ex·ag·ger·ate ( ¹g-z²j"…-r³t") v. ex·ag·ger·at·ed ex·ag·ger·at·ing ex·ag·ger·ates v. tr. 1. To represent as greater than is actually the case; overstate: exaggerate the size of the enemy force; exaggerated his own role in the episode. 2. To enlarge or increase to an abnormal degree: thick lenses that exaggerated the size of her eyes. v. intr. 1. To make overstatements. [Latin exagger³re exagger³t-to heap up, magnify ex- intensive pref.; See ex- agger ³re to pile up( from agger pile) (from aggerere to bring to) ( ad- ad-) ( gerere to bring) ] ex·ag "ger·at"ed·ly adv. ex·ag "ger·a"tion n. ex·ag "ger·a"tive or ex·ag "ger·a·to"ry ( -…-tôr"¶, -t ½r"¶) adj. ex·ag "ger·a"tor n.

Synonyms: exaggerate inflate magnify overstate The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to represent something as being larger or greater than it actually is ": exaggerated the size of the fish he had caught; inflated her own importance; magnifying his part in their success; overstated their income on the mortgage application.

min·i·mize ( m¹n"…-mºz") v. tr. min·i··mized min·i··miz·ing min·i··miz·es 1. a. To reduce to the smallest possible amount, extent, size, or degree. b. Usage Problem To reduce. See note at minimal . 2. To represent as having the least degree of importance, value, or size: minimized the magnitude of the crisis. See note at decry . [From minimum ] min "i·mi·za"tion ( -m¹-z³"sh…n) n. min "i·miz"er n.

a·o·rist ( ³"…r-¹st) Grammar n. Abbr. aor. 1. A form of a verb in some languages, such as Classical Greek, that expresses action without indicating its completion or continuation. 2. A form of a verb in some languages, such as Classical Greek or Sanskrit, that in the indicative mood expresses past action. [From Greek aoristos indefinite, aorist tense a- not; See a- 1 horistos definable( from horizein to define) ;See horizon ] a "o·ris"tic adj. a "o·ris"ti·cal·ly adv.

co·host or co-host ( k½"h½st") n. 1. A joint host, as of a social event. v. tr. co·host·ed co·host·ing co·hosts 1. To serve as a joint host of: " In 1980, [he] co-hosted another event for large contributors " New Yorker See note at host 1 .

coy ( koi) adj. coy·er coy·est 1. Tending to avoid people and social situations; reserved. 2. Affectedly and usually flirtatiously shy or modest. See note at shy 1 . 3. Annoyingly unwilling to make a commitment. [Middle English from Old French quei, coi quiet, still from Vulgar Latin *qu ¶tus from Latin qui¶tus;See k w ei…- in Indo-European Roots.] coy "ly adv. coy "ness n.

for·est ( fôr"¹st, f ¼r"-) n. Abbr. for. 1. A dense growth of trees, plants, and underbrush covering a large area. 2. Something that resembles a large, dense growth of trees, as in density, quantity, or profusion: a forest of skyscrapers. 3. A defined area of land formerly set aside in England as a royal hunting ground. n. attributive. 1. Often used to modify another noun: forest management; forest fires. v. tr. for·est·ed for·est·ing for·ests 1. To plant trees on. [Middle English from Old French from Medieval Latin forestis (silva) outside (forest) from Latin forºs outside; See dhwer- in Indo-European Roots.] for "est·al or fo·res "tial ( f…-rµs"ch…l) adj. for "es·ta"tion n.

Fo·rest ( fô-rµ") 1. See Vorst .

Vorst ( vôrst) also Fo·rest ( fô-rµ") 1. A city of central Belgium, a manufacturing suburb of Brussels. Population, 50,260.

dhwer- . Important derivatives are: door foreign forest forfeit forum Door, doorway (usually in plural). I. Originally an apophonic noun *dhwor , *dhur- , in the plural, designating the entrance to the enclosure (*dhwor-o-) surrounding the house proper. 1. Zero-grade form *dhur- in suffixed forms *dhur- ös (accusative plural) and *dhur-o- (neuter). DOOR , from Old English duru , door (feminine, originally plural), and dor , door (neuter), respectively from Germanic *durunz and *duram . 2. Suffixed o-grade form *dhwor- ³ns (accusative plural). FOREIGN , from Latin for ³s, (toward) out of doors, outside. 3. Suffixed o-grade form *dhwor-ois (locative plural). FOREST ; ( AFFOREST ), FAUBOURG , FORECLOSE , FORFEIT , from Latin for ºs, (being) out of doors. 4. Suffixed o-grade form *dhwor-o- . FORENSIC , FORUM , from Latin forum , marketplace (originally the enclosed space around a home). 5. DURBAR , from Old Persian duvara- , door, gate. 6. Zero-grade form *dhur- . THYROID , from Greek thura , door. [ Pokorny dh ø~r- 278. ]

ho·lism ( h½"l¹z"…m) n. 1. The theory that living matter or reality is made up of organic or unified wholes that are greater than the simple sum of their parts. 2. A holistic investigation or system of treatment. ho "list n.

hon·est ( ¼n"¹st) adj. 1. Marked by or displaying integrity; upright: an honest lawyer. 2. Not deceptive or fraudulent; genuine: honest weight. 3. Equitable; fair: honest wages for an honest day's work. 4. a. Characterized by truth; not false: honest reporting. b. Sincere; frank: an honest critique. 5. a. Of good repute; respectable. b. Without affectation; plain: honest folk. 6. Virtuous; chaste. [Middle English from Old French honeste from Latin honestus honorable from hon½s honor]

lo·cust ( l½"k…st) n. 1. Any of numerous grasshoppers of the family Acrididae, often migrating in immense swarms that devour vegetation and crops. 2. The seventeen-year locust. 3. a. Any of several North American deciduous trees of the genus Robinia, especially R. pseudoacacia, having compound leaves, drooping clusters of fragrant white flowers, and durable hard wood. b. Any of several similar or related trees, such as the honey locust or the carob. c. The wood of one of these trees. [Middle English from Old French locuste from Latin locusta Sense 3a, probably from the resemblance of its fruit to a locust]

low 1 ( l½) adj. low·er low·est 1. a. Having little relative height; not high or tall. b. Rising only slightly above surrounding surfaces. c. Situated or placed below normal height: a low lighting fixture. d. Situated below the surrounding surfaces: water standing in low spots. e. Dead and buried. f. Cut to show the wearer's neck and chest; décolleté: a low neckline. 2. Near or at the horizon: The sun is low in the sky. 3. Linguistics Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels. 4. Of less than usual or average depth; shallow: The river is low. 5. Humble in status or character. 6. Biology Of relatively simple structure in the scale of living organisms. 7. Unrefined; coarse: low humor. 8. Violating standards of morality or decency; base: a low stunt to pull. See note at mean 2 . 9. a. Lacking strength or vigor; weak. b. Emotionally or mentally depressed. 10. a. Below average in degree, intensity, or amount: a low temperature. b. Below an average or a standard: low wages; a low level of communication. c. Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale: a low number; a low grade of oil. d. Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator. e. Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value: a low fee; a low income. f. Characterized by a small degree, intensity, or amount of a specified attribute: a low cholesterol diet. 11. Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second. 12. Not loud; soft: a low murmur. 13. Being near total depletion: My savings account is low. 14. Not adequately provided or equipped; short: low on supplies. 15. Depreciatory; disparaging: a low opinion of his qualities. 16. Brought down or reduced in health or wealth: in a low state. 17. Of, relating to, or being the gear configuration or setting, as in an automotive transmission, that produces the least vehicular speed with respect to engine speed. adv. 1. a. In or to a low position, level, or space: aimed low; bent low. b. In or to a low condition or rank; humbly: thought low of himself. 2. In or to a reduced, humbled, or degraded condition: brought low by business reverses. 3. Softly; quietly: speak low. 4. With a deep pitch: sang low. 5. At a small price: bought low and sold high. n. 1. A low level, position, or degree: Rain collects in the lows. The stock market fell to a new low. 2. Meteorology A region of atmospheric pressure that is below normal. 3. The low gear configuration of a transmission. [Middle English loue from Old Norse l³gr;See legh- in Indo-European Roots.] low "ness n.

mod·est ( m¼d"¹st) adj. 1. Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own talents, abilities, and value. 2. Having or proceeding from a disinclination to call attention to oneself; retiring or diffident. See note at shy 1 . 3. Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress. 4. Free from showiness or ostentation; unpretentious. See note at plain . 5. Moderate or limited in size, quantity, or range; not extreme: a modest price; a newspaper with a modest circulation. [Latin modestus; See med- in Indo-European Roots.] mod "est·ly adv.

med- . Important derivatives are: mete 1 medicine remedy meditate modest moderate mode model modern modify module mold 1 accomodate commodity must 1 empty To take appropriate measures. I. 1. a. METE 1 , from Old English metan , to measure (out), from Germanic *metan ; b. MEET 2 , from Old English gem Æte, " commensurate," fit ( ge- , with; see kom ), from Germanic derivative *m Æt½, measure. 2. a. MEDICAL , MEDICATE , ( MEDICINE ), ( MEDICO ); METHEGLIN , REMEDY , from Latin med ¶rº, to look after, heal, cure; b. MEDITATE , from Latin medit ³rº, to think about, consider, reflect. 3. Suffixed form *med-es- . a. MODEST ; IMMODEST , from Latin modestus , " keeping to the appropriate measure, " moderate; b. MODERATE ; IMMODERATE , from Latin moder ³rº, " to keep within measure, " to moderate, control. Both a and b from Latin *modes- , replacing *medes- by influence of modus (see 5 below). 4. MEDUSA , from Greek medein , to rule (feminine participle medousa < *med-ont-ia ). 5. Suffixed o-grade form *mod-o- . MODAL , MODE , MODEL , MODERN , MODICUM , MODIFY , MODULATE , MODULE , MODULUS , MOLD 1 , ( MOOD 2 ), ( MOULAGE ); ( ACCOMODATE ), ( COMMODE ), COMMODIOUS , ( COMMODITY ), from Latin modus , measure, size, limit, manner, harmony, melody. 6. Suffixed o-grade form *mod-yo- . MODIOLUS , MUTCHKIN , from Latin modius , a measure of grain. 7. Possibly lengthened o-grade form *m ½d-. a. MOTE 2 , MUST 1 , from Old English m ½tan, to have occasion, to be permitted or obliged; b. EMPTY , from Old English Æ metta, rest, leisure, from Germanic compound * ¶-m½t-ja- (prefix * ¶-, meaning uncertain, from Indo-European * ¶, * ½, to). Both a and b from Germanic *m ½t-, ability, leisure. [ Pokorny 1. med- 705. ]

mo·lest ( m…-lµst") v. tr. mo·lest·ed mo·lest·ing mo·lests 1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy. 2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity. [Middle English molesten from Old French molester from Latin molest³re from molestus troublesome] mo "les·ta"tion ( m½"lµ-st³"sh…n) n. mo·lest "er n.

mo·nism ( m½"n¹z"…m, m ¼n"¹z"…m) n. Philosophy 1. The view in metaphysics that reality is a unified whole and that all existing things can be ascribed to or described by a single concept or system. 2. The doctrine that mind and matter are formed, or reducible to, the same ultimate substance or principle of being. mo "nist n. mo·nis "tic ( m½-n¹s"t¹k, m ¼-) adj. mo·nis "ti·cal·ly adv.

o·o·cyst ( ½"…-s¹st") n. 1. A thick-walled structure in which sporozoan zygotes develop and that serves to transfer them to new hosts.

ro·bust ( r½-b¾st", r ½"b¾st") adj. 1. Full of health and strength; vigorous. 2. Powerfully built; sturdy. See note at healthy . 3. Requiring or suited to physical strength or endurance: robust labor. 4. Rough or crude; boisterous: a robust tale. 5. Marked by richness and fullness; full-bodied: a robust wine. [Latin r½bustus from r½bus, r½bur oak, strength; See reudh- in Indo-European Roots.] ro·bust "ly adv. ro·bust "ness n.

reudh- . Important derivatives are: red rufous robust corroborate rambunctious ruddy rust rouge rubeola ruby rubric russet Red, ruddy. I. O-grade form *roudh- . 1. a. RED , from Old English r ¶ad, red; b. RORQUAL , from Old Norse raudhr , red. Both a and b from Germanic *raudaz . 2. ROWAN , from a source akin to Old Norse reynir , mountain ash, rowan (from its red berries), from Germanic *raudnia- . 3. RUFESCENT , RUFOUS , from Latin r ¿fus (of dialectal Italic origin), reddish. 4. RUBIGINOUS , from Latin r ½bus, red. 5. ROBLE , ROBORANT , ROBUST ; CORROBORATE , ( RAMBUNCTIOUS ), from Latin r ½bur, r ½bus, red oak, hardness, and r ½bustus, strong. II. Zero-grade form *rudh- . 1. Form *rudh- ³-. a. RUDDLE , from Old English rudu , red color; b. RUDDOCK , from Old English rudduc , robin; c. RUDDY , from Old English rudig , ruddy. a, b, and c all from Germanic *rud ½. 2. Suffixed form *rudh-sto- . RUST , from Old English r ¿st (also rust ?), rust, from Germanic *rust- . 3. ROUGE , RUBEOLA , RUBY ; RUBEFACIENT , from Latin rubeus , red. 4. RUBICUND , from Latin rubicundus , red, ruddy. 5. RUBIDIUM , from Latin rubidus , red. 6. Suffixed (stative) form *rudh- ¶-. RUBESCENT , from Latin rub ¶re, to be red. 7. Suffixed form *rudh-ro- . a. RUBELLA , RUBRIC ; BILIRUBIN , from Latin ruber , red; b. RUTILANT , from Latin rutilus , reddish; c. ERYTHEMA , ERYTHRO- , from Greek eruthros , red (with prothetic vowel, from oldest root form * …reudh-); d. ERYSIPELAS , from possibly remade Greek erusi- , red, reddening. 8. Suffixed form *rudh-to- . RISSOLE , ROUX , RUSSET , from Latin russus , red. [ Pokorny reudh- 872. ]

sore ( sôr, s ½r) adj. sor·er sor·est 1. Painful to the touch; tender. 2. Feeling physical pain; hurting: sore all over. 3. Causing misery, sorrow, or distress; grievous: in sore need. 4. Causing embarrassment or irritation: a sore subject. 5. Full of distress; sorrowful. 6. Informal Angry; offended. n. 1. An open skin lesion, wound, or ulcer. 2. A source of pain, distress, or irritation. v. tr. sored sor·ing sores 1. To mutilate the legs or feet of (a horse) in order to induce a particular gait in the animal. adv. Archaic 1. Sorely. [Middle English from Old English s³r] sore "ness n.