21 January 2016

zamindar or zemindar

[zuh-meen-dahr]

noun

1. (in British India) a landlord required to pay a land tax to the government.
2. (in Mogul India) a collector of farm revenue, who paid a fixed sum on the district assigned to him.

Origin of zamindar

Hindi, Persian

1675-1685; Hindi < Persian zamīndār landholder, equivalent to zamīn earth, land + -dār holding, holder

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for zamindar

Historical Examples

Clearly he had not told him what Ahmed had said of the capture of the English girl by a zamindar.
Barclay of the Guides
Herbert Strang

The zamindar was conspicuous and useful; the village community and the cultivating ryot did not force themselves into notice.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4
Various

Anagram

ram in adz

Today’s quote

I intend to do what little one can do to awaken the public conscience, and in the meantime I am not frightened by your menaces.

– Upton Sinclair

On this day

21 January – Squirrel Appreciation Day.

21 January – National Hug Day.

21 January 1863 – State funeral held in Melbourne for Australian explorers, Burke and Wills, who had died in June or July of 1861. 40,000 spectators lined the streets for the funeral procession as it travelled to the Melbourne General Cemetery.

21 January 1924 – death of Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist revolutionary and political leader. He served as Russian leader from 1917 to 1924 and concurrently as Premier of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1924. Born 22 April 1870.

21 January 1950 – death of George Orwell (born Eric Arthur Blair), Democratic Socialist and English author of works such as ‘Nineteen-Eighty Four‘, ‘Animal Farm‘, and ‘Homage to Catalonia‘. Born 25 June 1903.

21 January 1992 – death of Eddie Mabo. Campaigner for indigenous land rights in the Torres Strait. Successfully challenged the concept of ‘terra nullius‘, resulting in indigenous ownership of land in Australia to be recognised. Born 29 June 2014.

20 January 2016

aphasia

[uh-fey-zhuh]

noun, Pathology.

1. the loss of a previously held ability to speak or understand spoken or written language, due to disease or injury of the brain.

Origin of aphasia

1865-1870; Greek: speechlessness, equivalent to a- a-6+ phat (ós) spoken (derivative of phánai to speak) + -ia -ia

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for aphasia

Contemporary Examples

Still, she suffered from aphasia, finding it difficult to speak, read and write.
A Stroke That Hits Young Women
Nicole LaPorte
July 27, 2010

Historical Examples

aphasia, periods of excitement and mental confusion occur in some.
Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension:
Louis Marshall Warfield

You are suffering from an attack of aphasia, which has caused you to forget your identity.
Strictly Business
O. Henry

Anagram

Asia hap

Today’s quote

There’s a difference between standing up and telling people what you’re planning to do and standing up and going and accomplishing something.

– Paul Stanley

On this day

20 January – Penguin Awareness Day.

20 January 1952 – birth of Stanley Harvey Esien, better known as Paul Stanley, singer and guitarist in glam rock band, Kiss.

20 January 1982 – It was the chomp heard around the world, when Ozzy Osbourne, The Prince of Darkness, bit the head off a bat while performing on stage in Des Moines, Iowa. A fan had thrown a bat on stage. Ozzy claims he thought it was rubber, but found out the hard way, that it was, in fact, a real bat. He was taken to hospital and given rabies shots. This follows on from an incident in 1981, when Ozzy bit the head off a dove after signing his first solo record deal … as you do … Word has it that Ozzy had planned to release a number of doves as a symbol of peace, but was drunk and felt one of the doves could do with a trim … which didn’t work out too well for the dove. There is no truth in the rumour that the Prince song, ‘When Doves Cry’ is about the incident. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/ENT/502270318&nclick_check=1

19 January 2016

mulatto

[muh-lat-oh, -lah-toh, myoo-]

noun, plural mulattoes, mulattos.

1. Anthropology. (not in technical use) the offspring of one white parent and one black parent.
2. Older Use: Often Offensive. a person who has both black and white ancestors.
adjective
3. of a light-brown color.

Origin of mulatto Expand

Spanish
1585-1595; Spanish mulato ‘young mule’, equivalent to mul (o) mule1+ -ato of unclear origin

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for mulatto

Historical Examples

In North America a mulatto, a quadroon, even an octoroon who is only one-eighth black, counts as a negro.
South America Observations and Impressions
James Bryce

The colour is between olive, brown, and bronze,—somewhat like that of the mulatto.
The Western World
W.H.G. Kingston

Ranaway, the mulatto wench Mary—has a cut on the left arm, a scar on the shoulder, and two upper teeth missing.
The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 3 of 4
American Anti-Slavery Society

Anagram

malt out

Today’s quote

The meaning of life is to find your passion, the purpose of life is to give it away.

– Pablo Picasso

On this day

19 January 1809 – birth of Edgar Allan Poe, American poet and novelist, The Raven. Died 7 October 1849.

19 January 1920 – Night of the Palmer Raids, in which more than 4,000 suspected radical leftists were arrested. Most were members of the Industrial Workers of the World union. Alexander Palmer was the United States Attorney-General. Most of those arrested were either deported or charged under the Espionage Act 1917 and the Sedition Act 1918.

19 January 1935 – birth of Johnny O’Keefe, Australian rock and roll legend. Known as J.O.K. or ‘The Wild One’. Died 6 October 1978.

19 January 1943 – birth of Janis Joplin. American singer song-writer. Died on 4 October 1970.

19 January 1966 – A UFO saucer nest is discovered near Tully, North Queensland, Australia when a banana farmer, George Pedley, claims that he saw a large, saucer-shaped object fly out of a swamp at Horseshoe Lagoon. He said the saucer was 25 feet wide and 9 feet high. Further investigation of the lagoon revealed that in a particularly reedy part, there was a large circle that was clear of reeds. The circle was 30 feet in diameter and the reeds had been flattened in a clockwise manner. Five other similar, but smaller, circles were discovered. Apart from the UFO claim, no other explanation could account for the circles. These are the first crop-circles discovered in the modern world.

This photo of the crop circle was taken by Emil Duran:

18 January 2016

skerrick

[sker-ik]

noun, Australian.

1. a small piece or quantity; a bit:

Not even a skerrick of cake was left.

Origin of skerrick

1930-1935; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com

Anagram

Kicks err

Today’s quote

The biggest coward of a man is to awaken the love of a woman without the intention of loving her.

– Bob Marley

On this day

18 January 1977 – The Granville Rail Disaster, in which a crowded commuter train derailed and collided with an overpass that collapsed onto it, killing 83 people and injuring more than 210.

18 January 1779 – birth of Peter Roget, British lexographer and creator of Roget’s Thesaurus. (died 12 September 1869).

18 January 1904 – birthday of Cary Grant, born Archibald Alexander Leach, actor (‘North by Northwest‘, ‘To Catch a Thief‘, ‘An Affair to Remember‘, ‘Gunga Din‘). Died 29 November 1986.

17 January 2016

copacetic (or copasetic, copesetic)

[koh-puh-set-ik, -see-tik]

adjective, Slang.

1. fine; completely satisfactory; OK.

Origin of copacetic

1915-1920, Americanism; of obscure origin; popular attributions of the word to Louisiana French, Italian, Hebrew, etc., lack supporting evidence

Dictionary.com

Anagram

ice cop act

Today’s quote

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.

– Ruth E Renkel

On this day

17 January 1899 – birth of Al Capone, who grew up to be one of America’s most famous gangsters. He died on 25 January 1947.

17 January 1942 – birthday of Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr), American professional boxer (former world heavy-weight champion), philanthropist, social activist.

17 January 1966 – the United States loses 4 H-bombs after the B-52 that was carrying them, collided with a KC-135 tanker during mid-air refuelling. The tanker exploded, killing all 4 crew, the B-52 broke apart, killing 3 of the 7 crew. Three of the hydrogen bombs were located on land near the Spanish town of Palomares. Two of the non-nuclear explosives in the weapons detonated, contaminating 2 km2 with plutonium. The fourth bomb was located 2.5 months later in the Mediterranean Sea.

17 January 1991 – Operation Desert Storm commences after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein refuses to comply with a US directive that he remove his forces from Kuwait. Hussein claimed that Kuwait was stealing Iraqi oil. 32 nations were involved in the Operation to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

17 January 1927 – birth 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 died on 25 December 2008.

16 January 2016

Recrudescence

[ree-kroo-des-uh ns]

noun

A renewed activity after a period of dormancy.

Origin of recrudescence

Latin

1715-1725; < Latin recrūdēsc (ere) to recrudesce + -ence

Related forms

recrudescent, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for recrudescence

Historical Examples

They must have experienced a recrudescence of panic at thought of the dynamite they believed hidden.
The Jacket (The Star-Rover)
Jack London

Here we have a recrudescence of the idea that great penalties are deterrent.
Folkways
William Graham Sumner

Of late, of course, I have thought of little else but what this recrudescence of my youth means to you and to myself.
Black Oxen
Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

Anagram

credence cures

Today’s quote

You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.

– Pablo Neruda

On this day

16 January 1920 – Prohibition commences in the U.S. with the passing of the 18th Amendment which prohibited the importation, exportation, transporting, selling and manufacturing of alcohol.

16 January 1945 – Adolf Hitler flees to his bunker with his long-time companion, Eva Braun. They remain there for 105 days until he takes his own life.

16 January 1979 – The Shah of Iran is forced to flee Iran following the mutiny of his Army and a revolution led by students, which resulted in the Ayatollah Khomeini taking over the leadership of the country.

15 January 2016

sanative

[san-uh-tiv]

adjective

1. having the power to heal; curative.

Origin of sanative

late Middle English Middle French, Medieval Latin
1400-1450; < Medieval Latin sānātīvus (see sanatory, -ive ); replacing late Middle English sanatif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above

Related forms

nonsanative, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for sanative

Historical Examples

Then there was the charm of the magician, so sanative, so blessed, felt directly any volume of that glorious number was opened.
The Revolution in Tanner’s Lane
Mark Rutherford

Simply because I know a person who possesses the sanative power I speak of.
The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector
William Carleton

And you don’t think two years’ prison, two years’ slavery, was sanative enough without the denial of his just compensation?
Imaginary Interviews
W. D. Howells

Sleep, in short, if not a “matchless” sanative, is at least a universal one.
Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders
William A. Alcott

The mind thus becomes “a silent, transforming, sanative energy” of great potency and power.
The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit
Ralph Waldo Trine

Anagram

Asia vent
neat visa

Today’s quote

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

On this day

15 January – Martin Luther King Day, a public holiday in the United States of America, held on the third Monday in January, to celebrate the birth of Martin Luther King, a clergyman who promoted non-violent activism to achieve civil rights, particularly for African Americans.

15 January 1929 – birthday of Martin Luther King. American civil rights activist and clergyman. Died 4 April 1968.

14 January 2016

vulnerary

[vuhl-nuh-rer-ee]

adjective

1. used to promote the healing of wounds, as herbs or other remedies.
noun, plural vulneraries.
2. a remedy for wounds.

Origin of vulnerary

Latin

1590-1600; < Latin vulnerārius, equivalent to vulner- (stem of vulnus) wound + -ārius -ary

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for vulnerary

Historical Examples

It was once used to form a celebrated traumatic or vulnerary ointment and is still highly esteemed among rustic herbalists.
Cooley’s Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades…, Sixth Edition, Volume I
Arnold Cooley

This preparation is stimulant and vulnerary, and is in great repute on the Continent as a cosmetic and cordial.
Cooley’s Practical Receipts, Volume II
Arnold Cooley

It is regarded as vulnerary, and is highly esteemed by some in sprains and bruises.
Cooley’s Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades…, Sixth Edition, Volume I
Arnold Cooley

Anagram

rural envy
Navy ruler
very lunar

Today’s quote

Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

– Anais Nin

On this day

14 January 1892 – birth of Martin Niemoller, German pastor. Niemoller originally supported Adolf Hitler, however, he soon realised he’d made a mistake. He blamed Hitler’s rise to power and the ensuing war and genocide, on the support and acceptance of his policies from churches and ordinary citizens, as well as the lack of speaking up against injustice. Niemoller is most well known for his statement, ‘First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me’. Died 6 March 1984.

14 January 1977 – death of Anais Nin, French-Cuban author. Born 21 February 1903.

14 January 1984 – death of Ray Kroc, founder of MacDonalds … and the Big Mac … Born 5 October 1902. Kroc had bought out Dick and Mac MacDonald before establishing the franchise network of fast-food restaurants.