17 July 2013

varsity

[vahr-si-tee]

noun, plural var·si·ties, adjective

noun

1. any first-string team, especially in sports, that represents a school, college, university, or the like: He is on the varsity in tennis and in debating.
2. Chiefly British Informal. university.
adjective
3. of or pertaining to a university or school team, activity, or competition: a varsity debater.
Origin:
1840–50; compare versity university, in 17th century; pronunciation probably preserves historical outcome of Middle English ĕr, as in varmint

Related forms
in·ter·var·si·ty, adjective

Today’s aphorism

In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took,but how many moments took your breath away.

Shing Xiong

On this day

17 July 1774 – Captain James Cook arrives in New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).

17 July 1976 – 25 African countries boycott the opening ceremony of the Montreal Olympics in protest against New Zealand’s sporting links with South Africa.

17 July 1979 – In Nicaragua, Marxist Sandinista rebels overthrow the U.S. sponsored government of President Samoza, who flees to the United States.