The Little Big Book Dictionary

Copyright © 1999 - 2007 - The Little Big Book Dictionary

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• The New Century Dictionary, Standard Reference
• Works Publishing Company, Inc. - New York, NY
• Copyrights © by - The Century Company / D. Appleton - Century Co. /
• Appleton - Century - Crofts, Inc.
• 1927, 29, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 53, and 1957
  
• Webster's New World™ College Dictionary, Fourth Edition
• Copyright © 1999 by Macmillan USA
  
• Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary™ - Tenth Edition

abandon - ( uh ban dun ) - 59, 63, 164, 199, 305
- surrender / to give up, leave, cease, or withdraw from
aberrations - ( ab er ay shuns ) - 140
- abnormal actions / deviations from the proper or expected course
abide - ( uh bide ) - 144
- live / continue / stand / follow / to conform to or comply with
abjectly - ( ab ject lee ) - 54
- totally / surrendered to a humiliating state of mind or condition
abnormal - ( ab nor mul ) - xxvi, 23, 30, 114, 122, 140, 155, 246, 334
- not normal / other than normal / away from normal ( see 'normal' )
abruptly - ( uh brupt lee ) - 4, 31, 179, 200, 321, 544
- suddenly / unexpectedly / quick change without warning
abstainer - ( ab stain er ) - 139
- non-drinker / one who chooses not to drink alcoholic beverages
abstinence - ( ab stuh nunts ) - xxx, 181, 391, 505
- sobriety / choosing not to drink alcoholic beverages / self-denial
absurd - ( ab serd ) or ( ab zurd ) - 21, 37, 68, 87, 218
- ridiculous / senseless / completely lacking in reason, sense, or logic
absurdities - ( ab sir duh tees ) or ( ab zur duh tees ) - 140
- ridiculous actions / unreasonable behaviors / see - 'absurd'
abysmal - ( uh biz mul ) - 201 - complete / profound / immeasurable
abyss - ( ab iss ) or ( uh biss ) - vii,309,316,346 ...abysses - 207
- bottomless pit / deep or endless hole / something immeasurably deep
academic - ( ack uh dem ik ) - 23, 321, 400, 422
- theoretical / without practical or useful purpose or meaning
accept -( ak sept ) - xvi, 25, 39, 47, 96, 97, 204, 207, 229, 267, 295, 356,
                                  357, 379, 381, 417, 418, 419, 443, 540, 559, 569
- endure without protest or reaction / to bear or tolerate patiently / to
  receive something willingly / to receive as satisfactory / to admit to a
  group or place / to regard as usual, true, or right / take to oneself
acceptance - ( ak sep tunts ) or ( ik sep tunts ) - viii, xx, 48, 266, 366, 367,
407, 416, 417, 418, 420, 428, 475, 542, 564
- agreement / taking / approval / enduring, bearing, putting up with,
  patiently and without protest or reaction / belief in the goodness of
  something / the act, state, or condition of being accepted favorably
accommodate - ( uh kah muh date ) - 161
- hold / contain / receive / take in / to hold without inconvenience
accompanied - ( uh kump uh need ) - 38, 93, 130
- joined / coupled / combined / occurred or associated with something
accord - ( uh cord ) - 186
- agreement to do so / voluntary or spontaneous impulse to act
accustomed - ( uh kuss tum'd ) - 4, 131, 236, 429
- usual / normal / customary ( 4 ) / used [to] / in the habit of ( 131 )
acquaintance - ( uh quain tunse ) - 74, 154, 158, 161, 267, 279, 505
- friend / friends / associate / associates / a person or persons whom one
knows but is not necessarily a close friend
acquired - ( uh kwired ) - xxv,xxvii,4,26,28,33,40,77,235,257,514,547,558
- gained / developed / achieved / formed / received / to get as one's own
acute - ( uh cute ) - 157, 218, 272, 558
- severe / critical / dire / felt, perceived, or experienced intensely
acutely - ( uh cute lee ) - 144, 450, 555
- severely / desperately / felt, perceived, or experienced intensely
adherence - ( ad here unts ) - 60, 373
- compliance / carrying out steadily and faithfully without deviation
ad infinitum - ( ad in fuh night um ) - 31
- without end / limitless / 'ad infinitum' is Latin for - to infinity
admonish - ( ad mon ish ) - 135
- warn / to express a warning about or disapproval of something
ad nauseam - ( add nah zee um ) - 177
- to a sickening degree / to the point of nausea or sickness
ado - ( uh doo ) - 139
- fuss / trouble / bother / signs of excited activity, hurry, or commotion
adolescent - ( ad uh less unt ) - xviii, xix, 418, 453, 513,
- growing / maturing / teenage / pre-adult / characteristic of a teenager
advocates - ( ad vuh cuts ) - xx
- supporters / those who defend or believe in a cause or idea
affiliation - ( uh fill ee aye shun ) - xx, 563, 564
- association / close connection / partnership with an organization
affinity - ( uh fin uh tee ) - 182
- liking / attraction / liking or inclination toward something
afflicted - ( uh flik tid ) - xiv, xxvii, 92, 116, 180
- troubled / tormented / suffering / distressed / affected / tortured
afford - ( uh ford ) - 22,138,204,256,293,358,362,513,532,559
- be able to meet the expense of ( 22 ) / allow / provide ( 138 )
afforded - ( uh ford id ) - 148, 273
- provided / allowed / allowed without incurring harm or criticism
aggregate - ( ag gri gut ) - xxix
- total / total amount of things gathered or collected
aggrieved - ( uh greeved ) - 124 - injured / offended / troubled / distressed
aghast - ( uh gast ) - 9 - shocked / struck with terror, amazement, or horror
agnostic - ( ag noss tik ) - viii,28,44,46,60,93,181,287,365,369,373
- one who believes that the existence or non-existence of God cannot be
proven or known / a person unsure that God or a god exists
agnostically - ( ag noss tik uh lee ) - 53
- as an agnostic / "We agnostically inclined…" - leaning toward thinking
like, or being, an agnostic / see 'agnostic' and 'agnosticism'
agnosticism - ( ag noss tuh sizm ) - 228
- the belief that first cause (of the universe) or absolute truths, cannot be
  known and that only observable things can be accepted as real
ailing - ( ail ling ) - 140
- sick / suffering from a lack of comfort, well-being, or health
ailments - ( ail munts ) - viii, 135, 269, 407
- troubles / ills / causes for lack of comfort, well-being, or health
ails - ( ails ) / ( ay ulz ) - 139
- troubles / causes for lack of comfort, well-being, or health
aim - ( aim ) - 89
- wish / intention / goal / desire / objective / to try or intend to do something
alcoholic - ( al kuh hall ik ) - ( 399 entries )
- containing alcohol (as a drink) / a person affected with alcoholism
- see - real alcoholic
alcoholism - ( al kuh hall ism ) - ( 140 entries )
- continued excessive or compulsive use of alcoholic drinks / poisoning by
alcohol / a complex chronic psychological and nutritional disorder
associated with excessive and usually compulsive drinking
- ( Dr. Magnus Huss, coined the term "alcoholism" in 1849. )
alibis - ( al uh buys ) ( is the plural form of 'alibi' [al uh buy ] ) - 23
- excuses / justifying explanations of a fault or defect
allergy - ( al ler gee ) - xxvi, xxviii, xxx, 261, 355
- exaggerated or disease-like reaction to substances or physical states
  that are without comparable effect on the average individual
alleviate - ( uh leave ee ate ) - 174, 546
- ease / relieve / to make less painful, troublesome, or more tolerable
alliances - ( uh lie unts siz ) - xix
- connections, bonds, or unions, between groups or individuals
allied - ( al lied ) - xiv
- associated / joined in, supportive of, or in close connection with
alloy - ( al loy ) - 2
- mixture / blend / combination / a mixture or union of different things
alluring - ( uh lur ing ) - 123, 162
- tempting / seductive / captivating / enticing / entrapping
alpha - ( al fuh ) - 49
- beginning / the first / the 1st letter in the Greek alphabet
altruistic - ( all true is tik ) - xxvi, xxviii
- helping others / showing concern for the welfare of others
ambitions - ( am bish uns ) - 64, 65, 221
- goals / aims / desires to gain or accomplish a particular outcome
amends - ( uh mends ) - 8,59,69,76,84,252,356,373,443,445,491,492
- a return for something lost or suffered, usually through the fault
  of another / to set right something that is wrong / [ a 'mend' - ing ]
analysis - ( uh nal luh sus ) - 55
- careful examination / inspection / survey / a careful, detailed, and
often formal study designed to uncover valuable information
annals - ( an ulls ) - xxvi
- historical records / historical accounts / archives / chronicles
annihilation - ( uh nile uh lay shun ) - 18
- complete destruction / destroy completely
anonymity - ( an uh nim uh tee ) - 401, 444, 562, 576,
- namelessness / the practice of not disclosing or acknowledging AA
members names or photographs in any form of media broadcast, film,
or public print / the quality or state of being anonymous
anonymous -( uh nah nuh muss ) - ( 163 entries )
- without name / unidentified / undisclosed / having an unknown or
  unacknowledged name / unknown, usually by choice
ante - ( ant ee ) - 190 - ( penny ante poker)
- a small amount of money in a gambling card game ( poker ) that a
  player must place on the table before receiving his cards or 'hand'
antagonism - ( an tag uh niz um ) - 48, 355
- hostility / opposition / an opposing position, state, or action
antics - (an tiks) - 141
- crazy or extreme acts / odd or fantastic actions / pranks / capers
antipathy - ( an tip uh thee ) - 12
- strong feeling of dislike, hostility, or opposition
apathy - (appa thee ) / ( ap uh thee ) - 127
- indifference / lack of interest or concern
appalling - ( uh pall ing ) - 5, 108, 382
- terrible / horrible / disgusting / shocking / dreadful
appeal - ( uh peel ) - xxviii, xxix, 34, 178, 197, 348, 574
- request / question / request for help / plea / an earnest and usually
urgent request for something ( xxviii, xxix )
- interest / be attractive ( 34 ) call / draw / seem attractive ( 178 )
apprehension - ( ap pre hint shun ) - 102, 128, 437, 507
- fear / anxiety / concern / fear that something is going or will go wrong
apropos - ( ap ruh poe ) - 135
- fitting / very fitting for, or relevant to, the matter in hand
aptitudes - ( ap tuh toods ) - 21
- learning capacities / tendencies / inclinations / natural abilities
arbiter - ( ar buh ter ) - 69
- judge / arbitrator / one who settles disputes among others
arouse - ( uh rowlz ) - 69, 89
- stir / awaken / create / provoke / inflame / cause to be active
arrears - ( uh rears [ like 'ears' with an r ] ) - 155
- unpaid and overdue status / unfulfilled obligations or debts
ascertained - ( ass er tained ) - 72
- determined / discovered / concluded / decided
askance - ( uh scants ) / ( uh skants ) - 46
- doubtfully / suspiciously / skeptically / with doubt or disapproval
assets - ( ass etts ) - xix, 124 ...asset - 124, 379
- valuable things / total of valuable things or qualities owned
assumption - ( uh sump shun ) - 48, 49
- idea / theory / belief / proposal / premise / supposition / presumption /
  a statement accepted or supposed true without proof or demonstration
assurance - ( uh sure ants ) / (uh shure unce ) - 1, 86, 250, 267
- confidence / certainty / lack of doubt or question of ones ability
astonishing - ( uh ston ish ing ) - xxvi, 30
- amazing / surprising / astounding / startling / prodigious
astronomical - ( as truh nah mih kull ) - 51
- astronomy views / pertaining to beliefs about laws of stars and planets
- ( Galileo Galilei [ 1564-1642 ] was arrested and punished for saying he
believed the 'Copernican' theory, that earth revolves around the sun )
atheist - ( ay thee ist ) - 10, 44, 55, 93, 181
- one who does not believe in the existence of god
at large - ( at large ) - 114 - free / free of confinement or restraint
attendant - ( uh ten dunt ) - 22
- related / associated / accompanying / occurring in company with
attributes - ( at tra buutes ) - 53, 178
- qualities / qualities or characteristics of something or someone
attuned - ( uh tuned ) - 161
- tuned / in harmony / made aware or responsive
audacity - ( ah dass uh tee ) - 463
- nerve / rudeness / daring / recklessness / bold courage
augury - ( ah guh ree ) - xv
- sign / indication / something that indicates future happenings
authentication - ( ah thin tuh kay shun ) - xiii
- proof / proof of the truthfulness or validity of something
autonomous - ( ah tah nuh muss ) - xix
- independent / not subject to the rule or control of others
avail - ( uh vay ul ) / ( uh vail ) - 24, 392, 403
- help / benefit / to be of use or valuable toward some end
availed - ( uh vay ulled ) / ( uh vail'd ) - 59, 305
- gained / benefited / provided
avert - ( uh vert ) - 124
- prevent / turn away / avoid / to stop from advancing or occurring
avocation - ( av uh kay shun ) - xiii
- activity which is less important than one's regular job
awe - ( all ) - 4, 46, 335
- respect / wonder / reverence / fear / an emotion that arouses one's
deep respect or honor inspired by something majestic, grand, or sublime
baffling - ( baff ling ) - 26, 34, 58-59, 107, 328, 350, 354, 382
- confusing / frustrating / disappointing / defeating / bewildering / of a
nature that defies solution or understanding
balked - ( balk't ) - 58
- stopped short of completion / tried to avoid / resisted / hesitated
balmy - ( bah me ) or ( balm ee ) - 128, 261
- crazy or foolish / crazy, foolish, or eccentric in behavior
Barleycorn - ( bar lee corn ) - 209, 210 ( See - John Barleycorn )
- the seed or grain of the 'barley' plant, a cereal grass, used in food
and in making beer, ale, and whiskey
balustrades - ( 385 ) - railings / a railing held up by small posts; balusters
basis - ( bay siss ) - xxv, 19, 34, 39, 44, 50, 60, 68, 76, 80, 99, 118, 120,
127, 135, 146, 155, 162, 359, 360, 362, 376, 406, 462, 498, 520
- foundation / base / principle / standard / underlying condition
bathtub gin - ( bath tub gin ) - 5
- homemade drink made from raw alcohol, water, and spices
- so called 'bathtub gin' was made in large enough batches to require a
  laundry wash tub - and who knows - probably a bath tub or two
bedevilments - ( beh dev ull ments ) / ( bed evul munts ) - 52
- troubles / torments / disturbances / aggravations
befall - ( beh fall ) - 116 - happen to / to happen to, especially as if by fate
befell - ( beh fell ) - 127, 387 - happened to, especially as if by fate
befogged - ( beh fog'd ) - xxvi
- confused / bewildered / muddled / made unclear in character
behoove - ( beh hoove ) - 181
- seem necessary for / to be necessary, proper, or gainful for
belladonna - ( bell uh donna ) - 7
- a plant that a muscle relaxant drug (atropine) can be made from
belladonna treatment - ( bell uh donna treatment ) - 7
- a treatment, no longer in use, developed by Dr. Sam Lambert of
NY, using a sedative created from the Belladonna plant to treat
muscle spasms in the intestinal tract, due to nausea and diarrhea
belligerent - ( buh lidj er unt ) - 398, 568
- hostile / quarrelsome / combative / having or taking a fighting attitude
bender - ( ben der ) - 5, 23, 139, 142, 155, 517
- drunk / drinking spree
benefactor - ( beh nuh fak tur ) / ( ben uh fak ter ) - xi
- helper / one who freely gives to or provides help for others
beset - ( be set ) or ( beh set ) - xix, 252
- troubled / harassed / surrounded / set upon
bestows - ( beh stoes ) - 119 - places / gives or offers as a gift
bewail - ( beh wail ) - 69
- express sorrow for / complain or cry about / lament / wail / to express
  sorrow or regret over
bewilderment - ( beh will der munt ) - 151, 555
- extreme confusion of the mind / a state of confusion, perplexity,
  or befuddlement especially with numerous conflicting situations,
  objects, considerations, or statements
bias - ( by us ) - 51, 134
- prejudice / intolerance / personal and sometimes unreasoned opinion
bidding - ( bid ing ) - 76
- will / command / order / request / direction / instruction / dictate
blight - ( blite ) [ like kite with a 'bl' rather than a 'k' ] - 124
- disease / something that frustrates growth, plans, or hopes
boiled as an owl - ( boy ulled as an owl ) - 158
- drunk / 'drunk as an owl' ( undetermined origin for this phrase )
  Supposedly an old Dutch proverb. / In the 17th. Century, owls were often
   associated with fools or vulgar behavior. / "drunk as an owl" has been used by
   many famous writers in the past. / In Peru there is a myth that 'boiled owl' is
  strong medicine. / Some interpretations of a line from 'Satyricon' by Patronius
  ( 27-66 AD ) include "drunk as an owl" - most interpret it as "drunk as a beast".
  "Owl-eyed" means drunk - as used by the English writer Horace Walpole in 1764.
boon - ( boon ) - 116
- blessing / benefit / godsend / something desirable or favorable
booth - ( booth ) - 155
- telephone booth / an enclosure that provided a telephone and privacy
bootlegger - ( boot leg er ) - 175, 176, 212, 495
- someone who makes, sells, or transports, illegal alcoholic beverages
bout - ( bout ) - 23, 90, 140 ...bouts - 32, 109
- period of time / period of drinking / time spent in a particular way
brainstorm - ( brain storm ) - 66
- fits of rage / a sudden and violent fit of brain disturbance or insanity
bristle - ( briss ull ) - 48
- flare up / become agitated / take on an aggressive attitude
bureau - ( bure oh ) - 41, 224
- agency / a specialized administrative group or agency
bust - ( bust ) - 138, 377
- drinking spree / drinking binge / a hearty drinking session

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