`
`
`ofth English Language, Fourth Edition
`
`The
`
`AkiERICAN
`
`HERITAGE®
`
`' OVER 70,000 ENTRIES
`
`THOROUGHLY REVISED AND UPDATED
`
`Loco NEw WORDS AND MEANINGs
`
`OVER 400 PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATION;
`
`_
`
`EXPERT GUIDANCE ON CORRECT USAGE
`
`l: O U RT H If I) 11" l (fl N
`
`Based on the Best—selling American Heritage"33 Dictionag'
`
`0°01
`
`Snap 1015
`US. Pat. 8,995,433
`
`Snap 1015
`U.S. Pat. 8,995,433
`
`0001
`
`

`

`
`
`
`diction-any
`
`FOURTH EDITION
`
`
`aaaaaaaaaaak5
`
`The
`
`AMERICAN
`
`HERITAGE®
`
`0002
`
`

`

`
`
`
`Words included in this book that are known to have current trademark registra-
`tions are shown with an initial capital and are also identified as trademarks. No
`investigation has been made of common-law trademark rights in any word,
`because such investigation is impracticable. The inclusion of any word in this
`book is not, however, an expression of the Publisher’s opinion as to whether or
`not it is subject to proprietary rights. Indeed, no definition in this book is to be
`regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark.
`
`A Delta Book
`
`Published by
`Dell Publishing
`a division of
`Random House, Inc.
`1540 Broadway
`New York, New York 10036
`
`American Heritage‘D and the eagle logo are registered trademarks of Forbes
`Inc. Their use is pursuant to a license agreement with Forbes Inc.
`
`Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company
`
`All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in
`any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
`recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the
`written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. For infor—
`mation address: Reference Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company, 222
`Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116.
`
`Delta” is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
`
`ISBN: 0-385-33576—8
`
`Reprinted by arrangement with Houghton Mifflin Company
`
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`
`Published simultaneously in Canada
`
`July 2001
`
`1098?65
`
`0003
`
`0003
`
`

`

`
`
`
`1. A druggist; pharmacist. 2. See pharmacy
`2, [-c Gk. aporhéké, storehouse]
`apoo-thegm (fip’o—thém’)
`in. A proverb;
`maxim. [Gk apophrhegma < apophrlrenges—
`that“, speak plainly] —ap’o-theg-mat’ic
`{-thég—mat’ik) adj.
`zip-anthem (iip’s—thém’) be. The perpendicu~
`lar distance from the center of a regular poly-
`gon to any of its sides. [apo-, off + Gk. thema.
`something set down]
`a-po‘th-e-o-sis (o-pt‘ith’e-o'sis, fip’o—the's-sis)
`r n. . pl. -ses (~sEz’] 1. Exaltatiorr to divine rank
`or stature; deification. 2. An exalted or glori-
`fied example. [< Gk. apollteoun, deify.] wa-
`poth’aooosize’ v.
`app (5p) Hi. Informal A computer application.
`Ap-pa-la-chi-a (fip’o—la'che—o, -cho. -i§ch’e—o,
`-lach’o) A region of the E US including the Ap—
`palachian Mts.
`Apopaola-chi-an Mountains (ap’a-la’che-
`on.
`-chon, ~l§ch’e—on, -lach’an) A mountain
`system of E North America extending SW from
`E Canada to central AL.
`ap-pall (a—pfil’) Irv. To fill with horror or dis—
`may. [< OFt. apalr'r, grow pallid, faint] —ap-
`pall’ing-Iy adv.
`ap-pa-loo-sa (ap’alo—o’sa) be. A horse hav-
`ing a spotted rump. [‘P]
`ap-paorat-us (ape-rates. {altos} bra, pl. -us
`or -us- es 1a. The means by which a function
`or task is performed. b. A political organiza-
`tion or movement. 23. A machine or machin-
`ery. b. A group of materials or devices used for
`a particular purpose: dental apparatus. See
`Syns at equipment. 3. A system. [< Lat. ap-
`parare, prepare]
`apt-parcel (o—pfir’ol) in. Clothing, esp. outer
`garments. r v. -eled, -el-ing or -elled, -el-
`ling. To clothe or dress. [< OFr. apareillier,
`prepare]
`ap-par-ent {s-pir’ont, -p€u"-} Padj. 1. Readily
`seen; visible. 2. Readily understood; obvious.
`3. Appearing as such but not necessarily so. k
`Lat. apparére,
`appear.] —apopar’ent-ly
`adv.
`Syns: apparent. clear, clear-cat, distinct. ev—
`ident. strangest. obvious, patent, plain adj.
`apopaoriotion (ap’o-rlsh’an) en. 1. A ghost. 2.
`. A sudden or unusual sight. [< Lat. apparére.
`appeal-J —ap’pa-ri'tionoal adj.
`apopeal (onpel’) in. 1. An earnest request. 2.
`An application to a higher authority: an appeal
`to reason. 3. Law a. The transfer of a case from
`a lower to a higher court for a new hearing. b.
`A request for a new hearing. 4. The power of
`attracting interest: a city with appeal for tour—
`tsrs. iv. 1. To make an earnest request, as for
`help. 2. To have recourse. 3. Law To make or
`apply for an appeal. 4. To be attractive. [e Lat.
`appellare,
`entreat.] wtap-peallaoble adj.
`—ap-peal'er n. —ap-peal’ling-ly adv.
`apopear (a—pir’) iv. 1. To become visible. 2.
`To come into existenCe. 3. To seem. See Syns
`at seem. 4. To seem likely. 5. To come before
`the public. 6. Low To present oneself before a
`court. [< Lat. appare're.]
`ap-pear-ance (a-pir’ons) in. ‘l. The act ofap~
`peering. 2. Outward aspect: cm untidy appear—
`ance. 3. A pretense.
`ap-pease (o-péz’) h v. -peased, -peas-ing 1.
`To satisfy or relieve: appease one’s thirst. 2.
`To pacify (an enemy) by granting concessions
`
`41
`_—-——r-———-—t—.._.__—_—._—_
`apothegm _/ applicator
`
`[< OFr. opener] —apopeas'acble ad}.
`——ap-peas’ment n. —ap-peas’er a.
`ap-peI-lant (o—pél’ont) radj. Appellate. Hr.
`One who appeals a court decision.
`ap-peI-late (o-pél’it) had}. Empowered to
`hear judicial appeals and review court deci—
`sions. [< Lat. appellate, entreat.]
`ap-pel-laotion (ap’ala’shon) be. A name or
`title. [< Lat. appellare, entreat.]
`apfipend (o—pénd’) iv. 1. To add as a supple-
`ment. 2. To attach. [lat appendere, hang
`upon]
`apopend-age (o-pén’di'j) in. 1. Something at-
`tached to a larger entity. 2. Biol. A subordinate
`external body part or organ, as an arm or tail.
`ap-pen-decoto-my (fip’on-dék’to—me) wt,
`pl. «nice. Surgical removal of the vermifot‘m
`appendix.
`apupen-di-ci-tis {a—pén’dl—si’tis) in. Inflam-
`mation of the vermiforrn appendix.
`ap-pen-dix (a—pén’diks) wt, pl. -dixoes or
`-di-ces (-d‘f—séz’) 1. Supplementary material at
`the end of a book. 2. Anar. The vermiform ap—
`pendix. fLar. A: appendere. hang 1113011.]
`ap-per-tain (ip’or—tfin’) Irv. To belong as a
`part. [< LLat. apperrt'rrére, pertain]
`ap-pe-tite {apri—tit’} in. 1. A desire for food
`or drink. 2. A strong wish or urge. [< Lat. ap-
`perere, Sh‘lVfi often] -—ap’pecti'tive adj.
`apo'pe-tiz-er (ap’i-tr’zor) Ht. A food or drink
`served before a meal.
`ap-pe-tiz-ing (spa—ang badj. Stimulating
`the appetite. —ap’peotiz'ing-ly adv.
`apoplaud (s-plfid’) Irv. To express approval
`(of). esp. by clapping hands. —ap-plaud'a-
`ble adj. —ap-plaud'er n.
`Syns: applaud, cheer, root v.
`ap-plause (o—pldz’) Hz. Approval expressed
`esp. by the clapping of hands. [< Lat. applau—
`dere, applaas-, applaud]
`ap-ple {ép’oD in. 1. A deciduous tree having
`alternate white or pink flowers. 2. Its firm, edi-
`ble, usu. rounded fruit. —l'dl'om: apple of
`lane’s] eye One that is treasured: Her son is
`the apple ofker eye. k OE zeppel]
`ap-ple-iack (fip’oLj‘ak’) be. Brandy distilled
`from hard cider.
`1. Apples
`ample-sauna (ip’ol-sos’) ha.
`stewed to a pulp. 2. Slang Nonsense.
`apoplet [ap’litl in. A computer application
`with limited features and memory require—
`ments. [APPL(ICATION) + —ET.]
`~
`ap-pIi-ance (9-pli’ons) Ht. A device, esp. one
`operated by gas or electricity, designed for
`household use. [< APPLYJ
`ap-pli-ca-ble (ap’li—ko-bol. o—plik’a—) badj.
`That can he applied; appropriate. bap’pli-
`ca tbil'i-ty n. —ap'pliocaobly adv.
`ap-pli-cant (ap’E-kaut) In. One who applies.
`ap-pli-ca-tion (ap’H-ka’shan) Int. 1. The act
`of applying. 2. Something applied. 3. The act
`of putting something to a special use. 4. The
`capacity of being usable; relevance. 5. Close
`attention; diligence: shows application to her
`work. Ba. Arequest. as for employment. in. The
`form on which such a request is made. 7.
`Comp. Sci. A computer program with a user in—
`terface. Iraqi. also applications Comp. Sci.
`Of or being a progam designed for a specific
`task.
`ap-plioca-tor (ap’li-ka’tar) bn. An instrument
`F111- 'zr‘VI‘1r:v-n— -n..._-a_:.
`
`0004
`
`0004
`
`

`

`
`
`
`productive I progress
`671
`-—-————.__________________
`prooduc-tive (pm-dfik’ttv, pro—J bad}. 1. Pro-
`[c Lat. profit—gore.
`Ego-SE) it.
`ducing or capable of producing. 2. Producing
`abundantly. See Syns at fertile- —pro¢due’-
`pro foroma {pro for’mo) baa}: Done as a for-
`tive-ly adv. ——pro’duc-tiv'ioty (pro'dfik—
`mality; perfunctory. [N'Lat proforma]
`t‘fv’i—te. prod’ok—J, prooduc’tive-ness n.
`pro-found [pro—found’, pro) )- adj. -er, west 1.
`pro-em (pro’ém’) Ivn. An introduction; pref-
`Extending to or coming from a meat depth;
`ace. [< Gk. prooimionJ
`deep. 2. Coming as if from the depths of one’s
`pro-lane (prfi-fa’n’, pro-) badj. 1. Marked by
`being: profound contempt. 3. Thoroughgoing;
`contempt or irreverence for what is sacred. 2.
`far-reaching. 4. Penetrating beyond what is an-
`Nonreligious; secular. 3. Vulgar; coarse. Irv.
`perficial or obvious. 5. Unqualified: a pro-
`-faned, -fan-ing 1. To treat with irreverence.
`found silence.
`[< Lat. profimdus.) ——pro-
`2- To put to an improper, unworthy, or degrad-
`found'ly adv. —pro -fu n’di-ty (fin’di-té) n.
`ing use; abuse. [c Lat. profdnusJ —prof’a-
`pro-fuse (pro—fyo—os’, pro-J hadj. 1. Plentiful;
`na’tion (prof’o—na’shonJ n. —pro-fan'a-
`copious. 2. Giving or given freely and abun~
`to’ry (Jan's-tore. ~tor'e) adj. —pro-fane'-
`ness :1.
`dantly; extravagant. [< Lat. profils-us, p.part. of
`profimdere, pour forth] —pro-fuse'lv adv.
`—pro-fuse’ness n. —proofu’sion {-{yoTa’-
`zhan) n.
`Sync: profiise. exuberant, lavish, lush, luxu—
`riant, prodigal, riotous Ant: spore adj.
`pro-gen-i-tor (pro-jén’i—tor) Ht. 1. A direct
`ancestor. See Syns at ancestor. 2. An origina-
`tor of a line of descent. 3. An originator;
`founder. [< Lat. progenitorJ
`prog-e-ny [proj’o-ne) in. Offspring or de~
`sccndants. [< Lat. prdgeniésj
`prooges-ter-one (pro-jés’to-rfin’) Inn. A ster—
`oid hon-none secreted by the ovary before im-
`plantation of the fertilized ovum.
`[PRO—1 +
`GESfTAI'ION) + erR(0LJ + -one, soft]
`prog-naothous
`(prog’no-thos, Hog-nah)
`bodj. Having jaws that project forward to a
`marked degree. [< PRU—3 + Gk. gnothos, java]
`—prog’naothism n.
`prog-no-sis (prog-no’sis) m, pt. -ses (-sez).
`A prediction, esp. of the probable course and
`outcome of a disease. [< Gk]
`prog-nos-‘tic (prog—nos’tik) and}. Of or usent
`in prognosis. in. 1. A forecast or prediction. 2.
`A portent;
`omen.
`[< Gk. prognostikos,
`foreltnowingl
`prog-nos-tl-cete (prog—nos’tI-kat’) or. -cat-
`ed, -cat-ing. To predict according to present
`indications or signs; foretell. ——prog°nos’ti-
`ca’tion n. —prog-nos’ti-ca"tor n.
`pro-gram (pro’grarn’, gram) Ht. 1a. A listing
`of the order of events and other information for
`a public presentation. b. The presentation it—
`self. 2. A scheduled radio or television show.
`3. An ordered list of events or procedures to be
`follOWed; schedule. 4. Comp. Sci. A set of
`coded instructions that enables a machine, es-
`pecially a computer. to perform a desired se-
`quence
`of operations.
`bv.
`-grammed,
`-gram-ming or -gramed, -gram-ing 1. To
`include or schedule in a program. 2. To design
`a program for. 3. To provide (a computer) with
`a set of instructions. [< Gk. programma, public
`notice : PRO—3 + grophein, write] —pro’-
`grem’ma-ble
`any. —~pro’gram-mat'ic
`[~gro-mat’flc) adj.
`-grortt) on. & v.
`’,
`proogramme (pro’g
`Chiefly Brit. Var. of program.
`(pro'-
`pro-gram-mer
`or proogramoer
`grt'nn’or) b n. One who programs, esp. one who
`writes computer programs.
`pro-gram-ming language (pro’gram’tng,
`granting) in. An artificial language that can
`be translated into machine language and exe-
`cuted by a computer.
`prog-ress (prog’rés’, res, prfi’gl‘és’) he. 1.
`Movement. as toward a goal. 2. Development
`
`Irv.
`pro-fes-sion-el-ize (pro-tbshta-no—liz')
`-ized, -iz-ing. To make professional. —pro-
`fes’sion-aloi-za’tion n.
`pro-fes-sor (pro—foster) Hi. 1. A college or
`university teacher of the highest rank. 2. A
`teacher or
`instructor. ——pro’fes-so’rical
`(pro’fi—sor’e—ol. -s0r’-. préf’i-l adj. ——pro’fes-
`so’ri-ai-ly adv. —pro.fes’sor-ship’ n.
`prof-fer (prof’ar) v v. To offer for acceptance.
`I< OFr. profiir.) ——prof’fer n.
`pro-flocient (pro-fish’ont) bod}. Expert in an
`art, vocation. or area of learning. [4 Lat. profi—
`care, progress] — pro cfi’cien -cy rt.
`pro-file (pro’fil’) b- n. 1. A side view of an ob-
`ject or a structure. esp. of the human head. 2.
`An outline; silhouette. See Syns at outline. 3.
`Degree of exposure to public notice; visibility:
`kept a low profile. 4. A brief biographical
`essay.
`[< Ital. profilare, draw in outline]
`—pro’file v.
`prof-it (profit) Ira. 1. An advantageous gain or
`return; benefit. 2. often profits The return re-
`ceived on an investment or a business undertak~
`ing after all charges or expenses have been
`paid. b v. 1. To make a gain or profit. 2. To de—
`rive advantage; benefit. See Syns at benefit.
`[< Lat. profs-ch —prof’It-aobil’i-ty n.
`—pro"lt-aoble an. -—prcf’it-aobly adv.
`prof-it-eer (profit-tin) rn. One who makes ex—
`cessive profits on goods
`in short supply.
`——prof'it-eer’ v.
`prof-li-gate (prof’li-git. gar) badj. 1. Given
`over to immorality; dissolute. 2. Recklessly
`wasteful; extravagant. Inn. A profh'gate person.
`
`0005
`
`to ruin] —prof’li-ga-cy
`
`pro-fan-i-ty (pro-fan’i-té, pra—) be, pl. -ties
`1. The condition or quality of being profane. 2.
`Obscene or irreverent language.
`1. To affirm
`proofess (pro—fis’, pr6~) iv.
`openly; declare. 2. To make a pretense of. 3.
`To claim skill in or knowledge of. 4. To affirm
`belief in. [< Lat. profits—rt] fipro-fess’ed-ly
`adv.
`
`pro-fes-sion (pra~f‘ésh’on) wt. 1. Ah occupa-
`tion requiring training and specialized study. 2.
`The body of qualified persons in an occupation
`or field: the teaching profession. 3. An act of
`professing; declaration. 4. An avowal of faith
`or belief.
`
`proofes-sion-al (pro-t‘ésh’a-nol) vadj. 1. Of
`or engaged in a profession. 2. Engaging in a
`given activity as a source of livelihood. in. A
`person following a profession. —pro-fes’-
`sion-aloly adv.
`proofes-sion-al-ism (pro—fash’o—ne-Iiz’om)
`in. Professional status. methods. character. or
`standards.
`
`0005
`
`