Damn

damn – [dam] verb (used with object): 1. to declare (something) to be bad, unfit, invalid, or illegal. 2. to condemn as a failure: to damn a play. 3. to bring condemnation upon; ruin. 4. to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell. 5. to swear at or curse, using the word “damn”: Damn […]

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American or British

Variations in spelling exist in English words. In Great Britain and Canada, some words have spellings that differ from American spellings. Readers of books by British and Canadian publishers will note these differences. Some confusion may arise depending on the writer’s experience with these variant spellings. Many nouns that in American English end in –or, […]

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Contractions

A contraction is a word made from a verb and another word. An apostrophe takes the place of any letters that are left out. A contraction can be made by joining a verb and the word not, a word and the verb is, and a pronoun and a verb. Here are some common contractions that […]

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Frostbite

Frostbite (congelatio in medical terminology) is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas. The initial stages of frostbite are sometimes called “frost nip”. Classification There are […]

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Actual

ac·tu·al – [ak-choo-uhl] adjective 1. existing in act or fact; real: an actual case of heroism; actual expenses. 2. existing now; present; current: The ship’s actual position is 22 miles due east of Miami. 3. Obsolete . pertaining to or involving acts or action. Origin: 1275–1325;  < Late Latin āctuālis,  equivalent to Latin āctu-  (stem […]

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Experience

ex·pe·ri·ence – [ik-speer-ee-uhns] noun, verb, -enced, -enc·ing. noun 1. a particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something: My encounter with the bear in the woods was a frightening experience. 2. the process or fact of personally observing, encountering, or undergoing something: business experience. 3. the observing, encountering, or undergoing of things generally as they […]

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Fact

fact – [fakt] noun 1. something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact. 2. something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact. 3. a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true: Scientists gather facts about plant growth. 4. something […]

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Mythical

myth·i·cal – [mith-i-kuhl] adjective 1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or involving a myth. 2. dealt with in myth,  as a prehistoric period. 3. dealing with myths,  as writing. 4. existing only in myth,  as a person. 5. without foundation in fact; imaginary; fictitious: The explanation was entirely mythical. Also, myth·ic.

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Unicorn

u·ni·corn -  [yoo-ni-kawrn] noun 1. a mythical creature resembling a horse, with a single horn in the center of its forehead: often symbolic of chastity or purity. 2. a heraldic representation of this animal, in the form of a horse with a lion’s tail and with a long, straight, and spirally twisted horn. 3. ( initial […]

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