1. The time at which something is most powerful or successful

2. the point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer.

Sentence:

1. in 1977, punk was at its zenith

2. A pall of cloud muffled the whole expanse of sky from zenith to horizon.28 Dec 2022

1. Meaning: In the form of a cloud or haze.

Sentence: "A giant nebulous glow"

2. Meaning: (Of a concept) Vague or ill-defined.

Sentence: "Nebulous concepts like quality of life"

Meaning: Regard with great respect; revere.

Sentence: "Philip of Beverley was venerated as a saint"

Meaning: (Of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

Sentence: "An incredulous gasp"

synonyms: Disbelief, Doubtful, Sceptical

Meaning: A position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.

Sentence: "Political sinecures for the supporters of ministers"

1.Meaning: (Of something bad) experienced or present to the maximum degree.

"His letter plunged her into abject misery"

2.Meaning: (of a person or their behaviour) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing.

"An abject apology"

1. (Of a donkey or mule) utter a bray.

"The donkey brayed and kicked"

2. (Of a person) speak or laugh loudly and harshly.

"He brayed with laughter"

1. (Of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as to seem almost tangible.

"A palpable sense of loss"

2. Able to be touched or felt.

"The palpable bump at the bridge of the nose"

1. (Especially of limbs or fingers) spread out and apart.

"Half of the crowd was watching through splayed fingers"

2. (Of a window, door, or other aperture) constructed in such a way as to be wider at one side of the wall than the other.

"The walls are pierced by splayed window openings"

Meaning: Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

Sentence: "His public statements became increasingly pugnacious"

1. Involving immoral or dishonourable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt.

"The story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams"

2. Dirty or squalid.

"The overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading"

1. Drink (alcohol).

"They were imbibing far too many pitchers of beer"

2. Absorb or assimilate (ideas or knowledge).

"He imbibed his values and ideals from his mother"

"After crying his heart out, his rheumy eyes were rimmed with red"

"After reuniting with his long-lost pet, he dried his eyes that were rimmed with red"

1. Gradually spread through or over.

"Her cheeks were suffused with colour"

1. Conspicuously inscribe or display a design on.

"T-shirts emblazoned with the names of baseball teams"

2. Depict (a heraldic device) on something.

"The Queen's coat of arms is emblazoned on the door panel"

1. Jerk or give a small jump from surprise or alarm.

"‘Oh my!’ she said, starting"

2. Move or appear suddenly.

"She had seen Meg start suddenly from a thicket"

1. Having or showing determined courage in the face of difficulties.

"The plucky youngster has astounded medical staff"

1. Refuse to accept; reject.

"She has repudiated policies associated with previous party leaders"

2. Deny the truth or validity of.

"The minister repudiated allegations of human rights abuses"

1. Childishly silly and immature.

"A puerile argument"

1. A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

"An air of melancholy surrounded him"

Adjective

1. Having a feeling of melancholy; sad and pensive.

"She felt a little melancholy"

1. Excessive pride or self-confidence.

"The self-assured hubris among economists was shaken in the late 1980s"

1. Laugh in a noisy, gleeful way.

"He chortled at his own pun"

Noun

1. A noisy, gleeful laugh.

"Thomas gave a chortle"

1. One of two metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening a person's hands or ankles.

"The practice of keeping prisoners in manacles"

Verb

1. Confine (a person or part of the body) with manacles.

"His hands were manacled behind his back"

1. Make white or pale by extracting colour.

"The cold light blanched her face"

2. Flinch or grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion.

"He visibly blanched at this reminder of mortality"

1. Nonsense.

"Don't talk such drivel!"

Verb

1. Talk nonsense.

"He was drivelling on about the glory days"

2. Let saliva or mucus flow from the mouth or nose.

"The nurse leaves you to drivel, and never wipes your nose"

1. Relating to or in a state of coma.

"She had been comatose for seven months"

2. Extremely lethargic or sleepy.

"She lay comatose in the sun listening to a personal stereo"

1. Conduct oneself; behave.

"Articulate students who comported themselves well in interviews"

2. Accord or agree with.

"Our outdated rules did not comport with 21st-century realities"

1. (Of an amount) Very small or meagre.

"She would earn a paltry £33 more a month"

2. Petty; trivial.

"Naval glory struck him as paltry"

1. Be a sign or warning that (something, especially something momentous or calamitous) is likely to happen.

"The eclipses portend some major events"

1. Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland.

"Tuneful but vapid musical comedies"

1. Talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way.

"She began to prattle on about her visit to the dentist"

Noun

1. Foolish or inconsequential talk.

"Do you intend to keep up this childish prattle?"

1. A stock of plays, dances, or items that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform.

- The whole body of items that are regularly performed.

"The mainstream concert repertoire"

- A stock of skills or types of behaviour that a person habitually uses.

"His repertoire of threats, stares, and gestures"

1. Waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

"I vacillated between teaching and journalism"

1. A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.

"The men set off in fear and trepidation"

1. A harsh discordant mixture of sounds.

"A cacophony of deafening alarm bells"

1. Deceitful.

"A duplicitous philanderer"

1. Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous.

"the equivocal nature of her remarks"

- (Of a person) Using ambiguous or evasive language.

"He has always been equivocal about the meaning of his lyrics"

2. Uncertain or questionable in nature.

"The results of the investigation were equivocal"

1. Showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.

"His callous comments about the murder made me shiver"

Noun

2. Variant spelling of callus.

1. The expression of approval or agreement.

   "He gave a nod of assent"

Verb

2. Express approval or agreement.

   "The Prime Minister assented to the change"

1. feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.

   "a contrite tone"

1. (Of the moon) Have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.

2. (Of a state or feeling) Decrease in vigour or extent; become weaker.

"Confidence in the dollar waned"

1. Made of or lined with a soft, warm fabric.

"A fleecy sweatshirt"

2. White and fluffy-looking.

"Little fleecy clouds"

1. Cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death).

"Under the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were reprieved"

Noun

1. A cancellation or postponement of a punishment.

"He accepted the death sentence and refused to appeal for a reprieve"

be appropriate for; suit.

"the ballet ends nobly, as befits a tragedy"

1. the state of being respected or admired; prestige.

"no other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard"

2. a distinguishing mark or seal.

"special cachets are applied to cards sold at the stands"

1. praise enthusiastically.

"he extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples"

1. the force or energy with which a body moves.

"hit the booster coil before the flywheel loses all its impetus"

Synonyms: Momentum; Propulsion

• something that makes a process or activity happen or happen more quickly.

  "the ending of the Cold War gave new impetus to idealism"

A small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic.

"Roman remains including tesserae have been found"

1. form (hair, straw, rope, or other material) into a plait or plaits.

"her hair had been plaited and coiled at the back of her head"

• make (something) by forming material into a plait or plaits.

  "a basket plaited from strips of flax"

1. sparing in the use of words; abrupt.

   "Fine," he replied tersely

1. a severe flood.

   "this may be the worst deluge in living memory"

verb

2. overwhelm with a flood.

   "caravans were deluged by the heavy rains"

1. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

   "an arbitrary decision"

2. (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority.

   "a country under arbitrary government"

1. arrogantly superior and disdainful.

   "a look of haughty disdain"

1. very eager or curious to hear or see something.

   "I'm all agog"

1. a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.

   "they bullied the little girl without compunction"

1. Severe or strict in manner or attitude.

"he was an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook"

• (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries.

  "conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere"

• having a plain and unadorned appearance.

  "the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity"

1. evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

   "a poignant reminder of the passing of time"

2. sharp or pungent in taste or smell.

   "the poignant scent of her powder"

1. (of an area) planted with trees.

   "the river runs north–south through heavily treed hills"

1. (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

   "his acerbic wit"

2. tasting sour or bitter.

1. lacking any obvious principle of organisation.

   "the distribution of supplies was haphazard"

1. walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace.

   "they ambled along the riverbank"

noun

2. a walk at a slow, relaxed pace, especially for pleasure.

   "a peaceful riverside amble"

1. rudely brief.

   "his reply was curt"

1. a very small or inadequate amount of money.

   "he paid his workers a pittance"

1. unimpressed with or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before.

   "she was becoming quite blasé about the dangers"

1. an oath or swear word.

   "he was greeted by a stream of expletives"

1. not allowing fluid to pass through.

   "an impervious layer of basaltic clay"

2. unable to be affected by.

   "he worked, apparently impervious to the heat"

1. persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

   "he hoped to cajole her into selling the house"

1. (of a comment or fact) cause continuing annoyance or resentment.

   "the casual manner of his dismissal still rankles"

1. stretched or pulled tight; not slack.

   "the fabric stays taut without adhesive"

   • (especially of muscles or nerves) tense; not relaxed.

     "my voice was taut with anger"

   • (of writing, music, etc.) concise and controlled.

     "a taut text of only a hundred and twenty pages"

1. (of a monarch) renounce one's throne.

   "in 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor"

2. fail to fulfill or undertake (a responsibility or duty).

   "He abdicated his role and responsibilities of a student"

1. understand or work out by instinct.

   "I intuited his real identity"

1. an innocent or unsophisticated young woman, especially in a play or film.

1. not easily upset or excited.

   "a placid, contented man"

   • calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity.

     "the placid waters of a small lake"

1. having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.

   "the amiable young man greeted me enthusiastically"

1. think deeply about something.

   "we sat ruminating on the nature of existence"

2. (of a ruminant) chew the cud.

   "goats ruminated nonchalantly around them"

1. travel constantly without a fixed destination; wander.

"he spent most of the 1990s roving about the Caribbean"

• wander over or through (a place) without a fixed destination.

  "there are children roving the streets"

• (of a person's eyes) look in changing directions in order to see something thoroughly.

  "the policeman's eyes roved around the pub"

1. very hot and dry.

   "the torrid heat of the afternoon"

2. BRITISH

   full of difficulty.

   "he'd been given a pretty torrid time by the nation's voters"

1. no longer fashionable; out of date.

   "minis are passé—the best skirts are knee-length"

1. by means of observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

   "empirically tested methods"

1. a low upholstered seat without a back or arms that typically serves also as a box, with the seat hinged to form a lid.

1. having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner.

   "there was no mistaking that jaunty walk"

1. lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.

   "he is unwashed, uncouth, and drunk most of the time"

2. ARCHAIC

   (of a place) wild, remote, or spartan.

   "his uncouth cell in Fleet prison"

1. full of rebuke; critical.

   "a chiding rebuttal"

1. make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.

   "the spelling changes will deform some familiar words and obfuscate their origins"

   • bewilder (someone).

     "the new rule is more likely to obfuscate people than help them"

1. generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person.

   "she should be magnanimous in victory"

1. reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman).

   "a demure young lady"

   • (of clothing) giving a modest appearance.

     "a demure knee-length skirt"

1. relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance.

   "a hard, dour, humourless fanatic"

1. words expressing praise for an achievement or good wishes on a special occasion.

   "it is my honour to extend the felicitations of the president of France to you"

1. deserving blame.

   "mercy killings are less culpable than ‘ordinary’ murders"

1. isolate or hide away.

   "she is sequestered in deepest Dorset"

1. a prickly scrambling shrub of the rose family, especially a blackberry.

   • Bramble of emotions

1. (especially of a person or their appearance) untidy and dirty.

   "a fat, slovenly ex-rock star"

   • (especially of a person or action) careless; excessively casual.

     "slovenly speech"

1. (of a person) tall, thin, and awkward in movements or bearings.

   "a gangling youth with a trace of down on his cheeks"

1. feeling anxiety or concern; unsettled.

   "she didn't seem perturbed about the noises around her"

1. Do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity.

   "she did not deign to answer the maid's question"

2. ARCHAIC

   condescend to give (something).

   "he had deigned an apology"

1. praise highly in speech or writing.

   "he was eulogised as a rock star"

1. a room used for communal meals in an educational or religious institution.

   "The students headed for the refectory for recess"

1. capture the fascinated attention of.

"she had been so enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold"

INFORMAL•BRITISH

1. stare openly in a stupid or rude manner.

   "what are you gawping at ?"

1. deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

   "universities offering an eclectic mix of courses"

noun

1. a person who derives ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

1. cause (two or more things) to exchange places.

   "the situation might have been the same if the parties in opposition and government had been transposed"

2. transfer to a different place or context.

   "an evacuation order transposed the school from Kent to Shropshire"

1. dull, heavy, or slow.

   "his eyelids were leaden with sleep"

2. of the colour of lead; dull grey.

   "a leaden sky"

1. (of a benefit or sum of money) received or accumulated in regular or increasing amounts over time.

   "the accrued interest"

2. (of a charge or cost relating to work done but not yet invoiced) made provision for at the end of a financial period.

   "accrued expenses"

1. filled with bitter criticism or malice.

   "vitriolic attacks on the politicians"

1. decorate.

   "he led us into a room bedecked with tinsel"

1. showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.

   "an effusive welcome"

1. OFTEN HUMOROUS

   a letter, especially a long or official one.

   "yet another missive from the Foreign Office"

1. (of a soldier or sailor) refusing to obey the orders of a person in authority.

   "mutinous soldiers occupied the radio station"

   • wilful or disobedient.

     "Antoinette looked mutinous, but she obeyed"

1. have an angry or sullen look on one's face; scowl.

   "she glowered at him suspiciously"

1. made in imitation; artificial.

   "a rope of faux pearls"

   • not genuine; fake or false.

     "their faux concern for the well-being of the voters didn't fool many"

1. suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.

   "his theory postulated a rotatory movement for hurricanes"

1. characterised by pretentious or showy display; designed to impress.

   "the event was an ostentatious display of power and wealth"

1. INFORMAL

   overcome with anger; furious.

   "Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision"

1. directed or moving towards heaven or the sky; upward.

   "with a heavenward glance, he turned to Alf"

adverb

1. towards heaven or the sky; upward.

   "I shook my fist heavenward"

1. not showing a serious or respectful attitude.

   "a flippant remark"

1. (especially of a baby) cry feebly or querulously; whimper.

   "a baby boy softly mewls"

   • (of a cat or bird) make a high-pitched crying noise; mew.

     "a forlorn cat mewled pathetically"

1. feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

   "he was indignant at being the object of suspicion"

1. having a strong dislike of or opposition to something.

   "as a former CIA director, he is not averse to secrecy"

1. hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.

   "he balked at such a drastic solution"

1. beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something.

   "he implored her to change her mind"

1. in a forceful, passionate, or intense manner; with great feeling.

   "he vehemently denied any suggestion of improper conduct"

1. unable to be appeased or placated.

   "he was an implacable enemy of Ted's"

   • unable to be stopped; relentless.

     "the implacable advance of the enemy"

1. the fact of knowing something in advance; foreknowledge.

   "he predicted their response with amazing prescience."

1. praised or boasted about, especially in an excessive way.

   "There are also few examples of her much vaunted genius."

1. speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds.

   "‘Suits me fine,’ he drawled"

noun

2. a slow, lazy way of speaking or an accent with prolonged vowel sounds.

   "a strong Texan drawl"

LITERARY

1. ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat.

   "they beseeched him to stay"

1. marked with spots or smears of colour.

   "a bird with mottled brown plumage"

FORMAL•HUMOROUS

1. drunk; intoxicated.

   "I got mildly inebriated"

1. creased, ruffled, or dishevelled in appearance.

   "a rumpled bed"

1. (especially of a person's body) thin, supple, and graceful.

   "she lay gazing up at his tall, lithe figure"

1. (of a girl or young woman) attractively lively or cheeky.

   "a pert, slightly plump girl called Rose"

2. (of a bodily feature or garment) attractively small and well shaped.

   "she had a pert nose and deep blue eyes"

1. using flattery or coaxing in order to persuade someone to do something or give one something.

   "I could hear his wheedling tone as he begged her to dance"

noun

1. the action of flattering or coaxing someone in order to persuade them to do something or give one something.

   "it took months of wheedling and cajoling, but her persistence was finally rewarded"

1. (of a sound or voice) high and thin in tone.

   "Franco's reedy voice"

2. (of water or land) full of or edged with reeds.

   "low reedy islands"

1. distribute shares of something.

   "the scanty portions of food doled out to them"

1. wrong; incorrect.

   "employers sometimes make erroneous assumptions"

1. establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.

   "Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom"

1. grimly mocking or cynical.

   "Starkey attempted a sardonic smile"

1. hold and state as one's opinion.

   "‘The man is a genius,’ he opined"

1. LITERARY

   a wasteful or good-for-nothing person.

   "I have no intention of seeing my dues gambled away by your wastrel of a son"

1. (of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details.

   "the research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail"

   • very concerned to avoid doing wrong.

     "she's too scrupulous to have an affair with a married man"

1. skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully.

   "his wily opponents"

1. a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb.

2. a dark cloud of smoke, dust, etc.

   "a pall of black smoke hung over the quarry"

   • something regarded as enveloping a situation with an air of gloom or fear.

     "torture and murder have cast a pall of terror over the villages"

3. become less appealing or interesting through familiarity.

   "the novelty of the quiet life palled"

1. unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant.

   "the difference in our ages is immaterial"

1. a skipped, extra, or irregular heartbeat

   "looking at the policemen approaching him caused heart palpitations"

1. the ability to make money out of anything one undertakes.

   "he seems to have the Midas touch when it comes to blockbusters"

1. a modulation or inflection of the voice.

   "his measured cadences never convey the character's underlying passion"

2. a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase.

   "the final cadences of the Prelude"

1. take action in order to prevent (an anticipated event) happening; forestall.

   "the second session will focus on policies to pre-empt problems"

2. acquire or appropriate (something) in advance.

   "many tables were already pre-empted by family parties"

1. expressing contempt or ridicule.

   "he gave a harsh, derisive laugh"

1. extremely stupid or foolish.

   "Lydia ignored his asinine remark"

1. to an extent which is clearly noticeable; significantly.

   "new diagnoses have increased markedly since 1998"

1. an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

   "the two sides negotiated an armistice"

1. completely destroy (a building, town, or other settlement).

   "villages were razed to the ground"

1. having turned into bone or bony tissue.

   "ossified cartilage"

2. having become rigid or fixed in attitude or position.

   "an ossified institution"

1. in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively.

   "Mary surreptitiously slipped from the room"

1. appearing or stated to be true, though not necessarily so; alleged.

   "the purported marriage was void"

1. impose an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on.

   "she had no desire to have an elderly relative foisted on her"

1. tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition).

   "Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew"

1. express severe disapproval of (someone or something), especially in a formal statement.

   "the company was heavily censured by inspectors from the Department of Trade"

noun

2. the formal expression of severe disapproval.

   "two MPs were singled out for censure"

1. go back on a promise, undertaking, or contract.

   "they have reneged on their promises to us"

   • another term for revoke (sense 2).

1. walk in a furtive, unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely.

   "I sidled up to her"

noun

1. an act or instance of sidling somewhere.

   "a sidle into the hallway"

1. hum or sing in a soft, low voice, especially in a sentimental manner.

   "she was crooning to the child"

   • say in a soft, low voice.

     "‘Goodbye, you lovely darling,’ she crooned"

1. a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance.

   "the eternal verities"

   • truth.

     "irrefutable, objective verity"

     Similar: truth, accuracy, authenticity.

1. mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned.

   "a poem learnt by rote in childhood"

   Similar: Automatically, from memory, mindlessly

1. (of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort.

   "his languid demeanour irritated her"

2. weak or faint from illness or fatigue.

   "she was pale, languid, and weak, as if she had delivered a child"

1. make a loud wailing cry.

   "out in the street, a cat was yowling"

1. a firm warning or reprimand.

   "he received numerous admonitions for his behaviour"

1. a level or rank in an organization, a profession, or society.

   "the upper echelons of the business world"

1. arrogant and domineering.

   "his imperious demands"

1. gentle and kindly.

   "his benign but firm manner"

   • (of a climate or environment) mild and favourable.

     "the climate becomes more benign as we move nearer to the Black Sea"

   • not harmful to the environment.

     "the cycle as a benign form of transport"

2. MEDICINE

   (of a disease) not harmful in effect.

   "a benign condition"

1. deceit used in order to achieve one's goal.

   "he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions"

1. incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

   "doctors are not infallible"

   • never failing; always effective.

     "infallible cures"

INFORMAL•US

1. obtain by dishonest or devious means.

   "Ted attended all the football games he could finagle tickets for"

   • act in a dishonest or devious manner.

     "they wrangled and finagled over the fine points"

1. (especially in a woman) the quality of being attractively lively and animated.

   "he was struck by her vivacity, humour and charm"

1. the quality of being cheerful and full of energy; exuberance.

   "the ebullience of happy children"

1. a flash or sparkle of light.

   "scintillations of diamond-hard light"

1. a fictitious name, especially one used by an author.

   "I wrote under the pseudonym of Evelyn Hervey"

   • Similar: Alias

1. full of twists and turns.

   "the route is remote and tortuous"

   • excessively lengthy and complex.

     "a tortuous argument"

1. of or resembling a lion or lions.

   "a handsome, leonine profile"

1. a paved public walk, typically one along the seafront at a resort.

verb

2. take a leisurely public walk, ride, or drive so as to meet or be seen by others.

   "they promenaded along the waterfront"

1. attack (someone) physically or verbally.

   "Bernard was belabouring Jed with his fists"

2. argue or discuss (a subject) in excessive detail.

   "there is no need to belabour the point"

1. set the boundaries or limits of.

   "plots of land demarcated by barbed wire"

   • separate or distinguish from.

     "art was being demarcated from the more objective science"

1. inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun; mischievous.

   "he had an impish look about him"

1. lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics.

   "she lived in a nondescript suburban apartment block"

noun

1. a nondescript person or thing.

   "he was a short, paunchy, rather nondescript man in his sixties"

1. (of cloth, clothing, or soft furnishings) becoming thin and tattered with age.

   "tatty rooms with threadbare carpets"

   • (of a person, building, or room) poor or shabby in appearance.

     "we huddle round a note in a threadbare rehearsal room"

   • (of an argument, excuse, idea, etc.) used so often that it is no longer effective.

     "the song was a tissue of threadbare clichés"

1. consisting of or resembling sinews.

   • (of a person or animal) lean and muscular.

     "a short, sinewy, sunburnt man"

1. talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect.

   "you threaten and bluster, but won't carry it through"

2. (of a storm, wind, or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily.

   "a winter gale blustered against the sides of the house"

1. a formal acknowledgment of personal fault or error(Latin)

   "the mayor's public mea culpa didn't satisfy his critics."

1. occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places; scattered or isolated.

   "sporadic fighting broke out"

1. smelling extremely unpleasant.

   "the fetid water of the marsh"

1. a weakness or vulnerable point.

   "the Achilles heel of the case for nuclear power remains the issue of the disposal of waste"

Adjective: Onerous

1. something that is one's duty or responsibility.

   "the onus is on you to show that you have suffered loss"

1. without a clearly defined shape or form.

   "an amorphous, characterless conurbation"

• lacking a clear structure or focus.

  "an amorphous and leaderless legislature"

• MINERALOGY•CHEMISTRY

  (of a solid) not crystalline, or not apparently crystalline.

  "an amorphous polymer"

1. lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.

   "taking a lackadaisical approach can jeopardize the success of a project"

1. a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.

   "he succumbed to ennui and despair"

1. Pale and tired

   "the wan dawn light"

   "he gave a wan smile"

   "big, dark eyes filled the child's wan face"

   "I was shocked at how pale and wan my friend looked"

1. impair the quality or appearance of; spoil.

   "violence marred a number of New Year celebrations"

1. accept something reluctantly but without protest.

   "Sara acquiesced in his decision"

1. a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river.

2. a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil.

   "the train station was a maelstrom of crowds"

1. impossible to understand or interpret.

   "Guy looked blankly inscrutable"

1. the outward appearance or apparent form of something, especially when the reality is different.

   "she tried to force her thoughts back into some semblance of order"

1. amusement, especially as expressed in laughter.

   "his six-foot frame shook with mirth"

1. pierced with a hole or holes.

   "the walls are clad in perforated leather panels"

   • (of paper) having one or more rows of small holes so that a part may be torn off easily.

     "this notebook comes with perforated pages"

1. a small stream of water or another liquid.

   "sweat ran in rivulets down his back"

1. bring (swallowed food) up again to the mouth.

   "gulls regurgitate food for the chicks"

2. repeat (information) without analysing or comprehending it.

   "facts which can then be regurgitated at examinations"

1. a thing that is helpful or beneficial.

   "the route will be a boon to many travellers"

1. (of a person) large and plump.

   "her brother was slim where she was rotund"

   • round or spherical.

     "huge stoves held great rotund cauldrons"

2. (of speech or literary style) sonorous; grandiloquent.

   
   

1. put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.

   "the Confucian view posits a perfectible human nature"

2. put in position; place.

   "the Professor posits Cohen in his second category of poets"

1. (of the eyes) looking or feeling dull and unfocused from sleep or tiredness.

   "Boris opened a bleary eye"

FORMAL

verb: behoove

1. it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something.

   "it behoves the House to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative

   • it is appropriate or suitable; it befits.

     "it ill behoves Opposition Members to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries"

1. completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or hearing.

   "a rapt teenage audience"

1. (of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

   "he was moody and petulant"

1. appease the anger or anxiety of (someone).

   "nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationists"

1. an animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of prey.

   "grouse are not an easy quarry for a hawk"

   • a thing or person that is chased or sought.

     "the security police crossed the border in pursuit of their quarry"

1. showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper.

   "a blithe disregard for the rules of the road"

1. relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect.

   "the voters' visceral fear of change"

1. a stretch of swampy or boggy ground.

   "acres of land had been reduced to a mire"

2. a complicated or unpleasant situation from which it is difficult to extricate oneself.

   "the service is sinking in the mire of its own regulations"

verb

1. cause to become stuck in mud.

   "sometimes a heavy truck gets mired down"

1. FORMAL•HUMOROUS

   erring or straying from the accepted course or standards.

   "an errant husband coming back from a night on the tiles"

1. diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry).

   "the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears"

   • relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger).

     "some stale figs partly allayed our hunger"

1. waste or debris of any kind.

   "the streets were foul with detritus"

1. not honourable in character or purpose.

   "ignoble feelings of intense jealousy"

2. of humble origin or social status.

1. talk in a long-winded way without making very much sense.

   "she began blathering on about spirituality and life after death"

noun

1. long-winded talk with no real substance.

   "all the blather coming out of Washington about crime"

1. lasting for a very short time.

   "fashions are ephemeral: new ones regularly drive out the old"

noun

1. an ephemeral plant.

   "ephemerals avoid the periods of drought as seeds"

1. a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people.

2. a tedious recital or repetitive series.

   "a litany of complaints"

1. (of a person) lying face upwards.

2. failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence.

   "they remained supine in the face of terrible wrongdoing"

1. a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death.

   • used in reference to a pale, thin, or insubstantial person or thing.

     "heart attacks had reduced his mother to a wraith"

   • LITERARY

     a wisp or faint trace of something.

     "a sea breeze was sending a grey wraith of smoke up the slopes"

1. assess the value or quality of.

   "there is a need to appraise existing techniques"

   • assess the performance of (an employee) formally.

     "some companies are considering team appraisals instead of appraising individuals"

   • (of an official valuer) set a price on; value.

     "they appraised the painting at £200,000"

     
     

1. hostile and aggressive.

   "the mood at the meeting was belligerent"

noun

1. a nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law.

   "ships and goods captured at sea by a belligerent"

1. feeling or showing deep and solemn respect.

   "a reverent silence"

1. with a feeling of vague or regretful longing.

   "he smiled wistfully as he spoke of her"

1. (of a soldier or sailor) refusing to obey the orders of a person in authority.

   "mutinous soldiers occupied the radio station"

   • wilful or disobedient.

     "Antoinette looked mutinous, but she obeyed"

1. in a very difficult situation.

   "the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation"

2. (of a place) surrounded by armed forces aiming to capture it or force surrender; besieged.

   "he led a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city"

1. an opening, hole, or gap.

   "the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling"

1. showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable.

   "Kate's perverse decision not to cooperate held good"

2. contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice.

   "in two general elections the outcome was quite perverse"

   
   

1. not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something.

   "the duffel coat looked incongruous with the black dress she wore underneath"

1. (of a person) recovering from an illness or medical treatment.

   "a convalescent child"

noun

1. a person who is recovering after an illness or medical treatment.

   "convalescents benefit from relaxation"

1. a person displaying excessive or prejudiced support for their own cause or group, in particular a man prejudiced against women.

   "she now reports to a new boss, who is a chauvinist"-

adjective

1. displaying excessive or prejudiced support for one's own cause or group, in particular showing male prejudice against women.

   "I asked him what he thought about women's capabilities, knowing his chauvinist tendencies"

1. a pace of a horse or other quadruped between a trot and a gallop, with not less than one foot on the ground at any time.

   "I rode away at a canter"

verb

1. (of a horse) move at a canter in a particular direction.

   "they cantered down into the village"

1. cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; yield.

   "the patriots had to capitulate to the enemy forces"

1. in a way that is neatly skilful and quick in movement.

   "her fingers moved deftly, quickly parting the grass"

   • in a clever way.

     "he has deftly handled the flak he's received"

1. threatening harm; menacing.

   "Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction"

   • having a harmful or destructive effect.

     "the baleful influence of Rasputin"

1. having had all moisture removed; dried out.

   "the withered, desiccated landscape"

2. lacking vitality or interest.

   "a desiccated history of ideas"

1. providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis.

   "crying is a cathartic release"

1. (of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.

   "the storm suddenly abated"

   • make (something) less intense.

     "nothing abated his crusading zeal"

1. a sheet of canvas or other material stretched on a frame and used to keep the sun or rain off a shop window, doorway, or ship's deck.

1. honour or entertain (someone) lavishly.

   "she was an instant celebrity, feted by the media"

1. a feeling of triumphant elation or jubilation; rejoicing.

   "she laughs in exultation"

1. combine or unite to form one organization or structure.

   "he amalgamated his company with another"

1. hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature.

   "he had no time for the cant of the priests about sin"

2. language specific to a particular group or profession and regarded with disparagement.

   "thieves' cant"

1. an action or remark that causes outrage or offence.

   "he took his son's desertion as a personal affront"

verb

1. offend the modesty or values of.

   "she was affronted by his familiarity"

lung diseases caused by inhaling fine sand and dust

1. characterized by tiredness or inactivity, especially of a pleasurable kind.

   "summer has a slow, languorous feel to it here"

2. characterized by an oppressive stillness.

   "the atmosphere is languorous and sultry

1. too great to be overcome.

   "an insurmountable problem"

1. not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

   "she was extremely reticent about her personal affairs"

1. casual lack of concern; indifference.

   "an impression of boyish insouciance"

1. strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.

   "an uncanny feeling that she was being watched"

1. walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps.

   "we plodded back up the hill"

noun

1. a slow, heavy walk.

   "he settled down to a steady plod"

2. informal•British

   a police officer.

   "a bunch of plods arrived, offering me a lift to the cop shop"

1. complaining in a rather petulant or whining manner.

   "she became querulous and demanding"

1. excessively sweet, rich, or sentimental, especially to a disgusting or sickening degree.

   "a romantic, rather cloying story"

   
   

1. a luminous cloud or a halo surrounding a supernatural being or a saint.

   "a nimbus of power played around him, brighter than lightning"

   • 
     

2. a large grey rain cloud.

   "nimbus clouds"

1. calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation.

   "a stolid bourgeois gent"

1. skip or dance about in a lively or playful way.

   "children were capering about the room"

noun

1. a playful skipping movement.

   "she did a little caper or dance"

1. lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.

   "his perennial distrust of the media"

1. with sincere and intense conviction; seriously.

   "they earnestly hope to come back in the summer"

-Exacerbate

-Detrimental

-Predicament

-Ramifications

Improve

-Alleviate

-Mitigate

Commonplace

-Prevalent

-Perennial

-Pervasive

-Ubiquitous

1. diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry).

   "the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears"

   • relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger).

     "some stale figs partly allayed our hunger"

1. too great to be overcome.

   "an insurmountable problem"

1. incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

   "doctors are not infallible"

   • never failing; always effective.

     "infallible cures"

1. not allowing fluid to pass through.

   "an impervious layer of basaltic clay"

2. unable to be affected by.

   "he worked, apparently impervious to the heat"

1. having turned into bone or bony tissue.

   "ossified cartilage"

2. having become rigid or fixed in attitude or position.

   "an ossified institution"

1. to an extent which is clearly noticeable; significantly.

   "new diagnoses have increased markedly since 1998"

1. take action in order to prevent (an anticipated event) happening; forestall.

   "the second session will focus on policies to pre-empt problems"

2. acquire or appropriate (something) in advance.

   "many tables were already pre-empted by family parties"

1. Waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.

"I vacillated between teaching and journalism"