
Explanation of attribute (noun) inherent quality; characteristic
Sample of attribute This is defined as a condition in which the responsibility for housework is felt as a feminine, and therefore a personal attribute, normally as a result of a childhood identification with the mother as role model.
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Explanation of taunt (noun) provocation; insulting, jeering or bitter remark; mockery
Sample of taunt The newspaper reported that detectives believe it was just a vicious taunt to terrify the girl.
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Explanation of epithet (noun) name; nickname; title; designation
Sample of epithet She sometimes appeared on earth as a hippopotamus, too, and her epithet was The Golden. The usual epithet applied to his bearing is patrician, and his batting, as a matter of course, is liberally endowed with arrogance.
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Explanation of hyperbole (noun) exaggeration; overstatement
Sample of hyperbole The full moon was almost blinding in its brightness, he said with a measure of hyperbole.
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Explanation of virago (noun) scolding or ill-tempered woman
Sample of virago It had been a fairly commonplace murder, a henpecked husband at the end of his tether who had taken a hatchet to his virago of a wife.
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Explanation of fallacy (noun) illusion; misconception; untruth; falsehood
Sample of fallacy The fatal fallacy is to try to turn the world inside-out and make economic progress the criterion of the pursuit of knowledge. It would constitute a typically academic fallacy to believe that analysis on its own - the sheer power of thought - could change or reverse such a situation, but it could well affect it.
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Explanation of glutton (noun) person who eats and drinks to excess; overeater
Sample of glutton The glutton ate 12 hot dogs.
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Explanation of invective (noun) insult; curse; affront; offense
Sample of invective Take one opposition spokesman, simmer for an hour in a heavy sauce of sarcasm, season with scornful adjectives, throw in liberal amounts of contempt, add several pinches of disdain, and spice with invective.
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Explanation of compensation (noun) payment for services; repayment
Sample of compensation A park keeper was ordered to pay USD800 compensation to the owner of a 1,000 model yacht he sank. Compensation of USD8,500 for structural damage, and further sums for damage to personal property, were paid by the Metropolitan Police.
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Explanation of demagogue (noun) one who manipulates public emotions to gain power or popularity
Sample of demagogue The greatest demagogue in history no longer had an audience. For any would-be telegenic demagogue, Mr Bruce offers a lot of practical advice, most of it garnered when he was the Tories' director of communications.
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