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300 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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potboiler
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a usually inferior work of art of literature produced for profit
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malaise
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a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being
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chartreuse
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a variable color averaging a brilliant yellow green
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catnap
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a very light, short nap
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packet ship
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a vessel employed to carry Post Office mail packets to and from British embassies, colonies and outposts. The ships were usually lightly-armed and relied on speed for their security.
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chromosome
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a visible carrier of genetic information
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ermine
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a white-furred stoat, small mammal whose fur is used to make coats
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gale
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a wind from 32 to 63 mph
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meander
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a winding path or course
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epigram
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a witty saying
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coquette
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A woman who makes teasing sexual or romantic overtures; a flirt
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caftan
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a woman's dress style that imitates the caftan cloaks worn by men in the Near East; A long tunic worn in the Eastern Mediterranean
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tippet
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a woman's fur shoulder cape
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updo
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A woman's hairdo in which most hair is kept above the neck
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fascinator
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a woman's head scarf of crochet or lace
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worsted
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a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns
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portmanteau word
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a word made from two words, e.g. smog from smoke and fog
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warrant
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a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts; a written guarantee
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missive
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A written message; a letter
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reprobate (v, n, adj.)
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abandon to eternal damnation; condemn, a morally unprincipled person
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dysplasia
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Abnormal development or growth of tissues, organs, or cells
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primeval
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aboriginal: having existed from the beginning
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moribund
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about to die; about to become obsolete
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replete
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Abundantly supplied; abounding; filled to satiation
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obloquy
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abusive language, OR the condition of one who is discredited
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a la mode
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according to the prevailing style; served with ice cream
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diurnal
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active during day, sleeping at night
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hussy
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adulteress; lewd woman
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animadversion
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adverse criticism
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tremulous
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affected with timidity, exceedingly sensitive, affected with trembling
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audacity
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aggressive boldness or unmitigated effrontery
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bresaola
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air-dried salted beef from Valtellina, in Lombardy, Italy
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shad
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aka "river herring" - a valued food fish of delicate flavor
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ambrotype
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aka amphitype is a photographic process that creates a positive photographic image on a sheet of glass using the wet plate collodion process
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stogie
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aka cheroot, cigar with square cut ends
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periwig
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aka peruke, a wig for men popular in 17th to 19th centuries
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revoke (in bridge)
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aka renege - to make a mistake in bridge or similar card games
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viola da gamba
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aka viol, Bowed stringed instrument of the 16th–18th centuries, replaced by violin
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consternation
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alarm: fear resulting from the awareness of danger
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cytoplasm
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all of the substance of a cell outside the nucleus
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anodyne
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alleviating pain; not likely to give offence, innocuous
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polyp
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an abnormal growth of tissue projecting from a mucous membrane
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colloquium
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an academic meeting or seminar usually led by a different lecturer and on a different topic at each meeting
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depredation
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an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding
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maladaptation
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an adaptation that is (or has become) more harmful than helpful
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tare
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an adjustment made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of the goods
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naturalist
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an advocate of the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms
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pathogen
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an agent of disease
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ganglion
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an aggregation of nerve cell bodies
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polemic
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an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another
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salve
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An analgesic or medicinal ointment.
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primogenitor
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an ancestor in a direct line; the first ancestor with a particular family name
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varmint
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an animal considered a pest; a contemptible person
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lambency
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an appearance of reflected light
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scotomata
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an area of depressed vision in the visual field, surrounded by an area of less depressed or of normal vision
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galbanum
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an aromatic bitter gum resin used in incense
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orderly
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An attendant who does routine, nonmedical work in a hospital; A soldier assigned to attend and perform various tasks for a superior officer
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rubric
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an authoritative rule of conduct or procedure
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daguerrotype
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an early type of photograph, developed by Louis Daguerre, in which the image is exposed directly onto a mirror-polished surface of silver bearing a coating of silver halide particles deposited by iodine vapor.
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ochre
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an earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as a pigment; the color of yellow ochre
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pretext
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An effort or strategy intended to conceal something.
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fillip
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an embellishment that excites or stimulates; something of small importance, a trifle
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corral
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An enclosure formed by a circle of wagons for defense against attack during an encampment
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redoubt
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an entrenched stronghold or refuge
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telomerase
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an enzyme that adds a specific sequence to the end of DNA strands
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poop deck
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An exposed partial deck on the stern superstructure of a ship
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tract
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an extended area of land
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cortex
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an external layer
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chervil
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an herb, similar to parsley, to anise
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idiophone
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An idiophone is any musical instrument which creates sound primarily by way of the instrument vibrating itself, without the use of strings or membranes, e.g. music box, triangle, xylophone
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frontispiece
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an illustration preceding and usually facing the title page of a book
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simulacrum
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an image or representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance
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fledgling
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an immature or inexperienced person; a young bird just fledged
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whelp (n, v)
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An impudent young fellow; to give birth to a young mammal
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indulgence
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an inability to resist the gratification of whims and desires
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pangloss
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an incurably optimistic character in Voltaire's satire Candide
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cachet
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an indication of approved or superior status; commemorative marking on an envelope
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persona
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an individual's social façade
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indulgence (Catholic)
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An indulgence, in Roman Catholic theology, is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven
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gutta percha
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an inelastic natural latex produced from the sap of several tropical trees, used e.g. for insulation
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landlubber
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An inexperienced sailor; a landlubber.
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carbuncle
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an infection larger than a boil and with several openings for discharge of pus
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hemostat
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an instrument for compressing a bleeding blood vessel
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viand
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an item of food
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fetish
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An object that is believed to have magical or spiritual powers, especially such an object associated with animistic or shamanistic religious practices.
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whimsy
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an odd or fanciful or capricious idea
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adjutant
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an officer who assists a more senior officer
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diva
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an operatic prima donna
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armature
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an organ or structure (as teeth or thorns) for offense or defense; : a framework used by a sculptor to support a figure being modeled in a plastic material; the movable part of an electromagnetic device (as a loudspeaker)
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epizootic (n)
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an outbreak of disease affecting many animals of the same kind at one time
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deserts
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an outcome (good or bad) that is well deserved
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anteroom
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an outer room that leads to another room, often used as a theater
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semblance
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an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
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dividend
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An unexpected gain, benefit, or advantage.
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baluster
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an upright often vase-shaped support for a rail
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baluster
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an upright often vase-shaped support for a rail
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harbinger
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announce, forshadow or presage
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foyer
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anteroom or lobby, especially of a theater
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dystopia
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anti-utopia
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antiseptic
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antimicrobial substances applied to living tissue to reduce possibility of infection - can be transported through lymph system
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solicitous
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anxious or concerned
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predator
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any animal that lives by preying on other animals
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ballast
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any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship; coarse gravel laid to form a bed for streets and railroads; an electrical device for starting and regulating fluorescent and discharge lamps
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jackal
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any of several small omnivorous canids (as Canis aureus) of Africa and Asia having large ears, long legs, and bushy tails; a person who performs routine or menial tasks for another
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apostle
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any of the original 12 disciples called by Jesus to preach the gospel
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croaker
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any of various fishes that make a croaking or grunting sound
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ruminant
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Any of various hoofed, even-toed, usually horned mammals of the suborder Ruminantia, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes, characteristically having a stomach divided into four compartments and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food.
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snipe
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any of various long-billed shore birds of the genus Gallinago or Capella, related to the woodcocks and sandpipers; To make malicious, underhand remarks or attacks
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canid
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Any of various widely distributed carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, which includes the foxes, wolves, dogs, jackals, and coyote
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sardine
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Any one of several small species of herring which are commonly preserved in olive oil or in tins for food, especially the pilchard
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rheumatism
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any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues
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asunder
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apart, into pieces
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alembic
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apparatus used in distillation
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patent (adj)
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apparent, obvious,plain
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ad hominem
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appealing to feelings and prejudices, rather than to intellect
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approbation
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approval, praise
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tracery
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architectural ornamental work with branching lines, esp. in a Gothic window
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moot
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arguable or open to debate
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remonstrate
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argue in protest or opposition
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cuirass
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armor covering the body from neck to waist
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frankincense
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aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East African trees; formerly valued for worship and for embalming and fumigation
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pathos
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arousing emotion
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triptych
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art consisting of painting or carving on three panels, usually hinged together
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bohemian
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artistic, antiestablishment viewpoint, often including free love, voluntary poverty
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bitumen
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asphalt of Asia Minor used as cement or mortar; residue from heat-refining petroleum
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abet
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assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
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nonplussed
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at a loss(p), filled with bewilderment
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erstwhile
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at a previous time
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apace
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at a rapid pace; at the required pace
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pari passu
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at an equal rate or pace
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presently
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at once, without undue delay; now, at the present time
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sessile
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attached directly by the base - not having a stalk (flowers, polyps,…)
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divination
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attempt to gain insight by way of a standardized ritual
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temerity
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audacity, fearless daring
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aegis
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auspices, kindly endorsement and guidance
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sovereign
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autonomous: (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces
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sublime
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awe-inspiring; lofty, elevated, exalted
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patronage
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backing, the act of providing approval and support
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traduce
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badmouth, malign
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truss
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bandage of band and belt to hold a hernia in place; a framework of beams to support a roof or bridge
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wanton
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bawdy, lustful, sensual; merciless, inhumane; extravagent
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refulgent
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beaming, radiant
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swain
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beau; country lad, especially a young shepherd
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antediluvian
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before the Flood
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ere
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before, sooner than
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incipient
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beginning to come into being or to become apparent
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senescent
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being old, becoming old
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nihilist
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believes that everything is invented
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hypospadia
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birth defect of urethra in male
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provenance
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birthplace: where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence
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mordant
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biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style
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cassis
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black currant, or a liqueur made from black current
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beatitude
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blessedness: a state of supreme happiness
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benediction
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blessing: the act of praying for divine protection
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cul de sac
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blind alley, dead end street
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panglossian
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Blindly or naively optimistic. [After Pangloss, an optimist in Candide]
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vainglory
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boastfullness, outspoken conceit
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vainglory
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boastfulness, outspoken conceit
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stigmata
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bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus
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adipose tissue
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body fat, "white" or "brown"
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endomorphic
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body type characterized by increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure
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mesomorphic
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body type characterized by large bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist
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ectomorphic
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body type characterized by long and thin muscles/limbs and low fat storage; receding chin, usually referred to as slim
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ennui
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boredom
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trite
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boring from overuse, not fresh or original
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sternum
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breastbone
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animal husbandry
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breeding and caring for farm animals
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payola
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Bribery of an influential person in exchange for the promotion of a product or service, such that of disc jockeys for the promotion of records
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squall
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brief sudden violent windstorm
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bravura
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brilliant and showy technical skill
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splenetic
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bristly: very irritable; or or relating to spleen
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bantam
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British Army jargon for soldiers admitted into service despite being shorter than allowable under the army's physical guidelines; 112-118 pound weight class in boxing
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burnish
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buff, polish and make shiny
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lapidopterist
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butterfly guy
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prat
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buttocks; an incompetent person
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phlegm
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calm self-possession, equanimity
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lime (decomposition)
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CaOH
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estimable
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capable of being estimated; worthy of esteem
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fissile
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capable of being split along natural planes of cleavage; capable of undergoing fission
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pathogenicity
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capable of causing disease
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quixotic
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capricious, impulsive
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coke
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carbon fuel produced by distillation of coal
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carrion
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carcas of a dead animal, putrefying flesh
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grooming
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care for ones personal appearance, hygiene and clothing
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abject
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cast down in spiit, servile
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recast
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cast or model anew
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death mask
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cast taken of the face of a dead person, as a memento of the dead
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catabolic
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Catabolic foods burn up more calories than they supply
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enthuse
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cause to feel enthusiasm; to express with enthusiasm
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dissociate
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cease or break association with
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nave
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central area of a church
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certitude
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certainty
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sink
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cesspool, waste water and sewage flow into it
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paladin
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champion, someone who fights for a cause
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variegate
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change the appearance of
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capricious
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changeable, impulsive and unpredictable
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idiosyncrasy
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characteristic peculiarity
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fulsome
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characterized by abundance
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invective
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characterized by insult or abuse
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staid
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characterized by sedate dignity and often a strait-laced sense of propriety; sober
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winsome
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charming in an innocent manner
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tawdry
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cheap and gaudy, showy
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natter
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chew the fat, talk socially without exchanging too much information
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puerile
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childish, trifling, silly
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joss
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chinese pidgin english for god
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showgirl
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chorus girl, a woman who dances in a chorus line
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lapsarian
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Christian doctrine relating to the fall of Man from innocence
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pentecost
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Christian feast on the seventh Sunday after Easter, aka Whitsunday
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marasmus
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chronic undernourishment - "wasting away" disease
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anachronism
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chronologically out of place, esp. something of the past incongruous in the present time
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tortuous
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circuitous, devious, highly involved, complex
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arachnid
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class of joint-legged invertebrates, including spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites
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whist
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classic English trick-taking card game
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limpid
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clear and simple; serene and untroubled
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coterie
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clique: an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose
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cassock
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close-fitting ankle length garment worn by Catholic priests and other clergy
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widow's weeds
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clothes worn during mourning
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pestle
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club shaped implement. (think … penis)
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ungainly
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clumsy, lacking grace, unwieldy
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cognate
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Cognates in linguistics are words that have a common etymological origin.
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saturnine
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cold and steady in mood : slow to act or change
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quisling
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collaborator, after Norwegian politician Vidkun Quisling, who helped the Nazis occupy Norway
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caboodle
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collection, lot
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duvet
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comforter
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droll
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comical in an odd or whimsical manner
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nous
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common sense
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prosy, prosiness
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commonplace, lacking in qualities that seize the attention or strike the imagination
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aplomb
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complete and confident composure
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ignoble
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completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose
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eclectic
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composed of elements drawn from various sources
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aposiopesis
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rhetorical device wherein a sentence is deliberately broken off and left unfinished, the ending to be supplied by the imagination, giving an impression of unwillingness or inability to continue
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zaftig
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juicy, succulent; pleasingly plump
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etiology
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concerned with the cause and origin or disease
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purgatory
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condition or process of purification in which the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven
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confound
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confuse: be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly
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urethra
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connects urinary bladder to outside of body
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sibilant
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consonant characterized by a hissing sound
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salient
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conspicuous, prominent
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gainsay
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contradict,oppose
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received wisdom
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conventional wisdom
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cogent
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convincing
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caustic
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corrosive (base, e.g. NAOH); marked by incisive sarcasm
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arete
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moral excellence, virtue (three syllables); mountain ridge (two syllables)
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bosky
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covered with or consisting of bushes or thickets
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crustacean
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crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, barnacles, etc. Usually, but not always aquatic.
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vichyssoise
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cream of potato and leek soup, served hot or cold
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exegesis
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critical interpretation of explanation (of the Bible)
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fulminate
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criticize severely
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rude
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crude, lacking in refinement or grace
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clave
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Cuban musical instrument - pair of wooden dowels clicked together
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imprecation
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curse
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aquiline
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curving like an eagle's beak
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roached hair
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cut so that the remainder stays upright
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vivisect
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cutting open and examining a live animal
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fop
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dandy, a man preoccupied with his clothes
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panache
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dash: distinctive and stylish elegance
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cadaver
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dead human body
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compost
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decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer
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carious
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decayed, having caries (bone or tooth decay)
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chicanery
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deception
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gully
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deep ditch cut by running water
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ignominy
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deep personal humiliation and disgrace
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devolution
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degeneration; delegation of power from central to regional government
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philistine
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derogatory term for an "uncultured" person
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desiderata
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desired things; an inspirational prose poem by Max Ehrmann
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compote
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dessert of stewed or baked fruit
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dilapidated
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deteriorated or falled into partial ruin through neglect or misuse
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admeasurements
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determination or comparison of dimensions
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eccentric
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deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct, especially in odd or whimsical ways
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abstruse
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difficult to comprehend
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alexithymia
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difficulty understanding, processing or describing emotions
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requiem
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dirge, song or hymn of mourning
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cashier (v)
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discharge with dishonor, as in the army
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livid
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discolored by bruising; ashen; reddish; very angry
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eccentric (physics)
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disk or wheel with its axis off centre, giving a reciprocating motion
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dysentery
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disorder of the digestive system
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rakish
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dissolute, lacking restraint
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cloying
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distasteful by reason of excess; excessively sweet or sentimental
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speck
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distinctively juniper-flavored ham originally from Tyrol
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bifurcated
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divided into or made up of two part
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septum
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dividing space or wall between masses of soft tissue [in nose?]
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numinous
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divine, suggesting the presence of God.
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vertiginous
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dizzy, affected by vertigo; tending to produce vertigo
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tar baby
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doll made of tar and turpentine used to entrap Brer Rabbit; any sticky situation; now controversial in US as referring to black people
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dreary
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drab: lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
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retch
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dry heave
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hieronymus bosch
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Dutch painter ca. 1500 known for fantastic imagery
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ezra pound
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early 10th century poet known for promoting "modernist aesthetic"
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friable
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easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly
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choleric
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easily moved to anger
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pellucid
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easy to understand; admitting maximum light without diffusion or distortion
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rankle
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eat into: gnaw into; make resentful or angry
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dirigisme
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economic planning and control by the state
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tripe
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edible offal from the stomachs of various farm animals
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albumen
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egg white, used, among other things, in the emulsion of traditional photographic paper
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eland
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Either of two large African antelopes (Taurotragus oryx or T. derbianus) having a light brown or grayish coat and spirally twisted horns
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aria
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elaborate song for solo voice
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Beaufort scale
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empirical measure for describing wind speed: Force 0 (calm) through 12 (hurricane)
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coccyx
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end of the vertebral column in humans and tailless apes, aka "tailbone"
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piquant
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engagingly provocative; agreeably stimularing to the palate (spicy)
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