ag·ed ( ³"j¹d) adj. 1. Being of advanced age; old. See note at elderly . 2. Characteristic of old age. 3. ( ³jd) Having reached the age of: aged three. 4. ( ³jd) Brought to a desired ripeness or maturity: aged cheese. 5. Geology Approaching the base level of erosion. n. 1. Elderly people considered as a group. Used with the. ag "ed·ly adv. ag "ed·ness n.

deep ( d¶p) adj. deep·er deep·est 1. a. Extending far downward below a surface: a deep hole in the river ice. b. Extending far inward from an outer surface: a deep cut. c. Extending far backward from front to rear: a deep walk-in refrigerator. d. Extending far from side to side from a center: a deep yard surrounding the house. e. Far distant down or in: deep in the woods. f. Coming from or penetrating to a depth: a deep sigh. g. Sports Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play: deep left field. 2. Extending a specific distance in a given direction: snow four feet deep. 3. Far distant in time or space: deep in the past. 4. a. Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite: a deep metaphysical theory. b. Of a mysterious or obscure nature: a deep secret; ancient and deep tribal rites. c. Very learned or intellectual; wise: a deep philosopher. d. Exhibiting great cunning or craft: deep political machinations. 5. a. Of a grave or extreme nature: deep trouble; deepest deceit. b. Very absorbed or involved: deep in thought; deep in financial difficulties. c. Profound in quality or feeling: a deep trance; deep devotion. 6. Rich and intense in shade. Used of a color: a deep red. 7. Low in pitch; resonant: a deep voice. 8. Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination: waist-deep in the water; ankle-deep in snow. 9. Large in quantity or size; big: deep cuts in the budget. adv. 1. To a great depth; deeply: dig deep; feelings that run deep. 2. Well along in time; late: worked deep into the night. 3. Sports Close to the outer boundaries of the area of play: played deep for the first three innings; ran deep into their opponents' territory. n. 1. a. A deep place in land or in a body of water: drowned in the deep of the river. b. A vast, immeasurable extent: the deep of outer space. 2. The extent of encompassing time or space; firmament. 3. The most intense or extreme part: the deep of night. 4. The ocean. 5. Nautical A distance estimated in fathoms between successive marks on a sounding line.

Idioms: deep down 1. At bottom; basically: Deep down, she was still a rebel. in deep water 1. In difficulty. [Middle English dep from Old English d¶op;See dheub- in Indo-European Roots.] deep "ly adv. deep "ness n.

Synonyms: deep abysmal profound The central meaning shared by these adjectives is " extending far downward or inward from a surface ": a deep lake; falling from a cliff through abysmal space; a profound glacial chasm.

e·ven 1 ( ¶"v…n) adj. 1. a. Having a horizontal surface; flat: an even floor. b. Having no irregularities, roughness, or indentations; smooth. See note at level . c. Being in the same plane or line; parallel: The picture is even with the window. 2. a. Having no variations or fluctuations; uniform: the even rhythm of his breathing. See note at steady . b. Of uniform distribution: an even application of varnish. c. Placid; calm: an even temperament. 3. a. Equal or identical in degree, extent, or amount: Use even amounts of butter and sugar. b. Equally matched or balanced: an even fight. c. Just; fair: an even bargain. d. Having nothing due on either side; square: If we each take half, then we'll be even. e. Having exacted full revenge. 4. Having equal probability; as likely as not: an even chance of winning. 5. Sports a. Having an equal score: The teams are even at halftime. b. Being equal for each opponent. Used of a score. 6. Mathematics a. Exactly divisible by 2. b. Characterized or indicated by a number exactly divisible by 2. 7. a. Having an even number in a series. b. Having an even number of members. 8. Having an exact amount, extent, or number; precise: an even pound; an even foot. adv. 1. a. To a greater degree or extent. Used as an intensive with comparative adjectives and adverbs: Looked sick and felt even worse. b. Indeed; moreover. Used as an intensive: He was depressed, even suicidal. Even a child knows better. c. Used as an intensive to indicate something that is unexpected: declined even to consider the idea. 2. At the same time as; already; just: Even as we watched, the building collapsed. 3. To a degree that extends; fully: loyal even unto death. 4. Exactly; precisely: It was even as he said: the jewel was gone. v. tr. intr. e·vened e·ven·ing e·vens 1. To make or become even.

Idioms: on an even keel 1. In a stable or unimpaired state: " There was good reason to keep relations with Washington on an even keel " Helen Kitchen [Middle English from Old English efen] e "ven·er n. e "ven·ly adv. e "ven·ness n.

fee·ble ( f¶"b…l) adj. fee·bler fee·blest 1. a. Lacking strength; weak. b. Indicating weakness. 2. Lacking vigor, force, or effectiveness; inadequate. See note at weak . [Middle English feble from Old French from Latin fl¶bilis lamentable from fl¶re to weep] fee "ble·ness n. fee "bly adv.

free ( fr¶) adj. fre·er fre·est 1. Not imprisoned or enslaved; being at liberty. 2. Not controlled by obligation or the will of another: felt free to go. 3. a. Having political independence: " America . . . is the freest and wealthiest nation in the world " Rudolph W. Giuliani b. Governed by consent and possessing or granting civil liberties: a free citizenry. c. Not subject to arbitrary interference by a government: a free press. 4. a. Not affected or restricted by a given condition or circumstance: a healthy animal, free of disease; free from need. b. Not subject to a given condition; exempt: income that is free of all taxes. 5. Not subject to external restraint: " Comment is free but facts are sacred " Charles Prestwich Scott 6. Not literal or exact: a free translation. 7. a. Costing nothing; gratuitous: a free meal. b. Publicly supported: free education. 8. a. Not occupied or used: a free locker. b. Not taken up by scheduled activities: free time between classes. 9. Unobstructed; clear: a free lane. 10. Unguarded in expression or manner; open; frank. 11. Taking undue liberties; forward or overfamiliar. 12. Liberal or lavish: tourists who are free with their money. 13. Given, made, or done of one's own accord; voluntary or spontaneous: a free act of the will; free choices. 14. Chemistry Physics a. Unconstrained; unconfined: free expansion. b. Not fixed in position; capable of relatively unrestricted motion: a free electron. c. Not chemically bound in a molecule: free oxygen. d. Involving no collisions or interactions: a free path. e. Empty: a free space. f. Unoccupied: a free energy level. 15. Nautical Favorable: a free wind. 16. Not bound, fastened, or attached: the free end of a chain. 17. Linguistics Being a vowel in an open syllable unchecked by a consonant, as the o in go. adv. 1. In a free manner; without restraint. 2. Without charge. v. tr. freed free·ing frees 1. To set at liberty; make free: freed the slaves; free the imagination. 2. To relieve of a burden, an obligation, or a restraint: a people who were at last freed from fear. 3. To remove obstructions or entanglements from; clean: free a path through the jungle.

Idioms: for free Informal 1. Without charge. [Middle English fre from Old English fr¶o V., from Middle English freen from Old English fr¶on to love, set free; See pr º- in Indo-European Roots.] free "ly adv. free "ness n.

keen 1 ( k¶n) adj. keen·er keen·est 1. Having a fine, sharp cutting edge or point. 2. Having or marked by intellectual quickness and acuity. See note at sharp . 3. Acutely sensitive: a keen ear. 4. Sharp; vivid; strong: " His entire body hungered for keen sensation, something exciting " Richard Wright 5. Intense; piercing: a keen wind. 6. Pungent; acrid: A keen smell of skunk was left behind. 7. a. Ardent; enthusiastic: a keen chess player. b. Eagerly desirous: keen on going to Europe in the spring. See note at eager 1 . 8. Slang Great; splendid; fine: What a keen day! [Middle English kene from Old English c¶ne brave] keen "ly adv. keen "ness n.

meek ( m¶k) adj. meek·er meek·est 1. Showing patience and humility; gentle. 2. Easily imposed on; submissive. [Middle English meke of Scandinavian origin Old Norse mj¿krsoft] meek "ly adv.

meet 2 ( m¶t) adj. 1. Fitting; proper: " It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place " Shakespeare See note at fit 1 . [Middle English mete from Old English gemÆte;See med- in Indo-European Roots.] meet "ly adv.

o·pen ( ½"p…n) adj. 1. a. Affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed. b. Affording unobstructed passage or view: open waters; the open countryside. 2. a. Having no protecting or concealing cover: an open wound; an open sports car. b. Completely obvious; blatant: open disregard of the law. c. Carried on in full view: open warfare; open family strife. 3. a. Not sealed or tied: an open package. b. Spread out; unfolded: an open book. 4. Having interspersed gaps, spaces, or intervals: open ranks; an open weave. 5. a. Accessible to all; unrestricted as to participants: an open competition. b. Free from limitations, boundaries, or restrictions: open registration. c. Enterable by registered voters regardless of political affiliation: an open primary. 6. a. Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated. b. Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking. 7. a. Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question. b. Willing to consider or deal with: open to suggestions. 8. a. Available; obtainable: The job is still open. b. Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us. 9. Ready to transact business: The store is open. 10. Not engaged or filled: has an open hour for emergency cases. 11. Not yet decided; subject to further thought: an open question. 12. a. Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See note at frank 1 . b. Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind. c. Generous: He is very open with his time. 13. Printing a. Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter. b. Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea gull is an open compound. 14. Music a. Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument. b. Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet. c. Played without a mute: an open wind instrument. 15. a. Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far. b. Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable. 16. Designating a method of punctuation in which commas and other marks are used sparingly. 17. Being in operation; live: an open microphone. 18. New England Clear. Used of weather. See note at fair 1 . 19. Electricity Containing a gap across which electricity cannot pass. 20. Mathematics a. Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints. b. Of, relating to, or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set. c. Of, relating to, or being a set that is the complement of a closed set. v. o·pened o·pen·ing o·pens v. tr. 1. To release from a closed or fastened position. 2. To remove obstructions from; clear. 3. To make or force an opening in: open an old wound. 4. To form spaces or gaps between: soldiers opening ranks. 5. a. To remove the cover, cork, or lid from. b. To remove the wrapping from; undo. 6. To unfold so that the inner parts are displayed; spread out: open a newspaper. 7. a. To get (something) going; initiate: open a campaign. b. To commence the operation of: open a new business. 8. Games To begin (the action in a game of cards) by making the first bid, placing the first bet, or playing the first lead. 9. To make available for use: opened the area to commercial development. 10. To make more responsive or understanding. 11. To reveal the secrets of; bare. 12. Law To recall (an order or a judgment) for a reexamination of its merits. v. intr. 1. To become open: The door opened slowly. 2. To draw apart; separate: The wound opened under pressure. 3. To spread apart; unfold. 4. To come into view; become revealed: The plain opened before us. 5. To become receptive or understanding. 6. a. To begin; commence: The meeting opened with a call to order. b. To begin business or operation. 7. To give the first public performance: The play opens next week. 8. Games To make a bid, bet, or lead in starting a game of cards. 9. To give access: The room opens onto a terrace. n. 1. An unobstructed area of land or water. 2. The outdoors: camping in the open. 3. An undisguised or unconcealed state: brought the problem out into the open. 4. Sports Games A tournament or contest in which both professional and amateur players may participate.

Phrasal Verbs: open up 1. To spread out; unfold: A green valley opened up before us. 2. a. To begin operation: The new store opens up next month. b. To begin firing: The artillery opened up at dawn. 3. Informal To speak freely and candidly: At last the frightened witness opened up and told the truth. 4. To make an opening in by cutting: The surgeon opened up the patient's chest. 5. To make available or accessible: open up new markets. 6. Informal To accelerate. Used of a motor vehicle. 7. a. To begin operation: The new store opens up next month. b. To begin firing: The artillery opened up at dawn.

Idioms: open fire 1. To begin firing on. open (one's) eyes 1. To become aware of the truth of a situation. [Middle English from Old English; See upo in Indo-European Roots.] o "pen·ly adv. o "pen·ness n.

o·ver·ly ( ½"v…r-l¶) adv. 1. To an excessive degree: overly protective.

seem·ly ( s¶m"l¶) adj. seem·li·er seem·li·est 1. Conforming to standards of conduct and good taste; suitable: seemly behavior. 2. Of pleasing appearance; handsome. adv. 1. In a seemly manner; suitably. [Middle English semely from Old Norse s÷miligr from s÷mr fitting; See sem- 1 in Indo-European Roots.] seem "li·ness n.

sem- 1 . Important derivatives are: simultaneous assemble ensemble single Sanskrit same anomalous seem seemly some similar assimilate resemble simplicity simple One; also adverbially " as one, " together with. I. Full-grade form *sem- . 1. a. HENDECASYLLABIC , HENDIADYS , HENOTHEISM , HYPHEN , from Greek heis ( < nominative singular masculine *hen-s < *hem-s ), one; b. (see dek ©) Greek he- in hekaton , one hundred (? dissimilated from *hem-katon ). Both a and b from Greek *hem- . 2. Suffixed form *sem-el- . SIMULTANEOUS ; ASSEMBLE , ENSEMBLE , from Latin simul , at the same time. 3. Suffixed form *sem-golo- . SINGLE , from Latin singulus , alone, single. 4. Compound *sem-per- ( *per , during, for; see per 1 ). SEMPRE ; SEMPITERNAL , from Latin semper , always, ever ( < " once for all "). II. O-grade form *som- . 1. SAMSARA , SANDHI , SANSKRIT , from Sanskrit sam , together. 2. Suffixed form *som-o- . a. SAME , from Old Norse samr , same, from Germanic *samaz , same; b. HOMEO- , HOMO- ; ANOMALOUS , from Greek homos , same; c. HOMILY , from Greek homilos , crowd. 3. Suffixed form *som-alo- . HOMOLOGRAPHIC , from Greek homalos , like, even, level. III. Lengthened o-grade form *s ½m-. 1. Suffixed form *s ½m-i-. SEEM , SEEMLY , from Old Norse s÷mr , fitting, agreeable ( < " making one, " " reconciling"), from Germanic *s ½miz. 2. Suffixed lengthened o-grade form *s ½m-o-. SAMIZDAT , SAMOVAR , from Russian sam(o)- , self. IV. Zero-grade form *s ©-. 1. ( ACOLYTE ), ANACOLUTHON , from Greek compound a-kolouthos , accompanying ( a- +/ keleuthos , way, path), from ha- , a- , together. 2. Compound form *s ©-plo- ( *-plo- , -fold; see pel- 2 ). HAPLOID , from Greek haploos , haplous , single, simple. 3. Suffixed form *s ©m-o-. a. SOME , from Old English sum , one, a certain one; b. -SOME 1 , from Old English -sum , -like. Both a and b from Germanic *sumaz . 4. Suffixed form *s ©m-alo-. SIMILAR ; ASSIMILATE , RESEMBLE , from Latin similis , of the same kind, like. 5. Compound *s ©-k¶ro-, of one growing (see ker- 2 ). 6. Suffixed form *s ©-tero-. HETERO- , from Greek heteros (earlier hateros ), one of two, other. 7. Compound *s ©-plek-, " one-fold," simple ( *plek- , -fold; see plek- ). SEMPLICE , SIMPLEX , SIMPLICITY , from Latin simplex , simple. 8. Compound *s ©-plo-, " one-fold," simple ( *-plo- , -fold; see pel- 2 ). SIMPLE , from Latin simplus , simple. 9. Extended form *s ©ma. HAMADRYAD , from Greek hama , together with, at the same time. [ Pokorny 2. sem- 902. ]

smell·y ( smµl"¶) adj. smell·i·er smell·i·est Informal 1. Having a noticeable, usually unpleasant or offensive odor.

steel·y ( st¶"l¶) adj. steel·i·er steel·i·est 1. Made of steel. 2. Resembling steel, as in color or hardness: steely eyes. steel "i·ness n.

treb·le ( trµb"…l) adj. 1. Triple: " treble reason for loving as well as working while it is day " George Eliot 2. Music Relating to or having the highest part, voice, or range. 3. High-pitched; shrill. n. 1. Music a. The highest part, voice, instrument, or range. b. A singer or player that performs this part. 2. A high, shrill sound or voice. v. tr. intr. treb·led treb·ling treb·les 1. To make or become triple. [Middle English from Old French from Medieval Latin triplum from Latin, neuter of triplus triple; See triple ] treb "le·ness n. treb "ly ( trµb"l¶) adv.

week·ly ( w¶k"l¶) adv. Abbr. wkly. 1. Once a week. 2. Every week. 3. By the week. adj. Abbr. wkly. 1. Of or relating to a week. 2. Occurring, appearing, or done once a week or every week. 3. Computed by the week: a weekly rate. n. pl. week·lies Abbr. wkly. 1. A publication issued once a week.