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avid
Pronunciation: \ˈa-vəd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French avide, from Latin avidus, from avēre to desire, crave; akin to Welsh ewyllys desire, Old Irish con-oí he protects
Date: 1769
1 : desirous to the point of greed : urgently eager : greedy <avid for publicity> 2 : characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit <avid readers>
synonyms see eager
avow
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈvau$ \
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare
Date: 14th century
1 : to declare assuredly <she avowed her innocence> 2 : to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame <ever ready to avow his reactionary outlook>
synonyms see acknowledge, assert
baleful
Pronunciation: \-fəl\
Function: adjective
Date: before 12th century 1 : deadly or pernicious in influence <baleful effects> 2 : foreboding or threatening evil <a baleful look>
synonyms see sinister
balkPronunciation: \ˈbok sometimes ˈbolk\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English balke, from Old English alca; akin to Old High German balko beam, Latin fulcire to prop, Greek phalanx log, phalanx Date: before 12th century 1: a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness2: hindrance, check 4 a: the space behind the balkline on a billiard table b: any of the outside divisions made by the balklines 5: failure of a player to complete a motion ; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position:
baneful
Pronunciation: \ˈbān-fəl\
Function: adjective
Date: 1579
1: productive of destruction or woe : seriously harmful <a baneful influence>2archaic : poisonous synonyms see pernicious
barrage
Pronunciation: \ˈbär-ij\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from barrer to bar, from barre bar
Date: 1845 1. A heavy curtain of artillery fire directed in front of friendly troops to
screen and protect them. b. A rapid, concentrated discharge of missiles,
as from small arms. 2. An overwhelming, concentrated outpouring, as of words
: a barrage of criticism.
bask
Pronunciation: \ˈbask\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath
Date: 14th century 1: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere 2: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment <basked in the spotlight> b : to warm by continued exposure to heat
bellicose
Pronunciation: \ˈbe-li-ˌkōs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus of war, from bellum war Date: 15th century
: favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars
synonyms see belligerent
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belligerent
Pronunciation: \-rənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum + gerere to wage Date: 1577
1: waging war ; specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war2: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness