Gre Wordlist 8 : canto - chameleon

1.canto	division of a long poem	Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural cantos Etymology: Italian, from Latin cantus song, from canere to sing -- more at CHANT : one of the major divisions of a long poem
2.canvass	determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; N.	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English canevas, from Old North French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin cannabaceus hempen, from Latin cannabis hemp -- more at CANNABIS 1 : a firm closely woven cloth usually of linen, hemp, or cotton used for clothing and formerly much used for tents and sails 2 : a set of sails : SAIL 3 : a piece of canvas used for a particular purpose 4 : TENT; also : a group of tents 5 a : a piece of cloth backed or framed as a surface for a painting; also : the painting on such a surface b : the background, setting, or scope of an historical or fictional account or narrative 6 : a coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working with the needle 7 : the canvas-covered floor of a boxing or wrestling ring - can·vas·like /-v&s-"lIk/ adjective
3.capacious	spacious	Function: adjective Etymology: Latin capac-, capax capacious, capable, from Latin capere : containing or capable of containing a great deal synonym see SPACIOUS - ca·pa·cious·ly adverb - ca·pa·cious·ness noun
4.capacity	mental or physical ability; role; position or duty; ability to accommodate; Ex. in my capacity as president	Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Middle English capacite, from Middle French capacité, from Latin capacitat-, capacitas, from capac-, capax 1 : legal competency or fitness 2 a : the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating b : the maximum amount or number that can be contained or accommodated <a jug with a one-gallon capacity> <the auditorium was filled to capacity> -- see METRIC SYSTEM table, WEIGHT table 3 a : an individual's mental or physical ability : APTITUDE, SKILL b : the faculty or potential for treating, experiencing, or appreciating <capacity for love> 4 : DUTY, POSITION, ROLE <will be happy to serve in any capacity> 5 : the facility or power to produce, perform, or deploy : CAPABILITY <a plan to double the factory's capacity>; also : maximum output <industries running at three-quarter capacity> 6 a : CAPACITANCE b : the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions
5.capillary	having a very fine bore; resembling a hair; fine and slender; Ex. capillary attraction; N: very fine hairlike tube; CF. capillarity	Function: adjective Etymology: French or Latin; French capillaire, from Latin capillaris, from capillus hair 1 a : resembling a hair especially in slender elongated form <capillary leaves> b : having a very small bore <a capillary tube> 2 : involving, held by, or resulting from surface tension <capillary water in the soil> 3 : of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
6.capitulate	surrender; give up all resistance	Function: intransitive verb Inflected Form(s): -lat·ed; -lat·ing Etymology: Medieval Latin capitulatus, past participle of capitulare to distinguish by heads or chapters, from Late Latin capitulum 1 archaic : PARLEY, NEGOTIATE 2 a : to surrender often after negotiation of terms b : to cease resisting : ACQUIESCE synonym see YIELD
7.caprice	whim; sudden change of mind without any real cause	Function: noun Etymology: French, from Italian capriccio caprice, shudder, perhaps from capo head (from Latin caput) + riccio hedgehog, from Latin ericius -- more at HEAD, URCHIN 1 a : a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action b : a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes <the caprices of the weather> 2 : a disposition to do things impulsively 3 : CAPRICCIO 3 synonyms CAPRICE, WHIM, VAGARY, CROTCHET mean an irrational or unpredictable idea or desire. CAPRICE stresses lack of apparent motivation and suggests willfulness <by sheer caprice she quit her job>. WHIM implies a fantastic, capricious turn of mind or inclination <an odd antique that was bought on a whim>. VAGARY stresses the erratic, irresponsible character of the notion or desire <recently he had been prone to strange vagaries>. CROTCHET implies an eccentric opinion or preference <a serious scientist equally known for his bizarre crotchets>.
8.capricious	unpredictable; fickle	Function: adjective : governed or characterized by caprice : IMPULSIVE, UNPREDICTABLE synonym see INCONSTANT - ca·pri·cious·ly adverb - ca·pri·cious·ness noun
9.caption	title; chapter heading; text under illustration	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English capcioun, from Latin caption-, captio act of taking, from capere to take -- more at HEAVE 1 : the part of a legal document that shows where, when, and by what authority it was taken, found, or executed 2 a : the heading especially of an article or document : TITLE b : the explanatory comment or designation accompanying a pictorial illustration c : a motion-picture subtitle - cap·tion·less /-l&s/ adjective
10.captious	faultfinding; too critical	Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English capcious, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French captieux, from Latin captiosus, from captio 1 : marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections 2 : calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument synonym see CRITICAL - cap·tious·ly adverb - cap·tious·ness noun
11.carafe	glass water bottle; decanter	Function: noun Etymology: French, from Italian caraffa, from Arabic gharrAfah : a bottle with a flaring lip used to hold beverages and especially wine
12.carapace	shell covering the back (of a turtle, tortoise, crab, etc.)	Function: noun Etymology: French, from Spanish carapacho 1 : a bony or chitinous case or shield covering the back or part of the back of an animal (as a turtle or crab) 2 : a protective, decorative, or disguising shell <the carapace of reserve he built around himself -- M. M. Mintz>
13.carat	(karat) unit of weight for precious stones; measure of the purity of gold
14.carcinogenic	causing cancer; N. carcinogen	Function: noun : a substance or agent producing or inciting cancer - car·ci·no·gen·ic /"kär-s&n-O-'je-nik/ adjective - car·ci·no·ge·nic·i·ty /-j&-'ni-s&-tE/ noun
15.cardinal	chief; most important; N: priest; cardinal number: number that shows quantity rather thatn order	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin cardinalis, from Late Latin cardinalis, adjective 1 : a high ecclesiastical official of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks next below the pope and is appointed by him to assist him as a member of the college of cardinals 2 : CARDINAL NUMBER -- usually used in plural 3 : a woman's short hooded cloak orig. of scarlet cloth 4 [from its color, resembling that of the cardinal's robes] : a crested finch (Cardinalis cardinalis) of the eastern U.S. and adjacent Canada, the southwestern U.S., and Mexico to Belize which has a black face and heavy red bill in both sexes and is nearly completely red in the male - car·di·nal·ship /-"ship/ noun
16.cardiologist	doctor specializing in ailments of the heart	Function: noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary : the study of the heart and its action and diseases - car·di·o·log·i·cal /-dE-&-'lä-ji-k&l/ adjective - car·di·ol·o·gist /-dE-'ä-l&-jist/ noun
17.careen	lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger	Function: verb Etymology: from carine side of a ship, from Middle French, submerged part of a hull, from Latin carina hull, half of a nutshell; perhaps akin to Greek karyon nut transitive senses 1 : to put (a ship or boat) on a beach especially in order to clean, caulk, or repair the hull 2 : to cause to heel over intransitive senses 1 a : to careen a boat b : to undergo this process 2 : to heel over 3 : to sway from side to side : LURCH <a careening carriage being pulled wildly ... by a team of runaway horses -- J. P. Getty> 4 : CAREER
18.caricature	distortion; burlesque	Function: noun Etymology: Italian caricatura, literally, act of loading, from caricare to load, from Late Latin carricare 1 : exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics 2 : a representation especially in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature 3 : a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature - car·i·ca·tur·al /"kar-i-k&-'chur-&l, -'ch&r-, -'tyur-, -'tur-/ adjective - car·i·ca·tur·ist /'kar-i-k&-"chur-ist, -"ch&r-, -"tyur-, -"tur-/ noun synonyms CARICATURE, BURLESQUE, PARODY, TRAVESTY mean a comic or grotesque imitation. CARICATURE implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject <caricatures of politicians in cartoons>. BURLESQUE implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment <a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court>. PARODY applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work <a witty parody of a popular novel>. TRAVESTY implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd <this production is a travesty of the opera>.
19.carillon	a set of bells (often in a tower) capable of being played	Function: noun Etymology: French, alteration of Old French quarregnon, modification of Late Latin quaternion-, quaternio set of four -- more at QUATERNION 1 a : a set of fixed chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers controlled from a keyboard b : an electronic instrument imitating a carillon 2 : a composition for the carillon
20.carnage	destruction of life; slaughter; killing of large numbers of people or animals	Function: noun Etymology: French, from Medieval Latin carnaticum tribute consisting of animals or meat, from Latin carn-, caro 1 : the flesh of slain animals or men 2 : great and bloody slaughter (as in battle)
21.carnal	fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body	Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French or Late Latin; Old North French, from Late Latin carnalis, from Latin carn-, caro flesh; akin to Greek keirein to cut -- more at SHEAR 1 a : relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites b : marked by sexuality 2 : BODILY, CORPOREAL 3 a : TEMPORAL b : WORLDLY - car·nal·i·ty /kär-'na-l&-tE/ noun - car·nal·ly /'kär-n&l-E/ adverb synonyms CARNAL, FLESHLY, SENSUAL, ANIMAL mean having a relation to the body. CARNAL may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature <a slave to carnal desires>. FLESHLY is less derogatory than CARNAL <a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations>. SENSUAL may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual <fleshpots providing sensual delights>. ANIMAL stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person <led a mindless animal existence>.
22.carnivorous	meat-eating; N. carnivore; CF. herbivore	Function: adjective Etymology: Latin carnivorus, from carn-, caro + -vorus -vorous 1 : subsisting or feeding on animal tissues 2 of a plant : subsisting on nutrients obtained from the breakdown of animal protoplasm 3 : of or relating to the carnivores 4 : RAPACIOUS - car·niv·o·rous·ly adverb - car·niv·o·rous·ness noun
23.carousal	drunken revel; V. carouse	Function: noun : CAROUSE 2
24.carping	petty criticism; fault-finding; fretful complaining; quibble	Function: intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Icelandic karpa to dispute : to find fault or complain querulously - carp·er noun
25.carrion	rotting flesh of a dead body; CF. vulture	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English caroine, from Anglo-French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin caronia, irregular from Latin carn-, caro flesh -- more at CARNAL : dead and putrefying flesh; also : flesh unfit for food
26.cartographer	map-maker	Function: noun : one that makes maps
27.cascade	small waterfall	Function: noun Etymology: French, from Italian cascata, from cascare to fall, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin casicare, from Latin casus fall 1 : a steep usually small fall of water; especially : one of a series 2 a : something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding <blood clotting involves a biochemical cascade> b : a fall of material (as lace) that hangs in a zigzag line 3 : something falling or rushing forth in quantity <a cascade of sound> <a cascade of events>
28.caste	one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social stratification; prestige	Function: noun Etymology: Portuguese casta, literally, race, lineage, from feminine of casto pure, chaste, from Latin castus 1 : one of the hereditary social classes in Hinduism that restrict the occupation of their members and their association with the members of other castes 2 a : a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege, profession, or occupation b : the position conferred by caste standing : PRESTIGE 3 : a system of rigid social stratification characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social barriers sanctioned by custom, law, or religion 4 : a specialized form (as the worker of an ant or bee) of a polymorphic social insect that carries out a particular function in the colony - caste·ism /'kas-"ti-z&m/ noun
29.castigation	punishment; severe criticism or disapproval	Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -gat·ed; -gat·ing Etymology: Latin castigatus, past participle of castigare -- more at CHASTEN : to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism synonym see PUNISH - cas·ti·ga·tion /"kas-t&-'gA-sh&n/ noun - cas·ti·ga·tor /'kas-t&-"gA-t&r/ noun
30.casualty	serious or fatal accident; person killed or wounded in an accident or battle	Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties 1 archaic : CHANCE, FORTUNE <losses that befall them by mere casualty -- Sir Walter Raleigh> 2 : serious or fatal accident : DISASTER 3 a : a military person lost through death, wounds, injury, sickness, internment, or capture or through being missing in action b : a person or thing injured, lost, or destroyed : VICTIM <the ex-senator was a casualty of the last election>
31.cataclysm	deluge; upheaval; earthquake; violent and sudden event or change	Function: noun Etymology: French cataclysme, from Latin cataclysmos, from Greek kataklysmos, from kataklyzein to inundate, from kata- + klyzein to wash -- more at CLYSTER 1 : FLOOD, DELUGE 2 : CATASTROPHE 3a 3 : a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition; broadly : an event that brings great changes - cat·a·clys·mal /"ka-t&-'kliz-m&l/ or cat·a·clys·mic /-mik/ adjective - cat·a·clys·mi·cal·ly /-mi-k(&-)lE/ adverb
32.catalyst	agent which brings about a chemical change while it remains unaffected and unchanged; CF. catalysis	Function: noun 1 : a substance (as an enzyme) that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible 2 : an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action
33.catapult	slingshot; hurling machine; V: fire from catapult	Function: noun Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapaltEs, from kata- + pallein to hurl 1 : an ancient military device for hurling missiles 2 : a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier) [catapult illustration]
34.cataract	great waterfall; eye abnormality (causing a gradual loss of eyesight)	Function: noun Etymology: Latin cataracta waterfall, portcullis, from Greek kataraktEs, from katarassein to dash down, from kata- + arassein to strike, dash 1 [Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French cataracte, from Medieval Latin cataracta, from Latin, portcullis] : a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane that obstructs the passage of light 2 a obsolete : WATERSPOUT b : WATERFALL; especially : a large one over a precipice c : steep rapids in a river d : DOWNPOUR, FLOOD <cataracts of rain> <cataracts of information> - cat·a·rac·tous /"ka-t&-'rak-t&s/ adjective
35.catastrophe	calamity ; disaster	Function: noun Etymology: Greek katastrophE, from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- + strephein to turn 1 : the final event of the dramatic action especially of a tragedy 2 : a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin 3 a : a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth b : a violent usually destructive natural event (as a supernova) 4 : utter failure : FIASCO - cat·a·stroph·ic /"ka-t&-'strä-fik/ adjective - cat·a·stroph·i·cal·ly /-fi-k(&-)lE/ adverb
36.catcall	shout of disapproval or displeasure (made at the theater or a sports match); boo; V.	Function: noun : a loud or raucous cry made especially to express disapproval (as at a sports event) - catcall verb
37.catechism	book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; V. catechize	Function: noun 1 : oral instruction 2 : a manual for catechizing; specifically : a summary of religious doctrine often in the form of questions and answers 3 a : a set of formal questions put as a test b : something resembling a catechism especially in being a rote response or formulaic statement - cat·e·chis·mal /"ka-t&-'kiz-m&l/ adjective - cat·e·chis·tic /-'kis-tik/ adjective
38.categorical	without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute	Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin categoricus, from Greek katEgorikos, from katEgoria 1 : ABSOLUTE, UNQUALIFIED <a categorical denial> 2 a : of, relating to, or constituting a category b : involving, according with, or considered with respect to specific categories - cat·e·gor·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb
39.catharsis	purging or cleansing of any passage of the body; purging and weakening of strong emotions as a result of experiencing a dramatic work of art	Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural ca·thar·ses /-"sEz/ Etymology: New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to cleanse, purge, from katharos 1 : PURGATION 2 a : purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity and fear) primarily through art b : a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension 3 : elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression
40.cathartic	purgative; medicine that causes the bowels to empty; ADJ.	Function: adjective Etymology: Late Latin or Greek; Late Latin catharticus, from Greek kathartikos, from kathairein : of, relating to, or producing catharsis
41.catholic	(of likings and interests) universal; general; broad; including many different parts; wide-ranging liberal; Ex. catholic opinions/tastes	Function: adjective Etymology: Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French catholique, from Late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, general, from katholou in general, from kata by + holos whole -- more at CATA-, SAFE 1 a often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the church universal b often capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it c capitalized : ROMAN CATHOLIC 2 : COMPREHENSIVE, UNIVERSAL; especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests - ca·thol·i·cal·ly /k&-'thä-li-k(&-)lE/ adverb - ca·thol·i·cize /-'thä-l&-"sIz/ verb
42.caucus	private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; CF. the Caucus club of Boston	Function: noun Etymology: origin unknown : a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy; also : a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause
43.caulk	(calk) make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)	Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English caulken, from Old North French cauquer to trample, from Latin calcare, from calc-, calx heel : to stop up and make tight against leakage (as a boat or its seams, the cracks in a window frame, or the joints of a pipe) - caulk·er noun
44.causal	implying a cause-and-effect relationship; N. causality	Function: adjective 1 : expressing or indicating cause : CAUSATIVE <a causal clause introduced by since> 2 : of, relating to, or constituting a cause <the causal agent of a disease> 3 : involving causation or a cause <the relationship... was not one of causal antecedence so much as one of analogous growth -- H. O. Taylor> 4 : arising from a cause <a causal development> - caus·al·ly /-z&-lE/ adverb
45.caustic	burning; corrosive; able to burn by chemical action; sarcastically biting; (of remarks) intended to hurt; bitter; harmful; OP. harmless	Function: adjective Etymology: Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaiein to burn 1 : capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action : CORROSIVE 2 : marked by incisive sarcasm 3 : relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic - caus·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb - caus·tic·i·ty /ko-'sti-s&-tE/ noun synonyms CAUSTIC, MORDANT, ACRID, SCATHING mean stingingly incisive. CAUSTIC suggests a biting wit <caustic comments>. MORDANT suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness <mordant reviews of the play>. ACRID implies bitterness and often malevolence <acrid invective>. SCATHING implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity <a scathing satire>.
46.cauterize	burn (a wound or snakebite, etc.) with hot iron or caustic substance to stop bleeding and prevent infection	Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): -ized; -iz·ing 1 : to sear with a cautery or caustic 2 : to make insensible : DEADEN <must oust the feeling, or cauterize it -- Robert Craft> - cau·ter·iza·tion /"ko-t&-r&-'zA-sh&n/ noun
47.cavalcade	procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; CF. cavalry	Function: noun Etymology: French, ride on horseback, from Old Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare to go on horseback, from Late Latin caballicare, from Latin caballus horse; akin to Greek kaballeion horse, Middle Irish capall workhorse 1 a : a procession of riders or carriages b : a procession of vehicles or ships 2 : a dramatic sequence or procession : SERIES
48.cavalier	casual and offhand; arrogant; N: knight	Function: noun Etymology: Middle French, from Old Italian cavaliere, from Old Provençal cavalier, from Late Latin caballarius horseman, from Latin caballus 1 : a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship 2 : a mounted soldier : KNIGHT 3 capitalized : an adherent of Charles I of England 4 : GALLANT
49.cavil	quibble; make frivolous objections; find fault unnecessarily	Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -iled or -illed; -il·ing or cav·il·ling /'ka-v&-li[ng], 'kav-li[ng]/ Etymology: Latin cavillari to jest, cavil, from cavilla raillery; akin to Latin calvi to deceive -- more at CALUMNY intransitive senses : to raise trivial and frivolous objection transitive senses : to raise trivial objections to - cavil noun - cav·il·er or cav·il·ler /'ka-v&-l&r, 'kav-l&r/ noun
50.cede	yield (title or territory) to (esp. after losing a war); surrender formally; N. cession	Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): ced·ed; ced·ing Etymology: French or Latin; French céder, from Latin cedere to go, withdraw, yield 1 : to yield or grant typically by treaty 2 : ASSIGN, TRANSFER - ced·er noun
51.celerity	speed; rapidity	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English celerite, from Middle French, from Latin celeritat-, celeritas, from celer swift -- more at HOLD : rapidity of motion or action
52.celestial	heavenly	Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin caelestis celestial, from caelum sky 1 : of, relating to, or suggesting heaven or divinity 2 : of or relating to the sky or visible heavens <the sun, moon, and stars are celestial bodies> 3 a : ETHEREAL, OTHERWORLDLY b : OLYMPIAN, SUPREME 4 capitalized [Celestial Empire, old name for China] : of or relating to China or the Chinese - ce·les·tial·ly /-ch&-lE, -tE-&-lE/ adverb
53.celibate	abstaining from sexual intercourse; unmarried; N. celibacy	Function: noun Etymology: Latin caelibatus, from caelib-, caelebs unmarried : a person who lives in celibacy - celibate adjective
54.censor	(in ancient Rome) overseer of morals (also taking the census); person who eliminates inappropriate matter; V.	Function: noun Etymology: Latin, from censEre to give as one's opinion, assess; perhaps akin to Sanskrit samsati he praises 1 : one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct 2 : one who supervises conduct and morals: as a : an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter b : an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful 3 : a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness - cen·so·ri·al /sen-'sOr-E-&l, -'sor-/ adjective
55.censorious	severely critical	Function: adjective Etymology: Latin censorius of a censor, from censor : marked by or given to censure synonym see CRITICAL - cen·so·ri·ous·ly adverb - cen·so·ri·ous·ness noun
56.censure	blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval	Function: noun Etymology: Latin censura, from censEre 1 : a judgment involving condemnation 2 archaic : OPINION, JUDGMENT 3 : the act of blaming or condemning sternly 4 : an official reprimand
57.centaur	mythical figure, half man and half horse	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Latin Centaurus, from Greek Kentauros : any of a race of creatures fabled to be half man and half horse and to live in the mountains of Thessaly
58.centigrade	denoting a widely used temperature scale (basically same as Celsius)	Function: adjective Etymology: French, from Latin centi- hundred + French grade : relating to, conforming to, or having a thermometric scale on which the interval between the freezing point of water and the boiling point of water is divided into 100 degrees with 0° representing the freezing point and 100° the boiling point <10° centigrade> -- abbreviation C; compare CELSIUS
59.centrifugal	radiating; departing from the center	Function: adjective Etymology: New Latin centrifugus, from centr- + Latin fugere to flee -- more at FUGITIVE 1 : proceeding or acting in a direction away from a center or axis 2 : using or acting by centrifugal force <a centrifugal pump> 3 : EFFERENT 4 : tending away from centralization : SEPARATIST <centrifugal tendencies in modern society> - cen·trif·u·gal·ly /-g&-lE/ adverb
60.centrifuge	machine that separates substances by whirling them	Function: noun Etymology: French, from centrifuge centrifugal, from New Latin centrifugus : a machine using centrifugal force for separating substances of different densities, for removing moisture, or for simulating gravitational effects
61.centripetal	tending toward the center	Function: adjective Etymology: New Latin centripetus, from centr- + Latin petere to go to, seek -- more at FEATHER 1 : proceeding or acting in a direction toward a center or axis 2 : AFFERENT 3 : tending toward centralization : UNIFYING - cen·trip·e·tal·ly /-t&l-E/ adverb
62.centurion	Roman army officer (commanding a company of about 100 soldiers)	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin centurion-, centurio, from centuria : an officer commanding a Roman century
63.cerebral	pertaining to the brain or intellect; intellectual rather than emotional; CF. cerebrum	Function: adjective Etymology: French cérébral, from Latin cerebrum brain; akin to Old High German hirni brain, Greek kara head, keras horn, Sanskrit siras head -- more at HORN 1 a : of or relating to the brain or the intellect b : of, relating to, or being the cerebrum 2 a : appealing to intellectual appreciation <cerebral drama> b : primarily intellectual in nature <a cerebral society> - ce·re·bral·ly /-br&-lE/ adverb
64.cerebration	thought; working of the brain	Function: intransitive verb Inflected Form(s): -brat·ed; -brat·ing Etymology: back-formation from cerebration, from cerebrum : to use the mind : THINK - cer·e·bra·tion /"ser-&-'brA-sh&n/ noun
65.ceremonious	marked by formality; extremely formal and polite; CF. ceremony: conventional social courtesy	Function: adjective 1 : devoted to forms and ceremony : PUNCTILIOUS 2 : of, relating to, or constituting a ceremony 3 : according to formal usage or prescribed procedures 4 : marked by ceremony synonym see CEREMONIAL - cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ly adverb - cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ness noun
66.certitude	certainty	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin certitudo, from Latin certus 1 : the state of being or feeling certain 2 : certainty of act or event synonym see CERTAINTY
67.cessation	stoppage	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English cessacioun, from Middle French cessation, from Latin cessation-, cessatio delay, idleness, from cessare to delay, be idle -- more at CEASE : a temporary or final ceasing (as of action) : STOP
68.cession	yielding to another; ceding	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin cession-, cessio, from cedere to withdraw -- more at CEDE : a yielding to another : CONCESSION
69.chafe	warm by rubbing; make sore by rubbing; N.	Function: verb Inflected Form(s): chafed; chaf·ing Etymology: Middle English chaufen to warm, from Middle French chaufer, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin calfare, alteration of Latin calefacere, from calEre to be warm + facere to make -- more at LEE, DO transitive senses 1 : IRRITATE, VEX 2 : to warm by rubbing especially with the hands 3 a : to rub so as to wear away : ABRADE <the boat chafed its sides against the dock> b : to make sore by or as if by rubbing intransitive senses 1 : to feel irritation or discontent : FRET <chafes at his restrictive desk job> 2 : to rub and thereby cause wear or irritation
70.chaff	worthless products of an endeavor; husk(outer seed cover) separated from grain; Ex. separate the wheat from the chaff	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English chaf, from Old English ceaf; akin to Old High German cheva husk 1 : the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain 2 : something comparatively worthless 3 : the scales borne on the receptacle among the florets in the heads of many composite plants 4 : material (as strips of foil or clusters of fine wires) ejected into the air for reflecting radar waves (as for confusing an enemy's radar detection or for tracking a descending spacecraft) - chaffy /'cha-fE/ adjective
71.chaffing	bantering; joking	Function: verb transitive senses : to tease good-naturedly intransitive senses : JEST, BANTER
72.chagrin	annoyance and disappointment; vexation (caused by humiliation or injured pride)	Function: noun Etymology: French, from chagrin sad : disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure
73.chalice	goblet; consecrated cup	Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin calic-, calix; akin to Greek kalyx calyx 1 : a drinking cup : GOBLET; especially : the eucharistic cup 2 : the cup-shaped interior of a flower
74.chameleon	lizard that changes color in different situations	Function: noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English camelion, from Middle French, from Latin chamaeleon, from Greek chamaileOn, from chamai on the ground + leOn lion -- more at HUMBLE 1 : any of a family (Chamaeleontidae) of chiefly arboreal Old World lizards with prehensile tail, independently movable eyeballs, and unusual ability to change the color of the skin 2 a : a person given to often expedient or facile change in ideas or character b : one that is subject to quick or frequent change especially in appearance 3 : AMERICAN CHAMELEON - cha·me·le·on·ic /-"mE-lE-'ä-nik/ adjective - cha·me·leon·like /-"lIk/ adjective