noun | crescent-shaped ornament or object; opening or window in vault. |
| lunistice | noun | time each month at which moon is farthest north or south. lunistitial, adjective |
| lunula, lunule | noun | cresent-shaped mark or organ; 'half-moon' on finger nail. lunulate, adjective bearing lunula; like a small crescent. lunulet, noun crescent- shaped spot. |
| lupanar | noun | brothel. |
| lupanariam | noun | lubricious, lascivious, and lewd |
| lupulin | noun | yellow powder on hop cones, used as sedative. lupuline, lupulinous, adjective like a hop-cluster. lupulinic, adjective pertaining to lupulin or hops. |
| lurdan(e) | adjective noun | dull and lazy (person). lurdanism, noun |
| lurgulary | noun | the act of poisoning water |
| lusory | adjective | playful. |
| lustration | noun | purifying rite, especially washing. lustral, lustrical, adjective used in lustration. lustrate, v. purify. |
| lustrine | noun | lustrous silk or cotton material. |
| lustrum | noun | (pl. -ra) period of five years; purification of Roman nation every five years; census. |
| lusus naturae | noun | 'sport of nature'; freak. |
| lutaceous | adjective | pertaining to or made of mud. |
| lutarious | adjective | pertaining to, living in, or lookinglike mud |
| luteous | adjective | yellow; yellowish. luteolous, adjective somewhat yellow. lutescent, adjective yellowish. |
| lutose | adjective | covered with mud or clay. |
| lutrine | adjective | pertaining to or like an otter; belonging to the otter subfamily of animals. |
| lutulent | adjective | thick; muddy. lutulence, noun |
| luxate | verb | displace; dislocate. luxation, noun |
| lyddite | noun | high explosive for shells, largely picric acid. |
| Lydian | adjective | pertaining to ancient Lydia, noted for its wealth and voluptuousness; luxurious; effeminate. |
| lygophilia | noun | love of darkness |
| lymacatexis | noun | neurotic preoccupation with dirt |
| lyncean | adjective | pertaining to or like a lynx; keen-sighted. |
| lypemania | noun | intense nervous depression. |
| lypophrenia | noun | a vague feeling of sadness, seeminglywithout cause |
| lypothymia | noun | lypemania. |
| lysimeter | noun | device measuring percolation of water through soils and the removal of soluble constituents. |
| lysis | noun | Chemistry, disintegration or destruction of cells; Medicine, gradual recovery from disease. lysigenic, lysigenous, adjective formed by lysis. lysin, noun substance causing lysis. lysogen, noun antigen increasing lysin production. |
| lyssa | noun | rabies or hydrophobia. lyssic, adjective lyssophobia, noun dread of going insane. |
| lyssophobia | noun | fear of becoming mad |
| lyterian | adjective | Medicine, pertaining to lysis. |
| lythcoop | noun | an auction sale of the contents of a house |
| maar | noun | volcanic crater without a cone, usually filled by a lake. |
| macarism | noun | pleasure in another's joy; a beatitude. macarize, v. pronounce blessed; praise; congratulate. |
| macarize | verb | to make happy; to praise |
| macaronic | adjective | mixing words from different languages, especially Latin with vernacular or Latinized vernacular words; n. verse of this type. marcaronicism, noun |
| macedoine | noun | mixed diced vegetables; mixed fruit in syrup of jelly. |
| macerate | verb | soften and separate by soaking; grow or make lean. maceration, noun macerator, noun |
| machairodont | adjective noun | sabre-toothed (animal). |
| machicolation | noun | apertures in parapet or floor of gallery for firing upon persons below. machicolate, v. furnish with these |
| machinule | noun | surveyor's instrument for obtaining right angle. |
| macilent | adjective | lean; thin |
| mackle | noun | blurred or double impression in printing. |
| maconochie | noun | army tinned stew. |
| macradenous | adjective | with large glands. |
| macrencephalic, macrencephalous | adjective | having large brain pan. |
| macrobian | adjective | long-lived |
| macrocephalous | adjective | large-headed. macrocephalus, noun (pl. -li ) such person. |
| macrocyte | noun | abnormally large red blood corpuscle. macrocythaemia, macrocytosis, noun presence of these in blood. |
| macrodont | adjective | large-toothed. macrodontia, macrodontism, noun |
| macrograph | noun | reproduction of object natural size or larger. macrographic, adjective macrography, noun large handwriting; viewing of object with naked eye. |
| macrology | noun | excessive or repititious words or phrases |
| macromania | noun | delusion in which things seem larger than natural size. macromaniacal, adjective |
| macromastic | adjective | pertaining to large breasts |
| macrometer | noun | instrument for finding size and distance of distant objects. |
| macrophallic | adjective | having an unusually large phallus. |
| macrophobia | noun | fear of long waits |
| macropsia, macropsy | noun | disease of eye causing objects to seem very large. |
| macropterous | adjective | large-winged; large-finned. |
| macroscian | adjective noun | (person) casting long shadow; inhabitant of polar region. |
| macroseism | noun | severe earthquake. macroseismic, adjective macroseismograph, noun instrument recording this. |
| macrosmatic | adjective | having a supersensitive nose |
| macrosomatous | adjective | having an abnormally large body |
| macrotia | noun | largeness of ears. macrotous, adjective large-eared. |
| macrotome | noun | instrument for making large sections for anatomical study. |
| macrotous | adjective | having large ears |
| macrural | adjective | pertaining to, like or belonging to the crustacean division including lobsters, prawns, etc. macruran, noun macrurous, adjective having long tail. |
| mactation | noun | sacrificial murder |
| macula | noun | (pl. -ae ) colored spot. macular, adjective maculate(d), adjective bearing maculae; spotted; defiled. maculation, noun |
| maculate | adjective | defiled; impure |
| macule | noun | macula; mackle. maculiferous, adjective bearing macules. maculose, adjective spotted. |
| madarosis | noun | loss of eyelashes or eyebrows. madarotic, adjective |
| madefy | verb | to wet |
| madescent | adjective | growing damp. |
| madrasah | noun | Islamic college, or school attached to mosque. |
| madrepore | noun | stony coral. madreporian, madreporic, madreporiform, adjective |
| maenad | noun | (pl. -ades ) bacchante; wildly excited woman. maenadic, adjective maenadism, noun |
| magirics | noun | art of cookery. magirology, noun |
| magistrand | noun | university student in fourth year. |
| magnanerie | noun | art or place of rearing silkworms. |
| magnetohydrodynamic | adjective | pertaining to a method of generating electricity directly by passing an ionized gas through a magnetic field at an extremely high temperature. abbr. MHD. |
| magneton | noun | unit of magnetic moment. |
| magniloquence | noun | grandly high-flown, lofty speech; pompous language |
| magniloquent | adjective | using high-flown language; bombastic. magniloqence, noun |
| maidan | noun | (in India) open space used as park, parade ground, etc. |
| maieutic | adjective | pertaining to Socratic method. maieutics, noun Socratic method; midwifery. |
| maigre | adjective | Roman Catholic, not containing meat or its juices, thus permissible on days of abstinence; (of a day) on which abstinence is enjoined. |
| mainour | noun | stolen property discovered on thief's person. in or with the mainour, in the act; red-handed. |
| majolica | noun | elaborate, highly-colored, glazed Italian pottery; faience. majolist, noun maker of majolica. |
| majuscule | noun | capital or other large letter. majuscular, adjective |
| mal de mer | noun | seasickness. mal du pays, homesickness. |
| mala fide | adjective | 'in bad faith'. mala fides, bad faith. |
| malacia | noun | softening of tissue; craving for a certain food. malacodermous, adjective having soft skin. malacology, noun study of molluscs. malacophonous, adjective soft-voiced. malactic, adjective emollient. |
| malacissation | noun | the process of making something soft and pliable |
| malacodermous | adjective | soft-skinned |
| malagma | noun | (pl. -mata ) emollient plaster. |
| malaise | noun | uneasiness; indefinable feeling of illness or discomfort. |
| malar | adjective | pertaining to cheek(-bone). |
| malax | verb | soften by kneading or diluting. malaxage, noun such softening of clay. malaxate, v. malaxation, malaxator, noun |
| malediction | noun | curse. maledictive, maledictory, adjective |
| malefaction | noun | evil-doing. |
| malefic(ent) | adjective | evil; harmful. maleficence, noun |
| maliferous | adjective | producing evil; unhealthy, as a climate |
| malinger | verb noun | v. -i. feign illness, especially to evade duty. malingerer, n. |
| malism | noun | the theory that the world is mostly bad |
| malison | noun | curse. |
| malleiform | adjective | hammer-shaped. |
| malley | noun | gardener |
| malneirophrenia | noun | depress following a nightmare |
| malnoia | noun | a vague feeling of mental discomfort |
| malvaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a mallow; belonging to mallow family of plants. |
| malvasia | noun | grape from which malmsey is made. malvasian, adjective |
| malversation | noun | misconduct; corruption; misuse of public or other funds. |
| mammilla | noun | (pl. -ae ) nipple. mammilliform, mammilloid, adjective like nipple. mammillar, mammillary, adjective mammillate, adjective having mamillae, or similar outgrowths. mammilation, noun |
| mammock | noun | to tear something to shreds |
| mammothrept | noun | a spoiled child |
| mancinism | noun | favoring left hand |
| manciple | noun | college or monastery steward. |
| mandament | noun | command. |
| mandamus | noun | 'we command'; Law, Crown writ commanding performance of an action. |
| mandorla | noun | any almond-shaped object or ornament, especially (in painting, sculpture) area of light surrounding the risen Christ. |
| mandragora | noun | mandrake. |
| mandrel | noun | spindle supporting work in lathe, etc. |
| mandriarch | noun | founder or head of monastic order. |
| manducate | verb | masticate; eat. manducation, noun manducatory, adjective |
| manège | noun | horsemanship; teaching or school of horsemanship. |
| manes | noun | n. -pl. pl. spirits of dead; ghosts. |
| manet | noun | 'he (she) remains'. |
| mangold | noun | mangel-wurzel. |
| mangonize | verb | to traffic in slaves |
| mangosteen | noun | large reddish orange-like fruit of E Indies. |
| mania-a-potu | noun | madness resulting from too much gargle |
| maniaphobia | noun | fear of insanity |
| manicate | adjective | having dense woolly growth which can be peeled off. |
| manichord | noun | clavichord. |
| maniform | adjective | hand-shaped. |
| manikin | noun | dwarf; Medicine, anatomical model; mannequin. |
| maniple | noun | narrow embroidered band worn hanging from left arm by celebrant priest; subdivision of Roman legion consisting of 120 to 200 men. |
| manipulandum | noun | something that is to be manipulated |
| manometer | noun | instrument measuring pressure of gases, or blood-pressure. manometric(al), adjective manometry, noun |
| mansuetude | noun | sweetness of temper; tameness. |
| mantelet | noun | bulletproof screen |
| mantic | adjective | pertaining to or having powers of prophecy or divination; divinely inspired. manticism, noun divination. |
| mantilla | noun | light cloak, cape or veil, especially of Spain. |
| mantissa | noun | decimal part of logarithm. |
| mantistic | adjective | mantic. |
| mantology | noun | fortunetelling; a fortuneteller |
| mantra | noun | sacred word or syllable. |
| manubiary | adjective | relating to the spoils of war |
| manubrial | adjective | handle-shaped. manubrium n. (pl. - bria) handle-shaped part. |
| manuduction | noun | careful guidance; leading by the hand; introduction; guide. manuductory, adjective |
| manumission | noun | formal liberation of a slave |
| manumit | verb | liberate (slave). manumission, noun manumissive, adjective |
| manustupration | noun | masturbation |
| maquillage | noun | make-up |
| marasca | noun | bitter wild cherry. maraschino, noun liqueur distilled from juice of this. |
| marasmic | adjective | of the gradual loss of flesh and strength; of a wasting of the body |
| marasmus | noun | intense emaciation due to malnutrition. marasmic, marasmous, adjective marasmoid, adjective like this. |
| marcasite | noun | crystallized iron pyrites, used in jewellery. marcasitic, adjective |
| marcescent | adjective | withered, decayed, weak |
| marcor | noun | marasmus. |
| mare clausum | noun | 'closed sea'; territorial waters. mare liberum, 'open sea'; sea outside territorial waters. mare nostrum /, 'our sea'; Roman name for Mediterranean. |
| maremma | noun | (pl. -me ) marsh; landes; miasma. maremmatic, adjective |
| margaritaceous | adjective | pearly |
| margrave | noun | title of nobility, equivalent of marquess. margravial, adjective margraviate, noun jurisdiction of margrave. margravine, noun margrave's wife or woman having power of margrave. |
| maricolous | adjective | inhabiting the sea. marigenous, adjective produced by or in sea. marigraph, noun tide gauge. |
| Mariolater | noun | worshipper of the Virgin Mary. mariolatrous, adjective mariolatry, noun |
| maritodespotism | noun | ruthless domination by a husband |
| marline | noun | line of two loosely twisted strands. |
| marlinspike, marlinespike | noun | pointed tool used to separate strands of rope and for other purposes. |
| marlish | adjective | easygoing |
| marlock | verb | to cavort, frolic |
| marmarize | verb | transform into marble. marmarosis, noun |
| marmoreal | adjective | pertaining to or like marble. marmaraceous a. marmorate, adjective veined like marble. marmoric, adjective pertaining to marble. |
| marque | noun | (emblem of) brand, make; taking possession of object as pledge or reprisal. letters of marque, authorisation by Crown of seizure of foreign goods, etc., as reprisal; privateer's commission. |
| marrano | noun | Jew converted to Christianity, especially merely to evade persecution. marranize, v. marranism, noun |
| marron | noun | chestnut. marrons glacés, chestnuts preserved or coated with sugar. |
| marsupium | noun | (pl. -ia) pouch of skin in which marsupial carries young. |
| martello tower | noun | small round coastal-defence fort. |
| martinet | noun | strict enforcer of discipline. |
| martingale | noun | check-rein holding horse's head down; betting system, especially of doubling stakes. |
| martlet | noun | martin (bird); Heraldry, footless, beakless bird, denoting fourth son. |
| maschalephidrosis | noun | massive sweating of the armpits |
| mascle | noun | diamond-shaped scale or plate; Heraldry, lozenge with lozenge-shaped opening in centre. mascled, adjective covered with mascles. |
| masseter | noun | muscle raising lower jaw. |
| massotherapy | noun | medical treatment by massage. |
| mastigophobia | noun | fear of punishment |
| mastigophoric | adjective | whip-wielding |
| mastitis | noun | inflammation of breast or milk gland. |
| mastoid | adjective | nipple- or breast-like; denoting such bony outgrowth behind ear. mastoidectomy, noun operation to remove mastoid bone. mastoiditis, noun inflammation of mastoid cells. mastoidotomy, noun surgical incision into mastoid. |
| mataeology | noun | useless of pointless discourse; worthless conversation |
| mataeotechny | noun | an unprofitable science or art |
| materfamilias | noun | (pl. matresfamilias ) mother or female head of family. |
| materia | noun | matter. materia ex qua, material out of which (something is made). materia in qua, material in which (something subsists). materia medica, study of medical remedies. |
| mathesis | noun | learning; wisdom; mathematics. mathetic, adjective |
| matin | adjective | pertaining to morning. matinal, adjective matins, noun morning prayer. |
| matrass, mattrass | noun | long-necked round-bodied chemical flask; closed glass tube. |
| matriclinous | adjective | showing inherited characteristics of the female parent. matricliny, noun |
| matriherital | adjective | pertaining to inheritance in female line. matrilineal, adjective tracing descent in female line. matrilocal, adjective pertaining to marriage in which husband goes to reside with wife and her family. matripotestal, adjective pertaining to mother's power. |
| matripotestal | adjective | pertaining to maternal control |
| mattock | noun | pick-like digging tool. |
| mattoid | noun | a congenitally insane person |
| maturate | verb | become mature or ripe; cause to suppurate. maturation, noun maturative, adjective |
| maturescent | adjective | becoming mature. maturescence, noun |
| matutinal | adjective | pertaining to or occurring in morning. |
| matutolagnia | noun | antemerdian sexual desire |
| matutolypea | noun | getting up on the wrong side of the bed |
| maulstick | noun | painter's stick for steadying the hand. |
| maumetry | noun | idolatry |
| maund | noun | measure of weight in Asia, equivalent of from 25 to 82 lbs. |
| maunder | noun | incoherent talk |
| maundy | noun | originally, ceremony of washing of feet of poor by sovereign; modern, alms-giving by sovereign in its stead. Maundy money, such alms. Maundy Thursday, Thursday before Easter, on which the ceremony was performed and the money is distributed. |
| mauvais | adjective | (fem. -vaise ) bad; wicked. mauvaise foi, 'bad faith'. mauvais quart d'heure, brief bad or embarrassing experience. mauvais sujet, 'bad or wicked subject' or person. |
| mavis | noun | song- or misselthrush. |
| maximalism | noun | uncompromising adherence to maximum demands, as in trade dispute, etc. maximalist, noun radical; extremist. |
| mazarine | adjective noun | (of) reddish-blue hue. |
| mazomancy | noun | fortunetelling by a nursing baby |
| mazophilous | adjective | pertaining to mammary mania |
| meable | adjective | easily penetrable. |
| meacock | noun | an effeminate or cowardly man |
| meatus | noun | passage of the body. meatal, adjective |
| mechanolater | noun | worshipper of machines. mechanomorphic, adjective having form of machine. mechanotherapy, noun medical treatment by mechanical means. |
| mechanomorphism | noun | the doctrine that the universe is fully explicable in mechanistic terms |
| mechlin | noun | very expensive kind of lace |
| mecometer | noun | length-measuring instrument. mecometry, noun |
| meconium | noun | mucoid substance in new-born baby's intestines, excreted as first faeces. |
| meconology | noun | the study of opium and its effects |
| meconophagism | noun | opium addiction |
| medianic | adjective | pertaining to spiritualist medium, or prophet. medianimic, adjective medianimity, medianity, noun |
| mediastinum | noun | (pl. -na) chest cavity containing heart. mediastinal, adjective mediastinitis, noun inflammation of tissue enclosing organs in mediastinum. |
| medicaster | noun | a medical quack |
| megacephalic | adjective | having large head. megacephaly, noun |
| megacephalous | adjective | having a large head |
| megachiropteran | adjective noun | (pertaining to a) fruit bat. megachiropterous, adjective |
| megadont | adjective | having large teeth. |
| megalocyte | noun | macrocyte. |
| megalonisus | noun | a tendency to exaggerate |
| megalophobia | noun | fear of large things |
| megalophonous | adjective | high-sounding; having loud voice. megalophonic, adjective |
| megalophthalmus | noun | state of having large eyes. megalopic, adjective large-eyed; pertaining to megalops. |
| megalops | noun | larval stage of crab. |
| megameter | noun | instrument for finding longitude from stellar observations. |
| megapod | adjective | having large feet. megapode n. such bird of Australasia, as jungle fowl, brush turkey, etc. |
| megaprosopous | adjective | having large face. |
| megapterine | adjective noun | (pertaining to a) humpback whale. |
| megascope | noun | magnifying magic lantern. megascopic, adjective magnified; macroscopic. |
| megaseism | noun | macroseism. |
| megatherium | noun | fossil sloth-like animal. megathere, noun megatherian, megatherine, megatherioid, adjective |
| megatherm | noun | plant thriving only in tropical heat and moisture. megathermic, adjective |
| megrim | noun | migraine; whim. megrims, n.pl. low spirits. |
| mehari | noun | racing dromedary. meharist, noun soldier riding one. |
| meiosis | noun | rhetorical understatement, or representing something as less or more minor than it actually is as a form of ironic emphasis |
| mekometer | noun | kind of range-finder. |
| melaena | noun | black vomit or bowel discharge. melaenic, adj. |
| melalgia | noun | pain in limbs. |
| melampodium | noun | Christmas rose. |
| melasma | noun | dark patch of skin. |
| meldometer | noun | instrument for finding melting points. |
| meleagrine | adjective | pertaining to or like a turkey; belonging to turkey genus of birds. |
| melic | adjective | pertaining to song; lyric; n. such poetry, especially of ancient Greece. |
| meliceris, melicera | noun | n. tumour or exudation of honey-like matter. meliceric, melicerous, adj. |
| melichrous | adjective | honey-colored. |
| melinite | noun | explosive resembling lyddite. |
| meliorism | noun | belief that world and humankind tend to grow better. meliorist, noun melioristic, adjective meliority, noun improved state. |
| meliphagous | adjective | feeding on honey. |
| melisma | noun | (pl. -mata ) melody; song; melodic ornamentation. melismatic, adj. in florid style, especially of singing one syllable on a number of notes. melismatics, noun such florid singing. |
| melissophobia | noun | fear of bees |
| melitaemia, melithaemia | noun | n. presence of excess of sugar in blood. |
| melittology | noun | study of bees. melittologist, noun |
| melituria | noun | sugar diabetes. melituric, adj. |
| mellaginous | adjective | pertaining to or like honey. melleous, adj. like or containing honey. |
| mellifluent, mellifluous | adjective | a. sweet-sounding; flowing with honey. melliferous, adjective honey-producing. mellisonant, adjective sweet-sounding. mellivorous, adjective eating honey. |
| melliloquence | noun | euphonious speech; sweet talk |
| melologue | noun | recitation with musical accompaniment. melomania, noun mania for music. |
| melomaniac | noun | a music lover |
| melongena | noun | egg-plant. |
| melophonic | adjective | pertaining to music. melopoeia, noun composition of music. |
| memento mori | noun | 'remember you must die'; n. reminder of death, or of shortness of life. |
| memoriter | adjective | from memory; by heart. |
| menacme | noun | the menstruating part of a woman's life |
| menald | adjective | speckled. |
| menarche | noun | first appearance of menses. |
| menceful | noun | polite, considerate |
| mendaciloquence | noun | lying as a fine art; adroit prevarication |
| mendacious | adjective | telling lies, especially habitually. mendacity, noun |
| Mendelian | adjective | pertaining to Gregor Mendel, and his theory of inheritance; n. believer in his theory. Mendelism, noun |
| mendicant | noun | beggar; a. begging. mendicity, mendicancy, n . |
| menhir | noun | upright monolith. |
| menology | noun | calendar of months; calendar of saints' days. |
| menorrhagia | noun | excessive bleeding during menstruation. menorrhoea, noun normal menstrual bleeding. menoschesis, noun temporary suppression of menstruation. menostaxis, noun abnormally long period. |
| mens rea | noun | criminal intent, knowledge that an act is wrong. |
| mensal | adjective | pertaining to or for table; monthly. |
| menstruum | noun | (pl. -ua) solvent. |
| mensual | adjective | pertaining to month; monthly. |
| mentation | noun | cerebration. mentiferous, adjective telepathic. |
| menticide | noun | brainwashing |
| mentimutation | noun | change of mind |
| mentulate | adjective | well hung |
| mepacrine | noun | synthetic anti-malarial drug formerly called atebrin. |
| mephitic | adjective | bad-smelling; noxious |
| mephitis | noun | foul exhalation from earth; stink. mephitic, adjective mephitic air, air devoid of oxygen. mephitism, noun poisoning by mephitis. |
| meracious | adjective | unadulterated, full-strength, pure |
| meraculous | adjective | demi-dirty, slightly filthy |
| meralgia | noun | neuralgia of thigh. |
| mercaptan | noun | chemical which smells like garlic |
| merdivorous | adjective | eating dung |
| merisis | noun | Biology, growth by cell division. merismatic, adjective dividing into segments by internal partitions. meristem, noun embryonic plant tissue capable of growth by division. meristic, adjective divided into segments; pertaining to number or variation of body parts. |
| merism | noun | a pairing of contrasted terms to express a totality,and thus form a synecdoche, e.g. now and then |
| merlon | noun | narrow wall between embrasures in battlements. |
| merogenesis | noun | segmentation. merogenetic, adjective merogony, noun growth of embryo from part of egg. meromorphic, adjective fractional. meropia, noun partial blindness. |
| mésalliance | noun | mistaken marriage; marriage into lower social class. |
| mesencephalon | noun | midbrain. mesencephalic, adjective |
| mesentery | noun | membrane enclosing intestines. mesenterial, mesenteric, adjective mesenteritis, noun inflammation of mesentery |
| mesial | adjective | middle. mesiad, adv. towards the middle. |
| mesic | adjective | adapted to conditions with a balanced supply of moisture. |
| mesocardia | noun | placing of heart in middle of thorax. |
| mesocephalic | adjective | having medium-sized head. mesocephalus, noun (pl. -li ) such person. |
| mesochroic | adjective | having color of skin midway between light and dark races. |
| mesode | noun | part of ode between strophe and antistrophe. |
| mesodont | noun | with teeth of medium size. |
| mesognathism | noun | state of having jaws of medium size. mesognathic, mesognathous, adjective |
| mesology | noun | ecology. |
| mesoprosopic | adjective | with face of medium width. |
| mesotherm | noun | plant thriving only in moderate temperature. |
| messuage | noun | a house and the land around it |
| metabasis | noun | transition; transfer. metabatic, adjective |
| metabiosis | noun | reliance by an organism on another to produce favourable environment; change due to external agency. metabiotic, adjective |
| metacarpus | noun | hand between wrist and base of fingers. metacarpal, a.; n. bone of the metacarpus. |
| metachemistry | noun | speculative or theoretical, or subatomic, chemistry. |
| metachromatism | noun | change of color. |
| metachronism | noun | anachronism dating thing later than its correct date. |
| metachrosis | noun | ability to change color voluntarily. |
| metage | noun | official measurement; fee paid for something. |
| metagnomy | noun | divination. |
| metagnostic | adjective | beyond understanding. |
| metagraphy | noun | transliteration. |
| metagrobolize | verb | the mystify |
| metalepsis | noun | rhetorical device of changing figurative sense by metonymy. metaleptic(al), a.; Medicine, applied to muscle associated with others in action. |
| metallogeny | noun | study of origin of ores. metallogenic, metallogenetic, adjective |
| metameric | adjective | pertaining to serial segmentation of body; isomeric. metamerism, metamery, noun metamerous, adjective |
| metanoia | noun | penitence; spiritual conversion. |
| metaphony | noun | umlaut. metaphonic(al), adjective metaphonize, v. |
| metaphrase | noun | literal translation; v.t. translate literally; paraphrase. metaphrast, noun person putting verse into different metre, or prose into verse. metaphrastic, adjective |
| metaplasia | noun | change of one kind of tissue into another. |
| metaplasm | noun | lifeless matter in cell; Grammar, alteration in spelling of word. metaplastic, adjective pertaining to metaplasm or metaplasia. |
| metapolitics | noun | theoretical political study. metapolitical, adjective metapolitician, noun |
| metasomatosis | noun | Geology, chemical metamorphism. metasomasis, metasomatism, noun metasomatic, adjective |
| metastasis | phrase | casual mention of a subject as if it were unimportant; responding to a person's criticism or insult with a riposte that uses or plays on his or her words |
| metasthenic | adjective | having strong hindquarters. |
| metastrophe | noun | mutual exchange. metastrophic, adjective |
| metatarsus | noun | foot between ankle and base of toes; instep. metatarsal, a.; n. bone of metatarsus. |
| metathesis | noun | (pl. -ses ) transposition of letters or sounds in a word. metathesize, v. metathetic(al), adjective |
| metazoa | noun | pl. (sing. -zoon ) all animals except protozoa. metazoal, metazoic, adj.metazoan, n. & a. |
| metempiric | adjective | transcending but associated with empirical knowledge. metempiricism, noun metempirics, noun study of metempiric ideas. |
| metempsychosis | noun | (pl. -ses ) passage of soul into another body at death. metempsychose, v. transfer a soul. |
| metemptosis | noun | omission of day from calendar to correct date of new moon. |
| metensomatosis | noun | passage into another body of soul after or before death. |
| metol | noun | coal tar derivative used in developing pictures |
| metonymy | noun | figurative use of a word for another closely associated with it, especially of attribute for its subject (as the crown for the sovereign or monarchy). metonymical, mentonymous, adjective |
| metopic | adjective | pertaining to forehead. metopomancy, noun divination by face or forehead. |
| metoposcopy | noun | judging character by studying the face |
| metritis | noun | inflammation of womb. |
| metrology | noun | study of weights and measures. metrological, adjective metrologist, metrologue, noun |
| metromania | noun | a mania for writing verse |
| metronymic | adjective noun | (name) derived from mother's or ancestress's name; pertaining to descent in the female line. metronymy, noun metronymic usage. |
| meuse | noun | gap through which wild animal's track passes. |
| mezzo-relievo | noun | (carving in) relief between alto-relievo and bas-relief. |
| mi-carême | noun | Sunday in mid-Lent, a festival day. |
| micrander | noun | dwarf male plant. micrandrous, adjective |
| microcephalic, microcephalous | adjective | a. small-headed microcephalism, microcephaly, noun microcephalus, noun (pl. -li ) such person. |
| microcephalous | adjective | small-headed |
| microdont | adjective | with small teeth. microdontism, noun microdontous, adjective |
| microlipet | noun | someone bothered by trifles |
| micrology | noun | excessive devotion to minute details; art of using the microscope. |
| micromania | noun | form of insanity in which patient constantly depreciates himself, or imagines that he has become very small. micromaniac, noun |
| microphagous | adjective | feeding on small objects. microphagy, noun |
| microphyllous | adjective | having minute leaves. |
| micropodal, micropodous | adjective | n. having extremely small feet. |
| micropsia | noun | optical defect causing objects to appear smaller than their real size. |
| micropterous | adjective | having small wings or fins. micropterygious, adjective having small fins. |
| micropyle | noun | microscopic orifice in plant ovule or female cell. micropylar, adjective |
| microseism | noun | small earth tremor. microseismic(al), adjective microseismology, noun study of these. microseismometer, noun instrument measuring these. |
| microsomatous | adjective | having small body. |
| microstomatous, microstomous | adjective | a. having small mouth. microstome, noun small opening. |
| microtherm | noun | plant thriving only in very low temperature. microthermic, adjective |
| microtia | noun | abnormal smallness of ear. |
| micrurgy | noun | art of dissecting, etc., under microscope. micrurgic(al), adjective micrurgist, noun |
| micturition | noun | urination, especially abnormally frequent. micturate, v.i. |
| midden | noun | a dunghill |
| migniard | adjective | dainty, delicate; mincing |
| miles gloriosus | phrase | 'braggart soldier'. |
| miliaria | noun | prickly heat. miliary, adjective (characterized by a rash) like millet seeds. |
| militate | verb | v. -i. be influential, have an effect. |
| millesimal | adjective | (pertaining to) thousandth part. |
| milliad | noun | a thousand years. |
| milliary | adjective | pertaining to miles, especially ancient Roman. |
| millipore | noun | kind of branching coral. milliporite, noun fossil millipore. |
| mimesis | noun | imitation, especially in literature and art or by animal of its surroundings, etc. mimetic, adjective mimetism, noun mimicry. |
| mimography | noun | representation in writing of language of signs. |
| minatory | adjective | portending punishment; threatening; menacing |
| minauderie | noun | coquetry |
| miniaceous | adjective | having color of red lead. miniate, v. paint with red lead; decorate with red letters or rubrics; illuminate (manuscripts). miniator, noun |
| miniate | verb | color with red paint |
| minify | verb | minimize; diminish the size or importance of. |
| minikin | adjective noun | delicate, dainty or affected (person). |
| minimifidian | adjective | having smallest possible degree of faith. minimifidianism, noun |
| minimus | noun | a tiny creature |
| minium | noun | vermilion; red lead. |
| miniver | noun | unspotted ermine fur; any white fur. |
| minnesinger | noun | troubadour-like poet of medieval Germany. |
| minuend | noun | number from which another has to be subtracted. |
| miosis, myosis | noun | excessive contraction of the pupil of the eye. miotic a. & n. (substance) causing this. |
| miothermic | adjective | Geology, pertaining to present temperature conditions. |
| mirabile dictu | phrase | wonderful to relate |
| mirador | noun | watch-tower, or other architectural feature with fine view. |
| mirepoix | noun | sautéed vegetables used as base for braising meat, etc. |
| mirific(al) | adjective | wonder-working; miraculous. |
| misandry | noun | dislike of men |
| misapodysis | noun | hatred of undressing in front of someone |
| misarchist | noun | a person who hates authority |
| misdemeanant | noun | person guilty of misdemeanour. |
| mise en scène | noun | staging, scenery, etc., of play; setting; locality; surroundings. |
| miserabile dictu | phrase | miserable to relate |
| miserotia | noun | aversion to sex |
| misocainia | noun | hatred of anything new or strange, such asnew ideas |
| misocanpnist | noun | a hater of tobacco smoke |
| misocapnic | adjective | hating tobacco smoke. misocapnist, noun |
| misodoctakleidist | noun | one who hates to practice the piano |
| misogallic | adjective | hating the French. |
| misogamy | noun | hatred of marriage. misogamic, adjective misogamist, noun |
| misology | noun | hatred of logical discussion or reason |
| misoneism | noun | hatred of change or novelty. misoneist, noun |
| misopedia | noun | hatred of children, esp. one's own |
| misopolemical | adjective | hating war. |
| misoscopist | noun | a hater of beauty; a recluse |
| misosophy | noun | hatred of wisdom |
| misotheism | noun | hatred of gods or God. misotheist, noun |
| misotramontanism | noun | a hatred of the unknown |
| misoxeny | noun | hatred of strangers |
| misprision | noun | error of omission or commision; misdemeanour; contempt, scorn. misprise, v. & n. scorn. |
| mistigris | noun | poker game where the joker is used |
| mistral | noun | strong cold north wind of S France. |
| mithridatism | noun | immunity from poison obtained by consuming series of small doses. mithridatic, adjective mithridatize, v. |
| mitraille | noun | grape and other small shot. mitrailleur, noun machine-gunner. mitrailleuse, noun machine-gun. |
| mitral | adjective | mitre- or bonnet-shaped. mitriform, adjective mitre-shaped. |
| mittimus | noun | 'we send'; n. writ for committing to prison or removing records to other court; congé. |
| mneme | noun | Psychology, persisting effect of memory of past events. mnemic, adjective mnemist, noun |
| mnesic | adjective | pertaining to memory. mnestic, adjective pertaining to memory or mneme. |
| mockado | noun | ancient woollen fabric; inferior material; tawdry. |
| modena | noun | dark purple color |
| mogadore | noun | ribbed silk necktie material. |
| mogigraphia | noun | writers' cramp |
| mogigraphia, mogigraphy | noun | n., writing only with difficulty. mogilalia,, noun speaking only with difficulty. |
| moho | noun | boundary between the crust and upper mantle of the Earth: abbreviation of Mohorovic discontinuity. mohole, noun borehole into the Earth's crust as far as the moho. |
| molimen | noun | strenuous effort or labour. |
| moliminous | adjective | massive; momentous |
| molinary | adjective | pertaining to mills or grinding. |
| mollescent | adjective | softening. mollify, v. soften; appease. mollipilose, adjective downy. mollities, noun Medicine, softness. mollitious, adjective softening; voluptuous. |
| moloch | noun | a system or method that requires frightful sacrifice |
| molossus | noun | verse foot of three long syllables. |
| molysmophobia | noun | fear of dirt or contamination |
| Momus | noun | god of ridicule; carping critic; satirist. disciple, son, etc., of Momus, person continually poking fun. |
| monachal | adjective | monastic. monachate, noun period of monkhood. monachize, v.i. & t. become or cause to become a monk or monkish. monachism, noun |
| monad | noun | unit; atom; microcosmic element underlying reality; God. monadic, adjective monadism, noun philosophic theory that universe is composed of such elements. |
| monandry | noun | marriage to only one man at a time. monandric, monandrous, adjective |
| monanthous | adjective | single-flowered. |
| monarticular | adjective | of or affecting only one joint. |
| monatomic | adjective | having one atom, or only one atom in molecule; univalent. monatomicity, monatomism, noun |
| monepic | adjective | comprising one word, or single-worded sentences. |
| moniliform | adjective | having narrow intervals or joints resembling a string of beads. |
| monism | noun | philosophical belief that matter, mind, etc., consist of one substance only, which is the only reality. monist, noun monistic, adjective |
| monition | noun | caution; warning, especially legal. monitory, a.; n. letter containing a monition. |
| monoblepsia, monoblepsis | noun | n. normality of vision with one eye, but confusion when both are used; color-blindness for all but one color. |
| monocarpic | adjective | fruiting only once. |
| monoceros | noun | unicorn; swordfish. monocerous, adjective having one horn only. |
| monochord | noun | musical instrument with one string; similar apparatus determining musical intervals; clavichord. |
| monochronic | adjective | relating to one period of time. |
| monocline | noun | Geology, single upward band or fold. monoclinal, adjective |
| monocoque | adjective noun | (denoting) aircraft structure in which the outer skin carries all or most of the torsional and bending stresses; (denoting) car structure in which the body is integral with and shares the stresses with the chassis. |
| monocotyledon | noun | plant having a single cotyledon. monocotyledonous, adjective |
| monocracy | noun | autocracy. monocrat, noun monocratic, adjective |
| monocular | adjective | having, pertaining to, or for one eye only. monoculist, monoculus, noun one-eyed person. monoculous, adjective |
| monodont | adjective | one-toothed. |
| monodrama | noun | play acted by one person only; dramatic account of thoughts of one person. monodramatic, adjective |
| monodromic | adjective | uniform in value. monodromy, noun |
| monody | noun | song on one note or by one voice; dirge; melody. |
| monodynamic | adjective | having only one power or ability. monodynamism, noun belief in one force causing all activity. |
| monoecious | adjective | having male and female organs in same organism, especially having male and female flowers on same plant. monoecism, noun |
| monogenesis | noun | singleness of origin; theory that all human beings derive from one man and woman, or that all life derives from a single cell; asexual reproduction; development without change of form. monogeneous,, monogenetic, monogenic, monogenous, adjective monogenism,, monogeny n. |
| monoglot | adjective noun | (person) knowing one language only; a. written in one language only. |
| monogoneutic | adjective | single-brooded. |
| monogony | noun | non-sexual reproduction. |
| monoideism | noun | obsession with a single idea. monoideic, adjective monoideist, noun |
| monolatry | noun | worship of one god only out of many believed to exist. monolater, monolatrist, noun monolatrous, adjective |
| monolingual | adjective | monoglot. monolinguist, noun |
| monoliteral | adjective | comprising one letter only. |
| monology | noun | soliloquy; monopoly of the conversation. monologian, monologist, noun monologic(al), adjective monologize, v.i. |
| monomachy | noun | duel. monomachist, noun |
| monomania | noun | insanity on one subject only; obsession to insane degree with one subject. monomaniac, noun monomaniacal, adjective |
| monometallism | noun | use of one metal as currency standard; theory advocating this. monometallist, noun |
| monomial | adjective noun | (name or expression) comprising one term only. |
| monomorphic | adjective | having same form throughout life. monomorphism, noun monomorphous, adjective |
| monoousian | adjective | having same substance. |
| monophagous | adjective | eating one kind of food only. monophagia, monophagism, monophagy, noun |
| monophobia | noun | dread of solitude. |
| monophonous | adjective | representing same sound, as f and ph; giving tones singly. |
| monophthalmus | noun | congenital absence of one eye. monopthalmic, adjective |
| monophthong | noun | single vowel sound. monophthongal, adjective monophthongize, v. pronounce as monophthong. |
| monophyletic | adjective | derived from one common parental stock. monophyleticism, noun |
| monoplasmatic | adjective | of one substance. monoplastic, adjective of one form. |
| monoplegia | noun | paralysis of one part of body only, especially one limb. monoplegic, adjective |
| monopode | noun | (creature) with one foot, especially such fabulous Ethiopian race. monopodial, monopodic, monopodous, adjective monopodium, noun (pl. -dia) Botany, main axis of growth. monopody, noun verse measure of one foot. |
| monopolylogue | noun | dramatic entertainment with interpretation of many rôles by one person. monopolylogist, noun |
| monopsony | noun | market situtation where there is only one buyer for a product. |
| monopsychism | noun | belief in one universal soul. |
| monopteros | noun | (pl. - tera) building with single ring of columns supporting a roof. monopteral, adjective |
| monoptic(al) | adjective | one-eyed. |
| monoptote | noun | noun (or adjective) occurring in a single oblique case. monoptotic, adjective |
| monopyrenous | adjective | applied to single-stoned or single-kernelled fruit. |
| monorchid | adjective | having one testicle |
| monoschemic | adjective | using same metrical foot throughout. |
| monosemy | noun | fact of having only one meaning. monosemous, adjective |
| monospermous, monospermal | adjective | a. single-seeded. monospermy, noun fertilization of egg by one sperm cell only. |
| monothelious | adjective | polyandrous. |
| monotic | adjective | affecting one ear only. |
| monotocous | adjective | laying one egg, or bringing forth one young, only. |
| monotreme | noun | primitive Australian egg-laying mammal, e.g. duck- billed platypus. monotrematous, adjective |
| monotrophic | adjective | monophagous. |
| monozygotic | adjective | developed from one zygote only. |
| monstrance | noun | Ecclesiastical, vessel for exposing eucharist. |
| monticle | noun | small hill |
| mopus | noun | coin which is very small |
| moquette | noun | thick-piled upholstery fabric or carpet. |
| mora | noun | (pl. -ae ) unit of metre in prosody, equivalent of one short syllable; Law, postponement; default. |
| morbilli | noun | pl. measles. morbillary, morbilliform, adjective like measles. morbillous, adjective |
| morbus | noun | disease. morbus Gallicus, 'French disease'; syphilis. |
| morcellate | verb | divide into small portions. morcellation, noun |
| mordacious | adjective | tending to bite; caustic, sarcastic. mordacity, noun |
| mordant | adjective | biting; caustic; cutting; sarcastic |
| mordent | noun | musical device of alternating quickly a tone with another a half-tone lower. |
| morel | noun | kind of edible fungus; black night-shade. morello, noun dark-colored cultivated cherry. |
| morganatic | adjective | pertaining to or denoting marriage of person of royal blood to person of inferior rank, by which the latter does not receive the royal spouse's rank nor do the children inherit his or her titles or property. morganatical, adjective |
| morganize | verb | do away with secretly; burke. |
| moriform | adjective | mulberry-shaped. |
| morigerous | adjective | obedient; obsequious |
| morology | noun | deliberate nonsense of foolishness for effect |
| morphogenesis, morphogeny | noun | n. development of morphological characteristics. morphogenetic, morphogenic, adjective |
| morphography | noun | morphological description or study. morphographer, noun artist portraying forms. morphographic(al), adjective morphographist, noun |
| morphometry | noun | measurement of form. morphometric(al), adjective |
| morphonomy | noun | morphological biological laws. morphonomic, adjective |
| morphosis | noun | manner of development. morphotic, adjective pertaining to morphosis or formation. |
| morro | noun | rounded hill or headland. |
| morsal | adjective | pertaining to cutting edge. |
| morse | noun | walrus. |
| mortmain | noun | Law, state of being held inalienably by a corporation; v.t. alienate into corporation's possession. |
| mortorio | noun | sculpture of the dead Christ. |
| moschate | adjective | musk-like in odour. moschiferous, adjective producing musk. moschine, adjective pertaining to musk deer. |
| mot juste | phrase | the perfect, fitting word or phrase; precisely aptexpression |
| mot propre | phrase | the correct or necessary word |
| motatorious | adjective | constantly active |
| motatory, motarious | adjective | continually moving. |
| motet | noun | kind of unaccompanied part-song or anthem. |
| motitation | noun | a quivering moment |
| motorium | noun | division of nervous system concerned with movement. |
| motricity | noun | function of movement, especially muscular. |
| moucharaby | noun | projecting latticed window in Muslim architecture; such balcony of castle. |
| mouchard | noun | police spy. |
| moue | noun | pout; grimace. |
| mouflon, moufflon | noun | horned wild sheep of Mediterranean islands. |
| mournival | noun | set of four, especially set of four court cards in one hand. |
| mousseline | noun | French dress fabric; hollandaise sauce with whipped cream or egg whites added. mousseline de laine, light woollen fabric. mousseline de soie, gauzy silk or rayon fabric. |
| moutonnée | adjective | applied to rocks with rounded outlines like backs of flock of sheep. |
| moxa | noun | in the practice of acupuncture, compacted shredded leaves or down from mugwort burned just above the skin or to heat needles used in treatment, as a tonic or analgesic. |
| mucedine | noun | mould or mildew fungus. mucedinaceous, mucedineous, mucedinous, adjective mildew-like. |
| muchacha | noun | girl; female servant. muchacho, noun boy; manservant. |
| mucid | adjective | slimy; mouldy, musty. |
| muciferous | adjective | a. secreting or stimulating secretion of mucus. mucific, mucigenous, adjective |
| mucivore | noun | insect feeding on plant juices. mucivorous, adjective |
| muckna | noun | male elephant lacking, or having only rudimentary, tusks; spurless cock. |
| mucocele | noun | cyst containing mucus; swelling due to accumulation of mucus. |
| mucronate | adjective | terminating in sharp point. mucroniferous, adjective mucroniform, adjective like a sharp point. mucronulate, adjective terminating in small sharp point. mucronation, noun |
| muculent | adjective | slimy; like mucus. |
| mugient | adjective | bellowing, especially like cattle. mugience, mugiency, noun |
| mugiloid | adjective noun | (fish) like grey mullet, or belonging to grey mullet family of fishes. mugiliform, adjective |
| mulct | verb | to punish by means of a fine |
| muliebrile | adjective | feminine. muliebrity, noun womanliness; womanhood. muliebrous, adjective effeminate. |
| mulierose | adjective | extremely fond of women |
| mullid | adjective noun | (fish) like red mullet, or belonging to red mullet family of fishes. |
| mulse | noun | boiled wine with honey. |
| multeity | noun | state of being, or thing comprising, many. |
| multifid | adjective | having many divisions. |
| multigravida | noun | woman pregnant for at least the third time. |
| multilinguist | noun | speaker of many languages. multilingual, adjective |
| multiliteral | adjective | having many letters or unknown quantities. |
| multilocation | noun | appearance in many places at the same time. |
| multiloquent | adjective | talkative. multiloquious, multiloquous, adjective multiloquence, multiloquy, noun |
| multipara | noun | mother of two or more children. multiparity, noun state of being multipara; act of giving birth to two or more offspring. multiparous, adjective |
| multiplicand | noun | number or amount to be multiplied. |
| multipotent | adjective | having many powers. |
| multisonous | adjective | producing many or loud sounds. multisonant, adjective |
| multitarian | adjective | having many forms but one essence. |
| multivious | adjective | leading in many directions; having many ways. |
| multivocal | adjective | having many meanings. |
| multivolent | adjective | not in agreement; not of one mind. |
| multivoltine | adjective | having many broods in one season. |
| multum in parvo | phrase | much in little: containing or suggesting much in few words; holophrastic |
| multure | noun | miller's fee for grinding corn. |
| mumchance | adjective | silent; tongue tied; n. obsolete, masquerade. |
| mummer | noun | actor in folk play; mimer. Mummerset. n. jocular, rustic accent or dialect for the stage. mummery, noun performance by mummers; empty ceremonial. |
| mump | adjective noun verb | v. -i. sulk; be silent; beg. mumper, n. mumpish, adj. |
| mumpsimus | noun | an erroneous word or spelling that, through long usage, has become absorbed into the language; an incorrectmanuscript reading blindly adhered to by some scholar; stubbornadherence to a mistaken verbal form in the face of correction |
| mumsy | adjective | old-fashioned; drab. |
| mundify | verb | cleanse; heal. mundificant, noun & a. mundification, mundifier, noun |
| mundivagant | noun | wandering over the world |
| muniments | noun | pl. legal records, as deeds, etc. |
| munjeet | noun | dye-yielding madder plant of Bengal; dye obtained from its roots. |
| murage | noun | rate levied for upkeep of city's walls. |
| murex | noun | (purple dye obtained from) tropical mollusc. |
| muriate | noun | chloride, especially of potassium. muriated, adjective impregnated with chloride, especially silver chloride; pickled; briny. muriatic, adjective hydrochloric. |
| muricate | adjective | prickly. muriculate, adjective having small prickles. |
| murine | adjective noun | (animal) belonging to rats and mice family of rodents. muriform, adjective like rat or mouse; like courses of bricks. |
| murrain | noun | plague, especially of cattle. |
| murrhine | adjective | applied to transparent glassware containing pieces of colored glass; n. such vase, or one made of valuable stone or porcelain. |
| musaceous | adjective | Botany, belonging to the banana and plantain family. |
| musal | adjective | pertaining to poetry or the Muses. |
| musang | noun | civet-like animal of E Indies. |
| musard | noun | an absentminded dreamer, or fool |
| muscae volitantes | noun | 'flying flies'; spots, lines, etc., seen before the eyes, caused by particles in the vitreous humour of the eye. |
| muscari | noun | grape hyacinth. muscariform, adjective brush-shaped. muscarine, noun poisonous alkaloid in fly agaric. |
| muscarine | noun | poisonous chemical compound found in certain mushrooms |
| muscicide | noun | substance killing flies. |
| muscid | adjective noun | (a member) of the family including the housefly. |
| muscology | noun | study of mosses. muscoid, muscose, adjective moss-like. muscologic(al), adjective muscologist, noun |
| muscovado | noun | unrefined sugar. |
| musteline | adjective noun | (animal) belonging to family of animals including otters, badgers, weasels, mink, etc. mustelinous, adjective |
| musth | noun | Zoology, state of frenzied sexual excitement. |
| mutatis mutandis | phrase | the (necessary) changes having been made, or the relevant differences having been considered |
| mutic | adjective | Zoology, lacking normal defensive parts, as claws, etc. muticous, adjective lacking a point. |
| mutive | adjective | tending to alter. mutivity, noun |
| myalgia | noun | muscular rheumatism. |
| myalism | noun | magic cult among W Indian blacks. |
| mycelium | noun | (pl. -ia), web of spore-bearing filaments of fungi; 'spawn'. mycelial, mycelian, mycelioid, myceloid, adjective |
| mycetism | noun | fungus poisoning. mycetoid, mycetous, adjective fungus-like. mycetophagous, adjective eating fungi. |
| mycoderma | noun | membrane formed on fermenting liquid; 'mother'; kind of fungus forming scum on liquid. mycodermic, mycodermatoid, mycodermatous, adjective |
| mycoid | adjective | fungus-like. |
| mycology | noun | study of fungi. mycological, adjective mycologist, noun |
| mycophagous | adjective | eating mushrooms. mycophagist, noun mycophagy, noun |
| mycteric | adjective | pertaining to cavities of nose. mycterism, noun sneering. |
| mycterism | noun | derision or sarcasm that is somewhat veiled; subtleor partly concealed gibe |
| mydriatic | adjective noun | (substance) causing dilatation of pupil of eye. mydriasis, noun such excessive dilatation. |
| myectopy, myectopia | noun | n. dislocation of muscle. |
| myelic | adjective | pertaining to spinal cord. myelencephalous, adjective having brain and spinal cord. myelitis, noun inflammation of spinal cord or marrow of bones. myelocyte, noun nerve-cell of brain or spinal cord. myeloid, adjective myelic. myeloma, noun tumour of bone marrow. myelon, noun spinal cord. . |
| myentasis | noun | surgical stretching of muscle. |
| myiasis | noun | disease due to flies' larvae in body. |
| myograph | noun | instrument recording strength of muscular contraction. myography, noun description of muscles. |
| myoid | adjective | muscle-like. |
| myology | noun | study of muscles. myologic(al), adjective myologist, noun |
| myositis | noun | inflammation of muscles. myositic, adjective |
| myothermic | adjective | pertaining to heat due to muscular contraction. |
| myotonia, myotonus, myotony | noun | n. muscular spasm or rigidity. |
| myoxine | adjective | pertaining to dormice. |
| myriacanthous | adjective | having many prickles. |
| myriapod | noun | millepede or centipede. myriapodan, myriapodous, adjective |
| myringa | noun | ear drum. myringitis, noun inflammation of myringa. |
| myristicaceous | adjective | like or pertaining to nutmeg tree; belonging to nutmeg family of plants. myristicivorous, adjective feeding on nutmegs. |
| myrmecoid | adjective | ant-like. myrmecology, noun study of ants. myrmecophagous, adjective ant-eating. myrmecophyte, noun plant living in symbiosis with ants. |
| myrmidon | noun | follower; hireling. |
| myrtaceous | adjective | belonging to myrtle family of plants. myrtiform, adjective myrtle-like. |
| mysophobia | noun | dread of dirt. mysophilia, noun unnatural attraction to dirt. |
| mystacial | adjective | having moustache-like stripe. mystacal, mystacine, mystacinous, adjective mystax, noun mouth-hairs of insects. |
| mystagogue | noun | instructor in mystical doctrines or of those being initiated into religious mysteries. mystagogic, adjective mystagogy, noun |
| mysticete | noun | Arctic right whale. mysticetous, adjective |
| mythoclast | noun | destroyer of myths. mythoclastic, adjective mythogony, noun study of myths' origins. mythography, noun descriptive study or artistic representation, of myths. mythomania, noun desire or aptitude for telling lies. mythopoeic, adjective myth-making. mythopoesis, noun composition of myths. |
| mythomania | noun | compulsively telling lies and believing them |
| mytilid | noun | mussel. mytiliform, mytiloid, adjective |
| myxoedema | noun | skin disease, marked by swelling and dryness, due to insufficient thyroid secretion. myxoedemic, myxoedematoid, myxoedematous, adjective |
| myxoid | adjective | mucoid. myxoma, noun soft mucoid tumour. myxomatosis, noun fatal contagious disease of rabbits. |
| naevus | noun | small mark on skin; birthmark; tumour of small blood vessel. naevoid, noun like this. |
| nagana | noun | tropical disease of cattle transmitted by tsetse fly. |
| naiad | noun | (pl. -es) water-nymph; fresh- water mussel; aquatic larva of dragonfly. |
| nanism | noun | state of being a dwarf. nanization, noun art of dwarfing (plants). |
| nannander | noun | dwarf male plant. nannandrous, adjective |
| nanocephalous | adjective | having abnormally small head. nanoid, adjective dwarfish. nanomalous, adjective having abnormally short limbs. |
| nantle | noun | to fondle |
| naology | noun | the study of holy buildings |
| napellus | noun | aconite. |
| napery | noun | table and other household linen. |
| napiform | adjective | turnip-shaped. |
| naprapathy | noun | medical treatment by manipulation of spine, thorax or pelvis. |
| narceine | noun | narcotic alkaloid found in opium. |
| narcohypnia | noun | numb feeling experienced on awakening. |
| narcoma | noun | coma caused by narcotics. narcomatous, adjective |
| narcotherapy | noun | treatment of mental disturbance by prolonged drug-induced sleep. |
| narcous | adjective | narcose. |
| nard | noun | spikenard; ointment made of it. nardine, adjective |
| narghile | noun | Oriental tobacco pipe in which smoke is drawn through water by a long tube; hookah; hubble-bubble. |
| narial, naric | adjective | a. pertaining to nostrils. nariform, adjective nostril-like. narine, adjective pertaining to nostrils. |
| narthex | noun | covered entrance way to a church |
| nasicorn | adjective | having horn(s) on nose; n. rhinoceros. nasicornous, adjective |
| nasillate | verb | v. -i. speak or sing nasally. nasillation, noun |
| nasute | adjective | having large nose. nasutiform, adjective nose-like. |
| natable | adjective | able to float. natability, noun |
| natant | adjective | swimming or floating. |
| natation | noun | swimming. natator, noun natatorial, natatory, adjective natatorium, noun ( pl. - ia) swimming pool. |
| nates | noun | the buttocks |
| natricine | adjective | belonging to genus of snakes including grass and water snakes; n. such snake. |
| natura naturans | noun | creative nature; Creator; God. natura naturata, created nature. |
| naturopathy | noun | medical treatment by methods believed to aid nature. naturopath, naturopathist, noun |
| naufragous | adjective | causing shipwrecks |
| naumachy, naumachia | noun | n. mock sea-battle; arena for it. |
| naupathia | noun | seasickness |
| nauplius | noun | (pl. -ii ) first larval form of crustacean. nauplial, naupliform, nauplioid, adjective |
| navarch | noun | fleet-commander. navarchy, noun |
| navarin | noun | stew of mutton and vegetables. |
| navicert | noun | paper declaring a shop isn't smuggling |
| navicular | adjective | pertaining to or like a boat; n. boat-shaped bone of wrist. naviculoid, naviform, adjective boat-shaped. |
| neanic | adjective | young; brephic. |
| neanilagnia | noun | a yen for nymphets |
| neanimorphism | noun | looking younger than one's years |
| nebulaphobia | noun | fear of fog |
| nebulochaotic | adjective | chaotic, confused |
| necessitarian | noun | Philosophy, fatalist. necessitarianism, noun |
| necrogenic, necrogenous | adjective | a. pertaining to or derived from dead bodies. |
| necrolatry | noun | worship of the dead. |
| necrology | noun | death-roll; obituary. necrologic(al), adjective necrologist, noun necrologue, noun obituary. |
| necromimesis | noun | feigning death; the delusion of being dead |
| necromorphous | adjective | feigning death. |
| necrophagous | adjective | feeding on dead bodies. |
| necrophobia | noun | dread of dead bodies or death. necrophobic, adjective |
| necrotomy | noun | dissection of dead bodies; removal of necrosed part. necrotomic, adjective necrotomist, noun |
| necrotype | noun | extinct creature or species. necrotypic, adjective |
| nectopod | noun | swimming limb. |
| necyomancy | noun | fortunetelling by summoning lucifer |
| nefandous | adjective | unmentionable, unspeakable |
| nefast | adjective | wicked |
| negatron | noun | hypothetical atomic particle with mass equal to that of a proton, but with a negative charge equal to that of an electron. |
| negus | noun | drink of wine, hot water and spices; title of Abyssinian ruler. |
| nek | noun | mountain pass. |
| nekton | noun | swimming creatures of open sea. nektonic, noun |
| nelipot | noun | someone going barefoot |
| nemaline | adjective | thread-like. |
| nematoceran | adjective noun | (insect) belonging to the suborder of flies including mosquitoes. nematocerous, adjective |
| nemophilous | adjective | loving the forest |
| nemoral | adjective | pertaining to or living in a forest or wood. nemophilous, adjective fond of forests or woods. nemoricolous, nemoricoline, adjective living in forests or groves. |
| nenuphar | noun | white or yellow water-lily. |
| neoblastic | adjective | pertaining to new growth. |
| neolatry | noun | worship of novelty. neolater, noun |
| neologism | noun | a newly coined word or phrase, or a novel expression in increasing usage; a new meaning for an old word |
| neomenia | noun | time of new moon. neomenian, adjective |
| neomnesia | noun | good memory for recent events |
| neomorphic | adjective | developed suddenly and not inherited. neomorph, noun neomorphism, noun |
| neonate | noun | new-born child. neonatal, adjective neonatology, noun care and treatment of neonates. |
| neonomian | noun | adherent of new law, especially of that of the New Testament. neonomianism, noun |
| neophilia | noun | love of novelty and new things, ideas, etc. neophobia, noun dread of the new. |
| neophrastic | adjective | pertaining to use of neologisms. |
| neoplasm | noun | abnormal new growth, especially of tumours. neoplastic, adjective neoplasty, noun formation of part afresh by plastic surgery. |
| neorama | noun | view of interior of building. |
| neossology | noun | study of nestling birds. neossoptile, noun newly hatched bird's downy feather. |
| neoteny | noun | indefinite prolongation of period of immaturity; retention of infantile or juvenile characteristics into adulthood. neotenous, adjective |
| neoteric | adjective | new; modern; n. such thing. neoterism, noun neologism. neoterist, noun neoteristic, adjective neoterize, v. |
| nepenthe | noun | drug destroying sorrow. nepenthes, noun pitcher- plant. |
| nephalism | noun | teetotalism. nephalist, noun |
| nepheligenous | adjective | discharging smoke in clouds. nephelognosy, noun observation of clouds. nepheloid, adjective cloudy. nephelometer, noun instrument measuring cloudiness. nephelorometer, noun instrument measuring clouds' direction and velocity. nepheloscope, noun instrument demonstrating formation of clouds. |
| nephology | noun | study of clouds. nephogram, noun cloud photograph. nephoscope, noun instrument measuring direction, velocity, etc., of clouds. |
| nephrectomy | noun | surgical removal of kidney. nephrectomize, v.i. & t. |
| nephria | noun | Bright's disease. nephric, adjective pertaining to kidneys. nephrism, noun chronic kidney disease. |
| nephrite | noun | kind of jade used as charm against kidney disease; kidney stone. |
| nephritis | noun | inflammation of kidneys. nephritic, adjective pertaining to nephritis or kidneys; n. person suffering from nephritis. |
| nephroid | adjective | kidney-shaped. nephrolith, noun stone of the kidney. nephrology, noun study of kidneys. nephrolysis, noun destruction of tissue of kidneys. nephropathy, noun kidney disease. nephropexy, noun surgical fixing of floating kidney. nephroptosis, noun floating kidney. nephrosis, noun degeneration of kidneys. nephrotomy, noun incision into kidney. nephrotoxic a. poisoning the kidneys. |
| nepionic | adjective | very young; at stage immediately following embryo. |
| nepotation | noun | riotous living |
| nereid | noun | sea-nymph; sea-centipede. |
| neritic | adjective | pertaining to shallow coastal waters. |
| Neronian, Neronic | noun | like Nero, Roman emperor infamous for cruelty and vice. Neronize, v.i. & t. |
| nerval | noun | neural; n. ointment for sinews. nervation, noun arrangement of nerves or veins. |
| nervus probandi | phrase | the strong point of the proving: crux of theargument |
| nescient | adjective | lacking or disclaiming knowledge; n. agnostic. nescience, noun |
| nescient | adjective | uneducated, unaware, ignorant, and stupid |
| nesiote | adjective | living on an island. |
| nestitherapy | noun | medical treatment by reducing food taken. |
| netsuke | noun | kind of carved button of wood, ivory, bone, etc. |
| nettling | verb | to irritate; vex; annoy |
| neurasthenia | noun | nervous debility or breakdown. neurasthenic, noun & a. |
| neurergic | adjective | pertaining to nerve action. |
| neuric | adjective | pertaining to or having nerves. |
| neurilemma | noun | outer nerve sheath. neurilemmal, neurilemmatic, neurilemmatous, adjective neurilemmitis, noun inflammation of nerve sheath. |
| neurine | noun | poison arising in decaying flesh. |
| neurogram | noun | modification in nerve structure to which memory is due. neurogrammic a. neurography, noun formation of neurograms; descriptive neurology. |
| neuroleptic | adjective | capable of having an effect on the brain, especially tranquillising; n. such drug. |
| neurolysis | noun | disintegration of nerve substance; surgical liberation of nerve. |
| neuroma | noun | nerve tumour. neuromatous, adjective neuromatosis, noun |
| neuromimesis | noun | imitation of symptoms of disease by neurotic person. neuromimetic, adjective |
| neuropterous | adjective | pertaining or belonging to insect order including lace-wing flies. neuropteran, neuropteron (pl. - ra), noun such insect. neuropterist, noun student of these insects. neuropterology, noun study of such. |
| neurypnology | noun | study of hypnotism and of sleep. |
| neuston | noun | minute organisms on the surface film of open water; ecosystem of surface film. |
| n�v� | noun | grainy snow in the process of becoming glacial ice. |
| newel | noun | post at foot or head of stairs, or about which spiral staircase turns. |
| nexus | noun | bond; tie; interconnected group. |
| niblick | noun | iron-headed golf club with steeply angled face, for playing out of bunkers. |
| niccolic, niccolous | adjective | of nickel. |
| nicolo, niccolo | noun | blue-black variety of onyx. |
| nicotian | noun | tobacco-user. |
| nictitate | verb | to wink |
| nidatory | adjective | pertaining to nests. nidicolous, adjective living in nests. nidificate, nidify, v.i. construct nest. nidifugous, adjective leaving nest at early stage. nidology, noun study of nests. nidulant, adjective nestling. nidus, noun (pl. -di ) nest; place of breeding or origin. |
| nidorous | adjective | smelling like burning or decaying animal matter |
| niello | noun | (pl. -li ) black alloy used to fill engraved designs on metal; work or object decorated with this; v.i. decorate with this. niellist, noun |
| nigrescent | adjective | becoming or somewhat black. nigrescence, noun nigrine, adjective black. nigrities, noun unusually dark coloring. nigritude, noun blackness. nigrous, adjective |
| nihil ad rem | phrase | nothing to the matter: irrelevant |
| nihil obstat | phrase | nothing stands in the way: in roman catholocism,certification by an examining censor that a book containsnothing contrary to church doctrine in faith and morals;seal of approval |
| nikhedonia | noun | the pleasure received from anticipating success |
| nimiety | noun | excess, redundancy, superfluity, pleonasm |
| nimious | adjective | extravagant |
| nimptopsical | adjective | drunk |
| nippitatum | noun | exceptionally good and strong ale |
| nisus | noun | effort, especially to evacuate faeces; desire, especially sexual of birds. |
| nitid | adjective | shining. |
| nitre | noun | saltpetre (potassium nitrate). cubic nitre, sodium nitrate. nitrate, noun salt of nitric acid; v.t. treat with nitric acid. nitric, adjective nitrify, v. nitrophilous a. flourishing in soil rich in nitrogen. nitrophyte, noun nitrophilous plant. nitrous, adjective |
| nival | adjective | marked by, or living in, snow. |
| nivellate | verb | level. nivellation, nivellator, noun |
| niveous | adjective | snowy. nivosity, noun |
| nix | noun | (fem. -ie) water sprite. |
| nizam | noun | title of former ruler of Hyderabad; Turkish soldier. |
| nobiliary | adjective | pertaining to nobility. nobiliary particle, preposition indicating nobility, e.g. de (French) or von (German). |
| nocent | adjective | harmful; criminal. |
| noctambulant | adjective | walking by night or in one's sleep. noctambulation, noctambulism, noun noctambulist, noun sleep-walker. noctambulous, adjective |
| noctidiurnal | adjective | comprising one day and night. |
| noctiflorous | adjective | flowering at night. |
| noctiluca | noun | (pl. -cae) luminescent sea creature. noctilucal, noctilucent, adjective luminescent (applied to living organisms only). noctilucence, noun noctilucous, adjective shining at night; luminescent. |
| noctivagant | adjective | wandering about at night. noctivagation, noun noctivagous, adjective |
| noctivagation | noun | wandering around at night |
| noctovision | noun | transmission by infra-red rays of image of object invisible through darkness. |
| noctuid | noun | night-flying moth. |
| nocturia | noun | abnormal urination at night. |
| nocuous | adjective | harmful. |
| nodus | noun | (pl. -di ) crucial or difficult point; knot. |
| noegenesis | noun | production of new knowledge. noegenetic, adjective |
| noesis | noun | pure knowledge; cognition. noetic, noun & a. noetics, noun laws of logic. |
| noggin | noun | small cup or quantity; gill. |
| nogging | noun | masonry or brickwork between wooden frame. |
| noisette | noun | small thick round slice of boneless meat, especially lamb; hazelnut (chocolate). |
| nolition | noun | unwillingness. |
| nolle prosequi | noun | 'to be unwilling to prosecute'; withdrawal of suit by plaintiff. |
| nomial | noun | single term. |
| nomic | adjective | customary; conventional; n. such non-phonetic spelling. |
| nominalism | noun | Philosophy doctrine that universal terms and abstractions are mere names and have no reality. nominalist, noun |
| nomism | noun | acceptance of moral law as basis of conduct. nomistic, adjective |
| nomocracy | noun | government based on legal system. |
| nomogenist | noun | believer in non-miraculous origin of life. nomogenous, adjective nomogeny, noun |
| nomography | noun | drafting of laws; treatise on this. nomographer, noun nomographic(al), adjective |
| nomology | noun | science of law. nomological, adjective nomologist, noun |
| nomothetic | adjective | legislative; based on law. nomothetes, Greek n. pl. -tai ) law-giver. |
| non est disputandum | phrase | it is not to be disputed |
| non possumus | phrase | a statement of inability to do something |
| nonage | noun | state of being under age. |
| nonan | noun | happening on the ninth day |
| nonfeasance | noun | failure to perform an act or obligation. |
| nonparous | adjective | having not given birth to any offspring. |
| nonsuit | noun | Law, judge's dismissal of suit when plaintiff fails to show good cause or produce evidence; v.t. dismiss a suit thus. |
| noology | noun | study of intuition and reason |
| nopal | noun | prickly pear; cochineal fig. |
| nordcaper | noun | right whale. |
| normocyte | noun | red blood corpuscle. |
| nosism | noun | use of 'we' in speaking of oneself; conceit or self-exultation by a group |
| nosocomial | adjective | (of a disease) contracted in hospital. |
| nosology | noun | classification of diseases. nosography, noun descriptive nosology. nosomania, noun delusion of suffering from imaginary disease. nosophobia, noun morbid dread of disease. |
| nostology | noun | study of senility. nostologic, adjective |
| nostopathy | noun | morbid fear of returning to familiar places. nostomania, noun abnormally strong desire to return to familiar places; longing for one's home. |
| nostrificate | verb | to accept as one's own |
| nostrification | noun | acceptance of foreign university degrees as equal with native. |
| notabilia | noun | #NAME? |
| notacanthous | adjective | spiny-backed. |
| notal | adjective | dorsal. notalgia, noun pain in back. |
| notandum | noun | (pl. -da) thing to be noted. |
| nothosaur | noun | plesiosaurus-like fossil reptile. nothosaurian, noun & a. |
| nothosonomia | noun | calling someone a bastard |
| nothous | adjective | spurious; bastard. |
| notochord | noun | backbone-like series of cells in lowest vertebrates. notochordal, adjective |
| notornis | noun | domestic-fowl-like bird of New Zealand |
| noumenon | noun | an object implied by intuition rather than evidence,opposite of phenomenon |
| nous | noun | pure intellect; reason; commonsense. |
| novenary | adjective | pertaining to or consisting of nine; n. set of nine. novendial, noun & a. (festival) lasting nine days. novennial, adjective happening every ninth year. |
| novercal | adjective | pertaining to stepmother. |
| novolescence | noun | state of being new or up to date. |
| noxal | adjective | noxious; pertaining to damage. |
| noyade | noun | drowning, especially of many persons together as form of execution. |
| nubia | noun | cloud; lady's fleecy head-wrap. nubilate, v. obscure. |
| nubilate | verb | to obscure |
| nubilous | adjective | cloudy; vague. |
| nucal | adjective | of nuts. |
| nucha | noun | nape of neck |
| nuciferous | adjective | yielding nuts. nuciform, adjective nut-shaped. nucivorous, adjective nut- eating. |
| nuclide | noun | an atom of specified atomic number and mass number. |
| nudicaudate | adjective | with hairless tail. nudicaulous. a. with leafless stems. nudiflora, adjective flowering before leaves appear. nudiflorous, adjective with naked flowers. nudiped n. & a. (animal) with naked feet. |
| nudis verbis | phrase | in naked words |
| nudiustertian | adjective | pertaining to the day before yesterday |
| nugacious | adjective | unimportant. nucity, noun triviality; futility. nugae, (Latin) n.pl. trifles. |
| nugatory | adjective | worthless, trifling, of no consequence |
| nullibist | noun | person denying soul's existence in space. |
| nullifidian | adjective | skeptical |
| nulliparous | adjective | pertaining to a woman who has borne no children. |
| numbles | noun | edible deer innards |
| numen | noun | (pl. -mina) local or presiding divinity; god in human form. numinism, noun belief in numina. numinous, adjective pertaining to numina; awe- inspiring; supernatural. |
| nummamorous | adjective | money-loving |
| nummary | adjective | pertaining to coin. nummiform, adjective coin-shaped. |
| nummular(y) | adjective | nummary; nummiform. nummulite, noun coin-like fossil shell. |
| nuncio | adjective noun verb | papal envoy. nunciate, noun messenger. nunciative, adjective bearing messages. nunciature, noun office of nuncio. |
| nuncupate | noun | v. declare verbally; dedicate. nuncupation, n. nuncupator, n. nuncupative, nuncupatory, adj. oral; not written down; designative. |
| nundinal | noun | one of first eight letters of alphabet, indicating day of week in ancient Rome; a. pertaining to such; pertaining to market or market-day. nundination, noun trading. nundine, noun market-day, held in ancient Rome every eighth day. |
| nunting | adjective | of clumsy and awkward appearance |
| nuque | noun | nape. |
| nutation | noun | nodding; such motion of earth's axis. nutant, adjective nodding or drooping. nutal, adjective |
| nutrice | noun | nurse. nutricial, adjective |
| nychthemer(on) | noun | period of one night and day. nychthemeral, adjective |
| nychthemeron | noun | a twenty-four-hour period |
| nyctalopia | noun | condition of seeing poorly at night or in partial darkness, while day sight is normal; erroneously, the opposite condition. nyctalope, noun person suffering from this. nyctalopic, adjective |
| nyctophobia | noun | dread of darkness. |
| nycturia | noun | nocturia. |
| nylghau, nylghai | noun | nilgai. |
| nymphitis | noun | inflammation of inner lips of vulva. nympholepsy, noun emotional frenzy, especially desire for the unattainable. nympholept n. nymphomania, noun sexual mania in female. nymphomaniac, adjective & n. nymphotomy, noun Medicine, removal of inner lips of vulva. |
| nympholepsy | noun | trance incurred by erotic daydreams |
| nystagmus | noun | involuntary lateral movement of the eyeballs. nystagmic, adjective |
| obambulate | verb | to walk about, wander |
| obbligato | adjective noun | Music, accompanying, or accompaniment, by solo instrument other than piano. |
| obdormition | noun | numbness or 'going to sleep' of a limb, etc. |
| obdurate | adjective | obstinate; hard-hearted. obduracy, noun |
| obeisance | noun | bow or curtsey; paying of homage. obeisant, adjective |
| obelize | verb | mark with obelus; especially to mark as spurious. |
| obelus | noun | (pl. obeli ), mark of reference signifying spurious passage in manuscript, etc. |
| obganiate | verb | to irritate with reiteration |
| obiter dictum | noun | (pl. obiter dicta) 'thing said in passing'; casual or incidental remark or opinion. |
| objicient | noun | objector. |
| objurgate | verb | rebuke; scold. objurgation, noun objurgatory, adjective |
| objurgation | noun | an earnest denunciation, rebuke, or scolding; harsh criticism |
| oblate | adjective noun | dedicated (person); a. Geometry, flattened at poles. oblation, noun offering; sacrifice. oblational, adjective |
| oblatrate | noun | to snarl at, inveigh against |
| oblectation | noun | delight, pleasure |
| oblocution | noun | interruption |
| obloquy | noun | abuse; disgrace. oblocutor, noun one who denies or disputes. |
| obnubilation | noun | beclouding or obscuring; obfuscation |
| obreption | noun | attempt to obtain ecclesiastical dispensation, etc., fraudulently. obreptitious, adjective performed in underhand fashion. |
| obreption | noun | creeping up on |
| obrogate | verb | alter (law) by passing new law. obrogation, noun |
| obscurantism | noun | prevention of enlightenment. obscurantic, adjective obscurantist, noun |
| obscurum per obscurius | phrase | explaining the obscure by means of the more obscure |
| obsecrate | verb | beseech. obsecration, noun |
| obsecrations | noun | entreaties |
| obsidional, obsidionary | adjective | pertaining to siege. |
| obsolagnium | noun | waning sexual desire due to age |
| obstipation | noun | complete constipation. |
| obstriction | noun | obligation. |
| obstrobogulous | adjective | a vehement oath of expansive meaning |
| obstruent | adjective noun | Medicine, blocking up body passage. Phonetics/Linguistics, sound characterized by obstruction of the airstream: a plosive, fricative, or affricate. |
| obtenebrate | verb | darken; cast shadow over. |
| obtest | verb | beseech; invoke; adjure. obtestation, noun |
| obtrude | verb | thrust (oneself) forward in an annoying way; thrust (something) out or forward. obtrusive, adjective obtrusion, noun |
| obtruncate | verb | behead. obtruncation, noun |
| obtund | verb | blunt; dull. obtundent, noun & a. (drug) dulling pain. |
| obturate | verb | stop up, especially obturation, obturator, noun |
| obumbrate | adjective | obsolete darkened; hidden under a projection. obumbrant, adjective over-hanging. |
| obvallate | adjective | walled in. |
| obvention | noun | casual or occasional happening or gift. |
| obvert | verb | turn; alter. obversion, noun |
| obvolute | adjective | over-lapping; twisted. obvolution, noun |
| occamy | noun | alloy imitating silver or gold. |
| occiput | noun | back of head. occipital, a.; n. such bone. |
| ocellus | noun | (pl. -li small eye; eye-like colored spot. ocellar, adjective ocellated, adjective bearing ocelli. ocellation, noun |
| oche | noun | mark on floor behind which darts player must stand. |
| ochlesis | noun | unhealthy condition due to over-crowding. |
| ochlocracy | noun | mob rule |
| ocracy | noun | government. |
| octactinal | adjective | eight-rayed. |
| octad | noun | group of eight. |
| octamerous | adjective | having its parts in eights. |
| octameter | noun | verse-line of eight feet. |
| octant | noun | eighth part of circle (45°); angle-measuring instrument with that arc. |
| octapla | noun | multilingual book in eight texts, especially part of Bible. |
| octapody | noun | octameter. |
| octarchy | noun | government by eight persons; alliance of eight independent governments. |
| octastich | noun | poem or stanza of eight lines. |
| octateuch | noun | series of eight books; first eight books of Old Testament. |
| octavo | noun | book size: foolscap octavo, 63/4 x 41/4 in; crown octavo, 71/2 x 5 in; large crown octavo, 8 x 51/4 in; demy octavo, 83/4 x 55/8 in; medium octavo, 91/2 x 6 in; royal octavo, 10 x 61/4 in; super royal octavo, 101/4 x 67/8 in; imperial octavo, 11 x 71/2 in (abbr. 8vo.). |
| octennial | adjective | happening in every eighth year; lasting eight years. |
| octodecimo | noun | book size. demy octodecimo, 53/4 x 33/4 in (abbr. 18mo.). |
| octonary | adjective | pertaining to or consisting of eight; in groups of eight; n. stanza of eight lines. |
| octoploid, octaploid | adjective | eight-fold; having eight times basic number of chromosomes; n. such cell. |
| octosyllable | noun | verse line or word of eight syllables. octosyllabic, adjective |
| octroi | noun | trading privilege; concession; monopoly; tax on goods imported into town, and place where it is collected. |
| ocular | adjective | pertaining to eyes; visual. oculate, adjective having eyes. oculist, noun opthalmologist. oculus, noun Architecture, any eye-like feature, especially window. |
| odium | noun | hatred; reproach. odious, adjective hateful, repugnant. |
| odium aestheticum | phrase | the bitterness of aesthetical controversy |
| odium scholasticum | phrase | acrimony between scholars or pedants; academic quibbling |
| odium theologicum | phrase | bitter hatred between rival theologians |
| odograph | noun | instrument recording distance travelled, especially by pedestrian. odometer, noun |
| odorivector | noun | substance causing odour. |
| oecist | noun | colonist. |
| oeil-de-boeuf | noun | (pl. oeils-de-boeuf) round or oval window. |
| oeillade | noun | glance, ogle. |
| officinal | adjective | used in medicine, art or industry; stocked by pharmacists; n. such drug. |
| ogdoad | noun | eight; group of eight. |
| ogee | noun | moulding with S-shaped section; a. S-shaped. ogee arch, pointed arch with ogee curve on either side. |
| ogham, ogam | noun | ancient British alphabet of notches; character of ogam. ogamic, adjective |
| ogive | noun | pointed arch; vault's diagonal rib. ogival, adjective |
| oikofugic | noun | obsessive wandering |
| oikonisus | noun | urge to start a family |
| olamic | adjective | infinite, eternal |
| oleaster | noun | yellow-flowered, olive-like shrub of S Europe; erroneously, wild olive. |
| olecranon | noun | projecting bone of elbow; 'funny-bone'. olecranal, adjective |
| oleic | adjective | pertaining to or derived from oil. oleiferous, adjective oil-producing. |
| olent | adjective | archaic, fragrant. |
| oleograph | noun | lithographic reproduction of oil painting. oleography, noun |
| oleometer | noun | oil hydrometer; instrument measuring amount of oil in substance. |
| oleraceous | adjective | potherb-like; edible. |
| olet lucernam | phrase | it smells of the lamp: describing something written that is belabored or overwrought |
| olid | adjective | evil-smelling. |
| oligochronometer | noun | instrument measuring very short time intervals. |
| oligocythaemia | noun | deficiency of red corpuscles in blood. |
| oligodontous | adjective | having few teeth. |
| oligodynamic | adjective | pertaining to effect of small quantities; having effect in small quantities only. |
| oligomycin | noun | antibiotic used against plant fungi. |
| oligophagous | adjective | eating a few sorts of food only. |
| oligophrenia | noun | feeble-mindedness |
| oligopoly | noun | market dominated by a few producers. |
| oligosyllable | noun | word of few syllables. |
| olisbos | noun | a dildo |
| olitory | adjective | archaic, pertaining to pot-herbs or kitchen garden. |
| olivet | noun | artificial pearl; olive grove; Mount of Olives. |
| ollapod | noun | pharmacist |
| omasum | noun | (pl. omasa) third stomach of ruminants. omasitis, noun inflammation of omasum. |
| ombibulous | adjective | drinking everything |
| ombrology | noun | study of rain. ombrograph, noun recording ombrometer. ombrometer, noun rain gauge. ombrophile, noun plant flourishing in extremely rainy conditions. ombrophobe, noun plant thriving only in desert conditions. |
| omentum | noun | (pl. omenta) fold of the peritoneum. great omentum, fat-filled sac covering small intestines. lesser omentum, omentum joining stomach with liver. omental, adjective |
| omneity | noun | state of including all things. omnes, Latin n. pl. 'all (persons)'. omniana, noun scraps of information of every kind. |
| omnicompetent | adjective | legally competent in all matters. omnifarious, adjective of all kinds. omnific, omnificent, adjective creating all things. omnify, v. make large or universal. omnigenous, adjective of all kinds. omnipotent, adjective all-powerful. omnipresent, adjective present everywhere. omniscient, adjective knowing everything. omnium, noun Commerce, total of parts of fund or stock. omnium gatherum, noun miscellaneous collection, especially of persons. omnivorous, adjective feeding on all kinds of food. |
| omnilegent | adjective | reading or having read everything; having encyclopedic curiosity and knowledge |
| omodynia | noun | pain in shoulder. |
| omophagy, omophagia | noun | eating of raw flesh. omophagic, omophagous, adjective |
| omoplate | noun | shoulder blade. |
| omphalomancy | noun | predicting the number of children a mother will bear by counting the knots in her first-born's umbilical cord |
| omphalos | noun | (pl. -li) navel; central point. omphaloskepsis, noun meditation while gazing at one's navel. omphalic, adjective omphaloid, adjective like a navel. |
| omphaloskepsis | noun | contemplation of the navel for the purpose of obtaining philosophic calm |
| onager | noun | (pl. -gri ) wild ass of Asia. onagraceous, adjective belonging to evening primrose family of plants. |
| onanism | noun | masturbation. onanist, noun onanistic, adjective |
| ondatra | noun | musk-rat. |
| ondograph | noun | instrument measuring variations in wave formation of electric current. ondogram, noun record of ondograph ondoscope, noun instrument showing such wave form. |
| ondoyant | adjective | wavy. |
| oneirataxia | noun | inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality |
| oneiric | adjective | having to do with dreams |
| oneirocritic | noun | someone who interprets dreams |
| oniochalasia | noun | buying as a means of mental relaxation |
| oniomania | noun | mania for making purchases. oniomaniac, noun |
| onomancy | noun | divination from letters of a name. |
| onomasiology | noun | branch of semantics dealing with related words and their meanings. |
| onomastic | adjective | pertaining to or consisting of names; applied to autograph signature in one hand on document written in another. onomastics n. pl. study of proper names. onomasticon n. vocabulary of proper names. onomatology, noun science of names. onomatomania, noun irresistible desire to repeat certain words continually, especially words of something to be remembered. |
| onomatomania | noun | preoccupation with words and names |
| onomatophobia | noun | fear of hearing a certain word |
| onomatopoeia | noun | the forming of or use of a word that imitates in sound what it denotes; use of imitative or echoic words |
| ontogeny, ontogenesis | noun | life history of individual organism. ontogenetic, ontogenic, adjective |
| onus probandi | phrase | the burden of proof |
| onychia, onychitis | noun | inflammation of root or side of nail. onychauxis, noun hypertrophy of nails. onychoid a. fingernail-like. onychophagia, noun nail-biting. onychosis, noun disease of nail. |
| onyxis | noun | ingrowing nail. |
| oogamete | noun | female gamete. oogenesis, noun egg-formation. oogamous, adjective heterogamous. |
| ooid(al) | adjective | egg-shaped. |
| oolite | noun | limestone comprising small egg-like grains. oolitic, adjective |
| oology | noun | collection and study of birds' eggs. oologic(al), adjective oologize, v.i. search for birds' eggs. oologist, noun |
| oometer | noun | egg-measuring instrument. |
| ooscope | noun | instrument for examining interior of egg. |
| oosperm | noun | fertilized egg. oospore, noun spore arising from fertilized egg cell. |
| ootheca | noun | firm-walled egg-case of some molluscs and insects. |
| opeidoscope | noun | instrument showing sound vibrations by vibrating mirror. |
| operculum | noun | (pl. -s or -la) lid-like organ, as of moss capsule and mollusc shell; fish's gill cover. opercular, adjective operculate, adjective |
| operon | noun | group of genes operating as a unit. |
| operose | adjective | requiring effort; working hard. |
| ophelimity | noun | the ability to please (sexually) |
| ophiasis | noun | baldness in wavy bands. |
| ophic | adjective | pertaining to serpents. ophism, noun snake-worship. |
| ophicleide | noun | bass bugle-like keyed brass musical instrument. ophicleidean, adjective ophicleidist, noun |
| ophidian | adjective noun | (reptile) belonging to order of reptiles including snakes; like snakes. ophidioid, adjective snake-like. ophiolog ,n. study of snakes. ophiomorphic, adjective snake-shaped. |
| ophthalmia | noun | inflammation of eye. ophthalmic, adjective pertaining to eye. ophthalmology, noun study of eye and its diseases. ophthalmometer, noun instrument for measuring eye, especially for astigmatism. ophthalmoplegia, noun paralysis of ocular muscles. ophthalmoscope n. instrument for examining inner eye. |
| ophthalmophobia | noun | fear of being stared at |
| opiparous | adjective | sumptuous |
| opisometer | noun | instrument measuring curved lines. |
| opisthenar | noun | back of hand. opisthognathous, adjective with receding jaws. opisthograph, noun ancient tablet or manuscript bearing writing on both sides. opisthosomal, adjective pertaining to posteriors. |
| opopanax | noun | aromatic gum resin formerly used in medicine; now used in perfume and some incenses. |
| oppidan | adjective | pertaining to town; n. town-dweller; student at Eton boarding in the town. |
| oppilate | verb | Medicine, stop up. oppilation, noun oppilative, adjective |
| oppilations | noun | obstructions |
| oppugn | verb | call in question; deny; resist; conflict with. oppugnant, adjective hostile, combative. |
| oppugnant | adjective | opposing; antagonistic; contrary |
| opsablepria | noun | inability to look someone in the eye |
| opsablepsia | noun | not looking into another's eyes |
| opsimath | noun | mature student; late learner. |
| opsonin | noun | substance of blood serum making bacteria vulnerable to phagocytic action. |
| optative | adjective | Grammar, (mood) expressing wish. |
| optogram | noun | image fixed on retina. optometry, noun measuring range of vision; eye-testing. optophone, noun instrument enabling blind to read by transforming light into sound. optotypes, noun pl. varying-sized print for eye-testing. |
| opuscule | noun | a minor composition or work |
| orache | noun | plant of the goosefoot family, especially one grown as a vegetable. |
| oracular | adjective | like an oracle; sententious; prophetic; ambiguous. |
| orant | noun | representation of a praying figure. |
| orarian | adjective noun | (dweller) of the seashore. |
| oratio obliqua | phrase | indirect speech: reported speech, or relatingby another that is modified and indirect |
| oratio recta | phrase | straight speech: actual or direct speech |
| orbicular | adjective | spherical; circular. orbiculate, adjective orbiculation, noun |
| orbific | adjective | world-creating. |
| orchesis | noun | art of dancing in Greek chorus. |
| orchidaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like an orchid; exceptionally beautiful; ostentatious; gaudy. |
| orchidectomy | noun | castration |
| orchitis | noun | inflammation of testicles. orchidectomy, noun removal of testicle(s). |
| ore rotundo | phrase | with a round mouth: eloquently, with considered emphasis |
| oread | noun | mountain nymph. |
| orectic | adjective | pertaining to desires and their satisfaction. orexis, noun mental desire; effort. |
| orfe | noun | small yellow fish kept in aquariums. |
| organum, organon | noun | logical system or method for investigating phenomena. |
| orgulous | adjective | proud and haughty; swelling |
| oriel | noun | projecting window or part of building containing window. |
| oriflamme | noun | royal red banner; battle standard. |
| oriform | adjective | mouth-shaped. |
| orismology | noun | the science of defining or explaining technical terms |
| orison | noun | short prayer |
| orlop | noun | ship's lowest deck. |
| ormolu | noun | type of brass that looks like gold |
| ornis | noun | avifauna. |
| orobathymetric | adjective | pertaining to map showing sea depths or submerged heights. |
| orogeny, orogenesis | noun | formation of mountains. orogenic, adjective |
| orograph | noun | machine recording heights and distances traversed. orographic, adjective showing heights. orography, noun study of mountains. |
| orology | noun | study of mountains. orometer, noun barometer showing height above sea-level. |
| orotund | adjective | using high-flown language; speaking or singing clearly and strongly. orotundity, noun |
| orphic | adjective | mystic, oracular; pertaining to Orpheus. |
| orphrey | noun | gold-embroidered band on ecclesiastical robes. |
| orpiment | noun | yellow compound of arsenic, used as pigment, etc. |
| orpine | noun | kind of stone-crop; British, livelong; American, live-forever. |
| orrery | noun | moving model of solar system. |
| orris | noun | kind of iris, and its rootstock used in perfumery, medicine, etc. |
| orthodromy, orthodromics | noun | navigation by great circle. |
| orthoepy | noun | correct pronunciation; study of pronunciation. orthoepic, adjective orthoepist, noun |
| orthogenesis | noun | (belief that) biological variation results in new species, always along same path; belief that the development of civilization always proceeds in same way. orthogenetic, adjective orthogenic, adjective pertaining to correction of children's mental defects. |
| orthognathism | noun | state of having straight jaws. orthognathous, adjective orthognathy, adjective |
| orthograde | adjective | walking with the body upright. |
| orthometopic | adjective | having vertical forehead. |
| orthopnoea | noun | ability to breathe in upright position only. |
| orthopraxy | noun | correct action. |
| orthopsychiatry | noun | preventive psychiatry for young people. |
| orthopterous | adjective | pertaining or belonging to insect order including grasshoppers, crickets, etc. orthopteran, noun & a. orthopterist, noun student of insects. orthopteron, noun such insect. |
| orthoptic | adjective | pertaining to correct vision. |
| orthosis | noun | correction of neurotic state. |
| orthostatic | adjective | pertaining to erect or standing position. orthotic, adjective |
| orthotonus | noun | spasmic bodily rigidity due to tetanus. |
| orthotropism | noun | vertical growth. orthotropic, adjective |
| ortolan | noun | kind of bunting (bird) esteemed as food. |
| orts | noun | Archaic, crumbs, scraps. |
| oryctognosy | noun | mineralogy. oryctognostic(al), adjective oryctology, noun mineralogy. |
| oryzivorous | adjective | rice-eating. |
| os | noun | (pl. ossa ) bone; (pl. ora ) mouth. |
| oscillometer | noun | instrument measuring ship's rollings, etc.; instrument measuring blood pressure variations. oscillometric, adjective |
| oscine | adjective | (bird) belonging to sub-order of birds including singing birds. |
| oscitance, oscitancy | noun | yawning; sleepiness; dullness. oscitant, adjective oscitation, noun |
| osculate | verb | v. -i. make contact; coincide; jocular, kiss. osculant, osculatory, oscular, adj.pertaining to mouth or kissing. osculation n. |
| osmatic | adjective | relying on smell for orientation. osmesis, noun act of smelling. osmics, noun study of sense of smell. osmidrosis, noun secretion of strong- smelling perspiration. |
| osophy | noun | belief or doctrine; ism. |
| osphresis | noun | sense of smell. osphretic, adjective |
| osseous | adjective | bony. ossicle, noun small bone, especially of ear. |
| ossifrage | noun | lammergeier; osprey. |
| ossuary | noun | charnel-house. |
| osteal | adjective | pertaining to or like bone. osteitis, noun inflammation of bone. ostosis, noun bone formation. |
| ostiary | noun | door-keeper, especially of church. |
| ostinato | noun | recurring musical phrase. |
| ostiole | noun | small orifice, pore. |
| ostreiform | adjective | oyster-shaped or -like. ostreiculture, noun oyster-breeding. ostreoid, adjective oyster-like. ostreophagous, adjective oyster-eating. |
| otacoustic | adjective noun | (instrument) aiding hearing. |
| otalgia | noun | earache. otalgic, noun & a. (curative) of earache. |
| otiant | adjective | idle; resting. |
| otic | adjective | pertaining to the ear. otitis, noun inflammation of the ear. otolith, noun concretion or stone' of ear. otology |
| otiose | adjective | futile, functionless, sterile, idle |
| oubliette | noun | dungeon with entrance in roof. |
| outrecuidance | noun | egomania; gross conceit |
| outrooper | noun | an auctioneer |
| overweening | adjective | arrogantly excessive. |
| ovicide | noun | substance killing eggs, especially of insects. ovicidal, adjective |
| oviduct | noun | passage conveying eggs to exterior or place of fertilization; Fallopian tube. oviductal, oviducal, adjective |
| ovine | adjective | pertaining to or like sheep; n. such animal. oviform, adjective sheep- or egg-like. |
| oviparous | adjective | producing offspring in eggs. ovipositor, noun insect's tube-like organ for depositing eggs. oviparity, noun |
| ovopyriform | adjective | between pear-shaped and egg-shaped. |
| ovoviviparous | adjective | producing offspring in eggs that hatch within parent's body. ovoviviparity, noun |
| oxalidaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like wood sorrel (plant); belonging to wood sorrel family of plants. oxalic, adjective of or from wood sorrel; oxalic acid, poisonous acid used in dyeing, etc. |
| oxhoft | noun | measurement of approximately 57 gallons |
| oxyacanthous | adjective | with sharp thorns. oxyaesthesia, noun extreme acuteness of sensation. oxyaphia, noun sensitivity of touch sense. oxyblepsia, noun keen-sightedness. oxygeusia, noun extreme sensitivity of taste sense. |
| oxyopia | noun | abnormal keen-sightedness. oxyosphresia, noun extreme sensitivity of smell sense. oxyphonia, noun shrillness of voice. oxyrhinch, adjective sharp- nosed. oxytocia, noun quickness of child-birth. oxytocic, adjective hastening childbirth. |
| oxythymous | adjective | quick-tempered; easily riled |
| oxytone | adjective | in ancient Greek, bearing acute accent on last syllable; n. such word. |
| ozocerite | noun | kind of waxy mineral. |
| ozostomia | noun | foul-smelling breath. |
| pacable | adjective | capable of being pacified. |
| pachycephalic | adjective | thick-skulled |
| paciferin | noun | an infection-resisting factor found in natural foods. |
| padrone | noun | (pl. -ni ) master; inn-keeper; American, employment agent for (Italian) immigrants. |
| paduasoy | noun | corded silk; garment of this. |
| pageism | noun | masochism fantasy of a man imagining himself as servant to a beautiful woman |
| pagophagia | noun | eating a tray of ice daily for two months tohelp offset iron deficiency |
| pagurian | adjective noun | (crab) belonging to hermit crab family. pagurid, noun |
| paideia | noun | education aimed at forming an enlightened, mature mind. |
| paideutics | noun | pedagogy |
| paizogony | noun | love play |
| palaestra, palestra | noun | wrestling; gymnasium. palaestral, palestral, adjective |
| palamate | adjective | webfooted. |
| palanquin | noun | litter for one in E Asia, carried on the shoulders. |
| paleaceous | adjective | chafflike. |
| paleomnesia | noun | good memory for events of the far past |
| paletot | noun | loose outer garment; overcoat. |
| palfrey | noun | quiet-moving saddle horse. |
| palilogy | noun | emphatic repetition of word. |
| palingenesis | noun | resuscitation; rebirth; metempsychosis; exact reproduction of ancestral characteristics. palingenesian, palingenetic, adjective palingenesist, noun |
| palinode | noun | recantation, especially in verse. palinodist, noun |
| palinoia | noun | compulsive repitition of an act until it'sperfect |
| palladian | adjective | pertaining to learning and wisdom |
| pallaesthesia | noun | sense of vibration. |
| palletron | noun | a cyclotron-like apparatus accelerating atomic particles up to a level of one million electron volts. |
| palliasse | noun | hard straw mattress. |
| pallium | noun | (pl. -ia) Roman Catholic, white woollen band worn round shoulders by pope and archibishops; Medicine, cerebral cortex. |
| pallograph | noun | instrument measuring steam ship's vibration. |
| palmary | adjective | meriting highest prize; principal. |
| palmiped | adjective noun | web-footed (bird). |
| palmus | noun | palpitation; twitching; nervous tic. palmodic, adjective |
| palpate | verb | examine by touching. palpation, noun palpatory, adjective |
| palpebra | noun | (pl. -ae ) eyelid. palpebral, adjective palpebrate, adjective having palpebrae;, v.i. wink. |
| palpebrate | verb | to wink |
| palpi | noun | pl. (sing. -pus) insect's or crustacean's feelers. |
| palter | verb | #NAME? |
| paltripolitan | noun | an insular city dweller |
| paludal | adjective | pertaining to marshes. paludicolous, adjective inhabiting marshes. paludous,, adjective marshy; living in marshes; malarial. paludrine n. synthetic anti- malarial drug. |
| palynology | noun | study of pollen and spores living and fossil. |
| pampiniform | adjective | like a tendril. |
| panarchy | noun | universal rule. |
| panarthritis | noun | arthritis of all joints of body, or of whole of one joint. |
| panary | adjective | pertaining to bread and baking. |
| pancosmism | noun | belief that nothing exists beyond the material universe. pancosmic, adjective pertaining to pancosmism, or to universe in its entirety. |
| pancratic | adjective | athletic; pertaining to or having ability in all matters. |
| pandects | noun | pl. complete summary of ancient Roman legal decisions. pandect, noun sing. legal code; any summary of or treatise on whole of subject. |
| pandemoniac | adjective | pertaining to general tumult. pandemonium, noun riotous uproar or place. |
| pandiculation | noun | stretching and yawning |
| panegyric | noun | eulogy. panegyrical, adjective panegyrize, v. praise highly. panegyrist, noun |
| paneity | noun | Theology, state of being merely bread. |
| panentheism | noun | belief that world is part of God. |
| pangamy | noun | marriage without limitation as to spouses. pangamic, adjective |
| pangenesis | noun | theory that reproductive cells contain particles from all parts of parents. |
| pangram | noun | sentence containing all 26 letters of the alphabet |
| pangrammatist | noun | person composing sentences, verses, etc., containing all letters of alphabet. |
| panicle | noun | loose much-branched flower-head, especially of grasses; compound raceme. paniculate a. having or arranged in panicles. |
| panification | noun | transformation into bread. |
| panivorous | adjective | bread-eating. |
| panjandrum | noun | a self-important local official; pompous minormagnate |
| panmixy, panmixia | noun | interbreeding without limitation. panmictic, adjective |
| panmnesia | noun | belief that every mental impression continues in memory. |
| pannage | noun | pigs' food in woods, as nuts, etc.; right to, or fee paid for, feeding pigs in woods. |
| pannicular | adjective | pertaining to or like a sheet or thin layer. |
| pannose | adjective | felt-like. |
| pannychous | adjective | lasting all night |
| panoptic(al) | adjective | giving view of whole at once. panopticon, noun such optical instrument; exhibition; building, as prison, whole of interior of which can be watched from one point. |
| panorpid | noun | scorpion fly. panorpine, adjective |
| panpsychism | noun | theory that all objects have minds or souls. |
| pansexualism | noun | obsession with sex in all activities; belief that sexual instinct is basis of all activity. pansexuality, noun |
| pansophism | noun | claim to know everything. pansophist, noun pansophy, noun knowledge of everything. |
| pantagamy | noun | marriage in which all spouses are held in common; free love. |
| pantagruelian | adjective | satirical, though ribald |
| pantarchy | noun | government by all. |
| pantisocracy | noun | anarchistic community. pantisocratic, adjective |
| pantochronometer | noun | combined sundial and compass, showing time in all parts of world. |
| pantoglot | noun | speaker of all languages. |
| pantograph | noun | instrument for copying maps, etc., on any scale; device for taking electric current from overhead wires to motor of train, etc. pantographic, adjective |
| pantology | noun | system of universal knowledge. pantologist, noun |
| pantometer | noun | device measuring all angles of elevations and distances. |
| pantomorphic | adjective | taking on all shapes. |
| pantophobia | noun | a fear of everything |
| pantothenic | adjective | denoting an acid which is a growth-promoting vitamin of vitamin B complex. |
| pantropic | adjective | pertaining to life found throughout the tropics; pertaining to a virus affecting all tissues. |
| panurgic | adjective | adept at all kinds of work. |
| panzootic | adjective | applied to disease attacking animals of many kinds. |
| paparchy | noun | government by pope. paparchical, adjective |
| papaveraceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a poppy; belonging to the poppy family of plants. |
| paphian | adjective | pertaining to love, especially its sexual and illicit manifestations; erotic |
| papilionaceous | adjective | shaped like a butterfly. |
| papilla | noun | (pl. -ae) nipple; projection shaped like nipple. papilliform, adjective nipple-shaped. papilloma, noun small tumour, e.g. wart. papillary, adjective papillate, papillose, adjective having papillae. |
| pappus | noun | (pl. -pi) downy tuft on plant seed; down. pappescent, adjective producing pappi. pappose, pappous, adjective having or like pappi. |
| papule | noun | pimple. papular, papulate, papuliferous, adjective pertaining to or bearing papules. papulous, adjective pimply. |
| parabiosis | noun | union of two organisms sharing blood circulation, etc. parabiotic, adjective |
| parablepsy, parablepsia | noun | false vision. |
| paracentesis | noun | tapping of body fluid. |
| paracentral | adjective | situated near centre. |
| parachronism | noun | error of chronology, especially placing event at date later than when it actually happened. parachronistic, adjective |
| paraclete | noun | advocate; Holy Ghost. |
| paracme | noun | stage following acme; decline. |
| paracoita | noun | a female sexual partner |
| paracoitus | noun | a male sexual partner |
| paracusia, paracusis | noun | abnormality of hearing. paracusic, adjective |
| paradiastole | noun | a euphemistic half-truth |
| parados | noun | bank behind trench or other type of fortification, giving protection from the rear. |
| paradromic | adjective | adjacent; side by side. paradromism, noun |
| paraenesis | noun | advice; exhortation. paraenetic, adjective |
| paraenetic | adjective | advisory; hortatory |
| paraesthesia | noun | tingling sensation on skin. paraesthetic, adjective |
| paragenesis | noun | order in which minerals together in rock were formed. |
| parageusia | noun | abnormality in taste sense. |
| paragoge | noun | addition of sound at end of word. paragogic(al), adjective |
| paragon | noun | model of perfection; v.t. compare; regard as paragon. |
| paragraphia | noun | writing of unintended words or letters. |
| parakinesis, parakinesia | noun | abnormality of nervous control over movement; production of movements. |
| paralalia | noun | abnormality of speech sounds. |
| paralanguage | noun | non-verbal elements which affect meaning of speech, as intonation, etc. |
| paraldehyde | noun | sleep-inducing drug. |
| paralepsis | noun | mentioning something by saying you won't mention it |
| paralexia | noun | transposition of words or syllables in reading, due to brain damage. |
| paralipomena | noun | pl. things added as supplement to main text. |
| paralipophobia | noun | fear of responsibility |
| paralogism | noun | illogical or fallacious deduction. paralogical, paralogistic, adjective paralogize, v.i. be illogical; draw unwarranted conclusions. paralogist, noun |
| paramagnetic | adjective | having a weak magnetic susceptibility. |
| paramatta | noun | cotton or silk and wool dress material. |
| paramedian | adjective | near middle line. |
| paramenia | noun | abnormality of menstruation. |
| paramnesia | noun | abnormality of memory, especially forgetting of meaning of words; illusion of having experienced before events which are being experienced for the first time. |
| paranephric | adjective | near kidney; suprarenal. |
| parang | noun | large Malay or Dyak sheath-knife. |
| paranymph | noun | archaic, best man; bridesmaid. |
| paraparesis | noun | paralysis of lower limbs. |
| paraph | noun | a flourish made after a signature. |
| paraphasia | noun | mental disorder marked by constant talking with misuse of words. paraphasic, adjective |
| paraphrase | verb | restate in different words; n. such restatement. paraphrasia, noun incoherence. paraphrastic, adjective |
| paraphrenia | noun | the group of paranoid illnesses. |
| paraplegia | noun | paralysis of lower half of body. paraplegic, adjective & n. |
| parapraxis | noun | committing of blunders. |
| parapsychology | noun | study of psychic phenomena. |
| paraquat | noun | herbicide that kills green vegetation by interfering with photosynthesis. |
| pararthria | noun | incoherence. |
| paraselene | noun | bright spot on moon's halo. |
| parasigmatism | noun | inability to pronounce sound of s. |
| parasynthesis | noun | adding of prefix or suffix to compound to form new word. |
| parataxis | noun | unconnected arrangement; Grammar, omission of connectives between related sentences. paratactic, adjective |
| parathyroid | adjective | near thyroid gland, especially applied to such small glands whose hormone controls calcium content of body; n. such gland. |
| paratonic | adjective | resulting from external impulse. |
| paratyphoid | adjective noun | (fever) resembling typhoid but caused by different bacillus. |
| paravane | noun | knife-bearing torpedo-like device for cutting mines adrift. |
| paravent | noun | wind-screen. |
| parcener | noun | co-parcener. |
| pardine | adjective | pertaining to or like a leopard; spotted. |
| paregoric | noun | drug soothing pain. |
| parenchyma | noun | fundamental or essential tissue of organ or plant. parenchymatous, adjective |
| parentelic | adjective | related by blood. |
| parenteral | adjective | entering body by injection rather than through digestion. |
| parerethesis | noun | abnormal excitement |
| parergon | noun | subordinate work; accessory. |
| paresis | noun | partial paralysis. paretic,, noun & a. |
| pareunia | noun | sexual intercourse |
| parget | noun | -v.t. plaster, whitewash, rough-cast, etc. pargeting, noun |
| parhelion | noun | (pl. -ia) halo-like light seen at point opposite sun; mock sun. parhelic, adjective |
| pari mutuel | noun | 'mutual bet'; form of betting whereby winners receive share of all stakes placed; totalizator or pool betting. |
| paries | noun | (pl. -rietes ) wall of hollow organ or cavity. |
| parine | adjective | like or pertaining to titmouse. |
| parisology | noun | deliberate ambiguity in use of words |
| paristhmion | noun | tonsil. |
| parisyllabic | adjective | (word) having same number of syllables in all forms. |
| parkin | noun | moist ginger cake made with treacle and oatmeal. |
| parnel | noun | a priest's mistress; a loose woman |
| paroemia | noun | proverb. paroemiac, adjective paroemiography, noun collection of proverbs. paroemiology, noun study of proverbs. |
| paromology | noun | apparent concession of opponent's point which in reality strengthens one's own argument. |
| paronomasia | noun | punning; a pun |
| paronym | noun | word having same derivation as another, or formed from foreign word, or having same form as cognate foreign word. paronymic, paronymous, adjective |
| parorexia | noun | desire to eat strange foods. |
| parosmia | noun | desire for strange scents. |
| parotic | adjective | adjacent to ear. parotid, adjective pertaining to salivary gland below ear; n. such gland. parotitis, noun mumps. |
| parous | adjective | bringing forth, or having borne, offspring. |
| parousia | noun | coming, especially second coming of Christ. |
| paroxysm | noun | sudden convulsion or fit. paroxysmal, paroxysmic, adjective |
| paroxytone | adjective noun | (word) having acute accent on last syllable but one. |
| parr | noun | young salmon. |
| parrhesia | noun | freedom of speech |
| partheniad | noun | a poem in honor of a virgin |
| parthenolatry | noun | virgin worship |
| parton | noun | Physics, elementary particle theoretically held to be a constituent of protons and neutrons. |
| parure | noun | set of jewels or other ornaments. |
| parvanimity | noun | pettiness; meannes; or a mean or petty person |
| parvenu | noun | a pretentious snob of the nouveau riche |
| parvipotent | adjective | having little power. parviflorous, adjective having small flowers. |
| parvis | noun | enclosed area in front of church. |
| parviscient | adjective | uninformed |
| parvule | noun | minute pill. |
| paschal | adjective | pertaining to Easter, or Passover. paschal letter, bishop's letter of ancient Church concerning next Easter date. paschal moon, new moon of vernal equinox. |
| pascual | adjective | pertaining to pasture. |
| pasigraphy | noun | universal written language, especially using symbols for ideas rather than words. pasigraphic(al), adjective |
| pasilaly | noun | a universal language |
| pasque-flower | noun | white- or purple-flowered anemone-like plant. |
| pasquinade | noun | a lampoon or satire posted in a public place |
| passacaglia | noun | old slow Italian or Spanish dance; variations on a theme over a continuously repeated ground bass. |
| passado | noun | forward thrust in fencing. |
| passalorynchite | noun | a member of an early christian sect whoto a vow of perpetual silence |
| pass� | adjective | 'past'; worn out; out of date; antiquated. |
| passe partout | noun | picture-frame, especially of adhesive cloth holding together glass, picture and back; universal passport; master-key. |
| passementerie | noun | bright trimmings of gilt, tinsel, etc. |
| passepartout | noun | a master key; a safeconduct or passport |
| passible | adjective | capable of feeling; impressionable. |
| passometer | noun | pedometer. |
| pastern | noun | part of horse's foot between fetlock joint and upper edge of hoof. |
| pasticcio | noun | (pl. -ci) medley; pot-pourri, pastiche. |
| pastose | adjective | painted thickly. |
| patagium | noun | web of skin between forelimbs and hind-limbs of tree-dwelling creatures, that acts as a wing. |
| patavinity | noun | the use of local words or expressions |
| patera | noun | decorative round or oval medallion used in ornamental bas- reliefs, etc. |
| pateriform | adjective | saucer-shaped. |
| paternoster | noun | Lord's Prayer, or recital of it; rosary bead on which this is said; curse or spell; bead-like moulding; doorless, continuously moving lift/elevator. |
| patharmosis | noun | mental adjustment to one's disease |
| pathic | noun | a catamite; or a passive participator |
| pathocryptia | noun | unwillingness to believe in or talk aboutone's illness |
| pathodixia | noun | talking to excess about one's illness andflaunting its signs |
| pathodontia | noun | study of dental diseases. |
| pathognomic, pathognomonic | adjective | a. aiding diagnosis; distinctive. |
| pathognomy | noun | the study of emotions by their outwardsigns |
| pathomimesis | noun | malingering |
| pathy | noun | medical treatment; nostrum. |
| patriolatry | noun | excessive devotion to native country. |
| patristic | adjective | pertaining to the Fathers of the Church. patristics, noun study of the Fathers' lives and works. |
| patrix | noun | die from which matrix is made. |
| patroclinous, patriclinous | adjective | pertaining to, or having, inherited paternal characteristics. |
| patronymic | adjective noun | (name) derived from father or ancestors; surname, especially formed by addition of suffix (as -son, etc.) to father's name. |
| patten | noun | wooden sole, or clog, for raising foot above wet. |
| patulous | adjective | wide-spreading or wide open. |
| pauca verba | phrase | 'few words'. paucis verbis, 'in few words'. |
| pauciloquent | adjective | speaking briefly |
| pauciloquy | noun | brevity in speech. |
| pavid | adjective | quaking with fear; afraid; frightened |
| paviour | noun | labourer doing, or tool for, paving work. |
| pavonated | adjective | peacock blue. pavonine, adjective like or colored like a peacock. |
| pawky | adjective | sly; coy; dry. |
| pawl | noun | lever which engages with a ratchet wheel so as to permit movement in one direction only. |
| paynim | noun | archaic pagan. |
| peccable | adjective | liable to sin |
| peccatophobia | noun | fear of sinning or of having committed an imaginary crime |
| peccavi | noun | confession of a sin |
| pectinate | adjective | comb-shaped; toothed. pectineal, adjective pertaining to pubic bone. pectiniform, adjective like a comb or a scallop shell. |
| pectinous | adjective | pertaining to pectin. pectize, v. cause to set. |
| peculate | verb | embezzle. peculation, peculator, noun |
| peculation | noun | embezzlement |
| pecuniary | adjective | pertaining to money. |
| pedate | adjective | like a foot; having feet. |
| pedetentous | adjective | proceedilng gradually or cautiously |
| pedialgia | noun | pain in foot. |
| pedicel | noun | short, thin stalk; footstalk. pedicle, noun pedicellate, adjective having pedicel. pedicelliform, adjective like a pedicel. |
| pedicular | adjective | pertaining to or having lice. pediculicide, noun substance destroying lice. pediculosis, noun infestation with lice. pediculous, adjective |
| pediform | adjective | footshaped. pedigerous, adjective having feet. pediluvium, noun foot-bath. |
| pediment | noun | triangular space at end of gable, especially ornamented; such space over door, window, etc. pedimental, adjective |
| peduncle | noun | flower stalk; stem. peduncular, adjective pedunculate, adjective having peduncles. |
| peen | noun | rounded or wedge-shaped end of head of hammer. |
| peerl | noun | light, drizzling rain |
| peignoir | noun | loose dress; neglig�e. |
| peine | noun | 'pain'. peine forte et dure, 'pain strong and hard'; execution by crushing to death under heavy weights. |
| peirastic | adjective | experimental; ready to be tried |
| pejorate | verb | depreciate; worsen. pejoration, noun change for worse. pejorative, noun & a. disparaging (word or suffix, etc.). |
| pelage | noun | animal's coat. |
| pelargic | adjective | like or pertaining to a stork. |
| pelerine | noun | woman's short cape with tippets in front. |
| pelisse | noun | long outer mantle. |
| pellagra | noun | nervous and digestive disease due to deficiency of nicotinic acid in diet. pellagragenic, adjective causing pellagra. pellagrin, noun person suffering from pellagra. pellagrous, adjective |
| pellicle | noun | membrane; film. pellicular, adjective pelliculate, adjective covered with pellicle. |
| pellitory | noun | one of several wall-growing plants, including one with root used in dentifrices. |
| pelma | noun | impression showing shape of sole. |
| pelmatogram | noun | a footprint |
| pelology | noun | study of mud and its therapeutic applications |
| pelota | noun | 'ball'; several tennis-like Spanish games, and fives-like Basque game. |
| pelotherapy | noun | medical treatment by mud baths. |
| peltast | noun | ancient Greek soldier with light shield. peltate, peltiform, adjective shield- shaped. peltiferous, adjective bearing a shield. |
| penates | noun | pl. household gods. |
| pendente lite | adjective | 'during the lawsuit'; until completion of litigation. |
| penelopize | verb | to undo and redo to gain time |
| peneplain | noun | land reduced to plain level by erosion. peneplanation, noun |
| penetralia | noun | pl. private places; secrets. |
| penetrometer | noun | instrument measuring the penetrability or firmness of a substance by driving a needle into it; instrument measuring the penetrativeness of X-rays, etc. |
| penicillate | adjective | terminating in tuft of hairs. penicilliform, adjective |
| penna | noun | any of a bird's larger feathers, covering most of its body. pennaceons, adjective |
| pennate | adjective | having or like wings or feathers. penniferous, pennigerous, adjective feather-bearing. penniform, adjective feather-like. |
| pennon | noun | long flag coming to a point or swallowtail, especially attached as banner to head of lance; pennant. |
| penology | noun | study of criminal punishment. penologic(al), adjective penologist, noun |
| penotherapy | noun | regulating prostitutes to control venerealdisease |
| pensile | adjective | hanging; building a hanging nest. pensility, noun |
| pentachord | noun | five-stringed musical instrument; series of five tones. |
| pentad | noun | five; group of five. |
| pentadactyl | adjective | having five fingers or toes to each hand or foot. pentadactylate, adjective pentadactylism, noun |
| pentadecagon | noun | 15-sided plane figure. |
| pentaglot | adjective noun | (book, speaker, etc.), in or of five languages. |
| pentahedron | noun | five-sided solid figure. pentahedral, adjective |
| pentalogy | noun | state of being fivefold or in five parts. |
| pentalpha | noun | pentagram. |
| pentamerous | adjective | in five parts; Botany, having its parts in fives. pentameral, adjective pentamerism, noun |
| pentapody | noun | verse line of five feet. |
| pentapolis | noun | group or alliance of five cities. pentapolitan,, adjective |
| pentapopemptic | noun | divorced five times |
| pentarch | noun | member of pentarchy. pentarchy, noun government by five persons; alliance between five powers. |
| pentastich | noun | stanza of five lines. pentastichous, adjective arranged in five rows. pentastichy, noun |
| pentasyllable | noun | word, verse-line, etc., of five syllables. pentasyllabic, adjective |
| pentheraphobia | noun | fear or dislike of one's mother-in-law |
| pentimento | noun | trace of earlier painting showing through layer(s) of paint added later. |
| penult | noun | last but one, especially such syllable. penultimate, noun & a. |
| penurious | adjective | poor; mean. penury, noun poverty. |
| peotomy | noun | the surgical amputation of the penis |
| peplos | noun | short tunic-like garment for women in ancient Greece. |
| peplum | noun | flounce at waistline of blouse, dress, etc. |
| pepsin | noun | gastric digestive juice. pepsinate, v. treat or mix with pepsin. pepsiniferous, adjective yielding pepsin. peptic, adjective pertaining to pepsin or digestion; aiding or capable of digestion; pertaining to, or in, stomach and duodenum; n. aid to digestion. peptone, noun substance resulting from digestion of protein by pepsin. peptonize, v. convert into peptone; pre-digest. |
| peracute | adjective | very acute. |
| percale | noun | closely woven cotton used especially for sheets. |
| percheron | noun | kind of dappled or black heavy carthorse. |
| perciform | adjective | like a perch (fish). |
| percurrent | adjective | extending whole length (of a leaf). |
| percuss | verb | strike, tap, especially part of body in medical diagnosis. percussion, noun act of striking violently; impact of violent sound on ear; musical instrument as drums, etc., sounded by being struck. percussive, adjective |
| percutaneous | adjective | taking effect through the skin. |
| perdu | adjective | (fem. -e) out of sight; lost; reckless. |
| perduellion | noun | treason |
| peregrinate | verb | wander (through). peregrination, noun peregrinatory, adjective |
| perendinate | noun | to postpone until the next day; to postponeindefinitely |
| perfidy | noun | treachery; breaking of promise. perfidious, adjective |
| perfrication | noun | thorough rubbing |
| perfuse | verb | suffuse, permeate. perfusion, noun perfusive, adjective |
| pergameneous | adjective | resembling parchment. |
| perhiemate | verb | to spend the winter |
| perianth | noun | external part of flower, including corolla and calyx. perianthial, adjective |
| periapt | noun | amulet. |
| pericardium | noun | (pl. -ia) membranous sac containing heart. pericardiac, pericardial, adjective pericarditis, noun inflammation of pericardium. |
| perichareia | noun | excessive and violent rejoicing |
| periclitate | verb | to expose to peril; endanger; risk |
| pericope | noun | selection or quotation from book. pericopal, pericopic, adjective |
| pericranium | noun | membrane covering skull. pericranial, adjective |
| peridot | noun | gemstone, pale green variety of olivine. |
| perilune | noun | point in the path of a body orbiting the moon that is nearest to the centre of the moon. |
| perioeci | noun | pl. (sing. -cus) persons living in same latitude on opposite sides of earth. perioecic, adjective |
| periosteal | adjective | round a bone. periosteum, noun such membranous tissue. |
| periotic | adjective | round the ear. |
| peripety, peripetia, peripeteia | noun | sudden and violent change in circumstances, especially in drama. |
| periphrasis | noun | (pl. -ses ) circumlocution. periphrastic, a.; Grammar, formed with auxiliaries, prepositions, etc. |
| periphrastic | adjective | using many words when few would do; verbose;roundabout; circumlocutory |
| periplus | noun | tour round, circumnavigation; account of such tour. |
| peripteral | adjective | with row of columns on every side; pertaining to air about moving body. periptery n. region round moving body in air. |
| periscian | adjective | person living in polar circle. |
| perissotomist | noun | a knife-happy surgeon |
| peristalith | noun | prehistoric stone circle. |
| peristeronic | adjective | pertaining to pigeons. |
| peristrephic | adjective | turning around, rotatory |
| peristyle | noun | row of columns, especially on all sides of court, etc.; area enclosed by it. |
| perityphlic | adjective | round caecum. perityphlitis, noun inflammation of perityphlic tissue. |
| perlaceous | adjective | pearly. perligenous, adjective producing pearls. |
| perlite | noun | volcanic glass forming, when expanded by heat, an insulating material and a light-weight aggregate added to concrete and plaster or used as soil conditioner. perlitic, adjective having perlite-like texture. |
| perlustrate | verb | to review thoroughly; survey |
| permalloy | noun | alloy of nickel and iron, most easily magnetized of all materials. |
| pernancy | noun | Law, receiving. |
| pernine | adjective | pertaining to honey buzzard. |
| pernoctation | noun | act of spending the night. |
| pernor | noun | person taking or receiving. |
| peroneal | adjective | pertaining to fibula. |
| peroral | adjective | through the mouth. |
| perorate | verb | -i. make grandiloquent speech; bring speech to close. peroration, noun final passage of speech. perorative, peroratory,, adjective |
| perry | noun | cider-like drink made from pears. |
| persiennes | noun | pl. kind of Venetian blinds; outside shutters with movable slats. |
| persiflage | noun | raillery; idle chatter. |
| personalia | noun | pl. personal details or anecdotes; personal belongings. |
| personalty | noun | personal property. |
| pertinacity | noun | persistence; tenacity. pertinacious, adjective |
| peruke | noun | wig. |
| pervicacious | adjective | extremely obstinate; willful |
| pervious | adjective | permeable; open-minded. |
| pervulgate | verb | to publish |
| pessary | noun | supporting instrument or suppository introduced into vagina. |
| pestiferous | adjective | carrying infection or plague; noxious. pesticide, noun pest-killing substance. pestology, noun scientific study of insect pests. |
| petard | noun | bomb attached to, and for bursting open, gates, etc. hoist with own petard, blown up by own bomb; damaged by own devices to injure others. |
| pethidine | noun | pain-relieving drug used in childbirth, etc. |
| petiole | noun | leaf-stalk. petiolar, adjective petiolate, adjective having petiole. petiolule, noun petiole of a leaflet. |
| petitio principii | noun | 'begging the question'. |
| petricolous | adjective | inhabiting rocks. |
| p�trissage | noun | kneading (in massage). |
| petrogenesis | noun | origin or development of rocks. petrogenic, adjective petroglyph, noun ancient rock- carving. petrography, noun description and classification of rocks. petrolithic a. as hard as rock, applied to road surface. petrology, noun geological study of rocks. petrophilous, adjective living on rocks. petrous, adjective rocky; hard as stone. |
| pettitoes | noun | pl. pig's trotters. |
| petto | noun | breast. in petto, in mind; in secret thoughts. |
| petulcous | adjective | butting like a ram; offensively aggressive |
| phacometer | noun | lens-measuring instrument. |
| phaeton | noun | light two-horse four-wheeled open carriage. |
| phagedaena | noun | gangrene; extensive ulceration. phagedaenic a. |
| phagocyte | noun | leucocyte destroying harmful bacteria, etc. phagocytic, adjective phagocytosis, noun destruction of harmful elements by phagocytes. |
| phagomania | noun | insanely hungry |
| phalacrespia | noun | aversion for baldness, or for bald men |
| phalacrosis | noun | baldness. |
| phalanger | noun | several kinds of long-tailed Australian marsupial. |
| phalarope | noun | small sandpiper-like shore bird. |
| phallation | noun | movement of the penis in sexual intercourse |
| phanerogam | noun | (old term) flowering plant. phanerogamic, phanerogamous, adjective |
| phaneromania | noun | a compulsion to pick at a skin growth or imperfection |
| phantasmagoria | noun | crowd of phantoms; series of shifting images or scenes. phantasmagoric(al), adjective |
| pharisaical | adjective | of persons of rigid adherence to outward forms andrituals instead of to the true spirit |
| pharmacodynamic | adjective | pertaining to action of drugs on body. |
| pharos | noun | lighthouse. pharology, noun study of lighthouses. |
| phatic | adjective | establishing an atmosphere of sociability rather than communicating ideas |
| phellem | noun | cork. phellogen, noun tissue producing cork. |
| phenakistoscope | noun | apparatus or instrument in which figures on a moving dial, etc., seem to move when viewed through a slit; earliest form of cinematograph. |
| phenogenesis | noun | origin of races. phenogenetic, adjective phenogenology, noun study of relations between recurring biological activities and climate. |
| philalethe | noun | one who loves to forget |
| philauty | noun | self-love; selfishness |
| philematology | noun | the study of kissing |
| philematophobe | noun | a woman who dislikes kissing |
| philippic | noun | diatribe; abusive speech. |
| phillumenist | noun | collector of matchbox labels. |
| philocalist | noun | a lover of beauty |
| philocaly | noun | love of beauty. philocalic, adjective philocalist, noun |
| philocubist | noun | someone who likes dice games |
| philodemic | adjective | fond of the common people. |
| philodox | noun | one who loves one's own opinions |
| philogastric | adjective | greedy |
| philogynist | noun | lover of women. philogynous, adjective philogyny, noun |
| philomel | noun | nightingale. |
| philometrist | noun | collector of envelopes, etc., for their postal meter impressions. |
| philophobia | noun | fear of falling in love or of being loved |
| philopolemic | adjective | pertaining to love of argument orcontroversy |
| philopornist | noun | a lover of prostitutes |
| philoprogenitive | adjective | having many children; fond of children. |
| philosophastering | adjective | pseudo-philosophizing |
| philotheism | noun | love of God. philotheist, noun |
| philoxenist | noun | one who is happiest while entertaining strangers |
| philter | noun | love potion |
| phlebology | noun | science of veins. phlebitis, noun inflammation of vein. phlebitic, adjective |
| phlegmagogue | noun | phlegm-expelling drug. phlegmasia, noun inflammation. phlegmon,n. boil. |
| phloem | noun | bast tissue. phloic, adjective |
| phlogiston | noun | principle of combustibility once supposed to exist in all inflammable substances. phlogogenetic, phlogogenic, adjective causing inflammation. phlogistic, adjective pertaining to inflammation. |
| phocine | adjective | pertaining to seals (animals). |
| phoenicopter, phenicopter | noun | flamingo. phoenicurous, adjective having red tail. phoenix, noun mythical bird reborn from ashes. |
| phon | noun | unit of loudness of sound. |
| phonal | adjective | vocal; phonetic. phonate, v.i. speak or sing. phonation, noun |
| phonogram | noun | symbol representing sound, syllable or word. phonograph, American, noun gramophone. phonography, noun system of spelling or shorthand based on speech sounds. |
| phonology | noun | study of speech sounds in a language; such speech sounds. phonological, adjective phonologist, noun |
| phonometry | noun | measurement of intensity, etc., of sounds. phonometer, noun instrument used in phonometry. phonometric, adjective |
| phonophorous | adjective | able to transmit sound waves. phonophore, noun system of hearing for the deaf conducting sounds to the teeth; device for sending telephonic and telegraphic messages over same line simultaneously. |
| phonotype | noun | printing type of phonetic alphabet; a character of phonotype. phonotypic, adjective phonotypy, noun transcription into phonetic spelling advocated for ordinary use. |
| phorometry | noun | study and correction of abnormalities of muscles of eye. phorometer, noun instrument used in phorometry. |
| phosgene | noun | colorless poison gas made from chlorine and carbon monoxide. |
| phot | noun | unit of illumination of a surface. |
| photic | adjective | pertaining to or penetrated by light. photics, noun study of light. |
| photoautotrophic | adjective | (of plants, etc.) capable of using light to synthesize food from inorganic substances. |
| photobathic | adjective | pertaining to sea depths penetrated by sunlight. photobiotic, adjective thriving only in light. |
| photochemistry | noun | science, processes and properties of chemical changes effected by light. |
| photochromism | noun | property of changing color on exposure to light or other radiation and of reverting to original color immediately the light or radiation source is removed. photochromic, adjective |
| photocoagulation | noun | surgical coagulation of tissue by means of a laser beam. |
| photofission | noun | nuclear fission induced by gamma rays. |
| photogravure | noun | printing from engraved plates photographically prepared. |
| photogyric | adjective | turning towards light. |
| photokinesis | noun | activity caused by light. photokinetic, adjective |
| photolithography | noun | printing process using photographically prepared plates (abbr. photolitho ). |
| photolysis | noun | decomposition caused by light. photolytic, adjective |
| photometer | noun | instrument measuring intensity, etc., of light. photometric, adjective photometry, noun |
| photonasty | noun | Botany, adoption of certain position due to effect of light on growth. photonastic, adjective |
| photonosus | noun | morbid condition due to exposure to light. photopathy, noun any such disease. |
| photophile | adjective noun | (organism) loving light. photophilous, adjective photophily, noun photophobia, noun dislike or dread of light. photophobic, adjective photophygous, adjective avoiding or disliking light. |
| photopia | noun | normal day vision. photopic, adjective |
| photoscope | noun | apparatus for observing light, especially changes in its intensity, or magnifying photographs. |
| photosphere | noun | sun's luminous envelope. photospheric, adjective |
| phototaxis | noun | growth or movement directed by light. phototactic, adjective |
| photothermic | adjective | pertaining to heat and light. |
| phototonus | noun | sensitivity to light. |
| phototropism | noun | movement directed by light; heliotropism. phototropic, adjective |
| phratry | noun | clan; tribe. phrator, noun member of phratry. phratric, adjective |
| phreatic | adjective | pertaining to wells and subterranean water. |
| phrenic | adjective | pertaining to diaphragm. |
| phrontifugic | adjective | relieving anxiety |
| phrontistery | noun | place for study. |
| phthiriasis | noun | infestation with lice. phthirophagous, adjective eating lice. |
| phthisis | noun | tuberculosis of lungs. phthisical, adjective |
| phycology | noun | study of seaweeds or algae. |
| phylactery | noun | small leather box containing scriptural extracts worn by Jews at prayer on head and arm; relic-container; amulet; reminder; record; in medieval art, words in a balloon-like circle drawn issuing from mouth. |
| phylactic | adjective | defending against disease. |
| phylliform | adjective | leaf-shaped. phylline, adjective leaf-like. phyllode (-/d), noun flattened stem functioning as leaf. phyllogenetic, adjective pertaining to production of, or producing, leaves. phylloid, adjective phylline. phyllomania, noun abnormal leaf-production. phyllomorph, noun artistic leaf-like detail. phyllophagous, adjective leaf-eating. phyllophorous, adjective bearing leaves. phyllotaxy, noun arrangement of leaves of plant. |
| phylloxera | noun | plant-louse harmful to vines. |
| phyma | noun | (pl. -ta) skin tumour. phymatic, adjective phymatosis, noun disease characterised by phymata. |
| physagogue | adjective noun | (drug) expelling wind. |
| physagogue | noun | carminative, or medicine to induce farting |
| physiocracy | noun | government that does not interfere with the operation of supposed natural laws. physiocrat, noun advocate (especially French, 18th-century) of physiocracy. |
| physiolatry | noun | nature worship. physiolater, noun physiolatrous, adjective |
| physitheism | noun | nature worship; ascription to God of physical shape. |
| physiurgic | adjective | due to natural causes. |
| phytivorous | adjective | feeding on plants. |
| phytogamy | noun | Botany, cross-fertilization. phytogenesis, noun development and origin of plants. phytogenic, adjective derived from plants. phytography, noun descriptive botany. phytoid, adjective plant-like. phytophagic, phytophagous, adjective phytivorous. phytophilous, adjective fond of plants. phytosis, noun infection or disease caused by parasitic plant. phytosociology, noun branch of ecology dealing with plant communities. phytotomy, noun anatomy of plants. phytotoxin, noun poison produced by plant. |
| phytotron | noun | a botanical laboratory comprising a series of chambers reproducing any condition of temperature, humidity, illumination, or other plant-growth factor. |
| pia mater | noun | inner membrane enclosing brain. |
| piacular | adjective | serving to atone or make amends for; expiatory; or sinful; wicked |
| pibroch | noun | piece of music for bagpipe. |
| pica | noun | (12-point) size of type; Medicine, abnormal craving to eat unusual things such as chalk or hair. small pica, 11-point. double pica, 22-point. |
| picador | noun | mounted bull-fighter with lance. |
| picaro | noun | (fem. picara) rogue. picaresque, adjective pertaining to rogues, especially applied to literature about rogues and vagabonds. picaroon, noun rogue; thief; pirate. |
| piceous | adjective | like pitch; inflammable. |
| piciform | adjective | like a woodpecker. picine, adjective pertaining to woodpeckers. |
| pickerel | noun | young pike (fish); small American freshwater fish. |
| picot | noun | one of series of small loops forming ornamental edging to ribbon, lace, etc. picotee, noun flower with petal margins of different color. |
| picric acid | noun | yellow, bitter, poisonous acid used as dye and disinfectant and in manufacture of explosives. |
| pidan | noun | preserved Chinese duck's eggs. |
| piddock | noun | rough-shelled, boring, marine bivalve. |
| pied-�-terre | noun | 'foot on the ground'; temporary or subsidiary home. |
| Pierian | adjective | pertaining to Pieria, Macedonia, where the Muses were worshipped; pertaining to the Muses or poetry. |
| pierid | adjective noun | (butterfly) belonging to the family including cabbage and other butterflies. pieridine, adjective |
| piet� | noun | 'piety'; representation of the dead Christ held and mourned by the Virgin Mary. |
| pietism | noun | unquestioning religious devotion; priggishness. pietist, noun |
| piezochemistry | noun | study of chemical effects of pressure. piezo-electricity, noun production of electric charges on certain crystals when under pressure; slight change in shape of crystal when in electric field. piezometer, noun instrument measuring compressibility of liquids. |
| pignorate | noun | mortgaged or pawned |
| pilaster | noun | rectangular pillar projecting from and supporting wall. pilastered, adjective |
| pileus | noun | (pl. -ei ) cap- or umbrella-like top of mushroom. pileate(d), adjective having pileus; with crest on pileum. pileiform, adjective shaped like pileus. pileolus, noun (pl. -li ) small pileus. pileum, noun top of bird's head. |
| piliferous | adjective | having hair |
| piloerection | noun | hair standing on end |
| pilose | adjective | hairy. piliferous, adjective bearing hair. piliform, adjective like a (long) hair. pilosis, noun over-growth of hair. pilosity, noun hairiness. |
| pilular | adjective | pertaining to or like a pill. pillule, noun small pill. |
| pinaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a pine tree; belonging to the pine family of trees. |
| pinaster | noun | cluster pine. |
| pinchbeck | noun | gold-like alloy of copper and zinc; tawdry jewellery; a. spurious; trashy. |
| Pindaric | adjective | having complex metrical structure, as in Pindar's Odes. |
| pineal | adjective | pertaining to or like a pine cone. pineal body or gland, small gland-like process of brain cavity. |
| pinguefy | verb | become or make fat or rich. pinguid, adjective fatty; oily; rich. |
| pinguescent | adjective | becoming fat |
| pink | verb | prick with sword, etc.; decorate with perforations; cut with special scissors to make zigzag edge. v.i. (of internal-combustion engine) make a metallic noise as a result of faulty combustion. |
| pinnate | adjective | like a feather; with leaflets on either side of a leafstalk. pinnatifid, divided pinnately. pinnation, noun |
| pintle | noun | usually upright pin acting as hinge or pivot. |
| pip emma | adjective | -adv. World War One signaller's slang for post meridiem. |
| piperaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like pepper plant; belonging to pepper family of plants. |
| pipit | noun | several lark-like singing birds; titlark. |
| pipkin | noun | small pot. |
| pique | noun | hurt pride, resentful irritation; v.t. cause pique; pride (oneself) on something. |
| pis aller | noun | 'go worst'; last resort; something done or accepted for lack of anything better; less desirable alternative. |
| piscary | noun | fishing rights or place. |
| pisiform | adjective | like pea(s). |
| pismire | noun | dialect or archaic, ant. |
| pithecoid | adjective | pertaining to anthropoid apes. pithecism, noun pithecoid characters in Man. pithecomorphic, adjective like anthropoid apes. |
| pithiatism | noun | a forceful suggestion |
| pityriasis | noun | scaly skin infection. pityriasic, adjective |
| pizzle | noun | a whip made from an animal's penis |
| placet | noun | 'it pleases'; n. assenting vote or expression. |
| placoid | adjective | pertaining to or like teeth-like scales. |
| plage | noun | sea beach; seaside resort. |
| plagiograph | noun | kind of pantograph. |
| plagiotropic | adjective | (of plant) growing away from vertical. |
| planarian | noun | kind of flatworm. |
| plangent | adjective | deep- or loud-sounding. plangency, noun plangorous, adjective mournful. |
| planimeter | noun | instrument measuring plane figure's area. planimetry, noun such measurement. |
| planipennate | adjective | having flat, broad wings. planirostral, adjective having such beak. planisphere, noun map of heavens on plane surface. |
| planistethic | adjective | flat-chested |
| planography | noun | printing from flat surface. planometry, noun gauging of plane surface. |
| planomania | noun | urge to live a bohemian life |
| plantigrade | adjective noun | (animal) walking on soles of feet, as humans. |
| plasmapheresis | noun | process of separating plasma from red blood cells in blood from donor, and returning red blood cells to donor. |
| plastron | noun | breast-pad or plate for protection; shell protecting underside of tortoise, etc.; false shirt-front. |
| plataleiform | adjective | spoonbilled. |
| platycephaly | noun | flatness of crown of head. platycephalic, platycephalous, adjective platydactyl, adjective having flat digits. platypodous, adjective having broad, flat feet. platypodia, noun flat-footedness. platypus, noun duckbill. platyrrhinian, noun & a. (person) with short, flat nose. |
| plebicolist | noun | someone who woos the common folk |
| plectrum | noun | (pl. -ra) implement for plucking strings of musical instrument. plectridial, adjective drumstick-shaped. |
| pledget | noun | small wound dressing. |
| pleiobar | noun | isobar or area of high atmospheric pressure. |
| pleionosis | noun | exaggeration of one's own importance |
| plenary | adjective noun | full; entire; unlimited; with all members present. |
| pleniloquence | noun | excessive talking |
| plenilunar | adjective | like or pertaining to full moon. |
| plenipotentiary | adjective noun | (envoy) having full power. |
| plenum | noun | (pl. -na) space full of matter; plenary meeting. |
| pleochroic | adjective | showing different colors when viewed in different directions. pleochroous, adjective pleochroism, noun |
| pleonasm | noun | use of unnecessary words; redundancy. pleonastic, adjective |
| pleonastic | adjective | use of words superfluously; redundant |
| pleonectic | adjective | covetous. pleonexia, noun |
| pleonexia | noun | covetousness, avarice; mania for acquiring possessions |
| plethora | noun | excess, superfluity. |
| pleura | noun | (pl. -ae ) membrane lining half of thorax. pleural, adjective pleurisy, noun inflammation of pleura. pleuritic, adjective pleurogenic, adjective formed in pleura. |
| pleurodynia | noun | pain in muscles of chest or side. |
| pleuronectid | adjective | (pertaining to) flat-fish. |
| plexus | noun | network. plexiform, adjective like plexus. plexure, noun inter-weaving. |
| plicate | adjective | pleat; plait; fold; a. pleated; plaited. plication, noun |
| pliofilm | noun | trademark, thin transparent waterproof sheet used for packaging, etc. |
| pliothermic | adjective | Geology, pertaining to periods of temperature above average. |
| plosive | adjective noun | Phonetics, explosive (sound), as p. plosion, noun |
| plumbeous | adjective | leaden. plumbic, plumbous, adjective plumbiferous, plumbism, noun lead-poisoning. |
| plumbum | noun | scientific word for lead |
| plumose | adjective | feathered; feathery. |
| pluperfect | adjective | (grammatical tense) signifying completion of action before a certain point in past time. |
| plurilateral | adjective | of more than two sides or parties. pluriliteral, adjective of more than three letters. plurinominal, adjective of more than one name. pluriparous, adjective bringing forth more than one at a birth. plurisyllable, noun word of more than one syllable. |
| plutonic | adjective | of volcanic or deep-seated origin. |
| plutonomy | noun | economics. |
| pluvial | adjective | pertaining or due to rain; having much rain. pluvine, adjective pluviography, noun recording of rainfall. pluviometer, noun rain gauge. pluvious, pluviose, adjective rainy. |
| pneuma | noun | soul, spirit. |
| pnigophobia | noun | morbid fear of being smothered. |
| poaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like grass; belonging to the grass family of plants. |
| pochard | noun | kind of redheaded duck. |
| pococurante | adjective | nonchalant, indifferent |
| pocosin | noun | swamp found in southeastern U.S. |
| poculiform | adjective | cup-shaped. |
| podagra | noun | gout. podagral, podagric, podagrous, adjective |
| podalic | adjective | pertaining to feet. |
| podesta | noun | Italian mayor or chief magistrate. |
| podex | noun | (pl. -dices ) posterior. podical, adjective pertaining to podex. |
| podobromhidrosis | noun | smelly feet |
| poecilonymy | noun | the use of several names for one thing |
| poetaster | noun | poor or unimportant poet. poetastery, noun |
| pogoniasis | noun | overgrowth of beard; growth of beard in woman. pogonology, noun book on beards. pogonophobia, noun morbid fear of beards. pogonotomy, noun cutting of beard; shaving. pogonotrophy, noun growing of a beard. |
| poiesis | noun | creation; creative power or ability |
| poikilothermic | adjective | cold-blooded. poikilothermism, noun poikilothermous, adjective |
| poikilothymia | noun | extreme changes of mood |
| poilu | noun | 'hairy'; n. slang, infantry soldier in World War One. |
| poimenics | noun | pastoral theology. |
| poise | noun | unit of viscosity. |
| polarimeter | noun | instrument measuring amount of polarized light or rotation of plane of polarized light. polariscope, noun instrument for studying polarized light or objects in it. polarizse, v. modify normally transverse light vibrations so that they are confined to one plane. polarization. |
| polder | noun | piece of land reclaimed from sea. |
| poliomyelitis | noun | virus disease of the spinal cord, often causing paralysis; infantile paralysis (abbr. polio). |
| poliosis | noun | greyness of hair. |
| pollard | verb | cut off top of (tree); n. pollarded tree; animal without its usual horns, antlers, etc. |
| pollex | noun | (pl. -lices ) thumb. pollical, adjective pollice verso, (Latin) with thumb turned down, indicating condemnation, especially to death. pollicitation, noun offer not accepted. |
| poltophagy | noun | lengthy mastication of food reducing it to semi-liquid state. poltophagic, adjective poltophagist, noun |
| poltroon | noun | abject coward. |
| polyamide | noun | compound characterized by more than one amide group, a polymeric amide. |
| polyarchy | noun | government by many persons. |
| polychaete | adjective noun | (pertaining to) marine worm. polychaetous, adjective |
| polychotomy | noun | division into many parts. polychotomous, adjective |
| polychrest | noun | remedy for several diseases. polychrest, adjective polychresty, noun |
| polychrestic | adjective | serving and adapted for several different uses |
| polychrome | adjective noun | work of art in many colors. polychromatic, polychromic, polychromous, adjective many-colored. polychromia, n., Medicine, excessive coloration. polychromy, noun |
| polycythaemia | noun | blood condition with abnormal numbers of red blood cells. |
| polydactyl | adjective noun | (animal or human) having too many fingers or toes. |
| polydemic | adjective | native to several countries. |
| polydipsia | noun | abnormal thirst. |
| polyeidic | adjective | applied to insects with conspicuous metamorphosis. polyeidism, noun |
| polyelectrolyte | noun | a jelly-like plastic compounded of two polymers, one charged positively and one negatively. |
| polygenesis | noun | derivation from many origins. polygenesic, polygenetic, polygenic, adjective polygenism, noun theory of polygenesis of Man. |
| polyhidrosis | noun | excessive perspiration. |
| polyhistor | noun | person of exceptionally wide knowledge; polymath. |
| polylith | noun | prehistoric monument of many stones. polylithic, adjective |
| polylogy | noun | wordiness |
| polymath | noun | person of wide learning. polymathic, adjective polymathy, noun |
| polymythy | noun | use of many plots in one story. polymythic, adjective |
| polyneuritis | noun | neuritis of many nerves simultaneously. polyneuritic, adjective |
| polyonymy | noun | use of many names for same thing; use of polynomial term or name. polyonymous, adjective |
| polyopia | noun | multiple vision. polyopic, adjective |
| polyphagia | noun | eating of excessive amount, or many different kinds, of food. polyphagic, polyphagous, adjective polyphagy, noun |
| polypharmacy | noun | treatment with many medicines for same disease. polypharmacon, noun medicine containing many ingredients. |
| polyphony | noun | Music, composition in separate, but simultaneous and harmonizing, parts; counterpoint; Phonetics, use of one symbol for several sounds. polyphonic, adjective polyphonist, noun composer of polyphony. |
| polyphyletic | adjective | having more than one original type. polyphylesis, noun such descent. |
| polyploid | adjective noun | (cell, individual, generation) having more than twice the basic number of chromosomes. |
| polypnea | noun | rapid breathing. polypneic, adjective |
| polypod | adjective noun | many-legged (animal). |
| polypragmatist | noun | busybody. polypragmatism, noun |
| polypsychic | adjective | having several souls. polypsychism, noun |
| polypus | noun | (pl. -pi ) nasal, etc., polyp. |
| polyseme | noun | word with many meanings. polysemantic, adjective polysemous a. having many meanings. polysemy, noun |
| polystachious | adjective | many-spiked. |
| polystichous | adjective | in several rows. |
| polystomatous | adjective | many-mouthed. |
| polystyle | adjective noun | (building) with many columns. |
| polysyndeton | noun | rhetorical device of repeating conjunction for emphasis. polysyndetic, adjective |
| polysynthetic | adjective | of languages where whole phrases are combined into one word. |
| polythalamous | adjective | having many chambers. |
| polytocous | adjective | bringing forth many young at once. |
| polytomous | adjective | divided into several parts. polytomy, noun |
| polyuria | noun | excessive urination. polyuric, adjective |
| polyvalent | adjective | Chemistry, having multiple valency; Medicine, effective against more than one toxin or strain of micro-organism. polyvalence, noun |
| pomace | noun | crushed apples in cider-making. pomaceous, adjective pertaining to apples or similar fruit. |
| pomelo | noun | fruit like a grapefruit; shaddock. |
| pomiculture | noun | fruit growing. pomiform, adjective apple-shaped. pomology, noun science of fruit growing. |
| pone | noun | card player on dealer's right, who cuts the cards. |
| ponerology | noun | division of theology dealing with evil. |
| pongee | noun | thin, soft silk from China, naturally colored beige or tan; cotton or rayon imitation of this. |
| pons | noun | (pl. pontes ) 'bridge'. pons asinorum, 'bridge of asses'; test of ignorant person's ability. pontine, adjective |
| pontage | noun | toll one pays for crossing a bridge |
| pood | noun | weight, equivalent of 36 lb. |
| popliteal | adjective | pertaining to the back of the knee. |
| porism | noun | geometric proposition that it is possible, in certain conditions, for a problem to have any number of solutions. |
| porogamy | noun | fertilization of seed plants. porogamic, porogamous, adjective |
| porraceous | adjective | like leek in color. |
| porrect | adjective | stretched at length. |
| porrigo | noun | scalp disease causing baldness. porriginous, adjective |
| portreeve | noun | formerly, in England, mayor. |
| posology | noun | study of medical doses. posologist, noun |
| posset | noun | hot spiced drink of milk and wine. |
| postament | noun | pedestal; frame. |
| postcibal | adjective | after a meal. |
| postconnubial | adjective | after marriage. |
| poste restante | noun | department of post office holding letters until called for. |
| postern | noun | archaic, back door. |
| postexilic | adjective | after exile, especially after Babylonian captivity of Jews. |
| postiche | adjective noun | artificial or spurious (thing); false (hair); (ornament) added, especially inappropriately, to finished thing. |
| postil | noun | note in margin; comment. |
| postilion, postillion | noun | person who rides near horse of those drawing coach etc. and acts as guide to the whole team. |
| postjacent | adjective | posterior. |
| postmundane | adjective | after the (end of the) world. |
| postprandial | adjective | after dinner. |
| postrorse | adjective | turned, or bent, backwards. |
| posttonic | adjective | after accent or accented syllable. |
| postvocalic | adjective | after a vowel. |
| potamic | adjective | pertaining to rivers. potamology, noun study of rivers. |
| potation | noun | act of drinking; drinking bout; thing drunk. potatory, adjective |
| pou sto | noun | 'where I may stand'; place to stand; basis; locus standi. |
| poult | noun | young fowl, especially turkey. |
| poundal | noun | unit of force: force imparting to one pound mass acceleration of one foot per second. |
| praedial, predial | adjective | of land, farming, etc. |
| prandial | adjective | pertaining to or at dinner. |
| pratincolous | adjective | inhabiting meadows. |
| praxinoscope | noun | instrument with mirrors in which a series of moving drawings appear as a continuously moving picture; early form of cinematograph. |
| praxis | noun | practice (of profession, science, etc.) as opposed to theory; accepted practice. |
| preadamic | adjective | before Adam. preadamite, noun person living before Adam; believer in such persons. |
| preagonal | adjective | immediately preceding death throes. preagony, noun such period. |
| preantepenultimate | adjective noun | fourth from last |
| prebend | noun | Ecclesiastical, stipend of member of chapter. prebendal, adjective prebendary, noun holder of prebend. |
| precative, precatory | adjective | beseeching. |
| precentor | noun | (fem. -tress, -trix) leader of singing. precentorial, adjective |
| preciation | noun | determination of value or price. |
| precisian | noun | person excessively devoted to minute observance of rules. precisianism, noun precisive, adjective separating; defining; exact. |
| precocial | adjective | applied to birds having downy young, able to run immediately they are hatched. |
| preconize | verb | proclaim; publish publicly. preconization, noun |
| predella | noun | (pl. -le ) platform for altar; work of art on predella.; portable altar or decoration on it; shelf behind altar. |
| preexilian, preexilic | adjective | before exile, especially Babylonian captivity of Jews. |
| prelapsarian | adjective | pertaining to time before Man's fall. |
| prelect | verb | -i. deliver lecture. prelection, noun lecture. prelector, noun lecturer. |
| premiate | verb | give prize or premium for. |
| premorse | adjective | bitten off short; as if bitten off. |
| premundane | adjective | before creation of world. |
| prenarial | adjective | pertaining to or in front of nostrils. |
| prepense | adjective | deliberate; premediated. |
| prepollent | adjective | predominant. |
| prepotent | adjective | very or more powerful; predominant. prepotency, n.; Biology, propensity for transmitting certain heritable characteristics. |
| preprandial | adjective | before dinner or eating a meal. |
| prepuce | noun | foreskin. preputial, adjective |
| prerupt | adjective | abrupt; steep. |
| presbycousis | noun | hardness of hearing in old age. presbyophrenia, noun loss of memory in old age. presbyopia, presbytia, noun long-sightedness in old age. |
| prescind | verb | abstract or separate (oneself). prescission, noun |
| presentient | adjective | having premonition. |
| presidial | adjective | presidential. |
| presimian | adjective | before occurrence of anthropoid apes. |
| prest | noun | loan of money |
| preterist | noun | person who enjoys reliving past memories |
| preterist | noun | someone whose main pleasure in in reliving thepast |
| preterite | adjective | Grammar, signifying past time; aorist; n. such tense. preterition, noun passing over or omission. |
| preterlabent | adjective | flowing by. |
| pretermit | verb | omit; neglect; interrupt. pretermission, noun |
| pretone | noun | syllable or vowel before accented syllable. pretonic, adjective |
| prevenient | adjective | preceding; anticipating; having foresight; preventing. prevenience, noun |
| prevernal | adjective | flowering or foliating early. |
| prevocalic | adjective | before a vowel. |
| prevoyant | adjective | having foresight. prevoyance, noun |
| priapean | adjective | phallic |
| prie-dieu | noun | praying-desk. |
| primavera | noun | spring (season). |
| primipara | noun | (pl. -rae), woman bearing first child, or having borne only one child. primiparous, adjective primiparity, noun |
| primogeniture | noun | principle of inheritance by eldest child; state of being eldest child. primogenial, adjective first to be formed; original. primogenital, primogenitary, adjective primogenitor, noun ancestor. |
| princeps | noun | chief, headman; first edition of book. |
| princox | noun | an arrogant effeminate fellow |
| privative | adjective | depriving; signifying negation or deprivation; n. such prefix (as un-) or suffix (as - less). |
| privity | noun | private knowledge; connivance. |
| proairesis, proaeresis | noun | deliberate choice. |
| probity | noun | integrity of character. |
| probouleutic | adjective | pertaining to prior discussion and deliberation. |
| procacious | adjective | insolent. procacity n. |
| procatalectic | adjective | with unaccented part of first metrical foot lacking. |
| procathedral | noun | parish church used as cathedral. |
| proceleusmatic | adjective | exhorting; encouraging; n. metrical foot of four short syllables. |
| procellous | adjective | stormy. |
| procephalic | adjective | pertaining to front of head. |
| proc�s-verbal | noun | official report or memorandum; minutes of meeting. |
| prochronism | noun | error of assigning to an event a date before its real date. |
| procidence | noun | prolapse. procident, adjective |
| proclinate | adjective | directed forward. |
| proclitic | adjective | applied to naturally unaccented words dependent for pronunciation and accent on following word; n. such word. proclisis, noun such pronunciation. |
| procryptic | adjective | pertaining to or having protective coloration. procrypsis, noun |
| proctalgia | noun | a pain in the ass |
| procumbent | adjective | lying flat; trailing along ground. |
| proditorious | adjective | traitorous; prone to give away secrets |
| prodrome | noun | symptom appearing before setting in of disease. prodromal, prodromic, adjective prodromus, noun prefatory work. |
| proem | noun | preface. proemial, adjective |
| proemptosis | noun | addition once in every three centuries of one day to lunar calendar. |
| proethnic | adjective | prior to division into smaller ethnic groups. |
| profluent | adjective | flowing, abundant; exuberant. profluence, noun |
| progamic | adjective | before fertilization. progamete, noun germ or sperm cell. |
| progenitive | adjective | reproductive. progenital, adjective progenitor, noun (fem. -tress, - trix) ancestor. |
| prognathism | noun | state of having projecting jaws. prognathic, prognathous, adjective |
| projicient | adjective | projecting; communicating between organism and its surroundings. |
| prolapse, prolapsus | noun | falling (of bodily organ) forward or downward, especially of the uterus. |
| prolate | adjective | having flattened sides due to lengthwise elongation. |
| prolegomena | noun | pl. (sing. -non) introductory remarks. prolegomenist, noun prolegomenous, adjective |
| prolepsis | noun | (pl. -ses ) rhetorical device of weakening objections by anticipating them; use of adjective that anticipates result of verb; prochronism; assumption. proleptic, a.; Medicine, recurring at decreasing intervals. proleptical, adjective prehistoric. proleptics n. prognosis. |
| prolicide | noun | killing or killer of own offspring. prolicidal, adjective |
| proligerous | adjective | bearing offspring. |
| prolix | noun | tedious, boring words |
| prolocutor | noun | presiding officer; chair, especially of lower house of convocation. |
| prolusion | noun | preliminary trial; tentative introductory essay. prolusory, adjective |
| promuscis | noun | proboscis, especially insect's. promuscidate, adjective having this. |
| prone | adjective | lying face down. |
| pronograde | adjective | walking with body parallel to ground. |
| pronominal | adjective | pertaining to a pronoun. |
| pronovalence | noun | ability to have sexual intercourse in a prone position only |
| propaedeutic | adjective | of or pertaining to preliminary instruction; introductory |
| propinquity | noun | nearness. |
| propitiate | verb | appease; conciliate. propitiatory, adjective propitiation, noun act of propitiating; expiatory sacrifice. |
| proplasm | noun | mould; preliminary model. |
| propolis | noun | resin of tree buds collected by bees; bee glue. propolize, v. cement with this. |
| proprio motu | phrase | 'by one's own motion'; of own initiative. proprio vigore, 'by (its) own force'; independently. |
| proprioceptor | noun | sense organ receptive to stimuli from within the body. proprioceptive, adjective proprioception, noun |
| proptosis | noun | prolapse of eyeball. |
| propugnation | noun | obsolete, defence. |
| proreption | noun | obsolete, slow secret advance; creeping attack. |
| prorogue | verb | end session (of Parliament); postpone (meeting). prorogation, noun |
| proscenium | noun | part of stage before curtain. |
| proscribe | verb | outlaw; prohibit; condemn as harmful. proscription, noun proscriptive, adjective |
| proselyte | noun | convert, especially to Jewish faith. proselytic, adjective proselytize, v.i. & t. proselytism, noun |
| prosenchyma | noun | supporting plant tissue containing little protoplasm. prosenchymatous, adjective |
| prosilient | adjective | jumping forth; conspicuous. |
| prosody | noun | study or art of versifying, especially of metre, rhyme and stanza-form; method of versifying. prosodial, prosodic, adjective |
| prosonomasia | noun | use of a humorous modification of a person'sname |
| prosophobia | noun | fear of or adversion to progress |
| prosopic | adjective | pertaining to face. prosopography, noun description of face. prosopopoeia n. personification; speaking or acting as if by imaginary or absent person. |
| prosopolepsy | noun | judging people favorably from their looks |
| prosopopy | noun | the personification of inanimate objects |
| prostyle | adjective noun | (building) with columns in front only. |
| protandry | noun | development of male organs before female to avoid self- fertilization. protandric, protandrous, adjective |
| protanopia | noun | color blindness towards red. protanope, noun protanopic, adjective |
| protasis | noun | introductory and explanatory part of drama; subordinate clause in conditional sentence. protatic, adjective |
| protensive | adjective | extensive in time or lengthwise. protensity, noun |
| proteogenous | adjective | derived from protein. proteolysis, noun disintegration of protein. proteose, noun substance derived from protein in digestion. |
| proteranthous | adjective | with flowers appearing before leaves. |
| prothalamion, prothalamium | noun | (pl.) -mia), song in honour of a marriage. |
| prothesis | noun | addition of a sound to beginning of a word. |
| prothorax | noun | front segment of thorax. |
| protocanonical | adjective | pertaining to the first canon of the bible. |
| protogenic | adjective | Geology, formed at beginning. |
| protograph | noun | holograph. |
| protogyny | noun | development of female organs before male to avoid self- fertilization. protogynous, adjective |
| protolithic | adjective | pertaining to earliest Stone Age. |
| protomartyr | noun | first martyr. |
| protomorphic | adjective | primitive. |
| protonotary, prothonotary | noun | Roman Catholic, official keeper of canonization records and signatory to papal bull. |
| protopathic | adjective | pertaining to reception by nerves, etc. of only coarse stimuli such as heat, pain, etc.; pertaining to such nerves. |
| protophyte | noun | unicellular plant. protophytic, adjective |
| prototrophic | adjective | feeding directly on uncombined elements. |
| protreptic | adjective | hortatory; doctrinal. |
| protrusile | adjective | able to be thrust forward (as a frog's tongue). |
| provection | noun | carrying forward of sound at end of word to beginning of next (as a newt from original form an ewt). |
| proveditor | noun | purveyor of supplies. |
| provedore, providore | noun | proveditor; steward. |
| proxenete | noun | procurer; marriage broker. |
| pruinose | adjective | bearing whitish dust; hoary. pruinescence, noun pruinous, adjective |
| prurigo | noun | skin disease with small itching pustules. pruriginous |
| pruritus | noun | (condition of) itching of skin. pruritic, adjective |
| psaltery | noun | ancient zither-like musical instrument. |
| psammophyte | noun | plant of arid, sandy soil. psammophytic, adjective |
| psaphonic | noun | planning how to rise to fame and fortune |
| psellism | noun | defective pronunciation. |
| psephology | noun | scientific analysis of political elections and polls. psephologist, noun |
| pseudaesthesia | noun | #NAME? |
| pseudandry | noun | use by woman of man's name as assumed name. |
| pseudaposematic | adjective | imitating in color, etc., a dangerous animal. |
| pseudautochiria | noun | murder disguised as a suicide |
| pseudepigrapha | noun | pl. spurious books supposed to be written by or about Biblical persons but not contained in Apocrypha. pseudepigraphal, adjective pseudepigraphic, adjective pertaining to pseudepigrapha or pseudepigraphy. pseudepigraphous, adjective bearing wrong name; wrongly attributed. pseudepigraphy, noun mistaken attribution of works to wrong authors. |
| pseudoblepsia | noun | false or imaginary vision. |
| pseudocarp | noun | fruit, as apple, comprising more than mere seeds. pseudocarpous, adjective |
| pseudochromaesthesia | noun | mental association of sounds with colors. pseudochromia, noun false color perception. |
| pseudochronism | noun | error in date. pseudochronologist, noun person making this. |
| pseudocyesis | noun | false pregnancy, with symptoms only. |
| pseudodox | adjective noun | false (doctrine or opinion). |
| pseudograph | noun | spurious writing; forgery. pseudographer, noun |
| pseudogyny | noun | male use of a female pseudonym |
| pseudohermaphroditism | noun | congenital abnormality where internal sexual organs are of one sex, external ones the other, or characteristic of both. |
| pseudologist | noun | liar |
| pseudology | noun | telling of lies. pseudological, adjective wildly exaggerated or untrue. pseudologue, noun mania for lying. |
| pseudomnesia | noun | memory for things that never happened |
| pseudomonas | noun | (pl. -ades ) any of a genus of rod-like bacteria, many of which cause disease in plants or animals. |
| pseudomorph | noun | false or abnormal form. pseudomorphic, pseudomorphous, adjective pseudomorphism, noun pseudomorphose, v. make into this. pseudomorphosis, noun |
| pseudophonia | noun | suicide disguised as murder |
| pseudopodium | noun | (pl. -dia), temporary projection of amoeba, etc. for use as foot or mouth. |
| pseudopsia | noun | optical illusion. |
| pseudoscope | noun | instrument producing images in reversed relief. pseudoscopic, adjective pseudoscopy, noun |
| pseudovum | noun | (pl. -va) parthenogenetic egg. |
| psilanthropy | noun | denial of divinity of Christ. psilanthropic, adjective psilanthropism, psilanthropist, noun |
| psilology | noun | empty talk |
| psilosis | noun | falling of hair; sprue. |
| psilosopher | noun | a superficial philosopher |
| psithurism | noun | sound of wind whispering in the trees |
| psittaceous | adjective | like or pertaining to parrot; belonging to parrot family of birds. psittacine, adjective psittacism, noun parrot-like repetition in speech. psittacosis, noun contagious parrot disease, causing fever and pneumonia in humans. |
| psittacistic | adjective | speaking in a mechanical, repetitive way |
| psoas | noun | loin muscle; tender-loin. psoatic, adjective |
| psora | noun | several itching skin diseases. |
| psoriasis | noun | skin disease with white-scaled red eruptions. psoriatic, noun & a. (person) suffering from this. |
| psorophthalmia | noun | scurfy inflammation of the eyes. |
| psoroptic | adjective | pertaining to scab mite. |
| psychaesthesia | noun | sensation in relation to feeling and thought. |
| psychagogic | adjective | attractive; encouraging. psychagogy, noun psychiatric treatment by persuading patient to adopt an absorbing interest or life work. |
| psychalgia | noun | mental pain or distress. |
| psychasthenia | noun | neurotic lassitude, indecision, doubts,tics and phobias |
| psychoanalysis | noun | treatment of neurotic persons by the analysis of their neuroses and revelation of their origins; system of such treatment, and body of theories related to it. psychoanalyse, v. treat patient in this way. psychoanalyst, noun psychoanalytic(al), adjective |
| psychodynamic | adjective | pertaining to psychological motives and causation. |
| psychogalvanic | adjective | pertaining to change in electrical resistance of skin resulting from mental processes which cause alterations in secretion of perspiration. psychogalvanometer, noun instrument measuring such electric change; lie detector. |
| psychogenesis | noun | origin in internal or mental state. psychogenetic, adjective psychogenetics, noun study of this. psychogenic, adjective derived from the mind. |
| psychogram | noun | spirit message; psychological description of person; mental picture. psychograph, noun instrument recording spirit messages; photographic plate recording spirit image. psychography n. |
| psycholepsy | noun | period of intense nervous depression and apathy. |
| psychomachy | noun | conflict of the soul. |
| psychometer | noun | instrument measuring duration and intensity of mental states. |
| psychometrics | noun | design and use of psychological tests, including statistical techniques. psychometry, noun measurement of mental aptitudes and intelligence; supposed ability to discover facts about events or people by touching objects relating to them. psychometrist, noun |
| psychomorphism | noun | attribution of human mentality to inanimate objects. psychomorphic, adjective |
| psychomotor | adjective | pertaining to physical action as immediate result of mental act. |
| psychopannychism | noun | belief in sleep of souls from death to bodily resurrection. psychopannychist, psychopannychite, noun |
| psychophysics | noun | study of relationship between mental and physical processes. psychophysical, adjective psychophysicist, noun |
| psychopomp | noun | one who conducts souls of dead to afterworld, as Charon. |
| psychoprophylaxis | noun | use of relaxation techniques, etc. to avoid or lessen pain in childbirth. |
| psychorrhagy | noun | temporary sighting of soul separate from body. |
| psychosophy | noun | doctrine concerning the soul. |
| psychotaxis | noun | involuntary alteration of mental outlook for the satisfaction of the personality. |
| psychotechnology | noun | practical use of psychology in solving problems etc. psychotechnological, adjective |
| psychotheism | noun | belief in pure spirituality of God. |
| psychotoxic | adjective | damaging to the mind, especially of such addictive drugs. |
| psychotropic | adjective | (of drug) acting on the mind. |
| psychrometer | noun | wet and dry bulb hygrometer. psychrometry, noun |
| psychrophile | noun | plant thriving in cold. psychrophilic, adjective |
| psychrophobia | noun | dread of cold. |
| psychrophyte | noun | alpine or arctic plant. |
| psychurgy | noun | mental energy or function. |
| ptarmic | adjective noun | (substance) causing sneezing. |
| pteridium | noun | (pl. -ia) bracken. pteridography, noun description of ferns. pteridology, noun study of ferns. pteridophyte, noun fern. |
| pterocarpous | adjective | with winged fruits. |
| pterography | noun | treatise on or description of feathers. pterographic(al), adjective pteropaedes, n.pl. birds capable of flying soon after hatching. |
| pteropid | adjective noun | (pertaining to) fruit bat. |
| pteropod | noun | small swimming mollusc, often shell-less. pteropodan, adjective |
| pterospermous | adjective | with winged seeds. |
| pterygium | noun | (pl. -ia) fleshy growth over inner corner of eyeball, common in old age; overgrowth of cuticle. pterygial, adjective |
| pterygoid | adjective | wing-like. |
| pterygote | adjective noun | (any) of a subclass of insects, comprising winged insects, fleas, etc. |
| pterylosis | noun | arrangement of bird's feathers. pterylology, noun study of this. pteryla n. (pl. -lae ), any of the feathered areas of a bird's body. |
| ptilosis | noun | plumage; loss of eyelashes. |
| ptisan | noun | kind of barley-water; tisane. |
| ptochocracy | noun | government by the poor. |
| ptomaine | noun | poisonous alkaloid in decaying matter. ptomainic, adjective |
| ptosis | noun | prolapse; drooping of eyelid. ptotic, adjective |
| ptyalin | noun | enzyme, acting on starch, of saliva. ptyalagogue, noun substance promoting salivation. ptyalism, noun salivation, especially excessive. |
| puberulent | adjective | covered with minute down. |
| pudency | noun | modesty; prudery. pudendal, adjective pertaining to reproductive organs. pudendum, noun (pl. - da) external reproductive organ, especially of female. pudibund, adjective bashful; prudish. pudic, adjective pudendal . pudicity, noun modesty; chastity. |
| puerperal | adjective | pertaining to childbirth. puerperium, noun condition immediately following childbirth. |
| puisne | adjective | inferior; junior. |
| puissant | adjective | powerful. puissance, noun |
| pulicine | adjective | pertaining to fleas. pulicose, pulicous, adjective infested with fleas. pulicosity, noun such infestation. pulicid, noun & a. pulicide, noun substance killing fleas. pulicoid, adjective flea- like. |
| pullulate | verb | teem, swarm |
| pulmogastric | adjective | pertaining to lungs and stomach. |
| pulmometry | noun | measurement of lungs' capacity. |
| pulque | noun | Mexican fermented drink made from agave. |
| pulsatile | adjective | vibrating; pulsating; Music, percussive; n. percussion instrument. pulsatility, noun |
| pulsimeter | noun | pulse-measuring instrument. |
| pultaceous | adjective | pulpy; like porridge. |
| pultun, pultan | noun | native infantry regiment. |
| pulvillus | noun | pad on feet of flies. |
| punaluan | adjective | pertaining to primitive group marriage of a number of brothers to a number of sisters. |
| puncheon | noun | large cask, with capacity of seventy gallons; engraved punch or die; short upright timber for load-bearing. |
| punctilio | noun | small point or detail of conduct; close observance of such points. punctilious, adjective |
| punctulate | adjective | bearing small spots. punctule, noun small spot. punctulation, noun |
| pundigrion | noun | obsolete, play on words; pun. |
| puniceous | adjective | bright or purplish red. |
| punnet | noun | shallow fruit basket. |
| pupillage | noun | state of being a pupil or under age. pupillary, adjective pertaining to pupil or guardianship; pertaining to pupil of eye. |
| purfle | verb | ornament edges of, especially with embroidery; n. such edge or trimming. purfling, noun |
| puriform | adjective | like pus. |
| purl | verb | -i. (of stream etc.) ripple along, murmuring; n. this sound; a knitting stitch; gold or silver thread; decorative, often lacy, border. |
| purlicue | noun | space between extended thumb and index finger; curl or flourish in writing; summary of speeches; peroration; pl. caprices. |
| purlieus | noun | -pl. neighbourhood; suburb(s). |
| purpresture | noun | wrongful seizing of, or encroachment on, other's or common land. |
| purpura | noun | any of several blood diseases causing purplish patches on skin. purpura hemorrhagica, purpura with severe hemorrhage; similar fever of horses. |
| purpureal, purpureous | adjective | purple. purpurescent, noun becoming or somewhat purple. purpurogenous, adjective causing purple color. |
| pursuivant | noun | official of College of Heralds inferior to herald. |
| pursy | adjective | short-winded, especially because stout. |
| purulent | adjective | of, containing, or discharging pus; suppurating |
| putamen | noun | fruit stone; membrane lining eggshell. putaminous, adjective |
| putid | adjective | worthless; fetid. |
| puttee | noun | long strip of cloth wound round lower leg, especially as part of army uniform. |
| putti | noun | pl. (sing. -to) figures of naked children or cherubs in art. |
| pyarthrosis | noun | suppuration in joint. |
| pycnometer | noun | kind of bottle for measuring specific gravities or densities. pycnomorphic, pycnomorphous, adjective (of nerve cells) compact. |
| pyelitis | noun | inflammation of the kidney outlet. |
| pyemia | noun | blood-poisoning accompanied by widespread abscesses. pyemic, adjective |
| pygal | adjective | pertaining to rump. pygalgia, noun pain in rump. |
| pygophilous | adjective | buttock-loving |
| pyic | adjective | pertaining to or discharging pus. |
| pylorus | noun | opening from stomach into intestine. pyloric, adjective |
| pyoderma | noun | any skin disease resulting in pustules and/or pus. |
| pyoid | adjective | pus-like. pyogenic, adjective producing pus. pyorrhoea, n.discharge of pus, especially in inflammation of tooth sockets. pyosis, noun suppuration. |
| pyranometer | noun | instrument measuring solar radiation. |
| pyrethrum | noun | chrysanthemum-like garden plant; kind of insect powder. |
| pyretic | adjective | pertaining to fever. pyrosis, noun heartburn. pyretogenic, adjective inducing fever. pyretology, noun medical study of fevers. pyretotherapy, noun medical treatment by causing fever. |
| pyrgeometer | noun | instrument measuring radiation from earth. |
| pyrgoidal | adjective | tower-shaped. |
| pyrheliometer | noun | instrument measuring sun's heat. pyrheliometric, adjective pyrheliometry,n. |
| pyridine | noun | nitrogenous base used as antiseptic, etc. pyridic, adjective |
| pyriform | adjective | pearshaped. |
| pyroelectricity | noun | electric charge produced in some crystals by temperature changes. |
| pyrogen | noun | substance inducing fever. pyrogenesis, noun production of heat. pyrogenation, noun subjection to heat. pyrogenic, pyrogenous, adjective due to heat or fever. |
| pyrognomic | adjective | easily made incandescent. pyrognostic, adjective pertaining to, of characteristics produced by, heat, especially as shown by blowpipe analysis. |
| pyrography | noun | tracing of designs by burning; 'poker work'. pyrographer, noun pyrographic, adjective pyrogravure, noun design traced by pyrography. |
| pyrolagnia | noun | sexual stimulation from watching fires |
| pyrolatry | noun | fire-worship. pyrolater, noun |
| pyroligneous | adjective | produced by action of heat on wood. |
| pyrology | noun | study of heat or fever and its effects. pyrological, adjective pyrologist, noun |
| pyrolysis | noun | decomposition due to heat. pyrolytic, adjective |
| pyromachy | noun | use of fire in fighting. |
| pyromancy | noun | divination by flames or fire. pyromancer, noun pyromantic, adjective |
| pyrometer | noun | instrument measuring very high temperatures. pyrometric, adjective pyrometry, noun |
| pyrophanous | adjective | becoming transparent when heated. |
| pyrophobia | noun | dread of fire. |
| pyrophorus | noun | (pl. -ri ) substance igniting when exposed to air. pyrophoric, pyrophorous, adjective |
| pyroscope | noun | kind of optical thermometer or pyrometer. |
| pyrosis | noun | heartburn. |
| pyrostat | noun | automatic fire-alarm and extinguisher; thermostat. |
| pyrrhotism | noun | red-hairedness. |
| pythogenic | adjective | due to or causing dirt or decay. pythogenesis, noun pythogenetic, adjective |
| pyx | noun | vessel for reservation of Eucharist; box containing specimens of newly-minted coins. trial of the pyx, test for weight, etc., of newly- minted coins. |
| quadra | noun | plinth; square frame. |
| quadragintesimal | adjective | in forty parts; forty-fold. |
| quadral | adjective | in four parts. |
| quadrant | noun | quarter of circumference of circle; instrument for measuring altitudes. quadrantal, adj. |
| quadrat | noun | small square area or block, especially used as space in printing (abbr. quad). |
| quadrate | verb | square; agree; make to agree; n. & a., square; oblong; Astronomy, distant 90° from each other. quadratic, adjective square; applied to algebraic expression containing square but no higher power of unknown quantity; n. such equation. quadratics, noun algebra dealing with quadratic equations. quadrature, noun problem or act of finding square with area equal of another known figure; act of determining areas; Astronomy, relation of quadrate heavenly bodies. |
| quadrel | noun | small block (of stone, wood etc.). |
| quadrennial | adjective | lasting four years; occurring every fourth year; n. fourth anniversary. quadrennium, noun (pl. -nia) period of four years. |
| quadrimum | noun | best or oldest wine. quadrimum merum, four- year-old wine. |
| quadripartite | adjective | pertaining to or for four parts or parties. quadripartition, noun |
| quadrisect | verb | divide into four equal parts. quadrisection, noun |
| quadrivial | adjective | leading in four directions; pertaining to meeting of four ways. |
| quadrivium | noun | (pl. -ia) higher division of seven liberal arts studied in Middle Ages: arithmetic, music, astronomy, geometry. |
| quadrivoltine | adjective | having four broods in one year; n. such creature. |
| quadrual | adjective noun | (number) denoting four. |
| quadrumanous | adjective | (of apes, etc.) with all four feet adapted for use as hands. |
| quaestor | noun | ancient Roman public treasurer or assistant military commander. quaestorial, adjective |
| quaestuary | adjective noun | archaic, (person) in business for profit, or having profit as sole aim. |
| quaintise | noun | ingenuity, cunning; a trick or stratagem |
| quale | noun | (pl. -lia) thing having quality; sensation considered in virtue of its own quality alone; quality having independent existence. |
| quant | noun | punting pole; v.t. propel with quant. |
| quantulum | noun | small quantity. |
| quaquaversal | adjective | dipping in all directions; dome-like. |
| quarender, quarenden | noun | kind of dark red apple. |
| quartan | adjective | (fever) recurring after approximately seventy-two hours. |
| quarto | noun | book size made by folding sheet into four leaves: foolscap quarto, 81/2 x 63/4 in; crown quarto, 10 x 71/2 in; demy quarto, 111/4 x 83/4 in; royal quarto, 121/2 x 10 in; imperial quarto, 15 x 11 in (abbr. 4to). |
| quatercentenary | noun | four-hundredth anniversary. |
| quatrefoil | noun | any figure like leaf or flower with four leaflets. quatrefoliated, adjective |
| quattrocento | noun | 15th century. |
| quebracho | noun | several tropical American trees and their timber or bark. |
| qued | adjective | evil, bad |
| quenelle | noun | fish or meat forcemeat ball. |
| quenouille | adjective | applied to training of trees, etc., into cone-like outline. |
| quercetum | noun | oak plantation. |
| querimony | noun | a complaint |
| quern | noun | hand-power grinding mill. |
| querulent | adjective noun | habitually and abnormally suspicious (person). querulous, adjective peevish; fretful; complaining. |
| question extraordinaire | noun | n. final or severest torture. |
| qui vive | noun | 'who goes there?' on the qui vive, on the alert. |
| quidam | noun | obscure, unknown person |
| quiddity | noun | the essence or nature of a thing |
| quidnunc | noun | gossiper; inquisitive person. |
| quiescent | adjective | resting; dormant. quiescence, quiescency, noun |
| quietism | noun | kind of mysticism in which indifference to world is obtained by passive contemplation of divinity; passivity. quietist, noun |
| quietus | noun | receipt; release; act of dispatching or disposing of; knockout or fatal blow; death. |
| quillet | noun | archaic, quibble; small tube. |
| quinary | adjective | pertaining to or comprising five; in fives; Mathematics, having five as base. |
| quincentenary | noun | (pertaining to) five hundredth anniversary. |
| quincunx | noun | four corners and centre of rectangle; arrangement of five things in those positions. quincuncial, adjective |
| quindecagon | noun | 15-sided plane figure. quindecasyllabic, adjective having 15 syllables. quindecennial, adjective pertaining to 15 years. |
| quinquagenarian | adjective noun | (person) in from fiftieth to sixtieth year. quinquagenary,, adjective fifty-year-old; n. 50th anniversary. |
| Quinquagesima | noun | Sunday before Lent. Quinquagesimal, adjective pertaining to fifty days. |
| quinquennial | adjective | lasting five years; occurring every fifth year. quinquennium, noun (pl. -nia) period of five years. |
| quinsy | noun | severe inflammation of tonsils and throat. |
| quintain | noun | object, or target, tilted at; tilting at quintain. |
| quintal | noun | hundredweight; 100 lb; metric unit of 100 kg. |
| quintan | adjective | (fever) recurring after five days (i.e. every fourth day). |
| quintant | noun | instrument having arc of fifth part of circumference of circle for taking altitudes. |
| quintic | adjective | Mathematics, of or pertaining to fifth degree. |
| quipu | noun | device of knotted cords, used by Incas of Peru to calculate or order information. |
| quire | noun | two dozen sheets of paper. |
| quirt | noun | a riding crop or whip |
| quisguous | adjective | perplexing |
| quisling | noun | traitor collaborating with enemy occupiers of his or her country. |
| quisquillian | adjective | trashy |
| quitrent | noun | small nominal rent commuting feudal services. |
| quo vadis | phrase | 'whither goest thou?' |
| quod erat demonstrandum | phrase | 'which was to be demonstrated' (abbr. Q.E.D.). quod erat faciendum, 'which was to be done' (abbr. Q.E.F.). |
| quodlibet | noun | 'what you like'; moot or subtle point; fruitless or pedantic argument. |
| quoin | noun | angle; wedge; cornerstone. |
| quondam | adjective | 'formerly'; a. former. |
| rabiator | noun | a violent man |
| raceme | noun | kind of inflorescence with flowers borne on footstalks up a central stem, as in lily of valley. racemiferous, adjective bearing racemes. racemiform, adjective like raceme. racemose, racemous, a.. |
| rach(e) | noun | dog hunting by scent. |
| rachis | noun | (pl. -ides ) spine; central axis. rachialgia, noun pain in spine. rachidian, adjective rachiform, adjective like rachis. rachiometer, noun instrument measuring spinal curvature. |
| rachitis | noun | inflammation of spine; rickets. rachitic, adjective pertaining to or having rachitis. rachitogenic, adjective causing rachitis. |
| radectomy | noun | removal of part of tooth root. |
| radiodontia | noun | making and study of X-ray photographs of teeth. radiodontic, adjective radiodontist, noun |
| radiogenic | adjective | produced by radioactive decay; suitable for radio broadcasting. |
| radiogoniometer | noun | radio direction-finding apparatus. rodiogoniometry, noun |
| radio-heliograph | noun | arrangement of radio-telescopes for receiving and recording the radio waves emitted by the sun. |
| radiolucent | adjective | penetrable by X-rays. |
| radiomicrometer | noun | n. instrument measuring intensity of radioactivity. |
| radionuclide | noun | a radioactive nuclide. |
| radiopaque | adjective | not allowing passage of X-rays. radiopacity, noun |
| radiopraxis | noun | medical use of radioactivity. |
| radioscope | noun | instrument detecting radioactivity. radioscopy, noun examination of opaque bodies by X-rays. |
| radiosonde | noun | radio transmitter, borne into and from upper atmosphere by balloon and parachute, sending out information on atmospheric conditions. |
| radome | noun | protective housing for radar antenna. |
| radula | noun | (pl. -lae ) rasp- like toothed band of tissue in mollusc's mouth. radular, adjective radulate, adjective having radula. raduliform, adjective rasp-like. |
| raisonné | adjective | systematically arranged; ordered. |
| rale | noun | sound symptomatic of disease heard in auscultation. |
| ramage | noun | boughs of tree. ramal, rameal, adjective pertaining to branch. |
| ramellose | adjective | having small branches. |
| ramex | noun | hernia. |
| ramiferous | adjective | bearing branches. ramiform, adjective branch-alike. |
| ramify | verb | -i. branch out; make complex. ramification, noun |
| ramoneur | noun | chimney-sweep. |
| ramulus | noun | (pl. -li ) small branch. ramular, adjective ramuliferous, adjective bearing ramuli. ramulose, ramulous, adjective having many ramuli. |
| ramus | noun | (pl. -mi ) branch, especially of nerve; barb of feather; mandible. |
| rana | noun | prince. |
| ranarium | noun | (pl. -ia) place for rearing frogs. |
| randan | noun | boat for three oarsmen, viz. one sculler with two oars in middle and an oarsman with one oar fore and aft; such style of rowing. randem, adv. with three horses in single file. |
| rangiferine | adjective | pertaining to or like reindeer; belonging to animal genus containing reindeer. |
| ranine | adjective | pertaining to or like frogs; belonging to subfamily of amphibians including frogs. raniform, adjective frog-like. |
| rantallion | noun | one whose scrotum is longer than his penis |
| rantipole | noun | a wild, rambunctious young man |
| ranula | noun | (pl. -lae ) small cyst on tongue. ranular, adjective |
| ranunculaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like buttercups; belonging to buttercup family of plants. ranunculus, noun (pl. - li ) buttercup, especially cultivated. |
| rapacious | adjective | greedy; obtaining by extortion; predacious; ravenous. rapacity, noun |
| rapine | noun | pillaging. |
| rapparee | noun | irregular soldier; vagabond. |
| rappee | noun | kind of strong snuff. |
| rapport | noun | relationship, especially harmonious. en rapport, (French) 'in rapport'. |
| rapprochement | noun | resumption of or improvement in relations between countries or persons. |
| raptorial, raptatorial, raptatory | adjective | predatory; pertaining to birds of prey. |
| raptus | noun | trance; rapture; seizure. |
| rasorial | adjective | scratching ground for food; pertaining to domestic fowls. |
| ratafia | noun | almond-flavoured liqueur or biscuit. |
| ratihabition | noun | ratification. |
| ratite | adjective | having flat breastbone; n. such flightless bird, as ostrich, emu, etc. |
| ratline | noun | small rope forming rung of rope ladder. |
| ratten | verb | compel to obey trade union by damaging or depriving of machinery, tools, etc. |
| rattoon | noun | small shoot growing from the root of a plant |
| rauwolfia | noun | tropical tree or shrub used as source of various drugs, especially reserpine. |
| ravelin | noun | projecting out-work in fortification, having two embankments forming salient angle; 'half-moon'. |
| ravissant | adjective | (fem. -e ) ravishing; causing rapture. |
| Réaumur | adjective | pertaining to temperature scale or thermometer having freezing point of water at 0° and boiling point at 80°. |
| rebarbative | adjective | grim, unattractive, forbidding, repellent |
| rebec(k) | noun | ancient three-stringed violin. |
| reboantic | adjective | reverberating |
| recalesce | verb | -i. liberate heat suddenly when cooling through certain temperature. recalescent, adjective recalescence, noun |
| recension | noun | scholarly editorial revision |
| receptary | adjective | accepted as fact but unproved |
| réchauffé | adjective noun | warmed-up (dish); rehash. |
| recherché | adjective | refined; carefully done; curious; far-fetched; extravagant. |
| recidivism | noun | state of returning habitually to crime. recidivist, noun recidivate, recidive, v.i. relapse; recur. recidivous, adjective |
| recitative | noun | speechlike declamatory song in opera, oratorio, etc. |
| réclame | noun | publicity. |
| reclinate | adjective | bending backwards or downwards. |
| recoct | verb | cook again; concoct; improvise. |
| recondite | adjective | concealed; abstruse; erudite. |
| recreant | adjective noun | cowardly or renegade (person). recreancy, noun |
| recrement | noun | redundant matter; dross; Medicine, secretion of body absorbed again by body. recremental, recrementitial, adjective |
| recrudesce | verb | -i. grow up or break out again. recrudescence, recrudescency, noun recrudescent, adjective |
| rectalgia | noun | pain in the rectum |
| rectigrade | adjective | moving in straight line. |
| rectirostral | adjective | having straight beak. |
| rectiserial | adjective | in vertical ranks. |
| recto | noun | right-hand page; front of printed or manuscript page. |
| rectopathic | adjective | easily hurt emotionally |
| rectrices | noun | pl. (sing. rectrix) quill feathers of bird's tail. rectricial, adjective |
| rectrix | noun | a female ruler |
| rectum | noun | last part of large intestine, leading to anus. rectal, adjective |
| rectus | noun | (pl. -ti ) straight muscle. |
| recubation | noun | lying down |
| recumbentibus | noun | a knockdown blow |
| recusant | adjective | dissenting; disestablishmentarian |
| redan | noun | fieldwork in fortification, with two parapets making salient angle. |
| redargution | noun | refutation |
| redhibition | noun | the return of defective merchandise |
| redintegrate | verb | make whole again; restore. redintegration, n.; Psychology, revival of whole of previous mental state at recurrence of part of it. redintegrative, adjective |
| redivivus | adjective | living again; revived |
| reeve | noun | chief magistrate; bailiff; Canadian, rural council's president; Ornithology, female ruff (bird); v.t. pass (rope) through ring; fasten by reeving. |
| refection | noun | light meal; refreshment. refectory, noun dining room of monastery, college, etc. |
| reflet | noun | lustre, irridescence, esp. on pottery. |
| refluent | adjective | flowing back or backward. refluence, noun reflux, noun refluence; Chemistry, boiling of liquid in flask with condenser attached to minimize evaporation; v.t. & i. boil (liquid) thus. |
| refocillate | verb | to warm into life again; revive |
| refragable | adjective | capable of being refuted |
| refrangible | adjective | capable of being refracted |
| refringent | adjective | refracting. refringence, refringency, noun |
| refulgent | adjective | radiant, brilliant, shining |
| regardant | adjective | Heraldry, in profile and looking to rear. |
| regelation | noun | freezing again, especially of water from ice melted by pressure when pressure is relieved. regelate, v. & i. |
| regius | adjective | royal. regius professor, one holding professorship founded by royalty. |
| reglementation | noun | regulation. |
| regnal | adjective | pertaining to reign. regnancy, noun rule. regnant, adjective reigning. |
| reify | verb | literally to make a thing; given definite |
| reis | noun | chief; captain. |
| reive | verb | -i. rob; plunder; carry off. reiver, noun |
| rejectamenta | noun | pl. rejected things; excrement. |
| relict | noun | widow; survivor; a. pertaining to land bared by reliction. reliction, noun recession of sea leaving land bare; land so left. |
| religate | verb | tie together; restrain. religation, noun |
| reliquary | noun | container for holy relics. |
| reliquiae | noun | pl. 'remains'. reliquian, adjective reliquism, noun worship of relics. |
| relucent | adjective | reflecting; refulgent. |
| remiform | adjective | oar-shaped. remigate, v.i. row. remiges, noun pl. ( sing. remex) quill feathers of bird's wing. remiped, noun & a. (creature) having legs or feet adapted for propelling it through water. |
| remigrate | verb | -i. migrate again; return. remigrant n. one who returns. remigration, noun |
| remontado | noun | someone who has fled to the mountains; a person who has renounced civilization |
| remontant | adjective noun | (rose) flowering more than once in season. |
| rémoulade | noun | cold sauce of mayonnaise flavoured with herbs, capers, etc. |
| remplissage | noun | filling or padding used in music and literature |
| remugient | adjective | rebellowing; roaring or shouting anew |
| renable | adjective | fluent, eloquent |
| renascible | adjective | capable of being reborn |
| rencontre | noun | meeting; encounter; duel. |
| renifleur | noun | one who gets sexual pleasure from body smells |
| reniform | adjective | kidney-shaped. |
| renitent | adjective | resisting or opposing stubbornly; recalcitrant |
| rennet | noun | contents or part of stomach, or preparation therefrom, of young animal, used to curdle milk. rennin, noun gastric enzyme curdling milk. |
| renography | noun | treatise on or description of kidneys. |
| rentes | noun | pl. government stock, bonds, etc. rentier, noun owner of rentes; one living on income from investments; one living on fixed income. |
| renvoi | noun | expulsion of alien from country; Law, referral of dispute to another jurisdiction. |
| repetend | noun | digit(s) repeated in recurring decimal; repetition of same or similar word in sentence; refrain. |
| replevin | noun | Law, repossession of goods wrongfully taken, with pledge to return them if defeated in lawsuit on the matter; writ or action in such case. repleviable, replevisable, adjective replevisor, noun plaintiff in replevin action. replevy, v. |
| repoussé | adjective | shaped in relief by being beaten up from under or reverse side; n. such artistic work. repoussage, noun art of doing such work. |
| repristinate | verb | to revive; to restore |
| reptant | adjective | creeping. reptation, noun reptatorial, reptatory, adjective |
| requiescat | noun | 'may he (or she) rest'; n. prayer for dead. requiescat in pace,, 'may he (or she) rest in peace' (abbr. R.I.P.). |
| reredos | noun | screen behind altar; erroneously, choir screen. |
| res gestae | noun | n. pl. 'things done'; matters incident to question in lawsuit. |
| rescript | noun | decree; rewriting or rewritten thing. rescriptive, adjective |
| réseau | noun | network, especially of lines on astronomical photograph. |
| resect | verb | Surgery, remove part of organ. resection, noun such surgical operation; determination of position by drawing lines on map from two or more known objects. |
| reserpine | noun | sedative drug. |
| resile | verb | -i. draw back; return to first position or shape. resilient, adjective elastic; recovering quickly from shock, illness, etc. resilience, noun |
| resipiscent | adjective | restored to sanity; learned from experience |
| resorb | verb | reabsorb. resorbent, resorptive, adjective resorbence, resorption, noun |
| responsions | noun | pl. first examination for B.A. degree at Oxford University. |
| resupinate | adjective | upside down. resupine, adjective supine. resupination, noun |
| resupination | noun | turning to an upside-down position |
| rete | noun | (pl. -tia,, network; net. retecious, retial, retiary, adjective |
| reticulate | verb | mark with network-like lines; a. like network. reticular, adjective net-like; intricate. reticulation, noun reticulate marking. reticule, noun handbag, especially of net. reticulose, adjective reticulated. reticulum, noun (pl. - la) network; second stomach of ruminant. retiform a. net-like; reticulate. |
| retine | noun | substance in animal tissue which retards tissue growth. |
| retinoid | adjective | like resin. |
| retortion | noun | turning or twisting back; retaliation. |
| retroact | verb | -i. act backwards or opposite; react. retroaction, noun retroactive, adjective taking effect as from a previous date. |
| retrocede | verb | go back or inwards; cede back. retrocession, noun retrocessive, adjective |
| retrochoir | noun | space in choir behind high altar. |
| retroject | verb | throw back. retrojection, n.; Medicine, washing of cavity from within. |
| retromancy | noun | fortunetelling by things seen over one'sshoulder |
| retrometer | noun | device for transmitting sound by modifying a beam of light. |
| retromingent | adjective | urinating backward |
| retromorphosis | noun | degenerative metamorphosis; change for the worse. |
| retrorse | adjective | turned back or down. |
| retrostalsis | noun | reversed peristalsis. retrostaltic, adjective |
| retroussé | adjective | turned up (applied to nose only). |
| retuse | adjective | having a blunt end with a central notch, as some leaves. |
| reus | noun | defendant in a courtroom trial |
| revalescent | adjective | convalescent. revalescence, noun |
| revalorize | verb | restore to original value, especially such monetary unit. |
| revanche | noun | revenge; desire to regain lost territory; favour done in return. revanchism, noun policy of aggressively seeking recovery of lost territory. revanchist, noun |
| revehent | adjective | carrying back. |
| revenant | noun | person returning after supposed death or long absence; ghost. |
| revers | noun | tuned-back edge or part of garment. |
| revetment | noun | masonry etc. facing of embankment or trench. revet, v. |
| revirescent | adjective | growing young or strong again. revirescence, noun |
| reviviscent | adjective | capable of causing revival. reviviscence, noun |
| revolute | adjective | rolled back, especially at edges. |
| rhabdomancy | noun | divination by means of rod; water-divining. rhabdos, noun magic wand. |
| rhabdomyoma | noun | tumour of striated muscle. |
| rhabdophobia | noun | fear of being punished or severely criticized |
| rhadamanthine | adjective | strictly and inflexibly honest and just |
| Rhadamanthus | noun | in Greek mythology a judge of the souls of the dead; stern judge. Rhadamanthine, adjective |
| rhaebosis | noun | curvature; bandiness. |
| rhamphoid | adjective | beak-shaped. |
| rhema | noun | word; verb. rheme, noun speech element expressing an idea. rhematic, adjective pertaining to formation of words; derived from verbs. rhematology, noun study of rhemes. |
| rheology | noun | study of flow of matter. rheometer, noun instrument measuring or controlling currents. rheophile, adjective living in running water. rheophore, noun wire connection of electrical apparatus. rheoscope, n.galvanoscope. rheostat, noun variable electrical resistor. rheotaxis, noun direction of movement by water. rheotrope, noun commutator reversing electric current. rheotropism, noun direction of growth by water. |
| rhexis | noun | rupture. |
| rhigosis | noun | sensation of cold |
| rhinal | adjective | nasal. rhinalgia, noun pain in nose. rhinencephalon, noun olfactory lobe of brain. rhinenchysis, noun injection into nose. rhinitis, noun inflammation of nose or its mucous membrane. rhinodynia, noun rhinalgia rhinogenic, rhinogenous, adjective deriving from nose. rhinolalia, noun nasal speech. rhinology, noun medical study of the nose. rhinophyma, noun acne of the nose. rhinoplasty, noun plastic surgery of nose. rhinorrhagia, noun nose-bleeding. rhinorrhoea, noun continuous nasal catarrh. rhinoscopy n. medical examination of nose. |
| rhipidate | adjective | fan-shaped. |
| rhizanthous | adjective | with flowers emerging from root. |
| rhizocarpous | adjective | with perennial root, etc., but annual foliage and stems. |
| rhizogenic | adjective | root-producing. rhizogenous, adjective |
| rhizoid | noun | thin root-like filament of fern, etc.; a. root- like. |
| rhodocyte | noun | red blood corpuscle. |
| rhonchisonant | adjective | snorting; snoring |
| rhonchus | noun | whistling sound heard in auscultation. rhonchial, adjective |
| rhopalism | noun | a sentence or poem in which each word is one syllable longer than its predecessor |
| rhotacism | noun | mispronunciation or overuse of sound r. rhotacize, v.i. rhotacistic, adjective |
| rhumb | noun | point of compass; loxodrome. |
| rhyparography | noun | painting or description of mean or sordid things; still-life or genre painting. rhyparographer, rhyparographist, noun rhyparographic, adjective |
| rhysimeter | noun | instrument measuring speed of current or ship. |
| rhytiscopia | noun | neurotic preoccupation with facial wrinkles |
| ria | noun | long, wide creek. |
| riant | adjective | laughing; jolly. |
| rictus | noun | orifice; mouth, especially gaping; fixed grin or grimace. rictal, adjective |
| rideau | noun | ridge or mound of earth, especially as protection. |
| ridel, riddel | noun | altar-curtain. |
| ridibund | adjective | easily moved to laughter. |
| riffler | noun | type of file used in woodworking and sculpture |
| rigescent | adjective | becoming numb or stiff. rigescence, noun |
| rima | noun | (pl. -mae ) narrow fissure. rima oris, space between lips. rimal, adjective rimose, rimous, adjective having many rimae. rimulose, adjective having many small rimae. rimate, adjective having rima. |
| rime | noun | frost; hoar-frost; ice formed from supercooled fog or cloud; v.t. cover with rime. rimy, adjective |
| rinderpest | noun | cattle plague. |
| riparian | adjective | pertaining to or on river bank or lake shore; n. person living on or owning river bank. riparial, riparious, ripicolous, adjective living on river banks. |
| riprap | noun | stone wall used as a breakwater against waves |
| risible | adjective | pertaining to or capable of laughter; used in laughing; laughable. risibles, n.pl. sense of humour; inclination to laugh. risibility, noun |
| risorial | adjective | pertaining to or causing laughter. |
| ritornel(le), ritornello | noun | short prelude or interlude for musical instrument in song or opera. |
| rivière | noun | necklace of precious stones, especially having more than one string. |
| rivose | adjective | bearing winding furrows. rivulation, noun having irregular marks of color. rivulose, adjective bearing winding and haphazard lines. |
| rixation | noun | quarreling |
| riziform | adjective | like a rice grain. |
| roak | noun | seam in a metal bar |
| roble | noun | several kinds of New World oak, or other hard-timbered tree. |
| roborant | adjective noun | tonic. roborate, v. strengthen; corroborate. roborative, adjective |
| roborean | adjective | like an oak; strong. roboreous, adjective |
| roc | noun | mythical Arabian bird of great size. roc's egg, unattainable object. |
| rocaille | noun | florid, shell-like, 18th-century ornamentation; rococo scroll ornamentation. |
| roche moutonnée | noun | n. (pl. roches moutonnées pron. same) 'sheep-like rock'; rock rounded by glacial action. |
| rodomontade | noun | arrogant boasting; pretentious blustering, ranting, or bragging |
| roi | noun | king. le roi le veult, 'the king wills it'; signification of royal assent to Act of parliament. roi fainéant, powerless king. |
| roil | verb | vex; disturb; irritate; rile |
| roinek | noun | 'red neck'; new immigrant, especially British; greenhorn. |
| roinous | adjective | mean, nasty and contemptible |
| roitelet | noun | a petty king |
| rolley | noun | lorry; trolley. |
| romal | noun | silk or cotton fabric; handkerchief of this. |
| roman a clef | noun | a novel whose characters are actual peoplethinly disguised |
| romaunt | noun | ancient romance in verse. |
| rood | noun | crucifix or cross; one-quarter of acre; seven or eight yards. rood screen, screen bearing crucifix. |
| roric | adjective | dewy. |
| rorqual | noun | large whale-bone whale; finback. |
| rorulent | adjective | covered with dew. |
| rosarium | noun | rose garden. rosarian, noun cultivator of roses. |
| Roscius | noun | famous ancient Roman actor; great actor. |
| roseola | noun | rash of rose-colored patches; rose rash. roseoliform, roseolous, roseolar, adjective |
| rosmarine | noun | walrus; mythical walrus-like sea animal believed to feed on dew; sea dew. |
| rosorial | adjective | pertaining to rodents; gnawing. |
| rostel(lum) | noun | small beak or beak-like outgrowth. rostellar, adjective rostellate, adjective having rostellum. rostelliform, adjective like rostellum. |
| rosular, rosulate | adjective | in rosettes. |
| rota | noun | roster; Roman Catholic tribunal; Music, round. rotameter, noun instrument measuring length of curved lines. |
| rotifer | noun | microscopic, multicellular, fresh-water creature with rotating cilia at one end. rotiferal, rotiferous a. rotiform, adjective wheel- shaped. |
| rotograph | noun | photograph of manuscript, etc., made direct on bromide paper without negative. |
| rotula | noun | kneecap. rotulian, rotular, adjective rotuliform, adjective like rotula. |
| roué | noun | debauched man; lecher. rouérie, noun |
| roulade | noun | arpeggio-like musical figure sung to one syllable; rolled slice of meat. |
| roundel | noun | rondeau; any round thing; badge, on aircraft, of concentric colored rings. |
| rubedinous | adjective | ruddy. rubedity, noun |
| rubefacient | adjective | (substance) causing redness of skin. rubefaction, noun |
| rubescent | adjective | reddening; flushing. rubescence, noun |
| rubiaceous | adjective | like or pertaining to madder plant; belonging to madder family of plants. |
| rubican | adjective | red bay; sorrel. |
| rubific | adjective noun | rubefacient. rubification, noun rubificative, adjective |
| rubiginous | adjective | rust-colored; rusty. rubiginose, adjective |
| rubineous, rubious | adjective | ruby-colored. |
| rubor | noun | redness due to excess of blood in part. |
| rubric | noun | passage in book printed in red or other distinctive type, especially such direction in service book; any direction as to conduct or ceremony; title; heading. rubrical, adjective rubricality, noun ceremony. rubricate, v. mark in red; fix like a ritual. rubrication, noun rubrician, noun student of rubrics. rubricism, rubricity, noun strict adherence to rubric; formalism. rubricose, adjective ruddy. |
| ructation | noun | belching |
| ruderal | adjective | Botany, growing in refuse or waste ground. |
| rudesby | noun | a loud-mouthed ill-mannered boor |
| rudiment | noun | elementary principle; undeveloped part or organ. rudimental, rudimentary, adjective |
| rufescent | adjective | ruddy; bronzy. rufescence, noun |
| rufous | adjective | reddish; tawny; red-haired. rufulous, adjective somewhat rufous. |
| rugose | adjective | having wrinkles |
| rumal | noun | romal |
| rumen | noun | (pl. -mina ) first stomach of ruminant; cud. rumenitis ,, noun inflammation of rumen. rumenotomy n. incision into rumen. |
| runcible | adjective | sensuous |
| runcinate | adjective | pinnate with lobes pointing downwards. |
| runnel | noun | little brook |
| rupestrian | noun | made of, or written on, rock. rupestral, adjective rupestrine, adjective living on or in rocks. |
| rupicoline, rupicolous | adjective | rupestrine. |
| ruridecanal | adjective | pertaining to rural dean and his jurisdiction. |
| rusticate | verb | live in country; make rustic; punish by expelling from university for a period; Architecture, face with large, boldly textured blocks with deep grooves between. rustication, noun |
| rutidosis | noun | wrinkling. |
| rutilant | adjective | shining red. rutilous, adjective |
| rynchosporous | adjective | having beaked fruit. |
| sabbatarian | adjective noun | (person) devoted to strict keeping of sabbath. sabbatarianism, noun |
| sabot | noun | wooden shoe; clog. |
| sabretache | noun | satchel suspended by straps from cavalry officer's belt. |
| sabulous | adjective | sabulose a. sandy. sabuline, adjective sabulosity, noun |
| saburra | noun | Medicine, granular matter deposited in the body. saburral, adjective saburration, noun Medicine, arenation. |
| saccade | noun | jerky movement of the eye moving from one fixation point to another, as in reading. saccadic, adjective jerky, twitching. |
| saccadic | noun | jerking and twitching |
| saccate | adjective | sac-like. |
| sacciferous | adjective | bearing sac(s). sacciform a. sac-shaped. |
| saccular | adjective | sac-like. sacculate, adjective having sacs; v.t. enclose in sac. saccule, sacculus, noun little sac. |
| sacerdotal | adjective | pertaining to priest, especially sacrificial; granting or believing in mysterious or miraculous priestly powers. sacerdocy, noun priesthood. sacerdotalism, noun |
| sacerdotophrenia | noun | clerical stagefright |
| sackbut | noun | ancient trombone-like musical instrument. |
| sacral | adjective | pertaining to sacrum; pertaining to sacred rites. |
| sacrarium | noun | (pl. -craria) Ecclesiastical, sanctuary; Roman Catholic, basin, etc. for disposal of ablutions after rite; ancient Roman depository for sacred objects. |
| sacring | noun | hallowing; consecration; ordination. sacring bell, bell rung at moment of elevation of the Host. |
| saeculum | noun | (pl. -la) 'generation'; age; aeon. |
| saffian | noun | brightly-colored goatskin or sheepskin leather. |
| saggar, sagger | noun | clay box in which delicate ceramics are fired. |
| sagittal | adjective | pertaining to or like an arrow. sagitate, adjective arrowhead-shaped. |
| sal volatile | noun | ammonium carbonate as smelling-bottle. |
| salacious | adjective | obscene; lascivious. salacity, noun |
| salchow | noun | ice-skating leap with turns from inner backward edge of one skate to outer backward edge of other. |
| salep | noun | dried root of species of orchid, used as food, etc. |
| saleratus | noun | sodium bicarbonate; baking powder. |
| salic | adjective | Frankish. salic law, exclusion of women from succession to throne. |
| salicaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a willow; belonging to the willow family of plants. |
| salient | adjective | leaping; outstanding; pointing outwards; n. such angle or curve, especially in battle-line. salience, noun |
| saliferous | adjective | containing salt. salify, v. form salt with; transform into salt. |
| salmagundi | noun | highly-seasoned mixed dish of meat, eggs, etc. |
| salmi | noun | ragout, especially of game. |
| salopettes | noun | quilted skiing trousers with shoulder straps. |
| salsify | noun | purple-flowered plant, with root (called 'oyster plant') boiled as vegetable. |
| saltant | adjective | leaping; dancing; Biology, exhibiting saltation. saltation, noun act of leaping or dancing; spurt; sudden metamorphosis; mutation. saltativeness, noun ability to jump. saltatorial, saltatory, adjective pertaining to leaping or dancing; taking place by leaps and bounds. |
| saltigrade | adjective | having leaping legs; n. such spider. |
| saltire | noun | X-shaped cross. saltire-wise, adjective |
| saluki | noun | greyhound-like Arab dog; gazelle hound. |
| salvific(al) | adjective | tending to save. |
| salwar | noun | loose, light, oriental trousers. |
| samara | noun | propeller-like winged fruit, as of ash; key fruit. samariform, samaroid, adjective like this in shape. |
| sambuca | noun | ancient triangular stringed instrument; Roman siege engine. |
| samisen | noun | banjo-like instrument. |
| samite | noun | ancient rich silk fabric. |
| samlet | noun | young salmon. |
| samogon | noun | illicitly-distilled vodka. |
| samovar | noun | tea-urn. |
| samphire | noun | fleshy sea-coast plant; glasswort. |
| samshu | noun | Chinese liquor distilled from rice. |
| sanative | adjective | healing. sanatorium, noun (pl. -ria) hospital, especially for tuberculosis. sanatory, adjective producing health. |
| sanbenito | noun | Spanish Inquisition garment resembling scapular, either yellow with red St. Andrew's crosses for penitent heretics or black and decorated with friars and devils for impenitent heretics at an auto-da-fé. |
| sanctus | noun | part of Communion service beginning 'Holy, Holy, Holy'. sanctus bell, bell rung as sanctus is said. |
| sangaree | noun | drink of spiced wine and water. |
| sang-froid | noun | 'cold blood'; calmness in danger; levelheadedness. |
| sanguinary | adjective | bloody; bloodthirsty; causing bloodshed. sanguinaceous, sanguine, adjective hopeful; optimistic; blood-red. sanguineous, adjective bloody; pertaining to, containing or having blood; full-blooded; blood-red. sanguinolent, adjective containing blood; bloodthirsty. sanguisugous, adjective blood-sucking. |
| sanguisugent | adjective | bloodsucking; bloodthirsty |
| sanhedrin | noun | highest court of ancient Jerusalem. sanhedrist, noun member of this. |
| sanies | noun | Medical, discharge from ulcers, etc. sanious, adjective |
| saphena | noun | one of two main superficial veins of leg. saphenous, adjective |
| sapid | adjective | pleasantly flavoured; having flavour; agreeable. sapidity, noun |
| sapidity | noun | flavorful; tastiness |
| saponaceous | adjective | soapy, slippery; or evasively ingratiating |
| sapor | noun | quality perceived by taste; flavour. saporific, adjective having flavour. saporous, adjective tasty; pleasant in taste. |
| sapota | noun | sapodilla. sapotaceous, adjective pertaining to or like sapota; belonging to sapota family of trees. |
| saprodontia | noun | decay of teeth. |
| saprogenic | adjective | causing decay; produced in decaying matter. saprogenous, adjective |
| sapropel | noun | ooze composed mainly of decaying organic matter. sapropelic, adjective living in this. sapropelite, noun coal formed of this. |
| saprophagous | adjective | feeding on decaying matter. saprophilous, adjective flourishing in decaying matter. |
| saprophyte | noun | plant living on dead or decaying matter. saprophytic, adjective saprophytism, noun |
| saprostomous | adjective | having foul breath. |
| saprozoic | adjective | applied to animals living on dead or decaying matter. |
| saraband(e) | noun | stately Spanish dance. |
| sarafan | noun | national dress of Russian peasant woman. |
| sarangousty | noun | waterproof stucco. |
| sarcenet | noun | soft lining silk fabric; a. soft; gentle. |
| sarcoid | adjective | flesh-like; n. formation of nodules in skin, leaving scars. sarcoidosis, noun condition characterized by formation of nodules, especially in lymph nodes and lungs. sarcoline, adjective flesh-colored. sarcology, noun anatomy of flesh. |
| sarcoptid | noun | itch mite. sarcoptic, adjective |
| sarcotic | adjective noun | (medicine) promoting growth of flesh. |
| sarcous | adjective | pertaining to flesh or muscle. |
| sard | noun | deep orange-colored kind of chalcedony. |
| sardanapalian | adjective | luxuriously effeminate |
| sardonic | adjective | bitterly or evilly humorous; grimly mocking. sardonicism, noun |
| sardonyx | noun | onyx with alternate layers of sard and other mineral. |
| sarmassation | noun | love play |
| sarmassophobe | noun | a woman who dislikes love play |
| saros | noun | cycle of about 6,585 days after which a sequence of eclipses repeats itself. |
| sarrusophone | noun | double-reeded bassoon-like musical instrument. |
| sarsen | noun | sandstone boulder of S England; such stone used in prehistoric monument. |
| satisdation | noun | Law, security, or the giving of it. |
| satisdiction | noun | enough said |
| satispassion | noun | satisfactory suffering, according to theologists |
| saturnine | adjective | melancholy; taciturn; Medicine, pertaining to lead poisoning. saturninity, noun saturnism, noun archaic, lead poisoning. |
| sauterelle | noun | mason's angle-making instrument. |
| sautoir | noun | long chain necklace. |
| savarin | noun | ring-shaped cake (tin). |
| saxatile | adjective | pertaining to or living in rocks. saxicavous, adjective boring into rocks. saxicole, saxicoline, saxigenous a. growing in rocks. saxifrage, noun kind of rock plant. saxifragous, adjective breaking stone. |
| scaberulous | adjective | bearing small raised roughnesses. |
| scacchic | adjective | like or pertaining to chess. |
| scagliola | noun | stonelike plasterwork for interior decoration. scagliolist, noun |
| scaldabanco | noun | a hotheaded debator; a fiery preacher |
| scalpriform | adjective | like chisel in shape. |
| scandaroon | noun | homing pigeon |
| scandent | adjective | Botany, climbing. |
| scansion | noun | determination of metre of verse; prosody. |
| scansorial | adjective | Zoology, climbing; used for climbing. |
| scantling | noun | small amount; small beam; trestle. |
| scaphion | noun | kind of sundial. scaphism, noun mode of execution by smearing criminals with honey and exposing them to insects. |
| scaphism | noun | death by being covered in honey and left in the hot sun |
| scaphoid | adjective | boat-shaped; such bone of carpus or tarsus. |
| scapiform | adjective | like a stalk. scapoid, adjective scapose, adjective bearing stalks. |
| scapula | noun | (pl. -lae ) shoulder-blade. scapular, a.; n. cowl- bearing part of monk's habit; badge, worn over shoulders, of monastic order; feather on bird's shoulder. scapulary, noun & a. scapular; shoulder strap. |
| scaramouch | noun | a cowardly buffoon |
| scarcement | noun | narrow ledge on wall. |
| scarious | adjective | thin and tough; bract-like. scariose, adjective |
| scarlatina | noun | Medicine, scarlet fever. |
| scaturient | adjective | gushing forth; effusive |
| scaurie | noun | young gull. |
| scazon | noun | limping verse; choliamb. scazontic, adjective |
| scelalgia | noun | pain in leg. |
| scend | verb | -i. be heaved upwards, especially by wave; n. upward surge of vessel; lifting force of wave. |
| scenography | noun | representation of object in perspective. scenograph, scenographer, noun scenographic(al), adjective |
| schapska | noun | flat-topped cavalry helmet. |
| schediasm | noun | impromptu work; jotting. schediastic, adjective |
| schematograph | noun | instrument tracing reduced outline of person. schematonics, noun art of gesture expressing tones, etc. |
| schesis | noun | mocking another's accent or manner |
| schiller | noun | (having) bronzy lustre. schillerise, v. |
| schipperke | noun | small black Belgian canal-boat dog. |
| schistosome | noun | disease-causing blood fluke. schistosomiasis, noun |
| schizocarp | noun | compound fruit splitting into several one-seeded ones. schizocarpic, schizocarpous, adjective schizogenesis, schizogony, noun reproduction by division. schizoid, adjective pertaining to, like or suffering from schizophrenia. schizophrenia, noun mental disorder with 'splitting' of personality and separation from environment. schizophyte n., plant reproducing only by multiple fission. schizothymia, noun schizophrenia- like mental disorder. schizotrichia, noun splitting of hair. |
| schizothemia | noun | digression by a long reminescence |
| schlemiel, schlemihl | noun | American slang, unlucky or incompetent person who is often duped. |
| schlenter | adjective noun | imitation (diamond). |
| schlicker | noun | metal skimmed from molten lead |
| schlieren | noun | visible streaks of different density in a fluid; streaks of different color or composition in igneous rock. |
| schoenabatist | noun | a tightrope walker |
| schoenobatic | adjective | pertaining to rope-walking. schoenobatist, noun |
| scholium | noun | (pl. -ia) marginal note, especially by ancient grammarian. scholiast, noun writer of scholia. |
| schorl | noun | tourmaline. schorlaceous, schorlous, schorly, adjective |
| scialytic | adjective | dispelling shadows. sciagraphy, noun art of shading; X-ray photography. sciamachy, noun mock battle; fighting with shadows or imaginary enemies. sciapodous, adjective with large feet. sciatheric, adjective pertaining to measurement of time by shadow, as in sundial. |
| sciamachy | noun | fighting with a shadow, or with an imaginary enemy |
| sciamachy | noun | shadow boxing |
| sciapodous | adjective | having very large feet |
| scibile | noun | thing which it is possible to know. |
| scientia | noun | science; knowledge. scientia scientiarum, 'science of sciences'; philosophy. |
| scintilla | noun | (pl. -lae ) spark; atom. scintillant, adjective sparkling. scintillescent, adjective twinkling. scintillometer, noun instrument measuring scintillation of star. scintillate, v.i. sparkle. scintillation, noun |
| sciolism | noun | pretence to wisdom; conceit due to it. sciolist, noun sciolistic, adjective |
| sciolist | noun | one who pretends to scholarship or knowledge |
| sciomancy | noun | divination by reference to spirits of dead. sciomantic, adjective |
| sciophilous | adjective | applied to shade-loving plants. sciophyte, noun such plant. |
| scioptic | adjective | pertaining to formation of images in darkened room, as in camera obscura. scioptics, noun scioptric, adjective |
| sciotheism | noun | the belief that disembodied spirits are effective in human affairs |
| scirrhus | noun | (pl. -rrhi ) hard tumour. scirrhoid, adjective scirrhous, adjective |
| scissel | noun | metal strip from which coins have been cut. |
| scissile | adjective | capable of being cut smoothly or split easily |
| scissure, scissura | noun | cleft; fissure; scission. |
| sciurine | adjective | pertaining to or like squirrels; belonging to squirrel division of rodents. sciuroid, a.like a squirrel or a squirrel's tail. |
| sclera | noun | dense white coat of eyeball. scleral, adjective sclerectomy, noun removal of sclera. sclerema, noun induration. sclerenchyma n. thickened and woody tissue of plants. scleriasis, noun induration, especially of edge of eyelid. |
| scleroderma | noun | disease marked by hardening of skin. sclerodermic, sclerodermous, sclerodermatous, adjective hard-skinned; having bony armour. |
| sclerogenous | adjective | producing hard tissue. sclerogenic, adjective scleroid, adjective indurated. scleroma, noun induration. sclerometer, noun instrument measuring hardness. scleronychia, noun hardening of nails. |
| scobiform | adjective | like sawdust. |
| scolecophagous | adjective | eating worms |
| scolex | noun | (pl. -leces ) head of tapeworm. scoleciasis, noun infestation with tapeworms. scolecid, adjective scoleciform, adjective like scolex. |
| scoliometer | noun | instrument measuring curvature. scoliograptic, adjective marked by oblique lines. scoliosis, noun lateral spinal curvature. |
| scolion | noun | an impromptu party song begun by one and continued by others |
| scollardical | noun | a derogatory term for a scholar |
| scolopaceous | adjective | snipe-like. scolopacine, adjective belonging to snipe family of birds. |
| scombriform | adjective | like mackerel; belonging to mackerel division of fishes. scombroid, noun & a. (fish) like mackerel. |
| scopa | noun | brush-like tuft on back legs or abdomen of bees. |
| scopodromic | adjective | pertaining to or denoting guided missiles travelling on a homing course. |
| scopolagnia | noun | the pleasure gained from voyeurism |
| scopolamine | noun | sleep-inducing drug obtained from nightshade family of plants. |
| scopula | noun | brush-like tuft of hairs on legs of some spiders. |
| scorbutic | adjective | (person) suffering from scurvy; pertaining to or like scurvy. |
| scoria | noun | (pl. -iae ) slag; slag-like mass of lava. scoriac, scoriaceous, scorious, adjective scoriform, adjective like slag. scorify, v. reduce to slag. |
| scorpioid | adjective | scorpion-like; curved at end. |
| scortation | noun | fornication. scortatory, adjective |
| scotodinia | noun | dizziness together with headache and loss of vision. scotograph, noun instrument for writing without seeing; X-ray photograph. scotoma, noun (pl. -mata ) blind spot. scotophobia, noun dread of darkness. scotopia n. ability of eye to adjust to seeing in dark. scotoscope, noun instrument detecting objects in darkness. |
| scrannel | adjective | weak; thin; harsh-sounding. |
| scriniary | noun | keeper of archives. |
| scriptorium | noun | (pl. -ia) writing room, especially of scribes in medieval monastery. |
| scriptory | adjective | pertaining to writing; in writing; n. scriptorium. |
| scripturient | adjective | having violent desire to write. scripturiency, noun |
| scrivello | noun | elephant's tusk. |
| scrivener | noun | writer-out of documents; lawyer. scrivener's palsy, writer's cramp. scrivenery, noun |
| scrobiculate | adjective | pitted. scrobicule, scrobiculus, noun small depression. scrobiculus cordis, pit of stomach. |
| scrofula | noun | tuberculous condition, especially of children, with enlargement of lymphatic glands of neck; king's evil. scrofulism, scrofulosis, noun scrofulitic, scrofulous, adjective |
| scullion | noun | scullery servant; washer of dishes; a. menial; wretched. |
| scumble | verb | overlay with thin layer of paint to soften shade, line, etc. |
| scunner | noun | strong dislike. |
| scutal | adjective | pertaining to shield. scutate, adjective shield- or buckler- shaped; having horny scales. scute, scutum, noun large scale, as of reptile's head. scutella, noun (pl. - lae ) small scute. scutellate, scutulate, adjective shaped like platter; covered with scutellae. scutelligerous, adjective bearing scutellae. scutiferous, adjective bearing a shield or scutes. scutiform, adjective shield- shaped. scutigerous a. bearing scutes. |
| scyphate | adjective | cup-shaped. scyphiform, adjective |
| sebastomania | noun | religious insanity |
| secant | noun | cutting (line), especially one cutting curve at two points; radius produced through one end of arc to meet tangent drawn to other end; ratio of this line to radius (abbreviated as sec.). |
| secco | noun | painting on dry plaster. |
| secern | verb | secrete; separate; discriminate. secernent, noun & a. (thing) secreting or causing secretion. secernment, noun |
| secodont | adjective | having cutting teeth. |
| secque | noun | light sabot; clog. |
| secretaire | noun | writing desk. |
| secretum | noun | (pl. -ta) private seal. |
| sectile | adjective | capable of being cut, especially cleanly; cut into small divisions. sectility, noun |
| sectorial | adjective | pertaining to sectors; adapted for cutting; n. such tooth. |
| secund | adjective | on one side only. secundiflorous, adjective having such flowers. |
| secundipara | noun | woman having had two child-deliveries. secundiparous, adjective secundiparity, noun |
| secundogeniture | noun | state of being second eldest child; custom whereby such child inherits parent's property. |
| securiform | adjective | axe-shaped. securigerous, adjective bearing an axe. |
| sedent | adjective | in sitting position. |
| sederunt | noun | 'they were sitting'; session of court; gathering; long discussion. |
| sedilia | noun | pl. (sing. -dile ) clergy's stone seats in chancel wall. |
| sedulous | adjective | diligent, persistent, persevering |
| seeksorrow | noun | masochist |
| seicento | noun | 17th century. |
| seiche | noun | rocking movement of surface of lake or inland sea. |
| seigneur | noun | lord, especially of manor. seigneurial, seigniorial, seignorial, adjective seigniorage, seignioralty, seigniory, seigneury, noun lordship; dominion; brassage; mining royalty. |
| seisin | noun | freehold possession of land. |
| seity | noun | personality; 'selfness'. |
| sejant | adjective | sitting. |
| sejugate | verb | separate. |
| selachian | adjective noun | (fish) like shark or ray; belonging to shark family of fishes; a shark or ray. |
| selenian | adjective | lunar. selenic, adjective like the moon; containing selenium. selenite, noun dweller on moon; kind of gypsum. selenitic, adjective pertaining to or affected by moon; of or pertaining to selenite. selenium, noun nonmetallic solid element used in photoelectric cells. selenocentric, adjective pertaining to moon's centre; having moon as centre. selenodont, noun & a. (animal) having crescent-shaped ridges on the crowns of the molar teeth. selenography, noun study of moon's surface. selenology, noun study of moon. selenomancy, noun divination by the moon. selenoscope, noun instrument for viewing moon. |
| selliform | adjective | saddle-shaped. sellate, adjective having saddle. |
| selum | noun | to scratch with the fingernails (as on a blackboard) |
| semasiology | noun | semantics. semasiological, adjective semasiologist, noun |
| sematic | adjective | Zoology, (of coloration) serving as a warning. sematography n. writing in signs and not letters. sematology, noun semantics. |
| semelincident | adjective | occurring only once in same person. |
| sememe | noun | smallest unanalysable unit of linguistic meaning (e.g. a word or affix). |
| semibreve | noun | Musical, longest generally used note, having twice length of minim and half that of breve. |
| semic | adjective | pertaining to a sign. |
| semiography | noun | description of signs and symptoms. |
| semioviparous | adjective | bringing forth young in incompletely developed state. |
| semiquote | noun | single quotation mark or inverted comma (' '). |
| sempiternal | adjective | eternal. sempiternity, noun |
| senary | adjective | having six as base; six-fold. senarius, noun (pl. -rii ) verse of six feet. |
| senectitude | noun | senectude n.old age. senectuous, adjective old. |
| senescent | adjective | growing old. senescence, noun |
| seneschal | noun | steward, especially of ancient palace or manor. |
| senicide | noun | killing off of old men. |
| sennet | noun | fanfare, especially on Elizabethan stage. |
| sennight | noun | week. |
| sennit | noun | plaited rope, straw, etc. |
| senocular | adjective | having six eyes. |
| sensillum | noun | (pl. -la) simple sense organ consisting of one or a few receptor cells at the end of a nerve connection. |
| sensorium | noun | (pl. -riums or -ria) part of brain that receives and processes sensory stimuli. |
| sententia | noun | (pl. -tiae ) aphorism; opinion. sententiary, noun speaker of sententiae. sententious, adjective aphoristic; full of aphorisms; pompously moralising. |
| sentisection | noun | vivisection without use of anaesthetic. |
| sepal | noun | portion of calyx. sepaline, sepaloid, adjective like sepal. |
| sepicolous | adjective | dwelling in hedges. sepiment, noun hedge. |
| sept | noun | division of tribe; clan. |
| septal | adjective | pertaining to sept or septum. |
| septan | adjective noun | (fever) recurring after seven days (i.e. every sixth day). |
| septate | adjective | having septum. septation, noun |
| septave | noun | seven-tone musical scale. |
| septemfluous | adjective | in seven streams. septemfoliate, adjective having seven leaves. |
| septemplicate | noun | one of seven copies. |
| septemvir | noun | member of septemvirate. septemvirate, noun government by, or group of, seven men. |
| septenary | adjective | pertaining to seven; n. seven; set of seven. septenate, adjective divided into seven portions. |
| septendecimal | adjective | pertaining to seventeen. |
| septenary | adjective | septennial a. lasting for seven years; occurring every seven years. septennate, septennium (pl. - nia) n. period of seven years. |
| septentrional | adjective | pertaining to north. septentrionality, noun septentrionic, adjective |
| septicemia | noun | blood-poisoning with presence of bacteria and their toxins in blood. septopyaemia, noun combination of septicaemia and pyaemia. |
| septilateral | adjective | having seven sides. |
| septimal | adjective | pertaining to seven. |
| septimanal | adjective | weekly. |
| septisyllable | noun | word of seven syllables. septisyllabic, adjective |
| septum | noun | (pl. -ta) Biology, Anatomy, partition. septulum, noun (pl. - la) small septum. |
| sepulchre | noun | tomb. whited sepulchre, hypocrite; seemingly holy but really evil person or thing. sepulchral, adjective pertaining to tombs; gloomy; hollow. |
| sepulture | noun | interment. sepultural, adjective |
| sequacious | adjective | easily led or molded; servile; logical. sequacity, noun |
| sequela | noun | (pl. -lae ) Medicine, consequential effect of a disease, condition, etc., complication. sequelant, noun |
| sérac | noun | ice pinnacle among glacier crevasses. |
| sere | noun | sequence of changes in population during ecological development of an area. |
| serein | noun | a fine rain from a cloudless sky |
| serein | noun | fine rain falling from an apparently cloudless sky. |
| sericate | noun | sericeous n. silky; bearing silky hairs. serictery, noun caterpillar's silk-producing gland. sericulture, noun breeding of silk-worms for silk production. |
| serif | noun | minute fine line, especially horizontal, of a letter, as at top and bottom of verticals in 'h'. |
| serific | adjective | silk-producing. serigraph, noun silk-screen print. serimeter, noun instrument for testing silk. |
| serment | noun | oath. |
| sermocination | noun | a speaker quickly answering his own question |
| sermuncle | noun | short sermon. |
| serology | noun | study of serums. serologic(al), adjective serologist, noun |
| serositis | noun | inflammation of serous membrane. serosity, noun state of being serous; serous fluid. |
| serotine | noun | brown bat; a. serotinous. |
| serotinous | adjective | flowering late. |
| serous | adjective | pertaining to or like serum; thin and watery; producing such fluid. |
| serpette | noun | kind of pruning knife. |
| serpiginous | adjective | Med., spreading by creeping. serpigo, noun such disease; ringworm. |
| serpivolant | noun | flying serpent. |
| serpolet | noun | wild thyme. |
| serried | adjective | densely-packed; in close formation. |
| serriferous | adjective | having a saw-like organ. serriform, adjective like a saw. |
| serrulate | adjective | finely serrate. serrulation, noun |
| serrurerie | noun | wrought-iron work. |
| sertule | noun | sertulum n. umbel; scientific collection of plants. sertum, noun treatise on such a collection. |
| sesquialteral | adjective | one and a half times as big; having ratio 3:2. |
| sesquicentennial | adjective | pertaining to 150 years; n. 150th anniversary. |
| sesquiduplicate | adjective | having ratio of 5:2. |
| sesquipedalian | adjective | a foot and a half long; using very long words; n. such thing or word. sesquipedalianism, sesquipedality, noun |
| sesquiquartal | adjective | having ratio 5:4. sesquiquintal, adjective having ratio 6:5. |
| sesquiseptimal | adjective | having ratio 8:7. sesquisextal, adjective having ratio 7:6. |
| sesquitertian | adjective | having ratio 4:3. |
| sessile | adjective | attached by base without a stalk; attached permanently. sessility, noun |
| sestet | noun | sextet; six-lined stanza; final six lines of sonnet. |
| sestina | noun | (pl. -tine ) poem of six-lined stanzas with six end-words repeated in each stanza and in the envoi. |
| seta | noun | (pl. -tae ) bristle; any bristle-like organ. setaceous, adjective bristly. setal, adjective setarious, adjective like a bristle. setiferous, adjective bearing bristles; pertaining to swine. |
| seton | noun | thread passed under skin acting as channel for discharge. |
| setose | adjective | bristly. |
| settecento | adjective noun | 18th century. |
| setula | noun | (pl. -lae ) small seta. setule, noun setuliform, adjective like setula. setulose, setulous, adjective having setulae. |
| sève | noun | wine's distinctive bouquet; sap. |
| severy | noun | compartment of vaulted ceiling. |
| sexadecimal | adjective | pertaining to sixteen; sixteenth. |
| sexagenarian | adjective noun | (person) between sixty and seventy years old. sexagenary, n.; a. pertaining to sixty; proceeding by sets of sixty. |
| Sexagesima | noun | second Sunday before Lent. sexagesimal, adjective pertaining to sixty. |
| sexenary | adjective | six-fold. sexennial, adjective lasting six years; occurring every six years; n. such occurrence. sexennium, noun (pl. - nia) period of six years. |
| sexipara | noun | woman having had six child-deliveries. sexiparous, adjective sexiparity, noun |
| sextain | noun | sestina; sestet. |
| sextan | adjective | (fever) recurring after six days (i.e. every fifth day). |
| sextern | noun | quire of six sheets. |
| sextodecimo | noun | book size 55/8 x 43/8 in. (abbreviated as 16mo.). |
| sextumvirate | noun | government by six men. |
| sforzando | adjective | Music, accented (abbreviated as sf, sfz). |
| sfumato | noun | misty; n. painting technique of blending tones to produce soft outlines. |
| sgraffito | noun | pottery decoration by scratching through surface to reveal a differently-colored ground. |
| shabrack | noun | saddle-cloth. |
| shaconian | noun | someone convinced that bacon ghosted shakespeare'splays |
| shad | noun | deep-bodied herring-like marine fish, spawning in rivers. |
| shaddock | noun | grapefruit-like tree and fruit. |
| shadoof, shaduf | noun | method of raising water in Egypt in a counterpoised bucket at end of a long pole. |
| shagreen | noun | untanned leather bearing many small round protuberances, especially dyed green; shark-skin. |
| shake | noun | unit of time equal to a hundred-millionth of a second, used in describing nuclear processes. |
| shale | noun | laminated rock of consolidated clay or mud. |
| shallop | noun | light river boat with sail and oars. |
| shama | noun | Indian millet-like cereal; Indian song-bird. |
| shandrydan | noun | Irish two-wheeled cart; jocular, any worn-out antique vehicle. |
| shard | noun | piece of broken pottery; elytrum. |
| shardborn | adjective | born in dung |
| shawm | noun | ancient oboe-like musical instrument. |
| sheading | noun | administrative division of Isle of Man. |
| shearling | noun | one-year-old sheep, from which one crop of wool has been taken. |
| shearwater | noun | gull-like oceanic bird of the petrel family. |
| shebeen | noun | unlicensed liquor-selling place. |
| Shelta | noun | secret slang of wandering tinkers and similar groups. |
| Sheol | noun | Hell; the underworld; the grave. sheolic, adjective |
| sherd | noun | shard. |
| shibah | noun | seven days' mourning. |
| shibboleth | noun | slogan; watchword; anything forming test of loyalty, nationality, etc., or distinguishing a party or denomination; linguistic peculiarity. shibbolethic, adjective |
| shikar | noun | hunting; game; v.i. & t. hunt (animal) as sport. shikaree, shakari, shakary, noun (big game) hunter. |
| shirr | verb | gather fabric in parallel rows, especially using elastic thread. shirring, noun such gathers as decoration. |
| shoat | noun | recently weaned piglet. |
| shrievalty | noun | sheriff's office or jurisdiction. |
| shrive | verb | give absolution to after confession. shrift, noun absolution. |
| shroff | noun | banking expert specializing in valuable coins |
| sial | noun | siliceous rock; outer part of earth's surface. |
| sialagogic | adjective | (substance) promoting salivation. sialogogue, noun sialoid, adjective like saliva. |
| sib | noun | kindred; kinsman; brother or sister; descendants from a common ancestor; a. blood-related. |
| sibyllilne | adjective | oracular; prophetic; mysterious |
| sicarian | noun | an assassin |
| sicarian | noun | murderer. |
| siccation | noun | act of drying. siccative, adjective |
| sicchasia | noun | nauseau |
| sicchosism | noun | morbid fastidiousness |
| siccimeter | noun | instrument measuring evaporation from liquid surface. |
| sice | noun | six on a dice; syce. |
| sideration | noun | use of green manure. |
| sidereal | adjective | pertaining or according to stars; measured by stellar motion. siderean, adjective siderism, noun belief in influence of stars on human affairs. |
| siderography | noun | art of steel engraving, or copying such engravings. |
| sideromancy | noun | divination by the stars. |
| sideroscope | noun | instrument detecting presence of iron magnetically. siderose, adjective like or containing iron. siderous, adjective like iron. siderurgy, noun metallurgy of iron. |
| siffilate | verb | to whisper |
| siffilate | verb | whisper. |
| siffleur | noun | (fem. -euse, ) whistler. |
| sigil | noun | seal; image. sigillary, sigillistic, adjective sigillate, adjective bearing seal- like marks; v.t. seal. sigillation, noun sigillative, adjective causing or tending to scar-formation. sigillography, noun study of seals. sigillum, noun (pl. -lla) seal, especially of confession. . |
| sigla | noun | pl. (list of) abbreviations, symbols, etc. denoting words. |
| sigmatron | noun | machine generating high-potential X-rays. |
| sigmoid | adjective | S-shaped. sigmoid flexure, such portion of intestine between descending colon and rectum. |
| signate | adjective | distinct; distinguished; having letter-like marks. signation, noun act of signing. signatory, noun & a. (person or state) who has signed a treaty, etc. |
| silentiary | noun | person maintaining or bound to silence; confidant; privy councillor. |
| silenus | noun | (pl. -ni) satyr-like woodland god; attendant of Bacchus; tipsy person. |
| sillograph | noun | writer of satires. sillographer, noun |
| sillometer | noun | instrument measuring ship's speed. |
| silvics | noun | study of tree's life. silvical, adjective silvicolous, adjective living in woods. silviculture, noun forestry. |
| sima | noun | lower layer of earth's crust, underlying oceans. |
| simioid | adjective | simious a. simian. |
| simony | noun | buying, selling, or otherwise making a profit from sacred or spiritual things |
| simoom | noun | dry hot dusty wind of deserts. |
| simous | adjective | having flat, upturned nose. |
| simulacrum | noun | (pl. -ra) image; semblance; vague likeness; sham. simulacral, adjective |
| sinal | adjective | pertaining to sinus. |
| sinapise | verb | sprinkle; powder. sinapism, noun mustard-plaster. |
| sinciput | noun | the forehead |
| sindon | noun | fine linen fabric; thing made of it, as altar frontal, winding-sheet, etc. |
| sinecure | noun | office involving no toil or duties. sinecural, adjective sinecurist, noun |
| singultus | noun | Medicine, hiccup(s). singultous, adjective |
| sinter | noun | iron dross; Geology, deposit of hot siliceous springs; v.i. & t. agglomerate by heating. |
| sinuate | adjective | wavy; v.i. curve. sinuation, noun |
| sinus | noun | cavity, especially of skull bone. sinusitis, noun inflammation of sinuses. |
| siphonogam | noun | seed plant. siphonogamic, siphonogamous, adjective |
| sippet | noun | small piece of something, especially crouton or piece of bread to dip in gravy. |
| sirdar | noun | British general formerly commanding Egyptian army. |
| sirenian | adjective noun | Zoology, (animal) belonging to an order of aquatic mammals including the manatee and dugong. |
| sirenic | adjective | like a siren, alluring; melodious, sweet-sounding. |
| siriasis | noun | sunstroke. siriometer, noun Astronomy, unit of distance, equiv. of one million times mean distance of earth from sun. |
| siskin | noun | small green-yellow European finch. |
| sitology | noun | treatise on food or diet; science of diet. sitomania, noun abnormal craving for food. sitophobia, noun morbid dread of eating; aversion to food; loss of appetite. sitotoxism, noun vegetable-food poisoning. |
| sitringee | noun | oriental striped cotton carpet. |
| sittine | adjective | pertaining to or like a nuthatch; belonging to nuthatch family of birds. |
| sitzkrieg | noun | (virtual) stalemate in warfare. |
| sizar | noun | Cambridge undergraduate receiving allowance for expenses from college. sizarship, noun |
| sjambok | noun | heavy whip; v.t. flog with it. |
| skald | noun | ancient Scandinavian bard. skaldic, adjective |
| skat | noun | card game for three persons, resembling solo whist. |
| skeet | noun | form of clay-pigeon shooting. |
| skeg | noun | short fin, projection or brace at rear of keel of a sailing boat; fin at rear of surfboard. |
| skelic | adjective | pertaining to skeleton. skelic index, figure resulting from division of length of leg by length of trunk. |
| skep | noun | farm basket, especially of wicker or straw; beehive, especially domed and made of straw. |
| skerry | noun | rocky island. |
| skeuomorph | noun | ornament representing vessel or tool. skeuomorphic, adjective |
| skewbald | adjective | bearing patches of white and some color not black. |
| skiascope | noun | instrument for testing refractive power of eye. |
| skijoring | noun | sport of being drawn on skis over snow by horse or motor. |
| skinnum | noun | carrier pigeon |
| skippet | noun | small round box for keeping document or seal. |
| skirr | verb | -i. move, fly etc. rapidly; v.t. archaic, traverse rapidly; scour. |
| skive | verb | remove surface of leather; v.t. slang, shirk; evade work, duty etc. skiver, noun |
| skoal | noun | 'cup'; good health! |
| skoptsy | noun | self-castration |
| skybald | noun | a good-for-nothing; a worthless person, animal or thing |
| slatch | noun | area of quiet water between two breaking waves in ocean |
| sleave | noun | anything tangled, especially thread; v.t. disentangle; separate into filaments. |
| sleekit | adjective | crafty, sly; smooth. |
| slew | noun | great many. |
| slubber | verb | stain, sully; do carelessly. slubberdegullion, noun archaic, slovenly person. |
| slumgullion | noun | meat and vegetable stew; watery soup or drink; offal. |
| smalt | noun | deep-blue pigment. |
| smalto | noun | (pl. -ti) piece of colored glass in mosaic. |
| smatchet | noun | a small, nasty person or a nasty child |
| smectic | adjective | Archaic purifying; Crystallography arranged in layers. |
| smegma | noun | soapy matter of sebaceous gland. smegmatic, adjective like soap; cleansing. |
| smew | noun | smallest merganser. |
| smift | noun | slow burning fuse used in mining explosions |
| smithsonite | noun | natural zinc carbonate; calamine. |
| snaffle | noun | light bridle bit. |
| snell | adjective | short line with which fish-hook is fastened to line. |
| snickersnee | noun | jocular, large knife, cutlass etc.; knife fight. |
| sniggle | verb | #NAME? |
| snoff | noun | long-wicked candle used to light dynamite fuses |
| snood | noun | snell; hair net. |
| snye | noun | a small channel of water |
| soboles | noun | Botany, sucker; shoot. soboliferous, adjective producing these. |
| sociogenetic | adjective | pertaining to social development. sociogenic, adjective arising from or affected by social factors. sociogram, noun diagram of social relationships within a group. sociolinguistics, noun study of language in a social context. sociologism, noun interpretation emphasizing social factors. sociometry, noun study of sociological relationships and attitudes, especially as expressed by preferences. sociopath, noun person hostile to society. |
| socius | noun | (pl. -ii) member; companion; associate; individual. socius criminis, accomplice in crime. |
| sockdolager | noun | a hard hit |
| socle | noun | Architecture, moulded member at base of plinth or pedestal. |
| sodality | noun | association; union; brotherhood. sodalist, noun member of this. |
| soffit | noun | Architecture, underside of auxiliary part of building, as arch, staircase, etc. |
| soigné | adjective | (fem. -ée) 'carefully done'; well- groomed. |
| solanaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like a potato or nightshade plant; belonging to the potato or nightshade family of plants. solaneous, adjective |
| solano | noun | hot East wind of Mediterranean Spanish coast. |
| solaristics | noun | study of relation between sun and its radiation and earth. |
| solarium | noun | (pl. -ia) room, porch, etc., exposed to sunshine. |
| solatium | noun | anything that compensates for suffering or loss;an additional allowance |
| solecism | noun | ignorant error, especially in grammar. solecise, v.i. solecist, noun solecistic(al), adjective |
| soleiform | adjective | shaped like a slipper. |
| solenitis | noun | inflammation of duct. |
| solfatara | noun | vent for sulphurous volcanic gases. solfataric, adjective |
| solidary | adjective | Law, having joint interests or obligations. |
| solidungular | adjective | solidungulate, solidungulous a. having single hoof on each foot. |
| solidus | noun | (pl. -di) oblique line (/); slash. |
| solifidian | noun | believer that faith alone will ensure salvation. solifidianism, noun |
| solifidium | noun | someone who believes that faith alone is sufficientfor salvation |
| soliform | adjective | sun-like. |
| soliped | adjective noun | having single hoof on each foot (animal). solipedal, solipedous, adjective |
| soliterraneous | adjective | pertaining to sun and earth, especially their joint meteorological effect. solitidal, adjective pertaining to tides caused by sun. |
| solivagant | adjective | solivagous n. wandering alone. |
| solmisate | verb | sing or set to sol-fa notation. solmisation, noun |
| solonist | noun | wise man. |
| solus | adjective | 'alone'. |
| somascope | noun | instrument detecting disease of the internal organs by 'echo- sounding' methods and producing images of the diseased tissue on a television screen. |
| somnifacient | adjective noun | soporific. somniferous, adjective inducing sleep. somniloquence, somniloquy, noun talking in one's sleep. somnipathy, noun hypnotic sleep. |
| somniloquacious | adjective | pertaining to talking in one's sleep |
| somnolent | adjective | sleepy; causing, or resembling, sleep. somnolescent, adjective becoming sleepy. somnolence, noun somnorific, adjective soporific. |
| sonant | adjective | sounding; Phon., voiced. sonantal, sonantic, adjective sonable, adjective capable of being sounded sonance, noun |
| sonation | noun | sounding. sondation,, noun sounding, especially by boring, of the earth. |
| sonde | noun | device sent up to observe the upper atmosphere. |
| soniferous | adjective | producing sound. sonification, noun act of producing sound. |
| sonorescent | adjective | emitting sound under influence of some radiation. sonorescence, noun |
| sophiology | noun | science of ideas. sophiologic, adjective |
| sophism | noun | deceptive or fallacious argument. sophist, noun fallacious arguer. sophistic(al), adjective sophisticate, v.i. make artificial or worldly; corrupt. sopyistry, noun sophism, or use of sophism; mere empty argument. |
| sophomania | noun | delusion of exceptional intelligence |
| sophrosyne | noun | sober, sensible, prudent and rational |
| sopor | noun | unusually deep sleep or lethargy. soporific, noun & a. (drug) inducing sleep. soporiferous, adjective soporose, adjective abnormally sleepy; comatose. |
| soral | adjective | pertaining to sorus. |
| sorbefacient | adjective noun | (substance) promoting absorption. |
| sorbile | adjective | that can be sipped or drunk. |
| sordes | noun | foul or excreted matter. sordor, noun refuse; sordidness. |
| sordino | noun | (pl. -ni) Music, mute. |
| soricid | adjective noun | (pertaining to) shrew (animal). soricine, adjective pertaining to or like a shrew. soricident, adjective having teeth like shrew's. |
| sorites | noun | series of syllogisms following one from another, with the first and last closely linked; collection of facts, things, etc. soritic(al), adjective |
| sorner | noun | freeloader |
| sororal | adjective | pertaining to sisters. sororate, noun custom of marriage to sister, especially to younger sister after wife's death. sororicide, noun killing or killer of own sister. sorority, noun sisterhood; American, club of college girls. |
| sorosis | noun | kind of fruit in which many flowers are united, as in pineapple. |
| sortes | noun | pl. (sing. sors) lot; drawing lots. sortes Vergilianae, divination by reference to book of Virgil's poems opened at random. |
| sortilege | noun | divination by casting lots; witchcraft; enchantment. sortilegic, sortilegious, adjective sortileger, noun |
| sortition | noun | casting of, or assignment by lots. |
| sorus | noun | cluster of spore cases on fern fronds; 'fruit dots'. |
| soterial | adjective | pertaining to salvation. soteriology, noun theological study of salvation; treatise on hygiene. |
| sottise | noun | stupid or blundering act. |
| soubrette | noun | role of light-hearted or coquettish girl in drama; actress playing such part. |
| souchong | noun | high grade black China tea. |
| soutane | noun | Roman Catholic priest's cassock. |
| sovkhoz | noun | Soviet co-operative farm. |
| spadassin | noun | swordsman; fighter. |
| spadiceous | adjective | chestnut-colored; pertaining to spadix. spadicifloral, spadiciflorous, adjective having flowers in a spadix. spadicose, adjective spadix, noun (pl. -dices) flower-spike covered by large leaf, as of arum plant. |
| spado | noun | (pl. -ones) impotent person; castrated animal. |
| spadonism | noun | enuchry |
| spallation | noun | splitting into numerous fragments of the nucleus of an atom by high-energy bombardment. |
| spanaemia | noun | anaemia. spanaemic, adjective |
| spandrel | noun | triangular space between curve of arch and right angle enclosing it; design in corner of postage stamp. |
| spaneria | noun | scarcity of men |
| spanogyny | noun | scarcity of woman |
| spanopnoea | noun | slow deep breathing as a morbid condition. |
| sparadrap | noun | medical plaster. |
| spargosis | noun | Medicine, swelling |
| sparid | adjective | sparoid a. pertaining to or like sea bream. |
| spatchcock | noun | roughly prepared and cooked fowl; v.t. prepare and cook as this; interpolate unnecessarily or inappropriately; patch in or together. |
| spathe | noun | large sheath-like bract or leaf, as of arum plant. spathaceous, spathal, spathose, spathous, adjective |
| spatiate | verb | to stroll or ramble |
| spatilomancy | noun | fortunetelling by observing animal droppings |
| spatiotemporal | adjective | pertaining to or having space and time. |
| spatrify | verb | to besmirch, befoul |
| spavin | noun | tumour on horse's leg. bog-spavin, spavin on hock. bone- spavin, bony outgrowth on hock. spavined, adjective affected with spavin; worn-out. |
| spawling | verb | a noisy clearing of the throat |
| specie | noun | coined money. |
| speculum | noun | (pl. -la) mirror; reflector; instrument for examining body passages; colored patch on bird's wing. |
| spelaean, spelean | adjective | pertaining to or living in caves. speleology, noun study and exploration of caves. speleologist, noun |
| spelter | noun | zinc |
| speluncar | adjective | speluncean a. pertaining to or like a cave. |
| spermaceti | noun | wax-like substance used in candles, ointments, etc., obtained from oil of sperm-whale, etc. |
| spermatic | adjective | pertaining to or like sperm. spermatise,, v. impregnate with sperm. spermatism, noun emission of sperm. spermatoblast, noun sperm-producing cell. spermatocyte, noun cell producing spermatozoa. spermatogenesis, noun formation of spermatozoa. spermatoid, adjective like sperm. spermatorrhoea, noun involuntary and frequent spermatism. spermatozoon, noun ( pl. -oa) male sexual cell, which fertilises egg. |
| spermologer | noun | gatherer of seeds |
| spermology | noun | bot. study of seeds. spermological, adjective spermologist, noun |
| spermophile | noun | gopher. |
| sphacel | noun | gangrene. sphacelate, v.i. & t. affect with gangrene; mortify; a. gangrenous. sphacelation, sphacelism, noun sphacelous, adjective sphacelus, noun gangrene; necrosis. |
| sphagnum | noun | (pl. -na) peat or bog moss. sphagnicolous, adjective growing in this. sphagnology, noun study of this. sphagnous, adjective |
| sphenic | adjective | wedge-shaped; Mathematics, having three different prime numbers as its factors. sphenocephaly, noun state of having sphenic head. sphenogram, noun cuneiform character. sphenography, noun art of using or interpreting sphenograms. sphenoid, adjective |
| sphingal | adjective | like sphinx. |
| sphingid | noun | hawk moth. sphingiform, sphingine, adjective like sphingid or sphinx. |
| sphragistic | adjective | pertaining to or like a seal or signet ring. sphragistics, noun study of these. |
| sphygmic | adjective | pertaining to pulse (of heart). sphygmochronograph, noun instrument recording pulse. sphygmodic, adjective pulsating. sphygmograph, noun instrument recording pulse of artery. sphygmoid, adjective like a pulse. sphygmology, noun study of pulse. sphygmomanometer, noun instrument registering blood pressure. sphygmophone, noun instrument for hearing the pulse. sphygmus, noun Med., the pulse. e. |
| spicate | adjective | having, like or in a spike. spical, spicant, spiciferous, spiciform, spicigerous, spicose, spicous, adjective having spikes. spicula, spicule, noun small spike; small spiky body in sponges and similar creatures. |
| spiflicate, spifflicate | verb | jocular & slang, beat up; trounce. |
| spiloma | noun | birthmark; naevus. spilomalus, noun (pl. - li) naevus. |
| spinaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like spinach; belonging to spinach family of plants. |
| spindrift | noun | sea spray. |
| spinel | noun | ruby-like precious stone. |
| spinescent | adjective | becoming or tending to be spiny; tapering. spinescence, noun |
| spinthariscope | noun | instrument demonstrating the emission of alpha rays by radium compound. |
| spintherism | noun | seeing of sparks before the eyes. |
| spiracle | noun | air-hole. spiracular, adjective spiraculate, spiraculiferous, adjective having these. |
| spirant | adjective noun | (consonant) pronounced with friction of breath against part of mouth, as f or s.; fricative. obsolete, spirate, adjective voiceless. spiration, noun act of breathing. |
| spirochaete | noun | spirally-moving, disease-producing organism. spirochaetaemia, noun presence of these in blood. spirochaeticide n. substance killing these. spirochaetosis, noun infection by these. |
| spirograph | noun | instrument recording movements of breathing. spirogram, noun record made by this. spirometer, noun instrument recording volume of air taken in by lungs or volume of gas. |
| spirulate | adjective | spirally arranged. |
| splanchnic | adjective | visceral. splanchnology, noun study of viscera. splanchnopathy, noun disease of viscera. splanchnotomy, noun incision into viscera. |
| spodium | noun | bone charcoal. spodogenic, spodogenous, adjective pertaining to or due to waste matter. spodomancy, noun divination by study of ashes. |
| spodogenous | adjective | pertaining to or due to presence of waste matter |
| spokeshave | noun | plane or knife for rounding spokes or spoke-like objects. |
| spoliation | noun | pillage. spoliative, adjective robbing; diminishing. spoliator, noun robber. spoliatory, adjective |
| spondyl | noun | vertebra. spondylexarthrosis, noun displacement of this. spondylic, spondylous, adjective spondylitis, noun inflammation of this. spondylotherapeutics, noun medical treatment by manipulating spine. . |
| sponsion | noun | act of taking pledge or becoming surety for a person. |
| sponson | noun | projection from side of ship, as protection, gun platform, etc. |
| spontoon | noun | short pike carried by 18th-century infantry officer. |
| sporangium | noun | (pl. -gia) spore case or receptacle of ferns, fungi, etc. sporangial, adjective sporangiferous, adjective having sporangia. sporangiform, adjective like sporangium. sporangiophore, noun stalk bearing sporangium. |
| sporulate | verb | -i. form (into) spores. sporule, noun small spore. sporuliferous a. producing sporules. sporuloid, adjective like a sporule. sporulation, noun |
| Sprachgefühl | noun | instinctive grasp of a language and its usage. |
| sprag | noun | block of wood used to stop a vehicle from going downhill |
| spraints | noun | otter dung |
| springal | noun | a strong young boy |
| springe | noun | snare for catching small game |
| spritzer | noun | drink of (white) wine and soda water. |
| sprue | noun | tropical inflammatory disease of digestive tract. |
| spruit | noun | small stream flowing only in wet season. |
| spumescent | adjective | foaming; foamy. spumescence, noun |
| spurcidical | adjective | foul-mouthed |
| sputum | noun | saliva or mucus spat out. sputative, adjective habitually spitting. |
| squab | noun | young pigeon; nestling; stuffed lower cushion of chair; sofa. |
| squadrism | noun | government by armed squadrons of supporters or party members. |
| squaliform | adjective | shark-shaped. squaloid, adjective like a shark. |
| squamaceous | adjective | scaly. squamate, squameous, squamose, squamous, adjective like, having or covered with scales. squamellate, squamelliferous, squamulate, squamulose, adjective having small scales. squamoid, adjective like a scale. |
| squatinid | adjective noun | (pertaining to an) angelfish. |
| squeg | verb | to oscillate in a highly irregular fashion, pertaining to electronic systems |
| squill | noun | sea onion, used as expectorant, etc. |
| squinancy | noun | wild plant believed to cure quinsy. |
| squinch | noun | arch, etc., across corner of room. |
| stabile | adjective | stationary; n. stationary abstract sculpture similar to a mobile. |
| stactometer | noun | glass for measuring drops. |
| stadiometer | noun | kind of theodolite; wheel by which length of line is measured. |
| stagiary | noun | resident canon; law student. |
| stagmometer | noun | device for measuring number of drops in certain volume of liquid. |
| stagnicolous | adjective | living in stagnant water. |
| stalagmometer | noun | drop-measuring instrument. |
| stanchion | noun | upright support or post. |
| stanhope | noun | four-wheeled driving carriage |
| stannary | noun | tin-mine or -works. stannic, adjective pertaining to tin; Chemistry, in which tin has valency of four. stannous, adjective pertaining to tin; Chemistry, in which tin has valency of two. |
| stapes | noun | innermost bone of ear; stirrup bone. stapedectomy, noun removal of stapes and insertion of an artificial replacement to relieve deafness. stapedial, adjective pertaining to stapes. stapediform, adjective like a stapes or stirrup. |
| stasivalence | noun | ability to have sexual intercourse onlywhile standing |
| statant | adjective | in profile with all four feet on the ground. |
| statics | noun | study of bodies and forces in equilibrium. |
| statocyst | noun | organ of balance in some invertebrates. |
| statolith | noun | calcium granule in statocyst, whose movement stimulates sensory cells; solid, free-moving particle in plant cytoplasm, thought to influence changes in plant's orientation. |
| stator | noun | stationary part of motor. |
| statoscope | noun | kind of aneroid barometer recording minute barometric changes. |
| staurolatry | noun | worship of the cross or crucifix. |
| stavesacre | noun | kind of larkspur, from which ointment for lice is obtained. |
| stearin | noun | hard fat. stearic, adjective steariform, adjective like stearin. |
| steatite | noun | soapstone. steatitic, adjective steatogenous, adjective fat-producing. steatolysis, noun breaking down of fats. steatopathic, adjective pertaining to disease of sebaceous glands. steatopygic, steatopygous, adjective having excessively fat buttocks. steatorrhea, noun fattiness of faeces; seborrhoea. steatosis, noun adiposity. |
| steatopygous | adjective | pertaining to or characterized by protuberant buttocks; fat rumped |
| steeve | noun | long spar with pulley used to stow cargo in ship's hold; v.t. stow (cargo). |
| stegnosis | noun | constipation. stegnotic, noun & a. (medicine) causing constipation. |
| stegophilist | noun | person whose pastime is climbing the outside of buildings. |
| stele | noun | (pl. -lae ) carved or painted stone pillar or slab; central part of plant's stem. stelar, adjective |
| stemma | noun | (pl. -mas, -mata ) family tree; genealogy of literary text; simple eye of insect. |
| stenocardia | noun | angina pectoris. stenocardiac, adjective stenocephaly, noun narrowness of head. stenochoric, adjective not widely distributed. stenochromy, noun printing of many-colored pattern at one impression. |
| stenometer | noun | distance-measuring instrument. |
| stenopaic | adjective | with narrow aperture. stenopetalous, adjective with narrow petals. stenophagous, adjective eating only a narrow range of food. stenophyllous, adjective with narrow leaves. stenophobia, noun morbid fear of narrow places. |
| stenosis | noun | narrowing of an orifice. stenotic, adjective stenotypy, noun type of shorthand using ordinary characters. |
| stentor | noun | loud-voiced person. stentorian, stentorious, stentorophonic, adjective |
| stercoraceous | adjective | pertaining to dung. stercoral, stercorous, adjective stercorary, noun place for dung. stercoricolous, adjective living in dung. |
| stercoricolous | adjective | living in dung |
| sterculius | noun | the god of feces |
| stereobate | noun | masonry platform used as foundation for a building. stereobatic, adjective |
| stereochemistry | noun | chemical study of arrangement of molecules and atoms. |
| stereognosis | noun | ability to perceive weight, form, etc., of a body by touch. sterognostic, adjective |
| stereography | noun | representation of solid bodies on plane surface. stereogram, noun representation giving impression of solidity of object. stereograph, noun picture used in stereoscope. stereographic, adjective |
| stereometry | noun | measurement of volumes, etc., of solid figures. stereometric(al), noun |
| stereomonoscope | noun | instrument projecting image with appearance of solidity, by means of two lenses. |
| stereopsis | noun | stereoscopic vision. |
| stereostatic | adjective | geostatic. stereostatics, noun statics of solids. |
| stereotomy | noun | cutting of solids, especially stone. stereotomical, adjective stereotomist, noun |
| sternson | noun | timber joining sternpost of ship to kelson. |
| sternum | noun | (pl. -na) breastbone. sternal, adjective |
| sternutation | noun | the act of sneezing; a sneeze |
| sterol | noun | organic solid alcohol. |
| stertor | noun | snoring. Medicine, stertorous, adjective breathing loudly or hoarsely; snoring. |
| stertorous | adjective | characterized by heavy snoring |
| stethometer | noun | instrument measuring chest expansion in breathing. stethoscopy n. examination with a stethoscope. stethospasm, noun spasm of chest muscles. |
| sthenia | noun | (unusual or abnormal) strength. sthenic, adjective (unusually) strong. |
| sthenobulia | noun | strong will power |
| stibial | adjective | pertaining to antimony. stibiated, adjective containing antimony. |
| stibnite | noun | natural compound of antimony from which it is obtained. |
| stich | noun | line of verse. stichic, adjective stichometry, noun measurement by counting lines, especially of books or documents; division of written or printed matter into lines, especially in accordance with the sense. stichomythia, noun alternating single lines of dialogue in poetic drama. a. . |
| stilliform | adjective | drop-shaped. |
| stipe | noun | Botany, short stalk. |
| stipule | noun | one of a pair of leaf-like appendages at base of leaf. stipuliferous a. producing this. stipuliform, adjective like this. |
| stirious | adjective | like an icicle |
| stirpiculture | noun | breeding of special stocks. stirps, noun (pl. - pes ) family line; stock; biological category. |
| stithy | noun | blacksmith's anvil or forge. |
| stoa | noun | (pl. -as, -ae ) covered walk with colonnade(s). |
| stochastic | adjective | pertaining to random variables in statistics and their interrelations with the laws of probability. |
| stoichiology | noun | physical study of composition of animal tissues. stoichiometry, noun Chemistry, calculation of elements' combining weights; study of chemical composition and combination. |
| stolon | noun | runner of plant. stolonate, adjective having stolon. stoloniferous a. producing stolon. |
| stoma | noun | (pl. -mata ), mouth; orifice; breathing pore of plants. stomatal, adjective stomatic a. pertaining to stoma.; n. & a. Medicine, used for disorders of mouth. stomatiferous, adjective having stoma. stomatitis, noun inflammation of mouth. stomatology, noun medical study of mouth. stomatose, stomatous, adjective having stoma. |
| stomachous | adjective | obstinate; angry |
| stope | noun | step-like working in a mine to extract ore; v.t. excavate in stopes. |
| stopple | noun | stopper; plug. |
| storge | noun | parental instinct. |
| storiate | verb | ornament with historical designs. storiation, noun |
| storiology | noun | study of folk-lore. storiological, adjective storiologist, noun |
| stoup | noun | basin for holy water |
| stovaine | noun | anaesthetic cocaine-substitute, chiefly injected into spine. |
| strabismus | noun | squint. strabismal, strabismic(al), adjective strabismometer, noun instrument measuring degree of strabismus. |
| stramineous | adjective | like straw or its color; worthless. |
| stramonium | noun | thorn apple, and its leaves used in medicine. |
| strappado | noun | form of torture in which victim was let fall the length of a rope tied to his wrists, etc. |
| stratigraphy | noun | study of geological strata; stratification. stratigrapher, stratigraphist, noun stratigraphic, adjective |
| stratocracy | noun | military rule. stratocrat, noun stratocratic, adjective stratography, noun art of directing an army. |
| strepitous | adjective | making a great clamor; noisy; boisterous |
| strepor | noun | noise. strepent, strepitant, strepitous, adjective |
| strepsis | noun | twisting. |
| stria | noun | (pl. -ae ) line; small groove; flute of column; scratch; band; stripe. striate, v. mark with striae. striation, noun |
| strickle | noun | scythe-sharpening instrument; template; instrument for levelling off material, especially grain, in a container. |
| stridor | noun | harsh noise; whistling sound in breathing. stridulate, v.i. make a shrill or harsh noise. stridulation, noun stridulator, noun stridulous, adjective squeaky. |
| striga | noun | (pl. -gae ) stria; plant's stiff bristle. strigal, adjective strigate, adjective having striga. |
| strigil | noun | instrument used to scrape down skin in Greek and Roman baths. |
| strigilation | noun | scraping. |
| strigine | adjective | pertaining to or like an owl. |
| striola | noun | (pl. -lae ) small or weak stria. striolate, adjective having striolae. |
| strobic | adjective | spinning; like a top. |
| strobile | noun | strobilus n. cone-like inflorescence, especially of hop. strobilaceous, strobiline, strobiloid, adjective |
| stroboscope | noun | instrument for studying periodic motion by illuminating object with flashes at same frequency as that of its motion. stroboscopic, adjective stroboscopy, noun |
| strombuliform | adjective | like a spinning top or screw. |
| struma | noun | (pl. -mae ) goitre. strumectomy, noun surgical removal of struma. strumose, strumous, strumatic, adjective |
| struthian | adjective | ratite. struthiform, adjective like an ostrich. struthionine, struthious, adjective |
| stucco | noun | (pl. -oes) kind of plaster for exteriors of buildings, especially highly ornamented. |
| stultify | verb | make to seem foolish; frustrate; make futile. stuttification, noun |
| stupefacient | adjective | stupefying; n. narcotic. stupefy, v. make stupid; daze. |
| stupeous | adjective | tow-like. stupose, adjective having tow-like tufts. |
| stupration | noun | rape. |
| stupulose | adjective | downy. |
| sturnine | adjective | pertaining to starlings. strunoid, adjective like a starling. |
| stygiophobia | noun | fear of hell |
| stylite | noun | ascetics who lived on top of pillars |
| stylobate | noun | coping, etc., supporting colonnade. |
| stylograph | noun | fountain pen with needle-like point. stylography, n.writing with a style on wax tablet, etc. stylographic, adjective |
| stylometer | noun | column-measuring instrument. |
| styptic | adjective noun | (substance) checking bleeding by constricting blood vessels. stypsis, noun use of this. |
| suaviation | noun | a love kiss |
| subacid | adjective | slightly acid. |
| subacute | adjective | applied to diseases between acute and chronic. |
| subaerial | adjective | in open air; on surface of ground. |
| subagitation | noun | copulation |
| subahdar | noun | viceroy; provincial governor; sepoy company commander. |
| subalary | adjective | beneath wings. |
| subalpine | adjective | of higher mountain slopes below timber line. |
| subangular | adjective | subangulate a. somewhat angular. |
| subarid | adjective | slightly arid. |
| subarrhation | noun | betrothal, with gift from man to woman. |
| subastral | adjective | sublunary. |
| subaudition | noun | understanding of something not expressed; thing so understood. subaudible, adjective hardly audible. subauditur, noun thing understood; implication. |
| subboreal | adjective | very cold. |
| subdecimal | adjective | applied to quotient of division by a multiple of ten. subdecuple, adjective containing one part of ten. |
| subderisorious | adjective | mildly ridiculing |
| subdititious | adjective | secret substitution |
| subdolous | adjective | rather crafty or sly |
| subduplicate | adjective | expressed by square root. |
| subereous | adjective | pertaining to or like cork. suberise, v. convert into corky tissue. suberose, adjective like cork. |
| subfluvial | adjective | beneath, or at bottom of, a river. |
| subfocal | adjective | of which one is not entirely conscious. |
| subfusc | adjective | dusky drab; n. formal academic dress at Oxford University. |
| subinfeudate | verb | grant to another land held from feudal lord; sublet. subinfeudation, subinfeudatory, noun |
| subintelligitur | noun | a meaning implied but not stated |
| subitaneous | adjective | sudden. |
| subjacent | adjective | lying or situated below. |
| sublate | verb | deny; cancel; reduce, especially an idea to subordinate part of a greater unity. sublation, noun sublative, adjective tending to remove. |
| sublethal | adjective | not quite fatal. |
| sublineation | noun | act of underlining. |
| sublunary | adjective | of the world; terrestrial. |
| subluxation | noun | state of being almost dislocated. |
| submaxillary | adjective | beneath lower jaw. submaxillary gland, salivary gland discharging beneath tongue. |
| submerse | verb | submerge. submersible, a.; n. vessel used for undersea exploration or maintenance. submersion, noun |
| submiliary | adjective | smaller than a millet seed. |
| subminimal | adjective | less than minimum necessary; subliminal. |
| submontane | adjective | at foot of mountain. |
| submultiple | adjective noun | (quantity) dividing into another exactly. |
| subnubilar | adjective | under clouds. subnuvolar, adjective |
| suboctuple | adjective | containing one part of eight; related as 1 is to 8. |
| subquintuple | adjective | having ratio of 1 to 5. |
| subreptary | adjective | adapted to crawling. subreption, noun false or unfair deduction or representation due to suppression of truth. subreptitious, adjective pertaining to subreption. |
| subrident | adjective | smiling. subrision, noun |
| subsannation | noun | derision |
| subsextuple | adjective | related as 1 is to 6. |
| subsolar | adjective | beneath the sun; sublunary; between tropics. |
| substantive | adjective | pertaining to or like a substance or entity; existing alone; independent; substantial; solid; essential; real, actual; Grammar, expressing existence; n. noun or pronoun. substantival, adjective |
| substaquilate | verb | to defeat, overwhelm |
| substituent | noun | thing, especially atom, substituted for another. |
| subsultus | noun | convulsive movement. subsultory, adjective leaping. |
| subtend | verb | extend beneath or opposite to. subtense, adjective pertaining to object of known length by which distances are measured. |
| subtopia | noun | deceptively spacious subrural suburban paradise. |
| subtrahend | noun | amount to be subtracted. |
| subtrist | adjective | rather sad. |
| subturbary | adjective | beneath turf. |
| subulate | adjective | long and tapering; awl-shaped. subulicorn, adjective having such horns or antennae. subuliform, adjective |
| subungual | adjective | subunguial a. beneath a nail or hoof. |
| suburbicarian | adjective | pertaining to suburbs, especially of Rome. |
| subvention | noun | subsidy. subvene, v. support; aid; happen to help. |
| subvocal | adjective | put into words but not spoken. |
| succedaneum | noun | (pl. -ea) substitute; remedy. succedaneous, adjective |
| succent | verb | sing second part. succentor, noun deputy precentor. |
| succiniferous | adjective | producing amber. |
| succise | adjective | having appearance of having lower part cut off. |
| succorrhoea | noun | excessive secretion. |
| succory | noun | chicory. |
| succursal | adjective | like a branch or outgrowth; subordinate. |
| succus | noun | (pl. -cci ) juice. succus entericus, digestive secretion of small intestine. |
| succuss | verb | shake violently, especially Medicine, to detect presence of fluid. succussation, succussion, noun succussatory, succussive, adjective |
| suctorial | adjective | pertaining to, or for, sucking; having such organs. suctorian, noun such animal. |
| sudamen | noun | (pl. -mina) eruption due to retention of sweat under skin. |
| sudarium | noun | (pl. -ia) handkerchief or cloth for wiping away sweat, especially St. Veronica's, on which portrait of Christ is supposed to have been impressed; sudatorium. sudatorium, noun (pl. - ia) sweating room of a bath. |
| sudatory | adjective | sweating; sudorific; n. sudatorium; sudarium. |
| sudd | noun | mass of floating weed blocking the Nile. |
| sudiform | adjective | having shape of stake. |
| sudor | noun | sweat. sudoral, sudoric, adjective sudoresis, noun copious sweating. sudoriferous, sudoriparous, adjective sweat- producing. sudorific, noun & a. (drug) promoting perspiration. |
| sufflaminate | verb | check; obstruct. sufflamination, noun |
| sufflation | noun | afflatus. |
| suffrutescent | adjective | having woody base. suffruticose, suffruticous, adjective applied to such perennial plant, remaining herbaceous in upper part. |
| sugent | adjective | suctorial. sugescent, adjective |
| suggilate | verb | beat black and blue; slander. suggilation, noun |
| sui generis | adjective | 'of its, his or her own kind'; unique. sui juris, 'in his or her own right'; having full legal rights. |
| suilline | adjective noun | (person or animal) like a pig. |
| suint | noun | sheep's dried perspiration in wool. |
| sulcate | adjective | having grooves; furrowed; v.t. furrow. sulcation, noun sulcus, noun groove, furrow, especially on surface of brain. |
| sullage | noun | refuse; sewage; pollution; silt. |
| sulpha-drugs | noun | pl. group of synthetic chemical drugs also called sulphonamides, including sulphadiazine for pneumonia; sulphaguanidine for intestinal infections; sulphanilamide for throat infections, blood-poisoning, etc.; and others. |
| sulphate | noun | salt of sulphuric acid. sulphide, noun compound of sulphur. sulphite, noun salt of sulphurous acid. |
| sulphonal | noun | kind of sedative drug. sulphonalism, noun condition due to abuse of this. |
| sulphurate | verb | impregnate with sulphur. sulphureous, adjective pertaining to or like sulphur. sulphuretted, adjective impregnated with sulphur. sulphuric, adjective containing sulphur in higher valency. sulphurous, adjective containing sulphur in lower valency; pertaining to hellfire; scathing; profane. |
| summa | noun | (pl. -mae ) comprehensive treatise. summa cum laude, 'with the highest praise'; highest distinction in some academic examinations. summa rerum, 'sum of things'; great public interest. summa summarum, 'sum of sums'; consummation. |
| summand | noun | number, quantity to be added in a sum. |
| sumpter | noun | pack; pack horse; beast of burden. |
| sumptuary | adjective | regulating expenditure. |
| superannuate | verb | discharge as too old; pension off. superannuation, noun retirement pension. |
| superciliary | adjective | pertaining to brows or eyebrows. supercilious, adjective haughty; contemptuous. |
| supercrescent | adjective | parasitic. |
| supererogate | verb | -i. do more than necessary. supererogation, supererogator, noun supererogative, supererogatory, adjective |
| superfetate | adjective | conceive during pregnancy. superfetation, noun such conception; cumulative growth by accretion; overproduction. |
| superficies | noun | surface; surface area. superficiary, adjective built on another's land. |
| superheterodyne | adjective | Radio, applied to reception in which oscillations of slightly different frequency are imposed on the received oscillations, producing beats of a frequency above audio- frequency which are easily amplified. |
| superhumeral | noun | garment, especially ecclesiatical, worn over shoulders. |
| superincumbent | adjective | lying on top of; overhanging. superincumbence, superincumbency, noun |
| superinduce | verb | bring as addition. superinduction, noun |
| superjacent | adjective | lying over or above. |
| superlunary | adjective | above the moon; other-worldly. |
| supermaxillary | adjective | pertaining to the upper jaw. |
| supernaculum | noun | a liquor drunk to the last drop; excellent booze |
| supernal | adjective | heavenly. |
| supernatant | adjective | floating on surface. supernatation, noun |
| supernumerary | adjective noun | (person) in addition to usual or necessary number. |
| superphosphate | noun | acid phosphate. |
| superscribe | verb | write on top or at head. superscript, adjective written above. superscription, noun |
| supersensible | adjective | beyond physical perception; spiritual. |
| supersolid | noun | magnitude of more than three dimensions. |
| superstratum | noun | (pl. -ta) overlying layer. |
| superterranean | adjective | superterraneous a. above or on surface of earth. superterrene, adjective |
| supervacaneous | adjective | needlessly added |
| supervene | verb | -i. occur in addition or unexpectedly; follow close upon. supervenient, adjective supervenience, supervention, noun |
| supinate | verb | lie or make lie on back; turn arm so that palm is upward. supination, noun supinator, noun muscle producing supination. |
| supinovalent | adjective | able to fornicate only while supine |
| suppalpation | noun | gaining affection by caressing |
| suppedaneum | noun | (pl. -ea) support for feet, especially on cross for crucifixion. suppedaneous, adjective |
| suppletion | noun | Philology, use of a word form as tense, inflection etc. of another, different word form, as e.g. worse as comparative of bad . suppletive, adjective suppletory, adjective supplementary. |
| supraliminal | adjective | conscious. |
| supraorbital | adjective | above the eye socket. |
| surah | noun | soft silk fabric. |
| sural | adjective | pertaining to calf of leg. |
| surcease | verb | cease; stop; n. cessation. |
| surcingle | noun | band fastening anything on horse's back; girdle or belt worn with cassock. |
| surculose | adjective | producing suckers. surculous, adjective surculus, noun (pl. -li ) sucker. |
| surd | adjective | deaf; senseless; Phonetics, unvoiced; n. Mathematics, irrational number, as pi. surdomutism, surdimutism, noun state of being deaf and dumb. surdomute, noun deaf and dumb person. |
| surma | noun | eye-shadow. |
| surmullet | noun | red mullet. |
| surnominal | adjective | pertaining to surnames. |
| surrebutter | noun | Law, plaintiff's reply to defendant's rebutter. surrebuttal, noun giving evidence in support of this. |
| surrejoinder | noun | Law plaintiff's reply to defendant's rejoinder. |
| suscept | noun | parasite's host. |
| suscitate | verb | stimulate. suscitation, noun |
| suspercollate | verb | to hang by the neck |
| suspire | verb | -i. breathe; sigh. suspiration, noun suspirative, adjective |
| sustentation | noun | sustaining; maintenance; sustenance. sustentative a. |
| susurrate | verb | -i. whisper. susurrant, adjective susurrous, adjective rustling. susurrus, noun whispering sound. susurration, noun |
| sutler | noun | camp-follower vending provisions. sutlery, noun |
| suttee | noun | suicide of Hindu woman on husband's funeral pyre; this custom. sutteeism, noun |
| suzerain | noun | sovereign. suzerainty, noun |
| swage | noun | groove; metal-worker's grooved shaping tool; v.t. shape with this. |
| swale | noun | meadow; marshy hollow. |
| swallett | noun | underground river found in a mine |
| swipple | noun | blade of a flail. |
| sybotic | adjective | pertaining to swineherd. sybotism, noun |
| syconium | noun | form of fruit with ovaries on enlarged receptacle, as fig. |
| sycosis | noun | inflammatory pustular disease of facial hair follicles. sycosiform, adjective |
| syllepsis | noun | (pl. -ses ) use of word agreeing with only one of them to govern two or more words; use of word in figurative and literal senses in same phrase. sylleptic(al), adjective |
| sylph | noun | spirit of air; slim girl. sylphic, sylphid, adjective |
| sylva | noun | tree of a region; treatise on trees; anthology. sylvan, sylvestral, adjective |
| symbiosis | noun | living together of two organisms of different kinds, especially to their mutual benefit. symbion, symbiont, symbiote, noun such organism. symbiotic, adjective symbiotics, noun study of symbiosis. |
| symbolofideism | noun | having faith in symbols. symbolatry, noun worship of symbols. |
| symphily | noun | living together to their mutual benefit, of insects and other organisms. symphilic, symphilous, adjective |
| symphoric | noun | clumsy, accident prone |
| symphysis | noun | (pl. -ses ) fixed articulation of two bones, especially by cartilaginous pad. symphysis menti, symphysis of two lower jawbones at chin. symphysis pubis, symphysis of two pubic bones. symphytic, adjective |
| symploce | noun | repetition of initial and concluding phrases or words of a sentence at beginning and end of following sentence. |
| symptosis | noun | emaciation. |
| synactic | adjective | acting in addition or together; cumulative. |
| synaeresis | noun | pronunciation as one of two vowels usually pronounced separately. |
| synaesthesia | noun | sensation occurring in part distant from part stimulated; association of sensation, as color, etc., with other sensation. synaesthetic, adjective |
| synallagmatic | adjective | bilateral; reciprocal. |
| synaloepha | noun | contraction of two syllables into one by omission of vowel. |
| synanthesis | noun | synchronous maturity of male and female elements of plant. synanthetic, adjective synanthy, noun growing together of two flowers. |
| synarchy | noun | joint rule. synarchical, adjective |
| synartesis | noun | close junction. synarthrosis, noun (pl. -ses) fixed articulation of bones. |
| synastry | noun | relationship between individuals as denoted by relationships between planets etc. in their astrological charts. |
| syncategorematic | adjective | having meaning only in conjunction with another word. |
| synchoresis | noun | rhetorical device of apparently conceding point to strengthen argument. |
| synchroscope | noun | device indicating the degree of synchronism of associated machines or moving parts. |
| synchysis | noun | confusion. |
| synclastic | adjective | curved in all directions towards same point. |
| syncline | noun | Geology, downward fold. synclinal, synclinical, adjective |
| syncrasy | noun | combination. |
| syncretism | noun | combination of different religious beliefs; eclecticism; compromise. syncretize, v.i. & t. become or cause to become fused. syncretist, noun syncretistic, adjective |
| syndactyl | adjective noun | (animal) with digits joined together. syndactylia, syndactylism, syndactyly, noun syndactylic, syndactylous, adjective |
| syndetic | adjective | connective. |
| syndic | noun | magistrate; member of committee. syndical, adjective syndicalism, noun theory of obtaining control of means of production by workers' organizations. |
| synechiology | noun | doctrine of the continuity or union of things. synechiological, adjective |
| synechthry | noun | living together of hostile species. |
| synecology | noun | study of ecological communities. |
| synectics | noun | problem-solving by creative and lateral thinking among a diverse group of people. |
| synergetic | adjective | co-operating. synergize, v.i. synergism, noun synergy; Religion, doctrine of co- operation of human will with divine grace. synergy, noun combined action of drugs, muscles, units, etc. to produce an effect greater than the sum of its parts. |
| synesis | noun | Grammar, construction in which grammatical agreement is according to sense rather than syntax. |
| synethnic | adjective | of same race or country. |
| syngamy | noun | conjunction of gametes, etc. syngamic, syngamous, adjective |
| syngenesis | noun | sexual reproduction. syngenetic, adjective |
| synizesis | noun | contraction of two syllables by combining pronunciation of successive vowels. |
| synkinesis | noun | movement of part when another is moved. |
| synoecious | adjective | having male and female flowers in same inflorescence. synoecize, v. join together. synoecism, noun synoecy, noun association of species with benefit to one and neither harm nor benefit to other. |
| synoptophore | noun | instrument correcting defects in eye muscle. |
| synorthographic | adjective | spelt alike. |
| synovia | noun | lubricating fluid secreted by certain membranes. synovial, adjective synoviparous, adjective producing this. synovitis, noun inflammation of synovial membrane. |
| syntagma | noun | a systematic collection. |
| syntectic | adjective | pertaining to syntexis. |
| synteresis | noun | intuitive knowledge of right and wrong; 'divine spark' of the soul. |
| syntexis | noun | wasting or melting away. |
| synthermal | adjective | having same temperature. |
| syntony | noun | tuning wireless instrument to same wavelength. syntonic, adjective pertaining to syntony; Psychology, in harmony with one's surroundings. syntonize, v. |
| sypher | verb | (of boards) join edge to edge or overlap to form a level surface. |
| syringadenous | adjective | pertaining to sweat glands. |
| syrinx | noun | (pl. -ringes ) tubular object; bird's vocal organ; Pan's pipes. |
| syrt | noun | sinking sand or quicksand |
| systatic | adjective | bringing together. |
| szopelka | noun | Russian musical instrument similar to oboe |
| tachydidaxy | noun | quick instruction or teaching |
| tachyphylaxis | noun | rapid development of immunity to the effects of a drug, especially to those of a poison through previous ingestion of small amount of same. |
| tachypnea | noun | abnormally rapid breathing. |
| tachytelic | adjective | pertaining to abnormally rapid evolution. |
| tedium vitae | noun | 'weariness of life'. |
| talionic | adjective | pertaining to revenge in kind |
| tamarisk | noun | heathlike shrub or tree of warm regions. |
| tanquam | noun | someone educated enough to go to college |
| taphephobia | noun | fear of being buried alive |
| tappon | noun | heavy metal gate used as a dam in irrigation ditches |
| tardigrade | adjective | slow-moving, sluggish |
| tarhood | noun | group of sailors, or state of being a sailor |
| tatami | noun | (pl. -mi, -mis) straw mat of standard size. |
| tathagatagarbha | noun | the eternal and absolute essence of all reality according to buddhism |
| tattogey | noun | someone who cheats by using loaded dice |
| tauromachian | adjective | pertaining to bullfights |
| tautegorical | adjective | saying the same thing with differentwords, opposite of allegorical |
| tautoousious | adjective | being absolutely the same |
| teknonymy | noun | naming the parent after the child |
| telestich | noun | a poem in which the consecutive final lettersof the lines spell a name |
| temulance | noun | drunkenness |
| tendentious | adjective | promoting a particular view or tendency; hence, biased, not impartial |
| tenebrific | adjective | dark or obscure |
| tenesmic | adjective | pertaining to a painful but ineffectual effort to urinate or defecate |
| tentiginous | adjective | sensuous, lascivious |
| teratology | noun | the study of monsters |
| tergiversation | noun | abandoning a religion or cause |
| terrarium | noun | (pl. -riums, -ria) enclosure for small land animals; glass container for growing plants. |
| testa | noun | (pl. -tae ) hard external covering of a seed. |
| testudineous | adjective | slow, like a tortoise |
| tetricity | noun | austerity, harshness, gloominess |
| thalassophobia | noun | fear of the sea |
| thanatism | noun | the belief in life before death, not after it |
| thaumaturgic | adjective | or or involving the supposed working of miracles; magic |
| theanthropism | noun | attaching human traits to one's god |
| thebaine | noun | poisonous alkaloid obtained from opium. |
| thelymachy | noun | a war of women |
| thelyphthoric | adjective | that which corrupts women |
| thermoduric | adjective | resistant to high temperatures. |
| thersitical | adjective | loud and grossly abusive foulmouthed; scurrilous |
| thesicle | noun | small thesis or proposition |
| thibble | noun | wooden stirring stick |
| thob | verb | to explain your beliefs and opinions |
| thrasonical | adjective | given to or marked by boasting and bragging |
| threpterophilia | noun | a fondness for female nurses |
| thrion | noun | Adam and Eve's fig leaf coverings |
| thylacine | noun | Tasmanian wolf. |
| tiki | noun | carved figure of ancestor, worn as an amulet. |
| tilbury | noun | kind of two-wheeled carriage. |
| tilde | noun | wavy mark indicating ny sound of Spanish ñ (as in cañon or canyon.) |
| timbal | noun | kettledrum. |
| timbre | noun | distinctive quality of a sound. |
| timbrel | noun | tambourine. |
| timocracy | noun | state in which possession of property is required for participation in government; ideal state in which love of honour is ruling principle. timocratic, adjective |
| timonism | noun | misanthropy |
| tinction | noun | act of dyeing. tinctorial, adjective pertaining to tinction or colors. tinctumutation, noun change of color. |
| tinea | noun | ringworm, or similar disease. tineal, adjective |
| tintinnabulate | verb | -i. ring; tinkle. tintinnabulant, tintinnabular(y), tintinnabulous, adjective tintinnabulation, noun |
| tiqueur | noun | person suffering from tics. |
| tirailleur | noun | infantry soldier. |
| tiro | noun | beginner. tirocinium, noun (pl. - ia) first experience. |
| tisane | noun | medicinal beverage of barley, camomile, etc.; ptisan. |
| Titan | noun | one of a race of giants in Greek mythology; giant; genius. titanic, adjective |
| tithe | noun | tenth part; tax payable to church. |
| Titian | adjective | reddish-brown. |
| titivate | verb | smarten up. |
| titrate | verb | Chemistry, determine strength of, or analyse, etc., by finding the smallest amount of the substance that will produce a given effect with another known quantity. titre, noun such smallest amount. titrimetry, noun measuring by such means. titration, noun |
| tittup | verb | prance. |
| titubant | adjective | staggering. titubancy, noun |
| tmesis | noun | introduction of word, etc., between parts of a compound word. |
| toadstone | noun | any stone or stone-like concretion believed to be formed in a toad and to have magic powers. |
| toccata | noun | brilliant, quick, fantasia-like musical composition. |
| tocology | noun | midwifery. tocological, adjective tocologist, noun |
| tocsin | noun | alarm bell. |
| toddick | noun | very small quantity of something |
| toga praetexta | noun | toga with broad purple border, worn by magistrates, etc. |
| toga virilis | noun | toga adopted as sign of manhood. |
| toison | noun | sheep's fleece. toison d'or Golden Fleece. |
| tombac | noun | alloy of zinc and copper used for cheap jewellery, etc.; Dutch gold. |
| tombolo | noun | narrow spit linking an island with another island or the mainland. |
| tomentose, tomentous | adjective | bearing thickly matted hairs. tomentulose, adjective slightly tomentose. tomentum, noun Botany, covering of matted woolly hairs; Anatomy, network of minute blood vessels in the brain. |
| tomography | noun | X-ray photography in which parts of body in front of, or behind, the part under examination are not shown. tomogram, noun such photograph. tomographic(al), adjective |
| tonant | adjective | making loud, deep noise. |
| tondo | noun | a circular painting or relief sculpture. |
| tonetics | noun | study of intonation in languages. tonetician, noun |
| tonitruous | adjective | thundering. tonitruone, noun musical instrument imitating thunder. |
| tonka | noun | bean-like tree and seed, used in perfumes, vanilla extract, etc. |
| tonneau | noun | rear seating compartment of car. |
| tonometer | noun | instrument measuring pitch of tones; Medicine, instrument measuring tension or pressure. tonograph, noun recording tonometer. |
| tonsorial | adjective | pertaining to barber or hairdressing. |
| tontine | noun | allocation of certain benefits, as annuities, etc., among a group of persons such that at the death of one member the remainder share his or her portion; annuity, etc., so shared. |
| tonus | noun | normal response to stimuli; muscular spasm. |
| toparch | noun | ruler, especially of toparchy. toparchy, noun petty state under a toparch. |
| tophaceous | adjective | gritty. tophus, noun (pl. -phi ) tufa; bodily concretion. |
| toponym | noun | name of, or designating, a place; name derived from a place-name. toponymic, adjective toponymics n. study of place-names. toponymy, noun region's place-names. |
| topophobia | noun | dread of certain places. |
| toque | noun | woman's turban-like brimless hat. |
| torchon | noun | kind of coarse lace or paper. |
| torcular | noun | tourniquet. |
| toreutic | adjective | pertaining to metal ornamented with small engraved patterns; chased. toreutics, noun art of doing such work. |
| torii | noun | Japanese gateway of curved posts and lintel only. |
| tormentum | noun | (pl. -ta) ancient catapult-like war machine. |
| tormina | noun | pl. gripes. torminal, torminous, adjective |
| torose | adjective | bulging, knobbly; muscular. torous, adjective torosity, noun |
| torpid | adjective | numb; sleepy; dull. torpidity, noun torpify, v. make torpid. torpor, noun torpid state; apathy. torporific, adjective torpifying. |
| torque | noun | collar, especially of twisted metal; force tending to produce rotation. torquate(d), adjective having a collar. |
| torsade | noun | twisted cord. |
| torticollis | noun | Medicine, condition in which neck is permanently twisted and head held at an unusal angle. |
| tortile | adjective | twisted; capable of being twisted. tortility, noun |
| tortious | adjective | causing or committing tort. |
| torulose, torulous | adjective | slightly torose. |
| torvous | adjective | stern. torvity, noun |
| totara | noun | timber tree, with reddish wood, of N.Z.; mahogany pine. |
| totem | noun | animal or plant adopted as ancestor by savage tribe, and held in great veneration. totemic, adjective totemism, noun |
| touché | adjective | 'touched' by opponent's rapier in fencing; hit; defeated in argument. |
| tourbillion | noun | whirlwind; any whirling object. |
| tourmaline | noun | kind of black, blue, red and green silicate cut as gem. |
| tourniquet | noun | device to stop bleeding, as a bandage twisted tight by a stick, etc. |
| tournure | noun | grace; poise; expressive phrase. |
| toxemia | noun | blood poisoning due to toxins in blood. |
| toxoid | noun | toxin treated to reduce toxicity and used in immunisation. |
| toxophily | noun | archery. toxophilite, noun person fond of toxophily. toxophilous, adjective |
| trabeate(d) | adjective | constructed of horizontal beams. trabeation, adjective |
| trabecula | noun | (pl. -lae ) small bar, rod, etc. trabecular, adjective trabeculate, adjective crossbarred. |
| trachoma | noun | chronic form of conjunctivitis. trachomatous, adjective |
| trachycarpous | adjective | rough-fruited. trachyglossate, adjective rough-tongued. trachyphonia, noun roughness of voice. trachyspermous, adjective rough-seeded. |
| tractile | adjective | ductile. tractility, noun |
| tractive | adjective | pulling. |
| traduce | verb | slander. traduction, traducement, noun |
| tragopan | noun | kind of bright-hued Asiatic pheasant. |
| tragus | noun | (pl. -gi ) prominence in front of opening of ear. |
| tralatition | noun | metaphor. tralatitious, adjective metaphorical; handed down from father to son. |
| tralatitiously | adverb | metaphorically; figuratively |
| trammel | noun | net to catch fish, birds, etc.; shackle on horse's leg; check; obstacle; instrument for drawing ellipses; v.t. restrain; hamper. |
| tramontane | adjective | (from) across the mountains; transalpine. |
| transalpine | adjective | on the other (i.e. the north) side of the Alps; crossing the Alps. |
| transcalent | adjective | pervious to heat. transcalescent, adjective transcalency, noun |
| transducer | noun | electronic device transmitting received energy in a different form. |
| transect | verb | cut across; n. cross section. transection, noun |
| transfluent | adjective | flowing across. transflux, noun |
| transforation | noun | perforation. |
| transgenic | adjective | which has had a foreign gene added to it. |
| transhume | verb | move (cattle) to summer pastures or winter quarters. transhumance, noun |
| transilient | adjective | passing abruptly from one state to another. transilience, noun |
| transilluminate | verb | pass light through, especially through body for medical examination.. |
| transire | noun | ship's document for customs declaration, showing cargo, etc. |
| translunary | adjective | beyond the moon; spiritual; unearthly. |
| transmarine | adjective | across or beyond the sea. |
| transmigrate | verb | pass from one body or place into another; transfer. transmigration, noun transmigrative, adjective |
| transpadane | adjective | on the other (i.e. the north) side of the river Po. |
| transpicuous | adjective | easily seen through or understood. transpicuity, noun |
| transpontine | adjective | on the other (i.e. the south) side of the bridges over the Thames; pertaining to or like the lurid melodrama played in theatres there in the 19th century. |
| transrhenane | adjective | on the other (i.e. the east) side of the river Rhine; German. |
| transubstantiate | verb | transmute. transubstantiation, n.; Theology, conversion of Communion bread and wine into body and blood of Christ. |
| transude | verb | to pass or ooze through or out, as sweat through pores |
| transumptive | adjective | transferred; metaphorical. |
| transuranic | adjective | denoting any chemical element having atomic number beyond uranium (92), not occuring in nature but artificially produced by bombardment of atoms. |
| transverbate | verb | translate word for word. transverbation, noun |
| transverberate | verb | pierce. transverberation, noun |
| transvest | verb | disguise; wear clothes of another, especially of other sex. transvestism, noun transvestite, noun & a. |
| transvolation | noun | flying higher than normal. |
| trapezium | noun | (pl. -ia) quadrilateral with two parallel sides; any irregular quadrilateral; American, trapezoid. trapezial, trapeziform, adjective trapezoid, noun quadrilateral with no sides parallel; American, trapezium. |
| traulism | noun | stammering. |
| traumatology | noun | scientific description of wounds. |
| trave | noun | crossbeam; space between crossbeams. travated, adjective |
| trecento | noun | thirteenth century. trecentist, noun writer or artist of that period. |
| trechometer | noun | device measuring distance travelled by a vehicle. |
| treen | adjective | made of wood. treenware, noun cups, dishes etc. made of wood. |
| trefoil | noun | clover, or other plants with leaf divided into three lobes; architectural ornament of that shape. |
| tregetour | noun | a juggling magician |
| trematode | noun | kind of parasitic flatworm. |
| trenchant | adjective | sharp; cutting. |
| trente et quarante | noun | 'thirty and forty'; gambling card game with betting on red and black. |
| trepan | noun | surgical saw for incision into skull; v.t. use trephine on; decoy; swindle. trepanation, noun |
| trepang | noun | sea cucumber. |
| trephine | noun | form of trepan; v.t. use trephine on. trephination, noun |
| tresayle | noun | grandfather's grandfather |
| tressilate | verb | quiver. tressilation, noun |
| triagonal | adjective | triangular. |
| triarch | noun | triumvir. triarchy, noun |
| tribade | noun | homosexual woman. tribadism, noun |
| tribology | noun | scientific study of friction and lubrication. |
| tribuloid | adjective | yielding prickly fruit. |
| tricenary | adjective | pertaining to or consisting of thirty; lasting thirty days. |
| tricephalous | adjective | having three heads. tricephalus, noun (pl. - li ) such monster. |
| trichiasis | noun | ingrowing eyelashes. |
| trichinosis | noun | disease due to eating pork infested with certain kind of nematode worms. trichinize, v. infest with such worms. trichinotic, trichinous, adjective |
| trichotomy | noun | division into three parts or categories. trichotomic, trichotomous, adjective |
| trichromatic | adjective | pertaining to or in three colors; having normal color vision. trichromatism, noun use of the three primary colors for color reproduction; normal color vision. |
| tricipital | adjective | pertaining to triceps; tricephalous. |
| triclinic | adjective | having three unequal axes meeting at oblique angles. |
| tricorn | adjective | having three corners or horns. tricorne, noun three-cornered hat. |
| tricot | noun | silk, rayon, nylon or woollen fabric resembling knitting. tricotine, noun double-twilled worsted fabric. |
| tridactyl | adjective | having three fingers or toes. tridentate, adjective having three teeth. tridigitate, adjective tridactyl. |
| tridiurnal | adjective | lasting three days; happening every three days. |
| triennial | adjective | happening every three years; lasting three years; n. such plant; third anniversary. |
| trieteric | adjective noun | (festival) occuring each third year (i.e. in alternate years). |
| trifarious | adjective | facing three ways. |
| trifid | adjective | divided into three parts. |
| triforium | noun | gallery over nave and choir. triforial, adjective |
| trifurcate | adjective | divide into three forks; a. so dividing. trifurcation, noun |
| trigamy | noun | state of being married to three living spouses. trigamist, noun trigamous, adjective |
| trigeminal | adjective | pertaining to pair of nerves from cranium to jaw. trigeminous, adjective (one of) three born together; threefold. |
| trigeneric | adjective | belonging to three kinds or genera; having three genders. |
| triglot | adjective noun | (book) in three languages. |
| triglyph | noun | architectural ornament of tablet bearing two V-shaped channels. triglyphal, triglyphic, adjective |
| trigonal | adjective | pertaining to or having three angles. |
| trigonous | adjective | having triangular cross-section. |
| trigram | noun | figure of three lines; inscription of three letters. trigrammatic, adjective |
| trigraph | noun | three letters having one sound, as eau. trigraphic a. |
| trihedron | noun | solid figure of three planes. trihedral, adjective |
| trihoral | adjective | happening every three hours. |
| trijugate | adjective | with three pairs of leaflets. |
| trilabiate | adjective | having three lips. trilaminar, adjective having three layers. |
| trilateral | adjective | three-sided (figure). |
| trilemma | noun | dilemma-like position offering three choices. |
| trilinear | adjective | pertaining to, having or bounded by three lines. |
| trilingual | adjective | pertaining to, in or speaking three languages. |
| triliteral | adjective noun | (word) of three letters. |
| trilith(on) | noun | ancient monument of two upright stones bearing one transverse stone. |
| trilocular | adjective | having three cells. triloculate, adjective |
| trimacular, trimaculate | adjective | bearing three spots. |
| trimensual | adjective | happening every three months. |
| trimerous | adjective | having its parts in threes. |
| trimeter | noun | verse-line of three feet. trimetric, adjective |
| trimorph | noun | substance crystallising into three forms. trimorphism, noun trimorphous, adjective |
| trin | noun | triplet. trinal, trine, adjective threefold. trinary, noun group of three. |
| tringoid | adjective | pertaining to sandpipers. |
| trinoctial | adjective | lasting three nights. |
| trinomial | adjective | pertaining to or using three names; having name of three terms; pertaining to such scientific nomenclature; n. mathematical expression of three terms joined by + or - trinominal, adjective |
| trioecious | adjective | having male, female and hermaphrodite flowers on different plants. trioecism, noun |
| triolet | noun | eight-lined poem, with repetition of first line as fourth and seventh, and of second line as eighth; and with first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh lines, and second, sixth and eighth lines, rhyming. |
| tripara | noun | woman who has had three childbirths. |
| tripartite | adjective | in three parts; between three parties or States. tripartient, adjective dividing into three parts. tripartition, noun |
| tripedal | adjective | having three feet. |
| triphibian | adjective | equipped to operate from land or water and in the air; triphibous. triphibious, adjective involving land, sea and air forces. |
| triphthong | noun | three vowel sounds pronounced as one. |
| triphyllous | adjective | three-leaved. |
| triplegia | noun | hemiplegia with paralysis of a part on the other side. |
| triplopia | noun | triple vision. |
| tripsis | noun | shampoo or massage |
| triptote | adjective noun | Grammar, (noun) with three cases only. |
| triptych | noun | painting in three parts, especially altar piece with one central and two hinged side panels. |
| triquetra | noun | triangular-shaped pattern, object, etc. triquetral, triquetric, triquetrous, adjective |
| trireme | noun | ancient galley with three banks of oars. |
| triskelion | noun | pattern of three curved branches, especially of three bent legs as badge of Isle of Man. |
| trismus | noun | lockjaw. trismic, adjective |
| tristachyous | adjective | three-spiked. |
| triste | adjective | 'sad'. tristesse, noun sadness. |
| tristich | noun | stanza of three lines. tristichic, adjective tristichous, adjective in three rows. |
| tristiloquy | noun | mournful manner of speech. tristisonous, adjective mournful-sounding. |
| trisulcate | adjective | with three ridges, forks or furrows. |
| trisyllable | noun | word of three syllables. trysyllabic, adjective |
| tritanopia | noun | inability to distinguish properly between blue and yellow. tritanope, noun sufferer from this. |
| tritheism | noun | belief that members of Trinity are three separate gods. tritheist, noun |
| triticism | noun | trite remark. |
| triticoid | adjective | like wheat. |
| tritium | noun | isotope of hydrogen of mass number 3. |
| triton | noun | positively charged atomic particle consisting of a proton and two neutrons, equivalent to the nucleus of an atom of tritium. |
| triturate | verb | to rub, grind, or otherwise crush into fine particles; pulverize; comminute |
| triumvir | noun | (pl. -viri ) member of triumvirate. triumvirate, noun ruling body of three men. |
| triune | adjective | three in one. triunity, noun |
| trivirgate | adjective | bearing three linear markings. |
| troche | noun | circular lozenge, especially for throat affection. |
| trochilic | adjective | rotary; able to turn. trochilics, noun study of rotary motion. |
| trochlea | noun | pulley-like structure of shoulder, thigh, or orbit of eye. trochleiform, trochlear, trochleariform, trochleate, adjective like a pulley. |
| trochocephalic | adjective | having abnormally round head. trochocephalia, trochocephalus, trochocephaly, noun such condition. |
| trompe-l'oeil | phrase | 'deceives the eye'; n. type of painting exactly imitating reality, and of interior decoration producing an illusion of space, height, length, etc. |
| tronc | noun | 'alms-box'; system of pooling tips among waiters. |
| trope | noun | figure of speech; heading; Music, interpolation into a plainsong setting of the Mass. |
| trophic | adjective | pertaining to nutrition. trophesy, noun disease due to fault in such nerves. trophism, noun nutrition. trophogenic, adjective due to differences in food. trophopathy, noun disorder of nutritional processes. trophoplasm, noun nutritive substance of cell. trophotropism, noun growth direction by nutritional factors. |
| tropism | noun | movement of an organism, especially direction of growth of plant, in response to a stimulus; innate inclination. tropismatic, tropistic, adjective |
| tropology | noun | figurative style of writing; interpretation of Bible stressing figurative nature of language. tropological, adjective |
| tropometer | noun | instrument measuring rotation. |
| tropopause | noun | level where troposphere ends and stratosphere begins. |
| tropophilous | adjective | flourishing in seasonal extremes of climate. tropophyte, noun such plant. |
| trotyl | noun | trinitrotoluene. |
| trouvaille | noun | lucky find; ingenious idea. |
| trucidation | noun | slaughter. |
| trumeau | noun | (pl. -eaux) pier glass; pillar supporting tympanum of doorway. |
| trunnion | noun | one of a pair of projecting pivots. |
| truttaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like trout. |
| tryma | noun | kind of nut-like fruit, as walnut. |
| trypsin | noun | pancreatic enzyme digesting protein. tryptic, adjective |
| tsiology | noun | treatise on tea. |
| tubercle | noun | small knob or outgrowth; small tuber; Medicine, small diseased nodule, especially of tuberculosis. tubercular, adjective pertaining to tubercles or tuberculosis. tuberculation, noun formation of tubercles. tuberculin, noun culture of products of tubercular bacilli used as test for tuberculosis. tuberculous, adjective |
| tubicinate | verb | blow a trumpet. tubicination, noun |
| tubicolous | adjective | spinning a tubular web; living in a self-constructed tube. |
| tubicorn(ous) | adjective | hollow-horned. tubifacient, adjective constructing a tube. tubifex, noun freshwater tubicolous worm used as bait. tubiform, adjective tube-like. tubinarial, adjective with tubular nostrils. tubiparous a. secreting matter used in making tube. |
| tubulure | noun | tubular opening. |
| tucket | noun | flourish on trumpet. |
| tucuma | noun | fibre-yielding Brazilian palm. |
| tuism | noun | use of second person (thou, you); philosophical theory stressing existence of a second, or other, self. |
| tumbrel | noun | farm-cart, especially as used to carry condemned persons to the guillotine in French revolution. |
| tumid | adjective | swollen; bombastic. tumidity, noun tumefacient, adjective producing swelling. tumefy, v. swell. tumescent, adjective somewhat tumid. |
| tumulus | noun | (pl. -li ) mound over ancient grave; barrow. tumular, adjective tumulose, adjective having many small mounds. |
| tunicate | noun | one of a class of marine animals, including ascidians; a. covered with layers. |
| tup | noun | ram; head of pile-driver, steam-hammer, v. mate with. |
| turbellarian | noun | kind of flatworm. |
| turbid | adjective | muddy; not clear. turbidity, noun |
| turbinate | adjective | spirally rolled; like a spinning-top in shape; v.t. spin; whirl. turbinal, adjective turbination, noun |
| turpitude | noun | depravity. |
| turrical | adjective | turret-like. turricular, turriculate a. turriferous, adjective bearing towers. |
| twibil | noun | a two-edged axe |
| tychism | noun | theory that chance plays an active role in the universe, especially such theory of evolution. |
| tympanum | noun | (pl. -na ) ear-drum; Archtitecture, triangular face of pediment; space within arch. tympanal, tympanic, adjective tympani, n.pl. (sing. -no) timpani. tympaniform, adjective like a tympanum. tympanist, noun timpanist. tympanites, noun distention of abdomen by flatulence. tympanitis n. inflammation of the tympanum. tympany, noun inflation; turgidity. |
| typhlitis | noun | inflammation of caecum; archaic, appendicitis. |
| typhlology | noun | study of blindness. typhlosis, noun blindness. |
| typography | noun | art of printing; style and layout of printed matter. typographer, noun typographic(al), adjective |
| typology | noun | study of types; theological doctrine of symbolization of New Testament events in the Old Testament. typologist, noun |
| typtology | noun | theory concerning rappings by spirits. typtological, adjective typtologist, noun |
| tyrannicide | noun | killing or killer of tyrant. |
| tyremesis | noun | vomiting of curd-like matter. |
| tyroma | noun | (pl. -mata ) cheese-like matter. tyromatous, adjective |
| uberous | adjective | fruitful |
| ubiety | noun | state of being in a place; 'thereness'; position. |
| ubiquity | noun | state of being everywhere. ubiquitous, adjective |
| udometer | noun | rain gauge. udograph, noun recording udometer. udometric, adjective udometry, noun |
| uhlan | noun | kind of lancer. |
| ukase | noun | decree; proclamation. |
| uliginose, uliginous | adjective | marshy; muddy. |
| ulitis | noun | inflammation of gums. |
| ullage | noun | lack; deficiency; amount by which a quantity, especially of liquor, is short of full measure; dregs. ullaged, adjective not full measure. |
| uloid | adjective | like a scar. |
| ulotrichous | adjective | having wooly or crisply curling hair |
| ultimogeniture | noun | inheritance by the youngest son. |
| ultracrepidarian | adjective | venturing beyond one's province; presuming. ultracrepidate, v.i. |
| ultrafidian | adjective | going beyond faith. |
| ultramarine | adjective | beyond the sea; n. & a. (of) greenish- blue color or pigment. |
| ultramontane | adjective | beyond (i.e. south of) the Alps; supporting the supremacy of the Pope; n. such person. ultramontanism, noun |
| ultramundane | adjective | beyond the world; spiritual. |
| ultrasonic | adjective | denoting air-waves or vibrations with frequencies higher than those audible to the human ear, i.e. more than about 20,000 cycles per second. ultrasonics, noun study and use of such waves. |
| ultroneous | adjective | spontaneous, voluntary. |
| ululate | verb | to howl or hoot; or to wail or lament loudly |
| umbel | noun | umbrella-like inflorescence with stalks of equal length springing from one point, as in carrot. umbellar, umbellate, umbelliferous, adjective having flowers in this shape. umbellifer, noun plant having umbel, or belonging to carrot family. |
| umbo | noun | (pl. -ones) boss of shield; any rounded projection. umbonal, umbonic, adjective umbonate, adjective having umbo. |
| umiak | noun | large, open Eskimo boat. |
| unasinous | adjective | being equally stupid. |
| uncate | adjective | hooked. |
| uncial | adjective noun | (letter or manuscript) written in large rounded script of before 10th century AD; majuscule; capital. |
| unciform | adjective | hook-like. uncinate, adjective hooked. |
| unco | adjective | strange; foreign; extraordinary. unco guid, strictly moral. |
| undecagon | noun | eleven-sided plane figure. |
| undecennial | adjective | happening every, or lasting, eleven years. |
| undecimal | adjective | in eleven parts. |
| underfong | noun | to determine or resolve |
| undine | noun | water spirit. |
| ungual | adjective | pertaining to or like nail, hoof or talon. |
| unguiculate | adjective | having claws or nails. |
| unguinous | adjective | oily; fatty. |
| ungulate | noun | hoofed (mammal). unguligrade, adjective walking on hoofs. |
| unicameral | adjective | having one legislative chamber. |
| unicity | noun | one-ness; state of being unique. |
| unidextral | adjective | using one hand more deftly than other. |
| unifilar | adjective | having or using one thread or wire. |
| unifoliate | adjective | with one leaf only. |
| unigenesis | noun | non-sexual reproduction. |
| unigenital | adjective | only- begotten. unigenous, adjective of same kind. |
| unilingual | adjective | in one language only. |
| uniliteral | adjective | having one letter only. |
| uninominal | adjective | pertaining to or consisting of one name only. |
| unipara | noun | woman having had one childbirth only. |
| uniparous | adjective | producing only one at a birth. |
| uniped | noun | one-legged or one-footed (person). |
| unipotent | adjective | powerful in one direction only. |
| unireme | noun | (galley) with one bank of oars. |
| unisonous | adjective | in unison; agreeing. |
| unitarian | noun | (person) denying doctrine of Trinity. |
| univalent | adjective | single; having valency of one. |
| univocal | adjective | unmistakable; pertaining to things of same kind. |
| univoltine | adjective | single-brooded. |
| univorous | adjective | applied to parasites living on one host only. |
| uraemia | noun | accumulation in the blood of urinary products normally excreted. |
| uraeus | noun | representation of the sacred asp as emblem of supreme power, especially on headdress of Egyptian rulers. |
| uranism | noun | homosexuality in males. uranist, noun |
| uranography | noun | description or mapping of heaven(s). |
| uranolatry | noun | worship of heavenly bodies. |
| uranology | noun | treatise on or study of heavens. |
| uranometry | noun | chart or measurement of heavenly bodies. |
| uranoscopy | noun | star-watching. |
| urbacity | noun | excessive civic pride. |
| urbarial | adjective | founded on landed property register. urbicolous, adjective city-dwelling. |
| urceus | noun | single-handed jug; urn. urceolate, adjective Botany, shaped like a pitcher. |
| ure | noun | custom; use. |
| uredinous | adjective | pertaining or belonging to rusts (fungus); Medicine, pertaining to or like uredo. uredinoid, adjective like rusts. uredinology, noun study of rusts. |
| uredo | noun | burning feeling of skin. |
| urgrund | noun | basis; primary principle, cause or factor. |
| uric | adjective | pertaining to or contained in urine. uridrosis, noun excretion of perspiration containing urinary products. |
| uropygium | noun | rear part of bird's body from which tail feathers grow. uropygial, adjective uropygial gland, gland at base of tail feathers secreting fluid used in preening. |
| ursine | adjective | pertaining to or like a bear. ursiform, adjective bear-shaped. ursoid, adjective like a bear. |
| urticaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like nettles; belonging to nettle family of plants. urticant, noun & a. stinging (substance). urticaria, noun nettle-rash. urticate, v. sting; cause wheals; flog. urticose, adjective full of nettles. |
| usance | noun | Commerce, time allowed for payment of a bill of exchange; interest on loan. |
| user | noun | Law, continued use; right to use. |
| usine | noun | factory. |
| usitative | adjective | signifying usual act. |
| usquebaugh | noun | whiskey; kind of Irish cordial. |
| ustulate | verb | give burned appearance to; a. scorched. ustulation, noun roasting; lust. |
| usufruct | noun | right to enjoy property. usufructuary, noun & a. |
| uti possidetis | noun | principle of international law allowing a belligerent to claim the territory it occupies at the end of a war. |
| utraquist | noun | person speaking two or both languages, or believing that both kinds of Sacrament should be administered. |
| utricle | noun | small cavity or sac. utricular, utriculate, adjective utriculitis, noun inflammation of inner ear. |
| utriform | adjective | like a leather bottle. |
| uvula | noun | (pl. -lae ) fleshy outgrowth at back of soft palate. uvulitis, noun inflammation of uvula. uvular, adjective |
| uxorial | adjective | wifely. uxoricide n. killing or killer of own wife. uxorious, adjective loving wife to excess; submissive to wife. |
| uxorious | noun | submissive to one's wife |
| vade mecum | noun | a favorite book carried everywhere |
| vadose | adjective | pertaining to water above the water table. |
| vagile | adjective | able to move about freely. |
| vaginate | adjective | sheathed. |
| vaginismus | noun | painful contraction of the vagina. |
| vagitus | noun | new-born child's cry. |
| vale | noun | 'farewell'. valediction, noun bidding farewell. valedictory, adjective |
| valency | noun | element's power to combine, measured by number of atomic weights of other elements with which the atomic weight of the element will combine. valence, noun valent, adjective |
| valetudinarian | noun | hypochondriac; sickly person. valetudinarianism, noun valetudinary, adjective |
| valetudinarianism | noun | weak or sickly state; thinking only of one's illness |
| valgus | adjective | clubfoot; bow-legged or knock-kneed (condition). valgoid, adjective like valgus. |
| vallate | adjective | having a raised rim. vallated, adjective having a rampart. vallation, noun rampart. |
| vallecular | adjective | pertaining to or like a groove. valleculate, adjective bearing grooves. |
| valorise | verb | fix arbitrary price of. valorization, noun |
| valorization | noun | government price-fixing |
| vaniloquence | noun | vain and foolish talk |
| vapulate | verb | to beat, whip |
| varec | noun | seaweed; kelp. |
| varicose | adjective | swollen, especially in irregular lumps and twists. varicotomy, noun incision into varicose vein. varicosis, noun state of being varicose. varicosity, noun |
| varietal | adjective | pertaining to a variety. varietist, noun person who chooses variety in the satisfaction of (sexual) desire. |
| varietist | noun | an unorthodox person; or someone who practices unorthodox sex |
| variola | noun | smallpox. variolic, variolar, adjective varioloid, adjective like smallpox; n. mild form of same. variolate, v. inoculate with smallpox. |
| variole | noun | small depression resembling pockmark; Geology, small light- colored sphere found in type of igneous rock. variolite, noun such rock. variolitic, adjective |
| variometer | noun | instrument measuring variations in magnetic force; variable inductor with one coil rotating within another. |
| variorum | noun | pertaining to a literary classic annotated by sundry contemporaries |
| varistor | noun | semiconductor with resistance varying in accordance with voltage. |
| varix | noun | (pl. -rices ) varicose swelling; ridge on surface of e.g. snail's shell. |
| varus | adjective | pigeon-toed (person or condition). |
| vas | noun | (pl. vasa ) Medicine, duct; vessel. vas deferens, spermatic duct. vasal, adjective vascular, vasculose, vasculous, adjective pertaining to fluid-conveying vessels. vasculature, noun arrangement of blood vessels. vasculiform, adjective flowerpot-shaped. vasiferous, adjective bearing a vas. |
| vasoconstriction | noun | constriction of blood vessels. vasodilatation, noun dilatation of blood vessels. vasomotor, adjective applied to nerves controlling constriction and dilatation of blood vessels. |
| vastate | verb | make immune. vastation, noun purification. |
| vastation | verb | purification through fire |
| vaticinate | verb | prophesy. vaticinal, vaticinatory, adjective prophetic. vaticination, vaticinator, noun |
| vecordious | adjective | senseless, insane, mad |
| vection | noun | infection with disease. vector, noun disease-carrying insect; Mathematics, symbol of quantity having magnitude and direction; compass direction of aircraft. |
| vedette | noun | outpost mounted sentry. vedette boat, small boat or ship for watching enemy. |
| vegetal | adjective | pertaining to or like a vegetable; lacking feelings. vegetant, adjective vegetable-like; causing growth; tonic. vegetative, adjective growing; plant-like; fertile; pertaining to unconscious life processes, as growth, digestion, etc. vegetivorous, adjective eating vegetables. |
| velamen | noun | (pl. -lamina ) water-absorbing outer covering of aerial roots of certain orchids. velamentous, adjective pertaining to or like a thin membrane. |
| velar | adjective | pertaining to soft palate; pronounced with back of tongue touching soft palate, as k, ng, etc.; n. such sound. velate, adjective having veil or velum. velation, noun act of veiling; secrecy. velic, adjective pertaining to velum. veliferous, veligerous, adjective bearing a sail or velum. |
| velitation | noun | a petty fight; a skirmish |
| velleity | noun | state of desiring faintly; slight wish. |
| vellicate | verb | to pull at, off, or out with a sudden jerk; to pluck; or to move with spasmodic convulsions; twitch |
| vellum | noun | calf or lamb gut or skin prepared for writing on; parchment. |
| velocious | adjective | jocular, with great speed. |
| velocipede | noun | old-fashioned bicycle. velocipedist, noun |
| velum | noun | (pl. -la) veil-like membrane; soft palate. |
| velutinous | adjective | having downy covering; velvety. |
| venatic(al) | adjective | pertaining to, used in, or fond of hunting. |
| venation | noun | arrangement of veins on leaf or wing of insect. |
| vendue | noun | auction. |
| venenation | noun | poisoning; poisoned state. |
| venenose | adjective | poisonous. |
| venereology | noun | study of venereal diseases. venereologist, noun |
| venery | noun | the pursuit of sexual pleasure or indulgence |
| venesect | verb | open vein in blood-letting. venesection, noun |
| venial | adjective | forgivable; not criminal. veniality, noun |
| venireman | noun | a member of the jury |
| venous | adjective | pertaining to the veins; applied to blood carried by veins to heart, containing impurities. venostasis, noun constricting veins to check blood. |
| ventage | noun | finger hole in a wind instrument |
| venter | noun | Zoology, abdomen, belly; Law, womb, whence wife or mother. |
| ventiduct | noun | air-pipe. ventifact, noun stone rounded by wind action. |
| ventoseness | adjective | windiness; flatulence |
| ventral | adjective | pertaining to the belly. |
| ventricumbent | adjective | lying face down; prone |
| ventripotent | adjective | fat, overindulgent with respect to food |
| venule | noun | small vein. venulose, venulous, adjective having many venules. |
| veracious | adjective | truthful; true; exact. veracity, noun |
| verbigerate | verb | involuntarily repeat certain words, phrases, etc. verbigeration, noun verbigerative, adjective |
| verbigeration | noun | senseless reiteration of cliches |
| verbile | noun | person whose mental processes are most easily stimulated by words. |
| verbophobia | noun | fear and dislike of words |
| verboten | adjective | 'forbidden'; prohibited. |
| verd-antique | noun | kind of green mottled marble. |
| verecund | adjective | bashful; modest |
| vergiform | adjective | like a rod. |
| veridic(al) | adjective | veracious; genuine. veridicality, noun |
| veriloquent | adjective | speaking truthfully |
| verjuice | noun | sour juice; sourness. |
| vermeil | noun | vermilion; n. gilded metal. |
| vermian | adjective | like a worm. |
| vernal | adjective | pertaining or belonging to spring (season). |
| vernalagnia | noun | spring fever |
| vernalize | verb | to cause (plants) to come to early maturity, especially by chilling seeds, bulbs etc. vernalization, noun |
| vernicose | adjective | covered with natural varnish. |
| vernier | noun | short sliding scale indicating fractions of a graduation; additional control for obtaining fine adjustments. |
| vernissage | noun | preview or opening of an art exhibition. |
| veronal | noun | hypnotic drug, also called barbital. |
| verricule | noun | tuft of bristles, hairs, etc. verriculate, adjective having verricules. |
| verruca | noun | wart. verrucated, adjective bearing wart-like prominences. verrucose, verrucous, adjective covered with warts. verruculose, adjective having very small warts or wart-like prominences. |
| versant | noun | slope of a mountain (range); general slope of a region. |
| versicle | noun | short verse; Ecclesiastical, short verse followed by response. versicular, adjective pertaining to or marking verses. |
| versicolor | adjective | of various or varying colors. |
| verst | noun | unit of distance, equivalent of two-thirds of a mile. |
| verticil | noun | Botany, whorl. |
| vertiginous | adjective | having or causing vertigo; whirling. |
| vesicle | noun | small blister; bladder-like or rounded cavity; cell; cyst. vesical, adjective pertaining to bladder; oval. vesicant, vesicatory, adjective raising blisters. vesicate, v. blister. vesicular, adjective like a vesicle or bladder; bearing many vesicles. |
| vespal | adjective | pertaining to wasps. vespacide, noun substance or person killing wasps. |
| vespertine | adjective | in or of the evening; setting at same time as, or just after, the sun. |
| vespiary | noun | wasps'nest. vespid, noun social wasp. vespine, adjective pertaining to or like wasps. |
| vesta | noun | wax-match. |
| vestiary | adjective | pertaining to clothes or dress. |
| vesticate | verb | to blister |
| vesuvian | noun | old-fashioned kind of match; fusee. vesuviate, v.i. erupt; burst with heat. |
| vetanda | noun | pl. forbidden things. |
| vetitive | adjective | having power to forbid or veto. |
| vexillary | adjective | pertaining to regimental colors or standard; n. standard-bearer. vexillology, noun study of flags. |
| viaggiatory | adjective | on the move; traveling around |
| viands | noun | pl. food. |
| viatic(al) | adjective | pertaining to roads or travel. viaticum, noun Holy Communion administered to dying person; travelling provisions or expenses. viator, noun traveller. viatorial, adjective travelling. |
| vibrissa | noun | (pl. -sae ) sensitive whisker on animal's face. vibrissal, adjective |
| viburnum | noun | kind of shrub or tree including guelder-rose, etc. |
| vicarial | adjective | pertaining to vicar or delegate. vicarious, adjective acting for another; enjoyed or suffered for, or through, another; substituted. |
| vicegerent | adjective noun | (person) representing a ruler or God. vicegerency, noun vicegeral, adjective |
| vicenary | adjective | pertaining to or consisting of 20; having 20 as a base. vicennial, adjective lasting, or happening every, 20 years. |
| vicinage | noun | neighbourhood. vicinal, adjective neighbouring; local. |
| vicissitude | noun | change of fortune; alternation. vicissitudinous, adjective |
| vicissitudinary | adjective | pertaining to change, alteration, mutation |
| victoria | noun | light open two-seater four-wheeled carriage, with raised driver's seat. |
| victual | verb | provision; n.pl. food. victualler, noun licensee of public house. |
| vicuna | noun | wild wool-bearing llama-like animal of the Andes. |
| viduage | noun | widowhood. viduity, noun |
| vigentennial | adjective | lasting, or happening every, twenty years; n. twentieth anniversary. |
| vigesimal | adjective | pertaining to or based on number twenty; twentieth. |
| vigesimation | noun | killing every twentieth person |
| vignette | noun | small, ornamental illustration without frame or with background shaded off; slight portrait or character sketch. |
| vilify | verb | slander; degrade. vilification, noun vilipend, v. speak slightingly of. vilipenditory, adjective despising. |
| vilipend | verb | to belittle, to disparage |
| villar | adjective | pertaining to feudal manor or village; n. villein. villatic, adjective rural; pertaining to villa. |
| villein | noun | free villager; serf. villeinage, noun |
| villus | noun | (pl. -li ) small vein-like outgrowth; soft hair. villiform, adjective like villus; with velvety surface. villose, villous, adjective bearing soft hairs. villosity, noun |
| vimen | noun | (pl. -mina ) long thin branch or twig. vimineous, adjective pertaining to or made of twigs. |
| vinaceous | adjective | pertaining to or like grapes or wine; wine-colored. |
| vincular | adjective | connective. vinculum, noun (pl. - la) bond, tie; Mathematics, horizontal line over figures with the same function as brackets. |
| vindemiate | verb | gather in fruit, or the vintage. vindemiation, noun vindemiatory, adjective |
| vinous | adjective | pertaining to or like wine; fond of wine; wine-colored. vinosity, noun |
| viparious | adjective | life-renewing |
| virelay | noun | old French poem with refrain and various special rhyming schemes. |
| virescent | adjective | becoming or slightly green. virescence, noun |
| virgal | adjective | composed of twigs. virgate, adjective like a rod; having many twigs; v.i. branch off. |
| virgule | noun | slanting mark (/) indicating pause, hyphen, or alternative. virgulate, adjective rod-like. |
| viridescent | adjective | greenish. viridigenous a. producing greenness. viridity, noun greenness; freshness. |
| virilescence | noun | acquisition by females of male characteristics. virilia, noun male reproductive organs. virilism, noun masculinity in women, especially with secondary male characteristics. |
| virose | adjective | poisonous; foul-smelling. |
| vis major | noun | 'greater force'; act of God; unavoidable accident. |
| visard | noun | mask; visor. |
| viscerotonic | adjective | Psychology, having sociable, comfort-loving temperament associated with endomorphy. |
| viscid | adjective | viscous. viscose,, noun cellulose prepared for use as rayon, etc. viscous, adjective thick and sticky like glue or treacle. viscosity,, noun treacliness; force opposing flow. |
| visile | adjective noun | (person) with mental processes most readily stimulated by visual impressions. |
| vitalism | noun | philosophical doctrine that life processes are not entirely explicable, or bound, by scientific laws. vitalist, noun vitalistic, adjective |
| vitascope | noun | moving picture projector. |
| vitative | adjective | fond of life. |
| vitellus | noun | yolk of egg. vitelline, adjective pertaining to or colored like egg yolk. vitelline membrane, sac surrounding fertilized ovum. vitellin, noun protein in egg yolk. |
| vitiate | verb | impair; spoil; debase; make useless or impure. vitiation, vitiator, noun |
| viticula | noun | trailing, climbing vine |
| viticulture | noun | vine-growing. vitiferous, adjective bearing vines. |
| vitiligo | noun | Medicine, condition characterized by smooth white patches on skin. |
| vitilitigate | adjective | to be particularly quarrelsome |
| vitrail | noun | (pl. -aux ) stained glass. |
| vitreous | adjective | pertaining to or like glass. vitreal, adjective vitrescent, adjective becoming vitreous; able to be made into glass. vitrescible, adjective vitrifiable. vitric, adjective glassy. vitrics, noun study of glassware. vitrifacture, noun making of glassware. vitriform, adjective glassy. vitrify, v.i. & t. make or become vitreous. vitrine, noun glass case. |
| vittate | adjective | striped length-wise. |
| vituline | adjective | pertaining to or like calf, or veal. |
| vituperate | verb | speak bitterly, harshly or abusively (of). vituperation, vituperator, noun vituperative, vituperatory, adjective |
| vivandi�re | noun | woman camp-follower supplying provisions. |
| vivarium | noun | (pl. -ia) place or box, etc., for keeping living animals. |
| viverrine | adjective | pertaining to or like a civet; belonging to civet family; n. civet. |
| vives | noun | swelling of horse's submaxillary glands. |
| viveur | noun | person who lives (well); person indulging in pleasures. |
| vivify | verb | make alive or vivid; animate; sharpen. vivification, noun |
| viviparous | adjective | bringing forth live young. viviparism, viviparity, noun |
| vivisepulture | noun | live burial |
| vocable | noun | word; name; sound. vocabular, adjective |
| vocalic | adjective | pertaining to or like vowels. |
| volant | adjective | flying; able to fly; quick. |
| volar | adjective | pertaining to palm or sole; pertaining to flight. |
| volary | noun | aviary. |
| volation | noun | ability to fly. |
| volent | adjective | exercising will power. |
| volitate | verb | fly about; flutter. volitant, adjective able to fly; flying. volitation, noun |
| volitient | adjective | exercising free will |
| volitorial | adjective | able to fly. |
| volplane | verb | glide through air. |
| volte-face | noun | change to opposite opinion or direction. |
| volucrine | adjective | pertaining to birds. |
| voluptuary | noun | person excessively devoted to luxury. voluptuous, adjective luxurious; given up to luxury; sensuous. volupty, noun sexual pleasure. |
| volute | adjective noun | spiral (object or ornament). volutate v.i. roll. volution, noun twist; convolution. |
| vomer | noun | slender bone which separates the nostrils |
| vomitory | noun | emetic; vessel for receiving vomit; passageway leading to a tier of seats, especially in Roman amphitheatre. |
| vomituration | noun | retching, ineffectual vomiting, dry heaves |
| vomiturition | noun | retching; unsuccessful attempt to vomit; easy vomiting. |
| voussoir | noun | any wedge-shaped stone forming part of arch, vault, etc. |
| vrouw | noun | housewife; woman. |
| vulcanology | noun | study of volcanic activity. |
| vulgarian | noun | vulgar person, especially one who is rich or has pretensions to taste. |
| vulgarism | noun | coarse, substandard or obscene expression; vulgarity. |
| vulgate | noun | 4th-century Latin translation of Scriptures; generally accepted text or version. |
| vulgus | noun | the common people; school composition in Latin verse. |
| vulpicide | noun | killing or killer of fox, except by hunting. vulpecular, adjective pertaining to young fox. vulpine, adjective fox-like; cunning. |
| vulva | noun | external portion of female reproductive organs. vulval, vulvar, adjective vulvate, vulviform, adjective shaped like vulva. vulvitis, noun inflammation of vulva. |
| waddy | noun | war-club of aborigines. |
| wadi | noun | valley; stream; watercourse drying up in summer; oasis. |
| wagon-lit | noun | sleeping compartment of railway train. |
| wain | noun | farm wagon. wainwright, noun maker or repairer of carts. |
| waldgrave | noun | former German title of count; head forest ranger. waldgravine, noun wife of a waldgrave. |
| wanion | noun | bad luck due to the waning of the moon |
| wapentake | noun | subdivision of certain counties; court or bailiff of such area. |
| wapiti | noun | elk. |
| wappenshaw | noun | muster of men with their weapons formerly held in certain areas of Scotland. |
| warison | noun | bugle call ordering the attack. |
| weasand | noun | throat; gullet; wind-pipe. |
| Weltanschauung | noun | a comprehensive world view, especially from a specified standpoint |
| Weltschmerz | noun | sadness over the evils of the world, especially as an expression of romantic pessimism |
| Wergild | noun | value of a man's life, payable to his family by his murderer. |
| wether | noun | castrated ram. |
| wharfinger | noun | owner or manager of a wharf. |
| whin | noun | gorse. whinchat, noun small brown and buff song-bird. |
| whisternefet | noun | a sharp slap |
| whitlow | noun | abscess on finger, especially round nail. |
| widdershins | adverb | anticlockwise; backwards, in the reverse order or direction to normal. |
| widgeon | noun | kind of fresh-water duck with light crown. |
| wimble | noun | boring tool, e.g. gimlet, brace and bit. |
| wimple | noun | women's head covering worn round neck and chin, as by nuns. |
| windage | noun | deflection of projectile by the wind. |
| witan | noun | early English King's council. |
| witenagemot | noun | early English national council; witan. |
| withe | noun | tough, flexible branch or twig, especially one used for binding. |
| withernam | noun | taking one thing as reprisal for something else taken previously |
| withhold | verb | not give or grant; restrain; deduct; v.i. refrain (from). |
| withy | noun | willow; withe. |
| wittol | noun | complacent cuckold. |
| witzelsucht | noun | emotional state characterized by futile attempts at humor |
| wolfram | noun | tungsten. |
| wort | noun | infusion of malt before fermentation. |
| wroth | adjective | archaic angry. |
| wynd | noun | alley. |
| xanthic | noun | yellow in color |
| xanthochroism | noun | condition in which all skin pigments except yellow and orange disappear |
| xanthoma | noun | skin disease causing yellow patches |
| xanthopsia | noun | optical defect causing everything to seem yellow |
| xanthous | adjective | yellow- or red-haired; yellow-skinned |
| xebec | noun | ship with three masts |
| xenagogue | noun | a guide |
| xenagogy | noun | a guidebook |
| xenapistia | noun | extreme distrust of strangers |
| xenial | adjective | pertaining to hospitality, or relations with friendly visitors. xenian, adjective |
| xenodocheionology | noun | jocular, love of hotels and inns. |
| xenoepist | noun | someone who speaks with a foreign accent |
| xenogamy | noun | cross-fertilization. xenogenesis, noun production of offspring unlike the parent. xenograft, noun heterograft. xenolith, noun rock particle included in another rock. xenomorphic a. with a form not its own. |
| xenomancy | noun | fortunetelling by studying the first stranger that appears |
| xerarch | adjective | growing in dry places. |
| xerasia | noun | morbid dryness of hair. xeric, adjective pertaining to or adapted to dry conditions. |
| xeroderma | noun | morbid dryness of skin. |
| xeronisus | noun | inability to reach orgasm |
| xerophilous | adjective | resisting drought. |
| xerophobous | adjective | unable to survive drought. |
| xerophthalmia | noun | abnormal dryness of the eyeball. |
| xerophyte | noun | plant thriving in desert conditions. |
| xerosis | noun | abnormal dryness. |
| xerostoma | noun | dryness of mouth |
| xerotic | adjective | dry. |
| xertz | verb | to gulp down something quickly |
| xiphoid | adjective | sword-like. xiphoid process, lowest division of sternum; king-crab's tail. xiphophyllous, adjective with sword-shaped leaves. |
| xylem | noun | woody tissue of plants. xylocarp, noun woody fruit. |
| xylograph | noun | wood-engraving; print made from a wood block. xylography, noun |
| xyloid | adjective | like wood. xylonite, noun celluloid. xylophagous, adjective destroying or boring in wood. xylophilous, adjective living on or in wood. xylotomous, adjective boring into or cutting wood. |
| xylophobia | noun | fear of wooden objects; fear of forests |
| xyresic | adjective | razor sharp |
| xystus | noun | indoor exercise area |
| yamen | noun | official residence. |
| yammer | verb | complain peevishly; whine; howl. |
| yarborough | noun | hand of cards containing no card above a nine. |
| yardang | noun | ridged area of land caused by wind erosion |
| yare | adjective | nimble, brisk; ready. |
| yashmak | noun | veil of Muslim women. |
| yataghan | noun | Muslim long curved knife. |
| yawl | noun | ship's small rowing-boat; small sailing vessel with from one to three lugsails; small fore-and-aft rigged vessel with mizzen-mast abaft rudder post. |
| yaws | noun | contagious skin disease resembling syphilis. |
| yclept | adjective | word which means so-named |
| ydromancy | noun | fortunetelling with water |
| yean | verb | bring forth (lamb or kid). yeanling, noun lamb or kid. |
| yestreen | noun | the night before |
| yom | noun | 'day'. yom Kippur, 'day of atonement', a solemn Jewish fast. yom Tob, 'good day'; religious festival; Sabbath. |
| ypsiliform | adjective | shaped like Greek Upsilon. ypsiloid, adjective |
| zamindar | noun | landowner. zamindari, noun land or jurisdiction of a zamindar. |
| zatetic | adjective | pondering, questioning |
| zeigarnik | noun | Psychology, tendency to remember an uncompleted rather than a completed task. |
| zenana | noun | harem; system of segregating women in harems. |
| zenography | noun | study or description of planet Jupiter. zenographic(al), adjective |
| zeta | noun | sixth letter of Greek alphabet. |
| zetetic | adjective | asking; questioning |
| zeugma | noun | literary device of using word to modify two other words with only one of which it is correctly used. zeugmatic, adjective |
| zibeline, zibelline | adjective | pertaining to sables. |
| Zigeuner | noun | 'gypsy'. |
| zingaro | noun | (pl -ri ) 'gypsy'. |
| zircon | noun | brownish or greyish mineral used as gem. zirconiferous, adjective |
| zither | noun | musical instrument of strings stretched over a horizontal sounding board and plucked with a plectrum. |
| zizith | noun | tassels and fringes found on certain religious ceremonial garments |
| zoanthropy | noun | delusion of a person who believes himself changed into an animal. |
| zocle | noun | small stand or pedestal for a statue |
| zoea | noun | early larva of crab and other crustaceans. zoeal, adjective |
| zoetic | adjective | pertaining to life |
| zoic | adjective | showing traces of life; containing organic remains. zoism, noun doctrine that life depends on a peculiar vital principle. |
| zoilism | noun | nagging criticism |
| Zollverein | noun | 'customs-union' as organized by Prussia in the 1830s. |
| zomotherapy | noun | medical treatment by raw meat or meat juice. zomotherapeutic, adjective |
| zonesthesia | noun | the feeling of wearing a tight girdle |
| zooerastia | noun | sexual intercourse with an animal |
| zoogamy | noun | sexual reproduction of animals. zoogenous, adjective originating in animals. zoography, noun description of animals. |
| zooid | noun | organism resembling animal, especially asexually produced; sperm cell. zooidal, adjective |
| zoolite, zoolith | noun | fossil animal. |
| zoometry | noun | measurement of animals. zoomimetic, adjective imitating an animal or part of an animal. zoomorph, noun object in form of animal. zoomorphism, noun representation of god as lower animal. |
| zoonic | adjective | pertaining to or derived from animals. zoonosis, noun disease that can be communicated among animals or from animal to man. |
| zoopery | noun | experimenting on lower animals. zooperal, adjective zooperist, noun |
| zoophile | noun | lover of animals; plant pollinated by animals. zoophilia, zoophilist, noun zoophilous, adjective zoophobia, noun dread of animals. |
| zoophorus, zophorus | noun | sculptured relief frieze with a continuous pattern of men or animals. |
| zoophyte | noun | plant-like animal, as coral, sea anemone, etc. zoophytal, zoophytic, adjective zoophytology, noun study of such. |
| zooscopy | noun | hallucination of seeing animals. zooscopic, adjective |
| zootechny, zootechnics | noun | breeding and taming of animals. zootechnic, adjective |
| zootomy | noun | study of animal anatomy. zootomic(al), adjective zootomist, noun |
| zootrophy | noun | feeding of animals. zootrophic, adjective |
| zouave | noun | French-Algerian infantry soldier; woman's short jacket. |
| zwitterion | noun | ion charged both positively and negatively. |
| zygal | adjective | h-shaped |
| zygomancy | noun | fortune telling with weights |
| zygophyte | noun | plant with reproduction by union of two similar cells. zygospore, noun spore formed by such union. |
| zygote | noun | cell formed by union of two gametes; fertilized egg. zygotic, adjective |
| zymase | noun | enzyme converting sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide. |
| zymogenic | adjective | causing fermentation. zymogenous, adjective |
| zymology | noun | study of or treatise on fermentation. zymologic(al), adjective zymologist, noun |
| zymolysis | noun | action of enzymes. |
| zymoplastic | adjective | partaking in the production of enzymes. |
| zymosis | noun | fermentation; process resembling fermentation in development of infectious disease. |
| zymotic | adjective | pertaining to fermentation; due to development of germs entering body from outside; n. contagious or infectious disease. |
| atblenche | verb | shrink from, escape |
| anethered | verb | lowered, conquered |
