Read The Highly Selective Dictionary for the Extraordinarily Literate Online
Authors: Eugene Ehrlich
Tags: #Language Arts & Disciplines, #General, #Reference, #Dictionaries
explicate
(EK-spli-
KAYT
)
verb
1. make clear.
2. explain (a literary work etc.); interpret.
Related words:
explicable
(EK-spli-k
e
-b
e
l),
explicative
(EK-spli-k
e
-tiv), and
explicatory
(EK-spli-k
e
-
TOR
-ee)
all adjectives
;
explication
(
EK
-spli-KAY-sh
e
n) and
explicator
(EK-spli-
KAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.
expostulate
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-
LAYT
)
verb
1. make a friendly protest.
2. reason or argue with a person.
Related words:
expostulatingly
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-
LAYT
-ing-lee)
adverb
,
expostulation
(ik-
SPOS
-ch
e
-LAY-sh
e
n) and
expostulator
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-
LAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
,
expostulatory
(ik-SPOS-ch
e
-l
e
-
TOR
-ee)
adjective
.
expunge
(ik-SPUNJ)
verb
wipe or rub out; erase; delete.
Related word:
expunger
noun
.
expurgate
(EK-sp
e
r-
GAYT
)
verb
1. purify (a book etc.) by removing objectionable matter.
2. remove (such matter).
Related works:
expurgation
(
EK
-sp
e
r-GAY-sh
e
n) and
expurgator
(EK-sp
e
r-
GAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
.
extenuate
(ik-STEN-yoo-
AYT
)
verb
make (a person's guilt or offense) seem less by providing a partial excuse.
Related words:
extenuating
and
extenuative
(ik-STEN-yoo-
AY
-tiv)
both adjectives
,
extenuatingly
adverb
,
extenuator
noun
.
extirpate
(EK-st
e
r-
PAYT
)
verb
root out and destroy completely.
Related words:
extirpation
(
EK
-st
e
r-PAY-sh
e
n) and
extirpator
(EK-st
e
r-
PAY
-t
e
r)
both nouns
,
extirpative
(EK-st
e
r-
PAY
-tiv)
adjective
.
extrinsic
(ek-STRIN-sik)
adjective
1. originating from outside.
2. not essential or inherent; extraneous.
Related word:
extrinsically
adverb
.
factious
(FAK-sh
e
s)
adjective
1. having factions.
2. creating dissension; turbulent.
Do not confuse
factious
with
factitious
, which see.
Related words:
factiously
adverb
,
factiousness
noun
.
factitious
(fak-TISH-
e
s)
adjective
1. made for a special purpose.
2. not genuine, contrived, artificial.
Do not confuse
factitious
with its look-alike,
factious
.
Factious
has meanings related to
factions
.
Factitious
suggests
manufacture; contrivance
and
artificiality
.
Related words:
factitiously
adverb
,
factitiousness
noun
.
fainéant
(FAY-nay-ah
n
)
noun
, also given as
faineant
(FAY-nee-
e
nt)
1. an idler.
2. (
adjective
) idle, indolent.
Related words:
fainéance
noun
, also given as
faineance
(FAY-nee-
e
ns).
fakir
(f
e
-KEER)
noun
, also given as
fakeer
a Muslim or Hindu religious beggar regarded as a holy man.
Do not confuse
fakir
with
faker
,
someone who tries to deceive people
.
famous
(FAY-m
e
s)
adjective
See
notorious
.
farrago
(f
e
-RAH-goh)
noun, plural
farragos
or
farragoes
a confused mixture; a medley, a hodgepodge.
Related word:
farraginous
(f
e
-RAJ-
e
-n
e
s)
adjective
.
fascicle
(FAS-i-k
e
l)
noun
1. one section of a book that is published in installments.
2. in botany, a small bundle or tight cluster.
Related words:
fascicular
(f
e
-SIK-y
e
-l
e
r) and
fasciculate
(f
e
-SIK-y
e
-lit)
both adjectives
,
fasciculation
(f
e
-
SIK
-y
e
-LAY-sh
e
n)
noun
.
fatidic
(fay-TID-ik)
adjective
, also given as
fatidical
(fay-TID-i-k
e
l)
1. prophetic.
2. possessing prophetic power.
Related word:
fatidically
adverb
.
fatuous
(FACH-oo-
e
s)
adjective
1. foolish, silly; purposeless.
2. unreal.
Related words:
fatuitous
(f
e
-TOO-i-t
e
s)
adjective
;
fatuity
(f
e
-TOO-i-tee),
fatuitousness
, and
fatuousness
(FACH-oo-
e
s-nis)
all nouns
;
fatuously
(FACH-oo-
e
s-lee)
adverb
.
fealty
(FEE-
e
l-tee)
noun, plural
fealties
loyalty; fidelity.
febrifuge
(FEB-r
e
-
FYOOJ
)
noun
a cooling drink or medicine to reduce fever.
Related word:
febrifugal
(
FEB
-r
e
-FYOO-g
e
l)
adjective
.
febrile
(FEB-r
e
l)
adjective
feverish.
Related word:
febrility
(fi-BRIL-i-tee)
noun
.
feckless
(FEK-lis)
adjective
feeble and incompetent; irresponsible.
Related words:
fecklessly
adverb
,
fecklessness
noun
.
feculent
(FEK-y
e
-l
e
nt)
adjective
full of dregs or fecal matter; turbid; foul; stinking.
Related word:
feculence
noun
.
fecund
(FEE-k
e
nd)
adjective
fertile; prolific.
Related word:
fecundity
(fi-KUN-di-tee)
noun
.
feisty
(F
I
-stee)
adjective
1. exuberant; spirited; spunky.
2. pugnacious; aggressive; ill-tempered.
3. troublesome; difficult.
Related words:
feistily
(F
I
ST-i-lee)
adverb
,
feistiness
noun
.
fell
(fel)
adjective
1. ruthless, cruel, savage.
2. destructive.
Related word:
fellness
noun
.
feral
(FER-
e
l)
adjective
1. wild, untamed.
2. in a wild state after escape from captivity.
fervid
(FUR-vid)
adjective
ardent, intense; fervent.
Related words:
fervidity
(fur-VID-i-tee)
noun
,
fervidly
(FUR-vid-lee)
adverb
.
fetid
(FET-id)
adjective
stinking.
Related words:
fetidly
adverb
,
fetidness
and
fetidity
(fe-TID-i-tee)
both nouns
.
fictive
(FIK-tiv)
adjective
1. imaginary; fictitious.
2. related to the creation of fiction.
Related word:
fictively
adverb
.
flagitious
(fl
e
-JISH-
e
s)
adjective
deeply criminal; utterly villainous.
Related words:
flagitiously
adverb
,
flagitiousness
noun
.
flatulent
(FLACH-
e
-l
e
nt)
adjective
1. causing or suffering from the formation of gas in the intestinal tract.
2. pretentious; windy, puffed up.
Related words:
flatulence
and
flatulency
both nouns
,
flatulently
adverb
.
flaunt
(flawnt)
verb
display oneself or one's possessions ostentatiously.
Do not confuse
flaunt
with
flout
, which see.
Related words:
flaunter
noun
,
flauntingly
adverb
.
fledged
(flejd)
adjective
1. of young birds, with fully grown wing feathers; able to fly.
2. mature, trained, and experienced.
fleer
(fleer)
verb
laugh impudently or mockingly; jeer, deride.
Related words:
fleer
noun
,
fleeringly
(FLEER-ing-lee)
adverb
.
flotsam
(FLOT-s
e
m)
noun
1. debris or wreckage found floating on the water.
2.
flotsam and jetsam
, tramps, vagrants, etc.; odds and ends.