LexiTopic: Words & Language
The LexiConnexxions analysis has identified 488 words that are used in 532 different ways related to Words and Language in the A-O portion of Spelling Bee lexicon, which comprises 74% of the entire lexicon.
This report compiles words about language (eponyms, reductions, acronyms, etc.) , and also includes Bee words that are classed as certain types of words (the eponyms, reductions, acronyms, etc., that are in the Bee lexicon).
The list is given below, followed by the topical analysis, with definitions.
Words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
Words marked with an asterisk have been used in at least one Spelling Bee puzzle, then subsequently disallowed; they are retained here for historical interest.
Words Related to WORDS & LANGUAGE in the Spelling Bee lexicon: Word List
ACCENTACRONYMACTIVEACUTEADJUNCTADMINADOPTADOPTEDAFFIXAFROAIDEAITCH*ALEPHALLEYALLONYM*ALOEALPHAALPHABETALTHOUGHALUMAMAZONAMMOAMMONIAAMNIOANAGRAMANAGRAMMINGANALYZABLEANALYZEANALYZEDANALYZINGANAPHORANAPHORAANGORAANONANONYM*ANTONYMANTONYMYARABICAARBORIOARCADIAARCADIANARCHAICATTICAUTOAUTOMATAUXILIARYAXELBABELBACCHANALBACCHANALIABACCHANALIANBACCHICBACKHANDBAGGIEBALANCEBANGBANTAMBARBBAUDBEAUTBETABIALYBIATHLETEBICARBBIDDY*BIKEBIKINIBILINGUALBILLFOLDBIOPICBIOTECHBLANKBLENDBLENDEDBLIMPBLIMPBLITZBLOGBLOGGEDBLOGGINGBLOOP
BOCKBOHOBOLOGNABONBONBOOBBOOBOOBOOHOOBORROWBORROWINGBOURBONBOWWOWBOYCOTTBOYCOTTEDBRAINIACBRANCHBRATBRIGBRONCBRUINBUBBABURBCALICOCAMELLIACAMICAMOCANARYCANNIBALCANOLACAPITALCAPITOLCAPLETCAPOCAPTCHACARBCARDIGANCARDIOCARPACCIOCELEBCELLICELLOCHAMPCHAPCHARCHARDCHEATCHEFCHEM*CHEMOCHIANTICHIHUAHUACHIMPCHINACHITCHATCHUGCHUTECINEMACIVICCLEMENTINECLINKCLUBCOACHCOACHMANCOAXCODECOEDCOGNACCOGNATECOIFCOLACOLACOLLABCOLOGNECOLONCOLONCOMBOCOMFYCOMMACOMMONCOMP
COMPEDCOMPLETECOMPLEXCOMPOUND
CONCORDCONDOCONGACONNECTIVECONTRACTCOPAYCROCCUKECUPIDCURACAOCURIOCURIUMCURRANTDAHLIADALMATIANDANDYDANGLEDANGLEDDANGLINGDAPHNEDATIVEDECALDECODECODEEDDEEJAYDEEJAYEDDEFINEDEFINEDDEFININGDEFINITEDEIFIEDDEKEDEKEDDEKEDDEKINGDELFTDELIDELTDEMODENIMDEPENDENTDETOXDETOXEDDIACRITICDIACRITICALDIDDLYDILLYDALLIEDDILLYDALLYDINODITTODIVVIEDDIVVYDOILYDOLLDOLLARDONNYBROOKDORMDOTTEDDOXEDDOXINGDOXXDOXXEDDOXXINGDRACONICDRAMDRIFTDROIDDRUMDUFFELDUFFLEDUMDUMDUMDUMDUNCEELLIPTICEMAILEMCEEEMCEEDEMCEEING
ENBYENDINGEPICENEETYMA*ETYMOLOGYETYMON*EXAMEXECEXPATEXPLETIVEEXPOFAIRYFAMILYFANFICFARADFAUNFAUNAFAUNAEFAUNALFAXEDFEMININEFINITEFLATFLORAFLORALFRACKGAGEGALUMPHGAMMAGANACHEGARGANTUANGAYDARGEEZGENTGIGAWATTGILLGIMMEGLADGLAMGLYPHGOLLYGOOGLEGOOGLEDGOOGLINGGORGONGORILLAGORPGRADGRAMGRAMMARGRAMMARIANGRAPHGRAPHICGRAYGRINCHGROGGROGGILYGROGGYGUNKGUPPYHANGULHARPYHEADHEEHAWHEEHAWEDHELLUVAHEYDAYHIATALHICKHICKORYHILLBILLYHIPPOHIRAGANAHOBBYHOCKHOKE* HOMOGRAPHHOMONYMHOMONYMYHOMOPHONEHOMOPHONIC
HOOCHHOODOOHYDROHYPHENHYPHENATEIDIOMIDIOMATICINCEPTIVEINDICAINDIEINDIGOINFINITIVEINFLECTINFOINITIALINTROIOTAJAKEJANITORJAVAJEANJENNYJETTYJULIENNEKAPPAKAYAKKINDAKNICKKNACKKOLAKOOKLABELLANDAU*LATEENLAWNLEGITLEMMALEVELLEXEME*LEXICONLIDO*LILLIPUTIANLIMALIMOLIPOLITHOLITTLENECKLOANLOGOGRAMLOGOPHILELOTTOLOVAGELUBELUBEDLUBINGLULULUNCHLUNKLYNCHMACADAMMACADAMIAMACK*MACRONMADAMMADEMAGENTAMAGNETMAINMAKEMAKINGMALAPROPMANHATTANMANILAMARATHONMARGARITAMARTIALMARTIALLYMARTIANMARTINMARTINI
MATHMATINEEMAYO
MEANINGMECCAMEDIALMEGOHM*MEMOMENTEEMETONYMMETONYMYMICK*MICROMIDDLEMIMEOMINIMMINTMINTEDMINTINGMITTMOCHAMODALMODEMODEMMODIFYMODIFYMOHAWKMOLLMOLLYMOLLYCODDLEMOLLYCODDLEDMONDOMONITORMONOGLOTMONONYMMOODMOROCCOMORPHMOTELMOVIEMOXIEMULEMUNCHKINMUNI*MUTABLEMUTEMUTTNAANNACHONANKEENNAPALMNAPOLEONNARCNARCONARROWNATCHNETIQUETTENETIZENNEWTONNIACINNOMINALNONCOMNONFINITENONWORDNOOBNOONNOTIONALNOUNNOVANUCLEINUKENUKEDNUKING
OBJECTOLLIEOMEGAOMICRONOMIGODONCEONLYOPENORGANZAOTTOMANOUGHT
Words Related to WORDS & LANGUAGE in the Spelling Bee lexicon: Topical Arrangement
Subject Headings
Abbreviations, Acronyms, Initialisms etc.Alphabets and DiacriticsBrand Names, Trade Names, and TrademarksClipped or Shortened words or phrasesConjunctions, etc.Eponyms includes brands, fictional charactersGrammar, Punctuation, etc.
LinguisticsLiterary and Film References includes fictional names and placesPortmanteau and Blended Words ReductionsReduplications Toponyms includes fictional place namesWords about Words
Acronyms and Initialisms
CAPTCHA: a test to prevent spamming software from accessing a website by requiring visitors to the site to solve a simple puzzle in order to gain access. From Completely Automatic Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (with deliberate pun on “capture”DEEJAY: initialism from disc jockey, a person who introduces and plays recorded music (especially popular music) on a show (such as a radio program); also, an entertainer who plays and often manipulates recorded music (as by combining tracks or adding effects) for dancing at a night club or party; also: someone who makes music (as through turntablism, sampling, etc.) that is often sung or rapped over; also, to perform the role of a disc jockey: to act as a disc jockey forDEEJAYED: initialism from disc jockey, a person who introduces and plays recorded music (especially popular music) on a show (such as a radio program); also, an entertainer who plays and often manipulates recorded music (as by combining tracks or adding effects) for dancing at a night club or party; also: someone who makes music (as through turntablism, sampling, etc.) that is often sung or rapped over; also, to perform the role of a disc jockey: to act as a disc jockey forEMCEE: initialism for master of ceremoniesEMCEED: initialism for master of ceremoniesEMCEEING: initialism for master of ceremoniesENBY: M-W does not have an entry for enby, the spelled-out initialism NB for nonbinary, a person whose gender identity is not strictly male or female; one who is outside of the gender binaryGORP: trail mix; a snack consisting of high-energy food (such as raisins and nuts); Wiki: The American word gorp, a term for trail mix often used by hikers in North America, is typically said to be an acronym for "good ol' raisins and peanuts"
Alphabets and Diacritics
ACCENT: a mark (such as ´, `, ˆ) used in writing or printing to indicate a specific sound value, stress, or pitch, to distinguish words otherwise identically spelled, or to indicate that an ordinarily mute vowel should be pronounced; also, an accented letter; also, to mark with a written or printed accentACUTE: of an accent mark: having the form ´ or marked with an acute accentAITCH*: the letter hALEPH: the 1st letter of the Hebrew alphabetALPHA: the first letter of the Greek alphabetALPHABET: a set of letters or other characters with which one or more languages are written especially if arranged in a customary order; also, a system of signs or signals that serve as equivalents for lettersBACKHAND: handwriting whose strokes slant downward from left to rightBETA: the second letter of the Greek alphabetCAPITAL: of a letter: of or conforming to the series A, B, C, etc. rather than a, b, c, etc., or a letter belonging to a style of alphabet modeled on the style customarily used in inscriptionsDIACRITIC: a mark near or through an orthographic or phonetic character or combination of characters indicating a phonetic value different from that given the unmarked or otherwise marked elementDIACRITICAL: serving as a diacriticDOTTED: a small round mark used in orthography or punctuation (e.g., dot the i)GAMMA: the third letter of the Greek alphabetGLYPH: a symbolic figure or a character (as in the Mayan system of writing) usually incised or carved in reliefGRAPH: a written or printed representation of a basic unit of speech (such as a phoneme or syllable), especially a grapheme; also, a single occurrence of a letter of an alphabet in any of its various shapesGRAPHIC: of or relating to the written or printed word or the symbols or devices used in writing or printing to represent sound or convey meaningHANGUL: often capitalized: the alphabetic script in which Korean is writtenHIRAGANA: the cursive script that is one of two sets of symbols of Japanese syllabic writing; compare katakanaINITIAL: the first letter of a name; initials plural: the first letter of each word in a full nameIOTA: the 9th letter of the Greek alphabetKAPPA: the 10th letter of the Greek alphabetLOGOGRAM: a letter, symbol, or sign used to represent an entire word (the ampersand and dollar sign are logograms)OMEGA: the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabetOMICRON: the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet
Brand Names, Trade Names, and Trademarks
AUTOMAT: M-W capitalizes (NOAD does not) and says “service mark.” Used for a cafeteria in which food is obtained especially from vending machinesBAGGIE: a usually small, clear plastic bag; M-W does not give word origin; Collins says from “Baggies, a trademark for such bags”CANOLA: Canola was originally a trademark name of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, and the name was a condensation of "Can" from Canada and "OLA" meaning "Oil, low acid" but is now a generic term for edible varieties of rapeseed oil in North America and Australasia.CAPLET: a capsule-shaped medicinal tablet NOTE: The name Caplets was formerly a U.S. registered trademark.COLA: a carbonated soft drink colored usually with caramel and flavored usually with extracts from kola nuts, from Coca-Cola, a trademarkGOOGLE: to use the Google search engine, from Google, trademark for a search engineGOOGLED: to use the Google search engine, from Google, trademark for a search engineGOOGLING: to use the Google search engine, from Google, trademark for a search engineGUNK: filthy, sticky, or greasy matter, from Gunk, trademark for a cleaning solventKOLA: variant spelling of cola, a carbonated soft drink colored usually with caramel and flavored usually with extracts from kola nuts, from Coca-Cola, a trademarkMIMEO: a mimeographed publication; from mimeograph, a duplicator for making many copies that utilizes a stencil through which ink is pressed; also, a verb, to mimeograph; from Mimeograph, a trademarkMOXIE: energy, pep (woke up full of moxie); courage, determination (it takes … moxie to take courageous action); know-how (was impressed with his musical moxie); from Moxie, a trademark for a soft drinkORGANZA: a sheer dress fabric (as of silk or nylon) resembling organdy (a very fine transparent muslin with a stiff finish); probably alteration of Lorganza, a trademark
Clipped or Shortened Words and Phrases
ADMIN: administrative assistantAFRO: a hairstyle of tight curls in a full evenly rounded shapeAIDE: a person who acts as an assistant or a military officer who acts as an assistant to a superior officer; short for aide-de-campALLEY: a playing marble, especially: one of superior quality; by shortening and alteration from alabasterALOE: short for aloe vera: an aloe (Aloe barbadensis synonym A. vera) whose leaves furnish a gelatinous emollient extract used especially in cosmetics and skin creams; also: such an extract or a preparation composed primarily of such an extractALUM: short for alumus, alumna, or aluminumAMMO: shortened form of ammunitionAMNIO: short for amniocentesisANON: abbreviation for anonymous; anonymouslyAUTO: automobileBEAUT: a beauty, in the sense of a brilliant, extreme, or egregious example or instanceBICARB: short for sodium bicarbonateBIKE: shortened from bicycle and bicyclingBILLFOLD: a folding pocketbook for paper money; a wallet; short for earlier billfolderBIOTECH: short for biotechnologyBLITZ: short for Blitzkrieg; an intensive aerial military campaignBLOOP: a fly ball hit barely beyond a baseball infield, or a high baseball pitch lobbed to the batter; back-formation from blooper, a fly ball hit barely beyond a baseball infieldBOHO: a Bohemian: a person (such as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others. From a transferred sense of French bohemién "a Bohemian; a Gypsy," from the country name (Bohemia), mistakenly believed to be the home of the Gypsies.BRAT: short for bratwurstBRIG: short for brigade (a large body of troops) or for brigadier (an officer in the British army commanding a brigade and ranking immediately below a major general) or for brigadier general; also, short for brigantine, a 2-masted square-rigged ship; also, a place (as on a ship) for temporary confinement of offenders in the U.S. NavyBRONC: short for broncoBURB: short for suburb, used in pluralCAMI: short for camisole, a short sleeveless garment for womenCAMO: short for camouflage, he disguising especially of military equipment or installations with paint, nets, or foliage; also: the disguise so appliedCAPO: a movable bar attached to the fingerboard of a fretted instrument to uniformly raise the pitch of all the strings; short for capotasto, from Italian, literally, head of fingerboardCARB: short for carbohydrate or carburetorCARDIO: Sshort for cardiovascular exercisesCELEB: short for celebrityCELLI: plural, shortened form of violoncelli; the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the violaCELLO: shortened form of violoncello; the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the violaCHAMP: shortened form of championCHAP: short for chapterCHAR: to burn, or to convert to charcoal or carbon usually by heat; shortened from charcoalCHARD: short for chardonnay (sometimes capitalized) or Swiss chardCHEAT: short for cheatgrass, an annual weedy Eurasian bromegrass (Bromus tectorum) naturalized in north America (M-W: “probably from a deceptive resemblance to grain”)CHEF: French, short for chef de cuisine, head of the kitchenCHEM*: M-W: short for chemical, chemist, chemistryCHEMO: short for chemotherapyCHIMP: short for chimpanzee, an anthropoid ape (Pan troglodytes) of equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorillaCHUG: M-W: variant of “chugalug,” to drink a container of liquid without pauseCHUTE: short for parachuteCINEMA: short for cinematograph: a motion picture —usually used attributively; movies; especially: the film industry; the art or technique of making motion picture; also, a motion-picture theaterCLUB: shortened form of club sandwich, a sandwich of three slices of bread with two layers of meat (such as turkey) and lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaiseCOAX: short for coaxial cableCOED: short for coeducational student: somewhat old-fashioned: a female student in a coeducational institutionCOIF: shortened form of “coiffure” a style or manner of arranging the hairCOLLAB: short for collaboration: a musical collaborationCOMBO: informal: shortened form of combinationCOMFY: shortened form of comfortableCOMP: shortened form of “complimentary” or “compensation” or any of several others.COMPED: shortened form of “complimentary”CONDO: short for condominiumCOPAY: M-W always hyphenates co-pay, short for co-paymentCROC: short for crocodileCUKE: short for cucumber, a vine (Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family cultivated as a garden vegetable, or the vine itselfCURIO: short for curiosityDANDY: a man who gives exaggerated attention to personal appearance; probably short for jack-a-dandyDECAL: a picture, design, or label made to be transferred (as to glass) from specially prepared paper; short for decalcomania, “the art or process of transferring pictures and designs from specially prepared paper (as to glass)”DECO: short for, often capitalized, often attributive: Art Deco, a popular design style of the 1920s and 1930s … named for French Art Déco, from Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exposition … held in Paris, France, in 1925DEKE: to fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey); short for decoyDEKED: to fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey); short for decoyDEKING: to fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey); short for decoyDELI: short for delicatessen, a store where ready-to-eat food products (such as cooked meats and prepared salads) are soldDELT: short for deltoid, a large muscle of the shoulder: usually pluralDEMO: short for demonstration or demolishDETOX: short for detoxify or detoxification, to free (someone, such as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance; also, to remove a harmful substance (such as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such fromDETOXED: short for detoxified, to free (someone, such as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance; also, to remove a harmful substance (such as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such fromDIDDLY: slang: short for diddly-squat, the least amount: anything at allDINO: shortened form of dinosaurDIVVIED: shortening & alteration from divideDIVVY: shortening & alteration from divideDORM: short for dormitoryDOXED: informal: to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge; from respelling of docs, plural of doc (short for document)DOXING: informal: to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge; from respelling of docs, plural of doc (short for document)DOXX: M-W: variant of dox: informal: to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge; from respelling of docs, plural of doc (short for document)DOXXED: M-W: variant of dox: informal: to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge; from respelling of docs, plural of doc (short for document)DOXXING: M-W: variant of dox: informal: to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge; from respelling of docs, plural of doc (short for document)DRAM: a dramatist or playwrightDROID: short for android, a mobile robot usually with a human formDRUM: short for drumlin, an elongate or oval hill of glacial driftEXAM: short for examination, the act or process of examining: the state of being examined; also, an exercise designed to examine progress or test qualification or knowledge; also, a formal interrogationEXEC: short for executive or executive officer (the officer second in command of a military or naval organization or vessel)EXPAT: M-W’s only definition: chiefly British: an expatriate person: expatriateEXPO: short for exposition, a public exhibition or showFAXED: sent via facsimile (fax), a system of transmitting and reproducing graphic matter … by means of signals sent over telephone linesFRACK: the injection of fluid into shale beds at high pressure in order to free up petroleum resources (such as oil or natural gas). Short for (hydraulic) fracturingGENT: short for gentlemanGLAD: short for gladiolus: any of a genus (Gladiolus) of chiefly African perennial plants of the iris family with erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from cormsGLAM: short for glamor, glamour, glamourousGRAD: short for graduateGRAM: short for grammar; grammaticalHICKORY: any of a genus (Carya) of North American hardwood trees of the walnut family that often have sweet edible nuts; also, the usually tough wood of a hickory, short for obsolete pokahickory, from Virginia Algonquian pawcohiccora food prepared from pounded nutsHIPPO: short for hippopotamus, any of a family (Hippopotamidae) of very large, four-toed, chiefly aquatic, herbivorous artiodactyl mammals…HOBBY: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation, short for hobbyhorseHOKE* : to give a contrived, falsely impressive, or hokey quality to; from hokum, a device used (as by showmen) to evoke a desired audience responseHOOCH: slang: alcoholic liquor especially when inferior or illicitly made or obtained; short for hoochinoo, a distilled liquor made by the Hoochinoo (Hutsnuwu) Indians, a Tlingit tribeHYDRO: shortened form of hydroelectric powerINDIE: one that is independent, especially: an unaffiliated record or motion-picture production company; also, something (such as a record or film) produced by an indie; by shortening & alteration from independentINFO: informationINTRO: introductionJEAN: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes; or usually jeans: pants usually made of denim or jean, both short for jean fustian from Middle English Gene Genoa, Italy + fustianLEGIT: informal: legitimate: accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements; being exactly as intended or presented: not spurious or false; genuinely good, impressive, or capable of success; conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards; also, adverb, slang: really, actually —used for emphasisLIMO: shortened form of limousine, a large luxurious often chauffeur-driven sedan that usually has a glass partition separating the driver's seat from the passenger compartment; also, a large vehicle for transporting passengers to and from an airport; from French, literally, cloak, from Limousin, FranceLIPO: short for liposuction, the surgical removal of local fat deposits (as in the thighs) especially for cosmetic purposesLITHO: short for lithography, the process of printing from a plane surface (such as a smooth stone or metal plate) on which the image to be printed is ink-receptive and the blank area ink-repellent; also for lithograph (verb) to produce, copy, or portray by lithography; also for lithograph (noun) a print made by lithographyLOTTO: a game of chance resembling bingo; from Italian lotto "lottery, game of chance based on guessing numbers drawn from an urn" (originally lotto di Genova "Genoa lottery")LUBE: short for lubricant or lubrication: a lubricant; also, an application of a lubricant: lubrication. M-W define lube only as a noun, not as a verb; NOAD defines lube as a noun and as a verb, “to lubricate (something).”LUBED: short for lubricant or lubrication: a lubricant; also, an application of a lubricant: lubrication. M-W define lube only as a noun, not as a verb; NOAD defines lube as a noun and as a verb, “to lubricate (something).”LUBING: short for lubricant or lubrication: a lubricant; also, an application of a lubricant: lubrication. M-W define lube only as a noun, not as a verb; NOAD defines lube as a noun and as a verb, “to lubricate (something).”LUNCH: lunch; probably short for luncheon, a usually light meal, especially: one taken in the middle of the day; also, the food prepared for a lunch; also, to eat lunch or to treat to lunchLUNK: variant of lunkhead, a stupid or dull-witted person; a doltMACK*: variant spelling of mac: British mackintosh, a raincoat, named for Charles Macintosh †1843 Scottish chemist & inventorMATH: short for mathematics, the science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, and abstractions and of space configurations and their structure, measurement, transformations, and generalizations; also, a branch of, operation in, or use of mathematicsMAYO: short for mayonnaise, a mixture made chiefly of egg yolks, vegetable oils, and vinegar or lemon juice and used especially as a dressing, condiment, or ingredient; [possible] from French sauce mayonnaise (1806), said by French sources to be corrupted from mahonnaise and to have been named in recognition of Mahon, seaport capital of the island of Minorca [etymonline.com]MEMO: a usually brief written message or report; a memorandumMICRO: a microcomputer or microprocessorMIMEO: a mimeographed publication; from mimeograph, a duplicator for making many copies that utilizes a stencil through which ink is pressed; also, a verb, to mimeograph; from Mimeograph, a trademarkMITT: M-W: short for mitten; a woman's glove that leaves the fingers uncovered; also, a mitten; also, a baseball catcher's or first baseman's glove made in the style of a mitten; also, slang: the handMORPH: abbreviation of morphologyMOVIE: a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch on a screen or television: a motion picture (shortened from moving picture)MULE: less commonly Mule: Moscow mule, a cocktail made of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice and usually served in a copper mugMUNI*: short for municipal, a security issued by a state or local government or by an authority set up by such a government —usually used in pluralMUTT: a stupid or insignificant person: a fool; short for muttonhead, a dull-witted personNARC: slang: a person (such as a government agent) who investigates narcotics crimes: a narco; also, or less commonly nark, slang: a person who informs on another especially to the authorities: a snitch; also, to give information (as of another's wrongdoing) especially to an authority: to snitch, inform —often used with on; to snitch or inform on (someone): rat —usually used with out; also, slang: a narcissistNARCO: US slang : one who traffics or deals drugs illegally; also: narcotic drugs —usually used before another noun (narco traffic/traffickers, narco smuggling; also, US slang: a person investigating narcotics violations: a narc; borrowed from American Spanish, probably short for narcotraficante "drug trafficker.”NONCOM: a noncommissioned officer: a subordinate officer (such as a sergeant) in the army, air force, or marine corps appointed from among enlisted personnelNOOB: informal: a person who has recently started a particular activity: a newbie: a beginner, novice, newcomer; by shortening from noobie, spelling variant of newbieNUKE: a nuclear-powered electric generating station; also, a nuclear weapon; also, to attack or destroy with or as if with nuclear bombs; also, to microwave; by shortening and respelling from nuclearNUKED: to attack or destroy with or as if with nuclear bombs; also, to microwave; by shortening and respelling from nuclearNUKING: to attack or destroy with or as if with nuclear bombs; also, to microwave; by shortening and respelling from nuclear
Conjunctions, etc.
ALTHOUGH: conjunction: in spite of the fact that: even though
ONCE: conjunction: at the moment when: as soon as (Once she spoke, I recognized her.)ONLY: conjunction: with the restriction that: but (you may go, only come back early); and yet: however (they look very nice, only we can't use them); were it not that: except (I'd introduce you to her, only she’s not here)OUGHT: an auxiliary verb used to express obligation (ought to pay our debts), advisability (ought to take care of yourself), natural expectation (ought to be here by now), or logical consequence (the result ought to be infinity
Eponyms
AMAZON: M-W often capitalized: a tall strong often masculine woman, named for the race of female warriors of Greek mythologyAMMONIA: borrowed from New Latin, derivative based on Latin sal ammōniacus "rock salt," literally, "salt of Ammon," from ammōniacus "of Ammon," borrowed from Greek ammōniakós, derivative of Ámmōn, an Egyptian deity …AUTOMAT: M-W capitalizes (NOAD does not) and says “service mark.” Used for a cafeteria in which food is obtained especially from vending machinesAXEL: often capitalized: a jump in figure skating named for Axel Paulsen, Norwegian figure skaterBACCHANAL: drunken revelry or excessive indulgence; also, a devotee of Bacchus; also, of, relating to, or suggestive of the Bacchanalia; named for Bacchus, the Greek god of wineBACCHANALIA: drunken revelry or excessive indulgence; also, a devotee of Bacchus; also, of, relating to, or suggestive of the Bacchanalia; named for Bacchus, the Greek god of wineBACCHANALIAN: related to, or suggestive of, drunken revelry or excessive indulgence; also, a devotee of Bacchus; also, of, relating to, or suggestive of the Bacchanalia; named for Bacchus, the Greek god of wineBACCHIC: of, relating to, or suggestive of Bacchus or the Bacchanalia: bacchanalian; named for Bacchus, the Greek god of wineBAGGIE: a usually small, clear plastic bag; M-W does not give word origin; Collins says from “Baggies, a trademark for such bags”BAUD: a variable unit of data transmission speed (such as one bit per second); from baud (telegraphic transmission speed unit), from J. M. E. Baudot †1903 French inventorBIDDY*: a hired girl or cleaning woman; or usually disparaging: woman, especially: an elderly woman; diminutive of the name Bridget [probably an Irish servant]BLIMP: a pompous person with out-of-date or ultraconservative views, from Colonel Blimp, a cartoon character created by David LowBOYCOTT: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (a person, a store, an organization, etc.) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions; from Charles C. Boycott †1897 English land agent in Ireland who was ostracized for refusing to reduce rentsBOYCOTTED: to engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (a person, a store, an organization, etc.) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions; from Charles C. Boycott †1897 English land agent in Ireland who was ostracized for refusing to reduce rentsBRAINIAC: a very intelligent person, probably from Brainiac, superintelligent villain in the Superman comic-book seriesBRUIN: a bear, any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora). From Middle Dutch, the name of the bear in Reynard the Fox.BUBBA: M-W’s only definition capitalizes (NOAD does not) and labels "informal, often disparaging; from Bubba, a stereotypical nickname of Southern white males. NOAD’s 1st def.: “Used as an affectionate form of address to a brother” (2d is the disparaging term)CAMELLIA: any of a genus (Camellia) of shrubs or trees of the tea family, esp. an ornamental greenhouse shrub (C. japonica) with glossy leaves and roselike flowers from New Latin Camellia, from Camellus (Georg Josef Kamel †1706 Moravian Jesuit missionary)CANNIBAL: one that eats the flesh of its own kind; from Spanish Caníbal … akin to Carib, a member of an Indian people of northern South America and the Lesser AntillesCANOLA: Canola was originally a trademark name of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, and the name was a condensation of "Can" from Canada and "OLA" meaning "Oil, low acid" but is now a generic term for edible varieties of rapeseed oil in North America and Australasia.CAPLET: a capsule-shaped medicinal tablet NOTE: The name Caplets was formerly a U.S. registered trademark.CARDIGAN: a usually collarless sweater or jacket that opens the full length of the center front, named for James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan †1868 English soldier; during the Crimean War his Light Brigade was dressed in a close-fitting, knitted jacket.CARPACCIO: thinly sliced raw meat or fish served with a sauce; named for Vittore Carpaccio; from the prominent use of red in his paintingCLEMENTINE: a small nearly seedless citrus fruit that is probably a hybrid between a tangerine and an orange, from French clementine, probably from Clément Rodier, French priest who discovered the hybrid circa 1902COLA: a carbonated soft drink colored usually with caramel and flavored usually with extracts from kola nuts, from Coca-Cola, a trademarkCOLON: M-W’s entry is for colón: variants or less commonly colone: the basic monetary unit of El Salvador until 2001; also, the basic monetary unit of Costa Rica; from Spanish colón, from Cristóbal Colón Christopher ColumbusCUPID: a figure that represents Cupid as a naked usually winged boy often holding a bow and arrow; from Cupid, the Roman god of erotic loveCURIUM: a metallic radioactive chemical element that is only produced artificially; New Latin, from Marie & Pierre CurieDAHLIA: any of a genus (Dahlia) of American tuberous-rooted composite herbs having opposite pinnate leaves and rayed flower heads and including many that are cultivated as ornamentals; genus name, from Anders Dahl †1789 Swedish botanistDAPHNE: any of a genus (Daphne) of Eurasian shrubs of the mezereon family with apetalous flowers whose colored calyx resembles a corolla. Leaves resemble laurel. Named for Daphne, a nymph in Greek mythology who is transformed into a laurel tree to escape the pursuing ApolloDOILY: a small napkin or a small often decorative mat, named for Doily or Doyley flourished 1711 a London draperDOLL: a small-scale figure of a human being used especially as a child's plaything; also, a pretty but often empty-headed young woman; a woman; darling, sweetheart; an attractive person, probably from Doll, nickname for DorothyDRACONIC: variation of draconian: of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him; from Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek Drakōn Draco (Athenian lawgiver)DUNCE: a slow-witted or stupid person; from John Duns Scotus, whose once-accepted writings were ridiculed in the 16th centuryFAIRY: a mythical being of folklore and romance usually having diminutive human form and magic powers; Middle English fairie fairyland, enchantment, from Anglo-French faerie, from fee fairy, from Latin Fata, goddess of fate, from fatum fateFARAD: the unit of capacitance equal to the capacitance of a capacitor between whose plates there appears a potential of one volt when it is charged by one coulomb of electricity, named for Michael FaradayFAUN: a figure in Roman mythology similar to but gentler than the satyr; from Faunus, “the rustic god of the forest, plains and fields”FAUNA: animal life, especially: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment; from Latin Fauna, sister of FaunusFAUNAE: plural of fauna: animal life, especially: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment; from Latin Fauna, sister of FaunusFAUNAL: related to fauna: animal life, especially: the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment; from Latin Fauna, sister of FaunusFLORA: a treatise on or list of the plants of an area or period; or plant, bacterial, or fungal life, especially: such life characteristic of a region, period, or special environment; from Latin Flōra, the goddess of flowers and the flowering seasonFLORAL: of or relating to a flora; or of, relating to, or depicting flowers; or a design or picture in which flowers predominate; from Flōra "the goddess Flora"GAGE: greengage, any of several rather small rounded greenish or greenish-yellow cultivated plums, named for Sir William Gage †1820 English botanistGANACHE: a sweet creamy chocolate mixture used especially as a filling or frosting, probably named for a bonbon manufactured by the Parisian confectioner Siraudin (probably from Les Ganaches, a play by Victorien Sardou first performed in October, 1862)GARGANTUAN: tremendous in size, volume, or degree: gigantic, colossal; named for Gargantua, a giant king in François Rabelais's 16th-century satiric novel GargantuaGEEZ: less common spelling of jeez; used as a mild oath or introductory expletive (as to express surprise); euphemism for JesusGIGAWATT: a unit of power equal to one billion watts (from James Watt †1819)GILL: a girl, sweetheart [soft g] Middle English, from Gill, nickname for GillianGOLLY: used as a mild oath or to express surprise; euphemism for GodGOOGLE: to use the Google search engine, from Google, trademark for a search engineGOOGLED: to use the Google search engine, from Google, trademark for a search engineGOOGLING: to use the Google search engine, from Google, trademark for a search engineGORGON: an ugly or repulsive woman, named for Gorgon (capitalized), any of three snake-haired sisters in Greek mythology whose appearance turns the beholder to stoneGORILLA: a very large typically black-colored anthropoid ape (Gorilla gorilla) of equatorial Africa … or an ugly or brutal man; from Greek Gorillai, plural, a tribe of hairy women mentioned in an account of a voyage around AfricaGRAY: the metre-kilogram-second unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation equal to an energy of one joule per kilogram of irradiated material —abbreviation Gy, from Louis H. Gray †1965 British radiobiologistGRINCH: a grumpy person who spoils the pleasure of others; a killjoy, a spoilsport; from the Grinch, character in the children's story How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)GROG: alcoholic liquor, especially: liquor (such as rum) cut with water and now often served hot with lemon juice and sugar sometimes added, named for Old Grog, nickname of Edward Vernon †1757 English admiral responsible for diluting the sailors' rumGROGGILY: weak and unsteady on the feet or in action, from grog, named for Old Grog, nickname of Edward Vernon †1757 English admiral responsible for diluting the sailors' rumGROGGY: weak and unsteady on the feet or in action, from grog, named for Old Grog, nickname of Edward Vernon †1757 English admiral responsible for diluting the sailors' rumGUNK: filthy, sticky, or greasy matter, from Gunk, trademark for a cleaning solventGUPPY: a small bony fish (Poecilia reticulata of the family Poeciliidae) especially of Barbados, Trinidad, and Venezuela that is a live-bearer and is often kept as an aquarium fish, named for R. J. L. Guppy †1916 Trinidadian naturalistHARPY: a predatory person: leech; also, a shrewish woman, from Latin Harpyia, from Greek, a foul malign creature in Greek mythology that is part woman and part bird [the creature is always capitalized]HICK: an unsophisticated provincial person, from Hick, nickname for RichardHILLBILLY: often disparaging + offensive: a person from a backwoods area; from hill + Billy, nickname for WilliamJAKE: a sexually immature male wild turkey under two years old; probably from Jake, nickname for JacobJANITOR: one who keeps the premises of a building (such as an apartment or office) clean, tends the heating system, and makes minor repairs; also, a doorkeeper; from Janus, gate, from a Roman god that is identified with doors, gates, and all beginnings and that is depicted with two opposite facesJENNY: a young female turkey, or any female bird, especially a wren; also, a female donkey; all from the name Jenny also, an early multiple-spindle machine for spinning wool or cotton, from Jenny, nickname for Jane; from the name Jenny [Jenny Wren, Dickens, Our Mutual Friend]JULIENNE: a consommé containing vegetables cut into thin strips; or the thin strips, or the process of slicing them; from French, short for potage à la julienne, probably from Julienne woman's nameKOLA: variant spelling of cola, a carbonated soft drink colored usually with caramel and flavored usually with extracts from kola nuts, from Coca-Cola, a trademarkLULU: slang: one that is remarkable or wonderful; probably from Lulu, nickname from LouiseLYNCH: to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal approval or permission, from lynch law (the punishment of presumed crimes or offenses usually by death without due process of law), probably after Charles Lynch †1796 Virginia planter and justice of the peaceMACADAM: macadamized roadway or pavement especially with a bituminous binder; named for John Loudon McAdam †1836 Scottish civil engineer who introduced this method of road constructionMACADAMIA: M-W’s entry is for macadamia nut, a hard-shelled nut of an Australian evergreen tree (genus Macadamia, especially M. integrifolia or M. tetraphylla) of the protea family that somewhat resembles the filbert and is cultivated extensively in Hawaii; called also macadamia; borrowed from New Latin Macadamia, genus name, from John Macadam †1865 Scottish-born Australian chemistMACK*: variant spelling of mac: British mackintosh, a raincoat, named for Charles Macintosh †1843 Scottish chemist & inventorMALAPROP: an example of malapropism (the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase, especially: the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context or using or marked by the use of malapropisms); from Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 1775 play The Rivals. Mrs. Malaprop frequently misspeaks (to comic effect) by using words which do not have the meaning that she intends but which sound similar to words that do.MARGARITA: a cocktail consisting of tequila, lime or lemon juice, and an orange-flavored liqueur, from the Spanish feminine name MargaritaMARTIAL: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior; relating to an army or to military life; experienced in or inclined to war; warlike; from Mars, the god of warMARTIALLY: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior; relating to an army or to military life; experienced in or inclined to war; warlike; from Mars, the god of warMARTIAN: of or relating to the planet Mars or its hypothetical inhabitants; from Mars, the god of warMARTIN: a small Eurasian bird (Delichon urbica) of the swallow family with a forked tail, bluish-black head and back, and white rump and underparts; also, any of various birds (especially genus Progne) of the swallow family other than the Eurasian martin, probably from St. MartinMARTINI: a cocktail made of gin and dry vermouth, probably alteration of Martinez (cocktail), from the name MartinezMATINEE: a musical or dramatic performance or social or public event held in the daytime and especially the afternoon; French matinée, literally, morning, from Old French, from matin morning, from Latin matutinum, from neuter of matutinus of the morning, from Matuta, goddess of morningMEGOHM*: one million ohms (an ohm is the practical meter-kilogram-second unit of electric resistance equal to the resistance of a circuit in which a potential difference of one volt produces a current of one ampere, named for Georg Simon Ohm)MENTEE: one who is being mentored: a protégé (Mentor + -EE) derived from the name of Mentor, a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son TelemachusMICK*: often capitalized, often disparaging + offensive: An Irishman; from Mick, nickname for Michael, common Irish given nameMIMEO: a mimeographed publication; from mimeograph, a duplicator for making many copies that utilizes a stencil through which ink is pressed; also, a verb, to mimeograph; from Mimeograph, a trademarkMINT: a place where coins, medals, or tokens are made; also, to make (coins or money) out of metal: to coin; Middle English mynt coin, money, from Old English mynet, from Latin moneta mint, coin, from Moneta, epithet of Juno; from the fact that the Romans coined money in the temple of Juno MonetaMINTED: a place where coins, medals, or tokens are made; also, to make (coins or money) out of metal: to coin; Middle English mynt coin, money, from Old English mynet, from Latin moneta mint, coin, from Moneta, epithet of Juno; from the fact that the Romans coined money in the temple of Juno MonetaMINTING: a place where coins, medals, or tokens are made; also, to make (coins or money) out of metal: to coin; Middle English mynt coin, money, from Old English mynet, from Latin moneta mint, coin, from Moneta, epithet of Juno; from the fact that the Romans coined money in the temple of Juno MonetaMOHAWK: Mohawk, or less commonly mohawk: a hairstyle with a narrow center strip of usually upright hair and the sides of the head shaved; named for the Indigenous people originally of the Mohawk River valley in New YorkMOLL: a darling, sweetheart; also, a gangster's girlfriend; probably from Moll, nickname for MaryMOLLY: any of various small, often brightly colored tropical fish (genus Poecilia) that are live-bearers found in fresh, brackish, or salt water and include several that are highly valued as aquarium fishes; by shortening from New Latin Mollienisia, former genus name, from Comte François N. Mollien †1850 French statesmanMOLLYCODDLE: to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence and attention; from Molly, nickname for Mary + coddleMOLLYCODDLED: to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence and attention; from Molly, nickname for Mary + coddleMONDO: very large or great in amount or number; extremely; from reanalysis of mondo in title of the American film Mondo Bizarro (1966), after the Italian film Mondo cane (1962)MONITOR: a heavily armored warship formerly used in coastal operations having a very low freeboard and one or more revolving gun turrets (named for the Monitor, first ship of the type); also, a small modern warship with shallow draft for coastal bombardmentMOXIE: energy, pep (woke up full of moxie); courage, determination (it takes … moxie to take courageous action); know-how (was impressed with his musical moxie); from Moxie, a trademark for a soft drinkMUNCHKIN: a person who is notably small and often endearing, the Munchkins, diminutive creatures in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank BaumNACHO: a tortilla chip topped with melted cheese and often additional savory toppings (such as hot peppers or refried beans), probably borrowed from Spanish Nacho, hypocoristic form of the personal name Ignacio; the dish may have been devised in 1940 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya García (1895-1975), a waiter … at a restaurant in Piedras Negras, Mexico.NAPOLEON: a former French 20-franc gold coin; also, an oblong pastry with a filling of cream, custard, or jelly, from French napoléon, from Napoléon, Napoleon INEWTON: the unit of force in the meter-kilogram-second system equal to the force required to impart an acceleration of one meter per second per second to a mass of one kilogram, named for Sir Isaac NewtonOLLIE: a maneuver in skateboarding in which the skater kicks the tail of the board down while jumping in order to make the board pop into the air, or a maneuver in snowboarding in which the rider transfers weight from the front to the back foot to snap the board up off the ground; also, to execute an ollie, from Ollie, nickname of Alan Gelfand born 1963 U.S. skateboarderORGANZA: a sheer dress fabric (as of silk or nylon) resembling organdy (a very fine transparent muslin with a stiff finish); probably alteration of Lorganza, a trademarkOTTOMAN: an upholstered often overstuffed seat or couch usually without a back; also, an overstuffed footstool; also, a heavy clothing fabric characterized by pronounced crosswise ribs; from French, probably from Italian ottomano, from Arabic ʽothmānī, from ʽOthmān Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire
Grammar, Punctuation, etc.
ACTIVE: asserting that the person or thing represented by the grammatical subject performs the action represented by the verbADJUNCT: grammar: a word or word group that qualifies or completes the meaning of another word or other words and is not itself a main structural element in its sentenceAFFIX: grammar: one or more sounds or letters occurring as a bound form attached to the beginning or end of a word, base, or phrase or inserted within a word or base and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional formANALYZABLE: to subject to grammatical analysisANALYZE: to subject to grammatical analysisANALYZED: to subject to grammatical analysisANALYZING: to subject to grammatical analysisAUXILIARY: of a verb: accompanying another verb and typically expressing person, number, mood, or tense; grammar: auxiliary verb, a verb (such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or must) that is used with another verb in a verb phrase to show tense, to form a question, etc.: a helping verbBALANCE: grammar: the juxtaposition in writing of syntactically parallel constructions containing similar or contrasting ideas (such as "to err is human; to forgive, divine")BANG: informal: exclamation pointBLANK: a dash substituting for an omitted wordCOGNATE: of a substantive: related to a verb usually by derivation and serving as its object to reinforce the meaning (such as song in "she sang a song") also, (noun) one that is cognate with anotherCOLON: a punctuation mark; also, the sign: used between the parts of a numerical expression of time or in a bibliographical referenceCOMMA: a punctuation mark, used especially as a mark of separation within the sentenceCOMPLETE: of a subject or predicate: including modifiers, complements, or objectsCOMPLEX: of a word: having a bound form as one or more of its immediate constituents; also, of a sentence: consisting of a main clause and one or more subordinate clausesCOMPOUND: a word consisting of components that are words (such as rowboat, high school, devil-may-care); also, a word (such as anthropology, kilocycle, builder) consisting of any of various combinations of words, combining forms, or affixesCONCORD: grammatical agreementCONNECTIVE: a linguistic form that connects words or word groupsCONTRACT: to shorten (a word) by omitting one or more sounds or letters (Contract "forecastle" to "fo'c'sle.")DANGLE: to occur in a sentence without having a normally expected syntactic relation to the rest of the sentenceDANGLED: to occur in a sentence without having a normally expected syntactic relation to the rest of the sentenceDANGLING: to occur in a sentence without having a normally expected syntactic relation to the rest of the sentenceDATIVE: of, relating to, or being a grammatical case that typically marks the indirect object of a verb, the object of some prepositions, or a person or thing that possesses someone or something elseDEFINITE: typically designating an identified or immediately identifiable person or thingDEPENDENT: grammar: subordinate (dependent clauses)DITTO: the inverted commas or apostrophes used to symbolize a dittoELLIPTIC: of, relating to, or marked by ellipsis or an ellipsisEPICENE: of a noun: having but one form to indicate either sex (e.g., president, violist, sibling)FEMININE: of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to females as well as other words and forms either systematically or arbitrarily in the same categoryFINITE: of, relating to, or being a verb or verb form that can function as a predicate or as the initial element of one and that is limited (as in tense, person, and number)FLAT: grammar: not having an inflectional endingGRAM: abbreviation: grammar; grammaticalGRAMMAR: the study of the classes of words, their inflections, and their functions and relations in the sentenceGRAMMARIAN: one who studies or teaches grammarHEAD: grammar: an immediate constituent of a construction that can have the same grammatical function as the whole (such as man in "an old man," "a very old man," or "the man in the street")HYPHEN: a punctuation mark - used especially to divide or to compound words, word elements, or numbersHYPHENATE: to connect (words) or divide (a word, such as a word at the end of a line of print) with a hyphenINCEPTIVE: of verbs: denoting the beginning of an action, state, or occurrence; also, an inchoative verbINFINITIVE: a verb form … that performs some functions of a noun and at the same time displays some characteristics of a verb and that is used with to except with auxiliary and various other verbsINFLECT: to vary (a word) by inflection: decline, conjugateLEMMA: an auxiliary proposition used in the demonstration of another propositionMADE: to form, to combine to make (a compound word)MAIN: expressing the chief predication in a complex sentence (the main clause)MAKE: to form, to combine to make (a compound word)MAKING: to form, to combine to make (a compound word)MIDDLE: of a verb form or voice: typically asserting that a person or thing both performs and is affected by the action representedMODAL: of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical form or category characteristically indicating predication of an action or state in some manner other than as a simple fact (a modal verb)MODE: in grammar, mood: distinction of form or a particular set of inflectional forms of a verb to express whether the action or state it denotes is conceived as fact or in some other manner (such as command, possibility, or wish) (the indicative mode, the subjunctive mode)MODIFY: to limit or restrict the meaning of especially in a grammatical construction (In the phrase "the red hat," the adjective "red" modifies the noun "hat.")MOOD: distinction of form or a particular set of inflectional forms of a verb to express whether the action or state it denotes is conceived as fact or in some other manner (such as command, possibility, or wish)NOMINAL: a word or word group functioning as a noun; also, of, relating to, or being a noun or a word or expressionNONFINITE: not finite (nonfinite clauses, nonfinite verbs)NOUN: any member of a class of words that typically can be combined with determiners to serve as the subject of a verb, can be interpreted as singular or plural, can be replaced with a pronoun, and refer to an entity, quality, state, action, or conceptOBJECT: a noun or noun equivalent (such as a pronoun, gerund, or clause) denoting the goal or result of the action of a verb; also, a noun or noun equivalent in a prepositional phrase (such as table in on the table)OPEN: of punctuation: characterized by sparing use especially of the comma when possible without causing misinterpretation; also, of a compound: having components separated by a space in writing or printing (such as opaque projector)
Linguistics
ADOPT: to take (a word from another language) into common use: borrowADOPTED: to take (a word from another language) into common use: borrowBILINGUAL: having or expressed in two languages; using or able to use two languages especially with equal fluencyBORROW: to adopt into one language from another (The English word "entrepreneur" was borrowed from French.)BORROWING: to adopt into one language from another (The English word "entrepreneur" was borrowed from French.)BRANCH: linguistics: a language group less inclusive than a familyCOGNATE: related by descent from the same ancestral language (Spanish and French are cognate languages.) also, (noun) one that is cognate with another; also, of a word or morpheme: related by derivation, borrowing, or descent (English "eat" and German "essen" are cognate.); also, (noun) one that is cognate with another ("Eat" and "essen" are cognates.)DRIFT: an assumed trend toward a general change in the structure of a language over a period of timeENDING: one or more letters or syllables added to a word base especially in inflectionETYMA*: plural of etyma: an earlier form of a word in the same language or an ancestral language; or a word in a foreign language that is the source of a particular loanword; or a word or morpheme from which words are formed by composition or derivationETYMOLOGY: the history of a linguistic form (such as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found …; also, a branch of linguistics concerned with etymologiesETYMON*: an earlier form of a word in the same language or an ancestral language; or a word in a foreign language that is the source of a particular loanword; or a word or morpheme from which words are formed by composition or derivationFAMILY: a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral languageHIATAL: the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal soundLEXEME*: a meaningful linguistic unit that is an item in the vocabulary of a languageLEXICON: the vocabulary of a language, an individual speaker or group of speakers, or a subject (computer terms that have been added to the lexicon); also, a book containing an alphabetical arrangement of the words in a language and their definitions: a dictionary; also, the total stock of morphemes in a languageLOAN: (noun) a loanword, a word taken from another language and at least partly naturalizedMACRON: a mark − placed over a vowel to indicate that the vowel is long or placed over a syllable or used alone to indicate a stressed or long syllable in a metrical footMEANING: the logical connotation of a word or phrase; the logical denotation or extension of a word or phraseMEDIAL: situated between the extremes of initial and final in a word or morphemeMODIFY: to change (a vowel) by umlautMONOGLOT: monolingual: having or using only one languageMORPH: allomorph: one of a set of forms that a morpheme may take in different contexts; also, a distinctive collocation of phones (such as a portmanteau form) that serves as the realization of more than one morpheme in a context (such as the French du for the sequence of de and le); also, abbreviation of morphology, a study and description of word formation (such as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language; also, the system of word-forming elements and processes in a languageMUTABLE: capable of or liable to mutation (mutable vowels)MUTE: contributing nothing to the pronunciation of a word (the b in plumb is mute); also, contributing to the pronunciation of a word but not representing the nucleus of a syllable (the e in mate is mute); also, a stop, a consonant characterized by complete closure of the breath passage in the course of articulationNARROW: tense: produced with the muscles involved in a relatively tense state (the vowels \ē\ and \ü\ in contrast with the vowels \i\ and \u̇\ are tense)NONWORD: a word that has no meaning, is not known to exist, or is disapprovedNOTIONAL: presenting an idea of a thing, action, or quality (the word ‘has’ is notional in ‘he has luck,’ and relational in ‘he has gone’)NUCLEI: plural of nucleus, the peak of sonority in the utterance of a syllable
Literary and Film References
ARCADIA: a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet; named for Arcadia, region of ancient Greece frequently chosen as background for pastoral poetryARCADIAN: Related to arcadia, a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet; named for Arcadia, region of ancient Greece frequently chosen as background for pastoral poetryBABEL: a confusion of sounds or voices, or a scene of noise or confusion; named for Babel, a city in Shinar where the building of a tower is held in Genesis to have been halted by the confusion of tonguesBLIMP: a pompous person with out-of-date or ultraconservative views, from Colonel Blimp, a cartoon character created by David LowBRAINIAC: a very intelligent person, probably from Brainiac, superintelligent villain in the Superman comic-book seriesBRUIN: a bear, any of a family (Ursidae of the order Carnivora). From Middle Dutch, the name of the bear in Reynard the Fox.GALUMPH: to move with a clumsy heavy tread; Coined by Lewis Carroll (Charles Lewis Dodgson) in the poem "Jabberwocky" (1872), apparently in the sense "to march exultingly."GANACHE: a sweet creamy chocolate mixture used especially as a filling or frosting, probably named for a bonbon manufactured by the Parisian confectioner Siraudin (probably from Les Ganaches, a play by Victorien Sardou first performed in October, 1862)GARGANTUAN: tremendous in size, volume, or degree: gigantic, colossal; named for Gargantua, a giant king in François Rabelais's 16th-century satiric novel GargantuaGRINCH: a grumpy person who spoils the pleasure of others; a killjoy, a spoilsport; from the Grinch, character in the children's story How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)JENNY: any female bird, especially a wren; from the name Jenny [Jenny Wren, Dickens, Our Mutual Friend]LILLIPUTIAN: often not capitalized: small, miniature; petty; derived from Lilliput, an island in Swift's Gulliver's Travels where the inhabitants are six inches tallMALAPROP: an example of malapropism (the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase, especially: the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context or using or marked by the use of malapropisms); from Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 1775 play The Rivals. Mrs. Malaprop frequently misspeaks (to comic effect) by using words which do not have the meaning that she intends but which sound similar to words that do.MENTEE: one who is being mentored: a protégé (Mentor + -EE) derived from the name of Mentor, a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son TelemachusMONDO: very large or great in amount or number; extremely; from reanalysis of mondo in title of the American film Mondo Bizarro (1966), after the Italian film Mondo cane (1962)MUNCHKIN: a person who is notably small and often endearing, the Munchkins, diminutive creatures in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum
Palindromes
BOOB: a foolish person; a boor, philistineCIVIC: of or relating to a citizen, a city, citizenship, or community affairsDEED: [multiple definitions]DEIFIED: to make a god of, or to take as an object of worshipDEKED: to fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey); short for decoyKAYAK: a light narrow boat that has both ends tapered to a point, is propelled by a double-bladed paddle, and often has a closed top except for an opening in which the paddler sits with the legs extended straight out in front: a traditional boat that is typically associated with the Indigenous peoples (such as the Aleuts and Inuits) of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, is usually made of a frame of wood or bone covered with animal skin, and is used especially for hunting and transport OR a boat that is based on the traditional kayak and is typically made of plastic or fiberglass and is used especially for recreational purposesKOOK: one whose ideas or actions are eccentric, fantastic, or insane: screwball (by shortening & alteration from cuckoo)LEVEL: [multitudinous definitions]MADAM: [multiple definitions]MINIM: a half note; also, something very minute; also, a unit of capacity equal to ¹/₆₀ fluid dramNAAN: a round flat leavened bread especially of the Indian subcontinentNOON: midday; specifically : 12 o'clock at midday; also, the highest point
Portmanteau and Blended Words
BIATHLETE: an athlete who competes in a biathlon, a composite athletic contest consisting of cross-country skiing and rifle sharpshooting; blend of blend of athlete and biathlonBIOPIC: a biographical movieBLOG: a website that contains online personal reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks, videos, and photographs provided by the writer; also: the contents of such a site; also, a regular feature appearing as part of an online publication that typically relates to a particular topic and consists of articles and personal commentary by one or more authors; also, to write or have a blog; to write or write about (something) on a blog (short for Weblog)BLOGGED: a website that contains online personal reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks, videos, and photographs provided by the writer; also: the contents of such a site; also, a regular feature appearing as part of an online publication that typically relates to a particular topic and consists of articles and personal commentary by one or more authors; also, to write or have a blog; to write or write about (something) on a blog (short for Weblog)BLOGGING: a website that contains online personal reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks, videos, and photographs provided by the writer; also: the contents of such a site; also, a regular feature appearing as part of an online publication that typically relates to a particular topic and consists of articles and personal commentary by one or more authors; also, to write or have a blog; to write or write about (something) on a blog (short for Weblog)CANOLA: Canola was originally a trademark name of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, and the name was a condensation of "Can" from Canada and "OLA" meaning "Oil, low acid" but is now a generic term for edible varieties of rapeseed oil in North America and Australasia.EMAIL: electronic mailFANFIC: short for fan fiction, stories involving popular fictional characters that are written by fans and often posted on the InternetGAYDAR: slang: the supposed ability to recognize through observation or intuition that a person is gay (gay + radar)HILLBILLY: often disparaging + offensive: a person from a backwoods area; from hill + Billy, nickname for WilliamMODEM: a device that converts signals produced by one type of device (such as a computer) to a form compatible with another (such as a telephone) and that is used especially to transmit and receive information between computers via landlines; also, to send (something, such as data) via a modem (from modulator + demodulator)MOLLYCODDLE: to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence and attention; from Molly, nickname for Mary + coddleMOLLYCODDLED: to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence and attention; from Molly, nickname for Mary + coddleMOTEL: an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usually accessible from an outdoor parking area (motor + hotel)NAPALM: a thickener consisting of a mixture of aluminum soaps used in jelling gasoline (as for incendiary bombs); also, fuel jelled with napalm; also, to assault with napalm (naphthene + palmitate)NETIQUETTE: etiquette governing communication on the Internet; blend of net and etiquetteNETIZEN: an active participant in the online community of the Internet; blend of net and citizenNIACIN: an acid C6H5NO2 of the vitamin B complex found widely in animals and plants and used especially against pellagra; from nicotinic acid + -in
Reductions
GIMME: contraction of “give me”HELLUVA: M-W does not have an entry for helluva, an informal contraction of “hell of a” M-W does have an entry for “hell of a” (“informal, somewhat impolite”)KINDA: a “pronunciation spelling” used for "kind of" in informal speech and in representations of such speechNATCH: slang: of course: naturallyNOOB: informal: a person who has recently started a particular activity: a newbie: a beginner, novice, newcomer; by shortening from noobie, spelling variant of newbieOMIGOD: Not in M-W; Collins has in British English, informal, an exclamation of surprise, pleasure, dismay, etc. (from Oh, my God)
Reduplications
BONBON: a candy with chocolate or fondant coating and fondant center that sometimes contains fruits and nuts; also, something that is pleasing in a light or frivolous wayBOOBOO: M-W hyphenates boo-boo: a usually trivial injury (such as a bruise or scratch) —used especially by or of a childBOOHOO: M-W hyphenates boo-hoo, to weep loudly and with sobsBOOHOO: M-W hyphenates boo-hoo, to weep loudly and with sobsBOWWOW: the bark of a dog, or a dog; also, a noisy clamor; also, an arrogant dogmatic mannerCHITCHAT: small talk, gossipDILLYDALLIED: to waste time by loitering or delaying; reduplication of dallyDILLYDALLY: to waste time by loitering or delaying; reduplication of dallyDUMDUM: M-W hyphenates “dum-dum” meaning “a stupid person”HEEHAW: M-W hyphenates hee-haw, the bray of a donkey or a loud rude laugh or guffawHEEHAWED: M-W hyphenates hee-haw, the bray of a donkey or a loud rude laugh or guffawHEYDAY: the period of one's greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperityHOODOO: a natural column of rock in western North America often in fantastic formKNICKKNACK: a small trivial article usually intended for ornament; a reduplication of knack (archaic), an ingenious device or toy
Toponyms
AMAZON: M-W often capitalized: any of a genus (Amazona) of tropical American parrots typically having green plumage marked with other bright colors, named for the belief that they were native to Amazonian junglesANGORA: the hair of the Angora rabbit or Angora goat, or a yarn of Angora rabbit hair used especially for knitting. (In the names of animals -- Angora cat, Angora rabbit, Angora goat – the adjective is proper.) From Ankara (historically known as Angora), in present-day Turkey.ARABICA: an evergreen shrub or tree (Coffea arabica) yielding seeds that produce a high-quality coffee; from New Latin, specific epithet of Coffea arabica, from Latin, feminine of Arabicus ArabianARBORIO: M-W: always in the open compound “arborio rice.” Named for Arborio, village in Piedmont region of ItalyARCADIA: a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet; named for Arcadia, region of ancient Greece frequently chosen as background for pastoral poetryARCADIAN: related to arcadia, a region or scene of simple pleasure and quiet; named for Arcadia, region of ancient Greece frequently chosen as background for pastoral poetryATTIC: Attic in classical architecture meant "a small, square decorative column of the type often used in a low story above a building's main facade," a feature associated with the region around Athens (that is, Attic). The word then was applied by architects to "a low decorative facade above the main story of a building" (1690s in English), and it then came to mean the space enclosed by such a structure.BABEL: a confusion of sounds or voices, or a scene of noise or confusion; named for Babel, a city in Shinar where the building of a tower is held in Genesis to have been halted by the confusion of tonguesBANTAM: a small chicken, named for Bantam, former village in Java where the birds are believed to have originatedBARB: any of a northern African breed of horses that are noted for speed and endurance; French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region in AfricaBIALY: a flat breakfast roll that has a depressed center and is usually covered with onion flakes; from bialystoker of Bialystok, city in PolandBIKINI: a two-piece bathing suit worn by women that does not cover the midriff; also, a short snug swimsuit worn by men; also, a pair of low-cut briefs; from Bikini, atoll of the Marshall IslandsBOCK: a dark lager beer with a high alcohol content that has a strong flavor of malt and a mild flavor of hops and is typically sold in the winter or early spring. German, short for Bockbier, by shortening & alteration from Einbecker Bier, literally, beer from Einbeck, from Einbeck, GermanyBOHO: a Bohemian: a person (such as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others. From a transferred sense of French bohemién "a Bohemian; a Gypsy," from the country name (Bohemia), mistakenly believed to be the home of the Gypsies.BOLOGNA: a large smoked sausage of beef, veal, and pork; short for Bologna sausage, from Bologna, ItalyBOURBON: a rose (Rosa borboniana) of upright growth with shining leaves, prickly branches, and clustered large flowers; named after French rose de Bourbon, after the Île Bourbon (now Réunion, island of the western Mascarene Islands in the western Indian Ocean), where the rose likely originatedBOURBON: a whiskey distilled from a mash made up of not less than 51 percent corn plus malt and rye; probably named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, or its pre-statehood predecessor, a county of Virginia that included much of northeastern KentuckyCALICO: cotton cloth imported from India; British: a plain white cotton fabric that is heavier than muslin; any of various cheap cotton fabrics with figured patterns; from Calicut, IndiaCANARY: a small finch (Serinus canarius synonym S. canaria) of the Canary Islands that is usually greenish to yellow and is kept as a cage bird and singer;a light to a moderate or vivid yellow; a Canary Islands usually sweet wine similar to Madeira; an informer; a lively 16th century court dance; Middle French canarie, from Old Spanish canario, from Islas Canarias Canary IslandsCANOLA: Canola was originally a trademark name of the Rapeseed Association of Canada, and the name was a condensation of "Can" from Canada and "OLA" meaning "Oil, low acid" but is now a generic term for edible varieties of rapeseed oil in North America and Australasia.CAPITOL: a building in which a state legislative body meets; from Latin Capitolium, temple of Jupiter at Rome on the Capitoline hillCHARD: short for chardonnay (sometimes capitalized), a dry white table wine typically made from a single white grape variety originally grown in France; believed to be named after the village of Chardonnay in the Mâconnais region of FranceCHIANTI: M-W and NOAD both capitalize this dry usually red wine named for the Tuscany region of Italy where it is producedCHIHUAHUA: M-W capitalizes Chihuahua: any of a breed of very small roundheaded dogs that occur in short-coated and long-coated varieties, from Chihuahua, Mexico. NOAD does not capitalize.CHINA: porcelain; also: vitreous porcelain wares (such as dishes, vases, or ornaments) for domestic use; also, earthenware or porcelain tableware, from Persian chīnī Chinese porcelain, from ChinaCLINK: slang: a prison cell; slang: jail, prison; probably from Clink, a prison in Southwark, London, EnglandCOACH: a 2-door enclosed automobile; also, a bus, a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule (toured the city by coach); also, a trailer, a vehicle designed to serve wherever parked as a temporary dwelling or place of business; also, a railroad passenger car intended primarily for day travel; Middle English coche, from Middle French, from German Kutsche, from Hungarian kocsi (szekér), literally, wagon from Kocs, HungaryCOACHMAN: from coach, from Middle English coche, from Middle French, from German Kutsche, from Hungarian kocsi (szekér), literally, wagon from Kocs, HungaryCOGNAC: a brandy from the departments of Charente and Charente-Maritime distilled from white wine; French, from Cognac, FranceCOLOGNE: a perfumed liquid composed of alcohol and fragrant oils, named for Cologne, GermanyCONGA: a Cuban dance of African origin, or a tall barrel-shaped or tapering drum of Afro-Cuban origin; American Spanish, probably from feminine of congo, meaning black person, from Congo, region in AfricaCURACAO: a liqueur flavored with the dried peel of the sour orange; Dutch curaçao, from Curaçao, Netherlands AntillesCURRANT: a small seedless raisin originally grown chiefly in the eastern Mediterranean, or the acid edible fruit of various shrubs …Back-formation from earlier corawnce, currantes, ellipsis from Middle English reysouns of corans, borrowed from Anglo-French raisins de Curance "raisins of Corinth," from Corinth, GreeceDALMATIAN: often capitalized: : any of a breed of medium-sized dogs having a white short-haired coat with many black or brown spots; from the supposed origin of the breed in DalmatiaDECO: often capitalized, often attributive: Art Deco, a popular design style of the 1920s and 1930s … named for French Art Déco, from Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exposition … held in Paris, France, in 1925DELFT: tin-glazed Dutch earthenware with blue and white or polychrome decoration, or ceramic ware (such as tiles) resembling or imitative of Dutch delft; named for Delft, NetherlandsDENIM: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads; from French (serge) de Nîmes serge of Nîmes, FranceDOLLAR: dollar derives from taler: Dutch or Low German daler, from German Taler, short for Joachimstaler, from Sankt Joachimsthal, Bohemia, where talers were first madeDONNYBROOK: a free-for-all, brawl; a usually public quarrel or dispute. Named for Donnybrook Fair, annual Irish event known for its brawlsDUFFEL: a coarse heavy woolen material with a thick nap, from the Dutch duffel, from Duffel, BelgiumDUFFLE: a M-W: variant of duffel, a coarse heavy woolen material with a thick nap, from the Dutch duffel, from Duffel, BelgiumDUMDUM: a bullet (such as one with a hollow point) that expands more than usual upon hitting an object; named for Dum Dum, arsenal near Calcutta, IndiaHOCK: often capitalized, chiefly British: Rhine wine, a usually white wine produced in the Rhine valley; modification of German Hochheimer, from Hochheim, GermanyINDICA: M-W has this only as part of the phrase “cannabis indica” -- a variety of cannabis obtained in IndiaINDIGO: a deep reddish blue; also, a blue vat dye obtained from plants (such as indigo plants); also, the principal coloring matter C16H10N2O2 of natural indigo usually synthesized as a blue powder with a coppery luster; also, a plant that yields indigo, especially: any of a genus (Indigofera) of leguminous herbs; Italian dialect, from Latin indicum, from Greek indikon, from neuter of indikos Indic, from Indos IndiaJAVA: coffee; named for Java, island in IndonesiaJEAN: a durable twilled cotton cloth used especially for sportswear and work clothes; or usually jeans: pants usually made of denim or jean, both short for jean fustian from Middle English Gene Genoa, Italy + fustianJETTY: deep black in color: jet-black; from jet, Middle English, from Anglo-French jaiet, from Latin gagates, from Greek gagatēs, from Gagas, town and river in Asia MinorLANDAU*: a four-wheel carriage with a top divided into two sections that can be folded away or removed and with a raised seat outside for the driver; named for Landau, Bavaria, GermanyLATEEN: (adj.) being or relating to a rig used especially on the north coast of Africa and characterized by a triangular sail extended by a long spar slung to a low mast; also (noun): a lateen-rigged ship or a lateen sail; from French (voile) latine, literally, Latin (Mediterranean) sailLAWN: a fine sheer linen or cotton fabric of plain weave that is thinner than cambric; Middle English lawne, laund, probably from Laon, FranceLIDO*: a fashionable beach resort, named for Lido, ItalyLILLIPUTIAN: often not capitalized: small, miniature; petty; derived from Lilliput, an island in Swift's Gulliver's Travels where the inhabitants are six inches tallLIMA: M-W has only lima bean, a bushy or vining tropical American bean (Phaseolus lunatus synonym Phaseolus limensis) that is widely cultivated for its flat edible starchy seed which is usually pale green when immature and whitish or beige when mature; also, the seed of a lima bean eaten usually cooked as a vegetable, named for Lima, PeruLIMO: shortened form of limousine, a large luxurious often chauffeur-driven sedan that usually has a glass partition separating the driver's seat from the passenger compartment; also, a large vehicle for transporting passengers to and from an airport; from French, literally, cloak, from Limousin, FranceLITTLENECK: a young quahog suitable to be eaten raw; called also littleneck clam; named for Littleneck Bay, Long Island, New YorkLOTTO: a game of chance resembling bingo; from Italian lotto "lottery, game of chance based on guessing numbers drawn from an urn" (originally lotto di Genova "Genoa lottery")LOVAGE: any of several aromatic perennial herbs of the carrot family, especially: a European herb (Levisticum officinale) sometimes cultivated for use in medicine especially as a diuretic and in cookery usually as a flavoring agent; from Middle English lovache, from Anglo-French luvasche, lovasche, from Late Latin levisticum, alteration of Latin ligusticum, from neuter of ligusticus Ligurian, from Ligur-, Ligus, noun, LigurianMAGENTA: a deep purplish red, named for Magenta, ItalyMAGNET: lodestone, naturally occurring magnetite possessing polarity; also, a body having the property of attracting iron and producing a magnetic field external to itself; specifically: a mass of iron, steel, or alloy that has this property artificially imparted; ; also, something that attracts (a box-office magnet); from Greek magnēs (lithos), literally, stone of Magnesia, ancient city in Asia MinorMANHATTAN: Manhattan, or less commonly manhattan: a cocktail consisting typically of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters; named for Manhattan, borough of New York CityMANILA: made of manila paper, a strong and durable paper of a brownish or buff color and smooth finish made originally from Manila hempMARATHON: a footrace run on an open course usually of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers); broadly: a long-distance race; also, an endurance contest; something (such as an event, activity, or session) characterized by great length or concentrated effort Marathon, Greece, site of a victory of Greeks over Persians in 490 BCE, the news of which was carried to Athens by a long-distance runnerMAYO: short for mayonnaise, a mixture made chiefly of egg yolks, vegetable oils, and vinegar or lemon juice and used especially as a dressing, condiment, or ingredient; [possible] from French sauce mayonnaise (1806), said by French sources to be corrupted from mahonnaise and to have been named in recognition of Mahon, seaport capital of the island of Minorca [etymonline.com]MECCA: a place regarded as a center for a specified group, activity, or interest (a mecca for shoppers), named from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a destination of pilgrims in the Islamic worldMOCHA: the small, irregular-shaped coffee beans of plants grown in the mountainous regions of Yemen that produce an earthy, strong coffee of usually medium to high acidity; also, a similar coffee grown in Ethiopia; also, the coffee prepared from mocha beans; also, a flavoring made of a strong coffee infusion or of a mixture of cocoa or chocolate with coffee; also, a flavoring made of a strong coffee infusion or of a mixture of cocoa or chocolate with coffee; also, a pliable suede-finished glove leather from African sheepskins; also, a dark chocolate-brown color; all named for Mocha, YemenMOROCCO: a fine leather from goatskin tanned with sumac, from Morocco, AfricaNANKEEN: a durable brownish yellow cotton fabric originally loomed by hand in China, from Nanking (Nanjing), China; also, nankeens plural: trousers made of nankeenNOVA: often capitalized: cured and smoked salmon, especially: salmon that has been cured in a mixture of salt and sugar and smoked at a low temperature; short for Nova Scotia salmon
Words about Words
ACRONYM: a word (such as NATO, radar, or laser) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term; also,: an abbreviation (such as FBI) formed from initial letters: an initialismALLONYM*: a name that is assumed by an author but that actually belongs to another person, or a work published under the name of a person other than the authorANAGRAM: a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase; also, to anagrammatize, to transpose the letters in (a word or phrase) so as to form an anagramANAGRAMMING: a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase; also, to anagrammatize, to transpose the letters in (a word or phrase) so as to form an anagramANAPHOR: a word or phrase with an anaphoric function, “a word or phrase that takes its reference from another word or phrase and especially from a preceding word or phrase”ANAPHORA: repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect or use of a grammatical substitute (such as a pronoun or a pro-verb) to refer to the denotation of a preceding word or group of wordsANONYM*: an anonymous person or a pseudonymANTONYM: a word of opposite meaningANTONYMY: a word of opposite meaningARCHAIC: having the characteristics of the language of the past and surviving chiefly in specialized usesBLEND: a word (such as brunch) produced by combining other words or parts of words; to blend words in that mannerBLENDED: a word (such as brunch) produced by combining other words or parts of words; to blend words in that mannerCODE: coded language: a word or phrase chosen in place of another word or phrase in order to communicate an attitude or meaning without stating it explicitlyCOMMON: vernacular (common names); also, denoting nominal relations by a single linguistic form that in a more highly inflected language might be denoted by two or more different forms (common gender, common case)DEFINE: to make a definition, a statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbolDEFINED: to make a definition, a statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbolDEFINING: to make a definition, a statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbolEXPLETIVE: a syllable, word, or phrase inserted to fill a vacancy (as in a sentence or a metrical line) without adding to the senseHOMOGRAPH: one of two or more words spelled alike but different in meaning or derivation or pronunciation (such as the bow of a ship, a bow and arrow)HOMONYM: a homophone or homograph; also, one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning (such as the noun quail and the verb quail); also, a namesakeHOMONYMY: the quality or state of being homonymous, that is, ambiguous, or having the same designation, or of, relating to, or being homonymsHOMOPHONE: grammar: one of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling (such as the words to, too, and two)HOMOPHONIC: of or relating to homophonesIDIOM: an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for "undecided") or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way)IDIOMATIC: an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for "undecided") or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way)LABEL: a word or phrase used with a dictionary definition (e.g., “obsolete”) to provide additional informationLOGOPHILE: a lover of wordsMETONYM: a word used in metonymyMETONYMY: a figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated (such as "crown" in "lands belonging to the crown")MONONYM: Not in M-W. Collins: In British English, a person who is famous enough to be known only by one name, usually the first name