List3

foible

SYLLABICATION:

foi·ble

PRONUNCIATION: foi b l NOUN:

1. A minor weakness or failing of character. 2. The weaker section of a sword blade, from the middle to the tip.

ETYMOLOGY: foil1

Obsolete French foible, weak point of a sword, weak, from Old French feble, weak. See feeble.

PRONUNCIATION:

foil

TRANSITIVE VERB:

Inflected forms: foiled, foil·ing, foils 1. To prevent from being successful; thwart. 2. To obscure or confuse (a trail or scent) so as to evade pursuers.

NOUN:

Archaic 1. A repulse; a setback. 2. The trail or scent of an animal.

ETYMOLOGY: foil2

Middle English foilen, to trample, defile, variant of filen, to defile. See file3.

PRONUNCIATION:

foil

NOUN:

1. A thin, flexible leaf or sheet of metal: aluminum foil. 2. A thin layer of polished metal placed under a displayed gem to lend it brilliance. 3. One that by contrast underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another: “I am resolved my husband shall not be a rival, but a foil to me” (Charlotte Brontë). 4. The reflective metal coating on the back of a glass mirror. 5. Architecture A curvilinear, often lobelike figure or space formed between the cusps of intersecting arcs, found especially in Gothic tracery and Moorish ornament. 6a. An airfoil. b. Nautical A hydrofoil.

TRANSITIVE VERB:

Inflected forms: foiled, foil·ing, foils 1. To cover or back with foil. 2. To set off by contrast.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English, from Old French foille, from Latin folia, pl. of folium, leaf. See bhel-3 in Appendix I.

foil3

PRONUNCIATION:

foil

NOUN:

1. A fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a thin, flexible four-sided blade with a button on the tip to prevent injury. 2. The art or sport of fencing with such a sword. Often used in the plural: a contest at foils.

ETYMOLOGY: foliage

Origin unknown.

SYLLABICATION:

fo·li·age

PRONUNCIATION: f l - j, f l j NOUN:

1a. Plant leaves, especially tree leaves, considered as a group. b. A cluster of leaves. 2. An ornamental representation of leaves, stems, and flowers, especially in architecture.

ETYMOLOGY:

Alteration (influenced by Latin folium, leaf) of Middle English foilage, from Old French

foillage, from foille, leaf. See foil2. OTHER FORMS:

fo li·aged —ADJECTIVE

folklore

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION: NOUN:

OTHER FORMS:

folk·lore f k lôr , -l r 1. The traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally. 2. The comparative study of folk knowledge and culture. Also called folkloristics. 3a. A body of widely accepted but usually specious notions about a place, a group, or an institution: Rumors of their antics became part of the folklore of Hollywood. b. A popular but unfounded belief. folk lor ic —ADJECTIVE folk lor ish —ADJECTIVE folk lor ist —NOUN folk lor·is tic —ADJECTIVE

folly

SYLLABICATION:

fol·ly

PRONUNCIATION: f l NOUN:

Inflected forms: pl. fol·lies 1. A lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight. 2a. An act or instance of foolishness: regretted the follies of his youth. b. A costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome. 3. follies (used with a sing. or pl. verb) An elaborate theatrical revue consisting of music, dance, and skits. 4. Obsolete a. Perilously or criminally foolish action. b. Evil; wickedness. c. Lewdness; lasciviousness.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English folie, from Old French, from fol, foolish, from Late Latin follis, windbag, fool. See fool.

foment

SYLLABICATION:

fo·ment

PRONUNCIATION: f -m nt TRANSITIVE VERB:

Inflected forms: fo·ment·ed, fo·ment·ing, fo·ments 1. To promote the growth of; incite. 2. To treat (the skin, for example) by fomentation.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English fomenten, to apply warm liquids to the skin, from Old French fomenter, from Late Latin f ment re, from Latin f mentum, poultice, from fov re, to warm. See dhegwh- in Appendix I.

OTHER FORMS:

fo·ment er —NOUN

fondle

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION: VERB:

fon·dle f n dl Inflected forms: fon·dled, fon·dling, fon·dles

TRANSITIVE VERB:

1. To handle, stroke, or caress lovingly. See synonyms at caress. 2. Obsolete To treat with indulgence and solicitude; pamper.

INTRANSITIVE VERB: To show fondness or affection by caressing. ETYMOLOGY: OTHER FORMS:

Frequentative of fond1, to show fondness for (obsolete). fon dler —NOUN

foolhardy

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION:

fool·har·dy f

l här d

ADJECTIVE:

Inflected forms: fool·har·di·er, fool·har·di·est Unwisely bold or venturesome; rash. See synonyms at reckless.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English folhardi, from Old French fol hardi : fol, fool; see fool + hardi, bold; see hardy1.

OTHER FORMS:

fool har di·ly —ADVERB fool har di·ness —NOUN

foolproof

SYLLABICATION:

fool·proof

PRONUNCIATION: f ADJECTIVE:

l pr

f

1. Designed so as to be impervious to human incompetence, error, or misuse: a foolproof detonator; a foolproof safety lock. 2. Effective; infallible: a foolproof scheme.

footle

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION:

foo·tle f

tl

INTRANSITIVE VERB: Inflected forms: foo·tled, foo·tling, foo·tles 1. Informal To waste time; trifle. 2. To talk nonsense. NOUN:

Nonsense; foolishness.

ETYMOLOGY:

Probably variant of footer, to screw around, from obsolete fouter, an act of sexual intercourse, from French foutre, to have sexual intercourse, from Latin futuere. See bhau- in Appendix I.

OTHER FORMS:

foo tler —NOUN

footloose

SYLLABICATION:

foot·loose

PRONUNCIATION: f ADJECTIVE: fop

PRONUNCIATION: NOUN:

tl

s

Having no attachments or ties; free to do as one pleases.

f p A man who is preoccupied with and often vain about his clothes and manners; a dandy.

ETYMOLOGY: forage

Middle English, fool; akin to probably akin to Middle English fob, trickster, cheat. See fob2.

SYLLABICATION:

for·age

PRONUNCIATION:

fôr j, f r -

NOUN:

1. Food for domestic animals; fodder. 2. The act of looking or searching for food or provisions.

VERB:

Inflected forms: for·aged, for·ag·ing, for·ag·es

INTRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To wander in search of food or provisions. 2. To make a raid, as for food: soldiers foraging near an abandoned farm. 3. To conduct a search; rummage. TRANSITIVE VERB:

1. To collect forage from; strip of food or supplies: troops who were foraging the countryside. 2. Informal To obtain by foraging: foraged a snack from the refrigerator.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English, from Old French fourrage, from forrer, to forage, from feurre, fodder, of Germanic origin. See p - in Appendix I.

OTHER FORMS:

for ag·er —NOUN

foray

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION:

for·ay fôr

,f r

,f r

NOUN:

1. A sudden raid or military advance. 2. A venture or an initial attempt, especially outside one's usual area: an actor's foray into politics.

VERB:

Inflected forms: for·ayed, for·ay·ing, for·ays

INTRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To make a raid. 2. To make inroads, as for profit or adventure. TRANSITIVE VERB:

Archaic To pillage in search of spoils.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English forrai, from forraien, to plunder, probably back-formation from forreour, raider, plunderer, from Old French forrier, from forrer, to forage. See forage.

forbearance

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION: NOUN:

for·bear·ance fôr-bâr ns 1. The act of forbearing. 2. Tolerance and restraint in the face of provocation; patience. See synonyms at patience. 3. The quality of being forbearing. 4. Law The act of a creditor who refrains from enforcing a debt when it falls due.

ford

PRONUNCIATION:

fôrd, f rd

NOUN:

A shallow place in a body of water, such as a river, where one can cross by walking or riding on an animal or in a vehicle.

TRANSITIVE VERB:

Inflected forms: ford·ed, ford·ing, fords To cross (a body of water) at a ford.

ETYMOLOGY:

Middle English, from Old English. See per-2 in Appendix I.

OTHER FORMS: forebear

ford a·ble —ADJECTIVE

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION:

fore·bear fôr bâr , f r -

VARIANT FORMS:

also for·bear

NOUN:

A person from whom one is descended; an ancestor. See synonyms at ancestor.

ETYMOLOGY: forbear2

Middle English forbear : fore-, fore- + beer, one who is (from ben, to be; see be).

SYLLABICATION:

for·bear

PRONUNCIATION: fôr bâr , f r NOUN: forebode

Variant of forebear.

SYLLABICATION:

fore·bode

PRONUNCIATION:

fôr-b d , f r-

VERB:

Inflected forms: fore·bod·ed, fore·bod·ing, fore·bodes

TRANSITIVE VERB:

1. To indicate the likelihood of; portend: harsh words that foreboded estrangement. 2. To have a premonition of (a future misfortune).

INTRANSITIVE VERB: To prophesy or predict. OTHER FORMS:

fore·bod er —NOUN

foreclose

SYLLABICATION:

fore·close

PRONUNCIATION: fôr-kl z , f rVERB:

Inflected forms: fore·closed, fore·clos·ing, fore·clos·es

TRANSITIVE VERB:

1a. To deprive (a mortgagor) of the right to redeem mortgaged property, as when payments have not been made. b. To bar an equity or a right to redeem (a mortgage). 2. To exclude or rule out; bar. 3. To settle or resolve beforehand.

INTRANSITIVE VERB: To bar an equity or a right to redeem a mortgage. ETYMOLOGY:

OTHER FORMS:

Middle English forclosen, to exclude from an inheritance, from Old French forclos, shut out, past participle of forclore, to exclude : fors-, outside (from Latin for s; see dhwer- in Appendix I) + clore, to close (from Latin claudere). fore·clos a·ble —ADJECTIVE

foreknowledge

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION: NOUN: forensic

fore·knowl·edge fôr-n l j, f r-, fôr n l -, f r Knowledge or awareness of something before its existence or occurrence; prescience.

SYLLABICATION: PRONUNCIATION:

fo·ren·sic f -r n s k, -z k

ADJECTIVE:

1. Relating to, used in, or appropriate for courts of law or for public discussion or argumentation. 2. Of, relating to, or used in debate or argument; rhetorical. 3. Relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law: a forensic laboratory.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin for nsis, public, of a forum, from forum, forum. See dhwer- in Appendix I.

OTHER FORMS:

fo·ren si·cal·ly —ADVERB

3061,"foible","[\G50BS]n （性格上的）小缺点；小毛病＝fault【记】foible 是你身上的 feeble（adj 虚弱的；薄 弱的）之处【类】foible:flaw＝quibble:objection 小缺点对缺点＝轻微反对对反对 tiff:squabble＝ foible:failing『squabble:[dispute]quarrel』小争吵对争吵＝小缺点对缺点『争吵:争吵』" 3062,"foil","[G50S]n 箔（薄而软的金属，比如：镜子背面的反射金属覆盖面）；阻挠使失败＝thwart＝baffle＝ balk＝bilk＝dash（原指：搅乱痕迹或气味以躲避追击者）【根】foli 树叶；参：foliage（n 树叶）【记】foil＝ fail（v 失败）－阻挠【类】foil:metal＝veneer:wood 金属压制形成箔＝木头压制形成薄板【反】implement（v 贯彻；执行）" 3063,"fold","[G:7SD]v 折叠；n 羊栏【类】crease:folding＝hole:perforating 折叠产生折痕＝打洞形成洞" 3064,"folder","[\G:7SD:]n （一个中间折起 fold 的）文件夹；纸夹【记】fold（v 折叠）【类】folder:papers＝ drawer:clothing 文件夹用来放文件＝抽屉用来放衣服" 3065,"foliage","[\G:7S00DN]n 叶子（总称）＝leafage【记】foil（n 箔）作为词根 foli 树叶【类】plumage:bird＝ foliage:bush 鸟类羽毛对鸟＝树叶对树丛【参】portfolio（n 有价证券；文件夹）；folivore（n 食叶动物）" 3066,"folklore","[\G:7ES5:]n 民间传说；民俗学（对民间知识和文化的研究）【记】folk（adj 民间的）， lore（n 传说；学问；知识）【参】folktale（n 民间故事）" 3067,"folly","[\G5S0]n 愚蠢＝silliness；费力不讨好的事【记】fool（n 白痴；受骗者）【反】sagacity（n 聪明； 睿智）" 3068,"foment","[G:7\P
踪猎物" 3079,"foray","[\G5:T<0]v /n （军事上的）突袭，偷袭；劫掠＝plunder＝pillage（见 forager）【记】for，ray： 为了光明－偷袭敌人，劫掠财产" 3080,"forbearance","[G5:\B2:T:QK]n （面对挑衅时的）自制，忍耐＝self-control＝restraint＝patience【记】 forbear（v 忍耐；克制 n 祖先）；bear（n 熊 v 忍受）；forbore（forbear 的过去式）【反】impatience（n 急躁； 不耐烦）" 3081,"forbid","[G:\B0D]v 禁止；妨碍；阻止＝prohibit＝preclude【参】forbidding（adj 可怕的：企图威胁阻止 进展的；令人难亲近的）【反】countenance（v 赞助；支持 n 面容）" 3082,"forbidden","[G:\B0DQ]adj 被禁止的（具有很小的发生可能性的）；forbid 的过去分词【类】 mandatory:comply＝forbidden:abstain 命令的必须服从＝禁止的必须戒绝" 3083,"ford","[G5:D]n 可涉水而过的地方；v 涉水而过【源】福特－美国汽车制造商，他改进了汽油为燃料的汽 车，并大量生产最早的大众担负得起且广泛使用的 T 型车，这种车成为第一辆可以涉水而过的车！如果注意 ford 广告就会发现涉水的镜头【记】ford 后到达 fort（n 堡垒）【参】fordable（adj 可涉水而过的）" 3084,"ford","[fC:d]n 浅滩（通过步行或骑动物或用交通工具可涉水而过的河等水体的浅处）【类】ford:river＝ pass:mountain『shore:lake』通过浅滩穿过河流＝通过山峡穿过山『海岸:湖』" 3085,"forebear","[\G5:B2:]n 祖宗，祖先＝ancestor＝forbear【记】fore（adj 以前的 adv 在前面 n 前部 prep 在前） bear（n 熊 v 忍受）－从前的熊－祖先【反】descendant（n 子孙后代）" 3086,"forebode","[G5:\B:7D]v 预感（到不祥的凶兆）＝foretell＝predict＝portend；n 凶兆【记】fore 前， bode（v 预示）－前兆【参】bodement（n 兆头；预言）；foreboding（n 预感 adj 预感的）" 3087,"forecast","[\G5:E4:KC]v （通过对气象数据的分析来）预报，预测；n 预言【记】fore 前，cast 扔－原指 巫师扔一种叫障柄的东西预测天气 cast 第 21 个意思：占星，算命" 3088,"foreclose","[G5:\ES:7L]v （当无法付款时）取消抵押品的赎回权（剥夺分期付款者收回抵押财产的权 利）；排除，排斥＝bar；【记】fore 前，close（v 关；结束；包围）－提前结束抵押品的赎回权【参】 foreclosure（n 丧失抵押品赎回权；排斥）" 3089,"foreknowledge","[\G5:\Q5S0DN]n 先见之明；预见【记】fore 前，knowledge（n 知识）－提前知道－先见 之明" 3090,"forensic","[G:\T