Read Online Wrath: A Dictionary for the Enraged by Adams Media - Free Book Online Page A

lament.
    Never one to be content, Isabel was always the first to BEMOAN the restaurant choice.
besiege
    (bih-SEEJ)
    VERB: To surround a person or group in an attempt to capture it; to harass or overwhelm.
bestial
    (BESS-chul)
    ADJECTIVE: Beastly or inhuman; savage or brutal.
    Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.
    —G EORGE E LIOT
bête noire
    (bett NWAHR)
    NOUN: French for “black beast,”
bête noire
is an extremely disliked or frightening person or thing.
bilious
    (BILL-yes)
    ADJECTIVE: Related to the word “bile,”
bilious
refers to a thing or person that is unsettling or irritable; bad-tempered.
blacklist
    (BLAK-list)
    VERB: To shun a person because his or her behavior goes against something that is considered right or moral.
bludgeon
    (BLUD-jun)
    VERB: To beat someone repeatedly with an object. As a noun, a
bludgeon
is a club that can be used as a weapon.
bluster
    (BLUS-ter)
    VERB: To behave in a loud, obnoxious way or in a manner that could threaten someone; harangue.
    Not normally one to BLUSTER, it was surprising when Timothy yelled offensive statements out of the window.
boil
    (boyl)
    VERB: Most commonly used in reference to the point where a liquid becomes a gas, to boil also means to seethe with anger; fume.
bombard
    (bom-BARD)
    VERB: To place under attack; assail.
bout
    (bowt)
    NOUN: A short period of time spent doing something, like a bout with the flu, or a contest or fight.
brandish
    (BRAN-dish)
    VERB: To show something in a menacing way; wield.
    Annabel will BRANDISH the knife to her husband, whether or not she intends to use it, if he threatens her again.
brash
    (brash)
    ADJECTIVE: Impetuous or hasty; aggressive.
brazen
    (BRAY-zun)
    ADJECTIVE: Bold or brash; shameless. The adverb form is brazenly.
brouhaha
    (BROO-ha-ha)
    NOUN: An event marked by noise or conflict; a commotion or ruckus.
brunt
    (brunt)
    NOUN: The primary force or impact of something, as in an attack.
brusque
    (brusk)
    ADJECTIVE: An abrupt or short manner; curt.
bugaboo
    (BUG-uh-boo)
    NOUN: A person or thing that causes obsessive fear or anxiety; a persistent problem.
    The dark figure on the corner of my street causes such a BUGABOO that the other neighbors and I have taken to walking the long way home.
    Control thy passions,
lest they take vengeance
on thee.
    —E PICTETUS
bull
    (bull)
    VERB: To push or drive powerfully or violently.
bumptious
    (BUMP-shuss)
    ADJECTIVE: Overbearing and self-important; pushy.
    I’m tired of Peter being so BUMPTIOUS toward his wife; she is never able to make any decisions or even speak without being interrupted.

C
calamity
    (kuh-LAMM-ih-tee)
    NOUN: An event causing great misfortune or disaster; misery that results from a disaster.
callous
    (KAL-uss)
    ADJECTIVE: Unconcerned about others’ feelings; heartless.
calumny
    (KAL-um-nee)
    NOUN: A false or slanderous statement made with malicious intent; defamation.
canard
    (kuh-NARD)
    NOUN: A false accusation or fabrication; a rumor.
    It was cruel of Colette to invent such a CANARD about her sister, especially considering how many others she told.
cantankerous
    (kan-TANG-ker-us)
    ADJECTIVE: Argumentative or irritable.
captious
    (KAP-shuss)
    ADJECTIVE: Describes a person who is extremely critical and often finds fault with others for trivial matters.
carp
    (karp)
    VERB: To complain loudly and excessively, particularly about trivial matters.
    There is no need to continue to CARP about your dislike for tonight’s dinner; tomorrow night you can prepare your own.
castigate
    (KASS-tuh-gate)
    VERB: To reprimand or punish severely; criticize.
cataclysm
    (kat-uh-KLIZZ-uhm)
    NOUN: A sudden and destructive change or upheaval; a catastrophe.
caustic
    (KOSS-tick)
    ADJECTIVE: Biting or particularly sarcastic; scathing.
cavil
    (KAV-ihl)
    VERB: To complain or split hairs regarding trivial matters.
censorious
    (sen-SOR-ee-us)
    ADJECTIVE: Extremely disapproving or critical; stern.
censure
    (SEN-sher)
    VERB: To fault or disapprove of