ETYM Old Eng. blod, blood, AS. blôd; akin to Dutch bloed, Old High Germ. bluot, German blut, Goth. blôth, Icel. blôth, Swed. and Dan. blod; prob. from the same root as Eng. blow to bloom. Related to Blow to bloom.
Fluid circulating in the arteries, veins, and capillaries of vertebrate animals; the term also refers to the corresponding fluid in those invertebrates that possess a closed circulatory system. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to each body cell and removes waste products, such as carbon dioxide. It is also important in the immune response and, in many animals, in the distribution of heat throughout the body.
In humans blood makes up 5% of the body weight, occupying a volume of 5.5 l/10 pt in the average adult. It is composed of a colorless, transparent liquid called plasma, in which are suspended microscopic cells of three main varieties.
Red cells (erythrocytes) form nearly half the volume of the blood, with about six million red cells in every milliliter of an adult’s blood. Their red color is caused by hemoglobin.
White cells (leukocytes) are of various kinds. Some (phagocytes) ingest invading bacteria and so protect the body from disease; these also help to repair injured tissues. Others (lymphocytes) produce antibodies, which help provide immunity.
Blood platelets (thrombocytes) assist in the clotting of blood.
Blood cells constantly wear out and die and are replaced from the bone marrow. Red blood cells die at the rate of 200 billion per day but the body produces new cells at an average rate of 9 billion per hour.
Arterial blood, which is rich in oxygen, is bright red in color; venous blood, containing little oxygen, is dark red. Blood is slightly heavier than water (specific gravity 1.06) and has an alkaline reaction. It has a circulatory movement, being pumped through the arteries and veins by the heart.
1. People viewed as members of a group.
2. Temperament or disposition.
3. The fluid (red in vertebrates) that is pumped by the heart.

ETYM French caprice, Italian capriccio, caprice (perh. orig. a fantastical goat leap), from Latin caper, capra, goat. Cf Capriole, Cab, Caper.
A sudden desire; SYN. impulse, vagary, whim.

ETYM See Composite (adj).
Considered the most highly evolved dicotyledonous plants, characterized by florets arranged in dense heads that resemble single flowers; SYN. composite plant.
(thing) composed of a number of parts; compound.
In classical architecture, one of the five types of column. See order.
In industry, any purpose-designed engineering material created by combining single materials with complementary properties into a composite form. Most composites have a structure in which one component consists of discrete elements, such as fibers, dispersed in a continuous matrix. For example, lengths of asbestos, glass, or carbon steel, or “whiskers” (specially grown crystals a few millimeters long) of substances such as silicon carbide may be dispersed in plastics, concrete, or steel.

ETYM Through French, from Latin conceptus a conceiving, conception, from concipere to conceive: cf. Old Fren. p. p. nom. conciez conceived. Related to Conceive, Concept, Deceit.
1. The trait of being vain and pompous; SYN. vanity.
2. A developed or elaborate metaphor.

ETYM Old Eng. curiouste, curiosite, Old Fren. curioseté, curiosité, French curiosité, from Latin curiositas, from curiosus. Related to Curious, Curio.
A state in which one wants to learn more about something; SYN. wonder.

ETYM Contr. from fantasy, Old Fren. fantasie, fantaisie, French fantaisie, Latin phantasia, from Greek to make visible, to place before one's mind, from phainein to show.
Fancy was held by Coleridge to be more casual and superficial than imagination.

ETYM Prob. from Old Eng. frek bold, as. frec bold, greedly; akin to Old High Germ. freh greedly, German frech insolent, Icel. frekr greedy, Goth. faíhufriks avaricious.
A person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed; SYN. monster, monstrosity, lusus naturae.

Alternate (chiefly British) spelling for humor.

ETYM Eng. metal, used in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. Related to Metal.
(Homonym: metal).
Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; -- usually in a good sense.

(Homonym: mooed).
In grammar, the form a verb takes to indicate the type of action the sentence expresses. The four moods a verb can take in English are indicative, interrogative, subjunctive, and imperative.
Verb inflections that express how the action or state is conceived by the speaker; SYN. mode, modality.

ETYM French, from Latin natura, from natus born, produced, p. p. of nasci to be born. Related to Nation.
1. A causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe.
2. A wild primitive state untouched by civilization; SYN. wild, natural state, state of nature.
3. The complex of emotional and intellectual attributes that determine a person's characteristic actions and reactions.
4. The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized.
The living world, including plants, animals, fungi, and all microorganisms, and naturally formed features of the landscape, such as mountains and rivers.
Historically the word “nature” has had a multiplicity of meanings, which can conveniently be reduced to two. Firstly, it refers to the essence or innate quality of a thing—that which makes it what it is. An example of this would be human nature—the universal characteristics that are common to all people. Secondly, it refers to the material world and to those phenomena that function independently of humans. This definition of nature is often contrasted with the artificial and the conventional; that is, with human modifications of the natural order of things.
Whether nature is superior or inferior to human uses and transformations of it has long been debated. Many have believed that there was a time when people and nature were part of one harmonious whole. Christians identify this period with Adam and Eve’s life before the Fall. For the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Romantics, a pure state of nature could still be found in the behavior of animals, children, and “noble savages”. Such diverse figures as the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes and the 19th-century us thinker Henry Thoreau have attempted to abandon the human world and return to a more natural state. Similar ideas can be found in the ecological movement, which has attacked the spoliation of nature by industry.
In earlier times the natural was also contrasted with the supernatural: the sublunary world, which followed ultimately predictable laws, with the superlunary world—the world of the ideal and the spiritual. In Europe in the Middle Ages a further distinction was made between the passive, created world, natura naturata, and the active physical force that created it, natura naturans. Such a force was often personified; as gods like Persephone and Gaia by the ancient Greeks, and later as Mother Nature. The Romantics, exemplified by the poetry of Wordsworth, venerated this notion of nature as an active presence in the world.

1. A characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling; SYN. mood, humor, humour.
2. A disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger; SYN. biliousness, irritability, peevishness, pettishness, snappishness, surliness.
3. The elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking; SYN. toughness.

ETYM Latin temperamentum a mixing in due proportion, proper measure, temperament: cf. French tempérament. Related to Temper.
In music, a system of tuning (“tempering”) the pitches of a mode or scale whereby intervals are lessened or enlarged, away from the “natural”. In folk music this is done to preserve its emotional or ritual meaning; in Western music to allow a measure of freedom in changing key. J S Bach composed The Well-Tempered Clavier, a sequence of 48 preludes and fugues in every key of the chromatic scale, to demonstrate the superior versatility of tempered tuning.
Excessive emotionalism or irritability and excitability (especially when displayed openly).

A layer of ore between layers of rock; SYN. mineral vein.

1. A capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind; fancy
2. A large capstan that is made with one or more radiating arms to which a horse may be yoked and that is used in mines for raising ore or water

1. Whim, caprice.
2. The quality or state of being whimsical or fanciful.
3. A fanciful or fantastic device, object, or creation especially in writing or art.

A whimsey.

1. A rectangular piece of stiff paper used to send messages (may have printed greetings or pictures).
2. One of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes.r /> 3. Thin cardboard, usually rectangular.
4. A card certifying the identity of the bearer; SYN. identity card.
5. A record of scores (as in golf); SYN. scorecard.

A whimsically eccentric person; SYN. crank, nut, nutcase, fruitcake, screwball.

ETYM Old Eng. cranke; akin to Eng. cringe, cringle, crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, See Cringe.
Handle bent at right angles and connected to the shaft of a machine; it is used to transmit motion or convert reciprocating (back-and-forward or up-and-down) movement into rotary movement, or vice versa.
Although similar devices may have been employed in antiquity and as early as the 1st century in China and the 8th century in Europe, the earliest recorded use of a crank in a water-raising machine is by Arab mathematician al-Jazari in the 12th century. Not until the 15th century, however, did the crank become fully assimilated into developing European technology.—
Rotating shaft with parallel handle; SYN. starter.

1. Spiritual charge; care; Pastoral charge of a parish
2. Recovery or relief from a disease; something (as a drug or treatment) that cures a disease; a course or period of treatment; spa
3. A complete or permanent solution or remedy
4. A process or method of curing

A person with an unusual or odd personality; SYN. eccentric person, oddball, geek.

1. Generally, a person who enjoys cerebral activities (such as wordplay or computer programming) more than the mainstream population does. Geeks in this sense increasingly claim the word with pride, but it may give offense when used by others, suggesting inadequacy in normal social relationships.
2. A computer expert or specialist. For issues of etiquette.

One that is queer

Old name for decomposed basalt

Weirdo.

A person who is extraordinarily strange or eccentric.

1. Inspiring awe or admiration or wonder; SYN. awe-inspiring, awesome, awful, awing.
2. Surprising greatly; SYN. astonishing.

A ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement; SYN. joke, prank, trick, caper.

So surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm; SYN. astounding, staggering, stupefying.

ETYM French; cf. Italian barocco.
Pertaining to the artistic, literary, or musical style associated with the Baroque period in Europe (from the late 16th through the 17th centuries), characterized by dramatic excess and detailed ornamentation.
Having elaborate symmetrical ornamentation; SYN. churrigueresque, churrigueresco.

ETYM French bizarre odd, from Spanish bizarro gallant, brave, liberal, prob. of Basque origin; cf. Basque bizarra beard, whence the meaning manly, brave.
Conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual; SYN. eccentric, freakish, freaky, flaky, outlandish, outre.
Fantastic; outlandish; incongruous.

1. Relating to comedy.
2. Exciting mirth; droll; laughable.

ETYM Old Fren. curios, curius, French curieux, Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura care. Related to Cure.
1. Beyond or deviating from the usual or expected; SYN. funny, odd, peculiar, queer, rum, rummy, singular.
2. Eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns); SYN. inquisitive, interested.
3. Having curiosity aroused; eagerly interested in learning more.

Comical in an odd or whimsical manner
Having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality

ETYM French excentrique, formerly also spelled eccentrique, from Late Lat. eccentros out of the center, eccentric, Greek; ex out of + kentron center. Related to Ex-, and Center, Excentral.
Not having a common center; not concentric; SYN. nonconcentric.

ETYM Local, Eng.
Eldrich; weird; horrifying.
Suggesting the operation of supernatural influences SYN. weird, uncanny, unearthly.
Horrifying; arcane; strange.

1. Of or relating to elves
2. Mischievous

ETYM Latin erraticus, from errare to wander: cf. French erratique. Related to Err.
In geology, a displaced rock that has been transported by a glacier or some other natural force to a site of different geological composition.
1. Having no fixed course; SYN. planetary, wandering.
2. Liable to sudden unpredictable change; SYN. fickle, mercurial, quicksilver.
3. Likely to perform unpredictably; SYN. temperamental.

ETYM Latin exoticus, Greek, from exo outside: cf. French exotique. Related to Exoteric.
Strikingly strange or unusual.
Of foreign origin; attractively or bizarrely unusual.

ETYM French extravagant, from Latin extra on the outside + vagans, -antis, p. pr. of vagari to wander, from vagus wandering, vague. Related to Vague.
Recklessly wasteful; SYN. prodigal, profligate, spendthrift.

ETYM Latin fabulosus; cf. French fabuleux. Related to Fable.
1. Barely credible.
2. Based on or told of in traditional stories; lacking factual basis or historical validity; SYN. mythic, mythical, mythologic, mythological.
3. Extremely pleasing; SYN. fab.

ETYM French fantastique, from Greek, able to represent, from phainein to make visible. Related to Fancy.
1. Extravagantly fanciful and unrealistic; foolish.
2. Extraordinarily good; used especially as intensifiers; SYN. howling, marvelous, rattling, terrific, tremendous, wonderful, wondrous.
3. Existing in fancy only; SYN. fantastical.
4. Exceedingly or unbelievably great; SYN. phenomenal.

Experiencing odd bodily sensations.

ETYM French, from Italian grottesco, from grotta grotto. Related to Grotto.
Distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous; SYN. monstrous, unnatural.

Marvelous.

ETYM French miraculeux. Related to Miracle.
1. Of the nature of a miracle; performed by supernatural power; effected by the direct agency of almighty power, and not by natural causes.
2. Supernatural; wonderful.

ETYM French modeste, Latin modestus, from modus measure. Related to Mode.
1. Free from ostentation or pretension; SYN. restrained, unostentatious.
2. Free from pomp or affectation; SYN. plain, simple.
3. Marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of oneself.
4. Not large but sufficient in size or amount; SYN. small.
5. Not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance.

1. (In combination) An indefinite quantity more than that specified
2. Not divisible by two.
3. Not easily explained; peculiar or unusual
4. Of the remaining member of a pair, of socks e.g.; SYN. unmatched, unmated, unpaired.

ETYM as. utlendisc foreign. Related to Out, Land, and -ish.
Scandalous; that which does not abide by custom or propriety.

ETYM Latin peculiaris, from peculium private property, akin to pecunia money: cf. Old Fren. peculier. Related to Pecuniary.
1. Markedly different from the usual.
2. Characteristic of one only; distinctive or special.

ETYM Old Eng. queint, queynte, coint, prudent, wise, cunning, pretty, odd, Old Fren. cointe cultivated, amiable, agreeable, neat, from Latin cognitus known, p. p. of cognoscere to know; con + noscere (for gnoscere) to know. Related to Know, Acquaint, Cognition.
1. Strange in an interesting or pleasing way.
2. Very strange or unusual; odd or even incongruous in character or appearance.

Dialect variant of QUEER

1. At variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange.
2. Mysterious; suspicious; questionable.
3. (Slang) Homosexual; esp., overtly homosexual.

Queer, odd

1. Crazily absurd, eccentric, or unusual
2. Crazy, insane

ETYM Old Eng. singuler, French singulier, from Latin singularius, singularis, from singulus single. Related to Single.
1. Being a single and separate person or thing.r /> 2. Grammatical number category referring to a single item or unit.
3. The single one of its kind; SYN. unique, exceptional.

1. Being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird; SYN. unusual.
2. Not at ease or comfortable
3. Not known before; SYN. unknown.

ETYM Latin stupendus astonishing, p. future pass. of stupere to be astonished at. Related to Stupid.
Astonishing; wonderful; amazing; especially, astonishing in magnitude.

Causing surprise or wonder or amazement

1. Free from control or responsibility.
2. Not to be accounted for or explained; SYN. unexplainable.

ETYM Old Eng. uncouth, as. uncoe unknown, strange: un- (see Un- not) + coe known, p. p. of cunnan to know. Related to Can to be able, and cf. Unco, Unked.
1. Uneducated in manners; awkward; boorish.
2. Coarse; unrefined.

In a difficult or perplexing situation

Far-out.

Strikingly odd or unusual.

Absurdly or amusingly eccentric or irrational; crazy

ETYM From Whimsey.
1. Full of, or characterized by, whims; capricious.
2. Odd or fantastic in appearance; quaintly devised; fantastic.

In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully.

Used affectionately to refer to an eccentric but amusing old man; SYN. old codger.

1. A strange attitude or habit; SYN. queerness, quirk, quirkiness, crotchet.
2. Eccentricity that is not easily explained; SYN. oddness.

ETYM Old Fren. curios, curius, French curieux, Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura care. Related to Cure.
1. Beyond or deviating from the usual or expected; SYN. funny, odd, peculiar, queer, rum, rummy, singular.
2. Eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns); SYN. inquisitive, interested.
3. Having curiosity aroused; eagerly interested in learning more.

Marvelous.

ETYM French miraculeux. Related to Miracle.
1. Of the nature of a miracle; performed by supernatural power; effected by the direct agency of almighty power, and not by natural causes.
2. Supernatural; wonderful.

ETYM Latin prodigiosus, from prodigium a prodigy; cf. French prodigieux. Related to Prodigy.
1. Extraordinary in bulk, extent, quantity, or degree; very great; vast; huge; immense.
2. Of the nature of a prodigy; marvelous; wonderful; portentous.

Adapted to excite wonder or admiration; surprising; strange; astonishing. SYN. Marvelous; amazing.

In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully.

Surprise; astonishment; a wonderful appearance; a wonder.

Surprise; astonishment; a wonderful appearance; a wonder.

One that whizzes; especially; a centrifugal machine for drying something (as grain, sugar, or nitrated cotton)

(Used as an intensifier) Extremely well; SYN. wondrous, wondrously, superbly, toppingly, marvellously, terrifically, marvelously.

Marvelously; fantastically, splendidly