loose ( l›s) adj. loos·er loos·est 1. Not fastened, restrained, or contained: loose bricks. 2. Not taut, fixed, or rigid: a loose anchor line; a loose chair leg. 3. Free from confinement or imprisonment; unfettered: criminals who were loose in the neighborhood; dogs that are loose on the streets. 4. Not tight-fitting or tightly fitted: loose shoes. 5. Not bound, bundled, stapled, or gathered together: loose papers. 6. Not compact or dense in arrangement or structure: loose gravel. 7. Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility; idle: loose talk. 8. Lacking conventional moral restraint in sexual behavior. 9. Not literal or exact: a loose translation. 10. Characterized by a free movement of fluids in the body: a loose cough; loose bowels. adv. 1. In a loose manner. v. loosed loos·ing loos·es v. tr. 1. To let loose; release: loosed the dogs. 2. To make loose; undo: loosed his belt. 3. To cast loose; detach: hikers loosing their packs at camp. 4. To let fly; discharge: loosed an arrow. 5. To release pressure or obligation from; absolve: loosed her from the responsibility. 6. To make less strict; relax: a leader's strong authority that was loosed by easy times. v. intr. 1. To become loose. 2. To discharge a missile; fire.

Idioms: on the loose 1. At large; free. 2. Acting in an uninhibited fashion. [Middle English louse, los from Old Norse lauss; See leu- in Indo-European Roots.] loose "ly adv. loose "ness n.

Synonyms: loose lax slack The central meaning shared by these adjectives is " not tautly bound, held, or fastened ": loose reins; a lax rope; slack sails.

leu- . Important derivatives are: forlorn -less lose loss loose analysis paralysis soluble solve absolute absolve dissolve resolve To loosen, divide, cut apart. I. Extended Germanic root *leus- . 1. a. LORN , ( LOSEL ), from Old English -l ¶osan, to lose; b. (i) FORLORN , from Old English forl ¶osan, to forfeit, lose; (ii) FORLORN HOPE , from Dutch verliezen (past participle verloren ), to lose. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *fer-leusan , *far-leusan ( *fer- , *far- , prefix denoting rejection or exclusion; see per 1 ). Both a and b from Germanic *leusan . 2. a. LEASING , -LESS , from Old English l ¶as, " loose," free from, without, untrue, lacking; b. LOSE , ( LOSS ), from Old English los , loss; c. LOOSE , from Old Norse lauss , louss , loose; d. LOESS , from German dialectal lösch , loose. a, b, c, and d all from Germanic *lausaz . II. Basic form *leu- . 1. LAG 2 , probably from a source akin to Swedish lagg , barrel stave ( < " split piece of wood "), from Germanic *laww ½. 2. Zero-grade form *lu- . a. LYO- , LYSIS , LYSO- , -LYTE , ( LYTIC ), -LYTIC ; ANALYSIS , CATALYSIS , DIALYSIS , LYASE , PARALYSIS , TACHYLYTE , from Greek luein , to loosen, release, untie; b. LUES , from Latin lu ¶s, plague, pestilence ( < " dissolution, putrefaction "); c. prefixed form *se-lu- ( se- , apart; see s(w)e- ). SOLUBLE , SOLUTE , SOLVE ; ABSOLUTE , ( ABSOLVE ), ASSOIL , CONSOLUTE , DISSOLVE , RESOLVE , from Latin solvere , to loosen, untie. [ Pokorny 2. leu- 681. ]

in·trude ( ¹n-tr›d") v. in·trud·ed in·trud·ing in·trudes v. tr. 1. To put or force in inappropriately, especially without invitation, fitness, or permission: intruded opinion into a factual report. 2. Geology To thrust (molten rock) into preexisting rock. v. intr. 1. To come in rudely or inappropriately; enter as an improper or unwanted element: " The flute would be intruding here like a delicate lady at a club smoker " Leonard Bernstein [Middle English intruden from Latin intr¿dere intr¿s-to thrust in in- in; See in- 2 tr ¿dere to thrust; See treud- in Indo-European Roots.] in·trud "er n.

Synonyms: intrude obtrude These verbs mean to force oneself or something upon another or others without consent or approval. Intrude implies thrusting or coming in without permission, warrant, or welcome; it often suggests violation of another's privacy: You had no right to intrude your opinions on the rest of us. You look busy —I hope I'm not intruding. To obtrude is to push forward, as into consideration or sight: " He wouldn't obtrude his assistance, if it were declined " (John Lothrop Motley). " The remembrance that our poor captain was lying dead in the cabin was constantly obtruding " (Frederick Marryat).

ap·pel ( …-pµl") n. Sports 1. A quick stamp of the foot used in fencing as a feint to produce an opening. [French from appeler to call from Old French apeler to appeal; See appeal ]

cu·pel ( ky›"p…l, ky ›-pµl") n. 1. A porous cup, often made of bone ash, used in assaying to separate precious metals from base elements such as lead. 2. The bottom or receptacle in a silver-refining furnace. v. tr. cu·peled or cu·pelled cu·pel·ing or cu·pel·ling cu·pels or cu·pels 1. To assay or separate from base metals in a cupel. [French coupelle from Old French, diminutive of coupe cup from Late Latin cuppa drinking vessel] cu "pel·ler or cu "pel·er n.

ex·pel ( ¹k-spµl") v. tr. ex·pelled ex·pel·ling ex·pels 1. To force or drive out: expel an invader. 2. To discharge from or as if from a receptacle: expelled a sigh of relief. 3. To force to leave; deprive of membership: expelled the student from college for cheating. See note at eject . [Middle English expellen from Latin expellere ex- ex- pellere to drive; See pel- 5 in Indo-European Roots.] ex·pel "la·ble adj. ex·pel "ler n.

pel- 5 . Important derivatives are: anvil felt 1 filter pulsate pulse 1 push compel expel propel repel polish appeal To thrust, strike, drive. I. Suffixed form *pel-de- . 1. a. ANVIL , from Old English anfilt(e) , anfealt , anvil ( "something beaten on "); b. (i) FELT 1 , from Old English felt , felt; (ii) FILTER , from Medieval Latin filtrum , filter, piece of felt. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *feltaz , *filtiz , compressed wool. Both a and b from Germanic *felt- , *falt- , to beat. 2. PELT 2 , POUSSETTE , PULSATE , PULSE 1 , PUSH ; COMPEL , DISPEL , EXPEL , IMPEL , PROPEL , REPEL , from Latin pellere (past participle pulsus ), to push, drive, strike. 3. a. Suffixed o-grade form *pol-o- , fuller of cloth. POLISH , from Latin pol ºre, to make smooth, polish ( < " to full cloth "); b. suffixed o-grade form *pol-o- (with different accentuation from the preceding), fulled (of cloth). INTERPOLATE , from Latin compound adjective inter-polis (also interpolus ), refurbished ( inter- , between; see en ). II. Extended form *pel …-. 1. Present stem *peln ³-. a. APPEAL , from Latin appell ³re, " to drive to, " address, entreat, appeal, call ( ad- , to; see ad- ); b. COMPELLATION , from Latin compell ³re, to accost, address ( com- , intensive prefix; see kom ). 2. Possible suffixed zero-grade extended adverbial form *pl …-ti-, or locative plural *pl …-si. PLESIOSAUR , from Greek pl ¶sios, near ( < " pushed toward "), from pre-Greek *pl ³ti or *pl ³si.[ Pokorny 2. a. pel- 801. ]

im·pel ( ¹m-pµl") v. tr. im·pelled im·pel·ling im·pels 1. To urge to action through moral pressure; drive: We were impelled by circumstances to take a stand. 2. To drive forward; propel. [Middle English impellen from Latin impellere in- against; See in- 2 pellere to drive; See pel- 5 in Indo-European Roots.]

pel- 5 . Important derivatives are: anvil felt 1 filter pulsate pulse 1 push compel expel propel repel polish appeal To thrust, strike, drive. I. Suffixed form *pel-de- . 1. a. ANVIL , from Old English anfilt(e) , anfealt , anvil ( "something beaten on "); b. (i) FELT 1 , from Old English felt , felt; (ii) FILTER , from Medieval Latin filtrum , filter, piece of felt. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *feltaz , *filtiz , compressed wool. Both a and b from Germanic *felt- , *falt- , to beat. 2. PELT 2 , POUSSETTE , PULSATE , PULSE 1 , PUSH ; COMPEL , DISPEL , EXPEL , IMPEL , PROPEL , REPEL , from Latin pellere (past participle pulsus ), to push, drive, strike. 3. a. Suffixed o-grade form *pol-o- , fuller of cloth. POLISH , from Latin pol ºre, to make smooth, polish ( < " to full cloth "); b. suffixed o-grade form *pol-o- (with different accentuation from the preceding), fulled (of cloth). INTERPOLATE , from Latin compound adjective inter-polis (also interpolus ), refurbished ( inter- , between; see en ). II. Extended form *pel …-. 1. Present stem *peln ³-. a. APPEAL , from Latin appell ³re, " to drive to, " address, entreat, appeal, call ( ad- , to; see ad- ); b. COMPELLATION , from Latin compell ³re, to accost, address ( com- , intensive prefix; see kom ). 2. Possible suffixed zero-grade extended adverbial form *pl …-ti-, or locative plural *pl …-si. PLESIOSAUR , from Greek pl ¶sios, near ( < " pushed toward "), from pre-Greek *pl ³ti or *pl ³si.[ Pokorny 2. a. pel- 801. ]

la·pel ( l…-pµl") n. 1. The part of a garment, such as a coat or jacket, that is an extension of the collar and folds back against the breast. [From lap 1 ] la·peled " or la·pelled " adj.

re·pel ( r¹-pµl") v. re·pelled re·pel·ling re·pels v. tr. 1. To ward off or keep away; drive back: repel insects. 2. To offer resistance to; fight against: repel an invasion. 3. To refuse to accept; reject: a company that was trying to repel a hostile takeover. 4. To turn away from; spurn. 5. To cause aversion or distaste in: Her rudeness repels everyone. See note at disgust . See note at repulse . 6. To be resistant to; be incapable of absorbing or mixing with: Oil repels water. 7. Physics To present an opposing force to; push back or away by a force: Electric charges of the same sign repel one another. v. intr. 1. To offer a resistant force to something. 2. To cause aversion or distaste: behavior that repels. [Middle English repellen from Old French repeller from Latin repellere re- re- pellere to drive; See pel- 5 in Indo-European Roots.] re·pel "ler n.

pel- 5 . Important derivatives are: anvil felt 1 filter pulsate pulse 1 push compel expel propel repel polish appeal To thrust, strike, drive. I. Suffixed form *pel-de- . 1. a. ANVIL , from Old English anfilt(e) , anfealt , anvil ( "something beaten on "); b. (i) FELT 1 , from Old English felt , felt; (ii) FILTER , from Medieval Latin filtrum , filter, piece of felt. Both (i) and (ii) from Germanic *feltaz , *filtiz , compressed wool. Both a and b from Germanic *felt- , *falt- , to beat. 2. PELT 2 , POUSSETTE , PULSATE , PULSE 1 , PUSH ; COMPEL , DISPEL , EXPEL , IMPEL , PROPEL , REPEL , from Latin pellere (past participle pulsus ), to push, drive, strike. 3. a. Suffixed o-grade form *pol-o- , fuller of cloth. POLISH , from Latin pol ºre, to make smooth, polish ( < " to full cloth "); b. suffixed o-grade form *pol-o- (with different accentuation from the preceding), fulled (of cloth). INTERPOLATE , from Latin compound adjective inter-polis (also interpolus ), refurbished ( inter- , between; see en ). II. Extended form *pel …-. 1. Present stem *peln ³-. a. APPEAL , from Latin appell ³re, " to drive to, " address, entreat, appeal, call ( ad- , to; see ad- ); b. COMPELLATION , from Latin compell ³re, to accost, address ( com- , intensive prefix; see kom ). 2. Possible suffixed zero-grade extended adverbial form *pl …-ti-, or locative plural *pl …-si. PLESIOSAUR , from Greek pl ¶sios, near ( < " pushed toward "), from pre-Greek *pl ³ti or *pl ³si.[ Pokorny 2. a. pel- 801. ]