ac·cu·sa·tion ( ²k"y›-z³"sh…n) n. 1. An act of accusing or the state of being accused. 2. A charge of wrongdoing that is made against a person or other party.

base·less ( b³s"l¹s) adj. 1. Having no basis or foundation in fact; unfounded.

Synonyms: baseless groundless idle unfounded unwarranted The central meaning shared by these adjectives is " being without a basis or foundation in fact ": a baseless accusation; groundless rumors; idle gossip; unfounded suspicions; unwarranted jealousy.

care·less ( kâr"l¹s) adj. 1. Taking insufficient care; negligent: a careless housekeeper; careless proofreading. 2. Marked by or resulting from lack of forethought or thoroughness: a careless mistake. 3. Showing a lack of consideration: a careless remark. 4. Unconcerned or indifferent; heedless: careless of the consequences. 5. Unstudied or effortless: danced with careless grace. 6. Exhibiting a disposition that is free from cares; cheerful: a careless grin; a careless wave of the hand. care "less·ly adv. care "less·ness n.

Synonyms: careless heedless thoughtless inadvertent These adjectives apply to what is marked by insufficient care or attention. Careless often implies negligence: " It is natural for careless writers to run into faults they never think of " (George Berkeley). Heedless suggests often reckless inattentiveness: " We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics " (Franklin D. Roosevelt). Thoughtless applies to actions taken without due thought or consideration: " At length I recollected the thoughtless saying of a great princess, who, on being informed that the country people had no bread, replied, ‘ Let them eat cake ’" (Jean Jacques Rousseau). Inadvertent is used of actions marked by unintentional lack of care: With an inadvertent gesture she swept the vase off the table onto the floor.

date·less ( d³t"l¹s) adj. 1. Having no date whatsoever. 2. So ancient that no date can be determined. 3. Having no limits in time; timeless.

face ( f³s) n. 1. a. The surface of the front of the head from the top of the forehead to the base of the chin and from ear to ear. b. A person: We saw many new faces on the first day of classes. 2. A person's countenance. 3. A contorted facial expression; a grimace: made a face at the prospect of eating lemons. 4. Outward appearance: the modern face of the city. 5. a. Value or standing in the eyes of others; prestige: lose face. b. Self-assurance; confidence: The team managed to maintain a firm face even in times of great adversity. 6. Effrontery; impudence: had the face to question my judgment. 7. The most significant or prominent surface of an object, especially: a. The surface presented to view; the front. b. A façade. c. Outer surface: the face of the earth. d. A marked side: the face of a clock; the face of a playing card. e. The right side, as of fabric. 8. Geometry A planar surface of a geometric solid. 9. Any of the surfaces of a rock or crystal. 10. The end, as of a mine or tunnel, at which work is advancing. 11. The appearance and geologic surface features of an area of land; topography. 12. Printing A typeface or range of typefaces. v. faced fac·ing fac·es v. tr. 1. To occupy a position with the face toward: stood and faced the audience. 2. To front on: a window that faces the south. 3. a. To confront with complete awareness: had to face the facts. b. To overcome by confronting boldly or bravely: " What this generation must do is face its problems " John F. Kennedy c. To confront with impudence. 4. a. To be certain to encounter; have in store: An unskilled youth faces a difficult life. b. To bring or to be brought face to face with: " The prospect of military conflict . . . faced us with nightmarish choices " Henry A. Kissinger 5. To cause (troops) to change direction by giving a command. 6. Games To turn (a playing card) so that the face is up. 7. To furnish with a surface or cover of a different material: bronze that is faced with gold foil. 8. To line or trim the edge of, especially with contrasting material: face a hem with lace. 9. To treat the surface of so as to smooth. v. intr. 1. To be turned or placed with the front toward a specified direction. 2. To turn the face in a specified direction.

Phrasal Verbs: face down 1. To attain mastery over or overcome by confronting in a resolute, determined manner: face down an opponent in a debate; faced the enemy down. face off Sports 1. To start play in ice hockey, lacrosse, and other games by releasing the puck or ball between two opposing players. face up 1. To confront, an unpleasant situation, for example, with resolution and assurance: had to face up or get out; finally faced up to the problem.

Idioms: face the music 1. To accept the unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions. face to face 1. In each other's presence; in direct communication: The two world leaders at last spoke face to face. 2. Directly confronting: We were face to face with death during the avalanche. in (the) face of 1. Despite the opposition of; notwithstanding: " This statement flies in the face of accepted wisdom " S. Fred Singer on the face of it 1. From appearances alone; apparently: On the face of it, the problem seems minor. show (one's) face 1. To make an appearance: Don't show your face on my property again. to (one's) face 1. In the view or hearing of: criticized the supervisor to her face. [Middle English from Old French from Vulgar Latin *facia from Latin faci¶s;See dh ¶- in Indo-European Roots.] face "a·ble adj. face "less adj. face "less·ness n.

Synonyms: face countenance kisser mug pan physiognomy puss visage The central meaning shared by these nouns is " the front surface of the head ": turned her face away; a happy countenance; punched him in the kisser; caught a glimpse of his ugly mug; tripped and fell on her pan; caught him staring at my physiognomy; a menacing look on his puss; a noble-looking visage. defy

fade·less ( f³d"l¹s) adj. 1. Not fading or not subject to fading: fadeless fabric. fade "less·ly adv.

lace ( l³s) n. 1. A cord or ribbon used to draw and tie together two opposite edges, as of a shoe. 2. A delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern. 3. Gold or silver braid ornamenting an officer's uniform. v. laced lac·ing lac·es v. tr. 1. To thread a cord through the eyelets or around the hooks of. 2. a. To draw together and tie the laces of. b. To restrain or constrict by tightening laces, especially of a corset. 3. To pull or pass through; intertwine: lace garlands through a trellis. 4. To trim or decorate with or as if with lace. 5. a. To add a touch of liquor to: laced the eggnog with rum and brandy. b. To add a touch of flavor or a dash of zest to, so as to make more effective, for example: " Quacks now lace their pitch with scientific terms that may sound authentic to the uninformed " Jane E. Brody 6. To streak with color. 7. To give a beating to; thrash: laced his opponent in the second round. v. intr. 1. To be fastened or tied with laces or a lace.

Phrasal Verbs: lace into Informal 1. To attack; assail: laced into me for arriving so late. [Middle English from Old French las noose, string from Vulgar Latin *laceum from Latin laqueus noose probably akin to lacere to entice, ensnare] lace "less adj. lac "er n.

name·less ( n³m"l¹s) adj. 1. Having or bearing no name: nameless stars. 2. Unknown by name; obscure: the nameless dead. 3. Not designated by name; anonymous: a nameless benefactor. 4. Defying description; inexpressible: nameless horror. name "less·ly adv. name "less·ness n.

pan·el·ist ( p²n"…-l¹st) n. 1. A member of a panel.

tape ( t³p) n. 1. A narrow strip of strong woven fabric, as that used in sewing or bookbinding. 2. A continuous narrow, flexible strip of cloth, metal, paper, or plastic, such as adhesive tape, magnetic tape, or ticker tape. 3. A string stretched across the finish line of a racetrack to be broken by the winner. 4. A tape recording. v. taped tap·ing tapes v. tr. 1. a. To fasten, secure, strengthen, or wrap with a tape. b. To bind together (the sections of a book) by applying strips of tape to. 2. To measure with a tape measure. 3. To record sounds or pictures on magnetic tape. v. intr. 1. To make a recording on magnetic tape. [Middle English from Old English tæppe] tape "a·ble adj. tape "less adj.

wake·less ( w³k"l¹s) adj. 1. Unbroken. Used of sleep.