Bemuse

Bemuse-vt

to cause somebody to be confused or puzzled

Synonyms

confuse
bewilder
puzzle
perplex

muddle

Calculous

Adj
Relating to abnormal hard formations of minerals (calculi) in the body

Calcimine

N
a mixture of zinc oxide, water, and glue, sometimes with a coloring added, brushed onto interior walls as a decorative and sealing finish

Vt
To cover a wall with calcimine

Calcify

Vti
1-to convert a substance into lime, or be converted into lime
2-to become, or cause a body to become, abnormally hard or stiff as a result of calcium salts
3-to become, or cause something to become, rigid and unchanging (formal)

Synonyms
Turn into stone
Fossilize
Harden
Solidify
Set

Calamity

N
1-a disastrous situation or event (often used ironically)
2-misery or distress resulting from a disastrous event (archaic)

Synonyms
Disaster
Catastrophe
Mishap
Misfortune
Tragedy
Blow

Cajole

Vti
To persuade somebody to do something by flattery or gentle but persistent argument

Synonyms
Coax
Persuade
Wheedle
Entice
Sweet-talk
Inveigle
Flatter

Caisson

N
1-a bottomless watertight chamber filled with compressed air, used as a base from which construction work is carried out underwater
2-a hollow structure attached to a sunken object, for example, a wrecked ship, then pumped full of air until it acts as a float, raising the object to the surface
3-a floating watertight structure used to keep water from entering a dry dock, canal lock, or basin
4-a large container for ammunition
5-a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle, formerly used to carry ammunition but now often used to carry coffins at state or military funerals
6-see coffer

Caiman/cayman

N
A tropical American reptile related to the alligator. Genus: Caiman

Cagey

Adj
Cautious and secretive rather than open, honest, or direct (informal)

Synonyms
Wary
Careful
Guarded
Reticent
Cautious
Evasive
Careless (antonym)

Caftan/Kaftan

1-a full-length tunic or robe for men, usually made of rich fabric, worn chiefly in eastern Mediterranean countries
2-a western imitation of the caftan, often brightly colored and worn by men and women

Caduceus

N
1-in classical mythology, a winged staff entwined with two serpents, the symbol of Hermes or Mercury
2-a symbol of the U.S. Army Medical Corps and various other medical organizations that is modeled on Hermes' caduceus
See also staff of Aesculapius

Cadre

N
1-a group of experienced professionals at the core of a military organization who are able to train new recruits and expand the operations of the unit
2-a core group of political activists or revolutionaries
3-a controlling or representative group at the center of an organization
4-a tightly knit, highly trained group of people
5-a number of a cadre

Cadge

Vti
To scrounge or beg something from somebody (informal)

Synonyms
Steal
Sneak
Take
Get
Beg
Rob
Get away with

Cadenza

N
And elaborate solo passage of virtuoso singing or playing near the end of a section or piece of music, sometimes improvised by the soloist

Cadence

N
1-the beat or measure of something that follows a set rythm, for example, a dance or a march
2-a drop in the pitch of the voice, for example, at the end of a sentence
3-the way in which the voice rises and falls in pitch when somebody is speaking
4-the way in which poetry or prose flows according to rythm
5-a short sequence of notes that marks the end of a piece or passage of music
Also called close

Synonyms
Tempo
Rythm
Pace
Beat
Pulse
Stroke

Cadaverous

Cadaverous-adj
1-suggesting death or corpses (formal or literary)
2-deathly pate (literary)
3-thin to the point of resembling a skeleton or corpse

Synonyms
corpselike
ghastly
pale
pallid
wan
ashen
gaunt
thin
skeletal
emaciated
wasted

Cad

Cad-n
a man who does not behave as a gentleman should, especially toward a woman (dated)

Cacophony

Cacophony-n
1-an unpleasant combination of loud, often jarring, sounds
2-the use of harsh unpleasant sounds in languages, for example, for literary effect

Synonyms
dissonance
disharmony
harmony (antonym)

Cachet

Cachet-n
1-a quality of distinction and style that people admire and approve of
2-an official seal or stamp on a letter or other document
3-a commemorative mark stamped on mail to mark a particular event
4-a small mark made on the back of a postage stamp by a stamp collector
5-an edible hollow case formerly used by pharmacists to enclose unpleasant-tasting medicine in order to make it more palatable

Synonyms
status
prestige
distinction
respect
reputation
standeing
importance
class
snob appeal

Cache

Cache-n
1-a hidden store of things, especially weapons or valuables
2-a secret place where a store of things is kept hidden
3-an area of high-speed computer memory used for the temporary storage of frequently used date to allow faster access
    Also called cache memory

vt
1-to store a hidden supply of things, especially weapons or valuables, in a secret place
2-to store data in a cache

Synonyms
hoard
store
supply
accumulation
reserve
collection