B Words 11/05

babble (v)

chatter idly

bacchanalian (adj)

drunken

badger (v)

to annoy/pester

badinage (n)

teasing conversation

baffle (v)

frustrate/perplex

bait (v)

harass,, tease

baleful (adj)

deadly or sinister

balk (v)

to stop short

ballast (n)

heavy substance used to add stability

balm (n)

ointment used to sooth

balmy (adj)

mild, fragrant

banal (adj)

commonplace, ordinary, lacing originality

bandy (v)

discuss lightly

bane (n)

cause of ruin; curse

bantering (adj)

good-natured ridiculing

barb (n)

sharp projection from a fish hook; openly cutting remark

bard (n)

poet

baroque (adj)

highly ornate

barrage (n)

defense laid down by artillery fire

barren (adj)

desolate; fruitless

barricade (n)

hastily put together defensive barrier; obstacle

barterer (n)

trader

bask (v)

to take pleasure in the warmth of

bastion (n)

fortress, defense

bate (v)

let down; restrain

bauble (n)

trinket; trifle

bawdy (adj)

obscene; indecent

beam (n)

ray of light

beatific (adj)

blissfully happy

beatitude (n)

state of bliss/blessedness

bedizen (v)

dress with vulgar finery

bedraggle (v)

wet thoroughly; stain with mud

beeline (n)

direct, quick route

befuddle (v)

to confuse thoroughly

beget (v)

father, produce, to give rise to

begrudge (v)

resent

beguile (v)

mislead or delude

behemoth (n)

huge creature; monstrous animal

belabor (v)

explain in unnecessary detail

belated (adj)

delayed

beleaguer (v)

to besiege or attack; harassed

belie (v)

contradict; give a false impression

belittle (v)

disparage or depreciate; put down

bellicose (adj)

warlike

belligerent (adj)

quarrelsome

bemoan (v)

lament; to express disapproval of

bemused (adj)

confused; lost in thought

benediction (n)

blessing

benefactor (n)

gift giver; patron

beneficial (adj)

helpful; useful

beneficiary (n)

person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an insurance policy or will

benevolent (adj)

generous; charitable

benign (adj)

kindly; favorable; not malignant

bent (adj)

determined; natural talent or inclination

bequeath (v)

leave someone a well; hand down

berate (v)

scold strongly

bereavement (n)

state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved

bereft (adj)

deprived of; lacking; desolate because of a loss

berserk(adj)

frenzied

beseech (v)

beg; plead with

beset (v)

to harass or trouble: hem in

besiege (v)

to surround with armed forces

besmirch (v)

soil, defile

bestial (adj)

(adj.) beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

bestow (v)

to give as a gift

betoken (v)

signify; indicate; be a sign of

betray (v)

to be unfaithful; reveal unconsciously

betroth (v)

become engaged to marry

bevy (n)

large group of

biased (adj)

slanted; prejudiced

bicameral (adj)

two bodied, as a legislative body

bicker (v)

quarrel

biennial (adj)

happening every two years

bigotry (n)

stubborn intolerance

bilious (adj)

suffering from indigestion; irritable

bilk (v)

swindle; cheat

billowing (adj)

swelling out in waves; surging

bivouac (n)

temporary encampmemt

bizarre (adj)

fascinating; violently contrasting

blanch (v)

bleach, whiten

bland (adj)

soothing; mild; agreeable

blandishment (n)

flattery

blare (n)

loud or harsh roar or screech; dazzling blaze of light

blasé (adj)

indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic

blasphemy (n)

irreverence; sacrilege; cursing

blatant (adj)

flagrant; conspicuously obvious; loudly offensive

bleak (adj)

cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable

blighted (adj)

suffering from a disease; destroyed

blithe (adj)

gay; joyous; carefree

bloated (adj)

swollen or puffed as with water or air

bludgeon (n)

club; heavy-headed weapon

bluff (adj) OR (noun)

rough but good-natured OR lie

blunder (n)

error

blurt (v)

utter impulsively

bluster (v)

blow in heavy gusts; threaten emptily; bully

bode (v)

foreshadow

bogus (adj)

counterfeit; not authentic

bohemian (adj)

unconventional (in an artistic way)

boisterous (adj)

violent, rough, noisy

bolester(v)

support; reinforce