ABBREVIATIONShortening.
ABELMAGWITCHPip's benefactor in "Great Expectations".
ABOLITIONISTA member of the movement to end slavery.
ABSENCEMAKES_ _ The Heart Grow Fonder.
ABSENTMINDEDHaving or showing a forgetful or inattentive disposition.
ABSOLUTEZEROLowest temperature possible.
ABSQUATULATETo flee; abscond.
ABSTEMIOUSLYIn a temperate way.
ACADEMYAWARDThe official name for an Oscar.
ACCOMPLISHEDAchieved.
ACCORDIONISTMusician.
ACETALDEHYDEA volatile, colorless, water-soluble liquid, having a pungent, fruitlike odor: used chiefly in the silvering of mirrors and in organic synthesis.
ACHIEVEMENTSFeats.
ACHILLESHEELA small but fatal weakness.
ACHLUOPHOBIAFear of darkness.
ACQUAINTANCESomeone you know a little about.
ACQUIESCENCESubmission without protest.
ACQUISITIONSThings or objects that have been bought or obtained.
ACTIONPACKEDA film might be this.
ADAMSEDGWICK19th-century English geologist who proposed and named the Cambrian period, part of the Palaeozoic era.
ADDITIONALLYAs well.
ADECKOFCARDSIn which there are 52.
ADHESIVETAPEWrapping paper accessory.
ADJUDICATIONA formal or binding decision about a dispute or problem.
ADMONISHMENTA firm, but not harsh, reproof.
ADULTERATORSPeople who harm the purity of something.
ADVANCEMENTSDevelopments or improvements.
ADVANTAGEOUSLikely to be of benefit, favourable.
ADVENTITIOUSHappening as a result of an external factor or chance rather than design or inherent nature.
ADVERTORIALSNewspaper or magazine advertisements giving information about a product in the style of an editorial or objective journalistic article.
AERODYNAMICSBranch of science studying the forces acting on bodies in a flow of air or gas.
AEROSPATIALEFrench company that developed Concorde in partnership with BAC.
AESTHETICIANA philosopher who specializes in the nature of beauty.
AFTEREFFECTSConsequences.
AFTERTHEFALLA two-act play by American dramatist Arthur Miller.
AGGRANDISINGPuffing up.
AGRANDDAYOUT1989 short film introducing Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit.
AGREEABILITYAffable quality.
AGRIBUSINESSFarm trade.
AGRICULTURALOf the farm.
AILUROPHOBIAFear of cats.
AIRAMBULANCEA specially equipped helicopter or plane that provides emergency medical assistance.
AIRCOMMODOREA senior officer of the RAF, of equivalent rank to brigadier in the Army.
AIRCRAFTSMANA person holding the rank of noncommissioned officer in the RAF.
ALADDINSCAVEA place filled with very many unusual or precious items.
ALANFARTHINGSurgeon and gynaecologist to the Queen.
ALANSILLITOEAuthor of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
ALASTAIRCOOKEnglish cricket captain born on Christmas Day 1984.
ALDERLEYEDGEPicturesque village in east Cheshire.
ALDOUSHUXLEYAuthor of Brave New World.
ALECGUINNESSBritish actor who won an Oscar for his role in The Bridge On The River Kwai.
ALEXEILEONOVSoviet cosmonaut who was the first human to conduct a spacewalk.
ALEXFERGUSONScottish football manager and player who managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013.
ALFREDAUSTINPoet who succeeded Tennyson as poet laureate in 1896.
ALFREDDEAKINAustralian Liberal statesman; Prime Minister 1903-4, 1905-8, 1909-10.
ALFREDSISLEYAnglo-French Impressionist landscape painter.
ALICESPRINGSTown in central Australia, in the Northern Territory.
ALISONUTTLEYEnglish writer who was known for her children's books about Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig.
ALKALESCENCYTending to become alkaline; slightly alkaline.
ALLINCLUSIVEA holiday where food and activities are already paid for.
ALLITERATIONThe use of the same sound at the beginning of each word or each stressed syllable in a line of verse.
ALLSAINTSDAYNovember the first.
ALLSWELLTHAT_ _ _ Ends Well.
ALTHEAGIBSONTennis player who was the first African American to win a Grand Slam title.
AMATEURISHLYDone in an unprofessional way.
AMAZINGGRACEPopular Christian hymn written by Buckinghamshire clergyman John Newton.
AMAZONPARROTTropical bird with a predominantly green plumage, popular as a pet.
AMBIDEXTROUSEqually expert with each hand.
AMBIVALENTLYIn a way that shows two opposing feelings at the same time, or involves being uncertain about your feelings:
AMELIORATIONThe act of relieving ills and changing for the better.
AMERICANMADEBiographical crime film starring Tom Cruise and Sarah Wright.
AMERRYLITTLEHave Yourself _ _ _ Christmas, Festive song first performed by Judy Garland in the film musical Meet Me In St. Louis.
AMORTISATIONThe reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years.
AMORTIZATIONThe reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years.
AMPHITHEATREA circular or oval building in which tiers of seats rise from a central open arena, as in ancient Rome.
AMYWINEHOUSEBack To Black album singer/songwriter.
ANACHRONISMSRepresentations of people or things in historical contexts in which they could not have existed.
ANAESTHETISTOne who administers drugs to produce numbness or loss of feeling.
ANAGRAMMATICComposed of identical letters differently ordered.
ANAMORPHOSISA distorted projection or perspective; especially an image distorted in such a way that it becomes visible only when viewed in a special manner.
ANCIENREGIMEThe political and social system in France before the Revolution of 1789.
ANDCLEOPATRAAntony _ _, Tragedy by William Shakespeare about the relationship between a Roman general and the Queen of Egypt.
ANDPREJUDICEPride _ _, Jane Austen novel featuring Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
ANDREWALBERT_ _ Christian Edward, the Queen's third child, hborn in 1960.
ANDREWCASTLEFormer UK number one male tennis player, now a commentator.
ANDREWMOTIONThe Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom 1999-2009.
ANDROCLESAND_ _ the lion.
ANEURINBEVANWelsh Labour politician; Minister of Health responsible for the formation of the NHS.
ANGELACARTER20th Century English writer known for her feminist and magical realist works.
ANGELAMERKELThe Chancellor of Germany since 2005.
ANGUILLIFORMHaving the shape or form of an eel.
ANISEEDBALLSHard, round shiny sweets, usually a dark reddish brown.
ANNAKARENINANovel by Leo Tolstoy first published in serial instalments from 1873 to 1877.
ANNEBANCROFTUS actress who played Mrs. Robinson in the 1967 film The Graduate.
ANNEHATHAWAYWilliam Shakespeare's wife.
ANNEOFCLEVESThe fourth wife of King Henry VIII.
ANNEOFFRANCEEldest daughter of Louis XI; acted as regent during the minority of her brother Charles VIII.
ANNRADCLIFFEEnglish author and pioneer of the Gothic novel.
ANNUNCIATIONThe announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
ANTAGONISTICIn active opposition.
ANTANANARIVOCapital of Madagascar.
ANTEDILUVIANResembling the state of things before the Flood.
ANTEMERIDIANOccurring before noon.
ANTHROPOLOGYThe study of humans.
ANTIMACASSARA piece of cloth put over the back of a chair to protect it from grease and dirt or as an ornament.
ANTIOXIDANTSSubstances such as vitamin c or vitamin e that counteract the damaging effects of certain chemical reactions in a living organism.
ANTIPRURITICSubstance that relieves or prevents itching.
ANTONCHEKHOVRussian author of the short story Easter Eve.
ANTONINEWALLRoman fortification across central Scotland.
ANTONIOCOSTAThe Prime Minister of Portugal from 2015.
ANWARIBRAHIMPrime Minister of Malaysia who succeeded Ismail Sabri Yaakob in November 2022.
ANYTHINGGOESBroadway show with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, first performed in 1934.
APARTRIDGEIN_ _ _ A Pear Tree.
APFELSTRUDELBaked sweet of Austrian origin, comprising thin layers of pastry with a filling usually of fruit.
APICULTURISTPerson who breeds and cares for bees.
APPALACHIANSMountain system extending from Quebec in Canada to Alabama in the US.
APPENDICITISInflammation of a finger-shaped pouch on the colon or large intestine.
APPLEBOBBINGGame often played on Halloween, involving a tub of water and floating fruits.
APPLECRUMBLEBritish pudding that originated in World War II food rationing.
APPLICATIONSFormal requests.
APPRAISEMENTThe act of estimating or judging the nature or value of something or someone.
APPRECIATIONRegard, esteem.
APPRECIATIVEGrateful.
APPREHENSIONNervousness.
APPROACHSHOTPlayed in tennis before going to the net.
APRETTYPENNYExpression meaning 'a considerable amount of money'.
ARABIANCAMELBeast of burden that is also called a dromedary.
ARACHNOPHOBEA person with a fear of spiders.
ARCHBISHOPOF_ _ York, Dr John Sentamu.
ARCHIPALLIUMThe olfactory cortex of the cerebrum.
ARCTICCIRCLEThe most northerly of the five major lines of latitude as shown on maps of Earth.
ARISTOCRATICTypical of a privileged class of people usually of high birth.
ARISTOPHANESGreek comic dramatist whose plays included The Clouds and The Frogs.
ARMISTICEDAYFormer national holiday now replaced by Remembrance Sunday in the UK and Veterans Day in the US.
ARMOURPLATEDProtected from attack.
ARNOLDPALMERUS golfer who was the winner of seven majors in the 1950s and 60s.
AROMATHERAPYThe use of fragrant essential oils as a treatment in complementary medicine.
ARTESIANWELLA water source in which pressure is used to force water to flow upwards.
ARTFULDODGERByname of Jack Dawkins, child gang leader in Oliver Twist.
ARTHURMILLERPlaywright.
ARUNDHATIROYHer novel The God of Small Things won the Booker Prize in 1997. Author, writer.
ASCENSIONDAY39 days after Easter Sunday.
ASCORBICACIDAlternative term for vitamin C.
ASHESTOASHESDavid Bowie song that became his second UK No 1 single in 1980.
ASHWEDNESDAYThe first day of Lent.
ASSASSINATEDKilled professionally.
ASSIMILATORYCapable of taking (gas, light, or liquids) into a solution.
ASSOCIATIONSFormal organizations of people or groups of people.
ASTEROIDBELTRing-shaped region between Mars and Jupiter occupied by minor planets.
ASTIMEGOESBYJazz song by U.S. songwriter Herman Hupfeld that features in the 1942 film Casablanca.
ASTONISHMENTGreat surprise.
ASTRONAUTICSThe science and technology of space travel and exploration.
ASTRONOMICALCelestial.
ASYMMETRICALHaving two sides or halves that are different in shape, size or style.
ASYMPTOMATICProducing or showing no symptoms.
ATHLETESFOOTA fungal infection occurring especially between a person's toes.
ATMOSPHERICSElectrical disturbances produced by natural causes such as lightning.
ATOMICENERGYSource of power.
ATTACHECASESSmall, flat, rectangular briefcases used for carrying documents and papers.
ATTENBOROUGHRichard _, English actor who played Kris Kringle in the 1994 version of Miracle on 34th Street.
ATTILATHEHUNFearsome European leader from 434 until his death in 453.
AUBERONWAUGHEnglish journalist.
AULDLANGSYNEScots folk song traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve.
AUSPICIOUSLYWith good omens.
AUSTINPOWERSPlayboy and part-time British spy played by Canadian actor Mike Myers in three films.
AVIEWTOAKILLLast of Roger Moore's seven James Bond films, released in 1985.
AVOGADROSLAWThe principle that equal volumes of all gases contain the same number of molecules at the same temperature and pressure.
BABINGTONITEA rare, slightly magnetic, black or dark green silicate mineral.
BACHELORFLATSingleton's home.
BACKINGTRACKMusical accompaniment.
BACONANDEGGSFried breakfast.
BAKEWELLTARTBaked treat with a pastry base topped with jam and filled with almond-flavoured sponge cake.
BAKINGPOWDERIngredient used to cause cakes to rise in the oven.
BALANCEDDIETWhat we are all encouraged to eat.
BALANCESHEETA statement showing the assets and liabilities of a company on a given date.
BALLANDCHAINMeans of hobbling a prisoner.
BALLBEARINGSThey reduce friction.
BALLETDANCERPavlova, say.
BALLPOINTPENWriting instrument.
BALTICAVENUEUS monopoly property.
BARBARYCOASTA historic name for the Mediterranean coastline on North Africa,
BARBITURATESOrganic compounds having powerful soporific effect.
BARNABYRUDGENovel by Charles Dickens.
BARNACLEBILLBlue Peter's traditional theme tune.
BARNEYMCGREWBearded fireman who drove the fire engine in the children's TV series Trumpton.
BATHINGSUITSSwimming costumes.
BATMASTERSONRenowned law enforcement officer in Dodge City and in Tombstone, Arizona.
BATTERINGRAMMeans of smashing down a door.
BAYERNMUNICHThe most successful club in German football history, based in Bavaria.
BEACHCOMBERSPeople who search the shoreline.
BEAUBRUMMELLIconic figure in Regency England, a friend of the future George IV.
BEAUTIFULDAYSong by U2 released in 2000 on their studio album All That You Can't Leave Behind.
BEAUTYANDTHE_ _ _ Beast, Disney film.
BECHERSBROOKFence jumped during the Grand National.
BEDDINGPLANTAn annual used for display and discarded at the end of the season.
BEDFORDSHIREEnglish county.
BEECHERSTOWEHarriet _ _, 19th Century American author of the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.
BEGGARSOPERAMusical written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch.
BENEDICTINESMonks or Nuns.
BENEFACTRESSWoman who gives money or other help to a person or cause.
BENJAMINWESTU.S.-born painter noted for The Death of General Wolfe.
BENNYGOODMAN20th-century American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and band leader, nicknamed the "King of Swing".
BENNYTHEBALLMember of Top Cat's gang.
BERINGSTRAITA sea channel between Alaska and Russia.
BETABLOCKERSDrugs used to treat high blood pressure and angina.
BETACAROTENEA pigment which occurs in plants and fruits.
BETAPARTICLEA high speed electron or positron emitted by a nucleus during radioactive decay or nuclear fission.
BEVERLYHILLSCity in California.
BHAGAVADGITASacred Hindu text in the form of a dialogue between Krishna and the hero Arjuna.
BIBLIOGRAPHYA list of books or other material on a subject.
BIBLIOPHOBIAFear of books.
BIDEYOURTIMEWait quietly for a good opportunity to do something.
BIKINIBOTTOMSpongeBob SquarePants' fictional home.
BILBOBAGGINSProtagonist of The Hobbit.
BILLINGSGATEThe largest fish market in London, located at Canary Wharf.
BILLYBREMNERFootballer.
BIODIVERSITYThe variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat.
BIOGRAPHICALGiving the story of, or based on, a person's life.
BIOMECHANICSThe study of the workings of the movement of living organisms.
BIRDCAGEWALKLondon street named after the Royal Menagerie and Aviary located there in the reign of James I.
BIRDSEYEVIEWLook from above.
BIRTHDAYCAKEAnnual baked item.
BIRTHDAYSUITState of nakedness.
BISHOPOFROMEA title of the Pope.
BLACKANDBLUEExhibiting ecchymosis.
BLACKANDTANSA specially recruited armed auxiliary police force sent to Ireland in 1921 by the British Government.
BLACKCOUNTRYThe formerly heavily industrialised region of central England, northwest of Birmingham.
BLACKCURRANTSmall dark purple fruit used to flavour creme de cassis.
BLACKMAILERSPeople who attempt to obtain money by intimidation.
BLACKMAILINGAttempting to obtain money by intimidation.
BLACKPANTHERTriple Oscar-winning 2018 superhero film starring Chadwick Boseman.
BLACKPUDDINGA meat product known in the U.S. as a blood sausage.
BLACKSABBATHHeavy metal band in which Ozzy Osbourne was vocalist.
BLADDERSENNALeguminous plant with yellow-and-red flowers and membranous, inflated pods.
BLADDERWRACKA common brown seaweed with fronds containing air bubbles which give buoyancy.
BLAKEEDWARDSAcademy Award-winning American film director, screenwriter and producer who married Julie Andrews in 1969.
BLANDISHMENTFlattery intended to persuade.
BLARNEYSTONEA part of a wall in a castle in the southwest Republic of Ireland, said to endow whoever kisses it with the "gift of the gab".
BLATHERSKITEA talkative silly person.
BLITHESPIRITComic play by Noel Coward.
BLOEMFONTEINThe sixth largest city in South Africa. The national judicial capital.
BLOODANDFIREThe motto of the Salvation Army.
BLOODLETTINGDiscredited practice of opening veins for supposedly therapeutic purposes.
BLOODYMINDEDDeliberately uncooperative.
BLOODYSUNDAYDay of violence in Dublin in November 1920, during the Irish War of Independence.
BLOOMINGDALESurname of brothers Joseph and Lyman, sons of a Bavarian-born salesman, who founded a famous New York store in the 19th century.
BOBBYFISCHERAmerican chess grandmaster who became World Chess Champion in 1972.
BOBMONKHOUSEComedian.
BODYLANGUAGEThe communication of information through gestures and facial expressions.
BOILEDSWEETSPear drops, say.
BOILINGPOINTThe temperature at which a liquid starts to change into steam or vapour.
BONFIRENIGHTNovember 5th.
BONNIEPARKERGirlfriend of US criminal Clyde Barrow, who committed roberies with him in the early 1930s.
BOOGIEWOOGIEMusical genre that became popular during the late 1920s.
BOOKOFMORMONThe _ _ _, a sacred text of the Latter-day Saint movement.
BORDERCOLLIEBreed of dog with a silky, black-and-white coat, used mainly as a sheepdog.
BORISJOHNSONPrime Minister of the United Kingdom since July 2019.
BORISKARLOFFEnglish actor known for his horror film roles, including playing Frankenstein's monster in three movies in the 1930s.
BORISYELTSINThe first President of Russia from 1991 to 1999.
BORNINTHEUSABruce Springsteen album released in 1984.
BORROWEDTIMEAn unexpected extension of life, usually of uncertain length.
BOSTONREDSOXUS baseball team that won the 2018 World Series on October 28.
BOUQUETGARNIA bunch of herbs tied together and used for flavouring soups, stews etc.
BOWLINGGREENArea for gentle sporting activity.
BRADFORDCITYEnglish soccer club nicknamed the Bantams.
BRAINWASHINGA form of coercive persuasion to get people to adopt beliefs that are very different from their own.
BRAUNSCHWEIGGerman name of Brunswick.
BREADWINNERSPeople who earn a living for their families.
BREAKTHROUGHA significant development or discovery.
BREASTSTROKESwimming style.
BREATHLESSLYIn a gasping way.
BREECHESBUOYA rope-based rescue device to remove people from wrecked vessels at sea.
BREEZEBLOCKSLight building bricks used especially for walls that bear relatively small loads.
BREVIPENNATE(of flightless birds) short-winged.
BRIANEPSTEINBritish music entrepreneur who managed The Beatles.
BRIDALWREATHGarland of flowers worn by a woman at her wedding.
BRIDGETJONESFictional single female diarist created by British author Helen Fielding.
BRIGHTONROCK1947 film made by the Boulting brothers.
BRIGIDKOSGEIKenyan athlete who won the 2019 and 2020 London Marathons.
BRILLIANTINEAn oily preparation used to make the hair lustrous.
BRINGTOAHEADTurn into a crisis.
BRINKMANSHIPThe practice of going to the edge, but not into, war or another disaster in pursuit of a policy.
BROADCASTINGTransmitting.
BROMIDEPAPERItem used in photography.
BRONTOPHOBIAFear of thuder and lightning.
BRONTOSAURUSDinosaur.
BROOKSKOEPKAAmerican golfer who won the 2017 and 2018 US Open Championships.
BROTHERINLAWRelation by marriage.
BRUNOTONIOLIChoreographer who replaced David Walliams as a judge on Britain's Got Talent in 2023.
BUCCANEERINGInclined to take risks and perhaps be dishonest.
BULWERLYTTONEdward --- ---, 19th-Century British novelist, dramatist and politician.
BUNSENBURNERItem of laboratory equipment producing a hot blue flame, consisting of a metal tube with an adjustable valve.
BUSINESSPARKLandscaped area set aside for company offices and light industrial premises.
BUSINESSPLANA detailed outline setting out the objectives and strategy of a company and its expected profits over a set period.
BUSTERKEATONAmerican comic actor and film maker best known for his silent films, nicknamed "The Great Stone Face".
BUTTERFLOWERAny of various plants of the genus Ranunculus.
BUTTERSCOTCHA kind of hard brittle toffee.
CABBAGEWHITEButterfly.
CALAMITYJANEAn American frontierswoman who was born Martha Jane Cannary.
CALLIGRAPHERPerson skilled in the art of beautiful handwriting.
CALLINGBIRDSGift sent on the fourth day of Christmas.
CAMERONSMITHGolfer who won the 2022 Players Championship in Florida by one stroke.
CANNONFODDERSoldiers regarded merely as material to be expended in war.
CANTANKEROUSQuarrelsome; irascible.
CANTILEVEREDOf a projecting beam or structure, fixed or supported at only one end.
CANVEYISLANDArea of land in the Thames Estuary in Essex, separated from the mainland by a network of creeks.
CAPEFAREWELLA headland in New Zealand, the most northerly point on the South Island.
CAPERCAILLIEA large turkey-like Eurasian grouse of mature pine forests.
CAPILLACEOUSHaving numerous filaments resembling hairs or threads.
CAPITALGAINSProfits from the sale of property or an investment.
CAPITALISTICMoney oriented.
CARAWAYSEEDSThe pungent, aromatic one-seeded fruits of an umbelliferous Eurasian plant used in cooking and medicine.
CARBOHYDRATEStarch say.
CARBONDATINGFinding the age of.
CARBURETTORSParts of petrol engines in which air and petrol are mixed together.
CARDIOLOGISTA doctor who specialises in the heart and its diseases.
CARIBBEANSEAPart of the Atlantic Ocean.
CARNEGIEHALLA concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, 
CARTEBLANCHEComplete discretion or authority.
CARTOGRAPHERMap maker.
CASHANDCARRYLarge shop where purchasers can buy goods in larger quantities and at lower prices than elsewhere.
CASHREGISTERTill.
CASINOROYALEBond film. The first James Bond novel.
CASTLEHOWARDA mansion near York that was designed in 1699 by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor.
CATASTROPHICDisastrous.
CATERPILLARSButterfly larvae.
CATONAHOTTIN_ _ _ _ _ Roof, Play by Tennessee Williams.
CAUSECELEBREControversial issue that attracts a great deal of public attention.
CAVALRYTWILLA strong, woollen fabric often used to make trousers.
CAVEATEMPTORBuyer beware.
CENTROSPHEREIn geology,  the inner part of the earth beneath the lithosphere and consisting of the mantle and core.
CERRODEPASCOA city in central Peru, in the Andes; one of the highest cities in the world.
CERTIFICATESDocuments attesting to the truth of certain stated facts.
CESAREBORGIAItalian cardinal, politician and military leader, son of Pope Alexander VI.
CHAINLETTERSMessages that attempts to convince the recipients to make a number of copies and then pass them on to as many recipients as possible.
CHAISELONGUESofa with a backrest at only one end.
CHALCANTHITEA blue secondary mineral consisting of hydrated copper sulphate in triclinic crystalline form.
CHAMBERMUSICPerformance in a small room.
CHAPTERHOUSEA building attached to or a hall forming part of a cathedral or monastery.
CHARACTERISEPresent account in book.
CHARINGCROSSCentral London railway station in the City of Westminster.
CHARLESATLASItalian-born American who developed a body-building method.
CHARLESFORTEItalian-born Scottish hotelier who founded his own hotel empire.
CHARTERHOUSEPublic school founded in London in 1611 and that moved to Surrey in 1872.
CHEDDARGORGEA pass through the Mendip Hills renowned for its stalactitic caverns and rare limestone.
CHEERLEADERSPeople who chant and perform dance routines in support of a sports team.
CHEESEPARINGStinginess.
CHEILOPLASTYPlastic surgery of the lip.
CHESSPLAYERSBoard game enthusiasts.
CHESTERFIELDIts church has a twisted spire.
CHESTNUTTREEWood item.
CHEVIOTHILLSA range of elevations on the border between England and Scotland, mainly in Northumberland.
CHIMNEYPIECEShelf over fireplace.
CHIMNEYSWEEPCleaner of flues.
CHINUAACHEBENigerian novelist and academic whose first novel was 1958's Things Fall Apart.
CHIROPRACTICA system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints, especially those of the spinal column, which are believed to cause other disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles, and organs.
CHIROPRACTORPractitioner who uses their hands to help relieve problems with bones, muscles and joints and who treats injuries by manipulating the spine.
CHITTERLINGSThe smaller intestines of a pig, cooked as food.
CHLORAMBUCILAn alkylating drug derived from nitrogen mustard.
CHOREOGRAPHYThe composition of dance steps and sequences for ballet and stage dancing.
CHRISHIPKINSPrime Minister of New Zealand since January 2023.
CHRISTCHURCHThe largest city on South Island, New Zealand.
CHRISTENINGSChristian ceremonies in which the sacrament of baptism is conferred.
CHRISTIANERAAbout the last 2000 years or so.
CHRISTIANITYWidespread Western religion.
CHRISTIANMENGood _ _, Rejoice, translation of the Christmas carol In Dulci Jubilo.
CHRISTMASBOXA tip or present given in December, especially to postmen, tradesmen etc.
CHRISTMASDAYDecember 25th.
CHRISTMASPIESeasonal food.
CHRISTYBROWNIrish writer and painter played by Daniel Day-Lewis in the 1989 film My Left Foot.
CHROMATOLOGYStudy of colours.
CHRONOLOGISTAn expert in the determination of dates and sequence of events.
CHURCHWARDENEcclesiastical helper.
CIRCULARSAWSRound metal discs with a sharp edge, used for cutting wood.
CIRCULARTOURSight-seeing excursion.
CIRROSTRATUSCloud type forming a thin hazy layer in the upper troposphere, typically at altitudes of 6-13km (20,000-43,000 ft).
CITLALTEPETLStratovolcano in Mexico.
CIVILSERVANTThe Naked _ _, the 1968 autobiography of Quentin Crisp.
CIVILSERVICEOrganisation responsible for the public administration of the government of a country.
CLAPPERBOARDDevice used to aid sound and picture synchronisation during the shooting of a film.
CLAREBALDINGBBC and Channel 4 sports presenter.
CLARECOLLEGEConstituent part of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1326 as University Hall.
CLARICECLIFFProlific 20th-century ceramic designer and artist most famous for her Art Deco inspired designs.
CLARINETTISTMusician.
CLEANANDJERKIn weightlifting, a lift in which the weight is held momentarily at shoulder height before being thrust overhead.
CLEARSIGHTEDPerceptive.
CLENCHEDFISTAggressive gesture.
CLIFFRICHARDShadows singer.
CLOCKWORKTOYA plaything with a mechanism inside it which makes it move or operate when it is wound up with a key.
CLOTHESBRUSHSomething to clean outfit.
CLOTHESHORSEA frame on which washed garments are hung to air indoors.
CLOTTEDCREAMDairy product made by heating full fat cow's milk and then leaving it in shallow pans to cool slowly.
CLUBSANDWICHSnack with several layers.
CLYTEMNESTRAIn Greek mythology, the wife of Agamemnon, who she killed on his return from the Trojan War.
COACHSTATIONWhere buses stop.
COCKBURNTOWNCapital of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
COCKIELEEKIEIn Scotland a soup made from a fowl boiled with a vegetable also called a scallion.
COCKLESHELLSLight flimsy boats.
COFFEEBREAKSShort periods of rest at work in which one has hot drinks.
COHESIVENESSHolding together.
COINCIDENTALHappening by chance.
COLDSHOULDERTo give someone the _ _ is to ignore someone deliberately.
COLINJACKSONWelsh former sprint and hurdling athlete who specialised in the 110 metres hurdles.
COLLABORATORPerson who co-operates as a traitor, especially with an occupying enemy force.
COLLOPMONDAYThe day before Shrove Tuesday; traditionally the last day to cook and eat meat before Lent.
COLONELBLIMPCartoon character created by David Low who first appeared in the Evening Standard in 1934.
COLONELBLOODIrish soldier and adventurer who attempted to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671.
COLOURSCHEMEDecorating combination.
COMETOGETHERThe opening track on The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road.
COMETONOGOODEnd badly.
COMINGTOTOWNSanta Claus Is _ _ _, Christmas song.
COMMANDMENTSDivine rules.
COMMISSIONERMr. Gordon's title in Batman.
COMMONMARKETThe EEC.
COMMONWEALTHThe _, organisation consisting of the United Kingdom and most of the countries that were previously under its rule.
COMMUNICABLEA disease capable of being passed on readily.
COMMUTERBELTThe area around a city from which many people travel to work each day.
COMPARTMENTSChambers.
COMPRESSIONSReductions in volume (causing an increase in pressure) of the fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine before ignition.  
CONCENTRATEDUndiluted.
CONDEMNATIONCensure or very strong disapproval.
CONFECTIONERA person who makes or sells sweets or cakes.
CONGREGATIONA group of people assembled for religious worship.
CONNINGTOWERThe superstructure of a submarine, containing the periscope.
CONNOISSEURSPeople with special knowledge or appreciation of a field, especially in the arts.
CONQUISTADORTerm for a Spanish conqueror of the New World in the 16th Century.
CONRADHILTONHotelier.
CONSCRIPTIONCompulsory military service.
CONSECRATIONThe act or process of making holy.
CONSERVATORYA room with a glass roof and walls, often used as a sun lounge or for growing delicate plants.
CONSIDERABLESubstantial.
CONSPIRACIESSchemes, intrigues.
CONSPIRATORSPlotters.
CONSTABULARYThe police force of a town or district.
CONSTITUENCYA district that sends one representative to a legislature.
CONSTITUENTSIndividual voters.
CONSTRICTORSSnakes such as pythons, boas or anacondas, which coil around and squeeze their prey to kill it.
CONTEMPORARYPerson living at the same time or of approximately the same age as another.
CONTRADICTEDArgued against.
CONTRIVANCESThings that have been engineered.
CONVEYORBELTA mechanism for the continuous transport of packages or goods in manufacturing.
COOLHANDLUKEFilm released in 1967 starring Paul Newman, for which George Kennedy received a supporting actor Oscar.
COOLINGTOWERPart of power station.
COOPERATIVESJointly owned enterprises.
COPYANDPASTEWord processing operation.
CORNEXCHANGEMarket building.
CORNISHPASTYBaked pastry with a filling of meat and vegetables, originating from a county of South West England.
COSIFANTUTTEOpera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
COSMOPOLITANCocktail made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime.
COSTTHEEARTHBe very expensive.
COSTUMEDRAMAA play or TV production in which the performers wear a style of clothes belonging to a former time period.
COUGHMIXTUREMedicine.
COULROPHOBIAFear of clowns.
COUNTENANCESSanctions.
COUNTERPANESDecorative bedspreads.
COUNTERPUNCHReturn attack in boxing bout.
COUNTERTENORThe highest male adult singing voice.
COUNTRYDANCEA traditional type of social English event, in particular one performed by couples facing each other in long lines.
COUNTRYHOUSEBritpop group Blur's best-selling song released in 1995.
COURAGEOUSLYBravely.
COURTMARTIALA military tribunal that tries people subject to military law.
COVENTGARDENA district of Westminster, location of the Royal Opera House.
COVEREDWAGONVehicle usually made out of wood and canvas that was used for transportation, prominently in pre-industrial America.
COVETOUSNESSAn envious eagerness to possess something.
CREAMCRACKERBiscuit.
CREEPYCRAWLYInformal term for a small insect that is regarded as frightening or repellent.
CREMECARAMELA custard dessert made with whipped cream and eggs and topped with a toffee-flavoured syrup.
CREMEDECACAOA sweet liqueur, brown or colourless, with a chocolate flavour.
CREPEDECHINESilk fabric.
CREPESUZETTEAn orange-flavoured pancake flambeed in a liqueur or brandy.
CRESTEDGREBEGreat _ _, aquatic bird with blackish ear tufts and, in the breeding season, a dark brown frill around the head.
CRISTOBALITEA white microcrystalline mineral consisting of silica and occurring in volcanic rocks.
CRITICALMASSThe minimum amount of fissionable material that can sustain a nuclear chain reaction.
CROQUEMADAMEA grilled cheese and ham sandwich topped with a poached or fried egg.
CROSSBENCHERAn independent or minor party member of the House of Lords.
CROSSSECTIONTypical or representative sample of a larger group.
CROWNPRINCESMale heirs to sovereign thrones.
CRUCIFIXIONSOld executions.
CRYPTANALYSTCode-breaker.
CRYPTOGRAPHYThe science of analysing and deciphering codes and ciphers.
CULLODENMOORThe site near Inverness in Scotland of a 1746 battle in which government troops defeated the Jacobites.
CUMULONIMBUSCloud type.
CUPULIFEROUSOf or relating to the family of trees which includes oak, hazel, chestnut, etc.
CURTAINCALLSThe appearance of performers at the end of theatrical performances to acknowledge the audience's applause.
CUSTARDCREAMA biscuit consisting of two layers with a filling of vanilla-flavoured paste.
CUSTOMSUNIONA trade bloc of nations, composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff.
CUTONESTEETHExpression meaning 'to practise' or 'to gain experience'.
DACTYLIOLOGYThe study of finger-rings.
DALTONTRUMBOAmerican screenwriter who wrote Spartacus and co-wrote Roman Holiday.
DAMEVERALYNNWartime singer.
DANCINGQUEEN1976 song by Abba.
DANIELORTEGAPresident of Nicaragua elected for a third consecutive term in November 2016.
DANISHPASTRYSweet treat in Copenhagen?
DANNYWILLETTBritish winner of the 2016 US Masters tournament.
DARBYANDJOANAn ideal elderly married couple living in domestic harmony.
DARLINGRIVERThe third longest waterway in Australia, flowing into the Murray River at Wentworth.
DARMSTADTIUMChemical element, symbol Ds, atomic number 110.
DARRENCLARKEGolfer.
DASRHEINGOLDIntroductory opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
DAVIDBECKHAMFootballer spouse of a Spice Girl.
DAVIDCAMERONPolitician who became the leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005.
DAVIDGARRICKEnglish actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer.
DAVIDHOCKNEYBritish artist who was born in Bradford in 1937.
DAVIDPUTTNAMBritish film producer whose productions include Chariots of Fire.
DAVIDTENNANTDI Alec Hardy actor in Broadchurch.
DAVIDTRIMBLEPolitician who was the first First Minister of Northern Ireland (1998-2002).
DAVYCROCKETTAmerican folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician who died at the Alamo in 1836.
DEACTIVATIONThe act of making an explosive device or alarm harmless or inoperative.
DEATHWARRANTAn official order for the execution of a condemned person.
DECAFFEINATEDo this to coffee to stop it from keeping you awake.
DECIMALPOINTBase ten numerical separator.
DECKTHEHALLSChristmas carol.
DEERSTALKERSHats with peaks at the front and back, with earflaps which are usually turned up and tied together on the top.
DELIBERATELYOn purpose.
DELIBERATIONForethought, pondering.
DELICATESSENShop selling cooked meats, cheeses, and unusual or foreign prepared foods.
DEMAUPASSANTGuy _ _, 19th-century French author, remembered as a master of the short story form.
DEMONSTRATORParticipant in a public protest.
DENDROLOGISTOne who studies trees and other woody plants.
DENDROPHOBIAFear of trees.
DENISDIDEROTFrench writer and philosopher of the Enlightenment, chief editor of the 17-volume Encyclopedie (1745-72).
DENNISPOTTERWriter of the TV dramas Pennies From Heaven and The Singing Detective.
DENOMINATIONSect.
DENOUNCEMENTAn instance of deploring or condemning openly or vehemently.
DEPOSITORIESStores such as warehouses, for furniture and valuables.
DEPRECIATIONAccounting term for the reduction in value of a fixed asset due to use or obsolescence.
DEREKPRINGLEKenyan-born cricketer who played for Essex and England.
DERMABRASIONA procedure in cosmetic surgery in which rough facial skin is removed by scrubbing.
DERWENTWATERCumbrian lake, home to St. Herbert's Island.
DESCENTOFMANThe --- --- ---, 1871 book by Charles Darwin applying evolutionary theory to human evolution.
DESENSITISESNumbs.
DESERTORCHIDEnglish grey racehorse born in 1979 noted for his iron will and front-running attacking style.
DESPERATEDANWild West character in the former comic The Dandy.
DESPOLIATIONPlunder.
DESSERTSPOONKitchen utensil.
DESSERTWINESAs drunk with puddings.
DETECTORISTSTV comedy series set in the fictional town of Danebury, starring Toby Jones.
DETHRONEMENTWay to get rid of one ruling?
DEUTSCHEMARKFormer currency unit of Germany.
DIBRANCHIATEBelonging or pertaining to a subclass or order of cephalopods with two gills, including the decapods and octopods.
DIENCEPHALONThe posterior section of the forebrain.
DIFFERENTIAEAttributes that distinguish one species from others of the same genus.
DILLYDALLIERSomeone who wastes time.
DIMMERSWITCHA device in a vehicle which turns off the full beam of a headlamp and turns on the low beam.
DINNERLADIESTV sitcom about workers in a factory canteen starring Victoria Wood and Julie Walters.
DISADVANTAGEDrawback.
DISAGREEMENTDispute.
DISAPPEARINGCeasing to be seen; vanishing from sight.
DISAPPOINTEDCrest-fallen.
DISASTERAREAA region affected by a bad accident or occurrence.
DISCOMFITUREFeeling of unease or embarrassment; awkwardness.
DISCONNECTEDUnplugged.
DISCONTINUEDNo longer made.
DISCOURAGINGOff-putting.
DISCOURTEOUSRude.
DISCRIMINATETo single out a particular person or group for special favour or disfavour.
DISESTABLISHDeprive (an organization, especially a national Church) of its official status.
DISGUSTINGLYRevoltingly, repugnantly.
DISINFECTANTA substance that kills bacteria, used for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms.
DISINGENUOUSNot candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
DISINTERMENTRemoval from grave.
DISMEMBERINGBreaking apart.
DISORGANISEDSlapdash.
DISPENSATIONExemption from a rule or usual requirement.
DISPOSSESSEDEjected from home.
DISREPUTABLENotorious.
DISSATISFIEDUnhappy, not contented.
DISSERTATIONA written thesis often based on original research.
DISTILLERIESPlaces where whisky or similar strong alcoholic drinks are made.
DISTURBANCESUnruly outbursts or tumults.
DIVERTIMENTOA musical genre, with most of its examples from the 18th century.
DOCTORFOSTERNursery rhyme first published in the 19th Century in which the title character travels to Gloucester.
DOCTORWATSONSherlock Holmes' friend and assistant in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories.
DODECAHEDRONFigure with 12 faces.
DOITYOURSELFDIY.
DOMBEYANDSONBook by Charles Dickens.
DOMESDAYBOOKThe first thorough survey of England conducted under King William I in 1086.
DOMINICCOOKEDirector of the 2020 historical spy film The Courier, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
DOMINOEFFECTChain reaction.
DOOMMERCHANTA person who always says that bad things are going to happen.
DOPPELGANGERIdentical twin.
DORISLESSINGZimbabwean-British writer whose novels included The Grass Is Singing.
DOUBLEAGENTSThose who pretend to act as spies for one country while acting on behalf of an enemy.
DOUBLEBOGEYSIn golf, scores of two strokes over par for a hole.
DOUBLEDECKERLarge sandwich.
DOUBLEGLAZEDWindow type.
DOUGLASADAMSBritish author of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.
DOWNSHIFTINGChanging gear.
DOWNTONABBEYTV period drama series created by Julian Fellowes.
DRAKEPASSAGEA strait between Cape Horn and South Shetland Islands, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
DRAWINGBOARDPlanning stage.
DRESSINGGOWNGarment.
DRILLMASTERSPeople who trains others in something, especially routinely or mechanically.
DULCEDELECHEConfection prepared by slowly heating sugar and milk.
DUNLAOGHAIREA port in Eastern Ireland, on Dublin Bay, named Kingstown from 1821-1921.
DUTCHAUCTIONMethod of selling.
DUTCHCOURAGEBooze-fuelled bravery.
EARSPLITTINGLoud.
EASTAYRSHIRECouncil area of south west Scotland in which Kilmarnock is located.
EASTERISLANDAn isolated volcanic island in the Pacific that was discovered on April 5, 1722. Chilean, its Polynesian name is Rapa Nui.
EASTERPARADE1948 American musical film starring Judy Garland, Fred Astaire and Peter Lawford.
EASTERRISINGAn armed insurrection that took place in Dublin in April 1916 against British rule.
EASTKILBRIDETown in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, designated a new town in 1947.
EAUDECOLOGNEPerfume.
ECCENTRICITYPeculiarity.
ECCLESIASTESOld Testament book of the bible.
ECCLESIOLOGYStudy of churches.
ECHOLOCATIONSystem used by bats to determine an object's positioning.
EDDIECOCHRANAmerican rock and roll musician who recorded C'mon Everybody and Summertime Blues.
EDGARWALLACEBritish writer who died during his initial drafting of the screenplay of 1933's King Kong.
EDITHSITWELL20th Century British poet and critic noted for her formidable personality and Elizabethan dress.
EDITHWHARTONAuthor of "The House of Mirth".
EDMONDHALLEYEnglish astronomer and mathematician after whom a comet is named.
EDOUARDMANETPainter.
EDWARDALLEYNFamous English actor of the Elizabethan era, founder of the College of God's Gift in Dulwich.
EDWARDANTONY_ _ Richard Louis, the Queen's youngest child, born in 1964.
EDWARDDEBONOMaltese physician, psychologist, author, inventor and consultant.
EDWARDHOPPERAmerican realist painter and printmaker.
EDWARDJENNEREnglish physician and scientist who was the pioneer of smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine.
EDWARDNORTONActor who played the title role in the 2008 superhero film The Incredible Hulk.
EDWARDSCHAIRKing _ _, throne on which the Queen was crowned in 1953.
EDWARDSTUARTJames Francis _ _, "The Old Pretender" who died on New Year's Day 1766.
EDWINLUTYENSBritish architect who designed The Cenotaph on Whitehall.
EFFERVESCENTOf a liquid, giving off bubbles; fizzy.
EGALITARIANSAdherents of the doctrine of the equality of mankind and the desirability of political, social and economic equality.
EGGSBENEDICTBreakfast dish featuring ham, an English muffin and hollandaise sauce.
EJECTORSEATSPlane emergency devices.
ELEANORRIGBYSong by The Beatles, released on the 1966 album Revolver and as a single.
ELECTRICHAREA dummy animal chased by racing greyhounds.
ELECTROLYSISChemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.
ELEPHANTSEALLarge earless aquatic mammal, the male of which has a long trunk-like snout.
ELEPHANTSEARPlant with big leaves.
ELEVENTHHOURThe latest possible time.
ELGINMARBLESA group of 5th Century BC Greek sculptures originally produced to decorate the Parthenon in Athens.
ELIASCANETTIGerman-language author born in Bulgaria, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981.
ELIZABETHFRYEnglish prison reformer, social reformer and, as a Quaker, a Christian philanthropist.
ELOCUTIONISTTeacher of public speaking.
ELVISPRESLEYHeartbreak Hotel singer.
ELYCATHEDRALAnglican site of worship in Cambridgeshire noted for its central octagonal tower.
ELYSEEPALACEThe Parisian official residence of the President of France.
EMANCIPATIONThe act of freeing or state of being freed.
EMILYDAVISONEnglish suffragette who died after being hit by George V's horse at the 1913 Derby.
EMMATHOMPSONBritish actress whose films include 1992's Peter's Friends.
ENCAPSULATESSums up in a short or concise form; condenses.
ENCYCLOPEDIAReference book.
ENDOFTHEPIERFrivolous and bawdy.
ENFRANCHISEDGranted the power of voting to.
ENGLISHHORNSMusical instruments.
ENIGMATOLOGYStudy of puzzles.
ENLIGHTENERSThose who impart knowledge to others.
ENLIGHTENINGEducational.
ENTANGLEMENTA complicated or difficult relationship or situation.
ENTERTAININGAmusing.
ENTHUSIASTICEager, motivated or keen.
ENTOMOPHOBIAFear of insects.
ENTREPRENEURThe owner or manager of a business venture who, by risk and initiative, attempts to make profits.
EPIDEMIOLOGYBranch of medical science concerned with the occurrence, transmission and control of disease.
EPIGRAMMATICTerse and witty and like a maxim.
EPISTEMOLOGYStudy of knowledge.
EQUESTRIENNEA woman who rides horses.
EQUINOPHOBIAFear of horses.
ERATOSTHENESGreek mathematician and astronomer who calculated the circumference of the earth by observing the angle of the sun's rays.
ERMINESTREETMajor Roman road in England that ran from London to Lincoln and York.
ERNESTWALTON20th-Century Irish physicist who, along with John Cockcroft, was the first to split the atom.
ERRORMESSAGEComputer warning.
ESTATEAGENCYProperty firm.
ESTATEAGENTSSellers of properties.
ETHOXYETHANEA colorless volatile highly inflammable liquid formerly used as an inhalation anesthetic.
ETHYLALCOHOLEthanol.
ETYMOLOGICALOf words.
ETYMOLOGISTSPeople who study the sources and development of words.
EUGENEONEGINA novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin.
EUGENEONEILLUS dramatist whose works included the play The Iceman Cometh.
EVENINGDRESSBlack Tie.
EWANMCGREGORScottish actor who played the title character in the 2018 fantasy film Christopher Robin.
EXAMINATIONSFormal tests taken to show knowledge or ability in particular subjects or to obtain qualifications.
EXASPERATINGExtremely annoying or displeasing.
EXCURSIONISTOne who goes on a pleasure trip.
EXERCISEYARDPiece of enclosed ground in a prison on which inmates can keep fit.
EXHILARATIONThrill.
EXPECTATIONSGreat _, Dickens book.
EXPERIMENTALInnovative.
EXTEMPORISEDAd-libbed.
EXTINGUISHERA manually-operated device for putting out small fires.
EXTRASENSORY_ _ Perception, telepathy and clairvoyance.
EXTRASPECIALParticularly good or significant.
EXTRAVAGANZAJamboree.
EYEWITNESSESPeople present at an event who can describe what happened.
FACETHEMUSICBrave hostile reception.
FAINTHEARTEDTimid.
FAITACCOMPLIAlready been done.
FARTHINGALESHoops or frameworks worn under skirts in the Elizabethan period.
FAYETTEVILLEA city in North Carolina.
FEBRIFACIENTProducing fever.
FECKLESSNESSUselessness, incompetence.
FELICITATIONAn expression of good wishes; congratulation.
FELICITOUSLYIn a way that is suitable.
FERNANDLEGERFrench painter and sculptor whose works included Still Life With A Beer Mug.
FERRISWHEELSFairground rides.
FIBRILLATIONA local and uncontrollable twitching of muscle fibres, esp of the heart, not affecting the entire muscle.
FIBRINOLYSINAn enzyme sometimes used to assist the healing of minor wounds or burns.
FIDDLERCRABSBurrowing crustaceans, the males of which have one very large anterior claw.
FIELDGLASSESAnother name for binoculars.
FIELDKITCHENA mobile catering unit used primarily by military services.
FIELDTESTINGThe act of trying out a new piece of equipment in a real, natural environment.
FIGURESKATERPerformer on edge.
FINGERBUFFETFood set out on a table from which diners can help themselves without cutlery.
FIREFIGHTINGOne of the emergency services do this.
FIRSTSEALORD--- --- --- and Chief of the Naval Staff, title of the military head of the Royal Navy.
FIRTHOFCLYDEAn inlet of the Atlantic in South West Scotland.
FISHANDCHIPSFood traditionally in newspaper.
FIVECHILDRENA certain number of kids.
FLEETINGYEAR"How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the _ _!"
FLITTERMOUSEBat.
FLUORESCENCEThe visible or invisible radiation produced from certain substances as a result of incident radiation of a shorter wavelength such as X-rays or ultraviolet light.
FLYINGCIRCUSMonty Python's _ _.
FLYINGDOCTORThe _ _, informal name for an air medical service based in Australia.
FLYINGSAUCERA disc-like object reportedly observed as a craft from outer space.
FLYONTHEWALLStyle of documentary by filming people as they normally do things.
FORCEMAJEUREAn unanticipated or uncontrollable event which releases one from fulfilment of a contractual obligation.
FORESTOFDEANAncient royal park in West Gloucestershire bounded by the rivers Wye and Severn.
FORMALDEHYDENaturally occurring organic compound.
FORTDEFRANCEThe capital of Martinique.
FOSTERMOTHEROrphan's guardian.
FOUNTAINHEADA spring that is the source of a stream.
FOURHORSEMEN-- --- of the Apocalypse, biblical figures representing pestilence, war, famine and death.
FRANCISBACONEnglish philosopher, statesman and essayist knighted in 1603, who described the inductive method of reasoning.
FRANCISDRAKEElizabethan navigator who was vice admiral of the English fleet angainst the Spanish Armada in 1588.
FRANCISSCOTT--- --- Key, American lawyer who wrote the lyrics for The Star-Spangled Banner.
FRANKENSTEINMary Shelley novel.
FRANKHERBERT20th-Century American science fiction author who wrote the 1965 novel Dune.
FRANKINCENSEAn aromatic gum resin; one of the gifts the Magi brought to the infant Jesus.
FRANKSINATRA20th-century US singer.
FRANKWHITTLE20th-century British engineer who invented the jet engine for aircraft.
FREETHINKERSNonconformists.
FREIGHTTRAINCargo on rails.
FRENCHPOLISHVarnish for furniture.
FRENCHSTICKSLong, straight, notched narrow loaves.
FREREJACQUESNursery rhyme of French origin, traditionally sung in a round.
FRIARSBALSAMAntiseptic and stimulating expectorant.
FROMAGEFRAISA low-fat soft cheese with a smooth, light texture.
FRONTBENCHERMp.
FRONTIERSMENColonists.
FRONTISPIECEAn illustration facing the title page of a book.
FURFURACEOUSOf or containing bran.
GAINSBOROUGHThomas _, 18th Century portrait and landscape painter whose works include The Blue Boy.
GALLBLADDERSOrgans near the liver.
GAMESMANSHIPThe art of winning matches by using various ploys and tactics to gain a psychological advantage.
GARDENOFEDENAdam and Eve's home.
GARDENSPIDERThe UK's most common orb web arachnid.
GASTONLEROUXFrench journalist and author who wrote the novel The Phantom Of The Opera.
GASTRICJUICEA thin clear fluid secreted by the stomach to aid digestion.
GATCOMBEPARKAnne, Princess Royal's country residence in Gloucestershire.
GEBRSELASSIEHaile _, Ethiopian athlete who won gold in the 10,000 metres at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic games.
GEESEALAYINGSix _ _ _, the twelve days of Christmas.
GENERALSTORERetail outlet.
GENERALSYNODThe governing body of the Church of England.
GEOPHYSICISTOne who studies the physical properties and processes of geological phenomena, including fields such as meteorology, oceanography, and seismology.
GEORGEFORMBYEnglish comedian who starred in musical films of the 1930s, famous for playing the ukulele.
GEORGEHWBUSHForty-first (41st) American president.
GEORGEORWELLBritish author whose works included Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.
GEORGEROMNEYEnglish portrait painter.
GEORGESMILEYProtagonist of numerous novels by John le Carre, described as 'a reptile that can regulate his body temperature'.
GEORGESTUBBSEnglish painter, best known for his paintings of horses.
GERARDMANLEY_ _ Hopkins, English poet, convert to Catholicism, and Jesuit priest,
GETTHENEEDLEFeel annoyance.
GHOSTBUSTERS1984 comedy film starring Bill Murray about a team of parapsychologists investigating supernatural forces.
GHOSTSTORIESEdgar Allan Poe and Susan Hill are writers noted for these chilling tales.
GIANTHOGWEEDA tall species of cow parsley whose irritant hairs and sap can cause a severe reaction if handled.
GIFTWRAPPINGPresent paper.
GILLIANFLYNNAuthor of Gone Girl.
GIMMESHELTERSong by The Rolling Stones from the album Let It Bleed that features in three Martin Scorsese films.
GINGERROGERSActress and dancing partner of Fred Astaire who won a Best Actress Oscar for Kitty Foyle.
GLADSTONEBAGPiece of hand luggage.
GLAMISCASTLEHome of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne.
GLASSBLOWINGIndustrial technique that can produce e.g. vitreous jars and vases.
GLASSCEILINGA barrier on the career ladder through which some employees, often women, can see but not progress.
GLENNCURTISSAmerican aviation and motorcycling pioneer; a member of the Aerial Experiment Association from 1908.
GLOBETROTTERWorld traveller.
GLOCKENSPIELA percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned metal plates played with small hammers.
GLOTTOLOGISTLinguist.
GLYNDEBOURNEAn estate in East Sussex; site of a famous annual festival of opera founded in 1934.
GNOSIOPHOBIAFear of knowledge.
GODONLYKNOWSLove song by the Beach Boys released on their 1966 album Pet Sounds.
GODOWNASTORMInformal expression meaning 'to be received with great enthusiasm'.
GODOWNTHEPANFail utterly.
GOLDENFLEECEMythical treasure sought by Jason and his crew of Argonauts.
GOLDENGLOBESU.S. film awards given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, begun in 1944.
GOLDENORIOLEA Eurasian bird, the male of which has a bright yellow head and black plumage.
GOLDENWATTLEAn Australian yellow-flowered leguminous plant that yields a useful gum and bark.
GOLDFISHBOWLPet home.
GOODHUMOUREDHaving or showing a pleasant, amiable mood.
GOODISONPARKFootball stadium in Walton, Liverpool; home of Everton FC.
GOOSEBERRIESSmall, yellow-green fruits covered with tiny hairs and having a sharp taste.
GOOSEPIMPLESThe bumps on a person's skin at the base of body hairs which may involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions.
GORDONRAMSAYBritish chef, restaurateur, and television personality.
GORDONSETTERLarge dog with a black and tan coat named after a Scottish nobleman.
GOUGHWHITLAMThe Prime Minister of Australia 1972-75.
GRACEDARLINGEnglish lighthouse keeper's daughter, famed for participating in the rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838.
GRACIEFIELDS20th Century English actress, singer and music hall star who entertained Allied troops during World War II.
GRAHAMGREENENovelist who wrote Travels With My Aunt. His first published novel was The Man Within in 1929.
GRAPHOLOGISTOne who studies handwriting.
GRASSHOPPERSInsects that produce a ticking sound by rubbing their hind legs against their leathery forewings.
GRAVECHARGESSerious accusations.
GRAYSONPERRYEnglish artist, known mainly for his ceramic vases.
GREATREDSPOTStorm system in the atmosphere of Jupiter large enough to encompass the Earth.
GREENFINGERSGardeners have these.
GREENGROCERSSellers of fruit and veg.
GREENLANDSEAPart of the Arctic Ocean north of Iceland.
GREGCHAPPELLFormer cricketer who played in 87 Test matches, scoring centuries in his first and last Test innings.
GREGORMENDELFounder of the modern science of genetics.
GREYSQUIRRELArboreal rodent with a bushy tail, feeding on nuts and seeds.
GREYTHOMPSONTanni, Welsh ex-Paralympic athlete in wheelchair racing and crossbench peer.
GRINDTOAHALTSlowly stop.
GROUNDHOGDAY1993 comedy film starring Bill Murray as TV weatherman Phil Connors.
GROUNDSHEETSPieces of waterproof rubber or plastic material placed underneath tents to keep out damp.
GROUPCAPTAINRAF Officer.
GROUPOFEIGHTOctet.
GUINEABISSAUCountry whose capital is Bissau.
GULFOFMANNARLarge, shallow bay of the Indian Ocean between South East India and the island of Sri Lanka.
GUSTAVMAHLERLate-Romantic Austrian composer and conductor.
GUSTAVOPETROPresident of Colombia, succeeding Ivan Duque on 7 August 2022.
GUTWRENCHINGExtremely unpleasant or upsetting.
GUYSANDDOLLSFrank Loesser musical.
HABERDASHERYSmall items used in sewing, such as buttons, zips, and thread.
HADRIANSWALLA Roman fortification extending across northern England from the Solway Firth to the mouth of the River Tyne.
HAEMOPHILIACOne who suffers from a hereditary disorder causing excessive bleeding.
HAIRSBREADTHMinute distance.
HALFBROTHERSRelatives, sort of.
HALFMARATHONRace.
HALFMEASURESPartly effective actions.
HALFTIMBEREDA building with an exposed wooden framework filled with brick, stone, or plastered laths, as in Tudor architecture.
HALLEYSCOMETCelestial object visible from Earth around every 76 years.
HAMMERHEADEDStupid.
HAMMONDINNESPopular novelist whose works include The White South.
HAMMONDORGANA type of electric musical instrument with two keyboards, first patented in 1934.
HAMPTONCOURT_ _ Palace, royal palace in Richmond that was originally built for Cardinal Wolsey.
HANDKERCHIEFAs used to blow one's nose.
HANDSOMENESSThe quality of having regular well-defined features (especially of a man).
HANNABARBERAThe studio responsible for Top Cat - with a name based on the surnames of the two creators.
HAPPYNEWYEARJanuary 1st. greeting.
HARDENBERGIAVine or shrub of the legume family, native to Australia, having evergreen foliage and long clusters of usually purplish flowers.
HARDSHOULDERSurfaced strip along the nearside lane of a motorway for stopping in an emergency.
HARLEQUINADEA play or part of a pantomime in which a comic character wearing diamond-patterned multicoloured tights has a leading role.
HARLEYSTREETArea of medical practitioners in London.
HAROLDPINTEREnglish Nobel Prize-winning playwright who died on Christmas Eve 2008.
HAROLDSAKATAActor who played Oddjob in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger.
HAROLDWILSONBritish Labour statesman who was prime minister from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.
HARPSICHORDSTriangular-shaped stringed keyboard instruments.
HARRYHOUDINIEscapologist.
HARRYSECOMBESinger who was one of The Goons.
HARRYSTRUMANThirty-third (33rd) American president.
HARVESTMOUSERodent.
HARVEYKEITELReservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction actor.
HARVEYOSWALDLee _ _, assassin of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
HAUTECOUTUREFrench term for high fashion.
HAVEIGOTNEWS__ For You, humorous, topical TV show in which teams led by Ian Hislop and Paul Merton face questions.
HAVEYOURSELF_ _ A Merry Little Christmas, Festive song first performed by Judy Garland in the film musical Meet Me In St. Louis.
HEADMISTRESSTeacher.
HEADSHRINKERInformal term for a psychiatrist.
HEADTEACHERSPrincipals.
HEALTHCENTREWorkplace for doctors.
HEARTDISEASESerious complaint.
HEARTSTRINGSDeepest feelings or emotions.
HEARTTOHEARTAn intimate conversation or discussion between two people.
HEATOFTHEDAYThe _ _ _ _, 1948 novel by Elizabeth Bowen.
HEAVENSABOVE1963 film made by the Boulting brothers.
HEAVYWEATHER1933 novel by P. G. Wodehouse.
HEDGEHOPPINGFlying an aircraft at a very low altitude.
HEIRAPPARENTA person who is first in a line of succession and can't be displaced.
HELIOTROPISMThe directional growth of a plant in response to sunlight.
HEMATOLOGISTA doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs.
HENCEFORWARDIn the future.
HENRIMATISSEFrench artist born on New Year's Eve, 1869.
HENRYMANCINIAmerican composer who won Oscars for songs including Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's and Days of Wine and Roses from the film of the same name.
HENRYNEWBOLTEnglish poet, novelist and historian.
HENRYPURCELL17th Century English Baroque composer and Westminster Abbey organist at the age of 20.
HERALDANGELSHark! The _ _ Sing.
HERMENEUTICSBranch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.
HERNANCORTESSpanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico.
HERODANTIPAS1st-century ruler of Galilee and Perea, known for his purported role in the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus.
HETEROCHRONYA genetic shift in timing of the development of a tissue or anatomical part, or in the onset of a physiological process, relative to an ancestor.
HIATUSHERNIAProtrusion of part of the stomach through the diaphragm.
HIBERNACULUMThe winter quarters of a hibernating animal.
HIDDENAGENDAReal reason.
HIERARCHICALThe nature of a system where people are ranked according to their importance.
HIEROGLYPHICA writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt.
HIGHFIDELITYThe reproduction of sound with little distortion, giving a result very similar to the original.
HILARYMANTELTwo-time winner of the Man Booker Prize for her best-selling novels, Wolf Hall, and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies.
HIPPOPHAGISTSomeone who eats horse meat.
HIPPOPOTAMUSA large herbivorous mammal having a thick hairless body, short legs, and a large head and muzzle, found in and near the rivers, lakes, etc., of Africa, and able to remain under water for a considerable time.
HIREPURCHASEMethod of buying goods by making regular payments over time.
HISTOGENESISThe origin and development of tissues.
HOHENZOLLERNA member of the royal family that ruled in Romania from 1866 to 1947, in Prussia from 1701 to 1918, and in the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.
HOLDTHEDREAMA novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford.
HOLDTHEFLOORAct as only speaker.
HOLDTORANSOMTo attempt to force someone to comply with one's demands.
HOLIDAYMAKERTourist.
HOMECOUNTIESRegion of south-east England around London that includes Essex, Kent and Surrey.
HOMEFROMHOMEExpression describing a place where one is supremely comfortable and relaxed.
HOMEOTHERMICOf birds and mammals; having constant and relatively high body temperature.
HOMESTRAIGHTThe section of a racecourse forming the approach to the finish.
HOMINGPIGEONRacing bird.
HOMOCHROMOUSBeing all of one colour, as a composite flower or flower head.
HONESTBROKERImpartial mediator in a dispute.
HONEYSUCKLESShrubs or vines cultivated for their fragrant white, yellow or pink tubular flowers.
HOPEANDGLORYLand of _ _ _, Famous composition by Edward Elgar.
HOROMETRICALRelating to the measurement of time by hours.
HORSESHOEBATLarge-eared, insectivorous, flying mammal with a fleshy growth around the nostrils.
HORTICULTUREThe art or science of growing plants or cultivating gardens.
HOSNIMUBARAKPresident of Egypt from 1981 to 2011.
HOTCROSSBUNSGood Friday snacks.
HOUSEHOLDERSPeople who own a home.
HOUSEOFCARDSEasily wrecked scheme.
HOUSEOFLORDSThe upper chamber of the Parliament of the United KIngdom.
HOWARDCARTEREnglish archaeologist and Egyptologist, noted as a primary discoverer of the tomb of TutanKhamun.
HOWARDHUGHES20th-century US business magnate, aviator and filmmaker.
HUDDERSFIELDTown in West Yorkshire that was the birthplace of rugby league in 1895.
HUMBERBRIDGEStructure spanning the estuary near Hull connecting Yorkshire's East Riding with North Lincolnshire.
HUMMINGBIRDSVery small American birds with iridescent plumage, long slender bills and narrow wings that vibrate rapidly.
HUMPTYDUMPTYShort fat type.
HYDROLOGISTSThose who study water.
HYDROTHERMALRelating to or denoting the action of heated water in the earth's crust.
HYPERTENSIONAbnormally high blood pressure.
HYPOCHONDRIANervous disorder.
HYPOTHETICALTheoretical, supposed.
HYSTERECTOMYSurgical removal of the uterus.
IANLAFRENAISTV screenwriter best known for his creative partnership with Dick Clement.
IBIZANHOUNDSTall, slender, short-haired dogs with large erect ears.
ICECREAMSODASweet treat.
ICELANDPOPPYAn Arctic plant, Papaver nudicaule, with white or yellow flowers.
ICHABODCRANEProtagonist of the 1820 Washington Irving story 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'.
ICONOCLASTICAttacking established or traditional concepts, principles, laws, etc.
IDEALHUSBANDAn --- ---, 1895 play by Oscar Wilde.
IDENTIFIABLEEasy to recognise.
ILLTREATMENTAbuse.
IMELDAMARCOSThe first lady of the Philippines from 1965 until 1986, who was renowned for her vast collection of shoes.
IMMANUELKANTGerman philosopher who is considered a central figure in modern philosophy.
IMMORTALISEDExalted for ever.
IMMUNESYSTEMBody's defence.
IMPERIALISTSColonialists.
IMPERMANENCETransitoriness.
IMPERSONATORA performer who pretends to be famous people as a form of entertainment.
IMPERTINENCEInsolence, cheek.
IMPULSEBUYERPerson who purchases something on a whim.
INADVERTENCELack of attention; heedlessness.
INARTICULATEUnable to express oneself fluently or clearly.
INAUGURATION_ Day, the day on which a president of the US is formally placed in office, on January 20 of the year following the election.
INCANTATIONSRitual recitations of magic words or sounds.
INCAPACITATETo deprive of power, strength.
INCOMMUTABLENot interchangeable or able to substitute one for another.
INCOMPATIBLEInconsistent, conflicting.
INCREASINGLYMore and more.
INDEFINITELYWithout any limit of time.
INDEPENDENCE__ Day, annual federal holiday in the U.S. that celebrates the country's nationhood.
INDEXFINGERSSecond digits.
INDIANAPOLISAmerican state capital of Indiana.
INDIANSUMMERGood weather in autumn.
INDIFFERENCELack of concern.
INDIRAGANDHIThe Prime Minister of India 1966-1977 and 1980-1984.
INDOCTRINATEBrainwash.
INEXPLICABLENot possible to rationalise.
INFANTSCHOOLKindergarten.
INGODWETRUSTOfficial motto of the United States, first appearing on the two-cent coin in 1864.
INHOSPITABLEUnwelcoming.
INNERVISIONS1973 album by Stevie Wonder.
INSTALLATIONA mixed-media, three-dimensional artwork, usually temporary and designed for a specific place.
INSTRUCTIONSStatements of direction.
INSTRUMENTALPiece of music without any vocals.
INTELLECTUALA person who enjoys mental activity and has highly developed tastes in the arts and sciences.
INTELLIGENCECentral _, 2016 action comedy film starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart.
INTERMISSIONAn interval, as between parts of a film.
INTERNETCAFEIt has coffee and computers.
INTERSECTIONA point at which things meet or cross, especially a road junction.
INTERSTELLARExisting between two or more stars.
INTERVENTIONAction taken to improve a medical disorder.
INTIMIDATIONThe act of making someone frightened or scared.
INVERCARGILLThe southernmost and westernmost city of New Zealand.
INVERTEBRATESpineless creature.
INVESTIGATORA person who carries out a formal inquiry.
INVISIBLEMANThe --- ---, 1897 science fiction novel written by HG Wells.
IRREVERSIBLECapable of changing or producing a change in one direction only.
IRVINGBERLINAmerican composer and lyricist whose songs included White Christmas.
ISABELARCHERProtagonist of the 1881 Henry James novel The Portrait of a Lady.
ITCHAPTERTWO2019 horror film starring James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain.
ITSCHRISTMASDo They Know _ _ - Band Aid.
IVANTURGENEV19th Century Russian novelist and dramatist who wrote the play A Month In The Country.
IWILLSURVIVEHit disco song by U.S. singer Gloria Gaynor.
JACKINTHEBOXToy containing a figure on a spring which pops up when the lid is opened.
JACKNICKLAUSGolfer.
JACOBEPSTEINAmerican-born British sculptor knighted in 1954.
JAMESBOSWELLThe friend and biographer of 18th Century writer Samuel Johnson.
JAMESCAMERONCanadian filmmaker.
JAMESEARLRAYCriminal and fugitive who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
JAMESHERRIOTPen name of the British veterinary surgeon and writer whose works inspired the TV drama All Creatures Great and Small.
JAMESMADISONFourth (4th) American president.
JAMESSTEWARTMale star of the 1946 Christmas film, It's A Wonderful Life.
JAVIERBARDEMSpanish actor who played villain Raoul Silva in the 2012 Bond film Skyfall.
JAYNETORVILLChristopher Dean's ice dancing partner.
JEANSIBELIUSFinnish composer whose works included the symphonic poem Finlandia.
JEFFGOLDBLUMThe Fly and Jurassic Park actor.
JENESAISQUOIIndefinable quality.
JEREMYTHORPELeader of the Liberal Party 1967-76, subject of the 2018 BBC drama A Very English Scandal.
JESUSCOLLEGEUniversity of Oxford institution named after the central figure in the Easter story.
JIGSAWPUZZLEIndoor diversion.
JIMMYCONNORSAmerican tennis player.
JIMMYGREAVESFormer England footballer who finally received his 1966 World Cup winner's medal in 2009.
JOANNALUMLEYEnglish actress who played Purdey in The New Avengers.
JOELCHANDLER_ _ Harris, American writer best known for his Uncle Remus stories.
JOHANNASPYRISwiss-born author most famous for the 1881 children's book Heidi.
JOHANNESBURGA city in N South Africa; the capital of Gauteng province.
JOHNBETJEMANPoet.
JOHNFKENNEDYThirty-fifth (35th) American president.
JOHNHUMPHRYSMastermind host.
JOHNNYROTTENLead singer of the Sex Pistols.
JOHNTRAVOLTAStar of the 2016 action thriller film I Am Wrath, directed by Chuck Russell.
JOHNWILLIAMSU.S. composer born in 1932 who wrote music for the Star Wars saga.
JOHNWYCLIFFE14th-century English religious reformer whose followers were known as Lollards.
JORDANSPIETHAmerican golfer who won the 2015 Masters tournament.
JOSEPHCONRADPolish-British writer whose works included Nostromo and Lord Jim and the novella Heart Of Darkness.
JOSEPHHELLERAmerican writer whose works include the 1961 novel Catch-22.
JOSEPHLISTERBritish surgeon who introduced the use of antiseptics.
JOSEPHPAXTONEnglish architect who designed the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851.
JOSEPHSTALINDictator who was the first General Secretary of the Communist Party and the de facto leader of the Soviet Union.
JOURNEYTOTHE_ _ _ centre of the earth.
JULIAGILLARDThe first female Prime Minister of Australia.
JULIAROBERTSPretty Woman actress.
JULIUSCAESARRoman general and statesman assassinated in 44 BC.
JURASSICPARK1990 science fiction novel written by Michael Crichton.
JURISPRUDENTSkilled in the principles of law.
JUSTINBIEBERCanadian singer born in 1994 noted for his UK No1 hits Sorry and Love Yourself.
JUSTINTHOMASKentucky-born winner of the 2017 US PGA Championship.
KALEIDOSCOPEA toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of coloured glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns when the tube is rotated.
KANGAROORATSSmall, leaping rodents inhabiting desert regions of North America.
KAROLWOJTYLAThe birth name of Pope John Paul II.
KEEPINGWATCHGuarding.
KENNETHBAKERFormer Conservative MP who was Home Secretary 1990-92.
KENNYEVERETTBritish comedian and radio DJ who was born on Christmas Day 1944; creator of characters including Sid Snot.
KERAUNOGRAPHAn instrument for recording thunderstorms by detecting the radio waves generated.
KEVINCOSTNERAmerican actor, director and producer who won two Oscars for the film Dances With Wolves.
KHACHATURIANSoviet Armenian composer and conductor.
KINDERGARTENA nursery school.
KINGOFBEASTSInformal designation given to a lion.
KIRITEKANAWANew Zealand soprano.
KIRSCHWASSERA fragrant, colorless, unaged brandy distilled from a fermented mash of cherries, produced especially in Germany, Switzerland, and Alsace, France.
KLEPTOMANIACCompulsive thief.
KNOXJOHNSTONRobin _-_, the first solo yachtsman to sail non-stop around the world.
KOMODODRAGONBig lizard.
KOTAKINABALUPort in Malaysia, the capital of Sabah state on the South China Sea.
KURCHATOVIUMAnother name for Rutherfordium, esp as used in the former Soviet Union.
KURTVONNEGUTAmerican author whose works included the 1969 novel Slaughterhouse-Five.
KYLIEMINOGUEAustralian singer.
LABORATORIESWhere experiments are done.
LADYJANEGREYQueen of England for nine days in 1553.
LADYSSLIPPEROrchid of north temperate regions.
LAISSEZFAIREIndifference, or non-interference, especially in the affairs of others.
LAKEDISTRICTPopular holiday destination in North West England, location of England's highest mountain.
LAKESUPERIORThe largest of the Great Lakes of North America.
LAKETITICACALarge body of water on the border of Bolivia and Peru, in the Andes.
LAKEVICTORIAThe largest lake in Africa.
LAMENTATIONSOld Testament book of the bible.
LANDEDGENTRYType of British social class.
LANDINGCRAFTA boat specially designed for putting troops and military equipment ashore on a beach.
LANGOUSTINESLarge prawns or scampi also known as Dublin Bay prawns.
LASTJUDGMENTEvent at the end of the world.
LATEINTHEDAYVery near to deadline.
LAUREATESHIPPoet's position.
LAURELWREATHA garland of interlocking evergreen leaves, worn on the head to represent victory.
LAURENBACALLActress married to actor Humphrey Bogart from 1945 to 1957.
LAURENTBLANCFrench former footballer who was manager of the French national team from 2010 to 2012.
LEADINGLIGHTProminent person.
LEONARDCOHENCanadian singer/songwriter whose final album was You Want It Darker.
LEOPARDSHARKA sharp-toothed fish with distinctive black markings across its back, inhabiting Pacific coastal waters of North America.
LEOPOLDBLOOMProtagonist of Ulysses by James Joyce.
LESLIEHOWARDActor who played Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind, he died when BOAC Flight 777 was shot down by the Luftwaffe in 1943.
LESSYLPHIDESA short, non-narrative ballet with music by Frederic Chopin, originally choreographed by Michel Fokine.
LETSSTARTTHE_ _ _ New Year Right, song which features in the musical film Holiday Inn.
LETTINGAGENTBusiness person who leases properties on behalf of their owners.
LEVOROTATIONRotation to the left.
LEWISCARROLLPseudonym of the 19th-century English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
LEWISFRANCISMark _ _, British sprinter who was a member of the gold medal-winning British 4x100m relay team at the 2004 Olympics.
LEXICOGRAPHYThe activity or occupation of compiling dictionaries.
LIBERTARIANSBelievers in freedom of thought, expression, etc.
LICHTENSTEINCountry in Central Europe.
LICKONESLIPSShow anticipation.
LIFESENTENCEMaximum detention.
LIGHTBRIGADEThe Charge Of The _ _, 1854 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
LIGHTRAILWAYAn urban transport system using small trains or trams.
LILIANTHURAMThe most capped footballer to play for the French national side.
LIMBICSYSTEMControl centre.
LINCOLNSHIREEnglish county.
LINGUAFRANCAA language used for communication among people of different mother tongues.
LIONELJOSPINThe Prime Minister of France 1997 to 2002.
LIONELRICHIEUS singer-songwriter whose hits include 'Hello' (1984) and 'My Destiny' (1992).
LIQUIDASSETSThings easily cashed in.
LIRIODENDRONEither of the two deciduous trees of the magnoliaceous genus _, the tulip trees of North America or China.
LITHOPHAGOUSSwallowing or feeding on stones.
LITTLEACORNSMighty Oaks From _ _ Grow.
LITTLEDIPPERThe group of seven bright stars in Ursa Minor.
LITTLEDONKEYChristmas song written by Eric Boswell, first recorded by Gracie Fields in 1959.
LITTLEDORRITDickens novel partly set in the Marshalsea, a debtor's prison.
LITTLEFINGERSmall digit.
LITTLEHELPERSanta's _ _, pet greyhound in the animated series The Simpsons.
LIZAMINNELLIAmerican performer who won a Best Actress Oscar for the 1972 film Cabaret.
LOGANBERRIESEdible dull-red soft fruits.
LONDONBRIDGE__ Is Falling Down, traditional nursery rhyme.
LONGEAREDOWLBird of prey.
LONGSHOREMANA man employed in the loading or unloading of ships; docker.
LONIANDERSONActress married to actor Burt Reynolds from 1988 to 1993.
LONSDALEBELTA prize awarded to British professional boxing champions in various weight categories, which becomes their personal property if they win it three times.
LOOKINGGLASSThrough The _-_, the sequel to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.
LOOSECANNONSPeople or things that appear to be beyond control and are potentially a source of unintentional damage.
LOPSIDEDNESSSkewed appearance.
LORDADVOCATEThe chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland.
LORDFARQUAADAntagonist of the 2001 film Shrek.
LOUISBLERIOTAviator who made the first airplane flight between continental Europe and Britain in 1909.
LOUISPASTEURFrench chemist and microbiologist who developed vaccines against anthrax and rabies.
LOUISVUITTONFrench businessman who founded a luggage making company in 1854.
LOVEACTUALLY2003 Christmas-themed romantic comedy film.
LOVEMETENDERSong that was a hit for Elvis Presley in 1956.
LOWCOUNTRIESA region of Western Europe on the North Sea, consisting of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
LUDWIGSHAFENCity in Germany.
LUMBRICIFORMResembling a worm.
LUMINIFEROUSGenerating or transmitting light.
LYCANTHROPESAnother name for werewolves.
MACCLESFIELDA market town in Cheshire, a former centre of the silk industry.
MACHINATIONSPlotting.
MADAMEBOVARYDebut novel of French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856.
MADASAHATTERColloquial phrase meaning crazily eccentric.
MADEMOISELLEA title or form of address used of or to an unmarried French-speaking woman, corresponding to Miss.
MAGNIFICENCEGrandeur.
MAIDENSPEECHThe first address in parliament of a newly elected or appointed member.
MAIDENVOYAGEInaugural trip.
MAIDOFHONOURSmall tart with an almond-flavoured filling.
MAINSTREAMED(of the handicapped) placed in regular school classes.
MAITREDHOTELA head waiter; the front of house manager of a restaurant.
MAJORBARBARAThree-act play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905.
MAJORGENERALArmy rank.
MAKETHEGRADEPass.
MALAPROPISMSWord misusages.
MALNOURISHEDPoorly fed.
MALORYTOWERSA series of six children's novels set in a girls' boarding school by Enid Blyton.
MALTESECROSSShape with four arms.
MANDARINDUCKCrested Asiatic waterfowl.
MANGELWURZELA Eurasian variety of beet with a large, yellowish root, cultivated as cattle feed.
MANGOCHUTNEYFruit-based accompaniment to Indian dishes.
MANIPULATIVEInfluencing or attempting to influence the behavior or emotions of others for one's own purposes.
MANONLESCAUTPuccini opera based on a 1731 novel by the Abbe Prevost.
MANONTHEMOON1999 biopic about the American entertainer Andy Kaufman.
MANSIONHOUSEThe residence of the Lord Mayor of London.
MANSLAUGHTERIn law, the illegal killing of a person by someone who did not intend to kill them.
MANTELPIECESWooden or stone shelves above fireplaces.
MANUELMERINOPeruvian statesman who served as interim President between 10 and 15 November 2020.
MANUELSANTOSJuan _ _, President of Colombia and winner of the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
MANUFACTURERProducer.
MARCATISSIMOMusical performance direction meaning (to be played with) extreme accentuation.
MARCELPROUSTFrench novelist whose works included the seven-volume A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.
MARCHINGBANDA group of musicians who play music as they walk.
MARGARETROSEThe Queen's younger sister, born in 1930.
MARGINALSEATSuch makes life harder for politicians.
MARIATHERESAArchduchess of Austria; queen of Hungary and Bohemia 1740-80. Austrian empress, mother of Marie Antoinette.
MARIETHERESEThe eldest child of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
MARIETUSSAUDCreator of wax sculptures who founded a permanent exhibition in London in 1835.
MARINAWARNERAuthor and critic whose works include "The Lost Father" and "The Leto Bundle".
MARITIMEALPSMountain range in Italy.
MARKETGARDENThe relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants.
MARKPHILLIPSEquestrian who married Princess Anne in 1973.
MARKSMANSHIPShooting skill.
MARKWAHLBERGThe Fighter actor.
MARLONBRANDOWinner of the best actor Oscar in 1955 and 1973.
MARSEILLAISELa _, the national anthem of France.
MARSHALLPLANA programme of US economic aid for the reconstruction of post-Second World War Europe.
MARSHHARRIERA European bird of prey that frequents reed beds.
MARSHMALLOWSSweets with a spongy texture, typically consisting of sugar, water and gelatine.
MARTINCLUNESEnglish actor noted for his TV travel series around the islands of Australia and the U.S.
MARTINLUTHER_ _ King, US Baptist minister and civil-rights leader assassinated in 1968. German theologian and religious reformer who initiated the Protestant Reformation.
MARYMCALEESEThe President of Ireland 1997-2011.
MARYPICKFORDCanadian-born actress who was a co-founder of the film studio United Artists.
MARYROBINSONThe first female president of Ireland, who served from 1990 to 1997.
MASSHYSTERIAGroup panic.
MASTERATARMSChief petty officer responsible for enforcing discipline on board a naval ship.
MASTERSTROKEPiece of brilliant strategy.
MATERIALGIRLSong released by Madonna with a video inspired by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
MATRIARCHIESSocieties led by women.
MATSWILANDERSwedish tennis player who won seven Grand Slam singles titles in the 1980s.
MATTGROENINGAmerican cartoonist who created the TV comedy The Simpsons.
MATTHEWPRIOREnglish poet and diplomat.
MAUREENOHARAIrish actress who starred opposite John Wayne in several films.
MEASUREMENTSThe size of a person's waist, chest, hips used when buying clothes.
MEDICINEBALLItem used in PE.
MEGALOMANIACOne with lust for power.
MEGALOSAURUSGigantic, carnivorous lizard-hipped dinosaur from the Mid-Jurassic.
MEGANRAPINOEUS women's soccer team co-captain who won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards at the 2019 World Cup.
MEGHANMARKLEThe maiden name of the Duchess of Sussex.
MEGMERRILIESPoem by John Keats.
MELBOURNECUPAn annual horse race run in Australia since 1861.
MELLIPHAGOUSFeeding on honey.
MERCANTILISMEconomic theory prevalent in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.
MERCHANDISERA businessperson engaged in retail trade.
MERCHANTNAVYThe ships or crew engaged in a nation's commercial shipping.
MERCHANTSHIPA vessel which is part of a nation's commercial fleet.
MERRYGOROUNDCarousel.
METALANGUAGEA system of propositions about propositions.
METEORSHOWERCelestial event caused when the Earth passes through the path of a comet, displaying space debris as streaks of light.
METROPOLITANComing from a city.
MEZZOSOPRANOA female singer with a voice pitched between soprano and contralto.
MICHAELBUBLECrazy Love album Canadian-Italian singer.
MICHAELBUERKEx-BBC newsreader whose reporting of the Ethiopian famine in 1984 inspired Band Aid.
MICHAELCAINEStar of the film The Fourth Protocol.
MICHAELEAVISSomerset farmer who hosted the Pilton Pop, Folk & Blues Festival for the first time in 1970.
MICHAELFAGANMan who broke into Buckingham Palace and entered Queen Elizabeth II's bedroom in 1982.
MICHAELGRADETory life peer who has been the chief executive of Channel 4, chairman of the BBC and executive chairman of ITV.
MICHAELMOOREControversial American documentary director whose films include Fahrenheit 9/11.
MICHAELROSENEnglish novelist and poet, the Children's Laureate 2007-2009.
MICHELANGELOItalian artist.
MICROBREWERYSmall beer producer.
MICROSCOPIUMConstellation - The Microscope.
MIDDLEWEIGHTBoxer.
MIDGLAMORGANA former county of South Wales, formed in 1974 and replaced in 1996.
MIDNIGHTMASSChristmas service.
MIKAHAKKINENFinnish ex-F1 racing driver, world champion in 1998 and 1999.
MILITARISTICMartial.
MILLEFEUILLEA rich confection of layers of puff pastry with a filling typically of jam or cream.
MILTONKEYNESA new town in Buckinghamshire, seat of the Open University.
MINDBOGGLINGExtraordinary.
MINIATURISTSArtists whose specialties are small, discrete works.
MISADVENTUREDeath caused by a person accidentally while performing a legal act without negligence or intent to harm.
MISANTHROPESPeople who dislike or distrust others or humankind in general.
MISANTHROPICHating or distrustful of mankind.
MISBEHAVIOUR2020 comedy drama film starring Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
MISCALCULATEGet numbers wrong.
MISCONSTRUESUnderstands wrongly.
MISDESCRIBEDNot well illustrated.
MISJUDGMENTSSlips.
MISTLETHRUSHBird.
MISTLETOEAND_ _ Wine, a Christmas song made famous as a single by Cliff Richard in 1988.
MOBILEPHONESCommunication devices.
MOCKINGBIRDSA group of American passerines.
MOISTURISERSLotions.
MOLLFLANDERSNovel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1722.
MOLLYCODDLEDPampered.
MONKEYPUZZLETree.
MONKEYWRENCHTool.
MONOPHYLLOUSConsisting of one leaf, as a calyx.
MONTDEMARSANCapital of the French department of Landes.
MONTECASSINOA rocky hill about 130 kilometres southeast of Rome.
MONTPARNASSEA district of South Paris, on the left bank of the Seine.
MONTYPYTHONS_ _ Flying Circus.
MORALDILEMMAA situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action.
MORETHANTHISSynthpop song by Roxy Music, released on their 1982 album Avalon.
MORNINGGLORY1933 film for which Katharine Hepburn won the first of her four acting Oscars.
MOTHERTERESARoman Catholic missionary awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
MOTHERTONGUEFirst language.
MOULESFRITESBelgian dish of cooked mussels and chips often with a mayonnaise sauce.
MOUNTAINCATSWild feline mammals such as bobcats, lynxes or pumas.
MOUNTKENNEDYRemote peak in the Saint Elias Mountains in Canada, named after an American president.
MOUNTOLYMPUSGreek peak.
MOURNFULNESSState of gloomy sorrow.
MOVABLEFEASTEaster, say.
MUCILAGINOUSHaving the sticky properties of an adhesive.
MUDDLEHEADEDMentally confused or vague.
MULLIGATAWNYEnglish soup with origins in Indian cuisine.
MULTIGRAVIDAIn obstetrics, a woman who is pregnant for at least the third time.
MURRAYWALKERFormer F1 motorsport commentator.
MYSTERYTOURSExcursions to unspecified destinations.
NAKEDMOLERATNearly hairless rodent of east African dry steppes and savannas, living entirely underground.
NANCYMITFORDBritish novelist and biographer who wrote Love In A Cold Climate.
NAOMIEHARRISMiss Moneypenny actress in Spectre and Skyfall.
NARCISSISTICEgotistical.
NARENDRAMODIPrime Minister of India reelected for a second term in May 2019.
NATIONALHUNTType of horse racing in which the horses jump fences and ditches.
NATIONALPARKThe most typical representation of a quality or state.
NATLOFTHOUSEBritish footballer who played for his home-town club, Bolton Wanderers, for his whole career.
NEANDERTHALSPrimitive people.
NEIGHBOURINGNext to.
NELSONPIQUETRacing driver.
NEOCLASSICALRelating to a late 18th and early 19th Century style in architecture, decorative art and fine art.
NEPHROLOGISTA specialist in the branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the kidney.
NEURASTHENIANervous exhaustion.
NEUROLOGICALOf the nerves.
NEUROLOGISTSSpecialists in the anatomy, functions, and organic disorders of nerves and the nervous system.
NEUROSURGEONMedical specialist.
NEWBRUNSWICKCanadian province whose capital is Fredericton.
NEWENGLANDERA native or inhabitant of the north-east part of the US.
NEWFOUNDLANDA large Canadian island off the east coast of the North American mainland.
NEWHAMPSHIREAmerican state whose capital is Concord.
NEWMODELARMYFighting force established in 1645 during the Englsh Civil War by the Parliamentarians.
NEWSBULLETINA radio or television broadcast of current events.
NEWTESTAMENTThe second part of the Bible, which includes the story of Jesus' life and death.
NIAGARAFALLSWaterfall on the border between the United States and Canada.
NIAGARARIVERA watercourse in Northeast North America, connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
NICHOLASROWEDramatist who produced the first critical edition of William Shakespeare's works; Poet Laureate from 1715 to 1718.
NICOLEKIDMANAustralian actress who duetted with Robbie Williams on the 2001 Christmas number one hit Somethin' Stupid.
NIGELMANSELLBritish racing driver who won the Formula One World Championship in 1992.
NIGHTDRESSESLoose garments worn in bed.
NINETENTHSOFPossession Is _ _ _ The Law.
NITROMETHANEAn oily colourless liquid used as a solvent and rocket fuel.
NONAGENARIANA person who is between 90 and 99 years old.
NONALCOHOLICNot intoxicating.
NONASSERTIVENot aggressively self-assured.
NONCOMMITTALEvasive.
NONFLAMMABLEWon't burn.
NORMADESMONDFictional film star in Sunset Boulevard.
NORMALPEOPLE2018 novel by Irish author Sally Rooney about a young couple later adapted for TV.
NORMANHUNTERFootballer.
NORMANLAMONTFormer Conservative MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1990-93.
NORMANMAILERAmerican writer whose works included the novels The Naked And The Dead and An American Dream.
NORMANWISDOMLate British entertainer whose trademarks were his cloth cap and his trip-and-stumble.
NORTHAMERICAContinent whose native animals include the bison and grizzly bear.
NORWAYSPRUCEEvergreen with drooping branches and needle-like leaves, often used as a Christmas tree.
NOUVEAURICHEA person who has acquired wealth recently and is regarded as vulgarly ostentatious.
NUCLEARPOWEREnergy, especially electrical or motive, produced by atomic reaction.
NUMBERPLATESAs found on cars.
NUMEROLOGISTOne concerned with the branch of knowledge that deals with the occult significance of numbers.
NURSERYRHYMEPoem for the very young.
NUTRITIONISTDietician.
OBLITERATIONAnnihilation.
OBSERVATIONSMeasurements from an experiment.
OBSTACLERACEGames event.
OBSTETRICIANA physician who specialises in the treatment of women before, during and after childbirth.
OBSTREPEROUSRowdy.
OCCUPATIONALRelating to a job or profession.
OCEANOLOGISTOne who studies marine resources and technology.
OCTANERATINGPetrol scale.
OCTOGENARIANA person who is from 80 to 89 years old.
OFFICEHOLDERPerson in post.
OFFTHERECORDConfidential; not intended for publication.
OFLAMMERMOORThe Bride _ _, Novel by Walter Scott.
OFMICEANDMENJohn Steinbeck novel telling the story of George Milton and Lennie Small.
OKLAHOMACITYAmerican state capital.
OLDMACDONALDCharacter in the children's nursery rhyme who had a farm.
OLDPRETENDERThe _ _, nickname of Prince James, Prince of Wales, the son of the deposed James II of England.
OLDTESTAMENTThe first part of the Christian Bible.
OLIVIACOLMANBest Actress winner at 2019 Oscars.
OLYMPICGAMESSporting event.
ONESIDEDNESSBias.
ONETRICKPONYA person or thing considered as being limited to only one single talent, capability or quality.
ONGOLDENPOND1981 film for which stars Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn both won Oscars.
ONOMATOPOEIAThe formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.
ONSHANKSSNAGAn expression meaning 'by foot'.
ONTHEWARPATHExpression meaning 'in a mood for battle'.
OPENALLHOURSTV sitcom starring Ronnie Barker as Arkwright.
OPENCASTMINEArea where mineral resources are removed from the earth through large holes or pits dug into the surface.
OPENSANDWICHA single slice of bread covered with a spread or filling.
OPERAGLASSESSmall binoculars used in the theatre.
OPHTHALMITISInflammation of the eye.
OPINIONPOLLSAssessments of public opinion by questioning a representative sample, especially as the basis for forecasting the results of voting.
OPISTHOTONOSA spasm occurring in the back which causes the body to arch backwards.
OPRAHWINFREYMedia mogul, former talk show host, actress and philanthropist; the first African-American female billionaire.
ORANGESQUASHA still drink made from a citrus fruit or syrup diluted in water.
ORDEROFMERITAn honour conferred on civilians and members of the armed forces for eminence in any field.
ORGANGRINDERMusic maker.
ORGANOFCORTIStructure in the cochlea of the inner ear whose hair cells transform sound energy into nerve impulses.
ORIENTEERINGSport in which contestants race on foot over a course punctuated by checkpoints, using a map and compass.
ORLANDOBLOOMBritish star of the 2017 films Romans and The Shanghai Job.
OROGRAPHICALRelating to the branch of physical geography dealing with mountains.
ORTHODONTICSBranch of dentistry concerned with correcting irregularities in teeth.
ORTHODONTISTA specialist who corrects the position of people's teeth.
ORTHOPAEDICSThe branch of medical science concerned with disorders or deformities of the spine and joints.
ORTHOPTEROUSOf, relating to, or belonging to a large order of insects, including crickets, locusts, and grasshoppers, having leathery forewings and membranous hind wings, hind legs adapted for leaping, and organs of stridulation.
OSCILLOSCOPEGraphical voltage measuring device.
OSTEOGENESISThe formation of bone.
OSTEOPOROSISA condition seen in the elderly in which bones lose density and become more liable to break.
OSWALDMOSLEYBritish politician who was leader of the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s.
OTHERANIMALSMy Family and _ _, Book by Gerald Durrell.
OUTOFSPIRITSDespondent.
OUTOFTHEBLUEWithout warning.
OVERBALANCESOutweighs.
OVERNIGHTBAGReceptacle for holding clothes and necessities for a short stay away from home.
OVERREACHINGRevealing excessive self-confidence.
OVERTHROWINGRemoving forcibly from power.
OXFORDCIRCUSLondon Underground station.
OXFORDSTREETUK monopoly property. Noted shopping thoroughfare in London that runs between Marble Arch and Tottenham Court Road.
OXYACETYLENEWelders use this.
PABLOPICASSOPainter.
PACIFICOCEANBody of water that surrounds the island nations of Fiji and Tonga.
PACKAGETOURSOrganised breaks.
PACKOFWOLVESGroup of canine animals.
PADDYASHDOWNPolitician.
PAIDONTHEDOTSettled promptly.
PALATABILITYAcceptability to the mind or feelings.
PALETTEKNIFEArtist's accessory.
PALINGENESISRebirth; regeneration.
PALPITATIONSOccasions when the heart beats very fast in an irregular way.
PANELBEATERSPeople who repair the bodywork of motor vehicles.
PANTECHNICONA large van for transporting furniture.
PARADEGROUNDPlace for military formations.
PARADISELOSTEpic poem concerning the Biblical story of the Fall of Man, first published in 1667.
PARAMETRITISInflammation of connective tissue adjacent to the uterus.
PARAMILITARYMember of an organisation with an army-like structure, functioning outside of a country's armed forces.
PARASCENDINGSport in which participants wear a parachute and become airborne by being towed by a vehicle into the wind.
PARKERBOWLESFormer surname of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
PARKINGMETERStreet feature.
PARLOURGAMESGenteel indoor pursuits.
PAROCHIALISMNarrow mindset.
PARTOFSPEECHVerb, say.
PARTRIDGEINAA _ _ _ Pear Tree.
PASSEPARTOUTFrench valet of Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's novel Around The World In Eighty Days.
PASSIONFRUITGranadilla. Small, round tropical fruit with numerous seeds, native to South America.
PATONTHEBACKExpression meaning 'approval for something good'.
PAULVERLAINE19th-century French Symbolist poet who had a relationship with fellow poet Arthur Rimbaud.
PEACEKEEPINGType of military force.
PEACEPROCESSDealings to end conflict.
PEAKDISTRICTEnglish national park whose highest point is Kinder Scout.
PEARLEARRINGGirl with a _ _, oil painting by 17th-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.
PEARLFISHERSThe _ _, Bizet opera that premiered in 1863.
PEDALPUSHERSKnee-length breeches.
PEDANTICALLYIn a manner which displays the minute observance of petty rules or details.
PELADOPHOBIAFear of baldness.
PENNSYLVANIAAmerican state whose capital is Harrisburg.
PENNYWHISTLENoise item.
PEPGUARDIOLASpanish football coach who has managed Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
PERADVENTUREPerhaps.
PERFECTPITCHAbility to identify notes exactly.
PERSEVERANCEContinued steady belief or efforts etc.
PERSPICACITYThe quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness.
PETERBONETTIChelsea and England goalkeeper of the 1960s and 1970s nicknamed The Cat.
PETERBOROUGHEnglish cathedral city whose football team is nicknamed The Posh.
PETERGABRIELBritish singer/songwriter whose solo debut single was Solsbury Hill.
PETERSELLERSBritish comic actor who appeared in The Goon Show and the Pink Panther films.
PETERSHAFFERBritish dramatist and screenwriter whose plays included Equus (1973) and Amadeus (1979).
PETERSHILTONGoalkeeper who earned 125 caps for England.
PETERUSTINOVBritish actor who won Supporting Actor Oscars for 1960's Spartacus and 1964's Topkapi.
PETERWARLOCKEnglish composer whose works include the orchestral suite Capriol.
PETTIFOGGERSInferior legal practitioners.
PHARMACOLOGYBranch of medicine dealing with the uses, effects and modes of action of drugs.
PHARMACOPEIAA book containing a list of drugs with directions for use.
PHEASANTSEYEAnnual plant with scarlet flowers and finely divided leaves.
PHIBETAKAPPAOldest academic honour society in the US, founded in 1776 and a secret society until 1831.
PHILADELPHIACity in southeast Pennsylvania, scene of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
PHILANTHROPYLove of humanity.
PHILHARMONICWord meaning 'fond of music', used in the names of orchestras, choirs, societies etc.
PHILIPLARKINEnglish poet whose collections include The Whitsun Weddings and High Windows.
PHILIPSIDNEYElizabethan poet, courtier and soldier who wrote the sonnet sequence Astophil And Stella.
PHILOSOPHERSHarry Potter And The _ Stone, debut novel by J. K. Rowling, published in 1997.
PHLEBOTOMISTMedical specialist who takes blood form patients.
PHONETICALLYAccording to pronunciation.
PHOTOTHERMICPertaining to the thermal effects of light.
PIEDWAGTAILSSmall songbirds with a black-and-white plumage and long tails.
PIERRECARDINFrench designer who founded his fashion house in 1950.
PIETMONDRIANDutch painter, an exponent of the abstract art movement De Stijl.
PINKCADILLAC1989 action comedy film starring Clint Eastwood and Bernadette Peters.
PLACESETTINGComplete set of crockery and cutlery provided for one person at a meal.
PLAINCLOTHESOrdinary garments, as distinguished from uniform, as worn by a police detective on duty.
PLANOFACTIONAn organised programme of measures to be taken in order to achieve a goal.
PLASTICMONEYInformal term for credit and debit cards.
PLATESOFMEATRhyming slang for feet.
PLEASANTRIESAgreeable, amusing remarks, made in order to be polite.
PLUMPUDDINGSDark brown, rich, boiled or steamed desserts often served as part of Christmas dinner.
PLUTOCRACIESStates or governments characterised by the rule of the wealthy.
PLYMOUTHROCKA boulder on the coast of Massachusetts in the US, traditionally thought to be the landing place of the Pilgrim Fathers.
PLYONESTRADETo carry on with one's work.
PNEUMATOLOGYThe branch of theology concerned with the Holy Ghost and other spiritual beings.
POINTOFORDERQ    uery in a formal debate or meeting as to whether correct procedure is being followed.
POINTSOFVIEWTV series in which people criticise or praise BBC TV.
POINTTOPOINTA steeplechase contested by amateurs riding hunting horses.
POLARIZATIONA sharp division, as of a population or group, into opposing factions.
POLEPOSITIONPlaced first in starting line-up.
POLICYHOLDERPerson insured.
POLLINGBOOTHWhere one votes.
POLTERGEISTSNoisy ghosts.
POLYMORPHISMOccurrence of more than one form among members of an interbreeding population or in the life cycle of an individual organism.
POLYURETHANEA synthetic resin used in the form of flexible foam in home furnishings like carpet underlay.
PORGYANDBESSOpera by George Gershwin.
PORTAUPRINCECapital of Haiti.
PORTERSLODGEA room near the entrance of a public building such as a college occupied by its caretaker.
POSSESSIONIS_ _ Nine Tenths Of The Law.
POSTAGESTAMPAttach this to a letter.
POSTALBALLOTForm of vote.
POSTGRADUATEA student with a first degree who is pursuing studies for a more advanced qualification.
POSTPONEMENTDeferral.
POSTPRANDIALOccurring or done after a meal.
POTTERSWHEELDevice for shaping clay.
POWERSTATIONElectricity source.
PRACTITIONERA person who carries out a profession or art.
PRAIRIESTATEA nickname of Illinois, US.
PRASEODYMIUMChemical element, symbol Pr, atomic number 59.
PRAYERSHAWLSFringed garments worn by religious Jews, tallits.
PREARRANGINGSorting something out beforehand.
PRECIPITATEDHastened the occurrence of.
PRECONCEIVEDFormed before one has enough information about something.
PREDILECTIONA tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference.
PREECLAMPSIAA toxic condition of pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure.
PREFABRICATETo construct beforehand.
PREMEDITATEDPlanned beforehand.
PREMIUMBONDSGovernment prize-draw tickets.
PREPAREDNESSState of readiness, especially for war.
PREPOSTEROUSNonsensical, incredible.
PRESBYTERIANProtestant.
PRESCRIPTIONWritten instruction from a doctor or dentist to a pharmacist stating the form and dosage of a drug to be issued to a patient.
PRESENTIMENTForeboding.
PRESENTTENSEForm of verb.
PRESSRELEASEInfo given to journalists.
PRESSURESUITTest pilot's outfit.
PRICKLYPEARSCacti.
PRIMENUMBERSMathematical elements.
PRIMOGENITORAncestor, especially the earliest ancestor of a people.
PRINCEALBERTThe consort of Queen Victoria.
PRINCEEDWARDEarl of Wessex.
PRINCEPHILIPThe Duke of Edinburgh.
PRINCESSANNEOnly daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
PRINCIPALBOYThe leading male role in a pantomime, usually played by a woman.
PRINCIPALITYDesignation for Wales created in 1216 at the Council of Aberdyfi.
PRIVATEMEANSAn income from sources other than employment, such as investment.
PRIVYCHAMBERA private apartment inside a royal residence.
PRIVYCOUNCILA group of people appointed to advise the monarch on political affairs.
PROCLAMATIONPublic announcement.
PROFESSIONALNot an amateur.
PROFITEROLESChocolate pastries.
PROHIBITIONSBans.
PROMONTORIESHigh points of land, especially of rocky coast, that jut out into the sea.
PROPHETESSESFemale seers.
PROPORTIONAL_ representation, a system of voting that gives parties representation in a legislature in relation to their share of the poll.
PROSELYTISEDConverted.
PROTACTINIUMChemical element, symbol Pa, atomic number 91.
PRUSSIANBLUEColour.
PSEPHOLOGISTOne who studies election results and trends.
PSYCHOMETRIC-- testing, process designed to test a person's mental state, personality and thought processes.
PSYCHOTROPICHallucinatory.
PTERIDOSPERMAny extinct seed-producing fernlike plant.
PTERODACTYLSCreatures of the late Jurassic period, with a long slender head and neck and a very short tail.
PUBLICSCHOOLPlace of learning.
PUBLICSECTORThe part of an economy that consists of state owned institutions.
PUDDINGBASINA deep, round bowl that is used in the kitchen, especially for mixing or cooking.
PUERTORICANSInhabitants of San Juan, say.
PULLTOGETHERCooperate.
PURPLEHEARTSDecorations awarded to members of the US armed forces for wounds incurred in action.
PURPOSEBUILTSpecially designed and made for a specific use.
PYROGNOSTICSThose properties of a mineral that it exhibits when heated.
PYROMORPHITEA green, yellow, brown, or grey secondary mineral that consists of lead chloro-phosphate in the form of hexagonal crystals.
PYROTECHNICSFirework display.
QUADRAGESIMAThe first Sunday in Lent.
QUALIFICATORA member of a theological board of the Roman Catholic Church who evaluated the character of certain proposals.
QUANTUMLEAPSSudden advances.
QUARANTININGIsolating.
QUARTERSTAFFDefensive weapon.
QUEENCONSORTThe wife of a reigning king.
QUEENOFSHEBAIn the Old Testament, a female ruler who took King Solomon valuable gifts.
QUEENSSPEECHAddress by the monarch.
QUENTINCRISPThe Naked Civil Servant author, born on Christmas Day, 1908.
QUESTIONMARKPunctuation indicating a query.
QUINTESSENCEThe most typical representation of a quality or state.
RACHMANINOFFSergei _, Russian piano virtuoso, composer and conductor of the late Romantic period.
RAINBOWTROUTEdible fish.
RASTAFARIANSMembers of a religious movement of Jamaican origin regarding Haile Selassie as a messiah.
RATTLESNAKESVenomous reptiles of the Americas, the tails of which shake to produce a threatening sound.
RAYMONDBLANCChef patron at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons.
REASSERTIONSRepeated statements.
REASSURINGLYComfortingly.
RECALCITRANTHaving an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.
RECEIVERSHIPOrganization termination type.
RECEPTIONISTPerson employed in an office, hotel, doctor's surgery, etc to receive clients, guests or patients, arrange appointments, etc.
RECOGNISABLEAlready known.
RECOGNISANCEBond.
RECOMMENDINGPutting forward (someone or something) with approval as being suitable for a particular purpose or role.
RECONSIDEREDReassessed.
RECONSTITUTEOrganise anew.
RECORDPLAYERTurntable. Gramophone.
REDBLOODCELLOxygen carrier.
REDLEICESTERA mild, orange-coloured cheese, similar to Cheddar.
REEMPHASISESGives special importance or value to again.
REFRESHMENTSSnacks and drinks served as a light meal.
REGENERATIONRenewal of lost parts.
REGENTSTREETUK monopoly property.
REGINALDHILLAuthor of detective stories featuring Superintendent Dalziel and Inspector Pascoe.
REGINALDPOLEThe last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, who held the office during the Counter Reformation.
REGISTRATIONThe series of letters and figures identifying a motor vehicle, assigned and displayed on a number plate.
REHABILITATEGet fit again.
REINDEERMOSSLichen occurring in arctic and subarctic regions, providing food for ruminants.
REITHLECTUREOne of a series of annual radio presentations given by leading figures of the day, commissioned by the BBC.
RELATIONSHIPInterpersonal affair.
REMINISCENCEThe act of recalling or narrating past experiences.
RENEGOTIATESArrange again.
RENEMAGRITTEBelgian surrealist artist whose works included The Son Of Man.
REPLENISHINGRenewing.
REPOSITORIESPlaces or containers in which things can be stored for safety.
RESERVEPRICEAmount stipulated as the lowest acceptable by the seller for an item sold at auction.
RESPECTIVELYSeparately or individually and in the order already mentioned (used when enumerating two or more items or facts that refer back to a previous statement).
RESTAURATEURCafe manager.
RESURRECTIONIn Christian theology, the rising again of Christ from the tomb three days after his death, celebrated at Easter.
RESUSCITATEDRestored to consciousness; revived.
RHESUSMONKEYA macaque of South Asia, used extensively in medical research.
RHEUMATOLOGYThe branch of medicine dealing with the study and treatment of pathologies of the muscles or tendons or joints.
RHINOCEROSESPachyderms.
RHIZOCARPOUSHaving the root perennial but the stem annual, as perennial herbs.
RHODESIANMANA type of early man, existing in Africa and resembling Neanderthal man in many features.
RHODODENDRONPlant.
RHYMINGSLANGRosie Lee say.
RHYTHMOMETERA type of metronome that gives or marks the beat or time in musical movements.
RICHARDBAKERLate broadcaster who was a BBC newsreader from 1954 to 1982.
RICHARDNIXONThirty-seventh (37th) American president.
RICHARDOSMANHouse of Games host.
RIDERHAGGARDH. _ _, English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the Lost World literary genre.
RIDICULOUSLYInsanely, foolishly, humorously.
RIDINGSCHOOLAn establishment where equestrianism is taught.
RIGHTHANDMANImportant co-worker.
RIGHTOFENTRYRamblers appreciate this.
RIODEJANEIROPort in southeast Brazil; the country's capital from 1763 to 1960.
RIODELAPLATAThe estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay and Parana rivers; the River Plate.
RIPVANWINKLEShort story by Washington Irving.
RISEANDSHINEFacetiously cheerful invitation to get out of bed promptly.
RITAHAYWORTH20th Century American actress and dancer born Margarita Carmen Cansino.
ROBERTDENIROWinner of the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in the 1980 film Raging Bull.
ROBERTDUDLEYThe first Earl of Leicester; the favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.
ROBERTFALCON_ _ Scott, British naval officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic.
ROBERTGRAVESEnglish poet, novelist, critic and classicist.
ROBERTHARRISFatherland and Pompeii novelist.
ROBERTMUGABEPresident of Zimbabwe 1987-2017.
ROBERTPOWELLActor.
ROGATIONDAYSApril 25 and the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Ascension Day.
ROGERDALTREYCo-founder and lead vocalist of The Who.
ROGERFEDERERSwiss tennis player.
ROLANDGARROSFrench aviator and First World War fighter pilot after whom the French Open tennis tournament and its venue are named.
ROLEREVERSALA situation in which two people have chosen or been forced to exchange duties and responsibilities, so each is now doing what the other used to do.
ROLLINGSTOCKCollectively, the wheeled vehicles used on a railway.
ROLLINGSTONEA _ _ gathers no moss.
ROMANCANDLESCylindrical fireworks that emit streams of coloured stars.
RONALDREAGANFortieth (40th) American president.
ROOMATTHETOPA 1959 film starring Laurence Harvey and Simone Signoret, based on a novel by John Braine.
ROSAMUNDPIKEThe female star of Gone Girl.
ROSCADEREYESSpanish and Latin American "three kings" cake or bread in which a figurine of the Christ child is often placed.
ROSEOFSHARONA common name that has been applied to several different species of flowering plants that are valued in different parts of the world.
ROSETTASTONEA black basalt stele found in 1799 that bears an inscription in hieroglyphics, demotic characters, and Greek.
ROYALCOMMAND_ _ Performance, a production by actors or musicians that occurs at the direction or request of a reigning monarch.
ROYALDOULTONEnglish ceramics company that was founded in London in 1815.
ROYALMARINESIn the British Navy, a corps of soldiers specially trained in amphibious warfare.
ROYALSOCIETYAn association founded in England by Charles II in 1660 to promote research in the sciences.
RUDOLFDIESELGerman engineer who invented a type of engine, which is named after him.
RULESOFTHUMBBroadly accurate guides or principles, based on practice rather than theory.
RULETHEWORLDSong by Take That performed at the 2012 London Summer Olympics closing ceremony.
RUNOFTHEMILLOrdinary, average or undistinguished in quality, character or nature.
RUPERTBROOKEEnglish First World War poet who wrote sonnets.
SACRILEGIOUSBlasphemous.
SADLERSWELLSLondon theatre, formerly the home of a famous ballet company.
SAFEANDSOUNDOut of harm's way.
SAHARADESERTLarge arid area of Africa in which the Air Massif and Tibesti Mountains are located.
SAINTEMILIONA full-bodied red wine produced around a town of the same name near Bordeaux in south-west France.
SAINTEXUPERYAntoine de _-_, Writer.
SAINTGEORGESCapital of Grenada.
SALTLAKECITYAmerican state capital of Utah.
SALVADORDALISpanish 20th-century surrealist artist.
SANDITOKSVIGQI TV presenter.
SANFRANCISCOCalifornia city.
SANGUIVOROUSFeeding on blood, as a bat or insect.
SANSEBASTIANA port in North Spain, on the Bay of Biscay, twinned with Plymouth.
SANTODOMINGOThe capital and chief port of the Dominican Republic.
SAPROPHAGOUSFeeding on dead or decaying animal matter.
SARAHSIDDONSWelsh-born actress of the 18th Century, famous for her portrayal of Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth.
SARSAPARILLAA none alcoholic drink prepared from the roots of a kind of prickly climbing plant of the genus Smilax.
SASKATCHEWANCanadian province whose capital is Regina.
SATISFACTIONGratification.
SAUSAGEROLLSI Love ____ , song by British graphic designer LadBaby that was UK Christmas No 1 in 2019.
SAVAGEGARDENAustralian pop duo noted for their 1997 hit song Truly Madly Deeply.
SCANDINAVIANFrom part of Europe.
SCAPEGOATINGBlaming an individual.
SCARABBEETLEInsect associated with the sun god Ra by the ancient Egyptians.
SCAREMONGERSPeople who spread frightening reports or rumours.
SCARLETFEVERAn infectious disease characterised by a high temperature, a strawberry-coloured tongue and a rash.
SCATTERBRAINDizzy person.
SCHEHERAZADESymphonic suite by Rimsky-Korsakov inspired by the Arabian Nights.
SCHIAPARELLIElsa ___, Italian-born French fashion designer who created the colour shocking pink in 1937.
SCHOOLMASTERProfessional role of the title character in the book and film Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
SCHOPENHAUERArthur _, German pessimist philosopher.
SCLERENCHYMASupporting or protective tissue composed of thickened, dry, and hardened cells.
SCOTLANDYARDLondon police HQ.
SCRATCHINESSThe roughness of a substance that causes abrasions.
SCREENWRITERThe author of the script for a film.
SCRIMSHANKERA shirker.
SEABUCKTHORNA spiny shrub growing on coasts, with silvery leaves and orange fruits.
SEAMUSHEANEYIrish poet, playwright, translator and lecturer. He received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature.
SEAOFMARMARAInland body of water in Turkey between the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.
SEARCHENGINEInternet aid.
SEASONTICKETA reduced rate pass for a series of events or number of journeys within a limited time.
SECONDDEGREE-- burn, a skin injury which partially penetrates the dermis.
SEDGEWARBLERA European bird of reed beds and swampy areas, with a streaked brownish plumage and white eye stripes.
SEISMOGRAPHYThe measurement of tremors and shocks and undulatory movements of earthquakes.
SELENOGRAPHYThe branch of astronomy that deals with the charting of the moon's surface.
SELFASSEMBLYSold in parts for putting together oneself with the aid of instructions.
SELFEMPLOYEDWorking for oneself.
SELFPORTRAITA drawing or painting of oneself.
SELWYNGUMMERJohn, Conservative ex-Environment Secretary who chairs the UK Independent Committee on Climate Change.
SEMIOFFICIALHaving some, but not full, authority or recognition.
SENSEOFSMELLNose has this.
SEPTUAGESIMAThe third Sunday before Lent.
SERGIOGARCIASpanish golfer who won 2017's US Masters Tournament.
SERIALNUMBEROne of a set of consecutive digits assigned to machines, tools or books.
SESAMESTREETLong-running American children's television series.
SEVENTYEIGHTOld record.
SEVERANCEPAYCompensation given to an employee who leaves because, through no fault of their own, their job ceases to exist.
SEVERNBRIDGEStructure linking England and Wales that was opened by the Queen in 1966.
SEXAGENARIANA person who is between 60 and 69 years old.
SHARECAPITALThe money that owners invest in order to start or expand a business.
SHARPTONGUEDUsing harsh language.
SHAVINGCREAMBathroom basic for men.
SHESNOTTHERESingle released by The Zombies in 1964.
SHIPBUILDINGTrade associated with the Clyde.
SHIRTSLEEVESGarment part.
SHOOTINGSTARMeteor.
SHORTCIRCUIT1986 science fiction comedy film starring Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg.
SHORTSIGHTEDHaving myopia.
SHOSTAKOVICHDmitri _, Soviet composer noted for his 15 symphonies and chamber music.
SHUTTLECOCKSLight cones with feathered flights, used to play badminton.
SIDESTEPPINGDodging.
SIERRANEVADAMountain range in Spain and the Western United States.
SIGMUNDFREUDAustrian founder of psychoanalysis.
SIGNIFICANCEConsequence or importance.
SIGNLANGUAGEAs used by deaf people to communicate.
SILVERBULLETIt can kill a werewolf.
SIMONBOLIVARSouth American soldier and liberator who gave his name to his native Venezuela's standard monetary unit.
SINANTHROPUSA primitive apelike man now considered a subspecies of Homo erectus.
SINGLEMINDEDHaving one aim.
SINISTRALITYThe state or quality of having the left side or its parts or members different from and, usually, more efficient than the right side or its parts or members; left-handedness.
SIRFREDHOYLEEnglish astronomer who propounded the steady state theory of the universe.
SIRTOBYBELCHCharacter in Twelfth Night.
SITTINGDUCKSVulnerable individuals.
SKATINGRINKSExpanses of ice used for leisure; especially artificially prepared and under cover.
SKIPPINGROPEA cord with handles at each end, used as a toy or a piece of exercise equipment.
SKYETERRIERSSmall dogs.
SKYMASTERSONLeading male character in Guys And Dolls.
SLEDGEHAMMERIt's excessive to crack nut.
SLEEPINGDOGSProverbially, you should let them lie.
SLEEPINGPILLA tablet containing a sedative drug.
SLIDINGDOORS1998 romantic comedy film starring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah.
SLOANERANGERYoung upper-middle-class London woman with expensive tastes.
SLOTMACHINESArcade devices.
SLUGGISHNESSThe pace of things that move relatively slowly.
SMALLFORTUNESurprisingly or unexpectedly large amount of money.
SMALLHOLDINGA unit of agricultural land smaller than a farm.
SMASHANDGRABDescribing a robbery.
SMOKESCREENSThings said or done in order to hide the truth.
SNAKECHARMEROne who pretends to hypnotise a reptile.
SNAPFASTENERPress stud.
SNEAKPREVIEWPrivate display.
SNOWBOARDINGSport which was first featured in the Winter Olympics in 1998.
SNOWLEOPARDSLarge feline mammals of mountainous regions of central Asia.
SOLILOQUISTSThose who perform a monologue.
SOMNAMBULISMAnother name for sleepwalking.
SOMNAMBULISTSleep walker.
SONGANDDANCEUnnecessary fuss.
SOPHISTICATERefined person.
SOULBROTHERSFriends.
SOUNDBARRIERChuck Yeager was the first to break this.
SOUNDOFMUSICThe _ _ _, musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, adapted for a 1965 film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
SOUTHAMERICAContinent in which the Amazon River is located.
SOUTHSHIELDSPort on the Tyne estuary, formerly in County Durham.
SOUTHVIETNAMFormer republic of SE Asia whose capital city was Saigon.
SPACEODYSSEY2001: A _ _, a 1968 epic science-fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick.
SPACESHUTTLEAstronauts' vehicle.
SPACEWALKINGExtra vehicular activity above Earth.
SPECKLEDWOODA butterfly found in Britain with brown wings that have creamy yellow eye spots.
SPELLBINDINGCaptivating.
SPELLINGBEESCompetitions testing children's word knowledge.
SPICKANDSPANSmart.
SPOKESPERSONMouthpiece.
SPONGEFINGERLight cake.
SPRINGBOARDSFlexible platforms used for diving.
SPRINGGREENSVegetable of the cabbage family in which the central leaves form a very loose head or no head at all.
SPRUCEBEETLEInsect that feeds on and nests in pine and other evergreen trees in North America.
SQUIREGORDONSecond owner of the titular horse in the 1877 Anna Sewell novel Black Beauty, following Farmer Grey.
STAGEMANAGERPerson responsible for the lighting and other technical arrangements for a theatre.
STAGEWHISPERA furtive or secretive remark from one actor to another intended to be heard by the audience.
STANDARDLAMPDomestic light.
STANDINGROOMPlace with no seats.
STANLEYBAKEROne of the two main stars of the film Zulu.
STANWAWRINKA2016 US Open men's singles winner.
STARSPANGLED_-_ banner, US flag.
STARTINGGATEA movable barrier placed on the line at the beginning of a horse race.
STARTINGGRIDSection of the track before a motor race where cars line up according to their times in practice.
STATELYHOMESLarge mansions, especially those open to the public.
STATENISLANDOne of the five boroughs of New York City, located in the southwest.
STATESAVENUEUS monopoly property.
STAYINGPOWEREndurance.
STEAMROLLERSRoad flatteners.
STEEPLECHASEA horse race over a course equipped with obstacles to be jumped.
STEEPLEJACKSPeople who are trained and skilled in the construction and repair of tall towers, spires and chimneys.
STEFANEDBERGSwedish tennis player, Wimbledon winner in 1988 and 1990.
STELLENBOSCHWine-producing region in South Africa.
STELLIFEROUSHaving or abounding with stars.
STEPCHILDRENOffspring of one's husband or wife from a previous relationship.
STEPFAMILIESNot quite relatives.
STEPHENROCHEIrish cyclist who won the treble of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Word Championship in 1987.
STEREOPHONICPertaining to a system of sound recording or reproduction using two or more separate channels.
STERNUTATIVECausing sneezing.
STETHOSCOPESMedical instruments for examining the chest by auscultation.
STEVEBACKLEYAthlete.
STEVEBUSCEMIActor who played Enoch "Nucky" Thompson in the period crime drama series Boardwalk Empire.
STEVECAUTHENRetired American jockey who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby.
STEVEFOSSETTThe first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon and in a fixedwing aircraft.
STEVEMCQUEENAmerican actor who starred in films including Bullitt, The Magnificent Seven and The Great Escape.
STEVEWOZNIAKAmerican technology entrepreneur who co-founded Apple Inc with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne in 1976.
STEVIEWONDERAmerican singer/songwriter born steveland Judkins.
STEWARDESSESWomen employed to look after the passengers on a ship or aircraft.
STICKINSECTSLong, slender, tropical invertebrates resembling twigs.
STILTWALKERSPerformers who stand on pairs of long poles each equipped with footrests.
STIPULATIONSConditions.
STIRLINGMOSSRacing driver.
STJAMESPLACEUS monopoly property.
STOCKBROKINGBuying and selling in the city.
STOCKHOLDERSThose with shares.
STOCKMARKETSPlaces where bonds are traded.
STONEMASONRYThe creation of buildings and structures using pieces of rock.
STONYHEARTEDVery cruel.
STOREKEEPERSShop managers.
STORMTROOPERSpecialist soldier of the German Army in World War I.
STORMYPETRELSeabird.
STORYTELLINGThe activity of writing or sharing tales.
STPETERSBURGCapital of Russia from 1712 until 1918.
STRADIVARIUSA violin manufactured by a famous Italian family of stringed instrument makers.
STRAITJACKETRestraint.
STRANGLEHOLDComplete power or control over a person or situation.
STRATOSPHEREThe layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 50 km above the earth's surface (the lower boundary of the mesosphere).
STRAWBERRIESFruit served with cream.
STREPTOCOCCIBacteria of a genus that includes the agents of souring of milk and dental decay, and haemolytic pathogens causing various infections such as scarlet fever and pneumonia.
STRETCHMARKSSigns left after pregnancy.
STRIKEFORCESMilitary units.
STUARTLITTLEAnimated comedy film series about an anthropomorphic mouse that began in 1999.
STUDIOUSNESSAcademic application.
STUFFEDSHIRTA conservative, pompous person.
SUBCONSCIOUSPart of the mind that can influence one's behaviour without one being aware of it.
SUBJECTIVELYBased on personal observation.
SUBSCRIBEDTOAgreed to receive information posted at a particular location on the internet.
SUBSCRIPTIONAdvance payment.
SUBSTRUCTUREFoundation.
SUBTERRANEANOperating or performed below the surface of the earth.
SUCCESSFULLYVictoriously, profitably.
SUCCESSSTORYAchievement.
SUDDENIMPACTFourth of Clint Eastwood's five Dirty Harry series.
SUFFOLKPUNCHDraft horse breed.
SUFFRAGETTESFemale advocates of extending the right to vote to women.
SUGARCOATINGMaking more palatable.
SUMMERNIGHTSDuet sung by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the 1978 film musical Grease.
SUNDAYSCHOOLReligious classes.
SUPERANNUATETo pension off.
SUPERNATURALPsychic.
SUPERSTITIONIrrational belief.
SUPREMECOURTThe highest judicial body in the U.S., founded in 1789.
SURPRISINGLYIn an unexpected way.
SURROUNDINGSMilieu.
SURVEILLANCEClose observation or supervision maintained over a person, group etc.
SWALLOWTAILSThe UK's largest butterflies, with two red-and-blue false eyes.
SWASHBUCKLERA swaggering or flamboyant adventurer.
SWEETANDSOURCharacterising Chinese food cooked in a sauce containing sugar and either lemon or vinegar.
SWEETTALKINGInsincerely praising (someone) in order to persuade them to do something.
SWEETWILLIAMOrnamental garden plant.
SWITCHBLADESKnives with retractable blades that spring out when a button is pressed.
SYNTHESISERSMusical keyboards.
TACTLESSNESSLack of diplomacy.
TAKEONESTIMEDawdle.
TALCUMPOWDERCosmetic or toilet preparation.
TALENTSCOUTSPeople who seek out and offer work to skilled artists, sports people, performers etc.
TALKINGHEADSTV series of dramatic monologues written by Alan Bennett, first aired in 1988.
TAMMYWYNETTEU.S country music singer/songwriter born in 1942 noted for the song Stand by Your Man.
TAPEMEASURESAscertain distance devices.
TARALIPINSKIAmerican winner of the 1998 ladies singles Olympic gold medal in figure skating.
TARAMASALATAA creamy pink pate, made from the roe of grey mullet or smoked cod and served as an hors d'oeuvre.
TARTARICACIDWhite, crystalline substance found in fruits; its salt is used in baking powder.
TASTEOFHONEYA _ _ _, 1958 play by Shelagh Delaney, adapted into a film of the same title in 1961.
TAXIDERMISTSPeople who prepare, stuff and mount animal skins to give them a life-like appearance.
TEARTOSHREDSHeavily criticise.
TEETERTOTTERAn American name for a seesaw.
TEETOTALLERSPeople who don't drink alcohol.
TELECOMMUTERWorker at home using modern technology.
TELEPHONEBOXStreet corner feature.
TESSELLATIONThe act of adorning with mosaic.
TESTIMONIALSEndorsements.
TESTOSTERONEMale hormone.
TESTTHEWATERTry.
TETRAPTEROUSIn zoology, having four wings or winglike appendages.
THAMESVALLEYPolice force covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
THANKSGIVINGAnnual US holiday observed on the fourth Thursday of November.
THEALCHEMIST1610 play by Ben Jonson featuring the butler Jeremy, a.k.a. 'Captain Face'.
THEANTHROPICOf or pertaining to both God or a god and human beings; both divine and human.
THEAPARTMENT1960 film starring Jack Lemmon.
THEAPPLECART1928 play by George Bernard Shaw subtitled A Political Extravaganza.
THEARTISTASAA Portrait of _ _ _ _ Young Man, Novel by James Joyce.
THEATREROYALWest End theatre commonly known as Drury Lane.
THEBEACHBOYSAmerican pop group.
THEBEANSTALKJack and _ _, Pantomime in which the hero trades a cow for some magic beans.
THEBEESKNEESA brilliant thing.
THEBELLTOLLSFor Whom _ _ _.
THEBODYGUARD1992 romantic thriller film starring Kevin Costner in the title role.
THEBUMBLEBEEFlight Of ____ , orchestral interlude by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
THEBUZZCOCKSNever Mind ____, TV comedy quiz show testing knowledge of music that began in 1996.
THECARETAKER1960 play by Harold Pinter, a film version of which was made in 1963.
THECATCHERIN_ _ _ the Rye, Novel by J. D. Salinger.
THECHOCOLATE_ _ Soldier, an operetta composed in 1908 by Oscar Straus based on George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play, Arms and the Man.
THECIVILLISTThe annuities voted by Parliament for the support of the royal household & royal family.
THECOMEDIANS1966 Graham Greene novel set in Haiti during the Francois 'Papa Doc' Duvalier regime.
THECONFESSOREdward _ _, King of England 1042-66.
THECONQUERORNickname of King William I of England.
THECOTSWOLDSRegion of central southwest England, noted for its golden coloured limestone.
THEEQUALIZER2014 thriller film starring Denzel Washington as former special agent Bob McCall.
THEEUROPEANS1979 Merchant Ivory film based on Henry James' novel.
THEFIRSTNOELA traditional Christmas carol.
THEFREEWORLDTerm used during the Cold War to refer to the Western Bloc of non-Communist countries collectively.
THEGODFATHER1972 film about a Mafia family starring Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone.
THEHERMITAGESaint Petersburg art museum founded by Catherine the Great.
THELASTDANCEDocumentary about U.S. ex-basketball star Michael Jordan that aired in 2020.
THELORDOFTHE_ _ _ _ Rings, Tolkien classic.
THELOSTWORLDA 1912 novel by Arthur Conan Doyle about an expedition to the Amazon basin in South America.
THEMOUSETRAPMurder mystery play by Agatha Christie running in the West End since 1952.
THEOLDDEVILSComic novel by English author Kingsley Amis awarded the Booker Prize in 1986.
THEPASSIONOF_ _ _ the Christ, a 2004 American epic drama film directed by Mel Gibson.
THEPHANTOMOF_ _ _ The Opera.
THEREDPLANETNickname of Mars because of the rusting of iron minerals in its soil.
THERISEOFGRU2021 sequel to the 2015 animated film Minions, featuring the voices of Pierre Coffin and Steve Carell.
THERMOSFLASKTemperature maintaining container.
THERMOSPHEREAn atmospheric layer of the Earth, lying between the mesosphere and the exosphere.
THESSALONIKIA port in norhteast Greece; the country's second-largest city.
THETURNOFTHE_ _ _ _ Screw, originally published in 1898, is a novella written by Henry James.
THETWOTOWERSTitle of the second book in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
THEWASTELANDPoem by T. S. Eliot.
THOMASBECKETArchbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170.
THOMASEDISONAmerican inventor and businessman who developed the phonograph and the electric light bulb.
THOMASHOBBESEnglish political philosopher whose best-known work is Leviathan.
THOMASHOWARDThe third Duke of Norfolk; a prominent Tudor politician and uncle of two of Henry VIII's wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
THOMASHUGHESEnglish author of the 1857 novel Tom Brown's School Days.
THOMASTALLIS16th Century English composer and organist noted for his music for the Anglican liturgy.
THOMASWOLSEYEnglish cardinal and statesman whose failure to obtain papal consent for the annulment of King Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon led to his arrest for high treason.
THORNEYCROFTPeter _, politician.
THOROUGHFAREA road from one place to another, especially a main road.
THOROUGHNESSAttention to detail.
THORTVEITITEA mineral consisting of scandium yttrium silicate; a source of scandium.
THREESISTERSA play by Chekhov, first performed by the Moscow Arts Theatre in 1901.
THREEWISEMENMagi.
THROWLIGHTONPhrase meaning 'to clarify'.
THUNDERBIRDSScience fiction television series that was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, featuring the organisation International Rescue.
THUNDERCLOUDStorm.
THUNDERSTORMLoud tempest.
TICKETOFFICEPlace to book.
TILDASWINTONActress who voiced Oracle in the 2018 Wes Anderson film Isle of Dogs.
TIMEHONOUREDRespected or valued because it has existed for a long time.
TINTERNABBEYMonastery founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow, on 9 May 1131.
TOBACCOPLANTNicotiana.
TODDPHILLIPSCo-writer and director of the 2019 psychological thriller film Joker.
TOILETHUMOURScatological or vulgar jokes.
TOMCOURTENAYEnglish actor who starred in the title role of the 1963 film Billy Liar.
TONIMORRISONAmerican novelist, editor, and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University.
TONYAHARDINGRetired American figure skater, the subject of a 2017 film starring Margot Robbie.
TOOTHANDNAILFight _ _ _, very fiercely.
TORRESSTRAITChannel between the Arafura and Coral Seas separating the northern tip of Australia from the island of New Guinea.
TOSOMEDEGREEIn part.
TOTALECLIPSEWhen the Moon blocks the Sun.
TOTALITARIANDenoting a dictatorial one party state that regulates every realm of life.
TOURDEFRANCEAnnual men's multiple-stage bicycle race which finishes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
TOUROPERATORA person or company that provides package holidays.
TOWEROFBABELIn the Old Testament, a structure intended to reach from Earth to Heaven.
TOXICOLOGISTOne who studies the safety and biological effects of drugs, chemicals, agents, and other substances on living organisms.
TRACEELEMENTMineral, say.
TRACHEOPHYTEAny plant with a vascular system composed of xylem and phloem elements.
TRACKRECORDSThe past accomplishments and failures of people or businesses.
TRADEDEFICITThe difference between the value of a country's imports and exports.
TRADESCANTIASpiderwort genus. Trailing plant named after the head gardener to King Charles I.
TRAFFICLIGHTRoad signal.
TRAILBLAZERSPioneers.
TRAITORSGATEEntrance to the Tower of London on the River Thames.
TRANQUILIZERA drug used to reduce stress or tension without reducing mental clarity.
TRANQUILLIZEMake calm or still.
TRANSMIGRANTAn emigrant on the way to the country of immigration.
TRANSMITTERSDevices that emit a signal.
TRANSOCEANICAcross the sea.
TRANSPORTINGCarrying.
TRANSVESTISMCross-dressing.
TRANSYLVANIAHistorical region of Romania linked with vampires.
TRAPSHOOTINGThe sport of firing at clay pigeons launched into the air by machine.
TRAVELAGENCYHoliday bureau.
TRAVELAGENTSThey book trips.
TREASUREHUNTQuest for riches.
TREATYOFROME1957 international agreement founding the European Economic Community.
TREESURGEONSThose who professionally prune e.g. beeches and elms might have this designation.
TRENDSETTERSPeople who lead the way in fashion or ideas.
TREVORBAYLISEnglish inventor best remembered for his wind-up radio.
TRIBUTEBANDSMusic groups that mimic the appearance and sounds of famous pop acts.
TRIGONOMETRYThe branch of mathematics concerned with calculating the angles and sides of triangles.
TRINITYHOUSEOfficial authority for navigational aids in England and Wales founded in 1514.
TROUBLEMAKERRabble-rouser.
TROUSERPRESSHotel room garment smartener.
TRUMANCAPOTE20th-century American writer whose works included the novella Breakfast At Tiffany's.
TUBERCULOSISDisease.
TUBULARBELLSDebut album by English composer and songwriter Mike Oldfield released in 1973.
TUNNELOFLOVE1980 single by British rock band Dire Straits, from the album Making Movies.
TURBOCHARGEREngine addition.
TURKMENISTANCountry whose capital is Ashgabat.
TURNINGPOINTA time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results.
TURNUPTRUMPSExpression meaning 'to act in a very helpful and often unexpected way'.
TWELFTHNIGHTShakespeare play.
TWOHORSERACEA competition or election in which there are only a couple of teams or candidates with a chance of winning.
UGLYDUCKLINGThe _ _, a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen.
ULTRAMONTANESupporter of papal authority.
UMBRELLABIRDA black, tropical American bird with a large overhanging crest and a long wattle.
UMBRELLATREEA North American magnolia with unpleasant smelling white flowers.
UNAFFILIATEDNot officially connected or associated with an organization.
UNATTRACTIVENot appealing to the senses or mind through beauty, form, character, etc.
UNCHARITABLEHard hearted.
UNCLASSIFIEDNot arranged in any specific order or grouping.
UNDERGARMENTType of clothing.
UNDERTAKINGSPledges.
UNDERTHEHEELExpression meaning 'ruled over tyrannically'.
UNEMPLOYMENTNot working.
UNEXPECTEDLYWithout warning.
UNFAVOURABLELooking bad.
UNIMPRESSIVEUnexciting, uninspiring.
UNITARIANISMA system of Christian belief that rejects the Trinity and maintains that God is one entity.
UNPARALLELEDUnique.
UNPROFITABLENo gain.
UNRESTRAINEDNot limited or checked.
UNSTEADINESSLack of stability.
UNSUCCESSFULNot having managed to do something.
UNTOUCHABLESThe _, nickname of the team of Chicago law enforcement agents led by Eliot Ness.
USERFRIENDLYDesigned to help operator. Easily operated by non-specialists.
UTTARPRADESHState of India.
VACUUMPACKEDPreserved.
VANTAGEPOINTA position that allows one a wide or favourable overall view of a scene or situation.
VARICOSEVEINProblem blood vessel.
VAUDEVILLIANA person who performed in a type of variety entertainment show also known in Britain as music hall.
VEGETABLEOILA viscous liquid obtained from plants that is used in cooking.
VELOCIRAPTORSickle-clawed dinosaur whose name comes from the Latin for swift plunderer.
VENUSFLYTRAPInsect-eating American plant with hinged two-lobed leaves.
VESTALVIRGINPriestess of the Roman goddess of the hearth.
VICTORIAPLUMFruit with a yellow flesh with a red or mottled skin.
VICTORMATUREAmerican actor who stareed in Samson And Delilah and 1953's The Robe.
VINAIGRETTESSalad dressings of oil, wine vinegar, and seasoning.
VINCENTPRICE20th Century American actor who starred in horror films including House Of Wax.
VINSONMASSIFLarge mountain group and location of Antarctica's highest peak.
VIRGINIAWADEBritish tennis player who won the Wimbledon singles championship in 1977.
VISITORSBOOKA record in a public building in which people write their names and addresses and any comments about the place.
VIVALASVEGAS1964 musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret.
VOLUNTARYISMThe principle of supporting institutions through financing other than state aid.
WALDOEMERSONRalph _ _, American poet, essayist and transcendentalist.
WALDORFSALADDish.
WALKIETALKIEA portable radio transmitter and receiver allowing for two-way communication.
WALLERBRIDGEPhoebe _-_, Actress and writer who first found fame with Fleabag.
WALTHAMABBEYEssex church which housed the last religious community to be closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
WARMONGERINGA policy of advocating war.
WARRENBEATTYAmerican actor and filmmaker who has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards, winning a Best Director Oscar for the film Reds.
WARWICKDAVISTenable presenter.
WARWICKSHIREEnglish county.
WATERBUFFALOBovid animal of swampy regions of South Asia, with wide back-curving horns.
WATERCLOSETSLoos.
WAYSANDMEANSThe methods and resources for accomplishing some purpose.
WEATHERCOCKSWind indicators.
WEATHERFIELDFictional town in which Coronation Street is set.
WEDDINGRINGSTokens of marriage.
WELLADJUSTEDMentally adn emotionally stable.
WELSHDRESSERA sideboard with drawers and cupboards below and open shelves above.
WELTERWEIGHTBoxer.
WESTMIDLANDSMetropolitan county of central England that includes Birmingham.
WESTVIRGINIAAmerican state whose capital is Charleston.
WETHREEKINGS__ Of Orient Are, Christmas carol written by clergyman John Henry Hopkins in 1857.
WHEELBARROWSSmall, open carts used for carrying things, especially in the garden.
WHENHARRYMET_ _ _ Sally, Meg Ryan film.
WHENTHEGOING_ _ _ Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going.
WHIPPOORWILLA North and Central American nightjar with a distinctive call.
WHITERUSSIANA cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream or milk, served with ice.
WHITEWEDDINGTraditional union.
WICKETKEEPERIn cricket, the player on the fielding side positioned directly behind the stumps.
WIDERECEIVERU.S. football position several yards to the side of an offensive formation.
WIDOWTWANKEYThe mother of Aladdin in the pantomime of that name.
WILBURWRIGHTAmerican aviator who, with his brother Orville, is credited with inventing and building the first successful aeroplane.
WILLIAMBLAKEEnglish poet and engraver who wrote Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience.
WILLIAMBLIGHCaptain of the Bounty.
WILLIAMBOOTHThe founder and first general of the Salvation Army.
WILLIAMCECILStatesman and chief adviser to Elizabeth I.
WILLIAMHAGUEConservative life peer; chair of The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
WILLIAMHANNAAmerican animator best known for his collaboration with Joseph Barbera.
WILLIAMSBURGCity of SE Virginia between the James and York Rivers.
WILLIAMSTERNGerman psychologist who originated the term IQ (Intelligenz-Quotient) in 1912.
WILLIAMWYLERFilmmaker who won the Best Director Oscar three times, including for Ben-Hur.
WINDINGSHEETA shroud in which a corpse is wrapped in preparation for burial.
WINDSORCHAIRA wooden item of furniture, popular from the 18th Century, usually with a shaped seat and a back made of spindles.
WINSTONSMITHThe protagonist of George Orwell's 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
WITHNAILANDI1987 black comedy film starring Paul McGann and Richard E Grant as two unemployed actors.
WITTGENSTEINLudwig _, philosopher.
WOLSTENHOLMEKenneth _, football commentator most notable for his commentary of the 1966 World Cup final.
WONDROUSLIFEThe Brief _ _ of Oscar Wao, 2007 novel written by Dominican American author Junot Diaz.
WOODYGUTHRIE20th-Century US folk musician whose songs include This Land Is Your Land.
WORLDSERVICEInternational BBC radio station launched in 1932 that broadcasts outside the UK.
WRITERSCRAMPAuthor's muscle spasm.
XYLOBALSAMUMThe dried, fragrant wood of the Balsamodendron gileadense that produces resin known as Balm of Gilead.
YAMOUSSOUKROCapital of Cote d'Ivoire.
YANKEEDOODLENational song.
YASSERARAFATFormer Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
YORKSHIREMANOne from the North of England.
YOUNGATHEARTCover of a Bananarama song by Scottish indie band the Bluebells, released in 1984.
YOUTHFULNESSThe freshness and vitality characteristic of a young person.
ZOOCHLORELLAAny of various symbiotic green algae in the cytoplasm of certain freshwater invertebrates, as stentors and hydras.
ZYGOMORPHOUSCapable of division into symmetrical halves by only one longitudinal plane passing through the axis.
