abrasive

en-adj

abrasive (comparative more abrasive, superlative most abrasive)

more abrasive (comparative)
most abrasive (superlative)

An abrasive person can grate on one's sensibilities.

Despite her proper upbringing, we found her manners to be terribly abrasive.

The women of the movement, it struck me, were more humorless and more single-minded in their total dedication to the ideology than were the men. In fact, Chiang Ching was unpleasantly abrasive and aggressive. At one point that evening she turned to me and in a challenging voice asked, "Why did you not come to China before now?" Since the ballet was in progress at the time, I did not respond.

1978, Richard Nixon, RN: the Memoirs of Richard Nixon, Grosset & Dunlap, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 570:

Being rough and coarse in manner or disposition; overly aggressive and causing irritation.


absent-minded

absent-minded (comparative more absent-minded, superlative most absent-minded)

more absent-minded (comparative)
most absent-minded (superlative)

It took the absent-minded man twenty minutes to find his glasses on top of his head.

His figure was bent in apologetic protest. "I ask a thousand pardons, sir," he said; "I am really so very absent-minded."

1900, Kenneth Grahame, The Golden Age, page 110:

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles

Oxford University Press
w:Oxford University Press

Absent in mind; often preoccupied; forgetful or careless due to distraction; easily distracted.


accessible

accessible (comparative more accessible, superlative most accessible)

more accessible (comparative)
most accessible (superlative)

First attested in 1400, from French, from Late Latin accessibilis, from accessus, perfect passive participle of accēdō (“approach”), equivalent to access + -ible.

Minds accessible to reason.

1890, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of Herodotus:

(followed by to) Open to the influence of.


accessible

Borrowed from Late Latin accessibilis (“accessible”), from accessus, perfect passive participle of accēdō (“approach”).

bor+

(of a place, information, etc.) accessible, attainable, obtainable, available


amoral

fr-adj

amoral (feminine amorale, masculine plural amoraux, feminine plural amorales)

amorale (feminine)
amoraux (masculine plural)
amorales (feminine plural)


bot

Most games offer both single player mode, in which a player competes against computer rivals—bots—and a multiplayer mode, which is a contest among people only.

2012, Philip Hingston, Believable Bots: Can Computers Play Like People?, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 232:

(video games) A computer-controlled character in a video game, especially a multiplayer one.


adroit

adroit (feminine adroite, masculine plural adroits, feminine plural adroites)

adroite (feminine)
adroits (masculine plural)
adroites (feminine plural)

→ English: adroit

→ German: adrett
→ Danish: adræt

skilful, apt, skilled (possessing skill, skilled)


cold

en-adj

cold (comparative colder, superlative coldest)

colder (comparative)
coldest (superlative)

Sranan Tongo: kowru
Aukan: koo

From Middle English cold, from Anglian Old English cald. The West Saxon form, ċeald (“cold”), survived as early Middle English cheald, cheld, or chald. Both descended from Proto-West Germanic *kald, from Proto-Germanic *kaldaz, a participle form of *kalaną (“to be cold”), from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“cold”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots cald, cauld (“cold”), Saterland Frisian koold (“cold”), West Frisian kâld (“cold”), Dutch koud (“cold”), Low German kold, koolt, koold (“cold”), German kalt (“cold”), Danish kold (“cold”), Norwegian kald (“cold”), Swedish kall (“cold”).

faire froid (idiom in French; there is no translation for the adjective alone)

κάνει κρύο (kánei krýo) (idiom in Greek; there is no translation for the adjective alone)

хо́лодно (xólodno) (+ dative, “to be cold”)

cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey

cold as a witch's tit

cold as a witch's teat, cold as a witch's tit in a brass bra

make someone's blood run cold

make the blood run cold, one's blood runs cold

She shot me a cold glance before turning her back.

At the end of a week, she could bear the suspense no longer, and so went humbly to her old home and sought forgiveness. She was not repulsed, but her reception was cold; and this hurt her almost as badly.

1850, T. S. Arthur, “Happy on a Little”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 89:

"Suppose someone pops in?" "Don't be silly. Mrs Cream is working on her book. Phyllis is in her room, typing Upjohn's speech. Wilbert's gone for a walk. Upjohn isn't here. The only character who could pop in would be the Brinkley Court ghost. If it does, give it a cold look and walk through it. That'll teach it not to come butting in where it isn't wanted, ha ha."

1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter VII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:

Unfriendly; emotionally distant or unfeeling.


warm

warm (comparative warmer, superlative warmest)

warmer (comparative)
warmest (superlative)

From Middle English warm, werm, from Old English wearm, from Proto-West Germanic *warm, from Proto-Germanic *warmaz, probably from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰor-mo-s, from the root *gʷʰer- (“warm, hot”), related to Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós) (in which case perhaps a distant doublet of thermos), Latin formus, Sanskrit घर्म (gharmá), or alternatively from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to burn”), related to Hittite 𒉿𒊏𒀀𒉌 (warāni, “to burn”), Armenian վառել (vaṙel, “to burn, heat, warm”), Old Church Slavonic варити (variti, “to cook, boil”).

cog

a warm debate, with strong words exchanged

Mirth, and youth, and warm desire!

1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “Song on May Morning”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC:

They say he's a warm man and does not care to be made mouths at.

1712 September 22 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “THURSDAY, September 11, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 481; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:

1717, Alexander Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC:

To the strength and fierceness of barbarians they added a contempt for life, which was derived from a warm persuasion of the immortality and transmigration of the soul.

1776–1788, Edward Gibbon, chapter I, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC:

I had been none of the warmest of partisans.

1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC:


bold

en-adj

bold (comparative bolder or more bold, superlative boldest or most bold)

bolder (comparative)
more bold (comparative)
boldest (superlative)
most bold (superlative)

From Middle English bold, bolde, bald, beald, from Old English bald, beald (“bold, brave, confident, strong, of good courage, presumptuous, impudent”), from Proto-West Germanic *balþ, from Proto-Germanic *balþaz (“strong, bold”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-, *bʰlē- (“to bloat, swell, bubble”).
Cognate with Dutch boud (“bold, courageous, fearless”), Middle High German balt (“bold”) (whence German bald (“soon”)), Swedish båld (“bold, dauntless”). Perhaps related to Albanian ballë (“forehead”) and Old Prussian balo (“forehead”). For semantic development compare Italian affrontare (“to face, to deal with”), sfrontato (“bold, daring, insolent”), both from Latin frons (“forehead”).

cog

Bold deeds win admiration and, sometimes, medals.

Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part. Thus outraged, she showed herself to be a bold as well as a furious virago. Next day she found her way to their lodgings and tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head.

1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

It would be extraordinarily bold of me to give it a try after seeing what has happened to you.

2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 239c:


silly

en-adj

silly (comparative sillier, superlative silliest)

sillier (comparative)
silliest (superlative)

From Middle English seely, sēlī, from Old English sǣliġ, ġesǣliġ (“lucky, fortunate”), from Proto-West Germanic *sālīg, from *sāli; equivalent to seel (“happiness, bliss”) + -y. Doublet of Seelie.
The semantic evolution is “lucky” to “innocent” to “naive” to “foolish”. Compare the similar evolution of daft (originally meaning “accommodating”), and almost the reverse with nice (originally meaning “ignorant”).

onnosel

foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom

sølle

pejorative: simple, not intelligent, unrefined

There is no best in þe word, I wene... / That suffuris halfe so myche tene / As doth þe sylly wat.

a. 1475, in 1925, Rossell Hope Robbins, Secular Lyrics of the 14th & 15th Centuries, 109

In the silly lambis skin He crap als far as he micht win.

a. 1513, William Dunbar, Poems, section 247:

(now chiefly Scotland and Northern England, rare) Pitiful, inspiring compassion, particularly:

(now literary) Innocent; suffering undeservedly, especially as an epithet of lambs and sheep.


civil

civil (comparative more civil or civiler, superlative most civil or civilest)

more civil (comparative)
civiler (comparative)
most civil (superlative)
civilest (superlative)

→ Japanese: シビル (shibiru)

From Middle English cyvyl, civil, borrowed from Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis (“relating to a citizen”), from cīvis (“citizen”). Cognate with Old English hīwen (“household”), hīrǣden (“family”). More at hind; hird.

It was very civil of him to stop the argument.

They despise each other, but they are always civil in public.

(comparable) Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner; avoiding displays of hostility.

ве́жлив

behaving in a reasonable or polite manner

Herein thou haſt done good ſeruice to thy country:
VVere all inhumaine ſlaues ſo ſerued as he,
England would be ciuill, and from all ſuch dealings free.

1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act I:

(archaic) In a peaceful and well-ordered state.

As if our Saviour had said, No man can enter into heaven except he be born again; so as he speaketh not only of notorious Sinners, as Adulterers, Drunkards, Swearers, & c. but of all who are in their natural condition, tho' they live never so unblameably, free from scandalous sins, if they be not born again, their civil Righteousness will do them little good, for they shall never see the Kingdom of God.

1680, A Practical Discourse of Regeneration:

The word from which "evil" in Romans 13.4 is translated means "generally opposed to civil goodness or virtue, in a commonwealth, and not to spiritual good, or religion, in the church.

2008, Jerald Finney, God Betrayed, →ISBN, page 174:

Some grammarians explain this passage as referring to a civil sanctity, in respect of the children being reckoned legitimate, but in this respect the condition of unbelievers is in no degree worse.

2013, John Calvin, Calvin's Complete Commentary, Volume 7: Acts to Ephesians:


civil

ca-adj

civil m or f (masculine and feminine plural civils)


civil

fr-adj

civil (feminine civile, masculine plural civils, feminine plural civiles)

civile (feminine)
civils (masculine plural)
civiles (feminine plural)

Turkish: sivil


posh

en-adj

posh (comparative posher or more posh, superlative poshest or most posh)

posher (comparative)
more posh (comparative)
poshest (superlative)
most posh (superlative)

Unknown.
Most likely derived from Romani posh (“half”), either because posh-kooroona (“half a crown”) (originally a substantial sum of money) was used metaphorically for anything pricey or upper-class, or because posh-houri (“half-penny”) came to refer to money generally.
A period slang dictionary defines "posh" as a term used by thieves for "money : generic, but specifically, a halfpenny or other small coin". An example is given from James Payn's The Eavesdropper (1888): "They used such funny terms: 'brads,' and 'dibbs,' and 'mopusses,' and 'posh' ... at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money."
Evidence exists for a slang sense from the 1890s meaning dandy, which is quite possibly related.
A popular folk etymology holds that the term is an acronym for "port out, starboard home", describing the cooler, north-facing cabins taken by the most aristocratic or rich passengers travelling from Britain to India and back. However, there is no evidence for this claim.
It could also possibly be a clipping of polished.
See also the articles mentioned in the References section below for additional discussion.

Near-synonym: plush

After the performance, they went out to a very posh restaurant.

Stylish; elegant; exclusive; luxurious; expensive.

We have a right posh git moving in next door.

(usually offensive, especially in Ireland, Scotland, Northern England) Snobbish, materialistic, prejudiced, under the illusion that one is better than everyone else.


posh

en-noun

posh (countable and uncountable, plural poshes)


kind

en-adj

kind (comparative kinder, superlative kindest)

kinder (comparative)
kindest (superlative)

From Middle English kinde, kunde, kende, from Old English cynde, ġecynde (“innate, natural, native”), from Old English cynd, ġecynd (“nature, kind”).

you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone

Some ſay that Rauens foſter forlorne children, / The whilſt their owne birds famiſh in their neſts: / Oh be to me though thy hard hart ſay no, / Nothing ſo kinde but ſomething pittiful.

c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:

Having a benevolent, courteous, friendly, generous, gentle, liberal, sympathetic, or warm-hearted nature or disposition, marked by consideration for – and service to – others.

a kind man; a kind heart

Yet was he kind, or if severe in aught, / The love he bore to learning was in fault.

1770, [Oliver] Goldsmith, The Deserted Village, a Poem, London: […] W[illiam] Griffin, […], →OCLC:

The years have been kind to Richard Gere; he ages well.

a horse kind in harness


oral

Early 17th century borrowing from Late Latin ōrālis, from ōs (“the mouth”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

af

Of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependency and aggressiveness.


pedantic

en-adj

pedantic (comparative more pedantic, superlative most pedantic)

more pedantic (comparative)
most pedantic (superlative)

Being overly concerned with formal rules and trivial points of learning, like a pedant.


slug

slug (indefinite positive)
slugare (comparative indefinite)
slugast (indefinite superlative)
slugt (indefinite neuter positive singular)
slugare (comparative indefinite neuter singular)
slugast (indefinite neuter singular superlative)
sluga (indefinite plural positive)
slugare (comparative indefinite plural)
slugast (indefinite plural superlative)
sluge (archaic indefinite masculine plural positive)
slugare (archaic comparative indefinite masculine plural)
slugast (archaic indefinite masculine plural superlative)
sluge (definite masculine positive singular)
slugare (comparative definite masculine singular)
slugaste (definite masculine singular superlative)
sluga (definite positive)
slugare (comparative definite)
slugaste (definite superlative)

Borrowed from Middle Low German slû, probably from a Proto-Germanic *slūhaz (“sneaking, creeping”), perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leuǵ (“to crawl, slide”), if the original sense referred to sneaking and sliding. Cognate of German schlau, Dutch sluw, Norwegian slu.


jerk

Probably from Middle English yerk (“sudden motion”) and Middle English yerkid (“tightly pulled”), from Old English ġearc (“ready, active, quick”) and Old English ġearcian (“to prepare, make ready, procure, furnish, supply”). Cognate with Scots yerk (“to jerk”). Related also to English yare (“ready”).

inh

Because oral sex deprecation and anti-gay bias both have long histories among humans

many of the words for "contemptible person" come from literal terms for anyone who performs oral sex or performs anal sex; see overlap at Thesaurus:gay man

Oh, Raymond―don't be such a jerk. Go and get yourself a drink or a tranquilizer or something.

1962, George Axelrod, 1:23:39 from the start, in The Manchurian Candidate, spoken by Eleanor Iselin (Angela Lansbury):

And [Albert Fish] was dizzyingly happy about it, smiled as described the grizzly details of the tortures and the murders, appearing to the detectives and one of the detectives said "he appeared as the Devil himself." I mean this Albert F-, I mean this guy was a real jerk!

2013, Norm Macdonald Live, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Norm Macdonald:

I finally fired him, because he was being a real jerk to his customers, even to some of the staff.

You really are a jerk sometimes.

(originally Canada, US, slang, derogatory) A person with unlikable or obnoxious qualities and behavior, typically mean, self-centered, or disagreeable; an asshole.


jerk

en-verb

jerk (third-person singular simple present jerks, present participle jerking, simple past and past participle jerked)

jerks (present singular third-person)
jerking (participle present)
jerked (participle past)
jerked (past)


jerk

From American Spanish charquear, from charqui, from Quechua ch'arki.

Sunshine ranks high in the island's greates burger debate, while the chicken egg rolls with mango chutney and jerk mayo and fabulous fish tacos elevate pub grub to an art.

2016, Fodor's Essential Caribbean, Fodor's Travel, →ISBN:

(Caribbean, Jamaica) A rich, spicy Jamaican marinade.


sweet

en-adj

sweet (comparative sweeter, superlative sweetest)

sweeter (comparative)
sweetest (superlative)

nonsweet

antonym(s) of “containing a sweetening ingredient”

dry

of wines: retaining a portion of natural sugar

decaying

antonym(s) of “not decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, or stale”

sour

antonym(s) of “free from excessive unwanted substances”

lame

antonym(s) of “(informal) very pleasing”

From Middle English swete, from Old English swēte (“sweet”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōtī, from Proto-Germanic *swōtuz (“sweet”), from Proto-Indo-European *swéh₂dus (“sweet”).
Cognate and synonymous with Scots sweit (“sweet”), North Frisian sweete (“sweet”), Saterland Frisian swäit (“sweet”), West Frisian swiet (“sweet”), Dutch zoet (“sweet”), German Low German sööt (“sweet”), German süß (“sweet”), Danish sød (“sweet”), Swedish söt (“sweet”), Norwegian søt (“sweet”), Icelandic sætur (“sweet”), Latin suāvis, Sanskrit स्वादु (svādú), Ancient Greek ἡδύς (hēdús). Doublet of suave.

money won is twice as sweet as money earned

a sweet child

You're so sweet!

There's something tragic, but almost pure / Think I could love you, but I'm not sure / There's something wholesome, there's something sweet / Tucked in your eyes that I'd love to meet

2017 April 13, Mitchy Collins, Samantha Derosa, Christian Medice, “Broken”, in Finding It Hard to Smile, performed by Lovelytheband:

It was sweet of him to help out.

The new Lexus was a sweet birthday gift.

Her crew knew that deep in her heart beat engines fit and able to push her blunt old nose ahead at a sweet fourteen knots, come Hell or high water.

1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 1:

14 November 2014, Steven Haliday, Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero
GORDON Strachan enjoyed the sweetest of his 16 matches in charge of Scotland so far as his team enhanced their prospects of Euro 2016 qualification with a crucial and deserved victory over Republic of Ireland.


sweet

en-noun

sweet (countable and uncountable, plural sweets)

Fear's fire to fervency, which makes love's sweet prove nectar.

1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, III.2:

(obsolete) Sweetness, delight; something pleasant to the mind or senses.


driven

en-adj

driven (comparative more driven, superlative most driven)

more driven (comparative)
most driven (superlative)

Obsessed; passionately motivated to achieve goals.


enterprising

enterprising (comparative more enterprising, superlative most enterprising)

more enterprising (comparative)
most enterprising (superlative)

Displaying bravery and daring in attempting some task.


laid

fr-adj

laid (feminine laide, masculine plural laids, feminine plural laides)

laide (feminine)
laids (masculine plural)
laides (feminine plural)

From Middle French laid (“hideous, ugly”), from Old French laid, leid (“unpleasant, horrible, odious”), from Vulgar Latin *laitus (“unpleasant, ugly”), from Frankish *laiþ (“unpleasant, obstinate, odious”), from Proto-Germanic *laiþaz (“sorrowful, unpleasant”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyt- (“unpleasant”).
Akin to Old High German leid (“unpleasant, odious”) (German leid (“unfortunate”), Leid (“grief”)), Old Norse leiþr (“odious”), Old English lāþ (“unpleasant, odious”), Catalan lleig (“ugly”), Occitan lag (“ugly”). More at loath.


bright

en-verb

bright (third-person singular simple present brights, present participle brighting, simple past and past participle brighted)

brights (present singular third-person)
brighting (participle present)
brighted (participle past)
brighted (past)
bright (infinitive)

From Middle English brighten (“to illuminate; to become light, dawn; (figuratively) to cleanse, purify; to clarify, explain”) [and other forms], from Old English beorhtian (“to brighten, shine; to sound clearly or loudly”) [and other forms], probably from beorht (“bright, clear”, adjective) (see further at etymology 1) + -ian (suffix forming verbs from adjectives and nouns). Later uses of the word are probably also derived from the adjective.

nb...

brighte, briȝte, briȝtte, bryght, (Early Middle English) beorhtiȝe (in prefixed forms), breohte (in prefixed forms), brihte, brihtte

nb...

(Late Old English) brihtode, (Old English) beorhtan, berhtan, berhtia (Northumbrian), birhtan, brehta (Northumbrian), brihtan, byrhtan

Toward Mid-day he [the Sun] brighteth the Air into a chearful Saphir, and guildeth the Borders of the very Clouds with a coſtly limbus.

1686, J[ohn] Goad, “The Sun, the Great Light, Justly Admired. […]”, in Astro-meteorologica, or, Aphorisms and Large Significant Discourses of the Natures and Influences of the Cœlestial Bodies; […], 2nd edition, London: […] O[badiah] B[lagrave] and sold by John Sprint, […], published 1699, →OCLC, book I, § 2, page 14:

(transitive, figuratively) Often followed by up: to cause (someone or something) to be bright (in various senses); to brighten; specifically, to make (someone or something) energetic, or happy and optimistic.


simple

en-adj

simple (comparative simpler or more simple, superlative simplest or most simple)

simpler (comparative)
more simple (comparative)
simplest (superlative)
most simple (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English symple, simple, from Old French and French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plicō (“I fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc.
Partially displaced native English onefold.

der

(now colloquial, euphemistic) Feeble-minded; foolish.


simple

→ Romanian: simplu

Inherited from Old French, borrowed from Latin simplex.

Near-synonym: facile

simple comme bonjour


complex

en-adj

complex (comparative more complex, superlative most complex)

more complex (comparative)
most complex (superlative)

From French complexe, from Latin complexus, past participle of complector (“I entwine, encircle, compass, infold”), from com- (“together”) and plectere (“to weave, braid”). May be analyzed as com- + -plex. See complect. Doublet of complexus.

If, when the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is complex and difficult, and if we are discontented at this, nature, and not the astronomer, must be the object of our displeasure.

1837, William Whewell, “Inductive Epoch of Hipparchus”, in History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Times. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker, […]; Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: J. and J. J. Deighton, →OCLC, book III (History of Greek Astronomy), section 2 (Estimate of the Value of the Theory of Eccentrics and Epicycles), page 183:

Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.


cruel

es-adj

cruel m or f (masculine and feminine plural crueles)

Inherited from Old Spanish, from Latin crūdēlis.


butter

head

butter (comparative buttrare, superlative buttrast)

buttrare (comparative)
buttrast (superlative)
butter (indefinite positive)
buttrare (comparative indefinite)
buttrast (indefinite superlative)
buttert (indefinite neuter positive singular)
buttrare (comparative indefinite neuter singular)
buttrast (indefinite neuter singular superlative)
buttra (indefinite plural positive)
buttrare (comparative indefinite plural)
buttrast (indefinite plural superlative)
buttre (archaic indefinite masculine plural positive)
buttrare (archaic comparative indefinite masculine plural)
buttrast (archaic indefinite masculine plural superlative)
buttre (definite masculine positive singular)
buttrare (comparative definite masculine singular)
buttraste (definite masculine singular superlative)
buttra (definite positive)
buttrare (comparative definite)
buttraste (definite superlative)


assiduous

en-adj

assiduous (comparative more assiduous, superlative most assiduous)

more assiduous (comparative)
most assiduous (superlative)

/əˈsɪd͡ʒuːəs/

Learned borrowing from Latin assiduus, from assidere (“to sit down to”), from ad- (“to”) + sedere (“to sit”).
Cognate (via assidere) to assess.

He was officious in the right time and place, quiet as a lamb when his patron seemed inclined to study or to muse, active and assiduous to assist or divert him whenever it seemed to be wished.

1831, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 2, in The Surgeon's Daughter:

He died after three weeks' illness, during which Mrs. Penniman, as well as his daughter, had been assiduous at his bedside.

1880, Henry James, chapter 33, in Washington Square, Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 249:

A good deal of assiduous attention had enabled Henry to win this place in her affections.

1917, P. G. Wodehouse, “Bill the Bloodhound”, in The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories:

Klein rose to prominence in the 1960s by assiduous application of accounting methods to the music industry.

2009 July 6, Will Pavia, “Allen Klein, accountant turned manager of the Beatles, dies at 77”, in The Times, UK:

“Asteroid City,” the latest from Wes Anderson, is filled with the assiduous visuals, mythic faces and charming curiosities that you expect from this singular filmmaker.

2023 June 15, Manohla Dargis, “‘Asteroid City’ Review: Our Town and Country”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Hard-working, diligent or regular (in attendance or work); industrious.


capricious

capricious (comparative more capricious, superlative most capricious)

more capricious (comparative)
most capricious (superlative)

Borrowed from Middle French capricieux, from Italian capriccioso, from capriccio.

I almost died in a capricious winter storm.

Stringent rulers are unlikely to act capriciously.

I am heere with thee, and thy Goats, as the moſt capricious Poet honeſt Ouid was among Gothes.

c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 198:

"Capricious?" And at this monsieur began to laugh. "Oh no, I'm not capricious. I am very faithful. I am very constant. Comprenez?"

1876 June, Henry James, Jr., chapter I, in The American, Boston, Mass.: James R[ipley] Osgood and Company, […], published 5 May 1877, →OCLC, page 11:

Although much has been learned about lightning and its effects through research and study, many questions are still unanswered and the upper limits of voltage, current and total energy that may be associated with lightning are not conclusively defined. The apparent capricious nature of lightning is evidenced by the range of extremes as well as, in some cases, the unique nature of the damage that results. Thus, to predict in the absence of physical evidence the exact mechanism of ignition in this particular case is not possible. By the same reasoning, in view of the known facts of this accident, there is no logical explanation for ignition of the flammable vapors other than some effect stemming directly from the lightning strike.

1965 February 25, Civil Aeronautics Board, “Analysis”, in Aircraft Accident Report: Pan American World Airways, Inc Boeing 707-121, N709PA, Near Elkton, Maryland, December 8, 1963, archived from the original on 2024-12-01, page 12:

Impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim.

капры́зны

impulsive and unpredictable; determined by chance, impulse, or whim


gregarious

gregarious (comparative more gregarious, superlative most gregarious)

more gregarious (comparative)
most gregarious (superlative)

/ɡɹɪˈɡɛə.ɹɪ.əs/

/ɡɹɪˈɡɛɚ.i.əs/

(of a person) Describing one who enjoys being in crowds and socializing.


impetuous

impetuous (comparative more impetuous, superlative most impetuous)

more impetuous (comparative)
most impetuous (superlative)

From Middle English impetuous, from Old French impetueux, from Late Latin impetuōsus (“violent”), from Latin impetus (“attack, violence”).

But it was natural, that the impetuous, restless young artist should incline more to excess of strength than of delicacy in his playing.

1880, John Weeks Moore, “Beethoven, Louis Van”, in Complete Encyclopaedia of Music:

The shrewd kind confidant used gently to hint the sad fact to the impetuous hero of this piece. The impetuous hero knew this quite well.

1854, Arthur Pendennis [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], →OCLC:

The prime minister thought he could sagely steer his impetuous American friends away from actions they would later regret. It turns out they were just playing him for a patsy[.]

2003 March 16, Terry Jones, “Poor Tony Blair wakes up”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

How these developments might come about and what they will mean for humanity seems far more important to probe than Isaacson’s preferred focus on explaining Musk’s abusive, erratic, impetuous behavior.

2023 September 24, Sarah Frier, “We Don’t Need Another Antihero”, in The Atlantic:

Making arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive and forceful manner.

իմպուլսիվ

describing one who makes arbitrary decisions

For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 14, page 311:

He stands, and views in the faint rays
Far, far below, the torrent's rising surge,
And listens to the wild impetuous roar

1794, Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, vol. II, chapter I:

After being two days the prey of impetuous, varying emotions, Maria began to reflect more calmly on her present situation, for she had actually been rendered incapable of sober reflection, by the discovery of the act of atrocity of which she was the victim.

1798, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, “[Maria: or, The] Wrongs of Woman”, in W[illiam] Godwin, editor, Posthumous Works of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. […], volume I, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […]; and G[eorge,] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, chapter I, page 4:

"Oh! where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, with-out losing a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door, it was opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous manner made him start […]

1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 4, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:

Rough and impetuous as a wild boar, where only earthly force was to be apprehended, he had all the characteristic terrors of a Saxon respecting fawns, forest-fiends, white women, and the whole of the superstitions which his ancestors had brought with them from the wilds of Germany.

1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:

When they were placed in position they thought it was time to begin,—and then did begin, too, and with a most impetuous energy, without waiting for anybody to give the word.

1880, Mark Twain [pseudonym] (Samuel L[anghorne] Clemens), chapter VI, in A Tramp Abroad; […], Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company; London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 58:

Having made a few vain attempts at engrossing my attention in my book, I was obliged to let myself be carried away by the impetuous torrent of the squire's eloquence.

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 250:

1917 rev. 1925, Ezra Pound, "Canto I"
Unsheathed the narrow sword,
I sat to keep off the impetuous impotent dead […]

Characterized by sudden violence or vehemence.

բուռն

characterized by sudden and violent force


pugnacious

pugnacious (comparative more pugnacious, superlative most pugnacious)

more pugnacious (comparative)
most pugnacious (superlative)

Borrowed from Latin, from a derivative of pugnāx, from pugnō (“I fight”), from pugnus (“fist”).

Not that the doctor was a bully, or even pugnacious, in the usual sense of the word; he had no disposition to provoke a fight, no propense love of quarrelling.

1858, Anthony Trollope, chapter 3, in Dr Thorne:

As he made the demand he spat out a mouthful of blood and teeth and shoved his pugnacious face close to Oofty-Oofty.

1904, Jack London, chapter 15, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:

In the face of bad news Churchill normally became even more pugnacious, always wanting to respond to defeat by going on the attack.

2003, Ken Follett, Hornet Flight, →ISBN, pages 249–250:

[I]n the 575 days since [Oscar] Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, there has been an unseemly scramble to construct revisionist histories, to identify evidence beneath that placid exterior of a pugnacious, hair-trigger personality.

2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, p. S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport):

Of course the Johnston swings around to engage the entire flotilla, and, despite taking several more hits, Johnston successfully forces away the first two ships, which leads to the entire squadron taking a detour to avoid the single pugnacious ship.

2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 29:50 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 2022-11-03:

Naturally aggressive or hostile; combative; belligerent; bellicose.


brusque

brusque (comparative brusquer or more brusque, superlative brusquest or most brusque)

brusquer (comparative)
more brusque (comparative)
brusquest (superlative)
most brusque (superlative)

The adjective is borrowed from French brusque, from Italian brusco (“abrupt, sudden, brusque; brisk; eager; sour, tart; unripe; grim-looking”); further etymology unknown.
The verb is derived from the adjective.

der

Mr. VValler, being probably of opinion that Monſieur Palamede’s arguments vvere too bruſque to be advanc’d in a diſpute vvith a Lady, vvho number’d not fevver than tvventy Kings of her progenitors, vvrote this poem in a more tender and courtly ſtyle; […]

1730, [Elijah] Fenton, “Observations on Some of Mr. Waller’s Poems. [To Zelinda.]”, in Edmund Waller, edited by [Elijah] Fenton, The Works of Edmund Waller, Esq; in Verse and Prose, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, page cv:

[A]ll the answer Miss Jarron got was a brusque refusal, followed by Mr. Camperton's retreat from the piano.

1761, “Thorpe Leigh; or, The Heir and the Owner”, in Riddell’s Review and Epitomist: A Literary Miscellany, and Record of Progress, part I, number III (New Series), London: J. H. Riddell, […], chapter XX, page 33, column 2:

Father Falkener vvas, at the time of this viſit, 'about ſeventy years of age, active in mind and body, bruſque in his manners,' and very communicative.

1788 May, “Art. VI. Of the Patagonians, Formed from the Relation of Father Falkener, a Jesuit, who had Resided among Them Thirty-eight Years, and from the Different Voyagers who had Met with this Tall Race. Printed by the Friendship of George Allan, Esq; at His Private Press at Darlington, 1788, 4to. 15 Pages. [book review]”, in [Thomas Christie], editor, The Analytical Review, or History of Literature, Domestic and Foreign. […], volume I, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 47:

"Cynthia Courtown seems as lively as ever," said Miss Gusset. / "Yes, lively enough, but I wish her manner was less brusque." / "Brusque indeed! you may well say to: she nearly pushed me down in the hall; and when I looked as if I thought she might have given me a little more room, she tossed her head and said, "Beg pardon, never saw you!"

1826, [Benjamin Disraeli], “Toadeys”, in Vivian Grey, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, book II, pages 244–245:

He was brusque, authoritative, given to contradiction, rough though never dirty in his personal belongings, and inclined to indulge in a sort of quiet raillery which sometimes was not thoroughly understood.

1858, Anthony Trollope, “Dr. Thorne”, in Doctor Thorne. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 57:

Whether it were the absence of Theodora or some other cause, he was brusk, ungracious, scowling, and silent, only nodding to the Bishop who benignly saluted him, […]

1870, B[enjamin] Disraeli, chapter XV, in Lothair. […], volume II, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, pages 161–162:

He greeted Milo jovially each time they met and, in an excess of contrite generosity, impulsively recommended Major Major for promotion. The recommendation was rejected at once at Twenty-seventh Air Force Headquarters by ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen, who scribbled a brusque, unsigned reminder that the Army had only one Major Major Major Major and did not intend to lose him by promotion just to please Colonel Cathcart.

1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “Major —— De Coverley”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 137:

Where there are reasonably adequate peaceful alternatives, the use of disruptive self-help by either side of a labor dispute in so important an enterprise contributes neither to the public convenience nor to the long-term interest of the participants. For if they are unable to resolve their differences by their own restraints and inventions, other and more impatient forces may provide brusquer machinery.

1962 November 19, “Publishers’ Association of New York City, et al. and New York Mailers Union No. 6 International Typographical Union, AFL-CIO and Newspaper and Mail Deliverers Union”, in Decisions and Orders of the National Labor Relations Board (Cases No. 2-CA-7863 and 2-CA-7884), volume 139, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office [for the] National Labor Relations Board, published 1963, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1122:

The brusque New York chef [Ali Yeganeh] who was lampooned on "Seinfeld" as the "Soup Nazi" plans to open a chain of takeout soup stands across North America. But don’t expect the authentically rude New York treatment.

2005 April 29, “No soup for you? Not so fast”, in NBC News, archived from the original on 2022-09-26:

[…] I approached the Commissioner of Deportation with a request to release some Armenians who were employed by Germans. He refused this in the brusquest manner and said to me in an incredibly arrogant tone of voice which I will never forget, ‘Vous ne comprenez pas ce que nous voulons. Nous voulons une Arménie sans Arméniens.’ [You do not understand what we want. We want an Armenia without Armenians.]

2014, “The People Responsible for the Genocide”, in Wolfgang Gust, editor, The Armenian Genocide: Evidence from the German Foreign Office Archives, 1915–1916, New York, N.Y., Oxford, Oxfordshire: Berghahn Books, →ISBN, page 69:

They admired in each other a brusque self-assurance and artless candor that others often perceived as arrogant.

2018 June 19, Gideon Lewis-Kraus, “Inside the Crypto World’s Biggest Scandal”, in Wired, San Francisco, Calif.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-07-11:

When Dany showed up to throw the Night King off his steed and send him plunging to earth, it was at least a coherent action, which the brusque dragon-grappling prior to it failed to convey.

2019 April 28, Alex McLevy, “Game Of Thrones Suffers the Fog of War in the Battle against the Dead (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2021-05-31:

ashpër

rudely abrupt — see also curt, unfriendly


brusque

Borrowed from Italian brusco. Doublet of brusc.


withdrawn

en-adj

withdrawn (comparative more withdrawn, superlative most withdrawn)

more withdrawn (comparative)
most withdrawn (superlative)

a withdrawn child

introverted; not inclined to interact with other people


sot

fr-adj

sot (feminine sotte, masculine plural sots, feminine plural sottes)

sotte (feminine)
sots (masculine plural)
sottes (feminine plural)

Inherited from Middle French sot, from Old French soz, from Medieval Latin sottus (“foolish”), of uncertain ultimate origin. Possibly an expressive interjection, similar to modern zut! (“damn it!”). This Latin word was borrowed into Germanic languages such as Dutch zot, Old English sott (modern English sot).

onomatopoeic

expressive


vif

fr-adj

vif (feminine vive, masculine plural vifs, feminine plural vives)

vive (feminine)
vifs (masculine plural)
vives (feminine plural)

Inherited from Middle French vif, from Old French vif, from Latin vīvus (“alive, living”), from Proto-Italic *gʷīwos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós (“alive”).


dry

en-adj

dry (comparative drier or dryer, superlative driest or dryest)

drier (comparative)
dryer (comparative)
driest (superlative)
dryest (superlative)

wet

antonym(s) of “abstinent from or banning alcohol”

wet

antonym(s) of “not using afterburners or water injection”

wet

of a scientist or lab: doing computation

Sranan Tongo: drei

[d̠͡ɹ̠˔ʷaɪ̯]

Adjective and noun from Middle English drye, dryge, drüȝe, from Old English drȳġe (“dry; parched, withered”), from Proto-West Germanic *drūgī, *draugī, from Proto-Germanic *drūgiz, *draugiz (“dry, hard”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerǵʰ- (“to strengthen; become hard”), from *dʰer- (“to hold, support”). The verb derives from Middle English drien, from Old English drȳġan (“to dry”), from Proto-West Germanic *drūgijan, from Proto-Germanic *drūgiz (“hard, desiccated, dry”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerǵʰ- (“strong, hard, solid”).
cognates and related terms
 Cognate with Scots dry, drey (“dry”), North Frisian drüg, driig, Saterland Frisian druuch (“dry”), West Frisian droech (“dry”), Dutch droog (“dry”), Low German dröög (“dry”), German dröge (“dull”), Icelandic draugur (“a dry log”). Related also to German trocken (“dry”), West Frisian drege (“long-lasting”), Danish drøj (“tough”), Swedish dryg (“lasting, hard”), Icelandic drjúgur (“ample, long”), Latin firmus (“strong, firm, stable, durable”). See also drought, drain, dree.

cog

you don't miss the water till the well runs dry

you never miss the water till the well runs dry

you never miss the water until the well runs dry

Prospero:[…]Confederates / (ſo drie he was for Sway) with King of Naples / To giue him Annuall tribute, doe him homage / Subiect his Coronet, to his Crowne and bend / The Dukedom yet vnbow'd (alas poore Millaine) / To moſt ignoble ſtooping.

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:


shallow

en-adj

shallow (comparative shallower, superlative shallowest)

shallower (comparative)
shallowest (superlative)

From Middle English schalowe (“not deep, shallow”); apparently related to Middle English schalde, schold, scheld, schealde (“shallow”), from Old English sċeald (“shallow”), from Proto-Germanic *skal-, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelh₁- (“to parch, dry out”). Related to Low German Scholl (“shallow water”). See also shoal.

der

given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow

It was a glamorous but shallow lifestyle.

Concerned mainly with superficial matters.

паве́рхневы

concerned mainly with superficial matters


dull

en-adj

dull (comparative duller, superlative dullest)

duller (comparative)
dullest (superlative)

From Middle English dull, dul (also dyll, dill, dwal), from Old English dol (“dull, foolish, erring, heretical; foolish, silly; presumptuous”), from Proto-West Germanic *dol, from Proto-Germanic *dulaz, from earlier *dwulaz, a variant of *dwalaz (“stunned, mad, foolish, misled”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰwel-, *dʰewel- (“to dim, dull, cloud, make obscure, swirl, whirl”).
Cognate with Scots dull, doll (“slow to understand or hear, deaf, dull”), North Frisian dol (“rash, unthinking, giddy, flippant”), Dutch dol (“crazy, mad, insane”), Low German dul, dol (“mad, silly, stupid, fatuous”), German toll (“crazy, mad, wild, fantastic”), Danish dval (“foolish, absurd”), Icelandic dulur (“secretive, silent”), West-Flemish dul (angry, furious).

cog

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

All these knives are dull.

Lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp.

tumpoi

lacking the ability to cut easily; not sharp

This people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 13:xiii:

O, help my weak wit and sharpen my dull tongue.

1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book)”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

[…] St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and left only a dull oppression of the spirit.

1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

I felt dull all day.


smooth

en-adj

smooth (comparative smoother, superlative smoothest)

smoother (comparative)
smoothest (superlative)

From Middle English smothe, smethe, from Old English smēþe, smōþ, both from Proto-West Germanic *smanþī, of unknown origin. Cognate with Scots smuith (“smooth”), Low German smood and smödig (“smooth, malleable, ductile”), Dutch smeuïg (“smooth”) (from earlier smeudig).

a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor

the course of true love never did run smooth

This smooth discourse and mild behavior oft / Conceal a traitor.

1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, (please specify the page):

This feeling, grounded on the experience of centuries of oppression, was not to be allayed by smooth explanations on the part of the advocates of the Constitution.

1912, Gustavus Myers, History of the Supreme Court of the United States, page 133:

He was so smooth and handsome. He knew just what to say and when to say it.

2003, T. Lewis Humphrey, The Price of Love, →ISBN, page 279:

As we worked to the southward, we picked up fair weather, and enjoyed smooth seas and pleasant skies.

1898, John Donaldson Ford, An American Cruiser in the East, page 47:


animé

fr-adj

animé (feminine animée, masculine plural animés, feminine plural animées)

animée (feminine)
animés (masculine plural)
animées (feminine plural)


franc

→ Afar: faranká

→ Persian: فرانک (ferânk)

→ Ottoman Turkish: فرانق (frank)

Turkish: frank

→ Vietnamese: phật lăng

Inherited from Middle French franc, from Early Medieval Latin Francus (“a Frank”), from Frankish *Frank (“a Frank”) (see Etymology 1). Compare also Old High German Franko (“a Frank”), Old English Franca (“a Frank”). See also Feringhee.


quiet

en-adj

quiet (comparative quieter or more quiet, superlative quietest or most quiet)

quieter (comparative)
more quiet (comparative)
quietest (superlative)
most quiet (superlative)

From Middle English quiete, from Old French quiet (adjective) and quiete (noun), from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (“to keep quiet, rest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“rest”). Doublet of coy, quit, quite, and quietus. Largely displaced native English still in the sense of "with little or no sound".

doublet

the sea was quiet

a quiet night at home

all quiet on the Western front

He's a very quiet man usually, but is very chatty after a few beers.

Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.

a quiet dress

quiet colours

a quiet movement


quiet

en-verb

quiet (third-person singular simple present quiets, present participle quieting, simple past and past participle quieted)

quiets (present singular third-person)
quieting (participle present)
quieted (participle past)
quieted (past)

When you quiet, we can start talking.


indolent

de-adj

indolent (strong nominative masculine singular indolenter, comparative indolenter, superlative am indolentesten)

indolenter (masculine nominative singular strong)
indolenter (comparative)
am indolentesten (superlative)
indolent (masculine predicative singular)
indolent (feminine predicative singular)
indolent (neuter predicative singular)
indolent (plural predicative)
indolenter (masculine nominative singular strong without-article)
indolente (feminine nominative singular strong without-article)
indolentes (neuter nominative singular strong without-article)
indolente (nominative plural strong without-article)
indolenten (genitive masculine singular strong without-article)
indolenter (feminine genitive singular strong without-article)
indolenten (genitive neuter singular strong without-article)
indolenter (genitive plural strong without-article)
indolentem (dative masculine singular strong without-article)
indolenter (dative feminine singular strong without-article)
indolentem (dative neuter singular strong without-article)
indolenten (dative plural strong without-article)
indolenten (accusative masculine singular strong without-article)
indolente (accusative feminine singular strong without-article)
indolentes (accusative neuter singular strong without-article)
indolente (accusative plural strong without-article)
der indolente (definite includes-article masculine nominative singular weak)
die indolente (definite feminine includes-article nominative singular weak)
das indolente (definite includes-article neuter nominative singular weak)
die indolenten (definite includes-article nominative plural weak)
des indolenten (definite genitive includes-article masculine singular weak)
der indolenten (definite feminine genitive includes-article singular weak)
des indolenten (definite genitive includes-article neuter singular weak)
der indolenten (definite genitive includes-article plural weak)
dem indolenten (dative definite includes-article masculine singular weak)
der indolenten (dative definite feminine includes-article singular weak)
dem indolenten (dative definite includes-article neuter singular weak)
den indolenten (dative definite includes-article plural weak)
den indolenten (accusative definite includes-article masculine singular weak)
die indolente (accusative definite feminine includes-article singular weak)
das indolente (accusative definite includes-article neuter singular weak)
die indolenten (accusative definite includes-article plural weak)
ein indolenter (includes-article indefinite masculine mixed nominative singular)
eine indolente (feminine includes-article indefinite mixed nominative singular)
ein indolentes (includes-article indefinite mixed neuter nominative singular)
indolenten (indefinite mixed nominative plural)
keine indolenten (includes-article indefinite mixed negative nominative plural)
eines indolenten (genitive includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular)
einer indolenten (feminine genitive includes-article indefinite mixed singular)
eines indolenten (genitive includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular)
indolenten (genitive indefinite mixed plural)
keiner indolenten (genitive includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural)
einem indolenten (dative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular)
einer indolenten (dative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed singular)
einem indolenten (dative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular)
indolenten (dative indefinite mixed plural)
keinen indolenten (dative includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural)
einen indolenten (accusative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular)
eine indolente (accusative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed singular)
ein indolentes (accusative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular)
indolenten (accusative indefinite mixed plural)
keine indolenten (accusative includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural)
indolenter (comparative masculine predicative singular)
indolenter (comparative feminine predicative singular)
indolenter (comparative neuter predicative singular)
indolenter (comparative plural predicative)
indolenterer (comparative masculine nominative singular strong without-article)
indolentere (comparative feminine nominative singular strong without-article)
indolenteres (comparative neuter nominative singular strong without-article)
indolentere (comparative nominative plural strong without-article)
indolenteren (comparative genitive masculine singular strong without-article)
indolenterer (comparative feminine genitive singular strong without-article)
indolenteren (comparative genitive neuter singular strong without-article)
indolenterer (comparative genitive plural strong without-article)
indolenterem (comparative dative masculine singular strong without-article)
indolenterer (comparative dative feminine singular strong without-article)
indolenterem (comparative dative neuter singular strong without-article)
indolenteren (comparative dative plural strong without-article)
indolenteren (accusative comparative masculine singular strong without-article)
indolentere (accusative comparative feminine singular strong without-article)
indolenteres (accusative comparative neuter singular strong without-article)
indolentere (accusative comparative plural strong without-article)
der indolentere (comparative definite includes-article masculine nominative singular weak)
die indolentere (comparative definite feminine includes-article nominative singular weak)
das indolentere (comparative definite includes-article neuter nominative singular weak)
die indolenteren (comparative definite includes-article nominative plural weak)
des indolenteren (comparative definite genitive includes-article masculine singular weak)
der indolenteren (comparative definite feminine genitive includes-article singular weak)
des indolenteren (comparative definite genitive includes-article neuter singular weak)
der indolenteren (comparative definite genitive includes-article plural weak)
dem indolenteren (comparative dative definite includes-article masculine singular weak)
der indolenteren (comparative dative definite feminine includes-article singular weak)
dem indolenteren (comparative dative definite includes-article neuter singular weak)
den indolenteren (comparative dative definite includes-article plural weak)
den indolenteren (accusative comparative definite includes-article masculine singular weak)
die indolentere (accusative comparative definite feminine includes-article singular weak)
das indolentere (accusative comparative definite includes-article neuter singular weak)
die indolenteren (accusative comparative definite includes-article plural weak)
ein indolenterer (comparative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed nominative singular)
eine indolentere (comparative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed nominative singular)
ein indolenteres (comparative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter nominative singular)
indolenteren (comparative indefinite mixed nominative plural)
keine indolenteren (comparative includes-article indefinite mixed negative nominative plural)
eines indolenteren (comparative genitive includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular)
einer indolenteren (comparative feminine genitive includes-article indefinite mixed singular)
eines indolenteren (comparative genitive includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular)
indolenteren (comparative genitive indefinite mixed plural)
keiner indolenteren (comparative genitive includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural)
einem indolenteren (comparative dative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular)
einer indolenteren (comparative dative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed singular)
einem indolenteren (comparative dative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular)
indolenteren (comparative dative indefinite mixed plural)
keinen indolenteren (comparative dative includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural)
einen indolenteren (accusative comparative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular)
eine indolentere (accusative comparative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed singular)
ein indolenteres (accusative comparative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular)
indolenteren (accusative comparative indefinite mixed plural)
keine indolenteren (accusative comparative includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural)
am indolentesten (masculine predicative singular superlative)
am indolentesten (feminine predicative singular superlative)
am indolentesten (neuter predicative singular superlative)
am indolentesten (plural predicative superlative)
indolentester (masculine nominative singular strong superlative without-article)
indolenteste (feminine nominative singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentestes (neuter nominative singular strong superlative without-article)
indolenteste (nominative plural strong superlative without-article)
indolentesten (genitive masculine singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentester (feminine genitive singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentesten (genitive neuter singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentester (genitive plural strong superlative without-article)
indolentestem (dative masculine singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentester (dative feminine singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentestem (dative neuter singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentesten (dative plural strong superlative without-article)
indolentesten (accusative masculine singular strong superlative without-article)
indolenteste (accusative feminine singular strong superlative without-article)
indolentestes (accusative neuter singular strong superlative without-article)
indolenteste (accusative plural strong superlative without-article)
der indolenteste (definite includes-article masculine nominative singular superlative weak)
die indolenteste (definite feminine includes-article nominative singular superlative weak)
das indolenteste (definite includes-article neuter nominative singular superlative weak)
die indolentesten (definite includes-article nominative plural superlative weak)
des indolentesten (definite genitive includes-article masculine singular superlative weak)
der indolentesten (definite feminine genitive includes-article singular superlative weak)
des indolentesten (definite genitive includes-article neuter singular superlative weak)
der indolentesten (definite genitive includes-article plural superlative weak)
dem indolentesten (dative definite includes-article masculine singular superlative weak)
der indolentesten (dative definite feminine includes-article singular superlative weak)
dem indolentesten (dative definite includes-article neuter singular superlative weak)
den indolentesten (dative definite includes-article plural superlative weak)
den indolentesten (accusative definite includes-article masculine singular superlative weak)
die indolenteste (accusative definite feminine includes-article singular superlative weak)
das indolenteste (accusative definite includes-article neuter singular superlative weak)
die indolentesten (accusative definite includes-article plural superlative weak)
ein indolentester (includes-article indefinite masculine mixed nominative singular superlative)
eine indolenteste (feminine includes-article indefinite mixed nominative singular superlative)
ein indolentestes (includes-article indefinite mixed neuter nominative singular superlative)
indolentesten (indefinite mixed nominative plural superlative)
keine indolentesten (includes-article indefinite mixed negative nominative plural superlative)
eines indolentesten (genitive includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular superlative)
einer indolentesten (feminine genitive includes-article indefinite mixed singular superlative)
eines indolentesten (genitive includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular superlative)
indolentesten (genitive indefinite mixed plural superlative)
keiner indolentesten (genitive includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural superlative)
einem indolentesten (dative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular superlative)
einer indolentesten (dative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed singular superlative)
einem indolentesten (dative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular superlative)
indolentesten (dative indefinite mixed plural superlative)
keinen indolentesten (dative includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural superlative)
einen indolentesten (accusative includes-article indefinite masculine mixed singular superlative)
eine indolenteste (accusative feminine includes-article indefinite mixed singular superlative)
ein indolentestes (accusative includes-article indefinite mixed neuter singular superlative)
indolentesten (accusative indefinite mixed plural superlative)
keine indolentesten (accusative includes-article indefinite mixed negative plural superlative)


happy

en-adj

happy (comparative happier or more happy, superlative happiest or most happy)

happier (comparative)
more happy (comparative)
happiest (superlative)
most happy (superlative)

→ German: happy

→ Welsh: hapus (calque)

→ Japanese: ハッピー

From Middle English happy (“fortunate, happy”), perhaps an alteration of Middle English happyn, happen (“fortunate, happy”), possibly related to or from Old Norse heppinn (“fortunate, happy”); and potentially assimilated to be equivalent to hap (“chance, luck, fortune”) + -y. Compare also Icelandic heppinn (“lucky”), Norwegian Nynorsk heppen (“lucky”), Scots happin (“fortunate, blessed”). See further at hap.

der

Music makes me feel happy.

I may truely heere ſay vnto you, your ſelues alſo being witneſſe, and ſay it to the immortell praiſe of Gods name, to the honour of our Soueraigne, and to the ioy and comfort of all his people, that in this happineſſe, this reknowned Kingdome, among all, and aboue all Nations of the earth is bleſſed this day. Happie O King are thy people, and happie are thy Subiects or Seruants.

1609, Richard Crakanthorpe, “2. Chron[icles] Chap. 9.”, in A Sermon at the Solemnizing of the Happie Inauguration of our Most Gracious and Religious Soueraigne King Iames. Wherein is Manifestly Proued, that the Soueraignty of Kings is Immediatly from God, and Second to No Authority on Earth whatsoeuer. Preached at Paules Crosse, the 24. of March last. 1608, London: Printed by W[illiam] Iaggard for Tho[mas] Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the blew Bell, →OCLC:

Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 144:15:

[…] For the most happy universe is not one that consists of the greatest possible number of the most happy beings only; but one that consists of that, and the greatest possible number of beings next inferior to the first rank, and so downward, till we come to those that approach the nearest to insensible matter.

1731, Thomas Bayes, Divine Benevolence: or, An Attempt to Prove that the Principal End of the Divine Providence and Government is the Happiness of His Creatures: Being an Answer to a Pamphlet, Entitled, Divine Rectitude; or, An Inquiry Concerning the Moral Perfections of the Deity. With a Refutation of the Notions therein Advanced Concerning Beauty and Order, the Reason of Punishment, and the Necessity of a State of Trial antecedent to Perfect Happiness, London: Printed for John Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel, OCLC 642498368; quoted in Andrew I. Dale, Most Honourable Remembrance: The Life and Work of Thomas Bayes (Studies and Sources in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences), New York, N.Y.: Springer, 2003, ISBN 978-0-387-00499-0, page 138

Whate'er the Paſſion, Knowledge, Fame, or Pelf, / Not one will change his Neighbour with himſelf. / The Learn'd are happy, Nature to explore; / The Fool is happy, that he knows no more; / The Rich are happy in the plenty given; / The Poor contents him with the Care of Heaven.

1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle II, London: Printed for J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC, page 17:

[S]ince the happy are sufficient to themselves they have no need of friends; and hence it is said, "When Fortune's goods abound, what boots a friend?" Thus then it appears that the happy do not require friends.

1807, anonymous [formerly incorrectly attributed to Andronicus of Rhodes], “That the Happy Man has Need of Worthy Friends”, in William Bridgman, transl., The Paraphrase of an Anonymous Greek Writer, (hitherto Published Under the Name of Andronicus Rhodius) on the Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle. Translated from the Greek, by William Bridgman, F.L.S., London: Printed by C[harles] Whittingham, 103, Goswell Street; and sold by T[homas] Payne, Pall-Mall; J. White Fleet-Street; Cuthell and Martin, Middle-Row, Holborn; and J. and A. Arch, Cornhill, →OCLC, book IX, page 415:

While they are in this state striving perhaps to render their fellow beings more happy, of whatever sect or denomination they may be, they meet with one or more persons who undertake to convert their mere cold belief in religious doctrines—which is at best little better than mere morality—into real effective religion, a religion that will move the tongue.

1829, Charles Knowlton, “On the Passions”, in Elements of Modern Materialism: Inculcating the Idea of a Future State, in which All Will be More Happy, under whatever Circumstances They May be Placed than if They Experienced No Misery in this Life, Adams, Mass.: Printed for the author, by A. Oakey, →OCLC, page 324:

A happy birthday to you, / A happy birthday to you, / A happy birthday, dear Roy, / A happy birthday to you.

1901, Edith Goodyear Alger, “Roy's Birthday”, in A Primer of Work and Play, Boston, Mass.: D. C. Heath and Company, →OCLC, page 49:

In different ways, therefore, for many pupils, whether they benefit greatly from the system, or just 'get by', or are 'bored stiff' by the lessons, or for the most part are completely rebellious, schooldays do often appear to be 'the happiest days'.

1990, Peter Woods, “Laughing at School”, in The Happiest Days?: How Pupils Cope With Schools, Basingstoke, Hants: The Falmer Press, Taylor & Francis, →ISBN, page 182:

Because I'm happy / Clap along if you know what happiness is to you / Because I'm happy / Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

2013 November 21, Pharrell Williams (lyrics and music), “Happy”, in Girl, performed by Pharrell Williams:

People who believe that a better life awaits us after this one would appear to have secured a happier ending, even before they come close to the end. There is little to be afraid of if you're armed with the promise of a wonderful future. Death is only a portal to greater joy.

2014, Erica Brown, “Pondering the Afterlife”, in Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 49:

Having a feeling arising from a consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, such as comfort, peace, or tranquillity; blissful, contented, joyous.

Are you happy to pay me back by the end of the week?

Yes, I am happy with the decision.

A Christian may be happier in low circumstances, than in high ones. He may be happier without rich friends, than with them. He may be happier in loneliness, than in a crowd of flatterers. He may be happier under reproach, than when riding on the spring-tide of popularity. He may be happier with hard work, than in a life of ease. He may be happier with coarse and scanty food, than with tables of luxury. He may be happier in sickness and persecution, than in health and quietness.

1844, “Patience and Perseverance”, in J[oseph] Barker, editor, The Christian, volume I, number XIV, London: Chapman, 121, Newgate Street; Mardon, 7, Farringdon Street; Newcastle-on-Tyne: J[oseph] Barker, 3, Hood Street, →OCLC, page 314:

A strong acid is also a substance whose conjugate base (obviously a weak base) is quite happy with the excess electrons it got from that bond.

2007, I[ver] David Reingold, “Substitution Reactions”, in Organic Chemistry, or, “The Happy Carbon”: An Introduction Emphasizing Biological Connections, Delhi: Indo American Books, →ISBN, page 308:

This wave of "financial innovation" led to rapid growth in subprime lending, which was enhanced on the demand side by the housing boom and general asset price bubble. While the party lasted everyone was happy. Mortgage lenders were happy to lend and keep subprime loans off their books via securitization. Issuers of ABSs were happy to get their commissions. Borrowers were happy to get loans without scrutiny. Investors were happy to acquire assets that were "risk-free" and offered a return of hundreds of basis points over that offered by US Treasuries.

2016, Imad A. Moosa, “The Post-crisis Regulatory Landscape: An Overview”, in Contemporary Issues in the Post-crisis Regulatory Landscape, Singapore: World Scientific, →ISBN, page 8:

Content, willing, satisfied (with or to do something); having no objection (to something).

tevrede

content (to do something); having no objection (to something)


happy

en-verb

happy (third-person singular simple present happies, present participle happying, simple past and past participle happied)

happies (present singular third-person)
happying (participle present)
happied (participle past)
happied (past)

Whenever I started drinking again after abstaining for any period of time, it usually was an effort to relieve stress and to "happy up."

2001, John L. Bullion, “Jokes”, in In the Boat with LBJ, Plano, Tex.: Republic of Texas Press, →ISBN, page 294:

[H]e smiled […] then asked my name. He checked it against his clipboard then sadly shook his head as if he'd been rejected himself. Told him I was looking for employment and he happied up again, able to help by directing me to apply at the front office, that the doors were on the Gower Street side.

2016 July 18, Wayne Kaatz, chapter 11, in Stuck on Earth, Bloomington, Ind.: Archway Publishing, →ISBN:

(intransitive, informal) Often followed by up: to become happy; to brighten up, to cheer up.

People really didn't want their Party Motivators in their photos, anonymous dancers, happying up the place. It spooked them.

2007, Mireille Juchau, “Sanctuary”, in Burning In, Artarmon, N.S.W.: Giramondo Publishing for the Writing & Society Research Group, University of Western Sydney, →ISBN, page 201:

[…] [William] Glasser would probably say that happy people are "happying" themselves by choosing behaviors that help them to feel happy (working at their relationships, engaging in productive work activities, participating in desired recreational activities, etc.).

2015 October 26, Nickolas Martin, Ego Therapy: A Method for Healing Your Whole Self, Bloomington, Ind.: Balboa Press, Hay House, →ISBN:

(transitive, informal) Often followed by up: to make happy; to brighten, to cheer, to enliven.


arrogant

en-adj

arrogant (comparative more arrogant, superlative most arrogant)

more arrogant (comparative)
most arrogant (superlative)

From Middle English arrogaunt, from Old French arrogant, from Latin arrogāns, present active participle of arrogō.

The demand to be loved is the greatest of all arrogant presumptions.

1878, Friedrich Nietzsche, Wanting to be Loved:

Call me a braggart, call me arrogant. People at ABC (and elsewhere) have called me worse. But when you need the job done on deadline, you’ll call me.

1987, Sam Donaldson, Hold On, Mr President!:

Transport Minister Marples, meanwhile, used arrogant rhetoric and showed his personal contempt for railways when confirming in Parliament that a third of the network was to be closed even before the survey results were known.

2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 53:

Having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others.


arrogant

fr-adj

arrogant (feminine arrogante, masculine plural arrogants, feminine plural arrogantes)

arrogante (feminine)
arrogants (masculine plural)
arrogantes (feminine plural)


obsessive

en-adj

obsessive (comparative more obsessive, superlative most obsessive)

more obsessive (comparative)
most obsessive (superlative)

The idea is too tempting, it's obsessive.


intuitive

intuitive (comparative more intuitive, superlative most intuitive)

more intuitive (comparative)
most intuitive (superlative)

[ɪnˈt͡ʃuːɪtɪv]

Borrowed from Middle French intuitif, from Medieval Latin intuitivus, from Latin intueri.

The intuitive response turned out to be correct.

Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented to citizens affects what they choose, society should present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control.

2012 January 7, Steven Sloman, “The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 2012-01-08, page 74:

These impressions [of potential papal candidates], collected from interviews with a variety of church officials and experts, may influence the very intuitive, often unpredictable process the cardinals will use to decide who should lead the world’s largest church.

2013 February 16, Laurie Goodstein, “Cardinals Size Up Potential Candidates for New Pope”, in NYTimes.com:

Spontaneous, without requiring conscious thought.

інтуіты́ўны

automatic, without requiring conscious thought


oddball

Compound of odd + ball. First used in late 1930s, describing an extra ball played as a bonus in pin-ball type games. Well-attested since the 1940s, with the adjective appearing earlier than the noun.

Miss Quinn thought that Oswald spoke Russian well in view of his lack of formal training; she found the evening uninteresting. Donovan, with whom she had a date later, testified that she told him that Oswald was “kind of an oddball.”

1964, Earl Warren et al., Report of the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, page 685:

"She's different, mister. A real oddball, if you know what I mean. But your little girl would love her. All kids love the Doll Lady."

1989, Maris Soule, Storybook Hero, page 5:


trustworthy

trustworthy (comparative trustworthier or more trustworthy, superlative trustworthiest or most trustworthy)

trustworthier (comparative)
more trustworthy (comparative)
trustworthiest (superlative)
most trustworthy (superlative)

The storage of cryptographic secrets is one of the paramount requirements in building trustworthy systems.

2014, Thomas Feller, Trustworthy Reconfigurable Systems:


know-it-all

We had it all figured out, but this know-it-all marched in with "the correct way of solving it", leaving our experiment in shambles.

The same holds true for supporting details—they help you to learn more about a topic. Be a know it all by sharing these details and supporting details with friends.

2004, Princeton Review, Know It All! Grades 9-12 Reading, The Princeton Review, →ISBN, page 22:

She's a mean, bossy know-it-all.

2005, Pansie Hart Flood, Tiger Turcotte Takes on the Know-it-all, Carolrhoda Books, →ISBN:

Have you ever gone shopping with a Know-It-All girlfriend and she insists, without your consent or consulting you first, to choose your outfits for you?

2012, Joe Ike, How do I relate with a “know-it-all”?, xBusinessServices Corp., page 60

(chiefly US, derogatory) Someone who claims to be knowledgeable or an expert in something, obnoxiously dismissing the opinions, advice, suggestions, etc. of others.

ամենագետ

someone who obnoxiously claims to be knowledgeable on a subject

知ったかぶりをする人

no exact term exists, the term for the action is idiomatic


alpha

From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif and aleph.

And thank you. Seriously. I'll call you later.
You better. I'm feeling pretty alpha now.
Yes, you are.

(of person, object or action) Exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.


beta

en-noun

beta (countable and uncountable, plural betas)

From Ancient Greek βῆτα (bêta). Doublet of beth.

“I guess in your psychological language of alpha males and beta males, I would be firmly in the camp that prefers the more laid-back betas,” she took a deep breath, “like your father.”

2006, Catherine Mann, Blaze of Glory, Harlequin, published 2006, →ISBN:

“They want sexy, virile alpha males, yes? But that doesn't come with sensitive and loyal and all of that. That's a beta. A frickin' collie, Lola. […]

2010, L. A. Banks, “Dog Tired (of the Drama!)”, in Kevin J. Anderson, editor, Blood Lite II: Overbite, Gallery Books, →ISBN, page 121:

She'd always had a thing for alpha males. Not that she had any intention of being bossed around, even if one had her best interests at heart. Her fascination with alphas was that they were a challenge. Betas didn't hold much of an appeal.

2010, Terry Spear, Wolf Fever, Sourcebooks Casablanca, published 2010, →ISBN, page 24:

When they ride the cock carousel in preference to the responsible betas that they find so boring, well, we guess that they pay.

2015, Stephen Jarosek, Tyrants of Matriarchy:

News of Harper-Mercer's murder spree, which killed ten, prompted speculation on neoreactionary forums that the long-awaited “beta uprising” of virginal shut-ins had begun. Not quite. But in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017, a large audience of Americans finally saw the real beta uprising in the violent Nazi rally that shut the city down

2018, Corey Pein, Live Work Work Work Die:

(slang, manosphere, masculism) Ellipsis of beta male, a man who is less competent or desirable than an alpha male.


crazy

en-adj

crazy (comparative crazier, superlative craziest)

crazier (comparative)
craziest (superlative)

From craze (“to crush”) + -y, akin to being "crazed up". Compare cracked up (“suffered a mental breakdown; be insane”).

Why is she so crazy about him?

In love; experiencing romantic feelings.


modest

modest (comparative more modest or modester, superlative most modest or modestest)

more modest (comparative)
modester (comparative)
most modest (superlative)
modestest (superlative)

From Middle French modeste, from Latin modestus.

Not bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements; unpretentious, humble.

مُتْوَاضِع

not bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements

He earns a modest amount of money.

Her latest novel was a modest success.

modest thoughts or language

Pure and delicate from a sense of propriety.


neurotic

Formed of neuro- (“of nerves or the nervous system”) + -otic (“having abnormal condition”). The initial element, in turn, is from Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neûron, “nerve”). Attested from the 17th century. Compare French névrotique.


real

en-adj

real (comparative realer or more real, superlative realest or most real)

realer (comparative)
more real (comparative)
realest (superlative)
most real (superlative)

fictitious

antonym(s) of “that has physical existence”

imaginary

antonym(s) of “relating to numbers with a one-to-one correspondence to the points on a line”

UK

US

From Middle English real, from Old French reel, from Late Latin reālis (“actual”), from Latin rēs (“matter, thing”), from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁ís (“wealth, goods”). Doublet of realis.

prea

signifying meritorious qualities or actions

the real treasure is the friends we made along the way

City hall has its place, but this pub is the real heart of the town.

[T]he real reason he didn't come was because he was scared of flying[.]

2007, Jim Kokoris, The Rich Part of Life: A Novel, →ISBN, page 179:

Even without hovering drones, a lurking assassin, a thumping score and a denouement, the real-life story of Edward Snowden, a rogue spy on the run, could be straight out of the cinema. But, as with Hollywood, the subplots and exotic locations may distract from the real message: America’s discomfort and its foes’ glee.

2013 June 29, “Travels and travails”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 55:

en:genuine, not nominal, not merely in name

True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.

An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.

2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly):

This is real leather.

Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.

həqiqi

genuine, not artificial, counterfeit or fake

Whose perfection farr excell’d Hers in all real dignitie

1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about […], or offering services that let you[…]"share the things you love with the world" and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention.

2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 27:

These are real tears!


intelligent

en-adj

intelligent (comparative more intelligent or (rare, proscribed) intelligenter, superlative most intelligent or (rare, proscribed) intelligentest)

more intelligent (comparative)
intelligenter (comparative proscribed rare)
most intelligent (superlative)
intelligentest (proscribed rare superlative)

From Middle French intelligent, from Latin intellegēns (“discerning”), present active participle of intellegō (“understand, comprehend”), itself from inter (“between”) + legō (“choose, pick out, read”).

My girlfriend and I had an intelligent conversation.

Characterized by thoughtful interaction.


intelligent

fr-adj

intelligent (feminine intelligente, masculine plural intelligents, feminine plural intelligentes)

intelligente (feminine)
intelligents (masculine plural)
intelligentes (feminine plural)

Borrowed from Latin intelligentem (“discerning”), present active participle of intellegō (“understand, comprehend”), itself from inter (“between”) + legō (“choose, pick out, read”).


friendly

From Middle English frendly, freendly, frendely, frendlich, from Old English frēondlīċ, from Proto-Germanic *frijōndlīkaz, equivalent to friend + -ly. Cognate with Saterland Frisian früntelk, fjuntelk (“friendly”), West Frisian freonlik (“friendly”), Dutch vriendelijk (“friendly”), German Low German fründelk, frünnelk (“friendly”), German freundlich (“friendly”).

This match is merely a friendly, so don't worry too much about it.

Brazil provided a different test from Germany and gave England lessons Southgate will store before he gets his squad together again for friendlies against the Netherlands in Amsterdam and at home to Italy in March.

2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News:

(sports) A game which is of no consequence in terms of ranking, betting, etc.


pragmatic

en-adj

pragmatic (comparative more pragmatic, superlative most pragmatic)

more pragmatic (comparative)
most pragmatic (superlative)

/pɹæɡˈmætɪk/

From Middle French pragmatique, from Late Latin pragmaticus (“relating to civil affair; in Latin, as a noun, a person versed in the law who furnished arguments and points to advocates and orators, a kind of attorney”), from Ancient Greek πραγματικός (pragmatikós, “active, versed in affairs”), from πρᾶγμα (prâgma, “a thing done, a fact”), in plural πράγματα (prágmata, “affairs, state affairs, public business, etc.”), from πράσσω (prássō, “to do”) (whence English practical).

der

The sturdy furniture in the student lounge was pragmatic, but unattractive.

Nor indeed are these restrictions pragmatic in nature: i.e. the ill-formedness of the heed-sentences in (60) is entirely different in kind from the oddity of sentences like:
 (61) !That man will eat any car which thinks heʼs stupid
 which is purely pragmatic (i.e. lies in the fact that (61) describes the kind of bizarre situation which just doesnʼt happen in the world we are familiar with, where cars donʼt think, and people donʼt eat cars).

1988, Andrew Radford, chapter 8, in Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 423:

Another increasing concern with both ideological and pragmatic elements related to the situation of wickerworkers.

2013, Joong-Seop Kim, The Korean Paekjong Under Japanese Rule:

Practical, concerned with making decisions and actions that are useful in practice, not just theory.

Polybius’s pragmatic history is simply the history of affairs, as distinguished from the descriptive and often poetical character which much history before his time had.

1854 March, J. G., “On the Dating of Ancient History”, in Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology, volume 1, page 53:

[…]such objects belonged to the domain of the comic poet, and of the lighter kinds of poetry. For the more serious kinds, for pragmatic poetry, to use an excellent expression of Polybius, they were more difficult and severe in the range of subjects which they permitted.

Philosophical; dealing with causes, reasons, and effects, rather than with details and circumstances; said of literature.


pragmatic

/pɹæɡˈmætɪk/


worldly

en-adj

worldly (comparative worldlier or more worldly, superlative worldliest or most worldly)

worldlier (comparative)
more worldly (comparative)
worldliest (superlative)
most worldly (superlative)

From Middle English worldly, worldlich, wordly (adjective), from Old English woruldlīċ, worldlīċ, weoroldlīċ (“worldly; earthly; temporal; mundane; secular”), from Proto-Germanic *weraldilīkaz, equivalent to world + -ly. Cognate with Dutch wereldlijk (“worldly; secular”), German Low German weltlik (“worldly”), German weltlich (“worldly”), Danish verdslig (“worldly”), Swedish världslig (“worldly”), Icelandic veraldlegur (“worldly; secular”).

cog

Homer and Marge have to try to explain things to children who are too worldly to fall for most excuses, the explanation trails off, and what could be a pleasant family outing to solve it all turns out to be yet another excuse for self-involvement when one public humiliation doesn’t outweigh the joys of getting busy in a windmill.

2016 January 24, Les Chappell, “TV: Review: The Simpsons (Classic), “Natural Born Kissers” (season nine, episode 25, originally aired 05/17/1998)”, in The Onion AV Club:

Sophisticated, especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world.


pure

en-adj

pure (comparative purer or more pure, superlative purest or most pure)

purer (comparative)
more pure (comparative)
purest (superlative)
most pure (superlative)

contaminated

antonym(s) of “free of foreign material”

corrupt

antonym(s) of “free of immoral behavior”

→ Welsh: piwr

From Middle English pure, pur, from Old French pur, from Latin pūrus (“clean, free from dirt or filth, unmixed, plain”), from Proto-Indo-European *pewH- (“to cleanse, purify”). Displaced native Middle English lutter (“pure, clear, sincere”) (from Old English hlūtor, hluttor), Middle English skere (“pure, sheer, clear”) (from Old English scǣre and Old Norse skǣr), Middle English schir (“clear, pure”) (from Old English scīr), Middle English smete, smeate (“pure, refined”) (from Old English smǣte; compare Old English mǣre (“pure”)).

noncog

Laye hondes sodenly on no man nether be part taker of wother mens synnes. Kepe thy silfe pure.

1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, 1 Timothy v:[22], folio cclxxviij, recto:

Free of immoral behavior or qualities; clean.

непорочен

free of immoral behavior or qualities; clean


weird

en-adj

weird (comparative weirder, superlative weirdest)

weirder (comparative)
weirdest (superlative)

From Middle English werde, wierde, wirde, wyrede, wurde, from Old English wyrd (“fate”), from Proto-West Germanic *wurdi, from Proto-Germanic *wurdiz, from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to turn, wind”). Cognate with Icelandic urður (“fate”). Related to Old English weorþan (“to become”). Doublet of wyrd. More at worth.
Obsolete by the 16th century in English, but reintroduced from Middle Scots weird, whence Shakespeare borrowed it in naming the Weird Sisters (originally Weyward Sisters, the Three Witches), reintroducing it to English. The senses “abnormal”, “strange” etc. arose via reinterpretation of Weird Sisters and date from after this reintroduction.

der

There are lots of weird people in this place.

Having an unusually strange character or behaviour.

عَجِيب

having an unusually strange character or behaviour


weird

(North America, informal) weird, bizarre


strange

en-adj

strange (comparative stranger, superlative strangest)

stranger (comparative)
strangest (superlative)

From Middle English straunge, strange, stronge, from Old French estrange, from Latin extrāneus (“that which is on the outside”). Doublet of extraneous and estrange. Cognate with French étrange (“strange, foreign”) and Spanish extraño (“strange, foreign”). Displaced native Middle English selcouth and uncouth, from Old English seldcūþ and uncūþ.

der

Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? say, when? / You grow exceeding strange: must it be so?

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon learn to love thee!

1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter 19, in The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC, page 253:

(obsolete) Reserved; distant in deportment.


rash

en-adj

rash (comparative rasher, superlative rashest)

rasher (comparative)
rashest (superlative)

The adjective is derived from Middle English rash, rasch (“hasty, headstrong, rash”) [and other forms], probably from Old English *ræsċ (“rash”) (found in derivatives such as ræsċan (“to move rapidly; to flicker; to flash; to glitter; to quiver”), ræsċettan (“to crackle, sparkle”), etc.), from Proto-West Germanic *rask, *raskī, *rasku, from Proto-Germanic *raskaz, *raskuz, *raþskaz, *raþskuz (“rash; rapid”), from Proto-Indo-European *Hreth₂- (“to run, roll”). The Middle English word was probably influenced by the cognates listed below.
The adverb is derived from Middle English rashe (“quickly, rapidly”), from rash, rasch (adjective) (see above).
Cognates
* Dutch ras, rasch (“rash”)
* Middle Low German rasch (“rash”)
* Old Danish rask (“agile, nimble; fast; healthy, vigorous”) (modern Danish rask (“agile, nimble; fast; healthy, vigorous; hasty, rash”))
* Old High German reski (“impetuous, rash”) (Middle High German rasch, resch (“agile, nimble; fast; lively; healthy, vigorous”), modern German rasch, räsch, resch (“agile, nimble; fast; hasty, rash; healthy, vigorous; of food: crisp, crusty”))
* Old Norse rǫskr (“brave; healthy, vigorous”) (Icelandic röskur (“strong; healthy, vigorous”))
* Old Swedish rasker (“agile, nimble; brave; fast; vigorous”) (modern Swedish rask (“agile, nimble; fast; healthy, vigorous”))

cog

rash words spoken in the heat of debate

[…] Eusebius doth report that Ireneus dyd reprooue Victor byshop of Rome for his rash sentēce in excōmunicating the Churches of Grece, concerning the obseruation of the feast of Easter.

1563 March 30 (Gregorian calendar), John Foxe, “Examinations and Martyrdom of John Philpot”, in Actes and Monuments of These Latter and Perillous Dayes, […], London: […] Iohn Day, […], →OCLC, book V, page [1470]:

For ſitting in his [Marcus Junius Brutus's] tent, penſive and troubled vvith the horrour of his raſh act, it vvas not hard for him, ſlumbering in the cold, to dream of that vvhich moſt affrighted him; […]

1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of Imagination”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 1st part (Of Man), page 7:

[T]hrough the raſh adventure and fool-hardineſs of ſome fevv, an overture only made, and ſome advantage got of performing a great piece of ſervice and vvorthy exploit.

1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “[Book X]”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC, page 310:

I vvas a fool, too raſh, and quite miſtaken / In vvhat I thought vvould have ſucceeded beſt.

1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 57, lines 8–9:

He will tell you in how few moments ſhe repented of the raſh meſſage ſhe had ſent you— […]

1761, [Laurence Sterne], “Slawkenbergius’s Tale”, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume IV, London: […] R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, page 65:

So ſhould an ideot vvhile at large he ſtrays, / Find the ſvveet lyre on vvhich an artiſt plays, / VVith raſh and aukvvard force the chords he ſhakes, / And grins vvith vvonder at the jar he makes; […]

1782, William Cowper, “Conversation”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 257:

Take then no vow at random: ta'en, with faith / Preserve it; yet not bent, as Jephthah once, / Blindly to execute a rash resolve, / Whom better it had suited to exclaim, / 'I have done ill,' than to redeem his pledge / By doing worse: […]

1814, Dante Alighieri, “Canto V”, in H[enry] F[rancis] Cary, transl., The Vision; or, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, of Dante Alighieri. […], volume III (Paradise), London: […] [J. Barfield] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, pages 21–22, lines 63–68:

She did a rash thing. She sent a letter to Ivy Bolton, enclosing a note to the keeper, and asking Mrs Bolton to give it to him.

1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XVIII, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC, page 283:

Acting too quickly without considering the consequences and risks; not careful; hasty.

прибързан

acting too quickly without considering the consequences and risks — see also hasty