31 July 2018

sommelier

[suhm-uh l-yey; French saw-muh-lyey]

noun, plural sommeliers [suhm-uh l-yeyz; French saw-muh-lyey] (Show IPA)

1. a waiter, as in a club or restaurant, who is in charge of wines.

Origin of sommelier

1920-1925; < French, Middle French, dissimilated form of *sommerier, derivative of sommier one charged with arranging transportation, equivalent to somme burden (< Late Latin sagma horse load < Greek ságma covering, pack saddle) + -ier -ier2

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for sommelier

Contemporary Examples

A sommelier told me that his name for the family was “Rudinelli.”
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards
Clive Irving
August 31, 2014

sommelier Jordan Salcito on why these are the ultimate wine books.
‘The Drops of God’: Wine Books You Will Actually Want to Read
Jordan Salcito
January 19, 2014

In the American sommelier community, until very recently, South African wines have remained largely an afterthought.
Drink Like Nelson Mandela: South Africa’s Exciting New Wine
Jordan Salcito
December 14, 2013

Anagram

mere limos
more miles
smile more

Today’s quote

Culture is the invisible force on which innovation depends.

– Lawrence Levy

On this day

31 July 1703 – Daniel Defoe, author of ‘Robinson Crusoe‘, is put in the pillory for committing ‘seditious libel’ after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet entitled ‘The shortest-way with dissenters; Or, proposals for the establishment of the church‘, which was critical of the establishment of the church and the practice of ‘occasional conformity’, in which dissenters could attend church once a year and still qualify as members of the Church of England. Whilst in the pillory, Defoe was pelted with flowers rather than the usual fruit and vegetables.

31 July 1965 – birthday of Joanne (J.K.) Rowling, author of the ‘Harry Potter‘ series. In 2006 a minor planet was named after her: ‘43844 Rowling’.

31 July 2012 – death of Gore Vidal, American author, playwright, essayist and political activist. Born 3 October 1925.

30 July 2018

verdure

[vur-jer]

noun

1. greenness, especially of fresh, flourishing vegetation.
2. green vegetation, especially grass or herbage.
3. freshness in general; flourishing condition; vigor.

Origin of verdure

Middle English

1250-1300; Middle English < Middle French, equivalent to verd green (see vert ) + -ure -ure

Related forms

verdured, adjective
verdureless, adjective
unverdured, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for verdure

Historical Examples

But with me, the verdure and the flowers are not frostbitten in the midst of winter.
The Village Uncle (From “Twice Told Tales”)
Nathaniel Hawthorne

It seemed to the young couple as if they were being rocked on a sea of verdure.
The Fortune of the Rougons
Emile Zola

All around were lofty mountains covered with verdure and glory.
The Elm Tree Tales
F. Irene Burge Smith

Anagram

rude rev

Today’s quote

Ninety-nine in a hundred of what are called educated men. . . have never thrown themselves into the mental position of those who think differently from them, and considered what such persons may have to say, and consequently they do not, in any proper sense of the word, know the doctrine which they themselves profess.

– John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

On this day

30 July 1626 – earthquake in Naples, Italy, kills 70,000 people.

30 July 1818 – birthday of Emily Bronte, author of the novel, ‘Wuthering Heights‘. Died 19 December 1848.

30 July 1863 – birthday of Henry Ford, American industrialist and car maker. Died 7 April 1947.

30 July 1881 – birth of Smedley Butler, U.S. Marine Corp Major-General. He received 19 medals, five of which were for bravery. He twice received the Medal of Honor. Butler was, at the time of his death, the most decorated Marine in history. Nonetheless, he was an outspoken critic of war and military actions. He wrote a book called ‘War is a Racket’, which exposed the links between the military and industry, in which he stated that business interests directly benefit from warfare. Butler wrote a summary of the book, which stated: ‘War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small ‘inside’ group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes‘. He died on 21 June 1940.

30 July 1898 – W.K. Kellogg invents cornflakes.

30 July 1956 – the United States officially adopts ‘In God We Trust’ as the national motto.

30 July 1958 – birthday of Kate Bush, English singer/songwriter. In 1978, she had a hit song with ‘Wuthering Heights‘, a song about the novel of the same name which was written by Emily Bronte (whose birthday is also today). She followed this up with a number of other hits, including ‘Babooshka‘ and ‘The Man with the Child in His Eyes‘.

30 July 1969 – birthday of Simon Baker, Australian actor. Stars in the TV series, ‘The Mentalist‘.

28 July 2018

dentin

[den-tn, -tin]

noun, Dentistry.

1. the hard, calcareous tissue, similar to but denser than bone, that forms the major portion of a tooth, surrounds the pulp cavity, and is situated beneath the enamel and cementum.

Also, dentine [den-teen]

Origin of dentin

1830-1840 First recorded in 1830-40; dent- + -in2

Related forms

dentinal, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for dentin

Historical Examples

The teeth are pointed and often have the dentine remarkably folded.
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Sidney H. Reynolds

This models the enamel cap which fits over the dentine like a glove.
Degeneracy
Eugene S. Talbot

A papilla of the dermis makes its appearance, the outer layer of which gradually calcifies to form the dentine and osseous tissue.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume III (of 4)
Francis Maitland Balfour

Anagram

intend
tinned

Today’s quote

Coincidence doesn’t equal conspiracy.

– Stephen King, from The End of Watch

On this day

28 July 1586 – the humble and versatile potato introduced to the British Isles by Sir Thomas Harriot after it was brought to Europe from the Americas by the Spanish.

28 July 1866 – the United States recognises the metric system as a valid means of measurement.

28 July 1900 – Louis Lassing of Connecticut invents the hamburger.

28 July 1902 – birth of Albert Namatjira, Australian Aboriginal artist. Died 8 August 1959.

28 July 1914 – start of World War I when a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princep, assassinated Austrian Prince Franz Ferdinand. At the time, Europe was comprised of two blocs, the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy). War escalated as each country came to the other’s aid following military responses to the assassination.

28 July 1928 – IX Olympiad opens in Amsterdam.

28 July 1945 – a United States Air Force B-25 Liberator bomber collides with the Empire State Building in New York at 9.40am. The plane was flying from Bedford Army Air Field to Newark Airport. The pilot asked for clearance to land but was denied because of zero visibility as a result of heavy fog. Rather than turn around, the pilot continued on and became disoriented in the thick fog. The plane smashed into the building between the 78th and 80th floors, killing 14 people, including all on board the plane. One of the plane’s engines flew through the other side of the building, into the next block, falling 900 feet onto the roof of another building, causing a fire that destroyed a penthouse. The other engine and part of the landing gear plummeted down the elevator shaft.

26 July 2018

gimbals

[jim-buh lz, gim-]

noun (used with a singular verb)

Sometimes gimbal. a contrivance, consisting of a ring or base on an axis, that permits an object, as a ship’s compass, mounted in or on it to tilt freely in any direction, in effect suspending the object so that it will remain horizontal even when its support is tipped.

Origin of gimbals

First recorded in 1570–80; alteration of gimmal

Also called gimbal ring.

Dictionary.com

Historical Examples

The four pistons are carried upon the gimbal ring, which connects, by means of pivots, the two chair couplings.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885
Various

Anagram

slime bag

Today’s quote

Beauty is worse than wine, it intoxicates both the holder and beholder.

– Aldous Huxley

On this day

26 July 1875 – birth of Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology. He developed the concepts of extraversion and introversion; archetypes and collective unconscious. Died 6 June 1961.

26 July 1894 – birth of Aldous Huxley, English writer. Most famous for his vision of the future, ‘Brave New World’, as well as his work ‘The Doors of Perception’, based on his use of psychedelic drugs. Jim Morrison named his 60’s psychedelic rock band, ‘The Doors’ after Huxley’s book. Died 22 November 1963.

26 July 1928 – birth of Stanley Kubrick, legendary movie producer. Some of his movies include ‘2001 – A Space Odyssey’, ‘The Shining’, ‘A Clockwork Orange’, ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and ‘Eyes Wide Shut’. Died 7 March 1999.

26 July 1943 – birth of Mick Jagger. English singer-songwriter, founding member of the Rolling Stones.

26 July 1945 – Potsdam Declaration, or ‘Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender’ is issued by President Harry S. Truman (U.S.), Prime Minister Winston Churchill (U.K.) and Chairman Chiang Kai-shek (China). The document stated that Japan faced ‘prompt and utter destruction’ if it did not surrender. Japan initially rejected the declaration, resulting in President Truman ordering the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively.

26 July 1952 – death of Eva Perón, first lady of Argentina and second wife of Argentine President, Juan Perón. Her life was immortalised in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Evita, which included the hit song, ‘Don’t cry for me Argentina’. Born 7 May 1919.

26 July 1953 – Fidel Castro forms the revolutionary organisation, Movimiento 26 de Julio, (‘26th of July Movement‘), or M-26-7, fighting against Cuba’s Batista regime. M-26-7 fails in its attack on Moncado Barracks on 26 July 1953, but eventually succeeds in overthrowing Batista in 1959.

25 July 2018

lèse majesté

[lez, leez] [maj-uh-stee]

noun

1. Law. a crime, especially high treason, committed against the sovereign power.
an offense that violates the dignity of a ruler.
2. an attack on any custom, institution, belief, etc., held sacred or revered by numbers of people:
Her speech against Mother’s Day was criticized as lese majesty.

Also, lèse majesty, lèse majesté [lez mah-juh-stey, lez maj-uh-stee, leez].

Origin of lese majesty

French, Latin

1530-15401530-40; < French lèse-majesté, after Latin (crīmen) laesae mājestātis (the crime) of injured majesty

Dictionary.com

Anagram

male jests
jam steels
jets meals

Today’s quote

To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illuminate only the track it has passed.

– Samuel Taylor Coleridge

On this day

25 July 1603 – James VI, King of Scotland, is crowned as the first King of Great Britain and becomes James I.

25 July 1834 – death of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet. Born 21 October 1772.

25 July 1946 – the United States conducts first under-water tests of an atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

25 July 1978 – Bob Dylan booed off stage for using an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival.

25 July 1995 – discovery of minor planet: 43844 Rowling, which was named after author J.K. Rowling in 2006.

24 July 2018

dewlap

[doo-lap, dyoo-]

noun

1. a pendulous fold of skin under the throat of a bovine animal.
2. any similar part in other animals, as the wattle of fowl or the inflatable loose skin under the throat of some lizards.

Origin of dewlap

Middle English, Danish, Dutch

1350-1400; Middle English dew(e)lappe, apparently dewe dew + lappe lap1; compare Danish dog-læp, Dutch (dial.) dauw-zwengel; literal sense is unclear

Related forms

dewlapped, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for dewlap

Historical Examples

He was very fat, with a shaven, swarthy face and the dewlap of an ox.
The Strolling Saint
Raphael Sabatini

Put setons, or rowels in the dewlap, so as to have a dependent opening.
Cattle and Their Diseases
Robert Jennings

The chief peculiarity of the animal is its lack of a dewlap.
The Western World
W.H.G. Kingston

There must be no loose skin, such as dewlap, etc., in this region.
Sporting Dogs
Frank Townend Barton

Then what sense is there in blistering, bleeding, and inserting setons in the dewlap ?
The American Reformed Cattle Doctor
George Dadd

The dewlap is very slightly extensible, and but little developed.
Discoveries in Australia, Volume 1.
J Lort Stokes

In doing so he noticed for the first time Dick’s stitches in the hound’s dewlap and shoulders.
Jan
A. J. Dawson

About once in so long a tiny spasm of the muscles would contract the dewlap under his chin.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm
Irvin S. Cobb

Apply strong counterirritant to chest and put seton in dewlap.
Special Report on Diseases of Cattle
U.S. Department of Agriculture

So likewise the pictorial historian is merry over ‘ dewlap alliances’ in his description of the society of that period.
The Short Works of George Meredith
George Meredith

Anagram

wed lap

Today’s quote

It is neccessary to have wished for death in order to know how good it is to live.

– Alexandre Dumas

On this day

24 July 1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots, forced to abdicate after being accused of adultery and murder. Her 1 year old son becomes King James VI of Scotland, and later King James I, when Scotland and England unify. He also sponsored the Authorised Translation of the bible, which was named after him, the King James Bible.

24 July 1802 – birth of Alexandré Dumas, French author of celebrated works such as ‘Count of Monte Christo‘, ‘The Three Musketeers‘, ‘The Black Tulip‘. Died 5 December 1870.

24 July 1938 – Nescafe, or freeze-dried, coffee invented. Although this wasn’t the invention of instant coffee, but rather the refinement of it. Instant coffee was first invented in 1901 by Satori Kato. In 1906, George Washington (not the former POTUSA who died in 1799) invented the first mass produced instant coffee.

23 July 2018

volte-face

[volt-fahs, vohlt-; French vawltuh-fas]

noun, plural volte-face.

1. a turnabout, especially a reversal of opinion or policy.

Origin of volte-face

French, Italian
1810-1820; < French < Italian voltafaccia, equivalent to volta turn (see volt2) + faccia face

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for volte-face

Contemporary Examples

It leaves out only the actual reason for her abrupt, 11th-hour volte-face.
How Hillary’s Feeling About Caroline
Christopher Buckley
January 24, 2009

Historical Examples

It was the same as that which he had for Hincks’s volte-face. ‘
The Tribune of Nova Scotia
W. L. (William Lawson) Grant

For if the volte-face is general, the only embarrassment arises from not executing it.
The Angel of Pain
E. F. Benson

But Russia’s betrayal is not sufficient to account for the Serbian volte-face.
After the Rain
Sam Vaknin

Such a volte-face as this was not only palpably unjust, it was altogether too nimble a bit of gymnastics for Duplay to appreciate.
Tristram of Blent
Anthony Hope

What will justify such a volte-face and with what excuse can he repudiate the principles with which he justified his takeover?
The Origins of Contemporary France, Volume 4 (of 6)
Hippolyte A. Taine

The volte-face sounds more abrupt than it really was if it be remembered that he never had more than one object in view at a time.
Sonia Between two Worlds
Stephen McKenna

And for all their talk of freedom, Lennan could see the volte-face his friends would be making, if they only knew.
The Dark Flower
John Galsworthy

These four factors coalesced during 1948 and led to a reassessment of policy and, finally, to a volte-face.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965
Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.

Lastly, they have, in its highest development, the capacity to make a volte-face with grace and equanimity.
A Woman’s Impression of the Philippines
Mary H. (Mary Helen) Fee

Anagram

fecal vote
feta clove
to cave elf

Today’s quote

Evil can be oppressed without being mirrored. Oppressors can be resisted without being emulated. Enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.

– Walter Wink

On this day

23 July 1892 – birthday of Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia. Although Selassie was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, Rastafarians believe that he is the Messiah returned. Died 27 August 1975.

23 July 1934 – Australian batsman, Donald Bradman, scores 304 against England at Leeds, with 43 fours and 2 sixes. He is the only batsman to ever complete two treble centuries in Test cricket.

23 July 1935 – a B-25 Mitchell bomber carrying three people, crashes into the Empire State Building, New York City, killing 14 people. The accident was caused by heavy fog.

23 July 2011 – death of Amy Winehouse. English singer-songwriter. She was 27. Born 14 September 1983.