Definitions : UIL S&V

abate

1. to reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen 2. Law a. to put an end to b. to make void c. to reduce for some period of time

abhorrence

1. one that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent 2. a feeling of repugnance or loathing

acciaccatura

Music an ornament note that is one half step or one whole step higher or lower than a principal note and is sounded at the same time as the principal note, adding dissonance to a harmony

acolyte

1. a person who assists the celebrant in the performance of liturgical rites 2. a devoted follower or attendant

ad nauseam

to a disgusting or ridiculous degree; to the point of nausea

aileron

either of two movable flaps on the wings of an airplane that can be used to control the plane’s rolling and banking movements

allude

to make an indirect reference

amperage

the strength of an electric current expressed in amperes

analogous

1. similar or alike in such a way as to permit the drawing of an analogy 2. Biology similar in function but not in structure and evolutionary origin

anaphylaxis

a sudden, usually systemic allergic reaction, characterized by vasodilation resulting in decreased blood pressure, smooth muscle contraction resulting in shortness of breath, and hives, caused by hypersensitivity induced by a secondary exposure to a foreign substance, such as a drug or protein, after an initial sensitizing exposure

anathematize

to proclaim an curse on; condemn

Andorra

A tiny country of southwest Europe between France and Spain in the eastern Pyrenees. Although it pays nominal yearly homage to its suzerains in France and Spain, it is an independent republic. Andorra la Vella is the capital.

anemia, anaemia

a pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood, measured in the unit volume concentrations of hemoglobin, red blood cell volume, or red blood cell number

anthropometry

the study of human body measurement for use in anthropological classification and comparison

antinome

one that is contradictory or contrary to another; an opposite

antiphony

1. responsive singing or chanting 2. a composition that is sung responsively 3. a responsive or reciprocal interchange, as of ideas or opinions

apprehensible

capable of being understood

argumentation

1. the presentation and elaboration of an ____ 2. deductive reasoning in debate 3. a debate

ascetic

a person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion

assimilable

capable of being absorbed or incorporated into

au courant

1. informed on current affairs; up-to-date 2. fully familiar; knowledgeable

Auckland

The largest city of New Zealand, on an isthmus of northwest North Island. It is a major port and an industrial center.

Averno

Ancient name; A small crater lake of southern Italy near the Tyrrhenian Sea west of Naples. Because of its gloomy aspect and intense sulfuric vapors, now extinguished, the ancient Romans regarded it as the entrance to the underworld.

avoirdupois

Informal weight or heaviness, especially of a person

ballistics

1. the study of the dynamics/flight characteristics of projectiles 2. the study of the functioning of firearms or firing, flight, and effects of ammunition

Barents Sea

A shallow section of the Arctic Ocean north of Norway and northwest Russia. The North Atlantic Current keeps its southern ports ice-free all year.

bel esprit

a cultivated, highly intelligent person

Benghazi, Bengasi

A city of northeast Libya on the Gulf of Sidra. Inhabited since Greek and Roman times, it is a major port and was a capital of Libya from 1951-1972.

besotted

(past tense) to muddle or stupefy, as with alcoholic liquor or infatuation

Bethesda

An unincorporated city of west-central Maryland, a residential suburb of Washington, D.C. The National Institutes of Health and Naval Medical Center are here.

bicaudal

Zoology having two tails

bioassay

determination of the strength or biological activity of a substance, such as a drug, by comparing its effects with those of a standard preparation on a test organism

boondoggle

Informal 1. an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity 2. a. a cord of braided leather, fabric, or plastic strips worn by Boy Scouts as a decoration or a child as a project to keep busy

bouillabaisse

1. a highly seasoned stew made of several kinds of fish and shellfish, tomatoes, olive oil, and often saffron 2. a combination of various different, often incongruous elements

bresaola

salt-cured, air-dried beef, often served sliced and dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper

cachinnation

(n. form) to laugh hard, loudly, or convulsively

caconym

a taxonomic name that is unacceptable for linguistic reasons

caïque

1. a long narrow rowboat traditionally used in the Middle East 2. a small sailing vessel used in the eastern Mediterranean

canvasser

(n. form) 1. to examine carefully or discuss thoroughly; scrutinize 2. a. to go through (a region) or go to (persons) to solicit votes or orders b. to conduct a survey of (public opinion); poll

capriccioso

Music lively and free. Used chiefly as a direction

carafe

1. a glass or metal bottle, often with a flared lip, used for serving water or wine 2. a glass pot with a pouring spout, used in making coffee

carnassial

adapted for tearing apart flesh; a tooth adapted for tearing apart flesh, especially one of the last upper premolar or first lower molar teeth in carnivorous mammals

cassoulet

a casserole of white beans, various meats, vegetables, and herbs, slowly simmered or baked in a slow oven

catarrh

copious discharge of mucus associated with inflammation of mucous membranes, especially of the nose and throat

catenate

to connect a series of ties or links; form into a chain

caveat

1. a. a warning or caution b. a qualification or explanation

chanoyu

a traditional Japanese ritual in which matcha is whisked into a froth with hot water in a bowl and the resulting beverage is then shared by the participants

chrestomathy

1. a selection of literary passages, usually by one author 2. an anthology used in studying a language

circumambient

encompassing on all sides; surrounding

coadjutant

a helper; an assistant

coeval

originating or existing during the same period; lasting through the same era; one of the same era or period; a contemporary

comestibles

(pl.) fit to be eaten; edible

comme il faut

being in accord with conventions or accepted standards; proper

con spirito

Music with spirit and vigor. Used chiefly as a direction

condonation

the implied forgiveness of an offense by ignoring it

congeries

a collection; an aggregation

connotation

1. an idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing 2. the set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning

consuetude

custom; habit; practice; manner

cosmopolite

1. someone who is from many places 2. Ecology an organism found in most parts of the world

counterintelligence

the branch of an intelligence service charged with keeping sensitive information from an enemy, deceiving that enemy, preventing subversion and sabotage, and collecting political and military information

craniofacial

of or involving both the cranium and the face

credulous

1. disposed to believe too readily; gullible 2. arising from or characterized by credulity

Creüsa

Greek Mythology the wife of Aeneas who was lost while fleeing from Troy but came back as a ghost to warn Aeneas of his future

dacquoise

a cake (or one of its layers) made with layers of nut meringue and whipped cream or buttercream

de trop

too much or too many; excessive or superfluous

debacle

1. a sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout 2. a total, often ludicrous failure 3. the breaking up of ice in a river 4. a violent flood

Debussy

French composer best known for impressionist works such as the tone poem

declassification

(n. form) to remove official security information from (a document)

definitive

1. serving to identify as distinct from others 2. supply or being a final settlement or decision; conclusive 3. authoritative and complete 4. mass produced in indefinite quantities over an indefinite period of time; used of postal stamps 5. Biology fully formed or developed, as an organ or structure Grammar a word that defines or limits

degenerate

1. having declined in function or nature, from a former or original state 2. morally corrupt or given to vice 3. Physics relating to two or more quantum states that share the same quantum numbers 4. Physics characterized by great density and consists of atoms stripped of electrons 5. Genetics relating to or being a gene that has multiple codons for the same amino acid

demoniac

1. possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon 2. of, resembling, or suggestive of a devil

demurrage

1. detention of a ship, freight car, or other cargo conveyance during loading or unloading beyond the scheduled time of departure 2. compensation paid for such detention

deportee

a person who has been or is being expelled from a country

desideratum

something considered necessary or highly desirable

deterge

to wash or wipe off; cleanse

devastator

(n. form) 1. to lay waste; destroy 2. to overwhelm; confound; stun

diazinon

an amber liquid, C12H21N2O3PS, used as an insecticide

dimorphism

1. Biology the existence among animals or plants of the same species of two distinct forms that differ in one or more characteristics, such as coloration, size, or shape 3. Chemistry & Physics crystallization of this name

discursive

1.covering a wide field of subjects; rambling 2. proceeding to a conclusion through reason rather than intuition

divestiture

the sale, liquidation, or spinoff of a corporate division or subsidiary

dolce vita

a luxurious, self-indulgent way of life

dulcify

1. to make agreeable or gently; mollify 2. to sweeten

dyad

1. two individuals or units regarded as a pair 2. Biology one pair of homologous chromosomes resulting from the division of a tetrad during meiosis 3. a tensor formed from a vector in a vector space and a linear functional on that vector space

echelon

1. a. a formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form an oblique or steplike line b. a flight formation or arrangement of craft in this manner 2. a subdivision of a military or naval force 3. a level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank 4. Physics a special form of diffraction grating that resembles a flight of stairs of equal heights and widths

ectogenous

1. exogenous 2. able to live and develop outside a host, as certain pathogenic microorganisms do

efferent

1. directed away from a central organ or section 2. carrying impulses from the central nervous system to an effector 3. an organ or part of the body that does this work, ex. blood vessel

egalitarian

affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people

élan

1. enthusiastic vigor and liveliness 2. distinctive style or flair

embarrassment

1. a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness 2. an overabundance 3. financial difficulty

encephaloma

a tumor of the brain

ennead

a group or set of nine

enteritis

inflammation of the intestinal tract, especially of the small intestine

epergne

a large table centerpiece consisting of a frame with extended arms or branches supporting holders, as for flowers, fruit, or sweetmeats

epicycloid

the curve described by a point on the circumference of a circle as the circle rolls on the outside of the circumference of a second, fixed circle

epigrammatic

having the nature of a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way

eremitic

(adj.) a recluse or a hermit, especially a religious recluse

euphuism

1. an affectedly elegant literary style of the late 1500s and early 1600s, characterized by elaborate alliterations, antitheses, and similes 2. affected elegance of langauge

excelsior

slender, curved wood shavings used especially for packing (originally a trademark)

excrescence

1. an outgrowth or enlargement, especially an abnormal one, such as a wart 2. a usually unwanted or unnecessary accretion

exempli grata

for example