She leaves me alone to finish my ablutions.―Natsuki

noun (Formal・Humorous)

• an act of washing oneself
  "the women performed their ablutions"

• a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers.
  
• (British)
  (in army slang) a building or room containing washing facilities and toilets.
  plural noun: the ablutions

late Middle English: from Latin ablutio(n- ), from abluere, from ab- ‘away’ + luere ‘wash’. The original use was as a term in chemistry and alchemy meaning ‘purification by using liquids’, hence ‘purification of the body by washing’ (mid 16th century).


"So, umm, is there anything in that story you're adamant to deny? Like, say, not being up for a cuddle?"―Natsuki

adjective

• refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind
  "he is adamant that he is not going to resign"

Old English (as a noun), from Old French adamaunt-, via Latin from Greek adamas, adamant-, ‘untameable, invincible’ (later used to denote the hardest metal or stone, hence diamond), from a- ‘not’ + daman ‘to tame’. The phrase to be adamant dates from the 1930s, although adjectival use had been implied in such collocations as ‘an adamant heart’ since the 16th century.


There are a few ways to ameliorate the phenomenon.―Natsuki

verb (Formal)

• make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
  "the reform did much to ameliorate living standards"

mid 18th century: alteration of meliorate, influenced by French améliorer, from meilleur ‘better’.


Even without Atri sleeping in my arms, I haven't been assailed by those torments.―Natsuki

verb

• make a concerted or violent attack on.
  "the Scots army assailed Edward's army from the rear"

• (of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation) come upon (someone) suddenly and strongly.
  
• criticize strongly.

"Nope, I'd bet my Astrocaster on it. And you know my guitar's worth more to me than my life."―Ryuuji

proper noun

• a specific kind of electric guitar

The thunderous roar of the shadow fades to a silence so baneful I can hear my heart pounding in my ears.―Natsuki

noun

• a cause of great distress or annoyance.
  "the telephone was the bane of my life"

Old English bana ‘thing causing death, poison’, of Germanic origin.


Atri beckons me over. Looks like whatever secret business they've been doing is over.―Natsuki

verb

• make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage or instruct someone to approach or follow.
  "Miranda beckoned to Adam"

• summon (someone) by beckoning to them.
  
• appear attractive or inviting.

A great cloud of bubbles billows out as the casket is inundated with water.―Natsuki

noun

• a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.

verb

• (of fabric) fill with air and swell outwards.

• (of smoke, cloud, or steam) move or flow outward with an undulating motion.

mid 16th century: from Old Norse bylgja.


I can see the obvious lack of enthusiasm for a lecture on advanced biomimetics etched on everyone's faces.―Natsuki

An interdisciplinary field in which principles from engineering, chemistry and biology are applied to the synthesis of materials, synthetic systems or machines that have functions that mimic biological processes. Biomaterials are any natural or synthetic material that interacts with any part of a biological system. Biomimetic designs could be used in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and drug delivery.


She looks around the room with bleary eyes.―Natsuki
Atri stares blearily out at the shadow in the fog.―Natsuki

adjective

• (of the eyes) looking or feeling dull and unfocused from sleep or tiredness.
  "Boris opened a bleary eye"

I look out to the distant horizon, an enormous column of fluffy white cloud is the only blemish on an otherwise brilliantly blue sky.―Natsuki

noun

• a small mark or flaw which spoils the appearance of something.

verb

• spoil the appearance or quality of (something).

Exiting the cabin, we find the ship enveloped in a fog so thick that it completely blots out the morning light.―Natsuki

noun

1. a dark mark or stain made by ink, paint, dirt, etc.
   
   • a shameful act or quality that damages an otherwise good character or reputation.
     
   • a thing that mars the appearance of something.
2. (Biochemistry)
   a procedure in which proteins or nucleic acids separated on a gel are transferred directly to an immobilizing medium for identification.

verb

1. dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material.
   
2. mark or stain (something).
   
   • damage the good character or reputation of.
3. cover writing or pictures with ink or paint so that they cannot be seen.
   
   • obscure a view.
     
   • obliterate or disregard something painful in one's memory or existence.

blot one's copybook — tarnish one's good reputation.
late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blettr .

Her hand lightly boinks against my bell. It doesn't hurt one bit.―Natsuki

verb

1. hit or strike (someone or something).
   "he bonked his head on the plane's low bulkhead"
   
2. (British)
   have sex with (someone).
   
3. (of a cyclist or runner) reach a point of exhaustion that makes it impossible to go further.
   "I bonked and couldn't pedal another stroke"

noun

1. an act or the sound of hitting someone or something.
   "give it a bonk with a hammer"
   
2. (British)an act or instance of having sex.
   
3. a level of exhaustion that makes a cyclist or runner unable to go further.
   "we had the bonk when we were saddle sore"

Seeing him smile at me with tears in his eyes, my bosom wells with happiness.―Natsuki

noun

• a woman's chest or breasts.

"her ample bosom"

• a part of a dress covering the chest.
  "she had plucked the brooch from her bosom"
  
• (Literary)
  the space between a person's clothing and their chest used for carrying things.
  "he carried a letter in his bosom"
  
• (Literary)
  a person's loving care and protection.
  "Bruno went home each night to the bosom of his family"
  
• used to refer to the chest as the seat of emotions.
  "quivering dread was settling in her bosom"

adjective

• (of a friend) very close or intimate.
  "the two girls had become bosom friends"

Old English bōsm, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boezem and German Busen.

"Those are bramblings. Hmm, they're called atori in Japan, where they come to spend the winter...'Atri' would be a nice name! I'll call you that!"―Shiina

noun

• a prickly scrambling shrub of the rose family, especially a blackberry.

verb(British)

• gather blackberries.
  "why don't we go brambling some day?"

I have to grab onto the railing to keep myself from being swept into the briney deep.―Natsuki

adjective

• of salty water or the sea; salty.
  "the briny tang of the scallops"

noun(Informal・British)

• the sea.
  "the vortices that suck ships to the bottom of the briny"

The sudden rush of air from the casket buffets the ceiling of the building, the already water-damaged framework seemingly rattled by my destruction of the doors.―Natsuki
The shadow approaches closer, buffeting the ship with an even more powerful swell.―Natsuki

noun

1. a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves.
   "a cold buffet lunch"
   
2. a room or counter in a station, hotel, or other public building selling light meals or snacks.

• (British)
  a railway carriage selling light meals or snacks.

early 18th century (denoting a sideboard): from French, from Old French bufet ‘stool’, of unknown origin.

verb

• (especially of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter.

Middle English: from Old French buffeter (verb), buffet (noun), diminutive of bufe ‘a blow’.


"That's not an excuse to bumble around carelessly..."―Natsuki

verb

1. move or act in an awkward or confused manner.
   "they bumbled around the house"
   
2. speak in a confused or indistinct way.
   "the succeeding speakers bumbled"
   
   • (of an insect) buzz or hum.
     "she watched a bee bumble among the flowers"

late Middle English (in the sense ‘hum, drone’): from boom+ -le.


Our drying clothes flutter in the breeze like bunting as we forge out way across the waves.―Natsuki

noun

1. an Old World seed-eating songbird related to the finches, typically having brown streaked plumage and a boldly marked head.
   
2. a small New World songbird of the cardinal subfamily, the male of which is mainly or partly bright blue in colour.

noun

• flags and other colourful festive decorations.

His hands are red, raw and calloused.―Natsuki

adjective

• (of a part of the body) having an area of hardened skin.
  "a calloused palm"

late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin callosus ‘hard-skinned’.

noun

• a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has been subjected to friction.

• (Medicine)the bony healing tissue which forms around the ends of broken bone.
  
• a hard formation of tissue, especially new tissue formed over a wound.
  "the exposed surface will quickly form healing callus"

mid 16th century: from Latin callus (more commonly callum ) ‘hardened skin’.

I was surprised to hear someone as cantankerous as her would employ a maid.―Natsuki
adjectice

• bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
  "he can be a cantankerous old fossil at times"

mid 18th century: of unknown origin; perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish cant ‘auction’ and rancorous


It really does seem to be some kind of casket.―Natsuki

nous

• a small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valued objects.
  "a small brass casket containing four black opals"

• (Btitish)
  a small wooden box for cremated ashes.
  
• (North American)
  a coffin.

Everyone hungrily chomps through the little packets of salty rice.―Natsuki

verb

• munch or chew noisily or vigorously
  "she chomped on a roll"

noun

• a chewing noise or action.

Just as I'm about to give the signal to stop, a clang and the sound of creaking metal echo through the water. The door collapses, sending up a billowing cloud of sediment.―Natsuki

noun

• a loud, resonant metallic sound or series of sounds.
  "the steel door slammed shut with a clang"

verb

• make or cause to make a clang.
  "the bell of a fire engine clanged"

late 16th century: imitative, influenced by Latin clangere ‘resound’.


"What use would it be, keeping her body around after she conks out?"―Junk Shop Owner

phrasal verb(Informal)

1. of a machine : to stop working properly
   "My car's engine conked out this morning."
   
2. to fall asleep
   "I conked out on the sofa last night."

My body twists and contorts as an intense pain throbs in my my right leg.―Natsuki

verb

• twist or bend out of the normal shape.
  "a spasm of pain contorted his face"

late Middle English: from Latin contort- ‘twisted round, brandished’, from the verb contorquere, from con- ‘together’ + torquere ‘twist’.


My leg was pinned underneath that weight, and just moving caused my body to convulse with agony.―natsuki

verb

• suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs.
  "she convulsed, collapsing to the floor with the pain"
  
  • (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements.
    "she rocked backwards and forwards, convulsed with helpless mirth"
• throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval.
  "a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany"

mid 17th century: from Latin convuls- ‘pulled violently, wrenched’, from the verb convellere, from con- ‘together’ + vellere ‘to pull’.


An enormous cumulonimbus hangs over the horizon, against a background of brilliant blue.―Natsuki

noun (Meteorology)

• cloud forming a towering mass with a flat base at fairly low altitude and often a flat top, as in thunderstorms.
  "the development of clouds from fair-weather cumulus to giant cumulonimbus"

She's made a Hamburg steak with demiglace sauce, and a steamed vegetable salad.―Natsuki

noun

• a rich, glossy brown sauce from which the liquid has been partly evaporated, typically flavoured with wine and served with meat.
  "lamb chop with demi-glace sauce"

French, literally ‘half glaze’.


"...'Scrap' is a derogarory term. Please take that back."―Atri

adjective

• showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
  "she tells me I'm fat and is always making derogatory remarks"

early 16th century (in the sense ‘impairing in force or effect’): from late Latin derogatorius, from derogat- ‘abrogated’, from the verb derogare.


This dilapidated old building is more sturdy than I ever could have imagined. We've only just started, and I'm already starting to think we've been a little naive.―Natsuki

adjective

• (of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect.
  "old, dilapidated buildings"

early 16th century (in the sense ‘waste, squander’): from Latin dilapidat- ‘demolished, squandered’, from the verb dilapidare, literally ‘scatter as if throwing stones’, from di- ‘apart, abroad’ + lapis, lapid- ‘stone’.


"But that would be difficult for the younger children. Their families are in dire straits, and it would probably mean going to school would be impossible for them."―Minamo

adjective

1. extremely serious or urgent.
   "misuse of drugs can have dire consequences"
   
   • (of a warning or threat) presaging disaster.
     "there were dire warnings from the traffic organizations"
2. (Informal・British)
   of a very poor quality.
   "the concert was dire"

dire straits―in a very bad or difficult situation.
mid 16th century: from Latin dirus ‘fearful, threatening’.


"This one's a real doozy, too. A proper high-performance one, the kind that you can hardly even find in the big cities these days."―Catherine

noun(Informal・North American)

• something outstanding or unique of its kind.
  "it's gonna be a doozy of a black eye"

"You're always helping me out, but I never get the chance to be the one caring for you. It's nice to dote on you for a change."―Natsuki

phrasal verb

1. to give a lot of love or attention to (someone or something)
   "she doted on her two young children"

Middle English (in the sense ‘act or talk foolishly’): of uncertain origin; related to Middle Dutch doten ‘be silly’.


Right now, with the sun setting, the streets are completely dark and drab. Hardly anyone is outside.―Natsuki

adjective

1. lacking brightness or interest; drearily dull.
   "the landscape was drab and grey"
   
2. of a dull light brown colour.
   "drab camouflage uniforms"

noun

• fabric of a dull light brown colour.
  
  • clothes, especially trousers, made of drab.
    "a young man dressed in drabs"

mid 16th century (as a noun denoting undyed cloth): probably from Old French drap ‘cloth’

noun

1. a slovenly woman.
   
2. a prostitute.

early 16th century: perhaps related to Low German drabbe ‘mire’ and Dutch drab ‘dregs’.


Maybe this something I shouldn't have dredged up from the past...Natsuki
verb

• clear the bed of (a harbour, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish with a dredge.
  "the lower stretch of the river had been dredged"

noun

• an apparatus for bringing up objects or mud from a river or seabed by scooping or dragging.

late 15th century (as a noun; originally in dredge-boat ): perhaps related to Middle Dutch dregghe ‘grappling hook’.
verb

• sprinkle (food) with a powdered substance such as flour or sugar.
  "dredge the bananas with sugar and cinnamon"

late 16th century: from obsolete dredge ‘sweetmeat, mixture of spices’, from Old French dragie, perhaps via Latin from Greek tragēmata ‘spices’.


When he notices my gaze, he calmly sidles off, ducking into a backstreet.―Natsuki

noun

1. a waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
   
2. a pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusc found off the Atlantic coasts of America.
   
3. an amphibious transport vehicle.
   "visitors can board an amphibious duck to explore the city"

Old English duce, from the Germanic base of duck(expressing the notion of ‘diving bird’).

verb

1. lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen.
   "spectators ducked for cover"
   
   • depart quickly.
     "I thought I saw you duck out"
     
   • avoid (a blow or missile) by moving quickly.
     "he ducked a punch from an angry first baseman"
     
   • (Informal)
     evade or avoid (an unwelcome duty or undertaking).
     "a responsibility which a less courageous man might well have ducked"
2. push or plunge (someone) under water, either playfully or as a punishment.
   "Rufus grabbed him from behind to duck him under the surface"

duck and dive — use one's ingenuity to deal with or evade a situation.
"she was all for a bit of ducking and diving, that's how everyone lived"
Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch duiken and German tauchen ‘dive, dip, plunge’.

noun(Informal・British)

• dear; darling (used as an informal or affectionate form of address, especially among cockneys).
  "it's time you changed, my duck"

I don't wipe them away. I'm too enthralled to care.―Natsuki

verb

1. capture the fascinated attention of.
   "she had been so enthralled by the adventure that she had hardly noticed the cold"
   
2. (archaic)
   enslave.
   "it is as hard and dangerous to inthrall a people that would live free"

late Middle English (in the sense ‘enslave’; formerly also as inthrall ): from en-, in- (as an intensifier) + thrall.


My erstwhile business partner is lying the middle of the sunken path.―Natsuki

adjective

• former.
  "the erstwhile president of the company"

After what seems less like a disassembly and more like an evisceration, we get to work building out windmill.―Natsuki

verb(Formal)

• disembowel (a person or animal).
  "the goat had been skinned and neatly eviscerated"
  
  • deprive (something) of its essential content.
    "myriad little concessions that would eviscerate the project"

late 16th century: from Latin eviscerat- ‘disembowelled’, from the verb eviscerare, from e- (variant of ex- ) ‘out’ + viscera ‘internal organs’.


I whack him on the shoulder exuberantly.―Natsuki

adjective

• full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
  
  • characterized by a vigorously imaginative artistic style.
    "exuberant, over-the-top sculptures"

late Middle English (in the sense ‘overflowing, abounding’): from French exubérant, from Latin exuberant- ‘being abundantly fruitful’, from the verb exuberare (based on uber ‘fertile’).

She starts to sing, at first in a quiet, faltering tone.―Natsuki

verb

• lose strength or momentum.
  "the music faltered, stopped, and started up again"
  
  • speak hesitantly.
    "‘A-Adam?’ he faltered"
    
  • move unsteadily or hesitantly.
    "he faltered and finally stopped in mid-stride"

late Middle English (in the senses ‘stammer’ and ‘stagger’): perhaps from the verb fold (which was occasionally used of the faltering of the legs or tongue) + -ter as in totter.


A famished Ririka practically dives into the food.―Natsuki

adjective(Informal)

• extremely hungry.
  "I'm famished—is there anything to eat?"

late Middle English: past participle of the verb famish, from Middle English fame ‘starve’, from Old French afamer, based on Latin fames ‘hunger’.


On the far-flung horizon, enormous billowing clouds rise like mountains, their shapes almost dissolving into the endless ocean.―Natsuki

adjective

• distant or remote.
  "the far-flung corners of the world"
  
  • widely distributed.
    "newsletters provided an important link to a far-flung membership"

Serious-minded teacher, or feckless drunkard? I really don't know what to make of her sometimes.―Natsuki

adjective

• lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.
  "her feckless younger brother"

late 16th century: from Scots and northern English dialect feck (from effeck, variant of effect) + -less.


I fiddle with its screws, and giveit a little oil.―Natsuki

verb

1. touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way.
   "Lena fiddled with her cup"
   
   • tinker with something in an attempt to make minor adjustments or improvements.
     "he fiddled with the blind, trying to prevent the sun from shining in her eyes"
     
   • pass time aimlessly, without doing or achieving anything of substance.
2. (Informal・British)
   falsify (figures, data, or records), typically in order to gain money.
   "everyone is fiddling their expenses"

on the fiddle―(Informal・British)engaged in cheating or swindling.

Old English fithele, denoting a violin or similar instrument (originally not an informal or depreciatory term), related to Dutch vedel and German Fiedel, based on Latin vitulari ‘celebrate a festival, be joyful’, perhaps from Vitula, the name of a Roman goddess of joy and victory. Compare with viol.

It fizzles and sputters, giving off a scatter of rainbow-colored sparks.―Natsuki

verb

• make a feeble hissing or spluttering sound.
  "the strobe lights fizzled and flickered"
  
  • end or fail in a weak or disappointing way.
    "their threatened revolt fizzled out at yesterday's meeting"

late Middle English (in the sense ‘break wind quietly’): probably imitative (compare with fizz), but perhaps related to Middle English fist (see feisty). Current senses date from the 19th century.


Surprised, I flail around, and plant my elbow straight into Atri's face.―Natsuki
I try to put my foot down, but the bottom isn't where I expect it to be. It simply flaps in the water, and another wave rushes against my side as I flail.―Natsuki

noun

• a threshing tool consisting of a wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it.

verb

1. wave or swing wildly.
   "his arms flailed as he sought to maintain his balance"
   
   • flounder; struggle uselessly.
     "I was flailing about in the water"
2. beat or flog (someone).
   "he escorted them, flailing their shoulders with his cane"

Old English, of West Germanic origin, based on Latin flagellum ‘whip’ (see flagellum); probably influenced in Middle English by Old French flaiel or Dutch vlegel .


Catherine flinches in the face of the tiny girl's menacing glare.―Natsuki

verb

• make a quick, nervous movement as an instinctive reaction to fear, pain, or surprise.
  "she flinched at the acidity in his voice"
  
  • avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) through fear or anxiety.
    "I rarely flinch from a fight when I'm sure of myself"

mid 16th century (in the sense ‘slink or sneak off’): from Old French flenchir ‘turn aside’, of West Germanic origin and related to German lenken ‘to guide, steer’.


The two of us frolic together in the waves like little children.―Natsuki
A wide expanse of green stretches out in front of me, broken only by a clear, sparkling stream flowing through it. Birds frolic in the skies.―Natsuki

verb

• play or move about in a cheerful and lively way.
  "Edward frolicked on the sand"
  
  • play about with someone in a flirtatious or sexual way.
    "he denied allegations that he frolicked with a secretary"

early 16th century (as an adjective): from Dutch vrolijk ‘merry, cheerful’.

Atri giddily awakens.―Natsuki

• having a sensation of whirling and a tendency to fall or stagger; dizzy.
  "Luke felt almost giddy with relief"
  
  • disorientating and alarming, but exciting.
    "her giddy rise to power"
    
  • excitable and frivolous.
    "Isobel's giddy young sister-in-law"

verb

• make (someone) feel excited to the point of disorientation.

Old English gidig ‘insane’, literally ‘possessed by a god’, from the base of God. Current senses date from late Middle English.


"In that case, just grapple her or use less power or something if you need to."―Natsuki

verb

1. engage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle.
   "passers-by grappled with the man after the knife attack"
   
   • seize hold of (someone).
     "he grappled the young man around the throat"
     
   • struggle to deal with or overcome (a difficulty or challenge).
     "other towns are still grappling with the problem"
2. (Archaic)
   seize or hold with a grappling hook.

Middle English (as a noun denoting a grappling hook): from Old French grapil, from Provençal, diminutive of grapa ‘hook’, of Germanic origin; related to grape. The verb dates from the mid 16th century.


(Natsu-kun can be areal grump, but he's a nice guy. Take care of him.)―Minamo
"Stop, Ryuu-chan! Mr. Natsuki might look a bit grumpy, but he's actually kinda a good guy! Maybe!"―Ririka

adjective

• bad-tempered and irritable.
  "his performance as the grumpy gateman"

grump―a grumpy person.

Her strength is pretty much the only thing she's useful for, unless you've got a real hankering for some crab.―Natsuki

noun

• a strong desire to have or do something.
  "a hankering for family life"

Many of them are families who have lived here for generations, likely with precious heirlooms and memories left deep on the ocean floor when they fled in panic.―Natsuki
"This watch was a heirloom handed down to me from my grandpa. I never thought I'd see it again..."―Tomita-san

noun

• a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations.
  "the violin was a family heirloom"

We decided to dive in the morning, but naturally Minamo raised an objection to us playing hooky.―Natsuki

adjective

• (of a tune) having immediate appeal and easy to remember; catchy.
  "a hooky bassline"

play hooky―(Informal・North American)

• stay away from school or work without permission or explanation; play truant.
  "he played hooky from school to go out hunting"

Memories suddenly flash cross my mind, horrendous, arcane, nauseating pictures of things that could hardly be called "food"...

adjective

• extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible.
  "she suffered horrendous injuries"

mid 17th century: from Latin horrendus (gerundive of horrere ‘(of hair) stand on end’) + -ous.


"Damn, you're not just a total hottie and a brainbox. but you can seriously play piano too? You're totally too perfect!"―Yoko

noun(Informal)
1. (British)
   a hot-water bottle.
   
2. a sexually attractive person, especially a young woman.
   "a Yale alumna who's one of the hotties of her generation"

early 20th century (in the sense ‘important person; hotshot’): from hot + -ie or -y.


"Heh, sounds like some newlywed going to cooking classes so she can please her new hubby"―Ryuuji

noun(Informal)

• a humorous or affectionate way of referring to a person's husband.
  "I popped into the butchers in my lunch break to buy some chops for hubby's dinner"

late 17th century: familiar abbreviation of husband.


Before long, the rusty joints of its hull start to creak under the pressure.―Natsuki
I look up from the deck to see that Eden is so close that it's almost scraping hulls with my ship.―Natsuki

noun

1. the main body of a ship or other vessel, including the bottom, sides, and deck but not the masts, superstructure, rigging, engines, and other fittings.
   
2. the outer covering of a fruit or seed, especially the pod of peas and beans, or the husk of grain.

verb

1. hit and pierce the hull of (a ship) with a missile.
   "the ship was being hulled and all would die"
   
2. remove the hulls from (fruit, seeds, or grain).
   "first, rinse and hull the berries"

"Hoo boy, that's a real hum-dinger! I'm guessin' he thought he wasn't gonna get any that night!"―Radio DJ

noun(Informal)

• a remarkable or outstanding person or thing of its kind.
  "a humdinger of a funny story"

She holds up her hands, fresh ichor glistening down her arms.―Natsuki

noun

• (Greek Mythology)
  the fluid that flows like blood in the veins of the gods.
  
• (Archaic)
  a watery discharge from a wound.

mid 17th century: from Greek ikhōr .


Glass matting is comprised of woven glass flbers, which are impregnated by the resin.―Natsuki

verb

1. soak or saturate (something) with a substance.
   "wood which had been impregnated with preservative"
   
   • fill with a feeling or quality.
     "an atmosphere impregnated with tension"
2. make (a woman or female animal) pregnant.
   "he was obliged to marry the woman he'd impregnated"
   
   • (Biology)
     fertilize (an ovum).

early 17th century (in the sense ‘fill’; earlier (Middle English) as impregnation ): from late Latin impregnat- ‘made pregnant’, from the verb impregnare.


And so our swimming class gets off to an inauspicious start.―Natsuki

adjective

• not conducive to success; unpromising.
  "following this inauspicious start the British, outnumbered, withdrew"
  
  • unlucky
    "this is the inauspicious star of disaster"

It's a particularly old-fashioned incandescent model, the kind that's practically unused today. They were being sold for close to nothing at the junk shop.―Natsuki

adjective

1. emitting light as a result of being heated.
   "plumes of incandescent liquid rock"
   
   • (of an electric light) containing a filament which glows white-hot when heated by a current passed through it.
     "an incandescent lamp"
2. full of strong emotion; passionate.
   "she felt an incandescent love for life"
   
   • extremely angry.
     "I am incandescent at the way I've been treated"

late 18th century: from French, from Latin incandescent- ‘glowing’, from the verb incandescere, from in- (expressing intensive force) + candescere ‘become white’ (from candidus ‘white’).


All we really know is that sea levels suddenly began to rise inexorably, swallowing up more and more land.―Natsuki
I hold her close. I feel my lips being drawn inexorably to hers as if by some supernatural force.―Natsuki

adjective

• impossible to stop or prevent.
  "the seemingly inexorable march of new technology"
  
  • (of a person) impossible to persuade; unrelenting.
    "the doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done"

mid 16th century: from French, or from Latin inexorabilis, from in- ‘not’ + exorabilis (from exorare ‘entreat’).

She jerks out of her seat, standing bolt upright.―Natsuki

noun

• a quick, sharp, sudden movement.
  "he gave a sudden jerk of his head"
  
• (Informal)
  a contemptibly foolish person.

jerk out―to say something in a quick and sharp way because you are nervous.
mid 16th century (denoting a stroke with a whip): probably imitative.


(I didn't think being this far away from Atri would leave me feeling so jittery...)―Natsuki

adjective

• nervous or unable to relax.
  "caffeine makes me jittery"

Beside us, we have an observer sullenly watching out playful joshing.―Natsuki

(Informal)

• tease (someone) in a playful way.
  "he loved to josh people"
  
  • engage in joking or playful talk with others.
    "they joshed with the men who were waiting their turn to eat"

"First, knead the meet a little..."―Atri

verb

• work (moistened flour or clay) into dough or paste with the hands.
  
  • make (bread or pottery) by kneading flour or clay.
    
  • massage or squeeze with the hands.
    "she kneaded his back"

Old English cnedan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kneden and German kneten.

"Wow, she's got you on the leesh already. I told you, women have two sides to them."―Ryuuji

noun

1. a dog's lead.
   
2. (Rare・Hunting)
   a group of three animals such as hounds, hawks, or foxes.
   "I saw a leash of foxes killed without a run"

verb

• put a leash on (a dog).
  "he called Azor to heel so that he could leash him"
  
  • restrain.
    "his violence was barely leashed"

Middle English: from Old French lesse, laisse, from laissier in the specific sense ‘let run on a slack lead’


When it's this lukewarm, the sweetness of the cola sticks unpleasantly in your throat.―Natsuki

adjective

1. (of liquid or food that should be hot) only moderately warm; tepid.
   "they drank bitter lukewarm coffee"
   
2. showing little enthusiasm.
   "the film received a lukewarm reception from critics"

late Middle English: from dialect luke (probably from dialect lew ‘lukewarm’ and related to lee) + warm.


"Shut your face. He might be kind of a lunkhead, but he's a decent man."―Natsuki

noun(Informal)

• a slow-witted person.

mid 19th century: probably from an alteration of lump1 + head.

Not lurking like when I sleep, threatening to strike me again at any time...―Natsuki

verb

• be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone or something.
  "a ruthless killer still lurked in the darkness"
  
  • (of an unpleasant quality) be present in a latent or barely discernible state, although still presenting a threat.
    "danger lurks beneath the surface"
    
  • (Informal)
    read the postings in an internet forum without actively contributing.

noun(Informal・Australian)

• a profitable stratagem; a dodge or scheme.
  "you'll soon learn the lurks and perks"

Middle English: perhaps from lower3 + the frequentative suffix -k (as in talk ). The noun is from British slang lurk ‘method of fraud’.

"Of course! Yoko and some of the middle school children have joined up, so we've got more members now too. President Minamo is really marshalling the troops!"―Atri

noun

• an officer of the highest rank in the armed forces of some countries.
  "Marshal Tito"

verb

• assemble and arrange (a group of people, especially troops) in order.
  "the general marshalled his troops"

Middle English (denoting a high-ranking officer of state): from Old French mareschal ‘farrier, commander’, from late Latin mariscalcus, from Germanic elements meaning ‘horse’ (compare with mare) and ‘servant’.


It lets out a soft, mellifluous sound with only the slightest touch.―Natsuki

adjective

• (of a sound) pleasingly smooth and musical to hear.
  "her low mellifluous voice"

late 15th century: from late Latin mellifluus (from mel ‘honey’ + fluere ‘to flow’) + -ous.


So as sturdy as a Humanoid might be, it's not impoosible for a human with a weapon with a modicum of strength to cause them some serious damage.―Natsuki

noun

• a small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable or valuable.
  "his statement had a modicum of truth"

late 15th century: from Latin, neuter of modicus ‘moderate’, from modus ‘measure’.


It's like the rising waters have washed away the old town in the same way even precious memories can be lost in a morass of fresh, pointless ones.―Natsuki

noun

1. an area of muddy or boggy ground.
   "in midwinter the track beneath this bridge became a muddy morass"
   
2. a complicated or confused situation.
   "she would become lost in a morass of lies and explanations"

late 15th century: from Dutch moeras, alteration (by assimilation to moer ‘moor’) of Middle Dutch marasch, from Old French marais ‘marsh’, from medieval Latin mariscus


She kicks up splash after splash, delighting in the myriad tones of the ocean.―Natsuki

adjective

• countless or extremely great in number.
  "he gazed at the myriad lights of the city"

mid 16th century (in myriad (sense 2 of the noun)): via late Latin from Greek murias, muriad-, from murioi ‘10,000’.

I stare at him nonplussed as he laughs and pats me on the shoulder.―Natsuki
For a moment, she looks at me nonplussed, but her expression suddenly breaks into a wide smile.―Natsuki

verb

• surprise and confuse (someone) so much that they are unsure how to react.
  "Diane was nonplussed by such an odd question"

late 16th century: from Latin non plus ‘not more’. The noun originally meant ‘a state in which no more can be said or done’.

It is what the world will read in my obituary tomorrow.―Natsuki

noun

• a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.
  "his obituary of Samuel Beckett"

early 18th century: from medieval Latin obituarius, from Latin obitus ‘death’, from obit- ‘perished’, from the verb obire.

"Now that you mention it, I am a little peckish."―Natsuki

adjective

• hungry
  "I hadn't eaten and was quite peckish"

We walk hand-in-hand through the crowds, perusing everyone's wares.―Natsuki

verb(Formal)

• read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way.
  "he has spent countless hours in libraries perusing art history books and catalogues"
  
  • examine carefully or at length.
    "Laura perused a Caravaggio"

late 15th century (in the sense ‘use up, wear out’): perhaps from per- ‘thoroughly’ + use, but compare with Anglo-Norman French peruser ‘examine’.


"That damn pervy old drunkard..."―Natsuki

adjective

• sexually perverted.
  "he paid people attention and made them feel special—and not in a pervy way"

She won't be winning any plaudits for her acting.―Natsuki

noun

• an expression of praise or approval.
  "the network has received plaudits for its sports coverage"
  
  • the applause of an audience.
    "the plaudits for the winner died down"

early 17th century: shortened from Latin plaudite ‘applaud!’ (said by Roman actors at the end of a play), imperative plural of plaudere .


He walks over to the shadow of the crane, and plonks himself down heavily.―Natsuki

(Informal・British)
verb

• set down heavily or carelessly.
  "she plonked her glass on the table"
  
• play unskilfully on a musical instrument.
  "people plonking around on expensive instruments"

noun

• a sound as of something being set down heavily.
  "he sat down with a plonk"

No one knows why. Scientists posited that it might be climate change, or some kind of movement in the earth's crust, but no one can say for sure.―Natsuki
"If there is still something you have left to do, I posit that you should deal with that before dying."―Atri

verb

1. put forward as fact or as a basis for argument.
   "the Confucian view posits a perfectible human nature"
   
   • base something on the truth of (a particular assumption).
     "these plots are posited on a false premise about women's nature as inferior"
2. put in position; place.
   "the Professor posits Cohen in his second category of poets"

mid 17th century: from Latin posit- ‘placed’, from the verb ponere.


Her footsteps, light and pottering, have no trouble keeping up with my slow walk.―Natsuki

verb

• occupy oneself in a desultory but pleasant way.
  "I'm quite happy just to potter about by myself here"
  
  • move or go in a casual, unhurried way.
    "I might potter into Nice for the day"

noun

• an act or period of occupying oneself in a desultory but pleasant way.
  "an afternoon's potter through the rooms and possessions of the rich"

mid 17th century (in the sense ‘poke repeatedly’): frequentative of dialect pote ‘to push, kick, or poke’ of unknown origin.

noun

• a person who makes ceramic ware.

late Old English pottere

"When you pulled me out of the ocean, I had a... premonition."―Atri

noun

• a strong feeling that something is about to happen, especially something unpleasant.
  "he had a premonition of imminent disaster"

mid 16th century (in the sense ‘advance warning’): from French prémonition, from late Latin praemonitio(n- ), from Latin praemonere, from prae ‘before’ + monere ‘warn’.


He was described as having been arrested for unethical Humanoid research, but details of whatever he did weren't something we were privy to.―Natsuki

adjective

1. sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private).
   "he was no longer privy to her innermost thoughts"
   
2. (Archaic)
   hidden; secret.
   "a privy place"

noun

• a toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building.
  
• (Law)
  a person having a part or interest in any action, matter, or thing.

Middle English (originally in the sense ‘belonging to one's own private circle’): from Old French prive ‘private’ (also used as a noun meaning ‘private place’ and ‘familiar friend’), from Latin privatus ‘withdrawn from public life’ (see private).


If that kind of thing had happened at the height of the proliferarion of Humanoids, it could have been huge news.―Natsuki

noun

• increase rapidly in number; multiply.
  "the science fiction magazines which proliferated in the 1920s"
  
  • (of a cell, structure, or organism) reproduce rapidly.
    "cultured cells often proliferate indefinitely"
    
  • cause (cells, tissue, structures, etc.) to reproduce rapidly.
    "electromagnetic radiation can only proliferate cancers already present"

"Tsk, honestly, I told you that's not allowed! It's like you want to break my heart. In accordance with the Robot Protection Stature, it looks like I'm gonna have to give you some more pugilistic punishment―"―Atri

adjective

• relating to or involving fighting with the fists, especially professional boxing:
  The movie Rocky is a triumphant, rags-to-riches tale of pugilistic glory.
  
• inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent:
  She was fired for being a pugilistic, wine-tossing diva who fought with nearly everyone.

I owe my life to that particular design quirk.―Natsuki

noun

• a peculiar aspect of a person's character or behaviour.
  "they accepted her attitude as one of her little quirks"
  
  • a strange chance occurrence.
    "a strange quirk of fate had led her to working for Nathan"
    
  • a sudden twist, turn, or curve.
    "wry humour put a slight quirk in his mouth"

early 16th century (as a verb): of unknown origin. The early sense of the noun was ‘subtle verbal twist, quibble’, later ‘unexpected twist’.

The classroom explodes into a commotion once again, even more raucous than before.―Natsuki

adjective

• making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise.
  "raucous youths"

mid 18th century: from Latin raucus ‘hoarse’ + -ous.


It's like a great ravenous beast has crushed it in its jaws, pulling me back as frantically as I try to escape.―Natsuki
"My girl's been raving about the young professor's classes lately. Here, let me treat you both to some extra pork croquettes."―Butcher

adjective

• extremely hungry.
  "I'd been out all day and was ravenous"
  
  • (of hunger or need) very great; voracious.
    "a ravenous appetite"

late Middle English: from Old French ravineus, from raviner ‘to ravage’ (see raven).


"That is anti-robot discrimination. Please rescind those words."―Kokoro

verb

• revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement).

mid 16th century: from Latin rescindere, from re- (expressing intensive force) + scindere ‘to divide, split’.


She falls to the floor, retching and convulsing.―

verb

• make the sound and movement of vomiting.
  "the sour taste in her mouth made her retch"
  
  • vomit.
    "he retched up a thin stream of vomit"

noun

• a movement or sound of vomiting.
  "with a sudden retch he vomited all over the floor"

mid 19th century: variant of dialect reach, from a Germanic base meaning ‘spittle’.


I look down at the heavy, rotund melon Ririka is carrying.

The rotund little ship sharts to gradually submerge as it grows heavy with ballast.―Natsuki
adjective

1. (of a person) large and plump.
   "her brother was slim where she was rotund"
   
   • round or spherical.
     "huge stoves held great rotund cauldrons"
2. (of speech or literary style) sonorous; grandiloquent.

late 15th century: from Latin rotundus, from rotare ‘rotate’.


A crowd of rubberneckers starts to form around us.―Natsuki

(Informal)
verb

• turn one's head to stare at something in a foolish manner.
  "a passer-by rubbernecking at the accident scene"

noun

• a person who rubbernecks.

An ordinary, run-of-the-mill notebook.―Natsuki

adjective

• lacking unusual or special aspects; ordinary.
  "a run-of-the-mill job"

It's a large, oblong box. Down here in the murky gloom, it almost looks like a sunken sarcophagus.―Natsuki

noun

• a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription and associated with the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, and Greece.

late Middle English: via Latin from Greek sarkophagos ‘flesh-consuming’, from sarx, sark- ‘flesh’ + -phagos ‘-eating’.


"Those shoes are starting to look pretty scruffy."―Natsuki

adjective

• shabby and untidy or dirty.
  "a teenager in scruffy jeans and a baggy T-shirt"
  
• (of a man's face) having short, bristly hairs as a result of not having been shaved for a while.
  "his employer has got used to seeing his face becoming scruffier each spring"

mid 17th century (in the sense ‘covered with scurf’): from scruff ‘scurf’, variant of scurf, + -y. The sense ‘shabby’ dates from the late 19th century.


The little kids hurriedly scurry out of the classroom.―Natsuki

verb

• (of a person or small animal) move hurriedly with short quick steps.
  "pedestrians scurried for cover"

early 19th century: abbreviation of hurry-scurry, reduplication of hurry.


Atri scuttles busily from table to table.―Natsuki

noun

1. a metal container with a handle, used to fetch and store coal for a domestic fire.
   
   • the amount of coal held in a scuttle.
     "carrying endless scuttles of coal up from the cellar"
2. (British)
   the part of a car's bodywork between the windscreen and the bonnet.

late Old English scutel ‘dish, platter’, from Old Norse skutill, from Latin scutella ‘dish’.

verb

• run hurriedly or furtively with short quick steps.
  "a mouse scuttled across the floor"

noun

• an act or sound of scuttling.
  "I heard the scuttle of rats across the room"

verb

1. sink (one's own ship) deliberately by holing it or opening its seacocks to let water in.
   "the ship was scuttled by its German prize crew, who took to the boats"
   
2. deliberately cause (a scheme) to fail.
   "some of the stockholders are threatening to scuttle the deal"

The tears stream down my cheeks in searing rivulets. I feel no pain at all.―Natsuki

verb

1. burn or scorch the surface of (something) with a sudden, intense heat.
   "the water got so hot that it seared our lips"
   
2. (of pain) be experienced as a sudden, burning sensation.
   "a crushing pain seared through his chest"

When he notices my gaze, he calmly sidles off, ducking into a backstreet.―Natsuki

verb

• walk in a furtive, unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely.
  "I sidled up to her"

noun

• an act or instance of sidling somewhere.
  "a sidle into the hallway"

late 17th century: back-formation from sideling (see sidelong).


"Yeah, yeah, just stop slobbering all over me!"―Natsuki

verb

• have saliva dripping copiously from the mouth.
  "Fido tended to slobber"
  
  • show excessive enthusiasm for.
    "news executives slobbered over him for autographs"

noun

• saliva dripping copiously from the mouth.
  "slobber hung in frothy ropes from the dog's mouth"

"Huh. So how did you go from fancy research and all that jazz to slumming it in a backwater like this?"―Ryuuji

• spend time at a lower social level than one's own through curiosity or for charitable purposes.
  "he bought some second-hand clothes, and slummed among the metropolis's underprivileged"
  
  • put up with conditions that are less comfortable or of a lower quality than one is used to.
    "businessmen are having to slum it in aircraft economy class seats"

early 19th century (originally slang, in the sense ‘room’): of unknown origin.


"That looks delicious... *slurp*!"―Atri

verb

• drink or eat (something) with a loud sucking noise.
  "she slurped her coffee"

noun

• a loud sucking sound made while drinking or eating.
  "she drank it down with a loud slurp"
  
  • a mouthful of liquid drunk with a loud sucking sound.
    "he took a noisy slurp of his beer"

"'Dead'...How odd. The word is smudged. Why would that be?"―Yasuda

verb

• cause (something) to become messily smeared by rubbing it.
  "she dabbed her eyes, careful not to smudge her make-up"

noun

• a blurred or smeared mark on the surface of something.
  "a smudge of blood on the floor"

late Middle English (as a verb in the sense ‘soil, stain’): of unknown origin. The noun dates from the late 18th century.


"I can't let her see me like that again. I don't want her acting all smug."―Natsuki

adjective

• having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements.
  "he was feeling smug after his win"

mid 16th century (originally in the sense ‘neat, spruce’): from Low German smuk ‘pretty’.


"So you produce snot as well as tears? Great..."―Natsuki

noun(Informal)

1. nasal mucus.
   
2. a contemptible or worthless person.

late Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German; related to snout.


She wraps her arms around me, and snuggles up against my chest.―Natsuki

verb

• settle or move into a warm, comfortable position.
  "I snuggled down in my sleeping bag"

late 17th century: frequentative of the verb snug.


As the sun dips below the horizon the sky is overtaken by an inky blackness
, speckled with a million little dots of light.―Natsuki

noun

• a small spot or patch of colour.
  "it has white speckles on its forewing"

verb

• mark with a large number of small spots or patches of colour.
  "gulls whirled round the masts, speckling the docks with guano"

late Middle English (as a noun): from Middle Dutch spekkel ; the verb (late 16th century) from the noun or a back-formation from speckled .


"I don't wanna hear that from an old spinster like you!"―Yoko

noun(Derogatory・Dated)

• an unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage.

late Middle English (in the sense ‘woman who spins’): from the verb spin + -ster; in early use the term was appended to names of women to denote their occupation. The current sense dates from the early 18th century.


I wipe out the spittle with my sleeve.―Natsuki

noun

• saliva, especially as ejected from the mouth.

late 15th century: alteration of dialect spattle, by association with spit.

A wave swells up over the grasses that have become the coastline here, and washes over the tarmac.―Natsuki

noun(Trademark in UK)

• material used for surfacing roads or other outdoor areas, consisting of broken stone mixed with tar.
  "the tarmac path"

verb

• surface (a road or other outdoor area) with tarmac or a similar material.
  "they'll be wanting to tarmac the path"

early 20th century: abbreviation of tarmacadam.


I'm so engrossed in the frivolity that I completely forget that I'm thrashing around in the waves with a prosthetic and no walking stick.―Natsuki

1. beat (a person or animal) repeatedly and violently with a stick or whip.
   "she thrashed him across the head and shoulders"
   
   • hit (something) hard and repeatedly.
     "the wind screeched and the mast thrashed the deck"
2. move in a violent and convulsive way.
   "he lay on the ground thrashing around in pain"

Old English, variant of thresh (an early sense). Current senses of the noun date from the mid 19th century.


I writhe atop the bed, the space where my leg should be throbbing with agony.―Natsuki

verb

• beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm; pulsate steadily.
  "the war drums throbbed"

"Hmm, this does feel good. It's a little ticklish, but it's soothing."―Atri

adjective

• (of a person) sensitive to being tickled.
  "I'm ticklish on the feet"
  
  • (of a cough) characterized by persistent irritation in the throat.
• (of a situation or problem) difficult or tricky and requiring careful handling.
  "her skill in evading ticklish questions"

Maybe it has some small tidbets I can learn in it?―Natsuki

noun

• a small piece of tasty food.
  "when you are out with your puppy always have a titbit in your pocket"
  
  • a small and particularly interesting item of gossip or information.
    "they were hoping for titbits about the family"

mid 17th century (as tyd bit, tid-bit ): from dialect tid ‘tender’ (of unknown origin) + bit.


That little doubt tingles at the back of my mind, but who cares, really? It seems crab's on the menu tonight.―Natsuki
There's a strange, tingling pain in my cheeks.―Natsuki

verb

• experience or cause to experience a slight prickling or stinging sensation.
  "she was tingling with excitement"

noun

• a slight prickling or stinging sensation.
  "a tingle of anticipation"

A great tumult of crashing and bashing comes from the ship.―Minamo

noun

• a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.
  "a tumult of shouting and screaming broke out"
  
  • a state of confusion or disorder.
    "the whole neighbourhood was in a state of fear and tumult"

Sighing and tutting, I turn my back on the conversation and walk out onto the deck.―Natsuki

noun・verb・exclamation

• used to express disapproval or annoyance.
  "tut-tut, Robin, you disappoint me"

And thus begins our tutelage under Professor Nojima...―Natsuki

noun

• protection of or authority over someone or something; guardianship.
  
  • instruction; tuition.
    "he felt privileged to be under the tutelage of an experienced actor"

early 17th century: from Latin tutela ‘keeping’, (from tut- ‘watched’, from the verb tueri ) + -age.

"I'm sorry. I admit complete and unmitigated liability."―Natsuki

adjective

• absolute; unqualified.
  "the tour had been an unmitigated disaster"

Surrounding it, however, is a verdant field of green.―Natsuki

adjective

• (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation.
  "verdant valleys"

late 16th century: perhaps from Old French verdeant, present participle of verdoier ‘be green’, based on Latin viridis ‘green’.


"Well, that is vexing...So I assume waiting here for a while would be fruitless?"―Yasuda

verb

• make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters.
  "the memory of the conversation still vexed him"

late Middle English: from Old French vexer, from Latin vexare ‘shake, disturb’.


"You gotta watch yourself, Natsu. Sometimes women give off this vibe that they're into you, and then turn around and blow you off."―Ryuuji

(Informal)
noun

1. a person's emotional state or the atmosphere of a place as communicated to and felt by others.
   "we've been picking up some bad vibes on that guy"
   
2. another term for vibraphone.

verb

1. enjoy oneself by listening to or dancing to popular music.
   "another classic CD for you to vibe with"
   
2. transmit or give out (a feeling or atmosphere).
   "he vibed pure hate in my direction"

She rains hit after hit down on him, not a single trace of anger crossing her visage.―Natsuki

noun(Literary)

• a person's face, with reference to the form or proportions of the features.
  "an elegant, angular visage"
  
  • a person's facial expression.
    "there was something hidden behind his visage of cheerfulness"

Middle English: via Old French from Latin visus ‘sight’, from videre ‘to see’.

I've been able to tell all along from the sweet smell wafting from the kitchen.―Natsuki

verb

• (with reference to a scent, sound, etc.) pass or cause to pass gently through the air.
  "the smell of stale fat wafted out from the cafe"

noun

• a gentle movement of air.

early 16th century (in the sense ‘escort a ship’): back-formation from obsolete wafter (used only by opponents of the practice) ‘armed convoy vessel’, from Low German, Dutch wachter, from wachten ‘to guard’. A sense ‘convey by water’ gave rise to the current use of the verb.


I shouldn't be wallowing in the past like this.―Natsuki

verb

1. (chiefly of large mammals) roll about or lie in mud or water, especially to keep cool or avoid biting insects.
   "there were watering places where buffalo liked to wallow"
   
   • (of a boat or aircraft) roll from side to side.
     "a ship wallowing in stormy seas"
2. (of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable).
   "I was wallowing in the luxury of the hotel"

Old English walwian ‘to roll about’, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin volvere ‘to roll’.


I wouldn't have expected this rough-looking wastrel to have any experience in that kind of field. I can't quite believe it, but...―Natsuki

noun

• (Literary)
  a wasteful or good-for-nothing person.
  "I have no intention of seeing my dues gambled away by your wastrel of a son"

ate 16th century (denoting a strip of waste land): from the verb waste + -rel.


With a whimper, she grabs it, and springs to her feet.―Natsuki
Catherine glares at the pair of whimpering children. Then she throws her arms open, and pulls them into a tight hug.―Natsuki

verb

• make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or unhappiness.
  "a child in a bed nearby began to whimper"

early 16th century: from dialect whimp ‘to whimper’, of imitative origin.


As she wiggles, a small piece of paper sticks out from her dress pocket.―Natsuki

verb

• move or cause to move up and down or from side to side with small rapid movements.
  "Vi wiggled her toes"

Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch wiggelen (frequentative).


"You've been through the wringer too, huh"―Ryuuji

noun

• a device such as a mangle for wringing water from wet clothes, mops, or other objects.

put someone through the wringer―subject someone to a very stressful experience, especially a severe interrogation.

I peek at the price tag, and let out a yelp like a strangled cat.―Natsuki

noun

• a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm.
  "she uttered a yelp as she bumped into a table"

verb

• utter a yelp.
  "my dog was yelping as if hurt"

Old English g(i)elpan (verb) ‘to boast’, from a Germanic imitative base. From late Middle English ‘cry or sing with a loud voice’ the current sense arose in the 16th century.


I want to just turn around and scream into the great blue yonder―Natsuki

noun

• the far distance.
  "attempting to fly off into the wide blue yonder"

Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ginder ‘over there’, also to yon.