bad 1 ( b²d) adj. worse ( wûrs) worst ( wûrst) 1. Not achieving an adequate standard; poor: a bad recital. 2. Evil; sinful. 3. Disobedient or naughty: bad children. 4. Disagreeable, unpleasant, or disturbing: a bad piece of news. 5. Unfavorable: bad reviews for the play. 6. Not fresh; rotten or spoiled: bad meat. 7. Injurious in effect; detrimental: bad habits. 8. Not working properly; defective: a bad telephone connection. 9. Full of or exhibiting faults or errors: bad grammar. 10. Having no validity; void: passed bad checks. 11. Severe; intense: a bad cold. 12. a. Being in poor health or in pain: I feel bad today. b. Being in poor condition; diseased: bad lungs. 13. Sorry; regretful: She feels bad about how she treated you. 14. bad·der bad·dest Slang Very good; great. n. 1. Something that is below standard or expectations, as of ethics or decency: weighing the good against the bad. adv. Usage Problem 1. Badly.

Idioms: in bad Informal 1. In trouble or disfavor. not half bad or not so bad 1. Informal Reasonably good. [Middle English badde] bad "ness n.

Synonyms: bad evil wicked These adjectives are compared as they mean departing from moral or ethical standards. Bad is the most inclusive; it applies to what is regarded as being unpleasant, offensive, or blameworthy: bad weather; a bad temper. " A bad book is as much of a labor to write as a good one " (Aldous Huxley). Evil, a stronger term, adds to bad connotations of depravity and corruptive influence: " The unconscious is not just evil by nature, it is also the source of the highest good " (Carl Jung). Wicked suggests conscious or premeditated moral transgression: " this wicked man Hitler, the repository and embodiment of many forms of soul-destroying hatred, this monstrous product of former wrongs and shame " (Winston S. Churchill).

Usage Note: Bad is often used as an adverb in sentences such as The house was shaken up pretty bad or We need water bad. This usage is common in informal speech but is widely regarded as unacceptable in formal writing. In an earlier survey, the sentence His tooth ached so bad he could not sleep was unacceptable to 92 percent of the Usage Panel. · The use of badly with want, once considered incorrect, is now entirely acceptable: We wanted badly to be at the wedding. · The adverb badly is often used as the complement of verbs such as feel, as in I felt badly about the whole affair, where the choice of badly as opposed to bad may convey an implication that the distress is emotional, rather than physical. Although the origin of this usage is a matter of dispute, the usage is now widespread and is supported by analogy to the use of other adverbs with feel (as in We feel strongly about this issue ). In an earlier survey, a majority of the Usage Panel accepted this use of badly in speech, though bad is less likely to occasion objections. · Badly is also used in some regions to mean " unwell," as in He was looking badly after the accident (compare poorly, which is also used in this way). In an earlier survey, however, the usage was found unacceptable in formal writing by 75 percent of the Usage Panel.

bad 2 ( b²d) v. Archaic 1. A past tense of bid .

worse ( wûrs) adj. Comparative of bad 1 ill 1. More inferior, as in quality, condition, or effect. 2. More severe or unfavorable. 3. Being further from a standard; less desirable or satisfactory. 4. Being in poorer health; more ill. n. 1. Something that is worse: Of the two routes, the eastern one is the worse. She was accused of cheating on exams, lying, and worse. adv. Comparative of badly ill 1. In a worse manner; to a worse degree.

Idioms: for better or (for) worse 1. Whether the situation or consequences be good or ill: For better or worse, he trusts everyone. [Middle English from Old English wyrsa; See wers- in Indo-European Roots.]

worst ( wûrst) adj. Superlative of bad 1 ill 1. Most inferior, as in quality, condition, or effect. 2. Most severe or unfavorable. 3. Being furthest from an ideal or a standard; least desirable or satisfactory. adv. Superlative of badly ill 1. In the worst manner or degree. v. tr. worst·ed worst·ing worsts 1. To gain the advantage over; defeat. n. 1. Something that is worst.

Idioms: at (the) worst 1. Under the most negative circumstances, estimation, or interpretation: At worst, the storm will make us postpone the trip. get the worst of it or have the worst of it 1. To suffer a defeat or disadvantage. if (the) worst comes to (the) worst 1. If the very worst thing happens. in the worst way Informal 1. Very much; a great deal: wanted to be elected in the worst way. [Middle English from Old English wyrsta; See wers- in Indo-European Roots.]

or·gan·i·za·tion ( ôr"g…-n¹-z³"sh…n) n. Abbr. org. 1. a. The act or process of organizing. b. The state or manner of being organized: a high degree of organization. 2. Something that has been organized or made into an ordered whole. 3. Something made up of elements with varied functions that contribute to the whole and to collective functions; an organism. 4. A group of persons organized for a particular purpose; an association: a benevolent organization. 5. a. A structure through which individuals cooperate systematically to conduct business. b. The administrative personnel of such a structure. or "gan·i·za"tion·al adj. or "gan·i·za"tion·al·ly adv.

un·nec·es·sar·y ( ¾n-nµs"¹-sµr"¶) adj. 1. Not necessary; needless. un·nec "es·sar"i·ly ( -sâr"…-l¶) adv.

baste 1 ( b³st) v. tr. bast·ed bast·ing bastes 1. To sew loosely with large running stitches so as to hold together temporarily. [Middle English basten from Old French bastir of Germanic origin] bast "er n.

baste 2 ( b³st) v. tr. bast·ed bast·ing bastes 1. To moisten (meat, for example) periodically with a liquid, such as melted butter or a sauce, especially while cooking. [Middle English basten] bast "er n.

baste 3 ( b³st) v. tr. bast·ed bast·ing bastes 1. To beat vigorously; thrash. See note at beat . 2. To lambaste. [Probably of Scandinavian origin Old Norse beysta; See bhau- in Indo-European Roots.]

bhau- . Important derivatives are: beat buttock halibut butt 1 button refute To strike. I. Contracted from *bha …u- 1. BEAT , from Old English b ¶atan, to beat, from Germanic *bautan . 2. BEETLE 3 , from Old English b þtl, hammer, mallet, from Germanic *bautilaz , hammer. 3. BASTE 3 , probably from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse beysta , to beat, denominative from Germanic *baut-sti- . 4. BUTTOCK , from Old English diminutive buttuc , end, strip of land, from Germanic *b ¿taz. 5. a. HALIBUT , from Middle Dutch butte , flatfish; b. TURBOT , from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Swedish but , flatfish. Both a and b from Germanic *butt- , name for a flatfish. 6. ( BOUTON ), BUTT 1 , BUTTON , BUTTRESS ; ABUT , REBUT , SACKBUT , from Old French bo(u)ter , to strike, push, from Germanic *buttan . 7. Zero-grade form *bh ¿- (*bhu …-) with verbal suffix -t ³-. a. CONFUTE , from Latin c ½nf¿t³re, to check, suppress, restrain ( com- , intensive prefix; see kom ); b. REFUTE , from Latin ref ¿t³re, to drive back, rebut ( re- , back; see re- ). 8. Possibly reduced suffixed form *bhu-tu- ( *bh …u-). FOOTLE , from Latin futuere , to have intercourse with (a woman). [ Pokorny 1. bhau- 112. ]

caste ( k²st) n. 1. a. Any of four classes, comprising numerous subclasses, constituting Hindu society. b. Any of numerous hereditary, endogamous social subclasses stratified according to Hindu ritual purity. 2. A social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank, profession, or wealth. 3. a. A social system or the principle of grading society based on castes. b. The social position or status conferred by a system based on castes: lose caste by doing work beneath one's station. 4. A specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members, such as workers or soldiers, carry out a specific function. [Spanish casta race Portuguese casta race, caste, both from feminine of casto pure from Latin castus; See kes- in Indo-European Roots.]

kes- . Important derivatives are: castrate castle caste chaste incest cashier To cut. I. Variant *kas- . 1. Suffixed form *kas-tro- . a. CASTRATE , from Latin castr ³re, to castrate; b. ALCAZAR , CASTLE , from Latin castrum , fortified place, camp (perhaps " separated place "). 2. Suffixed form *kas-to- . CASTE , CHASTE ; CASTIGATE , INCEST , from Latin castus , chaste, pure ( < " cut off from or free of faults "). 3. Suffixed (stative) form *kas- ¶-. CARET , from Latin car ¶re, " to be cut off from, " lack. 4. Extended geminated form *kasso- . ( CASHIER ), QUASH 1 , from Latin cassus , empty, void. [ Pokorny ç es- 586. ]

haste ( h³st) n. 1. Rapidity of action or motion. 2. Overeagerness to act. 3. Rash or headlong action; precipitateness. v. intr. tr. hast·ed hast·ing hastes 1. To hasten or cause to hasten.

Idioms: make haste 1. To move or act swiftly; hurry. [Middle English from Old French of Germanic origin]

Synonyms: haste celerity dispatch expedition hurry speed The central meaning shared by these nouns is " rapidity or promptness of movement or activity ": left the room in haste; a legal system not known for celerity; advanced with all possible dispatch; cleaned up the room with remarkable expedition; worked systematically but without hurry; driving with excessive speed.

haute ( ½t) adj. 1. Fashionably elegant: " In Washington, haute gastronomy is at least as important as the national economy " Ann L. Trebbe [French, feminine of haut high; See hautboy ]

matte 1 ( m²t) n. 1. Variant of mat 2 . adj. 1. Variant of mat 2 .

matte 2 ( m²t) n. 1. A mixture of a metal with its sulfides, produced by smelting the sulfide ores of copper, lead, or nickel. [French]

mat 2 ( m²t) n. 1. A decorative border placed around a picture to serve as a frame or provide contrast between the picture and the frame. 2. Also matte a. A dull, often rough finish, as of paint, glass, metal, or paper. b. A special tool for producing such a surface or finish. 3. Printing See matrix . v. tr. mat·ted mat·ting mats 1. To put a mat around (a picture). 2. To produce a dull finish on. adj. also matte 1. Having a dull finish. [From French dull from Old French defeated, withered perhaps from Latin mattus stupefied, senseless possibly from *maditus , past participle of mad¶reto be wet]

paste 1 ( p³st) n. 1. A smooth viscous mixture, as of flour and water or of starch and water, that is used as an adhesive for joining light materials, such as paper and cloth. 2. A soft, smooth, thick mixture, as: a. A smooth dough of water, flour, and butter or other shortening, used in making pastry. b. A food that has been pounded until it is reduced to a smooth, creamy mass: anchovy paste. c. A sweet, doughy candy or confection: rolled apricot paste. 3. The moist clay or clay mixture used in making porcelain or pottery. Also Called pâte . 4. a. A hard, brilliant, lead-containing glass used in making artificial gems. b. A gem made of this glass. In this sense, also called strass . v. tr. past·ed past·ing pastes 1. To cause to adhere by or as if by applying paste. 2. To cover with something by or as if by pasting: He pasted the wall with burlap. The wall is pasted with splotches. [Middle English from Old French from Late Latin pasta from Greek barley-porridge, from neuter pl. of pastos sprinkled, salted from passein to sprinkle; See kw ¶t- in Indo-European Roots.]

paste 2 ( p³st) v. tr. past·ed past·ing pastes Slang 1. To punch or strike. n. 1. A hard blow. [Probably alteration of baste 3 ]

kw ¶t-. Important derivatives are: squash 2 discuss rescue To shake. I. Zero-grade form *kw …t-, becoming *kwat- . 1. a. CASCARA , SCUTCH , SQUASH 2 ; CONCUSS , DISCUSS , PERCUSS , RESCUE , SUCCUSSION , from Latin quatere (past participle quassus , in composition -cussus ), to shake, strike; b. PASTE 1 , from Greek passein , to sprinkle. [ Pokorny k ø¶t- 632. ]

taste ( t³st) v. tast·ed tast·ing tastes v. tr. 1. To distinguish the flavor of by taking into the mouth. 2. To eat or drink a small quantity of. 3. To partake of, especially for the first time; experience. 4. To perceive as if by the sense of taste. 5. Archaic To appreciate or enjoy. v. intr. 1. To distinguish flavors in the mouth. 2. To have a distinct flavor: The stew tastes salty. 3. To eat or drink a small amount. 4. To have experience or enjoyment; partake: tasted of the life of the very rich. n. 1. a. The sense that distinguishes the sweet, sour, salty, and bitter qualities of dissolved substances in contact with the taste buds on the tongue. b. This sense in combination with the senses of smell and touch, which together receive a sensation of a substance in the mouth. 2. a. The sensation of sweet, sour, salty, or bitter qualities produced by or as if by a substance placed in the mouth. b. The unified sensation produced by any of these qualities plus a distinct smell and texture; flavor. c. A distinctive perception as if by the sense of taste: an experience that left a bad taste in my mouth. 3. The act of tasting. 4. A small quantity eaten or tasted. 5. A limited or first experience; a sample: " Thousands entered the war, got just a taste of it, and then stepped out " Mark Twain 6. A personal preference or liking: a taste for adventure. 7. a. The faculty of discerning what is aesthetically excellent or appropriate. b. A manner indicative of the quality of such discernment: a room furnished with superb taste. 8. a. The sense of what is proper, seemly, or least likely to give offense in a given social situation. b. A manner indicative of the quality of this sense. 9. Obsolete The act of testing; trial. [Middle English tasten to touch, taste from Old French taster from Vulgar Latin *tast ³re probably alteration of Latin *tax ³re,probably frequentative of tangere to touch; See tag- in Indo-European Roots.] tast "a·ble adj.

Synonyms: taste flavor relish savor smack tang The central meaning shared by these nouns is " a quality that can be perceived by the gustatory sense ": the salty taste of anchovies; the pungent flavor of garlic; the aromatic relish of freshly brewed coffee; the savor of rich chocolate; the spicy smack of curry sauce; the fresh tang of lemonade. culture experience

tag- . Important derivatives are: tact tangent tangible taste tax attain contact intact entire integer contaminate To touch, handle. I. 1. Nasalized form *ta-n-g- . TACT , TANGENT , TANGIBLE , TASTE , TAX ; ATTAIN , CONTACT , INTACT , TACTORECEPTOR , TANGORECEPTOR , from Latin tangere , to touch, with derivatives tax ³re, to touch, assess (possibly a frequentative of tangere , but probably influenced by Greek tassein , taxai , to arrange, assess), and t ³ctus, touch. 2. Compound form * ö-tag-ro-, " untouched, intact " ( * ö-, negative prefix; see ne ). ENTIRE , INTEGER , INTEGRATE , INTEGRITY , from Latin integer , intact, whole, complete, perfect, honest. 3. Suffixed form *tag-smen- . CONTAMINATE , from Latin cont ³min³re, to corrupt by mixing or contact ( < *con-t ³men-, " bringing into contact with "; con- , com- , with; see kom ). [ Pokorny tag- 1054. ]

waste ( w³st) v. wast·ed wast·ing wastes v. tr. 1. To use, consume, spend, or expend thoughtlessly or carelessly. 2. To cause to lose energy, strength, or vigor; exhaust, tire, or enfeeble: Disease wasted his body. 3. To fail to take advantage of or use for profit; lose: waste an opportunity. 4. a. To destroy completely. b. Slang To kill; murder. v. intr. 1. To lose energy, strength, weight, or vigor; become weak or enfeebled: wasting away from an illness. 2. To pass without being put to use: Time is wasting. n. 1. The act or an instance of wasting or the condition of being wasted: a waste of talent; gone to waste. 2. A place, region, or land that is uninhabited or uncultivated; a desert or wilderness. 3. A devastated or destroyed region, town, or building; a ruin. 4. a. A useless or worthless byproduct, as from a manufacturing process. b. Something, such as steam, that escapes without being used. 5. Garbage; trash. 6. The undigested residue of food eliminated from the body; excrement. adj. 1. Regarded or discarded as worthless or useless: waste trimmings. 2. Used as a conveyance or container for refuse: a waste bin. 3. Excreted from the body: waste matter.

Idioms: waste (one's) breath 1. To gain or accomplish nothing by speaking. [Middle English wasten from Old North French waster from Latin v³st³re to make empty from v³stus empty; See eu- 2 in Indo-European Roots.]

Synonyms: waste blow consume dissipate fritter squander The central meaning shared by these verbs is " to spend or expend without restraint and often to no avail ": wasted her inheritance; blew a fortune on a shopping spree; time and money consumed in litigation; dissipating their energies in pointless argument; frittering away her entire allowance; squandered his literary talent on writing commercials.

eu- 2 . Important derivatives are: wane want vanish vacant vacation vacuum void avoid evacuate waste Lacking, empty. I. Extended forms *eu …-, *w ³-, *w …-. 1. Suffixed form *w …-no-. a. WANE , from Old English wanian , to lessen, and wana , lack, from Germanic *wan ¶n; b. WANT , from Old Norse vanta , to lack, from North Germanic *wanat ½n. 2. Suffixed form *w ³-no-. VAIN , VANITY , VAUNT ; EVANESCE , VANISH , from Latin v ³nus, empty. 3. Extended form *wak- . VACANT , VACATE , VACATION , ( VACUITY ), VACUUM , VOID ; ( AVOID ), ( DEVOID ), EVACUATE , from Latin vac ³re (variant voc ³re), to be empty. 4. Extended and suffixed form *w ³s-to-. WASTE ; DEVASTATE , from Latin v ³stus, empty, waste. [ Pokorny 1. eu- 345. ]