A motive is the reason for an action, the psychological force that propels someone to behave in a certain manner or to pursue a certain goal. Related words are motiveless, motivelessly, motivelessness, motivate, motivates, motivated, motivation. Motive comes from the Latin word motus meaning a moving motion. From the early …
Rebut means to argue against something, to offer a counterargument. Related terms are rebuts, rebutted, rebutting, rebuttal, rebuttable. Rebut comes into the English language in the early 1300s from the Old French word reboter meaning to thrust back, to butt. Refute means to prove that a statement or a concept …
A dent is a hollow depression in a surface, usually made by some sort of blow. Dent may also be used to describe a reduction in effect. Dent may also be used as a verb, related words are dents, dented and denting. Dent came into the English language in the …
Expatriate refers to someone living outside his native country. Expatriate may be used as an adjective, noun or verb. Derived forms are expatriates, expatriated, expatriating, expatriation, the noun form of expatriate is sometimes abbreviated as expat. Originally, an expatriate was someone exiled from his home country, derived from the mid-1700s …
Indeterminate means uncertain as to the extent, amount is not established, undefined, not fixed. Indeterminate is an adjective, derived words are indeterminacy, indeterminately, indeterminateness. Indeterminable means unable to ascertain the extent, unable to establish an amount, unable to define. Indeterminable is an adjective, indeterminably is the related adverb. Both indeterminate …
Human means of or relating to people or mankind as opposed to animal, machine or the divine. Human is an adjective that refers to attributes of people or mankind, good or bad, when used as a noun human refers to a member of the species homo sapiens. Human comes from …
A wench is a buxom young lady or woman, usually one who works as a barmaid, servant girl or prostitute. Wench is an archaic term, when it is used today it is used facetiously. Wench may also be used as a verb to mean keeping company with prostitutes. Related words …
A statue is a cast or a sculpture of a person or an animal. Usually, a statue is life-sized or larger. A statue may be plaster, wood, marble, metal or many other materials. Related words are the adjective forms statued and statuesque, and the noun form statuary. Statue comes from …
Garner means to gather something, to collect something, especially praise, approval or information. Related words are garners, garnered, garnering. Originally, garner meant to gather up and store grain, it comes from the Latin word granarium which means granary. Garnish means to decorate, to embellish. Garnish is also a legal term …