Page 262 - WEBSTER Essential vocabulary

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baste (BAYST) vt. 1. to sew with long, loose stitches to keep a garment together
prior to the actual final stitching; to tack; 2. to moisten meat while roasting with
drippings, melted butter, and so on
• Tailors baste a garment together to line everything up before they do the
actual stitching of the finished item.
• When cooking a turkey, it is customary to baste it every 20 minutes or so
to keep it moist.
[-d, basting]
benevolent (bin EV il int) adj. inclined to do good or doing good; kindly;
charitable
• John’s family had a history of being benevolent toward charities.
• The March of Dimes counts on its reputation for contributions from
benevolent organizations and individuals.
[-ly adv.] [Syn. kind]
benign (bi NYN) adj. 1. good natured; favorable; beneficial; 2. noncancerous;
nonmalignant
• Beatrice gave Roger a benign smile as she passed.
• Vera was relieved to learn from her oncologist that the tumor was benign.
bigotry (BIG uh tree) adj. the behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of a prejudiced,
intolerant person
• Miguel demonstrated his bigotry by refusing to sit at a table with anyone
who was not from Uruguay.
• Belief in racial stereotypes is characteristic of bigotry.
[bigotries pl., bigot n.]
bland (BLAND) adj. 1. mild and soothing rather than harsh and grating; 2.
without taste; flavorless; insipid; dull
• Milk is a very bland drink when compared to orange or grapefruit juice.
• Tex-Mex food is noted for the piquantness of its flavor and is anything but
bland.
[-ness n.] [Syn. smooth, tasteless]
boggle (BAHG il) vt. 1. to confuse or overwhelm; 2. to hesitate at (because of
scruples)
• Janice was boggled by the huge pile of papers that needed correcting.
• Crossword puzzles often boggle the mind.
• Eddie boggled at the idea of robbing a grocery store.
[-d, boggling]

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