bat·tle ( b²t"l) n. 1. a. An encounter between opposing forces: an important battle in the Pacific campaign. b. Armed fighting; combat: wounded in battle. 2. A match between two combatants: trial by battle. 3. a. A protracted controversy or struggle: won the battle of the budget. b. An intense competition: a battle of wits. v. bat·tled bat·tling bat·tles v. intr. 1. To engage in or as if in battle. v. tr. 1. To fight against: battled the enemy; battled cancer. [Middle English batel from Old French bataille from Vulgar Latin *batt ³lia from Late Latin battu³lia fighting and fencing exercises from Latin battuere to beat] bat "tler n.

Bat·tle ( b²t"l) 1. A town of southeast England, site of the Battle of Hastings (1066). William the Conqueror built Battle Abbey to commemorate his victory here. Population, 4,987.

com·mand·er ( k…-m²n"d…r) n. 1. A person who commands, especially a commanding officer. 2. Abbr. CDR Cdr. Cmd. Cmdr com. Com. Comdr. a. A commissioned rank in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard that is above lieutenant commander and below captain. b. One who holds this rank. c. The chief commissioned officer of a military unit regardless of his or her rank. 3. An officer in some knightly or fraternal orders.

bead ( b¶d) n. 1. a. A small, often round piece of material, such as glass, plastic, or wood, that is pierced for stringing or threading. b. beads A necklace made of such pieces. c. beads Roman Catholic Church A rosary. d. Obsolete A prayer. Often used in the plural. 2. A small, round object, especially: a. A drop of moisture: beads of sweat. b. A bubble of gas in a liquid. c. A small metal knob on the muzzle of a firearm, such as a rifle, used for sighting. 3. A strip of material, usually wood, with one molded edge placed flush against the inner part of a door or window frame. 4. Architecture a. A decoration consisting of a usually continuous series of small spherical shapes, as on a convex molding. b. Beading. 5. A projecting rim or lip, as on a pneumatic tire. 6. A line of continuously-applied ductile material, such as solder or caulking compound. 7. Chemistry A globule of fused borax or other flux used in a bead test. v. tr. intr. bead·ed bead·ing beads 1. To furnish with or collect into beads.

Idioms: draw a bead on or get a bead on 1. To take careful aim at. [Middle English bede rosary bead, prayer from Old English bed, bedu, gebed prayer; See g w hedh- in Indo-European Roots.]

g w hedh-. Important derivatives are: bid bead To ask, pray. I. 1. Suffixed form *g w hedh-yo-. BID , from Old English biddan , to ask, pray, from Germanic *bidjan , to pray, entreat. 2. BEAD , from Old English bed(u) , gebed , prayer ( ge- , intensive and collective prefix; see kom ), from Germanic *bidam , entreaty. 3. Suffixed form *g w hedh-to-. INFEST , MANIFEST , from Latin -festus , probably in º nfestus, hostile, ( < * ö-g w hedh-to-, " inexorable"; * ö-, not; see ne ), and perhaps in manifestus , caught in the act, red-handed ( manus , hand; see man- 2 ). [ Pokorny g ø hedh- 488, 2. bhedh- 114. ]

bend 1 ( bµnd) v. bent ( bµnt) bend·ing bends v. tr. 1. To bring (something) into a state of tension: bend a bow. 2. a. To cause to assume a curved or angular shape: bend a piece of iron into a horseshoe. b. To force to assume a different direction or shape, according to one's own purpose: " Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events " Robert F. Kennedy 3. To cause to swerve from a straight line; deflect. 4. To render submissive; subdue. 5. To apply (the mind) closely: " The weary naval officer goes to bed at night having bent his brain all day to a scheme of victory " Jack Beatty 6. Nautical To fasten: bend a mainsail onto the boom. v. intr. 1. a. To deviate from a straight line or position: The lane bends to the right at the bridge. b. To assume a curved, crooked, or angular form or direction: The saplings bent in the wind. 2. To incline the body; stoop. 3. To make a concession; yield. 4. To apply oneself closely; concentrate: She bent to her task. n. 1. a. The act or fact of bending. b. The state of being bent. 2. Something bent: a bend in the road. 3. bends Nautical The thick planks in a ship's side; wales. 4. bends used with a sing. or pl. verb A manifestation of decompression sickness that is caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood and tissues after a rapid reduction in the surrounding pressure and is characterized by pain in the joints and abdomen.

Idioms: around the bend Slang 1. Insane; crazy. bend (someone's) ear Slang 1. To talk to at length, usually excessively. [Middle English benden from Old English bendan; See bhendh- in Indo-European Roots.]

Synonyms: bend crook curve round The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to swerve or cause to swerve from a straight line ": bent his knees and knelt; crooks her little finger when she holds a teacup; claws that curve under; rounding the lips to articulate an " o."

bend 2 ( bµnd) n. 1. Heraldry A band passing from the upper dexter corner of an escutcheon to the lower sinister corner. 2. Nautical A knot that joins a rope to a rope or another object. [Middle English from Old English bend band,and from Old French bende band( of Germanic origin) ;See bhendh- in Indo-European Roots.]

Bend ( bµnd) 1. A city of central Oregon at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range east of Eugene. Lumbering and tourism are important to its economy. Population, 20,469.

bhendh- . Important derivatives are: bind bend 1 band 1 bond bundle To bind. I. 1. a. BIND ; WOODBINE , from Old English bindan , to bind; b. BINDLESTIFF , from Old High German binten , to bind. Both a and b from Germanic *bindan . 2. BANDANNA , from Sanskrit bandhati , he ties. 3. O-grade form *bhondh- . a. BEND 2 ; RIBBON , from Old English bend , band, and Old French bende , band; b. BEND 1 , from Old English bendan , to bend; c. BAND 1 , BOND , from Old Norse band , band, fetter; d. BAND 1 , from Old French bande , bond, tie, link. a, b, c, and d all from Germanic *band- . 4. Suffixed form *bhond-o- . BUND 1 ; ( CUMMERBUND ), from Old Iranian banda- , bond, fetter. 5. Zero-grade form *bh ödh-. a. BUND 2 , from Middle High German bunt , league; b. BUNDLE , from Middle Dutch bondel , sheaf of papers, bundle. Both a and b from Germanic *bund- .[ Pokorny bhendh- 127. ]

dead ( dµd) adj. dead·er dead·est 1. Having lost life; no longer alive. 2. Marked for certain death; doomed: was marked as a dead man by the assassin. 3. a. Having the physical appearance of death: a dead pallor. b. Lacking feeling or sensitivity; numb or unresponsive: Passersby were dead to our pleas for help. c. Weary and worn-out; exhausted. 4. a. Not having the capacity to live; inanimate or inert. b. Not having the capacity to produce or sustain life; barren: dead soil. 5. a. No longer in existence, use, or operation. b. No longer having significance or relevance. c. Physically inactive; dormant: a dead volcano. 6. a. Not commercially productive; idle: dead capital. b. Not circulating or running; stagnant: dead water; dead air. 7. a. Devoid of human or vehicular activity; quiet: a dead town. b. Lacking all animation, excitement, or activity; dull: The party being dead, we left early. 8. Having no resonance. Used of sounds: " One characteristic of compact discs we all can hear is dead sound. It may be pure but it has no life " Musical Heritage Review 9. Having grown cold; having been extinguished: dead coals; a dead flame. 10. Lacking elasticity or bounce: That tennis ball is dead. 11. Out of operation because of a fault or breakdown: The motor is dead. 12. a. Sudden; abrupt: a dead stop. b. Complete; utter: dead silence. c. Exact; unerring. 13. Sports Out of play. Used of a ball. 14. a. Lacking connection to a source of electric current. b. Drained of electric charge; discharged: a dead battery. n. 1. One who has died: respect for the dead. 2. The period exhibiting the greatest degree of intensity: the dead of winter; the dead of night. adv. 1. Absolutely; altogether: You can be dead sure of my innocence. 2. Directly; exactly: There's a gas station dead ahead. 3. Suddenly: She stopped dead on the stairway.

Idioms: dead and buried 1. No longer in use or under consideration: All past animosities are dead and buried now. dead in the water 1. Unable to function or move: The crippled ship was dead in the water. With no leadership, the project was dead in the water. dead to rights 1. In the very act of making an error or committing a crime: The police caught the thief dead to rights with my silverware. [Middle English ded from Old English d¶ad;See dheu- 2 in Indo-European Roots.] dead "ness n.

Synonyms: dead deceased departed extinct lifeless inanimate These adjectives all mean without life. Dead, which has the widest use, applies in general to whatever once had —but no longer has —physical life ( a dead man; a dead leaf ), function ( The battery is dead ), or force or currency ( a dead issue; a dead language ). Deceased —like departed, which is a euphemistic term —refers only to nonliving human beings: attended a memorial service for a recently deceased friend; " shedding funereal tears over his departed dog " (Ben Jonson). Extinct can refer to what has no living successors ( The dodo is extinct ) or to what is extinguished or inactive ( an extinct volcano ). Lifeless applies to what no longer has physical life ( a lifeless body ), to what does not support life ( a lifeless planet ), and to what lacks animation, spirit, or brightness ( a lifeless performance of the sonata; lifeless colors ). Inanimate is most often limited to what has never had physical life: " He then fell, like an inanimate log, to the earth " (James Fenimore Cooper).

dheu- 2 . Important derivatives are: dead death die 1 dwindle To die. I. 1. Suffixed o-grade form *dhou-to- . DEAD , from Old English d ¶ad, dead, from Germanic *daudaz . 2. Suffixed o-grade form *dhou-tu- . DEATH , from Old English d ¶ath, death, from Germanic *dauthuz . 3. Suffixed o-grade form *dhow-yo- . DIE 1 , from Old Norse deyja , to die. 4. Suffixed extended zero-grade form *dhw º-no-. DWINDLE , from Old English dw ºnan, to diminish, languish, from Germanic *dw ºnan.[ Pokorny 2. dheu- 260. See dh ¿-no-. ]

deed ( d¶d) n. 1. Something that is carried out; an act or action. 2. A usually praiseworthy act; a feat or exploit. 3. Action or performance in general: Deeds, not words, matter most. 4. Law A document sealed as an instrument of bond, contract, or conveyance, especially relating to property. v. tr. deed·ed deed·ing deeds 1. To transfer by means of a deed: deeded the property to the children. [Middle English dede from Old English dÆd;See dh ¶- in Indo-European Roots.]

dh ¶-. Important derivatives are: do 1 deed doom -dom deem fact factor fashion feat 1 feature affair affect 1 affection amplify benefit defeat defect effect efficient infect justify modify notify perfect profit qualify sacrifice face surface difficulty thesis theme To set, put. I. Contracted from *dhe …-. 1. O-grade form *dh ½-. DO 1 ; FORDO , from Old English d ½n, to do, from Germanic *d ½n. 2. Suffixed form *dh ¶-ti-, " thing laid down or done, law, deed. " DEED , from Old English d Æd, doing, deed, from Germanic *d ¶diz. 3. Suffixed o-grade form *dh ½-mo-. a. DOOM , from Old English d ½m, judgment ( < " thing set or put down "); b. -DOM , from Old English -d ½m, abstract suffix indicating state, condition, or power; c. (see k ³-) Old Norse -d ½mr, condition; d. DUMA , from Russian Duma , Duma, from a Germanic source akin to Gothic d ½ms, judgment; e. DEEM , from Old English d ¶man, to judge, from Germanic denominative d ½mjan. a, b, c, d, and e all from Germanic d ½maz. 4. Suffixed o-grade form *dh ½-t-. (see sak- ) Latin sacerd ½s, priest, " performer of sacred rites. " 5. Zero-grade form *dh …-. a. prefixed form *kom-dh …-. ABSCOND , INCONDITE , RECONDITE , SCONCE 2 , from Latin condere , to put together, establish, preserve ( *kom , together; see kom ); b. prefixed and suffixed form *kom-dh( …)-yo-. CONDIMENT , from Latin cond ºre, to season, flavor; c. compound *kred-dh …-. (see kerd- ) 6. Suffixed zero-grade form dh …-k-. a. -FACIENT , FACT , FACTION 1 , -FACTION , FACTITIOUS , FACTITIVE , FACTOR , FASHION , FEASIBLE , FEAT 1 , FEATURE , ( FETISH ), -FIC , ( -FY ), HACIENDA ; AFFAIR , AFFECT 1 , ( AFFECT 2 ), ( AFFECTION ), ( AMPLIFY ), ARTIFACT , ARTIFICE , ( BEATIFIC ), BENEFACTION , ( BENEFIC ), ( BENEFICE ), ( BENEFICENCE ), ( BENEFIT ), CHAFE , COMFIT , CONFECT , ( CONFETTI ), COUNTERFEIT , ( DEFEASANCE ), DEFEAT , DEFECT , ( DEFICIENT ), ( DISCOMFIT ), ( EDIFICE ), ( EDIFY ), EFFECT , ( EFFICACIOUS ), ( EFFICIENT ), FACSIMILE , FACTOTUM , FORFEIT , INFECT , ( JUSTIFY ), MALEFACTOR , ( MALFEASANCE ), MANUFACTURE , MISFEASANCE , ( MODIFY ), ( MOLLIFY ), ( NIDIFY ), ( NOTIFY ), ( NULLIFY ), OFFICINAL , ORIFICE , PERFECT , ( PETRIFY ), ( PLUPERFECT ), PONTIFEX , PREFECT , ( PROFICIENT ), PROFIT , PUTREFY , ( QUALIFY ), RAREFY , ( RECTIFY ), REFECT , ( REFECTORY ), RUBEFACIENT , SACRIFICE , SATISFY , SPINIFEX , SUFFICE , ( SUFFICIENT ), SURFEIT , TUBIFEX , TUMEFACIENT , ( VIVIFY ), from Latin facere ( < *fak-yo- ), to do, make, and Latin combining form -fex ( < *-fak-s ), " maker"; b. FAçADE , FACE , ( FACET ), ( FACIAL ), FACIES ; ( DEFACE ), EFFACE , ( SURFACE ), from Latin derivative faci ¶s, shape, face ( < " form imposed on something "); c. OFFICE , from Latin compound officium ( < *opi-fici-om ), service, duty, business, performance of work ( *opi- , work; see op- ); d. further suffixed form *dh …-k-li-. FACILE , ( FACILITATE ), FACULTY , DIFFICULTY , from Latin facilis ( < Old Latin facul ), feasible, easy. 7. Suffixed zero-grade form *dh …-s- (probably identical with zero-grade of dh ¶s-). NEFARIOUS , from Latin f ³s, divine law, right. 8. MULTIFARIOUS , OMNIFARIOUS , from Latin -f ³riam, adverbial suffix, as in bif ³riam, in two places, parts, double, from *dwi-dh( …)-, " making two " ( *dwi- , two; see dwo- ). 9. Reduplicated form *dhi-dh …-. THESIS , THETIC ; ANATHEMA , ANTITHESIS , DIATHESIS , EPENTHESIS , EPITHET , HYPOTHESIS , METATHESIS , PARENTHESIS , PROSTHESIS , PROTHESIS , SYNTHESIS , from Greek tithenai , to put, with zero-grade noun thesis ( *dh …-ti-), a placing, and verbal adjective thetos ( *dh …-to-), placed. 10. Suffixed form *dh ¶-k-. THECA , TICK 3 ; AMPHITHECIUM , APOTHECARY , ( APOTHECIUM ), BIBLIOTHECA , ( BODEGA ), ( BOUTIQUE ), CLEISTOTHECIUM , ENDOTHECIUM , PERITHECIUM , from Greek th ¶k¶, receptacle. 11. Suffixed zero-grade form *dh …-mö. ( THEMATIC ), THEME , from Greek thema , " thing placed, " proposition. 12. Reduplicated form *dhe-dh ¶-. SANDHI , from Sanskrit dadh ³ti, he places. 13. Basic form *dh ¶-. PURDAH , from Old Persian d ³-, to place. 14. Suffixed form *dh ¶-to-, set down, created. (see s(w)e- ) Old Iranian compound *khvat ½-d³ta-, created from oneself. 15. Reduced form *dh- . (see au- ) [ Pokorny 2. dh ¶- 235. ]

feed ( f¶d) v. fed ( fµd) feed·ing feeds v. tr. 1. a. To give food to; supply with nourishment: feed the children. b. To provide as food or nourishment: fed fish to the cat. 2. a. To serve as food for: The turkey is large enough to feed a dozen. b. To produce food for: The valley feeds an entire county. 3. a. To provide for consumption, utilization, or operation: feed logs to a fire; feed data into a computer. b. To supply with something essential for growth, maintenance, or operation: Melting snow feeds the reservoirs. c. To distribute (a local radio or television broadcast) to a larger audience or group of receivers by way of a network or satellite. 4. a. To minister to; gratify: fed their appetite for the morbid. b. To support or promote; encourage: His unexplained absences fed our suspicions. 5. To supply as a cue: feed lines to an actor. 6. Sports To pass a ball or puck to (a teammate), especially in order to score. v. intr. 1. To eat: pigs feeding at a trough. 2. To be nourished or supported: an ego that feeds on flattery. 3. a. To move steadily, as into a machine for processing. b. To be channeled; flow: This road feeds into the freeway. n. 1. a. Food for animals or birds. b. The amount of such food given at one time. 2. Informal A meal, especially a large one. 3. The act of eating. 4. a. Material or an amount of material supplied, as to a machine or furnace. b. The act of supplying such material. 5. a. An apparatus that supplies material to a machine. b. The aperture through which such material enters a machine. 6. Distribution of a locally broadcast radio or television program by way of a network or satellite to a larger audience or group of receivers.

Idioms: off (one's) feed 1. Suffering a lack of appetite; sick: The dog is off its feed this week. [Middle English feden from Old English f¶dan;See p ³- in Indo-European Roots.]

fee ( f¶) n. 1. A fixed sum charged, as by an institution or by law, for a privilege: a license fee; tuition fees. 2. A charge for professional services: a surgeon's fee. 3. A tip; a gratuity. 4. Law An inherited or heritable estate in land. 5. a. In feudal law, an estate in land granted by a lord to his vassal on condition of homage and service. Also Called feud 2 Also Called fief . b. The land so held. v. tr. feed fee·ing fees 1. To give a tip to. 2. Scots To hire.

Idioms: in fee Law 1. In absolute and legal possession. [Middle English fe from Anglo-Norman fee fief from Old French fie, fief of Germanic origin; See peku- in Indo-European Roots.]

p ³-. Important derivatives are: fodder forage fur pabulum food feed foster pasture antipasto pester repast pastor pantry companion company To protect, feed. I. Contracted from *pa …-. 1. Suffixed form *p ³-trom. a. FODDER , from Old English f ½dor, fodder; b. FORAGE , from Old French feurre , fodder; c. FUR , from Old French forre, fuerre , trimming made from animal skin, fur ( < " sheath, case, lining "). a, b, and c all from Germanic *f ½dram. 2. Suffixed form *p ³-dhlom (doublet of *p ³-trom). PABULUM , from Latin p ³bulum, food, fodder. 3. Extended form *p ³t-. a. FOOD , from Old English f ½da, food, from Germanic *f ½d-, food; b. FEED , from Old English f ¶dan, to feed, from Germanic denominative *f ½djan, to give food to; c. suffixed form *p ³t-tro-. FOSTER , from Old English f ½stor, food, nourishment, from Germanic *f ½stra-. 4. Extended form *p ³s-. a. suffixed form *p ³s-sko-. PASTURE ; ANTIPASTO , REPAST , from Latin p ³scere, to feed; b. suffixed form *p ³s-tor-. PASTOR , PESTER , from Latin p ³stor, shepherd; c. suffixed form *p ³s-t-ni-. PANADA , PANATELA , PANNIER , ( PANOCHA ), PANTRY , PASTILLE , ( PENUCHE ); APPANAGE , COMPANION 1 , ( COMPANY ), from Latin p ³nis, bread. 5. Suffixed form *p ³-tor-. BEZOAR , from Persian p ³d, protecting against, from Iranian *p ³tar- ( Avestan p ³tar-). 6. Suffixed form *p ³-won-, protector. SATRAP , from Old Persian khshathra-p ³v³, protector of the province. [ Pokorny p ³- 787, 1. p ½(i)- 839. ]

fend ( fµnd) v. fend·ed fend·ing fends v. tr. 1. To ward off. Often used with off : fend off an attack. 2. Archaic To defend. v. intr. 1. To make an effort to resist: fend against the cold. 2. To attempt to manage without assistance: The children had to fend for themselves while their parents worked. [Middle English fenden short for defenden to defend; See defend ]

feud 1 ( fy›d) n. 1. A bitter, often prolonged quarrel or state of enmity, especially such a state of hostilities between two families or clans. v. intr. feud·ed feud·ing feuds 1. To carry on or perpetuate a bitter quarrel or state of enmity. [Alteration( probably influenced by feud 2 ) of Middle English fede from Old French faide of Germanic origin]

feud 2 ( fy›d) n. 1. See fee . [Medieval Latin feudum of Germanic origin; See peku- in Indo-European Roots.]

peku- . Important derivatives are: fellow fee pecuniary peculiar Wealth, movable property. I. 1. a. FELLOW , from Old Norse f ¶, property, cattle; b. FEE , from Old French fie , fief; c. FEUD 2 , from Medieval Latin feudum , feudal estate. a, b, and c all from Germanic *fehu- . 2. PECORINO , from Latin pecus , cattle. 3. Suffixed form *peku-n- . PECUNIARY ; IMPECUNIOUS , from Latin pec ¿nia, property, wealth. 4. Suffixed form *peku-l- . PECULATE , PECULIAR , from Latin pec ¿lium, riches in cattle, private property. [ In Pokorny 2. pe ç- 797. ]

gee 2 ( j¶) interj. 1. Used to command a horse or an ox to turn to the right. v. intr. geed gee·ing gees 1. To turn to the right.

geld 1 ( gµld) v. tr. geld·ed or gelt ( gµlt) geld·ing gelds 1. To castrate (a horse, for example). 2. To deprive of strength or vigor; weaken. [Middle English gelden from Old Norse gelda]

geld 2 ( gµld) n. 1. A tax paid to the crown by English landholders under Anglo-Saxon and Norman kings. [Middle English geld Medieval Latin geldum both from Old English geld, gield payment]

head ( hµd) n. Abbr. hd. 1. a. The uppermost or forwardmost part of the body of a vertebrate, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws. b. The analogous part of an invertebrate organism. c. The length or height of such a part: The horse lost by a head. She is two heads taller than he is. 2. The seat of the faculty of reason; intelligence, intellect, or mind: I did the figuring in my head. 3. Mental ability or aptitude: She has a good head for mathematics. 4. Freedom of choice or action: Give the child his head and see how well he solves the problems. 5. Slang a. A habitual drug user. b. An enthusiast. 6. A portrait or representation of a person's head. 7. Often heads used with a sing. verb The side of a coin having the principal design and the date. 8. Informal A headache: had a bad head early this morning. 9. a. An individual; a person: charged five dollars a head. b. head A single animal: 20 head of cattle. 10. a. A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director: the head of the corporation. b. A headmaster or headmistress. 11. The foremost or leading position: marched at the head of the parade. 12. A headwaiter. 13. a. The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points. b. The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference. c. The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas: a head of steam. d. The liquid or gas exerting the pressure. 14. The froth or foam that rises to the top in pouring an effervescent liquid, such as beer. 15. The tip of an abscess, a boil, or a pimple, in which pus forms. 16. A turning point; a crisis: bring matters to a head. See note at crisis . 17. a. A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object: the head of a pin; a head of land overlooking the harbor. b. Anatomy The proximal end of a long bone: the head of the femur. c. The working end of a tool or an implement: the head of a hammer. d. The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead. 18. a. An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device. b. The magnetic head of a tape recorder. 19. A rounded, compact mass, as of leaves or buds: a head of cabbage. 20. Botany A flower head. 21. The uppermost part; the top: Place the appropriate name at the head of each column. 22. The end considered the most important: sat at the head of the table. 23. Either end of an object, such as a drum, whose two ends are interchangeable. 24. Nautical a. The forward part of a vessel. b. The top part or upper edge of a sail. 25. A toilet, especially on a ship. 26. A passage or gallery in a coal mine. 27. Printing a. The top of a book or of a page. b. A headline or heading. c. A distinct topic or category: under the head of recent Spanish history. 28. Headway; progress. 29. Linguistics The word in a construction that has the same grammatical function as the construction as a whole and that determines relationships of concord to other parts of the construction or sentence in which the construction occurs. 30. Vulgar Slang Oral sex. adj. 1. Of, relating to, or intended for the head. Often used in combination: headshaking; headwrap. 2. Foremost in rank or importance: the head librarian. 3. Placed at the top or the front: the head name on the list. 4. Slang Of, relating to, or for drugs or drug users. v. head·ed head·ing heads v. tr. 1. To be in charge of; lead: The minister headed the committee. 2. To be in the first or foremost position of: Collins heads the list of job candidates. 3. To aim, point, or turn in a certain direction: headed the team of horses up the hill. 4. To remove the head or top of. 5. Sports To hit (a soccer ball) in the air with one's head. 6. To provide with a head: head each column with a number; headed the flagpole with a golden ball. v. intr. 1. To proceed or go in a certain direction: head for town. 2. To form a head, as lettuce or cabbage. 3. To originate, as a stream or river; rise.

Phrasal Verbs: head off 1. To block the progress or completion of; intercept: Try to head him off before he gets home.

Idioms: head and shoulders above 1. Far superior to: head and shoulders above her colleagues in analytical capability. head over heels 1. Rolling, as in a somersault: tripped and fell head over heels. 2. Completely; hopelessly: head over heels in love. keep (one's) head 1. To remain calm; remain in control of oneself. lose (one's) head 1. To lose one's poise or self-control. off (one's) head or out of (one's) head 1. Insane; crazy. put heads together 1. To consult and plan together: Let's put our heads together and solve this problem. [Middle English from Old English h¶afod;See kaput- in Indo-European Roots.]

Head ( hµd), Edith . 1898?-1981 1. American costume designer for more than 1,000 motion pictures, including All About Eve (1950) and A Place in the Sun (1951).

kaput- . Important derivatives are: head cadet capital 1 caprice captain cattle chapter chief biceps decapitate kerchief mischief Head. I. 1. a. HEAD , from Old English h ¶afod, head; b. HETMAN , from Old High German houbit , head. Both a and b from Germanic *haubudam , *haubidam . 2. CADET , CAPE 2 , CAPITAL 1 , CAPITAL 2 , CAPITATE , CAPITATION , CAPITELLUM , ( CAPITULATE ), CAPITULUM , CAPO 1 , ( CAPO 2 ), CAPRICE , CAPTAIN , CATTLE , CAUDILLO , ( CHAPITER ), CHAPTER , CHIEF , CHIEFTAIN , CORPORAL 2 ; BICEPS , DECAPITATE , KERCHIEF , MISCHIEF , OCCIPUT , PRECIPITATE , RECAPITULATE , SINCIPUT , TRICEPS , from Latin caput , head [ Pokorny kap-ut- 529. ]

heed ( h¶d) v. heed·ed heed·ing heeds v. tr. 1. To pay attention to; listen to and consider: " He did not heed my gibes, and chattered on " Sean O'Faolain v. intr. 1. To pay attention. n. 1. Close attention; notice. [Middle English heden from Old English h¶dan]

held ( hµld) v. 1. Past tense and past participle of hold 1 .

Held ( hµld), Anna . 1865?-1918 1. French-born American entertainer noted for her lavish costumes and her appearances in numerous vaudeville shows and musical comedies produced by Florenz Ziegfeld.

Held , John, Jr. . 1889-1958 1. American illustrator and writer known for his interpretations of Jazz Age subject matter.

hold 1 ( h½ld) v. held ( hµld) hold·ing holds v. tr. 1. a. To have and keep in one's grasp: held the reins tightly. b. To aim or direct; point: held a hose on the fire. c. To keep from falling or moving; support: a nail too small to hold the mirror; hold the horse steady; papers that were held together with tape and glue. d. To sustain the pressure of: The bridge can't hold that much weight. 2. a. To keep from departing or getting away: Hold the bus! Hold the dog until I find the leash. b. To keep in custody: held the suspect for questioning. c. To retain the attention or interest of: The storyteller held the crowd spellbound. Televised sports can't hold my interest. d. To avoid letting out or expelling: The swimmer couldn't hold her breath any longer. 3. a. To be filled by; contain. b. To be capable of holding. See note at contain . c. To have as a chief characteristic or quality: The film holds a number of surprises. d. To have in store: Let's see what the future holds. 4. a. To have and maintain in one's possession: holds a great deal of property. b. To have as a responsible position or a privilege: held the governorship for six years. c. To have in recognition of achievement or superiority: holds the record for the one-mile race; holds the respect of her peers. 5. a. To maintain control over: The dam held the floodwaters. Thieves held the stolen painting for ransom. b. To maintain occupation of by force or coercion: Students held the administrative building for a week. c. To withstand the efforts or advance of (an opposing team, for example). d. To maintain in a given condition, situation, or action: held himself as a gentleman at all times. 6. a. To impose control or restraint on; curb: She held her temper. b. To stop the movement or progress of: Hold the presses! c. To reserve or keep back from use: Please hold two tickets for us. Please hold the relish on that hamburger. d. To defer the immediate handling of: asked the receptionist to hold all calls during the meeting. 7. a. To be the legal possessor of. b. To bind by a contract. c. To adjudge or decree: The court held that the defendant was at fault. d. To make accountable; obligate: You certainly did hold me to my promise. 8. a. To keep in the mind or convey as a judgment, conviction, or point of view: hold a grudge; hold it a point of honor not to reveal one's sources; holds that this economic program is the only answer to high prices. b. To assert or affirm, especially formally: This doctrine holds that people are inherently good. c. To regard in a certain way: I hold you in high esteem. 9. a. To cause to take place; carry on: held the race in Florida; hold a yard sale. b. To assemble for and conduct the activity of; convene: held a meeting of the board. 10. a. To carry or support (the body or a bodily part) in a certain position: Can the baby hold herself up yet? Hold up your leg. b. To cover (the ears or the nose, for example) especially for protection: held my nose against the stench. v. intr. 1. a. To maintain a grasp or grip on something. b. To stay securely fastened: The chain held. 2. a. To maintain a desired or accustomed position or condition: hopes the weather will hold. b. To withstand stress, pressure, or opposition: The defense held. We held firm on the negotiations. 3. To continue in the same direction: The ship held to a southwesterly course. 4. To be valid, applicable, or true: The theory holds. This is an observation that still holds true. 5. To have legal right or title. Often used with of or from. 6. To halt an intended action. Often used in the imperative. 7. To stop the countdown during a missile or spacecraft launch. 8. Slang To have in one's possession illicit or illegally obtained material or goods, especially narcotics: The suspect was holding. n. 1. a. The act or a means of grasping. b. A manner of grasping an opponent, as in wrestling or aikido: a neck hold; an arm hold. 2. Something that may be grasped or gripped, as for support. 3. a. A bond or force that attaches or restrains, or by which something is affected or dominated: a writer with a strong hold on the reading public. b. Complete control: has a firm hold on the complex issues. c. Full understanding: has a good hold on physics. 4. Music a. The sustaining of a note longer than its indicated time value. b. The symbol designating this pause; a fermata. 5. a. A direction or an indication that something is to be reserved or deferred. b. A temporary halt, as in a countdown. 6. a. A prison cell. b. The state of being in confinement; custody. 7. Archaic A fortified place; a stronghold.

Phrasal Verbs: hold back 1. To retain in one's possession or control: held back valuable information; held back my tears. 2. To impede the progress of. 3. To restrain oneself. hold down 1. To limit: Please hold the noise down. 2. To have (a job): holds down two jobs. hold forth 1. To talk at great length. hold off 1. To keep at a distance; resist: held the creditors off. 2. To stop or delay doing something: Let's hold off until we have more data. hold on 1. To maintain one's grip; cling. 2. To continue to do something; persist. 3. To wait for something wanted or requested, especially to keep a telephone connection open. hold out 1. To present or proffer as something attainable. 2. To continue to be in supply or service; last: Our food is holding out nicely. 3. To continue to resist: The defending garrison held out for a month. 4. To refuse to reach or satisfy an agreement. hold over 1. a. To postpone or delay. b. To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time. 2. To continue a term of office past the usual length of time. 3. To prolong the engagement of: The film was held over for weeks. 4. a. To postpone or delay. b. To keep in a position or state from an earlier period of time. hold to 1. To remain loyal or faithful to: She held to her resolutions. hold up 1. To obstruct or delay. 2. To rob while armed, often at gunpoint. 3. To offer or present as an example: held the essay up as a model for the students. 4. To continue to function without losing force or effectiveness; cope: managed to hold up under the daily stress. hold with 1. To agree with; support: I don't hold with your theories.

Idioms: get hold of 1. To come into possession of; find: Where can I get hold of a copy? 2. To communicate with, as by telephone: tried to get hold of you but the line was busy. 3. To gain control of. Often used reflexively: You must get hold of yourself hold a candle to 1. To compare favorably with: This film doesn't hold a candle to his previous ones. hold (one's) own 1. To do reasonably well despite difficulty or criticism. hold out on (someone) 1. To withhold something from: Don't hold out on me; start telling the truth. hold (someone's) feet to the fire 1. To pressure (someone) to consent to or undertake something. hold sway 1. To have a controlling influence; dominate. hold the bag Informal 1. To be left with empty hands. 2. To be forced to assume total responsibility when it ought to have been shared. hold the fort Informal 1. To assume responsibility, especially in another's absence. 2. To maintain a secure position. hold the line 1. To maintain the existing position or state of affairs: had to hold the line on salary increases in the fourth quarter. hold the phone Slang 1. To stop doing what one is engaged in doing. Often used in the imperative: Hold the phone hold water 1. To stand up to critical examination: Your theory does not hold water. The witnesses' conflicting stories held no water. no holds barred 1. Without limits or restraints. on hold 1. Into a state of temporary interruption without total disconnection during a telephone call: had to put me on hold for five minutes. 2. Informal Into a state of delay or indeterminate suspension: had to put the romance on hold. [Middle English holden from Old English healdan]

herd ( hûrd) n. 1. a. A group of cattle or other domestic animals of a single kind kept together for a specific purpose. b. A number of wild animals of one species that remain together as a group: a herd of elephants. See note at flock 1 . 2. a. A large number of people; a crowd: a herd of stranded passengers. b. The multitude of common people regarded as a mass: " It is the luxurious and dissipated who set the fashions which the herd so diligently follow " Henry David Thoreau v. herd·ed herd·ing herds v. intr. 1. To come together in a herd: The sheep herded for warmth. v. tr. 1. To gather, keep, or drive (animals) in a herd. 2. To tend (sheep or cattle). 3. To gather and place into a group or mass: herded the children into the auditorium. [Middle English from Old English heord]

lead 1 ( l¶d) v. led ( lµd) lead·ing leads v. tr. 1. To show the way to by going in advance. 2. To guide or direct in a course: lead a horse by the halter. See note at guide . 3. a. To serve as a route for; take: The path led them to a cemetery. b. To be a channel or conduit for (water or electricity, for example). 4. To guide the behavior or opinion of; induce: led us to believe otherwise. 5. a. To direct the performance or activities of: lead an orchestra. b. To inspire the conduct of: led the nation in its crisis. 6. To play a principal or guiding role in: lead a discussion; led the antiwar movement. 7. a. To go or be at the head of: The queen led the procession. My name led the list. b. To be ahead of: led the runner-up by three strides. c. To be foremost in or among: led the field in nuclear research; led her teammates in free throws. 8. To pass or go through; live: lead an independent life. 9. To begin or open with, as in games: led an ace. 10. To guide (a partner) in dancing. 11. To aim in front of (a moving target). v. intr. 1. To be first; be ahead. 2. To go first as a guide. 3. To act as commander, director, or guide. 4. To afford a passage, course, or route: a road that leads over the mountains; a door leading to the pantry. 5. To tend toward a certain goal or result: a remark that led to further discussion; policies that led to disaster. 6. To make the initial play, as in a game or contest. 7. To begin a presentation or an account in a given way: The announcer led with the day's top stories. 8. a. To guide a dance partner. b. To start a dance step on a specified foot. 9. Baseball To advance a few paces away from one's base toward the next while the pitcher is in the delivery. Used of a base runner. 10. Sports To begin an attack in boxing with a specified hand or punch: led with a right to the body. n. 1. a. The first or foremost position. b. One occupying such a position; a leader. c. The initiative: took the lead in setting the pace of the project. 2. The margin by which one holds a position of advantage or superiority: held a lead of nine points at the half. 3. a. Information pointing toward a possible solution; a clue: followed a promising lead in the murder case. b. An indication of potential opportunity; a tip: a good lead for a job. 4. Command; leadership: took over the lead of the company. 5. An example; a precedent: followed his sister's lead in running for office. 6. a. The principal role in a dramatic production. b. The person playing such a role. 7. a. The introductory portion of a news story. b. An important, usually prominently displayed news story. 8. Games a. The first play. b. The prerogative or turn to make the first play: The lead passes to the player on the left. c. A card played first in a round. 9. Baseball A position taken by a base runner away from one base in the direction of the next. 10. A leash. 11. Geology a. A deposit of gold ore in an old riverbed. b. See lode . 12. Electronics A conductor by which one circuit element is electrically connected to another. 13. Nautical The direction in which a rope runs. 14. The distance aimed in front of a moving target.

Phrasal Verbs: lead off 1. To begin; start. 2. Baseball To be the first batter in an inning. lead on 1. To keep in a state of expectation or hope; entice. 2. To mislead; deceive.

Idioms: lead up to 1. To result in by a series of steps: events leading up to the coup. 2. To proceed toward (a main topic) with preliminary remarks. [Middle English leden from Old English lÆdan;See leit- in Indo-European Roots.]

lead 2 ( lµd) n. 1. Symbol Pb A soft, malleable, ductile, bluish-white, dense metallic element, extracted chiefly from galena and used in containers and pipes for corrosives, solder and type metal, bullets, radiation shielding, paints, and antiknock compounds. Atomic number 82; atomic weight 207.19; melting point 327.5 °C; boiling point 1,744 °C; specific gravity 11.35; valence 2, 4. See note at element . 2. A lead weight suspended by a line, used to make soundings. 3. Bullets from or for firearms; shot: pumped the target full of lead. 4. leads Strips of lead used to hold the panes of a window. 5. Abbr. ld. Printing A thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type. 6. leads Chiefly British A flat roof covered with sheets of lead. 7. a. Any of various, often graphitic compositions used as the writing substance in pencils. b. A thin stick of such material. v. tr. lead·ed lead·ing leads 1. To cover, line, weight, or fill with lead. 2. Printing To provide space between (lines of type) with leads. 3. To secure (window glass) with leads. 4. To treat with lead or a lead compound: leaded gasoline; leaded paint.

Idioms: get the lead out Informal 1. To start moving or move more rapidly. [Middle English led from Old English l¶ad probably of Celtic origin] lead adj.

leit- . Important derivatives are: lead 1 load lode livelihood To go forth, die. I. 1. Suffixed o-grade form *loit-eyo- . a. LEAD 1 , from Old English l Ædan, to lead; b. LEITMOTIF , from Old High German leitan , to lead. Both a and b from Germanic *laidjan . 2. Suffixed variant o-grade form *loit- ³. LOAD , LODE ; LIVELIHOOD , from Old English l ³d, course, way, from Germanic *laid ½.[ Pokorny leit(h)- 672. ]

lend ( lµnd) v. lent ( lµnt) lend·ing lends v. tr. 1. a. To give or allow the use of temporarily on the condition that the same or its equivalent will be returned. b. To provide (money) temporarily on condition that the amount borrowed be returned, usually with an interest fee. 2. To contribute or impart: Books and a fireplace lent a feeling of warmth to the room. 3. To accommodate or offer (itself) to; be suitable for: The Bible lends itself to various interpretations. v. intr. 1. To make a loan. See note at loan .

Idioms: lend a helping hand 1. To be of assistance. [Middle English lenden from Old English lÆnan;See leik w - in Indo-European Roots.] lend "er n.

leik w -. Important derivatives are: eclipse ellipsis lend loan delinquent derelict relinquish To leave. I. 1. Basic form *leik w -. ECLIPSE , ELLIPSIS , from Greek leipein , to leave. 2. O-grade form *loik w -. a. suffixed form *loik w -nes-. LOAN , from Old Norse l ³n, loan, from Germanic *laihwniz ; b. LEND , from Old English l Ænan, to lend, loan from Germanic denominative *laihwnjan . 3. Zero-grade form *lik w -. a. (see oi-no- ) Old English endleofan , eleven, from Germanic *ain-lif- , " one left (beyond ten) "; b. (see dwo- ) Old English twelf , twelve, from Germanic *twa-lif- , " two left (beyond ten). " Both a and b from Germanic *-lif- , left. 4. Nasalized zero-grade form *li-n-k w -. DELINQUENT , ( DERELICT ), RELINQUISH , from Latin linquere , to leave. [ Pokorny leik ø - 669. ]

lewd ( l›d) adj. lewd·er lewd·est 1. a. Preoccupied with sex and sexual desire; lustful. b. Obscene; indecent. 2. Obsolete Wicked. [Middle English leued unlearned, lay, lascivious from Old English lÆwede ignorant, lay] lewd "ly adv. lewd "ness n.

mead 1 ( m¶d) n. 1. An alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water. [Middle English from Old English meodu; See medhu- in Indo-European Roots.]

mead 2 ( m¶d) n. Archaic 1. A meadow. [Middle English mede from Old English mÆd;See m ¶- 4 in Indo-European Roots.]

Mead ( m¶d), George Herbert . 1863-1931 1. American philosopher who was a leader of the American pragmatists and contributed greatly to the development of social psychology.

Mead , Lake 1. A reservoir of southeast Nevada and northwest Arizona formed by Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It is the center of a large recreational area.

Mead , Margaret . 1901-1978 1. American anthropologist noted for her landmark studies of adolescence and sexual behavior in primitive cultures. Her books include Coming of Age in Samoa (1928).

m ¶- 4 . Important derivatives are: mow 2 aftermath meadow To cut down grass or grain with a sickle or scythe. I. Contracted from *me …-. 1. MOW 2 , from Old English m ³wan, to mow, from Germanic *m ¶-. 2. Suffixed form *m ¶-ti-. AFTERMATH , from Old English m Æth, a mowing, a mown crop, from Germanic *m ¶diz. 3. Suffixed form *m ¶-tw³-, a mown field. MEAD 2 , MEADOW , from Old English m Æd (oblique case m Ædwe), meadow, from Germanic *m ¶dw½.[ Pokorny 2. m ¶- 703. ]

medhu- . Important derivatives are: mead 1 amethyst Honey; also mead. I. 1. MEAD 1 , from Old English meodu , mead, from Germanic *medu . 2. AMETHYST , METHYLENE , from Greek methu , wine. [ Pokorny médhu- 707. ]

meed ( m¶d) n. 1. A fitting recompense. 2. Archaic A merited gift or wage. [Middle English mede from Old English m¶d]

meld 1 ( mµld) Games v. meld·ed meld·ing melds v. tr. 1. To declare or display (a card or combination of cards in a hand) for inclusion in one's score in various card games, such as pinochle. v. intr. 1. To present a meld. n. 1. A combination of cards to be declared for a score. [Probably German melden to announce from Middle High German from Old High German meld½n]

meld 2 ( mµld) v. meld·ed meld·ing melds v. tr. 1. To cause to merge: " a professional position that seemed to meld all his training " Art Jahnke v. intr. 1. To become merged. n. 1. A blend or merger: " a meld of diverse ethnic stocks " Kenneth L. Woodward [Perhaps blend of melt weld 2 ]

mend ( mµnd) v. mend·ed mend·ing mends v. tr. 1. To make repairs or restoration to; fix. 2. To reform or correct: mend one's ways. v. intr. 1. a. To improve in health or condition: The patient is mending well. b. To heal: The bone mended in a month. 2. To make repairs or corrections. n. 1. The act of mending: did a neat mend on the sock. 2. A mended place: You can't tell where the mend is.

Idioms: mend fences 1. To improve poor relations, especially in politics: " Whatever thoughts he may have entertained about mending some fences with [them] were banished " Conor Cruise O'Brien on the mend 1. Improving, especially in health. [Middle English menden short for amenden to amend; See amend ] mend "a·ble adj. mend "er n.

need ( n¶d) n. 1. A lack of something required or desirable: crops in need of water; a need for affection. 2. Something required or wanted; a requisite: Our needs are modest. 3. Necessity; obligation: There is no need for you to go. 4. A condition of poverty or misfortune: The family is in dire need. v. need·ed need·ing needs aux. 1. To be under the necessity of or the obligation to: They need not come. v. tr. 1. To have need of; require: The family needs money. v. intr. 1. To be in need or want. 2. To be necessary. [Middle English nede from Old English n¶od, n¶d distress, necessity]

Synonyms: need necessity exigency requisite These nouns denote a condition in which something essential is required or wanted; they also refer to that which is required or wanted. Need is the most general: There's no need to be concerned. She is serene and contented; her emotional and spiritual needs are being met. Necessity more strongly than need suggests urgency, inevitability, or unavoidable obligation: " I think the necessity of being ready increases. —Look to it " (Abraham Lincoln). " The rehabilitation of the cabin became a necessity " (Bret Harte). Exigency implies acute urgency, especially that arising from conditions or circumstances such as those of an emergency: " No . . . more pernicious [doctrine] was ever invented . . . than that any of [the Constitution's] provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of government " (David Davis) Requisite applies to something indispensable: " a place where the three grand requisites of water, fuel and fodder were to be obtained " (James Fenimore Cooper). lack

Usage Note: Depending on the sense, the verb need behaves sometimes like an auxiliary verb (such as can or may ) and sometimes like a main verb (such as want or try ). When used as a main verb, need agrees with its subject, takes to before the verb following it, and combines with do in questions, negations, and certain other constructions: He needs to go. Does he need to go so soon? He doesn't need to go. When used as an auxiliary verb, need does not agree with its subject, does not take to before the verb following it, and does not combine with do : He needn't go. Need he go so soon? The auxiliary forms of need are used primarily in present-tense questions, negations, and conditional clauses. They differ subtly in meaning from the main verb forms in that they always refer to an externally imposed obligation. Hence one might say You needn't (or less formally, don't need to ) fill out both forms, but where the sense of necessity is internal to the subject, only the main verb can be used: I don't need to (not needn't ) be told how to manage my own affairs. Note also that the use of need as an auxiliary is often accompanied by a presupposition that the activity in question has in fact been performed. The boys needn't have spoken frankly implies that they did in fact speak frankly, whereas the sentence The boys did not need to speak frankly does not; only the latter could be followed by a clause like they conveyed their meanings by indirection.

nerd also nurd ( nûrd) n. Slang 1. A person regarded as stupid, inept, or unattractive. 2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific pursuits but is felt to be socially inept. [Perhaps after Nerd , a character in If I Ran the Zoo, by Theodor Seuss Geisel] nerd "y adj.

Notes: The word nerd and a nerd, undefined but illustrated, first appeared in 1950 in Dr. Seuss's If I Ran the Zoo : " And then, just to show them, I'll sail to Ka-Troo And Bring Back an It-Kutch a Preep and a Proo a Nerkle a Nerd and a Seersucker, too! " (The nerd itself is a small humanoid creature looking comically angry, like a thin, cross Chester A. Arthur.) Nerd next appears, with a gloss, in the February 10, 1957, issue of the Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday Mail in a regular column entitled " ABC for SQUARES ": " Nerd—a square, any explanation needed? " Many of the terms defined in this " ABC" are unmistakable Americanisms, such as hep, ick, and jazzy, as is the gloss " square," the current meaning of nerd. The third appearance of nerd in print is back in the United States in 1970 in Current Slang : " Nurd [sic], someone with objectionable habits or traits. . . . An uninteresting person, a ‘ dud.’" Authorities disagree on whether the two nerds —Dr. Seuss's small creature and the teenage slang term in the Glasgow Sunday Mail —are the same word. Some experts claim there is no semantic connection and the identity of the words is fortuitous. Others maintain that Dr. Seuss is the true originator of nerd and that the word nerd ( "comically unpleasant creature ") was picked up by the five- and six-year-olds of 1950 and passed on to their older siblings, who by 1957, as teenagers, had restricted and specified the meaning to the most comically obnoxious creature of their own class, a " square."

pee 2 ( p¶) Slang v. intr. peed pee·ing pees 1. To urinate. n. 1. Urine. 2. An act of urination. [From the first letter of piss ]

read ( r¶d) v. read ( rµd) read·ing reads v. tr. 1. To examine and grasp the meaning of (written or printed characters, words, or sentences). 2. To utter or render aloud (written or printed material): She read her poems to the students. 3. To have the ability to examine and grasp the meaning of (written or printed material in a given language or notation): reads Chinese; reads music. 4. a. To examine and grasp the meaning of (language in a form other than written or printed characters, words, or sentences): reading Braille; reading sign language. b. To examine and grasp the meaning of (a graphic representation): reading a map. 5. a. To discern and interpret the nature or significance of through close examination or sensitive observation: The tracker read the trail for signs of game. b. To discern or anticipate through examination or observation; descry: " I can read abandonment in a broken door or shattered window " William H. Gass 6. To determine the intent or mood of: I can read your mind like a book. He's a hard person to read. 7. a. To attribute a certain interpretation or meaning to: She read a different meaning into what he had said. b. To consider (something written or printed) as having a particular meaning or significance: I read the novel as a parable. 8. To foretell or predict (the future). 9. To receive or comprehend (a radio message, for example): I read you loud and clear. 10. To study or make a study of: She read history as an undergraduate. 11. To learn or get knowledge of from something written or printed: He read that interest rates would continue to rise. 12. To proofread. 13. To have or use as a preferred reading in a particular passage: For change read charge . 14. To indicate, register, or show: The dial reads 32 °. 15. Computer Science To obtain information from a storage medium, such as a magnetic disk. v. intr. 1. To examine and grasp the meaning of printed or written characters, as of words or music. 2. To speak aloud the words that one is reading: He reads to his children every night. 3. To learn by reading: We read about the storm in the paper today. 4. To study. 5. To have a particular wording: Recite the poem exactly as it reads. 6. To contain a specific meaning: As the law reads, the defendant is guilty. 7. To indicate, register, or show a measurement or figure: How does your new watch read? 8. To have a specified character or quality for the reader: His poems read well. n. Informal 1. Something that is read: " The book is a page-turner as well as a very satisfying read " Frank Conroy adj. ( rµd) 1. Informed by reading; learned: He was only sparsely read in fields outside his profession.

Phrasal Verbs: read out 1. To read aloud: Please read out the names on the list. read up 1. To study or learn by reading: Read up on the places you plan to visit before you travel.

Idioms: read a lecture or read a lesson 1. To issue a reprimand: Mother read us a lecture after the principal telephoned her. read between the lines 1. To perceive or detect an obscure or unexpressed meaning: learned to read between the lines of corporate annual reports to discern areas of fiscal weakness. read out of 1. To expel by proclamation from a social, political, or other group: He was read out of the secretariat after the embarrassing incident. [Middle English reden from Old English rÆdan to advise; See ar- in Indo-European Roots.]

Read ( r¶d), George . 1733-1798 1. American Revolutionary leader, politician, and jurist. Delaware's delegate to the Constitutional Convention (1787), he championed the rights of small states and later served as a U.S. senator (1789-1793).

Read ( r¶d), Sir Herbert . 1893-1968 1. British writer known for his imagistic poetry and works of literary and art criticism.

ar- . Important derivatives are: arm 1 arm 2 army alarm disarm harmony art 1 artist inert article aristocracy order ordinary ornate adorn rate 1 ratio reason read hatred riddle 2 rite arithmetic rhyme Also ar …- To fit together. I. Basic form *ar …-. 1. Suffixed form *ar( …)-mo-. a. ARM 1 , from Old English earm , arm, from Germanic *armaz ; b. ARM 2 , ( ARMADA ), ARMADILLO , ARMATURE , ARMOIRE , ARMY ; ALARM , DISARM , from Latin arma , tools, arms; c. ARMILLARY SPHERE , from Latin armus , upper arm. 2. Suffixed form *ar( …)-smo-. HARMONY , from Greek harmos , joint, shoulder. 3. Suffixed form *ar( …)-ti-. a. ART 1 , ARTISAN , ARTIST ; INERT , ( INERTIA ), from Latin ars (stem art- ), art, skill, craft; b. further suffixed form *ar( …)-ti-o-. ARTIODACTYL , from Greek artios , fitting, even. 4. Suffixed form *ar( …)-tu-. ARTICLE , from Latin artus , joint. 5. Suffixed form *ar( …)-to-. COARCTATE , from Latin artus , tight. 6. Suffixed form *ar( …)-dhro-. ARTHRO- ; ANARTHROUS , DIARTHROSIS , ENARTHROSIS , SYNARTHROSIS , from Greek arthron , joint. 7. Suffixed (superlative) form *ar( …)-isto-. ARISTOCRACY , from Greek aristos , best. II. Possibly suffixed variant form (or separate root) * ½r-dh-. 1. ORDAIN , ORDER , ORDINAL , ORDINANCE , ORDINARY , ORDINATE , ORDO ; COORDINATION , INORDINATE , SUBORDINATE , from Latin ½ rd½, order (originally a row of threads in a loom). 2. EXORDIUM , PRIMORDIAL , from Latin ½ rdºrº, to begin to weave. 3. ORNAMENT , ORNATE ; ADORN , SUBORN , from Latin ½ rn³re, to adorn. III. Variant or separate root *r ¶- ( < *re …-). 1. RATE 1 , RATIO , REASON ; ( ARRAIGN ), from Latin r ¶rº, to consider, confirm, ratify. 2. Suffixed form *r ¶-dh-. a. (i) READ , REDE , from Old English r Ædan, to advise; (ii) HATRED , KINDRED , from Old English r Æden, condition. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *r ¶dan; b. (i) RATHSKELLER , from Old High German r ³t, counsel; (ii) RIDDLE 2 , from Old English r Ædels(e), opinion, riddle. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *r ¶daz. 3. Zero-grade form *r …-. (see dek ©) Germanic *radam , number. IV. Variant (or separate root) *r º-. 1. Suffixed form *r º-tu-. RITE , from Latin r ºtus, rite, custom, usage. 2. Suffixed form *(a)r º-dhmo-. ARITHMETIC , LOGARITHM , from Greek arithmos , number, amount. 3. RHYME , from a Germanic source akin to Old High German r ºm, number, series. [ Pokorny 1. ar- 55. ]

redd ( rµd) v. tr. redd·ed or redd redd·ing redds Chiefly Pennsylvania 1. To clear: redd the dinner table.

Phrasal Verbs: redd up 1. To tidy: She redded up the front room. [Middle English dialectal redden to clear an area( influenced by Middle English redden to rescue, free from) (from Old English hreddan) from Old Norse rydhja; See rid ]

Notes: The terms redd and redd up came to the American Midlands from the many Scottish immigrants who settled there. Meaning " to clear an area or to make it tidy, " redd is still used in Scotland and Northern Ireland; in the United States it is especially common in Pennsylvania as the phrasal verb redd up. The term, which goes back to Old Norse rydhja, can be traced from the 15th century to the present, particularly in dialects of Scotland and the North of England.

reed ( r¶d) n. 1. a. Any of various tall perennial grasses, especially of the genera Phragmites or Arundo, having hollow stems, broad leaves, and large plumelike terminal panicles. b. The stalk of any of these plants. c. A collection of these stalks: reed for making baskets. 2. Music A primitive wind instrument made of a hollow reed stalk. 3. Music a. A flexible strip of cane or metal set into the mouthpiece or air opening of certain instruments to produce tone by vibrating in response to a stream of air. b. An instrument, such as an oboe or a clarinet, that is fitted with a reed. 4. A narrow, movable frame fitted with reed or metal strips that separate the warp threads in weaving. 5. Architecture A reeding. [Middle English rede from Old English hr¶od]

Reed ( r¶d), John . 1887-1920 1. American journalist. A World War I correspondent, he was in Petrograd during the October Revolution (1917), an experience he recounted in Ten Days That Shook the World (1919). In 1919 he founded the American Communist Labor Party. Reed is buried in the Kremlin in Moscow.

Reed , Stanley Forman . 1884-1980 1. American jurist who served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1938-1957).

Reed , Thomas Brackett . 1839-1902 1. American politician. A U.S. representative from Maine (1877-1899), he twice served as Speaker of the House (1889-1891 and 1895-1899).

Reed , Walter . 1851-1902 1. American physician and army surgeon who proved that yellow fever was transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Reed College 1. 3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard, Portland, OR 97202; Private; 1,274

rend ( rµnd) v. rent ( rµnt) or rend·ed rend·ing rends v. tr. 1. To tear or split apart or into pieces violently. See note at tear 1 . 2. To tear (one's garments or hair) in anguish or rage. 3. To tear away forcibly; wrest. 4. To pull, split, or divide as if by tearing: " Chip was rent between the impulse to laugh wildly and a bitterness that threatened hot tears " Louis Auchincloss 5. To pierce or disturb with sound: a scream rent the silence. 6. To cause pain or distress to: tales that rend the heart. v. intr. 1. To become torn or split; come apart. [Middle English renden from Old English rendan]

seed ( s¶d) n. pl. seeds or seed 1. A ripened plant ovule containing an embryo. 2. A propagative part of a plant, as a tuber or spore. 3. Seeds considered as a group. 4. The seed-bearing stage of a plant. 5. Something that resembles a seed, as a tiny bubble in a piece of glass or a small crystal added to a solution to start crystallization. 6. A source or beginning; a germ. 7. Offspring; progeny. 8. Family stock; ancestry. 9. Sperm; semen. 10. A seed oyster or oysters; spat. 11. Sports A player who has been seeded for a tournament, often at a given rank: a top seed. v. seed·ed seed·ing seeds v. tr. 1. To plant seeds in (land, for example); sow. 2. To plant in soil. 3. To remove the seeds from (fruit). 4. Meteorology To sprinkle (a cloud) with particles, as of silver iodide, in order to disperse it or produce rain. 5. Sports a. To arrange (the drawing for positions in a tournament) so that the more skilled contestants meet in the later rounds. b. To rank (a contestant) in this way. 6. To help (a business, for example) in its early development. v. intr. 1. To sow seed. 2. To go to seed. adj. 1. Set aside for planting a new crop: seed corn; seed wheat. 2. Intended to help in early stages: provided seed capital for a fledgling business.

Idioms: go to seed or run to seed 1. To pass into the seed-bearing stage. 2. To become weak or devitalized; deteriorate: The old neighborhood has gone to seed. [Middle English from Old English sÆd, s¶d;See s ¶- in Indo-European Roots.]

s ¶-. Important derivatives are: sow 1 seed season semen seminary disseminate To sow. I. Contracted from *se …-. 1. SOW 1 , from Old English s ³wan, to sow, from Germanic *s ¶an. 2. Suffixed form *s ¶-ti-, sowing. a. SEED , from Old English s Æd, seed; b. COLZA , from Middle Dutch saet and Middle Low German s ³t, seed. Both a and b from Germanic *s ¶diz, seed. 3. Reduplicated zero-grade form *si-s( …)-. SEASON , from Latin serere , to sow, sati ½ ( < *s …-ti½), sowing. 4. Suffixed form *s ¶-men-, seed. SEMé , SEMEN , SEMINARY ; DISSEMINATE, from Latin s ¶men, seed. [ In Pokorny 2. s ¶(i)- 889. ]

send 1 ( sµnd) v. sent ( sµnt) send·ing sends v. tr. 1. To cause to be conveyed by an intermediary to a destination: send goods by plane. 2. To dispatch, as by a communications medium: send a message by radio. 3. a. To direct to go on a mission: sent troops into the Middle East. b. To require or enable to go: sent her children to college. c. To direct (a person) to a source of information; refer: sent the student to the reference section of the library. 4. a. To give off (heat, for example); emit or issue: a stove that sends forth great warmth. b. To utter or otherwise emit (sound): sent forth a cry of pain. 5. To hit so as to direct or propel with force; drive: The batter sent the ball to left field. The slap on my back sent me staggering. 6. To cause to take place or occur: We will meet whatever vicissitudes fate may send. 7. a. To put or drive into a given state or condition: horrifying news that sent them into a panic. b. Slang To transport with delight; carry away: That music really sends me. v. intr. 1. To dispatch someone to do an errand or convey a message: Let's send out for hamburgers. 2. To dispatch a request or an order, especially by mail: send away for a new catalogue. 3. To transmit a message or messages: The radio operator was still sending when the ship went down.

Phrasal Verbs: send down Chiefly British 1. To suspend or dismiss from a university. send for 1. To request to come by means of a message or messenger; summon. send in 1. To cause to arrive or to be delivered to the recipient: Let's send in a letter of protest. 2. Sports To put (a player) into or back into a game or contest: The coach is sending in the kicker. 3. To cause (someone) to arrive in or become involved in a particular place or situation: The commander sent in the sappers. It's time to send in the lawyers. send up Informal 1. To send to jail: was sent up for 20 years. 2. To make a parody of: " grandiloquently eccentric but witty verbiage . . . that would send up the nastiness of suburban London " New York

Idioms: send flying Informal 1. To cause to be knocked or scattered about with force: a blow to the table that sent the dishes flying. send packing 1. To dismiss (someone) abruptly. [Middle English senden from Old English sendan; See sent- in Indo-European Roots.] send "er n.

Synonyms: send dispatch forward route ship transmit The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to cause to go or be taken to a destination ": sent the package by parcel post; dispatched a union representative to the factory; forwarding the mail to their new address; routed the soldiers through New York; shipping oil in tankers; transmitting money by cable.

send 2 ( sµnd) v. n. Nautical 1. Variant of scend .

scend also send ( sµnd) Nautical v. intr. scend·ed also send·ed scend·ing send·ing scends sends 1. To heave upward on a wave or swell. n. 1. The rising movement of a ship on a wave or swell. [Probably alteration( influenced by descend ) (or ascend ) of send 1 ]

sent- . Important derivatives are: send 1 godsend scent sense sentence sentinent sentiment sentinel assent consent dissent resent To head for, go. I. 1. WIDDERSHINS , from Old High German sin(d) , direction, from Germanic form *sinthaz . 2. Suffixed (causative) o-grade form *sont-eyo- . SEND 1 , from Old English sendan , to send, from Germanic *sandjan , to cause to go. 3. Suffixed o-grade form *sont-o- . GODSEND , from Old English sand , message, messenger, from Germanic *sandaz , that which is sent. 4. Perhaps suffixed form *sent-yo- . SCENT , SENSE , ( SENSILLIUM ), SENTENCE , SENTIENT , SENTIMENT , SENTINEL ; ASSENT , CONSENT , DISSENT , PRESENTIMENT , RESENT , from Latin sent ºre, to feel ( < " to go mentally ").[ Pokorny sent- 908. ]

tee 2 ( t¶) n. Sports 1. A small peg with a concave top for holding a golf ball for an initial drive. 2. The designated area of each golf hole from which a player makes his or her first stroke. v. tr. teed tee·ing tees Sports 1. To place (a golf ball) on a tee. Often used with up.

Phrasal Verbs: tee off 1. Sports To drive a golf ball from the tee. 2. Slang To start or begin: They teed off the fundraising campaign with a dinner. 3. Slang To make or become angry or disgusted: The impertinent remarks teed the speaker off. He was teed off because it rained all weekend. [Back-formation from obsolete Scots teaz ( taken as a pl.) ]

tend 1 ( tµnd) v. intr. tend·ed tend·ing tends 1. To have a tendency: paint that tends toward bubbling and peeling over time. 2. To be disposed or inclined: tends toward exaggeration. 3. To move or extend in a certain direction: Our ship tended northward. [Middle English tenden from Old French tendre from Latin tendere; See ten- in Indo-European Roots.]

tend 2 ( tµnd) v. tend·ed tend·ing tends v. tr. 1. To have the care of; watch over; look after: tend a child. 2. To manage the activities and transactions of; run: tend bar; tend a store in the owner's absence. v. intr. 1. To be an attendant or a servant. 2. To apply one's attention; attend: no time to tend to my diary. [Middle English tenden short for attenden to wait on; See attend ]

Synonyms: tend attend mind minister watch The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to have the care or supervision of ": tended her plants; attending the sick; minded the furnace; ministering to flood victims; watched the house while the owners were away.

ten- . Important derivatives are: tend 1 tendon tense 1 tent 1 attend contend extend intend pretend hypotenuse sitar tenacious tenant tenement tenor tenure contain continue detain entertain lieutenant maintain obtain pertain retain sustain thin tenuous tender 1 tone To stretch. I. Derivatives with the basic meaning. 1. Suffixed form *ten-do- . a. TEND 1 , TENDER 2 , TENSE 1 , TENT 1 ; ATTEND , CONTEND , DETENT , DISTEND , EXTEND , INTEND , OSTENSIBLE , PRETEND , SUBTEND , from Latin tendere , to stretch, extend; b. PORTEND , from Latin portendere , " to stretch out before " ( por- , variant of pro- , before; see per 1 ), a technical term in augury, " to indicate, presage, foretell. " 2. Suffixed form *ten-yo- . TENESMUS ; ANATASE , BRONCHIECTASIS , CATATONIA , EPITASIS , HYPOTENUSE , PERITONEUM , PROTASIS , SYNTONIC , TELANGIECTASIA , from Greek teinein , to stretch, with o-grade form ton- and zero-grade noun tasis ( < *t ö-ti-), a stretching, tension, intensity. 3. Reduplicated zero-grade form *te-tan-o- . TETANUS , from Greek tetanos , stiff, rigid. 4. Suffixed full-grade form *ten-tro- . a. TANTRA , from Sanskrit tantram , loom; b. SITAR , from Persian t ³r, string. 5. Basic form (with stative suffix) *ten- ¶-. TENABLE , TENACIOUS , TENACULUM , TENANT , TENEMENT , TENET , TENON , TENOR , TENURE , TENUTO ; ABSTAIN , CONTAIN , ( CONTINUE ), DETAIN , ENTERTAIN , LIEUTENANT , MAINTAIN , OBTAIN , PERTAIN , PERTINACIOUS , RETAIN , ( RETINACULUM ), SUSTAIN , from Latin ten ¶re, to hold, keep, maintain ( < " to cause to endure or continue, hold on to "). II. Derivatives meaning " stretched," hence " thin." 1. Suffixed zero-grade form *t ö-u-. THIN , from Old English thynne , thin, from Germanic *thunniz , from *thunw- . 2. Suffixed full-grade form *ten-u- . TENUOUS ; ATTENUATE , EXTENUATE , from Latin tenuis , thin, rare, fine. 3. Suffixed full-grade form *ten-ero- . TENDER 1 , ( TENDRIL ), from Latin tener , tender, delicate. III. Derivatives meaning " something stretched or capable of being stretched, a string. " 1. Suffixed form *ten- ½n-. TENDON , TENO- , from Greek ten ½n, tendon. 2. Suffixed o-grade form *ton-o- . TONE ; ( BARITONE ), TONOPLAST , from Greek tonos , string, hence sound, pitch. 3. Suffixed zero-grade form *t ö-ya-. TAENIA ; POLYTENE , from Greek tainia , band, ribbon. [ Pokorny 1. ten- 1065. ]

veldt also veld ( vµlt, f µlt) n. 1. Any of the open grazing areas of southern Africa. [Afrikaans veld from Middle Dutch field; See pel …- 2 in Indo-European Roots.]

vend ( vµnd) v. vend·ed vend·ing vends v. tr. 1. a. To sell by means of a vending machine. b. To sell, especially by peddling. 2. To offer (an idea, for example) for public consideration. v. intr. 1. To engage in selling. [Latin v¶ndere alteration of v¶numd³rev¶num sale; See wes- 3 in Indo-European Roots. dare to give; See d ½- in Indo-European Roots.]

d ½-. Important derivatives are: date add betray edition rent 1 surrender tradition traitor vend donation pardon endow dose antidote To give. I. Contracted from *do …-. 1. a. Zero-grade form *d …-. DADO , DATE 1 , DATIVE , DATUM , DIE 2 ; ADD , ( BETRAY ), EDITION , PERDITION , RENDER , ( RENT 1 ), ( SURRENDER ), TRADITION , ( TRAITOR ), ( TREASON ), VEND , from Latin dare , to give; b. (see 4 ) Greek dosis , something given. 2. Suffixed form *d ½-no-. DONATION , ( DONATIVE ), ( DONOR ); CONDONE , PARDON , from Latin d ½num, gift. 3. Suffixed form *d ½-t(i)-. a. DOT 2 , DOWAGER , DOWER , ( DOWRY ); ENDOW , from Latin d ½s (genitive d ½tis), dowry; b. DACHA , from Russian dacha , gift, dacha, from Slavic *datja ; c. SAMIZDAT , from Russian samizdat , samizdat, from dat' , to give. 4. Suffixed form *d ½-ro-. LOBSTER THERMIDOR , from Greek d ½ron, gift. 5. Reduplicated form *di-d ½-. DOSE ; ANECDOTE , ANTIDOTE , APODOSIS , EPIDOTE , from Greek didonai , to give, with zero-grade noun dosis ( < *d …-ti-), something given. [ Pokorny d ½- 223. ]

wes- 3 . Important derivatives are: vend bazaar To buy. I. 1. Suffixed form *wes-no- . VENAL , VEND , from Latin v ¶num, sale. 2. Suffixed o-grade form *wos-no- . DUOPSONY , from Greek ½ neisthai, to buy. 3. Suffixed form *wes- ³-. BAZAAR , from Persian b ³z³r, from Old Iranian *vah ³-carana-, " sale-traffic."[ Pokorny 8. ø es- 1173. ]

weed 1 ( w¶d) n. 1. a. A plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden. b. Rank growth of such plants. 2. A water plant, especially seaweed. 3. The leaves or stems of a plant as distinguished from the seeds: dill weed. 4. Something useless, detrimental, or worthless, especially an animal unfit for breeding. 5. Slang a. Tobacco. b. A cigarette. c. Marijuana. v. weed·ed weed·ing weeds v. tr. 1. To clear of weeds. 2. To remove (weeds). Often used with out : weed out dandelions. 3. To eliminate as unsuitable or unwanted. Often used with out : weed out unqualified applicants. v. intr. 1. To remove weeds. [Middle English from Old English w¶od herb, grass, weed]

weed 2 ( w¶d) n. 1. A token of mourning, as a black band worn on a man's hat or sleeve. 2. weeds The black mourning clothes of a widow. 3. Often weeds An article of clothing; a garment. [Middle English wede garment from Old English wÆd]

Weed ( w¶d), Thurlow . 1797-1882 1. American journalist and politician. Editor of the Albany Evening Journal (1830-1862), he exerted great political influence as a leader of the Whig Party and later of the Republican Party.

weld 1 ( wµld) v. weld·ed weld·ing welds v. tr. 1. To join (metals) by applying heat, sometimes with pressure and sometimes with an intermediate or filler metal having a high melting point. 2. To bring into close association or union. v. intr. 1. To be capable of being welded. n. 1. The union of two metal parts by welding. 2. The joint formed by welding. [Alteration( probably influenced by welled ) (, past participle of well 1 ) of well 1 to weld (obsolete and dialectal)] weld "er or wel "dor n.

weld 2 ( wµld) also wold ( w½ld) n. 1. See dyer's rocket . 2. The yellow dye obtained from dyer's rocket. [Middle English welde]

Weld ( wµld), Theodore Dwight . 1803-1895 1. American abolitionist whose pamphlet Slavery As It Is (1839) inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.