trite (adj.

) – silly, commonplace, hackneyed, commonplace (most often in reference to

words) [The point may now seem obvious and trite. The observation struck me as both
trite and irrelevant.] – synonyms & related words [hackneyed, banal, clichéd,
platitudinous, vapid, commonplace, ordinary, common, stock, conventional, stereotyped,
predictable; stale, overused, overworked, overdone, worn out, time-worn, tired,
threadbare, hoary, hack, unimaginative, unoriginal, derivative, uninspired, dull,
pedestrian, run-of-the-mill, routine, humdrum, old hat, corny, played out, hacky;
cornball, dime-store, truistic, bromidic],

inspired (adj.) – of extraordinairy quality, as if arising from some external creative

impulse; (of a person) displaying a creative impulse in the activity specified [They had to
thank the goalkeeper for some inspired saves. She was an inspired gardener. An inspired
performance.] – synonyms & related words [outstanding, wonderful, marvellous,
excellent, magnificent, fine, exceptional, formidable, first-class, first-rate, virtuoso,
supreme, superlative, dazzling, coruscating, exciting, thrilling, enthralling, memorable;
gifted, talented, creative, imaginative, inventive, innovative, innovatory, innovational,
ingenious, original, resourceful, enterprising, tremendous, superb, super, smashing, ace,
A1, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, mean, wicked, awesome, magic, out of this world,
genius, brilliant, brill],

bromide (n.) – a dull person with conventional thoughts; a platitude [My adviser at
college was a bromide who had not had an original thought in years. We hoped the speech
would include reassurances, but instead it was merely one bromide after another.]

timeworn (adj.) – worn-out, weathered, antiquated, damaged or made less interesting

or attractive as a result of age or much use [The time-worn faces of the veterans. The
carpet was old and timeworn. Time-worn faces. Unimaginative and timeworn
presentations.] – synonyms & related words [worn out, worn, well worn, old; thin, holey,
moth-eaten, mangy, ragged, frayed, tattered, battered, dog-eared; decrepit, shabby,
scruffy, unkempt; having seen better days, falling apart at the seams, in shreds, in tatters,
falling to pieces, broken-down, ruined, damaged; tatty, ratty, the worse for wear,
raggedy, raggedy-ass, warby, out at elbows, old, aged, ancient, weathered, lined,
wrinkled, hoary, hackneyed, trite, banal, vapid, platitudinous, clichéd, cliché-ridden,
stock, conventional, unoriginal, derivative, overused, overworked, worn out, threadbare,
tired, stale, dull, pedestrian, run-of-the-mill, routine, humdrum, stereotyped; old hat,
corny, played out, hacky]

scapegrace (n.) – rogue, rascal, habitually unscrupulous person, an incorrigible rascal

facetious (adj.) – amusing, humorous, not meant to be taken seriously; treating

serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor, flippant [A facetious remark. No
facetious remarks, please.] – synonyms & related words [flippant, flip, glib, frivolous,
tongue-in-cheek, waggish, whimsical, joking, jokey, jesting, jocular, playful, roguish,
impish, teasing, arch, mischievous, puckish; in fun, in jest, witty, amusing, funny, droll,
comic, comical, chucklesome, light-hearted, high-spirited, bantering; frolicsome,
sportive, jocose],

frivolous (adj.) – idle, silly, foolish, childish, puerile, behaving in a silly way and not
taking anything seriously; a frivolous activity or object is silly or not important rather
than useful or serious [I think he sees her as a frivolous young woman. I feel like doing
something completely frivolous today. The elven commander stood before a large glass
door which was taller and wider than he was with his hands clasped behind his back. He
stared at the patterns of waterfall that pounded against his frivolous manor, watching the
patterns that the hundreds of raindrops made when they collided with the glass.],

dudgeon (n.) – a feeling of offense/resentment, anger,

in high dudgeon (id.) – if you do something in high dudgeon, you do it angrily,

usually because of the way you have been treated [After waiting an hour, he drove off in
high dudgeon.] – synonyms & related words [indignantly, resentfully, angrily, furiously,
wrathfully; in a temper, in indignation, in anger, with resentment, with displeasure,
having taken offence, having taken umbrage; in a huff, in a lather, in a paddy, foaming at
the mouth, fit to be tied, as cross as two sticks, seeing red; in a bate, in a wax],

excoriate (v.) – strip off/remove the skin from, denounce, berate severely, flay
verbally, to write or say that a play, book, political action, etc. is very bad [His latest novel
received excoriating reviews. The president excoriated the Western press for their biased
views. Somehow—Davin was never entirely clear why—the demons overlooked him.
Perhaps they didn’t deem Davin to be a threat, which was certainly true. Either way,
though, when his platoon was wiped out and the demons buggered off to wherever it was
demons buggered off to, Davin ran back to base camp, expecting to be excoriated for being
such a coward, but willing to face the consequences, as long as he wouldn’t have to go out
and face such a thing again.],

befuddled (adj.) – clueless, speechless, unable to think clearly [Even in my befuddled

state I could see that they meant trouble. His befuddled brain refuses to accept that there
was a problem.] – synonyms & related words [confused, muddled, addled, bewildered,
disoriented, disorientated, all at sea, mixed up, fazed, perplexed, stunned, dazed, dizzy,
stupefied, groggy, foggy, fuzzy, fuddled, benumbed, numbed, numb, vague;
discombobulated, bamboozled, dopey, woolly, woolly-headed, muzzy, woozy, out of it]

discombobulated (adj.) – upset, fallen apart,

disconert (v.) – disturb the composure of, unsettle [The abrupt change of subject
disconcerted her.] – synonyms & related words [unsettle, nonplus, discomfit,
throw/catch off balance, take aback, unnerve, disorient, perturb, disturb, perplex,
confuse, bewilder, baffle, fluster, ruffle, shake, upset, agitate, worry, dismay, put out of
countenance, discountenance, discompose; surprise, take by surprise, startle, stop
someone in their tracks, put someone off (their stroke/stride), distract; embarrass,
abash; throw, faze, make someone scratch their head, discombobulate, rattle, set
someone back on their heels, psych out, cause to be at a stand, gravel],

gravel (v.) – (US, informal) make (someone) angry or annoyed; (archaic) confuse or
puzzle (someone) [The strike was badly organized and it gravelled him to involve himself
in. The wisest doctor is gravelled by the inquisitiveness of a child.],

disconcerted (adj.) – disturbed as in one's composure, perturbed, ruffled

flummoxed (adj.) – bewildered/confused/confounded at the same time

nonplussed (adj.) – frustrated, unsure how to resepond

bemused (adj.) – deeply thoughtful, preoccupied, bewildered

tongue-tied (adj.) – unable to speak from shyness/embarrassment [Barbara was

tongue-tied in the presence of her parents. Usually he was tongue-tied with strangers. ‘But
I…’ she protested, tongue-tied. ‘That was before. My family’s wealth means nothing now.
I’m just like the rest of… like everybody else.’] – synonyms & related words [lost for words,
at a loss for words, struck dumb, dumbstruck, bereft of speech, speechless, wordless,
unable to get a word out, inarticulate; mute, dumb, voiceless, silent; mum, dumbstricken,
mumchance, obmutescent],

intersperse (v.) – scatter or insert into or among things, diversify by placing or

inserting something new; to mix one thing in with another in a way that is not regular
[The documentary intersperses graphical animations with film clips of the actual event.
Her handwritten notes were interspersed throughout the text. The text can be interspersed
with full-page illustrations. Deep pools interspersed by shallow shingle banks. Giant lobella
were interspersed among crag of rocks. The debate was interspersed with angry
exchanges. The beech trees are interspersed with connifers.] – synonyms & related words
[scatter, distribute, disperse, spread, strew, dot, sprinkle, pepper, litter, bestrew,
intermix, mix, mingle, vary, diversify, variegate, punctuate],

suffuse (v.) – spread through or over something (liquid, color, light), bebathe; often
passively used [Her cheeks were suffused with color. The room was suffused with soft, pink
light.] – synonyms & related words [permeate, spread over, spread throughout, cover,
bathe, pervade, wash, saturate, imbue, fill, fload, charge, impregnate, inform, steep, color,
mantle],

strew (v). – spread abroad, distribute objects or pieces over an area randomly,
cover/lie upon something by having been scattered; to spread things in an untidy way
over a surface, or to be spread in an untidy way over a surface [They marked the end of
the war by strewing flower sover the graves of 18,000 soldiers. Wine bottles and dirty
dishes were strewn across the lawn. Her clothes lay strewn on the floor. The park was
strewn with litter after the concert.] – synonyms & related words [scatter, spread,
disperse, distribute, litter, toss, sprinkle, sow, broadcast, bestrew, besprinkle],

interlard (v.) – bloat/embellish by including (often minor and extraneous) details at

regular intervals),

to walk on eggshells (id.) – to be careful and sensitive, cautious (often in dealing

with someone easily angered or offended)

embellish (v.) – make beautiful, decorate, adorn, bedeck, embroider, festoon (mostly
with garlands), gild (coat in gold), spiff up, add bells and whistles (fancy, extra features),
garnish (furnish/supply too, also noun), deck out, titivate – synonyms & related words [:
decorate, adorn, ornament, dress, dress up, furnish; beautify, enhance, enrich, grace;
trim, garnish, gild, varnish; brighten up, ginger up; deck, bedeck, festoon, emblazon,
bespangle; do up, do out, jazz up, zhoosh (up); tart up, bejewel, bedizen, caparison,
furbelow, befrill, elaborate, embroider, colour, expand on, exaggerate, dress up, touch
up, gild, catastrophize]

dress up (v.) – dress fancy, gussy up/spruce up/spiff up, trick out (excessive/fancy)

primp (v.) – spend time improving one's appearance (often in front of a mirror), to
make small changes to your hair, make-up, clothes, etc. in order to look more attractive
[Hollywood's finest are primping and preening in anticipation of the awards ceremony
tonight. She primped her hair in front of the mirror.] – synonyms & related words [rig out,
dress up, fig out, overdress, trick up, plume, prink, tog out, get up, preen, fig up, deck up,
attire, tog up, gussy up, trick out, dress, deck out, get dressed, fancy up]

frill (n). – a strip of pleated ornate material, pleat, plait, a long narrow strip of cloth wit
hfolds along one side that is sewn along the edge of a piece of clothing or material for
decoration [You could always sew a frill or two around the bottom of the skirt if you think
it's too plain.] – synonyms & related words[ruffle, flounce, ruff, furbelow, jabot, peplum,
flute, ruche, ruching, gather, tuck, fringe; purfle, ostentation, ornamentation, decoration,
embellishment, anciness, fuss, chichi, garnishing, garnishment, gilding, excess;
trimmings, affectations, extras, additions, non-essentials, luxuries, extravagances,
superfluities; jazz, jazziness, flashiness, fandangle, folderols, fallaery],

fandangle (n.) – a useless or purely ornamental thing [A solo with no end of shakes and
trills and fandangles.],

reprise (v.) – repeat, resume

bruise (v.) – contuse, blacken, batter, inflict a bruise on (someone or something); be

susceptible to bruising; hurt (someone's feelings) [A bruised knee. The right side of her
face was badly bruised. Potatoes bruise easily so treat them with care. She tried to bolster
her bruised pride. Eric's ego was bruised when the crowd jeered.] – synonyms & related
words [confuse, injure, mark, make black and blue, discolor, blacken, hurt, mark,
blemish, damage, spoil, impair, mar, upset, offend, insult, affront, hurt, wound, pain,
crash, displease, peeve, vex, distress, grieve],

doldrums (n.) – the state of boredom, tedium, malaise, lack of interest, lethargy,
listelessness, ennui [I was in the doldrums yesterday and just didn't feel inspired.] –
synonyms & related words [depression, melancholy, gloom, gloominess, glumness,
downheartedness, dejection, despondency, dispiritedness, heavy-heartedness,
heartache, unhappiness, sadness, misery, woe, dismalness, despair, pessimism,
hopelessness; inertia, apathy, listlessness, malaise, boredom, tedium, ennui; low spirits;
blues, blahs]

doldrum (adj.) – boring, uninteresting [She quit her doldrum job and left to seek a life of
adventure.] – synonyms & related words [boring, uninteresting, inactive, quiet, slow,
slack, sluggish, subdued, stagnant, static, inert, flat, dull]

humdrum (n.) – humdrum character or routine, monotony; monotonous or tedious

talk,

humdrum (adj.) – having no excitement, interest, or new and different events [We
lead such a humdrum life/existence. Most of the work is fairly humdrum.] – synonyms &
related words [mundane, dull, dreary, boring, tedious, monotonous, banal, ho-hum,
tiresome, wearisome, prosaic, unexciting, uninteresting, uneventful, unvarying,
unvaried, unremarkable, repetitive, repetitious, routine, ordinary, everyday, day-to-day,
quotidian, run-of-the-mill, commonplace, common, workaday, usual, pedestrian,
customary, regular, normal; garden variety; typical, vanilla, plain vanilla, common or
garden, banausic],

listless (adj.) – spiritless, drowsy, languid, leaden (also dull/dark sky) – synonyms &
related words [lethargic, enervated, lackadaisical, spiritless, unenergetic, lifeless,
vigourless, lacking energy, limp, effete; languid, languorous, languishing, inactive, inert,
sluggish, torpid, supine, half-hearted, lukewarm, indifferent, uninterested, impassive;
indolent, idle, apathetic, shiftless, slothful; passive, dull, heavy]

take something in (one's) stride (id.) – accept advances/setbacks/circumstances

as the normal course of events, unfazed, deal or cope with easily, think nothing of, not
bat an eyelid, not be fazed by,

garden-variety (adj.) – average, commonplace, homespun, customary

winne (n.) – (obsolete) joy; delight, pleasure,

winne (adj.) – (obsolete) enjoyable; delightful,

harp on (id.) – repeat, to dwell on one subject, to keep saying or talking about the
same thing – synonyms & related words [dwell on, nag, bother, disturb, dwell upon harp
upon, pester, keep talking],

harp on one string (id.) – to dwell on a single subject with disagreeable or

wearisome persistence,

school (v.) – to control, or compose, one's expression [She took care to school her
expression, not giving away any of her feelings.] – synonyms & related words [calm down,
settle down, control oneself, regain/recover one's composure, pull oneself together, get
control of oneself, collect oneself, steady oneself, keep one's head, simmer down; get a
grip, keep one's cool, keep one's shirt on]

overweening (adj.) – unduly confident, arrogant, presumptuous, immoderate,

exaggerated, being too proud or confident in yourself [Overweeing
pride/arrogance/vanity. She is driven by overweening ambition. “Also possible,” said the
master mage. “As Ihave received such letters and theydo tend to be overweening in their
self-congratulatory tone...“] – synonyms & related words [: overconfident, conceited,
cocksure, cocky, smug, haughty, supercilious, disdainful, lofty, patronizing, arrogant,
proud, vain, vainglorious, self-important, egotistical, high-handed, magisterial, cavalier,
imperious, domineering, dictatorial, overbearing, presumptuous, lordly, peremptory,
pompous, officious, blustering, boastful, self-assertive, opinionated, bold, forward,
insolent, high and mighty, throwing one's weight about/around, uppish, hubristic]

undue/unduly (adv. avb.) – undeservedly, not warranted, excessively [Such a high

increase will impose an undue burden on the local tax player. The speaker unduly criticized
his opponent and later apologized for this. There's no need to be unduly pessimistic about
the situation. With undue respect.] – synonyms & related words [excessive, extreme,
immoderate, intemperate, disproportionate, inordinate; fulsome, superfluous, too much,
too great; uncalled for, unneeded, unnecessary, non-essential, not required, needless;
unwarranted, unjustified, unreasonable; inappropriate, unmerited, unsuitable,
unseemly, unbecoming, improper, ill-advised],

buffet (v.) – (especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently, batter; knock
(someone) off course; (of difficulties) afflict (someone) over a long period [Rough seas
buffeted the coast. The car was buffeted by the wind. He was buffeted from side to side.
They were buffeted by a major recession. He has been buffeted by bad publicity.] –
synonyms & related words [batter, pound, beat/knock/dash against, push against, lash,
strike, hit, bang, afflict, trouble, harm, distress, burden, bother, beset, harass, worry,
oppress, strain, stress, tax, torment, blight, bedevil, harrow, cause trouble to, cause
suffering to]

buffeted (adj.) – battered, especially by strong wind or magic,

epicure (n.) – a person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink –
synonyms & related words [gourmet, gastronome, gourmand, connoisseur; glutton,
sensualist, hedonist; bon viveur, bon vivant; foodie],

aficionado (n.) – a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an

activity, subject, or pastime [A crossword aficionado. An aficionado of fine wines.] –
synonyms & related words [: connoisseur, expert, authority, specialist, pundit, one of the
cognoscenti, cognoscente, devotee, appreciator, fan, fanatic, savant; enthusiast, lover,
addict; buff, freak, nut, fiend, maniac, a great one for],

abreast (adv.) – side by side and facing forward, alongside, parallel to, (well-)
informed, familiar, acquainted, up to a certain level (equally advanced); followed by with
or of – synonyms & related words [in a row, side by side, alongside, level, abeam, on a
level, beside each other, shoulder to shoulder, cheek by jowl]

keep abreast of something (id.) – to make sure you know all the most recent facts
about a subject or situation, keep updated, up-todate [I try to keep abreast of any
developments. “I had expected to meet His Majesty here alone,” he said, turning the
conversation to his advantage. “Has Dalaran some business with Lordaeron?” “Dalaran
seeks to keep abreast of situations important to all kingdoms of the Alliance,” the woman
replied.] – synonyms & related words [up to date with, up with, in touch with, informed
about, familiar with, acquainted with, knowledgeable about, conversant with, au courant
with, au fait with; plugged into]

rasp (v.) – to grate harshly upon; to offend by coarse or rough treatment or language;
make a harsh, grating noise; say in a harsh, grating voice; scrape or file 8something)
with a rasp; (of a rough surface or object) scrape in a painful or unpleasant way; remove
something by scraping it off [Some sounds rasp the ear. His insults rasped my temper.] –
synonyms & related words [croak ,say/utter hoarsely, squawk, shrill, caw; scrape, file,
rub, abrade, grate, sand, sandpaper, scratch, scour, excoriate],

recumbent (adj.) – lying down, inactive, idle [“And how do you intend to do that, Lord?
By turning us into that which we oppose?” Akama gestured meaningfully at the recumbent
orc. His brow was lower. His fangs were larger. His eyes snapped open and he reached up to
grab at Illidan, breaking the strap that held him to the gurney. The grip was strong and the
clawlike nails bit deep. Illidan shrugged him off and brought his hand down on the orc’s
windpipe, breaking it. As the creature writhed, Illidan snapped his neck with one twist. He
then looked at Akama and smiled. The fel blood still affected him. He had enjoyed the kill.]
– synonyms & related words [lying, flat, horizontal, stretched out, sprawled,
spreadeagled, reclining, resting, lounging, prone, prostrate, supine; lying down, lying flat,
(flat) on one's back, on one's stomach/front, (flat) on one's face, procumbent],

contrail (n.) – an artificial cloud made by the exhaust of jet aircraft or wingtip vortices
that precipitate a stream of tiny icy crystals in moist, frigid upper air,
on any account (id.) – for any purpose, for any reason, no matter what [On any
account, I'll be there on time. This doesn't make sense on any account.],

snag (v.) – to catch or tear (e.g. fabric) upon a rough surface or projection; (slang) to
take stealthily with legerdemain prowess (something) [Be careful not to snag your
stockings on that concrete bench! His hand snagged on the sharp teeth of the Felhound's
maw. The smiling little girl snagged her phone while performing a dance; but now was far-
off among the crowd.] – synonyms & related words [tear, rip, ladder, gash, catch (in),
hook, jag, get caught in/on, catch, obtain],

snag (n.) – an unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawback; a sharp, angular, or jagged

projection; a rent or tear in fabric caused by a snag [There's one small snag. I see you hate
the idea, so you'll be able to find all the snags. The snag is that a stronger economy might
mean higher inflation. Keep an emery board handy in case of nail snags. She got a snag in
her tights. The wooden rails become smooth over time, with no snags or rough corners.] –
synonyms & related words [obstacle, difficulty, complication, catch, hitch, stumbling
block, pitfall, unseen problem, problem, issue, barrier, impediment, hindrance,
inconvenience, setback, hurdle, disadvantage, downside, drawback, minus; disbenefit,
hiccup, sharp projection, jag, jagged bit, thorn, spur, sticky-out bit, tear, rip, rent, ladder,
run, hole, gash, slash, slit],

catch (n.) – a hidden problem or disadvantage in an apparently ideal situation [There's

a catch in it somewhere. The suspicious customer is always looking for the catch.] –
synonyms & related words [snag, disadvantage, drawback, stumbling block, hitch, fly in
the ointment, joker in the pack, pitfall, complication, problem, hiccup, hindrance,
difficulty, setback, hurdle, downside, minus; trap, trick, snare, wile, dodge; disbenefit,
ploy, con],

eaves (n.) – the underside of a roof that extends beyond the esternal walls of a building,
or metaphorically the edges of a roof or canopy, roof, overhang [At least on the ground,
her troops could hide beneath the eaves of the forest.],

lean-to (n.) – a shelter with a sloped roof; also a building with a similar construction
attached to the side of a building as an extension,

ear(s) to the ground (id.) – the practice of characteristic of carefully gathering

information; a state or mindset of attentiveness (often used in the expressions „to keep
one's (or an) ear to the ground“ and „to put one's (or an) ear to the ground“)[„You are
uncommonly well informed, Alexius.“ „I am an innkeeper. We hear things, particularly
when we keep our ears to the ground.“],

dry-heave (v.) – to attempt to vomit with the ejection of only gas,

change (take a different) tack (id.) – to employ a different method or approach in
addressing a particular situation. [They have not been receptive to our offers thus far, so
we need to change tack. If diplomacy doesn't resolve this conflict, we will need to change
tack and try a more aggressive approach.],

tack (v.) – a small, sharp broad-headed nail; a method of dealing with a situation or
problem, a course of action or policy [Tacks held the remaining rags of carpet to the floor.
As she could not stop him going, she tried another tack and insisted on going with him. He
changed tack and began to play in a different style.] – synonyms & related words [pin,
drawing pin, nail, tin tack, staple, spike, rivet, stud, thumb tack; approach, way, method,
process; policy, procedure, technique, tactic, plan, strategy, stratagem, programme, line
of attack; course of action, line of action, path, line, angle, direction, course],

tack (v.) – fasten or fix in place with tacks; fasten (pieces of cloth) together temporarily
with long stitches; add or append something to something already existing [He used the
tool to tack down sheets of fiberboard. A photo was tacked to the wall. When the dress was
roughly tacked together, she tried it on. The castles have new wings and other bits tacked
on. There are some poems tacked on at the end of the book.] – synonyms & related words
[pin, nail, staple, fix, fasten, attach, secure, affix, put up, put down, stitch, baste, sew, bind,
hem, attach ,add, append, join, tag, annex],

tack (v.) – (sailing) change the course by turning a boat's head into and through the
wind; alter the course of (a boat) by tacking; make a series of changes of course while
sailing [Their boat was now downwind and they had to tack. I tacked the shop shortly after
midnight. But what happens when you have to tack up a narrow channel singlehanded?] –
synonyms & related words [change course, change direction, change heading; swerve,
zigzag; veer off/away, go about, come about, beat, sail into the wind],

in/at a canter (id.) – without much effort; easily,

pinprick (n.) – an insignificant puncture made by a pin or similar point, a mildly

annoying wound or damage; (small amount) a very small amount of something,
especially light; (problem) something that is slightly annoying for a short time [There
was a pinprick on his arm. The darkness was broken by the odd pinprick of light. You have
to ignore the pinprick and just get on with the job. The pinpricks of the vehicles’ headlights
now stretched to the city’s fortress walls, built to keep the lower levels contained, and they
were spreading around them in each direction.],

pinprick (v.) – to produce a jabbing sensation like a pinprick, tickle, [The water
pinpricked her face as she stepped into the shower.],

wheels within wheels (id.) – a complication of circumstances, motives, etc.,

come/flow thick and fast (id.) – to arrive or happen rapidly in large groups, very
frequently [Rumors had flown in thick and fast.],

spit nails (id.) – to speak or sputter in a very angry manner [One thing about Aunt
Jenny gets me so mad I could spit nails.],

spit feathers (id.) – to feel very thirsty; to feel very angry, to sputter angrily,

spit cotton (id.) – to feel very thirsty,

sputter (v.) – to spit or to emit saliva from the mouth in small, scattered portions, as in
rapid speaking; to utter words hastily and indistinctly, to speak so rapidly as to emit
saliva; to throw out anything, as little jets of steam, with a noise like that made by one
sputtering [To sputter out the basest accusations. Like the green wood (. . .) sputtering in
the flame. Only the sputtering of the molten skins of the infernals broke the silence.],

hurtle (v.) – to move rapidly, violently, or without control; to hurtle or fling, to throw
hard or violently [The car hurtled down the hill at 90 miles per hour. Pieces of broken glass
hurtled through the air. He hurtled the wad of paper angrily at the trash can and missed by
a mile. The force of the blow made his head ring, sent him hurtling back toward a massive
boulder.] – synonyms & related words [speed, rush, race, chase, bolt, bowl, dash, career,
careen, cannon, sweep, whizz, buzz, zoom, flash, blast, charge, shoot, streak, run, gallop,
stampede, hare, fly, wing, scurry, scud, go like the wind; informalbelt, pelt, tear, scoot,
tool, zap, zip, whip, burn rubber, go like a bat out of hell, bomb, bucket, shift, go like the
clappers, clip, boogie, hightail, barrel, post, hie],

post (v.) – (historical) travel with relays of horses; (archaic) travel with haste, hurry
[We posted in an open carriage. He comes posting up the street.],

post (adv.) – (archaic) with haste, post-haste, very quickly, fast [Come now, come post.],

dog in the manger (id.) – one who denies to others something that he or she cannot
use, someone who does not want or need something, but will not let other people have
it, a person who selfishly keeps something that he or she does not really need or want so
that others may not use or enjoy it,

sow/plant dragon's teeth (id.) – to do something that inadvertently leads to

trouble; to take action that is intended to prevent trouble, but which actually brings it
about, do more right than wrong, to take some action that is intended to prevent strife or
trouble but that actually brings it about [If I had known that I would be sowing dragon's
teeth by inviting Joe, I never would have done it. I guess I sowed dragon's teeth when I
complained about my neighbors being too loud because now they won't talk to me. The
Legion had sown dragon’s teeth among his people. There was no shortage of those who
sought vengeance against the demons.],
get/take/have the bit between one's teeth (id.) – to do what you have decided
to do in a forceful and energetic way, the bit is the part of a bridle that fits into a gap
between the teeth in the back of a horse's mouth, by pulling on the reins, which in turn
pull the bit back against the horse's mouth, the rider is able to stop or turn the horse, if
the horse tkaes the bit between its teeth, it can't be stopped [She wasn't that interested at
first, but she loved it once she got the bit between her teeth. Ralph is having a difficult time
in medical school now, but once he takes the bit between his teeth, there's no stopping
him.],

husband (v.) – to manage or administer carefully and frugally, use to the best
advantage, economize; to conserve [Opening the portal had dragined a good deal of his
power; he was husbanding what was left in case any unexpected threat emerged.],

acquiescence (n.) – a silent or passive assent or submission, or a submission with

apparent content, distinguished from avowed consent on the one hand, and on the other,
from opposition or open discontent, quiet satisfication [They were told not to enter and
they nodded acqueiscence, and Illidan turned once more to face the stacks.],

reproach (n.) – a mild rebuke, or an implied criticism, disgrace or shame [My father
made no reproach in his letters and only took notice of my science by inquiring into my
occupations more particularly than before. When she lay awake, she could see their faces,
and they gave her looks full of reproach.],

reproach (v.) – to criticize or rebuke someone, to disgrace, or bring shame upon

someone,

despair (v.) – to be hopeless, to have n ohope, to give up all hope or expectation (often
with „of“) [There were times when she hoped that some of her force had escaped and
would come free her, and there were times when she despaired of it.],

be the despair of somebody (id.) – to cause someone such difficulties that they do
not know how to deal with you [He's the despair of his parents because he shows no
interest in getting a job.],

dilettante (n.) – someone who cultivates an unusually high sensitivity to beauty, as in

art or nature,

steal away (v.) – to leave secretly, abscond, make off, pull out, run out, skip out, take
off, make a break, clear out, skedaddle, vamoose, hightail,

look the part (id.) – to appear suitable for a particular kind of work, position or role
[If you want to be a successful business person, you have to look the part. We were going to
cast him in our new movie but unfortunately he didn't look the part.],
beneath contempt (id.) – if someone or something is beneath contempt, they are so
bad or so unimportant that they do not deserve any attention [Illidan’s face wore a sneer,
as if this whole vast army was beneath his contempt.],

backwash (n.) – the result or consequence of an event, an aftermath; the saliva, spit or
food particles that have flowed back into a drink after someone has drunk from it,

slough (v.) – to shed (skin); to slide off (like a layer of skin) [This skin is being sloughed.
Snakes slough their skin periodically. A week after he was burned, a layer of skin on his
arm sloughed off. He sloughed off some of the magical plasm, regained something of the
sense of weightlessness, but still he drifted into the vast throne room where Kil’jaeden sat
surrounded by his court of demons.],

go to pieces (id.) – to become very emotional; to deteriorate or go awry; if something

such as your work or a relationship goes to pieces, it becomes very bad [Poor Jane really
went to pieces during the funeral service. I can't watch those shappy movies because I just
go to pieces every time. Boy, this party has really gone to pieces – first, there was the issue
with the caterer, and now half the guests aren't coming. My work is all going to pieces. She
was one point away from victory when her game went to pieces.],

all one's life's worth/all one's life is worth/all that one's life is
worth/all that one's life's worth (id.) – a momentuous matter, a very serious
risk, a difficult task or situation, a very risk, dangerous, sober, difficult or monumental
thing to undertake (usually preceded by some form of „it is“) [It would be all one's life's
worth to go out into the streets alone at night. It's all your life's worth to try and find a seat
on the train at rush hour.],

be (all) that one can do (id.) – if it is all (that) youcan do to do something, you are
trying very hard to do it and it is difficult [This is boring, it's all I can do to stay awake.
Among them, the Alliance, the Horde, and the Burning Legion had riven his Outland realm
– it was all his followers could do to hold together the last remaining outposts in
Shadowmoon Valley.],

filter in (v.) – (for people) to come into a place, a few at a time, over a period of time
[One by one, the guests filtered into the room. They filtered in and started on the snacks.],

sands running through one's life's hourglass (id.) – the cycle of life and death
[He had strengthened his weakened body with magic to give him the energy and
concentration of a dozen lesser sorcerers, but it was still not enough. It would take many
more moons to complete sorcery so vast and intricate, and he could feel the sands running
through his life’s hourglass far too quickly.],

sidle (v.) – to move sideways; to walk towards or away from someone, trying not to be
noticed, to advance in a furtive, coy or unobtrusive manner, walk in a furtive,
unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely [Tim sidled up/over to
the girl sitting at the bar and asked if he could buy her a drink. She sidled past him,
pretending that she had not seen him.] – synonyms & related words [creep, sneak, slink,
slip, slide, skulk, prowl, steal, edge, inch, ease, worm, nose, move furtively, move with
stealth, tread waril],

pour scorn (v.) – to say a person or thing is stupid and not worth anything [Critics of
the president have been pouring scorn on the plan ever since it was first proposed.] –
synonyms & related words [ind fault with, censure, denounce, condemn, arraign, attack,
lambaste, pillory, disapprove of, carp at, cavil at, rail against, inveigh against, cast
aspersions on, pour scorn on, disparage, denigrate, deprecate, malign, vilify, besmirch,
run down, give a bad press to; slur, knock, pan, slam, hammer, blast, bad-mouth, nitpick
about, throw brickbats at, give flak to, lay into, lace into, pull to pieces, pull apart, pick
holes in, hit out at, maul, savage, roast, skewer, crucify, slag off, have a go at, give some
stick to, monster, slate, rubbish, pummel, cut up, trash, bag on, bag, sledge, rate, slash,
vituperate against, reprobate, animadvert on, objurgate, excoriate, asperse, derogate,
reprehend],

put the boot in (id.) – to kick someone when they are already on the ground; to make
a bad situation worse, by criticizing or being unkind [After he lost his job, his wife put the
boot in by announcing she was leaving him.],

a rap on/over the knuckles (id.) – the act of speaking to someone severely or
angrily because of something they have done or failed to do [I got a rap on the knuckles
for not finishing my essay on time.],

lay low (v.) – to cause someone to be unable to do what they usually do, to put out of
action, to knock out [A kidney infection laid her low for a couple of months. The last thing
he heard was a voice in his ear, the voice of the human slave that had laid Carwen low. ‘The
Emperor is dead,’ the voice hissed. ‘We have new gods now.’],

get to (v.) – to cause feelings, esp. suffering or disgust, in someone, annoy or upset
(someone) by persistent action [The heat was beginning to get to me so I went indoors.] –
synonyms & related words [irritate, annoy, anger, vex, irk, nettle, pique, exasperate,
infuriate, get on someone's nerves, rub up the wrong way, get/put someone's back up,
ruffle someone's feathers, try someone's patience; goad, provoke, bait, taunt, pester,
harass, prick, prod, sting; aggravate, rile, niggle, hassle, bug, miff, peeve, get under
someone's skin, get up someone's nose, hack off, widn up, get at, nark, get across, ride,
piss off, exacerbate, hump, rasp],

go the whole hog (id.) – to do something as completely as possible [Having already

limited taxation, why not go the whole hog and abolish it completely? If you can afford a
new computer, you might as well go the whole hog and get it custom built.],
take stock (v.) – to take stock (of something) is to think carefully about a situation or
event and form an opinion about it, so that you can decide what to do [After two years
spent teaching overseas, she returned home for a month to take stock of her life. After the
storm, homeowners came out to take stock of the damage.],

accept/take on faith (id.) – to be willing to believe something without proof,

without seeing evidence supporting it, by trust or confidence,

raven (v.) – to devour with great eagrness; to prey on with rapacity; to show rapacity,
to be greedy (for something) [They passed along towards the great hall-door, where the
winds howled and ravened for their prey. As she fell, he aimed a bolt of fel energy at her. It
ravened into her chest.],

heart sinks (id.) – to feel disappointed or disheratened [My heart sank when I saw that
the meal I'd spent all day preparing had burned in the oven.],

prostrate (v.) – to put or throw flat with the face down, as in submission or adoration;
to cause to lie flat; to reduce to extreme weakness or incapacitation, overcome [He did
not simply sit and meditate, he also knelt down, sometimes even prostrated himself. The
wind prostrated the young trees. An illness that prostrated an entire family. A nation that
was prostrated by years of civil war. She was so prostrated by migraine that she could
scarcle ytotter up the stairs to bed. She expected to find Kathleen prostrated by the tragedy
in her family.] – synonyms & related words [throw oneself flat, throw oneself down, lie
down, stretch oneself out, bow low, throw oneself at someone's feet, measure one's
length, overwhelm, overcome, overpower, bring someone to their knees, crush,
devastate, make helpless, paralyse, lay low, make powerless, debilitate, incapacitate,
weaken, enfeeble, devitalize, enervate, handicap, immobilize, hamstring, make impotent,
wear out, exhaust, tire out, fatigue, weary, make weary, drain, sap, wash out, take it out
of, tax, overtax, undermine, knacker, whack, frazzle, do in, knock out, fag out],

prostrate (adj.) – lying face down, as in submission or adoration; lying flat or at full
length; reduced to extreme weakness or incapacitation, overcome; growing flat along
the ground [Roused by Bulaven s warning shout, Davir and the others had already thrown
themselves prostrate at the trench bottom, hugging the ground with all the fervour of
lovers reunited after a long separation.] – synonyms & related words [prone, lying flat,
lying down, flat, stretched out, spreadeagled, sprawling, horizontal, recumbent, on one's
front, procumbent]

caper (n.) – a playful leap or jump; a jump while dancing; a prank or practical joke;
(usually plural) playful behavior; a crime, especially an elaborate heist, or a narrative
about such a crime – synonyms & related words [dance, skip, hop, leap, jump, curvet,
gambado, gambade, escapade, stunt, prank, trick, practical joke, antics, high jinks,
mischief, game, sport, fun, jest, jesting, jape; shenanigans, lark, skylarking, monkey
tricks, monkey business, dido],
caper (v.) – to leap or jump about in a sprightly or playful manner; to jump as part of a
dance; to engage in playful behavior – synonyms & related words [skip, dance, romp, jig,
frisk, gambol, cavort, prance, frolic, leap, hop, jump, bound, spring; curvet, rollick,
capriole],

jaunty (adj.) – having or expressing a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner [There
was no mistaking that jaunty walk. He wore a cap pushed to one side to give him a jaunty
air.] – synonyms & related words [cheerful, cheery, happy, merry, jolly, joyful, gleeful,
glad; lively, vivacious, perky, full of life, bright, sunny, buoyant, bubbly, bouncy, breezy,
frisky, full of the joys of spring, in good spirits, exuberant, ebullient, effervescent,
sparkling, sparkly, sprightly, spry; carefree, unworried, untroubled, without a care in the
world, blithe, airy, light-hearted, nonchalant, insouciant, happy-go-lucky, free and easy,
easy-going, blasé, devil-may-care, casual, relaxed, bright-eyed andb ushy-tailed ,full of
beans, sparky, upbeat, go-go, chirpy, chipper, peppy, zippy, zappy, full of vim and vigor,
peart, gay, blithesome, perk, as merry/lively as a grig, wick],

cut a caper/cut capers (v.) – to frolic or romp, to dance about in a frantic or

ridiculous manner, to engage in brief frolics, romps, or frantic, ridiculous dances,

sprightly (adj.) – animated, vivacious or gay, lively; full of life and vigor, especially
with a light and springy step; (especially of old people) energetic and in good health –
synonyms & related words [lively, spry, energetic, active, full of life, full of energy,
vigorous, spirited, animated, vivacious, playful, jaunty, perky, frisky, agile, nimble;
chipper, sparkly, zippy, zappy, full of vim and vigor, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, full of
beans, peppy, peart, wick, frolicsome, sportive, as lively/merry as a grig],

wick (adj.) – (Northern English) quick, lively, or active [Martha's approaching her
century and as wick as a flea.],

peart (adj.) – (US, dialect) lively, cheerful [The man was right peart in his walking.],

pert (adj.) – (of a girl or young woman) attractively lively or cheeky; impudent or
cheeky; (of a bodily feature or garment) attractively small and well-shaped [A pert,
slightly plump girl called Rose. No need to be pert, miss. A young girl with dark hair and a
pert manner. She had a pert nose and deep blue eyes. A pert little hat with a feather.] –
synonyms & related words [impudent, impertinent, cheeky, irreverent, forward,
insolent, disrespectful, flippant, familiar, presumptuous, audacious, bold, bold as brass,
brazen, cocky, out of line, shameless, fresh, flip, lippy, mouth, smart-arsed, saucy, sassy,
nervy, smart-assed, malapert, jaunty, neat, trim, stylish, smart, spruce, perky, rakish,
natty, saucy],

consternation (n.) – amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and

incapacitates for reflection, terror, combined with amazement, dismay [Their audience
had been listening in increasing consternation. The prospect of so much work filled him
with consternation. To his consternation, when he got to the airport he found he'd
forgotten his passport To her consternation, her car wouldn't start. Weber appeared
consternated at first, then glad to have something other than his own fate to think about.
‘You mean,’ he said, ‘the… the Governor’s daughter?’. Much to the consternation of his
detractors, he emerged as a management guru.] – synonyms & related words [dismay,
perturbation, anxiety, distress, disquiet, disquietude, discomposure, angst, trepidation;
surprise, amazement, astonishment, stupefaction; alarm, panic, hysteria, fear,
fearfulness, fright, shock]

shunt (v.) – to divert to a less important place, position or state; to move someone or
something from one place to another, usually because that person or thing is not
wanted, and without considering any unpleasant effects [I spent most of my childhood
being shunted (about) between my parents who had divorced when I was five. He shunts
his kids off to a camp every summer. Viewers are sick of their favorite sitcoms being
shunted to later times to make way for live sports coverage.],

drowse (n.) – the state of being sleepy and inactive [She was in a drowse when someone
knocked on the door.],

drowse (v.) – to be sleepy and inactive (also figurative); to nod off, to fall asleep; to
advance drowsily (used especially in the phrase „drowse one's way“ => sleepily make
one's way); to make heavy with sleepiness or imperfect sleep, to make dull or stupid,

dapple (n.) – a mottled marking, usually in clusters; an animal with a mottled or

spotter skin or coat,

dapple (adj.) – having a mottled or spotted skin or coat, dappled [A dapple horse. Some
dapple mists still floated along the peaks.],

dappled (adj.) – covered with spots of color that are lighter or darker than the main
color, or covered with areas of light and darkness [A dappled pony. The dappled sunlight
fell across her face as she lay beneath the tree. Another bubble followed, and then another,
and then a fourth. The sun-dappled fields of summer grain. The swamps of the Black
Morass. The ice fields of the north. The shining towers of Stormwind Keep.],

dapple (v.) – to mark or become marked with mottling or spots [Kris awoke with a
start. Sweat dappled his forehead, and he brushed it away.],

lap (v.) – (of waves) to hit something gently, producing quiet sounds; to fold, to bend
and lay over or on something; to wrap around, enwrap, wrap up; to envelop, enfold; to
wind around; [The water lapped against the side of the pool. The waves gently lapped the
shore. To lap a piece of cloth. To lap a bandage around a finger. Lapped in luxury.] –
synonyms & related words [splash, wash, swish, slap, slosh, break, purl, beat, strike,
dash, surge, rush, ripple, roll, flow, plash],
lap up (v.) – to enjoy something very much [We walked around the city, lapping up the
atmosphere. Everyone clapped and cheered and you could see he was lapping it up.] –
synonyms & related words [relish, revel in, savor, delight in, luxuriate in, bask in, wallow
in, glory in, enjoy, indulge in]

perforce (adv.) –(formal) necessarily, used to express necessity or inevitability

[Amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions.] – synonyms & related
words [necessarily, of necessity, inevitably, unavoidably, by force of circumstances,
needs must; nolens volens, like it or not],

blowsy (adj.) – having a reddish, coarse complexion, especially with a pudgy face;
(chiefly of a woman) slovenly or unkempt, in the manner of a beggar or slattern;
unrefined, countrified – synonyms & related words [untidy, sloppy, scruffy, messy,
dishevelled, slovenly, sluttish, slatternly, tousled, unkempt, frowzy, slipshod, bedraggled,
down at heel; coarse-looking; red-faced, ruddy, florid, ruddy-complexioned, flushed,
raddled, rubicund, rubescent]

leery (adj.) – cautious, hesitant, or nervous about something, having reservations or

concerns [Since he was bitten by a dog when he was young, he has always been leery of
animals. Krasus knew that he had only touched a bare trace of the pool's potential, but that
was enough to make him leery of trying to seize more.] – synonyms & related words
[suspicious, careful, cautious, distrustful, dubious, skeptical, uncertain, unsure, wary,
chary, doubting, on one's guard, shy]

detritus (n.) – debris or fragments of disintegrated material; organic waste material

from decomposing dead plants or animals,

despite oneself/in spite of oneself (id.) – used to indicate that one did not
intend to do the thing mentioned [Despite himself, Durotan gasped. Despite herself, Frau
Nordern laughed.],

find one's tongue (id.) – to regain the ability to speak, especially after feeling
frightened or nervous, or not knowing what to say; to be able to talk, to figure out what
to say [It took him a minute, but Pete found his tongue again after we startled him at his
surprise party. The little boy, who had been huddled nervously at the back, found his
tongue and told the detectives what happened. Tom was speechless for a moment, then he
found hi s tongue. Ann was unable to find her tongue, so she sat there in silence],

box clever (id.) – to act wisely, smart, clever [She had to box clever, let Adam think she
had accepted what he said.],

box someone's ears (id.) – to slap someone on the side of the head, especially as a
punishment [Stop hanging back or I'll box your ears. An orc would have growled and
boxed Orgrim's cars – hard – for such insolence – the draenei merely chuckled.] –
synonyms & related words [cuff, hit, thump, slap, smack, crack, swat, punch, fist, jab,
hook, knock, thwack, bang, wallop; skelp; belt, bop, biff, sock, clout, whack, plug, slug,
whop, slosh, dot, boff, bust, whale, dong, quilt]

pour oil on troubled waters (id.) – to do or say something in order to make

people stop arguing and become claimer [My husband's always arguing with my father,
and I'm the one who has to pour oil on troubled waters.],

ungainly (adj.) – awkward and without grace, not moving smoothly and attractively in
movement; clumsy, lacking grace; difficult to move or to manage, unwieldy – synonyms
& related words [awkward, clumsy, ungraceful, graceless, inelegant, gawky, gangling,
maladroit, gauche, inept, blundering, bungling, bumbling, lumbering, uncoordinated;
inexpert, unskilful, unhandy, oafish, bovine, like a bull in a china shop; cack-handed,
ham-fisted, ham-handed, butterfingered, all thumbs, hulking, lubberly],

gainly (adj.) – (of conduct) graceful, tactful; (of bodily form, attitude, or movement)
shapely, handsome,

bluster (v.) – to speak in a loud, angry, or offended way, usually with little effect; if the
wind blusters, it blows strongly [„You had no right to do it, no right at all,“ he blustered. A
gale was blustering around the house. ‘Now, hold on a minute,’ he blustered. He made for
the open door, but a figure stepped into his path: a lean, silver-haired man in his seventies,
who loomed over Hanrik’s shorter, rounder form. ‘Commissar Costellin,’ the man
introduced himself. ‘Perhaps I can answer your questions.’ A winter gale blustred against
the sides of the house. In winter, the storms bluster in from the Mediterranean.] –
synonyms & related words [rant, thunder, boast, brag, swagger, throw one's weight
about/around, be overbearing, lord it, vaunt, bray, crow, blow fiercely, blast, gust, storm,
roar, rush, complain]

bluster one's way through someone/something (id.) – to force or accomplish

by blustering [Khadgar looked out at the city again, wondering if he had Medivh’s talent to
bluster his way past the older man, to deny answers without causing affront. No, he
decided, Medivh played on loyalties and friendships older than he was. He had to find
another way to respond.],

bluster (n.) – pompous, officious talk; a gust of wind; fitful noise and violence [I knew
that it was all bluster and he wasn't really angry with me.] – synonyms & related words
[ranting, hectoring, thundering, threatening, threats, bullying, domineering; boasting,
bragging, swaggering, throwing one's weight around; bombast, bravado, bumptiousness,
imperiousness; empty threats, humbug, braggadocio],

intuit (v.) – to know intuitively or by immediate perception [The talbuk hesitated – he

had been told that if it was a clean kill, they would flee rather than attack, intuiting on
some primal level that they could no longer help their fallen sister.],
intuitable (adj.) – capable of being intuitively sensed or understood,

petulantly (adv.) – easily ennoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child [„Well,
he didn't invite me to his party so I'm certainly not inviting him to mine!“ she said
petulantly.],

cuff (v.) – to hit someone with your hand in a light, joking way; strike (someone) with
an open hand, especially on the head [His brother cuffed him playfully on his ear.] –
synonyms & related words [hit, strike, slap, smack, thump, thwack, beat, punch, swat,
knock, rap, box someone's ears; skelp, clout, wallop, belt, whack, bash, clobber, bop, biff,
sock, whop, slosh, dot, boff, slug, dong, quilt, smite],

stopper (n.) – an object that fits into the top of a bottle or other container [Then she
marked him with the blood his own father had shed for this moment, kept carefully in a
small stoppered leather bag.] – synonyms & related words [cork, lid, cap, top, plug, bung,
spigot, spile, stopple],

break the mold (id.) – to depart from a traditional pattern, to defy convention, go
against the grain,

fill (n.) – someone's fill is as much as they want or can deal with [He only took a few
minutes to eat/drink his fill. I've had my fill of rude remarks. She let Durotan look his fill in
silence.] – synonyms & related words [enough, sufficient, plenty, ample, as much as
necessary, all one wants, a sufficiency, an abundance, as much as one can take, more
than enough],

heady (adj.) – (of alcoholic drink) having a powerful effect, making you feel slightly
drunk or excited, potent, intoxicating; having a strong or exhilarating effect [A heady
wine/perfume. In the heady days of their youth, they thought anything was possible.
Several bottles of heady local wine. The heady days of my youth. A heady, exotic perfume.] –
synonyms & related words [potent, intoxicating, inebriating, strong, alcoholic,
spirituous, vinous, intoxicant, exhilarating, exciting, thrilling, stimulating, invigorating,
galvanizing, electrifying, rousing, arousing; mind-blowing],

fall/run (a)foul of (someone or something) (id.) – to become disliked or to

come in conflict with due to one's actions, often resulting in further trouble or conflict;
to get into a situation where one is opposed to someone or something, to get into trouble
with someone or something [Since you're new here, be careful not to fall afoul of Bill—
he'll keep you off of every case if he's mad at you. I fell foul of the committee, and now, I'm
not sure how to improve my reputation. Dan fell afoul of the law at an early age. I hope
that you will avoid falling afoul of the district manager. She can be a formidable enemy. I
hope I don't run afoul of your sister. She doesn't like me.],
have (good) cause to do something (id.) – to have a strong reason for doing,
thinking or feeling something [Joe's father had good cause to be proud of him. I have no
cause to question his integrity. Those who feared, fled, he had good cause to know.],

coast (v.) – to move forward in a vehicle or glide a mount without using the engine,
usually down a hill; to progress or succeed without any effort or difficulty, to continue to
do something in a routine way (this implies a lack of initiative and effort) [At the top of
the hill I switched off the engine and we just coasted down the other side. Pulling his
dragon out of the dive, Bradok coasted over the ships, seeing the poor orcs seated in the
benches all down their lengths, pulling on the long oars that kept the boat moving. While I
struggled, my sister coasted through school with top grades. Or third, if he believed them to
be doing all they could and not simply coasting on his goodwill.] – synonyms & related
words [freewheel, cruise, taxi, drift, glide, sail, float, skate, slip, skim],

betoken (v.) – to signify by some visible object, show signs or tokens; to foreshadow
by present signs, indicate something future by that which is seen or known [All about
her betokened an educated mind and knowledge of the world. His whole expression
betokened a feverish interest. She was spoke in a way that betokened more resolution than
he was wont to see in her display. The traveller had no baggage, and his dress betokened
the pressure of many wants. Some things from his past yet lingered, he thought, smiling a
little at the ancient movement that betokened agreement in nearly every sentient species
he had encountered.] – synonyms & related words [indicate, be an indication of, signify,
be a sign of, be evidence of, evidence, manifest, mean, denote, represent, show,
demonstrate, bespeak, spell; presage, portend, augur, be an omen of, be a sign of, be a
warning of, warn of, bode, foreshadow, foretell, prophesy, be a harbinger of, herald,
foretoken, forebode, harbinger],

cast/throw (in) one's lot with (id.) – to join with, to share the fortunes of (a
person or group), join or side with, no matter what the outcome [Bill cast his lot with the
new company. Kil’jaeden's face, though it little resembled what it had been before he had
cast his lot with the great lord Sargeras. was still able to twist into the facsimile of a smile.]

fill out (v.) – if someone fills out, their body becomes less thin [Sam's really filled out,
hasn't he? His body was already tall and filling out, and the usage of weaponry came
naturally to his people.] – synonyms & related words [grow fatter, become plumper,
become rounder, flesh out, put on weight, gain weight, get heavier, become fat, get fat],

manic (adj.) – very excited or anxious (= worried and nervous) in a way that causes
you to be very physically active [He's kind of manic – I wish he'd calm down.] – synonyms
& related words [mad, insane, deranged, demented, maniacal, lunatic, crazed, wild,
demonic, demoniacal, hysterical, raving, neurotic, unhinged, unbalanced; sectionable,
crazy; frenzied, feverish, frenetic, hectic, intense, hyper, mad, swivel-eyed],
flit (v.) – to fly or move quickly and lightly; to appear or exist suddenly and for a short
time in someone's mind or on their face [In the fading light we saw bats flitting
around/about in the garden. She's always flitting from on ething to another (= changing
her activities). A ghost of a smile flitted across his face. One eye flitted over the assembled
company; the other sat, mangled and dead in truth, in its socket. They passed the boundary
posts of the village and arrived at the edge of a vast, calm-looking lake. Small islands
dotted the water. Massive buzzing insects flitted over the surface. Akama came to a halt
beside a small, motionless pool. The water was clearer here. Still, a faint freckling of spores
floated on the surface. Shadowy shapes moved in the depths.] – synonyms & related words
[dart, dance, skip, play, dash, trip, flick, skim, flutter, bob, bounce, spring, scoot, hop,
gambol, caper, cavort, prance, frisk, scamper, beetle],

prepossessing (adj.) – interesting, attractive, or impressive [He wasn't a very

prepossessing sort of person. The box didn't look very prepossessing, but the necklace
inside was beautiful. But he was not a very prepossessing ore.] – synonyms & related
words [attractive, beautiful, pretty, handsome, good-looking, fetching, striking, pleasing,
pleasant, agreeable, appealing, likeable, lovable, amiable, charming, delightful, engaging,
inviting, alluring, magnetic, winning, enchanting, captivating, bewitching, fascinating, on
fleek, taking, fair],

contemptuous (adj.) – showing that you do not respect someone or something at all
[He gave a contemptuous laugh. She has always been openly contemptuous of authority.
She watched him almost contemptuously, her lips curving around her perfect tusks in a
smirk.] – synonyms & related words [attractive, beautiful, pretty, handsome, good-
looking, fetching, striking, pleasing, pleasant, agreeable, appealing, likeable, lovable,
amiable, charming, delightful, engaging, inviting, alluring, magnetic, winning, enchanting,
captivating, bewitching, fascinating, on fleek, taking, fair],

flush (n.) – (a flush of anger, excitement, pleasure etc.) a sudden strong feeling of anger,
excitement, pleasure etc.; a period when something is new or particularly fresh and
vigorous – synonyms & related words [bloom, glow, freshness, radiance, vigor, rush],

flush (n.) – a red color that appears on your face or body because you are embarrassed,
hot, etc. [A faint pink flush colored her cheeks.] – synonyms & related words [blush,
reddening, huigh color, color, rosiness, pinkiness, ruddiness, bloom],

flush (v.) – when you flush, you become red in the face, especially as a result of strong
emotions, heat, or alcohol; cleanse (something, especially a toilet) by causing large
quantiteis of water to pass through it; remove or dispose of (an object or substance) by
flushing; drive (a bird, especially a game bird, or an animal) from its cover [She flushed
with pleasure as she accepted the prize. The champagne had caused his face to flush.] –
synonyms & related words [blush, redden, turn/go pink, turn/go red, turn/go crimson,
turn/go scarlet, colour (up), change colour, crimson, tint, burn up, mantle; red, pink,
ruddy, glowing, reddish, pinkish, florid, high-coloured, healthy-looking, aglow, burning,
flaming, feverish, rubicund, roseate, rosy; blushing, red-faced, blowsy, embarrassed,
shamefaced, sanguine, erubescent, rubescent; rinse (out), wash (out/down), sluice, swill,
cleanse, clean, hose (down), swab, sloosh (down); drive, send up, chase, force, dislodge,
expel, frighten, scarce],

flush (adj. adv.) – so as to be level or even; so as to be directly centered, squarely [The

screw must fit flush with the surface. Hodson caught him flush o nthe jaw wit ha straight
right. The gates are flush with the adjoining fencing. Each line is flush with the left-hand
margin. The banks are flush with funds. The company was flush with cash. The years when
cash was flush.] – synonyms & related words [well supplied with, replete with,
overflowing with, bursting with, brimful with, brimming with, loaded with, overloaded
with, abounding in, well provided with, well stocked with, rich in, abundant in, rife with;
crammed with, crowded with, packed with, jammed with, stuffed with, teeming with,
swarming with, thick with, solid with, charged with, fraught with, jam-packed with,
chock-a-block with ,chcok-full of, awash with, chocker with; plentiful, abundant, copious,
ample, profuse, superabundant, infinite, inexhaustible, opulent, prolific, teeming, in
abundance, a gogo, galore, tank, bounteous, plenteous],

hot flush (n.) – a sudden hot, uncomfortable feeling experienced by some women
during the menopause,

be in the first flush of (id.) – to be at the start of something, beginning, root [He's no
longer in the first flush of youth You're not old, Major, but you're not in the first flush. He
had not been there more than a few minutes when the attack was made, and in the first
flush of the onslaught he received a gun-shot in the thigh which completely shattered the
bone and left him helpless upon the ground.],

at first blush (id.) – upon first impression or consideration, seemingly, apparently,

ostensibly [At first blush, it seemed the attacked by the werewolf were random.] –
synonyms & related words [on the face of it, on the surface, at first sight, to the casual
eye, to all appearances, to go/judge by appearances; apparently, seemingly, outwardly,
superficially, it seems (that), it would seem (that), it appears (that), it would appear
(that), as far as one can see/tell, by all accounts, so it seems, to all intents and purposes,
at first glance],

white hot (adj.) – hot enough to glow with a bright white light; (by extension) fervid
or zealous, blazing,

afresh (adv.) – if you do something afresh, you deal with it again and in a new way [She
tore up the letter and started afresh. We agreed to look afresh at her original proposal.],

by dint of (prep.) – because of; by means of [The North Caucasus are part of Russia by
dint of history. She got what she wanted by dint of pleading and threatening. She
succeeded by dint of hard work.] – synonyms & related words [by way of, as a
consequence, as a result, at the hand of, because of, by means of, by reason, by, by the
agency of, by virtue of, for, in consequence of, in virtue of, per, through the medium of,
using, via, with, on the strength of],

take heart (id.) – to feel encouraged [Take heart. You'll be done soon, and you won't
have to think about this paper ever again.],

take in (id.) – to deceive or trick someone [Do you think the teacher was taken in by
your excuse? That sales pitch totally took us in.],

hoodwink (v.) – to deceive or trick someone [He hoodwinked us into agreeing. I feel
like the salesman hoodwinked me into buying right away.] – synonyms & related words
[deceive, trick, dupe, outwit, fool, delude, cheat, take in, bluff, hoax, mislead, misguide,
lead on, defraud, double-cross, swindle, gull, finagle, get the better of, con, bamboozle,
do, have, sting, gyp, diddle, fiddle, swizzle, shaft, bilk, rook, rip off, lead up the garden
path, pull a fast one on, put one over on, take for a ride, pull the wool over someone's
eyes, throw dust in someone's eyes, sell a pup to, take to the cleaners, sucker, snooker,
stiff, euchre, bunco, hornswoggle, make a sucker of, pull a swifty on, cozen ,sharp, befool,
mulct],

peruse (v.) – to read through something, especially in order to find the part you are
interested in, to go over and mentally take in the content of [He opened a newspaper and
began to peruse the personal ads. Perused the manuscript, checking for grammatical
errors.] – synonyms & related words [pore (over), read; browse, dip (into), leaf
(through), scan, skim, speed-read, thumb (through), turn over, devour, gobble (up), slog
(through), wade (through), reread, proofread, decipher, review, study, apprehend,
comprehend, grasp, make, make out, perceive, understand],

perusal (n.) – a brief perusal (= a quick read) [He sent the copy of the report to the
governors for their perusal (= for them to read).] – synonyms & related words [scrutiny,
examination, inspection, research, survey, study, scanning, vetting, investigation,
exploration, consideration, analysis, appraisal, evaluation; inspection, check, check-up,
assessment, review, appraisal; exploration, probe, test, scan, going-over, once-over,
overhaul],

brusque (adj.) – quick and rude in manner or speech [His secretary was a little brusqe
with me. ‘I see,’ said the colonel brusquely. ‘Then it is my duty to inform you, Governor
Hanrik, that Hieronymous Theta is under martial law. You are hereby relieved of your
position.’ He turned and marched into the nearest office, leaving Hanrik slack-jawed.] –
synonyms & related words [curt, abrupt, blunt, short, sharp, terse, brisk, crisp, clipped,
monosyllabic, peremptory, gruff, bluff; caustic, tart, abrasive; outspoken, plain-spoken,
not afraid to call a spade a spade, indelicate, tactless, undiplomatic; discourteous,
impolite, rude, uncivil, offhand, snappish, snappy, churlish],
in the raw (id.) – naked; in a plain and honest way, with nothing hidden [They
sunbathed in the raw. The film really showed you prison life in the raw.],

caustic (adj.) – able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action [A caustic
cleaner.] – synonyms & related words [corrosive, corroding, mordant, acid, alkaline,
burning, stinging, acrid, harsh, destructive],

caustic (adj.) – sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way [The players were making caustic
comments about the refereeing. A caustic comment. The caustic character of Malcolm
Tucker.] – synonyms & related words [sarcastic, cutting, biting, mordant, stinging, sharp,
bitter, scathing, derisive, sardonic, ironic, scornful, trenchant, acerbic, vitriolic, tart, acid,
pungent, acrimonious, astringent, rapier-like, razor-edged, critical, polemic, virulent,
venomous, waspish; sarky, mordacious, acidulous, hurtful, insulting],

not mince (your) words (id.) – to say what you mena clearly and directly, even if
you upset people by doing this [The report does not mince words, describing the situation
as ludicruous.],

not pull any/your punches/pull no punches (id.) – to speak in an honest way

without trying to be kind [Her image is that of an investigative reporter who doesn't pull
any punches.],

in a word (id.) – said when you are going to give your opinion about something
quickly and directly [In a word, she's lying. Are there any real reasons to worry? In a word,
plenty. The answer, in a word, is yes.] – synonyms & related words [to put it briefly, to be
brief, briefly, in short, in a nutshell, succinctly, concisely, to come to the point, to cut a
long story short, not to mince words, not to beat about the bush, not to put too fine a
point on it; to sum up, to summarize, in sum, in summary],

put the word out (id.) – to tell people about something [Can you put the word out
that the meeting has been cancelled.],

put out (adj.) – taking offense, indignant [He was put out at the mere suggestion of
misconduct. The courier seemed quite put out, but agreed to stay for a brief time.] –
synonyms & related words [annoyed, angered, irritated, offended, affronted, displeased,
exasperated, infuriated, provoked, irked, vexed, piqued, nettled, galled, upset, riled,
miffed, peeved, aggravated, hacked off, narked, bummed out, pissed off, incommoded,
discommoded, bothered, troubled, inconvenienced]

put oneself out (for someone) (id.) – to do something to help someone even if it
causes problems or difficulties for you [I don't see why I should put myself out for him. She
really put herself out to get ready for us.],

preen (v.) – if a bird preens or preens itself, ti cleans and arranges its feathers using its
beak; (disapproving) to spend time making yourself look attractive [Roald always spends
ages preening (himself) before he goes out.] – synonyms & related words [admire oneself,
primp oneself, primp, prink oneself; pretty oneself, prettify oneself, smarten oneself,
beautify oneself, make oneself pretty/smart/beautiful, groom oneself, tidy oneself,
spruce oneself up; titivate oneself, doll oneself up; tart oneself up, gussy oneself up,
plume oneself, trig oneself]

preen oneself (v.) – to feel very proud or satisfied with yourself because of an action
or quality [The government is publicly preening itself on the latest trade figures. The
company preened itself for having taken on so many new employees last year. He's busy
preening himself on acquiring such a pretty girlfriend.] – synonyms & related words
[congratulate oneself, be pleased with oneself, pride oneself, be proud of oneself, pat
oneself on the back, give oneself a pat on the back, feel self-satisfied, pique oneself],

smack of something (id.) – (usually negative) to show or seem to have a

characteristic or quality, to seem like, to arouse suspicion of [Their behavior smacks of
very bad judgement. This smacks of arrogance. This smacks of dishonesty, but I can't say
why.] – synonyms & related words [suggest, hint at, have overtones of, have a suggestion
of, have the air of, give the impression of, have the hallmark of, have the stamp of,
resemble, seem like, smell like, reef of, sound like],

slyboots (n.) – a person who is clever or shrewd, especially one who is stealthy,
manipulative and rather charming; a person who avoids showing or telling other people
what he or she is thinking or intending, rascal, rogue, charlatan [You old slyboots! Why
didn't you tell us about your new girlfriend? You're such a slyboots, old cocky. I could kiss
you. This slyboots took me for a ton of money, made me do whatever she wanted.],

smack dab (adv.) – exactly, directly, precisely, dead-center; exactly in a place or at

time [You called smack dab in the middle of dinner. I tossed the water balloon and it
landed smack dab on the top of his head.],

smack one's lips (id.) – to close and open your mouth loudly to express a strong
wish to eat something you like a lot [„I love chocolate cake,“ said Susannah, smacking her
lips.],

raise someone's hackles (id.) – to anger someone [Every time I hear him talk, he
just raises my hackles.],

throw to the wind (id.) – to discard or dispense with, especially in an abrupt or

reckless matter [There are men in the Bible whom God condemns for wasting their talent,
for throwing it to the wind.],

throw/cast caution to the wind (id.) – to do something despite the risks, to stop
being careful and do something that you know has risks [After all, there was still a good
chance that the orc had not been alone when he encountered it. Yet something in his gut
told him that this was not the case. Something deep inside told him that he had nothing to
fear. Throwing caution to the wind, Tirion rode boldly up to the tower’s base and
dismounted.],

dice with death (id.) – to risk being killed by doing something very dangerous,

take the bull by the horns (id.) – to deal with a problem in a very direct and
confident way, even though there is some risk in doing this,

lace up (v.) – to fasten shoes, boots, or a pieces of clothing by tying the laces [She can
lace up her shoes and she's only five! She laced up her corset.],

lace into (v.) – to vigorously attack, either physically or verbally; (of food or
beverages) to consume with gusto [A bulldozer does its dirty workd Tuesday lacing into
the fist of several Beach Street buildings that will be rendered rubble. Now, that doesn't
mean we should all lace into the fries and gravy. Guests laced into the feast, the star of
which was communal dishes of braised pigs' feet.],

tuck into (v.) – to eat, especially with gusto [Well-heeled tourists tuck into French
cuisine at Cardin's elegant new Maxim's de Pekin.],

tuck in (v.) – to start to eat [Tuck in, before the food goes cold!],

well heeled (adj.) – rich, affluent, prosperous [His family was very well heeled.],

a pearl of great price (id.) – something that is very rare and is considered very
important [Inexhaustible patience is a pearl of great price.],

ebb (v.) – (feeling) if a physical or emotional feeling ebbs, it becomes less strong or
disappears [He could feel his strength ebbing (away). Durotan felt the smile on his face
ebb.],

be at/reach a low ebb (id.) – to be in a very small, weak, bad, or unsuccessful state
[Consumer confidence is currently at a low ebb. I was recently divorced and feeling at a
very low ebb.],

chink in somebody's armor – a fault in someone's character or argument that

may cause problems for them [A single chink in our armor at the negotiating table means
we could lose out badly.],

close to the bone (id.) – telling the truth about a subject that people prefer not to
think about, in a way that may offend or upset people [His comments about racism may
be too close to the bone for some people.],

on the boil (id.) – if a situation or feeling is on the boil, it is very strong or a lot of
people are talking about it, popular [The media are trying to keep the issue on the boil.],
lower the boom (id.) – to take decisive punitive action, to suddenly overpower (with
„on“) [When jack come back late from lunch, the team leader really lowered the boom on
him. The government has lowered the boom on tax evaders.],

accord (v.) – to treat someone specially, usually by showing respect [The massed
crowds of supporters accorded him a hero's welcome. Certainly in our society, teachers
don't enjoy the respect that is accorded to doctors and lawyers.]

with one accord (id.) – if people do something with one accord, they do it together
and in complete agreement [With one accord, the delegates walked out of the conference.],

misgiving (n.) – a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event [Many teachers
expressed serious misgivings about the new tests. My only misgiving is that we might not
have enough time to do the job. I have sworn loyalty to him and I will not break that oath,
but even I have my misgivings. We have misgivings about the way the campaign is being
run. Despite occasional misgivings, he was optimistic.] – synonyms & related words
[qualm, doubt, reservation, scruple; suspicion, distrust, mistrust, lack of faith, lack of
confidence, diffidence, second thoughts; trepidation, scepticism, worry, unease,
uneasiness, anxiety, apprehension, uncertainty, niggle, disquiet, disquietude, hesitation,
hesitance, hesitancy],

run/come/fall afoul of something (id.) – to do something you are not allowed to

do, esp. breaking a rule or law ; to become entangled with; to come into conflict
with[Foreigners who run afoul of the law are punished severely. The boat ran afoul of the
seaweed. The business had fallen afoul of the new government regulations. Do you
remember that day long ago when we ran afoul of the ogre and the draenei saved us?],

be spoiling for a fight (id.) – to be very eager to fight or argue [Local councillors are
spoiling for a fight over plans to close two village schools. He has been too long away from
a hunt, that one – he is spoiling for a fight.],

sunwise (adv.) – (generally used with regard to rituals and spirituality) clockwise,

moonwise (adv.) – (generally used with regard to rituals and spirituality)

counterclockwise,

rise to the bait (id.) – to accept an offer or suggestion that seems good but is really a
trick [They offered a good salary, but I didn't rise to the bait.],

dupe (v.) – to deceive someone, usually by making that person do something that they
did not intend to do [The girls were duped by drug smugglers into carrying heroin for
them.],

clamor (v.) – to make a loud complaint or demand [The audience clamored for an
encore.],
clamor (n.) – a loud complaint or demand; clamor is also loud noise ,esp. made by
people's voices [The clamor for freedom in recent years has been strong. The clamor of
their voices rose.],

simmer down (v.) – to decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement [Come

on kids! Simmer down and get on with your work! Lip won't do here, you've got to simmer
down. She turned back around and stalked to another part of the room. Even as she
simmered down, she refused to apologize for the deed.],

lip (n.) – (speech) the act of arguing with someone in a way that is rude or does not
show enough respect [That's enough of your lip, young lady!],

on everyone's lips (id.) – being talked by a lot of people [The question now on
everyone's lips is „Will he resign?“.],

I'll thank you to do something (id.) – used to ask someone, in an annoyed way, to
do something [I'll thank you to leave my private papers alone.],

implore (v.) – to ask someone to do or not do something in a very sincere, emotional,

and determined way; to ask for something in a sincere and emotional way [She implored
her parents not to send her away to school. She clasped her hands, and glancing upward,
seemed to implore divine assistance.],

go over somebody's head (id.) – to speak to or ask permission from someone who
has more authority than the person who you would normally go to in that situation
[Amanda was refusing to give me the week off so I went over her head and spoke to the
boss.],

have a bearing on something (n.) – (influence) to have an influence on something

or a relationship to something [What you decide now could have considerable bearing on
your future.],

bearing (n.) – (manner) someone's way of moving and behaving [She had a proud,
distinguished bearing.] – synonyms & related words [posture, comportment, carriage,
gait, stance, deportment, demeanor, manner, mannerisms, air, aspect, attitude, behavior,
mien, countenance, guise, cast, look, feel, style]

bearing (n.) – relevance, a relationship or connection [That has no bearing on this

issue.] – synonyms & related words [relevance, relevancy, significance, pertinence,
connection, relation, aptness, appositeness, germaneness, importance, import,
application],

bearing (n.) – the ability to tolerate something bad or to be tolerated [School was bad
enough, but now it's past bearing. His arrogance goaded her beyond bearing.] – synonyms
& related words [endurance, endurability, tolerance, tolerability, acceptance,
acceptability, sufferance, manageability],

get/find your bearings (id.) – (position) to discover your exact position; to succeed
in becoming familiar with a new situation [The road system was so complicated, that we
had to stop to get our bearings several times. It takes a while to get your bearings when
you start a new job. “Yes,” said Medivh, now ignoring the youth and scanning the room.
“Excellent. An excellent job. Very good.” He looked around, seeming like a man just getting
his bearings again. “Very good indeed. You’ve done well. Now come along.”],

what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander (id.) – said to emphasize
that if one person is allowed to do something or to behave in a particular way, then
another person must be allowed to do that thing or behave in that way, too,

what's good for the goose is good for the gander (id.) – what is good for a woman is
equally good for a man, or, what a woman can have or do, so can a man have or do; what
is good for one type is qually good for another type, despite any irrelevant differences
between the types, as deep drinketh the goose as the gander,

shirk (v.) – to avoid work, duties, or responsibilities, especially if they are difficult or
unpleasant; be unwilling to do (something difficult) [If you shirk your
responsibilities/duties/ now, the situation will be much harder to deal with next month. I
will not shirk from my obligations.] – synonyms & related words [evade, dodge, avoid, get
out of, sidestep, shuffle off, run away from, shrink from, shun, slide out of, play truant
from, skip, miss, not attend; neglect, let slide, not attend to, pay little/no attention to, be
remiss about, be lax about, leave undone, lose sight of, skimp on, duck, duck out of, cop
out of, skive off, funk, cut, duck-shove; evade's one duty, be remiss, be negligent, skulk,
play truant, malinger, skive (off), wag, dodge the column, swing the lead, scrimshank,
slack, goof off, goldbrick, play hookery, bludge, play the wag],

trundle in/off/past (v.) – to move slowly with regular heavy steps [He got up from
his chair and trundled off to bed.],

trundle out (v.) – to give information, reason, or a liest of things that you have given
many times before; to produce in a boring way something that has often been seen or
used before [The same old arguments were trundled out to support their claim. They seem
to trundle out the same old films every Christmas.],

unruffled (adj.) – calm, not nervous or worried, usually despite a difficult situation
[For a man in danger of losing his job, he appeared fairly unruffled.] – synonyms & related
words [tranquil, calm, smooth, still, flat, even, motionless, placid, waveless, pacific,
undisturbed, unagitated, unbroken, like a millpond; calm, composed, undisturbed,
unagitated, unmoved, controlled, self-controlled, self-possessed, untroubled,
undismayed, unperturbed, at ease, tranquil, relaxed, serene, cool, cool, calm, and
collected, cool-headed, unshaken, unbothered, unexcitable, unemotional, equanimous,
unflappable, imperturbable, equable, stoical, urbane, together, unfazed],

crinkle (v.) – to become covered in many small lines and folds, or to cause something
to do this [She crinkled (up) her nose in distate.] – synonyms & related words [wrinkle,
crease, pucker, furrow, line, corrugate, crimp, crumple, rumple, ruck up, scrunch up,
ruckle]

grope for something (v.) – to try to think of something, especially the right words,
the correct answer, etc. [I'm groping for the right words here.],

grope (v.) – to feel with your hands, especially in order to find or move towards
something when you cannot see easily [She groped for her glasses on the bedside table. I
had to grope my way up the dark stairs.] – synonyms & related words [fumble, scrabble,
fish, ferret (about/around), rummage (about/around/round), root about/around, feel,
cast about/around/round, search, hunt, look; rootle around, grabble, roust around],

rootle (v.) – dig with the snout – synonyms & related words [cut into, turn over, rout,
dig, delve, root],

roust (v.) – (formal) to make someone get up or move from somewhere quickly; to
rouse out of bed, to rouse; to harass, to treat in a rough way; to arrest; to drive strongly,

roost (v.) – (of birds) to sleep,

roost (n.) – the place where a bird sleeps (usually its nest or a branch); a group of birds
roosting together,

rule the roost (id.) – to be the controlling member(s) of a family, organization, or

other group, to wear the trousers,

buoy (v.) – (float) to prevent someone or something from sinking [The very salty water
buoyed her (up) as she swam.],

buoy (v.) – (make happier, usually passive) to make someone feel happier or more
confident about a situation [She was buoyed (up) by the warm reception her audience
gave her.] – synonyms & related words [cheer, cheer up, brighten up, ginger up, hearten,
rally, animate, invigorate, comfort, uplift, lift, encourage, stimulate, raise someone's
spirits, give a lift to; support, sustain, give strength to, be a source of strength to, be a
tower of strength to, keep someone going, see someone through; pep up, perk up, buck
up, inspirit],

buoy (v.) – (make successful) to support something and make it more successful [House
prices have been buoyed (up) in the area by the possibility of a new factory opening.
Durotan caught a glimpse of the sheer strength of will that had buoyed Velen for coundess
years.],

truss (v.) – (usually used with „up) to tie the arms and legs of someone together tightly
and roughly with rope to prevent them from moving or escaping [Police said the couple
had been tussed up and robbed before being shot. To prepare a bird for cooking by tying its
wings and legs to its body. – synonyms & related words [tie up, bind, chain up; pinion,
fetter, tether, secure, fasten]

board something up (v.) – to cover a door or window with wooden boards [Stores
are boarding up their windows in case rioting breaks out.],

shore up (v.) – to make something stronger by supporting it [The plan will enable his
company to shore up its financial position. After the earthquake, we had to shore up
ceilings and walls. Shore up those supports, when the razor winds kick up again, they'll
tear those roovess right off.],

kick up (v.) – to become more active or noticeable [As the storm moves into the desert,
the wind and rain start to kick up.]

kick one's heels (id.) – to wait, to wait impatiently, or restlessly, to be forced to wait
for a period of time,

kick up one's heels [id.) – to do things that you enjoy [After final exams, we kicked up
our heels and had a really good party.],

take it on the chin (id.) – to accept unpleasant events bravely and without
complaining – synonyms & related words [roll with the punches, bear, tolerate, live with,
put up with, bear up, bear, take the bad with the good, resign yourself (to something),
grin and bear it, take the rough with the smooth, brave out, can live with something,
count your blessings, have the patience of Job, lump it, make the best of a bad job, make
the best of it, sweat it out, take, take your medicine, tolerate, wear, without a murmur],

take it out of somebody (id.) – to make someone very tired, exhausted,

weary[Running around after 25 preschoolers takes it out of me by the end of the week. The
job has really taken it out of me.],

take something out on somebody (id.) – to treat someone badly because you are
upset or angry, even if they have done nothing wrong [I know you've had a bad day, but
you don't have to take it out on me! He took out his anger on his family. I know you've got a
headache, but don't take it out on me!],

knock somebody around (id.) – to behave violently towards someone and hit
them [Her husband used to knock her around.],
jerk (someone) around (id.) – to treat someone in an unfair or dishonest way, to
intentionally cause difficulty for someone; to behave in a stupid way, to act foolishly [I
don't think she relaly likes Colten – she's just jerking him around. Quit jerking around, you
two!],

on one's head (id.) – assumed or borne, as a responsibility or something

blameworthy,

wrenching (adj.) – extremely stressful [It was not a cry of anger that came from the
sacred mountain. It was the wrenching sound of ultimate grief, and he shuddered inside as
he wondered why the ancestors mourned so very, very deeply.],

dote on (v.) – (usually with „on“) to be excessively fond of, to love someone very much,
often so much that you do not notice their faults [She absolutely dotes on her
grandchildren. Little Bill's parents just keep doting on him.] – synonyms & related words
[adore, love dearly, be devoted to, idolize, treasure, cherish, lavish affection on, worship,
think very highly of, appreciate greatly, admire, hold dear, prize; indulge, spoil, pamper,
adoring, loving, amorous, besotted, infatuated, lovesick, passionate; affectionate, fond,
devoted, solicitous, caring, tender, warm, warm-hearted; overindulgent, indulgent;
lovey-dovey, touchy-feely]

dote over (v.) – to care for someone, usually excessively or in an overly emotional
manner,

be lost on somebody (id.) – if a joke or remark is lost on someone, they do not

understand it or appreciate it [The whole lecture was lost on me. What was he even
talking about? The joke was lost on the audience, unfortunately. I'll have to rewrite it to be
less subtle. The realization that he felt fear rather than chagrin at bringing disappointing
news was not lost on the shaman.],

inviolable (adj.) – that must be respected and not removed or ignored [Everyone has
an inviolable right to protection by a fair legal system. You want us to be strong as a
people, rather than as individual clans, and we cannot do that without a code of honor that
is inviolable.],

well (up) (v.) – if a liquid wells or wells up, it comes to the surface and is about to flow
out; if feelings well or well up inside you, they become very strong [With tears welling in
his eyes, Palmer walked away. A sense of hurt and outrage welled up inside him. But
Ner’zhul felt Gul'dan's gaze upon him. and another fear welled up inside him that Gul'dan
was bearing witness to his master's first hints of doubt.],

coolly (adv.) – in an unfriendly way [„How did he receive your suggestion?“ „Coolly – I
don't think he was too excited about the idea.“],
contrite (adj.) – feeling very sorry and guilty for something bad that you have done [A
contrite apology/expression. For the briefest of moments, anger flitted across Gul'dan's
face. Then the younger orc bowed deeply and said contritely, "Of course, my master.“],

sink back (v.) – to move into a relaxed, comfortable position [He sank back in his chair
and closed his eyes. Then he was gone, and Ner’zhul sank back, wiping a face greasy with
the sweat of terror.],

coveted (adj.) – strongly desired by many [The Caldecott Medal is a coveted children's
book reward. The stone was passed from clan to clan at each new moon, and was highly
coveted.] – synnyms & related words [desire, be consumed with desire for, crave, have
one's heart set on; want, wish for, long for, yearn for, dream of, aspire to, hanker for,
hanker after, hunger after/for, thirst for, ache for, fancy, burn for, pant for],

undercut (v.) – (damage) to damage something or to make it fail; offer goods or

services at a lower price than (a competitor); cut or wear away the part below or under
(something, especially a cliff) [He suspected it was an attempt to undercut his authority.]
– synonyms & related words [charge less than, charge a lower price than, undersell,
underbid; undermine, weaken, impair, damage, sap, threaten, subvert, sabotage, ruin,
disrupt, undo, destabilize, demolish, wreck, destroy, chip away],

shrink from (v.) – to avoid doing something that is unpleasant or difficult [We must
not shrink from our responsibilities. We will not shrink from using force.],

do away with somebody (v.) – to murder someone,

do away with something (v.) – to get rid of or destroy something; to get rid of
something or stop using something [The governor is proposing to do away with the state
transportation department. These ridiculous rules and regulations should have been done
away with years ago. Computerization has enabled us to do away with a lot of paperwork.
How could they do away with a beautiful old building lik ethat and put a car park there
instead?],

stammer (v.) – to speak or say something with unusual pauses or repeated sounds,
either because of speech problems or because of fear and anxiety [He dialed 999 and
stammered (out) his name and address. "As . . . you will." Gul’dan stammered finally, then
with more confidence, "tell me what you would have me do, and I swear, it will be done."],

give something a whirl (id.) – to attempt to do something, often for the first time
[I've never danced salsa before but I'll give it a whirl.],

whirl (v.) – to (cause something to) turn around in circles [She saw a mess of bodies
whirling around o nthe dnace floor. He stepped out int othe night and the whirling snow.
He whirled her around until she felt quite sick.],
circle (v.) – move all the way around (something or something), especially more than
once; form a ring around [They were circling Athens airport. Adam circled the building.
The abbey was circled by a huge wall.] – synonyms & related words [wheel, move round,
move round in circles, revolve, rotate, whirl, spiral, gyrate, go round, walk round, travel
round, circumnavigate, orbit, revolve round, circumambulate, surround, encircle, ring,
ring round, enclose, encompass, bound, hedge in, fence in, hem in, gird, girdle],

whirl (n.) – a continuous and exciting period of activity [The next two days passed in a
whirl of activity. I found myself swept up in the social whirl of college life and hardly had
time to study.],

whirl on (v.) – (direction) to change direction and turn, so that you are facing someone
[He whirled on me. Durotan got up and whirled on Drek'thar.],

weave (v.) – (move quickly) to go or make a path by moving quickly and changing
direction often, especially to avoid hitting things [The boy weaved through/between/in
and out of stationary traffic on a bicycle. The taxi weaved in and out of traffic. Samantha
had to weave her way through/across/around the crowd.] – synonyms & related words
[thread (one's way), wind (one's way), work (one's way), dodge, move in and out,
swerve, zigzag, criss-cross]

weave (v.) – (move clumsily) to move by turning and twisting [The drunk weaved into
another bar. The victims’ feeling of incredulity at what they were seeing, swiftly turning to
paralysing fear as the van bore down on them, swerving and weaving to hit as many people
as possible, can barely be imagined. Durotan weaved as if he had had too much to drink as
blood dripped from deep wounds.],

bridle (v.) – (show anger) to show sudden anger [She bridled at the suggestion that she
had been dishonest. Blackhand had begun to bridle at the description "obedient," but was
mollified when Gul'dan mentioned "high regard" and "richly rewarded."],

be predicate on something (v.) – if an idea or argument is predicated on

something, it depends on the existence or truth of this thing [The sales forecast is
predicated on the assumption that the economy will grow by four percent. Power that is
not predicated on asking or begging or pleading , , , power that comes because we are
strong enough to demand it to come.],

leadfooted (adj.) – slow, boring, dull or stupid,

stony (adj.) – (person) a stony expression or way of behaving is one that shows no
sympathy or kindness [She gave me a stony glare as I walked into the room. Most of her
comments were met with a stony silence.] – synonyms & related words [unfriendly, cold,
chilly, frosty, icy, frigid; hard, flinty, steely, stern, severe; fixed, expressionless, blank,
poker-faced, deadpan; unfeeling, uncaring, unsympathetic, lacking compassion,
insensitive, unmoved, indifferent, unresponsive, cold-hearted, callous, heartless, tough,
hard-hearted, stony-hearted, inflexible, unbending, unyielding, uncompromising,
merciless, pitiless, ruthless, unforgiving, hostile, adamantine, indurate, marble-hearted,
Rhadamanthine],

break (one's) stride (v.) – to cease moving one's legs at a certain rhythm or pace [I
had to break my stride to avoid the big branch in the middle of the path. After I broke my
stride, I never could pick up enough speed to win the race.],

apprehensive (adj.) – feeling worried about something that you are going to do or
that is going to happen [I'm very apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting. I've invited a lot
of people to the party, but I'm a little apprehensive that no one will come. Lenora felt very
apprehensive about his visit.],

obtuse (adj.) – (stupid) stupid and slow to understand, or unwilling to try to

understand [The answer's obvious – or are you being deliberately obtuse? Even the most
obtuse among the Frostwolves could sense the mistrust and contempt from the visitors.],

jar (n.) – (shake) a sudden forceful or unpleasant shake or movement, jolt, shake, qiver
[With every jar of the carriage, the children shrieked with excitement.],

jar (v.) – (shake) to shake or move someone or something unpleasantly or violently

[The sudden movement jarred his injured ribs. The sword clanged against the head of his
axe and jarred his arm to the bone.] – synonyms & related words [jolt, jerk, shake,
vibrate, bang]

jar (v.) – (not pleasant) if a sight, sound, or experience jars, it is so different or

unexpected that it has a strong and unpleasant effect on something or someone [The
harsh colors jarred the eye. A screech of brakes jarred the silence.] – synonyms & related
words [grate on, set someone's teeth on edge; irritate, annoy, upset, irk, exasperate,
nettle, vex, disturb, rattle, discompose; jangle, rile, aggravate ,get on someone's nerves,
get someone's goat],

jar (v.) – (not right) to disagree or seem wrong or unsuitable [This comment jars with
the opinions we have heard expressed elsewhere.] – synonyms & related words [clash,
conflict, be incompatible, be at variance, be at odds, be inconsistent, be incongruous, be
in opposition, be in conflict, disagree, contrast, collide; differ from, diverge from; not
match, not go, be discordant, scream at; clashing, conflicting, contrasting, incompatible,
incongruous; discordant, dissonant, inharmonious; harsh, grating, jangling, strident,
shrill, cacophonous; out of place, unsuitable, inappropriate; disagreeable, unpleasant,
offensive],

jar on somebody (v.) – if something, especially a noise, jars on you, it annoys you
[His superior manner jars on me. That squeaky voice is beginning to jar on me.],
set somebody's teeth on edge (id.) – if something, especially a noise, sets your
teeth on edge, it annoys you very much [That DJ's voice really sets my teeth on edge. The
grating sound set her teeth on edge.],

sag (v.) – to drop down to a lower level in the middle [The shelf sagged under the weight
of the heavy books. A sagging roof/floor/bed.] – synonyms & related words [sink, subside,
slump, crumble, loll, flop, curve down, hang down, dip, droop, swag, bulge, bag],

sag (v.) – to become weaker [The dollar held up well this morning but the pound sagged.]
– synonyms & related words [falter, weaken, languish ,flag, fade, wilt, shrivel, wither, fail,
fall, decline, fall, go down, drop, drop/fall off, turn down, decrease, diminish, reduce,
sink, slump, plummet, tumble, crash, take a nosedive, nosedive],

sag (v.) (by extension) to lean, give way, or settle from a vertical position. [A building
may sag one way or another. The door sags on its hinges. Durotan got to his feet and struck
again, this time a killing blow—a mercy blow. Restalaan sagged and Nightstalkcr
immediately let go of the arm.] – synonyms & related words [drooping, saggy, bowed,
bowing, hanging limpy, dangling, droopy, wilting],

trappings (n.) – all the things that are part of or typical of a particular job, situation, or
event [He enjoyed the trappings of power, such as a chaffeur-driven car and bodyguard.
The president's trip had all the trappings of a state visit. At first, the ores had not known
what to make of the trappings of the draenei, but now they were beginning to incorporate
their victims' way of life into their own.] – synonyms & related words [accessories,
trimmings, frills, accompaniments, extras, ornaments, ornamentation, adornment,
decoration; regalia, paraphernalia, apparatus, finery, frippery, livery, fittings,
accoutrements; appurtenances, appointments, equipage, equipment, gear, effects, things,
panoply; baggage, impedimenta, bells and whistles, stuff, bits and pieces, bits and bobs,
trumpery],

on the sly (id.) – if you do something on the sly, you do it secretly because you should
not be doing it [He drives his mother's car on the sly while she's at work.] – synonyms &
related words [in secret, secretly, furtively, stealthily, sneakily, slyly, surreptitiously,
covertly, clandestinely, on the quiet, on the side, behind someone's back, under cover;
under the counter, on the q.t.],

bristle (v.) – (hair) (of hair) to stand up [The cat's fur bristled and it arched its back.] –
xsynonyms & related words [rise, stand up, stand on end, horripilate]

bristle (v.) – (react angrily) to react angrily [She bristled at the suggestion that she had
in any way neglected the child.] – synonyms & related words [get angry, become
infuriated, be furious, be maddened, bridle, become indignant, be irritated, get/have
one's hackles up, feel one's hackles rise, rear up, draw oneself up, flare up, see red, take
offense, take umbrage, be defensive]
bristle (v.) – (react with shock) to cause to stand erect like bristles, stiffen [“And I
wasn’t here,” continued Khadgar. “Not in Azeroth, or Lordaeron. Wherever I was, the sky
was red as blood.” Medivh bristled as if struck by an electric shock. The intricate device
beneath his tools flashed brightly as the wrong parts were touched, then screamed, and
then died.],

bristle with (v.) – to have a large amount of something, or to be full of something [The
helicopter hovered above them bristling with machine guns. Costellin was an hour early,
but still one grenadier platoon had arrived before him, and the second now approached in
a convoy of Centaurs. He had brought along a tech-priest named Lomax, a skinny man with
watery eyes, who bristled with so many mechadendrites that he looked almost like a
gigantic metal spider. Lomax was here for two reasons, the first and lesser of them being
that Costellin didn’t trust the ancient Termite not to fail on him.] – synonyms & related
words [abound, swarm, teem, crawl, overflow, hum, be alive, be packed, be crowded, be
thronged, be jammed, be infested, be full, be covered; be thick, be crawling, be lousy, be
stuffed, be jam-packed, be chock-a-block, be chock-full]

alive with something (id.) – full of things that are living and moving [The pond was
alive with frogs.],

without (so much as) a backward glance (id.) – if you leave without a
backward glance, you are completely happy to leave and have no sad feelings about it
[She left the city where she had lived all her life without a backward glance.],

officious (adj.) – too eager to tell people what to do and having too high an opinion of
your own importance [He's an officious little man and widely disliked in the company.
Officious members of the Blackrock clan and others greeted Durotan perfunctorily and sent
the Frostwolves to a flat area in the western part of the complex to begin setting up tents.],

perfunctory (adj.) – done quickly, without taking care or interest [His smile was
perfunctory.],

irrevocable (adj.) – impossible to change [An irrevocable decision. Something had

changed the inherent nature of the ores so drastically, so irrevocably, that they had allied
with creatures that they had hated for generations against the draenei, a people they had
been tentative friends with for almost as long.] – synonyms & related words [irreversible,
unrectifiable, irremediable, irreparable, unrepairable, beyond repair; unalterable,
unchangeable, immutable, final, binding, absolute, permanent, lasting; peremptory,
unappealable],

stand somebody in good stead (id.) – if an experience stands a person in good

stead, it is or will be of great use to them, to come in handy for someone in the future
[Getting some work experience now will stand you in good stead (for) when you apply for a
permanent job. Your experience will stand you in good stead. You see, my father had
decided that before I became a man it was important I knew where I came from. And I m
glad he did, cause what he told me then has stood me in good stead ever since.],

bear watching (id.) – to warrant one's attention; to need close, attentive observation
or monitoring, important, relevant [Because this situation is so fluid, it bears watching
over the next few hours. This problem will bear watching. This is a very serious disease, and
it will bear watching for further developments.],

frosty (adj.) – if someone, or someone's behavior, is frosty, they are unfriendly adn not
welcoming [He gave me a frosty look. The chairperson's plan received a frosty reception
from the committee.],

frostily (adv.) – in an unfriendly way [„I didn't ask you to come,“ she said frostily.],

(not) give somebody the time of day (i.) – to (not) acknowledge somebody, to
(not) give somebody respect or attention; if someone will not give you the time of day,
they are unfrinedly and refuse to speak to you [If you're lucky, she might give you the time
of day. Unless you're a celebrity, he won't give you the time of day. I think I've really
annoyed him this time – he won't even give me the time of day! We had an argument with
our neighbors, and now they won't even give us the time of day.],

give someone the cold shoulder (id.) – to intentionally ignore someone or treat
someone in an unfriendly way [I thought she really liked me, but the next day she gave me
the cold shoulder.],

ensconce (v.) – (ensconce yourself) to make yourself very comfortable or safe in a

place or position [After dinner, I esconced myself in an armchair with a book. The
Medusas, with their limited range but enormous destructive power, were up front doing
most of the work, each ensconced in its own shallow dugout, each spitting out heavy shell
after heavy shell in a deafening barrage.] – synonyms & related words [settle, install,
establish, park, shut, plant, lodge, position, seat, entrench, shelter, screen; nestle, curl up,
snuggle up, sit, dig in],

ensconced (adj.) – positioned safely or comfortably somewhere [He is now firmly

ensconced in his new home.],

unctuous (adj.) – unctuous people or behavior expresses too much praise, interest,
friendliness, etc., in a way that is false and unpleasant [His unctuous
manner/voice/smile.] – synonyms & related words [sycophantic, ingratiating,
obsequious, fawning, servile, self-abasing, grovelling, subservient, wheedling, cajoling,
crawling, cringing, Uriah Heepish, humble, toadying, hypocritical, insincere, flattering,
adulatory, honey-tongued, silver-tongued, gushing, effusive, suave, urbane, glib, smooth,
smooth-tongued, smooth-spoken, smooth-talking, slick, slippery, saccharine; oily,
oleaginous, greasy; cloying, nauseating, sickening; smarmy, slimy, bootlicking, forelock-
tugging, phoney, sucky, soapy, brown-nosing, apple-polishing, arse-licking, bum-sucking,
ass-kissing, kiss-ass, saponaceous, pinguid],

balk (v.) – (be unwilling) to be unwilling to do something or to allow something to

happen; thwart or hinder (a plan or person); prevent a person or animal from having
(something); (archaic) miss or refuse (a chance or invitation); (with reference to a
horse) refuse or cause to refuse to go on [I balked at the prospect of spending four hours
on a train with him. He balked at such a drastic solution. Sensitive gardeners who balk at
using pesticides. He raised every objection he could to balk this plan. They were balked by
traffic. A tiger balked of its prey. It's got to be done, so why balk it?] – synonyms & related
words [eschew, resist, refuse to, be unwilling to, draw the line at, be reluctant to, draw
back from, flinch from, shrink from, shy from, recoil from, quail at, demur from, hesitate
over, scruple to, take exception to, not like to, hate to, jib at; scorn, disdain; impede,
obstruct, thwart, hinder, prevent, check, stop, curb, halt, bar, block, forestall, frustrate,
stall, baffle, foil, defeat, beat, counteract, head off],

scruple (n.) – a feeling that prevents you from doing something that you think is
morally wrong or makes you uncertain about doing it [Robin Hod had no scruples about
robbing the rich to give to the poor. He is a man without scruple – he has no sconscience.] –
synonyms & related words [qualms, twinge of conscience, compunction, hesitation,
reservations, second thoughts, doubt(s), misgivings, pangs of conscience, uneasiness,
reluctance; principles, standards, values, morals, morality, moral concern, ethics,
conscience, creed, beliefs],

scruple (v.) – hesitate or be reluctant to do something that one thinks may be wrong
[She doesn't scruple to ask her parents for money. They would not scruple to cut his
throat.] – synonyms & related words [hesitate, be reluctant, be loath, have qualms about,
have scruples about, have misgivings about, have reservations about, stick at, think
twice about, baulk at, demur about/from, mind doing something; recoil from, shrink
from, hang back from, shy away from, flinch from, drag one's feet/heels over, waver
about, vacillate about, boggle at, disrelish something],

scrupulous (adj.) – (honest) extremely honest; (careful) doing everything correctly

and exactly as it should be done [He is scrupulous in his finances. He is a scrupulous
businessman and always acts in the best interest of his company. A scrupulous politician
would not about her business interests. The nurse told him to be scrupulous (= extremely
careful) about keeping the wound. She is always scrupulously honest/fair. A hospital must
be kept scrupulously clean.],

unscrupulous (adj.) – behaving in a way that is dishonest or unfair in order to get

what you want [An unscrupulous financial adviser.],

be rotten to the core (id.) – if a person or organization is rotten to the core, they
behave in a way that is not honest or moral [The whole legal system is rotten to the core.],
gloat (v.) – to feel or express great pleasure or satisfcation because of your own success
or good luck, or someone else's failure or bad luck [She's continually gloating over/about
her new job. I know I shouldn't gloat, but it really serves him right. His enemies were quick
to gloat at his humiliation. „This is our fourth victory in a row,“ he gloated.],

tense (adj.) – (nervous) nervous and worried and unable to relax; if a situation is tense,
it causes feelings of worry or nervousness; (stretched) (of your body or part of the body)
stretched tight and stiff [She was very tense as she waited for the interview. There were
some tense moments in the second half of the game. Durotan tensed – so... it would be
today.] – synonyms & related words [anxious, nervous, on edge, edgy, strained, stressed,
under a strain, under pressure, agitated, ill at ease, unrelaxed, in a state of nerves, in a
state of agitation, fretful, uneasy, restless, worked up, keyed up, overwrought, highly
strung, wrought up, strung out, jumpy, on tenterhooks, on pins and needles, with one's
stomach in knots, fidgety, worried, apprehensive, upset, disturbed, panicky; nervy; with
butterflies in one's stomach, a bundle of nerves, jittery, twitchy, in a state, uptight, wired,
het up, stressed out, white-knuckled; strung up, stressy, windy, spooky, squirelly, toey,
overstrung, nerve-racking, stressful, anxious, worrying, concerning, fraught, charged,
strained, nail-biting, worrisome, difficult, uneasy, uncomfortable; exciting, cliffhanging,
knife-edge, dramatic, volatile, explosive; hairy, anxious-making, white-knuckle],

strain (v.) – to exert or struggle (to do something), especially to stretch (one's senses,
faculties etc.) beyond what is normal or comfortable [Sitting in back, I strained to hear
the speaker. Durotan watch, straining to see the reaction.] – synonyms & related words
[struggle, labour, toil, make a supreme effort, make every effort, spare no effort, strain
every nerve, try very hard, strive, break one's back, push/drive oneself to the limit, do
one's best; pull out all the stops, go all out, give it one's all, bend/lean over backwards,
give it one's best shot, bust a gut, break one's neck, do one's damnedest, kill oneself; go
for the doctor; injure, hurt, damage, impair, pull, wrench, tear, twist, sprain, rick, crick,
overtax, overwork, overburden, overextend, overreach, overtask, make too many
demands on, run/work oneself into the ground, exert excessively, drive too far, exert to
the limit, push to the limit; exhaust, wear out, fatigue, tire, tax; overdo it, work too hard;
knacker, knock oneself out, make severe demands on, make excessive demands on,
overtax, be too much for, exceed the limits of, drain, sap, use up, exceed the range/scope
of, overstep, test, tax, put a strain on, fry, pull, tug, heave, haul, jerk, push, yank],

double over (v.) – to suddenly bend forward and down, usually because of pain or
laughter [A sudden, sharp pain made him double over. He doubled over for a moment, and
the crowd murmured in worry.],

double up (v.) to bend, bend over, to fold, to stoop [„Well, sir, it went so quick, and the
creature was so doubled up, that I could hardly swear to that," was the answer.],

double up (v.) – to share something, especially a room or mount, with someone else
[Terry will have to double up with Bill in the front bedroom. “It’s just as well,” said Medivh.
“Your mount got spooked by the arrows, and headed for the high country. We’ll have to
double up.”],

double back (id.) – to retrace one's steps, to go back to where one has already gone
[We doubled back through the fields to the village. When you go to to the roundabout, you
need to double back on yourself.„... such places are often where the universe wears thin,
allowing it to double back on itself, or perhaps even allowing entry to the Twisting Nether
and to other worlds entirely.”]

bestir (v.) – (bestir oneself) to become active after a period of rest [I'd better bester
myself – there's work to be done. He always delegated his responsibilities to someone else
and never bestirred himself.],

brisk (adj.) – quick, energetic, and active [A brisk walk. He set a brisk pace and we
struggled to keep up. Her tone on the phone was brisk (= she spoke quickly and used few
words) and businesslike. She walked briskly into town. Beat the egg whites briskly until soft
peaks form. „Let's get it over with,“ he said briskly.],

outlet (n.) – (way out) a way, especially a pipe or hole, for liquid or gas to gout; a way
in which emotion or energy can be expressed or made use of [A waste water outlet. An
outlet pipe. Her work provided no outlet for her energies and talents. Writing poetry was
his only form of emotional outlet. It will consume them eventually unless they have an
oudct for it. and that outlet is only to be found in slaughtering every last draenei on the
face of this world.] – synonyms & related words [means of expression, release, means of
release, release mechanism, safety valve, vent, avenue, way of harnessing, channel],

outlet (n.) – a point from which goods are sold or distributed; a market for goods; a
shop that sells goods made by a particular manufacturer at discounted prices [A fast-
food outlet. The state system provided an outlet for farm produce. Ensuring that farmers
have an outlet for their crops. A designer outlet.] – synonyms & related words [market,
retail outlet, marketplace, selling place, shop, store],

outlet (n.) – a pipe or hole through which water or gas may escape; the mouth of a
river; an outpot socket in an electrical device [Fumes from someone's central-heating
outlet.] – synonyms & related words [vent, vent hole, way out, exit, egress; outfall,
opening, channel, trench, culvert, cut, conduit, ditch, mouth, valve, safety valve, blow-off;
blowhole; orifice, pore, duct],

besotted (adj.) – completely in love with someone and always thinking of them [He
was so completely besotted with her that he couldn't see how badly she treated him.
Besotted though the ores were by bloodlust, they would not have failed to search for the
body most coveted by their leader.] – synonyms & related words [infatuated with, smitten
with, in love with, love-struck by, head over heels in love with, hopelessly in love with,
obsessed with, passionate about, consumed with desire for, devoted to, doting on,
greatly enamoured of, very attracted to, very taken with, charmed by, captivated by,
enchanted by, enthralled by, bewitched by, beguiled by, under someone's spell,
hypnotized by, bowled over by, swept off one's feet by, struck on, crazy about, mad
about, wild about, potty about, nuts about, very keen on, gone on, really into, hung up on,
carrying a torch for, twitterpated by, ensorcelled by],

lurid (adj.) – (shocking) (especially of a description) shocking due to involving

violence, sex, or immoral activity; (color) too brightly colored [You can read all the lurid
details of the affair in today's paper. That's a very lurid shade of lipstick she's wearing.] –
synonyms & related words [brightly colored, bright, over-bright, brilliant, glaring,
fluorescent, flaming, dazzling, vivid, intense, showy, gaudy, loud, sensational,
sensationalist, melodramatic, exaggerated, overdtramatized, extravagant, colorful,
trashy, rubbishy, cheap, pulp, tasteless, kitschy, salacious, graphic, explicit, unrestrained,
prurient, ribald, suggestive, shocking, startling, dirty, filthy, gruesome, gory, grisly,
macabre, repugnant, revolting, disgusting, ghastly, morbid, unearthly, grotesque,
hideous, horrifying, appalling, tacky, shock-horror, juicy, full-frontal]

unheeded (adj.) – (go unheeded) ignored, not paid attention to, unnoticed, especially
of a warning or advice [All of her suggestions had gone unheeded. He held the violet crystal
in his hand and tears poured silent and unheeded down his face.] – synonyms & related
words [disregarded, ignored, neglected, overlooked, unobserved, unnoted,
unrecognized, disobeyed, unnoticed, passed over, spurned]

flag (v.) – (become tired) to become tired, weaker, or less effective [I was starting to
flag after the ninth mile. The conversation was flagging... shards from draenei souls,
certain stones for the larger creatures, potions to help him keep his energy up when it
flagged.] – synonyms & related words [tire, become fatigued, grow tired/weary, weaken,
grow weak, lose (one's) strength/energy, falter, languish, wilt, droop, sag; fade, fail,
decline, deteriorate, wane, ebb, diminish, decrease, lessen, abate, dwindle, erode, recede,
sink, slump, taper off; wither, melt away, peter out, die away, die down, die out, die off,
go downhill],

ajar (adj.) – if a door is ajar, it is slightly open [We left the door ajar so that we could
hear what they were saying.] – synonyms & related words [slightly open, half open,
agape, unfastened, unlatched, unlocked, unsecured, off the latch],

ajar with (adj.) – contrary to [That story is ajar with the facts.]

pine for something/somebody (v.) – to want or miss something or someone very

much [He's still pining for his ex-girlfriend. She's always pining for my attention.],

hanker after/for something (v.) – to have a strong wish for something, especially
if you cannot or should not have it, desire, yearn, long for [What did you hanker after the
most when you were in prison? Even after all these years, I still hanker for a motorbike.],
something is calling you (id.) – if something is calling you, you have a strong
feeling that you must do it, have it, go there, etc. [That last piece of chocolate cake is
calling me.],

rapt (adj.) – giving complete attention, or showing complete involvement, or (of

attention) complete; completely fascinated or absorbed by what one is seeing or
hearing; characterized by a state of fascination; filled with an intense and pleasurable
emotion, enraptured [She sat with a rapt expression, reading her book. The children
watched with rapt attention. He gazed at the stranger raptly.] – synonyms & related
words [fascinated, enthralled, spellbound, captivated, riveted, gripped, mesmerized,
enchanted, entranced, charmed, bewitched, transported, enraptured; thrilled, ecstatic,
rapturous; blissed out, engrossed, absorbed, lost, preoccupied, in a brown study, intent,
ecstatic],

(not) do (something/things/anything) by halves – (humorous) to do

something half-heartedly or only partially, incompletely; to do things very thoroughly
and with a lot of energy; if someone does not do things by halves, they put a lot of effort
and enthusiasm into doing things, often more than is necessary [„I didn't realize you
were decorating the whole house.“ „Oh, we don't do things by halves round here.“ You kids
need to clean your rooms today, and don't do it by halves – I want every last toy picked up!
He'll throw a great party – he doesn't do anything by halves.],

perch (v.) – (perch in, on, etc. sth) to sit on or nera the edge of something; to be in a
high position or in a position near the edge of something, or to put something in this
position [We perched on bar stools and had a beer. A blackbird was perching o nthe gate.
The village is perched on top of a high hill. In one vision, he assumed the form of a large
black bird, perching on Gul'dan's arm.],

perch (n.) – (seat) a place where a bird sits, especially a thin rod in a cage (= wire box);
a seat or other place high up, often giving a good view of something below [We watched
the parade from our perch on the scaffolding. The last bookcase smashed against the wall
and splintered, the force of the impact driving it to the ground. Garona slid down from her
now wobbling perch, long-bladed knife drawn. She tried to peer through the churning
dust.],

bloodletting (n.) – (formal) killing and violence, especially between enemy groups
involved in an argument that has existed for a long time; the situation in which a
company reduces the number of people working for it; in the past, a medical treatment
in which blood was taken from a person who was ill [Ethnic bloodletting. EWS carried
out further bloodletting by sacking some senior employees. Even though his designs went
far beyond simple bloodletting, he could not help but be stirred at the sight.],

be riveted (v.) – to not be able to stop looking at something because it is so interesting

or frightening [It was an amazing film – I was absolutely riveted. His eyes were riveted on
the television. He pulled out a gun and I was riveted on the spot (= so frightened that I
could not move.] – synonyms & related words [fixed, rooted, frozen; unable to move,
motionless, unmoving, immobile, stock-still, as still as a statue, as if turned to stone,
fascinated, engrossed, gripped, captivated, enthralled, intrigued, spellbound, rapt,
mesmerized, transfixed,

be riveted (on the spot) (v.) – to not be able to move because of seeing or hearing
something horrible,

rattle (n.) – a sound similair to a series of quickly repeated knocks; a toy that makes a
noise like a series of knocks; a wooden device that when turned around and orund
produces a noise like a series of knocks; the part of a rattlesnake's tail that produces a
noise [From across the town came the rattle of machine-gun fire. The baby was waving
around a plastic rattle.] – synonyms & related words [clatter, bang, clang, clank, clink,
clunk, jingle, jangke, tinkle, jolt, bump, bounce, shake, vibrate, jar, judder, jounce,
clattering, clinking, clanging, jingling, jangling, death rattle, rale],

rale (n.) – (medicine) an abnormal rattling sound herad when examining unhealthy
lungs with a stethoscope [She was listening for rales.],

rattle (v.) – (worry) to worry someone or make someone nervous [The creaking
upstairs was startling to rattle me. The warlock was doing his best to stay composed, but
clearly he had been rattled.] – synonyms & related words [unnerve, disconcert, disturb,
fluster, shake, perturb, discompose, discomfit, discountenance, make nervous, put off,
throw off balance, ruffle, agitate, put off one's stroke, upset, frighten, scare; faze, throw,
get to]

rattle (v.) – (sound) to (cause something to) make a noise like a series of knocks [The
explosion rattled the cups on the table. The dying man's voice rattled in his throat. The car
rattled over the cobblestones. My car engine is making a strange rattling noise.] –
synonyms & related words [clatter, bang, clang, clank, clink, clunk, jingle, jangle, clink,
tinkle, jolt, bump, bounce, shake, vibrate, jar, judder, jounce],

wholesome (adj.) – good for you, and likely to improve your life either physically,
morally, or emotionally [Wholesome food. Good, wholesome family entertainment. He
looks like a nice, wholesome young man.] – synonyms & related words [healthy, health-
giving, healthful, good, good for one, beneficial, sustaining, strengthening, nutritious,
nourishing, full of nourishment, full of nutrients, nutritive, unrefined; natural,
uncontaminated, organic, additive-free; rarenutrimental, nutrient, alimentary, alible,
moral, ethical, good, nice, clean, virtuous, pure, innocent, chaste; uplifting, edifying,
improving, non-erotic, non-violent, righteous, upright, upstanding, high-minded, right-
minded, proper, correct, honourable, honest, just, noble, respectable, decent, simple;
squeaky clean],
unwholesome (adj.) – not characterized by or conductive to health or moral well-
being [The use of the living rom as sleeping quarters led to unwholesome crowding. The
unwholesome smoke-filled air.] – synonyms & related words [unhealthy, noxious,
poisonous; unnourishing, innutritious; insalubrious, unhygienic, insanitary; harmful,
injurious, detrimental, destructive, damaging, deleterious, ruinous, malign, baleful,
improper, immoral, indecent, corrupting, depraving, salacious, subversive, exploitative],

subversive (adj.) – sekeing or intending to subvert an established system or

institution [Subversive literature. He was arrested and charged with subversive activities.]
– synonyms & related words [disruptive, troublemaking, inflammatory, insurgent,
insurrectionary, insurrectionist, rabble-rousing; seditious, revolutionary, treasonous,
treacherous, mutinous, rebellious, rebel, renegade, unpatriotic, dissident, disloyal,
perfidious, insubordinate, underground, undermining, corrupting, discrediting,
destructive, harmful],

subvert (v.) – undermine the power and authority of (an established system or
institution) [An attempt to subvert democratic government. A plot to subvert the state. He
tried to subvert the minds of innocent teenagers.] – synonyms & related words
[destabilize, unsettle, overthrow, overturn; bring down, bring about the downfall of,
topple, depose, oust, supplant, unseat, dethrone, disestablish, dissolve; disrupt, wreak
havoc on, sabotage, ruin, upset, destroy, annihilate, demolish, wreck, undo, undermine,
undercut, weaken, impair, damage, corrupt, pervert, warp, deprave, defile, debase,
distort, contaminate, poison, embitter, vitiate],

amenable (adj.) – willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion; capable of being

acted upon in a particular way, susceptible [She might be more amenable to the idea if
you explained how much money it would save. Do you think the new manager will prove
more ameniable to our proposals? Cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment.] –
synonyms & related words [compliant, acquiescent, biddable, manageable, controllable,
governable, persuadable, tractable, responsive, pliant, flexible, malleable, complaisant,
accommodating, docile, submissive, obedient, tame, meek, easily handled, persuasible,
susceptible, receptive, responsive, reactive, vulnerable, defenceless against, susceptive],

amend (v.) – to alter, modify, rephrase, or add to or substract from (a motion, bill,
constitution, etc.) by the formal procedure; to change for the better, improve; to remove
or correct faults in, rectify; to grow or become better by reforming oneself [Congress
may amend the proposed tax bill. To amend one's ways. He amends day by day. The spy
shook his head then amended „W-Water, if you please.“],

betide (v.) – to happen (to someone) [They would all have to ride home that night, and
who could say what might betide them. Woe betide you if you try that with my sister
again!],
pry (v.) – (ask questions) (disapproving) to try to find out private facts about a person;
to try and discoer private things about people; [As a reporter, I was paid to pry into other
people's lives. I hope you don't think I'm prying, but has your boyfriend ever lived with
anyone before? She wanted a private holiday away from prying eyes (= where no one
would be trying to see her).],

pry something apart/loose/open, etc. (v.) – to open something with difficulty

[She managed to pry open a window and escape. These shadows of the past had been pried
loose by the madness of the tower’s owner, and were now condemned to play out their
histories again and again, in the silence of the abandoned tower. Condemned to play but
denied of any audience to appreciate them.],

lambent (adj.) – shining gently [A lambent glow. The lambent Moon.],

lambent wit (n.) – the ability to use kind words in a clever and humorous way
without being unkind,

fetters (n.) – (old use) a pair of chains that were tied round the legs of prisoners to
prevent them from escaping; (literary) something that severely limits you [The fetters of
motherhood. She was struggling to escape the fetters of family life.],

fetter (v.) – (literary) to keep someone within limits or stop them from making
progress; to tie someone to a place by putting chains around their ankles [He felt fettered
by a nine-to-five office existence. We are fettered by petty bureacracy.],

livery (n.) – a special uniform worn by servants or particular officials,

gavotte (n.) – a fast dance from France, popular in the past, or a piece of music for this,

counterpoint (n.) – the combination of two or more different tunes played at the
same time [In the distance wolves picked up his chant and cast it back in howling
counterpoint.],

insinuate yourself into something (id.) – to use clever, secret, and often unpleasant
methods to gradually become part of something [Over the years, she insinuated herself
into the great man's life. Khadgar’s sage mentors, a conclave of influential scholars and
sorcerers, told him they had been trying to insinuate a sympathetic ear in the tower of
Karazhan for years.],

be at loggerheads (with somebody) (id.) – to strongly disagree (with someone)

[The party is at loggerheads with the president over public spending. The Great Medivh
and the Kirin Tor had been at loggerheads on these and other matters for years,
apparently, and now only did he relent to some of their entreaties.],
creeping (adj.) – happening, developing, or moving slowly or gradually [We are totally
against any form of creeping Socialism. Whether it was from a softening of the wizard’s
reportedly hard heart, or mere diplomatic concession, or a feeling of the mage’s own
creeping mortality, it did not matter to Khadgar’s masters.],

shuttle (v.) – to travel or take people regularly between the same two places [A bus
shuttles constantly between the terminal and the runways.],

forthright (adj.) – (too) honest or direct in behavior [His forthright manner can be
mistaken for rudeness. I admire her forthright way of dealing with people.],

be no slouch (id.) – if you say that someone is no slouch at a particulary activity, you
mean that they work hard at it and produce good results [She's no slouch when it comes
to organizing parties.],

slouch (v.) – to stand, sit, or walk wit hthe shoulders hanging forward and the head
bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored [Straighten your back – try not to
slouch. A couple of boys were slouched over the table reading magazines. A group of
teenagers were slouching around outside the building.],

cavalier (adj.) – not considering other people's feelings or safety; high-spirited;

supercillious, haughty, disdainful, curt, brusque [That's a rather cavalier attitude.],

(on the) butt end of nowhere (id.) – somewhere very remote, inhospitable,
abandoned [For a wizard living on the butt end of nowhere, surrounded by trees and
ominous peaks, the members of the Kirin Tor were extremely curious about him, urgent
even.],

supercilious (adj.) – arrogantly superior, showing contemptuous indifference,

haughty, behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs,
or ideas are not important [He spoke in a haughty, supercilious voice.],

overbearing (adj.) – too confident and too determined to tell other people what to do,
in a way that is unpleasant [Milligan had a pompous, overbearing father.] – synonyms &
related words [domineering, dominating, autocratic, tyrannical, despotic, heavy-handed,
oppressive, high-handed, bullying, high and mighty, lordly, lording it, officious,
masterful, dictatorial, bossy, imperious, pontifical, pompous, peremptory, arrogant,
cocksure, proud, overproud, overweening, presumptuous, opinionated, dogmatic, pushy,
throwing one's weight about, cocky]

excise (v.) – to remove something, especially by cutting [During a three-hour operation,

six tumors were excised from the wall of the patient's stomach. The official censors have
excised the controversial sections of the report. He had disappeared, or died, or something
horrible had happened, and the others chose to make no mention of it, even to the point of
excising Arrexis’s name from the volumes and not speaking of him again.] – synonyms &
related words [cut out, cut off, cut away, snip out, take out, extract, remove, eradicate,
extirpate; delete, cross out, cross through, strike out, score out, scratch out, cancel, put a
line through, blue-pencil, ink out, edit out, blank out; erase, efface, take out, remove, cut
out, cut, expunge, eliminate; expurgate, bowdlerize; axe, scrub, scrap, give something the
chop, kill, dele],

set out something (v.) – to arrange or prepare something for others to see or use
[The market was filled with fresh vegetables set out on tables.],

set out (v.) – to start an activity with a particular aim; to start a journey [She set out
with the aim of becoming the youngest ever winner of the championship. They set out to
discover a cure for autism. He set out to become chief executive. I don't set out to annoy
him – it just seems to happening. He set out to crush all his enemies.],

butt-end of nowhere (id.) – in a very obsecure and/or isolated location [For a

wizard living on the butt-end of nowhere, surrounded by trees and ominous peaks, the
members of the Kirin Tor were extremely curious about him.],

sepulchral (adj.) – suggesting detah or places where the dead are buried [The curtain
rose to reveal a gloomy, sepulchral set for the play. “You are the New Young Man?” said a
soft, almost sepulchral voice, and Khadgar, his head still craned upward, nearly jumped out
of his skin.],

(almost/nearly) jump out of one's skin (id.) – to react strongly to shock or

surprise [Oh! You really scared me. I naerly jumped out of my skin. Bill was so startled, he
almost jumped out of his skin.],

worsted (n.) – a type of cloth made from wool and used to make jackets, trousers, and
skirts [A pale grey worsted suit.],

earmuffs (n.) – a pair of small pieces of material like fur worn over the ears with a
strap that goes over the head to keep them on [A servant—human, but a servant. It, or
rather he, was still wearing black rectangles on the sides of his head, like a set of earmuffs,
that extended forward to his most prominent nose.],

proffer (v.) – to offer something by holding it out, or to offer advice or an opinion [He
shook the warmly proferred hand. I don't think it is wise to proffer an opinion. The servant
took the proffered letter as if the document were a live reptile and, after smoothing out its
crumpled edges, tucked it inside his livery vest without opening it. Then he shook the
commissar’s proffered hand, and allowed himself to be ushered away from there, albeit
with a scowl on his face. She profferred a glass of wine. Coleman proffered his resignation.]
– synonyms & related words [offer, tender, present, extend, give, submit, volunteer,
suggest, propose, pust forward, hold out],
be loath to do something (id.) – to be unwilling to do something [I'm loath to spend
it all at once. The letter of introduction represented his future, and he was loath to see it
disappear, even for a moment.],

but a half-step away from (id.) – to be on the verge of doing something [The Kirin
Tor sent me to assist Medivh. Lord Medivh. The Wizard Medivh. Medivh of Karazhan,”
Khadgar realized he was but a half-step from collapsing into a full-fledged babble, and
with a definitive effort tightly clamped his mouth shut.],

appraise (v.) – to examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities,

success, or needs [At the end of each teaching practice, trainee teachers are asked to
appraise their own performance. In cooperation with other professionals, social workers
will appraise the individual's needs. He coolly appraised the situation, deciding which
person would be most likely to succeed.] – synonyms & related words [assess, evaluate,
estimate, judge, rate, gauge, sum up, review, consider; size up, value, price, survey]

appraisee (n.) – a person who is being appraised,

lope (v.) – (of a person or animal) to run taking long, relaxed steps [The lion loped
across the grass. Khadgar picked up his rucksack and had to lope forward to catch up with
the servant.],

at a fast/good clip (id.) – fast [We set off at a good clip, but we gradually slowed
down.],

venture (v.) – to risk going somewhere or doing something that might be dangerous or
unpleasant, or to risk saying something that might be criticized [She rarely ventured
outside, except when she went to stock up on groceries. As we set off into the forest, we felt
as though we were venturing (forth) into the unknown. She tentatively ventured the
opinion that the project would be too expensive to complete, but the boss ignored her. “Are
you alone in the tower?” Khadgar ventured as they started climbing a curved set of wide,
low stairs.],

wheeze (v.) – to make a high, rough noise while breathing because of some breathing
difficulty [I could hear the old man behind me wheezing. I know when I've been smoking
too much because I want to wheeze when I run for a train. “The Magus is here,” responded
Moroes in a wheezing voice that sounded as faint and as fatal as grave dust.],

wheeze (n.) – a high, rough noise made when someone cannot breathe easily [The
cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath are things that go with smoking, not with age.],

footfall (n.) – (literary) the sound of a person's foot hitting the ground as they walk [I
herad echoing footfalls in the corridor.],
taciturn (adj.) – tending not to speak much [He's a reserved, taciturn person. “So just
you and the Wizard, then, normally?” said Khadgar, wondering if the steward had been
hired (or created) for his taciturn nature.],

doubly (adv.) – twice as much, or very much more [Neither my brother nor my sister
could come to the wedding, which was doubly disappointing... there was precious little on
this great and powerful Medivh. This was doubly odd, since every elder mage in Dalaran
seemed to hold Medivh in awe, and wanted one thing or another from him.],

for a song (id.) – very cheaply (frequently preceded by a form of the verb to buy or to
sell) [She bought the bed for a song at an auction. Because the shop's closing down, most of
the stick is going for a song (= being sold very cheaply). They remembered then that they
could have bought for a song canvases which now were worth large sums.],

the bulk of something (n.) – most of something [In fact, the bulk of the book is taken
up with criticizing other works. He was merely in his forties, and for a grand bulk of that
time seemed to have made no impact whatsoever on his surroundings.],

any number of things (id.) – a lot of a particular thing [The Cook's Shop stocks any
number of different kinds of pasta. You can talk to any number of doctors, but they will all
give you the same prognosis. Any umber of people can vouch for my honesty. I can give you
any number of reasons why I should join the army.],

truant (adj.) – absent without permission, especially from school; wandering from
business or duty, straying, loitering, idle, and shirking duty [She put back a truant curl
from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world.],

(play) truant (v.) – to be regularly absent from school without permission [Most
parents are horrified when they discover their children have been playing truant from
school. You'll fail all your exams if you carry on truanting.],

bring down someone/something (v.) – (make powerless) to cause someone to

lose power; (make less) to cause something to become less [An economic crisis could
bring down the government. Drugs can bring your blood pressure down.],

see someone through something (id.) – (support) to support someone during a

difficult time; to provide someone with the necessary resources or support to complete
something or reach the end of a period of time [He was a real friend to see me through my
long illness. The crops we've grown so far should see us through the winter. I'm trying to
save money to see me through college.],

woeful (adj.) – (bad) very bad or (of something very bad or unpleasant) very large or
extreme [The team's woeful record consists of six defeats in seven games. They displayed
woeful ignorance of the safety rules.] – synonyms & related words [dreadful, very bad,
awful, terrible, frightful, atrocious, disgraceful, deplorable, shameful, hopeless,
lamentable, laughable, substandard, poor, inadequate, inferior, unsatisfactory; rotten,
appaling, crummy, pathetic, pitiful, useless, lousy, shocking, abysmal, dire, the pits, duff,
chronic, rubbish, pants, a load of pants, poxy, chickenshit],

woeful (adj.) – (sad) (formal) extremely sad [She was looking very woeful, with her eyes
red and swollen.] – synonyms & related words [sad, unhappy, miserable, woebegone,
doleful, forlorn, crestfallen, glum, gloomy, dejected, downcast, disconsolate,
downhearted, despondent, depressed, despairing, dismal, melancholy, broken-hearted,
heartbroken, inconsolable, grief-stricken; blue, down in the mouth, down in the dumps],

woefully (adv.) – used to emphasize how bad a situation is [The safety precautions
taken by large resort hotels are often woefully inadequate for the number of people who
stay there. The school's textbooks are woefully out of date. And as he considered knowledge
to be his armor and sword, he felt woefully underequipped for the coming encounter.],

morose (adj.) – unhappy, annoyed, and unwilling to speak or smile [A morose

expression. Why are you so morose these days? She was morsoe and silent when she got
home. Louis sat alone at a table, looking morose. The Marines Malevolent served alongside
the morose Star Phantoms Chapter during many of the campaign's most deadly
engagements.] – synonyms & related words [sullen, sulky, gloomy, bad-tempered, ill-
tempered, in a bad mood, dour, surly, sour, glum, moody, unsmiling, humourless,
uncommunicative, taciturn, unresponsive, unsociable, scowling, glowering, ill-
humoured, sombre, sober, saturnine, pessimistic, lugubrious, Eeyorish, mournful,
melancholy, melancholic, doleful, miserable, dismal, depressed, dejected, despondent,
downcast, unhappy, low-spirited, in low spirits, low, with a long face, blue, down, fed up,
grumpy, irritable, churlish, cantankerous, crotchety, cross, crabbed, crabby, grouchy,
testy, snappish, peevish, crusty, waspish; down in the mouth, down in the dumps, narky,
mardy, mumpish],

druthers (n.) – (your druthers) what you would prefer [If I had my druthers, there'd be
another election. This isn't the way we'd do things if we had our druthers. Given his
druthers, he would listen to different music. “Like everyone else, I suppose,” said Moroes.
“Has his druthers. Has his moods. Good days and bad. Like everybody else.”] – synonyms &
related words [liking, partiality, predilection, proclivity, fondness, taste, inclination,
leaning, bias, bent, penchant, predisposition, desire, wish; rather than, instead of, in
place of, sooner than, above, before, over; favorite, first choice, top of the list, choice,
selection, pick, cup of tea, bag, thing, priority, favor, precedence, advantage, preferential
treatment, favored treatment, favoritism],

put one's pants on one leg at a time (id.) – to be an ordinary person, to be a

mere mortal [Remember, he puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you.],

put one over (on) (id.) – to succeed in a deception; (with „with“) to fool, trick, or
deceive ["You surely aren't thinking you can put one over on me in this business? Tell me,
you don't take me for that sort of ivory-skulled boob?" He'd tried to put one over on the tax
office and got found out.],

put on (v.) – to fool, kid, deceive [You must be putting me on. She's putting on that she's
sicker than she really is.],

put-on (n.) – an attempt to deceive someone into beleiving something that is not true, a
deception, hoax, or practical joke [She's not really angry – it's just a put-on. I think this is
all a big put-on.],

surmise (v.) – to guess something, without having much or any proof [The police
surmise (that) the robbers have fled the country. As Khadgar had surmised, they were at
the topmost tip of the tower, with a large observatory.],

surmise (n.) – thought, imagination, or conjecture, which may be based upon feeble or
scanty evidence, suspicion, guess [Surmises of jealous or of envy.],

jam (n.) – (block) something that is stuck in a machine, or that prevents the parts of a
machine from moving; (difficult situation) a difficult situation; (no space) a situation in
which a lot of people are in a small space [She fed the documents into the machine,
making sure there were no paper jams. I'm in a jam – could you lend me some money till
next week? How are we going to get ourselves out of this jam? It's a real jam inside – it took
me ten minutes to get to the bar.],

jam (v.) – (stick) to be, or make something, unabl eto move; (push) to push something
forcefully or with difficulty into something else; (fill) to fill a place completely [The door
jammed behind me and I couldn't get out. He jammed the window open with a piece of
wood. He jammed the boxes into the back of the car. The centre of the town was jammed
with cars moving at a very slow pace. The motorway was jammed solid (= the traffic could
not move) all morning.],

jam tomorrow (id.) – promised benefits that never arrive [Yet they've proved that
common men can show astonishing fortitude in chasing jam tomorrow. It always seems to
be a problem to be dealt with when resources (later) permit. Jam tomorrow, as usual.],

pie in the sky (id.) – a fanciful notion, an unrealistic or ludicrous concept, the illusory
promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen [Their plans to set up their own
business are just pie in the sky.],

(build) (a) castle(s) in the air (id.) – a visionary project or scheme, a day-dream,
an idle fancy, a pipe dream, plans that have very little chance of happening

what more do you want – jam on it (id.) – used to say that someone should be
grateful for what they have or have been offered, and not demand something better
[They've given him a holiday in Italy? What more does he want – jam on it?],
bite the hand that feeds you (id.) – to act badly towards the person who is helping
or has helped you,

transfix (v.) – (unable to move) to make a person or animal unable to move or stop
looking at something because they are so interested, surprised, or frightened [The
conference delegates were transfixed by her speech. Rabbits transfixed in the glare of car
headlights are common victims on the road. froze in place, as surely as if transfixed with a
magical spell.] – synonyms & related words [mesmerize, hypnotize, spellbind, bewitch,
captivate, entrance, enthral, fascinate, engross, enrapture, stun, stupefy, astound, grip,
root someone to the spot, stop someone dead, stop someone in their tracks; paralyse,
petrify, immobilize, freeze, rivet, gorgonize],

transfix (v.) – (pointed object) to push a long, pointed object through someone or
something [A body lay in the corner, transfixed by a spear.] – synonyms & related words
[impale, stab, spear, pierce, spike, skewer, stick, gore, pin, bayonet, harpoon, lance, run
through, puncture, perforate, transpierce],

bloodless (adj.) – (not violent) a bloodless military operation involves no deaths [The
rebel soldiers seized power in a bloodless coup.] – synonyms & related words [non-
violent, peaceful, peaceable, pacifistic, strife-free, conflict-free, harmonious, orderly,
disciplined],

bloodless (adj.) – (pale) used to describe a face or skin that is extremely pale [His face
was thin and bloodless.] – synonyms & related words [anaemic, pale, wan, pallid, ashen,
colourless, chalky, chalk-white, milky, waxen, white, grey; pasty, sallow, jaundiced,
washed out, sickly, peaked, drained, sapped, drawn, deathly, deathlike, ghostlike, white
as a sheet, peaky, etiolated],

bloodless (adj.) – (no emotion) without emotion, cold or ruthless [A shrewd and
bloodless Hollywood mogul.] – synonyms & related words [heartless, unfeeling, cruel;
ruthless, merciless, pitiless, cold, hard, stony-hearted, stony, with a heart of stone, cold-
blooded, cold-hearted; harsh, callous, severe, unmerciful, unpitying, uncaring,
unsympathetic, uncharitable],

bloodless (adj.) – lacking in vitality, feeble [A bloodless chorus. The bloodless flimsiness
of modern fiction.] – synonyms & related words [feeble, spiritless, lifeless, passionless,
listless, limp, unanimated, languid, half-hearted, unenthusiastic, lukewarm; bland, vapid,
wishy-washy],

wishy-washy (adj.) – (of drink or liquid food) weak, watery; feeble or insipid in
quality or character [Wishy-washy soup. Wihy-washy liberalism. I feel like an idiot for
being so wishy-washy. A wishy-washy color.] – synonyms & related words [watery, weak,
watered down, thin, tasteless, flavorless, insipid; feeble, ineffectual, weak, vapid, milk-
and-water, effete, spineless, limp, limp-wristed, namby-pamby, half-hearted, spiritless,
irresolute, indecisive, wet, pathetic, weak-kneed, half-arsed; pale, insipid, pallid, wan,
sickly],

winded (adj.) – temporarily unable to breathe, either when hit in the stomach or after
taking hard physical exercise [Mark is so unfit – he gets winded just from walking up a
flight of stairs. The dark, heavy brows pursed in a bemused glance. “Are you ill? Moroes, is
this lad ill?” “Winded, perhaps,” said Moroes in a level tone. “Was a long climb up.” “Oengus
as well,” the Wildhammer fighter continued. “And two more are too winded to continue
fighting.“],

catch oneself (v.) – to stop oneself from doign something [Bill tripped over the step
but managed to catch himself on the railing before falling. I almost asked about her
boyfriend when I caught myself, remembering that they had broken up. “But you didn’t
read it!” said Khadgar, then caught himself, “I mean, sir, with respect…”],

puissant (adj.) – very strong, powerful, and effective [The king introduced some of his
most significant reforms in an advertisement of his own ever more puissant authority... I
bring you the greetings of the Kirin Tor, most learned and puissant of the magical
academies, guilds, and societies...],

get cold feet (id.) – to suddenly become too frightened to do something you had
planned to do, especially something important such as getting married,

change your tune (id.) – to change your opinion completely, especially bcause you
know it will bring you an advantage [He was against the idea to start with, but he soon
changed his tune when he realized how much money he'd get.],

breath caught in your throat (id.) – because of surprise, fear, or shock, one stops
breathing for a moment [The master mage raised his eyes to regard the young man, and
Khadgar’s breath caught in his throat.],

be an open book (id.) – if someone is an open book, it is easy to know what they are
thinking and feeling,

becalmed (adj.) – if a ship with sails is becalmed, it cannot move because there is no
wind [“On the…on the voyage from Lordaeron to Kul Tiras,” said Khadgar, unsure if what
he said would amuse or irritate his potential mentor. “We were becalmed for two days
and…”],

cursory (adj.) – quick and probably not detailed [A cursory glance/look. A cursory
examination. “And you wanted to be far from any spell or message recalling you for
opening the letter. And you patched it back together well enough to fool a cursory
examination, sure that I would likely break the seal straightaway and not notice your
tampering.”],
patch something together (v.) – to arrange something very quickly but not very
carefully [There is much disagreement, but the group of countries is trying to patch
together a treaty on defense. And you patched it back together well enough to fool a
cursory examination...“],

tinged (n.) – a very slight amount of a color or of a feeling [His hair is starting to show
tinges of grey. I felt a tinge of regret that I hadn't accepted her offer.],

tinge (v.) – to contain a slight amount of [Her joy at the birth of her son was tinged with
sadness that her father had not lived to see him. Her dark hair is now tinged with grey. The
eyes that had been tinged with mirth earlier now seemed to be barely concealing some
hidden fury.],

draw/pull in one's horns (id.) – to become less impassioned, aggressive, or

augmentative, to exercise restraint, to yield or capitulate,

draw (v.) – ??? [Medivh allowed himself a chuckle, but drew his face into a tight, focused
knot.],

knit (v.) – (join) to join together; tighte (one's eyebrows) in a frown of concentration,
disapproval, or anxiety; (of parts of ab roken bone) become joined [The broken bone
should begin to knit (together) in a few days. A very close-knit family. A tightly knit
community. The two communities are closely knit by a common faith. Medivh's brows
knitted together like the rising thunderhead of a storm.] – synonyms & related words
[unite, become united, unify, become unified, become one, come together, become closer,
band together, bond, combine, coalesce, merge, meld, blend, amalgamate, league; bind,
weld together, bring together, draw together, ally, link, join, fuse, connect, consolidate;
heal, mend, join, fuse, draw together, unite, become whole; furrow, tighten, contract,
gather, draw in, wrinkle, pucker, knot, screw up, crease, scrunch up],

knit (n.) – knitted garments [Silky knits in pretty shades.] – synonyms & related words
[knitted garment, wollen, wolly],

thunderhead (n.) – the top portion of a cumulonimbus cloud, which tends to be

flattened or fibery in appearance, and may be indicative of thunderstorm activity,

a bundle/stew of nerves (id.) – someone who is extremely nervous and worried

[Sorry for shouting – I'm a bundle of nerves these days. Khadgar stammered for a moment,
then said, “You read my mind.” “Possible,” said Medivh. “But incorrect. You’re a stew of
nerves right now, and that gets in the way of mind reading. One wrong.”],

a bundle of laughs (id.) – a funny, entertaining person or situation [He's not exactly
a bundle of laughs, is he?],
all hat and no cattle/all foam, no beer/all bark and no bite,/all
hammer, no nail/all shot, no powder/all sizzle and no steak/all wax
and no wick/all show, no go/all bluff and bluster/all flash, no fury (id.)
– full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance, pretentious,

(all) hot and bothered (id.) – worried or angry, and sometimes physically hot;
aroused, especially sexually [Don't get all hot and bothered – we'll figure out a solution to
the problem before the boss hears about it. He's such an attractive guy that he alwys gets
me hot and bothered. Now, don't get hot and bothered – take it easy .John gets hot and
bothered whenever Mary comes into the room.],

self-congratulatory (adj.) – praising yourself or saying how well you have done
something,

bushwah/balderdash/claptrap(pery)/piffle/hogwash/folderol/fol-de-
rol/fol de rol/falderal/faldee raldee (n.) – nonsense [“The title is not one you
lose, Magna. And I cannot bring myself to call you anything else.” “Balderdash. If you’re
gonna call me anything, call me by my name. Call me Aegwynn.”],

gabble (v.) – to talk fast, idly, foolishly, or without meaning, to talk quickly and not
clearly so that it is difficult to understand [She started gabbling away at me in Spanish
and I didn't understand a word. Gina, as usual, was gabbling away on the phone. Then he
fell to gabbling strange and dreadful things which were not clearly understandable.],

drone on (v.) – to talk for a long time in a boring way [He was droning on (and on)
about his operation.],

fritter something away (id.) – to waste money, time, or an opportunity [If I've got
money in my pocket, I tend to fritter it away. She fritters so much money away on expensive
make-up. Retirees must plan how to fill their hours or they risk frittering the time away.],

fritter (v.) – (usually with „about“ or „around“) to occupy oneself idly or without clear
purposes, to tinker with an important part of a project, to dally, sometimes as a form of
procrastination [I was supposed to do work, but I frittered around all afternoon. He can't
figure out how to finish the paper he's writing, so he's resorted to frittering with the fonts.],

not stand any nonsense/stand no nonsense (id.) – to refuse to accept bad or

silly behavior [The new teacher won't stand any nonsense.],

arrant nonsense (n.) – used to say how bad something is [He dismissed the rumors as
'arrant nonsense'.],

edge (n.) – (anger/nervousness) a small but noticeable amount of anger in someone's

voice [There's a definite edge to/in her voice when she talks to her husband. Khadgar
blinked, wondering if this was a trick question. “No sir. I wouldn’t even think of it.” “I do not
doubt that you wouldn’t,” said the Magus, and there was the faintest edge in his voice.
“Think of it, that is...”] – synonyms & related words [sharpness, severity, bite, sting,
pointedness, asperity, pungency, mordancy, acerbity, acidity, tartness, trenchancy;
sarcasm, acrimony, malice, spite, venom, causticity, mordacity],

(take) a left (hand) turn (id.) – an unexpected change in events [Once she drank
her third drink, the evening took a left turn. “A Guardian?” Khadgar suddenly felt the
conversation take yet another left-hand turn.],

go back (a long way) (id.) – if people go back (a long way), they have known each
other for a long time [“You are a powerful independent mage, supposedly an advisor to
King Llane of Azeroth.” “We go back,” said Medivh, nodding at the youth.],

put upon (adj.) – having to do more than is fair in order to allow other people to get
what they want in a situation, be taken advantage of, be imposed on [Bob was always put
upon by his friends, who knew he couldn't say no. We felt quite put upon because the entire
family insisted on spending every holiday at our house. I don't mind helping them, but I
can't help feeling a little put upon. “And envy,” finished Khadgar, feeling suddenly put upon
by the questions, unsure about how to answer.],

peevish (adj.) – easily annoyed [A peevish, bad-tempered person. „I thought you might
have helped,“ she replied peevishly. “It’s supposed to be that way,” snapped Medivh
peevishly, rubbing his hands over the brazier.],

at length (prepositional phrase) – for a long time; (formal) if something happens at

length, it happens after a long period of time, at last [George went on at great length
about his various illnesses. At length, the authorities allowed her to go home. At length,
Medivh looked up, and the brewing storm was in his eyes again. “But what do you know
aboutme?”],

get someone out of one's hair/get out of someone's hair (id.) – to cause
someone to stop annoying oneself; to stop annoying someone [What do I have to do to
get this guy out of my hair? Perhaps I was just an excuse for your masters to get you out of
their hair, hoping you’d die en route. Will you get out of my hair! You are a real pain!],

fare (n.) – (food) (old-fashioned) the type of food that is served in a restaurant [Meals in
Medivh’s Tower were simple fare—porridge and sausages for breakfast, a cold lunch, and a
large, hearty dinner, usually a stew or a roast served with vegetables.]

keep regular/late etc. hours (id.) – to preform the same activities every day at
regular/late etc. tmes, especially going to bed and getting out of bed [Medivh kept hours
that could be charitably described as “erratic” and Moroes and Cook had long since learned
how to accommodate him with a minimal amount of hardship on their parts.],
jakes (n.) – (now chiefly Ireland) a place to urinate and defecate, an outhouse or
lavatory [“The jakes is at the end of the hall. There’s a pot beneath the bed. Come down to
the kitchen. Cook will have something warm for you.”],

have somebody on (id.) – to persuade someone that something is true when it is

not, usually as a joke [That's your new car! You're having me on! Eight hundred years was
long even by the standards of a wizard. After two hundred years, most of the old object
lessons taught, most human mages were deathly thin and frail. To be seven hundred fifty
years old and bear a child! Khadgar shook his head, and wondered if Medivh was having
him on.],

tough out something (id.) – to be strong during a difficult situation [Should we

tough it out, or should we quit now and cut our losses? Khadgar thought of using a minor
spell to heat the water, then decided merely to tough it out.],

bracing (adj.) – (of weather) cold and perhaps windy; (of an activity) making you feel
full of energy because it is done outside when the weather is cold and perhaps windy
[We enjoyed a bracing walk on the beach. Khadgar thought of using a minor spell to heat
the water, then decided merely to tough it out – the water was bracing.],

togs (n.) – (clothes) (UK, informal) clothes [Get your togs on, love, then we can go. and
Khadgar felt better as he changed into less-dusty togs—a comfortable shirt that reached
nearly to his knees and a set of sturdy pants.],

be/get yourself togged up/out (id.) – (UK) to dress yourself in clothes that are
specially for a particular occasion or activity [We got (ourselves) togged up in walking
gear for the hike. They were all togged out in dinner jackets and ballgowns.],

flagstone (n.) – a large, flat pieces of stone or concrete used for paths, floors, etc. [One
moment he was striding down a set of low flagstone steps, wondering if he needed a map or
a bell or a hunting horn to navigate the tower.] – synonyms & related words [paving slab,
paving stone, stone block, slab, flag, sett],

tenuous (adj.) – a tenuous connection, idea, or situation is weak and possibly does not
exist; (literary) thin, weak, and easily broken, very slender or fine, insubstantial [The
police have only found a tenuous connection between the two robberies. It was as if he had
become unstuck from the rest of the world, occupied his own small island, with only the
most tenuous of connections to the reality around him. As if he had become a ghost.] –
synonyms & related words [slight, insubstantial, flimsy, negligible, weak, fragile, shaky,
sketchy, doubtful, dubious, questionable, suspect; vague, nebulous, hazy, unspecific,
indefinite, indeterminate; fine, thin, slender, attenuated, delicat,e gossamer, fragile],
be neither fish nor fowl (id.) – like one thing in some ways, and like another thing
in other ways, something or someone which is not easily categorized, something or
someone that does not rightly belong or fit well in a given group or situation,

amorphous (adj.) – having no fixed form or shape [An amorphous mass of jelly. There
was resistance, but only of the most amorphous sort—he could feel the solidity of the
armor, and if he concentrated, feel the rough ridges of the dimpled metal.] – synonyms &
related words [shapeless, formless, unformed, unshaped, structureless, unstructured,
indeterminate, indefinite, vague, nebulous],

spatter (v.) – to drop small drops of liquid, etc. on a surface, or (of a liquid) to fall,
especially noisily, in small drops [Two bikes raced by and spattered mud over our clothes.
The bikes spattered them with mud. They could hear raindrops spattering on the roof of
the car. Their weapons were notched as well, and spattered with dried crimson.] –
synonyms & related words [splash, bespatter, splatter, spray, sprinkle, spritz, shower,
speck, speckle, fleck, mottle, blotch, smear, stain, mark, dirty, soil, daub, cover, splotch,
slabber, besprinkle, bedabble],

entreat (v.) – to try very hard to persuade someone to do something; ask earnestly or
anxiously for (something); (archaic) treat (someone) in a specified manner[We should
spend every meal time entreating the child to eat her vegetables. Then the snow-bearded
leader was off again, bellowing at the warriors, entreating them to defend themselves. A
message had been sent, entreating aid for the Navahos. The king, I fear, hath ill entreated
her.] – synonyms & related words [implore, beseech, beg, plead with, supplicate, pray,
ask, request; bid, enjoin, appeal to, call on, petition, solicit; exhort, urge, importune,
crave, impetrate, obtest, obsecrate],

entreaty (n.) – an attempt to persuade someone to do something [She refused to

become involved with him despite his passionate entreaties.] – synonyms & related words
[plea, appeal, request, petition, cry from the heart; suit, application, claim; beseeching,
pleading, begging, solicitation, importuning, supplication; bidding, exhortation, urge,
demand, enjoinment; prayer; cri de cœur, impetration, obtestation, obsecration,
imploration],

stripped down (adj.) – something that is stripped down has been reduced to its
simplest form [I think the stripped-down version of your proposal has more chance of
being accepted.] – synonyms & related words [unembellished, unornamented,
undecorated, unelaborate, unvarnished, unfurnished, unpatterned, uncluttered,
unostentatious, unfussy, no-nonsense, without frills, plain, penny plain, simple, basic,
modest, restrained, straightforward; bare, bald, austere, stark, severe, spartan, ascetic,
clinical, clean, no-frills],

a nip (here) and a tuck (there) (id.) – a series of small reductions [The
department made a nip here and a tuck there, but they were still way over budget.],
nip (v.) – bite or pinch sharply; (of the cold or frost) damage or hurt; remove something
by pinching or squeezing sharply; (UK, informal); (US, informal) steal or snatch
something [One of the dogs nipped him on the leg. The dog nipped her ankle. The vegetable
garden, nipped now by frost. He nipped off a length of wire with the cutters. I'm just
nipping down to the Post Office. I'll just nip out and see what's going on.] – synonyms &
related words [bite, nibble, peck, pinch, tweak, squeeze, grip; go, rush, dash, dart, hurry,
scurry, scamper; drop by/in/into/round, stop by, visit, tootle, pop, whip],

nip (n.) – a sharp bite or pinch; a feeling of biting cold [A strong beak which can deliver a
serious nip. A keen nip in the air. Rockhopper penguins have a strong beak that can deliver
a serious nip.] – synonyms & related words [bite, nibble, peck, pinch, tweak, squeeze,
grip],

strip out (v.) – to remove the working parts of (a machine); to remove (a chemical or
competent) from a mixture [Swords and spears were raised to a sky the shade of curdled
blood, and arms pointed toward the nearby ridges, where flooding had stripped out
patterns of purple against the rust-colored soil.],

(as) tough as old boots/shoe leather (id.) – very strong, and not easily made
weaker; tough food is very difficult to cut or eat,

get on top of someone (id.) – if a difficult situation gets on top of you, it makes you
feel so upset that you cannot deal with it [She's had a few financial problems, and I think
things have just been getting on top of her.],

at the drop of a hat (id.) – at the slightest pretext or provocation, without any
hesitation, instantly [We're expected to just do it at the drop of a hat. If you need help, just
call on Mike. He can come at the drop of a hat. With Medivh’s recovery things returned to
normal, or as normal as anything was in the presence of the Magus. When the Magus was
absent, Khadgar was left with instructions as to honing his magical skill, and when Medivh
was in residence in the tower, the younger mage was expected to demonstrate those skills
at the drop of hat.],

hat in hand (id.) – in a humble manner, humbly, with humility, in an apologetic or

self-effacing fashion,

self-effacing (adj.) – shy, extremely humble and modest, making oneself seel
unnoticeable, trying not to get the attention of other people [Clark Kent's self-effacing
behavior is to purposefully make people ignore him. The captain was typically self-effacing
when questioned about the team's successes, giving credit to the other players.] –
synonyms & related words [make oneself inconspicuous, keep out of sight, keep oneself
to oneself, keep quiet, keep out of the public eye, avoid publicity, keep out of the
limelight, lie low, keep a low profile, regard/treat oneself as unimportant, be
modest/diffident/retiring, withdraw],
ineffable (adj.) – causing so much emotion, especially pleasure, that it cannot be
described [Ineffable joy/beauty.] – synonyms & related words [inexpressible,
indescribable, beyond words, beyond description, beggaring description; undefinable,
unutterable, untold, unheard of, unthought of, unimaginable; overwhelming, marvellous,
wonderful, breathtaking, staggering, astounding, amazing, astonishing, fantastic,
fabulous; unutterable, not to be uttered, not to be spoken, not to be said, unmentionable,
taboo ,forbidden, off limits, out of bounds, no go],

take (one's) hat off to (id.) – to respect, admire, or congratulate,

talk through (one's) hat (id.) – to talk nonsense; to bluff; to exaggerate one's
achievements [Don't pay Jonathan any mind, Mary, he's just talking through his hat again.
Dorothy keeps saying she can outrun anyone in our school, but she's talking through her
hat if you ask me. It seemed like the candidate was talking through his hat for a while when
the debate turned to the topic of tax policy. That can't be so! You are just talking through
your hat! Pay no attention to Mary. She is just talking through her hat.],

under (one's) hat (id.) – as a secret or in confidence [Keep this information under
your hat.] – synonyms & related words [covertly, without anyone knowing, in secret, in
private, privately, in confidence, confidentially, behind closed doors, behind the scenes,
behind someone's back, under cover, under the counter, discreetly, unobserved, quietly,
furtively, stealthily, on the sly, on the quiet, privily, conspiratorially, clandestinely, on the
side; sub rosa, in camera, privately, in one's heart, in one's heart of hearts, in one's
innermost thoughts],

drop cloth (n.) – an impermeable sheet of material meant to catch paint or other hard-
to-clean substances [Always put down a drop cloth before you paint a ceiling.],

string someone along (id.) – to keep somebody falsely beleiving that one has
certain intentions [She's been telling me for ages that she wants to meet up, but won't give
me a date. I'm convinced she's stringing me along.],

on the spot (prepositional phrase) – having to answer or decide without warning or

preparation [All the sudden questions put him on the spot and he had to think quickly.
Medivh huffed over his breakfast. “Fools. They wouldn’t know an alternate dimension if it
came up and bit them on the….So what do you think?” “I think…” And Khadgar, suddenly
realizing he was once again on the spot. “I think that it may be something else entirely.”],

dab (v.) – (touch) to touch something with quick light touches, or to put a substance on
something with quick light touches [She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. She dabbed a
little perfume behind her ears. “Good,” said Medivh, dabbing at his beard with a napkin.],
dab (n.) – (touch) a small amount of a substance, a blob of some soft or wet substance,
or a light touch [Can't you just put a dab of paint over the mark and cover it up? I'll give
that stain a quick dab with a wet cloth.],

feel your way (id.) – to judge where you are going by touching with your hands
instead of looking; to act slowly and carefully because you are not certain how to do [The
room was so dark, I had to feel my way along the wall to the door. It's my first month in the
job so I'm still feeling my way.],

take something further (v.) – to develop something such as an opinion, idea, or

theory,

patina (n.) – a thin surface layer that develops on something because of use, age, or
chemical action; (formal) something that makes someone or something seem to be
something that they are not; (specialized) a blue-green layer that forms on copper, brass
or bronze [His tomb was covered with a yellow patina of lichen. Beware thir patina of
civility, it's only an act. On the great oak tables of the first level, crystalline globes covered
with a thick patina of dust glowed with a blue-gray luster.],

unspooled (adj.) – (scroll) unscrolled, undone [... scrolls were unspooled over chairs...],

start (v.) – (move suddenly) to move your body suddenly because something has
surprised or frightened you [He started at the sound of the phone.],

pick (one's) way (id.) – to carefully move through or over something [We picked our
way through the woods to avoid tripping over any roots. She picked her way through the
crowd outside the theater. With the care of a burglar, Khadgar picked his way through the
debris. It was as if a battle had erupted in the library.],

foothills leading to mountains leading to unattainable peaks (id.) – used

to describe that there is a great deal of something, grossly abundant,

nib (n.) – a pointed metal part at one end of a pen, that the ink flows through when you
write or draw [Khadgar shook his head and went back to where he had left his scribe’s
tools. He spilled out a thin wooden pen with a handful of metal nibs, a stone for sharpening
and shaping the nibs, a knife with a flexible blade for scraping parchment, a block of
octopus ink, a small dish in which to melt the ink, a collection of thin, flat keys, a
magnifying lens, and what looked at first glance like a metallic cricket.],

perambulate (v.) – to walk about for pleasure,

hoof it (id.) – to walk somewhere, to walk somewhere quickly [We missed the bus and
had to hoof it.],
footslog (v.) – to walk heavily over a long distance or in a weary manner, to trudge
[They footsloged around the two villages.] – synonyms & related words [trudge, traipse,
slog, hike, trek, tramp, plod, troop, walk, march, pace, stride; toil, labour, drag oneself;
traik; yomp, trog, schlep],

slog (v.) – work hard over a period of time; walk or move with difficulty or effort [They
were slogging away to meet a deadline. I slogged through the heather in the heat. The
three of them slogged around the streets of the capital in the July heat. I was slogging
through the mud.] – synonyms & related words [work hard, toil, labour, work one's
fingers to the bone, work like a Trojan/dog, work day and night, exert oneself, keep at it,
keep one's nose to the grindstone, grind, slave, grub, plough, plod, peg, beaver, plug, put
one's back into something, work one's guts out, work one's socks off, knock oneself out,
sweat blood, kil loneself, graft, fag, bullock, work one's balls/arse/nuts off, work one's
ass/butt off, drudge, travail, moil; trudge, tramp, traipse, toil, plod, trek, footslog, drag
oneself, trog, yomp, schlep],

slog (n.) – a spell of difficult, tiring work or travelling [It would be a hard slogb ack to
the camp. Writing the book took 10 months' hard slog. A steady uphill slog.] – synonyms &
related words [hard work, toil, toiling, labour, struggle, effort, exertion, grind, blood,
sweat, and tears, drudgery; Herculean task, sweat, elbow grease, graft, (hard) yakka,
travail, moil; trudge, tramp, traipse, plod, trek, footslog, traik, trog, yomp, schlep],

in the offing (prepositional phrase) – (literally of a ship, landmass, etc.) within the
area of the sea known as the offing, at a considerable distance from land, but visible from
the shore, often in reference to an approaching ship; soon to come, likely to happen, in
the foreseeable future, projected to occur, on the horizon, in the wind; at a distance, but
visible [They could see that the ship was waiting in the offing. There were several small
islands in the offing. With an election in the offing, the prime minister is keen to maintain
his popularity. He picked up the cricket, turned it on its back, and using a specially-
fashioned pen nib, wound it up. A gift from Guzbah upon Khadgar completing his first
training as a scribe, it had proved invaluable in the youth’s perambulations among the
halls of the Kirin Tor. Within was contained a simple but effective spell that warned when a
trap was in the offing.] – synonyms & related words [ikely to happen, on the way, coming
soon, coming up, (close) at hand, near, imminent, in prospect, on the horizon, in the
wings, just around the corner, in the air, in the wind, brewing, upcoming, forthcoming;
on the cards, developing, gathering force, looming, close, on the way, threatening,
impending],

in the wind (adj.) – impending or in the offing, imminent, if something is in the wind,
people are talking about it and it may happen, but no one is sure; if someone is in the
wind, they are missing, especially after escaping [Rumors of a takeover are in the wind.
The suspects are in the wind.],
warble (v.) – (of a bird) to sing pleasantly; (humorous) to sing, especially in a high
voice [Was that you I heard warbling in the bathroom this morning? Then he brought the
first book he had picked up, the ticking one, over to the doorway. The cricket warbled
slightly.],

hold one's breath (v.) – to wait for something to happen, often feeling anxious [Fans
held tehir breath waiting for the final whistle. Khadgar held his breath, hoped that the
cricket was enchanted to handle all forms of traps, magical and otherwise, and opened the
book. It was a treatise written in a soft feminine hand on the politics of the elves from three
hundred years back.],

set one's name upon/to (id.) – to sign [“Hmmmfph,” said Medivh. “Never trust
anything that a man will not set his reputation and name upon."],

glacial (adj.) – (ice/cold) made or left by a glacier; extremely cold; not friendly [Glacial
deposits. The work was proceeding with glacial slowness. She gave me a glacial
smile/stare.],

clatter (v.) – to make continuous loud noises by hitting hard objects against each other,
or to cause objects to do this [Don't clatter the dishes – you'll wake the baby up. He was
clattering away at his keyboard. “Gone where?” asked Khadgar. The old castellan
shrugged, and Khadgar could almost hear the bones clatter within his form. “He’s not one
to say.”],

judder (v.) – (especially of a vehicle) to shake violently, spasm [The train juddered to a
halt. Judderingly uncomfortable.],

judder (n.) – (especially of a vehicle) a violent shake [The car gave a sudden judder,
then stopped dead.]

leave someone high and dry (id.) – to do something that is not at all convenient
for someone and puts them in a very difficult situation, to abandon somebody [They
pulled out of the deal at the last minute leaving us high and dry. Khadgar said no, but was
troubled as he climbed the staircase to the library level. He had gone as far as he had dared
so far in his organization, and Medivh’s sudden disappearance left him high and dry,
without further direction.],

leave someone in the lurch (id.) – to not do something what you had promised
you would do [He said he would help me with the rent, but he left me in the lurch.] –
synonyms & related words [abandon, betray, desert, leave helpless, leave high and dry,
leave holding the bag, leave in trouble, let down, play one false],

betray (v.) – expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously

giving information to an enemy; treacherously reveal (information); be gravely disloyal
to; unintentionally reveal, be evidence of [A double agent who betrayed some 400 British
and French agents to the Germans. I trusted them and they betrayed me. Many of those
employed by diplomats betrayed secrets. She hoped her face didn't betray her feelings. The
men who have betrayed British people's trust. She drew a deep breath that betrayed her
indignation.] – synonyms & related words [break one's promise to, be disloyal to, be
unfaithful to, break faith with, play someone false, fail, let down; double-cross, deceive,
cheat; inform on/against, give away, denounce, sell out, stab someone in the back, be a
Judas to, give someone a Judas kiss, bite the hand that feeds one; turn traitor, sell the
pass; turn Queen's/King's evidence, split on, blow the whistle on, rat on, peach on, stitch
up, do the dirty on, sell down the river, squeal on, squeak on, grass on, shop, sneak on,
rat out, drop a/the dime on, finger, job, dob on, pimp on, pool, shelf, put someone's pot
on, point the bone at, delate; reveal, disclose, divulge, give away, leak, lay bare, make
known, uncover, unmask, expose, bring out into the open, tell; let slip, let out, let drop,
blurt out; give the game away, let the cat out of the bag, blab, spill ,discover],

restive (adj.) – unwilling to be controlled or be patient [The audience was becoming

restive as they waited for the performnace to begin. All the while the lander hummed with
power, the thrumming of its restive engines vibrating through the metal floor of the launch
bay towards where Larn and the others stood gazing at it uncertainly, like wary travellers
unsure whether to risk waking a sleeping tiger. The crowd had been waiting for hours and
many were becoming restive. I haven't done anything about supper – Edward will be
getting restive. The militants are increasingly restive. Both their horses became restive at
once.] – synonyms & related words [restless, fidgety, edgy, on edge, tense, uneasy, ill at
ease, worked up, nervous, agitated, anxious, on tenterhooks, keyed up, apprehensive,
unquiet, impatient, nervy, jumpy, jittery, twitchy, uptight, wired, like a cat on a hot tin
roof, like a cat on hot bricks, stressy, unruly, disorderly, out of control, uncontrollable,
unmanageable, ungovernable, unbiddable, disobedient, defiant, up in arms, willful,
recalcitrant, refractory, insubordinate, disaffected, dissentious, riotous, rebellious,
mutinous, seditious, insurgent, insurrectionary, insurrectionist, revolutionary, bolshie,
contumacious],

prey on somebody's mind (id.) – if a problem preys on your mind, you think about
it and worry about it a lot, pain, torment [I lost my temper with her the other day and it's
been preying on my mind ever since.],

scuff (v.) – to make a rough mark on a smooth surface, especially on a shoe or floor;
scrape or brush the sruface of 8a shoe or other object) agains tsomething; (of an object
or surface) become marked by scraping or brushing; drag (one's feet or heels) when
walking; walk while dragging one's feet or heels; mark 8a surface) by scraping or
brushign it, especially with one's shoes [Please wear trainers in the gym, to avoid scuffing
the floor. If you scuff your feet (= pull your shoes along the ground as you walk) like that,
you'll ruin your shoes. Someone left scuff marks in the sand.] – synonyms & related words
[scrape, rub, drag, brush, scratch, graze, abrade, rasp, lacerate, chafe, roughen],
scuffed (adj.) – referring to something that has been scratched or marked by contact
with another object [I bought a scuffed skateboard from a second-hand store. The book's a
little scuffed along the spine, but it was the only copy left on the shelf. Khadgar could sort
through the papers, but better to restock the shelves with the books. But most of the
volumes were untitled, or if titled, their covers so barely worn, scuffed, and torn as to be
illegible.],

trape (v.) – to drag [No, that coat's too big; it'll trape along the ground if you wear it.],

trape (n.) – (obsolete) a messy or untidy woman [“Of Trapes and Lockes,” he said aloud,
wrapping his mouth around the archaic script and over-vowelled words. “Beeing a
Treateese on the Nature of Securing Devicees.”],

slattern (n.) – a slut, a sexually promiscuous woman,

trape (v.) –to walk or run about in an idle or slatternly manner, to traipse,

traipse (v.) – to walk from one place to another, often feeling tired or bored [I spent the
day traipsing around the shops, but found nothing suitable for her. More than 6 million
people traipse through the national park each year. “Aye, ye were right,” Kurdran told the
scout. “They are ugly, and they are intruding. There be a lot o’ them, though. And they’ll be
hard to hit as long as they stay beneath the trees.” “Are we just to let them traipse across
our lands, then?” one of the other scouts demanded.],

deft (adj.) – skilfull, clever, or quick [Her movements were deft and quick. She answered
the journalist's questions with a deft touch. He's very deft at handling awkward situations.
He deftly (= skilfully) caught the ball.],

dexterity (n.) – the ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skilfully with the
hands, or the abilit yto think quickly and effectively [He caught the ball with great
dexterity. He answered the reporters' questions with all the dexterity of a politician.],

a magic touch (id.) – a special ability to do something very well [The film's success will
no doubt please the 46- year old director, who was rumored to have lost his magic touch.],

lose your touch (id.) – if you lose your touch, you can no longer do something as well
as you could before [It's good to see their goalkeeper's not losing his touch. You haven't
lost your touch – it's good to see you again, Jaina.],

lose the thread (id.) – to stop understanding or following something, such as an

explanation, because one hasb ecome distracted or confused; be unable to follow what
someone is saying or remember what you are going to say next [Sorry, can you back up? I
lost the thread when you started talking about genes. I think the writer is trying to
intentionally make use lose the thread so that the story becomes disorientating.],
thread your way through, between, etc. something (id.) – to move carefully
through a crowded space, changing directions in order to avoid people or things [She
threaded her way through the crowded market place. I think I can thread my way
through here, but it's going to be tight.],

threadbare (adj.) – (thin) threadbare material or clothes haveb ecome thin or

damaged because they have been used a lot [A threadbare coat.],

pick up/take up the threads (id.) – to start doing something again that you had
stopped doing [I picked up the threads of ordinary life again.],

tread out (v.) – to press out with the feet, to press out, as wine or wheat [To tread out
grain with cattle or hoses.],

??? (id.) – ??? [There were books that were beyond him, whose locks foiled even his
modified picks and dexterous knife. Those went to the highest level, toward the back, and
Khadgar resolved to find out what was within them, either on his own or by threading the
knowledge out of Medivh.],

hodgepodge (n.) – a confused mixture of different things [New Age thiking seems to be
a hodgepodge of old and new ideas. Most mages of the Kirin Tor had at least some
semblance of order to their archives, with their most valuable tomes hidden away. But
Medivh had everything in a hodgepodge, as if he didn’t really need it.],

mewl (v.) – to cry with a soft high sound, tocry weakly with a soft, high-pitched sound,
to whimper, to whine [He was mewling like a sick kitten. A mewling baby. The mewling of
gulls. So far these tomes had resisted every common entreaty and physical attempt to
sidestep their locks and traps, and the detecting cricket practically mewled in horror
whenever he attempted to unlock them.],

cant (n.) – statements, especially on religious or moral subjects, that are not sincerely
believed by the person making them; special words used by a particular group of people
such as thieves, lawyers, or priests, often in order to keep things secret [Shelley's
friendship with Byron was rooted in their shared contempt for cant and hypocrisy.]

stormfront (n.) – a weather front associated with a storm [Khadgar didn’t hear him as
much as felt his sudden presence, the way the air changes as a storm front bears across the
farmland.],

bowl somebody over (id.) – (knock down) to knock someone to the ground by
running into them, to overwhelm, ; (please) to surprise and please someone a lot [She
was almost bowled over by a huge dog. A wall of solidified air slammed into the younger
man, bowling over both him and the chair he sat in. She was bowled over when she heard
she'd won the competition. It was a terrifying plan, but it was all he had, so he lowered his
head and he rushed a gaunt, foul-smelling, pustule-covered creature, hoping that his
momentum would lend him the strength he needed to bowl it over.],

bowl down/along something (id.) – to go quickly [They bowled down the street on
their new bicycles.] – synonyms & related words [hurtle, speed, career, shoot, streak,
sweep, hare, fly, wing; drive, motor, move, travel, go, proceed; belt, pelt, tear, scoot, tool,
bomb, bucket, shift, go like the clappers, clip, boogie, hightail, barrel, post, hie],

hie (v.) – (old use or humorous) to go quickly or to hurry yourself, hasten, run, dash,
bolt, fly, [I must hie me to the sales before all the bargains are gone.],

hie (n.) – haste, dilligence,

squall (n.) – (strong wind) a sudden strong wind or short storm [Violent squalls
signalled the approach of the hurricane. The grimoires and primers went skating along the
surface of the table like boats caught in a sudden squall, and the notes danced away,
spinning.] – synonyms & related words [gust, storm, blast, flurry, shower, gale, blow,
rush, puff, scud; windstorm, thunderstorm],

squall (n.) – (shout) a loud, sharp noise,

squall (v.) – (especially of a baby) to make a loud, sharp noise,

a cloud on the horizon (id.) – something that threatens to cause problems or

unhppainess in the future [The only cloud on the horizon is the physics exam in June.
Financial analysits believe that the sudden drop in oil prices points to a cloud on the
horizon for the national economy. Although we are making good profits there is one cloud
on the horizon – the government may increase taxes.],

mired (adj.) – (be/become mired (down) in something) to be involved in a difficult

situation, especially for a long period of time [The peace talks are mired in bucreacracy.]
– synonyms & related words [entangle, tangle up, embroil, enmesh, catch up, mix up,
involve, bog down]

sufferance (n.) – on sufferance (formal) with unwilling permission; under sufferance

(old-fashioned) if someone does something under sufferance, they do it very unwillingly
[He gave me a bed for a couple of nights but I felt I was there on sufferance. He only visits
his parents under sufferance.],

pull (one) up short (id.) – to cause one to abruptly stop doing something [The
sudden blaring of the alarm pulled me up short on my way down the hall. News of the
reduction in funding pulled our researchers up short. The master mage bolted for the door,
pulled himself up short, then turned. “Are you coming?”],
bring someone (up) short (id.) – to make somebody suddenly stop doing
something or talking, usually because they are surprised [Her rudeness brought me up
short. When they reached the level that mirrored the library, they found a set of iron-shod
doors. The stairs continued to spiral down into the earth, but the company was brought up
short here, regarding the mystic symbols carved deeply into the wood and dabbed with
brownish blood. It seemed as if the wood itself was bleeding. Two huge rings of iron hung
from the wounded doors.],

hitch (up) (v.) – to fasten up; to pull or raise with a jerk (especially trousers or a skirt)
to a slightly higher position; to attach, fasten or tether (a horse, etc.) to a vehicle [The
sailor hitched up his trousers. She hitched up her skirt and ran. She hitched her skirt up
before wading across the stream. Hitch up the grey mare.] – synonyms & related words [
pull, jerk, hike, lift, raise, yank, harness, yoke, couple, fasten, connect, attach, tie, tether,
bind]

jostle for something (id. ) – if people jostle for something, they complete with each
other in order to get what they want [Since the fall of the government, the two opposition
parties have been jostling for position. People jostled for the best position.] – synonyms &
related words [: bump into/against, knock into/against, bang into, collide with, cannon
into, plough into, jolt; push, shove, elbow, hustle; mob; barrel into, push, thrust, barge,
shove, force, squeeze, elbow, shoulder, bulldoze],

jostle (v.) – to knock or push roughly against someone in order to move past them or
get more space when you are in a crowd of people [As we came into the arena, we were
jostled by fans pushing their way towards the stage. Photographers jostled and shoved to
get a better view of the royal couple. Khadgar harnessed his gryphon, aware that his head
throbbed slightly, as if the knowledge now within had to jostle that already within his skull
to make room. Gunthar shook his head. The railings at the edge of this skyway were
twisted, breached, and he feared that if he went too close he might be jostled off the edge.
He was jostled by passengers rushing for the gates. She stepped aside to avoid being jostled
by a crowd of noisy students. I jostled my way to the exist.] – synonyms & related words
[struggle, vie, jockey, scramble, crowd one another, compete, contend, contest, fight,
battle, cross swords, lock horns, grapple, wrestle, war, feud, wage war],

bank (v.) – (turn) (of an aircraft, gryphon) to fly with one wing higher than the other
when turning [We felt the plane bank steeply as it changed direction. Khadgar expertly
banked his swooping gryphon and followed Medivh as the elder mage swooped down
over the dark treetops.],

bank (v.) –(mass) to collect in or form into a mass, or to make something do this [The
snow had banked up in the corner of the garden. We banked up the fire (= put more coal on
it) to keep it burning all night.],
bank (n.) – (mass) a pile or mass of earth, clouds, etc. [A dark bank of cloud loomed on
the horizon. A grassy bank.] – synonyms & related words [slope, rise, incline, gradient,
ramp, acclivity, tump; mound, ridge, hillock, hummock, knoll, hump, barrow, tumulus,
earthwork, parados, berm; elevation, eminence, prominence; bar, reef, shoal, shelf;
accumulation, pile, heap, mass, drift]

bank (n.) – (rows) a row of similar things, especially machines or parts of machines [A
bank of switches. The DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console.]
– synonyms & related words [array, row, line, tier, group, series; panel, console, board]

muzzy (adj.) – (of a person) confused and unable to think clearly because of tiredness,
illness, alcohol, or drugs, or (of a situation, plans, etc.) not clear or well explained
[Feeling muzzy from the blow on his head, he got up very slowly. Until a week ago ,the
group's objectives were slightly muzzy. The pain in his head spread from the point where
Medivh had touched him, and now his forehead felt heavy and his thoughts muzzy],

fitful (adj.) – often stopping and starting and not happening in a regular or continuous
way [Fitful breathing. A fitful sleep. She slept fitfully (= only for short, irregular periods)
throughout the night and arose before dawn.],

doze (v.) – to have a short sleep, especially during the day [My cat likes dozing in front
of the fire. He may have dozed fitfully on gryphon-back, but hands held the reins firm, and
the gryphon kept pace with its brother-creature.] – synonyms & related words [catnap,
nap, take a nap, take a siesta, sleep lightly, drowse rest, snooze, have a snooze, snatch
forty winks, get some shut-eye, kip, have a kip, get some kip, zizz, have a zizz, get some
zizz, catch some Zs, catch a few Zs, slumber, fall asleep, go to sleep, drop off, get to sleep,
nod off, go off, drift off, crash out, go out like a light, flake out, conk out, sack out, zone
out],

jink (v.) – to make a quick evasive turn; to cause a vehicle to make a quick evasive turn,
veer, shift [Only when Medivh suddenly jinked his gryphon to the right did Khadgar shake
himself out of his slumber (if slumber it was) and followed the master mage as his course
turned south.],

limn (v.) – to draw or paint on a surface; to illuminate, as a manuscript; to describe, to

give a representation or account of in words[The painter limned the old man's face in
such exquisite and expressive lines that it almost looked as if he might open his mouth and
speak. Medivh dropped low and raised both hands over his head. Incanting from gryphon-
back, Khadgar realized, and though his mind assured him that he knew how to do this,
steering the great beast with his knees, he felt in his heart that he could never be
comfortable in such a maneuver.] – synonyms & related words [delineate, depict, draw,
image, describe, paint, picture, portray, render, set out, sketch, characterize, define,
label, qualify, represent, demonstrate, illustrate, narrate, recite, recount, rehearse, relate,
report, tell, display, exhibit, show, hint, suggest, draft, outline, silhouette, trace, vignette,
summarize, sum up, touch off, redescribe, reimage]

bleat (v.) – when a sheep or goat bleats, it makes the typical sound of these animals;
(informal) to complain in an annoying way [She's always bleating (on) about how badly
she's been treated. barbed arrow pierced the feathers of the right wing, and the great beast
let out a bleating scream, jerking in flight and desperately attempting to beat its wings to
get above the arrows.],

latter-day (adj.) – used to refer to a person or thing that is similar to someone or

something that existed in the past [The evil actions of a latter-day Caligula. He thinks of
himself as a latter-day knight errant, out on a quest, fighting dragons.],

grit your teeth (id.) – to press your top and bottom teeth together, often in anger; to
accept a difficult situation and deal with it in a determined way [He gritted his teeth in
silent fury. We had to grit our teeth and agree with their conditions because we wanted the
contract.],

grit (n.) – (stones) very small pieces of stone or sand [The road had been covered with
grit.],

grit (n.) – (courage) courage and determination despite difficulty [It takes true (= real)
grit to stand up to a bully.],

grit (v.) – to put small stones on a road or path that is covered in ice, in order to make it
safer [Council lorries had been out gritting the icy roads the night before.],

gritty (adj.) – (sandy) containing grit or like gritty; (brave) brave and determined;
(unpleasant) showing or having a lot of unpleasant details or features [He showed the
gritty determination that we've come to expect from him. A gritty portrayal of inner-city
poverty. A gritty documentary. A gritty London suburb. The earth was gritty beneath his
fingers, and he realized he must have landed on a low dune of sandy debris collected along
one side of the ridge.],

stave in something (v.) – to stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to
collapse inward, to push or hit something such as a door or other surface so that it
breaks and falls towards the inside [„We'll get an axe and stave in all these barrels and
the liquid will all run out“, threatened the man. A couple of teenagers were trying to save in
our shed door. The front of the ship was stove in where it had hit the rock. Bolts of cloth
had been unwound in the dirt, barrels staved and leaking, and food despoiled and mashed
into the earth.],

be sacrifced on the altar of something (id.) – to be destroyed by an activity,

system, or belief that is bad but more important or more powerful [Service and quality
have been sacrificed on the altar of profit. Napoleon's army was sacrificed on the altar of
folly in the disastrious Russian campaign.],

set in your ways (id.) – not liking change in your life [They're very set in their ways –
they always eat dinner exactly at 6:00. He was too set in his ways to make any real
changes.],

be sitting pretty (id.) – to be in a good situation, usually because you have a lot of
money; to be in a favorable situation [They bought their house while prices were low, so
now they're sitting pretty. If we'd let them buy it for a quarter of a million, we'd be sitting
pretty by now. When the war started, they thought they were sitting pretty, because they
had all that extra grain.],

hard going (adj.) – difficult and tiring to do, deal with, or make progress with [I find
her books a bit hard going.] – synonyms & related words [tough going, strenuous,
arduous, demanding, exhausting, laborious, taxing, uphill, effortful, energy-consuming,
hard, herculean, mean, operose, toilful, toilsome, tough, wicked, difficult],

despoil (v.) – to make a place less attractive especially by taking things away from it by
force [Many of the tombs had been despoiled... and food despoiled and mashed into the
earth.],

be hung up on something (id.) – to be extremely interested in or worried by a

particular subject and spend an unreasonably large amount of time thinking about it
[Why are you so hung up on getting everything right.],

be wrapped up in something/somebody (id.) – if you are wrapped up in

someone or something, you are very interested in him, her, or it and ignore other people
or things [She's always been completely wrapped up in her children.],

grisly (adj.) – extremely unpleasant, especially because death or blood is involved [The
55-year-old Canadian had suffered a grisly death. A grisly murder. The beast pointed the
grisly-decorated spear at the youth and let out a bellowing challenge. The hunters fell upon
their prey, and their already blood-caked flensing blades set about their grisly work.] –
synonyms & related words [gruesome, ghastly, frightful, horrid, horrifying, fearful,
hideous, macabre, spine-chilling, horrible, horrendous, grim, awful, dire, dreadful,
terrible, horrific; disgusting, repulsive, repugnant, revolting, repellent, sickening,
distressing, shocking, appalling, abominable, loathsome, abhorrent, odious, monstrous,
unspeakable; sick, sick-making, gut-churning, gross, disgustful, loathly],

quicksilver (adj.) – unpredictable, erratic or fickle, mercurial [Or, thought Khadgar

grimly, had Medivh’s quicksilver mood changed once again and he had forgotten he had
someone with him on this flight?] – synonyms & related words [short-fuse, spirited,
sprightkly, unstable, up-and-down, variable, yo-yo, mad, lubricious, mobile, lighthearted,
irregular, expansive, fickle, flaky, fluctuating, gaga, capricious, buoyant, resilient,
unpredictable, volatile, blowing hot and cold, bubbleheaded, erratic, impulsive,
effervescent, changeable,flighty, temperamental, double-crossing, fitful, frivolous,
inconsistent, irresolute, mercurial, two-timing, artbitrary],

tapped out (adj.) – (tired) very tired; with no energy [As he did he felt faint. That was
the last he could do. He was well and truly tapped out.],

dog-tired (adj.) – extremely tired, exhausted, kaput, worn out [I had been out all day,
and came home dog-tired. I was so dog-tired that I slept like a log, wrapped up in my fur
coat. I'm dog-tired and my left leg's got a cramp in it and I'm weak with hunger. I'm
hungry, and I was dog-tired when I landed here. When we stowed our tools for the day we
were dog-tired and were hustled into barracks. Turning smartly on his heel with the others,
as they resumed marching Larn found himself feeling dog-tired and exhausted.],

shamble (v.) – to walk slowly and awkwardly, without lifting your feet correctly [Sick
patients shambled along the hospital corridors. He was a strange, shambling figure. The
ranks of the green warriors parted and another figure shambled forward.] – synonyms &
related words [shuffle, lumber, totter, dodder, stumble, scuff/drag one's feet, hobble,
limp, ungainly, lumbering, shuffling, awkward, clumsy, uncoordinated, heavy-footed]

shambolic (adj.) – chaotic, disorganized, or mismanaged [The department's shambolic

accounting. He accused the party headquarters of running a shambolic campaign.] –
synonyms & related words [chaotic, disorganized, muddled, confused, in (total) disarray,
at sixes and sevens, unsystematic, haphazard, hit-or-miss, scrappy, fragmented,
inefficient; all over the place, all over the shop, all over the map, all over the lot],

wheel out (v.) – to emply or bring out (something predictable or perennial), to use
something or someone that you have used many times before in a way that is boring for
other people [Every time we have this argument you wheel out the same old statistics, and
I'm still not convinced. Year after year they wheel out the same third-rate celebrities to
entertain us. They steel wheel her out at every party conference.],

wheel (v.) – wheel (turn around) to turn round quickly [She suddenly wheeled and
looked directly at me. Mike wheeled on Tom and started shouting. Nothgrin wheeled
toward the immolated creatures, to see two more join them, bursting into flame like dry
sticks.] – synonyms & related words [turn, turn around, go round, rotate, revolve, circle,
orbit],

the wheels come off (id.) – used for saying that things start ot fail or go wrong,
especially after a period of success [They were leading 3-1 at half-time, but then the
wheels came off and they ended up losing the game.],

ashen (adj.) – without color, or pale grey in color [Julie walked in, ashen-faced with
schok. She was thin and her face was ashen. Khadgar looked at Medivh, and the wizard had
a toothy, self-satisfied smile. The smile faded when he looked at Khadgar’s ashen face.],
lighten something up (id.) – to make a speech or piece of writing less serious; make
or become more cheerful or less serious [I thought I'd slip in a few jokes to lighten up the
talk.] – synonyms & related words [make lighter, lessen, reduce, decrease, diminish,
moderate, soften, ease, temper; alleviate, mitigate, allay, relieve, palliate, assuage,
soothe, calm, subdue; cheer (up), brighten, gladden, hearten, perk up, lift, ginger up,
enliven, boost, buoy (up), elate, inspire, uplift, sweeten, revive, restore, revitalize,
stimulate; enhance, improve, leaven, jazz up, inspirit],

catch on (v.) – (undertsand) to understand, especially after a long time [He doesn't
take hints very easily, but he'll catch on (to what you're saying) eventually. Khadgar’s mind
spun and caught first on the name. Lord Lothar.] – synonyms & related words
[understand, comprehend, learn, realize; find out, see the light, see daylight, work out
what's going on, get the point, cotton on, tumble, latch on, get the picture, get the
message, get the drift, get wise, understand/see what's what, twig],

coot (n.) – (person) an old man who has an unusual or slightly crazy way of behaving,
elder, geezer[Let the old coot sleep – he's not going to help us anyway. Lothar regarded
Khadgar with a smile. “So the old coot finally took on an assistant.”],

at/in one fell swoop (id.) – if you do something at/in one fell swoop, you do it all
the same time, all in on ego [I got all my Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop.] –
synonyms & related words [all at once, together, at the same time, in on ego, with one
move, outright, simultaneously],

politic (adj.) – wise and showing the ability to make the right decisions; (of an action)
seeming sensible and judicious in the circumstance [It would not be politic for you to be
seen here. Lothar smiled again and there was genuine warmth in the smile. “He is more
than anyone expected. That’s one of his good points.” Lothar thought for a moment and
said, “That is a very politic and polite response.” The chamber walls curved. Thick carpets
lay strewn on the floor. A Broken boy pulled aside a beaded curtain and stared in, quite
clearly fascinated by the newcomer. Maiev met his gaze. “Corki,” said Arechron, “go to
sleep. It is past your bedtime and I have business to discuss with our new friend.” “Yes,
Father,” said Corki. He made no move to go. “Corki!” “Yes, Father?” “Do as you are told, or
there will be consequences.” “Yes, Father.” The child’s hooves clopped on the stone floor as
he skipped away. “He is a good boy, but I indulge him too much,” Arechron said.Maiev
agreed, but it did not seem politic to say so. “You are his father.”] – synonyms & related
words [wise, prudent, sensible, judicious, canny, well judged, sagacious, expedient,
shrewd, astute, discreet, tactful, diplomatic; recommended, advantageous, beneficial,
profitable, gainful, desirable, advisable; appropriate, suitable, fitting, apt, timely,
opportune, propitious, provident],

be (as) right as rain (id.) – to feel healthy or well again [You just need a good
night's sleep, and then you'll be right as rain again.],
puzzle something out (v.) – to discover or understand something by thinking hard
about it [I still can't puzzle out how I managed to spend so much money last month. “His
coma,” said Lothar, and shook his head at the memory. “It was unnatural. Med calls it a
‘nap,’ like it was perfectly reasonable. But we never found out why it happened. The Magus
might have puzzled it out, but he’s shown no interest in the matter, even when I’ve asked.”],

accidentally on purpose (id.) – if you do something accidentally on purpose, you

do it intentionally but pretend it happened by chance [I've never liked these glasses of
Peter's. I might drop them one day – accidentally on purpose.],

suck (on) your teeth (id.) – to pull your lips together when you are thinking about
something or feel doubt about it [Lothar sucked on his teeth, and said, “To be honest, I
worry about him. He’s all alone in his tower….”],

grin and bear it (id.) – to endure a difficult or disagreeable situation with good
humor, suffer pain or misfortune in a stoical manner [They made me work the Saturday
of our wedding anniversary. What could I say? I just had to grin and bear it.] – synonyms
& related words [put up with it, stick it out, keep at it, keep going, stay with it, see it
through, see it through to the end; persevere, persist, carry on, struggle on, hang in
there, soldier on, tough it out, peg away, plug away, bash on],

haggard (adj.) – looking ill or tired, often with dark skin under the eyes [He'd been
drinking the night before and was looking a bit haggard.] – synonyms & related words
[careworn, tired, drained, drawn, raddled; unwell, unhealthy, sickly, spent, sapped,
washed out, rundown, exhausted; gaunt, grim, pinched, peaked, peaky, hollow-cheeked,
hollow-eyed; pale, wan, grey, ashen, pallid, pasty-faced, sallow; thin, emaciated, wasted,
cadaverous, ghastly, ghostlike, deathlike],

pitch into somebody/something (id.) – to criticize or attack someone or

something forcefully [He pitched into me as soon as I arrived, asking where the work was.]
– synonyms & related words [attack, turn on, lash out at, set upon, assault, fly at, lunge
at, let fly at, tear into, weigh into, belabour, lay into, sai linto, lace into, let someone have
it, take a pop at, light into],

pitch up (v.) – to arrive, to show up [Gerald finally pitched up two hours late.],

pitch (up)on (v.) – to choose, to pick, to fix one's choice on something or someone,
usually quickly [After a brief discussion of the problem, we pitched upon a good solution.],

pitch (n.) – (slope) the amount of slope, especially of a roof [This roof has a very
steep/high/gentle/low pitch.],

pitch (v.) – (move) to move or be moved suddenly, especially by throwing or being

thrown [She pitched the stone into the river. He pitched the candy wrapper. The ball
pitched (= landed) short. The bike hit a rut and I was pitched (forward) onto the road. The
ship pitched up and down/from side to side in the rough seas.],

pitch (v.) – (tent) to put up a tent and make it ready to use [We pitched camp/our tent
in the shade.],

pitch (v.) – (throw) to throw something, usually a ball or an equivalent object in sports
[He pitched the horseshoe.],

pitch (v.) – (aviation, nautical etc.) to move so that the front of an aircraft or ship goes
alternatively up and down [The typhoon pitched the deck of the ship. The airplane
pitched.],

pitch (n.) – (level of development) (high pitch) [Expertiese in these techniques was
already at a high pitch.],

pitch (n.) – (distance) the distance between evenly spaced objects, e.g. the teeth of a
saw or gear, the turns of a screw thread, the centers of holes, or letters in a monospace
font [The pitch of pixels on the point scale is 72 pixels per inch. The pitch of this saw is
perfect for that type of wood. A helical scan with a pitch of zero is equivalent to a constant
z-axis scanning.],

pitch (v.) to plunge or fall, especially to fall forward, to decline or slope [To pitch from a
precipice. The field pitches toward the east.],

read off (v.) – to dictate from a list; to read from a scale of measure [When your name
has been read off, come to collect your paper. These consisted of making notes as Medivh
read off numbers, running down to the library to recover this book or that, or merely
holding a collection of tools as the Magus worked.],

thimbleful (n.) – a very small amount of liquid [He poured a thimbleful of whiskey into
the glass.],

thimble (n.) – a small cover, usually made of metal or plastic, worn to protect the
finger that pushes the needle when sewing [“Seen who before?” replied his mentor,
peering through a great lens at his current experiment. On his fingers the master mage
wore small pointed thimbles ending in infinitely-thin needles. He was tuning something
that looked like a mechanical bumblebee, which flexed its heavy wings as his needles
probed it.],

blabbermouth/rumormonger/talebearer (n.) – a person who talks carelessly,

often telling secrets to other people [“Ah. You had a vision. Well, many get them here, you
know. Moroes probably told you. He’s a bit of a blabbermouth, you know.”],
telltale (adj.) – allowing a secret to become known [She found lipstick on his shirts – the
telltale sign that he was having an affair.],

telltale (n.) – something that serves to reveal something else [The telltale was the
lipstick on his shirt collar.],

tattle (v.) – to secretly tell someone in authority, especially a teacher, that someone
else has done something bad, often in order to cause trouble [Did you tattle on us to the
teacher?],

tattletale (n.) – (UK telltale) a person, especially a child, who secretly tells someone in
authority, especially a teacher, that someone else has done something bad, often in order
to cause trouble,

storm-tossed (adj.) – thrown up and down by very rough waves [The stormtossed
ocean wasves beat against the side of the ship and washed over its deck. Their storm-tossed
little boat. Energy, intense and uncaring, seemed to dance along the older man’s dark
brows, and the Magus’s eyes were the green of a storm-tossed sea.],

ride on something/something (.id.) – when something important, such as your

reputation or money, rides on a particular person or thing, it will be won or achieved if
that person or thing is successful [The future of the company now rides on the new
managing director. I have a lot of money riding on that horse (= I will win or lose a lot of
money if that horse wins or loses the race.],

choppy (adj.) – (of sea, lakes, or rivers) with a lot of small, rough waves caused by the
wind; (of a hairstyle) cut at different lengths [As he described the vision, the older mage
seemed to calm down, but the choppy sea still remained beneath his bushy brows.],

ewer (n.) – a large jug with a wide spout ,especially from ancient times [“Both,” said
Medivh, leaning back in his chair. “And neither. Go fetch an ewer of wine from the kitchen.
My work is done for the day, I’m afraid, its nearly time for supper, and this may take some
explaining.”] – synonyms & related words [container, decanter, jug, pitcher, urn, vessel],

afterthought (n.) – an idea, thougth, or plan that was not originally intended but is
thought of at a later time [She only asked me to her party as an afterthought. The pillars
seem to have been added to the entrance as an afterthought. “You do drink?” asked Medivh
as an afterthought.],

lead/live a charmed life (id.) – to be very lucky in life, often escaping dangerous
situations without being hurt, a life in which one is always lucky and safe from danger,

not darken somebody's door (id.) – (literary) used to tell someone to never come
back to a place [Never darken my door again.],
lockstep (n.) – in lockstep (with somebody/something) at the same time and same
rate as; agreeing completely with someone; (military) a step whereby the toe of one man
is brought very close to the heel of the man in front; (an inflexible, rigid or stifling
pattern [Rise/fall/move in lockstep. Gold prices don't tend to rise or fall in lockstep with
those for stocks and other finfancial assets. The Senator seems to be in lockstep with the
big health insurance. The stars march in order across the sky, the seasons fall one after the
other with lockstepped regularity, and men and women live and die.] – synonyms &
related words [drill, grind, groove, routine, pattern, rote, rut, treadmill; daily dozen,
regimen, housekeeping, custom, fashion, habit, practice, practise, trick, wont, approach,
manner, method, procedure, strategy, style, tack, technique, way, design, plan, program,
scheme, convention, policy, tradition],

throw (v.) – (confuse) to confuse or shock someone or cause difficulty for them [I
wasn't expecting a visitor. I was really thrown. The news of the coup threw them into a
state of panic. “The world would have to be very different than it seems,” answered Medivh,
“which it truly is, after all. How does time work?” Khadgar was not thrown as much by
Medivh’s apparent change of topic. “Time?” She frowned, thrown by this apparent change
of tack. His question threw me.] – synonyms & related words [disconcert, unnerve,
fluster, ruffle, flurry, agitate, harass, upset, disturb, discomfit, put off, put someone off
their stroke, throw off balance, make nervous, discompose, discountenance, cause
someone to lose their composure; perturb, unsettle, bother, affect, worry, disquiet,
trouble, confuse, rattle, faze, put into a flap, throw into a tizz, discombobulate, shake up],

full marks to somebody (id.) – something you say to praise someone for something
clever or good that they have said or done [Full marks to Jo for spotting the error in
time.],

waft (v.) – to (cause to) move gently through the air; move with a gliding motion [A
gentle breeze wafted the scent of roses in through the open window. The sound of a flute
wafted down the stairs. A breeze came in through the open window and wasfted her
sensuous perfume into my eager nostrils. Medivh now was thinking deeply himself. “It is
possible. Full marks. Well thought out. The big thing to remember is that these visions are
just that. Visions. They waft in and out. Were the tower a clock, they would move regularly
and be easily explained. But since the tower is an hourglass, then they don’t.“ Models
wafted down the catwalk in filmy organza skirt.] – synonyms & related words [drift, float,
glide, whirl, travel, be carried, be borne, be conveyed, be transported; convey, transport,
transmit, carry, bear, blow, puff],

waft (n.) – a smell or smoke that moves through the air [Caroline caught the heady waft
of the other woman's perfume. A waft of smoke engulfed her.],

heady (adj.) – having a powerful effect, making you feel slightly drunk or excited [A
heady wine/perfume. In the heady days of their youth, they thought anything was
possible.],
come to pass (v.) – (old use) to happen [It came to pass that their love for each other
grew and grew.],

eschew (v.) – to avoid something intentionally, or to give something up [We won't have
discussions with this group unless they eschew violence. “No buts,” said Medivh, rising and
setting his empty mug on the mantelpiece. “Now that you’ve had a bit of wine—let’s see
how that affects your magical control. Levitate my mug.” Khadgar furrowed his brow, and
realized that his voice had been slightly slurred. “But we’ve been drinking.” “Exactly,” said
the master mage. “You will never know what sands the universe will throw in your face.
You can either plan to be eternally vigilant and ready, eschewing life as we know it, or be
willing to enjoy life and pay the price. Now try to levitate the mug.”] – synonyms & related
words [abstain from, refrain from, give up, forgo, forswear, shun, renounce, swear off,
abjure, steer clear of, have nothing to do with, give a wide berth to, fight shy of,
relinquish, reject, dispense with, disavow, abandon, deny, gainsay, disclaim, repudiate,
renege on, spurn, abnegate, abdicate, wash one's hands of, drop; kick, jack in, pack in,
disaffirm, forsake],

mushy (adj.) – (soft) soft and having no firm shape; (informal) excessively sentimental
[Cook the lentils until they are mushy. The meat was mushy and tasteless. A mushy film.] –
synonyms & related words [soft, semi-liquid, pulpy, pappy, slushy, sloppy, spongy,
squashy, squelchy, squishy; gooey, gloopy, squidgy, pulpous; sentimental, mawkish,
over-sentimental, emotional, cloying, sickly, saccharine, sugary, syrupy; twee; slushy,
sloppy, schmaltzy, weepy, cutesy, lovey-dovey, gooey, drippy, sloshy, soupy, treacly,
cheesy, corny, icky, sick-making, toe-curling; soppy, cornball, sappy, hokey, three-
hanky],

molder (v.) – to decay slowly; to be left somewhere and not used or cared for [I found
these apples moldering in the cupboard. There's an old bike that's been moldering away in
the shed for years. So Khadgar plunged into the books. For Guzbah he found an ancient,
well-read scroll with an epic poem, its numbered stanzas precisely detailing a battle
between Medivh’s mother Aegwynn and an unnamed demon. For Lady Delth he made a
listing of the moldering elven tomes in the library. And for Alonda he plunged through
those bestiaries he could read, but could not push the number of troll species past four.] –
synonyms & related words [decay, decompose, rot, rot away, go mouldy, perish, go off,
go bad, spoil, putrefy; crumble, disintegrate, fall apart, fall to pieces, deteriorate, fall into
decay, go to rack and ruin]

trellis (n.) – a light frame made of bars of wood or metal crossed over each other,
attached to a wall for plants to grow up, typically fastened against a wall – synonyms &
related words [lattice, framework, open framework, espalier; network, mesh, tracery;
grille, grid, grating; latticework, trelliswork; reticulation]

trellis (v.) – to train or arrange (plants) so that they grow against a trellis [To trellis
vines. It was the smell that came to him first, a soft vegetable warmth among the
moldering texts, a fragrance that slowly rose into the room. The heat rose in the room, not
uncomfortably, but as a warm damp blanket. The walls darkened and turned green, and
vines trellised up the sides of the bookcases, passing through and replacing the volumes
that were there and spreading wide, flat leaves. Large pale moonflowers and crimson star
orchids sprouted among the stacked scrolls.],

firm up (id.) – to make more tentative plans more definite; to make muscles more
toned through physical exercise [Can we firm up plans for the barbecue Sunday? Could we
have a meeting so we can firm up the details of our agreement? He hopes to firm up his
biceps a bit before meeting the girls.],

I might have known (id.) – (disapproving) said when you are not surprised at a
situation or someone's behavior, because you expected it, disappointed [I might have
known (that) he'd still be in bed at noon.],

lacquered (v.) – to apply a lacquer to something or to give something a smooth, glossy

finish [Then he recognized it from bestiaries that Alonda had him peruse. It was a troll, one
of the jungle breed, its blue-hued skin pale in the moonlight, its long gray hair lacquered
upright into a crest that ran from its forehead back to the nape of the neck.],

peg (n.) – (hook) a small stick or hook that sticks out from a surface and from which
objects, especially clothes, can hang; a reason for discussing something further [He took
off his coat/hat and hung it on the peg. They decided to use the anniversary as the peg
for/a peg on which to hang a TV documentary. A peg to hang a claim upon. We will need
some more pegs in the hall. My hat fell off the peg.],

peg (n.) – (fastening device) a device used to fasten something into a particular place
[Hammer the (tent) pegs firmly into the ground.],

peg something out (id.) – if you peg out an area, you mark the edges of it by putting
short sticks into the ground,

bring/take down a peg (id.) – take down a notch, deflate or humble someone,

humble (v.) – cause (someone) to feel less important or proud; decisively defeat (a
sporting opponent previously thought to be superior) [He was humbled by his many
ordeals. I knew he had humbled himself to ask for my help. Wales were humbled at Cardiff
Arms Park by Romania.] – synonyms & related words [humiliate, abase, demean, belittle,
lower, degrade, debase, bring down, bring low; mortify, shame, put to shame, abash,
subdue, chasten, make someone eat humble pie, take down a peg or two; put down, cut
down in size, settle someone's hash, make someone eat crow, defeat, beat, beat hollow,
crush, trounce, conquer, vanquish, rout, smash, overwhelm, get the better of, give a
drubbing to, bring someone to their knees; lick, clobber, hammer, slaughter, mruder,
massacre, crucify, wipe the floor with, walk all over, shellac, blow out, cream, skunk,
own],
clothespin/clothespeg (n.) – an object (usually made of wood) used to attach wet
laundry to a clothesline so that it (the laundry) can dry,

peglike (adj.) – resembling a peg or some aspect of one [Like the orcs, it had fangs
jutting from its lower jaw, but these were rounded, peglike tusks, thicker than the sharp
teeth of the orcs.],

feint (v.) – especially in football and boxing, and melee fighting, to pretend to move, or
to make a move, in a particular direction in order to deceive an opponent [The troll let
out a battle roar, baring its teeth and its chest in rage, and feinted with its spear.],

bare your heart/soul (id.) – to tell someone your secret thoughts and feelings [We
don't know each other that well. I certainly wouldn't bare my soul to her.],

break cover (v.) – when an animal or a person break cover, they run out of a hiding
place,

go wide (v.) – (sports, melee fighting) to miss the mark, often used in sports [My shot
went wide of the net just as time expired, and, with that, we had our first loss of the season.
Llane swung at the outthrust weapon, but his blow went wide.],

consummate (adj.) – perfect, or complete in every way [A life of consummate

happiness. He's a consummate athlete/gentleman/liar. The other two concentrated on
Lothar, and now the warrior was being forced back, using his broad blade with
consummate dexterity, foiling first one thrust, then the other.] – synonyms & related
words [perfect, exemplary, supreme, ultimate, faultless, quintessential; superb, superior,
accomplished, expert, proficient, skilful, skilled, masterly, master, superlative, first-class;
talented, gifted, polished, well versed, well trained, practised; complete, total, utter,
absolute, pure, solid, sheer],

sprawl (v.) – (body) to spread the arms and legs out carelessly and untidily while
sitting or lying down [I knocked into her in the corridor and sent her sprawling (= knocked
her over). He was sprawled (out) on the floor. Sprawling suburbs.],

choke off (v.) – to stop or prevent something from flowing normally, a noun or
pronoun can be used between „choke“ and „off“; to cause someone or something to have
difficulty breathing, a noun or pronoun can be used between „choke“ and „off“; to stop
someone abruptly while they are talking, a noun or pronoun can be used between
„choke“ and „off“ [I was watering the flowers when Doug stepped on the hose and choked
off the water supply. Undo the baby's top button before it chokes off her air supply! I had to
choke him off because his boring story was putting me to sleep. The young Medivh choked
off a series of syllables. A small tornado of dust rose from the ground and flung itself into
the troll’s face, blinding it.] – synonyms & related words [gag, retch, cough, struggle for
air, fight for breath, gasp, suffocate, asphyxiate, smother, stifle, overpower, overcome,
strangle, throttle, clog (up), bung up, block, obstruct, stop up, silt up, plug, dam up,
congest, jam, gunge up, occlude, obturate, suppress, hold back, fight back, bite back, gulp
back, swallow, check, keep in check, restrain, contain, control, repress, smother, stifle,
curb, bridle, rein in; bite one's lip; keep a/the lid on],

hang (v.) – (bend down) to curve down [The branches hung heavy with snow. He knew
he'd done something wrong and hung his head in shame. He muttered a word and
lightning gathered in a ball between his fingers and lanced forward. The troll jolted from
the shock and hung for a moment, caught in a blue-limne.],

you might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb (id.) – said to mean that
because the punishment for a bad action and an even worse one will be the same, you
have no reason not to do the worse one [I'll take the expensive fishing rod. My wife will be
mad at me no matter how much I spend, so I might as well be hung for a sheep as for a
lamb. I’m already late but I’ll stay and have another drink. May as well be hanged for a
sheep as for a lamb.],

hang (n.) – (clothes) the hang, the way something made of cloth looks when it is
hanging [That coat fits you so well – the hang is perfect.],

hang (up) one's hat somewhere (id.) – to live somewhere, to take up residence
[I'm originally from the East Coast, but I hang my hat in San Francisco these days. I've been
traveling around the world for so long that it feels strange to finally have a place to hang
up my hat. George loves Dallas. He's decided to buy a house and hang his hat up there. Bill
moves from place to place and never hangs his hat up anywhere.],

hang on/up something (id.) – (give attention) to give careful attention to

something, especially something that someone says [He hangs on her every word as if she
were some sort of goddess. The audience hangs on his every word. He's got a philosophy he
hangs on to.],

glassy (adj.) – (surface) (literary) a glassy surface is smooth and shiny, like glass [A
glassy sea/lake.],

glassy (adj.) – (eyes) if someone's eyes are glassy, they have a fixed expression and
seem unable to see anything. [Her eyes were glassy and her skin pale. The young mage
was still standing over the fire, his hands held open, but fingers hooked like claws. His eyes
were glassy in the surviving firelight, and his jaw was tightly clenched. As the two men (and
the phantom Khadgar) ran over to him, the young man pitched backward.],

partway (adv.) – to some extent, in part; at some point between each end of a distance
or area; at some point after something begins but before it has finished [He wore a tunic
that came partway down his thighs. One of the firefighters climbed parway up to help her.
The car's roof slides partway open. We decided to walk part way. We're only partway
through this remarkable period of technological advance. He stopped singing part way
through. We can't abandon the attempt partway. Medivh crossed to the shelf, and running
a finger along the scrolls, pulled the needed version, old, and well worn. He unwound it
partway, checked it against a scrap of paper in his pocket, then rewound and replaced it.],

land somebody in something (id.) – to cause someone to be in a difficult situation

[Revealing confidential information to a rival company could land you in serious trouble
with your boss. The demonstration outside the embassy landed some of the protestors in
jail overnight. He landed himself in deep/hot water (= in a very difficult or unpleasant
situation) by lying to the tax office about his earnings.)],

land oneself in deep/hot water (id.) – to get into a difficult or unpleasant

situation,

make heavy weather of something (id.) – to find something hard to do and

spend a lot of time on it, although it is not difficult [She's makng such heavy weather of
that report she's writing.],

make/create a rod for your own back (id.) – if you make a rod for your own
back, you act in a way that creates more problems for yourself in the future [By giving in
to the terrorists' demands, the government will simply be making a rod for its own back.],

hoist by/with one's own petard (id.) – to be hurt or destroyed by one's own plot
or device intended for another, to be „blown up by one's own bomb“ [He has no one to
blame but himself; he was hoisted by his own petard.],

fall on one's sword (id.) – to accept defeat, to go to extremes to indicate one's defeat
[So, because I lost the contract, I am supposed to fall on my sword or something? We have
to make sure that Nicola falls on her sword.],

all told (adv.) – as a complete total; with everything included, or summed up, in total
[There were 550 people at the festival all told. I think they had over 300 people there, all
told. Medivh was gone a week, all told, and it was a week well spent for Khadgar.],

heart and soul (id.) – the core of a thing, the most essential or important part; with
the utmost earnestness, completely, absolutely [The heart and soul of any democracy is
its electorate. She loves those children heart and soul.],

put your heart and soul into something (id.) – to make a lot of effort to do
something [She puts her heart and soul into her work.] – synonyms & related words [go
for it, bet the farm, bet the ranch, exert oneself, go all out, go for broke, pull out all the
stops, shoot the works, use every muscle],

stretch the truth/(a) point (id.) – to exaggerate, often to the point where the truth
is obscure or lost [They claim to be the biggest company in the world, which is stretching a
point.],
install yourself in/at etc. (id.) – to settle somewhere as if you are going to stay for
a long time [Geoffrey, Joe and I installed ourselves in the aft cabin. He installed himself in
the library, and had Moroes bring his meals there. Ashley installed herself behind her table.
Katie installed herself at my place.] – synonyms & related words [esconce, establish,
position, settle, seat, lodge, plant, plump, sit, sit down, take a seal, take a chair, perch,
plonk, park, take a pew],

plumb the depths (of something) (id.) – (fully experience) to experience,

understand, explore, or exhibit something in explicit detail or to an extreme degree
[These valiant officers plumb the depths of heroism every day that they step foot on our
streets. This new study aims to plumb the depths of the relationship between one's mood
and one's appetite. I plumbed the depths of grief and despair for years after the death of
my son, my hope is that I can now help others who are struggling in similar situations.],

plumb the depths (of something) (id.) – (behavior) if someone's behavior plumbs
the depths, it is extremely bad [This crime plumbs the very depths of the abyss into which
it is possible for the human spirit to sink. (humorous) They must be really plumbing the
depths (= must have been unable to find anyone better) if they're offering the job to her.],

plumb the depths (of something) (id.) – (explore) if you plumb the depths of
something, you find out everything you can about it [He doesn't plumb the depths of a
text in the way of his contemporaries. We can never fully plumb the depths of the
unconscious.],

plumb (v.) – (deep) to understand or discover all about something [Now that she had
begun, she wanted to plumb her own childhood further. His own correspondence went
unanswered as he plumbed the ancient tomes and grimoires on questions about time, light,
and magic.] – synonyms & related words [explore, probe, delve into, search, examine,
investigate, scrutinize, inspect, sound out, go into, understand, fathom, get to the bottom
of, penetrate, unravel, find, reach the lowest possible level, reach the lowest point, get
down to the bottom, reach the nadir, experience the worst extremes, reach rock bottom,
reach bedrock],

nadir (n.) – the lowest point or level [The discussion really reached its nadir when
people resorted to name-calling.] – synonyms & related words[bedrock, bottom, rock
bottom, depth, zero, abyss, armpit, pit],

adamant (adj.) – impossible to persuade, or unwilling to change an opinion or decision

[I've told her she should stay at home and rest but she's adamant that she's coming. [And
Alonda was adamant that there had to be a fifth breed of troll, and that Khadgar had
obviously not found the proper bestiaries.] – synonyms & related words [unshakeable,
immovable, inflexible, unwavering, uncompromising, resolute, resolved, determined,
firm, rigid, steadfast; unswerving, stubborn, unrelenting, unyielding, unbending,
obdurate, inexorable, intransigent, dead set, iron-willed, strong-willed, steely; rock-
ribbed; stiff-necked, indurate],

an iron hand/fist in a velvet glove (id.) – used to describe someone who seems
to be gentle but is in fact forceful and determined,

take a hard line on somebody/something (id.) – to be very sever in the way

that you deal with someone or something,

refit (v.) – to put a ship or building back into good condition by repairing it or adding
new parts [The ship sailed into the docks to refit/to be refitted. The bars will be refitted
and re-branded by their owner. To refit a garment. To refit ships of war. Refitting a spell
for a new activity was not as simple as changing an incantation here, altering a motion
there. It required a deep and precise understanding of how divination worked, of what it
revealed and how.],

lapidary (adj.) – clever but simple; suitable for inscriptions, efficient, stately, concise,
terse, embodying the refinement and precision characteristic of stone-cutting [He writes
in fine lapidary prose.],

cantrip (n.) – a spell or incantation, a trifling magic trick; a wilfull piece of trickery or
mischief [Khadgar let his mind settle and become calm. This was no quickly-cast battle
spell, or some offhand cantrip. Rather this was a deep and powerful spell, one that, if within
the Violet Citadel, would set off the warning abjurations of other mages and bring them
flying to him.],

cast somebody/something aside/away/off (v.) – to get rid of someone or

something [You must cast aside all thoughts of revenge. Barriers to women in sport are
being cast away.],

fling somebody/something out of (v.) – to sling or throw someone or some thing

out of something or some place; to get rid of something you do not want, or to make
someone leave a place when they do not want to [In anger, she flung the cat out of the
window. She flung out the cast anc closed the window. I think it's about time we flung out
these old magazines. They were flung out of the bar for fighting.],

turf someone/something out (v.) – to get rid of a number of things or something

large that you do not want, to kick a person out of an organization [I turfed out a load of
old shoes last week.],

copse (n.) – a small group of trees, a thicket of small trees or shrubs [To his right was a
copse of trees, dark evergreens loaded down by the passing snowstorm.],

lead someone down the garden path (id.) – to mislead, deceive, hoodwink, or
seduce [They all have been leading us down the garden path about health care.],
be loaded down with something (id.) – to have too much to carry, or too much
work to do [I was loaded down with shopping. [... dark evergreens loaded down by the
passing snowstorm.],

highbrow/middlebrow/lowbrow (adj.) – (in order) intellectually stimulating,

highly cultured, sophisticated; (pejorative) neither highbrow or lowbrow, but
somewhere in between; unsophisticated, not intended for an audience of intelligence,
education or culture,

highbacked (adj.) – having a high back [A highback chair. The members of the army
were dressed in red, wearing great horned helms and long, high-backed black cloaks.],

muddle along (id.) – to continue living or doing something with no clear purpose or
plan [Decide what you want in life – don't just muddle along. They're content to just
muddle along.],

muddle through (v.) – to manage to do something although you are not organized
and do not know how to do it; to succeed (often clumsily) despite being ill-equipped or
inadequately trained [Sorry, but I can't help you – you'll just have to muddle through on
your own. I've only had a few lessons, but I can muddle through test.],

keep body and soul together (id.) – to be able to pay for your food, clothing, and
somewhere to live [His wages are barely enough to keep body and soul together.],

muddle-headed (adj.) – thinking in a muddled way, not thinking clearly,

muddle (n.) – an untidy or confused state, a mess; a mixture, a confusion, a garble [The
documents were in a middle. Whenever I go to europe, I get in a muddle about/over (=
become confused about) how much things cost. The muddle of nervous speech he uttered
did not have much meaning. Her feelings for him are such a muddle. She died leaving her
financial affairs in a muddle.],

muddle (n.) – a mistake caused by a confused situation [Sorry, there's been a bit of a
muddle.] – synonyms & related words [bungle, mix-up, misunderstanding, mistake; hash,
foul-up, screw-up, car crash, snafu, fuck-up, balls-up, confusion, error],

bungle (v.) – carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently; make or be prone to making
many mistakes [She had bungled every attempt to help. The prisoners bungled their
escape bid. The work of a bungling amateur.] – synonyms & related words [mishandle,
mismanage, mess up, make a mess of, botch, spoil, mar, ruin; make a hash of, muff, fluff,
foul up, screw up, louse up, bitch up, blow, foozle; make a muck of, make a pig's ear of,
cock up, make a Horlicks of; flub, goof up, bobble; vulgar slangfuck up, bugger up, balls
up, bollix up, incompetent, blundering, amateurish, inept, unskilful, inexpert, clumsy,
maladroit, gauche, awkward, inefficient, muddled, oafish, clodhopping, bumbling,
stumbling, lumbering, foolish, useless; ham-fisted, ham-handed, cack-handed],
cack-handed (adj.) – (UK, informal) inept, clumsy [A great song ruined by cack-
handed production.],

ham-fisted (adj.) – (UK, informal) clumsy, bungling [A ham-fisted attempt. His ham-
fisted handling of the situation.] – synonyms & related words [clumsy, bungling,
incompetent, amateurish, inept, unskilful, inexpert, maladroit, gauche, awkward,
inefficient, bumbling, useless, unhandy; cack-handed, butterfingered, ham-handed, all
thumbs, all fingers and thumbs],

garble (v.) – to make words or messages unclear and difficult to understand; to mix
together, to mix up, to confuse [It's bad when phones garble conversations. Young children
tend to muddle their words.] – synonyms & related words [mix up, muddle, jumble,
confuse, blur, slur, obscure, distort, twist, twist around, warp, misstate, misquote,
misreport, misrepresent, mistranslate, misinterpret, misconstrue; tamper with, tinker
with, change, alter, doctor, falsify, pervert, corrupt, adulterate; misarticulate, misrender],

garbled (adj.) – if words or messages are garbled, they are not clear and are very
difficult to understand, often giving a false idea of the facts [There was a strange garbled
message on my voicemail.] – synonyms & related words [mix up, muddle, jumble,
confuse, blur, slur, obscure, distort, twist, twist around, warp, misstate, misquote,
misreport, misrepresent, mistranslate, misinterpret, misconstrue; tamper with, tinker
with, change, alter, doctor, falsify, pervert, corrupt, adulterate, misarticulate, misrender],

slather (v.) – to spread something thickly on something else [She slathered lotion
on/all over her body. She slathered her toast with butter. I slathered jam on my toast.] –
synonyms & related words [cover, wrap, coat, smother, bury, insulate, blanket, top,
crown, recover, apply, cloak, cocoon, conceal, dab, daub, dot, drape, encase, encroach,
enshroud, fold, gloss, line, mantle, parcel up, plaster, reapply, resurface, rub, smear,
smooth, sprinkle, superimpose, surmount, swathe in, wipe],

diadem (n.) – a small crown (= circular decoration for the head) with jewels in it [She
wore her blond hair simply, held in place by a silver diadem, and seemed less affected by
the cold than the ghostly Khadgar.],

canto (n.) – one of the chief divisions of a long poem, a book [Khadgar also realized
where he must be, and this was Aegwynn’s battle against the demon hordes, a legend saved
only in fragments, in the cantos of an epic poem on the library shelf.],

pang (n.) – a sudden sharp feeling, especially of painful emotion [A pang of jealousy. We
hadn't eaten since yesterday and the hunger pangs were getting harder to ignore. With a
pang Khadgar realized where his spell had gone wrong. Medivh had asked for that scroll
before leaving, the last time Khadgar had seen him. Had the spell misfired, passing through
a vision of Medivh himself most recently into the very legend that he was checking?],
clipped (adj.) – (speaking) with words pronounced quickly and clearly, sometimes
with parts missing, or in a very short and unfriendly way [I heard the clipped tones of his
secretary saying „I have Mr Watson for you.“ It did not take long for that anger to be
released. She raised an arm, chanted a short, clipped phrase, and lightning danced from
her fingertips.],

clipped (adj.) – (tidy) cut short and tidy [A clipped beard/moustache.],

toll the death knell (id.) – to cause or signal the impending end or ruin of
something, especially a business, organization, or activity, portent demise, foretell a loss,
impend doom (refers to the sound of a bell ringing (the knell) from a church to indicate
that someone has died) [The geometric expansion of the internet and digital media has
tolled the death knell for countless print-based businesses around the world.],

toll (v.) – to (cause a large bell to) ring slowly and repeatedly [In the distance, a church
bell tolled the hour (= showed the time by ringing.) grimaced and recoiled at the flash and
metallic tolling of the mystic bolt.],

whether by accident or design (id.) – intentionally or not [Whether by accident or

design, those high school kids have really created a solid, sustainable business. But the
majority of the hunting party were outside the spell’s effect, whether by accident or
design.],

take wing (v.) – (literary) if a bird takes wing, it flies away; to suddenly develop, freely
and powerfully [She walked in the hills, letting her thoughts take wing. The largest of them
bellowed something in a language that sounded like broken metal bells, and half of the
demons took wing, charging Aegwynn’s (and Khadgar’s) position.],

knowing (adj.) – showing that you know about something, even when it has not been
talked about [A knowing look/glance/smile. Khadgar looked at Aegwynn and saw that she
was smiling. It was a knowing, self-confident smile, and one that the young mage had seen
on Medivh’s face, when they had fought the orcs. She was more than confident.],

discordant (adj.) – producing an unpleasant sound; used to describe something that is

not in agreement with something else [Discordant opinions prevail even among good
judges. Those that had been turned to crystal shattered where they struck with discordant
chords.],

strike a discordant note (id.) – (formal) to look or sound different or wrong

compared with everything else [The contemporary dialogue struck a slightly discordant
note.],

(come to) a pretty pass (id.) – used for saying that a situation has become very
unpleasant, difficult, or unacceptable [Now don't spread this around, but I hear things
have come to a pretty pass between Mark and his wife. Negotiations between management
and the striking employees reached a pretty pass when the labor union rejected the
company's latest deal.],

throaty (adj.) – a throaty sound is low and rough [A throaty voice/laugh/cough.

“Youknow?” bellowed the demon with a throaty laugh. “You know that you are alone in the
wilderness, with every demon raised against you. Youknow?”],

mote (n.) – something, especially a piece of dust, that is so small it is almost impossible
to see [The demonic leader let out a cry and raised its blood-spattered sword. Aegwynn
was too quick for it, and raised a hand, three fingers outstretched. The foulspawn’s scar-
ridden chest evaporated, leaving only a cloud of bloody motes.],

stock-still (adj.) – without moving, completely still [On seeing us, the deer stood stock-
still for a moment, then turned and retreated into the forest. Khadgar looked at Aegwynn,
and she was standing stock-still in the snow, her fists clenched, her green eyes blazing with
power, her teeth locked in a hideous grin.],

fever pitch (n.) – a state of very strong emotion [Excitement at the stadium had
reached/was at fever pitch. The cries of the demons in the center reached a fever pitch, and
now Aegwynn was shouting herself, a nimbus of energy coalesced around her. Her hair was
loose and flying now, and she raised both arms and unleashed the last words of her
conjuration.],

afterimage (n.) – an image which persists or remains in negative after the original
stimulation has ended [The energy spiraled outward, and the demons did not even have
time to scream as it overtook them, burning them out and leaving the shadows of their
afterimage as their only testament.],

gather your wits (id.) – (literary) to make an effort to become calm and think more
clearly [I spent the five-minute break between games gathering my wits and rethinking my
strategy for the second half. “Not as long as there is a Guardian,” said Aegwynn. “Not as
long as I live, or those who come after me.” Her fingers curled slightly, and Khadgar could
see that she was summoning power within herself, gathering her wits, her will, and her
energy into one great assault.],

ripple (v.) – to (cause to) move in small waves [The breeze rippled the water. His
muscles rippled under his skin. It struck the ground like a meteorite hitting the earth, and
the snow rippled beneath Khadgar’s feet.],

staunch (v.) – to stop something happening, or to stop liquid, especially blood, from
flowing out, stop bloodflow [The country's asylum laws were amended to staunch the
flow/flood of economic migrants. Mike pressed hard on the wound and staunched the flow
of blood. Now Sargeras starting chanting himself, pulling together what energies he
possessed to reverse the process, to staunch the flow, to put out the consumig fire.] –
synonyms & related words [stem, hold back, stop, halt, check, block, dam, restrict,
restrain, control, contain, curb, slow, lessen, reduce, diminish, retard, stanch, stay],

drift (n.) – (movement) a pile of snow or something similar, formed by the wind [The
snow lay in deep drifts.],

drift (n.) – (situation) a general development or change in a situation [The downward

drift in copper prices looks like it will continue.],

cadaverous (adj.) – looking pale, thin, and ill, corpselike, hinting of death, imitating a
cadaver [Cadaverous features. He was still working an hour later when there was a
cadaverous cough at the doorway. Khadgar was so wrapped up in thought that he did not
notice until Moroes coughed a second time.],

gain/get/find (a) purchase (of something) (id.) – to get a firm hold on

something [The rear wheels of the truck spun, trying to gain a purchase in the mud.
Khadgar looked at Moroes blankly for a moment, before the words gained purchase in his
mind. “Medivh’s back?” he managed at last. Dancers use a special powder on their shoes to
help them get a better purchase on the floor. The horse's hooves fought for purchase on the
slippery pavement. His hand fought for purchase on the smooth wall.] – synonyms &
related words [grip, firm contact, attachment, hold, foothold, footing, toehold, fingerhold,
anchorage, support, grasp; resistance, friction, leverage, advantage],

purchase (n.) – firm contact or grip [The horse's hooves fought for purchase on the
slippery pavement. His hand fought for purchase on the smooth wall. Vandel caught the
jaws just before they could close on his throat. Their points slashed the flesh of his fingers.
He scrambled for a purchase that was not razor-edged, inserted his fingers into the flap of
flesh between gum and lip. His right hand was not so fortunate. It snagged on sharp teeth.
The pain was agonizing. The tingling of the flesh where demon saliva touched did nothing
to ease the torment. It seemed to amplify it.] – synonyms & related words [grip, firm
contact, attachment, hold, foothold, footing, toehold, fingerhold, anchorage, support,
grasp; resistance, friction, leverage, advantage],

disembodied (adj.) – seeming not to have a body or not to be connected to a body [A

disembodied voice. “Take your time,” said the castellan. “It’s only the Magus that wants you
to fly with him to Stormwind Castle. Nothing important.” And Moroes faded back into the
hallway. “Top level,” came his disembodied voice, almost as an afterthought.],

blot (v.) – (dry) to dry a wet surface, or writing done in ink, by pressing something soft
against it [I signed my name and blotted the paper. She put on her lipstick and then
carefully blotted her lips with a tissue. Aegwynn has two shadows,it said. Khadgar shook
his head. Whatever course his mind was following was gone now. He carefully blotted the
excess ink to make sure it did not smear, and set the pages aside.],
slate (n.) – (rock) a dark grey rock that can be easily divided into thin pieces, or a small,
thin piece of this used to cover a roof,

slate (v.) – (choose) to be expected to happen in the future, or to be expected to be or

do something in the future [Jeff is lated to be the next chaplain of the team. The meeting is
slated for (= the chosen day is) next Thursday.],

slate (v.) – cover (somehing, especially a roof) with slates [He was working for his father
slating a new roof.],

slate (v.) – (UK, informal) criticize severely [His work was slated by the critics.] –
synonyms & related words [criticize harshly, attack, pillory, lambaste, condemn, flay,
savage, shoot down, revile, vilify; pan, knock, tear/pull/take to pieces, take/pull apart,
crucify, hammer, slam, do a hatchet job on, bash, give something a battering, roast,
skewer, maul, throw brickbats at; rubbish, slag off, monster, trash, pummel, bag, slash,
excoriate],

slate (adj.) – of a color similar to slate, grayish-blue [Slate grey. Slate blue.],

burnish (v.) – (literary) to rub metal until it is smooth and shiny, if you burnish
something such as your public image, you take action to improve it and make it more
attractive, enhance or improve [The company is currently trying to burnish its socially
responsible image. Highly burnished armor. Marks can be removed by scraping and
burnishing the metal. A man who took advantage of an opportunity to burnish his image.]
– synonyms & related words [polish (up), shine, brighten, rub up/down, buff (up),
smooth, glaze, furbish],

burnished (adj.) – smooth and shiny [It was a citadel of gold and silver. The walls in the
morning light seemed to glow with their own radiance, burnished like a chalice under a
castellan’s cleaning.],

furbish (v.) – to polish or burnish: to renovate or recondition ,

furbished (adj.) – improved or repaired, and made to look new,

rainbow (v.) – to pattern with man ycolors, like a rainbow [The roofs of silver were
merely dark slate, and what he thought were gemstones merely collected dew rainbowing
back the dawn.],

wain (n.) – a type of cart( = a vehicle with either two or four wheels, pulled by a horse
and used for carrying goods): [Constable's famous painting „The Hay Wain“. Great wains
were lumbered out of the main gates, loaded with farmers heading for the neat, ordered
fields that spread out from the city’s walls like skirts, stretching almost to the horizon.],
a ribbon of something (id.) – (literary) a long, narrow piece of something [A ribbon
of road stretched ahead of us across the desert.],

lumber somebody with something (id.) – (mainly UK, informal) if you are/get
lumbered with something, you have to deal with something or someone that you do not
want to, to impose an unwanted burden on, toe ncumber, to load down with things
[They've lumbered me with all these suitcases. I got lumbered with that boring woman all
afternoon.] – synonyms & related words [load, weight, charge; weigh down, encumber,
hamper, overload, overburden; laden, trammel, oppress, trouble, cause trouble to, cause
suffering to; worry, beset, bother, harass, disturb, upset, depress, get someone down;
distress, grieve, haunt, nag, torment, harrow, afflict, strain, stress, tax, overwhelm,
perturb, plague, bedevil, saddle with],

saddle somebody with something (id.) – (informal) to give someone a

responsibility or problem that they do not want and that will cause them a lot of work or
difficulty [The company is saddled with debt. He's saddled with debts of 12$ million. They
were unwilling to be saddled with children.] – synonyms & related words [burden,
encumber, lumber, hamper, weight down, land, charge, inflict something on, impose
something on, thrust something on, unload something on,fob something off on to],

lumber (v.) – (move) to move slowly and awkwardly [In the distance, we could see a
herd of elephants lumbering across the plain. Great wains were lumbered out of the main
gates, loaded with farmers heading for the neat, ordered fields that spread out from the
city’s walls like skirts, stretching almost to the horizon.],

snood (n.) – (scarf) a type of scarf consisting of a wide ring of material, that is worn
around the neck and that can be pulled up to cover the head,

snood (n.) – (on hair) a type of bag like a net, that is worn by a woman over the back of
her hair,

crosswind (n.) – a wind blowing at an angle to the direction a vehicle is travelling in,

pate (n.) – the top of a person's head [Khadgar looked at Lothar. The larger man rubbed
his beefy hand up over his balding pate, and shook his head. Then he started after the man,
Khadgar in tow.],

a litany of something (id.) – a long list of unpleasant things, especially things that
are repeated [The manufacturers are reported to have received a litany of complaints from
dissatisfied customers. Medivh was gone by the time they reached the bottom of the spiral,
though a litany of complaints and the occasional curse could be heard up ahead,
diminishing fast.],

by way of (prepositional phrase) – by the route of, through, via; for the purpose of, as
a means, instance, type or form of [From Shakespear to Milton by way of the English Bible,
our language has been shaped by humanist ideas. By way of apology, he tried to be gallant.
He sent me some flowers by way of an apology. “He was very agitated last night,” said
Khadgar, by way of apology. “He had been gone, and apparently your summons reached
Karazhan shortly after he had returned.”],

heaps (and buckets) (of something) (n.) – a lot of,

(right) down to (prepositional phrase) – even including the following small or

unimportant things or people [Amalie was dressed completely black, right down to black
lipstick and a black earring. Everyone, from the CEO (right) down to the admin assistants,
was questioned by the police.],

stagger (v.) – (shock) to cause someone to feel shocked or surprised because of

something unexpected or very unusual happening [He staggered all his colleagues by
suddenly announcing that he was leaving the company at the end of the month. I was
staggered to find it was six o' clock. I saw a sight that staggered me. She was staggered to
hear she had a rival. Sometimes, however, her mind could still slip its chains and drift to a
white-carpeted bedroom in the High Spire or an illicit liaison in a downmarket eatery, to
the brush of a loved one’s lips, and then she was staggered by the pain of all she had lost.] –
synonyms & related words [astonish, amaze, nonplus, startle, astound, surprise,
bewilder, stun, flabbergast, shock, shake, stop someone in their tracks, stupefy, leave
open-mouthed, take someone's breath away, dumbfound, daze, benumb, confound,
disconcert, shatter, take aback, jolt, shake up, bowl over, knock for six, floor, blow
someone's mind, strike dumb, astonished, astounded, amazed, stunned, thunderstruck,
shattered, flabbergasted, nonplussed, taken aback, startled, surprised, bewildered,
shocked, shell-shocked, shaken, stupefied, open-mouthed; dumbfounded, dumbstruck,
speechless, at a loss for words; dazed, benumbed, confounded, disconcerted, shaken up;
bowled over, knocked for six, floored, flummoxed, caught on the hop, caught on the
wrong foot, unable to believe one's eyes/ears, gobsmacked],

stagger (v.) – (arrange) to arrange things, especially hours of work, holidays, or events,
so that they begin at different times from those of other people; if the start of a race is
staggered, the competitors start at different times or in different positions [Some
countries have staggered school holidays so that holiday resorts do not become
overcrowded.],

stagger (n.) – a way of w alking or moving, from the original meaning of the word, in
which you almost fall [He left the bar with a drunken stagger.] – synonyms & related
words [spread (out), space (out), time at intervals, overlap, alternate, step ,arrange in a
zigzag],

flounce (v.) – to walk with large, noticeable movements, especially to attract attention
or show that you are angry; to leave a group dramatically, in a way that draws attention
to oneself [„Don't expect any help from me in the future!“ he said and flounced out of the
room. After failing to win the leadership election, he flounced dramatically.] – synonyms &
related words [lurch, walk unsteadily, reel, sway, teeter, totter, stumble, wobble, move
clumsily, weave, flounder, falter, pitch, roll],

draw a blank (v.) – to be unable to recall a required piece of information; to fail, not
to find anything, to produce no successful response [I should know that person's name,
but I'm drawing a blank. He asked me for my phone number and I drew a blank – I just
couldn't remember it.],

poultice (n.) – a piece of cloth covered with a thick, often warm substance, wrapped
around an injury to reduce pain or swelling,

concentric (adj.) – concentric circles and rings have the same centre [A concentric
pattern. In the center of the room was a ring of power, an inscription carved into the floor
itself. The ring was two concentric circles, incised with words of power between them.],

incise (v.) – to cut the surface of something carefully with a sharp tool [The design is
incised into a metal plate. A shield incsed with Celtic symbols. The incisions in the floor
were deep and filled with a sticky dark liquid.] – synonyms & related words [engrave,
etch, carve, cut, chisel, inscribe, score, chase, notch, scotch, cut into, make an incision in,
slit, slit open, lance, gash, slash],

jaded (adj.) – not having interest or losing interest because you have experienced
something too many times [Flying is exciting the first time you do it, but you soon become
jaded. Perhaps some caviar can tempt your jaded palate. “I need your youth and
inexperience. My jaded eyes may see what I’m expecting to see. I need fresh eyes. Don’t be
afraid to ask questions, now. Come here and stand in the center of the room...“] – synonyms
& related words [satiated, sated, surfeited, glutted, cloyed, gorged, dulled, blunted,
deadened, benumbed],

shutter (n.) – (window cover) a wooden cover on the outside of a window that
prevents light or heat from going into a room or heat from leaving it; a metal covering
that protects the windows and entrance of a shop from thieves when it is closed
[Shutters usually come in pairs and are hung like doors on hinges.],

shuttered (adj.) – (having window covere) having closed windows; (not operating)
closed for business, not operating [In the midday heat, all the windows were shuttered.
Most of the region's factories are shuttered.],

fetid (adj.) – smelling extremely bad and stale [Fetid air/breath. And suddenly the young
mage was inundated with the thick fetid feel of the magic.] – synonyms & related words
[stinking, smelly, foul-smelling, evil-smelling, malodorous, stinking to high heaven,
reeking, pungent, acrid, high, rank, foul, unpleasant, nasty, noxious; fresh; stinky, reeky,
niffling, niffy, pongy, whiffy, humming, funky, noisome, mephitic, miasmic, miasmal,
olid],
cloud over (id.) – (face) if a person's face clouds over, they suddenly look unhappy or
worried [At the mention of her dead husband, her face clouded over.],

have a cloud hanging over you (id.) – to feeld depressed or unhappy [He's had a
cloud hanging over him for a week now.],

cloud (v.) – to make someone confused, or make something more difficult to

understand [When it came to explaining the lipstick on his collar, he found that drink had
clouded (= confused) his memory. Lothar’s face clouded in memory. “Toward the circle. And
facedown. Yes, definitely. They were badly scorched all over, and we had to turn them over
to make sure it was Huglar and Hugarin.”] – synonyms & related words [become cloudy,
cloud over, become overcast, become gloomy, grow dim, lour, blacken, darken, dim, roil,
rile, confuse, muddle, make unclear, obscure, fog, befog, muddy, blur],

lour (v.) – look angry or sullen, scowl; (of the sky or landscape) look dark and
threatening [The lofty statue lours at patients in the infirmary. The louring sky.]-
synonyms & related words [scowl, frown, look sullen, glower, glare, grimace, give
someone black looks, look daggers, look angry, give someone dirty looks; overcast, dark,
leaden, grey, cloudy, clouded, sunless, gloomy, threatening, menacing, promising rain],

lour (n.) – a scowl; a dark and gloomy appearance of the sky or landscape

every cloud has a silver lining (id.) – used to say that there is usually a good
aspect of a bad situation,

silver lining (id.) – bright side, blue sky, break in the clouds, comforting prospect,
good side, hopeful prospect, light side,

drive at something (v.) – to try to explain or say something [I can't understand what
she's driving at. “What are you driving at, Young Trust?” said the Magus, now seated by the
open window, stroking his beard.],

for effect (prepositional phrase) – if you say or do something for effect, you
intentionally do it to shock people or attract their attention [I get the impression that she
uses bad language in meetings for effect. For effect he smacked himself against the back of
the head with an open palm. “They fell forward, and were burned in that position.”],

at large (id.) – on the loose, roaming freely, not confined [“And a good one,” said Medivh
quickly. “Just in error, that’s all. You’re right, the window would be open, because that was
how the demon left the tower. It is at large in the city right now.”] – synonyms & related
words [at liberty, free, on the loose, on the run, fugitive, unconfined, unrestrained,
roaming, loose, unbound, urnestricted, untied, unchained, unshackled, unfettered, set
loose, wild, on the lam],
throw good money/lives away after bad (id.) – to waste money/lives by
spending more money/risking lives on something you have already spent money
on/that doesn't warrant it on that is no good [Trying to fix that old car would just be
throwing good money after bad. „No,” said Medivh. “I want to do this myself. No use
throwing away good lives after bad. I’ll want to see the remains, of course. That will tell me
what we’re dealing with here.”],

storm clouds (n.) – (literary) trouble, especially trouble that is going to happen soon,
cloud on the horizon, doom, impending doom, the coming bad [Economic storm clouds
are gathering over India. The storm clouds of war seem to be looming over the east.
“Incivilized countries,” he said, his voice slightly strained, “apprentices don’t disagree with
their masters. At least in public.” He turned toward Khadgar and the youth saw the older
man’s face was a mass of storm clouds.],

paw through (id.) – (papers) to sift through documents, papers, and the like, read
quickly, skip [Medivh moved from table to table, pawing through the shredded tomes and
torn papers.],

skitter (v.) – (especially of a small animal, bird, or insect) to move very quickly and
lightly [When I lifted the log ,there were lots of beetles skittering about/around under it.
„And if you hadn’t spoken up, I wouldn’t have realized the demon probably skittered down
the tower itself, and wasted more time searching the castle complex.“] – synonyms &
related words [skip, bound, carom, flit, gambol, graze, lope, prance, ricochet, scamper,
scoot, skim, tiptoe, bob, bolt, buck, canter, caper, cavort, dance, flee, fly, frisk, glance, hop,
leap, run, skedaddle, spring, step, trip, hippety-hop, make off, skirr],

make waves (id.) – to be very active so that other people notice you, often in a way
that intentionally causes trouble [It's probably not a good idea to start making waves in
your first week in a new job. „Don't do this, don't make fucking waves.“ yelled Malcolm
Tucker.] – synonyms & related words [cause trouble, be disruptive, be troublesome,
cause a disturbance, make an impression, be noticed

hoity-toity (adj.) – (behavior) pompous, self-important and snobbish – synonyms &

related words [pompous, arrogant, dizzy, flighty, giddy, pretentious, silly, snooty,
thoughtless]

canaille (n.) – (usually plural) the lowest class of people, the rabble, the vulgar,

hoi polloi (n.) – (plural, definite article proscribed*) ordinary people, the common
folk, the masses [“That’s the basics,” said Medivh. “What we tell the hoi polloi. What do you
know in addition?”] – synonyms & related words [the masses, the common people, the
populace, the public, the people, the multitude, the rank and file, the lower orders, the
crowd, the commonality, the commonalty, the commons, the third estate, the plebeians;
the mob, the proletariat, the common herd, the herd, the rabble, the riff-raff, the
cannaille, the great unwashed, the many, the ragtag (and bobtail9, the plebs, the proles,
the peasants]

abjure (v.) – to say formally or publicly that you no longer agree with a belief or way of
behaving [He abjured his religion/his life of dissipation. Khadgar took a deep breath. “The
official teachings in the Violet Citadel, in Kirin Tor, is that demonology is to be eschewed,
avoided, and abjured. Any attempt to summon demons are to be found out and stopped at
once, and those involved are to be expelled. Or worse. There were stories, among the young
students, when I was growing up.”] – synonyms & related words [renounce, relinquish,
reject, dispense with, forgo, forswear, disavow, abandon, deny, gainsay, disclaim,
repudiate, give up, spurn, abnegate, wash one's hands of, drop, do away with; eschew,
abstain from, refrain from; kick, jack in, pack in, disaffirm, forsake, disabuse],

wild horses (id.) – a force not subject to human control and normally stronger than a
man (wild horses couldn't/wild horses wouldn't (drag) [Wild horses wouldn't have kept
me from going to the party. Wild horses wouldn't drag me to a party tonight. After
spending so much money on the tickets to his concert, wild horses couldn't drag me away!
Wild horses couldn't drag Jim away from his work. He just gets too invested in it. . Once
Elaine starts playing a video game, wild horses can't drag her away from it. Jim was
determined to remain fishing at the lake. Wild horses couldn't drag him away from it. Wild
horses wouldn't drag this secret out of me. Wild horses wouldn't make Nicola sell the
house.],

splurge (v.) – to gush, to flow or move in a rush; to spend lavishly or extravagantly,

especially money [The tomato sauce was splurged all over the chips. They decided to
splurge on the biggest banana split for dessert.],

couch something in/as something (v.) – to express something in a particular

way [I don't understand this form – it's all couched in legal terminology. “What you have is
basically true. A lot of people couch it in the form of legends and fairy stories, but I think
you know as well as I do that demons are real, and are out there, and yes, form a threat to
those of us who walk this sunlit world, as well as other worlds.] – synonyms & related
words [express, phrase, word, frame, put, formulate, style, render, set forth, put across,
convey, communicate, say, state, utter, voice]

invoice (n.) – a list of things provided or work done together with their cost, for
payment at a later time [Invoices must be submitted by the 24th of every month. „There
are more than enough venal farmhands who invoke a demonic force for revenge against a
former lover, or stupid merchants who burn an invoice from a debtor with a black candle,
badly mangling the ancient name of some once-great demonic power.“] – synonyms &
related words [bill, account, statement, statement of charges, itemization, reckoning,
tally, check, tab, score],
invoice (v.) – send an invoice to (someone); send an invoice for (goods or services
provided) [We'll invoice you for the damage.] – synonyms & related words [bill, charge,
debit, send an invoice/bill to],

blandishments (n.) – pleasant words or actions used in order to persuade someone

to do something [She was impervious to his blandishments. But just as often there are
those who walk willingly to the abyss, who feel themselves safe and sure and
knowledgeable that they are beyond any blandishment or threat, that they are powerful
enough to harness the demonic energies that surge beyond the walls of the world] –
synonyms & related words [flattery, cajolery, coaxing, wheedling, honeyed words,
smooth talk, soft words, blarney; fulsomeness, simpering, fawning, toadying,
ingratiating, ingratiation, currying favour, inveiglement; charm offensive, sweet talk, soft
soap, smarm, spiel, ego massage, buttering up, cosying up, cuddling up, flannel, guyver,
smoodging, glozing, lip salve, cajolement],

sinecure (n.) – (work) a position which involves little work, but for which the person
is paid [“The most powerful in Azeroth,” said Medivh. “The wisest and finest wizards,
magical advisors to King Llane himself. Safe, sage, and sinecured!”] – synonyms & related
words [easy job, soft option, cushy number, mone yfor old rope, money for jam, picnic,
doddle, walk in the park, cinch, gravy train, bludge],

sinews of war (id.) – (combat) the money needed for weapons and supplies during a
war, war resources, war budget, war fund, military budget,

blossom (v.) – (figurative) when people blossom, they become more attractive,
successful, or confident, and when good feelings or relationships blossom, they develop
and become stronger [She really has blossomed recently. She is suddenly blossoming into a
very attractive woman. Sean and Sarah's friendship blossomed into love. Khadgar shook
his head. “What could be more powerful than two of the most advanced and learned
wizards in Azeroth?” “Ah,” said Medivh, and a small smile blossomed beneath his beard.
“That would be me. They killed themselves summoning a demon, playing with forces best
left alone, because they feared me.”] – synonyms & related words [develop, grow, mature,
progress, evolve, burst forth, come to fruition; flourish, thrive, get on well, prosper,
succeed, be successful, make headway, bloom, burgeon, go great guns, flower],

burgeon (v.) – begin to grow or increase rapidly, flourish, rise; (archaic, literary) put
forth young shoots, bud [Manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand.
Tourism has burgeoned over the last ten years. The boy had a burgeoning talent for
playing the piano.] – synonyms & related words [grow rapidly, increase
rapidly/exponentially, expand, spring up, shoot up, swell, explode, boom, mushroom,
proliferate, snowball, multiply, become more numerous, escalate, rocket, skyrocket, run
riot, put on a spurt; flourish, thrive, prosper],
pallor (n.) – the state of being very pale [The deathly pallor of her skin was frightening.
Khadgar opened his mouth to protest, but thought better of it. He slouched down against
the wide ledge by the open window. Despite the efforts of the servants to remove the bodies
from the tower, the stench of their death, a corrosive pallor, was still heavy in the air.] –
synonyms & related words [paleness, pallidness, lack of color, whiteness, colorlessness,
wanness, ashen hue, pastiness, peakiness, greyness, sickliness, sallowness, etiolation],

ambient (adj.) – (especially of environmental conditions) existing in the surrounding

area [Ambient conditions/lightning/noise/temperature. “An ambient field of energy that
pervades the world,” said Khadgar, almost without thinking.],

pervade (v.) – when qualities, characteristics, or smells pervade a place or thing, they
spread through it and are present in every part of it [The film movie is a reflection of the
violence that pervades our culture.] – synonyms & related words [spread through,
permeate, fill, suffuse, be diffused through, diffuse through, imbue, penetrate, pass
through, filter through, percolate through, infuse, perfuse, extend throughout, be
disseminated through, flow through, run through; charge, steep, saturate, impregnate,
inform, infiltrate, invade, affect],

catechism (n.) – an elementary book containing a sumarry of the principles of a

subject, normally Christianity; a series of formal questions put, as to political candidates,
to bring out their views [It was catechism, a simple answer for a simple question. “It is
stronger in some locations than others, but it is ever-present.”],

bedrock (n.) – (base) the main principles on which something is based [Some people
believe that the family is the bedrock of society.],

dogsbody (n.) – a person who has to do all the boring or unpleasant jobs that other
people do not want to do, peon,

greybeard (n.) – an old man; (metaphorically) any of the members of a group who
have been there the longest (regardless of actual age or gender) [„I believe the grayest of
the graybeards of that time thought they could control her, and in doing so continue to use
the Guardian as a pawn of their own political games.“],

abroad (adv.) – (dated) at large, widely, broadly, over a wide place [A tree spreads its
branches abroad. “As you have so rightly noted, there is a demon abroad,” said Medivh with
a renewed smile. “Sound the hunter’s horn, I must find it before it regains its wits and
strength and kills others!”],

(random cool paragraph)– [“I also need you here to keep your own ears open,” said
Medivh, in a quieter voice. “I have no doubt that Old Lothar has spent the past ten minutes
with his ear to the door, such that there will be a keyhole-shaped impression on the side of
his face.”],
game (adj.) – willing to do things that are new, difficult, or that involve risks [It was a
difficult challenge, but Roberta was game. She's game for anything. A few game citizens
had armed themselves with sticks and knives. They were game for anything. They weren't
game enough to join in. I need a bit of help – are you game?] – synonyms & related words
[brave, courageous, valiant, plucky, bold, intrepid, stout-hearted, lionhearted, unafraid,
daring, dashing, spirited, mettlesome; fearless, dauntless, undaunted, unblenching,
unflinching; gutsy, spunky, ballsy; venturous, willing, favorably inclined, prepared,
disposed, in the mood, of a mind, desirous, eager, keen, interested, enthusiastic, ready],

game (adj.) – (colloquial) willing to participate; (of an animal) that shows a tendency to
continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely;
persistent, especially in the sense similar to the above; injured, lame (of a limb) [“Med,”
said Lothar with a game smile. “His Majesty…” “His Majesty will understand perfectly,” said
Medivh, breezing right past the larger man. “That I would rather meet with a rampaging
demon than the leader of a nation. Priorities and all that. In the mean time will you look
after my apprentice?”],

cast all one's lines (id.) – to set plans in motion, with the image of fishing, and then
have nothing to do but wait and see how the situation unfolds [Aye,” said Lothar, “and
most of it was taken care of while you were talking to Medivh. His majesty King Llane is in
his quarters, as are most of the courtiers, under guard, in case that demon decided to hide
in the castle. Also I have agents already spreading through the city, with orders to both
report anything suspicious but not to make themselves suspicious. The last thing we need is
a demon-panic. I’ve cast all my lines, and now there is nothing to do but wait.” He looked at
the younger man. “And my lieutenants know that I’ll be on this balcony, as I always have a
late lunch anyway.”],

drumstick (n.) – the lower part of the leg of a chicken or similar bird eaten as food
[Chicken drumsticks. The apprentice picked at the sliced breast meat while Lothar tore into
a drumstick.],

play out (v.) – when a situation plays out, it happens and develops [The debate will
play out in the media over the next week or two. Some sort of market day was playing out
beneath them, brightly-tarped storefronts occupied with vendors bellowing (very quietly, it
seemed to Khadgar at this altitude) the virtues of their wares.],

tarp (n.) – a tarp, a heavy, waterproof sheet of material, often cloth, used as a cover
[Throw a tarpaulin over that woodpile before it gets wet.]

introspect (v.) – to examine and consider your own ideas, thoughts, and feelings
[Sometimes we need to introspect about our own motives.],
introspection (n.) – examination of and attention to your own ideas, thoughts, and
feelings [His defeat in the world championship led to a long period of gloomy
introspection. “So,” said the King’s Champion in his way of introspection. “How is he?”],

buff (v.) – to polish and make shiny by rubbing [He was already buffing the car's hubs.
He buffed the glass until it gleamed.] – synonyms & related words [polish, burnish, rub
up, rub, smooth, shine, wipe, clean],

buff (n.) – (informal) a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very

knowledgeable about a particular subject [A computer buff. An opera buff. History buffs.]
– synonyms & related words [enthusiast, fan, fanatic, devotee, addict, lover, admirer;
expert, connoisseur, aficionado, authority, pundit, cognoscente, one of the cognoscenti,
savant, freak, nut, fiend, maniac, ham, ninja, maven, geek, nerd, fundi],

ostler (n.) – in the past, someone who took care of people's horses when they stopped
at an inn [An ostler took the cavalryman's horse. “Hmmpph,” said the King’s Champion. “An
ostler has a mood and he kicks the dog. A mage has his moods and a town disappears. No
offense meant.”],

true enough (adj.) – correct or accurate but not completely explaining something [It's
true enough that he had doubts about the project, but we have to look further to
understand why he resigned. “What did he say?” said Lothar, more quickly than perhaps he
meant to. “Only,” Khadgar chose his words carefully, “that you served him well when he
was ill.” “True enough,” grunted the Champion, starting into the other drumstick.],

not a/one jot (id.) – not at all or not even a small amount, absolutely not [Don't listen
to her! There's not a jot of truth (= there is no truh) in what she's saying. “And it is not the
Apprentice’s place to discuss the doings of the Master, eh?” said Lothar, with a smile that
seemed just a jot too forced.],

laundry list (n.) – a long list of things [There's a whole laudnry list of things to do. “And
you mean to tell me that your teachers didn’t send you out with a laundry list of things to
pry out of the high Magus?” Lothar’s grin deepened, and looked almost sympathetic.],

shots across the bow (id.) – a warning, it refers to a warning shot from a ship, and
can take the form or words of action; a warning that negative consequences will be faced
if something is carried out or allowed to continue [Her sharp retort was a shot across the
bow, letting her boyfriend know now that she would not tolerate his bad attitude. Khadgar
felt some heat in his face. The older warrior was firing bow shots increasingly close to the
gold. “Any requests from the Violet Citadel are under Medivh’s consideration. He has been
very accommodating.”],

whelp (v.) – (of a female dog, wolf, vixen, etc.) to give birth [The bitch whelped. The she-
wolf whelped a large litter of cubs. “And that power is in him, now,” said Lothar. She
whelped him from a conjurer of this very court, and weaned him on pure magestuff, and
poured her power into him. Yes, I know all about it, pieced it together after he went into
that coma. Too much, too young. Even now I’m concerned.”],

afoot (adj.) – happening or being planned or prepared [There are plans afoot to launch
a new radio station. „There are horrible things afoot in the kingdoms. Those orc-things you
saw a month ago, they’re multiplying like rabbits after a rain. And trolls, nearly extinct,
have been seen more often.“] – synonyms & related words [going on, happening, around,
about, abroad, circulating, current, stirring, in circulation, at large, going about, in the air,
in the wind; brewing, looming, on the way, in the offing, on the horizon; informalon the
go, doing the rounds, on the cards, in the pipeline, astir],

precipice (n.) – a very steep side of a cliff or a mountain; a dangerous situation that
could lead to harm or failure [The film opens with a shot of a climber dangling from a
precipice. The latest tax increase may push many smal lcompanies over the financial
precipce. “You know of the Guardian, by now, I can assume?” “You can assume,” said
Khadgar. “And the Order, too?” said Lothar, then he smiled. “No need to say anything,
young man, your eyes gave yourself away. Never play cards with me, eh?” Khadgar felt on
the very precipice itself. Medivh warned him not to let too much loose to the Champion, but
Lothar seemed to know as much as Khadgar knew. More, even.] – synonyms & related
words [cliff face, steep cliff, rock face, sheer drop, cliff, crag, bluff, height, escarpment,
scarp, escarp, scar; linn; krantz, steep],

not (be) a patch on someone/something (id.) – to not be as good as, to not

hold a candle to, to not compare to, to not live up to [He's not a patch on his predecessor.
“Then don’t,” said Lothar, his brows furrowed like the foothills of some ancient mountain
chain. “Three powerful mages, the most powerful in Azeroth. Not a patch on Med or his
mother, mind you, but great and powerful wizards nonetheless. All dead. I can buy one
mage being unlucky, or being caught unawares, but three of them? A warrior doesn’t
believe in that much coincidence...“] – synonyms & related words [without equal, beyond
compare, unparalleled, matchless, peerless, without peer, unmatched, without match,
without parallel, beyond comparison, second to none, in a class of its own, unequalled,
unrivalled, inimitable, nonpareil; transcendent, superlative, surpassing, unsurpassed,
unsurpassable, supreme, top, outstanding, consummate, unique, singular, rare, perfect;
par excellence, hors concours, one-in-a-million, unexampled],

hush something up (v.) – to try to prevent people from discovering particular facts
[There was some financial scandal involving one of the ministers but it was all hushed up.
They hushed up the suicide to prevent bad publicity. Khadgar realized that the older man
was studying his face as he spoke, and with a start he realized that this fit into the rumors
he heard before leaving the Violet Citadel. Ancient mages, suddenly gone, and the upper
echelons quietly hushing it up. The great secret among the Kirin Tor, part of a greater
problem.] – synonyms & related words [keep secret, conceal, hide, suppress, cover up,
keep dark, keep quiet about, not divulge, stifle, squash, whitewash, smother, obscure,
veil, sweep under the carpet, sit on, keep under one's hat],

furrow (n.) – a long line or hollow that is formed or cut into the surface of something; a
line or wrinkle on a person's face [A deep furrow has formed in the rock, where water has
run over it for centuries. Years of anxiety have lined her brow with deep furrows. Khadgar
looked at Lothar, trying to read the furrows of the older man’s face. Was this old warrior
worried about his friend, or worried about the loss of a magical protection? Was his
concern about Medivh’s safety, out in the middle of the wilderness, or that something was
stalking them all? The older man’s face seemed like a mask, and his deep sea-blue eyes gave
no clue as to what Lothar was truly thinking.] – synonyms & related words [groove,
trench, rut, trough, ditch, channel, seam, gutter, gouge, hollow, fissure, gash, track;
wrinkle, line, crease, crinkle, crow's foot, cleft, indentation, corrugation; scar, sulcus],

to what end (adverb.) – for what purpose, why [We will never know to what ends he
was working. To what ned are you spending so much time reading the newspaper? They
put so much effort into it, but to what end? Khadgar had expected a simple swordsman, a
knight devoted to duty, but the King’s Champion was more than this. He was pushing
Khadgar, looking for weakness, looking for information, but to what end?],

creature of habit (id.) – someone who always does the same thing in the same way,
[My father's such a creature of habit – he always has to have a biscuit and a cup of tea at
bedtime. “I thought you a creature of habit, Lothar,” said Medivh. “I knew you’d be out here
taking afternoon tea!” The Magus beamed a warm smile, but Khadgar saw there was a
slight, almost drunken sway to his walk. Medivh kept one arm behind him, concealing
something.],

underhanded (adj.) – done by moving the hand (and arm) from below; sly, dishonest,
corrupt, cheating; done secretly, and sometimes, dishonestly, in order to achieve an
advantage [“Ah, yes, the demon,” said Medivh brightly and pulled his bloodied prize out
from behind his back. He lobbed it at Lothar and Khadgar in a lazy, underhanded swing.
His underhanded trick backfired and he was disqualified. An underhanded compliment is
actually criticism.] – synonyms & related words [crooked, deceptive, dishonest, double-
dealing, duplicitous, fast, fraudulent, guileful, rogue, shady, sharp, shifty, underhand;
unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous, deceitful, deceiving, deluding,
delusive, delusory, false, artful, beguiling, cagey (cagy), crafty, cunning, foxy, slick, sly,
subtle, wily, defrauding, devious, furtive, slippery, sneaking, sneaky, trickish, tricky,
insidious, perfidious, treacherous],

divot (n.) – a torn up piece of turf, a small hole in an area of grass, especially one made
by a golf club, a disruption in an otherwise smooth contour [The red orb spun as it flew,
spilling the last bits of blood and brains out before landing at Lothar’s feet. It was a
demon’s skull, the flesh still adhered to it, with a mighty divot, like that of a great ax, driven
into the center, right between the ramlike horns. The demon’s expression, Khadgar
thought, was one of both awe and indignation.] – synonyms & related words [cleft,
concavity, concave, dent, depression, hollow, pit, hole, incision, cut, mark],

indignation (n.) – anger about a situation that you think is wrong or not fair –
synonyms & related words [resentment, umbrage, affront, disgruntlement, anger,
distress, unhappiness, discontent, dissatisfaction, displeasure, hurt, pain, upset, offence,
pique, spleen, crossness, exasperation, vexation, irritation, annoyance, chagrin,
aggravation, ire],

pinched (adj.) – a pinched face is thin and pale, from cold, worry, or hunger; suffering
from financial hardship [He had that pinched look that suggests poverty and lack of
nourishment. Khadgar saw that Medivh’s face was more pinched than it had been earlier,
and that the lines around his eyes were more prominent. Lothar may have caught it as
well, and remarked, “You caught it quite quickly.”] – synonyms & related words [strained,
stressed, fraught, tense, taut, tired, worn, drained, sapped; wan, peaky, pale, pallid, pasty,
pasty-faced, colourless, anaemic, washed out, ashen, ashen-faced, grey, blanched; thin,
drawn, haggard, gaunt, wizened, cadaverous, hollow-cheeked, hollow-eyed, emaciated],

escarpment (n.) – a steep slope or cliff, such as one that marks the edge of a range of
hills; a steep descent or declivity, steep face or edge of a ridge, ground about a fortified
place, cut away nearly vertically to prevent hostile approach [“Child’s play!” said Medivh.
“Once Young Trust here pointed out how the demon fled the castle, it was a simple matter
to track it from the tower’s base to a small escarpment. It was over before I knew it. Before
it knew it either.” The Magus swayed slightly.] – synonyms & related words [cliff, hill,
ledge, ridge, end]

on the boil (id.) – (literally) in the process of being brought to a boil; by extension, in a
state of intense interest or activity, in the works, something that people are talking
about, intensely prominent [Don't worry, I've the kettle on the boil for a pot of tea. Talks of
making the central area of the city a pedestrian-only district are still on the boil, to the
consternation of many motorists. Lothar looked at Khadgar, again with a questioning,
imploring look. Medivh looked calm but worn. He also looked expectant for Khadgar to
support him this time. The young mage coughed, “Of course. We left an experiment on the
boil.”] – synonyms & related words [imminent, impending, undecided, awaiting,
continuing, dependent, forthcoming, hanging, in line, in the balance, in the offing,
indeterminate, ominous, on board, on line, pensile, undetermined, unsettled, up in the
air, in the works, waiting]

quail (n.) – a small, brown bird that is shot for sport or food, or the meat of this bird
[Quails' eggs are considered to be a delicacy.],

quail (v.) – to feel or show fear, to want to be able to move away from something
because you fear it [Charlie quailed at the sound of his mother's angry voice. She quailed
before her boss' anger. Khadgar tried to pull the energies into his mind, but at first his
heart quailed and his mind went empty. The beast continued to sniff, turning in place until
it faced the pair. She quailed at his heartless words. His supporters quailed at the size of the
army ranged against them.] – synonyms & related words [cower, cringe, waver, falter,
get cold feet; flinch, shrink, recoil, start, shy (away), pull back, back away, draw back;
shudder, shiver, tremble, shake, quake, blench, blanch],

covey (n.) – a group of birds; a small group of people or things [A covey of

partridge/quail. A covey of reporters descended upon him. The Magus wheeled and
bellowed at the collected courtiers. “Make ready our mounts! We leave at once.” The
servants dissolved like a covey of quail. Medivh turned back to Lothar. “You will make our
apologies to His Majesty, of course.”] – synonyms & related words [group, gang, troop,
troupe, party, company, band, body, crowd, pack, army, herd, flock, bevy, drove, horde,
galaxy, assemblage, gathering; knot, cluster; bunch, aggle, posse, crew],

mist (something) over/up (id.) – if something that you can see through mists
over/up, it becomes covered with a thin layer of liquid so that it is more difficult to see
through [Open the wndow when you have a shower to stop the mirror misting over. The
steam from the kettle misted up her glasses.] – synonyms & related words [make hazy,
foggy, cloudy, smoggy, steamy, murky, smoky, blurry, fuzzy, blurred, dim, indistinct,
unclear, vague, obscure, lacking definition, out of focus, nebulous, vague, unclear,
indefinite, tenuous, slight, rough, approximate, imprecise],

nebulous (adj.) – in the form of a cloud or haze, hazy; (of a concept) vague or ill-defined
[A giant nebulous glow. The figure was still nebulous – she couldn't quite see it.
Nebulous concepts like qualtiy of life. His nebulous ideas about salvation.] – synnyms &
related words [indistinct, indefinite, unclear, vague, hazy, cloudy, fuzzy, misty, lacking
definition, blurred, blurry, out of focus, foggy, faint, shadowy, dim, obscure, shapeless,
formless, unformed, amorphous; vague, ill-defined, unclear, hazy, uncertain, indefinite,
indeterminate, imprecise, unformed, muddled, confused, ambiguous, inchoate, opaque,
muddy],

(eyes) mist over (id.) – if your eyes mist over/up, they fill with tears [Khadgar
chased after him and caught him by the elbow. It was light touch, but the elder mage
suddenly pulled himself upright, flinching as if reacting to a blow. He turned to Khadgar,
and his eyes seemed to mist over for a moment as he looked at the younger mage.] –
synonyms & related words [weep, shed tears, sob, wail, be in tears, cry one's eyes out,
cry one's heart out, cry as if one heart would break, bawl, howl, snivel, whimper, whine,
squall, mewl, bleat, lament, grieve, mourn, keen, greet, boohoo, blub, blubber, turn on
the waterworks, grizzle, pule, plain],

pule (v.) – cry querulously or weakly [She's no puling infant.],

censure (n.) – strong criticism or disapproval [His dishonest behavior came under
severe censure. “What is it now?” said Medivh in a hissing whisper. Khadgar thought about
what to say, how to risk the Magus’s censure. “You’re not well,” he said, simply.],

not miss a beat (id.) – (informal) to not pause or show any uncertainty, usually when
this is surprising; (mainly us) to do something withotu any mistakes or failures [„That's
what I thought,“ replied Olivia, without missing a beat. The player hasn't missed a beat this
year, scoring three touchdowns in his first three games. Medivh slid on the edge of the
stairs and stumbled, pitching forward headlong. Khadgar lunged to grab the older man,
but the Magus had already caught himself against the wall and pulled himself upright. He
didn’t miss a beat, “In the library, there is a scroll. ‘The Song of Aegwynn.’ Tells of my
mother’s battle with Sargeras.”],

not long for this world (id.) – (old fashioned) if someone is not long for this world,
they will die soon,

lurch (v.) -to move in a way that is not regular or normal, especially making sudden
movements backwards or forwards or from side to side; to act or continue in a way that
is uncontrolled and not regular, often with sudden changes [The train lurched forward
and some of the people standing fell over. “The scroll that Guzbah wanted a copy of,” said
Khadgar, now watching the mage carefully as he lurched down the stairs ahead of him. We
seem to lurch from crisis to crisis. She just lurches from one bad relationship to another.],

equivocate (v.) – to speak in a way that is intentionally not clear and confusing to the
other people, especially to hide the truth [She accused the minister of equivocating,
claiming that he had deliberately avoided telling the public how bad the problem really
was. “Right!” said Medivh, as if some vital connection had snapped closed in his mind.
“Delay. Delay first. Day or two, I may be up to it after that. Then equivocate. I am out on
business, may return any time...“] – synonyms & related words [prevaricate, be evasive,
be non-committal, be vague, be ambiguous, evade/dodge the issue, beat about the bush,
hedge, hedge one's bets, fudge the issue; fence, parry questions; vacillate, shilly-shally,
cavil, waver, quibble; temporize, hesitate, stall (for time), shuffle about; hum and haw;
pussyfoot around, waffle, flannel, sit on the fence, duck the issue/question, palter,
tergiversate],

delegate (v.) – (give) to give a particular job, duty, right, etc. to someone else so that
they do it for you [As a boss you have to delegate (responsibilities to your staff.) Authority
to make financial decisions has been delegates to a special committee. „If all else fails,
delegate. Tell whoever it is to use their own judgment, and I will lend what aid I can at the
soonest moment. They always love that. Donot tell them I am indisposed—the last time I
mentioned that, a horde of would-be clerics arrived to minister to my needs. I’m still
missing silverware from that little visit.”],
indisposed (adj.) – (ill) ill, especially in a way that makes you unable to do something;
(not willing) not willing [Sheila Jones is indisposed, so the part of the Countess will be sung
tonight by Della Drake.] – synonyms & related words [ill, unwell, sick, on the sick list,
infirm, poorly, ailing, not (very) well, not oneself, not in good shape, out of sorts, not up
to par, under/below par; in bed, bedridden, confined to bed, laid up, out of commission,
out of action; off, off colour; hors de combat; under the weather; reluctant, unwilling,
disinclined, loath, unprepared, not ready, not disposed, not keen, not minded, not in the
mood; slow, hesitant, afraid; averse, antipathetic, resistant, opposed; nervous about, not
in favour of, unenthusiastic about],

loath (adj.) – reluctant, unwilling [I was loath to leave. I am loathe to leave her.] –
synonyms & related words [reluctant, unwilling, disinclined, ill-disposed, not in the
mood; hesitant; against, averse, opposed, resistant, hostile, antagonistic; resisting],

minister to somebody (v.) – to give help to or care for someone, for example
someone who is ill [(formal) The priest ministers to his flock (= the people who go to his
church.) (humorous) I spent most of the morning ministering to my sick husband.] –
synonyms & related words [tend, care for, take care of, look after, nurse, treat, attend to,
see to, administer to, help, assist, succour; cater to, serve, wait on, accommodate, be
solicitous of, pander to; doctor],

deflate (v.) – (weaken) to cause something to become weaker; to make someone lose
confidence or feel less important [The party's ambitions have been deflated by the two
recent by-election defeated. The old mage took a deep breath, and seemed to deflate,
supporting himself against the door frame. Moroes did not move, but Khadgar took a step
forward. They were totally deflated by losing the game.] – synonyms & related words
[subdue, humble, cow, humiliate, mortify, chasten, chagrin, dispirit, dismay, discourage,
dishearten; squash, crush, flatten, bring down, bring low, take down a peg or two, take
the wind out of someone's sails, cut down to size, knock the stuffing out of, put down],

slope off (v.) – to leave somewhere quietly so that you are not noticed, usually to avoid
work, steal away, sneak off, abscond from, vacate, take one's leave, pull out of, be gone
from, take oneself off from, withdraw from, make tracks, up sticks, pack one's bags, sling
one's hook, cut and run, do a bunk, shove off, bolt from [I saw you sloping off just after
lunch yesterday!],

abscond (v.) – leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid
arrest; (of a person on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time;
(of a colony of honeybees, especially Africanized ones) entirely abandon a hive or nest
[The barman absconded with a week's takings. He had absconded from a Borstal. Charges
of absconding while on bail.] – synonyms & related words [run away, escape, bolt, clear
out, flee, make off, take flight, take off, fly, decamp; make a break for it, take to one's
heels, make a quick getaway, beat a hasty retreat, show a clean pair of heels, run for it,
make a run for it; disappear, vanish, slip away, steal away, sneak away; informaldo a
bunk, do a moonlight flit, cut and run, skedaddle, skip, do a runner, head for the hills, do
a disappearing/vanishing act, fly the coop, take French leave, scarper, vamoose; take a
powder, go on the lam],

on the lam (id.) – fugitive, fleeing, transient, on the run – synonyms & related words
[elusive, wanted, brief, criminal, ephemeral, flying, passing, short, temporary, volatile,
wandering, avoiding, errant, erratic, escaping, evading, evanescent, fleeting, flitting,
fugacious, hot, impermanent, lamster, momentary, moving, planetary, running away,
short-lived, transitory, unstable],

nerve (n.) – (courage) the courage or confidence necessary to do something difficult,

unpleasant, or rude [It takes a lot of nerve to be a bomb disposal expert. I wanted to ask
her out, but I lost my nerve and couldn't go through with it. I didn't have the nerve to tell
him that I really thought of his suggestion. A week passed, and Medivh had not emerged
from his quarters. Moroes would shuffle upstairs with a daily bowl of broth. Finally,
Khadgar summoned sufficient nerve to look in. The castellan made no move to protest,
other than a monosyllabic recognition of his presence there.],

headboard (n.) – a vertical board at the end of a bed behind where your head rests [In
repose Medivh looked ghastly, the light gone out of his shuttered eyes, the tension of life
gone from his visage. He was dressed in a long nightshirt, propped up against the
headboard, supported by pillows, his mouth open, his face pale, his usually animate form
thin and haggard.],

prop something up (v.) – to lift and give support to something by putting something
under it; to give support to something, especially a country or organization, so that it can
continue to exist in a difficult situation [He was sitting upright in the hospital bed,
propped up by pillows. There were the usual bunch of drinkers propped up at (= leaning
against) the bar. How long is the government likely to survive without the US military force
there to prop it up?] – synonyms related words [reinforce, add to, bolster, boost, build
up, buttress, emphasize, enlarge, fortify, increase, shore up, stress, support, underline,
carry, energize, harden, hype, multiply, prop, stiffen, stroke, supplement, sustain,
toughen, add fuel to fire, back up, beef up, heat up, lend a hand, pick up, pillar, punch up,
soup up, stand up for],

spoon (v.) – to move something ,especially food, using a spoon [He spooned the mush
into the baby's open mouth. Spoon a little sauce over the fish. Moroes would carefully spoon
the broth into Medivh’s mouth, and he would swallow, but otherwise not awaken. The
castellan would change the bedding as well, then retire for the day.],

frisson (n.) – (feeling) a sudden feeling of excitement or fear, especially when you
think that something is about to happen; a shiver, thrill [As the music stopped, a frisson of
excitement ran through the crowd. Khadgar got a frisson of recognition, and wondered if
this was the same scene that played out in Medivh’s youth, when his powers first surfaced,
and when Lothar tended to him. He wondered how long the Magus would truly be out. How
much energy had the battle with the demon taken out of him? Whenever the villain's theme
played in the movie, I felt a sudden frisson down my back.],

timeworn (adj.) – (no longer of interest or value because of) having been used a lot
over a long period of time [A timeworn expression/excuse. A timeworn path. n occasional
discovery of an ancient tomb or a forgotten artifact, or the recovery of a time-worn
legend.],

waterspout (n.) – a tornado (= violently spinning column of air) filled with water that
forms over the sea; a channel through which water is discharged, especially from the
gutters of a roof [The sighting of a waterspout, or a great sea turtle, or a crimson tide.],

cussed (adj.) – used to describe people who are unwilling to be helpfup, or things that
are annoying; not willing to be reasonable [He's just plain cussed: he's onl ydoing it
because I asked him not to! It's a cussed nuisance. He's just plain cussed, isn't he? Most
likely, Khadgar decided, it was out of Medivh’s sheer cussedness to the point of making the
other members of the Order use a poem praising his mother as the key.],

apprise (v.) – to tell someone about something [The president has been apprised of the
situation. He did send a note, over his own signature, thanking him for the information and
asking to be kept apprised.] – synonyms & related words [inform, notify, tell, let know,
advise, brief, intimate, make aware of, send word to, update, keep posted, keep up to
date, keep up to speed, enlighten, clue in, fill in, put wise, tip off, put in the picture],

dab hand (n.) – someone who is very good at a particular activity [She was a dab hand
at tennis and played for her school. Carlo's a dab hand in the kitchen (= good at cooking),
isn't he?],

take the sting out of something (id.) – if something takes the sting out of an
unpleasant situation, it makes it less unpleasant [The new policy of shorter working hours
will serve to take the sting out of the pay cut.],

sting (n.) – a goad, incitement [He did send a note, over his own signature, thanking him
for the information and asking to be kept apprised.],

pedantic (adj.) – giving too much attention to formal rules or small details [They were
being unnecessarily pedantic by insisting that Berry himself, and not his wife, should have
made the announcement. Many held nothing but pedantic advice, pointing out in detail
how this candidate or that would be a perfect apprentice (these were mostly unopened, he
noticed).],

undercurrent (n.) – an emotion, belief, or characteristic of a situation that is hidden

and usually negative or dangerous but that has some effect; a tendency of feeling or
opinion that is concealed rather than exposed [Undercurrnets of racism/anxiety/violence.
Beneath the smooth surface of political life, there are powerful and dangerous
undercurrents. The meeting was pervaded with an undercurrent of dread, as the managers
tried not to admit firings were looming. But the undercurrent of demands on Medivh’s time
remained, and even increased.] – synonyms & related words [undertone, hint, overtone,
suggestion; connotation, nuance, intimation, inkling, insinuation, implication, trace,
suspicion, tinge, touch, vein, breath, whiff, whisper, glimmer, atmosphere, aura, tenor,
flavour, colouring, shade, smack, subcurrent]

spidery (adj.) – consisting of thin, dark, bending lines, like a spider's legs [A spidery
handwriting. A spidery pattern. The letter to Khadgar began, in a spidery hand,..],

crabbed (adj.) – (behavior) bad-tempered or cantankerous; (space) cramped, bent; (of

handwriting) crowded together and difficult to read,

squiggly (adj.) – (informa) not straight, wavy [She didn't have a ruler, so she drew a
squiggly line to highlight the main points.],

squiggle (n.) – a short twisting or wiggling like or mark; (informal) the tilde; an
illegible scrawl [His signature was an illegible squiggle at the bottom of the page.],

squiggle (v.) – to wriggle or squirm; to make a squiggle; to write (something) illegibly;

to shake and wash a fluid about in the mouth with the lips closed,

inveterate (adj.) – (an inveterate liar, gambler, smoker, etc.) someone who does
something very often and cannot stop doing it, firmly established from having been
around for a long time, of long standing [An inveterate disease. An inveterate habit. An
inveterate idler. An inveterate smoker. An inveterate traveller. Leave it, Vlin, the Grand
Marshal said. Put it on the table, and then get out with the rest of them. Soon, he was alone.
The mammoth expanse of the briefing room seemed desolate and empty about him now it
was deserted, Grand Marshal Kerchan began to wonder if he perhaps should have held
himself better in check. Generals were by their nature inveterate gossips.] – synonyms &
related words [ingrained, deep-seated, deep-rooted, deep-set, entrenched, established,
long-established, congenital; ineradicable, incurable, irredeemable, confirmed,
hardened, chronic, hard-core, incorrigible; habitual, addicted, compulsive, obsessive,
obsessional; pathological, hooked, staunch, steadfast, committed, devoted, dedicated;
deep-dyed, dyed-in-the-wool, thorough, thoroughgoing, out and out, diehard, long-
standing],

rancor (n) – bitter anger or unfriendly feelings; the deepest malignity or spite; deep-
seated enmity or malice; inveterate hatred [I could almost see the rancor in his eyes when
he challenged me to a fight. Can we settle this disagreement without rancor?] – synonyms
& related words [bitterness, spite, hate, hatred, resentment, malice, ill will, malevolence,
malignancy, animosity, antipathy, enmity, hostility, acrimony, venom, poison,
vindictiveness, balefulness, vengefulness, vitriol, virulence, perniciousness, meanness,
nastiness, bitchiness, cattiness, maleficence],

impinge on/upon someone/something (v.) – to have an effect on something,

often by limiting it in some way, to interfere, to encroach (on, upon) [The Supreme Court
will decide if the new communications bill impinges on the Constitutional right to free
speech. Khadgar felt a sharp pain of anger. How dare this mysterious writer (it had to be
someone high within the Kirin Tor hierarchy, but Khadgar had no idea who) impinge both
Guzbah and himself! Khadgar wasn’t even present when Guzbah was killed! Perhaps this
writer was the one responsible, or someone like Korrigan—the librarian was always
researching demon-worshipers. Casting accusations about like that!] – synonyms &
related words [affect, have an effect on, have a bearing on, touch, influence, exert
influence on, make an impression on, make an impact on, leave a mark on; encroach on,
intrude on, infringe, invade, trespass on, obtrude into, make inroads into, cut through,
interfere with, violate, muscle in on, entrench on],

cast an/your eye over something (id.) – to look quickly at something [Could you
cast an eye over this report for me?],

cast aspersions on somebody/something (id.) – (formal) to criticize or make

damaging remarks or judgements about someone or something [His opponents cast
aspersions on his patriotism. Don't cast aspersions on me, or on my patriotism. The anger
faded to sadness and realization that the mighty mages of the Violet Citadel were unable to
stop this, that seven wizards (six ofthem members of this supposedly secret and powerful
Order) had died, and all this writer could do was cast about aspersions in the desperate
hope that there would be no additional deaths.],

wan (adj.) – (pf a person's face) more pale than usual and tired-looking; dim, faint;
bland, uninterested; (of light) pale, weak; (of a smile) lacking enthusiasm or energy,
weak; (literary, of the sea) without luster, dark and gloomy [She looked wan and worried.
The young mage picked up the encoded letter and examined it again in the wan
candlelight. The Feast of Scribes was over a month and a half ago. It took this long for the
message to cross the sea and reach them overland. A month and a half. Before Huglar and
Hugarin were killed in Stormwind. If the same demon was involved, or even the same
summoner, it would have to move between the two points very, very swiftly. Some of the
demons in the vision had wings – was it possible for such a beast to move between the
locations without anyone spotting it? A wan expression. The wan dawn light. The wan light
of the moon. He gave a wan smile.] – synonyms & related words [pale, pallid, ashen,
white, white as a sheet, grey; anaemic, jaundiced, colourless, bloodless, waxen, chalky,
milky, pasty, pasty-faced, whey-faced, peaky, sickly, tired-looking, washed out, sallow,
drained, drawn, sapped, ghostly, deathly, deathlike, bleached; etiolated, dim, faint, weak,
feeble, pale, watery, wishy-washy],
overland (adj. & adv.) – (of travel) across the land in a vehicle, on foot, or on a horse;
not by sea or air [An overland trip across Australia. We travelled overland. It took this long
for the message to cross the sea and reach them overland.],

errant (adj.) – (formal, humorous) straying from the proper course or standard, or
outside established limits; not in the right place, having moved from the correct position
or course; prone to making errors, behaving wrongly in some way, especially by leaving
home; (archaic, literary) travelling in search of adventure [An errant husband. Errant
children. An errant and unexpected breeze wafted through.An errant husband coming back
from a night on the tiles. Financial pentalies were imposed on errant local authorities. An
errant strand of hair. That same lady errant. The hairs on the back of Khadgar’s neck
began to bristle, and he looked up in time to see the figure manifest within the room. A
knight errant.] – synonyms & related words [offending, guilty, culpable, misbehaving,
delinquent, lawless, lawbreaking, criminal, transgressing, aberrant, deviant, erring,
sinning; mischievous, badly behaved, troublesome, difficult, unmanageable, unruly,
disobedient, uncontrollable, out of control; : travelling, wandering, itinerant, journeying,
rambling, roaming, roving, drifting, floating, wayfaring, voyaging, touring; peripatetic,
unsettled, rootless, restless, on the move, on the go, on the wing; nomadic, vagabond,
vagrant, migrant, migratory, migrating, transient, displaced; globetrotting, jet-setting],

indecorous (adj.) – (behavior) rude, or showing bad taste, improper, immodest or

indecent, behaving badly or rudely [A pub crawl with sundry indecorous adventures.
Kissing in public is considered indecorous in many countries.] – synonyms & related words
[improper, unseemly, unbecoming, undignified, immodest, indecent, indelicate,
indiscreet, immoral, shameless, loose, wanton, unvirtuous; inappropriate, incorrect,
wrong, unsuitable, inapt, inapposite, undesirable, unfitting, out of keeping, unacceptable,
impolite, discourteous, in bad taste, ill-bred, ill-mannered, beyond the pale],

backlit (adj.) – lit up from behind, especially in order to create a special effect [A
backlit computer keyboard. His trophies were proudly displayed in a backlit cabinet.
Khadgar held his breath and looked around the worktable. A few tomes, the candle backlit
by a mirror for greater illumination.],

jangle (v.) – to make a noise like metal hitting metal; (with reference to a person's
nerves) set or be set on edge [He jangled his keys in his pocket. The wind-chimes jangled
gently in the tree above us. Unable to stop, he slammed into the wall, and the letter opener
jangled to the stone floor. He thought about the voice on the vox and the distant explosions
he had heard, and his nerves began to jangle again.] – synonyms & related words [clank,
clink, jingle, tinkle, ding, ping, clang, clash, clatter, rattle, vibrate, ring, chime,
tintinnnabulate; grate on, jar on, irritate, disturb, assault, fray, rasp, put/set on edge,
shred, rub raw, test, rattle, stretch tight, wreak havoc on, get on, be a stew of nerves],

catnap (n.) – a short sleep [Medivh smiled, looking well rested, the color returning to his
face. “A demon? I think not. Hold.” The Magus closed his eyes and nodded. “No, the wards
are still in place. It would take more than a catnap for them to run out of energy. What did
you see?”] – synonyms & related words [nap, doze, drowse, forty winks, kip, siesta,
snooze, wink, repose, rest, slumber, bed, sleep],

sod (n.) – (person) (offensive) something or someone considered unpleasant or

difficult; a person [Apparently he's a sod to work for. What did you do that for, you stupid
sod? It was a sod of a car to repair. He's won again – the lucky sod! The poor old sod – I
don't suppose he's got a home. Medivh grunted at the description of Guzbah’s passing, and
said, “So they’re going to blame Guzbah until the next poor sod gets sliced open.”] –
synonyms & related words [bastard, beast, bleeder, blighter, boor, bounder, bugger,
buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud, crumb, cur, dirtbag, dog, fink, heel,
hound, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck, scum, scumbag,
scuzzball, skunk, sleaze, sleazebag, sleazeball, slime, slimeball, slob, snake, so-and-so,
stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal,
savage, loudmouth, vulgarian, lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp,
scoundrel, villain, wretch, booby, doofus, fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit, nitwit,
nut, schmo, schmoe, airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink, dolt, dope, dork, goon, half-wit,
idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey, brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip, snob, snoot, snot,
dweeb, nerd],

sod (n.) – the land of one's birth, residence, or citizenship [A sentimental journey back to
the old sod. In his native sod.] – synonyms & related words [fatherland, home, homeland,
mother country, motherland, old country, community, neighborhood],

(random cool paragraph) – [Khadgar adapted well, and felt as if his power was a
set of clothes, two sizes too big, that only now was he growing into. He could control fire at
will now, summon lightning without a cloud in the sky, and cause small items to dance
upon the table at the will of his own mind. He learned other spells as well—those that
allowed one to know when and how a man died from a single bone of his remains, how to
cause a ground-fog to rise, and how to leave magical messages for others to find. He
learned how to restore the age lost to an inanimate object, strengthening an old chair, and
its reverse, to pull all the youth from a newly-crafted club, leaving it dusty and brittle. He
learned the nature of the protective wards, and was entrusted with keeping them intact. He
learned the library of demons, though Medivh would not permit any to be summoned in his
tower. This last order Khadgar had no desire to break.],

testy (adj.) – easily annoyed, irritable,; marked by impatience or ill humor, somewhat
bad-tempered [A testy old man. Testy comments. Noise discipline, troopers, Lieutenant
Karis whispered testily.] – synonyms & related words [bad-tempered, grumpy, ill-
tempered, ill-natured, ill-humoured, dyspeptic, irritable, tetchy, irascible, peevish,
crotchety, cantankerous, cross, fractious, disagreeable, pettish, crabbed, crabby,
waspish, prickly, peppery, impatient, touchy, scratchy, volatile, crusty, liverish, splenetic,
short-tempered, hot-tempered, quick-tempered, choleric; informalsnappish, snappy,
chippy, grouchy, cranky, on a short fuse; shirty, stroppy, narky, ratty, eggy, like a bear
with a sore head, peckish, soreheaded, snaky, miffy],

tetchy (adj.) – easily annoyed or irritated, peevish, testy or irascible, easily made angry,
unhappy, or upset [Be careful what you say to Anna – she's been a little tetchy lately.],

push (v.) – to force someone to make a great effort, especially at school or in their
career [A lot of parents push their children, but my dad only ever encourages and supports
me. Medivh was gone for brief periods of a day here, a few days there. Always instructions
were left behind, but never explanations. Upon his return the Guardian looked more
haggard and worn, and would push Khadgar testily to determine the youth’s mastery over
his craft, and to detail any news that had arrived in his absence.],

supplicant (adj.) – begging, pleading, supplicating,

supplicant (n.) – one who comes to humbly ask or petition; a person who asks a god
or someone who is in a position of power for something in a humble way [By the time he
reached a window overlooking that part of the castle, a group of riders were leaving the
tower’s walls. Khadgar frowned. Were these some supplicants turned away by Moroes, or
messengers with some other dark tidings for his master?],

tidings (n.) – news [Tidings of great joy.]

glad tidings (id.) – good news [The main brought glad tidings.],

inflection (n.) – (speech) the way in which the sound of your voice changes during
speech, for example when you emphasize particular words [His voice was low and flat,
with almost no inflection. “So it is for the Magus,” said Khadgar. “Assume so,” said Moroes,
with the same sleepy inflection. “We’ll be told when we need to know.” And with that he
was gone, leaving Khadgar to stare at the shut door.],

drop one's guts (id.) – to break wind, to fart,

(random cool paragraph) – [For the next day, there was the odd feeling of another
presence in the tower, a new planetary body whose very gravity changed the orbits of all
the others. This new planet caused Cook to shift to a larger set of pans, and Moroes to move
through the halls at more random times than normal. And even Medivh himself would send
Khadgar on some errand within the tower, and as the young mage left he would hear the
whisper of a heavy cloak on the stonework behind him.],

volunteer (v.) – (information) to give information without being asked [If I were you, i
wouldn't volunteer any details of what happened. „I saw her going out of the main
entrance half an hour ago,“ he volunteered. Medivh volunteered nothing, and Khadgar
waited to be told. He dropped hints. He waited patiently. Instead he was sent to the library
to continue his studies and practice his spells. Khadgar descended the curved stairs for half
a rotation, stopped, then slowly climbed back up, only to see the back of a black cloak glide
into the Guardian’s laboratory. Soreson, for his part, seemed a lot less sure of this than the
Governor-General was. ‘The tunnels don’t all link up, though,’ he volunteered. ‘To reach
that mine entrance, we would have to break through two, maybe three walls.’],

stonework (n.) – the parts of a building that are made of stone,

screed (n.) – (writing) a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses
an unreasonably strong opinion, [A ranting screed against American imperialism. We had
to wade through screeds of complex analysis. Though the back story is almost entirely
beside the point in the actual gameplay of Hocus Pocus (which is fairly standard collect all
the crystals/kill all the monsters/find the secret areas), the level of detail given is kind of
amazing. When you finally complete your missions and defeat the evil Wizard Trolodon,
there are screeds and screeds of information explaining your initiation into the wizarding
council.Information such as: “the long standing enemy of the council is Trolodon, former
head of the council, now its sworn enemy. What started as a simple argument over which
pattern dishes to buy for the council’s dining room ballooned into a fierce antagonism that
threatens to destroy the magic paths themselves” But who cares about that when the true
payoff is finally getting to marry the smoking hot Popopa.] – synonyms & related words
[passage, extract, quotation, verse, line, reading, lesson, textbook, book, set book, set
text, transcript, script, scripture, words, subject matter, content, body, main body,
narrative, printed work, written workwording],

screed (n.) – (building) (specialized, architecture) a level layer of concrete used when
laying a floor [The builder proposes to lay a cement screed over the old floor. A building
with exposed steel columns and concrete screed.],

screed (n.) – (building) (specialized, architecture) a board used to make the soft
material of a floor level, before the material dries,

scream (out) for something (id.) – to need something very much [This matter is
screaming out for attention.],

cupboard love (n.) – love shown by someone, typically a child, in order to get
something that they want, such as food [Not that there was any cupboard love in his little
sweet – she was a bundle of affection. Perhaps my enthusiasm for California sounds a little
like cupboard love. Then, with the rather bitter cynicism of the old, he wondered for a
second whether it was not cupboard love which made Irene put up with him.],

scream/yell blue/bloody murder (id.) – make an extravagant and noisy protest,

to show your anger about something, especially by shouting or complaining very loudly
[He'll scream blue murder if he doesn't get his way.],

venomous (adj.) – (hate) full of anger or hate [Ms Brown has launched a venomous
attack against the newspaper. Khadgar stomped down the stairs, considering options of
who the Emissary was. A spy for Lothar? Some secretive member of the Order? Perhaps one
of the members from the Kirin Tor, the one with the spidery handwriting and the venomous
theories?] – synonyms & related words [vicious, spiteful; rancorous, malevolent, vitriolic,
vindictive, malicious, malignant, malign, poisonous, baleful, bitter, acrimonious,
resentful, grudging, virulent, pernicious, antagonistic, hostile, hate-filled, menacing,
nasty, evil, evil-intentioned, unfriendly, cruel, unkind, unpleasant; acerbic, sharp, acid,
tart, caustic, astringent, cutting, biting, razor-edged, waspish, wounding, barbed, bitchy,
catty, malefic, maleficent],

conform (v.) – to make similar in form or nature, to make suitable for a purpose, to
adapt [He was already shaping the energy within his mind, calling the required shades and
types of magic, conforming them to their requisite shape, holding that fertile energy in
abeyance until it was needed.] – synonyms & related words [comply with, abide by, obey,
observe, follow, keep to, hold to, adhere to; satisfy, match up to, meet, fulfil, be in
accordance with; stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed, pay attention
to, agree to/with, consent to, accede to, accept, acquiesce in, go along with, fall in with,
adapt to, accommodate to, adjust to, acknowledge, respect, defer to; follow convention,
be conventional, follow tradition, follow custom, fit in, adapt, adjust, follow the crowd,
run with the pack, swim with the stream; comply, acquiesce, do what one is told, toe the
line, obey the rules, comply with the rules, observe the rules, abide by the rules, adhere
to the rules, act in accordance with the rules, follow the rules, keep to the rules, stick to
the rules; submit, yield, play it by the book, play by the rules, keep in step, go with the
flow; match, fit, suit, answer, agree with, be like, be similar to, coincide with, correspond
to, correlate to, be consistent with, be consonant with, be comparable with, measure up
to, go with, tally with, square with, accord with, parallel, harmonize with],

abyeance (n.) – a state of not happening or being used at present [Hostilities between
the two groups have been in abeyance since last June. The project is being held in abeyance
until agreement is reached on funding it.] – synonyms & related words [suspension, a
state of suspension, a state of dormancy, a state of latency, a state of uncertainty,
suspense, remission, reserve; pending, suspended, deferred, postponed, put off, put to
one side, unattended, unfinished, incomplete, unresolved, undetermined, up in the air,
betwixt and between; in cold storage, on ice, on the back burner, hanging fire; suspend,
adjourn, interrupt, break off, postpone, delay, defer, shelve, arrest, put off, intermit,
prorogue, hold over, put aside, pigeonhole; reschedule, cut short, bring to an end, cease,
discontinue, dissolve, disband, terminate, call a halt to, table, put on ice, put on the back
burner, mothball, take a rain check on],

diaphanous (adj.) – a diaphanous substance, especially cloth, is so delicate and thin

that you can see through it; of a fine, almost transparent texture, gossamer, light and
insubstantial [A diaphanous silk veil. Yet here the windows were large and opened onto
great white parapets, and a warm scented breeze stirred diaphanous draperies.] –
synonyms & related words [
rumble on (v.) – if something such as a disagreement rumbles on, it continues for a
long time without being resolved [The dispute rumbled on for months.] – synonyms &
related words [diaphanous, transparent, see-through, translucent, sheer, gauzelike,
gauzy, gossamer, gossamery, cobwebby, shimmering; delicate, fine, ultra-fine, light, thin,
airy, floaty, wispy, silky; fragile, flimsy, unsubstantial, insubstantial],

rumble (v.) – (sound) to make a continuous low sound [Please excuse my stomach
rumbling – I haven't eaten all day. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Convoys of tanks
rumbled (= moved while rumbling) through the city streets.] – synonyms & related words
[boom, thunder, roll, roar, resound, reverberate, echo, grumble, growl],

cinch (n.) – something that is very easy and is therefore certain to be a success, easy to
do; something that is certain to happen [The exam was a cinch. No problem ... it's a cinch.
It's a cinch that you'll beat them. Their team is a cinch to win the tournament.] –
synonyms & related words [easy task, easy job, child's play, five-finger exercise, gift,
walkover, nothing; doddle, walk in the park, piece of cake, picnic, money or old rope,
money for jam, breeze, sitter, kids' stuff, cushy job/number, doss, cakewalk, pushover,
duck soup, snap, bludge, snack, a piece of old tackie, snip, a piece of piss, child's play],

cinch (v.) – to put a saddle girth on (a horse), to secure (a saddle) by means of a cinch;
to encircle or wrap tightly; to tighten (an encircling cord or belt, for example); to make
certain, secure or guarantee [Her hair orderly, her nightgown cinched around her neck.
Around the table hovered a thin man unknown to Khadgar, narrow-faced and wide-
foreheaded, with a slender moustache and goatee. He was draped in an ornate red quilt
that Khadgar realized must be a dressing gown, cinched at the waist with a golden belt.],

quilt (n.) – a decorative cover for a bed, consisting of two layers of fabric stitched
together, with insulation between, often having a decorative design; a roll of material wit
hsound-absorbing properties, used in soundproofing; a quilted skort worn by women
[My grandmother is going to sew a quilt.] – synonyms & related words [: duvet,
continental quilt, counterpane, bedspread, cover, coverlet, Durham quilt; eiderdown;
downie, plumeau, comforter, puff, Doona, rezai],

quilted (adj.) – (especially of clothes) filled with thick soft material that is sewn in
place [She wore a quilted satin jacket.],

crazy paving (n.) – paving with pieces of irregular size and shape that fit together and
(approximately) cover the surface, flat pieces of stone of different shapes and sizes that
are fitted together to make a path or hard surface, uneven cobblestone, cobbled path,
rough road,

patchwork (n.) – (literally) cloth made by sewing together a lot of smaller pieces of
cloth with different paterns and colors, or the activity of doing this; (figuratively) a
mixture of different things [A patchwork quilt/jacket. The old lady sat in the corner doing
patchwork. We looked out of the aircraft window down into the patchwork of fields below.]
– synonyms & related words [assortment, miscellany, mixture, melange, medley, blend,
variety, mixed bag, mix, diversity, collection, selection, assemblage, combination, motley
collection, pot-pourri, conglomeration, jumble, mess, confusion, mishmash, hotchpotch,
hodgepodge, ragbag, pastiche, farrago, hash; scissors-and-paste job, gallimaufry,
omnium gatherum, olio, salmagundi, macedoine],

olio (n.) – a highly spiced stew of various meats and vegetables originating from Spain
and Portugal; a miscellaneous collection of things; a variety act or show,

crazy /patchwork quilt (n.) – a quilt made fro mrandom patches, without any
unifying design; (figuratively) an uncoordinated jumble of things, ideas practices,
policies, etc. something composed of seemingly random parts,

whimsy (n.) – unusual, funny, and pleasant ideas or qualities; (disapproving)

something that is intended to be strange and humorous but in fact has little real
meaning or value; (whim) a sudden wish or idea, especially one that cannot be
reasonably explained [Add a touch of whimsy to your room with these cat sculptures. The
film combines whimsy and tragedy in equal measure. Personally I've always considered
mime to be a lot of whimsy. Is this just one of his whimsies? “Surely you did not think that
your natural charms alone brought me to your chamber, nor that your wit and sense of
whimsy distracted me from our discussion of conjuration rites? Surely you realize that I
cannot be impressed by your position as court conjurer like some village cowherd would?
And surely you must realize that seduction works both ways? You are notthat big an idiot,
are you, Nielas Aran?” He had no idea how his trial would go, but he had the distinct
impression that no matter what happened in the court, his life would be irrevocably
changed. He thought about his family and the life of affluence and ease he’d shared with
them. Despite himself, he wondered if he hadn’t thrown it all away on a fanciful, selfish
whim.],

whimsical (adj.) – unusual and strange in a way that might be funny or annoying,
given to whimsy, capricious, odd, peculiar, playful, light-hearted or amusing [A
whimsical tale. Despite his kindly, sometimes whimsical air, he was a shrewd observer of
people.] – synonyms & related words [fanciful, playful, mischievous, waggish, quaint,
fantastic, unusual, curious, droll; eccentric, quirky, offbeat, idiosyncratic,
unconventional, outlandish, peculiar, queer, bizarre, weird, odd, freakish; dotty, freaky;
volatile, capricious, temperamental, impulsive, excitable, fickle, changeable,
unpredictable, variable, erratic, quicksilver, mercurial, mutable, inconstant, inconsistent,
unstable, unsteady, fluctuating, ever-changing, protean, kaleidoscopic, fluid, wavering,
vacillating, wayward; labile],

capricious (adj.) – changing mood or behavior suddenly and unexpectedly [A

capriciou schild. He was a cruel and capricious tyrant. Dark gods who capriciously reward
as much as punish their followers.] – synonyms & related words [fickle, inconstant,
changeable, variable, unstable, mercurial, volatile, erratic, vacillating, irregular,
inconsistent, fitful, arbitrary; impulsive, temperamental, wild, ungovernable; whimsical,
fanciful, flighty, wayward, quirky, faddish, freakish; unpredictable, random, chance,
haphazard],

divest somebody of something (v.) – (formal) to take something off or away from
someone or yourself; relieve someone of (a garment) [There is a growing movement to
divest the monarchy of its remaining constitutional power. She divested herself of her
cumbersome attire. You shall never divest me of my right to free speech. When I wake up, I
make a point to divest myself of all my prejudices, ready to start the day.] – synonyms &
related words [deprive, strip, dispossess, relieve; rob, cheat out of, trick out of, do out of;
diddle out of, despoil, reave, denude, remove, take off, pull off, shed, unclothe, undress,
disrobe, doff],

scrape (v.) – (remove) to remove an unwanted covering or a top layer from something,
especially using a sharp edge or something rough [Scrape your boots clean before you
come in. We'll have to scrape the snow off the car before we go out in it. Emily scraped
away the dead leaves to reveal the tiny shoot of a new plant.] – synonyms & related words
[rake, drag, push, brush, sweep, abrade, grate, sand, sandpaper, scour, scratch, rub, file,
rasp, graze, scuff, skin, rub raw, cut, lacerate, bark, chafe, flay, wound, excoriate],

scrape (v.) – (rub) to (cause to) rub against a surface so that slight damage or an
unpleasant noise is produced [Jackie fell over and scraped her knee (on the pavement). I
was woken by up the noise of branches scraping against my bedroom window. The vision
faded before the fork struck the marble floor, but Khadgar was aware of another noise, this
one behind him. The sound of a boot scraping against cold stone. The soft scraping of a
cloak. He was not alone.] – synonyms & related words [graze, scratch, abrade, scuff, rasp,
skin, rub raw, cut, lacerate, bark, chafe, strip, flay, wound, excoriate; grate, creak, grind,
jar, rasp, scratch, drag, rub, squeak, screech, grit, set someone's teeth on edge],

scrape through (something) (id.) – to succeed in something but just barely and
with a lot of difficulty [He managed to scrape through his final exams.] – synonyms &
related words [manage, cope, survive, muddle through/along, scrape along, make ends
meet, get by/along, make do, manage to live with difficulty, barely/scarcely manage to
live, barely/scarcely have enough to live on, keep the wolf from the door, keep one's
head above water, scrimp, scrape a living, make out; ust pass, pass and no more, pass by
a narrow margin, just succeed in, narrowly achieve],

tantalize (v.) – to make someone feel excited or attracted by an offer or a suggestion of

something that is, in fact, unlikely to happen [Khadgar wheeled, but all he caught was a
tantalizing glimpse of a black cloak’s back. The Emissary was spying on him. Bad enough
he was sent away each time Medivh met with the stranger—now the Emissary had run of
the castle and was spying on him!] – synonyms & related words [tease, torment, torture,
bait, tempt, entice, lure, titillate, intrigue, allure, beguile, flirt with, excite, fascinate, make
someone's mouth water, lead on, keep hanging on] – synonyms & related words [tease,
torment, torture, bait; tempt, entice, lure, titillate, intrigue, allure, beguile; flirt with,
excite, fascinate, make someone's mouth water, lead on, keep hanging on]

brush (n.) – (touch) a quick, light touch [He felt the brush of her hand on his. At once,
Khadgar was on his feet and rushing for the entrance. By the time he reached the doorway,
his prey was gone, but there was the sound of fabric brushing along stone down the stairs.
Down toward the guest quarters.] – synonyms & related words [touch, stroke, skim,
graze, glance, rub, shave, pat, nudge, contact, kiss]

a brush with something (id.) – a situation in which you experience something, or

almost experience something, especially something unpleasant, brief encounter, scrape,
touch, close encounter [Jim had a brush with death (= was nearly killed) on the motorway.
Was that your first brush with the law (= experience of being in trouble with the police?)] –
synonyms & related words [encounter, clash, confrontation, collision, conflict;
altercation, skirmish, wrangle, scuffle, tussle, fight, battle, engagement, feud, quarrel,
incident, to-do; run-in, scrap, set-to, argy-bargy, spot of bother, afters],

argy-bargy (n.) – (UK, informal) noisy quarrelling or wrangling [A bit of argy-bargy

between actor and director.],

brush (v.) – (touch) to touch (something) quickly and lightly or carelessly; to move
something somewhere using a brush or your hand [Charlotte brushed against him (=
touched him quickly and lightly with her arm or body) as she left the room. His lips gently
brushed her cheek and he was gone. Jackie brushed her hair out of her eyes. He brushed
away a tear. She stood up and brushed the wrinkles from her dress.] – synonyms & related
words [touch, stroke, caress, skim, sweep, graze, shave, glance, contact, flick, scrape, kiss,
push, move, clear, clean, remove]

barrel (v.) – to travel somewhere very quickly [We were barreling along the autobahn
at 180 kph. Khadgar barreled forward down the stairs as well.],

in twos and threes (id.) – two and three at a time; in small numbers [People ar
ecoming to see the exhibition in twos and threes. The younger mage had raced up and
down these steps so many times he deftly danced down along the inner wall, skipping the
stairs in twos and threes.],

bound up (adj.) – closely connected or involves; focused intently on something to the

exclusion of other matters [The survival of the whales is intimately bound up with the
health of the ocean. Social mobiltiy is often closely bound up with socioeconomic status. He
was so bound up in his reading all weekened that he forgot to do the chores.] – synonyms
& related words [conditional on, contingent on, based on, depending on, resting on,
hanging on, hingeing on; subject to, determined by, controlled by, influenced by, swayed
by, resultant from; addicted to, reliant on, over-reliant on, fixated on, given to using,
given to abusing, hooked on, jonesing on/for, preoccupy, be uppermost in someone's
mind, prey on someone's mind, prey on, possess, haunt, consume, plague, torment,
hound, bedevil, take control of, take over, become an obsession with, have a hold on,
engross, eat up, have a grip on, grip, dominate, rule, control, beset, monopolize],

bound (n.) – (jump) a quick, long jump [With one bound the dog was over the fence.
Once the Emissary reached the guest quarters, he would lose his chance. Khadgar vaulted
the last four steps in a single bound, and leapt forward to grasp the cloaked figure by the
arm.] – synonyms & related words [leap, jump, spring, bounce, hop, vault, hurdle, curvet,
capriole; leap, jump, spring, bounce, hop, vault, hurdle; skip, bob, dance, prance, romp,
caper, cavort, sport, frisk, frolic, gambol, gallop, hurtle, curvet, rollick, capriole],

smart (v.) – to hurt with a sharp pain; to feel upset and angry because of failure or
criticism [My eyes were smarting from the onions. The young mage snarled, abandoning
magic for the moment in favor of a more direct approach. Still smarting from the blow, he
spun to one side, grasping the woman’s arm and pulling her off-balance. The police are still
smarting from their failure to prevent the robbery.],

bodily (adv.) – in or by the body, physically; if you lift or carry someone bodily, you lift
or carry them in your arms [He was thrown bodily out of the house. He carried her bodily
up the stairs. Khadgar caught a whiff of spices as he was drawn close to the orc, and then
she threw him, bodily, down the hallway. He slid along the stone floor, bumping into the
wall and at last coming to rest at someone else’s feet.],

blinkered (adj.) – (literally) wearing blinkers or blinders; having blinkers or blinders;

(figuratively) having tunnel vision, unable to see what is happening around one; a
blinkered person is unable or unwilling to understand other people's beliefs, and
blinkered opinions or ways of behaving show someone is unable or unwilling to
understand other people [“Moroes!” shouted Khadgar. “Get back! Fetch the Magus! We
have an orc in the tower!” Moroes did not move, but instead looked up at the orcish woman
with his bland, blinkered eyes. “You all right, Emissary?” He's very blinkered in his
outlook.],

wheedle (v.) – to try to persuade someone to do something or give you something by

praising them or being intentionally charming [She's one of those children who can
wheedle you into giving her anything she wants. She wasn't invited, but somehow she
managed to wheedle her way in. I tried different approaches – I wheedled, threatened,
demanded, cajoled. Khadgar had to make one last attempt. “Sir, I think this Garona is a
spy,” he said, simply. “I think she is here to learn as much as she can, to be used against you
later.” Medivh leaned back and gave the young man a wicked smile. “That is very much the
pot calling the kettle black, young mageling. Or have you forgotten the list of things your
own masters of the Kirin Tor wanted you to wheedle out of me when you first got to
Karazhan?”] – synonyms & related words [coax, cajole, inveigle, lure, induce, blarney,
entice, charm, tempt, beguile, flatter, persuade, influence, sway, win someone over, bring
someone round, prod, talk, convince, make, get, press, prevail on, get round, argue,
reason, urge, pressure, pressurize, bring pressure to bear on, coerce; sweet-talk, soft-
soap, twist someone's arm, smooth-talk, butter someone up]

take umbrage (id.) – to feel upset or annoyed, usually because you feel that someone
has been rude or shown no respect to you [Will she take umbrage if she isn't invited to the
wedding? It is NOT all right with me,thought Khadgar, but instead he said, “Lord Medivh
has instructed me to extend to you every courtesy. However, he may take umbrage if, in
doing so, I allow you to blow yourself up in casting some ill-thought magical spell.”],

impassive (adj.) – if someone's face is impassive, it expresses no emotion, because the

person seems not to be affected by the situation they are experiencing [Garona’s face
was impassive, but Khadgar noted that she did lift her fingers from the pages. “I have no
interest in magic.”] – synonyms & related words [expressionless, unexpressive,
inexpressive, inscrutable, blank, deadpan, poker-faced, straight-faced, dispassionate;
stony, wooden, unresponsive; empty, vacant, glazed, fixed, lifeless],

glib (adj.) – speaking or spoken in a confident way, but without careful thought or
honesty; smooth or slippery; artfully persuasive in nature[He's a glib, self-centred man.
No one was convinced by his glib answers/explanations. “I hope I wasn’t too hard on you,
earlier in the hall.” Her tone was glib, and Khadgar was sure that she would rather have
seen him spit out a tooth. Probably this was what passed for an apology among the orcs. A
sheet of glib ice. A glib tongue. A glib speech.] – synonyms & related words [slick, pat,
neat, plausible, silky, smooth-talking, fast-talking; smooth, urbane, smooth-tongued,
silver-tongued, smooth-spoken; fluent, voluble, loquacious, having kissed the Blarney
Stone; disingenuous, insincere, facile, shallow, superficial, simplistic, oversimplified,
easy, ready, flippant, flip, sweet-talking, with the gift of the gab],

effrontery (n.) – extreme rudeness without any ability to understand that your
behavior is not acceptable to other people [He was silent all through the meal and then
had the effrontery to complain that I looked bored! At least this time he would get some
information out before the battle. He said, “I mean, if you’re the Emissary, that means that
someone is giving you orders, someone is pulling your strings, someone you have to report
back to. Whom do you represent?” “I’m sure your Master, the Old Man, would tell you, if you
asked,” said Garona smoothly, but her eyes remained hard. “I’m sure he would,” Khadgar
lied. “If I had the effrontery to ask him. So I ask you instead. Whom do you represent? What
powers have you been granted? Are you here to negotiate, or demand, or what?”] –
synonyms & related words [impudence, impertinence, cheek, insolence, cheekiness,
audacity, temerity, brazenness, forwardness, front, presumption, nerve, gall, pertness,
boldness, shamelessness, impoliteness, disrespect, bad manners, unmannerliness,
overfamiliarity; answering back, talking back, brass, brass neck, neck, face, lip, mouth,
cockiness, sauce, snash, sass, sassiness, nerviness, chutzpah, back talk, hide, crust,
backchat, malapartness, contumely, procacity, assumption; dare, make so bold as, be so
bold as, presume, have the temerity, have the audacity, have the nerve, be brave enough,
have the courage, go so far as; take the liberty of],

castigate (v.) – to criticize someone or something severely [Health inspectors

castigated the kitchen staff for poor standards of cleanliness. „But better to have no
allegiance than conflicting ones.” Khadgar thought of Medivh’s own castigation of his Kirin
Tor ties, but said, “And which clan do you represent at the moment?”] – synonyms &
related words [reprimand, rebuke, admonish, chastise, chide, upbraid, reprove,
reproach, scold, remonstrate with, berate, take to task, pull up, lambaste, read someone
the Riot Act, give someone a piece of one's mind, haul over the coals, lecture, criticize,
censure; punish, discipline, chasten, tell off, give someone a telling-off, give someone a
talking-to, give someone an earful, dress down, give someone a dressing-down, give
someone a roasting, give someone a rocket, give someone a rollicking, rap, rap someone
the knuckles, slap someone's wrist, send someone away with a flea in their ear, let
someone have it, bawl out, give someone hell, come down on, blow up at, pitch into, lay
into, lace into, give someone a caning, put on the mat, slap down, blast, rag, keelhaul, tick
off, have a go at, carpet, monster, give someone a mouthful, tear someone off a strip, give
someone what for, give someone some stick, wig, give someone a wigging, give someone
a row, row, chew out, ream out, bollock, give someone a bollocking, chew someone's ass,
ream someone's ass, call down, rate, give someone a rating, trim, reprehend, objurgate],

wry (adj.) – showing that you find a bad or difficult situation slightly funny, using or
expressing dry, especially mocking, humor; (of a person's face or features) twisted into
an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance; (archaic, of the neck or
features) distorted or turned to one side, turned away, contorted (of the face or body);
twisted, bent, crooked [A wry smile/comment. Garona gave a wry, fanged smile. “If I said
Gizblah the Mighty, what would you say? Or perhaps I am on a mission for Morgax the Gray
or Hikapik the Blood-render. Would that tell you enough?”] – synonyms & related words
[ironic, sardonic, satirical, mocking, scoffing, sneering, derisive, scornful, sarcastic,
double-edged, dry, droll, witty, humorous, sarky; disgusted, displeased, discontented,
offended, unimpressed, annoyed, irritated, irked, vexed, piqued, nettled, put out,
disgruntled, peeved, narked, hacked off, cheesed off, sore, ticked off, teed off, pissed off],

take a leaf out of somebody's book (id.) – to copy something that someone else
does because it will bring you advantages [Maybe I should take a leaf out of Rick's book
and start coming in early every morning.] – synonyms & related words [imitate, mimic,
ape, emulate, follow, echo, mirror, simulate, parrot, reproduce; plagiarize, poach, steal,
infringe the copyright of, pirate, rip off, crib, lift, nick, pinch, monkey],

leaf through something (v.) – to quickly turn the pages of a book or a magazine,
reading only a little of it [The waiting room was full of people leafing through magazines.
Khadgar was silent for a moment. Garona opened the volume again, leafing through the
pages to where she had stopped.],
riffle (v.) – to look quickly through the pages of a book, magazine, etc., or through a
collection of things [He riffled through the stack of papers on his desk.],

throttle (v.) – (press throat) to press someone's throat very tightly so that they cannot
breathe; (prevent) to prevent something from succeeding [Sometimes he annoys me so
much that I could throttle him. The reduction in funds is throttling the development of new
programmes. Garona glared at Khadgar, and for a moment the young mage wondered if
the half-orc was going to leap across the table and throttle him. Instead, her ears perked
up, and she said, “Hold on. What’s that?”] – synonyms & related words [choke, strangle,
strangulate, garrotte, asphyxiate, smother, suffocate, stifle; suppress, inhibit, stifle,
control, restrain, check, contain, put a/the lid on; crack down on, clamp down on, drive
underground; stop, put an end to, bring to an end, end, stamp out, bring to a stop, halt,
bring to a halt, put paid to, put the kibosh on, put the stopper on, do for],

strangled (adj.) – a strangled sound is a weak, high, interrupted sound made by an

extremely frightened or worried and nervous person [It came again, a strangled cry from
the room next door. “What is…” hissed Garona. “Demon,” said Khadgar in a strangled voice,
rising and backing away from the table.] – synonyms & related words [suppress,
smother, stifle, repress, restrain, hold back, hold in, fight back, bite back, gulp back,
swallow, choke back, check; hamper, hinder, impede, restrict, interfere with, inhibit,
hold back, curb, check, restrain, constrain; prevent, put an end/stop to, stop, quash,
squash, stamp out, destroy, crush, extinguish, deaden, damp down, subdue, suppress,
rep],

splatter (v.) – (especially of a thick liquid) to hit and cover a surface with small drops,
or to cause this to happen, splash [The bike was splattered with mud. Khadgar’s mind
cleared, and with a quick efficiency he pulled the energies into himself, raised his hand, and
buried a bolt of mystic energy into the creature’s chest. The energy ripped through the
beast’s chest and splattered out its back, sending pieces of flaming flesh in all directions,
but it did not deter it in the slightest.] – synonyms & related words [spatter, bespatter,
splash, speck, speckle, blotch, smear, stain, mark, splotch, splodge, slabber, bedabble,
sprinkle, spray, spritz, shower, slosh, slop, squirt, daub, wet, wetten, swash, wash, break,
lap, dash, beat, lash, batter, crash, buffet, surge, plash, paddle, wade, slosh, wallow,
splosh],

retch (v.) – to react in a way as if you are vomiting, make the sound and moving of
vomiting; vomit[The sight of blood makes him retch. It let out a retching, choking noise,
and shook his ramhorned head to dislodge the weighty grimoire. Khadgar saw there was a
line of burning blood etched along the creature’s right side. Garona had struck a second
time.] – synonyms & related words [gag, heave, dry-heave, reach, convulse, almost vomit,
have nausea, feel nauseous, keck; vomit, cough up, bring something up, regurgitate; be
sick; get sick, puke (something up), chunder, chuck up, hurl, spew, do the technicolor
yawn, honk, sick something up, boke, spit up, barf, upchuck, toss one's cookies, blow
chunks],
roil (v.) – (twist) to (cause to) move quickly in a twisting circular movement [Fierce
winds roiled the sea. A massive tower of smoke roiled skyward. Khadgar turned at the far
end of the long bookshelves, and turned. The demon had already leapt over the study table
and was now prowling down the row between the bookcases, between histories and
geographies. In the shadow between the rows the creature’s flaming eyes and mouth stood
out in stark relief, and acrid smoke now roiled from its wounded sides. Their guns were
huge, unwieldy, requiring two hands to lift them. Unholy energies roiled in their
transparent chambers, glowing with the same putrid shade of green as had the stone
column in the mine tunnel.] – synonyms & related words [boil, churn, moil, seethe, reel,
spin, swirl, whirl, agitate, stir],

stand (out) in (sharp) relief (id.) – to appear or show very clearly and obviously,
to be very obvious, stick out like a sore thumb [The mountain stood out in sharp relief
against the evening sky.],

the stuff of something (id.) – (literary) something that a particular type of thing is
made of or based on [Her appetite for shopping became the stuff of legend. A thwarted
love affair is the (very) stuff of fiction.],

sp(l)ang (v.) – (of a flying object such as a bullet) to strike or ricochet with a loud
report [How clear, sweet, spanging the hammer blows! He repeated the process like a
ritual—clear the mind, fight the fear, raise a hand, and invoke the word. Another bolt
splanged off its ebony horns, ricocheting upward. The beast halted, but only for a moment.
Now its maw seemed a twisted, flame-filled smile.],

plaster (v.) – to spread plaster on a surface; to make something stick in a flat smooth
layer; (informal) to cover a surface or an object completely or thickly [The torrential rain
had plastered her hair to her head. Hhe had plastered her bedroom walls with photos of
pop stars. The car was plastered with mud. The story was plastered all over (= printed so
that it completely covered) the front page of the newspaper. Khadgar?” she said. “Here,”
said the apprentice, plastered against the back wall, where the iron pedestals rose to
support the upper stacks on the balcony above. His face was pale even for a human.],

khadgarmedivh117 (account clixsense com),

lose the plot (id.) – to longer be able to act normally or understand what is
happening, to lose sight of an important objective or principle; to act contrarily to one's
own interests through concentrating on relatively unimportant matters [I can't believe
Stuart did that - he must be losing the plot. Apologise for losing the plot and explain what
made you react the way you did.] – synonyms & related words [be/go out of your mind,
take leave of your senses, go mad, go nuts, have a screw loose, be going soft (in the
head), need your head examined, be/go round the bend, be off your head, go loopy, lose
it, lose your marbles, lose your mind, spit the dummy, trip out, take the biscuit, have no
clue, lose your grip (on something), miss the point, get the wrong end of the stick, get
someone wrong, get somethign wrong, be unclear about/as to something, mistake,
misunderstand, be wasted on someone, be lost on someone, escape someone's notice,
flounder, get your wires crossed, get over someone's head, misread, miss, misconceive,
not know what has come over someone, scratch your head],

self-contained (adj.) – containing or having everything that is needed within itself; a

self-contained person does not have a large number of relationships with other people
or does not depend on others for support [The apartment is small, but completely self-
contained, with its own bathroom, kitchen, and living area. She's very self-contained and
isn't at all worried about moving to a big city where she won't know anybody.] – synonyms
& related words[complete, independent, separate, free standing, enclosed; standing on
one's own two feet, self-sufficient, self-reliant, introverted, undemonstrative, quiet,
private, aloof, insular, reserved, unemotional, uncommunicative, reticent, secretive],

dustpan (n.) – a flat container with a handle into which you brush dust and dirt [By the
time they reached the library, however, Moroes was standing there, dustpan and broom in
hand, surveying the damage. He looked up, slightly lost, as the two mages and the half-orc
entered.],

bead (n.) – (jewellery) a small, coloured, often round piece of plastic, wood, glass, etc.
with a hole through it, it is usually put on a string with a lot of others to make jewellery;
a drop of a liquid on a surface [She wore a necklace of brightly coloured wooden beads.
“Hmmph,” grunted the Magus. “More likely you overreacted when you saw it, and did most
of the damage yourselves. These are fresh scratches on the table. From the demon?” “He
had iron claws,” said Khadgar. “Or perhaps from your own mystic bolts, flung around like
beads at a Stormwind streetfair?” Medivh shook his head.] – synonyms & related words
[ball, pellet, pill, globule, spheroid, spherule, sphere, oval, ovoid, orb, round, pearl;
necklace, string of beads, chaplet; rosary; droplet, drop, blob, bubble, dot, dewdrop,
teardrop, glob],

bead (v.) – decorate or cover with beads; string (beads) together; cover (a surface)
with drops of moisture [A beaded evening bag. Seashells beaded into bells. His face was
beaded with perspiration.],

moody (adj.) – if someone is moody, their moods change suddenly and they become
angry or unhappy easily; expressing something mysterious or slightly sad [A moody
teenager. He can be moody. The film has a modoy jazz score. “This was no illusion that
attacked us,” said Garona moodily.] – synonyms & related words [unpredictable,
temperamental, emotional, volatile, capricious, changeable, mercurial, unstable, fickle,
flighty, inconstant, undependable, unsteady, erratic, fitful, impulsive; sullen, sulky,
morose, gloomy, glum, moping, mopey, mopish, depressed, dejected, despondent, blue,
melancholic, doleful, dour, dismal, sour, saturnine, lugubrious, introspective, down in the
dumps, down i nthe mouth, mardy, mumpish, kittle],
fracas (n.) – (fight) a noisy argument or fight [He was injured in a Saturday-night fracas
outside a disco. The prime minister has joined the fracas over the proposed changes. It took
only several days to put the library back in proper order. Most of the scattered books were
at least near to where they needed to be, and the rarer, more magical, and trapped
volumes were on the upper balcony and had been untouched by the fracas.] – synonyms &
related words [disturbance, quarrel, scuffle, brawl, affray, tussle, melee, free-for-all,
fight, clash, skirmish, brouhaha, riot, uproar, commotion; argument, altercation, angry
exchange, war of words, shouting match, tiff, dispute, disagreement, row, wrangle,
squabble, rumpus; stooshie; donnybrook; bangarang; falling-out, set-to, run-in, shindig,
shindy, dust-up, punch-up, scrap, spat, ruckus, argy-bargy, ruction, fisticuffs; barney,
bunfight, ding-dong, bust-up, ruck, slanging match; afters; rammy, rhubarb, broil, miff]

pop in/into (somewhere) (id.) – (visit) to visit briefly; if you pop into a place, you
visit there briefly, usually for some purpose [Why don't you pop in and see us this
afternoon? All I have to do on the way home is pop into the drugstore. “Something rescued
the body,” said Garona. “The same person who popped it in here would have popped him
out.”],

thump (v.) – to hit something and cause a noise; to hit someone with your fist (=
closed hand); somebody's head thumps; somebody's heart thumps [Someone was
thumping on the door. He thumped him in the face. When I woke up my mouth was dry and
my head was thumping. She stood outside his room, her heart thumping. The clan known
as the Blackrock appeared to have another large chunk of the Horde, its leader was
Blackhand, who had as his chief recommendation for leader the ability to thump anyone
else who wanted the title. A chunk of Blackrock had already splintered off, knocked out a
tooth, and called themselves the Black Tooth Grin. Charming names.],

long-suffering/longanimous/longminded (adj.) – a long suffering person is

patient despite being annoyed or insulted regularly over a period of time [Bill and his
long-suffering wife. His disaffected mood was clear to the others as well. Moroes would give
Khadgar a painful, long-suffering look as he left the master’s chambers.],

addle (v.) – to make someone feel confused and unable to think clearly, to grow addle,
to muddle [I'm afraid my sun-addled (= confused) brain couldn't make any sense of the
instructions. “Yes, but when I first encountered him, he seemed alive, engaged, and positive.
Now he seems more…” “Distracted?” “Addled,” said Garona, twisting her lips in disgust.] –
synonyms & related words [muddled, confused, fuddled, befuddled, bewildered, dazed,
dizzy, disoriented, disorientated, stupefied, unbalanced, unhinged, demented, deranged,
discombobulated, woolly, muzzy, woozy, dopey, not with it, bamboozled],

addle (adj.) – having lost the power of development, and become rotten, putrid; (by
extension) unfruitful or confused, muddled [Addle eggs. Addle brains.]

addle (n.) – a foolish or dull-witted fellow,

blind somebody with science (id.) – to confuse someone by using difficult or
technical words to describe something,

(random cool paragraph) – [“And so they depend on the Guardian to ride to their
rescue. Bad enough I must guard the watchtowers on the Twisting Nether to watch for
demons, and to hunt down the mistakes of these amateurs. Now I must rescue them against
other nations? Will I be asked to support Azeroth in a trade dispute with Lordaeron next?
Such matters should not be our worry.” “There may not be an Azeroth without your help.
Lothar is…” “Lothar is a fool,” muttered Medivh. “An old mother hen that sees threats
everywhere. And Llane is little better, seeing nothing that could break his walls. And the
Order, all the mighty mages, they have quarreled and argued and spat among themselves
so now they don’t have the power to repel a new invader. No, Young Trust, this is the little
stuff. Even if the orcs succeeded in Azeroth, they would need a Guardian, and I would be
here for them.” “Master, that’s…” “Sacrilege? Blasphemy? Betrayal?” The Magus sighed and
pinched the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps. But I am a man made old before my time, and I
have paid a great price for my unwanted power. Permit me to rail against the clockworks
that rule my life. Go now. I’ll return to your tales of woe in the morning.” As he was closing
the door, Khadgar heard Medivh add, “I am so tired of worrying about everything. When
can I worry about myself?”],

rail (v.) – to complain angrily [He railed against/at the injustices of the system. He railed
at human fickleness. Johnson rails against injustice and oppression. The zombies of this
morning were now vandals and looters and arsonists, railing against the injustice of their
fate by striking at the only targets they had, their own homes and each other.] – synonyms
& related words [protest strongly at, make a protest against, fulminate against, inveigh
against, rage against, thunder against, declaim against, remonstrate about, expostulate
about, make a fuss about, speak out against, express disapproval of, criticize severely,
denounce, censure, condemn; object to, raise objections to, take issue with, oppose
strongly, complain vociferously/bitterly about, disagree violently with, kick against, take
great exception to, make/take a stand against, put up a fight against, challenge; kick up a
fuss/stink about],

(random cool paragraph) – [“So even in the midst of an attack, they continue to
brawl and betray each other,” said Khadgar. He wondered if his own reports to Lothar had
given them the information they needed to break the assault. Garona shrugged, “Very much
like humans.” She motioned to the books piled high on the study table. “In your histories,
there are continual justifications for all manner of hellish actions. Claims of nobility and
heritage and honor to cover up every bit of genocide, assassination, and massacre. At least
the Horde is honest in their naked lust for power.” She was silent for a moment, then added,
“I don’t think I could have helped them.” “The orcs, or Stormwind?” asked Khadgar.],

have half a mind/a good mind/be of a mind to do something (id.) – to

think that you might do something, often because something has annoyed you [I have a
good mind to go without him if he's going to be such an idiot. “You'll not be journeying
alone, my elven lady,” objected Falstad. “I've come too far to turn back now . . . and I'm of a
mind to find a certain goblin and skin his hide for boots!”],

ounce (n.) – (informal) a very small amount [She can eat as much as she wants and she
never puts on an ounce (= her weight does not increase). If he has an ounce of common
sense, he'll realize that this project is bound to fail. “Either,” said Garona. “I did not know
about any attack on Stormwind, if that’s what you’re hinting at, though anyone with half
an ounce of sense would know that a Horde would strike against the biggest target as soon
as possible. You know that from our discussions. You also know that they’ll pull back,
regroup, kill a few leaders, and then come back in greater numbers.”],

stand by someone/something (id.) – (support) to support or be loyal to someone

or something [The editors stand by their story. The boy's friend stood by him, firmly
convinced of his innocence. “You didn’t want to see him hurt,” finished Khadgar. “As Moroes
would say, ‘ayep’,” said Garona. “He put a lot of trust in me, and he puts it in you, too. After
watching your vision-power thing, I told him about it. I figured that might have brought
the demon down on us. He said he knew and it didn’t bother him. That you were naturally
curious, and it served you well. He stands by his people.” “And you can’t hurt someone like
that,” said Khadgar.],

brooding (adj.) – making you feel uncomfortable or worried, as if something bad is

going to happen; feeling sad, worried, or angry for a long time [He stood there in the
corner of the room, a dark, brooding presence. She sounded like Lothar—trying to ask
without seeming too concerned. Khadgar shook his head. “He’s always been erratic.
Eccentric. But I’ve never seen him this…depressed.” “Brooding,” added Garona. “],

take the long view (of something) (id.) – to think about the effects that
something will have in the future instead of in the present [If you take the long view, of
course, you can regard staff training as an investment for the company. “It may be his own
training,” said Khadgar, choosing his words carefully. He did not want to reveal the Order
to Garona, regardless of her current feelings. “He has to take a very long view on things. It
sometimes cuts him off from others.”],

flippant (flip) (adj.) – not serious about a serious subject, in an attempt to be funny
or to appera clever [A flippant remark/attitude. It's easy to be flippant, but we have a
serious problem to deal with here. I think she just thought I was being flippant. Garona sat
quietly for a moment, as if trying to resolve something in her mind. Khadgar expected a flip
comment, or a redirection of the subject, or even another question in response. Instead she
said, “We call our world Draenor. It is a savage world, filled with badlands and bluffs and
hardscrabble vegetation. Inhospitable and stormy…”],

hardscape (n.) – features of an area that have been built out of hard materials such as
concrete, rather than natural features such as trees and grass [Removing trees and
putting in hardscape increases flood risk.],
hardly/barely put one foot in front of the other (id.) – if you can
hardly/barely put one foot in front of the other, you are having difficulty walking [I was
so tired that I could barely put one foot in front of the other.],

half a loaf is better than none (id.) – (old-fashioned) said about a situation in
which you must accept less than you wanted,

all things being equal (id.) – if everything happens as expected [All things being
equal, I'll be at home on Tuesday.],

fecund (adj.) – able to produce a lot of crops, fruit, babies, young animals, etc.;
producing or creating a lot of new things, ideas, etc. [Fecund soil. A fecund imagination.
Garona let out a bulldog snort. “Your visions probably reveal more than you say, but you
have a good picture. Orcs are fecund, and large litters are common, because so many die
before they reach a warrior’s age.“]

swirl (v.) – to (cause to) move quickly with a twisting, circular movement [Swirl a little
oil aroind the frying pan. The fog swirled thickly around us. Garona sucked on a fang,
remembering. “It was a great set of standing stones, hauled there to frame arip in space
itself. Within the rip were the colors of darkness, a swirl like oil on the surface of a polluted
pool. I got the feeling that rip had been forged by greater hands, and the warlocks had just
contained it.“],

(random cool paragraph) – [Garona fell silent for a moment. “It’s called the
Twisting Nether, and it was both instantaneous and eternal. I fell forever, and when I
emerged into the strange light, I was in a mad new world.”],

on the back of something (id.) – because of something, or helped by something

[Share prices rose sharply on the back of a rise in profits.],

on the back of an envelope (id.) – in a hurried way, without much detail [The
proposal was no doubt drawn up on the back of an envelope. The prices were roughly
calculated – it looked as though he'd done them on the back of an envelope.],

say your piece (id.) – to say that you are obviously wanting to say [Just say your piece
and then go.],

(as) trustworthy as a bent gold piece (id.) – very untrustworthy, disloyal,

unreliable, dubious [The figure in the bed tossed, turned, and then sat up suddenly, as
awakening from a bad dream. He stared into the darkness, and his savaged, war-torn face
was clear. Even by orc standards, he was an ugly representative of his race. Garona let out
a sharp gasp, and said, “Gul’dan.” Khadgar nodded and said, “He should not see you.” This,
then, was the warlock that had sent Garona to spy. He looked about as trustworthy as a
bent gold piece. For the moment, he wrapped himself in his furs, and spoke.],
reedy (adj.) – (plants) a reedy place has many reeds (= tall plants like grass) [The reedy
river banks.],

reedy (adj.) – (sound) (disapproving) a reedy sound, especially a voice, is thin and high
and not pleasant to listen to [It was tall and broad-shouldered, taller than any of the other
three. It was translucent, as if it did not belong here either. It was hooded, and its voice
reedy and distant. Though the only light was from the fire pit, the figure cast two
shadows—one directly back from the flames, the other to one side, as if lit by a different
source.],

reedy (adj.) – (body) tall and thin,

tableau (pl. tableux) (n.) – an arrangement of people who do not move or speak,
especially on a stage, who represent a view of life, an event, etc. either a vivid graphic
scene or a painting or bas relief sculpture, also a striking and vivid representation, a
picture [And with that the tall hooded figure shaped a ball out of the air, as light and clear
as a soap bubble. It floated, about a foot in diameter, and within it showed a tableau of a
land with blue sky and green fields.],

agate (n.) – a hard stone with strips of color, used in jewellery,

fakery (n.) – a fraud or forgery, an act of doctoring, or the product of one [“It didn’t
seem like him,” said Garona. “Perhaps it was an illusion, some magical fakery. It didn’t
seem like him.”],

moods and manners (id.) – (behavior) someone's behavioral characteristic [“It was
him,” said the apprentice, rising now. “I know the master’s voice. I know the master’s face.
In all his moods and manners.”],

tremulous (adj.) – if a person's voice or a part of their body is tremulous, it is shaking

slightly [He watched her tremulous hand reach for the teacup. In a tremulous voice she
whispered: „Who are you people?“ Khadgar looked at the half-orc. Her voice was
tremulous, and tears pooled in the corners of her wide eyes. She wanted to believe. She
truly wanted to believe.],

lodge (v.) – (stuck) to (cause to) become stuck in a place or position [A fish bone had
lodged in her throat. “It explains why he hasn’t done much to oppose them,” said Khadgar.
He shook his head, trying to loosen the thoughts that were lodged there. So many things
suddenly made more sense. Odd disappearances. Little interest in the increasing number of
orcs. Even bringing a half-orc into the castle.],

take somebody back (v.) – to surprise or shock someone so much that they do not
know how to behave for a short time [I was a little taken aback at the directness of the
question. The news really took us aback. He regarded Garona and wondered how deeply
she was involved in the plot. She seemed completely taken aback by the news, yet was she a
conspirator, or another pawn in the shadowplay that Medivh seemed to be running?],

brouhaha (n.) – a lot of noise or angry complaining about something [The brouhaha
over his last novel. Khadgar opened his mouth to respond, but another voice sounded
through the halls. “What’s all this brouhaha?” said Medivh, rounding the corner at the
dining hall’s entrance.] – synonyms & related words [uproar, fracas, melee, ado, row, to-
do, setto, noise, yelling, storm],

flutter your eyelashes (v.) – (humorous) if a woman flutters her eyelashes at

someone, she pretends to be sexually attracted to them, usually in order to persuade
them to do something [Go and flutter your eyelashes at the barman, Janet, and see if you
can get him to serve us.],

in a flutter (id.) – in a confused and excited state [When economic statistics are first
published they grab headlines and put markets in a flutter.],

measured (adj.) – careful and controlled, or not fast [Her response to their criticism
was calm and measured. Medivh grunted. “Another of your visions, Young Trust? They’re
bad enough around here, without you calling up the past. Come out of there at once—we
have work to do. And you as well, Emissary.” His voice was measured and understanding,
but firm. The stern voice of the wise mentor. Khadgar took a step forward, but Garona
grabbed him by the arm.],

make light of something (id.) – to behave as if a situation, especially a problem, is

not serious or impotant [It is easy to make light of other people's problems. I wish you
wouldn't make light of the matter, when it obviously means a great deal to him.],

snort (v.) – to suddenly express strong feelings of anger, disapproval, or disagreement,

either by speaking or in a sound that you make [„And you call that a first-class service?“
snorted one indignant customer. “Why did you visit the orc Gul’dan’s dreams?” said
Khadgar, feeling his throat tighten as he asked, “Why did you show the orcs how to come to
this world?” Medivh’s glare shifted to Garona. “I was unaware Gul’dan told you of me. He
didn’t strike me as being unwise, or a chatterbox.” Garona took a step back, but this time
Khadgar restrained her. She said, “I didn’t know. Until now.” Medivh snorted. “It matters
little. Now come here. Both of you.”],

livid (adj.) – (angry) extremely angry [He was livid when he found out. “You do not
negotiate with your betters!” snapped the mage. “Why did you bring the orcs to Azeroth?”
asked Khadgar, pleading now. “It is none of your business, child. Youwill come here! Now!”
The Magus’s face was livid and twisted.],

livid (adj.) – (color) (especially of marks on the skin) of an unpleasant purple or dark
blue color [He had a long, livid scar across his cheek.],
(random cool paragraph) – [Sparks flew up at once, bathing the older mage in a
shower of light. The Magus staggered back a step, then raised his hands, and muttered a
curse. “What?” began Garona. “Circle of Warding,” snapped Khadgar. “To keep summoned
demons at bay. The Magus cannot cross it.” “But if it only affects demons, why not?
Unless…” Garona, looked at Khadgar. “No,” she said. “Can the circle hold him back?”
Khadgar thought of jackstraw laid across the wards in the tower at Stormwind, and at the
energy blossoming by the doorway. He shook his head. Instead he shouted at the Magus, “Is
this what you did to Huglar and Hugarin? And Guzbah? And the others? Did they figure
things out?” “They were further from the truth than you were, child,” said the illuminated
Magus through gritted teeth, “But I had to be careful. I forgave your curiosity for your
youth, and thought that loyalty—” He grunted now as the protective wards resisted him.
“—I thought that loyalty still mattered in this world.”The protective wards blazed as
Medivh moved into them, and Khadgar could see the fields distorting around the Magus’s
outstretched palms. The flickering of the sparks seemed to catch Medivh’s beard on fire,
and smoke curled up like horns from his forehead. And then Khadgar’s heart sank, for he
realized that what he was seeing was another image, this one laid over the image of the
beloved mage. The image that belonged to the second shadow. “He’s going to get through,”
said Garona. Khadgar gritted his teeth, “Eventually. He’s pouring huge amounts of power
into breaking the circle.” “Can he do that?” asked the half-orc. “He’s the Guardian of
Tirisfal,” said Khadgar. “He can do whatever he wants. It just takes time.”],

loom large (v.) – if something looms large, itb ecomes very important and often
causes worry [The issue of pay will loom large at this year's conference.],

loom up (v.) – to appear to rise up (from somewhere); to take form or definition,

usually threatening to some degree [A great city loomed up in the distance. It looked
threatening in the dusky light. A ghost loomed up, but we paid no attention, since it had to
be a joke. The recession loomed up, and the stock market reacted. Garona looked around.
“Blow out a wall, then. New exit.” Khadgar looked at the stonework of the tower, but shook
his head. “Well, try something!” “I’ll try this,” said Khadgar. Before them, the figure of
Medivh, taller now and wreathed in lightning, loomed up in the smoke.],

credulous (adj.) – too willing to believe what you are told and so easily deceived
[“Answer,” snapped Aegwynn sternly. “Why did you bring the orcs to Azeroth?” “No wonder
he was so testy when you asked him that,” said Garona. Khadgar shushed her, and kept an
eye on the present-Medivh. The present incarnation had ceased to press against the walls
of the wards, and his face seemed to have lost its emotion. “Mother?” said the present-
Medivh. His face looked credulous.],

invective (n.) – (criticism) criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude [A
scream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government.
Khadgar wilted under the older woman’s invective, and half-expected the past-Medivh to
flee the room.],
wilt (v.) – (of a plant) to become weaker and begin to bend towards the ground, or (of a
person) to become weaker, tired, or less confident [Cut flowers will soon wilt without
water. After only an hour's hiking they were beginning to wilt in the heat.],

hiss (v.) – (say) to say something in a quiet angry way [„Shut up, Tom!“ she hissed.
“Butwhy did you let the orcs into Azeroth?” hissed the older woman. “There is no need. You
put entire populations at risk, and to what end?”],

overlay (v.) – to cover something with a layer of something; be overlaid with

something (literary) [The tiny carvings were overlaid with silver. Her new novel is overlaid
with political concerns.] – synonyms & related words [cover, face, surface, veneer, inlay,
laminate; carpet, blanket, swathe, cloak, veil, shroud; overspread, encrust, smear, daub,
bedaub, coat, plaster, plate, varnish, glaze, wash, suffuse],

veneer (n.) – a thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or
other material; a layer of wood used to make plywood, an attractive appearance that
covers or disguises someone or something's true nature or feelings; (dentistry) a crown
in which the restoration is placed over the prepared surface of a natural crown [A fine-
grained veneer. The boxes are made from American cherry wood with maple veneer. Her
veneer of composure cracked a little. A rigid veneer of courtesy hid her mounting fury.] –
synonyms & related words [surface, lamination, overlay, facing, covering, coat, finish,
finishing coat, layer, decorative/protective layer, cladding, exterior, patina, varnish,
polish, glaze, film, membrnae, skin, sheet; facade, front, false front, show, outward
display, appearance, false appearance, outward appearance, impression, image,
semblance, posture, pose, guise, disguise, mask, masquerade, pretence, charade, illusion,
gloss, camouflage, false colours, smokescreen, cover, cloak, snivel],

veneer (v.) – cover (something) with a decorative layer of fine wood; cover or disguise
(someone or something's true nature) with an attractive appearance [A veneered
cabinet. He exuded an air of toughness, lightly veneered by the impeccably tailored suit.],

overlay (n.) – a thin covering of something [The wood frame has a gold overlay. “You
killed a body, witch. You only killed my physical form!” snarled the Medivh of the past, and
already Khadgar could see the overlay of the second being, the alternate shadow, that
consumed him. A creature of shadow and flame, with a beard of fire and great ebon horns.
“Killed it and hid it away in a tomb beneath the sea. But I was willing to sacrifice it to gain
a greater prize.”],

forthcoming (adj.) – (soon) happening soon [We have just received the information
about the forthcoming conference. His forthcoming novel is expected to become an instant
bestseller.] – synonyms & related words [imminent, impending, coming, approaching,
advancing, nearing, near; future, expected, anticipated, prospective; close, (close) at
hand, in store, in the wind, in the air, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, on the
way, on us, about to happen; on the cards]
forthcoming (adj.) – (willing) friendly and helpful, willing to give information or to
talk [I had difficulty getting any details. He wasn't very forthcoming.] – synonyms &
related words [communicative, expansive, informative, expressive, unreserved,
uninhibited, outgoing, frank, open, candid; talkative, conversational, chatty, gossipy,
loquacious, garrulous, voluble, verbose, effusive, gushing; mouthy, gabby, windy, gassy,
talky, multiloquent, multiloquous],

forthcoming (adj.) – (supplied) produced, supplied, or given [No explanation for his
absence was forthcoming. Will financial support for the theatre project be forthcoming? “I
cannot kill you, Mother,” snapped the demonic form. “Some part of me keeps me from doing
that. But Iwill break you. Break you and banish you, and by the time you’ve healed, by the
time you’ve walked back from where I will send you, this land will be mine. This land, and
the power of the Order of Tirisfal!” In the present day, Medivh let out the howl of a lost soul,
screaming to the heavens for forgiveness that will never be forthcoming.] – synonyms &
related words [available, made available, ready, at hand, accessible, obtainable, at
someone's disposal, on offer; obtained, given, vouchsafed to someone; up for grabs, on
the tap]

get (out) while the gettin(g)/goin(g) is good (id.) – to leave while it is still safe
or possible to do so [I could tell that it was time for me to get while the gettin(g)'s good. I
told her she should get out while the goin(g)'s good. That’s our cue,” said Garona, pulling
on Khadgar’s robe. “Let’s get while the getting is good.” Khadgar hesitated for a moment,
then followed her to the stairs. They tumbled down the stone stairs three at a time, almost
slamming into Moroes.],

lost to view (adj.) – not accessible to view, hidden, invisible, unseen [“I’ll do it,” said
Khadgar, grabbing the item from his hands, and hurtling after Garona. “He’ll be after us,
but you had better run as well. Take Cook and flee as far as you can.” And with that
Khadgar was lost to view. “Flee?” said Moroes to the apprentice’s retreating form; then he
snorted. “Wherever would I go?”],

bet the farm/ranch (id.) – to risk everything [Don't bet the farm on these stocks. (I)
wouldn't bet the farm on that.],

haunch (n.) – one of the back legs of an animal with four legs that is used for meat;
haunches (plural) the top of a person's legs and their bottom [A haunch of venison. She
was sitting/squatting on her haunches.]

tor (n.) – a craggy outcrop of rock on the summit of a hill, a large piece or an rea of rock
that sticks up from a hill, or the hill itself [Khadgar wrestled with the reins, even tried the
whistle, but at last had to admit defeat. He brought the gryphon down on a low, bare tor,
and slid from its back after Garona had climbed off. As soon as he touched ground, the
gryphon was aloft again, beating its heavy wings against the darkening air, climbing to
return the call of its master. Medivh had taken up residence in the tower of Kharazan in the
Redridge Mountains, located in a series of hillocks. Surrounded only by vines and weeds—
the old trees of the Elwynn Forest no longer made it up this far; they had died after Medivh
took up residence—the tor on which Medivh had his keep was shaped exactly like a human
skull.],

hummock (n.) – a very small hill or raised part of the ground [A grassy hummock. They
saw no one alive during the next day. There were houses burned to the foundations, and
clumps of newly hummocked earth that marked buried families. Overturned and smashed
carts were common, as were great burned circles heaped with ash. Garona noted that this
was how the orcs dealt with their dead, after the bodies had been looted.],

heaped (adj.) – (of a spoon or plate) containg as much as possible [Add a heaped
teaspoonful of sugar.],

(random cool paragraph) – [The only animals they saw were dead—disemboweled
pigs by a shattered farmhouse, the skeletal remains of a horse, consumed save for the
frightened, twisted head. They moved in silence through one despoiled farmstead after
another. “Your people have been thorough,” Khadgar said at last. “They pride themselves
on such matters,” said Garona, grimly. “Pride?” said Khadgar, looking around him. “Pride in
destruction? In despoiling? No human army, no human nation would burn down everything
in its path, or kill animals without purpose.” Garona nodded. “It is the orc way—do not
leave enough standing that their foes could use against them. If they could not use it
immediately—as fodder, as quarters, as plunder, then it should be put to the torch. The
borders of orc clans are often desolate places, as each side seeks to deny the other
resources.” Khadgar shook his head. “These arenot resources,” he said hotly. “These are
lives. This land was once green and verdant, with fields and forests. Now it’s a wasteland.
Look at this! Can there be any peace between humans and orcs?”],

extricate (v.) – to remove something or set something free with difficulty [It took
hours to extricate the car from the sand. I tried to extricate myself from the situation. The
young mage extricated himself from the raindamp straw tic that made his bed, his joints
protesting. He had not camped in the open since his arrival at Karazhan, and he felt out of
shape. The fear of the previous day had ebbed entirely, and he wondered about his next
move.],

level (adj.) – (flat) flat or horizontal; level spoonful/cupful, an amount of a liquid or

substance that fills a spoon/cup but does not go above the edges, used as a measure in
cooking [Make sure the camera is level before you take the picture. Before I bang the nails
in, would you say this picture was level?] – synonyms & related words [flat, smooth, even,
uniform, plane, flush, plumb, regular, true, (as) flat as a pancake, perfectly horizontal,
perfectly vertical],

level (adj.) – (controlled) if you speak in a level voice or give someone a level look, you
do it in a calm and controlled way [In a level voice, he ordered the soldiers to aim and fire.]
– synonyms & related words [unchanging, steady, unvarying, stable, even, uniform,
regular, consistent, constant; invariable, unalterable, unaltering, unfluctuating; calm,
unemotional, composed, equable, unruffled, serene, tranqui],

level something at someone (v.) – to point a weapon at somene [Andy levelled the
revolver at me menacingly. Khadgar stood up, shook the cobwebs from his mind, and
leaned out the remains of a window to ask her if there was anything left in the kitchen. And
was faced with one edge of a huge double-bladed ax, leveled at his neck.] – synonyms &
related words [aim, point, direct, train, sight, focus, turn, beam, zero in, draw a bead on,
take aim],

level something against somebody (v.) – to accuse someone in public of doing

something wrong [Criticism has been levelled at senior figures in the industry. Charges of
corruption have been levelled against him. Despite its zeal for prosecuting wars against the
enemies of the Imperium of Man and the Emperor, allegations of excessive use of force
against civilian populations have long been leveled against its Battle-Brothers even by
other Astartes Chapters, as have accusations of collateral damage against fellow Imperial
forces.],

level (adj.) – (informal) frank and honest with (someone) [When are you going to be
level with me?] – synonyms & related words [be frank, be open, be honest, be above
board, tell the truth, tell all, hide nothing, keep nothing back, be straightforward, put all
one's cards on the table, be upfront],

brace (n.) – (pair) two things of the same type, especially two wild birds that have been
killed for sport or food [A brace of pheasants. “No!” shouted Garona from the ruined
doorway. She looked like she had spent a bad night, but had a brace of hares on a leather
thong hanging from her belt. She had been out hunting. Khadgar felt mildly embarrassed
for his earlier thoughts.],

hold your tongue (id.) – to not speak [Hold your tongue, young man! I'm going to
have to learn to hold my tongue (= to not say things that upset people.) “Git out, half-
breed,” snapped the orc. “None of your business.” “You’re killing my property, that makes it
my business,” said Garona. Property?thought Khadgar, but held his tongue. “Prop’ty?”
lisped the orc. “Who’s you to have prop’ty?”],

file out (v.) – to exit in one or more single file lines [The recruits filed out of the hall.
And with that the orc leader backed away. The others relaxed, and started to file out of the
ruined common room.],

(random cool paragraph) – [One of his subordinates asked him as they left the
building, “What duz she have a use for human slave anyway?” The orc leader said
something that Khadgar could not hear. The subordinate shouted from outside,
“Dat’sdisgusting!”],
tuber (n.) – a swollen underground stem or root of a plant from which new plants can
grow, as in the potato [“Did you have to hit that hard?” asked Khadgar. “To convince
them? Yes. Not that I didn’t enjoy it.” She threw the hares at him. “Here, skin these and get
the water boiling. There’re still pots and some tubers left in the kitchen.” “Despite what
you’re telling your friends,” said Khadgar, “I am not your slave.” Garona chuckled. “Of
course. But I caught breakfast. You get to cook it!” Breakfast was a hearty stew of rabbit
and potato, seasoned with herbs Khadgar found in the remains of the kitchen garden and
mushrooms Garona picked in the wilderness. Khadgar checked the mushrooms to see if any
of them were poisonous. None of them were. “Orcs use their young as taste-testers,” said
Garona. “If they survive, they know its good for the community.”],

ink-spatter (v.) – to spatter, usually a liquid, like ink and leave stains [Garona scanned
the edges of the clearing, then looked skyward. Nothing was overhead but low, ink-
spattered clouds.],

blotch (n.) – a mark that is not regular in shape, for example on a person's skin [Her
face was covered in purple blotches.] – synonyms & related words [patch, smudge, pop,
dot, spot, speck, speckle; blot, stain, smear, streak, dab, daub, splash, splotch, splodge;
rash, blemish, spot, freckle, birthmark, strawberry mark, port wine stain, eruption;
patch, mark, discoloration, naevus, haemangioma],

blotch (v.) – cover with blotches [Her face was blotched and swollen with crying.] –
synonyms & related words [spot, mark, speck, speckles, smudge, smear, streak, blemish,
cover with bloches],

blotchy (adj.) – covered in blotches, blotched, spotted, spotty [Discoloration or blotchy

skin o nthe legs. Her face had become blotchy.] – synonyms & related words [spotty,
spotted, blemished, blotched, patchy, uneven, smudged, freckled, marked, smeary,
streaked, stippled, macular, covered with blotches; reddened, red, inflamed; dappled,
mottled, flecked, variegated, particoloured, splotchy, splodgy],

blotchily (adv. ) – in a blotchy manner [Sunlight filtered blotchily through the forest
canopy.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“Neither did the orcs, until it was too late,” said
Khadgar, joining her at the orc leader’s body. “They were hit in the back, while running,
and from an attacker taller than they were.” He pointed at hoof prints in the dust. They
were those of iron-shod, heavy horses. “Cavalry. Human cavalry.” Garona nodded. “So we’re
getting close, at least. Take what you can from them. We can use their rations—they’re
nasty but nutritious. And take a weapon, at least a knife.” Khadgar looked at Garona. “I’ve
been thinking.” Garona laughed. “I wonder how many human disasters start withthat line.”
not directly. So maybe we should split up.” “Thought of that,” said Garona, rummaging
through one of the orc’s packs, and pulling out first a cloak, and then a small cloth-
wrapped parcel. She opened the parcel to find a flint and steel and a vial of oily liquid.
“Fire-starting kit,” she explained. “Orcs love fire, and this is a quick starter.” “So you think
we should split up,” said Khadgar. “No,” said Garona. “I said I thought about it. The trouble
is that no one is in control of this area, human or orc. You might walk fifty yards away and
hit another patrol of the Bleeding Hollow clan, and I might get ambushed by your cavalry
buddies. If the two of us are together, there’s a better chance of survival. One is the other’s
slave.” “Prisoner,” said Khadgar. “Humans don’t take slaves.” “Sure you do,” said Garona.
“You just call them something else. So we should stay together.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [Garona spoke truly, in that the orc version of field
rations were a nasty concoction of hardened syrup, nuts, and what Khadgar swore was
boiled rat. Still, it kept them going, and they made good time. A day and a day passed and
the country opened up now into sprawling fields that rippled with growing crops. The land
was no less desolate, though, the stables empty and the houses already collapsed in on
themselves. They found several more burned spots of orc funerals, and an increasing
number of hummocks marking the passing of human families and patrols.],

up-do (n. ) – a woman's hairstyle in whic hthe hair is arranged on the top of the head,
especially for a special occasion such as a wedding,

do up (v. id.) – to fasten (a piece of clothing, etc.), to tighten (a nut etc.); to redecorate
(a room, etc.); to execute a task or performance; to pack together and nevelop, to pack
up [I can't do up my shirt. The button is missing. Help me do up this zipper. You hold it in
place while I do up the nut. I'm going to do up the living room next. They've done up the
house so that they can sell it more easily. This time I'm going to do it up right. I did up the
parcel with string and took it to the post office.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Still, they kept to the brush and fence lines as much as
possible. The more open terrain made it easier to see any other units, but left them more
exposed. They holed up in a mostly intact farmhouse while a small army of orcs moved
along the ridgeline. Khadgar watched the line of units surge forward. Grunts, cavalry
mounted on great wolves, and catapults done up in fanciful decorations of skulls and
dragons. Beside him, Garona watched the procession and said, “Idiots.” Khadgar shot her a
questioning glance. “They could not be more exposed,” she explained. “We can see them,
and the paleskins can see them as well. This lot doesn’t have an objective—they’re just
rolling through the countryside, looking for a fight. Looking for a noble death in battle.”
She shook her head. “You don’t think much of your people,” said Khadgar. “I don’t think
much ofany people, right now,” said Garona. “The orcs disown me, the humans will kill me.
And the only human I really trusted turned out to be a demon.” “Well, there’s me,” said
Khadgar, trying not to sound hurt. Garona winced. “Yes, there is you. You are human, and I
trust you. But I thought, I really thought, that Medivh was going to make a difference.
Powerful, important, and willing to talk. Unprejudiced. But I deceived myself. He’s just
another madman. Maybe that’s just my place—working for madmen. Maybe I’m just
another pawn in the game. What did Medivh call it? The unforgiving clockwork of the
universe?”],
drawl (v.) – a slow way of speaking in which the vowel sounds are made longer and
words are not separated clearly [A southern/Texan/mid-Atlantic drawl. “Ayep,” drawled
Garona. “It was all so simple, when I was working for Gul’dan. His little eyes and ears. Now
I don’t know who’s right and who’s wrong. Which people are my people? Either of them? At
least you don’t have to worry about divided loyalties.”Khadgar didn’t say anything, but
looked out into the gathering dusk. Somewhere, over the horizon, the orc army had run
into something. There was the low glow of a false dawn along the edge of the world in that
direction, marked with the reflection of sudden flashes off the low clouds, and the echoes of
war drums and death sounded like distant thunder.],

likely-looking (adj.) – appearing to be probable or suitable [He is currently the most

likely-looking candidate. Likely-lookinig books. Khadgar broke into a likely-looking shop,
and while its shelves had been stripped bare, the hearth still had wood in the hopper and
there were potatoes and onions in a small bin in the basement. Anything would be an
improvement after the orc’s iron rations.] – synonyms & related words [probable,
distinctly possible, to be expected, odds-on, on, possible, credible, plausible, believable,
within the bounds of possibility, imaginable; expected, anticipated, natural, prospective,
predictable, predicted, foreseeable, ten to one, liable; sure, destined, fated; in the wind,
in the air, on the cards, a pound to a penny; suitable, appropriate, apposite, fit, fitting,
acceptable, proper, right; reasonable, promising, hopeful; likely to succeed, promising,
talented, gifted, up-and-coming],

iron rations (n.) – a basic amount of food for a person to live on [The hotel food was
dreadful, so for three days we were on iron rations of fruit, cheese, and bread.],

iron something out (id.) – to put something into a finished state by solving
problems, removing differences, or taking care of details [They met to iron out the details
of the contract.],

squirrel something away (id.) – to hide or store something, especially money, in

order to use it in the future [As soon as I get paid, I squirrel some money away so I won't
be tempted to spend it.],

squirm (v.) – to move from side to the side in an awkward way because of
nervousness, embarrassment, or pain [Nobody spoke for at least five minutes and Rachel
squirmed in her chair with embarrassment. The fish squirmed on the ground for a few
moments and then lay still. The footmen took another step forward, those closest to Garona
bending down to grab her again. She tried to squirm away and one kicked her with a heavy
boot. Khadgar bit back tears and unleashed the spell against the sergeant. The ball of
flame slammed into his knee. The sergeant howled and dropped to the ground.],

gaggle (n.) – a group of geese; (disapproving) a group of noisy or silly people [Garona
were there, although the half-orc was asked to surrender her knife to Lothar in the
presence of His Majesty. The King’s Champion was there as well, and a gaggle of advisors
and courtiers all hovering around King Llane. Khadgar could not smell a single spellcaster
in the group, and surmised that any that had survived Medivh’s poaching were either on
the battlefield or squirreled away for safekeeping. As for the King himself, the young man
from the early visions had grown up. He had the broad shoulders and sharp features of his
youth, only now starting to surrender to middle age. Of all present, he was resplendent, and
his blue robes shone among the others. He kept an open-faced helm to one side of his seat, a
great helm with white wings, as if he expected to be called onto the battlefield at any
moment.],

culpable (adj.) – deserving to be blamed or considered responsible for something bad

[He was held culpable (= blamed) for all that had happened.],

dash (n.) – (quick movement) the act of running somewhere very quickly [I made a
dash for the bathroom. There was a mad dash for the exit. As soon as the rain dies down
I'm going to make a dash for it (= run somewhere very fast.) “If I had a silver groat for
every man who has told me that Medivh is mad, I would be richer than I am today,” said
Llane. “He has a plan, young sir. It’s as simple as that. More times than I can count he has
gone off on some mad dash or another, and Lothar here had worried his beard to tatters.
And each time he’s proved to be right. The last time he was here did he not hare off to hunt
a demon, and bring it back within a few hours? Hardly the action of one demon-possessed
to decapitate one of his own.”],

a dash (n.) – (small amount) a small amount of something, especially liquid food, that
is added to something else [Add some butter and a dash of salt. „Cream with your coffee,
Madam?“ „Yes please – just a dash.“ (figurative) A scarf adds a dash of (= a small amount
of) sophistication.],

worry (something) to tatters (id.) – worry overbearingly, excessively,

unwarrantedly over something,

(random cool paragraph) – [“Supposition,” grumbled the king. “No. With respect to
both of you, I do not deny that you saw what you saw. Not even these ‘visions’ of the past.
But I think the Magus is crazy like a fox, and all this is part of some larger plan of his. He
always speaks of larger plans and greater cycles.”],

abiding (adj.) – an abiding feeling or memory is one that you have had for a long time
[My abiding memory is of him in the garden. An abidingb elief. A deep and abiding hatred
of birds. “His Majesty,” grumbled Lothar, “has an abiding faith in the strength of the people
of Azeroth and the thickness of the walls of Stormwind. It doesn’t hurt that he also has
good people who take care of things when he’s wrong.” “Like us,” said Khadgar, grimly.
“Like us,” repeated Lothar.],

slink (v. ) – to walk away from somewhere quietly so that you are not noticed, move
smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, in a stealthy or sensuous manner, come or go
unotrusively or furtively [I tried to slink out of the room so that nobody would see me go.
(disapproving) He usually slinks off (= leaves) at about 3:30. The Champion of Azeroth was
already at the stairs, his huge shoulders tensed, his heavy frame moving with the quiet,
agile grace of a cat, his blade drawn. Garona slunk forward as well, her hand dipping into
her tabbard and coming up with her long-bladed dagger. The heavy blade from Stormwind
clattered against Khadgar’s hip, and he felt like a clumsy creature of stone compared to the
other two. Behind him, more gryphons landed and discharged their warriors. It would have
been easy for him to give up, then, to leave this war to Colonel 186, to slink away in the first
rescue ship to arrive. It would have been easy, and it would have been safest, but Governor-
General Talmar Hanrik prided himself on having the bloodline of heroes.] – synonyms &
related words [creep, sneak, steal, slip, slide, sidle, edge, move furtively, tiptoe,
pussyfoot, pad, skulk, lurk, prowl],

(random cool paragraph) – [Khadgar raised his hands to cast another spell, but
Lothar batted them down. “This is to waste your time and energy,” he said. “It is to delay us.
Head down and find Medivh.” “But they are…” started Khadgar, and the large demon-beast
in the front leapt at them. Lothar took two steps forward and brought up his blade to meet
the leaping beast. As he pulled his blade upward, the runes etched deep into the metal
blazed with a bright yellow light. For a half-second, Khadgar saw fear in the eyes of the
demon-beast. And then the arc of Lothar’s cut intersected with the demon-beast’s leap and
the blade bit deep into the creature’s flesh. Lothar’s blade erupted from the creature’s back,
and he neatly bisected the forward portion of its torso in two. The beast had only a moment
to squeal in pain as the blade pulled forward through its skull, completing the arch. The
smoldering wreckage of the demon-beast, weeping fire and bleeding shadow, fell at
Lothar’s feet.],

drink deep (of) something (id.) – to take in a large amount (of) by or as by

drinking [Garona grabbed Khadgar, and pulled him down the stairs. Behind them, the
soldiers had pulled their blades, as well, and the runes danced in brilliant flames as they
drank deep of the shadows. The young mage and half-orc rounded the curve of the stairs,
and behind them they heard the cries of the dying, from both human and inhuman
throats.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Behind them, there was a rise of voices in argument.
The pair turned away from the parapet and saw that they were outside one of the royal
audience halls, now converted into a coordination center against the assault. A small
model of the city had been laid out on the table, and toy soldiers in the shapes of men and
orcs were scattered around it. There was a constant flow of reports coming in as King
Llane and his advisors hunched over the table. “Breech along the Merchant’s District Wall!”
“More fires in the lower city!” “Large forces massing at the main gates again. It looks like
spellcasters!” Khadgar noted that none of the earlier courtiers were now present, replaced
with grim-faced men in uniforms similar to their own. No sign of Lothar at the table, and
Khadgar hoped he was on the front lines, carrying the battle to the foe. Llane moved with a
deft hand, as if his city was attacked on a regular basis. “Bring up the Fourth and Fifth
Company to reinforce the breech. Get the militia to organize bucket brigades—take the
water from the public baths. And bring up two squads of lancers to the main gate. When
the orcs are about to attack, then launch a sortie against them. That will break the assault.
Bring two mages over from the Goldsmith’s street; are they done there?” “That assault has
been turned,” came the report. “The mages are exhausted.” Llane nodded and said, “Have
them stand down, then, pull back for an hour. Bring the younger mages from the academy
instead. Send twice as many, but tell them to be careful. Commander Borton, I want your
forces on the East wall. That’s where I would hit next, if I were them.” To each commander
in turn, Llane gave an assignment. There was no argument, no discussion, no suggestions.
Each warrior in turn nodded and left. In the end, all that was left was King Llane and his
small model of a city that was now in flames outside his window. The king leaned forward,
resting his knuckles on the table. His face looked worn and old. He looked up and said to
the empty air, “You can make your report now.” The curtains opposite hissed against the
floor as Garona stepped out. The half-orc at Khadgar’s side let out a gasp in surprise.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“No!”shouted Garona, the present Garona, as she

slipped to the floor herself. Suddenly they were back in the false dining hall. The wreckage
of Stormwind was gone and the corpse of the king with it. The half-orc’s tears remained,
now in the eyes of the real Garona. “I’m going to kill him,” she said in a small voice. “I’m
going to kill him. He treated me well, and listened when I talked, and I’m going to kill him.
No.” Khadgar knelt down besides her. “It’s okay. It may not be true. It may not happen. It’s
a vision.” “Its true,” she said. “I saw it and I knew that it was true.” Khadgar was silent for a
moment, reliving his own vision of the future, beneath a red-hued sky, battling Garona’s
people. He saw it and knew it was true as well. “We have to go,” he said, but Garona just
shook her head. “After all this, I thought I found someplace better than the orcs. But now I
know, I’m going to destroy it all.”],

bear (v.) – (bring) (formal) to carry and move something to a place [At Christmas the
family all arrive at the house bearing gifts. Countless waiters bore trays of drinks into the
room. The sound of the ice cream van was borne into the office on the wind. “You idiot!” she
shouted, and leapt on Khadgar bearing him over backward. “You never do that! You hear
me! Do that again and I’ll kill you!”],

rock (v.) – (move) to (cause someone or something to) move backwards and forwards
or from side to side in a regular way; if a person or place is rocked by something such as
an explosion, the force of it makes the person or place shake [He picked up the baby and
gently rocked her to sleep. If you rock back on that chair, you're going to break! The
explosion, whic hrocked the city, killed 300. Khadgar was sprawled on his back, the half-orc
on top of him. He didn’t even see her draw the dagger, but now its blade was resting
against the side of his neck. “You can’t,” he managed with a harsh smile. “I had a vision of
my own future. I think its true as well. If it is, then you can’t kill me now. Same thing applies
to you.” Garona blinked and rocked back on her haunches, suddenly in control again. “So if
I am going to kill the King…” “You’re going to get out of here alive,” said Khadgar. “So am
I.” “But what if we’re wrong,” said Garona. “What if the vision is false?” Khadgar pulled
himself to his feet. “Then you die knowing that you’ll never kill the King of Azeroth.”],

richly (adv.) – richyl decorated, furnished, etc. having a lot of beautiful or expensive
decoration, furniture, etc.; in a very special or valuable way, or in a way that is greater
than usual [The facade of the church is richly decorated in green and white marble. The
cake takes two hours to cook, but your patience will be richly rewarded. She finally
obtained the recognition which she so richly deserved. “Why should I fix it?” said Medivh
with an evil smile. “All goes as planned. The orcs will slay the humans and I will control
them through warlock-chiefs like Gul’dan. I will lead these misshapened creations to the
lost tomb where Sargeras’s body is, protected against demon and human but not against
orc, and my form will be free. And then I can shed this lumpish body and weakened spirit
and burn this world as it so richly deserves.”],

lump together (v.) – to put different items or groups together and regard or treat
them as one single group [People tend to lump turtles and tortoises together, when in fact
they are different creatures. All the children are lumped together in one class, regardless of
their ability.],

lumpish (adj.) – shaped like a lump, lumpy, ill-defined in shape; like lumps, lumpy,
composed of unshaped or mismatched pieces, like a lump, cloddish, dull, slow-witted;
(archaic) without energy, lethargic; awkward, inelegant,

write off someone/something (id.) – (consider unimportant) to decide that

someone or something is not suitable or good enough to be successful [When he lost the
election for governer, some observers wrote him off as a future candidate, but they were
proven wrong. Some,” said Medivh. “Enough to deal with you lesser creatures. Enough to
fool the kings and wizards as to my intent. Medivh is a mask—I have left enough of him at
the surface to display to others. And if in my workings I seem odd or even mad, they write it
off to my position and responsibility, and to the power invested in me by my dear mother.”],

the sum of its parts (n.) – a concept in holism, related to the idea that the total
effectivenss of a group of things each interacting with one another is different or greater
than their effectiveness when acting in isolation from one another [Together, the ant
colony was greater than the sum of its parts. Medivh gave a predatory grin. “I was crafted
first by Magna Aegwynn’s politics to be her tool, and then shaped by demonic hands to be
their tool. Even the Order saw me as little more than a weapon to be used against demons.
And so it not surprising at all that I am nothing more that the sum of my parts.”],

spangle (v.) – to sparkle, flash or coruscate; to fix spangles to, to addorn with small,
brilliant bodies [The spangling stars around Lothar faded, and the Champion took a slow,
firm step forward, then another, then a third, and now Lothar charged forward. As he
charged, the Champion raised his rune-carved blade high. He charged at Medivh, not at
Khadgar. A curse rose in his voice, a curse backed by sorrow and tears.],
(random cool paragraph) – [Now Medivh had recovered himself, and the next blow
landed squarely on a shield of bluish energy, the yellow fires of the sword spattering
harmlessly like sparks. Lothar tried to cut upward, then thrust, then chop again. Each
attack was met and countered by the shield. Medivh snarled and raised a clawed hand,
mystic energy dancing in his palm. Lothar screamed as his clothes suddenly burst into
flames. Medivh smiled at his handiwork, then waved his hand, tossing the burning form of
Lothar aside like a rag doll. “Just. Gets. Easier,” said Medivh, biting off the words and
turning back to where Khadgar had been kneeling.],

burble (v.) – (make sound) to make a low, continuous bubbling sound, like water
moving over stones; (talk) to talk about something continuously and in a way that is not
clear [Except Khadgar had moved. Medivh turned to find the no-longer young mage right
behind him, with the sword Lothar had provided drawn and pressed against the Magus’s
left breast. The runes along the blade glowed like miniature suns. “Don’t even blink,” said
Khadgar. A moment paused, and a bead of sweat trickled down Medivh’s cheek. “So it
comes to this,” said the Magus. “I don’t think you have the skill or the will to use that
properly, Young Trust.” “I think,” said Khadgar, and it seemed that his voice wheezed and
burbled as he spoke, “that the human part of you, Medivh, kept others around despite your
own plans. As a backup. As a plan for when you finally went mad. So your friends could put
you down. So we could break the cycle where you cannot.” Medivh managed a small sigh,
and his features softened. “I never meant to really harm anyone,” he said. “I only wanted to
have my own life.” As he spoke, he jerked his hand upward, his palm glowing with mystic
energy, seeking to scramble Khadgar’s mind as he had Garona’s. Medivh never got the
chance. At the first flinch, Khadgar lunged forward, driving the thin blade of the runesword
between Medivh’s ribs, into the heart.],

(climactic paragraph ) – [Medivh looked surprised, even shocked, but his mouth still
moved. He was trying to say something. Khadgar drove the blade home to the hilt, the tip
erupting from the back of the mage’s robes. The mage sunk to his knees, and Khadgar
dropped with him as well, keeping his hands firmly locked on the blade. The old mage
gasped and struggled to say something. “Thank you,” he managed at last. “I fought it for as
long as I could….” Then the master mage’s face began to transform, the beard turning fully
to flame, the horns sprouting from his brow. With the death of Medivh, Sargeras finally
came fully to the surface. Khadgar felt the hilt of the runeblade grow warm, as the fires
danced along Medivh’s flesh, transforming him to a thing of shadow and flame. Behind the
kneeling, wounded Magus, Khadgar could see the smoldering form of Lothar rise once
more. The Champion stumbled forward, his flesh and armor still smoking. He raised his
runeblade once more, and brought it across in a hard, level swing. The edge of the blade
burst like a sun as it struck Medivh’s neck, and severed the master mage’s head from the
neck in one smooth blow. It was like unstoppering a bottle, for everything within Medivh
rushed out at once through ragged remnants of his neck. A great torrent of energy and
light, shadow and fire, smoke and rage, all spilling upward like a fountain, splashing
against the ceiling of the underground vault, and dissipating away. Within the seething
caldron of energies, Khadgar thought he could make out a horned face, crying in despair
and rage. And when it was over, all that was left was the skin and clothes of the Magus. All
that was within him had been eaten away, and now that his human form had been ripped
asunder, there was no way to contain it. Lothar used the tip of his sword to stir aside the
rags and flesh that had been Medivh and said, “We need to go.” Khadgar looked around.
There was no sign of Garona. The Magus’s head had boiled away all the flesh, leaving only
a glistening red-white skull. The former apprentice shook his head. “I need to stay here.
Attend to a few things.” Lothar growled, “The greatest danger may be passed, but the
obvious one is still there. We have to drive back the orcs and close the portal.” Khadgar
thought of the vision, of Stormwind burning and Llane’s death. He thought of his own
vision, of his now-aged form in final battle with the orcs. Instead he said, “I must bury
what’s left of Medivh. I should find Garona. She couldn’t have gone far.” Lothar grunted an
assent and shambled toward the entrance. At last he turned and said, “It couldn’t have
been helped, you know. We tried to alter it, but it was all part of a larger scheme.” Khadgar
nodded slowly, “I know. All part of a greater cycle. A cycle that now at last may be broken.”
Lothar left the former apprentice beneath the citadel, and Khadgar gathered up what was
left of the physical remains of the Magus. He found a shovel and a wooden box in the stable.
He put the skull and the bits of skin in the box with the tattered remains of “The Song of
Aegwynn,” and buried them all deep in the courtyard in view of the tower. Perhaps later he
would raise a monument, but for the time being it would be best to not let others know
where the master mage’s remains were. After he had finished burying the Magus, he dug
two more graves, human-sized, and laid Moroes and Cook to rest to one side of Medivh. He
let out a deep sigh, and looked up at the tower. White-stoned Karazhan, home of the most
mighty mage of Azeroth, the Last Guardian of the Order of Tirisfal loomed above him.
Behind him the sky was lightening, and the sun threatened to touch the topmost level of the
tower. Something else caught his eye, above the empty, entrance hall, along the balcony
overlooking the main entrance. A bit of movement, a fragment of a dream. Khadgar let out
a deeper sigh and nodded at the ghostly trespasser that watched his every move. “I can see
you, now, you know,” he said aloud.],

more is the pity (id.) – used to express regret about a fact that has just been stated
[The trespasser from the future looked down from the balcony at the no-longer young man
of the past. “How long have you been able to see me?” asked the trespasser. “I have felt bits
of you as long as I have been here,” said Khadgar. “From my first day. How long have you
been there?” “Most of an evening,” said the trespasser in his tattered red robes. “The dawn
is coming up here.” “Here as well,” said the former apprentice. “Perhaps that is why we can
talk. You are a vision, but different than any I have seen before. We can see each other and
converse. Are you future or past?” “Future,” said the trespasser. “Do you know who I am?”
“Your form is different than when I last saw you, you are younger, and calmer, but yes, I
know,” said Khadgar. He motioned toward the three heaps of turned earth—two large and
one small. “I thought I just buried you.” “You did,” said the trespasser. “At least you buried
much of what was the worst about me.” “And now you’re back. Or you will be back,” said
Khadgar. “Different, but the same.” The trespasser nodded. “In many ways, I was never here
the first time around.” “More is the pity,” said Khadgar. “So what are you in the future?
Magus? Guardian? Demon?” “Be reassured. I am a better being than I was,” said the
trespasser. “I am free of the taint of Sargeras thanks to your actions this day. Now I may
deal directly with the Lord of the Burning Legion. Thank you. There cannot be success
without sacrifice.” “Sacrifice,” said Khadgar, the words bitter in his mouth. “Tell me this
then, ghost of the future. Is all that we have seen true? Will Stormwind truly fall? Will
Garona slay King Llane? Must I die, in this aged flesh, in some nether-spawned land?” The
being on the balcony paused for a long moment, and Khadgar feared that he would fade
away. Instead he said, “As long as there are Guardians, there is Order. And as long as there
is Order, the parts are there to be played. Decisions made millennia ago set both your path
and mine. It is part of greater cycle, one that has held us all in its sway.” Khadgar craned
his head upward. The sun was now touching the top half of the tower. “Perhaps there
should not be Guardians then, if this has been the price.” “Agreed,” said the trespasser, and
as the strong light of day began to grow, he began to fade. “But for the moment, for your
moment, we must all play our part. We all must pay this price. And then, when we have the
chance, we will start anew.” And with that the trespasser was gone, the last fragments of
his being swept back into the future by an errant wind of magic. Khadgar shook his aged
head and looked at the three newly-dug graves. Lothar’s surviving men took their dead and
wounded back with them to Stormwind. There was no sign of Garona, and though Khadgar
would search the tower once more, he doubted that she was within. He would take what
books he thought were valuable, what supplies he could, and set protective wards over the
rest. Then he would leave as well, and follow Lothar into battle. Hefting his shovel, he
walked back into the now-abandoned keep of Karazhan, and wondered if he would ever
return.],

leach (v.) – to purge a soluble matter out of something by the action of a percolating
fluid; to part with soluble constituents by percolation; to remove a chemical or mineral
from something such as soil as a result of water passing through it, or to be removed by
this process [As the trespasser spoke a small breeze kicked up, a mere churning of the
leaves, but it was enough to scatter the vision. The no-longer young man broke up and
faded like dying fog, and the no-longer old man watched him go. A single tear ran down the
side of Medivh’s face. So much sacrifice, so much pain. Both to keep the plan of the
Guardians in place, and then so much sacrifice to break that plan, to break the world free
of its lock-step. To bring about true peace. And now, even that was at risk. Now one more
sacrifice would have to be made. He would have to pull the power from this place if he
would succeed in what was to come. In the final conflict with the Burning Legion. The sun
had risen farther now, and was almost to the level of his balcony. He would have to work
quickly now. He raised a hand, and the clouds began to swirl above the peak of the tower.
Slowly first, then more quickly, until the upper ranges of the tower itself were encased
within a hurricane. Now he reached deep within himself, and released the words, words
made up of equal parts regret and anger, words caught within him since the day that his
life ended the first time. Words that laid claim to the whole of that previous life, for good
and ill. Accepting its power, and in doing so, accepting the responsibility for what was done
the last time he wore flesh. The hurricane around the tower howled, and the tower itself
resisted his claim. He stated it again, and then a third time, shouting to be heard over the
winds that he himself had summoned. Slowly, almost grudgingly, the tower gave up its
secrets. The power burned from within the stones and mortars, and leached outward,
channeled by the force of the winds toward the base, toward Medivh. All the visions began
to bubble loose of its fabric, and stream downward. The fall of Sargeras, with its hundreds
of screaming demons, fell in on him, as did the final conflict with Aegwynn and Khadgar’s
own battle beneath the dull red sun. Medivh’s appearance before Gul’dan and the boyish
battles of three young nobles and Moroes breaking Cook’s favorite crystal, all were pulled
into him. And with those visions came memories, and with those memories responsibilities.
This must be avoided. This must never happen again. This must be corrected. So too did the
images and power leach upward from the hidden tower, from the pits beneath the tower
itself. The fall of Stormwind flamed upward at him, and the death of Llane, and the myriad
demons summoned in the middle of the night and unleashed against those in the Order too
close to the truth. All of them fountained upward and were consumed within the form of
the mage standing on the balcony. All the shards, all the pieces of history, known and
unrevealed, spiraled down the tower or rose from its dungeons and flowed into the man
who had been the Last Guardian of Tirisfal. The pain was great, but Medivh grimaced and
accepted it, taking the energy and the bittersweet memories it bore with equal measure.
The last image to fade was the one beneath the balcony itself, an image of a young man, a
rucksack at his feet, a letter marked with the crimson seal of the Kirin Tor, hope in his
heart and butterflies in his stomach. That youth was the last to fade, as he moved slowly
toward the entrance, the magic surrounding his vision, his shard of the past, spiraled
upward, unraveling him and letting the energy pass into the former Magus. As the last bit
of Khadgar fell into him, a tear pooled at the corner of Medivh’s eye. Medivh held both
hands to his chest tightly, containing all that he had regained. The tower of Karazhan was
just a tower now, a pile of stone in the remote reaches, far from the traveled paths. Now the
power of the place was within him. And the responsibility to do better with it, this time.
“And so we start anew,” says Medivh. And with that, he transformed into a raven, and was
gone.],

in the lap of the gods (in.) – used to say that a situation that cannot be controlled
and depends only on good luck [The doctors have done everything possible for him, so his
recovery now is in the lap of the gods.],

veritable (adj.) – used to describe something as another, more exciting, interesting, or

unusual thing, as a way of emphasizing its character [My garden has become a veritable
jungle by the time I came back from holiday. The normally sober menswear department is
set to become a veritable kaleidoscope of color this season. He is a veritable swine. A
veritable feast. A veritable army of helpers. There were not hundreds but thousands
approaching them, a veritable nation, more boats than they had ever seen before! Where
had so many vessels come from?],
wisp (n.) – wisp of cloud/smoke/steam, a small thin line of cloud/smoke/steam; wisp
of hair, grass, etc., a thin, delicate piece of hair, grass, etc. [A blue wisp of cigarette smoke
curled in the air. A few wisps of hay still clung to her skirt. Soft wisps of baby hair. The fog
was rolling back now, the morning sun beating it to thin wisps that faded before the strong
rays, and the villagers could see more clearly.],

have no truck with somebody/something (id.) – to refuse to become involved

with something or someone because you do not approve of it, him, or her [You shouldn't
have any truck with them. They cheat. I've had no truck with them for some time. Marcus
tried not to let his relief show. The wizards of Dalaran were powerful and he had heard the
king treated them as allies and advisers, but for himself Marcus wanted no truck with
magic or its wielders.],

on the threshold of something (id.) – at the start of a new and important time or
development [We are on the threshold of a new era in global retions.],

begrudge (v.) – to feel unhappy because someone has something that you think they
do not deserve; to feel unhappy about spending money on something or spending time
doing something [I don't begrudge him for his freedom. A few short hours later, Lothar
and Khadgar left Southshore, the prince Varian Wrynn beside them, leading threescore
men. Most had chosen to remain behind, either from illness or fatigue or simply out of fear
and shock and a desire to cling to those few survivors from their own land. Lothar did not
begrudge them. A part of him wished he could remain in the small fishing village as well.
But he had a duty to perform. As always. They begrudged every day they had to stay with
their father. She begrudged payinh so much for an ice cream cone. Thank goodness for
Mistress Foxton and her swollen teats. Blackmoore couldn’t conceive of any human female
being willing to suckle an orc, but although the offer had increased his contempt for his
servant and his family, it had also saved Blackmoore’s behind. Which was why he hadn’t
begrudged them baubles, food, and education for their child, even if she was a girl.],

skirt (v.) – to go around the edges of something; be situated along or around hte edge
of; go along or around (something) rather than directly through it; to avoid discussing a
subject or problem, usually because there are difficulties that you do not want to deal
with [He did not go through the city but skirted it. The fields that skirted the highway were
full of cattle. The river valley skirts along the northern slopes of the hills. They are both
skirting the issue. He had carefully skirted round the subject of Elise. Take the road which
skirts (round) the town, not the one which goes through it. “A few days, perhaps a week,”
the wizard replied. “I don’t know this part of the country that well but I remember it on the
maps. We should see the city’s spires in five days at the most. Then we will have to pass
through Silverpine Forest, one of the great wonders of Lordaeron, to skirt Lordamere Lake.
The city stands along its north shore.” The government has been accused of skirting round
the issue of torture.] – synonyms & related words [go round, move round, walk around,
circle, circumnavigate, border, edge, flank, fringe, line, lie alongside, avoid, evade, steer
clear of, sidestep, dodge, circumvent, bypass, pass over, fight shy of, ignore, overlook,
gloss over, fail to mention, duck, duck-shove],

deign to do something (id.) – to do something unwillingly and in a way that shows

that you think you are too important to do it [If she deigns to reply to my letter, I'll be
extremely surprised. Khadgar fell silent again and Lothar studied his companion. He
worried about the young man. When first they’d met he’d been impressed by the wizard’s
composure and easy self-confidence, and astonished at his youth. He had been only
seventeen, little more than a boy, and already a wizard in his own right—and the first
Medivh had ever deigned to accept as an apprentice! Subsequent encounters had shown
him that Khadgar was bright, stubborn, focused, and friendly. He’d found himself liking the
boy, the first time that he’d felt such friendship toward a wizard since—well, since Medivh
himself. But after the events at Karazhan...],

harden your heart (id.) – to make yourself stop feeling kind or friendly towards
someone; to make someone more resistant to something [You've just got to harden your
heart and tell him to leave. Seeing so much suffering for so long hardened his heart. She
hardened her heart against his inevitable pleas.],

hale and hearty (adj.) – (especially of old people) healthy and strong [Her
grandfather was hale and hearty, walking five miles each day before breakfast. The magic
had returned—indeed, in many ways it was far stronger now than before—but his youth
was gone, torn from him long before its time. He was an old man now, at least in
appearance. He still felt hale and hearty, and had as much endurance and strength and
agility as ever, but his face was lined, his eyes deepset, and his hair and fledgling beard a
stark white. Though only nineteen, Khadgar knew he looked three times that and more. He
looked like the man in his vision, the older version of himself he had seen in battle through
the magic of Medivh’s tower. The older man who would someday die beneath a strange red
sun, far from home.],

awhirl (adj.) – whirling, spinning, circling [He could not tell. Khadgar’s mind was awhirl,
as was his heart. And added to all the thoughts of Medivh were more.],

reel/rattle off something (id.) – to say, do something quickly and easily, especially
something that you have learned by memory, quote [He reeled off the names of his
grandchildren. The Hawks reeled off nine straight points.],

reel (v.) – to walk, moving from side to side, looking like you are going to fall; if the
place where you are reels, what you are looking at seems to go round and round in front
of you; if you reel, or your mind or brain reels, you feel very confused or shocked and
unable to act [At closing time he reeled out of the bar and fell down on the pavement. She
hit him so hard that he reeled backwards. „What? How?” He pulled himself up to a sitting
position, though the motion made him reel and break out in a cold sweat. “What has
happened while I slept?” A stone hit his head and the street reeled before his eyes. We were
reeling (in amazement/shock/delight, etc.) from/with the news that we had won all the
money.] – synonyms & related words [stagger, lurch, sway, rock, stumble, totter, wobble,
falter, waver, swerve, pitch, roll; be shaken by, be stunned by, be in shock after, be
shocked by, be numb from, be dazed by, be taken aback by, be staggered by, be aghast at,
be dumbfounded at, be dumbstruck at, be upset by, be bowled over by, feel giddy/dizzy
from, feel confused by],

wrestle with something (id.) – to try to solve a difficult problem or make a difficult
decision [He wrestled with the problem for several weeks, not sure what to do.] –
synonyms & related words [grapple, fight, struggle, wrangle, contend, vie, battle,
combat; scuffle, tussle, jostle, brawl, clash; get to grips, come to grips, scrap],

wrest (v.) – (formal) to get something with effort or difficulty; to violently pull
something away from someone; (archaic) distort the meaning or intepretation of
(something) to suti one's own interests or views [The shareholders are planning to wrest
control of the company (away) from the current directors. He wrested the letter from my
grasp. “Where are you taking me?” he demanded, trying to wrest his arms free. It was no
use, however. Even at full health he would not have been a match for either warrior, and
now he could barely hold himself upright. You appear convinced of my guilt, and wrest
every reply I have made.] – synonyms & related words [wrench, snatch, seize, grab, take
by force, remove by force, force, prise, peel, pluck, tear, rip, heave, twist, tug, pull, jerk,
dislodge; pry, yank],

sordid (adj.) – (dirty) dirty and unpleasant; (immoral) morally wrong and shocking
[There are lots of really sordid apartments in the city's poorer areas. He told me he'd had
an affair but he spared me the sordid details. Durotan died from your scheming, but he will
be the last. And he will be avenged! No more will you rule our people from the shadows! No
more will you control our fate and direct us for your own sordid purpose! Our people will
be free of you!”] – synonyms & related words [sleazy, seedy, seamy, unsavoury, shoddy,
vile, foul, tawdry, louche, cheap, base, low, low-minded, debased, degenerate, corrupt,
dishonest, dishonourable, disreputable, despicable, discreditable, contemptible,
ignominious, ignoble, shameful, wretched, abhorrent, abominable, disgusting, sleazoid;
dirty, filthy, mucky, grimy, muddy, grubby, shabby, messy, soiled, stained, smeared,
smeary, scummy, slimy, sticky, sooty, dusty, unclean, foul, squalid, flea-bitten, slummy,
cruddy, grungy, yucky, icky, crummy, scuzzy, manky, gungry, grotty, bogging, scungy,
besmirched],

with (gay/wild/reckless etc.) abandon (id.) – in a completely uncontrolled way

[We danced with wild abandon. But not Doomhammer. He had refused to follow, carving
his own path with reckless abandon equaled only by his loyalty to their people. Clearly he
had seen what occurred behind the scenes, witnessed what he considered corruption. And
when he had finally seen enough, when he could endure no more, he had acted.] –
synonyms & related words[indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose
oneself to/in; uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition,
unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness],

abandon (v.) – allow oneself to indulge in (a desire or impulse), bask in [She

abandoned herself to his kiss. She abandoned herself to the sensuousness of the music.],

hold someone to something (id.) – to demand that someone act on a promise or

agreement [They're holding him to the exact terms of the contract. Doomhammer nodded,
his snarl fading to a thoughtful frown. “Very well,” he said at last. “You have promised me
warriors who can combat the humans’ magic. I will hold you to that.” Then he turned and
walked away, clearly dismissing him. The orc warriors departed as well, leaving Gul’dan
still on his knees with Cho’gall not far away. The orc warlock thought he heard them
laughing as they left.],

let on (v.) – to tell other people about something that you know, especially when it is a
secret; pretend [I suspect he knows more than he's letting on. Doomhammer had watched
his former chieftain for years and knew the massive orc warrior had been smarter than he
let on. But not smart enough.] – synonyms & related words [reveal, make known, tell,
disclose, mention, divulge, let out, let slip, give away, leak, proclaim, blurt out, expose,
bring to light, uncover, make public; blab, let the cat out of theb ag, give the game away,
sing, squeal; pretend, feign, affect, make out, make believe, simulate, fake],

have a care (id.) – (old-fashioned) used to tell someone to be more careful [“Have a
care, warlock,” Doomhammer replied, his hammer coming up to tap Gul’dan lightly on the
cheek. “Remember what happened to your precious Shadow Council. I can crush your skull
in an instant, and then where will your destiny lie?” He glowered up at the towering
Cho’gall. “And do not think this abomination will save you,” he snarled, raising the hammer
higher and laughing as the ogre mage stepped back, fear washing across both his faces. “I
have felled ogres before, even the gronn. I can and will do so again.” He leaned in close.
“Your goals are no longer important. Only the Horde matters.”],

high spirits (n.) – if someone is in high spirits, they are extremely happy and having a
good time [They'd had a couple of drinks and were in high spirits. His meeting with
Zuluhed had wiped away the sour taste Gul’dan had left in his mouth, and as he stalked
through the streets Doomhammer found his spirits high. His people had achieved a great
victory here and deserved to celebrate. He would let them enjoy themselves for a few days.
Then they would move on to the next target.] – synonyms & related words [liveliness,
vitality, spirit, spiritedness, animation, zest, dynamism, energy, vigour, boisterousness,
bounciness, sparkle, vivacity, buoyancy, cheerfulness, good cheer, good humour, joy,
joyfulness, exuberance, ebullience, verve; joie de vivre, go, pep, oomph, pizzazz, zing, zip,
fizz; ebullient, buoyant, cheerful, sunny, breezy, jaunty, light-hearted, high-spirited,
exhilarated, excited, elated, exultant, euphoric, joyful, cheery, merry, jubilant, sparkling,
effervescent, vivacious, enthusiastic, irrepressible, energetic, animated, full of life, lively,
vigorous, zestful, bubbly, bouncy, peppy, zingy, upbeat, chipper, chirpy, smiley, sparky,
full of beans, peart, gay, gladsome, blithe, blithesome, as merry as a grig, of good cheer],

appreciative (adj.) – showing that you understand how good something is, or are
grateful for something [It's nice to have an appreciative audience. I'm very appreciative of
all the support you've given me. “And he can still call upon ancient pacts for aid,” Terenas
pointed out. “The elves swore to support Thoradin and his line in times of need. They will
still honor that commitment.” That drew appreciative glances and whispers from several,
and Khadgar nodded. Suddenly Lothar was more than just a warrior or even a commander
in their eyes. Now he was a potential ambassador to the elves. And if that ancient, magic-
wielding race chose to ally with them, suddenly the Horde did not seem nearly as
unstoppable.] – synonyms & related words [grateful for, thankful for, obliged for;
indebted for, beholden for; in someone's debt, obligated; supportive, encouraging,
sympathetic, responsive, enthusiastic, sensitive; admiring, approving, complimentary,
flattering, praising, congratulatory, laudatory],

mull something over (id.) – to think carefully about something for a long time [I
need a few days to mull things over before I decide if I'm taking the job. “Agreed,” Terenas
said, not even bothering to ask the others their opinion. “Food has been set out in the
dining hall, and I invite all of you to join me, not as kings but as neighbors and friends. Let
us not discuss this matter over our food, but mull it to ourselves, that we may approach it
more clearly after we have digested both the food and the danger that lay before us.”] –
synonyms & related words [ponder, consider, think over/about, reflect on, contemplate,
deliberate, turn over in one's mind, chew over, weigh up, consider the pros and cons of,
cogitate on, meditate on, muse on, ruminate over/on, brood on, have one's mind on, give
some thought to, evaluate, examine, study, review, revolve, pore on, cerebrate],

slack-jawed (adj.) – with your mouth open in surprise,

disquiet (n.) – (worry) worry [The leader's decline in popularity is causing disquiet
among supporters. Doomhammer had to agree. The one time he had encountered forest
trolls he had been impressed and a little disquieted by their cunning. Though the trolls
were taller than orcs they were leaner and more agile, particularly in the forests, which
made them a significant threat within such places. Crossing the waters to reach this island,
however, did not match what he had seen of their behavior.] – synonyms & related words
[unease, uneasiness, worry, anxiety, anxiousness, distress, concern, unrest, disquietude,
inquietude, perturbation, consternation, upset, malaise, alarm, anguish, fear, fright,
dread, panic, angst; nervousness, agitation, restlessness, fretfulness, jitteriness,
foreboding, trepidation],

malaise (n.) – a general feeling of being ill or having no energy, or an uncomfortable

feeling that something is wrong, especially with society, and that you cannot change the
situation [They claim it is a symptom of a deeper and more general malaise in society. We
were discussing the roots of the current economic malaise.],
glower (v.) – to look very angry, annoyed, or threatening [There's no point glowering at
me like that – you know the rules. Large, black rain clouds glowered (= looked likely to
produce rain) in the sky. Doomhammer nodded and turned back to Rend. “Gather your
strongest warriors,” he instructed. “And quickly. You leave at once.” He glowered at the
Black Tooth Grin leader. “Be clear, however,” he warned, “that this is a raiding party only.
You are to rescue the trolls and bring them back here with you. Avoid being seen as much
as possible, and kill any who do spy you. I will not have our battle plans ruined because you
were careless.”] – synonyms & related words [scowl, glare, stare angrily, look daggers,
frown, lour, give a someone black look, pull a face, give someone a dirty look, give
someone a death stare, glout, glunch; angry stare, black look, death stare],

glunch (v.) – (Scottish) look bad-tempered or depressed,

go agains the grain (id.) – if something goes against the grain, you would not usually
do it because it would be unusual, something untraditional, unbecoming, unseemly, odd,
to defy convention [These days it goes against the grain to show too much respect for
authority. Blackhand had shocked the other orc clans, back on their homeworld, by
declaring his intent to ally with the ogres. It had proven a useful partnership, the
monstrous creatures lending considerable strength to their Horde, but it still went against
the grain. Thus many had been skeptical when they had heard reports of similar creatures
here on this new, lush world—and Blackhand had announced they would win these
creatures to their war banner as well.],

raffish (adj.) – not following usual social standards of behavior or appearance,

especially in a careless and attractive way [He has a certain raffish elegance.] – synonyms
& related words [rakish, jaunty, dapper, dashing, sporty, flashy; unconventional,
bohemian; devil-may-care, casual, careless; louche, disreputable, dissolute, dissipated,
debauched, decadent; flash],

at your wits’ end (id.) – so worried, confused, or annoyed that you do not know what
to do next [She was at her wits’ end trying to figure out how to control her 14-year-old son.
From what Lothar had seen, this continent’s monarchs were experts at the game. And
being forced to deal with them, supposedly as an equal, was driving him to his wit’s end.],

recourse (n. v.) – using something or someone as a way of getting help, especially in a
difficult or dangerous situation; the use of (someone or something) as a source of help in
a difficult situation; the legal right to demand compensation or payment [It is hoped that
the dispute will be settled without recourse to litigation. It was only after Proudmoore and
Trollbane all but accused Graymane of cowardice that the burly man had agreed an army
was their own recourse. A means of solving disputes without recourse to courts of law. The
bank has recourse against the exporter for losses incurred.] – synonyms & related words
[option, possibility, alternative, possible course of action, resort, way out, place/person
to turn to, source of assistance, available resource, hope, remedy, choice, expedient;
refuge; resort to, make use of, use, avail oneself of, utilize, employ, turn to, call on, draw
on, bring into play, bring into service, look to, appeal to; fall back on, run to]

make somebody's blood run cold (id.) – a sound, sight, or thought that makes
your blood run cold frightens you very much [I heard a tapping on the window which
made my blood run cold. They had still been arguing when he had given up and returned to
his rooms late last night. When had they reached an agreement, and what was it about?
But the king’s next words told him clearly, and Lothar’s blood ran cold as he heard the
announcement clearly: “Then I hereby declare the founding of the Alliance of Lordaeron!
We shall stand together as one, as our ancestors did long ago, in the Arathi Empire.” The
others nodded and Terenas continued. “And it is only fitting, then, that our commander
should hail from that ancient ruling stock. We the kings of the Alliance do hereby appoint
Lord Anduin Lothar, Champion of Stormwind, as our Supreme Commander!”],

out of the frying pan into the fire (id.) – said when you move from a bad or
difficult situation to one that is worse, from bad to worse [“Out of the frying pan, eh?” the
young-old mage asked, shaking his head. “And you let them talk you into that. Those clever
bastards! They’d sell their own children if they thought it would win them even a single
acre more to their domains! I particularly liked the way they just assumed you’d accept.
But that’s what happens when you have authority over others—you stop realizing that
anyone else matters, much less has a say in events.”],

beatific (adj.) – appearing happy and calm, especially in a holy way; (christian
tehology) imparting holy bliss[The angels in the painting have beatific smiles. He smiled, a
truly beatific expression. “And as I felt these concerns, an idea appeared to me, as if
brought by the Holy Light itself. There had to be a way to ensure that warriors fought for
the Light and with the Light, using both its gifts and their own martial prowess, and still
behaved in a manner appropriate to the Church’s teachings.”] – synonyms & related
words [rapturous, joyful, ecstatic, seraphic, blissful, serene, happy, beaming, glad;
blessed, blissful, exalted, sublime, joyful, rapt, heavenly, holy, divine, celestial,
paradisical, glorious]

sound somebody out (v.) – to discover informally what someone thinks or intends
to do about a particular thing, so that you can be prepared or take suitable action
[Perhaps you could sound the chairwoman out before the meeting, to see which way she's
going to vote? He and Khadgar spent the next hour or more speaking with the four
potential paladins, and Lothar was pleased to see that his young friend was also sounding
them out. After the holy warriors had left to attend afternoon prayers Lothar turned to the
old-seeming wizard.],

think better of something (id.) – to decide that something is not a good idea [He
considered quitting college but thought better of it. “Uh, thank you,” Rakmar stammered,
his eyes wide. Gul’dan could see that the lesser orc was surprised by his sudden change of
heart, as were the other warlocks behind him. He suppressed a chuckle, simply nodding to
them and turning away. Let them think he had thought better of his outburst, or even that
he had become distracted by something else and forgotten why he had been so angry at
them. Let them think whatever they liked.],

shoulder (v.) – (accept responsibility) shoulder the blame, burden, responsibility, cost,
etc. to accept that you are responsible for something bad or difficult [It is women who
mainly shoulder responsibility for the care of elderly and disabled relatives. Teachers
cannot be expected to shoulder all the blame for poor exam results.],

shoulder (v.) – (body part) to put something on your shoulders to carry it; to push
something with one of your shoulders [Shoulding her pack, she strode off up the road. She
was carrying two suitcases and had to shoulder the door open. He shouldered his way (=
formed a way through by pushing with his shoulders) to the front of the crowd to get a
better look. “Well?” Doomhammer asked as he strode onto the field. “Have you succeeded?”
It did not escape Gul’dan’s notice that the warchief’s words were similar to those he had
shouted at his necrolytes mere days earlier. But this time the answer was very different. “I
have, noble Doomhammer,” he responded, gesturing at the bodies behind him.
Doomhammer shouldered past him to glare at the figures, which lay stretched out upon the
ground.],

rictus (n.) – an expression in which someone shows their teeth in a smile, but looks
strange or in pain rather than looking happy and relaxed [When I mentioned her name,
his wide smile stiffened into a rictus. Gorefiend considered for a moment, glowing eyes
studying the Warchief. At last he nodded. “Gul’dan is correct,” he said finally, his voice
raspy. “I am still an orc, despite this shell. I live for the Horde, and I will serve you and our
people.” It grinned, a horrible rictus. “You killed me but I do not hold that against you, for it
has resulted in this powerful new form. I am well pleased with the trade.” The other bodies
nodded behind him.],

tumult (n.) – a loud noise, especially that produced by an excited crowd, or a state of
confusion, change, or uncertainty [You couldn't hear her speak over the tumult from the
screaming fans. From every direction, people were running and shouting and falling over
each other in a tumult of confusion. The financial markets are in tumult. Doomhammer
allowed the tumult to continue for a moment, accepting this sign of respect and loyalty and
building his people’s fervor to even greater heights. Then he pointed north with his
weapon. “We march!” he bellowed. “And let the humans tremble at our approach!”],

posturing (n.) – behaviour or speech that is intended to attract attention and interest,
or to make people believe something that is not true [His writing has been dismissed as
mere intellectual posturing. Regardless, Khadgar found he was unwilling to play games. He
was tired. He had teleported himself to Dalaran, and while his magic was strong enough to
handle the task it was still a daunting distance. Plus he had been up late discussing matters
with Lothar, planning for their first official strategy session next week. Khadgar
appreciated his former masters’ interest in recent events, and felt they needed to know
what had occurred in Azeroth, but he felt he could do without the posturing and the
performances and the shadow-plays.],

posture (v.) – to put one's body into a posture or series of postures, especially hoping
that one will be noticed and admired; to pretend to have an opinion or a conviction; to
place in a particular position or attitude, to pose [If you're finished posturing in front of
the mirror, can I use the bathroom now? The politicians couldn't really care less about the
issue: they're just posturing for the media. To posture oneself. To posture a model. They
postured as Southern Loyalists to win the support of ex-Confederates. Posture if you must,
Maiev, but for now, do what you do best and follow me.] – synonyms & related words
[display an attitude, display, fake, masquerade, playact, pose, make a show, put on airs,
put up a front, show off, lord it over],

give onto something (id.) – (formal) to open in the direction of something [The
patio doors give onto a small courtyard.],

sleight (n.) – cunning, craft, artful practice; an artful trick, sly artifice, a feat so
dexterous that the manner of performance escapes observation; dexterous practice,
dexterity, skill [Antonidas, seated before Khadgar on an invisible chair, laughed. “Indeed,
youngling, indeed,” he agreed. “This matter is far too serious for such parlor tricks, and you
are no longer a whelp to be fooled and amazed by such sleights. Unveil yourself, my friends,
and let us be to this matter before the night grows older.”],

statuesque (adj.) – a statuesque woman is attractively tall and large [The other two, a
pudgy man and a tall, statuesque woman, Khadgar did not know, though their faces
seemed vaguely familiar. Most likely he had passed them in the halls of the Violet Citadel
back when he had been a student here and had simply not been important enough for them
to address him directly.],

appropriate (v.) – (take) to take something for your own use, usually without
permission [He lost his job when he was found to have appropriated some of the
company's money. But Khadgar had learned a great deal from Medivh during his short
apprenticeship, and had learned more from the books he had appropriated after the
master mage’s death.],

accede to something (v.) – to agree to do what people have asked you to do [He
graciously acceeded to our request. It is doubtful whether the government will ever accede
to the nationslists' demands for independence. “—don’t know how far we can trust him,”
the pudgy man was saying. “He did not seem very eager to accede to our wishes.”],

give someone pause (id.) – to give somebody cause for concern [The first thing
Lothar saw as he peeled back the tent flap and stepped outside were his own troops. Their
army filled the valley and beyond, stretching across the landscape, and for an instant
Lothar felt a rush of pride and confidence. How could anyone, anything, stand against so
mighty a force? But then he saw again in his mind’s eye the Horde washing over
Stormwind, an unstoppable emerald sea, and grew somber again. Still, the Alliance army
was many times larger than Stormwind’s had been. They would at least give the Horde
serious pause.],

somber (adj.) – serious and sad in appearance or feeling; somber colors or clothes are
dark and plain [Raji is in a somber mood today. Koch wore his somber blue suit.],

exertion (n.) – (effort) the use of a lot of mental or physical effort [I got out of breath
with any kind of physical exertion. We were exhausted after our exertions. Lothar nodded.
“We should go and greet them,” he said, and the others all agreed. Together they set out
across the valley. Perenolde and Graymane were not used to such exertion and were
gasping in minutes but the rest were fit and they moved briskly, reaching the docks just as
the first ship glided to a stop beside it.],

inviolate (adj.) – (that must be) not harmed or damaged [For centuries the tomb lay
inviolate until, by chance, it was discovered by two miners. sensed this conflict was far
more serious than my own rulers realized. Such a war could easily spread to us all, and if
the Horde is as vicious as you say our forests will not remain inviolate for long.” She turned
back and met Lothar’s gaze, and he could see that for all her beauty this was a strong
woman used to battle. “We must stop them.”],

singular (adj.) – (noticeable) (formal) of an unusual quality or standard, noticeable [It

was a building of singular grace and beauty. He showed a singular lack of skill in painting.
“We need no rest,” Alleria assured him. “I will send them at once.” She gestured, and the
other elves approached. Each was garbed as she was, and moved as quietly, though to
Lothar’s eyes they lacked her singular grace.],

poise (n.) – calm confidence in a person's way of behaving, or a quality of grace (=

moving in an attractive way) and balance in the way a person holds or moves their body
[He looked embarrassed for a moment, then quickly regained his poise. Her confidence and
poise show that she is a top model. Looking around, he studied the other figures nearby.
Lothar was talking to Uther, and Turalyon envied both men their poise. They looked
slightly impatient but otherwise completely calm. Was that just something you picked up
as you got more experience? Khadgar was looking out over the plain, and must have sensed
Turalyon’s gaze because he turned and gave him a weary smile.],

scared spitless/witless (adj.) – very frightened, terrified [“You’re nervous too?” The
mage grinned. “Scared spitless would be closer,” he revealed. “I have been every time we’ve
been in combat. And it was Lothar who told me, after one encounter, that you should be
scared. Because the man who isn’t afraid gets careless, and that’s when he gets hurt.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [“They are almost ashore,” Alleria reported, her sharp
elven eyes seeing farther than theirs. She turned toward Turalyon. “Best ready your men
for the attack.” Turalyon nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He had seen women before,
of course, and nothing about his Order forbade relationships or even marriage. But the
elven ranger made every other woman he had ever met seem both weak and rough at the
same time. She was so confident, so graceful, and so lovely his mouth ran dry every time he
saw her, and he often found himself trembling and sweating like a horse that had just run a
hard race. And judging by the glint in her eyes and the half-smile when she said anything to
him, Turalyon suspected she knew and enjoyed his discomfort.],

bandy (adj.) – (of legs) bending out at the knees [I couldn't help laughing at his bandy
legs. As they closed the distance Turalyon made out more details. He saw the first of the
ships beach itself, and dark figures swarm over its side, stomping up the rocky beach and
toward the foothills. Even from here he could see they were broadly built, with thick chests
and long, powerful arms, and bandy legs that ate up the distance. They brandished
weapons, axes and hammers and swords and spears. And there were a lot of them.],

bandy around/about (v.) – to mention something a lot, usually without thinking

much about what you are saying [I don't want people bandying my name about in public.],

bandy words (id.) – to argue, especially when this is a waste of time [Don't bandy
words with me.],

bring up the rear (id.) – to be at the back of a group that is going somewhere [You
two go ahead – Sam and I'll bring up the rear. Uther raised his hammer in salute and
wheeled his horse around at once, bludgeoning a path back through the gathering Horde.
Lothar was right behind him and Turalyon brought up the rear, laying about him with
hammer and shield to keep orc hands and weapons at bay.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“By the Light!” Uther was standing near Turalyon and
bristled at the sight. “The fiends! They wield dark magic against us!” He raised his hammer
high, and its head glowed silver like the moon. “Stand fast, soldiers!” he shouted. “The Holy
Light protects you!” The glow spread from the hammer, shining down upon the warriors
and bathing them in its light, and when the cloaked figures raised their hands again the
soldiers winced but did not fall. Then Uther came crashing down upon them, the shield wall
opening long enough to allow him and the other Paladins—including Gavinrad, who Faol
had happily inducted into the order—through. Again Alliance soldiers cheered, heartened
by the Paladins’ surprising skill and power. Turalyon felt torn. As a Paladin his place was
beside them, but as Lothar’s lieutenant his place was here, overseeing the men.],

cow (v.) – to frighten someone into doing something, using threats or violence [The
protestors refused to be cowed into submission by the army. By himself. He had ordered
Alexstrasza and her kin to follow him here, and they had. The rest of the Dragonmaw had
sung Nekros’s praises that day, the orc who had singlehandedly cowed an entire dragon
flight.],
depredation (n.) – (formal) (an act causing) damage or destruction [The entire area
has suffered the depredations of war. Depredation of (= damage tone to) the environment
is destroying hundreds of species each year. But most had accepted. And then they had
changed, growing larger and darker, as if their bodies reflected the taint within. Their
world had suffered depredations as well, the land dying bit by bit and the skies turning red.
The Horde was forced to come to this strange world instead, and they had to conquer it if
they wanted their clans to ever know peace again.],

skim (v.) – (move above) to move quickly just above a surface without touching it; to
throw a flat stone horizontally over water so that it touches and rises off the surface
several times [The birds skimmed (across/along/over) the tops of the waves. Yes, now he
could make out figures traipsing through the forest below. Trolls? They were as green as
the forest trolls his people hated, certainly, their skin blending in among the foliage, but
they walked the ground rather than skimming the branches. We watched a child skimming
stones across the lake.] – synonyms & related words [glide, move lightly, slide, sail, plane,
scud, skate, float, coast, aquaplane, skid; throw, toss, fling, cast, pitch, bounce, skip],

skim (v.) – (consider quickly) to read or consider something quicly in order to

understand the main points, without studying it in detail [I've only skimmed
(through/over) his letters, I haven't read it carefully yet. We've only skimmed the surface of
(= considered a small part of) the problem.] – synonyms & related words [glance through,
flick through, flip through, leaf through, thumb through, read quickly, scan, look through,
have a quick look at, run one's eye over, dip into, browse through],

skim (v.) – (remove) to remove something solid from the surface of a liquid [Strain the
cooking liquid and skim off the fat.] – synonyms & related words [remove ,take off, scoop
off, spoon off, ladle off, cream],

skim (v.) – pass odeal with or treat (a subject) briefly or superficially [She skimmed
over her meeting with Roger – it had suddenly become rather difficult to speak of him.
Hannah had skimmed over this part of the story as she told it to the policeman.] –
synonyms & related words [mention briefly, make only brief mention of, pass over
quickly, skate over, gloss over, skip],

skim somebody/something off (v.) – to choose the best people or things from a
group; to secretly take money that is in your case or that belongs to an organization or
business you work for [They're worried the new school will skim off the brightest students,
leaving the public school to teach the problem kids. He got caught skimming off funds from
the charity.],

tawny (adj.) – of a light yellowish-brown color, like that of a lion [Farand and the others
were circling, their weathered skin blending into the tawny pelts of their mounts, and
Kurdran rose to join them, his braided beard and hair streaming behind him, enjoying the
sensation of flight even under these grim circumstances.] – synonyms & related words
[fair, flaxen, golden, sandy, straw, blond, ocherous, ochreous, ash-blond, blondish,
strawbery-blonde, towheaded, gold, light, white],

unlimber (v.) – (obsolete) to deploy an artillery piece for firing (i.e., to detach it from
its limber); (extension) to clumsily put into employ a large weapon or object [Not that
they’d sit by and let that happen. Kurdran glanced around, and each of his dwarves nodded
in turn. “Good,” he told them, raising his horn to his lips. “Wildhammers, attack!” He blew a
blast on the horn and then slung it back at his side, already guiding Sky’ree into position
with his knees. She responded with a fierce cry of her own, spreading her wings and rising
up before folding them back in for the exhilarating dive. They plummeted down, and as
they did Kurdran unlimbered his stormhammer, raising the massive weapon high.],

clamber (v.) – to climb up, across, or into somewhere with difficulty, using the hands
and the feet [They clambered over/up up the rocks. I clambered into/onto the bus. She
clambered into bed.] – synonyms & related words [scramble, climb, scrabble, move
awkwardly, claw one's way; shin; scale, ascend, mount; shinny],

crow (v.) – (talk proudly) (disapproving) to talk in a proud and annoying way about
something you have done [He's always crowing about his latest triumph. “Ha! That’s
taken ye down a peg!” Kurdran crowed at the fallen creatures. He was on them before they
could realize their mistake, his stormhammer back in his hand, but let Sky’ree finish the
fallen creatures, her powerful front claws laying one low and her sharp hooked beak
tearing apart a second even as her wings stunned a third.] – synonyms & related words
[boast, brag, trumpet, show off, bluster, swagger, swank, gloat, be smug, congratulate
oneself, preen oneself, pride oneself, pat oneself on the back, sing one's own praises;
glory in, exult in, triumph over, parade, flaunt; informaltalk big, blow hard, rub it in, lay it
on thick, shoot one's mouth off, blow one's own trumpet, skite, vaunt, roister,
rodomontade, gasconade],

give (someone or something) a wide(r)= berth (v. id.) – to maintain a good

distance (between things, people, etc.) originally referred to ships; a considerable or
comfortable distance from a person or object, especially for safety or deliberate
avoidance [Our cat always gives the vacuum cleaner a wide berth. He's so obnoxious that
everyone gives him a wide berth. “That’s taught them to look up,” Kurdran pointed out, and
his dwarves laughed. “Back to the Peak then, lads. We’ll send out another team soon to take
out another o’ their little clusters. Mayhap then they’ll learn to give Aerie Peak a wider
berth.”] – synonyms & related words [shun, keep away from, hide out, aplm off, shake
off, keep clear of, stand aloof from ,stay shy of, steer clera of, turn back on, have nothing
to do with, have no part of, give the runaround, get around],

loop (v.) – to make a loop or curve [Loop the rope over the bar. Turn left where the road
loops round the farm buildings. One thought to throw its spear at Lothar but the Champion
was too close by then, and his massive sword swept out, shearing through spear and arm
together, then looping back and removing the orc’s head before its severed arm had even
hit the ground.],

irons in the fire (n.)- tasks in progress, involvement in ongoing projects, may be
used with a positive connotation, e.g. „have other irons in the fire“ (other projects are
available if this one fails“, or with a negative connotation, e.g. „too many irons in the fire“
(overwhelmed by having too many tasks, busy) – synonyms & related words [task,
business, commerce, sale, trade, affairs, concerns, doings, intercourse, matters,
proceedsings, ropes, strings, things, traffic, transactions, truck, wires, balls in air, wire
pulling, prospect, anticipation],

none the wiser (on something) (adj.) – not having learned something after a
possible opportunity to do so, to not understand something, to be none the wiser also
means to not be aware of something [I read the compute rmanual, but I'm still none the
wiser. The health department gave the restaurant a warning, but the customers were none
the wiser. He's very careful, so his victims are none the wiser. They were none the wiser
from their experience. After the lecture, I was none the wiser on the subject.],

corded (adj.) – (figuratively, usually of a muscle or body part) hard, thick and firm,
ropy, strong and toned [Taller and leaner than their Bronzebeard cousins, the
Wildhammers were still shorter and stouter than a man, with heavy chest and thick corded
arms.] – synonyms & related words [fibrous, sinewy, strong, brawny, muscly, well built,
powerfully built, well muscled, burly, strapping, sturdy, rugged, powerful, broad-
shouldered, athletic, well knit, muscle-bound, Herculean, manly, hunky, beefy, husky,
ripped, shredded, buff, jacked, stalwart, thewy, mesomorphic],

brook no something/not brook something (v.) – to not allow or accept

something, especially a difference or intention [She won't brook any criticism of her work.
“No.” The voice was quiet but the tone brooked no resistance. “You’ll not go alone,” Lothar
told her, ignoring her glare. “Turalyon, take the rest of the cavalry and half the troops.
You’re in charge. Khadgar, you go with him. I want the Alliance present to help defend
Quel’Thalas.” He turned back toward Kurdran, who was impressed. This man knew how to
lead! “There will still be orcs here in the forest,” he warned, “and we can’t risk letting them
get behind us as well as before us. We’ll stay and make sure the forest is completely clean,
then we’ll move forward and rejoin the others.”],

brook (n.) – a small stream [I could hear the sound of a babbling brook. Her eyes were
teary before she even opened the window. The light of the moon brought attention to the
brooks streaming down her face, but no one was around to see.],

babble (v.) – (water noise) (literary, of a stream) to make the low, continuous noise of
water flowing over stones [They rested a while by a babbling brook.],
bolt (v.) – (eat/drink) (also bolt down) to eat food very quickly, usually without
chewing [Don't bolt (down) your food like that – you'll get indigestion. Come on, everyone,
bolt your drinks; I want to go to the next pub!] – synonyms & related words [gobble, gulp,
wolf, guzzle, devour, gorge (oneself) on, eat greedily/hungrily; informaltuck into,
put/pack away, demolish, polish off, scoff (down), down, stuff one's face with, pig
oneself on, murder, shovel down; shift, gollop, gorb, scarf (down/up), snarf (down/up),
inhale, ingurgitate],

bunch (something) up (v.) – if a material bunches up, or if someone bunches it up,

it moves into tight folds [Your shirt's all bunched up at the back.],

bunch (v.) – (muscles) flex or bulge [The doors closed, and she cursed, taking the stairs
six at a time, her superior limbs bunching and releasing power.“ No no!” Doomhammer
snatched the axe from the startled warrior, shoving him back. “Do not approach it at an
angle, but straight on,” he instructed. He pulled the axe back, bunching his muscles, and
then swung with all his force, imbedding the axe partway through the trunk.],

wrench (n.) – a sudden, violent twist or pull [Then with a mighty wrench he retrieved
the weapon and struck again in the same spot, deepening the wound. A third blow saw the
axe almost through to the other side, only a small portion of wood and bark remaining.
Doomhammer pulled the axe back, angling it upward as he did so its head pushed upward
on the trunk, and the tree tipped and fell, snapping that remaining section from its own
weight and momentum. The ground shook as the tree hit, and leaves and berries flew
everywhere.],

wrench (v.) – to pull and twist something suddenly or violently away from its position
[The photographer tripped over the cord, wrenching a microphone from its stand. The
phone had been wrenched from/off the wall. The ball was wrenched out of his grasp by
another player. His hands were tied but he managed to wrench himself free.],

ape (v.) – to copy something or someone badly and unsuccessfully [He called the new
building unoriginal and said that it merely aped the classical traditions. “What is it?”
Doomhammer demanded before the chief warlock had reached him. “Something you
should see, mighty Doomhammer,” Gul’dan replied, sweeping into a low bow. Cho’gall
chuckled and aped the gesture behind him. “Something that could aid the Horde greatly.”],

parrot (v.) – to repeat exactly what someone else says, without understanding it or
thinking about its meaning [She doesn't have an original thought in her head – she just
parrots anything that Sara says.],

ditto (v.) – to repeat the aforesaid, the earlier action etc.,

free rein (n.) – the freedom to do, say, or feel what you want [The young film-makers
were given free rein to experiment with new themes and techniques. He deliberately gave
his emotions free rein as he played the sonata. „What do you mean?” Doomhammer
demanded. He knew better than to give Gul’dan free rein. No, he wanted specifics.],

give (something) full play (id.) – to develop something completely [The move from
stage to movies allowed Gildit to give full play to his sense of the fantastic. That's a good
concept, and I think we should give it full play in our new ad campaign.],

sell somebody/yourself/something short (id.) – to not consider someone or

something to be as valuable or good as he, she, or it deserves [Don't sell yourself short –
you've got the skills and the experience. “Stop selling yourself short,” his friend warned.
“You’re a good commander and a noble Paladin, one of the Silver Hand, the finest in
Lordaeron. She’s lucky to have you.”],

put yourself across (id.) – to express your ideas and opinions clearly so that people
understand the mand realize what you are like as a person [I don't think I managed to
put myself across very well in my interview.],

outpouring (n.) – an expression of strong feeling that is difficult to control [His death
at the age of 90 has occasioned an outpouring of grief. Turalyon believed in the Holy Light,
of course. He had since he was a small child, and serving in the priesthood had brought him
closer to that glorious presence. But he had never felt it directly, not its full strength, just
glimmers of its attention or the outpouring of its effect on another. And after seeing the
Horde, and facing them in battle, he found his faith weaker than ever.],

badger (v.) – to persuade someone by telling them repeatedly to do something, or to

question someone repeatedly [Stop badgering me – I'll do it when I'm ready. She's been
badgering me into doing some exercise. Every time we go into a shop, the kids badger me to
buy them sweets. Turalyon had been nervous enough about taking command, but Alleria’s
constant badgering had made it ten times worse. He felt like he was under constant
scrutiny, and like every decision earned her further disapproval.] – synonyms & related
words – [nag, bother, annoy, goad, harass, heckle, hound, pester, tease, torment, bait,
bug, harry, hassle, nudge, insist on],

mill around/about (v.) – (usually of a group of people) if a group of people mill

around, they move around with no particular purpose or in no particular direction,
sometimes while waiting for someone [In the square, people were milling around in the
sunshine. Its twin heads were bare, however, and glared down at the men and orcs milling
before it. The hammer swept down as well, crushing two men in a single blow, and then
swept to one side, knocking four more soldiers from their feet and tossing them several
yards away.] – synonyms & related words [throng, swarm, seethe, crowd, stream, surge],

fan out (v.) – if a group of people fan out, they move in different directions from a
single point [Both armies began to fan out, the Alliance forces retreating slightly so they
would have room to move. The Horde clearly took this as a sign of defeat, because a cheer
went up among the orcs.] – synonyms & related words [disperse, break up, disband,
scatter, separate, spread, scramble, split up, take off in alldirections],

divvy something up (v.) – to share something between a number of people [They

haven't yet decided how to divvy up the proceeds from the sale.] – synonyms & related
words [allocate, share, split, apportion, cut up the pie, dole out, mete out, go halves],

whoop (v.) – to give a loud, excited shout, especially to show your enjoyment of or
agreement with something [The audience was hooping and clapping. “Yes!” Kurdran
whooped, catching his hammer as it returned and nudging Sky’ree up for another diving
charge. “That’s showed ’em, my beauty! It don’t matter how big they are, the Wildhammers
can bring ’em low!” He raised his hammer high and let out a loud whoop as he rose into the
sky, his gryphon easily slipping past another brute’s clumsy overhand swipe.] – synonyms
& related words [bellow, cheer, holler, shout, yell, hurrah, scream yourself hoarse,
scream your head off,],

mirage (n.) – an image produced by very hot air, of somethng that seems to be far
away but does not really exist; (literary) a hope or wish that has no chance of being
achieved [Electoral victory is just a distant mirage. The heat was intense, sapping every bit
of moisture instantly, and the forest seemed to waver like a mirage in the sun’s glare.] –
synonyms & related words [delusion, fantasy, hallucination, illusion, phantasm],

feel for somebody (v.) – to experience sympathy for someone [I know she's unhappy,
and I feel for her. But the old-seeming mage shook his head sadly. “There’s too much fire for
me to combat it all,” he explained softly. “And I’ve already drained myself for the day
summoning that storm earlier.” He said the last part bitterly, and Turalyon felt for his
friend. It wasn’t Khadgar’s fault that he’d put out the first wave of fires only to have these
far worse blazes appear now.],

blanket (adj.) – including or affecting everythng, everyone, or all cases, in a large

group or area [A blanket ban. „Man“, as a blanket term for both men and women, is now
considered sexist.] – synonyms & related words [absolute, across-the-board, sweeping,
wide-ranging, all-inclusive, overall],

blanket (v.) – to cover something completely with a thicker layer [Outside the fields
were blanketed infog. “From Lordaeron they could spread down across the rest of the
continent,” Alleria pointed out. “And if they left a force here they would have two points of
origin. They could blanket the land with orcs in weeks.”] – synonyms & related words
[bury, coat, envelop, obscure, surround, cloak, eclipse, overlay, paint, smear, stain,
enamel, spread],

cold (adv.) – with finality [I knocked him out cold. “How did this happen?” he demanded
of Morev, who had stepped out as well and was staring at the sight, his mouth open. “They
must have come through Alterac—why did Perenolde not stop them cold?”],
nothing (else) for it (id.) – (often followed by but) no alternative, nothing else to be
done or have recourse to [“Assemble the troops,” he instructed his startled guards. “We
are going to Alterac.” “But, sire,” his guard captain replied, “we’ve already sent half our
troops out with the main Alliance army!” Trollbane frowned. “Well, there’s nothing for it.
Grab everyone you can find.” “Are we lending them aid, sire?” one of the nobles asked. “In a
manner of speaking,” Trollbane replied, hefting his axe again and grinning at the man. “In
a manner of speaking.”],

rove (v.) – to move, travel, or look around an area, especially a large one; travel
constantly without a fixed destination, wander; travel for one's work, having no fixed
base [His eye/gaze roved hungrily about the room. He spent most of his life roving the
world in search of his fortune. “Is that the last of them, sir?” one of his soldiers asked. “I
don’t know, son,” Lothar replied honestly, his eyes still roving the trees. “I hope so, but I
wouldn’t count on it.”. He spent most of the 1990s roving about the Caribbean. For ten
years I roved about. Children roving the streets. He trained as a roving reporter.] –
synonyms & related words [drift, meander, move, prowl, ramble, range, roam, straggle,
stray, stroll, gad, gallivant, wander, go hither and thither, maunder, range, travel about,
stravaig, streel, vagabond, circumambulate, peregrinate],

stravaig(e) (v.) – (Scottish, Irish) wander about aimlessly [Stravaiging about the
roads.],

streel (v.) – (Irish) wander aimlessly; trail or drag (something) [Youngsters streeling
through the house. Children streetling bits of colored cloth.],

streel (n.) – a disreputable, untidy person, especially a woman [Her daughter will not
appear in St John's looking like a streel.],

peregrinate (v.) – (archaic, humorous) travel or wander from place to place [We
peregrinated over Stanmore, and visited the Castles of Bowes and Brougham.],

maunder (v.) – move or act in a dreamy or idle manner [He maunders through the
bank, composing his thoughts. She maundered across the road.] – synonyms & related
words [wander, drift, meander, amble, dawdle, potter, straggle, mooch],

maunder (v.) – talk in a rambling manner [Dennis maundered on about the wine. He
maundered on about his problems.] – synonyms & related words [ramble, prattle, prate,
blather, blether, blither, drivel, rattle, chatter, jabber, gabble, babble; slabber, gab, yak,
yackety-yak, yabber, yatter, rabbit, witter, waffle, natter, chunter, twaddle, clack],

gadabout (n.) – (humorous) someone who restlessly moves from place to place
seeking amusement or the companionship of others, and does not worry about other
things they should be doing [Where have you been, you young gadabout!] – synomyms &
related words [rover, gallivanter],
gadfly (n.) – (insect) a fly that bites horses and cows; (annoying person) someone who
is always annoying or criticizing other people [They have been accused of being a party of
cranks and political gadfies.],

prod (v.) – to push something or someone with your finger or with a pointed object; to
encourage someone to take action, especially when they are being slow or unwilling [I
prodded her in the back to get her attention. She prodded the cake with her fork to see if it
was cooked. He prodded at the fish with his fork a few times, but he didn't eat a mouthful.
He gets things done, but only after I've prodded him into doing them.] – synonyms &
related words [nudge, press, dig, elbow, jab, prick, push, shove goad, motivate, prompt,
propel, provoke, spur, stimulate, exhort, goose, impel, instigate, pique, prick, push, rouse,
spark, trigger, egg on, stir up],

prod (v.) – stimulate or persuade (someone who is reluctant or slow) to do something

[They attempted to prod the central bank into cutting interest rates. The campaign was
intended to prod the government into action. Nevertheless,’ said the colonel, ‘necron
casualties were particularly heavy in the last hour of fighting. I have congratulated Colonel
42 on a battle well won.’ ‘What about our side?’ asked Hanrik. ‘What casualties did we
take?’ ‘Those figures are not yet available,’ said the colonel. ‘Best estimate?’ Costellin
prodded him. ‘We lost something in the region of eighteen hundred men.’ Costellin whistled
through his teeth. ‘More than a third of the 42nd’s remaining complement. I suggest we
pray the necrons don’t return in a hurry.’] – synonyms & related words [spur, stimulate,
stir, rouse, prompt, drive, push, galvanize, move, motivate, encourage, persuade, urge,
chivvy, impel, actuate, incite, goad, egg on, provoke],

egg somebody on (id. ) – to strongly encourage someone to do something that might

not be a very good idea [Don't egg him on! He gets himself into enough trouble without
your encouragement.],

mesh (v.) – (suit) when different things or people mesh, they suit each other or work
well together [The members of the team just didn't mesh. I need a job that meshes with my
family life, as I have two little kids.] – synonyms & related words [coincide, coordinate,
click, fit, harmonize, knit, agree, come together, fit together, dovetail],

dovetail (v.) – to cause something to fit exactly together [Their results dovetail nicely
with ours. We tried to dovetail our plans with theirs.] – synonyms & related words [joint,
join, fit together, link, interlock, splice, mortise, tenon, fit in, go together, be consistent,
agree, accord, concur, coincide, match, fit, be in agreement, conform, equate, harmonize,
fall in, be in tune, correlate, correspond, tally; square, jibe, quadrate],

mortise (n.) – a hole or recess cut into a part which is designed to receive a
corresponding projection (a tenon) on another part so as to join or lock the parts
together [A mortise and tenon joint.],
mortise (v.) – join securely, by using a mortise and tenon; cut a mortise in or through
[The top plate of the rudder assembly can be mortised to the top of the rudder post. The
mortised parts.],

in/out of keeping (with something) (id.) – suitable or not suitable for a

particular situation [In keeping with tradition, they always have turkey on Christmas Day.
The modern furniture was out of keeping with the old house.],

elicit (v.) – to get or produce something, especially information or a reaction [Have you
managed to elicit a response from them yet? The questionnaire was intened to elicit
information on eating habits. They were able to elicit the support of the public. Lothar
nodded, still digesting the information he had just received. “The Horde has made its way
to Lordaeron,” he said softly, eliciting a gasp from several soldiers. “They are probably
attacking the capital even now.”] – synonyms & related words [draw out, bring out,
evoke, extort, extract, obtain, wrest, bring forth, call forth, give rise to, educe],

educe (v.) – to obtain information; to develop something or make it appear [The

government is not relying on any evidence educed from this process. Experience empowers
students by educing the power that they already possess.],

stray (n.) – (figuratively) one who is lost, either literally or metaphorically [His men
nodded, though they did not look pleased about the prospect of wandering the woods
seeking strays while their friends and families faced the rest of the Horde alone. Lothar
could hardly blame them. “Turalyon and the rest of the Alliance army are already on their
way,” he assured them, making several warriors look up hopefully. “He will come to the
city’s aid.” He gripped his sword tightly. “And when we are done here we will march to
Capital City and mop up any orcs that have fled his attack.],

countermand (v.) – to change an order that has already been given, especially by
giving a new order; to recall a person or unit from such an order; to prohibit, to forbid;
to oppose, to revoke the command of [I told Perenolde we should abide by our oaths to the
other nations, but he countermanded that. I have sworn fealty to him, and I must obey. Plus
I thought he might be right, that this might be our only chance for survival.”] – [override,
annul, cancel a command, recall, repeal, rescind, retract, reverse, revoke],

dispassionate (adj.) – able to think clearly or make good decisions because of not
being influenced by emotions [In all the media hysteria, there was one journalist whose
comments were clear-sighted and dispassionate. It is not too late to aid them.” “No, you’re
right,” Turalyon admitted, shoving his disappointment aside and studying the situation
more dispassionately. “This battle is not yet lost, and with our aid Capital City will not
fall.”] – synonyms & related words [sober, unbiased, unemotional, aloof, calm, collected,
composed, cool, indifferent, objective, serene, temperate, unmoved, unruffled],
alight (v.) – (formal) (get out of) to get out of a vehicle, especially a train or bus [The
suspect alighted from the train at Euston and proceeded to Heathrow. Visitors should
alight at the Fort Road stop. He was the only passenger to alight from the train.] –
synonyms & related words [get off, step off, get down, dismount, disembark, descend,
exist, detrain, deplane, pile out]

alight (v.) – (land on) – (formal) to land on something; (literary) to find or

unexpectedly see something [A butterfly alighted gently on the flower. As she glances
round the room her eyes alighted upon a small child. I spent an hour in the bookshop
before alighting on the perfet present. Khadgar, sitting his horse on Turalyon’s other side,
grinned at the three of them. “I can get across,” he assured them, laughing at their
expressions. “With a little help,” he added, glancing at a short, tattooed figure who had
alighted on the rocks beside them.] – synonyms & related words [descend, disembark, get
off, perch, touch down, debark, dismount, settle, come down, land, come down, come to
rest, touch down, light, arrive, roost, sit],

rue the day (n.) – to feel very sorry about an event [She'll rue the day (that) she bought
that house. “Come,” Terenas told him. “My servants will see to the gryphon—they will get it
water, and I am sure we can find something for it to eat. Let us talk about what Sir
Turalyon thinks we should do next, and how we can make these foul orcs rue the day they
dared raise arms against our city.”] – synonyms & related words [bemoan, deplore,
lament, repent, regret, ache (for), bewail, grieve (for), mourn, sorrow (for), be sorry
about, feel contrite about, feel apologetic about, feel remorse about/for, be remorseful
about, rue, repent (of), feel repentant about, be regretful at/about, have a conscience
about, blame oneself for, mourn, feel grief at, weep over, sigh over, fret about, pine over,
feel sad about ,be regretful at/about, lament, feel sorrow at, be upset/disappointed
about],

give way (to something) (id.) – to break, especially when under pressure from
strong forces; to stop arguing or fighting against someone or something [Because of an
unusually strong current, the bridge's central support gave way, tipping a coach into the
river. Neither of them will give way, so they could be arguing for a very long time. Don't
give way to your fears. “The gates are starting to give way!” Terenas shook his head as if
that would make the cry go away.] – synonyms & related words [break, cave in, crumple,
shatter, topple, bend, exhaust, succumb, wilt, yield, give in, keel over, lose faith, lose
heart, relinquish, despond, resign, weasel out, turn yellow, wiggle out, worm out, back
down, back out, get cold feet, go back on, have no stomach for, chicken out],

batter (v.) – to hit something with force many times [He was battered to death with a
rifle but. He was battering (at/on) the door with his fists and howling. The waves battered
against the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. The burglars had battered down the door of the
house (= hit it so hard that it broke and fell down). If only the ogres were here,
Doomhammer thought yet again, leaning on his hammer and watching his followers strike
yet again at the city’s sturdy wood and iron gates. They would have been able to scale the
walls and perhaps even batter holes in the thick stone with their clubs.] – synonyms &
related words [bash, beat, bruise, buffet, clobber, cripple, crush, demolish, destroy, lash,
mar, pelt, pummel, punish, shatter, smash, wallop, wreck, lacerate, mangle, maul, pound,
thrash],

lambaste (v.) – to criticize someone or something severely [His first novel was well and
truly lambasted by the critics. They lambasted the report as a gross distortion of the truth.
The manager fiercely lambasted his team.] – synonyms & related words [criticize,
castigate, chastise, censure, condemn, take to task, harangue, attack, rail at, rant at,
revile, fulminate against, haul/call over the coals; upbraid, scold, reprimand, rebuke,
chide, reprove, admonish, berate; rap someone's knuckles, slap someone's wrist, lay
into, pitch into, tear into, lace into, dress down, give someone a dressing-down, carpet,
tell off, bawl out, tick off, have a go at, slag off, chew out, reprehend, excoriate,
objurgate],

flick (v.) – to move or hit something with a short sudden movement [He carefully flicked
the loose hairs from the shoulders of his jacket. She quickly flicked the crums off the table.
Horses flick their tails to make flies go away. Windscreen wipers flick from side to side. The
boys ran around the swimming pool, flicking each other with their towels. The lizard
flicked out its tongue at a fly. His eyes flicked between her and the door. Every time you
turn your head, your hair flicks my face. She sat in the waiting room, flicking her fingers
nervously. Torgus was still awaiting an order, but both of them turned as another orc came
running up. It was Tharbek, Doomhammer’s young Blackrock second, and he stopped just
beyond the dragon’s tail, which was flicking in annoyance.] – synonyms & related words
[flip, snap, tap, dab, flicker, hit, pat, tip, touch lightly, click, jerk, pull, tug, tweak, yank,
swish, twitch, wave, wag, waggle, shake, whip, twirl, swing, brandish],

weigh on (id.) – to cause problems for something such as a market, share, or mind,
usually causing it to fall [But that was not the only matter weighing on him. Gul’dan’s
treachery was bad enough, but he had taken other orcs with him.] – synonyms & related
words [annoy, appall, bedevil, beset, besiege, frighten, hound, inhabit, obsess, permeate,
pervade, plague, terrify, terrorize, torment, trouble, worry, agitate, agonize, disquiet,
dwell, float, harass, harrow, intrude, madden, pester, rack, vex, prey on, stay with],

tang (n.) – biting taste or odor, strong, sharp taste or smell [Gul’dan leaned out over the
prow and sniffed the sea air. He closed his eyes and allowed his mystical senses dominance,
questing with his mind for the distinctive tang of magic. It hit him almost at once, so strong
he could taste it like the metallic flavor of fresh blood, so powerful it made his skin tingle
and his hair crackle. The tang of the sea air.] – synonyms & related words [aroma, bite,
flavor, piquancy, pungency, reek, savor, scent, smack, smell, twang],

leaden (adj.) – (grey) (literary) dark grey; dull, heavy, or slow[Leaden skies. At last, as
the sky overhead shifted from swirling crimson to a mere leaden gray and the waves
dropped to heights only as great as a tall ship’s mast. His eyelids were leaden with sleep. He
levered himself up from the armchair, his eyes leaden with sleep. On leaden feet, he moved
back to the staircase.] – synonyms & related words [dull, heavy, weighty, listless, lifeless,
inactive, inert, sluggish, heavy, lumbering, plodding, cumbersome slow, torpid, labored,
grey, greyish, grey-coloured, black, dark, ashen; cloudy, gloomy, overcast, sombre, dim,
sunless, starless, louring, oppressive, threatening, dreary, dismal, dingy, bleak, dull,
murky, sullen, cheerless, depressing, tenebrous, Cimmerian, caliginous],

festoon (v.) – to decorate a room or other place for a special occasion by hanging
colored paper, lights, or flowers around it, especially in curves [The hall was festooned
with Christmas lights and holly. Entering cautiously, Gul’dan created a globe of green light
to better see his surroundings. The halls and rooms here were as altered as the building’s
exterior, the floors coated with sand and grit and seaweed, the walls festooned with more
weeds and with shells of various sorts and sizes. Even the doorways had been altered, their
outlines smoothed and rounded and distorted by the creatures that had clung to them for
all these long years.] – synonyms & related words [decorate, adorn, deck, bedeck, drape,
hang, trim, garnish, wreathe],

frippery (n.) – a silly decoration or other unnecessary object [Fashion fripperies. t was
one of the only places in the entire temple that was unadorned, and its stark simplicity
gave it a grandeur the statues and carvings had lacked. Clearly, it said, here was a place
too important for such fripperies.] – synonyms & related words [waste, nonsense
decoration, bauble, flashiness, frill, gaudiness, knickknack, tawdriness, showiness,
fanciness, fandangle],

repetitious (adj.) – filled with unnecessary and boring things expressed or happening
in the same way many times [The movie got a little repetitious after the third car chase.
Gul’dan stopped speaking to listen carefully. What was that sound? It was faint, and
repetitious, and made his skin crawl, but it carried both cruelty and—amusement?] –
synonyms & related words [wordy, tedious, boring, redudant, repetitive, long-winded,
plangent, pleonastic, resonant, tautological, verbose, windy, prolix, iterant, echoic,
iterative, alliterative, dull]

have a fit (id.) – have a sude nattack of uncontrolled movement [Derek Proudmoore
glanced up from where he stood beside his pilot. “What was that?” he asked the lookout,
but the man had fallen back into the crow’s nest and appeared to be shaking too badly to
respond. Afraid the man had had some sort of fit, Derek grabbed the nearest rigging and
swung himself up and over to the central mast. From there he caught the central rigging
line and scaled it to the main spar, which he walked to the crow’s nest.],

implicitly (adv.) – (in indirect way) in a way that is usggested but not communicated
directly; (completely) completely [The report implicitly questioned his incompetence. He
feels secure only with associates who obey him implicitly. “What is it?” Derek climbed over
the side and into the crow’s nest proper, crouching beside the sailor. He had known Gerard
for years and trusted the man implicitly. But now that he was here he could see that Gerard
was not sick at all. He was terrified, scared beyond any ability to speak. And the thought of
a brave sailor, a veteran of many battles, being that frightened sent a chill down Derek’s
spine.] – synonyms & related words [essentially, completely, inherently,
unquestioningly, unreservedly],

tack (v.) – (boat) (of a boat) to turn so that it is at an angle to the direction of the wind
and receives the wind on its sail [His men nodded, and jumped to obey his orders. Sails
were furled as the ship turned and tacked into the wind.],

tufted (adj.) – with, or made of, a tuft or tufts [The futed duck. Tufted carpet. These were
considerably smaller than the dragon, perhaps twice the size of a man, with long feathered
wings and long tufted tails and proud beaks.] – synonyms & related words [feathery,
feathered, comose],

list (v.) – (lean) (of a ship) to lean to one side, especially as a result of damage [The
tanker is listing badly and liable to sink at any moment. His dragon roared in surprise and
rage, audible even over the fading thunderclap, but the sound turned to squeals of pain as
Sky’ree’s sharp claws cut deep into the dragons’ flank, slicing neatly through scales and
drawing dark blood. Iomhar was beside him, and his own gryphon tore a large chunk from
the dragon’s left wing with beak and claws, causing the dragon to list dramatically.],

glum (adj.) – disappointed or unhappy, and quiet; if a place is glum, it is not attractive
and has nothing that causes pleasure [You look glum. What's up? He's very glum about the
company's prospects. They live in one glum little room. “We cannot fight them. Not with
our full force.” Doomhammer stared at Kilrogg as the older chieftain shook his head, his
face glum but resolute. “What? Why not?” Doomhammer demanded. “The dwarves,”
Kilrogg replied curtly.],

truth to tell (id.) – actually, frankly, as a matter of fect [“I had a lot of help,” Turalyon
protested, pleased but discomfited by his hero’s praise. “And, truth to tell, I’m not entirely
sure what happened.” He and Lothar sat down again, the older man gratefully accepting
some food and a wineskin from Khadgar, and Turalyon explained.] – synonyms & related
words [truth be told, if truth be told,

wind down (id.) – to gradually relax after doing something that has made you tired or
worried [When he goes on holiday, it takes him the first couple of days just to wind down.
Turalyon nodded, imagining how his zealous fellow Paladin would react to discovering he
had missed the end of the war. And though the orcs were still numerous it felt as if the war
was winding down.] – synonyms & related words [wrap up, drop the curtain, come to an
end, conclude, slow down, die down],

favor somebody (with something) (id.) – to be polite and kind enough to give
something to someone [I've no idea what is happening – David has not favored me with an
explanation. For me, I need sleep,” he explained, sounding a little annoyed at himself. “It
was a long ride, and I’m not as young as I was.” But he favored Turalyon with a serious
glance before turning away. “You’ve handled yourself and the troops well was I was gone,”
he said. “As I knew you would.” Lothar paused, and a look of mixed sorrow and respect
crossed his face. “Llane,” he said softly. “You remind me of him. You have his courage.”
Turalyon stared, unable to respond. Why thank you, Skench, Davir said, favouring the one-
armed cook with his most irritating smile.] – synonyms & related words [give, present,
hand, help, yield, contribute, treat, distribute, hand over, part with, lavish, force
on/upon, dole out, inundate, invest with],

crease (v.) – (also wrinkle) if cloth, paper, etc. creases, or if you crease it, it gets a line
in it where it has been folded or crushed [The seat belt has creased my blouse. It's a nice
dress, but it creases very easily. Doomhammer felt a smile crease his face, and exulted in it.
These were his people! They would not go down sniveling and pleading! If they fell, it would
be in battle, and with blood on their hands.] – synonyms & related words [crinkle, pleat,
pucker, wrinkle, crimp, crumple, purse, ruck up, pleat, bend, crimp, cockle, pucker],

ruck (sth) up (v.) – if material rucks up, it forms a lump (= mass) or folds, and if
something rucks it up, it pushes the material into a lump or folds [The blankets had
rucked up around his feet.],

crush (n.) – (press) a crowd of people forced to stand close together [I had to struggle
through the crush to get to the door. uk You can come in our car, but it'll be a bit of a
crush (= there will be a lot of people in it).] – synonyms & related words [horde, throng,
drove, gathering, huddle, jam, press, tumult, bunch, mass, mob, swarm, host, pack],

lay open (v.) – (military) to move (a weapon or blow, for example) in the direction of
someone or something [A gasp escaped Turalyon as pieces of the legendary sword fell to
the ground. And Doomhammer’s blow, now unimpeded, continued its glittering downward
arc, striking the top of Lothar’s helm with a sickening crunch. The Lion of Azeroth swayed,
bringing his ruined sword down reflexively, and laid open Doomhammer’s chest with the
jagged half-blade before collapsing himself. There was utter silence as both sides stopped
fighting and stared at the Alliance commander splayed upon the ground, his body
twitching as the life fled him. And then nothing moved save the pool of blood spreading
rapidly from beneath his ruined head.],

click into place (id.) – become suddenly clear and understandable [“N O!” The word
burst from Turalyon’s lips as he shoved through the crowd and dropped to his knees beside
the dead body of his hero, his mentor, his commander. Then his gaze switched to the orc
towering above him, and something within him clicked into place.],

galvanize (v.) – to cause someone to suddenly take action, especially by shocking or

exciting them in some way [Lothar’s death had shocked everyone, but it had also
galvanized them. Men who had been weary were now focused, hard, and resolute. They had
all taken the loss of their commander personally, and seemed determined to avenge his
death. And they all accepted Turalyon as his chosen successor, especially those who had
followed him to Quel’Thalas and back.],

igneous (adj.) – (of rocks) formed from magma (= very hot liquid rock that has cooled)
[„I don’t understand,” the mage commented, crouching to study the ground. “This should all
be marsh! It should be just like what we’ve already been through, soggy and filthy and
smelly.” He tapped the hard red stone before him and frowned. “This is definitely not right.”
“It looks almost igneous,” said Brann Bronzebeard, who stood beside him. The dwarves had
insisted on accompanying them the rest of the way, and Turalyon had been glad for both
their battle prowess and their company.],

bluff (adj.) – direct or too honest, often in a way that people find rude [Despite her bluff
manner, she's actually a very kind woman. He found he liked the two brothers, with their
bluff good cheer and their equal appreciation for a good fight, a good ale, and a fine
woman.],

careen (v.) – to go forward quickly while moving from side to side [The driver lost
control of his car when the bareks failed, and it went careening down the hill. Now!”
Turalyon shouted, and he leaped over the edge of the cliff and slid down the long slope,
landing almost on top of several orcs sitting there. Lothar’s sword stabbed forward,
impaling one orc on its jagged half-length, and then Turalyon’ hammer struck another orc,
crushing his skull and sending him careening into the first, who fell free of the sword and
toppled to the ground.],

stalk (v.) – (walk) to walk in an angry or proud way; pursue or approach stealthily;
(literary) move silently or threateningly through (a place) [She refused to accept that she
was wrong and stalked furiously out of the room. Then Uther and the rest of the Paladins
were there as well, flanking Turalyon as he stood and stalked toward the other orcs, and
the rest of the Alliance was right behind them. The tiger stalks the jungle. Another Krieg
Guardsman, taller and thinner than most, stalked the skyway, examining the fallen,
dispensing medical care to a handful of survivors. Scuttling about him were a pair of
servitors, who carried supplies for him and were also laden down with spare hellguns.] –
synonyms & related words [creep up on, trail, follow, shadow track down, go after, be
after, dog, hound, course, hunt, pursue, chase, give chase to, run after, tail, strut, stride,
march, flounce, storm, stomp, sweep, swagger, prance]

backdrop (v.) – a large piece of cloth with buildings, countryside, etc. painted on it,
hung at the back of a stage during a performance; the view behind something; the
general situation in which particular events happen [The mountains form a dramatic
backdrop to the little village. Their love affair began against a backdrop of war. “I think
not,” Turalyon replied, his words ringing across the valley. Against the backdrop of the
portal’s swirling energy he glowed a brilliant white, small and piercing. “Your leader is
captured, your army destroyed, your clans in disarray, and what remains of your Horde
gathered here in this one valley, which we have surrounded.” He raised both hammer and
sword. “Face me, if you dare. Or turn and flee back to your own world and never return.”],

expedient (adj.) – helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not

morally acceptable, convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral [It
might be expedient not to pay him until the work is finished. The management has taken a
series of expedient measures to improve the company's financial sitaution.] – synonyms &
related words [convenient, advantageous, in one's own interests, to one's own
advantage, useful, of use, of service, beneficial, of benefit, profitable, gainful, effective,
helpful; practical, pragmatic, strategic, tactical; politic, prudent, wise, judicious, sensible,
desirable, suitable, advisable, appropriate, apt, fit, timely, opportune, propitious],

expedient (n.) – an action that is expedient, a means of attaining an end, especially on

ethat is convenient but possibly improper or immoral [A political expedient. As Khadgar
watched the two orcs growled and lashed out again, but their attacks were clumsier this
time, more wild, and Turalyon avoided them both by the simple expedient of darting
forward, between and past the two orcs.] – synonyms & related words [measure, means,
method, stratagem, scheme, plan, course of action, solution, move, tactic, manoeuvre,
recourse, resource, device, tool, contrivance, ploy, plot, machination, trick, ruse, artifice,
invention; stopgap; dodge, lurk, shift, fetch],

graze (v.) – (surface) to break the surface of the skin by rubbing against something
rough; if an object grazes something, it touches its surfacy lightly when it passes it [He
fell down and grazed his knee. He was lucky, the bullet just grazed his leg. The aircraft's
landing gear grazed the treetops as it landed.],

graze (n.) – an injury on the surface of your skin caused by rubbing it against
something rough [Her legs were covered with cuts and grazes.],

lintel (n.) – a long piece of stone or wood at the top of a door or window frame that
supports the wall above [But the portal’s heavy lintel and squared columns were blown
apart. Fortunately for the Alliance forces nearby, the explosion drove most of the larger
stone fragments into the portal’s depths.],

overcast (adj.) – with clouds in the sky and therefore not bright and sunny [The
landscape was bleak, brutal, and harsh, all black stone and hardened lava except where
fresh lava glowed red amid the shadows. The air was thick with ash and soot, and the sky
seemed perpetually overcast. The mountains loomed like disapproving guardians.
Blackrock Spire rose at the far end.],

while away (something) (v.) – to spend time in a relaxed way, idly but pleasantly,
sometimes when waiting for something else to happen [We whiled away the hours
playing cards. I used to knit a lot when I was pregnant just to while away the time. But the
most unnatural thing of all was the reason he and Brodog were stationed here, whiling
away the duskclogged day with idle games of chance.] – synonyms & related words [dally,
boondoggle, idle, loiter, dawdle, doodle, fiddle, shuffle around, lollygag, tarry, fool
around, fool with, fritter away, hang about, play around, play games with, trifle with,
waste time],

putter (v.) – (move) to do things in a relaxed way, without rushing or trying very hard;
(make noise) if a machine or engine putters, it makes a low sound repeatedly, showing
that it is working slowly [He really enjoys puttering around in the garden.],

putter (n.) – (walk) a slow, relaxed walk around a place,

bridge a/the gap (id.) – to connect two things or to make the difference between
them smaller [The president singled out education as a vital tool in bridging the gap
between rich and poor. This collection of storeis bridges the gap between history and
fiction. And not just orcs—Gratar saw several ogres emerge, and a group of smaller,
slighter figures with heavy hooded cloaks bridged the gap as well.],

baleful (adj.) – threatening to do something bad or to hurt someone [He gave me a

baleful look. His baleful influence. Curious villagers poked their heads out of the doors and
windows of their simple huts, only to shrink back inside as the interlopers fixed them with a
baleful stare from unnaturally glowing eyes.] – synonyms & related words [menacing,
calamitous, deadly, dire, evil, foreboding, harmful, malevolent, malignant, ominous,
pernicious, ruinous, sinister, threatening, venemous, vindictive, woeful],

pernicious (adj.) – having a very harmful effect or influence [The cuts in government
funding have had a pernicious effect on local health services.],

per(s)nickety (adj.) – fastidious, fussy, giving too much attention to small details that
are not important in a way that annoys other people,

muse (v.) – to think about something carefully and for a long time [I began to muse
about/on the possibility of starting my own business. He turned to regard Ner’zhul, mildly
surprised to notice that the old orc's face had been painted white—almost like a skull,
Gorefiend mused. As their eyes met, Ner'zhufs widened...] – synonyms & related words
[think about, dream, consider, contemplate, deliberate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, weigh,
be lost in thought, think over, puzzle over, mull over, chew over, brood]

flake out (id.) – to suddenly go to sleep or feel weak because you are extremely tired;
to abandon, to flake or be flaky, to prove unreliable, to abandon or desert [I got home
and flaked out on the sofa. ohn said he could drive me to the airport, but then he flaked
out on me, and I had to call a cab at the last minute.],

flake (n.) – (small piece) a small, thin piece of something, especially if it has come from
a surface covered with a layer of something [Flakes of snow. Soap flakes. Thi sroom needs
decorating – flakes of paint keep coming off the walls.] – synonyms & related words
[scale, peel, leaf, drop, foil, layer, pellicle, scab, sliver]

flake (v.) – to come off a surface in small, thin piece [Patches of skin are starting to flake
off. "I have had visions of death, and now here you arc." Long green fingers reached to
touch the skull painted on his face. Small bits of white flaked off at the gesture.] –
synonyms & related words [peel off, exfoliate, sliver, chip, drop, pare, scab, shed, trim,
wear away],

pare (v. ) – to cut away the outer layer from something, especially a fruit or a vegetable;
(usually with „down“ or „back“) to reduce something, especially by a large amount,
diminish or trim gradually as if by cutting off; to trim the hoof of a horse [He was busy
paring apples in the kitchen. Pare off any bits of the carrots that don't look very nice. The
three-hour play has been pared (down/back) to two hours. Victor pared some apples in
preparation to make a tart. Albert had to pare his options down by disregarding anything
beyond his meager budget.] – synonyms & related words [peel, trim, cut back, cut down,
prune, scrape, shave, slash, carve, clip, crop, flay, shear, skin, skive, strip; reduce,
diminish, decrease, cut, cut back/down, make cutbacks in, whittle away/down, salami-
slice, trim, slim down, prune, lower, lessen, retrench, curtail],

skive (v.) – to pare or shave off the rough or thick parts of,

skive (v.) – (UK, informal) to avoid one's lessons or, sometimes, work, chiefly at school
or university,

skive (n.) – (UK, informal) something very easy, where one can slack off without
penalty; (UK, informal) an aact of avoiding lessons or work

skive (n.) – a rotating iron disk coated with oil and diamond dust to polish the facets of
a diamond; an angld cut or bevel at the edge of something,

skiver (n.) – a slacker; a truant, one who is absent without permission, especially from
school,

skiver (n.) – one who uses a skive (or skives); (dialect) a skewer; an inferior quality of
leather, made of split sheepskin, tanned by immersion in sumac, and dyed, formerly
used for hat linings, pocketbooks, bookbinding, etc.; the cutting tool or machine used in
splitting leather or skins,

apace (adv.) – quickly [The project is coming on apace (= advancing quickly). "In fact,"
Varian continued, pitching his voice slightly louder, "there's the miracle worker himself."
The king indicated a tall and powerfully built man speaking animatedly with some dusty-
looking workmen. The man in question had black hair and dark green eves that sparkled as
his head turned toward them, having clearly overheard the words. Terenas recognized
Edwin VanCleef, the head of the Stonemasons' Guild and the man in charge of both
Stormwind's restoration and the construction here at Nethergarde Keep. Varian smiled
and beckoned him over. "Master VanCleef, I trust the work continues apace?"] – synonyms
& related words [quickly, speedily, rapidly, posthaste, swiftly, promptly, fleetly,
hurriedly, expeditious, briskly, without delay, post-haste, expeditiously, at full speed, at
full tilt, at warp speed, at a rate of knots],

comer (n.) – someone who arrives somewhere,

all comers (n.) – any people who want to take part in a particular competition or
activity ["It does. Your Majesty, thank you," VanClcef replied confidendy. He banged a
heavy fist against the thick outer wall and nodded proudly. "It'll hold against all comers,
sire, I promise you that."],

take some doing (id.) – to be difficult to do and need a lot of effort [Running a
marathon takes some/a lot of doing. I know it will. Master VanClcef," Stormwind's king
agreed. "You've outdone yourself here, and that takes some doing."] – synonyms & related
words [easier said than done, ambitious, tough, onerous, backbreaking, effortful,
exacting, formidable, no picnic, not easy, hard-won, toilsome, trying],

ambitious (adj.) – having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed;

(of a plan or piece of work) intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to
achieve [A ruthlessly ambitious woman. He was an exceptionally energetic, ambitious, and
intelligent politician. He was ambitious to make it to the top. An ambitious enterprise. An
ambitious park.] – synonyms & related words [aspiring, determined, forceful, pushy,
enterprising, pioneering, progressive, eager, motivated, driven, enthusiastic, energetic,
zealous, committed, go-ahead, go-getting, purposeful, assertive, aggressive, hungry,
power-hungry; on the make, eager, determined, enthusiastic, desirous, anxious, hungry,
impatient, striving, yearning, longing, wishing, itching, dying, hoping, avid, hankering,
difficult, exacting, demanding, formidable, challenging, hard, arduous, onerous, tough,
stiff, strenuous; bold, grandiose, extravagant, monumental, killing, hellish, knackering,
toilsome],

toilsome (adj.) – involving hard or tedious work, difficult [Toilsome chores.],

come into your own (id.) – to be very useful or successful in a particular situation
[Eileen really comes into her own in a crisis. The Sons of Lothar. That's what they had
taken to calling themselves, the veterans of the Second War. Victory had been bought, but
at a dear cost—the death of the Lion of Azeroth, Anduin Lothar. who had been the man all
were willing to follow. Khadgar had been there when he fell, slain by the orc chieftain
Orgrim Doomhammer. And he'd been there when his friend Turalyon, now the general of
the Alliance forces, had avenged Lothar by capturing Doomhammer. Lothar's protege,
coming into his own, carrying on a heroic legacy; and thus in blood had been born the Sons
of Lothar.],
gripe (n.) – a strong complaint [Her main gripe is that she's not being trained properly.
Even Greymane was quietly compliant—the thought of the Horde returning had shocked
any griping clean out of him.] – synonyms & related words [grievance, objection, groan,
grumble, indisposition],

make good (id.) – to succeed and become rich; when someone makes good something,
they either pay for it, or make it happen [A working-class boy made good. My uncle owed
thousands, but eventually he made good on all of his debts. "You would have been killed in
return," Ner’zhul pointed out, "or you would have slaughtered the entire clan making good
your escape. I did not want to risk you, or lose them when there was a chance they might be
persuaded."] – synonyms & related words [accomplish, achieve, do, execute, finish, go
whole hog, go through with, get through, sew up, carry through, round off, bring about,
carry out, complete, fulfill, make happen],

make good on something (id.) – to do what you have said you would do [My
grandfather said he would pay for me to go to college, and he made good on that. „He styles
himself the Lord of Outland.“ „He has the army and reputation to make good on that
promise.“],

round off (v.) – to complete an event or activity in a pleasant or satisfactory way [To
round off her education, her father sent her to a Swiss finishing school. We rounded the
meal off with a chocolate and rum cake.] – synonyms & related words [complete, finish,
culminate, finish off, top off, bring to a close, cap, climax, close, conclude, crown, settle],

cast (v.) – (vote) cast/a your vote/word, to vote [All the votes in the election have now
been cast and the counting has begun. Kargath inclined his head. "I cast my word with
Hellscream's," he said.],

uproarious (adj.) – extremely noisy and confused; extremely funny [An uproarious
debate. It's a very amusing play with an uproarious final act. "Grom!" the Bonechewer
chieftain shouted back, holding high the limb in his hands. It still spasmed slightly. "Look, I
have one of your orcs! Part of him, anyway!" Hurkan laughed uproariously, spittle flying
from his mouth.] – synonyms & related words [boisterous, clamorous, wild, comical,
rolicking, rowdy, rambunctious, raucous, riotous, strident],

strident (adj.) – (loud) a strident sound is loud, unpleasant and rough; (forceful)
expressing or expressed in forceful language, that does not try to avoid upsetting other
people [People are put off by his strident voice. A strident newspaper article. They are
becoming increasingly strident in their criticism of government economic policy.] –
synonyms & related words [harsh, raucous, rough, grating, rasping, jarring, loud,
stentorian, shrill, screeching, piercing, ear-piercing; unmelodious, unmusical, discordant,
dissonant, unharmonious; stridulous, stridulant, stridulatory, stentorious],

stridulous (adj.) – (of a sound) loud and harsh, grating [Stridulous breathing.],
grating (adj.) – sounding harsh and unpleasant; irritating [A harsh grating voice came
out of the speakers above the door. Pushing his chair from the table with a grating noise.
Her high grating voice. His grating confrontational personality. It's written in grating
psuedo-teenspeak language.] – synonyms & related words [scraping, scratching,
grinding, rasping, creaking, jarring, abrasive, harsh, raucous, strident, piercing, shrill,
ear-piercing, screching, squawking, squawky, squeaky, sharp, discordant, dissonant,
cacophonous, brassy, blaring, hoarse, croaky, rough, gravelly, irritating, annoying,
infuriating, rankling, vexatious, irksome, galling, exasperating, maddening, displeasing;
jarring, discordant, inharmonious, out of place, unsuitable, inappropriate, ill suited;
tiresome, troublesome, niggling, disagreeable, unpleasant, offensive, aggravating],

passing (adj.) – (time) lasting only for a short time and not important or complete;
used to refer to a period of time that is going past [I gave the restaurant a passing glance
as I walked by, but I didn't notice who was in there. The matter is only of passing scientific
interest. The situation seems to become more hopeless with each/every passing day. He
knew more than just his own life hung upon the outcome of this battle, but he could spare
no more than a passing thought for such a thing if he were to be the victor.] – synonyms &
related words [quick, rapid, speedy, cursory, fleeting, superficial, glancing, quick, short,
slight, temporary, transient, hasty, momentary, short-lived, casual, perfunctory, offhand,
half-baked, hurried],

wiles (n.) – ways of persuading someone that trick them into doing something [She'll
have to use all her feminine wiles to get him to agree.] – synonyms & related words
[cunning, guile, artifice, contrivance, craft, craftiness, deceit, tricks, twists, ruse,
maneuver, deceit, deception, device],

wily (adj.) – (of a person) intelligent, having a very good understanding of situations,
possibilities, and people, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim [A wily
politician. Hurkan was proving to be a worthy foe. The big Bonechewer chieftain was as
large as Orgrim Doomhammer had been and almost as fast. And when he was thinking,
Hurkan was no fool but a wily old warrior, one who could read an opponent and anticipate
his moves.] – synonyms & related words [crafty, clever, cagey, crooked, scheming, shifty,
shrewd, sly, sneaky, underhanded, artful, astute, crazy like a fox, cunning, deceitful,
deceptive, foxy, guileful, greasy, insidious, intriguing, knowing, sagacious, sharp, slick,
slippery],

cagey (adj.) – wary, careful, shrewd; uncommunicative, unwilling or hesitant to give

information, recitent [He was very cagey about what happened at the meeting.] –
synonyms & related words [secretive, guarded, non-committal, tight-lipped, reticent,
cautious, circumspect, chary, wary, careful, evasive, elusive, equivocal; discreet; playing
one's cards close to one's chest],

evasive (adj.) – tending to avoid commitment or self-revelation, especially by

responding only indirectly; directed towards avoidance or escape [She was evasive about
her phone number. She was undeterred by evasive replies. They decided to take evasive
action. They picked the missile up on the radar and had to take evasive action.] –
synonyms & related words [prevaricating, elusive, ambiguous, equivocal, equivocating,
indefinite, non-committal, vague, indeterminate, imprecise, inexact, indistinct, inexplicit;
cryptic, enigmatic, obscure, unclear, puzzling, perplexing, gnomic, Delphic; roundabout,
indirect, oblique, circumlocutory, circuitous, periphrastic; cagey, avoiding, dodging,
escaping, eluding, sidestepping],

prevaricate (v.) – to make a statement one knows to be untrue, typically by quibbling

or confusing the issue [During the hearings the witness was willing to prevaricate in order
to protect his friend.],

palter (v.) – to make unreliable statements of fact or intention or insincere promises,

to lie [A swindler paltering with his investors.],

fib (v.) – to lie about trivial matters [He fibbled about the price of the new suit.],

fleck (v.) – mark with spots [But the moment of clarity had passed. Already Grom could
see his foe's eyes beginning to roll back, and foam flecking his lips.] – synonyms & related
words [mottle, speckle, spott, sprinkle, bespeckle, besprinkle, dapple, dot, stipple,
streak],

fleck (n.) – a small mark or spot [Blackbirds' eggs are pale blue with brown flecks on
them. I got a few flecks of paint on the window.] – synonyms & related words [spot,
pinpoint mark, speck, sain, blemish, blot, blotch, dollop, dram, drop, smidgen, smudge,
little bit, stripe, bit, dot, mite, mote, patch, speckle, stipple, streak],

dollop (n.) – a small amount of something soft, especially food [A dollop of ice
cream/whipped cream. „Between you and me, I wasn't entirely sure,“ Davir said as he
watched Skench ladle a steaming dollop into his mess tin. „Gruel, you say? And you have
followed your normal recipe, I take it? Sawdust, spittle, and whatever dubious organic
refuse you could lay your hands on?“] – synonyms & related words [blob, glob, gobblet,
lump, clump, bail, mound, gob, wodge],

helping (n.) – a portion of food served to one person at one time [There will be enough
for six helpings. There will be enough for six to eight helpings. I made sure you got an extra
helping of spit in yours.] – synonyms & related words [portion, serving, piece, slice, share,
spoonful, plateful, bowlful, ration, allocation, dollop],

dollop of (id.) – a large amount of something [You'll need a big dollop of luck to
succeed.] – synonyms & related words [hoard, tsunami, wall, windfall, masses, quantity,
abundance, pile, a lot, all manner of something, a bunch, acres of something, a good/fair
bit, a good/great deal of something, a load of/loads of something, a mess of something, a
multitude of, a myriad of something, any number of something, a raft of, a sea of
something, a slew of something, a stack of, bags of something, billions, boatload,
bucketfuls, buckets of something, cartloads of something, chunk, clump,
everything/everyone in sight, gazillion, heaps of something, host, hundreds of, hunk,
infinity, the many, masses, million, millions, more than a little/not a little, a mountain of,
much, multiplicity, no end, ocean, oodles of something, panoply, plenty, plurality, pots of
something, profusion, proliferation, quite a few, quite a lot/a bit/a few, (quite) a number
of something, reams, scads, schwack, scores, shedloads, storehouse, swathe, thousands,
tidal wave, tons, torrent, trillions, truckload, umpteen, volley, wodge, zillion],

umpteen(th) (determiner, pronoun) – (informal) very many, a lot of [We've been there
umpteen times and she still can't remember the way. I drank my umpteenth cup of coffee.
For the umpteenth time, Anthony, knives and forks go in the middle drawer!],

wodge/wadge (n.) – (UK, informal) a thick piece or a large amount of something [She
cut herself a great wodge of chocolate cake. He hurried towards the staffroom with a
wodge of papers under his arm. Huge wodges of cash.],

reams (n) – (informal) a very large amount of something [They had reams of data to
prove their point.],

scads (n.) – (US, informal) a large number or armount [He earns scads of money.],

panoply (n.) – (formal) a wide range or collection of different things [There is a whole
panoply of remedies and drugs available to the modern doctor. The Archaeovist's
Solemance Galleries are a panoply of any and all galactic artefacts and souvenirs.],

windfall (n.) – something that has been blown down by the wind; a fruit that has fallen
from atree naturally, as from wind; a great deal of something [I tend to leave the
windfalls for the birds to pick at. They couldn't reach the branches, so they ate the
windfalls. Windfalls of paratroopers.],

dollop (v.) – add (a large mass of something) casually and without measuring [She
stopped him from dolloping cream into his coffee.],

dram (n.) – a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink, especially whisky [A dram of
whisky.],

whit (n.) – (not a whit) not any amount [There's not a whit of sense in that head of his!] –
synonyms & related words [crumb, dash, drop, bit, fragment, grain, jot, mite, modicum,
piece, pinch, particle, scrap, speck, trace, shred],

out of your depth (id.) – not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with
a particular subject or situation; in water that is so deep that it goves over your head
when you are standing [I was out of my depth in the advanced class, so I moved to the
intermediate class. I'm not a strong swimmer, so I prefer not to go out of my depth.
Turalyon felt out of his depth at the time, and still had that reaction every time
Mekkatorquc came to him with updates or problems.] – synonyms & related terms [in
over one's head, out of one's league],

chafe (v.) – (be annoyed) to be or become annoyed or lose patience because of rules or
limits [We have been chafing under petty regulations for too long. Progress on rebuilding
Stormwind was being made, but slowly—it was a long and dangerous trek from Ironforgc
to Stormwind. and King Bronzebeard had chafed at the delay in getting supplies to his
allies.] – synonyms & related words [annoy, fret, fume, irk, irritate, rub, abrade, anger,
bother, exasperate, gall, grate, itch, provoke, ruffle, vex, worry],

be chafing at the bit (id.) – to be very eager to do something [As soon as the kids saw
the pool, they were chafing at the bit to get in.] – synonyms & related words [feel one's
oats, champ at the bit,

be chasing your tail (id.) – to be busy doing a lot of things but achieving very little,

outing (n.) – (journey) a short journey made by a group of people, usually for pleasure
or education [Every year the professor takes her students on an outing to the archives of
the Library of Congress. Rosie's going on a class/school outing to the Wildfire Park. His
own horse had been saddled and ready quickly, and now he moved among his soldiers.
"Make haste," he glowered at one who was having trouble with the stirrups. "This is no
pleasure outing!"] – synonyms & related words [short trip, excursion, expedition, picnic,
vacation, jaunt, pleasure trip; trip, excursion, jaunt, expedition, pleasure trip, day trip,
day out, tour, mystery tour, airing, drive, ride, run, turn, cruise, sally, junket, spin, tootle,
joyride, tool, hurl],

susurration (n.) – a low, indistinct continuous whispering sound, a murmur

[Whispers. Soft susurrations, barely heard unless listened for. The flutter of a bird's wings
in flight, the sound of a leaf drifting toward the earth . . . these were louder than the
whispers that teased at Ner’zhul's ears.] – synonyms & related words [murmur, buzz,
drone, grumble, hum, humming, mumble, mutter, rumble, susurrus, undertone, whisper,
sough],

fawn (adj.) – having a pale yellowish-brown color,

fawning (adj.) – praising someone too much and giving them a lot of attention that is
not sincere in order to get a positive reaction; (of a dog) show slavish devotion,
especially by rubbing against someone [A fawning young man. Ner’zhul smiled. Thus far
all had gone according to plan. He absently caressed the yellowed bone as he might a pet
fawning for his attention. The dogs started fawning on me.] – synonyms & related words
[be obsequious to, be sycophantic to, be servile to, curry favour with, pay court to, play
up to, crawl to, creep to, ingratiate oneself with, dance attendance on, fall over oneself
for, kowtow to, toady to, truckle to, bow and scrape before, grovel before, cringe before,
abase oneself before; flatter, praise, sing the praises of, praise to the skies, praise to
excess, eulogize, sweet-talk, soft-soap, suck up to, make up to, smarm around, be all over,
fall all over, butter up, lick someone's boots, rub up the right way, lay it on thick, lay it on
with a trowel, smoodge to, kiss someone's arse; obsequious, servile, sycophantic,
flattering, ingratiating, unctuous, oleaginous, oily, toadyish, slavish, bowing and
scraping, grovelling, abject, crawling, creeping, cringing, prostrate, Uriah Heepish,
bootlicking, smarmy, slimy, slucky, soapy, brown-nosing, arse-kissing, bum-sucking,
kiss-ass, ass-kiss, suckholing],

fawning on/upon somebody (id.) – if an animal such as a dog fawns on/upon you,
it is very friendly towards you and rubs itself against you,

fawn over/on somebody (id.) – to praise someone too much and give them a lot of
attention that is not sincere, in order to get a positive reaction [I hate waiters who fawn
over you.] – synonyms & related words [ingratiate oneself to, serve, crouch, grovel, caole,
flatter, pander, submit, toady, woo, be servile, brownnose, be obsequious, butter up,
cater to, cave in to, curry favor, fall all over, fall on one's knees, honey up, lick boots],

lug (v.) – to carry or pull something with effort or difficulty because it is heavy [I'm
exhausted after lugging these suitcases all the way across the city. I don't want to lug these
shopping bags around with me all day. Gorefiend grunted, studying the work. A simple
stone archway at the top of a short ramp had held the original Dark Portal. When the
portal had collapsed, the archway had fallen as well. The orcs they had pressed into service
for this task had already cleared all those remains out of the way and were busy assem
bling the stone blocks they had lugged through from Draenor. This framework would be
more functional than decorative, with only a few orcish runes hastily carved on it, but as
long as they could utilize the framework to stabilize the porta! he didn't care.] – synonyms
& related words [drag something around, carry, ferry, haul, heave, tote, tow, bear, buck,
convey, draw, hump, jerk, lift, lurch, pack, pull, rake, snap, transport, trawl, tug, vellicate,
yank, schlepp],

tote (v.) – to carry something, especially something heavy or awkward [She usually
toted the baby around in a backpack. The building was surrounded with bodyguards toting
sub-machine guns. Gun-toting security men were posted at all the entrances.] – synonyms
& related words [fetch, haul, heft, hoist, lug, bear, bring, cart, channel, conduct, carry,
convey, convoy, displace, ferry, freight, tunnel, give, import, lift, move, pack, pipe,
portage, relay, relocate, remove, shift, shoulder, sustain, take, transfer, transmit,
transplant, transport, truck, waft, schlepp, traject],

trawl (v.) – (fish) to pull a large, cone-shaped net through the sea at a deep level behind
a special boat in order to catch fish [They trawl these waters for cod.] – synonyms &
related words [drag, dragnet, net, seine, troll],
trawl (v.) – (search) to search among a large number or many different places in order
to find people or information you want [The software is used to trawl for information on
the internet. You need to trawl through a lot of data to get results that are valid.],

trawler (n.) – a large boat that uses a wide, cone-shaped net to catch fish [He moved in
closer. The human’s boat was docked right next to the orc’s, in the two northernmost
berths. Muzzlecrank recognized the orc as Captain Klatt of the Raknor, a merchant who
served as the dealer of crops from the farmers in the Razor Hill region. Though he could
not remember the human’s name, Muzzlecrank knew his ship was a fishing trawler called
the Passion’s Reward for some odd reason. Muzzlecrank had never understood human
naming conventions. Klatt had named the Raknor after his brother, who died fighting the
Burning Legion, but he hadn’t the first clue what the name Passion’s Reward had to do
with anything, least of all fishing.],

canny (adj.) – (clever) thinking quickly and cleverly, especially in business or financial
manners [These salesmen are a canny lot. Grom Hcllscream watched the Bleeding Hollow
warriors vanish through the portal. He was pleased to see that Kilrogg still survived—the
older chieftain had always been one of the canniest of the Horde leaders, and one of their
finest tacticians. He was sure Kilrogg's expertise would prove valuable very soon.] –
synonyms & related words [clever, artful, adroit, astute, cagey, cautious, discreet, frugal,
ingenious, intelligent, judicious, prudent, shrewd, skillful, sly, subtle, wise, able, acute,
careful, cunning, circumspect, dexterous, foxy, having fancy footwork, hep, knowing,
nimble-witted, perspicacious, quick, quick-witted, sagacious, slick, slippery, smart,
smooth, street smart, streetwise, wary, watchful, with it, wordly-wise],

bonic (adj.) – pretty, nice [Muradin jumped slightly even as he realized the voice
belonged to a child. His grin was hidden by his thick, bushy beard as he peered around a
corner to see young Arthas standing in front of a suit of armor on a small pedestal. The
prince was all of twelve now, a right bonnic young lad, all smiles and golden curls and rosy
checks.],

set to (v.) – to start working or dealing with something in an energetic and determined
way [If we all set to, we should be able to finish the job in a week. With a fierce cry, the
young prince charged. He was wise enough not to actually attack the ancient suit of armor,
which would no doubt incur his father's disapproval, but set to his imaginary foe with vigor
a few paces away.] – synonyms & related word [buckle, address, apply oneself, attend to,
concentrate on, dedicate oneself to ,devote oneself to, bend, exert oneself, get serious,
give, give oneself over to, keep close to, keep one's mind on, knuckle down, launch into,
occupy oneself with, pitch in, plunge into, put one's hand to the plow, put one's nose to
the grindstone, swing into action, take the bull by the horns, throw, turn],

pore over something (v.) – to look at and study something, usually a book or
document, carefully [She spends her evenings poring over textbooks. He pored over the
letter searching for clues about the writer. Inside, their commander Turalyon and his
advisers were still awake, poring over maps in one of the armories in the keep, now the
Alliance command post.] – synonyms & related words [examine, notice, behold, eye,
inspect, peruse, regard, scrutinize, scan, study, ponder, review, consider, take stock of,
size up, scrutinate, scope, look over, go overanalyze, look through],

would (just) as soon (id.) – if you would (just) as soon do something or would
sooner do something, you would prefer to do it rather than something else that is
possible [„Would you like to go out for dinner?“ „I'd just as soon stay in – I'm not feeling
very well.“ Pargath obediently knelt and tugged free the deadly weapon. "To Alterac then?"
"Yes , . . but not just yet. we need to keep to our original plan as much as possible. We're still
going to Blackrock Mountain. we need Rend, Maim, and the red dragons they control."],

airy (adj.) – (delicate) delicate, as if full of air [A light, airy fabric.]; not serious showing
no worry or serious thought [„I don't care – you choose,“ he said, with an airy wave of the
hand. Deathwing waved a beringed hand airily. "Calm yourself," he replied, slightly
contemptuously. "I have not come to slay you, else you would be mere ash already."],

bank a fire (v.) – to cover the coals or embers with ashes or cinders, thus keeping the
fire low but alive [One of the orcs, obviously anxious to please the unexpected guest,
hesitantly offered Deathwing a mug of ale. The great creature frowned terribly, glaring at
the ore. "Take that putrid stuff away!" Cowed, the orc retreated. Deathwing composed
himself, turning his banked-fire eyes to Gorefiend. "Where was I? Oh yes. I will lend you the
aid of my children. In return, I demand safe passage through the Dark Portal, and aid in
transporting some cargo through there as well."],

propriety (n.) – (formal) correct moral behavior or actions; proprieties (formal) the
rules of polite social behavior [The director insisted that there was no question as to the
propriety of how the funds were raised. She was careful always to behave with propriety.
They'd invited us to dinner so we thought we'd better observe the proprieties and invite
them back. "Very well, Deathwing," he said finally, "Lord Deathwing." He smiled without
humor, and there was an edge to his voice. "Let's observe the proprieties, shall we?"
Gorefiend inclined his head.] – synonyms & related words [correctness, decency, civilities,
courtesy, etiquette, mores, politeness, protocol, accepted conduct, good behavior, good
form, rules of conduct, social conventions, social grace, the done thing],

the done thing (the thing to do) (n.) – what you are expected to do in a social
situation [Don't forget to shake hands – it's the done thing, you know.],

malodorous (adj.) – having an unpleasant smell [The town is built on a malodorous

swamp. The ride seemed to take forever. Through the meadows and rolling hills of
Goldshirc and the little town of Darkshirc. through the gray land that was aptly named
Dcadwind Pass, near where medivh had lived in Karazhan. into the muddy, malodorous
Swamp of Sorrows.] – synonyms & related words [foul-smelling, evil-smelling, fetid,
smelly, stinking, stinking to high heaven, reeking, reeky, pungent, acrid, rank, high,
putrid, noxious; fresh; stinky, niffing, niffy, pongy, whiffy, humming, funky, noisome,
mephitic, miasmic, miasmal, olid],

noisome (adj.) – (literary) having an extremely offensive, horrible, bad smell; very
disagreeable or unpleasant [Noisome vapors from the smouldering waste. A noisome
concoction of which cheap port is the basis.],

olid (adj.) – (literary) smelling extremely unpleasant, bad, disgusting

mollify (v.) – to make someone less angry or upset [I tried to mollify her by giving her
flowers. "No, of course I did." Something about how he said it obviously displeased die great
dragon, whose black brows drew together. Gorefiend realized the words could be
interpreted as arrogance and hastened to add, "I completely trust your word. Lord
Deathwing." The dragon looked mollified.] – synonyms & related words [pacify, soothe,
allay, alleviate, appease, ameliorate, assauge, blunt, lessen, lull, mitigate, pacify, placate,
quell, relieve, temper, abate, calm, compose, conciliate, cool, cushion, decrease, diminish,
dulcify, ease, lighten, mellow, moderate, modify, propitiate, quiet, reduce, soften,
sweeten, tranquilize, fix up, patch things up, take sting out],

incongruous (adj.) – unusual or different from what is around or from what is

generaly happening [The new computer looked incongruous in the dark book-filled
library. It seems incongruous to have a woman as the editor of a men's magazine. "Where
is the Book of medivh?" the strange rider demanded. "Give it to me!" "What?" The
incongruity of the question momentarily banished Perenolde's fear. "The book? Why?"] –
[out of place, absurd, bizarre, contradictory, inappropriate, incoherent, incompatible,
alien, conflicting, discordant, disparate, distorted, divergent, extraneous, fitful, foreign,
illogical, improper, inapt, incongruent, inconsistent, irrenconcilable, irregular, jumped,
lopsided, mismatched, out of keeping, rambling, shifting, twisted, unavailing,
unbecoming, unconnected, uncoordinated, uneven, unintelligible, unpredictable,
unrelated, unsuitable, unsuited],

have/keep your wits about you/keep one's cool (id.) – to think and react
quickly when something dnagerous or difficult happens unexpectedly [She managed to
keep her wits about her and escaped unharmed. His could be an opportunity if he could just
keep his wits about him. "I have the book," he admitted, "Or rather, I had it stolen from
Stormwind and I know where it is."],

grimy (adj.) – dirty [The child's face was grimy and streaked with tears. As they
progressed deeper. Fenris noticed that the walls here were cleaner than they had been
nearer the entrance, and not just less grimy but less degraded.] – synonyms & related
words [dingy, filthy, grubby, grungy, messy, soiled, squalid, begrimed, besmirched,
cruddy, foul, mucky, nasty, scuzzy, sleazy, smeared, smutty, sooty, sordid, unclean],
dingy (adj.) – dark and often also dirty [A dingy room/corridor. Her hair was a dingy
brown color. The lush valleys contrasted neatly with the dingy earthworks.] – synonyms &
related words [gloomy, drab, dark, dull, badly/poorly lit, dim; dismal, sombre, grim,
dreary, cheerless; dirty, discoloured, grimy, soiled; faded, shabby, dowdy, worn, seedy,
run down, tacky, tenebrous],

worked (adj.) – processed, refined [In one of its clawed hands it held a long rod, almost
a spear, with a wooden haft and worked silver ends.] – synonyms & related words
[processed, refined, created, fashioned, treated, wrought, handled, fixed],

sup (v.) – to drink or to eat (old-fashioned) [They supped on/off cold meat. He spends
most of his evenings in the pub, supping beer. The demon laughed, a low chuckle like bone
grating on bone, and stepped forward, its long clawed feet digging deep furrows into the
marble floor. "Then you may try to take it from me," it offered. "And after you fail, I will
shred your bodies and sup upon your souls."] – synonyms & related words [belt (down),
draft, drag, drink, gulp, nip, quaff, shot, sip, slug, snort, swallow, swig, swill, dram, drop,
gulp, guzzle, hoist, imbibe, knock back, pound (down), slug (down), slurp, toss
(down/off)],

pump somebody's hand (v.) – to shake someone's hand (= hold it and move it up
and down, especially in order t ogreet that person) ["Your arrival is most timely," the
archmagc said, stepping forward to shake the dwarf's hand and permitting his own to be
enthusiastically pumped up and down. "We've a message to be delivered, and quickly."],

maudlin (adj.) – feeling sad and sorry for yourself, affectionate or sentimental in an
effusive, tearful, or foolish manner, especially because of drunkenness; extravagantly or
excessively sentimental, mawkish, self-pitying ["I have a special task for you. One that
goes beyond your military duties," Alleria began. "It is not maudlin to think that I might
not return. That none of us might. We do not know what we face on the other side."],

mawkish (adj.) – showing emotion or love in an awkward or silly way, excessively or

falsely sentimental, showing a sickly excess of sentiment [The film lapses into mawkish
sentimentality near the end. Some of Mr. Williams’s performances were criticized for a
mawkish sentimentality, like “Patch Adams,” a 1998 film that once again cast him as a
good-hearted doctor, and “Bicentennial Man,” a 1999 science-fiction feature in which he
played an android.] – synonyms & related words [sentimental, emotional, cloying, gooey,
maudlin, mushy, sappy, sloppy, teary, bathetic, feeble, gushing, gushy, lovey-dovey,
nauseating, romantic, schmaltzy, sickening, tear-jerking],

matter-of-fact (adj.) – not showing feelings or emotion, especially in a situation when

emotion would be expected [He spoke in a very matter-of-fact way about the accident. All
of that would wait. She was soaked and chilled, and as he reached to undo her cloak he
found it to be as wet as if she'd fallen in a lake. "Here, he said, tossing the sodden thing
away. "Stand close to the brazier. I'll get you something dry to wear. His matter-of-fact
tone seemed to hearten her and she nodded, stretching out small hands to the warmth of
the growing embers while he rummaged through his trunk.] – synonyms & related words
[deadpan, down-to-earth, factual, pragmatic, sober, stoic, unvarnished, apathetic, calm,
cold, cold-blooded, dry, dull, earthly, emotionless, feasible, flat, hard-boiled, impassive,
impersonal, lifeless, mundane, naked, objective, phlegmatic, plain, practical, prosaic,
prosy, serious, stolid, unaffected, unidealistic, unimaginative, unimpassioned,
unsentimental],

gasp out (v.) – to say something while you are breathing with difficulty, for example
because you need more air, or are in pain [He managed to gasp out the enemy's location
before collapsing. "Damn it!" Turalyon cried. He hoped he was wrong. He looked over the
sea of fighting men and orcs and saw Khadgar and another group of magi. He rode toward
them, gasping out what he'd seen. Khadgar frowned as he listened. "If I were them, I'd head
for home too—but first I'd destroy the portal behind me so no one here could interfere."],

(random cool paragraph) – [There was no way he could stop it. Whatever it had
been intended to do, it was going to do it soon. Grunting, the mage lifted the package and
threw it as far as he could, augmenting his physical strength with magic so that it arced
out over the valley and looked like it might even glance off the cliff walls along that side.
The explosion rocked the entire valley. Grom swore, ducking and covering his head, feeling
stings along his back and shoulders where he had been peppered with small fragments of
shattered rock. He looked up. rage burning inside him, and strode with dreadful purpose to
the warlock. Kra'kul looked as shocked as Grom felt and cowered as Gram's fist descended.
"Traitor! You would kill us!" "No! No. I swear, I was told it was a shield, a shield to protect
us! I didn't know!" Red swam before Gram's eyes as he lifted the cringing warlock with one
hand and shook him. How he wanted to crush the ore's windpipe, to rip his head off and
throw it as the elderly human had thrown the device that Grom had been told would
protect them but instead had nearly killed them. "Who told you this? Where is he, that I
may tear his heart out!" Roughly he shook the warlock, curbing his bloodlust with great
effort. "I don't know—Malkor was sent to do it—he told me it was a shield—■ Cursing,
Grom hurled the worthless wretch away and turned back to the fight. Grom had been told
the device was a shield, so that at the last moment, the Warsong clan could safety escape.
He had been lied to. Someone in a position of power—Gorefiend? Ner’zhul?—had intended
that the warriors left behind would not escape with their lives. Grom vowed to survive this
battle, unlikely as it seemed, so that someone would pay.],

facet (n.) – one part of as ubject, situation, etc. that has many parts; one of the small flat
surfaces cut on a precious stone, (medical) a flat surface on a bone or tooth, either
occurring naturally or caused by continued use [She has so many facets to her
personality. This fact of the diamond was masterfully cut to enhance its value. The child's
learning disability was onyl one facet of the problems contributing to his delinquency.
Facets in the compound eye of a dragonfly. Injured or painful facet joints can be injected
with steroids. A crystal the size of a man's head, its center faceted like a star and edged in
deepest violet.] – synonyms & related words [surface, aspect, angle, character, feature,
obverse, part, phase, plane, side, slant],

multifaceted (adj.) – having many different parts [It's a multifaceted business, offering
a range of services.] – synonyms & related words [versatile, all-round, varied, various,
all-around, all-purpose, conversant, dexterous, many-sided],

(random cool paragraph) – [While knowing the need to travel light, Khadgar had
nonetheless permitted himself to take a few items with him. One was a ring that enabled
him to understand any language—and to be understood. It was what had enabled them to
interrogate die orcs, who spoke only their own, guttural language. Among the other items
were a handful of books—spcllbooks and one book that had once belonged to medivh.
There was nothing magical about it, just notes about Draenor, its skies, its continents.
Khadgar found comfort in gazing up at the skies at night; they were only red in the
daylight, and Khadgar amused himself by identifying constellations while letting his mind
chew on Ner’zhul's mystery. Comprehension came to him one night while he was so
engaged, as if the stars had the answer. And it turned out they did.],

foist something on/upon somebody (v.) – to force someone to have or

experience something they do not want [His opinion is that the privatized market
structure foisted on the rail network cannot deliver a solution. I try not to foist my values
on the children but it's hard. She charged that junk food is being foisted on children by TV
commercials. "Look at this." Khadgar shoved a book into the dwarf's hands. Turalyon
continued to look through the telescope as Alleria, Danath, and Kurdran examined the
book Khadgar had foisted upon them. "What do you sec?"] – [force upon, impose, compel
upon/(to accept), palm off, pass off, ram down one's throat, fob off, insert fraudulently;
impose, force, thrust, offload, unload, dump, palm off, fob off; shift on to; pass off, get rid
of; saddle someone with, land someone with, burden someone with, lumber someone
with],

(random cool paragraph) – [Among the other items were a handful of books—
spcllbooks and one book that had once belonged to medivh. There was nothing magical
about it, just notes about Draenor, its skies, its continents. Khadgar found comfort in
gazing up at the skies at night; they were only red in the daylight, and Khadgar amused
himself by identifying constellations while letting his mind chew on Ner’zhul's mystery.
Comprehension came to him one night while he was so engaged, as if the stars had the
answer. And it turned out they did. "Scepter, book, and Eye!" he'd exclaimed to Kurdran as
he rushed out of his quarters. "Eh?" grunted the startled dwarf. "Lost ycr mind finally, have
ye, laddie?" "Get the others. We need to talk." A few moments later, the commanders of the
various forces were in the tower. "Turalyon—you first. Get out there and look through the
telescope. Tell me what you sec." Turalyon dircw him a look of utter bafflement, but
obeyed. Peering through the telescope, he said, "I see ... stars. What am I supposed to be
looking at?" "Constellations. Groups of stars." Khadgar was so excited that the words
tumbled out of him. "What do they look like?"' "Well, one's kind of a square. The other's
long and thin. I can't see any other distinctive shapes." "No . . . you're not used to looking at
them. One of medivh's many areas of expertise was astronomy. He had books with star
maps of constellations I'd never even seen. Constellations of this world." "That's all well an'
gud, lad, but I'm not about tac crawl up there without understanding why ye want me tac,"
Kurdran grumbled. "Look at this." Khadgar shoved a book into the dwarf's hands. Turalyon
continued to look through the telescope as Alleria, Danath, and Kurdran examined the
book Khadgar had foisted upon them. "What do you sec?" "Constellation names," Danath
said. "The Staff . . . the Tome . . . and the Seer." "Scepter, book, and Eye," Alleria said slowly,
lifting her fair head to stare at Khadgar with admiration. "So . . . Ner’zhul needed those
artifacts because they corresponded with this world's constellations?" "Yes—and no," said
Khadgar, barely able to restrain his excitement. "There's much more. Once every five
hundred and forty-seven years, there's a celestial event that involves these three stars. see
that reddish dot in the middle of the book? That's the first thing that appears. In about a
month you'll be able to see a comet streaking through the scepter. And at the next moon
cycle, the moon will be full right smack in the middle of the Eye. Apparently it's quite the
spectacle, according to these notes." "So if Ner’zhul has items that correspond to these
constellations," Turalyon said slowly, still peering at the stars, "and he uses the artifacts at
a time when something extremely rare is happening in the skies to those three
constellations—it augments his power, right?" "The harmony so established, the
sympathetic resonance—by the Light, Turalyon, I'm not sure it'd be possible to fail at any
spell using that kind of energy." "When?" was all he said. "Fifty-five days. And the power
will last for three."],

drag your heels/feet (id.) – to do something slowly because you do not want to do
it [I suspect the management is dragging its heels on this issue. We're one day closer than
we were yesterday. I can't rush the stars, Alleria." "Soon, soon; patience is a virtue," Alleria
muttered angrily as Khadgar climbed back into the room. "I'm sick of die platitudes." "For
an elf, you're awfully impatient." "For a human, you drag your heels. I want to be fighting,
not holed up here."],

(random cool paragraph) – [They waited for more reinforcements, chafing at the
delay. At least they knew precisely how long they could wait, and when they would have to
attack regardless of their numbers. Khadgar sighed at the ranger who had interrupted his
stargazing as he slipped back through the window. "We're one day closer than we were
yesterday. I can't rush the stars, Alleria." "Soon, soon; patience is a virtue," Alleria muttered
angrily as Khadgar climbed back into the room. "I'm sick of die platitudes." "For an elf,
you're awfully impatient." "For a human, you drag your heels. I want to be fighting, not
holed up here." Khadgar's irritation suddenly boiled over. "You don't want to fight, Alleria,
you want to die." She suddenly went very still. "What do you mean?" "We've all seen it. You
rush out there, on fire for blood. On fire for your revenge. You're reckless. You fight badly,
Alleria, and you didn't use to. That's why Turalyon keeps ordering you to stay close, and
sometimes not even go out at all. He's worried he's going to lose you." Her gaze was
haughty, cold, and angry. "I am not his to lose. I belong to no one but myself." Khadgar
knew he should just shut up. But he couldn't. He had held back all this time, watching
Alleria and Turalyon, who obviously still loved each other, circle one another like wary
dogs. He could take it no longer. "You don't even belong to yourself. You belong to the dead.
Joining them won't bring them back, Alleria. There's a good, kind, intelligent man right
here in this keep who could teach you a thing or two about how to live. You should try
living for a change—opening yourself to somcdiing rare and wonderful instead of
slamming doors." She marched up to him until their faces were only inches away. "How
dare you say such things to me! It's none of your business! Why do you care how I choose to
live my life?" "I care because I don't get to choose!" The confession burst from him before he
could stop it, and they both fell silent, staring at each other. He hadn't realized the truth
himself, but there it was, out in the open now, naked and raw. "I know you think of our lives
as shockingly brief. Our youths arc even briefer. What, ten years to be young and strong, at
the most... most alive we'll ever be? I didn't even get that. I became an old man at
seventeen. Alleria, I'm even younger than Turalyon! Look at this face. I'm twenty-two—but
what twenty-two year old girl would have this old man?" He pointed angrily at his face—
lined, framed by snow-white beard and hair. She gasped slightly and stepped back.
Compassion softened her expression. Suddenly embarrassed, Khadgar looked away. "I
just—to watch the two of you throwing away something I'll never even get to taste—it
bothers me, sometimes. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you." "No—I'm
sorry. I didn't think." The silence hung, heavy and awkward, between them. Finally
Khadgar sighed. "Come on. Let's go find Turalyon and the others. We need to finalize our
plans. Because, this is going to happen . . . well, you know." "Soon," she said, and gave him
an uncharacteristically gentle smile.],

panacea (n.) – something that will solve all problems; something that will cure all
illnesses [Technology is not a panacea for all our problems. Tears stung Turalyon's own
eyes. His heart was breaking for her. But she needed this. She needed to grieve, to mourn
the dead. Kilting orcs was no longer the panacea it once had been; it was no longer keeping
the pain at bay. and she was starting to come undone with the holding-in of all of it.] –
synonyms & related words [cure-all, elixir, catholicon, cure, nostrum, relief, remed],

come undone (id.) – to become disintegrated, to break into parts or pieces –

synonyms & related words [split, break, crack, disband, divide, dissolve, isolate, open,
rip, rive, separate, sever, splinter, tear, branch, burst, cleave, dichotomize, disjoin,
dissever, disunite, diverge, civorce, fork, gape, hack, part, rend, snap, sunder, come apart,
give way, go separate ways, part asunder],

„Ako možete vježbati ruke i noge, zašto ne i mozak?“,

avuncular (adj.) – friendly, kind, or helpful, like the expected behaviour of an uncle[An
avuncular, quietly spoken man. His avuncular image belies his steely determination.
Dentarg glanced down at Gorefiend. "Why doesn't he stay?" "I have far more knowledge of
rifts and portals than you do," the death knight said. "Ner’zhul will need my help with the
ritual, or I would stay here and teach those humans a thing or two about magic." Dentarg's
small, piggy eyes darted back to Ner’zhul. "I do need him with me," Ner’zhul said in an
avuncular, almost apologetic tone.],

totter (v.) – to walk with difficulty in a way that looks as if you are about to fall; to
shake and move from side to side; (of a company, government, etc,) to become weaker
and less likely to carry on existing [She tottered unsteadily down the stairs in her high-
heeled shoes. Several tall piles of books tottered and fell. The industry has tottered from
crisis to crisis now for two years. The force of die impacts jolted him, and he had to fight
not to totter back a step, but the orcs found themselves tossed aside and cither slammed
into the wall or toppled from the stairs, and fell to the ground below.] – synonyms &
related words [move falteringly, careen, lurch, teeter, wobble, blunder, dodder, falter,
flounder, hesitate, quake, quiver, reel, rock, roll, seesaw, shake, shimmy, slide, slip,
stagger, stammer, stumble, sway, topple, tremble, trip, waver, weave, wheel, zigzag, walk
unsteadily],

dodder (v.) – to shake or tremble as one moves, especially as of old age or childhood,
to totter [The ranger had not expected her first major assignment to be playing nursemaid
to some doddering and clearly forgetful old mage.],

at face value (id.) – for what something appears to be [I took the offer at face value
because I didn't think they would try to trick me. "One night," he said finally. "We'll camp
one night, rest, and attack at first light." "A wise choice," Talthrcssar agreed, and as usual
Danath could not tell if the ranger was being sarcastic or sincere. And. as he always did, he
decided to ignore the elf's tone and take his words at face value.],

many hands make light work (id.) – a task is soon accomplished if several people
help [Danath stared at the elf. "You're the one who was pointing out how tired my men
were! And now instead of resting they're cutting and placing posts?" Talthrcssar smiled. "It
is but a few posts, and many hands make light work. see for yourself the results,"],

(random cool paragraph) – [Jutting from the cow! was not a human face, but the
head of a bird. It had a long, sharp face, most of it a glossy violet beak, and slanting oval
eyes that glowed yellow in the night. A cluster of feathers rose above each eye like a human
brow, and these merged with the shock of red, purple, gold, and brown feathers all around
the head to form the equivalent of hair. One bright eye was partially closed; the elves had
not been gentle in their capture. "What manner of creature arc you, and what were you
doing skulking about our camp?" Talthrcssar demanded. "You're wasting your breath,"
Danath said. "It can't understand our language." "But Grizzik, yes! He docs! And no harm
he means!" The creature's voice was a strange trill, but clearly understandable. Danath
blinked at him. "He's like a trained parrot—all sound, no meaning," one of the men
muttered, and raised a fist to silence the birdman. "No, wait," Danath ordered. "Say that
again." "Grizzik! No harm he means, no no! Only want to know—who you be? Why you
come?" Danath glanced at Talthrcssar, who shrugged, stepped back, and let Danath direct
the inquisition. "Your name's Grizzik?" At die rapid nodding, Danath continued, 'Answer
our questions and maybe well answer yours. What arc you?" "Grizzik is arakkoa," the bird-
man answered, his words oddly clipped and each followed with whistles and sighs. "Old
race. Oldest maybe in world. Grizzik curious. No harm!" "So you keep saying. But why were
you spying on us? How do you know our language?" "Arakkoa clever," Grizzik said proudly.
"Smart. Grizzik follow you, listen close, learn fast! Think you strange. Curious." "Arc the
arakkoa friends of the Horde or their enemies?" That produced the greatest reaction yet.
Grizzik's facial feathers puffed up like a frightened bird's and he huddled in on himself.
"Fear and hate them Grizzik . . . I . . . do. Not bad once. I have seen. But now . . . ." He
shivered. Danath had seen enough of Grizzik by now to realize he was no physical threat
and nodded to the elves who still held the intruder. "Give him water, and tend to his
wounds," he told them. To Grizzik, he said, "Explain. "Arakkoa ancient people. We stay to
selves. But! We watch peaceful draenci, primitive orcs. But who could know? Madness come
to orcs. What—we know not."],

(random cool paragraph) – [Now he strode down a long, dark tunnel, only the torch
in his hand providing any light. Grizzik was perhaps ten feet in front of him, and
Talthrcssar was between the two of them, neither the arakkoa nor the elf requiring
additional light to make their way. And behind Danath walked fully half the Alliance
army.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Danath glanced at Talthrcssar and Rcllian, who

nodded. He took a deep breath, and followed the draenci into Auchindoun, "Have you lived
here by yourself all these years?" he asked softly as Ncmuraan led them into a second wide
hallway and then through a series of twisting corridors. "There arc others," the Auchcnai
replied, his staff raised to light the way. "Several of us survived the Horde's attack and fled
into the tunnels. Other draenci joined us later, seeking refuge from the Horde's sudden
onslaught. Many of them died in the explosion, and others have been lost since. Only a
handful of us remain," Danath glanced around, wondering where these others might be.
but ahead of him Ncmuraan shook his head. "You will not see them. Though you seem noble
and true, it would not be wise for me to put the rest of my people at risk. They will remain
hidden while I aid you. so that if you do betray me, our race will yet continue," "A wise
precaution," Danath agreed. "I'd have done the same," They continued to walk for some
time, finally stopping at another door. "This marks the start of the Shadow Labyrinth,"
Ncmuraan explained. "Behind it lies the Horde." He turned and studied Danath closely, his
face somber yet his eyes alight with ... anticipation? Joy? "I would aid you further, if you will
permit it," he offered softly, "though I warn that the type of aid might prove unsettling to
some." Danath frowned and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" The Auchcnai bowed
his head. "In my keeping arc the souls of all our departed," he explained humbly, hands
clasped on his staff. "At times of great need I may call upon them. I would do so now—they
would relish the chance to cleanse these halls of the orcs' foul touch." Danath was a litdc
shaken at the mattcr-of-factness with which this was presented. He knew the Horde's death
knights wereorcspirits placed in human bodies, so clearly spirits could survive beyond
death, although he'd always been taught the dead should be left to rest in peace. But if
Ncmuraan was a protector of the dead, it would be all right if he asked for their help . . .
wouldn't it? Danath had said to Turalyon earlier that the ghosts of the men who had fallen
would fight with him when they found the orcs, but he'd been speaking metaphorically. It
looked as though the ghosts of someone's fallen took such comments literally. Finally
Danath shrugged. Such questions were for those of a more esoteric mind-set, and from a
military standpoint he could certainly use all the help they could get. "I am honored," he
told Ncmuraan. "And if it would not disturb or anger them, we would welcome their
assistance." Ncmuraan nodded and bowed deeply, clearly pleased with Danath's reply, then
straightened and raised his staff high. Violet light blossomed down the length of the
hallway, filling it with light and awakening answering gleams all along the ceiling. These
gleams grew brighter rather than dimming, their colors shifting from violet to blue to
green to gold as they descended and expanded, gaining shape and definition. The one
nearest Danath and Ncmuraan altered to reveal a massive figure, clearly a draenci but
burlier than Ncmuraan and wearing ornate plate armor rather than robes, a giant
warhammcr across one shoulder and a long cape trailing behind him. Others came into
crisp focus as well, filling the room. And they were all staring at Danath and his men. A
wind sprung out of nowhere, rustling Danath's cape, stirring Talthrcssar's long hair. A
deep coldness seized Danath and he began to shiver uncontrollably. The spectral warriors
advanced, beautiful and implacable, and Danath was rooted to the spot in sudden terror.
Their leader extended a hand and brushed Danath's forehead with it. The human cried out
as images filled his mind—young Farrol and Vann in the stables before departing. Vann's
words cut off as anorcclub had silenced him forever. Crouching low over his horse, living so
the dead could know peace. Sky'rcc, returning riderless. Bodies ... so many of them, my boys,
my boys, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry— The image of the Horde, strong and armed, racing over
fertile fields that were not Azeroth, Hundreds of fields, hundreds of worlds, innocent people
dying as a green wave that did not belong in that place snuffed the life out of it. Moving on
to the next, and the next— "Your soul is troubled, Danath Trollbane of the Alliance," said
the spirit, though his face did not move. The words were in his mind. "You grieve for the
fallen. Though you have come here with grief and rage in your heart, the true reasons that
drive you arc good and just. Be at peace. I am Boulestraan. once known as the Blinding
Light, and my army and I shall aid you in your struggle." The cold terror faded, replaced by
an odd sort of peace. Danath blinked. He looked again at the spirit and saw with a start
that its eyes were pure gold, and that a flare of golden light rose from its brow as well. "We
arc in your debt," Danath managed. It was difficult to force the words out, or to tear his
eyes from the figure before him. and Danath wondered if this was what Turalyon meant
when he referred to the glory of the Holy Light, For Boulestraan and his ghostly warriors
were no longer terrifying in the least. They were glorious, golden and gleaming and
beautiful. Danath realized he'd just been tested, and relief washed over him as he regarded
the draenci dead hovering protectively around his men.],

(random cool paragraph) – [This new door opened onto a much smaller room, and
occupying half the space was a strange wooden framework like a rough table with raised
crossbeams. Lashed to those beams was a short, muscular figure. Blood had dried in a pool
around him, had caked on his flesh. He sagged, unconscious, against the restraints, and
Danath. seasoned warrior though he was. stared for a precious moment in simple horror at
the atrocities perpetrated on his friend, Danath was already hacking at the ropes binding
his friend. "Kurdran!" he shouted, grasping his friend. "Kurdran!" Talthrcssar murmured
something in his musical tongue, but he too was pale as he helped Danath lower the
Wildhammcr to the table. Danath was still in shock. Both of Kurdran's arms bent in
unnatural ways, and his muscular body seemed to have more welts and cuts than tattoos
now. His hands and feet were utterly broken, as if crushed with a club; the only sign that he
was even alive was a faint rise and fall of his chest. The dwarf looked like something they'd
find in a butcher's shoo. What had the orcs done to him ,"Light... I don't even know where to
start." Danath said, his voice thick, staring at the bloody, broken body. "I do ... if you will
permit me." Danath's head whipped up. Nemuraan had come forward, his staff glowing. "I
am a priest of my people. I would do what I can to heal him. But you should know—your
friend's spirit clings to life only tenuously. I can try to heal him, or I can case his crossing. If
you would rather let him pass "No!" Danath cried. "I've seen too many—please. If you can
heal him, please do it." Danath and Talthressar stepped back as the draenei extended a
hand. He placed it on Kurdran's head, matted with dried blood, and lifted his staff with the
other hand. Closing his eyes, the Auchenai began to pray. Danath gasped softly as a pure,
gende radiance limned Nemuraan's form. He didn't know the words, but they calmed his
heart. The glow brightened at the draenei's hand where it rested on Kurdran's brow. The
radiance increased, until it was so bright Danath reluctantly closed his eyes against it. He'd
seen this before. This being from another world, this draenei, so strange in appearance to
him— he was wielding the Light, Just as Turalyon did. A grunt made Danath open his eyes.
"Eh? What?" Kurdran muttered, his head tossing from side to side. "Do yer worst, ye green-
skinned beasties!" He opened his eyes and stared straight up at the blue figure bending
over him. "It's all right." Danath assured him before he could struggle, placing a hand on
the dwarf's shoulder. Nemuraan stepped back, the light around him starting to fade, and
smiled. "He's . .. will he be . .. ?" "I have done all I could. He is healed, for the most part. But
not all scars can be erased, nor things that are broken made as they were before." "Who's
broken?" Kurdran snorted. He sat up slowly, flexing his hands and feet, touching his body.
"Hch. Dinna know I had that much blood in me." He peered up at Danath. "Ah, Danath.
lad!" he said when he realized who was beside him, his broad face splitting into a wide grin.
"It's ye, then, eh? And about bloody time! Not to worry—those beastics got not a word out
o' me. Did ye bring my hammer?" "He should rest," the draenei warned. "Bah! Rest is for the
dead," Kurdran growled. "And sometimes not even for them," Talthressar said quietly,
glancing at Nemuraan. "He's a Wildhammer," Danath said to the priest; it was the best
explanation he could come up with. "I brought it, Kurdran. Here." The hammer had been on
Sky'ree when the gryphon had returned, and Danath had possessed enough foresight to
bring it with him into the tunnel. He handed over the weapon, and couldn't help grinning
as the dwarf took the ponderous hammer and hefted it, though Kurdran moved more
slowly and stiffly than before. "Good.“],
damnedest (adj.) – very surprising or unusual [Well that's the damnedest excuse I've
ever heard.],

do your damnedest (id.) – to try very hard [I don't know if I'll succeed but I'll do my
damnedest! Kurdran, meanwhile, was focusing upon the orcs in the front of the room, the
Wildhammcr single-handedly keeping them at bay with furious swings and throws of his
stormhammcr, his fighting spirit unbroken although the orcs had done their damnedest to
break his body.],

in your element (id.) – in a situation you know well and enjoy [Gerard stood up to
sing in front of his classmates, and you could see he was in his element. Turalyon nodded,
but his focus was on the attacking creatures. He was back in his element now, and had
settled at once into the military commander mind-set.],

peal (v.) – when bells peal, they ring with a loud sound [After their wedding, the bells
pealed out from the tower.] – synonyms & related words [chime, clang, bell, bong, crack,
crash, knell, resonate, resound, reverberate, ring, roar, roll, rumble, sound, strike,
thunder, toll, ring out, tintinnabulate]

peal (n.) – a long loud sound or series of sounds, especially of laughter or thunder; a
long loud ring [Her suggestion was met with peals of laughter. A loud peal of thunder woke
him from restless sleep. When we heard the peal of (the) bells, we knew a truce had been
declared. "Yes," Khadgar answered desperately. But Gruul was not so easily tricked. He
tilted back his monstrous head, his fang-filled mouth gaping open—and laughed. The deep
peals shook the walls around them and sent several small spires shattering to the ground.
"Kill baby dragons, maybe," it said, still grinning. "We do that. Not need help. No, you die."]
– synonyms & related words [chime, clang, blast, carillon, clamor, clap, crash,
resounding, reverberation, ring, ringing, roar, rumble, sound, thunder, tintinnabulate],

spring (v.) – (slang) to release or set free, especially from prison [Turalvon frowned and
studied his short friend. "I'm glad you escaped." "Nay, rescued, I was, and healed up right
proper," Kurdran corrected. "The lad Danath sprung me, an' stormed their great ruin ta
boot. Called Auchindoun, it were. Found ourselves a strange-looking friend there who
might teach even ye a thing or two about healing wi' the Light. Good thing too—I, er,
wasn't at me best." Turalyon looked with fresh admiration at his friend. What Kurdran had
said amounted to a confession of being at death's door. "I'm glad," he said fervently.],

vise (n.) – a tool with two parts that can be moved together by tightening a screw so
that an object can be held firmly between them while it is being worked on [Vises are
often used to hold pieces of wood that are being cut or smothered. Her hand tightened like
a vise around his arm. "You cannot win," Gorefiend hissed through gritted teeth. "I am
already dead—what is the worst you could do to me?" His truncheon jabbed forward,
catching Turalyon in the stomach and doubling him over, and Gorefiend's hand brushed
the back of Turalyon's helm. Instantly pain blossomed in Turalyon's head, as if a vise had
gripped his helm and was squeezing it tight onto his temples and skull. Stars exploded
behind his eyes and he felt the world tilt crazily around him. In desperation he swung his
hammer again, a mighty two-handed arc, and felt the heavy head strike something solid.],

fray around/at the edges (id.) – to start to become less effective or successful
[Without the unifying forces of the army and the monarchy, it seems, the nation would
begin to fray at the edges.],

fray (v.) – (cloth) to become or to cause the threads in cloth or rope to become slightly
separated, forming loose threads at the edge or end [Denim frays so easily. I frayed the
edges of my jeans since that was the fashion in those days. The ribbon frayed at the ut end.
The hectic day ended in frayed nerves. A rift. It was a rift. Ner’zhul recognized the feel of it,
the raw power that frayed air and earth and nature, the throbbing link that bound this
world to the next.] – synonyms & related words [shred, come apart, erode, frazzle
,unravel, wear away, chafe, fret, ravel, rip, rub, tatter, tear, wear, become ragged, become
threadbare, wear thin],

tempers (get/become) frayed (id.) – if you say that tempers are getting frayed,
you mean that people are getting angry with each other [Tempers frayed at Thanksgiving
when Uncle Stu and Aunt Marsha started arguing about politics.],

fray (n.) – the fray, an energetic and often not well-organized effort, activity, fight, or
disagreement [With a third country about to enter (= take part) in the fray, the fighting
looks set to continue. A good holdiay should leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the
fray (= ready to work) again.],

broach (v.) – (break, breach) to open, to make an opening into, to pierce; (begin) to
begin a discussion of something difficult [French knights at Agincourt were unable to
broach the English line. At some point we've got to discuss money but I don't know how to
broach the subject with him. Ner’zhul was a shaman, not a mage. His magics came from
the earth and the sky and the water, from the world itself. And that was what this place
was, a focal point for the world's power. For Ner’zhul it would have been like tapping full
force into something he had already broached repeatedly, but on a lesser scale— he would
know how to handle it. For Khadgar, however, it was a completely new experience. And a
dangerous one.] – synonyms & related words [bring up, hint at, moot, touch on, interject,
introduce, mention, propose, submit, open up, raise subject, speak of, talk of, propound,
put forward,],

broach (v.) – (open) (formal) to open a bottle or make a hole in, especially a cask of
liquor, and put a tap in order to drink its contnents [Shall we broach another cask of
wine?],

vagaries (n.) – unexpected events or changes that cannot be controlled and can
influence a situation [The success of the event will be determined by the vagaries of the
weather. She had her own style and was not influenced by the vagaries of fashion. The Book
of Medivh. "I am no . . . shaman. But Obris is smart enough to know . .. that this will be of
use to you, will it not?" Khadgar hesitated. Th eor cwas a few steps away from death, but it
could still be some kind of trick. "Yes," he said at last. "Why do you give it to me then? I am
your enemy." "You at least arc an honorable foe," Obris growled. "Ner’zhul betrayed us. He
re-formed the Horde, and forced my Laughing Skull clan back into the fold. He promised us
a new start. But as soon as—" He coughed and then continued in a ragged voice. "As soon
as he found safety, he fled. He and his favorites live. . . . The rest of us ... we arc nothing to
him." The eyes flashed with a final spark. "It would please me to know my last act . . . was to
defy him. Take it. Take it, curse you! Take it and make him pay for his treachery." Khadgar
moved toward the dyingorcand gently took the book from his blackened, bloody hands. "I
promise you, Obris: We will do everything in our power to stop Ner’zhul." The orc nodded,
closed his eyes, and went still. The vagaries of fate, Khadgar mused, quickly undoing die
clasps and opening the book to glance through its pages He remembered first seeing this
massive tome back in medivh's library only a few years ago. So much had changed since
then; it felt like a lifetime. Then, he had been terrified of the book but overpowered by
curiosity. Fortunately, its wards had prevented him from even turning the cover, or else the
magics contained within might have destroyed him. Now Khadgar bypassed them with
case, and skimmed the book's contents with growing excitement. As he expected, the book
contained details about how medivh and Gul'dan had worked together to create the rift.
Armed with these necessary details and the still-lingering power in Gul’dan's skull.
Khadgar was confident he could now shut down the Dark Portal for good. But could he do
so in time? We should be there in three weeks, maybe four, the naval officer said, standing
illuminated in the glow of the star chart on the pict-display behind him. Though given the
vagaries of warp travel and the relativity of time in the Empyrean, you should understand
that giving anything even resembling a definite answer in this regard is entirely out of the
question.] – synonyms & related words [caprice, quirk, whim, crotchet, fancy, impulse,
notion, whimsy, fool notion, idiosyncrasy, peculiarity, oddity, eccentricity,
unpredictability, fluctuation, foible, conceit, kink, megrim, singularity],

foible (n.) – a strange habit or characteristic that is seen as not important and not
harming anyone, a quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism, unusual habit or way (usage is
typically plural) that is slightly strange or silly; a weakness or failing of character;
(fencing) part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte [We
all have our little foibles. Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.
They have to tolerate each other's little foibles. We have to tolerate each other's little
foibles.] – synonyms & related words [weakness, weak point, weak spot, failing,
shortcoming, flaw, imperfection, blemish, fault, defect, frailty, infirmity, inadequacy,
limitation; quirk, kink, idiosyncrasy, eccentricity, peculiarity, abnormality; Achilles heel,
chink in one's armour, hang-up],

shortcoming (n.) – a fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a perosn's

character, a plan, or a system [He discussed the shortcomings of his wife. He was fully
aware of his own shortcomings.] – synonyms & related words [defect, fault, flaw,
imperfection, deficiency, limitation, blemish, failing, drawback, weakness, weak point,
foible, fallibility, frailty, vice, infirmity],

megrim (n.) – (rare) a headache, a migraine; (in the plural) depression, low spirits,
unhapiness; (rare) a fancy, a whim, a caprice; (in the plural) any of various diseases of
animals, especially horses, marked by a disturbance of equilirium and abnormal gait and
behavior such as staggers or a sudden vertigo, sometimes followed by unconsciousness,
the staggers [Exercise could banish most megrims. He moved from city to city on the whims
and megrims of his employer.] – synonyms & related words [bee, caprice, crank, fancy,
freak, humor, kink, maggot, whim, notion, vagary, vagrancy, whimsy; capriciousness,
fancifulness, fnatasy, phantasy, freakishness, impetousity, whimsicality, conceit, concept,
conception, image, impression, mind's eye, picture, thought, brainstorm, inspiration],

vagarious (adj.) – subject to vagaries, erratic; tending to wander or roam; capricious

[The vagarious behavior of some particles. The vagarious changes of the Warp.] –
synonyms & related words [arbitrary, careless, erratic, fickle, flighty, helter-skelter,
impulsive, quirky, temperamental, unpredictable, unreasonable, unstable, volatile,
wayward, whimsical, any way the wind blows, blowing hot and cold, changeful, contrary,
crotchety, effervescent, every which way, fanciful, fitful, flaky, freakish, gaga,
humorsome, inconstant, kinky, lubricious, mercurial, modoy, mutable, notional, odd,
pricky, punchy, queer, ticklish, up and down, variable],

leave well enough alone (id.) – to allow something to stay as it is because doing
more might make things worse [I could rewrite it, but I cedied to leave well enough alone.
"I—," Ner’zhul began, but his brain could barely formulate words. "You could not leave
well enough alone," Kil'jacdcn finished for him.],

stentorian (adj.) – using a very loud voice, or (of a voice) very loud [A stentorian
preacher. Suddenly a stentorian voice boomed across the room. “Something is happening in
Khaz Modan,” announced the first in a stentorian voice, the vague image of a bearded face
briefly visible. A myriad pattern of stars floated through his body. “Near or in the caverns
held by the Dragonmaw clan.”] – synonyms & related words [very loud, blaring, loud,
resounding, sonorous, orotund, booming],

orotund (adj.) – an orotund voice is loud and clear, characterized by fulness, clarity,
strength and smoothness of sound; containing extremely formal and complicated
language intended to impress people, pompous, bombastic [Halliwell's orotund voice.
The orotund rhetoric of his prose.] – synonyms & related words [deep, sonorous, strong,
powerful, full, full-toned, rich, fruity, clear, round, resonant, ringling, reverberating, loud,
booming, imposing, canorous, pompous, pretentious, affected, mannered, fulsome,
grandiose, ornate, over-elaborate, overblown, flowery, florid, flamboyant, inflated, high-
flown, high-sounding, magniloquent, grandiloquent, declamatory, rhetorical, oratorical,
theatrical, actorly, rotund, bombastic, overwrought, overdone, overripe, convoluted,
turgid, highfalutin, purple, tumid, aureate, fustian, hyperventilated],

get (n.) – offspring; lineage, breed, litter [You must admit that the bastard get of Paul
Atreides would be no more than juicy morsels for those two tigers. „You were a high lord's
get. Don't tell me Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell never killed a man.“ “The death of two
red dragons, two of Alexstrasza's get. Torn asunder in a manner only one of their own
kind— one of gargantuan proportions—could have managed.”] – synonyms & related
words [children, sons and daughters, progeny, family, youngsters, babies, brood;
descendants, heirs, successors, scions; young, litter, fry; issue; kids, quiverful, spawn,
seed, fruit, fruit if one's loins, child, baby, infant, son, daughter, youngster, little one, tot,
tiny tot, descendant, heir, successor, bairn, wean, pickney, kiddlewink, nipper, brat, lad,
shaver, munchkin, tiny, chick, sprog, outjie, lighty, babe, kid, kiddie]

sniping (n.) – to make malicious, underhand remarks or attacks; the act of adversely
criticizing a person or persons from a position of security [“You're referring to the
Alterac crisis, aren't you?” rumbled the bearded mage. “Why should the continued sniping
of Lordaeron and Stromgarde worry us more than Deathwing's possible return?”] –
synonyms & related words [provocation, teasing, barb, derision, gibe, insult, jab, jeer,
put-down, ridicule, brickbat, censure, mockery, swipe],

derision (n.) – contemptuous ridicule or mockery [My stories were greeted with derision
and disbelief.] – synonyms & related words [mockery, ridicule, jeering, jeers, sneers,
scoffing, jibing, taunts; disdain, disparagement, denigration, disrespect, pooh-poohing;
sneering, scorn, scornfulness, taunting, insults; contempt, vilification, obloquy;
lampooning, satire; ragging, teasing, chaffing, raillery; contumely],

raillery (n.) – good-humored teasting [She was greeted with raillery from her fellow
workers.] – synonyms & related words [teasing, good-humored mockery, chaff, banter,
ragging, badinage, japing, leg-pulling, ribbing, joshing, kidding, kidology, josh,
persiflage],

obloquy (n.) – strong public condemnation [He endured years of contempt and
obloquy.] – synonyms & related words [vilification, opprobrium, vituperation,
condemnation, castigation, denunciation, abuse, criticism, censure, flak, defamation,
denigration, disparagement, derogation, slander, revilement, reviling, calumny,
calumniation, execration, excoriation, lambasting, upbraiding, bad press, character
assassination, attack, invective, libel, insults, aspersions; mud-slinging, bad-mouthing,
tongue-lashing, stick, verbal, slagging off, contumely, animadversion, objurgation],

obloquy (n.) – disgrace, especially that brought about by public condemnation

[Conduct to which no more obloquy could reasonably attach.] – synonyms & related
words [disgrace, dishonour, shame, discredit, stigma, humiliation, loss of face, ignominy,
odium, opprobrium, disfavour, disrepute, ill repute, infamy, notoriety, scandal, stain;
disesteem],

juncture (n.) – a particular point in time [At this juncture, it is impossible to say whether
she will make a full recovery. The sixth waited until all had spoken, then slowly nodded.
“And the only skilled wizard we can afford to be without at this juncture. Besides, this is
simply a mission of observance. He will be nowhere near any potential crisis. His duty will
be to monitor matters and report back, that is all.” When no more protests arose, the dark
mage added, “I am certain that he has learned his lesson.”] – synonyms & related [turning
point, crossroad, crisis, crux, moment, occasion, pass, predicament, quandary, strait,
time],

strait (n.) – (water) a narrow area of sea that connects two larger areas of sea;
(difficulty) straits, a difficult situation, especially because of financial problems [The
Straits of Gibraltar. So many companies are in such dire/difficult straits that their p rices
have come right down.] – synonyms & related [channel, sound, narrows, inlet, stretch of
water, arm of the sea, sea passage, neck, kyle, crisis, difficulty, bind, bottleneck, dilemma,
distress, emergency, hardship, hole, rigor, choke point, turning point, squeeze, mess,
pinch, vicissitude, a bad/difficult sitaution, a sorry condition, difficulty, trouble, crisis, a
mess, a predicament, a jam, a hole, a bind, a fix, a scrape] –

vicissitude(s) (n.) – changes that happen at different times during the life or
developmeng of someone or something, especially those that result in conditions being
worse [Losing your job is just one of the vicissitudes of life.],

recalcitrant (adj.) – (of a person) unwilling to obey orders or to do what should be

done, unwilling to cooperate socially, difficult to deal with or to operate, or (of an
animal) refusing to be controlled; (botany, of seed, pollen, spores) not viable for an
extended period, damaged by drying or freezing [Tall, slim, and clad in an elegant robe of
midnight blue, he made for quite a sight, even to other wizards. Rhonin hardly appeared
recalcitrant, even though his last mission had cost the lives of five good men. He stood
straight and eyed the murk, waiting to see from which direction the other wizard would
speak to him.] – synonyms & related words [disobedient, uncontrollable, fractious,
obstinate, rebellious, unruly, wayward, contumacious, defiant, indomitable,
insubmissive, insubordinate, intractable, refractory, stubborn, undisciplinable,
ungovernable, unmanageable, unwilling, untoward, wild, willful, withstanding],

steeple (v.) – to form something into the shape of a steeple [He steepled his fingers as
he considered the question. The shadowed wizard propped back, as if sitting in an immense
chair the younger spellcaster could not see. Gloved hands steepled as the figure seemed to
consider the proper choice of words. “They have not been easy on you, Rhonin. Some in the
council even considered forever dismissing you from our ranks. You must earn your way
back, and to do that, you will have to fulfill this mission to the letter.”],
aptitude (n.) – a natural ability or skill [My son has no/little aptitude for sport. We will
take your personal aptitudes and abilities into account. “You make it sound like no easy
task.” “It involves dragons . . . and something they believe only one of youraptitudecan
manage to accomplish.”] – synonyms & related words [predilection, propensity,
disposition, drift, proclivity, tendency, competence, flair, knack, proficiency, savvy,
capability, capacity, faculty, gift, smarts, stuff, talent, what it takes, giftedness, ability,
cleverness, intelligence],

propensity (n.) – an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way [His

propensity for violence. Her propensity to jump to conclusions. Given Guilliman's analytic
mind and propensity for fine tuning things, he probably took Corax's words to heart.] –
synonyms & related words [tendency, inclination, predisposition, proneness, proclivity,
readiness, suceptibility, liability, disposition, aptness, penchant, leaning, predilection,
bemth abit, weakness],

modulate (v.) – exert a modifying or controlling influence on; vary the strength, tone,
or pitch of (one's voices) [The state attempts to modulate private business's cash flow. The
cells modulate the body's immune response. We all modulate our voice by hearing it. She
modulated her voice so as to speak more gently.] – synonyms & related words [regulate,
adjust, set, attune, balance, harmonize, temper, modify, moderate, change the one of,
vary, inflect, tune, adapt, fine-tune, calibrate],

odious (adj.) – extremely unpleasant and causing or deserving hate [An odious crime.
An odious little man. Truly Lord Prestor stood out among the many odious courtiers
flocking to the palace. Here was a man anyone could believe in, a man worthy of trust and
respect in all matters. Terenas wished his own son could have been more like Prestor.] –
synonyms & related words [hateful, horrible, abhorrent, abominable, disgusting, horrid,
loathsome, obnoxious, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, vile, creepy, detestable, execrable,
foul, hateable, mean, offensive, ornery, pain in the neck, repellent, unpleasant; revolting,
repulsive, repellent, repugnant, disgusting, offensive, objectionable, vile, foul, abhorrent,
loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, sickening, hateful, detestable, execrable, abominable,
monstrous, appalling, reprehensible, deplorable, insufferable, intolerable, unacceptable,
despicable, contemptible, beyond the pale, unspeakable, poisonous, noxious, obscene,
base, hideous, grisly, gruesome, horrendous, heinous, atrocious, awful, terrible, dreadful,
frightful, obnoxious, unsavoury, unpalatable, unpleasant, disagreeable, nasty, distasteful,
dislikeable, off-putting, displeasing; ghastly, horrible, horrid, gross, putrid, sick-making,
yucky, God-awful, beastly, bogging, skanky, noisome, disgustful, scurvy, loathly],

execrable (adj.) – extremely bad or unpleasant [Execrable cheap wine. An execrable

piece of work.] – synonyms & related words [appalling, awful, dreadful, terrible, frightful,
atrocious, very bad, lamentable; disgusting, deplorable, disgraceful, reprehensible,
shameful, abominable, abhorrent, loathsome, odious, heinous, hateful, detestable,
despicable, foul, vile, scandalous, contemptible, repugnant, repellent, revolting,
unspeakable, wretched; abysmal, diabolical, shocking, rotten, woeful, lousy, dire, the
pits, God-awful, tenth-rate, chronic, pants, a load of pants, crap, shit, egregious],

execrate (v.) – feel or express great loathing for [They were execrated as dangerous
and corrupt.] – synonyms & related words [revile, denounce, decry, condemn, vilify;
detest, loathe, hate, abhor, abominate, despise, regard with disgust, feel disgust for, feel
aversion/revulsion to; excoriate, anathematize, vilipend],

revile (v.) – criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner [He was now reviled by
the party that he had helped to lead. He was arrested and reviled as a traitor.] – synonyms
& related words [criticize, censure, condemn, attack, inveigh against, rail against,
lambaste, flay, savage, brand, stigmatize, denounce; blacken someone's reputation,
defame, smear, slander, libel, traduce, cast aspersions on, cast a slur on, malign, vilify,
calumniate, besmirch, run down, abuse, knock, slam, pan, bash, take to pieces, take
apart, cruficy, hammer, lay into, slate, roast, skewer, bad-mouth, rubbish, slag off,
monster, pummel, bag, vituperate against, excoriate],

witticism (n.) – a remark that is both clever and humorous [“You've the shadow of a
smile on your face—did someone die a horrible, grisly, bloody death, o venomous one?”
“Spare me your witticisms, Kryll,” Lord Prestor replied as he shut the great iron door
behind him.] – synonyms & related words [funny message, gibe, wisecrack, gag, jest, joke,
mot, pun, quip, remark, sally, bon mot],

chalet (n.) – a small wooden house found in the mountain areas, especially in
Switzerland, or a house built in a similar style, especially one used by people on holiday
[Above, in the old chalet given over to him by his host, King Terenas, servants specifically
chosen by Prestor stood guard to see that no unwarranted visitors dropped in. Their
master had work to do, and even if none of the servants truly knew what went on in the
chambers below-ground, they had been made to know that it would be their lives if he was
disturbed.],

to your name (id.) – if you have nothing or very little to your name, you own very
little or have no money, in one's possession [He had arrived in America without a penny
to his name. My uncle gambled away his fortune, and now he hardly has a penny to his
name. She calls herself a novelist, but she only has a few short stories to her name.],

madcap (adj.) – used to describe silly and funny behavior or a plan taht is very silly
and funny and unlikely to succeeed [The madcap antics of the clowns. “Aaah, gracious
one,” Kryll began, the madcap smile once more upon his bestial face. “Luck is with you this
day, it seems! Perhaps you should consider making a wager somewhere? The stars must
truly favor—” “What is it?”] – synonyms & related words [zany, eccentric, ridiculous,
unconventional, weird, reckless, rash, hot-headed, daredevil, impulsive, wild, daring,
adventurous, heedless, thoughtless, incautious, imprudent, indiscreet, ill-advised, hasty,
foolhardy, foolish, senseless, impractical, hare-brained, crazy, crackpot, crackbrained,
radge, mad],

veracity (n.) – the qualit yof being true, honest, or accurate [Doubts were cast on the
veracity of her alibi. The emerald eyes of the mage narrowed. “I'm sorry; you took that as
an insult. Didn't mean it that way.” She doubted the veracity of his statement, but knew she
had to accept his weak attempt at an apology. Forcing down her anger, she asked again,
“What do you find so curious?”] – synonyms & related words [truthfulness, truth,
accuracy, accurateness, correctness, exactness, precision, preciseness, realism,
authenticity, faithfulness, fidelity; reputability, honesty, sincerity, trustworthiness,
reliability, dependability, scrupulousness, ethics, morality, righteousness, virtuousness,
decency, goodness, probity],

probity (n.) – (formal) complete honesty, the quality of having strong moral principles,
honesty and decency [Her probity and integrity are beyond question. Financial probity.
The chancellor exuded competence and fiscal probity.] – synonyms & related words
[integrity, honesty, uprightness, decency, morality, rectitude, goodness, virtue, right-
mindedness, trustworthiness, truthfulness, honor, honorableness, justice, fairness,
equity, principles, ethics],

rectitude (n.) – (formal) honesty and correct moral behavior [An austere man of
unquestioned moral rectitude, Nava inspired deep devotion in those who worked for him.
Mattie is a model of rectitude. Local worthies rarely challenged the rectitude of the chief
constable.],

preturb (v.) – to worry someone [News of the arrest perturbed her greatly.] –
synonyms & related words [upset, unsettle, agittate, alarm, annoy, bewilder, confound,
confuse, disconcert, dismay, disturb, fluster, irritate, muddle, perplex, vex, bother, bug,
disarrange, discompose, discountenance, disorder, disquiet, flurry, needle, pester, ruffle,
trouble, worry, make a scene, make waves, stir up],

unperturbed (adj.) – not worried about something, especially when this is slightly
surprising [He seemed completely unperturbed at the idea of having to sing in a room full
of strangers. Their huge, gray war-horses, also armored on top, seemed unperturbed by the
extra weight foisted upon them.] – synonyms & related words [unruffled, composed,
placid, undisturbed, calm, collected, serene, tranquil, unagitated, unflurried, unflustered,
unstirred, unvexed, unworried, unbothered],

twinge (n.) – a sudden short feeling of physical or mental pain [I felt a twinge in my
knee. He was feeling twinges from a calf injury after 20 minutes of the game. I admit I felt a
twinge of guilt as we left. Curiously, though, the wizard felt a twinge of possessiveness now
that he did not have to deal with Vereesa on his own.After all, she was appointed my guide.
She should remain true to her duty until Hasic.] – synonyms & related words [sharp pain,
ache, pang, shiver, spasm, bite, pinch, prick, stab, stitch, throb, throe, tic, twist, witch],
remiss (adj.) – careless and not doing a duty well enough [You have been remiss in your
duties. It was remiss of me to forget to give you the message. Unfortunately, as for Hasic,
Duncan Senturus had intentions for that, too. As they dismounted, the broadshouldered
senior knight offered his arm to the elf, saying, “Of course, it would be remiss of us to not
see you along the safest and quickest route to the port. I know it's a task you've been given,
milady, but clearly it was chosen by a higher power that your paths would lead you to us.
We know well the way to Hasic, and so a small party, led by myself, will journey with you
come the morrow.”] – synonyms & related words [careless, thoughtless, forgetful,
heedless, indolent, neglectful, negligent, slack, sloppy, slothful, tardy, slow],

any old how/way (adv.) – (manner) in any way or manner, without particularly
caring which is chosen; anyhow,

behindhand (adj. adv.) – late in doing something or slower doing something than
expected, tardy, overdue; in debt, or in arrears [I worked late last night because I was
behindhand with my accounts.] – synonyms & related words [late, not on time, behind
schedule, behindhand, behind time, long-overdue, long-delayed, delayed, belated, tardy,
unpunctual, unpaid, unsettled, owing, owed, to be paid, payable, receivable, due,
outstanding, undischarged, in arrears, in the red; delinquent, past due]

arrears (n.) – money that is owed and should already have been paid [Rent arrears.],

arrear (n.) – work to be done, obligation [I have a large arrear of letters to write. My
own work, with its manifold arrears, took me all day to clear off.],

sanctimonious (adj.) – (formal, disapproving) acting as if morally better than others

[Sanctimonious religious leaders preaching about morality. Damned soul Rhonin might be
to them, but he was still one of their allies. The thought of the mental discomfort that last
put the knights through cheered him a bit. He had always found the Knights of the Silver
Hand a sanctimonious lot.] – synonyms & related words [self-righteous, hypocritical, self-
satisfied, holier-than-thou, preachy, pietistic, bigoted],

cant (v.) – to set (something) at an angle; to give a sudden turn or new direction to; to
overturn so that the contents are emptied – synonyms & related words [lean, slant,
angle, careen, grade, incline, recline, slope, tilt, tip],

repast (n.) – (literary) a meal; the food eaten at a meal [Yet that simple repast was fit
for a king. No one but the elf spoke more than a few words to the wizard throughout the
entire repast, and Rhonin would have left shortly after that if the subject of dragons had
not been brought up by none other than Senturus.] – synonyms & related words [meal,
banquet, chow, eats, fare, feast, feed, food, grub, snack, refection, victuals, spread,
refreshment, mess],
victual (n.) – (archaic) food fit for human consumption, (plural) food supplies,
provisions – synonyms & related words [food supplies, eats, eatables, comestibles,
edibles, fare, foodstuff, provisions, provender, rations, snack, supplies, viands, vittles],

victual (v.) – (especially nautical, military) to provide wit hfood, to provision;

(especially nautical, military) to lay in food supplies; to eat,

victualler/victualer (n.) – a supplier of victuals or supplies to an army; (UK) an

innkeeper, (nautical) a supply ship – synonyms & related words [provisioner, sutler,
provider, innkeeper, supplier, host],

readily (v.) – quickly, immediately, willingly, or without any problem [He readily
agreed to help Larger sizes are readily available. I readily accepted his offer. The new
proposals were readily adopted by the company. Vereesa commented on various parts of
his story, making even the most mundane accomplishments of the elder man seem
wondrous and brave. She downplayed her own deeds when Lord Senturus asked her of her
past training, although the mage felt certain that, in many skills, his ranger readily
surpassed their host.] – synonyms & related words [quickly, effortlessly, cheerfully,
eagerly, easily, freely, gladly, immediately, promptly, willingly, at once, at the drop of a
hat, facilely, hands down, in a jiffy, in no time, lightly, n osweat, nothing to it, piece of
cake, quick as a wink, right away, slick as whistle, smoothly, speedily, straight away,
swimmingly, unhstitatingly, well, without delay, without demur, without difficult,
without hesitation],

impressionable (adj.) – (often disapproving) easily influenced by other people,

especially because you are young [He's at that impressionable age when he's very easily
led by other children. Magic was his mistress, first and foremost, and if Rhonindiddecide to
seek the company of a female, he much preferred a more malleable type, such as the well-
pampered young ladies of the courts, or even the impressionable serving girls he found
occasionally during his travels. Certainly not an arrogant, elven ranger...] – synonyms &
related words [easily taught, gullible, susceptible, impressible, ingenuous, receptive,
suggestible, susceptive, wax-like, wide-eyed, falling hook line and sinker, green,
swallowing whole, credulous, easily taken in, simple],

ingenuous (adj.) – honest, sincere, and trusting, sometimes in a way that seems silly
[It has to be said it was rather ingenuous of him to ask a complete stranger to take care of
his luggage.] – synonyms & related words [naive, innocent, simple, childlike, trusting,
trustful, over-trusting, unwary, unsuspicious, unguarded, unsceptical, uncritical,
unworldly, wide-eyed, inexperienced, green; open, sincere, honest, frank, candid,
undeceitful; direct, forthright, artless, guileless, genuine, unaffected, unstudied,
unsophisticated],

ingenious (adj.) – (of a person) clever, original, and inventive; (of a machine or idea)
cleverly and originally devised and well suited to its purpose [He was ingenious enough
to overcome the limited budget. An ingenious engineer. Ingenious devices.] – synonyms &
related words [inventive, creative, imaginative, original, innovative, resourceful,
enterprising, insightful, inspired, perceptive, intuitive; clever, intelligent, bright, smart,
brilliant, masterly, talented, gifted, skilful, capable; sharp, astute, sharp-witted, razor-
sharp, quick, quick-witted, shrewd; elaborate, sophisticated, trailblazing, pioneering, on
the ball, thinking outside the box, genius],

lose face (id.) – to become less respected by others [She had to accept defeat without
losing face.] – synonyms & related words [suffer disgrace, have egg on one's face,
humble, debase, besmirch, defame, sully, tarnish, discredit, degrade],

swear off (v.) – to make a decision to stop doing, using, or being involved with
something harmful, such as drugs or alcohol, or something that is not good or helpful
[After years of addiction, he swore off drugs completely. Trained though he was, the peg-
legged orc had doubted that he, who had sworn off the dark arts, could do better than his
legendary chieftain. Still, he had taken the talisman and tried to sense its purpose, its use.]
– synonyms & related words [have nothing to do with, abandon, avoid, forgo, forswear,
renounce, shun, shy away from, abjure, abstain, refrain, give up, have no truck with, let
well enough alone, steer clear of, not touch, eschew, forsake, pass up, quit, relinquish,
resist, waive, recant, spurn, refuse, reject, turn down, snub, decline],

spurn (v.) – to refuse to accept something or someone because you feel that thing or
person is not worth having [She spurned my offers of help. Ellis plays the part of the young
lover spurned by his mistress.],

steer (someone) wrong (id.) – to give someone bad advice [You should listen to me.
I won't steer you wrong. Despite the fact that, deep down, Nekros felt that goblins had less
of a sense of honor than a ground slug, the orc had to admit that this one had never steered
him wrong.],

taffrail (n.) – the curved wooden top of the stern of a sailing man-of-war or East
Indiaman, usually carved or decorated; the rail around the stern of a ship; the deck area
at the stern of avessel,

hope against hope (id.) – to hope very strongly that something will happen,
although you know it is not likely [They're just hoping against hope that she's alive.
Vereesa dismounted, but her eyes continued to sweep over the surrounding territory,
hoping against hope that the fiery wizard would make himself known.],

hark(en)/hearken (back) (v.) – (hunting) of hounds, to retrace a course in order

to pick up a lost scent; (figurative) to return or revert (to a subject etc.), to allude to, to
evoke, to long or pine for (a past event or era),
hark at (someone) (v.) – (UK, old-fashioned) used for showing that you are
surprised, impressed, or offended by something that someone has just said [Just hark at
her, with her big fancy words!],

salad days (n.) – a period of inexperienced youthful innocence accompanied by

enthusiasm and idealism [I met her in my salad days. My salad days, when I was green in
judgement.],

halcyon days (n.) – period of calm during the winter, when storms do not occur; (id.)
a period of calm, often nostalgic [She recalled the halcyon days of her youth. Halcyon days
of yore. Halcyon days of youth.],

with bated breath (id.) – with reduced breath; (id.) eagerly, with great anticipation
[We are waiting with bated breath for the release of the new version.],

cold comfort (id.) – much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one
needs or desires, when being told a particularly thing about a bad situation is cold
comfort, it does not make you feel better although it is intended to,

eat (someone) out of house and home (id.) – to consume so much of someone's
store of food that little or none is left for the owner,

fancy-free (adj.) – free to do what you like and go where you like because you have no
responsibilities such as a family or a relationship,

give the devil his due (id.) – to acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who
is unpleasant or disliked,

due (adj.) – expected at or planned for at a certain time; (of a payment) required at a
certain time; (of a thing) required or owed as a legal or moral obligation; of the proper
quality or extent [The baby's due in August. When's he due? The May instalment was due.
She reminded them that their fees were due. He was only taking back what was due to him.
He was treated with the respect due to a great artist.] – synonyms & related words
[expected, required, awaited, anticipated, scheduled for; owing, owed, to be paid,
payable, payable now, payable immediately, receivable immediately; outstanding,
overdue, unpaid, unsettled, undischarged, delinquent, past due; deserved by, merited by,
earned by, warranted by; appropriate to, fit for, fitting for, suitable for, right for, proper
to, meet for],

it's an ill wind (that blows no good)/(that blows nobody (any)

good)/(that blows no one any good) (saying) – an action or occurrence must be
very bad indeed if it brings no benefit to anyone, said to show that even a very bad
situation must have some good results [The tremendous hailstorms left gaping holes in
most of the roofs in town, so many families were homeless. The roofing comapnies,
however, made plenty of money fixing those holes – it's an ill wind that blows nobody any
good. They lost everything when that old shed burned down, but they got rid of a lot of junk
as well – it's an ill wind.],

a (heavy) cross to bear (id.) – an unpleasant or painful situation or person that you
have to accept and deal with, although you find it very difficult,

the chill wind of something (id.) – the problems caused by something [Many more
businesses are feeling the chill wind of the recession.] – synonyms & related words [side
effect, consequence, entailment, corollary, concomitant, ramification, aftermath, after-
effect, repercussion, backlash, ripple, shock wave, spin-off, fallout, heritage, fruits,
knock-on effect, externality]

the sharp end (n.) – the part of an activity, such as a job, where the most problems
are likely to be found, hard work, back-breaking labor, most important and dangerous
part of labor [A job like hers would be much too demanding for me, but she enjoys being at
the sharp end. Nurses are at the sharp end of hospital work.],

in (one's) mind's eye (id.) – in one's imagination or mind, especially referring to

something that is being visualized [Before I write a scene, I try to visualize it in my mind's
eye, to see how everyone is situated. In my mind's eye, I can see trouble ahead. In her mind's
eye, she could see a beautiful building beside the river. She decided to design such a
building.],

in (one's/the) heart of herats (id.) – in the deepest, most intimate part of oneself
[In my heart of hearts, I knew that I didn't really love Bill – and yet, I married him anyway.
„I'm so sorry that your daughter's modeling job didn't work out.“ „Oh, that's OK. In her
heart of hearts, she knew it was a long shot.“ It's a wonderful job offer, but in my heart of
herats I don't wnat to leave this area.“ She was grieved, andb itterly sorry for the man who
was hurt so much. But still, in her heart of hearts, where the love should have burned, there
was a blank.],

as the day is long (id.) – unceasingly, very, thoroughly, to a very high degree (often
but not exclusively used with the adjectives „honest“ or „happy“ or with synonyms for
„honest“ or „happy“; usually used in a construction having this form: (as) [adjective] as
the day is long,

milk of human kindness (id.) – care and compassion for others [She's certainly not
overflowing with the milk of human kindness, is she?],

more sinned against than sinning (id.) – an expression used of those who,
though they may be guilty of wrongdoings, think themselves the victim of a more serious
wrong, less guilty than those who have injured one [It's true she took the money but they
did owe her quite a bit – in way she's more sinned against than sinning.],
play fast and loose (with somebody/something) (id.) – to ignore proper
behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits one's purpose; to be recklessly
inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise ignoring guidelines and conventions; to treat
someone or something without enough care; behave irresponsibly or immorally,
unrestrained, undisciplined, uncontrolled [I cannot say that there were any outright lies
in their editorial, but it does play fast and loose with the truth. Like many movie-makers, he
plays fast and loose with the facts to tell his own version of the story. I am not someone
who plays fast and loose with other people's lives.],

wear/have one's heart (up)on one's sleeve (id.) – to be very transparent,

open, or forthright about one's emotions, to be an open book [John always has his heart
on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels. Because she wears her heart on her
sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings.],

wild-goose chase (id.) – a foolish and hopeless search for or pursuit of something
unattainable, a futile search, a fruitless errand, a useless and often lengthy pursuit
[Physicists seraching for the hypothetical particle may be on a wild goose chase. I went on
a wild-goose chase all over the town looking for that adapter until I discovered they o
longer make them.],

merry dance (id.) – a useless waste of time resulting from a deception [The children
led us on a merry dance with their stories of strangers and shadows in the night.],

chase a rainbow (id.) – to pursue something illusory, impractical, or impossible [You

can't chase rainbows your whole life – you need to pick a stable career and start being an
adult.],

as (good) luck would have it (id.) – as it happened, how it turned out, by good
fortune, fortunately or luckily [I didn't plan to stop there, but as luck would have it, they
were open when I went by.],

be-all and end-all (id.) – something considered to be one of utmost importance,

something essential or ultimate [He thought that cars were the be-all and end-all of life.
Profit is the be-all and end-all of business.],

neither a borrower nor a lender be (id.) – it is not good to borrow money from
anybody, lest you will lose their trust and friendship,

conscience does make cowards of us all (id.) – the conscience often prevents
one from doing thing sthat one wants to do (perhaps things wrong or inappropriate) [I
really want to insult him back, but I just can't. Ugh, conscience does make cowards of us all.
„I really want to go to the ball game with you guys this afternoon, but it just doesn't seem
right to skip work to do it.“ „Conscience does make cowards of us all, right?“],

crack of dawn (id.) – the first moment of daylight, before sunrise,

the proof of the pudding is in the eating/the proof is the pudding (id.) –
you can only say something is a success after it has been tried out or used [I know you
didn't think it was a very good product, but just look at the fantastic sales figures. That's
the proof of the pudding.],

dead as a doornail (id.) – unquestionably dead, used for both inanimate objects and
once living begins [I picked up the phone, but the line was dead as a doornail. We finally
found John's cat run over in the next road. It was as dead as a doornail.],

forever and a day (id.) – for a very long or seemingly endless time [I'll love you
forever and a day.],

foregone conclusion (n.) – a predictable or inevitable conclusion, or one made

without any consideration; a result that is obvious to everoyne even before it happens
[The result of the election seems to be a foregone conclusion. The victory was a foregone
conclusion.],

the game is afoot (id.) – the process is in active existence, it has begun, it is
underway [The teams are on the pitch – the whistle blows – the game is afoot.] –
synonyms & related words [ongoing, advancing, begun, commenced, in progress,
initiated, moving, started, undertaken],

livelong (adj.) – total, complete, whole, entire [I've been workin' on the railroad, all the
livelong day.] – synonyms & related words [entire, whole, total, complete, full, long,
unbroken, undivided, continuous],

out of sorts (id.) – in an unhappy mood, irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague
medical symptoms [Peter overslept this morning and has been out of sorts all day.
Fortunately, even as she approached, the ranger heard the paladins already discussing the
repair of their camp, and as she entered the area, Vereesa saw that, other than bedrolls
and other objects lying strewn about, no one seemed much out of sorts. She's been feeling
nauseous and generally out of sorts. She is feeling a bit out of sorts. The trying events of the
day had put him out of sorts. She may have been out of sorts but she meant every word. Tim
says you've ben out of sorts and would like to have a chat.] – synonyms & related words
[unwell, ill, poorly, bad, indisposed, not oneself, sick, queasy, nauseous, nauseated,
peaky, liverish, green about the gills, run down, washed out; off, off colour; under the
weather, below par, not up to par, not up to the mark, funny, peculiar, rough, lousy,
rotten, awful, terrible, dreadful, crummy; grotty, ropy, wabbit, peely-wally, crook, seedy;
irritable, irascible, peevish, fractious, fretful, cross, crabbed, crabby, crotchety,
cantankerous, curmudgeonly, disagreeable, petulant, pettish; on edge, edgy, impatient,
complaining, querulous, peppery, bitter, moody, grumpy, huffy, scratchy, ill-tempered,
bad-tempered, ill-natured, ill-humoured, sullen, surly, sulky, sour, churlish, touchy, testy,
tetchy, snappish, waspish, crusty, bilious, liverish, dyspeptic, splenetic, choleric; snappy,
chippy, grouchy, cranky, whingeing, whingy; narky, ratty, eggy, stroppy, shirty, peckish,
sorehead, soreheaded, snaky, miffy, unhappy, dejected, sad, miserable, down,
downhearted, downcast, depressed, blue, melancholy, morose, gloomy, glum, dispirited,
discouraged, disheartened, despondent, disconsolate, with a long face, forlorn,
crestfallen, woebegone, subdued, fed up, low, in low spirits, in the doldrums, heavy-
hearted; down in the dumps, down in the mouth, brassed off, cheesed off, browned off,
peed off, teed off, ticked off, pissed off],

up and (adv.) – abruptly, unexpectedly [“Fool of a wizard!” Duncan Senturus snapped.

“You'll not up and vanish after good men have died, then think you can simply reappear in
our midst and go to sleep!” He reached for the spellcaster's arm...],

up-and-coming (adj.) – emerging, aspiring, improving, beginning to attract attention

or critical acclaim [The theater likes to feature up-and-coming singers and comedinas. Up-
and-coming young actresses.],

up-and-comer (n.) – someone who is up-and-coming, who has begun to be successful

in some field and is likely to become even more successful in the future,

tepid (adj.) – (not warm) (of liquid) not very warm; (not enthusiastic) a tepid reaction
is not enthusiastic [I got a tepid response to my suggestion. The normally bland rations of
the knights tasted sweet and delicious to Rhonin from the moment of the first bite. Even the
tepid water from one of the flasks seemed more like wine.] – synonyms & related words
[lukewarm, dull, halfhearted, mild, unenthusiastic, warm, apathetic, cool, disinterested,
indifferent, languid, lifeless, mil-warm, moderate, slightly warm, spiritless, temperate,
unlively, warmish],

level off (v.) – if a rate or amount levels off, it stops rising or falling and stays
[Unemployment rose to ten percent and then leveled off. House prices now seem to be
levelling off after the steep rises of the last few years. Just as his hunger and thirst at last
began to level off, the questioning began. Lord Senturus sat down before him, eyes already
judging the spellcaster, and growled,..] – synonyms & related words [subside, abate,
descend, diminish, dwindle, ease, ease off, ebb, melt, peter out, recede, slacken, wane,
decline, drop, de-escalate, collapse, fall, lower, lull, moderate, quieten, settle, sink, cave
in, die away, let up],

peter out (v.) – to gradually stop or disappear [The fighting which started in the night
had petered out by the morning. The track petered out after a mile or so.],

dredge something up (id.) – to talk about something bad or unpleasant that

happened in the past [The article dredged up details of her unhappy childhood. Survivors
of the disaster are still dredging up new fragments of their ordeal. Yet the moment he
finished the statement, the paladin thrust a finger at the mage. “But I would hear more
about your own experience during that time and, if you can dredge it from your memories,
how you come to be dropped in our midst like a leaf fallen from a high tree....”],
dredge up (v.) – to find by diligent search, especially from unsavory sources [Where
did you dredge up the idea that they didn't know what hospital he was born in?],

dredge (v.) – (remove) to remove unwnated things from the bottom of a river, lake,
etc. using a boat or special device; to search an area of water by dredging [They have to
dredge the canal regularly to keep it open. The police are dredging the lake for his body.
They dredged up (= brought to the surface) all sorts of rubbish from the bottom of the
river.],

dredge (v.) – (food) to drop flour, sugar, etc. over food [Lightly dredge the cake with
icing sugar.],

belated (adj.) – later in relation to the proper time something should have happened
[A belated apology. They did make a belated attempt to reduce the noise. Belated birthday
greetings! “Forgive my belated arrival,” the young aristocrat began. “I'd ridden out into the
countryside this morning and not realized just how long it would take me to get back.”],

take leave of one's senses (id.) – to lose your good judgement, to go crazy, to stop
behaving rationally [You can't take the children out sailing in this weather! Have you
completely taken leave of your senses? For a moment, the king simply gaped, not certain
that he had heard right. He stared into Prestor's mesmerizing eyes, waiting for the punch
line to the awful joke. When it did not come, though, Terenas finally blurted in a quiet
voice, “Have you taken leave of your senses, my boy? Even jesting about such matters is
highly outrageous and—”],

reticent (adj.) – unwilling to speak about your thoughts or feelings [He is very reticent
about his past. Most of the students were reticent about answering questions. “I see that
you do. Good. Now you will go back and, just as the conference comes to an end, you will
make your bold decision. Greymane already knows he will act the most reticent, but in a
few days, he will agree. Proudmoore will follow your lead and, after mulling the situation a
bit, Thoras Trollbane will also acquiesce to my ascension.” He didn’t trust himself not to
strike a Guardsman by accident. His fellow gunmen were not so reticent. Friendly fire had
just vaporised another two of their comrades, albeit taking a ghoul with them.] –
synonyms & related words [secretive, quiet, bashful, hesitant, mum, reserved,
restrained, shy, silent, taciturn, clammed up, close, close-mouthed, dried up, dummied
up, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, unspeaking, uptight, media-shy,
playing one's cards close to one's chest, wouldn't say boo to a goose, withdrawn,
introverted, modest, unassuring, shrinking, distant, undemonstrative, tight-lippeg,

heavyset (adj.) – someone who is heavyset has a large, wide, strong body [“This is not
right!” the heavyset mage burst out. “They've no cause to leave us out of this!”] – synonyms
& related word [stocky, blocky, chunky, compact, corpulent, dumpy, fat, plump, solid,
squat, stodgy, stout, stubby, stumpy, sturdy, thick, thickset],
pyknic (adj.) – short and stout, mesomorphic, stocky, stumpy, heavyset,

dispossess (v.) – to take property, especially buildings or land, away from someone or
a group of people [A lot of people were dispossessed of their homes during the civil war.
“Who is this Prestor?” Rhonin's patron shrugged. “A minor noble from the north,
dispossessed, without backing. Yet, he seems to have ingratiated himself not only to
Terenas, but even the rest, Genn Greymane included.” „This, sometimes, can be a magnet for
people who are slightly mentally dispossess... and also very sensible people like yourself.“] –
synoynsm & related words [deprive, evict, appropriate, eject, expel, expropriate, oust,
put out, throw into the street, divest, strip, rob, cheat out of, do out of, relieve, bereave,
diddle out of, reave, dislodge, drive out, cast out, throw out, throw someone out on their
ear, put out in the street, show someone the door, banish, exile, chuck out, kick out, boot
out, heave out, bounce, defenestrate, turf out, give someone the bum's rush, out],

flotsam (n.) – pieces of broken wood and other waste materials found on the beach or
floating on the sea; anything or anyone that is not wanted or not considered to be
important or useful, an insulting word for people who have no homes or jobs [We
wandered along the shore, stepping over the flotsam that had washed up in the night. The
homeless sleep in doorways and stations – we step over their bodies like so much human
flotsam. Falstad appeared unimpressed. “We've no cause to stop you from entering Hasic
and searching for your vessel, human, but you'll find that not so many remain after the
dragons attacked. Likely yours is flotsam on the sea!”] – synoynms & related words
[floating debris, cargo, jetsam, junk, wreckage, castoffs, odds and ends, sea-drift],

jetsam (n.) – articles thrown overboard from a ship or boat in order to lighten the load
of a ship in distress; (by extension) discarded odds and ends [There she was, floating
amongst the jetsam, like so much debris. They were the jetsam of the dom-com bust.],

flotsam and jetsam (n.) –(nautical) the remains of a shipwreck still floating in
water; (nautical) that which has been discharged from a ship or boat, especially on the
ocean or at sea (flotsam unintentionally, and jetsam intentionally); (figurative) a
collection of miscellaneous items or fragments of little importance; (figurative) people
considered to be of little worth [The flotsam and jetsam of society were at the night club.
Investigators rae busy picking through all the flotsam and jetsam that washed ashore after
the crash. We need to move all the flotsam and jetsam out of these drawers – I mean, cough
drops and batteries probably shouldn't be stored together anyway. Imagine all that I could
remember if flotsam and jetsam like the lyrics to every Disney song weren't taking up space
in my head. City council may have forgotten about our flotsam and jetsam, but stome of us
still make volunteering at the homeless shelter a priority.] – synonyms & related words
[bits and bots, bits and pieces, dribs and drabs, odds and ends, odds and sods, dregs,
farrago, hodgepodge, hotchpoch, melange, mingle-mangle, mishmash, oddments,
omnium-gatherum, ragbag],

omnium-gatherum (n.) – a collection containing a variety of miscellaneous things,

oddments (n.) – a collection containing a variety of miscellaneous thing,

oddment (n.) – something left over, such as a piece of cloth, a remnant or offcut;
something unusual, an oddity; (dated) a miscellaneous collection of riddles, charms,
gnomic verses, etc.

be a credit to somebody/something (id.) – to do something that makes a

person, group, or organization feel proud or receive praise [She is a credit to her family.
Our fans are a credit to the club. Her children do her credit. “I can only try to find out. I
thank you for your time, my lord, and wish you well.” Turning to the elf, Rhonin added,
“And you as well, rang—Vereesa. You're a credit to your calling.”],

in good faith (id.) – if something is done in good faith, it is done sincerely and
honestly [She was acting in good faith for her client.],

guarded (adj.) – careful not to give too much information or show how you really feel
[A guarded response. With some reluctance, the other dwarf did just that. Rhonin
straightened his robe and pushed his hair back in place, his expression guarded. Vereesa
prayed that he would maintain his calm.] – synonyms & related words [cautious,
reserved, restrained, cagey, careful, chary, discreet, gingerly, on the lookout, overcareful,
overcautious, reticent, vigilant, wary, watchful, with eyes peeled],

berth (n.) – a fixed bunk for sleeping in (caravans, trains, etc.); room for maneuvering
or safety (often used in the phrase a wide berth); a space for a ship to moor or a vehicle
to park; (nautical) a room in which a number of the officers or ship's company mess and
reside; a job or position, especially on a ship [She booked a berth on the ferry from
Palermo to Naples.],

berth (v.) – to bring (a ship or vehicle) into its berth; to assign a berth (bunk or
position) to [He hobbled through the stone passage until he came to where the dragon-
riders berthed. Few remained of the veterans, but one Nekros trusted well still rode at the
forefront of every battle.],

(be/become) a law unto yourself (id.) – (disapproving) to behave in a way that

is independent and does not follow the usual rules for a situation [Charlie, of course,
never fills in the record forms but then he's a law unto himself. You can't get Bill to follow
the rules – he's a law unto himself. Jane is a law unto herself – she's totally unwilling to
cooperate.],

(set/light)/run around with one's hair on fire (id.) – to become wildly

impassioned, to behave crazily [With some effort, Molok removed his stormhammer,
waving it about and shouting like someone who had just had his hair set on fire. Rhonin
hoped that the dwarf would not forget his promise in the heat of battle.],
(random cool paragraph) – [Searching around, the anxious spellcaster sought any
sign of Vereesa. Neither she nor Falstad were to be found. Rhonin thought of
countermanding his order again, but he knew hehadto reach Khaz Modan. Surely the
dwarves could handle this pair of monsters. . . . Surely they could. Molok's gryphon had
already begun to pull them away from their former adversary. Rhonin again contemplated
sending them back. A vast shadow covered them. Both man and dwarf looked up in
astonishment and consternation. The second dragon had come up on them while they had
been preoccupied. The gryphon tried to dive out of reach. The brave beast almost made it,
but talons ripped through the right wing. The leonine beast roared out its agony and tried
desperately to stay aloft. Rhonin looked up to see the maw of the dragon opening. The
gargantuan horror intended to swallow them whole. From behind the dragon soared a
second gryphon, Duncan and his dwarf companion. The paladin had positioned himself in
an awkward manner and seemed to be trying to direct the dwarf to do something. Rhonin
had no idea what the knight intended, only that the dragon would be upon the wizard and
Molok before he could cast a suitable spell. Duncan Senturus leapt. “Gods and demons!”
Molok shouted, for once even the wild dwarf astounded by the courage and insanity of
another being. Only belatedly did Rhonin understand what the paladin sought to do. In a
move that would have left anyone else falling to their doom, the skilled knight landed with
astonishing accuracy on the neck of the dragon. He clutched the thick neck and adjusted
his position even as both the beast and its orc handler finally registered exactly what had
happened. The orc raised his ax and tried to catch Lord Senturus in the back, just barely
missing. Duncan took one look at him, then seemed to forget his barbaric opponent from
there on. Instead he inched himself forward, avoiding the awkward attempts by the dragon
to snap at him. “He must be mad!” Rhonin shouted. “No, wizard—he's awarrior.” Rhonin
did not understand the dwarf 's subdued, respectful tone until he saw Duncan, legs and one
arm wrapped tight around the reptilian neck, draw his gleaming blade. Behind the paladin,
the orc slowly crawled forward, a murderous red glare in his eyes. “We've got to do
something! Get me nearer!” Rhonin demanded. “Too late, human! There are some epic
songs meant to be. . . .” The dragon did not try to shake Duncan free, no doubt in order to
avoid doing the same to its handler. The orc moved with more assurance than the knight,
quickly coming within range of a strike. Duncan sat nearly at the back of the beast's head.
He raised his long sword up, clearly intending to plunge it in at the base, where the spine
met the skull. The orc swung first. The ax bit into Lord Senturus's back, cutting through the
thinner chain mail the man had chosen for the journey. Duncan did not cry out, but he fell
forward, nearly losing his sword. Only at the last did he retain his hold. The knight
managed to press the point against the spot intended, but his strength clearly began to
give out. The orc raised his ax again. Rhonin cast the first spell to come to mind. A flash of
light as intense as the sun burst before the eyes of the orc. With a startled cry, he fell back,
losing both his grip on his weapon and his seating. The desperate warrior fumbled for some
sort of hold, failed, and dropped over the side of the dragon's neck, screaming. The wizard
immediately turned his worried gaze back to the paladin—who stared back at him with
what Rhonin almost thought a mixture of gratitude and respect. His back a spreading stain
of deep red, Duncan yet managed to straighten, lifting his sword hilt up as high as he could.
The dragon, realizing at last that he had no reason to remain still any longer, began to dip.
Lord Duncan Senturus rammed the blade deep into the soft area between the neck and
skull, burying his blade halfway into the leviathan. The red beast twitched uncontrollably.
Ichor shot forth from the wound, so hot it scalded the paladin. He slipped back, lost hold.
“To him, damn it!” Rhonin demanded of Molok. “To him!” The dwarf obeyed, but Rhonin
knew they would never reach Duncan in time. From across the way he saw another
gryphon soar near. Falstad and Vereesa. Even with so much weight already upon his
mount, the lead rider hoped to somehow rescue the paladin. For a moment, it seemed as if
they would. Falstad's gryphon neared the teetering warrior. Duncan looked up, first at
Rhonin, then at Falstad and Vereesa. He shook his head . . . and slumped forward, rolling off
the shrieking dragon. “No!”Rhonin stretched a hand toward the distant figure. He knew
that Lord Senturus had already died, that only a corpse had fallen, but the sight stirred up
all the misgivings and failures of the wizard's last mission. His fear had come to pass; now
he had already lost one of those with him, even if Duncan had invited himself along.
„Duncan!” “'Tis too late, my elven lady!” Falstad called. “Your man's already dead—but
what a glorious tale to leave behind!” Vereesa cared nothing about glorious tales nor the
incorrect assumption that she had admired Lord Senturus more than she actually did. All
that mattered to her was that a brave man whom she had come to know all too briefly had
perished. True, like Falstad, the elf had immediately realized that it had only been Duncan's
shell that had fallen earthward, but the horror of his tragic death had still struck her deep.
Yet, Vereesa took some comfort in the knowledge that Duncan had managed the near-
impossible. The dragon had been struck a mortal blow, one that caused it to continue to
thrash about madly. The dying leviathan sought to pull the blade from the base of its skull,
but its efforts grew weaker and weaker. It was only a matter of time before the giant joined
its slayer in the depths of the sea.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“Where is the wizard?” she called to the others. “Where
is he?” “Molok is dead,” one of them proclaimed to Falstad. “His mount lies drifting in the
sea!” For their small stature, dwarves had incredibly muscular, dense bodies and so did not
float well. Falstad and the others chose to take the discovery of the dead gryphon as proof
enough of the warrior's fate. But Rhonin was human and, therefore, whether dead or alive,
stood a better chance of floating for a time. Vereesa seized on that slight hope. “And the
wizard? Did you see the wizard?” “I think 'tis obvious, my elven lady,” Falstad returned,
glancing back at her.],

insipid (adj.) – not having a storng taste or character, or having no interest or energy;
unappetizingly flavorless; flat, lacking character or definition; cloyingly sweet or
sentimental [A pale insipid wine. He's an insipid old bore. Why anyone buys music with
such insipid lyrics is a mystery. The diners were disappointed with the plain, insipid soup
they were served. The textbook had a most insipid presentation of the controversy.
Greeting cards contain some of the most insipid words ever written. “But—” he tried to
choose his words carefully, “—you and she are enemies.” “For the same insipid reasons our
kind has so long fought. Mistakes were made, human, but I would rectify them now.”] –
synonyms & related words [banal, bland, ho-hum, innocuous, trite, vapid, feeble,
driveling, inane, stale, tedious, tenuous, unappetizing, vapid, flavorless, jejune, savorless,
unpalatable, unsavory, watery, watered-down,

rear its (ugly) head (id.) – (of something unpleasant) to appear [The familiar spectre
of drought and famine has reared its ugly head again. Racism once again reared its ugly
head during the election campaign. How did one lose a dragon? That question had reared
its ugly head time and time again, and neither Vereesa nor her companion had a
satisfactory answer. Worse, night had begun to settle over Khaz Modan, and the gryphon,
already long exhausted, clearly could not go on much farther.] – synonyms & related
words [trouble, threaten, stir up a hornet's nest, play (merry) hell with, imperil, haunt,
endanger, encumber, cook someone's goose, consign to, blow up in someone's face,
bedevil, inconvenience, plague, burden],

(random cool paragraph) – [Falstad reached into a pouch. “I've something here
that'll help us bring a little light onto matters, my elven lady, although I'm thinking I
already know what sort of scavenger we've caught!” He pulled out a small object, which,
after setting his hammer aside, he rubbed between his thick palms. As he did this, the object
began to glow rather faintly. A few more seconds' action, and the glow increased, finally
revealing the object to be some sort of crystal. “A gift from a dead comrade,” Falstad
explained. He brought the glowing crystal toward their captive. “Now let's see if I was
correct—aye, Ithoughtso!” So had Vereesa. She and the dwarf had captured themselves one
of the most untrustworthy creatures in existence. A goblin.],

tall tale (id.) – a story that may or may not be true, but that contains details that are
hard to believe, a greatly exaggerated, fantastic story [He returned on Monday with a
talle tale about a 100-pound fish he had caught. They both looked at the goblin, who
clearly desired to be elsewhere. “How do we know we can trust him? 'Tis no tall tale that
these little green thieves are notorious liars!”] – synonyms & related words [farfetched
story, cock-and-bull story, exaggeration, fable, fish story, flight of fancy, tall story, yarn],

unlash (v.) – unfasten [A figure arose in the dust, a teetering yet still impressive form
that unlashed itself from the giant corpse and slid down the side, nearly falling to his knees
when he touched the floor.] – synonyms & related words [set free, unbind, loosen,
become unfastened, disjoin, release, separate, slacken, unbar, unbolt, unbuckle,
unbutton, unchain, unclasp, undo, unfasten, unfix, unhitch, unhook, unlace, unlatch,
unleash, unlock, unloose, unpin, unscrew, unsnap, unstick, unstrap, untie, untighten,
work free, work loose],

come/suffer under the lash (id.) – to be severely criticized [The sales team came
under the lash for poor results.],

lash (v.) – (tie) to tie together tightly and firmly [I've lashed your case to the roof rack.
These poles will be easier to carry if we lash them together with a rope.] – synonyms &
related words [connect, interlace, cinch, clinch, attach, join, knot, link, secure, bind,
fasten, gird, rope, tether, tighten, truss, do up, make a knot, make a hitch, make fast, tie
up],

(random cool paragraph) – [The fury in his eyes made even the champion back
down. Torgus nodded and, with the aid of a comrade, moved off. Nekros turned his
attention back to the others. “Gather whatever's most important and get it into the
wagons! Move all the eggs in crates padded with hay—and keep them warm!” He paused,
going down a mental list. “Be prepared to slay any dragon whelps still too wild to train
properly!” This made Torgus pause. He and the other riders eyed their commander with
horror.“Slaythe whelps? We need—” “We need whatever can be moved quickly—just in
case!” The taller orc eyed him. “In case of what?” “In case I don't manage to take care of
Deathwing. . . .” Now he had everyone staring at him as if he had sprouted a second head
and turned into an ogre.],

barb (n.) – (remark) a remark that is funny but unkind [I tried to ignore their barbs
about my new jacket. The peg-legged orc snorted. “You've your orders . . . or am I
surrounded now by whining peons instead of mighty warriors?” The barb struck. Torgus
and the others straightened. Nekros might be maimed, but he still commanded. They could
do nothing but obey, regardless of how mad they thought his plans.] – synonyms & related
words [pointed comment, criticism, gibe, insult, sarcasm, affront, cut, dig ,rebuff, scoff,
sneer],

(random cool paragraph) – [The trees were short for their kind, only twelve feet in
height, but they offered good shade. Rhonin entered the copse and immediately looked
around. Surely there had to be a brook here and possibly some fruit. What other repast
could Deathwing offer from a distance? Afeast,apparently. There, in the very center of the
wooded area, sat a small display of food and drink such as Rhonin could not have imagined
finding. Roasted rabbit, fresh bread, cut fruit, and—he touched the flask with some awe—
chilled water. Eat,murmured the voice of the dragon. Rhonin obeyed with gusto, digging
into the meal. The rabbit had been freshly cooked and seasoned to perfection; the bread
retained the pleasant scent of the oven. Foregoing manners, he drank directly from the
flask . . . and discovered that, although the container should have been halfempty after that,
it remained full. Thereafter, Rhonin drank his fill without concern, knowing that
Deathwing wanted him well . . . if only until the wizard reached the mountain. With his
magic he could have conjured something of his own, but that would have drawn strength
from him that he might need for more drastic times. In addition, Rhonin doubted that even
he could have created such a repast, at least not without much effort. Sooner than he
hoped, Deathwing's voice came again.You are satiated? “Yes . . . yes, I am. Thank you.” It is
time to move on. You know the way.],

afield (adv.) – (far/further afield) a long/longer distance away; on the field; out in the
open [We export our products to countries as far afield as Japan and Canada. Our students
come from Europe, Asia, and even further afield. We now have both teams afield and can
begin the match. The day aged. With the sun having descended nearly to the horizon,
Rhonin began questioning Deathwing's path. Not once had he seen, much less confronted
an orc sentry, and surely Grim Batol still had those. In fact, he had not even seen a single
dragon. Either they no longer patrolled the skies here or the wizard had wandered so far
afield that he had gone outside their range.],

(random cool paragraph) – [The light suddenly flipped away from Rhonin and
darted up. The beam briefly shone on a huge oval form— a point at the front—before
flickering on to the rear, where the wizard made out a smoking, belching device that
turned a propeller at the end of the oval. A balloon!Rhonin realized.A zeppelin! He had
actually seen one of the remarkable creations before, during the height of the war.
Astonishing, gasfilled sacks so massive in size that they could actually lift an open carriage
containing two or three riders. In the war, they had been utilized for observation of enemy
forces on both land and sea, yet what amazed Rhonin most about them had not been their
existence, but that they had been powered by resources other than magic— by oil and
water. A machine neither built by nor requiring spells drove the balloon, a remarkable
device that turned the propeller without the aid of manpower.],

(random cool paragraph) – [The dreams were the reality?A desperate plan
occurred to the wizard, one that, had it been suggested to him by any of his counterparts,
would have made Krasus break from his accustomed form and laugh loud. How utterly
ridiculous! How utterly hopeless! But, as with Nozdormu, what other choice did he have?
Turning back to his array of potions, artifacts, and powders, Krasus searched for a black
vial. He found it quickly, despite not having touched it in more than a century. The last time
he had made use of it—it had been to slay what had seemed unslayable. Now, however, he
sought to only borrow one of its most vicious traits, and hope that he did not measure
wrong. Three drops on the tip of a single bolt had killed the Manta, the Behemoth of the
Deep. Three drops had slain a creature ten times the size and strength of a dragon. Like
Deathwing, nearly all had believed the Manta unstoppable. Now Krasus intended to take
some of the poison for himself. “The deepest sleep, the deepest dreams . . .” he muttered to
himself as he took the vial down. “That is where she must be, where shehasto be.” From
another shelf he removed a cup and a small flask of pure water. Measuring out a single
swallow in the cup, the dragon mage then opened the vial. With the greatest caution, he
brought the open bottle to the cup of water. Three drops to slay, in seconds, the Manta.
How many drops to assist Krasus on the most treacherous of journeys? Sleep and death . . .
they were so very close in nature, more so than most realized. Surely he would find Ysera
there. The tiniest drop he could measure fell silently into the water. Krasus replaced the top
on the vial, then took up the cup. “A bench,” he murmured. “Best to use a bench.” One
immediately formed behind him, a wellcushioned bench upon which the king of Lordaeron
would have happily slept. Krasus, too, intended to sleep well on it . . . perhaps forever. He
sat upon it, then raised the cup to his lips. Yet, before he could bring himself to drink what
might be his last, the dragon in human guise made one last toast. “To you, my
Alexstrasza,alwaysto you.”],
as bad as all that (id.) – as bad as one fears; as bad as reported, as bad as it seems
[Oh honey, it can't be as bad as all that. I'm sure your teacher will be understanding –
you're not the first person who ever forgot to do her homework. I doubt the storm will be as
bad as all that. Come on! Nothing could be as bad as all that. Stop crying – it can't be as
bad as all that. On the tip of her sword hung a small, empty wine sack. The elf brought it to
her nose. A heavenly bouquet wafted past. The elf briefly closed her eyes. Falstad misread
her expression. “As bad as all that? Must be dwarven ale!”],

insurmountable (adj.) – (especially of a problem or a difficulty) so great that it

cannot be dealt with successfuly [Insurmountable difficulties. This small country is faced
with an insurmountable debt. We must place the Aegis on the floor before our losses grow
insurmountable!] – synoynms & related words [impossible, hopeless, impassable,
overwhelming, unbeatable, insuperable, unconquerable, invincible, unassailable,
hopeless],

chancy (adj.) – involving the possibility of something bad happening [Investing in the
stock market is a chancy business. He would have to risk jumping. With conditions as they
were, casting a spell would be too chancy. Rhonin would have to rely on physical skill
alone—not his first choice.] – synonyms & related words [dangerous, risky, dicey,
fluk(e)y, iffy, hazardous, rocky, uncertain, problematic, precarious, incalculab,
unpredictable, unsound],

fluke (n.) – something good that has happened that is the result of chance instead of
skill or planning, with the implication that the occurrence could not be repeated [The
first goal was just a fluke. I think their last win was just a fluke..],

fluke (v.) – to obtain a successful outcome by pure chance [I fluked a pass in the
multiple-choice exam.],

object lesson (n.) – an action or story that teaches you how or how not to act, or that
clearly shows the facts of a situation, usually a bad one [The disaster was an object lesson
in how not to run a ship. Yet if Rhonin would not obey him blindly—as the monarchs of the
Alliance did—he would obey out of the knowledge that the dragon watched his every move.
The two insipid goblins had made for an object lesson.] – synonyms & related words
[warning example, concrete illustration, deterrent example, example lesson, practical
demonstration],

(random cool paragraph) – [The human was strong. Stronger than imagined. Clad
once more in the guise of Lord Prestor, Deathwing considered the pawn he had chosen.
Usurping the wizard that the Kirin Tor had sent on this absurdly impossible quest had
seemed the simplest thing. He would turn their folly into victory—buthisvictory. This
Rhonin would do that for him, although not in the way the mortal expected. Yet the wizard
showed much more defiance than Deathwing had assumed possible. Strong of will, this one.
A good thing that he would perish in the course of matters; such strong will bred strong
wizards—like Medivh. Only one name among humans had the black leviathan ever
respected, and that had been Medivh's. Mad as a goblin—not to mention as unpredictable
as one—he had wielded power unbelievable. Not even Deathwing would have faced him
willingly. But Medivh was dead—and the ebony leviathan believed that to be the case
despite the recent rumors to the contrary. No other wizard came anywhere near to having
the mad one's skills, and never would, if Deathwing had his way.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Yet if Rhonin would not obey him blindly—as the
monarchs of the Alliance did—he would obey out of the knowledge that the dragon
watched his every move. The two insipid goblins had made for an object lesson. Perhaps
they had only planned to put terror into the heart of their passenger, but Deathwing had
not had time for such foolishness. He had warned Kryll to choose a pair who would fulfill
their mission without any nonsense. When the chief goblin had completed his own tasks,
Deathwing would speak to him about his choices. The black dragon was not at all pleased.
“You had better not fail, little toad,” he hissed. “Or your brethren on board the airship will
have considered themselves fortunate compared to the fate I will deal you. . . .” He dropped
all thought of the goblin. Lord Prestor had an important meeting with King Terenas . . .
about the Princess Calia. Clad in the finest suit to be found among any of the nobles of the
land, Deathwing admired himself in the lengthy mirror in the front corridor of his chateau.
Yes, every inch a future king. Had humans carried within them even a shred of the dignity
and power that he possessed, the dragon might have thought to spare them. However,
what stared back at him represented to Deathwing the perfection that the mortals could
never even hope to attain. He did them a favor by ending their miserable existences.
“Ssssoon,” he whispered in promise to himself. “Ssssoon.”],

majordomo (n.) – (old use) the most important servant in a house, in charge of the
other servants; (US) a person whose job is to make arrangements or organize things for
other people [Can you ask the majordomo in the hotel to get tickets for the tennis match?
Terenas shut the door behind his son, then instantly whirled on the mages. “I thought I told
the major-domo to inform you that I've no time for you today! If Dalaran has any claims or
protests to make concerning my handling of Alliance matters, they can send a formal writ
through our ambassador there! Now,good day!”],

(random cool paragraph) – [When the wizards had at last gone, King Terenas
began speaking. “My most humble apologies for that scene, Prestor! The very nerve of
them! They barge into the palace as if Dalaran and not Lordaeron ruled here! This time
they go too far—” He froze in mid-sentence as Deathwing raised a hand toward him. After
glancing at both doors in order to assure himself that no one would come running in and
find the king bewitched, the false noble stepped to a window overlooking the palace
grounds and the kingdom beyond. Deathwing waited patiently, watching the gates through
which all visitors passed in and out of Terenas's royal residence. The two wizards stepped
into sight, heading away. Their heads leaned toward one another as they engaged in
urgent yet clearly private conversation with one another. The dragon touched the
expensive glass plate on the window with his index finger, drawing two circles there, circles
that glowed deep red. He muttered a single word. The glass in one of the circles shifted,
puckered, shaped itself into a parody of a mouth. “—nothing at all! He's a blank, Modera!
Couldn't sense a thing about him!” In the other circle, a second, somewhat more delicate,
mouth formed. “Perhaps you're still not recovered enough, Drenden. After all, that shock
you suffered—” “I'm over it! Take more than that to kill me! Besides, I know you were
probing him, too! Didyousense anything?” A frown formed on the feminine mouth. “No . . .
which means he's very, very powerful—possibly almost as powerful as Medivh.” “He must
be using some powerful talisman! No one's that powerful, not even Krasus!” Modera's tone
changed. “Do we really know how powerful Krasus is? He's older than the rest of us. That
surely means something.” “It means he's cautious . . . but he is the best of us, even if he isn't
master of the council.” “That was his choice—more than once.” Deathwing leaned forward,
his once mild curiosity now growing stronger. “What's he doing, anyway? Why's he keeping
so secret?” “He says he wants to try to find out about Prestor's past, but I think there's
more. There's always more with Krasus.” “Well, I hope he finds out something soon, because
this situation is—what is it?” “I feel a tingling on my neck! I wonder if—” Up in the palace,
the dragon quickly waved his hand across the two glass mouths. The pane instantly
flattened, leaving no trace. Deathwing backed away. The female had finally sensed his
spellwork, but she would not be able to trace it back to him. He did not fear them, however
skilled for humans they were, but Deathwing had no desire at the moment to drag out his
confrontation with the pair. A new element had been added to the game, one that, for the
first time, made the dragon just a little pensive. He turned back to Terenas. The king still
stood where Deathwing had left him, mouth open and hand out. The dragon snapped his
fingers. “—and I won't stand for it! I've a mind to cut off all diplomatic relations with them
immediately! Who rules in Lordaeron? Not the Kirin Tor, whatever they might think!” “Yes,
probably a wise move, Your Majesty, but draw it out. Let them lodge their protest, then
begin closing the gates on them. I'm very certain that the other kingdoms will follow suit.”],

pensive (adj.) – thinking in a quiet way, often with a serious expression on your face,
having the appearance of deep, melancholic, thinking, looking thoughtful, especially
from sadness [She became withdrawn and pensive, hardly speaking to anyone. A new
element had been added to the game, one that, for the first time, made the dragon just a
little pensive.] – synonyms & related words [meditation, solemn, contemplative, dreamy,
sober, thoughtful, wistful, absorbed, abstracted, attentive, cogitative, grave, musing,
pondering, preoccupied, reflecting, reflective, ruminating, ruminative, serious,
speculative, thinking, withdrawn],

lodge (v.) – (complain) lodge a claim, complaint, protest, etc. to make an official
complaint about something [The US lodged a formal protest against the arrest of the
foreign reporters. Lawyers said last night that they would be lodging an appeal against the
sentence. “Yes, probably a wise move, Your Majesty, but draw it out. Let them lodge their
protest, then begin closing the gates on them. I'm very certain that the other kingdoms will
follow suit.”],
betake (v.) – to take oneself to, go or move, repair, resort, have recourse; to commit to
a specific action, to commend or entrust to, to commit to [I shall betake myself to my
lodgings. He hastily betook himself to the top of the house. She betook herself to the house
of the Chamberlain. The young gentlemen had betaken themselves to their own homes.],

wend (v.) – to direct (one's way or course), pursue one's way, proceed upon some
course or way, usually slowly and not directly [The thieves then wended their way
through the dark back streets to the docks. We wended our weary way westward. For a
time he wended his way through the tunnels with little problem, most of the orcs seemingly
far away, at work on some great project.] – synonyms & related words [change, saunter,
alter, go, journey, pass, proceed, shift, travel, meander; meander, make one's way, wind
one's way, find one's way, pick one's way; wander, potter, amble, stroll, saunter, drift,
roam, breeze, float, cruise, swan, waltz, traipse, trog; go, proceed, travel, move, pass,
walk, journey; perambulate, mosey, toddle, truck, bat],],

(random cool paragraph) – [Encouraged, Rhonin set a more daring pace, a more
certain one—which but seconds later nearly sent him stumbling into the very arms of a
pair of huge orc warriors. They were, fortunately, even more stunned to see him than he
was them. Rhonin immediately raised his left hand, muttering a spell that he had hoped to
save for more dire circumstances. The nearest of the orcs, his ugly, tusked face twisting into
a berserker rage, reached for the ax slung on his back. Rhonin's spell caught him directly in
the chest, throwing the massive warrior hard against the nearest rock wall. As the orc
struck the wall, hemeldedinto the very rock. Briefly the outline of his form remained
behind, mouth still open in rage, but then even that faded into the wall . . . leaving no trace
of the creature's savage end. “Human scum!” roared the second, his ax now in hand. He
took a heavy swing at Rhonin, chipping off bits of stone as the wizard managed to duck out
of the way. The orc lumbered forward, bulky, dull green form filling the narrow corridor. A
necklace of dried, wrinkled fingers— human, elven, and otherwise—dangled before
Rhonin's eyes, a collection to which his foe no doubt wished to add him. The orc swung
again, this time coming perilously near to severing the mage in two lengthwise. Rhonin
stared at the necklace again, a grim idea in mind. He pointed at the necklace and gestured.
His spell briefly made the orc pause, but when the savage warrior saw no visible effect, he
laughed scornfully at the pitiful little human. “Come! I make it quick for you, wizard!” But
as he raised his ax, a scratching sensation forced the orc to look down at his chest. The
fingers on his necklace, more than two dozen strong, had moved to his throat. He dropped
the ax and tried to pull them away, but they had already dug in tight. The orc began to
cough as the fingers formed a macabre hand of sorts, a hand cutting off his air. Rhonin
scrambled back as the orc began to swing about wildly, trying to peel away the avenging
digits. The wizard had intended the spell only as a diversion while he came up with
something more final, but the severed fingers seemed to have taken the opportunity to
heart. Vengeance? Even as a mage, Rhonin could not believe that the spirits of the warriors
slain by this orc had somehow urged the fingers to this grand effort. It had to be the
potency of the spell itself. Surely it had to be. . . . Whether vengeful ghosts or simply magic,
the enchanted fingers did their terrible work with seeming eagerness. Blood covered much
of the orc's upper chest as nails tore into the softer throat. The monstrous warrior
collapsed to his knees, eyes so desperate that Rhonin finally had to look away. A few
seconds later, he heard the orc gasp—then a heavy weight fell to the tunnel floor. The
massive berserker lay in a bloody heap, the fingers still dug deep into his neck. Daring to
touch one of the severed digits, Rhonin found no movement, no life. The fingers had
performed their task and now had returned to their previous state, just as his spell had
intended.],

slim pickings (n.) – little or no success in getting something because there is not very
much of it remaining [Buyers who have waited for bargains at the end of the year will find
slim pickings. “Supper's awake,” he hissed, a patch covering what remained of his left eye.
“Looks more like dessert to me,” returned a second, bald where the other two wore long,
shaggy mohawks. “Definitely dessert,” grinned the third, who wore a tattered scarf that
had once belonged to one of Vereesa's own kind. He seemed lankier than the other two, and
spoke as if no one would dare contradict him. The leader, then. The leader of a trio of
hungry-looking trolls. “Slim pickings lately,” the scarf-wearer went on. “But time now for a
feast, yes.”],

dearth (n.) – an amount or supply that is not large enough, a period or condition when
food is rare and hence expensive, famine, scarcity, a lack or short supply [A dearth of new
homes in the region.] – synonyms & related words [lack, scarcity, scarceness, shortage,
shortfall, want, deficiency, insufficiency, inadequacy, paucity, sparseness, meagreness,
scantiness, rareness, infrequency, uncommonness, destitution, privation; famine,
drought, poverty; absence, non-existenc, exiguity, exiguousness],

prodigious (adj.) – extremely great in ability, amount, or strength [She wrote a truly
prodigious number of novels. She was a prodigious musician. He had a prodigious appetite
for both women and drink. Prodigious feats of bravery. His prodigious memory. The trio
went back to some muffled conversation around the tiny fire. Vereesa again looked to the
dwarf, who stared back at her. A raised eyebrow by her was answered by a shake of his
head. No, despite his prodigious strength, he could not escape the tight bonds. She shook
her head in turn. However barbaric the trolls might be, they were true experts in knot-
tying.] – synonyms & related words [huge, enormous, extraordinary, fabulous, colossal,
fantastic, immense, inordinate, mammoth, monumental, tremendous, vast, amazing,
astonishing, astounding, exceptional, impressive, marvelous, miraculous, phenomenal,
remarkable, staggering, big, giant, gigantic, gross, herculean, immeasurable, jumbo, king-
size, large, massive, mighty, monstrous, mortal, stupendous, towering, abnormal, bad,
fab, heavy, out-of-this-world, preternatural, spectacular, startling, state-of-the-art,
striking, stupendous, surprising, unreal, unusual, utmost, wonderful],

prodigal son (n.) – someone who returns home from travelling, especially having
repented of former extravagant behavior; a man or boy who has left his family in order
to do something that the family disapprove of and now has returned home feeling sorry
for what he has done [The prodigal son has returned to the team afte r athree-year
absence.],

prodigal (adj.) – wastefully extravagant; (often followed by „of“ or „with) someone

yielding profusely, lavish; profuse, lavishly abundant; returning after abanadong a
person, group, or ideal, especially for selfish reasons, being a prodigal son [He found
himself guilty of prodigal spending during the holidays. He is a prodigal son. There have
been rumors that he has been prodigal with company funds. She was a merry person, glad
and prodigal of smiles. How can he be so prodigal with money on such a tight budget?],

be at a premium (id.) – to be not common and therefore valuable [Free time is at a

premium for working parents. Disk space on that server is at a premium. Up close, the
garments of the dwarves took on an even more ragged appearance, not surprising if they
had been subsisting, as Vereesa suspected, on whatever they could steal from the orcs. A
distinctive odor also prevailed, indicating that bathing had also long been at a premium.] –
synonyms & related words [deficient, limited, rare, scant, scanty, sparse, sporadic, few
and far between, in short supply, occasional, seldom, seldom met with, semioccasional,
failing, few, short, shortened, shy, truncated, uncommon, unusual, wanting]

be at daggers drawn (id.) – if two people are at daggers drawn, they feel very angry
towards each other [She and her sister are at daggers drawn.],

enthuse (v.) – to show enthusiasm, to express excitement about something or great

interest in it; (proscribed) to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm or to be enthusiastic,
to get other people to share your excitement and interest in a particular subject [He was
enthusing over a wonderful restaurant he'd been to. „She's the best leader that this country
has ever known!“ he enthused. A splendid performance, and I was enthusing over it. The
novelty of the film enthused the audience. He was passionately interested in classical music
but failed to enthuse his children (with it). Falstad ate with gusto, seemingly enthused by
the taste of the dried meat and fruit. ‘You should have seen them last night,’ enthused
Mannheim. ‘The 42nd, I mean, my regiment. It didn’t matter what the necrons threw at
them, they kept going. They were indefatigable. Even I… When I saw those ghouls, it sent a
chill down my spine, I can tell you, but the Death Korps, they never faltered, they never
flinched.’] – synonyms & related word [desire, lust after, slobber over, make much of,
thrill, stimulate, amaze, animate, astonish, astound, disturb, energize, excite, galvanize,
invigorate, jolt, rouse, startle, stir, stun, take one's breath away, exalt, enliven, incite,
impassion, rave, babble, blather, chatter, jabber, carry on about, fall all over, go on about,
prate],

prate (v.) – to talk stupidly, or about things that are not important, for a long time
[Inevitably there's some caller prating on about the decline in moral standards.] –
synonyms & related words [blabber, chatter, clack, gabble, gibber, maunder, palaver,
piffle, prattle, twaddle, blab, drivel, gab, jabber, runon, yack],
pipe (v.) – (speak) to speak or sing in a high voice [Beyond the golem, a familiar chuckle
made the hairs on the back of the mage's head stand on end. “Naughty, naughty!” piped the
high voice. “Play with fire, you get burned! Play with fire, you get burned!” „Ar-cher! Ja-
cob!“ Johnny piped after her, pivoting round on his heel.],

pipe up (v.) – to suddenly start to speak or make a noise [In the silence that followed, a
lone voice piped up from the back of the room.],

pipe down (v.) – to stop talking or making unnecessary noise [Will you please pipe
down, you two? I'm trying to read!] – synonyms & related words [be or make quiet, bottle
up, choke, dry up, dummy up, fall silent, gag, hold tongue, hush, keep (one's) trap shut,
muzzle, quiet, quieten, quit chattering, shush, silence, soft-pedal, still, stop talking,
squelch, stifle, clam, hold one's tongue, hush one's mouth],

toady (adj.) – a person who praises and is artificially pleasant to people in authority,
usually in order to get some advantage from them [“Or make him serve Kryll! Yes, perhaps
he shall serve me.” An exhalation of pure hatred escaped Kryll. “. . . and no more toadying
for the reptile! No more being his lackey! I planned long and hard for this, I did, waiting
and waiting and watching for when he'll be most vulnerable, yes!”] – synonyms & related
words [adulator, ass-kisser, backscratcher, backslapper, bootlicker, doormat, fawn,
fawner, flatterer, flunky, groupie, hanger-on, lackey, minion, apple polisher, brownnoser,
doter, kiss-up, teacher's pet, yes-person],

put through its paces (id.) – to test completely, to exercise the full range of abilities
or functions [Before buying the car, we put it through its paces. A state-of-the-art 'Mars
yard' is now ready to put the ExoMars rover through its paces before the vehicle is
launched to the Red Planet in 2018. I hope you're prepared for a lot of testing at your
interview – the company really puts applicants through their paces, to make sure they can
handle the stress of the job. Whenever you're buying a piece of equipment second hand, it's
best to put it through its paces before you hand over the money for it. I can't wait to take
this new sports car out on the road, so I can put it through its pace. We watched the trainer
putting the police dog through its paces. They're putting the new machine through its
paces. The drama coach put her students through their paces before the first performance.
From the ledge on which they crouched, they could see the fearsome warriors packing
away material and filling wagons. On one side, a handler put a young dragon through the
paces, while a second handler looked to be preparing for imminent departure.] –
synonyms & related words [try out, trial, carry out trials on, put to the test, experiment
with, pilot; check, examine, assess, evaluate, appraise, investigate, analyse, scrutinize,
study, probe, explore; sample; screen, assay],

slow one's roll (id.) – to calm down,

go through one's paces (id.) – to do something in order to show others how well
one does it [The athletes went through their paces as the coaches looked on.],
show one's paces (id.) – to show what one can do [They made the horse show its
paces.],

be quick/slow off the mark (id.) – to be quick/slow to act or react to an event or a

situation [The police were certainly quick off the mark in reaching the scene of the
accident. We have been slow off the mark in spotting this business opportunity.],

wide of the ark (id.) – of a projectile, missing the target; (very) inaccurate [Well, I
suppose you could say the weatherman was wide of the mark again then!],

off the mark (id.) – (figurative) inaccurate, not correct, or appropriate [His answers
are consistently off the mark. None of them quite make sense.],

on the mark (id.) – (figurative) precisely accurate, correct, or appropriate, bang on,
on the money,

simper (v.) – to smile in a silly or annoying way, to smile in a foolish, frivolous, self-
conscious, coy, or smug manner [She gave her teacher a simpering smile. Why, look at him
– look at this simpering, self-righteous mug!] – synonyms & related words [smile coyly,
beam, grin, leer, smirk, sneer, look smug],

simpering (adj.) – trying to be friendly and pleasant in a way that appears silly and
not sincere [She spoke in a simpering tone.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Rhonin, however, continued to search despite the

pitched battle around him. Suddenly, his gaze alighted on a glittering object half-covered
by the arm of a dead dwarf. The wizard raced over to it, hoping against hope. Sure enough,
it proved to be the draconic artifact. Rhonin studied it in open admiration. So simple and
elegant, yet containing forces beyond the ability of any wizard, save perhaps the infamous
Medivh. So much power. With it, Nekros could have become War Chief of the Horde. With it,
Rhonin could become master of Dalaran, emperor of all the Lordaeron kingdoms...],

ouster (n.) – the process of removing someone from an important position or job [The
committee's chairperson is facing a possible ouster. “I understand that now. If you like, I
will resign from the council, even accept penance or ouster, if that is what you wish.”
“There were those who mentioned more than ouster,” commented Modera. “Much more
than ouster...”],

assuage (v.) – to make unpleasant feelings less strong [The government has tried to
assauge the public's fears. He spread his hands as if as bewildered as the rest. “Lord
Prestor” had clearly had the upper hand in the situation, everything to gain; why, the rest
clearly wanted to know, had he abandoned it all now? “It is as much a puzzle to me as it is
you. Perhaps he realized that, eventually, our combined might would bring him down. That
would be my likely guess. Certainly nothing else would explain why he would give up so
much.” This sat well with the other wizards. Like most creatures, Korialstrasz knew, they
had their egos to assuage.],

without fear or favor (n.)– in an equal and fair way [The appointments are made
without fear or favor.],

rude awakening (n.) – an undesirable epiphany, a realization of an unwanted fact; a

shock that comes from learning that what you had believed or expected is not true [He's
in for a rude awakening (= will be shocked) when he starts work! They expected a friendly
reception but were in for a rude awakening. Mario Gomez scored twice as Manchester City
were given a rude awakening by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. I allowed the
enemy to thrust deep into the Reich – they believe themselves the victor already, but you'll
see, Greim, there will be a rude awakening.],

have another think/thought coming (id.) – (informal) to need to consider

something again, because you are wrong, to be deluded, to be mistaken, to need to
rethink something one has determined, to need to reconsider one's plans or
expectations [If you think you're going to marry my daughter, you have another think
coming. If you think I'm going to pay for everything, you've got another think coming.],

have your business, sensible, etc. head on (id.) – (informal) used for saying
that you are considering something from a particular way of thinking [I had my sensible
head on that morning and knew we couldn't afford to buy the car.],

give somebody food for thought (id.) – to make someone think seriously about
something, (food for thought means information or knowledge that is worthy of
contemplation),

take a long, hard, look at something (id.) – to examine something very carefulyl
in order to improve it in the future [We need to take a long, hard look at the way we
control gun ownership.],

eat your words (id.) – to admit that something you said before was wrong [Sam said
it would never sell, but when he sees these sales figures he'll have to eat his words. He didn't
think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words. This time, you have
to eat your words, because, like it or not, you lost. “No, Master Drek’Thar, I will not be
silent. This stranger comes seeking our aid, eats at our fire, and dares to insult the courage
of our clan and his own race. I will not stand for it. I am not the chieftain, nor do I claim
that right. But I will claim my right to fight this stranger, and make him eat his words
sliced upon my sword.”] – synonyms & related words [eat humble pie, eat crow, take
back, retract, go back on, tuck one's tail],

croon (v.) – to hum or sing softly or in a sentimental manner; to sing or talk in a sweet,
low voice full of emotion; to soothe by singing softly [Even the beasts were cold on a night
such as this, mused Durotan. Absently he reached out to his wolf companion and scratched
Sharptooth behind one of his white ears. The animal crooned appreciatively and snuggled
closer.] – synonyms & related words [sing, hum, murmur, wail, bellow, lull, roar],

balmy (adj.) – (of weather) pleasantly warm [A balmy summer evening. Once, Durotan,
chieftain of the Frostwolf clan, had known the kiss of balmier climes.],

crestfallen (adj.) – disappointed and sad because of having failed unexpectedly [He
looked crestfallen at their decision. He rose and straightened to his full imposing height.
His huge shadow fell over the forms of his wife and child. Her crestfallen expression told
him that Draka knew what he was going to say before he spoke, but the words needed
utterance.] – synonyms & related words [disappointed, dejected, despondent,
discouraged, dispirited, cast down, low, sad, taken down, downhearted, downcast,
inconsolable, disheartened],

dispirited (adj.) – not feeling much hope about a particular situation or problem,
having lost enthusiasm and hope, disheartened [The troops were dispirited and
disorganized. She was determined to appear unworried in front of her dispirited family. As
ever, Data Processing Room 312 was a hive of mindless activity as a thousand other bored
and dispirited souls just like him went about their labours.],

overlong (adj.) – too long [The last song on the album is brilliantly performed but
overlong. “You cannot stay overlong in this camp, though it would be an honor to have you
do so,” Doomhammer said as he rose.],

caterwaul (v.) – (of a person or animal) to make a high unpleasant noise like a cat
[“Haven’t you learned anything I’ve tried to teach you, Tammis?” he drawled. “It’s as much
about getting away from that damned fortress as bringing back supper. Let whatever it is
caterwaul all it likes.” He reached for the saddlebag behind him. The bottle felt cool and
smooth in his hand. ] – synonyms & related words [make screeching, crying noise, bawl,
bicker, howl, quarrel, scream, screech, shriek, squall, wail, yell, yowl],

liquid courage (id.) – alcohol drunk to induce a feeling of courage,

least said, soonest mended (id.) – used to say that a bad situation can be quickly
forgotten if people stop talking about it; a situation is mended quickly if there is no
discussion about it; if someone says least said, soonest mended, they mean that it is best
not to say too much about something bad that has happened [I didn't mention the matter
again. Least said, soonest mended is what I always say.],

out of the mouths of babes (and sucklings) (id.) – said when a child says
something that surprises you because it seems very wise; from the comments of
children, who are honest and innocent (comes truth or wisdom) [Taretha frowned. The
answer was obvious. “Da,” she said, “if it’s a baby, why are you trying to make it eat meat?”
Both adults stared at her, stunned. “What do you mean, little one?” asked Tammis in a
strained voice. Taretha pointed to her nursing brother. “Babies drink milk, like Faralyn
does. If this baby orc’s mother is dead, it can’t drink its milk.” Tammis continued to stare;
then a slow smile spread across his weary face. “Out of the mouths of babes,” he whispered,
and then hugged his daughter to him so tightly that she began to squirm in protest.],

deluge (n.) – a very large amount of rain or water; a deluge of something, a lot of
something [This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily. The newspaper
received a deluge of complaints/letters/phone calls about the article.] – synonyms &
related words [downpour, flood of something, avalanche, barrage, cataclysm,
inundation, spate, torrent, cataract, flux, overflowing, overrunning, pour, rush,
drencher],

deluge (v.) – to cover something with a lot of water [The city was deluged when the
river burst its banks. We've been deluged with (= have received a lot of) replies. When
Blackmoore heard that his personal servant’s wife had agreed to wet-nurse the dying orc
baby, the Foxton family was deluged with gifts. Rich fabrics, the freshest fruits and choicest
meats, fine beeswax tapers — all began to appear regularly at the door of the small room
that the family called their home. Soon, that room was exchanged for another, and then for
larger quarters still. Tammis Foxton was given his own horse, a lovely bay he named
Ladyfire. Clannia, now called Mistress Foxton, no longer had to report to the kitchens, but
spent all her time with her children and tending to the needs of what Blackmoore called his
“special project.” Taretha wore fine clothes and even had a tutor, a fussy, kind man named
Jaramin Skisson, sent to teach her to read and write, like a lady.] – synonyms & related
words [engulf, flood, inundate, overcrowd, overload, overrun, swamp, teem, abound,
crowd, glut, overcome, oversupply, snow, snow under, inundate with water, douse,
drench, overflow, soak, submerge, flush, gush, pour, sluice, sop, souse, stream, wet,
whelm],

sluice (v.) – wash or rinse freely with a stream or shower of water; if water sluices out
from somewhere, it flows in large amounts, to pour or flow freely [She sluiced her face in
cold water. Crews sluiced down the decks of their ship. Water sluiced out from the pipes.
The waves sluiced over them. The water sluiced out through the open door.] – synonyms &
related words [wash, wash down, rinse, swill down, clean, cleanse, flush, pour, flow, run,
gush, cascade, stream, course, spout, jet, spurt, flood, surge, spill, rush well, spew,
discharge, sloosh, disembogue],

fussy (adj.) – (not easily satisfied) not easily satisfied, or having very high standards
about particular things; (decorated too much) having to omuch decoration and too many
small details, in a way that is not stylish; (baby) a fussy baby is unhappy or difficult to
please [All my children were fussy eaters. He's so fussy about the house – everything has to
be absolutely perfect. „Why am I still single?“ „You're too fussy – that's your problem?“
They've got those curtains that tie up with big bows – they're a little fussy for my taste. It
seems that the baby is always fussy at dinnertime.] – synoyms & related words
[meticulous, particular, choosy, conscientious, discriminating, finicky, scrupulous,
squeamish, careful, conscionable, dainty, difficult, exact, exacting, fastidious, finical,
fretful, fuddy-duddy, hard to please, heedful, nit-picking, overfastidious, painstaking,
persnickety, picky, picky-picky, punctilious, punctual, querulous, stickling],

finicky (adj.) – (of a person) fussy about their needs or requirements; showing or
requiring great attention to detail [A finicky eater. These intellectuals with their fancy
words and finicky manners. His finicky, copperplate hand.] – synonyms & related words
[fussy, fastidious, punctilious, over-particular, hard to please, overcritical, difficult,
awkward, exacting, demanding, perfectionist; pass-remarkable, picky, choosy,
persnickety, persnickety, nice],

copperplate (n.) – a style of writing, handwriting in which the letters are carefully
formed in curved flowing shapes,

taper (n.) – a very thin candle or a very thin strip of wood, used especially in the past
for lighting candles, fires, etc.; a slender wax candle, a small lighted was candle; (by
extension) a small light; a tapering form, gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross
section in an elongated object,

lilt (n.) – a gentle and pleasant rising and falling sound in a person's voice [He's got that
lovely Irish lilt in his voice. “Look at me, Thrall.” Thrall hesitated, then lifted his blue-eyed
gaze. Blackmoore’s eyes bored into his own. “Do you know what your name means?” “No,
sir.” His voice sounded so rough and deep, even in his own ears, next to the musical lilt of
the humans’ voices.],

swaddle (v.) – to wrap a baby tightly in cloth [Swaddling a baby tightly in a blanket can
be a good way to stop it crying. Thrall thought briefly of the one time Jaramin had brought
in a small statue and told him how it was carved, of how they had discussed how his
swaddling cloth with its once-bright colors of blue and white had been woven. That,
Jaramin had said, was “art,” and Thrall had been eager to learn more about making such
beautiful things.],

swaddling clothes (id.) – an early period in development, infancy, the beginnings of

something, inception,

give your right arm (id.) – (informal) if you say that you would give your right arm
to do or have something, you mean you would like it very much [I would give my right
arm to meet the president. Ahead was a brightness that made Thrall blink. They were
approaching that brightness, and the fear of the unknown set in. When the guards ahead of
him went through and into this area, Thrall froze. The ground ahead was yellow and
brown, not the familiar gray of stone. Black things that resembled the guards lay on the
ground, following their every movement. “What are you doing?” snapped Blackmoore.
“Come out. Others held here would give their right arms to be able to walk out into the
sunlight.”],
burlap/hessian (n.) – a type of thick, rough cloth used for things and coverings that
must be strong [Something huge and green loomed in front of him. Instinctively, he drew
himself up to his full height and roared at it. More laughter from the guards, but this time,
Blackmoore nodded in approval at Thrall’s reaction. “That’s a mock fighter,” he said. “It’s
only made of burlap and stuffing and paint, Thrall. It’s a troll.”],

snick (n.) – a small cut or mark; a knot or irregularity in yarn; a sharp clicking sound
[“Hold!” screamed Sergeant, his voice as loud and commanding as if he had not just been
inches away from death. “Damn you, hold or I’ll cut your bloody arm off! Sheathe your
sword this minute, Maridan!” Thrall heard asnick . Then two strong arms seized his and he
was hauled to his feet. He stared at Sergeant. I heard a little snick and a flashlight came
on.],

nick (n.) – a small cut or notch [A small nick on his wrist. There was a slight nick half way
up the blade.] – synonyms & related words [cut, scratch, abrasion, incision, snick, scrape;
notch, chip, score, gouge, gash; dent, indentation; flaw, mark, blemish, defect],

nick (v.) – make a nick or nicks in; (UK, informal) steal; (NA, informal) cheat someone
of (a sum of money) [He had nicked himself while shaving. I didn't nick my skin even
though I shaved quickly. She nicked fivers from the till. Banks will be nicked for an extra
$40 million.] – synonyms & related words [cut, scratch, abrade, incise, snick, scrape,
notch, chip, gouge, gash, score],

snick (v.) – to latch, to lock; to make a small cut in something, to nick; to cause
(something) to click; to click [Snicked off a corner of the material. I snicked the door shut.
Snicked with the shears. The latch snicked open.],

fall (v.) – (unhappy) your facespirit/s fall, if your face falls, you suddenly look unhappy
or disappointed, and if your spirits fall, you suddenly feel unhappy or disappointed [His
spirits fell when he saw the distance he still had to go. As she read her exam results, her
face fell. Tammis’s heart sank. He had hoped she was over this disturbing interest in the
orc’s welfare. “No, Taretha. You’re just to hand the books to the guards, is all.” Her face fell,
and she turned away sadly. “It’s just . . . since Faralyn died . . . he’s the only little brother I
have.”],

awning (n.) – a cloth or plastic cover fastened to a building or structure and supported
by a frame that is used to protect someone or something from the sun or rain; a type of
tent that attached onto the side of a caravan [The gaily striped awnings of the market
stalls made an attractive scene. It was a bright day, warm but not too hot. Perfect fighting
weather. The awning, bright with his colors of red and gold, provided pleasant shade.
Banners of all colors danced in the gentle breeze, and music and laughter floated to his
ears. The smell of ripe fruits, fresh bread, and roasted venison teased his nostrils. Everyone
here was in a good mood. After the battles, some wouldn’t be in such good moods, but right
now, all were happy and filled with anticipation.] – synonyms & related words [canopy,
shade, sunshade, shelter, cover, covering; tarpaulin; blind, sunblind, velarium],

chaise (n.) – an open, horse-drawn carriage for one or two people, usually with one
horse and two wheels; a chaise longue, a long, low seat with an arm at one side and
usually a low back along half of its length, that a person can stretch out his or her legs
on; a post chaise, a horse-drawn carriage, closed and with four wheels, historically used
to transport mail and passengers [Lying on a chaise beside him was his young protégé,
Lord Karramyn Langston. Langston had rich brown hair that matched his dark eyes, a
strong, fit body, and a lazy smile. He was also completely devoted to Blackmoore, and was
the one human being Blackmoore had told of his ultimate plans. Though many years his
junior, Langston shared many of Blackmoore’s ideals and lack of scruples. They were a
good pair. Langston had fallen asleep in the warm sunshine, and snored softly.],

coddle (v.) – (cook) to cook food, especially eggs, in water just below boiling
temperature; (protect) to protect someone or something to much; (shelter) to exercise
excessive or damaging authority in an attempt to protect, to overprotect [Coddled eggs.
The steel industry is coddled by trade protection and massive subsidies. Idiots. Blackmoore
was surrounded by idiots. When Sergeant had read the order of battles this morning, he,
too, had confronted Blackmoore, saying the orc needed at least a few moments of rest, and
couldn’t they switch the combatant list so that the poor coddled creature could relax.],

farm something/somebody out (id.) – to give work to other people to do

[Magazines often farm out articles to freelance journalists. “Counting the bottles, you
pathetic excuse for a man?” he hissed, keeping his voice low. One of the many threats he
held over Tammis was public disgrace; even drunk as Blackmoore was, he didn’t want to
play that particular card quite yet. But he threatened it often, as now. Before his slightly
swimmy vision he saw Tammis pale. “You farm out your own wife to suckle monsters, and
you dare imply that I have weaknesses?”],

make hay while the sun shines (id.) – to make good use of an opportunity while
it lasts, to act while an opportunity exists, to take action while a situation is favorable
[“Oh, no. The odds against Thrall go higher with ever’ battle. He’s never lost, not once. Of
course I want to stop and give all those nice people their money back.” Disgusted, he waved
Tammis away. Thrall was incapable of being defeated. Why not make hay while the sun
shone?],

take time by the forelock (id.) – to seize an opportunity, when it is only available
for a limited time,

strike while the iron is hot (id.) – to act on an opportunity promptly while
favorable conditions exist, to avoid waiting, dawdling [We should strike while the iron is
hot and order some immediately, before they change the offer.],
forelock (n.) – a piece of hair that grows or falls over the forehead (= part of the face
above the eyes) or part of a horse's mane that falls forward between its ears,

tug at/touch/pull your forelock (id.) – to show respect to someone in a higher

position than you in a way that seems old-fashioned , to show deference or obseqious
respect ["Aw, lay off, will you? It's part of my job, you know that." "Yeah, bowing and
scraping and tugging your forelock to all those rich old crones. Somebody's chauffeur
probably got a scratch on the El Dorado, huh?"],

bow and scrape (id.) – to make a deep bow with the right leg drawn back (thus
scraping the floor), left hand pressed across the abdomen, right arm held aside; (by
extension) to behave in a servile, obsequious, or excessively polite manner,

make a leg (id.) – to make a deep bow with the right leg drawn back ["I beg pardon,"
said Mr. Datchery, making a leg with his hat under his arm, as he addressed himself equally
to both gentlemen.],

yowl (v.) – to make a long, high, unhappy cry, usualyl when hurt or fighting [I was
woken up by cats yowling outside my window. This time Thrall did not give it an opening.
When the cat sprang, all yowls and claws and teeth, Thrall was ready for it. His sword
sliced left, right, and left again. The cat fell in four bloody chunks.] – synonyms & related
words [long, loud animate sound, bawl, bay, caterwaul, cry, holler, howl, mewl, scream,
screech, squall, squeal, ululate, wail, whine, yell, yelp, yip],

scurry (v.) – to move quickly, with small, short steps [The mouse scurried across the
floor. The noise of the explosion sent everyone scurrying back into their homes. Thrall
climbed to his feet, looking as if he had a ton of stones on his back. Several men scurried
onto the field, to remove the dead mountain cats and dropped weapons. They handed
Thrall the weapon that he was to use for this battle: the morningstar, a studded, metal ball
attached by a chain to a thick stick. Thrall took the weapon, and tried to draw himself up
into a threatening posture. Even at this distance Blackmoore could see that he trembled.
Usually, before each battle, Thrall stamped on the earth. The steady rhythm both excited
the crowd and seemed to help Thrall feel more ready for combat. Today, though, he simply
seemed struggling to stay on his feet.] – synonyms & related words [move along swiftly,
bustle, dart, dash, hurry, rip, scamper, scoot, scuttle, sprint, whisk, zip, barrel, dust, fly,
hasten, race, run, rush, scud, shoot, skim, tear, whirl, hop along, scutter, step along],

(random cool paragraph) – [But his pleasure was short-lived. Even as Thrall began
to swing the morningstar again, gathering momentum, the ogre lurched to his feet and
seized the dropped spear. Thrall swung the morningstar at the creature’s head. To the
crowd’s amazement, and obviously to Thrall’s as well, the ogre simply extended a big hand
and batted the spike out of the way while shoving forward with the spear. The morningstar
flew from Thrall’s hand. He was knocked off balance and could not recover in time. Even as
he desperately tried to twist out of the way the spear impaled him high in the chest, a few
inches from his left shoulder. He screamed in agony. The ogre continued to shove as he
approached, and the spear went completely through Thrall’s body. He fell backward, and
was pinned to the earth. Now the ogre fell atop him, pummeling the hapless orc madly and
uttering horrible grunts and squeals. Blackmoore stared in horror. The orc was being
beaten, as helpless as a child beneath the onslaught of a bully. The gladiator ring, a
showcase for the finest warriors in the kingdom to compete against one another using
strength, skill, and cunning, had been reduced to nothing more than one weak monster
being beaten to a pulp by another, bigger one. How could Thrall have let this happen? Men
now hastened onto the field. With sharpened sticks, they prodded the ogre, trying to goad
him into leaving off his prey. The brute responded to the taunts, abandoning a bloody
Thrall and chasing after the men. Three others tossed a magical net, which immediately
shrank to engulf the raging ogre and compress his flailing limbs close to his body. He
thrashed now like a fish out of water, and the men, not at all gently, hauled the creature
onto a cart and took him out of the ring. Thrall, too, was being carried out, though with
much more gentleness. Blackmoore’s patronage assured that. But Blackmoore realized
that he had lost every penny he had bet on Thrall today because of this single fight. Many of
his companions had done likewise, and he could feel the heat of their furious glares as they
reached for their purses to pay their debts. Thrall. Thrall.Thrall. . . . Thrall lay gasping on
the straw that served him as a bed. He had never known such pain existed. Nor such
exhaustion. He wished he would fall unconscious; it would be so much easier. Nonetheless,
he would not let the welcoming blackness overtake him. The healers would be here soon;
Blackmoore always sent them after Thrall had been injured in a bout. Blackmoore also
always came to visit him, and Thrall eagerly awaited the comforting words of his master.
He had lost the battle, true, and that was a first, but surely Blackmoore would have nothing
but praise for how well he had fought nine bouts in a row. That was unheard of, Thrall
knew. Thrall also knew he could have beaten the ogre if he had been matched against him
in the first bout, or the third, or even the sixth. But no one could expect him to win after a
record-breaking eight bouts. He closed his eyes as pain seared him. The hot burning in his
chest was nigh unbearable. Where were the healers? They should have been here by now.
He knew his injuries were bad this time. He estimated he had several broken ribs, a broken
leg, several sword slashes, and of course the dreadful hole in his shoulder where the spear
had impaled him. They would have to come soon if Thrall were to be able to fight again
tomorrow. Thrall heard the lock open, but could not lift his head to see who entered his cell.
“The healers will be here,” came Blackmoore’s voice. Thrall tensed. The voice was slurred
and dripped with contempt. His heart began to speed up. Please, not this time . . . not now. .
. . “But they won’t be here anytime soon. I wan’ see you suffer, you poxy son of a whore.”
And then Thrall gasped in torment as Blackmoore’s boot kicked him in the stomach. The
pain was incredible, but not nearly as searing as the shock of betrayal that shuddered
through him. Why would Blackmoore strike him when he was so badly injured? Did he not
see how well Thrall had fought? Though the pain threatened to cause him to lose
consciousness, Thrall raised his head and stared at Blackmoore with blurred vision. The
man’s face was contorted in anger, and even as Thrall met his eyes Blackmoore struck him
soundly across the face with a mailed fist. Everything went black for an instant and when
Thrall could next hear, Blackmoore was still railing. “. . . lost thousands, do you hear
me,thousands! What is the matter with you? It was one pathetic little fight!” He was still
raining blows on Thrall, but Thrall was starting to drift away. He felt as if his body only
vaguely belonged to him, and the kicks Blackmoore delivered felt more and more like taps.
He felt blood sticky on his face. Blackmoore had seen him. He knew how exhausted Thrall
had been, had watched him rally again and again and again to hold his own eight out of
nine times. There was no way anyone could have expected Thrall to win that fight. Thrall
had fought with everything he had, and he had lost fairly and honorably. And yet that was
not good enough for Blackmoore. Finally, the blows stopped. He heard the steps as
Blackmoore left, and a single phrase: “Let the others have their turn.” The door did not
close. Thrall heard more footsteps. He could not raise his head again, though he tried.
Several pairs of black military boots appeared in front of him. Thrall now realized what
Blackmoore had ordered. One boot drew back slightly, then swung forward, kicking Thrall
in the face. His world went white, then black; then he knew no more. Thrall awoke to
warmth and a cessation of the agony that had been his companion for what seemed like an
eternity. Three healers were working on him, using their salve to heal his wounds.
Breathing was much easier and he guessed his ribs had been healed. They were
administering the sweet-smelling, gooey stuff to his shoulder now; clearly that was the
most difficult wound. Although their touches were gentle, and their salve brought healing,
there was no real compassion in these men. They healed him because Blackmoore paid
them to do so, not out of any real desire to ease suffering. Once, he had been more naive
and had thanked them sincerely for their efforts. One of them looked up, startled at the
words. A sneer had curled his lip. “Don’t flatter yourself, monster. Once the coins stop
flowing, so does the salve. Better not lose.” He had winced from the unkind words then, but
they did not bother him now. Thrall understood. He understood many things. It was as if his
vision had been cloudy, and a thick fog had suddenly lifted. He lay quietly until they had
finished; then they rose and left. Thrall sat upright and was surprised to see Sergeant
standing there, his hairy arms folded across his broad chest. Thrall did not speak,
wondering what new torment was coming. “I pulled ’em off you,” said Sergeant quietly.
“But not before they’d had their sport. Blackmoore had some . . . business . . . he needed to
talk w’ me about. I’m sorry for that, lad. I’m right sorry. You amazed me in the ring today.
Blackmoore ought to be prouder’n hell ’o you. Instead. . . .” His gruff voice trailed off. “Well,
I wanted to make sure you knew that you didn’t deserve what he did. What they did. You
did fine, lad. Just fine. Better get some sleep.” He seemed about to say something more, then
nodded and left. Thrall lay back down, absently noting that they had changed the straw. It
was fresh and clean, no longer clotted with his blood. He appreciated what Sergeant had
done, and believed the man. But it was too little, too late. He would not let himself be used
like this any longer. Once, he would have cringed and vowed to be better, to do something
to earn the love and respect he so desperately craved. Now, he knew he would never find it
here, not as long as Blackmoore owned him. He would not sleep. He would use this time to
plan. He reached for the tablet and stylus he kept in the sack, and wrote a note to the only
person he could trust: Tari. On the next dark moons, I plan to escape.],
fly in the ointment (id.) – (informal) a single thing or person that is spoiling a
situation that could have been very positive or enjoyable [I'm looking forward to Sunday,
the only fly in the ointment being the fact that I'll have to sit next to my mother-in-law.],

no flies on somebody (id.) – if you say there are no flies on someone, you mean that
they cannot easily be deceived, now usually used to suggest that a person is particularly
alert, clever, or energetic [There are no flies on him/her/them.],

milling (adj.) – moving around in a large group, with no particular purpose, or in no

particular direction [I lost sight of him among the milling crowds. All was chaos. The barns
were almost completely engulfed by flames, though the horses, goats, and donkeys ran
panic-stricken in the courtyard. This was even better, for there was less chance of him
being spotted in the milling madness. A bucket chain had been formed, and even as Thrall
watched, several more men hastened up, spilling the precious water in their heedless rush.],

rain barrel/water butt (n.) – a barrel used to collect and store rainwater runoff,
typically from rooftops via gutters [Finally, he made it. These, too, had been thrown open.
More carts carrying rain barrels clattered through, the drivers having a hard time
controlling their frightened mounts. No one noticed one lone figure slipping out into the
darkness.],

(random cool paragraph) – [He traveled all that night and halted to rest once the
sun began to rise. If he knew Blackmoore, and he did, the Lieutenant General would have
men out looking for him. Perhaps they would even press into use one of their famed flying
machines. Thrall had never seen one, and had privately doubted their existence. But if they
did indeed exist, then Blackmoore would commandeer the use of one to find his wandering
champion.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Blackmoore did not think he had ever been angrier in
his entire life, and that was saying a great deal. He had been roused from his slumber —
alone tonight, Taretha had pleaded illness — by the clamor of the bells and stared in
horror out his window at the billowing orange flames across the courtyard. Throwing on
clothing, he had raced to join the rest of Durnholde’s populace as they frantically tried to
contain the blaze. It had taken several hours, but by the time dawn’s pink hue had begun to
taint the night sky the inferno had been tamed to a pile of sullen embers. “It’s a miracle no
one was hurt,” said Langston, wiping his forehead. His pale face was tinted black by the
soot. Blackmoore fancied he looked no better. Everyone present was soiled and sweaty. The
servants would have quite a bit of washing to do tomorrow. “Not even the animals,” said
Tammis, coming up to them. “There was no way the animals could have escaped on their
own. We can’t be certain, my lord, but it’s beginning to look as though this fire was
deliberately set.” “By the Light!” gasped Langston. “Do you really think so? Who would
want to do such a thing?” “I’d count all my enemies on my hands, except I’d run out of
fingers,” growled Blackmoore. “And toes. Plenty of bastards out there jealous of my rank
and my . . . Lothar’s ghost.” He suddenly felt cold and imagined that his face was white
beneath the soot. Langston and Tammis both stared at him. He couldn’t spare the time to
voice his concern. He leaped up from the stone steps upon which he’d been sitting and sped
back toward the fortress. Both friend and servant followed him, crying out, “Blackmoore,
wait!” and “My lord, what is it?” Blackmoore ignored them. He hastened down the
corridors, up the stairs, and skidded to a halt in front of the broken wooden shards that had
once been the door to Thrall’s cell. His worst fear had been proven right. “Damn them all to
hell!” he cried. “Someone stole my orc! Tammis! I want men, I want horses, I want flying
machines — I want Thrall back immediately!”],

come off it (id.) – (informal) used to tell someone that you do not believe what they
are saying is true, or that you strongly disagree with them [Ask Simon to cook the meal?
Come off it, he can hardly boil an egg! “Well, look here,” said the second one. “A knife.” He
rose and went to Thrall, who was helplessly bound in a trap-net. “Stole all this, didn’t you?”
He thrust the knife at Thrall’s face. Thrall didn’t even blink. “Come off it, Hult,” said the
second man, who was the smallest and most anxious of the six. The others had tied their
horses to nearby branches and were busily divvying up the spoils, putting them in their
saddlebags and not choosing to report it to the mysterious Major Remka, whoever he was.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Thrall watched in horror as the man began to leaf
through Taretha’s letters. Blue eyes narrowing, the tall man turned to look at Thrall.
“Don’t suppose you can read, can you?” The other men erupted with laughter, crumbs
spraying from their mouths, but the man asking the question appeared to be serious. Thrall
started to answer, then thought better of it. Better to pretend not to even know the human
language, he thought. The tall man strode up to him. Thrall tensed, anticipating a blow, but
instead the man squatted down beside him and stared directly into Thrall’s eyes. Thrall
looked away. “You. Read?” The man pointed with a gloved finger to the letters. Thrall
stared at them, and, figuring even an orc who didn’t speak the human tongue would have
made the connection, shook his head violently. The man gazed at him a moment more, then
rose. Thrall wasn’t sure he’d convinced him. “He looks familiar, somehow,” said the man.
Thrall went cold inside. “They all look the same to me,” said Hult. “Big, green, and ugly.”
“Too bad none of us can read,” said the man. “I bet these papers would tell us a lot.” “You’re
always dreaming above your station, Waryk,” said Hult, a hint of contempt in his voice.
Waryk shoved the letters back into the sack, plucked the knife from Hult’s grasp over the
man’s halfhearted protest, and slung the now mostly-empty sack over his horse’s withers.
“Put the food away, before I change my mind. Let’s take him to the camp.”],

withers (n.) – the highest part of the back of a horse, above its shoulders,

wring someone's withers (id.) – stir the emotions or sensibilities [Let the galled
jade wince, our withers are unwrung.],

wring something from/out of somebody (id.) – to force or persuade someone

to give you something [They manged to wring a few concessions from the bosses.],
wrongsome (adj.) – marked by wrong or wrong-doing, characteristically wrong in
essence or manner,

furtive (adj.) – (of people) behaving secretly and often dishonestly, or (of actions) done
secretly and often dishonestly [I saw him cast a furtive glance at the woman at the table
to his right. He made one or two furtive phone calls. There was something furtive about his
behavior and I immediately felt suspicious. “Go on,” said Waryk, shoving Thrall gently
toward the nearest cluster of orcs. “Food’s put out once a day. There’s water in the
troughs.” Thrall stood up straight and tried to put a bold face on it as he strode to a group
of five orcs, sitting beside the aforementioned water troughs. He could feel Waryk’s eyes
boring into his scraped and bruised back and heard the man say, “I could swear I’ve seen
him somewhere before.” Then he heard the men walking away. Only one of the orcs looked
up as Thrall approached. His heart was racing. He had never been this close to one of his
people before, and now, here were five of them. “I greet you,” he said in orcish. They stared
at him. One of them looked down and resumed clawing at a small rock embedded in the
dirt. Thrall tried again. “I greet you,” he said, spreading his arms in the gesture that the
books told him indicated one warrior saluting another. “Where’d they catch you?” one of
them finally asked, speaking the human language. At Thrall’s startled look, she said, “You
weren’t raised to speak orcish. I can tell.” “You’re right. I was raised by humans. They
taught me only a little orcish. I was hoping you could help me learn more.” The orcs looked
at one another, then broke into laughter. “Raised by humans, eh? Hey, Krakis — come over
here! We got ourselves a good storyteller! All right, Shaman, tell us another one.” Thrall felt
his chance to connect with these people slipping through his fingers. “Please, I mean no
insult. I’m a prisoner like you are now. I’ve never met any orcs, I just want. . . .” Now the one
who had looked away turned around, and Thrall fell silent. This orc’s eyes were bright red
and seemed to glow, as if lit from within. “So you want to meet your people? Well, you’ve
met us. Now leave us be.” He turned back to picking at the stone. “Your eyes . . .” Thrall
murmured, too stunned by the strange red glow to recognize the insult. The orc cringed,
lifted a hand to shield his face from Thrall’s gaze, and hunched away even farther. Thrall
turned to ask a question and found himself standing alone. The other orcs had all shuffled
away, casting furtive glances back at him. The sky had been clouding over all day, and it
had steadily been growing colder. Now, as Thrall stood alone in the center of a courtyard
surrounded by what remained of his people, the gray skies opened and icy rain mixed with
snow began to fall. Thrall barely noticed the wretched weather, so deep was his personal
misery. Was this why he had severed every tie he had ever known? To live out his life as a
captive in a group of spiritless, sluggish creatures whom he once dreamed of leading
against the tyranny of the humans? Which was worse, he mused, fighting in the ring for the
glory of Blackmoore, sleeping safe and dry, reading letters from Tari, or standing here
alone, shunned even by those of his own blood, his feet sinking into freezing mud? The
answer came swiftly: Both were intolerable. Without appearing too obvious, Thrall began
to look about with an eye toward escape. It should be simple enough. Only a few guards
here and there, and at night, they would have more difficulty seeing than Thrall would.
They looked bored and disinterested, and judging by the lack of spirit, even energy or
interest, displayed by this pathetic collection of orcs, Thrall did not think even one of them
would have the courage to try to climb the rather low walls. He felt the rain now, as it
soaked the trousers he wore. A gray, gloomy day, for a gray, gloomy lesson. The orcs were
no noble, fierce warriors. He could not imagine how these creatures ever gave the humans
the slightest bit of resistance. “We were not always as you see us here,” came a soft, deep
voice at his elbow. Surprised, Thrall turned around to see the red-eyed orc staring up at
him with those unsettling orbs. “Soulless, afraid, ashamed. This is whatthey did to us,” he
continued, pointing to his eyes. “And if we could be rid of it, our hearts and spirits might
return.” Thrall sank down in the mud beside him. “Go on,” he urged. “I’m listening.”],

acquit yourself (id.) – (formal) to do better than expected in a difficult situation [I

thought that he acquitted himself admirably in today's meeting. Major Lorin Remka was
not a person to be trifled with. Although she stood only a little bit over five feet tall, she was
stocky and strong, and could handle herself more than adequately in any fight. She had
enlisted disguised as a man many years ago out of a passionate desire to destroy the
greenskin beings that had attacked her village. When the subterfuge had been discovered,
her commanding officer had put her right back in the front lines. Later, she had learned
that the officer had hoped she’d be killed, thus sparing him the embarrassment of reporting
her. But Lorin Remka had stubbornly survived, and had acquitted herself as well as, and in
some cases better than, any man in her unit.],

wistful (adj.) – sad and thinking about something that is impossible or in the past [A
wistful smile. I thought about those days in Spain and grew wistful. Thrall listened,
captivated, as the red-eyed orc spoke in a soft voice of tales of valor and strength. He told of
charges made against impossible odds, of heroic deeds, and of humans falling beneath a
relentless green tide of orcs united in purpose. He spoke wistfully of a spiritual people as
well, something Thrall had never heard of.] – synonyms & related words [daydreaming,
longing, contemplative, dreamy, forlorn, melancholy, mournful, nostalgic, pensive,
plaintive, sad, thoughtful, desirous, disconsolate, dreaming, hopeless, meditative,
musing, reflective, wishful, yearning],

commiserate (v.) – to express sympathy to someone about some bad luck [I began by
commiserating with her over the defeat. Langston met him halfway, and commiserated
with him, but even Langston’s cheerful, brainless chatter could not stir Blackmoore from
his gloom. In one fiery night, he had lost the two things most important to him: Thrall and
Taretha.] – synonyms & related words [listen to woes of another, sympathize, ache,
compassionate, condole, console, feel, pity, feel for, have mercy, share sorrow],

crock (n.) – (container) a container, usually made of clay; (slang) an old person or car
[He keeps his coffe in an earthenware crock. The day was bright and warm, one of the last
few such days of the fall, and the humans were joyfully preparing a feast that made Thrall’s
mouth water. There were baked breads, barrels of fresh fruits and vegetables, crocks of
jams and butters and spreads, wheels of cheeses, bottles of what he assumed were wine and
mead, and in the center, two pigs turned slowly on spits.] – synonyms & related words [jar,
container, crockery, pitcher, pot, vessel],

a crock (of shit) (id.) – something that is not true [„I'm really sorry!“ „What a crock –
you are not.“],

as, if, when, etc. the spirit moves somebody (id.) – taking action only when
you feel is the right time, not following a plan [It's impossible to predict what he'll do – he
just acts when the spirit moves him.],

the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (id.) – said when you would like to do
something, but you do not have the time, skills, or energy necessary to do it,

fire in your belly (id.) – a strong determination to succeed [Neither of the candidates
has a fire in his belly, so it's hard to get excited about them.] – synonyms & related words
[enthusiasm, inspiration, zeal, vitality, verve, zest, team spirit, fervor, go, a new lease of
life, fandom, fervor, fever, get-up-and-go, lust, mania, missionary zeal, oomph, rhapsody,
zip, appetite, aspiration, passion, vigor],

hankering (n.) – a strong wish [Don't you ever have a hankering for a different
lifestyle?],

rankle (v.) – to make someone annoyed or angry for a long time [The unkind way in
which his girlfriend left him still ranked with him long after. It still rankles that she got
promoted, and I didn't. “My name is —” “You are not unknown to us, Thrall of Durnholde.”
At Thrall’s look of surprise, Iskar continued, “Many have heard of Lieutenant General
Blackmoore’s pet orc.” Thrall growled, softly, deep in his throat, but he did not lose his
composure. He had heard the term before, but it rankled more coming from the mouth of
one of his own people.] – synonyms & related words [annoy, irritate, anger, bother,
embitter, exasperate, gall, harass, hurt, inflame, irk, rile, tormet, vex, aggravate, chafe,
fester, fret, mortify, nettle, obsess, pain, pester, plague, get one's goat],

(random cool paragraph) – [Thrall growled, softly, deep in his throat, but he did not
lose his composure. He had heard the term before, but it rankled more coming from the
mouth of one of his own people. “We have never seen you fight, of course,” Iskar continued,
clasping his hands behind his back and walking a slow circle around Thrall, looking him up
and down all the while. “Orcs aren’t allowed to watch the gladiator battles. While you were
finding glory in the ring, your brethren were beaten and abused.” Thrall could take it no
longer. “I received none of the glory. I was a slave, owned by Blackmoore, and if you do not
think I despise him, look at this!” He twisted around so that they could see his back. They
looked, and then to his fury they laughed. “There is nothing to see, Thrall of Durnholde,”
Iskar said. Thrall realized what had happened; the healing salve had worked its magic all
too well. There was not even a scar on his back from the terrible beating he had received
from Blackmoore and all of his men. “You ask for our compassion, and yet you seem hale
and healthy to us.” Thrall whirled. Anger filled him, and he tried to temper it, but to little
avail. “I was a thing, a piece of property. Do you think I benefited from my sweat and blood
shed in the ring? Blackmoore hauled in gold coins while I was kept in a cell, brought out for
his amusement. The scars on my body are not visible, I realize that now. But the only
reason I was healed was so that I could go back in the ring and fight again to enrich my
master. There are scars you cannot see that run much deeper. I escaped, I was thrown into
the camps, and then I came here to find Hellscream. Although I begin to doubt his
existence. It seems too much to hope for that I could still find an orc who exemplifies all
that I understood our people to be.” “What do you understand our people to be, then, orc
who bears the name of slave?” Iskar taunted. Thrall was breathing heavily, but summoned
the control that Sergeant had taught him. “They are strong. Cunning. Powerful. They are a
terror in battle. They have spirits that cannot be quenched. Let me see Hellscream, and he
will know that I am worthy.” “We will be the judge of that,” said Iskar. He raised his hand,
and three orcs entered the cavern. They began to don armor and reach for various
weapons. “These three are our finest warriors. They are, as you have said, strong, cunning,
and powerful. They fight to kill or die, unlike what you are used to in the gladiator ring.
Your playacting will not serve you here. Only real skill will save you. If you survive,
Hellscream may grant you an audience, or he may not.” Thrall gazed at Iskar. “He will see
me,” he said confidently. “You had best hope so. Begin!” And with no further warning, all
three orcs charged at a weaponless, armor-less Thrall.],

chafe at/under (v.) – to feel annoyed and impatient about something that stops you
doing what you want [We were all begining to chafe a little under such close supervision.
“A male child. Males mature to become orc-killers. They are our natural enemies. If you
indeed chafed at the whip and rod, and wish for revenge on those who enslaved you and
even gave you a name to mark your low position in life, then exact your revenge now. Kill
this child, before he grows to be of an age to kill you.”],

presence of mind (n.) – (approving) the ability to make good decisions and to act
quickly and calmly in a difficult situation or an emergency [When the gunmen came into
the bank, she had the presence of mind to press the alarm. Fortunately she had the
presence of mind to run into the streets. “Iwould expect that its parents would track it
down to our lair, you fool!” cried Grom. “We are warriors, fierce and proud. At least we
once were.” He shuddered, as if from a fever, and for a moment seemed to Thrall to be pale
and tired. But that impression was gone as quickly as it had come. “We do not butcher
children. I assume whoever caught the whelp had the presence of mind to blindfold it?”] –
synonyms & related words [coolheadedness, calm, clearheadedness, coolness, patience,
reasoning, sense],

impotent (adj.) – (lacking power) not having the power or ability to change or
improve a situation [You feel so impotent when your child is ill and you cannot help them.
Rekshak nodded. With a definite lack of gentleness, he took the boy by the arm and hauled
him to his feet. “Rekshak,” said Grom, his harsh voice heavy with warning. “If you disobey
me and the boy comes to harm, I shall know of it. And I shall not forgive.” Rekshak scowled
impotently. “As my lord wills,” he said, and, still roughly hauling the boy, began to ascend
one of the many winding stone corridors that emptied into the cavern.],

ere now (adv.) – (archaic) before now, prior to this point in time [Hellscream reached
out and put a hand on Iskar’s shoulder, then placed the other on Thrall’s, reaching up to do
so. “Iskar, my old friend,” he said, his rough voice soft, “you have seen me when the
bloodlust has come upon me. You have seen me wade in blood up to my knees. I have killed
the children of the humans ere now. But we gave all we had fighting in that manner, and
where has it brought us? Low and defeated, our kind slouch in camps and lift no hand to
free themselves, let alone fight for others. That way of fighting, of making war, has brought
us to this. Long have I thought that the ancestors would show me a new way, a way to win
back what we have lost. It is a fool who repeats the same actions expecting a different
outcome, and whatever I may be, I am not a fool. Thrall was strong enough to defeat the
finest we had to offer. He has tasted humankind’s ways and turned his back on them to be
free. He has escaped from the camps and against the odds managed to find me. I agree with
his choices here today. One day, my old friend, you, too, will see the wisdom in this.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [Slowly, reluctantly, and not without a few hostile
glances in Thrall’s direction, the orcs all ascended into different levels of the cave. Thrall
waited. “We are alone now,” said Hellscream. “Are you hungry, Thrall of Durnholde?” “I am
ravenous,” said Thrall, “but I would ask that you not call me Thrall of Durnholde. I escaped
Durnholde, and I loathe the thought of it.” Hellscream lumbered over to another cave,
pulled the skin aside, and withdrew a large chunk of raw meat. Thrall accepted it, nodded
his thanks, and bit into it eagerly. His first honestly earned meal as a free orc. Deer flesh
had never tasted so fine to him. “Should we then change your other name? It is the term of
a slave,” said Hellscream, squatting and watching Thrall closely with red eyes. “It was
meant to be a badge of shame.” Thrall thought as he chewed and swallowed. “No.
Blackmoore gave me the name so that I would never forget that I was something he owned,
that I belonged to him.” His eyes narrowed. “I never will. I will keep the name, and one day,
when I see him again, he will be the one who remembers what he did to me, and regret it
with all his heart.” Hellscream regarded him closely. “You would kill him, then?” Thrall did
not answer immediately. He thought of the time when he had almost killed Sergeant and
seen Blackmoore’s face instead, of the countless times since that moment when he had
visualized Blackmoore’s handsome, taunting visage while fighting in the ring. He thought
of Blackmoore’s slurred speech and the agony that his kicks and fists had caused. He
thought of the anguish on Taretha’s lovely face as she spoke of the master of Durnholde.
“Yes,” he said, his voice deep and hard. “I would. If any creature deserves death, it is
certainly Aedelas Blackmoore.” Hellscream cackled, a strange, wild sound. “Good. At least
you’re willing to kill somebody. I was starting to wonder if I’d made the right choice.” He
gestured to the tattered cloth that Thrall had tucked into the waistband of his trousers.
“That doesn’t look human-made.” Thrall tugged the swaddling cloth free. “It isn’t. This is
the cloth in which Blackmoore found me, when I was an infant.” He handed it to
Hellscream. “That’s all I know.” “I know this pattern,” said Hellscream, opening the cloth
and regarding the symbol of the white wolf’s head on a blue background. “This is the
symbol of the Frostwolf clan. Where did Blackmoore find you?” “He always told me it
wasn’t very far from Durnholde,” said Thrall. “Then your family was a long way from home.
I wonder why.” Hope seized Thrall. “Did you know them? Could you tell me who my parents
were? There is so much I don’t know.” “I can only say that this is the emblem of the
Frostwolf clan, and that they live a great distance from here, somewhere up in the
mountains. They were exiled by Gul’dan. I never did learn why. Durotan and his people
seemed loyal to me. Rumor has it they have formed bonds with the wild white wolves, but
one cannot always believe everything that one hears.” Thrall tasted disappointment. Still, it
was more than he had known before. He ran a big hand over the small square of old fabric,
amazed that he had ever been little enough to be wrapped in it. “Another question, if you
can answer it,” he said to Hellscream. “When I was younger, I was training outside, and a
wagon passed, carrying several. . . .” He paused. What was the correct term? Inmates?
Slaves? “Several orcs to the internment camps. One of them broke free and attacked me. He
kept screaming something over and over. I was never able to learn what he said, but I
vowed I would remember the words. Perhaps you can tell me what they mean.” “Speak, and
I shall tell you.” “Kagh! Bin mog g’thazag cha!” said Thrall. “That was no attack, my young
friend,” said Hellscream. “The words are, ‘Run! I will protect you!’” Thrall stared. All this
time, he had assumed that he was the object of the charge, when all along. . . . “The other
fighters,” he said. “We were doing a training exercise. I was without armor or shield, in the
center of a ring of men. . . . He died, Hellscream. They cut him to bits. He thought they were
making sport of me, that I was being attacked twelve to one. He died to protect me.”
Hellscream said nothing, merely continued to eat while watching Thrall closely. Famished
though he was, Thrall let the haunch of meat drip its juices onto the stone floor. Someone
had given his life to protect an unknown young orc. Slowly, without the keen pleasure he
had experienced before, he bit into the flesh and chewed. Sooner or later, he would have to
find the Frostwolf clan, and learn exactly who he was.],

(random cool paragraph) – [There had been another rumor as to Thrall’s

whereabouts, and once again, Blackmoore had left Durnholde to follow up on it. Taretha
had two passionate, conflicting thoughts. One was that she desperately hoped that the
rumors were false, that Thrall was miles away from wherever it was he had been
reportedly seen. The other was the overwhelming sense of relief she experienced whenever
Blackmoore was not present. She took her daily stroll around the grounds outside the
fortress. It was safe these days, save for the occasional highwayman, and they skulked by
the main roads. She would come to no harm in the forests that she had grown to know so
intimately. She undid her hair and let it cascade about her shoulders, enjoying the freedom
of it. It was not seemly for a woman to have unbound hair. Gleefully, Taretha combed her
fingers through the thick golden mass and shook her head in defiance. Her gaze fell to the
welts on her wrists. Instinctively, one hand reached to cover the other. No. She would not
hide what was not her own shame. Taretha forced herself to uncover the bruises. For the
sake of her family, she had to submit to him. But she would not aid in hiding the wrongs he
had done. Taretha took a deep breath. Even here, it would seem, Blackmoore’s shadow
followed. Deliberately, she banished it, and turned her face up toward the sun. She
wandered up to the cave where she had said her farewells to Thrall and sat there for a
while, hugging her long legs to her chest. There was no sign that anyone save the creatures
of the woods had been here in a long time. She then rose and strolled to the tree where she
had told Thrall to hide the necklace she’d given him. Peering down into its blackened
depths, she saw no glint of silver. She was relieved and saddened at the same time. Taretha
desperately missed writing to Thrall and hearing his kind, wise replies. If only the rest of
her people felt that way. Couldn’t they see that the orcs were not a threat anymore?
Couldn’t they understand that with education and a little bit of respect, they could be
valuable allies and not enemies? She thought of all the money and time being poured into
the internment camps, of how foolish and small-minded it seemed. Too bad she couldn’t
have run away with Thrall. As Taretha walked slowly back to the fortress, she heard a horn
blow. The master of Durnholde had returned. All the sense of lightness and freedom she had
experienced bled out of her, as if from an open wound. Whatever betide, Thrall at least is
free, she thought.My days as a slave loom numberless ahead of me.],

(random cool paragraph) – [He made a detour after a few hours, to veer back in the
direction of the small village where he had stolen food and frightened the inhabitants. He
did not go too near, for his keen ears had already picked up the sound of soldiers’ voices.
But he did leave a token for Blackmoore’s men to find. Though it nearly killed him to do it,
he took the swaddling cloth that bore the mark of the Frostwolves and tore a large strip
from it. He placed it carefully to the south of the village on a jagged stump. He wanted it to
be easily found, but not too obvious. He also made sure that he left several large, easily
traceable footprints in the soft, muddy soil. With any luck, Blackmoore’s men would find
the tattered piece of instantly recognizable cloth, see the footprints and assume that Thrall
was headed due south. He walked backward carefully in his footprints — a tactic he had
learned from his reading — and sought out stone and hard earth for the next several
paces.],

cobble something together (id.) – to do or make something quickly and not very
carefully [I just had to cobble this meal together from what I had in the fridge. Staring
right at him with a curious expression on its face was an orc child. Thrall’s eyes opened
wider to regard the small male. There had been no children among the Warsong clan. They
had been cobbled together after dreadful battles, their numbers decimated, and Grom had
told him that the children had been the first to succumb.],

tears prick your eyes (id.) – (literary) if tears prick your eyes, you feel as if you are
going to cry [Sudden tears pricked Alex's eyes.],

prick (v.) – (motivate) to incite, stimulate, goad [My duty pricks me on to utter that.
“Yes,” said Thrall, “a word that means slave in their tongue. But I am a thrall no longer,
though I keep the name to prick myself to my duties. I have escaped my chains and desire to
find out my true history.” Without thinking, Thrall tried to sit up again, and was again
slammed down. This time, he saw the gnarled old hands twitch slightly. This was a
powerful shaman indeed.],

ladle up (v.) – to scoop something up in a ladle [Jerry ladled a cool dipper of water up
and quenched his thirst. Please ladle up the soup and serve it. Over a hearty stew of meat,
broth, and roots, Drek’Thar told Thrall the rest of his history, at least as much as he knew.
He had taken the young orc into his cave, and with the fire burning brightly and thick fur
cloaks about their bodies, both old shaman and young warrior were warm and
comfortable. Palkar, his attendant, who had been so diligent about alerting him when
Thrall had awakened, ladled up the stew and gently pressed the warm wooden bowl into
Drek’thar’s hands.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“It is a long story.” “I’ve got time.” Thrall had to laugh.
He found himself liking this cranky old shaman. Surrendering to the implacable force that
kept him flat on his back, he told his story. Of how Blackmoore had found him as an infant,
had raised him and taught him how to fight and to read. He told the shaman of Tari’s
kindness, of the listless orcs he had found in the camps, of finally making contact with
Hellscream, who had taught him the warrior’s code and the language of his people.
“Hellscream was the one who told me that the Frostwolves were my clan,” he finished. “He
knew by the small piece of cloth in which I was wrapped as a baby. I can show you —” He
fell silent, mortified. Of course Drek’Thar could not be “shown” anything. He expected the
shaman to erupt in offense, but instead Drek’Thar extended his hand. “Give it to me.” Now
the pressure on his chest eased, and Thrall was able to sit up. He reached in his pack for the
tattered remains of the Frostwolf blanket, and wordlessly handed it to the shaman.
Drek’Thar took it in both hands, and brought it to his chest. He murmured softly words
Thrall could not catch, and then nodded. “It is as I suspected,” he said, and sighed heavily.
He handed the cloth back to Thrall. “The cloth is indeed the pattern of the Frostwolves, and
it was woven by the hand of your mother. We had thought you dead.” “How could you tell
that —” And then Thrall fully understood what Drek’Thar had said. Hope seized him. “You
know my mother? My father? Who am I?” Drek’Thar lifted his head and stared at Thrall
with his blind eyes. “You are the only child of Durotan, our former chieftain, and his
courageous mate Draka.” Over a hearty stew of meat, broth, and roots, Drek’Thar told
Thrall the rest of his history, at least as much as he knew. He had taken the young orc into
his cave, and with the fire burning brightly and thick fur cloaks about their bodies, both old
shaman and young warrior were warm and comfortable. Palkar, his attendant, who had
been so diligent about alerting him when Thrall had awakened, ladled up the stew and
gently pressed the warm wooden bowl into Drek’thar’s hands. The orc ate his stew,
delaying speaking. Palkar sat quietly. The only sound was the crackle of the fire and the
slow, deep breathing of Wise-ear, Drek’thar’s wolf companion. It was a difficult story for
Drek’Thar, one he had never imagined he would need to speak of ever again. “Your parents
were the most honored of all the Frostwolves. They left us on a dire errand many winters
past, never to return. We did not know what had happened to them . . . until now.” He
gestured in the direction of the cloth. “The fibers in the cloth have told me. They were slain,
and you survived, to be raised by humans.” The cloth was not living, but it had been made
of the fur of the white goats that braved the mountains. Because the wool had once
belonged to a living being, it had a certain sentience of its own. It could not give details, but
it spoke of blood being shed, spattering it with dark red droplets. It also told Drek’Thar a
bit about Thrall as well, validating the young orc’s story and giving it a sense of truth that
Drek’Thar could believe. He could sense Thrall’s doubt that the blanket remnant had
“spoken” to him freely. “What was the errand that cost my parents their lives?” the young
orc wanted to know. But that was information Drek’Thar was not ready to share. “I will tell
you in time, perhaps. But now, you have put me in a difficult position, Thrall. You come
during the winter, the harshest season of all, and as your clan members we must take you
in. That does not mean that you will be kept warm, fed, and sheltered without recompense.”
“I did not expect to be so treated,” said Thrall. “I am strong. I can work hard, help you hunt.
I can teach you some of the ways of humankind, that you will better be prepared to fight
them. I can —” Drek’Thar held up a commanding hand, silencing Thrall’s eager babble. He
listened. The fire was speaking to him. He leaned in to it, to hear its words better.
Drek’Thar was stunned. Fire was the most undisciplined of the elements. It barely would
deign to reply when he addressed it after following all the rituals to appease it. And now,
Fire was speaking to him . . . about Thrall! He saw in his mind images of brave Durotan,
beautiful and fierce Draka.I miss you yet, my old friends , he thought.And yet your blood
returns to me, in the form of your son. A son of whom even the Spirit of Fire speaks well.
But I cannot just give him the mantle of leadership, not as young as he is, as untested . . . as
human-tainted! “Since your father left, I have been the leader of the Frostwolves,” said
Drek’Thar. “I accept your offer of aid to the clan, Thrall, son of Durotan. But you will have
to earn your rank.”],

snatch victory (from the jaws of defeat) (id.) – to win at the last moment
possible, when it had previously seemed certain that you were going to lose,

(random cool paragraph) – [One evening, he had asked Drek’Thar about the link
between the wolves and the orcs. He was familiar with the concept of domesticating
animals, of course, but this seemed different, deeper. “It is,” Drek’Thar replied. “The wolves
are not tamed, not as you understand the word. They have come to be our friends because I
invited them. It is part of being a shaman. We have a bond with the things of the natural
world, and strive always to work in harmony with them. It would be helpful to us if the
wolves would be our companions. Hunt with us, keep us warm when the furs are not
enough. Alert us to strangers, as they did with you. You would have died had not our wolf
friends found you. And in return, we make sure they are well fed, that their injuries are
healed, and their cubs need not fear the mighty wind eagles that scour the mountains
during the birthing times. “We have made a similar pact with the goats, although they are
not as wise as the wolves. They give us their wool and milk, and when we are in extreme
need, one will surrender its life. We protect them in return. They are free to break the pact
at any time, but in the last thirty years, none has done so.” Thrall could not believe what he
was hearing. This was potent magic indeed. “You link with things other than animals,
though, do you not?” Drek’Thar nodded. “I can call the snows, and wind, and lightning. The
trees may bend to me when I ask. The rivers may flow where I ask them to.” “If your power
is so great, then why do you continue to live in such a harsh place?” Thrall asked. “If what
you are saying is true, you could turn this barren mountain-top into a lush garden. Food
would never be difficult to come by, your enemies would never find you —” “And I would
violate the primary agreement with the elements, and nothing of nature would ever
respond to me again!” bellowed Drek’Thar. Thrall wished he could snatch back the words,
but it was too late. He had obviously deeply offended the shaman. “Do you understand
nothing? Have the humans sunk their greedy talons in you so deeply that you cannot see
what lies at the heart of a shaman’s power? I am granted these things because Iask , with
respect in my heart, and I am willing to offer something in return. I request only the barest
needs for myself and my people. At times, I ask great things, but only when the cause is
good and just and wholesome. In return, I thank these powers, knowing that they are
borrowed only, never bought. They come to me because they choose to, not because I
demand it! These are not slaves, Thrall. They are powerful entities who come of their own
free will, who are companions in my magic, not my servants. Pagh!” He snarled and turned
away from Thrall. “You will never understand.” For many days, he did not speak with
Thrall. Thrall continued to do the lesser jobs, but it seemed that he grew only more distant
from the Frostwolves, not closer, as time passed. One evening he was covering the refuse
pits when one of the younger males called out, “Slave!” “My name is Thrall,” Thrall said
darkly. The other orc shrugged. “Thrall, slave. It means the same thing. My wolf is ill and
has soiled his bedding. Clean it.” Thrall growled low in his throat. “Clean it yourself. I am
not your servant, I am a guest of the Frostwolves,” he snarled. “Oh? Really? With a name
like slave? Here, human-boy, take it!” He threw a blanket and it covered Thrall before he
could react. Cold moisture clung to his face and he smelled the stench of urine. Something
snapped inside him. Red anger flooded his vision and he screamed in outrage. He ripped the
filthy blanket off and clenched his fists. He began to stamp, rhythmically, angrily, as he had
so long ago in the ring. Only there was no cheering crowd here, only a small circle of
suddenly very quiet orcs who stared at him. The young orc thrust his jaw out stubbornly. “I
said, clean it, slave.” Thrall bellowed and sprang. The young male went down, though not
without fighting. Thrall didn’t feel his flesh part beneath sharp black nails. He felt only the
fury, the outrage. He was no one’s slave. Then they were pulling him off and throwing him
into a snow bank. The shock of the cold wetness brought him to his senses, and he realized
that he had ruined any chance of being accepted by these people. The thought devastated
him, and he sat waist-deep in the snow, staring down. He had failed. There was no place
that he belonged. “I had wondered how long it would take you,” said Drek’Thar. Thrall
glanced up listlessly to see the blind shaman standing over him. “You surprised me by
lasting this long.” Slowly, Thrall stood. “I have turned on my hosts,” he said heavily. “I will
depart.” “You will do no such thing,” said Drek’Thar. Thrall turned to stare at him. “The
first test I had was to see if you were too arrogant to ask to be one of us. Had you come in
here demanding the chieftainship as your birthright, we would have sent you away — and
sent our wolves to make sure you stayed away. You needed first to be humble before we
would admit you. “But also, we would not respect anyone who would stay servile for too
long. Had you not challenged Uthul’s insults, you would not have been a true orc. I am
pleased to see you are both humble and proud, Thrall.” Gently, Drek’Thar placed a wizened
hand on Thrall’s muscular arm. “Both qualities are needed for one who will follow the path
of the shaman.”],

wont (n.) – as is someone's wont, in the way that someone usually does [She arrived an
hour late, as is her wont. He also made a unique friend. One evening, as the clan and their
wolf companions gathered around the fire as was their usual wont, a young wolf detached
itself from the pack that usually slept just beyond the ring of firelight and approached. The
Frostwolves fell silent.],

deferential (adj.) – polite and showing respect [She is always extremely deferential
towards anyone in authority. Thrall had to acknowledge the shaman’s points. Anxious to
behave properly, he sat down by the stranger. “Greetings, stranger. How long have you
been traveling?” The orc looked at him from under a shadowing hood. His gray eyes were
sharp, though his answer was polite, even deferential. “Longer than I care to recall, young
one. I am in your debt. I had thought the Frostwolves only a legend, told by Gul’dan’s
cronies to intimidate all other orcs.”],

purport (v.) – to pretend to be or to do something, especially in a way that is not easy

to believe. [They purport to represent the wishes of the majority of parents at the school.
The study purports to show an increase in the incidence of the disease. The tape recording
purports to be one of a conversation between the princess and a secret admirer.],

purport (n.) – the general meaning of someone's words or actions [I didn't read it all
but I think the purport of the letter was that he will not be returning for at least a year.],

purloin (v.) – to steal something [I was using a pen that I'd purloined from the office.],

scorn (v.) – to show scorn for someone or something; to refuse advice or an offer
because you are too proud [So does he respect the press and media, or does he secretly
scorn them? You scorned all my suggestions. She scorned all of my offers of help.
Doomhammer was silent again for a time. Finally, he said, “I have kept to myself these
many years, since the final, ignominious defeat. I know what they say about me. I am a
hermit, a coward, afraid to show my face. Do you know why I have scorned the company of
others until this night, Thrall?”],

sloth (n.) – (no effort) (literary) unwillingness to work or make any effort [The report
criticizes the government's sloth in tackling environmental problems. Thrall thought of the
encampment, of its dreary, deadly sloth. He also thought of how narrowly he had escaped
Blackmoore’s men.] – synonyms & related words [laziness, idleness, indolence,
slothfulness, inactivity, inertia, sluggishness, apathy, accidie, listlessness, lassitude,
passivity, lethargy, languor, torpidity, slowness, heaviness, dullness, shiftlessness,
fainéance, hebetude],
overcome one's natural sloth and complacency (id.) – stop being lazy

baldric/bawldrick/bauldrick/baldrick (n.) – a broad belt, sometimes richly

ornamented, worn over one shoulder, across the breast, and under the opposite arm,
less properly, any belt [“If you bear the news I think you do, then I am inclined to separate
your pretty head from your shoulders,” Blackmoore growled at the hapless messenger who
wore a baldric that marked him as a rider from one of the internment camps. The
messenger looked slightly ill. “Perhaps, then, I ought not speak,” he replied.],

beholden (adj.) – feeling you have a duty to someone because they have done
something for you, owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a
service [She wanted to be independent and beholden to no one. Thrall softened a bit. “Such
behavior is of the old Horde, led by dark warlocks who had no love for our people. That is
what brought us to the internment camps, to the listlessness caused by the lack of demon
energy upon which we fed so greedily. I do not wish us beholden to anyone but ourselves.
That way almost destroyed us. We will be free, never question that. But we will be free to be
who we truly are, and who we truly are is much, much more than simply a race of beings
who exist to slaughter humans. The old ways are no more. We fight as proud warriors now,
not as indiscriminate killers. There is no pride in murdering children.”] – synonyms &
related words [indebted, obligated, under an obligation, obliged, bound, duty-bound,
honor-bound, owing a debt of gratitude, grateful, thankful, appreciative, in someone's
debt, owing someone thanks],

rack and ruin (n.) – (decay) a state of decay [The whole farm was going to rack and
ruin.],

rack (v.) – to cause physical or mental pain, or trouble, to someone or something [Even
at the end, when cancer racked his body, he was calm and cheerful. The dog was already
racked by/with the pains of old age. He was racked by/with doubts/guilt.],

rack your brain(s) (id.) – to think very hard [I've been racking my brains all day but I
can't remember her name. Another wave of enemies charged out, this one on foot. The
trees did not send their roots forth a second time; they had provided all the aid they would.
Despite his frustration, Thrall thanked them and racked his brain as to what to do next.],

on the rack (id.) – to be suffering great physical or mental pain, suffering from great
stress or anxiety; to be in a very difficult or stressful position [The whole family was on
the rack waiting for the doctors to give them an update. They had the reigning champions
on the rack for the first half of the game.] We were fairly evenly matched in the first half of
the game, but we really put them on the rack in the second half. With ministers again on
the rack over this new scandal, you have to wonder how long this government will last. She
and Michael listened closely, on the rack of apprehension.],
(random cool paragraph) – [Lord Karramyn Langston had never been more afraid
in his life. Too young to have charged into battle in the last conflict between humankind
and orcs, he had hung on every word his idol Lord Blackmoore had uttered. Blackmoore
had made it sound as easy as hunting game in the tame, forested lands that surrounded
Durnholde, except much more exciting. Blackmoore had said nothing about the shrieks and
groans that assaulted his ears, the stench of blood and urine and feces and the orcs
themselves, the bombardment of a thousand images upon the eye at any one time. No,
battle with orcs had been described as a heart-pounding lark, which made one ready for a
bath and wine and the company of adoring women.],

dumbly (adv.) – without spekaing [She stared dumbly into space. Black-red blood now
gushed freely from the fatal hole in Doomhammer’s belly. Standing beside Thrall,
Hellscream whispered, “I saw it happen. It was before you caused the horses to desert their
masters. He was single-handedly battling eight of them, all on horseback. It was the bravest
thing I have ever seen.” Thrall nodded dumbly, then knelt beside Doomhammer’s side.
“Great leader,” whispered Thrall, so that only Doomhammer could hear, “I am afraid. I am
not worthy to wear your armor and wield your weapon.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [He took a moment to close his eyes and offer his
gratitude to Earth, then turned and hastened to where his people were gathering. This
moment was always chaotic, but it seemed to Thrall to be even less organized than usual.
Even as he ran up the hilly ground, Hellscream was hurrying to meet him. “It’s
Doomhammer,” Hellscream rasped. “You had better hurry.” Thrall’s heart leaped. Not
Doomhammer. Surely he could not be in danger. . . . He followed where Hellscream led,
shoving his way through a thick cluster of jabbering orcs to where Orgrim Doomhammer
lay propped up sideways against the base of a tree. Thrall gasped, horrified. At least two
feet of a broken lance extended from Doomhammer’s broad back. As Thrall stared, frozen
for a moment by the sight, Doomhammer’s two personal attendants struggled to remove
the circular breastplate. Now Thrall could see, poking through the black gambeson that
cushioned the heavy armor, the reddened, glistening tip of the lance. It had impaled
Doomhammer with such force that it had gone clear through his body, completely piercing
the back plate and denting the breastplate from the inside. Drek’Thar was kneeling next to
Doomhammer, and he turned his blind eyes up to Thrall’s. He shook his head slightly, then
rose and stepped back. Blood seemed to roar in Thrall’s ears, and it was only dimly that he
heard the mighty warrior calling his name. Stumbling in shock, Thrall approached and
knelt beside Doomhammer. “The blow was a coward’s blow,” Doomhammer rasped. Blood
trickled from his mouth. “I was struck from behind.” “My lord,” said Thrall, miserably.
Doomhammer waved him to silence. “I need your help, Thrall. In two things. You must
carry on what we have begun. I led the Horde once. It is not my destiny to do so again.” He
grimaced, shuddered, and continued. “Yours is the title of Warchief, Thrall, son of D-
Durotan. You will wear my armor, and carry my hammer.” Doomhammer reached out to
Thrall, and Thrall grasped the bloody, armored hand with his own. “You know what to do.
They are in your care now. I could not . . . have hoped for a better heir. Your father would
be so proud . . . help me. . . .” With hands that trembled, Thrall turned to assist the two
younger orcs in removing, piece by piece, the armor that had always been associated with
Orgrim Doomhammer. But the lance that still protruded from Orgrim’s back would not
permit the removal of the rest of the armor. “That is the second thing,” growled
Doomhammer. There was a small crowd clustered around the fallen hero, and more were
coming up every moment. “It is shame enough that I die from a coward’s strike,” he said. “I
will not leave my life with this piece of human treachery still in my body.” One hand went to
the point of the lance. The fingers fluttered weakly, and the hand fell. “I have tried to pull it
out myself, but I lack the strength. . . . Hurry, Thrall. Do this for me.” Thrall felt as though
his chest were being crushed by an unseen hand. He nodded. Steeling himself against the
pain that he knew he would need to cause his friend and mentor, he closed his armored
fingers about the tip, pressing into Doomhammer’s flesh. Doomhammer cried out, in anger
as much as in pain. “Pull!” he cried. Closing his eyes, Thrall pulled. The blood-soaked shaft
came forward a few inches. The sound that Doomhammer made almost broke Thrall’s
heart. “Again!” the mighty warrior cried. Thrall took a deep breath and pulled, willing
himself to remove the entire shaft this time. It came free with such suddenness that he
stumbled backward. Black-red blood now gushed freely from the fatal hole in
Doomhammer’s belly. Standing beside Thrall, Hellscream whispered, “I saw it happen. It
was before you caused the horses to desert their masters. He was single-handedly battling
eight of them, all on horseback. It was the bravest thing I have ever seen.” Thrall nodded
dumbly, then knelt beside Doomhammer’s side. “Great leader,” whispered Thrall, so that
only Doomhammer could hear, “I am afraid. I am not worthy to wear your armor and wield
your weapon.” “No one breathes who is worthier,” said Doomhammer in a soft, wet voice.
“You will lead them . . . to victory . . . and you will lead them . . . to peace. . . .” The eyes
closed, and Doomhammer fell forward onto Thrall. Thrall caught him, and held him close
for a long moment. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Drek’Thar, who slipped a hand
beneath Thrall’s arm and helped him rise. “They are watching,” Drek’Thar said to Thrall,
speaking very softly. “They must not lose heart. You must put on the armor at once, and
show them that they have a new chieftain.” “Sir,” said one of the orcs who had overheard
Drek’Thar’s words, “the armor. . . .” He swallowed. “The plate that was pierced — it will
need to be replaced.” “No,” said Thrall. “It will not. Before the next battle you will hammer
it back into shape, but I will keep the plate. In honor of Orgrim Doomhammer, who gave his
life to free his people.” He stood and let them place the armor on, grieving privately but
publicly showing a brave face. The gathered crowd watched, hushed and reverent.
Drek’Thar’s advice had been sound; this was the right thing to do. He bent, picked up the
enormous hammer, and swung it over his head. “Orgrim Doomhammer has named me
Warchief,” he cried. “It is a title I would not have sought, but I have no choice. I have been
named, and so I will obey. Who will follow me to lead our people to freedom?” A cry rose up,
raw and filled with grief for the passing of their leader. Yet it was a sound of hope as well,
and as Thrall stood, bearing aloft the famous weapon of Doomhammer, he knew in his
heart that, despite the odds, victory would indeed be theirs.],
keyed up (adj.) – very excited or nervous, usually before an important event [He
always gets keyed up about tests. Follow them, my friend, if you will. Report back to me at
once if they plan action against us. With a rustle of wings, the owl sprang from the branch
and began to follow the fleeing men. Thrall sighed deeply. Now that the keyed-up energy
that had supported him through this long, bloody night was fading, he realized that he
himself had suffered injuries and was exhausted. But these things could be tended to later.
There was a more important duty to perform.] – synonyms & related words [excited,
restless, skittish, tense, uneasy, uptight, anxious, critical, excitable, high-strung, ill at
ease, impatient, irascible, irritable, overstrung, restive, touchy, agitated, nervous,
charged, jumpy, on edge, on fire, worked up, zipped up, juiced up, in a tizzy, beside
oneself, feverish, fire up, aflame, wired, frantic, ruffled, stirred, disconcerted],

hit the bottle (id.) – (informal) to start to drink too much alcohol [Happy to regain his
mentor’s approval, Langston launched into a fabulous tale about roots clutching his body,
lightning striking on command, well-trained horses abandoning their masters, and the very
earth shattering a stone enclosure. If Blackmoore hadn’t heard similar stories from the few
men who returned, he would have been inclined to think that Langston had been hitting
the bottle even harder than he.],

(random cool paragraph) – [It took the rest of the night to gather and prepare the
bodies, and by morning, black smoke was curling thickly into the blue skies. Thrall and
Drek’Thar had asked the Spirit of Fire to burn more quickly than was its usual wont, so it
would not take nearly as long for the bodies to be reduced to ashes, and those ashes given
to Spirit of Air to scatter as it saw fit. The largest and most decorated pyre was reserved for
the most noble of them all. It took Thrall, Hellscream, and two others to lift Orgrim
Doomhammer’s massive corpse onto the pyre. Reverently, Drek’Thar anointed
Doomhammer’s nearly naked body with oils, murmuring words that Thrall could not hear.
Sweet scents rose up from the body. Drek’Thar indicated that Thrall join him, and together
they posed the body in an attitude of defiance. Dead fingers were folded and discreetly tied
about a ruined sword. At Doomhammer’s feet were laid the corpses of other brave warriors
who had died in battle — the fierce, loyal white wolves who had not been swift enough to
elude the humans’ weapons. One lay at Doomhammer’s feet, two more on each side, and
across his chest, in a place of honor, was the grizzled, courageous Wise-ear. Drek’Thar
patted his old friend one last time, then he and Thrall stepped back. Thrall expected
Drek’Thar to say whatever words might be appropriate, but instead Hellscream nudged
Thrall. Uncertainly, Thrall addressed the crowd who gathered, hushed, about their former
chieftain’s corpse. “I have not been long in the company of my own people,” Thrall began. “I
do not know the traditions of the afterlife. But this I know: Doomhammer died as bravely
as it is possible for any orc to die. He fought in battle, trying to liberate his imprisoned kin.
Surely, he will regard us with favor, as we honor him now in death as we all honored him in
life.” He looked over at the dead orc’s face. “Orgrim Doomhammer, you were my father’s
best friend. I could not hope to know a nobler being. Speed to whatever joyous place and
purpose await you.” With that, he closed his eyes and asked the Spirit of Fire to take the
hero. Immediately, the fire burnt more swiftly and with more heat than Thrall had ever
experienced. The body would soon be consumed, and the shell that had housed the fiery
spirit called in this world Orgrim Doomhammer would soon be no more. But what he had
stood for, what he had died for, would never be forgotten. Thrall tilted his head back and
bellowed a deep cry. One by one, others joined him, screaming their pain and passion. If
there were indeed ancestral spirits, even they must have been impressed by the volume of
the lamentation raised for Orgrim Doomhammer.],

in one's cups (id.) – drunk, in the act of consuming alcohol liberally [“I fear others
were likely not as staunch as you in the face of torture by orcs, my friend,” he said, trying
and failing to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. Fortunately, Langston was so far in his
cups that he didn’t appear to notice. “We must assume that the orcs know all that we know,
and act accordingly. We must try to think like Thrall. What would be his next move? What
is his ultimate goal?”],

(randoml cool paragraph) – [Though he was leading an army of nearly two

thousand, and it was almost certain to be spotted, Thrall did what he could to disguise the
march of the Horde. He asked the earth to cover their prints, the air to carry their scent
away from any beasts who might sound the alert. It was little, but every bit helped. He
made the encampment several miles south of Durnholde, in a wild and generally avoided
forested area. Together with a small group of scouts, he set off for a certain wooded area
directly outside the fortress. Both Hellscream and Drek’Thar had tried to dissuade him, but
he insisted. “I have a plan,” he said, “one that may achieve our goals without undue
bloodshed from either side.”],

rip-roaring (adj.) – wild, noisy, and exciting [The party was a rip-roaring, riotous
success. Langston stood beside his lord on the walkway. He couldn’t believe it. Blackmoore
was rip-roaring drunk. Langston, who had helped Tammis carry his lord to bed more times
than he cared to admit, had never seen Blackmoore so drunk and still be able to stand.
What had he been thinking?],

gorge (n.) – (anger) make someone's gorge rise, to make someone feel shocked and
angry [But there was no sudden stirring of rebellion, and Thrall supposed he couldn’t
blame them. “I ask you once more, Blackmoore. Negotiate, or die.” Blackmoore stood up to
his full height. Thrall now saw that he held something in his right hand. It was a sack.
“Here’s my answer, Thrall!” He reached into the sack and pulled something out. Thrall
couldn’t see what it was, but he saw Sergeant and Langston recoil. Then the object came
hurtling toward him and struck the ground, rolling to a stop at Thrall’s feet. Taretha’s blue
eyes stared sightlessly up at him from her severed head. “That’s what I do with traitors!”
screamed Blackmoore, dancing madly on the walkway. “That’s what we do with people we
love who betray us . . . who take everything and give nothing . . . who sympathize with
double-damnedorcs! ” Thrall didn’t hear him. Thunder was rolling in his ears. His knees
went weak and he fell to the earth. Gorge rose in his throat and his vision swam.],
(random cool paragraph) – [“Today,” he cried, raising his voice so that all could
hear, “today, our people have won a great victory. We have leveled the mighty fortress
Durnholde, and broken its grasp on the encampments. But we cannot yet rest, nor claim
that we have won this war. There are many of our brothers and sisters who yet languish in
prisons, but we know that they will soon be free. They, like you, will taste what it is to be an
orc, to know the passion and power of our proud race. “We are undefeatable. We will
triumph, because our cause is just. Let us go, and find the camps, and smash their walls,
and free our people!” A huge cheer rose up, and Thrall looked around at the thousands of
proud, beautiful orcish faces. Their mouths were open and their fists were waving, and
every line of their large bodies spoke of joy and excitement. He recalled the sluggish
creatures in the encampment, and felt a stab of almost painful pleasure as he allowed
himself to realize that he had been the one to inspire them to these heights. The thought
was humbling. A profound peace swept over him as he watched his people cry his name.
After so many years of searching, he finally knew where his true destiny lay; knew deep in
his bones who he was: Thrall, son of Durotan . . . Warchief of the Horde. He had come
home.],

communiqué (n.) – an official piece of news or an announcement, especially to the

public or newspapers [The palace has issued a communiqué denying the rumor. He
suspected that they were charged with carrying dire news directly to the Alliance High
Council. Try as he might, he could not discern the specifics behind their urgent
communiqués.],

eleventh hour (n.) – a point in time which is nearly too late, the last minute; the final
hour leading to a crucial moment or an important event (rarely used in the plural form
and usually immediately preceded by the definite article, the; usually used in phrases
beginning with such prepositions as at or in) [If she repented, though at the eleventh
hour, it was not too late. Te decision to send Eddie with the team was made at the eleventh
hour. Though the Alliance had rallied at the eleventh hour and pulled victory from the
clutches of certain defeat, it had paid a heavy price. Almost an entire generation of young
men had selflessly given their lives to insure that mankind would never be slaves to savage
orc overlords.],

(random cool paragraph) – [If the orcs were foolish enough to rise up again, he
would do whatever it took in order to stop them. Duty had always been the one constant in
his life. He had spent the majority of his years defending Lordaeron in one way or another.
Though he had not been born a noble, his enthusiasm and honor had won him the rank of
knight at the tender age of eighteen. Tirion served his king with undying loyalty and won a
great deal of respect from his superiors. Years later, when the orcs first invaded Lordaeron,
intent on crushing civilization, he was one of the first knights to be given the honor of
standing with Uther the Lightbringer and being anointed as a holy Paladin. Uther, Tirion,
and a number of devout knights were hand-picked by the Archbishop Alonsus Faol to
become living vessels of the holy Light. Their special, sacred charge was twofold: aided by
the holy Light, the Paladins would not only lead the fight against the vile forces of darkness,
but heal the wounds inflicted upon the innocent citizens of humanity as well. Tirion and his
fellows were given the divine power to heal wounds and cure diseases of every kind. They
were imbued with great strength and wisdom that enabled them to rally their brethren
and give glory to the Light. Indeed, the Paladins’ leadership and strength helped to turn the
tide of the war and insure the survival of humanity. Though his own Light-given powers
had waned somewhat over the years, Tirion could still feel strength and grace flow through
his aging limbs. Surely he would have strength enough when he needed it the most. For his
son and for his people, he would have strength enough, he vowed.],

squat (v.) – (live) to live in an empty building without the owner's permission [As
stealthily as he could, Tirion crept around the tower and entered through what was left of
its front door. A number of large wooden beams had fallen from the rickety ceiling and
splintered all over the chipped stone floor. He inspected the dilapidated guardroom and
found a small, makeshift fire pit near a ragged, patchwork bedroll. The fire in the ash-laden
pit had only recently burnt out. Apparently the orcs had taken up residence within the old
tower. Strangely, he saw no weapons or token trophies, which orcs were fond of collecting.
He wondered what could possess the brutes to so recklessly squat on Alliance-held lands.],

unabashed (adj.) – without any worry about possible criticism or embarrassment

[She is to this day unabashed in her patriotism. He is an unabashed capitalist. It had been
years since Tirion had laid eyes on an orc. He looked upon the brute with unabashed awe
and revulsion.] – synonyms & related words [shameless, blatant, brazen, cheeky, arrant,
audacious, bald-faced, barefaced, bold, brash, brassy, brazenfaced, depraved, dissolute,
flagrant, forward, high-handed , impudent, insolent, lewd, outrageous, overbold,
presumptous, profligate, reprobate ,rude, unashamed, unblushing, unchaste,
unprincipled, wanton],

flagrant (adj.) – (of an action considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or

obviously offensive [A flagrant violation of the law. A flagrant disregard for human
rights.] – synonyms & related words [blatant, glaring, obvious, overt, evident,
conspicuous; naked, barefaced, shameless, brazen, audacious, brass-necked;
undisguised, unconcealed, patent, transparent, manifest, palpable; out and out, utter,
complete; outrageous, scandalous, shocking, disgraceful, reprehensible, dreadful,
terrible; gross, enormous, heinous, atrocious, monstrous, wicked, iniquitous, villainous,
arrant],

high-handed (adj.) – using power or authority without proper consideration for the
feelings or rights of others,

ratty (adj.) – (annoyed) feeling annoyed; (in bad condition) (US) looking old and in bad
condition [She was a bit ratty with me this morning. A ratty old blanket. Yet, through his
surging adrenaline, Tirion noticed that there was something quite different about this orc.
Certainly, the creature was as immense and well-muscled as any other he had beheld. Its
coarse, green skin and ape-like stance marked it as clearly as any other orc. Even its
hideous tusks and pointed ears were reminiscent of every savage that Tirion had faced
during the war. But something in the creature’s stature and demeanor seemed different.
There was an aged weight in its stance and far too many wrinkles around its eyes. Its ratty
beard and ritually top-knotted hair bore heavy streaks of gray. Where most orc warriors
adorned themselves with mismatched plates of armor and spiked gauntlets, this one wore
only stitched furs and ruddy leather pants. Its calm lethality and assured, comfortable
battle stance clearly indicated that this orc was no rampaging youngster, but, indeed, a
seasoned veteran. Despite its apparent age, it was potentially more dangerous than any orc
Tirion had ever faced.],

stole (n.) – an ecclestiastical garment consisting of a decorated band worn on the back
of the neck with each end hanging over the chest; a scarf-like garment, often made of fur,
a long narrow piece of cloth or fur that is worn around the shoulders by women, usually
on special occasions [After he finished speaking, Saidan adjusted the silver plates so that
the blue stole streamed out from beneath them. She wore a dark mink stole.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Sunlight cascaded down from the open skylight in the
cathedral’s vaulted ceiling. Dust motes spiraled in a lazy dance, blown by the soft wind that
wafted through the grandiose hall. Rows of large, white candles stood before the base of an
immense triptych window of stained glass. The image of a proud, regal warrior was
depicted in the window. Thousands of tiny, colored shards of glass portrayed the man’s
broad features and noble bearing. Surrounded by a halo of golden light, the man held a
mighty warhammer in one hand and a large, leatherbound tome in the other. The
inscription on the tome read: “Esarus thar no’Darador”—“By Blood and Honor We Serve.”
Tirion Fordring looked up toward the colorful image and felt his spirit soar. Kneeling upon
an ornately carved dais, Tirion humbly bowed his head in prayer. To his left, a group of
somber men dressed in flowing white robes stood in attendance. They were clerics—
warrior priests—who hailed from the Northshire region. The pious clerics were present in
order to offer Tirion their support andspiritual guidance, should he require it. To his
immediate right, another group stood in observance, all dressed in heavy suits of highly
polished armor. They were the Knights of the Silver Hand—the Paladins. The shining
Paladins were the champions of Lordaeron and the Alliance. They stood in support of
Tirion—the newest initiate to their hallowed ranks. Before him was a vast altar that lay
directly beneath the enormous stained glass window. The streaming sunlight was focused
at the center of the altar, where another robed man sat in meditative silence, cradling a
large book in his lap. Tirion was only vaguely aware of the others gathered in the cathedral
behind him, chatting anxiously while waiting for the ceremony to begin. The robed man on
the altar raised his hand, calling for the gathered masses to fall silent. Tirion held his
breath. This was the moment for which he had waited. The robed man stood and slowly
walked forward to address the kneeling Tirion. The Archbishop stopped as he reached the
ornate dais and opened the large book he had been holding. With a voice like thunder, the
Archbishop read aloud: “In the Light, we gather to empower our brother. In its grace, he
will be made anew. In its power, he shall educate the masses. In its strength, he shall
combat the shadow. And, in its wisdom, he shall lead his brethren to the eternal rewards of
paradise.” Finishing the verse, the Archbishop closed the book and turned toward the men
on the left. Tirion felt a rush of excitement sweep through his body. He breathed in deeply
and tried to focus on the solemnity of the moment. “Clerics of the Northshire, if you deem
this man worthy, place your blessings upon him,” the Archbishop said in a ritualistic tone.
One of the white-robed men walked forward, carrying an embroidered dark blue stole in
his hands. The Cleric reached the dais and reverently placed the blessed stole around
Tirion’s neck. He dipped his thumb in a small vial of sacred oil and anointed Tirion’s
sweating brow with it. “By the grace of the Light, may your brethren be healed,” the Cleric
said in a whisper. He bowed and backed away to stand once more amongst his fellows. The
Archbishop turned to the men on the right and spoke again: “Knights of the Silver Hand, if
you deem this man worthy, place your blessings upon him.” Two of the armored men
moved forward with obvious pride on their faces and stood solemnly in front of the dais.
One of the men held a great, two-handed warhammer. The hammer’s silvery head was
etched with holy runes and its haft was meticulously wrapped in blue leather. Tirion could
only marvel at the weapon’s exceptional craftsmanship and beauty. The knight laid the
hammer on the dais before Tirion’s feet. He then bowed his head and backed away. The
second knight, carrying dual ceremonial shoulder plates, stepped forward and looked
Tirion in the eye. He was Saidan Dathrohan, one of Tirion’s closest friends. The knight’s
face was alight with pride and excitement. Tirion smiled knowingly. Visibly composing
himself, Saidan placed the silver shoulder plates upon Tirion’s shoulders and spoke in a
stern voice. “By the strength of the Light, may your enemies be undone.” After he finished
speaking, Saidan adjusted the silver plates so that the blue stole streamed out from
beneath them. He then backed away and returned to the group of attendant knights.
Tirion’s heart pounded in his chest. He was so overcome with joy that he felt almost light-
headed. The Archbishop strode forward once again and placed his hand upon Tirion’s head.
“Arise and be recognized,” he said. Tirion got to his feet and marveled at the sheer
magnitude of the honor being bestowed upon him. The Archbishop leveled his gaze at
Tirion, then read aloud from the book. “Do you, Tirion Fordring, vow to uphold the honor
and codes of the Order of the Silver Hand?” “I do,” Tirion replied earnestly. “Do you vow to
walk in the grace of the Light and spread its wisdom to your fellow man?” “I do.” “Do you
vow to vanquish evil wherever it be found, and protect the weak and innocent with your
very life?” Tirion swallowed hard and nodded while saying, “By my blood and honor, I do.”
He exhaled softly, overcome with emotion. The Archbishop closed the book and walked
back toward the center of the altar. Turning to face the entire assembly, the Archbishop
said, “Brothers—you who have gathered here to bear witness—raise your hands and let
the Light illuminate this man.” Each of the Clerics and knights raised their right hands and
pointed toward Tirion. To Tirion’s amazement, their hands began to glow with asoft,
golden radiance. He supposed that, in the excitement of the moment, his eyes were playing
tricks on him. Yet, as he watched in wonder, the sunlight that poured in from above began
to move slowly across the floor. As if in response to the assembly’s command, the light came
to rest upon Tirion himself. Partially blinded by the intense radiance, Tirion felt his body
warmed and energized by its holy power. Every fiber of his being was ignited by divine fire.
He could sense life-giving energies flowing through his limbs, energies enough to heal any
wound or cure any disease. He mused that these energies were enough to burn even the
souls of the accursed denizens of the shadow. Despite himself, he shuddered involuntarily.
Ablaze with hope and joy, Tirion knelt down and took hold of the mighty hammer—the
symbol of his holy appointment and station. With joyous tears streaming down his face, he
raised his head and looked toward the Archbishop, who smiled warmly back at him. “Arise,
Tirion Fordring—Paladin defender of Lordaeron. Welcome to the Order of the Silver
Hand.” The entire assembly erupted in cheers. Trumpets blared from the high balconies
and the cheerful din echoed through the vastness of the Cathedral of Light.],

midyear (n.) – the middle part of a year; an examination taken in the middle part of an
academic year [“Thank the Light, you’re awake,” she said. Her young, delicate features
were fixed with both relief and concern. Her blue eyes seemed to stare straight through
him, as they always did. He smiled back and kissed her forehead lightly. He marveled, for
perhaps the ten thousandth time, at her beauty. “I was beginning to wonder if you were
going to sleep clear through midyear,” she said. His eyebrow arched questioningly as he
stroked her soft, golden hair.],

sidelong (adj.) – a sidelong glance/look, a very short look at someone, moving you
eyes to the side, and not looking at them directly [“I know,” Tirion said. “There are some
things we should discuss, immediately.” Arden nodded, casting a sidelong look at Taelan
and Karandra.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“It was an orc, Arden. More than likely, it’s still alive. As
far as I could tell, it was alone out there. And, until we know otherwise, I want to keep this
between us and whoever else was on hand when you brought me in. I don’t want to panic
the entire province in case this was just a solitary incident.” Arden’s strong jaw tightened
noticeably. “There may be a problem on that front already, milord. Barthilas and I were
both on hand while you slept. We both heard you mutter about the orc,” he said. Tirion
grimaced as Arden continued. “You know Barthilas as well as I do. Once he heard you say
‘orc,’ he flew into a rage and started calling for a full regiment to scour the countryside in
search of any more of the brutes. I nearly had to sit on him to calm him down.” “I
appreciate the lad’s enthusiasm, but his fervor could be problematic,” Tirion stated wryly.
“That would be an understatement,” Arden added, smiling. Both men had recognized early
on Barthilas’ almost zealous obsession to face orcs in battle. Barthilas’ parents had been
murdered by orcs during the war, which had left the traumatized youth orphaned and
inconsolable. Deciding to spend the rest of his life combating the orcs’ evil, Barthilas
underwent years of rigorous training and study. Yet, tragically, the fiery youth was
accepted as a Paladin only after the war had ended. Despite all his training and
preparation, Barthilas was tortured by the fact that he wouldn’t have the chance to avenge
his slaughtered parents. He also felt that he could only win the respect of his superiors by
bloodying his hands gloriously in battle, as they had during the war. He dreamed of
becoming a mighty hero and taking vengeance upon the creatures that had taken his
family from him. Although he empathized with the younger Paladin, Tirion knew that that
kind of thinking could lead to disaster. “I doubt he’s been tight-mouthed about my
encounter. Especially after he healed my wounds. How many know about this, Arden?”
Tirion asked anxiously. “Rumors have been flying all around the keep for the past few days.
Personally, I’ve heard just about everything from an orc raiding party to a full-fledged
invasion force waiting to descend upon us. You know how it is. People are terrified that the
Horde will return. And Barthilas, specifically, is terrified that he won’t get to defeat it
singlehandedly if it ever does,” Arden replied. Tirion patted him reassuringly on the
shoulder.],

crisp (adj.) – (hard) hard enough to be broken easily; used to describe cooked foods,
such as pastry and biscuis, that are well cooked so that they are just dry and hard
enough; crisp fruit or vegetables are fresh and firm; crisp paper or cloth is stiff and
smooth [A crisp apple. A crisp new £5 note/a crisp white tablecloth.] – synonyms &
related words [crunchy, crispy, brittle, crumbly, breakable, shatterable, friable, frangible,
rigid, hard, well cooked, well done, firm, fresh, unwilted, unwithered]

crisp (adj.) – (clear) a crisp sound or image is very clear; a crisp way of speaking,
writing, or behaving is quick, confident, and effective [The sound from the new speakers is
very crisp. A crisp reply. A crisp, efficient manner.] – synonyms & related words [terse,
succinct, concise, brief, short, short and sweet, tight, taut, incisive, pithy, epigrammatic,
aphoristic, elliptical; laconic, sparing; precise, clear, clear-cut, explicit, unambiguous,
straightforward; snappy, lapidary, compendious, synoptic, gnomic, brusque, brisk,
vigorous, decisive, businesslike, no-nonsense, curt, blunt, short, sharp, snappy, snappish,
abrupt, to the point, frank, plain-spoken, bald, brutal, indelicate, unceremonious,
cavalier, offhand, gruff, rough, harsh, caustic, abrasive; pulling no punches, not mincing
one's words, not beating about the bush, calling a spade a spade, speaking one's mind;
upfront, straight from the shoulder]

crisp (adj.) – (cold) crisp weather is cold, dry, and bright; crisp air is cold, dry, and
fresh [A wonderful crisp spring morning. I breathed in deeply the crisp mountain air.] –
synonyms & related words [brisk, bracing, fresh, refreshing, invigorating, stimulating,
energizing, exhilarating, rousing, fortifying, tonic; keen, raw, biting, cool, cold, chilly,
pick-me-up, nippy, parky, chill]

crisp (adv.) – (of the way in which something is spoken or written) quickly and directly
[A crisply written book. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that,” Tirion said in earnest.
“Assemble my advisors. We’ll discuss this further in council.” Arden saluted crisply and
turned to leave.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“Greetings, Barthilas. I thank you for your healing. If
not for you, I’d have gone on my way to join the Light,” Tirion said, rubbing his still sore
ribs. Although his wounds had healed completely, his body was still tender. Barthilas shook
his head dismissively and returned Tirion’s salute.],
incense (v.) – to cause someone to be extremely angry [The editor said a lot of readers
would be incensed by my articles on class. I was so incensed by what he was saying I had to
walk out. The villagers are incensed at the decision to close the railway station. Tirion
clenched his fists and tried to keep his voice even. The advisors, who had kept silent during
their heated exchange, seemed incensed by Barthilas’ disrespectful rantings.],

come (a)round (id.) – (visit) to visit someone in their home [Come round tonight and
we'll watch a video. Nick came round earlier. Do you want to come round and play chess
later? The children came round for tea. He's always coming around for a chat.],

come (a)round (id.) – (change your mind) to change your opinion of something,
often influenced by another person's opinion [He'll come round to my point of view, given
a bit of time. Do you dislike your office, or have you come round to thinking it's all right?
One of the advisors spoke. “Milord, he is brash, but he is a good man at heart. I’m sure he
didn’t mean—” “I know what he is. And I know what he meant. Barthilas has always been
ruled by his passions. They’re what make him an exceptional Paladin. However, they also
make him a liability in delicate situations,” Tirion stated. He felt tired, like an old man.
“Once he calms down, he’ll come around. He always does.”],

come (a)round (id.) – (happen) if an event that happens regularly comes round, it
happens at its usual time [Christmas comes round so quickly.],

come (a)round (id.) – (become conscious) to become conscious again after an

accident or operation [She hasn't come round from the anaesthetic yet.],

barding (n.) – (historical) armor for a warhorse [As he neared it, he slowed to an easy
canter, attuned to any sounds of danger.This is not a wise move, he thought—approaching
his enemy’s encampment without so much as a squire to aid him. His horse’s heavy barding
and his own flashing armor were enough to announce his presence to anyone for miles
around.Need to be more cautious, he thought.],

exasperate (v.) – to make someone very annoyed, usually when they can do nothing
to solve a problem [“Honor. It always comes down to that with you, Tirion! You’re just as
exasperating as that vainglorious Barthilas! Is your precious honor really more important
to you than your own wife?” She cupped her face with her hands and seemed to be on the
verge of tears. Tirion looked up at her and answered as gently as he could.] – synonyms &
related words [upset, provoke, agitate, annoy, disturb, embitter, enrage, excite, gall,
incense, infuriate, irk, irritate, peeve, rankle, rile, vex, aggravate, anger, bug, exacerbate,
get, inflame, madden, needle, nettle, pique, roil, rouse, drive up the wall, get under one's
skin, make waves, T-off, try the patience of, work up],

exasperation (n.) – a feeling of intense irritation, annoyance, anger [She rolled her
eyes in exasperation. She provoked exasperation among her colleagues.] – synonyms &
related words [irritation, annoyance, chagrin, vexation, anger, fury, rage, wrath, spleen,
ill humour, crossness, tetchiness, testiness, pique, indignation, resentment,
disgruntlement, disgust, discontent, displeasure; aggravation, crabbiness, stroppiness,
ire, choler, bile],

incredulous (adj.) – not wanting to or not able to believe something, and usually
showing this [A few incredulous spectators watched on as Paterson, ranked 23rd in the
world, beat the champion. “Well, son, that’s hard to answer,” he said slowly. Focused on
Taelan as he was, Tirion didn’t see Karandra’s incredulous stare. The boy listened intently
as his father continued. “I think there are some orcs who can be good. They’re just harder
to find, is all,” Tirion said gently.] – synoynsm & related words [unbelieving, doubtful,
hesitant, quizzical, skeptical, suspicious, unconvinced, unsatisfied, disbelieving,
distrustful, doubting, dubious, mistrustful, questioning, show-me, suspect, uncertain,
wary],

distrustful (adj.) – feeling or showign distrust of someone or something [I have grown

up to be distrustful of men. He was distrustful of local politicians.] – synonyms & related
words [mistrustful, suspicious, chary, apprehensive, lacking trust, lacking confidence,
lacking faith; sceptical, unsure, doubtful, dubious, cynical; cautious, circumspect, careful,
wary, uneasy; questioning, disbelieving, unbelieving, incredulous; leery, cagey],

incredulity (n.) – [What're you going to do when he pulls out that big, rubbery horse
face of mock incredulity at you? He stared down the street in incredulity. Reports of UFO
sightings were met with incredulity.] – synonyms & related words [disbelief,
incredulousness, lack of belief, unbelief, lack of credence, doubt, doubtfulness, dubiety,
dubiousness, lack of conviction; distrust, mistrust, suspicion, questioning, lack of trust,
cynicism, scepticism, wariness, chariness

disbelieve (v.) – (formal) to not beleive someone or something [Do you disbelieve me?
They said they disbelieved the evidence. The cries of wounded men, the shouts of their
comrades calling for a medic, the noise of nervous laughter and disbelieving oaths as other
men found they were still very much alive.],

corral (n.) – an area surrounded by a fence for keeping horses or cattle in, especially in
North America [The sun was centered in the crystal blue sky as Tirion sat on a large
balcony overlooking the keep’s stables and riding corral.],

corral (v.) – to move horses or cattle into a corral; to bring a group of people together
and keep them in one place, especially in order to control them [Police corralled most of
the demonstrators in a small area near the station. A young proctor lieutenant followed his
lead, and began to corral the willing into a nearby hangar, reassuring them that
everything was under control, that arrangements were being made at the highest possible
levels for their continued welfare.] – synonyms & related words [coop up, lock up, cage,
confine, pen, fence in, shut in, shut up, kettle, mew in, enclose],
out of hand (id.) – out of control; if you refuse something out of hand, you refuse it
completely without thinking about or discussing it [Things got a little out of hand at the
party and three windows were broken. He went to see his doctor because he felt his
drinking was getting out of hand. Moving to London is certainly a possibility – I wouldn't
dismiss it out of hand. Tirion gazed at them both intently. They were the center of his world
and the source of all his joy. He would not fail them. He had thought long and hard about
what Karandra had said to him during their heated argument. Perhaps his honor was a
selfish thing after all, he mused. But even if it was, it was an integral part of him. It defined
him as clearly as his own face did. As a Paladin he could not and would not discard it out of
hand. All depended on it. He simply hoped that it would never come between him and his
loved ones again.],

guts (tied) in knots (id.) – anxious and uneasy, worried, nervous [Tirion was in a
grim mood. He had slept little during the night, and woke with his guts tied in knots. He
wished that he could somehow warn Eitrigg so that the old orc could evade capture. But
Tirion knew that, even if he could warn the orc, his actions would betray his superior’s
direct order. He knew that there was no way to uphold his vow and do his duty at the same
time. His precious honor was in great peril.],

(random cool paragraph) – [To do so would brand him as a traitor. This was all his
doing. Eitrigg fought bravely against the footmen, but he was easily outmaneuvered, due to
his wounded leg. The six footmen succeeded in pulling the mighty orc down to the ground.
Arden smashed the orc’s hand, and Eitrigg loosed his hold on his ax. The warriors
immediately began to beat the orc to within an inch of his life. Every fiber of Tirion’s body
was ablaze with rage as he watched the footmen subdue the orc. He dismounted quickly
and walked forward, intending to pull the footmen away. As the footmen pulled the
bleeding orc to his feet, Tirion’s resolve to save the creature slipped and he stopped.What
was he thinking? He couldn’t let this happen, but neither could he take up arms against his
own men. His every muscle tensed as he stood undecided. With a loud moan, Barthilas
raised himself up from the dirt. Arden helped him to stand and brushed him off. Barthilas,
feeling deeply embarrassed and shamed before his superiors, rushed at the orc in a rage.
Arden and Tirion both grabbed the young Paladin’s arms and restrained him. They
exchanged knowing glances and held Barthilas until he calmed. “The bastard creature
fought dishonorably!” Barthilas screamed. “He should be killed right here! Let me go!” He
continued to strain against Tirion and Arden. “I have ordered that it remain alive,
Barthilas,” Dathrohan said. “Your wounded pride is not nearly as important as the
information the creature may have. Restrain the beast,” he ordered. Immediately a number
of footmen appeared, pulling the wagon-cage behind them. They took hold of Eitrigg and
threw him into the cage. Tirion turned to face Dathrohan. “Milord, surely this old orc is no
threat to anyone,” Tirion began. Dathrohan looked at him in amazement. “What is this,
Tirion? Are you actually suggesting that we turn the beast loose?” Barthilas and Arden
stared at him as well, both shocked by Tirion’s statement. Tirion turned back to gaze at the
beaten orc. His face swollen and dripping blood, Eitrigg stared straight back.So much for
your honor, the orc’s gaze seemed to say. The footmen continued to beat and whip Eitrigg
through the cage’s bars. They spit and hurled obscenities at the old orc. Tirion’s nerves
finally snapped. He dashed forward and grabbed the guard who was whipping the orc. He
grabbed the whip from the young man and began to lash him with it instead. “How does it
feel?” Tirion shouted at the terrified guard, who attempted to shield himself from the
Paladin’s raging strikes. Dathrohan looked on in unabashed disbelief. Arden felt the same.
He rushed forward and grabbed his lord’s arm. “Tirion, please! What are you doing?” Arden
yelled. Tirion shrugged him off and stood to face Dathrohan with the light of rage in his
eyes. “The orc must be set free!” he yelled. “It is a matter of honor!” Tirion pushed Arden
away and smashed at the cage’s lock with the haft of the whip’s long handle. “Tirion, have
you taken leave of your senses?” Dathrohan yelled in a deep voice. Barthilas merely stood
by, mouth agape. Tirion continued to smash at the lock. Shaking his head wearily,
Dathrohan ordered the footmen to seize and restrain the raging Paladin. Arden’s troops
grabbed hold of Tirion’s arms and wrestled him to the ground. Tirion fought with all of his
strength, but the younger men easily overpowered him. Arden pleaded with him to submit.
“My lord, please stop! What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked. After a brief struggle, the
guards brought Tirion to his feet. The Paladin looked at Eitrigg, and was met only with a
blank stare in return. “Tirion, what in the Light’s name has come over you? Your actions
are treasonous! Tell me you have some explanation for all of this! Tell me you didn’t just try
to free this creature!” Dathrohan yelled. Tirion attempted to compose himself. “This orc
saved my life, Saidan!” Tirion yelled. “During our battle, part of the tower’s ceiling
collapsed. I was left trapped and defenseless. The orc pulled me free before the entire roof
came crashing down. I know it sounds impossible, but it happened.” Dathrohan was
stunned. Arden could only stare at his lord in shock.Certainly Tirion didn’t really believe the
orc had saved him, did he? He looked into his lord’s eyes and knew that, indeed, he did. “I
vowed to let him live in peace, and by my honor, I will fight to see that he does!” Tirion
renewed his struggle against the footmen, attempting to free his arms. Barthilas seemed to
come out of his momentary shock. “Traitor!” the young Paladin screamed. “He is a traitor
to the Alliance! He’s been consorting with this beast all along!” Dathrohan couldn’t believe
his ears. He had always known Tirion to be an honorable, levelheaded man. But here he
was, defying his superior and siding with his mortal enemy all the same. “Tirion, I’m trying
hard to be patient. Obviously, you’re very confused about this creature. Regardless of what
you believe happened, if you do not desist, I will be forced to have you arrested and placed
on trial for treason! You will cease this senselessness at once!” Tirion persisted. “Damn it,
Saidan! This is a matter of honor! Don’t you understand that?” he growled through
clenched teeth. “I stand witness to his treachery, milord,” Barthilas said proudly to
Dathrohan. Obviously the young Paladin sought to make up for his defeat by endearing
himself to the conflicted Lord Commander. “Shut up, Barthilas!” Dathrohan growled. With
a heavy heart, he motioned for the footmen to subdue Tirion. “You leave me no choice here,
Tirion. I hereby charge you with treason against the Alliance! Captain Arden, see that the
prisoner is bound and placed upon his horse. He will be taken to Stratholme along with this
orc and put on trial.” Arden bowed his head in sorrow. Slowly, he tied Tirion’s hands
together and led him to his horse. “I am sorry, milord,” Arden said, looking Tirion in the eye.
Tirion frowned at his loyal servant. “It is I who am sorry, Arden. This is all my own doing.
What I’ve done, I’ve done for honor’s sake,” Tirion said softly. Arden shook his head
questioningly. “Tirion, what honor is there in betrayal?” he asked in a whisper. “I am a
Paladin of the Light, Arden. You wouldn’t understand.” Arden helped him up on his horse.
Dathrohan rode up to Tirion and stared at him. “I never thought I’d live to see the day,” the
Lord Commander said. Tirion avoided his old friend’s gaze. Dathrohan, overcome by
frustration and sorrow, angrily turned away and motioned for his troops to move out.],

be beside yourself (id.) – if you are beside yourself with a particular feeling or
emotion, it is so strong that it makes you almost out of control [He was beside himself
with grief whe nshe died. Tirion scowled. He knew she must be beside herself with worry.
“What of the orc?” Tirion asked. “What did they do with him?”],

lectern (n.) – a piece of furniture with a sloping part on which a book or paper is put to
be read from [An hour later, Tirion was seated in a large oaken chair in the middle of the
polished courtroom floor. Before him was an immense stage adorned with four throne-like
chairs. At the center of the stage, directly in front of him, was a large lectern where the
judge would conduct the trial.],

harangue (v.) – to speak to someone or a group of people, often for a long time, in a
forceful and sometimes angry way, especially to persuade them; to give a forceful and
lengthy lecture or criticism to someone [A drunk in the station was haranguing passers-
by. The angry motorist leapt from his car to harangue the other driver. “Silence!” Uther
shouted, his voice reverberating through the chamber like thunder. He ensnared the now
trembling Barthilas with his overpowering gaze. “You will learn to control your
tongue,junior Paladin. I have known this man for years. We saved each other’s lives more
than once, and stood victorious before the enemy more times than I can clearly remember.
Whatever he may have done, he certainly deserves more than to be harangued by an
unseasoned boy like yourself.” Barthilas turned white as a sheet and looked as if he might
faint. “Your testimony has been heard and will be reviewed by the court. You are
dismissed,” Uther finished. Reddening in embarrassment, Barthilas hurried back to his seat.
Tirion watched as the jurors once again began to converse with one another.],

open-mouthed (adj.) – with your mouth wide open, especially because you are
surprised or shocked [They stared open-mouthed at the extent of the damage. “I will
remain committed to the Alliance until my dying day. Of that, have no doubt,” Tirion said
confidently. “But I cannot disavow the oath I took. To do so would be to betray everything I
am and everything we, as honorable men, hold dear.” This time the entire gathering
erupted in fury and shock. None could believe Tirion’s brazen decision. Even the noble
jurors gaped openmouthed at Tirion. The tired Paladin thought he heard Arden weeping
behind him, and his heart sank even lower. Dathrohan sat down heavily in his chair,
shaking his head in dismay. Barthilas seemed to be on the verge of jumping out of his seat
in excitement. Many of the gathered warriors began to shout obscenities at Tirion and call
him a traitor. Some spat at him as he stood motionless before the stage.],
(random cool paragraph) – [Rubbing his eyes wearily, Uther motioned for the court
to fall silent once more. He was beside himself with anguish over what he must do, but
Tirion had stated his position clearly. “So be it,” Uther said ominously. “Tirion Fordring,
from this day forth you are no longer welcome among the Knights of the Silver Hand. You
are no longer fit to bask in the grace of the Light. I hereby excommunicate you from our
ranks.” The audience gasped at Uther’s words. Excommunication was a rare, harsh
punishment that stripped a Paladin of his Light-given powers. Though it had only been
used a few times, every Paladin lived in mortal fear of it. Tirion could not fathom what was
about to happen. Before he could utter another word, Uther made a sweeping motion with
his hand. Immediately, Tirion felt a dark shadow pass over him, choking out the holy power
of the Light. Panic threatened to overwhelm him as the grace and strengthening energies
of the Light fled his body. The blessed energies, which had been such an integral part of him
for so long, ebbed away just as if they had never been. Though the light of the Hall never
wavered, Tirion felt as if he had been wrapped in darkness and cast down into oblivion.
Unable to withstand the raging despair and hopelessness that washed over him in waves,
Tirion lowered his head in abject despair. Uther continued. “All trappings of our order will
be stripped from you,” he said as two Paladins came forward and viciously ripped the silver
plates from Tirion’s wracked body, “as well as your personal titles and holdings.” Tirion
struggled against despair. Never in his life had he felt so naked and powerless. Images of
Taelan and Karandra sifted through his tortured mind. He had to get a grip on himself. He
had to think of his dignity. On wobbly legs, he stood and faced the court once more. “You
shall be exiled from these kingdoms and live the rest of your days amongst the wild things
of the world. May the Light have mercy on your soul,” Uther finished. Tirion felt dazed, His
head spun and anxiety threatened to overtake him. He was barely conscious of Uther’s next
words to the assembly: “Though it goes against my better judgment, it is the will of this
court that Paladin Barthilas take over as regent governor of Hearthglen, effective
immediately. Barthilas is to remain here to oversee the morning’s hanging and then return
home to his duties. The exile, Tirion Fordring, is to be escorted back to Mardenholde keep.
There he will collect his family and be escorted to the borders of the Alliance lands. These
proceedings are over,” Uther said, smashing his armored fist against the lectern. He gazed
at Tirion in frustration, clearly disgusted with the trial’s outcome. “My lord, I have one last
question,” Tirion barely managed to say. Uther paused to listen—a final gesture of respect
and friendship for his former comrade. “My wife and son . . . are they to be exiled as well?
Will my sin damn their lives as it has mine?” Tirion asked shakily. Uther bowed his head in
sorrow. The man before him was a good man. This was no way for a hero to be treated.
“No, Tirion. They may remain in Lordaeron if they so desire. This was your crime, not
theirs. They should not be punished for your pride,” Uther said. He then turned his back on
Tirion and departed. Lost in a haze of despair and grief, Tirion was barely aware of the
guards hauling him out of the Great Hall.],

breakneck (adj.) – carelessly fast and dangerous [They were riding at breakneck
speed/at a breakneck pace. Satisfied, Tirion nodded to Arden and looked out toward the
distant tree line. He dug his spurs into Mirador’s sides and thundered out of the stables.
Stratholme was only a few hours away. If he rode like the wind, he would make it in time to
stop the hanging. He charged down the path at breakneck speed, pushing the faithful
Mirador faster and harder than he ever had before.],

make good time (id.) – to proceed at a good pace; to arrive in good time; to use one's
time efficiently; to complete a journey quickly [Tirion made good time reaching
Stratholme. The sun had just barely crested the distant Alterac peaks by the time he
reached the city’s outskirts. He had tethered Mirador in the woods and ran the last quarter
mile to the city.],

nondescript (adj.) – very ordinary, or having no interesting or exciting features or

qualities [Their officers are in a nondescript building on the edge of town. Arden had
turned to make his way toward the exit, when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a
familiar figure moving through the crowd. The tall, nondescript figure wore a green,
hooded travel-cloak and weather-stained leathers. But Arden would have recognized the
gray haired man’s piercing green eyes anywhere. For a brief second, he locked eyes with
the aged stranger.] – synonyms & related words [undistinguished, commonplace,
uninspiring, unremarkable, common, empty, garden, ordinary, garden-variety,
characterless, colorless, dull, featureless, indescribable, indeterminate, mousy,
unclassifiable, unclassified, unexception, uninteresting, unmemorable, vague, generic],

musty (adj.) – having a stale odor [Preserving eggs in wheat bran makes them musty.],

shellack (n.) – a type of lac, or varnish,

shellack (v.) – to apply shellack to; to beat repeatedly; to beat decisively,

suet (n.) – the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects the kidneys; that of sheep and
cattle is used in cooking and in making tallow,

comely (adj.) – (dated, of a person) pleasing or attractive to the eye; (archaic) suitable
or becoming, proper, agreeable – synonyms & related words [beuatiful, good-looking,
winsome, a ten, attractive, beauteous, becoming, blooming, buxom, fair, fine, gorgeous,
graceful, handsome, nice, pleasing, pretty, pulchritudinous, stunning, wholesome],

comeliness (n.) – beauty, attractiveness,

comings and goings (n.) – (plural) movement or activity; a general bustle of

activity; (plural) the activities of a specified person or group [With so many comings and
goings in this office, I just can't seem to concentrate. Not even his closest followers
understood the Betrayer's comings and goings.],

overawe (v.) – to cause someone to feel a mixture of respect and fear [Some of the
players were totally overawed by playing their first game at the national stadium. It was
clear that visitors were meant to be overawed by this display of magic.] – synonyms &
related words [amaze, astonish, daunt, dazzle, impress, intimidate, appall, alarm,
flabbergast, frighten, horrify, scare, startle, stun, stupefy, terrify, cow, grandstand,
hotdog, snowbeat, strike, blow away, knock socks off],

dazzle (v.) – (blind) if a light dazzles you, it makes you unable to see for a short time; if
you are dazzled by someone or something, you think they are extremely good and
exciting [I was dazzled by the sunlight. I was dazzled by his charm and good looks.] –
synonyms & related words [overpower, overcome, overwhelm, impress, bedazzle, strike,
move, stir, affect, touch, sweep someone off their feet, awe, overawe, leave speechless,
take someone's breath away, spellbind, hypnotize, fascinate, take aback, daze, stagger,
floor, amaze, astonish; bowl over, blow away, knock out],

have a grandstand view (id.) – (informal) to be in a position where you can see
something very well [From our hotel room window, we had a grandstand view of the
parade.],

a hair's breadth (id.) – a very small distance or amount [His finger was within a hair's
breadth of touching the alarm. She came within a hair's breadth of losing her life (= she
nearly died). The blade missed him by a hair's breadth.],

corrugated (adj.) – marked with parallel folds, ridges or furrows; bent into regular
curved folds or grooves,

if/when it comes to the crunch (id.) – (informal) if/when the moment comes
when something must be decided or done, or a difficulty can no longer be avoided [She
was always threatening to leave him, but when it came to the crunch she didn’t have the
courage. I know when it comes to the crunch, he'll support me and be there for me. If it
comes to the crunch, I'll resign over this. The crunch came when we discovered newly
promoted managers were getting more money than we were (= the situation reached a
critical point). It is crunch time for the future of the society, which is absolutely in
policyholders' hands.],

when push comes to shove (id.) – when the pressure is on; when the situation is
critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult [He is not a
particularly talented builder, but when push comes to shove, he can usually get the job
done.],

plump something up (v.) – to make something fuller or fatter [She went round
plumping up the cushions. Lips can be plumped up with injections.],

mouth off (v.) – to express your opinions or complain, esp. loudly and in a way that
shows no consideration or respect; to speak in a rude or offensive way to someone; o
express your opinions too loudly and publicly [Clark was mouthing off in the locker room
after we lost, and he started a fight. She's a typical teenager, coming home late at night
and mouthing off to her parents. I had to listen to Michael mouthing off about the
government all through lunch. I know you want to mout hoff at me, but take a good, hard
look at this crap you call fresh food first.],

(deep) into the weeds (id.) – of a restaurant worker, completely overwhelmed with
diners' orders, and unable to keep up with the pace; overwhelmed with problems,
torubles, or difficulties; totally immersed or preoccupied wit hthe details or complexities
(of something) [I was all alone waiting tables during Sunday brunch, so I got into the
weeds almost immediately. Even with a full staff, Friday was so busy that we were deep
into the weeds for most of the night. We were starting to fall deep into the weeds on the
lead up to the software's unveiling, but we managed to make up some lost ground in the
last couple of weeks. My relationship with Joanna has been getting into the weeds lately. I'd
like to come out tonight, but I'm deep into the weeds with my thesis.],

out of sight, out of mind (id.) – said to emphasize that when somethign or someone
cannot be seen, it is easy to forget it, him, or her,

grasp all, lose all (id.) – one who wants everything, may lose it all, one who grasps
too much, holds on to little,

sharp as a tack (id.) – (simile, colloquial) very intelligent,

bright as a button (id.) – (simile) very bright (clever, smart, or crafty); (simile) very
cheery, energetic, and upbeat,

hold (one's) feet to the fire (id.) – To put pressure on someone to do, say, or
consent to something; to maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on
someone in order to induce him or her to comply with one's desires; to hold someone
accountable for his or her actions. [The journalist has spent the last year holding the
prime minister's feet to the fire in relation to her campaign promises about wealth
distribution. People have been holding her feet to the fire to have the images taken down
from the website.],

piping hot (id.) – very hot [Don't touch the pie! It's piping hot, sraight out of the oven.
You want to eat a burger while it's piping hot. The crust was piping hot.],

baste (v.) – (pour) to pour hot fat and liquid over meat while it is cooking, to sprinkle
flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on meating in roasting; (by extension) to coat
over something; to mark (sheep ,etc.) with tar [Baste the turkey at regular intervals.],

baste/tack (v.) – (sew) to sew with a long, loose stitch tha tholds two pieces of
material together temporarily, before they are sewn together in a more tidy or
permanent way, to se with long or loose stitches, as for temporary use, or in preparation
for gathering the fabric,
malign (adj.) – evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence; malevolent;
(oncology) malignant [Demon Hunters are dark, shadowy warriors who are shunned by
the greater Night Elf society. They made a pact, long ago, to fight against the forces of
chaos using its own terrible powers against it. These mysterious warriors ritually blind
themselves so that they develop 'spectral sight' that enables them to see demons and
undead with greater clarity. They wield demonically charged warblades in battle and even
call upon demonic energies to augment their formidable combat skills. Although they are
counted as some of the mightiest warriors within the Night Elves' society, the Demon
Hunters are always maligned and misunderstood for making their selfless pact with
darkness.],

plunk/plonk (v.) – (put down) to put something down heavily and without care [Just
plunk the shopping bags (down) on the table, and come and have a cup of tea. Come in and
plunk yourselves (down) (= sit down) any where you like. The stranger plunked a silver
piece on the bar and asked, “What’s the most expensive drink you have there?”],

plunk/plonk (v.) – (instrument) to play a musical instrument, usually not very well
but often loudly [I really enjoy plunking away on the piano.],

plunk/plonk (n.) –(sound) a hollow sound like that made when an object is dropped
heavily onto a surface [The plunk of a tennis ball.],

plunk/plonk (adv. ) – making a hollow sound like that made when an object is
dropped heavily onto a surface [I heard something go plunk. An apple landed plunk on the
ground.],

it's your own lookout (id.) – (informal) used to tell someone that they rae
responsible for their own problems, it's your own problem, your own backyard[It's your
own lookout if you're not properly insured. Erik shrugged. People had weird considerations
when it came to alcohol. He’d seen folks argue about the relative merits of beer versus corn
whiskey with more intensity than they brought to political or religious disagreements. If
this gentleman didn’t like orc drinks, that wasn’t Erik’s lookout. “Got corn whiskey—fresh
batch made last month.”],

spruce (adj.) – (of a person) tidy and clean in appearance [He looked spruce and
handsome in a clean white shirt.],

disparage (v.) – to criticize someone or something in a way that shows you do not
respect or value him, her, or it [The actor's work for charity has recently been disparaged
in the press as an attempt to get publicity. “Lady Proudmoore’s been very good to us,” the
merchant said. “After we drove back the Burning Legion, she made us into a community.
Your complaints are fair, Margoz, but none of it can be laid at the lady’s feet. I’ve met a few
wizards in my day, and most of ’em aren’t fit to be scrapings off my sandals. But the lady’s a
good one, and you’ll find no support for disparagements of her.”] – synonyms & related
words [criticize, detract from, belittle, decry, defame, degrade, denigrate, deride,
discredit, dismiss, malign, ridicule, scorn, slander, underrate, vilify, abuse, chill, deject,
demoralize, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, discourage, disdain, dishearten, dispirit,
lower, minimize, pan, rap, roast, scorch, slam, smear, traduce, underestimate,
undervalue, cry down, dis, dispraise, downcry, dump on, put down, put hooks in, run
down, sour grapes, tear down, write off],

ply (v.) – (work) to sell or to work regularly at something, especially at a job that
involves selling things; to work at dilligently, to work dilligently; to use vigorously; to
travel over regularly; to persist in offering something to; to press upon, to urge
importunately [Fishermen in small boats ply their trade up and down the coast. Dealers
are openly plying drugs in school playgrounds. The market traders were loudly plying their
wares. He plied his trade as carpenter for forty-three years. He plied his axe with bloody
results. Ply the seven seas. A steamer plies between certain ports. To ply someone with
drink. To ply someone with questions, with solicitations. So he came to Kalimdor, following
the rush of people hoping to provide services for the humans who lived there under Lady
Proudmoore. But Margoz hadn’t been the only fisherman to ply his trade, nor was he
anywhere near the best.],

ply for business, trade, etc. (v.) – to try and get customers for your business in a
public place, for example, as a taxi driver, by driving around or waiting in a regular place
[There are never any taxis playing for trade/hire in our area. I noticed a couple of
prostitutes plying for business on the corner.],

play (v.) – (travel) (old-fashioned) when a boat, train, bus, etc. plies a particular route,
it makes that journey regularly [High-speed trains regularly ply between Paris and Lyons.
This airline has been plying the transatlantic route for many years.],

ply (n.) – the particular number of threads from which wool, rope, etc. is made, used as
a measure of its thickness; the particular number of layers from which plywood or tissue
is formed, used as a measure of its thickness [Six balls of four-ply (wool). What ply do you
need for that knitting pattern? Will three-ply (= wool made from three layers stuck
together) be strong enough for making a shelf?],

ply somebody with something (id.) – to keep giving a person something, usually
food or drink; to keep giving someone wor kor forms to complete, or aksing them
questions [John's been plying me with drinks all evening. We plied Charlie with questions
about his trip round the world.],

destitute (adj.) – without money, food, a home, or possessions [The floods left
thousands of people destitute. Before his patron arrived, Margoz was close to destitute. He
wasn’t even catching enough to feed himself, much less sell, and he was seriously
considering just grabbing his boat’s anchor and jumping off the side with it. Put himself out
of his misery. But then his patron arrived, and everything got better.],
holdout (n.) – a person, organization or country that continues to do something,
despite other people trying to force the mnot to [It's time to shame holdouts into signing
the treaty. Margoz didn’t like the threat implied in that one-word question. “One man was
a holdout, but the others were ganging up on him to a certain degree. Provided a focus for
their ire, really.”],

batman (n.) – (military) a servant or valet to an army officer [„What I don’t get is,
what’s the point of fog?” Captain Bolik, master of the orc trading vessel Orgath’ar, knew he
would regret the words even as he found himself almost compelled to respond to his
batman’s statement. “Does it have to have a point?”],

leastaways (adv.) – anyway, at least, regardless, indicates support or degree of a

previous statement [She was a bright and industrious student, smarter than many of her
classmates, leastaways. “True enough, Captain, true enough.” Rabin finished sharpening
the thumb and moved on to the other fingers. “But, like I said, snow and rain got
themselves a greater purpose. Even if they do get in the way, leastaways there’s a benefit to
be makin’ up for it. But tell me, sir, what does the fog do to make up for it? It keeps us from
seein’ where we goin’, and don’t give us nothing back.”],

headspace (n.) – the space between the top of the contents of a container (such as a
jar) and its seal (such as a lid); (informal) one's mental state; (informal) unscheduled
time for reflection and thinking; (firearms) the gap between the face of the bolt and the
stopping surface for the cartridge; ( chemistry) the gas phase in contact and in
equilibrium with a nonvolatile sample [It's like, I need to clear my headspace but I can't
do that with him around because he's just ego, you know? He dumps on me. So that's it. I
can't get in the headspace of a Sylvanas loyal orc.],

mend (one's) fences (id.) – to rectify a damged relationship, to try to be friendly

again with someone after an argument, [After Jill heard that her father had become ill,
she decided it was time for them to mend their fences before it was too late. The politician
tried to mend his fences with his constituents after the scandal, but was not able to regain
their trust before the next election. Yesterday he was publicly criticised for not doing
enough to mend fences with his big political rival. He had managed to annoy every member
of the family and thought he'd better mend his fences. The king is out of the country on a
fence-mending mission to the European Community.],

unguent (n.) – a thick substance, usually with a pleasant smell, used to treat skin
problems or make the skin soft, any cream containing medicinal ingredients applied to
the skin for therapeutic purposes [She smelled powerfully of bath salts and unguents.],

wake (n.) – the path left behind a ship o nthe surface of the water; the turbulent air left
behind a flying machine; (figuratively) the area behind something, typically a rapid
moving object [Without hesitating, Kag said, “Lookout wouldn’t say if he wasn’t sure. If he
says he saw Theramore military, then says something else, that means he saw something
different the first time. I think it’s two ships. Besides, the wake’s enough for two, or for one
going ’round in circles. This fog, one’s as like as the other.”],

ho (interjection) – (nautical) used to attract attention to something sighted, usually by

lookouts; halloo, hey, a call to excite attention, or to give notice to approach [Sail ho! (=
another boat is visible). Land ho! (= land is visible). Man ho! (= a town is visible). “Three
ships this close is asking for trouble. We may need to sound the horn. Get—” “Ship ho!”],

(random cool paragraph) – [Bolik didn’t like this. A human ship flying no colors
usually meant pirates. It might not have—flying colors was almost pointless in fog like
this—and they might simply have been unable to see the orc ship. Bolik wasn’t about to
risk the possibility—or his cargo. If the crates in his hold weren’t safely delivered to Razor
Hill, Bolik didn’t get paid, which meant the crew didn’t get paid. Days the crew lost wages
were never good days to be a shipmaster. “Sound the horn. And put guards on the cargo
hold.” Kag nodded. “Yes, sir.” “Harpoons!” At Vak’s cry, Bolik cursed. Harpoons meant only
one of two things. One was that the other ship had mistaken Orgath’ar for a large seafaring
creature such as a whale or a sea serpent. The other was that they were pirates and the
harpoons were attached to boarding lines. Since sea serpents and whales didn’t migrate
this far north as a general rule, Bolik felt safe in assuming it was the latter. The harpoons
slammed into the deck, the side of the staircase that led belowdecks, and other places Bolik
couldn’t see in the fog. Then the lines that were attached to them went taut. “Prepare for
boarders!” Kag cried. Bolik heard a voice say, “Cut the lines!” The sound of a fist hitting
flesh was followed by Kag saying, “Don’t be a fool! Swords can’t cut through those ropes,
and you’ll leave yourself open.”],

outerwear (n.) – clothing (such as a dress) worn over one's underwear; clothing (such
as a rain jacket) worn over one's clothes, to protect them (e.g. against rain) when outside
[Any other conversation was cut short by the sudden arrival of the very boarders in
question, appearing as if by magic in the fog. They were human, Bolik saw, and not in any
kind of military uniform. Beyond that, Bolik wasn’t sure what they were wearing—humans’
fascination with outerwear beyond what was absolutely necessary was something that had
always baffled Bolik. He knew what Lady Proudmoore’s military wore, but that was it.],

insensate (adj.) – not aware of what you are doing or what is happening around you;
not feeling any smpathy for other people's suffering; having none of the characteristics
of life that an animal or plant has [He was virtually insensate after drinking half a bottle of
whiskey. Insensate cruelty/brutality. Insensate objects like chairs. “Vak!” Bolik yelled up the
mast as he removed the curved sword from his arm and tossed it to the deck next to its
insensate owner. “Sound the horn!” The pirates likely didn’t know the orcish tongue, and so
wouldn’t expect it when the foghorn went off.] – synonyms & related words [apathetic,
callous, indifferent, cold, impassive, insensible, unfeeling, unmoved, dumb, foolish,
stupid, irrational, senseless],
bedamn (v.) – to damn or curse roundly or with iteration and emphasis, damn all over,
swear, cuss, blaspheme, imprecate [„You choose to do them anyway, and bedamn any
opinion to the contrary." Shaking his head, Bolik said, “No. Let them go.” There was little
point in trying to chase a ship in this be-damned fog. “Check the cargo.”],

roundly (adv.) – severely; utterly or thoroughly; circularly [When, over in the east,
General Valentine Baker led his force of four thousand irregulars against Osman Digna, he
was roundly thrashed. The government is being roundly criticized for its education policy.
The home team was roundly defeated.] – synonyms & related words [completely, deeply,
firmly, fully, perfectly, soundly, thoroughly, totally, entirely, wholly very, flat out, in and
out, notably, through and through, whole hog],

butte (n.) – (US) an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, a hill that has steep
sides and a flat top [The farm lay on either side of a small stream which ran among the
buttes and green mesas of the foothills. We made a nice run of eighteen miles on a smooth,
shallow river, with broken, picturesque low cliffs and isolated buttes and everywhere. Then
slowly and sadly the train resumed its march and mounted to the summit of the butte. L
ady Jaina Proudmoore stood atop the butte on Razor Hill, gazing out over the land where
she helped form the most unlikely alliance in the history of the world.],

quotidian (adj.) – ordinary [Television has become part of our quotidian existence.
Standing at one edge of the butte, she looked far down on the small orc village at the base
of the hills. Welldefended huts dotted the harsh brown landscape. Even in times of peace,
the orcs made sure their homes would not be taken. A few orcs walked between the huts,
greeting each other, some pausing to speak. Jaina couldn’t help but smile at such quotidian
simplicity.] – synonyms & related words [everyday, commonplace, common, daily, trivial,
usual, frequent, mundane, normal, prosaic, usual, workaday, simple, habitual, plain,
routine, wonted, customary],

bespeak (v.) – to suggest or to show [His letter bespeaks his willingness to help. What
stood out about Thrall most, though, were his blue eyes, a color rarely found in orcs. They
bespoke both his intelligence and his kindness.] – synonyms & related words [indicate,
imply, accost, address, announce, argue, arrange, ask, attest, cite, discuss, engage,
exclaim, foretell, hint, request, reserve, show, speak, stipulate, express, illustrate, mark,
mean, prove, signal, specify, suggest, augur, betoken],

(the) minutiae (n.) – smal land often not important details [The committee studied
the minutiae of the report for hours. Comedy is so often based on the minutiae of everyday
life. Kristoff was Jaina’s chamberlain. While she ruled Theramore, Kristoff was the one who
ran it. His capacity for irritating minutiae made him ideal for the job, and had been the
primary thing keeping Jaina from indulging in a homicidal rage when being leader became
too much for her not-very-broad shoulders to bear. He had been the clerk to Highlord
Garithos before the war, when his organizational skills had become legendary.],
revert to type (id.) – (UK) to go back to doing what one usually does, to start
behaving in your normal way again after appearing to change [After this one atypical
comedy, will he revert to type in his next film? “I am saying the same thing that I have said
to you all along, milady—we cannot afford to blindly trust the orcs. Individual orcs have
proven honorable, yes, but orcs as a whole? We would be fools to assume that they all wish
us well, and that they all will be as enlightened as Thrall. He was a strong ally against the
Burning Legion, and I have nothing but admiration for what he has done—but what he has
done is temporary.” Kristoff set his thin hands down on the desk, leaning toward Jaina. “The
only thing keeping the orcs in line is Thrall, and the minute he is gone, I can assure you,
milady, the orcs will revert to type and do everything they can to destroy us.” Once he's had
a girlfriend for a week or two, he reverts to type and starts chasing other girls.],

be barking up the wrong tree (id.) – (informal) to be wrong about the reason for
something or the way to achieve something [She thinks it'll solve the problem, but I think
she's barking up the wrong tree.],

drive/hammer something home (id.) – to say something clearly and with a lot of
force so that you are certain people understand it [She really drove home the message
that we need to economize. Jaina leaned back in her chair. In truth, she had given little
thought to the world beyond Kalimdor, busy as she had been with fighting the demons and
then building Theramore. And her own father’s attack drove home the fact that those who
had not actually fought alongside the orcs still viewed them as little more than animals.],

(as) stiff/straight as a ramrod (id.) – very straight [The old lady's back is still as
straight as a ramrod. Standing, Jaina said, “Thank you, Colonel. Stand easy. Duree told you
what is required?” Jaina always felt short next to Lorena and so preferred to stand in her
presence, to give herself as much height as her smaller form would provide. Lowering her
hand and putting both arms behind her back, but otherwise still standing ramrod straight
with perfect posture, Lorena said, “Yes, ma’am, she did. We leave for Northwatch within the
hour, and I’ve sent a runner to inform Major Davin of our arrival.”],

kooky (adj.) – (slang) eccentric, strange, or foolish; crazy or insane; kookish;

(especially of a person) strange in his or her appearance or behavior, especially in a way
that is interesting [She's got this kooky, high-pitched voice. His kooky behavior seemed
charming at first, but soon got on our nerves.] – synonyms & related words [eccentric,
bizarre, cranky, crazy, flaky, freakish, funky, nutty, odd, off-center, offbeat, outlandish,
peculiar, quaint, quirky, unconventional, weird, aberrant, abnormal, anomalous, beat,
bent, capricious, characteristic, cockeyed, curious, droll, erratic, far out, freak, funny,
idiosyncratic, irregular, oddball, off the wall, out in left field, queer, quizzical, singular,
strange, uncommon, unnatural, unusual, way out, whimsical, wild],

out in left field (id.) – (US; informal) if someone's opinions or ideas are out in left
field, they are very unusual,
come out of left field (id.) – (US, informal) if something comes out of left field, it
surprises you because you did not expect it,

shill/shillaber (n.) – someone who helps another person to persuade people to buy
something, especially by pretending to be a satisfied customer, a person paid to endorse
a product favorably, while pretending to be impartial; an accomplice at a confidence
trick during an auction or gambling game; (gambling) a house player in a casino
[Witnesses have testified that Jim Jones (like a few other professional faith-healers) used
shills part of the time... The pitchman swept his cane in a slow acceleration over the heads
of the crowd and then suddenly pointed the silver cap toward Billy and the shill.],

shill (v.) – (pejorative) to promote or endorse in return for payment, especially

dishonestly, to help another person to persuade people to buy something, especially by
pretending to be a satisfied customer; to put under cover, to sheal [Today there are even
commercials in which real scientists, some of considerable distinction, shill for
corporations. They teach that scientists too will lie for money. As Tom Paine warned,
inuring us to lies lays the groundwork for many other evils.],

sheal (n.) – (UK, dialect, obsolete) a shell or pod; a shieling,

shiel (n.) – a shephard's hut or shieling; a cottage,

shieling (n.) – an area of summer pasture used for cattle, sheep, etc.; a shepherd's hut
or shack,

spurious (adj.) – false and not what it appears to be, or (of reasons and judgments)
based on something that has not been correctly understood and therefore false [Some of
the arguments in favor of shutting the factory are questionable and others are downright
spurious. Unfortunately, these arguments are spurious. As you've noted, however you want
to model it, version (a) is naturally used in English.] – synoynsm & related words
[counterfeit, fake, bogus, false, phony, specious, affected, apocryphal, artificial, assumed,
bastard, bent, bum, contrived, deceitful, deceptive, dummy, ersatz, faked, feigned, forged,
framed, illegitimate, imitation, make-believe, mock, pirate, pretend, pretended, pseudo,
put-on, sham, simulated, substitute, unauthentic, ingenuine, unreal],

withering (adj.) – tending to destroy, devestate, overwhelm or cause complete

destruction; diminishing rapidly; a withering look, remark, etc. is one that is intended to
make someone feel ashamed; severe and extremely critical [The D-Day troops came
under withering fire. The playboy seemed oblivious to his withering fortune as he
continued in his decadent lifestyle. Jane's mother in law gave her a withering look. He made
withering remarks about his adversary. He said that Lizzie had been drunk at the time and
I saw her shoot him a withering glance. He made a withering attack on government policy.
Avinal looked at Davin. Davin shrugged, as if to say that it was out of his hands. Then the
captain looked witheringly at Lorena. “Fine. When’s this attack supposed to’ve happened?”]
– synonyms & related words [shriveling, decaying, drooping, fading, shrinking, wilting,
annihilating, annihilative, destructive, scornful, contemptuous, full of contempt,
mocking, sneering; scathing, stinging, searing, blistering, biting, devastating;
supercilious, disdainful, superior, dismissive; humiliating, mortifying],

fogbound (adj.) – enveloped in fog to such an extent, that movement is dangerous or

impossible, prevented from operating as usual or travelling because of fog [Their flight
was cancelled because the airport was fogbound. “Five days ago. According to Major Davin
you were fogbound that morning.”],

fogey/fogy (n.) – (informal, disapproving) a person who is old-fashioned and likes

traditional ways of doing things; a dull old fellow, a person behind the times, over-
conservatve, or slow – usually preceded by old [The party is run by a bunch of old fogeys
who resist progress. When you're 16, anyone over 25 is an old fogey.] – synoynms &
related words [fogy, dodo, fossil, fuddy-duddy, stick-in-the-mud, old fogey, old fogy,
young fogey, young fogy],

fuddy-duddy (n.) – (US, informal) a person who has old-fashioned ideas and
opinions, an old-fashioned, persnickety or ineffective person [They think I'm an old
fuddy-duddy because I don't approve of tattoos. My grandma is a fuddy-duddy when it
comes to keeping her house clean.],

stick in the mud (id.) – (pejorative) a person unwilling to participate in activities, a

curmudgeon or party pooper; more generally, one who is slow, old-fashioned, or
unprogressive, an old fogey [Have a little fun sometimes and don't be such a stick-in-the-
mud. My dad, a retired army officer, is a real stick-in-the-mud.] – synonyms & related
words [antediluvian, conservative, curmudgeon, diehard, fossil, fuddy-duddy, mossback,
reactionary, obstinate person, old fogey, person set in ways, killjoy, spoilsport,
complainer, dampener, grouch, moaner, pessimist, whiner, doomsdayer, grinch,
partyooper, prophet of doom, wet blanket, silk-stocking, standpat, hard hat, bitter-ender,
old guard, old liner, dotard, fusspot, granny, square, dull person, fussbudget, fussy
person, old fart, old geezer, old maid, old poop, stuffed shirt],

antediluvian (adj.) – extremely old-fashioned [My mother has some hopelessly

antediluvian ideas about the role of women.],

curmudgeon (n.) – (old-fashioned) an old person who is often in a bad mood, an ill-
tempered (and frequently old) person full of stubborn ideas or pinions [There's a cranky
curmudgeon working at the hospital who gives all the patients and other doctors flak. John
Doe's old age and stubborn aversion to new ideas make him a curmudgeon of a
candidate.],
miser (n.) – (pejorative) a person who hoards money rather than spending it, one who
is cheap or extremely parsimonious [Ebenezer Scrooge was a stereotypical miser; he
spent nothing he could save, neither giving to charity nor enjoying his wealth.],

for the nonce (id.) – for the time being, with the expectation that the situation may
change [That will do for the nonce, but we'll need a better answer for the long term.],

nonce word (n.) – a word invented for the occasion,

nonce (n.) – the one or single occasion, the present reason or purpose (now only in for
the nonce); (lexicography) a nonce word [We can count on his funding for now, but we
need to plan ahead for when that won't be the case.],

grinch (n.) – a grouch or killjoy; a person who aggressively sets out to ruin the
Christmas holidays for others,

wet blanket (id.) – (disapproving) a person who says or does something that stops
other people enjoying themselves, a person who takes the fun out of a situation or
activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.,

silk-stocking (adj.) – (archaic, derogatory) elegantly dressed, aristocratic, luxurious,

rich, noble [They will find their levees crowded with silk-stocking gentry, but no yeomanry;
an army of officers without soldiers.],

stand pat (on something) (id.) – (poker) to play one's hand without drawing any
more cards; to resist changes; (blackjack) to stop hitting [China has cut rates and allowed
banks to boost lending, while some countries, such as South Korea have stood pat, fearful
that inflation pressures could reignite.],

standpat(ter) (n.) – one who is resistant to change,

dotage (n.) – decline in jdugement and other cognitive functions, associated with aging,
senility; fondness or attentivess, especially to an excessive degree; foolish utterance(s),
drivel [But he did not sink into dotage. Her dotage now I do begin to pity. In that use of the
word „old“, far from us is all the thought of dotage or decay. She wanted someone to look
after her in ther dotage. The sapless dotages of old Paris and Salamanca.],

fusspot/fussbudget (n.) – (informal), a person who is often not satisfied and

complains about things that are not important [„I can't eat this meat – it's too tough.“
„You old fusspot – give it here and I'll eat it!“],

stuffed shirt (id.) – (informal, disapproving) someone who behaves in a very formal
and old-fashioned way and thinks that they are very important, one who is pompous or
self-important, especially one who is officious in a position of authority ["Don't you come
the high-and-holy on me. You and your smooth, big, phony stuffed-shirt of a father." Dr.
Laughlin was the only one in a movie party who detested the second male lead—"I
regarded him as overserious, pedantic, a stuffed shirt."],

young fogey (id.) – a young and overly conservative person,

old fogey (id.) – old and over-conservative person,

foghorn (n.) – a very loud low-pitched horn, used especially in lighthouses and on
large boats, a horn that makes a very loud sound to warn ships that they are close to
land or other ships [He has a voice like a foghorn (= an unpleasantly loud voice). “Did you
see any other ships that morning?” “Might’ve—some shapes that might’a been a boat here
an’ there, but couldn’t be sure. We were near a boat at one point, I know that much – rang
their foghorn.”],

blessed (adj.) – (informal) an intensifier, damned [Not one blessed person offered to
help me out. Muttering, “Blessed waste of time,” under his breath, Avinal departed.],

meringue (n.) – a very light, sweet food made by mixing sugar with egg white, a
mixture consisting of beaten egg whites and sugar which is added to the tops of pies
then browned; a shell made of this mixture which sreves as the receptacle for fruit, ice
cream or sherbet (= the clear part) and baking it [Lemon meringue pie. The key to a good
baked Alaska is the meringue topping. Shirley likes to have strawberry with her
meringue.],

in the pipeline (id.) – being planned [The theatre company has several new
productions in the pipeline for next season.],

put stock in something (id.) – if you put stock in something that someon says or
does, you have a high opinion of it [He's been wrongb efore, so I wouldn't put much stock
in what he says any more. The other was the opposite of Strov: Jalod was an old soldier who
had fought against orcs back when nobody knew what an orc was. Rumor had it that he
had trained Admiral Proudmoore, though Lorena put very little stock in that one. Either
way, he’d seen everything, done everything, and lived to tell exaggerated stories about all
of it.],

corroborate (v.) – to add proof to an account, statement, idea, etc. with new
information, to confirm or support something with additional evidence, to attest to or
vouch for; to make strong, to strengthen [Recent research seems t ocorroborate his
theory. The concurrence of al lcorroborates the same truth. Strov said, “Like I said in the
watch office, ma’am, the other crew corroborated what Captain Avinal said. They couldn’t
see a thing out there. I doubt they had any confirmation that either Orgath’ar or the
pirates were even there.”],

old buzzard (n.) – (colloquial, derogatory, slang) a curmudgeonly or cantankerous

man, an old person, a mean, greedy person [As they marched toward the edge of the
clearing, Private Strov made sure to keep Sergeant Jalod in his sight at all times. He wasn’t
sure what had gotten into the old buzzard, but Strov didn’t like it, not one bit.],

waylay (v.) – to wait for and then stop someone, especially either to attack or talk to
that person, to lie in wait for and attack from ambush, to accost or intercept
unexpectedly [A man on his way to depisot $12,000 in a bank was waylaid by two men
who snatched his bag. I meant to leave earlier but I was waylaid on the way out of a
meeting by my manager.] – synonyms & related words [intercept, ambush, accost,
ambuscade, assail, attack, box, bushwhack, catch, jump, lurk, prowl, skulk, slink,
surprise, hold up, lay for, lie in wait, pounce on, set upon, swoop down on],

(random cool paragraph) – [That wasn’t all Jalod was saying, but Lorena lowered
her sword anyhow. Jalod’s decades of service earned him the benefit of several dozen
doubts, and those words were very much out of character for a man who had eagerly
served under Lady Proudmoore for years now, going back to the days before Arthas turned.
Indeed, had it been anyone else, she would not have bothered with the warning and would
have gone straight to the disemboweling. Sheathing her sword, Lorena said, “Let’s head
back to the dock. We’ve got a long trip home.” As they marched back toward the docks
where their transport ship was berthed, Lorena wondered what was going on. She’d been a
soldier for all of her adult life. The youngest of ten children, and the only girl, she’d wanted
to be a soldier just like her brothers and father. She had even convinced herself that she
was a boy, right up until she reached her thirteenth summer and her body forced her to
confront the reality that she was female. She was so skilled with a sword and shield that
her father overcame his reluctance and sponsored her application to join the Kul Tiras City
Guard. Over the years, she worked her way up the ranks, finally being promoted to colonel
by Lady Proudmoore herself during the war against the Burning Legion. Over those years
she had honed her instincts—the instincts of a soldier from a family of soldiers—and those
instincts now told her that there was more to this than a military convoy not seeing a
trading ship or the pirates attacking them in the fog. The suspicion had been in the back of
her mind from the moment she arrived at Northwatch, but Jalod’s words put it to the front.
She wasn’t sure what was wrong, precisely, but she intended to find out. As they marched
toward the edge of the clearing, Private Strov made sure to keep Sergeant Jalod in his sight
at all times. He wasn’t sure what had gotten into the old buzzard, but Strov didn’t like it,
not one bit. It was one thing to complain about the orcs. That was to be expected, given the
history, though Strov himself generally thought of the orcs as victims of demonic influence.
Made as much sense to hate them as it did Medivh, and he was revered as a hero despite
what the demons did to him. Still and all, he could see why some might view the orcs with
animosity.],

your marbles (id.) – (informal, humorous) your mental health or your ability to think
and remember clearly, your sanity (often with „all“, almost always with have, lose, and
certain synonms) [I think he's losing his marbles (= starting to forget things or become
crazy). She's 89, but she's still got all her marbles. I don't think he's got his marbles. To lose
one's marbles. There are times when you are certain that the person speaking to you has
completely misplaced his marbles. Jalod was never one to express such feelings in the past.
Which led Strov to think that perhaps the sergeant was losing his marbles. Nothing wrong
with that—it happened to the best of people—but it could endanger them. One of the
things they drilled into you in training was that you had to rely on the people in your unit.
Strov wasn’t sure he could rely on Jalod anymore.],

muchness (n.) – large size or bulk, bigness, size, magnitude (large or small); greatness
in quantity, number, amount, or degree,

much of a muchness (id.) – of two or more things, having little difference of any
significance between them; to be very similar and usually of low quality [The songs you
hear on the radio these days all sound much of a muchness. There are small trees and large
shrubs which are much of a muchness, and it may not be possible to say whether an
individual plant is a tall member of the shrub layer or a short tree. The songs are much of a
muchness (or littleness), all sounding forgettably alike.],

muck (something) out (v.) – to clean a place where a large animal lives, especially a
stable, by removing the waste products and old straw, to clean the excrement and other
rubbish from the area where an animal is kept, such as a horse stable or a dog kennel
[She'd spent all morning mucking out the horses. Could you muck out Toby's stable,
please?],

at somebody's beck and call (id.) – always willing and able to do whatever
someone asks, summons and controls, in a position of servitude or as an attendant [He
had a small fleet of waitres and servants at his beck and call. Go and get it yourself! I'm not
at your beck and call, you know.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“I am blind to nothing, Burx. You may recall that it was
I who opened the eyes of orcs throughout this world who had fallen prey to the demonic
curse and to human imprisonment, and reminded them of who they were. Do not presume
to lecture me now on—” They were interrupted by a breathless young orc who ran in.
“Thunder lizards!” Thrall blinked. Thunder Ridge, the home of the creatures in question,
was far from here—if there were any in Orgrimmar, there would have been greater
warning. “Where?” Burx asked. “Far from here, obviously,” Kalthar said witheringly,
“otherwise there would have been more than a young messenger. ”The boy did indeed wear
the lightning-shaped nose ring that indicated a messenger. No doubt he had run from
Thunder Ridge to report to Thrall. “Speak,” Thrall said to the youth.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“Colonel—” Whatever Kristoff was about to say was
lost to a loud popping sound and a flash of light that heralded the arrival of Lady
Proudmoore. She wasn’t much to look at, the colonel had always thought, but she had also
learned early on that mages were not ones to judge on appearances. Lorena had spent all
her life trying to make herself look as male as possible— keeping her hair cut short, not
shaving her legs, wearing undergarments that hid her breasts—and even with all that, she
was often dismissed as being “just” a woman. It amazed Lorena how this small, pale
woman with her golden hair and deep blue eyes managed to gain the respect of so many. In
part, Lorena supposed it was the way she carried herself. She seemed to be the tallest
person in whatever room she stood in, even though she was often the shortest. Her clothes
all tended to be white: boots, blouse, pantaloons, cloak. Most amazingly, the clothes
remained a shiny white. It took a week out of every year of a soldier’s life to keep the white
trim in the plate armor from turning brown or gray, and most were unsuccessful, yet Lady
Proudmoore’s clothes almost glowed. Lorena supposed that was a fortuitous side effect of
being a powerful mage.],

blaze a/the path/trail (id.) – to show the way or proceed rapidly; to set precedent
or do something novel, to break new ground, to blaze a path is to lead the way, to be a
pioneer in a field or to clear the road for others to follow in your footsteps [We don't
want to blaze a trail when we can imitate something that has already been done. Le
Corbusier blazed a trail in architecture. An example of blaze a path is the first woman who
fought for equal rights, making it possible for other women after her to be treated as equal
to men. She still admired Aegwynn—without her blazing the trail, the only response to
Jaina’s attempts to study magic would have been laughter, instead of the swayable
skepticism she was met with. And she had swayed Antonidas.],

(random cool paragraph) – [There were times when Jaina Proudmoore really hated
being right. Being wrong was never something that bothered her, and she mostly blamed
Antonidas for that. Her mentor had drummed into her from the moment her
apprenticeship started that the worst sin a mage could commit was arrogance, and also
the easiest. “With so much power at your command—literally at your fingertips—it is easy
to be tempted to think that you are all-powerful,” the older wizard had said. “Indeed it is so
easy that most wizards succumb to the notion. It is one of the reasons why we are often so
tiresome.” That last had been said with a small smile. “You’re not like that, though, are
you?” Jaina had asked. “All too regularly,” had been the mage’s reply. “The trick is to
recognize the flaw in yourself and work to correct it.” Then her mentor had told her of
mages past, such as Aegwynn and Medivh, the last two Guardians of Tirisfal, both of whom
had let their arrogance be their downfall. Years later, Jaina would work alongside Medivh
and see that he at least had redeemed himself. His mother, Aegwynn, was less fortunate.
The first female Guardian—and someone Jaina had admired for most of her life—her one
mistake in her centuries as Guardian was to believe herself to have defeated Sargeras. In
fact, she destroyed only his avatar, and allowed the demon to hide within her soul,
remaining there for centuries until Aegwynn sired Medivh, and then Sargeras moved to
him. Medivh had been the vessel for Sargeras’s invasion, and for the orcs’ presence in this
world, all because Aegwynn was arrogant enough to believe that she could have defeated
Sargeras alone. Jaina had taken those words to heart, and so always doubted her own
surety. She still admired Aegwynn—without her blazing the trail, the only response to
Jaina’s attempts to study magic would have been laughter, instead of the swayable
skepticism she was met with. And she had swayed Antonidas. Sometimes that self-doubt
worked against her—she hadn’t listened to her instinct that Arthas had turned for far
longer than was wise, given Arthas’s descent, and she always wondered if things would
have been different if she’d acted sooner. But mostly, that had served her well. It also made
her, she hoped, a wise leader to the people of Theramore. When Thrall had told her of the
destruction of a section of the forest that surrounded Thunder Ridge, she had known
immediately that magic was at work, and powerful magic at that. She had hoped, however,
that she was wrong in that assumption. That turned out to be a forlorn hope. She went
straight to the forest in question from her chambers in Theramore, and as soon as she
materialized, she could practically smell the magic. Indeed, even without her magically
enhanced abilities, she’d have known that magic was afoot here. Before her was a range of
stumps, stretching almost as far as a human could see, before disappearing over the hill
that led down to the ridge. The top of each stump was on a perfectly straight line with all
the surrounding ones—it was as if a giant saw had gone through all the trees at once. More
to the point, the cuts were all completely even, with no flaws or breaks. One could attain
such a level of perfection only with magic. Jaina knew most of the mages who still lived. The
few besides herself who were capable of this were not on Kalimdor. What’s more, this
magic didn’t have the feel of any of those she knew. Every wizard wielded the forces of
magic differently, and if one was sensitive enough, one could tell the differences from one
mage to the next. This felt like no mage Jaina knew. And it gave her a mildly nauseous
feeling, which led her to think that it might well be demonic magic. The nausea didn’t
necessarily mean demonic magic, of course, though the presence of the Burning Legion’s
wizardry had always made Jaina ill. But so had Kel’Thuzad’s when Antonidas first
introduced them in the third year of Jaina’s apprenticeship, and that was when the
archmage was one of the finest mages in Kirin Tor (long before he turned to necromancy
and became a servant of the Lich King). Besides which, the source of the destruction was of
less import than its result: thunder lizards were now roaming unfettered through
Drygulch, and possibly beyond. Jaina needed to find a remote place to relocate them where
they wouldn’t rampage all over the farms and cities the orcs had built here.],

(random cool paragraph) – [She then removed the other item from her cloak—a
scroll containing a spell that would enable her to sense the mind of any thunder lizard on
the continent. She spoke the incantation and then cast her senses outward. Unlike most
reptiles, thunder lizards had a herd mentality akin to that of cattle, so most of them had
stayed together even as they departed their home. Sure enough, she found the bulk of them
milling around the river that fed Drygulch Ravine. They were in a docile phase right now,
which simplified Jaina’s life considerably. She was prepared to magically put them into
such a phase if need be. Thunder lizards were either docile or stampeding—they didn’t
really have much of a middle ground, and teleporting them while stampeding would be a
good deal more problematic. Still, she preferred not to disturb the animals’ routine any
more than necessary, so she was glad they were in the more cooperative mode. For a caster
to include anyone but herself in the teleportation spell required line of sight—at least,
according to most scrolls one would find on the subject. However, Antonidas had told Jaina
that one could also do it if one was in what he called “line of mind.” It required the mage to
reach out and touch the thoughts of whomever she wished to teleport. This was a lot
riskier, as there were many whose minds were difficult or dangerous to touch. Other mages
and demons generally had protections against such things, and even someone particularly
strong-willed would probably be able to resist. No such impediment existed with the
thunder lizards, however. Right now, their minds were focused on one of three things:
eating, drinking, or sleeping. In addition to running very fast, those activities were
generally all that occupied a thunder lizard’s mind, except during mating season. Still and
all, it took several hours for Jaina, standing in the razed forest, to reach out with her mind
to each thunder lizard in Drygulch, as well as the stragglers that had wandered off toward
Razor Hill. Grass. Water. Eyes close. Rest. Lap up. Chew. Swallow. Sip. Sleep. Breathe. For a
moment, she was almost lost—true, the lizards’ thought patterns weren’t complex, but
there were hundreds of them, and she found herself overwhelmed by their instinctive need
to eat and drink and sleep. Gritting her teeth, she reasserted her own self over that of
hundreds of thunder lizards. She then started to mutter the incantation for the teleport
spell. Pain! Searing white-hot agony sliced through Jaina’s skull as soon as she uttered the
final syllable of the spell. The ruined forest melted before her and then slammed back into
form immediately. A milder pain shot through Jaina’s left knee, and only then did she
realize that she had stumbled to the ground, her knee colliding with the nearest stump.
Pain. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt. Run. Run. Run. Run. No more pain. Run, no pain. Sweat beading on
her forehead, Jaina resisted the urge to start running through the forest. Something
happened to the teleport spell, but Jaina couldn’t take the time to find out what just yet,
because the pain she felt when the spell was ruined was transferred to the thunder lizards
via their mental link. It was serving to put them into a stampeding frame of mind, and she
had to stop them before they ran through Drygulch again. Every instinct screamed for her
to break the link, as holding back the urges of the now-agitated lizards was like trying to
hold back the ocean with a broom. But the only way to calm them was to keep the link.
Closing her eyes and forcing herself to focus, she cast a spell that Antonidas had said was
specifically written to calm bucking mounts. Clenching her fists so hard she feared her
fingernails would draw blood, she shoved as much of herself as she could into the spell,
making sure to catch all the lizards with it. Moments later they were all asleep. Jaina
barely managed to break the mental link before she herself also succumbed. Her own
fatigue was doing enough without adding the lizards’ magically induced naps. Her limbs
ached, and her eyelids felt heavy. Teleport spells were draining under the best of
circumstances, and both the volume she was trying to move and the spell’s violent end
made these circumstances far from the best. Jaina wanted nothing more than to lie down
and join the lizards in their slumber, but she couldn’t afford that. The spell would only keep
the lizards asleep for six hours—possibly less because the spell was so diffuse. She had to
find out what there was in Bladescar that kept her from completing the spell.],

still and all (adv.) – despite the preceding [Still and all, it took several hours for Jaina,
standing in the razed forest, to reach out with her mind to each thunder lizard in Drygulch,
as well as the stragglers that had wandered off toward Razor Hill.],
(random cool paragraph) – [It didn’t take her long to find what she was looking for.
Someone had put up wards around the entire highlands. From this distance, Jaina could
not pinpoint the type of magic being used, but the wards were precisely the type designed
to—among other things—disrupt teleportation spells in order to keep whatever was inside
the wards protected. Jaina stood and collected herself. She was about to start the
teleportation spell that would bring her to Bladescar, then stopped herself. Reaching into
the small pack attached to her belt, she took out some jerky. Another of Antonidas’s earliest
lessons was a reminder that magic used the body, and the only way to replenish the body
was to consume food. “More wizards,” he had said, “have wasted away because they were
so busy exploring the wonders of magic that they forgot to eat.” Her jaw aching from
chewing the tough dried meat, the newly refreshed Jaina then cast the spell that would
take her to a spot just outside the wards placed around the highlands. The one flaw in her
plan to eat before teleporting was that the stomach rumblings she often felt as a side effect
of the spell were far more pronounced with undigested food still in her belly. But she
pushed past the effect as she stood on the steep incline that more or less demarcated the
beginning of the highlands. Below and behind her was a sheer cliff. In front of her was the
slanted grasslands. There was barely enough room to stand. Of course, the wards were
invisible to the naked eye. But Jaina could nonetheless feel them. They were not particularly
powerful, but they didn’t really need to be. In fact, if the object was to hide someone or
something— which Jaina was becoming more and more convinced was the case here—it
was best to keep the wards at a low level. Too powerful, and they would be like a beacon to
any mage. This close, Jaina also recognized the flavor of the magic that had cast these
wards. She last felt it in the company of Medivh, during the war. This was Tirisfalen
magic—but all the Guardians were supposed to be dead, including Medivh, the last of them.
Removing the wards—now that she knew they were there—was but the work of a gesture.
She then walked ahead and started to explore the highlands, pausing to put a concealment
spell on herself so she could move about undetected.],

go to pot (id.) – (informal) to be damaged or spoiled because people are not working
hard on it or caring for it, to decline or deteriorate [I'm afraid I've let the garden go to pot
this summer. They haven't been mainting it, and the downtown area has really gone to pot
over the past 20 years. The woman put her hands on her hips. “I know you’re there, so you
might as well not waste that concealment spell.” She shook her head as she moved to the
well and lowered a bucket by letting down the rope hand over hand. “Honestly, they don’t
teach you young mages anything these days. Violet Citadel’s gone to pot, and that’s the
truth.”],

go to the dogs (id.) – (inforal) deteriorate shockingly [The country is going to the
dogs. This country is definitely going to the dogs. No wonder this nation's gone to the dogs.]
– synonyms & related words [deteriorate, be in decline, degenerate, decay; collapse,
slump, slip, slide, go downhill, go backwards, go to rack and ruin, stagnate, wane, ebb; go
to pot, hit the skids, go down the toilet, go down the tubes, go to the pack, retrograde],
(it) makes no difference (to me)/(it) makes me no nevermind/(it)
don't make me no nevermind (id.) – (informal) I really do not care, one way or
the other (the first one is stnadard, the others are colloquial) [„Mind if I sit here?“ „Makes
no difference to me. „What would you say if I ate the last piece of cake?“ „Don't make me no
nevermind. “Dead?” The woman snorted as she started pulling the rope back up, her mouth
showing the signs of the greater strain of lifting a water-filled bucket. “I am dead, Lady
Jaina Proudmoore of Theramore—or as close as makes no never mind. And don’t go calling
me ‘Magna.’ That was another time and another place, and I’m not that woman
anymore.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [But, though Rexxar was honored to call Thrall a
comrade and swear fealty to him, and was happy to fulfill that oath by aiding the orcs
against Admiral Proudmoore’s treachery, among other services, in the end, Rexxar
preferred to wander. Even as great a nation as Durotar had towns and settlements and
order. Rexxar was built for the chaos of the wild.],

full-blooded (adj.) – (race) having parents, grandparents, and earlier relations all
begon to the same race; (color) having a florid or ruddy complexion; (enthusiastic)
enthusiastic and loyal, hearty or lusty [A full-blooded Liverpool supporter. And when it
was quickly returned to Jarvis, with United failing to mark properly, his clean cross was
met with a full-blooded header by former Colchester defender Elokobi, who had to stretch
his neck back to add power.],

(random cool paragraph) – [The first time Rexxar came to Orgrimmar, it was still
being built. Around him had been many dozens of orcs building structures, clearing
pathways, and transforming the harsh wilderness of Kalimdor into a home. Upon his return
now, that work had been done, but there were still many dozens of orcs visible through the
gates, engaged in the day-to-day business of life. Though he had little use for civilization,
Rexxar did feel pride and joy in what he saw. Since coming to this world, his mother’s
people had either been cursed tools of Gul’dan’s demonic masters or broken slaves of their
human enemies. If orcs were to live in this world, better it be on their own terms.
Surrounded on three sides by hills, a massive stone wall had been built on the city’s fourth
side. Reinforced with giant wooden logs, the wall was broken only by a large wooden gate,
currently open, and two wooden watchtowers. Atop the wall were more logs, sharpened to
a point to discourage enemies from storming the gates, and poles with pointed ends. The
crimson flag of the Horde hung from both towers and from some of the poles. It was,
Rexxar thought, a fearsome sight, fitting for the home of the mightiest warriors in the
world.],

(random cool paragraph) – [When he was about halfway to the Valley of Wisdom,
he was met by the familiar site of a medium-height orc: Nazgrel, the head of Thrall’s
security, along with four of his guards. “Greetings, last son of the Mok’Nathal. It has been
far too long.” Out of respect, Rexxar removed his headgear. “Since seeing you, Nazgrel,
yes—since being in the city, no. But I did swear an oath to Thrall, and I would not leave this
noble warrior to die in the grass.”],

discharge (v.) – (perform) (formal) to perform a task, especially an official one [The
city must discharge its legal duty to house the homeless. “With respect,” Kalthar said, “I
must treat this man. He has discharged his duty, now I must take him from this ridiculously
cold throne room and heal him.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [“But if they are brash enough to attack an orc within
Durotar’s borders,” Nazgrel added, “then they’ve become a lot more powerful than we
thought.” “We’ve got to respond,” Burx said. “It’s only a matter of time before the humans
attack us.” Rexxar thought this extreme. “You would condemn an entire species on the
actions of six of them?” “They’d do the same to us in a heartbeat,” Burx said. “And unless
these are the same six who stole our trees, and who stood around and did nothing while orc
traders were attacked, then it is very much more than six people.” Thrall turned to face
Burx. “Theramore is our ally, Burx. Jaina would not allow such a thing to gain power.” “She
may not have any control over this,” Nazgrel said. “For all her power, for all she has earned
our respect, she is but one human female.” Rexxar remembered Jaina Proudmoore as the
only honorable human he’d ever met. When faced with a choice between siding with her
father, her very flesh and blood, and honoring a promise to an orc, she chose the latter.
That choice saved Durotar from being destroyed before it was finished. “The Lady
Proudmoore,” he said, “will do what is right.” Shaking his head, Burx said, “Your confidence
is touching, Mok’Nathal, but misplaced. Do you really think that a woman can change
decades of human evil? They fought us and killed us and enslaved us! Do you think that will
change just because one person says so?” “The orcs changed because one person said so,”
Rexxar said quietly. “That person stands before you now as Warchief. Do you doubt him?”
At that, Burx backed down. “Of course not. But—” Thrall, however, had obviously made his
decision. He sat back down on the throne, refusing to let Burx finish. “I know what Jaina is
capable of, and I know her heart. She will not betray us, and if there are vipers in her midst,
both the Horde and the most powerful wizard on the continent will deal with it together.
When she has finished with the thunder lizards, I will speak to her of this Flaming Sword.”
He turned and looked right at Burx. “What we will not do is go back on our word to the
humans and attack. Is that clear?” “Yes, Warchief.”],

weasel word(s) – (id.) – (usually plural, pejorative) a word used to qualify a

statement so as to make it potentially misleading, something that someone says either to
avoid answering a question clearly or to make someone believe something that is not
true [Weasel words are words that suck all of the life out of the words next to them just as
a weasel sucks an egg and leaves the shell. Now, you can have universal training or you can
have voluntary training, but when you use the word 'voluntary' to qualify the word
'universal', you are using a weasel word; it has sucked all the meaning out of 'universal'.
The two words flatly contradict one another. Now Sears looked down at the person fate
had put closer to him than anyone else in the world, and knew that Ricky was thinking that
he had weasel-worded his way out of the last question.],
hedge one's bets (id.) – to protect yourself against loss by supporting more than one
possible result or both sides in a competition, to reduce risk of making a mistake by
keeping one's options open [He prayed on Fridays with the Muslims, on Saturdays with
the Jews and on Sundays with the Christians. 'Since each religion claims that it is the only
true one and that the others are invalid', the king explained, 'I have decided to hedge my
bets'.],

weasily/weasilly (adj.) – resembling or characteristic of a weasel; pettily devious,

misleading, sneaky [A weasely face. It's just, we decided even the slimiest and weaseliest of
friends deserve second chances. There's a weaselly feel to the plan, a sense that tough
decisions were postponed even as President Obama warns about our „perfect storm of
financial problems.“],

eyewall (n.) – a ring of towering thunderstorms where the most severe weather of a
cyclone occurs,

walleye (n.) – (plrual walleyes or walleye) one or a pair of sideways-looking

misaligned eyes; an unusually pale eye,

lattice (n.) – a structure made from strips of wood or other material that cross over
each other with spaces between, a flat planel constructed with widely-spaced crossed
thin strips of wood or other material, commonly used as a garden trellis, latticework
[The cobblestone streets that formed a lattice amid the buildings of Theramore were
designed to provide reinforced ground for people, mounts, and wheeled conveyances to
travel without risking getting mired in the swampy ground the city had been built on. Most
people walked on them rather than the muck and grass on either side, which meant the
thoroughfares were so crowded that Strov could follow Margoz without fear of being
noticed.],

lattice (v.) – to make a lattice of; to close, as an opening, with latticework, to furnish
with a lattice [To lattice timbers. To lattice a window.],

thoroughfare (n.) – a main road for public use or a passage through somewhere, (no
thoroughfare = on road signs, no thoroughfare means no entry or do not go in.),

(random cool paragraph) – [Turning around, he found himself facing absolute

darkness. “What the—?” He whirled around, but there was only darkness behind him as
well. Theramore had completely disappeared. I do not like spies. Strov didn’t so much hear
the voice as feel it in his very bones. It was as if someone had sewn his eyes shut, only his
eyes were open, but he couldn’t see anything. No, it wasn’t just sight that had gone quiet.
The darkness extended to his other senses. He could no longer hear the bustle of
Theramore, nor taste the salty air, nor feel the breeze wafting in off the Great Sea. And the
only thing he smelled now was sulfur. Why do you spy on my minion? Strov said nothing. He
wasn’t sure he was capable of speech, and even if he was, he would never give up
information to a creature such as this. I do not have time to play these games. It seems you
must simply die. The darkness caved in on Strov. His body grew cold, the blood freezing in
his veins, his mind screaming in sudden, terrifying agony. The last thought Strov had was
hope that Manuel wouldn’t blow Strov’s entire pension on boar’s grog…],

(random cool paragraph) – [Muzzlecrank used to like being a goblin bruiser. Truly,
it had been easy work when he first signed up. Bruisers enforced the peace in Ratchet, and
the pay was good. Muzzlecrank’s shifts were spent wandering up and down his section of
the pier at Ratchet, beating up the occasional drunk or vagabond, taking bribes from
shipmasters moving contraband, arresting the ones who were too stupid or too cheap to
pay bribes, and generally getting to meet all manner of people. Muzzlecrank had always
thought of himself as a people person. Ratchet was a neutral port—goblins as a rule did
not take sides in the numerous conflicts that ravaged the land—and as a result, pretty
much every type of creature you were like to find in the world came through at some point
or other. Elves, dwarves, humans, orcs, trolls, ogres, even the occasional gnome—it was the
crossroads of Kalimdor. Muzzlecrank always liked seeing the different interactions,
whether it was dwarves shipping construction materials to elves, elves shipping jewelry to
humans, orcs shipping crops to elves, humans shipping fish to ogres, or trolls shipping
weapons to pretty much anyone.],

(a pretty/fine) kettle of fish (id.) – an awkward situation, a predicament; a

situation which is recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other
situation, and which is not necessarily unfavorable [That is another kettle of fish entirely.
"That's a fine kettle of fish," he exclaimed, then turned to his dinner companion. "Fine kettle
of fish. I'm so hungry even that sounds good, and from the looks of this menu that's
probably what I'll get." Fighting-mad orcs were another kettle of grease entirely, and
Muzzlecrank preferred to stay as far away from them as possible.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Fights like that usually meant that he had to draw his
net-gun, and every time he did that he ran the risk of someone figuring out that he was
really bad at using the stupid thing. Oh sure, he could fire it easily enough—any idiot could
do that; just point and pull the trigger, and a compressed air burst sent a net out to snare
whatever you were shooting at—but his aim was lousy, and the net always missed the
target and usually made a big mess. Luckily, the site of a bruiser pointing a gun with a
giant muzzle at you was enough to stop most fights—or at least slow them down long
enough for reinforcements to arrive.],

beat (n.) – (area) an area for which someone, such as a police officer, has responsibility
as part of their job, be on/walking the beat, a police officer who is on/walking the beat is
on duty, walking around rather than driving in a police car [Bob has worked as an officer
on this particular beat for 20 years. Muzzlecrank’s beat was the northernmost section of
the pier, a section that had twenty berths. As Muzzlecrank wandered down the wooden-
planked pier, he saw that fifteen of the twenty docks were filled, but things were mostly
quiet. This was a huge relief. The sun shone down on his face, warming him in his mail
armor. Perhaps today would be a good day.],

mulch (n.) – a covering of decaying leaves that is spread over soil in order to keep
water in it or improve it [An organic mulch is a mulch made of natural substances such as
leaves or grass clippings. “I ain’t gonna stand here and be insulted by a human!” The
human drew himself up to full height, which made him come up to the orc’s shoulders.
“You’re not the one being insulted here. I’ve brought you my finest catch, and you offer me
the bottom of the barrel in exchange.” “Your salmon ain’t fit for mulch!”],

be/get in(to) deep water (id.) – to be in or get into serious trouble [The Democrats
are in deep water over their plans for tax increases.],

rocky road (id.) – if you are on a rocky road, you are experiencing a difficult period
and have a lot of problems [Analysts predict a rocky road ahead for the economy.],

keister (n.) – (slang) the anus or buttocks; (slang, dated) a safe, a strongbox; (slang) a
suitcase, a satchel [“I said, cut it out!” Muzzlecrank spoke before Klatt could respond.
“Both’a ya are under arrest. You either come peaceable-like or in pieces, makes me no
never mind.” He looked at both the orc warriors and the human soldiers. “This here’s goblin
country, an’ that means I give the orders here, got it? So that gives ya two choices—help
me put these two in the hoosegow till an arbiter can take the case, or get your keisters
outta Ratchet. Your choice.”],

keister/keester/kiester/keyster (v.) – (slang) to conceal something in one's

rectum [Quick, keister this pot before the cops get here.] – synoynsm & related words
[buttocks, behind, bottom, derriere, fanny, rump, tush],

het up (adj.) – worried or angry and not calm, excited or agitated, heated up [He was
het up about his chest pains. There's no need to get so het up about a few dirty dishes in the
sink. “Well, to be fair, sir,” Rych said, “they done arrested that orc, there, too, sir. Soon as
the argument het up, one of the goblin’s bruisers done stepped in.”] – synoynsm & related
words [very upset, burning, hot and bothered, hot under the collar, indignant, irate,
upset],

have a/some/the nerve (id.) – have audicity, show effrontery [You have a nerve
telling me what to do. She had some nerve, criticizing the people who donated their time.
He had the nerve to scold his boss in public. She had a nerve, arriving half an hour late for
the meeting. She borrowed my new bicycle without asking. What a nerve! “Sir, I don’t see
what they’ll be—” “The orcs have a nerve, trying to cheat us like that.” He turned and
paced toward the window.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Nodding his head quickly, Rych said, “That’s certainly
true, sir. The fruits they done offered us, why, they was just vile, sir. An insult, it was. And
then the orc, he done attacked the cap’n. For no reason, neither.” The major stopped pacing
when he reached the window. He stared out at the view of the Great Sea. Small waves
lapped gently against the sandy beach. It painted a peaceful picture, one that Davin knew
was deceptive. “This is out of control. If the orcs keep on like this, it’s only a matter of time
before we are at war once again.” “I don’t think that’ll be happenin’, sir.” Rych sounded
skeptical, but Davin knew better. “Oh, it will, Corporal, of that you can be absolutely sure.
And with the tauren and the trolls on their side, they will overwhelm us—unless we are
prepared.” He turned to the door. “Private!” Private Oreil came in. As always when he saw
his aide, Davin sighed. No matter how many times the young private was fitted, his armor
was always too big on him. “Yes, sir?” “Send a message to Theramore right away. We need
reinforcements as soon as possible.” “Yes, sir, right away, sir.” Oreil saluted and left the
watch office to go find the scrying stone that Lady Proudmoore had provided to facilitate
communication between Northwatch and Theramore. Detailed conversations couldn’t be
held through it, but messages could be sent. Rych scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Uh, sir,
with all due respect, and all—is this bein’ such a good idea, sir?” “Very much so.” Davin sat
back down at his desk, no longer feeling the need to rip out his beard hairs now that he was
taking action. “I’m not letting those greenskinned bastards catch us off guard.”],

put/get somebody's back up (id.) – to annoy someone [Just ignore him – he's only
trying to put your back up. These kind of questions tend to engage the other party, whereas
assertations can put their backs up. “I’m not important to anything! Don’t you understand,
you stupid little girl? I’m not fit for human company—or orc company, troll company,
dwarf company, you name it.” That got the infant’s back up. Aegwynn could see the magic
roiling within her and realized that, child though she may be, she was quite powerful. She
had gotten through the wards without Aegwynn’s even noticing, after all, and that bespoke
a certain skill. “I’m not a ‘little girl.’ I’m a wizard of the Kirin Tor.”] – synonyms & related
words [annoy, irritate, vex, make angry, make cross, anger, exasperate, irk, gall, pique,
put out, displease, antagonize, get on someone's nerves, rub up the wrong way, ruffle,
ruffle someone's feathers, make someone's hackles rise, raise someone's hackles;
enrage, infuriate, madden, make someone's blood boil, drive to distraction, goad,
provoke, aggravate, peeve, hassle, miff, rile, nettle, needle, get, get to, bug, hack off, get
under someone's skin, get in someone's hair, get up someone's nose, put someone's nose
out of joint, get someone's goat, give someone the hump, rattle someone's cage, drive
mad/crazy, drive round the bend/twist, drive up the wall, make someone see red, wind
up, nark, get across, get on someone's wic, tee off, tick off, burn up, rankle, ride, gravel,
piss off, get on someone's tits, give someone the pip, get someone's dander up,
exacerbate, hump, rasp],

bowdlerize (v.) – to remove words or parts from a book, play, or film that are
considered to be unsuitable or offensive [The version of the play that I saw had been
horribly bowdlerized. A bowdlerized version of the story. He crossed out the expletives in
Sheridian and bowdlerized 'Macbeth'. “Why?” Proudmoore sounded genuinely confused,
which led Aegwynn to think that the young wizard hadn’t really read her history—or it
had been thoroughly bowdlerized by the time Proudmoore got to it. The girl continued:
“You were the one who blazed the trail for women to become wizards. You’re one of the
unsung heroes of Azeroth. How can you turn your back—” “Like this.” Aegwynn turned and
walked into the house, abandoning the bucket. She’d get it later.] – synonyms & related
words [expurgate, censor, blue-pencil, cut, edit, redact; make cuts to, delete parts of,
make deletions in; purge, purify, sanitize, make presentable, make acceptable, make
palatable, water down, emasculate, clean up],

hidebound (adj.) – having fixed opinions and ways of doing things and not willing to
change or be influenced, especially by new or modern ideas [Oh, I know he's a good
fellow—you needn't frown—an excellent fellow, and I always mean to see more of him; but
a hide-bound pedant for all that; an ignorant blatant pedant. They are working to change
hidebound corporate cultures. Chuckling bitterly, Aegwynn said, “And you still think I was a
great wizard? I let my arrogance interfere with my judgment. I assumed the Tirisfalen to
be a group of hidebound old fools, rather than what they truly were: experienced mages
who knew better than me. After I ‘defeated’ Sargeras, I became more arrogant, if that’s
even possible. I ignored every summons the council sent me, disregarded their procedures,
disobeyed their orders. After all, I beat Sargeras, and he was a god, so what did they
know?” She snarled. “I was such an idiot.”] – synonyms & related words [conservative,
reactionary, conventional, orthodox, fundamentalist, diehard, hard-line, dyed-in-the-
wool, ultra-conservative, fixed in one's views, set in one's opinions, set in one's ways;
narrow-minded, narrow, petty-minded, small-minded, intolerant, intractable,
uncompromising, rigid, prejudiced, bigoted, strait-laced, blimpish],

stickler (n.) – (informal) a person who thinks that a particular type of behavior is very
important, and always follows it or tries to make other people follow, a person who
insists on a certain quality or type of behaviorit [He's a stickler for
detail/accuracy/efficiency. Relfthra threw it back in her face. “Ah, so now you’re a stickler
for rules, eh?”] – synoynms & related words [perfectionist, disciplinarian, enforcer,
fanatic, nitpicker, taskmaster, insistent person, contender, haggler, zealot, higgler],

higgledy-piggledy (adj. adv.) – (informal) mixed up and in no particular order [My

clothes are all higgledy-piggledy in my drawers.],

high/hifalutin (adj.) – (informal) trying to see mvery important or serious, but

without having a good reason for doing so and looking silly as a result, self-important,
pompous, arrogant oer egotistical [It's only a matter of time before some highfalutin
developer builds a huge hotel and ruins the scenery. That one Cajun that moved to Austin is
too highfalutin to come back to Livingston Parish. He's over there with that mean bread
lady! His speech was very highfalutin.] – synonyms & related words [pompous, arrogant,
affected, boastful, conceited, flaunting, grandiose, high and mighty, hoity-toity,
important, lofty, ostentatious, overbearing, presumptuous, pretentious, puffed up, puffy,
self-centered, stuck-up, swanky, uppity, vain, high-sounding, high-flown, magniloquent,
grandiloquent, flowery, florid, overblown, overdone, overripe, overwrought, verbose,
inflated, rhetorical, oratorical, turgid, bombastic, declamatory, sonorous, portentious,
pedantic, boastful, bragging, windy, purple, la-di-da, fancy-pants, poncey, posh, fustian,
euphuistic, orotund, tumid],

uppity (adj.) – (informal) self-important, arrogant [An uppity MP and his lady wife.],

ostentatious (adj.) – too obviously showing your money, possessions, or power, in an

attempt to make other people notice and admire you [They criticized the ostentatious
lifestyle of their leaders. An ostentatious gesture/manner. And, as it happens, this
particular boss seems to have taken a leaf out of our book ordering his followers to dig
camouflaged underground dugouts, foxholes and trenches rather than the usual
ostentatious fortress.] – synonyms & related words [showy, pretentious, conspicuous,
obtrusive, flamboyant, gaudy, garish, tinsel, tinselly, brash, vulgar, loud, extravagant,
fancy, ornate, affected, theatrical, actorly, overdone, over-elaborate, kitsch, tasteless;
lash, flashy, fancy-pants, over the top, OTT, glitzy, ritzy, swanky, splashy; bling-bling,
superfly, dicty],

turgid (adj.) – (too serious) (formal) (of speech, writing, style, etc.) too serious about
its subject matter, boring; (not flowing) (formal) (of water) not flowing easily; (swollen)
(specialized) (medical) (of an organ or living tissue) swollen [A couple of pages of turgid
prose. The river rolled darkly brown and turgid. I have a turgid limb.],

fustian (n.) – a kind of coarse twilled cotton or cotton and linen stuff, a thick, rough
cotton cloth that lasts for a long time; a class of cloth including corduroy and velveteen;
pompous, inflated or pretentious writing or speech,

jackanapes (n.) – (dated, pejorative) a cheeky or impertinent person, an impudent or

mischievous person; (obsolete) a monkey,

jackanapery (n.) – (dated, pejorative) the behavior of a jackanapes,

not turn a hair (id.) – to not show any emotions when you are told something bad or
when something bad happens [I was expecting him to be horrified when he heard the cost
but he didn't turn a hair If I was told I'd been sacked tomorrow, I don't think I'd turn hair.]
– synonyms & related words [remain calm, keep calm, keep cool, remain composed,
remain unruffled, appear unaffected, maintain one's equilibrium keep control of oneself,
not show emotion, not loseo ne's head, bite one's lip, keep a stiff upper lip, keep one's
cool, not bat an eyelid],

dalliance (n.) – (mainly humorous) (involvement in) a sexual relationship that is not
lasting or serious; an interest or involvement in an activit or belief that lasts for a very
short period, tryst, affair [The 1970s witnessed the first of the pop star's dalliances with
communism. However, she wasn’t several centuries younger, and so had neither interest in
him nor desire to even acknowledge his interest in her. She’d had plenty of dalliances in her
younger days, starting with Jonas, but she’d long since lost patience with them. Eight
hundred years of life had exposed romance to be a mass of fallacy and artifice, and she had
neither the time nor the inclination for it.],

dally with somebody/somebody's affections (v.) – (old-fashioned) to be

romantically or sexually involved with someone, usualyl for a short time, without really
loving that person [It's cruel the way she just dallies with his affections.],

dally with something (v.) – (old-fashioned) to consider or imagine an idea, subject,

or plan, but not in a serious way [He had occasionally dallied with the idea of starting his
own business, but he had never actually done anything about it. She had often dallied with
the thought of leaving him.],

artifice (n.) – (the use of) a clever trick or something intended to deceive [Amazingly
for Hollywood, she seems almost entirely without artifice. A friendly manner, free of
artifice.] – synonyms & related words [trickery, deviousness, deceit, deception,
dishonesty, cheating, duplicity, guile, cunning, artfulness, wiliness, craft, craftiness,
evasion, slyness, chicanery, intrigue, subterfuge, strategy, bluff, pretence, fraud,
fraudulence, sophistry, sharp practice, monkey business, funny business, hanky-panky,
jiggery-pokery, every trick in the book, device, trick, stratagem, ploy, tactic, ruse,
scheme, move, maneuver, contrivance, machination, expedient, wile, dodge, swindle,
hoax, fraud, confidence trick, con, con trick, set-up, game, scam, sting, gyp, filmflam,
wheeze, bunco, grift, lurk, rort, schlenter, flanker],

chicane (v.) – (trick) (old use) use a trick, or the use of tricks to deceive someone,

chicanery (n.) –clever, dishonest talk or behavior that is used to deceive people [The
investigation revealed political chicanery and corruption at the highest levels.],

tawdry (adj.) – looking bright and attractive but in fact cheap and of low quality;
unpleasant, or immoral [Tawdry jewellery. It was all cheap and incredibly tawdry, from
the festoons of paper roses on the wall to the flash of paste jewels in make-believe crowns.
The woman's passions by his side seemed suddenly tawdry and unreal, the seeking of her
lips for his something horrible.] – synonyms & related words [gaudy, flashy, showy,
garish, loud, tasteless, vulgar, brash, crass, rubbishy, trashy, junky, cheap, cheap and
nasty, cheapjack, paltry, worthless, shoddy, shabby, meretricious, plastic, tinselly,
gimcrack, Brummagem, flash, tatty, tacky, kitsch, twopenny-halfpenny],

twopenny-halfpenny (adj.) – petty, insignificant,

twopennyworth (n.) – (dated) a portion with twopence [A twopennyworth of rum.],

meretricious (adj.) – seeming attractive but really false or of little value [He claims
that a lot of journalism is meretricious and superficial.],
gimcrack/jimcrack (adj.) – attractive on the surface but badly made and of no real
or permanent value, showy but of poor quality,

gimcrackery (n.) – tastelessness,

showy (adj.) – (sometimes derogatory) calling attention, flashy, standing out to the eye,

(random cool paragraph) – [Then, suddenly, a feeling pricked at the back of Jaina’s
neck. She stood up. So did Aegwynn—no doubt the old woman felt the same thing. She
confirmed it by saying, “The wards are back up.” Jaina found it interesting that Aegwynn
felt that—especially given Jaina’s own ability to break down the wards without her
knowledge. It confirmed a growing suspicion of hers. Of greater concern, however, was that
these wards felt far more powerful. And had entirely the wrong feel. “Something is wrong.”
“Yes—I know this magic. Never thought I’d encounter it again, to be honest.” Aegwynn
made a tch noise. “In fact, I’m not really sure how it’s possible.” Before asking Aegwynn to
explain herself, Jaina had to make sure she could penetrate the wards. She attempted a
teleport spell, this time adding a ward-penetration incantation to the mix, bracing herself
for the ensuing pain should it not succeed. Sure enough, it didn’t. It would have worked
previously—she hadn’t used the penetration spell to teleport the thunder lizards only
because she needed to investigate the highlands before bringing hundreds of agitated
animals there. Closing her eyes briefly to block out the pain, she turned to Aegwynn. “I can’t
get through them.” “I was afraid of that.” Aegwynn sighed, apparently not relishing being
stuck with the “little girl.” Jaina wasn’t entirely thrilled with the prospect, either, but more
because she couldn’t fulfill her promise to Thrall while trapped in these highlands. “You
said you knew this magic?” Aegwynn nodded. “Yes. Remember Zmodlor, the first demon I
encountered—the one who imprisoned those schoolchildren?” Jaina nodded. “These wards
are his.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [Kristoff hated sitting on the throne. Intellectually, he

understood the need for it. Leaders needed to convey that they were in a position of
authority, and the intimidating physicality of a giant chair that was raised above everyone
else in the room conveyed that authority beautifully. But he hated sitting in it. He was
convinced that he would damage the authority of the position by making some kind of
mistake. Because Kristoff knew his limitations—he was no leader. He’d spent years
observing leaders firsthand and studying leaders he didn’t have access to, and knew as
much as anyone living about what good leaders had to do right and what bad leaders often
did wrong. One thing he had learned early on was that the arrogant rarely lasted long.
Leaders made mistakes, and the arrogant never admitted to such a thing, a conflict that
often resulted in self-destruction—or destruction from outside forces. Certainly, that was
true of Kristoff’s previous employer, Garithos; if the Highlord had simply listened to
Kristoff—or any of the other six people giving him the same advice—he wouldn’t have
sided with the Forsaken. As Kristoff had predicted, the undead creatures betrayed Garithos
and his warriors and led to his downfall. By that time, Kristoff had left for greener pastures.
This tendency was rather unfortunate, because the arrogant were usually the only ones
who pursued leadership positions in the first place. The conundrum had fascinated Kristoff
as a young student, and also explained why there were so few truly great leaders. Kristoff
was also self-aware enough to know that he was incredibly arrogant. That supreme
confidence in his own abilities was why he made such a good advisor to Lady Proudmoore,
but it was also why he was so terribly unfit to take her place. Nevertheless, he did as he was
told, and served in the lady’s stead until she returned from her ridiculous errand.],

have it away (or off) (id.) – (UK) have sexual intercourse, usually quick or intense
sexual encounters due to secrecy, emotional baggage, timing, or relationship
unavailability of you or the otehr person involved,

hare (v.) – to run quickly or go very quickly, usually in an uncontrolled way [I saw her
haring off down the road after Molly. It was a difficult situation, and Kristoff fervently
wished that the lady hadn’t hared off into orc country to do whatever ludicrous thing she
was doing. As if the needs of Theramore weren’t of considerably more import than the
disposition of some rampaging reptiles in Durotar.],

hardy har har (interjection) false or sarcastic laughter [When something is funny, but
is directed at you as an insult, shrug it off by saying hardy har har.],

haar (n.) – a cold mist coming from the seaocean to the east of Scotland or England,

harr/har (n.) – (UK, dialectal) a sea mist; (Scotland) a wind from the east,

tinsel (n.) – long pieces of thin, shiny material used as decoration, especially at
Christmas; (disapproving) something, especially the entertainment business or
someone's way of living, that seems exciting and attractive, but is really of low quality or
value [A Christmas tree decorated with tinsel. The show was all tinsel and glitter.],

abject (adj.) – (formal) (extreme) abject misery, poverty, failure, etc. the state of being
extremely unhappy, poor, unsuccessful, etc.; (not proud) showing no pride or respect for
yourself [They live in abject poverty. This policy has turned out to be an abject failure. An
abject apology. He is almost abject in his respect for his boss. Under other circumstances,
Kristoff would never have done what he did. Every day, he awakened wondering if he had
done the right thing. But every day, he also awakened in fear. From the moment he first
came to Kalimdor through the end of the war and the founding of Theramore, Kristoff lived
in abject terror that everything they had built would be destroyed. Aside from one fort on
the Merchant Coast, the human presence on Kalimdor consisted of a small island off the
eastern coast, surrounded on three sides by creatures who were at best indifferent, and at
worst hostile to humans, and on the fourth by the Great Sea.],

dash (v.) – (hit) to hit something with great force, especially causing damage [The tidal
wave dashed the ship against the rocks. Waves dashed against the cliffs. Dryly, Kristoff said,
“That’s usually what that means, yes.” He got up from behind the lady’s desk and went out
into the throne room, where the stone was kept. Presumably, that was either Lorena or
Davin informing him that the former had finally arrived, her troops having gotten there
that morning. Kristoff’s plan to have Lorena already in place when the troop carrier
arrived was dashed by the airship’s having mechanical problems that delayed its takeoff,
plus the troop carrier benefited from a strong wind that hastened its arrival. ],

dash somebody's hopes (id.) – to destroy someone's hopes, to dishearten, to

discourage [Staruday's 2-0 defeat dashed their hopes of reaching the final. Gunthar
allowed his hopes to rise, but they were dashed in an instant.],

dash something off (v.) – to write something quickly, putting little effort into it [She
dashed the letter off in five minutes.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Walking up to the stone, which sat on a pedestal in the
southwest corner of the throne room, Kristoff saw that it was indeed alight with the
crimson glow that indicated that its counterpart at Northwatch had been activated and
used. Hesitating for a moment, Kristoff grabbed it. As expected, it sent a painful shock up
his arm that almost forced him to drop it. The glow dissipated concurrently with the shock,
followed by Major Davin’s voice. It sounded like Davin was deep inside a cave and shouting
toward the mouth. “Lord Chamberlain, it’s my sad duty to inform you that Colonel Lorena’s
airship has yet to report. Spotters saw the airship, but it was heading northeast. The troops
have arrived, but I don’t know what the colonel had in mind for ’em. Please advise.” Kristoff
sighed as he put the stone back on its pedestal. “Damn that woman!” “What woman?”
Duree asked. “Colonel Lorena. Who did she take with her on the airship?” Without
hesitating, the old woman called up the answer from memory. Peculiar though her manner
might have been, the woman was incredibly efficient. “Major Bek, Captain Harcort, Captain
Mirra, and Lieutenant Noroj. Oh, and Corporal Booraven.” Frowning, Kristoff asked, “Why
did she bring a corporal along?” He had specifically told the colonel to have her senior staff
on the airship and to send the troops along by boat. Then a memory started niggling at
him. “I know that name from somewhere.” Duree, bless her, came to his rescue. “She’s the
one they called the good-luck charm, back during the war. A sensitive, if I’m rememberin’
right—can sniff out magic at a hundred paces.” “Right, of course.” Kristoff remembered
that Booraven—who had been a private during the war—not only was able to detect
demons that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye, but also could tell when someone had
been possessed by a member of the Burning Legion. She also was always able to find Lady
Proudmoore, or any other wizard, a skill several generals made use of when the lady was
difficult to track down during a chaotic campaign.],

(random cool paragraph) – [To that end, he picked up the stone once again, this
time with both hands rather than one, which the stone registered as a desire to send a
message. This time, the stone glowed blue. “This is Chamberlain Kristoff. I’m afraid our
worst fears have been realized. Both Lady Proudmoore and Colonel Lorena have been
taken by the foul orc cult known as the Burning Blade. The orcs must be made to pay for
this. Major Davin, you are to take charge of all forces at Northwatch and prepare for war.”
When he put the stone back down, the glow faded, its message sent through the aether to
its counterpart in the keep.],

(random cool paragraph) – [A egwynn watched with bitter amusement as Jaina

Proudmoore tried to break the demonic wards. The girl had left Aegwynn’s hut to go to the
periphery of the wards—which were in the same location as the previous ones—and try to
penetrate them from close up, at which Aegwynn didn’t expect her to be any more
successful. Zmodlor obviously had no interest in meeting Aegwynn again, since he’d gone to
the trouble to trap her here once Proudmoore dispersed the old wards. After all, as long as
those wards, which were up due to Aegwynn’s desire, were in place, Zmodlor had nothing
to worry about. But if the wards went down, he’d be concerned, and so would have a
backup in place. Not that it mattererd. Aegwynn was long past the point of being able to
fight demons magically. After her latest failed attempt, Proudmoore reached into her cloak
and pulled out some jerky. Almost unconsciously, Aegwynn nodded her approval. Whoever
mentored the girl was sensible enough to teach her the practicalities. That was something
Scavell, for all his brilliance, had never covered. It wasn’t until the third time she collapsed
from hunger following the pursuit of a demon that she thought to bring food with her on
such missions. Then the girl turned to face Aegwynn. “Perhaps if we combine our forces, we
can do it.” “Not bloodly likely.” Aegwynn laughed bitterly. “Adding my ‘forces’ to yours
would give you the same result. My magical abilities have long since…atrophied.” The word
was inaccurate, but was sufficient for the purposes of answering Proudmoore’s question. “A
pity there’s no one on the other side to serve as a conduit.” “A conduit for what?” Aegwynn
revised her estimate of Proudmoore’s teacher back downward. “Don’t you know Meitre’s
penetration spell?” Proudmoore shook her head. “Most of Meitre’s scrolls were destroyed
ten years ago. I learned the ones that were salvaged, but that one doesn’t sound familiar.”
“Pity,” was all Aegwynn would say. It mattered little to her whose wards were up, as long
as they kept her safe here. She wanted nothing more than to live out the rest of her days
away from the world she’d already done too much damage to. “Why are you so weakened?”
Aegwynn sighed. She should have expected that. Then again, perhaps Proudmoore needed
to hear the entire story. Or at least, Aegwynn’s own verison of it.],

unravel (v.) – (process) if a process or achievement that was slow and complicated
unravels or is unravelled, it is destroyed [As talks between the leaders broke down,
several months of careful diplomacy were unravelled. Aegwynn found the shape to be sadly
appropriate. She approached the place now on foot, having no desire to do anything to
alert her son to her approach. The Guardians of Tirisfal were dead. Orcs now rampaged
throughout Azeroth. War had broken out all over the world. The source of all this? Her own
flesh and blood. She didn’t know how it was possible. She had sired Medivh to carry on her
work, not unravel it.],

ably (adv.) – skilfully, capably, adroitly, competently, capably, [He performs his duties
very ably. Medivh laughed a demonic laugh. “Mother, are you truly that much of a fool? Did
you really think that a mere girl could destroy the greatness that is Sargeras? He used you.
Used you to make me. He hid within you, then—when you so ably seduced my father—
transferred his essence to my fetus. He has been my constant companion—my mentor, the
parent you never let me have.”],

off the hook (id.) – if you leave the phone off the hook, you do not put it back
correctly and it will not ring; if you rae off the hook, you have escaped from a difficult
situation [John's agreed to go to the meeting in my place so that gets/lets me off the hook.
“Kill me.” “And let you off the hook? Don’t be a fool, Mother. I said I was your end, not your
death. Allowing you to expire would not begin to atone for what you have done to me.”
Then he muttered an incantation.],

by hook or by crook (id.) – by any method possible, by any means possible, one way
or another [I decided I was going to get that job by hook or by crook. She was determined
to win the contract, by hook or by crook. The government intends, by hook or by crook, to
hold onto the land.] – synonyms & related words [by any means, by any means
whatsoever, somehow, somehow or other, no matter how, in one way or another, by fair
means or foul],

get your hooks into somebody/something (id.) – to get control or influence

over someone or something; to to obtain a strong and possessive hold on someone or
something [This product has really got its hooks into the American market. She just cna't
wait to get her hooks into him. He finally got in his hooks and guarded her jealousy.],

off the beaten path/track (id.) – not known or popular with many people, in an
isolated place [We wanted to find a camping site that was a little bit off the beaten path.
We tried to find locations off the beaten track.] – synonyms & related words
[unfrequented, isolated, quiet, private, remote, out of the way, outlying, secluded,
hidden, backwoods, in the back of beyond, in the middle of nowhere, i nthe hinterlands,
in the sticks, in the butt-end of nowhere],

back of beyond (n.) – a very remote place,

beyond the black stump (id.) – in an extremely isolated place, remote from
populated areas, in the middle of nowhere, typically used to refer to outback areas,

off the cuff (id.) – if you speak off the cuff, you say something without having prepared
or thought about your words first [An off-the-cuff remark. I hadn't prepared a speech so I
just said a few words off the cuff. They posed some difficult questions to answer off the
cuff.] – synonyms & related words [impromptu, extempore, ad lib, unrehearsed,
unscripted, unprepared, improvised, spontaneous, unplanned, offhand, casual, ad
libitum, extemporaneous],

writ large (adj.) – (formal) (figurative) magnified, on a large scale; (figurative) readily
discerned, unmistakably indicated; if one thing is another thing writ large, it is similar to
it but larger or more obvious [Hollywood is often said to be American society writ large.
Public behavior is merely private character writ large. „You don't want to live down there!“
everybody said, with disapprobation writ large upon their faces. Bestsellerdom is writ
large for this novel, sure to be greeted with rave reviews.],

writ small (adj.) – (formal, figurative) minified, on a smaller scale [Oh no, father. I am
your writ small.],

disapprobation (n.) – strong feelings of not approving of something or someone [She

feared her father's disapprobation.] – synonyms & related words [disapproval, boycott,
censure, condemnation, disfavor, dislike, objection],

snifter (n.) – (drink) (old-fashioned, informal) a small drink of something alcoholic, a

tot [How about a snifter before dinner? How about a snifter of brandy?],

durance vile (n.) – (obsolete) a long prison sentence [If you continue on your present
course, my reckless and rowdy friend, you will find yourself in durance vile.],

forfend (v.) – (dated) to prohibit, to forbid, avert, the word is dated and becoming
obsolete, mostly used now in set expressions [Heaven forfend! The gods forfend! Light
forfend! Gods forfend!],

skirl (v.) – (Scotland, Northern England) to make a shrill sound, as of bagpipes,

scruff (n.) – someone with an untidy appearance; stubble, facial hair (on males) [That
candidate will never get the job, he's a right scruff.]

scruff (n.) – the loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals; (rare) the back of
the neck, nape, also scruff of the neck [He grabbed his unruly kid by the scruff of the neck,
and took him home. I took/grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and threw him out of the
hall. Cats carry their kittens by the scruff of the neck.],

scruff (n.) – a mark made by scraping or grazing a surface or object [Dark colors don't
show scruffs.],

parlance (n.) – a group of words or style of speaking used by a particular group of

people [Oral contraceptives are referred to as „the pill“ in common parlance.
Business/legal parlance.“] – synonyms & related words [idiom, argot, jargon, lingo,
patois, vernacular, colloquialism, dialect, diction, expression, idosyncrasy, language,
localism, locution, phrase, provincialism, speech, talk, tongue, set phrase, street talk]

common parlance (n.) – everyday speech, speech using the most common words,
colloquial speech,

in fine/good fettle (id.) – healthy or strong, or in good condition [„How was Jane?“
„Oh, she was in fine fettle.“] – synonyms & related words [perfect order, excellent order,
apple-pie order, good shape, just so, neatness, orderly, perfect arrangement, precise
order, shipshape, tidiness],

cynosure (n.) – a person or thing that is so good or beautiful it attracts a lot of

attention, something that is the center of attention, an object that served as a focal point
of attraction and admiration; (figurative) that which serves to guide or direct, a guiding
star; a thing or place that is of great importance to an activity or interest [Let faith be
your cynosure to walk by. He was the cynosure of all eyes. The author's name became at
once a cynosure the world over. Any king who will arise and carry out this task, he verily
will, in the sight of God, become the cynosure of all kings.] – synonyms & related words
[compass, direction, focus, lodestar, loadstar, polestar, benchmark, criterion, grade,
mark, measure, standard, touchstone, yardstick, aim, ambition, aspiration, dream, goal,
intention, object, objective, purpose, target, axis, base, capital, central, core, center,
epicenter, eye, focus, ground zero, heart, hub, locus, mecca, navel, nerve center, nexus,
nucleus, omphalos, seat, kernel, essence, quintessence, soul, attraction, lodestone,
loadstone, magnet, eye-catch],

lodestar (n.) – a star that is used to guide the course of a ship, especially the pole star;
cynosure, attraction, lodestone [She dominated his existene as chief muse and intellectual
lodestar.] – synonyms & related words [guide, guiding star, guiding light, role model,
model, luminary, exemplar, ideal, inspiration, criterion, aim, guiding principle, standard,
pattern],

luminary (n.) – a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent
in a particular sphere [One of the luminaries of child psychiatry. The luminaries of the art
world.] – synonyms & related words [leading light, guiding light, inspiration, leader,
expert, master, panjandrum, dignitary, VIP; star, superstar, megastar, celebrity,
celebutante, big name, household name, somebody, name; notable, public figure,
important personage, lion, legend, great, giant; bigwig, big shot, big cheese, biggie,
celeb],

limelight (n.) – intense white light obtained by heating lime, formerly used in theatres;
(figurative) the focus of public attention [The shock win has thrust him into the limelight.
She couldn't concela her excitement at being back in the limelight.] – synonyms & related
words [the focus of attention, public attention, public notice, public interest, the public
eye, media attention, media interest; public recognition, publicity, the glare of publicity,
prominence, exposure, hype, glare, the spotlight; fame, renown, celebrity, stardom,
notability, eminence],

recrimination(s) (n.) – arguments between people who are blaming each other [The
peace talks broke down and ended in bitter mutual recrimination(s).] – synonyms &
related words [rowing, quarrelling, squabbling, bickering, retaliation(s9,
counterattack8s), countercharge(s), counter-accusation(s), mutual accustaion(s),
accustaion(s)],
(the) short shrift (n.) – if you get or are given short shrift by someone, you are
treated without sympathy and given little attention, a quick rejection, especially one
which is impolite and undertaken without proper consideration [He'll get a short shrift
from me if he starts complaining about money again, now that I know how much he earns!
The bank gave me a short shrift when I applied for a loan.] – synonyms & related words
[short end ofthe deal, kick in the teeth, no pity, no quarter, pitilessness, small portion,
tender mercies, unsympathetic treatment],

trove (n.) – a treasure trove, a collection of treasure; a collection of things,

treasure trove (n.) – a treasure trove of something, a place that is full of something
good; (UK) a large amount of money or a large number of valuable objects found hidden
somewhere and seeming to belong to no one [A treasure trove of information. Though
small, this museum is a veritable treasure trove of history. A Roman's soldier pay, found by
a metal detector enthusiast in Norfolk, has been declared treasure trove.],

swaybacked (adj.) – having a sagged back; having sagged or hollow surface;

(figurative) old [Swaybacked horse. Swaybacked roof. Swaybacked book.],

dirndl (n.) – (also, dirndl skirt) a wide skirt tightly gathered(= pulled into folds) at the
waist; a dress with a skirt like this and a tight bodice (= top part), as worn, for example,
in parts of southern Germany and in Austria,

sarong (n.) – a long piece of thin cloth that is worn wrapped around the waist,

snaggletoothed (adj.) – having misaligned, broken, missing or otherwise damaged or

disorderly teeth,

snaggle (n.) – a tangled, knotted, or intertwined mass,

snaggle (v.) – to become tangled, knotted or intertwined,

gangle (v.) – to move in a manner characteristic of a gangling person,

gangling (adj.) – awkwardly tall and thin, ungraceful [A gangling teenager.],

gibbous (adj.) – if there is a gibbous moon, you can see more than half of the moon but
not all of it,

out of kilter (id.) – in a state of not working well (often with „throw“) [Missing more
than one night's sleep can throw your body out of kilter. An impact can throw the
adjustment out of kilter. I stayed up late to watch a movie, and my entire sleeping schedule
has been out of kilter ever since. ] – synonyms & related words [disrupted, interrupted,
fitful, disconnected, discontinuous, intermittent, fragmentary, broken, thrown into
confusion, thrown into disorder, thrown into disarray, cause confusion/turmoil in,
played havoc with, deranged, turned upside-down, made a mess of; disorganized,
disarranged, interfered with, upset, unsettled, convulsed, suspensed, obstructed,
impeded, hampered, held up, delayed, retarded, slowed (down9, distorted, damaged,
buckled, warped, broken open/apart, shattered, split, sever, cleave, split asunder, rent,
sundered, riven],

scud (v.) – (especially of clouds and ships) to move quickly and without stopping in a
straight line [It was a windy day, and small white clouds were scudding across the blue sky.
The first Nautilus that scudded upon the glassy surface of warm primeval oceans. We lie
watching the clouds scudding across the sky. A few dark clouds scudded across the sky.] –
synonyms & related words [speed, race, sail, streak, shoot, sweep, skim, whip, whizz,
whoosh, buzz, zoom, flash, blast, career; hare, fly, wing, kite, skite, scurry, flit, scutter,
hurry, hasten, rush;, belt, scoot, scorch, tear, zap, zip, bomb, bucket, shift, boogie,
hightail, clip, drag/tear/haul ass, cut along],

scud (n.) – (literary) a mass of vapory clouds or spray driven fast by the wind; a driving
shower of rain or snow, a gust; the action of moving fast in as traight line when driven
by the wind [The water is glassy under a scud of mist. Scuds of rain gave way to sun. The
scud of the clouds before the wind.] – synonyms & related words [flurry, blast, puff, blow,
rush, squall, outburst, burst, outbreak, gale, effusion, eruption, explosion, storm, surge,
peal, howl, hoot, shriek, roar, fit, paroxysm],

plight one's troth (id.) – (old-fashioned) to promise to marry someone [The garden
where the lovers plighted their troth.],

gnash your teeth (v.) – to bring your teeth forcefully together when you are angry,
to grind your teeth; (humorous) to complain angrily and noisily about something [The
monster roared and gnashed its teeth. New Yorkers gnashed their teeth about the
governor's decision to raise property taxes.] – synonyms & related words [grind, strike
together, grate, rasp, grit, gristbite],

recuse (oneself) (v.) – to say that a judge or a member of a jury should not be
involved in a trial because they hvae a special interest in its final result, to refuse or
reject (a judge), to declare that the judge shall not try the case or is disqualified to act; to
refuse to act as a judge, to declare oneself disqualified to act [The judge rescued herself
from that case, citing a possible conflict of interest. The judge recused from the case, citing
a possible conflict of interest.],

avail yourself of something (id.) – (formal) to make use of something; (literary)

help or benefit [Employees should avail themselves of the opportunity to buy cheap shares
in the company. Voters should avail themselves of all the tools available to get information
about the candidates. My daughter did not avail herself of my advice. No amount of
struggle availed Charles. Even if his arguments are correct, that cannot avail him in this
case.] – synonyms & related words [use, make use of it, atake advantage of, utilize,
employ, resort to, have recourse to, turn to, look to, help, aid, assist, benefit, be of use, to
be useful to, profit, be of advantage to, be of service to],

bestride (v.) – (formal) to sit or stand with a leg on the other side of an object or
animal, to astride something, to stand over or sit with legs on either side, especially to sit
on a horse; to dominate [He bestrode the chair as though it were a horse. He looked up
again at the portrait of Big Brother. The colossus that bestrode the world. Why man, he
doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus. Over the past two hundred years, the
English language has risen, seemingly irresistibly, to its present position of world-
bestriding supremacy.],

in dribs and drabs (id.) – in small amounts, a few at a time [The information has
been released in dribs and drabs. More folk followed in dribs and drabs.],

drab (adj.) – lacking brightness or interest, drearily dull [The landscape was drab and
grey. Blocks of drab council flats. A drab suburban existence.] – synonyms & related words
[colourless, grey, greyish, dull, dull-coloured, washed out, neutral, pale, muted,
lacklustre, lustreless, muddy, watery; lightish brown, brownish, brownish-grey, mousy,
dun-coloured; dingy, dreary, dismal, cheerless, gloomy, somber, depressing;
uninteresting, dull, boring, tedious, monotonous, dry, dreary, wearisome; unexciting,
bland, non-stimulating, unimaginative, uninspiring, uninspired, insipid, lustreless,
lacklustre, vapid, flat, stale, trite, vacuous, feeble, pallid, wishy-washy, colourless, limp,
lame, tired, lifeless, zestless, spiritless, sterile, anaemic, barren, tame, bloodless,
antiseptic; middle-of-the-road, run-of-the-mill, commonplace, mediocre, nondescript,
characterless, mundane, unexceptional, unremarkable, humdrum, prosaic],

hem and haw/hum and haw (id.) – to be uncertain and take a long time deciding
something [We hemmed and hawed for monthsb efore actualyl deciding to buy the house. I
was humming and hawing over buying copies.] – synonyms & related words [be
indecisive, hesitate, dither, vacillate, procrastinate, equivocate, prevaricate, waver, falter,
fluctuate, haver, swither, shilly-shally-, dilly-dally, blow hot and cold, pussyfoot around,
tarry],

chop and change (id.) – (UK, informal) to keep changing one's mind, way of doing
something, etc. [You have to make a decision and stick with it. You can't chop and change
all the time.],

swither (v.) – to be uncertain about what to do or choose [He'd swithered for ages
wondering what to do.],

dither (v.) – to be unable to make a decision about doing something [Stop dithering and
choose which one you want! She's still dithering over whether to accept the job she's just
been offered.],
be in a dither about something (id.) – (disapprovign) to be very nervous, excited,
uncertain, worried or confused about something [Gideon is in a bit of a dither about what
to wear for the interview.],

blow hot and cold (id.) – to sometimes like or be interested in something or

someone and sometimes not, so people are confused about how you really feel [He's
been blowing hot and cold about the trip to Brazil.],

abet (v.) – to help or encourage someone to do something wrong or illegal [His

accountant had aided and abetted him in the fraud.],

be raring to do something (id.) – to be very enthusiastic, excited, about starting

something, can't wait[I've bought all the paint for decorating the bedrooms and I'm raring
to get started. I had been preparing for the exams for a year now and I was raring to go (=
eager to start).] – synonyms & related words [eager, keen, enthusiastic, full of
enthusiasm, impatient, longing, champing/chafing at the bit, desperate; ready, willing,
dying, itching, gagging],

stygian (adj.) – extremely and unpleasantly dark [Stygian gloom. Stygian darkness.
Stygian blackness.] – synonyms & related words [dark, black, pitch-black, pitch-dark,
inky, sooty, dusky, dim, murky, shadowy, unlit; gloomy, sombre, dismal, dreary, hellish,
infernal, Hadean, crepuscular, tenebrous, Cimmerian, Tartarean, caliginous],

(random cool paragraph) – [Weakened, battered, bleeding, Aegwynn collapsed to

the stone floor of Medivh’s keep, barely able to lift her head. Her son stood over her,
laughing. “Why do you look so sad, Mother? I am exactly as you made me. After all, you
sired me in order to circumvent the council and carry on your heritage. You did that. From
the moment you destroyed Sargeras’s physical form, thus freeing him to reside within you,
your heritage was to facilitate Sargeras’s will. Now you have fulfilled your purpose.” He
grinned. “One final poke in the eye to the council, eh?” Aegwynn’s blood turned to ice. Those
were her thoughts upon Medivh’s conception. She had never used that phrase aloud,
certainly never to Medivh. She had indeed been a minor presence in his life at first, mostly
for his own protection—she couldn’t afford to let it be known that her son was in
Stormwind, for fear that her enemies would use him against her. Indeed, she only revealed
that she was his mother when he had passed puberty. At that moment, she ceased all
resistance. She no longer wished to live in a world that she had betrayed so thoroughly. In
her eagerness to do her job right, to prove the council wrong in their dismissal of her, she
had led to the victory of demonkind. Not since she finished her apprenticeship had
Aegwynn cried. The birth of her child, the death of her parents, the losses against demons—
none of it had made her weep. She had always been stronger than that. Now, though, tears
flowed freely down her cheeks as she looked up at her son, who laughed at her anguish.
“Kill me.” “And let you off the hook? Don’t be a fool, Mother. I said I was your end, not your
death. Allowing you to expire would not begin to atone for what you have done to me.”
Then he muttered an incantation. Eight centuries ago, the council had given her the power
of the Guardian, and it had been the most wonderful experience of her life. It was what it
might have been like for a blind person to see for the first time. When she passed that
power on to Medivh, it had been less wonderful, but still she had a feeling of satisfaction in
creating her legacy, and the departure of the power had been smooth and pleasant, like
drifting slowly to sleep. Now, though, her power was being ripped from her by Medivh, and
it felt like being struck blind, deaf, and dumb. Her entire body felt deadened—it was less
like falling asleep and more like falling into a coma. But she remained awake and aware of
all that was happening. And she realized that if she stayed here, Medivh—or, rather,
Sargeras—would keep her here. She would reside in the keep’s dungeon, no doubt, able to
see and hear all that went on, be made aware of every foul deed that her son performed in
Sargeras’s name. She also realized something else—she was still young. Which meant that
Medivh had not taken the de-aging magic from her. That was her salvation, she realized.
She gathered up the remaining tatters of her concentration and unleashed the magic of the
de-aging spells, grabbing it, harnessing it, and re-forming it into a teleport spell that would
take her away from here. Moments later, her hair having gone white, her skin having
wrinkled, her bones having grown weaker, she found herself on Kalimdor, in a grassy
region in the mountains of the continent’s eastern coast.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“I’m not surprised.” There was an odd tone to
Proudmoore’s voice when she said that—as if she knew something Aegwynn didn’t. “What’s
that supposed to mean?” Before Proudmoore could answer, Aegwynn heard something.
Proudmoore heard it too, as they both turned to face south. It sounded familiar, but it was
a noise Aegwynn hadn’t heard in years. Moments later, her suspicion was confirmed: the
noise was made by the displacement of air by a massive dirigible, which was now coming
around one of the Bladescar peaks. It stopped right in front of the wards and hovered.
Aegwynn assumed a mage—or at the very least, a sensitive—was on board. A rope ladder
fell from the undercarriage, and a figure in plate armor started to climb down. As the
figure came closer, Aegwynn recognized the insignia on the armor as that of a colonel.],

stopgap (adj.) – temporary, short-term [They put a stopgap solution in place, but need
something more permanent. It was a stopgap measure, and she knew she was running out
of time.] – synonyms & related words [temporary, provisional, interim, pro tem, short-
term, working, makeshift, improvized, emergency, impromptu, rough and ready,
caretaker, acting, stand-in, fill-in, jury-rigged, jury, expediential],

stopgap (n.) – a temporary measure or short-term fix, a „gap filler“ used until
something can be obtained, a band-aid solution [The small company uses their old
product with a few kludged enhancements as a stopgap until they can develop a new
product.] – synonyms & related words [band-aid, band-aid solution, bodge, cludge, hack,
kludge, kluge, makeshift, patch, quick-and-dirty, quick fix, workaround, temporary
solution, improvisation, expedient, last resort, substitute, stand-in],

precocious (adj.) – characterized by exceptionally early development or maturity;

exhibiting advanced skills and aptitudes at an abnormally early age [The precocious child
began reading the newspaper at age four.] – synonyms & related words [advanced, old
beyond one's years, forward, ahead of one's peers, mature, prematurely developed,
ahead, gifted, talented, clever, intelligent, quick; smart, rathe-ripe],

jury-rig/juryrig/jerry-rig (v.) – (nautical) to make an improvised rigging or

assembly from whatever is available; to create a makeshift, ad hoc solution from
resources at hand,

jury-rigged/juryrigged/jerry-rigged (adj.) – acting as an interim and

temporary measure [Here, an old mine shaft had been uncovered, a space cleared around
it. The Termite boring vehicle requisitioned from the troop ship had already been lowered
into the pit, a task that had required a full platoon of Guardsmen and a jury-rigged pulley
system to perform.] – synonyms & related words [temporary, make-do, provisional,
stopgap, standby, rough and ready, substitute, emergency, improvised, ad hoc,
impromptu, extemporary, extempore, thrown together, cobbled together; jury-rigged,
jury; quick and dirty],

jerry-built (adj.) – built cheaply and shoddily,

jerry-builder (n.) – a builder who does cheap and shoddy work,

perspicacious (adj.) – (formal, approving) quick in noticing, understanding, or

judging things accurately [His perspicacious grandfather had bought the land as an
investment, guessing that there might be gold underground.] – synonyms & related words
[observant, perceptive, acute, alert, astute, aware, clear-sighted, clever, smart,
discerning, heady, judicious, keen, penetrating, percipient, sagacious, savvy, sharp,
sharp-witted, shrewd]

perspicacity (n.) – (formal, approving) the ability to understand things quickly and
make accurate judgements [A woman of exceptional perspicacity. “I believe I’ve earned the
right to determine my own destiny.” “Because you brought Medivh back?” Again
Proudmoore had managed to stun Aegwynn with her perspicacity. She found herself unable
to speak.] – synonyms & related words [insight, acumen, discernment, discrimination,
penetration, perception, shrewdness, understanding],

acumen (n.) – the ability to make good judgements and take quick decisions [She hides
a shrewd business acumen. A gullbile young man with little or no business acumen.] –
synonyms & related words [astuteness, awareness, shrewdness, acuity, sharpness,
sharp-wittedness, cleverness, brightness, smartness; judgement, understanding, sense,
common sense, canniness, discernment, wisdom, wit, sagacity, perspicacity, ingenuity,
insight, intuition, intuitiveness, perception, perspicuity, penetration; capability,
enterprise, initiative, resourcefulness, flair, vision; brains, powers of reasoning; savoir
faire, nous, savvy, know-how, horse sense, gumption, grey matter, common, smarts,
sapience, arguteness],
swan song/swasong (id.) – a final performance or accomplishment, especially one
before retirement, a person's last piece of work, achievement, or performance [This
weekend's game was his swansong as the team's captain. Aegwynn nodded, staring off into
space at an indeterminate point on one of the Bladescar peaks. “With what was left of the
de-aging magic, I was able to scry in the well water and learn what was happening. I saw
my son killed by his apprentice and his best friend—and I saw Sargeras banished from him.
So I spent years building up the power to bring him back. When I did, it almost killed me.
That was why the wards were Medivh’s—I no longer had the strength to cast them. Or
anything else. I still don’t.” She turned to face Proudmoore. “That was my swan song, Lady
Proudmoore. It cannot even begin to make up for all I have done wrong.”],

significant (adj.) – (special meaning) having a special meaning [She looked at him
across the table and gave him a significant smile. Do you think it's significant that he hasn't
replied to my letter yet? Kalthar and Burx both entered then. The latter spoke in an urgent
tone. “Warchief, there’s someone here who has to talk to you. Now.” Thrall did not like the
idea of Burx giving him orders, but before he could say anything, Kalthar gave Thrall a
significant look. “Do you think I should see this person, shaman?” Thrall asked. “I do,”
Kalthar said quietly. “Very well.” Thrall stood his ground, having grown tired of the
throne.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Burx went out and led one of the scouts in. A jungle
troll, he was dressed in decorative armor and the mask that was traditional among those
of the Darkspear tribe: feathers, wood, and paint combining with a triangular helmet to
present a fearsome affect. By contrast, when he removed his helm, it was to reveal a
friendly, open face, far gentler than one would expect from the fearsome Darkspears.
Jungle trolls wielded powerful magicks, ones that no other race had ever been able to
master—though Thrall knew of some humans who had tried and failed, at the cost of their
souls—and the Darkspears had sworn allegiance to Thrall. “This,” Burx said, “is Rokhan.”
The introduction was unnecessary—the troll’s reputation preceded him as one of the finest
scouts in Kalimdor. Holding his helm under his arm, Rokhan stepped forward. “I’m afraid I
be bringin’ some bad news, mon. The humans, they be sendin’ more troops to the
Northwatch.” Thrall couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “They’re reinforcing?” “That’s
what it look like, mon. I be seein’ lotsa boats full’a soldiers, all headin’ straight for the
Northwatch. And they be sendin’ one’a they airships up north, too, but it be goin’ toward
Bladescar.” Thrall frowned. “How many troops?” Rokhan shrugged. “Hard to say, but they
was at least twenty boats, and them things be carryin’ at least twenty humans each.” “Four
hundred troops,” Burx said. “And this happened right after your friend Jaina went off to
solve the thunder lizard problem that the humans caused. We can’t wait for her to finish
that, Warchief. I’m sure Jaina’s intentions are good, but her people’s aren’t. And we can’t
ignore this!”],

(random cool paragraph) – [When Burx had finished giving instructions to Nazgrel
and to the harbormaster, he returned to his home. He had preparations to make before he
journeyed down the Great Sea in order to put an end to the human scourge once and for
all. It was while he was sharpening his ax that the smell of sulfur permeated his hut. He felt
a warm sensation in the folds of his breeches, in the small inner pocket where he hid the
talisman that Zmodlor had given him as a symbol of his allegiance. Galtak Ered’nash. Does
all go according to plan? Burx hated the idea of swearing his allegiance to anyone save his
own Warchief, but he played along and replied, “Galtak Ered’nash. It does. Thrall is sending
troops by land and by sea. Within two days, our people will be at war with the humans.
Within a week of that, the humans will be destroyed.” Excellent. You have done well, Burx.
“I just want to do what’s right for the orcs. That’s all I care about.” Of course. Both our
causes are served by this war. Galtak Ered’nash. As far as Burx was concerned, it was the
lesser of two evils, was all. The demons were bastards, yeah, but they always had the orcs’
best interests in mind. They brought the orcs to this world so they could rule it. It wasn’t
the demons’ fault that the humans were able to do so well, to imprison them and make
them forget who they were. Sure, the demons were using the orcs, but at least they never
humiliated them. Burx had grown up a slave. Humans regularly beat him, taunted him,
defecated on him, and then forced him to clean up their messes while they laughed at him.
They called him all manner of names, the kindest of which was “you greenskinned oaf,” and
they made sure to give him the most degrading tasks. Burx was never sure why he was
singled out among the orcs on the estate for the horrible duties—no one ever bothered to
tell him. Perhaps he was simply picked at random. Compared to what he went through as a
human slave, what the demons did was nothing. And if it meant cooperating with one of
them to make sure that the plague that was humanity was wiped out, that was okay with
Burx. He owed Thrall everything and more, but Thrall could not get past his blind spot
regarding the humans. But then, Thrall had been well regarded by his master. True,
Aedelas Blackmoore had had nasty plans for Thrall, but he had treated him a lot better
than Burx’s master did—better than most orcs, in fact. Slowly but surely, Thrall was seeing
the error of his ways. This troop amassment at Northwatch had finally done it. At this
point, it was just a matter of time. Orc and troll warriors so close to human soldiers—it
would be a powder keg. Burx finished sharpening his ax, looking forward to seeing it run
red with human blood.],

regale (n.) – a feast, meal,

regale (v.) – to please or entertain (someone); to provide hospitality for (someone), to

supply with abundant food and drinkto entertain someone with stories or jokes;
(figurative) to entertain with something that delights, to gratify, to refresh [Grandpa
regaled us with tales of his small-town childhood. You’ve Got Mail is certainly the basic
model for the plot, which finds corporate candy shill Joel (Rudd) and indie-sweetshop
owner Molly (Poehler) regaling their dinner companions with the very long, digressive
story of how they met and fell in love. A man regaling the crowd with the story of how to
obtain full Bloodfang. To regale the taste, the eye, or the ear.] – synonyms & related words
[throw a party, have fun, amuse, entertain, delight, divert, feast, fracture, grab, gratify,
nurture, party, please, ply, refresh, satisfy, serve, give a party, have a get-together, laugh
it up, toss a party],

presumptuous (adj.) – a person who is presumptuous shows little respect for others
by doing things they have no right to do, (of a person or their behavior) failing to
observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate [It would be presumptuous of me
to comment on the matter. I hope i won't be considered presumptuous if I offer some
advice. It's rather presumptuous to judge my character on such acquaintance. “Thank you,
Colonel.” The lady said the words with a heartfelt smile, and Lorena felt a rush of pride. The
colonel had taken a huge risk coming here, trusting Booraven’s abilities to find Lady
Proudmoore in orc country, and hoping that the lady would not be angered at her
presumptuousness. But it seemed she had been right to trust her instincts—and on top of
that, she had been instrumental in freeing the lady and her friend from their prison.] –
synonyms & related words [brazen, overconfident, arrogant, egotistical, overbold, bold,
audacious, pert, forward, familiar, impertinent, fresh, free, insolent, impudent, cocksure,
cheeky, rude, impolite, uncivil, bumptious, overhasty, hasty, premature, previous,
precipitate, impetuous, cocky, sassy, presumptive, assumptive],

pert (adj.) – attractively small and firm, as a description of a part of the body, well-
formed, shapely; lively, alert and cheerful, bright; used to describe behavior or qualities,
(especially in a young woman, children in general, or social inferiors), that are humorous
because they do not show much respect, cheeky, impertinent [A pert bottom/nose. A pert
answer/glance/smile.],

bumptious (adj.) – unpleasantly confident, irritatingly self-assertive [A bumptious

young man. An impossibly bumptious and opinionated ass. You're a bumptious little know-
all at times.],

peeve (v.) – to annoy someone [What peeved her the most was his thoughtlessness. It
peeves me that she didn't bothre to phone.],

peeved (adj.) – annoyed [He was peeved because we didn't ask him what he thought
about the idea.],

apoplectic (adj.) – extremely and obviously angry [He was apoplectic with rage/fury.],

fit/ready to be tied (id.) – very agitated or distressed, enraged [Some girls can set
around until they're blue moulded, and never a feller to ask 'em, and others the boys'll fret
and pleg until they're fit to be tied, with nerves! I was fit to be tied though I wouldnt give in
with that gentleman of fashion staring down at me with his glasses and him the other side
of me talking about Spinoza. If you've also been caught in a traffic jam, you're maybe fit to
be tied by the time you get to work.],

jaundiced (adj.) – judging everything as bad because bad things have happened to you
in the past; looking slightly yellow in color because of having jaundice [He seems to
have/take a very jaundiced view of life. I'm afraid I look on al travel companies' claims
with a jaundiced eye, having been disappointed by them so often in the past. She took a
rather jaundiced view of Christmas shopping. He was jaundiced from liver disease.] –
synonyms & related words [bitter, resentful, cynical, soured, distorted, disenchanted,
disillusioned, disappointed, pessimistic, sceptical, distrustful, suspicious, misanthropic;
jealous, envious; narrow-minded, bigoted, prejudiced, intolerant, discriminatory],

fractious (adj.) – easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining; (of a group or
organization) difficult to control, unruly [A fractious child. They fight and squabble like
fractious children. King Malcolm struggled to unite his fractious kingdom. The National
Olympic Committee has to hold its fractious members together. In the bunkroom one
morning, a watchmaster demanded forty push-ups from a trainee whose boots weren’t
sufficiently polished. The trainee was a burly miner in his mid-thirties, more able than most
to cope with the physical demands placed upon him, but lack of sleep had made him
increasingly fractious – he had been the first to complain each night about the
depredations of the day – and this was the final straw.] – synonyms & related words
[grumpy, grouchy, crotchety, in a (bad) mood, cantankerous, bad-tempered, ill-
tempered, ill-natured, ill-humoured, peevish, having got out of bed the wrong side, cross,
as cross as two sticks, disagreeable, pettish; irritable, irascible, tetchy, testy,
curmudgeonly; crabbed, crabby, waspish, prickly, peppery, touchy, scratchy, crusty,
splenetic, shrewish, short-tempered, hot-tempered, quick-tempered, dyspeptic, choleric,
bilious, liverish, cross-grained; snappish, snappy, chippy, on a short fuse, short-fused,
shirty, stroppy, narky, ratty, eggy, like a bear with a sore head; cranky, ornery, peckish,
soreheaded, snaky, waxy, miffy, wayward, unruly, uncontrollable, unmanageable, out of
hand, obstreperous, difficult, headstrong, refractory, recalcitrant, intractable;
disobedient, insubordinate, disruptive, disorderly, undisciplined, troublemaking,
rebellious, mutinous, anarchic; defiant, stubborn, obstinate, contrary, wilful
contumacious],

obstreperous (adj.) – difficult to deal with and noisy [Obstreperous customers.],

pettish (adj.) – showing anger and behaving impatiently, especially about things that
are not very important [I felt ashamed at my pettish resentment. „The key's stuck and
won't move,“ she said pettishly.] – synonyms & related words [choleric, crabby, cranky,
cross, crotchety, fiery, grouchy, grumpy, irascible, peevish, perverse, irritable, petulant,
prickly, quick-tempered, raspy, ratty, short-tempered, snappish, snappy, snarky,
snippety, snippy, stuffy, testy, waspish; bearish, bilious, cantankerous, cross-grained,
curmudgeonly, disagreeable, dyspeptic, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, off-color (
off-colored), ornery, querulous, snarly, surly; argumentative, bellicose, belligerent,
combative, contentious, disputatious, fractious, fretful, pugnacious, quarrelsome,
scrappy, truculent; huffy, pouty, sensitive, short, sulky, sullen, tetchy, thin-skinned,
touchy, hot-blooded, passionate],
set (v.) – (solidify) if a liquid or soft material sets, itb ecomes firm or hard [Leave the
jelly in the fridge to set. Don't walk on the concrete until it has set.],

querulous (adj.) – often complaining, especially in a weak, high voice [He became
increaisngly dissatisfied and querulous in his old age.] – synonyms & related words
[petulant, complaining, pettish, touchy, testy, tetchy, waspish, prickly, crusty, peppery,
fractious, fretful, irritable, cross, crabbed, crabby, crotchety, cantankerous,
curmudgeonly, disagreeable, miserable, morose, on edge, edgy, impatient, bitter, moody,
in a bad mood, grumpy, huffy, scratchy, out of sorts, out of temper, ill-tempered, bad-
tempered, ill-natured, ill-humoured, sullen, surly, sulky, sour, churlish, bilious, liverish,
dyspeptic, splenetic, choleric; snappish, snappy, chippy, grouchy, cranky, whingeing,
whingy, narky, ratty, eggy, like a bear with a sore head, sorehead, soreheaded, peckish,
snaky, miffy],

chunter (v.) – to complain, especially in a low voice [Al was chuntering (on) about
being the last to know what was happening.],

cavil (v.) – to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not
important [They cavilled at the cost.] – synonyms & related words [complain, carp,
grumble, moan, grouse, grouch, whine, bleat, find fault with, quibble about, niggle about;
criticize, censure, denounce, condemn, decry, gripe, beef, bellyache, bitch, whinge,
nitpick, pick holes in, split hairs, sound off, kick up a fuss, knock, chunter, create, mither,
kvetch about],

set (v.) – (muscle tighting) if you set a part of your body, you tighten the muscles
around it in order to show that you are determined about something [„I'm never going
back to him,“ she said, setting her jaw firmly. His face was set in determination.] –
synonyms & related words [tighten, become/make tighter, tense, flex, constrict,
contract, draw in, become/make narrower, narrow, wrinkle, knit, crease, corrugate,
purse, pucker],

not set the world on fire (id.) – to not be very exciting or successful [He has a nice
enough voice but he's not going to set the world on fire.] – synonyms & related words
[mediocre, indifferent, average, middle-of-the-road, middling, medium, moderate,
everyday, workaday, ordinary, tolerable, passable, adequate, fair; inferior, second-rate,
uninspired, undistinguished, unexceptional, unexciting, unremarkable, run-of-the-mill,
not very good, pedestrian, prosaic, lacklustre, forgettable, amateur, amateurish; bog-
standard, fair-to-middling, (plain) vanilla, nothing to write home about, no great shakes,
not so hot, not up to much, half-pie, so-so],

satisfactory (adj.) – fulfilling the expectations or needs, acceptable, though not

outstanding or perfect [He didn't get a satisfactory answer. David Kerslake made a
satisfactory debut for Leeds. A satisfactory display.] – synonyms & related words
[adequate, all right, acceptable, good enough, sufficient, sufficiently good, fine, in order,
up to scratch, up to the mark, up to standard, up to par, competent, reasonable, quite
good, fair, decent, not bad, average, tolerable, passable, middling, moderate; presentable;
suitable, convenient, OK, so-so, fair-to-middling, jake],

the set of something (n.) – (position) the position in which you hold a part of your
body [I could tell from the set of his jaw that he was angry.] – synonyms & related words
[expression, look, determined expression, fixed look, posture, position, cast, attitude,
bearing, carriage],

set fair (v.) – (masonry) to provide a smooth, finished surface on plaster after roughing
in; to become favorable; to develop weather that is clear and pleasant; to put in order, to
make neat; to seem likely to succeed [The ceilings of the upper story to be lathed,
plastered, and set fair; and the walls of the same, with those of the living rooms, to be
rendered and set fair. The ceiling of basement to be lathed with strong laths securely
nailed, plastered two coats, set fair, and twice whitened when dry. The wind sets fair for
news to go to Ireland, But none returns. Public opinion is setting fair in the direction of
utilizing the many miles of unproductive waste. The breeze is setting fair. The day set fair
without a breath of wind. The clouds on the mountains had dissipated, the day set fair and
hot. Visibility was good and weather set fair. Then set fair to the points of the spindles, and
at an equal distance back from them at the brasses all along. But it won't set fair when
made tight around yards or round thimbles. I'm confident we are set fair for a good
recovery.],

set fair (adj.) – favorable, propitious; in a state of settled fair weather; in good shape
[The economies of north America, western Europe and parts of Asia seemed to be set fair
for many decades of growth fuelled by the high carbon systems of production and
consumption. All seemed to be set fair for English power across the Channel but in 1369 the
new French king, Charles V, known as Charles the Wise, reasserted his feudal rights over all
the territories of France. Sure enough reform, when it came, achieved almost exactly what
the Whigs had hoped: as soon as the industrial employing classes were brought into
government, most agitation subsided, and all seemed set fair for stability. They would trade
with the Orks again -- in better weather next time. They quickly left while it looked set fair.
So early one morning, when the weather seemed set fair, Rochelle told Laurie about the
food store. All must have looked set fair by the time Hogg returned to Scotland in March
1832. At the racecourse, I could tell Red Rum was very well in himself and looked set fair in
the sunshine. His version of 'Myfanwy' was given the thumbs-up by CBS and we looked set
fair. Set fair, that is, until one of their promotion guys heard it.],

afreet/afrit/efreet/ifreet/ifrit (n.) – a kind of djinn mentioned in the Qur'an,

in (someone's) thrall (id.) – (literary) if you are in thrall to someone or something,

or in the thrall of someone or something, he, she, or it has a lot of power to control over
you, you are in servile relations [Her love for him was like a madness, and she was
completely in its thrall.],
billow (v.) – to spread over a large area, or (especially of things made of cloth) to
become filled with air and appear to be larger [Smoke billowed (out) from the burning
building. The sheets/shirts hanging on the line billowed in the breeze. We watched the
boats with their billowing sails. shape was collecting in the evening sky: a black cloud, but
like no cloud Arex had seen before. It was too dense, too low – it was hovering between the
upper floors of the towers themselves – and it was growing in size, billowing ever
outwards. Then, Arex realised what that cloud had to be. It was a swarm. An insect swarm.]
– synonyms & related words [puff up/out, balloon (out), swell, fill out, bulge out, belly
out, pour, flow, swirl, spiral, undulate, rise and fall, eddy, rolling, swirling, undulating,
rising and falling, billowy, swelling, rippling, undulnat, grow, expand, inflate, baloon,
inturnesce, tumefy, thicken, develop, branch out, scale up, build up, mushroom,
proliferate],

bedaub (v.) – to cover something very roughly with something sticky or dirty [The
child's face was bedaubed with chocolate.] – synonyms & related words [smear, anoint,
besmear, daub, smirch, smudge, soil, spread, stain, sully, rub on, spread over, blur, coat,
dab, plaster, spatter, spray, sprinkle, stain, taint, tar, tarnish, apply, cover, defile,
discolor, overlay, overspread, patch, slop, soil],

(to fall, collapse, etc.) like a sack of suet (id.) – to fall, collapse, etc. heavily,
clumsily, with a loud thud [A second later, the tattoo was gone, leaving only charred flesh
in its wake. Kristoff collapsed to the floor like a sack of suet, his eyes fluttering.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“Enough!” Now the breeze kicked into high gear, and
lightning shot out from the lady’s fingertips. Kristoff screamed a second later, clutching his
left shoulder. Smoke started to wisp out from it between his fingers. Instinctively, Lorena
ran to Kristoff and ripped away the cloth of his shirt. There was a tattoo on his shoulder
blade of a sword on fire, identical to the ones Lorena, Strov, Clai, Jalod, and the others saw
on the orcs they fought at Northwatch. The tattoo was now burning. A second later, the
tattoo was gone, leaving only charred flesh in its wake. Kristoff collapsed to the floor like a
sack of suet, his eyes fluttering. In a quiet voice, Aegwynn said, “Zmodlor’s gone.” “Yes.”
Lady Proudmoore sounded calmer now. “And my casting that exorcism spell likely alerted
him to the fact that we’re on to him.” “’M sorry…” Lorena knelt down at Kristoff’s side. His
words were barely a whisper. “Thought…what I did…of own free will…but
Zmodlor…controlled…everything. So…sorry…sorry…” The light faded from his eyes. All
three women stood in silence for several seconds. The sad thing to Lorena was that Kristoff
hadn’t been a bad person, truly. He had done what he thought best for Theramore. He had
been doing his duty. Of course, he had done it spectacularly badly, but his heart had been in
the right place. That, in turn, made her feel guilty. There had been times when she wished
Kristoff dead, but now that he was dead, she felt sad. She looked at Lady Proudmoore. “We
have to get to Northwatch. If we’re lucky, the war won’t have started yet, and maybe we
can get the troops to stand down. You’ve got to do it in person, though, milady—Major
Davin won’t take orders from anyone else.” Lady Proudmoore nodded. “You’re right. I’ll—”
“No.” That was Aegwynn. The lady gazed at her coolly. “I beg your pardon?” “There’s magic
afoot here, Lady Proudmoore, and you’re the only person in Kalimdor who can stop it. Your
erstwhile chamberlain was right about one thing—Zmodlor is a minor demon. He was a
sycophant of Sargeras’s. He doesn’t have the power to influence so many people—or to
raze a forest and teleport the trees, if it comes to that. Those warlocks Kristoff mentioned
are the source of all this—they’re acting in Zmodlor’s name, probably in exchange for rare
scrolls or some other such thing.” She shook her head. “Warlocks go after spells like an
addict to a poppy plant. It’s revolting.” “We don’t have time to go on a hunt for a group of
warlocks,” Lorena said. “Those warlocks are the source of all this, Colonel,” Aegwynn said.
Lorena looked at Lady Proudmoore. “For all we know, milady, the fighting has already
started. If it hasn’t, it may at any second, if Kristoff was right about those orc and troll
troops heading down. Once the fighting starts, it won’t matter who or what caused it—
there will be bloodshed, and once that line is crossed, the alliance will be permanently
sundered.” Aegwynn also regarded the lady. “Time is of the essence. You said yourself that
Zmodlor knows that you’re on to him. We have to strike now, before he has a chance to
form a strategy against you. And you can’t be in two places at once.” Then the lady smiled.
It was a radiant smile, one that Lorena took as something of a relief after the anger she
had displayed toward Kristoff. “I don’t need to be in two places at once.” She walked to the
entryway of her chambers. Lorena and Aegwynn exchanged confused glances, and then
followed. When they walked in, they saw Lady Proudmoore rummaging through the scrolls
on her desk, before finally saying, “Aha!” She turned around and held up a rock that was
carved into an intricate shape. Then it started to glow…],

playacting (n.) – an attempt to hide your feelings from other people, or to entertain
them, by deliberately behaving in a way that does not represent your true feelings,
pretence [Don't take any notice of him - it's just play-acting. He hadn’t even wanted to be a
soldier. True, he had an aptitude for violence that made him very attractive to the recruiter
who came to his village as a boy, but he was also a tremendous physical coward. He
managed to fake it through training, mostly by virtue of never actually being in danger. If
it was just playacting, Davin had no difficulties at all. Use his sword on a straw dummy? No
problem. But real combat against a flesh-and-blood foe? Then he was hopeless.],

pretense (n.) – a way of behaving that is intended to deceive people; (US) a false or
hypocritical profession; an unsupported claim made or implied; an insincere attempt to
reach a specific condition or quality [She made absolutely no pretence of being interested.
They kept up (= continued) a pretence of normality as long as they could. The army has
given up any pretence of neutrality in the war. Under pretense of friendliness. With only a
pretense of accuracy.],

arbor (n.) – a sheltered place in a garden formed by trees and bushes that are grown to
partly surround it; a grove of trees [A rose arbor.],

arboreal (adj.) – of or living in trees, of, relating to, or resembling a tree; living in or
amng trees [Arboreal animals. Humans evolved from arboreal ancestors. As soon as they
came, their eyes aflame, Davin panicked and hid behind one of the oaks. He left the wizard
exposed, and while the mage tried his best to defend himself, eventually one of the demons
set him afire. While Davin watched from the safety of his arboreal hiding place, the wizard
he was supposed to be protecting screamed in agony and died very very slowly.],

clank (n. v.) – to make a short loud sound like that of metal objects hitting each other,
or to cause osmething to make this sound [My bike chain was clanking in an alarming
way as I pedalled along. Whenever their team scored a goal, they clanked their beer cans
together. I heard the clank of buckets as they went to milk the cows.] – synonyms &
related words [bang, bong, clash, clink, jangle, ring, clang, batter, resound, reverberate,
toll, make noise],

cashier (v.) – to officially dismiss (= remove from a job) a person from a military
organization, especially making them lose their honor at the same time [For a brief
moment, Davin entertained the hope that the orcs would say they were just passing
through for a brief respite and would be gone within the hour. He hoped it as fervently as
he had hoped that his return from the massacre of his platoon would result in his being
cashiered out, and this hope looked to have as much likelihood of becoming reality as the
previous one.],

drink someone under the table (id.) – outdrink someone, drink more than
someone, beat someone in a drinking contest, alluding to the usual outcome that one or
the other person will eventually slide off their seat, ending up under the table [“Makes
sense.” Lorena threw back a big gulp of her grog. “Me, I can drink four of these things
before I even notice. Always had a high tolerance.” She grinned. “When I was a rookie with
the Kul Tiras City Guard, I always used to drink the men in my barracks under the table. We
started having contests with the other barracks, and I was always the secret weapon.” She
laughed. “I quadrupled my income on bets alone during that year.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [The steward brought a pile of assorted meats, cooked
to a fine brown. Aegwynn only recognized some of them, but she assumed the livestock on
Kalimdor was different enough to account for that. It had been years since she ate meat,
and, unlike the smell of the colonel’s drink, the smell of the meat was almost intoxicating.
As a mage, it was her constant companion—the exhaustive requirements of casting spells
required regular infusions of protein—but since her self-imposed exile to Kalimdor she
hadn’t the wherewithal to hunt her own meat, nor the physical need to consume it, so she
had become a vegetarian.],

perfidy (n.) – behavior that is not loyal, a state or act of violating faith or allegiance,
violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed, faithlessness, treachery; (law)
specifically, in warfare, an illegitimate act of deception, such as using symbols like the
Red Cross or white flag to gain proximity to an enemy for purposes of attack; a state or
act of deceit [Aegwynn let out a long breath—which now smelled of boar sausage, an odor
that was still more pleasant than the grog named after the same animal. “There really
wasn’t much time to reflect on things. Guardian is a full-time job, sadly. Demonic threats
have been a constant since before I was born. The attacks became more overt in recent
times, which probably made things easier. But when I wasn’t stopping demons I was
covering up evidence of their perfidy. Most people didn’t know about it—or about me—and
the council preferred to keep it that way.” She shook her head. “It’s odd—I defied them in
so many ways, but that particular credo I kept to. I wonder if that was a mistake. Yes,
people probably felt safer not knowing the truth, and more people died in the recent
wars—but the demons have also been more roundly defeated. Your Lady Proudmoore and
her orc friend did more damage to the entirety of demonkind than has been done in
thousands of years.”],

credo (n.) – a set of beliefs that influences the way you live,

contentious (adj.) – causing or likely to cause disagreement [A contentious

decision/policy/issue/subject. She has some very contentious views on education. “We’re
contentious beings, mortals.” Lorena smirked. “Give us a foe to fight, and we’ll go after it
with our dying breath. And beyond, if needs be.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [After Jaina wolfed down some of Lorena’s meat—
Aegwynn was amused to realize that Lorena had gotten the smallest share of her own
meal—the lady said, “The Burning Blade is operating out of a cavern atop Dreadmist
Peak.” Lorena winced. “Oh, great.” Looking at Lorena, Aegwynn asked, “What’s the
problem?” “Dreadmist Peak is aptly named. The upper regions of the mountain are choked
with this orange mist.” Dismissively, Jaina said, “It’s residuum from an ancient demonic
curse on the place. That’s probably why Zmodlor chose it—that, and its location, since it’s
about equidistant from both Orgrimmar and Theramore. In any case, my magicks will
protect all three of us from the effects of the mist.” “Good,” Lorena said emphatically. “Also,
Duree was able to find this.” Jaina pulled a familiar-looking de-sealed scroll from inside her
cloak and handed it to Aegwynn. She took it, noted that the broken seal was that of the
Tirisfalen, then opened it and laughed. The scroll’s lettering was in her own handwriting.
Handing it back to Jaina, Aegwynn said, “That’s my refinement of the banish-demon spell. I
wrote that three hundred years ago, after Erthalif died and I got access to his redoubt.” She
shuddered at the memory of the old elf’s library, which would have had to be several orders
of magnitude neater before it could be considered merely a mess. It took her and Erthalif’s
staff ten weeks just to organize the scrolls, scrub away the desiccated food and drink, and
chase off the vermin. When she found the notes taken by the legendary elf wizard Kithros
on the moving of objects from one realm to another, Aegwynn had been able to incorporate
them into a more efficient spell for banishing demons. “I daresay if I’d had this eight
hundred years ago, we wouldn’t be dealing with Zmodlor today.” Jaina put the scroll back
in her cloak. “Actually, no. I checked up, and it turns out that you were completely
successful in banishing Zmodlor the first time. But when the Burning Legion attacked, they
recruited many demons, including ones that had been banished by the Tirisfalen. When the
war ended, several stragglers managed to stay in this world even when the legion was
driven back.” “And Zmodlor was one of them?” Aegwynn asked. “Yes.” Jaina nodded.
Unsheathing her sword—and sounding to Aegwynn remarkably gung-ho for someone who
was so appalled by the notion of going to this Dreadmist place—Lorena said, “Milady, if I
may ask—what are we waiting for?” “This warning,” Jaina replied. “I was unable to scry
too closely, for fear of being detected, so I’m not sure what kind of protection Zmodlor and
his warlocks will have. We must be ready for anything.” She turned to face Aegwynn.
“Magna—Aegwynn—you need not accompany us. It may be dangerous.” Aegwynn snorted.
This was a hell of a time for her to say that, and a bit of a reversal from her earlier lecture
on her responsibilities as Guardian. Then again, at the time they had thought that she had
failed in her banishment of Zmodlor, and now they knew that was not the case. Yet, she still
felt some measure of responsibility. “I was facing dangers far worse than that little twerp
of a demon when your great-great-grandparents were infants. We’re wasting time.” Jaina
smiled. “Then let’s go.”],

inure somebody to something (id.) – if you become inured to something

unpleasant, you become familiar with it and able to accept and bear it [After spending
some time on the island they became inured to the hardships. Aegwynn had long since
grown inured to the effects of teleportation, so the only disorientation she felt was related
to the mist. She shot a glance at Lorena, who looked a bit pale, but was still holding her
sword before her, ready for anything.] – synonyms & related words [harden, toughen,
season, temper, condition, accustom, habituate, familiarize, acclimatize, adjust, adapt,
attune, desensitize, dehumanize, brutalize, case-harden, indurate, inoculate],

inoculate (v.) – to give a weak form of a disease to a person or animal, usually by

injection, as a protection against that disease [My children have been inoculated against
polio. The waiting was the worst of it. Abruptly, as he stood there on the firing step, Larn
realised that until now he had been inoculated against fear by the sheer breathless pace of
events since the lander had been hit.],

fuss over sb/sth – to give a person or animal too much attention because you want
to show that you like him, her, or it [She's always fussing over that son of hers as if he
were a little boy. However, Aegwynn said nothing. There was no going back now, and the
last thing Jaina needed was someone acting like a mother hen. Aegwynn herself had
certainly hated it when someone—usually Scavell, or, when they were sleeping together,
Jonas, or one of the council—fussed over her when she was exhausted and still had to do
battle, so she saw no reason to inflict that on Jaina now.],

do as you would be done by (id.) – (UK) said to show that you believe in treating
others as you would like them to treat you,

(random cool paragraph) – [Aloud, she said, “Zmodlor’s here, all right.” She
shuddered. “He’s everywhere.” The demon had obviously set up shop in this cave, and his
essence was in the very rock. She hadn’t been so overwhelmed by foulness since she
confronted her son at Kharazan—though some of the feeling might have been due to the
mist. It only added to the general unpleasantness of the dank cave. Jaina cast a light spell
that allowed them to see, but all that served to do was make the mist brighter. Then again,
Aegwynn had no interest in getting a better look at the damp walls, stalactites—the points
of which threatened the top of her head—and uneven stone floor. After they’d walked
twenty paces into the cave, Aegwynn stiffened. “There’s—” “I’ve got it,” Jaina said. She
muttered a quick incantation. Aegwynn nodded. Both she and Jaina had sensed the simple
entrapment spell. A low-level spell that any first-year apprentice could cast successfully, it
was probably designed mostly to stop any stray animals or people from wandering in
unannounced. It was unlikely that someone would be walking about up in this nightmare,
but Aegwynn had seen stranger in her time. It would be just like some wolf or a lunatic
mountain-climbing dwarf to come up here and meander into the cavern just as Zmodlor
and his minions were in the middle of casting something that required concentration. Best
not to take chances. However, dismantling the spell might well serve as an alarm. Aegwynn
made sure to keep Lorena and her sword and Jaina and her magicks between herself and
the rest of the cave at all times. Moments later, Lorena cried, “Get down!” Not being a fool,
Aegwynn immediately dropped to the cold floor. Lorena did likewise. Jaina, however, stood
her ground and held up her hands. The fireball that roared toward her looked about to
consume her— —but it stopped an arm’s-length before doing so, dissipating instantly.
Clambering to her feet, Aegwynn said, “I’d say they know we’re here.” “Indeed.” Jaina’s
voice was only a whisper. Oh yes. Aegwynn sighed. The voice seemed to come from
everywhere—a popular demon trick. “Can the theatrics, Zmodlor. We’re not your brainless
minions, and we’re not impressed.” Aegwynn! What a pleasant surprise. I had thought you
had long since died at the hands of your son. How fortunate that I get to do it myself,
instead. I owe you for what you did to me. Even as the demon ranted, Aegwynn heard
strange cackling noises. “I know that laugh.” Lorena sounded disgusted. “Grellkin.” Sure
enough, a score of little demons, covered in fur that matched the color of the mist,
scampered toward them. Moving forward to protect Aegwynn and Jaina both, Lorena said,
“I really really hate these guys.” Then she charged ahead and attacked. The fuzzy creatures
were too much for one woman to handle; luckily, there were two women to do so. Jaina cast
several spells that had various effects on the grellkin. Some had their fur catch fire. Others
stopped breathing. Others were blown into the cave walls by sudden gale-force winds in the
enclosed space. None of these were particularly impressive spells, but they were all minor
enough that they allowed Jaina to conserve her power.],

foment (v.) – to cause trouble to develop; (medicine) to apply a poultice to, to bathe
with a cloth or sponge [The song was banned on the grounds that it might foment racial
tension. He was arrested for fomenting a riot; after all, it's bad enough being in a riot but
starting one is much worse. The maid had entered with us, and began once more to foment
the bruise upon her mistress's brow. Thrall shook his head. “Several warriors who served
with you have reported a talisman you carry in the shape of a sword afire—that is the
symbol of the Burning Blade. According to Jaina—as well as an ancient wizard who has
allied herself with the humans—all those who carry that symbol are in the thrall of a
demon known as Zmodlor, who is attempting to foment discontent on Kalimdor and sunder
our alliance. As ever, demons do nothing but use us and then destroy us.”],
(random cool paragraph) – [Not five minutes ago, Aegwynn had urged Zmodlor to
cease his parlor tricks. The disembodied voice trick was probably menacing to the average
person, but it was a simple trick that any first-year apprentice could pull off. So it didn’t
impress Aegwynn all that much. Now, seeing the huge, leathery-skinned, bat-winged,
flame-eyed Zmodlor standing before her, she realized she should have kept her mouth shut.
Demons on the whole were not pretty creatures, but Zmodlor was hideous even by their
standards. Surrounding the demon were eight hooded figures. These, presumably, were the
warlocks, who were chanting rhythmically. Jaina reached into her cloak and grabbed the
scroll. Aegwynn was grateful, as it meant this would be over soon. Now that Zmodlor had
revealed himself, Jaina would be able to cast the banishment. Suddenly, Jaina screamed and
fell to the floor. “Jaina!” Aegwynn ran to the young mage’s side. Lorena, good soldier that
she was, moved to stand between the demon and Jaina. Sweat beaded on Jaina’s forehead
as she managed to get to her knees. Through clenched teeth, she said, “Warlocks…blocking
the spell.” This close, Aegwynn could feel the warlocks’ spellcasting. It was fairly weak,
though there were about a dozen of them, which added power to their spells. Still, a mage
of Jaina’s stature should have been able to punch through that. Unless, of course, she’d
overextended herself. Jaina was struggling—Aegwynn could feel it—but she was losing
ground to Zmodlor’s minions. This is even better than I’d hoped. I’ll make sure that the orcs
are blamed for Proudmoore’s death. It will send the humans into a frenzy. Nothing will stop
them from going to war, and without her to guide them, they’ll lose—but not before they
kill as many orcs as possible. It will be glorious! “Like hell,” Aegwynn muttered. There was
only one thing for her to do. It had been almost four years since she brought Medivh back.
That had drained all her magic at the time, as she’d told Jaina—but the magic never went
away forever. Two decades after she had escaped to Bladescar, she had built up enough
magical power to bring back her son. While she hadn’t regained anywhere near that much
in the four years since, she might well have enough to do what was necessary. If not—well,
she’d lived almost a full millennium. As Lorena had so eloquently pointed out, that was a lot
more than most people got. Sweat was now pouring down Jaina’s face. She was still
kneeling, fists clenched and resting on her thighs. Aegwynn could feel the spell that she
herself had written struggling to push past the blocks the warlocks were putting up. Down
on one knee at Jaina’s side, Aegwynn grabbed the younger woman’s left fist with both
hands. She closed her eyes, gathered up her thoughts, her power, her very life essence.
Focusing it, molding it, moving it, she channeled it all into her arms…then her
forearms…then her hands… And then to Jaina. Fatigue rather suddenly overwhelmed her.
Her bones felt heavy in her skin, her muscles ached as if she had just run a race, and her
breaths came in shallow gasps. Ignoring all of it, Aegwynn continued to focus, willing her
life, her magic, her very soul to Jaina Proudmoore. Jaina opened her eyes. Normally an icy
blue, they were now a fiery red. No! Simultaneously, both Aegwynn and Jaina said, “Yes!”
You cannot stop the Burning Blade! We will prevail over all, destroying everything in our
path, and then we— aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAARRRRRRR RGH! Zmodlor’s screams echoed—
not only off the walls, but from the mouths of the warlocks, who felt sympathetic agony
through the bond the demon had with them. Though Aegwynn’s vision was fading, she saw
Zmodlor’s hideous body twist and contort, ichor spewing from wounds that suddenly
ripped open. A wind kicked up as the air itself was rent asunder by the spell Aegwynn had
written—a portal to the Twisting Nether—pulling Zmodlor’s body into the tear.
Noooooooo! I won’t let you trap me aga— The demon’s words were cut off by his head
being sucked in. But the screams continued from the warlocks, even as the ground shook
under Aegwynn’s unsteady legs. Moments later, they stopped as they, too, were sucked into
the Twisting Nether, where they would suffer anguish several orders of magnitude worse
than what they had planned for the residents of Kalimdor. The tear closed—but the cavern
was still shaking. Showing a soldier’s capacity for stating the obvious, Lorena said, “We’ve
got to get out of here!” But Aegwynn couldn’t make her limbs move. Her arms and legs felt
like dead weights, and it took all her energy just to keep her eyes open. One of the
stalactites ripped from the cave roof with a sharp crack and impaled the floor less than a
hands-breadth from where Aegwynn and Jaina both knelt. Aegwynn heard Jaina start to
mutter the incantation for the teleport spell. Then she passed out.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Once again, Lady Jaina Proudmoore stood atop the
butte on Razor Hill, gazing out over Durotar. Soon, she heard the low, steady rumble that
heralded the arrival of Thrall’s airship. This time, the Warchief came with an honor guard,
most of whom remained in the undercarriage while he climbed down the rope ladder to
greet Jaina. One warrior, whom Jaina did not recognize, came down after him. When they
alighted on the butte, the warrior stood three paces behind Thrall, holding his ax at the
ready in front of him. Smiling wryly, Jaina said, “Do you not trust me, Thrall?” Thrall
returned the smile. “My own closest advisor betrayed me, Jaina. I think it’s best if I remain
alert at all times—and with someone watching my back.” “A wise move.” “Is the threat
truly ended?” Jaina nodded. “It would appear to be. Zmodlor and the warlocks who
performed his magicks have been banished to the Twisting Nether. Even the Burning
Legion would be hard-pressed to liberate them—and so minor a demon would hardly be
worth the effort.” “Well done. I only wish it could have been accomplished before blood was
spilled unnecessarily.” Thrall’s hand went to his belt, from which hung a talisman in the
shape of a flaming sword. Jaina assumed it belonged to Burx, the advisor who had allied
himself with Zmodlor, just as Kristoff had. According to Major Davin’s report— provided
along with his letter of resignation—Thrall had killed Burx in front of a large cadre of orc
and troll warriors for consorting with the Burning Blade. Sighing, Jaina said, “We were
very lucky, Thrall. Zmodlor may have been responsible for this, but he simply brought up
hatreds that were already there. Look at how easily your people and mine took to killing
each other at Northwatch.” “Indeed. It was far easier for our people to cooperate with the
Burning Legion as a common enemy. Now…” His voice trailed off. Silence hung in the air for
a few moments before Jaina spoke again. “Before, I said that after this crisis was solved, we
would speak of a treaty between our people.” “Yes. If this alliance is to outlive the two of
us—and it must, if both humans and orcs are to survive—then we must formalize our
alliance.” “I suggest we meet one week from today at Ratchet—it’s a neutral port, and we
can work out the specifics.” “Agreed. I shall bring Kalthar—he is the wisest of us.” Jaina
couldn’t help herself. “Wiser even than the Warchief?” Thrall laughed. “Far far wiser than
he. It will be done, Jaina.” “Excellent. Farewell, Thrall. I will see you in a week.” “Farewell,
Jaina. May we come out of this crisis stronger than ever.” Nodding, Jaina cast the spell that
would bring her back to her chambers. Aegwynn was there waiting for her. It had taken
the old woman a few days to awaken after she passed out in the cave, and Jaina had feared
for a time that the Guardian would not recover at all. Jaina had barely enough left in her to
teleport the three of them to a spot a ways down on Dreadmist Peak, away from the mist.
She could not take them any farther than that; somehow, she had dredged up enough to
contact Theramore and have an airship come to fetch them. Although Jaina was fairly
ragged when the dirigible rescued them, Aegwynn was as weak as a kitten. A hot meal and
a nap, and Jaina was fine. Aegwynn, however, needed a lot longer than that. The Chief
Healer’s initial prognosis was not good, but after a few days, he declared her to have the
constitution of an elf. Sure enough, she recovered fully. She now sat in the guest chair in
Jaina’s chambers. “About time you got back.” “I see you’ve recovered fully, Magna—your
tongue included.” Aegwynn laughed. “So it would seem.” Jaina fell more than sat in her own
chair, feeling rather tired. She wouldn’t have minded a few days to recover from the ordeal
herself, but had been unable to take the time. There was no chamberlain to fob off some of
the work on to. Duree had handled as much as she could, but as useful as she was, she could
not deal with any of the more complex aspects of running Theramore. Lorena had been
somewhat more helpful, at least in military matters, but she too had no skill with other
aspects of government. So Jaina was unable to devote herself fully to resting up— much to
the irritation of the healer—which left her fatigued. She regarded Aegwynn, who stared
back with her deep green eyes. It frightened Jaina that their entire victory over Zmodlor
was due to the happenstance of her choosing the Bladescar Highlands as the place to
relocate the thunder lizards. Even if she had discovered that Zmodlor was responsible,
without the erstwhile Guardian, she never would have been able to defeat the demon and
his minions. “I want to thank you, Mag—Aegwynn. Without you, all would have been lost.”
Aegwynn simply bowed her head in response. “I suppose that you’ll want to return to
Bladescar?” “Actually,” Aegwynn said with a lone small smile, “no.” Jaina blinked. “No?” “I’d
like to return long enough to retrieve some things, and pick from the garden one last time
before the thunder lizards trample all over it. But I’ve been out of the world for far too
long. I think it’s time I started living in it again. Assuming that the world will have me, at
any rate.” “Most definitely.” Jaina sat up in her chair. She had hoped that Aegwynn would
feel that way, but had not in her wildest dreams believed that those hopes would become
reality. “As it happens, I have an opening for a chamberlain. It’s a position that requires
knowledge, insight, and a willingness to put me in my place and tell me off when I need it.
I’d say you qualify in all regards—especially the last part.” Laughing, Aegwynn said,
“Certainly, though the first two are arguable. Still, I suppose I gained some knowledge and
insight in a thousand years.” She got to her feet. Jaina did likewise. Aegwynn held out her
hand. “I accept.” Returning the handshake, Jaina said, “Excellent. Thank you again,
Aegwynn. You won’t regret this.” “No, but you might.” Aegwynn broke the handshake and
sat back down. “Here’s my first piece of advice to you as your chamberlain: Kristoff was
right. Zmodlor was a minor demon. He didn’t have the brains to come up with something
like this.” Jaina frowned. “I thought you said he started the Burning Blade.” “Yes, but just as
a means to cull souls. A plan of this complexity is far beyond him. You yourself said that
Zmodlor wasn’t the only demon left behind after the Burning Legion was driven back.”
Knowing the answer to the question, Jaina felt the need to hear it from the Guardian’s lips
nonetheless. “What is it you’re saying, Aegwynn?” “I’m saying, Jaina, that this is probably
not the last we’ve heard from the Burning Blade.”],

fob off something/someone (on, to) (v.) – to persuade someone to accept

someone or something you want to get rid of [Politics can be a way to fob off theoretical
solutions on people demanding practical ones. Jaina fell more than sat in her own chair,
feeling rather tired. She wouldn’t have minded a few days to recover from the ordeal
herself, but had been unable to take the time. There was no chamberlain to fob off some of
the work on to. Duree had handled as much as she could, but as useful as she was, she could
not deal with any of the more complex aspects of running Theramore. Lorena had been
somewhat more helpful, at least in military matters, but she too had no skill with other
aspects of government. So Jaina was unable to devote herself fully to resting up— much to
the irritation of the healer—which left her fatigued.],

fob somebody off (with something) (v.) – to persuade someone to accept

something that is of a low quality, or different to what they really wanted; to try to stop
someone from complaining or asking questions by telling them something that is not
true, or giving them an excuse [The bank delayed on his compensation claim for eight
years while attempting to fob him off with much smaller sums. When you go back to a shop
with faulty goods, don't be fobbed off with claims that it's the manufacturers'
responsibility.],

fob (n.) – a piece of leather or other material to which a group of keys is fastened, or a
chain or piece of material used, especially in the past, to fasten a watch to a man's
waistcoat [A key fob. A fob watch.]

happenstance (n.) – chance or a chance situation, especially one producing a good

result [By (a strange) happenstance they were both in Paris at the same time. She
regarded Aegwynn, who stared back with her deep green eyes. It frightened Jaina that
their entire victory over Zmodlor was due to the happenstance of her choosing the
Bladescar Highlands as the place to relocate the thunder lizards. Even if she had discovered
that Zmodlor was responsible, without the erstwhile Guardian, she never would have been
able to defeat the demon and his minions.],

lackadaisical (adj.) – showing little enthusiasm and effort, showing no itnerest, vigor,
determination; lazy, slothful, indolent [The food was nice enough but the service was
somewhat lackadaisical. The lackadaisical look on his face.],

trenchant (adj.) – keen, biting, vigorously effective and articulate, severe [Trenchant
wit. After a number of trenchant remarks, I made Chase cry.],
hill of beans (id.) – something of no importance, something of triflingvalue, virtually
nothing at all [Ilsa, I'm no good at being noble, but it doesn't take much to see that the
problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. The boss
is just mad right now – I think all of his new rules will amount to a hill of beans. The
problem didn't amount to a hill of bones.],

feel one's oats (id.) – to feel energetic or frisky, to behave in a vigorous or bold
manner; to feel important, to be empowered [In fact, precisely as a rash, restive horse is
said to feel his oats, so Turkey felt his coat. "It's a tough road because kids at that time are
developmentally feeling their oats," Beverage said. The Nationals gave the Coalition its
Senate majority and yesterday were feeling their oats. The old man feeling his oats, as he
leaned with his back against the bar, said to us with a noticeable degree of pride, "Lads, I'm
proud of every one of you. Men who will fight to protect my interests has my purse at their
command."] – synonyms & related words [champ at the bit, burst with energy, chafe at
the bit, thrive],

glut (n.) – a supply of something that is much greater than can be sold or is needed or
wanted, an excess, too much of something, overabundance, plethora, slew, surfeit,
surplus; something that fills up an opening, a clog; a wooden wedge used in splitting
blocks [The fall in demand for coffee could cause a glut on/in the market. The current glut
of graduates means that many of them will not be able to find jobs. A glut of the market.],

glut (v.) – to fill to capacity, to satisfy all requirement or demand, to sate; to eat
gluttonously or to satiety [To glut one's appetite. The realms of nature and of art were
ranscaked to glut the wonder, lust, and ferocity of a degraded populace. Like three horses
that have broken fence, and glutted all night long breeast-deep in corn. The roads are
glutted with cars.] – synonyms & related words [cram full, fill to excess, overfill,
overload, oversupply, saturate, supersaturate, flood, inundate, deluge, swamp, choke,
clog, stuff, congest, deluge, cloy, feast, hog, make a pig of, surfeit, gorge, jade],

dolmen (n.) – a prehistoric megalithic tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two

or more upright stones, most having originally been covered with earth or smaller
stones to form a barow; more generally, any megalithic tomb, including passage graves
and wedge tombs,

menhir (n.) – a single tall standing sotne as a monument, especially of prehistoric

times,

environ (n.) – (usually plural) a surrounding area, surroundings, environment [Indeed,

in some curious fashion, the Webway can detect when its environs have been breached by a
Dolmen Gate and its arcane mechanisms swiftly attempt to seal off the infected spur from
the rest of the Labyrinthine Dimension until the danger to its integrity has passed. The
town, and its green environs, shortly receded, the distant hills faded in the horizon, and the
emerald isles lay, like specks, on the bosom of the ocean. The young rogue was taking a
walk, exploring the environs, his fair scanty locks blowing in the breeze, his eyes blinking as
they beheld the immensity of Paris.],

spur (n.) – (encouragement) something that acts as an encouragement for an activit yor
development [The manager said that the team's win on Saturday would be a spur to even
greater effort this eason. The outcome of the election added a further spur to the reform
movement.] – synonyms & related words [stimulus, incentive, encouragement, stimulant,
stimulation, inducement, impetus, prod, prompt, incitement, goad, fillip, motive,
motivation, kick up the backside, shot in the arm],

on the spur of the moment (id.) – (informal) used to say that a decision, action,
etc. is sudden and done without any planning [We hadn't planned to go away – it was one
of those spur-of-the-moment decisions. We just jumped in a car on the spur of the moment
and drove to the seaside.],

on the strength of something (id.) – if you do something on the strength of

something such as advice, you do it because you have been influenced by it or believe it
[I invested in the company on the strength of my brother's advice.],

trammel (n.) – whatever impedes activity, progres,s or freedom, such as a net or

shackle; a fishing net that has large mesh at the edges and smaller mesh in the middle; a
kind of net for catching birds, fishes, or other prey; a set of rings or other hanging
devices, attached to a transverse bar suspended over a fire, used to hang cooking pots
etc.; a net for confining a woman's hair; a kind of shackle used for regulating the motions
of a horse and making him amble – synonyms & related words [restraint, constraint,
curb, check, impediment, obstacle, barrier, handicap, bar, block, hindrance,
encumbrance, disadvantage, drawback, snag, stumbling block; shackles, fetters, bonds],

trammel (v.) – to entangle, as in a net; to confine, to hamper, to shackle [Virtuous

motives, trammeled by inertia and timidity, are no match for armed and resolute
wickedness. Heaven lost through spider-trammelled prison-bars. Indeed, he had known the
C'tan's ultimate destruction to be impossible and had drawn his plans accordingly; each
C'tan Shard was bound within a multidimensional Tesseract Labyrinth, as tramelled and
secured as a Terran djinn trapped in a bottle.] – synonyms & related words [restrict,
restrain, constrain, hamper, confine, curb, check, hinder, handicap, obstruct, impede,
interfere with, forestall, thwart, frustrate; hold back, retard, slow down, cramp, clog,
straiten, hem in; hamstring, bridle, encumber, enmesh, ensnare, stymie, throw a spanner
in the works of, throw a monkey wrench in the works of],

amble (v.) – to walk in a slow and relaxed way [He was ambling along the beach. She
ambled down the street, stopping occasionally to look in the shop windows.] – synonyms &
related words [stroll, saunter, wander, meander, ramble, dawdle, promenade, walk, go
for a walk, take a walk, roam, traipse, stretch one's legs, get some exercise, get some air,
take the air, stravaig, mosey, tootle, pootle, bimble, mooch, swan, putter, perambulate,
peregrinate]

amble (n.) – a slow, relaxed walk [There's nothing I enjoy more than a leisurely amble in
the park.],

vindicate (v.) – to prove that what someone said or did was right or true, after other
people thought it was wrong; to prove that someone is not guilty or is free from blame,
after other people blamed them [The decision to include Morris in the team was
completely vindicated when he scored two goals. The investigation vindicated her
complaint about the newspaper. They said they welcomed the trial as a chance to vindicate
themselves. I felt I had fully vindicated my request. He maintained his innocence
throughout the trial and has been fully vindicated by the jury. To vindicate a claim.
Subsequent events vindicated his policy. To vindicate someone's honor. The Necrons had
been vindicated in their pursuit only of science and control over the material realm and
certainly took pleasure in seeing the Old Ones' civilisation collapse as a result of their over-
indulgence of psychic power, and the end of the C'tan's domination over their race. Yet
even with the defeat of the Old Ones and the C'tan alike, the Silent King saw that the time of
the Necrons in the galaxy was over -- for the moment, at least.] – synonyms & related
words [acquit, clear, absolve, free from blame, declare innocent, exonerate, exculpate,
discharge, liberate, free, deliver, redeem, let off, let off the hook, justify, warrant,
substantiate, establish, demonstrate, ratify, authenticate, verify, confirm, corroborate,
prove, defend, offer grounds for, support, back, evidence, bear out, bear witness to,
endorse, give credence to, lend weight to, extenuate],

extenuate (v.) – (formal) to cause a wrong act to be judged less seriously by giving
reasons for it; (of a factor or situation) acting in mitigation to lessen the seriousness of
guilt or an offense; (literary) make (someone) thin; to underestimate, underrate, or
make light of [He was unable to say anything that might have extenuated his behavior.
Hunger and poverty are not treated by the courts as extenuating circumstances. There
were extenuating circumstances. While day after day, hour after hour, Grand Marshal
found himself confronted by defeatism at every turn: his every waking moment spent in the
company of dozens of mewling incompetents, all of them with their pleas of extenuation
and tales of woe. She was found guilty of theft, but because of extenuating circumstnaces (=
a situation which made her crime seem less serious) was not sent to prison. Do not
extenuate the difficulties we are in.] – synonyms & related words [mitigating, excusing,
exonerative, palliating, palliative, justifying, justifactory, vindicating, exculpatory,
moderating, qualifying, softening, tempering, diminishing, lessening]

stripling (n.) – a young man [He is a mere stripling of 18.],

sinuous (adj.) – moving in a twisting, curving, or indirect way, or having many curves
[He enjoyed watching the sinuous bodies of the dancers. The hikers followed the sinuous
path through the trees. The river follows a sinuous trail through the date. The sinuous
grace of a cat. She got to her feet in one sinuous movement.] – synonyms & related words
[winding, windy, serpentine, curving, twisting, meandering, snaking, snaky, zizgzag,
zigzagging, turning, bending, curling, coiling, undulating, tortuous, sinuate, ogee,
anfractuous, flexuous, menadrous, serpentiform, lithe, supple, agile, graceful, loose-
limbed, limber, lissom, willowy, slinky, lithesome],

win/gain your spurs (id.) –(historical) gain a knighthood by an act of bravery;

(figurative) to achieve something that proves that you are skilled in a particular type of
activity and to therefore win the respect of other people [He won his political spurs
fighting hospital closures during his time as a local councillor in Bristol.],

when it rains, it pours (id.) – (US) when something good or bad occurs, it usually
occurs more than once and often within a short period of time [I have a new supervisor
at the office, three new assistants to train, and enough work to keep me busy form onths –
when it rains, it pours. „Ah like tae stick with what works. An' when it rains, it pours, lad.“],

it never rains but it pours (id.) – (UK) said whe one bad thing happens, followed
by a lot of other bad things that make a bad situation worse,

(use) a (sledge)hammer to crack eggs/(a nut) (id.) – to use disproportionate,

excessive, unnecessary, needless, too much force or expense to overcome, solve a minor
problem,

dreams in the magic (id.) – ???

the hard memory (id.) – ???

thief of spirits (id.) – ???

legacy of night (id.) – ???

a light in the night is a night without fright (id.) – ???

like learning from an echo (id.) – ???

cleaning with mud (id.) – ???

a fool's test (id.) – ???

challenges make for good teachers (id.) – ???

a hug can be warmer than a fire (id.) – ???

working for oblivion (id.) – ???

delays bring new ways (id.) – ???

throwing rocks at a mountain (id.) – ???

cracking eggs with a hammer (id.) – ???

a hot meal in the cold is worth fivefold (id.) – ???

sleeping on a cloud (id.) – ???

drinking the sea when you're thirsty (id.) – ???

making doors out of windows (id.) – ???

don't stall after a fall (id.) – ???

every fight is an awful sight (id.) – ???

a giant among ants (id.) – ???

like hearing colors (id.) – ???

turning sand into diamonds (id.) – ???

using a single candle to warm a home (id.) – ???

making a lemon sweet (id.) – ???

warning me the sun will rise (id.) – ???

great demands for little hands (id.) – ???

a bandage for your sorrow (id.) – ???

saving it for yesterday (id.) – ???

it has the logic of dreams (id.) – ???

waiting for the dead to return (id.) – ???

if a punishment doesn't reach, the punishment doesn't teach (id.) – ???

fighting the setting sun (id.) – ???

doubts and fears are between your ears (id.) – ???

fighting a lion with a steak (id.) – ???

decorating a cake with thorns (id.) – ???

a copy does not equal the original (id.) – ???

that's trusting a rumor (id.) – ???

a picnic on a rainy day (id.) – ???

memories are worth more than photos (id.) – ???

turning leaves into money (id.) – ???

living like a bear in winter (id.) – ???

dream of tomorrow, live in the now (id.) – ???

shadows of the past can become shades of the present (id.) – ???

some languages are known to all (id.) – ???

tears of my fears (id.) – ???

small bites, small delights (id.) – ???

a throne of thorns (id.) – ???

that's swimming against the tides (id.) – ???

like a light on the sun (id.) – ???

crown of frowns (id.) – ???

a stranger today can be a friend tomorrow (id.) – ???

once the sun turns green (id.) – ???

a knife is only as sharp as its wielder (id.) – ???

tinkle (n.) – (sound) a light ringing sound [In the distance, we heard the silvery tinkle of
a stream. The tinkle of the doorbell. The faint tinkle of water.] – synonyms & related
words [ring, chime, peal, ding, ping, clink, chink, jingle, jangle, splash, purl, babble,
burble, plash]

tinkle (v.) – (sound) to make a light ringing sound, a light, clear, ringing sound; to make
light metallic sounds, rather like a very small bell; to indicate, signal, etc. by tinkling
[Some small old-fashioned shops still have a bell which tinkles when you push the door
open. The glasses tinkled together as they were placed on the table. The butler tinkled
dinner. And his ears tinkled, and the color fled. A bell tinkled as he went into the shop Lady
Malande's laughter tinkled around the council chamber. Cool water tinkled in the stone
foundation. ] – synonyms & related words [ring, jingle, jangle, chime, peal, ding, ping,
clink, chink, splash, purl, babble, burble, plash]

come a cropper (id.) – to fail badly, or to fall from a horse or have a bad accident in a
vehicle [If outside buyers or suppliers lose faith, a company can come a cropper very
quickly. She came an almighty cropper when her back wheels hit an icy patch. She came a
cropper on the stairs and broke her leg.],

purl (v.) – to decorate with fringe or embroidered edge; (knitting) an inverted stitch
producing ribbing etc. [Needlework purled with gold. Knit one, purl two.],

purl (v.) – to flow with a murmuring sound in swirls and eddies; to rise in circles,
ripples, or undulations, to curl, to mantle, chirp, warble [Thin winding breath which
purled up to the sky. Louder and louder purl the falling rills.],

eddy (n.) – a current of air or water running back, or in an opposition direction to the
main current; a circular current, a whirlpool – [The bend in the river had caused an eddy
of fast swirling water.] – synonyms & related words [swirl, whirlpool, vortex, maelstrom;
countercurrent, counterflow, suckhole, Charybdis],

eddy (v.) – to form an eddy, to move in, or as if in, an eddy, to move in a circle, if water,
wind, smoke, etc. eddies, it moves fast in a circle [The water eddied around in a
whirlpool.] – synonyms & related words [swirl, whirl, spiral, wind, churn, swish,
circulate, revolve, spin, twist; flow, ripple, stream, surge, seethe, billow, foam, froth, boil,
ferment],

miserly (adj.) – (person) like a miser, very covetous, stingy, cautious with money [A
miserly person.] – synonyms & related words [mean, niggardly, parsimonious, close-
fisted; penny-pinching, cheese-paring, grasping, greedy, avaricious, Scrooge-like,
ungenerous, illiberal, close; ascetic, puritanical, masochistic, stingy, mingy, tight, tight-
fisted, money-grubbing, money-grabbing, cheap, tight-arsed, near],

miserly (adj.) – (amount) a miserly amount is extremely small [The workers are paid a
miserly $2 a day.] – synonyms & related words [meagre, inadequate, paltry, limited,
insufficient, deficient, negligible, insubstantial, skimpy, miserable, lamentable, pitiful,
puny, niggardly, beggarly; measly, stingy, lousy, pathetic, piddling, exiguous],

doy (interjection) – disdainful indication that something is obvious, see duh [Wow, he
looks pretty angry. – Doy!],

well-thewed (adj.) – good in manner, habit, form, or construction; well-mannered;

well-done.; having an attractive physical appearance or strong muscles [Olaf was early a
well-thewed man, goodly to look at, of middle height, and wise and deft of speech he was at
an early age.],
goodly (adj.) – considerable in size or quantity; (archaic) attractive, excellent, or
admirable [A goodly number of our countrymen. £1500 is a goodly sum.] – synonyms &
related words [fairly large, sizeable, substantial, considerable, not inconsiderable,
respectable, significant, largish, biggish, decent, decent-sized, generous, handsome;
bonny, tidy, not to be sneezed at, serious],

pointed(ly) (adj. adv.) – explicitly, with emphasis, so as to make a point, especially

with criticism [Pointed comments were made about racial discrimination within the army.
A pointed remark. Maiev remained standing. Pointedly she placed her hand on the hilt of
her weapon.] – synonyms & related words [cutting, trenchant, biting, incisive, acid,
acerbic, tart, caustic, scathing, mordant, razor-edged, venomed, venomous, piercing,
penetrating, snarky, acidulous, mordacious],

fulcrum (n.) – (specialized, physics) the point at which a bar, or something that isb
alancing, is supported or balances; (formal, figurative) the main thing or person needed
to support something or to make it work or happen [A seesaw balances at its fulcrum.
The fulcrum of the debate/argument is the individual's right to choose. While using the
Orrery, Trazyn discovered that the Cadian Pylons were holding back the tide of the Warp
on the Imperial Fortress World of Cadia, which had become the fulcrum point in the
galaxy's conflict with Chaos.] – synonyms & related words [answer, solution, blueprint,
clue, code, core, guide, indicator, means, passport, password, sign, ticket, brand, cipher,
crux, cue, earmark, explanation, hinge, index, interpretation, lead, lever, marker, nexus,
nucleus, pivot, pointer, root, symptom, translation, focal point, heart, axle, center,
stanchion, groundwork, foundation, hold, flotation, cornerstone, bedding, abutment],

cornerstone (n.) – an important quality or feature on which a particular thing

depends or is based; a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two
walls [A national minimum wage remained the cornerstone of policy. The theory of natural
selection is a cornerstone of biological thought.] – synonyms & related words [foundation,
basis, keystone, mainspring, mainstay, linchpin, bedrock, fundament, base, key,
fundamental principle, main ingredient, central component, centrepiece, core, heart,
centre, focus, crux, prop, backbone, anchor],

stanchion (n.) – a fixed vertical bar or pole used as a support for something [If this
stanchion is removed, the stairs will collapse. His 18-yard short hit the stanchion (=
goalpost) and went back into play.],

you can't make bricks without straw (id.) – (UK, saying) used to say that you
cannot make something without the necessary materials [You're never going to have a
championship team unless they start recruiting players who are actually worth a damn.
You can't make bricks without straw, for Pete's sake. Don't start building that shed unless
you know you've got everything you'll need. You can't make bricks without straw. „I really
wanted to give Fred a birthday party, but none of the people I invited were able to come.“
„Don't blame yourself. You can't make bricks without straw.“],
amenity (n.) – something, such as a swimming pool or shopping center, that is
intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for the people in a town, hotel, or
other place; basic amenities, things considered to be necessary to live comfortably, such
as hot water; the pleasantness or attractiveness of a place [The council has some spare
cash, which it proposes to spend on public amenities. The 200-year old jail is overcrowded,
understaffed, and lacking in basic amenities. The older type of housing lacks basic
emenities. Gravel working means lories, dust, noise and a general loss of amenity.
Developments which would clash with amenity.] – synonyms & related words [facility,
service, convenience, resource, utility, system, appliance, aid, advantage, comfort,
benefit, arrangement, opportunity, equipment, provision, solutions, assistance,
pleasantness, agreeableness, pleasurablness, enjoyableness, niceness],

duff (adj.) – bad, not useful, or not working [He's directed so many movies that you might
expect a few duff ones.],

duff (n.) – a person's bottom [Get off your duff and start working.],

duff (v.) – to steal farm animals by changing the brand (= owner's mark) on them, or to
steal goods by changing their appearance,

at full pelt (id.) – (run) running as fast as possible, as quick as you can [I’m not saying
you’ll be able to outrun the devils mind. Even goin’ full pelt and with a head start, you’ll
lose ground pretty quickly. I ran downstairs at full pelt.],

pelt (v.) – (run) (informal) to run fast [The children pelted down the bank. I pelted across
the road. They pelted into the factory.] – synonyms & related words [rup, race, leap,
sprint, dash, rush, speed, streak, shoot, whizz, whoosh, buzz, zoom, flash, blast, charge,
stampede, chase, career, bustle, hare, fly, wing, kite, skite, dive, jump, skip, scurry, scud,
scutter, scramble, hurry, hasten, belt, scoot, scorch, tear, zap, zip, whip, bomb, bucket,
shift, boogie, hightail, clip, drag/tear/haul ass, cut along],

pelt (v.) – (throw) to throw a number of things quickly at someone or something [We
saw rioters pelting police with bricks and bottles. Two boys pelted him with rotten apples.
They pelted him with snowballs.] – synonyms & related words [bombard, shower, attack,
assail, batter, pepper, strafe, rake, sweep, enfilade, blitz, throw at, rain something down
on, fire a broadside at, cannonade, fusillade, pummel, shower, lapidate, swat, wallop],

wallop (v.) – to hit someone hard, especially with the flat part of the hand or with
something held in the hand; to defeat someone easily, especially in sports [She walloped
him across the back of the head. They walloped the back of his head with a stick. „How did
your tennis game go last night?“ „Oh, I was walloped again.“],

wallop (n.) – a heavy blow or punch; (UK) alcoholic drink, especially beer [I gave it a
wallopw with my boot. An endless supply of free wallop.],
ponderous (adj.) – (formal, mainly disapproving) slow and awkward because of being
very heavy or large; if a book, speech, or style of writing or speaking is ponderous, it is
boring because it is slow, long, or serious [He had a slow and ponderous manner. The
ponderous reporting style makes the evening news dull viewing. Canoptek Spyders move
about by anti-gravitic propulsion, albeit more ponderously than the agile skimmer bodies
that Necron Destroyers possess. A swarthy, ponderous giant of a man. A mechanical doll
performed a ponderous dance. The show is loaded down with ponderous one-liners. His
ponderous sentences.] – synonyms & related words [clumsy, slow, heavy, awkward,
lumbering, slow-moving, cumbersome, heavy-footed, ungainly, graceless, maladroit,
uncoordinated, blundering, like a bull in a china shop, clodhopping, clunky, lubberty,
cumbrous, labored, laborious, dull, awkward, clumsy, forced, stilted, unnatural, artificial,
turgid, stodgy, stolid, lifeless, plodding, pedestrian, boring, uninteresting, solemn,
serious, tedious, monotonous, dry, dreary, pedantic, ornate, elaborate, over-elaborate,
intricate, convoluted, verbose, long-winded, windy, prolix],

swarthy (adj.) – (of a person or their skin) dark [A swarthy face/complexion. A swarthy
fisherman.] – synonyms & related words [dark-complexioned, black, brown, brunet,
dark, dark-hued, dark-skinned, darkish, dusky, swart, tan, tawny],

hamper (v.) – to prevent someone doing something easily [Fierce storms have been
hampering rescue efforts and there is now little chance of finding more survivors. Extensive
study by the Imperium of Man on Gauss Weapons and their effects on both organic and
inanimate matter has, thus far, been hampered by the lack of a working device to
examine.] – synonyms & related words [impede, restrict, block, curb, frustrate,
hamstring, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold up, inconvenience, inhibit, obstruct, prevent,
retard, stymie, thwart, baffle, balk, bar, bind, check, clog, cramp, cumber, embarrass,
encumber, entangle, fetter, foil, hog-tie, leash, restrain, shackle, tie, trammel, cramp
one's style, drag one's feet, get in the way, hang up, interfere with, slow down, tie one's
hands, tie up],

hamper (n.) – (UK) a basket or box containing food for a special occasion [A Christmas
food hamper. Sam, Get me Fatty on the phone – tell him he's won a hamper.],

toe the line/mark/plank (id.) – accept the authority, policies, or principls of a

particular group, especially unwillingly [He needs to know the line and toe the line. He
knew that he had to toe the official line because he couldn't afford to be put on the dole.
Sooner or later a boy has to learn to toe the line.] – synonyms & related words [conform,
obey the rules, comply with the rules, observe the rules, abide by the rules, adhere to the
rules, act in accordance with the rules, follow the rules, keep to the rules, stick to the
rules; submit, yield; play it by the book, play by the rules, keep in step],

a mine of knowledge (id.) – someone or something which has a lot of knowledge,

rich seam (id.) – a multifaceted topic that provides a lot of interesting material for
discussion or writing [Judy's childhood experiences were a rich seam for her as she wrote
her first novel.]

be a rich seam to mine (id.) – (mainly UK) to be full of good material and ideas to
use [When she started writing novels, she found her time as a judge was a rich seam for her
to mine.],

mine a rich seam of something (id.) – (mainly UK, literary) to take advantage of a
strong feeling or quality in a particular situation [Polidori, the right-wing politician, is
mining a rich seam of fear and prejudice.],

bursting at the seams (id.) – (informal) if a place is bursting at the seams, it has a
very large number of people or things in it; to try to contain a strong feeling or impulse
[Now that they have six children, their little house is bursting at the seams. Because the
hotel was bursting at the seams everyone had to double up. When I saw your text, I
practically burst at the seams trying not to laugh at it in the middle of the theater.] –
synonyms & related words [teem, brim, bustle, crawl, overflow, overrun, swarm, swell,
abound, bear, bristle, burst, crowd, flow, grow, jam, pack, pour, produce, prosper,
pullulate, rain, shower, be crawling with, be full of, be numerous, be plentiful, be prolific,
pour out, roll in, superabound, swim in, wallow in],

hearsay (n.) – information that you have heard but do not know to be true [The
evidence against them is all hearsay.] – synonyms & related words [unsubstantiated
information, gossip, clothesline, comment, cry, grapevine, leak, noise, report, rumble,
rumor, scandal, scuttlebutt, talk, mere talk, talk of the town, word of mouth],

word of mouth (n.) – oral communication [Sales bounced back after the disastrous
first week, thanks to word of mouth.] – synonyms & related words [oral message, orally,
parol, personal account, speech, spoken communication, spoken words, verbal evidence,
viva voce],

rumor (n.) – a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth [They
were investigating rumors of a massacre. Rumor has it that they have been dabbling in the
black arts.] – synonyms & related words [gossip, hearsay, talk, tittle-tattle, the grapevine,
the word on the street, goss, scuttlebutt, poop, furphy, fame, piece of gossip, report,
story, whisper, canard, speculation, information, word, news, on dit, buzz, bruit],

bruit (v.) – spread (a report or rumor) widely [I didn't want to have our relationship
bruited about the office.],

bruit (n.) – (archaic) a report or rumor; (medicine) a sound, especially an abnormal

one, heard through a stethoscope, a murmur [The wildest bruits were greedily credited.],

sibilant (adj.) – making an „s“ or „sh“ sound [A sibilant whisper.],

sibilant (n.) – an „s“ or „sh“ sound [The microphone exaggerates every sibilant.],

over the hill (id.) – (of a person) old, past the prime of life [Mrs. Joiner is over the hill.
A once famous ballerina, now over the hill. It was generally believed that over 30 was over
the hill in tennis.] – synonyms & related words [past one's prime, not as young as one
was, not as young as one used to be; in one's dotage, long in the tooth, as old as the hills;
elderly, old, aged, senior, ancient, venerable; decrepit, doddering, doddery, not long for
this world, past it, no spring chicken, senescent],

schlub (n.) – (chiefly US, informal) a person who is socially awkward, unattractive,
clumsy, oafish, unkempt, fat, overweight,

inscrutable (adj.) – not showing emotions or thoughts and therefore very difficult to
understand or get to know, impossible to understand or interpret [Guy looked blankly
inscrutable. Her inscrutable face gave nothing away. The ways of the gods are inscrutable.
An inscrutable face/expression/smile.] – synonyms & related words [enigmatic,
unreadable, impenetrable, mysterious, impossible to interpret, cryptic, unexpressive,
inexpressive, emotionless, unemotional, expressionless, impassive, blank, vacant,
deadpan, dispassionate, poker-faced, mysterious, inexplicable, unexplainable,
incomprehensible, beyond comprehension, beyond understanding, impossible to
understand, unintelligible, impenetrable, unfathomable, fathomless, opaque, puzzling,
perplexing, baffling, bewildering, confusing, abstruse, arcane, obscure, sibylline,
wildering],

sibylline (adj.) – relating to or characteristic of a sibyl, prophetic and mysterious [One

glimpses them, uttering sibylline predictions of weal and woe.],

weal (n.) – a red, swollen mark left on flesh by a blow or pressure; (medicine) an area
of the skin which is temporarily raised, typically reddened, and usually accompanied by
itching [She slapped his cheek and a bright red weal sprang up on it. Blood dripped from a
weal on his shoulders- The felhound moved toward him, tail lashing, distracting him from
the voice. Its short legs carried it at surprising speed. Its mouth yawned to reveal sharp
teeth. Vandel sprang to one side, avoiding the strike, wheeled and lashed out with his blade,
cutting a bloody green weal along the creature’s side. Rage and hate drove the blow. The
tear of flesh satisfied both.] – synonyms & related words [welt, wound, lesion, swelling,
scar, cicatrix, mark, blemish, discoloration, pockmark],

weal (n.) – prosperity, happiness; the welfare of the community [In weal and woe. The
public weal.],

deadpan (adj.) – delibrately impassive or expressionless; having such a face or look;

impassive [A deadpan face or look. The comedian remained deadpan. Deadpan behavior
or speech.],
deadpan (v.) – to express (oneself) in an impassive or expressionless manner [“And
you’re worried that they may attack Eldre’thalas?” Selana inquired timidly. The
commander deadpanned to her for a few moments, silent. He scanned her over with an
inquisitive gaze for what felt like a solid minute, but was only a few moments in reality.],

things that go bump in the night (id.) – (humorous) used to describe anything
unknown that might be frightening, especially a noise [The original. Likely has a C'tan
(The Void Dragon) buried inside it. Mars is a radioactive desert wasteland where factories
and other forge world bits are built on top of kilometer deep ruins of previous bits, all
infested with insane robots, sentient demonic warp viruses, and other things that go bump
in the night. Immediately after the Dark Age of Technology they went full Kin-Dza-Dza and
devolved into atmosphere-less techno-barbarianism until the Emperor showed up after he
conquered Earth.],

mellifluous (adj.) – having a pleasant and flowing sound [A deep mellifulous voice. The
mellifluous sound of the cello.],

mellow out (v.) – (slang) to become more relaxed [My dad has definitely mellowed out
as he's gotten older.],

flabby (adj.) – (fat) (informal, disapproving) soft and fat; (weak) weak and without
force [Flabby arms/thighs. I was starting to get a bit flabby around my waist. A flabby
argument.],

breviary (n.) – a book containing prayers, hymns, and so on for everyday use at the
canonical hours; (obsolete) a brief statement or summary [1. Discipline in War leads to
Victory 2. Victory in War leads to Immortality 3. Immortality is the gift of Chaos 4. In
return, Chaos demands Blood 5. Thus, Blood must ever be spilt 6. Eternal Blood demands
Eternal War 7. Eternal War demands Eternal Discipline 8. Chaos will always have Blood,
yours or theirs – Eight Principles of War, Breviary of the Alpha Legion.],

malediction (n.) – words that are intended to bring bad luck to someone or that
express the hope that someone will have bad luck; a curse; evil speech [He left, muttering
maledictions against them.],

imprecation (n.) – an offensive word [The old woman walked along the street
muttering imprecations.],

imprecate (v.) – to call down by prayer, as something hurtful or calamitous; to invoke

evil upon ,to curse, to swear at,

maledictory (adj.) – of or relating to malediction,

manifestly (adv.) – very obviously [He claims that he is completely committed to the
project, yet this is manifestly untrue. The government has manifestly failed to raise
educational standards, despite its commitment to do so. f I might level a minor criticism,
the instructions issued to your gift were manifestly not as clear as you thought, as most of
them had to be forcibly restrained -- sadly it seems that the lower orders will always
behave like an army of invasion, whether that be their purpose or not.],

churlish (adj.) – rude, unfriendly, unpleasant, rude in a mean-spirited and surly

way[They invited me to dinner and I thought it would be churlish to refuse. It seems
churlish to complain. It seemed churlish to refuse her invitation. However, this is a minor
complaint and seems almost churlish under the circumstances, so please allow me to repay
your gift with one of my own.] – synonyms & related words [rude, ill-mannered,
discourteous, impolite, ungracious, unmannerly, uncivil, ungentlemanly, ungallant,
unchivalrous, ill-bred, boorish, oafish, loutish, mean-spirited, ill-tempered, unkind,
inconsiderate, uncharitable, ill-humored, surly, sullen, ignorant],

boor (n.) – a person who is rude and does not consider other people's feelings [He is
such a boor when he is intoxicated. I found him rather boorish and aggressive.] –
synonyms & related words [lout, oaf, ruffian, hooligan, thug, rowdy, bully boy, brawler,
rough, churl, lubber, philistine, vulgarian, yahoo, barbarian, neanderthal, primitive,
savage, brute, beast, monster, bosthoon, clodhopper, clod, tough, toughie, roughneck,
peasant, pig, bruiser, head man, yobbo, yob, chav, lager lout, oik, lump, ape, gorilla,
lummox, hoon],

yob (n.) – (UK, informal) a rude, noisy, and aggressive youth, yobbo

lout (n.) – a young man who behaves in a very rude, offensive, and sometimes violent
way [Teenage louts roam the streets at night. Loutish behavior.],

loutishness (n.) – rude, offensive behavior,

lubber (n.) – a clumsy or lazy person; (nautical) an inexperienced or novice sailor, a

landlubber; (old use) a large person who often breaks things or has accidents,

abbey-lubber (n.) – (obsolete, historical, derogatory) an able-bodied idler who grew

sleek and fat from the charity of religious houses, a lazy monk,

bassoon (n.) – a large musical instrument that is played by blowing into a long, curved
tube,

clodhopper (n.) – (person) a person who moves in an awkward way [Look where
you're going, you great clodhopper.],

clodhopper (n.) – (shoe) a heavy shoe [You're not coming in the house in those great
clodhoppers.],
clodhopping (adj.) – clumsy, large and unwieldy [You clodhopping idiot! Big,
clodhopping shoes.],

yob (n.) – a young man who behaves in a very rude, offensive, and sometimes violent
way [A gang of loud-mouthed yobs.],

lager lout (n.) – (UK, informal) a young man whose behavior is noisy, offensive, and
often violent after drinking too much alcohol,

oik (n.) – a rude and unpleasant man from a low social class [In his latest film he plays a
racist oik from the East End of London.],

lummox (n.) – a stupid or awkward person [Be careful, you big lummox, you just
stamped on my foot!],

temper (v.) – (reduce, formal) to make something less strong, extreme, etc. [My
enthusiasm for the venture was tempered by my knowledge of the hard work that would be
involved. I learned to temper my criticism.] – synonyms & related words [moderate,
modify, modulate, tone down, mitigate, palliate, alleviate, allay, assuage, lessen, reduce,
weaken, lighten, soften, cushion, qualify],

temper (v.) – (metal) to heat and then cool a metal in order to make it hard [Tempered
steel.] – synonyms & related words [harden, strengthen, toughen, fortify, anneal],

tamp (v.) – to press something such as soil or tobacco down firmly, to compact a
bustance (usually soil) until it is flat; to drive in or pack down by frequent gentle
strokes; ram or pack (a substance) down or into something firmly [Tamp earth so as to
make a smooth place. We don t take the prop away, new fish, Bulaven said, shovelling
beside him. Not at first, anyway. First, we fill in the hole. Next, we wet the soil. Then, we
tamp it all down and leave it to freeze for a while. Then, after a couple of hours, we finally
remove the prop and the wall will be as good as new. He tamped down the tobacco with his
thumb.] – synonyms & related words [cram, crowd, load, overcrowd, pack, ram, shove,
squeeze, stuff, wedge, charge, chock, choke, compact, crush, devour, drive, force, gobble,
gorge, guzzle, heap, ingurgitate, jam, overeat, overfill, press, satiate, slop, slosh, squash,
thrust, wolf, jam-pack, pack 'em in, pack in, pack it in, pack like sardines, sardine, stive,
level out, raze, compress, depress, floor, prostrate, smooth, smooth out, subdue, trample,
beat down, even out, iron out, knock down, lay low, mow down, spread out]

tamp down (v.) – to reduce, diminish, lessen, curb the amount, level, size, or
importance of something, to suppress (something, usually an emotion or thought) [As
the price of gasoline rose above $3 a gallon, consumers cut teir spending elsewhere,
tamping down profits in retail, travel and other industries. The party retained power by
boosting the economy and tamping down corruption.],
stem (v.) – to stop something unwanted from spreading or increasing; to stop the flow
of a liquid such as blood [These measures are designed to stem the rsie of violent crime.
We must take action to stem the tide of resignations. She tied a handkerchief around the
wound to stem the flow of blood. “Ah-hah,” he chuckled. “I wouldn’t want to stem his hopes,
so tell him I am entirely normal, won’t you?”],

shut something in something (v.) – to catch part of your body or an object inside
adevice or container when it closes [Steve was off work for a week after he shut his hand
in the car door.],

drudge (n.) – a person who has to work hard at boring and unpleasant tasks and who
is not respected by other people, who may be taken advantage of by someone else [I feel
like a real drudge - I've done nothing but clean all day!],

modicum (n.) – a small amount of something good such as truth or honesty [There's
not even a modicum of truth in her statement. Anyone with a modicum of common sense
could have seen that the plan wouldn't work.] – synonyms & related words [: little bit,
small amount, particle, degree, speck, fragment, scrap, crumb, grain, morsel, taste,
soupçon, shred, mite, dash, drop, pinch, ounce, touch, tinge, dab, jot, iota, whit, tittle, jot
or tittle, atom, inch, snippet, sliver, smattering, scintilla, hint, suggestion, whisper, trifle,
smidgen, smidge, tad, scantling, scruple],

iota (n.) – an extremely small amount [Nothing she said seemed to make an iota of
difference.] – synonyms & related words [bit, mite, speck, scrap, shred, ounce, scintilla,
atom, jot, tittle, jot or tittle, whit, little bit, tiniest bit, particle, fraction, morsel, grain;
soupçon, smidgen, smidge, tad, ha'p'orth, scruple, scantling],

ha'p'orth (n.) – (UK, informal) as much as could be bought for a halfpenny; a neglibile
amount; a foolish person [A ha'p'orth of fish and chips. He's never been a ha'p'orth of
bother. During the final set piece, my wife – the daft ha'p'orth – burst into tears with
relief.],

foyer (n.) – a large open area just inside the entrance of a public building such as a
theatre or a hotel, where people can wait and meet each other; (hall) the room in a
house or apartment leading from the front door to other rooms, where things like coats
and hats are kept [I'll see you downstairs in the foyer in half an hour. The two entered to a
scene normal for Selana, but only familiar to the Sorcerer. The inside of the manor was a
regal display of Highborne masonry; In the foyeur was a long hallway made of pristine,
dazzling marble that glowed even against the candlelit darkness.],

pièce de résistance (id.) – (plural pièces de résistance) the best and most important
or exciting thing, often the last in a series of things [The pièce de résistance of his stage
act was a brilliant Barbra Streisand impression. However, the piece de resistance to the
setting was the grand chandelier in the center of the ceiling. Several times larger than the
rest of its lesser decorative brothers, the centerpiece reflected all light from its crystalline
shape, giving a dazzling glow that illuminated the eye just as well as the luminescent
flames that cascaded in their hold above the bejeweled piece.],

strum (v.) – to move your fingers across the strings of a guitar or similar instrument
[The Sorcerer looked about the room, the sight of a cacophony of slow dances bringing
back fond memories of his past in Eldre’thalas. Couples of all types were paired together,
putting aside any grievances or disputes if even for an instance. Leading their dance was
the slow strum of an expert harpist, one that Dal’amath had highly regarded for his skill
with the string. Selana wrapped her arm around the Sorcerer’s and looked up to him. He
looked back.],

strumpet (n.) – (old use) a female prostitute; (very informal, disapproving) a woman
who dresses in a way that some people disapprove of and whose behavior is considered
sexually immoral,

drown (something) out (id.) – (informal) if a loud noise drowns out another noise,
it prevents it from being heard [The sound of the telephone was drowned out by the
vacuum cleaner. The two danced with the same, calm rhythm as the party about them. To
him, the world had slowly drowned out. The ballroom, the party-goers, and even the manor
itself began to fade.],

palpitate (v.) – (of the heart) to beat very fast and in a way that is not regular [My
heart was palpitating with fear.],

palpitation (n.) – the feeling that your heart is beating too quickly or not regularly;
have palpitations (humorous) to be very shocked [He ended up in hospital with heart
palpitations. My mother will have palpitations when she sees my new boyfriend. A flutter in
the Sorcerer’s chest pounded, the palpitation of his heartbeat gave it away to him that
there were feelings generating between him and his old friend. But why now?],

corpuscle (n.) – any of the red or white cells in the blood; a minute particle, an atom, a
molecule [It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy to confound synthesis
with synartesis, or rather with mere juxtaposition of corpuscles separated by invisible
interspaces.] – synonyms & related words [speck, particle, grain, spot, fleck, atom,
scintilla, mite],

prick up your ears (id.) – to listen carefully [The children pricked up their ears when
they heard the word „candy“.] – synonyms & related words [hear, pay attention, be
attentive, attend, concentrate on, concentrate on hearing, give ear to, lend an ear to;
hang on someone's words; keep one's ears open, prick up one's ears, be all ears, pin back
one's ears, get a load of, tune in, hark, hearken; pay attention, take heed, heed, give heed,
take notice, take note, mind, observe, watch, follow, notice, mark, bear in mind, give a
thought to, take into consideration, take into account, take to heart, hang on, accept,
believe; obey, do as one is told by; hear, pay attention, be attentive, attend, concentrate
on, concentrate on hearing, give ear to, lend an ear to; hang on someone's words; keep
one's ears open, prick up one's ears, be all ears, pin back one's eras, get a load of, tune in,
hark, hearken],

prick somebody's conscience (id.) – to make someone do something because

they feel guilty [Dan's mentioning Julia pricked my conscience and I gave her a call.],

sackcloth (n.) – the thick, rough material used to make sacks (= large strong bags),

wear sackcloth and ashes (id.) – to show by your behavior that you are very sorry
for something you did that was wrong, penitence or remorse for one's misdeeds or poor
behavior, as the phrase originates from an ancient tradition of wearing sackcloth as a
show of repentence, „sackcloth and ashes“ is typically accompanied by verbs like „wear“
[Darren has been wearing sackcloth and ashes ever since his girlfriend broke up with him
for cheating on her. There's no way to turn back time on the way I treated my brother
growing up. All I can do now is stay in sackcloth and ashes.],

squinch (v.) – to press together the features of the face or the muscles of the body [He
squinches up his face in a look that left no doubt about his displeasure.],

come out of the woodwork (id.) – (of an unpleasant person or thing) emerge from
obscurity, be revealed, to appear or emerge unexpectedly or inexplicably, frequently in
large numbers or quantity [Would-be informants came crawling out of the woodwork. He
won the lottery last year and he has had old „friends“ and distant relatives coming out of
the woodwork ever since.“Well, look who came out of the wood-work. How’ve you been, old
friend?” he boomed with a commanding voice, one that fit his past as a commander of
night elf forces during the War of the Ancients. “You’re with Selana? You know, I always
thought you two made quite the pair!”],

coming out of one's ears (id.) – in great or excess quantity [If you plant sixteen
tomato plants, you will have tomatoes coming out of your ears by July! There will be
tomatoes coming out of your ears. You'll get tomatoes coming out of your ears.],

clement (adj.) – clement weather is pleasant or not severe [It's very clement for the
time of year.],

clemency (n.) – (kindness) kindness when giving a punishment, when meting out
justice; (weather) (of weather) the quality of being pleasant or not severe [The jury
passed a verdict of guilty, with an appeal for the judge for clemency. The girl blushed in
reply to his rather blunt approach. The Sorcerer smiled rather nervously. “Why don’t you
come to the backroom with me and we’ll catch up a bit? You can’t go missing on me for
weeks and expect clemency!” he said with a cheery tone. He nodded in reply and followed
after him.],
largesse (n.) – willingness to give money, gifts, or money given to poor people by rich;
money or gifts given generously [The medical foundation will be the main beneficiary of
the millionaire's largesse. Presumably public money is not dispensed with such largesse to
anyone else. Tupper took advantage of his friend's largesse. The distribution of largesse to
the local population. He had distributed largesse to the locals. His generosity of spirit, an
absolutely natural largesse. A philanthropist known for his largesse. Projects depending on
a flow of federal largesse.] – synonyms & related words [generosity, liberality,
munificence, bounty, bountifulness, beneficence, benefaction, altruism, charity,
philanthropy, magninamity, benevolence, charitableness, open-handedness, kindness,
big-heartedness, great-heartedness, lavishness, free-handedness, unselfishness,
selfishness, self-sacrifice, self-denial, almsgiving, gifts, presents, donations, handouts,
endowments, grants, aid, alms, offerings, favors, contributions, patronage, sponsorship,
backing, help],

go under (v.) – (sink) to sink; (fail) if a company goes under, it fails financially [The
ship went under just minutes after the last passenger had been rescued. The charity will go
under unless a generous donor can be found within the next few months. Thousands of
companies went under during the recession.],

go/turn beetroot (red)/go as red as beetrot/go beet red/go as red as a

beet (id.) – to have a red face because you are embarrassed [Whenever I talked about
his pas tlife, he would go beetroot.],

spit curl/kiss curl (n.) – a curved piece of hair that hangs flat against the face on the
cheek or forehead (= part of the face above the eyes),

spit and polish (id.) – (informal) careful cleaning and shining [The car needs some
spit and polish.],

disconnect (n.) – a situation in which two or more things are not connected in the
way that they should be [The study found a disconnect between the state's social
programs and some people who need government assistance. Elynora, however, read her
emotions from her seat. The clever woman relished in the amusing disconnect between the
two, for she truly enjoyed watching chaos unfold in what she thought was a contending
female garnering attention from a man she thought should have been fawning over her,
even if it would have been for naught.],

contend (v.) – (claim, formal) to say that something is true or is a fact [The lawyer
contended (that) her client had never been near the scene of the crime.],

drift with the tide (id.) – (disapproving) to agree with other people and not make
your own decisions [He always just drifts wit hthe tide and does whatever dumb thing his
friends are doing, no questions asked. The senator always drifts with the tide, so I doubt
he'll oppose his party in this vote.],
(random cool paragraph) – [“Well, one topic that comes to mind is ‘The Last Sin of
Stormrage,’ which details Illidan’s imprisonment for his crimes at Nordrassil.” “His…
crimes?” the Sorcerer said. It didn’t seem much about magic, but he was willing to listen.
“Yes,” the old commander began grimly. “He tried to create a new Well of Eternity
underneath the World Tree. With the wounds from the last Well still fresh, his brother cast
him into the depths of the earth to be imprisoned. Forever.” “Forever? That… is cruel, is it
not?” the Sorcerer retorted, a naivete comparable to a child. “Malfurion is not as kind as
the druids would have you think. He is just as savage as nature itself,” Dal’amath sighed. “A
serene landscape with its violent tendencies. You just need to know how to bring him out,
and Illidan had many ways to do that. Especially with his… transformation.”],

apocryphal (adj.) – an apocryphal story is probably not true although it is often told
and believed by some people to have happened [An apocryphal story. It's a good story but
I dare say it's apocryphal. Many scholars consider the stories of the monk Teilo to be
apocryphal. There is an apocryphal tale of a little boy plugging the dike with his finger.],

apocrypha (n.) – (obsolete) writings or statements of questionable authorship or

authenticity [He handed the book over to the Sorcerer, who looked it over. Not as short as
he was expecting with a rather thick bind and pages filling every inch. Strangely, it had no
title. Perhaps this was to allude to some sort of safety measure so that those who read its
contents did not face scrutiny from their peers upon recognizing the title. Regardless, he
flipped open the apocrypha and scanned a few of its first pages.],

allonymous (adj.) – misattributed, appearing or (especially) knowingly published

under the name of a different person from the true author,

dyke (n.) – (wall) a wall built to prevent the sea or a river from covering an area, or a
channel dug to take water away from an area,

homefield (n.) – (UK, dated) a field adcjanet to its owner's home [The small, silver owl
at the top displayed the rank of a homefield commander: One who would be watching over
their domestic territory, the owl symbolizing this task with its vigilant gaze.],

raddle/reddle/ruddle (v.) – to mark with raddle, to daub something red; to interweave

or twist together,

raddled (adj.) – looking tired or old, worn-out and broken-down [“Did she even miss
me?” his conscious raddled. This question caused him the most boiled-over anger, but
ironically also dealt the biggest blow to his determination on the matter. He allowed his
body to go limp, falling back against the grandiose sofa.],

boil over (v.) – (person) if a difficult situation or negative emotion boils over, it cannot
be controlled any more and people start to argue or fight,
sojourn (n.) – a short period when a person stays in a particular place; a temporary
residence [My sojourn in the youth hostel was thankfully short.],

sojourn (v.) – to reside somewhere temporarily, especially as a guest or lodger,

sojourner (n.) – a person who resides temporarily in a place,

duplicitous (adj.) – involving duplicity [A duplicitous traitor/spy/politician. He was

freed from the yoke before the latter could happen, however, and it was all thanks to…
Selana. He immediately remembered her once more, and her duplicitous politics.] –
synonyms & related words [deceptive, cheating, deceitful, dishonest, double-dealing,
shady, two-faced, two-timing],

duplicity (n.) – deceitfulness [The president was accused of duplicity in his dealings
with Congress. His conscience would not allow him to enter into duplicity.] – synonyms &
related words [deceitfulness, deceit, deception, deviousness, two-facedness, double-
dealing, underhandedness, dishonesty, falseness, falsity, fraud, fraudulence, sharp
practice, swindling, cheating, chicanery, trickery, craft, guile, artifice, subterfuge,
skulduggery, treachery, unfairness, unjustness, perfidy, improbity, crookedness,
shadiness, foxiness, dirty tricks, shenanigans, monkey business, funny business, hanky-
panky, jiggery-pokery, monkeyshines, codology, knavery, knavishness, management],

do a bunk (id.) – (leave, UK, old-fashioned, slang) to leave suddenly and unexpectedly
[They'd done a bunk without paying the rent.],

billet (n.) – a short, informal letter; a written order to quarter soldiers,

billet (n.) – a place where a soldier is assigned to lodge; an allocated space or berth in a
boat or ship; (firguative) birth, position,

billet (v.) – (of a householder, etc.) to lodge soldiers, or guests, usually by order; (of a
soldier) to lodge, or be quarted, in a private house; to direct, by a ticker or note, where to
lodge [Two months had gone by since the day he had first passed muster on the parade
ground, and for the last four weeks of that period Larn s regiment had been billeted on an
Imperial troopship en route to what promised to be their first campaign. Four weeks, and
today at last their superiors had finally decided to tell them where in hell it was they would
be going.],

billet-doux (n.) – (plural billets-doux) (literary) a love letter [He now felt not
disinclined to take up the neglected billet-doux. He broke the seal and read. I sent her three
or four billets-doux every day, and received as many. Nothing but billets-doux were found
in his writing-case. The sexton who emptied it of its contents found in it more than fifty
sequins, and several billets-doux, to the great scandal of the weaker brethren. This billet-
doux was sealed and despatched, and in due time brought an acceptance.],
(the) lynchpin/linchpin (of) (id.) – the most important, crucial, key member of a
group or part of a system, that holds together the other members or parts or makes it
possible for the mto operate as intended [Woodford is the linchpin of the British athletics
team. Bristling with armaments, a Baneblade is less of a tank and more of a rolling
fortress. An unmistakable icon of the Imperium's armoured supremacy, a single one of
these super-heavy war engines can serve as the mailed fist of an Astra Militarum offensive,
or as the unassailable lynchpin of even the most desperate of defences.],

niggling (adj.) – (of thoughts, worries, or details) unimportant but demanding one's
attention in an annoying way [She had no niggling doubts like the ones that plagued me.],

niggle (v.) – (worry) to worry osmeone slightly, usually for a long time [I just can't
remember his name – it's been niggling me for a couple of weeks. One thought kept
niggling at her. Doreen wanted to discuss matters that niggled at her mind. It does niggle
me that we cannot play whenever and whenever we like.] – synonyms & related words
[irritate, annoy, worry, trouble, bother, provoke, exasperate, upset, gall, irk, rankle with,
rile, get up someone's nose, hack off, get, get to, bug]

niggle (v.) – (criticize) (UK) to criticize someone about small details or give too much
attention to details [She niggles endlessly over the exact pronunciation. The accounts
department is niggling me for ten pence they say I owe them. People niggling me for doing
too much work. He niggles on about the unemployed.] – synonyms & related words
[complain, object, moan, fuss, nag, carp, cavil, find fault, grumble, grouse, nitpick]

niggle (n.) – (worry) a small doubt or worry [Don't you feel even a slight niggle about
the morality of your experiments?],

niggle (n.) – (criticism) (UK) a small criticism [I do have a few minor niggles about the
book, but generally it's very good.],

put/set someone straight (id.) – to make certain that someone knows the real
facts about a situation [Don't worry, I set him straight (on this matter). Keen to have a go
themselves, fresh waves of Orks will soon descend upon the horrified defenders, often
before the damage from the previous Ork incursion has been put straight.],

the straight and narrow (id.) – (humorous) if you keep on the straight and narrow,
you behave in a way that is honest and moral [The threat of a good beating should keep
him on the straight and narrow.],

disport (oneself) (v.) – (old-fashioned or humorous) to enjoy yourself, especially by

doing physical activity [A party of boys disported themselves noisily on the range of stone
posts that form a bodyguard round the ancient lamp-surmounted pump, but otherwise the
place was wrapped in dignified repose suited to its age and station. In the distant water a
large number of animals are disporting themselves. It happened that my brother and
myself were disporting ourselves in certain fields near the good town of Canterbury. On
Sunday afternoons all the bourgeois world of our ville disports itself upon the jetty. The
latter took little notice, and slowly wended his way through the extensive park, in whose
magnificent old trees monkeys were disporting themselves. Isandula Verona's paintings
depict 3 events of old earth (both factual and presumably fictional), one painting depicts
"nude figures disporting in a magical garden", likely the Garden of Eden.],

recourse (n. v.) – using something or someone as a way of getting help, especially in a
difficult or dangerous situation; a source of help in a difficult situation; the legal right to
demand compensation or payment [It is hoped that the dispute will be settled without
recourse to litigation. It is my dream. An Imperium of Man that exists without recourse to
gods and the supernatural. A united galaxy with Terra at its heart. Surgery may be the only
recourse. Surgery may be the only recourse. A means of solving disputes without recourse
to courts of laws. The bank has recourse against the exporter for losses incurred. All three
countries had recourse to the IMF for standby loans.] – synonyms & related words
[option, possibility, alternative, possible course of action, resort, way out, place/person
to turn to, source of assistance, available resource, hope, remedy, choice, expedient,
refuge, resort to, make use of, use, avail oneself of, utilize, employ, turn to, call on, draw
on, bring into play, bring into service, look to, appeal to, fall back on, run to],

airs and graces (id.) – false ways of behaving that are intended to make other people
feel that you are important and belong to a high social class [He was always putting on
airs and graces. She's got no reason to give herself airs and graces.],

dresser (n.) – (furniture, UK) a tall piece of furniture with cupboards below and
shelves on the top half; (US) a piece of bedroom furniture with drawers, sometimes with
a mirror on top, used especially for keeping clothes in [A kitchen dresser. He walked over
to the dresser where he'd left the book.],

bureau (n.) – (furniture, UK) a piece of furniture with a lid that opens to form a writing
surface; (US) a chest of drawers,

stake somebody to something (v.) – to provide someone with a particular thing

or with what is needed to get it [The governor has promised to stake the city's homeless to
what they need for a fresh start.],

pull up stakes/sticks (id.) – (informal) to take all the things that you own and go
and live in a different place [This is the fourth time in five years that we've had to pull up
stakes.],

go to the stake for something (id.) – to defend an action, opinion, or belief despite
the risks that are involved [She was prepared to go to the stake for her views.],

stake something out (id.) – (watch) to watch, monitor a place continuously in order
to catch criminals or to see a famous person, generally in secret; to mark off the limits by
stakes [The police staked out the hotel where the two terrorists were reported to be
staying. Stake out land. To stake out a new road.],

stake something on something (id.) – to risk harming or losing something

important if an action, decision, or situation does not have the result you want or expect
[I think she'll be head of this company in five year's time - I'd stake my reputation on it.],

lean and hungry (id.) – showing a very strong and determined wish to get something
[He's got that lean and hungry look.],

(random cool paragraph) – [“Of course,” one voice boomed from the stands. “We
want the night elves gone, first and foremost.” Thanderas turned to face the interjecting
voice. Dal’amath simply craned his head. “Dal’amath is a close associate of ours,” the
Shen’dralar said, rising to a stand. “And we feel it is best if he takes this route. Otherwise,
we may need to withdraw our support to his retinue. Surely you understand.” Thanderas
stepped forward boldly. Dal’amath, from out of his sight, made a reaching gesture, as if he
feared the words that were to come from his lieutenant’s mouth. “And who are you?” he
asked. “You needn’t concern yourself,” the anonymous wizard replied with a dismissive
wave of his hand. “Now, we expect you to play by these rules. Tortheldrin would not be
pleased with failure.” “Tortheldrin has sanctioned this mission?” he blurted. The room fell
silent. All eyes fell upon Thanderas, bold as he was. Mathalann’s grin vanished into thin air,
and the noblemen shifted in their seats. “You are a curious little cub, aren’t you? Dal’amath,
make the preparations to assault the night elves. We have spent too much time here.” With
a gesture of his hand, the Shen’dralar wizards and Highborne noblemen rose from their
seats. Thanderas glared at them, their dodgy replies and sneaking politics having vexed
him sorely. Dal’amath stared at the map, hoping that his problematic ‘friends’ would
simply leave his room already. Thanderas turned to him and laid the helmet he had
previously been holding against the marble table, his idle hand moving up to his long
mustache hairs. He stroked at the lengthy hairs, its odd style being more traditional than
fashion; they were meant to resemble the whiskers of the Nightsaber, for which the
Telvoran family fashioned their image and symbol after. They would be a family of ferocity
and fealty, working with their pack to rip through their prey with a strength incomparable
to any other.],

pertinent (adj.) – relating directly to the subject being considered [A pertinent

question/remark. Chapter One is pertinent to the post-war period. “On the day of the
invasion, I shall intercept your march. A skirmish will take place between the forces I have
gathered and your brother’s army,” she said, strolling to the window which spanned
several feet in width and several yards in length. “My forces will cause a diversion so
pertinent that Dal’amath and the Shen’dralar will be forced to address it. That will give us
enough time to deal with the nobles corrupting him.”] –synonyms & related words
[relevant, to the point, apposite, appropriate, suitable, fitting, fit, apt, applicable,
material, germane, to the purpose, apropos; ad rem, appurtenant] Note: The opposite is
irrelevant. Do not confuse with impertinent (= rude),
rhetorically (adj.) – without expecting or needing an answer [„Why did this happen to
me?“ she asked rhetorically. “Physically?” he said. “He will be ostracized for failure. His first
and most important mission failing before he even reached the objective?” she asked
rhetorically. “Why, I suspect he will never lead another man in his life.”],

emphatic (adj.) – done or said in a strong way or withotu any doubt, stated with
conviction; characterized by emphatic, forceful [Poland reached the final of the
championship yesterday with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Italy. The minister has issued
an emphatic rejection of the accusation. Despite this, there didn’t seem to be anything
special about them. They followed their design as intended, but Caeldir still seemed
emphatic about their individuality.] – synonyms & related words [vehement, firm,
wholehearted, forceful, forcible, energetic, vigorous, ardent, assertive, insistent; certain,
direct, definite, out-and-out, one hundred per cent; decided, determined, earnest;
categorical, unqualified, unconditional, unequivocal, unambiguous, absolute, explicit,
downright, outright, clear; conclusive, decisive, marked, pronounced, decided,
unmistakable, positive, definite, strong, powerful, striking, distinctive; resounding,
telling, momentous, thumping, thundering],

empathic/empathetic (adj.) – having the ability to imagine how someone else feels;
(science fiction) of, pretaining to, or being an empath, of or having the capability of
sensing the emotions of others [A kid and empathetic friend. Programmes training
doctors to be empathic.],

empath (n.) – one who has the ability to sense emotions, someone who is empathic or
practises empathy; (science fiction, parapsychology) a person with extra-sensory
empathic ability, capable of sensing the emotions of others around them in a way
unexplained by conventional science and psychology,

usher (n.) – a man who shows people where they should sit, especially at a formal
event such as a wedding or at a theater or cinema [They filled the amphitheatre seats
about the war table, bodies becoming hard-pressed to find their own space. As the room
filled to the near brim, it became clear to the ushers that they needed to spread them out,
and did so by bringing them to the top edge of the seats. This proved to fill the entire room
with patriotic soldiers, all willing to die for a noble cause.],

usher (v.) – to show someone where they should go, or to make someone go where you
want the mto go [She ushered us into her office and offered us coffee. Officials quickly
ushered the protests out of the hall.] – synonyms & related words [escort, accompany,
help, assist, take, show, see, lead, show someone the way, lead the way, conduct, guide,
steer, pilot, shepherd, convoy],

usher someone/something in (v.) – to welcome someone, or signal the beginning

of something, to be at the start of a new period, especially when important changes or
new things happen, or to cause important changes to start happening [The party was an
elegant way to usher in the new year. These changes could usher in a period of dramatic
economic growth. His inventions helped usher in the era of skyscrapers. Niemeyer was one
of the young intellectuals who revolutionized Brazilian society by ushering in new styles of
music, art, and cinema.],

a gleam in your eye (id.) – an expression in your eyes that shows that you are
amused or that you have a secret [„I can't tell you that yet, but I will soon,“ Grandpa said
wit ha gleam in his eye.],

a frog in your throat (id.) – difficulty speaking because your throat feels dry [I had a
frog in my throat, and I had to clear my throat several times before I could answer.],

a fortiori (adv. adj.) – (formal) for an even stronger reason, with stronger or greater
reason, as a corollary implied by a stronger claim [The proposition is incomprehensible to
us, and hence a fortiori we cannot be justified in beleiving it. His a fortiori argument. Now
starting and stopping cannot themselves have starts or stops, or, a fortiori, middles either.
We're bound to accept an a fortiori claim because of our prior acceptance of a weaker
application of the same reasoning. Frank can't run to the store in less than five minutes,
and the restaurant is several blocks further away than the store. Thus, a fortiori, Frank
can't run to the restaurant in less than five minutes.],

subject (v.) – to defeat people or a country and then control them against their wishes
and limit their freedom [The invaders quickly subjected the local tribes. Elynora turned
back to the cliffside and closed her eyes. The dark whispers of her demon masters rang
through her head. He will eat the heart and gouge his eyes, they said. He will sleep. When
he wakes, you will subject him. He will be stronger than any servant you have thus
gathered. He will serve as your assassin. Elynora grinned once more.],

wildebeest (n.) – (plural wildebeest or wildebeests) a large African animal with a long
tail and horns that curve to the sides that lives in areas covered in grass [Kalydon was
the first to strike, charging forward and swiping at his combatant with vile, taloned claws.
The Sorcerer was quick to dodge the strike, but he would not have much of a reprieve. The
brutish satyr continued to swipe at him with the ferocity of an angered wildebeest, the
Sorcerer taking to the bucklers on his glaives’ hilt to defend against the brunt of the
attack.],

tuck (v.) – (tidy) to push a loose end of a piece of clothing or material into a particular
place or position, especially to make it tidy or comfortable [Should I tuck my shirt into my
trousers? He tucked the bottom of the sheet under the mattress.],

tuck (v.) – (store safely) to put something into a safe or convenient place [Tuck your
gloves in your pocket so that you don't lose them. She had a doll tucked under her arm.
Eventually I found the certificate tucked under a pile of old bills. Tuck your chair in (= put
it so that the seat of it is under the table) so that no one trips over it.],
tuck (v.) – (body) to hold part of your body in a particular position [Stand up straight,
tuck your tummy in and tuck your bottom under. She sat with her legs tucked under her.],

tuck in/into something (id.) – (UK, informal) to start eating something eagerly
[Judging by the way they tucked into their dinner, they must have been very hungry.
There's plenty of food, so pleace tuck in.],

tuck (v.) – to curl into a ball, to fold up and hold one's legs [The diver tucked, flipped,
and opened up at the last moment. The first bolt struck, crashing against the barrier with a
collision that shook the ground between them. Before he could regain his shaken balance,
the second bolt bombarded him, sending the Sorcerer flying back, landing with a few
tucked rolls.],

tussle (v.) – (disagree) to have difficult disagreements or strong arguments [During his
twelve years in Congress, he has tussled with the chemical, drug and power companies on
behalf of the ordinary person. The residents are still tussling over the ever-scarcer street
parking.] – synonyms & related words [scuffle, fight, struggle, exchange blows, come to
blows, brawl, grapple, wrestle, clash, scrimmage, scrap, have a dust-up, have a punch-up,
have a set-to, rough-house],

tussle (v.) – (fight) to fight with another person using your arms and body [The boys
started to tussle in the playground. Two other satyr went to carry the dying Rothoof
chieftain away, who garbled out maniacal laughter at the Sorcerer. Defiant, the Highborne
did not accept his defeat. He struggled and tussled in the grip of his captors. The demons
snarled and hissed at him in retaliation, keeping him bound with distinct struggle.],

tussle (n.) – (disagreement) a difficult disagreement or violent argument [A

boardroom/bureacratic/legal tussle. There followed a long tussle for custody of the
children.] – synonyms & related words [scuffle, fight, struggle, skirmish, brawl,
scrimmage, scramble, scrum, fisticuffs, wrestling match, rough and tumble, free-for-all,
fracas, fray, rumpus, melee, disturbance; donnybrook, affray, scrap, dust-up, punch-up,
set-to, shindy, shindig, run-in, spat, ruck, ruckus, ding-dong, bust-up, bit of argy-bargy,
afters, rammy, swedge, roughhouse, stoush, broil, miff; argument, quarrel, squabble,
contretemps, disagreement, contention, clash, war of words, row],

tussle (n.) – (fight) a fight with another person using your arms and body [You could
see he had been in a tussle.],

tussle with something (id.) – (informal) to try hard to understand or deal with a
difficult idea or problem [It's an idea that I've been tussling with for quite a while.],

tut/tut-tut/tsk (exclamation) – used in writing to represent the sound made to show

you disapprove of something, or a word said twice in a humorous way to suggest
disapproval [Tut, it's raining – I'm going to get soaked. You're late again – tut tut!],
tut/tut-tut/tsk (v.) – to make a disapproving sound or speak in a disapproving way
[He walked off, tutting to himself. „Still not out of bed?“ she tutted (= said in a disapproving
way).],

slack (v.) – (informal) to work more slowly and with less effort than usual, or to go
more slowly [Everyone slacks off/up at the end of the week. (disapproving) You'll be in
trouble if you're caught slacking on the job. Slack off your speed as you approach the
corner. Selana’s jaw slacked almost immediately. She felt her heart cave in at the news; fate
had toyed with her by delivering comfort and love in light of her violation, but immediately
snatching it from her. A palm snapped over her mouth as her eyes narrowed, forced to
close halfway as tears immediately slipped down her cheeks.],

braggart (n.) – (old-fashioned, disapproving) someone who proudly talks a lot about
himself or herself and his or her achievements or possessions [At the slightest, nay,
imaginary insult, the quick-tempered braggart took offense, resorted to the use of the
sword, and many an unnecessary strife was raised and many an innocent life lost. Had he
looked abashed or mortified, Jenny felt that she might have relented, but the braggart was
as all-satisfied, as confident and boastful as ever. He was an insufferable braggart, but
never had any success in love. He was shiftless, untidy, a borrower, a pompous braggart, a
trouble-maker, forever driving some poor devil into senseless litigation. He was
troublesome, ignorant, superstitious, a braggart, cowardly, and sometimes like a madman.
“Mathalann,” Dal’amath began with a hint of begging in his words. “Stop this, you don’t
need to--” “Silence, braggart,” the Highborne snapped. He was tired of Dal’amath’s
continued failures.],

distend (v.) – (usually of the stomach or other part of the body) to swell and become
large (as if) by pressure from inside; to extend, to stretch out, to spread out; to cause to
swell; (biology) to cause gravidity [In the refugee centres we saw many children whose
stomachs were distended because of lack of food. The Commander did as he was told. No
words came from his mouth, but he could not help but leave his jaw distended slightly.],

distensible (adj.) – capable of swelling or stretching,

(random cool paragraph) – [The Highborne dispersed, dashing in different

directions at almost superhuman speeds. Their agile prowess stunned Selana, who
continued to watch from the shadows. Mathalann glanced about once his colleagues had
vanished. Once he had seen that no one else was nearby, he let his form slip away, bit by bit
he quickly dissipated into a black wisp of Shadow, which evaporated out of sight. A gasp
escaped the girl’s mouth. Such a dark practice was forbidden among Eldre’thalas, and to
see it exercised by one of the Shen’dralar was enough damning evidence to have him killed.
Yet, with this knowledge in her mind, she too was on death row; she would need to play the
part of the mindless woman. If only Elynora was around to give her the tips. She shook her
head and clenched the cloak to her body. Quickly, she stalked back into the city. The last
thing she needed to think about was corruption in the city, not with everything else that
had hit her mind so abruptly in one day.],

go haywire (id.) – to stop working, often in a way that is very sudden and noticeable
[The television's gone haywire. Like a vicious animal, the Sorcerer consumed the dessicated
organ. Blood stained his face and chest, the bare skin nearly absorbing the corrupting
juice. It did not take long for the effects to take place; the Sorcerer’s nerves went haywire,
numbing and spazzing in the course of mere seconds. He felt a loss of control of his limbs,
body feeling the exhilaration of both pain, pleasure, and every reactive sense in between.
He fell to his knees, a beastial roar booming throughout the hut as the torment went on.],

sill (n.) – a flat piece of wood, stone, etc. that forms theb ase of a window or door
[„Answer me!” she shouted to the skies. Her echo rang throughout the heavens, but still
nothing answered her. To this, she wrenched her eyes shut and slammed her fists on the
sill.],

windowsill (n.) – a shelf below a window, either inside or outside a building [He has a
few plants ni pots on the windowsill.],

come to (id.) – to become conscious again after an accident or operation [Has he come
to yet? Sensing his hesitation, Kalydon punished him in kind. As the Sorcerer came to, he
caught but a moment’s glimpse of the pillar of shadowy magic that slammed him dead
center in his chest and sent him flying back to the edge of the battlefield.] – synonyms
&related words [regain consciousness, recover consciousnes, come around, come to life,
come to one's senses, recover, revive, awake, wake up],

find somebody out (id.) – to discover that someone has done something wrong [He
lived in fear of being found out.],

savoir-faire (n.) – the ability to do and say the right thing in any social situation, to
say the right thing at the right time [She possesses great savoir-fare.],

tact (n.) – the ability to say or do the right thing without making anyone unhappy or
angry [He's never had much tact and people don't like his blunt manner.] – synonyms &
related words [sensitivity, understanding, thoughtfulness, consideration, delicacy,
diplomacy, discretion, discernment, judgement, prudence, judiciousness, perception,
subtlety, wisdom, tactfulness; etiquette, courtesy, cordiality, politeness, decorum,
mannerliness, polish, respect, respectfulness; savoir faire, politesse, savvy],

savory (adj.) – savory food is salty or spicy and not sweet in taste; if you say that
something is not savory, you mean that it is not pleasant or socially acceptable [A savory
dish/sauce/flavor. Savory dumplings/pancakes. A pie can be sweet or savory. The hotel
doesn't have a very savory reputation. The power he felt from absorbing the satyr’s essence
was invigorating. Beyond invigorating, even. Even in his subconscious, he could feel the
well of demonic strength that remained yet untapped. It was savory, but it left him wanting
more; more power, more strength, more sovereignty. It made him twitch with anticipation
for what the future held in store for his arsenal.] – synonyms & related words [salty, spicy,
piquant, tangy; acceptable, pleasant, palatable, wholesome, respectable, honorable,
proper, seemly, creditable; canapé, hors d'oeuvre, appetizer, titbit; amuse-gueule],

gamy (adj.) – having the strong smell or taste of game noun (= wild animals or birds
that are killed to eat),

torrential (adj.) – used to refer to very heavy rain [Torrential rain. A torrential
downpour/storm. “Ah, finally,” a sultry female voice said. The Sorcerer snapped his head to
the source of the sound. He did not see a woman, nor did he see a demon. In fact, what he
saw was hardly discernible; in truth, it was a torrential mess of magical energy that
swirled throughout what he could only imagine was Kalydon’s throne.] – synonyms &
related words [copious, severe, heavy, rapid, relentless, violent, soaking, drenching,
teeming],

copious (adj.) – abundant in supply or quantity [She took copious notes. She listened
to me and she gave me copious thanks.] – synonyms & related words [abundant,
superabundant, plentiful, ample, profuse, full, extensive, considerable, substantial,
generous, bumper, lavish, fulsome, liberal, bountiful, overflowing, abounding, teeming;
in abundance; many, numerous, multiple, multifarious, multitudinous, manifold,
countless, innumerable; a gogo, galore, lank, bounteous, plenteous, myriad],

lank (adj.) – (of hair) long, limp and straight [The man had lank, brown, greasy hair.] –
synonyms & related words [limp, lifeless, lustreless, straggling, straggly, dull, unkempt,
untidy, straight, long],

Scotch mist (n.) – a mixture of fog and light rain,

hand something off (id.) – (US) to give responsibility for something to someone
else, hand something off to somebody[A key reason for the slowdown in health spending is
that employers are handing off more health costs to employees.],

a chip on your shoulder (id.) – an angry attitude from someone who feels unfairly
treated [She’s not going to make any friends if she walks around with a chip on her
shoulder like that. Clever as he was becoming, the demon hunter knew that he was on
death row. A chip slowly formed on his shoulder, one that harkened his caution and
instilled fear.],

psychedelic (adj.) – (of a drug) causing effects on the mind, such as feelings of deep
understanding or unusually strong experiences of colour , sound, taste, and touch;
Psychedelic art or clothing has bright colours and strange patterns of a type that might
be experienced by taking psychedelic drugs. [Psychedelic drugs. The hallway stretched
out with every step he took. The wracking grip on his cowardly mind began to have almost
psychedelic effects, ones which warped his reality for moments at a time. A shake of his
head corrected these errors, but it was not enough to free him of the torment.],

play up to somebody (id.) – to try to make someone like you and treat you well by
behaving in a way you think will please them [Julia knows how to play up to the
supervisors - she can always get time off work when she wants it.],

tangy (adj.) – a tangy flavor is pleasantly strong and sharp [A deliciously tangy lemon
tart.],

eyelet (n.) – a small hole in material, the edge of which is protected by a ring of metal,
through which a piece of string, a shoelace, etc. is put to fasten something a small hole
with thread around the edge as part of a design used to decorate material [An eyelet
bedspread.],

bedspread (n.) – a decorative cover put on a bed, on top of sheets and other covers
[Aunt Grace is crocheting a bedspread for me, too. He smiled with difficulty and made signs
with his hand lying limply on the bedspread. I had to cover them under two blankets and a
bedspread that night to keep the poor things from freezing stiff. Sheets and bedspreads
edged with lace! Then wrapping an old bedspread about Molly and keeping her close to
him, he made his way down the stairs and out of the house.],

wild card (n.) – (not known) someone or something whose behavior is sometimes
unexpected [The wild card in this election is the Green Party – no one knows exactly how
much support they will get. Jarin considered his words now. He was careful in his thoughts,
for he knew that even the deepest recesses of his mind were not safe. With his master’s ire
in question, and their presence looming over the two, he was backed into a corner; even
Mathalann was a wild card. He had hated him, a negative emotion that was reciprocated,
for years. Constant undermining from either side forced their feud into a stalemate.],

taffy (n.) – a very sticky sweet made from molasses or sugar that is pulled tight until it
is light in color [Salt water taffy. „Focus, he thought to himself. We can get out of here“. The
shadows had gotten to him. A world so ethereal, so unreal, it grabbed his head with dark
hands and pulled at his sanity like taffy, stretching it to the brink.],

crozier/crosier (n.) – a long stick with a decorative end that is curved or in the shape
of a cross, carried by bishops,

flense/flench (v.) – to strip the blubber or skin from, as from a whale, seal, etc, flay,
fleece, skin [In this domain right sex is capital, it flenses the feelings of all the poisonous
artifices brought in by the think-box in the guise of clever ideas. His eyes sprang open.
Umegat stared straight at him for the fraction of a second, and Cazarail felt flensed. It
engulfed screaming soldiers who disappeared before his eyes, their flesh, armor, even bone,
flensed into a suspensed mist that was heading straight for them. Able to flense flesh and
slice through armor, these blades inspire dread in all those who face the Necron Lord in
close combat. MAIEV FELT ALMOST RELAXED. CLEFTHOOF MEAT filled her belly. The long,
sunny day had provided rare sport as she and her followers hunted the beasts. Enough hide
lay nearby to make armor for a score of draenei soldiers. A few of them picked through it,
sawing away with knives, flensing the skin. It reminded her of her long-gone youth, when
she had hunted in the woods with her mother. They had made their own clothes then, cut
from leather, sewn with needles of bone, using thread of sinew. The memory brought a
brief smile to her face and then the return of horror. Her mother was dead, killed by the
Burning Legion. That thought sent her mind circling back once more to Illidan. The
Betrayer was still at large, and his power was growing. The strength of his legions mocked
her own efforts. She tried to blank her mind, reclaim her earlier good mood. It had been a
long time since she had experienced a moment of unalloyed happiness.] – synonyms &
related words [skin, peel, pare, decorticate, excoriate],

pitter-patter (n.) – a series of quick, light knocking sounds, a sound like that of quick
light steps or taps [I heard the pitter-patter of tiny feet (= the noise of children running).
Crash. The downpour on the elven city was harsh and unrelenting. What had started as a
pitter-patter of drizzling rain had now become a wash-out, one which Dal’amath had
watched from one of his estate’s many dens.] – synonyms & related words [patter,
tapping, pattering, drumming, drumbeat, clatter, beat, beating, tattoo, pounding, throb,
pulsation, rat-a-tat, pit-a-pat, clack, click-clack, clacketing, thrum, thrumming],

pitter-patter (v.) – movement in the form of light, knocking sounds [The rain pitter-
patered on the roof.],

peel away/off (v.) – when vehicles, people, or animals peel away/off, they separate
from the group or structure they were part of and move away in a different direction
[One motorbike peeled away from the formation and circled round behind the rest.],

stepping stone (n.) – (stone) one of a row of large, flat stones on which you can walk
in order to cross a stream or river that is not deep; (stage) an event or experience that
helps you achieve something else [I see this job just as a stepping stone to better things. I
was your stepping stone to nobility? You fooled me. I thought you were better than this,
Dal’amath.],

the highways and byways (id.) – (literary) the roads and paths of a place; all the
different aspects of something [They travelled the highways and byways of Britain. The
highways and byways of folk music.] – synonyms & related words [details, facts,
particulars, features, factors, elements, aspects, specifics, components, technicalities,
particular, feature, characteristic, respect, ingredient, attribute, item, specific, fact, piece
of information, point, factor, element, circumstance, consideration, aspect, facet, side,
part, unit, component, constituent, member, accessory],

byway (n.) – a small road that not many cars or people travel on [He had hoped much
from Peter Harris's knowledge of the byways and dens and alleys of Westminster. Here we
came the next morning after a short time on winding and rather hilly byways. I am
speaking, of course, of the more traveled highways and country byways. I knew the roads
and byways foot by foot, and could find my way, if need were, in the night as well as in the
day. Roads.—Everywhere highways and byways are numerous, and some districts are
prodigally supplied with footpaths.],

beltway/ring road (n.) – a main road that goes around the edge of a town, allowing
traffic to avoid the town center,

lurry (v.) – to lug or pull about; to daub, dirty; to hurry carelessly,

ordain (v.) – (church) to officially make someone a priest or other religious leader, in a
religious ceremony [He was ordained (as) a priest in Ely cathedral in 1987.],

ordain (v.) – (ordain) (formal) (of God or someone in authority) to order something to
happen [There is strong support here for the tough economic reforms ordained in the
federal capital, Prague. (humorous) I didn't know who came up with the idea, but the city
council has ordained that all the local libraries will close on Mondays. It was she who
originally laid out the plan to attack the night elves in Feralas. She laid the groundwork,
and his strategical mind perfected the strategy. In the end, Mathalann ordained the plan
and let the wheels set into motion.],

play ball (id.) – (informal) to agree to work with or help someone in the way they have
suggested [The family wanted him to be taken care of at home, but the insurance company
refused to play ball. Mathalann got him into this mess, but a thought popped into the clever
strategist’s mind. In theory, he could get him out of this mess as well. All he had to do was
intercept him and demand that control be returned to him immediately. All he had to do
was put his foot down and play a little ball. Mathalann was looking for honor and sacrifice,
two traits he could have easily exhibited.],

complicit (adj.) – involved in or knowing about a crime or some activity that is wrong
[She was accused of being complicit in her husband's death. “There are horrible people in
this city,” she sniffled again. “Dal’amath. Mathalann. I hate them. They’re playing games
with us, Thanderas.” He patted her far shoulder and nodded slowly. Despite agreeing
wholeheartedly with her, he did not say much about that line. If she knew he was complicit
with the plan to attack the night elves, a move which would have ended worse than the
satyr excursion, then she would have reviled him.],

bawl (v.) – (shout) to shout in a very loud voice, yell, roar, bellow, bark [She bawled at
me to sit down.],

bawl (v.) – (cry) to cry loudly, whine, wimper [He was bawling his eyes out. “Mathalann
knew about this. He had to. I’ve seen what he can do; him and Dal’amath, that abusive rat!
They’re out to get him. Out to get you, too.” Her voice began to whine. It was difficult to
come to terms with these thoughts once they were said out loud - even the thought of them
made her tear up, but she nearly began bawling once she admitted her theory.],

bawl somebody out (id.) – (US, informal) to tell someone angrily that something
they have done is wrong, to criticize harshly, rebuke, scorn, pour scorn on [He's always
bawling people out in meetings.],

there'll be hell to pay (id.) – (informal) something you say that means someone will
be very angry if something happens [There'll be hell to pay if she doesnj't get the money in
time.],

dressing-down (n.) – (old-fashioned) an act of speaking angrily to someone because

they have done something wrong, a rebuke, criticism, scolding, pouring scorn [She gave
me a dressing-down for being late.],

throw the book at somebody (id.) – to severely punish somebody [After the
accident, the safety inspector threw the book at the company directors.],

come down on somebody like a ton of bricks (id.) – to punish someone very
quickly and severely [Do that once more and I'll come down on you like a ton of bricks.],

reinvent yourself (id.) – to change your job and/or the way you look and behave so
that you seem very different [He's one of those sportsmen who reinvent themselves as TV
presenters. “Our friend has reinvented himself, in a way. He doesn’t even go by his old name
anymore. I think it’s the crowd he’s running with these days…”],

once-over (n. v. ) – (looking) give something/somebody the once-over, to look at and

examine something or someone quickly, to inspect, to circumspect, to observe;
(cleaning) the act of quickly cleaning a place [The security guards gave me the once-over,
but they didn't ask me for any identification. Would you mind giving the carpet a once-over
with the vacuum cleaner? Elynora glanced back to the dramatic display her more naive
friend had put on. Slowly, she stood from the chair and did a once-over of the room.] –
synonyms & related words [glance, scrutiny, appraisal, look, checkup, examination,
observance, inspection, survey, check, circumspection],

smarmy (adj.) – falsely earnest, smug, or ingragiating, flattering, gushing, ingratiating,

oily, smug [A smarmy salesman with a big smile. A smarmy, unctuous reply. He's too
smarmy.] – synonyms & related words [unctuous, ingratiating, smooth, slick, oily, greasy,
fulsome, flattering, obsequious, sycophantic, fawning, slimy, sucky, soapy],

smarm (n.) – smarmy language or behavior [“His name is Terrorwalker,” she said with a
noticeable absence of her smarm.],

smarm (v.) – to fawn, to be unctuous; to address in a fawning and unctuous manner,

splotch/splodge (n.) – a mark or spot that does not have a regular shape [He put his
hand on the bed, and left a splotch of blood on the bedspread. A splotch of red in a larger
area of yellow.He did not need to see like they did. His vision was still gray and dotted with
splotches that outlined the forms of several demons. Some were satyr, other were…
different.],

splotch/splodge (v.) – make a daub, blot, or smear on [A rag splotched with grease.],

tedium (n.) – the quality of being boring for a long time [Soldiers often say the worst
thing about fighting is not the moments of terror, but all the hours of tedium in between.
His back scaled along the rounded edge of the building, his glaives kept at the ready. It was
difficult to keep the blades from scratching against the wall, but it was a tedium he worked
with - it was not in his power to choose to.],

latent (adj.) – present but needing particular conditions to become active, obvious, or
completely developed [Recent cevelopments in the area have brought latent ethnic
tension out into the open. We're trying to bring out the latent artistic talents that many
people possess without realizing it. His brethren watched his descent with a gleaming
shock in their eyes. The strike was quick, perhaps quicker than even Terrorwalker knew;
The latent fel magic that was festering in his body and soul had given him an enhanced
agility that pushed his speed and abilities to levels he did not have before.],

not be beyond the wit of man/somebody (id.) – (humorous, mainly UK) to be

possible to achieve [It shouldn't be beyond the wit of man to arrange for them both to be
there at the same kind.],

make (all) the right, correct, etc. noises (id.) – (mainly UK) to say the things
you are expected to say, sometimes when you do not mean them [He made all the right
noises about my audition but I couldn't tell if he was genuinely impressed.],

amped (adj.) – (US, informal) excited [This is the videogame that has everyone so
amped.],

all of a flutter (id.) – (UK) in a state of nervous excitement [Peter was coming round
for dinner and I was all of a flutter.],

agog (adj.) – excited and eager to know or see more [We waited agog for news. I'm all
agog. Everyone was agog to hear what on earth he would say.] – synonyms & related
words [eager, excited, impatient, in suspense, on tenterhooks, on the edge of one's seat,
on pins and needles, keen, anxious, longing; curious, expectant, enthralled, enthusiastic,
avid, breathless, open-mouthed, waiting with bated breath, itching],

enthral (v.) – capture the fascinated attention of; (archaic) enslave [She had been so
enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold. Last night he enthralled
fans from six to sixty. Wildlife programs on television are enthralling viewing. It is as hard
and dangerous to enthrall a people that would live free.] – synonyms & related words
[captivate, charm, enchant, bewitch, fascinate, beguile, entrance, enrapture, delight,
attract, allure, lure; win, ensnare, dazzle, absorb, engross, rivet, grip, transfix, root
someone to the spot, transport, carry away, hypnotize, mesmerize, intrigue, spellbind,
hold spellbound, get under someone's skin; fascinating, entrancing, enchanting,
bewitching, captivating, charming, beguiling, enrapturing; delightful, attractive, alluring,
winning, dazzling, absorbing, engrossing, memorable, compelling, riveting, readable,
gripping, exciting, transfixing, transporting, hypnotic, mesmerizing, intriguing,
spellbinding, unputdownable],

on tenterhooks (id.) – agog, excited, expectant, ill at ease, eager, anxious, breathless,
nervous,

gray eminence (id.) – éminence grise (plural éminences grises), a secret or unoffiial
decision-maker, the power behind the throne, someone without an official position who
has power or influence over rulers or people who make decisions, string-puller behind
the curtains [Civil servants are the ones who really have the power – they are the
éminences grises behind the government ministers. And there was something about one of
the great sages of Dalaran, venerable Arrexis, one of the gray eminences that even the
others respected.],

puissance (n.) – (power) (old use) great strength, power, or influence [A King of high
degree, a lord of power and puissance.],

ferret something/something out (id.) – (of a person) hunt with ferrets, typically
for rabbits; rummage about in a place or container in search of something; (informal) to
discover someone or something, esp. information, after searching, to find out a piece of
information or find someone or something, after looking in many places or asking many
questions [I know his name but I haven't managed to ferret out where he lives. Officials are
attempting to ferret out abuses in the welfare program. If there are others who are
responsible it might be worth an attempt to ferret them out. Any one of these discoveries
could have resulted in his drawing this prestigious (and for all the planning and warnings,
potentially fatal) assignment. Perhaps they thought young Khadgar was a littletoo good at
ferreting out secrets—easier for the conclave to send him somewhere where his curiosity
would do some good for the Kirin Tor. Or at least put him far enough away so he wasn’t
finding things out about the other natives of the Violet Citadel. He pushed the memory
down. It was far too easy to give in to it. He had done so many times in the past and been
driven to the edge of madness and beyond. In his lucid moments, he admitted that. No sane
elf would have spent long years tracking the Betrayer, ferreting out the secrets of those
who had followed him. No sane elf would have passed through that magical portal and
come to this hellish land.] – synonyms & related words [rummage, search about, scrabble
around, feel around, grope around, forage around, fish about/around, poke
about/around, scratch about/around, delve, dig, hunt; search through, hunt through,
rifle through, sift through, go through, scour, ransack, explore, rootle around, fossick
through, roust around; unearth, uncover, discover, detect, search out, elicit, bring to
light, bring into the open, reveal, get at, run to earth, track down, turn up, dig up, dig out,
root out, hunt out, fish out, nose out, sniff out, get wind of, get wise to, rumble, uncloak],

ken (n.) – (old fashioned) field of expertise, knowledge, profession; beyond your ken,
not in your area of knowledge [Financial matters are beyond my ken, I'm afraid. Medivh
was apparently a young man, as wizards went. He was merely in his forties, and for a
grand bulk of that time seemed to have made no impact whatsoever on his surroundings.
This was a surprise to Khadgar. Most of the tales he had heard and read described
independent wizards as being extremely showy, fearless in dabbling in secrets man was not
meant to know, and usually dead, crippled, or damned from messing with powers and
energies beyond their ken.],

kowtow/kotow (v.) – to show too much respect to someone in authority, always

doing what you are told and changing what you do in order to please them; to kneel and
bow low enough to touch one's forehead to the ground; to bow very deeply [And yet,
realized Khadgar, there was something important here, something that created in the
scholars a mixture of fear, respect, and envy. The Kirin Tor held no other spellcasters as
their equals for magical knowledge, indeed often sought to hinder those wizards who did
not hold allegiance to the Violet Citadel. And yet they kowtowed to Medivh. Why?],

middling (adj.) – (informal) medium or average, neither very good nor very bad [A
man of about middling height. A middling performance. And Medivh was there, for to
Khadgar it could be no other. He was a man of middling years, his hair long and bound in a
ponytail in the back. In his youth his hair had likely been ebon black, but now it was
already turning gray at the temples and along the beard. Khadgar knew that this
happened to many mages, from the stress of the magical energies they wielded.],

vaunt (v.) – (formal, usually disapproving) to speak proudly about or praise something,
especially in a way that is more than acceptable or reasonable [The local people like to
vaunt the glories of their faded past.],

vaunted (adj.) – (formal, usually disapproving) praised often in a way that is

considered to be more than acceptable or reasonable [His (much) vaunted new plan has
been shown to have serious weaknesses.],

collude (v.) – (formal) to act together secretly or illegally in order to deceive or cheat
someone [It was suspected that the police had colluded with the witnesses.] – synonyms &
related words [conspire, connive, itnrigue, be hand in glove, plot, participate in a
conspiracy, collaborate, scheme, be in cahots, be in cohorts, machinate, cabal, complot],

collusion (n.) – (formal) agreement between people to act together secretly or

illegally in order to deceive or cheat someone [It is thought that they worked in collusion
with the terrorist network. Working in collusion with the Officio Assassinorum, the Adeptus
Mechanicus spirited away the most promising Pariahs to a specially constructed fortress
hidden on Terra, beyond the reach or knowledge of the more zealous branches of what
eventually became the Adeptus Terra after the Horus Heresy.] – synonyms & related
words [conspiracy, connivance, complicity, intrigue, plotting, secret understanding,
collaboration, scheming],

collusive tendering/bidding (n.) – (law) a situation in which companies share

information illegally among themselves when offering to supply goods or services, in
order to control the price [Collusive tendering deprives customers of the benefits of
competition.],

collusive (adj.) – (formal, law) collusive activities or methods are done or used by
people, companies, etc. working together secretly or illegally in order to deceive people
[The agency is looking at possible collusive practices involving tax-exempt debt. Collusive
pricing.],

will-o'-the-whisp (n.) – (British folklore) a strange light that attracts travellers from
pathways into dangerous marshes or graveyards, will'o-wisp, ignis fatuus, spooklights,
ghost lights, nightfire; (figurative) something that is impossible to get or achieve, a
delusionary or otherwise unobtainable goal that one feels compelled to pursue [Full
employment is the will-o'-the-wisp that politicians have been chasing for decades.] –
synonyms & related words [false hope, illusion, delusion, unrealizable dream, fantasy,
pipe dream, daydream, reverie, mirage, castle in the air, castle in Spain],

ignis fatuus (n.) – a will o' the wisp, a light that sometimes appears in the night over
marshy ground and is often attributable to the combustion of gas from decomposed
organic matter; (figurative) a delusion, a false hope [But he was slow – painfully slow,
hour after hour slow, sweating and struggling in front of his own class slow – to accept the
truth about the simple statement: the truth being that it is an ignis fatuus. Like some ignis
fatuus belated upon the road behind them which all could see and of which none spoke. For
this will to deceive that is in things luminous may manifest itself likewise in retrospect and
so by sleight of some fixed part of a journey already accomplished may also post men to
fraudulent destinies.],

stately (adj.) – (formal) formal, slow, and having a style and appearance that causes
admiration, impressive or grand in size, appearance or manner, slow, formal, and
dignified [The procession moved through the streets at a stately pace. He always walked
with a stately bearing. The Navigator's Quarter is home to some of the stateliest palaces
the hand of Mankind has ever raised. A stately 19th-century mansion. A stately procession.]
– synonyms & related words [dignified, majestic, ceremonious, courtly, imposing,
impressive, solemn, awe-inspiring, regal, imperial, elegant, grand, glorious, splendid,
magnificent, resplendent, important, august, formal, slow-moving, measured,
deliberate],
stately home (n.) – a large, old house that usually has beautiful furniture, decorations
and gardens, usually is or was occupied formerly by an aristocratic family,

replete (adj.) – (formal) full, especially with food; well supplied [After two helpings of
dessert, Sregio was at least replete. This car has an engine replete with the latest
technology. Sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death. A
sumptuous environment replete with European antiques. The guests, replete with roast
lamb and chocolate mousse, lingered over coffee. I went out into the sun-drenched streets
again, replete and relaxed. In a universe replete with Warp corruption.] – synonyms &
related words [filled, full, well stocked, well supplied, well provided, crammed, crowded,
packed, jammed, stuffed, teeming, overflowing, burstling, brimful, brimming, loaded,
overloaded, thick, solid, charged, abounding, jam-packed, chock-a-block, chock-full,
chocker, well fed, sated, satiated, full, full up, full to bursting, satisfied, glutted, gorged,
stuffed, satiate, surfeited],

(random cool paragraph) – [Pity the guardsmen A weak sack of flesh destined to die
for a dead god that never cared, it spends its pitiful, brief life, alone in his foxhole with
nothing to keep him company, or to keep him safe, than the cheapest, most disposable of
equipment. Perhaps the glow from his lasgun barrel keeps him warm at night. Me? As a
servant of the powers I enjoy the delights of all this world and the warp has to offer. Power,
it courses through my veins. The gifts of the chaos gods will soon overtake me, and one day
I may even ascend. What has the guardsman to look forward to but a grim life, and if he is
lucky perhaps he will feel nothing as my axe sends his soul to Khorne. He lives for a corpse
god, and he shall join his god, as a corpse. I shall spare a half second to think of him and his
kind. Then i shall only laugh. Hail Chaos! You would laugh monster, But let me remind you.
Within that weak sack of meat and bone, uncared for by his god and wept for by none,
beats a heart. A human heart, that carries with it the strength and courage of all mankind.
Within that sack of meat is ensconced the hope, the will, and the fury of every man woman
and child from every corner of the Imperium. Within that weak sack of meat, festooned in
thin armour and weapons only powerful in numbers, beats the heart of a man. And for ten
thousand years, the hearts of men have beaten, strongly, in defiance of your so called
"powers". For ten thousand years, the hearts of men have stood united against a galaxy
that despises them for no reason save that they had the audacity not to lay down and die.
For then thousand years, your black crusades have been pushed back, beaten down and
made a mockery of, by weak sacks of flesh with cheap weapons and disposable equipment.
For that weak sack of flesh that you so gleefully mock is no super soldier, no immortal
warrior, no creature cursed by chaos like you. He is a man, an imperial guardsmen drawn
from some forgotten corner of the Imperium to fight for his species and for the safety of the
people he loves. He is a factory worker, a farmer, a storekeeper, a father, a brother, a son, a
mere man. And against creatures like you, teeming and numberless, powered by the very
will of thirsting gods......... He holds the line. He has held the line for ten thousand Years. So
whats your excuse, monster?],
locked-in syndrome (n.) – (specialized) a medical condition, resulting from damage
to the brain, in which a person is conscious but is not able to move or communicate,
except by suing their eys [For persons with locked-in syndrome, the top priority is to help
them have the highest quality of life possible.],

lock-up (n.) – a small room, used as a prison, usually in a small town, in which
criminals can be kept for a short time; (mainly UK) a building where objects, especially a
car, can be safely kept,

blip (n.) – a small spot of light, sometimes with a short, sharp sound, that appears on a
computer screen; a temporary change that does not have any special meaning [Last
month's rise in inflation was described by the chancellor as only a blip. Though barely a
blip on the galactic map when compared to the vast interstellar territories that encompass
the Imperium, the Tau Empire poses a realistic threat to seize the frontier of space away
from Mankind if something is not done to counter their continued expansion.] – synonyms
& related words [minor shock, glitch, censor, echo, spot, tap, bug, defect, flaw, hitch,
malfunction, mishap, setback, snafu, problem, snag, misfire, something wrong, howler,
lapse, gaffe, faux pas, thinko, wrength, solecism, erroneity, typo, boo-boo, blunder,
blooper, error, fault],

gaffe (n.) – an unintentional act or remark causing embarrassment to its originator, a

blunder [I my first few months at work I made some real gaffes. Yes, that was before Peter
took his daily gaffe dump.] – synonyms & related words [blunder, mistake, error, slip;
indiscretion, impropriety, breach of etiquette, miscalculation, gaucherie, solecism; faux
pas; lapsus linguae, lapsus calami; slip-up, howler, boo-boo, boner, botch, fluff, fail, boob,
bloomer, clanger, blooper, bloop, goof, floater, fuck-up, cock-up],

faux pas (n.) – an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation [I was
suddenly sick in the back of their car – it was years before he could confess his faux pas to
them. I committed a faux pas which they never let me forget.] – synonyms & related words
[gaffee, blunder, mistake, indiscretion, impropriety, breach/lapse of etiquette, solecism,
gaucherie, peccadillo, boob, boo-boo, slip-up, clanger, howler, boner, blooper, bloomer],

wrength (n.) – (rare, now nonstandard) the state or condition of being wrong,
wrongness, wrongfulness,

snafu (n.) – (US, informal) a situation in which nothing has happened as planned [The
company isn't wholly to blame for the snafu. A single snafu (= serious mistake) by an
airlane can leave a lasting impression on travelers.] – synonyms & related words
[mistake, cockup, cock-up, screw-up, screwup, glitch, breakdown, error, fuck-up, foul-
up],

foul up (something) (id.). – to spoil or damge something, esp. by making a mistake

or doing something stupid, to make am istake, to go wrong, to botch, to make a mess of [I
think antipollution devices really foul up a lot of engines. If you foul up, tell the president
and correct it fast. You really fouled up this time. I fouled up question 3 of the exam.] –
synonyms & related words [mess up, fuck up, blow it, bobble, boob, drop a bollock, drop
the ball, miscorrect, misbrand, misstate, err, goof, goof up, mess up, misstep, put a foot
wrong, screw up, slip up, stuff up, stumble, trip over the wire, trip up, blunder, screw the
pooch, crash and burn, fuck the dog, put one's foot in, fluff],

crash and burn (id.) – (informal) to fail very suddenly, obviously, and completely [In
this business, new products often crash and burn.],

disabuse (v.) – (formal) to cause someone to longer have a wrong idea, to free
(someone) of a misconception or misapprehension, to unveil a falsehood held by
(somebody9[He thought that all women liked children, but she soon disabused him of that
(idea/notion). 'I hate to correct you, sir,' said a tall, lean Tanith in a camo-cape who
wandered casually out of Obel's lines. He was screwing the top back onto a paint stick.
'Mkvenner?' Gaunt greeted the grim scout, one of Sergeant Mkoll's elite. 'Go on then,
disabuse me.'] – synonyms & related words [disillusion, undeceive, correct, set
right/straight, open the eyes of, enlighten, reveal the truth to, wake up, disenchant,
shatter the illusions of, make sadder and wiser],

undeceive (v.) – (formal) to free from misconception, deception or error [Early every
morning she made something she called (and believed to be) coffee for George, and he was
gallant enough not to undeceive her. If you think that this loss has broken my heart,
undeceive yourself, for such as I live years in an hour and show no sign.],

grapnel/grappling iron, grappling hook, grappler (n.) – a device that

consists of several hooks (= curved devices) on the end of a rope, used especially in the
past on ships,

grapple (v.) – to fight, especially in order to win, get, achieve something, to compete
for something [The children grappled for the ball.] – synonyms & related words [wrestle,
struggle, tussle; brawl, fight, scuffle, clash, combat, battle; close, engage; seize, grab, lay
hold of, take hold of, grip, hold, grasp, clasp, clench, catch hold of, catch, lay one's hands
on, get one's hands on],

grapple with somebody (v.) – to hold onto someone and fight with them [Two
officers grappled with the gunman.],

grapple with something (v.) – to try to deal with or understand a difficult problem
or subject [Today, many Americans are still grappling with the issue of race.] – synonyms
& related words [tackle, confront, address oneself to, face, attend to, attack, get down to;
deal with, cope with, get/come to grips with; concentrate on, focus on, apply oneself to,
devote oneself to, get stuck into, get cracking on, get weaving on, have a crack at, have a
go at, have a shot at, have a stab at],
incisive (adj.) – expressing an idea or opinion in a clear and direct way that shows
good understanding of what is important, intelligently analytical and clear-thinking; (of
an action) quick and direct [She was an incisive critic. An incisive political commentator.
Incisive questions/comments. The most incisive move of a tight match.] – synonyms &
related words [penetrating, acute, sharp, sharp-witted, razor-sharp, keen, rapier-like,
astute, shrewd, trenchant, piercing, perceptive, insightful, percipient, perspicacious,
discerning, analytical, intelligent, canny, clever, smart, quick, concise, succinct, pithy, to
the point, crisp, clear, punchy, on the ball, heads-up, argute, sapient],

pithy (adj.) – (of a fruit or plant) containing much pith; (of language or style) terse and
vigorously expressive [His characteristically pithy comments.],

on the ball (id.) – aware of and quick to respond to new ideas and methods
[Maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball. If you are really on the ball,
you'll guess the killer. You're about as on the ball today as a dead seal.] – synonyms &
related words [alert, quick-witted, sharp, bright, quick, keen, perceptive, wide awake,
responsive, agile, acute, astute; on one's toes, quick off the mark, quick on the uptake, all
there, with it, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, whip-smart],

with it (id.) – aware, in the loop, keenly cognizant, conscious of, abreast,

argute (adj.) – (literary) sharp, perceptive, shrewd – synonyms & related words
[astute, cagey, canny, crafty, farsighted, ingenious, judicious, keen, penetrating,
perceptive, probing, prudent, sensible, sharp, slick, sly, smart, wily, wise, acute, artful,
astucious, brainy, calculating, cunning, cutting, deep, discerning, discriminating, foxy,
heady, in the know, inside, knowing, on the inside, on top of, perspicacious, piercing,
profound, quick-witted, sagacious, savvy, shark, slippery, smooth, streetwise, worldy-
wise, tricky, underhand, up on, wised up, genius, intelligent],

argyle (n.) – (specialized) a pattern used on items of clothing such as socks or

sweaters, consisting of diamond shapes of various colours [This argyle V-neck sweater is
a classic piece of golf clothing.],

unbidden (adj.) – (literary) not invited or wanted; (especially of a thought or feeling)

arising without conscious effort [Unbidden guests. Often the unbidden guest proves the
best company. Unbidden excitement grew deep inside her. At night, images would come
unbidden into her mind.] – synonyms & related words [uninvited, unasked, unrequested,
unsolicited, unwanted, unwelcome, spontaneous, unprompted, voluntary, unforced,
uncompelled, unplanned, unpremeditated, spur-of-the-moment, off-the-cuff],

modus operandi (n.) – (formal) a particular way of doing something ["They warrant
further investigation, that much is certain. Their modus operandi bears similarities to that
of... certain individuals we consider of extreme importance. It is not unheard of for those...
lost to history to appear in a state that bears little relation to their original appearance.
Given postmortem Auspex readings it is clear they have advanced telekinetic capacity,
presumably psychic in origin. Upon stasis capture, I recommend extensive questioning
within a quarantined null zone, performed by gifted Interrogator-Chaplains still attired in
full battle plate."],

unlooked for/unlooked-for (adj.) – not expected, not foreseen [Unlooked-for joy.

In his family, he found unlooked-for happiness. The unlooked-for publicity made his work
more saleable. Although all communications were cut, someone still received the distress
calls. When travel was impossible, someone still arrived unlooked for. When all hope was
lost, they strode forth out of the Blackness, a legion of vengeance, a brotherhood of flame.
The Legion of the Damned appeared on Baal, Armageddon, Antagonis and hundreds more
planets besides during this period of the early 42nd Millennium. The Legionaries spoke only
with Bolter and Chainsword, meting out terrible punishments upon the enemies of the
Imperium before themselves vanishing without a trace. Truly the hour of the damned had
come...] – synonyms & related words [unexpected, unforeseen, unanticipated, not
bargained for, unhoped-for, unsought, undreamed of, unpredicted, unintentional,
unintended, inadvertent, unplanned, unpremeditated, unwitting, fortuitous, chance,
coincidental, serendipitous, random, fluky, sudden, abrupt, surprise, surprising, without
warning, without notice, startling, astonishing, out of the blue],

sidereal (adj.) – (specialized) of or calculated by the stars [Such was the turmoil during
the creation of the Great Rift and the period following it that there could be no reliable
accounts. As limited communications returned, Historitors and Chronotechs struggled to
understand incoming reports. With the influx of Warp energies into such vast regions of
realspace, time passed strangely, speeding up in some sectors, slowing in others compared
to the sidereal time experienced on Terra, at the heart of the Imperium.],

riff (v.) – (speak) to speak for a long time on a particular subject, especially in a
humorous way; (music) to improvise in the performance or practice of an art, especially
by expanding on or making novel use of traditional themes, play riffs [He strutted and
riffed on topics from global warming to parenthood. The other horns would be riffing
behind him.],

riff (n.) – a repeated instrumental melody line in a song; a clever or witty remark; a
variation on something; a spoof [Listen to one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time. Pope
Francis delivers off-the-cuff riff on family life. Both the Orbit and the Pinnacle are riffs of an
idea sketched out in 1917 by Vladimir Tatlin for a monument to international communism.
The creative team has experience with spoofing: Both Rudd and Poehler had parts in
Wain’s Wet Hot American Summer, a hysterically irreverent riff on ’80s summer-camp
comedies.],

quash (v.) – (refuse) to say officially that something, especially an earlier official
decision, is no longer to be accepted [His conviction was quashed in March 1986 after his
counsel argued that the police evidence was all lies. His conviction was quashed on appeal.
The Court of Appeal may quash the sentence.] – synonyms & related words [cancel,
reverse, rescind, repeal, revoke, retract, countermand, withdraw, take back, rule against,
disallow, overturn, override, overrule, veto, set aside, overthrow, repudiate, annul,
nullify, declare null and void, invalidate, render invalid, negate, void, abrogate, vacate,
recall],

quash (v.) – (stop) to forcefully stop something that yo udo not want to happen [The
revolt was swiftly quashed by government troops. The company movedquickly to quash
rumors/speculation that it is losing money. A hospital executive quashed on appeal. We
want to quash these horrible suggestions.] – synonyms & related words [put an end to,
stamp out, put a stop to, end, finish, get rid of, crush, put down, check, crack down on,
curb, nip in the bud, thwart, frustrate, squash, quell, subdue, suppress, repress, quench,
extinguish, stifle, abolish, terminate, beat, overcome, defeat, rout, destroy, demolish,
annihilate, wipe out, squelch, put the kibosh on, clobber, extirpate],

stifle (v.) – (no air) to (cause to) be unable to breathe because you have no air [He is
said to have stifled his victim with a pillow. We almost stifled in the heat of the city.] –
synonyms & related words [suffocate, choke, asphyxiate, smother; very hot, sweltering,
airless, suffocating, oppressive, humid, close, muggy, sticky, soupy, boiling],

stifle (v.) – (prevent happening) to prevent something from happening, being

expressed, or continuing; prevent or constrain 8an activity or idea); restrain (a reaction)
or stop oneslef acting on (an emotion) [She stifled a cough/yawn/scream/sneze/laugh. I
didn't know how I managed to stifle my anger. We should be encouraging new ideas, not
stifling them.] – synonyms & related words [suppress, smother, restrain, keep back, hold
back, hold in, fight back, choke back, gulp back, withhold, check, keep in check, swallow,
muffle, quench, curb, silence, contain, bottle up; bite one's lip, cork up; constrain, hinder,
hamper, impede, hold back, curb, check, restrain, prevent, inhibit; put an end/stop to,
stop, quash, squash, stamp out, destroy, crush, extinguish, deaden, damp down, subdue,
suppress, repress; silence, muffle, mute, gag],

stifling (adj.) – (no air) extremely hot and unpleasant [I can't bear this stifling humidity.
Several hundred people were crammed into the stifling room. Sitting in the confines of a
briefing room already made cramped and stifling by the presence of an entire company of
Guardsmen crammed inside it, Larn found himself forced to suppress a sudden yawn.],

stifling (adj.) – (prevent happening) preventing something from happening [Stifling

bureacracy.],

levity (n.) – (formal) humor or lack of seriousness, especially during a serious occasion,
a treatment of a serious matter with humor or lack of due respect[A brief moment of
levity amid the solemn proceedings. As an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words
were a disastrous flop. He did much to inject a note of levity into a very hard-working
production cycle. He was distressed by the levity of her nature.] – synonyms & related
words [conviviality, cheerfulness, cheeriness, humor, gaiety, light-heartedness,
carefreeness, light-mindedness, high spirits, vivacity, liveliness, fun, jocularity, hilarity,
frivolity, frivolousness, amusement, mirth, laughter, merriment, glee, comedy, funniness,
wit, wittiness, jollity, joviality, joking, drollery, good cheer, sportiveness, nonsense,
irreverence, facetiousness, flippancy, blitheness, triviality, silliness, foolishness,
childishness, giddiness, skittishness, fickleness, inconstancy, instability, unsteadiness,
variability, unchangeability, unreliability, undependability, inconsistency, flightiness],

droll (adj.) – humorous, especially in an unusual way, usually provoking dry

amusement [A droll remark/expression/person.] – synonyms & related words [funny,
humorous, amusing, comic, comical, mirthful, chucklesome, hilarious, rollicking;
clownish, farcical, zany, quirky, eccentric, preposterous; ridiculous, ludicrous, risible,
laughable; jocular, light-hearted, facetious, waggish, witty, whimsical, wry, sportive,
tongue-in-cheek; entertaining, diverting, engaging, sparkling; wacky, side-splitting, rib-
tickling, quaint, odd, strange, queer, eccentric, outlandish, bizarre, whimsical],

drollery (n.) – comical quality; amusing behavior, something humorous, funny or

comical; a joke, a funny story; a small decorative image in the margin of an illuminated
manuscript,

skittish (adj.) – (of people and animals) nervous or easily frightened; (of a person) not
serious and likely to change their beliefs or opinions often [My horse is very skittish, so I
have to keep him away from traffic. Investors are skittish about the impact of an economic
downturn. Marilyn was like a child, playful and skittish one moment, sulky and withdrawn
the next.],

outreach (n.) – an effort to bring services or information to people where they live or
spend time, the act or practice of visiting and providing services (of a charity, church, or
other organization) to people who might not otherwise have access to those services;
the act of reaching out; the extent or length of one's reach [The center was awarded a
grant for outreach to the homeless.],

spout (n.) – (opening) a tube-shaped opening that allows liquids to be poured out of a
container [Taking a spouted canister from beside the foot of the pump he dribbled a few
drops of unguent from it into the working. A tough metal can with a handy pouring spout.]
– synonyms & related words [nozzle, lip, rose, sparkler, spile]

spout (n.) – (flow) a stream of liquid coming out of something with some force [A spout
of water shot out of the geysers. Volcaneos spouted ash and lava. Blood was spouting from
the cuts on my hand. Lava was spouting from the crater.] – synonyms & related words
[spurt, gush, spew, pour, stream, rush, erupt, surge, shoot, pump, squit, spray, flow,
issue, disgorge, discharge, emit, blech forth]
spout (v.) – (speak) (disapproving) to speak a lot, in a way that is boring or annoying
for other people [He spouts a load of pretentious nonsense and people are stupid enough
to believe him. I really don't want to listen to Mike spouting on/off all afternoon.] –
synoynms & related words [hold forth, sound off, go on, talk at length, expatiate,
pontificate, declaim, orate, rant, sermonize, mouth off, speechify, spiel, perorate],

spout (v.) – (flow) to flow or send out liquid or flames quickly and with force, in a
straight line [Flames sprouted (out) from the oil wells. The gash was spouting blood.],

emboss (v.) – to decorate an object, especially with letters, using special tools that
make a raised mark on its surface; to raise in relief from a surface, as an ornament, a
head on a coin, etc. [She handed me a business card wit hher name neatly embossed on it.
The papers weren't official until the seal had been embossed on them.] – synonyms &
related words [imprint, adorn, decorate, etch, carve, impress, punch, sculpt, stamp],

commonplace (n.) – (formal) a boring remark that is used very often and does not
have much meaning [We exchanged commonplaces about the weather over cups of tea.
For a moment his mother stood there quietly staring at him. Facing her in uncomfortable
silence, Larn realised how hard it was for her to speak at all now she knew she would be
losing him tomorrow. It lent their every word a deeper meaning, making even the most
simple of conversations difficult while with every instant there was the threat that a single
ill-chosen word might release the painful tide of grief welling up inside her. You took your
boots off? she said at last, retreating to the commonplace in search of safety. Yes, Ma. I left
them just inside the hallway.] – synonyms & related words [everyday thing/event,
routine, nothing out of the ordinary, idle chatter, prattle],

vim (n.) – (old-fashioned) energy and enthusiasm [At 87, Minna's still full of vim and
vigor. You are soldiers of the Imperial Guard, Emperor help us. Put some vim into it.] –
synonyms & related words [life, dash, drive, energy, spur, enthusiasm, fire, force, kick,
oomph, passion, pep, pepper, push, spirit, strength, vigor, vinegar, vitality, zeal, zing],

on the warpath (id.) – (informal, mainly humorous) angry and likely to argue or
punish [If there was on ething she couldn't face in the morning it was he rmother on the
warpath. Turning away from Leden, the sergeant resumed his inspection. Standing three
men down the line, Larn felt weighed down by the expectation of impending disaster.
Ferres is really on the warpath today, he thought.] – synonyms & related words [in a
towering range, foaming at the mouth, bent out of shape, up in arms, wrathful, incensed,
frenzied, frenetic, hopping mad, browned off, bummed out, corybantic, crazed, beside
oneself, storming, irate, ireful, mad, raging, heated, indignant, furious, displeased, fit to
be tied, boiling over, boiling mad, raving mad, ranting and raving, seeing red, throwing a
fit, blowing a gasket, blowing one's top, at boiling point, rubbed the wrong way, steamed
up, up in arms, at end of one's rope, bugged, peeved, riled, miffed, exasperated, enraged,
dogged],
blue law (n.) – (US, old-fashioned, informal) a law that limits activities that are
considered not to be moral for religious reasons, such as shopping or working on
Sundays,

demerit (n.) – (formal) a fault or disadvantage; a mark given to someone, especially a

student in school, because they have done something wrong or broken a rule [We need
to consider the merits, and demerits of the plan. She got three demerits for lateness on this
term's report. Very good, Larn, the sergeant said to him, tossing Larn s lasgun back to him
before turning to inspect the next man in line. You re learning. Perhaps we ll make a
Guardsman of you yet. No bruises, no extra laps, not even a demerit, Jenks said. It was an
hour later, and Larn sat with the other men of his fireteam at one of the long tables inside
the mess hall as their company waited for the midday meal to be served.] – synonyms &
related words [fault, punishment, bad mark, loss of credit, loss of points, mark against
one],

depreciate (v.) – to (cause something to) lose value, especially over time; to decline in
value over time; to belittle or disparage [Our car depreciated (by) $1,500 in the first year
we owned it. In the last year our house has depreciated in value.],

do down (id.) – (UK) to criticize someone in order to make them feel ashamed or to
make other people lose respect [She felt that everyone in the meetng was trying to do
her down. Stop doing yourself down.],

take (or get) one's lumps (id.) – (US, informal) suffer punishment, be attacked or
defeated [Jason decided to lie doggo and let Faraday take his lumps. Ha, say that and you ll
definitely catch one in the balls, Jenks laughed. No, once Ferres has a burr riding him he s
going to hurt you one way or another. You ask me, only thing you can do is take your lumps
and tough it out. Unless you re like Larnie here, of course. The perfect Guardsman.] –
synonyms & related words [accept the consequences, face the music, be punished, bite
the bullet, come to grips with, face the facts, face up to, face up to it, grin and bear it, look
square in the eye, make one's bed and lie on it, pay the piper, swallow the pill],

pretension (n.) – a claim or belief that you can succeed or that you are important or
have serious value; (also pretentiousness) the act of trying to appear or sound more
important or clever than you are [The Chronicle has pretensions to being a serious
newspaper. The NY Giants' Super Bowl pretensions were dashed when they were beaten
last week. His pretensions to the imperial inheritance. The author firmly denies any
pretension to exhaustive coverage. I dislike the pretension of her style. He spoke simply,
without pretension. Larn might well have just passed muster, but he did not have any
pretensions in that regard. Even after two months of basic training, he felt no more a
Guardsman now than he had on the day when he had first been drafted.] – synonyms &
related words [aspiration, claim, assertion, pretence, profession, purporting,
pretentiousness, affectation, affectedness, ostentation, ostentatiousness, artificiality,
attitudinizing, airs, posing, posturing, showing off, hypocrisy, snobbery, show, flashiness,
pomposity, pompousness, floweriness, grandiosity, grandness, grandiloquence,
magniloquence, elaborateness, extravagance, heroics, flamboyance, ornateness,
bombast, turgidity, rhetoric, pedantry; la-di-da, side; guyver, fustian, flatulence],

tender mercies (id.) – used ironically to refer to attention or treatment not in the
best interests of its recipients [„They abandoned their children to the tender mercies of
the social services." Two thousand would-be Guardsmen, given over to the tender mercies
of men like Sergeant Ferres in the hope they could be made into soldiers by the time they
got their first taste of action.],

know where you stand (id.) – to know what your opinion or situation is [I know
where I stand on this issue - I'm against the war. When we've paid all our debts we'll know
where we stand. Anyway, if you ask me, Hallan is right, Jenks said, his voice breaking into
Larn s thoughts. I mean, hard as Ferres is, at least you know where you stand with him.],

alive to something (id.) – (UK) If you are alive to something, you are thinking about
it or familiar with it [I ski for the excitement, but I'm also always alive to the risks.],

be au fait with something (id.) – to be familiar with or know about something [Are
you au fait with the rules of the game?] – synonyms & related words [familiar with, au
courant, exper, skillful, up on, up to snuff, well instructed, wise to, with it, cognizant,
aware, conscious, abreast, experienced, in the know-how],

on hand/to hand (id.) – near to someone or something, and ready to help or be used
if necessary [A 1,200-strong military force will be on hand to monitor the ceasefire. For
those of you who don't have an atlas to hand, Newcastle is a city in the northeast of
England. Then, finally, Hallan smiled at him: the smile telling him that all of them felt the
same nervousness he did at the thought of seeing combat. Don t worry, Larnie, he said,
Even if you do get hit I ll be on hand to patch you up. Lot of comfort that is, Jenks said. I
thought you said the only reason they made you a medic was because you were a
veterinary back home.],

my stomach thinks my throat has been cut (id.) – used to say that you are
very hungry [I swear my stomach s so empty I was starting to think my throat d been cut.],

keep something back (id.) – (not use all) to not use the whole amount of something
so there is a small amount remaining for later; (not tell) to not tell someone everything
you know about a situation or an event that has happened [I suspect hse's keeping
something back. Fills a hole is right, Jenks said, pulling a spoon from his mess kit and using
it to prod suspiciously at the sticky grey stew in his own mess tray. You should keep back
some of this and take it into battle with you, Hals. Anybody gets wounded you can use this
stuff to glue them back together.],

swill (v.) – (move liquid) to cause a liquid to flow around or over something, often in
order to clean it [The dentist handed me a glass of water to swill my mouth out with.],
swill (v.) – (drink, eat informal, often disapproving) to drink or eat, especially alcohol,
quickly and in large amounts [Well-dressed people, of both sexes, devouring sliced bfeed,
and swilling pork, and punch, and cider. If you can give me no more than twenty-five
shillings, I'm sure I'm not going to buy you pork-pie to stuff, after you've swilled a bellyful
of beer.],

swill (n.) – (pigswill) waste human food that is fed to pigs; (figurative) food that is very
bad [I refuse to eat the swill that they serve in the canteen. What amazes me, said Vorrans,
is here we are, surrounded by wheat fields on every side in one of the most productive
farming regions on the entire planet. Yet, every day, instead of giving us real food they give
us this reconstituted swill. If you ask me, it makes no sense.],

swill (n.) – (liquid, UK) the movement of liquid over or around something, often in
order to clean it [Give the sink a quick swill to get it clean.],

let up on someone/something (id.) – to stop treating someone severely, or to

stop doing something so forcefully [He advised her to let up on the relentless criticism.
The rain's letting up – it'll be clear soon. The rain had let up, so we walked. Finding himself
yawning once more, Larn hurriedly raised his hand to cover his mouth. Even travelling
through the depths of the void, Sergeant Ferres had not let up on them. If anything, Ferres
daily training regime since they had left their homeworld was harder than it had been back
on Jumael IV, the only difference being they did their training now in one of the troopship s
loading bays while sardonic naval crewmen paused in their own duties to watch them with
sneering smiles.] – synonyms & related words [abate, lessen, decrease, diminish, subside,
moderate, decline, relent, slacken, die down/off, ease (off), tail off, taper off, drop
off/away, peter out, ebb, wane, dwindle, fade, quieten (down), calm (down), weaken,
stop, cease, finish, come to a stop, come to an end, terminate],

sardonic (adj.) – showing little respect in a humorous but unkind way, often because
you think that you are too important to consider or discuss a matter [A sardonic
smile/look/comment.],

time lag (n.) – a period between two related events [There's a time lag of about a week
between having the blood test and getting the results.]

ablution (n.) – (formal) the act of washing yourself [Ablution is part of some religious
ceremonies.],

ablutions (n.) – (humorous) your ablutions are the things you do when you wash
yourself [I need to perform my ablutions. You call yourselves soldiers? Sergeant Ferres
yelled, his voice echoing stridently off the bulkhead walls of the loading bay. I ve seen
higher lifeforms sticking to my father s arse after his ablutions. Now, attack that
blockhouse like you mean it or I ll make the whole lot of you sorry you ever crawled from
your inbred mothers idiot wombs!],
febrile (adj.) – (active, literary) extremely active, or too excited, imaginative, or
emotional [She sang with febrile intensity. He has a febrile imagination. The febrile
atmosphere of the city. Five hours had passed since the briefing. Five hours which Larn had
spent in one of the troopship s loading bays with the rest of his platoon, experiencing the
latest training regime to issue from the febrile mind of Sergeant Ferres.],

febrile (adj.) – (fever, specialized, medical) caused by a fever, having or showing the
symptoms of a fever [A febrile illness. The patient was febrile and had abdominal pain.
Febrile convulsions.] – synonyms & related words [feverish, fevered, hot, burning,
burning up, fiery, flushed, sweaing, in a cold sweat, shivering, delirious, with a
temperature, pyretic],

pyretic (adj.) – caused by, pertaining to or resulting in fever,

shrill (adj.) – having a loud and high sound that is unpleasant or painful to listen to;
(disapproving) used to describe a way of arguing or criticizing that seems too forceful
[She had a shrill high-pitched voice. He launched a shrill attack on the prime minister.
Faster, Ferres shouted, his voice so shrill it seemed on the verge of breaking. I want you to
clear that blockhouse room by room. No quarter to the enemy. No survivors. For the
Emperor! A shrill laugh. A shrill scream rent the air.] – synonyms & related words [high-
pitched, piercing, high, sharp, ear-piercing, ear-splitting, air-rending, penetrating,
shattering, strident, loud, storng, intrusive, screeching, shrieking, screechy, squawky],

shrink (v.) – (be frightened, literary) to move away from someone or something
because you are frightened [The child shrank behind the sofa as his father shouted at him.
When she was younger she would shrink (away) from me whenever I spoke to her. Umm I
don t know, sergeant. Leden said, shrinking down into himself as he answered as though
melting beneath the hot glare of Sergeant Ferres eyes. She rahnk away from him, covering
her face. He shrank back against the wall.] – synonyms & related words [draw back,
recoil, jump back, spring back, jerk back, pull back, start back, back away, retreat,
withdraw, flinch, shy away, blench, start, wince, cringe, cower, quail],

dead men tell no tales (saying) – people who are dead cannot tell secrets [I think
they killed him because he knew too much. Dead men tell no tales.],

collate (v.) – (formal) to bring together different pieces of written information so that
the similarities and differences can be seen; to collect and arrange the sheets of a report,
book, etc., in the correct order; compare and analyze (two or more sources of
information) [To collect data/information. The photocopier will collate the documents for
you. Here, numbers were crunched, data entries updated, reports filed, then collated. All the
information obtained is being collated. The police compute rsystem is being used to collate
information from across Britain.] – synonyms & related words [collect, gather,
accumulate, assemble, combine, aggregate, put together, arrange, organize, order, put in
order, sort, categorize, systematize, structure, compare, contrast, set side by side,
juxtapose, weigh against, set against, balance, differentiate, discriminate],

put somebody in mind of something (id.) – to cause someone to remember

something [The mention of skiing holidays put me in mind of a documentary that I saw
last week. Cold weather like this always puts me in mind of childhood trips to our cabin in
the mountains. Mary puts me in mind of her mother when she was that age. This place puts
me in mind of the village where I was brought up. Here, numbers were crunched, data
entries updated, reports filed, then collated, then cross-indexed all amid a constant din of
clattering type-keys and whirring logic-wheels that put him in mind of nothing so much as
the sound of an insect army on the march.] – synonyms & related words [jog someone's
memory, refresh someone's memory, help someone remember, cause someone to
remember, prompt, nudge, give someone a cue, remind, make one think of, cause one to
remember, take one back to, bring/call to mind, awake one's memories, evoke, call up,
conjure up, summon up],

meritorious (adj.) – deserving merit, praise – synonyms & related words

[praiseworthy, admirable, creditable, excellent, exemplary, laudable, commendable,
deserving, estimable, meritable, praisable, thankworthy, worthy],

creditable (adj.) – worthy of praise and merit, deserving respect [Mirovan had made
general in a creditably short space of time. If the man had any flaw at all, it was in the one
single characteristic Kerchan could never abide in a subordinate.],

ill-humored (adj.) – bad-tempered, irritable [A querulous and ill-humored little man.

An ill-humored little man. Aggravated by the thought, Strell cast an ill-humoured eye over
the printout of the ship s transport manifest held in his hand until he came to the listing for
the offending company.] – synonyms & related words [bad-tempered, ill-tempered,
short-tempered, hot-tempered, quick-tempered, in a (bad) mood, cross, as cross as two
sticks, irritable, irascible, tetchy, testy, crotchety, touchy, thin-skinned, scratchy,
cantankerous, curmudgeonly, peevish, fractious, waspish, prickly, peppery, pettish,
shrewish, grumpy, grouchy, crabbed, crabby, disagreeable, volatile, splenetic, dyspeptic,
choleric, bilious, liverish, cross-grained, snappish, snappy, chippy, on a short fuse, short-
fused, shirty, stroppy, narky, ratty, eggy, like a bear with a sore head, cranky, ornery,
peckish, soreheaded, snaky, waxy, miffy],

bleary (adj.) – If you have bleary eyes, your eyes are red or have tears in them and you
cannot see clearly, because you are tired or have just woken up: [To be bleary-eyed. Carl
stared blearily (= in a very tired way) at the newspaper. Three hours since, exhausted, Larn
had finally been allowed to go to sleep. Only to be roused blearily from his slumbers two
and a quarter hours later by the wail of sirens as Sergeant Ferres had ordered the men of
the platoon from their bunks and told them to make ready for a planetary dropBoris
opened a blery eye. He tried to focus his bleary eyes..] – synonyms & related words
[blurred, blurry, unfocused, fogged, clouded, cloudy, dim dull, filmy, muzzy, tired, moist,
misty, watery, rheumy, blear],

antipathy (n.) – a feeling of strong dislike, opposition, or anger, deep-seated aversion

[Despite the deep antipathies between them, the two sides have managed to negotiate an
agreement. Declarations of racial antipathy against ethnic minorities will not be tolerated.
He is a private man with a deep antipathyto/towards the press. With the prospect that
their erstwhile passengers might soon be seeing combat, it seemed the normal antipathy
between the Navy and the Guard had abruptly given way to mutual respect. With a sudden
tremor in the pit of his stomach, Larn realised he was about to go to war. She felt a violent
antipathy to Emily. Antipathetic attitudes towards smokers.] – synonyms & related words
[hostility, antagonism, animosity, aversion, animus, opposition, enmity, dislike, distate,
ill will, ill feeling, hatred, hate, abhorrence, loathing, repugnance, odium, grudge, allergy,
disrelish],

votive (adj.) – (specialized) given or done to honor and thank a god, in respect,
appreciation, worship of a deity [Votive offerings. He thought of his family far away on
Jumael, and how every night they would be offering a prayer for his safety as they knelt
before the votive picture of the Emperor above the fire mantle.],

idolatry (n.) – the worship of idols; (often disapproving) very great admiration or
respect for someone, often too great; the act of praying to a picture or object as part of a
religion [Jeremiah preached agains tidolatry. The youngster makes no attempt to concela
his idolatry of his team-mate. Newton was revered to the point of idolatry. Father Brown
considers the notes and flowers left near the statue to be close to idolatry. We must not
allow our idolatry of art to obscure issues of political significance. Our idolatry of art.] –
synonyms & related words [idol worship, fetishism, iconolatry, icon worship, paganism,
heatehnism, heresy, sacrilege, ungodliness, idolization, idolizing, fetishization, worship,
worshipping, adulation, adoration, adoring, reverence, glorification, lionizing,
lionization, love, admiration, loving, admiraing, hero-worshipping],

lionize (v.) – to treat 8a person) as if they were important, or a celebrity; to visit

famous places in order to revere them; to behave as a lion,

hurdle (n.) – (problem) a problem that you have to deal with before you can make
progress [Getting a work permit was the first hurdle to overcome. The cost of this exercise
is proving to be a major hurdle. Many would like to emigrate to the United States, but face
formidable hurdles. This was the final hurdle to overcome in the college's bid for university
status. He thought about the tale his father had told him, about his great-grandfather and
the lottery. He thought about all the promises he had made his Pa about doing his duty. He
realised, for all his talk and promises then, how close he had coming to failing them at the
very first hurdle.] – synonyms & related words [obstacle, difficulty, problem, barrier, bar,
snag, stumbling block, impediment, obstruction, complication, handicap, hindrance,
hiccup, headache, fly in the ointment, spanner in the works, monkey wrench in the
works],

hurdle (v.) – to run in a race in which there are hurdles to be jumped over, or to jump
over something while running [He hurdled the gate and scrambled up the hill.],

bombast (n.) – language that is intentionally difficult, usually to make something

sound more important than it is [Putting his questions aside he found himself comforted
by the memory of his father s words in the cellar, his recollection of his father s voice
serving as a kinder and more gentle counterpoint to the vox-caster s wail and bombast.],

bombastic (adj.) – using long and difficult words, usually to make people think you
know more than you do [A bombastic preacher. A bombastic statement.],

succour (n.) – (UK, literary, US succor) help given to someone, especially someone who
is suffering or in need [Her organization gave succor and strength to those who had been
emotionally damaged. Ahead he saw the imposing bulk of a lander, steam rising from the
hydraulics of the platform it rested on as tech-adepts scurried around it like mindful ants
giving succour to a fallen giant. The wounded had little chance of succour. They provided
shelter and succor in times of need.] – synonyms & related words [aid, help, a helping
hand, assistance, ministration, comfort, ease, relief, support, guidance, backing,
easement],

succour (v.) – (UK, literary, US succor) to help someone, especially someone who is
suffering or in need [To succour the poor, help the helpless, support the weak. Students
should be encouraged, supported and succored. Prisoners of war were liberated and
succored. The navy was unable to succor colonies in africa.] – synonyms & related words
[help, aid, bring aid to, give help to, give/render assistance to, assist, lend a (helping)
hand to, be of service to, minister to, care for, comfort, bring comfort to, bring relief to,
support, be supportive of, sustain, protect, take care of, look after, attend to, serve, wait
on],

claw something back (id.) – (UK) to get possession of something again with
difficulty [The airline is beginning to claw back some of the business it lost after the bomb
explosion. They decided to claw back their territory.],

recess (n.) – (space) a small area in a room that is formed by one part of a wall being
set back further than other parts; (usually plural) a secret or hidden place [The room has
a recess designed to hold bookshelves. Psychoanalysts aim to explore the
deepest/innermost recesses of the mind. Open that ramp! screamed Sergeant Ferres,
pushing his way through the crowd of milling Guardsmen to where a small group stood
studying the control panel governing the ramp s mechanism. Seeing the group raise their
eyes to look at him in confusion, he pushed them aside and stretched out a hand towards a
metal lever set in a recess by the edge of the ramp.],
go off the rails (id.) – (informal) to start behaving in a way that is not generally
acceptable, especially dishonestly or illegally [He went off the rails in his first year at
university. Sport saved them from going off the rails as youngsters. Now, not to say this
isn't a good book...I found it an interesting enough read. But it's an interesting read mostly
about all the Imperium's endemic systemic failure points, and how they interact to screw
over the ordinary soldiers manning the front lines. The error-ridden dysfunction of the
Administratum bureacracy, incompetent leadership, propaganda outlets that don't fool
anyone except for the officers who should know they're nonsense...it's just one clusterfuck
after another, culminating in disaster. And that's before things go REALLY off the rails.],

rise above something (v.) – to not allow something bad to affect your behavior or
upset you [He rose above his pain/bad luck/difficulties. She rose above the personal
tragedy in her life and became a senator. And maybe that's the ultimate joke here. If the
grim darkness of the far future offers Only War, then War by itself can't be reason for
anybody to rise above ordinary fucked-up human incompetence. The heroes only get
involved when things are really bad.],

write-off (n.) – (wasted time) a period of time during which you fail to achieve
anything [Yesterday was a complete write-off as far as work is concerned.],

stencil (n.) – a piece of card, plastic, metal, etc. into which shapes have been cut, used
to draw or paint patterns onto a surface a picture made by drawing or painting through
the holes in such a piece of card, etc. onto a surface [She did a stencil of a rainbow on her
daughter's bedroom wall.],

stencil (v.) – to draw or paint osmething using a stencil [His name was Repzik: Larn
could see the faded letters of the name stencilled on the tunic of the man s uniform under
his greatcoat. Standing beside him on the firing step, Larn followed the direction of his eyes
to look into the landscape he now knew as no-man s land.],

kindly (adj.) – (old-fashioned) a kindly person or action is a kind one [A kindly old
lady.] – synonyms & related words [: benevolent, kind, kind-hearted, warm-hearted,
generous, good-natured, humane; gentle, warm, mild, compassionate, caring, tender-
hearted, soft-hearted, tender, loving, loving and giving, motherly, fatherly, benign,
mellow, well meaning, genial; indulgent, understanding, sympathetic, lenient, tolerant,
charitable, magnanimous, easy-going, patient; helpful, thoughtful, considerate, good,
good-hearted, nice, friendly, neighbourly, pleasant, amiable, agreeable, affable, amicable;
decent, benignant],

wet behind the ears (id.) – young, lacking experience, immature [He's a nice young
fellow but a bit wet behind the ears. They don t care what planet you think you should be
on. They don t care that you think you re in the wrong place, that you re wet behind the
ears, or that you re probably not even old enough to shave. All they care about is killing
you.],
remonstrate (v.) – (formal) to complain to someone or about something [I went to
the boss to remonstrate against the new rules. The editor remonstrated with him about the
inaccuracies in the story. Third time is right, Kell, the Guardsman called Vidmir said, his
face grim as he pressed a finger to his ear to listen to something on his comm bead. You ll
have to remember to remonstrate with the orks about their lack of originality when they
get here. From the reports I m hearing over the tactical net, you should soon be getting the
opportunity to do so.],

irrespective (adv.) – without considering, not needing to allow for [The legislation
must be applied irrespective of someone's ethnic origins. Agreed, Vidmir said. But,
irrespective, it looks like we re going to have to repel the orks on our own. Emperor help us.
Then, turning towards Larn, Vidmir gave him the cold flash of a graveyard smile.] –
synonyms & related words [regardless of, without regard to/for, disregarding, ignoring,
notwithstanding, whatever, no matter what, without reference to, without consideration
of, setting aside, discounting],

airburst (n.) – the explosion of a bomb or similar weapon in the air rather than on the
ground [With it came a sudden flurry of airbursts as dozens of falling mortar and grenade
launcher rounds exploded in mid-air in a deadly hail of shrapnel.],

exult (v.) – (formal) to express great pleasure or happiness, especially at someone

else's defeat or failure [They exulted at/over their victory. She seems to exult in her power.
Exulting in her escape, Lisa closed the door behind her. Her opponents exulted when she
left. He exulted in the triumph of the new order.] – synonyms & related words [rejoice, be
joyful, be happy, be pleased, be glad, be delighted, be elated, be ecstatic, be euphoric, be
overjoyed, be as pleased as Punch, be cock-a-hoop, be jubilant, be rapturous, be in
raptures, be transported, be beside oneself with joy, be delirious, be thrilled, jump for
joy, be on cloud nine, be walking/treading on air, be in seventh heaven, glory, triumph,
be triumphant; celebrate, cheer, revel, make merry; informalbe over the moon, be on top
of the world, be blissed out, whoop it up, be wrapped, joy, jubilate, rejoice at/in, take
delight in, find/take pleasure in, find/take satisfaction in, feel satisfaction at, find joy in,
enjoy, appreciate, revel in, glory in, bask in, delight in, relish, savour, luxuriate in, wallow
in; be/feel proud of, feel proud about, be proud of oneself for, congratulate oneself on,
flatter oneself on, preen oneself on, pat oneself on the back for, give oneself a pat on the
back for; crow about, feel self-satisfied about, vaunt, boast about, brag about, gloat over,
pique oneself on/in],

wing (v.) – to injure, wound slightly (as with a gunshot), especially in the arm [Hmm.
The good news is you ll live, the medic said, prodding at the wound while Larn shivered in
the cold. Looks like you were winged by a piece of shrapnel.] – synonyms & related words
[wound, graze, hit, clip],

wing (v.) – travel on wings orb y aircraft, fly; move, travel, or be sent quickly, as if flying
[George satisfied his keen urge to fly by winging homewards with the Royal Air Force. A
solitary seagull winged its way over the sea. There was a high-pitched whistle as the womb
winged along its trajectory.] – synonyms & related words [fly, glide, soar, take wing;
hurtle, speed, shoot, whizz, zoom, streak, sweep, fly, race, sail],

wing (.v) – (informal) speak or act without preparation, improvize [A little preparation
puts you ahead of the job-seekers who try to wing it. There were no guidelines – I just had
to wing it.] – synonyms & related words [improvize, play it by year, extemporize, ad lib,
busk it, ad hoc],

(random cool paragraph) – [Now, he said, seeing as you re standing about here on
your own, I take it you ve not been assigned to duties yet? No I my company was destroyed
and Go see Corporal Vladek, the medic said. He ll sort you out. Tell him Medical Officer
Svenk sent you. Corporal Vladek? Over there, the medic said, pointing to one of the dugout
entrances as he turned to walk away. Barracks Dugout One. Vladek is our quartermaster
the biggest scavenger, thief, pack rat, and all round scrounger in the sector. You ll know
him when you see him. Oh, and a word to the wise, new fish. Don t drink any more than two
cups of Vladek s recaf. Or else, next thing you know you could be charging the ork lines on
your own in a one-man assault.],

grist to/for the mill (id.) – anything that can be used to your advantage [I might as
well learn another language, it's all grist to the mill when it comes to getting a job. Ah,
more cannon fodder, the corporal said, pushing the rucksacks aside to clear a space as he
looked up at Larn with the glint of a smile in his red-rimmed eyes. Always good to see some
new grist for the mill. Welcome to the 902nd Vardan, new fish. Find yourself a chair. You
would like some recaf? I have some brewing.],

a turn-up for the book(s)/one for the books (id.) – a surprising or unexpected
event [Well, that's a turn-up for the books – I never thought he'd get the job.],

enamel (n.) – a decorative glass-like substance that is melted onto clay, metal, or glass
objects, and then left to cool and become hard, or an object covered with this substance;
a type of paint that forms a shiny surface when dry; the hard, white, shiny substance that
forms the covering of a tooth; a cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth
and beautiful complexion [Turning to the battered pot of recaf perched precariously on a
small hotplate beside him, the corporal produced a pair of enamel cups and filled them to
the brim with black steaming liquid. He noticed Larn staring darkly down at one of the
rucksacks still left on the table.],

enamel (v.) – to coat or decorate with enamel; to variegate with colors, as if with
enameL, to form a glossy surface like enamel upon; to disguise with cosmetics, as a
woman's complexion [To enamel card paper. To enamel leather or cloth. A small, black
and red enameled metal pendant in the shape of a falcon.],
unrepeatable (adj.) – (words) an unrepeatable word or remark used by another
person is too rude or too difficult for you to repeat [An unrepeatable joke/name. He
muttered something unrepeatable under his breath. am told their response when they
heard the lander had been shot down and would not be returning was unrepeatable.],

make allowance for (id.) – (preparation) to prepare for the possibiltiy of, be ready for,
make preparations for, take precautions [We should make allowance for bad weather
and have plenty of umbrellas available.],

make allowances for (id.) – (accepting) to make allowances for someone is to think
about their characteristics and not judge them too severely, to dispense with prejudice,
to start with a clean slate [You should make allowances for him – he's been quite ill
recently. „This is a poor piece of work.“ „Yes, but you should make allowances for the
fact that she's only seven.“ Drink your recaf, new fish, the corporal said, the storm of his
anger passing as abruptly as it had started. We will begin again, you and I. Wipe the slate
clean. I know it has been a hard day for you after all, and so I am willing to make
allowances. It is not every day that a Guardsman finds he has been dropped on the
wrong planet.],

(random cool paragraph) – [So, I am stuck here, Larn said glumly. You and the rest
of us, new fish, Vladek said, bending forward to delve through a boxful of greyblack coats
sitting under the table. Now, drink your recaf and we will see about getting you sorted. A
new greatcoat in urban camouflage pattern would seem as good a place to start as any. It
will help you blend in and make you less of a target, not to mention keeping you warm. This
time of year it s cold enough to have a man passing ice cubes every time he voids his
bladder. I have one here that should fit you perfectly, give or take. No need to worry too
much about the blood on the lapels. I am sure you will find it brushes off easily enough once
it has had time to dry.],

give/yield up the ghost (id.) – to cease clinging to life, to die; (figurative,

humorous) to quit, to cease functioning, usually of a machine; (with „of“) to cede a
commitment to or identification with, to stop trying to do something because oyu know
that you will not succeed [And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. But
McCartney, 50, is hardly ready to give u pthe ghost of his creative past. She's broken,
crying, and giving u pthe ghost of her past. All I'd cherished from my early childhood had
been denied me, so I simply gave up the ghost.],

not have a/the ghost of a chance (id.) – (informal) to have no chance at all [They
don't have a ghost of a chance of winning.],

beghast (v.) – to fill with shock, awe, surprise, wonder, or amazement, inspire,
enthuse,

beghost (v.) – to endow with a spirit or soul, fill with or affect by a spirit or ghost,
inspire, haunt; to make a ghost of, teach (one) how to play a ghost [Was Hamlet's armor
beghosted too? Later she remembered them as ensorcelled houses, beghosted by their
occupants' fears of disappointment, by the memories of their lives and other lives they
might have had... and the publication of the very interesting tale from which it is taken,
been so beghosted both in prose and verse.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Lieutenant? I am disappointed, Vladek. If I am going to

be mistaken for an officer, I thought I would have rated colonel at least. Then, the merest
suggestion of a smile ghosting at his lips, the sergeant turned, back to Larn. You can put
your hand down by the way, trooper. Even if I was a lieutenant, we don t hold much with
saluting here. It only gives the orks something extra to aim at. I assume you have a name?
Other than new fish I mean?],

seconds (n.) – (informal) an extra amount of food that is given after the first amount
has been eaten [Would anyone like seconds of ice cream?],

second (v.) – to make a formal statement of support for a suggestion made by someone
else during a meeting so that there can be a discussion or vote [The motion was proposed
by the club's chairwoman and seconded by the secretary. "I could use a drink." "I'll second
that (= I agree with you)!"],

seconder (n.) – (specialized) someone who seconds ideas, suggestions, etc. [There was
no seconder for(= person who was willing to support) the motion so it could not be
debated.],

second (v.) – to send an employee to work somewhere else temporarily, either to

increase the number of workers or to replace other workers, or to exchange experience
or skills [During the dispute, many police officers were seconded from traffic duty to the
prison service. Good. It may be that HQ will order you reassigned to duties elsewhere in the
city. In the meantime standing orders on the disposition of new troops are clear. You were
dropped into our sector: that means you belong to us. You are hereby seconded to the
902nd Vardan until further notice, Larn. Welcome to Company Alpha. My name is Chelkar.
Until you are assigned elsewhere or HQ gets around to sending us a new lieutenant you will
be taking your orders from me. We are clear?],

find your feet (id.) – stand up and become able to walk; to become familiar with and
confident in a new situation [Did it take you long to find your feet when you started your
new job? With all due respect, sergeant, Davir said, given the new fish s lack of experience,
wouldn t it be better to assign him somewhere else until he finds his feet. Fireteam Three is
a frontline unit, after all.],

grateful/thankful for small mercies (id.) – If someone should be

grateful/thankful for small mercies, they should be grateful for something because it is
not as bad as it could have been [She wasn't badly hurt in the accident, so we're grateful
for small mercies. Come on, new fish. I haven t got all day. Though I suppose I should thank
the heavens for small mercies that you ve managed to negotiate the stairs without losing
your lasgun again.],

top up (v.) – to completely fill a container that is already partly full; to add more liquid
to someone's glass or cup in order to make it full; to add more to something in order to
increase it to the level that you want or need [I'll just top up the teapot. Can I top you up?
Would you like me to top up your drink? A way to top up your earnings. The aged
caretakers Cern and Votank were busy maintaining the ancient parts of the press itself:
Cern oiling the machine s rollers, while Votank topped up the ink reservoir ready for the
next edition.],

spasmodic (adj.) – happening suddenly for short periods of time and not in a regular
way; caused by, subject to, or in the nature of a spasm or spams [He made spasmodic
attempts to clean up the house. Spasmodic fighting continued. A spasmodic cough. Nearby,
head bobbing and his face moving in involuntary tics, the feeble-minded cripple Shulen
stumbled past them with a broom flailing spasmodically in his hands as he attempted to
sweep the floor. A spasmodic cough.] – synonyms & related words [intermittent, fitful,
irregular, sporadic, erratic, occasional, infrequent, scattered, patchy, isolated, random,
odd, uneven, periodic, periodical, recurring, recurent, on and off],

lot in life (id.) – someone's general situation in life, especially when this is not very
good [Miss Wilkinson was never satisfied with her lot in life. He had soon learned however
that the lot in life of an official propagandist was rarely a happy one.],

if the cap/shoe fits, wear it (id.) – used to tell someone that they should accept a
criticism that another person has made,

wear (v.) – (allow) (UK, old-fashioned, informal) to allow, permit, let or accept
something [I'd ask my boss for some time off but I don't think she'd wear it. Just as quickly
he realised for the plan to work the other members of his staff would have to support his
story. Pheran and the others would not wear it. They had always protected Shulen,
coddling him like some idiot child, and would be sure to oppose any attempt to make him
the sacrificial goat.],

glowing (adj.) – praising with enthusiasm [In her speech, she paid a glowing tribute to
her predecessor. His latest book has received glowing reviews. Smiling, Delias picked up a
stylus and began to write a glowing report of the battle, carefully embroidering the
account with a variety of the stock words and phrases he had developed over the years in
the course of his duties. He received a glowing report from his teachers.] – synonyms &
related words [highly complimentary, highly favorable, enthusiastic, full of praise,
commendatory, praising, admiring, lionizing, ecstatic, rapturous, rhapsodic, eulogistic,
laudatory, acclamatory, adulatory, fulsome, rave, encomiastical, panegyrical, laudative],
(random cool paragraph) – [Smiling, Delias picked up a stylus and began to write a
glowing report of the battle, carefully embroidering the account with a variety of the stock
words and phrases he had developed over the years in the course of his duties. Heroic
resistance! Brave and resolute defence! A triumph of faith and righteous fury over Xenos
savagery! Occasionally, as he paused to construct some new sentence full of rhetorical zeal
and fire, he felt the vague stirrings of his conscience troubling him but he ignored it. It was
not his fault he was forced to lie and twist the facts, he told himself. The truth was always
the first casualty in warfare. As an information officer, sometimes it was his task to be
creative: to do otherwise would be to risk offering aid and comfort to the enemy. Yes, it was
a matter of duty. And, after all, it was important to do everything humanly possible to keep
up the morale of the troops.],

sedition (n.) – (formal) langauge or behavior that is intended to persuade other people
to oppose their government [Appalled, Larn listened in disbelieving silence. In the last half
an hour since they had reached the trench, Davir s constant stream of complaints had
slowly given way to extended musings in which he openly discussed methods of killing the
General Staff responsible for the progress of the Broucheroc campaign. Though even more
extraordinary to Larn s mind was the fact that the other men in the trench had simply sat
there and listened to it, as though it was the most normal thing in the world to talk lightly
of mutiny and sedition.],

get your jollies (id.) – (informal) to get enjoyment from something, especially
something unplesant,

gawp (v.) – (informal) gawk, to look at something or someone in a stupid or rude way
[Don't sit there gawking like that – give me a hand! They just stood there gawking at me.
Abruptly, the other men in the trench turned to look towards him. Fully aware he must
have looked like a rabbit caught in the searchlights of an oncoming vehicle, Larn could only
gawp back at them, unsure of what to say.],

pitted (adj.) – (holes) covered with holes or low areas [He'd had bad acne as a youth
and his face was pitted (= marked with pockmarks. Red-haired, with a pitted and
pockmarked face, Zeebers looked nastily towards Larn and sneered at him.],

put paid to something (id.) – (UK) to finish or destroy something [A knee injury has
put paid to her chances of getting into the final. Granted, time was we d always be getting
commissars coming to the line to lead attacks and so forth. Thankfully, our friends the orks
soon put paid to that. Denmark's victory put paid to our hopes of qualifying. A disastrous
fire put paid to their pioneering exports.] – synonyms & related words [forestall, thwart,
frustrate, baulk, stand in the way of, scotch, derail, foil, smash, dash, stop, check, block,
prevent, defeat, impede, obstruct, snooker, oppose, hinder, hamper, put the stopper on,
put the kibosh on, do for, stymie, scupper, put the mockers on, nobble],
(random cool paragraph) – [You see them? Scholar said a few minutes later,
standing pointing into no-man s land from the firing step next to Larn while Davir and the
others sat playing a card game on the trench floor below them. That dark grey ragged line
about eight hundred metres away? That s the ork lines. Looking through the field glasses
Scholar had lent him, Larn followed the direction of the tall man s pointing finger to stare
into the wasteland before them. There. He saw it. A sinuous line of ditches that ran the
entire length of the sector on the other side of no-man s land. Watching it, from time to
time he saw a gretchin or ork head suddenly come into view. Only for the head to then
swiftly disappear as its owner dropped out of sight below the parapets on the ork side once
more. I don t understand how I didn t see it before, Larn said. Having the field glasses helps.
But it seems so clear now. How could I have missed it? It is a question of perception. Scholar
said. You have noticed how grey the landscape is? The mud, the rocks, the sky, even the
buildings? When a person first arrives here the details of the world about them can easily
be lost in the same monotonous tone of grey. But there are subtle differences. Differences
you become slowly aware of the longer you spend in this city. You have heard how some
jungle-worlders have forty different words for green? In reality of course those forty words
correspond to different shades of green. Shades which would all look the same to us. But to
them, their perceptions heightened by living their entire lives in a green environment, the
difference between each shade is as obvious as the difference between black and white. It is
the same here in Broucheroc. Believe me, you ll be amazed how acute you become to the
palette of greys once you ve been in this city a few months.],

(random cool paragraph) – [With a sudden sadness born of isolation, Larn realised
he understood nothing about the men who shared the trench with him. Nor for that matter
did he understand any of the other men he had met so far in Broucheroc. Corporal Vladek,
Medical Officer Svenk, Sergeant Chelkar, Vidmir, Davir, Zeebers, poor dead Repzik none of
them seemed remotely like any of the people he had known before he had come to this
planet. By turns they were gruff, sardonic, cynical, world-weary, intimidating, not to say
largely contemptuous of all the institutions and traditions Larn had been raised to cherish.
Even with Bulaven, the most sympathetic and friendly of the Vardans, Larn could sense a
certain reserve as though the big man was wary of getting to know him too well. It was
more than that. More than any remoteness of manner or lack of empathy. These men
seemed entirely unknowable to him: almost as alien in their own way as the orks. It was as
though some strange and entirely new species of Man, far removed from Larn s
understanding, had been given life by this place. A new species, he thought with a shiver
that owed nothing whatsoever to the coldness of the air. A new species, forged in hell and
nurtured on the fields of slaughter.],

bean counter (n.) – (informal) a person, typically an accountant or bureaucrat,

perceived as placing excessive emphasis on controlling expenditure and budgets ["Their
bean counters will switch to a new way of calculating GDP.“],
short-arse (n.) – (informal, short-arse) a person of small stature [Ach, I told you: you
shouldn t worry about that, new fish, Bulaven said. As I say, Davir didn t mean too much by
it. It is simply his manner to sound off from time to time, and you just happened to get in his
way. Personally, I think it is because he is shortarse. He likes to talk a lot to make himself
seem important. Trust me, you should just put it from your mind as though it never
happened.],

sound off (v.) – (informal) to express your opinions forcefully, especially without
being asked for them [He's always sounding off about how he thinks the country should be
run.],

witter (v.) – (UK, informal, disapproving) to talk for a long time about things that are
not important [He'd been wittering on about his neighbours for half the morning. She'd
been wittering on about Jennifer and her illness. She smiled and nodded as he withered on.
She's going to sleep with the fishes, or at least witter on at the muntil they lose the fuckin'
will to live.] – synonyms & related words [prattle, babble, chatter, prate, gabble, jabber,
go on, run on, rattle on/away, yap, jibber-jabber, patter, blather, blether, blither,
maunder, ramble, drivel, yak, yackety-yak, yabber, yatter, rabbit, chunter, natter, waffle,
slabber, mag, twaddle ,clack, twattle],

atwitter (adj.) – (postpositive) twittering; nervously excited, (often prefixed by „all“

[He was all atwitter. A crowd atwitter with expectation. The younger man smiled,
revealing perfect teeth. If Terenas could have found a more regal-looking man than Lord
Prestor, he would have been surprised. With his short, well-groomed black hair, clean-
shaven hawklike features that had set many of the women of the court atwitter, quick
mind, and a bearing more princely than any prince in the Alliance, it was not at all
surprising that everyone involved in the Alterac situation had taken to him, Genn
Greymane included.],

prophylactic (n.) – (specialized) preventing disease [Some dentists are convinced that
the addition of fluoride in water is ineffective as a prophylactic treatment.],

prophylactic (n.) – (specialized, medical) something that is intended to prevent

diseases; (mainly US) a condom [The Many and Varied Uses of Prophylactics. Remember
when they sent us an entire drop-pod full of prophylactics? Davir said from nearby. I never
could decide whether they wanted us to use them as barrage balloons, or simply thought
the orks must have a fear of rubber.],

laxative (n.) – a substance that makes it easier for the waste from someone's bowels to
come out,

erudite (adj.) – (formal) having or containing a lot of knowledge that is known by very
few people [He's the author of an erudite book on Scottish history.] – synonyms & related
words [learned, scholarly, well educated, knowledgeable, well read, widely read, well
versed, well informed, lettered, cultured, cultivated, civilized, intellectual; intelligent,
clever, academic, literary, bookish, highbrow, studious, sage, wise, sagacious, discerning,
donnish, cerebral, enlightened, illuminated, sophisticated, pedantic; esoteric, obscure,
recondite, brainy, genius, sapient],

have/keep your finger on the pulse (id.) – to be/stay familiar with the most
recent changes or improvements [The situation changes daily, so you need to keep your
finger on the pulse.],

amalgamate (v.) – to join or unite to form a larger organization or group, or to make

separate organizations do this [The electricians' union is planning to amalgamate with
the technicians' union. The different offices will be amalgamated as/into employment
advice centres.] – synonyms & related word s[combine, merge, unite, integrate, fuse,
blend, mingle, coalesce, consolidate, meld, intermingle, mix, intermix, incorporate,
affiliate; join (together), join forces, band (together), club together, get together, link
(up), team up, go into partnership, pool resources; unify; gang up, gang together,
commingle],

erudition (n.) – the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning,

scholarship [He was known for his wit, erudition, and teaching skills. A man of immense
talent and massive erudition.] – synonyms & related words [learning, scholarship,
knowledge, education, culture, intellect, academic attainment, attainments,
acquirements, enlightenment, illumination, edification, book learning, insight,
information, understanding, sageness, wisdom, sophistication, training; letters],

welter (n.) – a large and especially badly organized number of things, a mess, a chaotic
jumble [We are reducing the company's welter of development projects and will streamline
sales and marketing. For a moment, wondering if it was possible to give words to all the
confused welter of thoughts and emotions whirling inside him, Larn was silent. There's
such a welter of conflicting rules. A welter of confused sounds. A welter of papres and
magazines.] – synonyms & related words [confusion, jumble, tangle, clutter, mess,
hotchpotch, mishmash, flurry, rush, mass, preponderance, omnium gatherum, ],

preponderance (n.) – (formal) the largest part or greatest amount, a majority,

muchness [The preponderance of evidence suggests that he's guilty.],

welter (v.) – move in a turbulent fashion; lie soaked in blood; to roll around, to wallow;
(figurative) to revel, luxuriate; (of waves, billows) to rise and fall, to tumble over, to roll
[And behind, the tempest fleet hurries on with lightning feet, riving sail, and cord, and
plank, till the ship has almost drank death from the o’er-brimming deep; and sinks down,
down, like that sleep when the dreamer seems to be weltering through eternity. You must
request their advice how to avert this tremendous evil: you must weep over the decrepid
fathers of families, the virtuous wives, the innocent children, the priests at the altar, with
God in their mouths, weltering in their blood. When we welter in pleasures and idleness,
then we eat and drink with drunkards. All the morn old Noah marvelled greatly at this
weltering world that shone so stately, drowning deep the rivers and the plains. The streams
foam and welter.],

bewelter (v.) – to welter all over, besmear by weltering,

weltering (n.) – the motion of something that welters, a billowing [They may have
extended, it is said, over only a few provinces of Central Asia, in which, when all was life
and light in other parts of the globe, there reigned for a time only death and darkness amid
the welterings of a chaotic sea.],

premonition (n.) – a feeling that something, especially something unpleasant, is going

to [He had a premonition that his plane would crash, so he took the train. She had a sudden
premonition of what the future might bring. Then, Larn heard a scratching sound as
though somewhere a shovel had been pushed into a mound of earth, and knew all his
horrified premonitions of a moment earlier were about to be made reality.] – synonyms &
related words [feeling that an event is about to occur, foreboding, hunch, omen, portent,
apprehension, apprehensiveness, feeling, forewarning, idea, intuition, misgiving,
presage, presentiment, sign, suspicion, vibes, vibrations, warning, winds, worriment,
feeling in bones, funny feeling, handwriting on wall, prenotion, sinking feeling, wind
change],

testimonial (n.) – a statement about the character or qualities of someone or

something; (formal or old-fashioned) a formal written description of someone's
character and qualities given by a previous employer; (in sport) a game or event held in
honor of a player, who typically receives part of the income generated [The warmth of
your bedside manner is most extraordinary, Svenk, Davir said, suddenly appearing to stand
over the medic s shoulder and gaze down at Larn. Remarkable, even. Really, you are a
credit to your profession. Thank you, Davir, Svenk replied, putting the loop of his satchel
strap over his shoulder once more as he made to stand. I always find such unsolicited
testimonials deeply moving.] – synonyms & related words [reference, character
reference, recommendation, letter of recommendation, commendation, endorsement,
certificate of competence, character],

stop-start (adj.) – (UK), frequently stopping then starting again, intermittent, [Then,
with every man in the dugout now silent as they stood listening to the stop-start rhythms of
Grishen s side of the conversation, the corporal began once more.],

intransigent (adj.) – (formal, disapproving) refusing to change your opinions or

behaviour [Unions claim that the management continues to maintain an intransigent
position. He says in keeping with his orders the shelling will cease in precisely one hour and
twenty-seven minutes time. Not a moment sooner. He is most definite on that point,
sergeant. Frankly, some might even say a little intransigent. Her father had tried
persuasion, but she was intransigent. His intransigent attitude led to the quarrels with his
friends.] – synonyms & related words [uncompromising, inflexible, unbending,
unyielding, unshakeable, unwavering, resolute, unpersuadable, unmalleable,
unaccommodating, uncooperative, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, pig-headed, bull-
headed, single-minded, iron-willed, hard-line, hard and fast, diehard, immovable,
unrelenting, inexorable, inveterate, rigid, tough, firm, determined, adamant, tenacious,
stiff-necked, bloody-minded, balky, badass, indurate],

be after (somebody's) blood (id.) – to seek revenge on another person [He hit my
classic car, so I'm after his blood now. It was nothing so much, Chelkar said to them. Still, it
was probably better that I let our friend the captain think he was going to have an entire
regiment after his blood if he didn t stop the shelling.],

occult (n.) – mystical, supernatural, or magical powers, practices, or phenomena [A

secret society to study alchemy and the occult. His sister was a spiritualist with a strong
interest in the occult.] – synonyms & related words [the supernatural, the paranormal,
supernaturalism, magic, black magic, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, wizardry, the
black arts, Kabbalah, cabbalism, occultism, diabolism, devil worship, devilry, voodoo,
hoodoo, white magic, witchery, witching, orenda, mysticism; makutu, theurgy],

occult (adj.) – involving or relating to mystical, supernatural, or magical powers,

practices, or phenomena; communicated only to the initiated, esoteric [An occult
ceremony. Occult powers. The typically occult language of the time.] – synonyms & related
words [supernatural, magic, magical, mystical, mystic, paranormal, psychic,
necromantic, preternatural, transcendental; secret, hidden, dark, concealed, veiled,
invisible, obscure, recondite, cryptic, arcane, abstruse, esoteric, cabbalistic; inexplicable,
unexplainable, unfathomable, incomprehensible, impenetrable, unrevealed, puzzling,
perplexing, mystifying, mysterious, enigmatic, hermetic],

as above, so below (saying) – (occultism) what happens on one level of reality also
happens on every other level; the microcosm and macrocosm behave alike,

interminable (adj.) – continuing for too long and therefore boring or annoying [An
interminable delay. His interminable stories. By any standard of measurement, the war
was going badly. Brooding as he sat through yet another interminable briefing His
Excellency Grand Marshal Tirnas Kerchan, Hero of the Varentis Campaign and Supreme
Commander (All Forces) of the Most Glorious Armies of the Emperor in Broucheroc,
considered the facts he had learned so far that day and found there was nothing there to
please him. We got bogged down in interminable discussions. Wednesday was a day of
interminable meetings. He was back from one of his interminable job interviews.] –
synonyms & related words [seemingly endless, endless, never-ending, unending,
without end, non-stop, everlasting, ceaseless, unceasing, incessant, constant, continual,
uninterrupted, unbroken, sustained; monotonous, tedious, wearisome, boring, long-
winded, long-drawn-out, overlong, rambling, meandering, laborious, ponderous,
countless, numerous, many, untold, manifold, multitudinous, multifarious, innumerable,
numberless, unmeasured, unnumbered, incalculable, indeterminable; myriad, legion;
innumerous, unnumerable],

harrumph (v.) – (informal, mainly humorous) to express anger and disapproval, often
by not speaking but making a noise, to make a hmph! noise [I didn't hear what he said –
he sort of harrumphed and walked off. „Absolute madness!“ harrumphed the colonel. Yes,
good. Very good. Kerchan harrumphed, then floundered. Most cogent and concise. An
excellent analysis, General ah Dushan, Vlin said sotto voce, raising a sheath of papers in
front of his mouth to hide the words as he spoke them.],

sotto voce (adj. adv.) – (of speech, of a voice, etc.) in soft tones, quiet; (music) soft (can
be used of instruments other than the voice, such as pianos) [

flounder (v.) – to experience great difficulties or be completely unable to decide what

to do or say next; struggle or stagger clumsily in mud or water; struggle mentally, show
or feel great confusion; be in serious difficulty [He lost the next page of his speech and
floundered around/about for a few seconds. Although his business was a success, his
marriage was floundering. Richardson resigned as chairman, leaving the company
floundering. He was floundering about in the shallow offshore waters. The dragoons were
floundering in the boggy ground. She floundered, not knowing quite what to say. Many
firms are floundering. More firms are floundering.] – synonyms & related words [struggle,
thrash, thresh, flail, toss and turn, twist and turn, pitch, splash, stagger, stumble, falter,
lurch, blunder, fumble, grope, squirm, writhe, struggle mentally, be out of one's depth, be
in the dark, have difficulty, be confounded, be confused, be dumbfounded;
informalscratch one's head, be flummoxed, be clueless, be foxed, be fazed, be floored, be
beaten],

cogent (adj.) – (formal) a cogent argument, reaosn, etc. is clearly expressed and
persuades people to believe it [They put forward cogent arguments for British
membership. A cogent argument.] – synonyms & related words [convincing, compelling,
strong, forceful, powerful, potent, weighty; valid, sound, well founded, plausible,
effective, efficacious, telling; impressive, persuasive, irresistible, eloquent, credible,
influential, conclusive, unanswerable, authoritative; logical, reasoned, well reasoned,
rational, reasonable, lucid, coherent, well organized, systematic, orderly, methodical,
clear, articulate, consistent, relevant],

the buck stops here (or with someone) (saying) – said by someone who is
responsible for making decisions and who will be blamed if things go wrong [In the past
you could spread the blame, but now the buck stops here. The buck stops with the
president.],

buck (v.) – (of a horse) to jump into the air and kick ut with the back legs,
buck (v.) – (military) to subject to a mode of punishment which consists of tying the
wrists together, passing the arms over the bent knees, and putting a stick across the
arms and in the angle formed by the knees,

buck (v.) – (resist) to resist obstinately, oppose, or object strongly, go against [The vice
president bucked at the board's latest solution.],

buck (v.) – (move) to move or operate in a sharp, jerking, or uneven manner, to do or

move shakily, uncertainly, quaveringly [The motor bucked and sputtered before dying
completely.],

buck (v.) – (overcome) to overcome or shed (.eg. an impediment or expectation) in

pursuit ofa goal, to force a way through despite (an obstacle), to resist or proceed
against [The plane bucked a strong headwind. Our managers have to learn to buck the
trend and do the right thing for their employees. John is really bucking the odds on that
risky business venture. He's doing quite well.],

buck up (v.) – to become encouraged, reinvigorated, or cheerful, to summon one's

courage or spirits, to pluck up courage; to encourage or refresh, to hearten; to pass on to
higher authority for resolution [I realized I needed to buck up and tackle the problem
head-on. I knew I had to try and buck up the rest of my team as well. He started bucking up
everything to management when he didn't get a raise. He just bucked everything risky up
to management. Instead of dealing with the customer's complaint himself, he just bucked it
up to his boss.],

buck up (somebody's ideas) (id.) – if you tell someone to buck up or to buck up

their ideas, you are telling them to start behaving in a more positive and efficient, a more
serious, energetic, and hard-working, proper, respectful, expected manner [People are
saying if we don't buck up we'll be in trouble. Buck up your ideas or you'll get more of the
same treatment. That might put the fear of the Emperor into the rest of them for a while,
he thought. Force them to buck their ideas up for fear they d he facing more of the same
themselves. She wouldn't have a job, she realized, if she didn't buck up her ideas.],

admission (n.) – (accepting) the act of agreeing that something is true, especially
unwillingly [Her silence was taken as an admission of guilt/defeat. I felt he would see my
giving up now as an admission that I was worng. By/On his own admission (= as he has
said) he has achieved little since he took over the company. And besides, thought Kerchan, I
was the one who gave Dushan his position in the first place. To punish him for his
inadequacies now might be perceived as an admission I was wrong to promote him. No
matter what, a Grand Marshal can never admit to having made a mistake. He must be seen
to be infallible. To give credence to any thought otherwise would be to fatally undermine
the rightful awe every Guardsman naturally feels for the wisdom of their superiors. Well,
the awe that most of them feel anyway. It is the nature of war that, occasionally and
inevitably, there will always be dissenters.] – synonyms & related words
[acknowledgement, acceptance, recognition, concession, profession, expression,
declaration, confession, revelation, disclosure, divulgence, avowal, claim, unbosoming,
owning up, asseveration, divulgation],

avowal (n.) – (formal) a statement in which you say or admit something that you
believe, support, or intend to do [They were imprisoned for their avowal of anti-
government beliefs. Her public avowals to reduce crime have yet to be put into effect.],

a drowning man will clutch at a straw (saying) – said about someone who is in
a very difficult situation, and who will take any available oppirtunity to improve it, for
help, beggars can't be choosers,

temerity (n.) – (formal, disapproving) a willingness to do or say something that shocks

or upsets other people, excessive confidence or boldness, audacity [She had the temerity
to call me a liar. Mirovan had been so insolent in fact that two weeks ago he had even had
the temerity to question one of the Grand Marshal s military decisions during a staff
meeting. No one had the temerity to question his conclusions. I doubt anyone will have the
temerity to print these accusations.] – synonyms & related words [audacity, boldness,
audaciousness, nerve, effrontery, impudence, impertinence, cheek, barefaced cheek, gall,
presumption, presumptuousness, brazenness, forwardness, front, rashness; daring, face,
neck, brass neck, brass, chutzpah, hide, crust, procacity, assumption],

sight unseen (id.) – without seeing something first, without looking, blindly [I never
buy anything sight unseen.],

a sight (id.) – (much, informal) a lot, much [Food is a darn/damn sight more expensive
than it used to be. He's a sight better than he was yesterday. In many ways Mirovan was an
admirable man, he thought sadly. Certainly, he was a damn sight more competent than
most of the toadies and feckless lackeys who bedevil me sitting around this table day after
day. I wonder what happened to him?],

feckless (adj.) – lacking initiative or strength of character, irresponsible [Her feckless

younger brother. A feckless lot of layabouts.] – synonyms & related words [useless,
worthless, incompetent, inefficient, inept, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well; lazy, idle,
slothful, indolent, shiftless, spiritless, apathetic, aimless, unambitious, unenterprising,
no-good, no-account, lousy],

flighty (adj.) – (disapproving) fickle and irresponsible, given to unplanned and silly
ideas or actions; (especially of a woman) not responsible and likely to change activities,
jobs, boyfriends, etc; (of a bird) that flies easily, or a lot [A flighty young woman. Though
as disturbing as he had always found the creature s appearance, the real root of the Grand
Marshal s dislike of Magos Garan lay more in practical considerations than in anything so
flighty as matters of aesthetics. You may be seenas too flightyl and lightweight for real
responsibility.] – synonyms & related words [fickle, erratic, changeable, inconstant,
irresolute, mercurial, skittish, whimsical, capricious, volatile, unsteady, unstable,
unbalanced, impulsive; irresponsible, flippant, giddy, silly, frivolous, light-minded,
feather-brained, scatterbrained, scatty, reckless, wild, careless, thoughtless, heedless,
carefree, insouciant;, dippy, dopey, batty, dotty, nutty, dappy, ditzy],

defeatism (n.) – (disapproving) a way of thinking or behaving that shows you have no
hope and expect to fail [There is a spirit of defeatism among some members of the party.
While day after day, hour after hour, Grand Marshal found himself confronted by defeatism
at every turn: his every waking moment spent in the company of dozens of mewling
incompetents, all of them with their pleas of extenuation and tales of woe.] – synonyms &
related words [negative ways, negative attitude, chip on one's shoulder, cynicms, dim
view, discouragement, expectation of the worst, gloomy outlook, hopelessness, lack of
confidence, low spirits, negative thinking, negativism, pessimism],

take a dim view of something (id.) – to disapprove of something [I take a dim

view of this kind of behavior.],

oddball (n.) – (informal) a person whose behavior is unusual and strange, a strange or
eccentric person [He was seen as a real oddball.],

every picture tells a story (saying) – said when what has really happened in a
situation is clear because of the way that someone or something looks, simply observing
the scene or the look on one's face will allow one to determine what has taken place
[Katie didn't have to say anything – every picture tells a story, and the scared look on her
face told me she had broken the vase.],

antechamber/anteroom (n.) – a small room, especially a waiting room, that leads

into a larger, more important room [The ministers waited for their meeting in the Cabinet
anteroom. And on and on and on. Seeking relief from the depressing tedium of the Magos
report, hearing the sound of a door opening behind him the Grand Marshal turned his head
enough to the side to watch from the corner of his eye as one of Vlin s aides stepped into the
briefing room from the anteroom outside.],

nip something in the bud (id.) – to stop, prevent, preclude, clip something before it
has an opportunity to become established, to grow, to become serious [Many serious
illnesses can be snipped in the bud if they are detected early enough. It's important to nip
this kind of bullying in the bud. The idea has been nipped in the bud by the local council.
Let's nip this unpleasantness in the bud before it goes any further. It is time for another
purge, he thought. Tonight, I will tell Vlin to contact the Commissariat and have them send
over a list of anyone above the rank of major they suspect of disloyalty. A few show trials
and shootings should nip any problems in the bud in that regard. And while we re at it, I
will tell Vlin to add Dushan to the list. Yes, another purge. That is exactly what is needing
here.] – synonyms & related words [curtail, cut short, strangle at birth, check, cut off,
thwart, beat, frustrate, curb, stop, halt, arrest, stifle, obstruct, impede, block, squash,
quash, subdue, quell, crack down on, stamp out; squelch, put the kibosh on, clobber, put
an end to, cut off the snake's head, stymie],

stymie (v.) – prevent or hidner the progress of, stop [The changes must not be allowed
to stymie new medical treatments. NHS changes must not be allowed to stymie new
medical treatments.] – synonyms & related words [impede, interfere with, hamper,
hinder, obstruct, inhibit, frustrate, thwart, foil, spoil, stall, shackle, fetter, stop, check,
block, cripple, handicap, scotch; put paid to, put the kibosh on, snooker, scupper, throw a
spanner in the works of, throw a monkey wrench in the works of],

sideline (n.) – (job) an activity that you do as well as your main job [Jim works in a
bank, but teaches French in the evenings as a sideline.] – synonyms & related words
[secondary occupation, second job, side job, subsidiary, hobby, leisure activity/pursuit,
recreation, diversion, distraction],

sideline (v.) – to stop someone taking an active and important part in something, to
trundle, shunt off to a less important task, to deny someone glory and participation [He
was sidelined after criticizing the policy. And, when I do, the fools among the Lord Generals
Militant responsible for sidelining me to this awful place will find themselves embarrassed
to see me celebrated and revered for all my victories.],

on/from the sidelines (id.) – If you are on the sidelines or do something from the
sidelines, you are not actively involved in something [Women have been on the political
sidelines for too long - we must now work towards getting into power. She could only
watch from the sidelines as her brother's health deteriorated. Temporarily unmolested,
Costellin fired from the sidelines in support of his men, but although his aim was more
often true than not, at least two in three of his shots passed harmlessly through their
targets, and the grenadiers were falling one by one, stunned by those spine-tails or
butchered by metallic fingers.],

present company excepted (id.) – used to show that a criticism or a rude remark
does not refer to the people you are talking to [People here just don't know how to dress,
present company excepted.],

freeze somebody out (id.) – to make someone feel that they are not part of a group
by being unfriendly towards that person, or to stop someone from being included in an
arrangement or activity, to alienate someone [I felt I was being frozen out of/from the
discussions. He believed that organizations like theirs were being frozen out.],

the firmament (n.) – (literary) the sky [She is one of the rising stars in the political
firmament. Each of the tiers was occupied by what appeared to be a labyrinth of prismatic
galleries, winding back into the heart of the vast structure. And all were slowly, almost
imperceptibly, moving. Rotating the way a world might turn in its place in the firmament.],
live up to (id.) – fulfill (expectations) [The food more than lived up to Luke's
predictions. As far as agreements went Boy reckoned it had been a pretty good one. Only
problem was, despite the fact he had been waiting in the same place for hours now, so far
today the Cap n didn t seem in any great hurry to live up to his end of the bargain. The
drive certainly lived up to my expectations.] – synonyms & related words [measure up to,
match up to, come up to, reach, satisfy, fulfill, achieve, meet, equal, be equal to, be on a
level with, compare with, admit of comparison, bear comparison with, be good neough,
fit/fill the bill, hold a candle to, be a patch on],

fulfill (v.) – achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted); gain

happiness or satisfaction by achieving one's potential; (archaic) complete (a period of
time or piece of work); carry out (a duty or role) as required, promised or expected;
satisfy or meet (a requirement ,condition, or need) [He wouldn't be able to fulfill his
ambition to visit Naples. I knew I could fulfill my ambition to be a millionaire before I was
thirty. Arts grants go to young people who say they wish to fulfill themselves. Friends
whose ill-timed speed fulfilled my soon-repented deed. Some officials were dismissed
because they could not fulfill their duties. Goods must fulfill three basic conditions. They
fulfilled the criteria for into the program.] – synonyms & related words [succeed in,
attain, realize, consummate, satisfy, manage, bring off, bring about, carry off, carry out,
carry through, bring to fruition, deliver; pull something off, clinch; carry out, accomplish,
achieve, execute, perform, discharge, implement, effect, effectuate, conduct; complete,
bring to completion, finish, conclude, perfect; honour, be true to, keep faith with, make
good, observe; comply with, satisfy, conform to, fill, answer, meet, obey, adhere to,
respond to],

careworn (adj.) – tired and unhappy because of prolonged worry [A careworn

expression. His old face looked more haggard and careworn than usual. Abruptly, he found
himself thinking of how things used to be when his Ma was still alive. He remembered the
cellar where they used to live, her kind and careworn face, the soft lullabies she would sing
to drift him off to sleep. He remembered sitting on her knee as she told him the reasons they
must stay in hiding.] – synonyms & related words [worried, anxious, harassed, strained,
stressed, under pressure, overburdened, tired, drained, drawn, gaunt, grim, haggard,
pinched, exhausted, sapped, spent, hassled],

maven (n.) – (US, informal) a person with good knowledge or understanding of a

subject, an expert in a given field [Pam is a coffee maven, she knows so much about
coffee.] – synonyms & related words [ace, adept, artist, authority, cognoscente,
connoiseur, crackerjack, crackajack, dab, dab hand, fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot,
maestro, master, expert, mavin, meister, past, master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp,
virtuoso, whiz, wizard]

chapped (adj.) – chapped skin is sore, rough, and broken, especially because of cold
weather [Chapped lips. She'd been working outside all winter and her hands were red and
chapped. „On Vardan?“ Bulaven said, pausing in his work long enough to wipe the sweat
from his chapped brow before it could freeze.“ It was good enough I suppose, new fish.
Certainly, there are a lot of worse planets a man could be from.“] – synonyms & related
words [coarse, crude, grainy, harsh, coarse-grained, granular, homespun, impure,
inferior, loose, lumpy, mediocre, poor quality, particulate, rough-hewn, rugged,
unfinished, unpolished, unprocessed, unpurified, bumpy, choppy, fuzzy, harsh, rocky,
bearded, broken, dishveled, jagged, nappy, ridged, ruffled, sharp, tangled, tousled,
wrinkled, brambly, cragged, craggy, stony, tufted, scabrous, scraggy, unshorn],

chap (v.) – (of the skin) become cracked, rough, or sore, typically through exposure to
cold weather; (of the wind or cold) cause (skin) to crack or become sore [His skin is very
dry and chaps easily. Chapped lips.] – synonyms & related words [become raw, become
sore, redden, become inflamed, chafe, crack, roughen],

donkeywork (n.) – monotouns and routine work, dull, irksome, and fatiguing work,
uninspiring or menial labor [„Phah. It is a simply a matter of maintaining a proper
division of labour,“ Davir said. „Each man performs the task to which he is best suited.
Which, in this case, means that you, Scholar, and the new fish do the don-keywork while I
oversee your labours in a supervisory capacity. Besides, someone must watch to make sure
the new fish can tell one end of a spade from the other.“ Domestic drudgery. The
housewives were left alone with their drudgery.] – synonyms & related words [work,
labor, travail, toil, drudgery, grind, hard work, menial work, toiling, hard/sweated labor,
chores, plodding, slavery, skivvying, slog, graft, (hard) yakka, moil],

skivvy (n.) – (servant, UK, informal) a person, in the past a female servant, who does
the dirty and unpleasant jobs in a house, such as cleaning [He treats me like a skivvy. I
found a job as a maid-of-all-work, a skivvy.],

maid-of-all-work (n.) – (historical) a female servant doing general housework,

skivvy (v.) – (UK, informal) to do the dirty, unpleasant jobs in the house, work as a
skivvy [I'm not going to skivvy for you any more. I was skivvying for that Brixton family.],

have (got) someone's number (id.) – to understand a person's character,

capabilities, or situation ["You said it, Brick. I had his number from the start. He's a master
crook, and—it'll pay us all to string with him." Morelli has her number: "Lots of energy, not
much control, sexy as hell." Hah! Hot air! Bulaven said, laughing. That s a good one. The
new fish may not have been here very long, Davir, but you have to admit he got your
number fast enough!] – synonyms & related words [identify with, make out, figure out,
read, see through, penetrate someone's disguise, read someone like a book, get the
measure of someone/take someone's measure, relate to, understand, comprehend],

rosy (adj.) – having a color between pink and red, typically as an incidation of health,
youth, or embarrassment; if a situation is described as rosy, it gives hope of success or
happiness, hopeful [(approving) Your rosy cheeks always make you look so healthy. Our
financial position is rosy. Hnn. I think our new fish is starting to feel homesick, Davir said.
Not that I blame him, you understand, any place would seem rosy when compared to this
damn stinkhole. The memory had the power to make her cheeks turn rosy. The strategy has
produced results beyond the most rosy forecasts. Ian's future look srosy.] – synonyms &
related words [pink, pinkish, rose-pink, rose-colored, roseate, red, reddish, rose-red,
glowing, healthy-looking, fresh, radiant, blooming, blushing, flushed, ruddy, high-
colored, rubicund, florid, erubescent, rubescent, promising, full of promise, auspicious,
hopeful, full of hope, encouraging, favorable, bright, sunny, golden, cheerful, happy,
upbeat],

hereabout(s) (adv.) – in this area, or near this place [Any trouble hereabouts is swiftly
dealt with by the police. „Ah, now there you have touched upon an interesting question,
new fish,“ Scholar said. „How was it we survived when so many of our fellows didn't? You
can be sure it is a regular topic of conversation hereabouts.“],

lumpen (adj.) – (person, informal, disapprovign) used to describe people who are not
clever or well educated, and who are not interested in changing or improving their
situation; (object, occasionally people disapproving) heavy and awkward, lumpy and
misshapen, ugly and ponderous [The lumpen proletariat (= unskilled working people).
Her own body was lumpen and awkward. The Emperor? Davir said, throwing his hands up
in a gesture of frustration. Really, this time you have excelled yourself, Bulaven. Of all the
lumpen-headed stupidities I have heard pouring from your mouth over the last seventeen
years since we were inducted into the Guard, that is without a doubt the most idiotic. The
Emperor! Phah! You think the Emperor has nothing better to do than watch over your fat
backside and make sure it comes to no harm? Wake up, you big pile of horse manure. The
Emperor doesn t even know we exist. And, if he does know, he doesn t care.] – synonyms &
related words [baseborn, common, humble, inferior, low, lowborn, low-class, low-life,
lowly, ignoble, mean, plebeian, prole, proletarian, unwashed, vulgar, burgeois, middle-
class, plain, poor, simple, working-class, déclassé, down-market, downscale, silly, idiotic,
unintelligent, simple-minded, slow-witted, slow, brainless, thick, empty-headed, stupid,
asinine, benighted, be not all there, bird-brained, blundering, bovine, brain-dead,
brutish, clueless, dense, dim, dim-witted, dopey, dopy, dozy, dull, dumb, dumb-ass,
earthbound, feeble-minded, gormless, the lights are on but no one's home, lumpish, mad,
not have much up top, obtuse, plodding, purblind, simple, simple-minded, subnormal,
thick-headed, unimaginative, vacuous, vapid, weak-minded, witless],

benighted (adj.) – in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance;

overtaken by darkness [They saw themselves as bringers of culture to poor benighted
peoples. He knew what was best for the benighted peasant. A storm developed and we were
forced to wait benighted near the summit.] – synonyms & related words [ignorant,
unenlightened, uneducated, unschooled, untutored, illiterate, unlettered, unlearned,
unscholarly, unread, uninformed, backward, simple; primitive, uncivilized,
unsophisticated, unrefined, uncouth, unpolished, uncultured, philistine, barbarian,
barbaric, barbarous, savage, crude, coarse, rough, vulgar, gross, yobbish, nescient, rude],
this, our, etc. neck of the woods (id.) – (informal) this, our, etc. part of a
particular area, this specific spot, region, part of the environment [We don't often see you
in this neck of the woods.],

heartfelt (adj.) – (of a feeling or its expression) deeply and strongly felt and sincere
[Heartfelt relief. (formal) Please accept my hearfelt apologies/thanks. Our heartfelt thanks.
No! Larn shouted, the sudden loudness of his voice in the trench startling them. You are
wrong. You don t know what you re talking about! Then, seeing the others looking at him
in bewilderment, Larn began to speak again. More quietly now, the words spilling heartfelt
from his mouth.] – synonyms & related words [sincere, genuine, unfeigned, deeply felt,
from the heart, earnest, profound, deep, wholehearted, ardent, fervent, passionate,
enthusiastic, eager, kindly, warm, cordial, honest, bona fide, full-hearted, profound,
heart-to-heart, true, devout],

ill at ease (adj.) – feeling anxious and not relaxed, uncomfortable or embarrassed [He
looked ill at ease in the room full of reporters. He looked ill at ease in morning dress. And
that is it? Davir said, the first to speak after what felt to Larn like an age of silence. That is
the proof you talked about? This tale your father told you? It is an interesting story, new
fish, Scholar said, his expression ill at ease.] – synonyms & related words [awkward,
uneasy, uncomfortable, self-conscious, out of place, unnatural, inhibited, gauche,
strained; embarrassed, shy, bashful, blushing, retiring, shrinking; unsure, uncertain,
unsettled, hesitant, faltering; restless, restive, fidgety, unrelaxed, disquieted, disturbed,
discomfited, troubled, worried, anxious, on edge, edgy, nervous, tense, on tenterhooks;
apprehensive, distrustful; nervy, fazed, discombobulated, twitchy, on pins and needles,
jittery, antsy, unquiet],

benchmark (n.) – a level of quality that can be used as a standard when comparing
other things, a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared
[Her outstanding performance set a new benchmark for singers throughout the world. The
pay settlement will set a benchmark for other employers and workers. The settlement was
used as a benchmark in all further negotiations. We don t believe it, new fish. Davir was
blunt. Granted, Scholar and Bulaven are trying to be soothing about it. But they don t
believe it either. None of us do. Frankly, if the story you just told us is what passes your
benchmark for a miracle, you are even more of an innocent than you look.] – synonyms &
related words [standard, point of reference, basis, gauge, criterion, specification, canon,
convention, guide, guideline, guiding principle, norm, touchstone, yardstick, test, litmus
test, barometer, indicator, measure, model, exemplar, classic example, pattern,
paradigm, archetype, prototype, ideal],

clinch (v.) – (informal, win) to finally get or win something, confirm or settle (a
contract or bargain) [I hear he finally clinched the deal to buy the land he wanted. The
Texan wanted to impress him to clinch a business deal. A salesman eager to clinch a deal.]
– synonyms & related words [secure, settle, conclude, close, pull off, bring off, complete,
confirm, seal, set the seal on, finalize, shake hands on, reach an agreement, transact, sew
up, wrap up, string, button up],

clinch it (id.) – (decide) to make someone decide what to do after a lot of thought or
discussion [When they said the job would involve travelling to Paris, that clinched it (= for
her) (= that made her certain that she wanted the job). It is the name, new fish, Scholar
said sadly. Or the lack of one, I mean Yes, the name, Davir said. That s what clinches it.
What clinched it for me was the smug look on his face when he thought he'd won.] –
synonyms & related words [make certain, beyond (any) doubt, confirm, crystalize, gel,
solidify, assure, underline, reinforce, strengthen, cement, copper-fasten, firm, firm up,
intensify, ossify, set/put the seal on something, sharpen],

set/put the seal on something (id.) – to make the result of something certain [The
meeting set the seal on the negotiations.],

reappraise (v.) – to examine and judge something or someone again [We need to
reappraise the situation in a year's time.],

reappraisal (n.) – the act of examining and judging something or someone again,
identifying something one more time, reidentifying something, reanalyzing [He'd like to
see a fundamental reappraisal of the way unions operate. A Reappraisal of the Tale of his
Fathers.] – synonyms & related words [review, reconsideration, reexamination,
retrospect, retrospection, recap, recapitulation, rehash, revision, reassessment,
afterthought, brushup],

born of something (id.) – (formal) existing as the result of something, because of

something, due to something [With a courage born of necessity, she seized the gun and
ran at him. „Looks like there s a real shitstorm brewing, colonel, if you pardon my
language.“ „Hhh. You are pardoned, Jaak,“ Drezlen said, looking up at the non-com's
grizzled face with a quiet amusement born of long familiarity with his ways.“ What about
Sector Commands Alpha and Gamma? Are they having the same problem with flying
faeces?“] – synonyms & related words [because, due to, whereas, owing to, given, in view
of something, on account of, for, in (the) light of something, by virtue of, being as, on the
back of something, out of interest/respect/pity etc., thereby, through, with, by din of],

put/get the wind up somebody (id.) – (UK) to make someone feel worried about
their situation, alarm, frighten [Tell them your father's a policeman – that'll put the wind
up them. Frank was trying to put the wind up him so that he would be too agitated to think
clearly. Stop playing silly buggers – you're putting the wind up me. No and I have to admit
that's what put the wind up me, sir. Our neighbouring Sector Commands say they're having
a quiet time of it. Too quiet, if you ask me.] – synonyms & related words [scare, frighten,
make afraid, make nervous, throw into a panic, panic, alarm, unnerve, give someone the
heebie-jeebies, spook],
(random cool paragraph) – [Yes, sir. Course, I know that s not supposed to happen. I
know General HQ say the orks aren t smart enough to coordinate something like that. But I
ve got a metal pin in me, holding my left knee together from the time an ork shot blew a
fist-sized hole in it. Ever since I got it, that pin has always started itching whenever the orks
were up to something. And right now it s itching worse than a redarsed monkey that s been
sitting in a mound of firebugs.],

weighty (adj.) – (heavy) heavy [I don't want to carry this bag around all afternoon – it's
pretty weighty. A weighty tome. A weighty tome of rules and regulations.] – synonyms &
related words [heavy, massive, thick, bulky, hefty, cumbersome, clumsy, ponderous,
overweight],

weighty (adj.) – of great seriousness and importance; having a great deal of influence
on events or decisions [He threw off all the weighty considerations of state. The evidence
for proprietorial interference has become even more weighty. Weighty arguments. A
weighty subject. It is a rather weighty responsibility to shoulder. „I know what you mean,
Jaak,“ Drezlen said. „My gut's the same way. All the same, I wouldn't want to go to General
Pronan asking him to order an alert based on the combined evidence of your pin and my
digestion. I ll need something a bit weightier than that.“] – synonyms & related words
[important, of great import/importance, significant, of significance, momentous, of
moment, consequential, of consequence, far-reaching, key, major, vital, critical, crucial,
life-and-death, high-priority, decisive, serious, grave, solemn; no joke, no laughing
matter, burdensome, onerous, heavy, oppressive, stressful, taxing, troublesome,
worrisome, vexatious, compelling, cogent, strong, forceful, powerful, potent, convincing,
plausible, effective, efficacious, effectual, sound, valid, well founded, telling; impressive,
persuasive, influential, authoritative],

doleful (adj.) – very sad, expressing sorrow, mournful; causing grief or misfortune [A
doleful expression. Waiting, with mess tins in their hands, as a lanky rat-faced Vardan
trooper with only one arm dolefully served out portions of gruel from a battered and
gigantic pot from on top of the stove. A doleful look. He could be struck off, with doleful
consequences. She regarded him with doleful eyes.] – synonyms & related words
[mournful, woeful, sorrowful, sad, unhappy, depressed, dismal, gloomy, morose,
melancholy, miserable, forlorn, wretched, woebegone, despondent, dejected,
disconsolate, downcast, crestfallen, downhearted, heartbroken, heavy-hearted,
despairing, desolate, grief-stricken; tearful, teary, lachrymose; blue, down, down in the
mouth, down in the dumps, weepy, dolorous, heartsick, heartsore],

inestimable (adj.) – (formal) extremely great, or too great to be described or

expressed exactly, too great to calculate [The medical importance of this discovery is of
inestimable value. A treasure of inestimable value. He believes the diet brings inestimable
benefits. „Ah, the inestimable Skench,“ Davir purred as he reached the head of the line. „Tell
me, good friend Skench what delightful delicacy are you attempting to poison us with
today?“] – synonyms & related words [immeasurable, incalculable, innumerable,
unfathomable, fathomless, indeterminable, measureless, untold; limitless, boundless,
unbounded, unlimited, illimitable, infinite, endless, never-ending, interminable,
inexhaustible, bottomless; vast, immense, great, abundant; no end of, myriad,
innumerous, unnumerable, amazing, fantastic, gigantic],

purr (v.) – to say (something) in a throaty, seductive manner, to say with pleasure
[„This is Cindy,“ she purred again, flashing a smile of perfect white teeth surrounded by full
red lips. „I love it when you stroke my back,“ she purred (= said with pleasure).],

gruel (n.) – a cheap simple food made, especially in the past, by boiling oats with water
or milk [„Hhh. It s gruel, Davir,“ Skench said sourly. „Why? What does it look like?“],

humorless (adj.) – lacking humor, not able to appreciate or express humor [They are
such a humorless bunch. She was thought of as a hard-working, humorless academic. His
father was a humorless, embittered man. Pretty much, said Skench, humourlessly. Though
you can be sure I made certain you got an extra helping of spit in yours.] serious, serious-
minded, solemn, earnest, sober, sombre, grave, stern, grim, dour, morose, unsmiling,
stony-faced; gloomy, glum, depressed, sad, melancholy, dismal, doleful, mournful,
dejected, despondent, joyless, cheerless, lugubrious, in low spirits, with a long face;
boring, tedious, dull, dry, heavy-going],

inundante (v.) – (too much) to give someone so much work or so many things tha
they cannot deal with it all, overwhelme (someone) with things or people to be dealt
with, flood [We have been inundated with requests for help. We've been inundated with
complains from listeners. We have been inundated by complaints. Many buildings were
inundated.] – synonyms & related words [overwhelm, overpower, overburden, overrun,
overload, swamp, bog down, besiege, snow under, bury, bombard, glut, flood, deluge,
overflow, swamp, submerge, engufl, drown, immerse, cover, saturate, soak, drench],

the runs (n.) – (informal) diarrhea [„Good,“ Skench said, dropping a ladleful of greasy
brown gruel into Larn's tin, then nodding towards a pile of ration bars lying on a nearby
table. „Make sure you keep it that way. As well as the gruel you get to take a ration bar.
One bar, mind, new fish. I ve counted them, so don t try taking two. Oh, and if tonight you
should have the runs, don't do what the rest of them do and come round here blaming me.
There ain't nothing wrong with my cooking. We clear on that?],

the run of something (id.) – the freedom to use something [While she's away, I've
got the run of her house. So do you have the run of the garden?],

whipsaw (v.) – (move) to move, or to make something move, quickly between two
directions [The rope whipsawed back and forth. (figurative) Prices on the stock exchange
whipsawed wildly.],

whipsaw (v.) – (affect badly) to defeat or affect someone badly, especially in two ways
at the same time [Families are being whipsawed by high prices and low wages.]
whipsaw (v.) – (cut) to cut something with a whipsaw,

whipsaw (n.) – a long saw (= tool for cutting wood) with a handle on each end, which
is pulled back and forth between two people,

good riddance (to bad rubbish) (id.) – (informal) said when you are pleased that
a bad or unwanted thing or person, or something of poor quality, has gone [We've got rid
of the old computer, and good riddance is what I say. „Do you remember Commissar Grisz?“
Scholar said. „Went behind a bush one morning to see to his daily bowel movement only to
find he was squatting over a whole nest of the damned things. You could have heard his
scream halfway across the planet.“ „Phah. Good riddance to bad rubbish,“ Davir said. „Grisz
always was a pain in the arse. No pun intended.“],

(don't) throw the baby out with the bathwater/throw out the
campagne with the cork/empty the baby out with the bath (id.) – to lose
valuable ideas or things in your attempt to get rid of what is not wanted, to cause
collateral damage,

intrepid (adj.) – etremely brave and showing no fear of dangerous situations,

adventurous, fearless (often use dfor rhetorical or humorous effect) [A team of intrepid
explorers. Our intrepid reporter. The intrepid band braved a precipitous mountain track.
„So,“ Scholar continued, „armed with a lasgun, our intrepid, if diminutive, hunter goes
alone into the jungle in search of his prey. Only to re-emerge two hours later, running back
into camp in a panic as though he had a daemon on his trail!“] – synonyms & related
words [fearless, unafraid, undaunted, dauntless, undismayed, unalarmed, unflinching,
unshrinking, unblenching, unabashed, bold, daring, audacious, adventurous, dashing,
heroic, dynamic, spirited, mettlesome, confident, indomitable; brave, courageous,
valiant, valorous, stout-hearted, lionhearted, stalwart, plucky; gutsy, spunky, game,
ballsy, go-ahead, have-a-go, doughy, venturous],

by the skin of your teeth (id.) – if you do something by the skin of your teeth, you
only just succeed in doing it, by a very narrow margin, only just [He escaped from the
secret police by the skin of his teeth. I only got away by the skin of my teeth. He won, but
only by the skin of his teeth. „I tell you: I only got out of that damn stinking jungle by the
skin of my teeth.“] – synonyms & related words [only just, just, narrowly, by a hair's
breadth, by a very small margin, by the narrowest of margins, barely, by a nose, by a
whisker, scantily],

teem (down) (v.) – to rain heavily [It's been teeming down all day. It's teeming with
rain.],

teem with something (id.) – to contain large numbers of animals or people [The
mall was teeming with shoppers that Saturday. Every garden is teeming with wildlife. The
pool was teeming with fish.] – synonyms & related words [be full of, be filled with, be
alive with, be brimming with, be overflowing with, abound in, be swarming with, be
bursting at the seams with; be packed with, be crowded with, be thronged with, be
crawling with, be overrun by, bristle with, seethe with, be thick with, be crammed with,
be cram-full of, be choked with, be congested with, be jam-packed with, be chock-a-block
with, be chock-full with, be lousy with, pullulate with],

chock-full (adj.) – filled to capacity [S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is just chock-full with atmosphere.] –

synonyms & related words [brimming, bulging, bursting, chock-a-block, completely full,
cram full, crammed, jam-packed, overcrowded, overflowing, packed, packed like
sardines, packed to capacity],

pull a fast one (id.) – (informal) to successfully deceive someone [You paid too much
– I think he pulled a fast one on you. He had been trying to pull a fast one on his producer.
He is a car salesman who will try to pull a fast one on his co-conspirators.] – synonyms &
related words [outsmart, outwit, out-think, outmaneuver, outplay, be cleverer than, steal
a march on, trick, gull, make a fool of, get the better of, outfox, put one over on,
run/make rings round, outjockey],

squabble (n.) – an argument over something that is not important [Polly and Susie
were having a squabble about who was going to hodl the dog's lead. Family squabbles.
There was a squabble over which way they should go.] – synonyms & related words
[quarrel, row, argument, fight, contretemps, disagreement, difference of opinion,
dissension, falling-out, dispute, disputation, contention, clash, altercation, shouting
match, exchange, war of words; tussle, conflict, fracas, affray, wrangle, tangle, passage
of/at arms, battle royal; donnybrook, tiff, set-to, run-in, shindig, shindy, stand-up, spat,
scrap, dust-up, barney, slanging match, bunfight, ding-dong, bust-up, ruck, afters,
rammy, rhubarb, broil, miff, threap, collieshangie, tracasserie(s), threap],

verb (v.) – quarrel noisily over a trivial matter [The boys were squabbling over a ball.
The boys were squabbling over a ball. The argument continued: Davir and Bulaven
squabbling comically about the details of the decadeold bet while Scholar attempted to act
as arbiter.] – synonyms & related words [quarrel, row, argue, bicker, have a row/fight,
fight, fall out, disagree, fail to agree, differ, be at odds, have a misunderstanding, be at
variance, have words, dispute, spar, wrangle, bandy words, cross swords, lock horns, be
at each other's throats, be at loggerheads; informalscrap, go at it hammer and tongs,
argufy, altercate, chop logic, threap],

privation (n.) – (formal) a lack of the basic things that are necessary for an acceptable
standard of living; the loss or absence of a quality or attribute that is normally
present[Economic privation is pushing the poor towards crime. Several villages suffered
serious privations during their long isolation during the war. As he watched them, Larn
began to understand for the first time that each of the Vardans had once been like him.
Each of them had been a green recruit. Each of them had once been a new fish and he
realised there was hope for him in that thought. If each of these men had somehow learned
how to survive the brutalities and privations of this place, then so could he. He would learn.
And he would survive. And then, comforted by that warm and happy thought, before he
even knew it, Larn was asleep. Years of rationing and privation. Cold is the privation of
heat.] – synonyms & related words [deprivation, hardship, poverty, penury, indigence,
destitution, impoverishment, want, need, neediness; disadvantage, austerity; suffering,
affliction, distress, misery; impecuniousness, impecuniosity],

florid (adj.) – (decorated) with too much decoration or detail [A florid architectural
style. Florid prose/rthetoric. A florid, baroque building. The florid plasterwork of the
ceilings. Endearments in florid English.] – synonyms & related words [ornate, fancy, very
elaborate, over-elaborate, embellished, curlicued, extravagant, flamboyant, baroque,
rococo, fussy, busy, ostentatious, showy, wedding-cake, gingerbread, flowery,
flamboyant, high-flown, high-sounding, magniloquent, grandiloquent, ornate, fancy,
baroque, orotund, rhetorical, oratorical, bombastic, laboured, strained, overwrought,
elaborate, over-elaborate, overblown, overripe, overdone, convoluted, turgid, inflated;
highfalutin, purple, tumid, pleonastic, euphuistic, aureate, Ossianic, fustian,
hyperventilated],

florid (adj.) – (red, formal) (of a person's face) too red, especially in a way that is
unhealthy [A florid complexion. „Don't try and lay the blame for this debacle at my door,
Drezlen.“ The general s cheeks grew florid with rage. A stout man with a florid face. A florid
complexion.] – synonyms & related words [ruddy, red, red-faced, reddish, rosy, rosy-
cheeked, pink, pinkish, roseate, rubicund; healthy-looking, glowing, fresh; flushed,
blushing, high-coloured, blowsy; sanguine, erubescent, rubescent],

hold/hang on by your fingernails (id.) – to just manage to avoid failure or

danger, to barely hold out, barely avert catastrophe, [Be that as it may, sir, it appears that
is precisely what they are doing. So far, we are holding on by our fingernails. But if you
want to see just how bad things here could get, take a look at Sector 1-13.] – synonyms &
related words [escape, retreat, skate over/around, avert disaster, miss, provide against,
take evasive action, have a narrow/lucky escape],

hold out (v.) – resist or survive in difficult circumstnaces; continue to be sufficient

[British troops held out against constant attacks. We can stay here for as long as our
supplies hold out.] – synonyms & related words [resist, withstand, hold off, fight off, fend
off, keep off, keep at bay, stand up to, square up to, fight against, bear up against, stand
fast against, stand firm against, hold the line against; last, remain, be extant, continue],

resolve (n.) – firm determination to do something [She received information that

strengthened her resolve. Attempts to intimidate him merely strengthened his resolve. He
made a resolve not to go there alone next time. Slowly, Drezlen saw a grim look of resolve
come over the general s face. He had made his decision.] – synonyms & related words
[determination, resolution, firmness of purpose, fixity of purpose, purpose,
purposefulness, resoluteness, single-mindedness, strength of will, strength of character,
will power, firmness, intentness, decision, decidedness; steadfastness, staunchness,
manfulness, perseverance, persistence, indefatigability, tenacity, tenaciousness, staying
power, strong-mindedness, backbone, dedication, commitment, constancy, the bulldog
spirit, pertinacity, pertinaciousness; stubbornness, doggedness, obstinacy,
obdurateness, obduracy, inflexibility; spiritedness, braveness, bravery, boldness,
courage, courageousness, pluck, pluckiness, stout-heartedness; Sitzfleisch; guts, spunk,
grit, stickability, stick-to-it-iveness, intension, preservation, decision, resolution,
commitment, intention, conclusion],

resolve (v.) – resolve or find a solution to (a problem or contentious matter; decide

firmly on a course of action [The firm aims to resolve problems within 30 days. The
government seems to think that the matter can be resolved overnight. Charity resolved not
to think about him any longer.] – synonyms & related words [settle, sort out, solve, find a
solution to, find an answer to, fix, work out, straighten out, deal with, put right, set right,
put to rights, rectify, iron out, reconcile; answer, explain, fathom, unravel, disentangle,
clarify, clear up, throw light on; sew up, hammer out, thrash out, patch up, crack, figure
out, determine, decide, make up one's mind, take a decision, reach a decision, conclude,
come to the conclusion, settle on a plan of action],

mess tin (n.) – a rectangular metal dish with a folding handle, forming part of a
soldier's mess kit [Becoming fully awake, Larn realised he had inadvertently fallen asleep
on top of his mess tin. Wiping away a chunk of congealed gruel that had stuck to his
uniform, he turned to see the Vardans were still gathered nearby.],

dub (v.) – give an official name or nickname to; make (someone) ak night by the ritual
touching of the shoulder with a sword [The media dubbed annorexia the 'slimming
disease'. He was dubbed 'the world's sexiest man'. He should be dubbed Sir Hubert. This
was followed by the dubbing of twenty four new knights.] – synonyms & related words
[nickname, call, name, give a name, label, christen, term, tag, entitle, style; describe as,
designate, classify, class, categorize, characterize, denominate, nominate; knight,
confer/bestow a knighthood on, invest with a knighthood],

dubbin/dubbing (n.) – a thick soft substance used to make leather soft and
waterproof, a mixture of tallow and oil [It might be better to use dubbin rather than
polish on your walking boots. Bulaven sat in one bunk rubbing dubbing into his boots;
Scholar sat in another reading his book; while, incredibly, despite the now continuous roar
of explosions overheard, Davir lay in another bunk sound asleep.] – synonyms & related
words [lubricant, lubrication, unguent, lube, oil, ointment, lotion, cream, Brylcreem, fat,
cooking oil, animal fat, suet, butter, margarine, dripping],

staying power (n.) – if someone has staying power, that person always manage to
continue doing what they have to do until it is finished, the ability to maintain an activity
or commitment despite fatigue or difficulty, stamina, focus [Do you have the staying
power to study alone at home? „True,“ Bulaven said. „Ach, but that hardly ever happens,
new fish. You needn't worry about that. Anyway, this bombardment won t last long. The
orks have no staying power when it comes to these things, you see. Chances are whichever
ork is in charge of their big guns has become overexcited for some reason and has decided
to let off a few rounds in celebration. Trust me, new fish, in ten minutes time or so it will all
be over.“] – synonyms & related words [stamina, endurance, fortitude, grit, resilience,
tolerance, vitality, backbone, guts, gutsiness, heart, intestinal fortitude, legs, power of
endurance, firmness, self-control, self-discipline, discipline, drive, fixity, force,
resolution, resolve, self-government, self-restraint, single-mindedness, strength, will,
self-mastery, tenacity, strength of will, strength of character, firmness of purpose, fixity
of purpose, resoluteness, determination, dogged determination, get-up-and-go, mettle,
pigheadedness,],

mettle (n.) – ability and determination when competing or doing something difficult
[The team showed/proved its mettle in the final round. The real test of her political mettle
came in the May elections.] – synonyms & related words [spirit, fortitude, tenacity,
strength of character, moral fibre, steel, determination, resolve, resolution,
steadfastness, indomitability, backbone, hardihood, pluck, nerve, gameness, courage,
courageousness, bravery, gallantry, valour, intrepidity, fearlessness, boldness, daring,
audacity, Dunkirk spirit, guts, grit, spunk, bottle; caliber, character, disposition, nature,
temperament, temper, personality, make-up, stamp, kind, sort, variety, mould, kidney,
grain

on your mettle (id.) – (UK) ready to do something as well as you can in a difficult
situation [Both players were on their mettle in the final round. Cooking for such important
people really puts you on your mettle.],

whump (n. v.) – a dull or muffled thudding sound; make such a sound [The whump of a
distant explosion. He pitched a snowball that whumped into the car. How long has it been
now, Larn asked, listening to the muffled thud and whump of shells striking the ground
above the dugout.] – synonyms & related words [bang, blast, boom, crack, pop, report,
slam, smash, snap, thunderclap, thwack, whack, whomp, clap, thunk, wham, clang,
clangor, clank, clash, knock, rap, tap, blare, clamor, howl, hubbub, hue and cry,
hullabaloo, outcry, roar, tumult, uproar],

hue and cry (id.) – a noisy expression of public anger or disapproval, a loud clamor or
public outcry [There has been a great hue and cry about the council's plans to close the
school. Her relatives raised a hue and cry after the accident.] – synonyms & related words
[commotion, outcry, uproar, fuss, clamour, racket, storm, ado, stir, furore, ruckus,
ballyhoo, brouhaha, palaver, pother, hoo-ha, hullabaloo, to-do, flap, song and dance,
rumpus, splash, kerluffle, carry-on, row, stink, bobsy-die],

furor(e) (n.) – a sudden excited or angry reaction to something by a lot of people [The
government's reaction to raise taxes has caused a great furore. The furor over his latest
film.],
palaver (n.) – (informal) unnecessary work and trouble; talking or discussion that
goes on for too long and is not important [Organizing the annual office lunch was such a
palaver, I swore I'd never do it again. That's enough palaver for now.] – synonyms &
related words [: fuss, fuss and bother, bother, commotion, trouble, rigmarole, folderol,
ado, song and dance, performance, to-do, carry-on, carrying-on, kerfuffle, hoo-ha,
hullabaloo, ballyhoo, business, pantomime, hoopla, bobsy-die],

rumpus (n.) – (informal) a lot of noise, especially a loud and confused argument or
complaint [There was a real rumpus going on in the house next door last night.] –
synonyms & related words [disturbance, commotion, uproar, confusion, furore,
brouhaha, hue and cry, ruckus, fuss, fracas, melee, tumult, riot, brawl, free-for-all, scuffle,
struggle, altercation, quarrel; noise, racket, din, outcry; donnybrook, to-do, carry-on,
ruction, shindig, shindy, hullabaloo, hoo-ha, ballyhoo, dust-up, scrap, stink, row,
kerfuffle, stooshie, foofaraw, rough house, affray, broil, bagarre],

ballyhoo (n.) – (old-fashioned, slang) a lot of noise and activity, often with no real
purpose [I can't see what all this ballyhoo is about.],

strong nerves/a strong stomach (id.) – an ability to not be upset by unpleasant

things [You need a strong stomach to work in Accident and Emergency. You need to have a
very strong stomach to watch some of the surgery scenes.],

nerve-shredding (adj.) – (informal) suspenseful, nail-biting, very, arousing excited

expectation or uncertainty about what may hapcen,

leastways (adv.) – (US) used to reduce the effect of a statement, at least [He said he'd
be back later – leastways, I think he did. „We are at Alert Condition Red,“ Chelkar said, his
face grave as he addressed the Guardsmen standing before him while overhead the sound
of explosions continued. „Sector Command says we can expect an assault. A big one,
probably timed to begin the moment this bombardment ends. Looks like the orks are going
to hit us hard this time. Leastways, harder than any of the other attacks we ve had to deal
with today.“],

impromptu (adj.) – done without being planned or rehearsed [An impromptu press
conference. He gave an impromptu lecture. They played the song impromptu. A few
minutes had passed and in the wake of his conversation with the quartermaster, Sergeant
Chelkar had ordered the men in Barracks Dugout One to arm themselves and assemble
around the iron stove for an impromptu briefing.] – synonyms & related words
[unrehearsed, unprepared, unscripted, extempore, extemporized, improvised,
improvisational, improvisatory, improvisatorial, spontaneous, unstudied,
unpremeditated, unarranged, unplanned, on the spot, snap, ad lib; ad hoc, thrown
together, cobbled together, rough and ready; ad libitum; off-the-cuff, spur-of-the-
moment, extemporaneous, extempore, spontaneously, without preparation, without
rehearsal, on the spur of the moment, offhand, ad lib; ad libitum; off the cuff, off the top
of one's head],

take somebody to task (id.) – (speak angrily) to criticize angrily, rebuke,

reprimand, rebuff, blame, chide, yell at, complain to, scold, someone for something that
they have done wrong [She took her assistant to ask for/over her carelessness.],

untenable (adj.) – (especially of a position or view) not able to be maintained or

defended against attack or objection [This argument is clearly untenable. The
Government's position is untenable. Once the assault begins we will hold the forward firing
trenches for as long as possible, only retreating to the dugout emplacements when the
situation there becomes untenable.] – synonyms & related words [indefensible,
undefendable, unarguable, insupportable, refutable, unsustainable, unjustified,
unwarranted, unjustifiable, inadmissible, unsound, ill-founded, flimsy, weak, shaky,
flawed, defective, faulty, implausible, specious, groundless, unfounded, baseless, invalid,
absurd, illogical, irrational, preposterous, senseless, unacceptable],

affable (adj.) – friendly and easy to talk to [He struck me as an affable sort of man. She
was quite affable at the meeting. „Bulaven?“ he asked the big man beside him. „What is The
Big Push?“ For a moment the Vardan was silent, his usually affable manner replaced by the
bleak and brooding expression of a parent who realises he can no longer protect his child
from the dark realities of the world. Ana ffable and agreeable companion. Murry was in a
most affable mood.] – synonyms & related words [friendly, amiable, genial, congenial,
cordial, warm, pleasant, pleasing, nice, likeable, personable, charming, agreeable,
sympathetic, benevolent, benign, good-humoured, good-natured, kindly, kind, courteous,
civil, gracious, approachable, accessible, amenable, sociable, outgoing, gregarious,
convivial, jovial, clubbable, comradely, neighbourly, welcoming, hospitable, obliging,
easy-going, informal, open, communicative, unreserved, uninhibited, natural, relaxed,
easy, chummy, pally, mate,y decent, clubby, buddy-buddy, conversable],

personable (adj.) – friendly, sociable [He's honest, and kind, and personable, and we
can really relate to Guilliman in ways we can't with any other Primarch.] – synonyms &
related words [affable, amiable, attractive, charming, easygoing, gregarious, likable,
pleasant, aces, agreeable, all heart, all right, good egg, nice, okay, pleasing, presentable,
sweetheart, white-hat, winning],

presentable (adj.) – clean, smart, or decent enough to be seen in public [I did my best
to make myself look presentable. You'd better make yourself look presentable. They have
produced one or two quite presentable videos.] – synonyms & related words [tidy, neat, fit
to be seen, orderly, straight, clean, spick and span, in good order, shipshape (and Bristol
fashion), in apple-pie order, smartly dressed, tidily dressed, smart, tidy, of smart
appearance, well groomed, dapper, elegant, trim, spruce; fairly good, passable, decent,
respectable, adequate, all right, satisfactory, moderately good, not (too) bad, average,
tolerable, fair, OK],
white hat (n.) – a good person, a hero,

black hat (n.) – a bad person, a villain,

all heart (id.) – compassionate, charitable, benevolent, altruistic, kind, big-hearted,

thaw out (v.) – if you thaw out, you gradually get warm again after being very cold [I'm
just starting to thaw out after taking the dogs out this morning.],

thaw (v.) – (become friendly) to become friendlier or more relaxed [The report shows
that relations between the two enemies may be thawing.],

thaw (n.) – (friendly) an increase in friendliness [There are signs of a thaw in relations
between the two countries.],

be (all) sweetness and light (id.) – to be very peaceful and friendly [They'd had a
big argument yesterday, but by this morning, it was all sweetness and light again.] –
synonyms & related words [friendliness and harmony, amiability, concord, hearts-and-
flowers, love and peace, pleasantness],

put something from your mind (id.) – to ignore something, to disregard

something, neglect, overlook [„The Big Push is bullshit, new fish,“ Davir said. „A story that
the mothers of this city scare their children to sleep with, nothing more. Put it from your
mind.“] – synonyms & related words [blink at, brush aside, brush away, brush off,
discount, have no use for, laugh off, let pass, look the other way, overlook, pass over, pay
no attention to, pay no mind, shut eyes to, slight, snub, take lightly, take no notice of,
turn a blind eye, turn a deaf ear, disobey, forget, neglect, omit, cold-shoulder, pay no
mind, shut eyes to, tune out, wink at, leave out of account, vilipend, scorn],

vilipend (v.) – to despise, to express a disparaging opinion of, to slander or villify, to

treat or hold as of little worth or account, contemn; to express a low opinion of,
disparage,

smudge (n. v.) – cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it; a
blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something [She dabbed her eyes, careful not to
smudge her make-up. Her face and arms were smudged with dust. She dabbed her eyes,
careful not to smudge her make-up. A smudge of blood on the floor. Sector 1-12, he
continued, carefully allowing the ink time to dry so as not to risk smudging the previous
entry. There was a thick smudge of blood on his car.] – synonyms & related words streak,
mark, dirty, spot, soil, muddy, fleck, speck, blotch, blacken, smear, stripe, dot, blot, blob,
daub, bedaub, stain; splotch, splodge, besmirch, smear, streak, blur, mess up, streak,
smear, mark, dirty mark, spot, fleck, speck, stain, blotch, stripe, dot, blot, blob, dab, patch,
pop, blur, smut, fingermark; informalsplotch, splodge; smirch],
unsightly (adj.) – (formal) not attractive, not sightly, not pleasing to look at, ugly [He
had undone the buttons of his shirt, exposing an unsightly expanse of white flesh. Sighing as
he returned to compiling his statistics, Yaab tried to take comfort from the thought that it
could not be helped. It was the tragedy of his life that certain amount of unsightliness was
to be expected. War, after all, could be a messy business. An unsightly rubbish tip. An
unsightly concrete church.] – synonyms & related words [ugly, unattractive,
unprepossessing, unlovely, ill-favoured, disagreeable, displeasing, awful-looking,
frightful-looking, hideous, horrible, repulsive, revolting, repellent, disgusting, offensive,
grotesque, monstrous, gruesome, ghastly; fugly; huckery],

(random cool paragraph) – [Switch your comm-bead to our command net on

frequency five, Bulaven told Larn through the roar of shellfire shaking the ground above
them. You will know we are about to go when the shelling stops. Then, when we get the
order, we run back to our firing trench. No crouching or trying to stay in cover this time,
new fish. You just sprint there as fast as you can. We have to be back in the trench and
ready to shoot before the orks reach the kill zone at the three hundred metre mark. They
were standing with the rest of the Vardans next to the steps leading from the dugout up to
the surface. As his fingers fiddled to change the frequency of the comm-bead in his ear,
Larn s mind turned to a lesson he had learned in his last battle. This is the worst time, he
thought. While you are waiting for the attack to start, before the battle even begins. Once
the fighting is underway you are still afraid. But it is having time to think about what is
coming that makes the fear worse. And the orks would seem to know it. They are giving us
plenty of time to dwell on our fears. Right now, it feels like waiting for an eternity to pass.
All right, new fish, Bulaven said. Now, I have told you everything you need to know about
what we are going to do after that. I want you to tell it back to me now so I can be sure you
have understood it. Can he see that I am afraid, Larn thought. Is that it? Is he trying to keep
me busy and take my mind off the fact we could all he dead in a matter of minutes? And if
Bulaven can see it what about the rest of them? Are they all standing here watching me
wondering if I am going to turn and run? Do they think I am a coward? Our tactics, new
fish? Bulaven prodded. What are they? Once we reach the firing trench we will hold it as
long as we can, Larn said, silently praying to the Emperor his voice did not sound as
frightened and nervous as he suspected. Then, if it looks like we are going to be overrun,
Scholar will set the demolition charge to buy us enough time to fall back. You will be
carrying the flamer, I will be carrying a spare fuel canister for you, Davir and Zeebers will
give us covering fire with their lasguns. And if any of us are dead by then? Bulaven asked.
Or too badly wounded to move on their own? What then, new fish? Then the three most
important things are the demolition charge, the flamer, and the spare fuel canister, in that
order. Other than that we will help the wounded if we can. If not, we will leave them
behind. Remember that one, new fish. It is important. Now, where will we fall back to? To
the sandbag emplacement above this dugout, Larn said, repeating everything Bulaven had
drilled into him while they waited for the shelling to stop. After that, it is like Sergeant
Chelkar was saying. We do not fall back any farther. Once we are at the emplacements, we
stand or die. Very good, new fish, Davir said sarcastically from the side of them. It sounds
like you have got it. Abruptly, the shellfire stopped. The brief silence that followed it felt
strange and eerie after so long a bombardment. Go! Go! Go! Sergeant Chelkar yelled, as
beside him Vladek threw open the door to the dugout and the assembled Vardans ran pell-
mell up the steps toward the surface. Get to your trenches!],

snap to it (id.) – (informal) used to tell someone to do something more quickly, faster,
to make haste, [We're leaving in five minutes so you'd better snap to it and finish your
breakfast.],

snap (adj.) – done suddenly without allowing time for careful thought or preparation,
unexpectedly, without notice, without thinking, impromptu, spur-of-the-moment [He
always makes snap decisions and never thinks about their consequences. Then, turning
briefly back as they ran towards the emplacements, Davir fired a snap shot toward it the
lasbeam ruptured the canister s body and it exploded in a plume of orange flame,
incinerating the orks around it and buying him and Larn time enough to reach their
destination.],

starry-eyed (adj.) – If you are starry-eyed, you have a lot of thoughts and opinions
that are unreasonably positive, so you do not understand things as they really are [It's
easy to be starry-eyed about a place you've never been to.“ I wouldn t get too starry-eyed
about it, new fish,“ Davir said. „What I really wanted to save was the flamer canister events
just got ahead of me, is all. Now, shut up and start shooting. You have killed one ork. Only
another twenty or so thousand to go.“] – synonyms & related words [crusading,
messianic, zealous, impractical, unrealistic, idealist, quixotic, quixotical, romantic, starry,
utopian, visionary, wide-eyed idealist, dewy-eyed, moonstruck, moony, sentimental,
tender-minded, hopeful, optimistic, rosy, upbeat],

moonstruck (adj.) – having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind [Police
asked psychiatrists to put together a portrait of the moonstruck marksman who was
responsible for the shootings.],

hawk-eyed (adj.) – someone who is hawk-eyed watches and notices everything that
happens [Hawk-eyed store detectives stood by the doors.],

tender-minded (adj.) – easily affected emotionally by other people's distress or by

criticism [The tender-minded neurotic swallows the whole theory.],

drawn (adj.) – (usually of the face) very tired and showing suffering, (of a person)
looking strained from illness, exhaustion, anxiety, or pain [She looked pale and drawn
after her ordeal. Cathy was pale and drawn and she looked tired out. He saw their faces:
Scholar drawn yet steadfast, Bulaven dutiful, Zeebers nervous, Davir spitting obscene and
angry oaths at the advancing orks.] – synonyms & related words [worn, pinched,
haggard, gaunt, drained, wan, hollow-cheeked; fatigued, tired, exhausted, sapped, spent;
tense, stressed, strained, under pressure, overburdened, worried, anxious, harassed,
fraught, hassled],

hawk (v.) – to sell goods informally in public places, to sell, to offer for sale by outcry in
the street, to carry (merchandise) about from place to place for sale, to peddle [The
vendors were hawking their wares from little tables lining either side of the market
square. On every street corner there were traders hawking their wares.],

hawk (v.) – an effort to force up phlegm from the throat, accompanied with noise, to
cough up something from one's throat; to try to cough up something from one's throat,
to clear the throat loudly, to cough up phlegm [Grandpa sat on the front porch, hawking
and wheezing, as he packed his pipe with cheap tobacco. He had a new tough manner of
pulling down breath and hawking into the street. Inadvertently swallowing a drifting
fragment of ash he coughed, retching at the taste as he tried to summon enough spittle to
clean his throat, before hawking up a greasy wad of brown phlegm and spitting it towards
the fire.]

press-gang (v.) – (informal) to force or strongly persuade someone to do something

they do not want to do; (historical) in the past, to force someone to join the armed forces
[I've been press-ganged into taking the kids swimming. Weighed down by a sudden
sadness, Troil looked around him at the place where he had spent virtually every waking
moment of his life since being press-ganged into service with the militia at the age of sixty.]
– synonyms & related words [shanghai, nag, force, compel, threaten, pester, badger,
coerce, bulldoze, strongarm, be/go on at someone, bend someone to your will, bludgeon,
bounce someone into (doing) something, bring/call someone to heel, browbeat, bug,
bully, constrain, crack the whip, drag in, drag into, dragoon into, drag someone kicking
and screaming, force, force/push/ram/thrust something down someone's throat, force
someone's hand, force the issue, get after, hary, hold over, hold/put a gun to someone's
head, hold to, I'll hold you to that, importune, lean on, make, oblige, pin down, press,
pressure, pressurize, pull rank (on someone), push, put/tighten/turn the screws on
someone, railroad, railroad through, stampede, strong-arm, threaten, thrust upon,
trammel, whip someone into line],

linger (v.) – to take a long time to leave or disappear [After the play had finished, we
lingered for a while in the bar hoping to catch sight of the actors. The smell from the fire
still lingered days later. It's impossible to forget such horrific events - they linger (on) in the
memory forever. Sighing, finding his eyes starting to water at the smoke, Troil pulled his
mask down back in place and began to walk towards the corpse-pyres to resume his
labours. As he did, he spared a last glance down the hillside towards the endless lines of
other auxiliaries dragging ork bodies up the slope towards him. He did not linger on the
sight though because he expected it. She lingered in the yard, enjoying the swarm sunshine.
The crowd lingered for a long time, until it was almost dark. The tradition seems to linger
on. The infection can linger for many years.] – synonyms & related words [wait around,
stay, remain, stay put, wait; loiter, dawdle, dally, take one's time, lag behind, straggle,
dither, potter about/around/round, pause; procrastinate, stall, delay; informaldilly-
dally, stick around, hang around/round, hang on, hang back; tarry, persist, continue,
remain, stay, be protracted, endure, carry on, last, keep on/up, hold, survive, abide, hang
around/round],

scathing (adj.) – criticizing someone or something in a severe and unkind way,

witheringly scornful [Scathing criticism. He was very scathing about the report, saying it
was inaccurate. In the aftermath, telling him he was lucky and it was only a scalp
laceration, Medical Officer Svenk had bandaged it for him while Corporal Vladek had
supplied him with a new helmet something for which Davir had been particularly scathing.
She launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister. The shadow trade and the industry
spokesmen launched a scathing attack o nthe government.] – synonyms & related words
[devastating, withering, blistering, extremely critical, searing, scorching, fierce,
ferocious, savage, severe, stinging, biting, cutting, mordant, trenchant, virulent, caustic,
vitriolic, scornful, sharp, bitter, acid, harsh, unsparing, mordacious].

mordacious (adj.) – (formal) expressing severe criticism of someone; biting, causing a

physical bite or sting, corrosive, toxic; pron eto biting, aggressive (of an animal etc.);
sharp in intent, sarcastic – synonyms & related words [biting, acerbic, acid, acidic, acrid,
acrimonious, astringent, bitter, caustic, corrosive, cutting, incisive, mordant, pungent,
scathing, severe, sharp, slashing, stinging, trenchant, truculent, vitriolic, withering],

truculent (adj.) – unpleasant and likely to argue a lot [A truculent teenager. He was
truculent and difficult to deal with. The truculent attitude of farmers to cheaper imports.
„What do you want?“ he demadned, sounding truculent.] – synonyms & related words
[defiant, aggressive, antagonistic, belligerent, pugnacious, bellicose, combative,
confrontational, ready for a fight, hostile, obstreperous, argumentative, quarrelsome,
contentious, uncooperative; bad-tempered, ill-tempered, sullen, surly, cross, ill-natured,
rude, discourteous, unpleasant; feisty, spoiling for a fight, stroppy, bolshie, scrappy],

argumentative (adj.) – given to arguing; using or characterized by systematic

reasoning [An argumentative child. He was argumentative, opinionated, and outspoken.
The highest standards of argumentative rigor.] – synonyms & related words
[quarrelsome, disputatious, bickering, wrangling, captious, contrary, cantankerous,
contentious, litigious, dissentient, polemical; belligerent, bellicose, combative,
antagonistic, aggressive, truculent, pugnacious; oppugnant],

outspoken (adj.) – frank in stating one's opinions, especially if they are shocking or
controversial [He has been outspoken in his criticism. An outspoken critic of the
government.] – synonyms & related words [forthright, direct, candid, frank,
straightforward, honest, open, straight, straight from the shoulder, plain, plain-spoken,
vociferous, vocal; explicit, point-blank, round, blunt, abrupt, bluff, brusque, unequivocal,
free, unreserved, uninhibited, unceremonious; free-spoken],
vociferous (adj.) – expressing or characterized by vehement opinions, loud and
forceful [He was a vociferous opponent of the takeover. A vociferous champion of equal
rights.] – synonyms & related words [vehement, outspoken, vocal, forthright, plain-
spoken, frank, candid, open, uninhibited, direct, earnest, eager, enthusiastic, full-
throated, vigorous, insistent, emphatic, demanding; clamorous, strident, loud, loud-
mouthed, raucous, noisy, rowdy],

bodacious (adj.) – (mainly US, slang) very large or important, or something that
people enjoy or admire, likely to attract attention [It was a bodacious concert. The
bodacious decor of the boutique hotel is intended to appeal to the young and the hip.] –
synonyms & related words [arresting, noticeable, bold, brilliant, catchy, commanding,
conspicuous, dramatic, emphatic, eye-catching, flamboyant, grabby, kenspeckle, marked,
noisy, prominent, pronounced, remarkable, showy, splashy, striking, detectable,
discernible (also discernable), observable, perceptible, recognizable, visible outstanding,
salient, distinguished, eminent, impressive, notable, noteworthy, highlighted, spotlighted
flagrant, glaring, howling, screaming, flashy, garish, gaudy, glitzy, jazzy, loud,
meretricious, swank (or swanky), tawdry, highfalutin (also hifalutin), ostentatious,
pretentious, extravagant, fancy, florid, glittery, spectacular, opulent, ornate, overdone,
overwrought, absorbing, engrossing, enthralling, fascinating, interesting, riveting],

moratorium (n.) – (formal) a stopping of an activity for an agreed amount of time, a

temporary prohibition of an activity [A five-year worldwide moratorium on nuclear
weapons testing. A moratorium on the use of drift nets.] – synonyms & related words
[embargo, ban, prohibition, suspension, postponement, stay, stoppage, halt, freeze,
standstill, respite, hiatus, delay, deferment, deferral, adjournment],

good-natured (adj.) – pleasant or friendly [A good-natured face/crowd. „I was just

struck by how strange this place is,“ he said, forced to retreat to more commonplace
matters. „To have a sun that sets so late in winter.“ „Winter?“ Bulaven asked in good-
natured confusion, looking around at the frozen corpse-covered battlefield around them.“
But it is summer hereabouts, new fish. Good thing, too. In winter, life in Broucheroc can
really start to get nasty.“ Everyone was very good-natured about it. The crowd was rowdy
but good-natured.] – synonyms & related words [warm-hearted, friendly, amiable;
neighbourly, benevolent, well disposed, favourably disposed, kind, kindly, kind-hearted,
generous, magnanimous, unselfish, considerate, thoughtful, obliging, helpful, supportive,
charitable; understanding, sympathetic, lenient, tolerant, easy-going, patient,
accommodating; decent],

spit-shine (adj.) – very shiny, polished [Hurrying tiredly to meet him, Chelkar had
found himself confronted with a fresh-faced junior lieutenant, all spit-shine boots and
folded creases, a swagger stick poking out at a jaunty angle from beneath his arm.],

patently (adv.) – in a way that is clear, clearly, without doubt, obviously, matter-of-
factly [She was patently lying. It's patently obvious that he doesn't care. Stung by his
bluntness, the lieutenant s face briefly tightened into a look of displeasure. Then, abruptly,
his mood softening and becoming patently false, he adopted a more conciliatory manner.]
– synonyms & related words [clearly, evidently, officially, plainly, manifestly,
conspicuously, expressly, in plain sight, indubitably, openly, overtly, palpably,
perceptibly, transparently, unmistakably, doubtless, ostensibly, seemingly, undoubtedly,
incontrovertibly, it seems, it would seem, outwardly, professedly, to all appearances,
unmistakably, without question, oncontestably, precisely, markedly, overtly, acutely,
audibly, recognizably, sharply, sonorously, undeniably],

professed (adj.) – a professed belief is one that someone has made known; used to
refer to a belief or feeling that someone says they have or feel, but is probably not
sincere [She is a professed monarchist. His professed love of women seems a little odd when
you consider how he treats them. For all her professed populism, she was seen as remote
from ordinary people. Their professed commitment to human rights. A profssed and active
Christian. A professed and conforming Anglican.] – synonyms & related words [supposed,
ostensible, alleged, claimed, so-called, soi-disant, self-styled, apparent, pretended,
purported, would-be, declared, self-acknowledged, self-confessed, sworn, avowed,
confirmed, certified, confessed],

hand and glove/hand in glove (id.) – working together, often to do something

dishonest, united, jointly, in close collusion or association [It was rumored at the time
that some of the gangs were working hand in glove with the police.] – synonyms & related
words [in close collaboration, in close association, in close cooperation, very closely,
closely together, in partnership, in league, in collusion, in cahoots],

blithe (adj.) – happy and without worry, showing a casual and cheerful indifference
considered to be callous or improper, happy or cerefree [She shows a blithe disregard for
danger. „Not the whole company, sergeant,“ the lieutenant replied blithely. „I just need
some men to accompany me into no-man s land on a mission towards the ork lines. A five-
man fireteam to be precise. Of course, I leave it entirely up to you which fireteam to pick.
Though I have always considered three to be a lucky number.“ I blithe disregard for the
rules of the road. His blithe broadly smiling face.] – synonyms & related words [heedless,
uncaring, careless, casual, indifferent, thoughtless, unconcerned, unworried, untroubled;
nonchalant, cool, blasé, devil-may-care, irresponsible, happy, cheerful, cheery, light-
hearted, jolly, merry, sunny, joyous, joyful, blissful, ecstatic, euphoric, elated, beatific,
gladsome, mirthful; carefree, easy-going, buoyant, airy, breezy, jaunty, in high spirits,
without a care in the world; animated, sprightly, vivacious, spirited, frisky; blithesome,
jocund, gay],

disposition (n.) – the particular type of character that a person naturally has; (formal)
a natural tendency to do something, or to have or develop something; the way in which
something is placed or arranged, especially in relation to other things [A sweet-natured
girl of a placid disposition. The book is not recommended to readers of a nervous
disposition. She is of a nervous/cheerful/sunny disposition. A disposition to deceive. The
disposition and control of the armed forces. The plan shows the dispositions of the rooms.
„We will be going into no-man s land tonight“, the lieutenant said, while Larn heard a
sharp intake of breath from the other members of the fireteam beside him. „General
Headquarters wishes to know whether the orks hold on their territory has been at all
weakened by their recent losses. Accordingly, we are ordered to advance by stealth to
within sight of their lines and scout out their defences and dispositions under cover of
darkness. Then, we will return to our own lines before the orks are any the wiser. A simple
and straightforward enough mission, I am sure you will all agree.“] – synonyms & related
words [temperament, nature, character, constitution, make-up, grain, humour, temper,
mentality, turn of mind; kidney, arrangement, arranging, disposal, ordering, positioning,
placement, lining up, setting up, organization, configuration; set-up, line-up, layout,
array; marshalling, mustering, grouping, gathering; dressing]

jinx (n.) – bad luck, or a person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck [There's a jinx
on this computer – it's crahsed three times this morning. „You ask me, it is the new fish s
fault,“ Zeebers spat with sudden venom. „He is unlucky. A jinx.“] – curse, spell, hoodoo,
malediction, plague, affliction, the evil eye, black magic, voodoo, bad luck, evil fortune,
cess, hex, the kiss of death, malison,

makings (n.) – the necessary characteristics, parts that make something able to be or
become something [I think the plan has (all) the makings of a disaster (= is likely to be
one). „The short version, new fish, is that this whole damned business has the makings of a
first class snafu from start to finish,“ Davir said. The makings of a great teacher. Does she
have the makings of a champion?] – synonyms & related words [qualities, characteristics,
ingredients, potential, promise, capacity, capability, essentials, essence, beginnings,
rudiments, basics, materials, stuff],

staccato (adj. adv.) – used to describe musical notes that are short and separate when
played, or this way of playing music; used to describe a noise or way of speaking that
consists of a series of short and separate sounds, with each sound or note sharply
detached or separated from the others [The same nervous staccato laugh broke from her
thin lips, and her fingers began to play with a long tortoise-shell paper-knife. A staccato
rhythm. The music suddenly changed from a smooth melody to a staccato rhythm. She
played the whole piece staccato to improve her technique. She gave staccato replies to
every question. Lost and still on his own, Larn turned to move quickly towards what was
his best guess at the position of the human lines. Suddenly, he saw a staccato burst of white
tracer lines in the distance to the right of him as somewhere in the darkness a lasgun
fired.],

spool (n.) – a tube-shaped object with top and bottom edges that stick out and around
which a length of thread, wire, film, etc. is wrapped in order to store it [A spool of
cotton/film. Then, incredibly, salvation came from an unlikely source. As if from nowhere,
Larn saw Zeebers appear in the darkness behind the ork and jump screaming onto the
creature s back to wrap his arms about its throat. Horribly wounded, the spool of his
intestines unravelled in the mud behind him, as the ork tried to pull him off, Zeebers briefly
smiled towards Larn in pain-fuelled madness, before raising a hand above his head and
letting out a bloody-mouthed and psychotic roar of triumph. Seeing the gleam of a half-
dozen rings around Zeebers fingers, Larn realised the madman must have pulled the pins
from every grenade on his belt.],

endemic (adj.) – especially of a disease or a condition, regularly found and very

common among a particular group or in a particular area [Malaria is endemic in many of
the hotter regions of the world. The disease is endemic among British sheep/to many
British flocks. There is endemic racism/poverty/violence in many of the country's cities.
Now, not to say this isn't a good book...I found it an interesting enough read. But it's an
interesting read mostly about all the Imperium's endemic systemic failure points, and how
they interact to screw over the ordinary soldiers manning the front lines.]

catharsis (n.) – the process of releasing strong emotions through a particular activity
or experience, such as writing or theatre, in a way that helps you to understand those
emotions, the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or
repressed emotions [Music is a means of catharsis for them. There is a view that violent
games can exert a positive effect through catharsis.] – synonyms & related words
[purging, purgation, purification, cleansing, release, relief, emotional release, freeing,
deliverance, exorcism, ridding, abreaction, depuration, lustration],

deliverance (n.) – the action of being rescued or set free; a formal or authorative
utterance [Prayers for deliverance. Their deliverance from prison. The low drawl he
employed for such deliverances. The tone he adoptedf or such deliverances.] – synonyms &
related words [liberation, release, freeing, rescue, delivery, discharge, ransom,
emancipation; salvation, redemption, manumission; utterance, statement,
announcement, pronouncement, declaration, proclamation; lecture, sermon, speech,
oration, disquisition, peroration],

lustration (n.) – (religion) a rite of purification, especially washing; (politics, law) the
restoration of credibility to a government by the purging of perpetrators of crimes
committed under an earlier regime,

byword (n.) – a person or thing that is very closely connected with a particular quality,
a person or thing cited as a notable and outstanding example or embodiment of
something; a word or expression summarizing a thing's characteristics or a person's
principles [Their products are a byword for good value. The Marines Malevolent is a Space
Marine Chapter whose name has long been a byword for carnage and devastation. His
name became a byword for luxury. The Court of Chancery has become a byword for
administrative delay. Reality was his byword. „Small is beautiful“ may be the byword for
most couturiers.] – synonyms & related words [perfect example of, classic case of, model
of, exemplar of, embodiment of, incarnation of, personification of, epitome of,
typification of; synonymous with; avatar of, slogan, motto, maxim, axiom, dictum,
mantra, catchword, watchword, formula, cry, battle cry, rallying cry, nickname, middle
name, apophthegm],

couturier (n.) – a fashion designer who manufactures and sells clothes that have been
tailored to a client's specific requirements and measurements [Clothes of luxurious
fabrics, cut by top couturiers to fit them to perfection.],

gainsay (v.) – (formal) to refuse to accept something as the truth; speak against or
oppose (someone) [Certainly there's no gainsaying (= it is not possible to doubt) the
technical brilliance of his performance. hough none would gainsay their effectiveness in
battle, several other Space Marine Chapters consider the Marines Malevolent belligerent,
antagonistic and wanting in brotherhood with their fellow Astartes. This has resulted in
many forces of the Imperium refusing to serve alongside this infamous Chapter. The impact
of the railways cannot be gainsaid. None could gainsay her.] – synonyms & related words
[deny, dispute, disagree with, argue with, dissent from, contradict, repudiate, declare
untrue, challenge, oppose, contest, counter, fly in the face of; disprove, debunk, explode,
discredit, refute, rebut, brush aside;, shoot full of holes, shoot down (in flames),
disaffirm, controvert, confute],

preserve (n.) – (activity) an activity that only one person or a particular type of
person does or is responsible for, a sphere of activity regarded as being reserved for a
particular person or group [Owning racehorses is the preserve of the rich. Sport uses to be
a male preserve. Unfortunately, Daemonhosts are not only the preserve of a handful of
Radical Inquisitors. The civil service became the preserve of the educated middle class.
High culture remains the preserve of an educated middle-class minority.] – synonyms &
related words [domain, area, field, sphere, orbit, arena, realm, province, speciality,
specialism, territory, department, thing, turf, bailiwick],

act the fool, martyr, etc. (id.) – to behave in a particular, usually bad way, to act
like somebody [Why are you always acting the the fool?],

be in the know (id.) – (informal) to have knowledge about something that most
people do not have [This resort is considered by those who are in the know to have the best
downhill skiing in Europe.] – synonyms & related words [acquainted, aware, abreast,
conversant, informed, advised, enlightened, familiarized, apprised of, clued in, familiar
with, versed in],

versed (adj.) – experienced or skilled in, knowledgeable about [A solicitor well versed
in employment law. The author does not seem thoroughly versed in the scholarship of her
field.] – synonyms & related words [acquainted with, conversant with, familiar with,
informed about, knowledgeable about, well informed about, instructed in, skilled in,
proficient in; at home with, no stranger to, au fait with, au courant with, apprised of,
abreast of, up to date with, in touch with; well up on, in the know about, genned up on,
clued in on, clued up on, plugged info, switched on to],
genned up (adj.) – (UK, old-fashioned, informal) having found as much information as
possible about something, knowing as much as possible [I got myself genned up o nthe
company before my interview.],

stage whisper (n.) – If an actor says something in a stage whisper, it is intended to be

heard by the people watching the play, and the other actors on the stage pretend not to
hear it.; if you say something in a stage whisper, you intend it to be heard by people
other than the ones you are talking to [He translated for us in stage whispers. She had
dropped her fork, cupped a hand over her face. She was making herself look small in her
seat, trying not to be noticed. In a stage whisper, she directed Gunthar’s gaze: „Two tables
behind me. To the right. No, my right. That man, the one in blue, with the beard and the
bald spot. Is he looking this way?“],

wooden (adj.) – (awkward, expressionless, disapproving) used to describe behavior

that is awkward or shows little expression [She gave a wooden smile to the camera. I
thought the lead actor gave a rather wooden performance. She is one of the most wooden
actresses of all time. Wooden acting. Her eyes were hard and her face wooden. ‘Yes,’ said
Gunthar woodenly. „I expect you’re right.“] – synonyms & related words [stilted, stiff,
unnatural, clumsy, awkward, graceless, inelegant, ungainly, leaden; dry, flat, stodgy,
lifeless, lacking vitality, passionless, unimpassioned, spiritless, soulless, expressionless,
impassive, poker-faced, devoid of emotion, emotionless, blank, empty, vacant,
unresponsive],

dead weight (n.) – the heaviness of a person or object that cannot or does not move
by itself [She may be small but, when I have to carry her upstairs after she's fallen asleep,
she's a dead weight (US also) she is dead weight). He had to struggle while carrying forty-
five pounds of deadweight on his back. She'd drag my father's dead weight from him
wherever he'd fallen. This will produce a maximum dead weight of 72,350. But Gunthar
could feel the ring’s dead weight in his pocket, and he was still scared, scared of the
answers she might give.],

reel something off (v.) – (list, informal) to say a long list of things quickly and
without stopping [The old man reeled off the names of his 22 grandchildre. They talked
about Gunthar’s work, and he found himself reeling off statistics, telling Arex about the
annual yield in each of his mines until he was sure he was boring her.] – synonyms &
related words [rattle, talk aimlessly, endlessly, babble, cackle, chat, chatter, clack, gab,
gabble, gush, jabber, jaw, list, prate, prattle, yak, run on, run through, talk a blue streak,
talk someone's ear off],

jabber (v.) – talk in a rapid, excited, and often incomprehensible way [He jabbered on
about football. They jabbered non-stop to each other over the radio.] – synonyms &
related words [prattle, babble, chatter, twitter, prate, gabble, go on, run on, rattle
on/away, yap, jibber-jabber, patter, blather, maunder, ramble, drivel, blab; talk rapidly,
talk incoherently, talk unintelligibly, yak, yackety-yak, yabber, yatter, blabber, witter,
rabbit, chunter, natter, waffle, slabber, mag, twaddle, clack, twattle],

wintry (adj.) – (like winter) typical of winter; (expression, literary) unfriendly and
disapproving [It looks like this wintry weather is here to stay. This afternoon we may see
some wintry showers (= snow mixed with rain) over higher ground. Wintry conditions are
making roads hazardous for drivers. She gave a wintry smile. A wintry landscape. Wintry
weather. His wintry smile.] – synonyms & related words [bleak, cold, chilly, frosty,
freezing, icy, snowy, icy-cold, arctic, glacial, frigid, bitter, biting, piercing, sharp, raw;
nippy, parky, chill, hyperborean, hibernal, hiernal, brumal, unfriendly, cool, chilly, cold,
frosty, frigid, glacial, bleak, distant, remote],

gantry (n.) – a tall metal frame that supports heavy machines such as cranes, railway
signals, or other equipment [He remembered stumbling into her on a swaying metal
gantry, choking on the hot, dry air, an awkward moment defused by Arex’s good humour
and that smile again.],

hold sway (id.) – to have power or a very strong influence, be in controly,

[Fundamentalist beliefs hold sway over whole districts, ensuring the popularity of religious
leaders. They had held sway in France for a quarter of a century.] – synonyms & related
words [hold power, wield power, exercise power, rule, be most powerful, be in power,
be in control, predominate, have the ascendancy, have the greatest influence, have the
upper hand, have the edge, have/hold the whip hand; run the show, be in the driving
seat, be in the saddle],

worrier (n.) – someone who worries a lot [I can't help being a worrier – some people
are just born that way. „We’re dropping more than a few floors,“ said Gunthar nervously.
„Don’t be such a worrier,“ said Arex. „I thought you were born down here.“ „Not this far
down,“ squawked Gunthar, but she didn’t seem to hear him. Her eyes were shining with
excitement. This was an adventure for her.] – synonyms & related words [handwringer,
nervous Nellie, worrywart, a bundle of nerves, a stew of nerves, chicken, fraidy cat,
nervous wreck, pantywaist, wimp, wuss, complainer, killjoy, sourpuss],

squawk (v.) – to make an unpleased loud, sharp cry; (informal, disapproving) to

complain about something noisily [As the fox came into the yard, the chickens began
squawking in alarm. Environmental groups have been squawking about the decision to
build the motorway through a forest. The geese flew upriver, squawking. With a startled
squawk, the rook flew off.] – synonyms & related words [screech, squeal, shriek, shrill,
scream, croak, crow, caw, cluck, clack, cackle, hoot, cry, call, yawp, yelp, yap, bellyache,
complain, protest, yammer, kick up a fuss, raise cain, whine, carp, grumble, howl, moan,
repine, wail, whimper, yowl],

dole out something (v.) – (informal) to give something, usually money, to several
people [A grizzled old man was doling out grey protein burgers from a filthy, open-topped
cart.] – synonyms & related words [allocate, distribute, administer, allot, apportion,
assign, deal, deal out, dispense, disperse, divide, divvy, favor with, give, hand out, lot,
measure, mete, mete out, parcel, partition, share, share out],

proctor (v.) – to watch people taking an exam in order to check that they do not cheat,
invigilate [Miss Jekyll will be proctoring 8your chemistry exam) today.],

proctor (n.) – (invigilator) a person whose job is to watch people taking an exam in
order to check that they do not cheta [If you need more paper, please ask the proctor.],

buzz (n.) – (feeling, informal) a feeling of excitement, energy, euphoria or pleasure, a

thrill [I love riding fast – it gives me a real buzz. I get a buzz out of public speaking. An
uncertain buzz was spreading, and building in volume. Another fight, thought Gunthar? No,
something far bigger.] – synonyms & related words [thrill, feeling of excitement, feeling
of euphoria, stimulation, glow, tingle, delight, joy, pleasure, fun, enjoyment, titillation,
kick, charge, wallop, bang, flash, flush, lift, sensation, turn-on, tiwtter],

thrill (v.) – cause (someone) to have a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure [His
kiss thrilled and excited her. Even though he couldn't read, the sight of books thrilled him.
Racegoers are in for a thrilling contest today.] – synonyms & related words [excite,
stimulate, arouse, rouse, inspire, give joy to, delight, give pleasure to, stir (up),
exhilarate, intoxicate, electrify, galvanize, move, motivate, fire (with enthusiasm), fire
someone's imagination, fuel, brighten, animate, lift, quicken; give someone a buzz, give
someone a kick, give someone a charge, exciting, stirring, action-packed, rip-roaring,
gripping, riveting, fascinating, dramatic, hair-raising, rousing, lively, animated, spirited,
stimulating, moving, inspiring, inspirational, electrifying, passionate, impassioned,
emotive, emotional, emotion-charged, heady, soul-stirring; stem-winding; anthemic],

scrabble (v.) – to use your fingers to quickly find something that you cannot see; to try
to get something quickly that is not easily available; (informal) to climb quickly and
without care [He was scrabbling i nthe sand searching for the ring. The government is
scrabbling around for ways to raise revenue without putting up taxes. Paul scrabbled up
the cliff, dislodging several small stones. We were scrabbling over the rocks as fast as we
could. She scrabbled at Gunthar’s best grey tunic, trying to keep herself upright, and he
reached out too late. The woman fell beneath his feet, and he could no longer help her. She
scrabbled at the grassy slope, desperate for purchase. She scrabbled around in the sandy
earth.] – synonyms & related words [scratch, grope, rummage, root, pole, grub, scavenge,
fumble, feel, clamber, scramble, poozle, grabble, feel about for, cast about, feel blindly,
pry, ],

cast around/about (v.) – to search in many different places for something that you
need, to look for something, fumble around in search of something, stumble, flounder
[She spent years casting about for a career.],
cast a shadow over/on something (id.) – (literary) to spoil, ruin, make bad,
destroy the atmosphere of a good situation with something unpleasant, bad,
unsatisfying, lackluster, saddening, morose [Anduin Lothar's death had cast a shadow
over the Alliance's victory in the Second War.],

lackluster (adj.) – lacking in vitality, force, or conviction, uninspired or uninspiring

[No excuses were made for the team's lackluster performance. A limp and lackluster
speech.] – synonyms & related words [uninspired, uninspiring, unimaginative, dull,
humdrum, colourless, characterless, bland, insipid, vapid, flat, dry, lifeless, listless, tame,
tired, prosaic, mundane, run-of-the-mill, commonplace, spiritless, lustreless, apathetic,
torpid, unanimated; uninteresting, boring, monotonous, dreary, tedious, wearisome],

be laughing on the other side of your face/laugh out of the other side
of your mouth (id.) – used to tell someone that, despite being pleased now, they will
not be pleased later when things do not happen as expected or planned, used for telling
someone that something is going to happen to stop them feeling so happy about a
situation [She's pleased with her promotion but she'll be laughing on the other side of her
face when she sees the extra work.],

tear somebody's heart out (id.) – to make someone very sad [The thought of those
poor, hungry children is tearing my heart out.] – synonyms & related words [make sad,
sadden, make unhappy, cast down, get down, make gloomy, make despondent, dispirit;
dampen someone's spirits, break someone's spirit, dash someone's hopes, dishearten,
demoralize, discourage, daunt, crush, shake, desolate, make desolate, weigh down, weigh
heavily on, hang over, oppress; upset, distress, grieve, haunt, harrow, cause suffering to,
break someone's heart, make someone's heart bleed, bring tears to someone's eyes; give
someone the blues, make someone fed up, knock the stuffing otu of, knock for six, knock
sideways, deject],

harrow (v.) – draw a harrow over (land); cause distress to [They ploughed and
harrowed the heavy clay. Todd could take it, whereas I'm harrowed by it.] – synonyms &
related words [distress, trouble, afflict, grieve, torment, torture, crucify, rack, sear, pain,
wound, mortify, cause agony to, cause suffering to; cut up, distressing, traumatic,
upsetting, heartbreaking, heart-rending, shocking, disturbing, painful, affecting,
haunting, appalling, tragic, horrifying; gut-wrenching, distressful],

twist/turn the knife (in the wound) id.) – to make someone who is annoyed,
worried, or upset feel even worse [Just to turn the knife a little, he told me he'd seen my
old girlfriend with her new man.] – synonyms & related words [make worse, add insult to
injury, aggravate, exacerbate, rub salt into the wound, fan the flames, intensify, irritate,
worsen, compound the problem, worsen, compound, magnify, add to, amplify, augment,
make matters worse, add fuel to th efire/flames],
fan the flames (id.) – to make a dangerous or unpleasant mood or situation worse
[His speeches fanned the flames of racial tension. Instead of being a calming force, you
fanned the flames of hostility.],

loudhailer (n.) – (UK) a megaphone or bullhorn, blowhorn [Someone was shouting

orders, a harsh male voice augmented and distorted by a loudhailer.],

headway (n.) – movement ahead or forward; (nautical) forward motion, or its rate;
(transport) the interval of time or distance between the fronts of two vehicles (e.g.
buses) moving in succession in the same direction, especially along the same pre-
determined route; (figurative) progress towards a goal; the clearance beneath an object,
such as an arch, ceiling or bridge, headroom – synonyms & related words [make
progress, make strides, gain ground, progress, advance, proceed, move, get on, get
ahead, come on, come along, shape up, take shape, move forward in leaps and bounds;
be getting there, development, advance, advancement, headway, step(s) forward,
progression, improvement, betterment, growth, breakthrough],

make headway (id.) – to make progress or get closer to achieving something [I'm
trying to learn to drive, but I'm not making much headway (with it). Little headway has
been made so far in the negotiations. The crowd was now flowing in a single direction,
starting to thin out, and he was making some headway at last. I worked on them all day,
but marely made headway at all. The ship was making very little headway against heavy
seas. They appear to be making headway in bringing the rebels under control.] –
synonyms & related words [make progress, make strides, gain ground, progress,
advance, proceed, move, get on, get ahead, come on, come along, shape up, take shape,
move forward in leaps and bounds; be getting there],

draw level (v.) – to equalize, to cause something to equalize, to come into equal terms,
to approach [They were drawing level with the soldiers now.],

snatch (n.) – a short spell of doing something; a fragment of song or talk [Brief snatches
of sleep. Picking up snatches of conversations. He heard a snatch of their conversation.
Gunthar heard snatches of conversation, and discerned that few of the people here had
actually seen a mutant.] – synonyms & related words [period, spell, time, fit, bout,
interval, duration, sesason, term, stretch, span, phase, run, patch, spot fragment, snippet,
smattering, bit, scrap, piece, part, extract, exceprt, portion, section, selection],

close call (id.) – narrow escape, a barely successful escape from something
undesirable [The doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive. They were
shaken all the same, reflecting upon their imagined close calls, starting rumours that
would grow with each retelling.] – synonyms & related words [close shave, near miss,
cliffhanger, close squeeze, close thing, hairbreadth escape, heart stopper, narrow escape,
narrow squeak, near go, near thing, photofinish, squeaker, tight squeeze, white-
knuckler],
thumb (v.) – turn over (pages) with or as if with one's thumb [I've thumbed my address
book and found quite a range of smaller hotels. The man thumbed through his notebook.
Thumbing his way through the data-slate in his hands, Costellin saw that neither the world
nor its closest neighbours had been touched by the smallest recorded conflict.] – synonyms
& related words [leaf, flick, flip, skim, browse, glance, look, riffle, read, scan, dip into, run
one's eye over, have a look at, peruse]

thumb (v.) – wear or soil (a book's pages) by repeated handling, by much use [His
dictionaries were thumbed and ink-stained.] – synonyms & related words [make dog-
eared, mark, soil, mess up, handle roughly, maul, paw],

thumb (v.) – press, move, or touch (something) with one's thumb; use one's thumb to
indicate something [As soon as she thumbed the button, the door slid open. He thumbed
towards the men behind him. ‘It’s a pyramid,’ said Costellin. ‘A black stone pyramid. It must
be about…’ He thumbed up some figures on the display, and performed a quick calculation.
‘It’s at least two hundred storeys high, and almost a kilometre along each side of the base.’]
– synonyms & related words [press, push (down), depress, lean on, press lightly, tap, pat,
nudge, prod, poke, feel, stroke, rub, rub (up) against, brush, brush (up) against, graze,
fondle, caress, pet, tickle, toy with, play about with, fiddle with, finger, handle, put one's
hand on, lay a hand on, lay a finger on, handle, hold, pick up, move, meddle with, fiddle
with, interfere with, tamper with, disturb, harm, access, use, employ, avail oneself of,
make use of],

thumb your nose at somebody/something (id.) – to show no respect, or to

raise the end of your thumb to the end of your nose to show that you do not respect
someone, to disrespect [He has thumbed his nose at authority all his life.] – synonyms &
related words [defy, disregard, mock, repudiate, scorn, spurn, affront, deride, gibe, gird,
insult, jeer, outrage, quip, ridicule, scoff, slight, sneer, taunt, laugh at, parody, tease,
burlesque, chaff, hoot, jape, jeer, needle, sneer, laugh at, make fun of, poke fun at, show
contempt],

dog-eared (adj.) – a book or paper that is dog-eared has the pages turned down at the
corners as a result of a lot of use,

hors de combat (adj.) – (formal or humorous) if aou are hors de combat, you cannot
take part in an activity because you are injured, french for „out of combat“, out of action
[Her recent fall has put her horse de combat.],

shopworn/shop-spoiled (adj.) – if goods sold in shops are shopworn, they are

slightly dirty or damaged and therefore reduced in prices; if a story or joke is shopworn,
it is boring or not interesting because it is so familiar to people, overused, frayed, stale,
tarnished, trite, faded,
fleabitten (adj.) – (informal) dirty and in bad condition [I'm not going to stay in that
fleabitten old place.],

take/get a/the hint (v.) – to understand an indirect suggestion, and to act on it

[Costellin had spent almost thirty years – since he was a young man, barely out of his
thirties – assigned to the Death Korps of Krieg. If he had learned one thing in those years, it
was that Death Korps soldiers, on the whole, could not take hints.],

in place (prepositional phrase) – working or ready to work, established; on the spot,

not travelling any distance [Contingency plans should be in place. The full length veil was
held in place by a band of pearls. The Guardsman’s helmet, gloves and backpack were all in
place.] – synonyms & related words [ready, set up, established, arranged, in order, all
set, in position, in situ, tidy, neat, neat and tidy, orderly, straight, trim, shipshape (and
Bristol fashion), in apple-pie order, spick and span, prim and proper],

egregious (adj.) – (formal, disapproving) extremely bad in a way that is very

noticeable, shocking [It was an egregious error for a statesman to show such ignorance.
Egregious abuses of copyright. Most egregiously of all, he still wore his full facemask.] –
synonyms & related words [outrageous, atrocious, deplorable, extreme, flagrant, glaring,
grievous, heinous, intolerable, nefarious, scandalous, shocking, arrant, capital, gross,
infamous, insufferable, monstrous, notorious, outright, preposterous, rank, stark],

rank (adj.) – (extreme, especially of something bad) complete or extreme [It was rank
stupidity to drive so fast on an icy road. The horse that won the race was a rank outsider.]
– synonyms & related words [downright, utter, outright, out-and-out, absolute,
complete, sheer, stark, thorough, thoroughgoing, categorical, unequivocal, undeniable,
unqualified, unmodified, unrestricted, unmitigated, unconditional, positive, simple,
wholesale, all-out, perfect, consummate, patent, pure, total, entire, flat, direct, dead, final,
conclusive; arrant, right-down],

rank (adj.) – (grown) used to describe plants that grow too fast or too thickly, or an
area covered by these [The abandoned garden was rank with weeds. Clumps of rank grass.
Rank vegetation.] – synonyms & related words [abundant, lush, luxuriant, dense,
profuse, flourishing, exuberant, vigorous, productive, spreading, overgrown, jungly],

rank (adj.) – (smell) smelling strong and unpleasant [Breathing rank air. His clothes
were rank with sweat. A rank smell.] – synonyms & related words [offensive, unpleasant,
nasty, disagreeable, revolting, sickening, obnoxious, noxious; foul-smelling, evil-
smelling, fetid, smelly, stinking, reeking, reeky, high, off, rancid, putrid, malodorous, ill-
smelling, fusty, musty, stale; niffy, pongy, whiffy, humming, noisome, mephitic, miasmic,
miasmal, ollid],

layover/stopover (n.) – a short stay, stop in a place that you make while you are on
a longer journey to somewhere else [We had a four-hour layover in Chicago. „We’re all
entitled to time off, Guardsman,“ said Costellin. „In fact, we’re a good way overdue, having
stayed with the campaign on Dask as long as we did. The Administratum has gone to a
great deal of trouble to arrange this layover.“] – synonyms & related words [break,
hiatus, respite, delay, pause, rest, stop],

circuit (n.) – (visits) a regular pattern of visits or the places visited; (specialized, law) a
particular area containing different courts that a judge visits [They first met each other
on the tennis circuit (= while at different tenis competitions). He was a familiar figure on
the lecture circuit. The judge had served for many yeras on the northeastern Circuit. A
circuit judge. He always takes part in the polo circuit. We see each other on the dinner
party circuit. He moved to the side of the corridor as a Death Korps platoon rounded the
bend ahead of him. They had formed up in threes and were doing circuits, their heavy boots
falling perfectly in step so the entire ship seemed to ring with each impact.],

circuit (n.) – (track) something shaped approximately like a circle, especially a route,
path, or sports track that starts and ends in the same place [They test the car tyres on a
motor racing circuit. We made a leisurely circuit of the city walls.],

guarded (adj.) – careful not to give too much information or show how you really feel
[A guarded response. „I was only on Dask for a month and a half,“ said Mannheim, „I only
saw the final stages of the campaign there, but I can tell you this much – the resolve, the
sheer grit I saw displayed by those men…“ „But?’ Costellin prompted. He knew there would
be a ‘but’. „You must have served with other regiments before you came to this one,“
Mannheim said guardedly. He has given a guarded welcome to the idea. His colleagues
showed guarded enthusiasm for the proposal.] – synonyms & related words [cautious,
careful, circumspect, wary, chary, reluctant, non-committal, reticent, restrained,
reserved, controlled, moderate, discreet, unrevealing, vague, diplomatic, prudent, politic,
tactful; with reservations; cagey, leery],

as near as damn it (id.) – (UK, informal) as near as possible, very near, almost, as
damn near as it can [Costellin nodded. „The Catachan Fourteenth.“ „Jungle Fighters.“
Mannheim was impressed. „I’ve heard they can be difficult.“ ‘Not especially,“ said Costellin
casually, „if you know how to deal with them. I earned their respect and their trust, and
they more than earned mine. The Death Korps remind me of them, in some ways. They fight
as hard, and are just as unshakeable. You know, the combined Krieg regiments have the
lowest desertion rate in the Imperial Guard. It’s as near as damn it to zero.“],

apportion (v.) – (formal) to give or share out something, especially blame or money,
among several people or things [When we know how much is profit, then we can
apportion the money among/between us. The investigation into the air crash would
inevitably apportion blame to certain members of the crew. „They don’t need you at the
moment. Take this opportunity while you can. It’ll be a long time before you get another
one, believe me. The Departmento Munitorum has a habit of forgetting to apportion leave
to Death Korps regiments, and the Death Korps regiments have a habit of not complaining
about it.“ Voting power will be apportioned according to contribution. In many households,
domestic work is not apportioned equally between partners. They did not apportion blame
or liability to any other individual.] – synonyms & related words [share out, divide out,
allocate, distribute, allot, assign, dispense; give out, hand out, mete out, deal out, dole
out; ration, parcel out, measure out; split, carve up, slice up; divvy up, dish out],

leer (n. v.) – (disapproving) (especially of meN) to look at someone in a sexually

interested way, or unpleasant way [Bystanders were leering at the nude painting. Hendry
leered at her. He gave me a sly leer. He was always leering at female members of staff. The
bridge door was adorned with a large leering skull, two metres high, but the painting was
old now, fading and flaking. Costellin caught Mannheim frowning at the bleak image, and
he smiled to himself.] – synonyms & related words [: ogle, look lasciviously, look
suggestively, give sly looks to, eye, watch, stare, goggle; informalgive someone the glad
eye, give someone a/the once-over, lech after/over, drool over, undress someone with
one's eyes; gawp, gawk, perv on, lecherous look, lascivious look, suggestive look, ogle, sly
glance, the glad eye, the once-over],

give somebody the glad eye (id.) – (old-fashioned, slang) to look at someone in a
way that shows you find the msexually attractive [All the men were giving her the glad
eye.],

squirm (v.) – to move from side to side in an awkward way because of nervousness,
embarrassment, or pain [Nobody spoke for at least five minutes and Rachel squirmed in
her chair with embarrassment. The fish squirmed on the ground for a few moments and
then lay still. He knew Captain Rokan, of course. The short, stocky Navy man squirmed
about in his seat to greet the newcomers with a look of relief. He looked uncomfortable and
squirmed in his chair. I tried to squirm away.] – synonyms & related words [wriggle,
wiggle, writhe, twist, slide, slither, turn, shift, fidget, jiggle, twitch, thresh, flounder, flail,
toss and turn, agonize],

pleasantry (n.) – (formal) a polite and often slightly humorous remark, usually made
to help other people feel relaxed; a mild joke [After exchanging pleasantries, the
delegation revealed the purpose of their visit. He laughed at his own pleasantry. After an
exchange of pleasantries, I proceeded to outline plan. We exchanged the usual pleasantries.
Costellin exchanged brief pleasantries with the captain, and introduced him to Mannheim,
while they awaited the commissars of the 81st and the 103rd.] – synonyms & related
words [banter, badinage; inconsequential remark, friendly/good-natured remark, polite
remark, casual remark; josh, joke, witticism, quip, jest, gag, witty, remark, sally, bon mot,
wisecrack, crack],

josh (v.) – joke [Good-natured joshing.] – synonyms & related words [banter, jest, jive,
kid, needle, razz, rib, spoof, tease, jape],
wash your dirty linen in public (id.) – (disapproving) people who wash their
dirty linen in public discuss, or allow to be discussed in public, matters that should be
kept private,

all thumbs/all fingers and thumbs (id.) – (informal) very awkward with your
hands, clumsy, undeft [Can you untangle this thread for me? I'm all thumbs today. The
comm-link chimed, and Gunthar started. Suddenly all thumbs, he stuffed the ring back into
his pocket as he lunged to take the call.],

a problem shared is a problem halved (id.) – (saying) used to say that if you
tell someone about a problem, it is easier to deal with,

blarney (n.) – a friendly and pleasant way of talking that makes someone good at
persuading people to do things [Don't listen to any of his blarney! It took all my Irish
blarney to keep us out of court.] – synonyms & related words [blandishments, honeyed
words, smooth talk, soft words, flattery, cajolery, coaxing, wheedling, compliments;
fulsomeness, simpering, fawning, toadying, ingratiation, currying favour, inveiglement;
charm offensive; sweet talk, soft soap, smarm, spiel, ego massage, buttering up, cosying
up, cuddling up; flannel, guyver, smoodging, glozing, lip salve, cajolement],

convey (v.) – (communicate) to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is

understood by other people; (take) to take or carry someone or something to a
particular place, to transport; (communicate) send, communicate a message or
information [Pipes were laid to convey water to the house. A taxi service conveyed guests
to Cerig station. He conveys an air of managerial competence. The real virtues and
diversity of America had never been conveyed in the movies. Mr. Harves and his daughters
have asked me to convey their very kind regards. Mr. Marr has conveyed the information to
me. It's impossible to convey how lost I felt. They would be conveyed to the nearest space
port, and from there to an Imperial forge world, to be fashioned into the machinery of
war.] – synonyms & related words [transport, carry, bring, take, fetch, bear, move, ferry,
shuttle, shift, transfer; send, forward, deliver, dispatch; channel, pipe, conduct, project,
exude, emit, emanate, send forth, communicate, pass on, make known, impart, relay,
transmit, send, hand on; tell, relate, recount, announce, reveal, disclose, divulge, express,
communicate, indicate, tell, say, put across/over, get across/over],

make up for lost time (id.) – to enjoy an experience as much as possible because
you did not have the opportunity to do it earlier in life [I didn't travel much in my
twenties but I'm certainly making up for lost time now.],

prop (n.) – (support) an object that is used to support something by holding it up [I

need some sort of a prop to keep the clothes line up. (figurative) A lot of people use
cigarettes as a sort of social prop (= to make them feel more confident). Gunthar and Kreuz
stepped out of this cage into an expansive cavern, well-lit by luminator globes strung from
wooden mine props. He looked around for a prop to pin the door open. Steel props support
the 1.5 km long underpass construction. He found himself becoming the emotional prop of
the marriage.] – synonyms & related words [pole, post, beam, support, upright, brace,
buttress, stay, shaft, strut, stanchion, shore, pier, vertical, pillar, pile, piling, bolster,
truss, column, rod, stick; point d'appui; sprag, mainstay, pillar, anchor, rock, backbone,
support, cornerstone; supporter, upholder, sustainer],

not have a prayer (id.) – to have no chance of succeeding [She hasn't a prayer of
winning the competition.],

clapped out (adj.) – (mainly UK, informal) clapped out machines are old and no
longer work well, broken; used to describe people who are very tired or unhealthy,
battered, beat up [She drives a clapped-out old Mini. I felt too clapped out to go to aerobics
last night. They approached a tunnel entrance, passing the abandoned hulk of a clapped-
out boring vehicle on their way.],

plaintive (adj.) – used to describe something that sounds slightly sad and mournful [A
plaintive cry. The plaintive sound of the bagpipes. „What about me?“ came a plaintive
voice. „I think I’ve seen enough,“ said Gunthar quickly, hoping his voice didn’t sound too
weak, too plaintive.] – synonyms & related words [mournful, sad, wistful, doleful,
pathetic, pitiful, piteous, melancholy, melancholic, sorrowful, unhappy, wretched,
woeful, grief-stricken, broken-hearted, heartbroken, desolate, heart-rending, forlorn,
woebegone, disconsolate, plangent, heartstick, dolorous],

boggle (v.) – to (cause something or someone to) have difficulty imagining or

understanding something; to be very surprised and uncertain about how to deal with
something, hesitate to do or accept [My mind boggles at the amount of money they spend
on food. It boggles the imagination, doesn't it? He boggled at the suggestion. The humming
was even louder now, and shrill like the whining of the drills. Herriksen made the sign of
the aquila, and Gunthar boggled as two of the servitors – then a third, then a fourth –
abandoned their work to sink to their knees in front of the stone column. He had never seen
a servitor behave that way before. The mind boggles at the spectacle. The proliferation of
data makes the mind boggle. The inflated salary of a star boggles the mind. It boggles my
mind that everyone thinks that they can pull the wool over the eyes of record companies.
You never boggle at plain speaking. ] – synonyms & related words [marvel, wonder, be
astonished, be astounded, be amazed, be filled with amazement, be overwhelmed, be
shocked, be staggered, be bowled over, be startled; gape, goggle, gawk; be flabbergasted,
astonish, astound, amaze, fill with amazement, overwhelm, shock, startle, fill with
wonder; flabbergast, bowl over; demur, jib, shrink from, flinch from, recoil from, hang
back from, waver, falter, dither, baulk, vacillate about, think twice about, be reluctant
about, have scruples about, scruple about, have misgivings about, have qualms about, be
chary of, hesitate to, be shy about, be coy about, shy away from; be cagey about, shilly-
shally],
leave off (something/doing something) (v.) – to stop, or to stop doing
something [This novel begins where the other one leaves off. I've decided to leave off eating
meat for a while. The dog left off chasing the sheep. I wish he would leave off hanging
around with them.] – synonyms & related words [stop, cease, finish, desist from, keep
from, break off, lay off, give up, discontinue, refrain from, restrain oneself from, hold
back from, swear off, resist the temptation to, stop oneself from, withhold from, eschew;
conclude, terminate, suspend, bring to an end, renounce, forswear, forbear, relinquish;
quit, give over, knock off, jack something in],

lay the ghost of something (to rest) (id.) – to finally stop being worried or upset
about something that has worried or upset you for a long time [With one stunning
performance, he has laid to rest the ghost of all his defeats last season.],

flag/wave down something/somebody (id.) – to cause a vehicle to stop by

waving at its driver [I managed to flag down a passing police car. If a car comes along,
wave it down. She could always flag down a proctor, she thought.],

unfailing (adj.) – if a positive quality of someone's character is unfailing, it shows itself

at all times, without error or fault, reliable or constant, not lagging [Unfailing enthusiasm.
She's unfailingly cheerful no matter what the circumstances. His unfailing memory for
names. Hs mother had always been an unfailing source of reassurance. He was
remembered for his modesty and his unfailing good humor. Still, the darkness unnerved
her. It cast the faces around her into shadow, making it seem like everyone she passed was
hiding some malevolent intent. It created inkblot shapes in the corners, in the windows, in
the mouths of the alleyways, which unfailingly reminded Arex of the pink-eyed mutant.] –
synonyms & related words [constant, reliable, dependable, steadfast, steady, sure,
endless, undying, unfading, unfaltering, inexhaustible, boundless, ceaseless, never-
failing, infallible],

dependable (adj.) – trustworthy and reliable [A dependable supply of cold beer. He was
a solid and dependable person.] – synonyms & related words [reliable, trustworthy,
honourable, true, faithful, loyal, constant, unswerving, unwavering, unfailing, sure,
steadfast, steady, stable, trusty; sensible, responsible, conscientious, competent; copper-
bottomed],

copper-bottomed (adj.) – (UK) thoroughly reliable, certain not to fail, surefire,

foolproof, certain, dependable [A copper-bottomed guaranteed.],

put somebody to flight (id.) – (UK, old-fashioned) to defeat someone and force
them to run away, to beat, to vanquish,

flight (n.) – (set) a set of steps or stairs, usually between two floors of a building;
(specialized, food & drink) a number of different types of wine, beer, etc. for tasting [We
live up three flights of stairs. Wine bar patrons can sample flights of wine. A wine flight is
available to accompany the tasting menu at £ 35 per person. She forced her way through,
and made it to the base of a broad flight of stone steps, but was elbowed aside before she
could climb them.],

flight of fancy (id.) – an idea that shows a lot of imagination but is not practical [He
was talking about cycling across the US or was that just another flight of fancy?] –
synonyms & related words [imaginative but unworkable idea, creation of the brain,
exaggeration, facon de parter, fish story, fumes of fancy, imagination, mind's eye, play of
fancy, stretch of fancy, stretch of the imagination],

in earnest (id.) – when something begins in earnest, it has already started but is now
being done in a serious and complete way [The election campaign has begun in earnest.
Then the insects descended upon their prey, and the screaming began in earnest.] –
synonyms & related words [actively, earnestly, passionately, sincerely, vigorously,
gravely, all joking aside, cut the comedy, determinedly, down, fervently, for rela, in all
conscience, in all seriousness, intently, purposefully, resolutely, sedately, simmer down,
soberly, solemnly, sternly, straighten out, with forethought, zealously, fiercely,
energetically, heartily, wholeheartedly, avidly, keenly, eagerly, committedly, devoutly,
devotedly, fierily, fervidly, ardently, fervently, single-mindedly],

fissile (adj.) – (specialized, geology) (of rock) able to be divided easily into pieces;
(specialized, physics) (of atoms) able to produce nuclear fission [Because of its layered
structure, mica is fissile. An amount of fissile material was missing as a result of the
accident.],

rustle something up (id.) – (informal) to make something quickly, usually a meal

from food that is available [Give me a minute and I'll rustle something up for supper.],

gouge (v.) – make (a groove, hole, or indentation) with or as if with a gouge [The
channel had been gouged out by ebbing water. A tunnel had been gouged out in the
mountain. he insects had gouged a deep trench in the brickwork, causing it to contract and
crumble, the windows to burst, and to her horror Arex realised that this section of the
tower was collapsing in on itself. He drove into some railings and gouged a hole in the back
of his car.] – synonyms & related words [scoop out, burrow (out), hollow out, excavate,
cut (out), hack (out), chisel (out), dig (out), scrape (out), claw (out), scratch (out), delve],

muffle (v.) – (make less clear) to make a sound quieter and less clear; to make
something less strong or clear [The house has double-glazed windows to muffle the noise
of aircraft. The report concluded that business pressure on the government had muffled the
impact of the legislation. The souft beat of a muffled drum. His voice was muffled. The
sound of their footsteps was muffled by the fog. Muffled shouts. he pulled the door shut
behind her and, although it didn’t entirely blot out the sounds of the carnage without, they
were at least now muffled enough for Arex to think, to hope.] – synonyms & related words
[deaden, dull, dampen, damp down, mute, soften, quieten, hush, silence, still, tone down,
mask, stifle, smother, subdue, suppress, gag, muzzle, indistinct, faint, muted, dull, dim,
soft, strangled, stifled, smothered, suppressed],

muffle (v.) – (keep warm) to wear thick warm clothes in order to keep warm [I was
muffled up against the cold in a scarf and hat. Everyone was muffled up in coats and
scarves.] – synonyms & related words [wrap, wrap up, swathe, swaddle, enfold, envelop,
cloak, cover up],

right (v.) – (formal) if you right a situation or a mistake, you make it better or correct it;
if a boat rights itself, it turns itself back to its correct position in the water [It's a terrible
situation and we should right it as soon as possible. The canoe will right itself if it capsizes.
With a shudder, she batted the insect to the floor and it landed on its back, two rows of tiny
legs pedalling to right itself. Arex stamped on it until it stopped moving.] – synonyms &
related words [turn the right way up again, turn back over, set upright again, stand
upright again, remedy, put right, set right, put to rights, set to rights, rectify, retrieve,
solve, fix, resolve, sort out, put in order; straighten out, deal with, correct, repair, mend,
redress, make good; improve, amend, ameliorate, make better, better, rectify, correct,
put right, set right, make right, sort out, deal with, remedy, repair, fix, cure, resolve,
settle, square, make amends for; avenge, vindicate],

merciful (adj.) – (events/situation) used to say that you are grateful for an event or
situation because it stops something unpleasant [After such a long illness, her death came
as a merciful release. She dragged her battered body out into a scene of desolation, choking
on the dusty air. Most of the towers were mercifully intact, but a couple had fallen and the
skyway was strewn with their rubble.] – synonyms & related words [welcome, blessed,
acceptable, sparing, lenient, gracious],

klaxon (n.) – (trademark) a brand name for a very loud horn used, especially in the
past on police cars and other emergency vehicles, as a way of warning other people [The
commissar was woken by a klaxon alarm and an insistent voice, buzzing over the vox-
speaker outside his quarters.],

the rights and wrongs (id.) – the details of who or what is fair or unfair [I don't care
about the rights and wrongs of the matter – I just want you both to stop arguing.],

social conscience (n.) – if you have a social conscience, you worry about people who
are poor, ill, old, etc. and try to help them,

hulk (n.) – (ship) the body of an old ship, car, or very large piece of equipment that is
broken and no longer used [Here and there the rusted hulk of an abandoned car dots the
landscape. The drop-ship assigned to the 186th regiment was cycling its engines in the
upper portside hangar bay. The company commanders were marshalling their troops in
this vast, echoing space, and Major Alpha’s first two platoons were already marching up
the access ramp into the belly of the great rusted hulk. The rusting hulks of ships.] –
synonyms & related words [wreck, shipwreck, ruin, shell, skeleton, hull, frame,
framework, derelict],

hulk (n.) – (awkward) a large, heavy, awkward person or thing; (large) a large or
unwiedly boat or other object [Henry's a real hulk of a man. The Incredible Hulk is a
character in a comic who turns from a scientist into a two-metre tall monster. Great
towering hulks of oak, ash, and chesnut. A six-foot hulk of a man. A great clumsy hulk of a
man.] – synonyms & related words [oaf, clodhopper, ape, gorilla, lummox, klutz, galoot,
lubber, clodpole],

verbose (adj.) – (formal, disapproving) using or containing m ore words than are
necessary [A verbose explanation/report/speech/style. He was a notoriously verbose after-
dinner speaker. This hits the sweet spot between brevity and verbosity.] – synonyms &
related words [wordy, loquacious, garrulous, talkative, voluble, orotund, expansive,
babbling, blathering, prattling, prating, jabbering, gushing, effusive; long-winded,
lengthy, protracted, prolix, periphrastic, circumlocutory, circuitous, tautological,
repetitious, redundant, tortuous, indirect, convoluted; diffuse, discursive, digressive,
rambling, wandering, meandering; mouthy, gabby, windy, gassy, talky, with the gift of
the gab, having kissed the Blarney stone, yakking, big-mouthed; informalwittering,
gobby multiquolent, multiloquous, ambigious, logorrhoeic, pleonastic],

prolix (adj.) – (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words, tediously
lengthy [He found the narrative too prolix and discursive. His prolix speeches could often
be tiresome.] – synonyms & related words [lengthy, long-winded, long-drawn-out,
overlong, prolonged, protracted, interminable, laborious, ponderous, endless, unending,
verbose, wordy, full of verbiage, verbal, diffuse, discursive, digressive, rambling,
wandering, circuitous, meandering, maundering, periphrastic, circumlocutory, windy,
ambagious, pleonastic],

do your sums (id.) – to calculate, estimate, count how much something will cost [The
previous Colonel 186 had died on Dask, leading a charge against a legion of Nurgle-
spawned mutants for control of a strategic hill. He had known his was a likely suicide run –
the generals had done their sums and concluded that this particular objective was worth
the loss of over four hundred men – but he had chosen to lead from the front anyway, as he
always had.] – synonyms & related words [roughly calculate, approximate, make an
estimate of, guess, evaluate, judge, gauge, reckon, rate, appraise, form an opinion of,
form an impression of, get the measure of, determine, weigh up; size up, guesstimate,
computer, work out, figure, enumerate, determine, evaluate, quantify, assess, cost, put a
figure on, add up, add together, count up, tally, total, totalize, calibrate, gauge, tot up,
cast],

tot something up (v.) – (informal) to add up numbers or amounts of something, or

to have a particular number or amount as a total when added up [She quickly totted up
our bill and added an amount for the waiter. That tots up to £20.],
tot (n.) – (drink) a small drink of alcohol, a snifter [He poured them each a generous tot
of whiskey/rum.],

gnaw (v.) – (feel worried) to make you feel worried or uncomfortable, to gradually
reduce or spoil something, continuously uncomfortable, worrying, or painful [I've been
gnawed by guilt about not replying to her letter yet. The feelings that I've forgotten
something has been gnawing at me all day. I've had gnawing doubts about this project for
some time. After three days, we felt an agonizing, gnawing hunger. Costellin nodded
quietly, but a gnawing fear was growing in his stomach. He was beginning to form his own
suspicions about what might be going on in Hieronymous City. He just prayed to the God-
Emperor that those suspicions were unfounded.] – synonyms & related words [prey on
someone's mind, nag, plague, torment, torture, trouble, distress, worry, haunt, oppress,
weigh heavily on someone's mind, be a weight on someone's mind, burden, hang over,
harry, bother, exercise, fret; niggle, rankle with; fester, persistent, nagging, niggling,
lingering, constant, continual, unrelenting, unabating, worrying, worrisome, troubling,
concerning, disturbing],

ears are flapping (id.) – (informal) if you say that someone's ears are flapping, you
mean that they are trying to hear what you are saying, even though they are not part of
your conversation, they are trying to eavesdrop, overhear – synonyms & related words
[listen in, spy, intrude, monitor, tap, wiretap, record, overhear, snoop, bug, stickybeak],

crony (n.) – (informal, disapproving) a friend, or a person who works for someone in
authority, especially one who is willing to give and receive dishonest help [The general
and his cronies are now awaiting trial for drug smuggling. Costellin had no doubt that, by
now, Governor Hanrik would have contacted the Imperial Navy, asking for all the rescue
ships they could spare. The best he could hope for was to save himself and a few
handpicked cronies; the majority of the wretches now tugging at Costellin’s greatcoat
would be abandoned here.] – synonyms & related words [ally, companion, accomplice,
acquaintance, associate, buddy, chum, colleague, comrade, confidant, friend, intimate,
mate, pal, partner, sidekick, bosom buddy, comate, good buddy],

bedlam (n.) – a noisy situation with no order, a scene of uproar and confusion [It was
bedlam at the football stadium after the match was suspensed. Costellin took advantage of
the relative lull in the bedlam to assert some authority. His voice ringing loudly and
strongly, he appealed for calm and asked for the ramp to be cleared. There was bedlam in
the courtroom. There was bedlam in the stadium after he won.] – synonyms & related
words [uproar, pandemonium, commotion, mayhem, confusion, unrest, furore, upheaval,
hubbub, hurly-burly, turmoil, riot, ruckus, tumult, disarray, turbulence; disorder, chaos,
anarchy, lawlessness; hullabaloo, ructions, rumpus, snafu],

bustle (v.) – to do things in a hurried and busy way, move in an ergentic and busy
manner; cause to move hurriedly in a particular direction [People clutching clipboards
bustled around. She bustled us into the kitchen. Costellin took his fellow commissar by the
arm and bustled him into a relatively quiet corner. ‘You made it down here, then,’ said
Mannheim, stating the obvious.] – synonyms & related words [rush, dash, scurry, scuttle,
scamper, scramble, flutter, fuss, hurry, hasten, make haste, race, run, sprint, tear, shoot,
charge, chase, career, scutter, scoot, beetle, whizz, buzz, hare, zoom, zip, hustle, bundle,
sweep, push, hurry, rush, whisk, whip],

numb (adj.) – if a part of your body is numb, you are unable to feel it, usually for a short
time; not able to feel any emotions or to think clearly, because you are so shocked or
frightened, etc. [I was lying in a weird position and my leg went numb. My fingers were
numb with cold. When she first heard the news, she was numb with disbelief. Ever since his
girlfriend left him, he has felt numb. My feet were numb with cold. His fingers were numb
with cold. „Beetles,“ repeated Costellin numbly.] – synonyms & related words [deprived of
sensation, without feeling, numbed, benumbed, dead, deadened, desensitized, insensible,
insensate, senseless, unfeeling; anaesthetized, drugged; dazed, stunned, stupefied, in
shock, paralysed, petrified, immobilized, frozen, chilled; torpefied],

fetch up (v.) – (UK, informal) to arrive somewhere, especially without intending to

[After a whole hour of driving, we fetched up back where we started. All four of them
fetched up in the saloon bar in the Rose and Crown. The boat somehow fetched up on a
remote Pacific island. „Well, that must have been when Hanrik gave the order to evacuate.
As it happens, that was the generals’ wish too, but by the time we had spoken to them… By
that time, the first of the evacuees were fetching up here, those from the lower levels. The
lifters in the city aren’t working, you see. The only way out is on foot, through the old gates
on the ground, through the mutants and the underclass.“] – synonyms & related words
[end up, finish up, turn up, wind up, arrive, pop up, materialize, find itself, land, beach,
wash up, pitch up, show up, go, appear, come to],

prompt (adv.) – at the time stated and no later, exactly, on time, punctually, dead on,
on the nail, on the dot, precisely, spot on, [We'll be leaving at six o'clock prompt.],

prompt (adj.) – (of an action) done quickly and without delay, or (of a person) acting
quickly and arriving at the aranged time [They've written back already - that was a very
prompt reply. They're usually fairly prompt in dealing with enquiries. Try to be prompt
because we'll be very short of time. She would have died but for the prompt action of two
ambulancemen. I should be grateful for a prompt reply.] – synonyms & related words
[snap, snatch, quick, swift, rapid, speedy, fast, direct, immediate, instant, instantaneous,
expeditious, early, punctual, in good time, on time, timely; ready, willing, eager,
unhesitating; rather],

prompt (v.) – encourage (a hesitating speaker) to say something [„And the picture?“ he
prompted. „And the beetles,“ prompted Costellin. „The metal beetles.“ The bridegroom
could not follow the marriage service and had to be prompted by the impatient
clergyman.] – synonyms & related words [remind, cue, give someone a cue, help out,
coach, feed, jog someone's memory, refresh someone's memory]
(random cool paragraph) – [‘Commissar.’ Costellin turned. He had thought himself
alone in this part of the drop-ship, in the vacated troop compartment, his footsteps
resounding from the curved walls as he paced back and forth. He wondered if Colonel 186
had been standing there all along, or if he had just seen his commissar returning to the ship
and followed him. ‘Can I help you?’ asked the colonel, blandly. Costellin shook his head. ‘Just
gathering my thoughts.’ ‘It may be wise to gather them elsewhere. I have instructed the
servitors that, once we have unloaded, they are to return to the troop ship.’ ‘Can’t that
wait? I need to use this ship’s comms.’ ‘I don’t want the drop-ships remaining in port,’ said
the colonel. ‘They are a temptation to the stranded refugees, and we can’t spare the men to
guard them.’ ‘I need to talk with the generals,’ said Costellin. ‘I still have questions.’ ‘We are
setting up communications on the ground,’ said the colonel. ‘The generals will be able to
contact us should our orders change.’ ‘It may be too late by then. Have you heard of the
necrons, colonel? No, of course you haven’t. Few living men have. Most of those who have
encountered them, if they have survived the experience, have been driven insane by it.’
‘Necrons,’ repeated the colonel, rolling the word on his tongue as if he relished the fresh
taste of it, the prospect of a new enemy to fight. ‘Back when I was a young man,’ said
Costellin, ‘it was forbidden to even speak of them. Still, the rumours persisted. It was said
the necrons are an ancient race, that they were already dying when the eldar were young –
and that, to save themselves, they sealed themselves into great underground tombs and
slept. It was said that the necrons have slept for millions of years, and that now they are
awakening.’ ‘You suspect there are necrons on this world?’ Costellin sank into one of the
empty flight seats. ‘Look, colonel,’ he said, ‘I know you’re newly promoted, I know this is the
first time we have worked together–’ ‘We have fought side by side before. We shared a
trench four years ago on Anakreos III for two months. I was a lieutenant in Gamma
Company at the time.’ ‘Right. What I am trying to say is that, in a position like mine, you…
hear things; things that, perhaps, it might have been best not to hear. I have heard tales of
worlds on which necron tombs have been discovered, and of the inevitable fates of those
worlds.’ ‘Whatever the threat to this world,’ said the colonel, ‘my men will meet it.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Costellin, ‘with an army such as we had on Dask – but we are four
regiments, colonel, and depleted regiments at that. I just wonder, if what I suspect is true, if
direct confrontation is our best strategy in this situation. We might be better advised to, if
you’ll pardon my language, get the Golden Throne out of here!’ ‘Reinforcements are en
route from Krieg,’ said the colonel. ‘I suspect it’s not ground troops we need,’ said Costellin,
‘but rather a battery of cyclonic torpedoes that can blast this whole damned planet to
space dust. But, of course, Hieronymous Theta is rich in minerals, a valuable resource to the
Imperium.’ ‘You have still not explained why you wish to speak with the generals.’ Costellin
sighed, resignedly. He saw no point in saying any more. He knew the men of Krieg well
enough by now to understand how their minds worked. He knew that, under normal
circumstances, the Krieg generals would never have pitted their regiments against a
necron force, a force whose numbers and capabilities were virtually unknown. They would
have run their battlefield projections and concluded that the risk of defeat, of destruction,
was far too great. But then, these circumstances were unusual. By the Emperor’s grace, the
Memento Mori had been close at hand when the situation on Hieronymous Theta had been
reported. They had a rare chance here, to respond to a necron incursion – if such this
proved to be – in its earliest stages. They were gambling that their troops could contain
that incursion before it took hold, before it could spread to engulf this world and perhaps
many others. They were gambling on a chance to strike a decisive blow, perhaps the first
decisive blow, against an enemy the Imperium had only just been compelled to
acknowledge, one it hadn’t even begun to work out how to counter. And the stakes of that
gamble were some twenty thousand men. ‘You know I will fight for the Emperor to my
dying breath,’ said Costellin. ‘I just fear that the mission we are embarking upon here may
be in vain.’ ‘Our lives are His to do with as He pleases,’ said Colonel 186. He really did sound
just like his predecessors.],

eyeline (n.) – the direction in which someone is looking [Costellin’s eye line was about
level with the tops of those walls.],

disconsolate (adj.) – (formal) extremely sad and disappointed, very unhappy and
unable to be comforted [The players were disconsolate after losing what should have been
an easy game. Rising above them, Hieronymous City was a dark, brooding shape against
the clouded moonlight. He regarded its disconsolate towers, the criss-cross struts of the
connecting skyways, and he searched in vain for a sign of movement, of life, of hope. Giles
was looking increasinbly disconsolate. She left Fritz looking disconsolate.] – synonyms &
related words [sad, unhappy, doleful, woebegone, dejected, downcast, downhearted,
despondent, dispirited, crestfallen, cast down, depressed, fed up, disappointed,
disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, crushed, desolate, heartbroken, broken-
hearted, inconsolable, heavy-hearted, low-spirited, forlorn, in the doldrums, melancholy,
miserable, long-faced, wretched, glum, gloomy, dismal; blue, choked, down, down in the
mouth, down in the dumps, brassed off, cheesed off, as sick as a parrot, looking as if one
had lost a proud and found a penny, dolorous, chap-fallen, heartsick, heartsore],

strut (n.) – a strong rod, usually made from metal or wood, that helps to hold
something such as a vehicle or building together,

lubricate (v.) – (informal) make (someone) convivial with alcohol [Men lubricated with
alcohol speak their true feelings. He thought about a backwater bar on a backwater
world, and a well-lubricated inquisitor speaking in hints and whispers of the horrors he
had read about in the most secret archives, tales of the dead come back to life and clad in
living metal.] – synonyms & related words [inebriate, make drunk, make intoxicated,
make inebriated, befuddle, fuddle, stupefy, go to someone's head, make someone's head
spin, make legless, make woozy, drunk, iberiated, iberiate, drunken, tipsy, the worse for
drink, under the influence, blind drunk, dead drunk, rolling drunk, roaring drunk, as
drunk as a lord, as drunk as a skunk, sottish, gin-soaked, tired and emotional],

convivial (adj.) – friendly and making you feel happy and welcome, (of an atmosphere
or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable, (of a person) cheerful and friendly, jovial [A
convivial atmosphere/host. A convivial cocktail party. She was relaxed and convivial. He
was always a convivial host.] – synonyms & related words [friendly, genial, affable,
amiable, congenial, agreeable, good-humoured, cordial, warm, sociable, outgoing,
gregarious, clubbable, companionable, hail-fellow-well-met; cheerful, jolly, jovial, merry,
lively, enjoyable, festive; couthy, backslapping, chummy, pally, matey, clubby, buddy-
buddy, conversable],

(random cool paragraph) – [They were setting up makeshift tents on the hill
around the space port, building a refugee camp that was swelling by the minute. An endless
convoy of Imperial support vehicles ground its way down that hill, filling the air with the
noxious fumes of two hundred grumbling engines. The pinpricks of the vehicles’ headlights
now stretched to the city’s fortress walls, built to keep the lower levels contained, and they
were spreading around them in each direction. Costellin’s eye line was about level with the
tops of those walls. Rising above them, Hieronymous City was a dark, brooding shape
against the clouded moonlight. He regarded its disconsolate towers, the criss-cross struts of
the connecting skyways, and he searched in vain for a sign of movement, of life, of hope.
Hundreds of thousands, millions, of people were trapped in those towers, on those skyways,
behind those walls. They were trapped by a lack of transport, by concern for loved ones, or
simply because they couldn’t leave all they knew behind. They couldn’t have known it yet,
but from this vantage point it was perfectly clear: the city was already dead. Costellin only
prayed that the same could not be said for this world, and for the soldiers who were about
to fight so blindly to protect it. He thought about a backwater bar on a backwater world,
and a well-lubricated inquisitor speaking in hints and whispers of the horrors he had read
about in the most secret archives, tales of the dead come back to life and clad in living
metal. He thought about a decorated veteran of a distinguished regiment, confined to a
secure sanatorium wing, babbling like a lunatic about weapons that could strip a man
down to his immortal soul, one layer at a time. He thought about a report he had once
read, filed by the legendary Ciaphas Cain, concerning a campaign fought on the frozen
world of Simia Orichalcae. The report had been redacted, of course, the threat faced by
Cain left unnamed, but two facts had impressed themselves upon Costellin’s mind: that said
threat had emerged from the planet’s mine tunnels, and that Simia Orichalcae had
ultimately been destroyed to contain it. He thought about metal beetles, and runes that
made a commissar’s eyes itch. And he thought about the recently concluded war on Dask,
where at least he had known what his regiment was fighting, and to what end. He felt they
had accomplished something there, shone the Emperor’s light on that benighted world, but
even this great victory had not been without cost. They had lost so many men on Dask,
almost a third of their complement. Costellin was so tired – so tired of being the only one
who cared.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Gunthar ran, and was glad to leave the demolished site
and feel firm ground under his feet again. He ran, and a hundred other people ran with
him, but they soon began to peel away, into alleyways, around corners, into emptied hab-
blocks if they could. Gunthar ran, virtually blind because the moon had disappeared behind
a cloud and there were no longer any luminators around him. He ran, and he wondered
how his life had come so quickly to this, one terrified flight after another. He should have
picked up the dead soldier’s lasgun. He only realised that now. It hadn’t occurred to him
before. Yesterday, it would have done. He would have thought about it, at least. He would
have seen himself with barrel blazing, taking down that last foul creature before it could
stand. A chance to be the hero he had dreamed of being. But that was yesterday, before the
mutants and the artefact, before Gunthar Soreson had learned that there was no hero
inside of him, after all. That was before he had witnessed the fate of heroes.],

thatch of hair (id.) – a mass of thick or untidy hair [A middle-aged man with a thatch
of black hair and a thick beard.],

derisive/derisory (adj.) – (formal) showing derision, expressing comtept or ridicule

[Derisive laughter. A dersive comment/remark. He a gave a harsh, derisive laughter. Weber
gave a derisive laugh. ‘You obviously didn’t see what I saw.] – synonyms & related wods
[mocking, ridiculing, jeering, scoffing, jibing, pillorying, teasing, derisory, snide;
disdainful, disparaging, denigratory, dismissive, slighting, detracting, contemptuous;
sneering, scornful, taunting, insulting; caustic, scathing, sarcastic; satirical, lampooning;
snidey, sarky, contumelious],

get your arse in gear/get off your arse (id.) – to force yourself to start doing
something or to make yourself hurry [Tell him to get off his arse and do some work for
once. If she doesn't get her arse in gear, she's going to be late.],

get your brain in gear (id.) – to start thinking clearly and productively [Well, get
your brain in gear because we need to solve this problem, and I don't want to be here all
night! Those soldier boys were going down faster than the civilians were. Half of them
couldn’t get their brains in gear to even fire their guns.’],

get/click into gear (id.) – to start working effectively or making progress [Her
electoral campaign is finally getting into gear. Suddenly my brain clicked into gear and I
realized what was happening.],

wreathe (v.) – (literary) to cover or surround something, cover, surround, or encircle;

(especially of smoke) move with a curling motion [The peak of the mountain is
perpetually wreathed in cloud. The sits wreathed in smoke. The pulpit had been wreathed
in holly. He watched the smoke wreathe into the night air. Blue smoke wreathed upwards.
His city was wreathed in smoke, great plumes of it rising from the lower floors.] –
synonyms & related words [festoon, garland, drape, cover, envelop, array, bedeck, deck,
decorate, ornament, adorn, spiral, coil, loop, gyrate, wind, curl, twist, twist and turn,
corkscrew, snake, curve, meander, zigzag],

be wreathed in smiles (id.) – to be smiling and looking extremely happy, overjoyed

[He was wreathed in smiles as he accepted the award.],
downdraught/downdraft (n.) – a strong downward air current, as in from a
military aircraft [Now, he squirmed with impatience as a flyer oriented itself above his
landing pad, the downdraught from its engines ruffling his thinning hair.] – synonyms &
related words [current of air, rush of air, breath, whiff, waft, wind, breeze, gust, puff,
blast, gale, blow, zephyr],

draught (n.) – a current of cool air in a room or other confined space [Heavy curtains
at the windows cut out draughts. The draguths made Robyn shiver.] – synonyms & related
words [current of air, rush of air, breath, whiff, waft, wind, breeze, gust, puff, blast, gale,
blow, zephyr],

draught/draft (n.) – a single act of drinking or inhaling; the amount swallowed or

inhaled in a draught [She downed the remaining beer in one draft. He took deep draughts
of oxygen into his lungs. He took another deep draft of his beer.] – synonyms & related
words [gulp, drink, swallow, mouthful, swig, swill, slug, chug],

draft (n.) – a preliminary version of a piece of writing; a plan, sketch, or rough drawing
[The first draft of the party's manifesto. A manuscript draft representing the explorer's
latest findings. The draft of his speech. A draft of the building to be ereced.] – synonyms &
related words [preliminary version, rough sketch, outline, plan, blueprint, skeleton,
abstract, main points, bones, bare bones, plan, design, artist's impression, diagram,
drawing, scale drawing, outline, sketch, pattern, map, layout, representation],

spite (v.) – to intentionally annoy, upset, or hurt someone [He put the house up for sale
to spite his fmaily. I used to worry that you would make trouble, just to spite Martin. His
niece had always been headstrong, but he hadn’t thought her so stubborn as to endanger
herself to spite him.] – synonyms & related words [upset, hurt, wound, distress, injure,
annoy, irritate, vex, displease, provoke, gall, peeve, pique, offend, put out, thwart, foil,
frustrate, aggravate, rile, miff, piss off],

headstrong (adj.) – very determined to do what you want without listening to others
[She was a headstrong child, always getting into trouble. The headstrong impulsiveness of
youth. She has been rather headstrong and argumentative.] – synonyms & related words
[wilful, self-willed, strong-willed, contrary, perverse, wayward, unruly, refractory,
ungovernable, unyielding, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate; reckless, heedless, rash,
capricious, impulsive, wild],

foresight (n.) – the ability to judge correctly what is going to happen in the future and
plan your actions based on this knowledge [She'd had the foresight to sell her apartment
just before the housing market collapsed. He had the foresight to check that his escape
route was clear. A little foresight might have saved them from a lot of money. Thanks to his
foresight in installing it, the PDF could still find her.] – synonyms & related words
[forethought, anticipation, planning, forward planning, provision, prescience,
circumspection, watchfulness, attentiveness, vigilance, prudence, care, caution,
precaution, readiness, preparedness; far-sightedness, discernment, presence of mind,
judiciousness, discrimination, perspicacity, vision, awareness, penetration;
forehandedness],

bellwether (n.) – the leading sheep of a flock, having a bell hung round its neck;
anything that indicates future trends, someone or something that shows how a situation
will develop or change [Basildon is now the bellwether of Britain's voting behavior. The
report is viewed as a bellwether for economic trends.] – synonyms & related words
[portent, omen, warning, forewarning, augury, presage, promise, threat, hint, sign,
signal, indication, symptom, foretaste, litmus test, preview, promise, intimation, a sign of
the times, a window on/onto/into something, barometer, harbinger, herald, ill wind, the
scent of something, sign of life, specter, suggestion, prediction],

read the runes (id.) – (UK, literary) to understand what will happen in the future, by
looking at what is happening now, to foresee, to portend, to predict, [He was the first of
the Eastern leaders to read the runes and make political changes to stay in power.],

disgruntled (adj.) – unhappy, annoyed, and disappointed about something [A

disgruntled former employee is being blamed for the explosion. The players were
disgruntled with the umpire. A disgruntled civil servant caused the leak. Hanrik threw one
last, disgruntled look after the Krieg colonel, who was now directing a small group of his
Guardsmen in the assembly of a communications console.] – synonyms & related words
[dissatisfied, discontented, aggrieved, resentful, fed up, displeased, unhappy,
disappointed, disaffected, malcontent; angry, irate, annoyed, cross, exasperated,
indignant, vexed, irritated, piqued, irked, put out, out of temper; sulky, sullen, petulant,
peevish, grumpy, churlish, testy; peeved, miffed, aggravated, hacked off, riled, peed off,
hot under the collar, in a huff, cheesed off, browned off, narked, eggy, not best pleased,
sore, teed off, ticked off, vexed, pissed off, pissed, snuffy],

splutter (v.) – (of a person) to speak in a quick and confused way, producing short,
unclear noises because of surprise, anger, etc., or (of a person or thing) to make a series
of noises similar to this [The old gentleman was spluttering with indignation. „But, er...
when, um... how?“ he spluttered. She took too big a gulp of whiskey and started to cough
and splutter. As Costellin settled into his chair, his expression grew grave. ‘We have a
serious situation developing here,’ he said, ‘perhaps more so than you know. Our troops in
the capital city report that–’ ‘You have sent troops into my city?’ spluttered Hanrik.] –
synonyms & related words [utter suddenly, exclaim, ejaculate, tell, babble, jabber, call
out, cry out, burst out with, come out with; divulge, disclose, reveal, betray, leak, let slip,
let out, give away, give the game away, bring to light; blab, gush, let on, spill the beans,
spill one's guts, let the cat out of the bag, run off at the mouth, spout],

rush (n.) – a sudden strong demand for a commodity [There's been a rush on the
Western News because of the murder. Travel agents say there's been a last minute rush for
holidays abroad. ‘I think you should get on to Naval Command again,’ said Costellin, see if
you can get a rush on those rescue ships.’] – synonyms & related words [demand, clamor,
call, request, run (on)],

flake (n.) – (small piece) a small, thin piece of something, especially if it has come from
a surface covered with a layer of something [Flakes of snow. Soap flakes. This room needs
decorating – flakes of paint keep coming off the walls. He licked the flakes of croissant off
his finger. Flakes of pastry. As the commissar took a sip of his recaf, the ominous rumbling
of distant guns shook the walls of his office and sent plaster flakes cascading from the
ceiling into his cup.] – synonyms & related words [sliver, wafer, shaving, paring, peeling,
chip, shard, scale, crumb, grain, speck, spillikin, fragment, scrap, shred, bit, particle, skelf,
spall, lamina],

flake (v.) – to come off a surface in small, thin pieces [Patches of skin are starting to
flake off. The paint had been flaking off for years. My nails have started to flake at the ends.
The paint on the door was flaking.] –synonyms & related words [peel off, peel, chip, scale
off, blister, come off, come off in layers, desquamate, exfoliate],

soldier on (v.) – to continue doing something although it is difficult [I admired the way
she soldiered on when her business ran into trouble. Graham wasn't enjoying this, but he
soldiered on. It would have been easy for him to give up, then, to leave this war to Colonel
186, to slink away in the first rescue ship to arrive. It would have been easy, and it would
have been safest, but Governor-General Talmar Hanrik prided himself on having the
bloodline of heroes. As long as there was the smallest grain of hope, he would soldier on. He
wouldn’t disgrace the memory of his father, his brother, or his sons.] – synonyms & related
words [persevere, persist, carry on doggedly, keep on, keep going, not give up, struggle
on, hammer away, be persistent, be determined, see/follow something through, keep at
it, show determination, press on/ahead, stay with something, not take no for an answer,
be tenacious, be pertinacious, stand one's ground, stand fast/firm, hold on, hold out, go
the distance, stay the course, plod on, plough on, grind away; hang on, plug away, pe
gaway, stick to one's guns, stick at it, stick it out, hang in there, bash on],

plod (v.) – (walk) to walk taking slow steps, as if your feet are heavy; (work) to work
slowly and continuously, but without imagination, enthusiasm, or interest [We plodded
through the mud. Despite the wind and the rain, the yplodded on until they reached the
cabin. For years, he's plodded away at the same dull routine job. Alex is just plodding along
at school, making very little progress. We plodded back up the hill. Melissa plodded wearily
up the stairs. We were plodding through a textbook. I suppose I'll just have to plod through
the whole book. Even so, as he and Weber proceeded, they picked up a small group of
followers, attracted by the very fact that they were going somewhere. Weber neither
encouraged nor discouraged these tagalongs, he just plodded on in grim silence.] –
synonyms & related words [trudge, walk heavily, clump, stomp, stump, tramp, drag
oneself, lumber, slog; sprauchle; traik; trog, work one's way, wade, plough, toil, trawl,
soldier (on), proceed laboriously, labour; slog],
sprauchle (v.) – (Scottish, Northern Irish) move clumsily or with great effort [I
sprauchled about with my bucket and spade.],

see something out (id.) – to wait or last until the end of a difficult or event situation,
to endure, , pull through [The besieged town doesn't have enough food to see the month
out. They saw out the storm in the best shelter they could find.] – synonyms & related
words [undergo, go through, live through, experience, meet, encounter; cope with, deal
with, face, face up to, handle, suffer, tolerate, put up with, brave, bear, withstand, sustain,
weather; become reconciled to, reconcile oneself to, become resigned to, get used to,
become accustomed to, learn to live with, make the best of; thole],

thole (v.) – (dialectal, Northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland) to endure, to put
up with, to tolerate; (dated) to suffer [While they were enjoying their meal and placidly
tholing the cacophony from the wireless set, they saw the first of the Ardmore workers
arrive in the café.]

thole (n.) – (regional) the ability to bear or endure something, endurance, patience
[He's got no thole for nonsense.],

acrid (adj.) – an acrid smell or taste is strong and bitter and causes a burning feeling in
the throat, unpleasanty bitter or pungent [Clouds of acrid smoke issued from the building.
The acrid smell of smoke clung about the building. There had been no warning, just a burst
of flame in which the creature’s skin coat had been vaporised, the metal skeleton beneath it
melted. A haze of acrid smoke added to the already overpowering stink, and Carwen fell to
his hands and knees, scrabbling for his dropped power pack and was violently sick on the
floorboards.] – synonyms & related words [pungent, bitter, sharp, sour, tart, harsh, acid,
acidic, acidulated, vinegary, acerbic, acetic, acetous; stinging, burning, irritating,
nauseating; noxious, strong, malodorous, odorous, burnt, sooty; mephitic, acidulous,
miasmic, miasmal],

draw a bead on (get a bead on) (someone or something) (id.) – to aim at

someone or something with the sights on a firearm, to target; (by extension) to focus
one's attention on someone or something so as to deal with or attack him, her, or it; to
thoroughly understand, appreciate, or comprehend someone or something; to prepare
to deal with or obtain someone or something [I managed to draw a bead on the enemy
sniper, but had to wait until I received the order to fire. The candidate drew a bead on his
opponent's poor political record in the UN during the debate. The president has pledged to
draw a bead on the growing problem of adolescent obesity. The team just has to draw a
bead on the severity of the cyber attack before we can implement any meaningful fixes. I
couldn't get my head around him at first, but I'm finally starting to draw a bead on my
sister's boyfriend. Fred drew a bead on the target and pulled the trigger. The hunter drew a
bead on the deer. As soon as I get a bead on how widespread the problem really is, I will set
up a meeting about it. Few moose will pose majestically right at the water's edge while you
draw a bead on them. The Guardsman fired his melta gun twice but missed, and Carwen
tried to get a bead on the creature himself but found its victim in his way.] – synonyms &
related words [train, focus, beam, cast, cock, direct, head, incline, lay, level, point, slant,
turn, bring to bear, get in one's sights, line up, zero in, pinpoint, pay attention to, have as
its starting point, spotlight, center, fix, concentrate, pivot],

draw a veil over something (id.) – (literary) to not talk any more about a subject
because it could cause trouble or embarrassment [I think we should draw a veil over
everything that happened at the party, don't you?],

crump (n.) – the sound of a muffled explosion [He thought the melta gun had misfired
for an instant, because it didn’t have the kick he had expected and the only sound it made
was a burning hiss, but then the corpse of the ghoul ignited with a satisfying crump.] –
synonyms & related words [crunch, chomp, grind, munch, scrunch],

dribble (v.) – (flow slowly) to (cause a liquid to) flow very slowly in small amounts
[The water was barely dribbling out of the tap. Dribble the remaining olive oil over the
tomatoes. Rain dribbled down the window. The creature fixed Carwen with a burning,
malevolent glare, even as an eye socket elongated and dribbled down its face. Rainwater
dribbled down her temples.] – synonyms & related words [trickle, drip, fall in drops, drop,
drizzle, leak, ooze, exude, seep, squirt, distil, drivel, drool, run, weep, trill, percolate],

scuttle (v.) – (run) to move quickly, with small, short steps, especially in order to
escape, run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps [A crab scuttled away under a
rock as we passed. The children scuttled off as soon as the headteacher appeared. A mouse
scuttled across the floor. There were men scuttling across the upper deck.] – synonyms &
related words [scamper, scurry, scramble, bustle, skip, trot, hurry, hasten, make haste,
rush, race, dash, run, sprint, scutter, scoot, beetle],

scuttlebutt (n.) – (US, informal) news or information that may or may not be true
[Have you heard any scuttlebutt about the new boss? According to scuttlebutt in the
financial markets, the company will be downsizing soon.] – synonyms & related words
[buzz, dish, gossip, hearsay, noise, report, rumor, talk, tattle, word, tale, whisper,
whispering, hint, intimation, rumbling, disinformation, propaganda, urban legend, dirt,
scandal],

expectant (adj.) – (thinking) thinking that something pleasant or exciting is going to

happen, expecting something to happen, awaiting something, hoping for something,
waiting for something [The children's expectant faces. Expectant crowds arrived early.
Hundreds of expectant fans. The medic stood and extended an expectant hand. It took
Carwen a moment to remember that he was still carrying the melta gun, and he handed it
over with some reluctance.] – synonyms & related words [eager, excited, agog, waiting
with bated breath, breathless, waiting, anticipatory, hopeful; in suspense, on
tenterhooks, on the edge of one's seat, keyed up, on pins and needles, anxious],
allocate (v.) – to give something to someone as their share of a total amount, to use in
a particular way [The government is allocating £ 10 for health education. As project
leader, you will have to allocate people jobs/allocate jobs to people. It is not the job of the
investigating committee to allocate blame for the disaster/to allocate blame to individuals.
In past years, we didn't allocate enough funds to infrastructure maintenance. The funds
will be allocated to various projects. he weapon was reallocated to one of the Krieg
Guardsmen, although the medic – he was more than that, Carwen could see now; the Krieg
men deferred to him, and addressed him as ‘quartermaster’ – made a gesture to his
servitors, and the four PDF troopers were each issued with hellguns, which was something
at least.] – synonyms & related words [: allot, assign, issue, award, grant, administer,
devote; share out, apportion, portion out, distribute, hand out, deal out, dole out, give
out, parcel out, ration out, divide out, divide up, dispense, measure out, mete out;
earmark for, designate for, set aside for, appropriate for, budget for; divvy up, dish out],

dampen (v.) – (make wet) to make something slightly wet [Rain had dampened the
tent so we left it to dry in the afternoon sun. Fine rain dampened her face. Nothing you can
say will dampen her enthusiasm. I didn't want to dampen his spirits. Her words dampened
Gunthar’s optimism, and, as he and Weber gulped down scavenged scraps in the hallway,
he suggested that maybe the woman had been right. ‘Maybe,’ he said, ‘it would be best to
stay put.'] – synonyms & related words [moisten, damp, wet, dew, water, irrigate,
humidify; bedew; sparge, humify, humect, lessen, decrease, diminish, reduce, lower,
moderate, damp, damp down, put a damper on, throw cold water on, calm, cool, chill,
dull, blunt, tone down, deaden, temper, discourage; suppress, extinguish, quench, stamp
out, smother, stifle, muffle, blanket, mute, silence, quieten, overcome, curb, limit, check,
still, restrain, inhibit, deter],

reassurance (n.) – words of advice and comfort intended to make someone feel less
worried [I felt I couldn't cope with the situation and was in desperate need of some
reassurance. Despite her father's reassurances, she was still frightened of the dark.
Somehow, the declaration had sounded more certain in his head. Still, Weber agreed with
him – and, seeing the relief in the storekeeper’s eyes, Gunthar realised that despite his
outward confidence he too had been seeking reassurance.] – synonyms & related words
[heartening, cheering, cheering up, buoying up, pepping up, uplifting, inspiration,
rallying, motivation, incitement, stimulation, animation, invigoration, invigorating,
emboldening, fortification; morale-boosting; informalbucking up, a shot in the arm;
spiriting up, inspiriting, persuasion, coaxing, urging, pushing, pressure, pressurization,
exhortation, prodding, egging on, prompting; spur, goad, inducement, incentive, bait,
lure, motive; arm-twisting, carrot, kick up the backside, supporting, support, backing,
endorsement, championship, championing, sponsoring, advocacy, promotion,
furtherance, furthering, advance, advancing, forwarding, fostering, strengthening,
nurture, cultivation; help, assistance, boosting, fuelling, favouring; boosterism],
gauche (adj.) – awkward and uncomfortable with other people, especially because
young and without experience, unsophisticated and socially awkward [A shy and gauche
teenager. She had grown from a gauche teenager to a self-assured, poised young woman.]
– synonyms & related words [awkward, gawky, inelegant, graceless, ungraceful,
ungainly, bumbling, maladroit, inept; socially awkward, socially inept, lacking in social
grace(s), unpolished, unsophisticated, uncultured, uncultivated, unrefined, raw,
inexperienced, uneducated, unworldly],

poised (adj.) – (waiting) if an object or a part of your body is poised, it is completely

still but ready to move at any moment; ready to do a particular thing at any moment;
(controlled, approving) showing very calm and controlled behavior [My pencil was
poised over the page, ready to take down her words. The company is poised to launch its
new advertising campaign. The military forces are poised for attack. She watched a little
white bird, poised on a branch and fluttering its wings. He sat with his pencil poised, ready
to take notes. Her finger was poised on the camera as she waited for them to take their
positions. The two guards stood poised with their shields and swords raised. They stood
their waiting, poised for action. Not every day you saw that poised, competent kid
distressed. A very poised young woman. She had learnt from the girls at the salon how to
appear perfectly poised.] – synonyms & related words [self-possessed, self-assured,
composed, assured, self-controlled, cool-headed, calm, cool, cool, calm, and collected, at
ease, tranquil, serene, unperturbed, unruffled, impassive, nonchalant, confident, self-
confident, dignified, equable, imperturbable, suave, urbane, elegant; together, unfazed,
unflappable, equanimous],

poise (v.) – be or cause to be balanced or suspensed; be ready and prepared to do

something [He poised motionless on his toes. The dancer was poised on one foot. Teachers
are poised to resume their attack on government school tests. The president was poised for
decisive action.] – synonyms & related words [balance, hold (oneself) steady, steady
oneself, be suspensed, hang suspensed, remain motionless, hang in mid-air, hang, hover,
position oneself, ready oneself, prepare oneself, brace oneself, get into position, gear
oneself up, stand by, balance, steady],

talk down to someone (v.) – to speak to someine in a simple way, as if the person
cannot understnad things as well as you can, to belittle, to talk to someone as if they are
less intelligent than you or not important [Our history teacher never talks down to us. I
wish politicians wouldn't talk down to us as if we were idiots.],

talk down someone/something (v.) – to persuade someone that he or she is

wrong or should not act; to tell people tha tsomething is not important or interesting
[Just as soon as the President voiced his dissent, his advisors talked him down. Bonds is
doing everything possible to talk down his achievements. They found a PDF half-track and,
littering the skyway around it, the remains of a PDF squad. They disturbed a wild-eyed
young man who had been in the process of looting one of the corpses; he levelled a stolen
lasgun at them and triggered it by accident. Fortunately the beam hit no one, but the sound
of the weapon’s report echoed along the skyway like a treacherous alarm call. Gunthar
wanted to back up and get away from there but, to his chagrin, Weber was intent on
talking the boy down first.] – synonyms & related words [bad-mouth, belittle, cry down,
denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis(s), discount, dismiss, disparage,
kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, decry, trash, trash-talk,
vilipend, write off, discommend, abuse, scold, disapprove (of), dislike, censure, condemn,
criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate, asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur,
traduce, vilify, discredit, disgrace]

rifle (v.) – to search quickly through something, often in order to steal something [The
safe had been rifled and the diamonds were gone. He rifled through the papers on the desk,
but couldn't find the photographs. When Gunthar protested that he was making himself a
target, the storekeeper, rifling another soldier’s webbing for spare power packs, grunted,
‘We’re targets already, all of us.’ She rifled through the casette tapes. She rifled through the
contents of her wardrobe. He rifled the dead man's possessions. The man kept her talking
while an accomplice rifled her home.] – synonyms & related words [rummage, search,
hunt, forage, sift, rake, ransack, comb, turn upside down, scour, burgle, rob, steal from,
loot, raid, plunder, sack, ransack, pillage],

motley (adj.) – consisting of many different types that do not appear to go together,
incongruously varied in appearance or character, disparate; (archaic, of clothing) made
up of a variety of colors [There's a motley assortment/collection of old furniture in the
house we're renting now. The people who turned up for the meeting were a motley crew (=
a group consisting of many different types of people). A motley crew of discontents and
zealots. A motley collection of old clothes. They wore the motley coat of jesters. A motley
coat. An old man wandered the skyways, his voice booming out to anyone who would listen.
He was preaching that the Emperor was dead, that Hieronymous Theta had been
abandoned to the mercy of the Ruinous Powers. A day ago, maybe even less than that, he
would have been spat on for such heresy, if not summarily executed by the proctors. Today,
as his motley group resumed their uncertain journey, Gunthar couldn’t have said for sure
that the preacher was wrong.] – synonyms & related words [miscellaneous, disparate,
diverse, assorted, sundry, varied, mixed, diversified, heterogeneous, multicolored, many-
colored, multicolor, colorful, particolored, many-hued, variegated, harlequin,
kaleidoscopic, rainbow, psychedelic, prismatic, polychromatic],

assorted (adj.) – of various sorts put together, miscellaneous [Bowls in assorted colors.
Assorted artefacts were recovered from the site.] – synonyms & related words [mixed,
varied, variegated, varying, various, miscellaneous, diverse, diversified, eclectic,
manifold, multifarious, multitudinous, motley, sundry, heterogeneous, disparate,
different, differing, dissimilar, divers, farraginous],

wholesale (adj. adv.) – (selling) of or for the selling of goods in large amounts at low
prices to shops and businesses, rather than the selling of goods in shops to customers
[Wholesale prices. A wholesale supplier/business. We only sell wholesale, not to the
public.],

wholesale (adj. adv.) – (complete, often disapproving) (especially of something bad or

too extreme) complete or affecting a lot of things, people, places, etc. [Wholesale changes.
Wholesale destruction. The safety clauses seem to haveb een taken wholesale from union
documents. Images were removed from the churches wholesale. The wholesale destruction
of these animals by poachers. The wholesale destruction of a city. The skyway before them
was littered with debris and looked little different to the ones above, wholesale destruction
being a great leveller.] – synonyms & related words [extensively, on a large scale,
comprehensively, thoroughly; indiscriminately, undiscriminatingly, without exception,
across the board, extensive, widespread, large-scale, wide-ranging, far-reaching,
comprehensive, all-inclusive, total, outright, thorough, sweeping, blanket, broad, mass;
indiscriminate],

shabby (adj.) – (bad condition) looking old and in bad condition because of being used
for a long time or not being cared for [He wore a shabby old overcoat. Her home is a
rented one-bedroom apartment in a shabby part of town. The refugees were shabby (=
wore old clothes in bad condition) and hungry. A conscript in a shabby uniform saluted the
car. A shabby little bar in Paddington. A shabby fellow in slippers and an undershirt. An old
lady in a shabby grey coat. A few shabbily-clad people picked their way through the
wreckage, again as above, but Gunthar could see no obvious signs of mutation on them.] –
synonyms & related words [run down, down at heel, scruffy, uncared-for, neglected,
dilapidated, in disrepair, ramshackle, tumbledown; dingy, seedy, slummy, insalubrious,
squalid, sordid, mean, wretched, miserable; crummy, scuzzy, tacky, grungy, shambly,
beat-up, grotty, shacky, scruffy, well worn, worn, old, worn out, threadbare, moth-eaten,
mangy, ragged, frayed, tattered, battered, decrepit, having seen better days, falling apart
at the seams; faded, dowdy; dirty, grubby; tatty, ratty, the worse for wear, raggedy,
raggedy-ass, warby, out at elbows],

shabby (adj.) – (not fair) not honourable or fair; unacceptable [She spoke out about the
shabby way the case had been handled. The company's treatment of women was shabby.
Snooping was he? That's a shabby trick. It's pretty hard to come to terms with Rick's
shabby treatment of Morty.] – synonyms & related words [contemptible, despicable,
dishonourable, disreputable, discreditable, mean, mean-spirited, base, low, dirty,
shameful, sorry, ignoble, unfair, unworthy, ungenerous, unkind, ungentlemanly, cheap,
shoddy, unpleasant, nasty; rotten, low-down, hateful, beastly, shitty, scurvy],

underscore/underline (id.) – to emphasize [She gave some shocking examples to

underline the seriousness of the situation. To underline their disgust, the crowd started
throwing bottles at the stage. As if to underscore his words, the skyway trembled gently. A
railing swayed, and masonry skittered down the heap at Gunthar’s back.] – synonyms &
related words [emphasize, give emphasis to, stress, put/lay stress on, highlight,
accentuate, accent, call/draw attention to, focus (attention) on, zero in on, spotlight,
throw into relief, give prominence to, bring to the fore, foreground, bring home, point
up, play up, make a feature of; rub in],

swivel (v.) – to (cause to) turn around a central point in order to face in another
direction [She swivelled round to look out of the window. The ostrich swivelled its head in
our direction. A lasgun swivelled his way, but its holder came under fire and Gunthar was
reprieved for a second or two.] – synonyms & related words [turn, spin, swing, rotate,
revolve, pivot, twirl, whirl, wheel, gyrate, pirouette],

cannon (v.) – collide with something forcefully or at an angle, to kncok or hit against
someone or something suddenly and forcefully as you are running [I was rushing along
with my head down when I cannoned into an old lady walking the other way. He cannoned
into the mutant, but it had seen him coming, set itself against him, and it absorbed the
impact of his charge without giving a footstep. The couple behind almost cannoned into
us.] – synonyms & related words [collide with, hit, run into, bang into, crash into, smash
into, smack into, crack into, ram into, be in collision with, plough into; impact with;
barrel into],

against a/the backlcloth of something (id.) – (UK) in a particular situation,

with regards to, keeping in mind [All these events must be considered against the
backlcloth of a religious conflict.],

comb (v.) – (search) to search a place or an area very carefully in order to find
something [The police combed the whole area for evidence. Investigators combed through
the wreckage. 'We’ve been combing the city, of course,’ he said, ‘but our lasguns are no
match for those necron ghouls. We’ve already lost two squads this morning, and the flyers
they were in. I just need… We’re still adding to the list of the missing. I’m talking about
important people: captains of industry, philanthropists, lords even. The irony is that, with
the lifters out, it was those on the upper floors who had the least chance of escape, but I
hear… I’ve been reading the reports, and it seems the Krieg–’ ‘You’re asking for our help,’
said Costellin. Police combed the area for the murder weapon.] – synonyms & related
words [search, scour, look around in, explore, sweep, probe, hunt through, look through,
scrabble about/around in, root about/around in, ferret (about/around) in, rummage
about/around/round in, rummage in/through, forage through, fish about/around in,
poke about/around in, dig in, grub about/around in, delve in, go through, sift through,
rake, rifle through, ransack, turn over, go through with a fine-tooth comb; turn upside
down, turn inside out, leave no stone unturned in; rootle around in, fossick through,
roust around in],

intercede (v.) – (formal) to use your influence to persuade someone in authority to

forgive another person, or save this person from punishment [Several religious leaders
have interceded with the authorities on behalf of the condemned prisoner. I prayed that
she would intercede for us. Several nations offered to intercede on the captives' behalf.
‘You’re asking me to intercede with the colonel on your behalf.’ It was a common enough
request, and not an unreasonable one.] – synonyms & related words [mediate, act as an
intermediary, intermediate, negotiate, arbitrate, moderate, conciliate, act as honest
broker, intervene, interpose, step in, become/get involved, act, take action, take
measures, take a hand; plead, petition, entreat, supplicate],

stake (n.) – the degree to which you are involved in something and want it to succeed
[He has a huge stake in making the peace process work. ‘I’d say the colonel is more likely to
let you have the men,’ said Costellin dryly. ‘The weapons are more valuable, and harder to
come by. But there’s more to this appeal than you’re telling me, I think. A more personal
stake than simply concern for your world’s great and good?’] – synonyms & related words
[involvement, participation, intervention, entry, part, engagement, take, interference,
intrusion, exclusion, end, part, role, implication, connection, attachment, embroilment,
entanglement, inclusion, relations, bond, role],

apprehension (n.) – anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen;
understanding, grasp; the action of arresting someone [He felt sick with apprehension. He
had been filled with apprehension at having to report his failure. His first apprehensions of
such large issues. She was popular because of her quick apprehensions of the wishes of the
people. They acted with intent to prevent lawful apprehension. Police activity centered
around the apprehension of a perpetrator. Hanrik’s hands had been fidgeting in his lap,
betraying his apprehension. Now he stiffened, met Costellin’s steady gaze for a moment,
then sighed and nodded. He reached into his tunic pocket and produced a device that
looked like a vox-handset.] – synonyms & related words [anxiety, angst, alarm, worry,
uneasiness, unease, nervousness, misgiving, disquiet, concern, agitation, restlessness,
edginess, fidgetiness, nerves, tension, trepidation, perturbation, consternation, panic,
fearfulness, dread, fear, shock, horror, terror; foreboding, presentiment; buttlerfies in
the stomach, the willies, the heebie-jeebies, understanding, grasp, comprehension,
realization, recognition, appreciation, discernment, perception, awareness, cognizance,
consciousness, penetration; arrest, capture, seizure, catching; detention, imprisonment,
incarceration; collaring, nabbing, nailing, pinching, bust, nick],

echo (v.) – repeat (someone's words or opinions), typically to express agreement

[These criticisms are echoed in a number of other studies. Bill echoed Rex's words in a
sarcastic sing-song. ‘I presume,’ said the colonel, ‘you do not recognise that construct. It did
not show up on our previous scans.’ ‘Recognise it?’ echoed Hanrik. ‘I… I’ve never seen
anything like it. The towers… That area would have been packed with towers. It’s right at
the heart of the city. What has happened to them all? They can’t have just… They can’t…’] –
synonyms & related words [repeat, say again, restate, reiterate, copy, imitate, parrot,
parody, mimic; reproduce, iterate, recite, quote, rehearse, recapitulate, regurgitate;
recap, trot out, reprise, ingeminate, ape],

jitter (n.) – (specialized) slight uncontrolled movement or shaking, for example in

electronic equipment, (usually in the plural, often with „the“) a state of nervousness [You
may notice jitter on the screen. Aircraft jitter. That creepy movie gave me the jitters.] –
synonyms & related words [ anxiety, dither, fidgets, heebie-jeebies, jumps, nerves,
shakes, shivers, tenseness, willies, anger, stage fright, tension, turbulence, uneasiness,
worry, agitation, animation, butterflies, creeps, delirium, discomfiture, disquiet,
disquietude, dithers, excitability, feverishness, fidget, flap, jumps, moodiness,
neaurasthenia, neuroticism, perturbation, quivers, sensitivity, stimulation, stress,
timidity, tizzy, to-do, touchiness, tremble, trembles, all-overs, cold sweat,
tremulousness],

jitter (v.) – to be nervous – synonyms & related words [fidget, quake, quiver, shudder,
tremble, fret, jiggle, squirm, twiddle, twitch, bustle, chafe, fiddle, fuss, hitch, joggle, jump,
play, stir, toss, trifle, wiggle, worry, be antsy, be hyper, be nervous, be on pins and
needles, be spooked, be wired, shake, vibrate, convulse, cower, fluctuate, jar, move,
pulsate, quail, quiver, rock, shiver, shrink, throb, totter, tremble, tremor, twitter, waver,
wobble, gyrate, shimmy, quake, have the shakes, rock, teeter, palpitate, wobble],

jittery (adj.) – (informal) nervous, shaking and slightly uncontrolled [He felt all jittery
before the interview. I get really jittery if I drink too much coffee.] – synonyms & related
words [anxious, apprehensive, edgy, excitable, fidgety, jumpy, panicky, restless, shaky,
skittish, spooked, tense, uneasy, uptight, antsy, high strung, on edge, on pins and
needles, quivering, trembling],

bleed (v.) – (of a liquid substance such as dye or color) seep into an adjacent color or
area [I worked loosely with the oils, allowing colors to bleed into one another. One color
bled into another. ‘An energy source,’ murmured Costellin, leaning in closer and studying
the runes that flickered beside the irregular shape, ‘emanating from the apex of the
pyramid, pulsing green in the visible spectrum but also… is this right? These figures seem to
indicate that much of the energy is bleeding off into… into realms unknown.’] – synonyms
& related words [flow, run, ooz,e seep, trickle, leak, filter, percolate, escape, leach,
permeate, merge with],

blanch (v.) – (pale) to turn pale, for example because you are shocked; to make a plant
pale by covering it up so that the light does not reach it as it grows [While most people
would blanch at the prospect of so much work, Daniels seems to enjoy it. The cold light
blanched her face. The moon blanched her hair. His face blanched. Hanrik blanched visibly
at this, doubtless understanding what this plan meant for his capital.] – synonyms &
related words [make/turn pale, whiten, make/turn pallid, lighten, grey, wash out, fade,
blench, etiolate, decolorize, bleach, peroxide, pale, go/grow/turn/become
pale/white/pallid, lose its color, lbleach, fade],

have a genius for something (id.) – to be especially skilled at a particular activity,

to excell, [She has a genius for raising money.] – synonyms & related words [shine, be
very good, be excellent, be brilliant, be outstanding, be skilful, be talented, be proficient,
be expert, be pre-eminent, reign supreme, wear the crown, stand out, be the best, be
unrivalled, be unparalleled, be unequalled, be without equal, be second to none, be
unsurpassed; be unexampled, be head and shoulders above, be a cut above, be superior,
top, otustrip, beat, outshine, surpass, outdo],

excel (v.) – be exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject [She excelled at

landscape painting. He excelled at football. She excelled him in her command of the
language.] – synonyms & related words [shine, be very good, be excellent, be brilliant, be
outstanding, be skilful, be talented, be proficient, be expert, be pre-eminent, reign
supreme, wear the crown, stand out, be the best, be unrivalled, be unparalleled, be
unequalled, be without equal, be second to none, be unsurpassed, be unexampled;
surpass, outdo, outshine, outclass, outstrip, beat, beat hollow, top, cap, transcend, be
better than, be superior to, go one better than, better, pass, eclipse, overshadow, put in
the shade, put to shame; best, leave standing, be head and shoulders above, be a cut
above, extinguish, outrival, outvie],

outvie (v.) – (archaic) outdo in competition or rivalry [Her cheeks can the roses and
lillies outvie.],

inimitable (adj.) – so good or unusual as to be impossible to copy, unique [They took

the charts by storm with their inimatble style. In his own inimitable style he provides sound
advice.] – synonyms & related words [unique, distinctive, individual, special,
idiosyncratic, quirky, exclusive, rare; incomparable, unparalleled, unrivalled, matchless,
unmatched, peerless, unequalled, unsurpassed, unsurpassable, superlative, supreme,
without equal, without match, beyond compare, beyond comparison, second to none, in
a class of one's own; model, faultless, perfect, consummate, ideal, unexampled,
nonpareil],

clout (v.) – (informal) to hit someone or something wit hthe hand or with a heavy
object [Quiegly clouted me smartly across the side of the head. I clouted him round the
head.] – synonyms & related words [hit, strike, punch, smack, slap, cuff, thump, beat,
batter, pound, pummel, thrash, rap, spank, buffet, hammer, bang, knock, box someone's
ears; wallop, belt, whack, clobber, sock, clip, bop, biff, swipe, tan, lay one on],

clout (n.) – (power) power and influence over other people or events [The Queen may
have privilege but she has no real political clout. I knew she carried a lot of clout. The
negotiating clout of a large business. You might wish to reconsider,’ he pushed gently.
‘Hanrik has charge of the Planetary Defence Force, and a great deal of clout with the
citizenry of this world whether you acknowledge his position or not. That means he
commands a substantial amount of resources, not least a number of flyers, for which I
should think a use could present itself. This mission to find one lost girl may not seem worth
the time or the risk to you, but it is of the utmost importance to him, and a favour for
Hanrik now ought to earn a favour from him in the future.’] – synonyms & related words
[influence, power, pull, weight, sway, leverage, control, say, mastery, dominance,
domination, advantage; authority, prestige, standing, stature, rank; teeth, beef, muscle],
clout (n.) – (hit, informal) the act of hitting someone or something with your hand or
with a heavy object [If the photocopier stops working, just give it a clout. A clout round the
ear. I gave him a clout on the ear.] – synonyms & related words [smack, slap, thump,
punch, blow, hit, knock, bang, cuff, box, spanking, spank, tap, clip, whack, wallopw,
clobbering, sock],

smartly (adv.) – (stylish, UK or US old-fashioned) in a fashionable and slightly formal

way [Paul's always very smartly dressed.],

smartly (adv.) – (quick) quickly or forcefully [The good economic news caused share
prices to rise smartly this afternoon. We marched smartly to the main assembly hall.] –
synonyms & related words [: fast, swiftly, rapidly, speedily, at high speed, with all speed,
at (full) speed, at the speed of light, at full tilt, as fast as one's legs can carry one, at a
gallop, briskly, at the double, post-haste, with all possible haste, like a whirlwind, like an
arrow from a bow, at breakneck speed, expeditiously, madly, hotfoot, with dispatch;
double quick, in double quick time, p.d.q. (pretty damn quick), nippily, like (greased)
lightning, hell for leather, at warp speed, like mad, like crazy, like blazes, like the wind,
like a bomb, like nobody's business, like a scalded cat, like the deuce, a mile a minute,
like a bat out of hell, like a bullet out of a gun; informallike the clappers, at a rate of
knots, like billy-o; immediately, directly, at once, now, straight away, right away,
instantly, forthwith, as soon as possible, shortly, without delay, without further/more
ado, instantaneously, expeditiously, suddenly, abruptly; soon, soon after, promptly,
early; momentarily],

throw to the wolves/dogs/lions (id.) – to remove or cast out someone or

something out to of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards
predators [Potentially, Costellin had just thrown a great many innocents to the wolves in
exchange for the life of just one, but that was something to fret about later.]– synonyms &
related words [imperil, jeopardize, risk, put at risk, put in danger, expose to danger, put
in jeopardy, leave vulnerable, put someone's life on the line; threaten, pose a threat to,
be a danger to, be detrimental to, damage, injure, harm, do harm to, peril],

twiddle (v.) – to move something repeatedly between your fingers, especially without
any purpose [She was twiddling (with) a pencil/her hair. Twiddle a dial/knob on a radio
in the city and you may hear voices speaking Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, or Russian. She
twiddled the dials on the machine.] – synonyms & related words [turn, twist, swivel, twirl,
adjust, move, jiggle, fiddle with, play with, toy with, fidget with],

twiddle your thumbs (id.) – to do nothing for ap eriod of time, usually while you
are waiting for something to happen [I arrived early for the meeting so I was twiddling my
thumbs for half an hour. ‘As yet,’ said Costellin, ‘no enemy has been sighted at the walls. We
have grenadiers and death riders sat twiddling their thumbs, with no target for their
weapons. I’m sure a few of them would be glad to see a little action.’] – synonyms &
related words [have nothing to do, kick one's heels, do nothing, be idle, be unoccupied,
sit around, kill time, waste time; hang around/round, hang about],

squat (v.) – crouch or sit with one's knees bent and one's heels close to or touching
one's buttocks or the back of one's thighs [I squatted down in front of him. Behind them,
the Earthshakers squatted on their static platforms, waiting in pregnant silence for a more
enticing target.] – synonyms & related words [crouch (down), hunker (down), sit on
one's haunches, sit on one's heels, sit, bend down, bob down, duck down, hunch, cower,
cringe, scooch (down)],

thorough (adj.) – complete with regard to every detail, not superificial or partial;
performed or written with great care and completeness; taking pains to do something
carefully and completely; (UK) absolute (used to emphasize the degree of something,
typically something unwelcome or unpleasant) [Pioneers need a thorough understanding
of the subject. A thorough investigation. Officers have made a thorough examinations of
the wreckage. He is slow but thorough. The British authorities are very thorough. He is
slow but thorough. The child is being a thorough nuisance. At this rate, the demolition of
Hieronymous City would be a painfully slow process, but one thing was for sure: it would be
an exceedingly thorough one.] – synonyms & related words [rigorous, in-depth,
exhaustive, thoroughgoing, minute, detailed, close, meticulous, scrupulous, assiduous,
conscientious, painstaking, methodical, careful, sedulous, complete, comprehensive,
elaborate, full, intensive, extensive, widespread, sweeping, searching, all-embracing, all-
inclusive, meticulous, scrupulous, assiduous, conscientious, painstaking, punctilious,
methodical, careful, attentive, diligent, industrious, persevering, laborious, hard-
working, utter, downright, thoroughgoing, absolute, complete, total, out-and-out,
outright, real, perfect, profound, proper, consummate, all-out, wholesale, surpassing,
sheer, rank, pure, unqualified, unmitigated; full-bore; right, fair, arrant, right-down],

fractional (adj.) – extremely small; relating to only a part of something [The fall in the
value of the yen might result in a fractional increase in interest rates of perhaps a quarter
to one percent. Fractional ownership. Despite substantial price cuts, sales have increased
only fractionally (= by a very small amount). Costellin wondered if it was just an image, but
something about the way the giant held itself, the way it scanned the amassed ranks of the
Krieg regiment before it with a fractional turn of its head, spoke to him of a keen
intelligence lurking behind those blazing eyes.] – synonyms & related words [partial,
apportioned, compartmental, compartmented, constituent, dismembered, dispersed,
divided, fragmentary, frationary, incomplete, parceled, part, piecemal, sectional,
segmented],

collar (v.) – (informal) to catch and hold someone so that they cannot escape; to find
someone and stop them from going somewhere, often so that you can talk to that person
about something [She was collared by the police at the airport. I was collared by Pete as I
was coming out of the meeting this morning. Police collared the culprit. The cricket star
collared a thief who tried to nick his golf clubs. He collared a departing guest for some last
words. An enderly chap collared me in the street. He collared a Krieg lieutenant, who
confirmed that the image of the giant had appeared floating above the space port ramp
even as Costellin had encountered a similar image some ten kilometres away.] – synonyms
& related words [apprehend, arrest, catch, capture, seize; take prisoner, take into
custody, detain, put in jail, throw in jail, put behind bars, imprison, incarcerate; nab, nail,
run in, pinch, bust, pick up, pull in, haul in, do, feel someone's collar, nick; accost,
address, speak to, talk to, call to, shout to, hail, initiate a discussion with; approach,
waylay, take aside, detain, stop, halt, grab, catch, confront, importune, solicit; buttonhole,
nobble],

fluster (v.) – to make someone upset and confused, especially when they are trying to
do something [Rosamund seemed rather flustered this morning. What could have flustered
the normally imperturbable Robert? The clearest indication yet that the necrons fear us.’
Costellin wasn’t so sure about that, but he chose not to argue. Hanrik, however, turned
from the window, looking even more flustered than he usually did. ‘Pardon me,’ he said,
‘but didn’t you just tell me yesterday that the chances of saving Hieronymous Theta are
negligible?’] – synonyms & related words [unsettle, make nervous, unnerve, agitate,
ruffle, upset, bother, put on edge, discompose, disquiet, disturb, worry, alarm, panic,
perturb, disconcert, confuse, throw off balance, confound, nonplus; hassle, rattle, faze,
discombobulate, put into a flap, throw into a tizz, send into a spin],

fluster (n.) – an agitated or confused state [The main thing is not to get all in a fluster.
His appearance put the household into quite a fluster.] – synonyms & related words [state
of agitation, state of anxiety, nervous state, flutter, panic, frenzy, fever, fret, upset,
turmoil, commotion, dither, flap, tizz, tizzy, tiz-woz, twitter, state, sweat, stew, twit],

wrong-foot (v.) – to cause someone to be in a difficult situation by doing something

unexpected [The company was completely wrong-footed by the dollar's sudden recovery. ‘I
believe,’ said the colonel, ‘that the first of your rescue ships is due to enter the solar system
within the hour. How goes your mission to find… Arex, was it?’ ‘It’s… I’m waiting for a
report,’ said Hanrik, wrong-footed by the change of subject. ‘The flyer only left about fifteen
minutes ago, it won’t yet have… Thank you, by the way, for the loan of your grenadiers. I’m
sure they will make all the difference.’] – synonyms & related words [discomfit, make
uneasy, make uncomfortable, embarrass, abash, disconcert, nonplus, discompose, take
aback, unsettle, unnerve, put someone off their stroke, upset, ruffle, fluster, perturb,
disturb; chagrin, mortify, rattle, discombobulate, faze, someone back on their heels],

deadbeat (n.) – (mainly US, informal) a person who is not willing to work, does not
behave in a responsible way, and does not fit into ordinary society; a person or company
that is not willing to pay debts or accept responsibility [He's a real deadbeat who's never
had a proper job. Come off it, deadbeat, you're never going to get anywhere. A nation of
deadbeats who must work harder. There's no room for deadbeats in the navy.] – synonyms
& related words [layabout, loafer, lounger, idler, waster, wastrel, good-for-nothing,
cadger, parasite, useless article; bum, scrounger, sponger, sponge, freeloader, skiver],
layabout (n.) – (UK, derogatory) a person who habitually does little or no work [How'd
you get mixed up with that layabout?] – synonyms & related words [idler, good-for-
nothing, ne'er-do-well, do-nothing, loafer, lounger, shirker, sluggard, slug, laggard,
slugabed, malingerer, parasite, leech, skiver, waster, slacker, lazybones, lead-swinger,
slob, couch potato, bludger, scrimshanker, wastrel, fainéant],

wastrel (n.) – (literary) a wasteful or good-for-nothing person; (archaic) a waif, a

neglected child [I have no intention of seeing my dues gambled away by your wastrel of a
son. He was mixing with thieves and wastrels when he ought to have been studying.] –
synonyms & related words [spendthrift, prodigal, profligate, squanderer, big spender;
idler, loafer, good-for-nothing, drone, ne'er-do-well, do-nothing, layabout, slob, lounger,
shirker, sluggard, slug, laggard, slugabed, waster, loser, slacker, lazybones, skiver],

spendthrift (n.) – a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way

[Putt was a spendthrift and a heavy gambler. Christopher was a notorious spendthrift. His
spendthrift father.] – synonyms & related words [profligate, prodigal, squanderer,
waster, big spender, wastrel, improvident, thriftless, wasteful, extravagant, free-
spending, prodigal, squandering, irresponsible] – antonyms [miser, skinflint, Scrooge,
miserly, thrifty, frugal],

improvident (adj.) – nothaving or showing foresight, spendthrift or thoughtless

[Improvident and undisciplined behavior. A feckless and improvident lifestyle.] – synonyms
& related words [spendthrift, thriftless, unthrifty, wasteful, prodigal, profligate,
extravagant, squandering, uneconomical, free-spending, lavish, immoderate, excessive;
shiftless, feckless; imprudent, irresponsible, incautious, careless, reckless, rash,
impetuous, hasty, thoughtless],

thriftless (adj.) – (of a person or their behavior) spending money in an extravagant

and wasteful way [He is a generous, often thriftless fellow.] – synonyms & related words
[extravagant, profligate, spendthrift, unthrifty, improvident, wasteful, free-spending,
prodigal, squandering, lavish; immoderate, excessive, imprudent, reckless,
irresponsible] – antonyms [thrifty],

bent double (adj.) – someone who is bent double is standing with their upper body
curved forwards and down towards the ground, often as a result of strong emotion or
pain, bent forward, bent down [He was bent double with laughter/pain. There was only
one thing to do. Gripping his lasgun tightly, bending almost double, he hurried across the
junction.],

torpor (n.) – (also torpidity) (formal) the state of not being active and having no
energy or enthusiasm; (specialized, biology) the state of reduced activity that some
animals experience during the winter [The droning of an engine pricked him out of his
torpor. They veered between apathetic torpor and hysterical fanaticism. He spent most of
the journey in a state of torpor.] – synonyms & related words [lethargy, torpidity,
sluggishness, inertia, inertness, inactivity, inaction, slowness, lifelessness, dullness,
heaviness, listlessness, languor, languidness, stagnation, laziness, idleness, indolence,
shiftlessness, sloth, slothfulness, apathy, accidie, passivity, weariness, tiredness,
lassitude, fatigue, sleepiness, drowsiness, enervation, somnolence, narcosis],

veer (v.) – to change direction [All of a sudden, the car veered off the road. Moments
before crashing, the jet was seen veering sharply to the right. Three men were feared dead
last night after a helicopter veered off course into an oil platform. Our talk soon veered
onto the subject of money. An oil tanker had veered off course. The conversation eventually
veered away from theatrical things. The wind veered a point.] – synonyms & related
words [swerve, career, skew, swing, sheer, weave, wheel; change direction, change
course, go off course, deviate, be deflected, diverge; turn (aside), branch off, curve, twist,
bend, curl, incline, swivel, zigzag; tack, divagate],

strobe (n.) – a light that quickly flashes on and off, a strobe light [The strobes and loud
music in the club made her want to dance.],

strobe (v.) – (of a light) to flash quickly on and off [The lights strobed too fast to be seen
at a distance. The night was green, another thing he hadn’t registered until now. He
thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, still scarred by the searchlight, but when he
looked up he could see it: a strobing green light in the sky to the north-north-east. Green
like the artefact in the mine tunnel, green like the cadaverous creatures’ guns. He didn’t
want to think about what that might mean.] – synonyms & related words [glimmer, glint,
gleam, flare, shine, dance, gutter; twinkle, sparkle, blink, wink, flash, scintillate, glisten,
shimmer, glitter; glister, coruscate, fulgurate, effulge],

pepper (v.) – cover or fill with a liberal amount of scattered items; hit repeatedly with
small missiles or gunshots [The script is peppered with four-letter words. A sprinkle of
stars peppered the desert skies. Another burst of enemy bullets peppered his defenceless
body. Another burst of enemy bullets peppered the tank. So, he squeezed his trigger and,
although his first shot missed, he fired again and again and again. Then he remembered
from the newsreels that lasguns had a Full Auto setting and found the relevant switch,
thumbing it over. He peppered the cadaverous creatures with las-beams until at last they
began to fall – and although Gunthar couldn’t tell if his own efforts were contributing at all
to that outcome, he took a certain grim satisfaction in being there, in taking part, in
fighting back.] – synonyms & related words [sprinkle, fleck, intersperse, dot, spot,
bespatter, dab, bestud, stipple, pock, freckle, scatter; befleck, bestrew, bombard, pelt,
shower, rain down on, attack, assail, batter, fire a broadside at, strafe, rake, sweep,
enfillade, blitz, hit, cannonade, fusilliade],

tramp/tromp (v.) – to walk, especially long distances or with heavy steps; tread or
stamp on [To tramp through the woods/undergrowth. We spent a week tramping the
streets of San Francisco, looking for movie locations. He tramped about the room. Men
were tramping through the shrubbery. He had tramped all over the city. He spent ten days
tramping through the jungle. One of the few wines still tramped by foot. This is one of the
few wines still tramped by foot. Little more than a minute later, the Guardsmen converged
upon a particular spot, and sifted through the rubble until one of them recovered
something small and red. He showed this to the enginseer, who nodded grimly. Then the
sergeant gave an order, and the soldiers came tramping back towards Gunthar at double-
time.] – synonyms & related words [trudge, plod, stamp, trample, lumber, clump, clomp,
stump, stomp, stumble, pad, march, thunder; sprauchle; traipse, galumph, trek, slog,
footslog, drag oneself, walk, ramble, hike, march, roam, range, rove, backpack, traipse,
hoof it, leg it, take Shanks's pony, yomp, trmaple, tread upon, step on, stamp on, squash,
crush, flatten, pulp],

intolerable (adj.) – too bad or unpleasant to deal with or accept [The situation has
become intolerable. The constant fighting made life at home intolerable. Three-quarters of
the world's population live in conditions that people in the West would find intolerable. The
flyer’s engines were starting to whine again. The last of the Guardsmen disappeared into
its rear, and the sergeant made to follow. ‘Wait,’ said Gunthar. ‘Take me with you. Please,
take me with you.’ The sergeant regarded him for an intolerable moment, and Gunthar felt
sure his request would be refused.] – synonyms & related words [unbearable,
insufferable, unsupportable, insupportable, unendurable, beyond endurance,
unacceptable, impossible, more than flesh and blood can stand, too much to bear, past
bearing, not to be borne, overpowering; too much, enough to try the patience of a saint,
enough to try the patience of Job],

bundle (v.) – (push) to push or put someone or something somewhere quickly and
roughly; (of a group of people) move in a disorganized way [He bundled his clothes into
the washing machine. She was bundled into the back of the car. The children were bundled
off to school early that morning. He was bundled into a van. Then he heard a familiar
inrush of air, and he whirled around to find the cadavers returning in force. There were
four more directly in front of him, another four appearing along the skyway, more
emerging from the remaining buildings. Gunthar brought up his lasgun, though he knew it
was useless, but found himself grabbed from behind, yanked off his feet and bundled into
the flyer. The air outside crackled green as the sergeant leapt after him, screaming at the
pilot to take off. They bundled out into the corridor.] – synonyms & related words [hustle,
jostle, manhandle, frogmarch, sweep, throw, hurry, rush, shove, push, thrust, propel,
impel],

frogmarch (v.) – to force someone who is unwilling to move forward by holding the
person's arms bheind their back and then pushing them forward [He was frogmarched
off by two police officers. The crop frogmarched him down the steep stairs.],

make a bundle (id.) – (informal) to earn a lot of money [They made a bundle selling
their business.],
go a bundle on something (id.) – (UK, informal) to like something very much
(usually in negative) [I don't go a bundle on his taste in clothes.],

drop a bundle (on something) (id.) – (informal) to spend a lot of money in an

effort to please or entice someone; to buy something very expensive; (blow a bundle) to
spend a lot of money pleasing or entertaining someone [Even though I dropped a bundle
wooing that perspective employee, he turned down our offer. Wow, they must have
dropped a bundle on big, beautiful houses like this. Pete dropped a bundle on his car. I
always buy old used cars, I've never dropped a bundle on any car. I blew a bundle on the
candidate, and it didn't help me at all. Over the years, I've dropped a bundle on clients at
that restaurant.],

have a whale of a time (id.) – (informal) to enjoy yourself very much [We had a
whale of a time on holiday.],

have a thing about something/somebody (id.) – to like or dislike something or

someone very much [Ben's got a thing about Harley Davidsons – he's got three of them.
She's got a thing about spiders – she won't go near them.],

ache (v.) – feel an intense desire for [She ached for his touch. The whole world seemed to
ache for summer's coming. He didn’t dare question them about their mission, although he
ached for news of Arex.] – synonyms & related words [long for, yearn for, hunger for,
thirst for, hanker for, hanker after, pine for, pine after, itch for, be desperate for, be
unable to wait for; crave, desire, covet; have a yen for, yen for, be dying for, be athirst
for, suspire for],

footsore (adj.) – having painful, tired feet, especially after a lot of walking [He was
terribly tired and footsore. I was very footsore, and could only go at a snail's pace. Our
footsore teams, gaunt and weakened, began to faint and fall. She was intensely weary, and
beginning to be footsore. Some of the horses are now terribly footsore. They had rested just
once during this time, for less than twenty minutes, and Carwen was footsore and light-
headed with exhaustion but he didn’t dare complain.],

light-headed (adj.) – if you feel light-headed, you feel weak and as if you are going to
lose your balance [She'd had a couple of glasses of champagne and was starting to feel
light-headed. She felt light-headed with relief. The pain had left him feeling light-headed.] –
synonyms & related words [dizzy, giddy, faint, unsteady, light in the head, weak-headed,
muzzy; shaky, reeling, staggering, woozy, vertiginuous],

(random cool paragraph) – [They planned to head out at sunset, so that night
would cover them as they headed downwards, deeper into the necrons’ heartland. Carwen
and the other three PDF men passed the remainder of the afternoon, and distracted their
minds, with a few hands of cards. They invited the grenadiers to join them, but each of
them declined. Carwen had expected that, by now, he would have known the men of Krieg a
little better, established a bond with them, but he felt as uneasy around them as he ever
had. They didn’t make small talk; they hardly spoke at all. They ate by smuggling ration
bars beneath their skull masks, so that after almost two days with them Carwen still hadn’t
seen their faces. He didn’t even know their names.],

shallow (adj.) – (air, of breathing) taking in little air [After a few flights, he was
breathing shallowly through his hands, envying the Krieg men their rebreather units.]

tacky (adj.) – (tacky) sticky, (especially of paint or glue) not completly dry [The paint
was still stacky. The paint on the frame was still tacky. He was lying on the ground with
no memory of having fallen. His head was numb and, when his hand brushed against it,
it came away tacky.] – synonyms & related words [sticky, wet, gluey, gummy, glutinous,
adhesive, viscuous, viscid, treacly, syrupy, runny, clinging, gooey],

treacly (adj.) – (sticky) dark and sticky, like treacle; (feelings, disapproving) too
pleasant or kind, or expressing feelings of love in a false way [He'd coated the shelves
with a thick treacly varnish. The film is spoilt by a slightly treacly sentimentality.],

teacle (n.) – cloying sentimentality or flattery [Enough of this treacle – let's get back to
business.],

glean (v.) – to collect information in small amounts and often with difficulty [From
what I was able to glean, the news isn't good. They're leaving on Tuesday - I managed to
glean that much (from them). The colonel was fielding a barrage of reports from his aides
at the vox-caster, and it was some time before he could give his fellow officers his full
attention, although by then Costellin had gleaned much about the events of the night
anyway.] – synonyms & related words [obtain, get, take, draw, derive, extract, cull,
garner, gather, reap, select, choose, pick, learn, find out],

chivvy (v.) – (UK, informal) to encourage someone to do something they do not want
to, to tell someone repeatedly to do something [He kept putting off writing the report so I
had to chivvy him along. I had to chivvy him into writing the report. An association which
chivvies the government into action. She did nothing to help, but constantly chivvied the
girls and interfered with their work.] – synonyms & related words [nag, badger, hound,
harass, harry, keep after, keep on at, go on at, pester, plague, torment, persecute, goad,
annoy, bother; urge, prod, pressure, pressurize, hassle, bug, breathe down someone's
neck, get on someone's case, mither, ride, heavy],

mither (v.) – (northern English, informal) to complain; to annoy someone, for example
by asking quetsions or asking for something [He's always mithering about how much
everything costs these days. Stop mithering me! Can't you see I'm busy? She kept mithering
me to repair the fence.],

badger (v.) – repeatedly and annoyingly ask (someone) to do something [Journalists

badgered him about the deals. Let me get on with it, instead of badgering me the whole
time.] – synonyms & related words [pester, harass, bother, plague, torment, hound, nag,
chivvy, harry, keep on at, go on at, harp on at, keep after, importune, annoy, trouble;
mither, hassle, bug, heavy],

strenuous (adj.) – needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort or energy [He
rarely does anything more strenuous than changing the channels on the television. His
doctor advised him not to do any strenuous exercise. Strenuous efforts were made
throughout the war to disguise the scale of civilian casualties. He strenuously denies all the
allegations against him. Most local residents strenuously object to the building proposals.
‘Perhaps,’ conceded Costellin. ‘The question is, what proportion of their resources can the
necrons replenish? Their beacon is still transmitting despite our tech-priests’ most
strenuous attempts to block the signal.’] – synonyms & related words [arduous, difficult,
hard, tough, taxing, demanding, exacting, uphill, stiff, formidable, heavy, exhausting,
tiring, fatiguing, gruelling, back-breaking, murderous, punishing; no picnic, killing,
knackerking, toilsome, vigorous, energetic, active, enthusiastic, keen, zealous, forceful,
strong, Herculean, spirited, dynamic, intense, determined, resolute, tenacious, tireless,
stout, indefatigable, unremitting, dogged, pertinacious],

on the face of it (id.) – used when you are describing how a situation seems on the
surface [On the face of it, it seems like a bargain, but I bet there are hidden costs.] –
synonyms & related words [on the surface, at first sight, to the casual eye, to all
appearances, to go/judge by appearances; apparently, seemingly, outwardly,
superficially, it seems (that), it would seem (that), it appears (that), it would appear
(that), as far as one can see/tell, by all accounts, so it seems, to all intents and purposes],

on the back foot (id.) – in a worse situation than other people or groups [Brazil's
brilliant play put their opponents on the back foot. He wouldn’t have dreamed it possible,
but it did seem the necrons were on the back foot.] – synonyms & related words [presed,
oppressed, deadlocked, stuck, beleaguered, embroiled, worse off, out of your depth, in
deep trouble, up against something, a marked man/woman, at/on the receiving end (of
something), at risk, back to/at square one, battered, be done for, between the devil and
the deep blue sea, caught, dead, disadvantaged, distressed, downtrodden, embattled,
enmeshed, hamstrung, hoist with/by your own petard, in a bind, in a hole, in a pickle,
in/at/on the front line, in deep doo-doo, in depe shit/in the shit, in extremis, (in) for the
high) jump, in hot water, in/into deep water, in the doghouse, in the eye of the storm, in
the face of something, in the same boat, in the throes of something, knee-deep, liable to
something, mired, on a sticky wicket, on the horns of a dilemma, on the rack, on thin ice,
over a barrel, perilously close to (doing) something, pushed (for time/money), riven,
(skating) on thin ice, stalemated, troubled, underrepresented, under the cosh, under the
gun, up a gum tree, up to yourneck/ears/eyes in something],

strike/sound a note (of something) (id.) – to create a particular mood by the

way that you speak or behave, make an atmosphere [Although developments are
generally good some cautionary notes should be sounded. He has struck the right notes by
praising their work. Costellin wasn’t so sure, but then he was also aware that, increasingly,
he was sounding like the voice of doom at these meetings – and perhaps, he thought, the
colonel was right. The Death Korps had made good progress these past weeks, closing their
ring of steel about the city, and although his own regiment had not yet seen combat, both
the 42nd and the 81st had won impressive victories. He wouldn’t have dreamed it possible,
but it did seem the necrons were on the back foot. Still, he felt that somebody had to sound
a note of caution. Somebody had to remember that they were still facing perhaps the
greatest threat known to the Imperium.],

reconvene (v.) – convene or cause to convene again, espeically after a pause in

proceedings [Parliament reconvenes on 1st June. ‘I suggest we adjourn this meeting for
now,’ said the colonel, ‘and reconvene when that report is available.’],

(random cool paragraph) – [Colonel 186’s office was filled almost to bursting point.
Crowded around his desk were numerous aides, his four company commanders and a
couple of tech-priests. Hanrik, too, was flanked by a small contingent of PDF officers, and in
the midst of all this stood a solitary young trooper, a recent recruit to judge by the thrown-
together look of his scarlet and purple uniform. ‘Of course,’ Hanrik was saying, his chest
swelling with importance as he held the floor, ‘as soon as the power went out, I despatched
men to the main generatorum.’ ‘None of them made it there,’ said the colonel, ‘but until
now it was assumed that, in common with numerous other PDF squads inside the city, they
had been ambushed. That assumption was challenged this morning.’ Hanrik took up the
commentary, keen to explain the circumstances of his vital discovery, until the colonel grew
impatient with him and interrupted again. ‘It seems,’ he said, ‘that both the 42nd and the
81st regiments were attacked as they neared the sites of the city’s secondary
generatorums.’ ‘We thought,’ said Hanrik, ‘that the power cut was an act of sabotage
intended to panic the civilian populace and hamper our evacuation efforts, but what if it
was more than that? What if our power is being drained for a purpose?’ ‘Each time we have
encountered the necrons,’ said the colonel, ‘their numbers have grown. We don’t know if
there are still more asleep in that tomb of theirs or if they are pulling in reinforcements
from further afield somehow. Either way–’ ‘Either way,’ said Hanrik, ‘what if they are using
our own power to achieve it? What if they can’t wake their troops or… or operate their
beacon without it?’ ‘For that matter,’ said one of the tech-priests, ‘we have all been
frustrated by the necrons’ ability to regenerate themselves after almost any wound. It
could be that the power to do this too emanates not from within their tomb but from
without.’ The colonel called up the hololithic plans that Costellin had seen before. ‘There
are three remaining generatorums in the city,’ he announced, gesturing with a pointer.
‘And, given the destruction the necrons have wrought,’ Costellin put in, ‘the fact that all
three are still standing is suggestive in itself.’ ‘At their current rate of progress, the 103rd
should flatten this site, to the south, in approximately three and a half days, while our own
regiment will reach the one here a little over two days after. That leaves only the central-
most and largest installation, located here.’ The colonel indicated a site much deeper into
the city. ‘May I presume, sir,’ spoke up one of the company commanders, ‘that the intention
is to send in a team to take out that generatorum? If so, I would like to volunteer my
company to undertake that mission, and myself to lead it.’ ‘Thank you, Major Alpha,’ said
the colonel. ‘That is indeed the plan, and the generals have asked this regiment to execute
it. However, our primary concern is still the maintenance of our cordon about the city, and
I will need all my senior officers to defend against a likely attack as we near the westside
generatorum.’ ‘The bright side of that, I suppose,’ mused Costellin, ‘is that it should keep the
bulk of the necron army occupied. Even so, it will be difficult to slip a force of any useful
size past them. They have shot down most of Hanrik’s flyers already.’ ‘That,’ said Hanrik
with a measure of self-satisfaction, ‘is where Trooper Soreson comes in.’ All eyes turned
towards the young trooper, who looked uncomfortable with the attention. ‘A squad of
grenadiers under my command extracted Soreson from the city three weeks ago. He was
fighting back against the necrons single-handed. As you can see, we immediately signed
him up for the Planetary Defence Force. Before our current troubles, however, Mr Soreson
was a mine overseer.’ ‘Hieronymous City,’ said the colonel, ‘stands above an extensive
network of mine tunnels. Trooper Soreson can guide our infiltration team through these.’
‘Right under the necrons’ feet,’ said Costellin approvingly. ‘Let us just pray that, when their
tomb emerged, none of them remained underground.’ ‘There is a mine entrance less than
two blocks away from the main generatorum, sir,’ said Soreson. ‘If we can reach that…’
‘Unfortunately,’ said Hanrik, ‘we have no up-to-date plans of the tunnel system, such
information was lost in the evacuation. As you have just heard, however, Trooper Soreson
knows those tunnels like he knows the back of his hand.’ Soreson, for his part, seemed a lot
less sure of this than the Governor-General was. ‘The tunnels don’t all link up, though,’ he
volunteered. ‘To reach that mine entrance, we would have to break through two, maybe
three walls.’ ‘Thin walls,’ Hanrik added quickly. ‘We’ve been mining this ground for
generations. Even where the tunnels don’t quite connect, they do run close to each other.’ ‘I
believe, sir, we still have an old burrowing vehicle aboard the Memento Mori,’ offered the
second tech-priest. ‘A Termite,’ recalled Costellin, ‘but its engines make one Golden Throne
of a racket. If these tunnels do run as close to each other as the Governor-General suggests,
then a handful of mining charges may be rather more discreet.’ ‘Have the Termite brought
down,’ the colonel instructed an aide, ‘in case of need. In the meantime, General Hanrik, if
you could find me some mining charges and have Trooper Soreson update your most recent
plan of those tunnels… Major Alpha, I will take you up on that offer of troops, I think: a
grenadier platoon from you, and also one from Gamma Company, to be led by…’ Costellin
stiffened as he realised that the colonel had turned his gaze upon him. ‘Commissar, I know I
cannot order you to do this, but since our losses on Dask you are the regiment’s most
experienced officer.’ It was hardly an unprecedented request, and Costellin was certainly
not one to hide behind a desk when the fighting started. However, he was used to choosing
his own battles, and with considerably more regard for his own safety than the Death
Korps officers tended to display for theirs. He had certainly never faced necrons before.
Momentarily, he wondered if the colonel was doing this on purpose, ridding himself of a
commissar determined to question his every utterance. He seemed to have placed an undue
stress on the word ‘experienced’, as if in judgement of Costellin’s longevity, a suggestion
that a braver man than he would have been long since dead by now. ‘It goes without
saying, of course,’ said the colonel, ‘that you would be doing the Emperor a considerable
service.’ ‘When you put it like that,’ said Costellin, tight-lipped, resenting the almost
tangible expectations of the officers around him, ‘then how can I possibly decline?’],

true to form/type (id.) – someone who does something true to form or type behaves
as other people would have expected from previous experience, they behave
predictably, typically, as expected, stock [True to form, when it came to his turn to buy the
drinks, he said he'd left his wallet at home. True to form, he tried to get out of his doing any
work. True to form, Tony asked to borrow some mor money. The following morning’s
briefing was a tense affair, at least so it seemed to Costellin. They discussed the timing of
his mission, and agreed – or rather, Colonel 186 decreed – that he would set off two days
hence at which point, if the necrons ran true to form, they would be busy defending the
generatorum to the south from the artillery of the Krieg 103rd. Costellin’s team would go
as far as the mine tunnels would take them, then await the colonel’s signal.],

cordon (v.) – prevent access to or from an area or building by surrounding it with

police or other guards [The city center was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two
stores.] – synonyms & related words [close off, seal off, tape off, fence off, rope off, screen
off, curtain off, shut off, partition off, separate off, isolate, segregate, quarantine; seal,
close, shut, blockade; enclose, encircle, surround],

be out of true (id.) – to not be in the correct position or to be slightly bent out of the
correct shape [This door won't shut. I tink the frmae must be out of true.],

ring true (id.) – of something someone says or writes rings true, it seems to be true
[Something about his explanation didn't quite ring true.],

welaway/wellaway/welladay (interjection) – expresisng sadness, regret, etc,

alas,

inimical (adj.) – (formal) harmful or limiting [Excessive managerial control is inimical

to creative expression. The policy was inimical to Britain's real interests. Party politics are
inimical to genuine democracy. An inimical alien power. He fixed her with an inimical gaze.
‘Magnificent, aren’t they?’ Commissar Mannheim was at Costellin’s shoulder. ‘Yes, I expect
they are,’ Costellin conceded, ‘if you’re able not to think about what they have been through
to get here.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ said Mannheim, but Costellin didn’t answer him. He was
remembering his sole visit to the Krieg home world nineteen years before. He had thought
it a good idea at the time, a means to a better understanding of his charges. Donning a
mask and a rebreather unit, he had stepped out into a barren, frigid landscape, one
inimical to all kinds of life. Yet somehow life had endured there.] – synonyms & related
words [harmful, injurious, detrimental, deleterious, pernicious, damaging, hurtful,
dangerous, destructive, ruinous, calamitous; antagonistic, contrary, antipathetic,
unfavourable, adverse, opposed, hostile, at odds, not conducive, prejudicial, malefic,
maleficent, hostile, unfriendly, antagonistic, ill-disposed, unkind, unsympathetic,
malevolent, malign; inhospitable, unwelcoming, cold, icy, frosty, glacial],

indefatigable (adj.) – (formal) always determined and energetic in trying to achieve

something and never willing to admit defeat [Annie was an indefatigable campaigner for
better community services. An indefatigable defender of human rights. He is one of those
indefatigable researchers who won't take no for an answer. You should have seen them last
night,’ enthused Mannheim. ‘The 42nd, I mean, my regiment. It didn’t matter what the
necrons threw at them, they kept going. They were indefatigable. Even I… When I saw
those ghouls, it sent a chill down my spine, I can tell you, but the Death Korps, they never
faltered, they never flinched.’] – synonyms & related words [tireless, untiring, never-
tiring, unwearied, unwearying, unflagging; energetic, dynamic, enthusiastic; unrelenting,
relentless, unremitting, unswerving, unfaltering, unshakeable, indomitable; persistent,
tenacious, determined, dogged, single-minded, assiduous, industrious],

(random cool paragraph) – [The next morning, he stood out on the ramp and
prepared to welcome the new recruits. They marched out of their drop-ships, perfectly
drilled, indistinguishable in their greatcoats and facemasks from any Death Korps
Guardsman that Costellin had ever served with. As always when a ship landed, there were
problems with the refugees on the hillside, incited by the suspicion that more lords and
councillors would jump the queue to be evacuated ahead of them. However, the new
recruits came to the struggling proctors’ aid, and the insurgents were brutally put down.
‘Magnificent, aren’t they?’ Commissar Mannheim was at Costellin’s shoulder. ‘Yes, I expect
they are,’ Costellin conceded, ‘if you’re able not to think about what they have been through
to get here.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ said Mannheim, but Costellin didn’t answer him. He was
remembering his sole visit to the Krieg home world nineteen years before. He had thought
it a good idea at the time, a means to a better understanding of his charges. Donning a
mask and a rebreather unit, he had stepped out into a barren, frigid landscape, one
inimical to all kinds of life. Yet somehow life had endured there. Costellin had been told that
the war on Krieg was long ended, had expected its ecosphere would have begun to recover
by now. As he travelled under his neutral flag, however, masked faces had peered out at
him from trenches that ran like bloody scars across the planet’s surface. Exploding mortars
had gouged new holes in the blasted ground, and sent great plumes of ash up into the
already choking air. The men of Krieg were still warring, no longer to resolve their
ideological differences but each now to prove himself worthy of dying for the Emperor. ‘You
should have seen them last night,’ enthused Mannheim. ‘The 42nd, I mean, my regiment. It
didn’t matter what the necrons threw at them, they kept going. They were indefatigable.
Even I… When I saw those ghouls, it sent a chill down my spine, I can tell you, but the Death
Korps, they never faltered, they never flinched.’ ‘And eighteen hundred of them were
massacred,’ Costellin pointed out. ‘Well, yes. Yes, they were, but our projections suggested–’
‘You expected to lose more. You thought you’d lose three thousand, four thousand, but that
was all right as long as the battle was won. Acceptable casualties. It happens sooner than
you think, doesn’t it? I still do it myself sometimes.’ ‘Do what?’ ‘Start to see them as
numbers. Start to share the total lack of regard that the men of Krieg have for their own
lives. Emperor knows, it is easier that way.’ ‘I don’t think that’s fair,’ said Mannheim. ‘The
necrons are a threat, not just to this world but to the whole of the Imperium. They have to
be fought.’ ‘Look at them, Mannheim. Look at those soldiers, try to see past their masks.
They’re fresh from Krieg, do you know what that means? It means they are fourteen or
fifteen years old, most of them, and already they have known a lifetime of conflict.’ ‘It’s the
same on many worlds,’ argued Mannheim. ‘Of course, conditions are harsher on Krieg than
most, and that breeds a certain type of individual.’ ‘No,’ said Costellin quietly, ‘it is we who
do that.’ The first and smallest contingent of the newly-arrived Guardsmen, those whose
lighter grey coats marked them out as being destined for the 103rd regiment, had formed
up now and were being marched away by their new officers. ‘Maybe you should do what I
did,’ said Costellin, ‘visit Krieg for yourself and you’ll see. You’ll see that its people aren’t
inhuman, just dehumanised.’ ‘I’m not sure I get the distinction,’ said Mannheim, but
Costellin’s thoughts had drifted back again, this time to a brick tunnel and the stale odour
of infinitely recycled air. Never before or since had he seen so many people packed into so
confined a space. Most had been women, most with child, and all of them shuffling through
their lives in a chemical stupor. There had been no need for masks, in that subterranean
labyrinth, but the citizens of Krieg may as well have been wearing them anyway. ‘Perhaps,’
he sighed, ‘if I had spoken up… but no, I’m as certain now as I was back then that nobody
would have wanted to hear me. I told you, Mannheim, I told you on the troop ship, that the
Death Korps of Krieg are a valuable resource to the Imperium, the perfect soldiers. The
question, I suppose, is how much should we be prepared to sacrifice for that ideal? To how
many horrors must we blind ourselves?’ ‘I’m sure it is not our place to question,’ said
Mannheim stiffly. ‘But if not us, then who? Who will say when things have gone too far?’ ‘I
don’t like where you’re going with this, Costellin. I know you didn’t want to fight this war,
but what was the alternative? If we had done as you wished, if we had destroyed this
planet, then people would still have died. We could never have carried out a full evacuation
in the time we had.’ ‘I know that, Mannheim,’ said Costellin quietly. ‘I just worry, sometimes,
about us. I worry that we are becoming as dehumanised as they are, too used to dealing in
“acceptable casualties”, in numbers. We forget that behind each of those numbers is a life –
an abused, joyless life perhaps, but a life all the same. Until the day comes when that life,
that number, is our own – and who will be left to care about us, then?’],

reiver (n.) – alternate form of reaver [Mark X Reiver Power Armour - Ultramarines
Chapter Reiver Squad.],

provenance (n.) – (formal) the place of origin or something, or earliest known history
of something; the beginning of something's existence, something's origin; a record of
ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality
[Jewels of uncertain provenance This raised doubts about the provenance of the painting. I
don't need to see a label to identify the provenance of a garment that someone is wearing.
Auramite is a material of unknown provenance but extraordinary resilience used to
construct the customised, golden suits of Power Armour worn by the Adeptus Custodes, the
bodyguard of the Emperor of Mankind. The orange rug of Iranian provenance. The police
were suspicious about the provenance of the paintings. They try to understnad the whole
universe, its provenance and fate. The manuscript has a distinguished provenance.] –
synonyms & related words [origin, source, place of origin; birthplace, spring, wellspring,
fount, roots, history, pedigree, derivation, root, etymology; provenience; radix, dawn,
birth, inception, conception, origination, genesis, emergence, rise, start, starting, point,
very beginning, launch, onset, outset, unfolding, development, developing, debut, day
one, kick-off, commencement, opening, start, first part, preface, introduction, foreword,
preamble, opening statement, opening remarks, prelude, prologue, exordium, proem,
prolegomenon, fountainhead, well spring, fons et origo, embryo, germ],

outset (n.) – the start or beginning of something [The project was flawed from the
outset. It must be stressed at the outset that correct identification is the chief problem.] –
synonyms & related words [start, starting point, beginning, arrival, (first) appearance,
dawn, birth, origin, inception, conception, opening, launch, inauguration, institution,
initiation, debut, creation, day one, the first, kick-off, the word go, commencement],

proem(ium) (n.) – an introduction, preface or preamble, usually to a book or speech,

fons et origo (n.) – source and origin [Athens was the fons et orio of democracy.],

fountain pen (n.) – a pen whose nib (= the point at the end that you write with) is
supplied with ink from a container inside it,

radix (n.) – (plural radices, specialized) the beginning part of an organ in the body; part
of an organ in the body that is under tissues; (biology) root; (linguistics) a primitive
word, from which other words may be derived; (mathematics) the number of distinct
symbols used to represent numbers in a particular base, as 10 for decimal; the lower
part of an object, root; (figurative) a foundation, basis, ground, origin, source, root,

(random cool paragraph) – [Transhuman dread. Aximand had heard iterators talk
of the condition. He’d heard descriptions of it from regular Army officers too. The sight of
an Adeptus Astartes was one thing: taller and broader than a man could ever be, armoured
like a demigod. The singularity of purpose was self-evident. An Adeptus Astartes was
designed to fight and kill anything that didn’t annihilate it first. If you saw an Adeptus
Astartes, you knew you were in trouble. The appearance alone cowed you with fear. But to
see one move. Apparently that was the real thing. Nothing human-shaped should be so fast,
so lithe, so powerful, especially not anything in excess of two metres tall and carrying more
armour than four normal men could lift. The sight of an Adeptus Astartes was one thing,
but the moving fact of one was quite another. The psychologists called it transhuman
dread. It froze a man, stuck him to the ground, caused his mind to lock up, made him lose
control of bladder and bowel. Something huge and warlike gave pause: something huge
and warlike and moving with the speed of a striking snake, that was when you knew that
gods moved amongst men, and that there existed a scale of strength and speed beyond
anything mortal, and that you were about to die and, if you were really lucking, there
might be just enough time to piss yourself first.],

on the rebound (id.) – (informal) unhappy and confused because a close, romantic
relationship of yours has recently finished [Five months after Nick had left her, she
married another man on the rebound.],

remit (n.) – the area that a person or group of people in authority has responsibility for
or control over [The remit of this official inquiry is to invstigate the reasons for the
accident. The commitee was becoming caught up in issues that did not fall within its remit.
His remit includes administering the consumer credit licensing system. "They were
despatched into the Outer Darkness upon that first Day of Exile, there to ravage the foes of
mankind until their final atonement. Their Forgotten One gave them remit unbound, to set
about the Traitor, the alien and the Renegade without mercy, and to harrow them in their
places of strength. So began their long hunt. They hunt still."] – synonyms & related words
[area of responsibility, area of activity, sphere, orbit, scope, ambit, province, territory,
realm, department, turf, brief, instructions, orders, baliwick, reach, scope, bounds,
boundary, extension, range, scope, spectrum, spread, circle of demesne, discipline,
element, fief, fiefdom, field, specialty, terrain, sweep, gamut],

ambit (n.) – (formal) the range or limits of the influence of something, the scope,
extent, or bounds of something [They believe that all the outstanding issues should fall
within the ambit of the talks. A full discussion of this complex issue was beyond the ambit of
one book.],

gamut (n.) – the whole range of things that can be included in something, a (normally)
complete range; (music) all the notes in the musical scale; all the colors available to a
device such as a monitor or printer [In her stories she expresses the whole gamut of
emotions, from happiness to sorrow. The whole gamut of human emotion.] – synonyms &
related words [range, spectrum, span, sweep, compass, scope, area, breadth, width,
reach, extent, catalogue, scale, sequence, series, variety],

run the gamut of something (id.) – to experience or show the whole range of
something, to cover or extended across a wide and varied range [Jonson has run the
gamut of hotel work, from porter to owner of a large chain of hotels. The tech company's
products run the gamut from home appliances to computer modules for spacecraft. She
wants to buy the house, but her requests run the gamut from expensive new carpeting to
completely new landscaping. His hobbies run the gamut from piano repair to portrait
painting. Russia's hotels run the gamut from opulent citadels run as joint-ventures with
foreign firms to seedy pits inhabited by mobsters.],

varied (adj.) – incorporating a number of different types of elements, showing

variation or variety [The phenomena were very varied. A varied selection.] – synonyms &
related words [diverse, assorted, diversified, differing, miscellaneous, mixed, motley,
sundry, jumbled, haphazard, heterogeneous, manifold, wide-ranging, disparate,
variegated, multifarious],

sundry (adj.) – of various kinds, several [Prawn and garlic voul-a-vents and sundry
other delicacies. Wings, radiators, and sundry other items were sent out to various
workshops.] – synonyms & related words [various, varied, miscellaneous, assorted,
mixed, diverse, diversified, motley, random; several, numerous, many, manifold,
multifarious, multitudinous, legion; divers, farraginous],

divers (adj.) – of varying types, several [In divers places.],

strings attached (id.) – if something suchs as an agreement has strings attached, it

involves special demands or limits [Most of these so-called special offers come with strings
attached. They immediately agreed to donate $1,000, no strings attached.] – synonyms &
related words [conditional, limited, provisional, restrictive, tentative, depending on,
granted on certain terms, relying on, subject to, with grain of salt, with reservations, not
absolute, provisory, modified, fortuitous, reliant, codicillary, iffy],

set about something/somebody (v.) – to start to do or deal with something;

(literary) to attack somebody [After putting up the tent, she set about making a fire. I have
no idea how to set about changing a tyre on a car. I tried to apologize, but I think I set
about it the wrong way. It would be far better to admit the problem openly and set abouit
tackling it. Mike set about raising £ 5000 to pay for the boy's medical treatment. The
attacker set about her with a knife. The policeman began to set about him with his
truncheon. He was pushed up against the wall as the youths set about him.] – synonyms &
related word s[begin, start, make a start on, go about, set to, get to work on, get down to,
get going on, embark on, tackle, attack, address oneself to, buckle down to, undertake;
put/set the wheels in motion, get down to business, get/set the ball rolling, put one's
shoulder to the wheel, put one's hand to the plough, roll up one's sleeves, get things
moving; get cracking, get one's finger out, get weaving, commence; attack, assail, assault,
hit, strike, beat, give someone a beating, thrash, pound, pummel, wallop, hammer, tear
into, set upon, fall on, turn on, let fly at; ay into, lace into, beat the living daylights out of,
sail into, pitch into, let someone have it, get stuck into, paste, do over, work over, rough
up, knock about/around; duff up, have a go at, beat up on, light into],

have a go at (id.) – take a crack at, try, attempt – synonyms & related words [attempt,
do one's best, drive for, give a go, give a whirl, go after, go all out, go for, have a crack,
have a rip, have a shot, have a stab, have a whack, make a pass at, make a stab, make an
attempt, make an effort, risk, shoot for, tackle, undertake, vie for],

worthy (n.) – (humorous) a person who is important, especially in a small town [The
front row of chairs was reserved for local worthies. Schools governed by local worthies. The
candidate gained the support of some significant local wortheis.] – synonyms & related
words [dignitary, notable, notability, celebrity, personage, famous person, important
person, person of note, luminary, public figure, official, pillar of society, grandee,
panjandrum, leading light, name, big name, somebody, someone; VIP, top brass, Mr Big,
big Daddy, big shot, bigwig, big cheese, big fish, big gun, big noise, celeb, biggie, heavy,
hotshot; Lady Muck, Lord Muck, nob, big wheel, kahuna, big kahuna, macher, high
muckamuck, high muckety-muck],

go to (v.) – (archaic, imperative) used imperatively to express protest or surprise;

„come, now!“,

hammy (adj.) – (informal) (of acting or an actor) exaggerated or over-theatrical; (of a

hand or thigh) thick and solid [He often pounds one hammy fist into the other . There is
some hammy acting.] – synonyms & related words [apish, artificial, la-di-da, affected,
exaggerated, counterfeited, feigned, faked, campy, assumed, phony, imitated, insincere,
mannered, overdone, ostentatious, pretended, put-on, superficial, theatrical, unnatural,
stilted, spurious, simulated, sham, theatrical, operatic, vaudeville],

navel-gazing (n.) – (humorous, disapproving) the activity of spending too much time
considering your own thoughts, feelings, or problems, excessive focus on oneself, self-
indulgent introspection; disproportionate concentration on a single issue,

introspection (n.) – examination of and attention to your own ideas, thoughts, and
feelings [His defeat in the world champsion led to a long period of gloomy introspection.
Quiet introspection can be extremely valuable. He wasn't given to introspection.] –
synonyms & related words [brooding, self-analysis, soul-searching, heart-searching,
introversion, self-observation, self-absorption; contemplation, thoughtfulness,
pensiveness, thought, thinking, musing, rumination, meditation, pondering, reflection,
cogitation, navel-gazing],

tine (n.) – one of the sharp pointed parts of an object such as a fork or comb –
synonyms & related words [prong, tip, spike, projection],

bargain (v.) – negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction; be prepared for,
expect [He bargained with the lcoal council to rent the stadium. He bargained with the
Council to rent the stadium. I got more information than I'd bargained for. This was more
than we had bargained for.] – synonyms & related words [haggle, barter, negotiate,
discuss terms, hold talks, deal, wheel and deal, trade, traffic; dicker; treat, chaffer, palter,
expect, anticipate, be prepared for, allow for, plan for, reckon with, take into
account/consideration, contemplate, imagine, envisage, foresee, predict, look for, hope
for, look to; count on, rely on, depend on, bank on, plan on, reckon on, calculate on, be
sure of, trust in, take for granted, take as read; figure on],

envision (v.) – imagine as a future possibility, visualize [She envisioned the admiring
glances of guests seeing her home. We now have the chance to build the world envisioned
by the founders of the UN.] – synonyms & related words [visualize, imagine, envisage,
picture, see in one's mind's eye, conjure up an image of; intend, propose, mean; conceive
of, think of, see; ideate],

dicker (v.) – to argue with someone, especially about the price of goods; to toy or
fiddle with [She dickered with the driver over the fare. Sam advised him not to dicker over
the extra fee. The company was still dickering with its pricing schedule.] – synonyms &
related words [bargain, argue about, haggle, barter, chaffer, huckster, negotiate, palter,
trade, buy and sell, cut a deal, hammer out a deal, work out a deal],

delude (v.) – make (someone) believe something that is not true [Too many theorists
have deluded the public. You're lying – why do you persist in trying to delude me? ‘So, it
seems we were right after all,’ said Tylar, shaking his head in despair. ‘Amareth tells us he
can hear their voices, and we… so desperate are we for a slim thread of hope, for someone
to guide us, that we believe him. We delude ourselves.’] – synonyms & related words
[mislead, deceive, fool, take in, trick, dupe, hoodwink, double-cross, gull, beguile, lead on;
cheat, defraud, swindle; lcon, bamboozle, pull the wool over someone's eyes, pull a fast
one on, lead up the garden path, take for a ride, put one over on; sucker, snooker,
hornswoggle, pull a swifty on, cozen, illude],

seize (v.) – take hold of suddenly and forcibly; take forcible possession of; (of the police
or another authority) take possession of (something) by warrant or legal right; take (an
opportunity) eagerly and decisively; (of a feeling or pain) affect (someone) suddenly or
acutely; strongly appeal to or attract (the imagination or attention); (of a machine with
mvoing parts) become jammed [She jumped up and seized his arm. A protester seized the
microphone. Army rebels seized an air force base. Police have seized 726 lb of cocaine. The
drugs were seized by customs officers at Kennedy Airport. He seized his chance to attack as
Carr hesitated. He was seized by the most dreadful fear. The story of the king's escape
seized the public imagination. The engine seized up after only three weeks. ‘He can see a
new order coming,’ said Arex, ‘and he is seizing the chance – the fantasy – to be more than
he once was. I’ve heard the overseers talking. There are other workgroups like this one –
other churches, I should say – across the city.’] – synonyms & related words [grab, grasp,
snatch, seize hold of, grab hold of, take hold of, lay hold of, lay (one's) hands on, get one's
hands on, take a grip of, grip, clutch, take, pluck; capture, take, overrun, annex, occupy,
conquer, take over, subjugate, subject, colonize, confiscate, impound, commandeer,
requisition, appropriate, expropriate, take possession of, sequester, sequestrate, take
away, take over, take; distrain, attach, disseize; poind],

scrape (v.) – drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object) so as
to remove dirt or other matter; use a sharp or hard implement to remove (dirt or
unwanted matter) from something; apply (a hard or sharp implement) to a surface so as
to remove dirt or other matter; make (a hollow) by scraping away soil or rock; rub or
cause to rub by accident against a rough or hard surface, causing damage or injury; draw
or move (something) along or over something else, making a harsh noise; move wit hor
make a harsh scraping sound; narrowly pass by or through something; (humorous) play
a violin tunelessly; draw one's hair tightly back off the forehead [Remove the green tops
from the carrots and scrape them. She scraped the earth back and saw something blue
buried there. She scraped the mudd of her shoes. The men only had to scrape the ship and
overhaul the rigging. He scraped the long-bladed razor across the stubble on his cheek. He
found a ditch, scraped a hole, and put the bag in it. The stag first scrapes a hole in the
ground. He smashed into the wall and felt his teeth scrape against the plaster. Ellen had
scraped her shins on the wall. She scraped back her chair and stood up. She lifted the gate
to prevent it scraping along the ground. Their boots scraped along the floor. There was
only just room to scrape through between the tree and the edge of the stream. Olivia was
scraping away at her violin. Her hair was scraped back into a bun. He scraped shaving
foam from his chin, splashed his face with freezing cold water from the cracked white basin
in the corner of the bunkroom and carefully cleaned and stowed his disposable razor so as
to preserve its edge.] – synonyms & related words [rake, drag, push, brush, sweep,
abrade, grate, sand, sandpaper, scour, scratch, rub, file, rasp, graze, scuff, rasp, skin, rub
raw, lacerate, chafe, strip, flay, wound, excoriate, set someone's teeth on edge, screech,
grit, jar, creak],

glimpse (v.) – see or perceive briefly or partially [He glimpsed a figure standing in the
shade. He glimpsed a figure standing in the shade. As he turned from the basin, he glimpsed
a face he did not know in the mirror, and the sight of it caused him to hesitate.] –
synonyms & related words [catch sight of, catch/get a glimpse of, see briefly, get a sight
of, notice, discern, spot, spy, sight, note, pick out, make out, clock, espy, descry],

kit (v.) – provide someone or something with the appropriat eclothing or equipment
[We were all kitted out in life jackets. The studio is kitted out with six cameras. The next
thing he knew, a heavyset sergeant was taking a razor to his hair, and he was being kitted
out in boots too small for him and a tunic too large.] – synonyms & related words [equip,
fit, fit out, fit up, fix up, furnish, stock, supply, provide, provision, issue; outfit, get up, rig
out, turn out, dress, clothe, array, costume, attire, accoutre, deck out; arm],

make up (v.) – to forgive someone and be friendly with them again after an argument
or disagreement [They kissed and made up, as usual. We often quarrel but we always
make it up soon after. Let's kiss and make up. Come on now, pet, let's kiss and make up.] –
synonyms & related words [be friends again, bury the hatchet, declare a truce, make
peace, forgive and forget, shake hands, become reconciled, settle one's differences, mend
fences, call it quits "come now, pet, let's kiss and make up"],

bury the hatchet (id.) – to stop an argument and become friends again [Can't you
two just bury the hatchet?],

make up (v.) – put together or prepare something from parts or ingredients [Make up
the mortar to a constitency that can be moulded in the hands. The pharmacist made up the
prescription. He learned military codes of conduct, vehicle and weapon recognition, basic
first aid, survival skills and how to make up his bunk.] – synonyms & related words
[prepare, mix, concoct, put together, set up],

wayward (adj.) – (old-fashioned) doing only what you want and often changing your
behavior in a way that is difficult to control, difficult to control or predict because of
willful or perverse behavior [A waywarda dolescent. A wayward child.] – synonyms &
related words [wilful, self-willed, headstrong, stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, perverse,
contrary, rebellious, defiant, uncooperative, refractory, recalcitrant, unruly, wild,
ungovernable, unmanageable, unpredictable, capricious, whimsical, fickle, inconstant,
changeable, erratic, intractable, difficult, impossible, intolerable, unbearable, fractious,
disobedient, insubordinate, undisciplined; contumacious],

stiff (adj.) – not easily bent or changed in shape, rigid; (of a person or part of the body)
unable to move easily and without pain; (of a person or their manner) not relaxed or
friendly, constrained; severe or strong; (of a wind) blowing strongly; requiring strength
or effort, difficult; (of an alcoholic drink) strong [A stiff black collar. A sheet of stiff black
cardboard. He was stiff from sitting on the desk. Her muscles were stiff. She greeted him
with stiff politeness. They face stuff finesand a possible jail sentence. A stiff breeze stirring
the lake. AA long stiff climb up the bare hillside. A stiff measure of brandy. You need a stiff
drink. There was some expectation of fallout from that incident, rumours that complaints
had been taken to the Governor-General himself, and for a few days it did seem there were
fewer Krieg facemasks around than there had been. Then Colonel Braun had addressed the
trainees, informed them stiffly that the watchmaster had acted by the book, and that was
that. The facemasks returned in force, and everything was as it had been before, except
that Gunthar’s bunkroom was now very quiet at night.] – synonyms & related words
[rigid, hard, firm, hardened, inelastic, non-flexible, inflexible, ungiving, impliable,
unmalleable, aching, achy, painful, arthritic, rheumatic, taut, tight, creaky, rheumaticky,
rusty, stark, formal, reserved, unfriendly, chilly, cold, frigid, icy, austere, unrelaxed,
brittle, stand-offish, wooden, forced, constrained, strained, stilted, prim, punctillious,
stuffy, starchy, uptight, harsh, severe, hard, punitive, punishing, stringent, swingeing,
crippling, rigorous, drastic, strong, heavy, draconian, strong, vigorous, powerful, brisk,
gusty, howling, difficult, hard, arduous, tough, strenuous, laborious, uhpill, exacting,
demanding, formidable, challenging, punishing, back-brekaing, grueling, Herculean,
tiring, fatiguing, exhausting, killing, hellish, knackering, toilsome, strong, potent,
alcoholic, spirituous, intoxicant],

swingeing (adj.) – (UK, formal) extreme and having a serious and unpleasant effect
[We are going to have to make swingeing cuts in the budget. Swingeing cuts in public
expenditure.] – synonyms & related words [severe, extreme, serious, substantial, drastic,
harsh, punishing, excessive, oppressive, draconian, heavy],

impress (v.) – (make someone) feel admiration and respect; make a mark or design on
(an object) using a stamp or seal; fix an idea in the mind of (someone); apply (an electric
current or potential) from an external source [Their performance impressed the judges.
Hazel had impressed him mightily. The company should impress the cards with a stamp.
Andean cultures used seals to impress designs on pottery. Goldsmiths impressed his likeness
on medallions. Nobody impressed on me the need to save. You must impress upon her that
she has to come to school. The total impressed voltage. Gunthar rose to leave, but Hanrik
waved him back into his seat; he and the colonel would step outside to talk instead. The
gesture weighed on Gunthar’s shoulders, impressing upon him how vital his task was, and
he redoubled his efforts. He couldn’t help but be distracted, however, by Hanrik and
Braun’s voices, intermittently audible to him through the half-open door. The lasgun, it had
been impressed upon him, was on loan from the Krieg 103rd regiment, who expected its
return. ‘When you know it’s your time to die,’ the quartermaster had said, ‘when you’re
staring down the barrel of a gauss flayer, the last thing you do is, you save that gun by
hurling it as far away from you as you can.’] – synonyms & related words [make an
impression on, have an impact on, influence, affect, leave a mark on, move, stir, rouse,
excite, inspire, galvanize; dazzle, overcome, overwhelm, overpower, awe, overawe, take
someone's breath away, take someone aback, amaze, astonish; feel admiration, feel
respect; grab, stick in someone's mind; imprint, print, stamp, mark, engrave, deboss,
emboss, punch, etch, carve, inscribe, cut, chisel; emphasize to, stress to, bring home to,
establish in someone's mind, fix deeply in someone's mind, instil in, inculcate in, drum
into, knock into, drive into, din into, ingrain in, leave in no doubt],

tart (adj.) – (sour, especially of fruit) tasting sour or acidic; (behavior) (especially of a
way of speaking) quick or sharp and unpleasant [You might need some sugar o nthe
rhubarb – it's a little tart. A tart remark/comment/reply. A tart apple. Cook a few tart
apples. A tart reply. She regretted her rather tart reply. Braun mumbled something then
that Gunthar didn’t catch. Hanrik’s tart reply, however, was perfectly clear. ‘We are
fighting a war, Colonel Braun,’ he said, ‘and, in war, certain sacrifices have to be made.’ As
he returned to his desk, however, the Governor-General looked anything but resolute on
this point, burying his face in his hands until he remembered that he wasn’t alone, at which
point he straightened his back and found some slatework to pretend to be doing.] –
synonyms & related words [sour, sharp, sharp-tasting, tangy, bitter, acid, acidic, zesty,
piquant, pungent, strong, harsh, unsweetened, vinegary, lemony, citrus, burning, acrid,
acetic, acidulous, acetous, acerbic, sharp, biting, cutting, keen, stinging, mordant,
astringent, caustic, trenchant, incisive, pointed, piercing, bitter, barbed, scathing,
sarcastic, sardonic, acrimonious, nasty, rude, vicious, spiteful, venomous, wounding],

carp (v.) – to complain all the time about matters that are not important [I can't stand
the way he's always carping. I don't want to carp about the way you did it. Broadcasters
always found something to carp about, even after an undoubted success. She has silenced
the carping critics with a massively successful debut tour. Gunthar’s report did nothing to
improve Hanrik’s mood. His new plan of the mine tunnels was strewn with apologetic notes
to indicate which of the revisions he was unsure of: most of them, as it happened. ‘How can
I show this to the Krieg colonel?’ Hanrik carped. ‘He’ll think we are… You told me you could
do this, Soreson. I put my neck on the line for you, and you… You’ve failed me!’] – synonyms
& related words [complain, cavil, grumble, moan, grouse, grouch, whine, bleat, quibble,
niggle, nag; find fault with, criticize, pick on, censure, denounce, condemn, decry,
disparage; gripe, beef, bellyache, bitch, whinge, nitpick, pick holes, split hairs, sound off,
kick up a fuss, knock, chunter, create, be on at someone, mither, kvetch, complaining,
cavilling, grumbling, moaning, grousing, grouching, grouchy, whining, bleating, fault-
finding, quibbling, niggling, captious, nagging; critical, criticizing, censorious,
condemnatory, disparaging, scathing, slighting, reproachful, deprecatory, hypercritical,
overcritical, pedantic, hard/difficult/impossible to please; pass-remarkable, chuntering,
mithering, kvetching, whingeing, nitpicking, hair-splitting, picky, bitching],

whinge (v.) – (UK, informal, disapproving) to complain, especially about something

that does not seem important [Oh stop whinging, for heaven's sake. She's always
whingeing (on) about something. Stop whingeing and get on with it! I am not going to
whinge about the weather.] – synonyms & related words [complain, grouse, grouch,
grumble, whine, moan, carp, mutter, murmur, whisper, gripe, bellyache, bitch, beef,
mither],

whinge (v.) – an act of complaining persistently and peevishly [I can't help having a
whinge about the referee though. His sorry tale is one long whinge about his own suffering.
We were just having a whinge about our boss – nothing new.] – synonyms & related
words [complaint, grouse, moan, grouch, grumble, whine, carp, mutter, murur, whisper,
gripe, bellyache, bitch, beef, mither],

invite (v.) – make a polite, formal, or friendly request to (someone) to go somewhere

or to do something; make a formal or polite request for (something) from someone; (of
an action or situation) tend to elicit (a particular reaction or response) or to tempt
(someone) to do something [We ere invited to a dinner at the Embassy. They invited us to
Sunday brunch. Applications are invited for the post of Director. His use of the word did
little but invite criticism. Airing such views in public would invite trouble. ‘Perhaps so,’
Costellin conceded, ‘though that would rather invite the question, where might the rest of
their force be?’] – synonyms & related words [ask, bid, summon; request someone's
company at, request someone's presence at, request someone's appearance at, request
the pleasure of someone's company, have someone over/round, ask for, request, call for,
look for, appeal for, solicit, seek, petition, summon, cause, induce, provoke, create,
generate, engender, foster, encourage, lead to, call forth, make happen; draw, attract,
incite, elicit, bring on, bring on oneself, arouse; tempt, court, allure, entice],

(random cool paragraph) – [The expected necron attack to the south hadn’t
materialised. This meant that Costellin had no distraction to cover his subterranean
mission. It also called the purpose of said mission into question. As the commissar said to
Colonel 186, ‘What if the necrons have no need for our power, and the timings of the
previous attacks were coincidence after all?’ He had planned to depart at noon. Instead, he
put his team on standby and waited at his desk, tensely monitoring vox-traffic until Colonel
103 reported that it was over, the south-side generatorum razed and not a sighting of the
enemy. Hanrik, however, was reluctant to abandon the plan his genius had inspired. ‘It
could be,’ he conjectured as the senior officers gathered once more, ‘that the necrons are
still weak, and have chosen not to fight a battle they can’t win.’ ‘The mission will proceed,’
Colonel 186 decided. ‘We can’t overlook the chance that our original thesis is correct, that
the destruction of the city’s main generatorum could give us a decisive advantage in this
war, and even if we are wrong…’ ‘Then, what are we risking?’ concluded Costellin, tight-
lipped. ‘Indeed,’ said the colonel, oblivious to the irony in the commissar’s words. ‘Of
course,’ said Costellin, ‘if the necrons have indeed reprioritised their objectives, then they
might have chosen to defend the primary generatorum at the expense of the smaller ones.
We could find ourselves walking into an ambush.’ The colonel nodded. ‘At least, in that
case, we will have confirmation that the generatorums are important to them, and we can
strategise accordingly. With the Emperor’s favour, however, the necrons won’t have
anticipated a sneak attack such as this one, and will only have posted a token defence.’
‘Perhaps so,’ Costellin conceded, ‘though that would rather invite the question, where
might the rest of their force be?’],

streak (n.) – (characteristic) an often unpleasant characteristic that is very different

from other characteristics [Her stubborn streak makes her very difficult to work with
sometimes. You need to have a competitive streak when you're working in marketing.
There's a streak of insanity in the family. Tammy had a streak of self-destructiveness.] –
synonyms & related words [element, vein, trace, touch, dash, strain, trait, characteristic]

stubborn streak (id.) – a very firm and determined quality in someone's character, a
tendency to be stubborn [A strong stubborn streak has helped her succeed. A superhuman
nordic king with a warrior's crude humor and a stubborn streak a mile wide.],

streak (n.) – (mark) a long, thin mark that is easily noticed because it is very different
from the area surrounding it [The window cleaner left dirty streaks on the windows. I dye
my hair to hide my grey streaks. Meteors produce streaks of light as they burn up in the
earth's atmosphere. A streak of oil. A streak of orange light appeared in the east. The damp
grass had left green streaks on her legs.] – synonyms & related words [band, line, strip,
stripe, vein, slash, bar, ray, finger, pencil, stroke, trace, touch, fleck, dash, stria, striation,
lane],

streak (n.) – (short period) a short period of good or bad luck; (series) something that
happens or is done over ap eriod of time without a break [I just hope my lucky streak
continues until the world championships. Their longest losing streak has been three games.
After winning a couple of bets, he thought he was on a winning streak. The theater is on a
winning streak. I suppose my winning streak had to come to an end eventually. The
thunderstorm ended a streak of 90 days without any rain. She asked me if I would start a
streak with her on Snapchat.] – synonyms & related words [period, spell, stretch, run,
time, series, patch],
streak (v.) – (move fast) – to move somewhere extremely quickly, usually in a straight
line [The motorbike streaked off down the street. Did you see that bird streak past the
window? The cat streaked across the street. Miranda streaked across the road.] –
synonyms & related words [race, dash, rush, run, sprint, bolt, dart, gallop, career, charge,
shoot, hurtle, hare, bound, fly, speed, zoom, go hell for leather, plunge, dive, whisk,
scurry, scuttle, scamper, scramble; tear, belt, pelt, scoot, zap, zip, whip, step on it, get a
move on, hotfoot it, leg it, steam, put on some speed, go like a bat out of hell, burn
rubber; bomb, go like the clappers, bucket, put one's foot down; wheech, boogie, hightail
it, clip, barrel, get the lead out, cut along, drag/tear/haul ass, fleet, post, hie, haste],

like a streak of lightning (id.) – (informal) extremely quickly, very fast, in haste
[She grabbed the money and ran out of the shop like a streak of lightning.],

streak ahead (v.) – to be much more successful than your competitors [The study
revealed that Asian youngsters are streaking ahead in the race to get into university.],

the/a devil of a something (id.) – (old-fashioned) an extremely difficult or serious

type of something [A devil of a mess/problem. We had the devil of a job/time trying to find
this place!],

tense (adj.) – causing or characterized by anxiety and nervousness [They waited in

tense silence. By five o' clock, Loertta was feeling tense and irritable. It was a tense moment
for everyone. He had planned to depart at noon. Instead, he put his team on standby and
waited at his desk, tensely monitoring vox-traffic until Colonel 103 reported that it was
over, the south-side generatorum razed and not a sighting of the enemy.] – synonyms &
related words [anxious, nervous, on edge, edgy, strained, stressed, under a strain, under
pressure, agitated, ill at ease, unrelaxed, in a state of nerves, in a state of agitation,
fretful, uneasy, restless, worked up, keyed up, overwrought, highly strung, wrought up,
strung out, jumpy, on tenterhooks, on pins and needles, with one's stomach in knots,
fidgety, worried, apprehensive, upset, disturbed, panicky; nervy; with butterflies in one's
stomach, a bundle of nerves, jittery, twitchy, in a state, uptight, wired, het up, stressed
out, white-knuckled; strung up, stressy, windy, spooky, squirrelly, toey, overstrung,
nerve-racking, stressful, anxious, worrying, concerning, fraught, charged, strained, nail-
biting, worrisome, difficult, uneasy, uncomfortable; exciting, cliffhanging, knife-edge,
dramatic, volatile, explosive; hairy, anxious-making, white-knuckle],

inexorable (adj.) – (formal) continuing without any possibility of being stopped: the
inexorable progress of science, impossible to persuade, prevent, unrelenting [The
seemingly inexorable march of new technology. The inexorable advance of science. The
doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done. Fifty debtors were detained by
inexorable creditors. Costellin’s half-track carefully traversed a canyon between looming
heaps of rubble, almost to where the Death Korps’ siege engines were still grinding out
their destructive charges, edging inexorably forwards.] – synonyms & related words
[relentless, unstoppable, unavoidable, inescapable, inevitable, irrevocable; persistent,
continuous, non-stop, steady, unabating, interminable, incessant, unceasing, unending,
unremitting, unrelenting, intransigent, unbending, unyielding, inflexible, unswerving,
unwavering, adamant, obdurate, determined, immovable, unshakeable, implacable,
unappeasable, unpacifiable, unplacatable, unmollifiable, unforgiving, unsparing,
uncompromising; strict, severe, iron-handed, stringent, harsh, hard, tough, exacting,
rigorous, draconian, cruel, ruthless, relentless, unrelenting, pitiless, merciless,
remorseless, indurate],

shaft (n.) – (long object) a pole or rod that forms the handle of a tool or weapon; a rod
forming part of a machine such as an engine, that turns in order to pass power on to the
machine; (specialized, medical) the part of the hair above the scalp; (specialized,
medical) a long structure like a stem in the body; (passage) a long, either vertical or
sloping, passage through a building or through the ground; (remark, literary) a clever
remark, especially one that is intended as an attack on someone or something [The shaft
of a golb club. The drive shaft of a car. The propeller shaft of an aircraft. A shaft of
(sun)light came through the open door. A lift shaft. A ventilation/air shaft. A well shaft.
John came out with an unexpected shaft of wit/wisdom. A wooden shaft about a yard long.
The shaft of a feather. Shafts of early sunlight. A shaft of inspiration. He directs his shafts
against her. Shafts of criticism. The main shaft was impassable. Here, an old mine shaft had
been uncovered, a space cleared around it.] – synonyms & related words [pole, stick, rod,
staff, shank, upright, handle, hilt, butt, stock, stem, pikestaff, thill, helve, quill, rachis, ray,
beam, gleam, streak, pencil, finger, bar, lance, cutting remark, barb, gibe, jibe, taunt,
sting, dig, wisecrack, crack, put-down, snide remark, sneer, jeer, mineshaft, tunnel,
passage, pit, adit, downcast, upcast, borehole, bore, duct, air, shaft, well, light well, flue,
vent, winze],

struggle (v.) – (effort) to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to
do something; to move somewhere with great effort; (informal) to be in danger of failing
or being defeated; (fight) to fight, especially with your hands; to use a lot of effort to
someone, prevent something, or achieve something [The dog had been struggling to get
free of the wire noose. I've been struggling to understand the article all afternoon. Fish
struggle for survival, when the water level drops in the lake. He struggled along the rough
road holding his son. By this time he'd managed to struggle out of bed. After the first half,
United were really struggling. He struggled with his attacker who then ran away. For years
she struggled with/against the establishment to get her theories accepted. His turn came,
at last, and although a Guardsman respectfully offered to winch him down with the still-
extant pulley system, Costellin followed his men’s example and swarmed down the rope
under his own strength. He regretted his vanity as ageing muscles struggled to support his
weight. He persevered, however, and dropped into a lifter cage, the gate of which had been
wrenched open. Concealing his breathlessness, he stepped from this into a frigid, high-
roofed cavern, dark but for the pale glows of forty or so lamp-packs.] – synonyms &
related words [fight, grapple, wrestle, scuffle, brawl, spar, exchange blows, come to
blows, scrap, swedge, complete, contend, contest, vie, fight, battle, clash, wrangle, jockey,
lock horns, cross words, war, wage war, feud, strive, try hard, endeavor, make every
effort, spare no effort, exert oneself, do one's best, do all one can, do one's utmost, battle,
labor, toil, strain, bend over backwards, put oneself out, go all out, give it one's best shot,
put one's back into it, plug away, peg away, graft, essay, scramble, flounder, stumble,
make one's way with difficulty, drag oneself, fight/battle one's way, battle, labor],

refuse (v.) – to say that you will not do or accept something [He asked me to give him
another loan, but I refused. He's in trouble but he's refused all (my offers of) help. One cold
mornings the car always refuses to start. The local council refused him planning
permission to build an extra bedroom. She refused a cigarette. He refuses their invitation to
lunch. The Council refused planning permission.] – synonyms & related words[decline,
turn down, say no to, reject, spurn, scorn, rebuff, disdain, repudiate, dismiss, repulse,
shake one's head, send one's regrets, baulk at, demur at, protest at, jib at, draw the line
at, pass up, knock back, withhold, not grant, disapprove, deny, discountenance],

raucous (adj.) – loud and unpleasant, making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and
loud noise [I heard the raucous call of the crows. Raucous laughter came from the next
room. The party was becoming rather raucous. Raucous youths. Outbursts of raucous
laughter. A hilariously raucous hen night. He activated his own light and studied a data-
slate in its beam, orienting himself with the map programmed into it. He identified the
tunnel down which he needed to proceed and sent a pair of scouts ahead, ensuring first
that their comm-beads were operational. Costellin cursed under his breath as the Termite’s
engine caught with a raucous roar; if there were necrons anywhere in these mines, then he
feared they would be on their way here by now.] – synonyms & related words [harsh,
strident, screeching, squawky, squawking, sharp, grating, discordant, dissonant,
inharmonious, unmelodious, jarring, brassy; rough, rasping, husky, hoarse, scratchy;
noisy, loud, piercing, shrill, ear-splitting, penetrating, clamorous, cacophonous. Rowdy,
noisy, boisterous, roisterous, unruly, disorderly, wild],

tribulation (n.) – (formal) a problem or difficulty, a cause of great trouble or suffering,

a state of great trouble or suffering [The tribulations of being a megastar. His time of
tribulation was just beginning. Despite his tribulations he maintained a zest for life. In the
meantime, at Costellin’s suggestion, the grenadiers unravelled bedrolls and stole a couple
of hours’ sleep, in their masks, although each platoon left a ten-man squad on watch.
Costellin checked his chrono. After all their tribulations, they had actually made good time
for a pre-dawn assault on the generatorum above them. He didn’t sleep himself. He used
this quiet time to commune with the Emperor, to make what he suspected would be his
final peace with Him.] – synonyms & related words [trouble, worry, anxiety, burden,
cross to bear, affliction, ordeal, trial, adversity, hardship, tragedy, trauma, reverse,
setback, blow, difficulty, problem, issue, misfortune, bad luck, stroke of bad luck, ill
fortune, mishap, misadventure; suffering, distress, misery, wretchedness, unhappiness,
sadness, heartache, woe, grief, pain, anguish, agony; hassle, travails],
travail (n.) – (archaic) arduous or painful exertion, excessive labor, suffering, hardship;
specifically, the labor of childbirth; (obsolete) an act of working, labor; (obsolete) the
eclipse of a celestial object; obsolete form of „travel“,

prevail (v.) – (formal) to get control or influence, to succeed; to be common among a

group of people or area at a particular time [I am sure that common sense will prevail in
the end. And did reason prevail over (= become a more powerfulinfluence than) emotion?
This attitude still prevails among the middle class. It is hard for logic to prevail over
emotion. We can only hope comon sense will prevail. A friendly atmosphere prevailed
among the crowds. Bthe excellent conditions that prevailed in the 1950s. A research project
examined prevailing attitudes in the classroom. ‘But those losses taught us much about the
enemy’s abilities. The generals have run the numbers, Costellin. They say we can prevail
even against these increased odds. We can beat those horrors back into the ground where
they came from.’] – synonyms & related words [win, win out, win through, triumph, be
victorious, be the victor, gain the victory, carry the day, carry all before one, finish first,
come out ahead, come out on top, succeed, prove superior, conquer, overcome,
gain/achieve mastery, gain ascendancy; take the crown, gain the palm, rule, reign, exist,
be in existence, be present, be the case, hold, obtain, occur, be prevalent, be current, be
rife, be rampant, be the order of the day, be customary, be established, be common, be
widespread, be in force, be in effect; abound, hold sway, predominate, preponderate;
endure, survive, persist, current, existing, prevalent, usual, common, most usual,
commonest, most frequent, general, mainstream; widespread, rife, in circulation; set,
recognized, established, customary, acknowledged, accepted, ordinary; popular,
fashionable, in fashion, in style, in vogue],

prevail on/upon somebody (v.) – (formal) to persuade someone to do something

that they do not want to do [He was eventually prevailed upon to accept the appointment.
She was prevailed upon to give an account of her work. Jane had prevailed on Dorothy to
come.] – synonyms & related words [persuade, induce, talk someone into, coax,
convince, make, get, press someone into, win someone over, sway, bring someone round,
argue someone into, urge, pressure someone into, pressurize someone into, bring
pressure to bear on, coerce, influence, prompt; inveigle, entice, tempt, lure; cajole,
wheedle someone into, get round, prod someone into, reason someone into; procure;
sweet-talk, soft-soap, twist someone's arm, smooth-talk],

coil (n.) – (circle) a length of rope, hair, or wire, arranged into a series of circles, one
above the other; (specialized, electronics) a twisted length of wire through which an
electric current travels [A coil of rope lay on the beach. (figurative) A coil of thick blue
smoke rose up from his pipe. The snake wrapped its coils around her. Miles found himself in
the water, tangles in coils of rope.] – synonyms & related words [loop, twist, turn, curl,
hoop, roll, ring, twirl, gyre, whorl, scroll, curlicue, convolution, spiral, helix, corkscrew,
volute, volution],
verb (v.) – to arrange something in a coil [She coiled her hair into a neat bun on top of
her head. The snake coiled itself tightly around the deer. A coiled spring. Smoke coiled
lazily towards the ceiling. He coiled a lock of her hair around his finger. He began to coil up
the heavy ropes. The necron flinched with each strike but recovered, until one good shot –
and Costellin wished he could have told which one it was, could have worked out where this
thing’s weak spots were, if indeed it had any – knocked it out of the air to land in a coiled
heap, inert.] – synonyms & related words [wind, loop, twist, curl, curve, bend, twine,
entwine, snake, spiral, corkscrew, wreathe, meander, convolute],

inert (adj.) – (not moving, inactive) not moving or not able to move; not energetic or
interesting; lacking the ability or strength to move; lacking vigor; chemically inactive
[The inert figure of a man could be seen lying in front of the car. The narrative is inert and
sloppy, as if the author had been writing half-asleep. She lay inert in her bed. An inert
political system. The inert gases in meteorites.] – synonyms & related words [unmoving,
motionless, immobile, still, stock-still, stationary, static, dormant, sleeping; unconscious,
out cold, comatose, lifeless, inanimate, insensible, senseless, insensate, insentient;
inactive, idle, indolent, slack, lazy, loafing, slothful, dull, sluggish, lethargic, stagnant,
languid, listless, torpid; unconcerned, apathetic, indifferent; dead to the world, faineant,
soporose, soporous, otiose],

otiose (adj.) – (formal) used to describe a word or phrase, or sometimes an idea, that is
unnecessary or has been used several times [The use of the word „recumbent“ is otiose
after the word „recline“ . There were occasions when I felt my efforts were rather otiose.],

sail close to the wind (id.) – to do something that is dangerous or only just legal or
acceptable [You were sailing a little close to the wind there when you made those remarks
about his wife.],

sail agains the wind (id.) – to be trying to achieve something that is unlikely to
succeed because most people would oppose it [He's sailing against the wind in his
attempt to stop women joining the club.],

sail through (something) (id.) – to succeed very easily in something, especially a

test [Rachel sailed through her finals and got A's in everything. You can't expect to just sail
through without doing any work. Ali sailed through his exams. She sailed through GCSE.] –
synonyms & related words [succeed easily at, gain success in easily, pass easily, romp
through, walk through],

under sail (id.) – (literary) traveling in a boat or ship with seals, seaborne
traveling[After ten hours under sail, they reached dry land.],

sail (v.) – (move quickly) to move quickly, easily, and (of a person) confidently [The ball
went sailing over the fence. He wasn't looking where he was going, and just sailed straight
into her. Untidy grey clouds were sailing past a pale moon. Manchester United sailed on (=
continued easily) to victory in the final. The ball sailed inside the right-hand post. A pencil
sailed past his ear. The ball sailed high into the air. The next attack came from behind, and
Costellin didn’t have time to swing his sword around to defend himself; he could only leap
for cover as a ghost sailed over his head, bringing up his pistol as it wheeled around and
made a second dive for him.] – synonyms & related words [glide, drift, float, flow, slide,
slip, sweep, skim, coast, skate, breeze, flit, whizz, speed, streak, shoot, whip, whoosh,
buzz, zoom, flash, blast, career, fly, wing, kite, skite, scud, scorch, tear, zap, zip, soar,
wing, wing its way, take to the air, fly, ascend, mount, climb, arc, curve],

beat (one) to the punch (id.) – to do or obtain something before someone else does
[I was going to suggest that idea to the boss today, but unfortunately one of my co-workers
beat me to the punch. I wanted to have the new car, but Sally beat me to the punch. I
planned to write a book about using the new software program, but someone else beat me
to the draw. A grenadier beat him to the punch, and his attacker was liquefied in a burst of
melta fire, the periphery of which washed over Costellin and left his cheeks feeling
sunburnt, the odour of his own singed eyebrows in his nostrils.],

hubbub (n.) – a loud noise, especially caused by a lot of people all talking at the same
time; general excitement and activity, a busy, noisy situation [I could hardly hear myself
speak above all the hubbub in the bar. Once the hubbub of the election ahd died down, it
was back to normal for the president. Then, a new sound was added to the hubbub around
him: a rustling sound, like a million leaves blown on a strong gale. A hubbub of laughter
and shouting. His wife's voice could be heard above the hubbub. She fought through the
hubbub.] – synonyms & related words [noise, loud noise, din, racket, commotion,
clamour, ruckus, cacophony, babel, rumpus, row, vociferation, confusion, chaos,
pandemonium, bedlam, mayhem, uproar, disorder, turmoil, tumult, fracas, hurly-burly,
havoc, brouhaha; stramash; bangarang; hullabaloo],

impunity (n.) – freedom from punishment or from the unpleasant results of

something that has been done [Criminal gangs are terrorizing the city with apparent
impunity. The impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings. Criminals
who appear to flout the law with impunity. The necron ghosts, of course, could pass
through the insect swarm with impunity to blindside the grenadiers. They were cutting
down victim after victim, almost before any of them could react.] – synonyms & related
words [immunity, indemnity, exemption from punishment, freedom from punishment,
exemption, non-liability, licence; amnesty, dispensation, pardon, reprieve, stay of
execution, exoneration; privilege, special treatment, favouritism; carte blanche,
unpunished, with no ill consequences, with no ill effects, without being punished,
without punishment, scot-free],

indemnity (n.) – (formal or specialized) protection against possible damage or loss,

especially as a promise of payment, or the money paid if there is such damage or loss;
security against or exemption from legal responsibilit yofr one's actions; a sum of money
paid as compensation, especially one paid by a country defeated in war as a condition of
peace [No indemnity will be given for loss of chas. An outgoing partner should insist on
indemnity against future liabilities of the firm. A deed of indemnity. The public purse would
be saved the burden of paying indemnity.] – synonyms & related words [insurance,
assurance, protection, security, indemnification, surety, endorsement, guarantee,
warranty, safeguard, immunity, exemption, exception, dispensation, exclusion, freedom,
release, relief, absolution, exoneration; special treatment, privilege, favouritism;
impunity, a let-off, derogation; reimbursement, compensation, recompense, repayment,
restitution, payment, remuneration, requital, redress, reparation(s), damages; comp,
guerdon, meed, solatium],

meedful (adj.) – worthy of meed or reward, deserving, meritorious – synonyms &

related words [praiseworthy, admirable, creditable, excellent, exemplary, laudable,
commendable, deserving, estimable, meritable, praisable, thankworthy, worthy],

meedfully (adv.) – according to meed or desert, suitably, appropriately, justly, duly,

justifiedly, rightly, deservedly,

meed (n.) – (archaic) an earned reward or wage; a fitting return or recompense, a

payment or recompense made for services rendered or in recognition of some
achievmeent, reward, deserts, award; a gift, bribe; (dated) merit or desert, worth[In
reference to Greek heroes "Of course the mythical monster is present in a number of shapes,
but they are there only to give the hero his meed of glory." 'The sons of the Achaeans
shared it duly among themselves, and chose lovely Chryseis as the meed of Agamemnon;...'
"Mrs. Stillman's life was so sparing of meed, she took utmost delight in what was
proffered." He could have endured poverty; and while this distress had been the need of his
virtue, he gloried in it..." "When the work is over for the day the men gather round the fire
for an hour or two to sing songs, talk, smoke, and tell stories; and he who has a good voice,
or, better still, can play a fiddle or banjo, is sure to receive his meed of most sincere
homage.“ „The judge deserves a meed of praise...“ „The meed of blood that every revolution
extracted from its martyrs...“],

guerdon (n.) – a reward, prize, or recompense for a service, an accolade,

gratify (v.) – to please someone, or to satisfy a wish or need [We were gratified by the
response to our appeal. He was gratified to see how well his students had done. Some
people expect instant gratification (= to get what they want immediately). His pistol was
still flaring and, gratifyingly, its plasma bursts consumed whole areas of the swarm, but
always the gaps were soon filled as more insects streamed inward from the tunnels. She
was gratified to see the shock in Jim's eyes. It gratified him to be seen in her company. Not
all sexual impulses can be gratified. He was gratifying his strange desires.] – synonyms &
related words [please, gladden, give pleasure to, make happy, make content, delight,
make someone feel good, satisfy, warm the cockles of the heart, thrill, tickle someone
pink, give someone a buzz/kick, buck someone up; satisfy, fulfill, indulge, relieve, humor,
comply with, pander to, cater to, give in to, quench, slake, satiate, pacify, appease,
assuage, provide for, feed, accommodate],

heave a sigh of relief (id.) – to suddenly feel very happy because something
unpleasant has not happened or has ended [We both heaved a sigh of relief when she
left.],

heave (v.) – to move something heavy using a lot of effort; (informal) to throw
something forcefully, especially something large and heavy; if something heaves, it
makes one ore more large movements up and down [He heaved the bag onto his
shoulder. He cleared a space, having boxes out of the way. She picked up a heavy book and
heaved it at him. As the wind increased, the deck of the ship began to heave beneath his
feet. A phalanx of the swarm came surging towards him, as if some gestalt mind had sensed
his attempt to escape, and the gate of the cage was heaving and rattling, sliding too slowly
shut. She heaved the sofa back into place. She heaved half a brick at him. His shoulders
heaved as he panted. The sea heaved up and down beneath her.] – synonyms & related
words [haul, pull, lug, manhandle, drag, draw, tug, lift, raise, hoist, heft, hump, yank,
upheave, throw, fling, cast, toss, hurl, lob, pitch, send, dash, let fly, bung, chuck, sling, peg,
hoy, bish, rise and fall, roll, swell, surge, churn, boil, seethe, swirl, billow],

come away (v.) – if something comes away from something else, it becomes separated
from it [I just opened the drawer as usual and the handle came away in my hand. The
paper has started to come away from the walls. Another block of stone came away from the
wall. He tugged at a chain, and his gloves came away slick with oil. He didn’t know how
much further this shaft ran, didn’t know if, lacking the youthful strength of the grenadiers,
he could make it up, but what choice did he have other than to try? He began to climb.],

come away (with something) (v.) – to leave a place or situation with the stated
feeling, idea, condition, etc. [I recently spent about 90 minuts shopping on the internet,
and I came away empty-handed. Some 39 percent said they came away with a more
favorable view of the candidate.],

emulate (v.) – (formal) to copy something achieved by someone else and try to do it as
well as they have [They hope to emulate the success of other software companies.
Fitzgerald is eager to emulate Martin's record of three successive world titles. Most rulers
wished to emulate Alexander the Great. They tried to emulate Lucy's glowing performance.
Hers is not a hairstyle I wish to emulate. Many of the slaves had painted their faces in
emulation of the priests.] – synonyms & related words [imitate, copy, reproduce, mimic,
mirror, echo, follow, model oneself on, take as a model, take as an example; match, equal,
parallel, be the equal of, be on a par with, be in the same league as, come near to, come
close to, approximate; compete with, contend with, rival, vie with, surpass; take a leaf
out of someone's book],
(have) one's heart is in mouth (id.) – one feels extremely nervousl, fearful,
anxious, worried [Our hearts were in our mouths as we waited for them to announce the
winner. „Gosh, Mary," said John, "My heart is in my mouth whenever I see you." It was a
touching scene. My heart was in my mouth the whole time. I had my heart in my mouth
when I heard the national anthem. I am loyal to the God-Emperor of Mankind,’ spat the
prisoner. ‘I am not the heretic here.’ It was Tylar, of course, and Arex’s hand flew to her
mouth in dismay as he was hauled along the nave, past her row of pews. Her legs felt weak
and she made to sit down, but her overseer guards hauled her upright again.],

a catch in your voice/throat (id.) – a short pause that you make when you are
speaking, because you feel upset, sad, or are beginning to cry [There was a catch in
Annie's voice as she seemed closet to tears. With a catch in his voice, Dan told her how
proud he was. There was a catch in her voice. ‘That will be the last blasphemy you utter,’
said Amareth, perfectly calmly, and a tear caught in Arex’s throat as he drew his pistol out
from beneath his vestments.] – synonyms & related words [tremor, unevenness, shake,
shakiness, quiver, quivering, wobble],

ghoulish (adj.) – ugly and unpleasant, or frightening; (disapproving) connected with

death and unpleasant things; morbidly interested in death or disaster [Ghoulish faces. He
takes a ghoulish delight in reading about horrific murders. A ghoulish mask. The torchlight
gave his face a ghoulish appearance. He had a ghoulish hobby of collecting „In Memoriam“
notices. She told the story with ghoulish relish. The slaves who had started to leave had
returned, had begun to edge forward, ghoulishly eager to witness this heretic’s fate. Now, a
susurrant horror spread through them and they drew back again.] – synonyms & related
words [macabre, grisly, gruesome, grotesque, ghastly, morbid, unhealthy, perverted,
death-obsessed, morbid, black, horrible, unwholesome, revolting, sick, disgusting, evil,
ugly],

deathly (adj.) – resemblign or suggestive of death; (archaic, literary) relating to or

causing death [A deathly hush fell over the breakfast table. The wounded soldiers had a
deathly pallor. An eagle carrying a snake in its deathly grasp.] – synonyms & related
words [deathlike, corpse-like, cadaverous, ghostly, ghostlike, ghastly, grim, haggard;
ashen, chalky, chalk-white, white, pale, pallid, bloodless, colourless, wan, anaemic, pasty,
sickly, drained, sapped, like death warmed up, peaky, etiolated],

relish (v.) – (formal) to like or enjoy something; if you relish the idea or thought of
something, you feel pleasure that it is going to happen [I always relish a challenge. I don't
relish telling her that her son has been arrested. He was relishing his memory of glory. We
did not relish the idea of a strike. I don't relish the drive, but we could go by train.] –
synonyms & related words [enjoy, delight in, love, like, adore, be pleased by, take
pleasure in, rejoice in, appreciate, savour, revel in, luxuriate in, glory in; gloat over, feel
self-satisfied about, crow about; get a kick out of, get a thrill out of, look forward to,
fancy, anticipate with pleasure, await with pleasure, lick one's lips over, be unable to
wait for, count the days until, long for, hope for],
relish (n.) – (sauce) a type of sauce that is eaten with food to add flavor to it [Tomato
and onion relish. Would you like relish on your burger? Use salsa as a relish with grilled
meat or fish. The sauce is ideal served as hot relish with beefburgers.] – synonyms &
related words [condiment, accompaniment, sauce, dressing, flavoring, seasoning, dip],

relish (n.) – (enjoyment, formal) the enjoyment you get from doing something [She ate
her cake slowly and with relish. I have no relish for hunting and killing animals. She
swiggled a mouthful of wine with relish. I was ppointed to a post for which I had little
relish. He dug into his plate of food with relish.] – synonyms & related words [enjoyment,
gusto, delight, pleasure, glee, rapture, satisfaction, contentment, contentedness,
gratification, happiness, exhilaration, excitement, titillation, appreciation, liking,
fondness, enthusiasm, appetite, zest; delectation],

aberrant (adj.) – (formal) different from what is typical or usual, espeically in an

unacceptable way [Aberrant behavior/sexuality. A year of aberrant weather – record
rainfall in the summer, record heat in the autumn.] – synonyms & related words
[exceptional, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding,
extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare,
singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted, conspicuous, notable,
noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking bizarre, deviant,
eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird
incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable],

susurrant (adj.) – noisy like silk, murmuring – synonyms & related words [buzzing,
humming, rustling, whispering, sough, susurrus, susurration],

vivid (adj.) – vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful, and
detailed images in the mind: very brightly colored; (archaic, of a person or animal) lively
and vigorous [He gave a very vivid and often shocking account/description of his time in
prison. He's one of those people with a very vivid imagination - every time he hears a noise
he's convinced it's someone breaking in. She was wearing a vivid pink shirt. Memories of
that evening were still vivid. Dickens provides us with a vivid account of nineteenth-century
urban poverty. The rhododendron bush provided a vivid splash of mauve. A vivid blue
Mediterranean sea. She had a deep voice nad strikingly vivid personality.] – synonyms &
related words [graphic, evocative, realistic, true to life, lifelike, faithful, authentic, clear,
crystal clear, detailed, lucid, striking, arresting, impressive, colourful, highly coloured,
rich, dramatic, picturesque, lively, stimulating, interesting, fascinating, scintillating;
memorable, unforgettable, powerful, stirring, affecting, emotive, moving, haunting;
bright, bright-coloured, colourful, deep-coloured, brilliant, glowing, radiant, vibrant,
strong, bold, deep, intense, rich, warm, flaming, flamboyant, glaring, eye-catching, jazzy;
dynamic, flamboyant, striking, strong, powerful, fiery, lively, animated, spirited, vibrant,
vital, vigorous, energetic, vivacious, zestful],
call someone's bluff (id.) – to ask someone to do what they are threatening to do
because you believe they do not intend to do it, but want to trick you in order to gain an
advantage over you, to call out [He threatened to resign, and they called his bluff. They
made for a clumsy procession, the three of them, stumbling towards the doors, Tylar
bundling Amareth ahead of him while maintaining his hold on the pin of the krak grenade,
Arex behind them, terrified that someone might call their bluff, even more afraid that Tylar
might not be bluffing. If anyone did have plans to impede them, however, they were
quashed by the High Priest himself.],

bluff (v.) – to deceive someone by making them think either that you are going to do
something when you really have no intention of doing it, or that you have knowledge
that you do not really have, or that you are someone else; survive a difficult situation by
maintaing a pretense [He's been bluffing all along. The family are simply bluffing to hide
their guilt. I managed to bluff the board into beleiving that I had a long-term strategy. Is he
going to jump or is he only bluffing? Tony seems to know a lot about music, but sometimes I
think he's only bluffing. She bluffed the doorman int othinking that she was a reporter.
There's no point in trying to bluff it out.] – synonyms & related words [pretend, sham,
fake, feign, put on an act, put it on, lie, hoax, pose, posture, masquerade, dissemble,
dissimulate; kid, deceive, delude, mislead, trick, fool, hoodwink, dupe, hoax, take in,
beguile, humbug, bamboozle, gull, cheat; con, put one over on, have on, pull the wool
over someone's eyes, bullshit, cozen],

bluff (n.) – (pretend) an attempt to bluff [When she said she was leaving him, he thought
it was only a bluff. The offer was denounced as a bluff. This offer was denounced as a bluff.]
– synonyms & related words [deception, subterfuge, pretence, sham, fake, show, deceit,
false show, idle boast, feint, delusion, hoax, fraud, masquerade, charade; trick, stratagem,
ruse, manoeuvre, scheme, artifice, machination; humbug, bluster, bombast, bragging;
codology, put-on, put-up job, kidology],

heart-jolting (adj.) distressing [Then, in his struggle to manoeuvre his hostage down
the marble steps, Tylar slipped and Amareth seized his moment. He squirmed free of Tylar’s
hold and lunged for his wrist, sending the grenade spinning out of his hand. It bounced, a
heart-jolting two, three, four times, on its way across the paved courtyard, and only after it
had rolled to a halt in the choked gutter could Arex think again, move again. ] – synonyms
& related words [distressing, stressful, trying, aggravating, nerve-racking, disturbing,
exasperating, maddening, taxing, tense, upsetting],

chrestomathy (n.) – a collection of written passages, used to learn an unfamiliar

language; a collection of choice passages from an auther or authors,

lump sum (n.) – a single payment made at a particular time, as opposed to a number
of smaller payments or instalments [Your pension plan can provide a cash lump sum at
retirement as well as a regular income.],
lumpsome (adj.) – characterized or marked by lumps; large, copous, abundant, well-
endowed,

lissom(e) (adj.) – (literary) attractively thin and able to move quickly and smoothly,
supple, graceful [The kind of outfit that should be left to lissom teenagers. She had the
lissom body of a dancer.] – synonyms & related words [supple, lithe, limber, graceful,
elegant, spry, flexible, loose-limbed, agile, nimble, deft, dexterous, fit, slim, slender, thin,
willowy, sylphlike, sleek, trim],

elfin (adj.) – used to describe a person who is small and delicate, typically with a
mischievous charm [Her features were small, almost elfin. Her black hair suited her elfin
face.] – synonyms & related words [elflike, elfish, elvish, pixie-like; puckish, impish,
playful, mischievous; dainty, delicate, small, petite, slight, little, tiny, diminutive],

you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar (id.) – you make
more friends by being nice than by being rude, better be nice,

recycle (v.) – synonyms & related words [reuse, reprocess, convert into something,
reclaim, recover, salvage, save, rescue, recover, retrieve, get back, restore, reinstate,
retain, preserve, conserve, regain, win back, recoup, recapture, redeem, snatch],

choke (v.) – (stop breathing) if you choke, or if something chokes you, you stop
breathing because something is blocking your throat; to make someone stop breathing
by pressing their throat with the hands [She choked to death on a fish bone. Children can
choke on peanuts. Peanuts can choke a small child. Willie choked on a mouthful of tea.
Christopher gulped and started to choke. Thick clouds of dust choked her.] – synonyms &
related words [gag, retch, cough, struggle for air, fight for breath, gasp, suffocate,
asphyxiate, smother, stifle, overpower, overcome, strangle, throttle],

choke (it) (v.) – (fail) (informal, usually in sports) to fail to do something at a time
when it is urgent, usually because you suddenly lose confidence [He could score points at
will during the qualifying matches, but in the final he completely choked. we were the only
team not to choke when it came to the crunch.],

choke something back (id.) – If you choke back feelings or tears, you force yourself
not to show how angry or upset you are [Choking back my anger, I tried to speak calmly.
"John has had an accident," she said, choking back the tears. Liz was choking back her
anger.] – synonyms & related words [suppress, hold back, fight back, bite back, gulp
back, swallow, check, keep in check, restrain, contain, control, repress, smother, stifle,
curb, bridle, rein in; bite one's lip; keep a/the lid on],

the nitty-gritty (n.) – (informal) the basic, most important facts and aspectsor
practical details of as ubject or a situation [Let's get down to the nitty-gritty – how much
will it cost? Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of finding a job. She is no longer involved in
the nitty-gritty of running the company.] – synonyms & related words [basics, essentials,
essence, essential part, main point, fundamental point, fundamentals, substance, heart of
the matter, nub, core, heart, centre, quintessence, point, crux, gist, salient point, focal
point, nucleus, meat, pith, kernel, marrow, burden; hard work, slog, toil, labour, donkey
work, drudgery, brass tacks, nuts and bolts],

fundamentally (adv.) – in central or primary respects; used to make an emphatic

statement about the basic truth of something [Two fundamentally different concepts of
democracy. They were of fundamentally different temperaments. She was, fundamentally, a
good person. Fundamentally, this is a matter for doctors.] – synonyms & related words
[basically, elementally, radically; structurally, organically, constitutionally, inherently,
intrinsically, materially; vitally, essentially; crucially, centrally, critically, essentially, in
essence, basically, at heart, at bottom, deep down, principally, predominantly, above all,
first of all, most of all, first and foremost, on the whole, by and large, substantially; at the
end of the day, when all is said and done ,when you get right down to it],

implacable (adj.) – (formal) used to describe (someone who has) strong opinions or
feelings that are impossible to change; unable to be stopped, relentless [An implacable
enemy. Implacable hostility. He was an implacable enemy of Ted's. He was their most
implacable critic. The implacable advance of the enemy.] – synonyms & related words
[unappeasable, unpacifiable, unplacatable, unmollifiable, unforgiving, unsparing,
grudge-holding; inexorable, intransigent, adamant, determined, unshakeable,
unswerving, unwavering, inflexible, unyielding, unbending, uncompromising,
unrelenting, relentless, ruthless, remorseless, merciless, pitiless, heartless, cruel, hard,
harsh, stern, steely, tough],

scoop something/somebody up (id.) – to lift something or someone with your

hands or arms in a quick movement [She scooped the children up and ran with them to
safety. I scooped up my belongings into my handbag. She strained her shoulder, her arm,
her fingers, but the grenade was scooped up, whisked out of her reach.] – synonyms &
related words [pick up, gather up, lift, swee up, catch up, take up, snatch up, grab,
remove, clear away],

whisk (v.) – (remove) to take something or someone somewhere else suddenly and
quickly [Our coffees were whisked away before we'd even finished them. We only had half
an hour to see her before she was whisked off to some exotic location. Her husband whisked
her off to Egypt for her birthday.] – synonyms & related words [speed, hurry, rush,
catapult, sweep, hurtle, shoot, pull, snatch, pluck, tug, jerk, take, remove, whip, yank,
dash, rush, tear, dart, hasten, hurry, scurry, scuttle, scamper, sprint, race, run, hare, bolt,
bound, fly, gallop, career, charge, pound, shoot, hurtle, speed, streak, whizz, zoom,
sweep, go like lightning, go hell for leather, go like the wind, flash, double; pelt, scoot,
hotfoot it, leg it, belt, zip, whip, go like a bat out of hell, go like the clappers, bomb,
bucket, wheech, boogie, hightail it, barrel, get the lead out, cut along, post, hieg,
go through a bad/difficult/rough/sticky patch (id.) – (informal) to
experience a lot of problems in a period of your life, to go through troubles [Andy's going
through a rough patch at the moment - his wife wants a divorce.]

on the mend (id.) – improving in health or condition, recovering [The econoomy is on

the mend. It was tough for a while, but I'm on the mend.] – synonyms & related words
[recovering, convalescent, on the road to recovery, making progress, progressing,
improvising],

lightning never strikes twice (saying) – said to show that it is unlikely that
something bad or unusual will happen to the same person twice,

written in the stars (id.) – If you believe that something is written in the stars, you
believe that it will be made to happen by a force that controls the future [It was written
in the stars that they would meet and fall in love.] – synonyms & related words [fated,
ordained, preordained, foreordained, predestined, predetermined, certain, sure, bound
,assured, guaranteed, ver likely, doomed, foredoomed, meant, written in the cards, in the
wind/air, nailed on],

lock, stock and barrel (id.) – a thing in its entirety, with nothing omitted, the
entirety [They want to buy the whole thing, lock, stock, and barrel.] – synonyms & related
words [whole, sum, total, aggregate, totality, gross, sum total, grand total, absolutely,
completely, totally, fully, wholly, altogether, utterly, quite, in every respect, in every way,
in all respects, unreservedly, without reservation, without exception, thoroughly,
perfectly, downright, one hundred per cent, every inch, to the hilt, to the core, all the
way, bang, dead, totes],

go off half-cocked (id.) – to make a premature or ill-considered action [Make sure

none of your men go off half-cocked and ruin this operation.] – synonyms & related words
[premature, hasty, rash, impulsive, ill-considered, untimely, half-baked, inopportune,
jumping the gun, overhasty, precipitate, previous, too soon],

flash in the pan (id.) – a transient occurrence with no long-term effect; a career
notable for early success not followed by any significant accomplishment [The concept
turned out to be merely a flash in the pan and is no longer used. He was named best new
director of 1940, but his career was a flash in the pan.] – synonyms & related words
[momentary success, brief success, bugbear, dud, fad, failure, misfire, nine days' wonder,
wet squib],

nine days' (or seven-day or one-day) wonder (id.) – something that attracts
great interest for a short while but is then forgotten,

much ado about nothing/a storm in a teacup/big deal (id.) – great outrage
or excitement about something trivial,
something and nothing (n.) – something of little substance or importnace,

lightning in a bottle (id.) – a difficult or challenging feat, particularly to attempt

such a feat; great, unlikely, fleeting success, particularly entrepreneurial or media;
ephemeral state or atmosphere, as at a startup company or artistic group,

polyhistor (n.) – someone gifted or learned in multiple disciplines; a universal

scientist (generally in use to describe such a person when the term philosophy meant
the entire summation of all scientific knowledge; i.e., generally from the ancient Greeks
into the eighteenth century.), polymath, renaissance man,

transient (adj.) – (formal) lasting for only a short time, temporary [A glass of whisky
has only a transient warming effect. The city has a large transient population (= many
people who are living in it only temporarily). A transient cold spell. A transient post-war
baby boom.] – synonyms & related words [transitory, temporary, short-lived, short-term,
ephemeral, impermanent, brief, short, momentary; fleeting, flying, evanescent, passing,
fugitive, fading, mutable, unstable, volatile, here today and gone tomorrow, fly-by-night,
fugacious],

disillusion (v.) – to disappoint someone by telling them the unpleasant truth about
something or someone that they had a good opinion of or respected [I hate to/I'm sorry
to disillusion you, but pregnancy is not always wonderful - I was sick every day for six
months.If they think we have a magic formula to solve the problem, don't disillusion them.]
– synonyms & related words [disabuse, undeceive, enlighten, set straight, open
someone's eyes; disenchant, shatter someone's illusions, disappoint, make sadder and
wiser; throw cold water on],

sadder but wiser (adj.) – If someone is sadder but wiser after a bad experience, they
have suffered but they have also learned something from it [We came through the
economic disaster sadder but wiser, hopefully better prepared for such disasters in the
future. I left the dinner sadder but wiser, understanding just how entrenched her family's
bigotry still is. After the accident, I was sadder but wiser, and would never make the same
mistake again. We left the meeting sadder but wiser, knowing that we could not ever come
to an agreement with Becky's aunt.],

wizened (adj.) – small, shrivelled and having dry skin with lines in it, especially
because of old age [He was a wizened old man with yellow skin and deep wrinkles. A
wizened, weather-beaten old man. His wizened face.] – synonyms & related words
[wrinkled, lined, creased, shrivelled (up), withered, weather-beaten, thin, shrunken,
gnarled, dried up, worn, wasted; sere],

sere (adj.) – (archaic) without moisture, dry, (compare with „sear(ed)“,

sere (adj.) – (now rare, archaic, dialectal) set apart, separate, individual, different,
diverse, several, many,

serely (adv.) – (now rare, archaic, dialectal) separately, differently, severally, distinctly,

resistentialism (n.) – (humorous) the belief that some inanimate objects exhibit
malice toward humans,

resistor (n.) – one who resists, especially a person who fights against an occupying
army; an electric component that transmits current in direct proportion to the voltage
across it,

perfect storm (n.) – an extremely bad situation in which many bad things happen at
the same time, a situation where a calamity is caused by the convergence and amplifying
interactions of a number of factors,

snub (n. v.) – to insul someone by not giving them any attention or treating them as if
they are not important, the act of rebuffing or ignoring someone or something [I think
she felt snubbed because Anthony hadn't bothered to introduce himself. I simply didn't
recognize her and apparently she took it as a snub. He snubbed faculty members and
students laike. They were accused of snubbing their hosts by missing two official functions.
The move was a snub to the government. She was angry and humiliated at her very public
snub.] – synonyms & related words [insult, slight, affront, humiliate, treat
disrespectfully; rebuff, spurn, repulse, cold-shoulder, brush off, disdain, scorn, give
someone a slap in the face, give someone the cold shoulder, turn one's back on, keep
someone at arm's length; cut (dead), ignore, take no notice of; stiff; ive someone the
brush-off, freeze out, stiff-arm, knock back, put down; give someone the go-by, misprize,
scout, rebuff, insult, repulse, slight, affront, slap in the face, humiliation, brush-off, put-
down],

there's none so deaf as those who will not hear (saying) – said about
someone who chooses to ignore advice or will not believe what they are told,

lost in the shuffle (id.) – If something or someone gets lost in the shuffle, that thing
or person does not get the attention they deserve, unattended [Refugee children in the
big camps just get lost in the shuffle and are sometimes left without food.],

wind up (id.) – to excite, to anger [Try not to wind up the kids too much right before
bedtime. The only reason you come to mass is to wind up me. It won't happen this
morning.],

wind up (v.) – arrange the affairs of and dissolve a company; gradually or finally bring
an activity to a conclusion; (informal) increase the tension, intensity, or power of
something [The company has since been wound up. The experiments had to be wound up
because the funding stopped. Richard wound up the meeting justb efore noon.] – synonyms
& related words [close (down), dissolve, liquidate, put into liquidation, conclude, bring
to an end/close, end, terminate, finish, wrap up],

wind down (v.) – (of a mechanism, especially one operated by clockwork) gradually
lose power; (of a person) relax after stress or excitement; draw or bring gradually to a
close [When he goes on holiday, it takes him the first couple of days just to wind down.
The storm finally began to wind down after four hours of heavy rain. Temple University
is winding down its 14th consecutive losing season. I sank into a hot bath in ordet o
wind down. He needed to wind down after the spiralling tension of the day. Business
began to wind down as people awaited the new regime. A decision was taken to wind
down the property development buisness.] – synonyms & related words [relax, unwind,
calm down, cool down/off, ease up/off, take it easy, rest, put one's feet up, de-stress, let
it all hang out, unbutton, hang loose, stay loose, chill out, kick back, chill, draw to a close,
come to an end, tail off, taper off, diminish, lessen, dwindle, decline; slacken off, slack off,
slow down, phase out, run down, close down, bring to an end/close],

wind-down (n.) – a gradual lessening of activity, intensity, or scale as something

comes to an end [The wind-down of space exploration.],

somewhere between nowhere and goodbye (id.) – ??? [For me, then, real hope
comes, not from a sweet but ultimately romantic humanistic sentimentality which says
that “getting our shot” (as Freeman put it) is all we can hope for. Nor does it come from the
faith (?) of a Churchianity that’s been, amazingly, quite deceived: that everyone already
has all the shot God in his “sovereignty” has allowed for them…. forever. If either of those
options were true, then all the many people who have died trying, or died without trying, or
died meaninglessly because of the stupidity or negligence or evil of another, would have
died for nothing. They would be just where Freeman thinks Eastwood might have gone…
“somewhere between nowhere and goodbye.” Or, if the Christian mainstream is right,
they’d be well beyond good-bye, into horrible, unceasing, conscious “good riddance”. I
wouldn't say that this really means anything in a literal sense. It just conveys a feeling of
desperation. This is the kind of suffocating place that people with big dreams yearn to
escape. „It is used in the movie "Million Dollar Baby" in a phrase like "she came from XXX,
which is between nowhere and good-bye." I guess it's not a good place, judging from the
movie. According to your explanation, that place is a dull place with no attraction, no
action, no industry... and almost unknown. That is the impression I got from your
explanation.“],

work up something (id.) – (bring into being) to bring something into existence, esp.
gradually or in stages [We worked up a real appetite climbing the mountains. It's strange
but I can't work up any enthusiasm for going on this trip.] – synonyms & related words
[stimulate, agitate, animate, excite, get up, inflame, rouse, arouse, breed, cause, develop,
engender, generate, hatch, improve, incite, induce, instigate, move, muster up, occasion,
produce, spur, stir up, awaken, give rise to, prompt, provoke, pique, trigger, spark off,
kindle, elicit, beget, enkindle],
kindle (v.) – set (something) on fire; arouse or inspire (an emotion or feeling); (of an
emotion) be aroused; become impassioned or excited [He kindled a fire of dry grass. A
love of art was kindled in me. It was Elvis who kindled my interest in music. She hesitated,
suspicion kindling within her. The young man kindled at once.] – synonyms & related
words [: light, ignite, set alight, set light to, set on fire, set fire to, put a match to, set
burning, get going, start, touch off, spark; torch; : rouse, arouse, wake, waken, awaken,
quicken; stimulate, inspire, stir up, call forth, call/bring into being, draw forth, bring out,
excite, evoke, pique, whet, stir, provoke, spur, fire, inflame, trigger, prompt, induce,
encourage, actuate, activate, touch off, spark off, set off, set going, incite, promote,
engender, generate; enkindle],

skew (n.) – a bias or distortion in a particular direction [But it's never this much of a
titanic skew.] – synonyms & related words [prejudice, partiality, partisanship,
favouritism, unfairness, one-sidedness; bigotry, intolerance, racism, racialism, sexism,
heterosexism, homophobia, chauvinism, anti-Semitism, discrimination, a jaundiced eye;
predisposition, leaning, tendency, inclination, propensity, proclivity, proneness,
predilection; parti pris],

take on (v.) – (UK, informal) become very upset, especially needlessly [Don't take on so
– no need to upset yourself. Don't take on so!] – synonyms & related words [get upset,
make a fuss, break down, get excited, go too far, lose one's sense of proportion,
overreact; lose one's cool, get in a tizzy],

pigheaded (adj.) – stupidly obstinate [I was too pig-headed to listen. All fighters are
pigheaded.] – synonyms & related words [obstinate, stubborn, stubborn as a mule,
mulish, bull-headed, obdurate, headstrong, self-willed, wilful, perverse, contrary,
recalcitrant, refractory, stiff-necked; tenacious, dogged, single-minded, inflexible,
uncompromising, adamant, intractable, intransigent, unyielding, unmalleable,
unpersuadable],

get into/hit one's stride (id.) – to begin to do something confidently and well [He
soon got into his stride and produced several more books.],

mo chuisle (Gaelic) – my darling, heart, blood, beloved (literally „my pulse“),

rescind (v.) – (formal) to make a law, agreement, order, or decision no longer have any
(legal) power [The policy of changing air travellers for vegetarian meals provded
unpopular and has already been rescinding. We'll just have to rescind her gala invitation.
The government eventually rescinded the directive. The court has the power to rescind a
bankruptcy order.] – synonyms & related words [revoke, repeal, cancel, reverse,
abrogate, overturn, overrule, override, annul, nullify, declare null and void, make void,
void, invalidate, render invalid, quash, abolish, set aside, countermand, retract,
withdraw; vacate, avoid; recall, disannul],
revamp (v.) – (informal) to change or arrange something again, in order to improve it
[We revamped the management system, but the business is doing no better than it was
before. An attempt to revamp the museum's image. They plan to revamp the kitchen.] –
synonyms & related words [renovate, redecorate, refurbish, recondition, rehabilitate,
rebuild, reconstruct, overhaul, make over; modernize, update, bring up to date, renew;
improve, upgrade; refit, re-equip, refurnish; brighten up, freshen up, spruce up; remodel,
refashion, redesign, restyle, rejig, rework, redo, remould, reorganize; bring up to code;
do up, fix up, give something a facelift, vamp up, tart up, rehab],

add salt to something (id.) – (UK, old-fashioned) if you add salt to a subject or
conversation, you make it more interesting [You can be sure she'll always add salt to the
conversation!],

a shot in the arm (id.) – something that has a sudden and positive effect on
something, providing encouragement and new activity [Fresh investments would provide
the shot in the arm that this industry so badly needs.],

allay (v.) – (formal) If you allay a strong emotion felt by someone, such as fear or
worry, you cause them to feel it less or to feel calm again, dimish or put at rest (fear,
suspicion, or worry); relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger) [The government is trying to
allay public fears/concern about the spread of the disease. The report attempted to
educate the public and allay fears. This should help to allay your fears. Some stale figs
partly allayed our hunger.] – synonyms & related words [reduce, diminish, decrease,
lessen, assuage, alleviate, ease, relieve, soothe, soften, take the edge off, dull, cushion,
mollify, moderate, calm, lull, temper, mitigate, palliate, blunt, deaden, abate, tone down;
dispel, banish, dismiss, dissipate, drive away, drive off, chase away, put to rest, quell,
check, eliminate; lenify],

parrot cry (n.) – a shout which is mindlessly or mechanically repeated [Michael

Portillo as shadow chancellor will immediately leap up with the parrot-cry: "Labour
always increases taxes and often invents new ones". Parrot cries for silence on delicate
political issues sounded increasingly archaic – and were quite unable to stem the rising
tide of parlementary critique.],

parrot-fashion (adv.) – if you learn or repeat a piece of text parrot-fashion, you learn
or repeat the exact words, usually without understanding them; without thought or
understanding, mechanically [She repeated the phrase parrot-fashion. His wife had just
repeated the phrase parrot-fashion.] – synonyms & related words [mechanically, by rote,
mindlessly, without thinking, unthinkingly, automatically],

uncanny (adj.) – strange or mysterious, difficult or impossible to explain, especially in

an unsettling way [An uncanny resemblance. An uncanny feeling that she was being
watched. All the clocks had stopped nad the silence was uncanny. There was an uncanny
resemblanceb etween the two pictures. Silence followed, uncanny. It spoke more than
words.] – synonyms & related words [eerie, unnatural, preternatural, supernatural,
unearthly, other-worldly, unreal, ghostly, mysterious, strange, abnormal, odd, curious,
queer, weird, bizarre, freakish; eldritch; creepy, spooky, freaky, rum, bizarro, striking,
remarkable, extraordinary, out of the ordinary, out of the way, unusual, exceptional,
astounding, astonishing, incredible, conspicuous, noteworthy, notable, considerable,
distinctive, arresting],

arresting (adj.) – striking, eye-catching [At 6 ft 6 in he was an arresting figure. This is

certainly an arresting image.] – synonyms & related words [striking, eye-catching,
conspicuous, noticeable, dramatic, impressive, imposing, spectacular, breathtaking,
dazzling, amazing, astounding, astonishing, surprising, staggering, stunning, sensational,
awesome, awe-inspiring, engaging; remarkable, notable, noteworthy, distinctive,
extraordinary, outstanding, incredible, phenomenal, unusual, rare, uncommon, out of
the ordinary, amazeballs],

though (conjuction) – (archaic) if, that, even if [We shall not be sorry though we die
tonight.],

secondhand (adj.) – (of goods) having had a previous owner, not new; (of
information or experience) accepted on another's authority and not from original
investigation [A second-hand car. A second-hand workshop. Second-hand knowledge of her
country.] – synonyms & related words [used, old, nearly new, worn, pre-owned, handed-
down, cast-off, hand-me-down, reach-me-down, indirect, secondary, derivative, derived,
vicarious,

vicarious (adj.) – experienced as a result of watching, listening to, or reading about the
activities of other people, rather than by doing the activities yourself; acting or done for
another [She took a vicarious pleasure in her friend's achievements. People experience
vicarious pleasures through watching television. The concept of vicarious atonement, that
one person can atone for the sins of another, is found in many religions. This catalogue
brings vicarious pleasure in luxury living. My friend was going to italy and I was in a fever
of vicarious excitement. A vicarious atonement.] – synonyms & related words [indirect,
second-hand, secondary, derivative, derived, at one remove, surrogate, substitute,
substituted, by proxy; empathetic, empathic],

derivative (adj.) – imitative of the work of another artist, writer, etc., and usually
disapproved of for that reason [An artist who is not in the slightest bit derivative. Her
poetry was mannered and derivative.] – synonyms & related words [imitative, unoriginal,
uninventive, non-innovative, unimaginative, uninspired; copied, plagiarized, plagiaristic,
second-hand, secondary, echoic; trite, hackneyed, clichéd, stale, tired, worn out, flat,
rehashed, warmed-up, stock, banal, copycat, cribbled, old hat, hacky],

indirect (adj.) – not directly caused by or resulting from something; not done directly,
conducted through intermidiaries; (of costs) derived from overhead charges or
subsidiary work; (of taxation) levied on goods and services rather than income or
profits; (of a route) not straight, not following the shortest way; (of lightning) from a
concealed source and diffusely reflected; avoiding direct mention or exposition of a
subject [Full employment would have an indirect effect on wage levels. Motherhood has an
indirect effect on pay. Local government under the indirect control of the British. Hidden or
indirect costs involved in training. He took a careful, indirect route home from his dockside
rendezvous. The indirect route is usually less congested. Fittings were installed to give a
sbdued, indirect light in the nave. An indirect attack on the Archbishop.] – synonyms &
related words [incidental, accidental, unintended, secondary, subordinate, ancillary,
collateral, concomitant, accompanying, contingent, resulting, resultant, consequential,
derived, derivative, roundabout, circuitous, deviant, divergent, wandering, meandering,
serpentine, winding, curving, tortuous, zigzag; anfractuous, oblique, inexplicit,
roundabout, circuitous, implicit, implied, allusive],

suspicious (adj.) – having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something;

causing one to have the idea or impression that someone or something is questionable,
dishonest, or dangerous; having the belief or impression that someone is involved in an
illegal or dishonest activity [He was suspicious of her motives. He was suspicious of all
educational innovations. They are not treating the fire as suspicious. I think he's a highly
suspicious character. His wife disappeared in suspicious circumstances. Police were called
when staff became suspicious.] – synonyms & related words [doubtful, unsure, dubious,
wary, chary, sceptical, distrustful, mistrustful, disbelieving, having reservations,
apprehensive, cynical, jaundiced, iffy, disreputable, unsavoury, dubious, suspect, guilty-
looking, dishonest-looking, strange-looking, queer-looking, funny-looking, slippery;
shifty, shady, dodgy, questionable, odd, strange, dubious, irregular, queer, funny,
doubtful, not quite right, under suspicion, mysterious, murky, dark, criminal, dishonest,
corrupt; fishy, shady, dodgy],

jealous (adj.) – feeling or showing an envous resentment of someone or their

achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages; feeling or showing a resentful
suspicion that one's partner is attracted to or involved with someone else; fiercely
protective of one's rights or possessions; (of God) demanding faithfulness and exclusive
worship [She was always jealous of me. He was jealous of his brother's popularity. A
jealous husband. The men were proud of their achievements and jealous of their
independence. They are very jealous of their rights.] – synonyms & related words
[envious, covetous, desirous; resentful, grudging, begrudging; jaundiced, bitter,
malicious, spiteful; green with envy, green, green-eyed; greedy, selfish, acquisitive;
emulous, suspicious, distrustful, mistrustful, doubting, insecure, anxious; apprehensive
of rivals, possessive, proprietorial, overprotective, clinging, controlling, dominating,
protective, defensive, vigilant, watchful, heedful, mindful, careful, solicitous, attentive],

lee (n.) – the side of hill, wall ,etc. that provides shelter from the wind; (sailing) a
protected cove or harbor, out of the wind; (sailing) the side of the ship away from the
wind; a sheltered place, especially a place protected from the wind by some object, the
side sheltered from the wind, shelter, protection [The lee of a mountain, an island, or a
ship. Ducks were taking shelter on the lee of the island. He went round the front of the cab
to be out of the wind and lit a cigarette in its lee. They sat in the lee of the wall.] –
synonyms & related words [shelter, protection, cover, refuge, safety, security, sanctuary,
haven, shield],

lees (n.) – the subtance that is left at the bottom of a container of liquid, especially in a
bottle of wine, dregs; the most worthless part or parts of something [The lees in the
bottom of the cask. The lees of the Venetian underworld.] – synonyms & related words
[sediment, dregs, deposit, grounds, settlings, residue, remains, accumulation, silt, sludge,
precipitate, sublimate, residuum, draff, grouts],

draff (n.) – dregs or refuse, the wash given to swine or cows, hogwash or waster matter
[A crowd immersed in ordure, that appeard' draff of the human body.]

grouts (n.) – sediments, dregs, or grounds [Old women told fortunes in grouts of tea.],

grout (v.) – to put a thin line of mortar in the space between tiles [We spent the
weekend grouting the bathroom. Soak off the facing paper with a damp sponge, then grout
the tiles. I spent the whole afternoon grouting the kitchen floor.],

forbearance (n.) – (formal) the quality of being patient and being able to forgive
someone or control yourself in a difficult situation, patient self-control, restraint and
tolerance; (law) the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially
enforcing the payment of a debt, a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a
debt, right, or obligation) that is due [He thanked his employees for the forbearance (that)
they had shown during the company's difficult times. His unfailing courteys and
forbearance under great provocation.] – synonyms & related words [tolerance,
toleration, patience, resignation, endurance, fortitude, stoicism, long-sufferingness,
leniency, lenity, clemency, indulgence; restraint, self-restraint, self-control, moderation,
temperance, mildness],

forbear (v.) – to prevent yourself from saying or doing something, especially in a way
that shows control, good judgement, or kindness to others [His plan was such a success
that even his original critics could scarcely forbear from congratulating him. The doctor
said she was optimistic about the outcome of the operation but forbore to make any
promises at this early stage. He modestly forbears to include his own work. The boy
forebore from touching anything. Rebecca could not forbear a smile.] – synonyms &
related words [refrain, abstain, desist, keep, restrain oneself, stop oneself, hold back,
withhold; resist the temptation to, steer clear of, give a wide berth to, fight shy of;
eschew, avoid, shun, decline to; cease, give up, break off; i lay off, leave off, swear off,
give over, jack in, belay],
manacle (v.) – to put manacles around a person's legs or arms [They had manacled her
legs together. His arm was manacled to a ring on the wall. His hands were manacled
behind his back. Bosley and Hughes knelt on him and manacled his hands behind his back.
Arex tried to stand but she only got as far as her knees. A jeering crowd was forming
around her; her hands were pulled behind her back and secured with proctor handcuffs.
She was joined by Tylar, who was similarly manacled, and the crowd were baying for the
blood of them both, but silence descended as Amareth marched through them.] –
synonyms & related words [shackle, fetter, chain, chain up, put in chains, put/clap in
irons, handcuff, restrain, tie, secure, cuff],

clothe (v.) – to provide someone with clothes; endow with a particularly quality; put
clothes on (oneself or someone else), dress [Francesca was clothed in white. They were
clothed from head to foot in robes of gold. A long valley clothed in conifers. They already
had eight children to feed and clothe. It is clothed with an aura of respectibility.] –
synonyms & related words [dress, attire, outfit, array, rig (out), turn out, fit out, costume,
trick out/up, robe, garb, deck out, drape, accoutre; put clothes on; doll up, bedizen,
caparison, apparel, trap out, habit, invest, cover, overlay, overspread, cloak, blanket,
carpet, envelop, swathe, swaddle, shroud, wrap, surround],

bediz(z)en (v.) – to ornament something in showy, tasteless, or gaudy finery, to

clothe; (dialectal, Northern England) to dirty, cover with dirt,

dizen (v.) – to dress with flax for spinning; to dress with clothes, attire, deck, bedizen;
(UK, dialectal) to dress showily, dress out,

he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day (saying) – used to
say that it can be a good and acceptable decision to leave a difficult situation,

a fight to the finish (id.) – a situation in which two groups or people intend to fight
until one side has been defeated,

slug it out (v.) – if two people slug it out, they fight or argue violently until one of them
wins,

bed down (v.) – (sleep) to lie down somewhere, usually somewhere different from
where you usually sleep, in order to go to sleep [I bedded down on the couch for the
night.],

bed down (v.) – (work well) if a new process or organization beds down, it starts to
operate well because it has existed for long enough [It did not take the procedure long to
bed down.],

bed of roses (id.) – an easy and happy existence – synonyms & related words [clover,
comfort, lap of luxury, life of ease, easy life, easy living, luxury, milk and honey, paradise,
the good life, velve],
bed of nails (id.) – a difficult situation or way of life [Rebecca is a safe pair of hands in
a job that has always been a bed of nails.],

a safe pair of hands (id.) – used to denote someone who is capable, reliable, or
trustworthy in the management of a situation [They were searching for a safe pair of
hands to oversee the running of the lottery.],

a hard/tough row to hoe (id.) – (mainly US) a difficult situation to deal with
[Teachers have a tough row to hoe in today's schools.] – synonyms & related words [dog's
life, hard case, hard life, hard plight, miserable life, vale of tears],

recoil (v.) – to move back because of fear or disgust (= dislike or disapproval); rebound
or spring back through force of impact or elasticity; (of a gun) move abruptly backwards
as a reaction on firing a bullet, shell, or other missile; to refuse to accept an idea or
principle, feeling strong dislike or disapproval; (of an action) to have an adverse reactive
effect on (the originator) [He leaned forward to kiss her adn she recoiled in horror. I
recoiled from the smell and the filth. She wondered how it would be to touch him and
recoiled at the thought. He recoiled in horror. As he leaned towards her, she instinctively
recoiled. Ronni felt herself recoil at the very thought. He pictured them in his mind and
recoiled from the thought. The muscle has the ability to recoil. The rifle recoiled. His rifle
recoiled. If a man upsets his planetary ecosystem, it will automatically recoil upon him. His
attempt to discredit them will eventually recoil on him. A nervous overseer scuttled
forward with the krak grenade and asked what he should do with it, and a recoiling
Amareth ordered him to disarm it, somewhere far away from here, and waved away his
protestations that he didn’t know how.] – synonyms & related words [draw back, jump
back, spring back, jerk back, pull back, flinch, shy away, shrink (back), blench, start,
wince, cower, quail, feel revulsion at, feel disgust at, feel abhorrence at, be unable to
bear, be unable to stomach, shrink from, shy away from, baulk at, hesitate at, fly back,
rebound on, come back on, affect badly, misfire, backfire, boomerang, go wrong, fail to
work out, be unsuccessful, go amiss, come to grief, meet with disaster, redound on],

blench (v.) – to move back or away suddenly or react physically because something
frightens, disgusts (= shocks), or upsets you; (humorous) to be very unwilling to do
something; (of the eye) to quail; to deceive, cheat; to hinder, obstruct, disconcert, foil; to
fly off, to turn aside [At the sight of the dead animal, Diana blenched. My sister blenches at
the very thought of cahnging a baby's nappy. He blenched and struggled to regain his
composure. She blenched at the size of the bill. Though sometimes you do blench from this
to that.] – synonyms & related words [flinch, start, shy (away), recoil, shrink, pull back,
back away, draw back, cringe, wince, quiver, shudder, shiver, tremble, quake, shake,
quail, cower, waver, falter, hesitate, get cold feet, blanch],

redound (v.) – (formal) to contribute greatly to (a person's credit or honor), to

contribute to an advantage or disadvantage for someone or something; to contribute to
the honor, shame, etc. of a person or organization; to reverberate, to echo; to reflect
(honor, shame etc.) to or onto someone; (archaic) come back upon, rebound on, to
attach come back, accrue to someone, to reflect back on or upon someone (of honor
,shame, etc.); to arise from or out of something; (of a wave, flood, etc.) to roll back, to be
sent or driven back [His latest diplomatic effort will redound to his credit. He must hope
that his diplomatic effort will still redound to his credit. May his sin redound upon his head.
The unimagined consequence of the detonation redounded upon them.] – synonyms &
related words [contribute to, be conducive to, result in, lead to, effect, have an effect,
affect, conduce to, rebound on, have an adverse effect on, come back on, recoil on,
misfire, backfire],

come to grief (id.) – to suddenly fail in what you are doing, often because you have an
accident, have an accident, meet with disaster [The Italian champion was in second
position when he came to grief on the third lap. Many a ship has come to grief along this
shore. The scheme came to grief because of the opposition of the Cabin Secretary.] –
synonyms & related words [fail, meet with failure, meet with the disaster, miscarry, go
wrong, go awary, fall through, fall flat, be frustrated, break down, collapse, founder, fold,
come to nothing, come to naught, come unstuck, come a cropper, flop, fizzle out, go phut,
go down like a lead balloon, bomb, go to the wall, bite the dust, go pear-shaped, tank],

founder (v.) – (especially of a boat) to fill with water and sink; (of a plan or
undertaking) fail or break down as a result of a particular problem; (of a horse or it
srider) stumble from exhaustion, lameness, etc. [The ferry foundered in a heavy storm,
taking many of the passengers and crew with it. Teaching computers to read and write has
always foundered on te unpredictable human element in language. Six drowned when the
yacht foundered off the Cornish coast. The ship foundered on a voyage to Holland. The talks
foundered on the issue of reform. The scheme foundered due to lack of organizational
backing. Some of their horses foundered and damaged themselves in the stones of the
riverbed. Some of their horses foundered in the river bed.] – synonyms & related words
[sink, go to the bottom, go down, be lost at ease, submerge, capsize, run aground, be
swamped, go to Davy Jones's locker, fail, be unsuccessful, not succeed, lack success, fall
through, fall flat, break down, abort, miscarry, be defeated, suffer defeat, be in vain, be
frustrated, collapse, misfire, backfire, not come up to scratch, meet with disaster, come
to grief, come to nothing, come to naught, miss the mark, run aground, go wrong, go
awry, go astray; flop, fizzle out, flatline, come a cropper, bite the dust, blow up in
someone's face, go down like a lead balloon, stumble, trip, trip up, lose one's balance,
lose/miss one's footing, slip, pitch, stagger, lurch, totter, fall, fall down, fall over, fall
headlong, tumble, topple, sprawl, go lame, collapse],

candlelight vigil (n.) – an event that includes lighting candles, used to remember the
victims of a tragedy,

eiderdown (n.) – a thick covering for the top of a bed, filled with soft feathers or
warm material, duvet; the soft feathers of a duck, used for filling pillows, bed covers, etc.
[She snuggled beneath the eiderdown.],
pinpoint (n.) – a very small spot of something, a tiny dot pr oint [A pinpoint of light. A
pinpoint of light. A pinpoint of light from a torch. She flinched from it, catching her breath.
She had only seen these cadaverous horrors from a distance before. An impassive metal
skull swung around to face her, pinpoints of green light flaring in its eyeholes, and Arex
found her soul transfixed by an image of death made chillingly incarnate. She tried to back
away from it, but Amareth’s priests barred her path. Evidently, however, she held no
interest for the creature, and it turned and proceeded on its way, the priests parting
obsequiously for it.] – synonyms & related words [point, spot, speck, dot, fleck, dapple,
speckle, source],

obsequious (adj.) – (formal, disapproving) too eager to praise or obey someone,

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree [She is embarrasingly obseqious to
anyone in authority. They were served by obsequious waiters. An obsequious manservant
welcomed them.] – synonyms & related words [servile, ingratiating, unctuous,
sycophantic, fawning, toadying, oily, oleaginous, greasy, grovelling, cringing, toadyish,
sycophantish, subservient, submissive, slavish, abject, Uriah Heepish; slimy, bootlicking,
smarmy, sucky, soapy, brown-nosing, arse-licking, bum-sucking, kiss-ass, ass-kissing],

play up (v.) – (child) when children play up, they behave badly; fail to function
properly ; put all one's energy into a game [The boys have been playing up at school
again. I hadn't had much sleep – the kids had been playing up. His phone line was
constantly playing up. The boiler's playing up again. The captain told his team to play up.]
– synonyms & related words [not work properly, be defective, be faulty, malfunction, act
up, give trouble, be/go on the blink],

obsequies (n.) – (formal) things that are formally said and done at a funeral [A vast
congregation filled the cathedral for the final obsequies.],

conceited (adj.) – (disapproving) too proud of yourself and your actions and abilities
[Without wishing to sound conceited, I am the best salesperson in the company. Fred's so
conceited he'd never believe anyone would refuse him. He's so conceited he'dnever believe
anyone would turn him down.] – synonymx & related words [vain, narcissistic, pleased
with oneself, self-loving, in love with oneself, self-admiring, self-regarding, self-centred,
egotistic, egotistical, egoistic, egocentric, egomaniac; proud, arrogant, boastful, cocky,
cocksure, full of oneself, above oneself, self-important, immodest, swaggering, strutting;
self-satisfied, self-congratulatory, smug, complacent, supercilious, haughty, snobbish;
big-headed, swollen-headed, too big for one's boots, puffed up, stuck-up, snooty, high
and mighty, uppity, uppish, snotty, snot-nosed; toffee-nosed, chesty, vainglorious,
peacockish, have an excessively high opinion of oneself, think too highly of oneself, think
a lot of oneself, boast, brag, blow one's own trumpet; informalthink one is the cat's
whiskers/pyjamas, think one is God's gift (to women)],

consign (v.) – (formal) to send something to someone, deliver something to a person's

keeping; send (goods) by a public arrier, put someone or something in (a place) in order
to be rid of it or them, or to put them in an unpleasant place or situation [The goods have
been consigned to you by air. To be consigned to prison. Gabriel Angelos consigned the sub-
sector to destruction. After the financial disaster, she was consigned to a life of poverty. He
consigned three paintings to Sotheby's. The picture was consigned for sale at one of
Sotheby's European offices. The package was consigned by a famous sporting goods
company. The package was consigned by a company that flies products all over the world.
She consigned the letter to the waste-paper basket. He was consigned to a debtor's prison. I
had a clear-out and consigned her picture to the bin.] – synonyms & related words
[assign, allocate, place, put, entrust, grant, remit, hand down, bequeath, send, send off,
dispatch, transmit, transfer, convey, post, mail, ship, deliver, hand over, give over, turn
over, sentence, confine in, imprison in, incarcerate in, lock up in, jail in, detain in, intern
in, immure in, put away, put behidn bars, hang up, deposit, commit, put away, banish,
relegate],

immure (v.) – (literay) to put in someone inside something such as a prison or tomb (=
a place where dead bodies are buried) and keep them there; to keep someone or
somethign within certain limits and prevent them or it from developing freely [The
aristocracy chose to immure its dead in church vaults or specially constructed mausoleums.
The false uncle sealed the mouth of the underground chamber and immured Aladdin in the
darkness. Constantly imitating past masters does not take cookign any further forward – it
immures it in history. Her brother was immured in a lunatic system. The monks were
immured in Newgate jail.] – synonyms & related words [confine, intern, shut up, lock up,
incarcerate, imprison, jail, put away, put behind bars, put under lock and key, hold
captive, hold prisoner; coop up, mew up, fence in, wall in, close in; detain, keep, hold,
trap],

culpability (n.) – responsibility for a fault or wrong, blame [A level of moral

culpability.] – synonyms & related words [guilt, blame, fault, responsibility,
accountability, liability, answerability, guiltiness, blameworthiness],

foster (v.) – (take care of) to take care of a child, usually for a limited time, without
being the child's legal parent; (encourage) to encourage the development or growth of
ideas or feelings; develop 8a feeling or idea) in oneself [Would you consider fostering (a
child)? I'm trying to foster an interest in classical music in my children. They were
discussing the best way to foster democracy and prosperity in the former communist
countries. A person who would foster Holly was found. They have fostered a succession of
children. The teacher's task is to foster learning. Appropriate praise helps a child foster a
sense of selfe-worth.] – synonyms & related words [bring up, rear, raise, care for, take
care of, look after, nurture, provide for, mother, father, parent, encourage, promote,
further, stimulate, advance, forward, cultivate, nurture, strengthen, enrich, help, aid,
abet, assist, contribute to, support, endorse, champion, speak for, proselytize, sponsor,
espouse, uphold, back, boost, give backing to, facilitate],
swat (v.) – to hit something, especially an insect, with a flat object or your hand [I
swatted the fly with a rolled-up newspaper. He tried to swat the ball too hard, and missed it
entirely. (figurative) These missiles are capable of swatting enemy planes with deadly
accuracy. The impatient toddler got a swat on his wrist for stepping into the street by
himself. ‘You think they’ll thank you for bringing us to them?’ Tylar went on. ‘You think
they’ll pat you on the back and make you their favourite pet? I think you’re no more than a
nuisance to them, Amareth, an insect buzzing about their heads, and if they acknowledge
your existence at all it will only be to swat you.’ The High Priest marched on doggedly, but
neither he nor his henchmen rose to Tylar’s bait, perhaps because they had no answers to
his charge.] – synonyms & related words [bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet,
bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse, fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock,
larrup, lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack,
smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, blow, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack,
wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop, whap],

dogged (adj.) – very determined to do something, even if it is very difficult [Her

ambition and dogged determination ensured that she rose to the top of her profession.
Success requires dogged determination. He was a fine player and a dogged opening
batsman.] – synonyms & related words [tenacious, determined, resolute, resolved,
purposeful, persistent, persevering, pertinacious, relentless, intent, dead set, single-
minded, focused, dedicated, committed, undeviating, unshakeable, unflagging,
indefatigable, untiring, never-tiring, tireless, unfailing, unfaltering, unwavering,
unyielding, unbending, immovable, obdurate, strong-willed, firm, steadfast, steady,
staunch, stout-hearted; laborious],

mannerism (n.) – something that a person does repeatedly with their face, hands, or
voice, and that they may not realize they are doing, a habitual gesture or way of speaking
or behaving; (psychiatry) an ordinary gesture or expression that becomes abnormal
through exaggeration or repetition; excessive use of a distinctive style in art, literature,
or music; a style of 16th-centurey Italian art preceding the Baroque, characterized by
distortions in scale and perspective and the use of bright, often lurid colors [He's got
some very strange mannerisms. We've spent so much time together that we've picked up
each other's mannerisms. Learning the great man's speeches and studying his mannerisms.
He has the mannerisms of a bishop without actually having become one. He seemed
deliberately to be stripping his art of mannerism.] – synonyms & related words
[idiosyncrasy, quirk, oddity, foible, trait, peculiarity, habit, characteristic, characteristic
gesture, trick],

falter (v.) – (stop) to lose strength or purpose and stop, or almost stop, to lose strength
or momentum; (almost fall) to move awkwardly as if you might fall, move unsteadily or
hesitantly; to speak hesitantly [The dinner party conversation faltered for a moment. Her
friends never faltered in their belief in her. Nickie's voice faltered and he stopped speaking.
The nurse saw him falter and made him lean to her. She took a few faltering steps. This
legislation is designed to stimulate the faltering economy. The music faltered, stopped, and
started up again. When war seemed imminent the government faltered. She faltered over
his name. He faltered and finally stopped in mid-stride.] – synonyms & related words
[hesitate, delay, drag one's feet, stall, think twice, get cold feet, change one's mind,
waver, oscillate, fluctuate, vacillate, be undecided, be indecisive, be irresolute, see-saw,
yo-yo; haver, hum and haw; sit on the fence, dilly-dally, shilly-shally, pussyfoot around,
blow hot and cold, tergiversate, stammer, stutter, stumble, speak haltingly, hesitate,
pause, halt, splutter, flounder, blunder, fumble],

sallow (adj.) – (of white-skinned people) yellowish and looking unhealthy [A sallow
complexion/face. His skin was sallow and pitted. His lips were blue with the cold and his
cheeks sunken and shallow. His voice was quieter, less assured than normal. Still, it gained
the creatures’ attention. Some of them turned silently to regard him, and Amareth faltered
before their green-lit, hollow-eyed stares. With a sudden rush of self-consciousness, he
removed his mask to reveal his sallow, too-human features, black hair plastered to his
scalp by nervous sweat.] – synonyms & related words [yellowish, jaundiced, pallid, wan,
pale, waxen, anaemic, bloodless, colorless, pasty, pasty-faced, unhealthy-looking, sickly,
sickly-looking, washed out, peaky, peakish, peaked, like death warmed up, wabbit, peely-
wally, etiolated, lymphatic],

plaster (v.) – make (hair) lie flat by applying a liquid to it [His hair was plastered down
with water. He arrived late, his hair plastered down with sweat. ] – synonyms & related
(flatten (down), smooth down, slick down, sleek down, weigh down],

indifferent (adj.) – (not interested) not thinking about or interested in someone or

something; (not good) not good, but not very bad; not good ,fairly bad [Why don't you
vote - how can you be so indifferent (to what is going on)? He found it very hard teaching a
class full of indifferent teenagers. We didn't like the restaurant much – the food was
indifferent and the service rather slow. She shrugged indifferently. ‘I… I have brought an
offering to you,’ he said. ‘These people, this woman and this man here, they are related to
our… to the former Governor of this world. He… Hanrik is his name, he values their lives. I
thought you could…’ He trailed off, nonplussed in the face of his gods’ indifference. He gave
an indifferent shrug. Government cannot be indifferent to the long-sterm success of
business. A pair of indifferent watercolors. Both players played indifferent shots. In spite of
very indifferent weather.] – synonyms & related words [unconcerned about, apathetic
about/towards, uncaring about, casual about, nonchalant about, offhand about,
uninterested in, uninvolved in/with; heedless of, mindless of, careless of, regardless of,
oblivious to; reckless about, cavalier about, frivolous about, dismissive of; unimpressed
by, bored by, weary of, unmoved by, unresponsive to, lukewarm about, unenthusiastic
about, phlegmatic about; impassive, dispassionate, aloof, insouciant, detached, distant,
cold, cool, unresponsive, passionless, unemotional, emotionless, unmoved, unfeeling,
unsympathetic, callous; mediocre, ordinary, commonplace, average, middle-of-the-road,
middling, medium, moderate, everyday, workaday, tolerable, passable, adequate, fair;
inferior, second-rate, uninspired, undistinguished, unexceptional, unexciting,
unremarkable, run-of-the-mill, not very good, pedestrian, prosaic, lacklustre, forgettable,
amateur, amateurish; OK, so-so, bog-standard, fair-to-middling, (plain) vanilla, nothing
to write home about, no great shakes, not so hot, not up to much; half-pie],

genuflect (v.) – to bend one or both knees as a sign of respect to God, especially when
entering or leaving a Catholic Church; to be humbly obedient or respectful, obseqious,
[People were genuflecting in front of the altar. Bureacrats who genuflect before the
governor. The Iron Gods turned away, uncaringly, leaving the self-styled High Priest and
his followers genuflecting to no one.] – synonyms & related words [kneel, bow, curtsy,
stoop, bend the knee],

terpsichorean (adj.) – of or relating to dancing,

permeable (adj.) – (of a material or membrane) allowing liquids or gases to pass

through it [A frog's skin is permeable to water.] – synonyms & related words [porous,
pervious, penetrable, spongy, absorbent, absorptive, absorbing],

stultify – (v.) – cause to los eenthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a

tedious or restrictive routine; cause (someone) to appear [The stuflying conformity of
provincial life. Free market forces had been stultified by the welfare state. He stultifies her
with too much gentleness. These countries are trying to shake off the stultifying effects of
several decades of state control. She felt the repetitive exercises stultified her musical
technique so she stopped doing them. Stultifyingly dull/boring.] – synonyms & related
words [hamper, impede, obstruct, thwart, frustrate, foil, suppress, smother, repress,
bore, make bored, dull, numb, benumb, stupefy, deaden],

under your feet (id.) – if someine is under your feet, they are near you in a way that
is difficult and prevents you from doing what you want to do [The children were under
my feet all day so I couldn't get anything done.],

fop (n.) – (old-fashioned, disapproving, especially in the past) a man who is extremely
interested in his appearance and who wears very decorative clothes – synonyms &
related words [dandy, beau, poseur, glamour boy, man about town, bright young thing,
rake; boulevardier, petit-maître; swell, toff, snappy dresser, sharp dresser, natty dresser,
trendy, pretty boy; coxcomb, popinjay, peacock, buck],

foppish (adj.) – (of a man) concerned with his clothes and appearance in an affected
and excessive way [He is foppish and vain. The clothes were less foppish than his usual
attire.] – synonyms & related words [dandyish, dandified, dapper, dressy, spruce;
affected, dainty, preening, vain; effeminate, effete, girly, niminy-piminy, mincing,
posturing, la-di-da, natty, sissy, camp, campy, queeny, poncey, pansyish],

stir the blood/stir your blood/tingle the blood (id.) – (literary) if something
stirs the blood, it makes you feel excited [Tales to stir the blood.],
outpouring (n.) – an expression of strong feeling that is difficult to control, an
outburst; (mainly humorous) a very large number of things produced at the same time
[His death at the age of 100 has occasioned an outpouring of grief. Last year saw an
outpouring of cookery books. The creatures didn’t move. Amareth glared at them for a
moment longer, then lowered his shoulders, tried to push his way past them – and four of
them raised their great guns in unison, and vaporised him in a cataclysmic outpouring of
emerald force. A massive outpouring of high-energy gamma rays. These countries have not
significantly curbed the outpouring of sewage. Outpourings of nationalist discontent.] –
synonyms & related words [outflow, outflowing, outrush, rush, flood, deluge, discharge,
issue, spurt, jet, cascade, stream, torrent, gush, outburst, flow, flux, welling, leakage,
escape, drain, drainage, outflux, emanation, effluence, effluent, effusion; efflux],

wisp (n.) – a small, thin person, typically a child [A fourteen-year-old wisp ofa girl.],

aureate (adj.) – (color) made of or having the color of gold, golden, bright yellow; (of
language) highly ornamented or elaborate [The aureate doller. The aureate direction
frequently conceals the tritest sentiments.],

sublimate (v.) – (in psychoanalytic theory) divert or modify (an instinctual impulse)
into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity [People who sublimate
sexuality into activities which help to build up and preserve civilization. Work can serve as
a means of sublimating rage.] – synonyms & related words [channel, control, divert,
transfer, redirect, convert, refine, purify, transmute, civilize, improve],

staple (n.) – a main or important element of something; a main item of trade or

protection; the fiber of cotton or wool considered with regard to its length and degree of
fineness; (historical) a center of trade, especially in a specified commodity [Shortages
mean that even staples (= basic foods) like bread are difficult to find. Phosphate has been a
staple of this area for many years. Romantic fiction and reference books are a staple of
many public libraries. Bread, milk and other staples. Rubber became the staple of the
Malayan economy. Proposals were made for a wool staple at Pisa. Jackets made from long-
staple Egyptian cotton.],

staple (adj.) – basic or main, stnadard or regular, main or important, especialyl in

terms of consumption; most important in terms of trade or production [The staple diet
here is mutton, fish and boiled potatoes. Prices of staple foods such as wheat and
vegetables have also been increasing. Her latest film is the staple offering of action and
comedy that we have come to expect. Rice was the staple crop grown in most villages. Rice
was the staple crop grown in most villages. The staple foods of the poor.] – synonyms &
related words [main, principal, chief, major, primary, leading, foremost, first, most
important, predominant, dominant, (most) prominent, key, crucial, vital, indispensable,
essential, basic, fundamental, standard, critical, pivotal, central, premier, number-one],
string along (id.) – (UK, informal) stay with or accompany a person or group casually
or as long as it is convenient [With my name I could always string along with the Irish
gang.] – synonyms & related words [go along, go too, come too, join in; accompany, join,
join up with, take up with],

string along something (v.) – (position) to arrange things in a line [Occasional gas
stations and small markets are strung along the roads.] – synonyms & related words [put
in order, order, set out, lay out, spread out, array, present, put out, display, exhibit,
group, sort, organize, tidy, position, dispose; marshal, range, align, line up, rank, file;
classify, categorize, systematize, methodize; triage, conservative],

stringent (adj.) – (severe) having a very severe effect, or being extremely limiting [The
most stringent laws in the world are useless unless there is the will to enforce them. We
need to introduce more stringent security measures such as identity cards. Stringent safety
regulations were introduced after the accident. She was stringent, not lax. Stringent
guidelines on air pollution. The safety regulations are very stringent.] – synonyms &
related words [strict, firm, rigid, rigorous, severe, harsh, tough, tight, exacting,
demanding, inflexible, stiff, hard and fast, uncompromising, draconian, extreme,
stubborn, obstinate, obdurate, intractable, intransigent, unbending, immovable,
inexorable, unadaptable, unaccommodating, hidebound, conservative, set in one's ways,
blinkered, single-minded, pig-headed, mulish; uncompromising, dogged, adamant, firm,
resolute, diehard, steely, iron-willed, dyed-in-the-woo, refractory],

refractory (adj.) – (specialized medical, science) not affected by a treatment, change,

or process; (formal) difficult to control; unwilling to obey; (medicine, rare, of a person or
animal) resistant to infection; (technical, of a substance) resistant to heat, hard to melt
or fuse [This is a chronic and disabling condition that is refractory to treatment. A
refractory child. His refractory pony. A refractory child. Some granules are refractory to
secretory stimuli. Healing of previously refractory ulcers. Turkeys can be infected when
young but are refractory as adults. Refractory materials found in lunar samples.] –
synonyms & related words [obstinate, stubborn, stubborn as a mule, mulish, bull-
headed, pig-headed, obdurate, headstrong, self-willed, wayward, wilful, perverse,
contrary, recalcitrant, obstreperous, disobedient, insubordinate, rebellious, mutinous,
defiant, stiff-necked, intractable, intransigent, unyielding, unmalleable, unmanageable,
ungovernable, unpersuadable; thrawn; cussed, bloody-minded, bolshie, stroppy, balky,
contumacious, froward, contrarious],

froward (adj.) – (archaic, literary, of a person) difficult to deal with, disobedient,

contrary, unmanageable, difficult to deal with; with an evil disposition [However, it does
make one wonder — if William Shakespeare were the creator of all these froward, literate,
and often powerful women, why did he let his own daughters grow up illiterate? 'I owe
much to Eomer,' said Theoden. 'Faithful heart may have froward tongue.'],

froward (preposition) – (obsolete) away from,

enfroward (v.) – (archaic, literary) to make froward, perverse, or ungovernable,

untoward (adj.) – unfavorable, adverse, or disadvantageous; untruly, troublesome,

not easily guided; unseemly, improper; unexpected and not convenient or unpleasant
[Unless anything untoward happens we should arrive just before midday. Both tried to
behave as ifn othing untoward had happened. Tom had noticed nothing untoward. She
could hardly have made a more untoward choice.] – synonyms & related words
[unexpected, unanticipated, unforeseen, unpredictable, unpredicted; surprising,
unusual; inopportune, untimely, ill-timed, badly timed, mistimed; inconvenient,
awkward, unwelcome, unfavourable, adverse, unfortunate, infelicitous; inappropriate,
unsuitable, inapt; malapropos, unseasonable, unseemly, improper, immodest],

burn your boats/bridges (id.) – if you are in a situation and you burn your
boats/bridges, you destroy all possible ways of going back to that situation, you have
crossed the line, to cross the line,

be no hard and fast rules (id.) – if there are no hard and fast rules, there are no
clear rules for you to follow,

astringent (n.) – a drug or cream that causes the skin or other tissue to tighten, or to
reduce bleeding from minor abrasions [You can use an astringent to make your skin less
oily.],

astringent (adj.) – (medicine) an astringent substance causes the skin or other tissues
to tighten; (severe) astringent remarks are clever but unkind or criticize someone; (of
taste or smell) sharp or bitter [An astringent cream. Astringent criticism. Her astringent
wit. Her astringent words had their effect. Her godmother's astringent words had the
desired effect. An stringent smell of rotting apples.] – synonyms & related words [severe,
sharp, stern, harsh, rough, acerbic, austere, caustic, mordant, trenchant; sarcastic,
sardonic, scathing, cutting, incisive, penetrating, piercing, stinging, searing; wounding,
hurtful, unkind, cruel, spiteful, waspish, poisonous, vicious; acerb; bitchy, catty, sarky,
snarky, acidulous, mordacious],

mordant (adj.) – (formal, especially of humor) cruel and criticizing in a humorous way
[A mordant wit/humor. A mordant remark. A mordant sense of humor.] – synonyms &
related words [caustic, trenchant, biting, cutting, acerbic, sardonic, sarcastic, scathing,
acid, sharp, keen, tart, pungent, stinging, astringent, incisive, devastating, piercing,
rapier-like, razor-edged; critical, bitter, polemic, virulent, vitriolic, venomous, waspish,
corrosive; acidulous, mordacious],

salient (adj.) – (formal) the salient facts about something or qualities of something are
the most important things about them; prominent, conspicuous; (of an angle) pointing
outwards; (heraldry, of an animal) standing on its hind legs wit hthe forepaws raised, as
if leaping [She began to summarize the salient features/points of the proposal. The article
presented the salient facts of the dispute clearly and concisely. It succinctly covered all the
salient points of the case. The salient points stuck out clearly in her mind. The salient object
in my view.] – synonyms & related words [important, main, principal, major, chief,
primary, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, arresting, conspicuous, striking, noticeable,
obvious, remarkable, signal, prominent, pronounced, predominant, dominant, key,
crucial, vital, essential, basic, staple, critical, pivotal, prime, central, focal, paramount],

succinct (adj.) – (approving) said in a clear and short way, expressing what needs to
be said withotu unnecessary words [Keep your letters succinct and to the point. Use short
succinct sentences. He gave a succinct resume of the economic situation.] – synonyms &
related words [concise, short, brief, compact, condensed, crisp, laconic, terse, tight, to
the point, economic, pithy, thumbnail, summary, short and sweet, in a few well-chosen
words, compendious, epigrammatic, synoptic, aphoristic, gnomic],

lull (v.) – to cause someone to feel calm or feel that they want to sleep, calm or send to
sleep, typicalyl with soothing sounds or movements [The motion of the car almost lulled
her to sleep. The rhythm of the boat lulled her to sleep. The sound of the bells lulled us to
sleep.] – synonyms & related words [soothe, quiet, hush, lullaby, rock to sleep],

lull (somebody into something) (id.) – to make someone feel safe in order to
trick them, make (someone) feel deceptively secure or confident [Most exercise classes
start gently, lulling you into thinking that you're in good shape. Their promises lulled us
into a false sense of security (= made us feel safe, when in fact we were not) The rarity of
earthquakes there has lulled people into a false sense of security. He had been unable to lull
his wife's anxiety about her fading beauty.] – synonyms & related words [assuage, allay,
ease, alleviate, pacify, palliate, mitigate, placate, mollify; soothe, quiet, quieten, silence,
calm, settle, hush, still, quell, quash, stifle, deaden, repress; temper, reduce, check,
diminish],

lull (v.) – (of a noise or a storm) abate or fall quiet [Conversation lulled for an hour. The
noise from the fair had lulled.] – synonyms & related words [abate, die down, subside, let
up, moderate, slacken, lessen, dwindle, decrease, diminish, ebb, fade away, wane, taper
off, lower],

lull (n.) – a short period of calm in which little happens, a temporary interval of quiet or
lack of activity [There has been a lull in the fighting. A lull in the conversation/traffic. For
two days there had been a lull in the fighting. The lull before the storm.] – synonyms &
related words [pause, respite, interval, break, hiatus, suspension, cessation, interlude,
intermission, breathing space, moratorium, lacuna, caesura, let-up, breather, calm,
calmness, stillness, quiet, quietness, tranquility, peace, peacefulness, silence, hush],

the lull before the storm/the calm before the storm (id.) – a time that
seems quiet but will very soon be followed by something unpleasant happening [Things
seem quiet in the office right now, but this is just the lull before the storm. "Rest easy, lad.
Things look bleak now, but calm will follow the storm as surely as peace will follow war."],

rotter (n.) – (mainly UK, old-fashioned) someone who is very unpleasant or does very
unpleasant things [Rosemary had decided that all men were rotters! We had decided that
all men were rotters. Nonsense! He's a hound and a rotter and he's going to be shot.] –
synonyms & related words [scoundrel, rogue, villain, wretch, reprobate, beast, pig,
swine, rat, creep, bastard, louse, snake, snake in the grass, skunk, dog, weasel, scumbag,
heel, stinker, stinkpot, bad lot, nasty piece of work; scrote, spalpeen, rat fink, fink, dingo,
hound, bounder, blighter, son of a bitch, s.o.b., shit, cad, backguard, dastard, vagabond,
knave, varlet],

varlet (n.) – (historical) a man or boy acting as an attendant or servant; (archaic) a

dishonest or unprincipled man,

valet (n.) – a man's personal male attendant, who is responsible for his clothes and
appearance; a hotel employee who attends to the clothes of guests; (NA) a person
employed to clean or park cars [A valet service. He handed his keys to the parking valet.] –
synonyms & related words [manservant, man, personal attendant, gentleman's
gentleman, Jeeves, valet de chambre, batman],

my heart bleeds (for you) (id.) – used ironically to imply that the person referred
to does not deserve the sympathetic response they are seeking [„Us firing squads, we're
just like tax collectors – everyone hates us, but we're just doing our job.“ „My heart bleeds
for you.“ „I flew out here feeling tired and overworked.“ „My heart bleeds for you!“ she
replied. „My heart bleeds for them.“] – synonyms & related words [grieve, ache, sorrow,
be sorrowful, be sad, mourn, be mournful, be distressed, be in distress, be miserable,
lament, feel, suffer, agonize, anguish, be in anguish; sympathize with, pity; eat one's
heart out, weep and wail],

not go amiss (id.) – (UK, informal) if something might/woud not go amiss, it would be
useful and might help to improve a situation [A word of apology might not go amiss. A
sense of proportion would not go amiss in all of this.],

take something amiss (id.) – to be offended by something that someone has said to
you [I was worried that he might take my remark amiss. Look, I'm sorry. I know you mean
to be friendly, but I hope you won't take it amiss if I ask you to sod off and die. They
would take it amiss if they were left out. Don't take this amiss, it's all good-humored
teasing.] – synonyms & related words [be offended by, take offence at, be upset by, take
umbrage at],

sporting chance (n.) – If there is a sporting chance that something good will happen,
it is possible that it will happen [It's not definite that they'll accept our offer, but there's a
sporting chance. Not even our generals are mad enough to shell their own men. They think
it's far more sporting to let the Germans do it.] – synonyms & related words [betting
proposition, flip of the coin, gambler's chance, good possibility, good chance, hig
hchance, very likely, high likelihood, hazard of the die, luck of the draw, matter of
chance, throw of the dice, toss of the coin, toss-up],

sporting (adj.) – (old-fashioned) showing fariness and respect towards an opposing

team or player, fair and generous in one's behavior or treatment of others, especially in a
contest [It was jolly sporting of you to let me have first go.] – synonyms & related words
[sportsmanlike ,sportsmanly, generous, gentlemanly, considerate, good ,fair, just,
honorable, decent],

cunning (adj.) – (clever) cunning people are clever at planning something so that they
get what they want, especially by tricking other people, or things that are cleverly made
for a particular purpose, having or showing skill in achieveing one's ends by deceit or
evasion; ingenious; (NA) attractive or quaint [A cunning look came into his eyes. A
cunning and clever plan. He's been very cunning. Plants have evolved cunning defenses.
Baby will look too cunning for anything in that pink print.] – synonyms & related words
[crafty, wily, artful, guileful, devious, sly, knowing, scheming, designing, tricky, slippery,
slick, manipulative, Machiavellian, deceitful, deceptive, duplicitous, Janus-faced; shrewd,
astute, clever, canny, sharp, sharp-witted, skilful, ingenious, resourceful, inventive,
imaginative, deft, adroit, dexterous; foxy, savvy, fiendish, sneaky, fly, pawky, slim, subtle,
vulpine, camy],

cunning (n.) – the quality or skill of being clever at planning something so you get
what you want, especially by tricking other people [We need to show some cunning if we
want to defeat the enemy. A statesman to whom cumming had come as second nature. You
have to admire his political cunning.] – synonyms & related words [uile, craftiness,
wiliness, artfulness, deviousness, slyness, trickery, trickiness, duplicity, deceitfulness,
deceit, chicanery; shrewdness, astuteness, cleverness, canniness, sharpness, ingenuity,
resourcefulness, inventiveness, imagination, deftness, adroitness, dexterity,
dexterousness; wiles, ploys, schemes, stratagems, tactics, manoeuvres, subterfuges,
tricks, ruses, foxiness],

absolve (v.) – (formal, especially in religion or law) to free someone from guilt, blame,
or responsibility for something [The report absolved her from/of all blame for the
accident. The priest absolved him (of all his sins). The pardon absolved them of any crimes.
The fact that a criminal offense occurred a long time ago does not absolve the wrongdoer
from guilt. I absolve you from all your sins. She asked the bishop to absolve her sins.] –
synonyms & related words [exonerate, discharge, acquit, exculpate, vindicate; release,
relieve, liberate, free, deliver, clear, spare, exempt; forgive, pardon, excuse, give amnesty
to, give dispensation to, give indulgence to, reprieve, have mercy on ,show mercy to]

deterrent (n.) – something that deters people from doing something, a thing that
discourages or is intended to discourage someone fro mdoing something [A nuclear
deterrent. Tougher prison sentences may act/serve as a deterrent to other would-be
offenders. Cameras are a major deterrent to crime. Complications of this nature are a
deterrent to investors..] – synonyms & related words [disincentive, discouragement,
dissuasion, damper, brake, curb, check, restraint; obstacle, hindrance, impediment,
obstruction, block, barrier, inhibition],

deter (v.) – to prevent someone from doing something or to make someone less
enthusiastic about doing something by making it difficult for that person to do it or by
threatening bad results if they do it [These measures are designed to deter an enemy
attack. High prices are deterring many young people from buying houses. Only a healt
hproblem would deter him fro mseeking re-election. The high cost has deterred many from
attending. Strategists think not only about how to deter war, but about how war might
occur. The presence of a caretaker deters crime.] – synonyms & related words [put off,
discourage, dissuade, scare off; warn, caution; dishearten, demoralize, daunt, make
worried/nervous/anxious, frighten, unnerve, intimidate, prevent, stop, put a stop to,
avert, nip in the bud, fend off, turn aside, stave off, ward off, head off, shut out, block,
intercept, halt, arrest, check, stay, keep, hinder, impede, hamper, obstruct, baulk, foil,
thwart, obviate, frustrate, forestall, counteract, inhibit, hold back, curb, restrain,
preclude, pre-empt, save, help; let],

dicky (adj.) – (UK, informal) weak,e specially in health, and likely to fail or suffer from
problems [The general's got a dicky heart and wooden bladder. A pianist with a dicky
heart. He was rejected for military service because of his dicky heart.] – synonyms &
related words [unsound, unsteady, unreliable; weak, frail, infirm, unhealthy, ailing,
poorly, sickly, sick; shaky, fluttery, fluttering, trembling, iffy, dodgy],

horndog (n.) – (colloquial) a person (particularly a man) who is fixated on sex,

hornball (n.) – (US, slang) a person who is often, or easily, sexually aroused,

sleazeball (n.) – (slang) a moralyl reprehensible, disreputable, or sleazy person; a cad,

cornball (n.) – (US, informal) an unsophisticated person; something excessively corny;

a ball of popped corn stuck together with soft candy from molasses or sugar,

cornfed (adj.) – (informal, sometimes pejorative, of a person) sheltered, uncultured,

cad (n.) – a low-bred, presuming person, a mean, vulgar fellow,

presume (v.) – suppose that something is the case on the basis of probability; take for
granted that something exists or is the case; be arrogant or impertinent enough to do
something; make unjustified demands, take liberties; unjustifiably regard (something)
as entitling one to privileges [I presumed that the man had been escorted from the
building. I presume that it had once been an attic. The argument presumes that only one
person can do the work. Kindly don't presume to issue me orders in my own house. Let me
presue to give you a word of advice. Forgive me if I have presumed. He was wary of
presuming on the close friendship between them.] – synonyms & related words [assume,
suppose, dare say, imagine, take it, expect, believe, think, surmise, guess, judge, trust,
conjecture, speculate, postulate, posit, hypothesize, deduce, divine, infer, conclude,
presuppose, take for granted, take as read, venture, dare, have the temerity, have the
audacity, have the effrontery, be so bold as, make so bold as, go so far as; take the liberty
of, take advantage of, take unfair advantage of, exploit, take librties with, rely on, depend
on, count on, bank on, reckon on, place reliance on, trust],

lodestone (n.) – (figurative) something that attracts interest [The yougn woman's
wealth unfortunately made her a lodestone for fortune hunters. I'm the wanker's lodestone
today.] – synonyms & related words [attraction, draw, magnet, loadstone, capital, center,
cynosure, epicenter, mecca, pole, polestar allure, allurement, bait, enticement,
fascination, lure, temptation, turn-on appeal, call incentive, inducement, persuasion,
spur, stimulus, curiosity, sight(s), spectacle],

easy come, easy go (id.) – (informal) said when something, especialyl money, is
easily got and then spent or lost, something fleeting [I lost £500 in a card game last night,
but that's lfie – easy come, easy go.],

telling (adj.) – showing the truth about a situation or showing what someone really
thinks; having a striking or revealing effect, significant [A tellign comment. A telling
argument against this theory. A telling critique of the military mind.] – synonyms &
related words [revealing, significant; convincing, persuasive, forceful, striking, potent,
powerful, strong, cogent, compelling; trenchant, weighty, important, meaningful,
influential; effective, effectual],

rarefied (adj.) – (of air, especially that at high altitudes) of lower pressure than usual,
thin; distant from the lives and concerns of ordinar ypeople, esoteric [Every ounce
carried counts triple when you're trudging uphill in rarefied air. Rarefied scholarly
pursuits. The academic or rarefied nature of much of their work.] – synonyms & related
words [esoteric, exclusive, select, private, cliquish, elevated, exalted, lofty],

storm-wracked (adj.) – destroyed by a storm; stormy, beset by a storm,

wrack and ruin (id.) – complete destruction, annhilation – synonyms & related word
s[utter destitution, blue ruin, complete destruction, destitution, destruction, rack, ruin,
ruination, wreckage],

disclose (v.) – make (secret or new information) known; allow (something hidden) to
be seen [They disclosed her name to the press. The information is confidential and must
not be disclosed to anyone. He cleared away the grass and disclosed a narrow opening
descending into the darkness. Exploratory surgery disclosed an aneurysm.] – synonyms &
related words [reveal, make known, divulge, tell, impart, communicate, pass on,
vouchsafe, unfold; release, make public, broadcast, publish, report, unveil, go public
with; leak, betray, let slip, let drop, blurt out, give away; admit, confess, let on, blab, spill
the beans about, spill, let the cat out of the bag about, blow the lid off, squeal about, blow
the gaff, discover, unbosom],

unbosom (v.) – disclose (one's thoughts or secrets) [She unbosomed herself to a trusty
female friend. He had sat behind him when the chief was unbosoming himself.] – synonyms
& related words [open one's heart, unburden oneself, ocnfess, tell all, tell one's all,
confide in, come clean, spill all],

embosom/imbosom (v.) – to draw to or into one's bosom, to treasure; to enclose,

surround, or protect – synonyms & related words [take into, embrace, enclose, envelope,
surround],

bosom (n.) – a woman's chest or breats; a part of a dress covering the chest [Her ample
bosom. The gown was set low over her bosom. She had plucked the brooch from her
bosom.] – synonyms & related words [bust, chest, breasts, mammary glands, mammae,
boobs, boobies, tits, titties, knockers, bazookas, melons, jubblies, bubbies, orbs, globes,
jugs, norks, dugs, paps, bristols, charlies, baps, bazooms, casabas, chichis, hooters,
embonpoint],

bosom (n.) – (literary) the space between a person's clothing and their chest used for
carrying things; (literary) a person's loving care and protection; used to refer to the
chest as the seat of emotions [He carried a letter in his bosom. Bruno went home each
night to the bosom of his family. The family took Gillain into its bosom. Quivering dread
was settling in her bosom. Love was kindled within his bosom.] – synonyms & related
words [protection, heart, core, midst, center, circle, shelter, safety, refuge, heart, breast,
soul, being, inner being, core, spirit, seat of one's emotions, seat of one's affections],

bosom (adj.) – (of a friend) very close or intimate [The two girls had become bosom
frineds.] – synonyms & related words [close, boon, intimate, confidential, inseparable,
faithful, constant, devoted, loving; special, dear, good, best, fast, firm, favourite, valued,
treasured, cherished; (as) thick as thieves, pally, matey, chummy],

ample (adj.) – enough or more than enough, plentiful; large and accommodating; (of a
person's figure) full or broad [There is ample time for discussion. An ample supply of wine.
He leaned back in his ample chair. She stood with her hands on her ample hips.] –
synonyms & related words [enough, sufficient, adequate, plenty of, abundant, more than
enough, enough and to spare, suitable, satisfactory, passable, allowable, tolerable, plenty,
decent, plentiful, abundant, copious, profuse, rich, lavish, liberal, generous, bountiful,
large, huge, great, bumper, flush, overflowing, superabundant, infinite, inexhaustible,
opulent, prolific, teeming, a gogo, galore, lank, bounteous, plenteous, spacious,
commodious, apacious, roomy, sizeable, substantial, generous, big, large, broad, wide,
extensive, voluminous, loose-fitting, baggy, slack, slouchy, sloppy, fully, spacey],
opulent (adj.) – ostentatiously costly and luxurious; wealthy [The opulent comfort of a
limousine. His parents' opulent home in Beverly Hills. He stroked her opulent red hair. His
more opulent tenants. An opulent family.] – synonyms & related words [luxurious,
sumptuous, palatial, lavishly appointed, lavish, deluxe, rich, lush, luxuriant, splendid,
magnificent, grand, grandiose, costly, expensive, fancy; plush, plushy, ritzy, swanky,
posh, classy, swish, swank, copious, abundant, profuse, prolific, plentiful, luxuriant,
plenteous; : wealthy, rich, affluent, well off, well-to-do, moneyed, cash rich, with deep
pockets, prosperous, of means, of substance; informalwell heeled, rolling in it, rolling in
money, loaded, in clover, stinking/filthy rich, flush, made of money, in/on easy street;
informalquids in; in the chips, oofy, on velvet],

oofy (adj.) – (informal) rich, wealthy,

penurious (adj.) – extremely poor, poverty-stricken; unwilling to spend money, mean

[A penurious old tramp. A penurious student. His stingy and penurious wife. A penurious
old skinflint.] – synonyms & related words [poor, as poor as a church mouse, poverty-
stricken, destitute, necessitous, in penury, impecunious, impoverished, indigent, needy,
in need/want, badly off, in reduced circumstances, in straitened circumstances, hard up,
on one's beam-ends, unable to make ends meet, underprivileged, penniless, without a
sou, moneyless, bankrupt, bust, insolvent; on the breadline, without a penny (to one's
name); broke, flat broke, cleaned out, strapped for cash, strapped, on one's uppers,
stony, skint, without two pennies to rub together, without two (brass) farthings to rub
together, in Queer Street, stone broke, pauperized, beggared; mean, miserly, niggardly,
parsimonious, penny-pinching, close-fisted, cheese-paring, scrimping, grasping, greedy,
avaricious, Scrooge-like, ungenerous, illiberal, close; stingy, mingy, tight, tight-fisted,
money-grubbing, money-grabbing, tight-arsed, near],

solvent (adj.) – having assets in excess of liabilities, able to pay one's debts; able to
dissolve other substances [Interest rate rises have very severe effects on normally solvent
companies. Although the business was solvent, Chambers asked his bank for an overdraft
facility. Osmotic, chemical, or solvent action.] – synonyms & related words [financially
sound, able to pay one's debts, debt-free, not in debt, out of debt, in the black, in funds, in
credit, creditworthy, of good financial standing, solid, secure, profit-making; ungeared,
unlevered; unindebted],

fulsome (adj.) – complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree; of large size or

quantity, generous or abundant [The press are embarrassingly fulsome in their
appreciation. He paid fulsome tribute to his secretary. The fulsome details of the later
legend.] – synonyms & related words [enthusiastic, ample, profuse, extensive, generous,
liberal, lavish, glowing, gushing, gushy; excessive, extravagant, overdone, immoderate,
inordinate, over-appreciative; fawning, ingratiating; adulatory, laudatory, acclamatory,
eulogistic, rapturous, flattering, complimentary, effusive, cloying, unctuous, saccharine,
sugary, honeyed; over the top, OTT, buttery, encomiastic],
coy (adj.) – (especially with reference to a woman) making a pretense of shyness or
modesty which is intended to be alluring; reluctant to give details about something
regarded as sensitive [She treated him to a coy smile of invitation. He is coy about his age.]
– synonyms & related words [arch, simpering, coquettish, flirtatious, kittenish, skittish,
shy, modest, bashful, reticent, diffident, retiring, backward, self-effacing, shrinking,
withdrawn, timid, demure],

arch (adj.) – deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing [A somewhat arch tone of
voice. „I wonder for how long!“ he said in a somewhat arch tone.] – synonyms & related
words [knowing, playful, mischevous, puckish, roguish, impish, elfin, devilish, naughty,
wicked, cheeky, teasing, saucy, flippant, tongue-in-cheek, artful, sly, cunning, affected,
frolicsome],

wordly-wise (adj.) – prepared by experience for life's difficulties, not easily shocked
or deceived [Lisa was sufficeintly wordly-wised to understand the situation.] – synonyms
& related words [sophisticated, experienced, worldly, knowledgeable, knowing, aware,
enlightened, shrewd, astute, perceptive, mature, seasoned, cosmopolitan, urbane,
cultivated, cultured, unprovincial, having been around],

pave (v.) – cover (a peice of ground) with flat stones or bricks, lay paving over [The
yard at the front was paved with flagstones. The center of the garden was to be paved.] –
synonyms & related words [cover, surface, floor, top, finish, concrete (over), asphalt,
flag, tile, tar, tarmac, metal],

talent (n.) – natural aptitude or skill; people possessing natural aptitude or skill; (UK,
informal) people regarded as sexually attractive or as prospective sexual partners [He
possessed more talent than any other player. She demonstrated her talent for modelling
with clay. I signed all the talent in Rome. Most Saturday ngihts I have this urge to go on the
hunt for ne wtalent.] – synonyms & related words [lair, aptitude, facility, gift, knack,
technique, touch, bent, ability, expertise, capacity, power, faculty; strength, strong point,
forte, genius, brilliance; dexterity, adroitness, skill, cleverness, virtuosity, artistry],

thick skin (id.) – ability to withstand, to be calloused, uncaring [You need thick skin in
business.] – synonyms & related words [apathy, armor, callousness, elephant skin,
formidable defenses, hard shell, imperviousness, numbness, rhinoceros hide, thick hide,
thick shell, unfeelingness],

stand up (v.) – (of an argument, claim, evidence, etc.) remain valid after close scrutiny
or analysis [You need to have hard evidence that will stand up in court. He has no proof
that would stand up in court.] – synonyms & related words [remain/be valid, be sound,
be plausible, hold water, hold up, stand questionng, survive investigation, bear
examination, be verifiable, be provable, ring true, be convincing],
weather (v.) – (withstand (a difficulty or danger) [This year has tested industry's ability
to weather recession. Most member companies weathered the recession.] – synonyms &
related words [survive, come/get through, ride out, live through, pull through, come
through (unscathed), outlast, outlive, withstand, stand up to, bear up against, stand,
endure, rise above, surmount, overcome, resist, stick out],

surmount (v.) – overcome (a difficulty or obstacle) [All manner of cultural differences

were surmounted. His reputation is worldwide, and surmounts langauge barriers.] –
synonyms & related words [overcome, conquer, get over, prevail over, triumph over, get
the better of, beat, vanquish, master; clear, cross, make one's way round/past/over,
make it round/past/over, pass over, be unstoppable by; deal with, cope with, resist,
endure],

surmount (v.) – stand or be placed on top of [The tomb was surmounted by a

sculptured angel. Its copper dome is surmounted by a bronze statue of Justice. A funnel
surmounted the structure.] – synonyms & related words [cap, top, crown, tip],

dare (v.) – have the courage to do something; defy or challenge (someone) to

something [A story he dare not write down. Nobody dared to say a word. She was daring
him to disagree. She dared him to go.] – synonyms & related words [be brave enough,
have the courage, pluck up courage, take the risk; venture, have the nerve, have the
temerity, make so bold as, be so bold as, have the effrontery, have the audacity, presume,
go so far as; risk doing, hazard doing, take the liberty of doing; stick one's neck out, go
out in a limb, take a flyer, make bold to, challenge, provoke, goad, taunt, defy, summon,
invite, bid, throw down the gauntlet to],

vessel (n.) – a hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid, such as a bowl or
cask; (chiefly in bibical use) a person regarded as having or embodying a particular
quality [Pour the decoction into a heatproof vessel. Giving honor unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel.] – synonyms & related words [container, receptacle, repository, holder,
carrier; basin, bowl, dish, pan, pot, can, tin, jar, jug, pitcher, carafe, flask, decanter; urn,
tub, bin, tank, drum, canister, butt, vat, cask, barrel; box, case, chest, casket; reservatory],

pulpous (adj.) – soft and shapeless, often moist – synonyms & related words
[cushiony, soft, cushy, downy, flabby, fleshy, gelatinous, mushy, pappy, pulpy, quaggy,
spongy, squashy, squishy, yielding],

pull the wool over someone's eyes (id.) – deceive someone by telling untruths
[Ladies and gentlemen, twp secpmds please – the owner is trying to pull the wool over your
eyes by offering you frozen raviolis, that aren't even made within five hundred miles of this
front door.] – synonyms & related words [deceive, fool, trick, take in, hoodwink, dupe,
delude, lead up the garden path, pull a fast one on, put one over on, bamboozle, con],
astound (v.) – shock or greatly surprise [Her bluntness astounded him. Kate was
astounded by his arrogance.] – synonyms & related words [amaze, astonish, stagger,
surprise, startle, stun, confound, dumbfound, stupefy, daze, nonplus; throw, shake,
unnerve, disconcert, discompose, bewilder; take someone's breath away, take by
surprise, take aback, shake up, stop someone in their tracks, strike dumb, leave open-
mouthed, leave aghast, catch off balance, flabbergast, floor, knock for six, knock someone
sideways, knock out, knock the stuffing out of, bowl over, blow someone's mind, blow
away],

fed up (adj.) – annoyed, unhappy, or bored, especially with a situation that has existed
for a long time [I am fed up with being put down and made to feel stupid.] – synonyms &
related words [exasperated, irritated, annoyed, irked, put out, peeved, piqued,
disgruntled; discontented, discouraged, disheartened, depressed; bored, weary, tired;
hacked off, cheesed off, brassed off, narked, not best pleased, pissed off, vexed],

open-minded (adj.) – willing to consider new ideas, unprejudiced [A serious and

open-minded newspaper. They have sympathetic, open-minded attitudes to young people.
The musicians have got to be open-minded enough to take some suggestions from the
producers.] – synonyms & related words [unbiased, unprejudiced, prejudice-free,
accepting, non-partisan, neutral, non-aligned, non-judgemental, non-discriminatory,
anti-discrimination, objective, disinterested, dispassionate, detached; tolerant, liberal,
permissive, broad-minded, undogmatic, unprescriptive; receptive, open, open to
suggestions, open to new ideas, amenable, flexible, responsive, willing to change,
undogmatic],

induct (v.) – admit (someone) formally to a post or organization; formally introduce (a

member of the clergy) into possession of a benefice; (US) enlist (someone) into military
service [Arrangements for inducting new members to an organization. Eighteen junior
ministers were inducted into the government. He was then inducted as a vicar of St Paul's.]
– synonyms & related words [admit to, allow into, introduce to, initiate into, install in,
instate in, swear into; appoint to; be engaged by, be taken on by],

induct (v.) – introduce someone to (a difficult or obscure subject) – synonyms &

related words [introduce to, acquaint with, familiarize with, make familiar with, make
conversant with, make aware of, inform of, give information about; ground in, instruct
in, teach in, educate in, school in, fill in on, gen up on, clue up on, clue in on, put in the
picture about],

induct (v.) – install in a seat or room [Hugh and his friends were inducted into the most
honorable seats.],

contrive (v.) – create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill
and artifice; manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation [His
opponents contrived a cabinet crisis. He contrived to flood the flat three times.] –
synonyms & related words [bring about, engineer, cause to happen, manufacture,
orchestrate, stage-manage, create; devise, concoct, construct, design, formulate, plan,
work out, think up, dream up, come up with, fabricate, plot, hatch; wangle, set up, cook
up, procure; manage, find a way, engineer a way, arrange, succeed in, work it, swing it,
compass],

contrivance (n.) – the use of skill to create or bring about something, especially with a
consequent effect of artificiality; a device, especially in literary or artistic composition,
which gives a sense of artificiality; a thing which is created skillfully and inventively to
serve a particular purpose [The requirements of the system, by happy chance and some
contrivance, can be summed up in an acronym. Her matchmaking contrivances. The often
tiresome contrivances of historical fiction. An assortment of electronice equipment and
mechnical contrivances.] – synonyms & related words [scheme, stratagem, tactic,
manoeuvre, move, course/line of action, plan, ploy, gambit, device, wile; trick, ruse, plot,
machination, subterfuge, artifice, expedient; wheeze, lurk, shift, fetch, device, gadget,
machine, appliance, contraption, apparatus, mechanism, implement, tool, labour-saving
device, invention; gizmo, mod con, widget, thingamajig, thingamabob, whatsit, doodah,
doobry, gubbins, dingus, doodad, doojigger, doohickey, bitzer, thingo],

gizmo (n.) – a gadget, especially one whose name the speaker does not know or cannot
recall [The latest multimedia gizmo.],

affected (adj.) – influenced or touched by an external factor; pretentious and designed

to impress; (archaic) disposeed or inclined in a specified way [Affected areas. Affected
surprise. The gesture appeared both affected and stagy. He was talking in the rather
affected boom he used with strangers. You mightb ecome differnetly affected towards him.]
– synonyms & related words [pretentious, high-flown, ostentatious, pompous, grandiose,
over-elaborate, overblown, overripe, overworked, overdone; contrived, forced,
laboured, strained, stiff, posed, stagy, studied, mannered, hollow, insincere,
unconvincing; artificial, unnatural, assumed, pretended, feigned, false, fake, faked,
counterfeit, sham, simulated, spurious, pseudo, mock, imitation; a-di-da, hoity-toity,
highfalutin, fancy-pants, posey, pseud, phoney, pretend, put on, poncey, posh, toffee-
nosed],

mannered (adj.) – behaving in a specified way; (of behavior, art, or a literary style)
marked by idiosyncratic or exaggerated mannerisms, artificial [Inane dialogue and
mannered acting. Dornford Yates' highly artificial, mannered prose style.] – synonyms &
related words [affected, pretentious, unnatural, artificial, contrived, stilted, stiff, forced,
put-on, insincere, theatrical, actorly, elaborate, precious, posed, stagy, camp, psuedo],

inane (adj.) – lacking sense or meaning, silly [Don't badger people with inane questions.
An inane remark.] – synonyms & related words [silly, foolish, stupid, fatuous, idiotic,
absurd, ridiculous, ludicrous, laughable, risible, imbecilic, moronic, cretinous,
unintelligent, witless, asinine, pointless, senseless, frivolous, nonsensical, brainless,
mindless, thoughtless, vacuous, vapid, empty-headed; childish, puerile, infantile, jejune,
daft, dumb, dim, half-baked, gormless, damfool, divvy, glaikit, dumb-ass, dof],

contrived (adj.) – deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously;

created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic [The ending of the novel
is too pat and contrived. David replied with contrived joviality.] – synonyms & related
words [orced, strained, studied, artificial, affected, put-on, pretended, false, feigned,
manufactured, unnatural; laboured, overdone, elaborate; far-fetched; hokey, voulu],

voulu (adj.) – (literary) lacking in spontaneity, conrived [The work of the Edwardians
does not escape the charge of being self-conscious, almost voulu.],

affectedly (adv.) – in an affected manner, hypocritically, with more show than reality;
(obsolete) lovingly, with tender care; (obsolete) with intention, intentionally,
deliberately,

grizzle (v.) – (UK, disapproving, especially of a young child) to cry continuously but not
very loudly, or to complain all the time; sulk or grumble [The baby was cutting a tooth
and grizzled all day long. They're always grizzling (= complaining) about how nobody
invites them anywhere.] – synonyms & related words [cry, cry fretfully, weep, whimper,
whine, whinge, mewl, moan, bleat, snivel, sob, wail, howl, bawl; greet; boohoo, blubber,
blub, turn on the waterworks],

grizzle (n.) – a dark grey color; grey hair; a grey wig,

grizzle (adj.) – of a grey color,

grizzle (v.) – to make orb ecome grey, as with age,

let on (v.) – reveal information [She knows a lot more than she lets on. I never let on that
Uncle Joe made me feel anxious. He's smarter than he lets on.] – synonyms & related
words [eveal, make known, tell, disclose, mention, divulge, let out, let slip, give away,
leak, proclaim, blurt out, expose, bring to light, uncover, make public; blab; let the cat out
of the bag, give the game away, sing, squeal],

let on (v.) – pretend [They all let on they didn't heart me.] – synonyms & related words
[pretend, feign, affect, make out, make believe, simulate, fake],

plonker (n.) – (UK, informal) a silly or stupid person, especially a man,

shimmy (n.) – a kind of ragtime dance in which the whole body shakes or sways;
shaking, especially abnormal vibration of the wheels of a motor vehicle; (archaic)
informal term for chemise [Steering stabiliziers reduce shimmy even from oversized
tyres.],
shimmy (v.) – dance the shimmy, shake or sway the body; move effortlessly, glide with
a swaying motion; shake or vibrate abnormlaly [Her hair swung in waves as she
shimmied down the catwalk. He braked hard and feltthe char shimmy dangerously.],

half-cut (adj.) – (UK, informal) rather drunk,

svelte (adj.) – (of a person) slender and elegant, thin and well built, slim [She was svelte
and sophisticated.] – synonyms & related words [graceful, lithe, slender, lean, lissom,
slinky, smooth, sylphlike, willowy],

ruminate (v.) – think deeply about something; (of a ruminant) chew the cud [We sat
ruminating on the nature of existence. Goats ruminated nonchalantly around them. Cows
emit more methane when they are ruminating.] – synonyms & related words [think
about, contemplate, consider, give thought to, give consideration to, mull over, meditate
on, muse on, ponder on/over, deliberate about/on, cogitate about/on, dwell on, brood
on/over, agonize over, worry about, chew over, puzzle over; turn over in one's mind,
pore on],

out of place (phrase) – not in the proper position, disarranged; in a setting where
one is or feels inappropriate or incongruous [Not a hair was out of place in her
painstakingly crimped coiffure. I never saw her with a hair out of place. The glamorous
woman seemed radically out of place in the lauderette. He has never said anything to me
that was out of place. Such a glamorous woman seemed out of place in a lauderette.] –
synonyms & related words [out of position, out of order, in disorder, disarranged, in
disarray, disorganized, in a mess, messy, topsy-turvy, muddled, inappropriate,
unsuitable, unseemly, improper, untoward, inapposite, out of keeping, unbecoming,
unfit, misplaced, wrong, incongruous, out of one's element, like a fish out of water,
uncomfortable, ill at ease, uneasy],

harrow (v.) – draw a harrow over (land); cause distress to [They ploughed and
harrowed the heavy clay. Todd could take it, whereas I'm harrowed by it. To read those
words harrowed her very soul. Harrowing pictures of starving children.] – synonyms &
related words [distress, trouble, afflict, grieve, torment, torture, crucify, rack, sear, pain,
wound, mortify, cause agony to, cause suffering to, cut up, distressing, traumatic,
upsetting, heartbreaking, heart-rending, shocking, disturbing, painful, affecting,
haunting, appalling, tragic, horrifying; gut-wrenching, distressful],

pochard (n.) – heavy-bodied Old World diving duck having a grey-and-black body and
reddish head [That red-crested pochard there is positively hoggish for this Hovis.],

precipitous (adj.) – dangerously high or steep; (of a change to a worse situation or

condition) sudden and dramatic; (of an action) done suddenly and without careful
consideration [The track skirted a precipitous drop. The road became narrower, the drop
on each side more precipitous. A precipitous slide in the government's popularity. His fall
from power was precipitous. Precipitous intervention.] – synonyms & related words
[steep, sheer, high, perpendicular, abrupt, sharp, dizzy, vertiginous, vertical, bluff;
acclivitous, declivitous; sudden, rapid, swift, abrupt, meteoric, headlong, speedy, quick,
fast, hurried, breakneck, violent, precipitate, unexpected, without warning,
unanticipated, unforeseen; precipitant],

belt and braces (id.) – (UK, informal) the use of two or more actions in order to be
extra careful about something, although only one is really necessary; overly careful,
cautious, wary [I wrote to them and phoned as well - belt and braces, I admit.]

look askance (v.) – to look at or think about someone or something with doubt,
disapproval, or no trust [They looked askance at our scruffy clothes.],

askance (adv.) – with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval [The reformers

looked askance at the mystical treated. They looked askance at almost anything foreign.
She looked askance at her neighbors.] – synonyms & related words [suspiciously, with
suspicion, sceptically, with misgivings, cynically, mistrustfully, distrustfully, with
distrust, doubtfully, dubiously, with doubt; disapprovingly, with disapproval, with
disfavour, contemptuously, scornfully, disdainfully; suspect, mistrust, distrust;
disapprove of, frown on, be hostile towards, obliquely, sideways, indirect, out of the
corner of one's eye, askew],

the jury is (still) out (id.) – If the jury is (still) out on a subject, people do not yet
know the answer or have not yet decided if it is good or bad [The jury's still out on the
safety of irradiated food.],

shades of grey (id.) – the fact of it not being clear in a situation what is right and
wrong [The film presents a straightforward choice between good and evil, with no shades
of grey.],

tinsel (n.) – long pieces of thin, shiny material used as decoration, especially at
Christmas; (disapproving) something, especially the entertainment business or
someone's way of living, that seems exciting and attractive, but is really of low quality or
value [A Christmas tree decorated with tinsel. The show was all tinsel and glitter. A room
bedecked with tinsel and fairy lights. Fairy lights and tinsel hung from the ceiling. His taste
for the tinsel of the art world. Hollywood and its tinsel stardom.] – synonyms & related
words [spangle, glitter, metallic yarn, clinquant; ostentatious, pretentious, showy,
conspicuous, obtrusive, flamboyant, gaudy, garish, tawdry, meretricious, trashy, brash,
vulgar, loud, extravagant, fancy, ornate, affected, theatrical, overdone, over-elaborate;
kitsch, tasteless; flash, flashy, over the top, OTT, glitz, ritzy, swanky, splashy, superfly,
bling-bling, dicty, ostentation, showiness, show, showing off, ostentatiousness,
pretentiousness, pretension, vulgarity, conspicuousness, obtrusiveness, display,
flamboyance, gaudiness, garishness, tawdriness, meretriciousness, brashness, loudness,
extravagance, ornateness, theatricality; kitschness, affectation, bad taste, tastelessness,
self-advertisement, exhibitionism, flaunting; flashiness, flash, flashiness, glitz, gliziness,
ritziness, swankiness, swank, splashiness],

fiddling while Rome burns (id.) – to occupy oneself with unimportant matters and
neglect priorities during a crisis – synonyms & related words [to waste time, lollygag,
dilly-dally, bugger about, mess about, muck about, muck up, split hairs, screw around,
ponce about, piss about, piddle around, moon over, moon around, jack aorund, goof off,
frig around, footle, faff about, bugger about]

hot and heavy (id.) – in an intense manner, intense, fiery, passionate, vehement,
lustful

like a rat up a drainpipe (id.) – (UK, informal) very quickly or eagerly [I shot up the
ladder like a rat up a drainpipe. The tabloids were all over them when they broke the two
minutes of silence, like rats up a drainpipe.],

whelm (v.) – to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress [The news so

whelmed them that they were stunned into silence.] – synonyms & related words [crush,
devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overpower, prostrate,
snow under, swamp, overwhelm, deluge, drown, sink, confute, defeat, refute, break,
demoralize, distress, disturb, rock, shatter, stagger, throw, unman, unnerve, upset],

chime (v.) – (of a bell or clock) make melodious ringing sounds, typicalyl to indicate
the time; (UK) be in agreement with [The clock chimed eight. At the stroke of nine, the
bells began to chime. The clock on the mantelpiece chimed eight o'clock. His poems chimed
with our modern experience of loss. Some of his remarks chimed in with the ideas of Adam
Smith.] – synonyms & related words [ring, peal, toll, sound, ding, dong, clang, boom,
resound, reverberate, tinkle, jingle, jangle, knell, tintinnabulate, strike, sound, indicate,
mark, accord, correspond, be consistent, be compatible, agree, be in agreement, be in
accordance, fit in, be in harmony, harmonize, be in tune, be consonant, be similar,
square],

have legs (id.) – (informal) if a story in the news has legs, it will continue for a long
time; if something has legs, it can continue to exist and be successful [This latest scandal
has legs – you'll probably stil lbe reading about it in a year's time. The business has legs. He
thinks it's bollocks, but you think it's got legs, Hugh?],

substantial (adj.) – (large) large in size, value, or importance; (general, formal)

relating to the main or most important things being considered [The findings show a
substantial difference between the opinions of men and women. She inherited a substantial
fortune from her grandmother. The first draft of his novel needed a substantial amount of
rewriting. Yes, well, as substantial as your guts are, they've been outvoted. The committee
was in substantial agreement (= agreed about most of the things discussed).] – synonyms
& related words [considerable, real, material, weighty, solid, sizeable, meaningful,
significant, important, notable, major, marked, valuable, useful, worthwhile, goodly, tidy,
decent, ample, large, sturdy, solid, stout, strong, well built, well constructed, durable,
long-lasting, hard-wearing, imperishable, impervious, successful, buoyant, booming,
doing well, profit-making, profitable, prosperous, wealthy, affluent, moneyed, well-to-do,
rich, large, in the money, rolling in it, loaded, stinking roach, quids in, fundamental,
essential, basic, real, true, actual, existing, physical, solid, material, concrete, corporeal,
tangible, non-spiritual, unimaginary],

insubstantial (adj.) – lacking strength and solidity; not having physical existence [The
huts are relatively few and insubstantial. Thse insubstantial structures cannot be
converted into satisfactory dwellings. Insubstantial evidence. The flickering light made her
face seem insubstantial. She felt worried, in an insubstantial yet unsettling way.] –
synonyms & related words [flimsy, slight, light, fragile, breakable, weak, frail, shaky,
unstable, wobbly, tottery, rickety, ramshackle, makeshift; jerry-built, badly built, thrown
together, cheap, shoddy, gimcrack; weak, flimsy, feeble, poor, inadequate, insufficient,
thin, slight, tenuous, insignificant, inconsequential, unsubstantial, unconvincing,
implausible, unsatisfactory, paltry, trifling, trivial, shallow; intangible, impalpable,
indefinable, indescribable, vague, obscure, unclear, indistinct; untouchable,
imperceptible to the touch, unsubstantial, incorporeal; imaginary, imagined, fancied,
fanciful, figmental, unreal, non-existent, illusory, illusive, delusive, hallucinatory,
phantom, spectral, ghostlike, visionary, chimerical, airy, vaporous, immaterial, unbodied,
discarnate, phantasmal, phantasmic, inexistent, illusionary],

discarnate (adj.) – (of a person or being) not having a physical body [Methods for
communicating with the dead or with discarnate spirits past the ghost fence.],

on the hoof (id.) – while you are doing something else, especially going from one
place to another; if you make a decision on the hoof, you do something without thinking
about ti carefully first; not yet killed for eating [We can grab some lunch on the hoof. Beef
of the hoof. We cannot continue making policies on the hoof.],

heavy-handed (adj.) – clumsy, insensitive, or overly forceful; using too much of

something [Heavy-handed policing. They tend to be heavy-handed with the equipment.
Beware of being heavy-handed with the flour.] – synonyms & related words [clumsy,
awkward, maladroit, unhandy, inept, unskilful, inexpert, graceless, ungraceful; ham-
handed, ham-fisted, cack-handed, all thumbs, all fingers and thumbs, insensitive,
oppressive, overbearing, high-handed, harsh, hard, stern, severe, tyrannical, despotic,
autocratic, ruthless, merciless; tactless, undiplomatic, thoughtless, inconsiderate, inept],

a happy bunny (id.) – someone who is satisfied with a situation [We've all got good
reason to be happy bunnies. The boss was not a happy bunny, I can tell you.],

funny ha-ha or funny peculiar? (id.) – (UK) used when someone has described a
person as „funny“ and you want to know if they mean „humorous“ („ha-ha“), or „strange“
(„peculiar) [„She's a very funny woman.“ „Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?“ „No, that tie is
very funny ha-ha... I meant, no, funny peculiar!“],

ignominious (adj.) – deserving or causing public disgrace or shame [No other party
risked ignominious defeat. The leader's ignominious defeat. The regime's most ignominious
crimes.] – synonyms & related words [humiliating, undignified, embarrassing,
mortifying, shameful, disgraceful, dishonourable, discreditable, ignoble, inglorious,
abject, sorry, wretched, miserable, pitiful; humiliatory, heinous, infamous, scandalous,
disgraceful, shameful, contemptible, despicable, shabby, wicked, vile, villainous, base,
low, ignoble, wretched],

in the frame (id.) – involved in something, or being considered for something [He is
back in the frame for the Norway game on Friday. Lord Monckton is certainly in the frame
here at Number 10.],

nous (n.) – wit – synonyms & related words [mother wit, common sense, faculties,
innate common sense, intellectual gifts, senses, wits, intellect],

common sense (n.) – good sense and sound judgement in practical matters [It is all a
matter of common sense. He is quick to praise her professionalism and common sense.] –
synonyms & related words [good sense, sense, sensibleness, native wit, native
intelligence, mother wit, wit, judgement, sound judgement, level-headedness, prudence,
discernment, acumen, sharpness, sharp-wittedness, canniness, astuteness, shrewdness,
judiciousness, wisdom, insight, intuition, intuitiveness, perceptiveness, perspicacity,
vision, understanding, intelligence, reason, powers of reasoning; practicality, capability,
initiative, resourcefulness, enterprise, horse sense, grumption, nous, savvy, know-how,
common, smarts, sapience, arguteness],

repartee (n.) – conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or

replies [He had a quick mind and a splendid gift of repartee. An evening of wit and
repartee.] – synonyms & related words [banter, badinage, witty conversation, bantering,
raillery, witticism, crosstalk, wordplay, patter; witty remarks, witticisms, ripostes,
sallies, quips; joking, jesting, teasing, chaff, chaffing, drollery; bons mots; persiflage],

unhinge (v.) – make (someone) mentally unbalanced; deprive of stability, throw into
disorder; take (a door) off its hinges [The loneliness had nearly unhinged him. Lydia was
unhinged with the shock of bereavement. A chain of events unhinges the structure of the
family.] – synonyms & related words [deranged, demented, unbalanced, out of one's
mind, crazed, mad, insane; lunatic, manic, maniac, berserk, disturbed, distracted,
confused; sectionable, crazy, mental, potty, bonkers, bats, batty, loopy, bananas, touched,
out to lunch, off one's head, off one's rocker],

hinge (v.) – attach or join with or as if with a hinge; (of a door or part of a structure)
hang and turn on a hinge; depend entirely on [The ironing board was set int othe wall and
hinged at the bottom. The skull's jaw hinged down. The future of the industry could hinge
on the outcome of next month's election.] – synonyms & related words [depend, hang,
rest, turn, pivot, centre, be based, be contingent, be dependent, be conditional; be subject
to, be determined by, be decided by, revolve around],

swings and roundabouts (id.) – used for describing a situation that has advantages
and disadvantages, good and bad, ups and downs,

poky (adj.) – (of a room or building) uncomfortably small and cramped [Five of us
shared the poky little room. A poky room.] – synonyms & related words [small, little, tiny;
cramped, confined, restricted, narrow, tight, uncomfortable, cell-like, boxy, compact;
bijou; with no room to swing a cat, strait, incommodious],

cushy (adj.) – (of a job or situation); (NA, of furniture) comfortable [He doesn't have
anything like the cushy life of your professors have. A cushy job. Cushy chairs and couches.]
– synonyms & related words [easy, undemanding, untaxing, comfortable, secure,
jammy],

trot out (v.) – bring forward, unleash – synonyms & related words [brandish, recite,
rehearse, bring up, come out with, display, disport, drag up, exhibit, expose, flash, flaunt,
parade, reiterate, relate, repeat, represent, show, show off],

bumph (n.) – reading materials (documents, written information) that you must read
and deal with but that you think are extremely boring – synonyms & related words
[reading, reading material, bumf],

toboggan (n.) – a long, light, narrow vehicle, typically on runners, used for sliding
downhill over snow or ice,

toboggan (v.) – slide downhill over snow on a toboggan; (figurative) to go, fall, slide
downhill unstoppably until one reaches the bottom [My kids love to go tobogganing in
the park before Christmas dinner.],

germane (adj.) – relevant to a subject under consideration [That is not germane to our
theme. Those factors are not germane to the present discussion. Do you not think it would
be germane to check who you're talking to?] – synonyms & related words [relevant,
pertinent, applicable, apposite, material; apropos, to the point, to the purpose,
admissible; appropriate, apt, fitting, suitable, suited, proper, felicitous; connected,
related, linked, akin, allied, analogous; ad rem, appurtenant],

fit for purpose (adj.) – something that is fit for purpose is good enough to do the job
it was designed to do [The department's not really fit for purpose. European law dictates
that goods must be fit for purpose when sold.],
blow a fuse/blow a gasket (id.) – lose one's temper, rage, go mad [It was only a
suggestion – there's no need to blow a fuse. I'm about to blow a gasket.],

not waving, but drowning (id.) – in trouble, perturbed, losing, sad, contrary to
appearance [I assure you, despite the calm demeanor, I am not waving, but drawing.],

swan (around/about) (id.) – to travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or

pretentiously casual way,

sleepwalk (v.) – (figurative) do, partake in, engage in an activity without interest,
enthusiasm, or awareness of the possible consequences [We are sleepwalking into a
surveillance society.],

leaven (n.) – a substance, typically yeast, that is added to dough to make it ferment and
rise; dough that is reserved from an earlier batch in order to start a later one
fermenting; a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it for the better
[Leaven is added to the dough and the dough is left to rise. They acted as an intellectual
leaven to the warriors who dominated the city.] – synonyms & related words [leavening,
ferment, fermentation agent, raising agent, yeast, barm, baking powder],

leaven (v.) – cause (dough or bread) to ferment and rise by adding leaven; permeate
and modify or transform (something) for the better [Leavened breads are forbidden
during Passover. The biscuits are light because they use both yeast and baking powder to
leaven the flour. The proceedings should be leavened by humor. I thought we'd leaven it
with some jokes. His humor was sharp, but often leavend with a touch of self-mockery.] –
synonyms & related words [permeate, infuse, pervade, penetrate, imbue, suffuse,
transform, modify; enliven, lighten, quicken, inspire, stimulate, liven up, invigorate,
vivify, ginger up, energize, electrify, galvanize, perk up, brighten up, cheer up, season,
spice, buck up, pep up, add zest to, add zing to],

lob (v.) – throw or hit (a ball or missile) in a high arc [He lobbed the ball over their
heads. They lobed grenades on to the gun platform. “Perhaps he has reason.” The Broken
fumbled within a pouch hanging from his waist. He produced a small, rough-looking stone
inscribed with strange runes. He held it out to Maiev in the flat of his palm. She looked at it
but made no attempt to take it. She could sense magic in it. It did not have the foulness of
fel sorcery or the wickedness of arcane magic. As far as she could tell. “Through this I will
contact you when I have something worth telling. I carry its twin.” The stone still lay on his
outstretched palm. “Of course, if you are afraid to take it, we can find another way …”
Maiev snatched the stone from his hand. The presence of magic tingled against her
gauntlet. Nothing terrible happened. “As you wish.” Akama made a small bow. “I can see
why he fears you. You are very much alike.” Akama walked away, leaving Maiev to stare at
her reflection in the dark mirror of the lake. Her image glared back at her, a picture of
frustrated fury. She stooped, picked up a pebble, and lobbed it into the water, smashing her
likeness into ripples.] – synonyms & related words [throw, toss, fling, pitch, shy, hurl, pelt,
sling, loft, cast, let fly with, flip, launch, propel, impel, bowl, chuck, bung, heave],

bear fruit (id.) – yield positive results [Plans for power-sharing may be about to bear
fruit.] – synonyms & related words[yield results, get results, succeed, meet with success,
be successful, be effective, be profitable, work, go as planned, pay off, come off, pan out,
do the trick, do the business],

pan out (v.) – end up, conclude; turn out well [He's happy with the way the deal panned
out. The deal panned out badly. Harold's idea had been a good one even if it hadn't panned
out.] – synonyms & related words [turn out, work out, conclude, end (up), result, come
out, fall out, develope, evolve, eventuate, succeed, be successful, work, turn out well,
work out, do the trick],

kick off (id.) – begin or cause something to begin; (UK, informal) become very angry,
suddenly start an argument or fight [The festival kicks off on Monday. Nicola's daughter
has been kicking off at school. I don't want her kicking off at me again.] – synonyms &
related words [start, begin, get going, get off the ground, get under way; open, start off,
set going, set in motion, launch, put in place, initiate, introduce, inaugurate, usher in,
start the ball rolling, get the show on the road, commence],

bankroll (v.) – provide with sufficient funds, finance, fund [The taxpayer is not
bankrolling you for this kind of stuff.],

plasmic (adj.) organic, basic, natural – [I like the plasmic nature of your data
modelling.] – synonyms & related words [biological, nuclear, anatomical, constitutional,
essential, fundamental, integral, living, necessary, original, primary, prime, primitive,
principal, amoebic, animate, basal, biotic, cellular, elemental, inherent, innate, live,
structural, vital],

imagineer (n.) – someone whose job is to invent and make things that combine
imagination and technology, such as the attractions in theme parks [His book gives a lot
of insight into the job, the types of imagineer, and career tips.],

wheelie bin (n.) – a large rubbish container with wheels, that you keep outside your
house [What is this wheelie bin of misery?],

natter (n.) – friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this [A section of the park
in which nannines like to gather for a relaxed natter.] – synonyms & related words
[backchat, cackle, causerie, chatter, chin music, chin-wag [slang], chitchat, confab,
confabulation, gab, gabfest, gossip, jangle, jaw, chat, palaver, patter, rap, schmooze, small
talk, table talk, talk, tête-à-tête, colloquy, conference, discourse, parley, powwow,
symposium, debate, dialogue, dialog, exchange, give-and-take, crosstalk, happy talk, yak,
yack, yammer, yap],
natter (v.) – to engage in casual or rambling conversation [Could sit for hours nattering
about nothing.] – synonyms & related words [babble, blab, cackle, chaffer, chatter, chin,
converse, gab, gabble, gas, jabber, jaw, kibitz, kibbitz, chat, palaver, patter, prate, prattle,
rap, rattle, run on, schmooze, shmooze, talk, twitter, visit, gossip, tattle, descant, discuss,
expatiate, yak, yack, yammer, yap],

perennial (adj.) – lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time, enduring or
continually recurring; apparently permanently engaged in a specified role or way of life;
(of a plant) living for several years; (of a stream or spring) flowing throughout the year
[His perennial distrust of the media. The perennial fascination with crime. He's a perennial
student. Cow parsley is perennial. Spring streams rise from perennial springs.] – synonyms
& related words [everlasting, perpetual, eternal, continuing, unending, never-ending,
endless, undying, ceaseless, abiding, enduring, lasting, persisting, permanent, constant,
continual, unfailing, unchanging, never-changing],

poppet (n.) – a small figure often of a human being used especially as a child's
plaything [A scruffy old poppet that had once belonged to my great grandmother.] –
synonyms & related words [action figure, dolly, doll, puppet, rag doll, figure, figurine,
handpuppet, marionette],

fatuous (adj.) – silly and pointless [A fatuous argument. A fatuous comment. She was
irritated by a fatuous question.] – synonyms & related words [silly, foolish, stupid, inane,
nonsensical, childish, puerile, infantile, idiotic, brainless, mindless, vacuous, imbecilic,
asinine, witless, empty-headed, hare-brained; pointless, senseless; ridiculous, ludicrous,
absurd, preposterous, laughable, risible; daft, moronic, cretinous, dumb, gormless],

gormless (adj.) – (UK, informal) lacking sense or initiative, foolish, silly, stupid,
naughty [A constantly grinning, rather gormless boy.],

gaum (v.) – (dialect) to make dirty [The kitchen floor was all gaumed up from countless
spells.] – synonyms & related words [befoul, begrime, bemire, besmirch, blacken, daub,
distain, foul, dirty, grime, mire, muck, muddy, smirch, smudge, soil, stain, sully,
contaminate, defile, pollute, taint, discolor, confuse, disarrange, disarray, dishevel,
disorder, draggle, jumble, mess, muddle, colly, crock],

jazzy (adj.) – of, resembling, or in the style of jazz; bright, colorful, and showy [A jazzy
piano solo. Jazzy ties. Their range of ceramic jars uses a jazzy combination of spots and
stripes.] – synonyms & related words [bright, colourful, brightly coloured, bright-
coloured, brilliant, striking, strong, eye-catching, stimulating, exciting, interesting,
effective, imaginative, graphic, vivid, lively, vibrant, bold, flamboyant, flashy, glaring,
showy, gaudy, lurid, garish; (looking) like an explosion in a paint factory],

inoffensive (adj.) – not objectionable or harmful, not offensive [A shy, inoffensive, and
sensitive girl. The victim was an inoffensive law-abidint citizen.] – synonyms & related
words [harmless, innocuous, unobjectionable, unexceptionable, unoffending, non-
aggressive, non-violent, non-combative; mild, peaceful, peaceable, gentle, tame,
innocent; unremarkable],

have your work cut out (for you) (id.) – to have something very difficult to do
[She'll really have her work cut out to finish all those reports by the end of the week.],

get blood out of/from a stone (id.) – to make someone give or tell you something,
when it is extremely difficult because of the character or mood of the person or
organization you are dealing with, persuade, convince, force [Persuading Chris to buy a
round of drinks is like getting blood from a stone. Getting money out of him is like getting
blood out of a stone.],

scrunch (v.) – crush or squeeze (something) into a compact mass [Flora scrunched the
handkerchief into a ball. I had scrunched up the pages and stuffed them into the gaps.
Their faces scrunched up with concentration. Then gently scrunch hair with fingers and
mousse.] – synonyms & related words [crumple (up), crunch (up), crush, rumple, screw
up, squash (up), twist (up), mash (up), squeeze, compress, chew (up), squidge],

bid (n.) – an offer of a price, especially at an auction; an attempt or effort to achieve

something [She fired the starter pistol for a new leadership bid. At the fur tables, everal
buyers make bids for the pelts. I put in a bid of $3,000. He made a bid for power in 1984. An
investigation carried out in a bid to establish what had happened.] – synonyms & related
words [offer, tender, proposal, submission, price, sum, amount, advance, ante, attempt,
effort, endeavor, try, go, crack, stab],

down pat/off pat (id.) – thoroughly practiced, rehearsed, or undestood; mastered

[He has the look of Bruce Lee down pat, with the same defiant expression and spare but
muscled frame. I don't know how you got the weird nuances of Oblivion NPCs down pat like
that, but great job, lol.] – synonyms & related words [expert, adept, clever, masterly;
skilful, skilled, adroit, proficient, deft, dexterous, accomplished, polished, excellent,
superb, superlative, consummate, first-rate, peerless, fine, crack, stellar, ace, badass],

spare (adj.) – with no excess fat, thin [A spare, bearded figure.] – synonyms & related
words [slender, lean; willowy, sylphlike, svelte, lissom, graceful, snake-hipped, rangy,
clean-limbed, trim, slight, slightly built, without an ounce of fat; thin, as thin as a reed,
skinny, size-zero, gaunt, attenuated, lanky, spindly; skin and bone, gracile, attenuate],

in that (conjuction) – in the fact that, in the sense that, for the cause or reason that,
because [This essay is a good one i nthat it comprehensively outlines all the major
arguments on this issue.],

insofar as (conjuction) – to the extent that,

insomuch as (conjuction) – because of the fact that, since; to the extent that, in sofar
as [You will improve, only inasmuch as you practice. Inasmuch as I already know you, I
shall call you Jim, not James.],

a big bucket of shit and a whisk (id.) – stirring up, making, creating problems,

as mad as a dickless dog (id.) – extremely mad, furious, raging, in an uproar,

gait (n.) – a person's manner of walking [The easy gait of an athlete. He had the gait of a
professional soldier. Look at that gait, you can't buy that, that's class.] – synonyms &
related words [walk, step, stride, pace, tread, manner of walking, way of walking;
bearing, carriage, comportment, way of holding oneself, way of carrying oneself;
deportment],

dozy (adj.) – feeling drowsy and lazy; (UK, informal) sluggish and not alert, stupid [He
grew dozy at the end of a long day. The guard on night duty would be too dozy to spot
anything. At breakfast, a dozy waitress brings the wrong thing. Right, get the dozy giblet
back in here.] – synonyms & related words [drowsy, sleepy, half asleep, heavy-eyed,
somnolent; lethargic, listless, lacking in energy, unenergetic, enervated, inactive, slow,
torpid, languid, weary, tired, fatigued; lazy, idle, indolent, slothful, sluggardly; asthenic,
neurasthenic, dopey, yawny, logy, lymphatic],

giblet (n.) – variety meat, organ meat – synonyms & related words [brains, chitlins,
chitterlings, giblets, gizzard, heart, kidneys, liver, marrow, mountain oyster, pancreas,
prairie oyster, stomach, sweetbread, testis, thymus, tongue, tripe],

emasculate (v.) – deprive (a man) of his male role or identity; make (someone or
something) weaker or less effective [He feels emasculated, because he cannot control his
sons' behavior. The refusal to allow the mto testify effectively emasculated the committee.
The Parliament Act of 1991 which emasculated the House of Lords.] – synonyms & related
words [weaken, make feeble/feebler, debilitate, enfeeble, enervate, dilute, erode,
undermine, impoverish, cripple, reduce the powers of; remove the sting from, pull the
teeth of; water down],

dilute (v.) – make (a liquid) thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent to it;
make (something) weaker in force, content, or value by modification or the addition of
other elements [Bleach can be diluted with cold water. The reforms have been diluted. I
trust I have been able to dilute your misgivings.] – synonyms & related words [make
weaker, weaken; thin out, thin, make thinner, water down, add water to; mix, doctor,
lace, adulterate; cut, diminish, reduce, decrease, lessen, attenuate, make weaker,
weaken, mitigate, temper, quell, quieten, allay, assuage, alleviate, palliate, moderate,
modify, tone down; lenfiy],
fashion (v.) – make into a particular form; use materials to produce (something) [I am
going to paddle a fashion out of this shit. The bottles were fashioned from green glass. The
head section was fashioned from a separate sheet of lead.] – synonyms & related words
[construct, build, manufacture, make, create, fabricate, contrive, cast, frame, shape, form,
mould, sculpt, forge, hew, carve, whittle, hammer, chisel],

back to the wall (id.) – hopeless, desperate, in trouble [I was born here in the city,
with my back against the wall.] – synonyms & related words [despondent, forlorn, futile,
sad, vain, downcast, goner, at end of one's rope, can't win, dead duck, despairing, gone,
hard up, in the soup, in the toilet, inconsolable, irrecoverable, irremediable,
irretrievable, no-chance, no-way, no-win, running out of time, sunk, up against it, up the
creek, useless, wretched],

(have a) mind like a steel trap (id.) – be very quick to understand something,
precocious, smart, intelligent [Aunt Ida may be old, but she still has a mind like a steel
trap.],

self-defeating (adj.) – causing the same problems that you were intending to solve,

venary (adj.) – of or pertaining to hunting,

panic (v.) – feel or cause to feel panic [The crowd panicked and stampeded for the exist.
There's no need to panic. Talk of love panicked here. She's got that panicky look on her
face.] – synonyms & related words [be alarmed, be scared, be nervous, be afraid,
overreact, become panic-stricken, take fright, be filled with fear, be terrified, be agitated,
be hysterical, lose one's nerve, be perturbed, get overwrought, get worked up, go/fall to
pieces, lose control, fall apart; lap, get in a flap, lose one's cool, get the jitters, get into a
tizzy/tizz, run around like a headless chicken, freak, freak out, get in a stew, get the
willies, get the (screaming) heebie-jeebies; get the wind up, go into a (flat) spin, have
kittens, lose one's bottle, throw a wobbly, have an attack of the wobblies],

liaise (v.) – cooperate on a matter of mutual concern; act as a link to assist

communication between (people or groups) [She will liaise with teachers across the
country. Social services liaised with the police. Civil servants who liaise between the prime
minister and departmental ministers. He says to liaise with you on the press.] – synonyms
& related words [cooperate, work together, collaborate; communicate,
intercommunicate, exchange information, network, interface, link up, hook up],

chisel (v.) – cut, wear away – synonyms & related words [carve, sculpt, hew, incise,
roughcast, sculpture, shape, roughhew],

loutish (adj.) – (of a man or boy) uncouth and aggressive, thuggish [Youths responsible
for awful, loutish behavior. A loutish youth.] – synonyms & related words [uncouth, rude,
impolite, unmannerly, ill-mannered, ill-bred, coarse; thuggish, boorish, oafish, rowdy,
bullying, uncivilized, wild, rough, vulgar, philistine, common, crass; yobbish, slobbish],

make tracks (id.) – leave, go, depart,

needle (v.) – provoke or annoy (someone) by continual criticism or questioning [I just

said that to Charlie to needle him. Why had she allowed Leo to needle her into telling him?]
– synonyms & related words [goad, provoke, bait, taunt, pester, harass, prick, prod,
sting; irritate, annoy, anger, vex, irk, nettle, pique, exasperate, infuriate, get on
someone's nerves, rub up the wrong way, get/put someone's back up, ruffle someone's
feathers, try someone's patience; aggravate, rile, niggle, get in someone's hair, hassle, get
to, bug, mfif, peeve, get under osmeone's skin, get up someone's nose, hack off, wind up,
get at, nark, get across, ride, rark, piss off, exacerbate, hump, rasp],

artful (adj.) – clever or skilful, especially in a crafty or cunning way [Her artful wiles. An
artfucal political ruse. Artfully combining bigamy and bigotry.] – synonyms & related
words [sly, crafty, cunning, wily, scheming, devious, Machiavellian, sneaky, guileful,
tricky, conniving, designing, calculating; shrewd, astute, sharp-witted, sharp, acute,
intelligent, clever, alert, canny; deceitful, deceptive, duplicitous, cheating, dishonest,
disingenuous, underhand, untrustworthy, unscrupulous, double-dealing; dirty, foxy,
shifty, smart, fly, shonky, slim, vulpine, carny, subtle],

disingenuous (adj.) – not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows
less about something than one really does [This journalist was being somewhat
disingenuous as well as cynical. It would be disingenuous of us to pretend ignorance of our
book's impact.] – synonyms & related words [dishonest, deceitful, underhand,
underhanded, duplicitous, double-dealing, two-faced, dissembling, insincere, false, lying,
untruthful, mendacious; not candid, not frank, not entirely truthful; artful, cunning,
crafty, wily, sly, sneaky, tricky, scheming, calculating, designing, devious, unscrupulous,
shifty, foxy, economical with the truth, terminologically inexact, subtle, hollow-hearted,
false-hearted, double-faced, truthless, unveracious],

newfangled (adj.) – attracted to novelty; of the newest style or kind, fresh, new,
innovative [Had many newfangled gadgets in the kitchen. Abaddon shifted on her couch
again, his terminator-armored bulk threatening to flatten the valiant furniture. “Where
doesn’t it come from,” he sighed, his voice surprisingly soft for the most feared champion of
the dark gods. “I mean, there’s the gods themselves at the top of the pile: Khorne’s always
teasing me that Kharn’s got more kills than I have – up-close-and-personal ones, mind,
Khorne doesn’t like all this newfangled stuff like the Planet Killer – and Tzeentch never
shuts up about me being so predictable. And then there’s Nurgle. Warp dammit that guy
could give a daemonette weight issues. Doom this and despair that and decay the other.”],

old-fangled/oldfangled (adj.) – old-fashioned,

olde worlde (adj.) – in or relating to an old-fashioned style that is intended to be
quaint and attractive (often used to suggest a lack of authenticity) [Olde worlde inns.],

archaic (adj.) – very old or old-fashioned [Prisons are run on archaic methods. An
archaic word.] – synonyms & related words [obsolete, obsolescent, out of date,
anachronistic, old-fashioned, outmoded, behind the times, bygone, antiquated, antique,
superannuated, antediluvian, past its prime, having seen better days, olde worlde, old-
fangled; ancient, very old, aged, prehistoric, primitive, of yore; extinct, defunct,
discontinued, discarded, fossilized, dead; passé, démodé, old hat, out of the ark],

be out of (or have gone out with) the ark (id.) – (UK, informal) be very old-
fashioned [The lessons were boring and taught by somebody out of the ark. This kind of
variety entertainment went out with the ark.],

inadequate (adj.) – lacking the qualit yor quantity required, insufficient for a purpose;
(of a person) unable to deal with a situation or with life [These labels prove to be wholly
inadequate. Inadequate water supplies. Inadequate staff. Inadequate skill. A sad, solitary,
inadequate man.] – synonyms & related words [insufficient, not enough, deficient, poor,
scant, scanty, scarce, sparse, too little, too few, short, in short supply; paltry, meagre,
niggardly; skimpy, sketchy, incomplete, restricted, limited; measly, pathetic, piddling,
exiguous, incompetent, incapable, unsatisfactory, not good enough, no good, found
wanting, not up to scratch, lacking, leaving much to be desired, unfit, ineffective,
ineffectual, inefficient, unskilful, inexpert, inept, unproficient, amateurish, substandard,
poor, bad, hopeless, useless, inferior; impotent, powerless; not up to snuff, lousy, duff,
not much cop, no great shakes, half-arsed],

scarce (adj.) – (especialyl of food, money, or some other resources) insuffient for the
demand; occurring in small numbers or quantities, rare [As raw materials became scarce,
synthetics were developed. The drought means that the crops have failed and food is
scarce. The freshwater shrimp becomes scarce in soft water. Birds that prefer dense forest
interiors are becoming scarcer.] – synonyms & related words [in short supply, short,
scant, scanty, meagre, sparse, hard to find, hard to come by, not enough, too little,
insufficient, deficient, inadequate, lacking, wanting; at a premium, like gold dust, not to
be had, scarcer than hen's teeth; paltry, negligible, thin, not to be had for love nor
money, exiguous; : rare, few and far between, thin on the ground, seldom seen/found;
uncommon, unusual, infrequent; out of the common],

lark (n.) – somethingdone for fun, especiallyy something mischievous or daring, an

amusing adventure or escapade [I only went along for a lark. He's serious about this
music lark. I've got this snowboarding lark sussed.] – synonyms & related words [fun,
amusement, amusing time, laugh, giggle, joke, scapade, prank, trick, game, jape, skylark,
practical joke, stunt; leg-pull, put-on, gag, crack, antics, high jinks, horseplay, fooling
about/around, mischief, devilry, roguery, clowning, tomfoolery, shenanigans, monkey
tricks, monkey business, didoes, sport, activity, undertaking, thing to do, hobby, pastime,
task, business, caper],

lark (v.) – (UK) enjoy oneself byb ehaving in a playful and mischievous way [He's
always joking and larking about in the office.] – synonyms & related words [ool
about/around, play tricks, indulge in horseplay, make mischief, monkey about/around,
footle about/around, clown about/around, have fun, cavort, caper, romp, frolic, skylark;
mess about/around, play up, act the (giddy) goat, muck about/around, fanny
about/around, bugger about/around, piss about/around, arse about/around, disport
oneself],

heckle (v.) – interrupt (a public speaker) with derisive or aggressive comments or

abuse [He was booed and heckled when he tried to address the demonstrators. Did you get
heckled off?] – synonyms & related words [jeer, taunt, jibe at, shout down, shout at, boo,
hiss, disrupt, interrupt, harass, shout catcalls at, barrack, give someone a hard time],

acute (adj.) – (of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or

experienced to a severe or intense degree; (of a disease or its symptoms) severe but of
short duration; having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight, shrewd; (of y
phasical sense or faculty) highly developed, keen [An acute housing shortage. The acute
food shortages of post-war England. Acute appendicitis. The meal gave us acute pains in
our stomachs. This is an accutely private moment. The patient had acute colitis. An acute
awareness of changing fashions. An acute sense of smeel. Emily had an acute ear for
instrumental sounds.] – synonyms & related words [severe, critical, drastic, dire,
dreadful, terrible, awful, grave, bad, serious, profound; urgent, pressing, desperate; all-
important, vital, dangerous, hazardous, perilous, precarious; life-threatening, life-and-
death, parlous, egregious, stabbing, shooting, penetrating, piercing, sharp, keen, racking,
searing, burning, consuming; fierce, ferocious; intense, severe, extreme, excruciating,
agonizing, grievous, hellish, torturous, tormenting, unbearable, insufferable,
unendurable, more than one can bear, more than flesh and blood can stand, exquisite,
severe, intense, short-lasting, peracute, astute, shrewd, sharp, sharp-witted, razor-sharp,
rapier-like, quick, quick-witted, agile, nimble, ingenious, clever, intelligent, bright,
brilliant, smart, canny, intuitive, discerning, perceptive, perspicacious, penetrating,
insightful, incisive, piercing, discriminating, sagacious, wise, judicious, on the ball, quick
off the mark, quick o nthe uptake, brainy, streetwise, savvy, suss, pawky, heads-up,
whip-smart, long-headed, argute, sapient, keen, sharp, good, penetrating, discerning,
perceptive, sensitive, subtle],

fine words butter no parsnips (id.) – nothing is achieved by empty words or

flattery, actions speak louder than words, deeds not words,

palatable (adj.) – (of food or drink) plesant to taste; (of an action or proposal)
acceptab or satisfactory [A very palatable local red wine. A device that made increased
taxation more palatable. He gives us the truth – not all of it is palatable. Butter food to
make it more palatable.] – synonyms & related words [tasty, appetizing, pleasant-tasting;
eatable, edible, drinkable, flavourful, flavoursome, savoury, delicious, delectable,
enjoyable, mouth-watering, luscious, toothsome, succulent, dainty, crumptious, finger-
licking, yummy, scrummy, nummy, moreish, delish, yum-yum; ambrosial, comestible,
flavorous, ambrosinan, sapid, nectarean, nectareous, pleasant, acceptable, satisfactory,
pleasing,agreeable, easy to take, to one's liking, pleasurable, nice, sapid],

toothsome (adj.) – (of food) temptingly tasty; (informal, of a person) good-looking,

attractive [A toothsome morsel. A toothsome bimbo.] – synonyms & related words [tasty,
delicious, luscious, mouth-watering, delectable, succulent, palatable; tempting,
appetizing, inviting; scrumptious, yummy, scrummy, finger-licking, delish, yum-yum,
moreish],

morsel (n.) – a small piece or amount of food, am outhful; a small piece or armount of
something [Juliet pushed a morsel of toast into her mouth. There was a morsel of
consolation for the British team. I've got us a tasty little morsel from the Prime Minister.]
– synonyms & related words [mouthful, bite, nibble, bit, small piece, soupçon, taste,
sample, spoonful, forkful, crumb, grain, particle, fragment, fraction, scrap, sliver, shred,
pinch, drop, dollop, whit, atom, granule, segment, spot, modicum, gobbet; titbit, bonne
bouche; smidgen, smidge, skerrick],

skerrick (n.) – (AU/NZ, informal) the smallest bit [There's not a skerrick of food in the
house.],

moreish (adj.) – (UK, informal) so pleasant to eat that one wants more [A moreish
aubergine dip.],

sapid (adj.) – having a strong, pleasant taste; (of talking or writing) pleasant or
interesting [Sapient nut bread.] – synonyms & related words [savory, engaging,
palatable, tasty, zestful],

factual (adj.) – concerned with what is actually the case; actually occuring [A mixture of
comment and factual information. A factual account of events. Looks pretty factual to me.
Cases mentioned are factual.] – synonyms & related words [truthful, true, accurate,
authentic, historical, genuine, fact-based, realistic, real; true-to-life, lifelike, telling it like
it is, as it really happened, correct, circumstantial, sure, veritable, exact, precise, honest,
fair, faithful, literal, matter-of-fact, verbatim, word for word, unbiased, objective,
unprejudiced, unvarnished, unadorned, unadulterated, unexaggerated; verisimilar,
veristic, veridical],

veristic (adj.) – (of art or literature) extremely or strictly naturalistic [Veristic cast-
waxes or terracotta portrait masks.],

veridical (adj.) – truthful; coinciding with reality [Pilate's attitude to the veridical. Such
memories are not necessarily veridical.],
surplus (adj.) – more than what is needed or used, excess [Make the most out of your
surplus cash. Clean off any surplus adhesive.] – synonyms & related words [excess,
excessive, in excess, leftover, left, unused, remaining, extra, additional, reserve, spare;
superfluous, redundant, unwanted, unneeded, not required, uncalled for, dispensable,
disposable, expendable, useless; de trop],

numbskull (n.) – stupid person, ass – synonyms & related words [Dan Miller and his
cabal are looking for numbskulls to resign.] – synonyms & related words [idiot,
blockhead, dolt, donkey, dope, dunce, fool, imbecile, jackass, jerk, nitwit, ass, simpleton,
twit, dimwit, half-head, halfhead],

faff about/around (v.) – (UK, informal) to waste time doing things that are not
important or necessary,

black currant (n.) – small black berries used in jams and jellies,

grapevine (n.) – gossip, hearsay, rumor, telegraph [I heard something about that on
the grapevine.],

superb (adj.) – very good, excellent; impressively splendid [A superb performance. He

scored a superb goal. The Bey of Tunis was buiding himself a superb mausoleum. A superb
diamond necklace.] – synonyms & related words [excellent, superlative, first-rate, first-
class, superior, supreme, outstanding, remarkable, dazzling, marvellous, magnificent,
wonderful, splendid, admirable, noteworthy, impressive, fine, exquisite, exceptional,
glorious, sublime, perfect, of the first order, of the first water, great, fantastic, fabulous,
stellar, terrific, super, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, awesome, amazeballs, ace, cool,
A1, tip-top; brilliant, brill, smashing, boosting, on fleek, badass, magnificent, majestic,
splendid, grand, impressive, imposing, awe-inspiring, breathtaking; gorgeous, choice,
resplendent, stately; sumptuous, opulent, lavish, luxurious, deluxe, plush, ritzy],

wahey (interjection) – expressing exhileration or delight, yahoo, hoo, woohoo, hurrah,

hugely (adv.) – very much, to a very great extent [A hugely expensive house. They are
fighting a hugely expensive legal battle. Not hugely, no, I don't understand.] – synonyms &
related words [very, most, really, thoroughly, extremely, exceedingly, particularly,
tremendously, highly, greatly, decidedly, distinctly, exceptionally, immensely, eminently,
supremely, inordinately, singularly, extraordinarily, vastly, overly; very much, to a great
extent; unco; très; right; errifically, awfully, terribly, devilishly, madly, majorly, seriously,
desperately, mega, ultra, oh-so, too-too, stinking, mucho, damn, damned, too … for
words; devilish, hellish, frightfully; informalever so, well, bloody, dead, dirty, jolly, fair;
real, mighty, powerful, awful, plumb, darned, way, bitching; lekker, exceeding, sore],
warn off (v.) – to tell someone that they must stop doing something and that if they do
not something bad will happen to them, persuad, convince someone not to do something
[Sam was warned off making trouble. Malcolm's told you to warn me off it?],

plait (v.) – braid – synonyms & related words [crease, flute, fold, interweave, knit,
pigtail, plat, pleach, pleat, tress, tuck, twine, weave],

unimpeachable (adj.) – not able to be doubted, questioned, or criticized, entirely

trustworthy [An unimpeachable witness. This was information that I got from an
unimpeachable source. His unimpeachable reputation for fairness.] – synonyms & related
words [trustworthy, reliable, dependable, unquestionable, unassailable,
unchallengeable, above suspicion, beyond suspicion; perfect, faultless, blameless,
impeccable, irreproachable, unblemished],

better the devil you know (than the devil you don't) (saying) – said when
you think it is wiser to deal with someone or something familiar, although you do not
like him, her, or it, than to deal with someone or something you do not know that might
be worse,

maimed but not shamed (id.) – said when one is physically injured, but one's pride
is unhurt,

grout (v.) – bind with grout – synonyms & related words [fasten, fix, secure],

grout (n.) – a thin mortar that can be poured and used to fill cracks in masonry or
brickwork, plaster,

mock (adj.) – not authentic or real, but without the intention to deceive; (of an
examination, battle, etc.) arranged for training or practice [A mock-Georgian red brick
house. A mock leather armchair. Mock GCSEs.] – synonyms & related words [imitation,
artificial, man-made, manufactured, simulated, synthetic, ersatz, plastic, so-called, fake,
false, faux, reproduction, replica, facsimile, dummy, model, toy, make-believe, sham,
spurious, bogus, counterfeit, fraudulent, forged, pseudo, pretended; pretend, phoney],

at the coal face (id.) – (UK) to be directly engaged in the operations of a business,
rather than in hands-off, managerial position, day-to-day work, front line,

(where/when/that) the rubber meets the road (id.) – a place or

circumstance at which the implementation of a plan or intent is to be achieved,

trenches (n.) – the front line of any field of endeavor, as the line of scrimmage in
American football, patrol duty for a policeman, etc.,

sanctimonious (adj.) – making a show of being morally superior to other people

[What happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first? One tries to
set a bit of an example, if that's not too sanctimonious.] – synonyms & related words [self-
righteous, holier-than-thou, churchy, pious, pietistic, moralizing, unctuous, smug,
superior, priggish, mealy-mouthed, hypocritical, insincere, for form's sake, to keep up
appearances; goody-goody, religiose, Pharisaic, Pharisaical, Tartuffian],

priggish (adj.) – self-righteously moralistic and superior [A priggish little pedant.],

mealy-mouthed (adj.) – afraid to speak frankly or straightforwardly, mincing words

[Mealy-mouthed excuses.],

flag up (v.) – to mention something so that people know about it, bring up [They've
already flagged up Several problems. Swain was supposed to flag up the coal face idea last
night, so Emma nicked it.],

nick (v.) – make a nick or nicks in [He had nicked himself while shaving. I didn't nick my
skin even though I shaved quickly.] – synonyms & related words [cut, scratch, abrade,
incise, snick, scrape, notch, chip, gouge, gash, score],

nick (v.) – (UK, informal) steal; (NA, informal) cheat someone of (a sum of money); (UK,
informal) arrest (someone) [She nicked fivers from the till. Banks will be nicked for an
extra $40 million. Stuart and Dan got nicked for burglary.],

supergrass (n.) – a criminal who gives information about a lot of other criminals to
the police,

implicate (v.) – show (someone) to be involved in a crime; bear some of the

responsibility for (an action or process, especially a criminal or harmful one) [He
implicated his government in the murder of three judges. He had been implicated in a
financial scandal. Viruses are known to be implicated in the development of certain
diseases.] – synonyms & related words [incriminate, compromise, involve, connect,
embroil, enmesh, ensnare, expose, inculpate],

gurn (n.) – (UK) a distorted facial expression,

gurn (v.) – (UK) to make a grotesque or funny face [This coal face bullshit is going to
make us look like a bunch of gurning wankers!],

stomach (v.) – endure or accept (an obnoxious thing or person) [I can't stomach the
self-righteous attitude of some managers. I've had just about all I can stomach of your
malicious slanders.] – synonyms & related words [tolerate, put up with, take, stand,
endure, accept, swallow, bear, support, brook, submit to, countenance; thole; stick, hack,
abide, wear, be doing with, suffer],

fall away (id.) – lose ground, fall farther behind, run out of gas, slump,
shoot/blow one's wad/bolt/load (id.) – (slang) to expend all of one's resources
or efforts, to express all the arguments or ideas which one has; (slang) to spend all of
oney's money; (slang, vulgar, of a man) to ejaculate],

vacuous (adj.) – having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence, mindless [A

vacuous smile. He had a vacuous expression on his face. An elite clique of vacuous High
School beauties.] – synonyms & related words [blank, vacant, expressionless, deadpan,
inscrutable, inexpressive, poker-faced, emotionless, impassive, absent, absent-minded,
uninterested, empty, glassy, stony, wooden, motionless, lifeless, inanimate; empty-
headed, unintelligent, without thought, brainless, dense, dull-witted, thick, vacant, inane,
stupid, brain-dead],

systemic (adj.) – affecting all of something [The committee will try to make the case for
systemic reform.],

expletive (n.) – an oath or swear word [He was greeted by a stream of expletives. She
let out an expletive and slammed the phone down.] – synonyms & related words [swear
word, oath, curse, obscenity, profanity, epithet, imprecation, four-letter word,
exclamation; bad language, foul language, strong language, swearing; dirty word, cuss
word, cuss],

flavor (n.) – the distinctive taste of a food or drink; an indication of the essential
character of something; a distinctive quality or atmosphere [The yoghurt comes in eight
fruit flavors. The etracts give a flavor of the content and tone of the conversation. This
excerpt will give a flavor of the report. Whitewashed walls and red pantiles gave the resort
a Mediterranean flavor. The tournament had a strong international flavor.] – synonyms &
related words [taste, savour, tang, relish, palate; sapor, flavouring, seasoning, tastiness,
tang, tanginess, interest, relish, bite, piquancy, pungency, savour, smack, spice, spiciness,
sharpness, zest, raciness, edge; zing, zip, punch, impression, indication, suggestion, hint,
taste, nuance, character, quality, feel, feeling, ambience, atmosphere, aura, air, mood,
aspect, tone, tenor, complexion, style, stamp, property; element, vein, strand, streak;
spirit, essence, soul, nature, heart; vibe],

flavor (v.) – alter or enhance the taste of (food or drink) by adding a particular
ingredient; give a distinctive quality to [Chunks of chicken flavored with herbs. Many
cuisines use spices to flavor their foods. The faint exasperation that had flavored her tone.]
– synonyms & related words [add flavour to, add flavouring to, season, spice (up), add
seasoning/herbs/spices to, add piquancy to, ginger up, enrich, enliven, liven up; spike,
pep up],

(a) (little) nip in the air (id.) – a slight chill; a cold feeling, cold weather [I need to
grab my jacket because there's definitely a nip in the air tonight. I felt a little nip in the air
when I opened the window. There's more of a nip in the air as winter approaches.],
clique (n.) – a small, close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join
them [His flat became a heaven for a clique of young men of similar tastes.] – synonyms &
related words [coterie, circle, inner circle, crowd, in-crowd, set, group; pack, band, ring,
mob, crew; club, society, fraternity, sorority, fellowship; camp; cartel, cabal, junta,
caucus, cell, lobby; push; gang, bunch, camarilla],

nix (v.) – to be unwilling to grant [Our supervisor nixed my request to work from home, if
only on a trial basis.] – synonyms & related words [decline, disallow, disapprove,
negative, deny, refuse, reject, reprobate, withhold, ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit,
proscribe, veto, rebuff, repel, spurn, check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain,
restrict, balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct],

node (n.) – a point in a network or diagram at which lines or pathways intersect or

branch [The intersections of two or more such arteries would clearly become major nodes
of traffic and urban activity.] – synonyms & related words [junction, fork, branching,
intersection, interchange, confluence, convergence, meeting point, crossing, criss-
crossing, vertex, apex, nexus],

nexus (n.) – a form of connection; a connected group; the center of something,

vertex (n.) – the highest point of something, the peak, acme, apex, top,

ease (v.) – move carefully or gradually; introduce someone gradually to (an activity);
gradually exclude someone from a post, especially by devious or subtle maneuvers [I
eased down the slope with care. He brought in someone new and eased them into the job.
After the scandal he was eased out of the job.],

ease (v.) – make (something unpleasant or intense) less serious or severe; become less
serious or severe [A huge road-building programme to ease congestion. He eased her into
it. He hoped the alcohol would ease his pain. It was dawn before the rain eased off. The
pain doesn't usually ease off for several hours.] – synonyms & related words [relieve,
alleviate, mitigate, assuage, allay, soothe, soften, palliate, ameliorate, mollify, moderate,
tone down, blunt, dull, deaden, numb, take the edge off; lessen, reduce, lighten, diminish,
abate, subside, die down, die away, die out, drop off, let up, slacken off, diminish, quieten,
lessen, grow less, tail off, peter out, taper off, wane, ebb, relent, weaken, become weaker,
come to an end; remit],

ease (v.) – do something with more moderation; make (something) happen more
easily, faciliate [I'd ease up on the hard stuff if I were you. Tokyo's dominance of
government was deemed to ease efficient contact-making. We want to ease our employees'
adjustment to the new policy.] – synonyms & related words [facilitate, make easy, make
easier, expedite, speed up, assist, help, aid, advance, further, forward, smooth the way
for, clear the way for, simplify],
tiff (n.) – a petty quarrel, especially one between friends or lovers [Joanna had a tiff with
her boyfriend. I'm really not interested in your petty little tiff. She had a tiff with Mr.
Carson.] – synonyms & related words [quarrel, squabble, row, argument, fight,
contretemps, disagreement, difference of opinion, dissension, falling-out, dispute,
disputation, contention, clash, altercation, shouting match, exchange, war of words;
tussle, conflict, fracas, affray, wrangle, tangle; donnybrook; set-to, run-in, shindig,
shindy, stand-up, spat, scrap, dust-up, barney, slanging match, bunfight, ding-dong, bust-
up, ruck, rammy, rhubarb, broil, miff, threap, collieshangie, tracasserie(s)],

sumptuous (adj.) – splending and expensive-looking [The banquet was a sumptuous,

luxurious meal. A sumptuous palace.] – synonyms & related words [lavish, luxurious,
deluxe, opulent, magnificent, resplendent, gorgeous, splendid, grand, extravagant, lush,
lavishly appointed, palatial, princely, rich, costly, expensive, impressive, imposing; plush,
ritzy, swanky, swish],

unstinting (adj.) – given or giving without restraint, unsparing [He was unstinting in
his praise. Her unstinting charity work.] – synonyms & related words [ungrudging,
unsparing, willingly given, free, free-handed, ready, beneficent, benevolent, big-hearted,
kind-hearted, kind, unselfish; lavish, liberal, generous, magnanimous, open-handed,
munificent, bountiful; profuse, abundant, ample; bounteous, plenteous],

iniquity (n.) – immoral or grossly unfair behavior [A den of iniquity. The inquity of his
conduct. I will forgive their inquity.] – synonyms & related words [wickedness, sinfulness,
immorality, impropriety, vice, evil, sin; villainy, criminality, crime, heinousness,
nefariousness, knavery; vileness, foulness, baseness, odiousness, atrociousness,
dreadfulness, egregiousness; outrageousness, outrage, monstrousness, obscenity,
reprehensibility; ungodliness, godlessness, impiety, devilry, sin, crime, transgression,
wrongdoing, wrong, offense, injury, vice, violation, atrocity, outrage],

inconsiderable (adj.) – of small size, amount, or extent; unimportant or insignificant

[You just watched me break my not so inconsiderable balls trying to get you the second
spot on the news night, and succeeding. A not inconsiderable amount of money. A not
inconsiderable artist. A very inconsiderable problem.] – synonyms & related words
[insignificant, negligible, trifling, small, tiny, little, minuscule, nominal, token, petty,
slight, niggling, minor, inappreciable, insubstantial, not worth mentioning, not worth
bothering about, inconsequential; paltry, derisory, pitiful, niggardly, beggarly; piffling,
piddling, fiddling, pathetic, measly, mingy, poxy, nickel-and-dime, small-bore, exiguous],

glass ceiling (id.) – an unwritten, uncodified barrier to further promotion or

progression, in employment and elsewhere, for a member of a specific demographic
group,

acknowledge (v.) – accept or admit the eistence or truth of; express gratitude for or
appreciation of; accept the validity or legitimacy of; show that one has noticed or
recognized (someone) by making a gesture or greeting [The plight of the refugees was
acknowledged by the authorities. The government acknowledged the need to begin talks.]
– synonyms & related words [admit, accept, grant, allow, concede, confess, own,
appreciate, recognize, realize, be aware of, be conscious of; subscribe to, approve (of),
agree to, accede to, concur with, acquiesce in, go along with, respect, cooperate with,
bow to, take on board, be wise to, cognize, express gratitude for, show appreciation for,
give thanks for, thank someone for, pay tribute to someone for, salute someone for, toast
someone for; honour, celebrate, praise, speak highly of, recognized, admitted, accepted,
approved, accredited, confirmed, declared, proclaimed, confessed, sworn, avowed;
undisputed, undoubted, unquestioned, unchallenged; rightful, true, proper, correct,
genuine, authorized, sanctioned, just, greet, salute, address, hail, accost; nod to, wave to,
signal to, raise one's hat to, say hello to, smile at; recognize, notice],

second thoughts (id.) – a change of opinion or resolve reached after considering

something again [On second thoughts, perhaps he was right. I'm starting to have second
thoughts. I had second thoughts about the original review myself. Not all of them come to
the decisions easily, and their nervousness and second thoughts are a natural result.] –
synonyms & related words [: rethink, reconsider, review, revise, re-examine, re-
evaluate, reassess, reappraise, think better of, think over, take another look at, look at in
a different light, have another think about; change, alter, modify; think again, think
twice, review one's position, come round, change one's mind; qualm, misgivings, doubt,
reservation, scruple; suspicion, distrust, mistrust, lack of faith, lack of confidence,
diffidence; trepidation, scepticism, worry, unease, uneasiness, anxiety, apprehension,
uncertainty, niggle, disquiet, disquietude, hesitation, hesitance, hesitancy],

unofficial (adj.) – not officially authorized or confirmed [Unofficial reports said that
dozens of people were injured. Unofficial figures put the death toll at over 300. He took it
on himself to act as chariman of an unofficial committee.] – synonyms & related words
[unauthenticated, unconfirmed, uncorroborated, unsubstantiated, unratified;
undocumented, off the record; unauthorized, unsanctioned, uncertified, informal, casual,
unaccredited, wildcat],

wildcat (adj.) – (of a strike) sudden and unofficial; commercially unsound or risky;
(usually pejorative) of or concerning businesses operating outside standard or
legitimate practice; of or concerning oil exploration in ew areas, (particularly) small,
independent operations; (firearms) of or concerning customized or hand-made
cartridges; unaothrized by the proper authorities [Legislation to curb wildcat strikes.],

wildcat (n.) – (figurative) a person who acts like a waldcat, (usually) a violent and
easily-angered person or a sexually vigorous one,

pit (v.) – set someone or something in conflict or competition with [You'll get the chance
to pit your wits against the world champions.] – synonyms & related words [set against,
match against, put in opposition to, put in competition with, measure against; compete
with/against, contend with, vie with, grapple with, wrestle with; pitch against],

pit (v.) – make a hollow or indentation in the surface of [Rain poured down, pitting the
bare earth.] – synonyms & related words [make holes in, make hollows in, hole, dent,
indent, depress, dint, pothole],

pit (n.) – a large hole i nthe ground; a coal mine; a hollow or indentation in a surface, a
small indnetation lefto n the skin by a pustule or spot, a pockmark [A rectangular pit dug
in the ground. The recent protests over planned pit closures. Controversy over plans for pit
closures. The ugly pits stood out on her skin.] – synonyms & related words [hole, ditch,
trench, trough, hollow, shaft, mineshaft, excavation, cavity, pothole, rut; abyss, chasm,
gulf, crater, coal mine, colliery, quarry, workings, works, diggings, pockmark, pock, mark,
hollow, indentation, depression, dent, dint, concavity, dimple],

taunt (v.) – provoke or challenge (someone) with insulting remarks; reproach

(someone) with something in a contemptuous way [Pupils began taunting her about her
weight. The crowd taunted him about his marriage split. She had taunted him with going
to another man.] – synonyms & related words [jeer at, gibe at, sneer at, scoff at, poke fun
at, make fun of, get at, insult, tease, chaff, torment, provoke, goad, ridicule, deride, mock,
heckle; ride; rib, needle, put down, hassle, rag, guy, sledge, make sport of],

capable (adj.) – having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a

specified thing [I'm qutie capable of taking care of myself.] – synonyms & related words
[have the ability to, have the potential to, be equal to (the task of), be up to; be disposed
to, be inclined to, be prone to, be liable to, be likely to, be apt to; have what it takes to],

capable (adj.) – open to or admitting of something [The strange events are capable of
rational explanation.] – synonyms & related words [be open to, be susceptible of, admit
of, allow of],

capable (adj.) – able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do, competent [She
looked enthusiastic and capable. A very capable young woman.] – synonyms & related
words [competent, able, efficient, effective, proficient, accomplished, adept, apt,
practised, experienced, qualified, skilful, skilled, masterly, talented, gifted; clever,
intelligent; handy, useful, habile],

habile (adj.) – deft, skilled, skillful, trained, able,

tactful (adj.) – having or showing skill and sensitivity in dealing wit hothers or with
difficult issues [They need a tactful word of advice. A tactful little cough.] – synonyms &
related words [considerate, sensitive, understanding, thoughtful, delicate, diplomatic,
discreet, discerning, judicious, politic, perceptive, subtle, careful, treating
someone/something with kid gloves; courteous, cordial, polite, decorous, seemly,
respectful; mannerly],
tactless (adj.) – having or showing a lack of skill and sensitivity in dealing with others
or with difficult issues [A tactless remark. It was a cruel, tactless thing to say.] – synonyms
& related words [insensitive, inconsiderate, thoughtless, unthinking, indelicate,
undiplomatic, impolitic, indiscreet, unsubtle, clumsy, heavy-handed, graceless, awkward,
unpolished, inept, bungling, maladroit, gauche, undiscerning, unsophisticated; blunt,
straightforward, frank, plain-spoken, outspoken, abrupt, precipitate; gruff, bluff, rough,
crude, coarse, speaking as one finds, calling a spade a spade, like a bull in a china shop;
imprudent, injudicious, unwise, foolhardy; rude, impolite, uncouth, discourteous, crass,
tasteless, impertinent, disrespectful, ungentlemanly, unladylike, boorish, uncivilized,
uncivil; unkind, uncaring, uncalled for, callous, hurtful, thick-skinned, uncharitable,
cruel],

mannerly (adj.) – well-manered, polite, considerate, proper [He is always genteel and
mannerly in private.],

engineer (v.) – skilfully arrange for (something) to occur [She engineered another
meeting with him. He engineered the overthrow of the Conservative majority.] – synonyms
& related words [bring about, cause, arrange, pull off, bring off, fix, set up, plot, scheme,
contrive, plan, put together, devise, manoeuvre, manipulate, negotiate, organize,
orchestrate, choreograph, mobilize, mount, stage, put on, mastermind, originate,
manage, stage-manage, coordinate, control, superintend, direct, conduct, handle,
concoct; wangle, concert],

wangle (v.) – manage to obtain (something) by persuading or cleverly manipulating

someone [I wangled an invitation to her flat. I think we should be able to wangle it so that
you can start tomorrow.] – synonyms & related words [contrive, manipulate, manoeuvre,
engineer, devise, orchestrate, fix, arrange, direct, conduct, handle, work, pull off, scheme,
plot; acquire, attain, achieve, bring about, net, win, grab, hook, fiddle, finagle, swing],

finagle (v.) – obtain by dishonest or devious means, steal, pull off, scheme, acquire,
attain, bring about, net, grab, hook, fiddle; act in a dishonest or devious manner [Ted
attended all the football games he could finagle tickets for. They wrangled and finagled
over the fine points.],

finagle (v.) – to plan out usually with subtle skill or care [Let me look at my schedule
and see if I can't finagle a visit to the museum. I got to finagle this trap door here.] –
synonyms & related words [contrive, engineer, finesse, frame, machinate, maneuver,
manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, wangle, arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out,
work out, angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, scheme, connive, brew, concoct, cook (up),
hatch, captain, command, conduct, direct, handle, manage, quarterback, run,
gerrymander],

rundown (adj.) – tired and rather unwell, especially through overwork [She felt tired
and generally run-down. By eating more leafy green vegetables you can avoid feeling run
down and tense.] – synonyms & related words [unwell, ill, poorly, out of sorts, unhealthy,
peaky, not oneself, below par, in bad shape; tired, debilitated, drained, exhausted,
fatigued, enervated, weak, worn out, washed out; off, off colour; under the weather,
crummy, not (feeling) up to snuff, ropy, knackered, wabbit, crook, crappy, seedy, queer,
peaked, peakish],

rundown (n.) – an analysis or summary of something by a knowledgeable person [He

gave his teammates a rundown on the opposition. Let me give you a brief rundown of the
situation. Here's a rundown of the event.] – synonyms & related words [analysis, review,
overview, briefing, brief, sketch, thumbnail sketch, outline, rough idea; summary,
résumé, synopsis, precis, recapitulation, run-through, summarization, summation; tour
d'horizon; low-down, recap, conspectus, summa],

bob (v.) – make a quick, short movement up and down [I could see his head bobbing
about. Their yacht bobbed about on the choppy waters. The bookie's head bobbed. They'll
be bobbing about like Emperor penguins.] – synonyms & related words [bounce, move up
and down, float, spring, toss, skip, hop, dnace, jump, jounce, quiver, wobble, jiggle, joggle,
jolt, jerk, shake, oscillate, nod, incline, bow, dip, duck],

bob (v.) – make a brief curtsy [She bobbed and turned away. The maid bobbed and left
the room.] – synonyms & related words [curtsy, drop a curtsy, bow, genuflect, prostrate
oneself],

varicose/varicosed (adj.) – enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure

[Varicose blood vessels. Goodbye, and thanks for all the fucking varicose veins!] –
synonyms & related words [blown, distended, overinflated, puffed, swollen, tumescent,
tumid, turgid, bloated, balooned, blown up, expanded, bulging, dilated, protuberant,
ventricose, balooning, dilating, turgescent],

huddle (v.) – crowd together, nestle closely; curl one's body into a small place; (UK)
heap together in a disorderly manner; (NA) have a private discussion, confer [They
huddled together for warmth. She huddled up close to him. He huddled beneath the sheets.
A man with his clothes all huddled on anyhow. The colonial huddled with A.J. at the dining-
room table.] – synonyms & related words [crowd, gather, throng, flock, herd, pile, bunch,
cluster, collect, group, congregate; press, pack, squeeze, cram, jam, foregather, curl up,
snuggle, cuddle, nestle, hunch up, snug down],

huddle (n.) – a close grouping of people or things; a number of people gathered

together to speak about private or secret matters [A huddle of huts. A huddle of
passengers gathered round the information desk. A huddle of barns and outbuildings. She
found her boyfriend in a huddle with one of the city's notorious gossip columnists. Each tem
went into a huddle and then wrote down its answer. You're already in a huddle with Dan
Miller?] – synonyms & related words [crowd, gathering, throng, flock, herd, swarm,
press, pack; cluster, bunch, knot, band, collection, circle, small group, assemblage;
gaggle, collection, group, cluster, number, mass, selection, array; jumble, confusion,
muddle, heap, tangle, mess, consultation, discussion, debate, talk, parley, meeting,
conference, confab, powwow, confabulation],

tickety-boo (adj.) – (UK, informal, dated) in good order, fine, well [Everything is
tickety-boo.],

pall (n.) – a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb; a dark cloud of smoke, dust, etc.;
something regarded as enveloping a sitaution with an air of gloom or fear [Varian's
coffin lay under a rich blue pall. A pall of black smoke hung over the quarry. Torture and
murder have cast a pall of terror over the villages. The news cast a pall over the occasion.]
– synonyms & related words [funeral cloth, coffin covering, cloud, covering, cloak,
mantle, veil, shroud, layer, blanket, sheet, curtain, canopy, spoil, take the fun/enjoyment
pleasure out of, cast a shadow over, overshadow, envelop in gloom, darken, cloud, put a
damper on, mar, blight],

pall (v.) – become less appealing or interesting through familiarity [The novelty of the
quiet life palled. Two years of pandering to bloated businessmen began to pall.] –
synonyms & related words [become/grow tedious, become/grow boring, become/grow
tiresome, lose its/their interest, lose attraction, wear off, cloy, bore, tire, fatigue, weary,
sicken, nauseate, irritate, irk, lose glamor],

for definite (adv.) – definitely, certainly, surely, without doubt, without a doubt,
indubitably [He's ruled himself out for definite.],

press the flesh (id.) – shake hands, give a high five, give one some skin, press one's
hand, squeeze one's hand, pump hands,

indispensable (adj.) – absolutely necessary [I want to look absolutely indispensable.

He made himself indispensable to the parish priest. Education is indispensable for the
preservation of democracy.] – synonyms & related words[essential, crucial, necessary,
key, vital, needed, required, called for, requisite, important, all-important, vitally
important, of the utmost importance, of great consequence, of the essence, critical, life-
and-death, imperative, mandatory, compulsory, obligatory, compelling, urgent, pressing,
burning, acute, paramount, pre-eminent, high-priority, significant, consequential],

vital (adj.) – absolutely necessary, essential [Secrecy is of vital importance.] – synonyms

& related words [essential, indispensable, crucial, key, necessary, needed, required,
requisite, important, all-important, of the utmost importance, of great consequence, of
the essence, critical, life-and-death, imperative, mandatory, urgent, pressing, burning,
compelling, acute, paramount, pre-eminent, high-priority, significant, consequential;
earth-shattering, world-shaking; life-preserving, life-sustaining, basic, fundamental,
essential, necessary; major, main, chief, key, prime],
vital (adj.) – full of energy, lively [A beautiful, vital gir. The new president appeared
young and vital.] – synonyms & related words [lively, energetic, active, sprightly, spry,
animated, spirited, high-spirited, vivacious, exuberant, bouncy, enthusiastic, vibrant,
zestful, sparkling, dynamic, vigorous, full of vim and vigour, forceful, fiery, lusty, hale and
hearty, in fine fettle; go-getting, zippy, peppy, feisty, spunky, raring to go, full of beans,
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, chipper],

arseache (n.) – (UK, vulgar) pain in the ass, problem, issue, obstacle, difficulty, worry,
complication, mess, muddle, mix-up,

from broadsheets to wank rags (id.) – in all papers, everywhere, ubiquitously,

known to all, worldwide, far and wide, near and far, high and low, here and there, in
every nook and cranny, all over, all around,

high and low (id.) – in many different places [I searched high and low for a new
teacher.] – synonyms & related words [everywhere, all over, all around, in all places, in
every place, far and wide, far and near, here, there, and everywhere, extensively,
exhaustively, thoroughly, widely, broadly, in every nook and cranny, all over the place,
every which way, all over the shop, all over the map],

stalking horse (id.) – an action intended to hide what someone is really trying to do,
diversion, redirection, deflection, deviation, digression, detour,

libellous (adj.) – containing or constituting a libel [A libellous newspaper story. We

reserve the right to edit correspondence and to rmeove potentially libellous statements.] –
synonyms & related words [defamatory, denigratory, vilifying, disparaging, derogatory,
aspersive, calumnious, calumniatory, slanderous, false, untrue, misrepresentative,
traducing, maligning, insulting, scurrilous, slurring, smearing, mud-slinging,
muckraking],

subsidence (n.) – the gradua lcaving in or sinking of an area of land [The race was
abandoned because of subsidence of the track.] – synonyms & related words [collapse,
caving in, falling in, giving way, sinking, settling],

take a pew/pull up a pew (id.) – to take a seat, to sit down,

sound out (v.) – to try to find out someone's opinions, ideas, feelings etc. by talking to
them [Candidates will be sounding out voters during the months before the election. Why
don't we sound out a potential fall-back?],

brainwave (n.) – (UK) a sudden, very good idea [We've had a bit of a brainwave.],

mimsy (adj.) – prim, underwhelming, and ineffectual, flimsy and miserable,

landfill (n.) – dump [One moment you're indispensable, and then you're just landfill.]
synonyms & related words – [depot, junkyard, ash heap, disposal area, dumping ground,
garbage lot, hazardous waste dump, junk pile, recycling station, refuse heap, rubbish
pile, toxic waste site, transfer station],

elephant trap (id.) – a trap that can easily be avoided by a competent person; a trap
designed to prove that anyone who does fall into it is not a competent person [I've set
him an elepehant trap. If he falls in, he'll look like a clown.],

reeve (n.) – (historical) any of several local officials, with varying responsibilities;
(Canada) the president of a township or municipal district council; (military, historical)
a proposed but unadopted commissioned rank of the Royal Air Force equivalent to wing
commander, (medieval official) provost, sheriff,

bailiff (n.) – (law enforcement) an officer of the court; a public administrator; a private
administrator,

parched (adj.) – dried out with heat; extremely thirsty; lightly roasted [The parched
earth. I'm parched – I'll die without a drink. Parched corn.] – synonyms & related words
[dry, as dry as a bone, bone dry, dried up, dried out, arid, waterless, desiccated,
dehydrated, sun-baked, baked, burned, scorched, seared, withered, shrivelled; sere,
adust, exsiccated, thirsty, gasping, spitting chips, spitting feathers, spitting cotton,
athirst, thirstful, droughty, sitient],

adust (adj.) – scorched, burned; gloomy, melancholic, sad, hot and dry, thirsty or
parched,

desist (v.) – stop doing something, cease or abstain [Each pledged to desist from acts of
sabotage. We must desist form any industrial action that may disturb national unity. Both
of you, desist!] – synonyms & related words [abstain, refrain, forbear, hold back, keep;
stop, cease, discontinue, suspend, give up, quit, break off, leave off, conclude, call a
halt/stop to, forgo, drop, dispense with, eschew, have done with, wash one's hands of;
lay off, give over, pack in, pack up, belay],

principled (adj.) – (of a person or their behavior) acting in accordance with morality
and showing recognition of right and wrong [A principled politician. She took a principled
feminist stance.] – synonyms & related words [moral, ethical, good, virtuous, righteous,
upright, upstanding, high-minded, right-minded, proper, correct, honourable, honest,
just, noble, incorruptible, anti-corruption, scrupulous, conscientious, respectable,
decent],

engender (v.) – cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition) [The issue
engendered continuing controversy. His works engendered considerable controversy.] –
synonyms & related words [cause, make, be the cause of, give rise to, bring about, lead
to, result in, produce, create, generate, arouse, rouse, provoke, incite, kindle, trigger,
spark off, touch off, stir up, whip up, induce, inspire, instigate, foment, effect, occasion,
promote, foster; beget, enkindle, effectuate],

furrow (v.) – make a rut, groove, or trail in (the ground or the surface of something); use
a plough to make al ong, narrow trench in (land or earth); (with reference to the
forehead or face) mark or be marked with lines or wrinkles caused by frowning, anxiety,
or concentration [His brow furrowed. A look of concerng furrowed his brow.] –
synonyms & related words [wrinkle, crease, line, crinkle, pucker, crumple, screw up,
scrunch up, corrugate],

conduit (n.) – a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring [The gas pipe should not be
close to any electrical conduit.] – synonyms & related words [channel, duct, pipe, tube,
gutter, groove, furrow, trough, trench, culvert, cut, sluice, spillway, race, flume, chute,
ditch, drain],

landmark (n.) – an object or feature of a landscape or twon that is easily seen and
recognized from a distance, especially one that enables someone to establish their
location; (NA) a building or monument of historical importance; (historical) the
boundary of an areay of land, or an object marking this; an event or discovery marking
an important stage or turning point in something [This is a landmark day. The spire was
once a landmark for ships sailing up the river. The entire town has been designated a
National Historic Landmark. The Tower of London, one of London's most famous
landmark. At certain points of the boundary, the men would beat the landmark with their
sticks. The landmarks which separated the two states had been removed. The vaccine is a
landmark in the history of the preventive medicine. The rulign was hailed as a landmark by
human rights activists.] – synonyms & related words [marker, mark, indicator, guiding
light, leading light, signal, beacon, lodestar, sign, monument, distinctive/prominent
feature, sight, spectacle, boundary mark, demarcator, boundary line, boundary fence,
pale, picket, terminus, turning point, milestone, watershed, critical point, historic event,
major achievement, crisis, divide],

nil (n. adj.) – nonexistent, nothing [Baby horses can walk from the womb! She's one-nil
down to a fucking pony.] – synonyms & related words [naught, nihil, nix, none, nothing,
nought, zero]

do (n.) – colloquial) a party, celebration, social function, event [At the Christmas do.
We're having a bit of a do on Saturday to celebrate my birthday.],

commuter (n.) – a person who travels some distnace to work on a regular basis [A
fault on the line causes widespread delays for commuters. Railway engineering works
caused widespread delays for commuters.] – synonyms & related words [daily traveller,
traveller, passenger, straphanger, suburbanite],
percolate (v.) – (of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or
substance; spread gradually through an area or group of people; (US) be or become full
of lively activity or excitement [The water percolating through the soil may leach out
minerals. Water that has percolated through the soil. Continental ideas on art, science, and
architecture percolated from Venice to London. A few of these technological marvels began
to slowly percolate into the countryside. Let the idea percolate. The night was percolating
with an expectant energy.] – synonyms & related words [filter, drain, drip, ooze, seep,
trickle, dribble, strain, leak, leach, filtrate, transude, spread, be disseminated, filter, pass,
go; penetrate, permeate, pervade, infiltrate],

impound (v.) – sht up (domestic animals) in a pound or enclosure; lock up (someone)

[The cattle were rounded up and impounded. The poor unfortunates impounded i nthe
prison.] – synonyms & related words [pen in, shut up/in, fence in, coop up, hem in, box
in, hedge in, rail in; cage, enclose, confine, kettle; corral, lock up, incarcerate, imprison,
confine, intern, immure, hold captive, hold prisoner, put under lock and key; put behind
bars],

impound (v.) – seize and take legal custody of (something, especially a vehicle, godos,
or documents) because of an infringement of a law [Vehicles parked where they cause an
obstruction will be impounded.] – synonyms & related words [confiscate, appropriate,
take possession of, seize, commandeer, expropriate, requisition, sequester, sequestrate,
take; distrain, disseize, attach; poind],

poind (v.) – distrain or impound (a person's property); subject (someone) to the

distraint or impounding of their property [The bailiff and his men poind his goods in the
name of the law. They only succeeded in poinding usb ecause they tricked their way into
the house.],

go (into exile, preferably, Bhutan's nice) (id.) – leave and never return, go into
exile, depart,

on top of (phrase of top) – in addition to [On top of everything else, he's ab rilliant
linguist. The field work was tiring, and there were household duties on top of that.] –
synonyms & related words [as well, in addition, too, also, besides, into the bargain, to
boot, therewithal],

to boot (adv.) – as well, in addition [She was a woman of uninspiring appearance and a
dreadful bore to boot. You're not only a chauvinist, but a voyeur to boot.] – synonyms &
related words [as well, also, too, besides, into the bargain, in addition, additionally, on
top (of that), over and above that, what's more, moreover, furthermore; in the bargain;
and all, withal, forbye],

withal (adv.) – in addition, as a further factor or consideration, extra; all the same,
nevertheless (used when adding something that contracts with a previous comment)
[The whole is light and portable, and ornamental withal. She gave him a grateful smile, but
rueful withal.],

withal (preposition) – (archaic) with (used at the end of a clause) [We sat with little to
nourish ourselves withal but vile water.],

forbye (adv. preposition) – (Scottish, archaic) in addition, besides[No doubt he had

many a sin on his soul, forbye murder.],

devoir (n.) – (archaic) a person's duty, obligation, responsibility [You have done your
devoir right well.],

onus (n.) – something that is one's duty or responsibility [The onus is on you to show
that you have suffered loss.] – synonyms & related words [burden, responsibility,
liability, obligation, duty, weight, load, charge, mantle, encumbrance, cross to bear,
millstone round one's neck, albatross],

boomerang (v.) – (of a plan or action) recoil on the originator [Misleading consumers
about quality will eventually boomerang on a car-maker. Let me boomer-fuckin'-rang that
back at you.] – synonyms & related words [backfire, recoil, reverse, rebound, come back,
bounce back, spring back, return, ricochet; have an adverse effect, have unwelcome
repercussions, be self-defeating, cause one to be hoist with one's own petard; blow up in
one's face, redound],

resent (v.) – feel bitterness or indignation at (a circumstance, action, or person) [She

resented the fact that I had children. I slightly resent what you're saying. The girls resented
the fact that Peter got so much attention.] – synonyms & related words [: begrudge, feel
aggrieved at/about, feel bitter about, grudge, be annoyed at/about, be angry at/about,
be resentful of, dislike, be displeased at/about, take exception to, object to, be offended
by, take amiss, take offence at, take umbrage at; envy, feel envious of, feel jealous of;
bear/harbour a grudge about; take something ill],

fickle (adj.) – changing frequnetly, especially as regards one's loyalties or affections

[Celebs trying to appeal to an increasingly fickle public. Today's fickle fans demand instant
success.] – synonyms & related words [capricious, changeable, variable, volatile,
mercurial, vacillating, fitful, irregular; inconstant, disloyal, undependable, unstable,
unsteady, unfaithful, faithless; irresolute, flighty, giddy, skittish, erratic, impulsive;
unpredictable, random, blowing hot and cold, lable, mutable],

labile (adj.) – liable to change, easily altered; of or characterized by emotions which are
reasily aroused, freely expressed, and tend to alter quickly and spontaneously;
(chemistry) easily broken down or displaced [Persons whose blood pressure is more
labile will carry an enhanced risk of heart attack. Mood seemed generally appropriate, but
the patient was often labile. The breakage of labile bonds.],
dislodge (v.) – knock or force out of position; remove from a position of power or
authority [The hoofs of their horses dislodged loose stones. Replace any stones you
dislodge. Government opponents failed to dislodge the Prime Minister.] – synonyms &
related words [remove, move, shift, displace, knock out of place, knock out of position,
knock over, upset; force out, drive out, oust, eject, get rid of, evict, unseat, depose, topple,
overturn, bring down, bring low, bring about the downfall of; drum out, kick out, boot
out, defenestrate; turf out],

drum out (v.) – demote, expel, kick out [I could get drummed out of the magic circle for
showing you this.] – synonyms & related words [dethrone, dismiss, unseat, throw out on
rear, run out of town, remove from office, boot out, give heave-ho, kick out, eject, chuck,
expel, ban, bar, discharge, dismiss, displace, exclude, exile, oust, suspend, fire, give
wlaking papers, send packing, show the door, throw out on ear, turn out, eliminate,
backball, bust]

absolutely (adv.) – with no qualification, restriction, or limitation; totally [She trusted

him absolutely. The honorable gentleman is absolutely right. She ruled absolutely in her
own dpeartment and dealt summarily with opposition.] – synonyms & related words
[completely, totally, utterly, perfectly, entirely, wholly, fully, quite, thoroughly,
unreservedly; definitely, certainly, positively, unconditionally, categorically,
unquestionably, no doubt, undoubtedly, without (a) doubt, without question, surely,
unequivocally; exactly, precisely, decisively, conclusively, manifestly, in every
way/respect, one hundred per cent, every inch, to the hilt, dead, autocratically,
despotically, dictatorially, tyrannically, tyrannously, in an authoritarian manner,
arbitrarily, imperiously, domineeringly, high-handedly, with draconian powers,
autonomously; unrestrictedly, supremely, fully, utterly, unconditionally, totally,
omnipotently, without challenge, without check, without checks and balances, without
let or hindrance],

without let or hindrance (id.) – (formal) without obstruction or impediment,

freely [Rats scurried about the house without let or hindrance.],

summary (adj.) – not including needless details or formalities, brief [Summary

financial statements.] – synonyms & related words [abridged, abbreviated, shortened,
condensed, concise, succinct, thumbnail, compact, terse, short, compressed, cursory,
compendious, synoptic; brief, crisp, pithy, to the point],

worth a punt (id.) – worth a try, worth a shot,

pollard (v.) – cut off the top and branches of (a tree) to encourage new groth at the
top; (archaic) lose horns or cast antlers [A wide boulevard lined with pollarded line
trees,
onesie (n.) – a one-piece item of clothing made of soft material and covering the whole
body, usually worn for sleeping or relaxing, especially by young people,

cheeky (adj.) – (UK) showing a lack of respect or politeness in a way that is amusing or
appealing [A cheeky grin. You should have heard the cheeky boy lecturing me. Would it be
cheeky if I invited you over to the veranda?] – synonyms & related words[impudent,
impertinent, insolent, presumptuous, forward, pert, bold, bold as brass, brazen, brazen-
faced, shameless, audacious, overfamiliar, irreverent, discourteous, disrespectful,
insubordinate, impolite, bad-mannered, ill-mannered, unmannerly, mannerless, rude,
insulting; brass-necked, cocky, lippy, mouthy, fresh, flip, saucy, smart-arsed, sassy,
nervy, smart-assed, malapert, contumelious, presumptive, assumptive],

malapert (adj.) – boldly disrespectful, impudent, rude,

stunt (n.) – an action displaying spectacular skill and daring; something unusual done
to attract attention [He's going to pull another stunt. The story was spread as a publicity
stunt to help sell books. The stunt involved jumping out of a hot-air balloon while attached
to a piece of elastic.] – synonyms & related words [feat, exploit, trick, antic, caper, coup,
act, action, deed, tour de force],

tour de force (n.) – a performance or achievement that has been accomplished or

managed with great skill [His novel is a tour de force. Such pictures are by no means
simply a technical tour de force.] – synonyms & related words [triumph, masterpiece,
supreme example, coup, marvellous feat, feather in one's cap, wonder, sensation, master
stroke; coup de maître, hit, knockoutg,

stunt (v.) – prevent from growing or devleoping properly [Some weeds produce
chemicals that stunt the plant's growth. He stunted the growth of the arcane ball.] –
synonyms & related words[inhibit, impede, hamper, hinder, restrict, retard, slow, curb,
arrest, check, stop],

trophy (n.) – a souvenir of an achievement, especially a part of an animal taken when

hunting [Tusks from the male are highly coveted as trophies.] – synonyms & related
words [souvenir, memento, keepsake ,reminder, remembrancer, record, relic, spoils,
booty],

keepsake (n.) – a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally
owned it [She was wearing the medal he gave her as a keepsake. She gave him a lock of her
hair as a keepsake.] – synonyms & related words [memento, token of remembrance,
souvenir, reminder, something to remember someone by, remembrance, relic, memorial,
token; remembrancer, favor],

evict (v.) – expel (someone) from a property, especially with the support of the law [A
single mother and her children have been evicted from their home. The police moved in and
evicted the squatters.] – synonyms & related words [expel, eject, oust, remove, dislodge,
turn out, put out, force out, throw out, throw out on the streets, throw out on one's ear,
drum out, drive out; dispossess, expropriate; chuck out, kick out, boot out, heave out,
bounce, give someone the (old) heave-ho, throw someone out on their ear, show
someone the door, turf out, give someone the bum's rush, defenestrate, out],

eviction (n.) – the action of expelling someone from a property, expulsion [The forced
eviction of residents. The eviction of workers from company houses.] – synonyms & related
words [expulsion, ejection, ousting, throwing out, drumming out, driving out, banishing,
banishment, removal, dislodgement, displacement, clearance; dispossession,
expropriation; booting out, chuckign out, kicking out, buncing, turfing out, defenstration,
ouster, outing,

amend (v.) – make minor changes to (a text, piece of legislation, etc.) in order to make
it fairer or more accurate, or to reflect changing circumstnaces [The rule was amended to
apply only to non-members. The government may amend the law.] – synonyms & related
words [revise, alter, change, modify, qualify, adapt, adjust; edit, copy-edit, rewrite,
rescript, redraft, recast, rephrase, reword, rework, reform, update, revamp; correct,
remedy, fix, set right, put right, repair, emend, improve, ameliorate, better, enhance,
clarify],

intercept (v.) – obstrut (someone or something) so as to prevent them from

continuing to a destination [Intelligence agencies intercepted aseries of telephone calls.
An Italian naval vessel intercepted the gunrunners' boat.] – synonyms & related words
[stop, head off, cut off; catch, seize, grab, snatch, expropriate, commandeer; obstruct,
impede, interrupt, block, check, detain; attack, ambush, take on, challenge, pounce on,
swoop down on, waylay, accost, tackle, confront; buttonhole],

scupper (v.) – (UK) sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately; (informal) prevent from
working or succeeding, thwart [The ship was scuppered and seriously damaged. The
captain decided to scupper the ship. Plans for a bypass were scuppered by a public inquiry.
He deneid trying to scupper the agreement. A conference for crisis management scuppered
by an actual fuckin' crisis.] – synonyms & related words [sink, scuttle, submerge, send to
the bottom, open the seacocks in, ruin, wreck, destroy, devastate, wreak havoc on,
damage, spoil, mar, injure, blast, blight, smash, shatter, dash, torpedo, scotch, mess up;
sabotage, poison; louse up, screw up, foul up, put the kibosh on, banjax, do for, blow a
hole in, nix, queer; cock up, dish, euchre, cruel, fuck up, bring to naught],

crow (v.) – (of a person) express great pride or triumph, especially in a tone of gloating
satisfaction [Ruby crowed with delight. Phil was crowing while Glenn was having a
breakdown. They all crowed about the jolly timey they'd had.] – synonyms & related
words [boast, brag, trumpet, show off, bluster, swagger, swank, gloat, be smug,
congratulate oneself, preen oneself, pride oneself, pat oneself on the back, sing one's
own praises; glory in, exult in, triumph over, parade, flaunt; talk big, blow hard, rub it in,
lay it on thick, shoot one's mouth off, blow one's own trumpet; skite, vaunt, roister,
rodomontade, gasconade],

roister (v.) – enjoy oneself or celebrate in a noisy or boisterous way [Workers from the
refinery roistered in the bars. The mansions in which the nobility of the city had once
roistered.] – synonyms & related words [enjoy oneself, celebrate, revel, carouse, frolic,
romp, have fun, have a good time, make merry, have a party, party, eat, drink, and be
merry, go on a spree; live it up, whoop it up, have a fling, have a ball, make whoopee,
paint the town red, spree, rollick],

rodomontade (n.) – boastful or inflated talk or behavior [The corrupting effect the
vogue for macho rodomontade may have even upon a civilized man.],

rodomontade (v.) – talk boastfully [He soon finds out there's nothing to be gained by
rodomontading.],

gasconade (n.) – extravagant boasting,

gasconade (v.) – boast extravagantly,

out (n.) – (informal) a way of escaping from a problem or dilemma [He was desperately
looking for an out. Well, you're supposed to be the bad cop, so what's our out?],

token (adj.) – done for the sake of appearances or as a symbolic gesture [Cases like
these often bring just token fines from magistrates. The union is balloting its members for a
one-day token strike. The practice now meets only token resistance.] – synonyms & related
words [symbolic, emblematic, indicative, peppercorn, perfunctory, slight, nominal,
minimal, insignificant, minor, trivial, mild, hollow, unimportant, trifling, of no account, of
no consequence, of no importance, not worth bothering about, not worth mentioning,
inconsequential, superficial, small, tiny, minute, inappreciable, imperceptible,
infinitesimal, nugatory, petty; paltry, inadequate, insufficient, meagre, derisory, pitiful,
pathetic, miserable; miniscule, piddling, piffling, measly, mingy, poxy, nickel-and-dime,
exiguous],

black spot/blackspot (n.) – a place on a road where a lot of car accidents happen; a
place that has more problems than other places; something bad that spoils an event
[Gallows Corner is a notorious accident black spot. Governmen funding is to be directed at
the worst unemployment black spots.],

insensitive (adj.) – showing or feeling no concern for others' feelings [An insensitive
remarks. Their leader is an insensitive bully. He was insensitive to his son's feelings.] –
synonyms & related words [heartless, unfeeling, inconsiderate, thoughtless, thick-
skinned, hard-hearted, stony-hearted, cold-hearted, cold-blooded, with a heart of stone,
as hard as nails, lacking compassion, compassionless, uncaring, unconcerned,
unsympathetic, unkind, callous, hard, harsh, cruel, merciless, pitiless, unpitying,
uncharitable, inhuman, mpervious to, oblivious to, unaware of, unappreciative of,
unresponsive to, indifferent to, unaffected by, unmoved by, untouched by, immune to; in
the dark about, incognizant of, nescient of],

momentum (n.) – the impetus gained by a moving object; the impetius and driving
force gained by the development of a process or course of events [The investigation
gathered momentum in the spring. The vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped.] –
synonyms & related words [impetus, energy, force, power, strength, drive, thrust, push,
driving power, steam, impulse, speed, velocity],

make like a tree and leave/make like a banana and split/make like a
baby and head out/make like a banana and leave (id.) – (humorous) to
leave, depart,

vestibule (n.) – an antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the other door of a building [We
sat in a high vestibule between the street and the courtyard.] – synonyms & related words
[entrance hall, hall, hallway, entrance, porch, portico, foyer, reception area, lobby,
anteroom, antechamber, outer room, waiting room],

hidey hole/hidey-hole (n.) – a place where a person goes to hide or to avoid others
[Commandos captured the deposed dictator in a carefully camouflaged cllear that he had
been using as a hidey-hole.] – synonyms & related words [concealment, covert, den,
hermitage, hideaway, hidey-hole, lair, nest, blind, cover, nook, recess, hangout, harbor,
harborage, haunt, haven, redoubt, refuge, retreat, shelter],

small-ball/smallball/small ball (v.) – to capitulate or submit under pressure

[Ben small-balled it, she offered him Shadow Chancellor, he's not resigning.] – synonyms &
related words [yield, surrender, submit, succumb, back down, make concessions,
capitulate, give up/in, raise/show the white flag; acquiesce, agree, concur, approve,
assent; cave in, throw in the towel, throw in the sponge],

gazump (v.) – rip off, ask an unreasonable price; raise the price of something after
agreeing on a lower price [„I wasn't expecting to have to up my offer.“ „That's how a
gazumping works, Dan.“] – synonyms & related words [extort, fleece, soak, cheat, plume,
bill, chisel, gouge, pluck, rack, hook, charge, overcharge, rip off, squeeze, wring, rob,
surcharge],

shepherd (v.) – guide or direct in a particular direction [I shepherded them through the
door. Police shepherded Police shepherded thousands of workers away from the area.] –
synonyms & related words [guide, conduct, usher, convoy, marshal, steer, herd, lead,
take, escort, accompany, wlak, show, see, attend, chaperone],

chaperone (n.) – a person who accompanies and looks after another person or group
of people; (dated) an older woman responsible for the decorous behavior of a young
unmarried girl at social occasions [Aunt Millie went with her as chaperone. Chaperones
sat at the edge of the dance, gossiping and watching.] – synonyms & related words
[companion, duenna, protectress, escort, protector, governess, nursemaid, carer, keeper,
protector, bodyguard, minder],

chaperone (v.) – accompany and look after or supervise [She chaperoned the children
at all times. She was chaperoned at the ball by her mother.] – synonyms & related words
[accompany, escort, attend, shepherd, watch over, take care of, keep an eye on, protect,
defend, guard, safeguard, shield, keep from harm, mind, screen, shelter, mother,
nursemaid, nanny],

unworthy (adj.) – not deserving respect or attention; (of an action) not accepable,
especially from someone with a good reputation or social position [He was unworthy of
trust and unfit to hold office. He was unworthy of trust. Forgive me, that was unworthy.
Such a suggestion is unworthy of the Honourable Gentleman. He despised such unworthy
behavior.] – synonyms & related words [unbecoming, unsuitable, inappropriate,
unbefitting, unfitting, unseemly, improper, incongruous; inconsistent, incompatible, out
of keeping, out of character, out of place; degrading, discreditable, shameful,
dishonourable, despicable, ignoble, contemptible, reprehensible, inexcusable,
unforgivable],

sheer (adj.) – nothing other than; unmitigated (uses for emphasis); (especially of a cliff
or wall) perpendicular or nearly so; (of a fabric) very thin, diaphanous [She giggled with
sheer delight. He whistled at the sheer audacity of the plan. The sheer ice walls. There was
a terrifying sheer drop to the sea. Sheer white silk chiffon.] – synonyms & related words
[utter, complete, absolute, total, pure, perfect, downright, out-and-out, thorough,
thoroughgoing, through and through, consummate, patent, surpassing, veritable,
unqualified, unmitigated, unalloyed, unadulterated, unmixed; stark, rank; plain, simple,
mere; proper, fair, arrant, right-down, precipitous, very steep, perepndicular, vertical,
abrupt, bluff, sharp, vertiginous, acclivitous, declivitous, scarped, diaphanous, gauzy,
filmy, floaty, very thin, translucent, transparent, see-through, gossamer, gossamer-like,
chiffony, insubstantial, ultra-fine, fine],

scarp (n.) – a steep artificial slope in front of a fortification – synonyms & related
words [munition, escarp, escarpment, fortification, protective embankment],

scarp (n.) a long steep slope or cliff at the edge of a plateau or ridge, usually formed by
erosion, a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice – synonyms & related words [escarpment,
incline, slope, side, cliff, barranca, barranco, bluff, crag, palisade, precipice, scar, butte,
cuesta, hogback, tor, bulwark, embankment, declivity, drop-off, pitch],

innervate (v.) – make (someone) feel full of energy or vitality – synonyms & related
words [animate, electrify, empower, strengthen, excite, invigorate, motivate, reinforce,
stimulate, trigger, arm, enable, enliven, fortify, goose, inspirit, prime, quicken, sustain,
vitalize, zap, actify, activize, build up, jazz up, juice up, liven up, pep up, pump up, put zip
into, start up, switch on, turn on, work up, arouse, jolt, provoke, spur, startle, stir,
commove, thrill, wake, pique, astonish, excite],

empower (v.) – give (someone) the authority or power to do something; make

(someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming
their rights [Members are empowered to audit the accounts of limited companies. The
act empowered Henry to punish heretics. Movements to empower the poor.] –
synonyms & related words [authorize, license, entitle, permit, allow, sanction, warrant,
commission, delegate, certify, accredit, qualify; give someone the authority, give
someone permission; enable, equip, give the power to, give the means to, give the go-
ahead to, give the green light to, OK, give the OK to, give the thumbs up; emancipate,
unyoke, unfetter, unshackle, unchain, set free, give freedom to, enfranchise],

disempower (v.) – to remove confidence or power from (someone) to do something,

dishearten, dispirit, demoralize, invalidate, constrain, subvert,

enfranchise (v.) – give the right to vote to; (historical) give (a town) the right to be
represented in Parliament; (historical) free (a slave) [A proposal that foreigners should
be enfranchised for local elections. Women over thirty were enfranchised in 1918. He is
said to have enfranchised his slaves.] – synonyms & related words [give voting rights to,
give the vote to, give suffrage to, grant suffrage to, grant franchise to; emancipate,
liberate, free, set free, release, empower; unchain, unyoke, unfetter, unshackle;
naturalize, grant citizenship to, confer citizenship on, manumit, affranchise, disenthral,
citizenize],

manumit (v.) – (historical) release from slavery, set free [Old Angus had never
manumitted a single slave.],

unable (adj.) – lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something [She was
unable to conceal her surprise. He was unable to account for the error.] – synonyms &
related words [not able, powerless, impotent, not up/equal to, at a loss, inadequate,
ineffectual, incompetent, unfit, unfitted, unqualified; incapable of, impuissant],

enervate (v.) – make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality [Enervating heat. The
scorching sun enervated her.] – synonyms & related words [exhaust, tire, fatigue, weary,
wear out, devitalize, drain, sap, weaken, make weak, make feeble, enfeeble, debilitate,
incapacitate, indispose, prostrate, immobilize, lay low, put out of action; knock out, do in,
take it out of one, shatter, poop, frazzle, wear to a frazzle, fag out, knacker, torpefy],

torpefy/torpify (v.) – make (someone or something) torpid, numb, dull, paralyzed,

or lifeless, benumb, stupefy

momentuous (adj.) – of great importance or significance, especially in having a

bearing on future events [A period of momentous changes in East-West relations. A
momentous decision.] – synonyms & related words [important, significant, epoch-
making, historic, apocalyptic, headline, fateful, portentous, critical, crucial, vital, life-and-
death, decisive, pivotal, serious, grave, weighty, consequential, big, great, far-reaching,
life-changing, of importance, of moment, of significance, of consequence; earth-shaking,
earth-shattering, world-shaking, world-shattering],

sheisty (adj.) – shifty, untrustworthy, unscrupulous,

shyster (n.) – someone who acts in a disreputable, unethical, or unscrupulous way,

especially in the practice of law and politics, a rogue, a rascal, a shriner,

gleeful (adj.) – exuberantly or triumphantly joyful [She gave a gleeful chuckle. It shows
you were gleefully in favor of it.] – synonyms & related words [delighted, pleased, joyful,
happy, glad, amused, mirthful, cheerful, overjoyed, elated, euphoric, exhilarated; merry,
gay, high-spirited, in high spirits, jolly, jovial, exuberant; cock-a-hoop, jubilant, over the
moon, joyous],

fillip (n.) – something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity [The halving of the
car tax would provide a fillip to sales. They are reducing their lending rates to give a fillip
to the housing market.] – synonyms & related words [stimulus, stimulation, stimulant,
boost, encouragement, incitement, incentive, impetus, inducement, motivation; tonic,
uplift, lift, reviver, spur, goad, prod, push, prompt, aid, help; shot i nthe arm, pick-me-up],

uplift (v.) – lift (something) up, raise; (Scottish) pick up or take away; (of an island,
mountain, etc.) be created by an upward movement of the earth's surface; elevate
(someone) morally or spiritually [Her uplifted face. This is the kind of music that uplifts
him. His uplifted hand shot to his face. We will be only too pleased to uplift any items you
wish us to sell for you. The mountains were uplifted during the Jurassic period. People leave
my shows feeling uplifted. It's a sweet, uplifting story about an English girl at a mission in
India.] – synonyms & related words [boost, raise, buoy up, elevate, edify, inspire, lift, give
a lift to, cheer up, perk up, enliven, brighten up, lighten, ginger up, gladden, encourage,
stimulate, arouse, revive, restore, buck up, raised, elevated, hoisted, upraised, upthrust,
reared, hitched up, held high, erect, proud, upheaved, upreared; inspiring, stirring,
moving, touching, affecting, warming, cheering, cheerful, gladdening, encouraging;
emotional, profound, fervent, heartfelt, sincere, passionate; meaningful, significant,
eloquent, expressive; sad, soulful, mournful, doleful],

misguided (adj.) – having or showing faulty judgement or reasoning [Their misguided

belief that they were defending the honor of their country. The whole selection policy had
been misguided. The misguided teacher might well believe that self-expression was all that
was needed.] – synonyms & related words [erroneous, fallacious, unwarranted,
unfounded, unsound, misplaced, misconceived, ill-advised, inadvisable, ill-considered,
ill-judged, inappropriate, impolitic, unwise, injudicious, imprudent, rash, foolish,
misinformed, misled, misdirected, laboring under a delusion/misapprehension, wrong,
mistaken, deluded, ill-advised, foolish],

fleeting (adj.) – lasting for a very short time [For a fleeting moment, I saw the face of a
boy. We only had a fleeting glimpse of the sun.] – synonyms & related words [brief,
transient, short-lived, short, momentary, sudden, cursory, transitory, ephemeral,
fugitive, evanescent, fading, vanishing, flying, fly-by-night, passing, flitting, here today
and gone tomorrow, temporary, impermanent, short-term, rapid, quick, swift, rushed;
fugacious],

regrettable (adj.) – (of conduct or an event) giving rise to regret, undesirable,

unwelcome [The loss of this number of jobs is regrettable. A regrettable lack of foresight
was at the root of it.] – synonyms & related words [undesirable, unfortunate,
unwelcome, sad, sorry, woeful, disappointing, distressing, too bad; deplorable,
lamentable, reprehensible, shameful, disgraceful, blameworthy, ill-advised, dreadful,
terrible, awful; egregious],

agonize (v.) – undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something [I
didn't agonize over the problem. All the way home, she agonized about what she should
do.] – synonyms & related words [worry, fret, fuss, upset oneself, rack one's brains,
wrestle with oneself, be worried, be anxious, feel uneasy, exercise oneself, brood, muse;
mull over, dwell on, contemplate, ruminate, chew over, puzzle over, speculate, weigh up,
turn over in one's mind; be indecisive, stew, pore on],

useless (adj.) – not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or
desired outcome; (having no ability or skill in a specified activity or area) [A piece of
useless knowledge It was useless to try. He was useless at football. You never had the
support of the party, you bag of useless doubt.] – synonyms & related words [futile,
pointless, purposeless, impractical, vain, in vain, to no purpose, to no avail, unavailing,
bootless, nugatory, hopeless, unusable, ineffectual, inefficacious, impotent, fruitless,
unprofitable, profitless, unproductive, unachievable, Sisyphean; unworkable, broken,
kaput, unserviceable; junky, inutile, incompetent, ineffective, worthless, ineffectual,
incapable, inept, inadequate, hopeless, weak, bad, no good; bum, a dead loss],

jettison (n.) – throw or drop (something) from an aircraft or ship; abandon or discard
(someone or something that is no longer wanted) [Six aircraft jettisoned their loads in
the sea. He sorted out his desk, jettisoning unwanted papers.] – synonyms & related words
[dump, drop, ditch, discharge, eject, throw out, empty out, pour out, tip out, unload,
throw overboard, throw over the side; discard, dispose of, throw away, throw out, get
rid of, toss out; reject, scrap, dispense with, cast aside/off, abandon, relinquish, drop,
have done with, shed, slough off, shrug off, throw on the scrapheap, chuck (away/out),
fling, dump, ditch, axe, bin, junk, get shut of, get shot of, trash],
demur (v.) – raise objections or show reluctance [Normally she would have accepted
the challenge, but she demured. Mr. Steed demurred when the suggestion was put to him.]
– synonyms & related words [raise objections, object, take exception, take issue, protest,
lodge a protest, cavil, dissent; raise doubts, express doubt, express reluctance, express
reservations, express misgivings, be unwilling, be reluctant, baulk, hesitate, think twice,
hang back, drag one's heels, refuse, be cagey, boggle, kick up a fuss, kick up a stink],

riddance (n.) – the getting rid of whatever is unwanted or useless [The riddance of all
the fleas from the house was a relief to everyone concerned.] – synonyms & related words
[ridding, discarding, disposition, dumping, jettison, junking, removal, disposal,
scrapping, throwing away, clearance, clearing, decimation, demolishment, demolition,
destruction, release, discharge, ejection, elimination, liberation],

anele (v.) – anoint (someone), especially as part of the christina rite of giving extreme
unction to the dying,

chrism (n.) – a mixture of oil and balm, consecrated for use as an anointing fluid in
certain Christian ceremonies, especially confirmation,

scruffy (adj.) – shabby and untidy, or dirty [A teenager in scruffy jeans and a baggy T-
shirt. He wore scruffy jeans.] – synonyms & related words [shabby, worn, down at heel,
shoddy, ragged, tattered, mangy, sorry, run down, disreputable; untidy, unkempt,
bedraggled, messy, dishevelled, ungroomed, ill-groomed, sleazy, seedy, slatternly,
slovenly; dirty, squalid, filthy; tatty, the worse for wear, scuzzy, grungy, yucky, grotty,
raggedy],

in the waiting (adj.) – put off til a later time – synonyms & related words [deferred,
delayed, negotiated, postponed, adjourned, assessed, charged, funded, pigeonholed,
prolonged, protracted, remanded, renegotiated, retarded, scrubbed, stalled, temporized,
held up, indebted, on hold, on the sholf, staved off],

give it some wellie (id.) – used for telling someone to use more physical effort, put
some punch into it, use more force,

wellie (n.) – (UK, informal) a rubber or plastic boot that does not let water in,

white knuckle (n.) – cliffhanger, close call, shocker, squeaker, thriller, close shave,
narrow escape, spine-chiller [This is all white knuckle stuff.],

prance (v.) – (of a horse) move with high springy steps; (of a person) walk or move
around with ostentatious, exaggerated movements [She pranced around the lounge
impersonating her favorite pop stars. He was prancing around in his underpants.] –
synonyms & related words [cavort, dance, jig, trip, caper, jump, leap, spring, bound, skip,
hop; parade, strut, swagger, swank; frisk, gambol, romp, frolic, curvet; sashay, cut a/the
rug, peacock, rollick, capriole],

sashay (v.) – walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated
movements of the hips and shoulders [Louise was sashaying along in a black satin dress.],

steady (exclamation/v.) – used as a warning to someone to keep calm or take care

[Steady on, Malcolm, that's a bit strong. Steady now! We don't want you hurting yourself.],

unforeseen (adj.) – not anticipated or predicted [Our insurance package enables you
to protect yourself and your dependants against unforeseen circumstances. An unforeseen
fiasco for the Prime Minister.] – synonyms & relatd words [unpredicted, unexpected,
unanticipated, unplanned, accidental, unlooked for, unsought, not bargained for,
unthought of, unimagined; sudden, abrupt, surprising, startling, astonishing, abnormal,
out of the blue],

golden handshake (n.) – a payment given to someone who is made redundant or

retires early [„There's your golden handshake!“ said Malcolm Tucker to Nicola Murray.],

out on a limb (id.) – in a position where you have no support from other people
[Maybe it's time to bring Glenn back into the hub, he's been on a limb since punk.],

hogmanay/hoghmanay/hogmane/hogmana/hagmonay/hagmonick/
hanginay/hangmanay/hogernoany/hogminay/hogmenay/hogmynae/
hoguemennay/huggeranohni/hu(i)gmany (n.) – (Scotland) New Year's Eve;
(Scotland) a celebration or gift for New Year's Eve,

dead in the water (id.) – completely unlikely to succeed, doomed to fail, hopeless,

reassure (v.) – say or do something to remove the doubts and fears of (someone) [He
understood her feelings and tried to reassure her. Daniel patted his wife's arm and tried to
reassure her. OK, Bright Eyes, I'm massively fucking reassured.] – synonyms & related
words [put/set someone's mind at rest, dispel someone's fears, restore/bolster
someone's confidence, raise someone's spirits, put someone at ease, encourage, hearten,
buoy up, cheer up; comfort, soothe, inspirit],

sensuous (adj.) – relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect; attractive
or gratifying physically, especially sexually [The work showed a deliberate disregard of
the more sensuous and immediately appaling aspects of painting. Her voice was rather
deep but very sensuous. Her full, sensuous lips. Big, richly colored, sensuous canvases.] –
synonyms & related words [aesthetically pleaisng, aesthetic, pleasurable, gratifying, rich,
sumptuous, luxurious, sexually attractive, sexy, seductive, voluptous, luscious, lush],

slack (adj.) – xnot taut or held tightly in a position, loose; having or showing laziness or
negligence; slow or sluggish [A slack rope. Try these tips to tone and tighten slack,
unattractive skin. She was wearing a slack blue dress. She heard a splash and the rope
went slack. Slack accounting procedures. They were working at a slack pace. Business had
never been so slack. Some slack defensive play by Villa.] – synonyms & related words
[loose, limp, not taut, not tight, hanging, flapping; relaxed, flexible, pliant, flaccid, flabby,
loose, sagging, saggy, drooping, droopy, soft, baggy, loose-fitting, loose, not tight,
generously cut, roomy; shapeless, sack-like, oversized, ill-fitting, bagging, hanging,
flapping, saggy, lax, negligent, neglectful, remiss, careless, slapdash, slipshod,
lackadaisical, lazy, inefficient, incompetent, inattentive, offhand, casual, disorderly,
disorganized; derelict; sloppy, slap-happy, do-nothing, asleep at the wheel, half-arsed,
delinquent, otiose, pococurante; sluggish, slow, quiet, slow-moving, not busy, inactive,
flat, depressed, stagnant],

slack (n.) – the part of a rope or line which is not held taut, the loose or unused part;
(informal) a spell of inactivity or laziness [I picked up the rod and wound in the slack. The
rope had just enough slack in it to allow her to reach him. He slept deeply, refreshed by a
little slack in the daily routine.] – synonyms & related words [loosness, play, give, lull,
pause, respite, spell of inactivity, interval, break, hiatus, breathing space, let-up,
breather],

slack (v.) – decrease or reduce in intensity, quantity, or speed; (UK, informal) [The flow
of blood slacked off. The horse slacked his pace. The rain had slacked off to a soft drizzle. I
told him to slac koff a bit. The horse didn't slack up until he reached the trees. She ticked off
her girls if they were slacking. Okay, carry on with this painting and no slacking.] –
synonyms & related words [reduce, lessen, slacken, slow, ease up/off, decrease, lessen,
subside, get less, let up, ease off, abate, moderate, diminish, dwindle, die down, fall off,
drop off, taper off, ebb, recede, wane, relax, take things easy, let up, ease up/off, do less,
loosen up, slow down, be less active, hang loose, stay loose, chill out, slow down, slow
decelerate, reduce speed, drop speed, put the brakes on, idle, shirk, be inactive, be lazy,
be indolent, sit back and do nothing, waste time, lounge about, skive, bunk off, goof off],

foremost (adj.) – most prominent in rank, importance, or position [One of the foremost
art collectors of his day. One of the foremost Spanish Renaissance artists.] – synonyms &
related words [leading, principal, premier, prime, elite, top, top-tier, top-level, first-rate,
greatest, best, supreme, pre-eminent, major, most important, most prominent, most
influential, most skilled, most illustrious, outstanding, notable, noteworthy, of note; first,
primary, main, paramount, chief, key, central; ranking; number-one, top-notch],

dangle (v.) – hang or swing loosely; offer (an enticing incentive) to someone
[Saucepans dangled from a rail. A long chain dangled from his belt. She had long, dangling
earrings. The defense portfolio could be the carrot to dangle before him. The prince
dangled money in front of the local chief.] – synonyms & related words [hang (down),
droop, sag, swing, sway, wave, trail, stream, depend, hanging, drooping, droopy,
suspensed, supported from above, pendulous, pendent, swinging, swaying, trailing,
flowing, falling, tumbling, pensile, offer, hold out; entice someone with, lure someone
with, tempt someone with, tantalize someone with, seduce someone with],

pensile (adj.) – hanging down, pendulous [Pensile nests.],

recompense (n.) – compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort
made [Adequate recompense for workers who lose their jobs. Substantial damages were
paid in recompense.] – synonyms & related words [compensation, reparation, restitution,
indemnification, indemnity; reimbursement, repayment, reward, redress, satisfaction;
quid pro quo; guerdon, meed, solatium],

recompense (v.) – make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered, compensate;
pay or reward (someone) for effort or work; make amends to or reward someone for
(loss, harm, or effort) [Offenders should recompense their victims. He was handsomely
recompense. She wanted to recompense him in some way. She still hadn't received much to
compense her loss.] – synonyms & related words [compensate, indemnify, repay,
reimburse, pay money to, make reparation to, make restitution to, make amends to,
reward, pay, pay back, guerdon, make up for, compensate for, make amends for, make
restitution for, make reparation for, redress, make good, satisfy],

perjure (v.) – wilfully tell an untruth or make a misrepresentation under oath, commit
perjury; (of evidence) involving willfuly told untruths [She admitted that she had
perjured herself. Colum had tried to make her perjure herself to give him an alibi. She was
charged wit hgiving perjured evidence in a court of law.] – synonyms & related words [lie
under oath, lie, commit perjury, give false evidence/testimony, forswear oneself, be
forsworn, bear false witness/testimony, swear falsely],

illustrious (adj.) – well known, respected, and admired for past achievements [His
illustrious predecessor. An illustrious general.] – synonyms & related words [eminent,
distinguished, acclaimed, noted, notable, noteworthy, prominent, pre-eminent, foremost,
leading, paramount, prestigious, important, significant, influential, lionized; renowned,
famous, famed, well known, celebrated; esteemed, honoured, respected, exalted,
venerable, august, highly regarded, well thought of, of distinction, of repute, of high
standing; splendid, brilliant, remarkable, outstanding, great, noble, glorious, grand,
lofty],

marinate (v.) – soak (meat, fish, or other food) in a marinade; (of food) undergo
marination [The beef was marinated in red wine vinegar. Marinate the fruit in the rum for
30 minutes. Leave the meat in a cool place to marinate overnight.] – synonyms & related
words [souse, soak, steep, immerse, marinade],

souse (v.) – soak in or drench with liquid [The chips were well soused with vinegar.],

misunderstand (v.) – fail to interpret or understand (something) correctly; fail to

interpret or understand the words or actions of (someone) correctly [He had
misunderstood the police officer's hand signals. She misunderstood his motives. Don't
misunderstand me – I'm not implying she would be working.] – synonyms & related words
[misapprehend, misinterpret, put a wrong interpretation on, misconstrue, misconceive,
mistake, misread, miss, confuse, confound, take amiss; miscalculate, err, be mistaken, get
the wrong idea, get it/someone wrong, take something the wrong way, receive a false
impression, be under a delusion, get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick, be at cross
purposes; be barking up the wrong tree],

intrude (v.) – put oneself deliberately into a place or situation where one is
unwelcome or uninvited; enter with disruptive or adverse effect; introduce (something)
into a situation with disruptive or adverse effect [He had n oright to intrude into their
lives. The noise began to intrude into her thoughts. The press believe they have the right to
intrude on people's privacy. To intrude political criteria into military decisions risks
reducing efficiency. He intruded his own personality into his work.] – synonyms & related
words [encroach, impinge, trespass, infringe, obtrude, thrust oneself in; invade, violate;
interfere with, disturb, disrupt; horn in, muscle in, entrench, force, push, introduce,
obtrude, impose, thrust],

dabble (v.) – immerse (one's hands or feet) partially in water and move them around
gently; (of a duck or other waterbird) move the bill around in shallow water while
feeding [They dabbled their feet in the rock pools. Teal dabble in the shallows.] –
synonyms & related words [splash, dip, paddle, wet, moisten, dampen, immerse, trail],

dabble (v.) – take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way [He dabbled in left-
wing politics. I dabble on the Irish bodhran.] – synonyms & related words [toy with, dip
into, scratch the surface of, flirt with, tinker with, potter about/around/round with, trifle
with, play with, fiddle with, dally with, have a smattering of],

smattering (n.) – a slight superficial knowledge of a language or subject; a small

amount of something, perfunctory knowledge [Edward had only a smattering of Welsh. A
smattering of snow. An audience with a smattering of classical education.] – synonyms &
related words [bit, small amount, little, modicum, touch, soupçon, superficial knowledge,
nodding acquaintance, passing acquaintance, rudiments, basics, smidgen, smidge, tad,
tidbit, piece, jot],

perfunctory (adj.) – (of an action) carried out without real interest, feeling, or effort
[He gave a perfunctory nod. The guards gave a perfunctory look up and down the
carriage.] – synonyms & related words [cursory, desultory; quick, brief, hasty, hurried,
rapid, passing, fleeting, summary; token, casual, superficial, uninterested, careless, half-
hearted, unthinking, sketchy, mechanical, automatic, routine, offhand, indifferent,
inattentive; dismissive],

soupçon (n.) – a very small quantity of something [A soupçon of mustard.],

rudiment (n.) – the first principles of (a subject); an elementary or primitive form of
(something) [She taught the girls the rudiments of reading and writing. The rudiments of
statitics and probability theory. The rudiments of a hot-water system.] – synonyms &
related words [basic principles, basics, fundamentals, elements, essentials, first
principles; beginnings, foundation nuts and bolts, ABC],

meddlesome (adj.) – fond of meddling, interfering, intruding [Heaven rid him of

meddlesome politicians! A growing demand for more efficient and less meddlesome
government.] – synonyms & related words [interfering, meddling, intrusive, prying,
inquisitive, officious, importunate; snooping, nosy, nebby, pragmatic, intermeddling,
obtrusive, busy],

nebby (adj.) – (Scottish, Northern English) overly inquisitive, nosy [The occasional
nebby passerby has poked in to observe.],

bundle (n.) – a collection of things or quantity of material tied or wrapped up together

[A thick bundle of nevelopes. A bundle of clothes.] – synonyms & related words [bunch,
roll, clump, wad, parcel, packet, package, pack, sheaf, bale, bolt, truss, faggot, fascicle,
pile, stack, heap, mass, quantity, armful, collection, accumulation, agglomeration, batch,
load, wodge, wadge],

porous (adj.) – (of a rock or other material) having minute interstices through which
liquid or air may pass; not retentive or secure [Layers of porous limestones. He ran
through a porous home defense to score easily.] – synonyms & related words [permeable,
penetrable, pervious; absorbent, sponge-like, spongy, sieve-like, leaky, honeycombed,
cellular, open, holey; absorptive, percolative, cavernulous, leachy, porose, poriferous,
spongiose, foraminous, pory],

duress (n.) – threats, violence, constraints, or other action used to coerce someone into
doign something against their will or better judgement [Confessions extracted under
duress.] – synonyms & related words [coercion, compulsion, force, pressure,
pressurization, intimidation, threats, constraint, enforcement, exaction, arm-twisting],

arm-twisting (n.) – (informal) the action of pressurizing someone into doing

something they are unwilling to do [A day of arm-twisting by government whips.],

pregnable (adj.) – vulnerable, open to attack – synonyms & related words

[unprotected, unsafe, vincible, weak, wide open, unguarded, thin-skinned, tender,
susceptible, sucker, sitting duck, ready, sensitive, out on a limb, on the spot, on the line,
naked, liable, exposed, defenseless, attackable, assailable, accessible],

retentive (adj.) – having the power to retain, absorb, capable of physically taking a
liquid – synonyms & related words [absorptive, dry, imbibing, bibulous, penetrable,
permeable, porous, pregnable, spongy, thirsty, sticky, tenacious, adhesive, clinging,
clingy, fast, firm, fixed, glutinous, grummy, inseparable, mucilaginous, resisting, secure,
set, tacky, tight, viscid, viscose, viscous, waxy, cohesive, determined, dogged, forceful,
persisting, relentless, resolute, spunky, staunch, steadfast, stout, strong-willed, stubborn,
tough, unswerving, adamant, bound, intransigent, iron, stringent, purposeful, stalwart,
solid, sturdy, mulish, obdurate, iron, tight, true, unforgetful, unshakable, pertinacious,
perseviring, firm, inflexible, coherent],

determined (adj.) – having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it;
possessing or displaying resolve [Alina was determined to be heard. Helen was a
determined little gir. He seems like a very determined man.] – synonyms & related words
[intent on, bent on, set on, dead set on, insistent on, fixed on, resolved on/to, firm about,
committed to, hell-bent on; single-minded about, obsessive about, obsessed with,
fanatical about, fixated on, resolute, full of determination, purposeful, purposive,
resolved, decided, adamant, single-minded, firm, unswerving, unswervable, unwavering,
undaunted, fixed, set, intent, insistent; steadfast, staunch, stalwart, earnest, manful,
deliberate, unfaltering, unhesitating, unflinching, persevering, persistent, pertinacious,
indefatigable, tenacious, bulldog, strong-minded, strong-willed, unshakeable, unshaken,
steely, four-square, dedicated, committed; stubborn, dogged, obstinate, obdurate,
inflexible, relentless, intransigent, implacable, unyielding, unbending, immovable,
unrelenting; spirited, brave, bold, courageous, plucky, stout, stout-hearted, mettlesome,
indomitable, strenuous, vigorous, gritty, stiff; rock-ribbed; gutsy, spunky, perseverant,
indurate],

opposite (n.) – a person or thing that is totally different from or the reverse of
someone or something else [We were opposites in temperament. Forecasters expected it
to be a year of recovery – in fact the opposite was true. Er, well, I'd be Stewart Pearson's
opposite in every possible way, I think.] – synonyms & related words [reverse, converse,
antithesis, contrary, inverse, obverse, contradiction; the other extreme, the other side of
the coin; per contra; flip side, antipode, antipodes],

antipode (n.) – the direct opposite of something [The pole and its antipode.],

antipodes (n.) – Australia and New Zealand (used by inhabitants of the northern
hemisphere); the direct opposite of something [Voting and violence and antipodes.],

overstate (v.) – state too strongly, exaggerate [I overstated my case to make my point.
He admitted that he had perhaps overstated his case.] – synonyms & related words
[exaggerate, overdo, overemphasize, overplay, dramatize, catastrophize, colour,
embroider, embellish, enhance, magnify, inflate, amplify, make a mountain out of a
molehill, make a big thing out of, blow up, blow up out of proportion, draw the long bow,
play up],

misrepresent (v.) – give a false or misleading account of the nature of [You are
misrepresenting the views of the government. This reputation as an enforcer is
misrepresentive you?] – synonyms & related words [give a false account of, give a false
idea of, misstate, misreport, misquote, quote/take out of context, garble, misinterpret,
put a spin on, falsify, fudge, pervert, belie, distort, warp, strain, colour, manipulate,
parody, travesty, conceal, disguise],

be caught with your fingers/hand in the till (id.) – (informal) to be caught

stealing money from the place where you work,

convenient (adj.) – fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans [I phoned
your office to confirm that this date is convenient. Try to agree on a mutually convenient
time. Pre-prepared food has become a tempting and convenient option in recent times.] –
synonyms & related words [suitable, appropriate, fitting, fit, suited, agreeable;
opportune, timely, well timed, favourable, advantageous, expedient; commodious,
seasonable, trouble-free, labor-saving, useful, handy, practical, serviceable, user-
oriented],

part and parcel (n.) – an essential part, constituent, element, module, part,

subject (v.) – cause or force someone or something to undergo (a particular

experience or form of treatment, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one) [He'd
subjected her to a terrifying ordeal. They have been subjected to physical violence.] –
synonyms & related words [put through, treat with, favor with, expose to, lay open to,
submit to],

humiliate (v.) – make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity
and pride [You'll humiliate me in front of the whole school. A humiliating election defeat.]
– synonyms & related words [embarrass, mortify, humble, show up, shame, make
ashamed, put to shame; disgrace, discomfit, chasten, subdue, abash, abase, debase,
demean, degrade, deflate, crush, quash, squash, bring down, bring low, cause to feel
small, cause to lose face, make someone eat humble pie, take down a peg or two; put
down, cut down to size, settle someone's hash, make someone eat crow, own,
embarrassing, mortifying, humbling, ignominious, inglorious, shaming, shameful;
discreditable, undignified, discomfiting, chastening, debasing, demeaning, degrading,
deflating, crushing, quashing, squashing, bringing down, bringing low; blush-making,
humiliatory],

detect (v.) – discover or identity the presence or existence of; discern (something
intangible or barely perceptible); discover or investigate (a crime or its perpetrators)
[Paul detected a faint note of weariness in his father's voice. The public can help the police
to detect crime.] – synonyms & related words [notice, become aware of, perceive, note,
discern, make out, observe, spot, become conscious of, recognize, distinguish, mark,
remark, identify, diagnose; catch, decry, sense, see, catch sight of, smell, scent, taste,
clock, behold, descry, espy; discover, uncover, find, find out, turn up, unearth, dig up,
dredge up, root out, hunt out, nose out, ferret out, expose, reveal, bring to light, bring
into the open; come across, stumble on, chance on, hit on, encounter; solve, clear up, get
to the bottom of, find the perpetrator of, find the person behind, figure out, crack, catch,
hunt down, find, expose, reveal, unmask, smoke out, ferret out, track down, apprehend,
arrest],

queasy (adj.) – nauseous, feeling sick; inducing a feeling of nausea; slightly nervous or
worried about something [In the morning, he was still pale and queasy. He still felt queasy
and he was grateful for the fresh air. The queasy swell of the boat.] – synonyms & related
words [nauseous, nauseated, bilious, sick; seasick, carsick, trainsick, airsick, travel-sick,
suffering from motion sickness, suffering from altitude sickness; ill, unwell, poorly, bad,
out of sorts, dizzy, peaky, liverish, green about the gills; off, off colour; sick to one's
stomach; funny, peculiar, rough, lousy, rotten, awful, terrible, dreadful, crummy; crook,
crappy, peakish],

liverish (adj.) – slightly ill, as though having a disordered liver; unhappy and bad-
tempered; resembling liver in color [A liverish red.],

calm (v.) – make (someone) tranquil and quite, soothe; (of a person) become tranquil
and quiet [I took him inside and tried to calm him down. Gradually I calmed down and lost
my anxiety. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.] – synonyms &
related words [soothe, pacify, placate, mollify, appease, conciliate; hush, lull, gentle,
tranquillize; quell, allay, alleviate, assuage; quieten (down); square off, dulcify; compose
oneself, recover/regain one's composure, control oneself, recover/regain one's self-
control, pull oneself together, keep one's head, simmer down, cool down, cool off, take it
easy; quieten down; informalget a grip, keep one's cool, play it cool, keep one's shirt on,
wind down, come back down to earth, chill out, hang loose, stay loose, decompress],

embarrassing (adj.) – causing embarrassment [An embarrassing muddle. He was

frightened of making an embarrassing mistake. There may be some embarrassing
questions at the shareholders' meeting.] – synonyms & related words [shaming, shameful,
humiliating, mortifying, demeaning, degrading, ignominious; upsetting, disconcerting,
discomfiting, discomposing, confusing, flustering, agitating, discountenancing,
distressing; discreditable, dishonouring, disgraceful, blush-making, awkward,
uncomfortable, difficult, tricky, delicate, sensitive, problematic, troublesome, thorny,
knotty, vexatious, ticklish; compromising, humiliating, sticky, dicey, hairy, cringeworthy,
cringe-making, dodgy],

demean (v.) – cause a severe loss in the dignity and respect for; do something that is
beneath one's dignity (someone or something) [I had demeaned the profession. A
demeaning experience. Good potential MPs would not demean themselves by setting out to
acquire popularity. His actions only served to demean him in the eyes of the public.] –
synonyms & related words [degrading, humiliating, shaming, shameful, bringing shame,
mortifying, abject, lowering, ignominious, undignified, inglorious, discrediting; menial,
infra dig, discredit, lower, lower someone's dignity, lower someone's status, degrade,
debase, devalue, demote; cheapen, abase, humble, humiliate, disgrace, dishonour;
condescend, deign, stoop, descend],

saving throw (n.) – in RPGs and war games, a saving throw is a roll of dice used to
determine whether magic, poison or various other types of attacks are effective against a
character or monster [Horus Heresy has made such an enormous saving throw for the
Ultramarines as a whole it's honestly a bit astounding.],

flair (n.) – a special or instinctive atptitude or ability for doing something well;
stylishness and originality [She had a flair for languages. An activist with a flair for
publicity. She dressed with flair.] – synonyms & related words [aptitude, talent, gift,
knack, instinct, natural ability, ability, capability, capacity, faculty, facility, skill, bent, feel,
genius, style, stylishness, panache, verve, dash, elan, finesse, poise, elegance, sparkle,
brio; inventiveness, creativity; taste, good taste, discernment, discrimination; class,
pizzazz],

stand-to (n.) – (military) a state of readiness assumed by ground troops at dawn and
dusk in wartime, stand-to-arms,

mimmerkin (n.) – a dotard; (UK, dialectal, Scotland) a deformed or freakish person, a

dwarf or dwarfish creature,

mimmer (v.) – to dote, dream, mammer,

mimmering (adj.) – doting, dreaming, mammering,

mammer (v.) – (rare) to hesitate; (rare) to muble or stammer from doubt or

hesitation,

mammering (adj.) – hesitating, hesitant, wavering,

tempest in a teapot (id.) – a major fuss over a trivial matter, much ado about
nothing, storm in a teacup, storm in a tea-kettle, a storm in a teapot, tempest in a teacup,
tempest in a tea-kettle,

tempest (v.) – a violent windy storm [A raging tempest. The screaming tempest raged
round the house. The tempest of World War II.] – synonyms & related words[storm, gale,
squall, superstorm, hurricane, tornado, whirlwind, cyclone, typhoon, turmoil, tumult,
turbulence, ferment, disturbance, disorder, chaos, upheaval, disruption, commotion,
uproar, storm, furore, furor],

tempest (v.) – (rare) to storm; (chiefly poetic) to disturb, as by a tempest,

beride (v.) – to ride around, beset with horsemen; to ride beside or by the side of; to
ride upon, infest [On storm-beridden seas.],
overpass (n.) – bridge, footbridge, viaduct, walkway, skyway, span,

mistaken (adj.) – wrong in one's opinion or judgement; based on or resulting from a

misunderstanding or faulty judgement [She wondered whether she'd been mistaken about
his intentions. There is a mistaken but widespread belief that manufacturaing is still
shrinking. Don't buy a hard bed in the mistaken belief that it is good for you.] – synonyms
& related words [wrong, erroneous, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, off-target, off-beam,
out, false, fallacious, unsound, unfounded, misguided, misinformed, wide of the mark],

mistake (v.) – be wrong about; wrongly identify someone or something as [Because I

was inexperienced I mistook the nature of our relationship. Men were so apt to mistake
their own feelings. I'm afraid you are mistaken – I've never been here before. She thought
he'd mistaken her for Diana. Children often mistake vitamin pills for sweets.] – synonyms
& related words [misunderstand, misinterpret, get wrong, put a wrong interpretation
on, misconstrue, misapprehend, misread, miss, take amiss, be wrong, be in error, be at
fault, be under a misapprehension, be misinformed, be misguided, be wide of the mark,
be barking up the wrong tree, get the wrong end of the stick, confuse with, mix up with,
take for, misinterpret as, confound with],

establish (v.) – set up on a firm or permanent basis; show (something) to be true or

certain by determining the facts [The scheme was established in 1975. The company is
hoping to establish an office in Miscow. The police established that the two passports were
forgeries. There was sufficient evidence to establish his guilt.] – synonyms & related words
[set up, start, begin, get going, put in place, initiate, institute, form, found, create, bring
into being, inaugurate, organize, lay the foundations of, build, construct, install, plant,
prove, demonstrate, show, show to be true, show beyond doubt, indicate, signify, signal,
display, exhibit, manifest, denote, attest to, evidence, determine, validate, confirm, verify,
certify, ratify, corroborate, substantiate, evince, bespeak, constitute evidence of,
constitute proof of],

moot (adj.) – subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty; having little or no practical

relevance [Whether the temperature rise was mainly due to the greenhouse effect was a
moot point. The whole mater is becoming increasingly moot.] – synonyms & related words
[debatable, open to debate, open to discussion, arguable, questionable, at issue, open to
question, open, doubtful, open to doubt, disputable, contestable, controvertible,
problematic, problematical, controversial, contentious, vexed, disputed, unresolved,
unsettled, up in the air, undecided, yet to be decided, undetermined, unconcluded],

moot (v.) – raise (a question or topic) for discussion, suggest (an idea or possibility)
[The scheme was first mooted last October. The idea was first mooted in the 1930s.] –
synonyms & related words [raise, bring up, broach, mention, put forward, introduce,
advance, present, propose, suggest, submit, propound, air, ventilate],
moot (n.) – (historical) an assembly held for debate, especially in Anglo-Saxon and
medieval times; a regular gathering of people having a common interest; (law) a mock
judicial proceeding set up to examine a hypothetical case as an academic exercise [The
object of the moot is to provide practice in developing an argument.],

go beyond your brief (id.) – exceed one's authority, to beyond one's authority,

bread and butter (id.) – sustaining income, bread, daily bread, keep, livelihood,
living, menas, meat, staff of life, support, sustenance,

stay (v.) – secure or steady (a mast) by means of stays [Her masts were stayed with
lengths of telephone wire.] – synonyms & related words [brace, tether, strut, wire, prop,
support, truss, buttress, shore up, stake, stick],

hardy (adj.) – capable of enduring difficult conditions, robust; (of a plant) able to
survive outside during water [A hardy breed of cattle. A couple of hardy outdoor types. A
favorite flowering shrub for early spring, vigorous and hardy.] – synonyms & related
words [robust, healthy, fit, strong, sturdy, tough, rugged, hearty, lusty, vigorous, hale and
hearty, fit as a fiddle, fighting fit, in fine fettle, in good health, in good condition; in rude
health; stalwart],

gnarly (adj.) – cool, excellent [That is pretty gnarly stuff.] – synonyms & related words
[hairy, boss, finest, great, keen, magnificent, marvelous, neat, nifty, sensational, superb,
swell, wonderful],

cop out (v.) – (informal) avoid doing something that one ought to do [He would not cop
out of the difficult tax decisions. He tried to cop out of his responsibilities.] – synonyms &
related words [avoid, shirk, skip, dodge, sidestep, skirt round, bypass, steer clear of,
evade, escape, run away from, shrink from, slide out of, back out of, pull out of, turn
one's back on; duck, duck out of, wriggle out of, get otu of, skive, skive off, funk, cut,
duck-shove, decline, bilk],

cop-out (n.) – an instance of avoiding a commitment or responsibility [The

government's green paper is a complete cop-out. They sometimes use their kids as a cop-
out to retreat from commitment.] – synonyms & related words [excuse, pretext,
ostensible reason, pretence, front, cover, cover-up, subterfuge, fabrication, evasion,
escape],

ambiguous (adj.) – open to more than one interpretation, not having one obvious
meaning; not clear or decided [Morally ambiguous. Ambiguous phrases. The election
result was ambiguous.] – synonyms & related words [equivocal, ambivalent, open to
debate, open to argument, arguable, debatable; Delphic, cryptic, enigmatic, gnomic,
paradoxical, misleading; obscure, unclear, vague, abstruse, puzzling, perplexing, riddling,
doubtful, dubious, uncertain; double-edged, backhanded],
ambiguity (n.) – the qualtiy of being open to more than one interpretation,
inexactness [We can detect no ambiguity in this section of the Act. The plot revolves
around the ambiguity in the title.] – synonyms & related words [ambivalence,
equivocation; obscurity, vagueness, abstruseness, doubtfulness, uncertainty; puzzle,
enigma; archaicequivocacy; dubiety, doublespeak, double-talk],

transparency (n.) – the condition of being transparent [The transparency of ice. The
transparency of the dew on a rose. The transparency of their predatory motives. The report
said that the country's economic management lacked transparency.] – synonyms &
related words [translucency, lucidity, pellucidity, limpidness, limpidity, glassiness,
liquidity, clearness, clarity, straightforwardness, plainness, obviousness, explicitness,
unambiguity, unambiguousness, transpicuousness, blatantness, flagrancy, bviousness,
patentness, manifestness, barefacedness, shamelessness, brazenness, boldness,
unmistakableness, clearness, clarity, plainness, visibility, distinctness, apparentness,
perceptibility, discernibility, palpability, frankness, openness, candidness, honesty,
directness, forthrightness, unreservedness, plain-spokenness, straightness,
straightforwardness, ingenuousness, innocence, guilelessness, simplicity],

opaque (adj.) – not able to be seen through, not transparent; (especially of language)
hard or impossible to understand [Bottles filled with a pale opaque liquid. The bottle was
made of opaque glass so that the contents could not be seen. Technical jargon that was
opaque to her. Federalism renders the decision-making process opaque and bureacratic.] –
synonyms & related words [non-transparent, cloudy, filmy, blurred, smeared, hazy,
misty, dirty, dingy, muddy, muddied, grimy, smeary, obscure, unclear, dense, uncertain,
indeterminate, mysterious, puzzling, perplexing, baffling, mystifying, confusing,
enigmatic, inexplicable, unexplained, concealed, hidden, unfathomable,
incomprehensible, impenetrable, vague, ambiguous, Delphic, indefinite, indistinct, hazy,
foggy, nebulous, equivocal, doubtful, dubious, oblique, elliptical, oracular, cryptic, deep,
abstruse, recondite, arcane, esoteric, recherche, as clear as mud],

condemn (v.) – express complete disapproval of, censure; sentence (someone) to a

particular punishment, especially death; (of circumstance) force (someone) to endure or
accept something unplesant; prove or show to be guilty or unsatisfactory; officially
declare (something) to be unfit for use [Most leaders roundly condemned the attack. He
condemned such players for dragging the name of football through the dirt. The rebels had
been condemned to death. Condemned prisoners. The physical ailments that condemned
him to a lonely childhood. She could see in his eyes her mistake had condemned her.] –
synonyms & related words [censure, criticize, castigate, attack, denounce, deplore,
decry, revile, inveigh against, blame, chastise, berate, upbraid, reprimand, rebuke,
reprove, reprehend, take to task, find fault with, give someone/something a bad press;
deprecate, disparage; slam, hammer, lay into, cane, blast, slate, slag off, have a go at,
slash, reprobate, excoriate, vituperate, arraign, objurgate, anathematize, sentence, pass
sentence on, convict, find guilty, damned, doomed, lost, condemned to hell, doom,
destine, damn, foredoom, foreordain, mark someone out for; consign, assign, predoom,
incriminate, prove to be guilty, prove one's guilt, implicate, inculpate],

arraign (v.) – call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge; find
fault with censure [Her sister was arraigned on charges of attempted murder. He was
arraigned for murder. Social workers were relieved it was not they who were arraigned in
the tabloids. The soldiers bitterly arraigned the government for failing to keep its word.] –
synonyms & related words [indict, prosecute, put on trial, bring to trial; denounce, sue,
take to court, bring an action against, lay charges against, file charges against, prefer
charges against, summons, cite; accuse of, charge with; impeach; have the law on, do,
inculpate; criticize, censure, attack, condemn, castigate, chastise, lambaste, pillory, find
fault with, reprimand, rebuke, admonish, remonstrate with, take to task, haul over the
coals, berate, reproach, reprove; knock, slam, hammer, lay into, roast, give someone a
roasting, cane, blast, bawl out, dress down, rap over the knuckles, rake over (hot) coals,
give someone hell, carpet, slate, slag off, monster, rollick, give someone a rollicking, give
someone a rocket, tear someone off a strip; chew out, ream out, pummel, cut up, bag,
rate, slash, excoriate, objurgate, reprehend],

trivialize (v.) – make (something) seem less important, significant, or complex than it
really is [The problem was either trivialized or ignored by teachers. The problem was
either trivialized or ignored by teachers.] – synonyms & related words [treat as
unimportant, minimize, play down, underplay, make light of, treat lightly, make little of,
think little of, laugh off, dismiss, underestimate, undervalue, devalue, belittle, deprecate,
scoff at; pooh-pooh, hold cheap, misprize, derogate, minify],

husky (adj.) – (of a voice) hoarse and rough-sounding; (US) burly, stout, big, strong,
large; abounding with husks, consisting of husks,

wispy (adj.) – (of hair, threads, smoke, etc.) fine, feathery [The sky was blue with a few
wispy clouds. Her wispy blonde hair.] – synonyms & related words [thin, fine, feathery,
flyaway, straggly],

straggly (adj.) – growing or spreading in an irregular, untidy way [His straggly dark
hair. A thin woman with straggly hair.] – synonyms & related words [untidy, messy,
unkempt, straggling, dishvelled, bedragged, ratty],

flyaway (adj.) – (of a person's hair) fine and difficult to control [The gel is designed to
smooth down flyaway hair.],

dissect (v.) – methodically cut up (a body or plant) in order to study its internal parts;
analyze (a text or idea) in minute detail [An animal's eye can be easily dissected. The body
was dissected in the infirmary. He dissected the Prime Minister's statement and revealed
the truth behind it.] – synonyms & related words [anatomize, cut up, cut/lay opn,
dismember, vivisect, analyse, examine, study, inspect, scrutinize, probe, explore, pore
over, investigate, sift, delve into, go over with a fine-tooth comb; break down, take apart,
deconstruct],

fraud (n.) – wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal

gain [He was convicted of fraud. His buisness partner was arrested for fraud.] – synonyms
& related words [fraudulence, sharp practice, cheating, swindling, trickery, artifice,
deceit, deception, double-dealing, duplicity, treachery, chicanery, skulduggery,
imposture, embezzlement; monkey, business, funny, business, crookedness, hanky-
panky, shenanigans, flimflam, jiggery-pokery, monkeyshines, management, knavery,
deception, trick, cheat, hoax, subterfuge, stratagem, wile, ruse, artifice, swindle, racket;
scam, con, con trick, rip-off, leg-pull, sting, gyp, kite, diddle, fiddle, swizzle, bunco,
boondoggle, hustle, grift, rort,

fraud (n.) – a person or thing intended to deceive others, typicalyl by unjustifiably

claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities [Mediums exposed as
tricksters and frauds. They exposed him as a fraud. The report is a fraud.] – synonyms &
related words [impostor, fake, sham, pretender, hoodwinker, masquerader, charlatan,
quack, mountebank; swindler, fraudster, racketeer, cheat, cheater, double-dealer,
trickster, confidence trickster; phoney, conman, con artist, confidence man, sham, hoax,
imitation, copy, dummy, mock-up, fake, forgery, counterfeit, dupe],

stock (adj.) – (of a phrase or expression) so regularly used as to be automatic or

hackneyed; denoting a conventional character type or situation that recurs in a
particular genre of literature, threatre, or film [She faltered momentarily and then
resorted to the teenager's favorite stock response whatever. The stock characters in every
cowboy film. That has been the stock response to previous economic slowdowns.] –
synonyms & related words [: usual, routine, predictable, set, standard, staple, customary,
familiar, conventional, traditional, stereotyped, clichéd, hackneyed, unoriginal,
derivative, formulaic, ready-made, well worn, overused, overworked, worn out, banal,
trite, platitudinous, tired, run-of-the-mill, commonplace; corny, old hat, hacky],

make a mountain out of a molehill (id.) – exaggerate the importance of

something trivial [A barrister must make mountains out of molehills, to find a point of law
where none had previously been known to exist. She could seldom resist making a
mountain out of a molehill.] – synonyms & related words [: exaggerate, overstate,
overemphasize, magnify, amplify, aggrandize, inflate; embellish, embroider, colour,
elaborate, over-elaborate, oversell, overdraw, overplay, dramatize; hyperbolize, add
colour, stretch the truth; overpitch; pile it on, lay it on thick, lay it on with a
trowel/shovel, blow something out of all proportion, make a drama out of a crisis, make
a big thing of, shoot a line, draw the longbow],

draw the longbow (id.) – to exaggerate in telling stories, overstate something [He's
sure to draw the longbow on the size of his catch of fish.],
quaint (adj.) – attractively unusual or old-fashioned [Quaint country cottages. A quaint
gem of a gem. Narrow streets lead to a quaint bridge over the river. Polybius comments on
the quaint customs of the Romans.] – synonyms & related words [: picturesque, charming,
sweet, attractive, pleasantly old-fashioned, old-fashioned, old-world, toytown; cunning;
twee, arty-crafty, olde, olde worlde, unusual, different, out of the ordinary, out of the
way, unfamiliar, curious, eccentric, quirky, bizarre, zany, whimsical, fanciful,
idiosyncratic, unconventional, outlandish, offbeat, off-centre; outre],

homage (n.) – (historical) formal public acknowledgement of feudal allegiance; special

honor or respect shown publicly [A man doing homage to his personal lord. Many
villagers come here to pay homage to the Virgin. He intended his book as an act of homage.
They paid homage to the local boy who became president.] – synonyms & related words
[respect, recognition, admiration, esteem, adulation, acclaim, acclamation,
commendation, honour, reverence, worship; tribute, acknowledgement, eulogy,
accolade, panegyric, paean, encomium, salute, laudation, honour, acclaim, applaud,
praise, commend, extol, salute, celebrate, commemorate, glorify, laud, magnify, pay
tribute to, sing the praises of, give recognition to, speak highly],

heft (v.) – lift or carry (something heavy); lift or hold (something) in order to test,
measure its weight [He lifted crates and hefted boxes. Donald hefted a stone jar of whisky
into position. Anne hefted the gun in her hand.] – synonyms & related words [lift, lift up,
raise, raise up, heave, hoist, haul, manhandle, carry, cart, lug, tote, hump, yank, upheave],

heft (n.) – (NA) the weight of something or something, burden, ability or influence [He
was buckle-kneed from the heft of his staggering load. They lacked the political heft to get
the formulation banned.],

cast adrift (v.) – to abandon a ship at sea; to place a person in a ship's boat or raft and
leave them [We cast adrift the burning sloop to await its fate. Captain Bilgh and some
loyal crewmen were cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific.],

adrift (adj. adv.) – (of a boat or its passengers) floating without being moored or
steered; (informal) no longer fixed in position; (of a seaman) absent from his watch;
(chiefly UK, often with of) behind one's opponents, or below a required threshold in
terms of score, number or position; in a drifting condition, at the mercy of wind and
waves [A cargo ship went adrift. Their empty boat was spotted adrift in the water. He was
adrift in a strange country. One of many fillings has come adrift. The pipe of my breathing
apparatus came adrift. The team were six points adrift of their rivals.] – synonyms &
related words [drifting, unmoored, unanchored, lost, off course, off track, off the right
track, having lost one's bearings, disorientated, disoriented, confused, bewildered, (all)
at sea, unsettled, rootless, directionless, aimless, purposeless, without purpose, without
goal, at a loose end, loose, free, astray, detached, unsecured, unhitched, unfastened,
untied, untethered, unknotted, undone],
castaway (adj.) – cast adrift or ashore, marooned; shipwrecked [After the mutiny, the
castaway ship's officers suffered a month at sea in the lifeboat. The storm left them
castaway on an uninhabited island.],

castaway (n.) – (nautical) a shipwrecked sailor; a discarded person or thing; an

outcast, someone cast out of a group or society [Robinson Crusoe was a famous fictional
castaway. This old coat was a castaway in someone's trash. These homeless people are
society's castaways.] – synonyms & related words [outcast, castoff, leper, offscouring,
pariah, reject, untouchable, outsider, deportee, exile],

waif (n.) – a homeless, neglected, or abandoned person, especially a child; a person who
appears thin or poorly nourished; an abandoned pet animal [She is foster-mother to
various waifs and strays. Skimpily clad waifs pranced down the catwalk.] – synonyms &
related words [ragamuffin, street urchin, guttersnipe; abandoned infant, foundling,
orphan, stray, outcast; gamin, mudlark],

gamin (n.) – a street urchin, usually a homeless boy [A small girl with her hair cut
gamin short.],

gamine (n.) – a street urchin, usually a homeless girl; a mischievous, playful, elfish,
pert girl or young woman; a small, thin, attractive girl or woman who is tomboyish,

gamine (adj.) – (of a girl) having a boyish, mischievous charm, tomboyish,

weft (n.) – (weaving) the horizontal threads that are interlaced through the warp in a
woven fabric, woof; (weaving) the yarn used for the weft, the fill; (hairdressing) a hair
extension that is glued directly to a person's natural hair; (obsolete) something cast
away, a waif,

a day late and a dollar short (id.) – (US) action that was taken too late and is too
feeble to be of any use (permits relatively little variation, but can be found with shy for
short, other units for day and dollar, and occasionally a unit of distance instead of dollar)

nightly (adj. adv) – happening or done every night; happening, done, or existing in the
night; every night [His nightly TV talk show. Badgers in gardens on their regular, nightly
wanderings. The hotel features live music nightly. A Tyrolean band plays there nightly.] –
synonyms & related words [every night, each night, night after night, night in, night out,
nocturnal, night-time, at night],

thingly (adj.) – (philosophy, art, linguistics) pertaining to the substance of a work,

separate from what is conveyed, material, substantive; actual, real, substantial,

workly (adj.) – (philosophy, art, linguistics) of, pertaining to, or performing some
action or work, performative; (UK, dialectal) diligent, industrious, given to work,
faciliate (v.) – make (an action or process) easy or easier [Schools were located in the
same campus to faciliate the sharing of resources. Working in pairs appears to faciliate
learning.] – synonyms & related words [make easy/easier, ease, make possible, make
smooth/smoother, smooth, smooth the path of, smooth the way for, clear the way for,
open the door for; enable, assist, help, help along, aid, oil, oil the wheels of, lubricate,
expedite, speed up, accelerate, forward, advance, promote, further, encourage; simplify],

scrape the bottom of the barrel (id.) – (informal) to use or do something that
you know is not very good, because you do not have anything better, use a last resort, a
last hope, to use the least desirable parts of something [They're really scraping the
bottom of the barrel with these latest recruits.],

sword of Damocles (n.) – (literary) something that is always present as a danger or

a threat to a person, place, or situation, looming threat, looming danger[The nuclear
sword of Damocles hangs over the region by a thread.],

pan (v.) – (informal) criticize severely; wash gravel in a pan to separate out (gold); (of
gravel) yield gold [The movie was panned by the critics. The old-timers panned gold.
Prospectors panned for gold.] – synonyms & related words [criticize, censure, attack,
lambaste, condemn, find fault with, give a bad press to, flay, savage, shoot down, bring
under fire; knock, take to pieces, take/pull apart, crucify, hammer, slam, bash, give
something a battering, roast, skewer, maul, throw brickbats at, slate, rubbish, slag off,
monster, trash, pummel, bag],

be par for the course (id.) – (disapproving) If a type of behaviour, event, or

situation is par for the course, it is not good but it is normal or as you would expect, to
be expected [The school budget is going to be cut again this year, but then that's par for
the course.] – synonyms & related words [normal, typical, standard, usual, predictable,
what one would expect, as expected, predicted, only to be expected, (that is) to be
expected],

bygone (adj.) – belonging to an earlier time [Relics of a bygone age. The values of a
bygone age.] – synonyms & related words [past, former, earlier, one-time, long-ago, gone
by, previous, forgotten, lost, finished, completed, of old, ancient, antiquated, obsolete,
departed, dead, extinct, defunct, out of date, outmoded, passé; of yore, olden, foregone,
forepassed],

bygone (n.) – a thing dating from an earlier time [The museum consists of a fascinating
collection of rural bygones.],

let bygones be bygones (id.) – forget past offenses or causes of conflict and be
reconciled,

asemia (n.) – loss of power to express, or to understand, symbols or signs of thought,

asemic (adj.) – of or relating to asemia; without semantic content, lacking meaning,
thoughtless, nonsense,

strew (v.) – scatter or spread (things) untidily over a surface or area; cover (a surface
or area) with untidily scattered things; be scattered or spread untidily over (a surface or
area) [A small room with newspapers strewn all over the floor. The table was strewn with
books and papers. Leaves strewed the path.] – synonyms & related words [scatter, spread,
disperse, distribute, litter, toss, sprinkle, sow, broadcast; bestrew, besprinkle],

come to grips with (id.) – deal with [It would be easier to come to grips with if there
was some indicator on the HUD.] – synonyms & related words [bear, bite the bullet, deal
with, brace, brave, confront, contend, cope with, endure, face, go to the mat, grapple
with, make a stand, stomach, suffer, sustain, take, withstand],

go to the mad (id.) – (informal) vigorously engage in an argument, especially on

behalf of another [We will go to the mat for those who are willing to help us out.],

strand (n.) – (Irish, literary) the shore of a sea, lake, or large river [A heron glided to
rest on a pebbly strand. They'd gone for a walk along the strand.] – synonyms & related
words [seashore, shore, beach, sands, foreshore, shoreline, coast, seaside, seaboard,
waterfront, front, waterside, water's edge, littoral, plage],

strand (n.) – a single thin length of something such as thread, fiber, or wire, especially
as twisted together with others; a string of beads or pearls [Strands of colored wool.
Strands of dark hair had fallen over his brows. A few strands of blonde hair.] – synonyms &
related words [thread, filament, fiber, length, piece, string, ply, fibril, lock, tress, wisp,
tendril, curl, ringlet],

strand (n.) – an element that forms part of a complex whole [The journal has carried
articles representing many different strands of opinions on the left. His introduction draws
the ideological strands of his ambitious work together.] – synonyms & related words
[element, component, factor, ingredient, aspect, feature, theme, strain, trope],

plage (n.) – (dated) a beach by the sea, especially at a fashionable resort; (astronomy)
an unusually bright region on the sun,

iron fist (id.) – rigorous or stern control [The authorities have imposed control with an
iron fist.] – synonyms & related words [big stick, control, firm hand, grip, hard line, heavy
hand, high hand, iron boot, iron rule, jackboot, mailed fist, strong hand, tight grasp, tight
hand, tight rein, tight ship],

good-natured (adj.) – kind, friendly, and patient [Everyone was very good-natured
about it. The crowd was rowdy but good-natured. Was that good-natured joshing?] –
synonyms & related words [warm-hearted, friendly, amiable; neighbourly, benevolent,
well disposed, favourably disposed, kind, kindly, kind-hearted, generous, magnanimous,
unselfish, considerate, thoughtful, obliging, helpful, supportive, charitable;
understanding, sympathetic, lenient, tolerant, easy-going, patient, accommodating,
decent],

bung (n.) – a stopper for closing a hole in a container [The jar is sealed with a rubber
bung.] – synonyms & related words [stopper, plug, cork, spigot, spile, seal, cap, top, lid,
cover, stopple],

bung (v.) – close, plug with a stopper or a bung; block something; batter, bruise, cause a
bulge or swell; (UK, AU, informal) to put or throw somewhere without care, to chuck
[The casks are bunged before delivery. You let vegetable peelings bung the sink up. They're
short on real people, so they bung in a couple of actors, it happens all the time.],

maverick (n.) – an unorthodox or independent-minded person [He's the maverick of

the senate. He was too much of a maverick to fit into any formal organization. „Dial an
opinion, is it? Send me three liberals, two fucking mavericks, and a racist. Brilliant!“] –
synonyms & related words [individualist, nonconformist, free spirit, unorthodox person,
unconventional person, original, trendsetter, bohemian, eccentric, outsider; rebel,
dissenter, dissident; bad boy],

maverick (adj.) – unorthodox [A maverick detective.],

novel (adj.) – interestingly new or unusual [He hit on a novel idea to solve his financial
problems. The practice would not be considered unusual today, but in 1945 it was novel.] –
synonyms & related words [new, original, unusual, unfamiliar, unconventional, off-
centre, unorthodox, different, fresh, imaginative, creative, innovative, innovatory,
innovational, inventive, modern, ultra-modern, state-of-the-art, advanced, avant-garde,
futuristic, pioneering, groundbreaking, trailblazing, revolutionary; rare, unique, singular,
unprecedented, uncommon; experimental, untested, untried, unknown, surprising,
strange, exotic, out of the ordinary, newfangled; left-field; new-fashioned, neoteric],

neoteric (adj.) – new or modern, recent [Another effort by the White House to display
its neoteric wizardry went awry.],

neoteric (n.) – a modern person, a person who advocates new ideas, progressive –
synonyms & related words [innovator, reformer, reformist, liberal, libertarian,
progressivist, progressionist, leftist, left-winger, neoteric],

up-and-coming (adj.) – (of a person beginning a particular activity or occupation)

making good progress and likely to become successful [Up-and-coming young players.] –
synonyms & related words [promising, budding, rising, coming, on the up and up, in the
making, with potnetial, likely to succeed, talented, gifted, able, apt],

earmark (v.) – (funds or resources) for a particular purpose; designate a particular

outcome for (someone or something); mark the ear of (a domesticated animal) as a sign
of ownership or identity [The cash had been earmarked for a big expansion of the
program. The yard has been earmarked for a complete overhaul.] – synonyms & related
words [budget, set aside, lay aside, set apart, keep back, appropriate, reserve, keep;
designate, assign, label, tag, mark; allocate to, allot to, devote to, pledge to, commit to,
give over to; hypothecate],

earmark (n.) – a characteristic or identifying feature; (US) a congressional directive

that funds should be spent on a specific project; a mark on the ear of a domesticated
animal indicating ownership or identity [This car has all the earmarks of a classic. He had
all the earmarks of a big leaguer.] – synonyms & related words [characteristic, attribute,
feature, quality, essential quality, property, mark, trademark, hallmark; mannerism, way,
tendency; lineament],

post-haste (adv.) – with great speed or immediacy [She would go post-haste to

England. He departed post-haste for Venice.] – synonyms & related words [as quickly as
possible, without delay, (very) quickly, speedily, swiftly, without further/more ado, with
all speed, promptly, immediately, at once, straight away, right away, directly, forthwith;
double quick, p.d.q. (pretty damn quick), pronto, before you can say Jack Robinson,
straight off, straight, instanter],

underlying (adj.) – hidden from plain view, latent [She spoke airily despite an
underlying feeling of irritation.] – synonyms & related words [latent, lurking, repressed,
suppressed, unrevealed, undisclosed, unexpressed, undivulged, concealed, covert,
hidden, veiled, masked, shrouded, under wraps],

overt (adj.) – done or shown openly, plainly apparent [An overt act of aggression. There
was little overt opposition to parliamentary government.] – synonyms & related words
[undisguised, unconcealed, plain to see, plainly seen, plain, clear, apparent, conspicuous,
unmistakable, obvious, noticeable, observable, visible, manifest, patent, open, public,
above board; blatant, glaring, shameless, brazen],

jot (n.) – a very small amount [You didn't care a jot. They have not produced a jot of
evidence.] – synonyms & related words [iota, scrap, shred, whit, grain, crumb, ounce,
little bit, bit, tiniest bit, jot or tittle, fraction, speck, atom, particle, scintilla, trace, hint,
mite; any; rap, hoot, fig; stim; soupçon; mote, smidgen, smidge, tad, damn, tinker's cuss,
monkey's, skerrick, scantling, scruple, smitch, fleck, spot],

jot (v.) – write (something) quickly [When you've found the answers, jot them down. I've
jotted down a few details.] – synonyms & related words [write down, note down, make a
note of, take down, set down, put down, put on paper, mark down; log, record, list,
register, enter; scribble, scrawl, scratch, doodle, dash off, scribble, write hurriedly, write
untidily, write illegibly],
lingering (adj.) – lasting for a long time or slow to end [There are still some lingering
doubts in my mind. A lingering recession.] – synonyms & related words [remaining,
surviving, persisting, abiding, nagging, niggling, gnawing, lasting, residual, protracted,
persistent, prolonged, long-drawn-out, long-lasting, lasting, dragging, chronic,
unabating, long-standing],

hair-raising (adj.) – extremely alarming, astonishing, or frightening [Hair-raising

adventures. I thought ski jumping was hair-raising, but rafting beats it.] – synonyms &
related words [terrifying, frightening, petrifying, alarming, chilling, horrifying, shocking,
scaring, spine-chilling, blood-curdling, appalling, dreadful, fearsome, nightmarish; eerie,
sinister, weird, ghostly, unearthly; eldritch; hairy, spooky, scary, creepy, spine-tingling],

long (v.) – have a strong wish or desire [She longed for a little more excitement. All
through the exams I longed for the holidays.] – synonyms & related words [yearn, pine,
ache, wish, burn, hanker for/after, hunger, thirst, itch, pant, hope, be eager, be desperate,
be consumed with desire, be unable to wait, would give one's eye teeth; crave, need, lust
after, dream of, set one's heart on, be bent on, eat one's heart out over, covet; want,
desire, set one's sights on; have a yen, be dying, yen],

compelling (adj.) – evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully

irresistible way; not able to be refuted, inspiring conviction; not able to be resisted,
overwhelming [His eyes were strangely compelling. She gave a compelling and intensely
dramatic performance. There is no compelling evidence that the recession is ending. He
had no compelling arguments for changing the status quo.] – synonyms & related words [:
enthralling, captivating, gripping, engrossing, riveting, spellbinding, entrancing,
transfixing, mesmerizing, hypnotic, mesmeric, absorbing, fascinating, thrilling,
irresistible, addictive, unputdownable; convincing, persuasive, cogent, irresistible,
forceful, powerful, potent, strong, weighty, plausible, credible, effective, efficacious,
sound, valid, reasonable, reasoned, well reasoned, rational, well founded, telling,
conclusive, irrefutable, unanswerable, authoritative, influential],

compel (v.) – force or oblige (someone) to do something; bring about (something) by

the use of force or pressure; (literary) force to come or go in a particular direction [A
sense of duty compelled Harry to answer her questions. The lords compelled the peasants
ot hand over their harvest. They can compel compliance by issuing a directive. They may
compel a witness's attendance at court by issue of a summons. By heav'n's high will
compell'd from shore to shore.] – synonyms & related words [force, coerce into,
pressurize into, pressure, impel, drive, press, push, urge, prevail on; dragoon into,
browbeat into, bully into, bludgeon into, intimidate into, terrorize into; oblige, require,
put under an obligation, leave someone no option but to; make; bulldoze, railroad,
steamroller, twist someone's arm, strong-arm, lean on, put the screws on, constrain,
exact, extort, demand, insist on, enforce, force, necessitate],
considerably (adj.) – by a notably large amount or to a large extent, greatly [Things
have improved considerably over the last few years. Alcoholic drinks vary considerably in
strength.] – synonyms & related words [greatly, much, very much, a great deal, a lot, lots,
a fair amount; significantly, substantially, appreciably, markedly, noticeably, materially,
signally; plenty, seriously, hugely],

hairpin turn/bend/corner/curve (n.) – a bend in a road with a very accute inner

angle, named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, (US) switchbacks,

disadvantage (n.) – an unfavorable circumstance or condition that reduces the

chances of success or effectiveness [A major disadvantage is the limited nature of the
data. Price is probably the biggest disadvantage of rail travel.] – synonyms & related
words [drawback, snag, downside, stumbling block, catch, pitfall, fly in the ointment;
weak spot/point, weakness, flaw, defect, fault; handicap, limitation, trouble, difficulty,
problem, complication, liability, nuisance; hindrance, obstacle, impediment; disbenefit;
minus, hiccup, spanner in the works, monkey wrench in the works],

soundscape (n.) – the sounds which are heard in a particular place, taken in as a
whole, compared to landscape [A new field of biology called 'soundscape ecology' has
scientists recording all the sounds in a given habitat and listening for patterns and
changes.],

misadventure (n.) – an unfortunate incident, a mishap [The petty misdemeanors and

misadventures of childhood.] – synonyms & related words [accident, problem, difficulty,
misfortune, mishap, mischance; unfortunate incident, setback, reverse, reverse of
fortune, stroke of bad luck, blow; trouble, failure, disaster, tragedy, calamity, woe, trial,
tribulation, catastrophe, contretemps, reversal, upset, debacle],

misdemeanor (n.) – a minor wrongdoing [The player can expect a suspension for his
latest misdemeanor. He preferred to turn a blind eye to his son's misdemeanors.] –
synonyms & related words [wrongdoing, evil deed, crime, felony, criminal act, misdeed,
misconduct, offense, violation, error, peccadillo, transgression, sin, tresspass],

stronghold (n.) – a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack; a
place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld [Their mountain
strongholds fell to enemy attack. They charged towards the enemy stronghold. A Labour
stronghold. The seat appeared to be an impregnable Tory stronghold.] – synonyms &
related words [fortress, fort, castle, citadel, garrison, keep, tower, hold, donjon, bunker,
fastness, bastion, center, refuge, hotbed],

fastness (n.) – a secure place well protected by natural features; the ability of a
material or dye to maintain its color without fading or washing away [A remote
Himalayan mountain fastness. The dyes differe in their fastness to light.],
swashbuckle (v.) – engage in daring and romantic adventures with bravado or
flamboyance [A crew of swashbuckling buccaneers. A band of swashbuckling young
crusaders.] – synonyms & related words [daring, romantic, heroic, daredevil, swaggering,
dashing, adventurous, rakish, bold, valiant, valorous, fearless, lionhearted, stout-hearted,
dauntless, doughty, devil-may-care, gallant, chivalrous, dazzling, macho, ostentatious],

noggin (n.) – a small mug, cup or ladle; (dated) a measure equivalent to a gill; (slang)
the head,

nogging (n.) – a horizontal beam used in the construction of a building, especially to

strengthen upright posts; rough brick masonry used to fill open spaces,

cosset (v.) – care for and protect in an overindulgent way [All her life she'd been
cosseted by her family.] – synonyms & related words [pamper, indulge, overindulge,
mollycoddle, coddle, baby, pet, mother, nanny, nursemaid, pander to, spoon-feed,
feather-bed, overparent, spoil; wrap in cotton wool, wait on someone hand and foot,
cater to someone's every whim, kill with kindness; cocker],

ungodly (adj.) – irreligious or immoral [Ungodly lives of lust and pleasure. Blasphemy,
whoredom, drunkenness, and other ungodly behavior.] – synonyms & related words
[unholy, godless, irreligious, impious, blasphemous, sacrilegious, profane, heathen,
pagan, atheistic, non-theistic, irreverent; immoral, corrupt, depraved, sinful, wicked, evil,
iniquitous, devilish, fiendish, demonic, diabolical, satanic, infernal],

ungodly (adj.) – (informal) unreasonably early or inconvenient [I've been troubled by

telephone calls at ungodly hours. He wasn't expecting her at this ungodly hour.] –
synonyms & related words [unreasonable, preposterous, abnormal, extraordinary,
absurd, ridiculous, horrendous, outrageous, unheard of; unsocial, antisocial; unholy,
unearthly, God-awful],

flap (v.) – (of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly; (of
something loosely fastened) flutter or wave around [A pheasant flapped its wings. The
mallards flapped their wings angrily. Lines of washing flapped in the wind. His shirt tails
flapped in the breeze.] – synonyms & related words [beat, flutter, move up and down,
agitate, wave, wag, waggle, shake, swing, twitch; thresh, thrash, flail; vibrate, quiver,
tremble, oscillate, flutter, swing, sway, ripple, undulate, stir, shake, quiver, shiver,
tremble, fly, blow],

representative (adj.) – typical of a class, group, or body of opinion; serving as a

portrayal or symbol of something [Churchill was not properly representative of influential
opinion in Britain. A representative sample of British society. The show would be more
representative of how women really are. Britannia, a female figure allegorically
representative of Britain.] – synonyms & related words [elected, elective, chosen,
democratic, popular, nominated, appointed, commissioned, delegated, authorized,
accredited, official, symbolic, emblematic, evocative],

compound (v.) – make up (a composite whole) constitute; mix or combine

(ingredients or constituents); reckon (interest) on previously accumulated interest;
make (something bad) worse, intensify the negative aspects of [A dialect compounded of
Spanish and Dutch. A smell compounded of dust and mold. The groundnuts were
compounded into cattle food. Detergents consisting of liquid soaps compounded with
disinfectant. Prisoners' lack of contact with the outside world compounds their problems.
Your lies compound into a shambolic mess.] – synonyms & related words [be composed
of, be made up of, be constituted of, be formed from, mix, combine, blend, put together,
amalgamate, alloy, fuse, synthesize, coalesce, mingle, meld, intermingle, admix, commix,
commingle, aggravate, worsen, make worse, add to, augment, exacerbate, intensify,
heighten, increase, magnify; add insult to injury, rub salt in the wound, add fuel to the
fire/flames; complicate],

tame (adj.) – (of an animal) not dangerous or frightened of people, domesticated;

(informal, of a person) willing to cooperate [The fish are so tame you have to push them
away. A tame elephant. Every businessman needs a tame lawyer at his elbow. A bunch of
demoralized, tame civil servants always looking over their shoulders. We can give this to a
tame journalist.] – synonyms & related words [domesticated, domestic, not wild, docile,
tamed, disciplined, broken, broken-in, trained, not fierce, gentle, mild, used to humans;
pet; house-trained; housebroken, docile, submissive, compliant, meek, obedient,
tractable, acquiescent, amenable, manageable, unresisting, passive, mild, subdued, under
someone's control/thumb, suppressed, unassertive, ineffectual, amenable, biddable,
cooperative, available, willing],

biddable (adj.) – meekly ready to accept and follow instructions, subservient, servile,
docile [A biddable, sweet-natured child. A pretty, biddable child.] – synonyms & related
words [obedient, tractable, amenable, pliable, pliant, complaisant, cooperative,
malleable, persuadable, like putty in one's hands, manipulable; docile, compliant, dutiful,
meek, unresisting, submissive, passive, yielding; milky, persuasible],

persuasible (adj.) – capable of being persuaded [It's persuasible, not persuadable, you
idiot.],

bulbous (adj.) – fat, round, or bulging; (of a plant) growing from a bulb [A bulbous
nouse. He had a large, bulbous, red nose. The bulbous buttercup.] – synonyms & related
words [bulging, round, fat, rotund, swollen, spherical, swelling, distended, bloated,
protuberant, ovoid, convex, pear-shaped, bulb-shaped, balloon-shaped, tumid],

fair game (n.) – someone or something that it is fair to criticze or attack [The media
see politicians as fair game.No, no, no, no, no, it's not ok. It's not gonna be OK, and I'll tell
you why. Because you're fair game, so I hope your knickers are clean, because every seat-
sniffing little shitbag who's ever filed a by-line is gonna be questioning you, 'cause now it's
in the fucking public interest, isn't it? And they're gonna hit you with any shit they can find
and you're gonna be spread out there in front of them like a trollop in the stocks!],

trollop (n.) – a woman adulterer; a dirty, untidy woman – synonyms & related words
[strumpet, adulteress, jade, slut, hussy, loose woman, fornicatress, adulterer, fornicator,
sloven, slattern, slut, pig, slob, slovenly woman],

hold back (v.) – hesitate to act or speak [He held back, remembering the mistake he had
made before. We can hold those dogs back, right?] – synonyms & related words
[hesitate, pause, stop oneself, restrain oneself, desist, forbear, discontinue, withhold
from doing something, refrain from doing something],

withhold (v.) – refuse to give (something that is due to or is desired by another);

suppress or hold back (an emotion or reaction) [The council withheld payments to some
contractors. Elizabeth could no longer withhold her sentiments.] – synonyms & related
words [refuse to give, hold back, keep back, stop; retain, keep hold of, hold on to; fail to
disclose, hide, conceal, keep secret; sit on, keep under one's hat, suppress, repress, hold
back, keep back, fight back, choke back, swallow, control, keep in check, check, restrain,
contain, curb],

wanton (adj.) – (of a cruel or violent action) delbierate and unprovoked; (especially of
a woman) sexually immodest or promiscuous; (archaic) growing profusely, luxuriant;
lively, playful [Sheer wanton vandalism. Her cheeks burned as she recalled how forward
she had been, how wanton. A wanton seductress. Where wanton ivy twines. A wanton
fawn.] – synonyms & related words [deliberate, wilful, malicious, malevolent, spiteful,
vicious, wicked, evil, cruel; unprovoked, unmotivated, motiveless, arbitrary, groundless,
unjustifiable, unjustified, needless, unnecessary, uncalled for, gratuitous, senseless,
pointless, purposeless, aimless, useless, meaningless, empty, vacuous; promiscuous,
immoral, loose, immodest, indecent, shameless, unblushing, unchaste, unvirtuous, fast,
of easy virtue, impure, abandoned, lustful, lecherous, lascivious, salacious, lubricious,
libidinous, licentious, libertine, profligate, dissolute, dissipated, debauched, degenerate,
reprobate, corrupt, sinful, whorish, disreputable],

wanton (n.) – a sexually immodest or promiscious woman [She'd behaved like a

wanton.],

wanton (v.) – (archaic, literary) play, frolic; behave in a sexually immodest or

promiscuous way [The sea breeze wantoned among the quivering leaves of the chestnut
tree. Women who have wantoned with suitors.],

pass yourself coming back in (id.) – said when one one is extremely busy,
occupied, without any free time,
gospel (n.) – a thing that is absolutely true; a set of principles or beliefs [They say it's
sold out, but don't take that as gospel. One should not treat any historical document as
gospel. The gospel of market economics. The Dalai Lama's gospel of non-violence.] –
synonyms & related words [the truth, the whole truth, the naked truth, gospel truth,
God's truth, the honest truth; fact, actual fact, what actually/really happened, reality,
actuality, factuality, the case, so, verity, a certainty, doctrine, dogma, teaching, principle,
ethic, creed, credo, theory, thesis, ideology, idea, ideal, position; belief, tenet, canon,
conviction, persuasion, opinion],

the end of the line/road (id.) – the moment when someone or something has to
stop, for example because they cannot succeed or improve [It looks like the peace process
has come to the end of the line. This is it, stranger, end of the line.],

novum (n.) – a new feature, a novelty; (obsolete) a game of dice, properly called
novum quinque, the two principal throws being nine and five,

nomen novum (n.) – (taxonomy) a new taxonomic name for a biological taxon,
renamed because the old name is also that of another taxon or for similar reasons,

die-off (n.) – a sudden, natural perishing of large numbers of a species, population, or

community,

exhaustive (adj.) – including or considering all elements or aspects, fully

comprehensive [World-building – it's the attempt to exhaustively survey a place that isn't
there. The guide outlines every bus route in exhaustive detail. An exhaustive studdy of the
subject.] – synonyms & related words [comprehensive, all-inclusive, complete, full, full-
scale, all-embracing, all-encompassing, encyclopedic, thorough, in-depth, thoroughgoing,
extensive, intensive, all-out, profound, far-reaching, sweeping, umbrella; definitive;
detailed, minute, meticulous, painstaking, careful; wall-to-wall],

recur (v.) – occur again periodically or repeatedly; (of a thought, image, or memory)
come back to one's mind; go back to (something) in thought or speech [When the
symptoms recurred, the doctor diagnosed something different. They cannot guarantee
that the problem will not recur. Oglethorpe's words kept recurring to him. The book
remained a favorite and she constantly recurred to it.] – synonyms & related words
[happen again, reoccur, occur again, be repeated, repeat (itself), happen repeatedly,
come and go, come back (again), return, come round (again), reappear, appear again,
flare up, recrudesce],

recrudesce (v.) – break out again, recur, break out anew after a dormant period
[Syphilis, until recently thought to be almost under control, is now recrudescing.],

augment (v.) – make (something) greater by adding to it, increase, intensify [He
augmented his meager income by plying for hire as a ferryman.] – synonyms & related
words [increase, make larger, make bigger, make greater, add to, supplement, top up,
build up, enlarge, expand, extend, raise, multiply, elevate, swell, inflate; magnify,
intensify, amplify, heighten, escalate; worsen, make worse, exacerbate, aggravate,
inflame, compound, reinforce; improve, make better, boost, ameliorate, enhance,
upgrade; up, jack up, hike up, hike ,bump up, crank up, step up],

sacerdotal (adj.) – of or relating to priests or a priesthood, priestly; of, or relating to,

or suggesting religious belief emphasizing the powers of priests as essential mediators
between God and humankind,

insidious (adj.) – proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects
[Sexual harassment is a serious and insidious problem. The insidious erosion of rights and
liberties.] – synonyms & related words [stealthy, subtle, surreptitious, sneaking, cunning,
crafty, Machiavellian, artful, guileful, sly, wily, tricky, slick, deceitful, deceptive,
dishonest, underhand, backhanded, indirect; sneaky],

passive (adj.) – accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active
response or resistance [The women were portrayed as passive victims.] – synonyms &
related words [submissive, acquiescent, unresisting, yielding, unassertive, non-resistant,
compliant, complaisant, pliant, resigned, obedient, docile, tractable, malleable, pliable,
meek, subdued, deferential, forbearing, long-suffering, patient, lamblike, non-violent,
supine; non-aggressive, resistless],

impish (adj.) – inclined to do slightly naughty things for fun, mischievous [He had an
impish look about him. He takes an impish delight in shocking the press. She has an
engaging impish grin.] – synonyms & related words [mischievous, naughty, wicked,
devilish, rascally, roguish, prankish, playful, waggish; mischief-making, full of mischief,
troublemaking; sportive, elfin, elflike, elfish, elvish, pixieish, pixie-like, puckish,
mischievous, roguish, arch],

dwarf (v.) – cause to seem small or insignificant in comparison; stunt the growth or
development of [The buildings surround and dwarf All Saints church. Either of the two
blocks would dwarf any existing building in Ireland. Her progress was dwarfed by the
achievements of her sister.] – synonyms & related words [dominate, tower above, tower
over, loom over, overlook, overshadow, overtop, overshadow, outshine, put in the shade,
surpass, exceed, outclass, outstrip, outdo, top, cap, trump, transcend, shame, put to
shame, diminish, minimize, extinguish, outrival],

scale (v.) – climb up or over (something high and steep); represent in proportional
dimensions, reduce or increase in size according to a common scale; (of a quantity or
property) be variable according to a particular sclae; (NA) estimate the amount of
timber that will be produced from (a log or uncut tree) [Thieves scaled a high fnce. Scaled
plans of the house. The operators were accustomed to having their logs scaled for
inventory control.] – synonyms & related words [climb, ascend, go up, go over, clamber
up, shin (up), scramble up, mount, shinny (up), escalade],
phylactery (n.) – something worn or kept to bring good luck or keep away evil [He
wore a small phylactery on a cord around his neck.] – synonyms & related words [amulet,
fetish, fetich, mascot, mojo, periapt, charm, talisman, gris-gris, grigri, juju, philter,
toadstone, bufonite, batrachite, emblem, symbol, token, totem],

toadstone (n.) – a gem, fossil tooth, or other stone formerly supposed to have been
formed in the body of a toad, and credited with therapeutic or protective properties,

hallow (v.) – honor as holy; make holy, consecrate; greatly revere and honor [The
Ganges is hallowed as a sacred, cleansing river. Hallowed ground. Water was sprayed over
the hallowed ground. The hallowed turf of Wimbledon.] – synonyms & related words[holy,
sacred, consecrated, sanctified, blessed, blest, revered, reverenced, venerated, honored,
sacrosanct, worshipped, divine, inviolable],

hallow (n.) – a saint or holy person,

embody (v.) – be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, qualtiy,
or feeling); include or contain (something) as a constituent part [A national team that
embodies the competitive spirit and skill. He embodies what everybody takes to be typical
of the skinhead movement. The changes in law embodied in the Children Act. The propsals
were eventually embodied in legislation.] – synonyms & related words [personify,
incorporate, give human form/shape to, realize, manifest, express, concretize,
symbolize, represent, epitomize, stand for, encapsulate, typify, exemplify, reify,
incarnate, image; incorporate, include, contain, take in, consolidate, encompass,
assimilate, integrate, concentrate; organize, systematize; combine, bring together, gather
together, collect],

reify (v.) – make (something abstract) more concrete or real [These instincts are, in
man, reified as verbal constructs.],

fete (n.) – (UK) a public function, typically held outdoors and organized to raise funds
for a charity, including entertainment and the sale of goods and refreshments; (NA) a
celebration or festival [A church fete. The village fete was held on the green.] – synonyms
& related words [gala, gala day, garden party, bazaar, fair, feast, festival, fiesta, jubilee,
pageant, carnival, funfair; fundraiser, charity event; kermis],

kermis (n.) – a summer fair held in towns and villages in the Netherlands; (US) a fair
or acrnival, especially one held to raise money for a charity,

litmus test (n.) – (chemistry) a test for acidity or alkalinity using litmus; a decisively
indicative test [Effectiveness in these areas is often a good litmus test of overall quality.],

reveille (n.) – a bugle call, trumpet call or pipes call most often associated with the
military and prisons, it is chiefly used to wake military personnel and prisoners at
sunrise, the name comes from réveille (or réveil), the French word for „wake up“,
superintendent (n.) – a person who manages or superintends an organization or
activity; (UK) a police officer ranking above chief inspector; (US) a high-ranking official,
especially the chief of a police department; (NA) the caretaker of a building [The
southern area superintendent. He became the superintendent in the university museum.
Superintendent Bennet. The building's stuperintendent.] – synonyms & related words
[manager, director, administrator, supervisor, overseer, controller, boss, chief, head,
governor, organizer, conductor, foreman; honcho, gaffer, caretaker, janitor, warden,
porter, custodian, keeper, watchman, steward],

and the horse you rode in on (id.) – an intensifier, the euphemistic shortening of
„Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.“,

testament (n.) – a person's will, especially the part relating to personal property;
something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact, event, or quality; (in
biblical use) a covenant or dispensation; a division of the Bible; a copy of the New
Testament [The mayor's will and testament. Growing attendance figures are a testament
to the event's popularity. A testament to my skill. It is a testament ot a decade of
technological achievement. He was able to buy a Testament.] – synonyms & related words
[testimony, witness, evidence, proof, attestation, demonstration, indication,
exemplification, monument, tribute],

at cross purposes (adv.) – if two or more people are at cross purposes, they do not
understand each other because they are talking about different subjects without
realizing this,

hell hath no fury like a woman scorned (saying) – a woman will make
someone suffer if they reject her, first written as „Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to
Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.“,

hand over fist (id.) – quickly or in great quantity, especially in reference to eraning
money [He didn't earn much, but the company seemed to rake in money hand over fist.
Now, since cattle had risen and meat and all to such a price, he was making money hand
over fist.],

hand over hand (id.) – (nautical) by passing the hands alternately one before or
above the other, especially with a rope; rapidly [In this way he made money hand over
hand, became a rich and mighty man, and exalted his cocked hat upon change. He was
making money, hand over hand, then, and he never stopped speculating and improving till
he'd scraped together three or four hundred thousand dollars.],

latchkey (n.) – a key of an outer door of a house,

from (the) cradle to (the) grave (id.) – for all a person's life [She lived in the same
village from the cradle to the grave.],
allure (n.) – the qualtiy of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating
[People for whom gold holds no allure. The nostalgic allure of Paris in the fifties.] –
synonyms & related words [attraction, lure, draw, pull, appeal, glamor, allurement,
enticement, temptation, bewitchment, enchantment, charm, seduction, persuasion,
fascination, magnetism],

allure (v.) – powerfully attract or charm, tempt [Will sponsors really be allured by such
opportunities? Melody is the element with the most power to allure the listener. The old
town offers alluring shops and restaurants.] – synonyms & related words [: attract, lure,
entice, tempt, appeal to, whet the appetite of, make someone's mouth water, captivate,
draw, beguile, bewitch, enchant, win over, charm, seduce, persuade, lead on, tantalize;
intrigue, fascinate, give the come-on to; enticing, tempting, attractive, appealing,
fetching, inviting, glamorous, captivating, seductive; enchanting, beguiling, charming,
fascinating, intriguing, tantalizing, magnetic; irresistible; on fleek, come-hither],

captivate (v.) – attract and hold the interest and attention of, charm [He was
captivated by her beauty. His audiences found themselves captivated by his energy and
enthusiasm. A lively and captivating young girl.] – synonyms & related words [enthral,
charm, enchant, bewitch, fascinate, beguile, entrance, enrapture, delight, attract, allure,
lure; win, ensnare, dazzle, absorb, engross, rivet, grip, hypnotize, mesmerize, spellbind;
infatuate, enamour, seduce, woo, ravish; charming, enchanting, bewitching, fascinating,
beguiling, entrancing, alluring, engaging, interesting, winning, delightful; attractive,
beautiful, charismatic; dazzling, engrossing, riveting, gripping, enthralling, spellbinding,
seductive],

come-hither (adj.) – (of a woman or her manner) playfully showing or expressing

sexual interest, coquettish – synonyms & related words [flirtatious, flirty, provocative,
seductive, inviting, amorous, kittenish, coy, arch, teasing, playful, frisky, flighty, skittish,
dallying, philandering; vampish],

simulacrum (n.) – an image or representation of someone or something; an

unsatisfactory imitation or substitute [A small-scale simulacrum of a skyscraper. A bland
simulacrum of American soul music.],

framework (n.) – an essential supporting structure of a building, vehicle, or object; a

basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text [A conservatory in a delicate
framework of iron. The mannequins were made of plastic on a metal framework. The
theoretical framework of political sociology. The changing framework of society.] –
synonyms & related words [frame, substructure, structure, skeleton, chassis, shell, body,
bodywork, support, scaffolding, foundation, structure, shape, fabric, frame, order,
scheme, system, organization, construction, configuration, composition, constitution,
architecture, anatomy; set-up, make-up],
taint (n.) – a trace of a bad or undesirable substance or quality; something wich a
contaimating influence or effect [The lingering taint of creosote. Free from the taint of
corruption. The taint that threatens to stain most of the company's other partners.] –
synonyms & related words [trace, touch, suggestion, hint, tinge, tincture; smear, stain,
blot, blemish, slur, stigma, tarnish, scar, black mark, spot, imperfection, flaw, fault,
defect, blot on one's, escutcheon, discredit, dishonor, disgrace, shame],

taint (v.) – contaminate or pollute (something); affect with a bad or undesirable

quality; (archaic, of food or water) become contaminated or polluted [The air was
tainted by fumes fro mthe cars. The world's last great wilderness is being tainted by
pollution. His administration was tainted by scandal. Fradulent firms need to be weeded
out, lest they taint the reputation of all firms. The rennet should be soaked in water
containing sufficient salt to keep it from tainting.] – synonyms & related words
[contaminate, pollute, adulterate, infect, blight, befoul, spoil, soil, ruin, destroy, : tarnish,
sully, blacken, stain, besmirch, smear, blot, blemish, stigmatize, mar, corrupt, defile, soil,
muddy, foul, dirty, damage, injure, harm, hurt, debase, infect, poison, vitiate, drag
through the mud, blot one's copybook; brand],

ante up (v.) – to contribute one's share of a payment, or to pay what is due; to pay a fee
necessary to play a game, typically a card game, ratchet up,

up the ante (v.) – to raise the stakes of a hand of poker [With three aces and two
jacks, he thought it was safe to up the ante.],

up the ante (v.) – to take an action that raises the stakes, i.e. that increases the
chances of conflict,

up the ante (id.) – to make something more desirable, sweeten the pot [The school
system cannot raise teachers' salaries, so they are providing better benefits as an effort to
up the ante.],

adapt (v.) – make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; become adjusted to
new conditions; alter (a text) to make it suitable for filming, broadcasting, or the stage
[Hospitals have had to be adapted for modern medical practice. We've adapted the hotels
to suit their needs. A large organization can be slow to adapt to change. He has adapted
well to his new home. The film was adapted from a Turgenev short story.] – synonyms &
related words [modify, alter, make alterations to, change, adjust, make adjustments to,
convert, transform, redesign, restyle, refashion, remodel, reshape, revamp, rework, redo,
reconstruct, reorganize; customize, tailor; improve, make improvements to, amend,
refine, tweak, adjust, acclimatize, accommodate, attune, habituate, acculturate, conform;
familiarize oneself with, habituate oneself to, become habituated to, get used to, orient
oneself in, condition oneself to; reconcile oneself to, resign oneself to, become resigned
to, come to terms with, find one's way around; become naturalized, become seasoned,
get one's bearings, find one's feet, blend in, fit in; acclimate],
curate (v.) – to be the curator of an exhibition in a museum; to select items from
among a large number of possibilities for other people to consume and enjoy, applied to
many areas including music, design, fashion, and especially digital media, select carefully
with a particular purpose in mind [A small hand-picked group of MPs. The lecture was
attended by hand-picked audience. The Daily Beast doesn't aggregate, it sifts, sorts, and
curates. Recapp wants to make it more convenient to read sports news curated around
your favorite sports and teams.] – synonyms & related words [specially chosen, specially
selected, invited, screened, vetted, choice, elite, select, hand-picked],

choice (adj.) – (especially of food) of very good quality [He picked some choice early
plums. She had often rehearsed the choice phrases she would use.] – synonyms & related
words [superior, first-class, first-rate, prime, premier, grade A, best, finest, excellent,
select, quality, high-quality, top, top-quality, high-grade, of the first water, prize, special,
exclusive, hand-picked, carefully chosen, vintage, fine; top of the range; top of the line;
par excellence; tip-top, A1, top-notch, plum, well chosen, well put, well expressed,
appropriate, apposite, apt, fit, felicitious],

selective (adj.) – relating to or involving the selection of the most suitable or best
qualified; (of a person) tending to choose carefully; (of a process or agent) affecting
some things and not others; (electronics) operating at or responding to a particular
frequency [The cow is the result of generations of selective breeding. He is very selective in
his reading. Modern pesticides are more selective in effect. A new marine VHF radio with
digital selective calling.] – synonyms & related words [discriminating, discriminatory,
discerning, critical, exacting, demanding, particular, hard to please; fussy, fastidious,
faddish, careful, cautious, choosy, pernickety, picky, faddy, nice],

apposite (adj.) – apt in the circumstnaces or in relation to something [An apposite

quotation. Each chapter is prefaced by an apposite quotation.] – synonyms & related
words [appropriate, suitable, fitting, apt, befitting; relevant, pertinent, to the point, to
the purpose, applicable, germane, material, congruous, felicitous; ad rem; appurtenant],

appurtenant (adj.) – belonging, pertinent [Properties appurtenant to the main

building.],

succumb (v.) – fail to resist pressure, temptation, or some other negative force; die
from the effect of a disease or injury [We cannot merely give up and succumb to despair.
She succumbed to temptation. After a few blows there, the porcupine succumbs. The king
succumbed to a curse.] – synonyms & related words [yield, give in, give way, submit,
surrender, capitulate, cave in, be overcome by, be overwhelmed by, be conquered by, be
beaten by; die from, die of, pass away as a result of, be a fatality of; catch, develop,
contract, pick up, get, become infected with, suffer from, fall victim to, fall ill with,
come/go down with],
down to the wire (id.) – at the very end of a process or project, especially one with a
fast-approaching deadline [He was almost done with the paper, but tomorrow's due date
meant it would be down to the wire. Some of the puzzles come down to the wire.] –
synonyms & related words [last minute, down to the short strokes, hairbreadth, narrow,
neck and neck, nip and tuck, tight, crowded, nick of time],

cartographer (n.) – surveyor [Let your inner cartographer run wild.] – synonyms &
related words [assessor, civil engineer, measurer, land surveyor, mapmaker,
topographer, traveller, discoverer, voyager, rambler, globetrotter, rover; tourer,
surveyor, scout,],

shift (n.) – (archaic) an ingenious or devious device or stratagem [The thousand shifts
and devices of which Hannibal was a master. He had to resort to dubious shifts to make
enough money to live on.] – synonyms & related words[stratagem, scheme, subterfuge,
expedient, dodge, trick, ruse, wile, artifice, deception, strategy, device, plan],

shift (n.) – a slight change in position, direction, or tendency [A shift in publci opinion.
The shift of people into south of the country has slowed substantially.] – synonyms &
related words [movement, move, shifting, transference, transport, conveyance, switch,
transposition, relocation, repositioning, rearrangement; change, alteration, adjustment,
adaptation, amendment, recasting, variation, modification, revision, reversal, retraction,
sea change, U-turn, rowback; about-turn],

shift (v.) – move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small
distance; change the position of one's body, especially because one is nervous or
uncomfortable; change in emphasis, direction, or focus [A team from the power company
came to shift the cables away from the house. Lawton had already shifted some chairs to
form a barricade. The cargo has shifted. He shifted a little in his chair. Her foot began to
tingle and she shifted her position. The wind had shifted in the east. The wind has shifted.] –
synonyms & related words [move, carry, transfer, transport, convey, take, bring, bear,
lug, cart, haul, fetch, switch, move around, transpose, relocate, reposition, rearrange,
displace, move, slide, slip, move around, be displaced; change, alter, adjust, make
adjustments to, adapt, amend, recast, vary, modify, revise, reverse, retract, do a U-turn
on, row back; eat one's words; do an about-turn on; veer, alter, change, back, vary,
fluctuate, turn, swing, change directon],

forebode (v.) – (archaic, of a situation or occurrence) act as an advance warning of

(something bad); have a presentiment of (something bad) [This flull foreboded some new
assault upon him. I foreboded mischief the moment I heard.] – synonyms & related words
[presage, augur, portend, prognosticate, foreshadow, foreshow, foretell, forecast,
predict, prophesy, forewarn, warn of, be a warning of, herald, be an omen of, be a
harbinger of; signify, mean, indicate, add up to, point to, announce, promise, spell,
foretoken, betoken, harbinger, prefigure],
foreboding (n. adj.) – a feeling that something bad will happen, fearful apprehension;
implying that something bad is going to happen [With a sense of foreboding she read the
note. She was seized with a feeling of foreboding. In the end, their forebodings proved
justified. When the Doctor spoke, his voice was dark and foreboding. A thick and forebind
sense of dread.] – synonyms & related words [apprehension, apprehensiveness, anxiety,
perturbation, trepidation, disquiet, disquietude, unease, uneasiness, misgiving,
suspicion, worry, fear, fearfulness, dread, alarm;, butterflies (in the stomach), the willies,
the heebie-jeebies, the jitters, jitteriness, twitchiness, inquietude; premonition,
presentiment, intuition, feeling, vague feeling, suspicion, inkling, hunch; warning, omen,
portent, sign, token; prediction, augury, prophecy, presage, prognostication, forecast; gut
feeling, feeling in one's bones, funny feeling, sixth sense; threatening, menacing, baleful,
forbidding, sinister, doomy, inauspicious, unpropitious, portentous, unfavourable, dire,
unpromising; black, dark, wintry, gloomy, ugly, direful, minatory, minacious, sinistrous],

minatory (adj.) – (formal) expressing or conveying a threat [He is unlikely to be

dettered by minatory finger-wagging.],

minacious (adj.) – menacing, threatening,

sinistrous (adj.) – (rare) giving the impression that something bad will happen,
ominous, sinister [A sinistrous event.],

direful (adj.) – (archaic, literary) extremely bad, dreadful,

propitious (adj.) – giving or indicating a good chance of success, favorable; (archaic)

favorably disposed towards someone [The timing for such a meeting seemed propitious.
There were points on which they did not agree, moments in which she did not seem
propitious.] – synonyms & related words [favorable, auspicious, promising, providential,
advantageous, fortunate, lucky, optimistic, bright, happy, rosy, full of promise, heaven-
sent, hopeful, beneficial; opportune, suitable, apt, fitting, timely, well timed],

highly (adv.) – at or to a high degree or level; favorably [A highly dangerous substance.

His colleagues think very highly of him. He was highly regarded even by his enemies.] –
synonyms & related words [very, most, really, thoroughly, extremely, exceedingly,
particularly, tremendously, hugely, greatly, decidedly, distinctly, exceptionally,
immensely, eminently, supremely, inordinately, singularly, extraordinarily, vastly,
overly; very much, to a great extent; unco; très; right; terrifically, awfully, terribly,
devilishly, madly, majorly, seriously, desperately, mega, ultra, oh-so, too-too, stinking,
mucho, damn, damned, too … for words, devilish, hellish, frightfully, ever so, well,
bloody, dead, dirty, jolly, fair, real, mighty, powerful, awful, plumb, darned, way, bitching,
lekker, exceeding, sore; favourably, well, warmly, appreciatively, admiringly,
approvingly, positively, glowingly, enthusiastically, with praise, with admiration, with
approbation],
lekker (adj. adv.) – (South african, informal) good, pleasant; slightly intoxicated; well;
extremely [The lekker local flavor of South Africa. The snacks helped keep people only
lekker. We got on lekker. He was lekker drunk.],

convention (n.) – a way in which something is usually done; behavior that is

considered acceptable or polite to most members of a society [To attract the best patrons
the movie houses had to ape the conventions and the standards of theaters. He was an
upholder of convention and correct form. Social conventions. To defy convention.] –
synonyms & related words [custom, usage, practice, tradition, way, habit, norm; rule,
code, canon, punctilio; accepted behaviour, conventionality, propriety, etiquette,
protocol, formality, ceremonial; praxis, mores, moeurs],

mangle (v.) – destroy or severely damage by tearing or crushing; ruin or spoil (a text,
piece of music, etc.) [The car was mangled almost beyond recognition. The demon's body
was mangled beyond recognition. He was mangling Bach on the piano. He's mangling the
English language.] – synonyms & related words [mutilate, maim, disfigure, damage,
injure, crush, crumple; hack, cut about, lacerate, tear apart, rend, chop (up), butcher,
deform, maul, wreck, spoil, ruin, mar, mutilate, bungle, mess up, make a mess of, wreck,
murder, make a hash of, muck up, screw up, butcher],

bass relief (n.) – a kind of sculpture in which shapes are carved so that they are only
slightly higher than the flat background,

latterly (adv.) – recently; in the later stages of something, especially of a person's life
[Latterly, his painting has shown a new freedom of expression. Latterly, she had been in
more pain. He worked on the paper for fifty years, latterly as its political editor. He worked
on the paper for fifty years, latterly as its political editor.] – synonyms & related words
[recently, lately, of late, in the past few days, in the last couple of weeks, in recent times,
ultimately, finally, towards the end, at the end],

insight (n.) – the capacity ot gain an accurate and deep understanding of someone or
something; an accurate and deep understanding [His mind soared to previously
unattainable heights of insight. Your knowledge and insight have been invaluable to us. His
work provides important insight into language use.] – synonyms & related words
[intuition, perception, awareness, discernment, understanding, comprehension,
apprehension, appreciation, cognizance, penetration, acumen, astuteness, perspicacity,
perspicaciousness, sagacity, sageness, discrimination, judgement, shrewdness,
sharpness, sharp-wittedness, acuity, acuteness, flair, breadth of view, vision, far-
sightedness, prescience, imagination, nous, horse sense, savvy, sapience, arguteness;
understanding of, appreciation of, revelation about, illumination of; introduction to,
experience of, description of; realization, recognition, enlightenment, aha moment, eye-
opener],
horse sense (n.) – common sense – synonyms & related words [common sense, good
sense, sense, sensibleness, native wit, native intelligence, mother wit, wit, judgement,
sound judgement, level-headedness, prudence, discernment, acumen, sharpness, sharp-
wittedness, canniness, astuteness, shrewdness, judiciousness, wisdom, insight, intuition,
intuitiveness, perceptiveness, perspicacity, vision, understanding, intelligence, nous,
grumption, savvy, know-how, the sense one was born with, common, smarts, sapience,
arguteness],

bout (n.) – a short period of intense activity of a specified kind; an attack of ilness or
strong emotion; a wrestling or boxing match; a curve in the side of a volion, guitar, or
other musical instrument [Occasional bouts of strenuous exercise. A short bout of exercise
can ease insomnia. A severe bout of flu. His breathlessness sparked off a coughing bout. He
fought 350 bouts, losing only nine times. The bout ended when a fighter was knocked to the
ground.] – synonyms & related words [spell, period, time, stretch, stint, turn, run,
session, round, cycle; fit, burst, flurry, spurt, streak, sesh, spot; attack, fit, spasm,
paroxysm, convulsion, eruption, outbreak, outburst, burst, spell, dose, access, boutade;
contest, match, round, heat, competition, tournament, event, meeting, meet, fixture,
game, encounter, fight, prizefight, struggle, set-to; clash],

agency (n.) – action or intervention producing a partifular effect; a thing or person that
acts to produce a particular result [Canals carved by the agency of running water. There
are many diseases in which infection is caused by the agency of insects. Regional policy was
introduced through the agency of the Board of Trade. The movies could be an agency
moulding the values of the public.] – synonyms & related words [action, activity, effect,
influence, force, power, work; means, vehicle, medium, instrument, mechanism, route,
channel, mode, technique, expedient; intervention, intercission, involvement, mediation,
arbitration, interposing, instrumentality, good offices, auspices, aegis],

auspice (n.) – the financial support and general guidance for an undertaking [A
program for inner-city youths that is under the auspices of a national corporation.] –
synonyms & related words [aegis, egis, backing, patronage, sponsorship, bankrolling,
endowment, financing, funding, subsidy, encouragement, fosterage, aid, assistance,
help],

auspice (n.) – something believed to be a sign or warning of a future event [He

interpreted the teacher's smile as an auspice that he would get an A on his presentation.] –
synonyms & related words [augury, omen, boding, foreboding, foreshadowing, portent,
prefiguring, presage, forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor, foretaste, hint, inkling,
intimation, suggestion, forewarning, forecast, foretelling, prediction, prognostication,
prophecy, badge, mark, note, token, divination],

aegis (n.) – the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization;

(in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athene (or their Roman
counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield [The
negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN. There are many societies run under
the aegis of the Students' Union.] – synonyms & related words [patronage, sponsorship,
backing, protection, shelter, umbrella, charge, keeping, care, supervision, guidance,
guardianship, trusteeship, support, agency, safeguarding, defence, protectorship,
championship, aid, assistance, guaranty; auspices, ward],

magnetism (n.) – a physical phenomenon produced by the motion of electric charge,

which results in attractive and repulsive forces between objects; the ability to attract
and charm people [His personal magnetism attracted men to the brotherhood. The sheer
magnetism of his physical presence.] – synonyms & related words [allure, attraction,
fascination, enchantment, appeal, draw, drawing power, pull, charm, seductiveness,
sexual magnetism, animal magnetism, magic, spell, charisma],

rightly (adv.) – in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose [Marveling at the
awesome sight, we had to agree that the Grand Canyon was rightly named. I'd not rightly
know that for sure... old Habbit's cleaning rooms at present.] – synonyms & related words
[appositely, appropriately, congruously, correctly, duly, fittingly, happily, meetly, right,
properly, suitably, well, acceptably, adequately, passably, satisfactorily, tolerably,
decently, decorously],

bother (v.) – (of a circumstance or event) worry, disturb, or upset (someone); cause
trouble or annoyance to (someone) by interrupting or otherwise inconveniencing them
[Secrecy is an issue which bothers journalists. The incident was too small to bother about.
There was something in her voice that bothered him. I'm sorry to bother you at this time of
night. She had her own life and no one bothered her.] – synonyms & related words
[concern oneself, trouble oneself, mind, care, worry oneself, burden oneself, occupy
oneself, busy oneself; take the time, make the effort, go to trouble, inconvenience
oneself, give a damn, give a hoot, give a rap, give a hang; worry, trouble, concern,
perturb, disturb, disquiet, disconcert, unnerve, fret, upset, distress, alarm, make anxious,
cause someone anxiety, work up, agitate, gnaw at, weigh down, lie heavy on, rattle, faze,
discombobulate; disturb, trouble, worry, inconvenience, put out, impose on, pester,
badger, harass, molest, plague, beset, torment, nag, hound, dog, chivvy, harry, annoy,
upset, irritate, vex, provoke, nettle, try someone's patience, make one's hackles rise,
hassle, bug, give someone a hard time, get in someone's hair, get on someone's case, get
up someone's nose, rub up the wrong way, drive up the wall, ride, devil, heavy, rark,
discommode],

bother (n.) – effort, trouble, or difficulty; a person or thing that causes annoyance or
difficulty [He saved me the bother of having to come up with a speech. I don't want ot put
you to any bother. I hope she hasn't been a bother. The food was such a bother to cook.] –
synonyms & related words [trouble, effort, exertion, strain, inconvenience, fuss, bustle,
hustle and bustle, disruption; pains, hassle; nuisance, pest, palaver, rigmarole, job, trial,
tribulation, bind, bore, drag, inconvenience, difficulty, trouble, problem, irritation,
annoyance, vexation, hassle, performance, pantomime, song and dance, headache, pain,
pain in the neck, pain in the backside, nyaff, skelf, nark, pain in the arse/ass],

skelf (n.) – (Scottish) a splinter or sliver of wood; (informal) a troublesome or annoyign

person,

tongues wagging (id.) – (informal) If what someone says or does starts tongues
wagging, it causes other people to start talking and guessing things about their private
lives [Do you think if we leave the party together it will set/start tongues wagging? They
tried to keep their affair secret, but it wasn't long before tongues began to wag. It wouldn't
take much to get that old drunkard's tongue wagging.],

wag (v.) – (especialyl with reference to an animal's tail) move or cause to move rapidly
to and fro; move 8an upwards-pointing finger) from side to side to signify disapproval
[His tail began to wag. The dog's tail began to wag frantically. She wagged a finger at
Elinor. He shouted and wagged his finger.] – synonyms & related words [swing, sway,
shake, move to and fro, swish, switch, quiver, twitch, flutter, waver, whip; oscillate,
vibrate, undulate; shake, wave, waggle, wiggle, wobble, flourish, brandish, raise],

wag (n.) – a single rapid movement from side to side [A chirpy wag of the head. Flossie
managed a feeble wag of her tail. A wag of the finger.] – synonyms & related words
[swing, sway, shake, swish, switch, quiver, twitch, flutter, waver, whip, oscillation,
vibration, undulation; waggle, wiggle, wobble, wave, shake, flourish, brandish],

chirpy (adj.) – (of birds or insects) characterized by or tending to chirp; characterized

by liveliness and lightheartedness – synonyms & related words [perky, buoyant,
cheerful, cheery, jolly, happy],

uncommonly (adv.) – exceptionally, very [He is an uncommonly good talker. You're

uncommonly kind, stranger.] – synonyms & related words [unusually, remarkably,
extraordinarily, extra, exceptionally, outstandingly, singularly, particularly, especially,
strikingly, markedly, decidedly, notably, eminently, signally, uniquely, extremely, very,
inordinately, incredibly, amazingly, awfully, terribly; right, seriously, majorly, ultra, jolly,
dead, well, powerful, devilishly, frightfully],

apparition (n.) – a ghost or ghostlike image of a person; a remarkable or unexpected

appearance of someone or something [A headless apparition. A monstrous apparition. An
apparition of the Virgin Mary. He was startled by the apparition of a strange man.] –
synonyms & related words [ghost, phantom, specter, spirit, wraith, shadow, presence;
vision, hallucination; bodach; Doppelgänger; duppy, spook, phantasm, shade, revenant,
visitant, wight, eidolon, manes; appearance, manifestation, materialization, emergence,
visitation, arrival, advent],
phantasm (n.) – (literary) an illusion, apparition, or ghost; (archaic) an illusory
likeness of something [The cart seemed to glide like a terrible phantasm. Every phantasm
of a hope was quickly nullified.],

visitant (n.) – (literary) a supernatural being or agency, an apparition; (archaic) a

visitor or guest; (ornithology) a visitor [In the poem, the angels of death appeared as
spectral visitants.],

visitant (adj.) – (archaic, literary) paying a visit [The housekeeper was abrupt with the
poor visitant niece.],

eidolon (n.) – (literary) an idealized person or thing; a specter or phantom,

bodach/ buddough(n.) – (Scottish, Irish) a man, especially a peasant or an old man;

a ghost, a specter,

illusory (adj.) – based on illusion, not real [She knew the safety of her room was illusory.
The comfort these theories give is illusory.] – synonyms & related words [delusory,
delusional, delusive; illusionary, imagined, imaginary, fancied, non-existent, unreal,
hallucinatory; sham, hollow, deceptive, deceiving, false, fallacious, fake, bogus, mistaken,
erroneous, misleading, misguided, untrue, specious, fanciful, notional, chimerical;
illusive, Barmecide],

Barmecide (adj.) – illusory or imaginary and therefore disappointing,

Barmecide (n.) – a person who offers benefits that are illusory or disappointing,
(From Arabic Barmaki, the name of a prince in the Abarian Nights' Entertainments, who
gave a beggar a feast consisting of ornate but empty dishes.),

whittle (v.) – reduce something in size, amount, or extent by gradual series of steps
[The shortlist of fifteen was whittled down to five. The powers of the papacy were
gradually whittled away. The ten teams in contention have been whittled down to six.] –
synonyms & related words [erode, wear away, eat away, consume, use up, reduce,
diminish, undermine, weaken, threaten, sabotage, subvert, compromise, destroy, impair,
mar, spoil, ruin, impede, hinder, damage, hurt, injure, cripple, disable, enfeeble,
emasculate, sap, shake, break, crush; reduce, cut down, cut back, cut, prune, trim, slim
down, pare down, salami-slice, shrink, make cutbacks in, lessen, decrease, diminish,
make reductions in, scale down],

whittle (v.) – carve (wood) into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it;
carve (an object) from wood [He was sitting at the tent door, whittling a piece of wood
with a knife. A set of chess pieces he had whittled himself.] – synonyms & related words
[pare, shave, peel, cut, hew, trim, carve, shape, model, work wood, chop],
manage (v.) – succeed in surviving or in achieving something despite difficult
circumstances, cope; succeed in achieving or producing (something difficult); succeed in
dealign with or withstanding (something) [Catherine managed on five hours' sleep a
night. Will you be able to manage without him? She managed a brave but unconvincing
smile. How much work can you manage this week? There was more stress and anxiety than
he could manage. She can't manage that horse.] – synonyms & related words [cope, get
along/on, make do, be/fare/do all right, carry on, survive, deal with the situation, scrape
by/along, muddle through/along, fend for oneself, shift for oneself, make ends meet,
weather the storm, make out, get by, hack it, accomplish, achieve, do, carry out, perform,
undertake, bring about/off, effect, finish, succeed in, contrive, engineer, control, handle,
master, influence, manipulate, cope with, deal with],

seamless (adj.) – smoothly continuous [A seamless transition.] – synonyms & related

words [logical, smooth, coherent, consistent, ordered, absolute, flawless, harmonious,
ideal, uninterrupted, congruous, matching],

stump (v.) – (informal, of a question or problem) be too hard for, baffle; be at a loss,
not know what to do [Education chiefs were stumped by some of the exam questions.
Detectived are stumped for a reason for the attack.] – synonyms & related words [baffle,
perplex, puzzle, confuse, confound, bewilder, mystify, nonplus, defeat; be too much for,
put at a loss, bring up short, flummox, fox, be all Greek to, throw, floor, discombobulate,
wilder, gravel, maze, obfuscate],

stump (v.) – walk stiffly and noisily [He stumped away on short thick legs. She stumped
along the landing to the bathroom.] – synonyms & related words [stomp, stamp, clomp,
clump, lumber, trudge, plod, thump, thud, bang, thunder, sprauchle],

steal the show (id.) – attract the most attention and praise [Shodan really steals the
show. She stole the show from her seasoned co-stars.] – synonyms & related words [be the
centre of attention, get all the attention, attract the most attention, be the focus of
attention, be the main attraction, be the outstanding feature, put the others in the shade,
be the high point/spot, be the best part, have all eyes on one, be the cynosure; outshine,
put in the shade, upstage, overshadow, eclipse, outclass, dwarf, tower above/over, put to
shame],

irritant (n.) – a thing that is continually annoying or distracting [In 1966 Vietnam was
becoming an irritant to the government. Goodbye, irritant, we shall not meet again.] –
synonyms & related words [annoyance, irritation, source of irritation, source of
vexation, source of annoyance, thorn in someone's side/flesh, pinprick, pest, bother,
trial, torment, plague, inconvenience, nuisance, menace, aggravation, peeve, pet peeve,
pain, pain in the neck, bind, bore, headache, hassle, nyaff, skelf, pain in the butt, nudnik,
burr in/under someone's saddle, fair cow, nark, pain in the arse],
burr (n.) – a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion [I heard the burr of a
distant engine.] – synonyms & related words [hum, buzz, chirr, churr, drone, purr, thrum,
whir, whirr, whiz, whizz, zoom, babble, coo, gasp, gurgle, hiss, moan, murmur, rustle,
sigh, suspiration, susurration, susurrus, whisper, whish, zing, zip],

snap (v.) – break suddenly and completely, typically with a sharp cracking sound; emit
a sudden, sharp cracking sound [Guitar strings kept snapping. The safety rope snapped
and Davis was sucked under the water. Banners snapping in theb reeze. A white Ranger
Rover passed, the Union flag snapping from a small mast on the bonnet.] – synonyms &
related words [break, break in/into two, fracture, splinter, separate, come apart, part,
split, crack, bust, crack, flick, click, crackle, flutter, wave, flap, quiver, vibrate],

snap (v.) – suddenly lose one's self-control [She claims she snapped after years of
violence.] – synonyms & related words [lose one's self-control, crack, freak, freak out, get
overwrought, go to pieces, get hysterical, get worked up, flare up; informalcrack up, lose
one's cool, blow one's top, fly off the handle, throw a wobbly],

snap (v.) – (of an animal) make a sudden audible bite [A dog was snapping at his heels.]
– synonyms & related words [bite, gnash its teeth, try to bite, try to nip],

snap (v.) – say something quickly and irritably [McIllvanney snapped at her. „I'm not
that old!“ Anna snapped.] – synonyms & related words [say/speak roughly, say/speak
brusquely, say/speak nastily, say/speak abruptly, say/speak angrily, bark, snarl, growl,
fling, hurl; lash out at; retort, rejoin, riposte, retaliate, snap back; round on someone,
jump down someone's throat, fly off the handle at],

freely (adv.) – not under the control of another, as one wishes; openly and honestly;
willingly and readily; in copious or generous amounts, a lot, greatly [I roamed freely. You
may speak freely. He felt a reluctance to talk freely. I freely confess to this failing. These
workers gave their time and labor freely. She drank freely to keep up her courage.] –
synonyms & related words [openly, candidly, frankly, plainly, matter-of-factly,
straightforwardly, directly, explicitly, bluntly, outspokenly, unreservedly, without
constraint, without inhibition; truthfully, honestly, without beating about the bush,
without mincing one's words, without prevarication; voluntarily, willingly, readily; of
one's own volition, of one's own accord, of one's own free will, without being asked,
without being forced, without reluctance],

snake (n.) – a treacherous or deceitful person [That man is a cold-blooded snake.] –

synonyms & related words [traitor, turncoat, betrayer, informer, back-stabber, double-
crosser, double-dealer, quisling, Judas; cheat, swindler, fraudster, trickster, charlatan,
viper, serpent, snake in the grass, two-timer, creep, rat, beast, pig, swine, skunk, dog,
weasel, bastard, twister, scrote, bounder, rotter, rat fink, sleeveen, dingo, shit, heel, cad,
blackguard],
blackguard (n.) – a man who behaves in a dishonorable or contemptible way,

blackguard (v.) – abuse or disparage (someone) scurrilously [You know what sort she
is, yet you blackguard me when I tell the truth about her.],

scurrilous (adj.) – making or spreading scandalous claims about someone with the
intention of damaging their reputation; humorously insulting [A scurrilous attack on his
integrity. A scurrilous attack on her character. A very funny collection of bawdy and
scurrilous writings.] – synonyms & related words [abusive, vituperative, derogatory,
disparaging, denigratory, pejorative, deprecatory, insulting, offensive, defamatory,
slanderous, libellous, scandalous, opprobrious, vitriolic, venomous; unfounded, ill-
founded, groundless, baseless, unsubstantiated, unwarranted, unsupported,
insupportable, uncorroborated, unjustified, unjustifiable, bitchy, contumelious,
calumnious, caluminatory, aspersive, invective],

invective (n.) – insulting, abusive, or highly critical language [He let out a stream of
invectives. She poured forth a string of invectives.] – synonyms & related words [abuse,
insults, vituperation, expletives, swear words, swearing, curses, bad language, foul
language; denunciation, censure, revilement, vilification, castigation, recrimination,
reproach, reproval, admonition, tongue-lashing, contumely, billingsgate, obloquy],

long shot (id.) – (nautical) something unlikely, something that has little chance of
happening or working (The term arose from the accuracy of early ship guns, which were
effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.); (film) a
master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into whic hthe closeups will be edited
later, establishing shot, wide shot [We can try your plan, but it's a long shot and it
probably won't work.] – synonyms & related words [fluke, chance hit, hundred-to-one
shot, little chance, long odds, lucky shot, no chance, off-chance, one in a million, outside
chance, poor bed, slim chance, small chance],

cut corners (id.) – do something perfunctorily so as to save time or money [There is

always a temptation to cut corners when time is short. His staff complains that he is
cutting corners to save money by putting ordinary cream cheese in the tiramisu.] –
synonyms & related words [skimp, economize, pinch pennies, stint on, scrimp on, be
sparing with, be economical with, economize on, be frugal with, cut back on; be mean
with, be parsimonious with, be niggardly with; pinch pennies, be stingy with, be mingy
with, be tight with, do hastily, do carelessly, dash off],

let (or blow) off steam (id.) – (informal) get rid of pent-up energy or strong
emotion [The kids can let off steam in the gardens while mum and dad have a relaxing
drink.] – synonyms & related words [give vent to one's feelings, speak one's mind, sound
off, lose one's inhibitions, let oneself go; use up energy, release surplus energy],
tension (n.) – the stat eof being stretched tight; mental or emotional strain; a strained
political or social state or relationship [The parachute keeps the cable under tension as it
drops. The tension of the rope. A mind which is affected by stress or tension cannot think as
clearly. The tension was unbearable. The coup followed months of tension between the
military and government.] – synonyms & related words [tightness, tautness, tenseness,
rigidity; pull, traction, stress, strain, straining, stretching, tensity; mental/emotional
strain, stress, anxiety, anxiousness, pressure; worry, apprehensiveness, apprehension,
agitation, nerves, nervousness, jumpiness, edginess, restlessness; suspense, uncertainty,
anticipation, excitement, butterflies (in one's stomach), collywobbles, jitteriness,
twitchiness, the jitters, the willies, the heebie-jeebies, the shakes, the jumps, jim-jams,
the yips, the (screaming) abdabs/hadbabs, Joe Blakes; strained relations, strain, unease;
ill feeling, friction, antagonism, antipathy, hostility, enmity],

lose one's way (id.) – to get lost, to become lost, digress – synonyms & related words
[stray, deviate, drift, err, meander, roam, swerve, gad, gallivant, ramble, range, rove,
straggle, traipse, turn, be abandoned, be lost ,go all over the map, go amiss, go astray,
lose one's way, wander away, wander off, veer, babble, depart, divargate, diverge, shift,
get off the track, get sidetracked, go off on a tangent, lose train of thought],

exposition (n.) – a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory; a

large public exhibition of art or trade goods [A systematic exposition of the idea of
biodiversity. A lucid exposition of educational theories. The exposition will feature exhibits
by 165 companies.] – synonyms & related words [explanation, description, elucidation,
explication, interpretation, illustration; account, commentary, study, article, essay,
thesis, paper, treatise, dissertation, disquisition; critique, criticism, appraisal,
assessment, discussion, discourse, exegesis; exhibition, fair, trade fair, display, show,
presentation, demonstration, exhibit, expo, demo],

tabula rasa (n.) – blank slate – synonyms & related words [blank cartridge, blank
mind, blank tablet, clean slate, featureles mind, palimpsest, square one, untaught state],

labor (v.) – work hard, make great effort; work at an unskilled manual occupation;
(archaic) till (the ground); have difficulty in doing something despite working hard;
move or proceed with difficulty; (of an engine) work noisily and with difficulty; (of a
ship) roll or pitch heavily [They labored from dawn to dusk. He'll labor night and day. A
project on which he had labored for many years. He was eking out na existence by laboring.
The land belonged to him who labored it. United labored against confident opponents.
Newcastle labored to break down the home tema's defense. They labored up a steep,
tortuous track. The wheels churned, the engine laboring. Occasionally the laboring ship
spat the caulking from some underwater seam.] – synonyms & related words [work
(hard), toil, slave (away), grub away, plod away, grind away, sweat away, struggle, strive,
exert oneself, overwork, work one's fingers to the bone, work like a Trojan/dog/slave,
keep one's nose to the grindstone, slog away, kill oneself, plug away, put one's back into
something, peg away, graft, drudge, travail, moil; strive, struggle, endeavour, work, try
hard, make every effort, do one's best, do one's utmost, do all one can, give
(it/something) one's all, go all out, fight, push, be at pains, put oneself out, apply oneself,
exert oneself, bend/fall/lean over backwards, give it one's best shot, pull out all the
stops],

labored (adj.) – done with great effort and difficulty; (especially of humor or a
performance) not spontaneous or fluent [His breathing was labored. His harsh, labored
breathing. One of Alan's labored jokes. A rather labored joke.] – synonyms & related
words [strained, difficult, forced, laborious, heavy, awkward; contrived, stiff, strained,
stilted, forced, unnatural, artificial, mannered, studied, affected, overdone, overworked,
heavy, ponderous, over-elaborate, over-embellished, long-winded, awkward, clumsy,
inelegant, turgid, laborious, overwrought, not spontaneous, unconvincing, convoluted,
complex, intricate, ornate, elaborate, prolix],

caulking (n.) – the process and material (also called sealant) to seal joints or seams in
various structures and some types of piping,

fibrous (adj.) – stringy – synonyms & related words [stringy, knotty, ropy, thready,
sinewy, wiry, fibroid, muscular, coarse, hairy, pulpy, ropy, sinewy, stalky, threadlike,
tissued, veined, woody],

pulpy (adj.) – resembling or consisting of lulp, mushy; (of writing) sensationalist and of
poor quality, trashy [Simmer gently until the fruit is very soft and pulpy. Pulpy detective
novels. Cook the rhubarb slowly until it is soft and pulpy.] – synonyms & related words
[mushy, soft, semi-liquid, pappy, slushy, sloppy, spongy, squashy, squelchy, squishy;
succulent, juicy, gooey, gloopy, squidgy, pulpous],

unwitting (adj.) – (of a person) not aware of the full facts; not done on purpose,
unintentional [An unwitting accomplice. We are anxious to rectify the unwitting mistakes
made in the past. An unwitting error.] – synonyms & related words [unknowing,
unconscious, unsuspecting, oblivious, unaware, innocent; unmindful, uninformed,
ignorant, unenlightened, in the dark, incognizant, nescient; unintentional, unintended,
inadvertent, involuntary, unmeant, unthinking, unplanned, unpremeditated,
unconscious, accidental, chance],

the tail end (id.) – the very last part of something, the end, the finish [We just caught
the tail end of the show.],

unearth (v.) – find (something) in the grounds by digging; discover (something

hidden, lost, or kept secret) by investigation or searching [Workmen unearthed an
ancient artillery shell. They have done all they can to unearth the truth. Some recent
research has unearthed an interesting fact.] – synonyms & related words [dig up,
excavate, exhume, disinter, bring to the surface, mine, quarry, pull out, root out, scoop
out, disentomb, unbury; discover, uncover, find, come across, hit on, strike on,
encounter, track down, bring to light, reveal, expose, elicit, turn up, dredge up, ferret out,
hunt out, fish out, nose out, sniff out, smell out, take the wraps off],

curdle (v.) – separate or cause to separate into curds or lumps [Take care not to let the
soup boil or it will curdle. And then a huge cloud of blood curldes out, floating huge blobs of
blood into zero gravity space.] –synonyms & related words [clot, coagulate, congeal,
separate into curds/lumps, solidify, thicken, condense; turn, turn sour, sour, ferment],

hatch (v.) – conspire to devise (a plot or plan) [The little plot that you and Sylvia
hatched up last night. They hatched a desperate plan.] – synonyms & related words
[devise, conceive, contrive, concoct, brew, invent, plan, design, formulate; think up, make
up, dream up, trump up, put together, cook up],

clue (n.) – a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime; a fact or
idea that serves to reveal something or solve a problem; a word or words giving an
indication as to what is to be inserted in a particular space in a crossword [Police officers
are still searching for clues. Give me a clue about what's going on. Archaeological evidence
can give clues about the past. A long-pondered clue in a half completed crossword.] –
synonyms & related words [hint, indication, sign, signal, pointer, guide, suggestion,
intimation, trace, indicator; lead, tip, tip-off, piece of evidence, piece of information],

clue (v.) – (informal) inform someone about a particular matter [Stella had clued her in
about Peter.] – synonyms & related words [inform, let know, notify, make aware, give
information, prime; familiarize with, make familiar with, acquaint with; keep up to date,
keep posted, tip off, give the gen, give the low-down on, give a rundown on/on, fill in on,
gen up on, clue up, put in the picture, put wise, keep up to speed],

frontload (v.) – to put more of the costs of a deal, project, or contract into the early
part of the process [Frontloading lon-term contracts makes it much easier to move players
later in their contracts.],

homemade (adj.) – made in the home, self-made – synonyms & related words
[handmade, do-it-yourself, handcrafted, homegrown, homespun, homebrewed, natural],

endeavor (v.) – try hard to do or achieve something [He is endeavoring to help the
Third World. The company endeavored to expand its activities.] – synonyms & related
words [: try, attempt, venture, undertake, aspire, aim, seek, set out; strive, struggle,
labour, toil, work hard, try hard, exert oneself, apply oneself, do one's best, do one's
utmost, give one's all, be at pains; work at, try one's hand at, slog away, give something a
whirl, have a go at, have a shot at, have a stab at, give something one's best shot, do one's
damnedest, go all out, bend overb ackwards, break one's neck, bust a gut, move heaven
and earth, eassay, pop a bollock],

endeavor (n.) – an attempt to achieve a goal; earnest, prolonged, and industrious

effort; an enterprise or undertaking [An endeavor to reduce serious injury. An endeavor to
build a more buoyant economy. Enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavors.
After several days of endeavor, he completed the task. A portfolio of business endeavors.
What you are proposing is an extremely unwise endeavor.] – synonyms & related words
[attempt, try, bid, effort, trial, venture, go, crack, shot, stab, bash, whack, whirl; striving,
struggling, labouring, struggle, labour, hard work, hard slog, effort, exertion, application,
industry; pains, sweat, blood, sweat, and tears, elbow grease, graft, (hard) yakka, travail,
moil, undertaking, enterprise, venture, pursuit, exercise, activity, exploit, deed, act,
action, move; scheme, plan, project, caper],

moil (n. v.) – (NA, archaic, dialect) work hard; move around in confusion or agitation;
hard work, drudgery; turmoil, confusion [Men who moiled for gold. A crowd of men and
women moiled in the smoky haze. This night his weekly moil is at an end. The moil of his
intimate thoughts.],

hold-up (n.) – a situation that causes delay; a robbery conducted with the use of
threats or violence [The road closure will cause lengthy hold-ups. I ran into a hold-up and
nearly didn't get there. The shocked victims of an armed hold-up. There has been another
bank hold-up.] – synonyms & related words [delay, setback, hitch, snag, difficulty,
problem, issue, trouble, wait, waiting period, stoppage; traffic jam, jam, bottleneck,
tailback, gridlock, congestion, snarl-up, glitch, hiccup, robbery, raid, armed robbery,
armed raid, theft, burglary, mugging, stick-up, snatch, heist],

complement (v.) – contribute extra features to (someone or something) in such a way

as to improve or emphasize their qualities [A classic blazer complements a look that's
smart or casual. This mouth-watering sauce complements the dessert beautifully. The
proposals complement the incentives already available.] – synonyms & related words
[accompany, go with, round off, set off, suit, harmonize with, be the perfect companion
to, be the perfect addition to, add the finishing touch to, add the final touch to, add to,
supplement, augment, enhance, complete],

write off (v.) – devalue, forget about – synonyms & related words [cancel, give up,
lower, cross out, decry, depreciate, disregard, downgrade, mark down, shelve, take a loss
on, underrate, undervalue],

blistering (adj.) – (of heat) intense; (of criticms) expressed with great vehemence;
extremely fast, forceful, or impressive [The blistering heat of the desert. The blistering
snowstorm. A blistering attack on the government's transport policy. Burke set a blistering
pace.] – synonyms & related words [intense, extreme, ferocious, fierce, acute, strong,
very great; scorching, searing, flaming, blazing (hot), baking (hot), burning, fiery, torrid,
parching, withering, boiling, boiling hot, sizzling, roasting, sweltering; savage, vicious,
fierce, bitter, severe, sharp, harsh, scathing, devastating, mordant, trenchant, caustic,
cutting, biting, stinging, searing, withering, virulent, vitriolic; very fast, breakneck,
impressive, scorching, blinding],
mandate (n.) – an official order or commission to do something; the authority to carry
out a policy, regarded as given by the electorate to a party or candidate that wins an
election [A mandate to seek the release of political prisoners. A mandate from the UN was
necessary. He called an election to seek a mandate for his policies.] – synonyms & related
words [instruction, directive, direction, decree, command, order, injunction, edict,
charge, commission, bidding, warrant, ruling, ordinance, law, statute, fiat; ukase;
pronunciamento; authority, approval, acceptance, ratification, endorsement; sanction,
authorization],

ground (v.) – give (something abstract) a firm theoretical or practical basis [The study
of history must be grounded in a thorough knowledge of the past. This assertion was
grounded on results of several studies.] – synonyms & related words [base, found,
establish, set, settle, root, build, construct, form],

ground (v.) – instruct (someone) thoroughly in a subject [Eva's governess grounded her
in Latin and Greek.] – synonyms & related words [instruct, coach, tutor, educate, school,
train, upskill, drill, prime, prepare; teach, familiarize with, acquaint with, make
conversant with, inform about, give the gen about, give the low-down on, gen up on, clue
up on, clue in on, fill in on, put in the picture about],

down-to-earth (adj.) – with no illusions or pretensions, practical and realistic [A

down-to-earth view of marriage. She seemed a good, down-to-earth type.] – synonyms &
related words [practical, sensible, realistic, matter-of-fact, responsible, full of common
sense, reasonable, rational, logical, sound, balanced, sober, no-nonsense, pragmatic,
level-headed, serious-minded, businesslike, commonsensical, hard-headed, sane,
mundane, unromantic, unidealistic],

doneness (n.) – a gauge of how thoroughly cooked a cut of meat is based on the color,
juiciness and internal temperature when cooked, most often used in reference to beef
(especially steak and roasts) but also lamb, pork, poultry, veal and seafood (especially
fish),

devil-may-care (adj.) – cheerful and reckless [Light-hearted, devil-may-care young

pilots.] – synonyms & related words [reckless, rash, incautious, heedless, unheeding,
hasty, overhasty, precipitate, precipitous, impetuous, impulsive, daredevil, hot-headed;
irresponsible, wild, foolhardy, headlong, over-adventurous, over-venturesome,
audacious, death-or-glory, hare-brained, madcap, imprudent, unwise, unthinking;
nonchalant, casual, airy, breezy, flippant, swaggering, insouciant, indifferent, happy-go-
lucky, easy-going; unworried, untroubled, unconcerned; tearaway, harum-scarum,
temerarious],

temerarious (adj.) – foolishly adventurous or bold [Temerarious people rush in

without forethought.],
sound bite (n.) – a short comment by a politician or other famous person that is taken
from a longer conversation or speech and broadcast alone because it is very interesting
or effective,

push the envelope/push the edge of the envelope (id.) – approach or extend
the limits of what is possible [These are extremely witty and clever stories that
consistently push the envelope of TV comedy.],

acid test (n.) – critical test – synonyms & related words [analysis, conclusive test,
crucial test, decisive test, definitive test, experiment, genuineness, proof, proving
ground, substantiation, sure test, test of value, trial, verification],

look (a bit of) a tit (id.) – to look foolish, to make a fool out of yourself, to look dumb
[„Minister looks a tit.“ „But there is a difference between allowing someone's natural
tittishness to come through and just exploiting it through camera here!“ „You, you're
sticking one tit moment on top of another tit moment. That wouldn't happen in real life.“],

stitch (v.) – (UK, informal) manipulate a situation so that someone is placed at a

disadvantage or wrongly blamed for something [He was stitched up by outsiders and
ousted as chairman. I've been stitched up b ythe Richardson gang. Wait a second, this other
story, he's not going to stitch me up on this, is he?],

tit (n.) – the infliction of an injury or insult in return for one that one has suffered [The
conflict staggered on with tit-for-tat assassinations. The routine diplomatic tit for tat
when countries expel each other's envoys.] – synonyms & related words [retaliation,
reprisal, counterattack, counterstroke, comeback; revenge, vengeance, retribution,
requital, recrimination, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, as good as one gets, getting
even, redress, repayment, payback; lex talionis, a taste of someone's own medicine,
ultion, a Roland for an Oliver],

ultion (n.) – (archaic) revenge [Thus to Return upon our Adversaries is a healing way of
Revenge, and to do good for evil a soft and melting ultion, a method Taught from Heaven to
keep all smooth on Earth.],

set (someone) by the ears (id.) – to cause (someone, generally a group of two or
more people) to engage in a squabble, dispute, or altercation [The entire town was set by
the ears when it was announced that a giant megastore would be replacing many of its
local shops and grocery marts. Jake likes to set his classmates by the ears as a means of
getting attention.],

have someone's ear (id.) – obtain someone's attention, especially favorable

attention [Harry has the boss' ear and could put in a good word about you. About 50 of the
freshman congressman's constituents had his ear for more than two hours.],
ray of sunshine (id.) – a happy person who makes others feel happy, especialyl in a
difficult situation [We love looking after our grandchild. He's a ray of sunshine!],

whizbang (n.) – (NA) a resounding success; (especially during the First World War) a
small-caliber high-velocity shell [Dan was a whiz-bang at mechanical things.],

whizbang (adj.) – (NA) lively or sensational, fast-paced [A whizz-bang publicity

campaign.],

discretion is the better part of valor (saying) – said when you believe it is wise
to be careful and avoid unnecessary risks, it is often wise to refrain from semeingly
brave speech or action,

upswing (n.) – an increase or improvement in something [The economy seems to be on

the upswing. An upswing in the value of the yen.] – synonyms & related words [upturn,
boom, improvement, growth, increase],

mayhem (n.) – violent or extreme disorder, chaos; (law, historical) the crime of
maliciously injuring or maiming someone, originally so as to render them defenseless
[Complete mayhem broke out. Furious tV bosses watched stunned as the band created
mayhem onstage. This is the Minister for International Development, he should be talking
about food parcels not fucking arse-spraying mayhem.] – synonyms & related words
[chaos, disorder, confusion, havoc, bedlam, pandemonium, tumult, uproar, turmoil,
madness, madhouse, hullabaloo, all hell broken loose, wild disarray, disorganization,
maelstrom, trouble, disturbance, commotion, riot, anarchy, destruction, violence],

maim (v.) – wound or injure (a person or animal) so that part of the body is
permanently damaged [100,00 soldiers were killed or maimed. They are prepared to kill
and maim innocent people in pursuit of their cause.] – synonyms & related words [injure,
wound, hurt, disable, put out of action, incapacitate, impair, mar, mutilate, lacerate,
disfigure, deform, mangle],

tear/pull your hair out (id.) – (informal) to feel very worried or very annoyed
about something because you do not know what to do about it – synonyms & related
words [fret, be worried, be concerned, be anxious, agonize, brood, dwell on, panic, get in
a panic, lose sleep, get worked up, get in a fluster, get overwrought, be on tenterhooks;
informalhave butterflies in one's stomach, get stressed, get in a flap, get in a state, get in
a tizz/tizzy, get in a sweat, sweat, get steamed up, get in a lather, stew, torture oneself,
torment oneself, be in a blue funk; alarming, concerning, worrisome, daunting,
perturbing, trying, taxing, vexatious, niggling, bothersome, troublesome, unsettling,
harassing, harrying, harrowing, nerve-racking; distressing, dismaying, disquieting,
upsetting, traumatic, unpleasant, awkward, difficult, tricky, thorny, problematic, grave;
scary, hairy, sticky, prickly, anxious-making],
unforeseen (adj.) – not anticipated or predicted [Our insurance package enables you
to protect yourself and your dependants against unforeseen circumstances. Due to
unforeseen uncircumstnaces. He did not say „unforeseeable“.] – synonyms & related words
[unpredicted, unexpected, unanticipated, unplanned, accidental, unlooked for, unsought,
not bargained for, unthought of, unimagined; sudden, abrupt, surprising, startling,
astonishing, abnormal, out of the blue],

row back (v.) – (UK) to slightly change something that you previously said, or to
slightyl change your opinion on an issue, to have second thoughts,

spike (v.) – impale on or pierce with a sharp point [She spiked another oyster.] –
synonyms & related words [impale, spear, skewer; pierce, penetrate, perforate, stab, run
through, stick, spit, transfix, transpierce],

spike (v.) – stop the progress of (a plan or undertaking), put an end to [He doubted they
would spike the entire effort over this one negotiation. The Assembly may well spike his
tax-cut proposals. Yeah, maybe it's better to spike it.] – synonyms & related words [put a
stop to, put an end to, put the lid on, scupper, scotch, derail; frustrate, foil, thwart,
stymie, baulk, hinder, obstruct, put paid to, put the kibosh on, clobber, dish],

spike (v.) – (informal) add alcohol or a drug to contanimate (drink or food)

surreptitiously [She bought me an orange juice and spiked it with vodka. He claimed his
drink had been spiked with drugs.] – synonyms & related words [adulterate, contaminate,
drug; informallace, slip a Mickey Finn into, dope, doctor, cut],

curtail (v.) – reduce in extent or quantity, impose a restriction on; (archaic) deprive
someone of (something) [Civil liberties were further curtailed. Economic policies designed
to curtail spending. I that am curtailed of this fair proportion.] – synonyms & related
words [reduce, cut, cut down, cut back, decrease, lessen, diminish, slim down, tighten up,
retrench, pare down, trim, dock, lop, shrink; shorten, cut short, break off, truncate;
restrict, put a restriction on, limit, put a limit on, curb, put the brakes on, rein in, rein
back, chop],

chargé d’affaires (n.) – an official who represents the government of their ow

ncountry in a foreign country when there is no ambassador there,

ersatz (adj.) – (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for
something else; not real or genuine [Ersatz coffee. Ersatz rations. Ersatz emotion.] –
synonyms & related words [artificial, substitute, imitation, synthetic, fake, false, faux,
mock, simulated; pseudo, sham, bogus, spurious, counterfeit, forged, pretended, so-
called, plastic; manufactured, man-made, unnatural, fabricated; replica, reproduction,
facsimile; inferior, low-quality, poor-quality, low-grade, shoddy, substandard,
unsatisfactory, adulterated, phoney],
leg up (n.) – (literal) the act of assisting another's progress over a wall or other
obstacle by forming a step for one of their feet with one's hands; an act or instance of
helping, aid, helping hand, lift, support, assistance, backing, abetment; (figurative) a
boost, a sudden improvement, an advantage, an edge; (figurative) assistance, help given
to get started or overcome a problem or obstacle [A key endorsement that would give the
struggling candidate a real leg up right now.],

get a leg up (id.) – to get a boost or a lift; to gain some advantage, to get a head start [I
can climb over the fence if I get a leg up from you. He hopes that all the extra advertising
will allow him to get a leg up on the competition.],

padding (n.) – soft material such as foam or cloth used to pad or stuff something;
superfluous material in a book, speech, etc., introduced in order to make it reach a
desired length [Cushions supplied extra padding and decoration. The boots have padding
around the ankle. Avoid waffle or padding in your essay. Write in a concise manner with no
padding.] – synonyms & related words [wadding, cushioning, stuffing, packing,
upholstery, filling, filler; verbiage, verbosity, verboseness, wordiness, prolixity,
prolixeness, waffle, wittering, flannel, logorrhea],

foreground (n.) – the part of a view that is nearest to the observer, especially in a
picture or photograph; the most prominent or important position or situation [The
intricate garden depicted in the foreground. She repainted the figures in the foreground.
Issues which have occupied the political foreground in recent years. He was in the
foreground of the political drama.] – synonyms & related words [front, fore, forefront,
forepart, foremost part, nearest part, closest part; vanguard, van, spearhead, head, lead,
front line, cutting edge, foremost position, leading position, position in prominence],

foreground (v.) – make (something) the most prominent or important feature [Sexual
relationships are foregrounded and idealized.],

allude (v.) – suggest or call attention to indirectly, hint at; mention without discussing
at length; (of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or style) in such a way as
to suggest a relationship with it [She had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her
name. The Vice Chancellor alluded to the same idea. We will allude briefly to the main
points. The photographs allude to Italian Baroque painting.] – synonyms & related words
[refer to, suggest, hint at, imply, mention, touch on, mention in passing, mention en
passant, speak briefly of, make an allusion to, cite, advert to],

mutable (adj.) – liable to change; (literary) incosistent in one's affections, flighty [The
mutable nature of fashion. Youth is said to be fickle and mutable.] – synonyms & related
words [changeable, variable, varying, fluctuating, shifting, inconsistent, unpredictable,
inconstant, uncertain, fluid, erratic, irregular, uneven, unsettled, unstable, unsteady,
protean, chameleon-like, chameleonic; capricious, fickle, faithless, flighty, unreliable,
undependable, mercurial, volatile, labile, changeful, fluctuant],
immutable (adj.) – unchanging over time or unable to be changed [An immutable fact.
A precise and immutable set of rules.] – synonyms & related words [unchangeable, fixed,
set, rigid, inflexible, unyielding, unbending, permanent, entrenched, established, well-
established, unshakeable, irremovable, indelible, ineradicable; unchanging, unchanged,
changeless, unvarying, unvaried, undeviating, static, constant, lasting, abiding, enduring,
persistent, perpetual],

offal (n.) – the rejected or waste parts of a butchered animal; the itnernal organs of an
animal other than a bird, these organs being used as food; a by-product of the grain
milling process, which may include bran, husks, etc.; a dead body; carrion; that which is
thrown away as worthless or unfit for use, refuse, rubbish [A pile of offal from the
tannery operating in the neighborhood. Yes, but a prime cut, you know, not offal.] –
synonyms & related words [chaff, deadwood, debris, dreck, drek, dross, dust, effluvium,
effluvia, junk, litter, garbage, offscouring, raffle, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, splith,
trash, truck, waste, crud, sewage, slop, swill, wash, detritus, remains, rubble, ruins,
dump, scrap heap, lumber, odds and ends, trumpery, flotsam, jetsam, wreckage, castoff,
cull, discard, handme-down, reject, throaway, nothing, straw, two bits],

paperweight (n.) – a small, solid object which is placed on top of papers to keep them
from blowing in the breeze or to keep a sheet from moving when painting with a brush,

excitable (adj.) – responding too readily to something new or stimulating, easily

excited [A rather excitable young man. The horses were very excitable. She is an excitable,
yapping she-dog.] – synonyms & related words [temperamental, mercurial, volatile,
emotional, sensitive, highly strung, easily upset, easily agitated, easily frightened,
unstable, nervous, tense, brittle, edgy, jumpy, twitchy, skittish, unsettled, uneasy,
neurotic; tempestuous, hot-tempered, quick-tempered, hot-headed, passionate, fiery,
irascible, testy, moody, touchy, snappy, uptight, wired, blowing hot and cold, stressy],

reductive (adj.) – serving to simplify or abridge – synonyms & related words

[diminishing, diminutive, minimal, subtractive, remissive, affiliable, derivable, inferable,
inferential],

pelmet (n.) – a decorative framework to concela curtain fixtures at the top of a window
casing – synonyms & related words [valance board, cornice, framework, valance],

callow (n.) – (of a young person) inexperienced and immature [Earnest and callow
undergraduated. A callow youth. Don't be callow, Toby, we're on official business.] –
synonyms & related words [immature, inexperienced, naive, green, as green as grass,
born yesterday, raw, unseasoned, untrained, untried; juvenile, adolescent, jejune;
innocent, guileless, artless, unworldly, unsophisticated, wet behind the ears],

snarl-up (n.) – (UK, informal) a traffic jam; a muddle or mistake [A six lane snarl-up.
There's a snarl-up in editing. The main cause of the brouhaha is a snarl-up in terminology.]
– synonyms & related words [traffic jam, jam, tailback, line, stream, gridlock; muddle,
mess, tangle, jumble, entanglement, imbroglio; misunderstanding, misinterpretation,
misconstruction, misapprehension, misconception, the wrong idea, false impression,
confusion; mistake, error, mix-up, bungle; comess, hash, mess-up, foul-up, screw-up,
snafu, fuck-up, balls-up],

keep (it) stumm, schtum, shtoom (id.) – say nothing, especially in circumstnaces
where saying the wrong thing may get you into truble,

hunky-dory (adj.) – (informal) fine, going well [Everything is hunky-dory.],

bisque (n.) – a thick soup made from shellfish; objects made of baked clay that have
not been covered with a glaze (= a liquid that produces a shiny surface) [Lobster bisque.],

venue (n.) – scene [I think it's best if we reconvene to a larger venue.] – synonyms &
related words [locale, place, setting, site, ground, thrust],

stand someone up (id.) – (informal) fail to keep an appointment with a boyfriend or

girlfriend [She threw eggs over his car after he stood her up.] – synonyms & related words
[fail to keep a date with, fail to meet, fail to keep an appointment with, fail to turn up for,
jilt, let down],

hod (n.) – a container with a long handle used for carrying bricks [That's why you never
see a superhero with a hod.],

voracious (adj.) – wanting or devouring great qualities of food; engaging in an activity

with great eagerness or enthusiasm [A voracious appetite. Boxer dogs have voracious
appetites. She's a voracious reader.] – synonyms & related words [insatiable,
unquenchable, unappeasable, prodigious, uncontrollable, uncontrolled, omnivorous,
compulsive, gluttonous, greedy, rapacious; enthusiastic, eager, keen, avid, desirous,
craving, hungry, ravenous, ravening, wolfish, piggish, hoggish, swinish, gutsy, gannet-
like, insatiate, edacious, esurient],

lukewarm (adj.) – (of liquid or food that should be hot) only moderately warm, tepid;
(of a person, attitude, or action) unenthusiastic [They drank bitter, lukewarm coffee.
Britain is lukewarm about the proposal. Elsewhere in the country, the idea met with a
lukewarm response.] – synonyms & related words [tepid, slightly warm, warmish, blood-
hot, blood-warm, at room temperature, at skin temperature, chambré; s: indifferent,
cool, half-hearted, apathetic, unenthusiastic, tepid, uninterested, unconcerned, offhand,
lackadaisical, perfunctory, phlegmatic, impassive, dispassionate, emotionless,
passionless, limp, non-committal, unresponsive, unmoved, laid-back, unenthused,
couldn't-care-less, half-arsed, Laodicean],

run on all cylinders (id.) – (for an engine) to run well and smoothly; (figurative) to
function well or energetically [This car is now running on all cylinders, thanks to the tune-
up. You can hear if an engine is not running on all cylinders. Our department seems to be
running on all cylinders. Congratulations. I am back at my desk after my illness—running
on all cylinders.],

scrounge (v.) – seek to obtain (something, typically food or money) at the expense or
through the generosity of others or by stealth [He had managed to scrounge a free meal.
They were always scrounging food from the tourists.] – synonyms & related words [beg,
borrow; informalcadge, sponge, bum, touch someone for, scab, sorn on someone for,
mooch, bludge],

groundswell (n.) – a sudden increase in people's feelings about something, rise, flood,
motion, rush, activity, movement [A groundswell of opinion against the early release of
the prisoners.] – synonyms & related words [increase, hike, advance, growth, leap,
upsurge, upswing, ascent, climb, jump, escalation, spiralling; improvement, amelioration,
advance, upturn, leap, jump],

putative (adj.) – appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be
confirmed [The putative reason for her dismissal was poor job performance. Many
putative explanations have been given for the origin of this nickname for the card.] –
synonyms & related words [assumed, evident, ostensible, ostensive, presumed, prima
facie, apparent, reputed, seeming, supposed, demonstrable, external, outward,
superficial, visible, conceivable, plausible, possible, supposable, likely, probable, clear,
distinct, manifest, obvious, plain, deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory,
imaginary, misleading, specious, fake, faked, feigned, phony, phoney, pretended, pseudo,
put-on, alleged, claimed, professed, purported, so-called]

hound (v.) – harass, persecute, or pursue relentlessly [She was hounded by the Italian
press. He was hounded down by the fucking press! His opponents used the allegiations to
hound him out of office. He led the race from start to finish but was hounded all the way by
Phillips.] – synonyms & related words [harass, persecute, harry, pester, bother, trouble,
annoy, badger, torment, bedevil, keep after; nag, bully, browbeat, chivvy, keep on at, go
on at, hassle, bug, give someone a hard time, devil, ride, heavy; force, drive, pressure,
pressurize, propel, push, urge, coerce, impel, dragoon, strong-arm, bulldoze, railroad,
bounce, hustle; pursue, chase, follow, shadow, give chase to, follow on the heels of, be
hot on someone's heels; hunt, hunt down, stalk, track, trail, tail],

tone (v.) – give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a muscle); (of a muscle or
other bodily part) become stronger or firmer; harmonize with (something) in terms of
color [Exercise tones up the muscles. His leg muscles had toned up. The rich orange color of
the wood tones beautifully with the yellow roses.],

come forward (id.) – volunteer oneself for a task or post or to give evidence about a
crime [Two witnesses have come forward with information. A local trader came forward to
pay the fines.] – synonyms & related words [volunteer, step forward, offer one's services,
make oneself available],

run on fumes (id.) – to continue doing something even when you have no energy left,
to press on; to operate with low resources or money, to make do, jury-rig, makeshift; to
stay awake even when you are exhausted [After two nights of continuous work, I'm
running on fumes today. We're running on fumes here, guys, the tank's been empty of fuel
for 5 miles and I have no idea what's in it anymore.],

shrink-wrapped (adj.) – package (an article) by enclosing it in clinging transparent

plastic film that shrinks tightly on to it, wrapped very tightly in thin clear plastic [Shrink-
wrapped blocks of cheese. The Observer notes that while "some countries [deem it] so
potentially disturbing that it can only be sold shrink-wrapped", "critics rave about it" and
"academics revel in its transgressive and postmodern qualities."],

homeopathy (n.) – a way of treating illness by giving small amounts of natural

substances that in large amounts would cause the illness, it is a form of complementary
medicine, a person who treats people using homeopathy is called a homeopath,

mulligan (n.) – (chance) a second chance to perform an action, usually after the first
chance went wrong through bad luck or a blunder,

hive off (id.) – remove from a group and make separate,

Chatham House Rule (n.) – (UK) a rule or principle according to which information
disclosed during a meeting may be reported by those present, but the source of that
information may not be explicitly or implicitly identified,

bail out (v.) – make an emergency parachute descent from an airfact; withdraw from
an obligation or commitment [She felt ready to bail out of the corporate rat race. After the
strong run, investors bailed out.] – synonyms & related words [sell up, sell out, sell;
withdraw, retreat, beat a retreat, quit, give up, abandon ship],

overture (n.) – an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, play, etc; an

independent orchestral composition in one movement; an introduction to something
more substantial; an approach or proposal made to someone with the aim of opening
negotiations or establishing a relationship [The overture to Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'.
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. The talks were no more than an overture to a long debate.
He began making overtures to British merchant banks. The enemy were making peace
overtures.] – synonyms & related words [prelude, introduction, opening, introductory
movement, voluntary, verset, preliminary, prelude, curtain-raiser, introduction, lead-in,
precursor, forerunner, harbinger, herald, start, beginning, opener; opening move,
conciliatory move, move, approach, advances, feeler, signal, proposal, proposition, pass,
offer, tender, suggestion],
cut not the bough that you are standing upon (id.) – if you depend upon
something, make use you can do without it before you get rid of it, don't endanger your
own position by hasty or thoughtless action, don't bite the hand that feeds you,

bough (n.) – a main branch of a tree [Apple boughs laden with blossom. The willows
dipped their boughs into the river.] – synonyms & related words [branch, limb, arm, twig,
sprig, offshoot, spur],

conspiracy/unkindness (n.) – (archaic, obsolete) collective nouns for a group of

ravens, flock,

yellow-bellied (adj.) – afraid, cowardly, anxious, backward, apprehensive, cowering,

craven, frightened, gutless,

stew (v.) – (with reference to meat, fruit, or other food) cook or be cooked slowly in
liquid in a closed dish or pan; (UK, of tea) become strong and bitter with prolonged
brewing; (literary) be steeped in or imbued with; (informal) remain in a heated or
stifling atmosphere; worry about something, especially on one's own [Beef stewed in
wine. Politics there are stewed in sexual prejudice and privilege. Sweaty clothes left to stew
in a plastic bag. The girls sat stewing in the heat. James will be expecting us, so we will let
him stew a bit. There's no point stewing over it.] – synonyms & related words [braise,
casserole, fricassee, simmer, boil, jug, smoor, seethe; swelter, be very hot, perspire,
sweat, roast, bake, be boiling; worry, fret, agonize, be anxious, be nervous, be agitated,
get in a panic, get worked up, get in a fluster, get overwrought, get in a flap, get in a state,
get in a tizz/tizzy, get in a tiz-woz, get in a sweat, get steamed up, get in a lather],

patio (n.) – a paved outdoor area adjoining a house; a roofless inner courtyard in a
Spanish or Spanish-American house [The dining room looks out to a small patio.] –
synonyms & related words [terrace, courtyard, veranda, loggia, court, plaza, quadrangle,
quad, cloister; sun deck, deck, porch; sleepout; stoep; lanai, peristyle],

turncoat (n.) – a person who deserts one party or cause in order to join an opposing
one [They denounced him as a turncoat. The little turncoat in Richmond Terrace.] –
synonyms & related words [traitor, renegade, defector, deserter, betrayer, Judas; fifth
columnist, quisling, rat, tergiversator, renegate, renegado],

dowser (n.) – divining rod, forked branch used to locate underground water or
minerals, divining stick, doodlebug, dowsing rod, wand, wiggle stick, witching stick,

tacit (adj.) – understood or implied without being stated [Your silence may be taken to
mean tacit agreement. The bargaining relies on informal agreements and tacit
understandings.] – synonyms & related words [implicit, understood, implied, inferred,
hinted, suggested, insinuated; unspoken, unstated, undeclared, unsaid, unexpressed,
unmentioned, unvoiced, silent, mute, wordless, not spelt out; taken for granted, taken as
read],

assiduous (adj.) – showing great care and perseverance [She was assiduous in pointing
out every feature. She was assiduous in pointing out every feature.] – synonyms & related
words [diligent, careful, meticulous, thorough, sedulous, attentive, industrious,
laborious, hard-working, conscientious, ultra-careful, punctilious, painstaking,
demanding, exacting, persevering, unflagging, searching, close, elaborate, minute,
accurate, correct, studious, rigorous, particular; religious, strict; pedantic, fussy],

sculpt (v.) – create or represent (something) by carving, casting, or other shaping

techniques [Sculpting human figures from ivory.] – synonyms & related words [carve,
model, chisel, sculpture, fashion, form, shape, cast, cut, hew, sculp],

loss leader (n.) – a product sold at a loss in order to attract customers,

conducive (adj.) – making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible [The harsh
lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere. An environment which
is conducive to learning.] – synonyms & related words [good for, helpful to, instrumental
in, calculated to produce, productive of, useful for, favourable, beneficial, valuable,
advantageous, opportune, propitious, encouraging, promising, convenient; contribute to,
lead to, tend to promote, make for, facilitate, favour, aid, assist, help, benefit, encourage],

sole (adj.) – (archaic, especially of a woman) unmarried,

convolve (v.) – (rare) roll or coil together, entwine; (mathematics) combine (one
function or series) with another by forming their convulsion,

skank (n.) – a steady-paced dance performed to reggae music, characterized by

rhythmically bending forward, raising the knees, and extending the hands palms-
downwards; reggae music suitable for dancing the skank to; (US, informal) a sleazy or
unpleasant person; (derogatory) a promiscuous woman [The office skank.],

skank (v.) – play reggae music or dance the skank; (informal) walk or move in a
sexually suggestive way; (informal) swindle or deceive, obtain by deception or theft [A
minimal skanking guitar. They made a tidy sum skanking the tourists. I skanked the poster
off some wall.],

squiggle (n.) – a short line that curls and loops in an irregular way [Some prescriptions
are a series of menaingless squiggles. People who move in random squiggles are so hard to
hit as Anna.],

squiggle (v.) – (US) wriggle, squirm; squeeze (something) from a tube so as to make
irregular, curly lines on a surface [A thin worm that squiggled in his palm. I watched the
girl squiggle yellow and red paint on the paper.],
on the blink (id.) – (informal, of a machine) not working properly, out of order, not
functioning [The computer's on the blink.],

hem (v.) – turn under and sew the edge of (a piece of cloth); surround and restrict the
space or movement of [She began to hem a border. Nanna taught me to hem skirts. He was
hemmed in by the tables. The bay was hammed in by the pine trees. He was hemmed in by
the furniture.] – synonyms & related words [edge, put a hem on, border, trim, bind,
fringe; surround, border, edge, encircle, circle, ring, enclose, skirt, flank, fringe,
encompass, gird, girdle, engird, restrict, confine, trap, kettle, close in, shut in, hedge in,
fence in, pen in, box in, keep within bounds, immure, constrain, restrain, limit,
circumscribe, curb, check, corral, compass],

hem (v.) – (archaic) make a sound in the throat when hesitating or as a signal [Jane, if
any one is about, come to the foot of the stairs and hem.],

shake/quake in your boots (id.) – (humorous) to feel very afraid [They were
shaking in their boots when they saw their opponents.],

iron sharpes iron, (so one man sharpens another) (saying) – there is mutual
benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together, the edges become sharper, making
the knives more efficient in their task to cut and slice, likewise, the word of God is a
double-edged sword, and it is with this that we ar eto sharpen one another – in times of
meeting, fellowship, or any other interaction, the proverb also indicates the need for
constant fellowship with one another, as man was not made to be alone

home truth (n.) – an unpleasant fact about oneself, especially as pointed out by
another person [What he needed was someone to tell him a few home truths. Let me tell
you an ugly home truth.],

quarry (n.) – an animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of

prey; a thing or person that is chased or sought [Grouse are not an easy quarry for a
hawk. He had no intention of allowing his quarry to elude him. The security police crossed
the border of their quarry.] – synonyms & related words [prey, victim; the hunted; prize,
object, goal, target, kill; wild fowl, game, big game],

impartial (adj.) – treating all rivals or disputants equally [The minister cannot be
impartial in the way that a judge would be. The referee is obliged to be impartial.] –
synonyms & related words [unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral, non-partisan, non-
discriminatory, anti-discrimination, disinterested, uninvolved, uncommitted, detached,
dispassionate, objective, open-minded, equitable, even-handed, fair, fair-minded, just;
without favouritism, free from discrimination, with no axe to grind, without fear or
favour, on the fence],
on/at the hustings (id.) – making speeches before an election to try to persuade
people to vote for you,

devast (v.) – (obsolete) to devastate, destroy or ruin; cause (someone) severe and
overwhelming shock or grief [The city was devasted by a huge earthquake. He was
devasted by the newsing. The Devasting Orb.] – synonyms & related words [destroy, ruin,
leave in ruins, wreck, lay waste, wreak havoc on, ravage, ransack, leave desolate,
demolish, raze (to the ground), level, flatten, annihilate; shatter, shock, stun, daze,
dumbfound, traumatize, crush, overwhelm, overcome, greatly upset, distress, knock for
six, knock sideways, knock the stuffing out of],

disenchanted (adj.) – disappointed by someone or something previously respected

or admired, disillusioned [He became disenchanted with his erstwhile ally.],

disenchant (v.) – cause (someone) to be disappointed [He may have been

disenchanted by the loss of his huge following. Disenchanted with politics, he retired from
the foreign service.] – synonyms & related words [disillusioned, disappointed, let down,
fed up, dissatisfied, discontented, disabused, undeceived, set straight; cynical, soured,
jaundiced, sick, out of love, indifferent],

snappy (adj.) – irritable and inclined to speak sharply, snappish; cleverly concise, neat;
neat and elegant [Anything unusual made her snappy and nervous. He's in a snappy mood.
A snappy catchphrase. A snappy dresser.] – synonyms & related words [irritable, irascible,
short-tempered, hot-tempered, quick-tempered, fiery, peevish, cross, crabbed, crabby,
crotchety, cantankerous, impatient, grumpy, huffy, brusque, ill-tempered, bad-tempered,
ill-natured, ill-humoured, touchy, volatile, testy, tetchy, snarling, waspish, prickly, crusty,
peppery, bilious, liverish, dyspeptic, splenetic, choleric, snappish, chippy, grouchy,
cranky, on a short fuse, narky, ratty, eggy, like a bear with a sore head, peckish,
soreheaded, snaky, miffy; concise, succinct, memorable, catchy, neat, clever, crisp, pithy,
witty, incisive, brief, short, short and sweet, sharp, terse, curt, laconic, aphoristic,
epigrammatic; smart, well dressed, well turned out, besuited, fashionably dressed,
fashionable, stylish, chic, modish, elegant, neat, spruce, trim, dapper, debonair; soigné,
snazzy, natty, sharp, nifty, cool, with it; informalkicking, kicky, tony, fly, spiffy, sassy,
stylin', on fleek, as if one had just stepped out of a bandbox, swagger, trig],

concupiscent (adj.) – (formal) filled with sexual desire, lustful [Concupiscent dreams.],

insuperable (adj.) – (of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome [Insuperable

financial problems. There should be no insuperable obstacle to the purchase.] – synonyms
& related words [insurmountable, unconquerable, invincible, unassailable,
overwhelming, hopeless, impossible],

malign (v.) – speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner [Don't you dare
malign her in my presence. He accused them of malignign an innocent man. Demon
Hunters are dark, shadowy warriors who are shunned by the greater Night Elf society.
They made a pact, long ago, to fight against the forces of chaos using its own terrible
powers against it. These mysterious warriors ritually blind themselves so that they develop
'spectral sight' that enables them to see demons and undead with greater clarity. They
wield demonically charged warblades in battle and even call upon demonic energies to
augment their formidable combat skills. Although they are counted as some of the
mightiest warriors within the Night Elves' society, the Demon Hunters are always maligned
and misunderstood for making their selfless pact with darkness.] – synonyms & related
words [defame, slander, libel, blacken someone's name/character, smear, run a smear
campaign against, vilify, speak ill of, spread lies about, accuse falsely, cast aspersions on,
run down, misrepresent, calumniate, traduce, denigrate, disparage, slur, derogate, abuse,
revile, bad-mouth, knock, drag through the mud/mire, throw/sling/fling mud at, do a
hatchet job, rubbish, slag off, asperse, vilipend],

debilitate (v.) – make (someone) very weak and infirm; hinder, delay, or weaken [He
was severely debilitated by a stomach upset. He was suffering the debilitating effects of flu.
Hard drugs destroy families and debilitate communities.] – synonyms & related words
[weakening, enfeebling, enervating, enervative, devitalizing, draining, sapping, wearing,
exhausting, tiring; impairing, crippling, paralysing; weaken, make weak, make feeble,
enfeeble, enervate, devitalize, sap, drain, exhaust, weary, tire, fatigue, wear out,
prostrate; undermine, impair, render infirm, indispose, incapacitate, disable, paralyse,
immobilize, lay low, put out of action, confine to bed, confine to a wheelchair, knock out,
do in, knacker, shatter, torpefy],

upset (n.) – an unexpected result or situation; the state of being unhappy,

disappointed, or worried; a disturbance of a person's digestive system [The greatest
upset in boxing history. They nearled pulled off one of motor sport's biggest upsets. A legal
dispute will cause worry and upset. A stomach upset.] – synonyms & related words
[unexpected result; major defeat, rout, trouncing, thrashing, drubbing, toppling; surprise
victory, coup, tour de force, feat, master stroke, hammering; distress, trouble,
perturbation, disturbance, discomposure, dismay, disquiet, worry, bother,
inconvenience, agitation, fluster, alarm, fright, anger, annoyance, irritation, vexation,
harassment, torment, hurt, grief; disorder, complaint, ailment, illness, sickness, disease,
malady, affliction, indisposition, infirmity, lurgy, bug, wog],

upset (adj.) – unhappy, disappointed, or worried; (of a person's stomach) having

disturbed digestion, especially because of something eaten [She looked pale and upset. I
was upset by Sheila's illness. A stomach upset.] – synonyms & related words [distressed,
troubled, perturbed, disturbed, discomposed, unsettled, disconcerted, discountenanced,
dismayed, disquieted, worried, bothered, inconvenienced, anxious, agitated, flustered,
ruffled, unnerved, shaken, frightened, alarmed, angered, annoyed, irritated, vexed, irked,
fretted, hurt, saddened, grieved, cut up, choked, gutted; disordered, disturbed, unsettled,
queasy, bad, poorly, ill, sick, gippy, holiday],
sublime (adj.) – of very great excellence or beauty; producing an overwhelming sense
of awe or other high emotion through being vast or grand; (of a person's attitude or
behavior) extreme or unparalleled [Mozart's sublime piano concertos. A sublime vision of
human potential. A sense of the sublime. He had the sublime confidence of youth.] –
synonyms & related words [exalted, elevated, noble, lofty, awe-inspiring, awesome,
majestic, magnificent, imposing, glorious, supreme; grand, great, outstanding, excellent,
first-rate, first-class, superb, perfect, ideal, wonderful, marvellous, splendid, delightful,
blissful, rapturous; informalfantastic, fabulous, fab, super, smashing, terrific, stellar,
heavenly, divine, mind-blowing, too good to be true, out of this world; supreme, total,
complete, utter, consummate, extreme, arrogant],

sublime (v.) – (chemistry, of a solid substance) change directly into vapor when
heated, typically forming a solid deposit again on cooling; cause (a substance) to
sublime; (archaic) elevate to a high degree of moral or spiritual purity or excellence [The
ice sublimed away, leaving the books dry and undamaged. These crystals could be sublimed
under a vacuum. Let your thoughts be sublimed by the spirit of God.],

mordant (adj.) – (especially of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality,

biting [A mordant sense of humor.] – synonyms & related words [caustic, trenchant,
biting, cutting, acerbic, sardonic, sarcastic, scathing, acid, sharp, keen, tart, pungent,
stinging, astringent, incisive, devastating, piercing, rapier-like, razor-edged; critical,
bitter, polemic, virulent, vitriolic, venomous, waspish, corrosive, aciduous, mordacious],

close in (v.) – (literary) if night or darkness closes in, it becomes night, or it gets
darker; (literary) if the days close in, there are fewer hours of light each day because
autum nis starting,

glom on(to) (v.) – (slang) to attach oneself to something; to comprehend something,

cotton on(to) (v.) – to relaize, come to understand, comprehend,

cotton to (v.) – to like, approve of, accept, or tolerate [He tried sneaking it past them,
but they didn't cotton to his attempts.],

arcade (n.) – (architecture) a row of arches; (architecture) a covered passage, usually

with shops on both sides,

pernicious (adj.) – having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way [The
pernicious influences of the mass media. A pernicious influence on society.] – synonyms &
related words [harmful, damaging, destructive, injurious, hurtful, detrimental,
deleterious, dangerous, adverse, inimical, unhealthy, unfavourable, bad, evil, baleful,
wicked, malign, malevolent, malignant, noxious, poisonous, cancerous, corrupting,
ruinous, deadly, lethal, fatal, malefic, maleficent, pestilent, pestilential, baneful,
pestiferous],
larcenous (adj.) – crooked, thievish – synonyms & related words [A Terran marine
with a larcenous attitude.] – synonyms & related words [crooked, rapacious, criminal,
cunning, dishonest, fraudulent, furtive, kleptomaniacal, light-fingered, pilfering, piratic,
plunderous, predatory, secretive, sly, spoliative, stealthy, sticky-fingered],

impetuous (adj.) – acting or done quickly and without thought or care; moving
forcefully or rapidly [She might live to rue this impetuous decision. An impetuous but
controlled flow of water.] – synonyms & related words [impulsive, rash, hasty, overhasty,
reckless, heedless, foolhardy, incautious, imprudent, injudicious, ill-conceived, ill-
considered, unplanned, unreasoned, unthought-out, unthinking; spontaneous,
impromptu, spur-of-the-moment, precipitate, precipitous, headlong, hurried, rushed;
torrential, powerful, forceful, vigorous, violent, raging, rampant, relentless, unrestrained,
uncontrolled, unbridled; rapid, fast, fast-flowing, rushing],

saccharine (adj.) – excessively sweet or sentimental; (dated) relating to or containing

sugar, sugary [Saccharine music. Some saccharine love songs.] – synonyms & related
words [sentimental, over-sentimental, over-emotional, mawkish, cloying, sickly, sugary,
syrupy, sickening, nauseating, maudlin, lachrymose, banal, trite, mushy, slushy, sloppy,
schmaltzy, weepy, cutesy, lovey-dovey, gooey, drippy, sloshy, soupy, treacly, cheesy,
corny, icky, sick-making, toe-curling, soppy, twee, cornball, sappy, hokey, three-hanky],

gumption (n.) – shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness [The president would
hire almost any young man who had the gumption to ask for a job. She had the gumption
to go and make a better life for herself.] – synonyms & related words [initiative,
resourcefulness, enterprise, imagination, imaginativeness, ingenuity, inventiveness;
cleverness, astuteness, shrewdness, acumen, discernment, understanding, reason,
wisdom, sagacity, sense, common sense, wit, mother wit, native wit, native ability,
practicality; spirit, forcefulness, backbone, pluck, mettle, nerve, courage, get-up-and-go,
grit, spunk, oomph, nous, savvy, horse sense, loaf, common, smarts],

conniption (n.) – (informal) a fit of anger or panic, conniption fit; a fit of laughing,
convulsion [When she came downstairs and saw what her children were eating, she had a
conniption. Threatened by the conniptions gripping Wall Street. The joke was not that
funny, but he went into conniptions laughing.],

glisten (n.) – a sparkling light reflected from something wet [There was a glisten of
perspiration across her top lip.],

romp (v.) – (especially of a child or animal) play roughly and energetically; (informal)
proceed withotu effort to achieve something; (informal) engage in sexual activity,
especfially illicitly [The noisy pack of children romped around the gardens. Two fox cubs
romped playfully on the bank. Newcastler omped to victory. South Africa romped to a six-
wicket win over India. A colleague stumbled on the couple romping in an office.] –
synonyms & related words [play, frolic, frisk, gambol, jump about/around, spring
about/around, bound about/around, skip, prance, caper, sport, cavort, rollick, curvet;
sweep, sail, coast, win easily, win hands down, run away with it, win by a mile, walk it],

romp (n.) – a spell of rough, energetic play; a light-hearted film or other work;
(informal) an easy victory; (informal) a spell of sexual activity, especially an illicit one
[An enjoyable gross sci-fi romp. Their UEFA Cup romp against the Luxembourg part-timers.
Three-in-a-bed sex romps.],

feast or famine (id.) – either too much of something or too little [Your cash flow has
been feast or famine recently.],

contingent (adj.) – subject to chance; (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated
to arise if a particular event occurs; occurring or existing only if (certain circumstnaces)
are the case, dependent on; (philosophy) true by virtue of the way things in fact are and
not by logical necessity [The contingent nature of the job. His fees were contingent on the
success of his search. Resolution of the conflict was contingent on the signing of a
ceasefire.] – synonyms & related words [chance, accidental, fortuitous, possible,
unforeseen, unforeseeable, unexpected, unpredicted, unpredictable, unanticipated,
unlooked-for; random, haphazard; dependent, conditional; subject to, based on,
determined by, hingeing on, resting on, hanging on, controlled by],

contingent (n.) – a group of people sharing a common feature, forming part of a larger
group; a body of troops or police sent to join a large force [A contingent of Japanese
businessmen attending a conference. Six warships were stationed off the coast with a
contingent of 2,000 marines.] – synonyms & related words [group, party, body, band, set;
deputation, delegation, mission; detachment, unit, division, squadron, section, company,
corps, cohort, bunch, gang],

(as) large as life (id.) – (informal) used to emphasize that a person is conspicuously
present [He was standing nearby, large as life.],

larger than life (id.) – (of a person) attracting special attention because of unusual
and flamboyant appearance or behaviour; (of a thing) seeming disproportionately
important [He was a larger-than-life character on and off the pitch. Your problems seem
larger than life at that time of night.],

a good time was had by all (id.) – said to mean that everyone enjoyed themselves,
everyone had a good time,

nuncheon/nunchion/nonchion (n.) – (dialect, archaic) a drink or light snack

taken in the afternoon, a refreshment between meals,

luncheon (n.) – a formal meal served in the middle of the day; a formal term for lunch;
(obsolete) a lump of food; (obsolete) a portion of food taken at any time except at a
regular meal, an informal or light repast,
redolent (adj.) – strongly reminiscent or suggestive of; (literary) strongly smelling of,
(archaic, literary) fragrant or sweet-smelling [Names redolent of history and tradition. An
old village church is redolent of everything that is England. The church was old, dark, and
redolent of incense. A rich, inky, redolent wine. The air was redolent of patchouli.] –
synonyms & related words [evocative, suggestive, reminiscent, remindful],

inky (adj.) – as dark as ink; stained with ink [The cold inky blackness of a Mexican cave.
The inky darkness of the tunnel. Bureacrats wit hinky fingers.] – synonyms & related
words [black, jet-black, jet, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitch, black as pitch, coal-black, black
as night, sable, ebony, dark, Stygian, Cimmerian],

brazen (v.) – endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent

confidence and lack of shame [There was nothing to do but brazen it out.] – synonyms &
related words [put on a bold front, put a bold face on it, be defiant, be unrepentant, be
impenitent, be unashamed, be unabashed, stand one's ground],

brazen (adj.) – bold and without shame; (literary, archaic) made of brass; harsh in
sound [He went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance. Brazen defiance.
Brazen fire irons. Brazen objects. The music's brazen chords.] – synonyms & related words
[bold, shameless, as bold as brass, brazen-faced, forward, presumptuous, brash,
immodest, unashamed, unabashed, unembarrassed, unblushing; defiant, impudent,
insolent, impertinent, cheeky, pert; barefaced, blatant, flagrant, undisguised, brassy,
pushy, saucy],

stupendous (adj.) – extremely impressive [The most stupendous views. Truly

stupendous achievements. A roc was an imaginary bird of stupendous size.] – synonyms &
related words [amazing, astounding, astonishing, extraordinary, remarkable, wonderful,
prodigious, phenomenal, staggering, breathtaking, fantastic, mind-boggling, mind-
blowing, great, terrific, awesome, unreal, amazeballs, wondrous; colossal, immense, vast,
giant, gigantic, massive, monumental, mammoth, elephantine, gargantuan, prodigious,
huge, very large, great, enormous, mighty, titanic, Herculean, Brobdingnagian, jumbo,
bumper, monster, humongous, whopping, astronomical, mega, ginormous],

expedite (v.) – make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more
quickly [He promised to expedite economic reforms. The court has the power to expedite
the decree absolute.] – synonyms & related words [speed up, accelerate, hurry, hasten,
step up, quicken, precipitate, rush; advance, facilitate, ease, make easier, further,
promote, aid, push through, push, give a push to, press, urge on, forward, boost, give a
boost to, stimulate, spur on, help along, oil the wheels for, smooth the way for, clear a
path for; finish/accomplish/achieve quickly, dispatch, dash off, make short work of],

umber (n.) – a brown clay, somewhat darker than ochre, whic hcontains iron and
manganese oxidies; alternative form of umbrere; a grayling; a dusky brown African
wading bird (Scopus umbretta) allied to the storks and herons,
remise (n.) – (music) the repetition or return of the opening material later in a
composition; (fencing) a renewal of a failed action, without withdrawing the arm;
(historical) a house for covered carraiges, a chaise house; (historical) a livery carriage of
a kind superior to an ordinary fiacre, so called because kept in a remise,

remise (v.) – to surrender all interest in a property by executing a deed, to quitlaim,

who would have thunk (it) (id.) – (rhetorical question, colloquial, sometimes
sarcastic, used to express incredulity) who would have thought that would happen? who
would have guessed it [[The Alchemist] says: Oh, warden. Do not tell me that you were
looking for me to treat you differently. Who would've thunk that a lady in need is hidden
behind all this armor.],

break (v.) – (of news or a scandal) suddenly become public; make bad news known to
(someone) [Since the news broke, I've received thousands of wonderful letters. A political
scandal broke in mid-1991. He was trying to break the terrible news gently to the king. He
tried to break the news gently.],

culvert (n.) – a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railway –
synonyms & related words [channel, conduit, watercourse, trough, drain, gutter],

off color (adj.) – (UK) slightly unwell; slightly indecent or obscene [I'm feeling a bit off
color. Off-color jokes.] – synonyms & related words [unwell, ill, poorly, bad, out of sorts,
indisposed, not oneself, sick, queasy, nauseous, nauseated, peaky, liverish, green about
the gills, run down, washed out; off, under the weather, below par, not up to par, funny,
peculiar, rough, lousy, rotten, awful, terrible, dreadful, crummy, grotty, ropy, wabbit,
peely-wally, crook, crappy, seedy; smutty, dirty, rude, filthy, crude, suggestive, indecent,
indelicate, indecorous, risqué, racy, bawdy, naughty, spicy, blue, vulgar, ribald, broad,
salacious, coarse, obscene, pornographic, raunchy, fruity, near the knuckle, saucy, adult],

ickle/eckle (n.) – (dialect) an icicle,

ickle (adj.) – (childish) little,

debonair (adj.) – (of a man) confident, stylish, and charming [All the men looked
debonair and handsome in white tie and tails. A debonair young man.] – synonyms &
related words [suave, urbane, sophisticated, cultured, self-possessed, self-assured,
confident, charming, gracious, well mannered, civil, courteous, gallant, chivalrous,
gentlemanly, refined, polished, well bred, genteel, dignified, courtly; well dressed, well
groomed, well turned out, elegant, stylish, smart, dashing, dapper, spruce, trim,
attractive; soigné, smooth, swish, swanky, snappy, sharp, cool, spiffy, fly, on fleek,
mannerly, trig, gentle],

mannerly (adj.) – well-mannered, polite, cultured [He is always genteel and mannerly
in private.],
bespoke (adj.) – individually or custom made; relating to someone who makes
custom-made products, especially clothing items; primarily used for tailoring, now also
used more generally, as fancier term for custom-made, notably for software, as in a
„bespoke solution“, tailored – synonyms & related words [customize, adapt, adjust,
modify, change, convert, alter, attune, fashion, style, mould, gear, fit, cut, trim, suit,
shape, reshape, tune, custom make, tailored],

emblematic (adj.) – serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept, symbolic

[This case is emblematic of a larger problem. The experience of these writers was seen as
emblematic of the social mobility of post-war writers. Emblematic works of art.] –
synonyms & related words [symbolic, representative, demonstrative, suggestive,
symptomatic, indicative, typical, characteristic; allegorical, symbolic, symbolizing,
metaphorical, parabolic, evocative, figurative],

burlesque (n.) – an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something,

especially in a literary or dramatic work, a parody; a variety show, typically including
striptease [A novel which is a burlesque of the literary life. The funniest burlesque of music
hall there has been. Burlesque clubs.] – synonyms & related words [: parody, caricature,
travesty, pastiche, take-off, skit, imitation, satire, lampoon, send-up, spoof, piss-take,
pasquinade, pasticcio],

slant (v.) – slope or lean in a particular direction, diverge or cause to diverge from the
vertical or horizontal; (especialyl of light or shadow) fall in an oblique direction; present
or view (information) from a particular angle, especially in a biased or unfair way [A
ploughed field slanted up to the skyline. The early sun slanted across the mountains.
Slanted news coverage. It doesn't automatically follow that their findings will be slanted in
favor of their own beliefs.] – synonyms & related words [slope, tilt, incline, be at an angle,
angle, tip, cant, be askew, skew, lean, dip, pitch, shelve, list, bank, heel; oblique, sloping,
at an angle, angled, not straight, on an incline, inclined, tilting, tilted, atilt, slanted, aslant,
slantwise, diagonal, canted, cambered, leaning, dipping, shelving, listing; crooked, askew,
skew; squint; cater-cornered, catty-cornered, kitty-corner; bias, distort, twist, skew,
color, weight, spin, angle, orient, give a slant to, give a bias to],

slant (n.) – a sloping position, a particular point of view from which something is seen
or presented [The hedge grew at a slant. The slant of the roof. A new slant on science.
Some of the essays have a feminist slant.] – synonyms & related words [slope, incline, tilt,
ramp, gradient, pitch, angle, rake, cant, camber, skew, leaning, inclination, shelving,
listing; point of view, viewpoint, standpoint, stance, angle, perspective, approach, view,
opinion, attitude, position, frame of reference; bias, leaning, partiality, prejudice, twist,
bent; spin],

inculcate (v.) – instill (an idea, attitude, or habit) by persistent instruction; teach
(someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction [I tried to inculcate in my
pupils an attitude of enquiry. Parents try to inculcate a sense of responsibility in their
children. They will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture.] – synonyms & related
words [instil, implant, fix, ingrain, infuse, impress, imprint, introduce; engender,
produce, generate, induce, inspire, promote, foster; hammer into, drum into, drive into,
drill into, din into; imbue, infuse, inspire, instill, brainwash, indoctrinate, teach],

din (v.) – make (someone) learn or remember an idea by constant repetition; make a
loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise [A runner-up, he dinned into them, was a loser.
Since she was a child, she had had the evils of drink dinned into her.] – synonyms & related
words [instill, drive, drum, hammer, drill, implant, ingrain, inculcate, teach over and over
again, indoctrinate, brainwash; blare, blast, clang, clatter, crash, clamor],

din (n.) – a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise [The fans made an awful din. He could
not be heard above the din.] – synonyms & related words [uproar, racket, loud noise,
confused noise, commotion, cacophony, babel, hubbub, tumult, fracas, clangour, crash,
clatter, clash; shouting, yelling, screaming, caterwauling, babble, babbling, clamour,
outcry; brouhaha, fuss, disturbance, ado; pandemonium, bedlam, chaos, confusion;
stramash; informalhullabaloo, rumpus, ruction, now, vociferation, ululation, charivari],

lily-livered (adj.) – cowardly, lacking courage, white-livered – synonyms & related

words [chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered,
milk-livered, poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow; difident,
fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous, afraid, frightened, scared, careful, cautious, wary,
bashful, coy, shy, feeble, soft, unmanly, weak],

broil (v.) – (NA) cook (meat or fish) by exposure to direct heat; become very hot,
especially from the sun [He lightly broiled a wedge of sea bass. The countryside lay
broiling in the sun. The sweaty nights and broiling days.] – synonyms & related words
[grill, toast, barbecue, cook, fry, bake; hot, scorching, roasting, baking, boiling (hot),
blistering, sweltering, parching, searing, blazing, sizzling, burning (hot), sultry, torrid,
tropical, like an oven, like a furnace],

tousle (v.) – make (something, especially a person's hair) untidy [Nathan's tousled head
appeared in the hatchway. She ran a hand through her tousled hair.] – synonyms &
related words [untidy, messy, unkempt, disordered, disarranged, messed up, rumpled,
dishevelled, bedraggled; uncombed, ungroomed, ruffled, tangled, matted, windblown,
wild, mussed up],

launder (v.) – wash and iron (clothes or linen); (informal) alter (information) to make
it appear mor acceptable[He wasn't used to laudnering his own bed linen. The used sheets
are taken away to be laundered.] – synonyms & related words [wash, clean, wash and
iron, wash and press, dry clean],
launder (n.) – a trough for holding or conveying water, especially (n mining) one used
for washing ore; a channel for conveying molten metal from a furnace or container to a
ladle or mould,

tremor (n.) – an involuntary quivering movement; a tremble or quiver in a person's

voice; a sudden feeling of fear or excitement; a slight earthquake [A disorder that causes
tremors and muscle rigidity. She tried to still the sudden tremor of her hands. A tremor of
unease.] – synonyms & related words [trembling, shaking, shakiness, tremble, shake,
quivering, quiver, twitching, twitch, convulsion, vibration, juddering, judder; quavering,
quaver, tic; frisson, shiver, spasm, thrill, tingle, stab, dart, shaft, wave, surge, rush, ripple;
earthquake, earth tremor, shock, foreshock, aftershock, quake, shake, tremblor],

still (v.) – make or become still, quieten [She raised her hand, stilling Erica's protests. He
stilled the clamorw ith a wave of his hand. The wind stilled.] – synonyms & related words
[quieten, quiet, silence, hush; calm, settle, pacify, soothe, lull, allay, assuage, appease,
subdue; abate, die down, grow less, lessen, subside, ease up/off, let up, moderate,
slacken, weaken, fade away],

flicker (v.) – (of light or a source of light9 shine unsteadily, vary rapidly in brightess;
make small, quick movements [The interior lights flickered, and came on. The gas lamp
flickered in the wind. Her eyelids flickered. His eyelids flickered in his sleep.] – synonyms &
related words [glimmer, glint, gleam, flare, shine, dance, gutter; twinkle, sparkle, blink,
wink, flash, scintillate, glisten, shimmer, glitter, glister, coruscate, fulgurate, effulge;
flutter, quiver, vibrate, tremble, wobble, shiver, shudder, spasm, jerk, twitch, bat, flap,
wink, blink, open and shut, nictitate, nictate],

boisterous (adj.) – noisy, energetic, and cheerful; (of weather or water) wild or
stormy [A group of boisterous lads. A boisterous game of handball. The boisterous wind
was lulled. The boisterous cur.] – synonyms & related words [lively, active, animated,
exuberant, spirited, bouncy, frisky, excited, overexcited, in high spirits, high-spirited,
ebullient, vibrant, rowdy, unruly, wild, uproarious, unrestrained, undisciplined,
uninhibited, uncontrolled, abandoned, rough, romping, rollicking, disorderly,
knockabout, riotous, rip-roaring, rumbustious, roistering, tumultuous; noisy, loud,
clamorous, clangorous; blustery, gusting, gusty, breezy, windy, stormy, wild, squally,
rough, choppy, turbulent, tempestuous, howling, roaring, raging, furious, blowy],

awash (adj.) – covered or flooded with water, especially seawater or rain; containing
large numbers or amounts of someone or something; level with the surface of water so
that it just washes over [The boat rolled violently, her decks awash. The city was awash
with journalists. A rock awash outside the reef entrance.] – synonyms & related words
[flooded, covered with water, under water, submerged, engulfed, submersed],

vat (n.) – a large tank or tub used to hold liquid, especially in industry; a water-insoluble
dye, such as indigo, that is applied to a fabric in a reducing bath which converts it to a
soluble form, the color being obtained on subsequent oxidation in the fabric fibres [A vat
of hot tar. Once again, the so-called lord of Outland’s overconfidence was revealed. A
properly prepared fortress would have vats of boiling oil or alchemical fire ready to
pour down on attackers. The defenders did nothing. Long minutes ticked by. This close
to the walls, Illidan could hear the hum of the magical generators that powered the
demonic war machines.] – synonyms & related words [tub, tank, cistern, bin, drum,
canister, basin, steeper, boiler; vessel, receptacle, container, holder, storage chamber,
repository, reservoir, barrel, butt, cask, keg, tun, kid, kier, keeve],

tun (n.) – a large beer or wine cask; a brewer's fermenting vat; an imperial measure of
capacity equal to 4 hogsheads; a large marine mollusc which has a rounded barrel-like
shell with broad spirals,

tun (v.) – store (wine or other alcoholic drinks) in a tun,

kier (n.) – a vat,

keeve (n.) – a tub or vat for holding liquid, especially in brewing or bleaching,

glad (adj.) – feeling pleasure or happiness; causing happiness; grateful; willing and
eager (to do something) [I'm really glad to hear that. I'd be glad to help. Glad tidings. She
aws glad of Hank's lively company. He will be glad to carry your bags.] – synonyms &
related words [pleased, happy, delighted, as pleased as Punch, well pleased, thrilled,
overjoyed, cock-a-hoop, elated, like a dog with two tails, like a child with a new toy,
gleeful; satisfied, contented, gratified, grateful, thankful; enchanté, tickled pink, over the
moon, as happy as Larry, chuffed, made up, as happy as a clam, wrapped, gruntled; more
than willing, eager, happy, pleased, delighted, ready, prepared, nothing loath, game;
pleasing, welcome, happy, joyful, delightful, cheering, heart-warming, heartening,
gratifying, gladsome],

gruntled (adj.) – (humorous) pleased, satisfied, and contended,

nothing loath (adj. adv.) – willing, not reluctantly, willingly,

electric (adj.) – having or producing a sudden sense of thrilling excitement [The
atmosphere was electric.] – synonyms & related words [tense, charged, electrifying;
exciting, dramatic, exhilarating, intoxicating, dynamic, thrilling, stimulating, galvanizing,
invigorating, animating, energizing, rousing, stirring, heady, moving, jolting, shocking,
startling, knife-edge, explosive, volatile, cliffhanging, buzzy],

abase (v.) – behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone) [I watched my

colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees. He put the appropriate note of
pleading into his voice, knowing it would flatter the demon’s vanity to think Illidan abased
himself.] – synonyms & related words [humble, humiliate, belittle, demean, lower,
degrade, disgrace, disparage, debase, cheapen, discredit, mortify, bring low, demote,
reduce; grovel, kowtow, bow and scrape, toady, fawn, crawl, suck up to someone, lick
someone's boots],

tight-lipped (adj.) – with the lips firmly closed, especially as as ign of suppressed
emotion or determined reticence [She stayed tight-lipped and shook her head. The
company remains tight-lipped about the launch date. Maiev gave her a tight-lipped smile.
“Why bother? There are thousands more of the creatures.” She nudged her nightsaber into
its long, loping stride. “Let them follow us if they wish. If they attack, we will teach them the
folly of their ways. Otherwise, do not waste precious arrows.”] – synonyms & related
words [reticent, taciturn, uncommunicative, unforthcoming, unresponsive, close-
mouthed, close-lipped; silent, quiet, unspeaking; guarded, secretive, private, withdrawn,
playing one's cards close to one's chest, of few words, untalkative, mum],

flinch (v.) – make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive
reaction to fear or pain; avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) through fear
or anxiety [She flinched at the acidity in his voice. Curtis flinched as the passenger window
imploded. I rarely flinch from a fight whne I'm sure of myself. He has never flinched from
the job in hand.] – synonyms & related words [wince, start, shy (away), recoil, shrink,
pull back, back away, shy away, draw back, withdraw, blench, cringe, squirm, quiver,
shudder, shiver, tremble, quake, shake, quail, cower, waver, falter, hesitate, get cold feet,
blanch; shrink, recoil, shy away, turn away, swerve, hang back, demur, dodge, evade,
avoid, duck, baulk at, jib at, quail at, fight shy of, boggle at],

disrelish (n.) – (archaic) a strong feeling of not liking or approving [She showed a clear
disrelish for the task of cleaning the fish that her husband had caught.] – synonyms &
related words [allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, disliking, dislike,
down, mislike; disgust, distaste, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion,
abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, deprecation,
disapproval, displeasure, dissatisfaction, jaundice],

putrefaction (n.) – the process by which dead organic matter separated into simpler
substances [Clearing the refrigerator of what the previous tenant had left behind was like
taking a course in the advanced putrefaction of leftovers.] – synonyms & related words
[breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, corruption, putrescence, rot, spoilage;
crumbling, disintegration, dissolution, curdling, fermentation, moldering, souring],

humor (v.) – comply with the wishes of (someone) in order to keep them content,
however unreasonable such wishes might be; (archaic) adapt or accommodate oneself
to (something) [She was always humorign him to prevent trouble.] – synonyms & related
words [indulge, pander to, yield to, bow to, cater to, give way to, give in to, go along with,
comply with, adapt to, accommodate; pamper, spoil, overindulge, cosset, coddle,
mollycoddle, mollify, soothe, placate, gratify, satisfy],
falsetto (n.) – (music) a method of voice production used by male singers, especially
tenors, to sing notes higher than their normal range; a singer using the falsetto method
of voice production; a voice or sound that is unusually high [He sang in a piercing
falsetto. Philip answered in a prim falsetto.] – synonyms & related words [high voice,
high-pitched voice, high-pitched tone, shrill tone, piercing tone, ear-piercing tone],

extol (v.) – praise enthusiastically [He extolled the virtues of the Russian peoples.
Nutritionists have long extolled the virtues of rice. In the past, knights would vie with each
other to see who could extol their liege's name the loudest.] – synonyms & related words
[praise enthusiastically, go into raptures about/over, wax lyrical about, sing the praises
of, praise to the skies, heap praise on, eulogize, rhapsodize over, rave about, enthuse
about/over, gush about/over, throw bouquets at, express delight over, acclaim, go wild
about, be mad about, go on about, big someone/something up, ballyhoo, cry
someone/something up, laud, panegyrize],

go off (v.) – (of a gun, bomb, or similar device) explode or fire; (of an alarm) begin to
sound; (UK, of food or drink) begin to decompose and become inedible; (UK, informal9
begin to dislike; go to sleep; gradualyl cease to be felt [The pistol suddenly went off. The
bomb went off at 9.20. Milk went off so quickly in hot weather. I went off men after my
husband left me. I had a bad headache but it's going off now.] – synonyms & related words
[explode, detonate, blow up, burst, erupt, go bang; go bad, go stale, go sour, turn, spoil,
go rancid, decompose, go mouldy, be rotten, be past its sell-by date],

fuss (n.) – a display of unnecessary or excessive excitement, activity, or interest; a

protest or dispuse of a specified degree or kind; elaborate or complex procedures,
trouble or difficulty [I don't know what all the fuss is about. He didn't put up too much of
a fuss. There was all that fuss over his marraigeb reaking up. She liked to cook with a
minimum of fuss.] – synonyms & related words [ado, excitement, agitation, uproar, to-
do, stir, commotion, confusion, disturbance, tumult, hubbub, rigmarole, folderol,
brouhaha, furore, storm in a teacup, much ado about nothing; upset, worry, bother, row;
fluster, flurry, bustle, palaver, hoo-ha, ballyhoo, flap, tizzy, stew, song and dance,
performance, pantomime, carry-on, kerfuffle, fuss and feathers, pother; protest,
complaint, objection, rumble, whine; tantrum, outburst, hysterics; commotion, trouble,
grouse, gripe; bother, trouble, inconvenience, effort, exertion, labor, hassle],

fuss (v.) – show unnecessary or excessive concern about something; busy oneself
restlessly; (UK) disturb or bother (someone); treat (someone) with excessive attention
or affection [She's always fussing about her food. He has a tendency to fuss over detail.
Beside him, Kegan was fussing with sheets of paper. He fussed about like an old hen. When
she cries in her sleep, try not to fuss her. She flattered and fussed her.] – synonyms &
related words [worry, fret, be agitated, be worried, take pains, make a big thing out of;
make a mountain out of a molehill, get worked up, be in a flap, flap, be in a tizzy, be in a
stew, make a meal of, make a (big) thing of; bustle, dash, rush, scurry, charge, fly, tear
around, buzz aorund, run around in circles; pester, disturb, harass, irritate, annoy, vex,
bother, nag, hassle],

fussy (adj.) – fastidious about one's needs or requirements, hard to please; showing
excessive or anxious concern about detail; full of unnecessary detail or decoration [He is
very fussy about what he eats. She's very fussy about the wine she drinks. Eleanor patted
her hair with quick, fussy movements. I hate fussy clothes. A fussy, frilly bridal gown.] –
synonyms & related words [finicky, particular, over-particular, fastidious,
discriminating, selective, dainty, punctilious; hard to please, difficult, exacting,
demanding; faddish, faddy, persnickety, choosy, picky, nitpicking, old womanish, old
maidish, persnickety, nice, overnice, finical; over-elaborate, over-embellished,
overdecorated, over-ornate, overdone, overworked, busy, cluttered, laboured, strained,
florid; ornate, fancy],

finical (adj.) – another term for finicky,

do somebody/yourself a mischief (id.) – (UK, informal) to hurt someone or
yourself [You'll do yourself a mischief if you're not careful with that knife.],

goodman/gudeman/gomman (n.) – (now rare, chiefly Scotland) a familiar

appellation of civility; (now Scotland or historical) a husband, the master of a house or
family,

appellation (n.) – a name or title; the action of giving a name to someone or

something [The city fully justifies its appellation 'the pearl of the Orient'.] – synonyms &
related words [name, title, designation, denomination, honorific, tag, epithet, label,
sobriquet, byname, nickname, moniker, handle, cognomen],

scoot (v.) – go or leave somewhere quickly; slide in a sitting position; ride a scooter
[They scooted off on their bikes. Hilary panicked and scooted down the corridor. She
laughed when she saw me scooting down the slope on my backside. Many children who
scoot to school wear helmets.] – synonyms & related words [dash, dart, run, sprint, race,
rush, hurry, hasten, hare, hurtle, bolt, shoot, charge, career, speed, fly, whizz, zoom;
scuttle, scurry, scamper, skip, skitter, trot; scutter; tear, pelt, zip, belt, beetle, post, hie,
skirr],

ambulatory (adj.) – of, or relating to, or adapted to walking; accustomed to move

from place to place, not stationary, movable; (law) not yet legally fixed or settled,
alterable [Ambulatory exercise. An ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in
different places. The dispositions of a will are ambulatory until the death of the testator.
True, there were fewer orcs, but there were other menaces. After smashing through the
host of ravagers, the Watchers had been attacked by a giant ambulatory fungus. They had
been ambushed by ogres and swarmed by huge stinging insects. She had lost Kolea to tiny
grubs that had emerged from her flesh after she had been stung, the vermin eating her eyes
and her brain. Another death that ultimately could be laid at the feet of Illidan.],

tumbledown (adj.) – (of a building or other structure) falling or fallen into ruin,
dilapidated [Tumbledown cottages. Orebor Harborage looked like the ruins of what once
might have passed for civilization in these parts. Now there were only tumbledown huts
built on what had been the marble base of some formerly great plaza. Stagnant, stinking
water surrounded the huge plinth. Jagged ridges of towering mountains loomed over it.] –
synonyms & related words [dilapidated, ramshackle, crumbling, falling to pieces,
disintegrating, decaying, decrepit, broken-down, neglected, run down, in disrepair,
uncared-for, badly maintained; ruined, in ruins, derelict, gone to rack and ruin, ruinous;
rickety, shaky, shacky, rumpty],

plinth (n.) – a square piece or slab of stone that forms the bottom of a column or
stature,

hobble (v.) – walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury; cause
(a person or animal) to limp; tie or strap together (the legs of a horse or other animal) to
prevent it from straying; restrict the activity or development of [He was hobbling around
on crutches. Johnson was still hobbled slightly by an ankle injury. The economy was
hobbled by rising oil prices. All around, Broken hobbled. They stared at the night elves as if
they had never seen their like before. One or two of them reached out with empty palms,
begging for alms, but most averted their eyes with tired, defeated gazes. Maiev felt that
they would not raise their hands even to protect themselves. They were not the stuff of
which suitable allies were made.] – synonyms & related words [limp, walk with a limp,
walk with difficulty, move unsteadily, walk unevenly, walk lamely, walk haltingly;
shuffle, shamble, falter, totter, dodder, stagger, stumble, reel, lurch; hirple],

dilate (v.) – make or become wider, large, or more open; speak or write at length on (a
subject) [Her eyes dilated with horror. She took a deep breath and her nostrils dilated. The
faithful could hear the minister dilate on the role religion could play. He would dilate on
any subject that took his fancy. From some of the huts came the sound of weeping. Her
nostrils dilated as she caught the scent of rotting flesh.] – synonyms & related words
[enlarge, become larger, widen, become wider, expand, distend, swell, flare, broaden,
spread, splay; expatiate, expound, elaborate, speak at length, write at length, talk in
detail, expand, enlarge],

compassion (n.) – sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of
others [The victims should be treated with compassion. She gazed with compassion at the
two dejected figures. “What do these people live on?” Anyndra sounded upset. The sight of
the Broken had clearly triggered some instinct for compassion within her.] – synonyms &
related words [pity, sympathy, feeling, fellow feeling, empathy, understanding, care,
concern, solicitude, solicitousness, sensitivity, tender-heartedness, soft-heartedness,
warm-heartedness, warmth, love, brotherly love, tenderness, gentleness, mercy,
mercifulness, leniency, lenience, tolerance, consideration, kindness, humanity,
humaneness, kind-heartedness, charity, benevolence],

(random cool paragraph) – [“What do these people live on?” Anyndra sounded
upset. The sight of the Broken had clearly triggered some instinct for compassion within
her. “Mold and whatever insects they can catch, I have no doubt,” Maiev said. It was what
her people had been living on for days. The flora and fauna might be alien, but they were
edible. At least they had not been poisoned so far. It was always possible that their
foodstuffs contained slow toxins whose effects they had not felt yet, but Maiev’s spells had
found no taint in them. “There are fish in those lakes we saw on the way here, and other
things.”],

wrinkle (n.) – a slight line or fold in something, especially fabric or the skin of the face;
(informal) a minor difficulty, as nag; (informal) a clever innovation, or useful piece of
information or advice [She smoothed out the wrinkles from her skirt. There were fine
wrinkes about her mouth. The organizers have the wrinkles pretty well ironed out.
Learning the wrinkles from someone more experienced saves time.] – synonyms & related
words [crease, fold, pucker, gather, furrow, ridge, line, corrugation, groove, crinkle,
crumple, rumple, crow's feet; guideline, hint, tip, pointer, clue, cue, suggestion, piece of
advice, word of advice; inside information, guidance, advice, help, counsel],

wrinkle (v.) – make or cause lines or folds in (something especially fabric or the skin);
grimace and cause wrinkles on (a part of the face); form or become marked with lines or
folds [Dotty's wrinkled stockings. An elderly man with a deeply wrinkled face. He sniffed
and wrinkled his nose. Her brow wrinkled. Overexposed skin will age and wrinkle
prematurely. They emerged behind the building. Toppled houses surrounded them.
Garbage lay strewn around the half-ruined structure. Mold clung to it, as it clung to
everything here. Glittering insects buzzed around it, feasting hungrily. Maiev wrinkled her
nose.] – synonyms & related words [creased, wrinkly, lined, covered with lines, crinkled,
crinkly, furrowed, grooved, ridged, crumpled, puckered, shrivelled, wizened; weather-
beaten, time-worn, worn, leathery; crease, pucker, gather, furrow, line, cover with lines,
corrugate, crinkle, crimp, crumple ,rumple, ruck up, scrunch up, ruckle],

(random cool paragraph) – [Akama said, “It was not always like this. Once, Orebor
Harborage was a beautiful place.” “I will need to take your word for that.” “You should. The
world has changed since Ner ’zhul wrought his destruction. Once, this was a center of
civilization, a place of learning, a hub of trade.” “That is hard to believe.” “You should have
seen this place when tens of thousands of my people walked here, admiring the statues,
looking upon the gracious homes.” “I did not come here to purchase a dwelling. I came here
seeking an ally.” Akama looked up at her. “You are not the first of your kind to tell me that.”
“Illidan is not of my kind. He forfeited any claim to be a night elf long ago, when he first
made his pact with the Burning Legion.” “And yet once he was a great hero of your people,
to hear him tell it.”],
taking (adj.) – (of a person) captivating in manner, charming, alluring, attractive;
(obsolete) infectious, contagious [He was not a very taking person, she felt.],

taking (n.) – the action or process of taking something; the amount of money earned by
a business from the sale of goods or service [The taking of Sigett. The big test for the
shop's new look is whether it'll boost takings. The day's takings.] – synonyms & related
words [proceeds, returns, receipts, earnings, winnings, pickings, spoils; profit, gain,
income, revenue, money received, payments received; gate money, gate, purse],

steep (v.) – soak (food or tea) in water or other liquid so as to extract its flavor or to
soften it; soak or saturate (cloth) in water or other liquid; surround or fill with a quality
or influence [The chillies are steeped in olive oil. The ham is then steeped in brine for three
or four days. Sheets were steeped in mercury sulphate as a disinfectant. A city steeped in
history. Maiev had been waiting for this opening. “He is a being of great and cosmic evil.
Long ago, more than ten thousand years as we measure time on Azeroth, he betrayed us to
the Burning Legion. For ten thousand years, I stood watch over him to make him pay for his
crimes. In the end, through the murderous treachery of one who should have known better,
he escaped my vigilance and fled my wrath to this place. He is a terrible sorcerer, steeped in
wickedness you cannot—”] – synonyms & related words [marinade, marinate, soak,
souse, macerate, pickle, brine; soak, saturate, immerse, submerge, wet through, drench,
ret; imbue with, fill with, permeate with, pervade with, suffuse with, infuse with, perfuse
with, impregnate with, soak in, stew in],

stun (v.) – knock unconscious or into a semi-conscious state; asotnish or shock

(someone) so that they are temporarily unable to react [The man was stunned by a blow
to the head. A glancing blow stunned Gary. The community was stunned by the tragedy.
She was quite stunned by her own success.] – synonyms & related words [daze, stupefy,
knock senseless, knock unconscious, knock out, lay out, knock for six; astound, amaze,
astonish, startle, take someone's breath away, dumbfound, stupefy, overwhelm, stagger,
shock, confound, take aback, shake up, flabbergast, knock for six, knock sideways, hit
like a ton of bricks, bowl over, floor, blow away],

upstart (n.) – (derogatory) a person who has risen suddenly in rank or importance,
especially one who behaves arrogantly; a series of movements on the parallel or
asymmetric bars, by which a gymnast swings to a position in which their body is
supported by their arms above the bar, especially at the start of a routine [The upstarts
who dare to challenge the legitimacy of his rule. These upstarts, they don't know their
place.] – synonyms & related words [parvenu(e), arriviste, nouveau riche, vulgarian;
status seeker, social climber; the new rich, new money, would-be, wannabe],

dignitary (n.) – a person considered to be important because of high rank or office

[The guests included former shareholders, local dignitaries, and many of the people
directly involved with the project. There are many foreign dignitaries attending today's
ceremony.] – synonyms & related words [grandee, important person, VIP, very
important person, notable, notability, worthy, personage, luminary, public figure, pillar
of society, leading light, leader, panjandrum; famous person, distinguished person,
eminent person, eminence, celebrity, celebutante, personality, name, big name,
household name, star, superstar, heavyweight, bigwig, biggie, top brass, top dog, Mr Big,
big gun, big shot, big noise, big fish, big cheese, big chief, supremo, somebody, someone,
celeb, Lord Muck, Lady Muck, nob, big wheel, kahuna ,big kahuna, big enchilada, top
banana, macher, high muckamuck, high muckety-muck],

macher (n.) – (US, informal) a person who gets things done; (derogatory) an
overbearing person,

yardstick (n.) – a measuring rod a yard long, typically divided into inches; a standard
used for comparison [League tables are not the only yardstick of schools' performance.
They ought to appraise their investments against a more realistic yardstick.] – synonyms
& related words [standard, measure, gauge, scale, guide, guideline, indicator, test,
touchstone, barometer, specification, criterion, norm, average, benchmark, point of
reference, model, pattern, rule, principle, paradigm, convention, ideal],

passable (adj.) – just good enough to be acceptable, satisfactory; (of a route or road)
clear of obstacles anda ble to be travelled on [He spoke passable English. The beer was
passable. The road was passable with care. The road is still passable.] – synonyms &
related words [adequate, all right, fairly good, acceptable, sufficiently good, sufficient,
satisfactory, moderately good, not (too) bad, average, tolerable, fair, decent, respectable,
presentable, admissible, allowable; mediocre, middling, ordinary, run-of-the-mill,
workaday, indifferent, unremarkable, undistinguished, unexceptional, Ok, so-so, fair-to-
middling, nothing to write home about, no great shakes, not up to much, not much cop,
bog-standard, vanilla, plain vanilla, half-pie; navigable, traversable, negotiable,
crossable, able to be travelled on/along, unblocked, unobstructed, open, clear, usable],

lifeline (n.) – a person or thing that you depend on very much; a rope that you throw
to someone who has fallen int owater by accident, saving grac,e

keep your head on straight (id.) – keep a cool head, keep calm, stay focused amid
chaos,

trounce (v.) – defeat heavily in a contest; rebuke or punish severely [Essex trounced
Cambridgeshire 5-1 in the final. Wigan trounced Halifax 32-8. Insider dealing has been
roundly trounced. He should be soundly trounced.] – synonyms & related words [defeat
utterly, beat hollow, win a resounding victory over, annihilate, drub, rout, give someone
a drubbing, crush, overwhelm, bring someone to their knees, hammer, clobber, thrash,
paste, give someone a pasting, whip, pound, pulverize, massacre, crucify, demolish,
destroy, wipe the floor with, take to the cleaners, make mincemeat of, murder, flatten,
turn inside out, run rings around, stuff, marmalize, shellac, blow out, cream, skunk, own;
thrash, beat, whip, flog, lash, birch, cane, leather, spank, chastise, lambaste, belt, wallop,
give a hiding to, tan the hide of],

give a hiding to (somebody) (id.) – beat, punish by hitting many times,

tan the hide of (somebody) (id.) – beat someone soundly,

prosaic (adj.) – having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry;
lacking imaginativeness or originality; commonplace, unromantic [Prosaic language
can't convey the experience. Flowers are given variously poetic or prosaic names. The
masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns. Bloomwater's present owner
was a more prosaic figure.] – synonyms & related words [unimaginative, uninspired,
matter-of-fact, dull, dry, humdrum, mundane, pedestrian, heavy, plodding, lifeless, dead,
spiritless, lacklustre, undistinguished, stale, jejune, bland, insipid, vapid, vacuous, banal,
hackneyed, trite, literal, factual, unpoetic, unemotional, unsentimental, clear, plain,
unadorned, unembellished, unvarnished, monotonous, deadpan, flat; ordinary, everyday,
usual, common, conventional, straightforward, routine, humdrum, commonplace, run-of-
the-mill, workaday, businesslike, pedestrian, tame, mundane, dull, dreary, tedious,
boring, ho-hum, uninspiring, monotonous],

sough (v.) – (literary) if the wind soughs, it makes a soft noise like a sigh, to take in and
let out a deep audible breath or to make a similar sound, to make a soft rustling or
murming sound[All night long the patient was soughing in her sleep.] – synonyms &
related words [sigh, gasp, huff, pant, puff, wheeze, breathe, respire, exhale, expire,
inhale, inspire, sniff, snort, snuffle, yawn],

sough (n.) – a murmuring sound, rushing, rustling, or whistling sound; a gentle breeze,
a waft, a breath; a (deep) sigh; (Scotland, obsolete) a vague rumor; (Scotland, obsolete) a
cant or whining mode of speaking in preaching or praying,

susurrus (n.) – (literary) a whispering or rustling sound, a murmur [The soft susurrus
and sighs of the branches.],

fess up (v.) – to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly [He
fessed up to breaking the vase only after his guilt was obvious.] – synonyms & related
words [acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, confess, admit (up), grant, own (up to);
disburden, unburden, unload, affirm, avow, confirm, profess, accept, recognize, yield,
announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim,
publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil, betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal,
talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up), breathe, say, whisper; admit, cop (to), confess (up),
own (up), blab, talk, tattle, babble, spill],

familiarize (v.) – give (someone) knowledge or understanding of something [The need

to familairize pupils with dictionaries and their structures. The exercises help to familiarize
the terms used.] – synonyms & related words [make conversant, make familiar, acquaint,
get up to date, keep up to date; accustom to, habituate to, instruct in, coach in, train in,
teach in, educate in, school in, prime in, indoctrinate in, initiate into, introduce to, gen up
on, clue in on, clue up on, put in the picture about, put wise to, keep up to speed with,
give the gen about, give the low-down on, give a rundown of, fill in on; make known,
make better known, make familiar, bring to notice, bring to public attention, inure to],

gen up (v.) – (UK, old-fashioned, informal) to find out as much information as possible
[Derek genned up on the country's history before going there.],

circle the drain (id.) – (US, informal) experience a rapidly worsening situation
apparently leading to failure or disaster [What do you do when your business starts to
circle the drain?],

pander (v.) – gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire or taste or a person
with such a desire or taste) [Newspapers are pandering to people's baser instincts. David
was always there to pander to her every whim.] – synonyms & related words [indulge,
gratify, satisfy, cater to, give in to, fulfil, yield to, bow to, humour, please, accommodate,
comply with, go along with],

base (adj.) – without moral principles, ignoble; (archaic) denoting orb efitting a person
of low social class; (of coins or other articles) not made of precious metal [The
electorate's baser instincs of greed and selfishness. Some of these struggles have been
inspired by base motives. The basest coins of the purse were made in the 620s AD.] –
synonyms & related words [sordid, improper, low, mean, bad, wrong, evil, wicked,
iniquitous, immoral, sinful; unscrupulous, unprincipled, unseemly, unsavoury, shoddy,
squalid, vile, foul, vulgar, tawdry, cheap, low-minded, debased, degenerate, depraved,
corrupt, reprobate, dissolute, dishonest, dishonourable, disreputable, despicable,
discreditable, contemptible, petty, ignominious, ignoble, shameful, wretched,
scandalous, infamous, abhorrent, abominable, disgusting],

level-headed (adj.) – calm and sensible [She was glad to have the advice of someone so
level-headed.] – synonyms & related words [sensible, practical, realistic, prudent,
circumspect, pragmatic, wise, reasonable, rational, mature, commonsensical, full of
common sense, judicious, sound, sober, businesslike, no-nonsense, sane, composed,
calm, cool, collected, cool, calm, and collected, serene, relaxed, at ease, confident, well
balanced, equable, moderate, unworried, unmoved, unemotional, cool-headed, hard-
headed, balanced, self-possessed, unruffled, even-tempered, imperturbable, reliable,
dependable, with one's feet on the ground, unflappable, together],

in for a penny (,in for a pound) (saying) – (UK) something yo usay that means
that since you have started something or are involved in it, you should complete the
work although it has become more difficult or complicated than you had expected,
originally with reference to the fact that if one owned a penny, one might as well owe a
pound, as the penalties for non-payment were virtually identical in severity, one must go
whole hog, no stopping short; in for a dimen for a dollar; in for an inch, in for a mile,

in for an inch, in for a mile (saying) – (chiefly US) given that one is partly invovled
in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from
becoming fully involved or fully committed,

pittance (n.) – a very small or inadequate amount of money; (historical) a pious bequest
to a religious house or order to provide exra food and wine at particular festivals, or on
the anniversary of the benefactor's death [He paid his workers a pittance. The musicians
were paid a pittance.] – synonyms & related words [a very small amount, a tiny amount,
an insufficient amount, next to nothing, very little, peanuts, chicken feed, slave wages, a
shoestring, chump change],

chump change (n.) – (NA, informal) a small or isngificant amount of money [It's
rough, dead-end work that pays chump change.],

hussy (n.) – an impudent or immoral girl or woman [That brazen little hussy.] –
synonyms & related words [minx, madam, coquette, tease, seductress, Lolita, Jezebel;
trollop, slut, loose woman, floozle, tart, puss, scrubber, slapper, slag, tramp, vamp,
hoochie, baggage, hoyden, fizgig, jade, quean, wanton, strumpet],

hoochie (n.) – (NA, informal) a young woman who has many casual sexual partners or
who dresses orb ehaves in a sexually provocative way [I'm not going to become a hoochie
or anything, but I don't know if I'm going to wait for a ring on my finger.],

down (n.) – (informal) unwelcome experience or events; (informal) a feeling or period

of unhappiness or depression [There had been more downs than ups during this years at
Ferrari. The ups and downs of running a business. Everyone gets their downs, their
depressive periods. He's having a bit of a down at the moment.] – synonyms & related
words [setbacks, upsets, reverses, reversals, reversals of fortune, downturns, mishaps,
strokes of ill luck, strokes of bad luck, accidents, shocks, vicissitudes, crises,
catastrophes, tragedies, calamities, trials, crosses, knocks, burdens, blows, buffets,
glitches, (double) whammies, knock-backs, foils; fit of depression, period of
despondency, the blues, the dumps, one's black dog, a low, the blahs, a funk, a blue funk,
the mopes, dolor, the megrims],

dolor (n.) – (literary) a state of great sorrow or distress [They squatted, hunched in
their habitual dolor.],

nurse (v.) – hold 8a drink), sipping it occasionally [I nursed a double brandy.],

fire (n.) – a burning sensation; fervent or passionate emotion or enthusiasm [The

whisky lit a fire in the back of his throat. The fire of their religious conviction. He lacked fire
and animation.] – synonyms & related words [dynamism, energy, vigour, animation,
vitality, vibrancy, exuberance, ebullience, zest, elan; passion, ardor, impetuosity,
intensity, zeal, spirit, life, liveliness, verve, vivacity, vivaciousness; sparkle, scintillation,
dash; enthusiasm, eagerness, gusto; fervour, fervency, force, potency, vehemence;
inspiration, imagination, creativity, inventiveness, flair, pep, vim, zing, go get-up-and-go,
oomph, pizzazz, whip-up],

wind up a storm (id.) – (informal) to cause a strong reaction in other people, evoke,
invoke, provoke, instil, galvanize

caprice (n.) – a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior [Her caprices
made his life impossible. His wife's caprices and demands made his lfie impossible. The staff
tired of his tyranny and his caprice.] – synonyms & related words [whim, whimsy, vagary,
fancy, notion, fad, freak, humour, impulse, quirk, eccentricity, foible, crotchet, urge;
fickleness, changeableness, volatility, inconsistency, capriciousness, fitfulness,
unpredictability],

glad-hand (v.) – to be overly friendly with a stranger in order to gain an advantage; to

extend a glad hand (to someone),

glad hand (n.) – a warm welcome offered to a guest by a host; a coupling, device used
on a semi-trailer trucks for attaching air brake lines from the tractor to the trailer,

donk (v.) – (slang, transitive) hit [He donked me on the head!],

ding (v.) – to make the short sound of a bell; (US) to make a small dent on the surface of
something, especially a car,

mystique (n.) – a quality of mystery, glamour, or power associated with someone or

something; an air of secrecy surrounding a particular activity or subject that makes it
impressive or baffling to those without specialized knowledge [The mystique
surrounding the monarchy. A certain mystique still surrounds the family. Eliminating the
mystique normally associated with computers.] – synonyms & related words [charisma,
glamour, romance, mystery, fascination, magic, spell, charm, appeal, allure, awe],

glass hammer (id.) – a blutn and useless tool; an insult; a word to describe something
that is as powerful as it is fragile, a glass cannon [Man is a glass hammer, powerful beyond
compare but fleshy and destructible.],

fly in the face of (id.) – be openly at ariance with (what is usual or expected) [A need
to fly in the face of convention. This flies in the face of the facts.] – synonyms & related
words [go against, flout, defy, disobey, refuse to obey, rebel against, thumb one's nose at,
disregard, ignore, set one's face against, kick against; break, violate, contravene, breach,
infringe, cock a snook at, set at naught, go against the grain],
miss your guess (id.) – guess wrong, be wrong, in the wrong [“And you feel I may be
the enemy of your enemy.” Akama nodded. “You imprisoned him. He hates you and, unless I
miss my guess, he fears you. You have great power. I can sense that myself.” Maiev’s smile
flickered, thin and cold as a waning crescent moon. “He is right to fear me. I will see him
bound once more, or dead.”],

sore (adj.) – (of a part of one's body) painful or aching; suffering pain from a part of
one's body; (NA, informal) upset and angry; severe, urgent [She had a sore throat. A sore
leg. He was sore from the long ride. I didn't even know they were sore at us. We're in sore
need of him. We are in sore need of you. SLOWLY MAIEV AND HER WATCHERS CREPT
OVER THE warm rocks. The blazing sun of Hellfire Peninsula sent long shadows sweeping
away from the large boulders. It had been a lengthy ride back from Zangarmarsh, made at
great speed, but it would be worth all the saddle sores if she caught Illidan unawares. She
did not need Akama. All she needed was the opportunity to strike at the Betrayer when he
least expected it.] – synonyms & related words [painful, in pain, hurting, hurt, aching,
throbbing, smarting, stinging, burning, irritating, irritated, agonizing, excruciating;
inflamed, angry, red, reddened, sensitive, tender, delicate, chafed, raw, bruised,
wounded, injured; upset, angry, annoyed, cross, angered, furious, enraged, in a temper,
bothered, vexed, displeased, disgruntled, dissatisfied, indignant, exasperated, irritated,
galled, irked, put out, aggrieved, offended, affronted, resentful, piqued, nettled, ruffled, in
high dudgeon; informalaggravated, miffed, peeved, riled, hacked off, peed off, narked,
eggy, cheesed off, browned off, brassed off, not best pleased, teed off, ticked off, steamed,
pissed off; dire, urgent, pressing, desperate, critical, crucial, acute, grave, serious,
intense, crying, burning, compelling, drastic, extreme, life-and-death, great, very great,
terrible, parlous, exigent],

parlous (adj.) – (archaic, humorous) full of danger or uncertainty, precarious [The

parlous state of the economy.] – synonyms & related words [bad, dire, dreadful, awful,
terrible, appalling, frightful, grave, serious, desperate, precarious, uncertain, touch-and-
go, difficult, unsafe, perilous, dangerous, risky; pitiful, wretched, sorry, poor, lamentable,
woeful, hopeless, dicey, hairy, lousy, dodgy, chronic],

sullen (adj.) – bad-tempered and sulky; (of the sky) ful lof dark clouds [A sullen pout. A
bunch of sullen, spoilt brats. A sullen sunless sky. Anyndra gestured with her right hand and
raised three fingers. Maiev crept forward on her belly until she reached the lieutenant’s
position; then she raised her head over the ridgeline and saw that her second-in-command
was correct. Three fel orcs stood there, huge, muscular creatures, with red skin and
glowing eyes. Their heavy bodies hunched in the crouched posture all orcs shared. Their
stance spoke of fury, every muscle tensed. Each movement was quick, hard, and sullen, as if
the fel orcs were looking for an excuse to strike someone.] – synonyms & related words
[surly, sulky, pouting, sour, morose, resentful, glum, moody, gloomy, joyless, frowning,
glowering, grumpy, touchy, peevish, indignant, embittered; bad-tempered, ill-tempered,
cross, angry, testy; unresponsive, uncommunicative, unsociable, uncivil, unmannerly,
unfriendly, stroppy],

thermal (n.) – (meteorology) a column of rising air in the lower atmosphere created
by uneven heating of Earth's surface [Anyndra dropped into place beside her. The
lieutenant’s eyes widened at the sight of the triumphal procession, and her fingers went lax
around her bowstring. Sarius growled so softly it might almost have been a whimper.
Overhead, fleshrippers circled, mangy wings spread wide, crucified on the hot thermals.],

lax (adj.) – not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful; (of the limbs or muscles) relaxed;
(of the bowels) loose; (of a speech sound, especially a vowel) pronounced with the vocal
muscles relaxed [Lax security arrangements at the airport. Lax discipline in schools.
Muscles have more potential energy when they are stretched than when they are lax. The
merger of tense and lax vowels before ‘l’.] – synonyms & related words [slack, slipshod,
negligent, neglectful, remiss, careless, heedless, unmindful, inattentive, slapdash,
offhand, casual; easy-going, lenient, permissive, soft, liberal, non-restrictive, indulgent,
overindulgent, complaisant, over-tolerant, irresponsible, sloppy; loosen, loose, slacken,
unclench, weaken, lessen, let up, reduce, diminish],

overconfident (adj.) – excessively confident [Sarah's downfall came through being

overconfident. Her downfall came through being overconfident.] – synonyms & related
words [cocksure, smug, conceited, self-assured, self-assertive, unabashed, brash,
swaggering, blustering, overbearing, overweening, presuming, presumptuous,
riding/heading for a fall, foolhardy, cocky, too big for one's boots, hubristic; arrogance,
conceit, conceitedness, haughtiness, pride, vanity, self-importance, self-conceit,
pomposity, superciliousness, feeling of superiority; hauteur; uppitiness, big-
headedness],

sloppy (adj.) – careless and unsystematic, excessively casual; (of a garment) casual and
loose-fitting; (of semi-fluid matter) containing too much liquid, watery; (informal, of
literature or behavior) weakly or foolishly sentimental [We gave away a goal through
sloppy defending. We gave away a goal through sloppy defending. She wore a sloppy
sweater and jeans. Sloppy T-shirts. Do not make the concrete too sloppy. They sat round
the table eating a sloppy chicken curry. Lovers of sloppy romance. Sloppy letters from a boy
she had met on holiday.] – synonyms & related words [careless, slapdash, slipshod,
lackadaisical, disorganized, haphazard, unmethodical, unsystematic, hit-or-miss, untidy,
messy, thoughtless, inattentive, heedless, hasty, hurried; thrown together, last-minute,
cursory, perfunctory, negligent, neglectful, remiss, lax, slack, slovenly; amateurish,
unprofessional, shambolic, all over the place, slap-happy, all over the shop; baggy, loose-
fitting, loose, generously cut, not tight, roomy; shapeless, sack-like, slack, oversized, ill-
fitting, bagging; runny, watery, thin, liquid, semi-liquid, mushy, soupy; wet, soggy,
slushy, sludgy; slap, gloop; sentimental, mawkish, over-sentimental, overemotional,
cloying, sickly, saccharine, sugary, sugar-coated, syrupy; romantic, hearts-and-flowers;
twee, slushy, mushy, weepy, tear-jerking, schmaltzy, cutesy, lovey-dovey, gooey, drippy,
sloshy, soupy, treacly, cheesy, corny, icky, sick-making, toe-curling, soppy, cornball,
sappy, hokey, three-hanky, Mills-and-Boon],

toe-curling (adj.) – (informal) very embarrassing or excessively sentimental [A toe-

curling ballad.],

bloated (adj.) – swollen with fluid or gas; excessive in size or amount; (of a person)
excessively wealthy and pampered [He had a bloated, unshaven face. His once firm
stomach was now bloated from stodgy food. The company trimmed its bloated labor force.
The bloated captains of industry. Maiev considered her options. The fel orcs surely did not
anticipate an attack. Soon the sun would go down. Illidan had obviously timed his arrival
at the gates of Hellfire Citadel for before sundown, but he had been too slow to get there. It
was typical of his overconfidence and his sloppiness. She could order her force to fan out
near the cage. They could cover her as she rushed the Betrayer. One swift stroke and she
could take his head. He would be too filled with bloated pride to notice her approach until
her umbra crescent had swept out.] – synonyms & related words [swollen, puffed up/out,
blown up, distended, inflated, enlarged, expanded, dilated, tumefied, bulging, ballooning
(up/out), pumped up/out, blown, overinflated, tumescent, tumid, turgid, varicose,
ballooned, bulging, protuberant, ventricose, balooning, dilating, turgescent; exaggerated,
hyperbolized, inflated, outsized, overblown, overdrawn, overweening, elaborated,
embellished, embroidered, enlarged, hyped-up, magnified, overdone, overemphasized,
overplayed, overstated, padded, stretched, grandiose, preposterous, unreal, unrealistic,
unreasonable],

(random cool paragraph) – [Briefly she reveled in the image of holding his head
high and tossing it into the assembled host of fel orcs. Her own death would be swift and
certain after that, but it would be worth it to put an end to Illidan’s cursed existence. She
could die satisfied, knowing that she had sent her ancient enemy to oblivion before her. Her
lips curled into a smile. She could almost feel Illidan’s silky hair beneath her fingers as she
raised his head aloft, almost feel the drip-drip-drip of blood from his severed neck. It was
not impossible. She could use her ability to blink through the intervening space and be
upon him before that undisciplined mass had time to react. Her spells of distraction and
concealment would cloak her approach. There was no one down there who could match
her ability at this. Not Kael’thas, not Vashj. Not Illidan himself. She became aware of
Anyndra’s hand on her arm and shrugged it off. “What?” “Warden Shadowsong, I asked you
what the Betrayer could possibly want with a captured pit lord. I thought they called him a
demon hunter. Why would he want one alive?” Slowly, Maiev let her hatred’s fire damp
down to a duller blaze. She stepped back from the edge of the precipice she found herself
on. She had been on the verge of ordering an attack. The idea of dying in a final blaze of
glory, slaying her foe, had almost lured her into an error. What if something had gone
wrong? What if the Betrayer had managed to escape, leaving her to face his legions with
only this small force? Nothing would go wrong. She looked down at her hand. It was
completely steady. There was not the slightest glimmer of a shake there. She focused on her
lieutenant’s question. It was a good one. What did Illidan plan to do with a captured pit
lord? A being of Magtheridon’s power could not be bound to service like some lesser demon.
Not even Illidan could be insane enough to believe himself that strong. “What could he
want with such a creature?” Anyndra repeated, as if she thought Maiev had not heard. She
seemed determined to get an answer. Or perhaps she intended to distract Maiev from her
target. Maiev muttered, “A sacrifice, a warning—who knows what goes through the mind
of that maniac?” “But why would he want to sacrifice Magtheridon? What could he possibly
gain from it?” Maiev shook her head and scowled. “How should I know?” Her second-in-
command met her gaze levelly. “You always told me a hunter must understand her prey.”
Sarius growled on the other side of her. It seemed he, too, was curious. Maiev took another
step back from the brink. Her heart was racing. Her breathing was shallow. She risked
another glance at Illidan. He stood there so confident that he was invincible. She wanted to
wipe that smirk from his face, grind those proud features into the dirt. Sarius scratched at
her right arm with a claw. She realized what the druid was trying to tell her. Illidan’s head
had turned to look in their direction. All of his troops’ gazes followed. There was no way
they could see her from this distance. No way he could see her.],

Shallow (adj.) – of little depth; situated at no great depth; varying only slightly from a
specified or understood line or direction, especially the horizontal; (of breathing) taking
in little air; not exhibint, requiring, or capable of serious thought [Serve the noodles in a
shallow bowl. The shallow bed of the North Sea. A shallow roof. A shallow analysis of
contemporary society.] – synonyms & related words [superficial, facile, glib, simplistic,
oversimplified, schematic, slight, flimsy, insubstantial, lightweight, empty, trivial, trifling;
surface, skin-deep; frivolous, foolish, silly, unintelligent, unthinking, unscholarly,
ignorant],

race (v.) – complete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set
course or achieving an objective; complete regularly in races at a spot or leisure activity;
prepare and enter (an animal or vehicle) for races; move or progress swiftly or at full
speed; operate or cause to operate at excessive speed; (of a person's heart or pulse) beat
faster than usual because of fear or excitement [The vet took blood samples from the
horses before they raced. Jimmy will race in the semi-finals. Dogs would race the train
furiously. Next year, he raced again for the team. He raced his three horses simply for the
fun of it. I raced into the house. Cally raced after him. The truck came to rest against a tree
with its engine racing. She tried to calm herself, but her heart was racing.] – synonyms &
related words [compete, take part in a race, run, contend; compete against, have a race
with, run against, be pitted against, try to beat; hurry, dash, run, rush, sprint, bolt, dart,
gallop, career, charge, shoot, hurtle, hare, bound, fly, speed, zoom, go hell for leather,
pound, streak, scurry, scuttle, scamper, scramble, make haste, hasten, lose no time,
spank along, really move, tear, belt, pelt, scoot, zap, zip, whip, step on it, get a move on,
hotfoot it, leg it, steam, put on some speed, go like a bat out of hell, burn rubber;
informalbomb, bucket, put one's foot down, wheech, boogie, hightail it, clip, barrel, get
the lead out, cut along, drag/tear/haul ass, fleet, post, hie, haste; beat rapidly, pound,
throb, pulsate, pulse, thud, thump, hammer, palpitate, flutter, pitter-patter, go pit-a-pat,
quiver, vibrate, pump, pant, thrill, quop],
quop (v.) – to throb or beat [His heart quopped softly.],

galling (adj.) – causing annoyance or resentment, annoying [It would be galling to lose
your job because of a dispute with a customer. His display of hypocrisy was extremely
galling. Maiev lay on her back for a moment, looking at the sky. No roar sounded. No alarm
was given. Perhaps Illidan had seen them and did not think them enough of a threat to be
bothered with. The idea was galling.] – synonyms & related words [annoying, irritating,
vexing, vexatious, infuriating, maddening, irksome, provoking, exasperating, trying,
tiresome, troublesome, bothersome, displeasing, disagreeable, aggravating],

gall (v.) – make (someone) feel annoyed or resentful; make sore by rubbing [It galled
him to have to sit impotently in silence. The straps galled their shoulders.] – synonyms &
related words [irritate, annoy, vex, make angry, make cross, anger, exasperate, irk,
pique, put out, displease, get/put someone's back up, antagonize, get on someone's
nerves, rub up the wrong way, ruffle, ruffle someone's feathers, make someone's hackles
rise, raise someone's hackles; infuriate, madden, drive to distraction, goad, provoke,
aggravate, peeve, hassle, miff, rile, nettle, needle, get, get to, bug, hack off, get under
someone's skin, get in someone's hair, get up someone's nose, put someone's nose out of
joint, get someone's goat, rattle someone's cage, get someone's dander up, drive
mad/crazy, drive round the bend/twist, drive up the wall, make someone see red, wind
up, nark, get across, get on someone's wick, give someone the hump, tee off, tick off, burn
up, rankle, ride, gravel, rark, give someone the pip, exacerbate, hump, rasp; chafe,
abrade, rub (against), rub painfully, rub raw, scrape, graze, skin, scratch, rasp, bark, fret,
excoriate],

extremity (n.) – the furthest point or limit of something; the hands and feet; the
degree to which something is extreme; a condition of extreme adversity [The peninsula's
western extremity. The eastern extremity of the country. Tingling and numbness in the
extremities. She began to regain some feeling in her extremities. The extremity of the
violence concerns us. The terror of an animal in extremity. He has promised that in
extremity he will send for her. She rolled downslope and sprang to her feet, out of the line
of sight of the enemy. The rest of her grim-faced troops crept back from the ridgeline,
slowly filtering toward her position. It was bad discipline and bad tactics. Some of them
should be keeping watch lest an assailant fall upon them the way she had fallen upon the
fel orcs. She wanted to say something, then noticed all eyes were upon her. Anyndra flexed
the fingers of her blade hand, the way she always did when trying to conceal the extremity
of her nervousness. Sarius had reverted to his night elf form. His hawklike features were
calm, but his mouth was a tight slash at the bottom of his face, and his eyes were narrowed
as they focused on her. A frown scarred his otherwise smooth brow.] – synonyms & related
words [limit, end, edge, side, farthest point, boundary, border, frontier, boundary line,
bound, bounding line, partition line, demarcation line, end point, cut-off point,
termination; perimeter, circumference, outside, outline, confine, periphery, outskirts,
margin, brink, rim, lip, fringe, verge, threshold, compass, bourn, marge, skirt, ambit;
hands and feet, fingers and toes, limbs; intensity, high degree, magnitude, acuteness,
ferocity, vehemence, fierceness, violence, severity, seriousness, strength, power,
powerfulness, potency, vigour, force, forcefulness, gravity, graveness, severeness,
grievousness; dire straits, trouble, difficulty, hard times, hardship, adversity, misfortune,
distress; crisis, emergency, disaster, catastrophe, calamity, cataclysm; predicament,
plight, mess, dilemma; setback, reverse, reversal; destitution, indigence, exigency, fix,
pickle, jam, spot, bind, stew, scrape, hole, sticky situation, hot water, deep water, hell,
hell on earth, spot of bother],

upbraid (adj.) – find fault with (someone), scold [He was upbraided for his slovenly
appearance. She had upbraided him firmly for his deception. Maiev studied the rest of her
troops. A few were pale, and she guessed the sweat on their brows was not just from the
heat. Others glanced around like mice expecting an owl to drop out of a moonlit sky.T hey
were frightened. It was near unbelievable. They were Watchers, chosen for their courage
and their steadiness in the face of danger. They had followed her through countless perils
without flinching. Now they seemed ready to break and run. The night elves formed up in a
half circle, looking up at her. One of them said, “We cannot win here.” Maiev wrestled with
her anger. She wanted to shout at them, to upbraid them for their folly and cowardice, but
she could not. Enemies might hear her voice. A disturbance could call the attention of that
mighty army thundering along the road below them.] – synonyms & related words
[reprimand, rebuke, reproach, scold, admonish, reprove, remonstrate with, chastise,
chide, berate, take to task, pull up, castigate, lambaste, read someone the Riot Act, give
someone a piece of one's mind, haul over the coals, criticize, censure, tell off, give
someone a talking-to, give someone a telling-off, dress down, give someone a dressing-
down, give someone an earful, give someone a roasting, give someone a rocket, give
someone a rollicking, rap, rap someone over the knuckles, slap someone's wrist, let
someone have it, bawl out, give someone hell, come down on, blow up, pitch into, lay
into, lace into, give someone a caning, blast, rag, keelhaul, tick off, have a go at, carpet,
monster, give someone a mouthful, tear someone off a strip, give someone what for, wig,
give someone a wigging, row, give someone a row, chew out, ream out, bollock, give
someone a bollocking, chew someone's ass, ream someone's ass, call down, rate, give
someone a rating, trim, reprehend, objurgate],

dusty (adj.) – covered with, full of, or resembling dust; (of a color) dull or muted; staid
and uninteresting [Dusty old records. The shop was dark and dusty. The walls are made of
dusty brown sandstone. Patches of pale gold and dusty pink. Her eiderdown is a dusty pink.
A dusty old bore. Slowly, she allowed the idea to seep into her mind that they might be
right. She closed her eyes and offered up a prayer to Elune. When she opened them again,
she realized that she was not looking at a force of Watchers. The proud, disciplined troops
who had ridden out of the vaults of the Barrow Deeps were gone. In their place was a small
group of dusty elves, strangers in a savage land, lost, far from home, and confronted by a
foe with limitless fighters at his disposal. Illidan had already overcome the mightiest
demon in Outland and turned his legions into loyal followers. Perhaps her people were
right to doubt that they could overcome him. They stared at her, waiting to hear what she
had to say. Even now, they retained the habit of looking to her for leadership. She could not
let them down. She took a deep breath and said, “No. We cannot win here.” Some looked
pleased at her admission. A few looked astonished, as if they could not quite believe the
words had come from her mouth. Maiev understood how they felt, but she kept speaking,
her voice emerging in a rusty rasp. “We cannot win here. Now. That does not mean the
Betrayer is safe from us forever.” Several of them nodded as if she was saying what they
had expected her to say, as if she was giving voice to their consciences. “He cannot escape
us. He cannot simply walk away from his transgressions. We are the avenging hand of the
kaldorei. We will be his undoing. We had him in our grasp once and he escaped, aided by
his treacherous allies. But the Betrayer will not escape us again. Right is on our side. Justice
is on our side. The spirits of our dead cry out for vengeance. They insist that we make him
pay for his crimes. “We have come too far, sacrificed too much, to waste our chance. If we
are to return to Darnassus with our heads held high, we must go back with the Betrayer or
his corpse. If we do not, our people will think of us only as those who betrayed their trust.
You have seen what is happening here. You know that the Betrayer is amassing an army.
We must make sure that all of Azeroth knows, too, and understands that we did our duty.”
One elf swallowed and wiped her eyes. They looked watery with unshed tears. Maiev shifted
her hands slowly, her movements as controlled as a dancer ’s. Her fists clenched. “There is a
time for everything, and Illidan’s time is coming. You followed me here knowing that, and I
swear to you that your faith was justified. I will not allow Illidan to escape the
consequences of his deeds.” She paused to give her words emphasis. “I will do so even if I
must go on alone.” She let her words sink in. “All of you swore an oath to follow me. Each of
you knows the value of your word. The question you must ask yourself is whether you will
remain true to your oaths, or whether you will be like him. Are you as faithless as the
Betrayer, or are you true daughters and sons of Elune? In your heart of hearts, only you can
answer that. I want you each to look within yourself and find the answer to that question. I
want no one with me who will flinch when the moment of truth comes. Only you can decide
whether you wish to stand beside me when I bring due punishment down upon the head of
Illidan the Betrayer.” Some of the elves would not meet her eyes. A few looked away, but
most of them, she was proud to see, stared up at her with renewed determination written
on their faces. Their belief fed her own, and she felt her usual certainty return. “I am with
you,” said Anyndra. She knelt and offered her blade. “And I,” said Sarius. He did the same.
One by one, the rest of the Watchers pledged renewed loyalty, even those few who were
visibly reluctant. They bowed because their friends and comrades were doing so and
because they did not wish to be left alone in this alien place. Maiev nodded in satisfaction.
She had won one small victory this day, at least. “What now, Warden Shadowsong?”
Anyndra asked. Maiev responded, “We must find allies. This is a land where they are
essential. We must seek out someone braver than Akama and see if they will aid us.”] –
synonyms & related words [dirty, grimy, grubby, unclean, soiled, begrimed, befouled,
mucky, sooty, stained, smudged, spotty; dust-covered, dust-filled, undusted, grungy,
cruddy, manky, grotty, gungy, scungy, besmirched; powdery, crumbly, chalky, friable,
granulated, granular, gritty, sadny; muted, dull, flat, faded, pale, pastel, subtle,
restrained, greyish, darkish, dirty],

staid (adj.) – sedate, respectable, and unadventurous [Staid law firms. Staid old ladies.]
– synonyms & related words [sedate, respectable, quiet, serious, serious-minded, steady,
conventional, traditional, unadventurous, unenterprising, set in one's ways; grave,
solemn, severe, sombre, sober, proper, decorous, formal; stuffy, prim, demure, prissy,
stiff, starchy, uptight, stick-in-the-mud],

astonish (v.) – surprise or impress (someone) greatly [You never fail to astonish me. I
was astonished at how much he had learned. His tricks attracted crowds of astonished
bystanders. She has read an astonishing number of books.] – synonyms & related words
[amaze, astound, stagger, surprise, startle, stun, confound, dumbfound, stupefy, daze,
nonplus; throw, shake, unnerve, disconcert, discompose, bewilder; take someone's
breath away, take by surprise, take aback, shake up, stop someone in their tracks, strike
dumb, leave open-mouthed, leave aghast, catch off balance, flabbergast, floor, knock for
six, knoc ksideways, knock out, knock the stuffing out of, bowl over, blow someone's
mind, blow away; amazed, filled with astonishment, filled with amazement, astounded,
staggered, surprised, startled, stunned, thunderstruck, aghast, taken aback, confounded,
dumbfounded, stupefied, dazed, nonplussed, dumbstruck, open-mouthed, agape, lost for
words, wide-eyed, awed, filled with awe, filled with wonder, awestruck, wonderstruck;
shaken, shaken up, unnerved, disconcerted, discomposed, bewildered, bemused,
flabbergasted, flummoxed, floored, knocked for six, bowled over, blown away, unable to
believe one's eyes/ears, gobsmacked; amazing, astounding, staggering, shocking,
surprising, breathtaking, striking, impressive, bewildering, stunning, stupefying;
unnerving, unsettling, disturbing, disquieting; awe-inspiring, remarkable, notable,
noteworthy, extraordinary, outstanding, incredible, unbelievable, phenomenal,
uncommon, unheard of, mind-boggling, mind-blowing, hard to swallow, amazeballs],

tangent (n.) – a departure from the subject under consideration [In the middle of her
description of her dog's symptoms, she went off on a tangent about its cute behavior.] –
synonyms & related words [aside, digression, divagation, excursion, excursus,
paranthesis, rambling, circuitousness, circularity, circumlocution, diffuseness, prolixity,
verbosity, windiness, wordiness],

at a rate of knots (id.) – (UK, informal) very fast [It is obviously improving at a rate of
knots.] – synonyms & related words [rapidly, speedily, swiftly, quickly, fast, post-haste,
at (full) speed, at the speed of light, at full tilt, as fast as one's legs can carry one, at a
gallop; promptly, immediately, briskly; hastily, hurriedly, precipitately, p. D. q. (pretty
dan quick), , double quick, at a lick, hell for leather, pronto, at the double, at wasp speed,
a mile a minute, like the wind, like a bomb, like a bat out of hell, like a scalded cat, like
the deuce, like nobody's business, like (greased) lightning, like a madman/madwoman,
like the clappers, like billy-o, lickety-split, apace],
deuce (n.) – (informal) used as a euphemism for 'devil, hell, heck, fuck' in expressions
of annoyance, impatience, surprise, etc. [How the deuce are we to make a profit?],

lickety-split (adj.) – (NA, informal) as fast as possible [I took off lickety-split across the
lawn.],

misnomer (n.) – the misnaming of a person in a legal instrument; a use of a worng or

inappropriate name; a wrong name or inappropriate designation [Nowadays it is a
misnomer to call a farmer a peasant. The name „Greenland“ is a misnomer, since much of
the island is covered by a massive ice sheet.],

gnash (v.) – grind (one's teeth) together as a sign of anger; to press or strike against or
together so as to make a scraping sound (often used hyperbolically); (of teeth) strike
together, grind [No doubt he is gnashing his teeth in rage. She wailed and gnashed her
teeth. The dog's jaws were primed to gnash.] – synonyms & related words [grind, strike
together, grate, rasp, grit, gristbite, crunch, scrape, scrunch, creak, groan, moan, rasp,
scratch ,whine, clash, collide, jangle, jar],

stewpot (n.) – a pot used for making stew, usually large and heavy; (art, literature) a
jumble ,especially one that lacks intellectual incoherence [FUCK, THAT IS BRILLIANT!
THAT IS INSPIRED! WHAT SOURCE!? GET OOOOM! IT'S THE ECONOMY, STEWPOTS!],

notional (adj.) – dealing with or expressing a quality or idea, rather than experience
[She has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in
love.] – synonyms & related words [conceptual, ideal, ideational, metaphysical, abstract,
theoretical, theoretic; conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, cosmic, cosmical,
intellectual, mental, spiritual, ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial,
nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial, impalpable, imperceptible, insensible,
intangible, invisible, impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, unreal,
utopian, visionary],

how long is a piece of string (saying) – (UK) used to indicate that something
cannot be given a finite measurement [That's like asking, „How long is a piece of string?“],

partial (adj.) – existing only in part, incomplete; favoring one side in a dispute above
the other, biased; having a liking for [A question to which we have only partial answers.
The partial recovery of the economy. The paper gave a distorted and very partial view of
the situation. You know I'm very partial to bacon and eggs. Celeste was partial to ham
sandwiches.] – synonyms & related words [incomplete, limited, qualified, restricted,
imperfect, fragmentary, unfinished; biased, prejudiced, partisan, one-sided, slanted,
skewed, coloured, interested, parti pris, discriminatory, preferential, jaundiced; unjust,
unfair, inequitable, unbalanced, like, love, enjoy, have a liking for, be fond of, be keen on,
have a fondness for, have a weakness for, have a soft spot for, have a taste for, be taken
with, care for, have a predilection/proclivity/penchant for, be enamoured of, adore, be
mad about/on, have a thing about, be crazy about, be potty about, be nutty about, cotton
to, be nutso over/about, be shook on],

steady on (id.) – used for telling someone that you do not approve of the bad things
that they are saying [Steady on, Karen! You're talking about my boyfriend. Steady on,
Malcolm. That's a bit strong.],

take a hike (id.) – (NA, informal) go away (used as an expression of irritation or

annoyance) [He essentially told them to take a hike. Take a hike, boss, I'm running things
now!] – synonyms & related words [go away, get out, leave; be off with you!, shoo!, make
yourself scarce!, on your way! beat it, push off, clear off, clear out, shove off, scram, scoot,
skedaddle, buzz off, hop it, sling your hook; rack off, bug off, voetsak, hamba, piss off,
bugger off, begone],

scallop (n.) – one of a continuous series of circle segments or angular projections

forming a border (as on cloth or metal),

lock horns (id.) – to come into conflict, to cross swords,

umbra (n.) – a time or place of little or no light [Strange noises were coming from the
wooded umbra beyond our campfire.] – synonyms & related words [black, blackness,
candlelight, darkness, dusk, gloaming, gloom, murk, night, semidarkness, shade,
shadows, twilight, dark; midnight, blackout, brownout, dimout, shadiness, umbrage,
dullness, somberness, cloudiness, fogginess, haziness, mistiness, murkiness, dimness,
faintness, gloominess, grayness, paleness, half-light],

umbrere/umbriere/umber/umbril (n.) – (obsolete) in ancient armor, a visor,

or projection like the peak of a cap, to which a fixed or movable faceguard was
sometimes attached,

rind (n.) – the tough outer skin of certain fruit, especially citrus fruit [Decorate with fine
shreds of orange rind. Add the grated rind of one lemon.] – synonyms & related words
[skin, peel, covering, zest; hull, pod, shell, husk, crust, shuck, capsule, outer layer, bark;
hide, epicarp, pericarp, exocarp, integument],

nicety (n.) – a fine or subtle detail or distinction; a ccuracy or precison; a detail or

aspect of polite social behavior [Legal niceties are wasted on him. She prided herself on
her nicety of pronunciation. Great nicety of control was called for. We were brought up to
observe the niceties.] – synonyms & related words [fine point, subtlety, nuance, fine
distinction, shade, refinement, detail; precision, accuracy, exactness, meticulousness,
rigour, rigorousness],

vorpal (adj.) – sharp or deadly; (RPG, of a blade) having a special power making
decapitation likely,
vorpalize (adj.) – (RPG) to improve (a weapon) magically, such that it becomes more
effective against a specific type of creature,

filter (v.) – pass (a liquid, gas, light, or sound) through a device to remove unwanted
material; process or assess (items) in order to reject those that are unwanted;
(computing) process or treat with a filter; move slowly in a specified direction; (of light
or sound) enter a place slowly or in small quantities; (of information) gradually become
known; (UK, of traffic) be allowed to pass to the left or right at a junction while traffic
going straight ahead is halted [The eye filters out ultraviolet radiation. You'll be put
through to a secretary whose job it is to filter calls. The players filtered out on to the pitch.
Sunlight filtered in through the thin curtains. The rain had succeeded in filtering through
her jacket. The news began to filter in from the hospital. ILLIDAN STRODE INTO THE VAST
CHAMBER IN which Magtheridon was bound. The demon hunter seethed with frustration.
His defeat at the hands of Arthas stung his pride. Reports of Maiev’s presence had filtered in
from across Outland, but so far she had proved elusive as a ghost. She still sought to bury
him in chains. The spells restraining the pit lord reminded Illidan of his own imprisonment,
and of those who had held him. Rage bubbled up within him. He paced eight steps and
forced himself to stop before he could take the ninth.] – synonyms & related words
[sieve, strain, sift, filtrate, riddle; clarify, purify, clear, clean, make pure, refine, treat,
process, decontaminate; seep, percolate, leak, trickle, ooze, dribble, bleed, flow; drain,
well, exude, escape, leach],

sieve (v.) – put (a food substance or other material) through a sieve; remove
(unwanted items), examine in detail [Sieve the flour and sugar together in a bowl. Sieve
the mixture into ab owl. Filters sieve large particles out of the water to prevent them from
harming the pumps. Lawyers had sieved through her contract.] – synonyms & related
words [strain, sift, screen, filter, riddle, bolt, griddle],

griddle (n.) – a heavy, flat iron plate that is heated and used for cooking food;
(historical) a miner's wire-bottomed sieve,

griddle (v.) – cook on a griddle; (historical) screen (ore) with a griddle [Griddled corn
cakes. Black copper ore is generally griddled out.],

deform (v.) – distort the shape or form of, make misshapen; become distorted or
misshapen, undergo deformation [He was physically deformed by a rare bone disease.
Broad shoes that will not cramp or deform the toes. A deformed skeleton. The suspension
deforms slightly on the corners. Illidan stared at the pit lord. Even shackled deep in the
great vaults below Hellfire Citadel, Magtheridon remained a potent figure. The magical
chains holding him were taut. The binding spells from the Manticron cubes constantly
deformed as the demon exerted his will.] – synonyms & related words [make misshapen,
distort the shape of, disfigure, bend out of shape, misshape, contort, buckle, twist, warp,
damage, impair, maim, injure; misshapen, distorted, malformed, contorted, out of shape;
twisted, crooked, curved, warped, buckled, gnarled; crippled, maimed, injured, damaged,
humpbacked, hunchbacked, disfigured; ugly, unsightly, grotesque, monstrous; marred,
mutilated, mangled, fugly],

appease (v.) – pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands.; assuage or

satisfy (a demand or a feeling) [Amendments have been added to appease local pressure
groups. His action was seen as an attempt to appease critics of his regime. We give to
charity because it appeases our guilt. I'd wasted a lot of money to appease my vanity. It
was the truth. Illidan had gone to Azeroth, fought against the renegade death knight, and
lost. With that defeat, Illidan’s last chance of destroying the Lich King and appeasing the
wrath of Kil’jaeden had vanished. Ultimately it did not matter. The break would have had
to come sooner or later.] – synonyms & related words [conciliate, placate, pacify, make
peace with, propitiate, palliate, allay, reconcile, win over; calm (down), mollify, soothe,
quieten down, subdue, soften, content, still, quieten, silence, tranquillize, humor,
sweeten; satisfy, fulfil, gratify, meet, fill, serve, provide for, indulge; assuage, relieve, take
the edge off, deaden, dull, blunt, quench, slake, sate, diminish],

work (v.) – be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a result, do

work; be employed in a specified occupation or field; set to or keep at work; practice
one's occupation in or at (a particular place); (of a machine or system) function,
especially properly or effectively; (with reference to a machine or machine part) be or
cause to be in operation; (of a plan or method) have the desired result or effect; produce
as a result; exert influence or persuasion on; produce as a result; make efforts to achieve
something, campaign; (informal) arrange or contrive; exert influence or persuasion on;
use one's persuasive powers to stir the emotion of; bring (a material or mixture) to a
desired shape or consistency by hammering, kneading, etc; produce artistic pieces using
(a particular material or medium); produce (an article or design) using a specified
material or sewing stitch; cultivate (land) or extract materials from (a mine or quarry);
move or cause to move gradually or with difficulty into another position; (of a person's
features) move violently or convulsively; make progress to windward, with repeated
tacking; bring into a specified emotional state [An engineer who was working on a design
for a more efficient wing. Staff worked late int othe night to amke the necessary repairs. He
worked as a waiter in a rather shabby restaurant. Taylor has worked in education for 17
years. Jane is working you too hard. I worked a few clubs and so forth. His phone doesn't
work unless he goes to a high point. Dino's car was now working perfectly. The device is
designed to go into a special 'rest' state when it's not working. She showed me how to work
the ice-cream machine. The desperate ploy had worked. With a dash of blusher here and
there, you can work miracles. An organization working for ab etter life for people with
mental illness. The chairman was prepared to work it for Phillip if he was interested. She
worked upon the sympathy of her associates. Leaves him to me – I'll work on him. The born
politician's art of working a crowd. Work the mixture into a paste with your hands. He
works in clay over a very strong frame. The castle itself is worked in tent stitch. Contracts
and leases to work the mines. Many farmers had given up working the land. Comb hair
from tip to root, working out the knots at the end. He worked the blade into the padlock.
John had worked his way through the crowd. Hair wild, mouth working furiously. Bella's
mouth workeded furiously for a few seconds. Trying to work to windward in light airs.
Harold had worked himself int oa minor rage. He worked the crowd into a frenzy. The door
of the chamber opened and Akama entered, shoulders hunched, head down. Long tentacles
dribbled from the cowl of his robe. He shuffled over to the dais upon which Illidan stood.
Akama’s eyes never left the bound pit lord. He clearly was afraid of Magtheridon. Just as
clearly, he hated him for the desecration he had worked on the Temple of Karabor. There
was malice in his gaze as well as fear.] – synonyms & related words [toil, labour, exert
oneself, slave (away), plod away; work one's fingers to the bone, work like a Trojan/dog,
work day and night, keep at it, keep one's nose to the grindstone; informalslog (away),
beaver away, plug away, peg away, put one's back into something, work one's guts out,
work one's socks off, knock oneself out, sweat blood, kill oneself, graft, fag, bullock, work
one's balls/arse off, work one's ass/butt off, drudge, travail, moil; be employed, have a
job, earn one's living, hold down a job, do business, follow/ply one's trade; function, go,
run, operate, perform, be in working order, behave; operate, use, handle, control,
manipulate, manoeuvre, drive, run, direct; ply, wield; succeed, be successful, work out,
turn out well, go as planned, have the desired result, get results; be effective, take effect,
be efficacious, come off, pay off, do the trick, do the business, turn the trick; bring about,
accomplish, achieve, produce, do, perform, carry out, implement, execute, create,
engender, contrive, effect; persuade, manipulate, influence, sway, put pressure on, lean
on; coax, cajole, wheedle, soften up; twist someone's arm, put the squeeze on; knead,
squeeze, form, shape, fashion, mould, model, mix, stir, blend; cultivate, farm, till, plough,
exploit; maneuver, manipulate, negotiate, guide, edge; maneuver, make, thread, wind,
weave; twitch, quiver, twist, move spasmodically, convulse; stir (up), excite, drive, move,
spur, rouse, fire, galvanize; whip up, inflame, incite, agitate],

sensibility (adj.) – the quality of being able to appreciate and respond to complex
emotional or aesthetic influences, sensitivity; a quality of delicate sensitivity that makes
one liable to be offended or shocked [The study of literature leads to a growth of
intelligence and sensibility. The scale of the poverty revealed by the survey shocked
people's sensibilities. The wording was changed because it might offend people's
sensibilities. “You have outraged your pet’s sensibilities, little Illidan,” Magtheridon
boomed. “And not for the first time, I must tell you. He is a sensitive creature. Treacherous,
too. I can read his heart even if you are too blind to see it.”] – synonyms & related words
[sensitivity, sensitiveness, finer feelings, delicacy, subtlety, taste, discrimination,
discernment; understanding, insight, empathy, appreciation, awareness of the feelings of
others; feeling, intuition, intuitiveness, responsiveness, receptivity, receptiveness,
perceptiveness, awareness; feelings, emotions, finer feelings, delicate sensitivity,
sensitivities, susceptibilities, moral sense, sense of outrage],

clamp (n.) – a brace, band, or clasp for strenghtening or holding things together; short
for wheel clamp [I have fixed the motor to the table with two clamps. A clamp holds the
pieces of wood at right angles. Clamps had been fitted to the car's back wheels.] –
synonyms & related words [brace, vice, press; clasp, fastener, bracket, holdfast; mute,
capo, capo tasto; jumar; immobilizer, wheel clamp, boot],

clamp (v.) – fasten (something) in place with a clamp; hold (something) tightly against
another thing; immobilize (an unlawfully parked car) by fixing a wheel clamp to one of
its wheels [The sander is clamped on the edge of the workbench. Maggie had to clamp a
hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. An empty pipe was clamped between
his teeth. He had flown into a rage when he found his car was clamped. Illidan spoke a
word of power that clamped Magtheridon’s jaw shut. Only muffled groans and
unintelligible gasps emerged from him. Illidan had his doubts about Akama, as he had his
doubts about every one of his followers, but he would not let that show. There was no sense
in allowing Magtheridon to undermine Akama’s loyalty with thoughts that he might be
under suspicion.] – synonyms & related words [fasten, secure, fix, clip, attach, make fast,
screw, bolt; clench, grip, hold, press, squeeze, clasp, grasp, clutch; immobilize, wheel-
clamp, boot],

sanguine (adj.) – optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult

situation; (in medieval science and medicine) of or having the constitution associated
with the predominance of blood among the bodily humours, supposedly marked by a
ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition; (archaic, of the complexion) florid or
ruddy; (heraldry, literary) blood-red; (archaic) bloody or bloodthirsty [He is sanguine
about prospects for the global economy. He is sanguine about the remorseless advance of
information technology. Akama placed his hands together and made a bow that set his
facial tentacles to touching the ground. Illidan spread his arms wide, and his wings wider
still, and brandished a Warglaive of Azzinoth in each fist. He chanted words, and the forces
of magic bent to his will. Magtheridon struggled against his bindings, enormous muscles
flexing as he tried the strength of his chains. It seemed that the pit lord was not quite as
sanguine as he tried to appear at the prospect of the bloodletting.] – synonyms & related
words [optimistic, bullish, hopeful, buoyant, positive, disposed to look on the bright side,
confident, cheerful, cheery, bright, assured, upbeat, of good cheer],

sanguine (n.) – a blood-red color; a deep red-brown crayon or pencil containing iron
oxide; (heraldry) a blood-red stain used in blazoning,

spurt (v.) – gush out in a sudden and forceful stream; cause to gush out suddenly; move
with a sudden burst of speed [He cut his finger, and blood spurted over the sliced potatoes.
The kettle boiled and spurted scalding water. The other car had spurted to the top of the
ramp.] – synonyms & related words [squirt, shoot, spray, fountain, jet, erupt; gush, pour,
stream, rush, pump, surge, spew, spill, flow, course, well, spring, burst, issue, emanate;
disgorge, discharge, emit, belch forth, expel, eject, sloosh],

spurt (n.) – a sudden gushing stream; a sudden marked burst or increase of activity or
speed [A sudden spurt of blood gushed into her eyes. The sudden spurt of water scared the
bird away. Late in the race, he put on a spurt and reached second place. Daisy put on a
spurt to hurry down to the river. Akama cast the spell. The blood responded sluggishly. The
demonic taint within it resisted Akama. The plasma swirled and split, flowing into new
streams that filled the channels carved in the floor. Akama’s magic grew and drew on more
and more power. The spurts formed whirling patterns in the air and flowed down into the
vents. The blood pulsed through a system of pipes to be gathered in alchemical tanks.
Illidan smiled. He had collected the first of what he needed. The spell would be
selfsustaining for hours. It was time to get to work.] – synonyms & related words [squirt,
spray, fountain, jet, spout; gush, outpouring, stream, rush, surge, burst, spill, flow, flood,
cascade, torrent; burst of speed, turn of speed, increase of speed, burst of energy, sprint,
rush],

gurney (n.) – (US) a stretcher having wheeled legs [ILLIDAN STRODE THROUGH THE
long gallery, gazing down at the orcs lying on gurneys there. Pipe connected each to a tank
of bubbling greenish fluid, pumping it into their veins. Runes cut into their flesh guided the
magic. Scuttling, bent-backed mo’arg servitors moved from orc to orc, checking the
procedure. Their metallic claws clinked against the tubes. Their demonic eyes glinted with
unholy glee. Akama watched with unconcealed disgust on his face.],

obeisance (n.) – deferential respect; a gesture expressing deferentia lrespect, such as

a bow or curtsy [They padi obeisance to the Prince. She made a deep obeisance. ILLIDAN
STRODE INTO THE Chamber of Command, his council’s meeting room at the Black Temple.
Akama hobbled along behind him. Several Broken scuttled around, putting the last of the
fittings into place. Great tapestries woven with Illidan’s symbol hung from the wall. An
enormous table showing a carved three-dimensional map of Outland dominated the space.
A group of blood elves huddled around it. They turned and made obeisance as soon as they
saw Illidan. Clearly his sudden appearance had taken them by surprise.] – synonyms &
related words [respect, homage, worship, adoration, reverence, veneration,
respectfulness, honor, submission, deference; bow, curtsy, bob, genuflection, salaam,
salutation, namaskar, kowtow, reverence],

languid (adj.) – (of a person, manner, or gesture) having or showing a disinclination

for physical exertion or effort; (of a period of time) relaxe dand peaceful; weak or faint
from illness or fatigue [His languid demeanor irritated her. The terrace was perfect for
languid days in the Italian sun. She was pale, languid, and weak, as if she had delivered a
child. Pale, languid individuals.] – synonyms & related words [relaxed, unhurried,
languorous, unenergetic, lacking in energy, slow, slow-moving; listless, lethargic,
phlegmatic, torpid, sluggish, lazy, idle, slothful, inactive, indolent, lackadaisical,
apathetic, indifferent, uninterested, impassive, laid back, otiose, pococurante, Laodicean;
leisurely, peaceful, langourous, relaxed, restful, lazy; sickly, weak, faint, feeble, frail,
delicate, debilitated, flagging, drooping; tired, weary, fatigued, enervated],

butt in (v.) – interrupt or intrude on a conversation or activity [Sorry to butt in on you.

He butted in on our conversation. taken them by surprise. The beautiful Lady Malande
raised her hand in a languid salute. “Lord Illidan, Prince Kael’thas regrets he could not be
present. He has taken a force to close the Legion’s gate in the Netherstorm and —” Before
she could complete her explanation, High Nethermancer Zerevor butted in. “The magical
defenses of the temple have been rewoven, Lord Illidan. They were in a disgraceful state,
but—”] – synonyms & related words [interrupt, break in, cut in, chime in, interject,
interpose, intervene, interfere (with), put one's oar in, poke one's nose in/into, chip in],

stick/put your oar in (id.) – interfere, get involved, meddle, butt in [Keep out of this
– nobody asked you to stick your oar in.],

pad (v.) – walk with steady steps making a soft dull sound [She padded along the
corridor. He was padding the streets. I make no noise as I pad along towards the bedroom.
“Veras—you have done as I asked?” “Of course, Lord Illidan. Our best trackers have scoured
the routes to Hellfire Citadel and questioned the fel orc clan leaders. A number of night
elves were sighted on the heights above the road on the day of your triumphal procession.
They killed a group of fel orcs and made their escape. One of them wore burnished armor of
the sort Warden Shadowsong wears.” Illidan bared his fangs, and his underlings flinched.
He had been right. He had seen Maiev that day. He should have scoured the hills
immediately, but it had taken all his power to restrain Magtheridon, and he had not been
absolutely certain it was her. The need to impress the clans with his strength had
outweighed his suspicions. It would not have looked strong to disrupt the triumphal march
of his entire army to search for a few night elves. Still, it was galling to think that she had
been so close. “You will find Maiev Shadowsong for me, Veras. You will assign agents to
follow up on every rumor of her presence. I am keen to repay her for the hospitality she
extended to me.” “At once, Lord Illidan.” Veras padded silently from the chamber.] –
synonyms & related words [walk quietly, tread softly, walk barefoot, walk in stockinged
feet, walk in slippers, shuffle, soft-shoe],

hosiery (n.) – stockings, socks, and tights collectivey – synonyms & related words
[stockings, tights, stay-ups, nylons, hose, socks, knee socks, ankle socks, pantyhose],

(random cool paragraph) – [Akama, Gathios, Malande, and Zerevor filtered from
the chamber to be about their duties, leaving Illidan to contemplate the map of Outland.
Soon armies would be moving about it and war would ravage the land. He had better
prepare. He had much to do and little time to do it in. This was the moment to move to the
next phase of his plan. He must recruit others like him—those willing to hunt the Legion by
becoming what they hated most.],

gird (v.) – encircle (a person or part of the body) with a belt or band; secure 8a garment
or sword) on the body with a belt or band; surround, encircle [A young man was to be
girded with the belt of knighthood. A white robe girded iwth a magenta sash. Sir Hector
girded on his sword. The ruins are girded by two deep gorges. The island was girded by
treacherous rocks. The wall loomed before him. He crept forward, taking advantage of
every patch of shadow. There were many sentries and many warding spells. The Black
Temple was a fortress girded for war, and he did not want to be cut down by its guardians
before he had finished his business with its master.] – synonyms & related words [fasten,
belt, bind, tie; surround, enclose, encircle, circle, ring, encompass, circumscribe, border,
bound, edge, skirt, fringe, form a ring around, form a barrier round; close in, shut in,
fence in, wall in, hem in, pen up/in, lock in, cut off, confine, girdle, engird, compass],

(random cool paragraph) – [He pulled himself over the edge of the battlements,
rolled down onto the balcony behind, and lay in the shadows, catching his breath. So far no
sentinels. He felt a brief moment of triumph. He had succeeded where an army would have
failed. He had broken into the unholy precincts of the Black Temple. A batwinged shadow
passed across the moon. It seemed that all his wishes were to be granted tonight. Illidan,
the Betrayer himself, soared aloft on the night wind. It seemed that he, too, was restless this
evening. No doubt there were many things that kept him awake. Perhaps his dark deeds
caused nightmares that kept him from his bed. How long had it been since Vandel had slept
without nightmares? He could not recall. All he could remember were the terrible dreams.
He touched Khariel’s amulet once more. Not long, my son, not long. Illidan settled upon a
balcony atop the highest tower of the Black Temple. He paced for nine steps, turned, and
then shook his head. He leaned against the banister, surveying everything as far as the
horizon. Vandel wondered whether the Betrayer could see him. His sightless eyes were
known to perceive things that others could not. What would Illidan do if he knew that
Vandel was there?],

overmaster (v.) – defeat or overcome with superior strength; be too intense for,
overwhelm [It would not be difficult to reach the tower upon which Illidan stood. The few
sentinels scattered along the battlements did not seem completely awake. They were
secure in the strength of the walls protecting them. Doubtless they did not expect someone
like him. They were there to watch for armies and demons, not a solitary night elf
maddened by grief and overmastered by the thirst for revenge.] – synonyms & related
words [overpower, gain control over, overwhelm, prevail over, get the better of, get the
upper hand over, gain mastery over, master, control, overthrow, overturn, upset,
subdue, suppress, subjugate, hegemonize, repress, quell, quash, crush, finish, bring
someone to their knees, break, conquer, defeat, vanquish, beat, be victorious over, gain a
victory over, triumph over, best, worst, trounce, rout, thrash, lick, clobber, whip, wipe
the floor with, drub, tank, blow out of the water, own; overcome, overwhelm, sweep
over, move, stir, affect, touch, impress, sweep someone off their feet, strike, stun, shake,
disturb, devastate, take aback, daze, leave speechless, spellbind, dazzle, floor, bowl over,
blow away, knock/hit for six, knock sideways, get to; overwhelming, burdensome,
oppressive, weighty, unbearable, unendurable, intolerable, shattering, intimidating,
overbearing, dominating, mind-blowing; stifling, suffocating, pervasive, penetrating,
strong, pungent, powerful; nauseating, nauseous, sickly, offensive, acrid, astringent,
sharp, bitter, fetid, cloying, mephitic, heady, aromatic],

(random cool paragraph) – [He reached the top. The one he had come long leagues
to find stood before him. Illidan’s back was turned. His massive wings clung close to his
body as if trying to warm him against the chill of the night. He held his great horned head
low as he surveyed the distant lights of the great volcano. What was he looking for? What
did he see with his eyeless sight? Illidan turned as if he had known Vandel was there the
whole time. Vandel drew his daggers, checked the mystic runes etched into them, and
padded forward. He knelt, and placed his blades at Illidan’s hooves. “Forgive the intrusion,
Lord Illidan. I did not wish to risk being cut down by your sentries before I had spoken to
you.” Illidan said, “What do you wish of me, nightstalker?” “I want to slay those who slew
my family. I want to slaughter your enemies.” “There is no shortage of those.” Vandel said,
“I wish to learn what you have learned. I want to hunt demons.” “Then you have much to
learn, and the hour is late.” “Will you teach me?” “You and a thousand like you. Go below.
Rest. You will find what you seek. Or die in the attempt.” Illidan turned his back once more
and returned to gazing at the horizon. It was clear to Vandel that he was dismissed.],

folly (n.) – lack of good sense, foolishness; a foolish act, idea, or practice; a costly
ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin
built in a large garden or park; a theatricl revue with glamorous female performers [An
act of sheer folly. The follies of youth. He cursed himself for his folly. The Ziegfield Follies.
Their flying horrors fill the sky! It would be folly to send your flyers against them!] –
synonyms & related words [foolishness, foolhardiness, stupidity, idiocy, imbecility,
silliness, inanity, lunacy, madness, rashness, recklessness, imprudence, injudiciousness,
lack of caution, lack of foresight, lack of sense, irrationality, illogicality, irresponsibility,
thoughtlessness, indiscretion, craziness, daftness],

blissful (adj.) – extremely happy, full of joy; providing perfect happiness or great joy [A
blissful couple holding a baby. The blissful caress of cool cotton sheets. They spent a blissful
week together. Needle produced one of his long, sharp pins and pierced it into the flesh of
his own forearm. He dug around for a minute. Another droplet of blood appeared. He poked
the point through the small gap between his lips and made a sucking sound. A blissful look
appeared on his face. Vandel had come here doubting his own sanity. Now he doubted that
of everyone around him.] – synonyms & related words [ecstatic, rapturous, joyful, joyous,
elated, beatific, euphoric, enraptured, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven, transported, in
transports, in raptures, beside oneself with joy/happiness, rhapsodic, ravished,
enchanted, enthusiastic, delighted, thrilled, overjoyed, happy, over the moon, on top of
the world, blissed out, wrapped],

amplify (v.) – increase the volume of (sound), especially using an amplifier; increase
the amplitude of (an electrical signal or other oscillation); make (something) more
marked or intense; enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement); (genetics) make
multiple copies of (a gene or DNA sequence) [Amplified pop music. Many frogs amplify
the sound of their voices. The manufacturers have developed a system of amplifying the
radio signal. Urban policy initiatives amplified social polarization. The notes amplify
information contained in the statement. Genomic DNA was amplified using the polymerase
chain reaction. THE PAIR LED HIM through a maze of corridors. They passed through a
small sally port in the wall of the Black Temple and out into a vast heap of tumbledown
ruins. “This was once part of the Temple of Karabor,” Elarisiel said. “The orcs and the
demons did not leave a great deal of the original structure standing. What they did, Lord
Illidan and his champions took. We dwell here now under the watchful gaze of Varedis and
his companions.” “Varedis?” Vandel asked. “The master tutor,” Elarisiel said, but she did not
seem inclined to amplify on her remark.] – synonyms & related wods [louden, make
louder, turn up, increase, boost, step up, raise, magnify, intensify, escalate, swell,
heighten; add to, augment, supplement; expand, enlarge on, elaborate on, add to,
develop, flesh out, add flesh to, add detail to, go into detail about, embroider,
supplement, augment, reinforce],

fitful (adj.) – active or occurring spasmodically or intermittently, not regular or steady

[A few hours' fitful sleep. I drifted off into a brief and fitful sleep. More green meteors
scarred the face of the sky as Vandel and his guides passed through a series of terraces.
Silken pavilions rose along their length. From them came the sounds of mad laughter. They
passed through the camp and came eventually to a tunnel mouth in a ruined wall. Chill air
surrounded them as they walked down worn, ancient steps and emerged into a huge hall. It
looked like an asylum or a battlefield hospital. Elves sprawled everywhere. Some lay in
pools of greenish light cast by flickering fel lanterns. It made them look sick. Some of the
males were bearded and green-haired after the fashion of night elves; some were clean-
shaven like the sin’dorei. Some muttered to one another. Some huddled in the shadows
between the lanterns as if trying to conceal themselves. Most slept fitfully, talking in their
sleep. A mad scream sounded, and a female rose up and raced through the chamber,
shouting, “Worms, worms, worms!” The shout roused many from sleep, but they did not
seem disturbed by it. Only one tall blood elf rose from the soiled cloak in which he lay
wrapped, and he chased the maniac through the chamber. They disappeared out of sight.
“As you can see, you are not the only one who has found their way here. Many have sought
out Lord Illidan. Only a few will live to enter his service.”] – synonyms & related words
[intermittent, sporadic, spasmodic, broken, disturbed, disrupted, patchy, irregular;
variable, uneven, unsettled, disconnected, unsteady, on and off, off and on; restless,
sleepless, wakeful, insomniac, tossing and turning],

silvery (adj.) – resembling silver in color, shiny white; sprinkled or covered with silver;
having the clear, musical tone of silver, soft and clear in sound [A silvery laugh. “What do
you mean?” Elarisiel’s silvery laugh rang out. “You will find out soon enough, kaldorei. Pick
out any place and get some rest. You will need your strength for the trials ahead.”],

(random cool paragraph) – [She spun on her heel and departed. Needle raised a
finger to his forehead and turned his hand through a half circle, then stepped back into a
shadow and seemed to simply vanish. “Do not pay too much attention to Elarisiel,” said a
friendly voice from nearby. “She just likes to scare the new recruits. I suspect someone did
the same to her when she first came here, and she likes to spread the misery.” Vandel
inspected the speaker. He had the ageless look of a mature night elf, which meant he could
be any age from twenty years to fifteen thousand. As far as Vandel could see, he had no
scars or tattoos. When he considered the matter and then looked around, he saw that none
of the others in the hall did, either. The speaker continued. “You are a thoughtful one. And I
know what you are thinking …” The unspoken question hung in the air. “Vandel is my
name.” “Elune shines on the moment of our meeting, Vandel. I am Ravael.” “I am pleased to
make your acquaintance. You were about to tell me what I was thinking. I am curious to
know, since I am unsure myself.” “You are thinking what every newcomer who has ever
been led into this hall thinks. That the guides are strange. You are also wondering why
none of us have tattoos and all of us have eyes.” “There are more like that pair, then.” “Oh
yes, my friend. Lots more. Lord Illidan is building an army of the blind.” “Only they are not
blind, are they?” “No.” “And they have tattoos like his, only less intricate.” “Yes.” “And they
are changed in ways he has changed.” “You are observant.” “I would have to be blind not to
notice these things,” Vandel said before realizing the ridiculousness of that statement. “You
think the blind here see less well than you?” Ravael asked, and just for a moment a note of
hysteria sounded in his voice. Vandel was almost glad. Until that moment, Ravael had
seemed so normal as to be out of place in this madhouse. “I think they probably see more.
They had no trouble guiding me here, or avoiding anyone in their way. It is possible to
memorize routes, but I cannot imagine everyone in this hall occupies the same place the
whole time.” “You have thought things through, it seems.” “What are you doing here?” “I
came to take vengeance, to learn to fight demons. The same reason you are here, I am
guessing.” Vandel considered that for a moment. “Perhaps Elarisiel was right. Perhaps I am
not so special.” “I am sure you are. After all, you got here without dying. How common do
you think that is?” Vandel took a deep breath and looked around again. He had assumed
that everyone here was mad or an invalid, but he could see now that many of them bore
scars, and all of them had weapons close at hand. There were warriors here, and magi, and
hunters. “You lost someone?” Vandel asked. “I lost everything,” said Ravael. He made no
move to expand on that. Thinking of his own loss, Vandel saw no reason to prod him. “I
know what that feels like,” he said. Ravael looked around. “Somehow, though, in this place,
I feel we have even more to lose.”],

pick through (something) (v.) – to search through a collection of things in order to

find something [They are picking through the ruins, searching for survivors.],

unalloyed (adj.) – free from added matter [Unalloyed chemicals. The Betrayer was still
at large, and his power was growing. The strength of his legions mocked her own efforts.
She tried to blank her mind, reclaim her earlier good mood. It had been a long time since
she had experienced a moment of unalloyed happiness.] – synonyms & related words
[absolute, fine, neat, plain, pure, purified, refined, straight, unadulterated, undiluted,
unmixed; clarified, filtered, clean, fresh, taintless, uncontaminated, uncorrupted,
undefiled, unpolluted, untainted, rendered, tired, concentrated, full-bodied, strong,
uncombined],

(random cool paragraph) – [Anyndra lay on her stomach near the fire, playing an
improvised game of nexus with Sarius, using a hexagonal board slashed into the earth and
stones of different colors. The lieutenant saw Maiev looking at her and raised her hand in
salute. Her hair was bleached almost lime green by the Outland sun, and her skin was
desiccated. Her tunic was patched in a dozen places. Like the rest of the surviving
Watchers, she had refused to part with it. It was a connection with their home, and there
were few enough of those left. Sarius remained focused on the game. He was competitive in
everything. He had acquired a dozen new scars. Some of them were pale and old, but two
were from more recent skirmishes. They had been deep wounds. Druids healed quickly and
easily from most injuries. Maybe he had left them as they were as reminders or tributes to
his vanity. Males could be like that sometimes. They liked to have scars to flaunt and tell
tales about.],

disaffect (v.) – to cause to change from friendly or loving to unfriendly or uncaring [A

candidate winning over disaffected voters. She glanced around her camp. Her force had
grown but she could not yet call it an army. It numbered in the hundreds and consisted
mainly of disaffected draenei youths recruited on her travels. There were always those who
saw the need to oppose evil and the threat Illidan represented. Not enough, though.] –
synonyms & related words [alienate, disgruntle, estrange, sour; antagonize, embitter,
envenom, aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden,
outrage, rankle, rile, roil, break up, dissociate, disunite, divide, separate, sever, split,
sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke, disenchant, disillusion],

fall out (v.) – (of the hair, teeth, etc.) become detached and drop out; have an
argument; leave one's place in a military formation, or on parade; happen, turn out [The
chemotherapy made my hair fall out. He had fallen out with his family. Let's not fall out
over silly things. The two policemen at the rear fell out of the formation. The soldiers fell
out without permission. Matters fell out as Stephen arranged. It fell out that we lost. Illidan
played some deep game here. She could not see the logic of it, but she knew it must be
there. There were those who claimed that Kil’jaeden sought his head. Perhaps the demon
lord did. It would not be the first time that evildoers had fallen out with each other. Illidan
had switched sides before, though, and he would do so again when it suited him. His evil
nature would always win out. He had corrupted everything he ever touched. This time
would be no different.] – synonyms & related words [quarrel, argue, row, fight, have a
row, have a fight, squabble, bicker, have words, disagree, differ, have a difference of
opinion, have a disagreement, be at odds, clash, wrangle, get into conflict, get into a
dispute, cross swords, lock horns, be at loggerheads, be at each other's throats, scrap,
argufy, go at it hammer and tongs, argy-bargy, altercate, chop logic, threap; move out of
formation, move out of line, get out of line, get out of formation, stand at ease; happen,
occur, come about, take place, turn out, chance, arise, befall, result],

calculated (adj.) – (of an action) done with full awareness of the likely consequence
[Victims of vicious and calculated assaults. Maiev considered this. With calculated
insolence she ran her eyes over the newcomers, making it clear she was counting their
numbers. She then looked at her own force. The strangers were outnumbered by twenty to
one.] – synonyms & related words [deliberate, premeditated, planned, pre-planned,
preconceived, intentional, intended, done on purpose, purposeful, purposive, thought
out in advance; aforethought; considered, conscious, studied, strategic, prepense],
perk (v.) – become or make more cheerful, lively, or interesting [She'd been depressed,
but she seemed to perk up last week. As he thought about the evening ahead, he perked up
slightly. You look as though you could do with something to perk you up. Maiev perked up
at that. Perhaps there were allies to be gained—maybe even an entire army. “I am sure we
have much to tell each other. If it suits you, I will guide my people to your city and have
words with your Arechron.”] – synonyms & related words [cheer up, brighten (up),
become more cheerful, become livelier, feel happier, take heart, be heartened, liven up,
revive; improve, get better, recover, rally, take a turn for the better, look up, pick up,
bounce back, be on the mend, buck up; cheer up, liven up, brighten up, make more
cheerful/lively, make happier, raise someone's spirits, give someone heart, give
someone a boost/lift, revitalize, invigorate, energize, enliven, ginger up, put new
life/heart into, add some zest to, put some spark into, rejuvenate, refresh, vitalize, vivify,
wake up, buck up, pep up, zhoosh (up), inspirit],

slat (n.) – a thin, narrow piece of wood, plastic, or metal used to make floors, furniture,
window coverings, etc. [The base of the bed was made of slats. Slats ofa window blind.
TELAAR WAS AN IMPRESSIVELY fortified place. Situated on top of a flat mountain peak
that rose above a deep valley, it had no need of walls. The only approaches were over rope
bridges or from the air. Unless they used magic or flyers, any foe would find it a difficult
place to besiege. The rope bridge swayed beneath the paws of Maiev’s nightsaber. The
great cat stalked on, but she could sense its pulse increase as it looked down. Through the
slats of the bridge, Maiev could see the ground a long way below. If the Broken wanted to
kill her people, all they would have to do was cut the ropes supporting the bridge. Of
course, that would mean killing the Broken and draenei with them. Maiev had known
enough leaders willing to sacrifice their own people to achieve their ends that she did not
discount the possibility.],

discount (v.) – deduct an amount from (the usual price of something); reduce (a
product or service) in price; regard (a possibility or fact) as being unworthy of
consideration because it lacks credibility [A product may carry a price which cannot
easily be discounted. Top paris hotels discounted 20 per cent off published room rates. One
shop has discounted children's trainers. A recommended retail price of £82.95, but you'll
find it discounted in many stores. Many titles are discounted by up to 40 per cent on the
publishers' price. I'd heard rumors, but discounted them.] – synonyms & related words
[deduct, take off, rebate, knock off, slash, reduce, mark down, cut, lower, lessen, knock
down; mark down, reduce, put on sale; disregard, pay no attention to, take no notice of,
take no account of, pass over, overlook, dismiss, ignore, brush off, gloss over; disbelieve,
give no credence to, reject, pooh-pooh, take with a pinch of salt],

lassitude (n.) – a state of physical or mental weariness, lack of energy [She was
overcome by lassitude and retired to bed. Prolonged periods of lassitude which she ascribed
to the heat. A crowd lined the edges of the town, trying to get a glimpse of the approaching
force. They did not push or shove one another, but they did not have the lassitude she had
come to associate with the Broken, either. They appeared to be armed and no doubt would
fight if they had to.] – synonyms & related words [ethargy, listlessness, weariness,
languor, sluggishness, enervation, tiredness, exhaustion, fatigue, sleepiness, drowsiness,
torpor, torpidity, ennui, lifelessness, sloth, apathy],

ascribe (v.) – regard something as being due to (a cause); regard a text, quotation, or
work of art as being produced or belonging to 8a particular person or period); regard a
quality as belonging to [He ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach. A quotation
ascribed to Thomas Chooper. Tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to top
bosses.] – synonyms & related words [attribute, assign, put down, set down, accredit,
credit, give the credit for, chalk up, impute; lay on, pin on, blame on, lay at the door of;
connect with, associate with],

accredit (v.) – give credit to (someone) for something; attribute an action, saying, or
quality to; (of an official body) give authority or sanction to (someone or something)
when recognized standards have been met; give official authorization for (someone,
typically a diplomat or journalist) to be in a particular place or to hold a particular post
[He was accredited with being one of the world's fastest sprinters. The discover yof
distillation is usually accredited to the Arabs. Institutions that do not meet the standards
will not be accredited for teacher training. Professional bodies accredit tehse research
degrees. No journalist accredited to the UN has ever been expelled. The UK accredited
representative.] – synonyms & related words [recognize as, credit with; have something
ascribed to one, have something attributed to one, receive the credit for, be given the
credit for; ascribe, attribute, chalk up, lay at the door of; recognize, license, authorize,
approve, certify, warrant, empower, depute, endorse, sanction, vouch for, put one's seal
of approval on, appoint; official, appointed, legal, recognized, licensed, authorized,
approved, certified, warranted, empowered, deputed, endorsed, sanctioned, vouched
for],

impute (v.) – represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done

or possessed by someone, attribute; (theology) ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.9 to
someone by virtue of a similar quality in another; (finance) assign 8a value) t
osomething by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it
contributes [The crimes imputed to Richard. He imputes selfish views to me. Christ's
righteousness has been imputed to us. Recovering the initial outlay plus imputed interest.]
– synonyms & related words [attribute, ascribe, assign, credit, accredit, chalk up;
connect with, associate with, lay on, lay at the door of, pin on, stick on],

swish (v.) – to move quickly with a smooth gentle sound, especially through the air, or
to make something do this, make a 'swoosh' sound [The horses stood in the field,
swinging their tails. The curtains swished open.],

deceptive (adj.) – giving an appearance or impression different from the true one,
misleading [He put the question with deceptive casualness. Distances over water are very
deceptive. Deceptive practices account for at least half of the offenses. MAIEV GLANCED
ACROSS THE low table, studying Arechron. The Broken had an open, honest face and a
welcoming manner, but she had long ago learned that such things could be deceptive. She
was determined not to let down her guard even for a moment, although she gave no sign of
her suspicions.] – synonyms & related words [misleading, illusory, illusive, illusionary,
ambiguous, deceiving, delusive, distorted, specious; deceitful, duplicitous, fraudulent,
counterfeit, sham, bogus, cheating, underhand, cunning, crafty, sly, guileful, scheming,
perfidious, treacherous, Machiavellian, dissembling, disingenuous, untrustworthy,
unscrupulous, unprincipled, dishonest, untruthful, lying, mendacious, insincere, false,
crooked, sharp, shady, slippery, sneaky, tricky, foxy, bent, slim, subtle, hollow-hearted,
false-hearted, double-faced, truthless, Punic],

hollow-hearted (adj.) – (archaic) insincere, false, lying,

stoke (v.) – add coal or other solid fue lto (a fire, furnace, boiler, etc.); encourage or
incite (a strong emotion or tendency); (informal) consume a large quantity of food or
drink to give one energy [He stoed up the barbecue. Dad returned to his chair while I
stoked the fire. His composure had the effect of stoking her anger. Carol was at the coffee
macine, stoking up for the day.] – synonyms & related words [add fuel to, mend, keep
burning, tend, fuel],

clop (v.) – clump, the sound made by hooves [The chamber walls curved. Thick carpets
lay strewn on the floor. A Broken boy pulled aside a beaded curtain and stared in, quite
clearly fascinated by the newcomer. Maiev met his gaze. “Corki,” said Arechron, “go to
sleep. It is past your bedtime and I have business to discuss with our new friend.” “Yes,
Father,” said Corki. He made no move to go. “Corki!” “Yes, Father?” “Do as you are told, or
there will be consequences.” “Yes, Father.” The child’s hooves clopped on the stone floor as
he skipped away.] – synonyms & related words [clunk, plod, pound, stomp, thud, thump,
clonk, tromp],

yawn (v.) – be wide open [A yawning chasm. There was a yawning hole where the door
had been wrenched off. Maiev saw a quagmire of theological debate yawning before her.
“Oh, I am sure that the Light watches over us. I am not so sure that it can protect us for
very much longer. The Betrayer seeks dominion over Outland. Already he has recruited tens
of thousands of fel orcs and other monstrous beings. I have seen the naga working on great
magical engines amid the waters of Coilfang Reservoir. I cannot believe that they are up to
anything good. I know their leader, Lady Vashj. Believe me, she is wicked.”] – synonyms &
related words [gaping, wide open, wide, cavernous, deep, large, huge, great, big,
chasmal],

quagmire (n.) – a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot; an awkward
complex, or hazardous situation [Torrential rain turned the building site into a quagmire.
The rains arrived and the area was transformed into a red quagmire. A legal quagmire.
The case has become aj udicial quagmire.] – synonyms & related words [swamp, morass,
bog, peat bog, marsh, mire, quag, marshland, fen, slough, quicksand; moss; corcass;
bayou, pocosin, moor, marish, carr; muddle, mix-up, mess, predicament,
unfortunate/difficult/awkward situation, mare's nest, quandary, entanglement, tangle,
jumble, imbroglio; trouble, confusion, difficulty; corner, tight corner/spot, sticky,
situation, pickle, hole, stew, dilemma, fix, bind, jam, scrape, kettle of fish, how-do-you-do,
hot/deep water, comess],

imbroglio (n.) – an extremely confused, complicated, or embarrassing situation [The

abdication imbroglio of 1936. A man caught up in a political imbroglio.] – synonyms &
related words [complicated situation, complication, complexity, problem, difficulty,
predicament, plight, trouble, entanglement, confusion, muddle, mess, quandary,
dilemma, bind, jam, pickle, fix, scrape, corner, tight corner, hole, sticky sitaution, mare's
nest, hot water, deep water],

mare's nest (id.) – a complex or confused situation, a muddle; an illusory discovery,

false hope [Your desk's usually a mare's nest. The mare's nest of perfect safety.],

good-humored (adj.) – naturally cheerful and friendly, genial [A good-humored and

tolerant man. He was too good-humored to be offended. Arechron raised both hands in her
direction, palms out. He gave her a good-humored smile and said, “You do not need to
convince me of the threat that Illidan poses.”] – synonyms & related words [genial,
friendly, affable, cordial, congenial, amiable, warm, easy-going, approachable,
sympathetic, well disposed, good-natured, cheerful, cheery, neighbourly, hospitable,
companionable, comradely, bluff, easy to get along with; sociable, convivial, outgoing,
extrovert, extroverted, gregarious, company-loving, hail-fellow-well-met, chummy, pally,
matey, buddy-buddy, clubby, regular],

genial (adj.) – friendly and cheerful [Our genial host. Fred is genial and well liked.] –
synonyms & related words [friendly, affable, cordial, congenial, amiable, warm, easy-
going, approachable, sympathetic, well disposed, good-natured, good-humoured,
cheerful, cheery, neighbourly, hospitable, companionable, comradely, bluff, easy to get
along with; sociable, convivial, outgoing, extrovert, extroverted, gregarious, company-
loving, hail-fellow-well-met, chummy, pally, matey, buddy-buddy, clubby, regular],

cynical (adj.) – believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful
of human sincerity or integrity; doubtful as to whether something wil lhappen or
whether it is worthwhile [He was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under
the sun. Most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city.] –
synonyms & related words [sceptical, doubtful, distrustful, suspicious, disbelieving,
unbelieving, scoffing, doubting, incredulous; pessimistic, negative, hard-bitten,
hardened, hard, world-weary, disillusioned, disenchanted, jaundiced, sardonic, black,
bleak; informalhard-boiled],
wrathful (adj.) – full of or characterized by intense anger [Natural calamities seemed
to be the work of a wrathful deity. All at once he grew wrathful, his face purpling.] –
synonyms & related words [angry, irate, raging, enraged, incensed, infuriated, furious,
choleric, fuming, ranting, raving, seething, frenzied, in a frenzy, beside oneself, indignant,
outraged, vexed, in high dudgeon, exasperated, in a temper, irritated, provoked, piqued,
cross, displeased; bad-tempered, hot-tempered, ill-humoured, irascible, mad, wild, livid,
boiling, spare, aerated, hot under the collar, on the warpath, up in arms, with all guns
blazing, foaming at the mouth, seeing red, steamed up, fit to be tied, sore, ireful],

righteous (adj.) – morally right or justifiable [Feelings of righteous indignation about

pay nad conditions. The scriptures contain rules for righteous living. A look of righteous
anger came over his face. Arechron steepled his fingers and nodded. “You can fight your
guerrilla war and disappear into the wastes to escape the wrath of your foe. I cannot. My
people cannot. We have homes here in Telaar. We have children.” “I wondered why you
introduced him into the conversation so early.” Arechron made a curt gesture with his
right hand, then shrugged. “You are a cynical and wrathful night elf, but I think that you
are also a righteous one. That is why I will give you whatever aid I can. I will provide you
with supplies and weapons. I will allow you to recruit whoever wishes to follow you among
our youths, provided only that you leave the town guards out of your efforts at persuasion.
We need them here to protect us from our enemies.” Maiev considered his words. It was
obvious that Arechron did not wish to be drawn into open conflict with Illidan. But it was
equally obvious that he was no friend to the Betrayer, either. Under the circumstances, that
would have to do. She allowed some real warmth to show in her smile. “I appreciate the
risk that you are taking. And I am grateful for any help that you can give me.”] – synonyms
& related words [good, virtuous, upright, upstanding, decent, worthy; ethical, principled,
moral, high-minded, law-abiding, just, honest, innocent, faultless, honourable, blameless,
guiltless, irreproachable, sinless, uncorrupted, anti-corruption, saintly, angelic, pure,
noble, noble-minded, pious, God-fearing; justifiable, justified, legitimate, defensible,
supportable, just, rightful; well founded, sound, valid, admissible, allowable,
understandable, excusable, acceptable, reasonable, sensible],

(random cool paragraph) – [“It is said that he is a formidable sorcerer.” “One of the
greatest my people ever produced.” It galled Maiev to have to utter such words. She
despised the sort of magical power Illidan dealt in. “That is alarming. You can see the effect
magic has had on our world. It shattered Draenor, cost the lives of millions.” Arechron was
afraid of the power Illidan’s magic represented. It was a sensible attitude, albeit a
cowardly one.],

howdah (n.) – (Indian English) a large seat on an elephant's back, usualyl one with a
cloth roof [Arechron himself appeared, mounted on the howdah of a huge bejeweled elekk.
He bowed to her and said, “Remember, seek out the Aldor. They are the strongest faction in
Shattrath besides the naaru, and they are the ones most likely to aid you.” “I will do that,”
Maiev said.],
account (n.) – (importance) [Money was of no account to her. The casualties they suffer
will be of no account. Arechron nodded and said, “And if I were you, I would have nothing
further to do with the Ashtongue and their leader. They are of little account.” Maiev
doubted that. She had met Akama on many occasions since their initial contact, and she
knew his power. She still did not trust the Broken, but he had not lied to her yet, as far as
she could tell.] – synonyms & related words [importance, import, significance,
consequence, moment, momentousness, substance, note, mark, prominence, value,
weightiness, weight, concern, interest, gravity, seriousness],

snippet (n.) – a small piece or brief extract [Snippets of information about the war.] –
synonyms & related words [ piece, bit, scrap, fragment, morsel, particle, shred, snatch,
excerpt, extract],

pin back someone's ears (id.) – to punish someone, either by words or blows,
chasten, chastise, scold [A flip-lippedb astard who should have had his ears pinned back
long ago.],

trumpet (v.) – play a trumpet; make a loud, penetrating sound resembling that of a
trumpet; proclaim widely or loudly [Figures of two trumpeting angels. Wild elephants
trumpeting in the bush. „“Come on!“ he trumpeted. The press trumpeted another defeat for
the government. The team of British researches trumpeted a major medical breakthrough.
Anyndra rode up beside her. Her gaze made it clear she was awaiting the order to depart.
Maiev nodded. Anyndra sounded her horn. The nightsabers roared. The elekk trumpeted.
The long line of soldiers departed Telaar, leaving the cheering, waving, crying throng
behind them. Maiev wondered what she would really find in Shattrath.] – synonyms &
related words [shout, bellow, roar, yell, cry out, call out, holler; proclaim, announce,
declare, broadcast, promulgate, noise abroad, shout from the rooftops, blazon],

shout something from the rooftops (id.) – to tel leveryone about something that
you are very happy about or are proud of [He wanted to shout his love from the rooftops.],

promulgate (v.) – promote or make widely known (an idea or cause); put (a law or
decree) into effect by official proclamation [These objectives have to be promulgated
within the organization. Ideas which Ruskin had been the first to promulgate. In January
1852 the new Constitution was promulgated. The new law was promulgated on December
19.] – synonyms & related words [make known, make public, publicize, spread,
communicate, propagate, disseminate, circulate, broadcast, promote, announce,
proclaim, bruit about; put int oeffect, enact, implement, enforce, pass],

bruit (about) (v.) – to make (as a peice of information) the subject of common talk
withotu any authority or confirmation of accuracy [Please don't bruit allegations about
without confirming them first.] – synonyms & related words [circulate, noise (about or
abroad), rumor ,whisper; bandy (about), blab, gossip, tattle, bare, disclose, divulge,
expose, let on (about), report, reveal, spill, tell, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest,
broadcast, proclaim, propagate, publicize, spread],

fumble (n.) – an act of doing or handling something clumsily; (informal9 an act of

fondling someone for sexual pleasure; (in ball games) an act of failing to catch or field
the ball cleanly; an act of managing or dealing with something clumsily [Just one fumble
during a tyrade change could separate the winners from the losers. A quick fumble in a
downtown tavern. A kiss and a fumble. He recovered a fumble after a bad exchange. A
fumble from the goalkeeper. We are not talking about subtle errors of judgement, but
major fumbles.] – synonyms & related words[fondle, grope, caress, hug, embrace, cuddle,
feel up; slip, miss, drop, mishandling, misleading, mistake, error, gaffe, fault, botch, slip
up, clanger, boob, boo-boo, howler, foul up, fail, cock up],

sprint (v.) – run at full speed over a short distance [I saw Charlie sprinting through the
traffic towards me. She sprinted across the square.] – synonyms & related words [run,
race, dart, rush, dash, hasten, hurry, scurry, scuttle, scamper, hare, bolt, bound, fly,
gallop, career, charge, pound, shoot, hurtle, speed, streak, whizz, zoom, go like lightning,
go hell for leather, go like the wind, flash, ear, pelt, scoot, hotfoot it, leg it, belt, zip, whip,
go like a bat out of hell, step on it, get a move on, get cracking, put on some speed, stir
one's stumps, hop it, bomb, go like the clappers, boogie, hightail it, barrel, get the lead
out, cut along, post, hie],

get off (v.) – (informal) escape a punishment, be acquitted; (UK) go to sleep, especially
after some difficulty; (UK, informal) have a sexual encounter; (NA, vulgar, slang) have an
orgasm [You'll get off with a caution. He was charged with fraud but got off. Linda got off
with the ski instructor.] – synonyms & related words [escape punishment, be acquitted,
be absolved, be cleared, be exonerated, be exculpated, be declared/found innocent, be
vindicated],

hove (v.) – to remain suspended in air, water, etc. to float, to hover, to float, as a bird in
air or boat on water, to move in this manner, particularly when first coming into sight; to
wait, linger; to move on or by; (now chiefly dialectal) to remain, delay; (now chiefly
dialectal) to remain stationary (usually on horseback); (now chiefly dialectal) to raise,
lift, hold up; (now chiefly dialectal) to rise,

heave to (v.) – (nautical, of a ship or other naval vessel) to come to a halt,

heave into sight/view (id.) – (literary) to become able to be seen, become visible,
come into view, appear [A few moments later a barge hove into view. After 30 minutes, a
large ship hove into the sight on the horizon.] – synonyms & related words [become
visible, come into view, come into sight, materialize, take shape, pop up, bob up; be
revealed, be seen, emerge, manifest itself, become apparent, become evident, surface,
come to light, arise, crop up, occur, develop, enter into the picture],
demystify (v.) – to make plain or understandable, to clarify (obscure, clouded, or
irrational beliefs), to reduce or remove bewilderment, irrationaly, etc. in (a person) [An
art book that does a lot to demystify the subject for the casual museumgoer.] – synonyms
& related words [clarify, clear (up), construe, demonstrate, elucidate, explain, explicate,
expound, get across, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle;
decipher, decode, analyze, break down, disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble,
untangle, resolve, solve, define, specify, annotate, commentate, gloss],

mystify (v.) – utterly bewilder or perplex (someone); make obscure or mysterious [I

was completely mystified by his disappearance. Lawyers who mystify the lgal system so
that laymen find it unintelligible.] – synonyms & related words [bewilder, puzzle,
perplex, baffle, confuse, confound, bemuse, obfuscate, nonplus, throw, get, flummox, be
all Greek to, stump, bamboozle, beat, faze, fox, wilder, gravel, maze],

befog (v.) – make confused [Her brain was befogged with lack of sleep.] – synonyms &
related words [confused, muddled, fuddled, befuddled, addled, groggy, dizzy, muzzy,
dopey, woozy, not with it],

encapsulate (v.) – enclose (something) in or as if in a capsule; express the essential

features of (something) succinctly [The company would encapsulate the asbestos waste in
concrete pellets. The adult worms are encapsulated in a cyst. The conclusion is
encapsulated in one sentence.] – synonyms & related words [enclose, encase, contain,
confine, envelop, enfold, sheath, cocoon, surround; summarize, sum up, give a summary
of, precis, abridge, digest, abbreviate, condense, compress, compact, contract, telescope;
capture, express, record, sketch, give the gist of, give the main points of, put in a nutshell,
epitomize, capsulize],

culminate (v.) – reach a climax or point of highest devleopment; be the climax or

point of highest development of; (astrology, archaic, of a celestial body) reach or be at
the meridian [Weeks of violence culminated in the brutal murder of a magistrate. Nine
days of processions and parades culimating in a dramatic fire-walking ceremony. Her book
culminated a research project on the symmetry studies of Escher. The star culminates at
midnight on about the 30th April.] – synonyms & related words [come to a climax, come
to a crescendo, come to a head, reach a finale, peak, climax, reach a pinnacle; build up to,
lead up to; come to an end with, end with, finish with, conclude with, close with,
terminate with, wind up],

tenor (n.) – the feeling, mood, or main message that you get from a book, person,
situation, etc. [I think the tenor of the discussion has been pretty positive.] – synonyms &
related words [meaning, intent, gist, mood, theme, tone, aim, body, burden, core, course,
current, direction, drift, evolution, inclination, meat, path, pith, purport, purpose, run,
sense, stuff, substance, tendency, trend, way, course of thought],
purport (v.) – appear to be or do something, especially falsely, to intend to seem, to
imply, profess, or claim something by its tenor, to appear to be something [She is not the
person she purports to be. The work purports to be authoritative.] – synonyms & related
words [claim, lay claim, profess, pretend; set oneself up (as), appear, seem;
allege/maintain/assert/proclaim/imply that one is, be apparently, be ostensibly, pose
as, impersonate, pass oneself off as, be disguised as, masquerade as, feign the identity of,
pass for, represent oneself as, personate],

purport (n.) – the meaning or sense of something, typically a document or speech; the
purpose or intention of something [I do not understand the purport of your remarks. The
urport of his remarks is already familiar. The purport of existence. The purport of the
attack was to prove him wrong.] – synonyms & related words [gist, substance, drift,
implication, intention, meaning, significance, signification, sense, essence, import, tenor,
thrust, message, spirit; intention, purpose, intent, object, objective, aim, goal, target, end,
plan, scheme, design, idea, ambition, desire, wish, hope],

spearhead (n.) – the point of a spear; an individual or group chose nto lead an attack
or movement [A Bronze Age spearhead. She became the spearhead of a health education
program. The Party became the spearhead of the struggle against Fascim.] – synonyms &
related words [spear tip, spear point; leader(s), driving force; forefront, avant-garde,
front runner(s), front line, vanguard, van, cutting edge],

spearhead (v.) – lead (an attack or movement) [He's spearheading a campaign to

reduce the number of accidents at work. She was to spearhead the inner-city campaign.] –
synonyms & related words [lead, head, front, be the driving force behind; be in the
forefront of, be in the front line of, lead the way in/for, be in the van of, be in the
vanguard of],

teeter (v.) – move or balance unsteadily, sway back and forth, be unable to decide
between different courses, waver [She teetered after him in her high-heeled sandals. Daisy
teetered towards them in her high-heeled boots. She teetered between tears and anger. The
situation teetered between tragedy and farce.] – synonyms & related words [totter, walk
unsteadily, wobble, toddle; sway, rock, try to keep one's balance; stagger, stumble, reel,
roll, lurch, pitch; stot; see-saw, veer, fluctuate, oscillate, swing, yo-yo, alternate, waver,
wobble, teeter-totter],

waver (v.) – move in a quivering way, flicker; become weaker, falter; be undecided
between two opinions or courses of action [The flame waved in the draught. The
candlelight in the room wavered in a warm draught. His lover for her had never wavered.
His voice wavered with a hint of uncertainty. She never wavered from her intention. He had
wavered between the Church of Ireland and Catholicism.] – synonyms & related words
[flicker, quiver, tremble, twinkle, glimmer, wink, blink; become unsteady, falter, wobble,
tremble, hesitate; be undecided, be irresolute, be indecisive, hesitate, dither, equivocate,
vacillate, fluctuate, see-saw, yo-yo; think twice, change one's mind, get cold feet, dally,
stall; haver, hum and haw, dilly-dally, shilly-shally, pussyfoot around, blow hot and cold,
sit on the fence, tergiversate],

denude (v.) – strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets [Almost

overnight the Arctic was denuded of animals. The island had been denuded of trees.] –
synonyms & related words [divest, strip, clear, deprive, bereave, rob; lay bare, make
bare, bare, uncover, expose; deforest, defoliate, despoil],

cajole (v.) – persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery [He

hoped to cajole her into selling him her house. He had been cajoled into escorting Nadia to
a concert.] – synonyms & related words [persuade, wheedle, coax, talk into, manoeuvre,
get round, prevail on, beguile, blarney, flatter, seduce, lure, entice, tempt, inveigle, woo,
sweet-talk, soft-soap, butter up, twist someone's arm, blandish],

blandish (v.) – (archaic) coax (someone) with kind words or flattery [I was blandihing
her with imprudences to get her off the subject.],

inveigle (v.) – persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery;

gain entrance to (a place) by using deception or flattery [He inveigled her back to his
room. He was attempting to inveigle them into doing his will. Jones had inveigled himself
into her house.] – synonyms & related words [cajole, wheedle, coax, persuade, convince,
talk; tempt, lure, allure, entice, ensnare, seduce, flatter, beguile, dupe, fool, sweet-talk,
soft-soap, butter up, twist someone's arm, con, bamboozle, sucker, blandish],

emblazon (v.) – conspicuously inscribe or display a design on; depict (a heraldic

device) on something; (archaic) celebrate or extol publicly [T-shirts emblazoned with the
names of baseball teams. Each shirt was emblazoned with the company name. The Queen's
coat of arms is emblazoned on the door panel. A flag with a hammer and sickle
emblazoned on it. Their success was emblazoned.] – synonyms & related words [adorn,
decorate, ornament, embellish, illuminate, color, paint; display, depict, exhibit, show,
present],

abound (v.) – exist in large numbers or amounts; have in large numbers or amounts
[Rumors of a further scandal abound. Omens and prodigies abound in his work. Ruth had
abounding strength and energy. This area abounds with caravan sites. A beautiful stream
which abounded with trout and eels.] – synonyms & related words [be plentiful, be
abundant, be numerous, proliferate, superabound, thrive, flourish, be thick on the
ground, grow on trees, be two/ten a penny; abundant, plentiful, superabundant,
considerable, copious, ample, lavish, luxuriant, profuse, boundless, munificent, bountiful,
prolific, inexhaustible, generous; galore, plenteous; be full of, overflow with, teem with,
be packed with, be crowded with, be thronged with, be jammed with; be alive with, be
overrun with, swarm with, bristle with, be bristling with, be infested with, be thick with,
be crawling with, be lousy with, be stuffed with, be jam-packed with, be chock-a-block
with, be chock-full of, pullulate with],
garner (v.) – gather or collect (something, especially information or approval);
(archaic) store, deposit, usually in a granary [The police struggled to garner sufficient
evidence. Edward garnered ideas and experience from his travels. The crop was ready to be
reaped and garnered.] – synonyms & related words [gather, collect, accumulate, amass,
assemble; store, lay up, lay by, put away, stow away, hoard, stockpile, reserve, save,
preserve, stash away],

loom (v.) – appear as a vague form, especially one that is large or threatening; (of an
event regarded as threatening) seem about to happen [Vehicles loomed out of the
darkness. Ghostly shapes loomed out of the fog. There is a crisis looming. Without reforms,
disaster looms.] – synonyms & related words [emerge, appear, become visible, come into
view, take shape, materialize, reveal itself, appear indistinctly, come to light, take on a
threatening shape; be imminent, be on the horizon, impend, be impending, be close, be
ominously close, threaten, be threatening, menace, brew, be just around the corner],

impend (v.) – be about to happen; (archaic, of something bad) be looming [My

impending departure. She had a strange feeling of impending danger. The melancholy fate
which impended over his nephew.] – synonyms & related words [imminent, at hand, close,
close at hand, near, nearing, approaching, coming, forthcoming, upcoming, to come, on
the way, about to happen, upon us, in store, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon,
in the air, in the wind, brewing, looming, looming large, threatening, menacing, on the
cards],

embroil (v.) – involve (someone) deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation;

(archaic) bring into a state of confusion or disorder [The organization is currently
embroiled in running battles with pressure groups. She became embroiled in a dispute
between the two women. What merit do you claim for having embroiled everything in
which you are concerned?] – synonyms & related words [involve, entangle, ensnare,
enmesh, catch up, mix up, bog down, mire],

swivel-eyed (adj.) – (UK, informal) rotating the eyes wildly, especially in a way
regarded as indicative of frenzy; holdign or expressing political views regarded as
extreme or fanatical [Hortensio reacts with swivel-eyed panic. A swivel-yed loon banging
on about the Magna Carta.],

scamper (v.) – (especialyl of a small animal or child) run with quick light steps,
especially through fear or excitement [He scampered in like an overgrown puppy. The boy
scampered off.] – synonyms & related words [scury, scuttle, dart, run, rush, dash, race,
sprint, hurry, hasten, make haste, romp, frolic, gambol, scutter, scoot, beetle],

subsist (v.) – maintain or support oneself especially at a minimal level; (archaic)

provide sustenance for; (law) remain in force or effect; be attributable to [He subsisted
on welfare and casual labor. He subsisted on a university pension. The problem of
subsisting the poor in a period of high bread prices. The court may treat a contract as still
subsisting. The tenant's right of occupation subists. The effect of genetic maldevelopment
may subsist in chromosomal mutation.] – synonyms & related words [survive, live, stay
alive, exist, eke out an existence, endure; support oneself, cope, manage, fare, get along,
get by, get through, make (both) ends meet, make the grade, keep body and soul
together, depend, rely for nourishment, feed, keep the wolf from the door, keep one's
head above water, make out, hang on; continue, last, persist, endure, prevail, hold out,
carry on, live on, live, survive, be in existence, exist, be alive, remain, abide, linger, lie,
reside, have its being, be inherent, rest, dwell, abide, be present, inhere; be attributable
to, be ascribable to, be intrinsic to, indwell],

indwell (v.) – be permanently present in (someone's soul or mind), possess spiritually;

(medicine, of a catheter, needle, etc.) fixed in a person's body for a sustained period of
time [The Holy Spirit indwells God's people. An indwelling chest drain.],

backbreaking (adj.) – (of manual labor) physically demanding [A day's backbreaking

work. A dackbreaking task.] – synonyms & related words [gruelling, arduous, strenuous,
onerous, punishing, murderous, crushing, Herculean, demanding, exacting, taxing,
formidable, exhausting, draining, laborious, burdensome, tough, stiff, uphill, heavy,
killing, knackering, toilsome],

improvize (v.) – create and perform (music, drama, or verse) spontaneously or

without preparation [He invited actors to improvize dialogue. She was improvizing in
front of the cameras. An improvized short speech. I improvized a costume for myself out of
an old blue dress. She improvized a sandpit for the children to play in. An improvized
shelter.] – synonyms & related words [extemporize, ad lib, speak impromptu, make it up
as one goes along, think on one's feet, take it as it comes, peak off the cuff, speak off the
top of one's head, play it by ear, busk it, wing it; impromptu, improvisational,
improvisatory, unrehearsed, unprepared, unscripted, extempore, extemporized,
spontaneous, unstudied, unpremeditated, unarranged, unplanned, on the spot, ad lib; ad
libitum, off-the-cuff, spur of the moment, improvisatorial; contrive, devise, throw
together, cobble together, concoct, rig, jury-rig, put together, knock up, whip up, fix up,
rustle up; makeshift, thrown together, cobbled together, devised, rigged, jury-rigged,
rough and ready, make-do, emergency, stopgap, temporary, short-term, pro tem; ad hoc,
pro tempore, ad interim],

lightly (adj.) – gently, delicately or softly; in relatively small amounts or in low density,
sparingly; in a way that is not serious or solemn, carelessly; without sever punishment,
leniently [She placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. Malsie kissed him lightly on the
cheek. Season very lightly with salt and papper. He has got off lightly. Her views are not to
be dismissed lightly.] – synonyms & related words [softly, gently, faintly, delicately,
gingerly, timidly; sparingly, slightly, sparsely, moderately, softly, thinly, delicately;
without sever punishment, easily, leniently, mildly; carelessly, airily, readily, heedlessly,
without consideration, uncaringly, indifferently, unthinkingly, thoughtlessly, flippantly,
facilely, breezily, frivolously; light-heartedly, gaily, blithely, nonchalantly, cheerfully],
congested (adj.) – (of a road or place) so crowded with traffic or people as to hinder
or prevent freedom of movement; (of a part of the body) abnormally full of blood; (of the
respiratory tract) blocked with mucus so as to hinder breathing [The congested streets of
the West End. More traffic will use the arleady congested road. Congested arteries. His nose
was congested.] – synonyms & related words [crowded, overcrowded, full, overfull,
overflowing, full to overflowing/bursting, crammed full, cram-full, thronged, packed,
jammed, teeming, swarming, overloaded; obstructed, impeded, blocked (up), clogged,
choked, plugged, stopped up, snarled up, gridlocked, jam-packed, like Piccadilly Circus],

ululant (adj.) – howling, wailing,

urbane (adj.) – (of a person, especially a man) courteous and refined in manner [He is
charming and urbane. The urbane and scholarly former information minister.] –
synonyms & related words [suave, sophisticated, debonair, worldly, elegant, cultivated,
cultured, civilized, well bred, worldly-wise; glib, smooth, slick, polished, refined, poised,
self-possessed, dignified; courteous, polite, civil, well mannered, gentlemanly, gallant,
courtly, charming, affable, tactful, diplomatic, media-savvy, cool, mannerly],

prerogative (n.) – a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class; the

right of the sovereign, which in British law is theoretically subject to no restriction; a
faculty or property distinguishing a person or class [In some countries, higher education
is predominantly the prerogative of the rich. It's not a female prerogative to feel insecure.]
– synonyms & related words [entitlement, right, privilege, advantage, due, birthright;
liberty, authority, authorization, power, licence, permission, dispensation, leave,
consent, warrant, charter, franchise, sanction; exemption, immunity, indemnity; carte
blanche, droit],

insecure (adj.) – uncertain or anxious about oneself, not confident; (of a thing) not
firm or fixed, liable to give way or break; not sufficientyl protected, easily broken into,
(of a job or situation) liable to change for the worse, not permanent or settled [A rather
gauche, insecure young man. An insecure footbridge. An insecure computer system.
Burglars can gain access through insecure doors and windows. Badly paid and insecure
jobs.] – synonyms & related words [unconfident, lacking confidence, lacking self-
confidence, not self-assured, diffident, self-effacing, self-conscious, unforthcoming,
uncertain, unsure, doubtful, self-doubting, hesitant, unassertive, retiring, shrinking, shy,
timid, timorous, meek, passive, inhibited, introverted; anxious, fearful, apprehensive,
worried, ill at ease, mousy; unguarded, unprotected, ill-protected, vulnerable,
defenceless, undefended, unshielded, exposed, assailable, open to attack, in danger;
unlocked, unbolted, unfastened, unsecured, pregnable],

principally (adv.) – for the most part, chiefly [He was principally a landscape painter.
The decline is principally due to overfishing.] – synonyms & related words [mainly,
mostly, chiefly, for the most part, in the main, on the whole, largely, by and large, to a
large extent, to a great degree, predominantly, predominately, above all, first and
foremost, basically, substantially, overall, in general, effectively, especially, particularly,
primarily, generally, usually, typically, commonly, as a rule],

double (v.) – become twice as much or as many; make twice as much or as many of
(something); (archaic) amount to twice as much as; (military) move at twice the usual
speed, run; (bridge) make a call increasing the value of the penalty points to be scored
on an opponent's bid if it wins the auction and is not fulfilled; fold or bend (paper, cloth,
or other material) over on itself; clench (a fist); (snooker) pot (a ball) by making it
rebound off a cushion; (nautical) sail around (a headland); be used in or play another,
different role; (of an actor) play (two parts) in the same piece; (music) play two or more
musical instruments; (music) add the same note in a higher or lower octave to (a note)
[Profits doubled in one year. They offered to double his salary. Clare doubled her income
overnight. Thy fifty yet doth double fine and twenty. I doubled across the deck to join the
others. West's failure to double 4. The muslin is doubled and then laid in a sieve over the
bowl. The bottom sheet had been doubled up halfway down the bed. He had one arm
around her and the other fist doubled. We struck out seaward to double the headland of
the cape. A laser printer doubles as a photocopier. The kitchen doubles as a dining room.] –
synonyms & related words [multiply by two, increase twofold, enlarge, magnify, repeat;
fold (back/up/down/over/under), turn back/up/down/over/under, tuck
back/up/down/under, bend back/over, crease; function, do, 8also) serve, have/server a
dual purpose, have a dual role],

crease (v.) – make a crease in (cloth or paper); cause a crease to appear temporarily in
(the face or its features), typically as a result of the expression of an emotion or feeling;
(UK, informal) burst out or cause to burst out laughing; (UK, informal) hit or punch
(someone) hard; (of a bullet) graze (someone or something) [He sank into the chair,
careful not to crease his dinner jacket. If I lie on that, I'll crease my clothes. His trousers
were properly creased. A small frown creased her forehead. Jo could imitate anybody and
always made him crease up. Clap or I'll crease you. A bullet creased his thigh.] – synonyms
& related words [crumple, wrinkle, crinkle, scrunch up, rumple, line, pucker, crimp, ruck
up, gather, furrow, ruckle, press, iron, put a crease in, fold, corrugate, pleat, tuck],

crease (n.) – a line or ridge produced on paper or cloth by folding it, pressing, or
crushing; a wrinkle or furrow in the skin, especially of the face, caused by age or a
particular facial expression; (cricket) any of a number of lines marked on the pitch at
specified places; the position of a batsman during their innings; an area around the goal
in ice hockey or lacrosse which the players may not enter unless the puck or the ball has
already done so [Khaki trousers with knife-edge creases. He always has trousers with
creases. Stubble lines the creases of his face. She has creases at the corners of her eyes.
England were 15 for 3 overnight, with Stewart and Russell at the crease. He was caught in
the crease without the puck.] – synonyms & related words [fold, groove, ridge, furrow,
line, ruck, pleat, tuck, corrugation, ruckle; wrinkle, line, crinkle, pucker, laughter line,
crow's feet],
innings (n.) – a period during which a person or group is active or effective [Brewer
stepped up to the commission and had his innings too.],

ne'er-do-well (n.) – irresponsible person – synonyms & related words[bum, good-

for-nothing, idler, lazybones, loafer, sloucher, wastrel],

loafer (n.) – a person who avoids work and spends their time idly; a leather shoe
shaped like a moccasin, with a flat heel [His handmade Italian loafers.] – synonyms &
related words [idler, layabout, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, do-nothing, lounger,
shirker, sluggard, slug, laggard, slugabed, malingerer, skiver, waster, slacker,
cyberslacker, slob, lazybones],

leapfrog (v.) – to jump over some obstacle, as in theg ame of leapfrog; to overtake; to
progress; (military) to advance by engaging the enemy with one unit while another
moves further forward [This new product will leapfrog the competition. You're playing
leapfrog on the subjects, could you concentrate on one thing at a time?],

kick back (v.) – (NA, informal) be at leisure, relax [He has not been able to kick back
and enjoy his success. Take a moment to kick back and enjoy an ice cream.] – synonyms &
related words [relax, unwind, take it easy, rest, take one's ease, slow down, let up, ease
up/off, be at leisure, sit back, laze, enjoy oneself, chill out, hang loose],

stark naked (adj.) – completely naked – synonyms & related words [completely,
totally, utterly, absolutely, downright, dead, entirely, wholly, fully, quite, altogether,
simply, thoroughly, truly],

play make-believe (id.) – to think of an imaginary world and pretend to live in it as

people, animals, fairies, etc. [Children playing make-believe.],

make-believe (n.) – the action of pretending or imagining things are better than they
really rae [She's living in a world of make-believe. If that was make-believe, I can't wait to
smaple the real thing.] – synonyms & related words [fantasy, pretence, pretending,
daydreaming, dreaming, imagination, invention, fancy, dream, unreality, romancing,
fabrication, play-acting, charade, masquerade, self-deception, illusion, delusion],

make-believe (adj.) – imitating something real [He was firing a make-believe gun at
the spy planes. Heather loved reading stories and was always having make-believe
adventures.] – synonyms & related words [imaginary, imagined, pretended, made-up,
fantasy, fantasized, fancied, dream, dreamed-up, unreal, fanciful, fictitious, fictive,
mythical, feigned, fake, mock, sham, simulated, pseudo, false, spurious, pretend, phoney,
play-play],

make-believe (v.) – pretend, imagine [You can make-believe you're swimming out in
the crystal clear waters of the Medieterranean.]- synonyms & related words [pretend,
fantasize, indulge in fantasy, daydream, build castles in the air, build castles in Spain,
dream, imagine, romance, fancy, play-act, play],

pull rank (on someone) (v.) – to use the fact that you are more important or
powerful than someone in order to force them to do what you want,

track it back (id.) – to (mentally) go back to an earlier point of events, retrace

footfall (n.) – the sound made by a footstep; (chiefly Uk, uncountable) foot
(pedestrian) traffic,

pant (v.) – breathe with short, quick breaths, typically from exertion or excitement; run
or go in a specifeid direction while panting; say something breathlessly; long for or to do
something; (literary, of the heart or chest) throb or heave from strong emotions [He was
panting when he reached the top. The Brigadier was panting a little a sthey reached the
top of the slop. They panted up the stairs. 'We'll never have time,' she panted. The opening
song makes you pant for more. The track has the sort of subtle start that makes you pant
for more. His breast panted with alarms.] – synonyms & related words [breathe heavily,
breathe hard, breathe quickly, puff, huff and puff, puff and blow, gasp, wheeze, heave,
blow, out of breath, breathless, short of breath, puffed out, puffing, huffing and puffing,
puffing and blowing, gasping, gasping for breath, wheezing, wheezy, winded, short-
winded, out of puff; yearn for, long for, crave, hanker after/for, pine for, ache for, hunger
for, thirst for, be hungry for, be greedy for, be thirsty for, itch for, sigh for, be dying for,
cry out for, wish for, desire, be consumed with desire for, want, covet, have a yen for, be
athirst for, suspire for],

pant (n.) – a short, quick braeth; (literary) a throb or heave of a person's heart or chest
[Robyn was breathing rather faster in shallow pants. I felt the quick pant of my bosom.] –
synonyms & related words [gasp, puff, wheeze, breath],

athirst (adj.) – (archaic) thirsty; (figurative) eager or extremely desirous (for

something) – synonyms & related words [agog, anxious, ardent, avid, bursting, champing
at the bit, desiring, desirous, excited, hungry, impatient, keen, longing, raring, ready and
willing, thirsting, thirsty, yearning, arid, dehydrated, droughty, dry, parched],

turn around and (do something) (id.) – to react to something, especially in a way
that is surprising or not helpful [It was your idea, so dun't turn around and say you're too
busy.],

turnaround (n.) – reversal – synonyms & related words [turnabout, U-turn,

annulment, cancellation, inversion, repeal, retraction, switch, transposition, volte-face,
backpedaling, change in direction, doubleback, rescinding],

dud (n.) – a thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or

worthless; an ineffectual person; clothes [All three bombs were duds. A complete dud,
incapable of even hitting the ball. Their new product turned out to be a complete dud. Buy
yourself some new duds.] – synonyms & related words [failure, flop, let-down,
disappointment; damp squib, washout, lemon, loser, no-hoper, non-starter, dead loss,
dead luck, lead balloon, fail, clinker],

dud (adj.) – not working or meeting standards, faulty; counterfeit [A dud ignition switch.
A dud typewriter ribbon. She was charged with issuing dud cheques. He payed a dud £50
note.] – synonyms & related words [defective, faulty, unsound, inoperative, broken,
broken-down, not working, not in working order, not functioning, malfunctioning, failed,
bust, busted, kaput, on its last legs, conked out, done for, duff, knackered, buggered;
counterfeit, fraudulent, forged, fake, faked, false, bogus, spurious; bad, invalid, worthless,
phoney],

dud (v.) – (AU, informal) trick or swindle (someone [They became increasingly aware of
their rights and how much they were being dudded.],

a short/tight leash (id.) – under strict control [His parents keep her on quite a short
leash.],

jocular (adj.) – fond of or characterized by joking, humorous, or playful [She sounded in

a jocular mood. Jocular comments.] – synonyms & related words [humorous, funny, witty,
comic, comical, amusing, chucklesome, droll, entertaining, diverting, joking, jesting,
hilarious, facetious, tongue-in-cheek; playful, light-hearted, jolly, jovial, cheerful, cheery,
merry, mirthful, roguish, waggish, whimsical, teasing, jokey, sportive, jocose, ludic],

jocose (adj.) – (formal) playful or humorous [A jocose allusion.],

ludic (adj.) – (formal) showing spontaneous and undirected playfulness,

spontaneous (adj.) – performed or occurring as a result of a sudden impulse or

inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus; having an open, natural, and
uninhibited manner; (of a process or event) occurring without apparent external cause;
(biology, of movement or activity in an organism) instinctive or involuntary; (archaic, of
a plant) growing naturally and without being tended or cultivated [The audience broke
into spontaneous applause. A spontaneous display of affection. She seems friendly and
spontaneous. Spontaneous miscarriages. The spontaneous mechanical activity of circular
smooth muscle. A spontaneous reaction to danger.] – synonyms & related words
[unforced, voluntary, unconstrained, unprompted, unbidden, unsolicited, unplanned,
unpremeditated, unrehearsed, impulsive, impetuous, unstudied, impromptu, spur-of-
the-moment, extempore, extemporaneous; unschooled, untaught, uninstructed, off-the-
cuff; natural, uninhibited, relaxed, unselfconscious, unaffected, easy, free and easy;
impulsive, impetuous; open, genuine; reflex, automatic, knee-jerk, involuntary,
unthinking, unconscious, instinctive, instinctual, gut],
soapbox (n.) – a raised platform on which one stands to make an improptu speech,
often about a political subject, the term originates from the days when speakers would
elevate themselves by standing on a wooden crate originally used for shipment of soap
or other dry goods from a manufacturer to a retail store; (metaphorical) a person
engaging in often flamboyant improptu or unofficial public speaking, as in the phrase
„He's on his soapbox“, or „Get off your soapbox“,

shellpad/shell-pad/shell padde/shelpad/shilpad/shellpot (n.) –

(obsolete, rare) a turtle or tortoise,

shell-paddock (n.) – a tortoise or turtle,

maddock (n.) – (obsolete) an earthworm, a maggot,

bullock (n.) – (archaic) a young bull; a castrated bull, an ox,

bullocky (n.) – (AU, NZ, colloquial, now historical) a person (usually a man) who
drives a cart pulled by a team of bullocks,

haddock (n.) – a marine fish, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, of the North Atlantic,

important as a food fish,

hillock (n.) – a small hill,

toman (n.) – (geography) hillock, a small hill; (historical, military) a division of 10,000
men in the Mongolian army; (historical, numismatics) a Persian money of account or
gold coin issued until 1927, notionally worth 10,000 dinars; (informal, numismatics) an
Iranian coin or value of 10 rials,

alkin/alkyn/allkyn/allkins/alkine/alkyne/allkin/aw kin (adj.) – (now

dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) of every kind, of all sorts, all kinds of, various and
intermingled [Alkyn crafty men (craftsmen of every kind).],

otherkin (n.) – (internet) a person who claims or believes that their soul, essence, or
identity is non-human,

star seed (n.) – a person who lived a previous lifetime in one star system but was then
reincarnated in another system,

therianthrope (n.) – any mythical being which is part human, part animal;
(sometimes furry fandom slang) someone with an intense spiritual or psychological
identification as a non-human animal [Therianthropes don't feel a need to dress in
fursuits, because they believe they already are their animal, inside.],
otakukin (n.) – (internet, sometimes capitalized) a person who claims or believes that
their soul is a reincarnation or parallel incarnation of a fictional character (especially,
from anime, manga, or video games),

bodkin (n.) – a small sharp pointed tool for making holes in cloth or leatheR; a blunt
needle used for threading ribbon or cord through a hem or casing; a hairpin; a dagger; a
type of long thin arrowhead; (printing) a sharp tool, like an awl, formerly used for
picking up letters from a column or page in making corrections,

awl (n.) – a pointed instrument for piercing small holes, as in leather or wood; used by
shoemakers, saddlers, cabinetmakers, etc., the blade is differently shaped and pointed
for different uses, as in the brad awl, saddler's awl, shoemaker's awl, etc.,

ladykin (n.) – a little lady, applied during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, in the
abbreviated form Lakin, to the Virgin Mary, the diminutive does not refer to size, but is
equivalent to „dear“,

devilkin (n.) – a little devil,

boykin/boikin (n.) – (now rare, chiefly informal, affectionate) a little boy,

blowhole (n.) – the spiracle, on the top of the head, through wich cetaceans breathe; a
vent for the escape of gas; a top-facing opening to a cavity in the ground very near an
ocean's shore, that leads to a marine cave from which wave water and/or bursts of
expelled; (metallurgy) an unintended cavity filled with air in a casting product;
(computer hardware) a vertical opening in the top of computer cases, that let hot air,
primarily from the CPU heat sink, escape quickly,

spiracle (n.) – a pore or opening used (especially by spiders and some fish) for
breathing; the blowhole of a whale, dolphin or other similar species; any small aperture
or event for air or other fluid,

nerdy (adj.) – much given to learning and thinking [A fringe party of nerdy political
activists.] – synonyms & related words [cerebral, eggheaded, geeky, highbrow,
highbrowed, intellectual, intellectualistic, nerdish; cultivated, cultured, erudite, learned,
literate, scholarly, well-used, academic (academical), bookish, professional, didactic,
high-toned, hyperintellectual, pedantic, educated, schooled, brainy, bright, brilliant,
clever, intelligent ,quick-witted, smart],

grainy (adj.) – made up of large particles [Grainy sand kept it off the rankings as one of
the nation's best beaches. A grainy picture.] – synonyms & related words [coarse, grained,
granular, granulated; unfiltered, unrefined, earthy, gravelly, gritty, sadny, pebbly, rocky,
stony (stoney), coarse-grained, cracked, kibbled, lumpy, mealy],
put (v.) – estimate something to be (a particular amount) [Estimates put the war's cost
£1 million a day. Legal experts put the cost of bringing the case to court at more than
£8,000.] – synonyms & related words [estimate, calculate, reckon, gauge, assess,
evaluate, value, judge, measure, compute, establish, fix, set, guess, guesstimate],

remark (v.) – say something as a comment, mention; regard with attention, notice
['Tom's looking peaky,' she remarked. 'You're very quiet,' he remarked, breaking into her
thoughts. Many critics remarked on the rapport between the two stars. He remarked the
man's inflamed eyelids. He remarked the absence of policemen.] – synonyms & related
words [comment, say, observe, mention, reflect, state, declare, announce, pronounce,
assert; interpose, interject; come out with, opine; comment on, mention, refer to, speak
of, pass comment on ,say something about, touch on; note, notice, observe, take note of,
mark, perceive, discern],

remark (n.) – a written or spoken comment; notice or comment [I decided to ignore his
rude remarks. The landscape ,familiar since childhood, was not worthy of remark. Soanes
claimed that his remarks had been misinterpreted. These discrepancies were thought
worthy of remark.] – synonyms & related words [comment, statement, utterance,
observation, declaration, pronouncement; reflection, thought, opinion; words; attention,
notice, comment, mention, observation, consideration, heed, acknowledgement,
recognition],

opine (v.) – (formal) hold and state as one's opinion ['The man is a genius', he opined.
The headmistress opined that the outing would make a nice change.] – synonyms &
related words [suggest, submit, advance, propose, venture, volunteer, put forward,
moot, propound, posit, air, hazard, say, declare, observe, comment, remark; think,
believe, consider, maintain, imagine, be of the view, be of the opinion, reckon, guess,
estimate, conjecture, fancy, suspect, feel, have a/the feeling, assume, presume, take it,
suppose, expect, gather; contend, be convinced, be of the conviction, reason, deduce,
conclude, theorize, hypothesize, take as a hypothesis, allow, ween],

resign (v.) – accept that something undesirable cannot be avoided; (archaic) surrender
oneself to another's guidance [She resigned herself to a lengthy session. We resigned
ourselves to a long wait. 'What time?' he asked, with a resigned sigh. He vowws to resign
himself to her direction.] – synonyms & related words [reconcile oneself to, become
resigned to, become reconciled to, have no choice but to accept, come to terms with,
learn to live with, get used to the idea of; give in to the inevitable, grin and bear it;
patient, long-suffering, uncomplaining, forbearing, tolerant, stoical, philosophical,
unprotesting, reconciled, fatalistic; acquiescent, compliant, unresisting, non-resistant,
passive, submissive, subdued, docile, phlegmatic, longanimous],

snobbery (n.) – the character or quality of being a snob [The worst aspects of English
class snobbery. There was a complete lack of snobbery about staff minglign with guests.] –
synonyms & related words [affectation, pretentiousness, condescension, affectedness,
pretension, elitism, snobbishness, arrogance, pride, haughtiness, airs, airs and graces,
disdain, disdainfulness, superciliousness, exclusiveness, snootiness, uppitiness, side],

pin-sharp (adj.) – a pin-sharp image is extremely clear,

coppice (n.) – an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubs are periodically cut
back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber [Coppices of
oak were cultivated.],

coppice (v.) – cut back (a tree or shrub) to ground level periodically to stimulate
growth [Coppice timber.],

presumably (adv.) – used to convey that what is asserted is very likely though not
known for certain [It was not yet ten o'clock, so presumably the boys were still at the pub.
Presumably he'll get the job.] – synonyms & related words [I assume, I expect, I believe, I
presume, I take it, I suppose, I imagine, I dare say, I would have thought, it is to be
presumed, I guess, in all probability, probably, in all likelihood, all things being equal, all
things considered, as likely/like as not, doubtless, undoubtedly, no doubt, without
doubt; on the face of it, apparently, seemingly],

thong (n.) – a strip of leather; the largest section of a bullwhip constructed of many
straps of braided leather,

thong (v.) – (archaic) flog or lash with a whip,

flog (v.) – beat (someone) with a whip or stick as a punishment; (informal) promote or
talk about (something) repetitively or at excessive length; (UK, informal) sell or offer for
sale; (UK, informal) make one's way with strenuous effort [The men had been flogged
and branded on the forehead. The Romans used to flog their victims. The issue has been
flogged to death already. He made a fortune flogging beads to hippies. By 10 PM we had
flogged up the slopes to Grey Crag.] – synonyms & related words [whip, scourge,
flagellate, lash, birch, switch, tan, strap, belt, cane, thrash, beat, leather, tan/whip
someone's hide, give someone a hiding, beat the living daylights out of],

lash (v.) – strike or beat with a whip or stick; beat forcefully against; drive someone
into (a particular state or condition); (of an animal) move (a part of the body, especially
the tail) quickly and violently; fasten (something) securely with a cord or rope [They
lashed him repeatedly about the head. Removing his leather belt, he lashed her repeatedly
across the buttocks and thighs. Waves lashed the coast. Rain lashed the window panes.
Fear lashed him into a frenzy. The cat was lashing its tail back and forth. The tiger began
to growl and lash his tail. The hatch was securely lashed down. Two punts were lashed to
rings embedded in the stonework.] – synonyms & related words [whip, flog, beat, thrash,
horsewhip, scourge, birch, switch, flay, belt, strap, cane, leather; strike, hit, clout, batter,
welt, hammer, pummel, belabour, wallop, whack, lam, tan someone's hide ,give someone
a (good) hiding, larrup, whale, smite, stripe, flagellate; beat against, dash against, crash
against, pound, batter, buffet, smack against, strike, hit, knock; provoke, incite, arouse,
excite, agitate, stir up, whip up, work up, egg on, goad; swish, flick, twitch, switch, whip,
wave, wag; fasten, bind, tie, tie up, tether, hitch, attach, knot, rope, strap, leash, truss,
fetter, make fast, secure; chain, pinion, join, connect, couple],

lash (n.) – a sharp blow or stroke with a whip or rope; the flexible leather part of a
whip, used for administering blows; punishment in the form of a beating with a whip or
rope; an eyelash [He was sentenced to fifty lashes for his crime. He brought the lash down
upon the prisoner's back. They were living under the threat of the lash. She fltutered her
long dark lashes.] – synonyms & related words [stroke, blow, hit, strike, welt, bang,
thwack, thump, swipe, wallop, shack, stripe; whip, horsewhip, bullwhip, switch, scourge,
flagellum, cat-o'-nine-tails, cat, thong, flail, strap, birch, cane, knout],

knout (n.) – (in imperial Russia) a whip used to inflict punishment, often causing death,

knout (v.) – flog (someone) with a knout,

larrup (v.) – (informal) thrash or whip (a person or animal) [Chrissie was being
larruped with Nick's belt.],

thrash (v.) – beat (a person or animal) repeatedly and violently with a stick or whip;
hit (something) hard and repeatedly; move in a violent and convulsive way; struggle in a
desperate or unfocused way to do something; (informal) move in a fast or uncontrolled
way; (informal) defeat heavily in a contest or match [She thrashed him across the head
and shoulders. What he needs is a good thrashing. The wind screeched and the mast
thrashed the deck. He lay on the ground thrashing around in pain. Two months of
thrashing around on my own have produced nothing. I wrench the steering wheel back and
thrash on up the hill.] – synonyms & related words [hit, beat, flog, whip, horsewhip,
scourge, lash, flagellate, flail, strap, birch, cane, belt, leather; bullwhip, give someone a
hiding, tan someone's hide, lather, paste, take a strap to, beat the living daylights out of,
whale, switch, stripe, thong, quit; beating, flogging, whipping, horsewhipping, scourging,
lashing, flagellation, caning, belting, leathering; the strap, the birch, the cane, the belt;
bullwhipping, hiding, tanning, lathering, pasting, going-over; flail, thresh, flounder, toss
and turn, jerk, toss, squirm, writhe, twist, wriggle, wiggle, twitch; trounce, beat hollow,
defeat utterly, rout, annihilate, triumph over, win a resounding victory over, be
victorious over, crush, overwhelm, best, get the better of, worst, bring someone to their
knees, lick, hammer, clobber, paste, pound, pulverize, crucify, demolish, destroy, drub,
give someone a drubbing, cane, walk all over, wipe the floor with, give someone a hiding,
take to the cleaners, blow someone out of the water, make mincemeat of, murder,
massacre, slaughter, flatten, turn inside out, tank, stuff, marmalize, blow out, cream,
shellac, skunk, slam, own; crushing defeat, overwhelming defeat, beating, trouncing,
walloping, thumping, battering, rout, hiding, licking, pasting, caning, going-over,
drubbing, hammering, pounding, clobbering, demolition, slaughter, massacre,
annihilation, shellacking],
lining (n.) – a layer of different material covering the inside surface of something, an
additional layer of different material attached to the inside of a garment or curtain to
make it warmer or hang better [Self-clean over linings. Leather gloves with fur linings. A
cape with a fur lining.] – synonyms & related words [backing, interlining, facing, inlay,
reinforcement, liner; panelling; quilting, cushioning, padding, wadding, stuffing, filling],

sew (v.) – join, fasten, or repair (something) by making stitches with a needle and
thread or a sewing machine; attach (something) to something else by sewing; make (a
garment) by sewing [She sewed the seams and hemmed the border. Her aunt sewed the
last seams of the tunic. No sooner was one tear sewn up than another appeared. She could
sew the veil on properly in the morning. The two sisters sewed their own dresses.] –
synonyms & related words [stitch, machine stitch; embroider; seam, hem, tack, baste;
attach, fasten; darn, mend, repair, patch],

wear (v.) – damage, erode, or destroy by friction or use; withstand continued use or life
in a specified way [The track has been worn down in part to bare rock. The bricks have
been worn down by centuries of knife-sharpening. A carpet that seems to wear well. The
tyres are wearing well.] – synonyms & related words [erode, abrade, scour, scratch,
scrape, rasp, rub away, rub down, grind away, fret, waste away, wash away, crumble
(away), wear down; corrode, eat away (at), gnaw away (at), dissolve, bite into; last,
endure, hold up, survive, bear up, keep going, carry on, prove durable,
stand/withstand/resist wear, stand up to wear, do, hang in there],

wear (v.) – exhibit or present (a particular facial expression or appearance ) [They

wear a frozen smile on their faces. Barbara wore a sweet smile.] – synonyms & related
words [have (on one's face), present, show, display, exhibit, bear; give, put on, assume,
form one's face into, make one's face into, compose one's face into, rearrange one's face
into, ease one's face into, smooth one's face into, draw one's face into, twist one's face
into, tug one's face into, pull one's face into, pinch one's face into, crease one's face into,
crack one's face into, screw (up) one's face into],

wear (v.) – have (something) on one's body as clothing, decoration, or protection [He
was wearing a dark suit.] – synonyms & related words [be dressed in, be clothed in, have
on, sport; dress in, clothe oneself in, put on, don],

dup (v.) – to open (a door, gate, etc.),

dout (v.) – (dialectal or obsolete) to put out, quench, extinguish, douse [The fire she lit
was fanned rather than douted.],

douse (v.) – pour a liquid over, drench; extinguish (a fire or light); (sailing) lower (a
sail) quickly [He doused the car with petrol and set it on fire. A mob doused the thieves
with petrol. Stewards appeared and the fire was doused. A guard doused the flames with a
fire extinguisher.] – synonyms & related words [drench, soak, souse, saturate, drown,
flood, inundate, deluge, wet, splash, slosh, hose down; extinguish, put out, quench, stamp
out, smother, beat out, dampen down; blow out, snuff out; dout],

disreputable (adj.) – not considered to be respectable in character or appearance [He

was heavy, grubby, and vaguely disreputable. He fell into disreputable company. They
looked so filthy and disreputable that a woman stopped to stare at them.] – synonyms &
related words [scandalous, of bad reputation, infamous, notorious, louche;
dishonourable, dishonest, villainous, rascally, ignominious, corrupt, unscrupulous,
unprincipled, immoral, untrustworthy, discreditable; contemptible, reprehensible,
despicable, disgraceful, shameful, shocking, outrageous; unworthy, base, low, mean;
questionable, suspect, suspicious, dubious, unsavoury, slippery; seedy, sleazy, seamy,
unwholesome; crooked, shady, shifty, fishy, dodgy; scruffy, shabby, slovenly, down at
heel, seedy, untidy, unkempt, dishevelled, disordered, bedraggled, dilapidated,
threadbare, tattered, sloppy],

bifurcate (adj.) – divided or forked into two, bifurcated; having bifurcations,

bifurcate (v.) – to divide or fork into two channels or branches; to cause to bifurcate,
branch, fork,

topical (adj.) – (of a subject) of immediate relevance, interest, or importance owing to

its relation to current events; relating to a particular subject, classified according to
subject; (medicine) relating or applied directly to a part of the body [A popular topical
affairs program. A forum ofr the discussion of topical issues. Foreign or topical stamps.
Topical steroid creams.] – synonyms & related words [current, up to date, up to the
minute, contemporary, recent; newsworthy, in the news; relevant, pressing, important,
vital, timely, popular, trendy, buzzworthy],

bevy (n.) – a large group of people or things of a particular kind, 8rare) a group of roe
deer, quails, or larks [He was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls. A bevy of beautiful
women. A bevy of larks trill their carefree songs.] – synonyms & related words [group,
gang, troop, troupe, party, company, band, body, crowd, pack, army, herd, flock, drove,
horde, galaxy, assemblage, gathering; knot, cluster, covey, bunch, gaggle, posse, crew],

cutback (n.) – an act or instance of reducing something, especially expenditure

[Cutbacks in defense spending.] – synonyms & related words [reduction, cut, decrease,
retrenchment, trimming, salami slicing; economy, saving; rollback, slash],

(random cool paragraph) – [VANDEL STOOD IN THE GREAT COURTYARD IN THE

ruins of Karabor along with all the others. Hundreds of supplicants lined the terraces. They
had been waiting for weeks for Illidan to return. No one knew where he was. Not even his
closest followers understood the Betrayer ’s comings and goings. Vandel felt a growing
sense of impatience. There had been long days of training under the guidance of tattooed
fighters of the same ilk as Elarisiel and Needle. Golden-haired Varedis, arrogant and
confident as a god, had lectured them on the nature of demons. Of him it was whispered he
had infiltrated the Shadow Council and stolen its Book of Fel Names. Soft-spoken Alandien
had laid out the tactics of infiltration. She claimed to have been trained by Illidan himself.
Netharel, the oldest night elf among them, was the one who taught them about weapons.
Despite being bowed with age, when he picked up a blade, he moved with the agility of
youth. They had practiced with weapons, sparred with their fellow recruits, and gotten to
know one another a little better, but Vandel had made no progress toward his goal. It
sometimes seemed to him that he would have achieved far more in the way of vengeance by
simply walking out the gate and attacking any one of the tens of thousands of the Burning
Legion’s servants that swarmed through Outland. Of course, that would have led to a swift
death, and he would have achieved nothing of any account. The Legion had limitless
numbers of such soldiers.],

disconcerting (adj.) – causing one to feel unsettled [He had a disconcerting habit of
offering jobs to people he met at dinner parties. It was disconcerting to be subjected to such
intense scrutiny. Mavelith smiled and smiled and smiled. He found everything funny. It was
disconcerting when he laughed at nothing, or at the distress of some companion. There was
something in his eyes that suggested he took pleasure from the pain of others.] – synonyms
& related words [unsettling, unnerving, discomfiting, disturbing, perturbing, troubling,
upsetting, worrying, concerning, alarming, embarrassing, awkward, bothersome,
distracting; confusing, bewildering, perplexing, off-putting, anxious-making],

companionship (n.) – a feeling of fellowship or friendship [The love and

companionship of a husband. She needed the companionship of like-minded young people.
Ravael said not to trust the blood elves. They had been twisted by their addiction to arcane
magic. Vandel did not care. He did not pay any attention to the prejudices his own people
had acquired since the Burning Legion’s invasion. He had been too caught up in his own
hate-driven quest. He knew one thing, though. All the elves here had reasons to hate the
Burning Legion that went far beyond those of most who had suffered because of the
demons. They were like him, and he felt an odd sense of companionship with them all.] –
synonyms & related words [friendship, fellowship, closeness, togetherness, amity,
intimacy, rapport, camaraderie, comradeship, solidarity, mutual support, mutual
affection, brotherhood, sisterhood; company, society, association, social intercourse,
social contact, acquaintance, chumminess, palliness, clubbiness, mateyness],

a breed apart (id.) – a kind of person that is very different from the norm [Health-
service staff are a breed apart with their dedication to duty. It was clear that he and his
comrades were not the first to walk this path. There were others, who kept mostly to
themselves or were sometimes seen practicing. They were a breed apart—marked by their
tattoos and their scars and strange mutations.],

reverie (n.) – a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts, a daydream; (music) an
instrumental piece suggesting a dreamy or musing state; (archaic) a fanciful or
impractical idea or theory [A knock on the door broke her reverie. She was startled out of
her reverie by a loud crash. His own compositions can move from impressionist reveries to
an orchestral chordal approach. He defended and explained all the reveries of astrology.
Vandel was so deep in reverie that he did not notice the first time Ravael shook his
shoulder. He turned to look when he became aware of the shaking, and his gaze followed
his companion’s pointing finger. Illidan stooped like a hawk, dropping from the darkening
sky into the courtyard, as if they were his prey. ] – synonyms & related words [daydream,
daydreaming, trance, fantasy, vision, fancy, hallucination, musing; inattention,
inattentiveness, wool-gathering, preoccupation, obliviousness, engrossment, absorption,
self-absorption, absent-mindedness, abstraction, lack of concentration, lack of
application; dwam],

arrest (v.) – stop or check (progress or a process) [The spread of the disease can be
arrested. Vandel stood his ground as the Betrayer landed in front of him, arresting his
descent with a flap of his huge leathery wings. His sightless eyes seemed focused on the
distance, but his taloned fingers pointed straight at the crowd.] – synonyms & related
words [stop, halt, end, bring to a standstill, check, block, hinder, hamper, delay, hold up,
hold back, restrict, limit, interrupt, prevent, obstruct, inhibit, impede, interfere with,
thwart, baulk, curb, put a brake on, slow, slow down, retard, nip in the bud, stay],

disturbed (adj.) – having had the normal pattern or functioning disrupted; having or
resulting from emotional and mental problems [Disturbed sleep. He woke early after a
disturbed sleep. The treatment for disturbed children. A mocking smile twisted the
Betrayer ’s lips. “And now we begin.” Begin what? Vandel wondered. So far it had all been
weapons training and listening to his disturbed companions. Did this mean Illidan was
finally ready to share his dark knowledge? Were they finally going to learn how to kill
demons, rather than simply spar with one another and listen to endless lectures from
Varedis and his ilk?] – synonyms & related words [disrupted, interrupted, fitful,
disconnected, discontinuous, intermittent, fragmentary, broken; troubled, distressed,
unsettled, upset, distraught; unbalanced, unstable, disordered, dysfunctional,
maladjusted, ill-adjusted; neurotic, emotionally confused, unhinged, screwed up, mixed
up, messed up, hung up],

suspense (n.) – a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may
happen; a quality in a work of fiction that arouses excited expectations of uncertainty
about what may happen [Come on, Fran, don't keep me in suspense! We now wait in
suspense for the banker to turn the cards over. A tale of mystery and suspense. I can't bear
the suspense a moment longer. At first there was no response. Everyone waited to see what
the others would do. Now that the moment had come, no one wanted to break ranks and
see what waited for them. Suspense and fear hung over the supplicants and paralyzed
them. Vandel took a deep breath and stepped forward. “I will have my vengeance or I will
die. Whatever is needed, I will do.” Illidan nodded. Vandel thought that the Betrayer had
expected this of him, or perhaps he was just imagining things. “Very well,” he said. “Step
into the summoning circle.” Illidan gestured. Lines of fire etched a complex geometric
pattern on the stone. Vandel passed into a vast pentacle surrounded by glowing runes.
They pulsed with a meaning that he felt he could grasp if only he was given another
heartbeat to contemplate them—yet somehow the meaning never came. As he watched,
the symbols blurred hypnotically. His skin tingled. His mouth felt dry. Motes of greenish-
yellow light swirled around him.] – synonyms & related words [eagerly, agog, all agog,
with bated breath, on tenterhooks, avid, excited, on edge, open-mouthed, anxious, edgy,
jittery, jumpy, keyed up, overwrought, uneasy, worried, uptight, waiting for the axe to
fall; tension, uncertainty, doubt, doubtfulness, anticipation, expectation, expectancy,
excitement, anxiety, nervousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, strain],

stalk (n.) – the main stem of a herbaceous plant; the slender attachment or support of a
leaf, flower, or fruit, a stlak-like support for a sessile animal, or for an organ in an animal;
a slender support or stem of an object; (in a vehicle) a lever on the sheering column
controling the indicators, lights, etc. [He chewed a stalk of grass. The stalk of a plant. The
acorns grow on stalks. The stalk of a plant. Drinking glasses with long stalks. The control
stalk on the car's fascia. The felhound shrieked and bounded toward him, long tentacles
bobbing. Jaws gaped wide, revealing teeth like a shark’s. Vandel drew his runic daggers
and leapt to meet it, the similarity of the beast to his son’s killer stoking his rage ever
higher. His blades stabbed forward at the tentacles. He writhed to one side to avoid the
snapping jaws. His blades made contact, slicing the sensory stalks. The felhound twisted,
still attempting to bury its fangs into his flesh.] – synonyms & related words [stem, shoot,
trunk, stock, cane, bine, bent, haulm, straw, reed; branch, bough, twig, pedicel, peduncle,
petiole, phyllode, scape, seta, stipe, caudex, axis],

keel (v.) – (of a boat or ship9 turn over on its side, capsize; (informal, of a person or
thing) fall over, collapse [It's going to take more wind to make this boat keel over. A
wardrobe was about to keel over on top of him. The slightest activity made him keel over.
The felhound tried to close its mouth, but the dagger was wedged between its jaws. The
attempt merely drove the spell-wound point deeper into its skull. A gasping wheeze passed
through the creature’s lips. It keeled over and lay there, tail lashing in a death spasm.] –
synonyms & related words [capsize, turn turtle, turn upside down, turn topsy-turvy,
founder, list, heel over, lean over; overbalance, topple over, overturn, turn over, tip over,
fall over; cowp; collapse, faint ,fall down in a faint, pass out, black out, lose
consciousness, swoon],

swoon (v.) – (literary) faint, especially from extreme emotion; be overcome with
admiration, adoration, or other strong emotion [Frankie's mother swooned and had to be
helped to the headmaster's office. Women swoon over his manly, unaffected ways.],

swoon (n.) – (literary) an occurrence of fainting [He found his wife in a swoon.],

poncy (adj.) – (UK, very informal) expensive, or high quality; an insulting way of
describing a man who behaves in a way that seems more typical of a woman [Poncy
French perfume. A poncy pose of holding your sword.],
gable (n.) – the top part of a wall of a building just below the roof, that is shaped like a
triangle,

gabled (adj.) – a gabled building has one or more gables,

cavort (v.) – jump or dance around excitedly; (informal) engage enthusiastically in

sexual or disreputable pursuits [The players cavorted about the pitch. Two of his
companions linked arms and cavorted around him. He'd been cavorting with a hooker He
raced through the smoke-filled streets, shouting for his wife and child. In one hand he held
his long hunting knife. Demons cavorted amid the ruins. Imps lobbed firebolts into blazing
buildings. Massive infernals lumbered through the streets. Masked and armored mo’arg
waddled along, spraying anything they saw with magical fire from their weapons. On the
roof beam of the central long house, the towering winged figure of a dreadlord loomed.],

(random cool paragraph) – [Vandel caught the jaws just before they could close on
his throat. Their points slashed the flesh of his fingers. He scrambled for a purchase that
was not razor-edged, inserted his fingers into the flap of flesh between gum and lip. His
right hand was not so fortunate. It snagged on sharp teeth. The pain was agonizing. The
tingling of the flesh where demon saliva touched did nothing to ease the torment. It seemed
to amplify it. This is not real, he told himself. It is very real, and if you die here in this spell-
born dream, you die forever, and I will have your soul and your body. Already I have
infected you. Already I can use your skills, your thoughts. Already I am so much more than I
once was. He tried to pull the jaws apart, but it took all his strength to keep them from
closing. The teeth sawed into his fingers. He knew it was only a matter of time before he
lost this struggle.],

overbalance (v.) – (UK) fall or cause to fall from loss of balance; outweigh [He
overbalanced and fell against the wall. The days of unhappiness were far overbalanced by
days of wild expressions of love. He let go of the beast’s jaws, got his body underneath it,
and raised it on high. It struggled frantically, trying to overbalance him. He held it above
his head then brought it down, snapping its spine across his knee.] – synonyms & related
words [fall over, topple over, lose one's balance, lose one's footing, tip over, keel over,
capsize, overturn, turn turtle; push over, upend, upset; cowp],

wordle (n.) – a piece of text arranged in an image that shows how frequently different
words are used in the text. The most frequently used words appear in the largest letters
[In a wordle of the G20 communique, the words support, financial and agreed were
especially prominent.],

worldlet (n.) – a little world [He stood above his own corpse where it sprawled atop the
dead felhound. Slowly, impelled by some external force, his spirit rose and drifted out into
the blackness. He saw that Outland was but a tiny speck in the infinity of the Great Dark
Beyond. A tiny worldlet that floated in a void too vast for any mind to encompass. He
became aware that all around him in that void were millions upon millions of worlds,
teeming with life and glittering with promise.],

rent (n.) – a large tear in a piece of fabric [Eddie was dismayed by the rent in the roof of
the tent. His knee poked through the rent in his trousers. A vast rent in the Andes, about
2,000 feet deep. He focused on one and saw a golden land, bright with sunshine, where a
carefree people harvested. Then he saw a portal tear open in the fabric of reality. Through
that rent poured the unstoppable forces of the Burning Legion, invincible armies of
demons, bent only on destruction and slaughter. All of this had happened many years ago.
Long before the Legion had ever reached Azeroth, it had smashed its way across countless
worlds, destroying everything that got in its path. Its sole relentless purpose was to kill.] –
synonyms & related words [rip, tear, split, hole, gash, slash, slit, opening, perforation;
gorge, chasm, fault, rift, fissure, crevasse, cleft, crack, breach, break, fracture, rupture],

(random cool paragraph) – [There were times and places where the Legion was
halted, but it always came back, stronger than before. Sometimes worlds were not
destroyed; they were conquered and incorporated into the Legion’s structure, producing
more soldiers to feed its unceasing war engine. He was not the only parent who had ever
lost a child to the Legion. Every moment, somewhere, ten thousand children were killed by
its unrelenting savagery. Images of innumerable dead worlds flickered through his mind.
He saw gigantic ruins, toppled buildings that had once reached the sky, lakes of glass
where proud cities had once stood, endless plains of rubble. He saw the lights of life in the
universe winking slowly out until only a few remained. He never doubted the truth of what
he was seeing. The Burning Legion left behind a trail of smoldering worlds in its wake.
There was madness here on an incomprehensible scale. The Legion existed only to destroy.
It would not stop until everything everywhere was dead, and then it would turn on itself
with all its savagery until nothing remained. It was a vision of unspeakable horror. The
worst of it was that he knew now how strong the Legion was. Nowhere in all the worlds in
all existence was any force capable of defeating it. Now you know the truth. Join us. The
voice was back. This time there was a wheedling, pleading note, but he sensed the same
hunger lay behind it. Never.],

wink (v.) – close and open one eye quickly, typically to indicate that something is a joke
or a secret or as a signal of affection or greeting; pretend not to notice (something bad or
illegal); (of a bright object or a light) shine or flash intermittently [He winked at Nicole as
he passed.He winked an eye at his companion. The authorities winked at their illegal trade.
The diamond on her finger winked in the moonlight.] – synonyms & related words [blink,
flutter, bat, nictate, nictitate; turn a blind eye to, close/shut one's eyes to, ignore,
overlook, disregard, pretend not to notice; look the other way; connive at, condone,
tolerate; sparkle, twinkle, flash, flicker, glitter, gleam, shimmer, shine, blink, scintilate],

(random cool paragraph) – [Reality shifted. He stood amid the shattered heart of a
tower. A carpet of blackened bones crunched beneath his feet. A felhound lurched forward,
determined to kill him. He stooped, picked up a broken rib, and stabbed the demon through
the heart. It was easier this time and he felt stronger, as if each time he slew the beast, he
gained part of its strength. Once again, he opened its chest cavity, drank its blood, and
devoured its heart. A titanic vision smashed into his brain. This time he saw not just one
universe but a near infinity of them, a complex fractal structure, where new worlds were
born each minute from the decisions made a heartbeat before. Everywhere the Burning
Legion marched, destroying world after world. Every death narrowed the range of possible
worlds, till eventually all the multitude of possibilities narrowed to but a few. In every one
of them, the Legion marched triumphant, leaving futures stillborn and presents empty of
all life. He saw countless Azeroths, countless Vandels, and countless Khariels, and to every
one of them came death. He saw his child die in an infinity of different ways, and in every
one of those possible worlds, he was powerless to prevent it. In every world, in every future,
the Burning Legion strode, invincible, unstoppable, dooming the universe to eternal
darkness in its wake. Behind it all, he saw the looming demonic figures of its leaders:
Archimonde—who was believed dead by so many—Kil’jaeden, and above all others,
Sargeras the fallen titan, once sworn to guard the universe, now bent on destroying it. On
and on the visions roared, tearing through his brain, goading him to the edge of madness
and beyond. And every time he saw one, part of him died, and the demon within him fed on
his agony and gloated. He covered his eyes with his hands, but it did not stop the horrors
from flowing in. He squeezed his eyes tight shut, but still he saw and saw and saw, until he
could bear no more. Drowning in horror, he inserted his fingers into his eye sockets, feeling
the blood flow and the jelly puncture beneath his nails. He pulled and pulled and pulled,
straining against muscle and optic nerve until his eyeballs came free with a hideous
sucking sound. At the last moment, before horror overwhelmed him, he realized this was
what Illidan once saw. This was what had turned him into what he was. The Betrayer had
walked this path before him. This whole ritual was intended to re-create his experience.
Pain seared through Vandel’s skull. Darkness. Silence.],

(random cool paragraph) – [VANDEL WOKE IN AGONY. He had no idea where he

was. He could see nothing around him, only flickers of shimmering light. He reached up and
touched his ruined face with fumbling fingers and found, as he had feared he would, that
his eye sockets were empty. He had indeed torn out his eyes. Fear flashed through him. Was
he alive? He could see nothing. Perhaps he had died in the aftermath of the ritual. Perhaps
his soul wandered in that cold wasteland where it had drifted during its voyage. Fragments
of memory returned to haunt him, shards of the terrible vision eating the demon’s heart
had given him. He could recall only a tiny portion of what he had seen. He was grateful he
could not remember more. The mind was not meant to hold such a tidal wave of horror. He
tried to stand upright but felt himself totter and fall. His head banged into the cold stone
and sent tiny flickers through the darkness around him. He allowed himself to hope that
perhaps it was his sight returning, but he knew it was not. He was blind and he was useless.
Mad laughter bubbled from his lips. He had wanted the power to kill demons. Now he could
not even see. He had been filled with the desire to oppose the Burning Legion, and now he
knew it was invincible. Hopelessness flooded through his mind. Somewhere deep inside him,
a demon was feeding. It took nourishment from his bleak mood and gloated over every
crumb of wretchedness. He would have wept if he still could. He covered his empty eye
sockets in despair.],

on the front foot (id.) – at an advantage, outclassing and outmaneuvering one's

opponents,

fidgety (adj.) – inclined to fidget, restless or uneasy [I get nervous and fidgety at the
dentist. I get a bit fidgety around females.] – synonyms & related words [restless, restive,
on edge, uneasy, nervous, keyed up, anxious, agitated, discomposed; jumpy, shaky,
quivering; nervy, jittery, like a cat on hot bricks, twitchy, stressy, antsy, on pins and
needles],

near and dear to (somebody) (id.) – of great importance to and held in very high
esteem by oneself, cherished, loved, important, crucial [Literature has been near and
dear to me since high school. It's important to have people in your life who are near and
dear to you.],

ague (n.) – an old word for illness in which you have a fever, feel cold, and shiver;
(obsolete) an acute fever, (pathology) an intermittent fever, attendedb y alternate cold
and hot fits, the cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; a chill, or state of shaking, as
with cold; (obsolete) malaria – synonyms & related words [shivers, staggers, shivering,
fever, malaria],

shiver (v.) – shake slightly and uncontrollably as a result of being cold, frightened, or
excited [They shivered in the damp foggy cold. She was shivering with fear.] – synonyms &
related words [tremble, quiver, shake, shudder, quaver, quake, vibrate, palpitate, flutter,
convulse],

shiver (n.) – a momentary trembling movement; a spell or an attack of trembling,

typically as a result of fear or horror [She gave a little shiver as the wind flicked at her
bare arms. She gave a shiver as the door opened. A look that gave him the shivers.] –
synonyms & related words [tremble, trembling, quiver, quivering, shake, start, shudder,
shuddering, quaver, quake, vibration, tremor, palpitation, flutter, convulsion, twitch,
jerk],

shiver (n.) – each of the smal lfragments into which something such as glass is
shattered when broken, a splinter [A shiver of glass.] – synonyms & related words
[splinter, sliver, fragment, chip, shard, paring, shaving, shred, smithereen, particle, bit,
piece],

shiver (v.) – break into such splinters or fragments [The world seemed to shiver into a
million splinters of prismatic color.] – synonyms & related words [break up, break, break
into pieces, crack open/apart, shatter, splinter, fracture, burst apart, explode, blow
apart, implode; disintegrate, come to pieces, fall to pieces, fall apart, collapse, break
down, tumble down; smash, smash to smithereens, bust, spall],
spall (v.) – break (ore, rock, or stone) into smaller pieces, especially in preparation for
sorting; (of ore, rock, or stone) break off in fragments [The ore was spalledb y young
women seated at anvils. Cracks below the surface cause slabs of material to spall off.],

spall (n.) – a splinter or chip, a fragment, especially of rock – synonyms & related
words [piece, bit, particle, speck; chip, shard, sliver, splinter; shaving, paring, snippet,
scrap, offcut, flake, shred, tatter, wisp, morsel, shiver, spillikin; smithereens; skelf],

metal fume fever (n.) – brass founders' ague, brass shakes, zinc shakes, galvie flu,
metal dust fever, welding shivers, Monday morning fever, an illness primarily caused by
exposure to chemicals such as zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, or magnesium oxide, which
are produced as byproducts in the fumes that result when certain metals are heated,

byproduct (n.) – an incident or secondary product made in the manufacture or

synthesis of something else; the unintended but inevitable secondary result [Zinc is a by-
product of the glazing process. He saw poverty as the byproduct of colomina prosperity.] –
synonyms & related words [side effect, consequence, entailment, corollary, concomitant;
ramification, aftermath, after-effect, repercussion, backlash, ripple, shock wave, spin-off,
fallout, heritage, fruits; knock-on effect, externality],

externality (n.) – (economics) a consequence of an industrial or commercial activity

which affects other parties without this being reflected in market prices, such as the
pollination of surrounding crops by bees kept for honey; (philosophy) the fact of existing
outside the perceiving subject,

piddly (adj.) – piddling, trivial, paltry, insignificant [unimportant, insignificant,

inconsequential, minor, of no/little account, of no/little consequence, of no/little
importance, not worth bothering about, not worth mentioning; incidental, inessential,
non-essential, petty, trifling, fiddling, pettifogging, footling, small, slight, little,
inconsiderable, negligible, paltry, nugatory; meaningless, pointless, worthless, idle;
flimsy, insubstantial, piffling, penny-ante, twopenny-halfpenny, nickel-and-dime, small-
bore, chickenshit],

twist (v.) – distort or misrepresent the meaning of (words) [He twisted my words to
make it seem that I'd claimed she was drug a addict. You are deliberately twisting my
words.] – synonyms & related words [distort, misrepresent, change, alter, pervert, falsify,
warp, skew, put the wrong slant on, misinterpret, misconstrue, misstate, misquote,
quote/take out of context, misreport; garble],

plane (n.) – a flat surface on which a straight line joining any two points on it would
wholly lie; an imaginary flat surface through or joining material objects; a flat or level
surface of a material object; a flat surface producing lift by the action of air or water over
and under it; a level of existence, thought, or development [The horizontal plane. The
planets orbit the Sun in roughly the same plane. The plane of his forehead. Everything is
connected on the spiritual plane. Trying to reach a higher plane of achievement. The
crossguard is in the same plane as the blade.] – synonyms & related words [flat surface,
level surface, the flat, horizontal; level, stage, degree, standard, stratum, position, rung,
echelon, footing],

plane (adj.) – completely level or flat; relating to only two-dimensional surfaces or

magnitudes [A plane sruface. Plane and solid geometry.] – synonyms & related words
[flat, level, horizontal, even, flush, levelled, true; smooth, regular, uniform, planar,
homaloidal],

plane (v.) – (of a bird or an airborne object) soar without moving the wings, glide; (of a
boat, surfboard, etc.) skim over the surface of water as a result of lift produced by
hydrodynamic means [Seagulls swooped and planed overhead. Boats planing across the
water.] – synonyms & related words [soar, glide, float, drift, wheel, skim, glide],

conflux (n.) – confluence – synonyms & related words [concourse, conjuction,

convergence, joining, junction, meeting, merging, coming together],

poisoning the well (id.) – a type of informal logical fallacy where irrelevant adverse
information about a target is preemptively presented to an audience, with the intention
of discrediting or ridiculing everything that the target person is about to say,

orthogonal (adj.) – of two or more problems or subjects, independent of or irrelevant

to each other, unrelated,

agonic (adj.) – characterized by agony; (psychology) of a mode of social interaction

based on threats, displays of power, or inducements of anxiety; (medicine, obsolete)
occurring shortly before death, agonal,

agonal (adj.) – of or pertainign to the pain of death,

agonistic (adj.) – of or relating to contests that were originally participated in by the

Ancient Greeks, athletic; (zoology, anthropology) characterized by conflict or hostily,
(rthetoric) argumentative, combative; (pharmacology) pertaining to an agonist,

agonist (n.) – someone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon), protagonist; the
muscle that contracts while the other reflexes; (biochemistry) a molecule that can
combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction [When bending the
elbow, the biceps is the agonist. Acetylcholine is an agonist at the a cholinergic receptor.],

agon (n.) – a struggle or contest, conflict, especially between the protagonist and
natagonist in a literary work; an intellectual conflict or apparent competition of ideas; a
contest in ancient Greece, as in athletics or music, in which prizes were awarded; a two-
player board game played with a hexagonically-tiled board, popular in Victorian times,
also known as queen's guard,
hedonic (adj.) – of or relating to pleasure; pursuing pleasure in a devoted manner; of
or relating to the hedonists or to hedonism,

hedonics (n.) – (psychology) the ethical study of pleasure,

antagonize (v.) – cause (someone) to become hostile; (biochemistry, of a substance)

act as an antaognist of (a substance or its action) [The aim was to antagonize visiting
supporters. He seemed to be deliberately trying to antagonize her. Two other drugs
antagonized the antidepressant-like effect.] – synonyms & related words [arouse hostility
in, alienate, set someone against someone else, estrange, disaffect; anger, annoy,
provoke, vex, irritate, offend; aggravate, rile, needle, get someone's back up, make
someone's hackles rise, rub up the wrong way, ruffle someone's feathers, rattle
someone's cage, get up someone's nose, get in someone's hair, get someone's dander up,
get under someone's skin, nark, get on someone's wick, rark],

holistic (adj.) – based on the idea that you should take care of yoru whole body and
mind, rather than just treating a part of the body that is ill; thinking about the whole of
something, and not just dealign with particular aspects, complete, whole [A holistic
approach to the plague. A holistic approach to the region's development. Holistically, this is
a buff.] – synonyms & related words [comprehensive, integrated, aggregate, entire, full,
total, universal],

plaisance (n.) – (obsolete) pleasance (a pleasure ground laid out with shady walks,
trees and shrubs, statuary, and ornamental water),

tend (v.) – go or move in a particular direction [Fire is hot and tends upwards. [Revius]
says: I did not mean to be disrespectful. I just tended toward you, and acted indifferent to
him, simply because I am most comfortable with you, I have few secrets with you.],

pep talk (n.) – inspirational talk, inducement, rallying cry, trumpet call,

inducement (n.) – a thing that persuades or leads someone to do something; a bribe

[Companies were prepared to build only in return for massive inducements. Shopkeepers
began offering free gifts as an inducement to trade. It is claimed that she was offered an
inducement to plead guilty.] – synonyms & related words [incentive, attraction,
encouragement, temptation, incitement, stimulation, stimulus, bait, lure, pull, draw,
spur, goad, impetus, motive, motivation, provocation; bribe, reward, carrot, come-on,
sweetener, perk, douceur],

douceur (n.) – a financial inducement, a bribe [Pericles gave a handsome douceur to the
Spartan commanders to withdraw without fighting.],

buffer (n.) – a person or thing that reduces a shock or that forms a barrier between
incompatible or antagonistic people or things [Family and friends can provide a buffer
against trees. Their agent became a buffer against the business world.] – synonyms &
related words [cushion, bulwark; shield, screen, barrier, guard, safeguard, hedge, shock
absorber, armour; intermediary, middleman, go-between],

buffer (v.) – lessen orm oderate the impact of (something) [The massage helped to
buffer the strain. The aromatherapy massage was helping to buffer some of the strain.] –
synonyms & related words [cushion, absorb, soften, lessen, diminish, moderate,
mitigate, allay, deaden, muffle, stifle, shield],

filling (n.) – a quantity of soft material that fills or is used to fill something; a piece of
metal or other material used to fill a cavity in a tooth; n edible substance placed between
the layers of a sandwich, cake, or other foodstuff [Duvets with synhetic fillings. Fillings for
cushions and mattresses.] – synonyms & related words [stuffing, padding, wadding, filler,
quilting, cushioning, lining, packing],

filling (adj.) – (of food) leaving one with a pleasantly satiated feeling [The full English
breakfast was delicious and also very filling. A cheap but filling meal.] – synonyms &
related words [substantial, hearty, ample, abundant, solid, nutritious, nourishing,
satisfying, square; heavy, stodgy, starchy, leaden],

dispense (v.) – distribute or provide (a service or information) to a number of people;

(of a machine or container) supply or release (a product or cash) [Orderlies went round
dispensing drinks. The servants are ready to dispense the drinks. The machines dispense a
range of drinks. The pharmacists dispense only licensed medicines.] – synonyms & related
words [distribute, pass round, pass out, hand out, deal out, dole out, share out, divide
out, parcel out, allocate, allot, apportion, assign, bestow, confer, supply, disburse, dish
out; prepare, make up, mix, supply, provide, sell],

dispense (v.) – manage without or get rid of [Let's dispense wit hthe formalities, shall
we? Can the formalities, Uther. I'm not king yet. He was able to dispense with his crutches.]
– synonyms & related words [waive, omit, drop, leave out, forgo, give up, relinquish,
renounce; ignore, disregard, pass over, brush aside; do away with, put a stop to, put an
end to; cut out, give something a miss, knock something on the head; get rid of, throw
away, throw out, cast aside, do away with, dispose of, discard, shed; manage without, do
without, cope without, ditch, scrap, axe, junk, dump, chuck out, chuck away, get shut of,
get shut of, trash],

dispense (v.) – give special exemption from (a law or rule); grant (someone) an
exemption from a religious obligation [The Secretary of State was empowered to dispense
with the nationality requirement in individual cases. The Pope personally nominated him
as bishop, dispensing him from his impediment.] – synonyms & related words [exempt,
excuse, except, release, relieve, reprieve, absolve; grant someone a dispensation, grant
someone an exemption, let off],
bedfellow (n.) – one with whom one shares a bed, bedmate; an associate, often an
otherwise improbable one,

strange beedfellows (id.) – an unusual combination or political alliance [Misery

acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.],

make common cause (with) (id.) – to cooperate, to enter into an alliance for a
shared goal,

improbable (adj.) – not likely to be true or to happen; unexpected and apparently

inauthentic [This account of events was seen by the jury as most improbable. It seemed
improbable that the hot weather should continue much longer. The characters have
improbable names. The impression created by some advertisers is an improbable
exaggeration.] – synonyms & related words [unlikely, not likely, doubtful, dubious,
debatable, questionable, uncertain; difficult to believe, implausible, far-fetched, fanciful;
unthinkable, inconceivable, unimaginable, unimagined, incredible; inauthentic,
unconvincing, unbelievable, incredible, ridiculous, absurd, preposterous; contrived,
laboured, strained, forced, hard to swallow],

inexcusable (adj.) – too bad to be justified or tolerated [Matt's behavior was

inexcusable.] – synonyms & related words [indefensible, unjustifiable, unjustified,
unwarrantable, unwarranted, unpardonable, unforgivable, inexpiable; blameworthy,
censurable, reprehensible, deplorable, unconscionable, outrageous, disgraceful,
regrettable, unacceptable, unreasonable, unworthy; uncalled-for, unprovoked,
gratuitous, without cause, without reason, without justification],

rivet (v.) – join or fasten (plates of metal) with a rivet or rivets; fix (someone or
something) so as to make them incapable of movement [The grip on her arm was firm
enough to rivet her to the spot. He walked away, leaving her riveted on the spot.] –
synonyms & related words [fixed, rooted, frozen; unable to move, motionless, unmoving,
immobile, stock-still, as still as a statue, as if turned to stone],

rivet (v.) – attract and completely engross (someone) [He was riveted by the newsreels
shown on television. A riveting book.] – synonyms & related words [fascinated, engrossed,
gripped, captivated, enthralled, intrigued, spellbound, rapt, mesmerized, transfixed;
fascinating, gripping, engrossing, very interesting, very exciting, thrilling, absorbing,
captivating, enthralling, intriguing, compelling, compulsive, spellbinding, mesmerizing,
hypnotic, transfixing, unputdownable],

rivet (v.) – direct (one's eyes or attention) intently [All eyes were riveted on him. The
children's eyes were riveted on the headmistress.] – synonyms & related words [fixed on,
fastened on, focused on, concentrated on, pinned on, locked on, directed at],
whiff (n.) – a smell that is only smelt briefly or faintly; (UK, informal) an unpleasant
smell; an act of sniffing or inhaling; a trace of sniffling or inhaling; a trace or hint of
something bad, menacing, or exciting; a puff or breath of air or smoke; (NA, informal,
chiefly in baseball or golf) an unsuccessful attempt to hit the ball [I caught a whiff of eau
de cologne. I caught a whiff of peachy perfume. There's a terrible whiff in here. I found my
inhaler and took a deep whiff. There had been a whiff of financial scandal in the past. There
was the faintest whiff of irony in his letter. Whiffs of smoke emerged from the boiler.] –
synonyms & related words [faint smell, brief smell, trace, sniff, scent, odour, aroma;
stench, stink, foul smell, reek, fetidness, effluvium, miasma, pong, niff, hum, pen and ink,
guff, funk, fetor, malodour, mephitis, noisomeness; trace, hint, note, suggestion,
impression, suspicion, soupçon, touch, nuance, intimation, trifle, drop, dash, tinge,
tincture, streak, vein, shred, crumb, shadow, breath, whisper, air, savour, flavour,
element, overtone, scintilla, jot, bit, spot, speck, iota, smidgen, tad; puff, gust ,blast, rush,
flurry, gale, breath, draught, waft],

crass (adj.) – shwoing no intelligence or sensitivity [The crass assumptions that men
make about women. You committed an act of crass stupidity.] – synonyms & related
words [stupid, insensitive, blundering, dense, thick, vacuous, mindless, witless, doltish,
oafish, boorish, asinine, bovine, coarse, gross, pig-ignorant; gross, utter, sheer,
downright, total, out-and-out, outright, very great, complete, absolute, thorough, perfect,
blatant, unmitigated, unqualified, glaring, undisguised, naked],

unconditional (adj.) – not subject to any conditions [Unconditional surrender. He

could cound on the unconditional support of the president.] – synonyms & related words
[unquestioning, unqualified, unreserved, unlimited, unrestricted, wholesale,
wholehearted; complete, total, entire, full, outright, absolute, downright, out-and-out,
utter, all-out, thoroughgoing, unequivocal, positive, express, indubitable, categorical],

strigid (n.) – (zoology) any member of the Strigidae (i.e. owls),

footing (n.) – a secure grip with one's feet; the basis on which something is established
or operates; the position or status of a person in relation to others; the foundations of a
wall, usually with a course of brickwork wider than the base of the wall [He suddenly lost
his footing. Jenny lost her footing and plunged into the river. Attempts to establish the shop
on a firm financial footing. The suppliers are on an equal footing with the buyers. Female
clerks should be on an equal footing with male clerks.] – synonyms & related words
[foothold, toehold, hold, grip, anchorage, purchase, secure position, firm contact,
support; steadiness, stability, balance, equilibrium; basis, base, foundation,
underpinning, support, cornerstone; standing, status, state, station, position, rank,
grade; condition, arrangement, basis, foundation; relationship, relations, terms],

favorite (adj.) – preferred to all others of the same kind [Their favorite Italian
restaurant. Laura is his favorite aunt.] – synonyms & related words [best-loved, most-
liked, favoured, dearest, treasured, pet, special, closest to one's heart; preferred, chosen,
choice, ideal; of choice, fav],

favorite (n.) – a person or thing that is preferred to all others of the same kind or is
especially well liked; the competitor thought most likely to win a game or contest,
especially by people betting on the outcome [My favorite is tandoori chicken. Brutus was
always Caesar's favorite. The team are strong favorites. The favorite fell at the very first
fence.] – synonyms & related words [first choice, choice, pick, preference, pet, beloved,
darling; idol, hero, god, goddess, gem, jewel, jewel in the crown, blue-eyed boy, golden
boy, teacher's pet, the apple of one's eye, fair-haired boy; expected winner, probable
winner, front runner],

apple of one's eye (id.) – someone or something that one cherishes above all others,

jet lag (n.) – the feeling of being very tired and sometimes confused because you have
travelled quickly on a plane across parts of the world where the time is different,

sever (v.) – divide by cutting or slicing, especially suddenly and forcibly; put an end to (
a connection or relationship); break off [The head was severed from the body. The head
had been completely severed from the body. The king had died from a single knife wound
which had severed the artery. The notice itself may be sufficient to sever the joint tenancy.
Neither country has expressly severed diplomatic ties.] – synonyms & related words [cut
off, chop off, lop off, hack off, cleave, hew off, shear off, slice off, split; break off, tear off;
divide, separate, part, detach, disconnect; amputate, dock, rend, sunder, dissever; cut,
cut through, rupture, split, pierce, rip, tear; break off, discontinue, suspend; bring to an
end, end, put an end to, terminate, stop, cease, conclude, dissolve],

expressly (adv.) – explicitly, cleraly; for a specific purpose, solely [She was expressly
forbidden to use the stove. He was expressly forbidden to discuss the matter. A machine
expressly built for spraying paint. The house was expressly built for entertaining.] –
synonyms & related words [explicitly, clearly, directly, plainly, distinctly,
unambiguously, unequivocally, unmistakably, obviously, absolutely; precisely,
specifically, straightforwardly, certainly, categorically, positively, conclusively,
pointedly, markedly, exactly, manifestly, patently, emphatically; solely, specifically,
particularly, specially, especially, singularly, exclusively, purposefully, just, only,
explicitly, with something/someone in mind],

express (v.) – convey 8a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and conduct; say
what one thinks or means; press out (liquid or air); (genetics) cause (an inherited
characteristic or gene) to appear in a phenotype [He expressed complete satisfaction.
Community leaders expressed rage over the result of the referendum. With a diplomatic
smile, she expressed herself more subtly. He had difficulty expressing himself. Constants can
be expressed in terms of the Fourier transform. She must withdraw to express her milk in
private. The grapes are trodden until all the juice is expressed. The genes are expressed in a
variety of cell lines.] – synonyms & related words [communicate, convey, indicate, show,
demonstrate, reveal, intimate, manifest, make manifest, exhibit, evidence, put
across/over, get across/over; articulate, put into words, utter, voice, give voice to, give
expression to, enunciate, pronounce, verbalize, word, phrase, render, frame, couch;
state, assert, proclaim, profess, air, make public, give vent to, vent; say, tell, speak,
mouth, point out; denote, illustrate, symbolize, signify, embody, evince, asseverate],

evince (v.) – (formal) reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling), indicate [The news
stories evinced the usual mixture of sympathy and satisfaction. His letters evince the
excitement he felt.] – synonyms & related words [reveal, show, make clear, make plain,
make obvious, make manifest, manifest, indicate, display, exhibit, demonstrate, be
evidence of, evidence, attest to, testify to, bear witness to; convey, communicate,
proclaim, impart, bespeak; disclose, divulge, betray, give away, expose, lay bare],

aural (adj.) – of, or rleating to, or experienced through the sense of hearing [A quiet
room for people seeking relief from the overload of aural stimulus just outside. Aural
respite.] – synonyms & related words [acoustic (or acoustical), auditory, auricular;
aidovisual, audible, clear, discernible (also discernable), distinct, distinguishable, heard,
perceptible],

advantageous (adj.) – involving or creating favorable circumstances that increase the

chances of success or effectiveness, beneficial [The scheme is advantageous to your
company. At the end of the war, farmers were in a relatively advantageous position. The
arrangement is advantageous to both sides.] – synonyms & related words [superior,
dominant, powerful, important, commanding, excellent, good, fine, fortunate, lucky,
privileged, favourable, preferable, preferred, favoured, more desirable, most desirable;
beneficial, of benefit, helpful, of assistance, useful, of use, valuable, of value, of service,
profitable, fruitful, rewarding, gainful, lucrative; suitable, convenient, expedient,
appropriate, fitting, favourable, auspicious, propitious, fortuitous, lucky, in everoyne's
interests],

disadvantageous (adj.) – involvign or creating unfavorable circumstances that

reduce the chances of success or effectiveness [The new employment scheme is
disadvantageous to women. A very disadvantageous position.] – synonyms & related
words [unfavourable, adverse, inauspicious, unpropitious, unfortunate, unlucky, bad;
detrimental, prejudicial, deleterious, harmful, damaging, injurious, hurtful, destructive;
inopportune, ill-timed, untimely, inexpedient],

barefaced (adj.) – shameless and undisguised; having an uncovered face [A bare-faced

lie. Bare-faced and bare-chested. His years of working barefaced, breathing down dust.] –
synonyms & related words [flagrant, blatant, glaring, obvious, undisguised, unconcealed,
overt, open, transparent, patent, evident, manifest, palpable, unmistakable; shameless,
unabashed, unashamed, without shame, impudent, insolent, audacious, unembarrassed,
unblushing, brazen, brass-necked, brash, bold, unrepentant, arrant],
arrant (adj.) – (dated) complete, utter [What arrant nonsense!] – synonyms & related
words [utter, downright, thoroughgoing, absolute, complete, thorough, through and
through, total, unmitigated, outright, out-and-out, real, perfect, consummate, surpassing,
sheer, rank, pure, unqualified, inveterate, positive, undiluted, unalloyed, unadulterated,
in every respect, unconditional; blatant, flagrant, overt, naked, barefaced, brazen; full-
bore, deep-dyed, right, fair, right-down],

attend (v.) – be present at (an event, meeting, or function); go regularly to (a school,

church, or clinic) [The whole sales force attended the conference. They attended a carol
service. All children are required to attend school.] – synonyms & related words [be
present at, be at, be there at, sit in on, take part in; appear at, put in an appearance at,
make an appearance at, present oneself at, turn up at, visit, pay a visit to, go to; frequent,
haunt, patronize, show up at, pop up at, show one's face at, hang out at, take in, catch],

attend (v.) – deal with [He muttered that he had business to attend to. Their father
attended to the boy's education.] – synonyms & related words [deal with, cope with, see
to, address, manage, organize, orchestrate, make arrangements for, sort out, handle, take
care of, take charge of, take responsibility for, take in hand, take forward, take up,
undertake, tackle, give one's attention to, apply oneself to],

attend (v.) – give practical help and care to, look after [The severely wounded had two
medics to attend to their wounds. The wounded could be attended to at a nearby village.] –
synonyms & related words [care for, look after, take care of, minister to, administer to,
keep an eye on, see to; tend, treat, nurse, help, aid, assist, succour, nurture, mind,
doctor],

attend (v.) – pay attention to [Alice hadn't attended to a word of his sermon. He had not
attended sufficiently to the regulations.] – synonyms & related words [pay attention, pay
heed, be attentive, listen, lend an ear; concentrate on, take note of, bear in mind, give
thought to, take into consideration, be heedful of, heed, respect, follow, observe, notice,
mar, tune in to, get a load of, check out, be all ears for, hearken, give ear, regard],

attend (v.) – escort and wait on (a member of royalty or other important person) [Her
Royal Highness was attended by Mrs Jane Stevens. The queen was attended by a liveried
usher.] – synonyms & related words [escort, accompany, guard, chaperone, squire,
convoy, guide, lead, conduct, usher, shepherd, follow, shadow; assist, help, serve, wait
on],

attend (v.) – occur with or as a result of [People feared that the switch to a peacetime
economy would be attended by a severe slump. Her giddiness was attended with a fever.] –
synonyms & related words [be accompanied by, be associated with, be connected with,
be linked with, go hand in hand with; occur with, co-occur with, coexist with, be
produced by, be brought about by, originate from, originate in, stem from, result from,
be a result of, arise from, follow on from, be a cons],
eke (v.) – make an amount or supply of something last longer by using or consuming it
frugally; manage to make a living with difficulty [The remains of yesterday's stew could be
eked out to make another meal. People would eke out their suppleis through the winter.
The emergency rations need to be eked out with other food to maintain health. Many
traders barely eked out a living. She eked out a living as a washerwoman.] – synonyms &
related words [economize on, skimp on, be (more) economical with, make economies
with, scrimp and scrape, save; be thrifty with, be frugal with, be sparing with, cut back
on, make cutbacks in, budget, husband; go easy on; augment, add to, increase,
supplement; enlarge, expand, amplify, make bigger, pad out, fill out, bulk out, stretch
out; scrape, scratch, scrimp; survive, live, stay alive, exist, support oneself, cope, manage,
fare, get along, get by, get through, make (both) ends meet, keep body and soul together,
keep the wolf from the door, keep one's head above water, make out],

cluster (n.) – a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely

together [Clusters of creamy-white flowers. Clusters of berries. A cluster of spectators.] –
synonyms & related words [bunch, clump, collection, mass, knot, group, clutch, bundle,
nest; agglomeration, conglomeration, aggregate; raceme, panicle, inflorescence, truss;
crowd, group, knot, huddle, bunch, gathering, throng, swarm, flock, pack, troupe, party,
band, body, collection, assemblage, congregation, gang, gaggle],

cluster (v.) – form a cluster or clusters; (statistics, of data points) have similar
numerical values [The children clustered round her skirts. They clustered around the
television set. Students tended to have marks clustering around 70 per cent.] – synonyms &
related words [congregate, gather, collect, group, come together, assemble; huddle;
crowd, flock, press, pack, mass, swarm],

pop off (v.) – (informal) to leave, and return in a short time; (informal) to die suddenly;
(informal) to kill someone; (informal) to speak frankly, usually to someone else's disdain
(i.e. popping off at the mouth); (informal) to release flatulence, in most cases, in short
rapid succession; to thrust away, or put off promptly [I'm just popping off to the shop sto
pick up some bread. Tp op one off with a denial.],

come in from/out of the cold (id.) – (literally) to enter a place in order to warm
one's body (because it is cold outside); (figurative) to be accepted after previous
rejection; (figurative) if someone or something comes in from the cold, they become
popular or accepted again after a period in which they were not popular or generally
accepted [I know the kids are having fun building snowmen, but they need to come in from
the cold before they get frostbite! After excluding me from their meetings for months, the
rest of the executive team has finally let me come in from the cold. After years of not being
invited to join, Steve was finally asked to come in out of the cold. Therapies such as these,
once dismissed to the lunatic fringe, have come in from the cold. Over the past two years,
Swedish investors have come in from the cold. Grenada's former Health Minister who was
fired from office two months ago has been brought in from the cold by the Prime Minister.],
know enough to come in out of the rain (id.) – show common sense, alluding to
having enough sense to seek shelter, usually negative [Peter doesn't know enough to
come in out of the rain.],

overlap (v.) – lie over something else – synonyms & related words [flap, imbricate,
overhang, overlay, overlie, overrun, project, protrude, ride, shingle, extend along, fold
over, go beyond, lap over, run over],

box (v.) – put in or provide with a box; enclose (a piece of text) within printed lines;
restrict the ability of (a person or vehicle) to move freely [The books are sold as a boxed
set. Muriel boxed up Christopher's clothes. Boxed sections in magazines. A van had double-
parked alongside her car and totally boxed her in. He got boxed in by members of the
press.] – synonyms & related words [package, pack, parcel, wrap, bundle, bale, crate;
stow, store, put away; hem in, fence in, close in, cage in, shut in, coop up, mew up; trap,
confine, kettle, restrain, constrain, imprison, intern, hold captive; surround, enclose,
encircle, circle, ring, encompass; corral, compass],

box (n.) – a slap with the hand on the side of a person's head [She gave him a box on the
ear. He sent him away wit ha box on the ear.] – synonyms & related words [cuff, hit,
thump, slap, smack, crack, swat, punch, fist, jab, hook, knock, thwack, bang, wallop;
skelp, belt ,bop, biff, sock, clout, whack, plug, slug, whop, slosh, dot, boff, bust, whale,
dong, quilt],

peerless (adj.) – unequalized, unrivalled [A peerless cartoonist. A peerless

performance.] – synonyms & related words [incomparable, matchless, unrivalled,
inimitable, beyond compare, unparalleled, unequalled, without equal, unmatched,
beyond comparison, second to none, unsurpassed, unsurpassable, nonpareil; unique,
consummate, perfect, rare, exquisite, transcendent, surpassing, superlative, supreme,
unexampled, without equal, without peer],

stodgy (adj.) – UK, of food) heavy, filling, and high in carhbohydrates [He loves stodgy
puddings.] – synonyms & related words [indigestible, starchy, filling, heavy, solid,
substantial, lumpy, leaden],

stodgy (adj.) – dull and uninspired, lacking originality or excitement; (US) bulky or
heavy in appearance [Some of the material is rather stodgy and top-heavy with facts. A
stodgy young man. He used to write rather stodgy plays. This stodgy three-storey
buildings.] – synonyms & related words [boring, dull, uninteresting, dreary, deadly;
prosaic, staid, sedate; stuffy, pompous, conventional, fuddy-duddy, square; boring, dull,
deadly dull, dull as ditchwater, uninteresting, dreary, turgid, tedious, dry, wearisome,
heavy-going, unimaginative, uninspired, unexciting, unoriginal, derivative, monotonous,
humdrum; laboured, wooden, ponderous, plodding, pedantic, banal, verbose],
slump (n.) – a sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of
something; a prolonged period of abnormally low economic activity, typically bringing
widespread unemployment; a period of substantial failure or decline [A slump in profits.
He had survived two world wars and a slump. Higher interest rates would drive the country
into a slump. Arsenal's recent slump.] – synonyms & related words [steep fall, plunge,
drop, collapse, tumble, plummet, downturn, downswing, slide, decline, falling off,
decrease, lowering, devaluation, depreciation; meltdown, nosedive; recession, economic
decline, depression, slowdown, trough, credit crunch; stagnation, stagflation; hard times,
bust],

slump (v.) – sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply [She slumped against the cushions. He
slumped into a chair.] – synonyms & related words [sit heavily, flop, flump, collapse, sink,
fall, subside; sag, slouch, plonk oneself, lop oneself],

slump (v.) – undergo a sudden severe or prolonged fall in price, value, or amount; fall
or decline substantially [Land prices slumped. Houses prices slumped. United slumped into
another one-nil defeat. The reading standards of 7-year-olds have slumped.] – synonyms &
related words [fall steeply, plummet, plunge, tumble, drop, go down, slide, decline,
decrease; reach a new low, crash, nosedive, take a nosedive, go into a tailspin; decline,
deteriorate, degenerate, worsen, get worse, slip, lapse, go downhill, go to pot, go to the
dogs, nosedive, take a nosedive],

gild (v.) – cover thinly with gold; to adorn; to give a bright or pleasing aspect to; to
make appear drunk [Camelot's gilded towers. The steeple mwas crowned by a gilded
weathercock. There was no need to gild the truth.] – synonyms & related words [cover
with gold, paint gold, lacquer gold, inlay with gold; elaborate, embellish, embroider,
sugar-coat, window-dress, camouflage, disguise, dress up, touch up, ginger up, colour,
exaggerate, catastrophize, enlarge on, expand on, jazz up],

gild the lily (id.) – to embellish or improve something unnecessarily; to add

superfluous attributes to something – synonyms & related words [gild refined gold,
paint the lily, throw a perfume on the violet, smooth the ice, add another hue unto the
rainbow, seek to garnish the beauteous eye of heaven with taper-light],

keep the ball rolling (id.) – continue, advance, keep up, ride on, stay, endure

vent (v.) – give free expression to (a strong emotion) [We vent our spleen on drug
barons. The crowd vented their fury by pelting him with rotten eggs.] – synonyms &
related words [let out, give vent to, give free rein to, release, pour out, emit, discharge;
reveal, bring into the open, come out with, express, give expression to, air, communicate,
utter, voice, give voice to, verbalize, articulate, broadcast, make public, proclaim, assert,
ventilate, find an outlet for],
spleen (n.) – bad temper, spite [He could vent his spleen on the institutions which had
duped him. Obviously you're annoyed but that doesn't give you the right to vent your spleen
on me.] – synonyms & related words [bad temper, bad mood, ill temper, ill humour,
annoyance, anger, wrath, vexation, crossness, irritation, displeasure, dissatisfaction,
irritability, irascibility, cantankerousness, peevishness, petulance, pettishness, pique,
querulousness, crabbiness, testiness, tetchiness, snappishness, waspishness, touchiness,
moodiness, sullenness, resentment, rancour, biliousness, sourness; spite, spitefulness, ill
feeling, malice, maliciousness, bitterness, animosity, antipathy, hostility, malevolence,
venom, gall, malignance, malignity, acrimony, bile, hatred, hate, ire, choler],

vent your spleen (id.) – exhibit your rage, express your feeligns of anger, air,
articulate, or give voice to one's anger,

blowout (n.) – a hollow eroded by the wind; (NA, informal) an easy victory in a
sporting contest or election; (NA) an act or instance of blow-drying hair [The game had
been a blowout. You can't do a blowout with super wet hair.],

blowout (n.) – (informal) a large or lavish meal or social gathering [It is difficult to
imagine the slim person going for a real blowout. This meal may be the last real blowout
we have for a while.] – synonyms & related words [party, feast, banquet, celebration,
binge, shindig, shindy, do, beanfest, beano, bunfight, thrash, nosh-up, scoff, slap-up meal,
tuck-in],

foliage (n.) – plant leaves collectively [Healthy green foliage. A garden full of green and
gold foliage.] – synonyms & related words [leaves, leafage, greenery, vegetation,
herbage, verdure],

earshot (n.) – hearing range, auditory range, hearing distance, reach, stone's throw,
close range, eyeshot, holler, near, next door, not far, shouting distance, spitting distance,

rake (v.) – draw together wit ha rake or similar implement; make (ground) smooth
with a rake [They started raking up hay. Another man was raking the clippings into a sack.
I sometimes rake over the allotment. She raked the gravel meticulously.] – synonyms &
related words [scrape up/together, collect, gather; smooth, smooth out, level, even out,
flatten, comb],

rake (v.) – scratch or scrape (something, especially a person's flesh) with a long
sweeping movement; draw or drag (something) through something with a sweeping
movement; sweep (something) from end to end with gunfire, a look, or beam of light;
move across something with a long sweeping movement; search or rummage through
something [Her fingers raked Bill's face. The cat raked his face with its claws. She raked a
comb through her hair. The road was raked with machine-gun fire. Bullets raked the walls.
His icy gaze raked mercilessly over Lissa's slender figure. Her eyes raked the room. He
raked through his pockets and brought out a five-pound note.] – synonyms & related
words [scratch, lacerate, scrape, rasp, graze, abrade, grate, bark, excoriate; drag, pull,
scrape, draw, tug; sweep, enfilade, pepper, strafe, cannonade, fusilade; search, scan, look
around/round/over, survey, study, inspect, scour, scrutinize, examine, explore, scope;
rummage, search, hunt, sift, rifle; ransack, comb, turn upside down, scour, go through
with a fine-tooth comb],

rake (n.) – (dated) a fashionable or wealthy man of immoral or promiscuous habits [A

merry Restoration rake. The third earl had the reputation of being something of a rake.] –
synonyms & related words [playboy, libertine, profligate; degenerate, roué, debauchee,
dissolute man, loose-liver; lecher, seducer, ladies' man, womanizer, philanderer,
adulterer, Don Juan, Lothario, Casanova, ladykiller, lech, gay dog, rip, blood, rakehell,
dissolute],

rakehell (n.) – (archaic) a fashionable or wealthy man of immoral or promiscuous

habits [Her dissolute rakehell of a son, Sir Felix.],

dissolute (adj.) – (of a person or a way of life) overindulging in sensual pleasures

[Unfonrtunately, his heir was feckless and dissolute. A dissolute, disreputable rogue.] –
synonyms & related words [dissipated, debauched, decadent, intemperate, profligate,
abandoned, self-indulgent, rakish, louche, licentious, promiscuous, lecherous, libertine,
wanton, lustful, libidinous, lewd, unchaste, loose; wild, unrestrained, fast-living,
depraved, degenerate, corrupt, sinful, immoral, impure; drunken],

drunken (adj.) – drunk or intoxicated; habitualyl or frequently drunk; caused by or

showing the effects of drink [Gangs of drunken youths roamed the streets. His violent,
drunken father. The man's drunken, slurred speech. A drunken all-night party.] –
synonyms & related words [debauched, dissipated, riotous, carousing, revelling,
roistering, uproarious, unruly, intemperate, unrestrained, uninhibited, abandoned;
orgiastic, bacchanalian, Bacchic, wassailing, Dionysian, saturnalian, boozy],

ascetic (adj.) – characterized by severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of
indulgence, typically for religious reasons [An ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual
labor.] – synonyms & related words [austere, self-denying, abstinent, abstemious, non-
indulgent, self-disciplined, frugal, simple, rigorous, strict, severe, hair-shirt, spartan,
monastic, monkish, nunlike; reclusive, solitary, cloistered, eremitic, anchoritic, hermitic;
celibate, continent, chaste, puritanical, self-abnegating, other-worldly, mortified],

ascetic (n.) – a person who follows an ascetic life [St Paul the Egyptian was a desert
ascetic.] – synonyms & related words[abstainer, recluse, hermit, solitary, anchorite,
anchoress, desert saint, celibate, puritan, nun, monk; fakir, Sufi, dervish; yogi, rishi,
sannyasi; sadhu, muni; hikikomori, gymnosophist, marabout, santon, eremite, stylite,
pillar saint, pillar hermit, pillarist, aerialist, cenobite],
hikkimori (n.) – (in Japan) the abnormal avoidance of social contact, typically by
adolescent males; a person who avoids social contact,

(as) tough as nails (id.) – sturdy, strong – synonyms & related words[(as) hard as
nails, healthy, resilient, solid, tenacious, vigorous, firm, fit, conditioned, fibrous, flinty,
molded, leathery],

flinty (adj.) – of, containing, or reminiscent of flint, (of a person or their expression)
very hard and unyielding [Flinty soil. A flinty stare.] – synonyms & related words [stern,
steely, stony, cruel, firm, hard, inflexible, rigid, unsympathetic, unyielding],

advance (n.) – an approach made to someone with the aim of initiating sexual or
amorous relations [Her tutor made advances to her. My tutor made unwelcome sexual
advanced to me in his office.] – synonyms & related words [sexual approaches, overtures,
moves; a pass, proposal, proposition, offer, suggestion, appeal, come-on],

advance (adj.) – done, sent, or supplied beforehand [Advance notice. An advance party
of settlers. The new weather monitor gives plenty of advance warning.] – synonyms &
related words [preliminary, leading, forward, foremost, at the fore, sent (on) ahead, first,
exploratory, explorative, pilot, vanguard, test, trial; early, previous, prior, beforehand],

outrider (n.) – a mounted attendant; one who escorts or clears the way for a vehicle or
person; forerunner, harbinger [Outriders of a new political movement.],

idle (v.) – spend time doing nothing; move aimlessly or lazily; (of an engine) run slowly
while disconnected from a load or out of gear [Four men were idling outside the shop. Lily
idled on the window seat: she hated Sundays. The men idled their time away on street
corners. Robert idled along the pavement. Nadine kept the engine idling.] – synonyms &
related words [do nothing, be inactive, vegetate, sit back, take it easy, rest on one's oars,
mark time, kick one's heels, twiddle one's thumbs, kill time, languish, laze
(around/about), lounge (around/about), loll (around/about), loaf (around/about),
slouch (around/about); go to seed, degenerate, moulder, stagnate, hang around, veg out,
hang about, mooch about/around, slummock, bum around, bat around/about, lollygag,
lay on one's oars; fritter, while, laze, loiter; pass, spend, use, employ, use up, occupy, take
up, fill up, fill in, fill, beguile, expend, devote, waste, dissipate, kill; saunter, stroll, dawdle,
drift, potter, amble, go/walk slowly, loiter, maunder, wander, straggle, mosey, tootle,
pootle, mooch, swan, putter],

come out swinging (id.) – to initiate an encounter or interaction by behaving in an

unrestrainedly aggressive, confrontational, or accusatory manner; to display spunk and
strength of character, especially when rising above or when fighting back against trouble
or adversity,
spunk (n.) – (informal) courage and determination [She's got no spunk, or she'd have
left him long ago. Your sister's got more spunk than you.] – synonyms & related words
[courage, bravery, pluck, pluckiness, courageousness, braveness, valour, mettle,
gameness, daring; determination, spirit, backbone, strength of character, fortitude,
nerve, guts, grit, bottle, ballsiness, cojones, sand, moxie, balls],

elusive (adj.) – difficult to find, catch, or achieve; difficult to remember [Success will
become even more elusive. He tried to reach her by telephone, but she continued to be
elusive. The elusive thought he had had moments before.] – synonyms & related words
[difficult to catch/find, difficult to track down; evasive, slippery, shifty, always on the
move, cagey],

organic (adj.) – denoting or characterized by a harmonious relationship between the

elements of a whole [The organic unity of the integral work of art. A society is an organic
whole.] – synonyms & related words [structured, organized, coherent, integrated,
coordinated, ordered, systematic, systematized, methodical, orderly, consistent,
harmonious, methodized],

slay (v.) – (informal) greatly impress or amuse (someone) [You slay me, you really do.] –
synonyms & related words [amuse greatly, convulse with mirth/laughter, entertain
greatly, make someone laugh, have people rolling in the aisles, make someone crack up,
kill, knock dead, be the death of, wow, be a hit with, crease up],

slew (n.) – the act, or process of slaying; a device used for slaying; a change of position,

out of bounds (id.) – outside the part of a sports field or court in which play is
concluded; outside the limits of where one is permitted to be; beyond what is acceptable
[He hit his third shot out of bounds at the 17th. His kitchen was out of bounds to me at the
mealtimes. Paul felt that this conversation was getting out of bounds.] – synonyms &
related words [off limits, restricted, reserved, closed off; forbidden, banned, proscribed,
vetoed, interdicted, ruled out, not allowed, not permitted, illegal, illicit, unlawful,
impermissible, not acceptable, taboo; verboten, no go, non licet],

non licet (adj.) – not lawful, illegal, wrong, nefas est,

rinse (v.) – wash (something) with clean water to remove soap, detergent, dirt, or
impurities; wash (something) quickly,e specially without soap; remove (soap, detergent,
dirt, or impurities) by washing with clean water [Always rinse your hair thoroughly. He
rinsed out a couple of mugs. Rose rinsed out a tumbler. The conditioning mousse doesn't
have to be rinsed out.] – synonyms & related words [wash, wash out, wash lightly, clean,
cleanse, bathe, dip, drench, splash, hose down, swill, sluice; flush out/away, wash off],

rinse (n.) – an act of rinsing something; an antiseptic solution for cleansing the mouth;
a preparation for conditioning or temporarily tinting the hair [I gave my hands a quick
rinse. The medication is used as a rince twice a day after breakfast and dinner. A colored
rinse.],

jump the gun (id.) – (informal) act before the proper or appropriate time – synonyms
& related words [act prematurely, act too soon, be overhasty, be precipitate, be previous,
be ahead of oneself],

put somebody on the spot (id.) – if you put someone on the spot, you cause them
embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them at that moment to answer a difficult
question or make an important decision, when push comes to shove [Mira rather put the
boss on the spot by asking him when he was going to give us a pay raise.] ,

warm (up) to(wards) somebody/something (id.) – begin to like (someone);

become more interested in or enthusiastic about something [Ali immediately warmed to
him. Everyone immediately warmed to her. She was warming to her theme. He couldn't
warm up to the notion.] – synonyms & related words [like, take to, get on (well) with, feel
a fondness for, feel attracted to, feel well disposed towards, hit it off with, be on good
terms with, feel sympathetic to; become enthusiastic about, become supportive of,
become excited about/over, become animated over/about],

suck up to (v.) – (informal) behave obsequiously, especially for one's own advantage
[He has risen to where he is mainly by sucking up to the president. They suck up to him,
hanging on to his every word.] – synonyms & related words [grovel, creep, toady, be
obsequious/servile/sycophantic, kowtow, bow and scrape, play up, truckle; fawn on,
curry favour with, dance attendance on, bootlick, lick someone's boots, be all over, fall all
over, butter up, rub up the right way, keep sweet, lick/kiss someone's arse],

cadence (n.) – a modulation or inflection of the voice; a rhythmical effect in written

text; a fall in pitch of the voice at the end of a phrase or sentence; rhythm; a sequence of
notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase [The measured cadences that he
employed in the Senate. There is a biblical cadence in the last words he utters. The dry
cadence of the essay. The thumping cadence of the engines. The final cadences of the
Prelude.] – synonyms & related words [rhythm, tempo, metre, measure, rise and fall,
beat, pulse, rhythmical flow/pattern, swing, lilt, cadency; intonation, modulation,
inflection, speech pattern, pitch],

half-baked (adj.) – not fully thought through, lacking a sound basis; foolish [A half-
baked conspiracy theory. A half-baked hippie chick. Her half-baked young nephew. Half-
baked moral theories.] – synonyms & related words [not thought through, not fully
developed, undeveloped, unformed, hare-brained; poorly planned, unplanned, ill-
conceived, ill-judged; impractical, unrealistic, unworkable, injudicious, ridiculous, crazy,
crackpot, cock-eyed; foolish, stupid, silly, idiotic, doltish, asinine, simple-minded, feeble-
minded, empty-headed, hare-brained, feather-brained, feather-headed, brainless,
senseless, witless, unintelligent, ignorant; inexperienced, immature, callow, green,
credulous, crazy, dim, dopey, dumb, thick, damfool, half-witted, dim-witted, birdbrained,
lamebrained, dunderheaded, wet behind the ears, as thick as two short planks, gormless,
daft, divvy, dozy, glaikit, dumb-ass, chowderheaded, dof, dotish],

diable (interjection) – (dated) dash it! deuce! damn it! darn it!,

brisk (adj.) – active and energetic; showing a wis hto deal with things quickly, slightly
brusque; (of wind or the weather) cold but pleasantly invigorating [A good brisk walk. He
set off at a brisk pace. The public bar was already doing a brisk trade. She adopted a brisk,
businesslike tone. The sea was shimmering and heaving beneath the brisk breeze. There
was a brisk breeze.] – synonyms & related words [quick, rapid, fast, swift, speedy, fleet-
footed; hasty, hurried, urgent; energetic, lively, vigorous, sharp; agile, nimble, spry,
sprightly, spirited, nippy, snappy, alacritous; busy, bustling, lively, active, vibrant, hectic,
good; no-nonsense, decisive, businesslike; brusque, abrupt, short, sharp, curt, crisp,
blunt, terse, snappy, snappish, gruff; rude, discourteous, uncivil; bracing, fresh, crisp,
invigorating, refreshing, reviving, stimulating, rousing, enlivening, exhilarating,
energizing; restorative, tonic, vitalizing, healthful, health-giving; sharp, biting, keen,
chilly, cold, nippy],

brisk (v.) – quicken something [Mary brisked up her pace.],

white lie (n.) – a lie about a small or unimportant matter; a lie about a small or
unimportant matter that someone tells to avoid hurting another person,

eminently (adv.) – to a notable degree, very [An eminently readable textbook. This car
is eminently suitable for town driving.] – synonyms & related words [very, most, greatly,
highly, exceedingly, extremely, particularly, positively, exceptionally, supremely,
remarkably, uniquely; obviously, clearly, conspicuously, markedly, singularly, signally,
outstandingly, strikingly, notably, prominently, surpassingly; totally, completely, utterly,
absolutely, thoroughly, perfectly, downright; par excellence],

right up one's alley (id.) – perfect for someone, exactly what someone is best at
[Teaching grammar is right up her alley.],

spoken for (id.) – (informal) already owned by someone else or kept for someone
else, and therefore not available for you, reserved, designated, used; (old-fashioned)
married, or in a serious relationship [Are these chairs spoken for?],

gadzooks/odsooks/adzooks/odzooks/odzookens (n.) – (archaic)

contraction of God's hooks, a reference to the nails of the crucifixion of Christ, an
expression of surprise, shock, etc.

ye gods and little fishes (id.) – (dated, euphemistic) „You gods!“ used to express
surprise or incredulity,
cozy (v.) – (informal) make (someone) feel comfortable or complacent; snuggle up to;
ingragiate oneself with [She cosied him and made out she found him irresistible. He cosied
up to the healer. He decided to resign rather than cosy up to the hradliners in the party.
[Stag] says: It was simply how I remember the event, you were truly my hero. <He cozied
his muzzle up to her back as though drawing her close into his protective embrace as the
glow on his own golden eyes faded behind his eyelids, a dim, gentle aura of a verdant [Stag]
says: green encompassed his form, which gave off a soothing passive effect on her as he
traversed the dream while leaving his body behind, for now at least.>],

(evrything but) the kitchen sink (id.) – nearly everything that you own, almost
everything, almost all,

whammy (n.) – a serious or devestating setback; an evil spell, a curse or hex,

double whammy (n.) – a twofold blow or setback, a series of two events that cause
adverse effects; (by extension) a twofold boon, a series of two events that cause positive
effects,

triple whammy (n.) – (informal) a threefold blow or setback,

knoll (n.) – a knell,

knoll (v.) – to ring (a bell) mournfully, to knell; to sound, like a bell, to knell [If ever
been where bells have knoll'd to church.],

indelible (adj.) – (of ink or a pen) making marks that cannot be removed; not able to
be forgotten [An indelible marker pen. Indelible ink. The story made an indelible
impression on me.]- synonyms & related words [ineradicable, inerasable, ineffaceable,
unexpungeable, indestructible, permanent, lasting, persisting, enduring, stubborn,
ingrained, unfading, imperishable; unforgettable, haunting, memorable, not/never to be
forgotten; ineradicable, inerasable, ineffaceable, unexpungeable, indestructible,
permanent, lasting, persisting, enduring, stubborn, ingrained, unfading, imperishable;
unforgettable, haunting, memorable, not/never to be forgotten],

footloose (adj.) – tending to travel or do as one pleases; readily without many

commitments or responsibility; (nautical) of a sail, not properly secured at the bottom,

footloose and fancy free (adj.) – able to do as one pleases, unconstrained by social
ties or responsibilities [As long as I am a student, I will be footloose and fancy free.],

offset (v.) – counteract (something) by having an equal and opposite force or effect;
place otu of line, (of ink or a freshly printed page) transfer an impression to the next leaf
or sheet [Donations to charities can be offset against tax. Profits and losses on each
investment to offset each other. Several places where the ridge was offset at right angles to
its length. There was somet offsetting on to text.] – synonyms & related words
[counterbalance, balance, balance out, cancel, cancel out, even out/up, counteract,
counterpoise, countervail, equalize, neutralize, nullify, compensate for, make up for,
make good, redeem, indemnify; atone for, redress, make amends for, make restitution
for, equilibrize],

schleprock (v.) – to carry heave burdens, lug around – synonyms & related words
[carry, lift, bear, tote, heave, hoist, shoulder, manhandle; haul, drag, pull, tug, tow,
transport, move, take, bring, convey, shift, fetch, hump, schlep, humph],

schleprock (n.) – one who is said to be unlucky or extremely unfortunate, from the
character in the popular cartoon, „The Flintstones“,

schleprock (n.) – total loser who will never amount to anything,

schleprock (n.) – a derogatory term for a person of Irish descent,

skippy (adj.) – characterized by skipping movements (; (of music) having an upbeat

rhythm, suitable to skip to [Ronaldo had the best moves, skippy little stutter-steps that
allowed him to get around defenders time and again.],

damn skippy (interjection) – (slang) a term of approval or excitement; (slang) an

indication of agreement), damn straight, right on,

yippee skippy (interjection – (often sarcastic) yippee, hooray,

kessef (n.) – money, usually a large amount of money [You are gonna go home with the
kessef.],

get the drop on (id.) – (informal) to point one's firearm at another person, thereby
gaining dominance in a situation; (informal, by extension) to obtain an advantage over
another person, by acting before that person [He got the drop on them and took three of
them out before they could fire a shot. We're always getting the drop on our competitors
because the owner really knows the business and can act fast.] – synonyms & related
words [get the jump on, beat to the punch],

always be closing (saying) – a motivational phrase used to describe a sales strategy

in which a salesperson should constantly look for new prospects, pitch products or
services to those prospects, and complete the sale, Always Be Closing, as a strategy,
requires the salesperson to be persistent but also know when to cut losses and move on
to another prospect,

cross-examine (v.) – question (a witness called by the other party) in a court of law
to challenge or extend testimony already given; question (someone) aggressively or in
great detail [He would decline to cross-examine the prosecution witness. I was cross-
examined over the breakfast table. The victim did not wish to be cross-examined by the
police. I hope I'm not being cross-examined here. Do you feel that way? No, not really.] –
synonyms & related words [interrogate, question, cross-question, quiz, catechize;
interview, examine, probe, sound out, debrief; put questions to, ask questions of, grill,
pump, give the third degree to, put through the third degree, put through the wringer,
put through the mangle, put the screws on],

yuppie (n.) – young urban professional, young upwardly mobile professional, a term
coined in the early 1980s for a young professional person working in a city,

parochial (adj.) – relating to a Church parish; having a limited or narrow outlook or

scope [The parochial church council. Parochial attitudes.] – synonyms & related words
[narrow-minded, small-minded, provincial, insular, narrow, small-town, inward-looking,
limited, restricted, localist, conservative, conventional, short-sighted, petty, close-
minded, blinkered, myopic, introverted, illiberal, hidebound, intolerant; parish-pump,
jerkwater, hick],

reprieve (v.) – cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone

condemned to death); abandon or postpone plans to close or abolish (something) [Under
the new regime, prisoners under sentence of death were rperieved. She was sentenced to
death, but was reprieved. The threatened pits could be reprieved. The accident and
emergency unit has also been reprieved.] – synonyms & related words [grant a stay of
execution to, cancel/postpone/commute/remit someone's punishment; pardon, spare,
acquit, grant an amnesty to, amnesty, let off, let off the hook, respite; save, rescue, grant
a stay of execution to, give a respite to, take off the hit list],

reprieve (n.) – a cancellation or postponement of a punishment; a cancellation or

postponement of an undesirable event [He accepted the death sentence and refused to
appeal for a reprieve. He was savedb y a last-minute repreieve. A mother who faced
eviction had been given a reprieve.] – synonyms & related words [stay of execution,
cancellation of punishment, postponement of punishment, remission, suspension of
punishment, respite; pardon, amnesty, acquittal; continuance, let-off],

transgressive fiction (n.) – a genre of literature which focuses on characters who

feel confined by the norms and expectations of society and who break free of those
confines in unusual or illicit ways,

transgression (n.) – an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct, an offense
[I'll be keeping an eye out for further transgressions. They were granted full amnesty for
their transgressions. Adam's transgression of God's law.] – synonyms & related words
[offence, crime, sin, wrong, wrongdoing, misdemeanour, felony, misdeed, lawbreaking,
vice, evil-doing, indiscretion, peccadillo, mischief, mischievousness, wickedness,
misbehaviour, bad behaviour; error, lapse, fault, trespass; infringement, breach,
contravention, violation, defiance, infraction, disobedience, breaking, flouting, non-
observance, overstepping, exceeding],
high-concept (n.) – is a type of artistic work that can be easily pitched with a
succinctly stated premise, it can be contrasted with low-concept, which is more
concerned with character development and other subtleties that are not as easily
summarized.

anthropophagy (n.) – cannibalism,

comorbidity (n.) – (medicine) comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional

diseases or disorders co-occurring with a primary disease or disorder,

chronic (adj.) – (of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring; (of a
person) having a chronic illness; (of a problem) long-lasting; (of a person) having a bad
habit; (UK, informal) of a very poor quality [Chronic bronchitis. A chronic illness. A
chronic asthmatic. The school scuffers from chronic overcrowding. The chronic shortage of
food. A chronic liar. The film was absolutey chronic.] – synonyms & related words
[persistent, long-standing, long-term, constantly recurring; incurable, immedicable;
constant, continuing, continual, ceaseless, incessant, unabating, unending, persistent,
perennial, long-lasting, lingering; deep-rooted, deep-seated, ineradicable; severe,
serious, acute, grave, dire; inveterate, confirmed, hardened, dyed-in-the-wool,
incorrigible, habitual; compulsive, pathological],

immedicable (adj.) – (archaic) unable to be healed or treated, incurable, untreatable,

old chestnut (id.) – a well-worn story, often used disapprovingly, to imply „a tired old
story“, but also approvingly to introduce an aphorism – „as the old chestnut goes, ...“,

stint (v.) – supply a very ungenerous or inadequate amount of something; restrict

(someone) in the amount of something, especially money, given or petmitted; be very
economical or mean about spending or providing something [Stowage room hasn't been
stinted. To avoid having to stint yourself, budget in advance. He doesn't stint on wining and
dining.] – synonyms & related words [skimp on, scrimp on, be economical with,
economize on, be sparing with, hold back on, be frugal with; be mean with, be
parsimonious with, be niggardly with; limit, restrict; pinch pennies, spoil the ship for a
ha'porth of tar, be stingy with, be mingy with, be tight-fisted with, be tight with],

stint (n.) – a person's fixed or allotted period of work; limitation of supply or effort [His
varied career included a stint as a magician. His six-month stint on the surgical wards. A
collector with an eye for quality and the means to indulge it without stint.] – synonyms &
related words [spell, stretch, period, time, turn, run, session, term; shift, tour of duty,
watch],

compartmentalize (v.) – divide into discrete sections or categories [He had the
ability to compartmentalize his life.] – synonyms & related words [categorize,
pigeonhole, sectionalize, bracket, separate, distinguish, group; classify, characterize,
stereotype, label, brand, tag, designate, grade, codify, sort, rank, rate],

fluff (v.) – make (something) appear fuller and softer by shaking or brushing it;
(informal) fail to perform or accomplish (something) successfully or well [I fluffed up the
pillows. The extra fluffed his only line. The out-takes show him hopelessly fluffing his lines.
He fluffed his tee shot on the fourteenth hole.] – synonyms & related words [bungle,
deliver badly, muddle up, make a mess of, forget, mess up, foul up, screw up, cock up;
bungle, fumble, miss, mess up, make a mess of, make a hash of, hash, muff, foozle,
butcher, make a botch of, foul up, bitch up, screw up, blow, louse up, make a muck of,
make a pig's ear of, cock up, make a Horlicks of, flub, goof up, bobble, fuck up, bugger up,
balls up, bollix up],

make a pig's ear of something (id.) – (UK, informal) to do something badly,

wrongly, or awkwardly [He's made ar eal pig's aer of that bookcase he was supposed to be
making.],

inconsolable (adj.) – (of a person or their grief) not able to be comforted or alleviated
[His widow, jane, was inconsolable. Normally stoic in the face of adversity, Tom was
inconsolable.] – synonyms & related words [heartbroken, broken-hearted, unable to be
comforted, unable to be consoled, grief-stricken, prostrate with grief, beside oneself with
grief, devastated, wretched, sick at heart, desolate, despairing, distraught, comfortless;
miserable, unhappy, sad, heartstick, dolorous],

invasive (adj.) – intrusive, obtrusive – synonyms & related words [nosy, forward,
interfering, meddlesome, meddling, presumptuous, protruding, prying, snooping],

clean(er) and green(er) (id.) – eco-friendly, green, environmental-friendly,

collected (adj.) – (of a person) calm and self-controlled [Outwardly they are cool, calm,
and collected. When we found the lady, she was very collected.] – synonyms & related
words [calm, cool, cool, calm, and collected, as cool as a cucumber, cool-headed, self-
possessed, composed, controlled, self-controlled, poised; serene, tranquil, relaxed,
unruffled, unperturbed, unflustered, undisturbed, unagitated, unmoved, unbothered,
untroubled; equable, even-tempered, imperturbable, placid, quiet, sedate, unexcitable,
impassive, dispassionate, unemotional, phlegmatic, stolid, unflappable, unfazed,
together, laid-back, equanimous],

sheen (n.) – a soft lustre on a surface [Black crushed velvet with a slight sheen. Her hair,
once so dark and lustrous, had lost its sheen.] – synonyms & related words [shine, lustre,
gleam, patina, gloss, shininess, burnish, polish, shimmer, glimmer, sparkle, brightness,
brilliance, radiance],

sheen (v.) – (literary) shine or cause to shine softly [Men entered with rain sheeing their
steelm helms.],
conformity (n.) – compliance with standards, rulers, or laws; behavior in accordance
with socially accepted conventions; (UK, historical) compliance with the practices of the
Church of England; similarity in form or type, agreement in character [Conformity to
regulations. Conformity with law. A word of praise or an encouraging smile provide
rewards for conformity to social norms. You cannot find more conformity than among
young people. Those changes are intended to ensure conformity between all schemes.] –
synonyms & related words [compliance with, adherence to, accordance with, observance
of, observation of, obedience to, acquiescence in, respect for, adaptation to, adjustment
to, accommodation to, abidance by; conventionality, traditionalism, orthodoxy, fitting in,
following the crowd, running with the pack, swimming with the stream; conservatism,
formalism, reaction; similarity, likeness, alikeness, resemblance, similitude;
correspondence, correlation, matching, congruity, congruence, consonance, coincidence,
compatibility, concurrence, agreement, harmony, accord, equivalence; comparability,
comparableness, comparison, parallelism, mapping, parity, analogy, affinity, closeness,
nearness; sameness, identity, identicalness, uniformity, symmetry, semblance],

overnight bag (n.) – a bag for overnight stay, carry-on, overnighter, suitcase,
overnight case,

spent (adj.) – having been used and unable to be used again; having no power or
energy left [A spent matchstick. They wrote him off as a spent force. The movement has
become a spent force. He stretched his stiff back, feeling old and spent.] – synonyms &
related words [used up, consumed, exhausted, finished, depleted, drained, emptied;
informalplayed out, burnt out; exhausted, tired, tired out, weary, wearied, worn out,
dog-tired, bone-tired, bone-weary, on one's last legs, drained, fatigued, ready to drop,
enervated, debilitated, limp, one in, all in, dead on one's feet, beat, dead beat, bushed,
fagged out, knocked out, wiped out, zonked out, worn to a frazzle, frazzled,
bushwhacked, knackered, whacked, jiggered; informalwabbit; informalpooped, tuckered
out, fried, whipped, stonkered, buggered, shagged out, rooted, toilworn, fordone],

toilworn (adj.) – (literary) tired, exhausted by punishing physical labor [A toilworn old
woman.],

indemnify (v.) – compensate (someone) for harm or loss; secure (someone) against
legal responsibility for their actions [Each of the parties shall indemnify me for all
reasonable costs of defending such actions and proceedings. He should be indemnified for
his losses in the war. The company has taken out insurance to indemnify its direction
against liability when acting for the group. The author is required to indemnify the
publishers against any such loss.],

lampoon (v.) – publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or

sarcasm [The actor was lampooned by the press. He was mercilessly lampooned for his
absurd get-ups.] – synonyms & related words [satirize, mock, ridicule, make fun of, poke
fun at, caricature, burlesque, parody, take off, guy, make a fool of, rag, tease, send up,
pasquinade],

lampoon (n.) – a speech or text lampooning someone or something [The magazine

fired at God, Royalty, and politicians, using cartoons and lampoons. A lampoon of student
life in the early twenties.] – synonyms & related words [satire, burlesque, parody, skit,
caricature, imitation, impersonation, impression, travesty, take-off, mockery, squib,
send-up, spoof, pasquinade],

cook the books (id.) – to change accounts and figures dishonestly, usually in order to
get money,

peat (n.) – soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often
burned as fuel,

peat bog (n.) – a bog in which the soil is formed from peat,

petary (n.) – a peat bog,

peaty (adj.) – consisting of peat, or like peat [Peaty soil.],

plaint (n.) – (poetic or archaic) a lament or woeful cry; a complaint; (archaic) a bad
song, (archaic or UK law) an accusation [Once the plaint had been made, there was
nothing that could be done to revoke it.],

orrery (n.) – a clockwork model of the solar system,

like clockwork (simile) – with perfect regularity and precision, faultless, lockstep
regularity [You will find him there waiting for the bus every day at 4:14 pm, like
clockwork.],

clockworklike (adj.) – resembling or characteristic of clockwork, with mechanical

regularity,

sharp between the ears (id.) – alert, clever, smart, aware, paying attention,
attentive,

have nothing/cottin between the ears (id.) – to be extremely stupid,

self-involved (adj.) – egotistic – synonyms & related words [narcissistic, self-

absorbed, snobbish, affected, aloof, autocratic, boastful, boasting, bragging, conceited,
egocentric, egoistic, egoistical, egomaniacal, haughty, individualistic, inflated, inner-
directed, intimate, intrinsic, introverted, isolated, obsessive, opinionated, personal,
prompous, prideful, proud, puffed up, self-admiring, self-centered, self-important, self-
seeking, self-serving, selfish, stuck on oneself, stuck-up, subjective, superior, swollen,
vain, vainglorious, wrapped up in oneself],
indulgent (adj.) – having or indicating a readiness or over-readiness to be generous to
or lenient with someone; self-indulgent [Indulgent parents. She had a very indulgent
father. Sheer indulgent nostalgia.] – synonyms & related words [permissive, easy-going,
broad-minded, liberal, tolerant, forgiving, forbearing, lenient, merciful, clement, mild,
humane, kind, kindly, soft-hearted, caring, compassionate, understanding, sympathetic;
fond, doting, pampering, mollycoddling, cosseting, soft; compliant, obliging,
accommodating],

grumpy (adj.) – bad-tempered and sulky [His performance as the grumpy gateman. She
can be grumpy first thing in the morning.] – synonyms & related words [bad-tempered,
ill-tempered, short-tempered, crotchety, crabby, crabbed, tetchy, testy, waspish, prickly,
peppery, touchy, irritable, irascible, crusty, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, bearish, surly,
churlish, ill-natured, ill-humoured, peevish, cross, as cross as two sticks, fractious,
disagreeable, pettish; having got out of bed on the wrong side, grouchy, snappy,
snappish, chippy, on a short fuse, short-fused, shirty, stroppy, narky, ratty, eggy, like a
bear with a sore head, cranky, ornery, soreheaded, snaky, miffy, waxy],

laugh riot (n.) – someone or something funny, highly amusing, laughing stock [Patrick
Bateman said, „It was a laugh riot.“],

visionary (adj.) – thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom;
(archaic, of a scheme or idea) not practical; relating to or having the ability to see visions
in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition; (archaic) existing only in a vision
or in the imagination [A visionary leader. Visionary dreams.] – synonyms & related words
[inspired, imaginative, creative, inventive, insightful, ingenious, enterprising, innovative,
perceptive, intuitive, far-sighted, prescient, discerning, penetrating, sharp, shrewd, wise,
clever, talented, gifted, resourceful; idealistic, idealized, utopian, romantic, quixotic,
impractical, unrealistic, unworkable, unfeasible, out of touch with reality, fairy-tale,
fanciful, dreamy, ivory-towered, theoretical, hypothetical, starry-eyed, head-in-the-
clouds],

fly off the handle (id.) – (informal) lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly
[Touch on anything emotional and Andrew flies off the handle.] – synonyms & related
words [lose one's temper, become very angry, fly into a rage, explode, blow up, erupt,
lose control, go berserk, breathe fire, begin to rant and rave, flare up, boil over, go mad,
go crazy, go wild, go bananas, have a fit, see red, blow one's top, blow a fuse, blow a
gasket, do one's nut, hit the roof, go through the roof, go up the wall, go off the deep end,
lose one's cool, go ape, flip, flip one's lid, lose one's rag, lose it, freak out, be fit to be tied,
be foaming at the mouth, burst a blood vessel, get one's dander up, go non-linear, go
spare, go crackers, throw a wobbly, get one's knickers in a twist, flip one's wig, go crook,
go apeshit],

out-and-out (adj.) – in every aspect, absolute [An out-and-out rogue. He really is an

out-and-out chauvinist.] – synonyms & related words [utter, downright, thoroughgoing,
absolute, complete, thorough, through and through, total, unmitigated, outright, real,
perfect, consummate, surpassing, sheer, rank, pure, unqualified, inveterate, positive,
dyed-in-the-wool, true-blue, undiluted, unalloyed, unadulterated, in every respect,
unconditional; blatant, flagrant, overt, naked, barefaced, brazen; full-bore, deep-dyed,
right, fair, arrant, right-down],

floor (v.) – provide (a room or area) with a floor; (informal) knock (someone) to the
ground, especially with a punch; baffle (someone) completely [A room floored in yellow
wood. The champion floored Close with an uppercut. That question floored him.] –
synonyms & related words [baffle, defeat, perplex, puzzle, nonplus, mystify, confound,
bewilder, bemuse, dumbfound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, throw, eat, flummox,
discombobulate, faze, stump, fox, fog, make someone scratch their head, be all Greek to,
buffalo, wilder, gravel, maze, cause to be at a stand, pose, obfuscate],

halter (n.) – a strap or rope placed around the head of a horse or other animal, used for
leading or tethering it; (archaic) a rope with a noose for hanging a person; a strap
around the neck that holds a dress or top in place, leaving the shoulders and back bare
[Tourists in halter tops and shorts.] – synonyms & related words [harness, head collar,
bridle; headstall, chase-halter],

halter (v.) – put a halter on (an animal); (archaic) hang (someone) [The horse stops
running and agrees to being haltered. The Chicago bomb-throwers who were haltered for
practicing their principles.],

helve (n.) – the handle of a weapon or tool – synonyms & related words [handle, shaft,
shank, hilt, butt, stock, grip, handgrip],

demonstrable (adj.) – clearly apparent or capable of being logically proven [The

demonstrable injustices of racism. There are demonstrable links between French and
American art.] – synonyms & related words [verifiable, provable, attestable, evincible;
verified, proven, confirmed; obvious, clear, clear-cut, plain, evident, apparent, manifest,
patent, conspicuous, prominent, transparent, striking, distinct, noticeable, perceptible,
observable, unmistakable, undeniable, self-evident],

turn/stand something on its head (id.) – to turn upside-down, to invert; to

completely change; to make someone think in a completely new way about something
[Einstein's theories stood the mathematical world on its head. The crisis turned the
formulas that had seemed to work on their head. The global economic crisis has managed
to turn stock exchanges worldwide on their head.]

unhorse (v.) – to forcibly remove from a horse; (by extension) to disrupt or unseat, to
remove from a position [The knight was unhorsed when his opponent's lance struck his
shield. The incumbent governor was unhorsed by the scandal that broke during his
reelection campaign.],
candid (adj.) – truthful and straightforward, frank; (of a photograph or person) taken
informally, especially without the subject's knowledge [His responses were remarkably
candid. It's better to let the photographer mingle and take candid shots.] – synonyms &
related words [frank, outspoken, forthright, blunt, open, honest, truthful, sincere, direct,
straightforward, plain-spoken, bluff, unreserved, downright, not afraid to call a spade a
spade, straight from the shoulder, unvarnished, bald; heart-to-heart, intimate, personal,
man-to-man, woman-to-woman, upfront, on the level, on the up and up, round, free-
spoken; unposed, informal, uncontrived, unstudied, impromptu; spontaneous,
extemporary, natural],

in (or by) fits and starts (id.) – with irregular bursts of activity [The economy was
recovering in fits and starts. He spoke in fits and starts.] – synonyms & related words
[spasmodically, intermittently, sporadically, erratically, irregularly, interruptedly,
fitfully, haphazardly, on and off, off and on, now and then, now and again],

turn over a new leaf (id.) – start to act or behave in a better or more responsible
way [I see fatherhood as a chance to turn over a new leaf.] – synonyms & related words
[reform, improve, amend; mend one's ways, become a better person, change completely,
make a fresh start, change for the better, reconstruct oneself, go straight, get back on the
straight and narrow],

somnolent (adj.) – sleepy, drowsy; causing or suggestive of drowsiness; (medicine)

abnormally drowsy [He was feeling decidedly somnolent after his lunch. The film's action
took place in a somnolent northern village.] – synonyms & related words [sleepy, drowsy,
tired, languid, languorous, heavy-eyed, dozy, nodding, groggy, half asleep, asleep on
one's feet, yawning; lethargic, sluggish, inactive, enervated, torpid, comatose, snozy,
dopey, yawny, slumberous, oscitant, slumbersome; quiet, restful, tranquil, calm,
peaceful, pleasant, relaxing, soothing, undisturbed, untroubled, isolated],

rambunctious (adj.) – loud, energetic – synonyms & related words [boisterous, noisy,
raucous, rowdy, unruly, rough, rude, termagant, tumultous, tumultuous, turbulent],

there'll be hell to pay (id.) – (informal) used for saying that someone will be in a lot
of trouble [There'll be hell to pay if she finds out.],

mind out (id.) – (UK, spoken) used for telling someone to be careful, especially when
something dangerous is about to happen [Mind out! There's a car coming.],

moribund (adj.) – (of a person) at the point of death; (of a thing) in terminal decline;
lacking vitality or vigor [On examination, she was moribund and dehydrated – the queen
was indeed moribund. The moribund commercial property market. The country's
moribund shipbuilding industry.] – synonyms & related words [dying, expiring, on one's
deathbed, near death, near the end, at death's door, breathing one's last, fading/sinking
fast, not long for this world, failing rapidly, on one's last legs, in extremis, with one foot
in the grave; declining, in decline, on the decline, waning, dying, stagnating, stagnant,
decaying, crumbling, atrophying, obsolescent, on its last legs, on the way out],

blare (v.) – make or cause to make a loud, harsh sound [The ambulance arrived outside,
siren blaring. Sirens blared across the town.] – synonyms & related words [blast, sound
loudly, trumpet, clamour, boom, roar, thunder, bellow, resound, honk, toot, shriek,
screech],

blare (n.) – a loud, harsh sound [A blare of trumpets.] – synonyms & related words
[blast, blasting, clamour, boom, booming, roar, roaring, thunder, thundering, bellow,
bellowing, resounding, honk, honking, shriek, shrieking, screech],

tout (v.) – attempt to sell (something), typically by a direct or persistent approach;

attempt to persuade people of the merits of [Sanjay was touting his wares. She was touted
as a potential Prime Minister. He's being touted as the next Scotland manager.] –
synonyms & related words [commend, endorse, praise, recommend ,support, urge, push,
speak of, talk of, tip],

encore (n.) – a repeated or additional performance of an item at the end of a concert,

as called for by an audience [Everybody got up on stage for the final encore. The audience
roared approval and demanded an encore.] – synonyms & related words [repeat
performance, extra performance, additional performance, replay, repeat, repetition,
curtain call],

encore (exclamation) – again! (as called by an audience at the end of a concert) [It was
Louis who shouted 'Bravo! Encore!'],

encore (v.) – call for a repated or additional performance of (an item) at the end of a
concert; (of a performer) give an encore [Several arias were encoured. He encoured with
a solo number.],

windblown (adj.) – (of a tree) growing in a distorted shape produced by the

prevailing winds; (of seeds, leaves, etc.) dispersed by the wind; (of a person) having
dishevelled hair blown about by the wind – synonyms & related words [blown,b lasted,
fanned, fluttered, puffed, wafted, whirled, whisked],

windblast (n.) – a sudden brief rush of wind [A windblast from the hovering helicopter
made it difficult to even stand up.] – synonyms & related words [blast, blow, flurry, gust,
williwaw; breeze, zephyr, current, draft, air, breath, waft, puff, whiff, bluster, gale,
hurricane, squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm, northeaster, norther, northerly,
northwester, southeaster, southwester, westerly],

anent (preposition) – (archaic, Scottish) concerning, with regard to, about, in respect
to, as to, insofar as, inasmuch as; (obsolete) in the opinion or judgement of; (obsolete)
against, in front of, frontinf, before, opposite, over against, on the other side; (obsolete)
in a line with, side by side with, on a level with [I'll say a few words anent the letter.],

forenenst/fornenst/fornent/forninst (adv. & preposition) – (dialect, Scottish,

Northern Irish) facing or in front of, over against, opposite to [The land forenenst the
Greekish shore. I stood fornent a roaring fire.],

byspel (n.) – (rare) an example,

bispel (n.) – (rare) a proverb or parable,

spellbind (v.) – to captivate, or hold the attention of, as if by magical spell, to entrance
[The singer held the audience spellbound. A spellbinding tale.] – synonyms & related
words [fascinating, enthralling, entrancing, bewitching, captivating, intriguing, riveting,
transfixing, engrossing, gripping, very interesting, very exciting, thrilling, absorbing,
compelling, compulsive, mesmerizing, mesmeric, hypnotic, magical, unputdownable;
enthralled, fascinated, rapt, riveted, transfixed, gripped, entranced, captivated,
bewitched, under someone's spell, enraptured, enchanted, mesmerized, hypnotized,
hooked],

imperishable (adj.) – enduring forever [Imperishable truths. The fruits of his inspired
labor are imperishable.] – synonyms & related words [enduring, everlasting, undying,
deathless, immortal, timeless, ageless, perennial, lasting, long-lasting; indestructible,
inextinguishable, ineradicable, unfading, undiminished, permanent, never-ending, never
dying, without end, sempiternal, perdurable],

keen (v.) – wail in grief for a dead person; make an eerie wailing sound [The body of
Johnny was taken by his own people who keened over him. The bereaved gathered around
the King's grave to keen. The keening of the cold night wind. The bereaved gathered
around the graves to keen. Johanna’s flail whirred through the air with a wail like a
banshee. The jagged spikes and ridges were designed to channel the rushing air: the
terrifying keening was as much a weapon as the heavy metal head itself.] – synonyms &
related words [lament, mourn, weep, cry, sob, sorrow, grieve; wail, moan, whine,
whimper, groan, howl; greet, plain, ululate; lament, mourn, weep, cry, sob, sorrow,
grieve; wail, moan, whine, whimper, groan, howl; greet, plain, ululate],

cilice (n.) – a hairshirt; (chiefly in Opus Dei) a leather strap studded with metallic barbs
that cut into flesh as a constant reminder of Christ's suffering,

hairshirt (n.) – a shirt made of haircloth, a cilice, especially one worn by ascetis or the
pertinent; (figurative) a state of penitence and humility,

hairshirt (adj.) – advocating or adopting a relatively ascetic lifestyle, especialyl for

environmentalist reasons,
haircloth (n.) – stiff cloth woven with a cotton or linen warp and horsehair weft; a
stiff, unsupple fabric typically made from horsehair and/or from the wooly hair of a
camel, although horsehair generally refers to the hair of a horse's mane or tail, haircloth
itself is sometimes called horsehair,

upholstery (n.) – the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding,
springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers, the word upholstery comes from the
Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods,

upholdster (n.) – (obsoletE) a dealer in secondhand furniture and clothes, upholder

barbel (n.) – feeler, anything that investigates by touch; (biology) whisker-likey

sensory organs, located around the mouth of certain fish, including catfish, carp,
goatfish, sturgeon, and some types of shark; a freshwater fish of the genus barbus or
other closely related genera; a barb or pap under the tongues of horses and cattle –
synonyms & related words [antenna, claw, finger, hand, tentacle, vibrissa, whisker, palp,
palpus].

pap (n.) – (uncountable) fodo in the form of a soft paste, often a porridge, especially as
given to very young children; (uncountable, colloquial) nonsense; (South Africa)
porridge; (informal, derogatory) support from official patronage; the pulp of fruit [Pap
can be made from bread boiled in milk or water. Pap and wors are traditionally eaten at a
braai. Treasury pap.],

pap (n.) – (now archaic) a female breast or nipple; (now rare, archaic) a man's breast; a
rounded, nipple-lik hill or peak,

pulp (n.) – a soft, wet, shapeless mass of material; the soft fleshy part of a fruit; a soft
wet mass of fibers derived from rags or woods, used in papermaking; vascular tissue
filling the interior cavity and root canals of a tooth; (mining) pulverized ore mixed with
water; popular or sensational writing that is regarded as being of poor quality [Boiling
with soda will reduce your peas to pulp. He kneaded the fungus into a pulp. Monkeys suck
the sweet pulp off cocoa seeds. The story is a mix of pulp fiction and Greek tragedy. Perhaps
pulp fiction is your métier rather than poetry?] – synonyms & related words [mash, mush,
purée, cream, pressé, pap, slop, paste, slush, mulch, swill, slurry, semi-liquid, semi-fluid,
mess; baby food, gloop, goo, gook, glop, triturate, pomace; flesh, soft part, fleshy part,
marrow, meat; trashy, rubbishy, cheap, sensational, lurid, tasteless, kitschy, tacky],

pulp (v.) – xcrush into a soft, wet, shapeless mass; withdraw (a publication) from the
market and recycle the paper [Bales of waste paper were chopped, shredded, and pulped.
Then pulp the gooseberries through a sieve. The publisher had the right to pulp all unsold
copies. er nails scraped along the Crusader’s shield with a terrible screech. Johanna cut it
short by swinging her mace upward in a wide arc that caught the succubus in the
midsection, shattering her ribs and pulping her organs. She squawked-- a strangely avian
noise-- and fell out of sight, down towards the magma below..] – synonyms & related
words [mash, purée, cream, crush, press, smash, liquidize, liquefy, sieve, shred, squash,
pound, beat, macerate, mill, grind, mince, soften, mangle, comminute, triturate, levigate,
bray, powderize],

there's many a slip twixt (the) cup and (the) lip – (proverb) a very old
proverb, similar in meaning to „don't count your chickens before they hatch“, it implies
that even when a good outcome or conclusion seems certain, things can still go wrong,
the English proverb is almost identical with a Greek hexameter verse which says „Much
there is between the cup and the tip of the lip“,

gush (v.) – (of a liquid) flow out of something in a rapid and plentiful stream; discharge
(liquid) in a rapid and plentiful stream; speak or write effusively or with exaggerated
enthusiasm [Water gushed out of the washing machine. The white waters gushed throug
hthe weir. The tanker began to gush oil from its damaged hull. Everyone came up to me
and gushed about how lucky I was. They were gushing about her dress for the dance.] –
synonyms & related words [surge, burst, spout, spurt, jet, stream, rush, pour, spill, well
out, cascade, flood; flow, run, issue, emanate, sloosh, disembogue; enthuse, over-enthuse,
be enthusiastic, be effusive, effuse; rave, rhapsodize, go into raptures, wax lyrical,
effervesce, bubble over; get carried away, make too much of, overstate the case, praise to
the skies, go mad, go crazy, go wild, ge tall worked up, go over the top, big something up,
ballyhoo, cry something up],

cup (v.) – form (one's hand or hands) into the curved shape of a cup; place the curved
hand or hands around ['Hey!' Dad shouted, with his hands cupped around his mouth. He
cupped her face in his hands.],

rectory (n.) – the residence of Roman Catholic priest(s)s with a parish church; the
residence of an Anglican rector,

knock/throw someone for a loop (id.) – (informal ) to give someone an

unpleasant surprise or shock ["Just how are you faring anyhow, templar? Have you fully
recovered from the black magic they were working upon you?" That made Kormac pause.
Apparently the sudden shift of conversation threw him for a loop. Blinking a couple of
times, he just stared at her. Then one hand rose to comb back through his hair.],

talk/speak in circles (id.) – to argue a point by repetition of the same theme,

sometimes by using different words, but without making any progress,

skein (n.) – a long piece of wool that has been wound int oa loose shape instead of a
tight ball; an element that forms part of a complex or complicated whole; a flock of wild
geese or swans in flight, typically in a V-shaped formation,

forge your own skein (id.) – forge your own destiny, pave your own path,
fib (n.) – a lie, typically an unimportant one [Why did you tell him such a dreadful fib?
You're telling a fib.] – synonyms & related words [lie, untruth, falsehood, made-up story,
trumped-up story, invention, fabrication, deception, piece of fiction, fiction, falsification,
fairy story/tale, cock and bull story; (little) white lie, half-truth, exaggeration, departure
from the truth, tall story, tall tale, whopper, pork pie, porky pie, porky, terminological
inexactitude],

fib (v.) – tell a fib – synonyms & related words [lie, tell a fib, tell a lie, invent a story,
make up a story, dissemble, dissimulate, pretend, depart from the truth; exaggerate,
stretch the truth; pull the wool over someone's eyes, pull someone's leg, lie through
one's teeth, con, kid, be economical with the truth, tell a terminological inexactitude,
bullshit],

punctuate (v.) – occur at intervals throughout (an area or period); interrupt or

intersperse something with [The country's history has been punctuated by coups. She
punctuates her conversation with snatches of song. Slides were used to punctuate the talk.]
– synonyms & related words [break up, interrupt, intersperse, pepper, sprinkle, scatter,
strew, dot],

(it's been) a while coming (id.) – after a small break, the time is now, it is time,
now is the time [It's been a while coming, but here's your first real mission.],

diablerie (n.) – the quality of being reckless or widl in a charismatic way, mischievous
conduct or manner; (archaic) sorcery supposedly assisted by the devil, witchcraft,
sorcery; a representation in words or pictures of black magic or of dealings with the
devil; demon lore, demonology,

that's the way she goes (id.) – a phrase used in the aftermath of a catastrophe in
order to attribute the event's occurrence to some external, uncontrollable factor,

hotbed (n.) – an environment promoting the growth of something, especially

something unwelcome; a bed of earth heated by fermenting manure, for raising or
forcing plants [The country was a hotbed of revolt and dissension.] – synonyms & related
words [breeding ground, nursery, cradle, nest, den, seedbed, forcing house],

compunction (n.) – a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the
doing of something bad [They used their tanks without compunction. She had no
compunction about deceiving them.] – synonyms & related words [scruples, misgivings,
qualms, worries, unease, uneasiness, hesitation, hesitancy, doubts, reluctance,
reservations; guilt, feelings of guilt, guilty conscience, pangs/twinges of conscience,
remorse, regret, contrition, contriteness, self-reproach, repentance, penitence],

incontrovertible (adj.) – not able to be denied or disputed [Incontrovertible proof.

The evidence is all here and incontrovertible. Their judgement is based on the evidence of
incontrovertible facts.] – synonyms & related words [indisputable, incontestable,
undeniable, irrefutable, unassailable, beyond dispute, unquestionable, beyond question,
indubitable, not in doubt, beyond doubt, beyond a shadow of a doubt, unarguable,
inarguable, undebatable, unanswerable; unequivocal, unambiguous, unmistakable,
certain, sure, definite, definitive, proven, positive, decisive, conclusive, final, ultimate;
clear, clear-cut, straightforward, plain, as plain as a pikestaff, transparent, obvious,
manifest, evident, self-evident, staring one in the face, patent, demonstrative,
demonstrable, observable, palpable; uncontroversial, accepted, acknowledged; marked,
pronounced, express, emphatic, categorical, compelling, convincing, clinching, airtight,
watertight, irrefragable, apodictic],

on the level (id.) – (informal) honest, truthful [Eddie said my story was on the level.] –
synonyms & related words [genuine, straight, honest, above board, fair, true, legitimate,
sincere, straightforward, proper, honest-to-goodness, upfront, kosher, on the up and up],

concession (n.) – a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands; the action
of conceding or granting something; a gesture made in recognition of a demand or
prevailing standard [The government was unwilling to make any further concessions. The
government made several concessions over welfare cuts. This strict rule was relaxed by
concession. A concession of failure. The concession of territory. Her only concession to
fashion was her ornate silver ring.] – synonyms & related words [compromise,
adjustment, modification; allowance, exception; point conceded, point lost, forfeit,
something surrendered, sop; admission, acknowledgement, acceptance, recognition,
confession; surrender, yielding, giving up, ceding, relinquishment, sacrifice, handover,
cession],

cession (n.) – the formal giving up of rights, property, or territory by a state [The
cession of twenty important towns. The cession of this province to the Kingdom of Italy.] –
synonyms & related words [surrender, surrendering, ceding, conceding, concession,
relinquishment, yielding, giving up, handing over, transfer, transference, transferral,
granting, grant, bequest; resignation, abdication, abandonment, forgoing, forsaking,
sacrifice, waiving, waiver, renunciation],

you cannot step into the same river twice (id.) – you cannot sleep in the same
river twice; no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's
not the same man, the river is always moving, because it's alive, so it's never the same
again, just like the individual, a quote attributed to Heraclitus,

markup (n.) – (countable) the amount of money that someone who sells goods adds to
the price of the goods in order to make a profit; (uncountable, computing) instructions
added to documents that tell a computer how to pring or organize the information [A
fixed markup of 20 per cent. HyperText amrkup. A markup language.],
traction (n.) – the action of drawing or pulling something over a surface, especially a
road or track; motive power provided to draw or pull something, especially on a railway;
locomotives collectively; the grip of a tyre on a road or a wheel on a rail; the extent to
which an idea, product, etc. gains popularity or acceptance; (medicine) the application of
a sustained pull on a limb or muscle, especially in order to maintain the position of a
fractured bone or to correct a deformity [A primitive vehicle used in animal traction. The
changeover to diesel and electric traction. A pent-up demand for traction and rolling stock.
His car hit a patch of ice and lost traction. The shoes have studs for extra traction. Analysts
predict that the technology would rapidly gain traction in the corporate mobile market.
His leg is in traction.] – synonyms & related words [grip, friction, adhesion, purchase,
resistance, pull, haulage, propulsion, drag],

pace oneself (v.) – do something at a slow and steady rate in order to avoid
overexertion, take it easy [Frank was pacing himself for the long night ahead.],

drop the ball (id.) – (NA, informal) make a mistake, mishandle things [I really
dropped the ball on this one.],

netdecking (n.) – the process of stealing a tournament winning TCG/OCG/CCG

decklist from a discussion forum and replicating it, implies a lack of creativity and desire
to do nothing other than win in the player,

cookie cutter (adj.) – (showing disapproval) used for describing people, things, or
ideas that are exactly the same as others and not at all original,

digestible (adj.) – able to be understood [Though his accent was strange, the
information was perfectly digestible.] – synonyms & related words [comprehensible, easy
to understand, intelligible, penetrable, fathomable, graspable, lucid, coherent, clear,
crystal clear, explicit, unambiguous, transparent, plain, straightforward, digestible, user-
friendly, glanceable; perspicuous],

come up to the wire (id.) – to approach the finish, come near the end [The crucial
project is coming up to the wire and we're a bit nervous.],

every which way (id.) – every way possible, any way possible, whatever it takes,

turn someone loose (id.) – let someone go,

you turn me every which way but loose (id.) – you do pretty much everything
to me except leave me,

(like) putty in someone's hands (id.) – very easily influenced or persuaded by

someone, pliable, weak, weak-willed, spineless [She can talk him around – he's putty in
her hands.],
seditious (adj.) – inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or
monarch [The letter was declared seditious. A seditious speech. The interior ministe rissued
a decree outlawing seditious groups.] – synonyms & related words [revolutionary,
rebellious, insurrectionist, mutinous, insurgent, subversive, insubordinate, civil
disobedience, dissident, defiant, disloyal, treasonous],

bear on (v.) – be relevant to (something); be a burden on [Two kinds of theoreis which

bear on literary studies. There is a long cultural history which bears on the way these
writers express themselves. The extension of VAT to domestic fuel will bear hard on the
low-paid.] – synonyms & related words [be relevant to, appertain to, pertain to, relate to,
have a bearing on, have relevance to, apply to, be pertinent to, have reference to,
concern, be concerned with, have to do with, be connected with],

smolder (v.) – burn slowly with smoke but no flame; show or feel barely suppressed
anger, hatred, or another powerful emotion; exist in a suppressed or concealed state
[The bonfire still smoldered, the smoke drifting over the paddock. The bonfire still
smoldered. Anna smoldered with indignation. She was smoldering with resentment. The
controversy smoldered on for several years. Discontent had been smoldering for years.] –
synonyms & related words [burn slowly, smoke, glow, reek; seethe, boil, fume, burn,
simmer, be boiling over, be beside oneself, be livid, be wild, jump up and down,
froth/foam at the mouth; exist unseen, burn, seethe, simmer, fester, lie dormant],

grammarye/grammary/gramary (n.) – (obsolete) grammar, learning; (archaic)

mystical learning, the occult, magic, sorcery,

glamer (n.) – (archaic) noise; (archaic) the visual influence of a charm, causing people
to see things differently from what they are, hence, to casta glamer is to cause a visual
decepion, deceive, change the look/appearance of something,

ornithomancy (n.) – the practice of reading omens from the actions of birds followed
in many ancient cultures including the Greeks, and is equivalent to the augury employed
by the ancient Romans,

kawarimi (n.) – an ancient ninja art revolving around misdirection and the split-
second timing of a switch between a 'body' and a location, or between two or more
bodies; a technique utilized by ninja in ancient Japan, involving the ninja and anything
that can be mistaken for them, (such as a dummy or a mannequin.),

you set a good road map, but didn't nail it (id.) – you did well, but not well
enough; close, but no cigar, a half-way done job,

confer (v.) – grant (a title, degree, benefit or right); have discussions, exchange
opinions [The Minister may have exceeded the powers conferred on him by Parliament.
The Queen conferred an honorary knighthood on him. The officials were conferring with
allies. She broke off to confer with her colleagues.] – synonyms & related words [bestow
on, present with/to, grant to, award to, decorate with, honour with, give to, give out to,
gift with, endow with, vest in, hand out to, extend to, vouchsafe to, accord to; consult,
have discussions, discuss things, exchange views, talk, have a talk, speak, converse,
communicate, have a chat, have a tête-à-tête; negotiate, have negotiations, have talks,
parley, palaver, have a confab, chew the fat/rag, jaw, rap, powwow, confabulate],

one off (adj. n.) – something that only happens once; someone who is very unusual and
not like anyone else [I don't think the problem is a one-off.],

indomitable (adj.) – impossible to subdue or defeat [A woman of indomitable spirit.

These indomitable warriors have never been subjugated by an invading force.] – synonyms
& related words [invincible, unconquerable, unbeatable, unassailable, impregnable,
invulnerable, unsurpassable, unshakeable; indefatigable, unyielding, unbending,
stalwart, stout-hearted, lionhearted, strong-willed, strong-minded, staunch, resolute,
firm, steadfast, determined, intransigent, inflexible, adamant; unflinching, courageous,
brave, valiant, heroic, intrepid, fearless, plucky, mettlesome, gritty, steely],

top brass (n.) – (uncountable, informal) the people with the highest status in an
organization, especially the armed forces,

expat (n.) – (informal) expatriate, exile, deportee, expellee,

scale back (id.) – to make something smaller in size, amount, etc. than it used to be,
scale down [The company is scaling back its plans for new stores. They've scaled back their
expenditure considerably. A scaled-down peacekeeping force.],

afield (adv.) – far afield; far away, especially from where you live or are staying; on the
field; out in the open [The salon attracts clients from as far afield as Swansea. As Kim
become more confident, he began to wander further afield. We now have both teams afield
and can begin the match.],

gatekeeping (n.) – the activity of controlling, and usually limiting, general access to
something; (computing) a function or system that controls access or operations to files,
computers, networks, or the like [Wal-Mart's cultural gatekeeping has served to narrow
the mainstream for entertainment offerings. A gatekeeping mechanism that allows reads
under some circumstances and blocks them under others.],

well turned (adj.) – (of a compliment, phrase, or verse) elegantly expressed;

(especially of a person's ankle or leg) having an elegant and attractive shape,

roundabout (n.) – (UK) a road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round
a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it; (UK) a large revolving device
in a playground, for children to ride on; a merry-go-round [Turn right at the next
roundabout. Go straight at the roundabout. An old-fashioned roundabout with painted
wooden horses.] – synonyms & related words [rotary, traffic circle, merry-go-round,
carousel, whirlgig],

roundabout (adj.) – not following a short direct route; circuitous; not saying what is
meant clearly and directly, circumlocutory [We need to take a roundabout route to throw
off any pursuit. The bus took a very long and roundabout route to Linby. In a roundabout
way, he was fishing for information. I did ask him, in a roundabout sort of way.] –
synonyms & related words [circuitous, indirect, meandering, winding, serpentine,
tortuous, anfractuous; indirect, oblique, circuitous, circumlocutory, periphrastic;
meandering, discursive, digressive, long-winded; evasive, circumlocutionary,
ambagious],

childrearing (n.) – the work of taking care of children until they are old enough to
take care of themselves[Why shouldn't a woman have a job after years of child-rearing?],

agitate (v.) – campaign to arouse publci concern about an issue in the hope of
prompting action [They agitated for a reversal of the decision. She urged us to agitate for
the appointment of more women to cabinet posts.] – synonyms & related words
[campaign, strive, battle, fight, struggle, crusade, push, press, argue, debate, dispute,
wrangle],

parting shot (id.) – an insult or barbed comment issued as the speaker departs or the
conversation comes to an end, parting words, last jab,

barbed (adj.) – having a barb or barbs; (of a remark or joke) deliberately hurtful
[Barbed arrows. Barbed wire. A fair degree of barbed wit. A barbed remark.] – synonyms
& related words [jagged, hooked, spiky, spiked, spined, spiny, prickly, thorny, scratchy,
bristly, bristled, briary, brambly, sharp, pointed, spinose, spinous; hurtful, wounding,
cutting, biting, stinging, mean, spiteful, nasty, rude, cruel, vicious, unkind, unfriendly,
snide, pointed, hateful, ill-natured, bitter, venomous, poisonous, mordant, acid, acerbic,
acrimonious, astringent, caustic, sharp, scathing, hostile, rancorous, malicious,
malevolent, evil-intentioned, baleful, vindictive, vengeful, vitriolic, splenetic, malign,
malignant, pernicious, bilious, bitchy, catty, malefic, maleficent],

graven image (n.) – (literary) a picture or statue of a god or holy person,

graven (adj.) – carved, engraved; something fashioned by man, or something man-

made, anything made by man's hands; something that is not alive, but made dead, from
the grave,

weightsome (adj.) – of, pertaining to, possessing, or characterized by weight, weighty,

weightful, heavy, grave, grievous, important, cardinal,

sweer/sweir (adj.) – (UK, dialectal) heavy; (UK, dialectal) dull, indolent, lazy; (UK,
dialectal) reluctant, unwilling, disinclined,
put the cart before the horse (id.) – to do things in the wrong order [Aren't you
putting the cart before the horse by deciding what to wear for the wedding before youv'e
even been invited to it?],

see something coming (id.) – to expect something to happen [No one else had
expected the factory to close, but we saw it coming.],

down the road/path to perdition (id.) – (old-fashioned) to something very

dangerous or harmful [It's this kind of selfishness that leads down the road/path to
perdition.] – synonyms & related words [peril, hazard, risk, jeopardy, endangerment,
imperilment, insecurity, perilousness, riskiness, precariousness, uncertainty, instability],

gum up (id.) – to prevent passage through by filling with something [Arteries gummed
up with fatty deposits.] – synonyms & related words [block, choke, clog, clot, congest,
dam, jam, obstruct, occlude, plug (up), stop (up), stuff; bung, cork, stopper, stopple; fill,
gridlock, pack; fur, silt; flood, glut, inundate, overwhelm, swamp],

butter wouldn't melt in somebody's mouth (id.) – used when someone looks
as if they would never do anything wrong, although you feel they might; the phrase
butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth or butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth describes
someone who appears demure, innocent or sincere but is in fact unkind, devious or
insincere, he idea is that the person in question is so calm, cool and collected that butter
wouldn’t even melt in his mouth. [Tommy looked as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.]

dust bunny (n.) – (NA, informal) a ball of dust and fluff,

seance (n.) – a meeting in which people try to communicate with the spirits of dead
people [A seance was performed to communicate with the ancient king.],

invective (n.) – insulting, abusive, or highly critical language [He let out a stream of
invective. She poured forth a string of invective.] – synonyms & related words [abuse,
insults, vituperation, expletives, swear words, swearing, curses, bad language, foul
language; denunciation, censure, revilement, vilification, castigation, recrimination,
reproach, reproval, admonition, tongue-lashing, contumely, billingsgate, obloquy],

pumice (n.) – a light, porous type of pyroclastic igneous rock, formed during explosive
volcanic eruptions when liquid lava is ejected into the air as a froth containing masses of
gas bubbles, as the lava solidifies, the bubbles are frozen into the rock.

pumice (v.) – to abrade or roughen with pumice,

pumice stone (n.) – a piece of pumice, also used as a collective noun ["Don't rub your
legs smooth with the tight-scraping pumice stone.“],
tincture (n.) – a medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol; a slight trace of
something; (heraldry) any of the conventional colors (including the metals and stains,
and often furs) used in coats of arms [The remedies can be administered in form of
tinctures. Tincture of iodine. She coudl not keep a tincture of bitterness out of her voice.] –
synonyms & related words [solution, suspension, infusion, potion, elixir, extract,
essence, quintessence, concentrate; trace, note, tinge, touch, dash, suggestion, hint, bit,
scintilla, impression, air, savour, flavour, element, strand, streak, vein, overtone,
suspicion, soupçon, whisper, whiff],

tincture (v.) – be tinged or imbued with a slight amount of [Arthur's affability was
tinctured with faint sarcasm.],

obsess (v.) – preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually and to a troubling
extent [He was obsessed with the idea of revenge. Thoughts of his own mortality obsessed
him.] – synonysm & related words [preoccupy, be uppermost in someone's mind, prey
on someone's mind, prey on, possess, haunt, consume, plague, torment, hound, bedevil,
take control of, take over, become an obsession with, have a hold on, engross, eat up,
have a grip on, grip, dominate, rule, control, beset, monopolize; be fixated, be
preoccupied, be infatuated, be possessed, be haunted, be consumed, be plagued, be
tormented, be bedevilled, be eaten up, be gripped, be in the grip of, be dominated, be
beset, be hung up about/on, have a thing about, have something/someone on the brain,
have a bee in one's bonnet, be ripped],

prickly (adj.) – (of a person) ready to take offense; (of a subject, issues, etc.) likely to
cause offense or controversy [She came across as prickly and generally difficult. Mr.
Griffith was a prickly character. This is a prickly subject. The prickly question of
compensation.] – synonyms & related words [irritable, irascible, peevish, fractious,
fretful, cross, crabbed, crabby, crotchety, cantankerous, curmudgeonly, disagreeable,
miserable, morose, petulant, pettish, peppery, on edge, edgy, impatient, complaining,
querulous, bitter, moody, huffy, grumpy, scratchy, ill-tempered, bad-tempered, ill-
natured, ill-humoured, sullen, surly, sulky, sour, churlish, touchy, testy, tetchy, grouchy,
snappish, waspish, crusty, bilious, liverish, dyspeptic, splenetic, choleric, snappy, chippy,
cranky, whingeing, whingy, narky, ratty, eggy, stroppy, shirty, peckish, soreheaded,
snaky, miffy, waxy; problematic, awkward, ticklish, tricky, delicate, sensitive, difficult,
hard, baffling, perplexing, knotty, thorny, tough, troublesome, bothersome, trying,
taxing, irksome, vexatious, worrying, concerning; complicated, complex, intricate,
convoluted, involved, sticky, dodgy],

animus (n.) – hostiltiy, bile, mind, spirit, temper; the basic impulses and instincts
which govern one's actions; (Jungian psychology) the masculine aspect of the feminine
psyche or personality,
checks and balances (n.) – limits imposed on all branches of a government by
vestig in each branch the right to amend or void those acts of another that fall within its
purview,

pastiche (n.) – an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist, or
period; an artistic work consisting of a medley of pieces imitating various sources [The
operetta is a pastiche of 18th century style. The operetta is a pastiche of 18th century style.
A pastiche of literary models and sources. A pastiche of literary models and sources.] –
synonyms & related words [imitation, parody, take-off, pasticcio; mixture, blend,
medley, melange, miscellany, mixed bag, pot-pourri, mosaic, patchwork, mix, compound,
composite, collection, motley collection, assortment, conglomeration, hotchpotch,
hodgepodge, jumble, ragbag, mishmash, farrago, hash, mash-up, gallimaufry, olio, olla
podrida, salmagundi, omnium gatherum, macédoine, motley],

pastiche (v.) – imitate the style of (an artist or work) [Gauguin took himself to a Pacific
island and pastiched the primitive art he found there.],

macédoine (n.) – a mixture of vegetables of fruit cut into small pieces,

ream (v.) – to enlarge a hole, especially using a reamer, to bore a hole wider; to shape
or form, especially using a reamer; to remove (material) by reaming; to remove burrs
and debris from a freshly bored hole; (slang) to yell at or berate; (slang, vulgar) to
sexually penetrate in a rough and painful way, by analogy with definition,

ream (v.) – to rob by the use of trickery or threats [They reamed a whole new
generation of suckers with a variation of the Ponzi scheme.] – synonyms & related words
[beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, con, cozen, defraud, do, do in, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff,
gyp, hustle, mulct, pluck, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin,
squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, swindle, victimize; extort, wrench, wrest, wring, clip, gouge,
nick, overcharge, soak, exploit, milk, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick, rope (in), betray,
double-cross, bamboozle, fast-talk, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the
cleaners],

put the screws on someone (id.) – (informal) to put more pressure on someone to
do something, for example by threatening them [His creditors were putting the screws on
him.] – synonyms & related words [coerce, pressurize, press, push, persuade, influence,
force, squeeze, bulldoze, hound, harass, nag, harry, badger, goad, prod, pester, browbeat,
brainwash, bully, bludgeon, intimidate, dragoon, twist someone's arm, strong-arm; bring
pressure to bear on, use pressure on, put pressure on, lean on; blackjack, railroad, put
the screws/squeeze on, hustle, fast-talk],

put the screws to someone (id.) – to use extreme coercive pressure, harass, put
the heat on someone [The only reason Fidel agreed was to put the screws to Reagan.],
to wit (adv.) – that is to say [If we keep spending money like it's water, we're sure to end
up in the same place as it often does, to wit, down the drain.] – synonyms & related words
[namely, videlicet; especially, expressively, particularly, specially, specifically],

sass back (v.) – mouth off, talk back, answer back, come back at, sass, wise off,

exorbitant (adj.) – (of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high [Some hotels
charge exorbitant rates for phone calls. The fees charged by the consulants were
exorbitant.] – synonyms & related words [extortionate, excessively high, extremely high,
excessive, sky-high, prohibitive, outrageous, unreasonable, preposterous, inordinate,
immoderate, inflated, monstrous, unwarranted, unconscionable, huge, enormous,
disproportionate; punitive, ruinous; expensive, extravagant; over the odds, criminal,
steep, stiff, over the top, OTT, costing an arm and a leg, costing a bomb, costing the earth,
daylight robbery, a rip-off],

enshrine (v.) – place (a revered or precious object) in an appropriate receptacle;

preserve (a right, tradition, or idea) in a form that ensures it will be protected and
respected [The right of all workers to strike was enshrined in the new constitution. The
following rights should be enshrined in the treaty.] – synonyms & related words [set
down, set out, spell out, express, lay down, set in stone, embody, realize, manifest,
incorporate, represent, contain, include, preserve, treasure, immortalize, cherish],

kick the can down the road (id.) – to postpone a decision or action; to
procrastinate,

carry the can (id.) – to take responsibility, especially in a challenging situation,

kick at the can (id.) – to make an attempt, to try,

in the gravy (id.) – fortunate, having good luck – synonyms & related words [affluent,
encouraging, fortuitous, happy, healthy, helpful, lucky, profitable, prosperous, successful,
wealthy, well-off, advantageous, auspicious, blessed, born with a silver spoon, bright,
charmed, convenient, favorable, favored, felicitous, flourishing, gaining, get a break,
golden, hopeful, in luck, on a roll, opportune, overcoming, promising, propitious,
providential, rosy, sitting pretty, sunny side, thriving, timely, triumphant, victorious,
well-to-do, doing well, going well],

yea (adv.) – thus, so, this, like this, exactly this (now often accompanied by a hand
gesture) [The pony was yea high.],

earn (n.) – (Old English, archaic) eagle, erne,

erne (n.) – a sea eagle (Haliaeetus), especially the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus
albicilla); (chiefly poetic, dialectal, sciences) an eagle [The bald erne, also known as the
bald eagle.],
belandre (n.) – (nautical) a small flat-bottomed craft, used principally on the rivers,
canals, and roadsteads of France,

roadstead (n.) – (nautical) a partly-sheltered anchorage, a stretch of water near the

shore where vessels may ride at anchor, but with less protection than a harbor, a place
for storing boats in the water – synonyms & related words [dock, inlet, pier, port, road,
wharf, anchorage, arm, bay, bight, breakwater, chuck, cove, embankment, firth ,gulf,
haven, jetty, landing, mooring; asylum, retreat, sanctuary, shelter, cover, covert,
harborage, sanctum; seaport, dockyard, dockage, boatyard, landing],

ride at anchor (id.) – if a ship rides at anchor, it is fixed to the bottom of the sea by an
anchor,

anemic (adj.) – suffering from anemia; lackign in color, spirit, or vitality [The doctor
said you were a bit anemic. His naturally anemic face became even paler. An anemic
aspidistra stood in the grate. Attraction was an anemic description of her feelings.] –
synonyms & related words [colourless, bloodless, pale, pallid, wan, ashen, white, white
as a ghost/sheet, grey, jaundiced, waxen, chalky, chalk-white, milky, pasty, pasty-faced,
whey-faced, peaky, sickly, tired-looking, washed out, sallow, drained, drawn, sapped,
ghostly, deathly, deathlike, bleached; etiolated; feeble, weak, insipid, pallid, pale, wishy-
washy, vapid, bland, poor, puny, flat, inadequate; lame, tame, uninspired, unimaginative,
lacklustre, spiritless, half-hearted, vigourless, lifeless, powerless, impotent, ineffective,
ineffectual, enervated, bloodless, pathetic, etiolated],

walkway (n.) – a passage or path for walking along, especially a raised passageway
connecting different sections of a building or a wide path in a park or garden,

in a bind (id.) – not on time, in a box, in a dilemma – synonyms & related words [last-
minute, slow, backward, behind, behind time, behindhand, belated, blown, delayed,
dilatory, eleventh-hour, gone, held up, hung up, in the lurch, jammed, lagging, missed the
boat, out of luck, overdue, postponed, put off, remiss, stayed, strapped, tardy, too late,
unpunctual; sluggish, delinquent, dawdling, detained, laggard, loitering, not arrived, not
done, procrastinating, slack, slow, strapped for time, too late],

strapped for time (id.) – delayed, late, belated, behindhand, in a bind, too late,
sluggish

wherewithal (n.) – the money or other means needed for a particular purpose [They
lacked the wherewithal to pay. She had the wherewithal to buy anything which took her
fancy.] – synonyms & related words [money, ready money, cash, capital, finance(s),
resources, funds, reserves; means, ability, capability, dough, bread, loot, the ready,
readies, shekels, moolah, the necessary, wad, boodle, dibs, gelt, ducats, rhino, gravy,
scratch, stuff, oof, dosh, brass, lolly, spondulicks, wonga, ackers, dinero, greenbacks,
simoleons, bucks, jack, mazuma, Oscar, splosh, green, tin, l.s.d., kale, rocks, shinplasters,
pelf, resources, skill],

scrappy (adj.) – consisting of disorganized, untidy, or incomplete parts; (NA, informal)

determined, argumentative, or pugnacious [Scrappy lecture notes piled up unread. The
match was a scrappy affair. He had a scrappy New York temperament.] – synonyms &
related words [disorganized, untidy, disjointed, unsystematic, thrown together, uneven,
bitty, sketchy, superficial, perfunctory, slipshod, inadequate, imperfect, incoherent,
piecemeal; fragmentary, incomplete, unfinished, unpolished, deficient, defective],

underpin (v.) – to hold up or serve as a foundation for [The central beliefs that
underpin a free society.] – synonyms & related words [bear, bolster, brace, buttress,
carry, prop (up), shore (up), stray, support, sustain, undergird, uphold; steady, truss,
underlie],

undergird (v.) – to hold up or serve as a foundation for; to strength, secure, or

reinforce by passing a rope, cable, or chain around the underside of an object; to give
fundamental support, provide with a sound or secure basis, provide supportive evidence
for; to lend moral support to; to secure below or underneath [The theory of evolution
undergirds virtualyl all of modern biology.],

gird up one's loins (id.) – to prepare oneself for something demanding [Man came
into this world, not to sit down and muse, not to befog himself with vain subtleties, but to
gird up his loins and to work.] – synonyms & related words [brace oneself, eat one's
Wheaties, roll up one's sleeves, shape up, steel oneself, suck it up],

girder (n.) – a beam of steel, wood, or reinforced concrete, used as a main horizontal
support in a building or structure; one who girds, a satirist,

girt (n.) – a horizontal structural member of post and beam architecture, typically
attached to bridge two or more vertical members such as corner posts,

girt (v.) – to gird; to bind horizontally, as with a belt or girdle; to measure the girth of,

girt (adj.) – (nautical) bound by a cable, used of a vessel so moored by two anchors that
she swings against one of the cables by force of the current or tide,

girt (adj.) – (UK, rural dialect) great [Then I opens the cupboard door and I sees a girt big
spider looking up at me.],

trig (adj.) – (now chiefly dialectal) true, trusty, trustworthy, faithful; (now chiefly
dialectal) safe, secure; (now chiefly dialectal) tight, firm, steady, sound, in good
condition or health; neat, tidy, trim, spruce, smart; (now chiefly dialectal) active, clever),

trig (n.) – (now chiefly dialectal) a dandy, coxcomb,

trig (v.) – to stop (a wheel, barrel, etc.) by palcing somethign under it, to scotch, to skid,

trig (v.) – to fill, to stuff, to cram,

coxcomb (n.) – (obsolete) the cap of a court jester, adorned with a red stripe; a foolish
or conceited person, a dandy; the fleshy red plate of a rooster,

artsy (adj.) – mannered; affected, put-on – synonyms & related words [pretentious,
self-conscious, stilted, airish, apish, artificial, campy, chichi, conscious, gone Hollywood,
highfaluting, posed, stuck up, unnatural],

sinecure (n.) – (archaic) an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls; an office or

position that requires little or no work and that usualyl provides an income,

sinecurist (n.) – an ecclesiastical benefice without the care of souls; a position that
requires no work but still gives an ample payment, a cushy job, an easy job, what we
could an „uhljeb“,

moor (v.) – make fast (a boat) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore or to an
anchor [Twenty or so fishing boats were moored to the pierside. A boat was moored to the
end of the dock.] – synonyms & related words [tie up, secure, make fast, fix firmly, fasten,
anchor, berth, dock, lash, hitch],

mooring (n.) – a place to moor a vessel; the act of securing a vessel with a cable or
anchor etc.; (figurative) something to which one adheres, or the means that helps one to
mantain a stable position and keep one's identity – moral, intellectual, political, etc.;
fulcrum, crux, foundation, principle, lodestar, exemplar, guide, criterion,

minger (n.) – (informal) an insulting word for someone who you do not consider
attractive, usually a woman – synonyms & related words [a blot on the landscape, back
end, be no oil painting, be not much to look at, blowsy, florid, fright, gaunt, horsey, icky,
inelegant, look a fright, look like the back end of a bus, monstrosity, putrid, ugly, ugly
duckling, unappealing, unappetizing, unattractive],

caitiff (n.) – coward, craven, dastard, louse, rat, scoundrel, chicken, bastard,

howbeit (adv.) – (archaic) nevertheless, however [Howbeit, I've no proof of the thing.],

qui vive (n.) – on the alert or lookout, aware, cautious, wary, careful [Duty requires the
earnest liberal to spend most of his time on the quive vive for fascism.],

sandalwood (n.) – (countable) a tree with a pleasant smelling wood, grown in India
for its oil and used for making soap and perfume; (uncountable) the wood of a
sandalwood tree,
flap (n.) – (informal) a state of agitation, a panic [Your Gran was in a flap, worrying she'd
put her foot in it. I'm in a frightful flap about leaving. She created a flap when she came out
with her controversial statement.] – synonyms & related words [panic, fluster, state of
panic/agitation, state, dither, twitted, blue funk, stew, tizz, tizzy, tiz-woz, twit; fuss,
agitation, commotion, stir, hubbub, excitement, tumult, ado, storm, uproar, flurry;
controversy, to-do, palaver, brouhaha, furore, ballyhoo, hoopla, hoo-ha, song and dance,
carry-on, kerfuffle],

cirrus (n.) – (botany) a tendril; (zoology) a thin tendril-like appendage; (meteorology)

a principal high-level cloud type characterised by white, delicate filaments or wisps, of
white (or mostly white) patches, or of narrow bands, found at an altitude of above 7000
meters,

blasé (adj.) – unimpressed with or indifferent to something because one has

experienced or seen it so often before [She was becoming quite blasé about the dangers.]
– synonyms & related words [indifferent to, unconcerned about, uncaring about, casual
about, nonchalant about, offhand about, uninterested in, uninvolved in/with, apathetic
towards, unimpressed by, bored by, weary of, unmoved by, unresponsive to, lukewarm
about, unenthusiastic about, phlegmatic about; impassive, dispassionate, emotionless,
insouciant; jaded, surfeited, glutted, cloyed, satiated, pococurante],

have someone in the palm of your hand (id.) – to have complete power over
someone so that they do what you tell them to do [He had the audience in the palm of his
hand.],

doll (v.) – dress someone smartly and attractively [I got all dolled up for a party. She
dolled herself up before he came round to dinner.] – synonyms & related words [dress up,
dress smartly, dress attractively, get up, do up, tog up, dress up to the nines, put on one's
glad rags, tart up],

histrionic (adj.) – excessively theatrical or dramatic in character or style; (formal) of

or concernign actors or acting; (psychiatry) denoting a personality disorder marked by
shallow volatile emotions and attention-seeking behavior [A histrionic outburst.
Histrionic talents.] – synonyms & related words [melodramatic, theatrical, affected,
dramatic, exaggerated, actorly, actressy, stagy, showy, artificial, overacted, overdone,
unnatural, mannered, stilted, unreal, hammy, ham, camp],

inscrutable (adj.) – impossible to understand or interpret [Guy looked blankly

inscrutable. Her inscrutable face gave nothing away. The ways of the gods are inscrutable.]
– synonyms & related words [enigmatic, unreadable, impenetrable, mysterious,
impossible to interpret, cryptic; unexpressive, inexpressive, emotionless, unemotional,
expressionless, impassive, blank, vacant, deadpan, dispassionate, poker-faced;
mysterious, inexplicable, unexplainable, incomprehensible, beyond comprehension,
beyond understanding, impossible to understand, unintelligible, impenetrable,
unfathomable, fathomless, opaque, puzzling, perplexing, baffling, bewildering, confusing,
abstruse, arcane, obscure, sibylline],

soulful (adj.) – expressing or appearing to express deep and often sorrowful feeling
[She gave him a soulful glance. A distinct, soulful voice.] – synonyms & related words
[emotional, deep, deeply felt, profound, fervent, heartfelt, sincere, passionate;
meaningful, significant, eloquent, expressive; moving, inspiring, stirring, uplifting; sad,
mournful, doleful],

clou (n.) – something which golds the greatest attention, the chief point of interest;
cynosure, center of attention, focus, fulcrum, eye

Cliff notes (n.) – a rundown, a breakdown, a rough outline of a situation, event, etc.,

be tarred with the same brush (id.) – if all the people or things in a group are
tarred with the same brush, you think or say they all are all bad because you know some
of them are bad,

tar with the same brush (id.) – to characterize using the same undesirable
attribute, especially unjustly,

tar (v.) – to besmirch [The allegations tarred his name, even though he was found
innocent.] – synonyms & related words [cause to be soiled, blacken, smear, smudge,
sully, begrime, blotch, blur, botch, coat, conatminate, corrupt, debase, decay, defile,
discolor, draggle, encrust, foul, grime, mold, muddy, pollute, rot, smirch, smoke, smutch,
spatter, spoil, spot, stain, sweat, taint, tarnish, besoil, make dusty, make impure, mess
up; criticize, challenge, impugn, assail, contravene, attack, blast, break, contradict, cross,
deny, dispute, gainsay, knock, negate, negative, oppose, question, resist, slam, smear,
traduce, trash, traverse, zap, call into question, cast aspersions upon, cast doubt upon,
come down on, cut to shreds, disaffirm, pin something on, put down, run down, skin
alive, stick it to, swipe at, throw doubt on, throw the book at, thumb nose at, zing],

vitaite (v.) – to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable [Believed that
luxury vitiates even the most principled person.] – synonyms & related words [blemish,
darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, taint, tarnish, touch; begrime, besmear, besmirch,
blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, soil, sully, tar, abase,
cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame,
sink, bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert],

racket (n.) – a loud unpleasant noise, a din [The kids were making a racket. The engine
makes the most incredible racket.] – synonyms & related words [noise, din, hubbub,
clamour, row, uproar, hullabaloo, tumult, commotion, rumpus, fracas, pandemonium,
clangour, brouhaha, disturbance; crash, clatter, clash, babble, shouting, yelling, babel;
bangarang],
accouterment/accoutrement (n.) – something that is not necessary in itself but
adds to the convenience or performance of the main piece of equipment [The vacuum
cleaner has all of the accoutrements for cleaning furniture as well as floors.] – synonyms &
related words [accessory, accessary, adapter, adaptor, add-on, adjunct, appendage,
appliance, attachment, option; accomplishment, additive, complement, supplement,
auxiliary, subsidiary, amenity, doodad, extra, filler, frill, incidental, luxury, nonessential,
nonnecessity, appurtenances, bells and whistles, equipment, furnishings, paraphernalia,
trappings, adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, ornament, trim,
trimming],

caparison (n.) – an ornamental covering for a horse; decorative trappings and

harness; rich clothing, adornment,

lyceum (n.) – a hall for public lectures or discussions; an association providing public
lectures, concerts, and entertainments,

lycée (n.) – a French public secondary school that prepares students for the university,

continual (adj.) – following a sequence in which the same action or event is repeated
frequently; having no interruptions [His plane went down after continual attacks. The
service has been disrupted by continual breakdowns. Some patients need continual
safeguarding. His son was a continual source of delight to him.] – synonyms & related
words [repeated, frequent, recurrent, recurring, oft repeated, regular, constant,
persistent, non-stop, more ... than one can shake a stick at; constant, continuous, endless,
unending, never-ending, perpetual, perennial, eternal, everlasting; ceaseless, incessant,
unceasing, sustained, ongoing, uninterrupted, unbroken, round-the-clock, unremitting,
unabating, relentless, unrelenting, unrelieved, chronic, interminable],

clutch your pearls (id.) – (disapproving) to behave as if you are very shocked,
especially when you show more shock than you really feel in order to show that you
think something is morally bad [They clutch their pearls at the rest of the nation's obesity.
Only hypocrites clutch their pearls and faint when the truth is spoken.] – synonyms &
related words [astonish, amaze, nonplus, startle, astound, stun, flabbergast, stagger,
shock, stop someone in their tracks, stupefy, leave open-mouthed, take someone's
breath away, dumbfound, daze, benumb, confound, take aback, jolt, shake up, bowl over,
knofk ro six, floor, blow someone's mind, strike dumb; astonished, amazed, in
amazement, nonplussed, taken aback, startled, astounded, stunned, flabbergasted,
staggered, shocked, shell-shocked, stupefied, open-mouthed, dumbfounded,
dumbstruck, speechless, at a loss for words, thunderstruck, dazed, benumbed,
confounded, agape, goggle-eyed, wide-eyed, jolted, shaken up, bowled over, knocked for
six, floored, flummoxed, caught on the hop, caught on the wrong foot, unable to believe
one's eyes/ears; unexpected, unanticipated, unforeseen, unpredictable, unpredicted;
astonishing, amazing, startling, astounding, striking, staggering, incredible,
extraordinary, dazzling, breathtaking, remarkable, wonderful, unusual, mind-blowing,
amazeballs; take by surprise, catch unawares, catch off guard, catch red-handed, catch in
the act, catch napping, catch out, burst in on, catch someone with their trousers/pants
down, catch in flagrante delicto, catch on the hop],

overriding (adj.) – more important than any other considerations; (technical)

extending or moving over something, especially while remaining in close contact [The
overriding concern of the organizers was the financial crisis. Safety was the overriding
consideration. Oceanic lithosphere beneath an overriding continental plate.] – synonyms
& related words [most important, of greatest importance, of prime importance, of
supreme importance, of greatest significance, uppermost, top, supreme, first, first and
foremost, highest, pre-eminent, outstanding, predominant, dominant, prevailing,
preponderant, principal, leading, primary, paramount, chief, main, major, most
prominent, cardinal, foremost, central, key, focal, pivotal, essential, number-one],

design (n.) – purpose or planning that exists behind an action, fact, or object [The
appearance of design in the universe. He was determined to carry out his design of
reaching the top. „Don't talk about my wife that way, I saw you looking at her. I know you
had your designs.“] – synonyms & related words [intention, aim, purpose, plan, intent,
objective, object, goal, end, target, point, hope, desire, wish, dream, aspiration, ambition,
idea],

disregard (v.) – pay no attention to, ignore [The body of evidence is too substantial to
disregard. Annie disregarded the remark.] – synonyms & related words [ignore, take no
notice of, take no account of, pay no attention/heed to, refuse to acknowledge; discount,
set aside, forget, overlook, dismiss; turn a blind eye to, turn a deaf ear to, shut one's eyes
to, pass over, gloss over, brush off/aside, shrug off, look the other way; laugh off, make
light of, thumb one's nose at, write off, blank],

aerobicize (v.) – to bring to good physical condition through aerobics, exercise, train,
become fit, be athletic; to engage in aerobics,

iliac furrow (n.) – (anatomy) v-line, the visible indentation above an iliac crest and
beneath the navel, usually only visible on physically fit people,

sylvan (adj.) – (literary) relating to a forest, wood [A sylvan retreat from urban stress.],

claim to fame (id.) – a reason for being regarded as unusual or noteworthy [The
town's only claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of Elgar.],

doozy (n.) – winner, beauty, humdinger, killer, lulu, smash hit, something,

humdinger (n.) – something very good of its kind [The concert concluded with a
humdinger of a fireworks display.] – synonyms & related words [beaut, beauty, corker,
crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, doozy (or doozie), dream, honey, jim-dandy,
knockout, nifty, peach, pip, pippin, standout; marvel, phenomenon, prodigy, sensation,
wonder, catch, crown jewel, diamond, gem, imperial, jewel, pearl, plum, treasure],

fraternize (v.) – associate or form a friendship with someone, especially when one is
not supposed to [She ignored Elisabeth's warning glare against fraternizing with the
enemy. She forbade her musicians to fraternize with the dancers.] – synonyms & realted
words [associate, mix, mingle, consort, socialize, go around, keep company, rub
shoulders; rub elbows, hang around/round, hang out, run around, knock about/around,
hobnob, pal up, pal around, chum around, be thick with, hang about],

toiletries (n.) – (plural) things such as soap, deoderant, and toothpaste that you use to
keep yourself clean, bathroom equipment, cleaning/hygiene tools,

apotropaic (adj.) – supposedly having the power to avert evil influence or bad luck,
lucky, good luck charm, rabbit's paw, enchanted, lucky charm, blessed [Apotropaic
statues.],

prestidigitation (n.) – conjuring tricks performed as entertainment,

mimeograph (n.) – (historical) a machine for making printed copies using typed
stencil, eventually supersed by photocopying,

by committee (adv.) – (figurative, sometimes humorous) with any of the results

cynically attributed to committee projects, e.g. unnecessary complexity, inconsistency,
logical flaws, lack of a unifying vision, banality, lack of style or character, etc. [A camel is
a horse designed by committee. Writing workshops result in poetry by committee.],

too many chiefs and not enough Indians (saying) – too many leaders or
managers and not enough people doing useful work; too many warchiefs and not
enough grunts,

lath (n.) – a thin, narrow strip, fastened to the rafters, studs, or floor beams of a
building, for the purpose of supporting a covering of tiles, plastering, etc., lath strap,

a rolling stone gathers no moss (saying) – someone who does not settle in one
place rarely prospers,

all is grist that comes to the mill (saying) – all things are a potential source of
profit or advantage,

clutch at straws (id.) – try any route to get out of a desperate situation, no matter
how unlikely it is to succeed,

cadger (n.) – (archaic) a hawker or peddler; (sometimes Geordie) a beggar,

coffin dodger (n.) – (slang, derogatory, humorous) an elderly person,

codger (n.) – an amusingly eccentric or grumpy and usually elderly man,

crank (adj.) – (slang) strange, weird, odd; sick, unwell, infirm; (nautical, of a ship)
liable to capsize because of poorly stowed cargo or insufficient ballast; full of spirit,
lively, sprightly, overconfident, opinionated,

crank (n.) – a bent piece of an axle or shaft, or an attached arm perpendicular, or nearly
so, to the end of a shaft or wheel, used to impart a rotation to a wheel or other
mechanical device, also used to change circulra into reciprocating motion, or
reciprocating into circular motion; the act of converting power into motion, by turning a
crankshaft; (archaic) any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage; (informal) an ill-
tempered or nasty person; a twist or turn of the mind, caprice, whim, crotchet, also a fit
of temper or bout of passion; (informla, UK, dated in US) a person who is considered
strange or odd by others, they may behave in unconventional ways; (informal) an
advocate of a pseudoscience movement; (US, slang) methamphetamine; (rare) a twist or
turn in speech, a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word;
(obsolete) a sick person, an invalid; (slang) penis,

bark beetle (n.) – any of various beetles, of the subfamily Scolytinae, many of which
reproduce in the inner bark of trees,

elucidate (v.) – make (something) clear, explain [Work such as theirs will help to
elucidate this matter. Collections of letters can elucidate what was uppermost in an artist's
mind.] – synonyms & related words [explain, make clear, make plain, illuminate,
throw/shed light on, clarify; comment on, interpret, explicate, expound on, gloss,
annotate, spell out; clear up, sort out, resolve, straighten up/out, unravel, untangle],

biopic (n.) – (cinema, informal) a film based on the events of someone's life,

to a fault (id.) – excessively, overly, unduly [He was generous to a fault.],

munificent (adj.) – characterized by or displaying great genorisity [A munificent

bequest.] – synonyms & related words [generous, bountiful, open-handed, magnanimous,
philanthropic, princely, handsome, lavish, unstinting, free-handed, unstinted, liberal,
free, charitable, big-hearted, beneficent, ungrudging, bounteous],

rule the roost (id.) – to be the person who makes all the decisions in a group [In that
family, it is the grandma who rules the roost.] – synonyms & related words [

have somebody eating out of your hand (id.) – (informal) to easily make
someone do or think what you want [Within two minutes of walking into the classroom,
she had the kdis eating out of her hand.],
dale (n.) – a valley, especially in northern England – synonyms & related words [valley,
vale, hollow, hole, basin, gully, gorge, ravine, dene, combe, slade, clough, glen, strath, dell,
dingle],

make no bones about something (id.) – to talk about or do something in a very

open way without feeling ashamed or embarrassed [He makes no bones about the fact
that he wants my job.] – synonyms & related words [level with, speak your mind, set/put
the record straight, play fair, give/lend/add credence to something, shoot from the hip,
lay it on the line, speak true, come out, be as straight as a die, be straight with someone,
tell it like it is],

negative space (n.) – empty space, space around an object or form, also called white
space,

milkshake duck (n.) – a person or thing that is initially thought of in a very positive
way but later revealed to have serious faults, a bad surprise,

by-blow/byblow/bye-blow (n.) – a blow struck to the side or from the side, as in

swordplay, as econdary or incidential strike of any sort, a side hit; an illegitimate child, a
child of an unknown or unmarried father, a bastard,

reflexive (adj.) – involuntary, automatic, not done willingly – synonyms & related
words [compulsory, forced, spontaneous, uncontrolled, unintentional, automatic,
begrudging, blind, conditioned, gruding, habitual, impulsive, instinctive, instinctual,
knee-jerk, obligatory, reflex, reluctant, uncalculated, unconscious, unintended,
unmeditated, unpremeditated, unprompted, unthinking, unwilling, unwitting, will-less],

comment (n.) – discussion, especially of a critical nature, of an issue or event [The

exhibition has aroused comment. The story excited a great deal of comment.] – synonyms
& related words [discussion, debate, mention, consideration, interest],

feverish (adj.) – having or showing the symptoms of a fever; characterized by or

displaying a frenetic excitement or energy [She felt sick and feverish. The next couple of
weeks were spent in a whirl of feverish activity. He was thrown into a state of feverish
excitement.] – synonyms & related words [febrile, fevered, with a high temperature, hot,
burning, sweating, shivering, delirious, with a temperature, pyretic; frenzied, frenetic,
hectic, agitated, excited, restless, nervous, worked up, overwrought, frantic, furious,
distracted, hysterical, wild, manic, maniacal, like one possessed; uncontrolled,
unrestrained, in a tizzy, swivel-eyed],

quixotic (adj.) – extremely idealistic, urnealistic and impractical [A vast and perhaps
quixotic project. The 1000-storey building is a vast, exciting and perhaps quixotic project.]
– synonyms & related words [idealistic, unbusinesslike, romantic, extravagant, starry-
eyed, visionary, utopian, perfectionist, unrealistic, unworldly; impracticable,
unworkable, impossible, non-viable, inoperable, unserviceable; useless, ineffective,
ineffectual, inefficacious],

launder (v.) – to wash, to wash and to smooth with a flatiron or mangle, to wash and
iron; (obsolete) to lave, to wet; ( money) to disguise the source of (ill-gotten wealth) by
various means, money laundering,

launderette/laundrette (n.) – a place that has facilities for washing and drying
clothes that the public may pay to use,

launderer/laundress (n.) – one who is employed in laundering,

ritzy (adj.) – expensively stylish [The rizy Plaza Hotel. His rity $4 million oceanside
mansion.] – synonyms & related words [luxurious, luxury, deluxe, plush, sumptuous,
palatial, lavish, lavishly appointed, gorgeous, opulent, splendid, magnificent, lush,
glamorous, glittering, rich, costly, expensive, upmarket, fancy, stylish, grandiose, posh,
swanky, plushy, classy, glitzy, fancy-pants, swish, swank, palatian, Lucullan],

proprietary (adj.) – of or relating to property or ownership, as proprietary rightS; of

or relating to the quality of being an owner, as the proprietary class; created or
manufactured exclusively by the owner of intellectual property rights, as with a patent
or trade secret; nonstandard and used only by one particular organization, as a
proprietary extension to a standard; privately owned, as a proprietary lake; (ofa person)
possessive, jealous, or territorial,

couth (adj.) – cultured, refined, and well mannered [It is more couth to hold your shrimp
genteelly by the tail when eating.],

couth (n.) – good manners, refinement, polite behavior [He has no couth, no brains, and
doesn't know the meaning of the word diplomacy.],

bumpkin (n.) – an unsophisticated or socially awkward person from the countryside

[She thought Tom a bit of a country bumpkin.] – synonyms & related words [yokel,
country cousin, rustic, countryman, countrywoman, country dweller, son/daughter of
the soil, peasant, provincial; oaf, lout, boor, barbarian, clod, clodhopper, yahoo, yob,
yobbo, culchie, bogman, hayseed, hillbilly, hick, rube, schlub, bushy, carl, churl, hind,
kern, bucolic],

kern (n.) – (historic) a light-armed Irish foot soldier; (archaic) a peasant, a rustic,

throw someone a curve (ball) (id.) – (mainly US, informal) to do something

unexpected that makes someone confused or causes problems, surprise, take by
surprise,
kid gloves (id.) – tact and gentleness – synonyms & related words [delicacy,
fastidiousness, gentle handling, gentleness, good taste, kid-glove, treatment, leniency,
light hand, light rein, refinement, tact, tolerance, velvet glove],

revanche (n.) – revenge or retaliation; the political policy of regaining lost territory,
irredentism,

revanchist (n.) – a revanchist person, occasionally anyone seeking vengeance,

revanchist (adj.) – seeking revenge or otherwise advocating retaliation, especially

against a nation which has previously defeated and humiliated the revanchist party in
war, originally referred to the French indignation over losing Alsace-Lorraine to
Germany in the Franco-Prussian War,

hanging from the rafters (id.) – a hyperbole one can use to mean „very crowded“
or „standing room only“, while it is unlikely to have frequently been literally true, the
idea that people would sit on or hang from some element of the roof's support structure
(on horizontal beams or joists rather than up-angled rafters) to see the goings-on is not
out of the question, and can be seen ind old (perhaps staged) photographs, films, and
paintings,

run counter to something (id.) – (formal) if one thing runs counter to another, or
if one thing is counter to another, the first thing is the opposite of the second thing or
conflicts with it,

put your money where your mouth is (id.) – (informal) take action to support
one's statements, or opinions, take a stand, act, deeds not words,

rusting years (id.) – old age,

under the wire (id.) – (US) if someone does something under the wire, they do it at
the last possible moment [They got in under the wire just before the entry requirements
for the training program changed.],

in midstream (id.) – in the middle of an activity, often one that is interrupted [She
interrupted him in midstream to ask a question.],

adjourn to somewhere (v.) – (humorous, formal) to finish doing something and go

somewhere, usually for a drink and some food [Shall we adjourn to the sitting room for
coffee?],

quibble (n.) – a slight objection or criticism; (archaic) a play on words, a pun [The only
quibble about this book is the price. Apart from that quibble, it was fine. I ignored his
ridiculous quibbles about interest rates.] – synonyms & related words [minor criticism,
trivial objection, trivial complaint, adverse comment, protest, query, argument,
exception, moan, grumble, grouse, cavil, niggle, gripe, beef, grouch, nitpicking,
pettifogging; evasion, dodge, avoidance, equivocation, prevarication, hedging, fudging],

quibble (v.) – argue or raise objections about a trivial matter [They are always
quibbling about the amount they are prepared to pay. No one would quibble with the
subtitle. He's always quibbling, so it is difficult to get a straight answer out of him.] –
synonyms & related words [find fault with, raise trivial objections to, complain about,
object to, cavil at, carp about; split hairs, chop logic; criticize, query, fault, pick, holes in,
nitpick, pettifog; be evasive, equivocative, avoid the issue, prevaricate, hedge, fudge, be
ambiguous, beat about the bush],

nub (n.) – a small uneven mass; the central part or aspect of something under
consideration [First, throw a nub of butter into the frying pan. The nub of the problem is
the lack of funding.] – synonyms & related words [blob, chunk, clod, clot, clump, dollop,
glob, gob, gobbet, hunk, knob, lump, nubble, nugget, wad, bead, drop, globule, block,
body, bulk, particle, piece, portion, big, chip, crumb, grnaule, morsel, nubbin, patch,
scrap; bottom line, bull's-eye, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, gist, heart, kernel,
keynote, meat, meat and potatoes, net, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, point, root, sum,
course, direction, drift, tenor, body, content, substance, hypothesis, proposition, purport,
subject, theme, thesis],

formative (adj.) – serving to form something, especially having a profound influence

on a person's development and upbringing [His formative years. Schooling is not the only
significant element in a child's formative years. The early Fabians had a formative
influence o nthe social history of the United Kingdom.] – synonyms & related words
[developmental, developing, growing, mouldable, malleable, impressionable,
susceptible; determining, controlling, influential, guiding, decisive, forming, shaping,
moulding, determinative],

tumbler (n.) – a drinking glass with straight sides and no handle or stem – synonyms
& related words [glass, drinking glass, beaker, goblet, wine glass, highball glass, stoup,
rummer],

pew (n.) – a long wooden seat in a church, a bench,

take a pew (id.) – (UK, spoken) used for telling someone in a friendly way to sit down
with you,

nod off (id.) – (informal) fall asleep, especially briefly or unintentionally [He nodded off
during the sermon. The audience began to nod off.] – synonyms & related words [fall
asleep, go to sleep, get to sleep, doze off, drop off, go off, drift off, crash out, flake out, go
out like a light, conk out, sack out, zone out],

shaft (v.) – (of light) shine in beams [Even as the Sun's golden rays shaft the building, it is
a dark place.],
shiftless (adj.) – characterized by laziness, indolence, and a lack of ambition [A shiftless
lot of good-for-nothings. He thought the whole family shiftless and dishonest.] – synonyms
& related words [lazy, idle, indolent, slothful, lethargic, lackadaisical; spiritless,
apathetic, improvident, aimless, worthless, feckless, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well;
inefficient, incompetent, inept, unambitious, unenterprising],

squirrel (v.) – hide money or something of value in a safe place; move in an inquisitive
and restless manner [The money was squirrelled away in foreign bank accounts. Try to
squirrel a little cash away for a rainy day.] – synonyms & related words [save, put aside,
put by, lay by, set aside, lay aside, put to one side, reserve, keep in reserve, preserve,
deposit, keep, store, stockpile, accumulate, collect, stock up with/on, heap up, hoard,
stow away, cache, garner, salt away, stash away],

squirelly (adj.) – idiotic, very stupid, foolish, silly – synonyms & related words [crazy,
dumb, foolhardy, foolish, insane, asinine, batty, birdbrained, daffy, daft, dull, fatuous,
harebrained, imbecile, imbecilic, inane, lunatic, moronic, thick-witted, unintelligent],

forthwith (adv.) – (especially in official use) immediately, without delay [We

undertake to pay forthwith the money required. The government insisted that all the
hostages be released forthwith.] – synonyms & related words [immediately, at once,
instantly, directly, right away, straight away, now, this/that (very) minute, this/that
instant, then and there, there and then, here and now, in/like a flash, instantaneously, by
return, post-haste, without delay, without further/more ado, without hesitation,
unhesitatingly; quickly, as quickly as possible, fast, speedily, with all speed, promptly, as
soon as possible, a.s.a.p., expeditiously; momentarily, in short order; tout de suite,
straight off, toot sweet, pronto, double quick, p.d.q. (pretty damn quick), in double quick
time, at warp speed, ekdam, straightway, instanter, forthright],

supersede (v.) – take the place of, override, overrule [Don't be such a fool, Kalsindor.
The power it grants me superseded Rasha'thul's control. For years, I was imprisoned,
clawing, desperate to find a way out. This was the hill from which that damn Lich's
snowflake rolled, and now it has become the mighty avalanche.] – synonyms & related
words [annul, repudiate, set aside, supplant, usurp, abandon, desert, discard, displace,
forsake, oust, outmode, reject, remove, replace, succeed, supplement, suspend, outplace,
take over],

sterling (adj.) – (of a person or their work or qualities) excellent or valuable [This
organization does sterling work for youngsters. The sterling work of the social services
department.] – synonyms & related words [excellent, first-rate, first-class, exceptional,
outstanding, splendid, superlative, of the first order, of the highest order, of the first
water, magnificent, wonderful, fine, great, praiseworthy, laudable, admirable, A1, stellar,
top-notch],

unrequited (adj.) – unanswered, unreturned, one-sided, unpaid for,

loafer (n.) – a leather shoe shaped like a moccasin, with a flat heel; a person who
avoids work and spends their time idly [His handmade Italian loafers. He looked down at
his loafers.] – synonyms & related words [idler, layabout, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-
well, do-nothing, lounger, shirker, sluggard, slug, laggard, slugabed, malingerer, skiver,
waster, slacker, cyberslacker, slob, lazybones],

wallflower (n.) – (informal) a shy or excluded person at a dance or party, especially a

girl without a partner [I felt like a miserable wallflower at a boisterous party.],

velour (n.) – velvet, fabric, nap, pile, plush, velure, velveteen,

drink the hemlock (id.) – drink poison, commit suicide, as Socrates drank the
poisonous herb hemlock with water or tea,

square (v.) – make compatible, reconicle; be compatible [Do those announcements

really square with the facts? I'm able to square my profession with my religious beliefs.] –
synonyms & related words [agree, tally, be in agreement, be consistent, match up,
correspond, fit, coincide, accord, conform, be in harmony, harmonize, be consonant, be
compatible, be congruous],

square (v.) – balance (an account); settle or pay (a bill or debt); make the score of (a
match or game) even [Institutions are anxious to square their books before the election.
Would you square up the bill? His goal squared the match 1-1.] – synonyms & related
words [pay, pay in full, settle, settle up, discharge, clear, defray, liquidate, satisfy, meet,
account for, make good; level, even, make equal],

verb (v.) – (informal) secure the help or acquiescence of (someone), especially by

offering an inducement [Trying to square the press. They were accused of trying to square
the press.] – synonyms & related words [bribe, buy off, buy, corrupt, suborn, give an
inducement to, grease someone's palm, give a backhander to, give a sweetener to],

suborn (v.) – bribe or otherwise induce (someone) to commit an unlawful act such as
perjury [He was accused of conspiring to suborn witnesses.],

pelage (n.) – the hair covering of a mammal especially when fine, soft, and thick [Color
variation in the snow leopard's pelage.] – synonyms & related words [coat, fleece, fur,
hair, jacket, pile, wool; undercoat, underfur, hide, leather, pelt, skin],

contiguous (adj.) – sharing a common border, toucing; next or together in sequence

[The Southern Ocean is contiguous with the Atlantic. The contiguous states of New Mexico,
Arizona, Texas, and California. Five hundred contiguous dictionary entries.] – synonyms &
related words [adjacent, neighbouring, adjoining, bordering, next-door; abutting, joining,
connecting, meeting, touching, in contact, proximate; near, nearby, close, conterminous,
vicinal],
contiguity (n.) – the state or condition of being near [Because of the contiguity of the
mall to the border, it attracts many shoppers from out of state.] – synonyms & related
words [adjacency, closeness, immediacy, nearness, propinquity, proximity, vicinity;
abutment, juxtaposition],

ideational (adj.) – theoretical, hypothetic, theoretic – synonyms & related words

[abstract, academic, analytical, imaginative, intellectual, logical, metaphysical,
philosophical, speculative, vague, as a premise, assumed, codified conjectural,
contingent, formalistic, formularized, general, ideal, idealized, ideological, impractical, in
the abstract, in theory, instanced, notional, on paper, pedantic, postulated, presumed,
problematical, pure, quixotic, suppositional, tentative, transcendant, trasncedental,
unearthly, unproved, unsubstantiated],

nary (adv.) – (old-fashioned) never, nary a means „not a single one“,

steal somebody's thunder (id.) – to get attention and praise for doing something
that someone else had planned to do, do something first, beat someone to it, strike first
[Senator Johnson accused the President of stealing his thunder on the tax issue.],

know which side your bread is buttered (on) (id.) – (informal) to know who
to be nice to and what to do in order to get an advantage for yourself [I don't seek the
collapse of Austria. All I want is to establish Prussian leadership in Germany so that the
other states know which side their bread is buttered.],

promissory (adj.) – containing or consisting of a promise; (law, of a contractual

provision) stipulating the future actions required of the parties to an insurance policy or
other business agreement,

hotplate (n.) – a flat hot surface on a cooker,

always on the hotplate (id.) – always energetic, fired up, riled up, bothered, lively,

hand on heart (id.) – honestly [I know, hand on heart, that that is not from yesterday.]
– synonyms & related words [fairly, lawfully, legally, legitimately, honourably, decently,
ethically, morally, by fair means, by just means, without corruption, in good faith, by the
book, in accordance with the rules; on the level; frankly, candidly, sincerely, genuinely,
truthfully, truly, wholeheartedly, freely, openly, plainly, straight out, straight from the
shoulder, straight up; truthfully, really, truly, actually, to be honest, to tell you the truth,
to be frank, speaking truthfully, speaking frankly, in all honesty, in all sincerity, in plain
language, in plain English; without pretence, without dissembling, Scout's honor, honest
Injun, Scot's honor],

face the music (id.) – (informal) to accept punishment or criticism for something you
have done wrong – synonyms & related words [accept the consequences, be punished,
bite the bullet, come to grips with, face the facts, face up to, face up to it, grin and bear it,
look square in the eye, make one's bed and lie on it, pay the piper, swallow the pill, take
one's lumps, take one's medicine, take the consequences],

hotelier (n.) – landlord, property owner, owner of property leased, proprietor,

freeholder, hotelkeeper, innkeeper, lesson, saw, squire,

be had (id.) – (informal) when someone gets tricked, cheated, or deceived, we say that
they have been had; being mistreated, cheated, or dealt with badly, is known as being
had [I was had! „A Man Without Honor? I've been had!“ You've been had – that car is not
worth the amount you paid for it.],

cachexia (n.) – (medicine, pathology9 a systemic wasting of muscle tissue, with or

without loss of fat mass, that accompanies a chronic disease,

cachexic (adj.) – relating to cachexia,

comprehensive (adj.) – including or dealing wit hall or nearly all elements or aspects
of something; of large content or scope, wide-ranging; (of a victory or defeat) achieved
or suffered by a large margin; (of motor-vehicle insurance) providing cover for most
risks, including damage to the policyholder's own vehicle [A comprehensive list of
sources. A comprehensive collection of photographs. A comprehensive review of UK defence
policy. A comprehensive victory for Swansea.] – synonyms & related words [inclusive, all-
inclusive, complete; thorough, full, extensive, all-embracing, overarching, umbrella,
exhaustive, in-depth, encyclopedic, universal, catholic, eclectic; far-reaching, radical,
sweeping, across the board, blanket, wholesale; broad, wide, wide-ranging, broad-
ranging; widespread, nationwide, countrywide, coast-to-coast; detailed, compendious;
cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, wall-to-wall],

thaumic (adj.) – magical – synonyms & related words [supernatural, enchanted, occult,
Druidical, necromantic, thaumaturgic, thaumaturgical, sorcerous; wizardy, mystical,
mystic, paranormal, preternatural, other-worldly, spectral, ghostly, secret, dark, cryptic,
uncanny, cabbalistic, shamanistic],

clock (v.) – (UK, informal) hit (someone), specially on the head or jaw,

a spot of bother (id.) – (UK, informal) used for emphasizing that a problem is small
and not serious [He's in a spot of bother with the police.],

neck (v.) – (UK, informal) swallow (something, especially a drink) [After necking some
beers, we left the bar.],

tattoo (n.) – a signal that tells soldiers to return to their buildings at night, played on a
drum or a bugle; countless drumming, tapping, rapping, drum signal,

shrink (n.) – (informal) a psychiatrist, a doctor [You should see a shrink.],

ditty (n.) – song, ballad, jingle, tune, composition,

we can put on our watches, but time doesn't go any faster for it (id.) – to
be impetuous, overhasty, overeager, to put the cart before the horse,

relator (n.) – storyteller – synonyms & related words [author, chronicler, narrator,
poet, raconteur, recounter, bard, biographer, fabulist, minstrel, fabler],

hysteron proteron (n.) – (rhetoric) a figure of speech in which a phrase that should
come last is put first, hysterology; an inversion or reversal of the natural order of things
[„He is well and lives“ is a hysteron proteron.],

Petticoat Government (n.) – a book written by Baroness Orczy, author of the

Scarlet Pimpernel, in 1910; it was released under the title Petticoat Rule in the U.S. in the
same year: it is a story of the French aristocracy, the book concerns Madame de
Pompadour's influence over the King and France, and is used as a synonym for female
figures pulling the strings behind the curtains [The king used to tell me, „Save me,
Bismarck, from Petticoat Government!“]

pull the strings (id.) – be in control of events or of other people's actions [It's
uncomfortable to know that someone else is pulling the strings. These are the peopl ethat
pull the strings behind the scenes.] – synonyms & related words [manage, direct, control,
operate, regulate, conduct, handle, run, orchestrate, organize, supervise, superintend,
oversee, preside over, boss, be the boss of, govern, rule, administer, lead, head, guide,
steer, pilot; exercise control over, be in control of, be in charge of, be in command of,
take care of, look after, be responsible for, be at the helm of, hold sway over, head up, call
the shots, call the tune, run the show, be in the driving seat, be in the saddle],

like water running down the back of a pelican (id.) – if something such as a
warning, a request, or an attempt to change someone's attitude is like water running
down the back of a pelican, it is completely ignored by the person who hears it, fall on
deaf ears – synonyms & related words [futile, hopeless, fruitless, useless, wasted, in vain,
unavailing, to no purpose, unheeded],

dog (v.) – follow (someone) closely and persistently; (of a problem) cause continual
trouble for; (NA, informal) act lazily, fail to try one's hardest; grip (something) with a
mechanical device [Photographers seemed to dog her every step. They dogged him the
length and breadth of the country. The twenty-nine-year-old has constantly been dogged
by controversy. Eric had a reputation for dogging it a little. She has dogged the door shut.]
– synonyms & related words [pursue, follow, stalk, track, trail, shadow, hound; plague,
beset, bedevil, assail, beleaguer, blight, trouble, torment, haunt, tail],

ullage (n.) – the amount that a container (as a wine bottle or tank) lacks of being full;
indefinite quality,
highway robbery (n.) – overcharging, overpricing, armed robbery, banditry, gouge,
holdup, rip-off,

deadlock (n.) – a situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no

progress can be made; a situation in a game or match where the scores are level [An
attempt to break the deadlock. The strike appeared to have reached a deadlock. Ashton
broke the deadlock with a penalty after 15 minutes.] – synonyms & related words
[stalemate, impasse, checkmate, stand-off; standstill, halt, stop, stoppage, cessation, full
stop, dead end],

deadlock (v.) – cause (a situation or opposing parties) to come to a point where no

progress can be made because of fundamental disagreemen; (of a game or match) be
tied, with the score level [The meeting is deadlocked. The game ended in a 1-1 deadlock.] –
synonyms & related words [tie, draw, dead heat],

dead heat (n.) – a situation in which two or more competitors in a race are exactly
level, even, on par; draw, tie, stalemate, draw [Competition is always fierce, with a dead
heat in one of the early races.],

dead heat (v.) – run or finish a race exactly level [He dead-heated at Aintree.],

cast down (adj.) – feeling unhappines, sad [Newly widowed, the king was cast down at
the thought of being alone once again.] – synonyms & related words [bad, blue,
brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, doleful,
down, downcast, downhearted, droopy, forlorn, gloomy, glum, hangdog, heartbroken,
heartsick, heartsore, heavyhearted, inconsolable, joyless, low, low-spirited, melancholic,
melancholy, miserable, mournful, sad, saddened, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone,
woeful, wretched; aggrieved, distressed, torubled, uneasy, upset, worried, despairing,
hopeless, sunk, disappointed, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited, suicidal, dolorous,
lachrymose, lugubrious, plaintive, tearful, regretful, rueful, agonized, anguished,
grieving, wailing, weeping, black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, darkening,
depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, elegiac, elegiacal, funereal, gray, grey, morbid,
morose, saturnine, somber, sombre, sullen],

cream of the crop (id.) – the best or choicest of anything, the noun „cream“ has been
used to mean „the best“ since the 16th century, creme de la creme, best of the best [The
apples from this orhard are definitely the cream of the crop.],

there must be something in the water (id.) – there are so many cases of
something; there are so many people or things doing a particular thing or having a
certain trait,
na poljima od snovai ne pusztat se korienje

[Ellynah] says: I currently live in a room at the Gilded Rose inn.

[Avalyn Areyn Wahl] says: Right. What of your duties? Are you employed?

[Ellynah] says: No, since I'm trying to get accepted as a student.

Avalyn Areyn Wahl scoffed. "Chasing your visions is fine, but watch where you're going,
or else you'll trip. Sometimes, it's a rock, and sometimes, it's a cliff." With those worldy-
wise words, the elder of the two downed the remainder of her drink, uncrossed her legs
and

Avalyn Areyn Wahl stood up. "I'll meet you at the Gilded Rose tomorrow morning.

Coach is now Online.

Coach: any chance of this becoming intimate?

Coach: is her character a woman, or what?

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: aye she's a young gilnean girl

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: and it won't become intimate in this RP

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: that's for sure

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: it's far too early or that plus

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: I don't know if I want Avalyn to be open to bot hgenders

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: just feels odd that I'd be willing to Rp a bisexual female
character but not
Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: male

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: but I guess it's justified bcus

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: it's rless odd

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: and repulsive than

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: two men

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: whereas with lesbians it's at worst

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: neutral

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: and at best

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: still Attractive

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: but with men it's just BAD

Coach: idk why we do it

Coach: is it porn logic?

Coach: is it just mre likely

Coach: for women to get

Coach: distracted like this

Coach: well

Coach: it's scientifically proven

Coach: that women

Coach: have a more fluid sexuality apparently

Coach: lol

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: no it's not porn lagic; women watch gay porn too, as in gay
men

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: just as we watch gay women

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: i.e. lesbinas

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: for us men it's simply more normal to imagine two people of
the opposite gender

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: and for women the same

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: and find it "alright" or "hmm this is kind of hot..."

Coach: https://www.maxim.com/maxim-man/what-porn-women-watch-2016-3

Coach: i think

Coach: you're about to be surprised

Coach: lol

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: wtf is this?

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: Arab

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: Hentai

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: Mature

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: Arab

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: I read that watching gay men for them isn't something taboo

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: or unhead of

Coach: they watch

Coach: lesbian porn

Coach: more than gay porn

Coach: lol

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: according to this

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: and I still find it

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: strange

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: but idk I refuse to believe it's more natural for them to
engage in homosexual acts

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: or at least

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: experiment

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: or bond emotionally with another woman

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: in a way that's comparable to a relationship

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: than it is for us

Coach: At the top of the list, you can see that Lesbian Porn is the #1 most-viewed
category of porn among women watching videos on PornHub. There are several possible
explanations for this phenomenon.

Coach: One is that most porn videos are filmed and directed for men, by men. And men
are generally much less concerned about the woman’s pleasure or erotic sensuality than
about jumping straight into the hardcore penetrative action that is so frequently
emphasized in today’s adult videos. By contrast, lesbian porn tends to build much more
slowly and deliberately with lots of intimate foreplay, fantasy, and eroticism. And, of
course, there is a whole lot more focus on pleasuring the woman orally as well as
making sure she is legitimately brought to orgasm at least once.

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: that's somewhat reasonable I guess

Coach: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-
4059548d8a777be31d3660f01021ad23.webp

Coach: If you’ve ever heard the expression “sex sells,” you may have already come to
realize that images of beautiful women are used to advertise products to both men AND
women because men want to be WITH them, and women want to BE them.

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: how isn't the reverse true for men?

Ripa 'Moramee Truly Alive: men want to BE the model on the big poster, and women
want to be WITH him

Coach: *there is a tense, silent moment where we're at the table, and i'm staring at you
before i give you an answer*

Coach: ...neckbeard neckbeard rofll *he finally lets go of the laug hhe stifled as he stands
up from the chair and a pig starts squeeling in the background while an indian man does
tribal

[Blahar] says: There's nae much more hair ye' can burn off me with yer fancy spells
either way, sweetheart. But me hands do feel a bit cold.

Avalyn Areyn Wahl briefly perked a brow in confusion. "You've still a beard... I'm sure
that won't go away any time soon, unless you decide to kiss the fireplace."

[Blahar] says: Yer kin sleep even with animals these days.

Avalyn Areyn Wahl 's brows suddenly furrowed and her lips pursed in distaste. "So, this
again. You're just going to start rambling until I stop talking to you?"

[Blahar] says: We never believed in th' stars' tales until the sky itself opened up tae
swallow us whole.

Breeland
early aftershaves included witch-hazel and bay rum, and have been documented in
shaving guides, both still are sold as aftershaves

greyfin's curse

espace

with casual strength

fuck this it sick it piss it under the bridge

bronze lasts very well in the soil, whereas iron thins away

Through sunsets beyond counting, the tusked people have dwelled here in the land of
ice. We have lived on the bounty of the sea. We have grown fat on the meat of the
antlered ones. The sea and land has given us life.I find it unthinkable that humans can be
this shallow.

I join voice chat late after 2 of my teammates have already spoken, we're half-way
through the draft and I'm discussing what we still need, so they know I'm a guy, and at
this point we have Diablo (me), Greymane & Li-Ming (I forgot to mention that those 2
teammates are girls). Guess what the other 2 turn out to be?

They pick TLV & Murky and start talking, they're both girls, good friends as it'll turn out
later in-game, and one of them says "There's no way I'm playing with a guy, all guys that
play video games are probably fat and weird." (And I'm 184 cm tall, slim, handsome,
dreamy eyes, with a smile that cuts like a knife. Going by their icky chortles and greasy
accents, you'd never guess the same for them, but that's beside the point.)

I tell myself that it doesn't matter, because I know we can still win. Even in professional
games, a crazy composition can play to its strengths and outmaneuver the enemy, so I'm
not fazed by all of this.

They chat the whole game long and go on, in lurid detail, about a bad break-up one of
them experienced. The other 2 are focused on the game but go hush after the first
objective phase, which is when the duo starts talking about relationship woes. I tell them
we need to focus on the game, but the one still recovering stats yammering on about
how all men are the same, and her friend just plays the yes(wo?)man.
Communication's down the drain, but as long as we play it well individually, we
shouldn't get too distracted. I stop talking, the duo prattles on, however, so it's 5 people
in team voice chat, of which 3 are silent.

The TLV player dies 10 too many times for it to be coincidence or sloppy play (unless
she really was so distracted consoling her friend that it just bled into her performance
and made it lackluster), and the Murky player, to no surprise, plays Murky as the Reddit
carousel of LUL says - feed, feed, feed.

We lose.

I lowered their volumes so I could more easily phase out but still pick up any actual
tactics they (hopefully) brought up, but all I heard at the end were some snide remarks
about

I visit the HotS Reddit daily, so I'm well aware there's been a downpour of threads
concerning sexism, especially with voice chat, and I'm just bringing it one step closer to a
full-blown flood, but I'm sure you understand this is a mystical five levels higher than
plain toxicity.

Up until this match, everyone's been well-mannered, so I expect it'll stay that way, and
this was just a freak incident. What am I supposed to do about it? Report the people in
question and not make a big deal about it. I'd have to be quite, quite mad (both crazy &
angry) and desperate for attention to even suggest another approach, even if it were
rhetorical... such as not using voice chat just because I'm a guy.

I don't remember the account levels of these 2, but I don't think it'd make any bit of
difference.

gray stranger

true mortal

hero for hire

ring or spell that grants invisibility when not consciously moving, i.e. you are invisible
while sleeping but when you wake up you come into view
elune's truth

Brian G.5 months ago

I like to think that he started as Simon Foster, was miserably humiliated in the events of In the
Loop, had a psychotic breakdown, returned as the F*cker, eventually got his sh*t together, and
became Prime Minister.
REPLY
5

by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes

ben’thai del-elune

anatorenatur

cratoch

rasmus ashbringer

the ancient evil survives

the perfect crime

it's like bringing a knife to a gunfight, yeah sure you're gonna get some cuts, but you ain't
walking outta there alive

eratoch

kyle kausler king, pretending to be a female draenei

anteverse/antiverse

estoc

heir of fire

there is death in defeat

icebreaker north wind

now he looks like he spent a night in the cells

neutralizing negatives

be sufficiently absorbant to copy other people's good ideas, but stubborn enough to add
your own flare

sabotan

know that your memory will be sung for a century

the crystal dragon gate

the order of the sapphire dragon

noosphere

the lair of the white worm

kingsbridge

magic realism

the big read

the sword of truth

good omens

ranger's apprentice

the chronicles of thomas covenant

the night angel trilogy

merlin saga

the coldfire trilogy

the broken empire trilogy

amberian dawn

he sleeps in a grove

the ancient evil survives

creepy mission for kadrun where he loses his weapon and has to stalk through rooms
with blind voidspawn

the way of all flesh, even death may die, farewell to arms, dead reckoning, post mortem

chrysalis

big balls like two-thirds of a snowman

do you think he's really called ice man, huh? „to mister and misses man, a son... ice“

you are my guy, i own you, you are my kunta kinte, go and get your fucking laptop

from today until the end of recorded time

the horse has bolted, it's out there now, it's getting fucking shot
you talk entirely in parables, you're like a crap jesus

you might be a scary little poodle fucker back there in london, but here you're nothing

are you sure you're working as hard as me, because i'm sweating spinal fluid here, i'm a
fucking husk

listen, somebody has dropped a bollock in the noodles, and i reckon it was you

do not move from here or i'll fucking stab you

catastrofuck

do you know, if i could, i'd fucking punch you into paralysis

the intelligence we've got is so deep, so fucking hard, it'll fucking puncture your kidneys

from white house to shite house

apart from a nice cup of tea and some knife crime

yeah, apparently, your fucking master race of highly-gifted toddlers can't qutie get the
job done, between breast feeds and playing with their power rangers

yeah, well, his briefing notes were written in alphabetti spaghetti, when i left, i nearly
tripped up over his fucking umbilical cord

no offense, son, but you look like you should still be in school with your head down a
fucking toilet

i think we've drawn long enough from that... teat

i've had muggings that lasted longer than that

don't leave your boss twisting in the wind and then burst in late smelling like a pissed
seaside donkey

you stay detatched, otherwise that's what i'll do to your retinas

don't mention this to the press, ok, don't mention it to anyone, because if the press get a
whiff that there's a war committee going on, even a cardboard one, every fucker in this
town is gonna turn up and try to get on it, so no matter what gay bar you end up in, keep
it shtoom

in the land of truth, my friend, the man with one fact is king

he uses a live hand grenade as a fucking paperweight

you're supposed to be officer class

rakamatafon
like bugsy malone but with real guns

i'm gonna come over there, lock you in a floatation tank and pump it full of sewage until
you fucking drown

sound like a chicken with a wasp up its ass

we all share/live under the same sky, but we do not all share the same horizon

you thought you'd find me at the bottom of an empty bottle

bjon borg's basement

is malcolm doing his witchcraft, has he sent his flying monkeys in

and he shall know no fear

the metal age

the town's bike/mug

a time will come

Jacquenard

all things lost and found

a star to steer by/and a star to steer her by

the devil his due

there'll be another time

the way the world ends

journey's end

infinite devil machine

shadow of intent

it followed me home

the broken path

cross-purposes

and the horse you rode in on

dangers of strangers

child of the tide

shademaker

tome of eternal darkness

darkest dungeon

hammerite

rise of nations

a place in my dreams

age of mythology, arkantos

time tripping, shattered worlds, warped and weary, destination home

hocus pocus, terexin, trolodon (Right through the game there are references to J.R.R.
Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The Tree-People who attack you in the second level are
obviously parodies of the Ents, and the wizard to whom Hocus is an apprentice, Terexin,
is a Gandalf spoof.),

old hickory

anyone can be different, but it takes real effort just to be yourself

the wheel of time turns and ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend,
legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave it birth
comes again

sir fortesque

it was always burning since the world's been turning

custodes are the natural predators of astartes

thoughtmark

khevenhiller

royal protectress

these are people who simply find themselves stuck in a room with one exist and i simply
show them the door

3439

fake-up make-up

if you think you're too small to make a difference, you've never spent a night with a
mosquito
just scoop your guts up, put them in a fucking wheelbarrow and come over

look, i'm feeling very exposed here, i've got my cock out, it's covered in bread crumbs,
and the fucking pigeons are circling

you are a diamond, not just any form of ancient carbon, but the best

pulled out once a week for a poke and a mop like a fucking dancing bear

right, so this is a little test, isn't it, you're weighing my balls

patience, and you can watch the fuck puppet master at work

hairless hagrid

still not knocking, i see – ah, sorry, it's an old habit from my time with the haitian death
squads

truffling in the forest of knowledge

time is a leash on the dog of ideas

isolation is the mother of renewal, we shall retreat to go forward,

tiny font to match your subatomic thoughts

unbaked gingerbread man (Olly)

i'm a man with a one-track mind so much to do in one lifetime (do you hear me?) not a
man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies

Grissel, a female given name, a medieval variant of Griselda, rare today

there are no demigods, you fucking pagan (Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Babe, speech
with priest)

The Facts of Life as According to Davir,

Eternity's Gate

"Zeal makes all things possible, duty makes all things simple." — First Captain
Sigismund of the Imperial Fists Legion

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by
a lion." -Alexander the Great