12 January 2017

seraglio

[si-ral-yoh, -rahl-]

noun, plural seraglios.

1. the part of a Muslim house or palace in which the wives and concubines are secluded; harem.
2. a Turkish palace, especially of the sultan.

Also called serail [suh-rahy, -rahyl, -reyl] (Show IPA).

Origin of seraglio

Italian, Persian
1575-1585; < Italian serraglio < Persian sarāy palace; sense development in Italian perhaps influenced by serrare to lock up

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for seraglio

Historical Examples

Their joy is such as that of the pasha of a seraglio ; they revel with ideas, they get drunk at the founts of intellect.
Cousin Betty
Honore de Balzac

Woman was no longer the captive of the seraglio, nor the chronicler of small beer.
Hopes and Fears
Charlotte M. Yonge

If you wish to understand something of the curious indifference that hangs, like moss, about the Turk, visit seraglio Point.
The Near East
Robert Hichens

So Quasimodo had fifteen bells in his seraglio ; but big Marie was his favorite.
Notre-Dame de Paris
Victor Hugo

The ministry of the Ottoman Porte was distracted by factions, and the seraglio threatened with tumults.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II.
Tobias Smollett

He led the way until they came to a gallery that overlooked the seraglio.
Jack Harkaway’s Boy Tinker Among The Turks
Bracebridge Hemyng

The angel of sleep had spread her wings over the seraglio of Moley Pasha.
Jack Harkaway’s Boy Tinker Among The Turks
Bracebridge Hemyng

What cry was that which startles the seraglio from its siesta?
Jack Harkaway’s Boy Tinker Among The Turks
Bracebridge Hemyng

Just at this time the artillery arrived under the walls of the seraglio.
The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, December 1879
Various

But the ladies of the king’s seraglio were his principal customers.
The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan
James Morier

Anagram

goal rise
la orgies
oil rages
sage roil
gas oriel

Today’s quote

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

– Harriet Tubman

On this day

12 January 1948 – The United States Supreme Court that the all-white law school at University of Oklahoma must provide education to black students that is equal to the education provided to white students.

12 January 2012 – magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Haiti, killing between 100,000 and 250,000. Humanitarian aid was slow in coming to Haiti because of the damage to the country’s infrastructure, which resulted in the high death toll. The earthquake is the fourth deadliest on record.

12 January 2003 – death of Maurice Gibb on the Isle of Man. Founded the Bee Gees with his brothers, Robin and Barry. Born 22 December 1949.

9 January 2017

saltire

[sal-teer, -tahyuh r, sawl-]

noun, Heraldry.

1. an ordinary in the form of a cross with arms running diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base and from the sinister chief to the dexter base; St. Andrew’s cross.
Idioms
2. in saltire, (of charges) arranged in the form of a saltire.
3. per saltire, diagonally in both directions:
party per saltire.

Also, saltier.

Origin of saltire

Middle English, Middle French, Medieval Latin
1350-1400; Middle English sawtire < Middle French sautoir crossed jumping bar < Medieval Latin saltātōrium something pertaining to jumping; see saltant, -tory2

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for saltire

Contemporary Examples

Someone has added a small saltire to one of the wreaths, paying tribute to a shared history that was forged in battle.
Voter Intimidation Grips Scotland as It Votes on Independence
Nico Hines
September 17, 2014

“One extra saltire among a sea of flags seems like a fair way to celebrate,” he said.
Andy Murray Survived Dunblane School Massacre Before Winning Wimbledon
Nico Hines
July 8, 2013

Historical Examples

The Chancellor: Gules, a saltire argent between four crosslets or.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

The Chancellor of France bore two maces in saltire behind his shield.
French Book-plates
Walter Hamilton

The end of this desk displays a shield charged with two keys in saltire, for the see of York.
Bell’s Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Ripon
Cecil Walter Charles Hallett

The General of the Galleys: Two anchors in saltire behind the arms.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

The first night at Cottingdean Lord saltire had his writing-desk unpacked, and took therefrom a rusty key.
Ravenshoe
Henry Kingsley

The Precentor: Argent, on a saltire azure a fleur-de-lis or.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

Very shortly after this, good Lord saltire had to retire for a time into the upper chambers; he had a severe attack of gout.
Ravenshoe
Henry Kingsley

The arms attributed to him, and emblazoned on the banner bearing his name, are azure, a saltire argent.
History of the National Flag of the United States of America
Schuyler Hamilton

Anagram

realist
stir ale
laser it

Today’s quote

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

On this day

9 January 1324 – death of Marco Polo, Italian explorer. Born 15 September 1254.

9 January 1944 – birth of Jimmy Page, legendary British guitarist and song-writer. Co-founder of iconic rock band, Led Zeppelin.

8 January 2017

palaver

[puh-lav-er, ‐lah-ver]

noun

1. a conference or discussion.
2. a long parley, especially one between primitive natives and European traders, explorers, colonial officials, etc.
3. profuse and idle talk; chatter.
4. persuasive talk; flattery; cajolery.
verb (used without object), palavered, palavering.
5. to talk profusely and idly.
6. to parley or confer.
verb (used with object), palavered, palavering.
7. to cajole or persuade.

Origin of palaver

Portuguese, Late Latin

1720-1730; Portuguese palavra word, speech, talk; Late Latin parabola parable

Related forms

palaverer, palaverist, noun
palaverment, noun
palaverous, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for palaver

Contemporary Examples

He seemed at first much pleased of the situation, but after examining the captives closely he called a palaver.
The Story Behind The World’s Greatest Headline
Brandy Zadrozny
January 20, 2014

With North Korea, the palaver is mostly about hoping and waiting.
What the U.S. Government Knows About North Korea’s New Ruler
Leslie H. Gelb
December 19, 2011

Historical Examples

Therefore the house was cleared of all except the two Queens, who may never sequester themselves, and Mr. Hamor began his palaver.
The Story of Pocahantas
Charles Dudley Warner

Anagram

per lava
rave pal

Today’s quote

The earth has its music for those who will listen.

– George Santayana

On this day

8 January 1935 – birth of Elvis Aaron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll. Died 16 August 1977.

8 January 1947 – birth of David Bowie, British musician and actor, born David Robert Jones. Died 11 January 2016.

8 January 1959 – Fidel Castro’s rebel forces take control of Cuba. Castro eventually became President and ruled the nation until 2011.

8 January 1964 – US President Lyndon B. Johnson introduces legislation that results in the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, otherwise known as the War on Poverty, in an effort to reduce the increasing poverty rate, which at that time was around 19%. Through this a number of poverty-reduction strategies were implemented, including Social Security Act 1965, Food Stamp Act of 1964, Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965), Community Action Program, Job Corps, and Volunteers in Services to America. Within 10 years the poverty rate had been reduced to around 11%. In 2014, the rate had risen to around 15%.

7 January 2017

duenna

[doo-en-uh, dyoo-]

noun

1. (in Spain and Portugal) an older woman serving as escort or chaperon of a young lady.
2. a governess.

Origin of duenna

Spanish, Latin
1660-1670; < Spanish duenna (now dueña) < Latin domina, feminine of dominus master

Related forms

duennaship, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for duenna Expand

Historical Examples
Azrael began merrily putting on her garments, and helped Mariska also to dress; then she sent the duenna with a message to Hassan.

The Slaves of the Padishah
Mr Jkai
The duenna entered, and remained standing before her master.

The Pearl of Lima
Jules Verne
Mary’s duenna ;—the artist who is supposed to be moulding the wife.

Orley Farm
Anthony Trollope
She kept me in sight like a duenna, and strangely ill-treated me.

Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13
Elbert Hubbard
All the while the Duke and the Duchess were in paroxysms of laughter, so well did the duenna act her part.

The Story of Don Quixote
Arvid Paulson, Clayton Edwards, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
She felt that she had been rather remiss in her duties as duenna, and was angry with herself.

Henry Dunbar
M. E. Braddon
I think it was her duenna who toppled off the edge of the gangway with one of the Chittagong crew in the push to come aboard.

From Edinburgh to India & Burmah
William G. Burn Murdoch
Then the duenna resumed, and now came the worst of her story.

The Story of Don Quixote
Arvid Paulson, Clayton Edwards, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
If I do not hate that woman it will be well, for she is as much a duenna for me as governess for the children!

Love and Life
Charlotte M. Yonge
The Sisters are the only duenna for you; and back to the convent you shall go to-morrow.

Remember the Alamo
Amelia E. Barr

Anagram

an dune

Today’s quote

When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when a tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocity.

– George Bernard Shaw

On this day

7 January – Christmas Day celebrated by some eastern and Orthodox churches, which is 25 December under the old Julian calendar. Most western churches celebrate Christmas on 25 December in the Gregorian calendar system which began replacing the Julian calendar throughout the world from 1582.

7 January 1943 – Death of Nikola Tesla, Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and futurist. Inventor of alternating current (A/C) electricity supply. Born 10 July 1856.

7 January 1979 – Brutal Cambodian dictator, Pol Pot, is overthrown as Vietnamese forces invade Phnom Penh. Pol Pot and his army, the Khmer Rouge, were responsible for killing approximately 1.7 million people.

6 January 2017

Droste Effect

noun

– also known as mise en abyme, is the effect of a picture appearing within itself, in a place where a picture would normally appear. The effect is recursive with each smaller version containing an even smaller version of itself.

wikipedia.org

Example

The cover of Pink Floyd’s 1969 album Ummagumma uses the Droste effect.

Anagram

effected rots
cord fete fest
of secret deft

Today’s quote

One inch of love is one inch of shadow
Love is the shadow that ripens the wine.

– Roger Waters, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, Ummagumma

On this day

6 January – the Epiphany, which commemorates when the Three Wise Men of the East (the Magi) visited the baby Jesus, with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Epiphany is celebrated the day after the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’, which conclude on 5 January.

6 January 1925 – birth of John DeLorean, founder of the DeLorean Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. The DeLorean with Gull-Wing doors was featured in the movie, ‘Back to the Future‘.

6 January 1973 – one of Hitler’s cars, a Mercedes 770K sedan, was auctioned on this day for $153,000,000.

6 January 1994 – Figure-skater Nancy Kerrigan is knee-capped in a violent attack as she was about to speak to reporters. Her rival, Tonya Harding, was accused of orchestrating the attack resulting in Harding and four men being charged and sentenced to jail.

6 January 2005 – Ku Klux Klan leader, Ray Killen, is arrested and charged over the murders of three civil rights activists in Philadelphia, more than 40 years previously. On 21 June 2005, (exactly 41 years to the day of the murders) Killen is found guilty of three counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years jail on each count.

5 January 2017

Omnist

noun

[om-nyst]

– a person who claims no one particular religion, practice or belief, but finds truth in them all
– a follower of omnism, in which adherents do not ascribe to any particular religion, but believe that all religions hold truth

Example

In partisan religious discussions, he would appear to be compromising between all viewpoints, but would explain that he was an Omnist and believed all ideologies held truth.

Anagram

inmost
so mint

Today’s quote

The duty of youth is to challenge corruption.

– Kurt Cobain

On this day

5 January – the twelfth day of the 12 days of Christmas (Western Christianity).

5 January 1914 – Henry Ford introduces the $5 per day wage, which was double the rate previously offered. Ford believed it would help him keep his best people and that it would enable his workers to buy Ford cars.

5 January 1932 – birth of Umberto Eco. Italian writer, philosopher and semiotician. Author of novels, including ‘The Name of the Rose’, ‘Foucalt’s Pendulum’, ‘The Island of the Day Before’, ‘The Prague Cemetery’. Died 19 February 2016.

5 January 1933 – work commences on San Francisco’s Golden Gate bridge. It was completed on 19 April 1937. The bridge is 2.7km long and 227.4m high.

5 January 1945 – First use of kamikaze pilots. Battle of Lingayan Gulf, Philippines. Allied forces attack Japanese positions. Japan had a seriously weakened air force that was now mainly comprised of inexperienced pilots, so authorised the first use of kamikaze (divine wind) attacks. USA ships included the USS Mississippi, New Mexico and Colorado. Australian ships included the HMAS Australia, Shropshire, Arunta, Warramunga, Gascoyne and Warrego. The Allies lost 30 ships, with 67 others damaged. Japanese casualties are unknown, however, the battle was a victory for the Allies.

5 January 1968 – the ‘Prague Spring’ in Czechoslovakia occurred through the political and economic reforms of leader Alexander Dubcek aimed at introducing ‘socialism with a human face’. The reforms included freedom of speech and allowing non-communist political organisations. The Soviet Union were less enthusiastic about these reforms and invaded Czechoslovakia with 600,000 troops.

4 January 2017

napery

[ney-puh-ree]

noun

1. table linen, as tablecloths or napkins.
2. any linen for household use.

Origin of napery

Middle English

1350-1400; Middle English naprye < Middle French, equivalent to nape, variant of nappe tablecloth (see napkin ) + -erie -ery

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for napery

Historical Examples

The display of napery and table linen was most ample; and why not?
Those Times And These
Irvin S. Cobb

Its crockery and atmosphere were thick; its soup and napery thin.
The Four Million
O. Henry

They would have all the winter to prepare the napery and crockery and consult about carpets and furniture.
A Singer from the Sea
Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

Anagram

nap rye
pen ray

Today’s quote

I don’t believe one grows older. I think that what happens early on in life is that at a certain age one stands still and stagnates.

– T. S. Eliot

On this day

4 January – the eleventh day of the 12 days of Christmas (Western Christianity).

4 January 1903 – Thomas Edison electrocutes an elephant to prove the dangers of ‘alternating current’ electricity. He had previously electrocuted stray cats and dogs and even horses and cows. He snidely referred to it as ‘getting Westinghoused’. Topsy, the elephant, had squashed 4 trainers at the Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island, so the zoo had decided to hang her, before someone suggested she ‘ride the lightning’. More on this at http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0104

4 January 1965 – death of Thomas Stearns Eliot (T.S. Eliot), poet, playwright, publisher, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, described as ‘arguably the most important English language poet of the 20th century’. Wrote ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock‘, ‘The Waste Land‘, ‘Ash Wednesday‘, ‘The Hollow Men‘. Born 26 September 1888.

3 January 2017

piste

[peest]

noun

1. a track or trail, as a downhill ski run or a spoor made by a wild animal.
2. (in fencing) a regulation-size strip, usually 2 meters wide and 14 meters long, on which fencers compete.

Origin of piste

Italian, Latin

1720-1730; French: animal track < Italian pista, pesta, noun derivative of pestare to pound, crush < Vulgar Latin, frequentative of Latin pī (n) sere; cf. pestle

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for piste

Historical Examples

On our return to the piste, or flying field, we usually keep steadily at it until nearly dark.
Don Hale with the Flying Squadron
W. Crispin Sheppard

One just has to drive them in a straight line across the piste.
Don Hale with the Flying Squadron
W. Crispin Sheppard

He looked in the direction of that voice, proceeding from the group of spadassins amid the Blacks across the piste, and he smiled.
Scaramouche
Rafael Sabatini

Anagram

I step
spite

Today’s quote

There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other people’s books and write your own.

– Albert Einstein

On this day

3 January – the tenth day of the 12 days of Christmas (Western Christianity).

3 January 106BC – birth of Marcus Tullius Cicero (sometimes anglicised as Tully), Roman statesman, politician, philosopher, orator. Tully’s influence on Latin and other European languages was immense and still felt up to the 19th century. The history of prose in Latin and other languages was said to be either a reaction against, or a return to, his style. Died 7 December 43BC.

3 January 1521 – Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem.

3 January 1892 – birth of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of ‘The Hobbit‘ and ‘Lord of the Rings‘. Died 2 September 1973. ‘The road goes ever on … ‘

3 January 1956 – birth of Mel Gibson, Australian actor.

3 January 1962 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro.

3 January 1969 – birth of Michael Schumacher, German Formula 1 racing car driver.

3 January 1977 – Apple Computers is incorporated.

2 January 2017

eponymous

[uh-pon-uh-muh s]

adjective

1. giving one’s name to a tribe, place, etc.:
Romulus, the eponymous founder of Rome.

Origin of eponymous

Greek

1840-1850; < Greek epṓnymos giving name. See ep-, -onym, -ous

Related forms

eponymously, adverb

Examples from the Web for eponymous

Contemporary Examples

Martha Stewart, the iconic head of her eponymous lifestyle empire, is 72.
Business Longreads for the Week of August 17, 2013
William O’Connor
August 17, 2013

He later went on to work for Calvin Klein before starting his own eponymous menswear brand in 1978 at the age of 25.
The CFDA Celebrates Black History Month
The Fashion Beast Team
February 17, 2014

Some of you may be departing the corporate world, going freelance, or hanging out an eponymous shingle.
Horoscopes: May 8-14
Starsky + Cox
May 6, 2011

Anagram

money opus
snoopy emu
peony sumo

Today’s quote

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.

– Leon Trotsky

On this day

2 January – the ninth day of the 12 days of Christmas (Western Christianity).

2 January 1952 – birth of Graeme ‘Shirley’ Strachan. Lead singer of Australian band, Skyhooks. Died 29 August 2001 in a helicopter crash near Maroochydore, Queensland.

2 January 1979 – Sid Vicious, former bass player with the Sex Pistols, goes on trial for the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spugen. Vicious and Spungen had allegedly been using heroin, and Vicious claimed he woke to find her dead on the bathroom floor. He was released on bail on 1 February 1979. It was later revealed that Mick Jagger paid the bail. That night he celebrated his release with friends. Vicious had stopped using heroin, however, his mother provided some that night. Early the following morning (2 February 1979), Vicious died of an overdose.

1 January 2017

predilection

[pred-l-ek-shuh n, preed-]

noun

1. a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference:
a predilection for Bach.

Origin of predilection

Medieval Latin

1735-1745; < Medieval Latin praedīlect (us) beloved, past participle of praedīligere to prefer (see pre-, diligent ) + -ion

Synonyms

bias, inclination, leaning, liking, weakness, predisposition, prepossession.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for predilection

Contemporary Examples

She calls her new post “a red-eye job, given our time difference and the predilection for crisis.”
New Pakistan Ambassador Brings Frank Talk to Washington Relations
Eleanor Clift
February 20, 2012

But if you can get past the predilection for alliteration and the teehee!
Why We Worship Derek Jeter (Even If He Kinda Sucks at Shortstop)
Robert Silverman
February 12, 2014

He has a predilection for qualifiers (“very,” “totally,” “really”), and tends to skew positive on anything.
The Art World’s New Kingpin
Claire Howorth
November 8, 2010

In this, he revealed—and not for the first time—his predilection for political control of the economy.
Obama’s Phony Bank Debate
Tunku Varadarajan
April 21, 2010

Readers who might feel shame about their predilection for tawdry paperbacks can now enjoy them discreetly.
How ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Is Shaking Up the Business of the Romance Genre
Chris Berube
June 5, 2012
Historical Examples

You have a predilection for heroics; it will not be without interest to bring things to the point.
Fantmas
Pierre Souvestre

Nobody ever got any clue to the reason, if there was one, for this predilection of hers.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes

Still more probably, one architect may have had a predilection for timber, while another may have preferred clay vaults.
A History of Art in Chalda & Assyria, v. 1
Georges Perrot

I made some success, and the students had a predilection for me.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt

I was, perhaps, too scrupulous about seeming officious or jealous of the predilection shown to the Duchess.
The Secret Memoirs of Louis XV./XVI, Complete
Madame du Hausset, an “Unknown English Girl” and the Princess Lamballe

Anagram

penciled riot
elicit ponder

Today’s quote

The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of altering their view to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views … which can be very uncomfortable if you’re one of the facts that needs altering.

– Dr Who, (Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, episode ‘Face of Evil’)

On this day

1 January – the eighth day of the 12 days of Christmas (Western Christianity).

1 January – the official birthday for all thoroughbred horses in the Northern Hemisphere. (see 1 August for Southern Hemisphere).

1 January 1901 – Federation of Australia. The six self-governing colonies in Australia formed a single nation known as the Commonwealth of Australia.

1 January 1915 – Battle of Broken Hill. Two Turkish men shot dead four people and wounded seven others in the remote Australian town of Broken Hill, New South Wales. They claimed it was in relation to ongoing hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire.

1 January 1942 – the United Nations is established by representatives of 26 nations in order to enforce peace-keeping campaigns throughout the world. There are now 193 member states and 2 non-member states (the Holy See and Palestine).

1 January 1959 – Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba following a revolution led by Fidel Castro. Batista allegedly fled with around $700 million of art and cash, the result of graft and corruption.

1 January 1985 – the UK’s first mobile phone call is made by British comedian, Ernie Wise (from ‘Morecombe and Wise’), to Vodafone.