bauble
n. small, showy ornament of little value; child's plaything or toy |
bedeck
v. dress up or decorate with showy things |
bedlam
n. a state of extreme confusion and disorder; pejorative terms for an insane asylum |
befog
v. make less visible or unclear |
befriend
v. act as a friend to someone by offering help or support |
belated
a. having been delayed; done or sent too late |
belie
v. contradict; give a false impression |
benefactor
n. gift giver; person who gives people or institutions with financial help |
beneficial
a. helpful; tending to promote physical well-being |
benevolent
a. generous in providing aid to others; charitable |
bereave
v. deprive and make desolate, especially by death |
besmear
v. spread or daub a surface; smear or cover with a greasy or sticky substance |
bethink
v. cause oneself to consider something; consider or ponder something carefully |
betide
v. become of; happen especially as if by fate |
betroth
v. become engaged to marry; promise to marry |
bevel
n. two surfaces meeting at an angle different from 90 degrees |
bevy
n. large group; a group of animals or birds, especially larks or quail |
bickering
n. a quarrel about petty points |
birthright
n. a right or privilege that you are entitled to at birth; personal characteristics that are inherited at birth |
bisect
v. cut in half or cut in two |
blabbermouth
n. someone who gossips indiscreetly |
blithely
ad. in a joyous manner; in a happy or carefree manner |
bloodcurdling
a. extremely alarming; causing terror or horror |
boisterous
a. rough and stormy; loud, noisy, and lacking in restraint or discipline |
bolster
v. support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion |
bombast
n. pompous or pretentious talk or writing |
brotherhood
n. the kinship relation between a male offspring and the siblings; the feeling that men should treat one another like brothers |
buttress
v. support physically; prop up; support something or someone by supplying evidence |
callous
a. emotionally hardened; unfeeling; toughened |
canine
a. related to dogs; dog-like; affecting or derived from dogs |
characteristic
n. feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably; a distinguishing mark or trait |
chemistry
n. the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions |
circumstance
n. situation; condition; detail accompanying or surrounding an event |
cite
v. quote; adduce as an instance |
clad
a. having an outer covering especially of thin metal; wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination |
clamor
n. noise; loud outcry; expression of discontent or protest |
claustrophobia
n. abnormal fear of being in narrow or enclosed spaces |
cloven
a. split or divided in two |
cocoon
n. silky envelope spun by the larvae of many insects to protect pupas and by spiders to protect eggs |
combustible
a. capable of igniting and burning; easily aroused or excited |
commencement
n. first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start |
commissioner
n. person authorized by a commission to perform certain duties; member of a commission |
committed
a. feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job; devoted |
compile
v. put together or compose from materials gathered from several sources |
confidential
a. treated with confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; secret |
confirmation
n. additional proof that something that was believed |
conflagration
a. large destructive fire; burning; large-scale military conflict |
conscientious
a. wishing to do what is right, especially to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly; diligent; responsible; reliable |
consciousness
n. having knowledge of ; special awareness or sensitivity: |
consequently
ad. therefore; as a result or consequence of something; subsequently |
considerable
a. worthy of consideration; large in amount, extent, or degree |
consistency
n. harmonious uniformity or agreement among things or parts |
consolidate
v. make solid; unite or press together into a compact mass; harden or make dense and firm |
conspicuously
ad. in a prominent way; in a manner tending to attract attention |
contemplative
a. deeply or seriously thoughtful |
contemptible
a. worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean |
continuous
a. continuing in time or space without interruption; extending without break or irregularity |
contraband
n. goods whose importation or exportation or possession is prohibited by law |
controversial
a. giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement; disputable |
convalescent
a. returning to health after illness or debility |
cordially
ad. in a hearty manner; in a warm and friendly way |
corps
n. an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions; a body of people associated together |