clandestine

secret

clangor

loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging

clap

strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound; come together suddenly with a sharp sound; put or send promptly; Ex. clap the thief in jail; N: clapping; loud or explosive sound; CF. applause

clapper

striker (tongue) of a bell

clarion

shrill, trumpetlike sound; kind of trumpet used in former times

clasp

hold firmly within arms

claustrophobia

fear of being locked in

clavicle

collarbone

cleave

split or sever; cling to; remain faithful to; N. cleavage; ADJ. cloven

cleft

N: split

clemency

disposition to be lenient in deciding punishments; mildness as of the weather; ADJ. clement

clich’e

phrase dulled in meaning by repetition; platitude; ADJ. clich’ed

clientele

body of customers

climactic

relating to the highest point; N. climax; CF. climatic

clime

climate

clip

cut off with shears; fasten; N: something clipped off (as a short extract from film); clasp or fastener

clipper

sailing vessel built for great speed

clique

small exclusive group of people

cloister

monastery or convent

clot

half-solid lump formed from a liquid (or blood); V.

clout

great influence (especially political or social); hard blow with fist

clown

act stupidly; play the fool; N.

cloying

distasteful (because excessive); excessively sweet or sentimental; V. cloy: become unpleasant through too much sweetness or excess

coagulate

congeal; thicken; clot; N. coagulant

coalesce

combine; fuse; N. coalescence

coalition

partnership; league; union of separate political parties

coax

persuade by flattery

coda

concluding section of a musical or literary composition

coddle

treat gently; indulge excessively; pamper; mollycoddle; baby; cook in water just below boiling point; Ex. coddled eggs

codicil

supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will

codify

arrange (laws or rules) as a code; classify; N. code: system of words used instead of ordinary writing; collection of laws, rules, established social customs

coercion

use of force to get someone to object; compelling; V. coerce

coeval

living at the same time as; existing during the same period of time; contemporary; of the same age

cog

tooth projecting from a wheel

cogent

convincing

cogitate

think over; ponder

cognate

having a common origin; related linguistically; allied by blood; similar or akin in nature; Ex. cognate languages; N.

cognitive

having to do with knowing or perceiving related to the mental processes; N. cognition: the mental process of knowing

cognizance

knowledge; ADJ. cognizant; having knowledge; aware

cohabit

live together

cohere

stick together

cohesion

tendency to keep together

cohorts

group of people who share some common quality; armed band; a group of between 300 and 600 soldiers under one commander (in the ancient Rome)

coiffure

hairstyle

coin

make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); N. coinage: word or phrase recently invented

coincidence

the chance occurrence, at the same time, of two or more seemingly connected events; V. coincide: happen at the same time; be in agreement; CF. coincident; CF. coincidental

colander

utensil with perforated bottom used for straining

collaborate

work together; cooperate treasonably with the enemy

collage

work of art put together from fragments

collate

examine and compare in order to verify authenticity; arrange in order (the sheets of a book before they are bound)

collateral

security given for loan; ADJ: secondary; descended from the same person but through different sons or daughters

collation

a light meal; collating

collected

composed; calm; self-possessed

colloquial

pertaining to conversational or common speech; informal; N. colloquialism: colloquial expression

colloquy

informal discussion; conversation

collusion

conspiring in a fraudulent scheme to cheat or deceive others; V. collude

colossal

huge

colossus

gigantic statue; person or thing of great size or importance

coma

deep prolonged unconsciousness caused by disease, poison, or a severe blow

comatose

in a coma; extremely sleepy

combustible

easily burned; N. CF. combustion

comeback

retort; quick clever reply; return to former status

comely

attractive; agreeable; having a pleasing appearance

comestible

something fit to be eaten

comeuppance

deserts; well-deserved punishment or misfortune; rebuke

comity

courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations

commandeer

take (private property) for military use without needing permission or giving payment; draft for military purposes

commemorate

honor the memory of; serve as a memorial to; Ex. commemorate the 100th anniversary/those who died in the war

commemorative

remembering; honoring the memory of; Ex. commemorative stamp

commensurate

equal in extent; of the same size

commiserate

feel or express pity or sympathy for

commodious

spacious and comfortable

commonplace

ordinary; N: something ordinary or common; trite remark

commonwealth

nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation

communal

held in common; public; of a group of people; of a commune

commune

small (often rural) community whose members share work and income; V: exchange thoughts or feelings; Ex. commune with nature

compact

agreement; contract; ADJ: tightly packed; firm; brief; concise; Ex. compact statement

compartment

one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

compassion

sympathy for the suffering of others; ADJ. compassionate

compatible

harmonious; in harmony with; able to exist together

compelling

overpowering; irresistible in effect; holding one’s attention; that compels one to do something; Ex. a compelling adventure story; V. compel

compendium

brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious

compensatory

making up for; repaying

compilation

listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling

compile

assemble; gather; accumulate; make (a report or a book) from facts and information found in various places; Ex. compile a dictionary

complacency

self-satisfaction; smugness; ADJ. complacent

complaisant

trying to please; obliging; willing to please others