R.E.B.H

Apr. 26 & Apr. 27

Sun, 25 May 2008 20:40:55 +0800

Apr. 26 Corporate Greed and Corruption
Every Boom puts crooks in at the top.

*crook
noun
1 the hooked staff of a shepherd.
• a bishop's crozier.
• a bend in something, esp. at the elbow in a person's arm : her head was cradled in the crook of Luke's left arm.
• a piece of extra tubing that can be fitted to a brass instrument to lower the pitch by a set interval.
• a metal tube on which the reed of some wind instruments (such as the bassoon) is set.
2 informal a person who is dishonest or a criminal.
verb [ trans. ]
bend (something, esp. a finger as a signal) : he crooked a finger for the waitress.
adjective Austral./NZ, informal
(esp. of a situation) bad, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory : it was pretty crook on the land in the early 1970s.
• (of a person or a part of the body) unwell or injured : a crook knee.
• dishonest; illegal : some pretty crook things went on there. [ORIGIN: late 19th cent.: abbreviation of crooked .]
DERIVATIVES
crookery |ˈkroŏkərē| noun

*plunder
verb [ trans. ]
steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force and in a time of war or civil disorder : looters moved into the disaster area to plunder stores | [ intrans. ] the invaders were back and ready to plunder. See note at ravage .
• steal (goods) in such a way.
• take material from (artistic or academic work) for one's own purposes : we shall plunder related sciences to assist our research.
noun
the violent and dishonest acquisition of property : the farmers suffered the inhumanity and indignities of pillage and plunder.
• property acquired illegally and violently : the army sacked the city and carried off huge quantities of plunder.
DERIVATIVES
plunderer noun

*predator
noun
an animal that naturally preys on others : wolves are major predators of rodents
• figurative a rapacious, exploitative person or group : her wealth made her vulnerable to predators.
• figurative a company that tries to take over another.

Apr. 27 What Is Business Ethics?
Business ethics assumes that for some reason the ordinary rules of ethics do not apply to business.

*axiom
noun
a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true : the axiom that supply equals demand.
• chiefly Mathematics a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based.

*pauper
noun
a very poor person.
• historical a recipient of government relief or public charity.
DERIVATIVES
pauperdom |-dəm| noun
pauperism |-ˌrizəm| noun
pauperization |ˌpôpəriˈzā sh ən| noun
pauperize |-ˌrīz| verb

*mighty
adjective ( mightier , mightiest )
possessing great and impressive power or strength, esp on account of size : three mighty industrial countries | mighty beasts.
• (of an action) performed with or requiring great strength : a mighty heave | figurative a mighty blow against racism.
• informal very large : she gave a mighty hiccup.
adverb [as submodifier ] informal
extremely : this is mighty early to be planning a presidential campaign.
DERIVATIVES
mightily |ˈmītl-ē| adverb
mightiness noun

*meek
adjective
quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive : I used to call her Miss Mouse because she was so meek and mild | the meek compliance of our politicians.
DERIVATIVES
meekly adverb
meekness noun

Apr. 23, Apr. 24 & Apr. 25

Tue, 20 May 2008 23:24:09 +0800

Apr. 23 The Crucial Promotions
The crucial promotion is into the group from which tomorrow's top people will have to be selected.

*pyramid
noun
1 a monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides that meet in a point at the top, esp. one built of stone as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
pyramid 1
Pyramids were built as tombs for Egyptian pharaohs from the 3rd dynasty ( c. 2649 bc) until c. 1640 bc. Monuments of similar shape are associated with the Aztec and Maya civilizations of c. 1200 bc – ad 750, and, like those in Egypt, were part of large ritual complexes.
2 a thing, shape, or graph with such a form : the pyramid of the Matterhorn.
• Geometry a polyhedron of which one face is a polygon of any number of sides, and the other faces are triangles with a common vertex : a three-sided pyramid.
• a pile of things with such a form : a pyramid of logs.
• Anatomy a structure of more or less pyramidal form, esp. in the brain or the renal medulla.
• an organization or system that is structured with fewer people or things at each level as one approaches the top : the lowest strata of the social pyramid.
• a system of financial growth achieved by a small initial investment, with subsequent investments being funded by using unrealized profits as collateral.
verb [ trans. ]
heap or stack in the shape of a pyramid : debt was pyramided on top of unrealistic debt in an orgy of speculation.
• achieve a substantial return on (money or property) after making a small initial investment.
DERIVATIVES
pyramidal |piˈramidl| adjective
pyramidally adverb
pyramidical |ˌpirəˈmidikəl| adjective
pyramidically adverb

*abrupt
adjective
1 sudden and unexpected : I was surprised by the abrupt change of subject | our round of golf came to an abrupt end on the 13th hole.
2 brief to the point of rudeness; curt : you were rather abrupt with that young man.
• (of a style of speech or writing) not flowing smoothly; disjointed.
3 steep; precipitous : the abrupt double peak of the mountain.
DERIVATIVES
abruptly adverb
abruptness noun

Apr. 24 Social Responsibility
Good intentions are not always socially responsible.

*impede
verb [ trans. ]
delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder : the sap causes swelling that can impede breathing. See note at hinder .

*philanthropy
noun
the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed esp. by the generous donation of money to good causes.
• a philanthropic institution; a charity.
DERIVATIVES
philanthropism |-pizəm| noun
philanthropize |-pīz| verb

Apr. 25 Sloan on Social Responsibility
Authority without responsibility is illegitimate; but so is responsibility without authority.

*usurp
verb [ trans. ]
take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force : Richard usurped the throne.
• take the place of (someone in a position of power) illegally: supplant : the Hanoverian dynasty had usurped the Stuarts.
• [ intrans. ] ( usurp on/upon) archaic encroach or infringe upon (someone's rights) : the Church had usurped upon the domain of the state.
DERIVATIVES
usurpation |ˌyoōsərˈpā sh ən| noun
usurper noun

*asperity
noun ( pl. -ties)
harshness of tone or manner : he pointed this out with some asperity.
• ( asperities) harsh qualities or conditions : the asperities of a harsh and divided society.
• (usu. asperities) a rough edge on a surface : the asperities of the metal surfaces.

*congruent
adjective
1 in agreement or harmony : institutional and departmental objectives are largely congruent | the rules may not be congruent with the requirements of the law.
2 Geometry (of figures) identical in form; coinciding exactly when superimposed.
DERIVATIVES
congruence noun
congruency noun
congruently adverb

*commensurate
adjective
corresponding in size or degree; in proportion : salary will be commensurate with experience | such heavy responsibility must receive commensurate reward.
DERIVATIVES
commensurately adverb

Apr. 21 & Apr. 22

Sun, 18 May 2008 00:01:04 +0800

Apr. 21 Sloan on People Decision
"If we didn't spend four hours on placing a man and placing him right, we'd spend four hundred hours on cleaning up after our mistake."

*epithet
noun
an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned : old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet “dirty.”
• such a word or phrase as a term of abuse : he felt an urge to hurl epithets in his face.
• a descriptive title : the epithet “Father of Waters,” poetically used for the Mississippi River.
DERIVATIVES
epithetic |epəˈθetik| adjective
epithetical |epəˈθetikəl| adjective
epithetically |epəˈθetik(ə)lē| adverb

Apr. 22 A good Judge of People?
There are only people who make people decisions right... and people who make people decisions wrong and then repent at leisure.

*repent
verb [ intrans. ]
feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin : the priest urged his listeners to repent | he repented of his action.
• [ trans. ] view or think of (an action or omission) with deep regret or remorse : Marian came to repent her hasty judgment.
• ( repent oneself) archaic feel regret or penitence about : I repent me of all I did.
DERIVATIVES
repentance |riˈpentns| noun
repentant |riˈpentnt| adjective
repenter noun

*conscientious
adjective
(of a person) wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly : a conscientious and hardworking clerk.
• (of work or a person's manner) showing such an attitude : a conscientious and purposeful look on her face.
• relating to a person's conscience : the act does not provide exemption from service on the basis of personal conscientious beliefs.
DERIVATIVES
conscientiously adverb
conscientiousness noun

*quench
verb [ trans. ]
1 satisfy (one's thirst) by drinking.
• satisfy (a desire) : he only pursued her to quench an aching need.
2 extinguish (a fire) : firemen hauled on hoses in a desperate bid to quench the flames.
• stifle or suppress (a feeling) : fury rose in him, but he quenched it.
• rapidly cool (red-hot metal or other material), esp. in cold water or oil.
• Physics & Electronics suppress or damp (an effect such as luminescence, or an oscillation or discharge).
noun
an act of quenching something very hot.
DERIVATIVES
quenchable adjective
quencher noun ( chiefly Physics Metallurgy)
quenchless adjective ( poetic/literary).

*yonder
adverb archaic or dialect
at some distance in the direction indicated; over there : there's a ford south of here, about nine miles yonder.
adjective archaic or dialect
that or those (used to refer to something situated at a distance) : what light through yonder window breaks?
noun ( the yonder)
the far distance : attempting to fly off into the wild blue yonder.

*aplomb
noun
self-confidence or assurance, esp. when in a demanding situation : Diana passed the test with aplomb.

*surmount
verb [ trans. ]
1 overcome (a difficulty or obstacle) : all manner of cultural differences were surmounted.
2 (usu. be surmounted) stand or be placed on top of : the tomb was surmounted by a sculptured angel.
DERIVATIVES
surmountable adjective

*drab
adjective ( drabber , drabbest )
1 lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull : the landscape was drab and gray | her drab suburban existence.
2 of a dull light brown color : drab camouflage uniforms.
noun
fabric of a dull brownish color.
DERIVATIVES
drably adverb
drabness noun
noun archaic
1 a slovenly woman.
2 a prostitute.

Apr. 18, Apr. 19 & Apr. 20

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:37:34 +0800

Apr. 18 Decision Steps for Picking People
The most important thing is that the person and the assignment fit each other.

*appoint
verb [ trans. ]
1 assign a job or role to (someone) : she has been appointed to the board | [ trans. ] a delegated engineer will be appointed to oversee each graduate | they appointed her as personnel manager.
2 determine or decide on (a time or a place) : they appointed a day in May for the meeting.
• archaic decree : such laws are appointed by God.
3 Law decide the disposal of (property of which one is not the owner) under powers granted by the owner : trustees appoint the capital to the beneficiaries.
DERIVATIVES
appointee |əˌpoinˈtē| noun
appointer noun

Apr. 19 Placements That Fails
The soldier has a right to competent command.

*cop-out
noun informal
an instance of avoiding a commitment or responsibility : being ‘average’ is the lazy person's cop-

Apr. 20 The Succession Decision
The most critical people decision, and the one that is hardest to undo, is the succession to the top.

*carbon copy
noun
a copy of written or typed material made with carbon paper.
• figurative a person or thing identical or very similar to another : Karl was a carbon copy of his father.

*leery
adjective ( leerier, leeriest)
cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions : a city leery of gang violence.
DERIVATIVES
leeriness noun

*by and large
general speaking; mainly; on the whole; in the main; basically;

*anoint
verb [ trans. ]
smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony : bodies were anointed after death for burial.
• ( anoint something with) smear or rub something with (any other substance) : Cuna Indians anoint the tips of their arrows with poison.
• ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil : [ trans. ] the Lord has anointed me to preach to the poor | [ trans. ] Samuel anointed him king.
• figurative nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a position : he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party | [as adj. ] ( anointed) his officially anointed heir.
PHRASES
Anointing of the Sick (in the Roman Catholic Church) the sacramental anointing of the ill or infirm with blessed oil; unction.
God's (or the Lord's) anointed a monarch ruling by divine right.

*surmount
verb [ trans. ]
1 overcome (a difficulty or obstacle) : all manner of cultural differences were surmounted.
2 (usu. be surmounted) stand or be placed on top of : the tomb was surmounted by a sculptured angel.
DERIVATIVES
surmountable adjective

Apr. 16 Attracting and Holding People & Apr. 17 Picking People

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:11:16 +0800

Apr. 16
The first sign of decline of an industry is loss of appeal to able people.

*irreversible
adjective
not able to be undone or altered : she suffered irreversible damage to her health.
DERIVATIVES
irreversibility |-ˌvərsəˈbilitē| noun
irreversibly |-blē| adverb

*cope
verb [ intrans. ]
(of a person) deal effectively with something difficult : his ability to cope with stress | it all got too much for me and I couldn't cope.
• (of a machine or system) have the capacity to deal successfully with : the roads are barely adequate to cope with the present traffic.
DERIVATIVES
coper noun

Apr. 17
Don't hire a person for what they can't do; hire them for what they can do.

*dud
noun
1 a thing that fails to work properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless : a high-grade collection, not a dud in the lot | | all three bombs were duds.
• an ineffectual person : a complete dud, incapable of even hitting the ball.
2 ( duds) clothes : buy yourself some new duds.
adjective
not working or meeting standards; faulty : a dud ignition switch.
• counterfeit : charged with issuing dud checks.

*troop
noun
1 a group of soldiers, esp. a cavalry unit commanded by a captain, or an airborne unit.
• ( troops) soldiers or armed forces : UN peacekeeping troops | [as adj. ] ( troop) troop withdrawals.
• a unit of 18 to 24 Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts organized under a troop leader.
2 a group of people or animals of a particular kind : a troop of musicians.
verb [ intrans. ]
(of a group of people) come or go together or in large numbers : the girls trooped in for dinner.
• (of a lone person) walk at a slow or steady pace : Caroline trooped wearily home from work.

*aide
noun
an assistant to an important person, esp. to a political leader : a presidential aide.
• short for aide-de-camp .

*colonel
noun
an army officer of high rank, in particular (in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps) an officer above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general.
• informal short for lieutenant colonel .
DERIVATIVES
colonelcy |ˈkərnlsē| noun ( pl. -cies).

Apr. 15th People Decisions & TOFEL MUST WORD 5000

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:29:56 +0800

~No organization can do better than the people it has. by Peter Drucker.~

*mundane
adjective
1 lacking interest or excitement; dull : seeking a way out of his mundane, humdrum existence.
2 of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one : according to the Shinto doctrine, spirits of the dead can act upon the mundane world.
• of, relating to, or denoting the branch of astrology that deals with political, social, economic, and geophysical events and processes.
DERIVATIVES
mundanely adverb
mundaneness noun
mundanity |-ˈdānətē| noun ( pl. -ties).

*hornet
noun
a large stinging wasp that typically nests in hollow trees.
bald-faced hornet
• Vespa and other genera, family Vespidae: several species, including the giant hornet ( V. crabro) and the bald-faced (or white-faced) hornet ( V. maculata).
PHRASES
a hornets' nest a situation fraught with difficulties or complications : the move has stirred up a hornet's nest of academic fear and loathing.

*vertebrate
noun
an animal of a large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. Compare with invertebrate . • Subphylum Vertebrata, phylum Chordata: seven classes.
adjective
of or relating to the vertebrates.

*ivory
noun ( pl. -ries)
1 a hard creamy-white substance composing the main part of the tusks of an elephant, walrus, or narwhal, often (esp. formerly) used to make ornaments and other articles : [as adj. ] a knife with an ivory handle.
• an object made of ivory.
• ( the ivories) informal the keys of a piano.
• ( ivories) informal a person's teeth.
2 a creamy-white color.
DERIVATIVES
ivoried |-rēd| adjective

*lush
adjective
(of vegetation) growing luxuriantly : lush greenery and cultivated fields. See note at profuse .
• opulent and luxurious : a hall of gleaming marble, as lush as a Byzantine church.
• (of color or music) very rich and providing great sensory pleasure : lush orchestrations.
• (of a woman) very sexually attractive : Marianne, with her lush body and provocative green eyes.
DERIVATIVES
lushly adverb
lushness noun
noun
a heavy drinker, esp. a habitual one.
verb [ trans. ] dated
make (someone) drunk : Mr. Hobart got so lushed up he was spilling drinks down his shirt.

*ox
noun ( pl. oxen |ˈäksən|)
a domesticated bovine animal kept for milk or meat; a cow or bull. See cattle (sense 1).
• a castrated male of this, formerly much used as a draft animal : [as adj. ] an ox cart.
• an animal of a group related to the domestic ox. See cattle (sense 2).

Apr. 14th Alfred Sloan's Management Style & TOFEL MUST WORD 5000

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:22:38 +0800

~A Chief Executive Officer who has 'friendships' within the company....cannot remain impartial. by Peter Drucker.~

*revere
verb [ trans. ] (often be revered)
feel deep respect or admiration for (something) : Cézanne's still lifes were revered by his contemporaries

*tenure
noun
1 the conditions under which land or buildings are held or occupied.
2 the holding of an office : his tenure of the premiership would be threatened.
• a period for which an office is held.
3 guaranteed permanent employment, esp. as a teacher or professor, after a probationary period.
verb [ trans. ]
give (someone) a permanent post, esp. as a teacher or professor : I had recently been tenured and then promoted to full professor.
• [as adj. ] ( tenured) having or denoting such a post : a tenured faculty member.

*gratitude
noun
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness : she expressed her gratitude to the committee for their support.

*aloof
adjective
not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant : they were courteous but faintly aloof | an aloof and somewhat austere figure.
• conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste : he stayed aloof from the bickering.
DERIVATIVES
aloofly adverb
aloofness noun

*contrary
adjective |ˈkänˌtre(ə)rē|
1 opposite in nature, direction, or meaning : he ignored contrary advice and agreed on the deal. See note at opposite .
• (of two or more statements, beliefs, etc.) opposed to one another : his mother had given him contrary messages.
• (of a wind) blowing in the opposite direction to one's course; unfavorable.
• Logic (of two propositions) so related that one or neither but not both must be true. Compare with contradictory .
2 |kənˈtre(ə)rē| perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired : she is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned.
noun |ˈkänˌtre(ə)rē| ( pl. -traries)
1 ( the contrary) the opposite : the magazine has proved that the contrary is true.
2 Logic a contrary proposition.
PHRASES
contrary to conflicting with; counter to : contrary to his expectations, he found the atmosphere exciting | the restrictions were not contrary to the public interest.
on (or quite) the contrary used to intensify a denial of what has just been implied or stated : there was no malice in her; on the contrary, she was very kind.
to the contrary with the opposite meaning or implication : he continued to drink despite medical advice to the contrary.
DERIVATIVES
contrarily |-əlē| adverb
contrariness noun

Apr. 13th Churchill the Leader TOFEL MUST WORDK 5000

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:09:38 +0800

~What Churchill gave was moral authority, belief in values and faith in the rightness of rational action. by Peter Drucker.~

*frenzied
adjective
wildly excited or uncontrolled : a frenzied attack.
DERIVATIVES
frenziedly adverb

*decent
adjective
1 conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior : the good name of such a decent and innocent person.
• appropriate; fitting : they would meet again after a decent interval.
• not likely to shock or embarrass others : a decent high-necked dress.
• informal sufficiently clothed to see visitors : make yourself decent.
2 [ attrib. ] of an acceptable standard; satisfactory : find me a decent cup of coffee | people need decent homes.
• good : the deer are small: a 14-inch spread is a pretty decent buck.
• kind, obliging, or generous : that was pretty awfully decent of him.
PHRASES
do the decent thing take the most honorable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests : after his defeat, he should do the decent thing and step down.
DERIVATIVES
decently adverb

*pathetic
adjective
1 arousing pity, esp. through vulnerability or sadness : she looked so pathetic that I bent down to comfort her. See note at moving .
• informal miserably inadequate : his test scores in Chemistry were pathetic.
2 archaic relating to the emotions.
DERIVATIVES
pathetically |-(ə)lē| adverb

*mediocrity
noun ( pl. -ties)
the quality or state of being mediocre : heroes rising above the mediocrity that surrounds them.
• a person of mediocre ability.

*conspicuous
adjective
standing out so as to be clearly visible : he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple. See note at noticeable .
• attracting notice or attention : he showed conspicuous bravery.
PHRASES
conspicuous by one's absence obviously not present in a place where one should be. [ORIGIN: from a speech made by Lord John Russell in an address to electors (1859): taken from Tacitus ( Annals iii. 76).]
DERIVATIVES
conspicuity |ˌkänspiˈkyoōitē| noun
conspicuously adverb
conspicuousness noun

*totalitarian
adjective
of or relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state : a totalitarian regime.
noun
a person advocating such a system of government.
DERIVATIVES
totalitarianism |-ˌnizəm| noun

*hinge
noun
a movable joint or mechanism on which a door, gate, or lid swings as it opens and closes, or that connects linked objects.
hinge
• Biology a natural joint that performs a similar function, for example that of a bivalve shell.
• a central point or principle on which everything depends : this period can be called the hinge of history.
• a small piece of gummed transparent paper used to affix a stamp to a page in an album.
verb ( hinging ) [ trans. ] (usu. be hinged)
attach or join with or as if with a hinge : the ironing board was set into the wall and hinged at the bottom | [as adj. ] ( hinged) a pocket watch with a hinged lid.
• [ intrans. ] (of a door or part of a structure) hang and turn on a hinge : the skull's jaw hinged down.
• [ intrans. ] ( hinge on) depend entirely on : the future of the industry could hinge on the outcome of next month's election.
DERIVATIVES
hingeless adjective

*infallibility
noun
the quality of being infallible; the inability to be wrong : his judgment became impaired by faith in his own infallibility.
• (also papal infallibility) (in the Roman Catholic Church) the doctrine that in specified circumstances the pope is incapable of error in pronouncing dogma.

*uncanny
adjective ( -nier , -niest )
strange or mysterious, esp. in an unsettling way : an uncanny feeling that she was being watched.
DERIVATIVES
uncannily |-ˈkanəl-ē| adverb
uncanniness noun

*espouse
verb [ trans. ]
1 adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life) : she espoused communism.
2 archaic marry : Edward had espoused the Lady Grey.
• ( be espoused to) (of a woman) be engaged to (a particular man).
DERIVATIVES
espouser noun

Apr. 12th Fake Versus True Leaders & TOFEL MUST WORD 5000

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:00:31 +0800

~All one could do in 1939 was pray and hope. by Peter Drucker.~

*hindsight
noun
understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened or developed : with hindsight, I should never have gone.

*ersatz
adjective
(of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else : ersatz coffee.
• not real or genuine : ersatz emotion.
See note at spurious .

*entouage
noun
a group of people attending or surrounding an important person : an entourage of bodyguards.

*deliverance
noun
1 the action of being rescued or set free : prayers for deliverance.
2 a formal or authoritative utterance.

*rhetoric
noun
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, esp. the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
• language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content : all we have from the opposition is empty rhetoric.

*affirmation
noun
the action or process of affirming or being affirmed : an affirmation of basic human values | he nodded in affirmation.
• Law a formal declaration by a person who declines to take an oath for reasons of conscience.

Apr. 11th The Four Competencies of a Leader & TOFEL MUST WORD 5000

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:12:57 +0800

~Keep your eye on the task, not on yourself. The task matters, and you are a servant. by Peter Drucker.~

*alibi
noun ( pl. -bis )
a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place : she has an alibi for the whole of yesterday evening | a defense of alibi.
• informal an excuse or pretext : a catch-all alibi for failure and inadequacy.
verb ( -bis, -bied, -biing) [ trans. ] informal
offer an excuse or defense for (someone), esp. by providing an account of their whereabouts at the time of an alleged act : her friend agreed to alibi her.
• [ intrans. ] make excuses : not once do I recall him whining or alibiing.

*aggrandize
verb [ trans. ]
increase the power, status, or wealth of : an action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty.
• enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond what is justified by the facts : he hoped to aggrandize himself by dying a hero's death.
DERIVATIVES
aggrandizement |-ˌdīzmənt; -diz-| noun
aggrandizer noun

*vain
adjective
1 having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth : their flattery made him vain.
2 [ attrib. ] producing no result; useless : a vain attempt to tidy up the room | the vain hope of finding work.
• having no meaning or likelihood of fulfillment : a vain boast.
PHRASES
in vain without success or a result : they waited in vain for a response.
take someone's name in vain use someone's name in a way that shows a lack of respect.
DERIVATIVES
vainly adverb

*genus
noun ( pl. genera |ˈjenərə|or genuses) Biology
a grouping of organisms having common characteristics distinct from those of other such groupings. The genus is a principal taxonomic category that ranks above species and below family, and is denoted by a capitalized Latin name, e.g., Leo.
• (in philosophical and general use) a class of things that have common characteristics and that can be divided into subordinate kinds.

*gourd
noun
1 a fleshy, typically large fruit with a hard skin, some varieties of which are edible.
• a drinking container, water container, or ornament made from the hard hollowed and dried skin of this fruit.
2 a climbing or trailing plant that bears this fruit. • Family Cucurbitaceae (the gourd family): several genera and species, including the colored ornamental gourds ( Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera). The gourd family also includes the marrows, squashes, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers.
PHRASES
out of one's gourd informal out of one's mind; crazy. • under the influence or alcohol or drugs : he was obviously stoned out of his gourd.
DERIVATIVES
gourdful |-ˌfoŏl| noun ( pl. -fuls).

*graze
verb [ intrans. ]
(of cattle, sheep, etc.) eat grass in a field : cattle graze on the open meadows.
• [ trans. ] (of an animal) feed on (grass or land covered by grass) : llamas graze the tufts of grass.
• [ trans. ] put (cattle, sheep, etc.) to feed on land covered by grass : shepherds who grazed animals on common land.
• informal (of a person) eat small quantities of food at frequent but irregular intervals : advertisers should not encourage children to graze on snacks or sweets.
• informal casually sample something : we grazed up and down the channels.
DERIVATIVES
grazer noun
verb [ trans. ]
scrape the skin of (a part of the body) so as to break the surface but cause little or no bleeding : she fell down and grazed her knees.
• touch or scrape lightly in passing : his hands just grazed hers.
noun
a slight injury where the skin is scraped : it'll be fine, it's only a graze.