abbey
n. the group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns.
Show examples and contexts absolution
n. act of absolving or the state of being absolved; formal remission of sin imparted by a priest
Show examples and contexts absorption
n. process of absorbing nutrients into the body after digestion; state of mental concentration
Show examples and contexts academic
a. related to school; not practical or directly useful; relating to scholarly organization; based on formal education
Show examples and contexts accordion
n. a portable box-shaped free-reed instrument; reeds that are made to vibrate by air from the bellows controlled by the player
Show examples and contexts acid
n. sour; water-soluble compounds having a sour taste; quality of being sarcastic, bitter, or scornful
Show examples and contexts aerostatics
n. the branch of pneumatics that treats of the equilibrium, pressure, and mechanical properties.
Show examples and contexts aggrandize
v. increase scope of; extend; intensify; make greater in power, influence, stature, or reputation
Show examples and contexts albino
n. a person with milky white skin and hair, and eyes with bright red pupil and usually pink iris.
Show examples and contexts album
n. a list of names; a register for visitors; a blank book, in which to insert autographs sketches, memorial writing of friends, photographs
Show examples and contexts alderman
n. a member of a municipal legislative body, who usually exercises also certain judicial functions.
Show examples and contexts alienate
v. cause to become unfriendly or hostile; transfer property or ownership; isolate or dissociate emotionally
Show examples and contexts alkali
n. soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash; one of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, and ammonia
Show examples and contexts allegory
n. symbolic representation of abstract ideas or principles in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form
Show examples and contexts alley
n. narrow passage, especially a walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes
Show examples and contexts alliance
n. state of being allied; act of allying or uniting; a union or connection of interests between families, states, parties
Show examples and contexts allot
v. parcel out in parts or portions; distribute to each individual concerned; assign as a share or lot
Show examples and contexts almanac
n. a series of tables giving the days of the week together with certain astronomical information.
Show examples and contexts ambulance
n. field hospital organized as to follow an army in its movements; wagon for conveying the wounded to hospital
Show examples and contexts ambush
n. disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy unexpectedly from a concealed station
Show examples and contexts amenable
a. responsive to advice or suggestion; responsible to higher authority; willing to comply with; agreeable
Show examples and contexts anecdote
n. short account of amusing or interesting event; short narrative; secret story of history or biography
Show examples and contexts anemia
n. condition in which blood lacks red corpuscles; deficiency of red blood cells; lack of vitality
Show examples and contexts anesthetic
n. substance that causes loss of sensation; producing temporary loss or impairment of feeling
Show examples and contexts annuity
n. annual payment of allowance or income; periodical payment, amounting to a fixed sum in each year
Show examples and contexts antarctic
a. opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the southern pole or to the region near it
Show examples and contexts antecedent
n. one who or that which precedes or goes before, as in time, place, rank, order, or causality.
Show examples and contexts anticlimax
n. letdown in thought or emotion; decline viewed in disappointing contrast with previous rise
Show examples and contexts antiseptic
n. substance that prevents infection; substance that restricts the growth of disease-causing microorganisms
Show examples and contexts antistrophe
n. the inversion of terms in successive classes, as in "the home of joy and the joy of home".
Show examples and contexts apology
n. acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense; explanation or excuse
Show examples and contexts appertain
v. to belong, as by right, fitness, association, classification, possession, or natural relation.
Show examples and contexts arcade
n. covered passageway, usually lined with shops; simple arched opening in a wall; vault or vaulted place
Show examples and contexts archbishop
n. the chief of the bishops of an ecclesiastical province in the greek, roman, and anglican church.
Show examples and contexts assassinate
v. to kill, as by surprise or secret assault, especially the killing of some eminent person.
Show examples and contexts assassination
n. act of assassinating; killing by treacherous violence; murder of public figure by surprise attack
Show examples and contexts assignee
n. one who is appointed to act for another in the management of certain property and interests.
Show examples and contexts aurora
n. the first light of day; an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth's magnetic lines of force
Show examples and contexts baton
n. staff or truncheon for various purposes, as one of a conductor in musical performances, one transferred by runners in a relay race
Show examples and contexts bibliography
n. list of works of a specific author or publisher; list of writings relating to a given subject
Show examples and contexts blemish
v. mark with deformity; injure or impair, as anything which is excellent; make defective, either the body or mind
Show examples and contexts borough
n. incorporated town that is not a city; association of men who gave pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other
Show examples and contexts botany
n. science which treats of the structure of plants, the functions of their parts, their places of growth, their classification
Show examples and contexts buffoon
n. one who makes a practice of amusing others by low tricks, antic gestures; droll; mimic; clown
Show examples and contexts buffoonery
n. clowning; arts and practices of buffoon, as low jests, ridiculous pranks, vulgar tricks and postures
Show examples and contexts cabinet
n. group of persons appointed by a head of state or a prime minister; hut; cottage; small house; small room; closet
Show examples and contexts calorie
n. unit of heat; unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree
Show examples and contexts cameo
n. piece of jewelry; a small scale used as a jewel for adornment; famous actor's special appearance in a minor role in film
Show examples and contexts canaanite
n. a member of one of the three tribes that dwelt in the land of canaan, or western palestine.
Show examples and contexts canon
n. law or rule; decision, regulation, code, or constitution made by authority; books of the Bible officially accepted; a group of literary works
Show examples and contexts cat-o-nine-tails
n. an instrument consisting of nine pieces of cord, formerly used for flogging in the army and navy.
Show examples and contexts censorious
a. critical; addicted to censure; severe in making remarks on others, or on their writings or manners; implying or expressing censure
Show examples and contexts characteristic
n. feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably; a distinguishing mark or trait
Show examples and contexts clamorous
a. speaking and repeating loud words; full of clamor; calling or demanding loudly or urgently; vociferous; noisy; bawling; loud
Show examples and contexts clan
n. faction; tribe; division of a tribe tracing descent from a common ancestor; a large group of relatives
Show examples and contexts cognate
a. related by blood; having common ancestor; related or analogous in nature, character, or function
Show examples and contexts colloquialism
n. colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
Show examples and contexts commentary
n. written explanation or criticism or illustration that is added to a book or other textual material
Show examples and contexts commissariat
n. the department of an army charged with the provision of its food and water and daily needs.
Show examples and contexts commute
v. obtain or bargain for exemption or substitution; travel regularly from a place of residence to another place
Show examples and contexts complex
a. complicated in structure; a whole structure, as a building, made up of interconnected or related structures
Show examples and contexts complication
n. complexity; intricacy; any disease or disorder that occurs during the course of another disease
Show examples and contexts complicity
n. participation; involvement as partner or accomplice, especially in crime or other wrongdoing
Show examples and contexts compulsion
n. act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint
Show examples and contexts conceive
v. form or develop in the mind; devise; become pregnant with; begin or originate in a specific way
Show examples and contexts concussion
n. shaking or agitation; shock; injury to an organ, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow
Show examples and contexts conjugal
a. belonging to marriage; suitable or appropriate to the marriage state or to married persons; matrimonial
Show examples and contexts conscience
n. motivation deriving logically from ethical or moral principles; source of moral or ethical judgment
Show examples and contexts conservatism
n. a political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes
Show examples and contexts consign
v. give, transfer, or deliver in a formal manner, as if by signing over into the possession of another
Show examples and contexts conspire
v. make a secret agreement, to do some act, as to commit treason or a crime, or to do some unlawful deed; plot together
Show examples and contexts contradiction
n. assertion of contrary; denial of the truth of a statement or assertion; opposition, whether by argument or conduct
Show examples and contexts contrivance
n. the act planning, devising, inventing, or adapting something to or for a special purpose.
Show examples and contexts convalescence
n. the state of progressive restoration to health and strength after the cessation of disease.
Show examples and contexts