17 September 2017

esoteric

[es-uh-ter-ik]

adjective

1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite:
poetry full of esoteric allusions.
2. belonging to the select few.
3. private; secret; confidential.
4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group:
the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras.

Origin of esoteric

Greek

1645-1655; < Greek esōterikós inner, equivalent to esṓter(os) inner + -ikos -ic

Related forms

esoterically, adverb
nonesoteric, adjective
nonesoterically, adverb
unesoteric, adjective

Can be confused

esoteric, exoteric.

Synonyms

1. abstruse, arcane, cryptic, enigmatic.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for esoteric

Contemporary Examples

There is a pill in Tibetan Buddhism that contains a lot of esoteric ingredients, some of which are bodily substances.
How to Think With Your Gut
Mindy Farabee
April 8, 2013

He noted that some esoteric historians call them “Palestinians.”
Moshe Feiglin Is Now Mainstream
Gabriel Fisher
December 6, 2012

Suddenly you can hold forth about leading and kerning and other esoteric aspects of typesetting.
Instagram App Deepens Class Warfare Between Apple and Android Smartphones
Dan Lyons
April 5, 2012

In the old days it was not uncommon for the admissions officer to pose some esoteric —make that wacko—question.
Do College Interviews Count?
Steve Cohen, Mike Muska
October 5, 2011

Dig deeper into exotic and esoteric areas of interest for direction in creative pursuits, especially.
Zodiac Beast
Starsky + Cox
April 8, 2011

Historical Examples

He was again conscious of that esoteric disturbance in his temples.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance

The design of this cave-like aperture should betray its esoteric meaning.
Sex=The Unknown Quantity
Ali Nomad

There might be an esoteric book for the individual’s own account of himself.
The Task of Social Hygiene
Havelock Ellis

A key to some great and deep occult teachings, and esoteric mysteries.
The Human Aura
Swami Panchadasi

Instruct him in the meaning of the Vedas,Reveal to him their esoteric sense.V.
The Buddha
Paul Carus

Anagram

so recite
cite rose
eco tiers
core site

Today’s quote

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

– Vincent Van Gogh

On this day

17 September 1916 – Baron Manfred Von Richthofen (a.k.a The Red Baron), wins his first aerial combat in World War I.

17 September 1947 – the United State Department of Defense forms and is tasked with coordinating all defense related organisations in the U.S. The DoD is the largest employer in the world, with over 3.2 million employees, including active soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, and National Guard.

17 September 1951 – birth of Cassandra Peterson a.k.a Elvira, U.S. actress and host of late-night B-grade horror and sci-fi movies.

17 September 1961 – birth of Baz Luhrmann, Australian film director (Romeo and Juliet, Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge).

17 September 1966 – St George Dragons beat Balmain Tigers 23-4, to win the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) grand final for the 11th consecutive year. The longest premiership-winning streak in Australian sport.

17 September 1972 – M*A*S*H* premieres on NBC-TV.

17 September 1991 – first version of Linux released.

15 September 2017

epicure

[ep-i-kyoo r]

noun

1. a person who cultivates a refined taste, especially in food and wine; connoisseur.
2. Archaic. a person dedicated to sensual enjoyment.

Origin of epicure

Middle English, Latin

1350-1400 for earlier sense; 1555-65 for def 2; Middle English Epicures, Epicureis Epicureans (plural) < Latin Epicūrēus (singular) (see epicurean )

Synonyms

1. gastronome, gourmet, epicurean. 2. voluptuary, sensualist, gourmand.

Antonyms

1. ascetic.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for epicure

Historical Examples

It was introduced into England as an epicure ‘s dish in the seventeenth century.
De Libris: Prose and Verse
Austin Dobson

Kingozi’s methods of eating had in them little of the epicure.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White

Across the top of its door were painted in gold letters, the words: “The epicure.”
The Einstein See-Saw
Miles John Breuer

I was always an epicure in the matter of love, and knew the best when I found it.
The Golden Fountain
Lilian Staveley

These are quite an epicure ‘s dish, and care must be taken to cook them slowly.
Nelson’s Home Comforts
Mary Hooper

Certainly, he mused to himself, his brother was an epicure in love.
The Mask
Arthur Hornblow

Your book, “The epicure of Medicine,” is worth its weight in gold.
Food for the Traveler
Dora Cathrine Cristine Liebel Roper

We are told by Chaucer that he was a great householder and an epicure.
The Canterbury Puzzles
Henry Ernest Dudeney

The oyster is now a dish for the epicure and the lobster for the millionaire.
The Old Coast Road
Agnes Rothery

He spoke in French, fluent and exact, and his manner was entirely that of the epicure.
Hushed Up
William Le Queux

Anagram

pure ice
pie cure
ice peru

Today’s quote

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.

– T. S. Eliot

On this day

15 September – International Day of Democracy.

15 September 1254 – birth of Marco Polo, Italian explorer. Died 9 January 1324.

14 September 2017

undine

[uhn-deen, uhn-deen]

noun

1. any of a group of female water spirits described by Paracelsus.

Origin of undine

New Latin undīna (1658; coined by Paracelsus), equivalent to Latin und(a) wave, water + -īna -ine1

Synonyms

See sylph.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for undine

Historical Examples

“She’s like undine after she had found her soul,” said the Englishman.
The Eternal City
Hall Caine

You remind me just now of pictures I have seen of undine and the woodland nymphs.
Pretty Madcap Dorothy
Laura Jean Libbey

Urquhart called her undine, and she was mostly known as the Mermaid.
Love and Lucy
Maurice Henry Hewlett

I will sell it, fair undine, and you shall have the proceeds.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

Then there is undine, but she only appears on the operatic stage, and that but rarely.
From a Terrace in Prague
Lieut.-Col. B. Granville Baker

I didn’t make much success of waking my undine ‘s soul to life!
The Making of a Soul
Kathlyn Rhodes

Anagram

in dune

Today’s quote

Ethics and equity and the principles of justice do not change with the calendar.

– D. H. Lawrence

On this day

14 September 1752 – the British Empire commences using the Gregorian calendar instead of the Julian calendar. To balance the calendar, the 10 days from 3 September to 13 September are written off. This is because the Gregorian claimed the annual cycle was 365.2425 days. The Julian calendar averaged out at 365.25 days per year, but used 365 days each year with an extra day every four years to allow for the rounded down amount.

14 September 1812 – Fire of Moscow – French troops under the command of Napoleon defeat Russian troops in the Battle of Borodino and invade Moscow. Count Fyodor Rostopchin orders Russian citizens to destroy the Kremlin and other major buildings as they retreat. The fires burn for 4 days and destroy around 75% of Moscow.

14 September 1983 – birthday of Amy Winehouse. English singer-songwriter. Died 23 July 2011.

13 September 2017

triumvirate

[trahy-uhm-ver-it, -vuh-reyt]

noun

1. Roman History. the office or magistracy of a triumvir.
2. a government of three officers or magistrates functioning jointly.
3. a coalition of three magistrates or rulers for joint administration.
4. any association of three in office or authority.
5. any group or set of three.

Origin of triumvirate

Latin

1575-1585 From the Latin word triumvirātus, dating back to 1575-85. See triumvir, -ate3
Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for triumvirate

Contemporary Examples

Successful politicians seek to marry a triumvirate of charisma, certitude, and leadership.
The Ugly Truth About Ugly Politicians
Tim Teeman
July 25, 2014

Beyond this triumvirate I struggle to recall something or someone truly remarkable.
Gal With a Suitcase
Jolie Hunt
July 16, 2010

Historical Examples

They, with Gallatin, formed the triumvirate which ruled the country for sixteen years.
Albert Gallatin
John Austin Stevens

To him there was no triumvirate: the word had never been mentioned to his ears.
The Life of Cicero
Anthony Trollope

The Third triumvirate went down to breakfast with small appetite.
The Varmint
Owen Johnson

The alliance of these three men is called the First triumvirate.
A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines
Clayton Edwards

Meanwhile what were Cæsar’s partners in the triumvirate doing?
Historic Tales, Volume 11 (of 15)
Charles Morris

When the triumvirate went down, their ways at first lay separate.
Rowlandson’s Oxford
A. Hamilton Gibbs

A triumvirate of Paredes, Tornel and Valencia was much talked of.
The War With Mexico, Volume I (of 2)
Justin H. Smith

This ministry has therefore been sometimes called The triumvirate.
A History of England, Period III.
Rev. J. Franck Bright

Anagram

mutt I arrive
ram virtue it

Today’s quote

Life is always going to be stranger than fiction, because fiction has to be convincing, and life doesn’t.

– Neil Gaiman

On this day

13 September 1503 – Michelango commences his iconic sculpture, ‘David‘.

13 September 1922 – official highest temperature ever recorded: 57.8oC (138oF) at Azizya, Libya.

13 September 1940 – German Luftwaffe bombs Buckingham Palace, London, while King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) are in residence.

12 September 2017

doggerel

[daw-ger-uh l, dog-er-]

adjective

1. comic or burlesque, and usually loose or irregular in measure.
rude; crude; poor.
noun
2. doggerel verse.

Also, doggrel [daw-gruh l, dog-ruh l].

Origin of doggerel

Middle English

1350-1400; Middle English; see dog, -rel; cf. dog Latin

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for doggerel

Historical Examples

Because you recited that doggerel about The Run of Crusader.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser

Ramsey shook his head and tried to force the thoughts from his mind with doggerel.
Equation of Doom
Gerald Vance

This supposition has found strength and sanction in doggerel verse.
Welsh Folk-Lore
Elias Owen

By now, Presley could not tell whether what he had written was true poetry or doggerel.
The Octopus
Frank Norris

My lady was pleased to laugh at the doggerel, and even Mrs. Manners.
Richard Carvel, Complete
Winston Churchill

One of them had written a bit of doggerel on a sheet of paper and tacked it to a tree.
The Putnam Hall Champions
Arthur M. Winfield

It is only doggerel but it helps to keep the idea before our people.
The New Glutton or Epicure
Horace Fletcher

It was doggerel, bad enough to satisfy every aspiration of an antiquary.
The Wizard’s Son, Vol. 1(of 3)
Margaret Oliphant

I occupied myself, as I often do, in composing a bit of doggerel to the rhythm of the wheels.
Walking Shadows
Alfred Noyes

This was at once removed by the saying aloud of some charm in doggerel verse.
Lancashire Folk-lore
John Harland

Anagram

go ledger
gored leg
older egg

Today’s quote

It’s a very important thing to learn to talk to people you disagree with.

– Peter Seeger

On this day

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

12 September 1885 – the highest scoring soccer match in history is a Scottish Cup match played between Arbroath and Bon Accord. Arbroath won 36-0.

12 September 1990 – formal end of World War II. In 1945 there was no formal German state to accept the terms of surrender or the ongoing governing of Germany. The 1945 Potsdam Agreement set the provisional terms under which the Allies would govern Germany. The lack of a German government at the time, became known as ‘The German Question’ and was used by the U.S.A. as the reason for maintaining American bases in West Germany throughout the Cold War. It wasn’t until German re-unification in 1990, that the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) unified. To achieve full sovereignty the new unified state was required to accept the terms of the Potsdam Agreement. A settlement was then negotiated with the new German government between the new German state, the U.S.A, France, U.S.S.R and Britain, formally ending World War II.

12 September 2001 – Ansett, Australia’s first commercial airline, collapses.

12 September 2003 – death of Johnny Cash, American singer and musician. Born 26 February 1932.

11 September 2017

belay

[bih-ley]

verb (used with object), belayed, belaying.

1. Nautical. to fasten (a rope) by winding around a pin or short rod inserted in a holder so that both ends of the rod are clear.
2. Mountain Climbing.
to secure (a person) by attaching to one end of a rope.
to secure (a rope) by attaching to a person or to an object offering stable support.
3. to cease (an action); stop.
to ignore (an announcement, order, etc.):
Belay that, the meeting will be at 0900 instead of 0800.
verb (used without object), belayed, belaying.
4. to belay a rope:
Belay on that cleat over there.
noun
5. Mountain Climbing. a rock, bush, or other object sturdy enough for a running rope to be passed around it to secure a hold.

Origin of belay

Middle English, Old English

900 before 900; Middle English beleggen, Old English belecgan. See be-, lay1

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for belay

Historical Examples

The order was given to belay the head braces, and we waited the result in silence.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper

By the time a voice on board her cried, ” belay,” faintly, she had gone from my sight.
Romance
Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer

Well there with the throat-halliards; well with the peak; belay !
The Pirate Slaver
Harry Collingwood

“ belay that sea-lawyering, Marline,” interposed Captain Miles.
The White Squall
John Conroy Hutcheson

“ belay that,” said Captain Miles, rousing up now and rubbing his eyes.
The White Squall
John Conroy Hutcheson

There now, old man, just belay all that, and let me finish my snooze.
Salt Water
W. H. G. Kingston

“After that round turn, you may belay,” cried young Tom, laughing.
Jacob Faithful
Captain Frederick Marryat

None of the four that remained could do more than haul aft and belay a sheet.
The Celebrity, Complete
Winston Churchill

He did not belay the tired animal with a whip and curse and swear at him in his helplessness.
My Wonderful Visit
Charlie Chaplin

All he has to do when on a wind is to take and harden in all he can, and belay.
Yachting Vol. 1
Various.

Anagram

by ale

Today’s quote

The laziest man I ever met put popcorn in his pancakes so they would turn over by themselves.

– W. C. Fields

On this day

11 September 1297 – William Wallace leads Scottish forces to victory against the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

11 September 1941 – construction of the Pentagon commences in Washington DC. (Completed on 15 January 1943).

11 September 1948 – death 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. In Pakistan, his birthday is a national holiday. Born 25 December 1876.

11 September 1972 – Democratically elected President Salvador Allende of Chilé, is overthrown in a U.S. sponsored coup which brings to power General Augusto Pinochet. The Church Committee, commissioned by the U.S. Department of State to investigate covert C.I.A. operations in Chilé, found that Henry Kissinger had directed the C.I.A. to prevent the socialist Allende from being elected, then to undermine his presidency, before supplying arms to a military junta which succeeded in overthrowing Allendé. Thousands of people died or disappeared under Pinochet’s rule, with approximately 40,000 suffering human rights violations, including torture.

11 September 1987 – death of Peter Tosh, Jamaican reggae singer and musician. From 1963 to 1974, Tosh was a member of Bob Marley and Wailers until going solo. His most famous song is ‘Legalize It’, about legalising marijuana. Tosh’s album, ‘Bush Doctor’, included a duet with Mick Jagger in the song, ‘Don’t Look Back’. Tosh was a Rastafarian. He campaigned against apartheid, which he sang about on his album ‘Equal Rights’. Tosh was murdered on 11 September 1987, after three men broke into his house and tortured him in an effort to extort money. After several hours, one of the men shot Tosh in the head, killing him. Two other friends of Tosh’s were also killed. Born 19 October 1944.

11 September 2001 – 9/11 Terrorist Attacks in which four commercial airliners were hijacked by Al Qaeda terrorists. Two planes hit the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City, one plane hit the Pentagon in Washington DC and one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought with the hijackers. Approximately, 3,000 people died in the attacks.

10 September 2017

dearth

[durth]

noun

1. an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack:
There is a dearth of good engineers.
2. scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

Origin of dearth

Middle English

1200-1250 First recorded in 1200-50, dearth is from the Middle English word derthe. See dear1, -th1

Can be confused

dearth, plethora.
dearth, death.

Synonyms

1. shortage, want, paucity, insufficiency.

Antonyms

1. abundance, plenty, sufficiency; surplus.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for dearth

Contemporary Examples

The Pentagon security reviewers must have been suffering a dearth of caffeine or sleep.
‘They Don’t Call It SEAL Team 6-Year-Old for Nothing’: Commandos Clash Over Tell-All Book
Kimberly Dozier
November 2, 2014

The FDA is hoping to remedy the dearth of knowledge with a plea aimed at influential drugmakers.
Why Male Breast Cancer Is Back in the Limelight
Kevin Zawacki
July 15, 2014

And the dearth of top Democratic visitors could have a real impact on down-ballot Democrats.
Iowa Has a Phantom Democratic Presidential Candidates Problem
Ben Jacobs
July 7, 2014

Anagram

hatred
thread

Today’s quote

Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.

– Stevie Wonder

On this day

10 September – World Suicide Prevention Day.

10 September 1945 – birth of José Feliciano, blind Puerto Rican singer/musician.

9 September 2017

peignoir

[peyn-wahr, pen-, peyn-wahr, pen-]

noun

1. a woman’s dressing gown.
2. a cloak or gown of terry cloth for wear after swimming or, especially in France, after the bath.

Origin of peignoir

1825-1835; < French: literally, comber, i.e., something worn while one’s hair is being combed, equivalent to peign(er) to comb (<
Late Latin pectināre; see pecten) + -oir < Latin -ōrium -ory1

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for peignoir

Historical Examples

So I had to put on her peignoir, and tidy her up, and arrange her hair just as I have done.
A Comedy of Marriage and Other Tales
Guy De Maupassant

Her peignoir of beige, embroidered with red silk, was evidently of Parisian manufacture.
The Downfall
Emile Zola

Besides, the peignoir weighs nothing; a feather, a puff of vapour.
Rita
Laura E. Richards

Yes, but you will not care to go to the dining-room in your peignoir?
The Son of Monte Christo
Jules Lermina

Ma’ame Plagie had been sitting beside the bed in her peignoir and slippers.
Bayou Folk
Kate Chopin

Anagram

ignore pi
pi region
rip in ego

Today’s quote

An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person’s main task in life – becoming a better person.

– Leo Tolstoy

On this day

9 September 1543 – Mary Stuart crowned ‘Queen of Scots’. She was 9 months old.

9 September 1828 – birth of Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer, (‘Anna Karenina‘, ‘War and Peace‘). Died 20 November 1910.

9 September 1890 – birth of Harlan Sanders who eventually becomes a Colonel and chickens throughout Kentucky, and ultimately the rest of the world, are never the same again as he invents Kentucky Fried Chicken. Died 16 December 1980.

9 September 2004 – Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, bombed. 10 people killed.

8 September 2017

remiss

[ri-mis]

adjective

1. negligent, careless, or slow in performing one’s duty, business, etc.:
He’s terribly remiss in his work.
2. characterized by negligence or carelessness.
3. lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.

Origin of remiss

late Middle English Latin

1375-1425; late Middle English < Latin remissus (past participle of remittere to send back, slacken, relax); see remit

Related forms

remissly, adverb
remissness, noun
overremiss, adjective
overremissly, adverb
overremissness, noun

Synonyms

1, 2. derelict, thoughtless, lax, slack, neglectful. 3. dilatory, slothful, slow.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for remiss

Contemporary Examples

But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention what gives me hope from this case.
For Ricky Jackson, a Just Verdict—But 39 Years Too Late
Cliff Schecter
November 25, 2014

I would be remiss not to mention David Wenham, who played Al.
Elisabeth Moss Reveals Four Tough Challenges in Making ‘Top of the Lake’
August 26, 2013

And I’d be remiss not to direct you a display of animal behavior in action.
Meet Germany’s Wolf Man
Justin Green
January 28, 2013

And yet I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated.
Obama’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Barack Obama
December 9, 2009

Historical Examples

If you will pardon the offense, I will promise not to be so remiss in the future.
Jolly Sally Pendleton
Laura Jean Libbey

Giusippe and I have been both rude and remiss, haven’t we, Giusippe?
The Story of Glass
Sara Ware Bassett

I was thunderstruck, and tried to think if I had been remiss in anything.
Behind the Scenes
Elizabeth Keckley

Anagram

misers

Today’s quote

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

– Michelangelo

On this day

8 September – International Day of Literacy.

8 September 1504 – Michelangelo unveils his iconic sculpture, ‘David‘.

8 September 1930 – Richard Drew invents ‘scotch’ tape, the world’s first transparent, adhesive tape … otherwise known as ‘sticky tape’.

8 September 1966 – Star Trek premiers on NBC TV in the U.S.

8 September 2006 – death of Peter Brock, Australian car racing legend. Born 26 February 1945.

4 September 2017

ambivalence

[am-biv-uh-luh ns]

noun

1. uncertainty or fluctuation, especially when caused by inability to make a choice or by a simultaneous desire to say or do two opposite or conflicting things.
2. Psychology. the coexistence within an individual of positive and negative feelings toward the same person, object, or action, simultaneously drawing him or her in opposite directions.

Also, ambivalency.

Origin of ambivalence

1910-1915 First recorded in 1910-15; ambi- + valence

Related forms

ambivalent, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for ambivalence

Contemporary Examples

The ambivalence is reflected in U.S. policy, which often has served to complicate aid delivery in conflict zones.
Why Humanitarians Talk to ISIS
Joshua Hersh
October 23, 2014

A strong note of ambivalence is also present in the conflict over love and duty between Gromov and his wife.
Fake Snowden Is Russia’s Newest TV Star
Cathy Young
October 11, 2014

The administration appears united behind Obama, but with an undercurrent of ambivalence that the president no doubt shares.
How the Obama Administration Reversed Course on Syria Strikes
Eleanor Clift, Josh Rogin
August 28, 2013

In content, they deal in lost loves, lost opportunities, and the ambivalence inspired by a difficult childhood.
This Week’s Hot Reads: June 17, 2013
Sarah Stodola, Jen Vafidis
June 16, 2013

After 10 years of marriage, our ambivalence towards kids has been consistent.
Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories
Harry Siegel
February 26, 2013

Or at least an ambivalence toward reading the Megilla—an invitation to drink in itself.
Purim Perils: His View Is His Own
Rabbi Daniel Landes
February 17, 2013

The thoughtful man said he was surprised at how the top security officials expressed their own ambivalence and regrets.
‘The Gatekeepers,’ Brooklyn College BDS Forum: Week of Israel Debate
Gail Sheehy
February 7, 2013

Historical Examples

But now also the psychological fatality of ambivalence demands its rights.
Totem and Taboo
Sigmund Freud

With the decline of this ambivalence the taboo, as the compromise symptom of the ambivalent conflict, also slowly disappeared.
Totem and Taboo
Sigmund Freud

Anagram

manacle vibe
becalm naive
bail cavemen

Today’s quote

It seems we are capable of immense love and loyalty, and as capable of deceit and atrocity. It’s probably this shocking ambivalence that makes us unique.

– John Scott

On this day

4 September 1937 – birth of Dawn Fraser AO MBE, Australian swimming legend. Won Olympic gold medals in 1956, 1960 and 1964, as well as a number of silver medals.

4 September 2006 – death of Steve Irwin, ‘The Crocodile Hunter’, Australian wildlife expert and television personality. (Born 22 February 1962).