Here is a list of some of the bands I listened to during the late sixties and early seventies with links to their videos on youtube. To view a video just click on the bands name. Many of these bands are classified as progressive rock. A few folk rock bands have been thrown in for good measure.

• After The Fire
• Atomic Rooster
• Barclay James Harvest
• Blodwyn Pig
• Camel
• Captain Beefheart
• Caravan
• Chicken Shack
• Colosseum
• Curved Air
• Edgar Broughton Band
• ELP
• Focus
• Genesis
• Gentle Giant
• Gong
• Greenslade
• Jethro Tull
• King Crimson
• Marillion
• Michael Chapman
• Pink Floyd
• Porcupine Tree
• Sensational Alex Harvey Band
• Steve Hackett
• Supertramp
• Tangerine Dream
• The Nice
• Van der Graaf Generator
• Yes
• Argent
• Bad Company
• Blind Faith
• Budgie
• Cream
• Chris Rea
• Deep Purple
• Edgar Winter
• Eric Clapton
• Free
• Groundhogs
• Hawkwind
• Humble Pie
• Iron Butterfly
• John Mayall
• Johnny Winter
• Journey
• Led Zeppelin
• Montrose
• Roy Buchanan
• Saxon
• Steppenwolf
• Ten Years After
• Uriah Heep
• Wishbone Ash
• Alice Cooper
• Crazy World of Arthur Brown
• ELO
• Jefferson Airplane
• Lindisfarne
• Mott The Hoople
• Nazareth
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Roxy Music
• Santana
• Spooky Tooth
• Stackridge
• Steamhammer

1. Manual mindmaps
   1. Volca Beats manual
   2. Volca Bass manual
   3. Volca Keys manual
2. MIDI mindmap
   1. MIDI maps for the Volca Beats, Bass and Keys

You can download everything from here.

Chosing the right representation for your data is at the heart of efficient AI programming as we are reminded in the book edited by Daniel G. Bobrow and Allan Collins, titled “Representation and Understanding: Studies in Cognitive Science”. However, quite often, the good old list will do or at least is a good place to start. Writing programs to manipulate lists structures of varying complexity can be tedious and error prone. A pattern matcher simplifies this process immensely. In fact, one of the main reasons for using a Pattern Matcher is that programmers can produce more readable and intuitive code.

One could argue that Pattern Matching is an essential component of writing intelligent programs and there are many books on this topic. My favorite being the book titled “Pattern Directed Inference Systems” by Donald Arthur Waterman, and Rick Hayes-Roth. Practically speaking, Finite State Machines, can be viewed as Pattern Directed Inference Systems, and their implementation can be greatly simplified with a pattern matcher.

Pattern Matching

Pattern matching is a powerful tool which is available in many functional programming languages. The most notable application areas for Pattern Matchers are Computer Algebra Systems, Natural Language Processing and Finite State Machines.

Text editors, were among the first computer programs to use pattern matching. Ken Thompson, who designed and implemented the original Unix operating system, extended the search and replace features of the QED editor to accept regular expressions. Two of the first well known programming languages to include pattern matching functionality were SNOBOL and LISP.

Nowadays, pattern matching is an advanced art. Mathematica offers very expressive pattern matching which is similar to Perl Compatible Regular Expressions (PCRE), but for symbolic tree structures instead of strings. TGREP2 is also a very powerful pattern matcher for parse trees containing linguistic information and was implemented around 2004. More recently, in 2017, a python library for pattern matching on symbolic expressions was made available on github.

The pattern matcher described here, called popmatch, is based on the POPLOG pattern matcher which was available at the beginning of the 1980s. I was lucky enough to have learnt to program with this Pattern Matcher while at Sussex university during this time. POPLOG appears to have been one of the first systems with a powerfull pattern matcher for tree like structures.

The Matcher

Popmatches can be used for checking the correspondence of nested lists with a pattern. The matcher, while quite simple, provides a powerful tool for operating on lists, and makes it much easier to write list processing programs. The alternative is to use the “lower level” facilities for manipulating lists which is tedious. For instance, in python the head and tail of a list can be obtained with:

l = [1,2,3,4]; hd = l[0]; tl = l[1:]

With the matcher described here we would write:

matches([1,2,3,4], [?hd, ??tl])

For both cases, the head of the list will be assigned to the variable hd and the tail to tl:

hd = 1, tl = [2,3,4]

The pattern expression “?hd”, will match one item and assign the match to the variable hd. The pattern expression “??tl“, will match zero or more items and assign the result to the variable tl. Even for this simple example, we can see that the code is a lot easier to understand and follow. Quite often, the information needed to complete a task can be extracted from a complex list with just a single call to match.

The python code to implement the above example would be:

from popmatches import matches, mexp

if __name__ == '__main__':

    matches([1,2,3,4], [mexp("?hd"), mexp("??tl")])
    print(hd, tl)

The table below lists the pattern elements that can form part of a pattern.

Finite State Machines

The Finite State Machines here are based on those given in the book “Natural Language Processing in Pop-11” by Gerard Gazdar, Chris Mellish. But are writen in Python and not Pop-11. There are another two versions of this book for PROLOG and LISP. While the languages covered are not so common these days, these three books are still an excellent place to start because they provide insight into the programming techniques used during the early days of Natural Language Processing.

The first example shown above, is a FSM to generate laughter!  A single recursive procedure, traverse_network, is needed to implement the FSM. This procedure calls matches to find the valid transitions from the start node (S1) to the final node (S4). When the final node is reached, the function exit_from_fsm is called to exit from the recursive call to traverse_network. This is done by generating an exception which is caught by the function traverse. The code for the finite state machine is:

from popmatches import mexp, matches
import random

class FSM(object):
    output = ''

    def __init__(self, name, initial, final, arcs):
        self.name = name
        self.initial = initial
        self.final = final
        self.arcs = arcs
        self.finished = False

    def exit_from_fsm(self):
        raise Exception('exiting from FSM')

    def traverse_network(self, start_node):
        for arc in self.arcs:
            if matches(arc, [start_node, mexp('?to'), mexp('?symbol')]):
                if to == self.final:
                    self.output += symbol
                    self.finished = True
                    self.exit_from_fsm()
                elif symbol == '#' and random.random() < 0.8:
                    self.traverse_network(to)
                elif symbol != '#':
                    self.output += symbol
                    self.traverse_network(to)

    def traverse(self):
        try:
            self.traverse_network(self.initial)
        except:
            pass
        self.pr()

    def pr(self):
        if self.finished:
            print(self.output)
        else:
            print("FSM did not complete!")

if __name__ == '__main__':

    arcs = [[1, 2, 'h'],
            [2, 3, 'a'],
            [3, 1, '#'],
            [3, 4, '!']]

    start_node = 1
    final_node = 4

    myfsm = FSM('to laugh', start_node, final_node, arcs)

    myfsm.traverse()

In the second example shown below, an FSM is defined to check if a sentence, input to the machine, conforms to a simple grammar. For example “Kim was a consumer and Lee was stupid”. The procedure recognise, shown in the code below, calls the recursive procedure recognise_next to find valid transitions from the start node (S1) to the final node (S9) that are consistent with the input. All but one of the procedures called by recognise_next calls  matches.

The flow of control is as follows: Firstly, recognised_next is called with the current node and input sentence. Secondly, recognise_next checks to see if a final node has been reached and the tape is empty. If so the FSM exits with success. Then the validity of the transition is checked, that is if the variable tape is not equal to None. If the tape is None then the function returns. Thirdly, recognise_next is called recursively for each of the possible transistions from the current node which are retrieved by get_transitions. Recognise_next, is called with two arguments, 1) a new node and 2) the input tape advanced by one word (computed by recognise_move). The procedture recognise_move, is responsible for advancing the input tape if a transition to the new node is compatible with the word on the front of the tape. The procedure returns the tape advanced by one word, or None if a transition is not valid.

The code for the second FSM is:

from popmatches import mexp, matches
import random
from pprint import pprint

A__ = mexp("==")

class FSTN(object):

    output = []

    def __init__(self, name, arcs, abbreviations, tape):
        self.name = name
        self.arcs = arcs
        self.network = arcs
        self.abbreviations = abbreviations
        self.tape = tape
        self.finished = False

    def exit_from_fstn(self):
        raise Exception('exiting from FSM')

    def initial_nodes(self):
        global v, A__
        matches(self.network, [A__, ['Initial', mexp('??v')], A__])
        return v

    def final_nodes(self):
        global v, A__
        matches(self.network, [A__, ['Final', mexp('??v')], A__])
        return v

    def valid_move(self, label, s):
        global A__
        return matches(self.abbreviations, [A__, [label, 'abbreviates', A__, s, A__], A__])

    def get_transitions(self, node):
        global newnode, label
        pattern = ['From', node, 'to', mexp('?newnode'), 'by', mexp('?label')]
        return [(newnode, label) for entry in self.network if matches(entry, pattern)]

    def recognise_move(self, label, tape):
        if tape is not [] and self.valid_move(label, tape[0]):
            self.output.append((label, tape[0]))
            return tape[1:]
        elif label == '#':
            return tape
        return None

    def recognise_next(self, node, tape):
        if tape == [] and node in self.final_nodes():
            self.finished = True
            self.exit_from_fstn()
        elif tape is None:
            return

        for newnode, label  in self.get_transitions(node):
            self.recognise_next(newnode, self.recognise_move(label, tape))

    def recognise(self):
        try:
            for node in self.initial_nodes():
                self.recognise_next(node, self.tape)
        except:
            pass
        self.pr()

    def pr(self):
        if self.finished:
            pprint(self.output)
        else:
            print("FSM did not complete!")


if __name__ == '__main__':

    arcs = [['Initial', 1],
            ['Final', 9],
            ['From', 1, 'to', 3, 'by', 'NP'],
            ['From', 1, 'to', 2, 'by', 'DET'],
            ['From', 2, 'to', 3, 'by', 'N'],
            ['From', 3, 'to', 4, 'by', 'BV'],
            ['From', 4, 'to', 5, 'by', 'ADV'],
            ['From', 4, 'to', 5, 'by', '#'],
            ['From', 5, 'to', 6, 'by', 'DET'],
            ['From', 5, 'to', 7, 'by', 'DET'],
            ['From', 5, 'to', 8, 'by', '#'],
            ['From', 6, 'to', 6, 'by', 'MOD'],
            ['From', 6, 'to', 7, 'by', 'ADJ'],
            ['From', 7, 'to', 9, 'by', 'N'],
            ['From', 8, 'to', 8, 'by', 'MOD'],
            ['From', 8, 'to', 9, 'by', 'ADJ'],
            ['From', 9, 'to', 4, 'by', 'CNJ'],
            ['From', 9, 'to', 1, 'by', 'CNJ']]

    abbreviations = [['NP', 'abbreviates', 'kim', 'sany', 'lee'],
                     ['DET', 'abbreviates', 'a', 'the', 'her'],
                     ['N', 'abbreviates', 'consumer', 'man', 'woman'],
                     ['BV', 'abbreviates', 'is', 'was'],
                     ['CNJ', 'abbreviates', 'and', 'or'],
                     ['ADJ', 'abbreviates', 'happy', 'stupid'],
                     ['MOD', 'abbreviates', 'very'],
                     ['ADV', 'abbreviates', 'often', 'always', 'sometimes']]

    tape = 'kim was a consumer and lee was stupid'.split()

    myfstn = FSTN('english_1', arcs, abbreviations, tape)
    myfstn.recognise()

Lisp was conceived of as a language for symbolic computation and became the main “AI” language, especially for expert systems, NLP and other types of Pattern Directed Inference Systems. AI, at the time when the first LISP was implemented (John McCarthy 1960), was very different from the AI that is in vogue today which is strongly numerical.

Because LISP was designed for symbolic computation it has a rich set of language features. For instance, LISP doesn’t differentiate between code and data. Just as in some modern languages where everything is an object, in LISP, everything is a list. This means that function calls, function definitions and whole programs are represented as lists and can be manipulated like data. In addition, LISP allows you to extend the language in a way that makes it easier to write code for solving real world problems. Eventually, LISP evolved into a language well suited to building applications requiring a mix of both symbolic and numeric AI but was never accepted as a main stream language.

Symbolic AI, relies heavily on pattern matching and the rich features of the LISP language. Numeric AI, is essentially linear algebra and requires sound scientific and mathematical libraries. Good numerical libraries are available today for many languages but pattern matching and the necessary language features are not. This means that not all the techniques used during the early days of AI are readily accessible today.

These days, LISP has lost ground to a number of programming languages such as R, MATLAB, and Python. Out of these languages, Python is rising in popularity because it comes with very strong numerical libraries to support modern approaches to AI even though it lacks the language features of LISP. Python is also easy to learn and ideal for building web, business and scientific applications. Not to forget multi-core computing.

Multi-language Programming Environments – 1980s

The need to combine both symbolic and numeric algorithms lead to the creation of POPLOG, a multi-language programming environment. POPLOP was used heavily during the ALVEY program which was the UK’s response to the Japanese 5th Generation Project. POPLOG allowed applications to be built with multiple programming languages. Some of the languages supported where:

• POP-11
• Common LISP
• PROLOG
• C
• Fortran
• Pascal

The POPLOG environment essentially made it easy to call functions written in any of the above languages from within a single program. This made it easy to build applications without having to rewrite too much code.

Today

While LISP and it’s modern day derivatives survive, there are no environments like POPLOG that make it easy to do mixed language programming and therefore exploit the code bases of all the above languages and their unique features. Such an environment would be advantageous and an excellent platform for building intelligent systems that can utilize the full breadth of programming knowledge amassed over the last half a century.

This presentation describes the hardware and software environment for experimenting with the Parallel Rendering of Webpages.

The hardware consists of a cluster of Single Board Computers (SBCs) which run a number of application servers that previously ran in the cloud (RHC and Pythonanywhere). Each application server was associated with a single application which was either accessible online or via a mobile device.

The cluster described here has 50 cores plus 16 Epiphany cores. A web server runs on each of the 50 cores. Two servers, running on the Parallella, have access to the 16 Epiphany cores;

The software for rendering webpages, consists of a single library – the Parallel Template Library. This library maps the variable names within a jinja2 template to a method implemented by a server running on one of the 50 cores. The method is evaluated remotely and the result assigned to the variable when the template is rendered.

This series of blog posts describes the Parrallella-LISP source code and how to build applications requiring a combination of symbolic and numeric computation. To this end, two example applications will also be blogged about. The first application represents the meaning of documents with vector semantics and the second, extracts contours from binary images.

If you want to understand the examples or modify the source in any way then you need to know how to compile the LISP interpreter to run on the Parallella board and a little bit about the runtime environment.

Compiling and running Parallella LISP

There are two versions of Parallella LISP. One with Garbage Collection (GC) and one without. The one with GC is in the directory plisp-gc and the version without in the directory plisp. All versions were compiled and tested with esdk.2015.1. The source code consists of host and device code:

• host code: host_main.c, libhost.c – compiles to fl-host.elf
• device code: device_main.c, libdevice.c, libplisp.c – compiles to fl-device.srec

The host code loads the LISP interpreter (device code) contained in fl-device.srec onto the board and prints out the results. To build LISP for the parallella in either of the above mentioned directories type:

make build

or

./build.sh

To run LISP type:

make run

or

./run.sh

The shell script plisp, executes the code contained in a single file on each core:

./plisp prog.lisp

If you would like to build lisp to run on Linux or the host then type:

make

This produces two identical executables which you can run by typing:

./fl

or

./onefile

Both onefile and fl are callable with a filename. If no filename is given then testfuncs.lisp is interpreted. For instance, to interpret the code that will run on core 3 type:

./fl code/p2.lisp

Apart from adding a compiler directive to data definitions, writing code for the Parallella is pretty much the same as for any other machine. For instance declare structures as follows:

struct __attribute__((aligned(8))) string {
    string *next;
    char s[STRINGMAX];
};

Initializing shared memory and loading the code for each core

host_main.c contains the procedure calls for initializing memory, loading the LISP interpreter onto the device and printing out the results. For a change, the main procedure includes a few comments!

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    int rows, cols, result;
    char *code, filename[64];
    e_platform_t platform;
    e_epiphany_t dev;
    e_mem_t emem;
    //
    // init the device and get platform data
    //
    if (E_OK != e_init(NULL)) {
        fprintf(stderr, "\nERROR: epiphany initialization failed!\n\n");
        exit(1);
    }
    if (E_OK != e_reset_system() ) {
        fprintf(stderr, "\nWARNING: epiphany system rest failed!\n\n");
    }
    fprintf(stderr, "Getting platform info\n");
    if ( E_OK != e_get_platform_info(&platform) ) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to get Epiphany platform info\n");
        exit(1);
    }
    fprintf(stderr, "Platform version: %s, HAL version 0x%08x\n",
            platform.version, platform.hal_ver);
    rows = platform.rows;
    cols = platform.cols;
    //
    // Initialize device memory
    //
    memory = init_ememory(argc, argv, rows, cols);
    //
    // open the device
    //
    if (E_OK != e_open(&dev, 0, 0, rows, cols)) {
        fprintf(stderr, "\nERROR: Can't establish connection to Epiphany device!\n\n");
        exit(1);
    }
    //
    // Write the ememory data structure to device memory
    //
    write_ememory(&emem, memory);
    //
    // Load the code
    //
    clear_done_flags(&dev, rows, cols);
    result = e_load_group("./fl-device.srec", &dev, 0, 0, rows, cols, E_TRUE);
    if (result == E_ERR) {
        printf("Error loading Epiphany program.\n");
        exit(1);
    }
    //
    // Poll the device waiting for all cores to finish
    //
    poll_device(&dev, rows, cols);
    //
    // Process the results of device processing
    //
    process_ememory(&emem, memory, rows, cols);
    //
    // Close and finalize the device
    //
    if (e_close(&dev)) {
        printf( "\nERROR: Can't close connection to Epiphany device!\n\n");
        exit(1);
    }
    if (e_free(&emem)) {
        printf( "\nERROR: Can't release Epiphany DRAM!\n\n");
        exit(1);
    }
    e_finalize();
}

Prior to loading the interpreter, the data structures needed to run LISP on each core are loaded into shared memory. The main data type for constructing linked lists is “structure node” which when in use will be one of the types enumerated in the file structures.h:

enum ltype {PAIR, LIST, SYM, SUBR, FSUBR, LAMBDA, INT, NIL, TEE, ENV, FREE};

struct node {
    node *next;
    unsigned char type;
    unsigned char marked;
    union {
        namestr *name;
        struct {
            node *car;
            node *cdr;
        };
        struct {
            namestr *fname;
            node *(*fn)(node *, node *);
        };
        struct {
            node *args;
            node *body;
        };
        long long i;
        double r;
        struct {
            node *top;
            node *bindings;
        };
    };
};

An array of this structure is defined in advance and stored with the other data needed by the interpreter in “structure edata”:

struct edata {
    int id;
    int ememory_size;
    int node_size;
    int nnodes;
    int nodemem;
    int nnames;
    int namemem;
    int nstrings;
    int stringmem;
    int finished;
    char message[1024];
    char code[BANKSIZE];
    node *NULLPTR;
    node *history;
    node *freelist;
    namestr *namefreelist;
    string *stringfreelist;
    string freeStringArray[FREESTRING];
    node freeNodeArray[FREEOBJECT];
    namestr freeNameArray[FREENAME];
};

In addition to freeNodeArray, two other arrays are defined called freeNameArray and freeStringArray. These arrays will eventually be converted to lists (the freelists) and form the basis for memory allocation.

The edata structure for each core is accessible via structure ememory. As far as I understand, structure ememory can take up to 16M of shared memory starting at 0x8f000000. However, this memory will become corrupted by ‘C’ functions that call malloc internally.

struct ememory {
    edata data[NCORES];
};

Shared memory is initialised by function init_ememory located in libhost.c. This procedure allocates space for the ememory data structure, loads the code for each core into the string, memory->data[coreID].code, and then initialises the freelists. The code directory contains the LISP program to run on each core – p0.lisp to p15.lisp. If the plisp shell command is passed a filename then this file is interpreted on each core instead.

ememory *init_ememory(int argc, char *argv[], int rows, int cols) {
    char *code, filename[128];
    ememory *memory = (ememory *)calloc(1, sizeof(ememory));
    if (!memory) {
        fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", "out of memory in init_ememory");
        exit(-1);
    }
    lmem = (char *)memory;
    if (argc == 2) {
        code = readFile(argv[1]);
    }
    for (int i=0; i data[i].code, "%s", code);
            free(code);
        } else {
            sprintf(memory->data[i].code, "%s", code);
        }
    }
    if (argc == 2) {
        free(code);
    }
    createFreelist(memory, rows, cols);
    createStringFreelist(memory, rows, cols);
    createNameFreelist(memory, rows, cols);
    return memory;
}

Initializing the freelists

The freelists are created from the arrays freeNodeArray, freeNameArray and freeStringArray. For example, the procedure createFreelist, will make freeNodeArray[n].next point to freeNodeArray[n+1] thus creating a linked list. The procedure device_ptr, referenced below, converts a host pointer to a device pointer.

//
// create the freelist for node allocation on the device
//
void createFreelist(ememory *memory, int rows, int cols) {
    int id, k;
    node *freeNodeArray;
    char *base = (char *)memory;
    for (int i=0; i<rows; i++) {
        for (int j=0; j<cols; j++) {
            id = (cols * i) + j;
            freeNodeArray = memory->data[id].freeNodeArray;
            for (k = 0; k < FREEOBJECT - 1; k++) {
                char *ptr = (char *)&freeNodeArray[k + 1];
                freeNodeArray[k].next = (node *)device_ptr(base, ptr);
                freeNodeArray[k].type = FREE;
            }
            freeNodeArray[FREEOBJECT - 1].type = FREE;
            freeNodeArray[FREEOBJECT - 1].next = NULL;
            char *ptr = (char *)memory->data[id].freeNodeArray;
            memory->data[id].freelist = (node *)device_ptr(base, ptr);
        }
    }
}

Accessing shared memory on each core

The function coreInit in libdevice.c, initialises the pointers to the freelists:

#define BUF_ADDRESS 0x8f000000

char *coreInit(int argc, char *argv[], int cid) {
    id = cid;
    memory = (ememory *)(BUF_ADDRESS);
    stringfreelist = &memory->data[id].freeStringArray[0];
    freelist = &memory->data[id].freeNodeArray[0];
    namefreelist = &memory->data[id].freeNameArray[0];
    return &memory->data[id].code[0];
}

Allocating items from each of the freelists is quite straight forward. For instance, the procedure newnode shown below, allocates nodes of a particular type. Lists are built by linking together nodes created by this procedure.

node *omalloc(void) {
    if (freelist isnt NULL) {
        return (node *)popFree((stack **)(&freelist));
    }
    setflag("ERROR in omalloc: NULL freelist");
    return NULL;
}

node *node_malloc() {
    nodemem += sizeof(node);
    nnodes += 1;
    return (node *)omalloc();
}

void node_free(node *n) {
    nodemem -= sizeof(node);
    nnodes -= 1;
    n->type = FREE;
    pushFree((stack *)n, (stack **)(&freelist));
}

node *newnode(enum ltype type) {
    node *n;
    n = (node *) node_malloc();
    n->type = type;
    n->marked = 0;
    next(n) = allocated;
    allocated = n;
    return n;
}

The freelists are treated as stacks and free items popped from a freelist when needed. During GC, unused items are popped back onto the appropriate freelist. A list (named allocated) is kept of all the currently allocated nodes for use during GC.

struct stack {
    void *next;
};

void pushFree(stack *ptr, stack **stk) {
    ptr->next = *stk;
    *stk = ptr;
}

stack *popFree(stack **stk) {
    if (*stk is NULL) {
        return NULL;
    }
    stack *item = *stk;
    *stk = (*stk)->next;
    item->next = NULL;
    return item;
}

The REPL and global variables (libplisp.c)

When the REPL starts running the first function called is init_lisp which initialises the main global variables – NULLPTR, nil, tee and the history list. The NULLPTR terminates lists and nil and tee are important for many list processing functions.

void init_lisp(void);

After initializing global variables, the LISP code in the input string is interpreted and the results of processing added to the history list along with each input expression. Provided init_lisp is called, the REPL can be redefined in any way you like. In future blog posts the REPL is redefined to demonstrate the procedures contained in libplisp.c.

void REPL(char *input) {
    node *top_env = init_lisp(), *val, *l;
    mark_expr(globals, PERMANENT);
    mark_expr(NULLPTR, PERMANENT);
    l = parse_string(&input);
    mark_expr(l, PERMANENT);
    forlist (sexp in l) {
        pr(car(sexp));
        clear_bindings(top_env);
        val = eval(car(sexp), top_env);
        pr(val);
        mark_expr(globals, PERMANENT);
        mark_expr(history, PERMANENT);
        free_unmarked(&allocated);
    }
}

The REPL is called by function main located in device_main.c.

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    unsigned int row, col, id;
    char *input;
    //
    // get the core id
    //
    id = coreID(&row, &col);
    //
    // Initialize the core
    //
    input = coreInit(argc, argv, id);
    //
    // Read, Eval and Print
    //
    REPL(input);
    //
    // Print stats and exit
    //
    setflag("Exited normally!");
    return 0;
}

Printing out the history list on the host (libhost.c)

When processing has finished, the history list for each core is printed out after uploading the ememory structure from the device. The code to handle lists is pretty much the same except that procedures are needed for converting between host and device pointers so that structure elements can be accessed. The values of important global variables are also printed out such as the size of the ememory data structure and the number of nodes allocated. All of this happens in function process_ememory.

void process_ememory(e_mem_t *emem, ememory *memory, int rows, int cols) {
    e_read(emem, 0, 0, 0x0, memory, sizeof(ememory));
    for (int i=0; i<rows; i++) {
        for (int j=0; jdata[id].NULLPTR));
            history = dr_node(memory->data[id].history);
            for (node *ptr = history; ptr != NULLPTR; ptr = cdr(ptr)) {
                print(car(ptr));
                printf("\n\n");
            }
            prGlobals(memory, id);
        }
    }
}

Summary

This post was about creating the runtime environment for the LISP interpreter to run on each core. The next post will be about the ‘C’ functions for reading, parsing and manipulating lists.

So how many primitives does one need to implement a turing complete version of LISP. Well, according to John McCathy’s original paper just 10:

1. (quote expr) – expr
2. (car l) – the head of the list – (car (quote (1 2 3))) = 1
3. (cdr l) – the tail of the list – (cdr (quote (1 2 3))) = (2 3)
4. (cons expr1 expr2) – cons constructs lists and is the inverse of car and cdr – (cons (quote a) (quote (b c))) = (a b c)
5. (equal symbol1 symbol2) – T if symbol1 = symbol2 – (equal (car (quote (a b))) (quote a)) = true (t)
6. (atom expr) – T if expr is a symbol (atom)
7. (cond (predicate_1 expr_1) … (predicate_n expr_n)) – the value of expr_i when predicate_i is true – (cond ((atom (quote a)) (quote b)) ((quote t) (quote c))) = b.
8. (label x 1) – 1 is assigned to x
9. (label ff (lambda (x y) (cons (car x) y))) – defines the function ff – (ff ‘(a b) (cdr ‘(c d))) = (a d)
10. (eval expr env) – Evaluate an expression within the current environment

The additional primitives added by me are:

1. nilp
2. append
3. concat
4. loop
5. block
6. progn
7. if
8. define
9. ldefine
10. print
11. terpri
12. <
13. >
14. +
15. –
16. /
17. *
18. =

The extra functions are for printing, looping, block processing, list processing and integer arithmetic.

The code isn’t documented because I intend to do that with a series of blog posts over the next few months or so. This being the first.

Because I was concentrating on writing the code I didn’t really check that everything works as expected. I’ll be doing this over the next few months as I add error checking. The code and examples I’ve released work OK so only minor changes are probably needed, which is good because I’m running out of space!

POPLOG is an integrated toolkit providing a highly extendable collection of languages and tools suitable for absolute beginners, advanced researchers and system programmers. POPLOG’s core language is POP-11, which was developed by Robin Popplestone,  a pioneer in the fields of machine intelligence and robotics. Thus, when the British government created the Alvey Programme as a reaction to the Japanese Fifth generation computer project, POPLOG became a core component of many projects. You can experience this part of computing history for yourself by downloading a SliTaz LiveCD containing POPLOG or a VMware Virtual Appliance.

POPLOG is still ahead of many modern development environments in terms of the programming constructs available. Three things that set it apart are the built in pattern matcher, powerful screen editor VED and the ability to do mixed language programming. There is also an extensive help and documentation system. Currently POPLOG supports POP11, PROLOG, LISP and ML. Initial development of the system was done at the University of Sussex during the 80s. The open source version was originally made available by the University of Birmingham.

POPLOG is suitable for highly complex domains requiring complex decision rules and data structures. ISL, the company who marketed POPLOG before it was released as open source, was involved with the following application areas:

• Avionics simulation (Avonicom)
• Remote sensing / satellite image interpretation (NERC)
• Traffic information management (TRRL)
• Helical spring design (Smiths Industries)
• Intelligent program prover (Program Validation)
• ICAD/ICAM (GEC Electrical Projects)
• System design for testability (RAF)
• Air traffic control (CAA)
• Image analysis (BP)
• Real-time process monitoring/control (COGSYS)
• Currency prediction (HP/BZW (/Logica))
• Image processing tools (Reading University)

My favourite application areas are computational vision and computational linguistics. For computational vision, there is David Young’s library and for computationl linguistics the book Natural Language Processing by Gazdar, & Mellish. There are in fact three versions of the book. One for each of the languages POP11, PROLOG and LISP.

To get started either boot up the virtual machine or liveCD. Then click on the POPLOG icon to start the system. Once started you can then type in the commands found in “An introduction to POP-11” and Jocelyn Ireson-Paine’s article or read the “The POPLOG Primer“.

You might also like to try out the demo programs located in the home directory. Open up a terminal and cd into demos. The following demos are available:

• rc_blocks
• simagent
• eliza
• speaking eliza

Some twenty years ago I set up a company to configure parallel computers for image processing applications. Unfortunately, demand wasn’t very high because of the poor price/performance ratio and the advent of RISC processors which surpassed it. I was therefore very excited when about a year ago Adapteva created a kickstarter project to offer affordable parallel computing to everyone. While I didn’t sign up for the kickstarter project I did order a parallella board through their shop. The board took quite sometime to arrive but is now running quite happily on my desk.

The Parallella Computer

The Parallella is a credit card sized computer that includes a dual-core ARM A9 CPU, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and a 16 or 64-core Epiphany coprocessor. The Parallella is an extremely versatile platform that can be used as a standalone computer, an embedded device, or a component in a supercomputer architecture.

The Epiphany Coprocessor

The Epiphany multicore coprocessor is a scalable shared memory architecture, featuring up to 4,096 processors on a single chip connected through a high-bandwidth on-chip network. Each Epiphany processor core includes:

• a tiny high performance floating point RISC designed specifically for multicore processing;
• a high bandwidth local memory system;
• an extensive set of built in hardware features for multicore communication.

The Epiphany coprocessor is ANSI-C and OpenCL programmable and works in cooperation with standard microprocessors to provide an unprecedented level of real-time processing performance and power consumption. This makes the device ideal for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Applications

The list of possible applications is quite large and included below.

Consumer:

• Smart-phones and tablet app acceleration
• High end audio
• Computational photography
• Speech Recognition
• Face detection/recognition

Computing Infrastructure:

• Super Computers
• Big Data Analytics
• Software Defined Networking
• Data-center Appliances
• High Frequency Trading

Mil/Aero:

• Radar/Sonar
• Extremely Large Sensor Imaging
• Hyperspectral Imaging
• Communication Jamming
• Military Radios
• Munitions/Guidance

Medical:

• Ultrasound
• CT

Communication:

• Communication test-bed
• Software defined radio
• Adaptive Pre-distortion

Industrial/Instrumentation:

• Machine Vision
• Autonomous Robots/Navigation
• Automotive Safety
• High Speed Data Acquisition/Generation

Other:

• Compression
• Security Cameras
• Video Transcoding

Related articles

• Adapteva Ships Parallella Cards to Kickstarter Backers
• Carmel Ventures and Ericsson Invest in Adapteva
• Supercomputing on the cheap with Parallella
• My Name is Brian and I Build Supercomputers in My Spare Time
• The Low-Level COPRTHR API for Parallella

1. back
2. best
3. better
4. bitter
5. broadside
6. clean
7. clear
8. close
9. cod
10. collect
11. counter
12. crisscross
13. damn
14. double
15. down
16. even
17. express
18. fair
19. fast
20. fine
21. firm
22. flush
23. forward
24. free
25. full
26. home
27. jolly
28. last
29. light
30. low
31. o.k.
32. okay
33. out
34. pat
35. plain
36. plumb
37. plump
38. pop
39. prompt
40. quiet
41. right
42. rough
43. round
44. second
45. short
46. solo
47. square
48. steady
49. still
50. tiptoe
51. true
52. upstage
53. well
54. wholesale
55. worst
56. wrong
57. zigzag

BACK

NOUN

• the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine; “his back was nicely tanned”
• the side that goes last or is not normally seen; “he wrote the date on the back of the photograph”
• the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer; “he stood at the back of the stage”; “it was hidden in the rear of the store”
• (football) a person who plays in the backfield
• the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord; “the fall broke his back”
• the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book; “the book had a leather binding”
• the part of a garment that covers the back of your body; “they pinned a `kick me’ sign on his back”
• a support that you can lean against while sitting; “the back of the dental chair was adjustable”
• (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

VERB

• be behind; approve of; “He plumped for the Labor Party”; “I backed Kennedy in 1960”
• travel backward; “back into the driveway”; “The car backed up and hit the tree”
• give support or one’s approval to; “I’ll second that motion”; “I can’t back this plan”; “endorse a new project”
• cause to travel backward; “back the car into the parking spot”
• support financial backing for; “back this enterprise”
• be in back of; “My garage backs their yard”
• place a bet on; “Which horse are you backing?”; “I’m betting on the new horse”
• shift to a counterclockwise direction; “the wind backed”
• establish as valid or genuine; “Can you back up your claims?”
• strengthen by providing with a back or backing

ADJECTIVE

• related to or located at the back; “the back yard”; “the back entrance”
• located at or near the back of an animal; “back (or hind) legs”; “the hinder part of a carcass”
• of an earlier date; “back issues of the magazine”

ADVERB

• in or to or toward a former location; “she went back to her parents’ house”
• at or to or toward the back or rear; “he moved back”; “tripped when he stepped backward”; “she looked rearward out the window of the car”
• in or to or toward an original condition; “he went back to sleep”
• in or to or toward a past time; “set the clocks back an hour”; “never look back”; “lovers of the past looking fondly backward”
• in reply; “he wrote back three days later”
• in repayment or retaliation; “we paid back everything we had borrowed”; “he hit me and I hit him back”; “I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher”

BEST

NOUN

• the supreme effort one can make; “they did their best”
• the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others; “he could beat the best of them”
• Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)

VERB

• get the better of; “the goal was to best the competition”

ADJECTIVE

• (superlative of `good’) having the most positive qualities; “the best film of the year”; “the best solution”; “the best time for planting”; “wore his best suit”
• (comparative and superlative of `well’) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable; “it would be better to speak to him”; “the White House thought it best not to respond”

ADVERB

• in a most excellent way or manner; “he played best after a couple of martinis”
• it would be sensible; “you’d best stay at home”
• from a position of superiority or authority; “father knows best”; “I know better.”

BETTER

NOUN

• something superior in quality or condition or effect; “a change for the better”
• someone who bets
• a superior person having claim to precedence; “the common man has been kept in his place by his betters”
• the superior one of two alternatives; “chose the better of the two”

VERB

• surpass in excellence; “She bettered her own record”; “break a record”
• to make better; “The editor improved the manuscript with his changes”
• get better; “The weather improved toward evening”

ADJECTIVE

• (comparative of `good’) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din”; “a better coat”; “a better type of car”; “a suit with a better fit”; “a better chance of success”; “produced a better mousetrap”; “she’s better in math than in history”
• (comparative of `good’) changed for the better in health or fitness; “her health is better now”; “I feel better”
• (comparative and superlative of `well’) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable; “it would be better to speak to him”; “the White House thought it best not to respond”
• more than half; “argued for the better part of an hour”

ADVERB

• comparative of `well’; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.; “She had never sung better”; “a deed better left undone”; “better suited to the job”
• from a position of superiority or authority; “father knows best”; “I know better.”

BITTER

NOUN

• English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)
• the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth
• the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste

VERB

• make bitter

ADJECTIVE

• marked by strong resentment or cynicism; “an acrimonious dispute”; “bitter about the divorce”
• very difficult to accept or bear; “the bitter truth”; “a bitter sorrow”
• harsh or corrosive in tone; “an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”; “a barrage of acid comments”; “her acrid remarks make her many enemies”; “bitter words”; “blistering criticism”; “caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics”; “a sulfurous denunciation”; “a vitriolic critique”
• expressive of severe grief or regret; “shed bitter tears”
• proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity; “a bitter struggle”; “bitter enemies”
• causing a sharp and acrid taste experience;”quinine is bitter”
• causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold; “bitter cold”; “a biting wind”

ADVERB

• extremely and sharply; “it was bitterly cold”; “bitter cold”

BROADSIDE

NOUN

• an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution; “he mailed the circular to all subscribers”
• a speech of violent denunciation
• all of the armament that is fired from one side of a warship
• the whole side of a vessel from stem to stern; “the ship was broadside to the dock”
• the simultaneous firing of all the armament on one side of a warship

VERB

• collide with the broad side of; “her car broad-sided mine”

ADJECTIVE

• toward a full side; “a broadside attack”

ADVERB

• with a side facing an object; “the train hit the truck broadside”; “the wave caught the canoe broadside and capsized it”

CLEAN

NOUN

• a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead

VERB

• make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; “Clean the stove!”; “The dentist cleaned my teeth”
• remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits; “Clean the turkey”
• clean and tidy up the house; “She housecleans every week”
• clean one’s body or parts thereof, as by washing; “clean up before you see your grandparents”; “clean your fingernails before dinner”
• be cleanable; “This stove cleans easily”
• deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.; “The other players cleaned him completely”
• remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely; “The boys cleaned the sandwich platters”; “The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm”
• remove while making clean; “Clean the spots off the rug”
• remove unwanted substances from
• remove shells or husks from; “clean grain before milling it”

ADJECTIVE

• free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits; “children with clean shining faces”; “clean white shirts”; “clean dishes”; “a spotlessly clean house”; “cats are clean animals”
• free of restrictions or qualifications; “a clean bill of health”; “a clear winner”
• (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; “efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings”; “clear laughter like a waterfall”; “clear reds and blues”; “a light lilting voice like a silver bell”
• free from impurities; “clean water”; “fresh air”
• (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense; “a clean voting record”; “a clean driver’s license”
• ritually clean or pure
• not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination; “a clean fuel”; “cleaner and more efficient engines”; “the tactical bomb is reasonably clean”
• (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers; “good clean fun”; “a clean joke”
• free from sepsis or infection; “a clean (or uninfected) wound”
• morally pure; “led a clean life”
• (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; “fair copy”; “a clean manuscript”
• (of a surface) not written or printed on; “blank pages”; “fill in the blank spaces”; “a clean page”; “wide white margins”
• exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play; “a clean fight”; “a sporting solution of the disagreement”; “sportsmanlike conduct”
• without difficulties or problems; “a clean test flight”
• thorough and without qualification; “a clean getaway”; “a clean sweep”; “a clean break”
• not carrying concealed weapons
• free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed; “he landed a clean left on his opponent’s cheek”; “a clean throw”; “the neat exactness of the surgeon’s knife”
• free of drugs; “after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years”

ADVERB

• completely; used as intensifiers; “clean forgot the appointment”; “I’m plumb (or plum) tuckered out”
• in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; “they played fairly”

CLEAR

NOUN

• the state of being free of suspicion; “investigation showed that he was in the clear”
• a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water; “finally broke out of the forest into the open”

VERB

• rid of obstructions; “Clear your desk”
• make a way or path by removing objects; “Clear a path through the dense forest”
• become clear; “The sky cleared after the storm”
• grant authorization or clearance for; “Clear the manuscript for publication”; “The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography”
• remove; “clear the leaves from the lawn”; “Clear snow from the road”
• go unchallenged; be approved; “The bill cleared the House”
• be debited and credited to the proper bank accounts; “The check will clear within 2 business days”
• go away or disappear; “The fog cleared in the afternoon”
• pass by, over, or under without making contact; “the balloon cleared the tree tops”
• make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear; “Could you clarify these remarks?”; “Clear up the question of who is at fault”
• free from payment of customs duties, as of a shipment; “Clear the ship and let it dock”
• clear from impurities, blemishes, pollution, etc.; “clear the water before it can be drunk”
• yield as a net profit; “This sale netted me $1 million”
• make as a net profit; “The company cleared $1 million”
• earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages; “How much do you make a month in your new job?”; “She earns a lot in her new job”; “this merger brought in lots of money”; “He clears $5,000 each month”
• sell; “We cleared a lot of the old model cars”
• pass an inspection or receive authorization; “clear customs”
• pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; “The suspect was cleared of the murder charges”
• settle, as of a debt; “clear a debt”; “solve an old debt”
• make clear, bright, light, or translucent; “The water had to be cleared through filtering”
• rid of instructions or data; “clear a memory buffer”
• remove (people) from a building; “clear the patrons from the theater after the bomb threat”
• remove the occupants of; “Clear the building”
• free (the throat) by making a rasping sound; “Clear the throat”

ADJECTIVE

• readily apparent to the mind; “a clear and present danger”; “a clear explanation”; “a clear case of murder”; “a clear indication that she was angry”; “gave us a clear idea of human nature”
• free from confusion or doubt; “a complex problem requiring a clear head”; “not clear about what is expected of us”
• affording free passage or view; “a clear view”; “a clear path to victory”; “open waters”; “the open countryside”
• allowing light to pass through; “clear water”; “clear plastic bags”; “clear glass”; “the air is clear and clean”
• free from contact or proximity or connection; “we were clear of the danger”; “the ship was clear of the reef”
• characterized by freedom from troubling thoughts (especially guilt); “a clear conscience”; “regarded her questioner with clear untroubled eyes”
• (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; “efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings”; “clear laughter like a waterfall”; “clear reds and blues”; “a light lilting voice like a silver bell”
• (especially of a title) free from any encumbrance or limitation that presents a question of fact or law; “I have clear title to this property”
• clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible; “as clear as a whistle”; “clear footprints in the snow”; “the letter brought back a clear image of his grandfather”; “a spire clean-cut against the sky”; “a clear-cut pattern”
• accurately stated or described; “a set of well-defined values”
• free from clouds or mist or haze; “on a clear day”
• free of restrictions or qualifications; “a clean bill of health”; “a clear winner”
• free from flaw or blemish or impurity; “a clear perfect diamond”; “the clear complexion of a healthy young woman”
• clear of charges or deductions; “a clear profit”
• easily deciphered
• freed from any question of guilt; “is absolved from all blame”; “was now clear of the charge of cowardice”; “his official honor is vindicated”
• characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving; “clear mind”; “a percipient author”

ADVERB

• completely; “read the book clear to the end”; “slept clear through the night”; “there were open fields clear to the horizon”
• in an easily perceptible manner; “could be seen clearly under the microscope”; “She cried loud and clear”

CLOSE

NOUN

• the temporal end; the concluding time; “the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell”; “the market was up at the finish”; “they were playing better at the close of the season”
• the last section of a communication; “in conclusion I want to say…”
• the concluding part of any performance

VERB

• move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut; “Close the door”; “shut the window”
• become closed; “The windows closed with a loud bang”
• cease to operate or cause to cease operating; “The owners decided to move and to close the factory”; “My business closes every night at 8 P.M.”; “close up the shop”
• finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.); “The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board”
• come to a close; “The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin”
• complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement; “We closed on the house on Friday”; “They closed the deal on the building”
• be priced or listed when trading stops; “The stock market closed high this Friday”; “My new stocks closed at $59 last night”
• engage at close quarters; “close with the enemy”
• cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop
• change one’s body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact
• come together, as if in an embrace; “Her arms closed around her long lost relative”
• draw near; “The probe closed with the space station”
• bring together all the elements or parts of; “Management closed ranks”
• bar access to; “Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours”
• fill or stop up; “Can you close the cracks with caulking?”
• unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of; “close the circuit”; “close a wound”; “close a book”; “close up an umbrella”
• finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead; “The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning”

ADJECTIVE

• at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other; “close to noon”; “how close are we to town?”; “a close formation of ships”
• close in relevance or relationship; “a close family”; “we are all…in close sympathy with…”; “close kin”; “a close resemblance”
• not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances; “near neighbors”; “in the near future”; “they are near equals”; “his nearest approach to success”; “a very near thing”; “a near hit by the bomb”; “she was near tears”; “she was close to tears”; “had a close call”
• rigorously attentive; strict and thorough; “close supervision”; “paid close attention”; “a close study”; “kept a close watch on expenditures”
• marked by fidelity to an original; “a close translation”; “a faithful copy of the portrait”; “a faithful rendering of the observed facts”
• (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched; “a close contest”; “a close election”; “a tight game”
• crowded; “close quarters”
• lacking fresh air; “a dusty airless attic”; “the dreadfully close atmosphere”; “hot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke”
• of textiles; “a close weave”; “smooth percale with a very tight weave”
• strictly confined or guarded; “kept under close custody”
• confined to specific persons; “a close secret”
• fitting closely but comfortably; “a close fit”
• used of hair or haircuts; “a close military haircut”
• giving or spending with reluctance; “our cheeseparing administration”; “very close (or near) with his money”; “a penny-pinching miserly old man”
• inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information; “although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it”

ADVERB

• near in time or place or relationship; “as the wedding day drew near”; “stood near the door”; “don’t shoot until they come near”; “getting near to the true explanation”; “her mother is always near”; “The end draws nigh”; “the bullet didn’t come close”; “don’t get too close to the fire”
• in an attentive manner; “he remained close on his guard”

COD

NOUN

• the vessel that contains the seeds of a plant (not the seeds themselves)
• lean white flesh of important North Atlantic food fish; usually baked or poached
• major food fish of Arctic and cold-temperate waters

VERB

• fool or hoax; “The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone”; “You can’t fool me!”
• harass with persistent criticism or carping; “The children teased the new teacher”; “Don’t ride me so hard over my failure”; “His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie”

ADJECTIVE

• payable by the recipient on delivery; “a collect call”; “the letter came collect”; “a COD parcel”

ADVERB

• collecting the charges upon delivery; “mail a package C.O.D.”

COLLECT

NOUN

• a short prayer generally preceding the lesson in the Church of Rome or the Church of England

VERB

• get or gather together; “I am accumulating evidence for the man’s unfaithfulness to his wife”; “She is amassing a lot of data for her thesis”; “She rolled up a small fortune”
• call for and obtain payment of; “we collected over a million dollars in outstanding debts”; “he collected the rent”
• assemble or get together; “gather some stones”; “pull your thoughts together”
• get or bring together; “accumulate evidence”
• gather or collect; “You can get the results on Monday”; “She picked up the children at the day care center”; “They pick up our trash twice a week”

ADJECTIVE

• payable by the recipient on delivery; “a collect call”; “the letter came collect”; “a COD parcel”

ADVERB

• make a telephone call or mail a package so that the recipient pays; “call collect”; “send a package collect”

COUNTER

NOUN

• table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
• game equipment (as a piece of wood, plastic, or ivory) used for keeping a count or reserving a space in various card or board games
• a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens
• a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
• a person who counts things
• a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); “it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher”
• (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers)
• a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe or boot; “a counter may be used to stiffen the material around the heel and to give support to the foot”
• a return punch (especially by a boxer)

VERB

• speak in response; “He countered with some very persuasive arguments”
• act in advance of; deal with ahead of time

ADJECTIVE

• indicating opposition or resistance

ADVERB

• in the opposite direction; “run counter”

CRISSCROSS

NOUN

• a marking that consists of lines that cross each other

VERB

• cross in a pattern, often random
• mark with or consist of a pattern of crossed lines; “wrinkles crisscrossed her face”
• mark with a pattern of crossing lines; “crisscross the sheet of paper”

ADJECTIVE

• marked with crossing lines

ADVERB

• crossing one another in opposite directions

DAMN

NOUN

• something of little value; “his promise is not worth a damn”; “not worth one red cent”; “not worth shucks”

VERB

• wish harm upon; invoke evil upon; “The bad witch cursed the child”

ADJECTIVE

• used as expletives; “oh, damn (or goddamn)!”
• expletives used informally as intensifiers; “he’s a blasted idiot”; “it’s a blamed shame”; “a blame cold winter”; “not a blessed dime”; “I’ll be damned (or blessed or darned or goddamned) if I’ll do any such thing”; “he’s a damn (or goddam or goddamned) fool”; “a deuced idiot”; “an infernal nuisance”

ADVERB

• extremely; “you are bloody right”; “Why are you so all-fired aggressive?”

DOUBLE

NOUN

• a base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base; “he hit a double to deep centerfield”
• a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts; “his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable”
• someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor); “he could be Gingrich’s double”; “she’s the very image of her mother”
• a quantity that is twice as great as another; “36 is the double of 18”
• raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2; “I decided his double was a bluff”

VERB

• increase twofold; “The population doubled within 50 years”
• hit a two-base hit
• bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain; “He doubled and vomited violently”
• do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions; “She doubles as his wife and secretary”
• bridge: make a demand for (a card or suit)
• make or do or perform again; “He could never replicate his brilliant performance of the magic trick”

ADJECTIVE

• having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities; “a double (or dual) role for an actor”; “the office of a clergyman is twofold; public preaching and private influence”- R.W.Emerson; “every episode has its double and treble meaning”-Frederick Harrison
• consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs; “an egg with a double yolk”; “a double (binary) star”; “double doors”; “dual controls for pilot and copilot”; “duple (or double) time consists of two (or a multiple of two) beats to a measure”
• twice as great or many; “ate a double portion”; “the dose is doubled”; “a twofold increase”
• used of flowers having more than the usual number of petals in crowded or overlapping arrangements; “double chrysanthemums have many rows of petals and are usually spherical or hemispherical”
• used of homologous chromosomes associated in pairs in synapsis
• large enough for two; “a double bed”; “a double room”
• having two meanings with intent to deceive; “a sly double meaning”; “spoke with forked tongue”

ADVERB

• downward and forward; “he was bent double with pain”
• two together; “some people sleep better double”
• to double the degree; “she was doubly rewarded”; “his eyes were double bright”

DOWN

NOUN

• soft fine feathers
• (American football) a complete play to advance the football; “you have four downs to gain ten yards”
• English physician who first described Down’s syndrome (1828-1896)
• (usually plural) a rolling treeless highland with little soil
• fine soft dense hair (as the fine short hair of cattle or deer or the wool of sheep or the undercoat of certain dogs)

VERB

• drink down entirely; “He downed three martinis before dinner”; “She killed a bottle of brandy that night”; “They popped a few beer after work”
• eat immoderately; “Some people can down a pound of meat in the course of one meal”
• bring down or defeat (an opponent)
• shoot at and force to come down; “the enemy landed several of our aircraft”
• cause to come or go down; “The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect”; “The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet”
• improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; “refine one’s style of writing”

ADJECTIVE

• being or moving lower in position or less in some value; “lay face down”; “the moon is down”; “our team is down by a run”; “down by a pawn”; “the stock market is down today”
• extending or moving from a higher to a lower place; “the down staircase”; “the downward course of the stream”
• becoming progressively lower; “the down trend in the real estate market”
• being put out by a strikeout; “two down in the bottom of the ninth”
• understood perfectly; “had his algebra problems down”
• lower than previously; “the market is depressed”; “prices are down”
• shut; “the shades were down”
• not functioning (temporarily or permanently); “we can’t work because the computer is down”
• filled with melancholy and despondency ; “gloomy at the thought of what he had to face”; “gloomy predictions”; “a gloomy silence”; “took a grim view of the economy”; “the darkening mood”; “lonely and blue in a strange city”; “depressed by the loss of his job”; “a dispirited and resigned expression on her face”; “downcast after his defeat”; “feeling discouraged and downhearted”

ADVERB

• spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position; “don’t fall down”; “rode the lift up and skied down”; “prices plunged downward”
• away from a more central or a more northerly place; “was sent down to work at the regional office”; “worked down on the farm”; “came down for the wedding”; “flew down to Florida”
• paid in cash at time of purchase; “put ten dollars down on the necklace”
• from an earlier time; “the story was passed down from father to son”
• to a lower intensity; “he slowly phased down the light until the stage was completely black”
• in an inactive or inoperative state; “the factory went down during the strike”; “the computer went down again”

EVEN

NOUN

• the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall); “he enjoyed the evening light across the lake”

VERB

• make level or straight; “level the ground”
• become even or more even; “even out the surface”
• make even or more even

ADJECTIVE

• divisible by two
• equal in degree or extent or amount; or equally matched or balanced; “even amounts of butter and sugar”; “on even terms”; “it was a fifty-fifty (or even) split”; “had a fifty-fifty (or even) chance”; “an even fight”
• being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture; or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with); “an even application of varnish”; “an even floor”; “the road was not very even”; “the picture is even with the window”
• symmetrically arranged; “even features”; “regular features”; “a regular polygon”
• occurring at fixed intervals; “a regular beat”; “the even rhythm of his breathing”
• of the score in a contest; “the score is tied”

ADVERB

• used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected; “even an idiot knows that”; “declined even to consider the idea”; “I don’t have even a dollar!”
• in spite of; notwithstanding; “even when he is sick, he works”; “even with his head start she caught up with him”
• to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons; “looked sick and felt even worse”; “an even (or still) more interesting problem”; “still another problem must be solved”; “a yet sadder tale”
• to the full extent; “loyal even unto death”

EXPRESS

NOUN

• mail that is distributed by a rapid and efficient system
• public transport consisting of a fast train or bus that makes only a few scheduled stops; “he caught the express to New York”
• rapid transport of goods

VERB

• give expression to; “She showed her disappointment”
• articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; “She expressed her anger”; “He uttered a curse”
• serve as a means for expressing something; “The painting of Mary carries motherly love”; “His voice carried a lot of anger”
• indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.; “Can you express this distance in kilometers?”
• manifest the effects of (a gene or genetic trait); “Many of the laboratory animals express the trait”
• obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action; “Italians express coffee rather than filter it”
• send by rapid transport or special messenger service; “She expressed the letter to Florida”

ADJECTIVE

• not tacit or implied; “her express wish”
• without unnecessary stops; “an express train”; “an express shipment”

ADVERB

• by express; “please send the letter express”

FAIR

NOUN

• a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
• gathering of producers to promote business; “world fair”; “trade fair”; “book fair”
• a competitive exhibition of farm products; “she won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair”
• a sale of miscellany; often for charity; “the church bazaar”

VERB

• join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly

ADJECTIVE

• free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules; “a fair referee”; “fair deal”; “on a fair footing”; “a fair fight”; “by fair means or foul”
• not excessive or extreme; “a fairish income”; “reasonable prices”
• very pleasing to the eye; “my bonny lass”; “there’s a bonny bay beyond”; “a comely face”; “young fair maidens”
• (of a baseball) hit between the foul lines; “he hit a fair ball over the third base bag”
• lacking exceptional quality or ability; “a novel of average merit”; “only a fair performance of the sonata”; “in fair health”; “the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average”; “the performance was middling at best”
• attractively feminine; “the fair sex”
• (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; “fair copy”; “a clean manuscript”
• gained or earned without cheating or stealing; “an honest wage”; “an fair penny”
• free of clouds or rain; “today will be fair and warm”
• (used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored; “a fair complexion”;

ADVERB

• in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; “they played fairly”
• without favoring one party, in a fair evenhanded manner; “deal fairly with one another”

FAST

NOUN

• abstaining from food

VERB

• abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons; “Catholics sometimes fast during Lent”
• abstain from eating; “Before the medical exam, you must fast”

ADJECTIVE

• acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly; “fast film”; “on the fast track in school”; “set a fast pace”; “a fast car”
• (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time; “my watch is fast”
• at a rapid tempo; “the band played a fast fox trot”
• (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds; “a fast road”; “grass courts are faster than clay”
• resistant to destruction or fading; “fast colors”
• unrestrained by convention or morality; “Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society”; “deplorably dissipated and degraded”; “riotous living”; “fast women”
• hurried and brief; “paid a flying visit”; “took a flying glance at the book”; “a quick inspection”; “a fast visit”
• securely fixed in place; “the post was still firm after being hit by the car”
• unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause; “a firm ally”; “loyal supporters”; “the true-hearted soldier…of Tippecanoe”- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison; “fast friends”
• (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time; “a fast lens”

ADVERB

• quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form); “how fast can he get here?”; “ran as fast as he could”; “needs medical help fast”; “fast-running rivers”; “fast-breaking news”; “fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters”
• firmly or closely; “held fast to the rope”; “her foot was stuck fast”; “held tight”

FINE

NOUN

• money extracted as a penalty

VERB

• issue a ticket or a fine to as a penalty; “I was fined for parking on the wrong side of the street”; “Move your car or else you will be ticketed!”

ADJECTIVE

• being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition; “an all-right movie”; “the passengers were shaken up but are all right”; “is everything all right?”; “everything’s fine”; “things are okay”; “dinner and the movies had been fine”; “another minute I’d have been fine”
• minutely precise especially in differences in meaning; “a fine distinction”
• thin in thickness or diameter; “a fine film of oil”; “fine hairs”; “read the fine print”
• characterized by elegance or refinement or accomplishment; “fine wine”; “looking fine in her Easter suit”; “a fine gentleman”; “fine china and crystal”; “a fine violinist”; “the fine hand of a master”
• of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles; “wood with a fine grain”; “fine powdery snow”; “fine rain”; “batiste is a cotton fabric with a fine weave”; “covered with a fine film of dust”
• free from impurities; having a high or specified degree of purity; “gold 21 carats fine”

ADVERB

• an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence
• in a delicate manner; “finely shaped features”; “her fine drawn body”

FIRM

NOUN

• the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; “he worked for a brokerage house”

VERB

• become taut or tauter; “Your muscles will firm when you exercise regularly”; “the rope tautened”
• make taut or tauter; “tauten a rope”

ADJECTIVE

• marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable; “firm convictions”; “a firm mouth”; “steadfast resolve”; “a man of unbendable perseverence”; “unwavering loyalty”
• not soft or yielding to pressure; “a firm mattress”; “the snow was firm underfoot”; “solid ground”
• strong and sure; “a firm grasp”; “gave a strong pull on the rope”
• not subject to revision or change; “a firm contract”; “a firm offer”
• (of especially a person’s physical features) not shaking or trembling; “his voice was firm and confident”; “a firm step”
• not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall; “stocks are still firm”
• securely established; “holds a firm position as the country’s leading poet”
• possessing the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue; “firm muscles”
• securely fixed in place; “the post was still firm after being hit by the car”
• unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause; “a firm ally”; “loyal supporters”; “the true-hearted soldier…of Tippecanoe”- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison; “fast friends”

ADVERB

• with resolute determination; “we firmly believed it”; “you must stand firm”

FLUSH

NOUN

• the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
• a rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
• sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menopause and some mental disorders)
• a poker hand with all 5 cards in the same suit
• the swift release of a store of affective force; “they got a great bang out of it”; “what a boot!”; “he got a quick rush from injecting heroin”; “he does it for kicks”
• a sudden rapid flow (as of water); “he heard the flush of a toilet”; “there was a little gush of blood”; “she attacked him with an outpouring of words”
• sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)

VERB

• turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame; “The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by”
• flow freely; “The garbage flushed down the river”
• glow or cause to glow with warm color or light; “the sky flushed with rosy splendor”
• make level or straight; “level the ground”
• rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid; “flush the wound with antibiotics”; “purge the old gas tank”
• irrigate with water from a sluice; “sluice the earth”
• cause to flow or flood with or as if with water; “flush the meadows”

ADJECTIVE

• of a surface exactly even with an adjoining one, forming the same plane; “a door flush with the wall”; “the bottom of the window is flush with the floor”
• having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value; “an affluent banker”; “a speculator flush with cash”; “not merely rich but loaded”; “moneyed aristocrats”; “wealthy corporations”

ADVERB

• squarely or solidly; “hit him flush in the face”
• in the same plane; “set it flush with the top of the table”

FORWARD

NOUN

• the person who plays the position of forward in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey
• a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team

VERB

• send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit; “forward my mail”

ADJECTIVE

• at or near or directed toward the front; “the forward section of the aircraft”; “a forward plunge down the stairs”; “forward motion”
• used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty; “a forward child badly in need of discipline”
• of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle; “in a forward gear”
• moving forward

ADVERB

• at or to or toward the front; “he faced forward”; “step forward”; “she practiced sewing backward as well as frontward on her new sewing machine”; (`forrad’ and `forrard’ are dialectal variations)
• forward in time or order or degree; “from that time forth”; “from the sixth century onward”
• toward the future; forward in time; “I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring”; “I look forward to seeing you”
• in a forward direction; “go ahead”; “the train moved ahead slowly”; “the boat lurched ahead”; “moved onward into the forest”; “they went slowly forward in the mud”
• near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane; “the captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments”

FREE

NOUN

• people who are free; “the home of the free and the brave”

VERB

• grant freedom to; free from confinement
• relieve from; “Rid the house of pests”
• remove or force out from a position; “The dentist dislodged the piece of food that had been stuck under my gums”; “He finally could free the legs of the earthquake victim who was buried in the rubble”
• grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to; “She exempted me from the exam”
• make (information) available for publication; “release the list with the names of the prisoners”
• free from obligations or duties
• free or remove obstruction from; “free a path across the cluttered floor”
• let off the hook; “I absolve you from this responsibility”
• part with a possession or right; “I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest”; “resign a claim to the throne”
• release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition
• make (assets) available; “release the holdings in the dictator’s bank account”

ADJECTIVE

• able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint; “free enterprise”; “a free port”; “a free country”; “I have an hour free”; “free will”; “free of racism”; “feel free to stay as long as you wish”; “a free choice”
• unconstrained or not chemically bound in a molecule or not fixed and capable of relatively unrestricted motion; “free expansion”; “free oxygen”; “a free electron”
• costing nothing; “complimentary tickets”; “free admission”
• not occupied or in use; “a free locker”; “a free lane”
• not fixed in position; “the detached shutter fell on him”; “he pulled his arm free and ran”
• not held in servitude; “after the Civil War he was a free man”
• not taken up by scheduled activities; “a free hour between classes”; “spare time on my hands”
• completely wanting or lacking; “writing barren of insight”; “young recruits destitute of experience”; “innocent of literary merit”; “the sentence was devoid of meaning”
• not literal; “a loose interpretation of what she had been told”; “a free translation of the poem”

ADVERB

• without restraint; “cows in India are running loose”

FULL

NOUN

• the time when the Moon is fully illuminated; “the moon is at the full”

VERB

• beat for the purpose of cleaning and thickening; “full the cloth”
• make (a garment) fuller by pleating or gathering
• increase in phase; “the moon is waxing”

ADJECTIVE

• containing as much or as many as is possible or normal; “a full glass”; “a sky full of stars”; “a full life”; “the auditorium was full to overflowing”
• constituting the full quantity or extent; complete; “an entire town devastated by an earthquake”; “gave full attention”; “a total failure”
• complete in extent or degree and in every particular; “a full game”; “a total eclipse”; “a total disaster”
• filled to satisfaction with food or drink; “a full stomach”
• (of sound) having marked deepness and body; “full tones”; “a full voice”
• having the normally expected amount; “gives full measure”; “gives good measure”; “a good mile from here”
• being at a peak or culminating point; “broad daylight”; “full summer”
• having ample fabric; “the current taste for wide trousers”; “a full skirt”

ADVERB

• to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (`full’ in this sense is used as a combining form); “fully grown”; “he didn’t fully understand”; “knew full well”; “full-grown”; “full-fledged”

HOME

NOUN

• where you live at a particular time; “deliver the package to my home”; “he doesn’t have a home to go to”; “your place or mine?”
• housing that someone is living in; “he built a modest dwelling near the pond”; “they raise money to provide homes for the homeless”
• the country or state or city where you live; “Canadian tariffs enabled United States lumber companies to raise prices at home”; “his home is New Jersey”
• (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score; “he ruled that the runner failed to touch home”
• the place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
• place where something began and flourished; “the United States is the home of basketball”
• an environment offering affection and security; “home is where the heart is”; “he grew up in a good Christian home”; “there’s no place like home”
• a social unit living together; “he moved his family to Virginia”; “It was a good Christian household”; “I waited until the whole house was asleep”; “the teacher asked how many people made up his home”
• an institution where people are cared for; “a home for the elderly”

VERB

• provide with, or send to, a home
• return home accurately from a long distance; “homing pigeons”

ADJECTIVE

• used of your own ground; “a home game”
• relating to or being where one lives or where one’s roots are; “my home town”
• inside the country; “the British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior”; “the nation’s internal politics”

ADVERB

• at or to or in the direction of one’s home or family; “He stays home on weekends”; “after the game the children brought friends home for supper”; “I’ll be home tomorrow”; “came riding home in style”; “I hope you will come home for Christmas”; “I’ll take her home”; “don’t forget to write home”
• on or to the point aimed at; “the arrow struck home”
• to the fullest extent; to the heart; “drove the nail home”; “drove his point home”; “his comments hit home”

JOLLY

NOUN

• a happy party
• a yawl used by a ship’s sailors for general work

VERB

• be silly or tease one another; “After we relaxed, we just kidded around”

ADJECTIVE

• full of or showing high-spirited merriment; “when hearts were young and gay”; “a poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company”- Wordsworth; “the jolly crowd at the reunion”; “jolly old Saint Nick”; “a jovial old gentleman”; “have a merry Christmas”; “peals of merry laughter”; “a mirthful laugh”

ADVERB

• to a moderately sufficient extent or degree; “pretty big”; “pretty bad”; “jolly decent of him”; “the shoes are priced reasonably”; “he is fairly clever with computers”

LAST

NOUN

• the temporal end; the concluding time; “the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell”; “the market was up at the finish”; “they were playing better at the close of the season”
• the last or lowest in an ordering or series; “he was the last to leave”; “he finished an inglorious last”
• a person’s dying act; the final thing a person can do; “he breathed his last”
• the time at which life ends; continuing until dead; “she stayed until his death”; “a struggle to the last”
• a unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds
• a unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels
• the concluding parts of an event or occurrence; “the end was exciting”; “I had to miss the last of the movie”
• holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes

VERB

• persist for a specified period of time; “The bad weather lasted for three days”
• continue to live through hardship or adversity; “We went without water and food for 3 days”; “These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America”; “The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents”; “how long can a person last without food and water?”

ADJECTIVE

• immediately past; “last Thursday”; “the last chapter we read”
• coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining; “the last time I saw Paris”; “the last day of the month”; “had the last word”; “waited until the last minute”; “he raised his voice in a last supreme call”; “the last game of the season”; “down to his last nickel”
• occurring at or forming an end or termination; “his concluding words came as a surprise”; “the final chapter”; “the last days of the dinosaurs”; “terminal leave”
• most unlikely or unsuitable; “the last person we would have suspected”; “the last man they would have chosen for the job”
• occurring at the time of death; “his last words”; “the last rites”
• conclusive in a process or progression; “the final answer”; “a last resort”; “the net result”
• highest in extent or degree; “to the last measure of human endurance”; “whether they were accomplices in the last degree or a lesser one was…to be determined individually”
• not to be altered or undone; “the judge’s decision is final”; “the arbiter will have the last say”
• lowest in rank or importance; “last prize”; “in last place”

ADVERB

• most_recently; “I saw him last in London”
• the item at the end; “last, I’ll discuss family values”

LIGHT

NOUN

• (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; “the light was filtered through a soft glass window”
• any device serving as a source of illumination; “he stopped the car and turned off the lights”
• a particular perspective or aspect of a situation; “although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand”
• the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light; “its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun”
• an illuminated area; “he stepped into the light”
• a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination; “follow God’s light”
• the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures; “he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark”
• a person regarded very fondly; “the light of my life”
• having abundant light or illumination; “they played as long as it was light”; “as long as the lighting was good”
• mental understanding as an enlightening experience; “he finally saw the light”; “can you shed light on this problem?”
• merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; “he had a sparkle in his eye”; “there’s a perpetual twinkle in his eyes”
• public awareness; “it brought the scandal to light”
• a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
• a visual warning signal; “they saw the light of the beacon”; “there was a light at every corner”
• a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; “do you have a light?”

VERB

• make lighter or brighter; “This lamp lightens the room a bit”
• begin to smoke; “After the meal, some of the diners lit up”
• to come to rest, settle; “Misfortune lighted upon him”
• cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat; “Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter”; “Light a cigarette”
• fall to somebody by assignment or lot; “The task fell to me”; “It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims”
• alight from (a horse)

ADJECTIVE

• of comparatively little physical weight or density; “a light load”; “magnesium is a light metal–having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C”
• (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent; “light blue”; “light colors such as pastels”; “a light-colored powder”
• of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment; “light infantry”; “light cavalry”; “light industry”; “light weapons”
• not great in degree or quantity or number; “a light sentence”; “a light accent”; “casualties were light”; “light snow was falling”; “light misty rain”; “light smoke from the chimney”
• psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles; “a light heart”
• characterized by or emitting light; “a room that is light when the shutters are open”; “the inside of the house was airy and light”
• (used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress; “a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable”; “a weak stress on the second syllable”
• easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned; “a light diet”
• (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency; “light soil”
• (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; “efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings”; “clear laughter like a waterfall”; “clear reds and blues”; “a light lilting voice like a silver bell”
• moving easily and quickly; nimble; “the dancer was light and graceful”; “a lightsome buoyant step”; “walked with a light tripping step”
• demanding little effort; not burdensome; “light housework”; “light exercise”
• of little intensity or power or force; “the light touch of her fingers”; “a light breeze”
• (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average; “light water is ordinary water”
• weak and likely to lose consciousness; “suddenly felt faint from the pain”; “was sick and faint from hunger”; “felt light in the head”; “a swooning fit”; “light-headed with wine”; “light-headed from lack of sleep”
• very thin and insubstantial; “thin paper”; “light summer dresses”
• marked by temperance in indulgence; “abstemious with the use of adverbs”; “a light eater”; “a light smoker”; “ate a light supper”
• less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so; “a light pound”; “a scant cup of sugar”; “regularly gives short weight”
• having little importance; “losing his job was no light matter”
• intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound; “light verse”; “a light comedy”
• silly or trivial; “idle pleasure”; “light banter”; “light idle chatter”
• designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight; “light aircraft”; “a light truck”
• having relatively few calories; “diet cola”; “light (or lite) beer”; “lite (or light) mayonnaise”; “a low-cal diet”
• (of sleep) easily disturbed; “in a light doze”; “a light sleeper”; “a restless wakeful night”
• casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; “her easy virtue”; “he was told to avoid loose (or light) women”; “wanton behavior”

ADVERB

• with few burdens; “experienced travellers travel light”

LOW

NOUN

• an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation; “a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow”
• British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
• a low level or position or degree; “the stock market fell to a new low”
• the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

VERB

• make a low noise, characteristic of bovines

ADJECTIVE

• less than normal in degree or intensity or amount; “low prices”; “the reservoir is low”
• literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension; “low ceilings”; “low clouds”; “low hills”; “the sun is low”; “low furniture”; “a low bow”
• very low in volume; “a low murmur”; “the low-toned murmur of the surf”
• unrefined in character; “low comedy”
• used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
• of the most contemptible kind; “abject cowardice”; “a low stunt to pull”; “a low-down sneak”; “his miserable treatment of his family”; “You miserable skunk!”; “a scummy rabble”; “a scurvy trick”
• low or inferior in station or quality; “a humble cottage”; “a lowly parish priest”; “a modest man of the people”; “small beginnings”
• no longer sufficient; “supplies are low”; “our funds are depleted”
• subdued or brought low in condition or status; “brought low”; “a broken man”; “his broken spirit”
• filled with melancholy and despondency ; “gloomy at the thought of what he had to face”; “gloomy predictions”; “a gloomy silence”; “took a grim view of the economy”; “the darkening mood”; “lonely and blue in a strange city”; “depressed by the loss of his job”; “a dispirited and resigned expression on her face”; “downcast after his defeat”; “feeling discouraged and downhearted”

ADVERB

• in a low position; near the ground; “the branches hung low”

O.K.

NOUN

• an endorsement; “they gave us the O.K. to go ahead”

VERB

• give sanction to; “I approve of his educational policies”

ADJECTIVE

• being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition; “an all-right movie”; “the passengers were shaken up but are all right”; “is everything all right?”; “everything’s fine”; “things are okay”; “dinner and the movies had been fine”; “another minute I’d have been fine”

ADVERB

• in a satisfactory or adequate manner; “she’ll do okay on her own”; “held up all right under pressure”; (`alright’ is a nonstandard variant of `all right’)

OKAY

NOUN

• an endorsement; “they gave us the O.K. to go ahead”

VERB

• give sanction to; “I approve of his educational policies”

ADJECTIVE

• being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition; “an all-right movie”; “the passengers were shaken up but are all right”; “is everything all right?”; “everything’s fine”; “things are okay”; “dinner and the movies had been fine”; “another minute I’d have been fine”

ADVERB

• in a satisfactory or adequate manner; “she’ll do okay on her own”; “held up all right under pressure”; (`alright’ is a nonstandard variant of `all right’)

OUT

NOUN

• (baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball; “you only get 3 outs per inning”

VERB

• to state openly and publicly one’s homosexuality; “This actor outed last year”
• reveal (something) about somebody’s identity or lifestyle; “The gay actor was outed last week”; “Someone outed a CIA agent”
• be made known; be disclosed or revealed; “The truth will out”

ADJECTIVE

• not allowed to continue to bat or run; “he was tagged out at second on a close play”; “he fanned out”
• being out or having grown cold; “threw his extinct cigarette into the stream”; “the fire is out”
• not worth considering as a possibility; “a picnic is out because of the weather”
• out of power; especially having been unsuccessful in an election; “now the Democrats are out”
• excluded from use or mention; “forbidden fruit”; “in our house dancing and playing cards were out”; “a taboo subject”
• directed outward or serving to direct something outward; “the out doorway”; “the out basket”
• no longer fashionable; “that style is out these days”
• outside or external; “the out surface of a ship’s hull”
• outer or outlying; “the out islands”
• knocked unconscious by a heavy blow

ADVERB

• away from home; “they went out last night”
• moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden; “the cat came out from under the bed”;
• from one’s possession; “he gave out money to the poor”; “gave away the tickets”

PAT

NOUN

• the sound made by a gentle blow
• a light touch or stroke

VERB

• pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
• hit lightly; “pat him on the shoulder”

ADJECTIVE

• having only superficial plausibility; “glib promises”; “a slick commercial”
• exactly suited to the occasion; “a pat reply”

ADVERB

• completely or perfectly; “he has the lesson pat”; “had the system down pat”

PLAIN

NOUN

• extensive tract of level open land; “they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain”; “he longed for the fields of his youth”
• a basic knitting stitch

VERB

• express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; “My mother complains all day”; “She has a lot to kick about”

ADJECTIVE

• clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; “the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields”; “evident hostility”; “manifest disapproval”; “patent advantages”; “made his meaning plain”; “it is plain that he is no reactionary”; “in plain view”
• not elaborate or elaborated; simple; “plain food”; “stuck to the plain facts”; “a plain blue suit”; “a plain rectangular brick building”
• lacking patterns especially in color
• not mixed with extraneous elements; “plain water”; “sheer wine”; “not an unmixed blessing”
• free from any effort to soften to disguise; “the plain and unvarnished truth”; “the unvarnished candor of old people and children”
• lacking embellishment or ornamentation; “a plain hair style”; “unembellished white walls”; “functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete”
• lacking in physical beauty or proportion; “a homely child”; “several of the buildings were downright homely”; “a plain girl with a freckled face”

ADVERB

• unmistakably (`plain’ is often used informally for `plainly’); “the answer is obviously wrong”; “she was in bed and evidently in great pain”; “he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list”; “it is all patently nonsense”; “she has apparently been living here for some time”; “I thought he owned the property, but apparently not”; “You are plainly wrong”; “he is plain stubborn”

PLUMB

NOUN

• the metal bob of a plumb line

VERB

• measure the depth of something
• weight with lead
• examine thoroughly and in great depth
• adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical

ADJECTIVE

• exactly vertical; “the tower of Pisa is far out of plumb”

ADVERB

• completely; used as intensifiers; “clean forgot the appointment”; “I’m plumb (or plum) tuckered out”
• conforming to the direction of a plumb line
• exactly; “fell plumb in the middle of the puddle”

PLUMP

NOUN

• the sound of a sudden heavy fall

VERB

• drop sharply; “The stock market plummeted”
• set (something or oneself) down with or as if with a noise; “He planked the money on the table”; “He planked himself into the sofa”
• make fat or plump; “We will plump out that poor starving child”
• give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number; “I plumped for the losing candidates”

ADJECTIVE

• sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure; “a chubby child”; “pleasingly plump”;

ADVERB

• straight down especially heavily or abruptly; “the anchor fell plump into the sea”; “we dropped the rock plump into the water”

POP

NOUN

• an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
• a sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring; “in New England they call sodas tonics”
• a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
• music of general appeal to teenagers; a bland watered-down version of rock’n’roll with more rhythm and harmony and an emphasis on romantic love

VERB

• bulge outward; “His eyes popped”
• hit a pop-fly; “He popped out to shortstop”
• make a sharp explosive noise; “The cork of the champagne bottle popped”
• fire a weapon with a loud explosive noise; “The soldiers were popping”
• cause to make a sharp explosive sound; “He popped the champagne bottle”
• appear suddenly or unexpectedly; “The farm popped into view as we turned the corner”; “He suddenly popped up out of nowhere”
• put or thrust suddenly and forcefully; “pop the pizza into the microwave oven”; “He popped the petit-four into his mouth”
• release suddenly; “pop the clutch”
• hit or strike; “He popped me on the head”
• drink down entirely; “He downed three martinis before dinner”; “She killed a bottle of brandy that night”; “They popped a few beer after work”
• take drugs, especially orally; “The man charged with murder popped a valium to calm his nerves”
• cause to burst with a loud, explosive sound; “The child popped the balloon”
• burst open with a sharp, explosive sound; “The balloon popped”; “This popcorn pops quickly in the microwave oven”

ADJECTIVE

• (of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people)

ADVERB

• like a pop or with a pop; “everything went pop”

QUIET

NOUN

• a period of calm weather; “there was a lull in the storm”
• an untroubled state; free from disturbances
• the absence of sound; “he needed silence in order to sleep”; “the street was quiet”
• a disposition free from stress or emotion

VERB

• become quiet or quieter; “The audience fell silent when the speaker entered”
• make calm or still; “quiet the dragons of worry and fear”

ADJECTIVE

• characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity; “a quiet life”; “a quiet throng of onlookers”; “quiet peace-loving people”; “the factions remained quiet for almost 10 years”
• free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound; “a quiet audience at the concert”; “the room was dark and quiet”
• not showy or obtrusive; “clothes in quiet good taste”
• in a softened tone; “hushed voices”; “muted trumpets”; “a subdued whisper”; “a quiet reprimand”
• (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves; “a ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay”; “the quiet waters of a lagoon”; “a lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky”; “a smooth channel crossing”; “scarcely a ripple on the still water”; “unruffled water”
• of the sun characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sunspots e.g.

ADVERB

• with little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet’ is a nonstandard variant for `quietly’); “her hands rested quietly in her lap”; “the rock star was quietly led out the back door”; “sit here as quiet as you can”

RIGHT

NOUN

• an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature; “they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”; “Certain rights can never be granted to the government but must be kept in the hands of the people”- Eleanor Roosevelt; “a right is not something that somebody gives you; it is something that nobody can take away”
• location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east; “he stood on the right”
• the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher’s right
• those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged
• the hand that is on the right side of the body; “he writes with his right hand but pitches with his left”; “hit him with quick rights to the body”
• a turn toward the side of the body that is on the south when the person is facing east; “take a right at the corner”
• anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
• (frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing; “mineral rights”; “film rights”

VERB

• make reparations or amends for; “right a wrongs done to the victims of the Holocaust”
• put in or restore to an upright position; “They righted the sailboat that had capsized”
• regain an upright or proper position; “The capsized boat righted again”
• make right or correct; “Correct the mistakes”; “rectify the calculation”

ADJECTIVE

• being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north; “my right hand”; “right center field”; “a right-hand turn”; “the right bank of a river is the bank on your right side when you are facing downstream”
• free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth; “the correct answer”; “the correct version”; “the right answer”; “took the right road”; “the right decision”
• socially right or correct; “it isn’t right to leave the party without saying goodbye”; “correct behavior”
• in conformance with justice or law or morality; “do the right thing and confess”
• correct in opinion or judgment; “time proved him right”
• appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person’s character, needs; “everything in its proper place”; “the right man for the job”; “she is not suitable for the position”
• of or belonging to the political or intellectual right
• in or into a satisfactory condition; “things are right again now”; “put things right”
• intended for the right hand; “a right-hand glove”
• in accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure; “what’s the right word for this?”; “the right way to open oysters”
• having the axis perpendicular to the base; “a right angle”
• (of the side of cloth or clothing) facing or intended to face outward; “the right side of the cloth showed the pattern”; “be sure your shirt is right side out”
• most suitable or right for a particular purpose; “a good time to plant tomatoes”; “the right time to act”; “the time is ripe for great sociological changes”
• precisely accurate; “a veracious account”

ADVERB

• precisely, exactly; “stand right here!”
• immediately; “she called right after dinner”
• exactly; “he fell flop on his face”
• toward or on the right; also used figuratively; “he looked right and left”; “the party has moved right”
• in the right manner; “please do your job properly!”; “can’t you carry me decent?”
• an interjection expressing agreement
• completely; “she felt right at home”; “he fell right into the trap”
• (Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree; “the baby is mighty cute”; “he’s mighty tired”; “it is powerful humid”; “that boy is powerful big now”; “they have a right nice place”; “they rejoiced mightily”
• in accordance with moral or social standards; “that serves him right”; “do right by him”
• in an accurate manner; “the flower had been correctly depicted by his son”; “he guessed right”

ROUGH

NOUN

• the part of a golf course bordering the fairway where the grass is not cut short

VERB

• prepare in preliminary or sketchy form

ADJECTIVE

• having or caused by an irregular surface; “trees with rough bark”; “rough ground”; “rough skin”; “rough blankets”; “his unsmooth face”
• (of persons or behavior) lacking refinement or finesse; “she was a diamond in the rough”; “rough manners”
• not quite exact or correct; “the approximate time was 10 o’clock”; “a rough guess”; “a ballpark estimate”
• full of hardship or trials; “the rocky road to success”; “they were having a rough time”
• violently agitated and turbulent; “boisterous winds and waves”; “the fierce thunders roar me their music”- Ezra Pound; “rough weather”; “rough seas”
• unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound; “a gravelly voice”
• ready and able to resort to force or violence; “pugnacious spirits…lamented that there was so little prospect of an exhilarating disturbance”- Herman Melville; “they were rough and determined fighting men”
• of the margin of a leaf shape; having the edge cut or fringed or scalloped
• causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements; “a rough ride”
• not shaped by cutting or trimming; “an uncut diamond”; “rough gemstones”
• not carefully or expertly made; “managed to make a crude splint”; “a crude cabin of logs with bark still on them”; “rough carpentry”
• not perfected; “a rough draft”; “a few rough sketches”
• unpleasantly stern; “wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus”; “the nomad life is rough and hazardous”
• unkind or cruel or uncivil; “had harsh words”; “a harsh and unlovable old tyrant”; “a rough answer”

ADVERB

• with roughness or violence (`rough’ is an informal variant for `roughly’); “he was pushed roughly aside”; “they treated him rough”
• with rough motion as over a rough surface; “ride rough”

ROUND

NOUN

• a charge of ammunition for a single shot
• an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs; “the never-ending cycle of the seasons”
• a regular route for a sentry or policeman; “in the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name”
• (often plural) a series of professional calls (usually in a set order); “the doctor goes on his rounds first thing every morning”; “the postman’s rounds”; “we enjoyed our round of the local bars”
• the activity of playing 18 holes of golf; “a round of golf takes about 4 hours”
• the usual activities in your day; “the doctor made his rounds”
• (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
• the course along which communications spread; “the story is going the rounds in Washington”
• a serving to each of a group (usually alcoholic); “he ordered a second round”
• a cut of beef between the rump and the lower leg
• a partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time; “they enjoyed singing rounds”
• an outburst of applause; “there was a round of applause”
• a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
• any circular or rotating mechanism; “the machine punched out metal circles”

VERB

• wind around; move along a circular course; “round the bend”
• make round; “round the edges”
• pronounce with rounded lips
• attack in speech or writing; “The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker”
• bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state; “polish your social manners”
• express as a round number; “round off the amount”
• become round, plump, or shapely; “The young woman is fleshing out”

ADJECTIVE

• having a circular shape
• (of sounds) full and rich; “orotund tones”; “the rotund and reverberating phrase”; “pear-shaped vowels”
• (mathematics) expressed to the nearest integer, ten, hundred, or thousand; “in round numbers”

ADVERB

• from beginning to end; throughout; “It rains all year round on Skye”; “frigid weather the year around”

SECOND

NOUN

• 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d’Unites
• an indefinitely short time; “wait just a moment”; “in a mo”; “it only takes a minute”; “in just a bit”
• the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the second of the bases in the infield
• a particular point in time; “the moment he arrived the party began”
• following the first in an ordering or series; “he came in a close second”
• a 60th part of a minute of arc; “the treasure is 2 minutes and 45 seconds south of here”
• the official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match
• a speech seconding a motion; “do I hear a second?”
• the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; “he had to shift down into second to make the hill”
• merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name

VERB

• give support or one’s approval to; “I’ll second that motion”; “I can’t back this plan”; “endorse a new project”
• transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment; “The officer was seconded for duty overseas”

ADJECTIVE

• coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitude
• a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first; “second flute”; “the second violins”

ADVERB

• in the second place; “second, we must consider the economy”

SHORT

NOUN

• the location on a baseball field where the shortstop is stationed
• accidental contact between two points in an electric circuit that have a potential difference
• the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed between second and third base

VERB

• cheat someone by not returning him enough money
• create a short circuit in

ADJECTIVE

• primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration; “a short life”; “a short flight”; “a short holiday”; “a short story”; “only a few short months”
• (primarily spatial sense) having little length or lacking in length; “short skirts”; “short hair”; “the board was a foot short”; “a short toss”
• low in stature; not tall; “he was short and stocky”; “short in stature”; “a short smokestack”; “a little man”
• not sufficient to meet a need; “an inadequate income”; “a poor salary”; “money is short”; “on short rations”; “food is in short supply”; “short on experience”
• (of memory) deficient in retentiveness or range; “a short memory”
• not holding securities or commodities that one sells in expectation of a fall in prices; “a short sale”; “short in cotton”
• of speech sounds or syllables of relatively short duration; “the English vowel sounds in `pat’, `pet’, `pit’, `pot’, putt’ are short”
• less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so; “a light pound”; “a scant cup of sugar”; “regularly gives short weight”
• lacking foresight or scope; “a short view of the problem”; “shortsighted policies”; “shortsighted critics derided the plan”; “myopic thinking”
• tending to crumble or break into flakes due to a large amount of shortening; “shortbread is a short crumbly cookie”; “a short flaky pie crust”
• marked by rude or peremptory shortness; “try to cultivate a less brusque manner”; “a curt reply”; “the salesgirl was very short with him”

ADVERB

• quickly and without warning; “he stopped suddenly”
• without possessing something at the time it is contractually sold; “he made his fortune by selling short just before the crash”
• clean across; “the car’s axle snapped short”
• at some point or distance before a goal is reached; “he fell short of our expectations”
• so as to interrupt; “She took him up short before he could continue”
• at a disadvantage; “I was caught short”
• in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner; “he told me curtly to get on with it”; “he talked short with everyone”; “he said shortly that he didn’t like it”

SOLO

NOUN

• any activity that is performed alone without assistance
• a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment)
• a flight in which the aircraft pilot is unaccompanied

VERB

• fly alone, without a co-pilot or passengers
• perform a piece written for a single instrument

ADJECTIVE

• composed or performed by a single voice or instrument; “a passage for solo clarinet”

ADVERB

• without anybody else or anything else; “the child stayed home alone”; “the pillar stood alone, supporting nothing”; “he flew solo”

SQUARE

NOUN

• (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon; “you can compute the area of a square if you know the length of its sides”
• the product of two equal terms; “nine is the second power of three”; “gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance”
• an open area at the meeting of two or more streets
• something approximating the shape of a square
• someone who doesn’t understand what is going on
• a formal and conservative person with old-fashioned views
• any artifact having a shape similar to a plane geometric figure with four equal sides and four right angles; “a checkerboard has 64 squares”
• a hand tool consisting of two straight arms at right angles; used to construct or test right angles; “the carpenter who built this room must have lost his square”

VERB

• make square; “Square the circle”; “square the wood with a file”
• raise to the second power
• cause to match, as of ideas or acts
• position so as to be square; “He squared his shoulders”
• be compatible with; “one idea squares with another”
• pay someone and settle a debt; “I squared with him”
• turn the paddle; in canoeing
• turn the oar, while rowing

ADJECTIVE

• having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; “a square peg in a round hole”; “a square corner”
• characterized by honesty and fairness; “straight dealing”; “a square deal”
• providing abundant nourishment; “a hearty meal”; “good solid food”; “ate a substantial breakfast”; “four square meals a day”
• leaving no balance; “my account with you is now all square”
• without evasion or compromise; “a square contradiction”; “he is not being as straightforward as it appears”
• rigidly conventional or old-fashioned

ADVERB

• in a straight direct way; “looked him squarely in the eye”; “ran square into me”
• in a square shape; “a squarely cut piece of paper”; “folded the sheet of paper square”
• firmly and solidly; “hit the ball squarely”; “the bat met the ball squarely”; “planted his great bulk square before his enemy”

STEADY

NOUN

• a person loved by another person

VERB

• make steady; “steady yourself”
• support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace; “brace your elbows while working on the potter’s wheel”

ADJECTIVE

• not subject to change or variation especially in behavior; “a steady beat”; “a steady job”; “a steady breeze”; “a steady increase”; “a good steady ballplayer”
• not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall; “stocks are still firm”
• securely in position; not shaky; “held the ladder steady”
• marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable; “firm convictions”; “a firm mouth”; “steadfast resolve”; “a man of unbendable perseverence”; “unwavering loyalty”
• relating to a person who does something regularly; “a regular customer”; “a steady drinker”
• not easily excited or upset; “steady nerves”

ADVERB

• in a steady manner; “he could still walk steadily”

STILL

NOUN

• a static photograph (especially one taken from a movie and used for advertising purposes); “he wanted some stills for a magazine ad”
• (poetic) tranquil silence; “the still of the night”
• an apparatus used for the distillation of liquids; consists of a vessel in which a substance is vaporized by heat and a condenser where the vapor is condensed
• a plant and works where alcoholic drinks are made by distillation

VERB

• make calm or still; “quiet the dragons of worry and fear”
• cause to be quiet or not talk; “Please silence the children in the church!”
• lessen the intensity of or calm; “The news eased my conscience”; “still the fears”
• make motionless

ADJECTIVE

• not in physical motion; “the inertia of an object at rest”
• marked by absence of sound; “a silent house”; “soundless footsteps on the grass”; “the night was still”
• (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves; “a ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay”; “the quiet waters of a lagoon”; “a lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky”; “a smooth channel crossing”; “scarcely a ripple on the still water”; “unruffled water”
• used of pictures; of a single or static photograph not presented so as to create the illusion of motion; or representing objects not capable of motion; “a still photograph”; “Cezanne’s still life of apples”
• not sparkling; “a still wine”; “still mineral water”
• free from noticeable current; “a still pond”; “still waters run deep”

ADVERB

• with reference to action or condition; without change, interruption, or cessation; “it’s still warm outside”; “will you still love me when we’re old and grey?”
• despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession); “although I’m a little afraid, however I’d like to try it”; “while we disliked each other, nevertheless we agreed”; “he was a stern yet fair master”; “granted that it is dangerous, all the same I still want to go”
• to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons; “looked sick and felt even worse”; “an even (or still) more interesting problem”; “still another problem must be solved”; “a yet sadder tale”
• without moving or making a sound; “he sat still as a statue”; “time stood still”; “they waited stock-still outside the door”; “he couldn’t hold still any longer”

TIPTOE

NOUN

• the tip of a toe

VERB

• walk on one’s toes

ADJECTIVE

• walking on the tips of ones’s toes so as to make no noise; “moving with tiptoe steps”

ADVERB

• on tiptoe or as if on tiptoe; “standing tiptoe”

TRUE

NOUN

• proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment; “out of true”

VERB

• make level, square, balanced, or concentric; “true up the cylinder of an engine”

ADJECTIVE

• consistent with fact or reality; not false; “the story is true”; “it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true”- B. Russell; “the true meaning of the statement”
• accurately placed or thrown; “his aim was true”; “he was dead on target”
• devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth; “true believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them”
• expressing or given to expressing the truth; “a true statement”; “gave truthful testimony”; “a truthful person”
• conforming to definitive criteria; “the horseshoe crab is not a true crab”; “Pythagoras was the first true mathematician”
• worthy of being depended on; “a dependable worker”; “an honest working stiff”; “a reliable sourcSFLe of information”; “he was true to his word”; “I would be true for there are those who trust me”
• not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed; “genuine emotion”; “her interest in people was unfeigned”; “true grief”
• rightly so called; “true courage”; “a spirit which true men have always admired”; “a true friend”
• determined with reference to the earth’s axis rather than the magnetic poles; “true north is geographic north”
• having a legally established claim; “the legitimate heir”; “the true and lawful king”
• in tune; accurate in pitch; “a true note”
• accurately fitted; level; “the window frame isn’t quite true”

ADVERB

• as acknowledged; “true, she is the smartest in her class”

UPSTAGE

NOUN

• the rear part of the stage

VERB

• treat snobbishly, put in one’s place
• move upstage, forcing the other actors to turn away from the audience
• steal the show, draw attention to oneself away from someone else; “When the dog entered the stage, he upstaged the actress”

ADJECTIVE

• of the back half of a stage; “she crossed to the upstage chair forcing the lead to turn his back to the audience”
• remote in manner; “stood apart with aloof dignity”; “a distant smile”; “he was upstage with strangers”

ADVERB

• at or toward the rear of the stage; “the dancers were directed to move upstage”

WELL

NOUN

• a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
• a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
• an abundant source; “she was a well of information”
• an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
• an enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane’s landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship’s pumps

VERB

• come up, as of a liquid; “Tears well in her eyes”; “the currents well up”

ADJECTIVE

• in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury; “appears to be entirely well”; “the wound is nearly well”; “a well man”; “I think I’m well; at least I feel well”
• resulting favorably; “it’s a good thing that I wasn’t there”; “it is good that you stayed”; “it is well that no one saw you”; “all’s well that ends well”
• wise or advantageous and hence advisable; “it would be well to start early”

ADVERB

• (often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (`good’ is a nonstandard dialectal variant for `well’); “the children behaved well”; “a task well done”; “the party went well”; “he slept well”; “a well-argued thesis”; “a well-seasoned dish”; “a well-planned party”; “the baby can walk pretty good”
• thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form; “The problem is well understood”; “she was well informed”; “shake well before using”; “in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked”; “well-done beef”, “well-satisfied customers”; “well-educated”
• indicating high probability; in all likelihood; “I might well do it”; “a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster”; “you may well need your umbrella”; “he could equally well be trying to deceive us”
• (used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully; “a book well worth reading”; “was well aware of the difficulties ahead”; “suspected only too well what might be going on”
• to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree; “the project was well underway”; “the fetus has well developed organs”; “his father was well pleased with his grades”
• favorably; with approval; “their neighbors spoke well of them”; “he thought well of the book”
• to a great extent or degree; “I’m afraid the film was well over budget”; “painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger”; “the house has fallen considerably in value”; “the price went up substantially”
• with great or especially intimate knowledge; “we knew them well”
• with prudence or propriety; “You would do well to say nothing more”; “could not well refuse”
• with skill or in a pleasing manner; “she dances well”; “he writes well”
• in a manner affording benefit or advantage; “she married well”; “The children were settled advantageously in Seattle”
• in financial comfort; “They live well”; “she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died”
• without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor; “took the joke well”; “took the tragic news well”

WHOLESALE

NOUN

• the selling of goods to merchants; usually in large quantities for resale to consumers

VERB

• sell in large quantities

ADJECTIVE

• ignoring distinctions; “sweeping generalizations”; “wholesale destruction”

ADVERB

• at a wholesale price; “I can sell it to you wholesale”
• on a large scale without careful discrimination; “I buy food wholesale”

WORST

NOUN

• the least favorable outcome; “the worst that could happen”
• the greatest damage or wickedness of which one is capable; “the invaders did their worst”; “so pure of heart that his worst is another man’s best”
• the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of; “it was the worst he had ever done on a test”

VERB

• defeat thoroughly; “He mopped up the floor with his opponents”

ADJECTIVE

• (superlative of `bad’) most wanting in quality or value or condition; “the worst player on the team”; “the worst weather of the year”

ADVERB

• to the highest degree of inferiority or badness; “She suffered worst of all”; “schools were the worst hit by government spending cuts”; “the worst dressed person present”

WRONG

NOUN

• that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law; “he feels that you are in the wrong”
• any harm or injury resulting from a violation of a legal right

VERB

• treat unjustly; do wrong to

ADJECTIVE

• not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth; “an incorrect calculation”; “the report in the paper is wrong”; “your information is wrong”; “the clock showed the wrong time”; “found themselves on the wrong road”; “based on the wrong assumptions”
• contrary to conscience or morality or law; “it is wrong for the rich to take advantage of the poor”; “cheating is wrong”; “it is wrong to lie”
• not appropriate for a purpose or occasion; “said all the wrong things”
• not functioning properly; “something is amiss”; “has gone completely haywire”; “something is wrong with the engine”
• based on or acting or judging in error; “it is wrong to think that way”
• not in accord with established usage or procedure; “the wrong medicine”; “the wrong way to shuck clams”; “it is incorrect for a policeman to accept gifts”
• used of the side of cloth or clothing intended to face inward; “socks worn wrong side out”
• badly timed; “an ill-timed intervention”; “you think my intrusion unseasonable”; “an untimely remark”; “it was the wrong moment for a joke”
• characterized by errors; not agreeing with a model or not following established rules; “he submitted a faulty report”; “an incorrect transcription”; the wrong side of the road”

ADVERB

• in an inaccurate manner; “he decided to reveal the details only after other sources had reported them incorrectly”; “she guessed wrong”

ZIGZAG

NOUN

• an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions

VERB

• travel along a zigzag path; “The river zigzags through the countryside”

ADJECTIVE

• having short sharp turns or angles

ADVERB

• in a zigzag course or on a zigzag path; “birds flew zigzag across the blue sky”

The second part of the problem is to do with who is making decisions in the interests of the English. The English electorate wants to have representatives from England rather than elected representatives from the UK as a whole. These representatives would add an “English Dimension” to decision making which is at present lacking.

Evidence for an English awakening is contained within a recent survey conducted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The English language did originate with these people so why not download the report and give it a read.

1. back
2. best
3. better
4. bitter
5. broadside
6. clean
7. clear
8. close
9. cod
10. collect
11. counter
12. crisscross
13. damn
14. double
15. down
16. even
17. express
18. fair
19. fast
20. fine
21. firm
22. flush
23. forward
24. free
25. full
26. home
27. jolly
28. last
29. light
30. low
31. o.k.
32. okay
33. out
34. pat
35. plain
36. plumb
37. plump
38. pop
39. quiet
40. right
41. rough
42. round
43. second
44. short
45. solo
46. square
47. steady
48. still
49. tiptoe
50. true
51. upstage
52. well
53. wholesale
54. worst
55. wrong
56. zigzag

BACK

NOUN

• the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine; “his back was nicely tanned”
• the side that goes last or is not normally seen; “he wrote the date on the back of the photograph”
• the part of something that is furthest from the normal viewer; “he stood at the back of the stage”; “it was hidden in the rear of the store”
• (football) a person who plays in the backfield
• the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord; “the fall broke his back”
• the protective covering on the front, back, and spine of a book; “the book had a leather binding”
• the part of a garment that covers the back of your body; “they pinned a `kick me’ sign on his back”
• a support that you can lean against while sitting; “the back of the dental chair was adjustable”
• (American football) the position of a player on a football team who is stationed behind the line of scrimmage

VERB

• be behind; approve of; “He plumped for the Labor Party”; “I backed Kennedy in 1960”
• travel backward; “back into the driveway”; “The car backed up and hit the tree”
• give support or one’s approval to; “I’ll second that motion”; “I can’t back this plan”; “endorse a new project”
• cause to travel backward; “back the car into the parking spot”
• support financial backing for; “back this enterprise”
• be in back of; “My garage backs their yard”
• place a bet on; “Which horse are you backing?”; “I’m betting on the new horse”
• shift to a counterclockwise direction; “the wind backed”
• establish as valid or genuine; “Can you back up your claims?”
• strengthen by providing with a back or backing

ADJECTIVE

• related to or located at the back; “the back yard”; “the back entrance”
• located at or near the back of an animal; “back (or hind) legs”; “the hinder part of a carcass”
• of an earlier date; “back issues of the magazine”

ADVERB

• in or to or toward a former location; “she went back to her parents’ house”
• at or to or toward the back or rear; “he moved back”; “tripped when he stepped backward”; “she looked rearward out the window of the car”
• in or to or toward an original condition; “he went back to sleep”
• in or to or toward a past time; “set the clocks back an hour”; “never look back”; “lovers of the past looking fondly backward”
• in reply; “he wrote back three days later”
• in repayment or retaliation; “we paid back everything we had borrowed”; “he hit me and I hit him back”; “I was kept in after school for talking back to the teacher”

BEST

NOUN

• the supreme effort one can make; “they did their best”
• the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others; “he could beat the best of them”
• Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)

VERB

• get the better of; “the goal was to best the competition”

ADJECTIVE

• (superlative of `good’) having the most positive qualities; “the best film of the year”; “the best solution”; “the best time for planting”; “wore his best suit”
• (comparative and superlative of `well’) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable; “it would be better to speak to him”; “the White House thought it best not to respond”

ADVERB

• in a most excellent way or manner; “he played best after a couple of martinis”
• it would be sensible; “you’d best stay at home”
• from a position of superiority or authority; “father knows best”; “I know better.”

BETTER

NOUN

• something superior in quality or condition or effect; “a change for the better”
• someone who bets
• a superior person having claim to precedence; “the common man has been kept in his place by his betters”
• the superior one of two alternatives; “chose the better of the two”

VERB

• surpass in excellence; “She bettered her own record”; “break a record”
• to make better; “The editor improved the manuscript with his changes”
• get better; “The weather improved toward evening”

ADJECTIVE

• (comparative of `good’) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another; “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din”; “a better coat”; “a better type of car”; “a suit with a better fit”; “a better chance of success”; “produced a better mousetrap”; “she’s better in math than in history”
• (comparative of `good’) changed for the better in health or fitness; “her health is better now”; “I feel better”
• (comparative and superlative of `well’) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable; “it would be better to speak to him”; “the White House thought it best not to respond”
• more than half; “argued for the better part of an hour”

ADVERB

• comparative of `well’; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.; “She had never sung better”; “a deed better left undone”; “better suited to the job”
• from a position of superiority or authority; “father knows best”; “I know better.”

BITTER

NOUN

• English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)
• the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth
• the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste

VERB

• make bitter

ADJECTIVE

• marked by strong resentment or cynicism; “an acrimonious dispute”; “bitter about the divorce”
• very difficult to accept or bear; “the bitter truth”; “a bitter sorrow”
• harsh or corrosive in tone; “an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”; “a barrage of acid comments”; “her acrid remarks make her many enemies”; “bitter words”; “blistering criticism”; “caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics”; “a sulfurous denunciation”; “a vitriolic critique”
• expressive of severe grief or regret; “shed bitter tears”
• proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity; “a bitter struggle”; “bitter enemies”
• causing a sharp and acrid taste experience;”quinine is bitter”
• causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold; “bitter cold”; “a biting wind”

ADVERB

• extremely and sharply; “it was bitterly cold”; “bitter cold”

BROADSIDE

NOUN

• an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution; “he mailed the circular to all subscribers”
• a speech of violent denunciation
• all of the armament that is fired from one side of a warship
• the whole side of a vessel from stem to stern; “the ship was broadside to the dock”
• the simultaneous firing of all the armament on one side of a warship

VERB

• collide with the broad side of; “her car broad-sided mine”

ADJECTIVE

• toward a full side; “a broadside attack”

ADVERB

• with a side facing an object; “the train hit the truck broadside”; “the wave caught the canoe broadside and capsized it”

CLEAN

NOUN

• a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead

VERB

• make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; “Clean the stove!”; “The dentist cleaned my teeth”
• remove unwanted substances from, such as feathers or pits; “Clean the turkey”
• clean and tidy up the house; “She housecleans every week”
• clean one’s body or parts thereof, as by washing; “clean up before you see your grandparents”; “clean your fingernails before dinner”
• be cleanable; “This stove cleans easily”
• deprive wholly of money in a gambling game, robbery, etc.; “The other players cleaned him completely”
• remove all contents or possession from, or empty completely; “The boys cleaned the sandwich platters”; “The trees were cleaned of apples by the storm”
• remove while making clean; “Clean the spots off the rug”
• remove unwanted substances from
• remove shells or husks from; “clean grain before milling it”

ADJECTIVE

• free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits; “children with clean shining faces”; “clean white shirts”; “clean dishes”; “a spotlessly clean house”; “cats are clean animals”
• free of restrictions or qualifications; “a clean bill of health”; “a clear winner”
• (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; “efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings”; “clear laughter like a waterfall”; “clear reds and blues”; “a light lilting voice like a silver bell”
• free from impurities; “clean water”; “fresh air”
• (of a record) having no marks of discredit or offense; “a clean voting record”; “a clean driver’s license”
• ritually clean or pure
• not spreading pollution or contamination; especially radioactive contamination; “a clean fuel”; “cleaner and more efficient engines”; “the tactical bomb is reasonably clean”
• (of behavior or especially language) free from objectionable elements; fit for all observers; “good clean fun”; “a clean joke”
• free from sepsis or infection; “a clean (or uninfected) wound”
• morally pure; “led a clean life”
• (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; “fair copy”; “a clean manuscript”
• (of a surface) not written or printed on; “blank pages”; “fill in the blank spaces”; “a clean page”; “wide white margins”
• exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play; “a clean fight”; “a sporting solution of the disagreement”; “sportsmanlike conduct”
• without difficulties or problems; “a clean test flight”
• thorough and without qualification; “a clean getaway”; “a clean sweep”; “a clean break”
• not carrying concealed weapons
• free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed; “he landed a clean left on his opponent’s cheek”; “a clean throw”; “the neat exactness of the surgeon’s knife”
• free of drugs; “after a long dependency on heroin she has been clean for 4 years”

ADVERB

• completely; used as intensifiers; “clean forgot the appointment”; “I’m plumb (or plum) tuckered out”
• in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; “they played fairly”

CLEAR

NOUN

• the state of being free of suspicion; “investigation showed that he was in the clear”
• a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water; “finally broke out of the forest into the open”

VERB

• rid of obstructions; “Clear your desk”
• make a way or path by removing objects; “Clear a path through the dense forest”
• become clear; “The sky cleared after the storm”
• grant authorization or clearance for; “Clear the manuscript for publication”; “The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography”
• remove; “clear the leaves from the lawn”; “Clear snow from the road”
• go unchallenged; be approved; “The bill cleared the House”
• be debited and credited to the proper bank accounts; “The check will clear within 2 business days”
• go away or disappear; “The fog cleared in the afternoon”
• pass by, over, or under without making contact; “the balloon cleared the tree tops”
• make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear; “Could you clarify these remarks?”; “Clear up the question of who is at fault”
• free from payment of customs duties, as of a shipment; “Clear the ship and let it dock”
• clear from impurities, blemishes, pollution, etc.; “clear the water before it can be drunk”
• yield as a net profit; “This sale netted me $1 million”
• make as a net profit; “The company cleared $1 million”
• earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages; “How much do you make a month in your new job?”; “She earns a lot in her new job”; “this merger brought in lots of money”; “He clears $5,000 each month”
• sell; “We cleared a lot of the old model cars”
• pass an inspection or receive authorization; “clear customs”
• pronounce not guilty of criminal charges; “The suspect was cleared of the murder charges”
• settle, as of a debt; “clear a debt”; “solve an old debt”
• make clear, bright, light, or translucent; “The water had to be cleared through filtering”
• rid of instructions or data; “clear a memory buffer”
• remove (people) from a building; “clear the patrons from the theater after the bomb threat”
• remove the occupants of; “Clear the building”
• free (the throat) by making a rasping sound; “Clear the throat”

ADJECTIVE

• readily apparent to the mind; “a clear and present danger”; “a clear explanation”; “a clear case of murder”; “a clear indication that she was angry”; “gave us a clear idea of human nature”
• free from confusion or doubt; “a complex problem requiring a clear head”; “not clear about what is expected of us”
• affording free passage or view; “a clear view”; “a clear path to victory”; “open waters”; “the open countryside”
• allowing light to pass through; “clear water”; “clear plastic bags”; “clear glass”; “the air is clear and clean”
• free from contact or proximity or connection; “we were clear of the danger”; “the ship was clear of the reef”
• characterized by freedom from troubling thoughts (especially guilt); “a clear conscience”; “regarded her questioner with clear untroubled eyes”
• (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; “efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings”; “clear laughter like a waterfall”; “clear reds and blues”; “a light lilting voice like a silver bell”
• (especially of a title) free from any encumbrance or limitation that presents a question of fact or law; “I have clear title to this property”
• clear and distinct to the senses; easily perceptible; “as clear as a whistle”; “clear footprints in the snow”; “the letter brought back a clear image of his grandfather”; “a spire clean-cut against the sky”; “a clear-cut pattern”
• accurately stated or described; “a set of well-defined values”
• free from clouds or mist or haze; “on a clear day”
• free of restrictions or qualifications; “a clean bill of health”; “a clear winner”
• free from flaw or blemish or impurity; “a clear perfect diamond”; “the clear complexion of a healthy young woman”
• clear of charges or deductions; “a clear profit”
• easily deciphered
• freed from any question of guilt; “is absolved from all blame”; “was now clear of the charge of cowardice”; “his official honor is vindicated”
• characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving; “clear mind”; “a percipient author”

ADVERB

• completely; “read the book clear to the end”; “slept clear through the night”; “there were open fields clear to the horizon”
• in an easily perceptible manner; “could be seen clearly under the microscope”; “She cried loud and clear”

CLOSE

NOUN

• the temporal end; the concluding time; “the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell”; “the market was up at the finish”; “they were playing better at the close of the season”
• the last section of a communication; “in conclusion I want to say…”
• the concluding part of any performance

VERB

• move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut; “Close the door”; “shut the window”
• become closed; “The windows closed with a loud bang”
• cease to operate or cause to cease operating; “The owners decided to move and to close the factory”; “My business closes every night at 8 P.M.”; “close up the shop”
• finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.); “The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board”
• come to a close; “The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin”
• complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement; “We closed on the house on Friday”; “They closed the deal on the building”
• be priced or listed when trading stops; “The stock market closed high this Friday”; “My new stocks closed at $59 last night”
• engage at close quarters; “close with the enemy”
• cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop
• change one’s body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact
• come together, as if in an embrace; “Her arms closed around her long lost relative”
• draw near; “The probe closed with the space station”
• bring together all the elements or parts of; “Management closed ranks”
• bar access to; “Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours”
• fill or stop up; “Can you close the cracks with caulking?”
• unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of; “close the circuit”; “close a wound”; “close a book”; “close up an umbrella”
• finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead; “The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning”

ADJECTIVE

• at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other; “close to noon”; “how close are we to town?”; “a close formation of ships”
• close in relevance or relationship; “a close family”; “we are all…in close sympathy with…”; “close kin”; “a close resemblance”
• not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances; “near neighbors”; “in the near future”; “they are near equals”; “his nearest approach to success”; “a very near thing”; “a near hit by the bomb”; “she was near tears”; “she was close to tears”; “had a close call”
• rigorously attentive; strict and thorough; “close supervision”; “paid close attention”; “a close study”; “kept a close watch on expenditures”
• marked by fidelity to an original; “a close translation”; “a faithful copy of the portrait”; “a faithful rendering of the observed facts”
• (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched; “a close contest”; “a close election”; “a tight game”
• crowded; “close quarters”
• lacking fresh air; “a dusty airless attic”; “the dreadfully close atmosphere”; “hot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke”
• of textiles; “a close weave”; “smooth percale with a very tight weave”
• strictly confined or guarded; “kept under close custody”
• confined to specific persons; “a close secret”
• fitting closely but comfortably; “a close fit”
• used of hair or haircuts; “a close military haircut”
• giving or spending with reluctance; “our cheeseparing administration”; “very close (or near) with his money”; “a penny-pinching miserly old man”
• inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information; “although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it”

ADVERB

• near in time or place or relationship; “as the wedding day drew near”; “stood near the door”; “don’t shoot until they come near”; “getting near to the true explanation”; “her mother is always near”; “The end draws nigh”; “the bullet didn’t come close”; “don’t get too close to the fire”
• in an attentive manner; “he remained close on his guard”

COD

NOUN

• the vessel that contains the seeds of a plant (not the seeds themselves)
• lean white flesh of important North Atlantic food fish; usually baked or poached
• major food fish of Arctic and cold-temperate waters

VERB

• fool or hoax; “The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone”; “You can’t fool me!”
• harass with persistent criticism or carping; “The children teased the new teacher”; “Don’t ride me so hard over my failure”; “His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie”

ADJECTIVE

• payable by the recipient on delivery; “a collect call”; “the letter came collect”; “a COD parcel”

ADVERB

• collecting the charges upon delivery; “mail a package C.O.D.”

COLLECT

NOUN

• a short prayer generally preceding the lesson in the Church of Rome or the Church of England

VERB

• get or gather together; “I am accumulating evidence for the man’s unfaithfulness to his wife”; “She is amassing a lot of data for her thesis”; “She rolled up a small fortune”
• call for and obtain payment of; “we collected over a million dollars in outstanding debts”; “he collected the rent”
• assemble or get together; “gather some stones”; “pull your thoughts together”
• get or bring together; “accumulate evidence”
• gather or collect; “You can get the results on Monday”; “She picked up the children at the day care center”; “They pick up our trash twice a week”

ADJECTIVE

• payable by the recipient on delivery; “a collect call”; “the letter came collect”; “a COD parcel”

ADVERB

• make a telephone call or mail a package so that the recipient pays; “call collect”; “send a package collect”

COUNTER

NOUN

• table consisting of a horizontal surface over which business is transacted
• game equipment (as a piece of wood, plastic, or ivory) used for keeping a count or reserving a space in various card or board games
• a calculator that keeps a record of the number of times something happens
• a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
• a person who counts things
• a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one); “it brought a sharp rejoinder from the teacher”
• (computer science) a register whose contents go through a regular series of states (usually states indicating consecutive integers)
• a piece of leather forming the back of a shoe or boot; “a counter may be used to stiffen the material around the heel and to give support to the foot”
• a return punch (especially by a boxer)

VERB

• speak in response; “He countered with some very persuasive arguments”
• act in advance of; deal with ahead of time

ADJECTIVE

• indicating opposition or resistance

ADVERB

• in the opposite direction; “run counter”

CRISSCROSS

NOUN

• a marking that consists of lines that cross each other

VERB

• cross in a pattern, often random
• mark with or consist of a pattern of crossed lines; “wrinkles crisscrossed her face”
• mark with a pattern of crossing lines; “crisscross the sheet of paper”

ADJECTIVE

• marked with crossing lines

ADVERB

• crossing one another in opposite directions

DAMN

NOUN

• something of little value; “his promise is not worth a damn”; “not worth one red cent”; “not worth shucks”

VERB

• wish harm upon; invoke evil upon; “The bad witch cursed the child”

ADJECTIVE

• used as expletives; “oh, damn (or goddamn)!”
• expletives used informally as intensifiers; “he’s a blasted idiot”; “it’s a blamed shame”; “a blame cold winter”; “not a blessed dime”; “I’ll be damned (or blessed or darned or goddamned) if I’ll do any such thing”; “he’s a damn (or goddam or goddamned) fool”; “a deuced idiot”; “an infernal nuisance”

ADVERB

• extremely; “you are bloody right”; “Why are you so all-fired aggressive?”

DOUBLE

NOUN

• a base hit on which the batter stops safely at second base; “he hit a double to deep centerfield”
• a stand-in for movie stars to perform dangerous stunts; “his first job in Hollywood was as a double for Clark Gable”
• someone who closely resembles a famous person (especially an actor); “he could be Gingrich’s double”; “she’s the very image of her mother”
• a quantity that is twice as great as another; “36 is the double of 18”
• raising the stakes in a card game by a factor of 2; “I decided his double was a bluff”

VERB

• increase twofold; “The population doubled within 50 years”
• hit a two-base hit
• bend over or curl up, usually with laughter or pain; “He doubled and vomited violently”
• do double duty; serve two purposes or have two functions; “She doubles as his wife and secretary”
• bridge: make a demand for (a card or suit)
• make or do or perform again; “He could never replicate his brilliant performance of the magic trick”

ADJECTIVE

• having more than one decidedly dissimilar aspects or qualities; “a double (or dual) role for an actor”; “the office of a clergyman is twofold; public preaching and private influence”- R.W.Emerson; “every episode has its double and treble meaning”-Frederick Harrison
• consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs; “an egg with a double yolk”; “a double (binary) star”; “double doors”; “dual controls for pilot and copilot”; “duple (or double) time consists of two (or a multiple of two) beats to a measure”
• twice as great or many; “ate a double portion”; “the dose is doubled”; “a twofold increase”
• used of flowers having more than the usual number of petals in crowded or overlapping arrangements; “double chrysanthemums have many rows of petals and are usually spherical or hemispherical”
• used of homologous chromosomes associated in pairs in synapsis
• large enough for two; “a double bed”; “a double room”
• having two meanings with intent to deceive; “a sly double meaning”; “spoke with forked tongue”

ADVERB

• downward and forward; “he was bent double with pain”
• two together; “some people sleep better double”
• to double the degree; “she was doubly rewarded”; “his eyes were double bright”

DOWN

NOUN

• soft fine feathers
• (American football) a complete play to advance the football; “you have four downs to gain ten yards”
• English physician who first described Down’s syndrome (1828-1896)
• (usually plural) a rolling treeless highland with little soil
• fine soft dense hair (as the fine short hair of cattle or deer or the wool of sheep or the undercoat of certain dogs)

VERB

• drink down entirely; “He downed three martinis before dinner”; “She killed a bottle of brandy that night”; “They popped a few beer after work”
• eat immoderately; “Some people can down a pound of meat in the course of one meal”
• bring down or defeat (an opponent)
• shoot at and force to come down; “the enemy landed several of our aircraft”
• cause to come or go down; “The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect”; “The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet”
• improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; “refine one’s style of writing”

ADJECTIVE

• being or moving lower in position or less in some value; “lay face down”; “the moon is down”; “our team is down by a run”; “down by a pawn”; “the stock market is down today”
• extending or moving from a higher to a lower place; “the down staircase”; “the downward course of the stream”
• becoming progressively lower; “the down trend in the real estate market”
• being put out by a strikeout; “two down in the bottom of the ninth”
• understood perfectly; “had his algebra problems down”
• lower than previously; “the market is depressed”; “prices are down”
• shut; “the shades were down”
• not functioning (temporarily or permanently); “we can’t work because the computer is down”
• filled with melancholy and despondency ; “gloomy at the thought of what he had to face”; “gloomy predictions”; “a gloomy silence”; “took a grim view of the economy”; “the darkening mood”; “lonely and blue in a strange city”; “depressed by the loss of his job”; “a dispirited and resigned expression on her face”; “downcast after his defeat”; “feeling discouraged and downhearted”

ADVERB

• spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position; “don’t fall down”; “rode the lift up and skied down”; “prices plunged downward”
• away from a more central or a more northerly place; “was sent down to work at the regional office”; “worked down on the farm”; “came down for the wedding”; “flew down to Florida”
• paid in cash at time of purchase; “put ten dollars down on the necklace”
• from an earlier time; “the story was passed down from father to son”
• to a lower intensity; “he slowly phased down the light until the stage was completely black”
• in an inactive or inoperative state; “the factory went down during the strike”; “the computer went down again”

EVEN

NOUN

• the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall); “he enjoyed the evening light across the lake”

VERB

• make level or straight; “level the ground”
• become even or more even; “even out the surface”
• make even or more even

ADJECTIVE

• divisible by two
• equal in degree or extent or amount; or equally matched or balanced; “even amounts of butter and sugar”; “on even terms”; “it was a fifty-fifty (or even) split”; “had a fifty-fifty (or even) chance”; “an even fight”
• being level or straight or regular and without variation as e.g. in shape or texture; or being in the same plane or at the same height as something else (i.e. even with); “an even application of varnish”; “an even floor”; “the road was not very even”; “the picture is even with the window”
• symmetrically arranged; “even features”; “regular features”; “a regular polygon”
• occurring at fixed intervals; “a regular beat”; “the even rhythm of his breathing”
• of the score in a contest; “the score is tied”

ADVERB

• used as an intensive especially to indicate something unexpected; “even an idiot knows that”; “declined even to consider the idea”; “I don’t have even a dollar!”
• in spite of; notwithstanding; “even when he is sick, he works”; “even with his head start she caught up with him”
• to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons; “looked sick and felt even worse”; “an even (or still) more interesting problem”; “still another problem must be solved”; “a yet sadder tale”
• to the full extent; “loyal even unto death”

EXPRESS

NOUN

• mail that is distributed by a rapid and efficient system
• public transport consisting of a fast train or bus that makes only a few scheduled stops; “he caught the express to New York”
• rapid transport of goods

VERB

• give expression to; “She showed her disappointment”
• articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; “She expressed her anger”; “He uttered a curse”
• serve as a means for expressing something; “The painting of Mary carries motherly love”; “His voice carried a lot of anger”
• indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.; “Can you express this distance in kilometers?”
• manifest the effects of (a gene or genetic trait); “Many of the laboratory animals express the trait”
• obtain from a substance, as by mechanical action; “Italians express coffee rather than filter it”
• send by rapid transport or special messenger service; “She expressed the letter to Florida”

ADJECTIVE

• not tacit or implied; “her express wish”
• without unnecessary stops; “an express train”; “an express shipment”

ADVERB

• by express; “please send the letter express”

FAIR

NOUN

• a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.
• gathering of producers to promote business; “world fair”; “trade fair”; “book fair”
• a competitive exhibition of farm products; “she won a blue ribbon for her baking at the county fair”
• a sale of miscellany; often for charity; “the church bazaar”

VERB

• join so that the external surfaces blend smoothly

ADJECTIVE

• free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules; “a fair referee”; “fair deal”; “on a fair footing”; “a fair fight”; “by fair means or foul”
• not excessive or extreme; “a fairish income”; “reasonable prices”
• very pleasing to the eye; “my bonny lass”; “there’s a bonny bay beyond”; “a comely face”; “young fair maidens”
• (of a baseball) hit between the foul lines; “he hit a fair ball over the third base bag”
• lacking exceptional quality or ability; “a novel of average merit”; “only a fair performance of the sonata”; “in fair health”; “the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average”; “the performance was middling at best”
• attractively feminine; “the fair sex”
• (of a manuscript) having few alterations or corrections; “fair copy”; “a clean manuscript”
• gained or earned without cheating or stealing; “an honest wage”; “an fair penny”
• free of clouds or rain; “today will be fair and warm”
• (used of hair or skin) pale or light-colored; “a fair complexion”;

ADVERB

• in conformity with the rules or laws and without fraud or cheating; “they played fairly”
• without favoring one party, in a fair evenhanded manner; “deal fairly with one another”

FAST

NOUN

• abstaining from food

VERB

• abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons; “Catholics sometimes fast during Lent”
• abstain from eating; “Before the medical exam, you must fast”

ADJECTIVE

• acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly; “fast film”; “on the fast track in school”; “set a fast pace”; “a fast car”
• (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time; “my watch is fast”
• at a rapid tempo; “the band played a fast fox trot”
• (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds; “a fast road”; “grass courts are faster than clay”
• resistant to destruction or fading; “fast colors”
• unrestrained by convention or morality; “Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society”; “deplorably dissipated and degraded”; “riotous living”; “fast women”
• hurried and brief; “paid a flying visit”; “took a flying glance at the book”; “a quick inspection”; “a fast visit”
• securely fixed in place; “the post was still firm after being hit by the car”
• unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause; “a firm ally”; “loyal supporters”; “the true-hearted soldier…of Tippecanoe”- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison; “fast friends”
• (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time; “a fast lens”

ADVERB

• quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form); “how fast can he get here?”; “ran as fast as he could”; “needs medical help fast”; “fast-running rivers”; “fast-breaking news”; “fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters”
• firmly or closely; “held fast to the rope”; “her foot was stuck fast”; “held tight”

FINE

NOUN

• money extracted as a penalty

VERB

• issue a ticket or a fine to as a penalty; “I was fined for parking on the wrong side of the street”; “Move your car or else you will be ticketed!”

ADJECTIVE

• being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition; “an all-right movie”; “the passengers were shaken up but are all right”; “is everything all right?”; “everything’s fine”; “things are okay”; “dinner and the movies had been fine”; “another minute I’d have been fine”
• minutely precise especially in differences in meaning; “a fine distinction”
• thin in thickness or diameter; “a fine film of oil”; “fine hairs”; “read the fine print”
• characterized by elegance or refinement or accomplishment; “fine wine”; “looking fine in her Easter suit”; “a fine gentleman”; “fine china and crystal”; “a fine violinist”; “the fine hand of a master”
• of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles; “wood with a fine grain”; “fine powdery snow”; “fine rain”; “batiste is a cotton fabric with a fine weave”; “covered with a fine film of dust”
• free from impurities; having a high or specified degree of purity; “gold 21 carats fine”

ADVERB

• an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence
• in a delicate manner; “finely shaped features”; “her fine drawn body”

FIRM

NOUN

• the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; “he worked for a brokerage house”

VERB

• become taut or tauter; “Your muscles will firm when you exercise regularly”; “the rope tautened”
• make taut or tauter; “tauten a rope”

ADJECTIVE

• marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable; “firm convictions”; “a firm mouth”; “steadfast resolve”; “a man of unbendable perseverence”; “unwavering loyalty”
• not soft or yielding to pressure; “a firm mattress”; “the snow was firm underfoot”; “solid ground”
• strong and sure; “a firm grasp”; “gave a strong pull on the rope”
• not subject to revision or change; “a firm contract”; “a firm offer”
• (of especially a person’s physical features) not shaking or trembling; “his voice was firm and confident”; “a firm step”
• not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall; “stocks are still firm”
• securely established; “holds a firm position as the country’s leading poet”
• possessing the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue; “firm muscles”
• securely fixed in place; “the post was still firm after being hit by the car”
• unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause; “a firm ally”; “loyal supporters”; “the true-hearted soldier…of Tippecanoe”- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison; “fast friends”

ADVERB

• with resolute determination; “we firmly believed it”; “you must stand firm”

FLUSH

NOUN

• the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
• a rosy color (especially in the cheeks) taken as a sign of good health
• sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menopause and some mental disorders)
• a poker hand with all 5 cards in the same suit
• the swift release of a store of affective force; “they got a great bang out of it”; “what a boot!”; “he got a quick rush from injecting heroin”; “he does it for kicks”
• a sudden rapid flow (as of water); “he heard the flush of a toilet”; “there was a little gush of blood”; “she attacked him with an outpouring of words”
• sudden reddening of the face (as from embarrassment or guilt or shame or modesty)

VERB

• turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame; “The girl blushed when a young man whistled as she walked by”
• flow freely; “The garbage flushed down the river”
• glow or cause to glow with warm color or light; “the sky flushed with rosy splendor”
• make level or straight; “level the ground”
• rinse, clean, or empty with a liquid; “flush the wound with antibiotics”; “purge the old gas tank”
• irrigate with water from a sluice; “sluice the earth”
• cause to flow or flood with or as if with water; “flush the meadows”

ADJECTIVE

• of a surface exactly even with an adjoining one, forming the same plane; “a door flush with the wall”; “the bottom of the window is flush with the floor”
• having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value; “an affluent banker”; “a speculator flush with cash”; “not merely rich but loaded”; “moneyed aristocrats”; “wealthy corporations”

ADVERB

• squarely or solidly; “hit him flush in the face”
• in the same plane; “set it flush with the top of the table”

FORWARD

NOUN

• the person who plays the position of forward in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey
• a position on a basketball, soccer, or hockey team

VERB

• send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit; “forward my mail”

ADJECTIVE

• at or near or directed toward the front; “the forward section of the aircraft”; “a forward plunge down the stairs”; “forward motion”
• used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty; “a forward child badly in need of discipline”
• of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle; “in a forward gear”
• moving forward

ADVERB

• at or to or toward the front; “he faced forward”; “step forward”; “she practiced sewing backward as well as frontward on her new sewing machine”; (`forrad’ and `forrard’ are dialectal variations)
• forward in time or order or degree; “from that time forth”; “from the sixth century onward”
• toward the future; forward in time; “I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring”; “I look forward to seeing you”
• in a forward direction; “go ahead”; “the train moved ahead slowly”; “the boat lurched ahead”; “moved onward into the forest”; “they went slowly forward in the mud”
• near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane; “the captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments”

FREE

NOUN

• people who are free; “the home of the free and the brave”

VERB

• grant freedom to; free from confinement
• relieve from; “Rid the house of pests”
• remove or force out from a position; “The dentist dislodged the piece of food that had been stuck under my gums”; “He finally could free the legs of the earthquake victim who was buried in the rubble”
• grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to; “She exempted me from the exam”
• make (information) available for publication; “release the list with the names of the prisoners”
• free from obligations or duties
• free or remove obstruction from; “free a path across the cluttered floor”
• let off the hook; “I absolve you from this responsibility”
• part with a possession or right; “I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest”; “resign a claim to the throne”
• release (gas or energy) as a result of a chemical reaction or physical decomposition
• make (assets) available; “release the holdings in the dictator’s bank account”

ADJECTIVE

• able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint; “free enterprise”; “a free port”; “a free country”; “I have an hour free”; “free will”; “free of racism”; “feel free to stay as long as you wish”; “a free choice”
• unconstrained or not chemically bound in a molecule or not fixed and capable of relatively unrestricted motion; “free expansion”; “free oxygen”; “a free electron”
• costing nothing; “complimentary tickets”; “free admission”
• not occupied or in use; “a free locker”; “a free lane”
• not fixed in position; “the detached shutter fell on him”; “he pulled his arm free and ran”
• not held in servitude; “after the Civil War he was a free man”
• not taken up by scheduled activities; “a free hour between classes”; “spare time on my hands”
• completely wanting or lacking; “writing barren of insight”; “young recruits destitute of experience”; “innocent of literary merit”; “the sentence was devoid of meaning”
• not literal; “a loose interpretation of what she had been told”; “a free translation of the poem”

ADVERB

• without restraint; “cows in India are running loose”

FULL

NOUN

• the time when the Moon is fully illuminated; “the moon is at the full”

VERB

• beat for the purpose of cleaning and thickening; “full the cloth”
• make (a garment) fuller by pleating or gathering
• increase in phase; “the moon is waxing”

ADJECTIVE

• containing as much or as many as is possible or normal; “a full glass”; “a sky full of stars”; “a full life”; “the auditorium was full to overflowing”
• constituting the full quantity or extent; complete; “an entire town devastated by an earthquake”; “gave full attention”; “a total failure”
• complete in extent or degree and in every particular; “a full game”; “a total eclipse”; “a total disaster”
• filled to satisfaction with food or drink; “a full stomach”
• (of sound) having marked deepness and body; “full tones”; “a full voice”
• having the normally expected amount; “gives full measure”; “gives good measure”; “a good mile from here”
• being at a peak or culminating point; “broad daylight”; “full summer”
• having ample fabric; “the current taste for wide trousers”; “a full skirt”

ADVERB

• to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (`full’ in this sense is used as a combining form); “fully grown”; “he didn’t fully understand”; “knew full well”; “full-grown”; “full-fledged”

HOME

NOUN

• where you live at a particular time; “deliver the package to my home”; “he doesn’t have a home to go to”; “your place or mine?”
• housing that someone is living in; “he built a modest dwelling near the pond”; “they raise money to provide homes for the homeless”
• the country or state or city where you live; “Canadian tariffs enabled United States lumber companies to raise prices at home”; “his home is New Jersey”
• (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score; “he ruled that the runner failed to touch home”
• the place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
• place where something began and flourished; “the United States is the home of basketball”
• an environment offering affection and security; “home is where the heart is”; “he grew up in a good Christian home”; “there’s no place like home”
• a social unit living together; “he moved his family to Virginia”; “It was a good Christian household”; “I waited until the whole house was asleep”; “the teacher asked how many people made up his home”
• an institution where people are cared for; “a home for the elderly”

VERB

• provide with, or send to, a home
• return home accurately from a long distance; “homing pigeons”

ADJECTIVE

• used of your own ground; “a home game”
• relating to or being where one lives or where one’s roots are; “my home town”
• inside the country; “the British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior”; “the nation’s internal politics”

ADVERB

• at or to or in the direction of one’s home or family; “He stays home on weekends”; “after the game the children brought friends home for supper”; “I’ll be home tomorrow”; “came riding home in style”; “I hope you will come home for Christmas”; “I’ll take her home”; “don’t forget to write home”
• on or to the point aimed at; “the arrow struck home”
• to the fullest extent; to the heart; “drove the nail home”; “drove his point home”; “his comments hit home”

JOLLY

NOUN

• a happy party
• a yawl used by a ship’s sailors for general work

VERB

• be silly or tease one another; “After we relaxed, we just kidded around”

ADJECTIVE

• full of or showing high-spirited merriment; “when hearts were young and gay”; “a poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company”- Wordsworth; “the jolly crowd at the reunion”; “jolly old Saint Nick”; “a jovial old gentleman”; “have a merry Christmas”; “peals of merry laughter”; “a mirthful laugh”

ADVERB

• to a moderately sufficient extent or degree; “pretty big”; “pretty bad”; “jolly decent of him”; “the shoes are priced reasonably”; “he is fairly clever with computers”

LAST

NOUN

• the temporal end; the concluding time; “the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell”; “the market was up at the finish”; “they were playing better at the close of the season”
• the last or lowest in an ordering or series; “he was the last to leave”; “he finished an inglorious last”
• a person’s dying act; the final thing a person can do; “he breathed his last”
• the time at which life ends; continuing until dead; “she stayed until his death”; “a struggle to the last”
• a unit of weight equal to 4,000 pounds
• a unit of capacity for grain equal to 80 bushels
• the concluding parts of an event or occurrence; “the end was exciting”; “I had to miss the last of the movie”
• holding device shaped like a human foot that is used to fashion or repair shoes

VERB

• persist for a specified period of time; “The bad weather lasted for three days”
• continue to live through hardship or adversity; “We went without water and food for 3 days”; “These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America”; “The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents”; “how long can a person last without food and water?”

ADJECTIVE

• immediately past; “last Thursday”; “the last chapter we read”
• coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining; “the last time I saw Paris”; “the last day of the month”; “had the last word”; “waited until the last minute”; “he raised his voice in a last supreme call”; “the last game of the season”; “down to his last nickel”
• occurring at or forming an end or termination; “his concluding words came as a surprise”; “the final chapter”; “the last days of the dinosaurs”; “terminal leave”
• most unlikely or unsuitable; “the last person we would have suspected”; “the last man they would have chosen for the job”
• occurring at the time of death; “his last words”; “the last rites”
• conclusive in a process or progression; “the final answer”; “a last resort”; “the net result”
• highest in extent or degree; “to the last measure of human endurance”; “whether they were accomplices in the last degree or a lesser one was…to be determined individually”
• not to be altered or undone; “the judge’s decision is final”; “the arbiter will have the last say”
• lowest in rank or importance; “last prize”; “in last place”

ADVERB

• most_recently; “I saw him last in London”
• the item at the end; “last, I’ll discuss family values”

LIGHT

NOUN

• (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; “the light was filtered through a soft glass window”
• any device serving as a source of illumination; “he stopped the car and turned off the lights”
• a particular perspective or aspect of a situation; “although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand”
• the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light; “its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun”
• an illuminated area; “he stepped into the light”
• a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination; “follow God’s light”
• the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures; “he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark”
• a person regarded very fondly; “the light of my life”
• having abundant light or illumination; “they played as long as it was light”; “as long as the lighting was good”
• mental understanding as an enlightening experience; “he finally saw the light”; “can you shed light on this problem?”
• merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; “he had a sparkle in his eye”; “there’s a perpetual twinkle in his eyes”
• public awareness; “it brought the scandal to light”
• a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
• a visual warning signal; “they saw the light of the beacon”; “there was a light at every corner”
• a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; “do you have a light?”

VERB

• make lighter or brighter; “This lamp lightens the room a bit”
• begin to smoke; “After the meal, some of the diners lit up”
• to come to rest, settle; “Misfortune lighted upon him”
• cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat; “Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter”; “Light a cigarette”
• fall to somebody by assignment or lot; “The task fell to me”; “It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims”
• alight from (a horse)

ADJECTIVE

• of comparatively little physical weight or density; “a light load”; “magnesium is a light metal–having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C”
• (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent; “light blue”; “light colors such as pastels”; “a light-colored powder”
• of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment; “light infantry”; “light cavalry”; “light industry”; “light weapons”
• not great in degree or quantity or number; “a light sentence”; “a light accent”; “casualties were light”; “light snow was falling”; “light misty rain”; “light smoke from the chimney”
• psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles; “a light heart”
• characterized by or emitting light; “a room that is light when the shutters are open”; “the inside of the house was airy and light”
• (used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress; “a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable”; “a weak stress on the second syllable”
• easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned; “a light diet”
• (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency; “light soil”
• (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; “efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings”; “clear laughter like a waterfall”; “clear reds and blues”; “a light lilting voice like a silver bell”
• moving easily and quickly; nimble; “the dancer was light and graceful”; “a lightsome buoyant step”; “walked with a light tripping step”
• demanding little effort; not burdensome; “light housework”; “light exercise”
• of little intensity or power or force; “the light touch of her fingers”; “a light breeze”
• (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average; “light water is ordinary water”
• weak and likely to lose consciousness; “suddenly felt faint from the pain”; “was sick and faint from hunger”; “felt light in the head”; “a swooning fit”; “light-headed with wine”; “light-headed from lack of sleep”
• very thin and insubstantial; “thin paper”; “light summer dresses”
• marked by temperance in indulgence; “abstemious with the use of adverbs”; “a light eater”; “a light smoker”; “ate a light supper”
• less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so; “a light pound”; “a scant cup of sugar”; “regularly gives short weight”
• having little importance; “losing his job was no light matter”
• intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound; “light verse”; “a light comedy”
• silly or trivial; “idle pleasure”; “light banter”; “light idle chatter”
• designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight; “light aircraft”; “a light truck”
• having relatively few calories; “diet cola”; “light (or lite) beer”; “lite (or light) mayonnaise”; “a low-cal diet”
• (of sleep) easily disturbed; “in a light doze”; “a light sleeper”; “a restless wakeful night”
• casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; “her easy virtue”; “he was told to avoid loose (or light) women”; “wanton behavior”

ADVERB

• with few burdens; “experienced travellers travel light”

LOW

NOUN

• an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation; “a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow”
• British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
• a low level or position or degree; “the stock market fell to a new low”
• the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

VERB

• make a low noise, characteristic of bovines

ADJECTIVE

• less than normal in degree or intensity or amount; “low prices”; “the reservoir is low”
• literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension; “low ceilings”; “low clouds”; “low hills”; “the sun is low”; “low furniture”; “a low bow”
• very low in volume; “a low murmur”; “the low-toned murmur of the surf”
• unrefined in character; “low comedy”
• used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
• of the most contemptible kind; “abject cowardice”; “a low stunt to pull”; “a low-down sneak”; “his miserable treatment of his family”; “You miserable skunk!”; “a scummy rabble”; “a scurvy trick”
• low or inferior in station or quality; “a humble cottage”; “a lowly parish priest”; “a modest man of the people”; “small beginnings”
• no longer sufficient; “supplies are low”; “our funds are depleted”
• subdued or brought low in condition or status; “brought low”; “a broken man”; “his broken spirit”
• filled with melancholy and despondency ; “gloomy at the thought of what he had to face”; “gloomy predictions”; “a gloomy silence”; “took a grim view of the economy”; “the darkening mood”; “lonely and blue in a strange city”; “depressed by the loss of his job”; “a dispirited and resigned expression on her face”; “downcast after his defeat”; “feeling discouraged and downhearted”

ADVERB

• in a low position; near the ground; “the branches hung low”

O.K.

NOUN

• an endorsement; “they gave us the O.K. to go ahead”

VERB

• give sanction to; “I approve of his educational policies”

ADJECTIVE

• being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition; “an all-right movie”; “the passengers were shaken up but are all right”; “is everything all right?”; “everything’s fine”; “things are okay”; “dinner and the movies had been fine”; “another minute I’d have been fine”

ADVERB

• in a satisfactory or adequate manner; “she’ll do okay on her own”; “held up all right under pressure”; (`alright’ is a nonstandard variant of `all right’)

OKAY

NOUN

• an endorsement; “they gave us the O.K. to go ahead”

VERB

• give sanction to; “I approve of his educational policies”

ADJECTIVE

• being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition; “an all-right movie”; “the passengers were shaken up but are all right”; “is everything all right?”; “everything’s fine”; “things are okay”; “dinner and the movies had been fine”; “another minute I’d have been fine”

ADVERB

• in a satisfactory or adequate manner; “she’ll do okay on her own”; “held up all right under pressure”; (`alright’ is a nonstandard variant of `all right’)

OUT

NOUN

• (baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball; “you only get 3 outs per inning”

VERB

• to state openly and publicly one’s homosexuality; “This actor outed last year”
• reveal (something) about somebody’s identity or lifestyle; “The gay actor was outed last week”; “Someone outed a CIA agent”
• be made known; be disclosed or revealed; “The truth will out”

ADJECTIVE

• not allowed to continue to bat or run; “he was tagged out at second on a close play”; “he fanned out”
• being out or having grown cold; “threw his extinct cigarette into the stream”; “the fire is out”
• not worth considering as a possibility; “a picnic is out because of the weather”
• out of power; especially having been unsuccessful in an election; “now the Democrats are out”
• excluded from use or mention; “forbidden fruit”; “in our house dancing and playing cards were out”; “a taboo subject”
• directed outward or serving to direct something outward; “the out doorway”; “the out basket”
• no longer fashionable; “that style is out these days”
• outside or external; “the out surface of a ship’s hull”
• outer or outlying; “the out islands”
• knocked unconscious by a heavy blow

ADVERB

• away from home; “they went out last night”
• moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden; “the cat came out from under the bed”;
• from one’s possession; “he gave out money to the poor”; “gave away the tickets”

PAT

NOUN

• the sound made by a gentle blow
• a light touch or stroke

VERB

• pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin
• hit lightly; “pat him on the shoulder”

ADJECTIVE

• having only superficial plausibility; “glib promises”; “a slick commercial”
• exactly suited to the occasion; “a pat reply”

ADVERB

• completely or perfectly; “he has the lesson pat”; “had the system down pat”

PLAIN

NOUN

• extensive tract of level open land; “they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain”; “he longed for the fields of his youth”
• a basic knitting stitch

VERB

• express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; “My mother complains all day”; “She has a lot to kick about”

ADJECTIVE

• clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment; “the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields”; “evident hostility”; “manifest disapproval”; “patent advantages”; “made his meaning plain”; “it is plain that he is no reactionary”; “in plain view”
• not elaborate or elaborated; simple; “plain food”; “stuck to the plain facts”; “a plain blue suit”; “a plain rectangular brick building”
• lacking patterns especially in color
• not mixed with extraneous elements; “plain water”; “sheer wine”; “not an unmixed blessing”
• free from any effort to soften to disguise; “the plain and unvarnished truth”; “the unvarnished candor of old people and children”
• lacking embellishment or ornamentation; “a plain hair style”; “unembellished white walls”; “functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete”
• lacking in physical beauty or proportion; “a homely child”; “several of the buildings were downright homely”; “a plain girl with a freckled face”

ADVERB

• unmistakably (`plain’ is often used informally for `plainly’); “the answer is obviously wrong”; “she was in bed and evidently in great pain”; “he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list”; “it is all patently nonsense”; “she has apparently been living here for some time”; “I thought he owned the property, but apparently not”; “You are plainly wrong”; “he is plain stubborn”

PLUMB

NOUN

• the metal bob of a plumb line

VERB

• measure the depth of something
• weight with lead
• examine thoroughly and in great depth
• adjust with a plumb line so as to make vertical

ADJECTIVE

• exactly vertical; “the tower of Pisa is far out of plumb”

ADVERB

• completely; used as intensifiers; “clean forgot the appointment”; “I’m plumb (or plum) tuckered out”
• conforming to the direction of a plumb line
• exactly; “fell plumb in the middle of the puddle”

PLUMP

NOUN

• the sound of a sudden heavy fall

VERB

• drop sharply; “The stock market plummeted”
• set (something or oneself) down with or as if with a noise; “He planked the money on the table”; “He planked himself into the sofa”
• make fat or plump; “We will plump out that poor starving child”
• give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number; “I plumped for the losing candidates”

ADJECTIVE

• sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure; “a chubby child”; “pleasingly plump”;

ADVERB

• straight down especially heavily or abruptly; “the anchor fell plump into the sea”; “we dropped the rock plump into the water”

POP

NOUN

• an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
• a sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring; “in New England they call sodas tonics”
• a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
• music of general appeal to teenagers; a bland watered-down version of rock’n’roll with more rhythm and harmony and an emphasis on romantic love

VERB

• bulge outward; “His eyes popped”
• hit a pop-fly; “He popped out to shortstop”
• make a sharp explosive noise; “The cork of the champagne bottle popped”
• fire a weapon with a loud explosive noise; “The soldiers were popping”
• cause to make a sharp explosive sound; “He popped the champagne bottle”
• appear suddenly or unexpectedly; “The farm popped into view as we turned the corner”; “He suddenly popped up out of nowhere”
• put or thrust suddenly and forcefully; “pop the pizza into the microwave oven”; “He popped the petit-four into his mouth”
• release suddenly; “pop the clutch”
• hit or strike; “He popped me on the head”
• drink down entirely; “He downed three martinis before dinner”; “She killed a bottle of brandy that night”; “They popped a few beer after work”
• take drugs, especially orally; “The man charged with murder popped a valium to calm his nerves”
• cause to burst with a loud, explosive sound; “The child popped the balloon”
• burst open with a sharp, explosive sound; “The balloon popped”; “This popcorn pops quickly in the microwave oven”

ADJECTIVE

• (of music or art) new and of general appeal (especially among young people)

ADVERB

• like a pop or with a pop; “everything went pop”

QUIET

NOUN

• a period of calm weather; “there was a lull in the storm”
• an untroubled state; free from disturbances
• the absence of sound; “he needed silence in order to sleep”; “the street was quiet”
• a disposition free from stress or emotion

VERB

• become quiet or quieter; “The audience fell silent when the speaker entered”
• make calm or still; “quiet the dragons of worry and fear”

ADJECTIVE

• characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity; “a quiet life”; “a quiet throng of onlookers”; “quiet peace-loving people”; “the factions remained quiet for almost 10 years”
• free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound; “a quiet audience at the concert”; “the room was dark and quiet”
• not showy or obtrusive; “clothes in quiet good taste”
• in a softened tone; “hushed voices”; “muted trumpets”; “a subdued whisper”; “a quiet reprimand”
• (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves; “a ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay”; “the quiet waters of a lagoon”; “a lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky”; “a smooth channel crossing”; “scarcely a ripple on the still water”; “unruffled water”
• of the sun characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sunspots e.g.

ADVERB

• with little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet’ is a nonstandard variant for `quietly’); “her hands rested quietly in her lap”; “the rock star was quietly led out the back door”; “sit here as quiet as you can”

RIGHT

NOUN

• an abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature; “they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”; “Certain rights can never be granted to the government but must be kept in the hands of the people”- Eleanor Roosevelt; “a right is not something that somebody gives you; it is something that nobody can take away”
• location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east; “he stood on the right”
• the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher’s right
• those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged
• the hand that is on the right side of the body; “he writes with his right hand but pitches with his left”; “hit him with quick rights to the body”
• a turn toward the side of the body that is on the south when the person is facing east; “take a right at the corner”
• anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
• (frequently plural) the interest possessed by law or custom in some intangible thing; “mineral rights”; “film rights”

VERB

• make reparations or amends for; “right a wrongs done to the victims of the Holocaust”
• put in or restore to an upright position; “They righted the sailboat that had capsized”
• regain an upright or proper position; “The capsized boat righted again”
• make right or correct; “Correct the mistakes”; “rectify the calculation”

ADJECTIVE

• being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north; “my right hand”; “right center field”; “a right-hand turn”; “the right bank of a river is the bank on your right side when you are facing downstream”
• free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth; “the correct answer”; “the correct version”; “the right answer”; “took the right road”; “the right decision”
• socially right or correct; “it isn’t right to leave the party without saying goodbye”; “correct behavior”
• in conformance with justice or law or morality; “do the right thing and confess”
• correct in opinion or judgment; “time proved him right”
• appropriate for a condition or purpose or occasion or a person’s character, needs; “everything in its proper place”; “the right man for the job”; “she is not suitable for the position”
• of or belonging to the political or intellectual right
• in or into a satisfactory condition; “things are right again now”; “put things right”
• intended for the right hand; “a right-hand glove”
• in accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure; “what’s the right word for this?”; “the right way to open oysters”
• having the axis perpendicular to the base; “a right angle”
• (of the side of cloth or clothing) facing or intended to face outward; “the right side of the cloth showed the pattern”; “be sure your shirt is right side out”
• most suitable or right for a particular purpose; “a good time to plant tomatoes”; “the right time to act”; “the time is ripe for great sociological changes”
• precisely accurate; “a veracious account”

ADVERB

• precisely, exactly; “stand right here!”
• immediately; “she called right after dinner”
• exactly; “he fell flop on his face”
• toward or on the right; also used figuratively; “he looked right and left”; “the party has moved right”
• in the right manner; “please do your job properly!”; “can’t you carry me decent?”
• an interjection expressing agreement
• completely; “she felt right at home”; “he fell right into the trap”
• (Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree; “the baby is mighty cute”; “he’s mighty tired”; “it is powerful humid”; “that boy is powerful big now”; “they have a right nice place”; “they rejoiced mightily”
• in accordance with moral or social standards; “that serves him right”; “do right by him”
• in an accurate manner; “the flower had been correctly depicted by his son”; “he guessed right”

ROUGH

NOUN

• the part of a golf course bordering the fairway where the grass is not cut short

VERB

• prepare in preliminary or sketchy form

ADJECTIVE

• having or caused by an irregular surface; “trees with rough bark”; “rough ground”; “rough skin”; “rough blankets”; “his unsmooth face”
• (of persons or behavior) lacking refinement or finesse; “she was a diamond in the rough”; “rough manners”
• not quite exact or correct; “the approximate time was 10 o’clock”; “a rough guess”; “a ballpark estimate”
• full of hardship or trials; “the rocky road to success”; “they were having a rough time”
• violently agitated and turbulent; “boisterous winds and waves”; “the fierce thunders roar me their music”- Ezra Pound; “rough weather”; “rough seas”
• unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound; “a gravelly voice”
• ready and able to resort to force or violence; “pugnacious spirits…lamented that there was so little prospect of an exhilarating disturbance”- Herman Melville; “they were rough and determined fighting men”
• of the margin of a leaf shape; having the edge cut or fringed or scalloped
• causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements; “a rough ride”
• not shaped by cutting or trimming; “an uncut diamond”; “rough gemstones”
• not carefully or expertly made; “managed to make a crude splint”; “a crude cabin of logs with bark still on them”; “rough carpentry”
• not perfected; “a rough draft”; “a few rough sketches”
• unpleasantly stern; “wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus”; “the nomad life is rough and hazardous”
• unkind or cruel or uncivil; “had harsh words”; “a harsh and unlovable old tyrant”; “a rough answer”

ADVERB

• with roughness or violence (`rough’ is an informal variant for `roughly’); “he was pushed roughly aside”; “they treated him rough”
• with rough motion as over a rough surface; “ride rough”

ROUND

NOUN

• a charge of ammunition for a single shot
• an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs; “the never-ending cycle of the seasons”
• a regular route for a sentry or policeman; “in the old days a policeman walked a beat and knew all his people by name”
• (often plural) a series of professional calls (usually in a set order); “the doctor goes on his rounds first thing every morning”; “the postman’s rounds”; “we enjoyed our round of the local bars”
• the activity of playing 18 holes of golf; “a round of golf takes about 4 hours”
• the usual activities in your day; “the doctor made his rounds”
• (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
• the course along which communications spread; “the story is going the rounds in Washington”
• a serving to each of a group (usually alcoholic); “he ordered a second round”
• a cut of beef between the rump and the lower leg
• a partsong in which voices follow each other; one voice starts and others join in one after another until all are singing different parts of the song at the same time; “they enjoyed singing rounds”
• an outburst of applause; “there was a round of applause”
• a crosspiece between the legs of a chair
• any circular or rotating mechanism; “the machine punched out metal circles”

VERB

• wind around; move along a circular course; “round the bend”
• make round; “round the edges”
• pronounce with rounded lips
• attack in speech or writing; “The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker”
• bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state; “polish your social manners”
• express as a round number; “round off the amount”
• become round, plump, or shapely; “The young woman is fleshing out”

ADJECTIVE

• having a circular shape
• (of sounds) full and rich; “orotund tones”; “the rotund and reverberating phrase”; “pear-shaped vowels”
• (mathematics) expressed to the nearest integer, ten, hundred, or thousand; “in round numbers”

ADVERB

• from beginning to end; throughout; “It rains all year round on Skye”; “frigid weather the year around”

SECOND

NOUN

• 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d’Unites
• an indefinitely short time; “wait just a moment”; “in a mo”; “it only takes a minute”; “in just a bit”
• the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed near the second of the bases in the infield
• a particular point in time; “the moment he arrived the party began”
• following the first in an ordering or series; “he came in a close second”
• a 60th part of a minute of arc; “the treasure is 2 minutes and 45 seconds south of here”
• the official attendant of a contestant in a duel or boxing match
• a speech seconding a motion; “do I hear a second?”
• the gear that has the second lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; “he had to shift down into second to make the hill”
• merchandise that has imperfections; usually sold at a reduced price without the brand name

VERB

• give support or one’s approval to; “I’ll second that motion”; “I can’t back this plan”; “endorse a new project”
• transfer an employee to a different, temporary assignment; “The officer was seconded for duty overseas”

ADJECTIVE

• coming next after the first in position in space or time or degree or magnitude
• a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first; “second flute”; “the second violins”

ADVERB

• in the second place; “second, we must consider the economy”

SHORT

NOUN

• the location on a baseball field where the shortstop is stationed
• accidental contact between two points in an electric circuit that have a potential difference
• the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed between second and third base

VERB

• cheat someone by not returning him enough money
• create a short circuit in

ADJECTIVE

• primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration; “a short life”; “a short flight”; “a short holiday”; “a short story”; “only a few short months”
• (primarily spatial sense) having little length or lacking in length; “short skirts”; “short hair”; “the board was a foot short”; “a short toss”
• low in stature; not tall; “he was short and stocky”; “short in stature”; “a short smokestack”; “a little man”
• not sufficient to meet a need; “an inadequate income”; “a poor salary”; “money is short”; “on short rations”; “food is in short supply”; “short on experience”
• (of memory) deficient in retentiveness or range; “a short memory”
• not holding securities or commodities that one sells in expectation of a fall in prices; “a short sale”; “short in cotton”
• of speech sounds or syllables of relatively short duration; “the English vowel sounds in `pat’, `pet’, `pit’, `pot’, putt’ are short”
• less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so; “a light pound”; “a scant cup of sugar”; “regularly gives short weight”
• lacking foresight or scope; “a short view of the problem”; “shortsighted policies”; “shortsighted critics derided the plan”; “myopic thinking”
• tending to crumble or break into flakes due to a large amount of shortening; “shortbread is a short crumbly cookie”; “a short flaky pie crust”
• marked by rude or peremptory shortness; “try to cultivate a less brusque manner”; “a curt reply”; “the salesgirl was very short with him”

ADVERB

• quickly and without warning; “he stopped suddenly”
• without possessing something at the time it is contractually sold; “he made his fortune by selling short just before the crash”
• clean across; “the car’s axle snapped short”
• at some point or distance before a goal is reached; “he fell short of our expectations”
• so as to interrupt; “She took him up short before he could continue”
• at a disadvantage; “I was caught short”
• in a curt, abrupt and discourteous manner; “he told me curtly to get on with it”; “he talked short with everyone”; “he said shortly that he didn’t like it”

SOLO

NOUN

• any activity that is performed alone without assistance
• a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment)
• a flight in which the aircraft pilot is unaccompanied

VERB

• fly alone, without a co-pilot or passengers
• perform a piece written for a single instrument

ADJECTIVE

• composed or performed by a single voice or instrument; “a passage for solo clarinet”

ADVERB

• without anybody else or anything else; “the child stayed home alone”; “the pillar stood alone, supporting nothing”; “he flew solo”

SQUARE

NOUN

• (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon; “you can compute the area of a square if you know the length of its sides”
• the product of two equal terms; “nine is the second power of three”; “gravity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance”
• an open area at the meeting of two or more streets
• something approximating the shape of a square
• someone who doesn’t understand what is going on
• a formal and conservative person with old-fashioned views
• any artifact having a shape similar to a plane geometric figure with four equal sides and four right angles; “a checkerboard has 64 squares”
• a hand tool consisting of two straight arms at right angles; used to construct or test right angles; “the carpenter who built this room must have lost his square”

VERB

• make square; “Square the circle”; “square the wood with a file”
• raise to the second power
• cause to match, as of ideas or acts
• position so as to be square; “He squared his shoulders”
• be compatible with; “one idea squares with another”
• pay someone and settle a debt; “I squared with him”
• turn the paddle; in canoeing
• turn the oar, while rowing

ADJECTIVE

• having four equal sides and four right angles or forming a right angle; “a square peg in a round hole”; “a square corner”
• characterized by honesty and fairness; “straight dealing”; “a square deal”
• providing abundant nourishment; “a hearty meal”; “good solid food”; “ate a substantial breakfast”; “four square meals a day”
• leaving no balance; “my account with you is now all square”
• without evasion or compromise; “a square contradiction”; “he is not being as straightforward as it appears”
• rigidly conventional or old-fashioned

ADVERB

• in a straight direct way; “looked him squarely in the eye”; “ran square into me”
• in a square shape; “a squarely cut piece of paper”; “folded the sheet of paper square”
• firmly and solidly; “hit the ball squarely”; “the bat met the ball squarely”; “planted his great bulk square before his enemy”

STEADY

NOUN

• a person loved by another person

VERB

• make steady; “steady yourself”
• support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace; “brace your elbows while working on the potter’s wheel”

ADJECTIVE

• not subject to change or variation especially in behavior; “a steady beat”; “a steady job”; “a steady breeze”; “a steady increase”; “a good steady ballplayer”
• not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall; “stocks are still firm”
• securely in position; not shaky; “held the ladder steady”
• marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable; “firm convictions”; “a firm mouth”; “steadfast resolve”; “a man of unbendable perseverence”; “unwavering loyalty”
• relating to a person who does something regularly; “a regular customer”; “a steady drinker”
• not easily excited or upset; “steady nerves”

ADVERB

• in a steady manner; “he could still walk steadily”

STILL

NOUN

• a static photograph (especially one taken from a movie and used for advertising purposes); “he wanted some stills for a magazine ad”
• (poetic) tranquil silence; “the still of the night”
• an apparatus used for the distillation of liquids; consists of a vessel in which a substance is vaporized by heat and a condenser where the vapor is condensed
• a plant and works where alcoholic drinks are made by distillation

VERB

• make calm or still; “quiet the dragons of worry and fear”
• cause to be quiet or not talk; “Please silence the children in the church!”
• lessen the intensity of or calm; “The news eased my conscience”; “still the fears”
• make motionless

ADJECTIVE

• not in physical motion; “the inertia of an object at rest”
• marked by absence of sound; “a silent house”; “soundless footsteps on the grass”; “the night was still”
• (of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves; “a ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay”; “the quiet waters of a lagoon”; “a lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky”; “a smooth channel crossing”; “scarcely a ripple on the still water”; “unruffled water”
• used of pictures; of a single or static photograph not presented so as to create the illusion of motion; or representing objects not capable of motion; “a still photograph”; “Cezanne’s still life of apples”
• not sparkling; “a still wine”; “still mineral water”
• free from noticeable current; “a still pond”; “still waters run deep”

ADVERB

• with reference to action or condition; without change, interruption, or cessation; “it’s still warm outside”; “will you still love me when we’re old and grey?”
• despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession); “although I’m a little afraid, however I’d like to try it”; “while we disliked each other, nevertheless we agreed”; “he was a stern yet fair master”; “granted that it is dangerous, all the same I still want to go”
• to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons; “looked sick and felt even worse”; “an even (or still) more interesting problem”; “still another problem must be solved”; “a yet sadder tale”
• without moving or making a sound; “he sat still as a statue”; “time stood still”; “they waited stock-still outside the door”; “he couldn’t hold still any longer”

TIPTOE

NOUN

• the tip of a toe

VERB

• walk on one’s toes

ADJECTIVE

• walking on the tips of ones’s toes so as to make no noise; “moving with tiptoe steps”

ADVERB

• on tiptoe or as if on tiptoe; “standing tiptoe”

TRUE

NOUN

• proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment; “out of true”

VERB

• make level, square, balanced, or concentric; “true up the cylinder of an engine”

ADJECTIVE

• consistent with fact or reality; not false; “the story is true”; “it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true”- B. Russell; “the true meaning of the statement”
• accurately placed or thrown; “his aim was true”; “he was dead on target”
• devoted (sometimes fanatically) to a cause or concept or truth; “true believers bonded together against all who disagreed with them”
• expressing or given to expressing the truth; “a true statement”; “gave truthful testimony”; “a truthful person”
• conforming to definitive criteria; “the horseshoe crab is not a true crab”; “Pythagoras was the first true mathematician”
• worthy of being depended on; “a dependable worker”; “an honest working stiff”; “a reliable sourcSFLe of information”; “he was true to his word”; “I would be true for there are those who trust me”
• not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed; “genuine emotion”; “her interest in people was unfeigned”; “true grief”
• rightly so called; “true courage”; “a spirit which true men have always admired”; “a true friend”
• determined with reference to the earth’s axis rather than the magnetic poles; “true north is geographic north”
• having a legally established claim; “the legitimate heir”; “the true and lawful king”
• in tune; accurate in pitch; “a true note”
• accurately fitted; level; “the window frame isn’t quite true”

ADVERB

• as acknowledged; “true, she is the smartest in her class”

UPSTAGE

NOUN

• the rear part of the stage

VERB

• treat snobbishly, put in one’s place
• move upstage, forcing the other actors to turn away from the audience
• steal the show, draw attention to oneself away from someone else; “When the dog entered the stage, he upstaged the actress”

ADJECTIVE

• of the back half of a stage; “she crossed to the upstage chair forcing the lead to turn his back to the audience”
• remote in manner; “stood apart with aloof dignity”; “a distant smile”; “he was upstage with strangers”

ADVERB

• at or toward the rear of the stage; “the dancers were directed to move upstage”

WELL

NOUN

• a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
• a cavity or vessel used to contain liquid
• an abundant source; “she was a well of information”
• an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway)
• an enclosed compartment in a ship or plane for holding something as e.g. fish or a plane’s landing gear or for protecting something as e.g. a ship’s pumps

VERB

• come up, as of a liquid; “Tears well in her eyes”; “the currents well up”

ADJECTIVE

• in good health especially after having suffered illness or injury; “appears to be entirely well”; “the wound is nearly well”; “a well man”; “I think I’m well; at least I feel well”
• resulting favorably; “it’s a good thing that I wasn’t there”; “it is good that you stayed”; “it is well that no one saw you”; “all’s well that ends well”
• wise or advantageous and hence advisable; “it would be well to start early”

ADVERB

• (often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (`good’ is a nonstandard dialectal variant for `well’); “the children behaved well”; “a task well done”; “the party went well”; “he slept well”; “a well-argued thesis”; “a well-seasoned dish”; “a well-planned party”; “the baby can walk pretty good”
• thoroughly or completely; fully; often used as a combining form; “The problem is well understood”; “she was well informed”; “shake well before using”; “in order to avoid food poisoning be sure the meat is well cooked”; “well-done beef”, “well-satisfied customers”; “well-educated”
• indicating high probability; in all likelihood; “I might well do it”; “a mistake that could easily have ended in disaster”; “you may well need your umbrella”; “he could equally well be trying to deceive us”
• (used for emphasis or as an intensifier) entirely or fully; “a book well worth reading”; “was well aware of the difficulties ahead”; “suspected only too well what might be going on”
• to a suitable or appropriate extent or degree; “the project was well underway”; “the fetus has well developed organs”; “his father was well pleased with his grades”
• favorably; with approval; “their neighbors spoke well of them”; “he thought well of the book”
• to a great extent or degree; “I’m afraid the film was well over budget”; “painting the room white made it seem considerably (or substantially) larger”; “the house has fallen considerably in value”; “the price went up substantially”
• with great or especially intimate knowledge; “we knew them well”
• with prudence or propriety; “You would do well to say nothing more”; “could not well refuse”
• with skill or in a pleasing manner; “she dances well”; “he writes well”
• in a manner affording benefit or advantage; “she married well”; “The children were settled advantageously in Seattle”
• in financial comfort; “They live well”; “she has been able to live comfortably since her husband died”
• without unusual distress or resentment; with good humor; “took the joke well”; “took the tragic news well”

WHOLESALE

NOUN

• the selling of goods to merchants; usually in large quantities for resale to consumers

VERB

• sell in large quantities

ADJECTIVE

• ignoring distinctions; “sweeping generalizations”; “wholesale destruction”

ADVERB

• at a wholesale price; “I can sell it to you wholesale”
• on a large scale without careful discrimination; “I buy food wholesale”

WORST

NOUN

• the least favorable outcome; “the worst that could happen”
• the greatest damage or wickedness of which one is capable; “the invaders did their worst”; “so pure of heart that his worst is another man’s best”
• the weakest effort or poorest achievement one is capable of; “it was the worst he had ever done on a test”

VERB

• defeat thoroughly; “He mopped up the floor with his opponents”

ADJECTIVE

• (superlative of `bad’) most wanting in quality or value or condition; “the worst player on the team”; “the worst weather of the year”

ADVERB

• to the highest degree of inferiority or badness; “She suffered worst of all”; “schools were the worst hit by government spending cuts”; “the worst dressed person present”

WRONG

NOUN

• that which is contrary to the principles of justice or law; “he feels that you are in the wrong”
• any harm or injury resulting from a violation of a legal right

VERB

• treat unjustly; do wrong to

ADJECTIVE

• not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth; “an incorrect calculation”; “the report in the paper is wrong”; “your information is wrong”; “the clock showed the wrong time”; “found themselves on the wrong road”; “based on the wrong assumptions”
• contrary to conscience or morality or law; “it is wrong for the rich to take advantage of the poor”; “cheating is wrong”; “it is wrong to lie”
• not appropriate for a purpose or occasion; “said all the wrong things”
• not functioning properly; “something is amiss”; “has gone completely haywire”; “something is wrong with the engine”
• based on or acting or judging in error; “it is wrong to think that way”
• not in accord with established usage or procedure; “the wrong medicine”; “the wrong way to shuck clams”; “it is incorrect for a policeman to accept gifts”
• used of the side of cloth or clothing intended to face inward; “socks worn wrong side out”
• badly timed; “an ill-timed intervention”; “you think my intrusion unseasonable”; “an untimely remark”; “it was the wrong moment for a joke”
• characterized by errors; not agreeing with a model or not following established rules; “he submitted a faulty report”; “an incorrect transcription”; the wrong side of the road”

ADVERB

• in an inaccurate manner; “he decided to reveal the details only after other sources had reported them incorrectly”; “she guessed wrong”

ZIGZAG

NOUN

• an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions

VERB

• travel along a zigzag path; “The river zigzags through the countryside”

ADJECTIVE

• having short sharp turns or angles

ADVERB

• in a zigzag course or on a zigzag path; “birds flew zigzag across the blue sky”

SliTaz is an ideal blogging platform and surprisingly runs very quickly even when configured as a Virtual Machine running on Windows.

At present only three Firefox blogging extensions are installed – Zemanta, ScribeFire and KGen. Zemanta finds related content while you write your post, so you can add pictures, links and widgets with a single click. Recently Zemanta has been concentrating on increasing the speed of their add-on so that your editing time is not effected by its operation. When you edit a post with the WordPress editor the Zemanta user interface will appear on the right. ScribeFire is a full-featured blog editor that integrates with your browser and lets you easily post to your blog. ScribeFire is also integrated with Zemanta. KGen (Keyword Generator) allows you to see what keywords are strong on visited web pages for search engines.

WordPress is configured with the highly acclaimed and customizable Weaver 2.0 theme which you can download from here. Only one additional plugin has been installed, fluency admin. This plugin extends the WordPress admin interface by increasing the ease with which you can navigate and also provides you with some extra configuration options.

The user names and passwords you need to know are listed below:

• • username: root         password: root
  • username: tux           password: root

When you start the Live CD or the Virtual Machine you will not need a password. However if you want to have administrator privileges or login remotely as user “tux” then you’ll need them.

Download Links:

• LiveCD
• Virtual Machine

• Presentation I: abandon – devote
• Presentation II: devour – lead
• Presentation III: league – restock
• Presentation IV: restore – zap

Introduction

Wordnet is based on a model of the organization of human memory called a  Semantic Network (see  Collins and Quillian). Such networks represent semantic relations among concepts as in the diagram on the right. We have knowledge of tens of thousands of concepts which we can usually recall effortlessly.

As a lexical database of English, Wordnet is concerned with nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. Unlike a conventional dictionary, words are grouped together into sets of synomyns  called synsets. A synset is Wordnet’s basic building block and contains one or more words. Some possible synsets are:

• {shape, form}
• {gazing, shaving, skimming}
• {telegraphically, tersely}
• {takeoff}

Within the context of Semantic Nets, a Synset represents a concept and each word within the set has a sense which defines that concept. For instance, the concept of the spatial arrangement of something as distinct from its substance can be referred to as form or shape.

So what are the relationships among words that Wordnet defines? The designers of Wordnet decided to base the relationships between Synsets on hierarchical lexical and semantic relationships most of which end in onym.  The most common semantic relations defined are:

Synonym: a word which may replace another word in a sentence without changing the meaning. In Wordnet, a synset (synonym set) contains words that are equivalent in meaning or nearly so.

Antonym: a word with the exact opposite meaning of another word.

Hypernym: a word which defines the class to which other equally-ranked items belong, such as the generic word “tree” for “oak” or “hazel.” For verbs we have walk which is a way of moving on foot and a generic term for verbs like creep, totter and amble.

Hyponym: one of the equally-ranked members of a generic class or group of items., for example “lily” or “violet” in the class of “flowers.”

Holonym: a word for the whole of which other words are a part. For instance house contains roof and window and is therefore the whole in this whole/part relationship.

Meronym: a word that names a part that belongs to a whole or larger entity. All of these are part-whole relationships:

• “door” or “window” in “house”
• “engine” or “steering-wheel” in “car”

Troponym: a verb that indicates more precisely the manner of doing something by replacing a verb of a more generalized meaning, thus the verb to stroll indicates a more leisurely, casual manner of to walk.

Entailment: a relationship between two words where the truth of one word requires the truth of the other. For instance snoring requires sleeping to be true – the verb to sleep is entailed by to snore.

Relationships for nouns

• synonym/antonym
• hypernym/hyponym
• holonym/meronym

Relationships for verbs

• synonym/antonym
• hypernym
• troponym
• entailment

Relationships for adjective

• synonym/antonym

Relationships for adverbs

• synonym

WordNet was developed by the Cognitive Science Laboratory at Princeton University, under the direction of George A. Miller (Emeritus).

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• Terminology, An App for the English Language (macstories.net)
• The Google Similarity Distance (portal.acm.org)
• Free Visual English Dictionary and Thesaurus | Discover meaning of words and associated words at SnappyWords.com (snappywords.com)
• Visuwords online graphical dictionary and thesaurus (visuwords.com)
• UWN: Towards a Universal Multilingual Wordnet – D5: Databases and Information Systems (Max-Planck-Institut für Informatik) (mpi-inf.mpg.de)
• WordNet+Artha: A great Linux thesaurus combo (ghacks.net)
• Libraries Embrace Semantics (arnoldit.com)

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Discourse analysis software can help you improve your reading skills to no end.  Firstly you can identify areas of the text where you might have a problem because they contain a lot of unfamiliar words. Secondly, you can explore how an author uses words that you are already familiar with. The list of things you can do goes on and is only bounded by your imagination.

If you are still interested then I suggest you download the full version of Tropes Zoom, V8.0a. This program will help you identify the vocabulary and concepts structuring the articles and books you read. When you open a file for Tropes to analyze you can quickly identify word categories, verbs, adjectives and substantives. You can also study the chronology of a discourse because the text is divided up into episodes. The text within each episode is then analyzed further to identify areas where particular words have a high frequency of occurrence.

Tropes Zoom comes with some helpful tools. You can extract terminology and generate a spread sheet aiding the Semantic Analysis or Classification of a document. These tools also help you with Key Word extraction and Linguistic Qualitative Analysis.

If you are thinking that this software is too complicated then think again. The online help system is adequate and you can do a lot without even reading a single help page!

During the 1980s the Japanese government in conjunction with the IT industry starting working on 5th Generation Computers . The main goal of this project was to increase their international competitiveness by creating computers the likes of which had not been seen before. Not long after the Japanese published their decision to push forward the frontiers of computing, Britain and the United States followed suit. In Britain the Alvey program was created which was also a collaborative research project between government institutions and industry and ran from 1983 to 1988. An independent evaluation of the achievements of the Alvey project was compiled by Ken Guy of the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex and Luke Georghiou of the University of Manchester.

The transition from 1st to 4th generation computers was made in terms of scalability and programmability. First generation computers were large mainframe valve computers programmed in machine code. Second generation computers were built with transistors and programmed in assembly language. Third generation computers were based on ICs and programed with the help of an operating system.  Fourth generation computers utilized VLSI technology and formed the foundation for the Workstations and PCs of the 80s. Fifth generation computers were conceived of as being based on parallel processors like the Transputer. Unfortunately, the demand for parallel processors never really got of the ground because the speed of conventional microprocessors produced by companies like Intel increased immensely negating the need to develop parallel processors further for the mass market.

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Recently I came across an interesting question on Quora which asked “What are the best blogs/websites about journalism?”. The response was quite good so I decided to list some of the sites mentioned here.

Happy reading

1. Nieman Journalism Lab » Pushing to the Future of Journalism
2. The Economics of Digital Content | paidContent
3. Journalism.co.uk :: Journalism jobs (media, editorial), news for journalists
4. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism / Home
5. Knight Foundation
6. Journalism jobs and news from Holdthefrontpage.co.uk
7. Media UK: british tv, radio, newspapers and magazines; contacts, news and discussions
8. Frontline Club – Championing Independent Journalism
9. Reportr.net | Online journalism pioneer Alfred Hermida on new media and technology
10. Charlie Beckett, POLIS Director
11. Newspaper Death Watch
12. Monday Note
13. The Scoop
14. Homepage – European Journalism Centre
15. MediaShift | PBS
16. Poynter. | Standing for journalism, strengthening democracy | Journalism training, media news & how to’s
17. Knight Digital Media Center: Dedicated to helping good journalism and good journalists thrive in the Digital Now.
18. RJI
19. Journalists’ Toolkit
20. Teaching Online Journalism
21. Innovative Interactivity (II)
22. Pressthink
23. Online Journalism Blog
24. The Audit : CJR
25. » Romenesko | Poynter.
26. Invisible Inkling | Ryan Sholin on the future of news. And other stuff.

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All of the dictionaries listed below are based on Wordnet and available for free. They are a good place to start if you want to learn about the semantic relationships that exist between words.

• Wordnet
• VisualWn
• Artha
• WordWeb

If your not sure how Wordnet differs from a conventional dictionary then do not fear just read on.

Firstly, words are grouped into synsets. Each word contained within a synset can replace any of the others without changing the meaning of what is said.

Secondly, semantic relationships are defined between words (Synsets). For instance if you want to explore words that refer to different ways of walking you can look up all the troponyms of the verb walk. For instance, space walk and march are troponyms of the verb walk.

Troponyms for the verb walk – travel, go, move, locomote:

=> tramp down, trample, tread down
=> lollop
=> tap
=> stumble, falter, bumble
=> spacewalk
=> foot, leg it, hoof, hoof it
=> toe
=> traipse, shlep
=> perambulate, walk about, walk around
=> ambulate
=> sneak, mouse, creep, pussyfoot
=> wade
=> tittup, swagger, ruffle, prance, strut, sashay, cock
=> sleepwalk, somnambulate
=> slink
=> limp, gimp, hobble, hitch
=> shuffle, scuffle, shamble
=> stroll, saunter
=> amble, mosey
=> prowl
=> skulk
=> toddle, coggle, totter, dodder, paddle, waddle
=> promenade
=> march
=> stride
=> hike
=> slog, footslog, plod, trudge, pad, tramp
=> tiptoe, tip, tippytoe
=> stalk
=> flounce
=> stagger, reel, keel, lurch, swag, careen
=> stagger, flounder
=> stomp, stamp, stump
=> lumber, pound
=> pace
=> tread, trample
=> slouch
=> mince
=> clump, clomp
=> march, process
=> step

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Every few years since 1997 the National Intelligence Council (NIC) has published a report that takes a long-term view of the future.

The project’s primary goal is to “provide US policymakers with a view of how the world developments could evolve, identifying opportunities and potentially negative developments that might warrant policy action. We also hope this paper stimulates a broader discussion of value to educational and policy institutions at home and abroad.”

• Global Trends 2010
• Global Trends 2015
• Global Trends Matrix
• Mapping The Global Future 2020
• Global Trends 2025

If you are not sure what semantic search is and are a bit of a geek then you might like to read this article: 10 Things that Make Search a Semantic Search. Otherwise you should probably start with the Wikipedia entry.

1. Cluuz Search
2. Cognition :: Giving Technologies New Meaning
3. DuckDuckGo
4. Fuel your fascination – News – Evri
5. Factbites: Where results make sense
6. Kosmix: The web organized for you
7. Lexipedia – Where words have meaning
8. Meaningtool – Create Your Own AI
9. SenseBot – semantic search engine that finds sense on the Web
10. Yippy – Welcome to the Cloud.
11. Forum Search – Omgili
12. SWOC – Semantic Wonder Cloud
13. Kngine
14. search-cube – the Visual Search Engine
15. Yebol
16. Carrot2 Clustering Engine
17. hakia.com
18. iSEEK – Web
19. monitter : real time, live twitter search and monitoring
20. Spezify
21. Yummly | The best site for recipes, recommendations, food and cooking
22. Watson Semantic Web Search
23. True Knowledge – the internet answer engine
24. Standle – Multi search engines
25. Sindice – The semantic web index
26. SWSE: Semantic Web Search Engine
27. Semager – Semantische Suche
28. Quertle® – Intelligent semantic queries of MEDLINE (PubMed) and the biomedical literature
29. Journal / Author Name Estimator
30. HLWIKI Canada
31. Cognition :: Giving Technologies New Mean

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Writing is probably one of the most difficult skills to learn even if you have talent. As with many cognitive skills a combination of knowledge and creative ability is needed. Below, you’ll find links to 3 websites which try to help you improve your creativity and knowledge of the English language.

Daily Writing Tips

Whether you are an attorney, manager or student, writing skills are essential to your success. The rise of the information age – with the proliferation of e-mails, blogs and social networks – makes the ability to write clear, correct English more important than ever.

Daily Writing Tips is about that. Every day we’ll send you a grammar, spelling, punctuation or vocabulary tip. If you don’t want to miss a single post you can grab our RSS Feed, or subscribe by email.

blog.suite101.com

The official blog of Suite101.com, offers you insight into Suite101’s diverse community of writers and editors and a resource for additional tips and advice on how to succeed at the craft of (web) writing.

Purdue Online Writing Lab

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

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While studying Experimental Psychology at University I was awed by the similarity between the nervous systems of the different species we studied. How was it that such diverse creatures could share the same building blocks? One of the structures I became interested in was the pineal gland. This interested has persisted until today and every now and again I search for interesting articles on the web.

The last time I looked, I came across an article about melatonin and meditation . Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland and has some impressive health benefits. As I’ve been meditating since I was a teenager I couldn’t wait to discover more about the link between the two.

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We would all like to understand the reasons behind the recent financial crisis. A recent book by Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff is an ideal starting point for any debate on the subject according to Andrew Gamble, who reviewed the book a few years ago. After reading the book reviews you might like to look at the testimony given by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, before the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission on September 2, 2010, in Washington. If Reinhart and Rogoff are right the inquiry my have been a bit of a waste of time because in the end we just do not learn from our mistakes.

Related articles

Image by The Daring Librarian via Flickr

The TED conference theme this year is the rediscovery of wonder, a theme which I didn’t find very inspiring at first. After discovering that the conference is already creating waves I started to look forward to exploring the content of some of the talks.  One Guardian reporter commented that she has seen things that look like they were created by Steven Spielberg . Certainly technology is continuing to advance at a rapid pace so I’m looking forward to a weekend of interesting viewing!

An almost complete list of TED talks is available as a spreadsheet from Google. There are so many TED talks that its hard to know where to start so good luck.

Related articles

Image by margolove via Flickr

Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs

Words classifiable in four different ways as either a noun, adjective, verb or adverb, are very useful when you’re trying to understand the semantic relationships that exist between words that are defined in Wordnet. You may or may not know that Wordnet is a free lexical database of English available from Stanford University. The main semantic relationships defined between words are Synonymy, Antonymy, Hypernymy, Hyponymy, Meronymy, Holonymy, and Troponymy. Why not download Wordnet and type in one of the words listed below and explore these relationships.

1. best
2. better
3. bitter
4. broadside
5. clean
6. clear
7. close
8. cod
9. collect
10. counter
11. crisscross
12. damn
13. double
14. down
15. express
16. fair
17. fast
18. fine
19. firm
20. flush
21. forward
22. free
23. home
24. jolly
25. last
26. light
27. low
28. okay
29. out
30. pat
31. plain
32. plumb
33. plump
34. pop
35. quiet
36. right
37. rough
38. round
39. second
40. short
41. solo
42. square
43. steady
44. still
45. tiptoe
46. true
47. well
48. wholesale
49. worst
50. wrong
51. zigzag
52. slow + its homonym sloe

Lexicons, like Wordnet, make learning about words fun and interesting even though some types of words seem to be more important than others! William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White once wrote:

“Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs. The adjective hasn’t been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place… it is nouns and verbs, not their assistants, that give good writing its toughness and color.
The Elements of Style”

Present tenses

Simple present (or simply “present”): “I listen.” For many verbs, this is used to express habit or ability (e.g. “I play the guitar”, “Listen to me please”.).
Present continuous: “I am listening.” This is used to express what most other languages use the simple present tense for. Note that this form in English can also be used to express future actions, such as in the phrase (e.g. “We’re seeing a film tonight”, “I am listening to you now”. )
Present perfect (or simply perfect): “I have listened.” This is used to express a completed action that took place at an non-specific moment in the past, and that has an ongoing relevance in the present. It blurs the line between a present and a past tense: it is conjugated using the present tense of the verb have, and cannot be used in such a sentence as *”Bob, who is now dead, has seen the movie many times”, but on the other hand, there is not a great difference in meaning between (e.g. “I did it many times”), using the past tense, and (e.g. “I’ve done it many times”, “I have listened to you on many occasions but it’s not worth it”.)
Present perfect continuous: “I have been listening.” This is used to express that an event started at some time in the past and continues to the present. (e.g. “I have been listening to music all day”, “I have been listening to you all day so can we take a break?”.)

Past tenses

Simple past: “I listened.” This is used to express a completed action that took place at a specific moment in the past. (In English, unlike some other languages with aorist tenses, this tense implies that the action took place in the past and that it is not taking place now.) (e.g. “I listened to the news before lunch”, “I listened to you yesterday for two hours”.)
Past perfect or Pluperfect: “I had listened.” This expresses an action completed prior to some other action in the past. The pluperfect is thus expressing an action even more in the past. (e.g. “I had listened to the song before”, “I had listened to you for an hour before I went home”.)
Past continuous (or imperfect): “I was listening.” This is used to express an incomplete action in the past. (Thus an “imperfect” action, as opposed to a completed and therefore “perfect” action.) (e.g. “I was listening to music before you arrived”, “I was listening to you but I became distracted”.)
Past perfect continuous or simply “perfect continuous”: “I had been listening.” Usually expressed with a duration, this indicates that an event was ongoing for a specific time, then completed before a specific event. (e.g. “I had been mowing the lawn for quite a while”, “I had been listening to you for some time before I fell asleep”.)

Future tenses

Simple future: “I shall/will listen.” This is used to express that an event will occur in the future, or that the speaker intends to perform some action. (e.g. “I will listen to the news this evening.”, “I shall/will listen to you more often”.)
Future continuous: “I shall/will be listening.” This is used to express an ongoing event that has not yet been initiated. (e.g. “I will be listening to the news in the Garden”, “I shall/will be listening to you tomorrow”.)
Future perfect: “I shall/will have listened.” This indicates an action which will occur before some other action in the future: Normally two actions are expressed, and the future perfect indicates an action which will occur in the future but will, at the time of the main future action expressed, be in the past (e.g. “I will know the tune by the end of next week because I will have listened to it by then”, “I shall/will have listened to you about 10 times by the end of next week”.)
Future perfect continuous: “I shall/will have been listening.” Expresses an ongoing action that occurs in the future, before some other event expressed in the future. (e.g. “I will have been listening to music for two hours before you arrive”, “I shall/will have been listening to you for an hour by the end of the meeting”.

Conditional tenses

Present conditional or simply “conditional”: “I would listen.” This is used to express that an event would occur in the future in the past, or that the speaker intended to perform some action. (e.g. “ I would listen to her for hours after dinner”, “I would listen to you but you are so boring”.)
Present continuous conditional: “I would be listening.” This is used to express an ongoing event that had not yet been initiated. (e.g. “I would be listening to the news by then”, “I would be listening to you now but john is snoring”.)
Conditional perfect: “I would have listened.” Indicates that an action would occur after some other event. (e.g. “I would have listened to the news but I forgot my radio”, “I would have listened to you more often but I didn’t have the time”.)
Conditional perfect continuous: “I would have been listening.”: Expresses an ongoing action that would occur in the future in the past, after some other event. (e.g. “I would have been mowing the lawn by now if it hadn’t rained”, “I would have been listening to you more intently but I had a headache”.)
Notes: The future in the past. Describes an event that would have occurred sometime in the future with reference to another event in the past.

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• Present simple-v-present-continuous (slideshare.net)

Searching for information on the web is gradually becoming easier and easier thanks to three emerging technologies, the Semantic Web, Targeted Discovery and Semantic Search. In a nutshell, the Semantic Web, is a set of standards that make associating meaning with content easier and therefore aids developers who want to design search engines that go beyond a list of web sites containing a particular key word. Semantic Search, while benefiting from Semantic Web Technologies, also relies on other technologies connected with understanding what the user is trying to do. One of these technologies is Natural Language Processing. To improve search Semantic Search Engines need to be able to recognize the intent of the user so that a search query can be set within the appropriate context. Many of the new Semantic Search Engines appearing on the web allow Natural Language Input and some of them are now quite fun to use. Targeted Discovery refers to technologies that provide the user with tools to dynamically target, discover and organize knowledge so that they can act with greater speed and accuracy.

Taken together both of the above emerging technologies will help developers construct applications that can interact with both the web and the user in a more meaningful and intuitive way. The combined effect of these technologies will change the way we think about searching and interacting with content. Eventually the WWW will become a web of knowledge and interacting with the web will be just like interacting with a knowledgeable person.

Hakia

• http://www.hakia.com/

iSEEK

• http://www.iseek.com/iseek/home.page

Sensebot

• http://www.sensebot.net/

Powerset

• http://www.powerset.com/

EVRI

• http://www.evri.com/

YEBOL

• http://www.yebol.com/

• Nouns
  • hypernyms: canine (Y) is a hypernym of dog (X) – Y is a hypernym of X if every X is a (kind of) Y.
  • hyponyms: dog (X) is a hyponym of canine (Y) – X is a hyponym of Y if every X is a (kind of) Y
  • coordinate terms : wolf (X1) is a coordinate term of dog (X2), and dog (X2) is a coordinate term of wolf (X1) – X1 is a coordinate term of X2 if X1 and X2 share a hypernym. For this case the hypernym is canine.
    
  • holonym : building (Y) is a holonym of window (X). Y is a holonym of X if X is a part of Y.
    
  • meronym : window (X) is a meronym of building (Y). X is a meronym of Y if X is a part of Y.
• Verbs
  • hypernym: to perceive (Y) is an hypernym of to listen (X). Y is a hypernym of X if the activity X is a (kind of) Y.
    
  • troponym : to lisp (X) is a troponym of to talk (Y). X is a troponym of Y if the activity X is doing Y in some manner.
  • entailment : to sleep (Y) is entailed by to snore (X). Y is entailed by X if by doing X you must be doing Y.
  • coordinate terms: those verbs sharing a common hypernym (to lisp and to yell). Here the common hypernym is walk.
• Adjectives
  • related nouns
  • similar to
  • participle of verb
• Adverbs
  • root adjectives

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The English tense system was developed to help people talk about events that happen during arbitrary intervals of time. This need to locate events accurately in time means that there is no real relationship between tense and time and they should therefore not be confused. Of course we can make statements that are only true of the past, present or future but we can also make statements like “I will have been learning English for ten years next month”. This statement is true for all three verb aspects. That is – were you learning English?, are you learning English? and will you be learning English next month?

The Upanishads are classified as Hindu philosophical texts and were passed down by oral tradition. Like Buddhism, Hinduism is not easily classifiable as a religion and is often described as a “way of life”. The excellent thought provoking article by Alistair Shearer entitled “The Luminous Self“, shows how the wisdom of the Upanishads is applicable today and is well worth a read:

“Each day it becomes clearer that the glib promises held out by scientific materialism and the free market will not suffice to heal the heart, order the mind, and restore in us that compassion and nobility of purpose which befits our species and our destiny.

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