【百帖笔记领勋章】My notes of tricky words

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insolvent
Line breaks: in|solv|ent
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈsɒlv(ə)nt    /

Definition of insolvent in English:

ADJECTIVE
1. Unable to pay debts owed:
the company became insolvent

NOUN
An insolvent person.

"With bankers threatening to withdraw their funds, Platzer was in danger of insolvency, with the four subchasers incomplete."

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dungeon
Line breaks: dun|geon
Pronunciation: /ˈdʌn(d)ʒ(ə)n    /

NOUN
1. A strong underground prison cell, especially in a castle.
2. archaic term for donjon.

VERB
[WITH OBJECT]   
Imprison (someone) in a dungeon.

Origin
Middle English (also with the sense 'castle keep'): from Old French (perhaps originally with the sense 'lord's tower' or 'mistress tower'), based on Latin dominus 'lord, master'. Compare with donjon.

"He swaggered into the dungeon, his right arm covered in bandages and bound up in a sling, acting, in Harry's opinion, as though he was the heroic survivor of some dreadful battle."

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mutilate
Line breaks: mu|ti|late
Pronunciation: /ˈmjuːtɪleɪt    /

Definition of mutilate in English:
VERB
[WITH OBJECT]
1. Inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on:
most of the prisoners had been mutilated

1.1 Inflict serious damage on:
the fine carved screen was mutilated in the 18th century

Origin
early 16th century: from Latin mutilat- 'maimed, mutilated, lopped off', from the verb mutilare, from mutilus 'maimed'.

'Profesor,' drawled Malfoy, 'Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir.'

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cauldron
Line breaks: caul|dron
Pronunciation: /ˈkɔːldr(ə)n    , ˈkɒl-/
(also caldron)

Definition of cauldron in English:
NOUN
1. A large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire.

2. A situation characterized by instability and strong emotions:
a cauldron of repressed anger

Origin
Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French caudron, based on Latin caldarium, calidarium 'cooking-pot', from calidus 'hot'.

"A few cauldrons away, Neville was in trouble."

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snigger
Line breaks: snig|ger
Pronunciation: /ˈsnɪɡə    /
British

Definition of snigger in English:
VERB
[NO OBJECT]
Laugh in a half-suppressed, typically scornful way:
the boys at school were sure to snigger at him behind his back
[WITH DIRECT SPEECH]: ‘Doesn’t he look a fool?’ they sniggered

NOUN
A half-suppressed, typically scornful laugh:
we heard the sniggers caused by their little jokes

Origin
early 18th century: later variant of snicker.

"'What would it have been for you?' said Ron, sniggering, 'A piece of homework that only got nice out ten?'"

-- You wouldn't have imagined, when you read this part, that Ron and Hermione became lovers a few years later. :3

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prowl
Line breaks: prowl
Pronunciation: /praʊl    /

Definition of prowl in English:
VERB
[NO OBJECT]
(Of a person or animal) move about restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of prey:
lions prowling in the bush
[WITH OBJECT]: youngsters were prowling the streets in droves

NOUN
An act of prowling:
I met her once on one of my off-duty bookshop prowls

Origin
late Middle English: of unknown origin.

"Harry watched him looking around for Percy, who had been prowling between the sleeping bags, telling people off for talking."

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while

VERB
[WITH OBJECT] (while something away)  
Pass time in a leisurely manner:
a diversion to while away the long afternoons

"Harry whiled away the hours until dawn in front of the fire, getting up every now and then to stop Crookshanks sneaking up the boys' staircase again."

Interesting to note that 'while' could be a verb.

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squint
Line breaks: squint
Pronunciation: /skwɪnt    /

Definition of squint in English:

VERB
1. [NO OBJECT] Look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light:
the bright sun made them squint
2. [NO OBJECT] Have eyes that look in different directions:
Melanie did not squint

NOUN
1. [IN SINGULAR] A permanent deviation in the direction of the gaze of one eye:
I had a bad squint
2. [IN SINGULAR] informal A quick or casual look:
let me have a squint
3. An oblique opening through a wall in a church permitting a view of the altar from an aisle or side chapel.

ADJECTIVE
chiefly Scottish
Not straight or level:
the squint bottom edge of the puzzle

Origin
mid 16th century (in the sense 'squinting', as in squint-eyed): shortening of asquint.

"Shaking his sodden fringe out of his eyes, he squinted back into the stands."

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regurgitate
Line breaks: re|gur|gi|tate
Pronunciation: /rɪˈɡəːdʒɪteɪt/

Definition of regurgitate in English:
verb
[WITH OBJECT]

1Bring (swallowed food) up again to the mouth:
gulls regurgitate food for the chicks

1.1Repeat (information) without analysing or comprehending it:
facts which can then be regurgitated at examinations

Origin
Late 16th century: from medieval Latin regurgitat-, from the verb regurgitare, from Latin re- 'again, back' + gurges, gurgit- 'whirlpool'.

Words that rhyme with regurgitate
ingurgitate

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ukulele
Line breaks: uku|lele
Pronunciation: /ˌjuːkəˈleɪli/
(also ukelele)

Definition of ukulele in English:
noun
A small four-stringed guitar of Hawaiian origin.

Origin
Late 19th century: from Hawaiian, literally 'jumping flea'.

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frondeur
Line breaks: frond|eur
Pronunciation: /frɒnˈdəː/  /fʀɔndœʀ/

Definition of frondeur in English:
noun

rare
A political rebel.

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muliebrity
Line breaks: muli|eb|rity
Pronunciation: /ˌmjuːlɪˈɛbrɪti/

Definition of muliebrity in English:
noun
[MASS NOUN] literary
Womanly qualities; womanliness.

Origin
Late 16th century: from late Latin muliebritas, from Latin mulier 'woman'.

Dux

It turns out increasingly difficult to come across really "tricky" words, so I am lowering the line and putting down some less "tricky" but still useful ones.

siesta
Line breaks: si|esta
Pronunciation: /sɪˈɛstə/

Definition of siesta in English:
noun

An afternoon rest or nap, especially one taken during the hottest hours of the day in a hot climate:
everyone had a siesta for a few hours

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spook
Line breaks: spook
Pronunciation: /spuːk/

informal
Definition of spook in English:

noun

1A ghost.

2 (chiefly North American) A spy:
a CIA spook

3 (US offensive , dated) A black person.


verb

[WITH OBJECT]  
1 Frighten; unnerve:
they spooked a couple of grizzly bears

1.1 [NO OBJECT] (Especially of an animal) take fright suddenly:
he’ll spook if we make any noise

Origin
Early 19th century: from Dutch, of unknown origin.

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allegorical

Line breaks: al|le|gor|ic|al
Pronunciation: /ˌalɪˈɡɒrɪk(ə)l/

Definition of allegorical in English:

adjective

Constituting or containing allegory:

• Jahangir commissioned some of the most powerful allegorical paintings to emerge from the Mughal School.
  
• In a society dominated by allegorical and historical painting, his scenes of contemporary life were regarded as a novelty.
• The film is rich in allegorical theme and symbolic imagery, transforming the most banal of materials into miraculous epiphanies.
  

synonyms:
symbolic, metaphorical, figurative, representative, emblematic

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epiphany
Line breaks: epiph|any
Pronunciation: /ɪˈpɪf(ə)ni/  /ɛˈpɪf(ə)ni/

Definition of epiphany in English:
noun (plural epiphanies)

1
(Epiphany)
The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12).

1.1The festival commemorating the Epiphany on 6 January.

2A moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

Then, as if we all have an epiphany at the same moment, we simultaneously yell out.
But I have to believe my epiphany was the decisive moment in my adult life.


Origin
Middle English: from Greek epiphainein 'reveal'. The sense relating to the Christian festival is via Old French epiphanie and ecclesiastical Latin epiphania.

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eerie
Line breaks: eerie
Pronunciation: /ˈɪəri/

Definition of eerie in English:
adjective (eerier, eeriest)

Strange and frightening:
an eerie green glow in the sky

Origin
Middle English (originally northern English and Scots in the sense 'fearful'): probably from Old English earg 'cowardly', of Germanic origin; related to German arg.

Derivatives
eeriness
Pronunciation: /ˈɪərɪnəs/
noun

eerily
Pronunciation: /ˈɪərɪli/
adj.

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pelt

Line breaks: pelt
Pronunciation: /pɛlt/

verb

1 [WITH OBJECT] Hurl missiles repeatedly at:
two boys pelted him with rotten apples

1.1Hurl (something) at someone or something:
she spotted four boys pelting stones at ducks

1.2 [NO OBJECT] (pelt down) (Of rain, hail, or snow) fall quickly and very heavily:
the rain was pelting down

2 [NO OBJECT, WITH ADVERBIAL OF DIRECTION] informal Run somewhere very quickly:
I pelted across the road


noun

archaic
An act of hurling something at someone.

Origin
Late 15th century: of unknown origin.


Phrases
(at) full pelt
As fast as possible:
I ran downstairs at full pelt.

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tumultuous
Line breaks: tu|mul|tu|ous
Pronunciation: /tjʊˈmʌltjʊəs/

Definition of tumultuous in English:
adjective

1Making an uproar or loud, confused noise:
tumultuous applause

SYNONYMS
1.1Excited, confused, or disorderly:
a tumultuous crowd
a tumultuous personal life

Origin

Mid 16th century: from Old French tumultuous or Latin tumultuosus, from tumultus (see tumult).

They walked out onto the pitch to tumultuous applause.

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hatchet

Line breaks: hatchet
Pronunciation: /ˈhatʃɪt/

Definition of hatchet in English:
noun

A small axe with a short handle for use in one hand.

'Come on, Hermione, come and have some food,' Harry said, looking over at Ron and wondering whether he was in a good enough mood to bury the hatchet.

phrase: bury the hatchet, heal the breach, patch up a quarrel

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pirouette
Line breaks: pirou|ette
Pronunciation: /ˌpɪrʊˈɛt/

Definition of pirouette in English:
noun
chiefly Ballet
1An act of spinning on one foot, typically with the raised foot touching the knee of the supporting leg.
1.1A movement performed in advanced dressage and classical riding, in which the horse makes a circle by pivoting on a hind leg, while cantering.

verb
[NO OBJECT]
Perform a pirouette:
she pirouetted and made a bow

Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, literally 'spinning top', of unknown ultimate origin.

Harry doubled up with silent laughter as Crabbe did a kind of pirouette in mid-air, trying to see who had thrown it.

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strut
Line breaks: strut
Pronunciation: /strʌt/

Definition of strut in English:
noun

1A rod or bar forming part of a framework and designed to resist compression:
a supporting strut
a spindly framework of long, slender struts, girders, and bracing wire

2 [IN SINGULAR] A stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait:
that old confident strut and swagger has returned


verb (struts, strutting, strutted)

1 [NO OBJECT, WITH ADVERBIAL] Walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait:
peacocks strut through the grounds
she strutted down the catwalk

2 [WITH OBJECT] Brace (something) with a strut or struts:
the holes were close-boarded and strutted


Origin

Old English strūtian 'protrude stiffly', of Germanic origin. Current senses date from the late 16th century.

Phrases

strut one's stuff
(informal) Dance or behave in a confident and expressive way:
tonight you’ll be strutting your funky stuff on the dance floor
next season he’ll be strutting his stuff in Europe

Strutting around the place with his friends and admirers... the resemblance between you is uncanny.

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mortal
Line breaks: mor|tal
Pronunciation: /ˈmɔːt(ə)l/

Definition of mortal in English:
adjective

1(Of a living human being, often in contrast to a divine being) subject to death:
all men are mortal
1.1Relating to humans as subject to death:
the coffin held the mortal remains of her uncle
2Causing or liable to cause death; fatal:
a mortal disease
figurative the scandal appeared to have struck a mortal blow to the government

2.1(Of a battle) fought to the death:
the screams of men in mortal combat
2.2(Of an enemy or a state of hostility) admitting or allowing no reconciliation until death:
a mortal foe
2.3(Of a feeling, especially fear) very intense:
parents live in mortal fear of children’s diseases

3 informal Conceivable or imaginable:
he knew every mortal thing you did
3.1Very great:
he was in a mortal hurry
3.2 dated Long and tedious:
for three mortal days it rained

4 Christian Theology Denoting a grave sin that is regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace: Often contrasted with venial.
she had committed a mortal sin


noun

1A human being subject to death, as opposed to a divine being:
capacities only possible of God rather than mortals
1.1 humorous A person contrasted with others regarded as being of higher status or ability:
an ambassador had to live in a style which was not expected of lesser mortals

Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin mortalis, from mors, mort- 'death'.

Snape went on, pressing his advantage, his thin face full of malice. 'Rules were for lesser mortals, not Quidditch Cup-winners...'

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hallucination
Line breaks: hal|lu|cin|ation
Pronunciation: /həˌluːsɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

Definition of hallucination in English:
noun

An experience involving the apparent perception of something not present:
he continued to suffer from horrific hallucinations

'Malfoy is not having hallucinations,' snarled Snape, and he bent down, a hand on each arm of Harry's chair, so that their faces were a foot apart.

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doddery
Line breaks: dod|dery
Pronunciation: /ˈdɒd(ə)ri/

Definition of doddery in English:
adjective

Slow and unsteady in movement because of weakness in old age:
he’s a bit doddery on his legs and doesn’t get about much

They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared.

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smudge
Line breaks: smudge
Pronunciation: /smʌdʒ/

verb

[WITH OBJECT]
1Cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it:
she dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up
1.1 [NO OBJECT] Become smeared when rubbed:
mascaras that smudge or flake around the eyes
1.2Make blurred or indistinct:
the photograph had been smudged by the photocopier and was by no means as clear as the original

noun  
1A blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something:
a smudge of blood on the floor
1.1An indistinct or blurred view or image:
the low smudge of hills on the horizon

Origin
Late Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'soil, stain'): of unknown origin. The noun dates from the late 18th century.

The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.

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parchment
Line breaks: parch|ment
Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːtʃm(ə)nt/

Definition of parchment in English:
noun

[MASS NOUN]
1A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, usually a sheep or goat, and used as a durable writing surface in ancient and medieval times:
he borrowed a quill and a piece of parchment
his skin stretched like old parchment over his cheeks
[AS MODIFIER]: parchment rolls
1.1 [COUNT NOUN] A manuscript written on parchment:
a large collection of ancient parchments
1.2
(also parchment paper)
A type of stiff translucent paper treated to resemble parchment and used for lampshades, as a writing surface, and in baking:
line a 2 lb loaf tin with baking parchment
1.3 [COUNT NOUN] informal A diploma or other formal document:
she taught for two years till she got her parchment


Origin
Middle English: from Old French parchemin, from a blend of late Latin pergamina 'writing material from Pergamum' and Parthica pellis 'Parthian skin' (a kind of scarlet leather).

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cred
street credibility
Line breaks: street cred|ibil|ity
(also informal street cred)

Definition of street credibility in English:
noun

[MASS NOUN]
Acceptability among fashionable young urban people:
the Liverpudlian is to use his street credibility to try to get the anti-vandalism message across to schoolchildren

She did not care for blood and didn't think that fainting in front of this large vagrant would help her street cred. - Friday Barnes

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tetanus
Line breaks: tet|anus
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛt(ə)nəs/

Definition of tetanus in English:
noun
[MASS NOUN]
1A bacterial disease marked by rigidity and spasms of the voluntary muscles. See also trismus.
This disease is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani; Gram-positive anaerobic rods
2 Physiology The prolonged contraction of a muscle caused by rapidly repeated stimuli.

Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek tetanos 'muscular spasm', from teinein 'to stretch'.

Derivatives

tetanize
Pronunciation: /ˈtɛt(ə)nʌɪz/
(also tetanise)
verb

tetanoid
adjective

Dux

convulsion
Line breaks: con|vul|sion
Pronunciation: /kənˈvʌlʃ(ə)n/

Definition of convulsion in English:
noun
(often convulsions)
1A sudden, violent, irregular movement of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated especially with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children:
toxic side effects like convulsions
febrile convulsions

1.1 (convulsions) Uncontrollable laughter:
the audience collapsed in convulsions

1.2An earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth’s crust:
the violent convulsions of tectonic plates

2A violent social or political upheaval:
the convulsions of 1939–45

Origin
Mid 16th century (originally in the sense 'cramp, spasm'): from Latin convulsio(n-), from the verb convellere (see convulse).