e·va·sive ( ¹-v³"s¹v) adj. 1. Inclined or intended to evade: took evasive action. 2. Intentionally vague or ambiguous; equivocal: an evasive statement. e·va "sive·ly adv. e·va "sive·ness n.

badge ( b²j) n. 1. a. A device or emblem worn as an insignia of rank, office, or membership in an organization. b. An emblem given as an award or honor. 2. A characteristic mark. See note at sign . [Middle English bagge from Norman French bage] badge v.

budge 1 ( b¾j) v. budged budg·ing budg·es v. intr. 1. To move or stir slightly: The child was stuck tight and couldn't budge. 2. To alter a position or attitude: had made the decision and wouldn't budge. v. tr. 1. To cause to move slightly. 2. To cause to alter a position or attitude: an adamant critic who couldn't be budged. [Old French bouger from Vulgar Latin *bullic ³re to bubble from Latin bullºre to boil]

budge 2 ( b¾j) n. 1. Fur made from lambskin dressed with the wool outside, formerly used to trim academic robes. adj. Archaic 1. Overformal; pompous. [Middle English bouge from Anglo-Norman from Medieval Latin bugia probably from Latin bulga leather bag; See budget ]

Budge ( b¾j), John Donald . Known as " Don." Born 1915 1. American tennis player who in 1938 was the first to win the Grand Slam (Wimbledon, French, U.S., and Australian titles).

budge 1 ( b¾j) v. budged budg·ing budg·es v. intr. 1. To move or stir slightly: The child was stuck tight and couldn't budge. 2. To alter a position or attitude: had made the decision and wouldn't budge. v. tr. 1. To cause to move slightly. 2. To cause to alter a position or attitude: an adamant critic who couldn't be budged. [Old French bouger from Vulgar Latin *bullic ³re to bubble from Latin bullºre to boil]

budge 2 ( b¾j) n. 1. Fur made from lambskin dressed with the wool outside, formerly used to trim academic robes. adj. Archaic 1. Overformal; pompous. [Middle English bouge from Anglo-Norman from Medieval Latin bugia probably from Latin bulga leather bag; See budget ]

Budge ( b¾j), John Donald . Known as " Don." Born 1915 1. American tennis player who in 1938 was the first to win the Grand Slam (Wimbledon, French, U.S., and Australian titles).

dodge ( d¼j) v. dodged dodg·ing dodg·es v. tr. 1. To avoid (a blow, for example) by moving or shifting quickly aside. 2. To evade (an obligation, for example) by cunning, trickery, or deceit: kept dodging the reporter's questions. 3. To blunt or reduce the intensity of (a section of a photograph) by shading during the printing process. v. intr. 1. To move aside or in a given direction by shifting or twisting suddenly: The child dodged through the crowd. 2. To practice trickery or cunning; prevaricate. n. 1. The act of dodging. 2. An ingenious expedient intended to evade or trick. See note at artifice . [Origin unknown]

Dodge ( d¼j), Grenville Mellen . 1831-1916 1. American civil engineer and politician noted for his efforts to expand railroad lines in the West and Southwest.

Dodge , Mary Elizabeth Mapes . 1831-1905 1. American editor and writer best known for her children's classic Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates (1865).

fudge ( f¾j) n. 1. A soft, rich candy made of sugar, milk, butter, and flavoring. 2. Nonsense; humbug. v. fudged fudg·ing fudg·es v. tr. 1. To fake or falsify: fudge casualty figures. 2. To evade (an issue, for example); dodge. v. intr. 1. To act in an indecisive manner: always fudged on the important questions. 2. a. To go beyond the proper limits of something: fudged on the building code requirements. b. To act dishonestly; cheat. [Possibly alteration of fadge to fit]

hedge ( hµj) n. 1. A row of closely planted shrubs or low-growing trees forming a fence or boundary. 2. A line of people or objects forming a barrier: a hedge of spectators along the sidewalk. 3. a. A means of protection or defense, especially against financial loss: a hedge against inflation. b. A securities transaction that reduces the risk on an existing investment position. 4. An intentionally noncommittal or ambiguous statement. v. hedged hedg·ing hedg·es v. tr. 1. To enclose or bound with or as if with hedges. 2. To hem in, hinder, or restrict with or as if with a hedge. 3. To minimize or protect against the loss of by counterbalancing one transaction, such as a bet, against another. v. intr. 1. To plant or cultivate hedges. 2. To take compensatory measures so as to counterbalance possible loss. 3. To avoid making a clear, direct response or statement. [Middle English from Old English hecg] hedg "er n. hedg "y adj.

judge ( j¾j) v. judged judg·ing judg·es v. tr. 1. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration: judge heights; judging character. 2. a. Law To hear and decide on in a court of law; try: judge a case. b. Obsolete To pass sentence on; condemn. c. To act as one appointed to decide the winners of: judge an essay contest. 3. To determine or declare after consideration or deliberation. 4. Informal To have as an opinion or assumption; suppose: I judge you're right. 5. Bible To govern; rule. Used of an ancient Israelite leader. v. intr. 1. To form an opinion or evaluation. 2. To act or decide as a judge. n. 1. One who judges, especially: a. One who makes estimates as to worth, quality, or fitness: a good judge of used cars; a poor judge of character. b. Abbr. J. j. Law A public official who hears and decides cases brought before a court of law. c. Law A bankruptcy referee. d. One appointed to decide the winners of a contest or competition. 2. Bible a. A leader of the Israelites during a period of about 400 years between the death of Joshua and the accession of Saul. b. Judges used with a sing. verb Abbr. Judg. Jg. JJ See note at Bible . [Middle English jugen from Anglo-Norman juger from Latin i¿dic³re from i¿dex i¿dic-judge; See deik- in Indo-European Roots.]

Synonyms: judge arbitrator arbiter referee umpire These nouns denote persons who make decisions that determine points at issue. A judge is one capable of making rational, dispassionate, and wise decisions: The members of the jury are the sole judges of what the truth is in this case. An arbitrator works to settle controversies and is either appointed or derives authority from the consent of the disputants, who choose him or her or approve the selection: The mayor appointed an experienced arbitrator to mediate between the sides and resolve the transit strike. An arbiter is one who may or may not have official status but whose opinion or judgment is recognized as being unassailable or binding: a critic who considers himself the supreme arbiter of literary taste. Less often arbiter is used interchangeably with arbitrator. A referee is an attorney appointed by a court to make a determination of a case or to investigate and report on it ( a bankruptcy case handled by a referee ), and an umpire is a person appointed to settle an issue that arbitrators are unable to resolve ( umpires studying complex tax cases ). In sports referee and umpire refer to officials who enforce the rules and settle points at issue.

deik- . Important derivatives are: teach token digit toe dictate addict condition predict preach index indicate judge prejudice revenge disk To show, pronounce solemnly; also in derivatives referring to the directing of words or objects. I. Variant *deig- . 1. O-grade form *doig- . a. TEACH , from Old English t Æcan, to show, instruct, from Germanic *taikjan , to show; b. (i) TOKEN , from Old English t ³cen, t ³cn, sign, mark; (ii) BETOKEN , from Old English t ³cnian, to signify; (iii) TETCHY , from Gothic taikns , sign; (iv) TACHISME , from Old French tache , teche , mark, stain. (i), (ii), (iii) , and (iv) all from Germanic *taiknam . 2. DIGIT , from Latin digitus , finger ( < " pointer," " indicator"). II. Basic form *deik- . 1. Possibly o-grade form *doik- . TOE , from Old English t ³, tahe , toe, from Germanic *taihw ½. 2. Basic form *deik- . DICTATE , DICTION , DICTUM , DITTO , DITTY ; ADDICT , BENEDICTION , CONDITION , CONTRADICT , EDICT , FATIDIC , ( INDICT ), INDITE , INTERDICT , JURIDICAL , JURISDICTION , MALEDICT , PREDICT , VALEDICTION , VERDICT , VERIDICAL , VOIR DIRE , from Latin d ºcere, to say, tell. 3. Zero-grade form *dik- ³-. ABDICATE , DEDICATE , PREACH , PREDICATE , from Latin dic ³re, to proclaim. 4. Agential suffix *-dik- . a. INDEX , INDICATE , from Latin index , indicator, forefinger ( in- , toward; see en ); b. JUDGE , JUDICIAL ; PREJUDICE , from Latin i ¿dex ( < *yewes-dik- ), judge, " one who shows or pronounces the law " ( i ¿s, law; see yewes- ); c. ( VENDETTA ), VINDICATE ; ( AVENGE ), REVENGE , from Latin vindex (first element obscure), surety, claimant, avenger. 5. DEICTIC ; APODICTIC , PARADIGM , POLICY 2 , from Greek deiknunai , to show, with deigma ( *deik-m ö), sample, pattern. 6. Zero-grade form *dik- . DISK ; DICTYOSOME , from suffixed form *dik-skos , from Greek dikein , to throw ( < " to direct an object "). 7. Form *dik ³. DICAST ; SYNDIC , THEODICY , from Greek dik ¶, justice, right, court case. [ Pokorny dei ç- 188. ]

kedge ( kµj) Nautical n. 1. A light anchor used for warping a vessel. v. kedged kedg·ing kedg·es v. tr. 1. To warp (a vessel) by means of a light anchor. v. intr. 1. To move by means of a light anchor. [From kedge to warp a vessel perhaps from Middle English caggen to tie perhaps of Scandinavian origin]

ledge ( lµj) n. 1. A horizontal projection forming a narrow shelf on a wall. 2. A cut or projection forming a shelf on a cliff or rock wall. 3. An underwater ridge or rock shelf. 4. A level of rock-bearing ore; a vein. [Middle English crossbar probably from leggen to lay from Old English lecgan; See legh- in Indo-European Roots.] ledg "y adj.

legh- . Important derivatives are: lie 1 lay 1 ledge ledger lair beleaguer lees low 1 litter law fellow outlaw To lie, lay. I. 1. Suffixed form *legh-yo- . a. LIE 1 , from Old English licgan , to lie, from Germanic *LIGJAN ; b. (i) LAY 1 , LEDGE , ( LEDGER ), from Old English lecgan , to lay; (ii) BELAY , from Old English belecgan , to cover, surround ( be- , over; see ambhi ). Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *lagjan . 2. Suffixed form *legh-ro- . a. LAIR , from Old English leger , lair; b. LEAGUER 1 ; BELEAGUER , from Middle Dutch leger , lair, camp; c. LAAGER , LAGER ; ( STALAG ), from Old High German legar , bed, lair. a, b, and c all from Germanic *legraz . 3. LEES , from Medieval Latin lia , sediment, from Celtic *leg-y ³-. 4. Lengthened-grade form *l ¶gh-. LOW 1 , from Old Norse l ³gr, low, from Germanic *l ¶gaz, " lying flat, " low. 5. Suffixed form *legh-to- . COVERLET , LITTER ; WAGON-LIT , from Latin lectus , bed. 6. Suffixed o-grade form *logh-o- . a. LAW ; BYLAW , ( DANELAW ), from Old Norse *lagu , lag- , law, " that which is set down "; b. FELLOW , from Old Norse lag , a laying down; c. OUTLAW , from Old Norse lög , law; d. ANLAGE , VORLAGE , from Old High German l ³ga, act of laying. a, b, c, and d all from Germanic *lagam . 7. LAGAN , from Old Norse lögn , dragnet ( < " that which is laid down "), from Germanic *lag- ºn½-. 8. Suffixed o-grade form *logh-o- . LOCHIA , from Greek lokhos , childbirth, place for lying in wait. [ Pokorny legh- 658, 2. l ¶ªh- 660. ]

lodge ( l¼j) n. 1. a. A cottage or cabin, often rustic, used as a temporary abode or shelter: a ski lodge. b. A small house on the grounds of an estate or a park, used by a caretaker or gatekeeper. c. An inn. 2. a. Any of various Native American dwellings, such as a hogan, wigwam, or longhouse. b. The group living in such a dwelling. 3. Abbr. L. a. A local chapter of certain fraternal organizations. b. The meeting hall of such a chapter. c. The members of such a chapter. 4. The den of certain animals, such as the dome-shaped structure built by beavers. v. lodged lodg·ing lodg·es v. tr. 1. a. To provide with temporary quarters, especially for sleeping: lodges travelers in the shed. b. To rent a room to. c. To place or establish in quarters: lodged the children with relatives after the fire. 2. To serve as a depository for; contain: This cabinet lodges our oldest wines. 3. To place, leave, or deposit, as for safety: documents lodged with a trusted associate. 4. To fix, force, or implant: lodge a bullet in a wall. 5. To register (a charge or complaint, for example) before an authority, such as a court; file. 6. To vest (authority, for example). 7. To beat (crops) down flat: rye lodged by the cyclone. v. intr. 1. a. To live in a place temporarily. b. To rent accommodations, especially for sleeping. 2. To be or become embedded: The ball lodged in the fence. [Middle English from Old French loge of Germanic origin]

Lodge ( l¼j), Henry Cabot . 1850-1924 1. American politician. As Senate majority leader (1918-1924) and head of the foreign relations committee (1918-1924) he successfully opposed United States membership in the League of Nations.

Lodge , Henry Cabot, Jr. . 1902-1985 1. American politician and diplomat. He was Richard Nixon's running mate in the 1960 presidential election and later served as ambassador to South Vietnam (1963-1967).

Lodge , Sir Oliver Joseph . 1851-1940 1. British physicist known for his pioneering work in radio receivers.

Lodge , Thomas . 1558?-1625 1. English writer. His pastoral romance Rosalynde (c. 1584) provided the plot for Shakespeare's play As You Like It.

midge ( m¹j) n. 1. Any of various gnatlike flies of the family Chironomidae, found worldwide and frequently occurring in swarms near ponds and lakes. 2. Any of various similar dipteran insects, such as the biting midges of the family Ceratopogonidae. 3. A little person. [Middle English from Old English mycg]

nudge 1 ( n¾j) v. tr. nudged nudg·ing nudg·es 1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal. 2. To come close to; near: " The temperature was nudging 105 degrees in the shade " Scouting n. 1. A gentle push. [Probably of Scandinavian origin] nudg "er n.

nudge 2 or nudzh ( n‹j) Slang n. 1. One who persistently pesters, annoys, or complains. v. nudged or nudzhed nudg·ing or nudzh·ing nudg·es or nudzh·es v. tr. 1. To annoy persistently; pester. v. intr. 1. To complain or carp persistently. [From Yiddish nudyen to pester, bore from Polish nudziä]

ridge ( r¹j) n. 1. A long narrow upper section or crest: the ridge of a wave. 2. A long narrow chain of hills or mountains. Also Called ridgeline . 3. A long narrow elevation on the ocean floor. 4. Meteorology An elongated zone of relatively high atmospheric pressure. Also Called wedge . 5. A long, narrow, or crested part of the body: the ridge of the nose. 6. The horizontal line formed by the juncture of two sloping planes, especially the line formed by the surfaces at the top of a roof. 7. A narrow, raised strip, as in cloth or on plowed ground. v. ridged ridg·ing ridg·es v. tr. 1. To mark with, form into, or provide with ridges. v. intr. 1. To form ridges. [Middle English rigge from Old English hrycg; See sker- 2 in Indo-European Roots.]

sker- 2 . Important derivatives are: shrink ring 1 ranch range rank 1 rink arrange ridge curb curve crest crepe crisp circle search crown Also ker- To turn, bend. Presumed base of a number of distantly related derivatives. I. 1. Extended form *(s)kreg- in nasalized form *(s)kre-n-g- . a. SHRINK , from Old English scrincan , to wither, shrivel up, from Germanic *skrink- ; b. variant *kre-n-g- . (i) RUCK 2 , from Old Norse hrukka , a crease, fold; (ii) FLOUNCE 1 , from Old French fronce , pleat, from Frankish *hrunkjan , to wrinkle. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *hrunk- . 2. Extended form *(s)kregh- in nasalized form *skre-n-gh- . a. RING 1 , from Old English hring , a ring; b. RANCH , RANGE , RANK 1 , RINK ; ARRANGE , DERANGE , from Old French renc , reng , line, row; c. RINGHALS , from Middle Dutch rinc (combining form ring- ), a ring. a, b, and c all from Germanic *hringaz , something curved, circle. 3. Extended form *kreuk- . a. RIDGE , from Old English hrycg , spine, ridge; b. RUCKSACK , from Old High German hrukki , back. Both a and b from Germanic hrugjaz . 4. Suffixed variant form *kur-wo- . CURB , CURVATURE , CURVE , CURVET , from Latin curvus , bent, curved. 5. Suffixed extended form *kris-ni- . CRINOLINE , from Latin cr ºnis ( < *crisnis ), hair. 6. Suffixed extended form *kris-t ³-. CREST , CRISTA , CRISTATE , from Latin crista , tuft, crest. 7. Suffixed extended form *krip-so- . CREPE , CRISP , CRISPATE , from Latin crispus (metathesized from *cripsus ), curly. 8. Extended expressive form *kr ºss-. CRISSUM , from Latin cr ºs³re, (of women) to wiggle the hips during copulation. 9. Perhaps reduplicated form *ki-kr-o- . ( CIRCA ), CIRCLE , ( CIRCUM- ), SEARCH ; CRICOID , from Greek krikos (with metathesis), a ring. 10. Suffixed o-grade form *kor- ½no-. ( CORONA ), CROWN , from Greek kor ½nos, curved. 11. Suffixed variant form *kur-to . KURTOSIS , from Greek kurtos , bent. [ Pokorny 3. (s)ker- 935. ]

sedge ( sµj) n. 1. Any of numerous grasslike plants of the family Cyperaceae, having solid stems, leaves in three vertical rows, and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers, with each flower subtended by a scalelike bract. [Middle English segge from Old English secg; See sek- in Indo-European Roots.]

sek- . Important derivatives are: scythe saw 1 sedge Saxon skin secant section sector segment dissect insect intersect sickle To cut. I. 1. SCYTHE , from Old English s ºthe, sigthe , sickle, from Germanic *segith ½, sickle. 2. Suffixed o-grade form *sok- ³-. SAW 1 , from Old English sagu , sage , saw, from Germanic *sag ½, a cutting tool, saw. 3. Suffixed o-grade form *sok-yo- . SEDGE , from Old English secg , sedge, from Germanic *sagjaz , " sword," plant with a cutting edge. 4. Suffixed o-grade form *sok-so- . SAXON , from Late Latin Sax ½, (plural Saxon ¶s), a Saxon, from West Germanic tribal name *Saxon- , Saxon, traditionally (but doubtfully) regarded as from Germanic *sahsam , knife, sword (as if " warrior with knives "). 5. Extended root *skend- , to peel off, flay. SKIN , from Old Norse skinn , skin, from Germanic *skinth- . 6. Basic form *sek- . SECANT , -SECT , SECTILE , SECTION , SECTOR , SEGMENT ; DISSECT , INSECT , INTERSECT , RESECT , ( TRANSECT ), from Latin sec ³re, to cut. 7. Lengthened-grade form *s ¶k-. SICKLE , from Latin s ¶cula, sickle. 8. Possible suffixed variant form *sak-so- . a. ZAX , from Old English seax , knife; b. SAXATILE ; SAXICOLOUS , SAXIFRAGE , from Latin saxum , stone ( < " broken-off piece "?).[ Pokorny 2. s ~k- 895, sken-(d-) 929. ]See also extended roots skei- sker- 1 sker- 3

wedge ( wµj) n. 1. A piece of material, such as metal or wood, thick at one edge and tapered to a thin edge at the other for insertion in a narrow crevice, used for splitting, tightening, securing, or levering. 2. a. Something shaped like a wedge: a wedge of pie. b. Downstate New York See submarine . See note at submarine . c. A wedge-shaped formation, as in football or ground warfare. 3. a. Something that intrudes and causes division or disruption: His nomination drove a wedge into party unity. b. Something that forces an opening or a beginning: a wedge in the war on poverty. 4. Meteorology See ridge . 5. Sports An iron golf club with a very slanted face, used to lift the ball, as from sand. 6. One of the triangular characters of cuneiform writing. v. wedged wedg·ing wedg·es v. tr. 1. To split or force apart with or as if with a wedge. 2. To fix in place or tighten with a wedge. 3. To crowd or squeeze into a limited space. v. intr. 1. To become lodged or jammed. [Middle English wegge from Old English wecg]