v. (also -ise) (-zing or -sing) 1 avoid committing oneself so as to gain time; procrastinate.

- comply temporarily; adopt a time-serving policy.

adj. - (often foll. By of) keeping a firm hold.

- persistent, resolute.

- (of memory) retentive. tenaciously adv. Tenacity n. [latin tenax -acis from teneo hold]

v. (also -ise) (-zing or -sing) make (esp. Meat) tender by beating, hanging, marinading, etc. tenderizer n.

adj. Literary dark, gloomy. [latin tenebrosus]

hat n. Cowboy's large broad-brimmed hat.

adj. - experimental.

- hesitant, not definite (tentative suggestion). tentatively adv. Tentativeness n. [medieval latin: related to *tempt]

n. Overbearing woman; virago. [french tervagan from italian]

v. (-ting) 1 bring or come to an end.

- (foll. By in) (of a word) end in (a specified letter etc.).

n. (pl. -s or -ria) 1 place for keeping small land animals.

- sealed transparent globe etc. Containing growing plants. [latin terra earth, after aquarium]

n. (pl. -ies) 1 extent of the land under the jurisdiction of a ruler, state, etc.

- (territory) organized division of a country, esp. One not yet admitted to the full rights of a state.

- sphere of action etc.; province.

- commercial traveller's sales area.

- animal's or human's defended space or area.

- area defended by a team or player in a game. [latin terra land]