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amateur
0
adj 1: engaged in as a pastime; "an amateur painter"; "gained
valuable experience in amateur theatricals";
"recreational golfers"; "reading matter that is both
recreational and mentally stimulating"; "unpaid extras in
the documentary" [syn: amateur, recreational,
unpaid]
2: lacking professional skill or expertise; "a very amateurish
job"; "inexpert but conscientious efforts"; "an unskilled
painting" [syn: amateurish, amateur, inexpert,
unskilled]
n 1: someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
2: an athlete who does not play for pay [ant: pro,
professional]
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aperture
0
n 1: a device that controls amount of light admitted
2: a natural opening in something
3: an man-made opening; usually small
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armature
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n 1: coil in which voltage is induced by motion through a
magnetic field
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birr
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n 1: the basic unit of money in Ethiopia; equal to 100 cents
2: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's wings";
"the whir of the propellers" [syn: whir, whirr,
whirring, birr]
v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir,
birr, purr]
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blur
0
n 1: a hazy or indistinct representation; "it happened so fast
it was just a blur"; "he tried to clear his head of the
whisky fuzz" [syn: blur, fuzz]
v 1: become glassy; lose clear vision; "Her eyes glazed over
from lack of sleep" [syn: film over, glaze over,
blur]
2: to make less distinct or clear; "The haze blurs the hills"
[ant: focus]
3: make unclear, indistinct, or blurred; "Her remarks confused
the debate"; "Their words obnubilate their intentions" [syn:
confuse, blur, obscure, obnubilate]
4: make a smudge on; soil by smudging [syn: smear, blur,
smudge, smutch]
5: make dim or indistinct; "The fog blurs my vision" [syn:
blur, blear] [ant: focalise, focalize, focus,
sharpen]
6: become vague or indistinct; "The distinction between the two
theories blurred" [syn: blur, dim, slur] [ant:
focalise, focalize, focus]
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bur
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n 1: seed vessel having hooks or prickles [syn: bur, burr]
2: small bit used in dentistry or surgery [syn: bur, burr]
v 1: remove the burrs from [syn: bur, burr]
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burr
0
n 1: seed vessel having hooks or prickles [syn: bur, burr]
2: rough projection left on a workpiece after drilling or
cutting
3: United States politician who served as vice president under
Jefferson; he mortally wounded his political rival Alexander
Hamilton in a duel and fled south (1756-1836) [syn: Burr,
Aaron Burr]
4: rotary file for smoothing rough edges left on a workpiece
5: small bit used in dentistry or surgery [syn: bur, burr]
v 1: remove the burrs from [syn: bur, burr]
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candidature
0
n 1: the campaign of a candidate to be elected [syn:
campaigning, candidacy, candidature,
electioneering, political campaign]
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countersignature
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n 1: a second confirming signature endorsing a document already
signed [syn: countersignature, countersign]
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cur
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n 1: an inferior dog or one of mixed breed [syn: cur,
mongrel, mutt]
2: a cowardly and despicable person
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curvature
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n 1: (medicine) a curving or bending; often abnormal; "curvature
of the spine"
2: the rate of change (at a point) of the angle between a curve
and a tangent to the curve
3: the property possessed by the curving of a line or surface
[syn: curvature, curve]
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discomfiture
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n 1: anxious embarrassment [syn: discomfiture, discomposure,
disconcertion, disconcertment]
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divestiture
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n 1: an order to an offending party to rid itself of property;
it has the purpose of depriving the defendant of the gains
of wrongful behavior; "the court found divestiture to be
necessary in preventing a monopoly"
2: the sale by a company of a product line or a subsidiary or a
division
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entablature
0
n 1: (architecture) the structure consisting of the part of a
classical temple above the columns between a capital and
the roof
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err
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v 1: to make a mistake or be incorrect [syn: err, mistake,
slip]
2: wander from a direct course or at random; "The child strayed
from the path and her parents lost sight of her"; "don't
drift from the set course" [syn: stray, err, drift]
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expenditure
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n 1: money paid out; an amount spent [syn: outgo, spending,
expenditure, outlay] [ant: income]
2: the act of spending money for goods or services [syn:
expending, expenditure]
3: the act of consuming something [syn: consumption, using
up, expenditure]
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filature
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n 1: a bobbin used in spinning silk into thread
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fir
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n 1: nonresinous wood of a fir tree
2: any of various evergreen trees of the genus Abies; chiefly of
upland areas [syn: fir, fir tree, true fir]
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forfeiture
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n 1: something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty; [syn:
forfeit, forfeiture]
2: a penalty for a fault or mistake that involves losing or
giving up something; "the contract specified forfeits if the
work was not completed on time" [syn: forfeit,
forfeiture]
3: the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for
a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc. [syn:
forfeit, forfeiture, sacrifice]
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fur
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n 1: the dressed hairy coat of a mammal [syn: fur, pelt]
2: dense coat of fine silky hairs on mammals (e.g., cat or seal
or weasel)
3: a garment made of the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
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furniture
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n 1: furnishings that make a room or other area ready for
occupancy; "they had too much furniture for the small
apartment"; "there was only one piece of furniture in the
room" [syn: furniture, piece of furniture, article of
furniture]
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investiture
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n 1: the ceremony of installing a new monarch [syn:
coronation, enthronement, enthronization,
enthronisation, investiture]
2: the ceremonial act of clothing someone in the insignia of an
office; the formal promotion of a person to an office or rank
[syn: investment, investiture]
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judicature
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n 1: an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct
judicial business [syn: court, tribunal, judicature]
2: the system of law courts that administer justice and
constitute the judicial branch of government [syn:
judiciary, judicature, judicatory, judicial system]
3: the act of meting out justice according to the law [syn:
administration, judicature]
4: the position of judge [syn: judgeship, judicature]
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legislature
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n 1: persons who make or amend or repeal laws [syn:
legislature, legislative assembly, legislative body,
general assembly, law-makers]
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ligature
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n 1: (music) a group of notes connected by a slur
2: character consisting of two or more letters combined into one
3: a metal band used to attach a reed to the mouthpiece of a
clarinet or saxophone
4: thread used by surgeons to bind a vessel (as to constrict the
flow of blood)
5: something used to tie or bind [syn: binder, ligature]
6: the act of tying or binding things together [syn: tying,
ligature]
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literature
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n 1: creative writing of recognized artistic value
2: the humanistic study of a body of literature; "he took a
course in Russian lit" [syn: literature, lit]
3: published writings in a particular style on a particular
subject; "the technical literature"; "one aspect of Waterloo
has not yet been treated in the literature"
4: the profession or art of a writer; "her place in literature
is secure"
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miniature
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adj 1: being on a very small scale; "a miniature camera"
n 1: painting or drawing included in a book (especially in
illuminated medieval manuscripts) [syn: miniature,
illumination]
2: a copy that reproduces a person or thing in greatly reduced
size [syn: miniature, toy]
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musculature
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n 1: the muscular system of an organism [syn: muscular
structure, musculature, muscle system]
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myrrh
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n 1: aromatic resin that is burned as incense and used in
perfume [syn: myrrh, gum myrrh, sweet cicely]
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nomenclature
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n 1: a system of words used to name things in a particular
discipline; "legal terminology"; "biological nomenclature";
"the language of sociology" [syn: terminology,
nomenclature, language]
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overture
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n 1: orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or
oratorio
2: something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what
follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment";
"drinks were the overture to dinner" [syn: preliminary,
overture, prelude]
3: a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of
others; "she rejected his advances" [syn: overture,
advance, approach, feeler]
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portraiture
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n 1: a word picture of a person's appearance and character [syn:
portrayal, portraiture, portrait]
2: the activity of making portraits
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prelature
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n 1: prelates collectively [syn: prelacy, prelature]
2: the office or station of a prelate [syn: prelacy,
prelature]
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premature
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adj 1: born after a gestation period of less than the normal
time; "a premature infant" [ant: full-term]
2: too soon or too hasty; "our condemnation of him was a bit
previous"; "a premature judgment" [syn: previous(p),
premature]
3: uncommonly early or before the expected time; "illness led to
his premature death"; "alcohol brought him to an untimely
end" [syn: premature, untimely]
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primogeniture
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n 1: right of inheritance belongs exclusively to the eldest son
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purr
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n 1: a low vibrating sound typical of a contented cat
v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir,
birr, purr]
2: indicate pleasure by purring; characteristic of cats [syn:
purr, make vibrant sounds]
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shirr
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v 1: bake (eggs) in their shells until they are set; "shirr the
eggs"
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signature
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n 1: your name written in your own handwriting
2: a distinguishing style; "this room needs a woman's touch"
[syn: touch, signature]
3: a melody used to identify a performer or a dance band or
radio/tv program [syn: signature, signature tune, theme
song]
4: the sharps or flats that follow the clef and indicate the key
[syn: key signature, signature]
5: a sheet with several pages printed on it; it folds to page
size and is bound with other signatures to form a book
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sir
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n 1: term of address for a man
2: a title used before the name of knight or baronet
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slur
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n 1: (music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played
legato
2: a disparaging remark; "in the 19th century any reference to
female sexuality was considered a vile aspersion"; "it is
difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to
any slur on his virility" [syn: aspersion, slur]
3: a blemish made by dirt; "he had a smudge on his cheek" [syn:
smudge, spot, blot, daub, smear, smirch, slur]
v 1: play smoothly or legato; "the pianist slurred the most
beautiful passage in the sonata"
2: speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur; "your
comments are slurring your co-workers"
3: utter indistinctly
4: become vague or indistinct; "The distinction between the two
theories blurred" [syn: blur, dim, slur] [ant:
focalise, focalize, focus]
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spur
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n 1: a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something;
"the ceaseless prodding got on his nerves" [syn: goad,
goading, prod, prodding, urging, spur,
spurring]
2: any sharply pointed projection [syn: spur, spine,
acantha]
3: tubular extension at the base of the corolla in some flowers
4: a sharp prod fixed to a rider's heel and used to urge a horse
onward; "cowboys know not to squat with their spurs on" [syn:
spur, gad]
5: a railway line connected to a trunk line [syn: branch line,
spur track, spur]
v 1: incite or stimulate; "The Academy was formed to spur
research"
2: give heart or courage to [syn: spur, goad]
3: strike with a spur
4: goad with spurs; "the rider spurred his horse"
5: equip with spurs; "spur horses"
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stir
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n 1: a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event; "he
made a great splash and then disappeared" [syn: stir,
splash]
2: emotional agitation and excitement
3: a rapid active commotion [syn: bustle, hustle, flurry,
ado, fuss, stir]
v 1: move an implement through; "stir the soup"; "stir my
drink"; "stir the soil"
2: move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat" [syn: stir,
shift, budge, agitate]
3: stir feelings in; "stimulate my appetite"; "excite the
audience"; "stir emotions" [syn: stimulate, excite,
stir]
4: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of; "These stories
shook the community"; "the civil war shook the country" [syn:
stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir]
5: affect emotionally; "A stirring movie"; "I was touched by
your kind letter of sympathy" [syn: touch, stir]
6: summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by
magic; "raise the specter of unemployment"; "he conjured wild
birds in the air"; "call down the spirits from the mountain"
[syn: raise, conjure, conjure up, invoke, evoke,
stir, call down, arouse, bring up, put forward,
call forth]
7: to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping
children began to stir" [syn: arouse, stir]
8: mix or add by stirring; "Stir nuts into the dough"
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tablature
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n 1: a musical notation indicating the fingering to be used
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temperature
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n 1: the degree of hotness or coldness of a body or environment
(corresponding to its molecular activity)
2: the somatic sensation of cold or heat
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voucher
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n 1: someone who vouches for another or for the correctness of a
statement [syn: voucher, verifier]
2: a document that serves as evidence of some expenditure
3: a negotiable certificate that can be detached and redeemed as
needed [syn: coupon, voucher]
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vulture
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n 1: any of various large diurnal birds of prey having naked
heads and weak claws and feeding chiefly on carrion
2: someone who attacks in search of booty [syn: marauder,
predator, vulture, piranha]
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watcher
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n 1: a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as
an exhibition of some kind); "the spectators applauded the
performance"; "television viewers"; "sky watchers
discovered a new star" [syn: spectator, witness,
viewer, watcher, looker]
2: a guard who keeps watch [syn: watchman, watcher,
security guard]
3: a person who keeps a devotional vigil by a sick bed or by a
dead body
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whir
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n 1: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's
wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: whir, whirr,
whirring, birr]
v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir,
birr, purr]
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whirr
0
n 1: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's
wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: whir, whirr,
whirring, birr]
v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir,
birr, purr]
2: make a vibrant sound, as of some birds [syn: churr,
whirr]
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ur
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n 1: an ancient city of Sumer located on a former channel of the
Euphrates River
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murre
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n 1: black-and-white diving bird of northern seas
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confiture
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n 1: preserved or candied fruit
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chirr
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v 1: make a vibrant noise, of grasshoppers or cicadas
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magistrature
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n 1: the position of magistrate [syn: magistracy,
magistrature]
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churr
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v 1: make a vibrant sound, as of some birds [syn: churr,
whirr]
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crenature
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n 1: one of a series of rounded projections (or the notches
between them) formed by curves along an edge (as the edge
of a leaf or piece of cloth or the margin of a shell or a
shriveled red blood cell observed in a hypertonic solution
etc.) [syn: scallop, crenation, crenature, crenel,
crenelle]
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quadrature
0
n 1: the construction of a square having the same area as some
other figure
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garniture
0
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her
0
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per
0
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were
0
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bircher
0
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fleur
0
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chirre
0
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knur
0
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skirr
0
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coverture
0