26 July 2017

pollard

[pol-erd]

noun

1. a tree cut back nearly to the trunk, so as to produce a dense mass of branches.
2. an animal, as a stag, ox, or sheep, having no horns.
verb (used with object)
3. to convert into a pollard.

Origin of pollard

1515-1525, First recorded in 1515-25; poll1+ -ard

Related forms

unpollarded, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for pollard

Contemporary Examples

Breslin noted that pollard earned $3.01 an hour and came in on his day off and considered the task an honor.
What Became of JFK’s Gravedigger?
Michael Daly
November 21, 2013

Sharanksy noted that his own government at first did not acknowledge that pollard was even an agent.
Free Jonathan Pollard: Israelis Welcome Obama, Then Ask Him for a Favor
Eli Lake
March 17, 2013

pollard the captive fits those prayers much better than the Jewish lawyers and doctors who went to Stanford with him.
Jonathan Pollard Means Israeli-American Squabbling Instead of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiation
Raphael Magarik
July 25, 2013

Anagram

roll pad
all drop
Lap Lord
Rap Doll

Today’s quote

To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.

– 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 2017

unbosom

[uhn-boo z-uh m, -boo-zuh m]

verb (used with object)

1. to disclose (a confidence, secret, etc.).
verb (used without object)
2. to disclose one’s thoughts, feelings, or the like, especially in confidence.
Idioms
3. unbosom oneself, to disclose one’s thoughts, feelings, etc., to another person; confide one’s private affairs:
He unbosomed himself to a complete stranger.

Origin of unbosom

1580-1590; un-2+ bosom (v.)

Related forms

unbosomer, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for unbosom

Historical Examples

Slowly he rolled a cigarette and began to unbosom himself to Jack.
The Indians’ Last Fight
Dennis Collins

Well, Tom, as I know you to be a sincere fellow, I will unbosom myself.
Select Temperance Tracts
American Tract Society

Once within the walls of the pleasant little room, he found it easy to unbosom himself.
That Lass O’ Lowrie’s
Frances Hodgson Burnett

Then only did he unbosom himself and tell me freely what he had to say.
The Iron Pirate
Max Pemberton

The barber, who had also heard the story, was bursting with a desire to unbosom himself upon the subject.
The Colonel’s Dream
Charles W. Chesnutt

Anagram

mob onus
sun boom

Today’s quote

Be kind, but be fierce.

– Winston Churchill

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 2017

plethora

[pleth-er-uh]

noun

1. overabundance; excess:
a plethora of advice and a paucity of assistance.
2. Pathology Archaic. a morbid condition due to excess of red corpuscles in the blood or increase in the quantity of blood.

Origin of plethora

Greek

1535-1545; New Latin; Greek plēthṓra fullness

Can be confused

dearth, plethora.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for plethora

Contemporary Examples

Living with a gun has created a plethora of new thought patterns for me.
‘Stupid,’ ‘Immoral,’ ‘Dangerous,’ ‘Coward’: My Month With a Gun
Heidi Yewman
July 21, 2013

There are a plethora of groups that track and publish this kind of information, which I read avidly when I come across it.
Who’s Missing in First Class?
Lauren Zalaznick
December 10, 2010

During the mid-to-late 1980s, he went on an absolute tear, helming a plethora of irresistible entertainments.
Rob Reiner on the State of Romcoms, ‘The Princess Bride’s’ Alternate Ending, and the Red Viper
Marlow Stern
July 26, 2014

Anagram

heal port
hot pearl
the portal

Today’s quote

Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness.

– Leo Tolstoy

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 invented the first mass produced instant coffee.

23 July 2017

verbatim

[ver-bey-tim]

adverb

1. in exactly the same words; word for word:
to repeat something verbatim.
adjective
2. corresponding word for word to the original source or text:
a verbatim record of the proceedings.
3. skilled at recording or noting down speeches, proceedings, etc., with word-for-word accuracy:
a verbatim stenographer.

Origin of verbatim

Medieval Latin

1475-1485; < Medieval Latin verbātim, equivalent to verb(um) word + -ātim adv. suffix
verbatim et literatim

[wer-bah-tim et lee-te-rah-tim; English ver-bey-tim et lit-uh-rey-tim]

adverb, Latin.

1. word for word and letter for letter; in exactly the same words.

Also, verbatim ac literatim [wer-bah-tim ahk lee-te-rah-tim; English ver-bey-tim ak lit-uh-rey-tim].

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for verbatim

Contemporary Examples

He knew exactly what Raymond had said, maybe not verbatim, but certainly in general.
John Grisham’s Debut Short Story
John Grisham
October 25, 2009

I have it on good authority these quotes are 100 percent accurate, if not 100 percent verbatim.
Forget the Resolutions; Try a Few Declarations
Kevin Bleyer
December 31, 2014

She played the part by reading from a script assembled almost entirely out of verbatim Palin quotes.
More Juicy Election Details
The Daily Beast
January 10, 2010

Anagram

vibe mart
Amber I TV

Today’s quotes

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

– Jane Goodall

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.

20 July 2017

toxophilite

[tok-sof-uh-lahyt]

noun

1. a devotee of archery; archer.

Origin of toxophilite

Greek

1785-1795; Toxophil(us) bow-lover (coined by Roger Ascham in his 1545 book so entitled; Greek tóxo(n) bow + -philos -phile ) + -ite1

Related forms

toxophilitic [tok-sof-uh-lit-ik], adjective
toxophily, noun

Dictionary.com

Anagram

lithe pix too
helix tip too
pixie hot lot

Today’s quote

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

– Lao Tsu

On this day

20 July 356 BC – birth of Alexander the Great, Macedonian King. He conquered the Persia Empire, which ruled Asia Minor, The Levant and Syria, Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. He then invaded India before returning to Persia. He died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon, most likely by poisoning. Died 10 June 323 BC.

20 July 1919 – birth of Edmund Hillary, New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of Mt Everest. Died 11 January 2008.

20 July 1969 – Apollo 11 becomes the first manned landing on the moon, with Neil Armstrong the first man to walk on the moon, followed by Edwin (Buzz) Aldren Jr. Michael Collins drew the short straw and remained in orbit in order to pick up Armstrong and Aldren later.

20 July 1973 – death of Bruce Lee (born as Lee Jun-fan), martial artist and actor. Born 27 November 1940.

20 July 1976 – birth of Andrew Stockdale, Australian rock musician, leader singer, lead guitarist and founding member of Wolfmother. In 2007, Stockdale and his Wolfmother mates, won ‘Songwriter of the Year’ at the APRA Awards. Stockdale’s vocal style has been described as a cross between Ozzy Osbourne and Robert Plant. Musically, he has been compared with Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi. He grew up in Ashgrove, Brisbane.

18 July 2017

espalier

[ih-spal-yer, -yey]

noun

1. a trellis or framework on which the trunk and branches of fruit trees or shrubs are trained to grow in one plane.
2. a plant so trained.
verb (used with object)
3. to train on an espalier.
4. to furnish with an espalier.

Origin of espalier

Italian

1655-1665; French, Middle French: trellis; Italian spalliera back rest, espalier, equivalent to spall(a) shoulder, support + -iera -ier2

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for espalier

Historical Examples

Trained as an espalier, with protection of straw or mats, it will do tolerably well throughout the Middle states.
Soil Culture
J. H. Walden

Attend to the trees lately planted, and water them often; and whatever good shoots they make, fasten them to the wall or espalier.
The Cook and Housekeeper’s Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton

A beautiful portion of Holland’s glorious history affords the espalier, around which the tendrils of my narrative entwine.
The Burgomaster’s Wife, Complete
Georg Ebers

This practice is also followed in winter cabbages, which are sown in this season along an espalier border.
Buffon’s Natural History. Volume X (of 10)
Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon

The U-form classifies somewhere between the cordon and the espalier.
Dwarf Fruit Trees
F. A. Waugh

Rosalie had tied the twigs to a palisade, so that, as an espalier, it could thoroughly drink in the sun’s rays.
O. T.
Hans Christian Andersen

Anagram

pale rise
real pies
pair eels

Today’s quote

I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.

– Shannon Hale

On this day

18 July – Mandela Day – An internationally recognised day to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. ‘Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day’. http://www.mandeladay.com/

18 July 64 AD – Great Fire of Rome.

18 July 1918 – birth of Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician. Died 5 December 2013.

18 July 1925 – Adolf Hitler publishes Mein Kampf. He wrote the book in prison while serving a sentence for treason. Mein kampf is German for ‘My Struggle’. The book is a rambling read in which Hitler covers many concepts including what he was like as a child and the reasons for collapse of the Second Reich. At its core it expresses Hitler’s view of his plans for Germany and often blames the Jews for many of the ills that had beset Germany, including the rise of Marxism, controlling the economy, weakening the army and bastardising the white race. Throughout the book, Hitler often mentioned that his plans to combat the Jewish influence in Germany was a fulfilment of the Lord’s will.

18 July 1937 – birth of Hunter S. Thompson, American writer and gonzo journalist. Died 20 February 2005.

18 July 1950 – birth of Richard Branson, British entrepreneur.

17 July 2017

avocation

[av-uh-key-shuh n]

noun

1. something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby:
Our doctor’s avocation is painting.
2. a person’s regular occupation, calling, or vocation.
3. Archaic. diversion or distraction.

Origin of avocation

Latin

1520-1530; Latin āvocātiōn- (stem of āvocātiō) a calling away. See a-4, vocation

Related forms

avocational, adjective
avocationally, adverb

Can be confused

avocation, vocation.
avocation, evocation.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for avocation

Contemporary Examples

He stammered, and read and wrote a lot of poetry (mostly in secret), an avocation he changed to photography for the novel.
Colm Toibin Describes The Creation Of His Quiet Masterpiece ‘Nora Webster’
Jennie Yabroff
November 2, 2014

I think it was more a matter of self-consciousness… I always saw writing about music as purely an avocation.
Peter Guralnick: In Love With the Life of Music
Ron Hogan
March 28, 2014

Historical Examples

Because they serve for stages of faculty and avocation upon that biological gradient of Ascent by which we climb.
Feminism and Sex-Extinction
Arabella Kenealy

They were a gay group of men, and hospitality was their avocation.
Complete Story of the San Francisco Horror
Richard Linthicum

Sire,” said the noble Surgeon Larry to Napoleon, “it is my avocation to prolong life, and not to destroy it.
Martyria
Augustus C. Hamlin

Petrarca, in his avocation of barber, was in the greatest request.
Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 57, No. 351, January 1845
Various

But it is the cause of a vast amount of misery amongst those who are compelled to seek a house close to their daily avocation.
Christmas Penny Readings
George Manville Fenn

I would not like to hurt your feelings by calling your avocation a trade!
Crown and Anchor
John Conroy Hutcheson

They found Joe Sanders sitting on the doorstep, with the morose aspect of a man deprived of his avocation in life.
When ‘Bear Cat’ Went Dry
Charles Neville Buck

Industry is diligence applied to some avocation, business, or profession.
English Synonyms and Antonyms
James Champlin Fernald

Anagram

to ciao van
coo at vain

Today’s quote

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.

– Oscar Ameringer

On this day

17 July 1774 – Captain James Cook arrives in New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).

17 July 1976 – 25 African countries boycott the opening ceremony of the Montreal Olympics in protest against New Zealand’s sporting links with South Africa.

17 July 1979 – In Nicaragua, Marxist Sandinista rebels overthrow the U.S. sponsored government of President Samoza, who flees to the United States.

17 July 2013 – The Queensland Maroons rugby league team win a record 8 consecutive State of Origin series against the New South Wales Blues.

16 July 2017

fuddling cup

noun

1. an English earthenware drinking vessel of the 17th and 18th centuries, having the form of a cluster of three or more cups communicating at their bottoms in such a way that the entire vessel can be drained from any of them. A fuddling cup is a three-dimensional puzzle in the form of a drinking vessel, made of three or more cups or jugs all linked together by holes and tubes. The challenge of the puzzle is to drink from the vessel in such a way that the beverage does not spill. To do this successfully, the cups must be drunk from in a specific order.

Fuddling cups

Today’s quote

In an open society, no idea can be above scrutiny, just as no people should be beneath dignity.

– Maajid Nawaz

On this day

16 July 622 – The Prophet Mohammad escapes from Mecca and travels to Medina, marking the beginning of both Islam and the Islamic calendar.

16 July 1439 – England bans kissing in an effort to stop the spreading of germs.

15 July 2017

rowel

[rou-uh l]

noun

1. a small wheel with radiating points, forming the extremity of a spur.
2. Veterinary Medicine. a piece of leather or the like inserted beneath the skin of a horse or other animal to promote drainage of an infection.
verb (used with object), roweled, roweling or (especially British) rowelled, rowelling.
3. to prick or urge with a rowel.
4. Veterinary Medicine. to insert a rowel in.

Origin of rowel

Middle English, Middle French, Old French, Late Latin

1350-1400; Middle English rowelle < Middle French ruelle, Old French roel < Late Latin rotella, equivalent to Latin rot(a) wheel + -ella -elle

Related forms

unroweled; especially British, unrowelled, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for rowel

Historical Examples

Unbuckling the spur from her heel, she used the rowel as a knife to jab a hole in the clay.
The Sheriff’s Son
William MacLeod Raine

The shank of the spur is the bridge and road, the rowel the church and rectory.
Cradock Nowell, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Richard Doddridge Blackmore

The spurs were also richly gilded, the shank and rowel representing the thistle, and were the gift of the drummer-boys.
The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume II (of 2)
Hazard Stevens

She twirled her rowel in silence for a time, her eyes fixed on it.
The Heritage of the Hills
Arthur P. Hankins

The rowel spur is found but in one or two instances during this century.
Ancient Armour and Weapons in Europe
John Hewitt

I measured one which was six inches in the diameter of the rowel, and the rowel itself contained upward of thirty points.
With the World’s Great Travellers, Volume 1
Various

Anagram

lower

Today’s quote

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.

– Anton Chekhov

On this day

15 July 1099 – First Crusaders conquer Jerusalem.

15 July 1606 – birth of Rembrandt, famous Dutch painter. Died 4 October 1669.

15 July 1815 – Napoleon surrenders and is eventually exiled on the island of St Helena.

15 July 1904 – death of Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short story writer, considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history. One of the seminal figures in the birth of modernism. Chekhov was also a medical doctor. His works include ‘The Bear’, ‘The Cherry Orchard’, ‘The Seagull’, ‘The Lady with the Dog’. Born 29 January 1860.

15 July 2013 – India sends it last telegram, bringing an end to the 163 year old service. Hundreds of people attended the remaining 75 telegram offices to send their final telegrams.

14 July 2017

repast

[noun ri-past, -pahst, ree-past, -pahst; verb ri-past, -pahst]

noun

1. a quantity of food taken or provided for one occasion of eating:
to eat a light repast.
2. a meal:
the evening repast.
3. the time during which a meal is eaten; mealtime.
4. Archaic. the taking of food, as at a meal.
5. Obsolete. food.
verb (used without object)
6. to eat or feast (often followed by on or upon).

Origin of repast

Middle English, Late Latin, Latin

1300-1350; Middle English (noun); Old French, derivative (compare past; Latin pāstus fodder) of repaistre to eat a meal; Late Latin repāscere to feed regularly, equivalent to Latin re- re- + pāscere to feed (cf. pasture)

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for repast

Historical Examples

The repast was short; it lasted little more than a quarter of an hour.
The Pearl of the Andes
Gustave Aimard

The Frenchmen paddled ashore and joined eagerly in the repast.
The Adventures of the Chevalier De La Salle and His Companions, in Their Explorations of the Prairies, Forests, Lakes, and Rivers, of the New World, and Their Interviews with the Savage Tribes, Two Hundred Years Ago
John S. C. Abbott

His repast consisted of a sandwich and a small bottle of well-frappéd champagne.
The Clarion
Samuel Hopkins Adams

When the Lapp had finished his repast he lay down to repose.
The Science of Fairy Tales
Edwin Sidney Hartland

And they hastened to regale the hungry visitors with a repast of fish.
Pioneers Of France In The New World
Francis Parkman, Jr.

Before the end of the repast he had recovered all his assurance, all his aplomb.
Samuel Brohl & Company
Victor Cherbuliez

Anagram

tapers

Today’s quote

One man’s style must not be the rule of another’s.

– Jane Austen

On this day

14 July 1789 – Bastille Day – commemorating the storming of the Bastille, a fortress-prison. Parisians feared being attacked by King Louis XVI following an economic meltdown and subsequent breakdown in communication between the royalty and the Third Estate (representing the common people and which formed the National Guard represented by the colours of red, white and blue). The Bastille represented the brutality of the monarchy, although at the time it was attacked it only held seven prisoners. The storming of the Bastille led to the French Revolution, bringing an end to feudalism and the proclamation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which was influenced the US President Thomas Jefferson and declared the universal right of freedom for every person.

14 July 1881 – death (?) of William H. Bonney aka Billy ‘The Kid’. American outlaw. Legend has it that he killed 21 men, although historians believe it may have been between 4 and 9 men. He was shot dead by Sheriff Pat Garrett around 14 July 1881. Some conspiracy theorists believe that Bonney did not get shot that day, but that Garrett staged the shooting so that Billy ‘The Kid’ could escape. Born 23 November 1859.