-al; -ial, -eal
(Latin: suffix; pertaining to, like, of the kind of, relating to, characterized by, belonging to; action of, process of)
dental (adjective), more dental, most dental
Pertaining to the teeth; toothy; teeth: Dr. Mitchel told Jane that she would have to have some dental work done on her teeth the next time she came to an appointment.
dermal (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Pertaining to the skin or outer integument in general; Little Mary was using her dermal muscles of her face to make very funny expressions causing everybody at the party to laugh.
2. Pertaining to the derma or true skin, as opposed to epidermal: In class, Tony learned that the dermal layer of skin was beneath the epidermis, being the protective outer layer of skin.
2. Pertaining to the derma or true skin, as opposed to epidermal: In class, Tony learned that the dermal layer of skin was beneath the epidermis, being the protective outer layer of skin.
dextral (adjective), more dextral, most dextral
1. Relating to or inclined to the right side: Nancy always used her dextral hand to write and to catch balls.
2. In zoology, pertaining to a spiral mollusk shell: A dextral gastropod mollusc possesses a shell with whorls rising to the right and coiling in a counterclockwise direction.
2. In zoology, pertaining to a spiral mollusk shell: A dextral gastropod mollusc possesses a shell with whorls rising to the right and coiling in a counterclockwise direction.
diagonal (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to a straight line or mark that extends at an angle, and not straight up and across: The geometry teacher, Mr. Tall, told his students to draw a diagonal line linking the opposite corners of the square pictured on their worksheets.
The jogging pants that Susan bought had bright red diagonal stripes.
diarrheal, diarrheic (adjective), more diarrheal, most diarrheal
Relating to or referring to frequent and watery bowel movements: The thin diarrheal stool that Janet suffered from was diagnosed as being due to a lactose intolerance.
digital (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Pertaining to, resembling, or using a digit or digits: Nancy's computer had a digital keyboard to write emails to her sister.
2. Resembling an impression made by a finger: A digital fingerprint was made for Sam's passport.
3. Pertaining to data in the form of discrete states as contrasted to analog data in the form of continuously variable physical quantities.
2. Resembling an impression made by a finger: A digital fingerprint was made for Sam's passport.
3. Pertaining to data in the form of discrete states as contrasted to analog data in the form of continuously variable physical quantities.
In computer science, representing or operating on data or information in numerical form.
A digital clock uses a series of changing digits to represent time at discrete intervals; for example, every second.
Modern computers rely on digital processing techniques, in which both data and the instructions for manipulating data are represented as binary numbers.
dipteral (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Pertaining to the order of insects Diptera: Some dipteral insects include the mosquitoes and the blowflies which have only one pair of wings.
2. In architecture, referring to something having a double row of columns: Some Greek temples have a dipteral type of construction, like the Temple of Apollo..
2. In architecture, referring to something having a double row of columns: Some Greek temples have a dipteral type of construction, like the Temple of Apollo..
ecclesiastical (adjective), more ecclesiastical, most ecclesiastical
1. A reference to the church or the clergy; churchly; clerical; not secular: The couple didn't believe in the ecclesiastical rules and regulations presented by the church.
2. Associated with a church: The habit of nuns is an ecclesiastical type of attire relating to the Christian Church.
3. Appropriate to a church or to use in a church: In her new book relating to the Christian Church, Judy read about ecclesiastical architecture and ecclesiastical robes.
2. Associated with a church: The habit of nuns is an ecclesiastical type of attire relating to the Christian Church.
3. Appropriate to a church or to use in a church: In her new book relating to the Christian Church, Judy read about ecclesiastical architecture and ecclesiastical robes.
educational (adjective), more educational, most educational
1. Pertaining to the transfer of knowledge, instruction, or information to others: In school, the students watched an educational film on German traditions.
2. Relating to something that teaches and from which learning is possible: Mr. Smart received some new educational books for instructing his students in English.
3. Relating to or concerned with education: The educational value of going on a field trip to the zoo was disputed among the members of the staff.
4. Referring to the process of giving knowledge, instruction, or information: In the procedure of teaching, educational devices and material, like overhead projectors and tranparancies, were used a lot in teaching languages.
2. Relating to something that teaches and from which learning is possible: Mr. Smart received some new educational books for instructing his students in English.
3. Relating to or concerned with education: The educational value of going on a field trip to the zoo was disputed among the members of the staff.
4. Referring to the process of giving knowledge, instruction, or information: In the procedure of teaching, educational devices and material, like overhead projectors and tranparancies, were used a lot in teaching languages.
empirical (adjective), more empirical, most empirical
1. Provable by the way of scientific experimentation: A simple and understandable example of an empirical fact is verified when ice turns to water when heated.
2. Relating to or based on experience or observation: The empirical truth about burning her finger on a hot stove remained with Sally her whole life.
2. Relating to or based on experience or observation: The empirical truth about burning her finger on a hot stove remained with Sally her whole life.
ephemeral (adjective), more ephemeral, most ephemeral
1. Descriptive of something which lasts for only a short period of time and leaves no permanent trace; short-lived; transitory: Charles was chosen as the top salesperson that morning, however this ephemeral honor ended because his supervisor realized that Rena had exceeded his sales record.
2. Characterising a form of life which last only for 24 hours, as certain plants or insects do: There are ephemeral organisms that grow, reproduce, and die within a few hours or a day.
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2. Characterising a form of life which last only for 24 hours, as certain plants or insects do: There are ephemeral organisms that grow, reproduce, and die within a few hours or a day.
Elisha put flowers from her garden into a vase and they were an ephemeral bouquet because she forgot to put water into the container as a result of being distracted by an unexpected visitor.
3. Etymology: Ephemeral, now used fairly loosely for "transitory", originally meant specifically "lasting only one day". It comes from Greek ephemeros, a compound word formed from the prefix epi-, "on" and hemera, "day".
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epigeal (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Regarding an organism that dwells beneath the surface of the ground: Two types of epigeal organisms are bacteria and archaea, both of which prevail in the deeper sections of the planet Earth.
2. Pertaining to seed germination in which the cotyledons appear above the soil: Such epigeal sprouting takes place because the growth or development of the hypocotyl.
2. Pertaining to seed germination in which the cotyledons appear above the soil: Such epigeal sprouting takes place because the growth or development of the hypocotyl.
equivocal (adjective), more equivocal, most equivocal
1. Regarding statements open to two or more interpretations; of uncertain nature or significance; often intended to mislead others: Bob’s mother gave him an equivocal, or ambiguous, answer to his question about having another piece of cake, so he decided for himself and took one more piece!
2. Open to more than one interpretation, especially when something is being deliberately expressed in a confusing way in an attempt to fool someone: The politician made an equivocal reply to a difficult question from a delegate at the meeting.
3. Concerning the difficulty to interpret, to understand, or to respond to: Anita's position on the issue presented by her supervisor is equivocal and nobody knows how she is likely to react to the accusation.
4. Pertaining to doubts and suspicions, especially about someone's honesty or sincerity: The new employee has served in prison and so his new supervisor has equivocal thoughts regarding his trustworthiness.
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2. Open to more than one interpretation, especially when something is being deliberately expressed in a confusing way in an attempt to fool someone: The politician made an equivocal reply to a difficult question from a delegate at the meeting.
3. Concerning the difficulty to interpret, to understand, or to respond to: Anita's position on the issue presented by her supervisor is equivocal and nobody knows how she is likely to react to the accusation.
4. Pertaining to doubts and suspicions, especially about someone's honesty or sincerity: The new employee has served in prison and so his new supervisor has equivocal thoughts regarding his trustworthiness.
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esophageal electrode, esophageal pill electrode (s) (noun); esophageal electrodes; esophageal pill electrodes (pl)
1. A electrode placed in the esophagus: An esophageal electrode obtains electrocardiographic records from this region or used for electrical pacemaking.
2. A pill electrode that lodges in the esophagus at the level of the atrium: An esophageal pill electrode obtains electrograms and delivers pacing stimuli.
2. A pill electrode that lodges in the esophagus at the level of the atrium: An esophageal pill electrode obtains electrograms and delivers pacing stimuli.
ethereal (adjective), more ethereal, most ethereal
1. Descriptive of something that is insubstantial and airy: the upper areas of space; heavenly: Jack loved lying on the grass and dreaming about ethereal regions far away from everyday life of working in the gas station.
2. Concerning something or a person that is of delicate and exquisite beauty: The girl in the story had a quite ethereal appearance about her that was beyond belief.
2. Concerning something or a person that is of delicate and exquisite beauty: The girl in the story had a quite ethereal appearance about her that was beyond belief.
