fate ( f³t) n. 1. a. The supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events. b. The inevitable events predestined by this force. 2. A final result or consequence; an outcome. 3. Unfavorable destiny; doom. 4. Fates Greek Mythology Roman Mythology The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who control human destiny. Used with the. [Middle English from Old French fat from Latin f³tum prophecy, doom, neuter past participle of f³rºto speak; See bh ³- 2 in Indo-European Roots.]

Synonyms: fate destiny kismet lot portion The central meaning shared by these nouns is " something that is inevitably destined to happen to a person ": deserved a worse fate; complained about their miserable destiny; a meeting foreordained by kismet; has a happy lot; success that was her portion.

bh ³- 2 . Important derivatives are: fable fate infant preface prophet abandon banish bandit fame phono- symphony confess blame To speak. I. Contracted from *bha …-. 1. FABLE , FATE ; AFFABLE , ( FANTOCCINI ), INEFFABLE , INFANT , ( INFANTRY ), PREFACE , from Latin f ³rº, to speak. 2. -PHASIA ; APOPHASIS , PROPHET , from Greek phanai , to speak. 3. a. BAN 1 , from Old English bannan , to summon, proclaim, and Old Norse banna , to prohibit, curse; b. BANAL , BANNS ; ABANDON , from Old French ban , feudal jurisdiction, summons to military service, proclamation, Old French bandon , power, and Old English gebann , proclamation; c. BANISH , from Old French banir , to banish; d. CONTRABAND , from Late Latin bannus , bannum , proclamation; e. BANDIT , from Italian bandire , to muster, band together ( < " to have been summoned "). a, b, c, d, and e all from Germanic suffixed form *ban-wan , *bannan , to speak publicly (used of particular kinds of proclamation in feudal or prefeudal custom; " to proclaim under penalty, summon to the levy, declare outlaw "). 4. Suffixed form *bh ³-ni-. a. BOON 1 , from Old Norse b ½n, prayer, request; b. BEE 1 , perhaps from Old English b ¶n, prayer, from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse b ½n, prayer. Both a and b from Germanic *b ½ni-. 5. Suffixed form *bh ³-ma. a. FAME , FAMOUS ; DEFAME , INFAMOUS , from Latin f ³ma, talk, reputation, fame; b. EUPHEMISM , from Greek ph ¶m¶, saying, speech. 6. Suffixed o-grade form *bh ½-n³. PHONE 2 , -PHONE , PHONEME , PHONETIC , PHONO- , -PHONY ; ANTHEM , ( ANTIPHON ), APHONIA , CACOPHONOUS , EUPHONY , SYMPHONY , from Greek ph ½n¶, voice, sound, and (denominative) ph ½nein, to speak. 7. Suffixed zero-grade form *bh …-to-. CONFESS , PROFESS , from Latin fat ¶rº, to acknowledge, admit. 8. ( BLAME ), BLASPHEME , from Greek blasph ¶mos, evil-speaking, blasphemous (first element obscure). [ Pokorny 2. bh ³- 105. ]

a·rise ( …-rºz") v. intr. a·rose ( …-r½z") a·ris·en ( …-r¹z"…n) a·ris·ing a·ris·es 1. To get up, as from a sitting or prone position; rise. 2. To move upward; ascend. 3. To come into being; originate: hoped that a new spirit of freedom was arising. 4. To result, issue, or proceed: mistakes that arise from a basic misunderstanding. See note at stem 1 . [Middle English arisen from Old English ³rºsan³- intensive pref. rºsan to rise]

a·ris·ta ( …-r¹s"t…) n. pl. a·ris·tae ( -t¶) or a·ris·tas 1. A bristlelike part or appendage, such as the awn of grains and grasses or the process near the tip of the antenna of certain flies. [Latin beard of grain, spike] a·ris "tate ( -t³t) adj.

cri·sis ( krº"s¹s) n. pl. cri·ses ( -s¶z) 1. a. A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point. b. An unstable condition, as in political, social, or economic affairs, involving an impending abrupt or decisive change. 2. A sudden change in the course of a disease or fever, toward either improvement or deterioration. 3. An emotionally stressful event or a traumatic change in a person's life. 4. A point in a story or drama when a conflict reaches its highest tension and must be resolved. n. attributive. 1. Often used to modify another noun: crisis intervention; crisis planning. [Middle English from Latin from Greek from krinein to separate; See krei- in Indo-European Roots.]

Synonyms: crisis crossroad exigency head juncture pass The central meaning shared by these nouns is " a critical point or state of affairs ": a military crisis; government policy at the crossroad; had failed to predict the health-care exigency; a problem that is coming to a head; negotiations that had reached a crucial juncture; things rapidly coming to a desperate pass.

crisp ( kr¹sp) adj. crisp·er crisp·est 1. Firm but easily broken or crumbled; brittle: crisp potato chips. 2. Pleasingly firm and fresh: crisp carrot and celery sticks. 3. a. Bracing; invigorating: crisp mountain air. b. Lively; sprightly: music with a crisp rhythm. 4. Conspicuously clean or new: a crisp dollar bill. 5. Marked by clarity, conciseness, and briskness: a crisp reply. See note at incisive . 6. Having small curls, waves, or ripples. v. tr. intr. crisped crisp·ing crisps 1. To make or become crisp. n. 1. Something crisp or easily crumbled: The roast was burned to a crisp. 2. A dessert of fruit baked with a sweet, crumbly topping: apple crisp. 3. Chiefly British A potato chip. [Middle English curly from Old English from Latin crispus; See sker- 2 in Indo-European Roots.] crisp "ly adv. crisp "ness n.

crisp·y ( kr¹s"p¶) adj. crisp·i·er crisp·i·est 1. Crisp. crisp "i·ness n.

cris·sa ( kr¹s"…) n. 1. Plural of crissum .

cris·sum ( kr¹s"…m) n. pl. cris·sa ( kr¹s"…) Zoology 1. The feathers or area under the tail of a bird surrounding the cloacal opening. [New Latin from Latin crºs³re to move the buttocks during intercourse; See sker- 2 in Indo-European Roots.] cris "sal ( -…l) adj.

cris·ta ( kr¹s"t…) n. pl. cris·tae ( -t¶) 1. Anatomy A crest or ridge, as on the top of a bone. 2. Biology One of the inward projections or folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondrion. [Latin; 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. ]

frisk ( fr¹sk) v. frisked frisk·ing frisks v. intr. 1. To move about briskly and playfully; frolic. v. tr. 1. To search (a person) for something concealed, especially a weapon, by passing the hands quickly over clothes or through pockets. n. 1. An energetic, playful movement; a gambol. 2. The act of frisking. [From Middle English frisk lively from Old French frisque of Germanic origin] frisk "er n.

frisk·y ( fr¹s"k¶) adj. frisk·i·er frisk·i·est 1. Energetic, lively, and playful: a frisky kitten. frisk "i·ly adv. frisk "i·ness n.

gris·ly ( gr¹z"l¶) adj. gris·li·er gris·li·est 1. Inspiring repugnance; gruesome. See note at ghastly . [Middle English grisli from Old English grislºc;See ghr ¶i- in Indo-European Roots.] gris "li·ness n.

ghr ¶i-. Important derivatives are: grisly grime Christ christen Christian Christmas To rub. I. 1. GRISLY , from Old English grisl ºc, terrifying, from Germanic *gris- , to frighten ( < " to grate on the mind "). 2. GRIME , from Middle English grime , grime, from a source akin to Middle Dutch gr ºme, grime, from Germanic *gr ºm-, smear. 3. Extended form *ghr ºs-. CHRISM , CHRIST , ( CHRISTEN ), ( CHRISTIAN ); ( CHRISTMAS ), CREAM , from Greek khriein , to anoint. [ Pokorny ghr ¶i- 457. ]

gri·son ( grº"s…n, gr ¹z"…n) n. 1. Either of two small carnivorous mammals (Galictis vittata or G. cuja) of Central and South America, having grizzled fur, a slender body, and short legs. [French from Old French gray fur from gris gray; See grisaille ]

i·ris ( º"r¹s) n. pl. i·ris·es or i·ri·des ( º"r¹-d¶z", ¹ r"¹-) 1. The pigmented, round, contractile membrane of the eye, suspended between the cornea and lens and perforated by the pupil. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye. 2. Any of numerous plants of the genus Iris, having narrow sword-shaped leaves and showy, variously colored flowers. 3. A rainbow or rainbowlike display of colors. [Middle English rainbow from Latin ºris ºrid-from Greek rainbow, iris of the eye; See wei- in Indo-European Roots.]

I·ris ( º"r¹s) n. Greek Mythology 1. The goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. [Latin Þris from Greek; See wei- in Indo-European Roots.]

kris also creese ( kr¶s) n. 1. A Malayan dagger with a wavy double-edged blade. [Malay kµris]

or·i·son ( ôr"¹-s…n, -z …n, ¼ r"-) n. 1. A prayer. [Middle English orisoun from Old French orison from Late Latin ½r³ti½ ½r³ti½n-;See oration ]

prize 3 also prise ( prºz) v. tr. prized also prised priz·ing pris·ing priz·es pris·es 1. To move or force with or as if with a lever; pry. n. 1. Leverage. 2. Chiefly Southern U.S. Something used as a lever or for prying. [From Middle English prise instrument for prying probably from prise the taking of something; See prize 2 ]

prise ( prºz) v. n. 1. Variant of prize 3 .

prize 3 also prise ( prºz) v. tr. prized also prised priz·ing pris·ing priz·es pris·es 1. To move or force with or as if with a lever; pry. n. 1. Leverage. 2. Chiefly Southern U.S. Something used as a lever or for prying. [From Middle English prise instrument for prying probably from prise the taking of something; See prize 2 ]

prism ( pr¹z"…m) n. 1. A solid figure whose bases or ends have the same size and shape and are parallel to one another, and each of whose sides is a parallelogram. 2. A transparent body of this form, often of glass and usually with triangular ends, used for separating white light passed through it into a spectrum or for reflecting beams of light. 3. A cut-glass object, such as a pendant of a chandelier. 4. A crystal form consisting of three or more similar faces parallel to a single axis. 5. A medium that misrepresents whatever is seen through it. [Late Latin prºsma from Greek prisma thing sawed off, prism from priein, prizein to saw]

pris·on ( pr¹z"…n) n. 1. A place where persons convicted or accused of crimes are confined; a penitentiary or a jail. 2. A place or condition of confinement or forcible restraint. 3. A state of imprisonment or captivity. v. tr. pris·oned pris·on·ing pris·ons 1. To confine in a prison; imprison. [Middle English from Old French alteration( influenced by Old French pris taken) of Latin pr¶nsi½ pr¶nsi½n-a seizing from *preh ¶nsi½ from preh¶nsus,past participle of prehendere to seize; See ghend- in Indo-European Roots.]

Notes: The word prison has its origins not in the notions of what such a place is but rather in the notion of how one gets there. Prison can be traced back to the Latin word pr ¶nsi½, " the action or power of making an arrest. " This in turn is derived from the verb prehendere or prendere, which meant " to take hold of, take into custody, arrest. " Pr ¶nsi½ then dives into the obscurity of the time when Romance languages such as French were being formed from Vulgar Latin and resurfaces in the Old French of the 12th century with the form prison and the senses " capture" and " place of imprisonment. " This new sense could have already been developed in Latin and not been recorded, but we have to wait until the 12th century to see it, the sense " captivity" being added in the same century. From Old French as well as the Medieval Latin word priso, " prison," derived from Old French, came our Middle English word prisoun, first recorded in a work written before 1121 in the sense " imprisonment." The sense " place of imprisonment " is recorded shortly afterward in a text copied down before 1225 but perhaps actually written in the Old English period before the Norman Conquest.

ghend- . Important derivatives are: get forget guess prison apprehend comprehend surprise prey Also ghed- To seize, take. I. 1. a. GET , from Old Norse geta , to get; b. BEGET , from Old English beg(i)etan , to get, beget, from Germanic compound *bigetan , to acquire ( *bi- , intensive prefix; see ambhi ); c. FORGET , from Old English forg(i)etan , to forget, from Germanic compound *fer-getan , " to lose one's hold, " forget ( *fer- , prefix denoting rejection; see per 1 ). a, b, and c all from Germanic *getan . 2. GUESS , from Middle English gessen , to guess, from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Swedish gissa , to guess, from Germanic *getis ½n, " to try to get, " aim at. 3. Basic form *ghend- . PREHENSILE , PREHENSION , PRISON , PRIZE 2 , ( PRIZE 3 ), ( PRY 2 ); APPREHEND , ( APPRENTICE ), ( APPRISE ), COMPREHEND , ( COMPRISE ), EMPRISE , ENTERPRISE , ( ENTREPRENEUR ), MISPRISION 1 , PREGNABLE , REPREHEND , ( REPRISAL ), ( REPRISE ), SURPRISE , from Latin prendere , prehendere , to get hold of, seize, grasp ( pre- , prae- , before; see per 1 ). 4. Form *ghed- . PREDATORY , PREY , SPREE ; DEPREDATE , OSPREY , from Latin praeda , booty ( < *prai-heda , " something seized before "; prai- , prae- , before; see per 1 ). [ Pokorny ghend- 437. ]

pris·sy ( pr¹s"¶) adj. pris·si·er pris·si·est 1. Excessively or affectedly prim and proper. [Perhaps blend of pri(m) 1 (si)ssy ] pris "si·ly adv. pris "si·ness n.

triste ( tr¶st) adj. 1. Sad; wistful. [Middle English from Old French from Latin tristis]

wrist ( r¹st) n. 1. a. The joint between the hand and the forearm. b. See carpus . 2. The part of a sleeve or glove that encircles the wrist. [Middle English from Old English; See wer- 2 in Indo-European Roots.]