16-letter words containing w, h, o, l
- luck of the draw — the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities: With my luck I'll probably get pneumonia.
- man of the world — a man who is widely experienced in the ways of the world and people; an urbane, sophisticated man.
- mauchly, john w. — John Mauchly
- molecular weight — the average weight of a molecule of an element or compound measured in units once based on the weight of one hydrogen atom taken as the standard or on 1/16 (0.0625) the weight of an oxygen atom, but after 1961 based on 1/12 (0.083) the weight of the carbon-12 atom; the sum of the atomic weights of all the atoms in a molecule. Abbreviation: mol. wt.
- new commonwealth — a term used esp in the latter part of the 20th century in Britain to describe countries in the British Commonwealth that became independent after World War II
- new haven colony — a settlement founded in 1638 by John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton at Quinnipiac (now New Haven, Conn.).
- otherworldliness — The quality of being otherworldly.
- overhead railway — elevated railroad.
- overwhelmingness — that overwhelms; overpowering: The temptation to despair may become overwhelming.
- philip of swabia — 1180?–1208, king of Germany and uncrowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1198–1208 (son of Frederick I).
- place of worship — religious house: church, temple
- public ownership — ownership by the state; nationalization
- rochelle powders — (not in technical use) Seidlitz powders.
- show one's heels — to run away
- showy crab apple — a large Japanese bush or tree, Malus floribunda, of the rose family, having red fruit and rose-colored flowers that fade to white.
- the commonwealth — the government in England under the Cromwells and Parliament from 1649 to 1660
- the little woman — one's wife
- the two sicilies — a former kingdom of S Italy, consisting of the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples (1061–1860)
- the welsh office — (formerly) a department of the British government with responsibility for Welsh policies. It was replaced by the Wales office in 1999.
- the worried well — people who are healthy but are concerned about becoming ill and so take medication or see a medical practitioner when they don't need to
- the yellow press — (formerly) popular newspapers publishing sensational stories
- this-worldliness — concern or preoccupation with worldly things and values.
- throw for a loop — a portion of a cord, ribbon, etc., folded or doubled upon itself so as to leave an opening between the parts.
- throw oneself at — to propel or cast in any way, especially to project or propel from the hand by a sudden forward motion or straightening of the arm and wrist: to throw a ball.
- throw oneself on — to rely entirely upon
- tightrope walker — performer who walks on high wire
- to draw the line — If you draw the line at a particular activity, you refuse to do it, because you disapprove of it or because it is more extreme than what you normally do.
- to hold your own — If you hold your own, you are able to resist someone who is attacking or opposing you.
- two-family house — a house designed for occupation by two families in contiguous apartments, as on separate floors.
- two-tailed pasha — a distinctive vanessid butterfly of S Europe, Charaxes jasius, having mottled brown wings with a yellow-orange margin and frilled hind edges
- twofold purchase — a purchase using a double standing block and a double running block so as to give a mechanical advantage of four or five, neglecting friction, depending on whether the hauling is on the standing block or the running block.
- unpublished work — a literary work that has not been reproduced for sale or publicly distributed.
- up to the elbows — deeply engaged (in work, etc.)
- walk a tightrope — be in a precarious position
- walrus moustache — a long thick moustache drooping at the ends
- way of all flesh — a novel (1903) by Samuel Butler.
- way of the world — a comedy of manners (1700) by William Congreve.
- well thought out — produced by or showing the results of much thought: a carefully thought-out argument.
- well-thought-out — produced by or showing the results of much thought: a carefully thought-out argument.
- well-upholstered — (of a person) fat
- wheel of fortune — wheel (def 9).
- wheelbarrow race — a race in which one member of each team of two walks on his or her hands while the legs are held up by the partner.
- wheelchair-bound — unable to walk through injury, illness, etc and relying on a wheelchair to move around
- white blood cell — any of various nearly colorless cells of the immune system that circulate mainly in the blood and lymph and participate in reactions to invading microorganisms or foreign particles, comprising the B cells, T cells, macrophages, monocytes, and granulocytes.
- white globe lily — a bulbous Californian plant, Calochortus albus, of the lily family, having egg-shaped white flowers with a purplish base.
- white sandalwood — the fragrant heartwood of any of certain Asian trees of the genus Santalum, used for ornamental carving and burned as incense.
- whole nine yards — a common unit of linear measure in English-speaking countries, equal to 3 feet or 36 inches, and equivalent to 0.9144 meter.
- whole-tone scale — a scale progressing entirely by whole tones, as C, D, E, F♯, G♯, A♯, C.
- wholeheartedness — fully or completely sincere, enthusiastic, energetic, etc.; hearty; earnest: a wholehearted attempt to comply.
- wild goose chase — a wild or absurd search for something nonexistent or unobtainable: a wild-goose chase looking for a building long demolished.