buffoon /b@"fu;n/ n. a ridiculous but amusing person. DERIVATIVES buffoonery n. buffoonish adj. ORIGIN C16: from Fr.

r. bouffon, from Ital. buffone, from med. L. buffo clown. extort /Ik"stO;t, Ek-/ v. obtain by force, threats, or other unfair means. DERIVATIVES extorter n. extortion n. extortioner n. extortionist n. extortive adj. ORIGIN C16 (earlier (ME) as extortion): from L. extort-, extorquere wrest, based on torquere twist. Jeopardize /"dZEp@dVIz/ (also jeopardize) v. put into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure. Paraplegia /%par@"pli;dZ@/ n. paralysis of the legs and lower body, typically caused by spinal injury or disease. Compare with monoplegia. DERIVATIVES paraplegic adj. & n. ORIGIN C17: mod. L., from Gk paraplUgia, from paraplUssein strike at the side. Biopsy /"bVIQpsi/ n. (pl. biopsies) an examination of tissue taken from the body, to discover the presence, cause, or

extent of a disease.
ORIGIN C19: coined in Fr. from Gk bios life + opsis sight. Physiotherapy (US physical therapy) n. the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage and exercise

rather than by drugs or surgery.

DERIVATIVES physiotherapist n. Chauffeur n. a person employed to drive a car. v. drive (a car or a passenger in a car) as a chauffeur. DERIVATIVES chauffeuse n. (rare). ORIGIN C19: from Fr., lit. stoker (by assoc. with steam engines). scavenge /"skavIn(d)Z/ v.

1 search for and collect (anything usable) from discarded waste. search for (carrion) as food. 2 remove (combustion products) from an internal-combustion engine cylinder on the return stroke of the piston. 3 Chemistry combine with and remove (molecules, radicals, etc.) from a particular medium. ORIGIN C17 (in the sense clean out): back-form. from scavenger.
tonsure /"tQnsj@, "tQnS@/ n.

1 a part of a monks or priests head left bare on top by shaving off the hair. 2 an act of shaving a monks or priests head in this way as a preparation for entering a religious order. v. [often as adj. tonsured] give a tonsure to. ORIGIN ME: from OFr., or from L. tonsura, from tondere shear, clip.

caper1 v. skip or dance about in a lively or playful way. n.

1 a playful skipping movement. 2 informal an illicit or ridiculous activity or escapade. PHRASES cut a caper make a playful, skipping movement.
DERIVATIVES caperer n. ORIGIN C16: abbrev. of capriole. Frankenstein /"fraNk(@)nstVIn/ (also Frankensteins monster) n. a thing that becomes terrifying or destructive to its maker. ORIGIN Baron Frankenstein, a character in a novel (1818) by Mary Shelley, who creates a manlike

monster which eventually destroys him.

shank /skaNk/ n.

1 a dance performed to reggae music, characterized by rhythmically bending forward, raising the knees, and extending the hands palms-downwards. reggae music suitable for such dancing. 2 informal, chiefly N. Amer. a sleazy or unpleasant person. v. 1 play reggae music or dance in this style. 2 informal walk or move in a sexually suggestive way.
DERIVATIVES skanking adj. ORIGIN 1970s: of unknown origin. tramp v.

1 walk heavily or noisily. 2 walk wearily or reluctantly over a long distance. n. 1 an itinerant homeless person who lives by begging or doing casual work. 2 the sound of heavy steps. 3 a long walk. 4 a cargo vessel running between many different ports rather than sailing a fixed route. 5 informal, chiefly N. Amer. a promiscuous woman. 6 a metal plate protecting the sole of a boot used for digging.
DERIVATIVES tramper n. trampish adj. ORIGIN ME: prob. of Low Ger. origin.

Abominable adj. causing moral revulsion. informal terrible. DERIVATIVES abominably adv. ORIGIN ME: via OFr. from L. abominabilis, from abominari deprecate, from ab- away, from + omen,

omin- omen.

Twat /twQt, twat/ n. vulgar slang

1 a womans genitals. 2 a person regarded as stupid or obnoxious.

v. Brit. informal hit; punch. ORIGIN C17: of unknown origin.

Mundane /"mVndeIn, mVn"deIn/ adj.

1 lacking interest or excitement. 2 of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.
DERIVATIVES mundanely adv. mundaneness n. mundanity /-"danIti/ n. (pl. mundanelies). ORIGIN ME: from OFr. mondain, from late L. mundanus, from L. mundus world. Saddle n.

1 a seat with a raised ridge at the front and back, fastened on the back of a horse for riding. 2 a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle. 3 a low part of a ridge between two higher points or peaks. 4 a shaped support for a cable, pipe, or other object. 5 Mathematics a low region of a curve between two high points. 6 the lower part of the back in a mammal or fowl, especially when distinct in shape or marking. 7 a joint of meat consisting of the two loins. v. 1 put a saddle on (a horse). 2 (usu. be saddled with) burden with an onerous responsibility or task. 3 (of a trainer) enter (a horse) for a race. PHRASES in the saddle 1 on horseback. 2 in a position of control or responsibility. ORIGIN OE sadol, sadul, of Gmc origin.
Allure

n. powerful attraction or fascination. v. [often as adj. alluring] powerfully attract.

DERIVATIVES allurement n. alluringly adv. ORIGIN ME: from OFr. aleurier attract, from a- (from L. ad to) + luere a lure (orig. a falconry

term).
Infidel /"InfId(@)l/ n. chiefly archaic a person who has no religion or whose religion is not that of the majority. ORIGIN C15: from Fr. infidle or L. infidelis, from in- not + fidelis faithful.

wanker n. Brit. vulgar slang a stupid or contemptible person.

tosser n. Brit. vulgar slang a person who masturbates (used as a term of abuse). puke v. & n. informal vomit. DERIVATIVES pukey adj. ORIGIN C16: prob. imitative.

Camaraderie /%kam@"rA;d(@)ri, -ri;/ n. mutual trust and friendship. ORIGIN C19: from Fr., from camarade comrade.

Intrigue v. /In"tri;g/ (intrigues, intrigued, intriguing)

1 arouse the curiosity or interest of. 2 plot something illicit or harmful. n. /In"tri;g, "In-/ 1 the plotting of something illicit or harmful. a secret love affair. 2 a mysterious or fascinating quality.
DERIVATIVES intriguer n. intriguing adj. intriguingly adv. ORIGIN C17: from Fr. intrigue plot, intriguer to tangle, to plot, via Ital. from L. intricare (see intricate).

Botch informal v. carry out (a task) badly or carelessly. n. (also botch-up) a badly carried out task. DERIVATIVES botcher n. ORIGIN ME (in the sense repair but orig. not implying clumsiness): of unknown origin.

Slacker n. informal

1 a person who avoids work or effort. US a person who evades military service. 2 chiefly N. Amer. a young person of a subculture characterized by apathy and aimlessness.

smug adj. (smugger, smuggest) irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied. DERIVATIVES smugly adv. smugness n. ORIGIN C16 (orig. in the sense neat, spruce): from Low Ger. smuk pretty.

phooey informal exclam. used to express disdain or disbelief. n. nonsense. ORIGIN 1920s: imitative.

impound v.

1 seize and take legal custody of. 2 shut up (domestic animals) in a pound. 3 (of a dam) hold back or confine (water).
DERIVATIVES impoundable adj. impounder n. impoundment n.

loon1 n. informal a silly or foolish person. ORIGIN C19: from loon2 (referring to the birds actions when escaping from danger), perh. influenced by loony.

obsolete adj.

1 no longer produced or used; out of date. 2 Biology less developed than formerly or in a related species; rudimentary; vestigial. v. chiefly US cause (a product or idea) to become obsolete by replacing it with something new.
DERIVATIVES obsoletely adv. obsoleteness n. obsoletism n. ORIGIN C16: from L. obsoletus grown old, worn out, past part. of obsolescere fall into disuse.

unmitigated adj. absolute; unqualified. DERIVATIVES unmitigatedly adv.

grudge n. a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury. v.

1 be resentfully unwilling to grant or allow (something). 2 feel resentful that (someone) has achieved (something).
DERIVATIVES grudger n. grudging adj. grudgingly adv. grudgingness n. ORIGIN ME: var. of obs. grutch complain, murmur, grumble, from OFr. grouchier, of unknown origin; cf. grouch. Quirk n.

1 a peculiar behavioural habit. 2 a strange chance occurrence. 3 a sudden twist, turn, or curve. 4 Architecture an acute hollow between convex or other mouldings. v. move or be moved suddenly or jerkily.
DERIVATIVES quirkily adv. quirkiness n. quirkish adj. quirky adj. (quirkier, quirkiest). ORIGIN C16 (as v.): of unknown origin.

subtle adj. (subtler, subtlest)

1 so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe: a subtle distinction. capable of making fine distinctions. delicately complex and understated: subtle lighting. 2 making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something. 3 archaic crafty; cunning.
DERIVATIVES subtleness n. subtlety n. subtly adv. ORIGIN ME: from OFr. sotil, from L. subtilis. patisserie /p@"ti;s(@)ri, -"tIs-/ n.

1 a shop where pastries and cakes are sold. 2 pastries and cakes collectively. ORIGIN C16: from Fr. ptisserie, from med. L. pasticium pastry.
Lent n. (in the Christian Church) the period preceding Easter (in the Western Church from Ash Wednesday

to Holy Saturday), which is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christs fasting in the wilderness. ORIGIN ME: abbrev. of Lenten.
brazen adj.

1 bold and shameless. 2 chiefly poetic/literary made of brass. v. (brazen it out) endure a difficult situation with apparent confidence and lack of shame. DERIVATIVES brazenly adv. brazenness /"breIz(@)nnIs/ n. ORIGIN OE brsen made of brass, from brs brass.
liturgy /"lIt@dZi/ n. (pl. liturgies)

1 a form or formulary according to which public religious worship, especially Christian worship, is conducted. (the Liturgy) the Communion office of the Orthodox Church. 2 (in ancient Athens) a public office or duty performed voluntarily by a rich citizen. ORIGIN C16: via Fr. or late L. from Gk leitourgia public service, worship of the gods.
cinnamon n.

1 an aromatic spice made from the dried and rolled bark of a SE Asian tree. 2 the tree which yields this spice. [Cinnamomum zeylanicum and related species.] 3 a yellowish-brown colour resembling cinnamon. ORIGIN ME: from OFr. cinnamome (from Gk kinnamZmon), and L. cinnamon, both from a Semitic lang. and perh. based on Malay.
poodle n.

1 a dog of a breed with a curly coat that is usually clipped. 2 Brit. a servile or obsequious person. v. Brit. informal move or travel in a leisurely manner. ORIGIN C19: from Ger. Pudel(hund), from Low Ger. pud(d)eln splash in water (the poodle being a water-dog).
fret1 v. (fretted, fretting)

1 be constantly or visibly anxious. 2 gradually wear away by rubbing or gnawing. 3 flow or move in small waves. n. chiefly Brit. a state of anxiety. ORIGIN OE fretan devour, consume, of Gmc origin.
peek v.

1 look quickly or furtively.

2 protrude slightly so as to be just visible. n. a quick or furtive look. ORIGIN ME pike, pyke, of unknown origin.
apothecary /@"pQTIk(@)ri/ n. (pl. apothecaries) archaic a person who prepared and sold medicines. ORIGIN ME: via OFr. from late L. apothecarius, from L. apotheca, from Gk apothUkU storehouse. sacrament /"sakr@m(@)nt/ n.

1 (in the Christian Church) a religious ceremony or ritual regarded as imparting divine grace, such as baptism, the Eucharist, and (in the Catholic and many Orthodox Churches) penance and the anointing of the sick. 2 (also the Blessed Sacrament or the Holy Sacrament) (in Catholic use) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread or Host. 3 a thing of mysterious or sacred significance; a religious symbol. ORIGIN ME: from OFr. sacrement, from L. sacramentum solemn oath, used in Christian L. as a translation of Gk mustUrion mystery.
sanctify /"saN(k)tIfVI/ v. (sanctifies, sanctified)

1 consecrate. 2 make legitimate or binding by religious sanction. 3 free from sin. 4 give the appearance of being right or good.
DERIVATIVES sanctification n. sanctifier n. ORIGIN ME: from OFr. saintifier (influenced later by sanctifier), from eccles. L. sanctificare, from L.

sanctus holy.
contrition n. the state of feeling contrite. (in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or

after confession.
squeak n. a short, high-pitched sound or cry. [with neg.] a single remark or communication. v.

1 make a squeak. say something in a high-pitched tone. 2 informal inform on someone. 3 informal achieve something by a narrow margin: the bill squeaked through. DERIVATIVES squeakily adv. squeakiness n. squeaky adj. (squeakier, squeakiest). ORIGIN ME (as v.): imitative; cf. squeal and shriek.
decadent adj.

1 characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline. 2 luxuriously self-indulgent. n. a decadent person.
DERIVATIVES decadently adv. penitent adj. feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.

n. a person who repents their sins. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a person who confesses their sins to a priest and submits to the penance that he imposes.
DERIVATIVES penitence n. penitential adj. penitently adv. ORIGIN ME: from OFr., from L. paenitent-, paenitere repent.

retch v. make the sound and movement of vomiting. n. an instance of retching. ORIGIN C19: var. of dial. reach, from a Gmc base meaning spittle.

jingo /"dZINg@U/ n. (pl. jingoes) dated, chiefly derogatory a vociferous supporter of a patriotic war policy. PHRASES by jingo! an exclamation of surprise. ORIGIN C17 (orig. a conjurors word): from a popular song adopted by those supporting the sending of a

Brit. fleet into Turk. waters to resist Russia in 1878.

disconsolate /dIs"kQns(@)l@t/ adj. very unhappy and unable to be comforted. DERIVATIVES disconsolately adv. disconsolateness n. disconsolation n. ORIGIN ME: from med. L. disconsolatus, from dis- (expressing reversal) + L. consolat-, consolari to

console.
shimmy n. (pl. shimmies)

1 a kind of ragtime dance in which the whole body shakes or sways. 2 shaking, especially abnormal vibration of the wheels of a motor vehicle. v. (shimmies, shimmied) 1 dance the shimmy. 2 shake or vibrate abnormally. 3 move swiftly and effortlessly. ORIGIN C20: of unknown origin.

detached adj.

1 separate or disconnected. (of a house) not joined to another on either side. 2 aloof and objective. 3 denoting a retina that has become separated from the underlying choroid tissue at the back of the eye, causing loss of vision in the affected area.
DERIVATIVES detachedly adv.

catatonia /%kat@"t@UnI@/ n. Psychiatry abnormality of movement and behaviour arising from a disturbed mental state. informal a state of immobility and stupor.

 DERIVATIVES catatonic adj. ORIGIN C19: from cata- + Gk tonos tone or tension.

mojo /"m@UdZ@U/ n. (pl. mojos) chiefly US a magic charm or spell. magic. ORIGIN C20: prob. of Afr. origin; cf. Gullah moco witchcraft.

budge v.

1 [usu. with neg.] make or cause to make the slightest movement. (budge up/over) informal make room for another person by moving. 2 change or cause to change an opinion. ORIGIN C16: from Fr. bouger to stir, based on L. bullire to boil.

macron /"makrQn/ n. a written or printed mark () used to indicate a long vowel in some languages and phonetic

transcription systems, or a stressed vowel in verse.

ORIGIN C19: from Gk makron, neut. of makros long.

grouch /graUtS/ informal n.

1 a habitually grumpy person. 2 a complaint or grumble. v. complain ill-temperedly; grumble. ORIGIN C19: var. of obs. grutch, from OFr. grouchier to grumble, murmur, of unknown origin; cf. grudge.
hooker1 n. 1 Rugby the player in the middle of the front row of the scrum, who tries to hook the ball. 2 informal, chiefly N. Amer. a prostitute.

trivia pl. n. unimportant details or pieces of information. ORIGIN C20: from mod. L., pl. of trivium (see trivium), influenced by trivial.

intrigue v. /In"tri;g/ (intrigues, intrigued, intriguing)

1 arouse the curiosity or interest of. 2 plot something illicit or harmful. n. /In"tri;g, "In-/ 1 the plotting of something illicit or harmful. a secret love affair. 2 a mysterious or fascinating quality.
DERIVATIVES intriguer n. intriguing adj. intriguingly adv.

 ORIGIN C17: from Fr. intrigue plot, intriguer to tangle, to plot, via Ital. from L. intricare (see intricate).

fidget /"fIdZIt/ v. (fidgeted, fidgeting) make small movements through nervousness or impatience. n. a person who fidgets. an act of fidgeting. (fidgets) mental or physical restlessness. DERIVATIVES fidgeter n. fidgetiness n. fidgety adj. ORIGIN C17: from obs. or dial. fidge to twitch.

numb adj. deprived of the power of sensation. v. make numb. DERIVATIVES numbly adv. numbness n. ORIGIN ME nome(n), past part. of obs. nim take.

limousine /"lIm@zi;n, %lIm@"zi;n/ n. a large, luxurious car, typically with a partition behind the driver. chiefly N. Amer. a passenger

vehicle carrying people to and from an airport.

ORIGIN C20: from Fr., fem. adj. orig. denoting a caped cloak worn in the region of Limousin.

strangle v.

1 squeeze or constrict the neck of, especially so as to cause death. 2 suppress or hinder (an impulse, action, or sound).
DERIVATIVES strangler n. ORIGIN ME: shortening of OFr. estrangler, from L. strangulare, from Gk strangalan, from strangalU

halter.

slinky adj. (slinkier, slinkiest) informal graceful and sinuous in movement or form: a slinky black evening

dress.
DERIVATIVES slinkily adv. slinkiness n. attic n. a space or room inside or partly inside the roof of a building. ORIGIN C17 (as an architectural term designating a small order (column and entablature) above a taller

one): from Fr. attique, from L. Atticus.

bum2 informal n. N. Amer.

1 a vagrant. 2 a lazy or worthless person. 3 a devotee of a particular activity: a ski bum. v. (bummed, bumming) 1 get by asking or begging. 2 (bum around) chiefly N. Amer. pass ones time idly. adj. bad; wrong.

 PHRASES give someone the bums rush chiefly N. Amer. forcibly eject someone. on the bum N. Amer. vagrant. ORIGIN C19: prob. from bummer.

macabre /m@"kA;br(@)/ adj. disturbing and horrifying because concerned with death and injury. ORIGIN C19: from Fr. macabre, from Danse Macabre dance of death, from OFr., perh. from Macab a

Maccabee, with ref. to a miracle play depicting the slaughter of the Maccabees.

geek /gi;k/ n. informal, chiefly N. Amer. an unfashionable or socially inept person. a knowledgeable and

obsessive enthusiast: a computer geek.

DERIVATIVES geeky adj. ORIGIN C19: from the rel. Engl. dial. word geck fool, of Gmc origin. amnesty n. (pl. amnesties) an official pardon for people convicted of political offences. an undertaking by the

authorities to take no action against specified offences during a fixed period. v. (amnesties, amnestied) grant an amnesty to. ORIGIN C16: via L. from Gk amnUstia forgetfulness.
heed v. pay attention to; take notice of. n. (usu. in phr. pay (or take) heed) careful attention. DERIVATIVES heedful adj. heedfully adv. heedfulness n. ORIGIN OE hUdan, of W. Gmc origin. machete /m@"tSEti, -"SEti/ n. a broad, heavy knife used as an implement or weapon. ORIGIN C16: from Sp., from macho hammer. peril n. a situation of serious and immediate danger. v. (perilled, perilling; US periled, periling) archaic expose to danger. PHRASES at ones peril at ones own risk. in (or at) peril of 1 very likely to suffer from. 2 at risk of

losing or injuring: they would be in peril of their life.

DERIVATIVES perilous adj. perilously adv. perilousness n. ORIGIN ME: from OFr., from L. peric(u)lum danger, from the base of experiri to try.

spoof informal n.

1 a parody, typically of a film or a genre of film. 2 a hoax. v. 1 parody. 2 hoax. 3 interfere with (radio or radar signals) so as to make them useless.
DERIVATIVES spoofer n. spoofery n. ORIGIN C19: coined by the Engl. comedian Arthur Roberts. bemoan v. lament or express sorrow for.

despise /dI"spVIz/ v. feel contempt or repugnance for. DERIVATIVES despiser n. ORIGIN ME: from OFr. despire, from L. despicere, from de- down + specere look at.

contempt n.

1 the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration. 2 (also contempt of court) the offence of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law. PHRASES beneath contempt utterly worthless or despicable. hold someone in contempt judge someone to be in contempt of court. hold someone/thing in contempt despise someone or something. ORIGIN ME: from L. contemptus, from contemnere (see contemn).
espionage /"EspI@nA;Z, -IdZ/ n. the practice of spying or of using spies. ORIGIN C18: from Fr. espionnage, from espionner to spy, from espion a spy. callous adj. insensitive and cruel. n. variant spelling of callus. DERIVATIVES callously adv. callousness n. ORIGIN ME: from L. callosus hard-skinned. felony n. (pl. felonies) a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded in the US and other judicial systems

(and formerly in the UK) as more serious than a misdemeanour.

DERIVATIVES felonious adj. feloniously adv. Mephistopheles /%mEfI"stQfIli;z/

n. an evil spirit to whom Faust, in the German legend, sold his soul. DERIVATIVES Mephistophelean /-"fi;lI@n, -fI"li;@n/ (also Mephistophelian) adj.
yuppie (also yuppy) n. (pl. yuppies) informal, derogatory a well-paid young middle-class professional working in a city. DERIVATIVES yuppiedom n. yuppification n. yuppify v. ORIGIN 1980s: elaboration of the acronym from young urban professional.

mortgage /"mO;gIdZ/ n.

1 the charging of property by a debtor to a creditor as security for a debt (especially one incurred by the purchase of the property), on the condition that it shall be returned on payment of the debt within a certain period. 2 a loan obtained through the conveyance of property as security. v. convey (a property) to a creditor as security on a loan.
DERIVATIVES mortgageable adj. ORIGIN ME: from OFr., lit. dead pledge, from mort dead + gage pledge.

audacious /O;"deIS@s/ adj.

1 recklessly daring. 2 impudent.

DERIVATIVES audaciously adv. audaciousness n. audacity n. ORIGIN C16: from L. audax, audac- bold + -ious.

fathom n. a unit of length equal to six feet (1.8 metres), chiefly used in reference to the depth of water. v. 1 [usu. with neg.] understand (something) after much thought.

2 measure the depth of.

DERIVATIVES fathomable adj. fathomless adj. ORIGIN OE fthm, in the sense something which embraces, (pl.) the outstretched arms, of Gmc

origin.

fornicate v. formal or humorous have sexual intercourse with someone one is not married to. DERIVATIVES fornication n. fornicator n. ORIGIN C16 (earlier (ME) as fornication): from eccles. L. fornicat-, fornicari to arch, from L. fornix,

fornic- vaulted chamber, later brothel.