reading & writing: fill in the blanks 1600 - 2000

conspiracy

a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful

bloodstream

the blood circulating through the body of a person or animal

laureate

a person who has been awarded a prize or honor

teased

make fun of or attempt to provoke (a person or animal) in a playful or unkind way

agenda

a list of items to be discussed at a formal meeting

convicted

declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a court

confined

restricted in area or scope; limited

heal

become sound or healthy again; make (a person or thing) sound or healthy again

communal

shared by all members of a community; for common use

perpetual

never ending or changing

decaying

rotting or decomposing

notoriously

widely and unfavorably known

chaos

complete disorder and confusion

transcend

be or go beyond the range or limits of (a field of activity or conceptual sphere)

crystallography

the branch of science concerned with the study of crystals and their structure

geology

the science that deals with the physical structure and substance of the earth

shrouded

cover or envelop so as to conceal from view

antioxidant

a substance that inhibits oxidation

disastrous

causing great damage

bets

a wager or gamble

discourses

written or spoken communication or debate

camps

a place with temporary accommodations of huts

exhaustion

a state of extreme physical or mental fatigue

consequential

following as a result; important; significant

wannabe

a person who wants to be like someone else or who tries to be part of a group of people

drummer

a person who plays a drum or drums

eruption

an act or instance of erupting

acclimatization

the process or state of adapting or becoming accustomed to a new climate or environment

warmth

the quality or state of being warm; moderate heat

banning

officially or legally prohibit (something)

engineer

a person who designs

ancestor

a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended.

fallacies

a mistaken belief especially one based on unsound argument

bucket

a round open container with a handle

civilised

at an advanced stage of social and cultural development

defendant

an individual or institution sued or accused in a court of law

defendants

plural of defendant

bacon

cured meat from the back or sides of a pig

descend

move or fall downward

whirling

moving or causing to move rapidly around and around

brush

an implement with bristles used for cleaning or grooming or applying a substance

canopy

an ornamental cloth covering hung or held up over something

boycott

a punitive ban that forbids relations with certain groups, cooperation with a policy, or the handling of goods.

captain

the person in command of a ship

clay

a stiff

boiled

having been cooked in boiling water

rover

a person who spends their time wandering or traveling

superstitious

having or showing a belief in superstitions

stance

the way in which someone stands

critic

a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something

goldsmith

an artisan who makes objects out of gold

allocate

distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose

demolished

pull or knock down (a building or other structure)

incubate

keep (something especially eggs) at a suitable temperature so that it develops

accelerator

a pedal or other device controlling the speed of a motor vehicle

collagen

the main structural protein found in skin and other connective tissues

carbohydrate

any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars

ruthless

having or showing no pity or compassion for others

geography

the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere

demeanor

outward behavior or bearing

confronting

meet (someone) face to face with hostile or argumentative intent

parasite

an organism that lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the host's expense

traced

find or discover by investigation

emotion

a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances

deter

discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences

charitable

relating to the assistance of those in need

charming

very pleasing or attractive

diffusion

the spreading of something more widely

entanglement

the condition of being involved in a complicated or difficult situation

adaptability

the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions

accompany

go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort

trauma

a deeply distressing or disturbing experience

landfills

a place where waste material is buried under the ground

breath

the air taken into or expelled from the lungs

whispers

speak very softly using one's breath without one's vocal cords

diminish

make or become less

compete

strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others

enlists

enroll or be enrolled in the armed services

dissatisfied

not satisfied or happy

disillusioned

disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed it to be

comparatively

relatively; by comparison

cubic

having the shape of a cube; three-dimensional

drafted

prepare a preliminary version of (a document)

eroded

gradually destroy or be gradually destroyed (a natural feature) by wind

alleviating

make (suffering or a problem) less severe

chiefly

mainly; mostly

catalytic

relating to or denoting catalysis

eyesore

an ugly or unsightly object or building

stilts

posts or poles supporting a structure

degeneration

the process of degenerating or being degenerated

systoles

the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries

delayed

late or slow

digestible

capable of being digested

kent

a county in southeast England

commuters

a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis

densest

most closely compacted or crowded; thickest

catastrophes

an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster

conclude

bring (something) to an end; arrive at (a judgment or opinion) by reasoning

choking

having severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat or a lack of air

transmit

cause (something) to pass on from one place or person to another

error

a mistake

trojan

a destructive computer program disguised as a harmless application

carmaker

a company that manufactures cars

botanist

an expert in or student of the scientific study of plants

circulatory

relating to the circulation of blood or sap

clause

a unit of grammatical organization next below the sentence in rank and in traditional grammar consisting of a subject and predicate

confederates

a person one works with especially in something secret or illegal; an accomplice

bride

a woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event

criterion

a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided

explanatory

serving to explain something

hill

a naturally raised area of land not as high or craggy as a mountain

dissected

cut up (a body or plant) in order to study its internal parts

eliminated

completely remove or get rid of (something)

discern

perceive or recognize (something)

beware

be cautious and alert to dangers

surpass

exceed; be greater than

syntax

the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language

confer

grant or bestow (a title or right)

carefree

free from anxiety or responsibility

intellect

the faculty of reasoning and understanding objectively especially with regard to abstract or academic matters

libretto

the text of an opera or other long vocal work

heritable

capable of being inherited

edicts

an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority

gloom

partial or total darkness; a state of depression or despondency

exhausted

drained of one's physical or mental resources; very tired

cuisines

a style or method of cooking especially as characteristic of a particular country or establishment

impedes

delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder

explored

travel through (an unfamiliar area) in order to learn about it

harmonious

tuneful; not discordant

comics

a periodical containing comic strips

terror

extreme fear

compassion

sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

vigilant

keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties

colonialism

the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country and exploiting it economically

curate

select and look after the items in a collection or exhibition

derivatives

something that is based on another source

contamination

the action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning

soared

fly or rise high in the air

conquered

overcome and take control of (a place or people) by military force

resonate

evoke or suggest images and emotions

enriching

improve or enhance the quality or value of

breaches

an act of breaking or failing to observe a law or code of conduct

allies

a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose

cable

a thick rope of wire or nonmetallic fiber

wanes

decrease in vigor or extent; become weaker

cream

the thick white or pale yellow fatty liquid that rises to the top of milk and from which butter and other milk products are made

connoisseurs

an expert judge in matters of taste

benjamin

a male given name

ushering

show or guide (someone) somewhere

tweak

improve (a mechanism or system) by making fine adjustments to it

graphics

visual presentations or images on some surface

bladder

a distensible sac or organ in animals serving as a receptacle for urine or sperm

dizzying

causing one to feel unsteady or amazed; bewildering

saint

a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and typically regarded as being in heaven after death

hydroponics

the process of growing plants in sand with added nutrients but without soil

contempt

the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration or deserving scorn

neon

a gaseous chemical element that is inert; a noble gas of the atmosphere. Neon is used in some kinds of electric lamps.

advisor

a person who gives advice in a formal or professional capacity

beret

a round flattish cap of felt or cloth

entitlements

the fact of having a right to something

scaffolding

a temporary structure on themade usually of wooden planks and metal poles outside of a building

heuristics

enabling a person to discover or learn something for themselves

categorically

in a way that is unambiguously explicit and direct

squash

crush or squeeze (something) with force so that it becomes flat

deceptive

giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading

bizarre

very strange or unusual especially so as to cause interest or amusement

competencies

the ability to do something successfully or efficiently

dengue

an acute infectious tropical disease caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes

cartilaginous

consisting of or relating to cartilage

crisp

firm

biosphere

the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.

cultivate

try to acquire or develop (a quality or skill)

intersection

a point or line common to lines or surfaces that intersect

crevices

a narrow opening or fissure especially in a rock or wall

empathetic

showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another

colonizers

a person or group that establishes a colony in a new land

confederate

joined by an agreement or treaty

tardiness

the quality or fact of being late; lateness

elevate

raise or lift (something) to a higher position

disinformation

false information that is spread deliberately in order to deceive

combating

take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or undesirable)

repository

a place or receptacle where things are or may be stored

uptick

a small increase or upward trend

deeper

extending far or further down from the top or surface

brilliance

exceptional talent or intelligence

bleaching

the process of whitening or lightening something

nausea

a feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit

delving

reach inside a receptacle and search for something

despised

feel deep hatred or disapproval for (someone or something); detest

kinship

a sharing of characteristics or origins

extant

still in existence; surviving

expedited

speed up the progress of; hasten

palpable

able to be touched or felt

signifies

be an indication of

brew

make (beer or other alcoholic beverage) by fermenting malt and other ingredients

apex

the top or highest part of something especially one forming a point

cathedral

the principal church of a diocese

derided

express contempt for; ridicule

concerted

jointly arranged or carried out; coordinated

mistrust

suspicion or lack of trust

displacement

the moving of something from its place or position

coexistence

the state or condition of existing at the same time or in the same place

juncture

a particular point in events or time

deployed

move (troops or equipment) into position for military action

entomologists

a person who studies or is an expert in the branch of zoology concerned with insects

maya

an illusion; one's own power to create illusions

adrenaline

a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands

statistic

a fact or piece of data from a study of a large quantity of numerical data

ethos

the characteristic spirit of a culture or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations

discarded

get rid of as no longer useful or desirable

bubbling

form bubbles; produce or show bubbles

unbridled

uncontrolled; unrestrained

spun

draw out and twist (fibers) into thread or yarn

crossbred

bred from two different breeds or varieties

yielded

give way to pressure or influence

coincided

occur at or during the same time

announcement

a formal public statement about a fact

estate

an area or amount of land or property

continental

forming or belonging to a continent

contraption

a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated

cultured

characterized by refined taste and manners and good education

entertained

provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment

hesitate

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

cheating

act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage

coevolutionary

the influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution

aircraft

any machine supported for flight in the atmosphere by buoyancy or by the dynamic reaction of the air against its surfaces

exuberance

the quality of being full of energy and cheerfulness; ebullience

annoying

causing irritation or annoyance

composite

made up of several parts or elements

crucified

put (someone) to death by nailing or binding them to a cross especially as an ancient punishment

confuse

cause (someone) to become bewildered or perplexed

vessel

a ship or large boat

largesse

generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others

acupuncturists

a person who practices acupuncture

defects

a shortcoming or lack

imperfect

having flaws

contemplative

expressing or involving prolonged thought

bluffing

try to deceive someone as to one's true strength or intentions by appearing confident or aggressive

subsumes

contain or include within a larger category; encompass

circumnavigate

sail or travel all the way around (something

humming

make a low steady continuous sound like that of a bee

calculate

determine (the amount or number of something) mathematically

hurdles

an obstacle or difficulty

casual

relaxed and unconcerned

prescribe

advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone

disparities

a great difference

contend

assert something as a position in an argument

contradicts

deny the truth of (a statement) by asserting the opposite

prism

a solid geometric figure whose two end faces are similar, equal, and parallel rectilinear figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.

enshrine

preserve or cherish (a right or idea)

decompose

break down or decay

seep

gradually trickle or ooze through or from something

cohesion

the action or fact of forming a united whole

degrade

reduce in quality or esteem

endocrine

relating to or denoting glands that secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood or lymph

desserts

the sweet course eaten at the end of a meal

rebates

a partial refund to someone who has paid too much money for tax or a utility

corroborated

confirm or give support to (a statement or finding)

quotient

a result obtained by dividing one quantity by another

concurrently

at the same time; simultaneously

endometriosis

a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain

craters

a large, bowl-shaped cavity in the ground or on the surface of a planet or the moon, typically one caused by an explosion or the impact of a meteorite or other celestial body.

briny

of or relating to the sea or brine

commuting

travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a regular basis

reigned

hold royal office; rule as king or queen

quandary

a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation

anaerobically

relating to or requiring an absence of free oxygen

carcinogenic

having the potential to cause cancer

oculus

a round or oval opening or window

immerses

dip or submerge in a liquid

endures

remain in existence; last

algorithms

a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations

ignite

catch fire or cause to catch fire

adversity

difficulties; misfortune

gallons

a unit of volume for liquid measure

enacted

make (a bill or other proposal) law

hydrosphere

all the waters on the earth's surface such as lakes and seas

culling

selective slaughter of wild animals

curricula

the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college

envy

a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions

upend

set or turn (something) on its end or upside down

competing

striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others

cuisine

a style or method of cooking

actionable

providing grounds for legal action

deterring

discourage (someone) from doing something by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences

snail

a mollusk with a single spiral shell into which the whole body can be withdrawn

indented

having a surface or edge that is uneven; notched or serrated

capita

per person

advertisers

a person or company that advertises a product or service

diffused

spread out over a large area; not concentrated

clans

a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent

brownies

a small square or oblong piece of rich usually chocolate cake

progeny

a descendant or the descendants of a person or plant; offspring

babble

talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish or incomprehensible way

wail

a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain

mutation

the changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA

conservancies

an organization concerned with the conservation of natural resources

looms

appear as a large especially in a threatening way

altruism

disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others

distortions

the action of distorting or the state of being distorted

strife

angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict

scatter

throw in various random directions

corridor

a long passage in a building from which doors lead into rooms

endorsement

an act of giving one's public approval or support to someone or something

regina

a Latin word meaning queen

connivance

willingness to allow or be secretly involved in an immoral or illegal act

hoops

a circular band or loop

tact

adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues

clinched

confirm or settle (a contract or bargain)

grieve

feel intense sorrow

cherish

protect and care for (someone) lovingly

bleak

not hopeful or encouraging; depressing

desensitization

the process of reducing sensitivity

posits

put forward as fact or as a basis for argument

deadlines

the latest time or date by which something should be completed

serenity

the state of being calm and untroubled

reap

receive (a benefit) as a consequence of one's own or other people's actions

tinker

attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way

prosthetics

an artificial body part; a prosthesis.

causation

the action of causing or producing

cursor

a movable indicator on a computer screen identifying the point that will be affected by input from the user

democratize

make (something) accessible to everyone

canines

a pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars of a mammal

enveloped

wrap up or surround completely

adversary

one's opponent in a contest or dispute

diminutive

extremely or unusually small

dispossession

the action of depriving someone of land or other possessions

trinkets

a small ornament or item of jewelry that is of little value

unison

simultaneous performance of action or utterance of speech

glimmer

shine faintly with a wavering light

badges

a small piece of metal

nerd

a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious

conjure

call upon (a spirit or ghost) to appear

encyclopaedic

comprehensive in terms of information

geek

an unfashionable or socially inept person

enforcing

compel observance of (laws or rules)

bore

make (a hole) in something by drilling

chapped

of skin) cracked and rough especially through exposure to cold

moist

slightly wet; damp or humid

conspired

make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act

suppress

forcibly put an end to

gridiron

a framework of parallel bars or beams

amend

make minor changes in (a text) in order to make it fairer

conspiring

making secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act

bounce

move quickly up and down

howl

a long doleful cry uttered by an animal such as a dog or wolf

defence

the action of defending from or resisting attack

digest

break down (food) in the alimentary canal into substances that can be absorbed by the body

trivial

of little value or importance

emissivity

the relative ability of a surface to emit energy by radiation

discord

disagreement between people; lack of harmony between notes sounding together

imposter

a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others

crucible

a situation of severe trial leading to the creation of something new

exhales

breathe out (air) from the lungs

environmentalists

a person who is concerned with or advocates the protection of the environment

blur

make or become unclear or less distinct

drone

make a continuous low humming sound

wore

past tense of wear

chair

a seat for one person

compensation

something

exclusion

the process or state of excluding or being excluded

interrupts

stop the continuous progress of (an activity or process)

evaluates

form an idea of the amount

hyoid

a U-shaped bone in the neck that supports the tongue

sneak

move or go in a furtive or stealthy way

conveying

transport or carry to a place

svelte

slender and elegant

enclaves

a portion of territory within or surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are culturally or ethnically distinct

rebuttals

an instance of rebutting evidence or an accusation

preoccupied

engrossed in thought or activity

doves

a stocky bird with a small head and a cooing voice

completion

the action or process of finishing or completing something

volatile

liable to change rapidly and unpredictably

cracking

break or cause to break without a complete separation of the parts

extrapolate

extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable

steer

(of a person) guide or control the movement of (a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft), for example by turning a wheel or operating a rudder.

endorsed

declare one's public approval or support of

consisted

be composed or made up of

bibliographic

relating to the description or cataloging of books or other written materials

impels

drive or urge (someone) to do something

subatomic

relating to phenomena or particles smaller than an atom

accentuating

make more noticeable or prominent

dictators

a ruler with total power over a country

antique

a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality

debtor

a person or institution that owes money

domes

a rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure

sprawl

sit or lie spread out in an ungainly or awkward way

appellation

a name or title

antifreeze

a liquid that is added to water to lower its freezing point

sumacs

a shrub or small tree of the cashew family

curving

form or move in a curve

pupae

an insect in its inactive immature form between larva and adult