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Difficult English Vocabulary

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Terms

undefined, object
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obstreperous
noisy, loud
contumacious
insubordinate, rebellious
mettlesome
courageous, high-spirited. Don't confuse with "meddlesome," meaning inclined to interfere.
cadge
to beg, to get by begging
pith
heart of the matter, basic trait. Also force, strength, or vigor
supine
lying on the back. Also slow to act, passive.
remonstrate
to protest, object
inveigh
to attack verbally, denounce, deprecate
precepts
rules establishing standards of conduct
impute
to attribute to a cause or source, ascribe
feckless
lacking purpose or vitality; ineffective; careless
decorum
propriety, properness.
penchant
strong inclination, a liking.
appropriate (verb)
take for one's own use, acquire, set aside. Don't confuse with "appropriate (adjective)," which means fitting or suitable.
truculence
aggressiveness, ferocity
garrulity
talkativeness. Adjective is garrulous--talkative
arabesque
a complex, ornate design. Also a dance position.
beatify
to bless, make happy, or ascribe a virtue to. Regard as saintly. Don't confuse with "beautify," which means to make beautiful.
forbearance
patience, willingness to wait.
veritable
unquestionable, true.
pragmatic
practical, favoring utility.
arrant
in every way, being completely such.
consequential
pompous, self important. Also having consequence, important. Also following as a result, or being an effect of some cause.
malinger
to fake illness or injury, in order to shirk a duty.
paucity
scarcity, a lacking of
striated
striped, grooved, or banded. Having stripes.
seminal
like a seed; constituting a source, originative.
attenuate
make thin. weaken, enervate.
precarious
uncertain, risky, dangerous.
enervate
weaken, deprive of strength, attenuate.
partisan
one-sided, committed to a party, biased or prejudiced.
equivocate
lie, mislead, conceal the truth.
assiduous
diligent, hard-working, sedulous.
anachronism
something out of place for its time
lassitude
weariness, tiredness
phlegmatic
calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional
sycophant
flatterer, parasite; a suck-up
perfunctory
superficial, listless, not thorough
impair
worsen, diminish in value
transient
temporary, fleeting
qualify
to limit
nascent
coming into existence, emerging
Quixotic
extravagantly chivalrous, romantically idealistic, impractical
reprobate
person hardened in sin; one devoid of decency
libertine
immoral person
tractable
easily influenced, obedient, docile
craven
cowardly
picaresque
involving clever rogues or adventurers. Don't confuse with "picturesque," which means picture-like, charming, or quaint.
sedulous
diligent, assiduous, devoted to a task
aver
affirm, assert, prove, justify
intrepid
fearless, brave, undaunted
impassive
without feeling, not affected by pain
salient
conspicuous, highly relevant, prominent
morose
gloomy, sullen
raffish
low, vulgar, base, tawdry
loquacious
talkative, garrulous
piquant
agreeably pungent, stimulating
demur
to hesitate, raise objections
equipoise
equal distribution of weight; equilibrium
abysmal
extreme; low, like an abyss
tawdry
cheap, gaudy, showy, tacky
dross
waste product, sludge; something worthless, common, or trivial
ardor
warm interest, passion, enthusiasm, zeal
insouciant
unconcerned, carefree
volubility
fluency, verbosity, easy use of spoken language
dulcet
melodious, harmonious
mellifluous
sweetly flowing; usually used to describe use of words (sweetly flowing words, as when the speech is characterized by high volubility.
desiccate
to dry up, dehydrate
harrow
to distress, create stress or torment
pellucid
transparent, easy to understand
pariah
an outcast, a rejected and despised person
taciturn
untalkative, silent
pique
resentment at being slighted
turgid
excessively ornate; swollen or bloated
]pillory
to punish, hold up to public scorn
adamant
hard and inflexible; unyielding
multifarious
varied, motley, greatly diversified
torpor
lethargy, sluggishness, dormancy
imprecation
an invocation of evil; a curse
audacious
daring; bold
hirsute
hairy, shaggy
tenacity
firmness, persistency, adhesiveness, tending to hang on
apostate
one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
lachrymose
causing tears, tearful
welter
turmoil; a bewildering jumble
discomfit
to defeat, put down
laconic
brief, to the point, terse
venal
corruptible, bribable, unprincipled
ossify
to turn to bone; to settle rigidly into an idea or practice, become closed-minded
disingenuous
sophisticated, artful, trying to deceive, cunning
insensible
unconscious, unresponsive, unaffected
turbid
muddy, having the sediment stirred up
erudite
learned, scholarly
saturnine
gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
abeyance
suspended action
diaphanous
transparent, gauzy
epitome
representative, a summary or abstract, a typical example
squalid
foul, filthy
quiescent
at rest, dormant, torpid
recreancy
cowardice, a cowardly giving up
misanthrope
one who hates mankind
misogynist
one who hates women/females
castigate
to chastise, correct by punishing
apprehension
misgiving, dread. Also a stopping or arrest. Also an understandingprosaic--dull, tedious, commonplace
gainsay
deny
pungency
sharpness; stinging quality
approbation
approval
refractory
stubborn, unmanageable, intractable
contentious
quarrelsome, competitive, quick to fight, pugnacious
antipathy
aversion, dislike
hapless
unlucky, unfortunate
prevaricate
stray from or avoid the truth; equivocate
countenance
(n) mien, face (v) approve of
dogmatic
positive, certain, arbitrary, without room for discussion
strut
a supporting bar
felicitous
apt; suitably expressed, well chosen, apropos
apropos
appropriate to the situation; apt
implacable
incapable of being placated, unpleasable
raffish
disreputable; tawdry
guileless
without deceit, honest
resigned
unresisting, submissive
vituperate
berate, rail against, attack verbally
render
deliver, provide, represent
diffidence
shyness
sophistry
fallacious reasoning, faulty logic
fulminate
berate, vituperate, to thunder out, to explode,
dynamo
a generator, something that produces electric current; an energetic person
assay
an analysis, examination, test. To put to a test
hallow
to make holy; consecrate
disabuse
to undeceive, correct a false impression
boisterous
loud, noisy, rough, lacking restraint
inveigle
wheedle, led astray
sodden
soaked, saturated
perfidious
violating good faith, treacherous, dishonest
conundrum
a riddle, dilemma, enigma
denouement
an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
stolid
showing no emotion; impassive
dissemble
present false appearance; deceive
desuetude
cessation of use; disuse
indefatigability
not easily exhaustible; tirelessness
dilatory
causing delay, procrastinating
garner
to gather and save; to store up
intractable
unruly, refractory, stubborn
delineate
to portray, depict, sketch out
ascetic
practicing self-denial, austere, stark
fervid
intense, zealous
daunt
intimidate, make fearful
burgeon
grow forth, send out buds
anomalous
unexpected, not normal, odd
nice
precise, sensitive to subtleness
prodigal
wasteful, reckless with money
lugubrious
mournful, excessively sad
baleful
harmful, ominous, causing evil
credulous
gullible, too willing to believe
incredulous
skeptical, unwilling to believe (NOT "incredible," as many think)
blithe
cheerful, casual, carefree
verisimilitude
appearing true or real
provident
frugal; looking to the future
edacious
voracious, devouring
expostulate
argue earnestly to dissuade, correct, or protest
auspice
protection or support, patronage
auspicious
favorable, successful, prosperous
punctilious
precise, paying attention to trivialities, especially in regard to etiquette
salutary
remedial, wholesome, causing improvement
imbroglio
difficult or embarrassing situation
wend
to go, proceed
nostrum
a quack remedy, an untested cure
personable
pleasing in appearance, attractive
salacious
obscene
exscind
to cut out, cut away
sublime
lofty, noble
quail
lose courage, turn frightened
urbane
elegant, refined in manners
tyro
novice, amateur
boorish
crude, offensive, rude
upbraid
reprove, reproach
effete
infertile, worn out, weak
obdurate
stubborn, inflexible, adamant
mince
pronounce or speak affectedly, euphemize, speak too carefully. Also to take tiny steps, tiptoe
inimitable
defying imitation, unmatchable
inveterate
deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
umbrage
offense, resentment
extirpate
to destroy, exterminate, cut out, exscind
forswear
renounce, disallow, repudiate
ignoble
dishonorable, common, undignified
ostensible
seeming, appearing as such, professed
illusory
deceptive; an illusion
overweening
presumptuously arrogant, overbearing, immoderate, being a jerk
wag
to be incessantly active, to waddle; also a mischievous person
lucubrate
write in scholarly fashion
impetuous
impulsive, forceful, with energy
bellicose
belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
cabal
a scheme or plot, a group of plotters
irresolute
unresolved, indecisive
complaisance
tending to comply, obliging, willingness to please
apprise
give notice to, inform
pusillanimous
cowardly, craven
polemical
controversial, argued
luculent
easily understood, lucid, clear
poignant
physically painful, distressing, pertinent, touching, stimulating, emotional
engender
cause, produce, give rise to
dissemble
to hide, conceal, disguise
equanimity
calmness of temperament
ingenuous
naive, young, artless, frank, honest, sincere. Don't confuse with "ingenious"--very clever
epicure
food lover, a connoisseur of food
salient
prominent, protruding, conspicuous, highly relevant
inchoate
not yet fully formed, rudimentary, elementary
pugnacious
contentious, quarrelsome, contumacious, given to fighting, belligerent
peremptory
urgent, imperative, unchallengeable, ending debate
exigency
emergency, an urgent situation
ameliorate
improve, make better
august
majestic, venerable. Don't confuse with the month, "August," which is always capitalized.
minatory
menacing, threatening
froward
intractable, not willing to yield or comply, stubborn (NOT "forward")
fetter
to shackle, put in chains
pundit
a learned scholar, an authority on a subject
venal
corruptible, open to bribery
belie
contradict, give a false impression
epitome
brief summary or abstract; representative example; a typical model
prosaic
everyday, mundane, commonplace, trite, pedestrian
hermetic
sealed by fusion
fervor
zeal, ardor, intense emotion
endemic
prevailing in a specific area
reticent
reserved, untalkative, silent, taciturn
rapacious
voracious, greedy, plundering
coeval
of the same period, coexisting
austere
forbiddingly stern, simple, unadorned, very plain
indolence
laziness
pristine
primitive, unspoiled, pure, as in earlier times, unadulterated
capricious
fickle, whimsical, given to change, unpredictable
edifying
enlightening
philistine
a smug ignorant person; one who lacks knowledge
maladroit
clumsy, bungling
detumescence
diminishing or lessening of swelling
stygian
gloomy, dark
calumniate
to slander, present false accusal
baneful
causing harm or ruin, pernicious, destructive
forestall
prevent by taking action in advance, preempt
occult
hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension
irascible
irritable, easily angered
facetious
humorous, funny, jocular
trenchant
forceful, effective, vigorous; extremely perceptive, incisive
stymie
to hinder, obstruct, or block
intransigence
unwillingness to compromise, stubbornness, intractability
mundane
worldly as opposed to spiritual; commonplace, everyday
mitigate
appease, lessen, propitiate
abstruse
difficult to comprehend; obscure
expatiate
to roam, wander freely
propitiate
appease, mitigate
slake
to assuage, to satisfy, allay
contentious
argumentative, pugnacious, combative, quarrelsome
inscrutable
incapable of being discovered or understood
elegy
a lament, a melancholy composition
derivative
unoriginal, obtained from another source
supercilious
disdainful; characterized by haughty scorn
sundry
various, miscellaneous, separate
mercurial
quick, changeable in character, fleeting
desultory
aimless, haphazard, digressing at random
sanctimony
self-righteousness, hypocritical, with false piety
indomitable
not easily discouraged or subdued
foment
to stir up, arouse, incite
splenetic
bad-tempered, irritable
flout
reject, mock, to go against (as in going against tradition or conventions)
obfuscate
to darken, make obscure, muddle
noisome
unwholesomely bad-smelling, putrid; (NOT "noisy")
incursion
a raid, a sudden attack
paean
a song of praise or triumph
turpitude
wickedness, shamefulness
detraction
slandering, verbal attack, aspersion
chastened
corrected, punished
brook
to tolerate, endure
ignominious
shameful, dishonorable, undignified, disgraceful
prolix
long and wordy
bane
cause of injury, poison, source of harm
abrogate
abolish or annul by authority; put down
conciliatory
reconciling, soothing, comforting, mollifying
insularity
narrow-mindedness, isolated
untoward
perverse, unruly, unseemly
perverted
twisted, corrupted, turned from normal course
odium
contempt, dislike, aversion
dissolution
disintegration, looseness in morals
sophomoric
self-assured though immature, affected, bombastic, overblown, lacking maturity
enormity
excessive wickedness; evilness. Don't confuse with "enormousness," which means great size. ENORMITY DOES NOT MEAN "BIGNESS" OR "GREAT SIZE"
obdurate
hardened and unrepentant; stubborn, inflexible
fatuous
complacently stupid
burnish
to polish, rub to a shine
tenuous
unsubstantial, flimsy, weak
repudiate
disown, disavow, reject as untrue
denigrate
blacken, belittle, sully, defame
maverick
rebel, nonconformist
effluvia
outflow in a stream of particles; a noxious odor or vapor
alacrity
cheerful promptness
salubrious
healthful
paradigm
a model, example, or pattern
apotheosis
deification, glorification to godliness
officious
meddlesome, pushy in one's services
cogent
convincing
spurious
false, counterfeit
panegyric
formal praise, eulogy
mollify
to soothe
peregrination
traveling about, wandering
acarpous
effete, no longer fertile, worn out
bedizen
to adorn, especially in a cheap, showy manner
alloy
to debase by mixing with something inferior
fecund
fertile
doggerel
trivial, poorly constructed verse
peripatetic
walking
mendicant
a beggar
propitiatory
conciliatory, appeasing, mitigating
pedantic
bookish, showing off learning
nadir
bottom, the lowest point
zenith
top, the highest point
broach
bring up, announce, begin to talk about
obtrusive
projecting, prominent, undesirably noticeable
ramify
to be divided or subdivided; to branch out
exculpate
to clear from a charge of guilt
ineluctable
certain, inevitable
gainsay
to deny, declare false, to oppose
episodic
loosely connected, not flowing logically
iconoclastic
attacking cherished beliefs
recidivism
relapse into antisocial or criminal behavior
profligate
wasteful, prodigal, licentious, extravagant
inherent
ingrained within one's nature; firmly established; a natural part of; definitionally so
torpid
sleeping, sluggish, lethargic, dormant
gregarious
sociable, outgoing
recondite
profound, abstruse, obscure
judicious
sound in judgment; wise
sinuous
winding, undulating, serpentine
undulate
to move in wavelike fashion, fluctuate
probity
uprightness, incorruptibility, principle
rubric
heading, title, or category
interdict
prohibit, forbid
harangue
a long, passionate speech
calumny
slander, aspersion
petrous
like a rock, hard, stony
petrify
to make hard, rocklike
conjoin
to join together
nexus
a connection, tie, or link
penury
extreme poverty
idyll
a carefree episode or experience; a short poem describing a picturesque episode
countenance
to favor or approve of
fulsome
disgusting, offensive due to excessiveness
chauvinist
a blindly devoted patriot
veritably
unquestionably, certainly
itinerate
to travel from place to place, to peregrinate
eulogy
formal praise; panegyric
malleable
yielding; easily shaped; moldable; adapting
bilge
bulge, the protuberance of a cask
lubricious
lewd, wanton, greasy, slippery
sagacious
having sound judgment; perceptive, wise; like a sage
impecunious
poor, penniless
recondite
not easily understood, abstruse, inscrutable
querulous
complaining, peevish, discontented
virago
a loud, domineering woman; a scold or nag
rarefy
to make thin, to make less dense, to purify or refine
expurgate
to remove obscenity, purify, censor
propinquity
nearness in time or place, affinity of nature
extenuate
reduce the strength of, lessen seriousness, partially excuse
deprecate
protest against, express disapproval of
excoriate
to flay, strip off the skin; to denounce sharply
obviate
to make unnecessary, get rid of
opprobrious
shameful, expressing disgrace
succor
assistance, relief in time of distress
censure
expression of blame or disapproval; a rebuke
proscribe
ostracize, banish, outlaw
platitude
a trite or banal statement; unoriginality
impetuous
having sudden energy, impulsive, thrusting ahead, forceful
obloquy
abusively detractive language, sharp criticism, vituperation
plaintive
mournful, melancholy, sorrowful
timorous
fearful, timid, afraid
debacle
a breakup, overthrow, sudden disaster
effrontery
boldness, impudence, arrogance
specious
illogical, of questionable truth or merit
redoubtable
formidable, causing fear
regale
to delight or entertain; to feast
volatile
changeable, inconstant, fickle, unstable, explosive
inured
accustomed to, adapted
blandishment
flattery, enticement
pernicious
deadly, very destructive
accretion
growth, increase by successive addition, building up
deposition
accretion, depositing, building up layer by layer
quotidian
daily; commonplace, pedestrian
pedestrian
commonplace, trite, unremarkable
sanguine
cheerful, confident, optimistic
consternation
sudden confusion or amazement
exsert
thrust out, push forth
petulant
impatient, irritable
scurvy
mean, contemptible
surfeit
satiate, feed to fullness or to excess
prevaricate
to equivocate, to stray from the truth
temerity
boldness, brashness, intrepidness
stint
to be thrifty, to set limits
obtain
to be established, accepted, or customary
propitious
auspicious, presenting favorable circumstances
ebullient
overflowing with enthusiasm; showing excitement
abjure
recant solemnly, repudiate, renounce
encomium
warm or glowing praise; eulogy, panegyric
arduous
steep, difficult ascent; laborious
tautology
a repetition, a redundancy
suppliant
asking humbly, beseeching
imperiousness
arrogance, commanding presence, overbearingness
evince
to show clearly, to indicate
stanch
to stop the flow of a fluid
vitiate
to pervert, debase, make ineffective
contemn
to scorn or despise
stentorian
extremely loud and powerful
poseur
someone taking on airs to impress others; a phony
grievous
causing grief or pain; serious, dire, grave
precipitate
(v) to hurl down, to fall headlong (adj) speeding, acting recklessly
sententious
short and pithy, full of maxims/proverbs
palliate
to make something appear less serious, to alleviate, to gloss over, put a positive spin on
floridness
ruddiness; heavily decorated; ornateness
asperity
roughness, harshness, ill temper, irritability (Don't confuse with "aspersion," which means slander
mendacity
dishonesty
involute
intricate, complex
importune
ask incessantly, to beg, to nag
precipitous
rash, foolhardy; dropping sharply, dangerous
aba
garment of camel or goat hair; camel or goat-hair fabric
abacinate
to blind by putting red-hot copper basin near the eyes
abactor
cattle thief
abaculus
small tile for mosaic
abaft
toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
abampere
unit equivalent to 10 amperes
abapical
at the lowest point
abarticular
not connected with the joint
abasement
action of humbling or degrading
abasia
inability to walk due to lack of muscular coordination
abask
in genial warmth
abatis
rampart of felled trees and branches
abatjour
skylight or device to direct light into a room
abattoir
public slaughterhouse
abature
trail through wood beaten down by a stag
abb
yarn used for warp
abba
Syriac or Coptic bishop
abbatial
of, like or pertaining to abbots or an abbey
abbozzo
preliminary sketch
abditive
remote; secret; hidden
abdominous
having a paunch or big belly
abducent
turning away; bearing away from
abeam
in a line at right angles to the length of a vessel, on the beam
abear
to bear; to comport; to behave
abecedarian
of, like or pertaining to the order of the alphabet; rudimentary
abecedism
word created from the initials of words in a phrase
abele
white poplar tree
aberdevine
alternate name for the siskin
aberuncators
long tool for pruning tall branches
abessive
indicating absence or lack
abiectic
of, like or pertaining to fir trees or fir sap
abigail
a lady's maid
abigeus
cattle rustler
abiogenesis
spontaneous generation of living matter
abiotrophy
degeneration; loss of physical vitality or ability
abirritate
to alleviate irritation; to reduce sensitivity
abiturient
pupil leaving school for university
abject
humble; miserable; craven
ablactation
weaning of a child from its mother's milk
ablative
indicating direction from or time when
ablator
thermal protection on outside of spacecraft
ablaut
variation in root vowel of words to change meaning
ablegate
papal envoy or legate
ablepsia
blindness
ablow
in a blowing state
abluent
cleanser or cleansing product
ablutomania
mania for washing oneself
abnegate
to renounce or repudiate
abodement
an omen; a foretelling
aboideau
tide gate
abolla
Roman military cloak
abomasum
ruminant's fourth stomach
aboral
away from the mouth
abord
to accost; to approach
aborning
during birth; while being born
aborticide
killing of a fetus; abortion
abortuary
anti-abortion term for an abortion clinic
aboulia
loss of ability to make decisions
aboulomania
pathological indecisiveness
aboutsledge
largest blacksmith's hammer
abra
narrow mountain pass
abradant
a substance that abrades
abraid
to awaken or rouse
abraxas
gem engraved with mystical word and bearing human-animal figure
abreuvoir
joint or gap between two stones in masonry
abroach
in a condition to allow liquor to run out
abrosia
fasting
abscind
to pare, reduce, cut off or away
abscissa
horizontal distance from a fixed line to a point
abscission
cutting off; cutting away
absconce
lantern used in monasteries and night offices
abseil
to descend a rock face using a double rope
absentaneous
done in absence; pertaining to absence
absinthial
of, like or pertaining to wormwood; bitter
absinthism
disease resembling alcoholism
absit
leave to pass one night away from college
absolutism
doctrine of government by a single absolute ruler; autocracy
absolutive
indicating subject or object of intransitive verb
absolutory
forgiving or absolving
absonant
discordant; abhorrent
absorbefacient
causing or promoting absorption
absorptiometer
instrument for measuring solubility of gases in liquids
absquatulate
to decamp; to leave quickly; to flee
absterge
wipe clean; expunge; purge; purify
absurdism
doctrine that we live in an irrational universe
abterminal
going from the end inwards
abthane
monastic region of the old Irish church
abulia
lack of ability to make decisions; aboulia
abuna
Ethiopian patriarch
abusion
misuse; outrage; deception
abutment
masonry on a wall that supports an arch
abvolt
unit of electrical potential equal to one hundred millionth of a volt
aby
to make amends; atone; pay a penalty
abyssopelagic
of, like or pertaining to the depths of the ocean
academicism
doctrine that nothing can be known
acanaceous
bearing prickles or thistles; prickly
acantha
prickle
acanthous
spiny; prickly
acapnia
lack or deficiency of carbon dioxide
acapnotic
non-smoker; non-smoking
acariasis
irritating itching insect infestation
acaricide
killer of mites and ticks
acarine
of, like or pertaining to ticks or mites
acarology
study of mites
acarophobia
fear of itching or of insects causing itching
acarpous
sterile; not bearing fruit
acatalectic
having complete or full number of syllables in a poetic line
acatalepsy
the unknowableness of all things to a certainty
acatamathesia
inability to understand data presented to the senses
acates
provisions that have been purchased
acatour
provisioner; quartermaster
acaudate
tailless
acaulescent
having a very short stem
accelerometer
instrument for measuring acceleration or vibrations
accend
to kindle
accensor
acolyte
accentor
songbird
acceptilation
remission of debt or liability through fictitious repayment
accessit
prize for students in second place; honourable mention
acciaccatura
very short note played before a longer one
accidence
grammar book; science of inflections in grammar
accidentalism
theory that events do not have causes
accidie
sloth; physical torpor
accinge
to gird
accipiter
bandage worn around the nose
accipitral
like a bird of prey; rapacious
accipitrine
of, like or pertaining to falcons and hawks
accismus
in rhetoric, pretending to refuse something
accite
to cite; to summon
acclinate
sloping upwards
acclivity
upward slope
accloy
to hobble with a horseshoe nail
accolade
curved architectural moulding; vertical line joining two musical staves
accolent
neighbouring
accosted
in heraldry, two figures placed side by side
accoucheur
male midwife
accoucheuse
female midwife
accourage
to encourage
accourt
to entertain
accoy
to subdue; to pacify; to soothe
accrementition
increase or growth by adding similar material
accretion
accumulation; addition of parts to form a whole
accubation
reclining as on a couch
accubitum
crescent-shaped couch
accusative
indicating direct object of a verb
acedia
listlessness; sloth
aceldama
site or scene of violence or bloodshed
aceology
therapeutics
acequia
irrigation ditch
acerate
of, like or resembling a needle
acerbate
to embitter; to irritate
acerous
lacking horns or antennae
acersecomic
one whose hair has never been cut
acervate
heaped; clustered
acervuline
like or in small mounds or heaps
acescence
becoming sour; souring; turning of milk
acetabulum
small anatomical cup or hollow, such as a sucker
acetarious
referring to plants that are used in salads
acetimeter
instrument for measuring strength of vinegar
achaenocarp
any dry indehiscent fruit
acharné
furious or desperate (of a battle)
achene
small one-seeded fruit or naked seed of plant
achloropsia
colour-blindness with respect to green
achor
eruption or scab on the head
achromatopsia
colour-blindness
achroous
colourless
acicular
needle-shaped
acidaemia
undue acidity of blood
acidimeter
instrument for measuring concentration of acids
acidulous
sharp or bitter-tasting
acierate
to turn into steel
acinaceous
full of kernels
acinaciform
scimitar-shaped
aciniform
shaped like a berry
acinus
berry which grows in clusters
acipenser
sturgeon
aclinic
having no inclination or magnetic dip
acock
defiantly
acoemeti
ancient monastic order who maintained eternal choir service
acology
study of medical remedies
acolous
limbless
acolouthic
of, like or pertaining to an after-image or other after-sensation
acopic
curing or relieving fatigue
acoria
pathologically great appetite
acosmism
disbelief in existence of eternal universe distinct from God
acouasm
ringing noise in head
acquest
object which is acquired
acracy
government by none; anarchy
acratia
impotence
acre-breadth
old unit of length of 22 yards
acritochromacy
colour-blindness
acroamatic
esoteric
acrocephalous
having a pointed or peaked skull
acrography
the art of making wood blocks in relief
acrolith
wooden statue with stone extremities
acrologic
of, like or pertaining to initials
acromegaly
glandular disorder causing gigantism of extremities
acronical
occurring at nightfall or sunset
acronym
word formed from initial letters of another word
acronyx
ingrown nail
acropathy
disease or illness of the extremities
acrophobia
fear of heights
acrophonic
using a symbol for the initial sound of a thing
acropodium
pedestal upon which a statue rests
acroscopic
looking or moving towards the apex
acroteleutic
phrase or words at the end of a psalm
acroterion
pedestal or ornament at the angle of a pediment
acrotism
absence of pulsing
actinism
action of solar radiation causing chemical change
actinograph
instrument used to calculate time of photographic exposure
actinometer
instrument for measuring incident radiation
actinotherapy
use of ultraviolet rays as medical therapy
actuate
communicate motion to; cause
aculeate
prickly; pointed; stinging; a stinging insect
aculeiform
shaped like a thorn
acultomancy
divination using needles
acuminate
tapered; pointed; to sharpen
acutiator
sharpener of weapons
acutorsion
twisting artery with needle to stop bleeding
acyanopsia
colour-blindness with respect to blue
acyesis
female sterility
acyrology
incorrect diction or pronunciation
adactylous
lacking fingers or claws
adamantine
unbreakable; impenetrable
adamitism
nakedness for religious reasons
adaxial
next to or towards the axis
addax
large African antelope
additament
thing added or appended; heraldic ornament
addititious
of, pertaining to or resulting from addition
addle
putrid; barren; muddled
addorsed
turned back to back in heraldry
adduce
cite as proof or instance
adeciduate
evergreen; coniferous
adeem
to cancel a bequest by destruction of the object
adelaster
provisional name for a plant whose flowers are unknown
adelphogamy
sharing of a wife by two or more brothers
ademption
revocation of donation by donor
adenalgia
painful swelling of a gland
adenia
glandular swelling
adeniform
shaped like a gland
adenography
descriptive work on the glandular system
adenoid
of, like or pertaining to or like a gland
adenology
study of glands
adenotomy
removal or excision of gland
adespota
anonymous works
adessive
indicating place where or proximity to
adevism
denial of gods of mythology and legend
adharma
unrighteousness
adhibit
to attach; to admit; to administer
adhocracy
government in an unstructured fashion; an unstructured organization
adiabatic
without transference of heat
adiaphoresis
absence of perspiration; inability to perspire
adiaphorism
doctrine of theological indifference or latitudinarianism
adiaphoron
tenet or belief on which a theological system is indifferent
adiapneustia
defective perspiration
adiathermancy
impermeability to radiant energy
adipescent
becoming fat or fatty
adipic
of, like or pertaining to fatty substances
adipocere
fatty substance occurring in corpses left in moist areas
adipsia
absence or lack of thirst
adit
opening or passage into a mine
adjudge
to decide; to award
adjutage
nozzle
adjutor
helper; assistant
adjuvant
substance added to make vaccine more effective
admanuensis
one who takes an oath on a religious book
admaxillary
connected to or near the jaw
admeasurement
the act of measuring or apportioning
adminicle
that which supports or aids, especially evidence
adnascent
growing on some other thing
adnominal
indicating adjective used as a noun
adnomination
punning
adnoun
adjective serving or used as a noun
adonise
to adorn oneself
adoptionism
belief that Christ was the adopted and not natural son of God
adoral
near the mouth
adosculation
impregnation by contact alone or by wind
adoxography
good writing on a trivial subject
adoxy
beliefs that are neither orthodox nor heterodox
adpress
to press together
adrogation
adoption of a boy or girl before adolescence
adscititious
added; additional
adscript
attached or feudally bound to the soil or earth
adsorb
to attract and stick to the surface
adumbrate
indicate faintly; foreshadow
adunc
hooked
aduncate
shaped like a hook or crook
adust
burnt; scorched
advection
horizontal movement of air
advehent
bringing inwards
advenient
due to outside causes
adventitious
accidental; casual
adventive
a thing or person coming from outside
adversaria
miscellaneous notes; commonplace books
adversative
word or phrase expressing opposition
advert
refer to in speech or writing
advertorial
advertisement presented as if it were editorial material
advesperate
darken; become late
advocaat
liqueur containing rum and raw eggs
advowson
right of presentation to church living
adynamia
helplessness; lack of strength
adytum
sacred part of a temple or church; church chancel
aedile
magistrate in charge of games, markets or buildings
aedoeology
science of generative organs
aegilops
stye in inner corner of eye
aegis
protection; support
aegrotat
medical certificate of illness excusing student's sickness
aeneous
shining bronze colour
aeolian
giving forth a tone as if produced by the wind
aeolipyle
hollow ball that turns through steam escaping through valves
aeolistic
long-winded
aeolotropy
variation in physical properties on basis of position
aeonian
lasting for an immeasurably long period of time
aerenchyma
respiratory tissue
aeriform
of the form or shape of gas; gaseous
aerious
of the nature of air; airy
aerobe
organism requiring oxygen to survive
aerobiology
study of airborne organisms
aerodonetics
science or study of gliding
aerogenesis
forming or generating gas or air
aerography
descriptive work on the atmosphere
aerolite
meteorite
aerolith
stone that falls from the sky; meteorite
aerolithology
study of aerolites; meteorites
aerology
study of the atmosphere
aeromancy
divination by means of the weather
aerometer
instrument for measuring weight or density of gas
aerophane
thin crinkled semi-transparent fabric
aerophilately
collecting of air-mail stamps
aerophobia
fear of flying or draughts
aerophore
instrument used to inflate stillborn child's lungs
aeropleustic
of, like or pertaining to aerial navigation
aerostat
any lighter-than air craft; balloon
aerostatics
science of air pressure; art of ballooning
aeruginous
of, like or pertaining to copper-rust or verdigris
aerugo
rust of any metal
aesc
letter used in Old English for 'ae'
aesopian
conveying meaning only to those in a secret movement
aesthesia
sensibility
aesthesiogenic
producing or causing a sensation
aestheticism
doctrine that beauty is central to other moral principles
aestival
of, like or pertaining to summer
aethrioscope
instrument for measuring temperature variations due to sky conditions
aeviternal
everlasting; endless
aeviternity
eternal existence
afebrile
not suffering from fever
affabulation
moral of a fable
affeer
to assess; to reduce to a fixed sum
afferent
bearing, bringing or carrying towards
affiance
to trust; to betroth
affine
a relation by marriage
afflated
inspired
afflatus
inspiration; divine impetus
afforce
to strengthen a jury by adding skilled people
afforest
to cover with forest; to convert into hunting grounds
affranchise
to free from slavery or similar obligation
affray
an attack or assault; an alarm or fright
affrayer
disturber of the peace
affreightment
hiring of a vessel
affreux
frightening
affricate
consonant that begins as a plosive and ends as a fricative
affronté
of two heraldic animals, facing one another
affusion
pouring on; as of baptismal water
afore
before
afterclap
unexpected damaging or unsettling after-effect
afterdeck
deck behind a ship's bridge
aftergame
rematch; means employed after first turn of affairs
afterguard
men who work the aft sails on the quarterdeck and poop deck
afterings
last milk drawn when milking a cow
afterpiece
minor piece after a play
aftershaft
second shaft coming out of the quill of a feather
afterwil
locking of the barn after the cows have been let out
agacerie
allurement; coquetry
agalactia
failure or inability to produce milk
agalloch
eaglewood
agamist
one who opposes marriage
agamogenesis
reproduction by non-sexual means
agape
selfless Christian love; a feast in celebration of such love
agapeistic
characterized by Christian love
agapet
lover of women
agapetae
churchwomen who live platonically with celibate men
agapism
ethics of love
agastopia
admiration of part of another's body
agatewear
type of ceramic resembling agate stone
agathism
belief in ultimate triumph of good despite evil means
agathodaimon
one's good genius; the good part of one's conscience
agelast
one who never laughs
agennesic
sterile; impotent
agenocratia
opposition to birth control
agentive
indicating agent performing an action
ageotropic
moving or turning away from the earth
agersia
quality of not growing old
ageusia
damage to the sense of taste
agger
artificial mound or elevation for military use
aggerose
in heaps; piled up
aggiornamento
modernization of ideas of the Catholic church
aggrade
to raise level of a surface through depositing detritus
aggrandize
increase power or rank of; make greater
aggrate
to gratify or please
aggry
type of West African glass beads
agio
premium paid on foreign currency exchange
agiotage
playing the stock market; speculation
agist
to charge with a public burden; to take in to graze for payment
agistment
land tax assessed for cattle pasturing
aglet
metal point attached to a lace or string
agma
symbol or sound for a velar nasal consonant "ng"
agminate
grouped
agnail
sore, corn or hangnail on the toe or foot
agname
name over and above the ordinary name and surname
agnation
kinship
agnize
to acknowledge or confess
agnomen
additional name; surname; nickname
agnosic
unable to recognize familiar objects due to brain damage
agnosticism
doctrine that we can know nothing beyond material phenomena
agnosy
ignorance
agoge
tempo or sequence in melody in ancient Greek music
agogic
accenting a musical note by slightly dwelling on it
agomphosis
looseness in the teeth
agone
ago
agonic
making no angle
agonism
competition; effort; striving
agonistes
someone in the grip of inner conflict
agonistic
of, like or pertaining to or being aggressive or argumentative
agonistics
art and theory of prize-fighting
agoraphobia
fear of open spaces
agowilt
sudden sickening and unnecessary fear
agraffe
hooked clasp used by masons to hold blocks together
agrapha
sayings of Jesus not found in the canonical gospels
agraphia
inability to write
agravic
having no gravity; pertaining to the condition of zero-gravity
agrestic
of the fields; rural; unpolished
agriology
the comparative study of primitive peoples
agrize
to horrify; to disfigure
agrizoiatry
medicine specializing in wild animals
agrobiology
study of plant nutrition; soil yields
agrology
study of agricultural soils
agromania
intense desire to be in open spaces
agronomics
study of productivity of land
agrostography
writing about grasses
agrostology
science or study of grasses
agrypnia
insomnia
agrypnotic
anything taken to aid wakefulness
aguardiente
Spanish or Portuguese brandy
agyiophobia
fear of crossing busy streets
agynary
lacking female genitals
ahimsa
the duty of sparing animal life; non-violence
ahull
with sails furled and helm lashed to the lee-side
ai
three-toed sloth
aichmophobia
fear of sharp or pointed objects
aiger
tidal wave occurring in rivers
aigrette
a spray of jewels; ornamental feather plume; an egret
aiguille
sharp; needle-like peak of rock
aileron
flap on airplane wing for lateral balance
ailette
plate of armour worn on shoulder
ailuromancy
divination by watching cats' movements
ailurophilia
love of cats
ailurophobia
fear of cats
aioli
garlic-flavoured mayonnaise
airscrew
aircraft propeller
aischrolatry
worship of filth, dirt, or smut
aisling
a vision or dream
ait
small island in lake or river
aitchbone
rump bone of cattle; rump cut of beef
aiué
elderly; senior
akeratophorous
not horned
akinesia
loss of ability to move
ala
membranous outgrowth on a plant or animal
alabamine
alternate name for the element astatine
alack
expression of sorrow or regret
alalia
loss of ability to speak
alameda
public walkway between rows of poplar trees
alamort
half-dead; dejected
alannah
term of endearment used with one's child
alar
of, like or pertaining to the wing or shoulder
alastrim
mild form of smallpox
alate
lately
alation
state of having wings; position of wings on a creature
alaudine
of, like or pertaining to skylarks
alb
long white robe worn by priests
albarello
cylindrical jar used to hold drugs
albata
variety of German silver
albedo
whiteness, as of a celestial object
albescent
becoming white; whiteness
albicant
whitish; becoming white
albificative
able to whiten or be whitened
albion
medieval astronomical device for finding positions of planets
albocracy
government by white people
albolith
white cement formed from magnesia and silica
albugineous
like the white of an eye or an egg; white-coloured
alcahest
alchemical universal solvent
alcatote
silly elf
alcine
of, like or pertaining to elks; of, like or pertaining to auks
alcoholometer
instrument for measuring proportion of alcohol in solutions
alcovinometer
instrument to measure strength of wine
aleatoric
depending on contingencies or chance
aleberry
beverage made from ale, spices, and dried bread
alecost
costmary, an herb used in flavouring ale
alectormancy
divination by sacrificing a rooster
alectryomachy
cock-fighting
alectryomancy
divination by watching a rooster gather corn kernels
alee
on or toward the lee
alegar
vinegar made by turning ale sour
alembicated
over-refined
alepine
mixed wool and silk or mohair and cotton fabric
alethiology
study of truth
aleuromancy
divination using flour or meal
alexia
inability to read
alexipharmic
antidote
alfet
cauldron of boiling water used during trials by ordeal
alforge
wallet or leather bag
algedonics
science of pleasure and pain
algefacient
cooling
algetic
causing or producing pain
algicide
killer of algae
algid
cold; chilly
alginuresis
painful urination
algolagnia
sexual pleasure derived from inflicting pain
algology
study of algae
algophobia
fear of pain
algor
coldness; shivering fit
algraphy
art of printing from aluminum plates
alible
nourishing
alidade
revolving index on astrolabe or other instrument for reading gradations
aliform
wing-shaped
aligerous
winged
aliped
having wings on the feet
aliphatic
of, like or pertaining to fat or fats in general
aliquant
number dividing into another with a remainder
aliquot
number dividing into another without leaving a remainder
aliter
requiring a different law or rule to be applied
alk
sap or resin from turpentine trees
alkalimeter
instrument for measuring strength of alkalines
alkanet
reddish plant-based dye
allantiasis
food poisoning resulting from inadequate preservation
allantoid
shaped like a sausage
allative
indicating movement towards
allemain
enormous pudding out of which acrobats leap
allemande
courtly baroque dance in which the arms are interlaced
alliaceous
of, like or pertaining to garlic; garlicky
allicient
attracting something else
allision
intentional collision of two ships
allocatur
amount allowed for costs
allochthonous
formed or produced elsewhere or externally
allodic
not subject to a superior
allogamy
cross-fertilization
allogeneous
different
allography
writing another individual's signature
allolalia
speech disorder featuring randomly spoken words
allonge
paper attached to commercial bill requiring signatures
allonym
other person's name used by an author
allotheism
belief in or worship of strange gods
allotriophagy
craving for strange foods
allotropy
of an element, having more than one form
alluvion
effect of water impacting on shoreline
almacantar
circle of altitude, parallel to the horizon
almagest
textbook or handbook, especially dealing with astronomy
almandine
violet-coloured garnet
almoner
giver of alms; social worker in a hospital
almuce
cloth or fur hood
alnager
inspector of cloth
alogism
illogical statement
alomancy
divination using salt
alopecia
baldness; hair loss
alopecoid
of or resembling a fox
alow
below
alpaca
fine wool made from alpaca hair
alpenglow
reddish glow appearing at sunrise or sunset in mountains
alpenstocker
mountain climber
alpestrine
of, like or pertaining to alpine regions
alphenic
sugary candy used in medicine
alphitomancy
divination using loaves of barley
alphonsin
instrument used to extract bullets from bodies
alt
high musical tone
altarage
payment to priest for mass; offerings at altar
alterity
state of being different
alternatim
alternately
altiloquence
pompous or high speech
altisonant
high-sounding
altitonant
thundering on high or loudly
altricial
having young requiring care for a lengthy period
aludel
pear-shaped pot used in sublimation
aluminiferous
bearing aluminum
alveary
beehive; area of the ear where wax collects; word-list
alveolate
of or like a honeycomb
alveromancy
divination using sounds
alviducous
purgative
alvine
of the belly
ama
a Japanese pearl-diver
amadelphous
outgoing; gregarious
amain
to a high degree; exceedingly; at full speed
amanous
lacking hands
amanuensis
one employed to write from dictation
amaranth
imaginary flower reputed never to fade
amaranthine
immortal; undying; deep purple-red colour
amasesis
inability to chew
amasthenic
focusing light rays to a single point
amathophobia
fear of dust
amaxophobia
fear of riding in a car
ambages
windings; roundabout ways; delays
ambeer
juice from chewing tobacco
ambisinistrous
awkward in the use of both hands
ambit
circuit; scope; compass; confines
ambo
early Christian raised reading desk or pulpit
ambry
recess for church vessels; cupboard or niche
ambsace
bad luck; a low score
ambulatory
aisle down the east end of a church
ambulomancy
divination by taking a walk
ambulophobia
fear of walking
ambustion
burn or scald
amende
fine or reparation paid
ament
a person who fails to develop mentally
amerce
to fine; to deprive; to punish
ametropia
abnormal optical refraction
amice
strip of fine linen worn as cloak or wrap by priest at mass
amicicide
murder of a friend
amidships
midway between the bow and stern of a ship
ammeter
instrument for measuring electrical current
ammophilous
sand-loving; preferring to dwell in sand
amnicolist
one who lives near a river
amniomancy
divination by examining afterbirth
amorce
percussion cap for a toy pistol
amoret
love sonnet or song
amoretto
a cherub or spirit of love
ampelidious
of, like or pertaining to vines
ampelography
scientific description of the vine
ampere
unit for measuring amount of electrical current
amphibiolith
fossilized amphibian
amphibolic
able to turn both backwards and forwards; double-jointed
amphibology
ambiguity in language; dual grammatical meaning
amphigean
occurring in both hemispheres of the brain or body
amphigory
a nonsense verse
amphimixis
interbreeding; intermixing of two individuals' genetic matter
amphipneust
animal with both lungs and gills
amphisbaena
mythical two-headed serpent or lizard
amphiscian
of, like or pertaining to torrid regions
amplexus
rutting of frogs and toads
ampliative
supplemental; additional
amplivagant
stretching far; having a great scope
ampulla
vessel for holy oil or wine for coronations or rituals
amrita
Hindu ambrosia bestowing immortality
amygdaloid
almond-shaped; of, like or pertaining to tonsils
amyloid
containing or pertaining to starch; starchy
amyous
lacking muscle
an
if
ana
in equal quantities
anabasis
journey leading upwards; first phase of an illness
anabiosis
return to life after apparent death
anacampserote
something which can bring back a lost love
anacamptic
reflecting or reflected light; sound or water
anacardic
of, like or pertaining to cashews
anacathartic
causing vomiting or expectoration
anachoric
foreign or geographically absurd relating to a country
anaclastic
refractive; of, like or pertaining to refraction
anaclitic
dependent on other phenomenon or ability
anacoluthon
moving to new topic of discussion before finishing current one
anacrisis
interrogation accompanied by torture
anacrusis
syllable prior to the normal rhythm of a verse
anacusic
completely deaf
anadem
wreath, fillet or band
anadiplosis
repeating last word of clause at beginning of next clause
anadromous
fish which ascend rivers to spawn
anaerectic
destructive
anaesthesiology
study of anaesthetics
anagalactic
coming from or existing beyond our own galaxy
anaglyph
ornament in low relief
anaglyptics
art of carving in bas-relief
anaglyptography
art of engraving so as to give the subject an embossed appearance
anagnorisis
recognition leading to denouement of a play
anagogy
mystical interpretation
anagraphy
art of constructing catalogues
analects
crumbs that fall from the table
analemma
sundial
analgia
inability to feel pain
anamnesis
reminiscence; prayer recalling death and resurrection of Jesus
anamorphic
changing to a more complex form
anandrious
impotent
ananym
name written backward; often used as synonym
anapeiratic
caused by excessive use
anapest
two short metrical syllables followed by one long one
anaphalantiasis
falling out of the eyebrows
anaphia
loss of sense of touch
anaphora
repetition of a word at beginning of successive phrases for emphasis
anapnea
recovery of one's breath; restoration of breath
anastasic
convalescent
anastrophe
reversing or inverting word order as rhetorical device
anatine
of, like or pertaining to ducks
anatocism
compound interest
anatreptic
overcoming; overturning
anaudia
loss of voice
anbury
soft fleshy tumour in horses
anchorite
one withdrawn from the world for religious reasons
ancillary
auxiliary; secondary
ancipitous
two-edged and flattened
ancistroid
hook-shaped
ancon
elbow
anconoid
of, like or pertaining to the elbow
ancoral
of, shaped like or resembling an anchor
ancress
female religious recluse
andiron
iron bar used to support the end of a log in a fire
andragogy
science of teaching adults
androcracy
government by men
androlepsia
governmental kidnapping for political purposes
andromania
nymphomania
androphagy
cannibalism
aneabil
single; unmarried
anele
to administer extreme unction to
anemocracy
government by the wind or by whim
anemograph
instrument for measuring pressure and velocity of wind
anemography
treatise on the winds
anemology
study of winds
anemometer
instrument for measuring wind velocity
anemophilous
pollinated by wind
anencephalic
lacking a brain
anent
about; concerning
anergia
failure of immune system; loss of energy
anesis
tuning to a lower musical pitch
aneuria
lack of nervous energy
anfractuous
full of windings and intricate turnings
angary
the right of a belligerent to seize neutral property
angelocracy
government by angels
angelolatry
worship of or belief in angels
angelology
study of angels
angelus
prayer said in morning, at noon and at sunset
angiogenesis
production of blood vessels
angiology
study of blood flow and lymphatic system
anglomania
craze or obsession with England and the English
anglophilia
love or fondness for England or the English
anglophobia
fear of England or the English
angora
silk-like fabric made from wool of angora goats
angstrom
unit of one ten-billionth of a meter
anguiform
shaped like a snake
anguilliform
shaped like an eel
anguine
of, like or pertaining to snakes
anguine
of, like or pertaining to snakes
anhedonia
an unresponsiveness to pleasure
anhelation
shortness of breath
anhidrosis
absence of perspiration
aniconic
symbolizing without aiming at resemblance
anicular
like an old woman
anile
imbecilic; senile; like a very old woman
animadvert
to comment critically on; to censure
animastic
spiritual; animate
animism
attribution of soul to inanimate objects
anion
positively charged ion
anisothenic
being of unequal strength
anker
liquid measure of 8 1/2 gallons
ankus
spiked elephant goad
ankyroid
hook-shaped
anlace
short two-edged dagger
anneal
to heat and cool metal gradually to temper
annectent
having intermediate features between two taxa
annihilationism
doctrine that the wicked are utterly destroyed after death
annodated
shaped like the letter S
annomination
pun; play on words
annuent
nodding or moving of the head
annulet
small ring around a classical column
annulose
ringed; composed of rings
anocathartic
emetic; causing vomiting or expectoration
anodontia
toothlessness
anodyne
something that relieves pain or suffering
anoesis
sensation not accompanied by understanding of it
anogenic
formed from below or beneath
anomia
inability to remember names
anomic
in a state lacking social order and norms
anomie
condition of lacking accepted social values or standards
anomphalous
without a navel
anon
at once; immediately
anonym
person whose name is not given; pseudonym
anopheline
of, like or pertaining to malarial mosquitoes
anopisthographic
bearing writing or inscription only on one side
anopsia
blindness
anorchous
lacking testicles
anosmia
lack or loss of sense of smell
anotic
lacking ears
ansate
having a handle or hand-like shape
anserine
of, like or pertaining to geese
anta
pier produced by thickening wall at one end
antalgic
alleviating or relieving pain
antanaclasis
repetition of key word of phrase as a play on words
antapology
response to an apology
antarchy
opposition to government; anarchy
anteambulo
usher
antechapel
anteroom to a chapel or church
antejentacular
before breakfast
anteloquy
a preface
antelucan
before dawn or daylight
antemundane
before one's own birth; before the creation of the world
antenniferous
bearing antennae
antepast
foretaste
antependium
covering or cloth over pulpit or altar
antephialtic
preventing nightmares
antepone
to put before; to prefer
anteprandial
before dinner
antevenient
preceding
anthelion
luminous ring seen on a cloud opposite the sun
anthelminthic
destroying or expelling worms
anthesis
full bloom
anthomancy
divination using flowers
anthomania
obsession with flowers
anthophilous
loving or frequenting flowers
anthorism
counter-definition
anthracomancy
divination using burning coals
anthrophobia
fear of humans
anthropobiology
study of human biology
anthropogenesis
origin of human beings
anthropoglot
animal with human tongue; animal capable of speech
anthropolatry
worship of human beings
anthropolith
fossilized human skeleton
anthropomancy
divination using human entrails
anthropopathy
ascription of human feelings to inanimate object
anthropophaginian
cannibal
anthropophagous
eating humans
anthroposophy
knowledge of the nature of humanity; human wisdom
anthropotheism
belief that gods are only deified men
antibasilican
opposed to monarchic principle
antiblastic
providing natural immunity against harmful substances
antibromic
eliminating offensive odours
antichresis
enjoyment of mortgaged property in lieu of interest payments
antichthon
hypothetical second Earth on the opposite side of the sun
anticryptic
camouflaged; having protective resemblance to environment
antidisestablishmentarianism
doctrine opposed to removing Church of England's official religion status
antigalactic
preventing the secretion of milk
antigropelos
waterproof leggings
antilapsarianism
denial of doctrine of the fall of humanity
antilegomena
books of the New Testament not part of early Christian Bible
antilogarithm
number of which a given number is the logarithm
antilogism
statement of three propositions containing contradiction
antilogy
contradiction
antimnemonic
damaging the memory; eliminating memories
antimony
brittle, bluish-white metallic element
antinomianism
doctrine of the rejection of moral law
antinomy
contradiction between two logical conclusions
antipedobaptism
denial of validity of infant baptism
antiperistasis
opposition or resistance
antiphon
anthem sung as a response during church service
antiphrasis
use of words in a sense opposite to literal
antipudic
concealing private parts of the body
antiscian
dweller on the exact opposite side of the world
antistrophe
repetition of words in reverse order
antithalian
opposed to mirth or fun
antithesis
contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangement of words or clauses
antitypy
resistance to being penetrated
antonomasia
use of descriptive phrase or epithet instead of proper name
antre
cave
antrorse
turned upward and forward
anuptaphobia
fear of staying single
anuresis
inability to urinate
anurous
tailless
anzactile
army biscuit
aorist
expressing simple past time with no continuance
apaesthesia
numbness or loss of sensation in a limb
apagoge
proof by showing the falsehood of the opposite
apanage
privilege of office; especially one given to younger offspring
apantomancy
divination using objects at hand
apatetic
of an animal's coloration or markings
apay
to satisfy
apercu
brief outline; glimpse; intuitive insight
aperient
laxative
aphagia
inability to eat or swallow
aphemia
loss of ability to produce articulate speech
apheresis
taking away a sound or syllable at the beginning of a word
aphesis
loss of initial unaccented vowel from beginning of a word
aphicide
killer of aphids
aphidicide
killer of aphids
aphnology
science of wealth
aphologistic
flameless
aphotic
lightless
aphrasia
inability to speak
aphrodisiomania
abnormal sexual interest
aphthong
silent letter
apian
of, like or pertaining to bees
apiarian
of, like or pertaining to bees or beekeeping
apical
of or at the apex
apiculture
beekeeping
apiology
study of bees
apistia
faithlessness in marriage
apivorous
eating bees
aplanatic
a lens free of spherical aberration
apocalypticism
doctrine of the imminent end of the world
apocarteresis
suicide by starvation
apocatastasis
final restitution of all things at the appearance of the Messiah
apocatastisis
reversion or restoration to original position
apocope
cutting off the last sound of a word
apocrisiary
papal secretary
apodal
lacking feet
apodictic
necessarily true beyond contradiction
apodosis
main clause in a conditional sentence
apodysophilia
feverish desire to undress
apograph
exact copy; facsimile
apolaustic
dedicated to the search for enjoyment
apologetics
defense and proof of Christianity or other doctrine
aponia
painlessness
apopemptic
valedictory
apophasis
saying something by stating that you will not mention it
apophoret
a gift given to celebrate a new year
apophthegm
brief saying; proverb; epigram
aporia
professed but false doubt of what to say or choose
aposiopesis
suddenly stopping in the middle of a speech for emphasis
apositia
dislike of or distaste for food
apostasy
renunciation of former beliefs
apostil
marginal note
apostrophe
addressing of a personified thing rhetorically
apotelesm
casting of a horoscope
apothegm
a short, instructive saying or formula
apotheosis
elevation to divine status; a perfect example
apotropaic
designed to turn away evil
apparitor
officer in court who attends to execute orders; harbinger
appendant
attached to; hanging from; adjunct
apperception
mind's perception of itself as a conscious agent
appersonation
irrational belief that one is another person
appetence
strong craving or powerful desire
applanate
flat; flattened; compressed
apport
to transport objects without material agency
appose
to place in juxtaposition or proximity
apposite
appropriate
approbation
approval; consent
apprompt
to borrow
appropinquity
nearness
appui
to support militarily
appulse
a striking against something
appurtenance
a subordinate or adjunct part of
apricate
to bask in the sun
aprique
sunny
apse
rounded extension of church or other building
apselophesia
loss of sense of touch
apsidal
shaped like an apse
apterygial
wingless; finless
aptotic
uninflected; indeclinable
aptronym
name that suits its owner
apyrexy
period of intermission in a fever
aquamanile
ewer in the form of a human or animal figure for ceremonial handwashing
aquaphobia
fear of water
aquarelle
watercolour painting
aquifer
a rock formation containing water
aquiform
watery; liquid
aquiline
of, like or pertaining to eagles; hooked like an eagle's beak
araba
wheeled Middle Eastern carriage
arachibutyrophobia
fear of peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth
arachnivorous
feeding on spiders
arachnology
study of spiders
arachnophobia
fear of spiders
araneidan
of, like or pertaining to spiders
araneiform
shaped like a spider
araneous
transparent; delicate; like a spider's web
araphorostic
seamless
aration
ploughing
arbalest
type of crossbow
arborescent
branched; branching; tree-shaped
arboricolous
growing on or living in trees
arboriform
shaped like a tree
arbrolatry
worship of start
arbuscle
dwarf or shrub-like tree
arbustum
orchard; copse of trees
arcanna
red chalk used to mark trees
arcate
bow-shaped
archaeolatry
worship of archaic things or old customs
archelogy
the study of first principles
archet
violin box
archididascalian
of, like or pertaining to headmasters
archididascalos
school principal
archimandrite
head of a monastery or convent
archimime
chief buffoon or mimic
architectonics
of, like or pertaining to the arrangement of knowledge
architrave
parts surrounding a door or window, especially the top
archology
science of the origins of government
arciform
shaped like a bow
arctician
one skilled in navigating arctic regions
arctogaeal
of the arctic regions of the earth
arctoid
bear-like
arctophile
collector of teddy bears
arctophily
study of teddy bears
arcuate
arched; bow-shaped
ard
plough used to scratch top surface of soil
ardass
fine silk
arefy
to dry up; to wither
arenaceous
like, growing in or consisting of sand
arenoid
sandy; like sand
areology
study of Mars
areometer
instrument used for measuring specific gravity
areopagitic
of, like or pertaining to tribunals or courts
aret
to assign or allot
aretaics
the science of virtue
arete
sharp mountain ridge
argand
gas or oil lamp
argent
the heraldic colour silver or white
argentiferous
bearing silver
argentocracy
government by money
argil
clay used in making pottery
argillaceous
clayey; of or resembling clay
argol
crust formed on wine kept too long or improperly
argol
dried cow dung used as fuel
argosy
a large merchant ship; a rich supply
arguria
silver poisoning
argute
shrill; keen; shrewd
argyll
silver gravy dish
arietine
of, like or pertaining to rams
arietinous
shaped like a ram's head
aright
right; correctly
ariolation
divination in general
aristarch
a severe critic
aristarchy
government by the best
aristology
the science or art of dining
arithmancy
divination using numbers
arithmocracy
government by simple majority
arithmogram
number composed of numerical values of letters in a word
arithmomania
obsessive preoccupation with numbers
armamentarium
collective equipment available to a doctor
armigerous
entitled to bear arms
armillary
like or composed of rings
armipotent
having strong weapons; militarily potent
armisonant
resounding with noises of battle or weapons
armomancy
divination by examining one's shoulders
armure
twilled woollen or silk fabric
aroint
begone
arpent
unit of land area slightly smaller than an acre
arpenteur
land surveyor
arrant
downright; unmitigated
arras
tapestry covering a wall
arrasene
embroidery fabric of wool and silk
arrect
attentive; erect; raised up
arrendator
one who rents or farms at a yearly rent
arreptitious
ecstatic; frantic; hasty or hurried
arrestant
substance causing an insect to stop moving
arrhizal
lacking roots
arris
sharp edge on stone; meeting of two surfaces
arrogate
to claim unduly as one's own; to ascribe
arrosive
gnawing; chewing; corroding
arthrology
study of joints
arthroscope
instrument for examining interior of a joint
arundiferous
bearing or producing reeds
arundinaceous
like or having the properties of a reed
arval
of, like or pertaining to ploughed land
ascesis
the practice of disciplining oneself; asceticism
asceticism
doctrine that self-denial of the body permits spiritual enlightenment
ascham
box for keeping bows and arrows dry
ascian
inhabitant of the equatorial zone
aseity
self-origination
ashlar
squared stone used in building walls
ashplant
walking stick
asinine
of, like or pertaining to asses; stupid
asitia
lack of appetite
askefise
one who blows on ashes to bring them to flame
asomatous
lacking a body; incorporeal
asonia
deafness to specific pitches of sound
asperge
to sprinkle
aspergilliform
shaped like a brush
aspergillum
vessel for sprinkling holy water
asperity
roughness of surface or sound
asperse
slander; disparage
aspersory
vessel for holding holy water
aspheterism
denial of the right to private property
aspidate
shield-shaped
aspidomancy
divination by sitting and chanting within a circle
asportation
to carry property away wrongfully
assart
to reclaim for agriculture by clearing away trees
assecuration
marine insurance
assentation
insincere or glib assent
asseveration
positive or earnest affirmation
assibilate
to pronounce with a hiss or sibilant
assiduity
persevering application to a pursuit
assizer
officer or judge in charge of weights and measures
assocative
indicating association with or accompaniment by
assoil
to absolve; to acquit
assot
to befool; to besot
assuefaction
habituation
assuetude
accustomedness; habit
assurgent
ascending; rising; curving upward
astacology
the science of crayfish
astatic
in equilibrium
asteism
refined irony
asterism
three asterisks used to direct attention to a passage
astern
at the stern of a ship
astheniology
study of diseases of weakening and aging
asthenopia
muscular weakening of the eyes
astichous
not in rows
astragal
small semicircular moulding; dice
astragalomancy
divination using dice or knucklebones
astraphobia
fear of being struck by lightning
astrapophobia
fear of thunder and lightning
astriction
binding obligation
astringe
to draw together; to tighten
astrionics
electronics as applied to space flight
astrobleme
scar on the earth's surface from meteorite impact
astrobolism
sun-stroke
astrogeology
study of extraterrestrial geology
astrognosy
knowledge of fixed stars
astrogony
theory of the origin of stars
astrolatry
worship of stars
astrologaster
a foolish or petty astrologer
astromancy
divination using stars
astrometeorology
study of effect of stars on climate
astronomical unit
unit of distance equal to the distance from the earth to the sun
astrophile
person interested in astronomy
astroseismology
study of star oscillations
astrut
protrudingly; distendedly
asynartetic
having two members with different rhythms
asyndeton
rhetorical device of omitting conjunctions
atactic
irregular
ataraxia
tranquility; freedom from anxiety; stoicism
atavism
reversion to early or ancestral type
ateknia
childlessness
atelier
artist's studio or workshop
ateliosis
imperfect development; developmental irregularity
athanasy
deathlessness
athanor
alchemist's self-feeding digesting furnace
atheling
Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman
athenaeum
literary or scientific association
athermic
lacking heat
athetesis
rejection of a passage as spurious
athetosis
nervous twitching of digits and extremities
athwart
across; in opposition to; sideways; transversely
athymia
melancholy
atimy
loss of honour; disgrace
atlantes
male figures used as columns
atlas
rich satin fabric
atmatertera
great-grandfather's grandmother's sister
atmology
the science of aqueous vapour
atmometer
instrument for measuring evaporating capacity of air
atocia
female sterility
atokous
lacking offspring
atomism
belief that the universe consists of small indivisible particles
atony
muscular weakness
atpatruus
great-grandfather's grandfather's brother
atrabiliary
melancholy; hypochondriac
atrabilious
melancholy; splenetic; acrimonious
atrament
blacking; ink; black dye
atresia
absence or irregular closure of a passage in the body
atrichia
baldness
atrous
jet black
attainder
the loss of civil rights for high treason
attaint
disgrace; sully; infect; taint
attemper
to adapt or alter quality by adding to something
attenuate
make thin; reduce in value
atticism
expression characterized by conciseness and elegance
attingent
touching
attollent
lifting up; raising
attorn
to transfer to another
attrahent
attracting or drawing
attrist
to sadden
attrite
repentant through fear of punishment
attuition
operation between sensation and perception
aubade
musical announcement of dawn; sunrise song
aubergine
eggplant
aubin
horse's gait between an amble and a gallop
auceps
hawker or bird-tender
aucupate
to hunt birds; to pursue prey with vigilance
audile
person more attuned to sound than the other senses
audiology
study of hearing
audiometer
instrument for measuring acuity of hearing
audiophile
one who loves accurately reproduced recorded sound
augean
filthy; difficult
augend
number to which another number is added
aught
at all
aularian
of, like or pertaining to a hall in a university
aulete
flautist
aulic
courtly; ceremonious; genteel
auncel
crude balance for weighing
aurantiaceous
of, like or pertaining or pertaining to oranges or orange trees
aureity
property of being golden in colour or substance
aureole
radiant light around head or body of holy personage
auricomous
having golden or blond hair
auricular
of, like or pertaining to the ear; spoken secretly
auriferous
bearing gold
aurifex
goldsmith
auriform
shaped like an ear
aurigation
charioteering
aurilave
instrument for cleaning the ear
auriphrygia
gold embroidery
auriscope
instrument for examining the ear
aurochs
extinct wild ox
aurulent
gold-coloured
auscultation
listening to sounds arising within organs
auslaut
final sound of a word or syllable
austringer
keeper of goshawks
austromancy
divination using wind
autarchy
government by an absolute ruler
autarkic
self-sufficient; independent
autecology
study of ecology of one species
autocephality
ecclesiastical self-government
autocoprophagy
eating one's own feces
autocracy
government by one individual
auto-da-fe
burning of a heretic
autodidact
self-taught person
autogenesis
spontaneous generation
autognosis
knowledge of or about oneself
autolatry
self-worship
autology
scientific study of oneself
automorphism
ascription to others of one's own characteristics
automysophobia
fear of being dirty
autonym
a writer's real name; work published under writer's own name
autophagy
feeding on body's own tissues
autophanous
self-luminous
autophobia
fear of solitude
autoschediasm
anything extemporized
autosoterism
belief that one can obtain salvation through oneself
autotelic
being an end in itself
autothaumaturgist
person pretending to be mystical or mysterious
autotheism
belief that one is God incarnate or that one is Christ
autotropic
growing in a straight line
auxanometer
instrument for measuring growth of plants
auxesis
increase in size; hyperbole
auxology
science of growth
auxometer
instrument for measuring magnifying power
aval
of, like or pertaining to a grandparent
avalement
allowing knees to flex while skiing
avaunt
away; hence
avaunt
to boast
aveniform
shaped like oats
averruncate
to ward off; to uproot
averruncator
pole for pruning trees
avicide
killing of birds
avicular
of, like or pertaining to birds
avinosis
air sickness
avionics
the science of electronic devices for aircraft
avital
ancestral
avizandum
private consideration of a case by a judge
avolitional
involuntary
avulse
to pluck or tear away by force
avuncular
like an uncle; of, like or pertaining to uncles
awn
beard or similar bristly growth on stalk of grain
axilla
armpit
axiniform
shaped like an axe-head
axinomancy
divination using an axe or hatchet
axiology
the science of the ultimate nature of values
azimuth
arc of the horizon
azoth
alchemical name for mercury
azuline
blue
azure
light or sky blue; the heraldic colour blue
azymous
unleavened
babeldom
a confused sound of voices
baccate
having berries; berry-like
bacchanal
drunkard; reveller
bacciferous
bearing berries
bacciform
shaped like a berry
baccivorous
eating berries
bacillicide
killer of berries
backstay
stay extending from ship's mastheads to the side of the ship
bactericide
killer of bacteria
baculiform
rod-shaped
baculine
of, like or pertaining to the stick or cane; of, like or pertaining to flogging
baculum
penis bone in some mammals
baculus
rod, staff or scepter of power
badigeon
plaster and ground stone mixture for repairing masonry
badinage
playful repartee or banter
badious
chestnut-coloured
baedeker
guide book
baetyl
magical or holy meteoric stone
baft
cheap coarse cotton fabric
bagarre
scuffle or brawl
bagging
coarse fabric for making bags or sacks
bagnio
bathing house
bahadur
self-important official
bahuvrihi
compound word whose second part is a noun but that acts as an adjective
bail
barrier or pole separating horses in an open stable
bailivate
office of a bailiff
bailment
delivery of goods in trust
baisemain
kiss on the hand
baize
coarse napped cotton or wool fabric
bakelite
type of solid plastic
balaniferous
acorn-bearing
balanism
use of suppositories
balanoid
acorn-shaped
balatron
joker; clown
balbriggan
knitted cotton fabric
balbutient
stammering
baldachin
rich embroidered silk and gold fabric
baldaquin
covering or canopy over a throne or altar
baldric
shoulder strap for holding sword
balefire
bonfire or beacon-fire
balisaur
long-tailed badger
balistarius
crossbowman
balistraria
cross-shaped opening in wall for firing arrows
balize
pole mounted on seashore as beacon
ballaster
one who supplies ships with ballast
balletomania
abnormal fondness for ballet
ballistocardiograph
instrument for detecting body movements caused by heartbeat
ballistophobia
fear of missiles
ballottement
diagnosis of pregnancy by applying sharp force to abdomen
balmorality
superficial enthusiasm for Scottish culture
balneary
bath
balneology
the science of the therapeutic use of baths
balustrade
row of columns supporting a stair rail
balzarine
light cotton dress material
banausic
materialistic; merely mechanical; pertaining to workshops
bandelet
small flat moulding around a column
banderol
flat band with an inscription; small banner
bandobast
detailed organization; settlement
bandolier
shoulder belt for carrying ammunition
bangtail
mustang or wild horse
bannock
flat unleavened loaf of bread
banquette
raised way or footway above a parapet
bantling
brat; whelp; bastard child
baptistery
part of church reserved for performing baptisms
bar
unit of pressure of one million dynes per square centimeter
baragnosis
loss of ability to distinguish weight
baragouin
any jargon or unintelligible language
barathea
pebbly silk or worsted fabric with broken rib weave
barathrum
an abyss; an insatiable person
barbarocracy
government by barbarians
barbate
bearded
barbette
earthen terrace inside the parapet of a rampart
barbican
projecting watchtower over the gate of a castle
barbigerous
bearded; bearing a beard
barbula
small tuft of hair just below the lower lip
barcarole
gondolier's song
bardel
pack saddle
bardocucullus
hooded cloak worn by monks
bardolatry
excessive devotion to or worship of Shakespeare
barege
gauzy fabric of silk, cotton, wool, or worsted
bargemaster
owner of a barge
barkentine
three-masted vessel
barleycorn
old unit of length equal to one-third inch
barm
yeast; froth on fermenting liquor
barmaster
local judge among miners
barmcloth
an apron
barmkin
battlement or turret on the outer wall of a castle
barn
unit of area measurement of particles equal to 100 square femtometres
barnard
member of gang of thieves who acts as decoy
barodynamics
science of the support and mechanics of bridges
barognosis
ability to perceive weight
barograph
instrument for recording air pressure
barology
study of gravitation
baroscope
weather-glass
barouche
four-wheeled hooded carriage
barracan
fine silk cloth
barracoon
depot for slaves
barras
coarse linen fabric
barrateen
some kind of fabric
barratry
inciting riot or violence
barre
placing capo or finger across guitar strings
barrulet
narrow heraldic bar
bartisan
parapet or battlement
barton
farmyard
baryecoia
deafness; hardness of hearing
baryphonic
having difficulty speaking
bascule
apparatus of which one end rises as the other sinks
basial
of, like or pertaining to kissing
basiation
kissing
basilica
Roman Catholic church given special privileges
basilicon
kind of ointment
bassinet
light, conical helmet
bastinade
to beat with a stick or baton, especially on the feet
bastion
tower at the corner of a fortification
bastle
fortified house with vaulted ground floor
bathmism
directive evolutionary force
batholith
large mass of intruded igneous rock
bathophobia
fear of falling from a high place
bathos
appearance of the commonplace in elevated matter
bathykolpian
deep-bosomed
bathymeter
instrument for recording contours of deep oceans
bathyorographical
of, like or pertaining to depth underwater or elevation above sea level
bathypelagic
found in the depths of the sea
bathysmal
of, like or pertaining to the depths of the ocean
bathythermograph
instrument for recording water temperature as compared to depth
batik
method of dyeing fabric by covering certain sections with wax
batiste
fine soft sheer fabric of plain weave
batology
the study of brambles
batophobia
fear of heights or being close to tall buildings
batrachian
of, like or pertaining to frogs or toads
batrachivorous
frog-eating
batrachophobia
fear of frogs and toads
batraquomancy
divination using frogs
batten
timber used to fasten down a door or hatch
battledore
bat used to strike shuttlecock; game played with such a bat
battology
futile, futile repetition in speech or writing
battue
indiscriminate slaughter; driving game towards slaughter
baud
unit of data transmission speed of one signal event per second
bausond
having white spots on the forehead
bavardage
chattering; prattle
bavian
insignificant or unskilled poet
bavin
a bundle of brushwood
bayadere
fabric with horizontal stripes in strongly contrasting colours
bdellism
use of leeches for blood-letting
bdelloid
of, like or pertaining to leeches
bdellotomy
act of cutting a leech to increase its suction
beadle
church caretaker or usher
beadle
mace-bearing official of an institution
beadsman
monk or almoner who prays for benefactor
beata
beatified woman
Beatlemania
obsession with the Beatles
beatster
fish net repairer
beatus
beatified man
beaupers
linen fabric used for flags
beaver
hinged face guard on a helmet
beblubbered
disfigured from weeping
bechic
relieving coughs
becket
large hook or bracket used to hold tackle or spars
beckets
rope handles
bedaggle
to soil by dragging along the wet ground
bedswerver
unfaithful spouse
bee
hardwood on either side of bowsprit through which forestays are reeved
beele
double-pointed miner's pick
beerocracy
government by brewers or brewing interests
beeskep
straw beehive
beestings
the first milk drawn from a cow after calving
beforetime
formerly
behoof
a benefit resulting from some course of action
bel
unit of noise intensity equal to ten decibels
belay
to secure a rope by winding on a pin or cleat
belcher
coloured; spotted neckerchief
beldam
an old woman; a hag; an ancestress
belemnoid
shaped like a dart
belike
most likely; probably
bellarmine
large jug with rounded belly and narrow neck
bellcote
ornamental structure to hold one or two large bells
bellecism
inclination towards violence; hawkishness
belleter
bell-founder
belliferous
bringing war
belling
deer's mating call
bellipotent
militarily powerful
bellonion
mechanical instrument combining trumpets and drums
bellwether
one who takes the lead; indicator of trends
beloid
shaped like an arrow
belomancy
divination by means of arrows
belonephilia
sexual obsession with sharp objects
belonephobia
fear of pins and needles
belonoid
shaped like a needle
belvedere
raised covered terrace or pavilion
belvedere
raised turret or lantern on the top of a house
bema
raised part of an Eastern church containing the altar
benedict
a newly married man who has long been a bachelor
benefactive
indicating for whom or which
benefic
kindly; benign; beneficent
benefice
ecclesiastical office to which revenue is attached
beneficiate
to treat ores to remove impurities
benet
exorcist
bengaline
crosswise ribbed fabric
benthic
of, like or pertaining to the depths of the ocean
benthos
flora and fauna of the ocean floor
berceau
covered walk
berceuse
lullaby
bergamask
country dance
berge
spy glass or telescope
berlin
four-wheeled covered carriage
berline
crude winter sled
berm
narrow shelf or ledge at the top or bottom of a slope
bersatrix
baby-sitter
besom
curler's broom
bestiarian
individual opposed to vivisection
bestiocracy
rule by beasts
bethel
a place of worship for seamen; nonconformist chapel
betimes
in short time; speedily
bêtise
foolish act or situation
betwixt
between
bewray
to reveal; to betray; to divulge
bezel
oblique side or face of a cut gem
bezesteen
Eastern marketplace
bezique
card game played with two decks of cards
bezoar
stony material found in ruminants' stomachs
bialate
two-winged
biarchy
government by two people; diarchy
bibacious
overly fond of drinking
bibelot
trinket; miniature book of elegant design
bibitory
of, like or pertaining or pertaining to drinking
biblioclasm
destruction of books or the Bible
bibliogenesis
production of books
bibliognost
well-read individual; person with wide knowledge of books
biblioklept
book-thief
bibliolatry
worship of the Bible or other books
bibliology
study of books
bibliomancy
divination by opening a book at random
bibliomania
craze for books or reading
bibliopegist
bookbinder
bibliophagist
one who devours books, literally or figuratively
bibliophily
love or fondness for books or reading
bibliophobia
fear of books
bibliopoesy
making of books
bibliopolist
bookseller
bibliopoly
bookselling
bibliotaph
one who hoards or hides books
bibliotics
study of documents to determine authenticity
bibulous
addicted to alcohol
bicapitate
two-headed
bickern
anvil pointed at both ends
bicollateral
having two identical sides
bicorn
having two horns or points
biddery
metal alloy inlaid with silver and/or gold
bidenticulate
having two teeth
biduous
lasting two days
bienséance
something appropriate or proper
bifarious
organized in two rows
bifid
divided in two by a deep split
bifilar
having two threads
bigential
consisting of two races, genera, or subspecies
biggin
a building
bight
a wide bay; a bend or coil in a rope
bijugate
having heads on both sides of a coin
bilbo
iron bar used to shackle prisoners' feet
bilge
lower point of inner hull of a ship
bilious
ill-tempered; very unpleasant
billingsgate
coarsely abusive language
billon
base metal, alloy of copper, tin or silver
bilocation
ability to be in two places at once
biloquist
one capable of speaking with two distinct voices
bimetallism
currency exchange on both the gold and silver standards
binarchy
government by two people; diarchy
binate
doubled; coupled
binaural
of, pertaining to or heard by both ears
bindle
blanket roll
binnacle
case in which a ship's compass is kept
binotonous
consisting or comprised of two musical tones
biobibliography
annotated biographical bibliography
biocenosis
state of association of creatures in a certain region
biocentric
having life as main principle
biocide
killing living material
bioecology
study of interaction of life in the environment
biogenesis
theory that all life is derived from living matter alone
biognosy
general study or theory of life
biolith
rock formed by living creatures
biometrics
study of biological measurement
bionergy
vital essence or force
bionomics
study of organisms interacting in their environments
biopic
film telling the life-story of a celebrity
biotaxy
classification of living organisms
biotope
region of uniform environment and types of organisms
bipennate
two-winged
biramous
forked; with two branches
bireme
rowed ship or galley with two banks of oars
biretta
square three-ridged cap worn by Catholic clergy
birl
to make a log spin by walking on it
birostrate
double-beaked
bis
twice; in two places
biserial
in two rows or columns
bismer
shame; disgrace; scorn
bisociation
association of an object with two or more ideas
bisontine
of, like or pertaining to bison
bistoury
narrow surgical knife
bistre
pigment with brownish colour derived from soot
bisulcate
cloven-footed; cleft in two
bitheism
belief in two gods
bitts
posts mounted on a ship for fastening ropes
biune
combining two entities into one
biverbal
of, like or pertaining to two words; having a double sense
bivious
offering a choice; splitting between two directions
blackguard
a menial helper
blackguard
to vituperate; to portray as a scoundrel
blackmaster
undertaker
blague
humbug; pretentious nonsense
blain
a boil or blister
blandiloquence
complimentary speech; flattery
blandish
to flatter and coax; to cajole
blarney
skilful flattery
blastogenesis
reproduction by budding
blattnerphone
instrument used to record sound on magnetic tape
blattoid
of, like or pertaining to cockroaches
blauwbok
extinct bluish-coloured antelope of southern Africa
blazon
heraldic arms painted on knight's shield or surcoat
blench
to shrink or flinch
blendling
hybrid
blendure
mixing
blennoid
of or resembling mucus
blennophobia
fear of slime
blepharal
of, like or pertaining to eyelids
bletcherous
having an ugly design
bletherskate
a garrulous talker of nonsense
bletonism
alleged ability to find an underground water supply
blewit
type of edible toadstool
blissom
subject to or having strong sexual desires
bloomery
factory where iron bars are manufactured
bloviate
to write or speak windily
blucher
leather half-boot
bluepeter
blue flag with white square in centre used as ship's signal
bluestocking
early feminist; educated or literary woman
blunge
to mix clay with water
blype
piece of skin that peels off after a sunburn
boanerges
skilled orator with powerful voice
boatswain
ship's crewmember in charge of equipment and maintenance
bobeche
circular wax catcher that fits over a candle
bobstay
rope used on ships to steady the bowsprit
bocking
smoked herring
bodach
old man; churl; goblin or spectre
bodement
prediction or prophecy
bodewash
cow dung
bodge
piece of poor or clumsy workmanship
bodkin
small tool for pricking holes; small dagger
boeotian
stupid; dull
boethetic
helpful, curative
bogan
quiet tributary or backwater
boggart
spectre; bugbear; goblin
bolar
of, like or pertaining to clay
bolection
moulding around a panel
bolero
Spanish dance with sudden pauses and sharp turns
bolide
large meteor that bursts; a fireball
bollard
short post on a wharf or ship to which ropes are tied
bolometer
instrument for measuring radiant energy or infrared light
bolthead
straight-necked distillation vessel or flask
boltrope
strong rope stitched to edges of a sail
bolus
rounded mass
boman
well dressed criminal
bombaster
one who stuffs or pads things
bombastry
bombastic language or composition
bombazine
twilled silk and worsted fabric
bombé
bulging outwards
bombic
of, like or pertaining to silkworms
bombilate
to hum, buzz or drone
bombosity
the buttocks
bombous
convex; rounded
bombycine
of, like or pertaining to silk or cotton
bombylious
humming or buzzing
bonasus
bison
bonbonnière
small box used for sweetmeats
bonce
large marble used in games
bonification
paying of bonus or reward
boniform
having the form of good
bonify
to improve or ameliorate
boning
estimating straightness by looking along a row of poles
bonism
the doctrine that the world is good but not perfect
bonzery
Buddhist monastery
bonzoline
artificial ivory-like substance used to make billiard balls
boodle
counterfeit money; funds obtained by corruption
boopic
ox-eyed
borage
rough-stemmed herb used in salads
borasco
violent wind squall
borato
thin fabric
borborology
filthy talk
borborygmus
rumbling noise in the intestines
bordar
tenant who holds land at his lord's pleasure
bordereau
detailed bill or invoice
bordure
border surrounding a heraldic shield
bore
tidal flow of water up estuaries
borné
limited; narrow-minded
borsella
instrument for shaping glass vessels
bort
diamond fragments or dust
borzoi
wolf-hound
boscage
thick foliage; woodland
boschveldt
bush country; wilderness
bosket
thicket; plantation
bosky
covered with trees or shrubs
bossa-nova
Brazilian dance similar to samba
bosselated
knobby
boston
waltz-like dance
bosun
boatswain
bot
larva of a botfly that infests horses
botanomancy
divination using burning branches or plants
botryoidal
like a bunch of grapes
bottine
small boot
bottomry
using the ship as collateral to finance a sea voyage
bottony
having three buds like a trefoil
bouclé
fabric of uneven looped yarn
bouillotte
card game resembling poker
bouleuterion
meeting-place; assembly hall
bouleversement
overturning; reversal; ruin
boult
to sift through cloth; to examine by sifting
boun
to prepare; to dress; to set out
bourasque
tempest
bourdon
drone bass of a bagpipe or organ
bourrée
French baroque dance with quick rhythm
boustrophedon
writing alternating left-right then right-left
boutade
sudden outburst
bovicide
slaughter of cattle; one who kills cattle
boviform
cow-shaped
bower
anchor carried at bow of a ship
bowery
seedy or run-down district of a city
bowline
rope used to keep weather edge of a sail taut
bowsprit
spar that extends at bows of a ship
boyau
communication trench
boyg
a problem difficult to get to grips with
brabble
to squabble or quarrel
braccate
having feathered legs or feet
bracciale
bracket or socket mounted on a wall
brach
female hunting hound
brachet
whelp; brat; ***** hound
brachiation
act of swinging by one's arms from place to place
brachiferous
bearing or having branches or arms
brachiotomy
amputation of an arm
brachycatalectic
lacking two syllables from end of a line of verse
brachycerous
having horns or antennae clipped or removed
brachydactylous
having short or stubby fingers
brachymetropia
short-sightedness
brachyology
laconic, abbreviated or interrupted speech
brachypodous
short-legged
brachypterous
short-winged
brackish
saltish; very salty
brackle
to break bread or cake into pieces
bracteate
thin beaten plate of gold or silver
bradawl
small boring tool
bradyseism
slow up-and-down movement of the earth's crust
brail
leather strap to bind a hawk's wing
brails
ropes on edge of sail for hauling up
braird
to appear above ground (of crops)
branchial
of, like or pertaining to gills
branchiferous
having or bearing gills
branchiform
gill-shaped
brandling
striped earthworm used as fishing bait
brank
to prance; toss the head; to strut
bransle
an old French follow-the-leader dance
brasero
a place where criminals and heretics are burned
brash
collection of broken pieces of rock or ice
brassage
difference between cost of minting coin and its value
brassard
badge worn on the arm; piece of armour for the arm
brattice
fixed tower of wood on a castle wall
brattice
partition in mine shaft used to support walls and roof
braxy
disease of sheep causing fits
brayer
instrument for spreading ink in printing
bream
to clean a ship's bottom by burning off seaweed
breastsummer
beam supporting front of a building; bressummer
breccia
geological formation of angular fragments of rock
breedbate
someone looking for an argument
brehon
judge or magistrate in ancient Ireland
breloque
an ornament attached to a watch
breme
fierce; cruel; keen
bressummer
beam supporting a wall over an opening
bretasche
partition to control ventilation in a mine
breve
mark over letter to indicate a short vowel sound
brevet
commission enabling officer to take higher rank
breviary
book containing daily church service
breviate
a brief compendium; a lawyer's brief
brevicaudate
short-tailed
breviloquence
short-windedness; tendency towards brevity in speech
breviped
short-legged creature
brevipennate
having short wings
briarean
many-handed
bricole
harness for humans to pull heavy loads
bridewell
house of corrections; jail
bridgewater
anything undesirable or worthless
bridoon
light military bridle
brigandine
leather armour with metal scales
brigantine
two-masted ship
brigue
to intrigue
brilliantine
light lustrous cotton and worsted fabric
brilliantine
perfumed oil for making hair glossy
brindled
marked with streaks or spots
brio
enthusiastic vigour
brisure
part of a parapet breaking from the general direction
britska
open four-wheeled carriage
broadcloth
dense twilled wool or worsted fabric
brobdingnagian
immense
brocade
rich silk fabric with raised patterns
brocard
elementary law or principle; canon; axiom; maxim
broch
luminous ring around the moon
broché
with raised pattern
brochette
skewer for holding food steady while cooking
brocken
two-year-old stag
brockfaced
having a white mark on the face or snout
brodequin
light boot worn inside heavier boots
broderie
embroidery pattern
brogan
strong and tough working shoe
broma
food; aliment
bromatology
study of food
bromidrosis
strong-smelling sweat
bromopnea
bad breath
bronchos
temporary loss of voice; laryngitis
bronchoscope
instrument for examining the windpipe
brontology
scientific study of thunder
brontomancy
divination using thunder
brontophobia
fear of thunder and lightning
brouette
small two-wheeled carriage
brougham
one-horse closed carriage
bruit
something rumoured widely; to report or spread rumour
brumal
of, like or pertaining to winter
brumous
foggy; wintry
brunneous
dark brown
bruxism
habitual grinding of the teeth
bruxomania
compulsion for grinding teeth
bryology
the study of mosses and liverworts
bubaline
of, like or pertaining to buffalo or antelopes
bubonalgia
painful inflammation of the groin
buccal
of, like or pertaining to the mouth or cheek
buccan
metal frame on which meat is dried and/or roasted
buccina
Roman curved trumpet
buccinal
shaped or sounding like a trumpet
buccula
double chin
bucentaur
legendary half-man and half-ox
buck-and-wing
solo tap dance with many leg flings and leaps
buckram
stiff-finished cotton or linen used for linings of garments
bucoliast
writer of pastoral poems
bucolic
of, like or pertaining to the tending of cattle; rustic; rural
buddle
sloping container for washing ore
bufoniform
shaped like a toad
bufotenine
hallucinogen found in certain tropical toads
buhl
inlaying of precious material onto furniture
bulbiferous
bearing bulbs
bulgur
cooked broken wheat
bulimy
extreme hunger
bulla
round seal attached to a papal bull
bullace
wild plum
bullantic
capitalized and ornamented, as letters used on papal bulls
bullary
collection of papal bulls
bullate
having a blistered or puckered appearance
bulliform
shaped like a blister or boil
bullionism
belief in the importance of metallic currency in economics
bullition
the act of boiling
bullock
an ox or castrated bull
bullyrag
to assault with abusive language; to badger
bulse
a small bag for diamonds or gold dust
bulwark
the side of a ship above the deck
bumboat
small boat used in harbours to carry provisions
bumicky
cement mixed with stone chips used in masonry
bummel
stroll; leisurely journey
bump
coarse cotton fabric
bumpkin
spar projecting from stern of ship
bumptious
offensively conceited or self-assertive
buncombe
speech-making intended for the mass media
bunt
middle of sail, fish-net or cloth when slack
bunting
light loosely woven fabric used for flags
buntline
rope attached to middle of square sail to haul it up to the yard
burdet
cotton fabric
burgage
tenure in socage for a yearly rent
burganet
light helmet with nose and cheek protection
burgee
small ship's flag used for identification or signalling
burgensic
of, like or pertaining to a borough or its citizens
burgrave
commander of a German town or castle
burke
to suppress quietly; to bypass or avoid
burlap
coarse plain-woven jute or hemp fabric
burnet
dark brown; dark woollen cloth
burrel
coarse russet cloth
burrole
an eavesdropper
burrstone
type of rock used to make millstones
bursal
of, like or pertaining to a state's revenues
bursary
treasury of a monastery or college
burse
square cloth case to carry the corporal during Communion service
bursiculate
resembling a small pouch
bursiform
shaped like a pouch or purse
buskin
tragedy as a dramatic genre
buss
rude or playful kiss
buteonine
of, like or pertaining to buzzards
butt
unit of volume equal to two hogsheads or 126 gallons
buttery
storeroom for provisions and liquors
butyraceous
resembling, producing or having the qualities of butter
butyric
of, like or pertaining to butter
byre
a cow barn
byrnie
coat of mail or breastplate
byssaceous
delicately filamentous
byssiferous
having tufts or threads
byssine
silky; soft; having many threads
byssoid
fibrous; cottony soft
byssus
mummy-wrapping fabric
bywoner
agricultural labourer
caballine
of, like or pertaining to or suited to a horse
cabas
woman's work basket or handbag
cable
heavy rope or chain for mooring a ship
caboched
heraldic animal shown in full face with no neck or body
cabochon
highly polished convex gem
caboose
kitchen on the deck of a ship
cabotage
shipping and sailing between points in the same country
cabré
flying upside down with tail down
cabrie
a pronghorn
cabriole
curved furniture leg ending in a ball; exuberant dance or caper
cabriolet
two-wheeled carriage
cacaesthesia
morbid sensation
cachaemic
having diseased or poisoned blood
cachalot
sperm whale
cachepot
ornamental container used to conceal a flowerpot
cachet
a seal of approval; a mark of prestige
cachexic
having an unhealthy physical or mental state
cachinnate
to laugh loudly and inappropriately
cacidrosis
smelly sweat
cacodemomania
pathological belief that one is inhabited by an evil spirit
cacodoxy
bad doctrine or wrong opinion
cacoepy
poor or wrong pronunciation
cacoethes
insatiable desire or mania; bad habit
cacogen
antisocial person
cacogenics
study of racial degeneration
cacography
bad handwriting or spelling
cacolet
military mule litter
cacology
bad choice of words or faulty pronunciation
caconym
wrongly derived name
cacotopia
a state in which everything is as bad as it can be
cacuminal
retroflex, pertaining to a point, crown, top or peak
cadastre
record of ownership and value of property
caddis
worsted yarn
cadge
to beg or sponge from another
cadilesker
chief judge in the Turkish empire
cadrans
instrument by which a gem is adjusted while being cut
caducary
passing or expiring due to lapse or forfeit
caduceator
herald; messenger
caducity
being of a transitory or impermanent nature
caecity
blindness
caenogenesis
process of growth in individual not common in its species
caesaropapism
control of the church by a secular ruler
caesious
bluish or greyish green
caespitose
growing in clusters or tufts
caesura
natural breathing space in a line of verse
cafard
depression; the blues
cagamosis
unhappy marriage
cairngorm
yellow-brown quartz
caisson
vehicle or chest for holding ammunition
caitiff
base; cowardly; despicable
cakewalk
prancing stage dance with backward tilt
calamanco
satin twilled woollen fabric
calamist
piper; one who plays using a reed
calamus
quill or reed used as a pen
calando
slowing with gradually lowering volume
calash
light low-wheeled carriage with folding top
calathiform
cup-shaped
calathus
fruit basket carried on the head
calcar
furnace or oven for annealing
calcariferous
having or bearing spurs
calcariform
spur-shaped
calceate
to shoe
calceiform
shaped like a slipper
calciferous
bearing lime
calciform
pebble-shaped
calcifuge
plant that will not tolerate limy soil
calcimine
to whitewash
calcine
to burn so as to drive out water and carbon dioxide
calcivorous
feeding on or living in limestone
calcographer
one who draws with crayons or pastels
calefacient
warming; anything that warms
calefactory
a monastery sitting room
calender
machine with rollers which presses paper or cloth
calenture
tropical fever due to heat exposure
calescence
increase in heat
calico
plain white cotton
calicular
like a chalice or cup
caliginous
misty; dark; dim; obscure
caliology
study of bird's nests
calipace
turtle's carapace
calix
cup; chalice
calk
pointed piece on a horseshoe to prevent slipping
callant
boy; fellow
calligram
design using the letters of a word
callipygous
having beautiful buttocks
callisteia
awards given for beauty
callithump
boisterous and noisy parade
callow
unfledged; inexperienced
calodemon
good or beneficial spirit
calorifacient
producing or generating heat
calorifics
study of heat
calorimeter
instrument for measuring absorbed or evolved heat
calotte
Roman Catholic skullcap
calque
word or expression introduced into a language by literally translating it
calumet
ornamented ceremonial pipe
calumniate
to slander; misrepresent; besmirch
calumny
vile misrepresentation
calvary
experience of intense mental suffering
calver
to prepare fish while alive or freshly caught
calvities
baldness
calvous
bald
calycine
of, like or pertaining to a cup or calyx
calyx
outer covering of a flower
camaca
fine silk fabric
camaïeu
monotonous or uninteresting play or literary work
caman
shinty stick
camarilla
secret society of favourites of the king
camber
slight arch or convexity to a beam or deck of a ship
cambist
person skilled in the science of financial exchange
cambistry
science of international exchange
cambium
soft tissue found in trees
cambresine
fine linen fabric
cambric
fine thin white cotton or linen fabric
cameline
of, like or pertaining to camels
camelious
jocular term describing camel's hump
camelopard
giraffe
camelot
newspaper vendor
camelry
troops mounted on camels
cameralism
mercantilism designed to increase a ruler's power
camerated
divided into separate chambers
cameriere
waiter or valet
camerlengo
papal treasurer
camisade
night attack
camisole
straitjacket used for unruly prisoners
camlet
strong waterproof silk or wool fabric
camorra
group united for nefarious or traitorous ends
camouflet
mine used to destroy underground enemy emplacement
campaniform
bell-shaped
campanile
freestanding bell tower on church property
campanology
the art of bell ringing
campanulate
shaped like a bell
campestral
of, like or pertaining to the country; pertaining to level ground
camsteary
perverse; unruly
canaille
riffraff; proletarian; the mob; rabble
canaliculate
grooved or channelled lengthwise
canard
false rumour; hoax
canary
lively Renaissance courtly dance
cancellarial
of, like or pertaining to a chancellor
cancellous
having a porous structure
cancerophobia
fear of cancer
cancriform
shaped like a crab
cancrine
of, like or pertaining to crabs; palindromic
cancrine
palindromic
cancrizans
moving backwards; repeating a musical theme backwards
candela
unit of luminous intensity
candent
heated to whiteness
candescent
glowing hotly
canephor
sculpted figure carrying a basket on the head
canescent
hoary; tending to become white or grey
caneva
fancy woollen fabric made to resemble canvas
cang
wooden yoke hung around a criminal's neck
canicular
of, like or pertaining to the dog star
canities
whiteness of the hair
cannel
bevel on the edge of a chisel
cannelure
groove or fluting
cannikin
small can or drinking vessel
cannonade
an attack with heavy artillery
cannonarchy
government by superior firepower or by cannons
cannular
hollow or tube-shaped
canoness
woman living in a community under a religious rule
canonicate
the rank or office of a cannon
canophilia
love or fondness for dogs
canopus
vase for holding dead individual's inner organs
canorous
musical; singing; resonant
canque
Chinese cotton fabric
cantabank
strolling singer; second-rate musician
cantative
of, like or pertaining to singing
cantatrice
female singer
canter
person who makes hypocritical or affected statements
canterbury
stand with divisions for holding books or music
canthus
angle between eyelids at the corner of the eye
canticle
short holy song or sung prayer
cantillate
to chant or intone
cantle
corner, edge or slice of anything
canton
dexter chief region of a heraldic field
cantonment
small military town
cantorial
located on the north side of the choir in a church
canzone
instrumental work that is melodious or song-like
caparison
ornamented covering for a horse
capeline
surgical bandage for the stump of amputated limb; small iron skullcap
capelocracy
government by shopkeepers
capias
writ authorizing the arrest of a person
capillaceous
hairlike
capilotade
stewed meat dish
capistrate
hooded
capitalism
doctrine that private ownership and free markets should govern economies
capitation
numbering of individuals; head tax
capitulary
of, like or pertaining to a chapter of an organization
caple
a horse
capnomancy
divination by means of smoke
caponier
covered passage across a moat or ditch
capreolate
having or resembling tentacles
capric
having a goatlike smell; of, like or pertaining to goats
caprifoliaceous
of, like or pertaining to the honeysuckle plant
capriform
goatlike
caprine
of, like or pertaining to goats
capriole
leap and kick performed by a trained horse
capripede
satyr
capstan
upright device for winding in heavy ropes or cables
captation
attempt to obtain applause or recognition
captious
peevish; ready to take offence or find fault
capuchin
pointed hooded cloak worn by friars
caracole
spiral staircase; a half turn by a trained horse
caravanserai
inn or rest station for caravans
carbasus
lint or gauze
carboniferous
bearing carbon
carboy
large green bottle encased in wicker
carbuncle
architectural monstrosity or eyesore; red precious stone
carcanet
ornamental necklace, collar or headband
carcelage
prison fees
carceral
of, like or pertaining to prisons
carcinology
study of crabs and other crustaceans
cardialgia
heartburn
cardimelech
supposed vital force causing heart to work
cardinal
deep scarlet red colour
cardinalitial
of, like or pertaining to church cardinals
cardiognost
one who knows the workings of the heart
cardiograph
instrument for recording movements of the heart
cardioid
heart-shaped
cardophagus
donkey; something that eats thistles
careen
to turn a ship on its side in order to clean or repair it
caret
mark (^) used to note an omission
carfax
place where four roads meet; intersection of roads at center of a town
carferal
compound of carbon, iron and aluminum
caricology
study of sedges
caricous
of, like or pertaining to figs
carinated
shaped like the prow or keel of a ship
cariniform
keel-shaped
carioca
variation of the samba
cariogenic
causing dental cavities
cariole
light open carriage
carious
of, like or pertaining to dental cavities; decayed
caritative
generous; charitable
caritive
indicating lack of something
carking
imposing great hardship or strain
carminative
expelling, causing or relieving flatulence
carnaptious
bad-tempered; cantankerous
carnassial
specially adapted for eating flesh
carneous
fleshy; flesh-coloured; like or pertaining to flesh
carnet
customs or other permit; book of coupons
carniferous
bearing flesh; fleshy
carnifex
executioner
carnification
conversion into flesh
carnificial
of, like or pertaining to butchers or executioners
carnificine
place of execution; office of the executioner
carnose
fleshy; of or like flesh
caroche
stately carriage used on ceremonial occasions
carpal
of, like or pertaining to the wrist
carphology
fitful plucking movements as in delirium
carpogenous
producing or bearing fruit
carpology
study of fruit
carpophagous
fruit-eating
carrack
galleon
carriwitchet
a quip or quibble; a pun; a conundrum
carronade
short and light maritime cannon
cartiliginous
like or composed of cartilage
cartomancy
telling fortunes using playing cards
cartophily
the hobby of collecting cigarette cards
cartouche
oval- or scroll-shaped ornamentation on monument or tomb
cartulary
keeper of monastic records
carucate
as much land as a team of oxen ploughs in a season
caruncle
any fleshy growth on the body
caryatid
column shaped like female figure
cascabel
part behind the base-ring of a cannon
caschrom
spade with bent handle for tilling soil
casefy
to become or make cheese-like
casemate
bombproof chamber or armored compartment
caseous
cheese-like
casern
barrack or billet for soldiers
cashmere
soft twilled fabric made of fine goat's wool
cashmerette
soft imitation of cashmere
casque
helmet
cassation
annulment; overthrow of legal decision
cassideous
helmet-shaped
cassimere
closely woven twilled cloth of fine wool
cassock
close-fitting ankle-length clergyman's garment
castaneous
chestnut-coloured
castellan
governor of castle or fortification
castellar
of, like or pertaining to a castle
castellated
having battlements or turrets
castophrenia
belief that one's thoughts are being stolen
castory
brown colour; brown dye derived from beaver pelts
castral
of or belonging to the camp
castrametation
the art of designing a camp
casualism
the belief that chance governs all things
casuistry
plausible but flawed moral reasoning
catabaptism
belief in the wrongness of infant baptism
catabasis
the decline of a disease in a population
catachresis
incorrect usage of a word
catachthonian
underground; subterranean
cataclasm
disruption; breaking down
catacoustics
science of echoes or reflected sounds
catadioptric
employing both reflection and refraction of light
catadromous
migrating from fresh to salt water to spawn
catafalque
temporary tomb used in funerals and processions
catalactic
of, like or pertaining to exchange
catalactics
science of commercial exchange
catalectic
incomplete; missing final syllable
catamite
boy kept for homosexual purposes
catamount
any wild large species of cat
catapedamania
obsession with jumping from high places
cataphract
suit of mail; soldier in full armour; armoured ship
cataphysical
unnatural
cataplasm
plaster or poultice
cataplexy
condition feigning death used by animals
catarolysis
letting off steam by cursing
catarrhine
of, like or pertaining to Old World Monkeys
catasta
scaffold or stage for torture or selling slaves
catastaltic
astringent
catastasis
part of drama where action is at its height
catastrophism
belief in rapid geological and biological change
catchpole
constable; sheriff's officer
catechectics
the art of teaching by question and answer
catechumen
one undergoing instruction prior to conversion to Christianity
catena
series, chain or sequence
catenarian
of, like or pertaining to chains
catenate
to connect as in or by a chain
catenular
chain-like
cateran
a Scottish military irregular or brigand
cathead
projection near the bow of a ship to which anchor is secured
cathedra
chair or throne of office for a bishop or other high official
cathetometer
instrument for measuring short vertical distances
cathexis
investment of emotional energy in a thought or idea
cathisma
short hymn used as response
cathisophobia
fear of sitting
catholicon
cure-all; panacea
catholicos
primate of Armenian or Nestorian church
catogenic
formed from above
catoptric
of, like or pertaining to reflection or reflected light
catoptromancy
divination by examining mirror placed underwater
caudal
of, like or pertaining to the tail
caudiform
tail-like; tail-shaped
caudle
warm drink given to the sick
caul
net or similar covering for the head; afterbirth
cauliform
shaped like or resembling a stem
cauligenous
originating on the stem of a plant
caulotaxy
disposition and location of branches on a stem
cauponate
to engage in questionable trade for the sake of gain
causative
indicating causation by
causerie
chat or gossip; short and informal essay
causidical
of, like or pertaining to those who plead legal cases
causimancy
divination by means of fire
cautelous
treacherous; cunning; wily; cautious
cavatina
short operatic air
cavernicolous
cave-dwelling
cavernulous
full of small cavities or holes
cavesson
noseband for a horse
cavicorn
hollow-horned
cavil
to raise trivial and frivolous objections
cebocephalic
having a head shaped like a monkey's
cecils
minced meat made into balls and fried
cecity
blindness
cecutiency
a tendency toward blindness
cedrate
citron
ceilometer
instrument for measuring height of cloud ceiling above earth
celadon
pale green; pale green glazed pottery
celation
concealment
celeste
sky blue
celidography
descriptions of markings on the sun, a planet or moon
cella
inner chamber of a classical temple
cellarer
monastery official in charge of provisions
cellaret
case or drawer for holding wine bottles
celliferous
bearing cells
celluliferous
bearing little cells
celsitude
loftiness
celt
prehistoric bevelled-edge axe
celtuce
lettuce with an edible stalk
cementatory
having the quality of binding or uniting firmly
cementum
hard tissue covering roots of teeth
cenacle
room where the Last Supper was eaten
cenacle
meeting or dining room; group with common interests
cenatory
of, like or pertaining to supper
cendal
silk fabric resembling taffeta
ceneromancy
divination using ashes
cenobite
monk; member of religious group
cenoby
monastery or convent
cenophobia
fear of empty spaces
cenote
deep natural well
censer
vessel for burning incense in religious rituals
centesimal
counting or counted by hundreds or hundredths
centner
old unit of weight equal to about 110 pounds
cento
patchwork composition; collection of short quotations
centrobaric
of, like or pertaining to the centre of gravity
centuple
hundred-fold
cep
brown edible mushroom
cepaceous
smelling or tasting of garlic or onion
cephalate
having a head
cephaligation
placing of major organs and bodily functions in the head
cephalonomancy
divination by boiling an ass head
cephalophore
decapitated saint depicted with head tucked under arm
cephalopod
creature with tentacles or limbs attached to head
cepivorous
onion-eating
ceraceous
resembling wax
ceramography
historical description of types of pottery
cerated
covered with wax
ceratoid
shaped like a horn; horny
ceraunograph
instrument for recording thunder and lightning
ceraunomancy
divination using thunderbolts
ceraunoscopy
divination using lightning
cerberic
vigilant; dragon-like; like Cerberus
cercopithecan
of, like or pertaining to long-tailed monkeys
cercus
tail-like appendage
cerebration
unconscious action of the brain
cerements
clothes placed on a deceased individual
cerge
large wax candle burned before the altar
ceriferous
producing wax
cernuous
drooping or hanging
cerography
writing or printing on plates spread with wax
ceromancy
divination by means of wax drippings
ceroscopy
divination using wax
certes
in truth; certainly
cerulean
sky-blue; dark blue; sea-green
cerumen
ear wax
ceruminiferous
bearing or yielding ear wax
cervelat
smoked pork sausage
cervicorn
branching like antlers
cervine
of, pertaining to or resembling deer, elk or moose
cervisial
of, like or pertaining or pertaining to beer
cesious
bluish-grey
cespitous
composed of or resembling turf
cessionary
someone to which something is ceded
cetacean
type of aquatic mammal, including whales and dolphins
cete
collective name for a group of badgers
ceticide
killing of whales and other cetaceans
cetology
study of whales and dolphins
cevesaile
ornamental corner of a coat
chabouk
horse-whip
chaconne
Spanish baroque dance in triple time
chad
bits of paper punched out of paper tape or cards
chaetiferous
bearing bristles; bristly
chaetophorous
in need of a shave
chaffer
to bargain or haggle
chain
unit of length equal to 22 yards
chaise
light open carriage for one or two people
chalastic
laxative
chalcography
the art of engraving on copper or brass
chalcotriptics
art of taking rubbings from ornamental brasses
chaldron
old unit of dry volume equal to between 32 and 72 bushels
challis
soft lightweight silk, wool or cotton fabric
chambranle
decoration around a door frame or fireplace
chambray
lightweight fabric with coloured warp and white filling
chambré
wine kept at room temperature
chamfer
to channel or make furrows upon; to bevel
chamfrain
piece of leather to protect a war horse's face
chamois
cotton fabric made in imitation of chamois leather
champaign
level countryside or plain
champerty
illegal contract to finance a lawsuit for a percentage fee
chancel
part of church containing altar and seats for choir
chancery
church office dealing with legal matters and archives
chandelle
sharp upward turn in aviation
chantage
blackmail to prevent exposure of scandalous facts
chanter
part of bagpipes on which the melody is played
chanticleer
a rooster
chantry
chapel or altar built for prayers for its benefactor's soul
chaology
the study of chaos or chaos theory
chaomancy
divination by examining phenomena of the air
chapbook
small independently produced popular book
chaplet
circlet or wreath for the head; short string of prayer beads
chaptalize
to add extra sugar to wine to raise alcohol content
charabanc
open tourist coach
characterology
study of development of character
charientism
expression of an unpleasant thing in an agreeable manner; euphemism
charivari
cacophonous mock-serenade performed for wedding
chark
to burn wood to charcoal
Charleston
fast-paced 1920s dance characterized by energetic kicking
charmante
silk fabric with a crepe back
charmeuse
soft and satiny silk fabric
charmeuse
soft satiny material
charnel
room where corpses are placed
charpie
shredded lint used to dress wounds
chartaceous
papery
charterhouse
Carthusian monastic building
chartreuse
yellow-green colour
chary
discreetly cautious or sparing
chasmogamy
opening of a flower in order to be fertilized
chasmophile
lover of nooks and crannies
chasmophilous
fond of nooks, crevices and crannies
chasseur
hunter; liveried hotel attendant
chasuble
sleeveless ecclesiastical garment
chatelaine
ring attached to belt for carrying keys
chatelaine
female castle owner, manager or caretaker
chaton
setting or stone of a finger-ring
chatoyant
with a changing lustre; iridescent
chauffer
small furnace
chaussures
general name for boots and shoes; footwear
chawdron
entrails
cheiloplasty
plastic surgery on the lip
cheiloproclitic
attracted to lips
cheliferous
bearing pincers or claws
cheliform
shaped like a pincer
chelonian
of, like or pertaining to tortoises or turtles
chenille
velvety silk, wool or cotton fabric with protruding pile
chernozem
black earth typically found in cool grassland climates
chersonese
peninsula
chesil
gravel
chessel
cheese-mould
chevalet
bridge of a stringed instrument
chevaline
horse meat
chevaster
double bandage for supporting chin in case of broken jaw
chevelure
nebulous part of a comet
cheverel
soft; flexible kidskin leather
chevet
east end of a church
cheville
unnecessary word used to extend line of verse
cheviot
coarse heavy plain or twilled wool or worsted
chevisance
resource; achievement; gain
chevon
goat flesh
chevrotain
small deer-like mammal
chiaroscuro
juxtaposition of light and shade in artwork or literature
chiasmus
contrast by parallelism in reverse order
chicanery
clever but misleading talk; deception
chiffon
sheer silk fabric
chiffonier
chest of drawers
chignon
knot or roll of hair worn at the back of the head
chilgoza
edible pine seed
chiliad
one thousand
chiliahedron
one-thousand sided solid figure
chiliarchy
government by one thousand people
chiliasm
belief that Jesus will reign on Earth for a thousand years
chiliastic
millenarian
chiliomb
sacrifice of one thousand animals
chilopod
multi-legged insect
chimere
loose sleeveless robes worn by Anglican bishops
chimerical
imaginary; fanciful
chiminage
toll paid for going through a forest
chinamania
obsession with collecting china
chine
the intersection of the middle and sides of a boat
chine
backbone and adjoining flesh of an animal
chino
strong twilled cotton cloth
chintz
glazed printed cotton fabric
chionablepsia
snow blindness
chiral
of, like or pertaining to the hand or handedness
chirality
chemical property of structural handedness
chirapsia
massage
chirk
cheer
chirm
collective term for goldfinches
chirocosmetics
beautifying the hands; art of manicure
chirocracy
government by physical force
chirognomy
divination by studying the hands
chirograph
written or signed document
chirography
study of handwriting or penmanship
chirogymnast
finger exercise machine for pianists
chirology
study of the hands
chiromancy
divination by means of palmistry
chironomy
gesticulation or mime
chiropody
medical science of feet
chiropractic
treatment of disorders of the locomotor system and spinal column
chiropterophilous
pollinated or frequented by bats
chirosophy
knowledge of palm-reading
chirospasm
writer's cramp
chirotony
election by a show of hands
chlamydate
having a mantle or hood
chlamys
horseman's loose cloak
chlorochrous
green-coloured
chlorometer
instrument for measuring amount of chlorine in a solution
choanoid
shaped like a funnel
chock
metal casting with curved arms for passing ropes for mooring ship
cholelithiasis
production of gall stones
choliamb
verse with an iambus in the fifth place and a spondee in the sixth
cholic
of, like or pertaining to bile
choller
double chin
chololith
gall stone
chômage
work stoppage or slump
chondrogenesis
production of cartilage
chondroid
like or resembling cartilage
choragus
leader of a choir or organizer of musical festivals
chordee
painful, downward-curving erection of the penis
choreomania
dancing mania or frenzy
chorepiscopal
of, like or pertaining to an early local bishop
choreutic
of, like or pertaining to a chorus
chorisis
multiplication of parts by branching or splitting
chorizont
one who disputes identity of authorship
chorographer
one who maps or describes a region
chorology
science of the geographic description of anything
chorometry
land surveying
chouse
to cheat; to swindle
chrematistic
of, like or pertaining to the pursuit of wealth or to business
chrematistics
the study of wealth; political economy
chrematophobia
fear of money
chreotechnics
useful or practical trades or arts
chrestomathic
of, like or pertaining to useful knowledge
chrestomathy
anthology of passages used in learning languages
chrism
consecrated or holy oil
chrismation
sacrament of baptism in Eastern churches
chrismatory
vessel for holding holy oil
chrisom
white robe put on newly baptised child
chrisomalis
the loser who wrote this damn list
Christolatry
worship of Christ
christophany
appearance of Christ to men
chromatism
presence of abnormal coloration
chromatocracy
government by rulers of a particular skin colour
chromatograph
instrument for performing chromatographic separations
chromatoptometer
instrument measuring eyes' sensitivity to colour
chromophilous
staining easily
chronobiology
study of biological rhythms
chronogram
inscription whose letters form a Roman numeral date
chronograph
instrument for recording the moment of an event
chronomancy
divination by means of time
chronopher
electrical instrument for transmitting time signals
chronoscope
instrument for measuring very short time intervals
chronostichon
chronogrammatic line or stanza
chronosynchronicity
presentation of all stages of a person's life in a single piece of art
chryselephantine
inlaid with gold and ivory
chrysoaristocracy
government by the wealthy; plutocracy
chrysochlorous
greenish-gold
chrysocracy
government by the wealthy; plutocracy
chrysography
writing in gold or silver letters
chrysology
study of precious metals
chrysophilist
gold-lover
chrysopoetics
transmutation of substances into gold
chrystocrene
rock formation resembling glacier
chthonian
of, like or pertaining to the earth or the underworld
chthonophagia
eating dirt
churching
church ceremony given to women after childbirth
churchism
devotion to church rules over religious precepts
chyle
milky fluid secreted into blood by small intestine
chyliferous
bearing chyle
chyme
partially digested food
chymiferous
bearing chyme
chypre
mixture of resins used in making perfume
cibarious
of, like or pertaining to food; useful for food
cibation
taking food; feeding
cibophobia
fear of or distaste for food
ciborium
freestanding canopy to cover altar; vessel for holding eucharistic bread
cicatrization
scarification; production of marks upon
cicerone
guide; tour guide
cicisbeo
male companion of a married woman
ciconine
of, like or pertaining to storks
cienega
marsh or swamp
cilice
haircloth shirt worn as penance
cillosis
spasm or twitch in the upper eyelid
cimelia
treasures in storage
cimeliarch
church vestry or treasury
cimex
bedbug
cimicide
substance used to kill bed-bugs
cimier
crest of helmet; removable heraldic device or favour of courtly love
cincture
to gird or surround; belt worn around ecclesiastical vestment
cineast
one who takes artistic interest in motion pictures
cinerarium
container for cremated ashes
cinerary
of, like or pertaining to ashes
cinerious
ashen; ash-grey
cingular
shaped like a girdle or ring
cingulum
girdle or girdle-like structure; priest's belt
cinnabar
red crystalline mercuric sulfide pigment; deep red or scarlet colour
cinque-pace
lively medieval dance with five steps
ciplinarian
one who teaches disorder
cipolin
white marble streaked with green
cippus
small column used to mark burial location
cippus
the stocks
circa
about; around
circadian
occurring every 24 hours
circinate
ring-shaped; rolled inwards; spiralling
circiter
about; around
circuity
motion in a roundabout course
circumambagious
roundabout in speech
circumambient
going round about; encompassing
circumaviate
to fly around
circumbendibus
a roundabout way or expression
circumcrescent
growing around; above or over
circumduct
to cause to revolve around an imaginary axis
circumforaneous
wandering about as from market to market
circumforentor
surveyor's instrument used to measure angles
circumfulgent
shining about or around
circumfuse
to pour around or about
circumincession
the reciprocal existence of three parts of the Trinity in each other
circumjacent
bordering on every side
circumlittoral
around or near the shore
circumpose
to place around
circumvallate
to surround with a rampart or fortification
circumvolution
anything winding or sinuous
cire
fabric with a glazed finish
cirrate
having tendrils
cirriped
barnacle or other parasitic crustacean
ciselure
the art of chasing metal
cismarine
on this or the near side of the ocean
cismontane
on this or the near side of the mountains
cispontine
on this or the near side of a bridge
cist
tomb consisting of stone chest covered with stone slabs
cisvestism
wearing strange or inappropriate clothes
cithara
ancient Greek musical instrument like a lyre
citigrade
moving quickly
citreous
lemon-coloured; lemony
citrine
dark greenish-yellow
cittosis
abnormal desire for strange foods
cladistics
taxonomic theory distinguishing by common ancestor
cladogenesis
origin and evolution as if branching from common ancestor
cladoptosis
annual shedding of twigs and branches
cladose
branching; branched
clamancy
urgency
clamant
loud; insistent; urgent
clangor
loud ringing noise or clang
claque
group of hired applauders or sycophants
clarence
four-wheeled carriage
clarigate
to declare war formally
classis
a group; governing body of Reformed churches
clastic
able to be disassembled into its component parts
clathrate
shaped like a net or lattice
clathrose
marked with latticed lines or grooves
claudent
closing; ending; confining
claudication
limpness; cramp-like pain
claustral
cloistral; secluded; narrow-minded
claustration
the act of shutting in a cloister
claustrophobia
fear of closed spaces
clavate
club-shaped
claver
gossip
claviature
keyboard
clavichord
old keyboard stringed instrument
claviform
in the shape of a club
clavigerous
club-bearing
clavigerous
keeping keys
clavis
key; glossary; index; legend
cledonism
circumlocution used to avoid speaking unlucky words
cleg
horse-fly
cleidomancy
divination using keys
cleithral
completely roofed over
clem
to starve
clepe
to name; to call
clepsydra
instrument which measures time by trickling water
clerestory
upper storey of a church; windows near the roof of a building
clerihew
jingle summing up person's life in two couplets
clerisy
scholars and educated people as a class
cleromancy
divination using dice
cleronomy
inheritance
clevis
U-shaped fastener with pin used to close the open end
clew
corner of sail with hole to attach ropes
clicket
a latch
clientage
the whole number of one's clients
climacophobia
fear of falling down stairs
climacteric
critical time in a person's life; any critical turning point
climatarchic
presiding over a climate or region of the earth
clinamen
inclination; bias; prejudice
clinkstone
type of igneous rock that rings when struck
clinology
study of aging or individual decline after maturity
clinomania
excessive desire to stay in bed
clinometer
instrument used to measure slopes and elevations
clinophilia
passion for beds
clinophobia
fear of staying in bed
clinquant
tinselly; glittering
cliometrics
the application of statistics in economic history
clithridiate
shaped like a keyhole
clitter
to make a shrill rattling noise
clivose
hilly; steep
cloaca
sewer; toilet; cesspool of moral filth
clochard
tramp; vagrant; hobo
cloison
partition; dividing band
clonic
spasmodic; occasional; irregular
cloque
fabric with an embossed design
cloture
means of ending legislative debate
clou
main point of interest; dominant idea
clough
ravine; trench; gully
clove
old weight of seven to ten pounds for wool or cheese
clowder
collective term for cats
clupeoid
like or resembling a herring
clypeate
shaped like a buckler
clysmian
of, like or pertaining to or caused by flood
clyster
enema
cnemial
of, like, or pertaining to the tibia (shin-bone)
cnemis
shin bone
cnicnode
point where tangents form a cone of the second order
cnidarian
of, like, or pertaining to invertebrates such as jellyfish and anemones
coacervate
to heap; to cause to mass together
coadjument
mutual assistance
coadjutor
bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and having the right of succession
coadunate
to unite; to combine
coagment
to join or cement together
coalize
to bring into coalition
coaming
raised edge around ship's hatches to keep water out
coaptation
joining or fitting together
coarctation
constriction
cobaltiferous
bearing cobalt
coburg
thin single-twilled worsted fabric with cotton or silk
cocarde
emblem on airplane's wing indicating its nationality
cocciferous
bearing or yielding berries
coccineous
bright red
cochlear
anything spiral-shaped; twisted spirally
cockalorum
boastful and self-important person
cockamamie
ridiculous; incredible
cocker
to pamper; to indulge
cocket
official shipping seal; customs clearance form
cockloft
small room just under the roof
cockshy
object of criticism or ridicule
cocotte
prostitute; a flirt or tease
coctile
baked; hardened by fire
codicil
supplement to a will
codicology
study of manuscripts
codling
unripe apple
codon
mouth of a trumpet or bell
codswallop
something utterly senseless; nonsense
coehorn
small mortar for throwing grenades
coeliac
of, like or pertaining to the abdomen
coelom
body cavity; abdomen
coemption
purchase of the entire supply of a commodity
coenaculous
fond of dining; relishing food; especially suppers
coenaesthesis
sensation
coercimeter
instrument for measuring coercive force
coetaneous
of the same age; coeval
coeval
of the same length of time; having the same duration
cofferdam
narrow vacant space between two bulkheads of a ship
coffle
gang of slaves tied together
coffret
small coffer; presentation box
cog
single-masted, square-sailed ship with raised stern
cogent
convincing; compelling
coggage
paper
cogitabund
meditative; engaged in deep thought
cognomen
family name
cohibit
to restrain
cohobate
to redistill
cohyponym
word which is one of multiple hyponyms of another word
coign
angle; viewpoint
coinstantaneous
simultaneous; at the same time
col
depression or pass in a mountain range
colation
filtration
coleopterology
study of beetles and weevils
coliform
resembling or shaped like a sieve
collectanea
collection of passages; miscellany
collectic
adhesive; sticky
collectivism
doctrine of communal control of means of production
colleger
mortar-board
collegialism
theory that church is independent from the state
colliform
shaped like or resembling a neck
colligation
bringing or binding together; conjunction
collimation
making parallel; adjusting to put into line
colliquation
the process of melting or wasting away
collocation
the placing of things together
collogue
to converse confidentially; to conspire with
colloid
jelly-like
colloquy
speaking together; mutual discourse
colluctation
strife; opposition
collutory
mouthwash
colluvies
accumulated filth; foul discharge
collyrium
eye lotion or ointment
colonnade
row of evenly spaced column or trees
colonoscope
instrument for viewing the colon
colophon
publisher's emblem or inscription in a book
colorimeter
instrument for measuring and determining color
colostrum
mother's first milk
colporteur
peddler of religious tracts and books
colposcope
instrument for viewing the neck of the uterus
colubriform
shaped like a snake
colubrine
like a snake; cunning; of, like or pertaining to snakes
columbaceous
of, like or pertaining to doves or pigeons
columbarium
a structure of vaults lined with recesses
columbine
of or like a dove; dove-coloured
columella
fleshy part of nose that separates nostrils
colure
celestial circle that intersects another at the poles
colytic
restraining; preventative
comate
hairy
comburent
burning; causing combustion
comburivorous
consuming by fire
comedogenic
causing blackheads
comephorous
bearing or having hair; hairy
cometology
study of comets
comiphorous
tufted
comitative
indicating accompaniment
comitatus
band of warriors who escort a prince; a county or shire
comity
courteousness; civility
commatic
divided into short lines; divided with commas
commination
threatening; denunciation
comminute
to reduce or break into minute particles
commis
assistant; deputy; apprentice
commissure
joint; joining surface
commonalty
common people; the general populace
commonition
warning; cautioning
commorant
resident of an institution
commorient
dying together
commove
to excite; to put into motion; to disturb
comose
having tufts of hair; tufted; hairy
compaginate
to join; to connect
companionway
stairs from upper deck of ship to lower deck
compaternity
spiritual relationship between child's parents and godparents
compeer
one who is equal in rank; a companion
compellation
the act of addressing someone
compellative
indicating address or appellation; vocative
compendious
concise but comprehensive
comper
one who habitually enters many competitions
compital
of, like or pertaining to crossroads
complaisant
wishing to please others; obliging
complanate
level
complect
to embrace; to interweave
complicant
overlapping
compline
prayer service held just before bedtime
complot
to plot or conspire
comport
a dish with a stemmed base for serving desserts
compossible
possible in coexistence with something else
compotation
an act of carousing in company
comprecation
prayer meeting
compunction
regret; remorse
compurgation
clearing an accused person by means of oaths
compusion
wrinkling one's face
comstockery
censorship of lewd and salacious material
conation
mental effort towards a goal, desire, purpose
conative
of, like or pertaining to purposeful action or desire
conatus
a natural impulse or tendency
concameration
vaulting
concelebrate
to jointly recite the canon of the Eucharist in unison with others
concent
a harmony or concord of sounds or voices
conceptualism
theory that universal truths exist as mental concepts
concetto
ingenious expression; witticism
conchiferous
bearing a shell
conchiform
shaped like a shell
conchology
study of shells
conchomancy
divination using shells
conchyliferous
bearing a shell
conciliabule
secret meeting of conspirators
concinnity
harmony; congruity; elegance
concipient
conceiving
concision
schism; separation; division
conclamation
a shout of many voices together
concolorate
having the same colour on both sides
concomitant
accompanying
concordat
agreement between the pope and a secular government
concresce
to grow together; coalesce
concrew
to grow together
concubitant
of a suitable age for marriage
concupiscence
strong desire, appetite or lust
condign
well-deserved; fitting; appropriate
confabulate
to chat; to invent past experiences
confelicitous
taking pleasure in others' happiness
conferva
green algae that floats on surface of stagnant water
confirmand
candidate for religious confirmation
confiteor
prayer of confession of sins
conflate
blend or fuse together
conformative
indicating resemblance; similative
confute
to disprove or overcome through argument
congee
permission to depart; dismissal; discharge
congelation
act of freezing something into a solid state
congener
something of the same kind or nature
congeries
aggregation; collection
congiary
gift distributed amongst the people or soldiers
conglobate
shaped like a small ball or globe
conglobe
to gather together into a globe or round mass
conglutinate
to glue or join together
coniaker
coin counterfeiter
coniferous
bearing cones
conification
making conical or pyramidal in shape
connate
congenitally or firmly united
connubial
of, like or pertaining to marriage
connumerate
to count together
consectary
deduction; conclusion or corollary; consequent
consecution
logical sequence or progression of an argument
consenescence
state of general decay
consentaneous
accordant or agreeable; consistent
consentient
unanimous; of one accord
consilience
concurrence; coincidence
consilient
having common inferences drawn from different premises
consistory
a solemn assembly or council; a church tribunal
consociate
to ally or associate
conspecies
different species that are part of the same genus
conspectus
comprehensive survey; synopsis; summary
conspue
to despise; to abhor; to loathe
conspurcation
defilement
constate
to assert
constative
capable of being true or false
constellate
to cluster; to compel by stellar influence
constringe
to draw together; to cause to contract or shrink
constructivism
belief that knowledge and reality do not have an objective value
constuprate
to ravish
consuetude
custom; familiarity
consuetudinary
book of customs, traditions and principles
consultor
advisor to a Catholic bishop
contabescent
wasting away; atrophied
conteck
strife
contect
to cover or overlay
contemn
to despise or scorn
contemnor
one found guilty of contempt of court
contemper
to blend together; to adapt
contenement
property necessary to maintain one's station
contesseration
forming a union by breaking a tablet as token
conticent
silent
contignation
joining together of timber
contline
space between casks or strands of rope
contorniate
having a groove around the edge
contorno
contour or outline
contractile
having the power or property of contracting
contradistinguish
to distinguish by contrasting qualities
contrahent
a contracting party
contrail
condensation trail
contranatant
swimming upstream
contraplex
having messages passing both ways simultaneously
contraposition
opposition; contrast
contrariant
opposed or acting contrary to; one who is opposed to something
contraterrene
opposite in character to earthly or terrestrial
contravallation
fortification built around besieged place
contredanse
folk dance in which two lines of couples face each other
contretemps
embarrassing occurrence; mishap
contrist
to sadden
contriturate
to pulverize
contubernal
living together in the same tent; cohabiting
contumacious
stubborn; obstinate; opposing lawful authority
contumely
insolence; a scornful insult
contumulation
lying in the same tomb as another
conurbation
city surrounded by many urban areas
convenances
what is suitable or proper; the required proprieties
conventicle
secret or illegal church assembly
convicinity
neighbourhood
convolve
to roll together
copacetic
very satisfactory; fine
coparcenary
joint heirship or ownership
cophosis
deafness
coprolalia
pathological use of obscene language
coprolith
ball of hardened feces
coprology
study of pornography
copromania
obsession with feces
coprophagous
eating feces
coprophemia
obscene language
coprophilia
abnormal love or fondness for feces
coprostatis
constipation
copyhold
land tenure dependent on will of the lord of the manor
coquelicot
brilliant red; poppy red
coquillage
shell-like decoration
coracoid
shaped like a crow's beak
coralliferous
bearing coral
coralligenous
producing coral
coram
in the presence of; before
corban
offering to God in fulfilment of a vow
corbeau
blackish green
corbeil
basket filled with earth used as a missile
corbel
bracket or projection from the face of a wall
corbiculate
like a small basket
cordage
ropes in the rigging of a ship
cordate
heart-shaped
cordiform
heart-shaped
cordovan
soft goatskin leather
cordwainer
shoemaker
corf
miner's basket, trolley or wagon
coriaceous
having a leathery appearance; consisting, of, like or pertaining to leather
corium
skin layer
corm
swollen subterranean part of a stem
cornet
military rank of horn-bearer or standard-bearer
cornice
moulding at the junction of ceiling and walls
corniculate
horn-shaped; horned
cornific
producing or forming horns
corniform
shaped like a horn
cornigerous
horned
cornuted
cuckolded
cornuto
cuckolder
coronach
funeral dirge
coronagraph
instrument for viewing the corona of the sun
coronoid
shaped like a beak
corpocracy
government by corporate bureaucrats
corporal
white cloth on which Communion bread and wine are placed
corposant
St. Elmo's fire or similar electrical discharge
corrade
to wear away through the action of loose solids
correption
shortening in pronunciation
corrigendum
something which requires correction
corrivate
to cause to flow together
corrody
right of lord to demand free lodging from vassal
corsetier
corset maker
cortege
train of attendants; procession
cortinate
like a cobweb
coruscate
to sparkle; to throw off flashes of light
corvette
highly manoeuvrable armed escort ship
corviform
shaped like a crow
corvine
crow-like; of, like or pertaining to crows or ravens
corybantic
wildly excited; frenzied
coryphaeus
spokesman; leader of a chorus
coscinomancy
divination using a sieve and a pair of shears
cosher
to live on dependents
cosmarchy
rulership over the entire world, esp. by the devil
cosmetology
study of cosmetics
cosmism
belief that the cosmos is a self-existing whole
cosmocrat
ruler of the world
cosmogenic
produced by interaction of cosmic rays with earth's surface
cosmogony
theory of the origin of the universe
cosmolatry
worship of the world
cosmoplastic
moulding or shaping the universe
cosmorama
a view of different parts of the world
cosmosophy
knowledge of the cosmos
cosmotellurian
of, like or pertaining to both heaven and earth
cosmotheism
the belief that identifies God with the cosmos
cosset
to fondle or pamper
costal
of, like or pertaining to the ribs
costellate
ribbed
costive
affected with or causing constipation
coteau
uplands; higher ground of a region
cotehardie
medieval long close-fitting garment with tight sleeves
coterie
a social or literary circle
cothurnal
of, like or pertaining to tragedy
coticular
of, like or pertaining to whetstones
cotillion
elaborate ballroom dance with frequent changes of partner
cotquean
man who does women's work
cottar
medieval peasant inhabiting a cottage
cottonocracy
government by those involved in the cotton trade
cotyliform
disc-shaped with a raised rim
couchant
in heraldry, an animal lying on its belly with head lifted
couchee
evening reception
coulée
steep and dry gully
couloir
gully
coulombmeter
instrument for measuring electric charge
coulometer
instrument measuring amount of substance released in electrolysis
coulter
iron cutter in front of a ploughshare
countenance
approve of; condone; encourage
counterblast
a defiant pronouncement or denunciation
counterfoil
part of ticket or cheque retained by giver
countermand
to revoke an order by a contrary order
counterphobic
seeking out situation that is feared
counterscarp
narrow earth band on the outer wall of a defensive ditch
coupe
four-wheeled closed horse-drawn carriage
courante
quick Italian baroque dance involving running steps
courgette
zucchini
couvade
symptoms of pregnancy suffered by the father
couveuse
incubator for babies
covinous
fraudulent
cowcat
person whose function is to occupy space
coxalgia
hip pain
coxcomb
foolishly vain or conceited man
cozen
to coax or deceive by trickery
crachoir
spittoon
crackjaw
hard to pronounce
crambo
game in which rhyme must be found for given word
cramoisy
crimson
crampon
boot-spike for rock and ice climbing
craniometer
instrument for measuring the skull
crapehanger
pessimist
crapulent
physically ill through overeating or overdrinking
craquelure
fine cracking that appears in old paintings
crash
coarse drapery and towelling fabric
crasis
blending; melding two vowels into a diphthong
crassilingual
having a thick tongue
crassitude
state of being coarse, gross or crass
crateriform
cup-shaped
cratometer
instrument for measuring power of magnification
creancer
guardian or mentor
creant
creating; formative
creatic
of, like or pertaining to flesh
creatophagous
carnivorous; flesh-eating
crebrous
frequent
credal
of, like or pertaining to a creed
credence
small table for holding sacred vessels
credenda
things to be believed
credenza
credence table or shelf; a sideboard
credo
concise statement of doctrine; section of Mass followed by offertory
cremaillere
zigzag line of fortification
cremaster
muscle by which the testicles are suspended
cremnophobia
fear of cliffs and precipices
crenate
scalloped
crenel
open space on a parapet used for launching projectiles at enemies
crenellated
notched; having battlements
crenitic
of, like or pertaining to mineral springs
creophagous
flesh-eating; carnivorous
crepance
sore on a horse's hind ankle-joint
crepe
light crinkled fabric
crepehanger
pessimist; gloomy person
crepitate
to crackle; to snap; to rattle
crepitus
fart
crepon
heavy crepe fabric with lengthwise crinkles
crepuscular
of, like or pertaining to twilight
crescive
growing; increasing
crescograph
instrument for measuring the growth of plants
cresset
iron basket for burning oil to provide light
cretaceous
of or resembling chalk; of a whitish colour
cretify
to change into calcium or lime; to fossilize
cretonne
heavy cotton or linen cloth
crewel
fine worsted yarn used in tapestry
criant
garish; discordantly coloured
cribble
to decorate wood or metal with small dots or punctures
cribration
sifting
cribriform
shaped like a sieve
cribrous
perforated or punctured like a sieve
cricoid
ring-shaped
criminogenic
causing crime
criminology
study of crime; criminals
crin
horsehair fabric
crinal
of or related to the hair
cringle
loop at corner of sail to which a line is attached
crinigerous
hairy
crinoline
stiff flax or cotton fabric
criophore
sculpture of a man carrying a ram
crista
ridge or fold resembling a crest
crithomancy
divination by strewing meal over sacrifices
criticaster
inferior or petty critic
critomancy
divination using viands and cakes
croceate
saffron-coloured
croche
knob at top of a deer's horn
cromlech
prehistoric stone circle
cromnyomancy
divination using onions
croquinole
curling of one's hair with curling iron
crosier
pastoral staff or crook held by bishop or abbot
crosslet
small cross with crossed arms used as heraldic bearing
crosstrees
horizontal crosspieces at a masthead used to support ship's mast
crotal
small spherical bell
crotaline
of, like or pertaining to rattlesnakes
croze
groove in the staves of a cask
crubeen
term for pig's feet as food
cruciferous
bearing a cross
cruciform
cross-shaped
cruentation
leaking or oozing of blood from dead body
cruet
vessel used in religious ceremonies, especially to hold the Eucharist
cruive
pen or sty for animals
crumenal
a purse
crupper
strap of saddle that passes beneath horse's tail; armour for horse's flanks
crural
of or belonging to the leg
cruset
goldsmith's crucible
crwth
Welsh six-stringed instrument played with a bow
cryobiology
study of life under cold conditions
cryometer
instrument for measuring low temperatures
cryoscope
instrument for determining freezing points of substances
cryptadia
things to be kept hidden
cryptaesthetic
of, like or pertaining to supranormal perception
cryptarchy
secret rulership
cryptodynamic
having secret or hidden power
cryptogenic
of unknown origin
cryptonym
secret name
cryptotype
an implicit and specific rule of language use
cryptous
of, like or pertaining to crypts
crystallogenesis
production of crystals
crystallomancy
divination by means of clear objects
crystalomancy
divination using a crystal globe
cteniform
comb-shaped
ctetology
study of the inheritance of acquired characteristics
cubation
act of lying down or reclining
cubica
fine unglazed fabric resembling shalloon
cubiform
shaped like a cube
cubomancy
divination by throwing dice
cuculine
of, like or pertaining to cuckoos
cucullate
hooded; hood-shaped
cucumiform
cucumber-shaped
cucurbit
chemical vessel used in a still or alembic
cucurbitaceous
of, like or pertaining to gourds
cuddy
right of a lord to entertainment from a tenant
culet
flat back or base of a gemstone
culiciform
like or resembling a mosquito
culicino
mark left on a tablecloth by a wet glass
cullet
waste glass which is melted into new objects
cullion
mean or base person; rascal
culm
stem of grass or sedge
culmen
highest point
culmiferous
bearing coal-dust
cultch
flooring of an oyster-bed; rubbish
cultriform
knife-shaped
cultus
religious ritual; a cult
culver
dove or pigeon
culverin
lightweight, portal, long-barrelled cannon
culvertage
degradation of a peasant to the position of serf
cumbent
lying down; reclining
cumuliform
shaped like a heap
cumulose
containing or consisting of small heaps
cunabula
cradle
cunctation
delay; procrastination
cuneate
wedge-shaped
cuneiform
shaped like a wedge
cuniculous
full of holes and tunnels; full of rabbits
cupel
goldsmith's vessel for assaying metal
cupola
spherical vault or concave ceiling
cupriferous
bearing copper
cupulate
of, like or pertaining to a cup; cup-shaped
cupuliferous
bearing cupules
curate
assistant to a parish priest
curette
instrument for scraping sides of body cavities
curia
papal court and its officials
curie
unit of radioactive decay and intensity
curiology
picture-writing
curiosa
pornographic books
curmurring
rumbling or flatulent sound
curricle
two-wheeled open carriage
currycomb
metal comb used to groom horses
cursorial
used in walking or running
curtal
short; abbreviated; curtailed; early form of the bassoon
curtate
shortened; short
curtilage
court or field attached to a dwelling
curule
of high authority
curvet
to leap; to frisk
curvicaudate
having a curvy tail
cusec
unit of liquid flow equal to one cubic foot per second
cuspidor
a spittoon
custos
guardian, custodian or keeper, especially of convents or monasteries
custrel
attendant to a knight; a knave
cutaneous
of or related to the skin
cuvette
shallow dish for holding liquids
cwm
valley or glen
cyaneous
sky blue
cyanogenesis
production of cyanide
cyanometer
instrument for measuring blueness of the sky or ocean
cyanotype
blueprint
cyathiform
shaped like a cup
cybernate
to control by means of a computer
cyberphobia
fear of computers
cyclograph
instrument for describing arcs of circles without compasses
cyclolith
stone circle
cyclometer
instrument for measuring revolutions of a wheel
cyclophoria
squint due to weakness in the eye muscles
cyclosis
circulation
cyclostyle
device for making multiple copies of written text
cyesis
pregnancy
cyesolagnia
sexual attraction to pregnant women
cylix
shallow cup with long stem
cyllosis
congenital physical deformity
cymaphen
telephone receiver
cymbiform
shaped like a boat
cymograph
instrument for tracing the outline of mouldings
cymometer
instrument for measuring frequency of electrical waves
cymophanous
opalescent; having a wavy or floating light
cymotrichous
wavy-haired
cynanthropy
pathological belief that one is a dog
cynartomachy
bear-baiting using dogs
cynegetic
of or related to hunting
cynoclept
one who steals dogs
cynography
writing or treatise on dogs
cynoid
dog-like; canine
cynolatry
worship of dogs
cynology
scientific study of dogs
cynomorphic
pertaining to a dog's viewpoint
cynophilist
one who loves dogs
cynophobia
fear of dogs
cynosure
anything that attracts attention; object of interest
cyphonism
use of pillorying as punishment
cypress
silk or cotton gauze fabric, usually black
cyprian
lewd woman; prostitute
cyprinoid
of, like or pertaining to carp
cypseline
of, like or pertaining to swifts
cyrenaic
adherent of doctrine that pleasure is ultimate goal
cystolith
calcium carbonate that masses in cell wall of some plants
cystoscope
instrument for examining the bladder
cytheromania
nymphomania
cytogenesis
formation of cells
cytology
study of living cells
cytometer
instrument for counting cells
czardas
Hungarian dance that increases in speed
dacnomania
obsession with killing
dacoitage
robbery by gang or mob
dacryops
wateriness of the eyes
dactylioglyph
engraver of rings or of gems
dactyliology
study of rings
dactyliomancy
divination by means of a finger
dactylogram
fingerprint
dactylography
the study of fingerprints
dactyloid
like or resembling a finger
dactylology
study of sign language
dactylomancy
divination using rings
dactylomegaly
condition of having abnormally large digits
dactylonomy
counting using the fingers and toes
dactyloscopy
comparing fingerprints for purpose of identification
dado
large wooden moulding along bottom of wall
daedal
formed with art; displaying inventive skill
daedalist
aviator; pilot
dag
dirty tatted tuft of sheep's wool
dal
a dried legume, such as lentils, beans or peas
dalmatic
ecclesiastical robe or other outer vestment
dalton
unit of atomic mass
damascene
decorate or engrave metal with wavy lines and patterns
damask
fine lustrous fabric with flat patterns and a satin weave
damine
having antlers like a fallow deer
dammar
hard resin used in making varnish
damnification
causation of injury or loss
damoiseau
male form of damsel; a young man not yet dubbed a knight
dancetté
deeply indented
danism
lending money on usury
dap
to dip gently into water; to fish with a surface fly
dapatical
lavish; sumptuous; costly
daphnomancy
divination using a laurel
dapifer
one who brings meat to the table
dapocaginous
mean-spirited; heartless
darbies
handcuffs
darby
large trowel for levelling concrete or plaster
darcy
unit of permeability of rock to various substances
darkle
to grow or make dark
darraign
to vindicate; to justify or prove
dash
non-specific very small unit of measurement used in cooking
dashpot
shock absorber
dasyphyllous
having crowded, thick or woolly leaves
dasypoedes
types of birds having downy-feathered young
dasyure
flesh-eating marsupial
datary
papal officer who registers and dates bulls and edicts
dation
act of giving, conferring or donating
dative
indicating indirect object of a verb
davenport
small ornamental writing desk; large sofa
davit
device for hoisting and lowering a boat
daw
simpleton; bird of the crow family
deaconing
act of putting best looking goods on top of pile
deadeye
rounded wooden block with hole used to set up ship's stays
deadhouse
mortuary
deadstock
farm equipment
deadwood
timbers built into ends of ship when too narrow to permit framing
dealate
insect divested of its wings
dealbation
whitening; bleaching
deambulatory
place for walking around or about in
dearticulate
to disjoint
deasil
sunwise motion
debarrass
to disembarrass; disentangle; free
debel
to conquer in war
debellate
to conquer or overcome through battle
debouch
to issue or emerge; to flow from a confined place
debouchure
mouth of a river or strait
debridement
the removal of foreign matter from a wound
decadarchy
government by ten individuals; decarchy
decadist
author who writes works in ten parts
decalcomania
process of transferring a design onto a surface using specially prepared paper
decalescence
point in heating metal where it appears to cool
decalogist
exponent of rules such as the Ten Commandments
decalvant
removing hair; depilatory
decamerous
having parts in tens
decanal
located on south side of the choir in a church
decanal
of, like or pertaining to a dean or deacon
decantate
to chant or say repeatedly
decarchy
government by ten individuals
decare
1000 square metres
decarnate
denied or deprived of physical bodily form
decastich
ten-line poem
decatise
to uncurl through the use of steam or moisture
decaudate
to cut off the tail of
decelerometer
instrument for measuring deceleration
decennoval
of, like or pertaining to the number nineteen
decession
departure
decimestrial
lasting ten months
deckle
ragged edge of paper
declassé
below one's social class
declinometer
instrument for measuring magnetic declination
declivity
place that slopes downwards; inclination downwards
decoct
to prepare or extract by boiling; to devise
decollate
to behead; to disorganize
decomplex
repeatedly compound
decorticate
to remove the bark, husk or peel of
decoupage
the application of paper cutouts to wood surfaces
decrassify
to make less crass or boorish
decrement
a gradual decrease in quantity or quality
decrepitate
to crackle; to roast so as to cause to crackle
decrescent
becoming gradually less
decretal
papal decree deciding a point of church law
decretal
of, like or pertaining to a decree
decrudescence
diminution or reduction of a disease
decuman
principle; large; primary
decumbent
lying down; reclining on the ground
decumbiture
the time spent by an invalid in bed
decurrent
extending or running downwards
decurtate
to curtail, shorten or abbreviate
decussate
to divide in the form of an X; to cross or intersect
dedans
spectators at a court tennis match
dedition
surrender; capitulation
deek
look at; see
deemster
judge on the Isle of Man
defalcate
to embezzle money held on trust
defeasible
that may be annulled
defenestration
throwing a person or object out a window
deferrise
to remove iron from
defervescence
abatement of heat; coolness; decrease of fever
defilade
to arrange fortifications against frontal attack
defiliation
depriving a parent of a child
definiens
word or words used in a dictionary definition
deflexure
deviation
deflocculate
to break down into small pieces
defluent
running down; decurrent
defluvium
falling of hair
dégagé
at rest; untroubled; at ease
deglutinate
to unglue or unstick
deglutition
the power or act of swallowing
degression
gradual decrease; reduction in taxes
dégringolade
rapid decline or decay; downfall
degustation
eating in a series of small portions
dehisce
to gape; to burst open
dehort
to dissuade
deicide
destruction or killing of a god
deictic
directly demonstrating something or some proposition
deiform
appearing like or shaped like a god
deiparous
bearing a god
deipnosophy
learned dinner-conversation
deipotent
having godlike power
deism
belief in God but rejection of religion
deixis
relating to time and place of a linguistic utterance
delactation
weaning
delaine
light fabric of wool or mixed wool and cotton
delaminate
to split into layers
delate
to pass on; to charge with a crime
delative
indicating motion downward
delectus
anthology of useful passages or quotations
delenda
things to be deleted or destroyed
deleterious
harmful to body or mind
delf
drain; ditch; excavation
delibate
to sip
deligation
bandaging
delignate
to remove wood from; to deprive of wood
deliquesce
to melt into liquid by absorbing moisture
deliration
madness; aberration
delirifacient
producing or creating delirium
delitescent
latent
delope
to fire one's gun into the air in a duel
delphically
enigmatically; obscurely
delphine
pertaining to the Dauphin of France
delphinine
of, like or pertaining to dolphins
deltiology
the collection and study of picture postcards
deltoid
shaped like a delta or triangle
delubrum
a font, a temple or shrine having a font
demagogue
political agitator appealing to popular prejudices
démarche
decisive course of action taken in diplomacy
demarchy
government by the people; popular government
demegoric
of, like or pertaining to demagogues or demagogic speech
démenti
official denial or refusal
demephitise
to purify air
demerge
to immerse; to plunge
demersal
subaqueous; living underwater; sinking to the bottom
demesne
feudal manor-house with adjacent lands
demicastor
beaver pelt of poor quality; beaver fur mixed with another type of fur
demigration
change of abode
demijohn
large bottle having a wicker case
demisang
half-breed; hybrid
demiurge
creative spirit or entity
demogenic
of, like or pertaining to membership by citizenship rather than kinship
demology
study of human behaviour
demonarchy
government by a demon
demonetise
to deprive of monetary value; to withdraw from circulation
demonocracy
government by demons or evil forces
demonolatry
worship of or devotion to demons
demonology
study of demons
demonomancy
divination using demons
demonomania
pathological belief that one is possessed by demons
demonosopher
one who is inspired by a demon or devil
demotic
of, like or pertaining to the common people
demulcent
emulsifier; something soothing
demurrage
delay of vessel's departure or loading with cargo
denary
one of ten; tenfold; of, like or pertaining to group of ten
dendriform
shaped like a tree
dendritiform
branched
dendrochronology
study of tree rings
dendroid
tree-like; resembling a tree
dendrolatry
worship of trees
dendrology
study of trees
dendrometer
instrument for measuring trees
dendrophilous
fond of trees
denehole
vertical shaft having chambers at the base
denier
unit of yarn fineness
dennet
light two-wheeled carriage
densimeter
instrument for measuring closeness of grain of a substance
densitometer
instrument for measuring optical or photographic density
dentagra
toothache
dentellated
having small notches or teeth
dentelle
lace; lacework
denticle
small toothlike structure
dentiform
shaped like a tooth
dentigerous
toothed; bearing teeth
dentiloquy
speaking with clenched teeth
dentine
ivory-like material making up teeth
dentiologist
one who speaks with closed teeth
dentirostral
with notched beak
deobstruent
something that removes an obstacle
deodate
a gift to or from God
deonerate
to disburden
deontic
of or relating to duty or obligation
deontology
the theory or study of moral obligation
deoppilate
to free from obstruction
deordination
abnormality or irregularity
deorsumversion
turning downwards
deosculate
to kiss affectionately
depascent
eating
depaysé
out of one's element or natural environment
depeculation
embezzlement of public funds
deponent
having a passive form but active meaning
depotentiate
to deprive or divest of power
deprehend
to catch; to seize
depurate
to purify
deracinate
to root up
deray
to go wild; to derange
deric
of, like or pertaining to the skin
dermatoglyphics
the study of skin patterns and fingerprints
dermatoid
like or resembling skin
dermatology
study of skin
dermographia
condition where writing on skin causes red mark to form
derodidymus
two-headed beast
derrick
hoisting mechanism using a boom and a central post
desacralise
to deprive or remove sacred qualities
descrive
to describe
desideratum
something which is greatly desired
desiderium
longing or yearning
desinent
terminal; ending
desipient
playing the fool; trifling
desmology
study of ligaments
désobligeante
carriage for one passenger
despoliation
despoiling; despoilment
despotocracy
government by despots or tyrants
despumate
to throw off impurities in foam; to skim; to remove scum
desquamate
to scale or flake off
desudation
extreme sweating
desuetude
state of disuse
desultory
jumping from one thing to another; rambling; unplanned
detersion
the act of cleaning
detinue
wrongful seizure of property; action to recover it
detort
to untwist; to twist the other way
détraqué
a person who is deranged
detritus
waste or debris
detrude
to thrust downward or outward
detumescence
diminution of swelling
deuteragonist
a person who serves as a foil to another
deuterogamy
second marriage after the death of the first wife
deuteropathy
second illness in addition to an initial one
deuteroscopy
second view or meaning; second sight
devall
to sink; to decline
devisee
one to whom property is bequeathed in a will
devoir
what is due; duty
dewlap
turkey's wattle; flap of skin under the throat
dexiotropic
turning to the right
dexter
relating to the right side of a heraldic shield
dextroduction
shifting the eyes from left to right
dextrogyratory
turning to the right
diable
unglazed earthenware casserole
diablerie
magic; sorcery; mischief
diabolocracy
government by the Devil
diabology
study of devils
diabrotic
corrosive
diacatholicon
panacea
diachoretic
laxative
diaclastic
refractory
diaconal
of, like or pertaining to a deacon
diaconicon
sacristy for sacred vessels in Orthodox churches
diacope
deep wound or incision
diacoustic
of, like or pertaining to the refraction of sound
diacritic
making a distinction; aiding a diagnosis or evaluation
diactinal
having two pointed ends
diadermic
of, like or pertaining to the puncturing of the skin
diadrom
course or passing; vibration
diagenesis
production of rock out of sediment
diaglyph
figure etched or engraved in surface of gem or stone; intaglio
diagometer
instrument for measuring electrical conductivity
diagraph
instrument for enlarging or projecting drawings
diagraphics
art of making diagrams or drawings
dialectology
study of dialects
diallage
device in which many arguments brought upon one point
diallelus
circular argument
diamanté
glittering; decoration using glitter
diamantiferous
bearing diamonds
dianoetic
capable of, like or pertaining to thought
diaphanometer
instrument for measuring the transparency of air
diaphanous
transparent; translucent
diaphone
low-pitched fog signal consisting of two tones
diaphoresis
artificially induced sweat
diapyesis
release or discharge of pus
diarchy
government by two people
diaskeuast
reviser; interpolator
diaspora
dispersion
diastema
space between teeth
diastomatic
moving through the pores
diastrophe
upheaval or drastic modification of the earth's crust
diasyrm
rhetorical device of condemning through faint praise
diatessaron
medicine of four ingredients
diathermic
permeable to or able to conduct radiant heat
diathesis
particular condition of body or mind; predisposing factor
dibble
pointed tool for making holes for seeds or plants
dicacity
raillery; banter
dicaeology
defending oneself in argument by claiming justification
dicephalous
two-headed
dicephalus
conjoined twins with two heads
dicerous
two-horned; having two antennae
dichogamous
having males and females maturing at different rates
dichord
musical instrument with two strings
dichroscope
instrument for examining crystals for dichroism
didact
a person given to lecturing or moralizing
didapper
someone who disappears and bobs up again
didascalic
didactic; pertaining to education or teaching
diddicoy
itinerant tinker or scrap-dealer
didelphine
of, like or pertaining to opossums
didelphous
marsupial or pouched mammal
didine
of, like or pertaining to dodos
didymous
twin; twinned; growing in pairs
diectasis
extending line of verse by adding extra syllable
diegesis
the narration of facts
diesis
double dagger sign
diestrus
period of sexual inactivity
diffarreation
Roman form of divorce
differentia
property which distinguishes one from another
diffident
overly shy or modest
diffinity
lack of similarity or affinity
diffluent
readily flowing away
diffract
to break up into segments or portions
diffractometer
instrument for determining structure of crystal through light diffraction
diffrangible
capable of being diffracted or separated
diffugient
dispersing; diffusing
dight
disposed, adorned, clothed
digitate
having or resembling fingers
digitiform
shaped like a finger
digitigrade
walking on the toes alone
digitorium
silent piano for practicing
digladiate
to fight with swords; to fence
digonal
figure such that a half-turn gives the same figure
digoneutic
double brooded
digraph
two letters expressing a single sound
dijudicate
to judge; to decide
dilacerate
to rend or tear asunder
dilaniate
to tear to pieces
dilatometer
instrument for measuring expansion
dilatory
slow; given to delay or procrastination
dilettante
dabbler or lover of fine arts
dilogical
ambiguous; having two meanings
dilogy
intentional ambiguousness
diluent
diluting
diluvial
of, like or pertaining to floods; especially mythical ones
dimerous
consisting of two parts
dimidiate
divided into halves
dimissory
sending away or giving leave to depart; dismissing
dimity
sheer and stout white cotton
dinanderie
bronze-coloured metal alloy used for decorative vessels
dinarchy
government by two people; diarchy
dinic
of, like or pertaining to vertigo or dizziness
dinomania
mania for dancing
dioecious
having male and female sexual organs in different individuals
diogenic
cynical
dionym
name containing two parts or terms
dioptometer
instrument for measuring focus or refraction of the eyes
dioptre
unit of measurement of power of lens or eye
dioptric
transparent
dioptrics
study of light refraction
diorism
distinction; definition
diorthosis
a critical revision of a text; any correction or adjustment
diotic
affecting both ears
diphyletic
descended from two distinct ancestral groups
diphyodont
having second set of teeth that replaces the first
diphysitism
belief in the dual nature of Christ
dipleidoscope
instrument for measuring moment when an object passes a meridian
diplocephalus
two-headed monster
diplogenesis
doubling of ordinarily single organ or part
diplograph
instrument for writing two lines of text at once
diplomatics
science of deciphering ancient writings and texts
diplomatology
study of diplomats
diplopia
double vision
dipnoous
having both lungs and gills
dippydro
person who often changes mind
diprionidian
serrated on both sides
dipsetic
causing to be thirsty
dipsomania
abnormal craving for alcohol
dipsosis
pathological great thirst
diptote
noun taking two grammatical cases only
diptych
pair of pictures on hinged panels; register of bishops and saints
diremption
separation into two; disjunction
dirigent
guiding
dirigible
able to be directed
dirigism
state control in economic and social spheres
diriment
condition of legal nullification
disafforest
to clear of forest; to disforest
disagio
fee charged for exchanging foreign or depreciated currency
disbosom
to make known; to reveal
discalced
without shoes; barefoot; a religious order wearing no shoes
discarnate
disembodied; separated from the body
discept
to dispute; to debate
discerptible
able to be separated
disciform
round or oval in shape
discigerous
bearing a disc or discus
discinct
ungirded
discission
open incision or cut
discobolus
discus thrower
discomania
obsession for disco music
discombobulate
to disconcert; to upset
discommodious
inconvenient
discophile
one who loves and studies sound recordings
discophoran
of, like or pertaining to jellyfishes
discountenance
to abash; to discourage
disculpate
to free from blame
disembogue
to discharge or eject into the sea
disembrangle
to free from dispute
diseuse
female orator or reciter of verse
disgarnish
to despoil
disgeneric
being of a different genus
disgregation
separation; scattering
disillude
to free from illusion
disimmure
to liberate; to release from walls
disinure
to render unfamiliar
disjection
scattering or dispersion
disomus
monster with two bodies
disorbed
deprived of authority or sovereignty
dispendious
extravagant; expensive
dispiteous
pitiless; malicious
dispone
to set in order; dispose
disponge
to sprinkle or discharge as if from a sponge
disport
to play about, frolic or gambol
dispread
to spread in different ways
dispurvey
to deprive of provisions
disquisition
carefully argued examination of a topic
disseize
to seize or deprive of property wrongfully
dissentient
one who dissents; dissenter
dissepiment
partition or separation of tissue
dissilient
springing apart; bursting open with force
dissimulate
to pretend; to feign; to fake
dissolute
of loose morals; debauched
distaff
of, like or pertaining to the female branch of a family or women's work
distichous
in or having two rows
distraint
seizure of goods
distrait
distracted; inattentive
distributary
branch of river that flows away from the main stream
distributive
indicating separate members of a group, one at a time
dit
poem; words of a song
ditheism
belief in two equal gods, one good and one evil
ditheletism
doctrine that Christ had two wills
dithyrambic
passionate; ecstatic; frenzied
ditokous
producing two at a birth or in a clutch
ditrichotomous
divided into either two or three parts
dittography
unintentional repetition of letters in print
dittology
double reading or interpretation
diurnation
hibernating or sleeping during daylight
diutiurnal
lasting long
divagate
to digress; wander about
divaricate
to divide into two branches
divellent
drawing apart; pulling apart in pieces
diversiloquent
speaking in different ways; speaking on different subjects
diverticulum
blind passage or tunnel
divisim
separately
divulsion
act of pulling or rendering apart or away
dixit
individual's uncorroborated statement
dizen
to dress up; to dress gaudily
dobbin
workhorse
dobhash
interpreter
docimasy
scrutiny; assaying; application of tests
docimology
the art of assaying
doctiloquent
speaking learnedly
doddered
decayed with loss of branches
dodecafid
divisible into twelve parts or regions
dodecarchy
government by twelve people
dodger
shield against rain or spray on a ship's bridge
dodoism
stupid remark
dogcart
light two-wheeled carriage with seats back-to-back
dogwatch
a short, evening period of watch duty on a ship
doit
a trifle or minor thing
dol
unit for measuring intensity of pain
dolabrate
of, like or pertaining to axes or hatchets
dolabriform
resembling a hatchet or cleaver
dolee
one who receives a government benefit, especially unemployment benefits
dolent
mourning; doleful
dolichocephalic
long-headed
dolichopodous
having long feet
dolioform
shaped like a barrel
dolmen
prehistoric structure or tomb of unhewn stones
doloriferous
bearing grief or pain
dolorific
causing great sadness or sorrow
dolose
having evil or malicious intent
domal
of, like or pertaining to a house or dome
domett
plain cotton-wool blend
dompteuse
female animal trainer
donary
thing given for a sacred purpose
donative
benefice presented to church without reference to bishop
donné
basic assumption or axiom; basic principle of an artwork
donnism
self-importance
donnybrook
an uproarious brawl
dontopedalogy
putting one's foot in one's mouth
doomster
judge; pessimist
dop
copper cup for holding a diamond while cutting it
doppio
double meter Renaissance dance step
doramania
obsession with owning furs
dormer
gabled window
dormition
falling asleep; death
dornick
stout linen
doromania
obsession with giving gifts
dorsiventral
having differentiated opposite faces or surfaces
doryphorus
sculpture of a spear-bearer
dos-a-dos
carriage where passengers seated back to back
dosimeter
instrument for measuring dose of radiation
dosimetry
measurement of doses of drugs
dosiology
the study of doses
dossal
ornamental cloth hung behind and above an altar
dossil
plug; spigot; wad of lint for wiping a wound
dotation
endowment or donation
douanier
customs official
doublette
copy of own artwork made by an artist
doucet
savory tart baked in sweet dough
douceur
gentleness or sweetness; a subtly offered bribe
doulocracy
government by slaves
dowlas
coarse linen
downhaul
rope for holding down or hauling down a sail or spar
doxastic
of, like or pertaining to opinion
doxographer
compiler of opinions of philosophers
doxology
hymn or verse of praise to God
drabbet
coarse linen
drabble
to besmear; bedraggle
draconiform
shaped like a dragon
draconites
jewel supposedly found inside a dragon's head
draffish
worthless
drageoir
box for holding sweetmeats
dragoman
interpreter
dragonism
unremitting watchfulness
dragonnade
persecution by military means
dragoon
to compel by military bullying; to compel by force
drail
iron bow of a plough; heavy fishhook
dramaturgy
art of producing and staging dramatic works
drap-de-Berry
old woollen cloth
drapetomania
intense desire to run away from home
dreadnought
heavy woollen cloth
dreamery
a place favourable to dreams
dree
to endure or withstand
dreikanter
three-faced pebble worn by wind
drepaniform
shaped like a sickle
drepanoid
like a sickle
drill
durable twilled cotton
dripstone
stone projection used to dispose of rainwater
dririmancy
divination by observing dripping blood
droguet
ribbed woollen dress fabric
drogulus
entity whose existence is unverifiable due to lack of physical effects
drollery
drollness; comic show; jest
dromestoners
persons who remove stones from temporary airfields
dromic
of, like or pertaining to a racecourse
dromomania
compulsive longing for travel
dromometer
instrument for measuring speed
dromond
large single-sailed ship powered by rowers
dromophobia
fear of crossing streets
droskhy
low four-wheeled open carriage
drosometer
instrument for measuring dew
drugget
coarse durable wool fabric
drumlin
long hill formed by glacial retreat
drung
narrow road or path to a pasture
drupaceous
of, like or pertaining to drupes or stone-fruits
druxy
having decayed spots concealed by healthy wood
drygulch
to murder by pushing off a cliff
drysalter
seller of dry goods and chemicals
duarchy
government by two people; diarchy
dubiety
doubtfulness
dubitate
to doubt; to hesitate
dubitative
mood signifying doubt or incertitude
ducape
plain-woven stout silk fabric
ducdame
meaningless refrain
duck
durable closely woven cotton fabric
ductia
vigorous stamping dance
dudgeon
resentment; offended resignation
duende
power to attract through personal charm
duenna
governess; chaperone
duffel
fabric of thick, low-quality woolen cloth
dulcian
a small early bassoon
dulcifluous
flowing sweetly
dulciloquy
a soft manner of speaking
dulia
inferior veneration of saints and angels in comparison with God
dulocracy
government by slaves; doulocracy
dulosis
slavery practiced by animals; especially ants
dumose
bushy
dump
obsolete English dance in 4/4 time
duncical
stupid; dim-witted
dungaree
heavy coarse durable twilled cotton, usually coloured
duniwassal
a Scottish gentleman
dunnage
wood laid in hold to keep cargo dry and safe
duodenary
of, like or pertaining to the number twelve
duomachy
duel or fight between two people
dupion
coarse silk
duramen
heartwood
durative
continuing; not completed; undergoing transformation
dure
to last; to endure
durity
hardness
durometer
instrument for measuring hardness of substances
duroy
coarse woollen
duteous
devoted to duty; obedient
duumvirate
governing council or body of two individuals
duvetyn
smooth lustrous velvety fabric
dwale
stupefying drink
dwile
floorcloth or mop
dyarchy
government by two people; diarchy
dynamogenesis
production of increased nerve activity
dynamograph
instrument for recording mechanical forces
dynamometer
instrument for measuring mechanical force
dyne
unit of force to accelerate 1 gram to 1 cm per second per second
dyogram
ship's chart indicating compass deflection due to ship's iron
dysaesthesia
loss of sensation
dysania
having a hard time waking up in the morning
dysbulia
loss of willpower
dyschroa
discoloration of the skin
dyschromatopic
colour-blind
dysgenesis
sterility in hybrid creatures
dysgenics
the study of racial degeneration
dyslogia
inability to express ideas due to mental inc