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Definition
Well grounded; just: a valid objection.
Producing the desired results; efficacious: valid methods.
Having legal force; effective or binding: a valid title.
Logic
Containing premises from which the conclusion may logically be derived: a valid argument.
Correctly inferred or deduced from a premise: a valid conclusion.
Archaic Of sound health; robust. |
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Term
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Definition
1. being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
2. of or pertaining to the surface: superficial measurement.
3. external or outward: a superficial resemblance.
4. concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious: a superficial observer.
5. shallow; not profound or thorough: a superficial writer.
6. apparent rather than real.
7. insubstantial or insignificant: superficial improvements. |
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Term
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Definition
1. to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn.
2. to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself: to disdain replying to an insult.
–noun 3. a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt; scorn. |
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Term
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Definition
1. (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.
2. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations.
3. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.
4. indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.
5. inconspicuous or unnoticeable: the obscure beginnings of a great movement.
6. of little or no prominence, note, fame, or distinction: an obscure French artist.
7. far from public notice, worldly affairs, or important activities; remote; retired: an obscure little town.
8. lacking in light or illumination; dark; dim; murky: an obscure back room.
9. enveloped in, concealed by, or frequenting darkness.
10. not bright or lustrous; dull or darkish, as color or appearance.
11. (of a vowel) having the reduced or neutral sound usually represented by the schwa (ə).
–verb (used with object) 12. to conceal or conceal by confusing (the meaning of a statement, poem, etc.).
13. to make dark, dim, indistinct, etc.
14. to reduce or neutralize (a vowel) to the sound usually represented by a schwa (ə). |
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Term
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Definition
1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal: an ambiguous answer.
2. Linguistics. (of an expression) exhibiting constructional homonymity; having two or more structural descriptions, as the sequence Flying planes can be dangerous.
3. of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify: a rock of ambiguous character.
4. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct: an ambiguous shape; an ambiguous future. |
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Definition
1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting. |
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Definition
1. constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything: a diligent student.
2. done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking: a diligent search of the files |
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Definition
1. wastefully or recklessly extravagant: prodigal expenditure.
2. giving or yielding profusely; lavish (usually fol. by of or with): prodigal of smiles; prodigal with money.
3. lavishly abundant; profuse: nature's prodigal resources.
–noun 4. a person who spends, or has spent, his or her money or substance with wasteful extravagance; spendthrift. |
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Term
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Definition
1. having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualified: He is perfectly competent to manage the bank branch.
2. adequate but not exceptional.
3. Law. (of a witness, a party to a contract, etc.) having legal competence.
4. Geology. (of a bed or stratum) able to undergo folding without flowage or change in thickness. |
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Term
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Definition
1. feeling or showing profound respect or veneration; "maintained a reverent silence" [ant: irreverent]
2. showing great reverence for god; "a godly man"; "leading a godly life" [syn: godly] |
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Term
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Definition
Characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity; pretentious: pompous officials who enjoy giving orders.
Full of high-sounding phrases; bombastic: a pompous proclamation.
Chracterized by pomp or stately display; ceremonious: a pompous occasion. |
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Term
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Definition
1. to find fault with (a person, group, etc.); blame; censure.
2. to upbraid.
3. to be a cause of blame or discredit to.
–noun 4. blame or censure conveyed in disapproval: a term of reproach.
5. an expression of upbraiding, censure, or reproof.
6. disgrace, discredit, or blame incurred: to bring reproach on one's family.
7. a cause or occasion of disgrace or discredit.
8. the Reproaches. Also called Improperia. Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church. a series of antiphons sung in church on Good Friday, consisting of words addressed by Christ to His people, reminding them of His mercies and of their ingratitude.
9. an object of scorn or contempt. |
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Definition
1. the state or fact of being diverse; difference; unlikeness.
2. variety; multiformity.
3. a point of difference. |
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Definition
| 1. deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable: Reorganizing the files was a laudable idea. |
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Definition
1. agreeable to reason; reasonable; sensible: a rational plan for economic development.
2. having or exercising reason, sound judgment, or good sense: a calm and rational negotiator.
3. being in or characterized by full possession of one's reason; sane; lucid: The patient appeared perfectly rational.
4. endowed with the faculty of reason: rational beings.
5. of, pertaining to, or constituting reasoning powers: the rational faculty.
6. proceeding or derived from reason or based on reasoning: a rational explanation. |
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Term
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Definition
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an enemy: a hostile nation.
2. opposed in feeling, action, or character; antagonistic: hostile criticism.
3. characterized by antagonism.
4. not friendly, warm, or generous; not hospitable.
–noun 5. a person or thing that is antagonistic or unfriendly. |
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Term
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Definition
1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation: His disappearance is an enigma that has given rise to much speculation.
2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character: To me he has always been an enigma, one minute completely insensitive, the next moved to tears.
3. a saying, question, picture, etc., containing a hidden meaning; riddle. |
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Term
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Definition
1. an official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds.
2. any person who supervises the manners or morality of others.
3. an adverse critic; faultfinder.
4. (in the ancient Roman republic) either of two officials who kept the register or census of the citizens, awarded public contracts, and supervised manners and morals.
5. (in early Freudian dream theory) the force that represses ideas, impulses, and feelings, and prevents them from entering consciousness in their original, undisguised forms.
–verb (used with object) 6. to examine and act upon as a censor.
7. to delete (a word or passage of text) in one's capacity as a censor. |
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Term
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Definition
1. not harmful or injurious; harmless: an innocuous home remedy.
2. not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark.
3. not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid: an innocuous novel. |
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Term
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Definition
1. a state of society without government or law.
2. political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was followed by a year of anarchy.
3. a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society.
4. confusion; chaos; disorder: Intellectual and moral anarchy followed his loss of faith. |
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Term
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Definition
1. inclined to skepticism; having doubt: a skeptical young woman.
2. showing doubt: a skeptical smile.
3. denying or questioning the tenets of a religion: a skeptical approach to the nature of miracles. |
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Definition
| bearing upon or connected with the matter in hand; pertinent: a relevant remark. |
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Definition
| Having the nature of or resulting from malice; deliberately harmful; spiteful: |
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Term
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Definition
1. to make better; "The editor improved the manuscript with his changes" [syn: better] [ant: aggravate]
2. get better; "The weather improved toward evening" [syn: better] [ant: decline] |
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Term
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Definition
Having no fixed or regular course; wandering.
Lacking consistency, regularity, or uniformity: an erratic heartbeat.
Deviating from the customary course in conduct or opinion; eccentric: erratic behavior. |
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Term
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Definition
commonplace; tired or petty
pertaining to compulsory feudal( of, pertaining to, or like the feudal system, or its political, military, social, and economic structure ) service
devoid ( without or barren ) of freshness or originality; hackneyed |
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Definition
| asserting opinions in a doctrinaire or arrogant manner; opinionated. |
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Definition
Having or displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or self-importance.
Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority toward others: an arrogant contempt for the weak. |
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Term
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Definition
1. frank; outspoken; open and sincere: a candid critic.
2. free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward: a candid opinion.
3. informal; unposed: a candid photo.
4. honest; impartial: a candid mind |
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Term
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Definition
| 1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance. |
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