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(ad-si-TISH-uhs) adjective Derived from outside; external; additional. Etymology From Latin adscitus , past participle of adsciscere (to admit or adopt), from ad - (toward) + sciscere (to seek to know), from scire (to know). Ultimately from the Indo-European root skei - (to cut or split) that also ...

(ret) verb tr. To soak or expose to moisture (flax, hemp, etc.) to remove fiber from softened wood. Etymology From Middle English reten , perhaps from Middle Dutch Usage "Deep in the city's culture memory is the experience of the linen trade. As Robert Johnstone writes, 'The fibres came to the ha ...

(heft) noun 1. Weight; heaviness. 2. Importance. verb tr. 1. To test the weight of something by lifting. 2. To heave or hoist. Etymology After heave, on the pattern of cleave/cleft, leave/left, thieve/theft, weave/weft, etc. From Middle English heven (to lift, take) Usage "Turning 40 once meant ...

(lee) noun 1. Shelter. 2. The side (of a ship, for example) that's sheltered or away from the direction from which the wind blows. adjective Of or pertaining to the side that's away from the wind. Etymology From Middle English, from Old English hleo (shelter) Usage "Sunlight spread in waves acro ...

(urg) noun The unit of work or energy in the centimeter-gram-second system. Etymology From Greek ergon (work). Ultimately from Indo-European root werg - (to do) which gave us ergonomic, work, energy, metallurgy, surgery, wright, and orgy erg (erg) noun A large area of land covered with shifting s ...