30 March 2017

nark(1)

[nahrk]

noun

1. British Slang. a stool pigeon or informer.
2. Australian Slang. an annoying person.
verb (used without object)
3. British Slang. to act as a police informer or stool pigeon.
4. Australian Slang. to become annoyed.

Origin of nark(1)

1860-1865; < Romany nāk nose

nark(2)

[nahrk]

noun

Slang.

1. a government agent or detective charged with the enforcement of laws restricting the use of narcotics.

Origin

1965-70, Americanism; shortening of narcotic

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for nark

Historical Examples

It was the sole commandment that ran there:—’Thou shalt not nark.’
A Child of the Jago
Arthur Morrison

The searchlight from the nark was playing full upon the scene.
The Radio Boys with the Revenue Guards
Gerald Breckenridge

A hail came from Jackson, second in command of the nark, at once.
The Radio Boys with the Revenue Guards
Gerald Breckenridge

” nark (p. 091) the doin’s, nark it,” he cried and fired his rifle.
The Red Horizon
Patrick Mac

Today’s quote

Love is an untamed force. When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused.

– Paulo Coelho

On this day

30 March – Land Day, annual day of commemoration for Palestinians following the events of 1976 in which 6 Palestinian protestors were killed campaigning against the Israeli government’s announcement of plans to expropriate large amounts of Palestinian land for Israel. Land Day is recognised as a pivotal event in the struggle over Palestinian land and Palestine’s relationship to Israel.

30 March 1853 – birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, dutch painter. Died 29 July 1890.

30 March 1878 – the USA buys Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

30 March 1981 – US President Ronald Reagan shot at close range by John Hinckley, who was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. Hinckley was obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and thought he could get her attention and impress her, by killing the President. Also shot were Reagan’s press secretary, a Washington police officer and a Secret Service agent. None were injured fatally. Reagan underwent emergency surgery. He was released from hospital on 11 April 1981 and is the first president to survive an assassination attempt.

30 March 1987 – an anonymous buyer purchases the Vincent Van Gogh painting, ‘Sunflowers‘ for $36.3 million.

30 March 2002 – the Queen Mother dies at the age 101. Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born 4 August 1900. She was the wife of King George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret Countess of Snowden. She was the Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and its Dominions. After the death of King George VI, she was known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to avoid confusion with her daughter.

29 March 2017

lea(1)

[lee, ley]

noun

1. a tract of open ground, especially grassland; meadow.
2. land used for a few years for pasture or for growing hay, then plowed over and replaced by another crop.
3. a crop of hay on tillable land.
adjective
4. untilled; fallow.

Also, ley.

Origin of lea(1)

Middle English, Old English
900, before 900; Middle English lege, lei, Old English lēah; cognate with Old High German lōh, dialectal Dutch loo (as in Waterloo), Latin lūcus

lea(2)

[lee]

noun

1. a measure of yarn of varying quantity, for wool usually 80 yards (73 meters), cotton and silk 120 yards (110 meters), linen 300 yards (274 meters).
2. Textiles.
a unit length used to ascertain the linear density of yarns.
a count or number representing units of linear measure per pound in linen or cotton yarn:
a 20-lea yarn.

Origin

1350-1400; perhaps back formation from Middle English lese, variant of leash

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for lea

Contemporary Examples

Now you, lea Michele (Glee), Jonathan Groff (Glee), and Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) have all become huge.
John Gallagher Jr., Star of ‘Newsroom’ and ‘Short Term 12,’ Is Hollywood’s Nicest Guy
Kevin Fallon
August 22, 2013

lea Lane Stern visits their ancestral home in search of the best.
Touring Belgium, by French Fry
Lea Lane Stern
May 28, 2011

Glee actress lea Michele was seemingly dissed by Jessica Lange on the red carpet.
Why Does Everyone Hate Lea Michele?
Tim Teeman
October 8, 2014

Anagram

ale

Today’s quote

The sixties were characterized by a heady belief in instantaneous solutions.

– Audre Lorde

On this day

29 March 1946 – birth of Billy Thorpe, English-born Australian rock legend. Front man for ‘Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs’. Died 28 February 2007.

29 March 1971 – Charles Manson and three of his followers are sentenced to death for the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others. California abolished the death penalty in 1972, before the death sentences could be carried out. Even though California reinstated the death penalty in 1978, Manson is still held in prison.

29 March 1971 – A court martial finds Lieutenant Calley guilty of murder for his role in the massacre of 500 Vietnamese civilians in My Lai. Calley had been in charge of Charlie Company, 11th Infantry Brigade, which had raped, maimed, assaulted and murdered civilians living in My Lai. Calley was the only one of 26 members of Charlie Company to be convicted. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but on the instructions of President Richard Nixon the following day was released to house arrest at Fort Benning, Georgia. During this time his sentence was cut to 10 years and he was paroled, only having served three and a half years while under house arrest. Many people protested the sentencing, claiming he was a scapegoat. Others were horrified that he was the only one in the chain of command to be charged and convicted.

29 March 1973 – America’s direct involvement in the Vietnamese War ends with the withdrawal of last USA troops from South Vietnam.

28 March 2017

bête noire

plural bêtes noires \ˌbet-ˈnwär(z), ˌbāt-\

: a person or thing strongly detested or avoided : bugbear

Examples of bête noire in a sentence

a politician who is the bête noire of liberal groups

Origin and Etymology of bête noire

French, literally, black beast

First Known Use: 1805

Synonyms

bogey, black beast, bugaboo, bugbear, dread, hobgoblin, ogre

Antonyms

love

Related Words

apparition, ghost, phantasm (also fantasm), phantom, poltergeist, shade, specter (or spectre), spirit, spook, wraith; banshee, bogeyman (also bogyman), demon (or daemon), devil, fiend, ghoul, imp, incubus; fright, horrible, horror, monster, monstrosity, terror; bane, curse, enemy, plague, scourge, torment; abomination, anathema

Merriam-Webster

Anagram

be orient
one tribe
into beer
nite robe
tie borne

Today’s quote

Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.

– Albert Einstein

On this day

28 March 1930 – Turkey changes the name of Constantinople to Istanbul and Angora to Ankara.

28 March 1939 – end of the Spanish Civil War, with Nationalist General Francisco Franco taking control of Madrid after a 3 year war against the Government of the Second Spanish Republic, which was led by President Manuel Azaña. Franco established a fascist dictatorship which lasted for 36 years. The Civil War had been fought between Fascist and Republican forces. The Republicans were comprised of a number of socialist, communist and anarchist forces. The Soviet Union backed the Republicans, but opposed other socialist forces such as the POUM (Workers Party of Marxist Unification), PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), CNT (Confederationo of anarcho-syndicalist trade unions) and others.

28 March 1964 – The Beatles have 10 hits in the Billboard charts at the same time.

28 March 2008 – President George W. Bush states that the USA is not in recession, but just slowing down and that tax cuts will stimulate spending. The US National Bureau of Economic Research declared the USA recession started in December 2007 and ended in July 2009.

28 March 2008 – The Pew Centre reports that the USA has the highest number of incarcerations in the world, at 2.3 million, which surpasses the number of prisoners in China, Russia and Iran. The USA also has the highest rate of imprisonments in the world as a percentage of population.

26 March 2017

frippery

[frip-uh-ree]

noun, plural fripperies.

1. finery in dress, especially when showy, gaudy, or the like.
2. empty display; ostentation.
3. gewgaws; trifles.

Origin of frippery

French, Old French

1560-1570; < French friperie, Old French freperie, equivalent to frepe rag + -erie -ery

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for frippery

Historical Examples

A modern writer, whose poetical genius cannot be too much admired, chooses to call it a frippery way of writing.
A Dialogue Concerning Oratory, Or The Causes Of Corrupt Eloquence
Cornelius Tacitus

The frippery of the island was dropped like the withes which bound Samson.
The Cobbler In The Devil’s Kitchen
Mary Hartwell Catherwood

But upon me the crucifixes, the holy water, the vestments—in short, the frippery —these things have a less agreeable effect.
Mr. Claghorn’s Daughter
Hilary Trent

frippery which would be discarded in England is often useful in India.
The Magnificent Montez
Horace Wyndham

She takes no interest in anything but the frippery side of life.
Money Magic
Hamlin Garland

No, but like them I have learnt to rate all this frippery at its worth!
The Pillars of the House, Vol. II (of 2)
Charlotte M. Yonge

In this he distinguishes the three stages of Tattooing (including paint), frippery, and Clothes.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 108, October, 1866
Various

This frippery has not only the girl’s personality but her very spirit in it.
A Counterfeit Presentment and The Parlour Car
William Dean Howells

His dynasty and his Empire were the frippery of a past time.
The Missourian
Eugene P. (Eugene Percy) Lyle

A heap of frippery, a handful of gems, a dish or two more on the table cannot give it.
Froth
Armando Palacio Valds

Anagram

pip fryer
fry piper

Today’s quote

Profitability is a shallow goal if it doesn’t have a real purpose, and the purpose has to be share the profits with others.

– Howard Schultz

On this day

26 March 1827 – death of Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer. One of the world’s most influential composers. He composed 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatos and 16 string quartets. Baptised on 17 December 1770.

26 March 1971 – The country of East Pakistan declares its independence and renames itself Bangladesh.

25 March 2017

guffaw

[guh-faw, guh-]

noun

1. a loud, unrestrained burst of laughter.
verb (used without object)
2. to laugh loudly and boisterously.

Origin of guffaw

1710-1720; perhaps imitative

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for guffaw

Contemporary Examples

She had an incredible laugh—something between a giggle and a guffaw.
Saying Goodbye to Doc
Maryanne Vollers
June 25, 2009

Even those who support union with Russia guffaw when asked whether the referendum will be above board.
Crimeans Are Resigned To Pro-Russia Vote
Jamie Dettmer
March 14, 2014

Historical Examples

At the two first times Tom smiled suspiciously—at the last he burst out into an absolute “ guffaw.”
Humorous Ghost Stories
Dorothy Scarborough

A tremendous shout from one end of the ship to the other stopped his guffaw.
Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard
Joseph Conrad

There was a nervous ring in the guffaw which concluded his question.
Unleavened Bread
Robert Grant

“Old Taffs started a cigar-case,” said Dick, bursting into a guffaw.
Menhardoc
George Manville Fenn

The Parnass took snuff, and his sneeze sounded like a guffaw.
Ghetto Comedies
Israel Zangwill

It came, she seized it with some audacity, and the old gentleman’s guffaw acknowledged her.
Yonder
Emily Hilda Young

Fletcher took the gander with a guffaw, the old crone chuckled, and the young men laughed as they mounted their horses.
The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains
Charles Egbert Craddock

Anagram

aw guff

Today’s quote

Forbid us something, and that thing we desire.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

On this day

25 March 1947 – birth of Elton John (Reginald Dwight), British singer-songwriter.

25 March 1957 – the Treaty of Rome is signed by France, West Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC). In 1993, following the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, the European Union (EU) was created, and the EEC incorporated to became known as the European Community (EC).

23 March 2017

tombola

[tom-buh-luh]

noun, British.

1. house (def 19).
noun
2. (Brit) a type of lottery, esp at a fête, in which tickets are drawn from a revolving drum

Origin of tombola

1875-1880; Italian, derivative of tombolare to tumble, itself derivative of tombare to fall

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for tombola

Historical Examples

Yes, and to-day, too, do they not proclaim the tombola where once they announced a victory?
Florence and Northern Tuscany with Genoa
Edward Hutton

Rudolph Brox returned from the tombola, where he had drawn a silver match-box.
The Law Inevitable
Louis Couperus

Somebody won the tombola at last, and Pepe told Caper he should wait for the fireworks and the concert.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 3, No. 1 January 1863
Various

Anagram

lamb too
bat loom

Today’s quote

Music is a lady that I still love because she gives me the air that I breathe. We need all sorts of nourishment. And music satisfies and nourishes the hunger within ourselves for connection and harmony.

– Cat Stevens

On this day

23 March 1919 – Benito Mussolini establishes the Italian National Fascist Party. In 1936, Mussolini joins forces with Adolf Hitler through the Axis Pact. Following Mussolini’s arrest in 1943, the party was dissolved. The Italian Constitution has banned the reformation of the INF.

23 March 1924 – birth of Bette Nesmith Graham in Dallas, Texas. Bette is the inventor of Liquid Paper. Her son, Mike Nesmith, was a member of 1960s UK/American pop/rock band, The Monkees.

23 March 1956 – Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. Republic Day in Pakistan.

22 March 2017

nativity

[nuh-tiv-i-tee, ney-]

noun, plural nativities.

1. birth.
2. birth with reference to place or attendant circumstances:
of Irish nativity.
3. (initial capital letter) the birth of Christ.
4. (initial capital letter) the church festival commemorating the birth of Christ; Christmas.
5. (initial capital letter) a representation of the birth of Christ, as in art.
6. Astrology. a horoscope of a person’s birth.

Origin of nativity

Middle English, Middel French, Late Latin, late Old English
1150, before 1150; Middle English nativite < Middle French < Late Latin nātīvitāt- (stem of nātīvitās; see native, -ity ); replacing late Old English nativiteth < Old French nativited < Late Latin, as above

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for nativity

Contemporary Examples

nativity scenes “acknowledge the very real history and identity of the vast majority of our citizens.”
Sarah Palin Is Here to Save Christmas, Thank God
Candida Moss
November 12, 2013

On to the Church of the nativity, where POTUS could meet with his Christian brothers and sisters for Easter.
Welcome To Palestine: What’s Your Faith?
Maysoon Zayid
March 19, 2013

Walking through a forest one night, meditating on the nativity, he looked through the branches of a tree and saw a star.
A Holiday Lesson from Auschwitz
Christopher Buckley
December 25, 2009

Anagram

Titan ivy
Vanity it

Today’s quote

All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience.

– Chairman Mao Tse Tung

On this day

22 March – World Water Day. Established by the UN in 1993 to encourage nations to implement UN initiatives and promote wise use of water resources. People are encouraged to not use their taps all day.

22 March 1418 – death (?) of Nicholas Flamel, French alchemist who purportedly made it his life’s work to decode a mysterious book, known as Book of Abramelin the Mage. Some believe he decoded the recipe for the Philosopher’s Stone, which could turn base metals into silver and gold, and that he also had the ‘elixir of life’ which reputedly made him and his wife immortal. It’s been claimed that he was seen at least 3 times after his death, which led to rumour that he had produced the elixir of life. He has been immortalised in numerous books and movies, including ‘Harry Potter‘ by J.K. Rowling, and the ‘Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel‘ series by Michael Scott. Born 28 September 1330.

22 March 1829 – Following the Greek War of Independence, the London Protocol (1829) is signed by Great Britain, Russia and France, establishing the borders of an internally autonomous Greece, although it remained under Ottoman Empire suzerainty. The Ottoman Empire was forced to accept the London Protocol following the Treaty of Adrianople. Greece achieved full independence from the Ottoman Empire with the signing of the London Protocol (1830) of 3 February 1830.

22 March 1916 – The last Emperor of China, Yuan Shikai, abdicates the throne and the Republic of China is restored.

22 March 1963 – the Beatles’ first album, Please, Please Me, is released in the UK.

21 March 2017

recursive

20 April 2017

[ri-kur-siv]

adjective

1. pertaining to or using a rule or procedure that can be applied repeatedly.
2. Mathematics, Computers. pertaining to or using the mathematical process of recursion :
a recursive function; a recursive procedure.

Origin of recursive
1935-1940; recurs(ion) + -ive

Related forms

recursively, adverb
recursiveness, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for recursive

Contemporary Examples

Since then, a black miasma of recursive vengeance has descended upon Iraq.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq
Nathan Bradley Bethea
August 30, 2014

Word Origin and History for recursive Expand
adj.

1790, “periodically recurring,” from Latin recurs-, stem of recurrere (see recur ) + -ive. Mathematical sense is from 1934. Related: Recursively ; recursiveness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

recursive in Technology

recursion

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org

Anagram

cruise rev
cirrus eve

Today’s quote

It is because nations tend towards stupidity and baseness that mankind moves so slowly; it is because individuals have a capacity for better things that it moves at all.

– George Gissing

On this day

21 March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

21 March – National Harmony Day in which Australia celebrates its cultural diversity.

21 March – World Poetry Day. Declared by UNESCO in 1999 to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry.

21 March 1960 – Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa, when Afrikaner police opened fire on unarmed protestors in front of the police station, killing 69 people and wounding 180. In South Africa, every 21 March is a public holiday to celebrate human rights and commemorate the Sharpeville massacre.

21 March 1963 – President John F. Kennedy orders the closure of federal penitentiary, Alcatraz (The Rock).