35 to Sound Great
Adjective
insistent especially in maintaining a position or opinion
Many chess players are lifers. They know nothing else and carry on playing forever. But Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1 player, is adamant he will not accept gentle decline or the indignity of a plummeting rating.
Adjective
not involving questions of right or wrong
The "visual futurist" Syd Mead has helped design some of Hollywood's most iconic film worlds, using the amoral nature of technology to fashion neat and horrible fantasies.
Verb
provide relief from something distressing or painful
"I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost..."
Verb
defend or support something
Whitewater cascaded through the gate of the Morganza Floodway in Louisiana, part of an emergency effort to bulwark Baton Rouge and New Orleans from the rising Mississippi River.
Adjective
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with one's achievements
"Britain must not be complacent," Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said. "We are a world leader for gay rights but there is still more we must do."
Verb
hand over or deliver formally or officially
"Love can consign us to hell or to paradise, but it always takes us somewhere."
Verb
assert or maintain earnestly
In a TV interview Cyclist Tyler Hamilton contended that teammate Lance Armstrong was doping the first time he won the Tour de France in 1999.
Adjective
of worldwide scope or applicability
Orchids are the most cosmopolitan of flowering plant families, found everywhere on Earth except dry deserts and cold glaciers.
Noun
piece of paper, metal, etc., that has a design, letter, etc., cut out of it
Graffiti-ridden derelict sites have been given a much needed face-lift with extraordinary light art by Tigtab. Each image is created with the help of stencils.
Verb
scatter or disappear
Peeta, who’s been wounded, is now my ally. Whatever doubts I’ve had about him dissipate because if either of us took the other’s life now we’d be pariahs when we returned to District 12.
Adjective
done in a quiet and secret way to avoid being noticed
Stickybeak the penguin stands, shakes himself free of water and—after a furtive glance at the tourists—waddles off under the wharf to his brood.
Noun
a distinctive feature, esp. one of excellence
Pampering and decor to rival a grand hotel have long been the hallmark of amenities units -- deluxe quarters often hidden behind closed doors at New York’s premier hospitals.
Adjective
not harmful or offensive
The researchers found that even something as seemingly innocuous as taking a photo or feeding the macaques increased the likelihood of anxiety.
Adjective
excessive in behavior
Bolivian President Evo Morales apologized today for kneeing another player in a soccer game, though he maintained that his intemperate action was provoked.
Adjective
present but not visible or active
The transition from Colonel Qaddafi's reign so far has been surprisingly orderly, but early steps toward unifying the rebel brigades have brought out latent divisions.
Noun
something that is a part of your history
He's won an Oscar and been dubbed the "Sexiest Man Alive" twice, but George Clooney's finest legacy may well be his philanthropic work.
Verb
require something to be done
Given the recent spate of air traffic controllers dozing off while on duty, new rules will mandate more shut-eye for personnel to help combat fatigue.
Adjective
utterly immoral or wicked
A Las Vegas cabbie enlists the help of a UFO expert to protect two siblings with paranormal powers from the clutches of an organization that wants to use the kids for their nefarious plans.
Noun
film or fine coating
The Universitat Politectica de Catalunya is developing green walls designed to support the growth of mosses, fungi, and lichens. The product could exhibit a beautiful, living patina that transforms through the seasons.
Adjective
having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual or subtle way
Most awful about being here, is to have life and then freedom taken away. The first loss is fundamental, horrible, and irretrievable. The second loss might seem for us now an inconvenience, and trivial, but it is pernicious.
Verb
cause to continue or prevail
Record Store Day celebrates (and attempts to perpetuate) the existence of the mom-and-pop record shop, featuring exclusive music releases from top artists.
Verb
draw or come out of something
Trees don't precipitate out of air, do they? You may think not, but 95 percent of a tree is actually from carbon dioxide. What a beautiful notion, that from the dancing air comes these towering monarchs.
Noun
great or plentiful amount
"Colorful Realms and Living Beings," by Ito Jakuchu, is widely considered one of the supreme masterpieces of Japanese painting. The profusion of deftly individualized feathers, blossoms and tree leaves is hypnotic.
Noun
natural tendency to behave in a particular way
Philosopher of the mind Gilbert Ryle argued that we are not conscious at all, but merely have propensities to behave in certain ways given certain stimuli — a form of logical behaviorism.
Verb
say a witty or clever comment
The cancer was found after she had a breast reduction. "I had real big boobs and got tired of knocking over stuff. Every time I eat … Oh lord. I’d carry a Tide stick everywhere I go," she quips.
Noun
period of temporary rest or relief
The Homeless World Cup offers a brief respite for the few athletes chosen to compete. In addition to practicing and scrimmaging, teams attend group therapy sessions where they swap tragic tales and survival strategies.
Adjective
not genuine or real
Japanese citizens, concerned over radiation leaked from the Fukushima nuclear power station, have crowdsourced radiation measurements and uploaded them to a website. Experts are worried about spurious readings.
Verb
waste something in a reckless and foolish manner
Jonathan Bloom, author of a book called American Wasteland, says Americans squander about 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. — or 150 billion pounds a year.
Verb
take the place of something old-fashioned or less appropriate
Malaysia has a new image. The sleepy tropical backwater stereotyped in the novels of Anthony Burgess and Somerset Maugham's short stories has been superseded by Malaysia the high-tech urbanized regional powerbroker.
Adjective
surpassing the ordinary or normal
Paul, the World Cup Octopus, died in his tank in Germany today. He was an uncanny 8-0 in predicting winners of the 2010 World Cup.
Adjective
showing sophistication, refinement, or courtesy
An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers' retaliation.
Adjective
using or containing too many words
Some acceptance speeches at the Oscars can run quite long, which is why the particularly verbose are interrupted by the noodling of the orchestra.
Noun
large and beautiful view of an area of land or water
Phuket Beach guarantees fabulous vistas, especially the alluring sight of the sun, rising and setting over placid clear waters.
Adjective
lacking restraint or discipline
"Godzilla attacked the city of Tokyo with a wanton abandon for the safety and concern of the Japanese citizens."