table v.#set aside a resolution or proposal for future consideration. Because we seem unable to agree on this issue at the moment, let us table the motion for now and come back to it at a later date.#tacit adj.#understood; not put into words. We have a tacit agreement based on only a handshake.#taciturn adj.# habitually silent; talking little. The stereotypical cowboy is a taciturn soul, answering lengthy questions with a "Yep" or "Nope."#tactile adj.#pertaining to the organs or sense of touch. His callused hands had lost their tactile sensitivity.#taint v.#contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad. One speck of dirt on your utensils may contain enough germs to taint an entire batch of preserves.#talisman n.#charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune. Joe believed the carved pendant he found in Vietnam served him as a talisman and brought him safely through the war.#talon n.#claw of bird. The falconer wore a leather gauntlet to avoid being clawed by the hawk's talons.#tangential adj.#peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing. Despite Clark's attempts to distract her with tangential remarks, Lois kept on coming back to her main question: why couldn't he come out to dinner with Superman and her?#tangible adj.#able to be touched; real; palpable. Although Tom did not own a house, he had several tangible assets-a car, a television, a PC-that he could sell if he needed cash.#tanner n.#person who turns animal hides into leather. Using a solution of tanbark, the tanner treated the cowhide, transforming it into supple leather.#tantalize v.#tease; torture with disappointment. Tom tantalized his younger brother, holding the ball just too high for Jimmy to reach.#tantamount adj.# equivalent in effect or value. Because so few Southern blacks could afford to pay the poll tax, the imposition of this tax on prospective voters was tantamount to disenfranchisement for black voters.#tantrum n.#fit of petulance; caprice. The child learned that he could have almost anything if he had a tantrum. #tarantula n.#venomous spider. We need an antitoxin to counteract the bite of the tarantula.#tarry v.#delay; dawdle. We can't tarry if we want to get to the airport on time.#taut adj.#tight; ready. The captain maintained that he ran a taut ship.#tautological adj.#needlessly repetitious. In the sentence "It was visible to the eye," the phrase "to the eye" is tautological.#tautology n.#unnecessary repetition. "Joyful happiness" is an illustration of tautology.#tawdry adj.#cheap and gaudy. He won a few tawdry trinkets in Coney Island.#tedious adj.#boring; tiring. The repetitious nature of work on the assembly line made Martin's job very tedious. tedium, n.#temerity n.#boldness; rashness. Do you have the temerity to argue with me?#temper v.# moderate; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel). Not even her supervisor's grumpiness could temper Nancy's enthusiasm for her new job.#temperament n.#characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess. Although the twins look alike, they differ markedly in temperament: Todd is calm, but Rod is excitable.#temperate adj.#restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature. Try to be temperate in your eating this holiday season; if you control your appetite, you won't gain too much weight. #tempestuous adj.#stormy; impassioned; violent. Racket-throwing tennis star John McEnroe was famed for his displays of tempestuous temperament.#tempo n.#speed of music. I find the band's tempo too slow for such a lively dance.#temporal adj.#not lasting forever; limited by time; secular. At one time in our history, temporal rulers assumed that they had been given their thrones by divine right.#temporize v.#act evasively to gain time; avoid committing oneself. Ordered by King John to drive Robin Hood out of Sherwood Forest, the sheriff temporized, hoping to put off any confrontation with the outlaw band.#tenacious adj.#holding fast. I had to struggle to break his tenacious hold on my arm.#tenacity n.# firmness; persistence. Jean Valjean could not believe the tenacity of Inspector Javert. Here all Valjean had done was to steal a loaf of bread, and the inspector had pursued him doggedly for twenty years!#tendentious adj.#having an aim; biased; designed to further a cause. The editorials in this periodical are tendentious rather than truth-seeking.#tender v.#offer; extend. Although no formal charges had been made against him, in the wake of the recent scandal the mayor felt he should tender his resignation.#tenet n.#doctrine; dogma. The agnostic did not accept the tenets of their faith.#tensile adj.#capable of being stretched. Mountain climbers must know the tensile strength of their ropes.#tentative adj.# hesitant; not fully worked out or developed; experimental; not definite or positive. Unsure of his welcome at the Christmas party, Scrooge took a tentative step into his nephew's drawing room.#tenuous adj.#thin; rare; slim. The allegiance of our allies is based on such tenuous ties that we have little hope they will remain loyal.#tenure n.#holding of an office; time during which such an office is held. A special recall election put a sudden end to Gray Davis's tenure in office as governor of California.#tepid adj.#lukewarm. To avoid scalding the baby, make sure the bath water is tepid, not hot.#termination n.#end. Though the time for termination of the project was near, we still had a lot of work to finish before we shut up shop. terminate, v.#terminology n.#terms used in a science or art. In talking to patients, doctors should either avoid medical terminology altogether or take time to explain the technical terms they use.#terminus n.#last stop of railroad. After we reached the railroad terminus, we continued our journey into the wilderness on saddle horses.#terrestrial adj.# earthly (as opposed to celestial); pertaining to the land. In many science fiction films, alien invaders from outer space plan to destroy all terrestrial life.#terse adj.# concise; abrupt; pithy. There is a fine line between speech that is terse and to the point and speech that is too abrupt.#testy adj.#irritable; short-tempered. My advice is to avoid discussing this problem with him today as he is rather testy and may shout at you.#tether v.#tie with a rope. Before we went to sleep, we tethered the horses to prevent their wandering off during the night.#thematic adj.#relating to a unifying motif or idea. Those who think of Moby Dick as a simple adventure story about whaling miss its underlying thematic import.#theocracy n.#government run by religious leaders. Though some Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower favored the establishment of a theocracy in New England, many of their fellow voyagers preferred a nonreligious form of government.#theoretical adj.#not practical or applied; hypothetical. Bob was better at applied engineering and computer programming than he was at theoretical physics and math. While I can still think of some theoretical objections to your plan, you've convinced me of its basic soundness.#therapeutic adj.#curative. Now better known for its racetrack, Saratoga Springs first gained attention for the therapeutic qualities of its famous "healing waters." therapy, n.#thermal adj.#pertaining to heat. On cold, wintry days, Jack dresses for warmth, putting on his thermal underwear. also n.#thespian adj.#pertaining to drama. Her success in the school play convinced her she was destined for a thespian career. also n.#threadbare adj.# worn through till the threads show; shabby and poor. The poor adjunct professor hid the threadbare spots on his jacket by sewing leather patches on his sleeves.#thrifty adj.#careful about money; economical. A thrifty shopper compares prices before making major purchases.#thrive v.# prosper; flourish. Despite the impact of the recession on the restaurant trade, Philip's cafe thrived.#throes n.#violent anguish. The throes of despair can be as devastating as the spasms accompanying physical pain.#throng n.#crowd. Throngs of shoppers jammed the aisles. also v.#thwart v.#prevent; frustrate; oppose and defeat. Batman searched for a way to thwart the Joker's evil plan to destroy Gotham City.#tightwad n.#excessively frugal person; miser. Jill called Jack a tightwad because he never picked up the check.#tiller n.#handle used to move boat's rudder (to steer). Fearing the wind might shift suddenly and capsize the skiff, Tom kept one hand on the tiller at all times.#timidity n.#lack of self-confidence or courage. If you are to succeed as a salesman, you must first lose your timidity and fear of failure.#timorous adj.#fearful; demonstrating fear. His timorous manner betrayed the fear he felt at the moment.#tirade n.# extended scolding; denunciation; harangue. The cigar smoker went into a bitter tirade, denouncing the anti-smoking forces that had succeeded in banning smoking from most planes and restaurants.#titanic adj.#gigantic. Titanic waves beat against the majestic S.S. Titanic, driving it against the concealed iceberg.#title n.#right or claim to possession; mark of rank; name (of a book, film, etc.). Though the penniless Duke of Ragwort no longer held title to the family estate, he still retained his title as head of one of England's oldest families. #titter n.#nervous laugh. Her aunt's constant titter nearly drove her mad. also v. #titular adj.#nominal holding of title without obligations. Although he was the titular head of the company, the real decisions were made by his general manager.#toady n.#servile flatterer; yes man. Never tell the boss anything he doesn't wish to hear: he doesn't want an independent adviser, he just wants a toady. also v.#tome n.#large volume. He spent much time in the libraries poring over ancient tomes.#tonic adj.#invigorating; refreshing. The tart homemade ginger ale had a tonic effect on Kit: she perked right up. also n.#topography n.#physical features of a region. Before the generals gave the order to attack, they ordered a complete study of the topography of the region.#torpor n.# lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy. Throughout the winter, nothing aroused the bear from his torpor: he would not emerge from hibernation until spring. torpid, adj. #torrent n.#rushing stream; flood. Day after day of heavy rain saturated the hillside until the water ran downhill in torrents. torrential, adj. #torrid adj.#passionate; hot or scorching. Harlequin Romances publish torrid tales of love affairs, some set in torrid climates.#torso n.#trunk of statue with head and limbs missing; human trunk. This torso, found in the ruins of Pompeii, is now on exhibition in the museum in Naples.#tortuous adj.#winding; full of curves. Because this road is so tortuous, it is unwise to go faster than twenty miles an hour on it.#totter v.#move unsteadily; sway, as if about to fall. On unsteady feet, the drunk tottered down the hill to the nearest bar.#touchstone n.#stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion. What touchstone can be used to measure the character of a person?#touchy adj.#sensitive; irascible. Do not mention his bald spot; he's very touchy about it.#tout v.#publicize; praise excessively. I lost confidence in my broker after he touted some junk bonds to me that turned out to be a bad investment.#toxic adj.#poisonous. We must seek an antidote for whatever toxic substance he has eaten. toxicity, n.#tract n.#region of land (often imprecisely described); pamphlet. The king granted William Penn a tract of land in the New World. Penn then printed a tract in which he encouraged settlers to join his colony.#tractable adj.#docile; easily managed. Although Susan seemed a tractable young woman, she had a stubborn streak of independence that occasionally led her to defy the powers-that-be when she felt they were in the wrong.#traduce v.#expose to slander. His opponents tried to traduce the candidate's reputation by spreading rumors about his past.#trajectory n.#path taken by a projectile. The police tried to locate the spot from which the assassin had fired the fatal shot by tracing the trajectory of the bullet.#tranquillity n.# calmness; peace. After the commotion and excitement of the city, I appreciate the tranquillity of these fields and forests.#transcendent adj.#surpassing; exceeding ordinary limits; superior. For the amateur chef, dining at the four-star restaurant was a transcendent experience: the meal surpassed his wildest dreams.#transcribe v.#copy. When you transcribe your notes, please send a copy to Mr. Smith and keep the original for our files. transcription, n.#transgression n.#violation of a law; sin. Although Widow Douglass was willing to overlook Huck's transgressions, Miss Watson refused to forgive and forget.#transient adj.# momentary; temporary; staying for a short time. Lexy's joy at finding the perfect Christmas gift for Phil was transient; she still had to find presents for the cousins and Uncle Bob. Located near the airport, this hotel caters to a largely transient trade. transience, n.#transition n.#going from one state of action to another. During the period of transition from oil heat to gas heat, the furnace will have to be shut off.#transitory adj.#impermanent; fleeting. Fame is transitory: today's rising star is all too soon tomorrow's washed-up has-been. transitoriness, n.#translucent adj.#partly transparent. We could not recognize the people in the next room because of the translucent curtains that separated us.#transmute v.#change; convert to something different. He was unable to transmute his dreams into actualities.#transparent adj.#easily detected; permitting light to pass through freely. John's pride in his son is transparent; no one who sees the two of them together can miss it.#transport n.#strong emotion. Margo was a creature of extremes, at one moment in transports of joy over a vivid sunset, at another moment in transports of grief over a dying bird. also v. (secondary meaning)#trappings n.#outward decorations; ornaments. He loved the trappings of success: the limousines, the stock options, the company jet.#traumatic adj.#pertaining to an injury caused by violence. In his nightmares, he kept on recalling the traumatic experience of being wounded in battle.#travail n.#painful physical or mental labor; drudgery; torment. Like every other high school student she knew, Sherry hated the yearlong travail of cramming for the SAT. also v.#traverse v.#go through or across. When you traverse this field, be careful of the bull.#travesty n.#harshly distorted imitation; parody; debased likeness. Phillips's translation of Don Quixote is so inadequate and clumsy that it seems a travesty of the original.#treacly adj.#sticky sweet; cloyingly sentimental. Irritatingly cheerful, always looking on the bright side, Pollyanna speaks nothing but treacly sentimentalities. treacle, n.#treatise n.#article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly. He is preparing a treatise on the Elizabethan playwrights for his graduate degree.#trek n.#travel; journey. The tribe made their trek farther north that summer in search of game. also v.#tremor n.#trembling; slight quiver. She had a nervous tremor in her right hand.#tremulous adj.#trembling; wavering. She was tremulous more from excitement than from fear.#trenchant adj.#forceful and vigorous; cutting. With his trenchant wit, Rich cuts straight to the heart of the matter, panning a truly dreadful play.#trepidation n.# fear; nervous apprehension. As she entered the office of the dean of admissions, Sharon felt some trepidation about how she would do in her interview.#trespass v.#unlawfully enter the boundaries of some else's property. The wicked baron flogged any poacher who trespassed on his private hunting grounds. also n. #tribute n.#tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect. The colonists refused to pay tribute to a foreign despot.#trifling adj.# trivial; unimportant. Why bother going to see a doctor for such a trifling, everyday cold?#trigger v.#set off. John is touchy today; say one word wrong and you'll trigger an explosion.#trinket n.#knickknack; bauble. Whenever she traveled abroad, Ethel would pick up costume jewelry and other trinkets as souvenirs.#trite adj.# hackneyed; commonplace. The trite and predictable situations in many television programs turn off many viewers, who, in turn, turn off their sets.#trivial adj.#unimportant; trifling. Too many magazines ignore newsworthy subjects and feature trivial affairs. trivia, n.#trough n.#container for feeding farm animals; lowest point (of a wave, business cycle, etc.) The hungry pigs struggled to get at the fresh swill in the trough. The surfer rode her board, coasting along in the trough between two waves.#truculence n.#aggressiveness; ferocity. Tynan's reviews were noted for their caustic attacks and general tone of truculence. truculent, adj. #truism n.#self-evident truth. Many a truism is summed up in a proverb; for example, "Marry in haste, repent at leisure."#truncate v.# cut the top off. The top of a cone that has been truncated in a plane parallel to its base is a circle.#tryst n.#meeting. The lovers kept their tryst even though they realized their danger.#tumult n.#commotion; riot; noise. She could not make herself heard over the tumult of the mob.#tundra n.#rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America. Despite the cold, many geologists are trying to discover valuable mineral deposits in the tundra.#turbid adj.#muddy; having the sediment disturbed. The water was turbid after the children had waded through it.#turbulence n.# state of violent agitation. Warned of approaching turbulence in the atmosphere, the pilot told the passengers to fasten their seat belts.#turgid adj.#swollen; distended. The turgid river threatened to overflow the levees and flood the countryside.#turmoil n.# great commotion and confusion. Lydia running off with a soldier! Mother fainting at the news! The Bennet household was in turmoil.#turncoat n.#traitor. The British considered Benedict Arnold a loyalist; the Americans considered him a turncoat.#turpitude n.#depravity. A visitor may be denied admittance to this country if she has been guilty of moral turpitude.#tutelage n.#guardianship; training. Under the tutelage of such masters of the instrument, she made rapid progress as a virtuoso.#tycoon n.#wealthy leader. John D. Rockefeller was a prominent tycoon.#typhoon n.#tropical hurricane or cyclone. If you liked Twister, you'll love Typhoon!#tyranny n.#oppression; cruel government. Frederick Douglass fought against the tyranny of slavery throughout his life.#tyro n.#beginner; novice. For a mere tyro, you have produced some wonderfully expert results.#