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alcoholic
alcoholic: adj. & n. --adj. of, relating to, containing, or caused by alcohol. --n. a person suffering from alcoholism.

aggravate
aggravate: v.tr.
1 increase the gravity of (an illness, offence, etc.).
2 disp. annoy, exasperate (a person). aggravation n. [L aggravare aggravat- make heavy f. gravis heavy]

activity
activity: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a the condition of being active or moving about. b the exertion of energy; vigorous action.
2 (often in pl.) a particular occupation or pursuit (outdoor activities).
3 = RADIOACTIVITY. [F activit or LL activitas (as ACTIVE)]

advise
advise: v.
1 tr. (also absol.) give advice to.
2 tr. recommend; offer as advice (they advise caution; advised me to rest).
3 tr. (usu. foll. by of, or that + clause) inform, notify.
4 intr. (foll. by with) US consult. [ME f. OF aviser f. L ad to + visare frequent. of videre see]

assessor
assessor: n.
1 a person who assesses taxes or estimates the value of property for taxation or insurance purposes.
2 a person called upon to advise a judge, committee of inquiry, etc., on technical questions. assessorial adj. [ME f. OF assessour f. L assessor -oris assistant-judge (as ASSESS, -OR(1)): sens.
1 f. med.L]

appropriate
appropriate: adj. & v. --adj. (often foll. by to, for.
1 suitable or proper.
2 formal belonging or particular. --v.tr.
1 take possession of, esp. without authority.
2 devote (money etc.) to special purposes. appropriately adv. appropriateness n. appropriation n. appropriator n. [LL appropriatus past part. of appropriare (as AD-, proprius own)]

astronomy
astronomy: n. the scientific study of celestial bodies. astronomer n. [ME f. OF astronomie f. L f. Gk astronomia f. astronomos (adj.) star-arranging f. nemo arrange]

anorexia
anorexia: n.
1 a lack or loss of appetite for food.
2 (in full anorexia nervosa) a psychological illness, esp. in young women, characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. [LL f. Gk f. an- not + orexis appetite]

abeyance
abeyance: n. (usu. prec. by in, into) a state of temporary disuse or suspension. abeyant adj. [AF abeiance f. OF abeer f. to + beer f. med.L batare gape]

angina
angina: n.
1 an attack of intense constricting pain often causing suffocation.
2 (in full angina pectoris) pain in the chest brought on by exertion, owing to an inadequate blood supply to the heart. [L, = spasm of the chest f. angina quinsy f. Gk agkhone strangling]

advertisement
advertisement: n.
1 a public notice or announcement, esp. one advertising goods or services in newspapers, on posters, or in broadcasts.
2 the act or process of advertising.
3 archaic a notice to readers in a book etc. [earlier avert- f. F avertissement (as ADVERTISE)]

artificial
artificial: adj.
1 produced by human art or effort rather than originating naturally (an artificial lake).
2 formed in imitation of something natural (artificial flowers).
3 affected, insincere (an artificial smile). artificial insemination the injection of semen into the vagina or uterus other than by sexual intercourse. artificial intelligence the application of computers to areas normally regarded as requiring human intelligence. artificial kidney an apparatus that performs the functions of the human kidney (outside the body), when one or both organs are damaged. artificial respiration the restoration or initiation of breathing by manual or mechanical or mouth-to-mouth methods. artificial silk rayon. artificiality n. artificially adv. [ME f. OF artificiel or L artificialis (as ARTIFICE, -AL)]

algorithm
algorithm: n. (also algorism.
1 Math. a process or set of rules used for calculation or problem-solving, esp. with a computer.
2 the Arabic or decimal notation of numbers. algorithmic adj. [algorism ME ult. f. Pers. al-Kuwarizmi 9th-c. mathematician: algorithm infl. by Gk arithmos number (cf. F algorithme)]

anaconda
anaconda: n. a large non-poisonous snake living mainly in water or in trees that kills its prey by constriction. [alt. of anacondaia f. Sinh. henakandaya whip-snake f. hena lightning + kanda stem: orig. of a snake in Sri Lanka]

awl
awl: n. a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, esp. in leather. [OE l]

absorption
absorption: n.
1 the process or action of absorbing or being absorbed.
2 disappearance through incorporation into something else.
3 mental engrossment. absorptive adj. [L absorptio (as ABSORB)]

aboriginal
aboriginal: adj. & n. --adj.
1 (of races and natural phenomena) inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists.
2 (usu. Aboriginal) of the Australian Aboriginals. --n.
1 an aboriginal inhabitant.
2 (usu. Aboriginal) an aboriginal inhabitant of Australia. aboriginally adv. [as ABORIGINE + -AL]

appetizer
appetizer: n. (also -iser) a small amount, esp. of food or drink, to stimulate an appetite. [appetize (back-form. f. APPETIZING)]

attendant
attendant: n. & adj. --n. a person employed to wait on others or provide a service (cloakroom attendant; museum attendant). --adj.
1 accompanying (attendant circumstances).
2 waiting on; serving (ladies attendant on the queen). [ME f. OF (as ATTEND, -ANT)]

artist
artist: n.
1 a painter.
2 a person who practises any of the arts.
3 an artiste.
4 a person who works with the dedication and attributes associated with an artist (an artist in crime).
5 colloq. a devotee; a habitual practiser of a specified (usu. reprehensible) activity (con artist). artistry n. [F artiste f. It. artista (as ART(1), -IST)]

artifact
artifact: var. of ARTEFACT.

armadillo
armadillo: n. (pl. -os) any nocturnal insect-eating mammal of the family Dasypodidae, native to Central and S. America, with large claws for digging and a body covered in bony plates, often rolling itself into a ball when threatened. [Sp. dimin. of armado armed man f. L armatus past part. of armare ARM(2)]

archipelago
archipelago: n. (pl. -os or -oes.
1 a group of islands.
2 a sea with many islands. [It. arcipelago f. Gk arkhi- chief + pelagos sea (orig. = the Aegean Sea)]

accompaniment
accompaniment: n.
1 Mus. an instrumental or orchestral part supporting or partnering a solo instrument, voice, or group.
2 an accompanying thing; an appendage. [F accompagnement (as ACCOMPANY)]

aquarium
aquarium: n. (pl. aquariums or aquaria) an artificial environment designed for keeping live aquatic plants and animals for study or exhibition, esp. a tank of water with transparent sides. [neut. of L aquarius of water (aqua) after vivarium]

ambulatory
ambulatory: adj. & n. --adj.
1 = AMBULANT.
2 of or adapted for walking.
3 a movable. b not permanent. --n. (pl. -ies) a place for walking, esp. an aisle or cloister in a church or monastery. [L ambulatorius f. ambulare walk]

alternator
alternator: n. a dynamo that generates an alternating current.

adjective
adjective: n. & adj. --n. a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify it or describe it. --adj. additional; not standing by itself; dependent. adjectival adj. adjectivally adv. [ME f. OF adjectif -ive ult. f. L adjicere adject- (as AD-, jacere throw)]

adultery
adultery: n. voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person (married or not) other than his or her spouse. [ME f. OF avoutrie etc. f. avoutre adulterer f. L adulter, assim. to L adulterium]

astrology
astrology: n. the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as an influence on human affairs. astrologer n. astrological adj. astrologist n. [ME f. OF astrologie f. L astrologia f. Gk (as ASTRO-, -LOGY)]

alarm
alarm: n. & v. --n.
1 a warning of danger etc. (gave the alarm).
2 a a warning sound or device (the burglar alarm was set off accidentally). b = alarm clock.
3 frightened expectation of danger or difficulty (were filled with alarm). --v.tr.
1 frighten or disturb.
2 arouse to a sense of danger. alarm clock a clock with a device that can be made to sound at the time set in advance. [ME f. OF alarme f. It. allarme f. all' arme! to arms]

arcade
arcade: n.
1 a passage with an arched roof.
2 any covered walk, esp. with shops along one or both sides.
3 Archit. a series of arches supporting or set along a wall. arcaded adj. [F f. Prov. arcada or It. arcata f. Rmc: rel. to ARCH(1)]

architect
architect: n.
1 a designer who prepares plans for buildings, ships, etc., and supervises their construction.
2 (foll. by of) a person who brings about a specified thing (the architect of his own fortune). [F architecte f. It. architetto, or L architectus f. Gk arkhitekton (as ARCH-, tekton builder)]

ahead
ahead: adv.
1 further forward in space or time.
2 in the lead; further advanced (ahead on points).
3 in the line of one's forward motion (roadworks ahead).
4 straight forwards. ahead o.
1 further forward or advanced than.
2 in the line of the forward motion of. [orig. Naut., f. A(2) + HEAD]

aurora
aurora: n. (pl. auroras or aurorae.
1 a luminous electrical atmospheric phenomenon, usu. of streamers of light in the sky above the northern or southern magnetic pole.
2 poet. the dawn. aurora australis a southern occurrence of aurora. aurora borealis a northern occurrence of aurora. auroral adj. [L, = dawn, goddess of dawn]

article
article: n. & v. --n.
1 (often in pl.) an item or commodity, usu. not further distinguished (a collection of odd articles).
2 a non-fictional essay, esp. one included with others in a newspaper, magazine, journal, etc.
3 a a particular part (an article of faith). b a separate clause or portion of any document (articles of apprenticeship).
4 Gram. the definite or indefinite article. --v.tr. bind by articles of apprenticeship. definite article Gram. the word (the in English) preceding a noun and implying a specific or known instance (as in the book on the table; the art of government; the famous public school in Berkshire). indefinite article Gram. the word (e.g. a, an, some in English) preceding a noun and implying lack of specificity (as in bought me a book; government is an art; went to a public school). the Thirty-nine Articles a set of beliefs affirmed by the ministers of the Church of England. [ME f. OF f. L articulus dimin. of artus joint]

application
application: n.
1 the act of applying, esp. medicinal ointment to the skin.
2 a formal request, usu. in writing, for employment, membership, etc.
3 a relevance. b the use to which something can or should be put.
4 sustained or concentrated effort; diligence. [ME f. F f. L applicatio -onis (as APPLY, -ATION)]

aluminium
aluminium: n. (US aluminum) a silvery light and malleable metallic element resistant to tarnishing by air. Symb.: Al. aluminium bronze an alloy of copper and aluminium. [aluminium, alt. (after sodium etc.) f. aluminum, earlier alumium f. ALUM + -IUM]

acronym
acronym: n. a word, usu. pronounced as such, formed from the initial letters of other words (e.g. Ernie, laser, Nato). [Gk akron end + -onum- = onoma name]

apprentice
apprentice: n. & v. --n.
1 a person who is learning a trade by being employed in it for an agreed period at low wages.
2 a beginner; a novice. --v.tr. (usu. foll. by to) engage or bind as an apprentice (was apprenticed to a builder). apprenticeship n. [ME f. OF aprentis f. apprendre learn (as APPREHEND), after words in -tis, -tif, f. L -tivus: see -IVE]

abnormality
abnormality: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a an abnormal quality, occurrence, etc. b the state of being abnormal.
2 a physical irregularity.

apologize
apologize: v.intr. (also -ise) make an apology; express regret. [Gk apologizomai: see APOLOGIST]

airport
airport: n. a complex of runways and buildings for the take-off, landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers.

accurate
accurate: adj.
1 careful, precise; lacking errors.
2 conforming exactly with the truth or with a given standard. accurately adv. [L accuratus done carefully, past part. of accurare (as AC-, cura care)]

aunt
aunt: n.
1 the sister of one's father or mother.
2 an uncle's wife.
3 colloq. an unrelated woman friend of a child or children. Aunt Sall.
1 a game in which players throw sticks or balls at a wooden dummy.
2 the object of an unreasonable attack. my (or my sainted etc.) aunt sl. an exclamation of surprise, disbelief, etc. [ME f. AF aunte, OF ante, f. L amita]

actuary
actuary: n. (pl. -ies) an expert in statistics, esp. one who calculates insurance risks and premiums. actuarial adj. actuarially adv. [L actuarius bookkeeper f. actus past part. of agere ACT]

atlas
atlas: n.
1 a book of maps or charts.
2 Anat. the cervical vertebra of the backbone articulating with the skull at the neck. [L f. Gk Atlas -antos a Titan who held up the pillars of the universe, whose picture appeared at the beginning of early atlases]

agriculture
agriculture: n. the science or practice of cultivating the soil and rearing animals. agricultural adj. agriculturalist n. agriculturally adv. agriculturist n. [F agriculture or L agricultura f. ager agri field + cultura CULTURE]

alliance
alliance: n.
1 a union or agreement to cooperate, esp. of States by treaty or families by marriage. b the parties involved.
2 (Alliance) a political party formed by the allying of separate parties.
3 a relationship resulting from an affinity in nature or qualities etc. (the old alliance between logic and metaphysics).
4 Bot. a group of allied families. [ME f. OF aliance (as ALLY(1))]

animation
animation: n.
1 vivacity, ardour.
2 the state of being alive.
3 Cinematog. the technique of filming successive drawings or positions of puppets to create an illusion of movement when the film is shown as a sequence.

accessory
accessory: n. & adj. (also accessary) --n. (pl. -ies.
1 an additional or extra thing.
2 (usu. in pl.) a a small attachment or fitting. b a small item of (esp. a woman's) dress (e.g. shoes, gloves, handbag).
3 (often foll. by to) a person who helps in or knows the details of an (esp. illegal) act, without taking part in it. --adj. additional; contributing or aiding in a minor way; dispensable. accessory before (or after) the fact a person who incites (or assists) another to commit a crime. accessorial adj. [med.L accessorius (as ACCEDE)]

approach
approach: v. & n. --v.
1 tr. come near or nearer to (a place or time).
2 intr. come near or nearer in space or time (the hour approaches).
3 tr. make a tentative proposal or suggestion to (approached me about a loan).
4 tr. a be similar in character, quality, etc., to (doesn't approach her for artistic skill). b approximate to (a population approachin.
5 million).
5 tr. attempt to influence or bribe.
6 tr. set about (a task etc.).
7 intr. Golf play an approach shot.
8 intr. Aeron. prepare to land.
9 tr. archaic bring near. --n.
1 an act or means of approaching (made an approach; an approach lined with trees).
2 an approximation (an approach to an apology).
3 a way of dealing with a person or thing (needs a new approach).
4 (usu. in pl.) a sexual advance.
5 Golf a stroke from the fairway to the green.
6 Aeron. the final part of a flight before landing.
7 Bridge a bidding method with a gradual advance to a final contract. approach road Brit. a road by which traffic enters a motorway. [ME f. OF aproch(i)er f. eccl.L appropiare draw near (as AD-, propius compar. of prope near)]

adventure
adventure: n. & v. --n.
1 an unusual and exciting experience.
2 a daring enterprise; a hazardous activity.
3 enterprise (the spirit of adventure).
4 a commercial speculation. --v.intr.
1 (often foll. by into, upon) dare to go or come.
2 (foll. by on, upon) dare to undertake.
3 incur risk; engage in adventure. adventure playground a playground where children are provided with functional materials for climbing on, building with, etc. adventuresome adj. [ME f. OF aventure, aventurer f. L adventurus about to happen (as ADVENT)]

advantage
advantage: n. & v. --n.
1 a beneficial feature; a favourable circumstance.
2 benefit, profit (is not to your advantage).
3 (often foll. by over) a better position; superiority in a particular respect.
4 (in lawn tennis) the next point won after deuce. --v.tr.
1 be beneficial or favourable to.
2 further, promote. have the advantage of be in a better position in some respect than. take advantage o.
1 make good use of (a favourable circumstance).
2 exploit or outwit (a person), esp. unfairly.
3 euphem. seduce. to advantage in a way which exhibits the merits (was seen to advantage). turn to advantage benefit from. advantageous adj. advantageously adv. [ME f. OF avantage, avantager f. avant in front f. LL abante: see ADVANCE]

absence
absence: n.
1 the state of being away from a place or person.
2 the time or duration of being away.
3 (foll. by of) the non-existence or lack of. absence of mind inattentiveness. [ME f. OF f. L absentia (as ABSENT)]

avatar
avatar: n.
1 (in Hindu mythology) the descent of a deity or released soul to earth in bodily form.
2 incarnation; manifestation.
3 a manifestation or phase. [Skr. avatara descent f. va down + tr- pass over]

another
another: adj. & pron. --adj.
1 an additional; one more (have another cake; after another six months).
2 a person like or comparable to (another Callas).
3 a different (quite another matter).
4 some or any other (will not do another man's work). --pron.
1 an additional one (have another).
2 a different one (take this book away and bring me another).
3 some or any other one (I love another).
4 Brit. an unnamed additional party to a legal action (X versus Y and another).
5 (also A. N. Other) a player unnamed or not yet selected. another place Brit. the other House of Parliament (used in the Commons to refer to the Lords, and vice versa). such another another of the same sort. [ME f. AN + OTHER]

appendix
appendix: n. (pl. appendices; appendixes.
1 (in full vermiform appendix) Anat. a small outgrowth of tissue forming a tube-shaped sac attached to the lower end of the large intestine.
2 subsidiary matter at the end of a book or document. [L appendix -icis f. appendere APPEND]

always
always: adv.
1 at all times; on all occasions (they are always late).
2 whatever the circumstances (I can always sleep on the floor).
3 repeatedly; often (they are always complaining). [ME, prob. distrib. genit. f. ALL + WAY + -'S(1)]

algebra
algebra: n.
1 the branch of mathematics that uses letters and other general symbols to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations.
2 a system of this based on given axioms (linear algebra; the algebra of logic). algebraic adj. algebraical adj. algebraically adv. algebraist n. [It. & Sp. & med.L, f. Arab. al-jabr f. al the + jabr reunion of broken parts f. jabara reunite]

appear
appear: v.intr.
1 become or be visible.
2 be evident (a new problem then appeared).
3 seem; have the appearance of being (appeared unwell; you appear to be right).
4 present oneself publicly or formally, esp. on stage or as the accused or counsel in a lawcourt.
5 be published (it appeared in the papers; a new edition will appear). [ME f. OF apareir f. L apparere apparit- come in sight]

amphibian
amphibian: adj. & n. --adj.
1 living both on land and in water.
2 Zool. of or relating to the class Amphibia.
3 (of a vehicle) able to operate on land and water. --n.
1 Zool. any vertebrate of the class Amphibia, with a life history of an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage, including frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders.
2 (in general use) a creature living both on land and in water.
3 an amphibian vehicle.

abdomen
abdomen: n.
1 the part of the body containing the stomach, bowels, reproductive organs, etc.
2 Zool. the hinder part of an insect, crustacean, spider, etc. abdominal adj. abdominally adv. [L]

aardvark
aardvark: n. a nocturnal mammal of southern Africa, Orycteropus afer, with a tubular snout and a long extendible tongue, that feeds on termites. Also called ant-bear, earth-hog. [Afrik. f. aarde earth + vark pig]

argosy
argosy: n. (pl. -ies) poet. a large merchant ship, orig. esp. from Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) or Venice. [prob. It. Ragusea (nave) Ragusan (vessel)]

automobile
automobile: n. US a motor car. [F (as AUTO-, MOBILE)]

alms
alms: n.pl. hist. the charitable donation of money or food to the poor. [OE lmysse, -messe, f. Gmc ult. f. Gk eleemosune compassionateness f. eleemon (adj.) f. eleos compassion]

ablaut
ablaut: n. a change of vowel in related words or forms, esp. in Indo-European languages, arising from differences of accent and stress in the parent language, e.g. in sing, sang, sung. [G]

aberrant
aberrant: adj.
1 esp. Biol. diverging from the normal type.
2 departing from an accepted standard. aberrance n. aberrancy n. [L aberrare aberrant- (as AB-, errare stray)]

arthritis
arthritis: n. inflammation of a joint or joints. arthritic adj. & n. [L f. Gk f. arthron joint]

alphabet
alphabet: n.
1 the set of letters used in writing a language (the Russian alphabet).
2 a set of symbols or signs representing letters. [LL alphabetum f. Gk alpha, beta, the first two letters of the alphabet]

addiction
addiction: n. the fact or process of being addicted, esp. the condition of taking a drug habitually and being unable to give it up without incurring adverse effects. [L addictio: see ADDICT]

atmosphere
atmosphere: n.
1 a the envelope of gases surrounding the earth, any other planet, or any substance. b the air in any particular place, esp. if unpleasant.
2 a the pervading tone or mood of a place or situation, esp. with reference to the feelings or emotions evoked. b the feelings or emotions evoked by a work of art, a piece of music, etc.
3 Physics a unit of pressure equal to mean atmospheric pressure at sea level, 101,325 pascals. Abbr.: atm. atmospheric adj. atmospherical adj. atmospherically adv. [mod.L atmosphaera f. Gk atmos vapour: see SPHERE]

abortion
abortion: n.
1 the expulsion of a foetus (naturally or esp. by medical induction) from the womb before it is able to survive independently, esp. in the first 28 weeks of a human pregnancy.
2 a stunted or deformed creature or thing.
3 the failure of a project or an action.
4 Biol. the arrest of the development of an organ. [L abortio (as ABORT)]

anatomy
anatomy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 the science of the bodily structure of animals and plants.
2 this structure.
3 colloq. a human body.
4 analysis.
5 the dissection of the human body, animals, or plants. [F anatomie or LL anatomia f. Gk (as ANA-, -TOMY)]

acidosis
acidosis: n. an over-acid condition of the body fluids or tissues. acidotic adj.

apartheid
apartheid: n.
1 (esp. in S. Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.
2 segregation in other contexts. [Afrik. (as APART, -HOOD)]

addition
addition: n.
1 the act or process of adding or being added.
2 a person or thing added (a useful addition to the team). in addition (often foll. by to) as something added. [ME f. OF addition or f. L additio (as ADD)]

ancestor
ancestor: n. (fem. ancestress.
1 any (esp. remote) person from whom one is descended.
2 an early type of animal or plant from which others have evolved.
3 an early prototype or forerunner (ancestor of the computer). [ME f. OF ancestre f. L antecessor -oris f. antecedere (as ANTE-, cedere cess- go)]

appraisal
appraisal: n. the act or an instance of appraising.

account
account: n. & v. --n.
1 a narration or description (gave a long account of the ordeal).
2 a an arrangement or facility at a bank or building society etc. for commercial or financial transactions, esp. for depositing and withdrawing money (opened an account). b the assets credited by such an arrangement (has a large account; paid the money into her account). c an arrangement at a shop for buying goods on credit (has an account at the newsagent's).
3 a (often in pl.) a record or statement of money, goods, or services received or expended, with the balance (firms must keep detailed accounts). b (in pl.) the practice of accounting or reckoning (is good at accounts).
4 a statement of the administration of money in trust (demand an account).
5 the period during which transactions take place on a stock exchange; the period from one account day to the next.
6 counting, reckoning. --v.tr. (foll. by to be or compl.) consider, regard as (account it a misfortune; account him wise; account him to be guilty). account day a day of periodic settlement of stock exchange accounts. account fo.
1 serve as or provide an explanation or reason for (that accounts for their misbehaviour).
2 a give a reckoning of or answer for (money etc. entrusted). b answer for (one's conduct).
3 succeed in killing, destroying, disposing of, or defeating.
4 supply or make up a specified amount or proportion of (rent accounts for 50% of expenditure). account rendered a bill which has been sent but is not yet paid. by all accounts in everyone's opinion. call to account require an explanation from (a person). give a good (or bad) account of oneself make a favourable (or unfavourable) impression; be successful (or unsuccessful). keep account of keep a record of; follow closely. leave out of account fail or decline to consider. money of account denominations of money used in reckoning, but not current as coins. of no account unimportant. of some account important. on accoun.
1 (of goods) to be paid for later.
2 (of money) in part payment. on account of because of. on no account under no circumstances; certainly not. on one's own account for one's own purposes; at one's own risk. settle (or square) accounts wit.
1 receive or pay money etc. owed to.
2 have revenge on. take account of (or take into account) consider along with other factors (took their age into account). turn to account (or good account) turn to one's advantage. [ME f. OF acont, aconter (as AC-, conter COUNT(1))]

alone
alone: adj. & adv. --predic.adj.
1 a without others present (they wanted to be alone; the tree stood alone). b without others' help (succeeded alone). c lonely and wretched (felt alone).
2 (often foll. by in) standing by oneself in an opinion etc. (was alone in thinking this). --adv. only, exclusively (you alone can help me). go it alone act by oneself without assistance. aloneness n. [ME f. ALL + ONE]

alcoholism
alcoholism: n.
1 an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor.
2 the diseased condition resulting from this. [mod.L alcoholismus (as ALCOHOL)]

animal
animal: n. & adj. --n.
1 a living organism which feeds on organic matter, usu. one with specialized sense-organs and nervous system, and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.
2 such an organism other than man.
3 a brutish or uncivilized person.
4 colloq. a person or thing of any kind (there is no such animal). --adj.
1 characteristic of animals.
2 of animals as distinct from vegetables (animal charcoal).
3 characteristic of the physical needs of animals; carnal, sensual. animal husbandry the science of breeding and caring for farm animals. animal magnetism hist. mesmerism. animal spirits natural exuberance. [L f. animale neut. of animalis having breath f. anima breath]

amnesty
amnesty: n. & v. --n. (pl. -ies) a general pardon, esp. for political offences. --v.tr. (-ies, -ied) grant an amnesty to. Amnesty International an independent international organization in support of human rights, esp. for prisoners of conscience. [F amnestie or L f. Gk amnestia oblivion]

angelica
angelica: n.
1 an aromatic umbelliferous plant, Angelica archangelica, used in cooking and medicine.
2 its candied stalks. [med.L (herba) angelica angelic herb]

association
association: n.
1 a group of people organized for a joint purpose; a society.
2 the act or an instance of associating.
3 fellowship or companionship.
4 a mental connection between ideas.
5 Chem. a loose aggregation of molecules.
6 Ecol. a group of associated plants. Association Football Brit. football played by sides of 11 with a round ball which may not be handled during play except by the goalkeepers. associational adj. [F association or med.L associatio (as ASSOCIATE, -ATION)]

ardent
ardent: adj.
1 eager, zealous; (of persons or feelings) fervent, passionate.
2 burning. ardency n. ardently adv. [ME f. OF ardant f. L ardens -entis f. ardere burn]

austere
austere: adj. (austerer, austerest.
1 severely simple.
2 morally strict.
3 harsh, stern. austerely adv. [ME f. OF f. L austerus f. Gk austeros severe]

abscess
abscess: n. a swollen area accumulating pus within a body tissue. abscessed adj. [L abscessus a going away (as AB-, cedere cess- go)]

accounting
accounting: n.
1 the process of or skill in keeping and verifying accounts.
2 in senses of ACCOUNT v.

asquint
asquint: predic.adj. & adv. (usu. look asquint).
1 to one side; from the corner of an eye.
2 with a squint. [ME perh. f. Du. schuinte slant]

annihilation
annihilation: n.
1 the act or process of annihilating.
2 Physics the conversion of a particle and an antiparticle into radiation. [F annihilation or LL annihilatio (as ANNIHILATE)]

articulate
articulate: adj. & v. --adj.
1 able to speak fluently and coherently.
2 (of sound or speech) having clearly distinguishable parts.
3 having joints. --v.
1 tr. a pronounce (words, syllables, etc.) clearly and distinctly. b express (an idea etc.) coherently.
2 intr. speak distinctly (was quite unable to articulate).
3 tr. (usu. in passive) connect by joints.
4 tr. mark with apparent joints.
5 intr. (often foll. by with) form a joint. articulated lorry Brit. a lorry consisting of two or more sections connected by a flexible joint. articulacy n. articulately adv. articulateness n. articulator n. [L articulatus (as ARTICLE, -ATE(2))]

awesome
awesome: adj. inspiring awe; dreaded. awesomely adv. awesomeness n. [AWE + -SOME(1)]

allergy
allergy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 Med. a condition of reacting adversely to certain substances, esp. particular foods, pollen, fur, or dust.
2 colloq. an antipathy. allergist n. [G Allergie, after Energie ENERGY, f. Gk allos other]

architecture
architecture: n.
1 the art or science of designing and constructing buildings.
2 the style of a building as regards design and construction.
3 buildings or other structures collectively. architectural adj. architecturally adv. [F architecture or L architectura f. architectus ARCHITECT)]

anonymous
anonymous: adj.
1 of unknown name.
2 of unknown or undeclared source or authorship.
3 without character; featureless, impersonal. anonymity n. anonymously adv. [LL anonymus f. Gk anonumos nameless (as AN-(1), onoma name)]

advanceramber
amber: n. & adj. --n.
1 a a yellowish translucent fossilized resin deriving from extinct (esp. coniferous) trees and used in jewellery. b the honey-yellow colour of this.
2 a yellow traffic-light meaning caution, showing between red for 'stop' and green for 'go'. --adj. made of or coloured like amber. [ME f. OF ambre f. Arab. ' anbar ambergris, amber]

aware
aware: predic.adj.
1 (often foll. by of, or that + clause) conscious; not ignorant; having knowledge.
2 well-informed. Also found in attrib. use in sense 2, as in a very aware person; this is disp. awareness n. [OE gewr]

alkalosis
alkalosis: n. Med. an excessive alkaline condition of the body fluids or tissues.

artery
artery: n. (pl. -ies.
1 any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of the blood circulation system of the body, carrying oxygen-enriched blood from the heart (cf. VEIN).
2 a main road or railway line. arteritis n. [ME f. L arteria f. Gk arteria prob. f. airo raise]

authoritative
authoritative: adj.
1 being recognized as true or dependable.
2 (of a person, behaviour, etc.) commanding or self-confident.
3 official; supported by authority (an authoritative document). authoritatively adv. authoritativeness n.

amputee
amputee: n. a person who has lost a limb etc. by amputation.

acknowledgement
acknowledgement: n. (also acknowledgment.
1 the act or an instance of acknowledging.
2 a a thing given or done in return for a service etc. b a letter confirming receipt of something.
3 (usu. in pl.) an author's statement of indebtedness to others.

academy
academy: n. (pl. -ies.
1 a a place of study or training in a special field (military academy; academy of dance). b hist. a place of study.
2 (usu. Academy) a society or institution of distinguished scholars, artists, scientists, etc. (Royal Academy).
3 Sc. a secondary school.
4 a Plato's followers or philosophical system. b the garden near Athens where Plato taught. [F acadmie or L academia f. Gk akademeia f. Akademos the hero after whom Plato's garden was named]

attraction
attraction: n.
1 a the act or power of attracting (the attraction of foreign travel). b a person or thing that attracts by arousing interest (the fair is a big attraction).
2 Physics the force by which bodies attract or approach each other (opp. REPULSION).
3 Gram. the influence exerted by one word on another which causes it to change to an incorrect form, e.g. the wages of sin is death. [F attraction or L attractio (as ATTRACT, -ION)]

accident
accident: n.
1 an event that is without apparent cause, or is unexpected (their early arrival was just an accident).
2 an unfortunate event, esp. one causing physical harm or damage, brought about unintentionally.
3 occurrence of things by chance; the working of fortune (accident accounts for much in life).
4 colloq. an occurrence of involuntary urination or defecation.
5 an irregularity in structure. accident-prone (of a person) subject to frequent accidents. by accident unintentionally. [ME f. OF f. LL accidens f. L accidere (as AC-, cadere fall)]

amateur
amateur: n.
1 a person who engages in a pursuit (e.g. an art or sport) as a pastime rather than a profession.
2 (attrib.) for or done by amateurs ( amateur athletics).
3 (foll. by of) a person who is fond of (a thing). amateurism n. [F f. It. amatore f. L amator -oris lover f. amare love]

anna
anna: n. a former monetary unit of India and Pakistan, one-sixteenth of a rupee. [Hind. ana]

ascertain
ascertain: v.tr.
1 find out as a definite fact.
2 get to know. ascertainable adj. ascertainment n. [ME f. OF acertener, stem acertain- f. to + CERTAIN]

alter
alter: v.
1 tr. & intr. make or become different; change.
2 tr. US & Austral. castrate or spay. alterable adj. alteration n. [ME f. OF alterer f. LL alterare f. L alter other]

almanac
almanac: n. (also almanack) an annual calendar of months and days, usu. with astronomical data and other information. [ME f. med.L almanac(h) f. Gk almenikhiaka]

abnormal
abnormal: adj.
1 deviating from what is normal or usual; exceptional.
2 relating to or dealing with what is abnormal (abnormal psychology). abnormally adv. [earlier and F anormal, anomal f. Gk anomalos ANOMALOUS, assoc. with L abnormis: see ABNORMITY]

arise
arise: v.intr. (past arose; past part. arisen.
1 begin to exist; originate.
2 (usu. foll. by from, out of) result (accidents can arise from carelessness).
3 come to one's notice; emerge (the question of payment arose).
4 rise, esp. from the dead. [OE arisan (as A-(2), RISE)]

alien
alien: adj. & n. --adj.
1 a (often foll. by to) unfamiliar; not in accordance or harmony; unfriendly, hostile; unacceptable or repugnant (army discipline was alien to him; struck an alien note). b (often foll. by from) different or separated.
2 foreign; from a foreign country (help from alien powers).
3 of or relating to beings supposedly from other worlds.
4 Bot. (of a plant) introduced from elsewhere and naturalized in its new home. --n.
1 a foreigner, esp. one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where he or she is living.
2 a being from another world.
3 Bot. an alien plant. alienness n. [ME f. OF f. L alienus belonging to another (alius)]

armpit
armpit: n.
1 the hollow under the arm at the shoulder.
2 US colloq. a place or part considered disgusting or contemptible (the armpit of the world).

abscissa
abscissa: n. (pl. abscissae or abscissas) Math.
1 (in a system of coordinates) the shortest distance from a point to the vertical or y-axis, measured parallel to the horizontal or x-axis; the Cartesian x-coordinate of a point (cf. ORDINATE).
2 the part of a line between a fixed point on it and an ordinate drawn to it from any other point. [mod.L abscissa (linea) fem. past part. of abscindere absciss- (as AB-, scindere cut)]

actually
actually: adv.
1 as a fact, really (I asked for ten, but actually got nine).
2 as a matter of fact, even (strange as it may seem) (he actually refused!).
3 at present; for the time being.

adenoma
adenoma: n. (pl. adenomas or adenomata) a glandlike benign tumour. [mod.L f. Gk aden gland + -OMA]

antique
antique: n., adj., & v. --n. an object of considerable age, esp. an item of furniture or the decorative arts having a high value. --adj.
1 of or existing from an early date.
2 old-fashioned, archaic.
3 of ancient times. --v.tr. (antiques, antiqued, antiquing) give an antique appearance to (furniture etc.) by artificial means. [F antique or L antiquus, anticus former, ancient f. ante before]

armor
armor: n. US var. of ARMOUR.

assault
assault: n. & v. --n.
1 a violent physical or verbal attack.
2 a Law an act that threatens physical harm to a person (whether or not actual harm is done). b euphem. an act of rape.
3 (attrib.) relating to or used in an assault ( assault craft; assault troops).
4 a vigorous start made to a lengthy or difficult task.
5 a final rush on a fortified place, esp. at the end of a prolonged attack. --v.tr.
1 make an assault on.
2 euphem. rape. assault and battery Law a threatening act that results in physical harm done to a person. assault course an obstacle course used in training soldiers etc. assaulter n. assaultive adj. [ME f. OF asaut, assauter ult. f. L (salire salt- leap)]

allied
allied: adj.
1 a united or associated in an alliance. b (Allied) of or relating to Britain and her allies in the wars of 1914-18 or 1939-45.
2 connected or related (studied medicine and allied subjects).

actress
actress: n. a female actor.

amoral
amoral: adj.
1 not concerned with or outside the scope of morality (cf. IMMORAL).
2 having no moral principles. amoralism n. amoralist n. amorality n.

adolescent
adolescent: adj. & n. --adj. between childhood and adulthood. --n. an adolescent person. adolescence n. [ME f. OF f. L adolescere grow up]

arsenal
arsenal: n.
1 a store of weapons.
2 a government establishment for the storage and manufacture of weapons and ammunition.
3 resources of anything compared with weapons (e.g. abuse), regarded collectively. [obs. F arsenal or It. arzanale f. Arab. darsina' a f. dar house + sina' a art, industry f. sana' a fabricate]

aerial
aerial: n. & adj. --n. a metal rod, wire, or other structure by which signals are transmitted or received as part of a radio transmission or receiving system. --adj.
1 by or from or involving aircraft (aerial navigation; aerial photography).
2 a existing, moving, or happening in the air. b of or in the atmosphere, atmospheric.
3 a thin as air, ethereal. b immaterial, imaginary. c of air, gaseous. aeriality n. aerially adv. [L aerius f. Gk aerios f. aer air]

apartment
apartment: n.
1 (in pl.) a suite of rooms, usu. furnished and rented.
2 a single room in a house.
3 US a flat. apartment house US a block of flats. [F appartement f. It. appartamento f. appartare to separate f. a parte apart]

abstract
abstract: adj., v., & n. --adj.
1 a to do with or existing in thought rather than matter, or in theory rather than practice; not tangible or concrete (abstract questions rarely concerned him). b (of a word, esp. a noun) denoting a quality or condition or intangible thing rather than a concrete object.
2 (of art) achieving its effect by grouping shapes and colours in satisfying patterns rather than by the recognizable representation of physical reality. --v.
1 tr. (often foll. by from) take out of; extract; remove.
2 a tr. summarize (an article, book, etc.). b intr. do this as an occupation.
3 tr. & refl. (often foll. by from) disengage (a person's attention etc.); distract.
4 tr. (foll. by from) consider abstractly or separately from something else.
5 tr. euphem. steal. --n.
1 a summary or statement of the contents of a book etc.
2 an abstract work of art.
3 an abstraction or abstract term. abstract expressionism a development of abstract art which aims at a subjective emotional expression of an ideal rather than a picture of a physical object. in the abstract in theory rather than in practice. abstractly adv. abstractor n. (in sens.
2 of v.). [ME f. OF abstract or L abstractus past part. of abstrahere (as AB-, trahere draw)]