Monthly Archives: December 2013

January 2014

Posted on by
Reply

31 January 2014

quango

[kwang-goh]

noun, plural quan·gos.

(especially in Great Britain) a semi-public advisory and administrative body supported by the government and having most of its members appointed by the government.

Origin:
1975–80; qu(asi)-a(utonomous) n(on-)g(overnmental) o(rganisation) or qu(asi)-a(utonomous) n(ational) g(overnmental) o(rganisation)

Anagram

quo nag

30 January 2014

rambunctious

[ram-buhngk-shuhs]

adjective

1. difficult to control or handle; wildly boisterous: a rambunctious child.
2. turbulently active and noisy: a social gathering that became rambunctious and out of hand.

Origin:
1820–30, Americanism; origin uncertain

Related forms
ram·bunc·tious·ly, adverb
ram·bunc·tious·ness, noun

Anagram

subatomic urn
barium counts
rum bacon suit

29 January 2014

diffident

Diffident

[dif-i-duhnt]

adjective

1. lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy, e.g. a diffident young man.
2. restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc, not diffident about speaking up.
3. Archaic. distrustful.

Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English < Latin diffīdent- (stem of diffīdēns mistrusting, despairing present participle of diffīdere ), equivalent to dif- dif- + fīd- trust + -ent- -ent
Related forms
dif·fi·dent·ly, adverb
dif·fi·dent·ness, noun
non·dif·fi·dent, adjective
non·dif·fi·dent·ly, adverb
un·dif·fi·dent, adjective
un·dif·fi·dent·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. self-conscious, self-effacing, abashed, embarrassed, modest, unassuming, unconfident. See shy

Anagram

fetid find
Fed find it

28 January 2014

forbear

[fawr-bair]

verb (used with object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.

1. to refrain or abstain from; desist from.
2. to keep back; withhold.
3. Obsolete . to endure.

verb (used without object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.

4. to refrain; hold back.
5. to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.

Origin:
before 900; Middle English forberen, Old English forberan. See for-, bear1

Related forms
for·bear·er, noun
for·bear·ing·ly, adverb
non·for·bear·ing, adjective
non·for·bear·ing·ly, adverb
un·for·bear·ing, adjective

Synonyms
1. forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

Example:

Have patience and forbear acting in anger.

Anagram

or be far
fear rob
fare orb

27 January 2014

beleaguer

[bih-lee-ger]

verb (used with object)

1. to surround with military forces.
2. to surround or beset, as with troubles.

Origin:

1580–90; be- + leaguer

Related forms
be·lea·guer·er, noun

Synonyms
2. harass, pester, badger, bother, vex, annoy, plague, hector.

Anagram

eagle rube
eager blue
ear bug eel
a beer glue

26 January 2014

burl

[burl]

1. noun

Australianism, Ockerism, strine

– to have a go at something, as in, ‘give it a burl’.

Origin

It’s first known usage in Australian slang was in 1917. ‘Burl’ originally meant to spin, whirl, twirl. This was transferred to usage in the game of two-up in which coins are flipped in the air. For someone about to flip or spin the coin in two-up, others would say to them to ‘give it a burl’. The expression entered broader usage for giving something a go. Clive James used the term in one of his 1981 poems to Prince Charles.

2. noun

i. a small knot or lump in wool, thread, or cloth.
ii. a dome-shaped growth on the trunk of a tree; a wartlike structure sometimes 2 feet (0.6 meters) across and 1 foot (0.3 meters) or more in height, sliced to make veneer.
verb (used with object)
iii. to remove burls from (cloth) in finishing.
Origin:

1400–50; late Middle English burle ≪ Old French; akin to Medieval Latin burla bunch, sheaf, Late Latin burra wool, fluff

Related forms
burl·er, noun

Anagram

blur

25 January 2014

tintinnabulation

[tin-ti-nab-yuh-ley-shuhn]

noun

– the ringing or sound of bells, e.g. Every Sunday he woke to the church’s tintinnabulation.

adjectives:

tintin’nabular

tintin’nabulary

tintin’nabulous

Origin:
1825–35, Americanism; < Latin tintinnābul ( um ) bell (see tintinnabular) + -ation

24 January 2014

farrago

[fuh-rah-goh, -rey-]

noun, plural far·ra·goes.

– a confused mixture; hodgepodge; medley: ‘a farrago of doubts, fears, hopes, and wishes’, ‘There was not one reasonable balanced statement in the whole farrago’, ‘Farrago of lies in one of the unpublished letters.

Origin:
1625–35; < Latin: literally, mixed crop of feed grains, equivalent to farr- (stem of far ) emmer + -āgō suffix noting kind or nature

Anagram

for a rag
fag roar

23 January 2014

misoneism

[mis-oh-nee-iz-uhm, mahy-soh-]

noun

– hatred or dislike of what is new or represents change.

Origin:
1885–90; < Italian misoneismo. See miso-, neo-, -ism

Related forms
mis·o·ne·ist, noun
mis·o·ne·is·tic, adjective

Anagram

me mission

22 January 2014

slowth

[sloh-th]

noun.

1. slow growth, such as slow economic growth, e.g. ‘the slowth was attributable to dwindling market confidence’. Etymology: combination of slow + growth.

2. (archaic, obsolete) – laziness, slowness to action, e.g. ‘but such was the reduced state of our Continental regiments, after the battle of Brandywine, and such the slowth and difficulty of procuring reinforcements of militia from the southward …’ (from the ‘Writings of George Washington’). Etymology: alternative form of sloth.

21 January 2014

dissemble

[dih-sem-buhl]

verb (used with object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

1. to give a false or misleading appearance to; conceal the truth or real nature of: to dissemble one’s incompetence in business.
2. to put on the appearance of; feign: to dissemble innocence.
3. Obsolete . to let pass unnoticed; ignore.

verb (used without object), dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling.

4. to conceal one’s true motives, thoughts, etc., by some pretense; speak or act hypocritically.

Origin:
1490–1500; alteration (by association with obsolete semble to resemble) of Middle English dissimulen < Latin dissimulāre. See dis-1 , simulate

Related forms
dis·sem·bler, noun
dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb
un·dis·sem·bled, adjective
un·dis·sem·bling, adjective
un·dis·sem·bling·ly, adverb

Can be confused: disassemble.

Synonyms
1. mask, hide, camouflage, dissimulate.

Anagram

Deb smiles
imbed less

20 January 2014

ailurophile

[ahy-loor-uh-fahyl, ey-loor-]

noun

– a person who likes cats; cat fancier.

Also, aelurophile.

Origin:
1925–30; < Greek aílouro ( s ) cat + -phile

Related forms
ai·lu·ro·phil·ic [ahy-loor-uh-fil-ik, ey-loor-] Show IPA , adjective

Anagram

ill euphoria
holier Pilau
ripe oil haul
april oil hue
heal I roil up

19 January 2014

wafture

[wahf-cher, waf-]

noun

1. the act of wafting or waving.
2. something wafted: waftures of incense.
Origin:
1595–1605; waft + -ure

Anagram

waft rue
a wet fur
a few rut

18 January 2014

aquiline

[ak-wuh-lahyn, -lin]

adjective

1. (of the nose) shaped like an eagle’s beak; hooked.
2. of or like the eagle.

Origin:
1640–50; (< F) < Latin aquilīnus. See Aquila, -ine1

Related forms
aq·ui·lin·i·ty [ak-wuh-lin-i-tee] Show IPA , noun

Anagram

equal in I

17 January 2014

demesne

[dih-meyn, -meen]

noun

1. possession of land as one’s own: land held in demesne.
2. an estate or part of an estate occupied and controlled by, and worked for the exclusive use of, the owner.
3. land belonging to and adjoining a manor house; estate.
4. the dominion or territory of a sovereign or state; domain.
5. a district; region.

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English demeine < Anglo-French demesne, Old French demein; see domain

Related forms
de·mesn·i·al, adjective

Anagram:

needs me
seem end
me dense

16 January 2014

ampersand

[am-per-sand, am-per-sand]

noun

– a character or symbol (& or ) for and : Smith & Jones, Inc.

The ampersand symbol (&) originated in Ancient Rome. ‘&’ was a cursive form of the word ‘et’ (in which the ‘e’ and the ‘t’ flowed into one another). In the 19th century, the ampersand was added to the end of the english alphabet, making it the 27th letter. Initially, it wasn’t called an ampersand, instead it was the phrase ‘and per se’ (meaning ‘by itself). Reciting the alphabet concluded with ‘ … x, y, z, and per se’. The word ‘ampersand’ is a mondegreen of ‘and per se’. Although the word ‘ampersand’ and its symbol (&) are in common usage, it was eventually dropped from the alphabet.

Some fonts clearly show the origin of ‘&’. These can be viewed here: http://www.adobe.com/type/topics/theampersand.html

Anagram

drama pens
panda rems
named raps
dream naps
sedan ramp

15 January 2014

Sesquipedalian

[ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuhn]
adjective Also, ses·quip·e·dal [ses-kwip-i-dl]

1. given to using long words.
2. (of a word) containing many syllables.

noun

3. a sesquipedalian word.
Origin:
1605–15; < Latin sēsquipedālis measuring a foot and a half (see sesqui-, pedal) + -an

Related forms
ses·qui·pe·dal·i·ty [ses-kwi-pi-dal-i-tee] Show IPA , ses·qui·pe·da·li·an·ism, ses·quip·e·dal·ism [ses-kwip-i-dl-iz-uhm, ‐kwi-peed-l-iz-uhm] Show IPA , noun
un·ses·qui·pe·da·li·an, adjective

Anagram

nasalised equip
sequin palisade
passed aquiline
equalised Spain
salad sequin pie
equine salsa dip

14 January 2014

ephemeral

[ih-fem-er-uhl]

adjective

1. lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory: the ephemeral joys of childhood.
2. lasting but one day: an ephemeral flower.

noun

3. anything short-lived, as certain insects.

Origin:
1570–80; < Greek ephḗmer ( os ) short-lived, lasting but a day ( ep- ep- + hēmér ( a ) day + -os adj. suffix) + -al1

Related forms
e·phem·er·al·ly, adverb
e·phem·er·al·ness, noun
non·e·phem·er·al, adjective
non·e·phem·er·al·ly, adverb
un·e·phem·er·al, adjective

Synonyms
1. fleeting, evanescent, transient, momentary, brief.

Antonyms
1. permanent.

Anagram

eel hamper
me a helper
repel a hem
ample here

13 January 2014

elision

[ih-lizh-uhn]

noun

1. the omission of a vowel, consonant, or syllable in pronunciation, as ‘Straya instead of Australia. E.g. The elision of native speakers can be confusing for those not fluent or familiar with the vernacular.
2. (in verse) the omission of a vowel at the end of one word when the next word begins with a vowel, as th’orient.
3. an act or instance of eliding or omitting anything.

Origin:
1575–85; < Latin ēlīsiōn- (stem of ēlīsiō ) a striking out, equivalent to ēlīs ( us ) (past participle of ēlīdere; see elide) + -iōn- -ion

Anagram

lionise
son I lie
I so line

12 January 2014

pendulous

[pen-juh-luhs, pen-duh-]

adjective

1. hanging down loosely: pendulous blossoms. (‘It’s true, there were dark storm clouds … heavy—black and pendulous, toward which they were driving’. – Narrator, Rocky Horror Show)
2. swinging freely; oscillating.
3. vacillating or undecided; wavering.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin pendulus hanging, swinging. See pend, -ulous

Related forms
pen·du·lous·ly, adverb
pen·du·lous·ness, noun
sem·i·pen·du·lous, adjective
sem·i·pen·du·lous·ly, adverb
sem·i·pen·du·lous·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. dangling, drooping, pendent, sagging.

Anagram

nodules up
lop unused
undue slop

11 January 2014

chatoyant

[shuh-toi-uhnt]

adjective

1. changing in luster or color: chatoyant silk.
2. Jewelry. reflecting a single streak of light when cut in a cabochon.
noun
3. Jewelry. a cabochon-cut gemstone having this reflected streak, as a chrysoberyl cat’s-eye.
Vernacular
4. like a cat’s eye: her chatoyant gaze
Origin:

1790–1800; < French, special use of present participle of chatoyer to change luster like a cat’s eye, equivalent to chat cat 1 + -oy- v. suffix + -ant -ant

Related forms
cha·toy·ance, cha·toy·an·cy, noun

Anagram

Any hot cat
Ah no catty
Chat to any
Yacht at on
To achy ant

10 January 2014

manacle

[man-uh-kuhl]

noun

1. a shackle for the hand; handcuff.
2. Usually, manacles. restraints; checks.

verb (used with object), man·a·cled, man·a·cling.

3. to handcuff; fetter.
4. to hamper; restrain: He was manacled by his inhibitions.

Origin:

1275–1325; Middle English, variant of manicle < Middle French: handcuff < Latin manicula small hand, handle of a plow. See manus, -i-, -cle1

Related forms
un·man·a·cled, adjective

Anagram

am clean
can meal
lace man
cane lam

9 January 2014

bucolic

[byoo-kol-ik]

adjective Also, bu·col·i·cal.

1. of or pertaining to shepherds; pastoral.
2. of, pertaining to, or suggesting an idyllic rural life.
noun
3. a pastoral poem.
4. Archaic. a farmer; shepherd; rustic.

Origin:
1525–35; < Latin būcolicus < Greek boukolikós rustic, equivalent to boukól ( os ) herdsman ( bou-, stem of boûs ox + -kolos keeper + -ikos -ic

Related forms
bu·col·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms
2, 3. georgic.

Anagram

cub coil

8 January 2014

apostasy

[uh-pos-tuh-see]

noun, plural a·pos·ta·sies.

– a total desertion of or departure from one’s religion, principles, party, cause, etc.

Origin:

1350–1400; Middle English apostasye (< Anglo-French ) < Late Latin apostasia < Greek: a standing away, withdrawing, equivalent to apóstas ( is ) ( apo- apo- + sta- stand + -sis -sis) + -ia -ia

Anagram

Yo pastas
Soy pasta
Sat soapy

7 January 2014

bailey

[bey-lee]

noun, plural bai·leys.

1. the defensive wall surrounding an outer court of a castle.
2. the courtyard itself.

Anagram

bail ye

6 January 2013

amity

[am-i-tee]

noun

1. friendship; peaceful harmony.
2. mutual understanding and a peaceful relationship, especially between nations; peace; accord.
3. female name.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English amit ( i ) e < Middle French amitie, Old French amiste ( t ) < Vulgar Latin *amicitāt-, stem of amīcitās, derivative of Latin amīcus. See ami, amiable, -ity

Can be confused: enmity.

Anagram

may it

5 January 2013

golem

[goh-luhm, -lem]

noun

1. Jewish Folklore. a figure artificially constructed in the form of a human being and endowed with life.
2. a stupid and clumsy person; blockhead.
3. an automaton.

Origin:
1895–1900; (< Yiddish goylem ) < Hebrew gōlem embryo, larva, cocoon

Anagram

Me log
elm go

4 January 2014

scintilla

[sin-til-uh]

noun

– a minute particle; spark; trace: not a scintilla of remorse.

Origin:
1685–95; < Latin: spark

Anagram

lilac nits
can I still

3 January 2014

orenda

orenda

[aw-ren-duh, oh-ren-]

noun

– a supernatural force believed by the Iroquois Indians to be present, in varying degrees, in all objects or persons, and to be the spiritual force by which human accomplishment is attained or accounted for. E.g. He credited his orenda with the profound change in his life.
– inherent power.

Origin:

1902; coined by U.S. ethnologist J.N.B. Hewitt from the supposed Huron cognate of Mohawk orę́˙naʔ inherent power (akin to karę́˙naʔ song; compare Seneca oęnǫʔ power, song with power, kaęnǫʔ song)

Anagram

Dare on
Read on
Near do
A drone

2 January 2014

malarky

[muh-lahr-kee]

noun Informal/slang

1. speech or writing designed to obscure, mislead, or impress; bunkum: The claims were just a lot of malarkey.
2. information that is nonsense, rubbish.

Also, ma·lar·ky.

Origin:
1925–30, Americanism; origin uncertain

Anagram

may lark

1 January 2014

dauntless

[dawnt-lis, dahnt-]

adjective

– bold; fearless; intrepid

Origin:
1585–95; daunt + -less
(from the word ‘daunt’, meaning ‘to intimidate’, ‘to overcome with fear’, ‘to dishearten’.

Related forms
daunt·less·ly, adverb
daunt·less·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. undaunted, daring, indomitable, brave, courageous.

Antonyms
1. fearful, timid.

Anagram

– lad sent us
– and lets us
– deals stun
– Delta suns

1 January 2014 – dauntless

Posted on by
Reply

1 January 2014

dauntless

[dawnt-lis, dahnt-]

adjective

– bold; fearless; intrepid

Origin:
1585–95; daunt + -less
(from the word ‘daunt’, meaning ‘to intimidate’, ‘to overcome with fear’, ‘to dishearten’.

Related forms
daunt·less·ly, adverb
daunt·less·ness, noun

Synonyms
1. undaunted, daring, indomitable, brave, courageous.

Antonyms
1. fearful, timid.

Anagram

– lad sent us
– and lets us
– deals stun
– Delta suns

Today’s aphorism

‘For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice’.

― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

On this day

1 January – the official birthday for all thoroughbred horses in the Northern Hemisphere. (see 1 August for Southern Hemisphere).

1 January 1901 – Federation of Australia. The six self-governing colonies in Australia formed a single nation known as the Commonwealth of Australia.

1 January 1942 – the United Nations is established by representatives of 26 nations in order to enforce peace-keeping campaigns throughout the world. There are now 193 member states and 2 non-member states (the Holy See and Palestine).

1 January 1959 – Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba following a revolution led by Fidel Castro. Batista allegedly fled with around $700 million of art and cash, the result of graft and corruption.

1 January 1985 – the UK’s first mobile phone call is made by British comedian, Ernie Wise (from ‘Morecombe and Wise’), to Vodafone.

31 December 2013 – ionic

Posted on by
Reply

31 December 2013

ionic (1)

[ahy-on-ik]

adjective

1. of or pertaining to ions.
2. pertaining to or occurring in the form of ions.

ionic (2)

[ahy-on-ik]

adjective

1. Architecture . noting or pertaining to one of the five classical orders that in ancient Greece consisted of a fluted column with a molded base and a capital composed of four volutes, usually parallel to the architrave with a pulvinus connecting a pair on each side of the column, and an entablature typically consisting of an architrave of three fascias, a richly ornamented frieze, and a cornice corbeled out on egg-and-dart and dentil moldings, with the frieze sometimes omitted. Roman and Renaissance examples are often more elaborate, and usually set the volutes of the capitals at 45° to the architrave. Compare composite ( def 3 ) , Corinthian ( def 2 ) , Doric ( def 3 ) , Tuscan ( def 2 ) . See illus. under order, volute.
2. Prosody . noting or employing a foot consisting either of two long followed by two short syllables (greater Ionic) or of two short followed by two long syllables (lesser Ionic)
3. noting or pertaining to that variety of the eastern branch of the early greek alphabet that was used for the writing of the Ionic dialect and that became the variety used for all dialects of Greek from the 4th century b.c. to the present.
4. of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians.
noun
5. Prosody . an Ionic foot, verse, or meter.
6. the dialect of ancient Greek spoken in Euboea, the Cyclades, and on the mainland of Asia Minor at Miletus and elsewhere.
7. Trademark. a style of printing type.

Origin:
1555–65; < Latin Iōnicus < Greek Iōnikós of Ionia; see -ic

Related forms
non-I·on·ic, adjective, noun

anagram

i icon

Today’s aphorism

Hate. It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.

– Maya Angelou

On this day

31 December 1948 – birth of Disco star, Donna Summer. Died 17 May 2012.

31 December 1967 – Evel Knievel unsuccessfully attempts a motorcycle jump over the fountains of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He received concussion and numerous broken bones, which left him in a coma for 29 days.

31 December 2007 – Murder statistics in the United States reveal that murder rate is 0.055 per head of population, which is slightly less than it was in 1947, when the rate was 0.0551. The population in 1947 was 145,000,000 and there were 8,000 murders. In 2007, the population was 300,000,000 and there were 16,500 murders.

30 December 2013 – insouciant

Posted on by
Reply

30 December 2013

insouciant

[in-soo-see-uhnt; French an-soo-syahn]

adjective

– free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant.

Origin:
1820–30; < French, equivalent to in- in-3 + souciant present participle of soucier to worry < Vulgar Latin *sollicītāre, for Latin sollicitāre to disturb; see solicitous

Related forms
in·sou·ci·ant·ly, adverb

Synonyms
lighthearted, debonair, jaunty, breezy.

Anagram

inaction us
casino unit

Today’s aphorism

When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.

– Chinese proverb

On this day

30 December 1922 – Lenin establishes the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

30 December 1945 – birth of Davy Jones, singer with British 1960′s rock band, The Monkees. Died 29 February 2012.

30 December 2006 – Former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, hanged after being found guilty of committing crimes against humanity.

29 December 2013 – rapprochement

Posted on by
Reply

29 December 2013

rapprochement

[rap-rohsh-mahn; French ra-prawsh-mahn]

noun

– an establishment or reestablishment of harmonious relations: a rapprochement reached between warring factions.

Origin:
1800–10; < French, equivalent to rapproche ( r ) to bring near, bring together ( r ( e )- re- + approcher; see approach) + -ment -ment

Synonyms
reconciliation, understanding, accommodation.

Anagram

rematch prep on
cane her prompt

Today’s aphorism

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.

– Nelson Mandela

On this day

29 December 1890 – Massacre at Wounded Knee. The last battle of the American Indian Wars was fought at Wounded Knee Creek, on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian reservation, South Dakota. The US 7th Cavalry Regiment opened fire on the Reservation, massacring around 300 people, including 200 women and children, and wounding 51. Twenty-five US soldiers died, most from friendly fire.

29 December 1998 – Six people die in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race as huge waves swamp the vessels during the 1167km race.

29 December 1998 – Former Khmer Rouge leaders apologise for the Pol Pot led genocide in Kampuchea (now known as Cambodia), which killed 1 million people between 1975 and 1979.

28 December 2013 – besot

Posted on by
Reply

28 December 2013

besot

[bih-sot]

verb (used with object), be·sot·ted, be·sot·ting.

1. to intoxicate or stupefy with drink.
2. to make stupid or foolish: The stories had besotted her mind with fear and superstition.
3. to infatuate; obsess: Youth and beauty have a tendency to besot middle-aged men; charm and tenderness does it for women of all ages.

Origin:
1575–85; be + sot

Related forms
be·sot·ting·ly, adverb

Anagram

bet so

Today’s aphorism

‘One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back’.

– Carl Sagan

On this day

28 December 1945 – the United States Congress officially recognises the pledge of allegiance to the flag, which states, ‘I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’.

28 December 1981 – the world’s first test-tube baby is born after being conceived in a lab dish. Her name is Elizabeth Jordan Carr and she weighed 5lb 12oz.

27 December 2013 – facetious

Posted on by
Reply

27 December 2013

facetious

[fuh-see-shuhs]

adjective

1. not meant to be taken seriously or literally: a facetious remark.
2. amusing; humorous.
3. lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous: a facetious person.

Origin:

1585–95; facete + -ious; see facetiae

Related forms
fa·ce·tious·ly, adverb
fa·ce·tious·ness, noun
non·fa·ce·tious, adjective
non·fa·ce·tious·ly, adverb
non·fa·ce·tious·ness, noun

Can be confused: facetious, factious, factitious, fictional, fictitious.

Synonyms
2. humorous

Anagram

cause of it

Today’s aphorism

If every man would help his neighbour, no man would be without help.

– Bruce Lee

On this day

27 December 1822 – birth of Louis Pasteur, French bacteriologist, one of the founders of microbiology. Invented the process for preventing milk and wine from causing sickness, known as pasteurisation. (Not entirely fool-proof, as over-imbibing wine still seems to cause sickness in some). Died 28 September 1895.

27 December 1979 – Soviet Union overthrows the Afghan government, replacing President Hufizullah Amin with Babrak Karmal.

27 December 2007 – Benazir Bhutto, former Pakistani Prime Minister, is assassinated by a suicide bomber immediately after shots were fired at her. Bhutto was the first female head of an Islamic nation. The bombing killed 24 other people.

26 December 2013 – poke

Posted on by
Reply

26 December 2013

poke

[pohk]

verb (used with object), poked, pok·ing.

1. to prod or push, especially with something narrow or pointed, as a finger, elbow, stick, etc.: to poke someone in the ribs.
2. to make (a hole, one’s way, etc.) by or as by prodding or pushing.
3. to thrust or push: She poked her head out of the window.
4. to force, drive, or stir by or as by pushing or thrusting: He poked the fire up.
5. to thrust obtrusively: The prosecutor kept poking his finger at the defendant.

verb (used without object), poked, pok·ing.

6. to make a pushing or thrusting movement with the finger, a stick, etc.
7. to extend or project (often followed by out ): His handkerchief is poking out of his back pocket.
8. to thrust oneself obtrusively: to poke into something that is not one’s affair.
9. to search curiously; pry (often followed by around or about ).
10. to go or proceed in a slow or aimless way (often followed by along ).

noun

11. a thrust or push.
12. Informal. a slow or dawdling person; slowpoke.
13. a bag or sack (from early 13th century).

Idioms

14. poke fun at, to ridicule or mock, especially covertly or slyly: In her novel, she pokes fun at her ex-husband.
15. poke one’s nose into, Informal. to meddle in; pry into: We felt as if half the people in town were poking their noses into our lives.
16. pig in a poke. Referring to something that conceals the true value of the thing being purchased (usually lesser value than expected, e.g. ‘The used-car salesman was selling a pig in a poke’). A confidence trick. Originated in the Middle Ages when meat was scarce. Buyers would buy a suckling pig, which was often in a bag (poke). The poke would sometimes contain a dog or cat (which were not scarce and not considered a valued source of meat). This idiom is also linked to ‘let the cat out of the bag’, referring to letting someone in on a secret, in this case, letting them know the bag contained a worthless cat instead of a valuable pig.

Origin:

1300–50; Middle English < Middle Dutch, Middle Low German poken to thrust. See poach

Related forms
pok·a·ble, adjective

Today’s aphorism

The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic
His giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.

― St. Nikolaos of Myra (The original St Nicholas from whom Santa Claus originates). St Nikolaos was a Greek Bishop, living in what is now Turkey. He would often secretly leave gifts for people. The most famous story of his gift-giving related to a father who couldn’t afford the dowry for his three daughters, which would mean they’d remain unmarried. Legend has it that St Nikolaos secretly threw three bags of gold coins through the window one night so that there would be enough dowry for each.

On this day

26 December 1991 – formal dissolution of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) when the Supreme Soviet dissolved itself following the Alma-Ata Protocol of 21 December 1991 and the resignation of President Gorbachev on 25 December 1991.

26 December 2004 – the Boxing Day tsunami originates in Indonesia and spreads across the Indian Ocean killing 230,000 people in 14 countries. It was triggered by a massive earthquake which registered a magnitude of between 9.1 and 9.3 and caused the entire planet to vibrate by up to 1cm and caused earthquakes as far away as Alaska.

25 December 2013 – Noel

Posted on by
Reply

25 December 2013

Noel

[noh-el for 1, 2; noh-uhl, nohl for 3]

noun

1. the Christmas season; yuletide.
2. ( lowercase ) a Christmas song or carol, which references the ‘first birthday’ or birthday of Jesus which is celebrated at Christmas (Noel being French for birthday, which is derived from the Latin, ‘dies natalis’ meaning ‘birthday’).
3. a male given name.
Origin:
1805–15; < French ≪ Latin nātālis ( diēs ) birthday; see natal

Anagram

lone

Today’s aphorism

A person upon whom the light of faith is revealed in its purity loves all people, with no exceptions whatsoever … Generally speaking, faith is the poem of life.

– Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook

On this day

25 December 1876 – birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of Pakistan. Leader of the Muslim League calling for the creation of Pakistan. Served as Pakistan’s first Governor-General from 15 August 1947 until his death on 11 September 1948.

25 December 1914 – Soldiers from Britain, Germany, Russia and France agree to a ‘Christmas’ truce. They crossed no-man’s land and wished each other ‘Merry Christmas’ in each nation’s language.

25 December 1974 – Cyclone Tracy strikes Darwin, Northern Territory, killing 71 people and flattening 70% of the city, leaving 41,000 homeless (out of a population of 47,000). The cyclone had winds up to 240km/h, central pressure of 950 hectorpascals,

25 December 1991 – Soviet President Gorbachev resigns, declaring the Soviet presidency extinct, and hands power to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, effectively bringing an end to the Soviet Union.

25 December 2006 – death of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. He was born 3 May 1933.

25 December 2008 – death of Eartha Kitt, American singer and actress. She played Catwoman in the 1960′s Batman TV series. Two of her more famous songs were ‘C’est Si Bon’ and ‘Santa Baby’. She was born on 17 January 1927.

24 December 2013 – brusque

Posted on by
Reply

24 December 2013

brusque

[bruhsk; especially British broosk]

adjective

– abrupt in manner; blunt; rough: A brusque welcome greeted his unexpected return.

Also, brusk.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Middle French < Italian brusco rough, tart, special use of brusco (noun) butcher’s broom < Late Latin brūscum, for Latin rūscus, rūscum, perhaps conflated with Vulgar Latin *brūcus heather (see brier2 )

Related forms
brusque·ly, adverb
brusque·ness, noun

Synonyms
unceremonious, short, curt. See blunt.

Anagram

rubs que

Today’s aphorism

And crawling on the planet’s face, some insects called the human race. Lost in time, and lost in space, and meaning.

– The Narrator, Rocky Horror Picture Show.

On this day

24 December 1865 – Ku Klux Klan formed by a group of confederate veterans who are opposed to civil rights for African-Americans.

24 December 1979 – The Soviet Army, comprised of 100,000 troops, invades Afghanistan in response to Afghan insurgents (armed by the United States) who had been attacking Soviet troops. The occupation lasts for 10 years and results in the deaths of between 600,000 and 2,000,000 Afghan civilians, as well as 6,000,000 refugees who fled to Pakistan and Iran. The Soviets withdrew in 1989. The cost of the Afghan occupation is a significant factor that led to the economic collapse of the Soviet Union. During the Soviet occupation, the United States funded Afghan resistance in the form of the Mujahideen and other militant Islamic groups, out of whom emerged Al Qaeda and the Taliban. The real victims in this war were the Afghan people, who continue to suffer and to comprise a significant portion of global refugee numbers because of the involvement of the USSR and the USA during this period.