prac·ticed ( pr²k"t¹st) adj. 1. Skilled or expert; proficient: He is practiced in the art of design. She is a practiced lecturer. 2. Acquired or brought to perfection by practice: greeted the guests with practiced courtesy.

prac·tice ( pr²k"t¹s) v. prac·ticed prac·tic·ing prac·tic·es v. tr. 1. To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of: She practiced restraint in her friendships. 2. To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: practice a dance step. 3. To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill: practiced the students in handwriting. 4. To work at, especially as a profession: practice law. 5. To carry out in action; observe: She practices her religion piously. 6. Obsolete To plot (something evil). v. intr. 1. To do or perform something habitually or repeatedly. 2. To do something repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill. 3. To work at a profession. 4. Archaic To intrigue or plot. n. 1. A habitual or customary action or way of doing something: makes a practice of being punctual. 2. a. Repeated performance of an activity in order to learn or perfect a skill: Practice will make you a good musician. b. Archaic The skill so learned or perfected. c. The condition of being skilled through repeated exercise: out of practice. 3. The act or process of doing something; performance or action: a theory that is difficult to put into practice. 4. Exercise of an occupation or a profession: the practice of law. 5. The business of a professional person: an obstetrician with her own practice. 6. A habitual or customary action or act. Often used in the plural: That company engages in questionable business practices. Facial tattooing is a standard practice among certain peoples. 7. Law The methods of procedure used in a court of law. 8. Archaic a. The act of tricking or scheming, especially with malicious intent. b. A trick, a scheme, or an intrigue. [Middle English practisen from Old French practiser alteration of practiquer from practique practice from Late Latin pr³ctic¶ practical; See practicable ] prac "tic·er n.

Synonyms: practice drill exercise rehearse The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to do or cause to do again and again in order to acquire proficiency ": practice the shot put; drill pupils in the multiplication tables; exercising one's wits; an actor rehearsing a role. habit

out·set ( out"sµt") n. 1. The beginning; the start: Problems arose at the very outset. 2. An initial stage, as of an activity: The outset of any major project can be difficult.

gain 1 ( g³n) v. gained gain·ing gains v. tr. 1. To come into possession or use of; acquire: gained a small fortune in real estate; gained important information about the enemy's plans. 2. To attain in competition or struggle; win: gained a decisive victory; gained control of the company. 3. To obtain through effort or merit; achieve: gain recognition; gain a hearing for the proposal. 4. To secure as profit or reward; earn: gain a living; gain extra credits in school. 5. a. To manage to achieve an increase of: a movement that gained strength; gained wisdom with age. b. To increase by (a specific amount): gained 15 pounds; the market gained 30 points. 6. To come to; reach: gained the top of the mountain. See note at reach . 7. To become fast by (a specified amount of time). Used of a timepiece: My watch gains four minutes a day. v. intr. 1. To increase; grow: gained in experience and maturity; a painting that gained in value. 2. To become better; improve: gaining in health. 3. To obtain a profit or advantage; benefit: stood to gain politically by his opponent's blunder. 4. a. To close a gap; get closer: The runners in the back were steadily gaining on the leader. b. To increase a lead. 5. To put on weight: I began to gain when I went off my diet. 6. To operate or run fast. Used of a timepiece. n. 1. a. Something gained or acquired: territorial gains. b. Progress; advancement: The country made social and political gains under the new government. 2. The act of acquiring; attainment. 3. An increase in amount or degree: a gain in operating income. 4. Electronics An increase in signal power, voltage, or current by an amplifier, expressed as the ratio of output to input. Also Called amplification .

Idioms: gain time 1. To run too fast. Used of a timepiece. 2. To delay or prolong something until a desired event occurs. [From Middle English gayne booty( from Old French gaigne, gain gain) (from gaaignier to gain) (of Germanic origin) Middle English gein advantage( from Old Norse gegn ready,) (and from Old French gain gain) ]

gain 2 ( g³n) n. 1. A notch or mortise cut into a board to receive another part. v. tr. gained gain·ing gains 1. To cut out a gain in. 2. To join by or fit into a gain. [Origin unknown]

gait ( g³t) n. 1. A particular way or manner of moving on foot: a person who ran with a clumsy, hobbling gait. 2. Any of the ways, such as a canter, trot, or walk, by which a horse can move by lifting the feet in different order or rhythm. 3. Rate or manner of proceeding: The project went forward at a steady gait. v. tr. gait·ed gait·ing gaits 1. To train (a horse) in a particular gait or gaits. [Middle English gate path, gait from Old Norse gata path; See gh ¶- in Indo-European Roots.]

gh ¶-. Important derivatives are: go ago heir heritage inherit gait To release, let go; (in the middle voice) to be released, go. I. Contracted from *ghe …-. 1. GO ; AGO , FOREGO 1 , FORGO , from Old English g ³n, to go, from Germanic variant form *gaian . 2. Suffixed form *gh ¶-ro-. HEIR , HEREDITAMENT , HEREDITY , ( HERITAGE ); INHERIT , from Latin h ¶r¶s, heir (? < " orphan" < " bereft"). 3. Possibly suffixed o-grade form *gh ½-ro-, " empty space. " a. CHOROGRAPHY , from Greek kh ½ros, place, country, particular spot; b. -CHORE ; ANCHORITE , from Greek denominative kh ½rein, to move, go, spread about, make room for; c. CHORIPETALOUS , from Greek kh ½ris, kh ½ri, apart, separate. 4. Possible suffixed zero-grade form *gh …-t(w)³-. a. GAIT , GATE 2 ; RUNAGATE , from Old Norse gata , path, street; b. ( GANTLET 1 ), GAUNTLET 2 , from Old Swedish gata , lane. Both a and b from Germanic *gatw ½n-, a going. 5. Suffixed zero-grade form *gh …-no-. HINAYANA , from Sanskrit h ºna-, inferior, verbal adjective of jah ³ti, he leaves, lets go ( < reduplicated *ghe-gh ¶-ti, *ghe-ghe …-ti).[ Pokorny 1. ª h¶- 418. ]

gli·a ( gl¶"…, gl º"…) n. 1. See neuroglia . gli "al ( gl¶"…l, gl º"…l) adj.

glib ( gl¹b) adj. glib·ber glib·best 1. a. Performed with a natural, offhand ease: glib conversation. b. Showing little thought, preparation, or concern: a glib response to a complex question. 2. Marked by ease and fluency of speech or writing that often suggests or stems from insincerity, superficiality, or deceitfulness. [Possibly of Low German origin; See ghel- 2 in Indo-European Roots.] glib "ly adv. glib "ness n.

Synonyms: glib slick smooth-tongued The central meaning shared by these adjectives is " being, marked by, or engaging in ready but often insincere or superficial discourse ": a glib denial; a slick commercial; a smooth-tongued hypocrite. talkative

ghel- 2 . Important derivatives are: yellow gold arsenic gall 1 melancholy gleam glimpse glimmer glitter glass glare 1 glad glee glow glide To shine; with derivatives referring to colors, bright materials (probably " yellow metal "), and bile or gall. I. Words denoting colors. 1. Suffixed form *ghel-wo- . YELLOW , from Old English geolu , yellow, from Germanic *gelwaz . 2. Suffixed variant form *ghl ½-ro-. CHLORO- ; CHLORITE 1 , from Greek khl ½ros, green, greenish yellow. 3. Suffixed variant form *ghlo-wo- . CHLOASMA , from Greek khloos ( < *khlo-wo-s ), greenish color. 4. O-grade form *ghol- . PODZOL , from Russian zola , ashes (from their color). 5. Suffixed form *ghel-i- . HARE KRISHNA , from Sanskrit hari- , tawny yellow. 6. Possibly suffixed zero-grade form *gh §-wo-. GRISEOFULVIN , from Latin fulvus , tawny, perhaps from ghel- 2 (with dialectal f- as in fel , gall). II. Words denoting gold. 1. Suffixed zero-grade form *gh §-to-. a. GOLD , from Old English gold , gold; b. GILD 1 , from Old English gyldan , to gild, from Germanic denominative verb *gulthjan ; c. GUILDER , GULDEN , from Middle Dutch gulden , golden; d. GOWAN , from Middle English gollan , yellow flower, possibly from a source akin to Old Norse gullinn , golden. a, b, c, and d all from Germanic *gultham , gold. 2. Suffixed o-grade form *ghol-to- . ZLOTY , from Polish z }oto, gold. 3. Suffixed full-grade form *ghel-no- . ARSENIC , from Syriac zarn ºk³, orpiment, from Middle Iranian *zarnik- , from Old Iranian *zarna- , golden. III. Words denoting bile. 1. Suffixed o-grade form *ghol-no- . GALL 1 , from Old English gealla , gall, from Germanic *gall ½n-, bile. 2. Suffixed o-grade form *ghol- ³. CHOLE- , CHOLER , ( CHOLERA ); ACHOLIA , MELANCHOLY , from Greek khol ¶, bile. 3. Suffixed full-grade form *ghel-n- . FELON 2 , from Latin fel , bile. IV. A range of Germanic words (where no preforms are given, the words are late creations). 1. GLEAM , from Old English gl Æm, bright light, gleam, from Germanic *glaimiz . 2. GLIMPSE , from Middle English glimsen , to glimpse, from a source akin to Middle High German glimsen , to gleam. 3. GLANCE 1 , GLINT , from Middle English glent , a glint, and glenten , to shine, from a source akin to Swedish dialectal glinta , to shine. 4. GLIMMER , from Middle English glimeren , to glimmer, from a source akin to Swedish glimra , glimmer. 5. GLITTER , from Old Norse glitra , to shine. 6. GLITZ , from Old High German gl ºzan, to sparkle. 7. GLISTEN , from Old English glisnian , to shine. 8. GLISTER , from Middle Dutch glinsteren or Middle Low German glisteren , to shine. 9. GLASS , GLAZE , ( GLAZIER ), from Old English glæs , glass, from Germanic *glasam , glass. 10. GLARE 1 , from Middle English glaren , to glitter, stare, from a source akin to Middle Low German glaren , to glisten, from Germanic *glaz- . 11. GLOSS 1 , from a source perhaps akin to Icelandic glossi , a spark. 12. GLANCE 2 , from Old High German glanz , bright. 13. GLEG , from Old Norse glöggr , clear-sighted. 14. GLAD , from Old English glæd , shining, joyful, from Germanic *gladaz . 15. GLEE , from Old English gl ¶o, sport, merriment, from Germanic *gleujam . 16. a. GLEED , from Old English gl ¶d, ember; b. GLOGG , from Swedish glöd , ember. Both a and b from Germanic *gl ½-di-. 17. a. GLOW , from Old English gl ½wan, to glow; b. GLOWER , from Middle English gloren , to gleam, stare, probably from a source akin to Norwegian dialectal glora , to gleam, stare; c. GLOAT , from a source perhaps akin to Old Norse glotta , to smile (scornfully). a, b, and c all from Germanic *gl ½-. 18. GLOAMING , from Old English gl ½m, twilight, from Germanic *gl ½-m-. 19. a. GLIDE , from Old English gl ºdan, to slip, glide; b. GLISSADE , from Old French glier , to glide; c. GLITCH , from Old High German gl ºtan, to glide; d. GLEDE , from Old English glida , kite ( < " gliding, hovering bird "), from derivative Germanic *glid ½n-. a, b, c, and d all from Germanic *gl ºdan, to glide, possibly distantly related to ghel- 2 . 20. GLIB , from a source possibly akin to Middle Low German glibberich , slippery. [ Pokorny 1. ª hel- 429. ]

glim ( gl¹m) n. 1. A source of light, as a candle. 2. The illumination given off by such a source. [Perhaps short for glimmer ]

grid ( gr¹d) n. 1. a. A framework of crisscrossed or parallel bars; a grating or mesh. b. A cooking surface of parallel metal bars; a gridiron. 2. Something resembling a framework of crisscrossed parallel bars, as in rigidity or organization: The city's streets form a grid. 3. A pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines forming squares on a map, a chart, an aerial photograph, or an optical device, used as a reference for locating points. 4. Electricity a. An interconnected system for the distribution of electricity or electromagnetic signals over a wide area, especially a network of high-tension cables and power stations. b. A corrugated or perforated conducting plate in a storage battery. c. A network or coil of fine wires located between the plate and the filament in an electron tube. 5. Football The gridiron. 6. Sports The starting positions of cars on a racecourse. 7. Printing A device in a photocomposition machine on which the characters used in composition are etched. [Short for gridiron ] grid "ded adj.

grig ( gr¹g) n. 1. A lively, bright person. [Middle English dwarf]

grim ( gr¹m) adj. grim·mer grim·mest 1. Unrelenting; rigid. 2. Uninviting or unnerving in aspect; forbidding: " undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron claw " J.M. Barrie 3. Ghastly; sinister: " He made a grim jest at the horrifying nature of his wound " Reginald Pound See note at ghastly . 4. Dismal; gloomy: a grim, rainy day. 5. Ferocious; savage: the grim advance of the pillaging army. [Middle English from Old English fierce, severe] grim "ly adv. grim "ness n.

grin ( gr¹n) v. grinned grin·ning grins v. intr. 1. To draw back the lips and bare the teeth, as in mirth or good humor. v. tr. 1. To express with a grin: I grinned my approval. n. 1. The act of grinning. 2. The facial expression produced by grinning. See note at smile . [Middle English grennen to grimace from Old English grennian] grin "ner n. grin "ning·ly adv.

grip 1 ( gr¹p) n. 1. a. A tight hold; a firm grasp: a drowning swimmer now safely in the grip of a lifeguard. b. The pressure or strength of such a grasp: a wrestler with an unmatched grip. c. A manner of grasping and holding: The crate afforded no comfortable grip. 2. a. Intellectual hold; understanding: a good grip on French history. b. Ability to function properly or well; competence: getting a grip on the new technique. 3. a. A mechanical device that grasps and holds. b. A part, such as a handle, that is designed to be grasped and held. 4. A suitcase or valise. 5. a. A stagehand who helps in shifting scenery. b. A member of a film production crew who adjusts sets and props and sometimes assists the camera operator. v. gripped grip·ping grips v. tr. 1. To secure and maintain a tight hold on; seize firmly. 2. To hold the interest or attention of: a scene that gripped the entire audience. v. intr. 1. To maintain a secure grasp. [Middle English from Old English gripe grasp gripa handful] grip "per n. grip "ping·ly adv.

grip 2 ( gr¹p) n. 1. Variant of grippe .

grippe also grip ( gr¹p) n. 1. See influenza . [French from Old French claw, quarrel from gripper to seize, grasp from Frankish *gr ºpan] grip "py adj.

grit ( gr¹t) n. 1. Minute rough granules, as of sand or stone. 2. The texture or fineness of sand or stone used in grinding. 3. A coarse hard sandstone used for making grindstones and millstones. 4. Informal Indomitable spirit; pluck. v. grit·ted grit·ting grits v. tr. 1. To clamp (the teeth) together. 2. To cover or treat with grit. v. intr. 1. To make a grinding noise. [Middle English gret sand from Old English gr¶ot]