Wordmasters Gold -Nov. 2002

Front 1

talisman

Back 1

Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -mans
1 : an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune
2 : something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects
- tal·is·man·ic / adjective
- tal·is·man·i·cal·ly/ adverb

Front 2

pith

Back 2

Function: noun
1 a : a usually continuous central strand of spongy tissue in the stems of most vascular plants that probably functions chiefly in storage b : any of various loose spongy plant tissues that resemble true pith c : the soft or spongy interior of a part of the body
2 a : the essential part : CORE b : substantial quality (as of meaning)
3 : IMPORTANCE

Function: transitive verb
1 a : to kill (as cattle) by piercing or severing the spinal cord b : to destroy the spinal cord or central nervous system of (as a frog) usually by passing a wire or needle up and down the vertebral canal
2 : to remove the pith from (a plant stem)

Front 3

doctrine

Back 3

Function: noun
1 archaic : TEACHING, INSTRUCTION
2 a : something that is taught b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : DOGMA c : a principle of law established through past decisions d : a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations

Front 4

toady

Back 4

Function: noun
plural: toadies
one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors
synonym: SYCOPHANT

Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): toadied; toadying
to behave as a toady, to engage in sycophancy
synonym: FAWN

Front 5

jetsam

Back 5

Function: noun
1 : the part of a ship, its equipment, or its cargo that is cast overboard to lighten the load in time of distress and that sinks or is washed ashore
2 : FLOTSAM(unimportant stuff)

Front 6

sundry

Back 6

Function: adjective
MISCELLANEOUS, VARIOUS <sundry articles>

Function: pronoun, plural in construction
an indeterminate number <recommended for reading by all and sundry -- Edward Huberman>

Front 7

termagant

Back 7

Function: noun
an overbearing or nagging woman : SHREW

Function: adjective
: OVERBEARING, SHREWISH

Front 8

phlegmatic

Back 8

Function: adjective
1 : resembling, consisting of, or producing the humor phlegm
2 : having or showing a slow and stolid temperament
synonym see IMPASSIVE
- phleg·mat·i·cal·ly / adverb

Front 9

vituperate

Back 9

Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
transitive senses : to abuse or censure severely or abusively : BERATE
intransitive senses : to use harsh condemnatory language
synonym see SCOLD
- vi·tu·per·a·tor / noun

Front 10

withstand

Back 10

Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): with·stood ; -stand·ing
1 a : to stand up against : oppose with firm determination; especially : to resist successfully b : to be proof against : resist the effect of <withstand the impact of a landing -- Current Biography>
2 archaic : to stop or obstruct the course of
synonym: OPPOSE

Front 11

malleable

Back 11

Function: adjective
1 : capable of being extended or shaped by beating with a hammer or by the pressure of rollers
2 a : capable of being altered or controlled by outside forces or influences b : having a capacity for adaptive change
synonym see PLASTIC
- mal·lea·bil·i·ty /noun

Front 12

promulgate

Back 12

Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -gat·ed; -gat·ing
1 : to make known by open declaration : PROCLAIM
2 a : to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law) b : to put (a law) into action or force
synonym: DECLARE
- pro·mul·ga·tion /noun
- pro·mul·ga·tor / noun

Front 13

amalgam

Back 13

Function: noun
1 : an alloy of mercury with another metal that is solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present and is used especially in making tooth cements
2 : a mixture of different elements

Front 14

vitiate

Back 14

Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
1 : to make faulty or defective : IMPAIR <the comic impact is vitiated by obvious haste -- William Styron>
2 : to debase in moral or aesthetic status <a mind vitiated by prejudice>
3 : to make ineffective <fraud vitiates a contract>
synonym see DEBASE
- vi·ti·a·tion /noun
- vi·ti·a·tor / noun

Front 15

fawn

Back 15

Function: intransitive verb
1 : to show affection -- used especially of a dog
2 : to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner
- fawn·er noun
- fawn·ing·ly /adverb
synonyms FAWN, TOADY, TRUCKLE, CRINGE, COWER mean to behave abjectly before a superior. FAWN implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention <waiters fawning over a celebrity>. TOADY suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude <toadying to his boss>. TRUCKLE implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior <truckling to a powerful lobbyist>. CRINGE suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility <a cringing sycophant>. COWER suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people <cowering before a bully>.

Function: noun
1 : a young deer; especially : one still unweaned or retaining a distinctive baby coat
2 : KID 1
3 : a light grayish brown

Front 16

detritus

Back 16

Function: noun
plural: de·tri·tus
1 : loose material (as rock fragments or organic particles) that results directly from disintegration
2 : a product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing away : DEBRIS
- de·tri·tal /adjective

Front 17

hector

Back 17

Function: noun
BULLY, BRAGGART

Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): hec·tored; hec·tor·ing
intransitive senses : to play the bully : SWAGGER
transitive senses : to intimidate or harass by bluster or personal pressure
synonym see BAIT
- hec·tor·ing·ly / adverb

Front 18

mélange

Back 18

Function: noun
a mixture often of incongruous(incompatible) elements

Front 19

enervate

Back 19

Function: adjective
lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor : ENERVATED

Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -vat·ed; -vat·ing
1 : to reduce the mental or moral vigor of
2 : to lessen the vitality or strength of
synonym see UNNERVE
- en·er·va·tion / noun

Front 20

unctuous

Back 20

Function: adjective
1 a : FATTY, OILY b : smooth and greasy in texture or appearance
2 : PLASTIC <fine unctuous clay>
3 : full of unction; especially : revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality
- unc·tu·ous·ly adverb
- unc·tu·ous·ness noun

Front 21

venal

Back 21

Function: adjective
1 : capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : PURCHASABLE; especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery : MERCENARY <a venal legislator>
2 : originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery <a venal arrangement with the police>
- ve·nal·i·ty / noun
- ve·nal·ly / adverb

Front 22

bombastic

Back 22

Function: adjective
marked by or given to bombast : POMPOUS, OVERBLOWN
- bom·bas·ti·cal·ly / adverb

Front 23

protean

Back 23

Function: adjective
1 : of or resembling Proteus in having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms
2 : displaying great diversity or variety : VERSATILE

Front 24

diaphanous

Back 24

Function: adjective
1 : characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through
2 : characterized by extreme delicacy of form : ETHEREAL <painted diaphanous landscapes>
3 : INSUBSTANTIAL, VAGUE <had only a diaphanous hope of success>
- di·aph·a·nous·ly adverb
- di·aph·a·nous·ness noun

Front 25

lower

Back 25

Function: intransitive verb
1 : to look sullen : FROWN
2 : to be or become dark, gloomy, and threatening

Function: noun
frown

Function: adjective
1 : relatively low in position, rank, or order
2 : SOUTHERN <lower New York State>
3 : less advanced in the scale of evolutionary development
4 a : situated or held to be situated beneath the earth's surface b capitalized : being an earlier epoch or series of the period or system named <Lower Cretaceous> <Lower Paleolithic>
5 : constituting the popular and often the larger and more representative branch of a bicameral legislative body <lower house>

Function: verb
1 a : to let descend : LET DOWN b : to depress as to direction <lower your aim> c : to reduce the height of
2 a : to reduce in value, number, or amount b (1) : to bring down in quality or character : DEGRADE (2) : ABASE, HUMBLE c : to reduce the objective of