Terrific is an adjective used to describe something or someone has extremely large or extremely good. It carries a good connotation. Archaically it meant to incite fear or terror. The adverb form is terrifically and is usually used as a submodifier. Terrify is a verb that means to cause fear in others. Terrifying has …
The verb arise means to start working or living, to begin. It can also meant to wake up or stand up. The latter definition is used mostly in formal settings, especially in courtrooms. To arise from something is to come from it or happen as an effect of it. The past tense is arose and the …
Lose the plot is an informal British English idiom. It means to have no idea what is going on, either in a sequence of events or with reality in general. This idiom is used in all English-speaking countries. Related idioms include being lost in a conversation or situation. This is not the same …
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A tragedy is a situation or action that results in an extreme amount of sadness, injury, or destruction. This term is also used to describe a genre of theater that is especially sad or ends unhappily. A travesty is a distorted copy of something, usually intentionally. This is used with ideas and issues, like justice …
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A creature comfort is anything that adds to the pleasure of one’s life or that eases the difficulty of life. The plural is creature comforts. Some dictionaries list the term as singular while others list it as a plural. The distinction is minor and the term is acceptably used in either form. …
The difference between awaiting and waiting is more than just a two-letter prefix. Awaiting means expecting or looking forward to something, usually with a sense of urgency or excitement. On the other hand, waiting is more neutral; it simply means the action of staying in one place or delaying action …
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A tissue can be a piece of a living plant or animal, thin paper which provides filler to gift bags, and thin, absorbent paper one can use to blow one’s nose. The adjective form is tissuey and it comes from the Latin word for weaving. Kleenex is the name of a brand of tissues that …
In any conversation, there’s always a leader, the one who stands at the front and guides others. In English, we usually refer to a person as the one who spearheads an initiative or project. But why is it called spearhead? Let’s jump in and learn the meaning and usage of …
Prodigal can be an adjective used to describe something as producing or owning a quality or item in overabundance, in other words, lavishly or extravagantly. A person who is described as prodigal is someone who is extravagant with his or her money or some other resource. This word is always used with the …
Cottage industry is a term used to describe a venture or manufacturing business that relies on people doing the work in their own homes. This can either be someone’s individual home business in which he or she sells the items. Or it can refer to a large company that uses individuals …