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Adversary n. (pl. -ies) enemy, opponent. |
Adverse adj. Unfavourable; harmful. adversely adv. [latin: related to *ad-, verto vers- turn] |
Adversity n. Misfortune, distress. |
Advert n. Colloq. Advertisement. [abbreviation] |
Advertise v. (-sing) 1 promote (goods or services) publicly to increase sales. 2 make generally known. 3 (often foll. By for) seek by a notice in a newspaper etc. To buy, employ, sell, etc. [french avertir: related to *adverse] |
Advertisement n. 1 public announcement, esp. Of goods etc. For sale or wanted, vacancies, etc. 2 advertising. [french avertissement: related to *adverse] |
Advice n. 1 recommendation on how to act. 2 information given; news. 3 formal notice of a transaction. |
Advisable adj. To be recommended, expedient. advisability n. |
Advise v. (-sing) 1 (also absol.) Give advice to. 2 recommend (advised me to rest). 3 (usu. Foll. By of, or that + clause) inform. [latin: related to *ad-, video vis- see] |
Advisedly adv. After due consideration; deliberately. |
Adviser n. (also advisor) person who advises, esp. Officially. |
Usage the variant advisor is fairly common, but is considered incorrect by many people. |
Advisory adj. Giving advice (advisory body). |
Advocaat n. Liqueur of eggs, sugar, and brandy. [dutch, = *advocate] |
Advocacy n. Support or argument for a cause, policy, etc. |
Advocate —n. 1 (foll. By of) person who supports or speaks in favour. 2 person who pleads for another, esp. In a lawcourt. —v. (-ting) recommend by argument. [latin: related to *ad-, voco call] |
Adz n. (brit adze) tool like an axe, with an arched blade at right angles to the handle. [old english] |
Adze n. (us adz) tool like an axe, with an arched blade at right angles to the handle. [old english] |
Aegis n. Protection; support. [greek aigis shield of zeus or athene] |
Aeolian harp n. Stringed instrument or toy sounding when the wind passes through it. [latin aeolus wind-god, from greek] |
Aeon n. (also eon) 1 long or indefinite period. 2 an age. [latin from greek] |
Aerate v. (-ting) 1 charge (a liquid) with carbon dioxide. 2 expose to air. aeration n. [latin aer *air] |
Aerial —n. Device for transmitting or receiving radio waves. —adj. 1 by or from the air; involving aircraft (aerial attack). 2 existing in the air. 3 of or like air. [greek: related to *air] |
Aero- comb. Form air; aircraft. [greek aero- from aer air] |
Aerobatics n.pl. 1 spectacular flying of aircraft, esp. To entertain. 2 (as sing.) Performance of these. [from *aero-, after *acrobatics] |
Aerobics n.pl. Vigorous exercises designed to increase oxygen intake. aerobic adj. [from *aero-, greek bios life] |
Aerodrome n. Small airport or airfield. [from *aero-, greek dromos course] |
Aerodynamics n.pl. (usu. Treated as sing.) Dynamics of solid bodies moving through air. aerodynamic adj. |
Aerofoil n. Structure with curved surfaces (e.g. A wing, fin, or tailplane) designed to give lift in flight. |
Aeronautics n.pl. (usu. Treated as sing.) Science or practice of motion in the air. aeronautic adj. Aeronautical adj. [from *aero-, *nautical] |
Aeroplane n. Powered heavier-than-air flying vehicle with fixed wings. [french: related to *aero-, *plane1] |
Aerosol n. 1 pressurized container releasing a substance as a fine spray. 2 system of minute particles suspended in gas (e.g. Fog or smoke). [from *aero-, *solution] |
Aerospace n. 1 earth's atmosphere and outer space. 2 aviation in this. |
Aesthete n. Person who has or professes a special appreciation of beauty. [greek aisthanomai perceive] |
Aesthete n. Person who has or professes a special appreciation of beauty. [greek aisthanomai perceive] |
Aesthetic —adj. 1 of or sensitive to beauty. 2 artistic, tasteful. —n. (in pl.) Philosophy of beauty, esp. In art. aesthetically adv. Aestheticism n. |
Aetiology n. (us etiology) study of causation or of the causes of disease. aetiological adj. [greek aitia cause] |
Af abbr. Audio frequency. |
Afar adv. At or to a distance. |
Affable adj. 1 friendly. 2 courteous. affability n. Affably adv. [latin affabilis] |
Affair n. 1 matter, concern, or thing to be attended to (that is my affair). 2 a celebrated or notorious happening. B colloq. Thing or event (puzzling affair). 3 = *love affair. 4 (in pl.) Public or private business. [french à faire to do] |
Affect v. 1 a produce an effect on. B (of disease etc.) Attack. 2 move emotionally. 3 pretend (affected ignorance). 4 pose as or use for effect (affects the aesthete; affects fancy hats). affecting adj. Affectingly adv. [latin afficio affect- influence] |
Usage affect should not be confused with effect, meaning ‘to bring about’. Note also that effect is used as a noun as well as a verb. |
Affectation n. 1 artificial manner. 2 (foll. By of) studied display. 3 pretence. |
Affected adj. 1 pretended, artificial. 2 full of affectation. |
Affection n. 1 goodwill, fond feeling. 2 disease; diseased condition. |
Affectionate adj. Loving, fond. affectionately adv. |
Affidavit n. Written statement confirmed by oath. [latin, = has stated on oath] |
Affiliate —v. (-ting) (foll. By to, with) attach, adopt, or connect as a member or branch. —n. Affiliated person etc. [latin: related to *filial] |
Affiliation n. Affiliating or being affiliated. |
Subsets and Splits