Definition: an indirect reference
Part of Speech: noun
Derivatives: allusions
Link: Cowardly Lion
Sentence: When someone is described as a Cowardly
Lion they could be referring to The Wizard of Oz or just making an allusion to someone being scared of their own shadow.

Definition: unselfishly concerned for the welfare of others; unselfish
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivatives: altruistic, altruism, altruistically
Link: big hearted
Sentence: Mary was considered altruistic, or big
hearted, because she gave up her Thanksgiving every year to help feed the homeless.

Definition: to calm, especially by giving in to the demands of
Part of Speech: verb
Derivatives: appeases, appeased, appeasing, appeasable
Sentence: Sometimes we have to appease people by
making peace and making compromises.
Link: make peace

Definition: determined by personal judgment, not rule or reason; based on impulse
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivative: arbitrarily
Link: my way or the highway
Sentence: I bought her a mug that said, “My way or
the Highway” because she always made arbitrary decisions without listening to my ideas.

Definition: to attack physically or verbally
Part of Speech: verb
Derivatives: assails, assailed, assailing, assailer
Link: attacked by a whale
Sentence: Little did we know when we went out for a sail, that we would be assailed by a whale.

Definition: lacking originality; overused; commonplace
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivative: banality
Link: not original
Sentence: When people dress twins in the same outfit, this is banal, because it is not original.

Definition: a mild or vague term used as a substitute for one considered offensive or unpleasant
Part of Speech: noun
Derivative: euphemisms
Link: pre-owned vehicle
Sentence: A euphemism for a used car is a “pre-
owned vehicle.”

Definition: motivated only by financial gain; greedy
Part of Speech: adjective
Derivative: mercenaries Link: greedy exploited the needy
Sentence: The mercenaries were so greedy that they exploited the needy.

Definition: a group of symptoms typical of a particular disease or condition
Part of Speech: noun
Derivative: syndromes
Link: Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Sentence: Diarrhea, bloating, and excessive gas are symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Definition: to stain the honor of someone or something
Part of Speech: verb
Derivatives: taints, tainted, tainting
Link: black paint
Sentence: Putting black paint on the map of the
United States tends to taint its reputation.