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| WOOZY | | adj. (-ier, -iest) colloq. - dizzy or unsteady.
- slightly drunk. woozily adv. Wooziness n. [origin unknown] | |
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| WORDY | | adj. (-ier, -iest) using or expressed in too many words. wordily adv. Wordiness n. | |
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| WORLD | | cup n. Competition between football teams from various countries.
- music n. Pop music that incorporates local or ethnic elements (esp. From the developing world).
- n. - a the earth, or a planetary body like it. B its countries and people.
- the universe, all that exists.
- a the time, state, or scene of human existence. B (prec. By the, this) mortal life.
- secular interests and affairs.
- human affairs; active life.
- average, respectable, or fashionable people or their customs or opinions.
- all that concerns or all who belong to a specified class or sphere of activity (the world of sport).
- (foll. By of) vast amount.
- (attrib.) Affecting many nations, of all nations (world politics; world champion). bring (or come) into the world give birth (or be born). For all the world (foll. By like, as if) precisely. In the world of all; at all (what in the world is it?). Man (or woman) of the world person experienced and practical in human affairs. Out of this world colloq. Extremely good etc. Think the world of have a very high regard for. [old english]
- war n. War involving many major nations. | |
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| WORMY | | adj. (-ier, -iest) 1 full of worms.
- wormeaten. worminess n. | |
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| WORRY | | beads n.pl. String of beads manipulated with the fingers to occupy or calm oneself.
- —v. (-ies, -ied) 1 give way to anxiety.
- harass, importune; be a trouble or anxiety to.
- (of a dog etc.) Shake or pull about with the teeth.
- (as worried adj.) Uneasy. —n. (pl. -ies) 1 thing that causes anxiety or disturbs tranquility.
- disturbed state of mind; anxiety. worrier n. [old english, = strangle] | |
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| WORSE | | —adj. - more bad.
- (predic.) In or into worse health or a worse condition (is getting worse). —adv. More badly; more ill. —n. - worse thing or things (you might do worse than accept).
- (prec. By the) worse condition (a change for the worse). none the worse (often foll. By for) not adversely affected (by). The worse for wear 1 damaged by use.
- injured. Worse luck unfortunately. Worse off in a worse (esp. Financial) position. [old english] | |
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| WORST | | —adj. Most bad. —adv. Most badly. —n. Worst part or possibility (prepare for the worst). —v. Get the better of; defeat. at its etc. Worst in the worst state. At worst (or the worst) in the worst possible case. Do your worst expression of defiance. Get the worst of it be defeated. If the worst comes to the worst if the worst happens. [old english: related to *worse] | |
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| WORTH | | —predic. Adj. (used like a preposition) 1 of a value equivalent to (is worth £50; is worth very little).
- such as to justify or repay (worth doing; not worth the trouble).
- possessing or having property amounting to (is worth a million pounds). —n. - what a person or thing is worth; the (usu. High) merit of (of great worth).
- equivalent of money in a commodity (ten pounds' worth of petrol). for all one is worth colloq. With one's utmost efforts. For what it is worth without a guarantee of its truth or value. Worth it colloq. Worth while. Worth one's salt see *salt. Worth one's weight in gold see *weight. Worth while (or one's while) see *while. [old english] | |
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| WOULD | | v.aux. (3rd sing. Would) past of *will1, used esp.: 1 in reported speech (he said he would be home by evening).
- to express a condition (they would have been killed if they had gone).
- to express habitual action (would wait every evening).
- to express a question or polite request (would they like it?; would you come in, please?).
- to express probability (she would be over fifty by now).
- to express consent (they would not help). | |
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| WOUND | | up adj. Excited; tense; angry.
- —n. - injury done to living tissue by a deep cut or heavy blow etc.
- pain inflicted on one's feelings; injury to one's reputation. —v. Inflict a wound on. [old english]
- past and past part. Of *wind2. | |
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