words with bane posion; cause of ruin; ADJ. baneful: harmful; poi- sonous bantering joking talk; good-naturedly ridiculing; N.V. banter barb sharp projection from fishhook, arrow, or other ob- ject; openly cutting remark 6 ♠ bard poet ♠ barefaced shameless and noticeable; blatant; bold; un- concealed; having no covering on the face; Ex. barefaced lie ♥ unregenerate making no attempt to change one’s bad practices ♠ baroque highly ornate barrage barrier laid down by artillery fire; overwhelm- ing profusion; large number of questions or statements; Ex. a barrage of criticism barrister counselor-at-law or lawyer in the higher court of law; CF. bar ♥ solicitor lawyer in the lower court of law barterer trader; V. barter: trade; exchange good for other goods rather than money ♠ bask luxuriate; take pleasure in warmth ♥ luxuriate take pleasure in great comfort ♠ bastion stronghold; something seen as a source of pro- tection; Ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism ♠ bate let down; lessen the force of; moderate; restrain; Ex. with bated breath; CF. abate ♠ bauble trinket; cheap jewel; trifle ♠ bawdy indecent; obscene; about sex in a rude funny way; CF. bawd ♠ beatific giving or showing bliss; blissful 7

♥ bliss complete happiness; ADJ. blissful ♠ beatitude blessedness; state of great happiness ♥ mystic of hidden meaning and spiritual power; Ex. mystic ceremonies; N. CF. mysticism ♠ bedizen dress with vulgar finery ♥ finery beautiful clothes for a special occasion ♠ bedraggle wet thoroughly; ADJ. bedraggled: draggled ♠ beeline direct quick route ♠ befuddle confuse thoroughly ♥ fuddle make stupid or confused as with alcholic drink; N. in a fuddle: confused beget father; become the father of; produce; give rise to ♠ begrudge envy; give or allow unwillingly; grudge; Ex. We shouldn’t begrudge him his success. ♥ grudge deep feeling of dislike; Ex. grudge fight; V. ♠ beguile deceive; mislead or delude; cheat; pass time pleasantly; charm or attract; Ex. beguiling smile ♠ behemoth huge creature; something of monstrous size or power ♠ beholden obligated; indebted; owing thanks; obliged or indebted from gratitude ♠ behoove(behove) be suited to; be incumbent upon; be right and necessary; Ex. It behooves one to do. ♠ belabor harp on; dwell on tediously; explain or go over excessively or to a ridiculous degree; assail verbally; beat severely; attack physically ♠ belated delayed ♠ beleaguer besiege or attack (with an army); harass; be- set ♠ belie contradict; give a false impression; disguise; Ex. The poor sales belied our high hopes; Ex. Her smile be- lies her true feeling of displeasure. belittle disparage; depreciate bellicose warlike belligerent quarrelsome ♠ bemoan lament; moan for; express sorrow or disap- proval of ♠ bemused confused; lost in thought; preoccupied benediction blessing benefactor gift giver; patron; person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose beneficent kindly; doing good beneficial helpful; useful; advantageous beneficiary person entitled to benefits or proceeds of an