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  • kill

    kill 2 (kl)

    n. New York State

    See creek. See Regional Notes at stoop2, run.

    Dutch kil, from Middle Dutch kille.

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/kill

    January 10, 2013

  • jacquard

    Jac·quard (jkärd, j-kärd, zhä-kär), Joseph Marie 1752-1834.

    French inventor of the jacquard loom (1801), the first automatic loom able to weave complex patterns.

    jac·quard also Jac·quard (jkärd, j-kärd)

    n.

    1. A fabric with an intricately woven pattern.

    2. A special loom or the method employed in the weaving of a figured fabric.

    After Joseph Marie Jacquard.

    jacquard adj.

    Jacquard ˈdʒækɑːd dʒəˈkɑːd (French) ʒakar

    n

    1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) Also called Jacquard weave a fabric in which the design is incorporated into the weave instead of being printed or dyed on

    2. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Knitting & Sewing) Also called Jacquard loom the loom that produces this fabric

    named after Joseph M. Jacquard (1752-1834), French inventor

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. Jacquard - French inventor of the Jacquard loom that could automatically weave complicated patterns (1752-1834)

    Joseph M. Jacquard, Joseph Marie Jacquard

    2. jacquard - a highly figured fabric woven on a Jacquard loom

    cloth, fabric, textile, material - artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent"; "woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC"; "she measured off enough material for a dress"

    3. Jacquard - a loom with an attachment for forming openings for the passage of the shuttle between the warp threads; used in weaving figured fabrics

    Jacquard loom

    loom - a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/jacquard

    January 10, 2013

  • hawser

    haw·ser (hôzr)

    n.

    A cable or rope used in mooring or towing a ship.

    Middle English, from Anglo-Norman haucer, from Old French haucier, to hoist, from Vulgar Latin *altire, alteration of Late Latin altre, from Latin altus, high; see al-2 in Indo-European roots.

    hawser ˈhɔːzə

    n

    (Transport / Nautical Terms) Nautical a large heavy rope

    from Anglo-French hauceour, from Old French haucier to hoist, ultimately from Latin altus high

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. hawser - large heavy rope for nautical use

    rope - a strong line

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hawser

    January 10, 2013

  • bollard

    bol·lard (blrd)

    n.

    1. Nautical A thick post on a ship or wharf, used for securing ropes and hawsers.

    2. One of a series of posts preventing vehicles from entering an area.

    Middle English, probably from bole, tree trunk; see bole1.

    bollard ˈbɒlɑːd ˈbɒləd

    n

    1. (Transport / Nautical Terms) a strong wooden or metal post mounted on a wharf, quay, etc., used for securing mooring lines

    2. (Engineering / Civil Engineering) Brit a small post or marker placed on a kerb or traffic island to make it conspicuous to motorists

    3. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Mountaineering) Mountaineering an outcrop of rock or pillar of ice that may be used to belay a rope

    perhaps from bole1 + -ard

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. bollard - a strong post (as on a wharf or quay or ship for attaching mooring lines); "the road was closed to vehicular traffic with bollards"

    bitt

    bitthead - the upper end of a bitt

    pier, wharf, wharfage, dock - a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

    post - an upright consisting of a piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position; "he set a row of posts in the ground and strung barbwire between them"

    riding bitt - one of the large bitts used to secure the cable of a dropped anchor

    ship - a vessel that carries passengers or freight

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bollard

    January 10, 2013

  • passional

    pas·sion·al (psh-nl)

    adj.

    Of, relating to, or filled with passion.

    n.

    A book of the sufferings of saints and martyrs.

    passional ˈpæʃənəl

    adj

    of, relating to, or due to passion or the passions

    n

    (Christian Religious Writings / Theology) a book recounting the sufferings of Christian martyrs or saints

    References in classic literature

    But this two-legged god-devil did not rage blindly and was incapable of passional heat.

    Michael, Brother of Jerry by London, Jack View in context

    It went through Saxon until she was as this instrument, swept with passional strains.

    The Valley of the Moon by London, Jack

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/passional

    January 10, 2013

  • fleer

    fleer (flîr)

    intr.v. fleered, fleer·ing, fleers

    To smirk or laugh in contempt or derision.

    n.

    A taunting, scoffing, or derisive look or gibe.

    Middle English flerien, of Scandinavian origin.

    fleering·ly adv.

    fleer flɪə Archaic

    vb

    to grin or laugh at; scoff; sneer

    n

    a derisory glance or grin

    of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian flire to snigger

    fleeringly adv

    fleer - To laugh in a disrespectful or jeering way.

    See also related terms for laugh.

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. fleer - someone who flees from an uncongenial situation; "fugitives from the sweatshops"

    fugitive, runaway

    individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"

    2. fleer - contempt expressed by mockery in looks or words

    scorn, contempt - open disrespect for a person or thing

    Verb 1. fleer - to smirk contemptuously

    simper, smirk - smile affectedly or derisively

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fleer

    January 10, 2013

  • Hurdy gurdy

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    (Redirected from Hurdy-gurdy)

    This article is about the musical instrument. For the video game with a similar name, see Herdy Gerdy. For the 1968 song, see Hurdy Gurdy Man.

    The hurdy gurdy or hurdy-gurdy is a stringed musical instrument that produces sound by a crank-turned rosined wheel rubbing against the strings. The wheel functions much like a violin bow, and single notes played on the instrument sound similar to a violin. Melodies are played on a keyboard that presses tangents (small wedges, typically made of wood) against one or more of the strings to change their pitch. Like most other acoustic stringed instruments, it has a sound board to make the vibration of the strings audible.

    Most hurdy gurdies have multiple drone strings, which give a constant pitch accompaniment to the melody, resulting in a sound similar to that of bagpipes. For this reason, the hurdy gurdy is often used interchangeably or along with bagpipes, particularly in French and contemporary Hungarian and Galician folk music.

    Many folk music festivals in Europe feature music groups with hurdy gurdy players, with the most famous annual festival occurring at Saint-Chartier, in the Indre département, in central France, during the week nearest July 14 (Bastille Day).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurdy-gurdy

    January 10, 2013

  • amanuensis

    a·man·u·en·sis (-mny-nss)

    n. pl. a·man·u·en·ses (-sz)

    One who is employed to take dictation or to copy manuscript.

    amanuensis əˌmænjʊˈɛnsɪs

    n pl -ses -siːz

    a person employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts

    from Latin āmanuensis, from the phrase servus ā manū slave at hand (that is, handwriting)

    amanuensis

    Formal. 1. a secretary.

    2. a scribe or copyist.

    amanuensis - Literally "slave at hand"—for a literary assistant, especially one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.

    World English Dictionary

    amanuensis (əˌmænjʊˈɛnsɪs)

    — n , pl -ses

    a person employed to take dictation or to copy manuscripts

    C17: from Latin āmanuensis, from the phrase servus ā manū slave at hand (that is, handwriting)

    Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition

    2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins

    Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

    Cite This Source

    Etymonline

    Word Origin & History

    amanuensis

    "one who takes dictation," 1610s, from L. amanuensis, from servus a manu "secretary," lit. "servant from the hand," from a "from" + manu, ablative of manus "hand" (see manual).

    Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

    January 10, 2013

  • ter·giv·er·sate (tr-jvr-st, tûrj-vr-)

    intr.v. ter·giv·er·sat·ed, ter·giv·er·sat·ing, ter·giv·er·sates

    1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.

    2. To change sides; apostatize.

    Latin tergiversr, tergiverst- : tergum, the back + versre, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.

    tergi·ver·sation n.

    tergi·ver·sator (-str) n.

    tergiversate ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt

    vb (intr)

    1. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize

    2. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate

    from Latin tergiversārī to turn one's back, from tergum back + vertere to turn

    tergiversation n

    tergiversator , tergiversant ˈtɜːdʒɪˌvɜːsənt n

    tergiversatory adj

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Verb 1. tergiversate - be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

    beat around the bush, equivocate, palter, prevaricate

    misinform, mislead - give false or misleading information to

    2. tergiversate - abandon one's beliefs or allegiances

    apostatise, apostatize

    repudiate, disown, renounce - cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son"

    January 10, 2013

  • ter·giv·er·sate (tr-jvr-st, tûrj-vr-)

    intr.v. ter·giv·er·sat·ed, ter·giv·er·sat·ing, ter·giv·er·sates

    1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.

    2. To change sides; apostatize.

    Latin tergiversr, tergiverst- : tergum, the back + versre, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.

    tergi·ver·sation n.

    tergi·ver·sator (-str) n.

    tergiversate ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt

    vb (intr)

    1. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize

    2. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate

    from Latin tergiversārī to turn one's back, from tergum back + vertere to turn

    tergiversation n

    tergiversator , tergiversant ˈtɜːdʒɪˌvɜːsənt n

    tergiversatory adj

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Verb 1. tergiversate - be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

    beat around the bush, equivocate, palter, prevaricate

    misinform, mislead - give false or misleading information to

    2. tergiversate - abandon one's beliefs or allegiances

    apostatise, apostatize

    repudiate, disown, renounce - cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son"

    January 10, 2013

  • ter·giv·er·sate (tr-jvr-st, tûrj-vr-)

    intr.v. ter·giv·er·sat·ed, ter·giv·er·sat·ing, ter·giv·er·sates

    1. To use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate.

    2. To change sides; apostatize.

    Latin tergiversr, tergiverst- : tergum, the back + versre, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.

    tergi·ver·sation n.

    tergi·ver·sator (-str) n.

    tergiversate ˈtɜːdʒɪvəˌseɪt

    vb (intr)

    1. to change sides or loyalties; apostatize

    2. to be evasive or ambiguous; equivocate

    from Latin tergiversārī to turn one's back, from tergum back + vertere to turn

    tergiversation n

    tergiversator , tergiversant ˈtɜːdʒɪˌvɜːsənt n

    tergiversatory adj

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Verb 1. tergiversate - be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

    beat around the bush, equivocate, palter, prevaricate

    misinform, mislead - give false or misleading information to

    2. tergiversate - abandon one's beliefs or allegiances

    apostatise, apostatize

    repudiate, disown, renounce - cast off; "She renounced her husband"; "The parents repudiated their son"

    January 10, 2013

  • theic

    Definitions

    Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

    n. One who is addicted to the immoderate use of tea; a tea-drunkard.

    This word comes from the Latin ‘the-a,’ tea.

    Examples

    “It is customary to speak of acute, subacute, and chronic 'theism' - a form that has no connection with theological matters. It is possible to be a ‘theic’ by profession or a ‘theic’ by passion.” ‘Tea Drinkers’ Diseases,’ Star, October 20, 1886

    January 10, 2013

  • fibissedah:

    some notes: could find this in none of the usual places; Google

    offered to check Google books, and Ta da! it found the above quoted

    twice in the book

    . It is now shown as a result when searched. Also,

    the book used proportional font, and though followed the book sentence

    structure, it doesn't look the same. Cannot be copied in any way

    no cut -paste, or CTR-C so had to write the thing out).

    http://books.google.com/books?id=EUbXtBV8ko8C&pg=PA50&lpg=

    PA50&dq=Fibissedah&source=bl&ots=uDnuSqwInk&sig=v1_sqL1p2TN-

    UCz374N8_xgyoQ0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VxoTT6vPEMLX0QGUyfyqAw&ved

    =0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Fibissedah&f=false

    Quote from the book;

    "An old friend, Jonathon, had once called me fibissedah - face.

    Yiddish. Meaning all my feelings paraded across my mug,

    clearly to be read. I remember his comment and adopted a

    purposeful neutrality."

    Shortcut Man: A Novel

    By P. G. Sturges

    http://books.google.com/books?id=EUbXtBV8ko8C&dq=Fibissedah&source=gbs

    _navlinks_s

    Shortcut Man: A Novel (Google eBook)

    P. G. Sturges

    19 Reviews

    Simon and Schuster, Feb 1, 2011 -

    Fiction - 224 pages

    Note: This was in a Gmail letter had saved, written to my brother and when tried copy/paste

    found to my dismay that half the text was lopped off. Measured the

    length of this screen on a piece of paper; held it over a new instance of

    the message copy/pasted from original, and went through the text, putting in "enter" when close to page length. Copied that and finally

    posted here. A pain equal to the first described.

    Personal note:

    Fibissedah is a condition from which I "suffer" in the sense that my

    wives have looked to my face when making a "request" to see my

    first reaction. If anything but wholesale joy is seen, anger and

    resentment result. Instantly. Mind you, am _processing_, and if I

    get that far, my response is either to negotiate (let me finish this

    chapter) or outright delight (and what else can I get you?). The key

    in quote below is "paraded", but does it get that far?

    Not. For. A. Fuckin. Second. An instantaneous reaction is invoked.

    I feel this to be terribly unfair - or to be more truthful, outraged

    (of course); but then who knows us best?

    As they say in the rooms with bad coffee, "We don't have relation-

    ships, we take hostages."

    January 10, 2013

  • alexz, you pretty well nailed them. Am in awe. Been hanging on to that article for over a year and now know why. Pretty awesome performance. thanks.

    January 10, 2013

  • Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples

    COMMENTS (1295)

    Continue reading the main story

    In today's Magazine

    The girls stolen from the streets of India

    Mystery writers seek science accuracy

    Could America get a $1tn coin?

    How do Armenians feel about Kim Kardashian's fame?

    The Magazine's recent piece on Americanisms entering the language in the UK prompted thousands of you to e-mail examples.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14201796

    January 9, 2013

  • Grig;

    A cricket of the family Field crickets (Orthoptera, Gryllidae, Gryllinae) .

    http://academic.macewan.ca/judgek3/research/

    Kevin A Judge discusses the carnivorous habits of female crickets while mating. Followed links from a CBS article containing a video of female eating her mate (.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57562728/watch-small-insects-engage-in-cannibal-sex/

    to http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2013/01/cannibal-grig-sex.html

    to aforementioned http://academic.macewan.ca/judgek3/research/

    A word new to me, though I am an amateur entomologist (specializing in a few families of beetles; some I discovered that were new to science have been named after me.

    January 9, 2013

  • cytizenship

    A slang term used to describe the feeling of belonging in cyberspace. For example, this could be owning real estate in cyberspace, such as a domain name. It is also used to describe interactions of people in cyberspace through blogs, chat rooms, instant messaging, discussion forums and other places where people can communicate online.

    Source: Webopedia Daily newsletters@itbusinessedge.com

    January 9, 2013

  • Anatolia ˌænəˈtəʊlɪə

    n

    (Placename) the Asian part of Turkey, occupying the peninsula between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean: consists of a plateau, largely mountainous, with salt lakes in the interior Historical name Asia Minor

    Wikipedia:

    Anatolia (from Greek Ἀνατολή, Anatolē — "east" or "(sun)rise"; also Asia Minor, from Greek: Μικρὰ Ἀσία Mikrá Asía "small Asia"; in modern Turkish: Anadolu) is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey.1 The region is bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Aegean Sea to the west. The Sea of Marmara forms a connection between the Black and Aegean Seas through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, and separates Anatolia from Thrace on the European mainland. Traditionally, Anatolia is considered to extend in the east to a line between the Gulf of Iskenderun and the Black Sea, approximately corresponding to the western two-thirds of the Asian part of Turkey. However, since Anatolia is now often considered to be synonymous with Asian Turkey, its eastern and southeastern borders are widely taken to be the Turkish borders with the neighboring countries, which are Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria, in clockwise direction.

    Anatolia has been inhabited by many peoples throughout history, such as the Hattians, Hurrians, Hittites, Luwians, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Greeks, Assyrians, Mitanni, Scythians, Cimmerians, Urartians, Carians, Commagene, Cilicians, Arameans, Kaskians, Mushki, Palaic, Corduene, Armenians, Romans, Colchians, Iberians, Georgians, Kurds, Seljuk Turks, and Ottomans. Each culture left behind unique artifacts, still being uncovered by archeologists.

    January 9, 2013

  • Anatolia ˌænəˈtəʊlɪə

    n

    (Placename) the Asian part of Turkey, occupying the peninsula between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean: consists of a plateau, largely mountainous, with salt lakes in the interior Historical name Asia Minor.

    (skipped the thesaurus)

    January 9, 2013

  • Short word, really long definition as word has many usages:

    Slough alternate sp. slue, slou

    A borough of southeast England, a residential and industrial suburb of London. Population: 126,000.

    slough 1 (sl, slou) also slew (sl)

    n.

    1. A depression or hollow, usually filled with deep mud or mire.

    2. also slue A stagnant swamp, marsh, bog, or pond, especially as part of a bayou, inlet, or backwater.

    3. A state of deep despair or moral degradation.

    Middle English, from Old English slh.

    sloughy adj.

    slough 2 (slf)

    n.

    1. The dead outer skin shed by a reptile or amphibian.

    2. Medicine A layer or mass of dead tissue separated from surrounding living tissue, as in a wound, sore, or inflammation.

    3. An outer layer or covering that is shed.

    v. sloughed, slough·ing, sloughs

    v.intr.

    1. To be cast off or shed; come off: The snake's skin sloughs off.

    2. To shed a slough.

    3. Medicine To separate from surrounding living tissue. Used of dead tissue.

    v.tr.

    To discard as undesirable or unfavorable; get rid of: slough off former associates.

    Middle English slughe.

    Slough slaʊ

    n

    1. (Placename) an industrial town in SE central England, in Slough unitary authority, Berkshire; food products, high-tech industries. Pop.: 118 008 (1998 est.)

    2. (Placename) a unitary authority in SE central England, in Berkshire. Pop.: 119 070 (2001). Area: 28 sq. km (11 sq. miles)

    slough1

    n

    1. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a hollow filled with mud; bog

    2. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) US and Canadian

    a. (in the prairies) a large hole where water collects or the water in such a hole

    b. (in the northwest) a sluggish side channel of a river

    c. (on the Pacific coast) a marshy saltwater inlet

    3. despair or degradation

    Old English slōh; related to Middle High German sluoche ditch, Swedish slaga swamp

    sloughy adj

    slough2

    n

    1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) any outer covering that is shed, such as the dead outer layer of the skin of a snake, the cellular debris in a wound, etc.

    2. (Group Games / Bridge) Also sluff Bridge a discarded card

    vb

    1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) (often foll by off) to shed (a skin, etc.) or (of a skin, etc.) to be shed

    2. (Group Games / Bridge) Also sluff Bridge to discard (a card or cards)

    of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German slū husk, German Schlauch hose, Norwegian slō fleshy part of a horn

    sloughy adj

    slough (slf)

    Noun

    The dead outer skin shed by a reptile or an amphibian.

    Verb

    To shed an outer layer of skin.

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. slough - necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass

    gangrene, sphacelus

    pathology - any deviation from a healthy or normal condition

    cold gangrene, dry gangrene, mumification necrosis, mummification - (pathology) gangrene that develops in the presence of arterial obstruction and is characterized by dryness of the dead tissue and a dark brown color

    clostridial myonecrosis, emphysematous gangrene, emphysematous phlegmon, gangrenous emphysema, gas gangrene, gas phlegmon, progressive emphysematous necrosis - (pathology) a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by clostridium bacteria that produce toxins that cause tissue death; can be used as a bioweapon

    2. slough - a hollow filled with mud

    bog, peat bog - wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation; has poorer drainage than a swamp; soil is unfit for cultivation but can be cut and dried and used for fuel

    3. slough - a stagnant swamp (especially as part of a bayou)

    swamp, swampland - low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog

    4. slough - any outer covering that can be shed or cast off (such as the cast-off skin of a snake)

    covering, natural covering, cover - a natural object that covers or envelops; "under a covering of dust"; "the fox was flushed from its cover"

    Verb 1. slough - cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers; "our dog sheds every Spring"

    exuviate, molt, moult, shed

    desquamate, peel off - peel off in scales; "dry skin desquamates"

    cast off, shed, throw off, throw away, shake off, throw, cast, drop - get rid of; "he shed his image as a pushy boss"; "shed your clothes"

    January 9, 2013

  • Quite an interesting article; remember reading in `50s of a Masters thesis the subject of which was a word count of all words in the works of Shakespeare. Pre-computer.

    http://norvig.com/mayzner.html?wpisrc=nl_wonk

    English Letter Frequency Counts:

    Mayzner Revisited

    or

    ETAOIN SRHLDCU

    January 9, 2013

  • Just read this in a tech newsletter - used spruiking for selling.

    spruik ˈspruːɪk

    vb

    (intr) Austral archaic slang to speak in public (used esp of a showman or salesman)

    of unknown origin

    spruiker n

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    January 9, 2013

  • Wiktionary's word of the day:

    factitious:

    1. Created by humans; artificial.

    2. Counterfeit, fabricated.

    January 9, 2013

  • shisey - perhaps slang; read in book, find no definition. Unable to determine meaning in context.

    January 9, 2013

  • Bi`ba´cious

    a. 1. Addicted to drinking.

    Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co.

    January 9, 2013

  • ca·ber (kbr)

    n.

    A long heavy wooden pole tossed end over end as a demonstration of strength in Scottish highland games.

    Scottish Gaelic cabar, pole, beam, rafter, from Vulgar Latin *capri, from Latin capra, she-goat; see chevron.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    caber ˈkeɪbə (Scot) ˈkebər

    n

    (Individual Sports, other than specified) Scot a heavy section of trimmed tree trunk thrown in competition at Highland games (tossing the caber)

    from Gaelic cabar pole

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. caber - a heavy wooden pole (such as the trunk of a young fir) that is tossed as a test of strength (in the Highlands of northern Scotland)

    pole - a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 9, 2013

  • four-in-hand (fôrn-hnd, fr-)

    n.

    1. A team of four horses controlled by one driver.

    2. A vehicle drawn by four horses.

    3. A necktie tied in a slipknot with long ends left hanging one in front of the other.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    four-in-hand

    n

    1. (Engineering / Automotive Engineering) Also called tally-ho a road vehicle drawn by four horses and driven by one driver

    2. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Horse Training, Riding & Manège) a four-horse team in a coach or carriage

    3. (Clothing & Fashion) a long narrow tie formerly worn tied in a flat slipknot with the ends dangling

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. four-in-hand - a long necktie that is tied in a slipknot with one end hanging in front of the other

    necktie, tie - neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front; "he stood in front of the mirror tightening his necktie"; "he wore a vest and tie"

    2. four-in-hand - a carriage pulled by four horses with one driver

    coach-and-four, coach

    box seat, box - the driver's seat on a coach; "an armed guard sat in the box with the driver"

    carriage, equipage, rig - a vehicle with wheels drawn by one or more horses

    stagecoach, stage - a large coach-and-four formerly used to carry passengers and mail on regular routes between towns; "we went out of town together by stage about ten or twelve miles"

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 9, 2013

  • cul·ly (kl) Archaic

    n. pl. cul·lies

    A fool or dupe.

    tr.v. cul·lied, cul·ly·ing, cul·lies

    To fool; cheat.

    Perhaps from cullion.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    cully ˈkʌlɪ

    n pl -lies

    Slang pal; mate

    of unknown origin

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    January 9, 2013

  • nob·by (nb)

    adj. nob·bi·er, nob·bi·est

    Fashionable; stylish.

    From nob.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    January 9, 2013

  • ruche (rsh)

    n.

    A ruffle or pleat of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric used for trimming women's garments.

    French, from Old French rusche, beehive, from Medieval Latin rsca, bark of a tree (used for making beehives), of Celtic origin.

    ruched (rsht) adj.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    January 9, 2013

  • ca·chou (k-sh, ksh)

    n.

    A pastille used to sweeten the breath.

    French, from Portuguese cachu, from Malayalam kccu, from Tamil kyccu.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    cachou ˈkæʃuː kæˈʃuː

    n

    1. a lozenge eaten to sweeten the breath

    2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) another name for catechu

    via French from Portuguese, from Malay kāchu

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. cachou - a scented lozenge used to sweeten the breath (e.g. to conceal the odor of tobacco)

    lozenge - a small aromatic or medicated candy

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 9, 2013

  • grout (grout)

    n.

    1.

    a. A thin mortar used to fill cracks and crevices in masonry.

    b. A thin plaster for finishing walls and ceilings.

    2. Chiefly British Sediment; lees. Often used in the plural.

    tr.v. grout·ed, grout·ing, grouts

    To fill or finish with a thin mortar or plaster.

    Middle English, grain used for making malt, mud, from Old English grt, coarse meal.

    grouter n.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    grouts graʊts

    pl n

    1. Chiefly Brit sediment or grounds, as from making coffee

    2. (Cookery) a variant of groats

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    January 9, 2013

  • Or·ange·man (ôrnj-mn, r-)

    n.

    1. A member of a secret society founded in Northern Ireland in 1795 to maintain the political and religious ascendancy of Protestantism.

    2. A Protestant Irishman.

    After William, Prince of Orange, later King William III of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    Orangeman ˈɒrɪndʒmən

    n pl -men

    (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a member of a society founded in Ireland (1795) to uphold the Protestant religion, the Protestant dynasty, and the Protestant constitution. Orange Lodges have since spread to many parts of the former British Empire

    after William, prince of Orange (king of England as William III)

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. Orangeman - a member of a society founded in Ireland in 1795 to uphold Protestantism and the British sovereign

    Association of Orangemen, Orange Order - a Protestant political organization in Northern Ireland

    Protestant - an adherent of Protestantism

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 9, 2013

  • o·da·lisque also o·da·lisk (d-lsk)

    n.

    A woman slave in a harem.

    French, from Turkish dalik, chambermaid : dah, room + -lik, suff. expressing function.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    odalisque, odalisk ˈəʊdəlɪsk

    n

    a female slave or concubine

    via French, changed from Turkish ōdalik, from ōdah room + -lik n suffix

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. odalisque - a woman slave in a harem

    concubine, courtesan, doxy, paramour - a woman who cohabits with an important man

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 9, 2013

  • unc·tu·ous (ngkch-s)

    adj.

    1. Characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness: "the unctuous, complacent court composer who is consumed with envy and self-loathing" (Rhoda Koenig).

    2. Having the quality or characteristics of oil or ointment; slippery.

    3. Containing or composed of oil or fat.

    4. Abundant in organic materials; soft and rich: unctuous soil.

    Middle English, from Old French unctueus, from Medieval Latin nctusus, from Latin nctum, ointment, from neuter past participle of unguere, to anoint.

    unctu·ous·ly adv.

    unctu·ous·ness, unctu·osi·ty (-s-t) n.

    Synonyms: unctuous, fulsome, oily, oleaginous, smarmy

    These adjectives mean insincerely, self-servingly, or smugly agreeable or earnest: an unctuous toady; gave the dictator a fulsome introduction; oily praise; oleaginous hypocrisy; smarmy self-importance.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    unctuous ˈʌŋktjʊəs

    adj

    1. slippery or greasy

    2. affecting an oily charm

    from Medieval Latin unctuōsus, from Latin unctum ointment, from ungere to anoint

    unctuosity ˌʌŋktjʊˈɒsɪtɪ, unctuousness n

    unctuously adv

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Adj. 1. unctuous - unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; "buttery praise"; "gave him a fulsome introduction"; "an oily sycophantic press agent"; "oleaginous hypocrisy"; "smarmy self-importance"; "the unctuous Uriah Heep"; "soapy compliments"

    buttery, fulsome, oleaginous, smarmy, soapy, oily

    insincere - lacking sincerity; "a charming but thoroughly insincere woman"; "their praise was extravagant and insincere"

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    unctuous

    adjective

    1. obsequious, smooth, slick, plausible, oily, gushing, fawning, suave, glib, ingratiating, insincere, sycophantic, smarmy (Brit. informal) the kind of unctuous tone that I've heard at diplomatic parties

    2. oily, creamy, greasy, oleaginous Goose fat gives the most unctuous flavour.

    Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

    January 8, 2013

  • shank's mare Also found in: Idioms, Wikipedia

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. shank's mare - you own legs; "I traveled on shank's mare"

    shank's pony, shanks' mare, shanks' pony

    leg - a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 8, 2013

  • Miss Mollys (slang); Read in Canadian book depicting 1890's Toronto.

    In context, a homosexual.

    January 8, 2013

  • che·nille (sh-nl)

    n.

    1. A soft tufted cord of silk, cotton, or worsted used in embroidery or for fringing.

    2. Fabric made of this cord, commonly used for bedspreads or rugs.

    French chenille, caterpillar, chenille, from Latin cancula, diminutive of canis, dog; see kwon- in Indo-European roots.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    chenille ʃəˈniːl

    n

    1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) a thick soft tufty silk or worsted velvet cord or yarn used in embroidery and for trimmings, etc.

    2. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) a fabric of such yarn

    3. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Furniture) a rich and hard-wearing carpet of such fabric

    from French, literally: hairy caterpillar, from Latin canicula, diminutive of canis dog

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. chenille - a soft tufted cord used in embroidery

    chenille cord

    chenille - a heavy fabric woven with chenille cord; used in rugs and bedspreads

    cord - a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord"

    2. chenille - a heavy fabric woven with chenille cord; used in rugs and bedspreads

    chenille, chenille cord - a soft tufted cord used in embroidery

    cloth, fabric, textile, material - artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers; "the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent"; "woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC"; "she measured off enough material for a dress"

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 8, 2013

  • git (gt)

    v. Chiefly New England, Midland U.S., & Southern U.S.

    Variant of get.

    n. Chiefly British Slang

    Variant of get.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    git gɪt

    n Brit slang

    1. a contemptible person, often a fool

    2. a bastard

    from get (in the sense: to beget, hence a bastard, fool)

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. git - a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible; "only a rotter would do that"; "kill the rat"; "throw the bum out"; "you cowardly little pukes!"; "the British call a contemptible person a `git'"

    dirty dog, lowlife, puke, rotter, scum bag, skunk, so-and-so, stinker, stinkpot, bum, crumb, rat

    disagreeable person, unpleasant person - a person who is not pleasant or agreeable

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 8, 2013

  • toad·eat·er (tdtr)

    n.

    A toady.

    Originally, a charlatan's helper who ate (or pretended to eat) poisonous toads so that his employer could display his prowess in expelling the poison.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    toadeater ˈtəʊdˌiːtə

    n

    a rare word for toady 1

    originally a mountebank's assistant who would pretend to eat toads (believed to be poisonous), hence a servile flatterer, toady

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    January 8, 2013

  • drench cult (slang); Read in English NF book. In context meant to become a drunkard.

    January 8, 2013

  • sat·su·ma (st-sm, sä-tsmä, säts-mä)

    n.

    1. A seedless mandarin orange native to Japan and the hardiest commercial citrus fruit.

    2. Satsuma A Japanese porcelain. Also called Satsuma ware.

    After Satsuma, a peninsula of southwest Kyushu, Japan.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    satsuma sætˈsuːmə

    n

    1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a small citrus tree, Citrus nobilis var. unshiu, cultivated, esp in Japan, for its edible fruit

    2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) the fruit of this tree, which has a loose rind and easily separable segments

    originally from the province of Satsuma, Japan

    Satsuma ˈsætsʊˌmɑː

    n

    (Placename) a former province of SW Japan, on S Kyushu: famous for its porcelain

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. satsuma - a variety of mandarin orange

    satsuma tree

    satsuma - medium-sized largely seedless mandarin orange with thin smooth skin

    Citrus reticulata, mandarin, mandarin orange, mandarin orange tree - shrub or small tree having flattened globose fruit with very sweet aromatic pulp and thin yellow-orange to flame-orange rind that is loose and easily removed; native to southeastern Asia

    2. satsuma - medium-sized largely seedless mandarin orange with thin smooth skin

    mandarin orange, mandarin - a somewhat flat reddish-orange loose skinned citrus of China

    satsuma, satsuma tree - a variety of mandarin orange

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 8, 2013

  • em·bran·gle (m-brnggl)

    tr.v. em·bran·gled, em·bran·gling, em·bran·gles

    To entangle; embroil.

    en- + dialectal brangle, to shake, waver, confuse (variant of branle, brandle, from French branler, from Old French brandeler, perhaps from brand, sword; see brandish).

    em·brangle·ment n.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    embrangle ɪmˈbræŋgəl

    vb

    (tr) Rare to confuse or entangle

    from em- + obsolete brangle to wrangle, perhaps a blend of brawl1 + wrangle

    embranglement n

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Verb 1. embrangle - make more complicated or confused through entanglements

    snarl up, snarl

    complicate, perplex - make more complicated; "There was a new development that complicated the matter"

    snafu - cause to be in a state of complete confusion

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 8, 2013

  • Trappers pursued sea otters off the coast of California in one- to three-person, skin-covered kayaks called baidarkas, which were twelve to twenty-one feet long, and less than two feet wide. In this highly maneuverable, shallow-draft watercraft...

    Found in;

    When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail

    by Eric Jay Dolin by Liveright

    January 7, 2013

  • Online Science News With User Comments Fraught With Unintended Consequences, Study Suggests

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130103143203.htm

    January 4, 2013

  • dykes; slang for electricians wire cutting tool.

    Note; many other usages in engineering, etc.

    January 4, 2013

  • char4

    n

    (Cookery) Brit a slang word for tea

    from Chinese ch'a

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    January 4, 2013

  • Chatter broth; Tea

    January 4, 2013

  • Burtillon, Burtillonage measurements;

    Read in a novel about Canada ca 1895; Police use the (so far opaque) method of body measurements as a means to identify a corpse, in this case.

    Maureen Jennings "Except the Dying" c1997

    January 4, 2013

  • swage:

    A tool, used by blacksmiths and other metalworkers, for cold shaping of

    a metal item.

    January 4, 2013

  • Like, I'm Just Sayin' It's Annoying, You Know?

    Does hearing "whatever" or "like" make your blood boil? How about "you know" or "just sayin"? A recent Marist poll found that American adults find these to be some of the most annoying conversational words or phrases in the English language. While the disdain for "whatever" may not be surprising—this is its fourth consecutive year at the top of the list—there were some notable changes from last year's poll. "Twitterverse" and "gotcha" earned mentions in 2012, but "seriously" failed to make the cut. More... Discuss

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

    January 4, 2013

  • milium - A small, white or yellowish cystlike mass just below the surface of the skin, caused by retention of the secretion of a sebaceous gland.

    Synonyms: whitehead

    Usage: The soap promised to eradicate milia by thoroughly cleansing the skin and unclogging pores.

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

    January 4, 2013

  • peavey - A stout lever with a sharp spike; used for handling logs.

    Synonyms: cant dog, peavy

    Usage: The lumberjack rammed the peavey's spike into the log and rolled it toward the pile.

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

    January 4, 2013

  • Chryselephantine Sculpture

    Developed by the Greeks in the 6th century BCE, chryselephantine is a form of sculpture in which an inner core of wood is overlaid with ivory to simulate flesh. It is then trimmed with gold to simulate clothing and other adornments. The technique was used to make colossal religious statues for temples, but because the materials were so valuable, few examples remain intact today.

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

    January 4, 2013

  • clinquant

    Definitions

    Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

    n. Yellow copper; a showy, cheap alloy.

    n. Tinsel; false glitter.

    Decked with garish finery; glittering; flashy.

    ‘Clinquant’ comes from French a word meaning ‘glistening, tinkling.’

    Examples

    “I liked Jack, but not clinquant in crimson and gold, with spurs and sword clanking on the hard, frost-bitten road.” George Gough, The Yeoman Adventurer

    “The General and the generals went in and crowded the hall of audience, very clinquant with its black and white floor, glass chandeliers, long mirrors and single gilded center table.” Frank Norris, The Surrender of Santiago An Account of the Historic Surrender of Santiago to General Shafter

    “Lely supplied the want of taste with clinquant; his nymphs trail fringes, and embroidery, through meadows and purling streams.” The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851

    Wordnick.com/wordoftheday/

    January 4, 2013

  • Apologies to all the perfectionists out there; due to my unfamiliarity with use of the lists, I lost several words and comments. The comments are going to be out of sequence.

    Have a directory in Gmail titled "language" to which have been adding quotes, definitions of words encountered in reading &c. for a couple of years, including Word of the Day from Wordnik, and unfamiliar terms encountered on Wikipedia Main page.

    January 3, 2013

  • monstropolous

    New word for me, coined by a writer in a novel to describe the 1928 Florida Hurricane, second only the 1900 Galveston one in loss of life; at least 2500.

    January 3, 2013

  • http://www.thefreedictionary.com/absquatulate

    ab·squat·u·late (b-skwch-lt)

    intr.v. ab·squat·u·lat·ed, ab·squat·u·lat·ing, ab·squat·u·lates Midwestern & Western U.S.

    1.

    a. To depart in a hurry; abscond: "Your horse has absquatulated!" (Robert M. Bird).

    b. To die.

    2. To argue.

    Mock-Latinate formation, purporting to mean "to go off and squat elsewhere".

    Regional Note: In the 19th century, the vibrant energy of American English appeared in the use of Latin affixes to create jocular pseudo-Latin "learned" words. There is a precedent for this in the language of Shakespeare, whose plays contain scores of made-up Latinate words. Midwestern and Western U.S. absquatulate has a prefix ab-, "away from," and a suffix -ate, "to act upon in a specified manner," affixed to a nonexistent base form -squatul-, probably suggested by squat. Hence the whimsical absquatulate, "to squat away from." Another such coinage is Northern busticate, which joins bust with -icate by analogy with verbs like medicate. Southern argufy joins argue to a redundant -fy, "to make; cause to become." Today, these creations have an old-fashioned and rustic flavor curiously at odds with their elegance. They are kept alive in regions of the United States where change is slow. For example, Appalachian speech is characterized by the frequent use of words such as recollect, aggravate, and oblige.

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

    absquatulate æbˈskwɒtjʊˌleɪt

    vb

    (intr) to leave; decamp

    humorous formation as if from Latin

    Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Verb 1. absquatulate - run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along; "The thief made off with our silver"; "the accountant absconded with the cash from the safe"

    abscond, go off, make off, run off, decamp, bolt

    levant - run off without paying a debt

    flee, take flight, fly - run away quickly; "He threw down his gun and fled"

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    January 3, 2013

  • bilby, had been adding comments to each and every word, but due to my slow learning curve start, many of them 'went away'. I did have a comment on triffid (today's Word of the Day) and it seems to have evaporated. Going to have to go back and reapply where necessary. Think a URL would also be helpful - keep a permanent tab for thefreedictionary.com next to Wordnik, which is much richer in total words.

    Thanks for the help.

    January 3, 2013

  • triffid

    Definitions

    Wiktionary

    n. A fictional plant that is able to move around and kill people with a poisonous stinger.

    ‘Triffid’ was coined by science fiction writer John Wyndham in his novel, The Day of the Triffids. The word probably comes from ‘trifid,’ divided into three parts, says the Oxford English Dictionary, since ‘the plant was supported on ‘three bluntly-tapered projections extending from the lower part’ of the body.’

    Examples

    “Many of the plants have seeded and given way to a new regiment of sunflowers. Their huge yellow discs have risen triffid-like above everything else and they have all turned in a single direction.” Mark Cocker, ‘Country Diary: Claxton, Norfolk,’ The Guardian, October 3, 2010

    “Monstrous architecture is being allowed to spread across the Capital like ‘triffids’, according to one of the country’s leading design experts.” ‘City’s triffid invasion of bad designs,’ The Scotsman, May 6, 2002

    “Stunned Sadie Yates has seen her Agave shoot up like 'a Triffid' after waiting patiently for years for it to burst into life.” John Coles, ‘Sadie’s ‘Triffid’ Has Its Day,’ The Sun, July 15, 2o10

    http://www.wordnik.com/word-of-the-day 3 Jan 2013

    January 3, 2013

  • Seanchaí

    A seanchaí (ˈʃan̪ˠəxiː or ʃan̪ˠəˈxiː - plural: seanchaithe ˈʃan̪ˠəxɪhɪ) is a traditional Irish storyteller. A commonly encountered English spelling of the Irish word is shanachie.

    The word seanchaí, which was spelled seanchaidhe (plural seanchaidhthe) before the Irish-language spelling reform of 1948, means a bearer of "old lore" (seanchas). In the ancient Celtic culture, the history and laws of the people were not written down but memorized in long lyric poems which were recited by bards (filí), in a tradition echoed by the seanchaithe.

    The traditional art

    Seanchaithe used to be servants to chiefs of their tribe and kept track of important information for their clan.They were very well respected in their Clan. The seanchaithe made use of a range of storytelling conventions, styles of speech and gestures that were peculiar to the Irish folk tradition and characterized them as practitioners of their art. Although tales from literary sources found their way into the repertoires of the seanchaithe, a traditional characteristic of their art was the way in which a large corpus of tales was passed from one practitioner to another without ever being written down.

    Because of their role as custodians of an indigenous non-literary tradition, the seanchaithe are widely acknowledged to have inherited – although informally – the function of the filí of pre-Christian Ireland.

    Some seanchaithe however were not part of a clan , some were itinerants, traveling from one community to another offering their skills in exchange for food and temporary shelter. Others, however, were members of a settled community and might be termed "village storytellers" who told their marvelous stories and tales at ceremonies and community events, simialar to the servant Seanchaithe. The distinctive role and craft of the seanchaí is particularly associated with the Gaeltacht (the Irish-speaking areas of Ireland), although storytellers recognizable as seanchaithe were also to be found in rural areas throughout English-speaking Ireland. In their storytelling, some displayed archaic Hiberno-English idiom and vocabulary distinct from the style of ordinary conversation.

    Modern times

    Members of the Celtic Revival such as Padraic Colum took a great interest in the art of the seanchaí, and through them the stories that they told were written down, published, and distributed to a global audience.

    At events such as mummers' festival in New Inn, County Galway, and the All-Ireland Fleadh Ceoil storytellers who preserve the stories and oratory style of the seanchaithe continue to display their art and compete for awards. Eddie Lenihan is one notable modern-day seanchaí, based in County Clare, Ireland.

    Podcast

    Since 1 January 2005, Patrick E. McLean has written and produced a podcast under the title The Seanachaí.

    Other uses of the term

    The term is also found within Scottish Gaelic where it is spelt seanchaidh Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: ˈʃɛnaxɪ. All uses ultimately have their roots in the traditional poets attached to the households of ancient Gaelic nobility. In Scotland, it is commonly anglicised as shen(n)achie1.

    Notes

    ^ Robinson, M (1985) The Concise Scots Dictionary Chambers, Oxford ISBN 0-08-028491-4

    References

    Padraig Colum, editor, A Treasury of Irish Folklore.

    Frank DeLaney, Ireland.

    Patricia A. Lynch, Joachim Fischer, and Brian Coates, Back to the Present: Forward to the Past—Irish Writing and History since 1798.

    The Seanachai Homepage

    Video of a Seanchai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzP4FM3WqwY&feature=related

    See also

    Batt Burns, from County Kerry, is a living seanchaí.

    January 3, 2013

  • http://www.thefreedictionary.com/calque+formation

    ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

    Noun 1. calque formation - an expression introduced into one language by translating it from another language; "`superman' is a calque for the German `Ubermensch'"

    calque, loan translation

    locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"

    Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

    December 30, 2012

  • pinguid - Fat; oily.

    Synonyms: oily

    Usage: His car was splattered with some sort of pinguid substance, and washing it only seemed to spread the mess.

    December 30, 2012

  • refulgent - Shining radiantly; resplendent.

    Synonyms: effulgent, radiant, beaming

    Usage: Standing by the edge of the sea, they witnessed a refulgent sunset.

    December 30, 2012