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adipose
composed of animal fat
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agaric
a saprophytic fungus of the order Agaricales having an umbrellalike cap with gills on the underside
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agnation
line of descent traced through the paternal side of the family
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agora
the marketplace in ancient Greece
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aleatory
dependent on chance
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alfresco
in the open air
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anaclitic
of or related to relationships that are characterized by the strong dependence of one person on another
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anechoic
not having or producing echoes; sound-absorbent
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anhedonia
an inability to experience pleasure
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annular
shaped like a ring
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anodize
coat a metal with an oxide coat
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anomic
socially disoriented
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apercu
a short synopsis
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aphasic
related to or affected by aphasia
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apocope
abbreviation of a word by omitting the final sound or sounds
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appurtenance
equipment consisting of miscellaneous articles needed for a particular operation or sport etc.
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armamentarium
the collection of equipment and methods used in the practice of medicine
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aspersion
a disparaging remark
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assuasive
freeing from fear and anxiety
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atavistic
characteristic of an atavist
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avuncular
being or relating to an uncle
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bodega
a small Hispanic shop selling wine and groceries
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brisance
the shattering or crushing effect of a sudden release of energy as in an explosion
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cabal
a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
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caparison
stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse, especially (formerly) for a warhorse
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cathect
inject with libidinal energy
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cerise
of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
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chyme
a semiliquid mass of partially digested food that passes from the stomach through the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum
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claque
a group of followers hired to applaud at a performance
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climacteric
the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
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coeval
of the same period
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cognomen
the name used to identify the members of a family (as distinguished from each member's given name)
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confabulate
unconsciously replace fact with fantasy in one's memory
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confect
make or construct
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confluence
a place where things merge or flow together (especially rivers)
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convolve
curl, wind, or twist together
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cordite
explosive powder (nitroglycerin and guncotton and petrolatum) dissolved in acetone and dried and extruded in brown cords
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coruscant
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
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creche
a representation of Christ's nativity in the stable at Bethlehem
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cunctation
the act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time
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deliquesce
melt or become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
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diverticulitis
inflammation of a diverticulum in the digestive tract (especially the colon); characterized by painful abdominal cramping and fever and constipation
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eclat
brilliant or conspicuous success or effect
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effluvium
a foul-smelling outflow or vapor (especially a gaseous waste)
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effulgence
the quality of being bright and sending out rays of light
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emery
a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)
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entrepot
a port where merchandise can be imported and then exported without paying import duties
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epicene
having an ambiguous sexual identity
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escutcheon
a shield; especially one displaying a coat of arms
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espadrille
a sandal with a sole made of rope or rubber and a cloth upper part
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etagere
a piece of furniture with open shelves for displaying small ornaments
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falcate
curved like a sickle
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febrile
of or relating to or characterized by fever
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felo-de-se
a person who kills himself intentionally
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festschrift
a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar
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finial
an ornament at the top of a spire or gable; usually a foliated fleur-de-lis
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fricative
a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract
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frustum
a truncated cone or pyramid; the part that is left when a cone or pyramid is cut by a plane parallel to the base and the apical part is removed
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fulgurant
amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning
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furcate
divide into two or more branches so as to form a fork
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glabrous
having no hair or similar growth; smooth
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guilloche
an architectural decoration formed by two intersecting wavy bands
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hypocapnia
a state in which the level of carbon dioxide in the blood is lower than normal; can result from deep or rapid breathing
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ideation
the process of forming and relating ideas
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imbroglio
an intricate and confusing interpersonal or political situation
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inguinal
of or relating to or near the groin
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insouciant
marked by blithe unconcern
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intaglio
a printing process that uses an etched or engraved plate; the plate is smeared with ink and wiped clean, then the ink left in the recesses makes the print
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interdict
an ecclesiastical censure by the Roman Catholic Church withdrawing certain sacraments and Christian burial from a person or all persons in a particular district
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intubate
introduce a cannula or tube into
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jejune
lacking interest or significance or impact
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kismet
(Islam) the will of Allah
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kyphotic
characteristic of or suffering from kyphosis, an abnormality of the vertebral column
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lassitude
a feeling of lack of interest or energy
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mendacious
given to lying
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mentation
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
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nacreous
consisting of or resembling mother-of-pearl
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neuralgic
of or relating to or suffering from neuralgia
-
nictitate
briefly shut the eyes
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novitiate
the period during which you are a novice (especially in a religious order)
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olla podrida
Spanish version of burgoo
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optative
indicating an option or wish
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otiose
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
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palestra
a public place in ancient Greece or Rome devoted to the training of wrestlers and other athletes
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parturient
of or relating to or giving birth
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pique
a sudden outburst of anger
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prandial
of or relating to a meal
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profligate
unrestrained by convention or morality
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prognathous
having a projecting lower jaw
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propitiate
make peace with
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prurient
characterized by lust
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sporadic
recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
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puerile
displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
-
pulchritude
physical beauty (especially of a woman)
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purl
flow in a circular current, of liquids
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quoin
(architecture) solid exterior angle of a building; especially one formed by a cornerstone
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recondite
difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge
-
reseau
a net or mesh foundation for lace
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saltire
a cross resembling the letter x, with diagonal bars of equal length
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senescence
the property characteristic of old age
-
sinciput
the front part of the head or skull (including the forehead)
-
sinecure
an office that involves minimal duties
-
sub rosa
in secret or covertly
-
synclinal
sloping downward toward each other to create a trough
-
synecdoche
substituting a more inclusive term for a less inclusive one or vice versa
-
synesthetic
relating to or experiencing synesthesia; involving more than one sense
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tendentious
having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
-
threnody
a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
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treacly
overly sweet
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triage
sorting and allocating aid on the basis of need for or likely benefit from medical treatment or food
-
trope
language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense
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tulle
a fine (often starched) net used for veils or tutus or gowns
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turpitude
a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice
-
uremic
of or involving excess nitrogenous waste products in the urine (usually due to kidney insufficiency)
-
varicocele
dilatation of the veins associated with the spermatic cord in the testes
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verdigris
a green patina that forms on copper or brass or bronze that has been exposed to the air or water for long periods of time
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zither
a musical stringed instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board; it is laid flat and played with a plectrum and with fingers
