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arcane (ahr-keyn )secret; mysterious
from Latin arcanus (secret), which came from arcus (chest)
noun form: Arcanum (knowledge available only to a privileged
few)
related to ark, which was a sacred chest containing the scrolls
of the Torah, the religious book of the Hebrews
synonyms: mystic, obscure, unexplained, concealed
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archetype (ahr-ki-tahyp) the original pattern or mold
noun
from Greek arche (beginning) and typos
(impression)
can also mean “typical example”
synonym: TOTROPEPY (unscramble)
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ballyhoo (bal-ee-hoo) a noisy, attention-getting demonstration
or talk
noun
this word may have come from Ballyhooly, a town in Ireland
related to ballyrag (to tease)
can also mean “to publicize”
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bedlam (bed-luhm) uproar; confusion
noun
from Middle English Bedlem (Bethlehem), a shortened version of
St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, a hospital for the insane
bedlamite—a lunatic or madman
synonyms: pandemonium, turmoil, disorder, chaos
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bad vs. badly
Use “bad” as an adjective:
That was a bad movie.
I feel bad that your pet iguana died.
Use “badly” as an adverb:
The team played badly last night so they lost.
She wanted a new iguana very badly.
Incorrect: I feel badly for you that your pet iguana died. (You
don’t FEEL BADLY unless your sense of touch is impaired.)
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bellicose (bel-i-kohs ) warlike; quarrelsome; describing
somebody who likes to fight
adjective from Latin bellum (war) noun form: bellicosity
synonyms: feisty, pugnacious, hot-tempered antonyms: peaceable,
meek
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billet-doux (bil-ee doo)a love letter
noun came from Latin bulla (document) and dulcis
(sweet) the term billet originally referred to a document
ordering a person to provide room and board for a soldier
plural form: billets-doux (only the noun part is pluralized)
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bizarre (bi-zahr)out of the ordinary adjective
possibly came from the Basque bezar (beard)
through Spanish bizarre (brave) and French
bizarre (odd)
homonym for bazaar (a festive gathering)
can also refer to a flower with unusual markings
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bombast (bom-bast) talk or writing that
sounds grand or important but has little
meaning; pompous language
noun
from Greek bombyk (silkworm) and bombyx (silk)
adjective form: bombastic
political speeches, funeral orations, and
advertisements are frequently bombastic
synonym: gobbledygook
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bona fide (boh-nuh-fahyd ) made in good faith; genuine;
without
dishonesty, fraud, or deceit
adjective from Latin bona (good) and fides (faith) synonyms:
valid, legitimate, authentic antonyms: counterfeit, bogus,
fraudulent 10th word! Quiz is next!