avid

Pronunciation: \ˈa-vəd\

Function: adjective

Etymology: French or Latin; French avide, from Latin avidus, from avēre to desire, crave; akin to Welsh ewyllys desire, Old Irish con-oí he protects

Date: 1769

1 : desirous to the point of greed : urgently eager : greedy <avid for publicity> 2 : characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit <avid readers>

synonyms see eager

avow

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈvau$ \

Function: transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare

Date: 14th century

1 : to declare assuredly <she avowed her innocence> 2 : to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame <ever ready to avow his reactionary outlook>

synonyms see acknowledge, assert

baleful

Pronunciation: \-fəl\

Function: adjective

Date: before 12th century 1 : deadly or pernicious in influence <baleful effects> 2 : foreboding or threatening evil <a baleful look>

synonyms see sinister

balkPronunciation: \ˈbok sometimes ˈbolk\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English balke, from Old English alca; akin to Old High German balko beam, Latin fulcire to prop, Greek phalanx log, phalanx Date: before 12th century 1: a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness2: hindrance, check 4 a: the space behind the balkline on a billiard table b: any of the outside divisions made by the balklines 5: failure of a player to complete a motion ; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position:

baneful

Pronunciation: \ˈbān-fəl\

Function: adjective

Date: 1579

1: productive of destruction or woe : seriously harmful <a baneful influence>2archaic : poisonous synonyms see pernicious

barrage

Pronunciation: \ˈbär-ij\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, from barrer to bar, from barre bar

Date: 1845 1. A heavy curtain of artillery fire directed in front of friendly troops to

screen and protect them. b. A rapid, concentrated discharge of missiles,

as from small arms. 2. An overwhelming, concentrated outpouring, as of words

: a barrage of criticism.

bask

Pronunciation: \ˈbask\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath

Date: 14th century 1: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere 2: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment <basked in the spotlight> b : to warm by continued exposure to heat

bellicose

Pronunciation: \ˈbe-li-ˌkōs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus of war, from bellum war Date: 15th century

: favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars

synonyms see belligerent

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belligerent

Pronunciation: \-rənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum + gerere to wage Date: 1577

1: waging war ; specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war2: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness