English One Word Substitution List with Meaning
One Word Substitution can often express the idea of a phrase or a clause and can help in writing or communicating precisely. List of some common one-word substitutions are given below. These words are very important for MBA, SSC, Bank PO and other similar competitive exams.
Abdicate | Renounce a throne, high office or dignity |
Abolish | Do away with |
Accelerate | To move faster |
Accomplice | One associated with another especially in wrong-doing |
Acoustics | Science of the production, transmission, reception and effect of sound |
Acrobat | One who performs gymnastic feats |
Adolescence | The period of life from puberty to maturity |
Actuary | One who calculates insurance and annuity premium etc |
Adulterate | Make impure by the addition of inferior substance |
Aggression | Unprovoked attack of one country by another |
Amnesty | General pardon |
Abattoir | A building where animals are killed for meal (or slaughterhouse) |
Ad hoc | Made for a particular purpose |
Aeronautics | The science of the operation and flight of aircraft |
Aesthete | A person with a highly developed sense of beauty |
Agnostic | One who believes that nothing can be known about God |
Agoraphobia | Fear of open spaces |
Alibi | It is Latin for elsewhere. It is actually a plea of having been elsewhere at the time of commission of an act. But it is now used in the sense of an excuse. Example: He offered no alibi for his absence from duty. |
Alimony | Compensatory allowance given to wife after divorce |
Allergic | Allergy means, a heightened sensitivity to a substance as food, medicine etc. Allergic means having an aversion to. He is allergic to hard work. |
Altruist | One who is habitually kind to others |
Alumnus | A former student of a school or college |
Ambivalent | The word means simultaneous attraction towards and repulsion from an object, person or action. The attitude of educated Indians to love-marriages is ambivalent |
Anachronism | That which appears to be in the wrong period |
Anarchy | Lawlessness and disorder caused by absence of control |
Anecdote | A short interesting or amusing story |
Anthology | A collection of poems or writings |
Aphorism | (or maxim) A wise saying in a few words |
Aphrodisiac | A medicine causing sexual excitement |
Apiary | A place where bees are kept |
Apprentice | A person who works under someone to learn that person’s skill |
Arboreal | Those who live in trees |
Armistice | (or cease-fire or truce) An agreement to stop fighting |
Ascetic | One who avoids physical pleasures and comforts |
Astrology | The art of understanding the influence of heavenly bodies |
Astronomy | Scientific study of heavenly bodies |
Aviary | A place for keeping birds |
Backlog | It means an accumulation of arrears. Example: I must clear my heavy backlog of arrears. |
Backwater | A Dart of a river out of the main stream, where the water does not move |
Barbarian | An uncivilised person |
Barbecue | A metal flame on which meat etc. is cooked over an open fire |
Barometer | An instrument for measuring the air pressure |
Beverage | A liquid for drinking |
Bibliography | A list of writings on a subject |
Biennial | Happening once every two years |
Bigamy | System of two marriages |
Biodata | (or resume or curriculum vitae) A short written account of one’s education and past employment |
Black Hole | An area in outer space into which everything near it, including light, is pulled- |
Bleach | Make white or pale by mean~ of chemicals or sunlight |
Blue Blood | The quality of being a noble person by birth |
Blueprint | The word originated in the engineering industry where it means the final stage of paper design. So it may mean the final plan or layout. Example: The blueprint of the Five-Year Plan is ready. |
Bonsai | The art of growing a plant in a pot that is prevented from reaching its natural size |
Bon Vivant | One who likes good wine and food and cheerful companions |
Bookworm | (or nerd) One who is too fond of reading and study |
Botany | The scientific study of plants |
Bottleneck | It is a narrow passage, a place, stage or condition that checks progress. Example: We must rem o”e all bottlenecks in the swift implementation of policies. |
Boulevard | A broad street having trees on each side |
Bourgeois | Belonging to the middle class |
Bric-a-brac | Small objects kept for decoration |
Bullion | Bars of gold or silver |
Bust | A piece of sculpture showing a person’s head, shoulders, and upper chest |
Cabal | A small group of people who make secret plans for political action |
Calligraphy | The art of beautiful writing by hand |
Canine | Of a dog |
Cannibal | One who eats human flesh |
Cardiac | Connected with the heart |
Catch-22 | A situation from which one is prevented from escaping by something that is part of the situation itself |
Celestial | Of the sky or heaven |
Cerebral | Connected with the brain |
Chalet | A wooden house with a steeply sloping roof |
Charlatan | One who deceives others by falsely claiming to have a skill |
Calmistry | The art of telling one’s character or future by examining one’s hands |
Celibacy | One who does not indulge in carnal pleasure |
Clean sweep | A complete victory |
Clock-and-Dagger | Stories that deal with adventure and exciting mystery |
Clot | A half-solid mass or lump formed from a liquid, especially blood |
Clubfoot | A badly-shaped foot twisted out of position from birth |
Coagulate | Change from a liquid into a solid by chemical action |
Cold war | Severe political struggle between countries, without actual fighting |
Colloquial | Suitable for ordinary, informal, or familiar conversation |
Colonnade | A row of pillars supporting a roof or arches |
Coma | A state of long unnatural deep unconsciousness |
Combustible | (or Inflammable) That can catch fire and burn easily |
Comrade | A close companion who shares difficult work |
Congenital | Existing at or from one’s birth |
Connotation | The feeling or ideas that are suggested by a word |
Consortium | A combination of several companies, banks, etc. for a common purpose |
Consul | A person appointed by a govt. to protect and help its citizens and its interests in trade in a foreign city |
Contemporary | A person living at the same time as another |
Contretemps | An unlucky and unexpected event, socially uncomfortable |
Corinthian | Typical of the most richly decorated style of ancient Greek building |
Corrigendum | Something (to be) made correct in a printed book |
Counterfeit | Made exactly like something real in order to deceive |
Countervailing | Acting with equal force but opposite effect |
Couture | The business of making and selling fashionable women’s clothes |
Cradle | A small bed for a baby |
Creativity | The ability to produce new and original ideas |
Criminology | The scientific study of crime and criminals |
Crossroads | A point at which an important decision must be taken |
Cruise | A sea voyage for pleasure |
Cuisine | A style of cooking |
Daredevil | One who is prepared to take dangerous risks |
D-day | A day on which an important operation is to begin |
Debacle | A sudden complete failure |
Decanter | A container for holding alcoholic drinks, especially wine |
Defeatism | The practice of thinking in a way that shows an expectation of being unsuccessful |
Deficit | The amount by which something is less than what is needed |
Déja vu | The feeling of remembering something that in fact one is experiencing for the first time |
Depression | A long period of seriously reduced business activity and high unemployment |
Designate | Chosen for an office but not yet officially placed in it |
Disarmament | Reduction of weapons by a government |
Dissection | Cutting up the body of a plant or animal for studying |
Dividend | The money which is divided among shareholders |
Dome | A rounded roof on a building |
Dormitory | A large room containing a number of beds |
Down-and-out | One who is suffering from lack of money, work, etc, and is unable to change the situation |
Dragnet | A system of connected actions and methods for catching criminals |
Dregs | Sediment in a liquid that sinks to the, bottom and is thrown away |
Drudgery | Hard uninteresting work |
Dutch | Of the Netherlands (Holland) |
Eagle-eyed | Looking with very keen attention and noticing small details |
Eaves | The edges of a roof which come out beyond the walls |
Eddy | A circular movement of water, wind, dust, etc. |
Elastic | Able to spring back into shape after being stretched |
Electrocute | To kill by passing electricity through the body |
Embargo | An official order forbidding trade with another country |
Empirical | Based on practical experience of the world we see and feel |
Enigmatic | That which is mysterious and very hard to understand |
Entomology | The scientific study of insects |
Epic | A long narrative poem |
Epicurean | Lover of physical/material |
Ergonomics | The study of the conditions in which people work most effectively with machines |
Estuary | The wide lower part or mouth of a river |
Evaporate | To change into steam and disappear |
Evolution | Gradual development from simpler forms |
Excise | Tax on goods produced and used inside a country |
Expletive | An often meaningless word used for swearing |
Expressionism | A style of painting which expresses feelings rather than describing objects and experiences |
Extrovert | One who likes to spend time with others |
Facet | Any of the many flat sides of a cut jewel |
Faeces | The solid waste material passed from the bowels |
Fallacy | A false idea or belief |
Farce | A light humorous play full of silly things happening |
Farrier | One who makes and fits shoes for horses |
Febrile | Of or caused by fever |
Felony | A serious crime such as murder or armed robbery |
Fiance | (feminine fiancée) The person one is going to marry |
Filament | A thin thread |
Flogging | Severe beating with a whip or stick |
Flora | All the plants of a particular place, country, or period |
Fluvial | Of, found in, or produced by rivers |
Foible | A small rather strange and stupid personal habit |
Foolscap | A large size of paper, especially writing paper |
Foray | A sudden rush into enemy country |
Foreman | A skilled and experienced worker in charge of other workers |
Fortnight | Two weeks |
Fourth Estate | Newspapers and their writers, considered with regard to their political influence |
Freckle | A small flat brown spot on the skin |
Freight | Goods carried by ship, train. plane, etc. |
Frill | A decorative edge to a piece of material |
Frontispiece | A picture or photograph at the beginning of a book |
Fumigate | To clear of disease, bacteria etc. by means of chemical smoke |
Furrow | A long narrow track cut by a plough |
Galaxy | A large group of stars |
Gastronomy | The art and science of cooking and eating good food |
Gelatine | A clear substance used for making jellies |
Geocentric | Having the Earth as the central point |
Gigolo | A man who is paid to be a woman’s lover |
Glacier | A mass of ice moving very slowly down a mountain valley |
Glut | A larger supply than is necessary |
Goatee | A little pointed beard on the bottom of the chin |
Go-Getter | One who is forceful, determined, and likely to succeed in getting what one wants |
Good Samaritan | One who helps others in trouble, without thinking of oneself |
Gorge | A deep narrow valley with steep sides |
Graffiti | Drawings or writing on a wall |
Grange | A large country house with Farm buildings |
Green Belt | A stretch of land, around a town or city, where building is not allowed, so that fields, woods, etc. remain |
Grunt | Short deep rough sound of a pig |
Gubernatorial | Of a governor |
Guinea pig | A person who is subject of some kind of test |
Halitosis | A condition in which one has bad breath |
Handbook | ‘A short book giving all the most important information about a subject |
Hangar | A big building where aircraft are kept between flights |
Harpoon | A spear with a long rope, used for hunting large sea animals |
Haven | A place of calm and safety |
Headgear | A covering for the head |
Headstrong | Determined to do what one wants in spite of all advice |
Heat-stroke | Fever and weakness caused by too much heat |
Heirloom | A valuable object passed on for generations |
Herbivore | A plant-eating animal |
Hide | An animal’s skin, when removed to be used for leather |
Hinterland | The inner part of a country |
Histrionics | Behaviour resembling a theatrical performance |
Holocaust | Great destruction and the loss of many lives |
Holster | A leather holder for a pistol |
Hooligan | A noisy rough person who causes trouble |
Hothead | One who does things too quickly, without thinking |
Hub | The central part of a wheel |
Hump | A lump on the back of a camel |
Ideology | A set of ideas on which a political or economic system is based |
Idolatry | The worship of idols |
Illegible | Difficult or impossible to read |
Immortal | That which will never die |
Implacable | Impossible to satisfy, change, or make less angry |
Improvident | One who does not save for the future |
Incarnate | In physical form rather than in the form of a spirit or idea |
Incorporeal | Without a body |
Inedible | Not suitable for eating |
Inflate | To fill until swelled with air or gas |
Ingest | To take food into the stomach |
Innate | That which one is born with |
Inseminate | To put male seed into a female |
Intelligentsia | Those who are highly educated and often concern themselves with ideas and new developments |
Intestate | Not having made a will |
Invective | A forceful attacking speech used for blaming someone |
Invoice | A list of goods supplied, stating quantity and price |
Irreproachable | So good that no blame at all could be given |
Journal | A serious magazine produced by a specialist society |
Junta | A council or assembly that deliberates in secret upon the affairs of government. |
Juxtapose | To place side by side or close together |
Kennel | A small hut for a dog |
Kimono | A long loose garment made of silk |
Knuckle | The joint between the finger and the hand |
Lackey | One who behaves like a servant by always obeying |
Lead Time | The time taken in planning and producing a new product |
Lecher | One who continually looks for sexual pleasure |
Leonine | Of or like a lion |
Levee | An embankment beside a river or stream or an arm of the sea, to prevent overflow. |
Levy | An official demand and collection, especially of a tax |
Libertarian | One who believes that people should have freedom of expression |
Lien | A legal claim or hold on property, as security for a debt or charge. |
Limerick | A humorous short poem with five lines |
Linchpin | An important member which keeps the whole group together |
Literati | People with great knowledge of literature |
Livery | Uniform of a special type for servants |
Locale | A place where something particular happens |
Logger V | One whose job is to cut down trees |
Loom | A machine on which thread is woven into cloth |
Lore | Old beliefs, not written down, about a particular subject |
Lowbrow | One who has no interest in literature, art, etc. |
Lullaby | A pleasant song used for causing children to sleep |
Machete | A knife with a broad heavy blade |
Magnum Opus | A great work of art |
Malady | That which is wrong with a system |
Malaise | A feeling of pain without any particular pain or appearance of disease |
Malcontent | One who is dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs. |
Male Chauvinist | A man who believes that men are better than women |
Malign | To speak evil of, especially to do so falsely and severely. |
Mane | The long hair on the back of a horse’s neck |
Manual | A book giving information about how to do something |
Market Forces | The free operation of business and trade without govt. controls |
Mascot | Chosen as a symbol and thought to bring good luck |
Massacre | The unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of human beings. |
Materialism | Too great interest on in money & material etc, rather than spiritual matters |
Mechanics | The science of the action of forces on objects |
Megalomania | The belief that one is more important than one really is |
Mercantile | Of trade and business |
Meteorology | The scientific study of weather conditions |
Midriff | The part of the human body between the chest and the waist |
Militia | Those trained as soldiers but not belonging to a regular army |
Miniature | A very small painting |
Mirage | The appearing of objects which are not really there |
Misnomer | A name wrongly or mistakenly applied. |
Moccasin | A simple shoe made of leather |
Modus Operandi | A method of doing something typical of someone |
Mogul | A person of very great power. wealth, and importance |
Monarchy | Rule by a king or queen |
Monomaniac | One who keeps thinking of one particular idea only |
Moralistic | Having unchanging narrow ideas about right and wrong |
Morbid | Caused by or denoting a diseased or unsound condition of body or mind. |
Motto | A few words taken as the guiding principle |
Multinational | A company having operations in many different countries |
Mundane means | Worldly/earthly |
Mycology | The study of fungi (plural of fungus) |
Namesake | A person with the same name as yours is your |
Nautical | Of sailors, ships, or sailing |
Necromancy | The practice which claims to learn about the future by talking with the dead |
Nemesis | Just and unavoidable punishment |
Newfangled | New (idea. machine etc) but neither necessary nor better |
Nihilism | The belief that nothing has meaning or value |
Nodding | lower and raise one’s head slightly and briefly, to give someone a signal |
Acquaintance | A very slight familiarity |
Nosegay | A small bunch of flowers, to be carried or worn on a dress |
Notary | A public official who makes written statements official |
No-win Situation | That which will end badly whichever choice one makes |
Nursery | A place where small children are taken care of |
Oar | A long pole used for rowing a boat |
Obstetrics | The branch of medicine concerned with childbirth |
Obtrude | To be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence. |
Obtrusive | Tending to be pushed or to push oneself into undue prominence. |
Obviate | To clear away or provide for, as an objection or difficulty. |
Odoriferous | Having a smell, especially a pleasant one |
Off-White | White with some grey or yellow |
Oligarchy | A collective government formed by a few persons |
One-Upmanship | The art of getting an advantage over others without actually cheating |
Ontology | The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of existence |
Operational | The study of how best to build and use |
Opprobrium | The state of being scornfully reproached or accused of evil. |
Orderly | A soldier who attends an officer |
Ornithology | The scientific study of birds |
Ostentation | A display dictated by vanity and intended to invite applause or flattery. |
Ostracism | Exclusion from intercourse or favor, as in society or politics. |
Outcast | One who is forced from one’s home or without friends |
Overhaul | Thorough examination and repair if necessary |
Pacemaker | A small machine that regularises heartbeats |
Palaeography | The study of ancient writing |
Panacea | A remedy or medicine proposed for or professing to cure all diseases. |
Panache | An admirably stylish manner of doing things effortlessly |
Panegyric | A formal and elaborate eulogy, written or spoken, of a person or of an act. |
Pariah | One who is not accepted by society |
Parricide | Act of murdering one’s father |
Parting Shot | A last remark made at the moment of leaving |
Passive Smoking | The breathing in of smoke from the cigarettes that others are smoking |
Patent | The right to make or sell a new invention |
Paunch | A man’s fat stomach |
Peanuts | Too small a sum of money |
Peeping Tom | One who secretly looks at others when they are undressing |
Penance | Making oneself willingly suffer for one’s wrongs |
Perdition | Everlasting punishment after death |
Perjury | A lie told on purpose |
Persona on Grata | One who is not acceptable or welcome |
Petrology | The scientific study of rocks |
Phonetics | The study and science of speech sounds |
Phylum | A main division of animals or plants |
Pigment | The natural colouring matter of plants and animals |
Pillion | A seat for a second person on a motorcycle |
Pithead | The entrance to a coalmine |
Placate | To bring from a state of angry or hostile feeling to one of patience or friendliness. |
Plaintiff | One who brings a charge against someone in a court |
Platitude | A written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace. |
Platonic | A friendly, not sexual, relationship between a man and a woman |
Plebeian | Of the lower social classes |
Poetaster | A writer of bad poems |
Poker Face | A face that shows nothing of what one is thinking or feeling |
Porcine | Of or like a pig |
Pork | Meat from pigs |
Portend | To indicate as being about to happen, especially by previous signs. |
Post-Haste | In a great hurry |
Pot-Boiler | A book of low quality produced quickly to get money |
Powder Keg | Something dangerous that might explode |
Précis | A shortened form of a piece of writing |
Prescient | Able to imagine or guess what will probably happen |
Prevaricate | To use ambiguous or evasive language for the purpose of deceiving or diverting attention. |
Prey | An animal that is hunted and eaten by another |
Prima Donna | The main woman singer in an opera company |
Prodigal | One wasteful or extravagant, especially in the use of money or property. |
Profile | A side view of someone’s head |
Projection | Something that sticks out from a surface |
Propellant | An explosive for firing a bullet or a rocket |
Protagonist | means first actor in a play. It means one who takes the leading part in a drama, novel or any other sphere. Clearly the word is not an antonym of antagonist which means one who contends with another. |
Proscribe | To reject, as a teaching or a practice, with condemnation or denunciation. |
Prosody | The rules by which the patterns of sounds are arranged in poetry |
Postscript (or P.S.) | A note added at the end of a letter |
Pulmonary | Of or having an effect on the lungs |
Punctilious | Strictly observant of the rules or forms prescribed by law or custom. |
Punter | One who makes a bet on horserace results |
Pus | A thick yellowish liquid produced in an infected wound |
Putsch | A sudden secretly planned attempt to remove a govt. by force |
Quartet | Four singers or musicians performing together |
Quixotic | Trying to do the impossible, often so as to help others, while getting oneself into danger |
Raconteur | One who is good at telling stories in an interesting way |
Raillery | Friendly joking al someone’s weakness |
Ranger | The keeper of a forest |
Real Estate | Property in the form of land and houses |
Real Politick | Politics based on practical facts rather than on moral aims |
Rebuff | A peremptory or unexpected rejection of advances or approaches. |
Recant | To withdraw formally one’s belief (in something previously believed or maintained). |
Recumbent | Lying down on the back or side |
Red-Handed | In the act of doing something wrong |
Redundant | means exceeding what is natural, usual or necessary. The idea of too much is inseparable from it. It is not a synonym of inappropriate. |
Reflation | A govt. policy of increasing the amount of money |
Relic | Something old that reminds us of the past |
Renaissance | A renewal of interest in some particular kind of art, literature, etc. |
Renal | Of the kidneys |
Requisition | An official demand or request |
Rescind | To make void, as an act, by the enacting authority or a superior authority. |
Resonance | Sound produced in one object by sound waves from another |
Retribution | A severe deserved punishment |
Revisionism | The questioning of the main beliefs of an already existing political system |
Rhyme | To end with the same sound, including a vowel |
Right-hand Man | One’s most useful and valuable helper |
Ringleader | One who leads others to do wrong or make trouble |
Riviera | A warm stretch of coast, popular with holiday makers |
Rodent | A small herbivore with strong sharp long front teeth |
Rolling Stone | One who.travels around a lot and has no fixed address or responsibilities |
Rosary | A string of beads used for counting prayers |
Roving eye | Sexual interests that pass quickly from one person to another |
Rubber Stamp | One who acts only to make official the decisions already made by another |
Ruling | An official decision of a court |
Rung | Any of the cross-bars that form the steps of a ladder |
Saboteur | One who practices sabotage |
Salve | (or Ointment) An oily substance for putting on a cut, wound, etc. |
Sapient | Wise and full of deep knowledge |
Scaffold | A structure built up from poles and boards for workmen to stand on |
Scalp | The skin on the top of the human head |
Sceptical | Unwilling to believe a claim or promise. |
Scraps | Pieces of food not eaten at a meal, and thrown away |
Scuba | An instrument used for breathing while swimming underwater |
Seam | A line of stitches ‘joining two pieces of cloth, leather, etc. |
Sedentary | Done while sitting down |
Seer | One who can see into the future |
Seismic | Of or caused by earthquakes |
Seller’s Market | Where there are not many goods for sale |
Sensationalism | The intentional producing of excitement or shock |
Septic | Infected with disease bacteria |
Sexagenarian | One who is between 60 and 69 years old |
Sexism | The belief that one sex is not as good as the other |
Shaman | A priest believed to have magical powers and cure people |
Shibboleth | A once-important custom which no longer has much meaning |
Shoot | A new growth from a plant |
Short-change | To give back less than what actually should be given back |
Siamese twins | Those joined together from birth at some part of their bodies |
Side Effect | An unwanted effect happening in addition to the intended one |
Signatory | Any of those who sign an agreement |
Sill | The flat piece at the base of a window |
Singsong | A repeated rising and falling of the voice in speaking |
Skyscraper | A very tall modern city building |
Sleeping Partner | A partner in a business who takes no active part |
Slip-up | A slight unintentional mistake. |
Small Fry | A young or unimportant person |
Smokestack | The tall chimney of a factory or a ship |
Snippet | A short piece from something spoken or written |
Socialite | A person well known for going to fashionable parties |
Sociology | The scientific study of societies and human behaviour in groups |
Solidarity | Loyal agreement of interests, aims, or principles among a group |
Somnambulism | The habit of walking about while asleep |
SOS | An urgent message from someone in trouble |
Souvenir | An object kept as a reminder of something |
Spatial | Connected with space |
Spectacle | A grand public show or scene |
Spindle | A machine part round which something turns |
Splinter | A small sharp-pointed piece of wood broken off something |
Sportsmanship | A spirit of honest fair play |
Sprig | A small end of a stem or branch with leaves |
Stallion | A fully-grown male horse kept for breeding |
Standard-bearer | An important leader in a moral argument or movement |
Statesman | A political leader who is respected as being wise, honourable, and fair-minded |
Stellar | Of the stars |
Sticking Point | Something that prevents an agreement |
Stock Broker | One whose job is buying and selling shares and debentures for others |
Stoic | One who is indifferent to joys/sorrows |
Stooge | One who habitually does what another person wants |
Stratagem | A trick to deceive an enemy |
Strategist | A person skilled in planning, especially of military movements. |
Stride | A long step in walking. |
Strobe Light | A light which goes on and off very quickly |
Subcutaneous | Beneath the skin |
Sub Judice | A legal case being considered in court |
Subsidy | Money paid by the govt. to make prices lower |
Superannuated | Too old for work |
Surety | One who takes responsibility for the behaviour of someone |
Surreal | Having a strange dreamlike unreal quality |
Swarm | A large group of insects moving in a mass |
Sweet Tooth | A liking for sweet and sugary things |
Sword of Damocles | Something bad that may happen at any time |
Tactile | Of the sense of touch |
Take-home Pay | Wages left after all taxes, pension payments, etc. have been paid |
Tannery | A Place where animal skin is made into leather |
Tarot | A set of 22 cards used for telling the future |
Tautology | is redundancy, which consists of needless repetition of meaning in other words. Example: audible to the ear return back, One after another in succession. |
Taxonomy | The system of putting plants and animals into various classes |
Technocrat | A highly skilled specialist in charge of organisation |
Teller | One who is employed to receive and pay out money in a bank |
Tenure | The act, right, or period of holding land or a job |
Territorial waters | The sea near a country’s coast over which it has legal control |
Testamentary | Of or done according to a will |
Thatch | Roof covering of straw, reeds, etc. |
Thermal | Of heat |
Thorax | The part between the neck and the abdomen |
Thromhosis | Having a clot in a blood tube or the heart |
Topiary | The art of cutting trees into decorative shapes |
Touchstone | Something used as a test or standard |
Tract | A short piece dealing with a religious or moral subject |
Traitor | One who is disloyal to one’s country |
Transient | One who or that which is only of temporary existence. |
Transmogrify | To change completely as if by magic |
Transpire | It does not mean to happen or occur but to become known. Example: It transpired at the meeting that he was going to be our next President. |
Treatise | A serious book or article that examines a particular subject. |
Tribunal | A court of people officially appointed to deal with special matters. |
Troglodyte | One who lives in a cave. |
Trousseau | The personal possessions that a woman brings with her when she marries. |
Tunnel Vision | A condition in which one can see only straight ahead |
Turf | A surface made up of earth and a thick covering of grass |
Tutelage | The act of training or the state of being under instruction. |
Tyrant | A ruler with complete power, who rules cruelly and unjustly |
Tyro | One slightly skilled in or acquainted with any trade or profession. |
Underling | A person of low rank in relation to another |
Undermanned | Not having enough workers |
Unguent | A thick oily substance used on the skin |
Unisex | Of one type used by both male and female |
Upholstery | A comfortable covering and filling for a seat |
Valise | A small bag used while travelling |
Vase | A decorative container used to put flowers in |
Vendor | A seller of small articles that can be carried about |
Vertebrate | A living creature which has a backbone |
Vicissitude | A change, especially a complete change, of condition or circumstances, as of fortune. |
Vinous | Of wine |
Voluntary | Done willingly, without being forced |
Wade | To walk through water |
Walkout | Leaving a meeting as an expression of disapproval |
Wardrobe | A large cupboard in which one hangs up clothes |
Wasteland | Empty, unproductive, usually ugly land |
Waterloo | A severe defeat after a time of unusual success |
Weakling | One who lacks physical strength or strength of character |
Wean | To transfer (the young) from dependence on mother’s milk to another form of nourishment. |
Westher-beaten | Marked or damaged by the force of wind. sun, rain. etc. |
Wheeler-dealer | One who is skilled at making profitable or successful deals |
Whirlpool | A place with circular currents of water, which can pull objects down into it |
Wholesale | The business of selling goods to shopkeepers |
Wit | The ability to say clever and amusing things |
Wizard | One who has magic powers |
Word Blindness | (or dyslexia) Difficulty in seeing the difference between letter shape |
Workaholic | One who likes to work too hard |
Working knowledge | Enough practical knowledge to do something |
Wreckage | The broken parts of a destroyed thing |
Wretch | An unfortunate or unhappy person |
Xenophobia | Fear of strange or foreign people, customs, etc. |
Yeoman service | Great and loyal service, help, or support |
Yuppie | A young person in a professional job with a high-income |
Zeitgeist | The intellectual and moral tendencies that characterize any age or epoch. |
Zoology | The scientific study of animals |