Word origins

• DarlingtonA large market town in County Durham, England (OS grid ref NZ2814).
• slipperyOf a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
• BurnettA surname from Old French.
• chatterTalk, especially meaningless or unimportant talk.
• lettuceAn edible plant, Lactuca sativa and its close relatives, having a head of green or purple leaves.
• tidyArranged neatly and in order.
• oppressionThe exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
• yieldingDocile, or inclined to give way to pressure.
• beauA man with a reputation for fine dress and etiquette; a dandy or fop.
• subordinatePlaced in a lower class, rank, or position.
• sweetheartA person who is always very kind.
• mediatorOne who negotiates between parties seeking mutual agreement.
• consulateRule by consuls, as during most periods of the Roman Republic or in France between 1799 and 1804.
• SicilyThe largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, an autonomous region of Italy, close to Africa and separated from Tunisia and Libya by the Strait of Sicily.
• compostThe decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer.
• erroneousContaining an error; inaccurate.
• unsupportedWithout physical support.
• hingeA jointed or flexible device that allows the pivoting of a door etc.
• sewTo use a needle to pass thread repeatedly through (pieces of fabric) in order to join them together.
• stuntA daring or dangerous feat, often involving the display of gymnastic skills.
• upwardsTowards a (higher) position closer to the sky than the ground.
• wittyClever; amusingly ingenious.
• transcendTo pass beyond the limits of something.
• looselyIn a loose manner.
• likingA like; a predilection.
• preacherSomeone who preaches a worldview, philosophy, or religion, especially someone who preaches the gospel and especially a clergyman or clergywoman. In a religious context, usually used only to refer to Protestant Christian clergy.
• blowerA person who blows.
• flownSuspended in the flies.
• silkySimilar in appearance or texture (especially in softness and smoothness) to silk.
• awaitTo wait for.
• ciderAn alcoholic, often sparkling (carbonated) beverage made from fermented apples.
• crookedNot straight; having one or more bends or angles.
• overcastA cloud covering all of the sky from horizon to horizon.
• foreheadThe part of the face above the eyebrows and below the hairline.
• paxA painted, stamped or carved tablet with a representation of Christ or the Virgin Mary, which was kissed by the priest during the Mass ("kiss of peace") and then passed to other officiating clergy and the congregation to be kissed. See also osculatory.
• knowinglyIn the manner of one who knows.
• pivotA thing on which something turns; specifically a metal pointed pin or short shaft in machinery, such as the end of an axle or spindle.
• WolverhamptonA city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. Historically it was in Staffordshire.
• banningThe act by which something is banned; a prohibition.
• flushingThe act by which something is flushed.
• glideTo move softly, smoothly, or effortlessly.
• withstandTo resist or endure (something) successfully.
• soarTo fly high with little effort, like a bird.
• marvelousExciting wonder or surprise; astonishing; wonderful.
• fleeTo run away; to escape.
• biscuitA small, flat, baked good which is either hard and crisp or else soft but firm; a cookie.
• menaceA perceived threat or danger.
• ClaptonA suburban area of London in the borough of Hackney, Greater London (officially Upper Clapton and Lower Clapton), (OS grid ref TQ3486).
• cheerfulNoticeably happy and optimistic.
• blushAn act of blushing; a pink or red glow on the face caused by embarrassment, shame, shyness, love, etc.
• favourableApt to win favour; pleasing.
• unseenNot seen or discovered; invisible.
• medleyCombat, fighting; a battle.
• temperA general tendency or orientation towards a certain type of mood, a volatile state; a habitual way of thinking, behaving or reacting.
• stewA cooking-dish used for boiling; a cauldron.
• accumulateTo heap up in a mass; to pile up; to collect or bring together (either literally or figuratively), often gradually and without active intent.
• marinerSynonym of sailor, particularly one on a maritime vessel.
• collierA person who produces (e.g., digs, mines, gathers) or sells coal (the fossil fuel type), or transports it from underground, from the soil, or from a seashore.
• hushTo become quiet.
• generosityThe trait of being willing to donate money, resources, or time.
• akinOf persons, of the same kin; related by blood.
• splinterA long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.
• solderAny of various easily melted alloys, commonly of tin and lead, that are used to mend, coat, or join metal objects, usually small.
• practiseTo repeat (an activity) as a way of improving one's skill in that activity.
• CatalanA native or inhabitant of Catalonia
• tweakTo pinch and pull with a sudden jerk and twist; to twitch.
• eaterA person or animal who eats.
• soakTo be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it.
• manureTo cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop by culture.
• saviorA person who saves someone, rescues another from harm.
• secrecyConcealment; the condition of being secret or hidden.
• filthyCovered with filth; very dirty.
• abbreviationThe result of shortening or reducing; abridgment.
• boaAny of a group of large American snakes, of the genus Boa, subfamily Boinae, or family Boidae, including the boa constrictor and the emperor boa of Mexico.
• frontalOf, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.
• havocWidespread devastation and destruction.
• arsenicA toxic grey brittle nonmetallic chemical element (symbol As) with an atomic number of 33.
• synonymA term (word or phrase) which is synonymous with others.
• slingTo throw with a circular or arcing motion.
• contractionAn act of incurring debt; also (generally), an act of acquiring something (generally negative).
• hymnA song of praise or worship, especially a religious one.
• continualRecurring in steady, rapid succession.
• quayA stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels; a wharf.
• indemnitySecurity from damage, loss, or penalty.
• imaginativeHaving a lively or creative imagination.
• weirAn adjustable dam placed across a river to regulate the flow of water downstream.
• affirmTo agree, verify or concur; to answer positively.
• batterTo hit or strike violently and repeatedly.
• dramSynonym of dirhem: a former Turkish unit of weight (variously 1.5–3.5 g).
• palletA bed of loose straw.
• tannerA person whose occupation is to tan hides, or convert them into leather by the use of tan.
• dunA brownish grey colour.
• compressTo make smaller; to press or squeeze together, or to make something occupy a smaller space or volume.
• soberNot drunk; not intoxicated.
• treadTo step or walk (on or across something); to trample.
• plungeTo thrust into liquid, or into any penetrable substance; to immerse.
• sinisterInauspicious, ominous, unlucky, illegitimate.
• burrA sharp, pointy object, such as a sliver or splinter.
• chaserSomething or someone who chases.
• vantageAn advantage.