avid Pronunciation: \ ˈ a-vəd\ Function: adjective Etymology: French or Latin; French avide, from Latin avidus, from avēre to desire, crave; akin to Welsh ewyllys desire, Old Irish con-oí he protects Date: : desirous to the point of greed : urgently eager : greedy 2 : characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit greedy synonyms see eagereager

avow Pronunciation: \ə- ˈ vau ̇ \ Function: transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare Date: 14th century 1 : to declare assuredly 2 : to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame synonyms see acknowledge, assertacknowledgeassert

baleful Pronunciation: \-fəl\ Function: adjective Date: before 12th century 1 : deadly or pernicious in influence 2 : foreboding or threatening evil synonyms see sinistersinister

balk Pronunciation: \ ˈ bo ̇ k sometimes ˈ bo ̇ lk\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English balke, from Old English alca; akin to Old High German balko beam, Latin fulcire to prop, Greek phalanx log, phalanx Date: before 12th century 1: a ridge of land left unplowed as a dividing line or through carelessness 2: hindrance, check 4 a: the space behind the balkline on a billiard tablehindrancecheck b: any of the outside divisions made by the balklines 5: failure of a player to complete a motion ; especially : an illegal motion of the pitcher in baseball while in position:

baneful Pronunciation: \ ˈ bān-fəl\ Function: adjective Date: : productive of destruction or woe : seriously harmful 2archaic : poisonous synonyms see perniciouspoisonouspernicious

barrage Pronunciation: \ ˈ bär-ij\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from barrer to bar, from barre bar Date: A heavy curtain of artillery fire directed in front of friendly troops to screen and protect them. b. A rapid, concentrated discharge of missiles, as from small arms. 2. An overwhelming, concentrated outpouring, as of words : a barrage of criticism.

bask Pronunciation: \ ˈ bask\ Function: verb Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old Norse bathask, reflexive of batha to bathe; akin to Old English bæth bath Date: 14th century 1: to lie or relax in a pleasant warmth or atmosphere 2: to take pleasure or derive enjoyment b : to warm by continued exposure to heat

bellicose Pronunciation: \ ˈ be-li- ˌ kōs\ Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus of war, from bellum war Date: 15th century : favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars synonyms see belligerentbelligerent <>

belligerent Pronunciation: \-rənt\ Function: adjective Etymology: modification of Latin belligerant-, belligerans, present participle of belligerare to wage war, from belliger waging war, from bellum + gerere to wage Date: : waging war ; specifically : belonging to or recognized as a state at war and protected by and subject to the laws of war2: inclined to or exhibiting assertiveness, hostility, or combativeness