14 December 2017

speleology or spelaeology

[spee-lee-ol-uh-jee]

noun

1. the exploration and study of caves.
2. the sport or pastime of exploring caves.

Origin of speleology

Latin

1890-1895; < Latin spēlae(um) (see spelaean ) + -o- + -logy

Related forms

speleological [spee-lee-uh-loj-i-kuh l] (Show IPA), adjective
speleologist, noun

Dictionary.com

Anagram

loopy glees

Today’s quote

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.

– Dalai Lama

On this day

14 December 1972 – The last men to walk on the moon are Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan during the Apollo 17 mission. In all, 12 men walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972.

14 December 2008 – Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist, throws his shoes at US President George W. Bush who was in a press-conference in Iraq.

13 December 2017

eurhythmic or eurythmic

[yoo-rith -mik, yuh-]

adjective

1. characterized by a pleasing rhythm; harmoniously ordered or proportioned.
2. of or relating to eurhythmics.

Also, eurhythmical, eurythmical [yoo-rith-mi-kuh l, yuh-]

Origin of eurhythmic

1825-1835 First recorded in 1825-35; eurhythm(y) + -ic

Related forms

eurhythmically, eurythmically, adverb

Can be confused

arrhythmic, eurhythmic.

Dictionary.com

Anagram

rheumy itch

Today’s quote

Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way, this is not easy.

– Aristotle

On this day

13 December 1937 – Nanking, China, is captured by Japanese forces. The Japanese General Matsui orders the destruction of the city, resulting in the massacre of more than 200,000 people, and rape and mutilation of around 20,000 women and girls.

13 December 1939 – Premier of the classic movie, Gone With The Wind, starring Clark Gable and Vivienne Leigh.

13 December 1995 – Thousands of people riot in Brixton, England, ransacking shops and attacking police.

13 December 2003 – US forces capture Saddam Hussein at a compound near Tikrit. He was executed by hanging on 30 December 2006 after being found guilty of the 1982 murder of 148 Iraqi Shi’ites.

13 December 2006 – Belgians react angrily to the news that their country is to be divided in two, with the Dutch speaking component of the country declaring their independence. The news was a joke propagated by Belgian public television station, R.T.B.F.

13 December 2007 – Pakistani President, Pervez Musharaff, moves responsibility for Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal from the Prime Minister to the President amid fears of it falling into the hands of Islamic extremists.

12 December 2017

fenestrated or fenestrate

[fen-uh-strey-tid, fi-nes-trey- or fi-nes-treyt, fen-uh-streyt]

adjective, Architecture.

1. having windows; windowed; characterized by windows.

2. (biology) perforated or having fenestrae

Origin of fenestrated

Latin

1820-1830; < Latin fenestrātus furnished with windows (see fenestra, -ate1) + -ed2

Related forms

nonfenestrated, adjective
unfenestrated, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for fenestrated

Historical Examples

Never in this order is there any trace of the latticed or fenestrated shell, which characterises the second order, Sphrellaria.
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel

The suborder Prunoidea comprises those Spumellaria in which the fenestrated spherical shell appears prolonged into one axis.
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel

In these four subfamilies the concentric shells are all simple (not spongy) fenestrated spheres or endospherical polyhedra.
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel

Anagram

feared tents
feasted rent

Today’s quote

Most gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess, and you don’t find out til too late that he’s been playing with two queens all along.

– Terry Pratchett

On this day

12 December 1901 – Italian inventor, Guglielmo Marconi sends the world’s first wireless transmission over 2,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from Poldhu, Cornwall, England to Newfoundland, Canada. The message he sent was the letter ‘s’ in morse code, represented by three dots …

12 December 1913 – the Mona Lisa is recovered in Florence, two years after being stolen from the Louvre in Paris.

12 December 1925 – the world’s first motel, the Milestone Mo-Tel, opens in San Luis Obispo, California. The motorists-hotel enabled visitors to park their cars outside their rooms.

12 December 1946 – John D. Rockefeller donates six blocks of Manhattan to the United Nations, which is now the site of UN Headquarters.

12 December 2003 – Keiko, the killer whale from the movie, ‘Free Willy’, dies in Norway.

12 December 2007 – International Chess Grand-Master, Garry Kasparov announces that he is withdrawing from running for the presidential election. Kasparov’s party, Other Russia, had faced difficulty in meeting the electoral requirements for supporters to meet in Moscow.

9 December 2017

sidebar

[sahyd-bahr]

noun

1. follow-up (def 3b).
2. a typographically distinct section of a page, as in a book or magazine, that amplifies or highlights the main text.
3. a conference between the judge and lawyers out of the presence of the jury.
4. a subordinate or incidental issue, remark, activity, etc.

Origin of sidebar

1945-1950 First recorded in 1945-50; side1+ bar1

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for sidebar

Contemporary Examples

sidebar : the Electoral College is the balk rule of government.
Baseball’s Problem Is Politics’ Problem
Doug McIntyre
November 4, 2014

Its addictive “ sidebar of shame” catalogues every celebrity roll of fat, fashion faux pas, and shaky early-morning nightclub exit.
Hollywood vs. The Daily Mail: George Clooney and Angelina Jolie Take On The UK’s Leanest, Meanest Gossip Machine
Lizzie Crocker, Lloyd Grove
July 12, 2014

He went on to describe the probe as a “ sidebar issue” and hinted it was politically motivated.
Scott Walker Investigated in Secret Wisconsin Probe
Ben Jacobs
October 24, 2013

Anagram

braised
a debris
a brides
dab sire
I beards

Today’s quote

Partition is bad. But whatever is past is past. We have only to look to the future.

– Mahatma Gandhi

On this day

9 December 1906 – birth of Sir Douglas Nichols KCVO, OBE. Aboriginal activist, raising awareness of aboriginal issues, including treating aborigines with dignity and as people. He played for Carlton football club in the A-grade Victorian Football League (VFL), leaving after racist treatment and joining the Northcote football club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). Nicholls became a minister and social worker. In 1957, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 1972 he was the first aborigine to be knighted. In 1976, he became the 28th governor of South Australia, the first aborigine to be appointed to a vice-regal position. He died on 4 June 1988.

9 December 1947 – Deputy Prime Minister of India, Sandar Valiabbhai Patel announces that India and Pakistan have reached an agreement on the borders of the two countries following partition … except for the issue of Kashmir, which is unresolved to this day.

9 December 1990 – Polish dissident, Solidarity union leader and 1983 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Lech Walesa wins Polish presidential election in a landslide. Solidarity was the Soviet Bloc’s first independent trade union. Walesa presided over Poland’s transition from a communist state to a post-communist state.

8 December 2017

exculpate

[ek-skuhl-peyt, ik-skuhl-peyt]

verb (used with object), exculpated, exculpating.

1. to clear from a charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate.

Origin of exculpate

Latin

1650-1660; < Latin exculpātus freed from blame, equivalent to ex- ex-1+ culpātus blamed (past participle of culpāre; see culpable )

Related forms

exculpable [ik-skuhl-puh-buh l], adjective
exculpation, noun
nonexculpable, adverb
nonexculpation, noun
self-exculpation, noun

Can be confused

exculpate, exonerate, inculpate.
Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for exculpate

Historical Examples

Ossipon tried to exculpate the lukewarmness of his past conduct.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad

The McMurrough cried, breathlessly eager to exculpate himself.
The Wild Geese
Stanley John Weyman

I have made many inquiries about this affair, and they all tend to exculpate you.
Tom Burke Of “Ours”, Volume I (of II)
Charles James Lever

Anagram

cape exult
exact pule

Today’s quote

When wealth is passed off as merit, bad luck is seen as bad character. This is how ideologues justify punishing the sick and the poor. But poverty is neither a crime nor a character flaw. Stigmatise those who let people die, not those who struggle to live.

– Sarah Kendzior

On this day

8 December 1943 – birth of Jim Morrison, lead singer and song writer for the Doors. Died 3 July 1971.

8 December 1980 – Murder of John Lennon. English guitarist and singer-songwriter for the Beatles. Born 9 October 1940.

8 December 1991 – the Presidents of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus sign the Belavezha Accords declaring the Soviet Union dissolved and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States. The legality of this accord was questionable, however, it was ratified by leaders of all other Soviet republics (except Georgia) on 21 December 1991.

8 December 2004 – death of Dimebag Darrell, (born Darrell Lance Abbott on 20 August 1966), American musician, founding member of Pantera. Dimebag was shot dead on stage while playing for Damageplan.

7 December 2017

extempore

[ik-stem-puh-ree]

adverb

1. on the spur of the moment; without premeditation or preparation; offhand:
Questions were asked extempore from the floor.
2. without notes:
to speak extempore.
3. (of musical performance) by improvisation.
adjective
4. extemporaneous; impromptu.

Origin of extempore

1545-1555; Latin: literally, out of the time, at the moment, equivalent to ex out of (see ex-1) + tempore the time (ablative singular of tempus)

Related forms

nonextempore, adverb, adjective

Synonyms

4. See extemporaneous.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for extempore

Historical Examples

In his discourses he was neither an extempore preacher, nor did he read.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James

It was that night Tony’s extempore prayer was echoed so earnestly by his aunt.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker

All works of art should not be detached, but extempore performances.
Essays, First Series
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Carpenters were at work converting the library into an extempore theatre.
Frank Fairlegh
Frank E. Smedley

And now Pastor Tappau began his prayer, extempore, as was the custom.
Curious, if True
Elizabeth Gaskell

The smoked, extempore fireplace where a party cooked their fish.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 102, April, 1866
Various

It is not a natural gift, an extempore thing like authorship and song.
Dwellers in Arcady
Albert Bigelow Paine

The prayer was extempore, and roused the girls to amazed attention.
Betty Vivian
L. T. Meade

In a few moments the doors opened and revealed an extempore stage.
The Art of Amusing
Frank Bellew

Being strollers in the streets, we delight in this extempore illumination.
Saunterings in and about London
Max Schlesinger

Anagram

exert poem

Today’s quote

You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

– Marcus Aurelius

On this day

7 December 43BC – death 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. Born 3 January 106BC .

7 December 1941 – bombing of Pearl Harbor by Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The bombing was a major tactical victory for Japan and led to the United States entering World War II. The USA suffered 2403 deaths, including 68 civilians, and 1178 wounded. Japan lost 64 lives.

7 December 1941 – At the same time as Pearl Harbour, Japan attacked British and Australian forces in Malaysia and Singapore, British forces in Hong Kong and US forces in the Philippines. British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill declared war on Japan as a result. Singapore fell to Japan on 15 February 1942. US General Douglas MacArthur escaped the Philippines in March 1942 as the country fell to Japan. He relocated his headquarters to Brisbane, Australia, and became the Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the Pacific, with forces from the United States, Australia, Netherlands, Britain and other countries coming under his command.

7 December 1987 – USSR President Mikael Gorbachev arrives in the USA for an arms control summit with US President Ronald Reagan. The summit resulted in the Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty (INF) which called for elimination of all cruise and ballistic missiles and launchers in Europe that had a range of 320 to 3,400 miles. This was one of the most significant arms treaties of the Cold War.

7 December 1988 – An earthquake registering 7.2 on the richter scale, completely destroys the Armenian city of Spitak, in the Soviet Union, killing 50,000.

7 December 2001 – the Taliban regime surrenders 61 days after commencement of US-led war in Afghanistan.

6 December 2017

gwapo (feminine: gwapa)

adjective

1. of a person: visually attractive, handsome, good-looking. (He’s very gwapo).
2. of an object/merchandise: very good quality, excellent. (The bag was gwapo).

Origin

Cebuano / Tagalog – taken from Spanish: guappo, ultimately Latin: vappo

Anagram

go paw

Today’s quote

Quotation, n: The act of repeating erroneously the words of another.

– Ambrose Bierce

On this day

6 December 1790 – The United States Capitol is relocated from New York to Philadelphia. Ten years later, the District of Columbia is completed and the capitol permanently relocates there.

6 December 1922 – Creation of the Irish Free State as a dominion under the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Northern Ireland was included in the State, but chose not to join.

6 December 1928 – Chiquita Banana massacre. On 12 November 1928, workers for the American- owned United Fruit Company in Columbia went on strike. To protect UFC’s interests, the United States positioned Naval vessels off the coast of Columbia, threatening to invade if the Columbian government didn’t bring the strike under control. On 6 December, Columbian Army troops opened fire on the strikers, killing up to 3,000 people.

6 December 1956 – birth of Randy Rhoads, American heavy metal guitarist, played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. Rhoads was on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, heading to Orlando, Florida when their bus broke down near an airstrip at Leesburg, Florida. While some of the band continued sleeping in the van, the driver (an ex-commercial pilot) took one of the light planes for joy-rides with some of the band members. He didn’t have permission for the flights. Randy Rhoads and make-up artist, Rachel Youngblood were on the second flight. The pilot thought it would be funny to buzz the tour bus by flying as close as possible to it. On the third pass, the plane’s wing clipped the bus causing the plane to spiral out of control and for Rhoads and Youngblood’s heads to smash through the plane’s windshield. The plane severed the top of a pine tree before crashing into a garage at a nearby mansion. Rhoads, Youngblood and the pilot (Andrew Aycock) died instantly, all burnt beyond recognition. In 1987, Ozzy Osbourne released a live album in memory of Rhoads, called ‘Tribute’, it featured Osbourne and Rhoad’s work together. Died 19 March 1982.

6 December 1962 – a deadly smog, mainly containing sulfur dioxide, kills 90 people in London.

6 December 1969 – The Rolling Stones organise a free concert at the disused Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, featuring themselves, as well as Jefferson Airplane, Santana, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Hell’s Angels were used as security, but the concert was marred by the deaths of four people, including one who was stabbed by a member of the Hell’s Angels.

5 December 2017

superego

[soo-per-ee-goh, -eg-oh]

noun, plural superegos. Psychoanalysis.

1. the part of the personality representing the conscience, formed in early life by internalization of the standards of parents and other models of behavior.

Origin of superego

German

1890-1895; translation of German Über-Ich (Freud); see super-, ego

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for superego

Contemporary Examples

Imagine that the superego comes as a low-voltage father who cannot stop struggling with his bowels.
Who Is Philip Roth’s Portnoy Satirizing?
Bernard Avishai
August 28, 2012

His words come in a torrent, an id-gush; I imagine his superego watching with its usual resignation from the balcony.
Rick Sanchez Licks His Wounds
Adam Hanft
January 9, 2011

Anagram

go rupees
Peru goes

Today’s quote

Business? It’s quite simple; it’s other people’s money.

– Alexandré Dumas

On this day

5 December – International Volunteer Day

5 December 1791 – death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer. Born 27 January 1756.

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

5 December 1972 – Gough Whitlam appointed Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to its first victory since 1949. The results of some electoral seats had not been finalised, so Whitlam and Deputy Prime Minister, Lance Barnard ran a duumvirate government by taking on all 27 ministerial portfolios between them for two weeks, until Whitlam could select his ministry. Labor had won control of the House of Representatives but failed to gain control of the Senate, which resulted in numerous bills being blocked by the Upper House. With the Senate threatening to block supply (failing to vote in favour of the budget), Whitam introduced a bill that was defeated twice in the Senate, leading to a double dissolution of parliament. Labor was reelected at the subsequent election and continued to control the House of Representatives with a reduced majority. In the Senate, Labor and Liberal both won 29 seats, with the balance of power held by two independents. Even with the almost paralysed government that he led, Whitlam managed a number of crucial achievements including abolition of the White Australia policy, withdrawing Australian troops from Vietnam and ended conscription in 1972, granting independence to Papua New Guinea, Medibank, multi-culturalism, abolition of university tuition fees, establishing a new government department for Aboriginal Affairs and one for Environment, Aboriginal Land Fund Commission, Australian Legal Aid Office, National Employment and Training Scheme, Trade Practices Act 1975, Racial Discrimination Act 1975, National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975, Family Law Act 1975. In October 1975, opposition leader Malcolm Fraser again threatened to block supply which would have seen the government’s budget run out on 10 November 1975. A compromise couldn’t be reached and on 11 November 1975, Governor-General Kerr sacked the Whitlam government and appointed Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister.

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