Word List 1 655 words

to make better

dark and dismal as of the rivers Acheron and Styx in Hades

shaped like a spine or thorn

shaped like a spine or thorn

shaped like a spine or thorn

a formal association of people with similar interests

any substance that can be used as food

money extracted as a penalty

sadness on thinking about the evils of the world

slender tower with balconies

a straight line from the center to the perimeter of a circle (or from the center to the surface of a sphere)

of all varieties or forms or kinds

foolish or senseless behavior

the purple or black-and-blue area resulting from a bruise

a mere wish, unaccompanied by effort to obtain

a loose and brightly colored African shirt

a sleep disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep

fish-eating bird of warm inland waters having a long flexible neck and slender sharp-pointed bill

widely cultivated ornamental plant native to southern Europe but naturalized elsewhere having fragrant yellow or white clustered flowers

a performance of a play

tall East Indian cedar having spreading branches with nodding tips; highly valued for its appearance as well as its timber

(psychoanalysis) the libidinal energy invested in some idea or person or object

an epic poem adapted for recitation

a disdainful grimace

a supporting column carved in the shape of a person

a policy of the Soviet government allowing freer discussion of social problems

a heavy woolen cloth heavily napped and felted, often with a plaid design

pull up by or as if by the roots

a cone-shaped chuck used for holding cylindrical pieces in a lathe

a metal cap or band placed on a wooden pole to prevent splitting

(of horses) afflicted with a swelling of the hock-joint

asexual reproduction in which a local growth on the surface or in the body of the parent becomes a separate individual

asexual reproduction in which a local growth on the surface or in the body of the parent becomes a separate individual

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth

of goods or commodities; freely exchangeable for or replaceable by another of like nature or kind in the satisfaction of an obligation

having a fluffy character or appearance

of or relating to or suggestive of dreams

a comprehensive view of the world and human life

the act of swallowing

someone skilled in the transcription of speech (especially dictation)

a move or step or maneuver in political or diplomatic affairs

an opaque watercolor prepared with gum

small Australian parakeet usually light green with black and yellow markings in the wild but bred in many colors

an edge tool for cutting grass; has a long handle that must be held with both hands and a curved blade that moves parallel to the ground

defiantly aggressive

exhaustion resulting from lack of food

a word that names a part of a larger whole

a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; usually occurs in association with yttrium

any tropical American plant of the genus Tropaeolum having pungent juice and long-spurred yellow to red flowers

capable of being known

a break or pause (usually for sense) in the middle of a verse line

the final judgment in a legal proceeding; the act of pronouncing judgment based on the evidence presented

a dagger with a slender blade

a slight but appreciable amount

any of various large edible marine gastropods of the genus Haliotis having an ear-shaped shell with pearly interior

political propaganda (especially communist propaganda) communicated via art and literature and cinema

as fast as possible; with all possible haste

a signal to get up in the morning; in the military it is a bugle call at sunrise

(Scottish folklore) water spirit in the form of a horse that likes to drown its riders

packed full to capacity

assume certain affected attitudes

a pale cane syrup

(Yiddish) someone who is a boring pest

the act of emitting; causing to flow forth

add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing

any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros

a curved oriental saber; the edge is on the convex side of the blade

a long and mournful complaint

a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

Old World climbing plant with hard-shelled bottle-shaped gourds as fruits

make weak by stunting the growth or development of

a detested person

the worship of the sun

a yellow viscous animal oil extracted from wool; a mixture of fatty acids and esters; used in some ointments and cosmetics

in societies practicing shamanism: one acting as a medium between the visible and spirit worlds; practices sorcery for healing or divination

the act of becoming betrothed or engaged

the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

a diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel in German to indicate a change in sound

a quantity much larger than is needed

a saying of Jesus that is regarded as authentic although it is not recorded in the Gospels

extremely cold

a specialist in care for the feet

class consisting of all those who are considered boobs

an acknowledgment that can be used to say hello or goodbye (aloha is Hawaiian and ciao is Italian)

unpaid labor (as for the maintenance of roads) required by a lord of his vassals in lieu of taxes

used as a Hindi courtesy title; equivalent to English `Mr'

hand tool for boring holes

a collection or stock of drugs

a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; forms compounds that are highly magnetic

East Indian sparsely prickly annual herb or perennial subshrub widely cultivated for its fleshy calyxes used in tarts and jelly and for its bast fiber

any artificially elegant style of language

a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)

an easy gait of a horse; midway between a walk and a trot

extremely fine pasta thinner than vermicelli

(anthropology) related by marriage

consider an abstract concept to be real

two words are homophones if they are pronounced the same way but differ in meaning or spelling or both (e.g. bare and bear)

a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things

a paved surface having compressed layers of broken rocks held together with tar

a gland (often a protuberance or depression) that secretes nectar

(folklore) the magical ability of a person to assume the characteristics of a wolf

an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two retorts connected by a tube

small black or brown speckled auks of northern seas

a pressure gauge for measuring blood pressure

make hard or harder

art consisting of a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on three panels (usually hinged together)

large bamboo having thick-walled culms; native of China and perhaps Japan; widely grown elsewhere

the principle that entities should not be multiplied needlessly; the simplest of two competing theories is to be preferred

the principle that entities should not be multiplied needlessly; the simplest of two competing theories is to be preferred

constituting a class of its own; unique

densely branched Eurasian plant; foliage turns purple-red in autumn

knitted jacket that is fastened up the front with buttons or a zipper

a small dagger with a tapered blade

an inferior imitator of some distinguished writer or artist of musician

charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone

a dish served as an appetizer before the main meal

abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes; may be due to a systemic deficiency of vitamin A

in anticipation

a person who eats human flesh

an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction

(used with singular count nouns) colloquial for `not a' or `not one' or `never a'

deadly or sinister

likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease

a feeling of calmness; a quiet and undisturbed feeling

lean in a comfortable resting position

a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another

a member of the political party that urged social reform in 18th and 19th century England; was the opposition party to the Tories

striped hyena of southeast Africa that feeds chiefly on insects

(mountaineering) a descent of a vertical cliff or wall made by using a doubled rope that is fixed to a higher point and wrapped around the body

ending in a sharp point

without fingers and/or toes

any of several deciduous Asian trees of the genus Ailanthus

an official in a British hospital who looks after the social and material needs of the patients

pitted with cell-like cavities (as a honeycomb)

a meter that measures the flow of electrical current in amperes

of or relating to an apse

long-legged web-footed black-and-white shorebird with slender upward-curving bill

the azimuth of a celestial body is the angle between the vertical plane containing it and the plane of the meridian

a ballet enthusiast

(formal) ordinary and not refined

a horse-drawn carriage having four wheels; has an outside seat for the driver and facing inside seats for two couples and a folding top

the 2000th anniversary (or the celebration of it)

a city in central England; 2nd largest English city and an important industrial and transportation center

tall hat; worn by some British soldiers on ceremonial occasions

an insignia used by the medical profession; modeled after the staff of Hermes

a resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment

strained or paradoxical use of words either in error (as `blatant' to mean `flagrant') or deliberately (as in a mixed metaphor: `blind mouths')

inflammation of the nose and throat with increased production of mucus

small European finch with a cheerful song

a chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism

clock that measures time by the escape of water

glittering with gold or silver

flat-topped or convex inflorescence in which the individual flower stalks grow upward from various points on the main stem to approximately the same height; outer flowers open first

like twilight; dim

small long-bodied short-legged German breed of dog having a short sleek coat and long drooping ears; suited for following game into burrows

complex and ingenious in design or function

someone skilled at informal chitchat

large bottle with a short narrow neck; often has small handles at neck and is enclosed in wickerwork

peel off in scales

a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another

a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on two panels (usually hinged like a book)

down of the eider duck

the aperture of a wind instrument into which the player blows directly

a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes

an excessively polite and well-dressed boy

reproducing by fission

a female fool

front illustration facing the title page of a book

a freely moving joint in which the bones are so articulated as to allow extensive movement in one plane

chiaroscuro painting or stained glass etc., in shades of grey imitating the effect of relief

a Channel Island to the northwest of Jersey

a meet at which riders and horses display a range of skills and aptitudes

the main house on a ranch or large estate

a large African antelope with lyre-shaped horns that curve backward

a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range

an unsupported dogmatic assertion

a monastery for lamas

in a mawkish and emotional manner

the number from which the subtrahend is subtracted

a neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)

a soft lightweight muslin used especially for babies

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

planetarium consisting of an apparatus that illustrates the relative positions and motions of bodies in the solar system by rotation and revolution of balls moved by wheelwork; sometimes incorporated in a clock

an economic policy adopted in the former Soviet Union; intended to increase automation and labor efficiency but it led eventually to the end of central planning in the Russian economy

a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections

a tropical flowering shrub having bright orange or red flowers; sometimes placed in genus Poinciana

the act of singing psalms or hymns

drooping of the upper eyelid caused by muscle paralysis and weakness

an issue that is presented for formal disputation

well-seasoned stew of meat and vegetables

(used of especially horses) having a brownish coat thickly sprinkled with white or grey

a system of clandestine printing and distribution of dissident or banned literature

pot roast marinated several days in seasoned vinegar before cooking; usually served with potato dumplings

analysis of verse into metrical patterns

a thin stew of meat and vegetables

veloute sauce with sauteed chopped onions and whipping cream

of or relating to or containing tin

substituting a more inclusive term for a less inclusive one or vice versa

the 300th anniversary (or the celebration of it)

change completely the nature or appearance of

the personal outfit of a bride; clothes and accessories and linens

urn-shaped; large below and contracted toward the mouth

wooden panels that can be used to line the walls of a room

a tall perennial herb having spikes of small white or purple flowers; common in eastern North America

use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate to only one

slice of sweet raised bread baked again until it is brown and hard and crisp

inversion in the second of two parallel phrases

the time period during which you are at work

any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia

repetitive nonmeaningful speech (especially that associated with a trance state or religious fervor)

a paradoxical anecdote or a riddle that has no solution; used in Zen Buddhism to show the inadequacy of logical reasoning

a great raja; a Hindu prince or king in India ranking above a raja

briefly shut the eyes

(Yiddish) someone who is a boring pest

a very long word (a foot and a half long)

the straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies (as the sun and earth and moon) in a gravitational system

the amount that a container (as a wine bottle or tank) lacks of being full

a diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel in German to indicate a change in sound

a punch made of sweetened ale or wine heated with spices and roasted apples; especially at Christmas

understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary)

a starlike object that may send out radio waves and other forms of energy; many have large red shifts

a non-finite form of the verb; in English it is used adjectivally and to form compound tenses

(botany) tissue that conducts synthesized food substances (e.g., from leaves) to parts where needed; consists primarily of sieve tubes

the woody part of plants: the supporting and water-conducting tissue, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels

excessively garish or sentimental art; usually considered in bad taste

(Sanskrit) literally a `sacred utterance' in Vedism; one of a collection of orally transmitted poetic hymns

an irreversible accomplishment

characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position

a dried and smoked herring having a reddish color

someone (usually maleficent) who tries to persuade or force another person to do his bidding

a valuable possession whose upkeep is excessively expensive

primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves

of or relating to the earliest known rocks formed during the Precambrian Eon

a well drilled through impermeable strata into strata that receive water from a higher altitude so there is pressure to force the water to flow upward

Danish explorer who explored the northern Pacific Ocean for the Russians and discovered the Bering Strait (1681-1741)

the act of changing from imperial units of measurement to metric units: meters, grams, seconds

a simple protein containing mainly basic amino acids; present in cell nuclei in association with nucleic acids

severe malnutrition in children resulting from a diet excessively high in carbohydrates and low in protein

the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria

syndrome consisting of feigning acute and dramatic illness for which no clinical evidence is ever found

freely flowing lava

(microbiology) an infectious protein particle similar to a virus but lacking nucleic acid; thought to be the agent responsible for scrapie and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target

any agent that interferes with normal embryonic development: alcohol or thalidomide or X-rays or rubella are examples

characterizing the family Hominidae, which includes Homo sapiens as well as extinct species of manlike creatures

any of the threadlike filaments forming the mycelium of a fungus

shrimp-like planktonic crustaceans; major source of food for e.g. baleen whales

receiving or eligible for compensation

plant adapted for life with a limited supply of water; compare hydrophyte and mesophyte

a large pan that is filled with hot water; smaller pans containing food can be set in the larger pan to keep food warm or to cook food slowly

a noun that forms plurals

a noun that does not form plurals

the immediate descendants of a person

an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

the end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes

tropical Asian starlings

a guide who conducts and informs sightseers

a type of lift having a chain of open compartments that move continually in an endless loop so that (agile) passengers can step on or off at each floor

lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking

a niggardly person who starves himself (and others)

an entrenched stronghold or refuge

liver or meat or fowl finely minced or ground and variously seasoned

a prerequisite

laugh loudly and in an unrestrained way

a neutral middle vowel; occurs in unstressed syllables

a dealer in secondhand books (especially rare or curious books)

mammals having a placenta; all mammals except monotremes and marsupials

a recorder appointed by a committee to prepare reports of the meetings

a woman's drawstring handbag; usually made of net or beading or brocade; used in 18th and 19th centuries

(meteorology)an isogram connecting points having equal barometric pressure at a given time

a loose dressing gown for women

enthusiastic approval

an abnormal particle (e.g. an air bubble or part of a clot) circulating in the blood

offensively self-assertive

a loose robe; imitated from robes originally worn by Japanese

of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch

brave and heroic feats

hole made by a burrowing worm

traditional French stew of vegetables and beef

information known only to a special group

sheep that leads the herd often wearing a bell

a group of street musicians in Mexico

a part of the score that must be performed without change or omission

highly flammable substance made from cellulose nitrate and camphor; used in e.g. motion-picture and X-ray film; its use has decreased with the development of nonflammable thermoplastics

primly out of date

easily irritated or annoyed

extreme gluttony

lack of sophistication or worldliness

easily calmed or pacified

a state of mental disturbance and disorientation

disqualify oneself (as a judge) in a particular case

express congratulations

miscellaneous curios

an apparatus for visual signaling with lights or mechanically moving arms

a subversive group that supports the enemy and engages in espionage or sabotage; an enemy in your midst

having a grey or brown streak or a pattern or a patchy coloring; used especially of the patterned fur of cats

belonging to some prior time

coarse cloth with a bright print

a cord fastened around the neck with an ornamental clasp and worn as a necktie

lodging for occasional or secondary use

a period of 10 years

seize upon or latch onto something

a chemical agent used to kill mites

men's baggy knickers hanging below the knees; formerly worn for sports (especially golf)

a mythical monster having the head of man (with horns) and the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion

(biology) the normal rigid state of fullness of a cell or blood vessel or capillary resulting from pressure of the contents against the wall or membrane

nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate

a slight rounded elevation where the malleus attaches to the eardrum

a stiff coarse fabric used to stiffen hats or clothing

elevated open grassland in southern Africa

a protein containing 20% iron that is found in the intestines and liver and spleen; it is one of the chief forms in which iron is stored in the body

an archaic word originally meaning `in truth' but now usually used to express disbelief

a landowner

a large wine bottle (holds 4/5 of a gallon)

the hole that an anchor rope passes through

navigation in coastal waters

a Cuban dance in duple time

a visible (but not necessarily material) manifestation of a deity to a human person

something for something; that which a party receives (or is promised) in return for something he does or gives or promises

a hunt in which beaters force the game to flee in the direction of the hunter

living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household

a stringed instrument that has a triangular body and three strings

the act of gripping something firmly with the hands (or the tentacles)

abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will

any general reduction in vitality and strength of body and mind resulting from a debilitating chronic disease

carefree and happy and lighthearted

unlawfully distilled Irish whiskey

in an advanced stage of pregnancy

a reply that has no relevance to what preceded it

of or relating to rhetoric

darkening or obscuring the sight of something

a psychiatrist and specialist in the legal aspects of mental illness

raw milk that has soured and thickened

a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture

an intuitive feeling for the natural idiom of a language

partly or entirely open to the sky

local names for a cowboy (`vaquero' is used especially in southwestern and central Texas and `buckaroo' is used especially in California)

of or relating to dancing

the experience of thinking that a new situation had occurred before

guiding star; a star that is used as a reference point in navigation or astronomy

armor plate that protects the foot; consists of mail with a solid toe and heel

conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual

a member of a European military unit formerly composed of heavily armed cavalrymen

(Jewish folklore) an artificially created human being that is given life by supernatural means

a lively ballroom dance that resembles the samba

an instrumental composition that doesn't adhere to rules for any specific musical form and is played with improvisation

a successful womanizer; a man who behaves selfishly in his sexual relationships with women

a loyal supporter

a plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pajamas

resembling or having the qualities of soap

arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a play or movie is enacted

mental lethargy or dullness

(of soil) soft and watery

large slender food and game fish widely distributed in warm seas (especially around Hawaii)

something considered choice to eat

a waterproof overshoe that protects shoes from water or snow

marine fishes with a flattened elongated body and a sucking disk on the head for attaching to large fish or moving objects

device for measuring pain caused by pressure

required by etiquette or usage or fashion

the weight of a liter of hydrogen (at 0 centigrade and 760 millimeters pressure)

a bright spot on a planet

long-lived tropical evergreen tree with a spreading crown and feathery evergreen foliage and fragrant flowers yielding hard yellowish wood and long pods with edible chocolate-colored acidic pulp

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

the quality of recurring at regular intervals

the burning to death of heretics (as during the Spanish Inquisition)

one who lives in solitude

the branch of theology that deals with principles of exegesis

the sound of an alarm (usually a bell)

causing cold; cooling or chilling

being deficient in moisture

a reckless and unprincipled reprobate

as follows

an upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments

a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)

one or more large merchant ships

grown as a houseplant for its mottled fleshy sword-shaped leaves or as a source of fiber

a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)

having no known beginning and presumably no end

stubbornly conservative and narrow-minded

a sleeveless cape that is lined or trimmed with fur

an informal conversation

a color varying from dark purplish brown to dark red

a sponsor who books and stages public entertainments

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

a sturdy laced walking shoe

a tower that is part of a defensive structure (such as a castle)

regulating or controlling expenditure or personal behavior

form into an aggregated lumpy or fluffy mass

by chance

shaped like a ring

form a scar, after an injury

cease an action temporarily

a coarse woolen cloth formerly used for undergarments and usually dyed bright red

a Christian holy day; one of four specified days when certain payments are due

relating to or connected with or occurring at the time of childbirth or shortly following, or to the woman who has just given birth

adhering to an attitude or position widely held to be outmoded

an earth pigment

of the same period

of or relating to either of the two major arteries supplying blood to the head and neck

of or relating to words

of a proposition; necessarily true or logically certain

a movement that is a response to a stimulus but is not oriented with respect to the source of stimulation

of or relating to a quantum or capable of existing in only one of two states

hormone secreted by the pineal gland

the number that is represented as a one followed by 15 zeros

using more words than necessary

soft lump or unevenness in a yarn; either an imperfection or created by design

the Sunday before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent)

a leader and organizer and spokesman (especially a political leader)

someone given to disputes over words

fish thought to have been extinct since the Cretaceous period but found in 1938 off the coast of Africa

a woman's silk or lace scarf

any of various stocky heavy-coated breeds of dogs native to northern regions having pointed muzzles and erect ears with a curled furry tail

a sandal with flat heels and an upper of woven leather straps

a Latin American dance of 3 steps and a kick by people in single file

relating to or exhibiting actinism

a twelve-sided polygon

notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex

beyond reasonable limits

of or relating to wine