November 2017 – WOTDs

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November 2017 – WOTDs

30 November 2017

twiddle

[twid-l]

verb (used with object), twiddled, twiddling.

1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.
verb (used without object), twiddled, twiddling.
2. to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.
3. to turn about lightly; twirl.
noun
4. the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.
Idioms
5. twiddle one’s thumbs, to do nothing; be idle:
Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.

Origin of twiddle

1530-1540; perhaps blend of twitch and fiddle

Related forms

twiddler, noun
Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for twiddle

Contemporary Examples

We cannot dither, we cannot just twiddle our thumbs, or wait and see.
After Steven Sotloff Murder, Congress Demands a Vote on Obama’s ISIS War
Josh Rogin
September 1, 2014

Historical Examples

A man who has been active hates 270 to sit down and twiddle his thumbs.
The Place of Honeymoons
Harold MacGrath

Then I did remember more or less, while Hans continued to twiddle the hat.
The Ivory Child
H. Rider Haggard

I twiddle your little good Andrew to assert it for us twenty times a day.
Evan Harrington, Complete
George Meredith

Get under the pilot an’ sort o’ twiddle ye off the track, don’t they?
The Day’s Work, Volume 1
Rudyard Kipling

Waiting the answer, he joined his hands, and began to twiddle his thumbs.
The Wandering Jew, Complete
Eugene Sue

And the rest of us are to sit and twiddle our thumbs while you soliloquize?
The Idiot at Home
John Kendrick Bangs

On the other side he could twiddle his fingers at the corporal, who dared not pursue.
The Sheriff of Badger
George B. Pattullo

And I think, by then, she’ll be able to twiddle over them wires by herself.’
The Wanderer (Volume 2 of 5)
Fanny Burney

They simply reach into our minds and twiddle around and—zoop!
The Slizzers
Jerome Bixby

29 November 2017

crocus

[kroh-kuh s]

noun, plural crocuses.

1. any of the small, bulbous plants of the genus Crocus, of the iris family, cultivated for their showy, solitary flowers, which are among the first to bloom in the spring.
2. the flower or bulb of the crocus.
3. a deep yellow; orangish yellow; saffron.
4. Also called crocus martis [mahr-tis] (Show IPA). a polishing powder consisting of iron oxide.

Origin of crocus

Middle English, Latin, Greek, Arabic

1350-1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek krókos saffron, crocus < Semitic; compare Arabic kurkum saffron

Related forms

crocused, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for crocus

Contemporary Examples

Saffron is the dried stigmas (the female reproductive parts) of the saffron crocus (crocus sativus).
In Search of the $10,000 Spice
Sarah Whitman-Salkin
July 14, 2009

It takes about 70,000 crocus blossoms or 210,000 stigmas to yield just a pound of saffron.
In Search of the $10,000 Spice
Sarah Whitman-Salkin
July 14, 2009

Historical Examples

And why should the year’s first crocus have brought him luck?
Europe After 8:15
H. L. Mencken, George Jean Nathan and Willard Huntington Wright

Anagram

occurs

28 November 2017

courgette

[koo r-zhet]

noun
1. (mainly Brit) a small variety of vegetable marrow, cooked and eaten as a vegetable Also called zucchini

Word Origin

from French, diminutive of courge marrow, gourd

Collins English Dictionary

Example

A German man feared a monster courgette he found in his garden was an unexploded World War Two bomb and called the police. The 5kg (11-pound) courgette had probably been thrown over a hedge into the 81 year old’s garden, police said. Luckily no evacuation was required in Bretten, a town near Karlsruhe in south-west Germany. The 40cm (16-inch) vegetable – also called zucchini – “really did look like a bomb”, police said.
German police find ‘WW2 bomb’ was big courgette
BBC.com
3 November 2017

Anagram

urge octet
ego cutter
cute ergot

27 November 2017

mulsum

[mul suhm]

noun

– mixture of wine and honey commonly drunk with the first course of the meal.

Origin

Ancient Roman

encyclopedia.com

26 November 2017

otalgia

[oh-tal-jee-uh, -juh]

noun, Pathology.

1. earache.

Origin of otalgia

Greek

1650-1660; New Latin; Greek ōtalgía, equivalent to ōt- ot- + -algia -algia

Related forms

otalgic, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for otalgia

Historical Examples

In this case the otalgia belongs to the fourth class of diseases.
Zoonomia, Vol. II
Erasmus Darwin

Anagram

tail ago
ail goat

25 November 2017

deference

[def-er-uh ns]

noun

1. respectful submission or yielding to the judgment, opinion, will, etc., of another.
2. respectful or courteous regard:
in deference to his wishes.

Origin of deference

French

1640-1650; < French déférence, Middle French, equivalent to defer(er) to defer2+ -ence -ence

Related forms

nondeference, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for deference

Contemporary Examples

He oversaw a brutal regime, aimed at instilling respect, deference and acceptance of duty into the princes.
Kate and William’s Royal Family Values
Tom Sykes
September 21, 2014

Other themes are more character-based, such as the “Bowie, Cocteau, Visconti” section, in deference to dandies and dapper men.
What Drives Fashion Designer Dries Van Noten
Sarah Moroz
March 3, 2014

Tall and taciturn, he exuded the easy authority of a young man used to money and the deference that came with it.
Doug Kenney: The Odd Comic Genius Behind ‘Animal House’ and National Lampoon
Robert Sam Anson
February 28, 2014

From the deference with which he was received they rightly guessed that he was the chief of the tribe.
The Story Behind The World’s Greatest Headline
Brandy Zadrozny
January 20, 2014

Heritage Action pushed for the government shutdown, but stayed out of the debt ceiling fight in deference to their funders.
Republicans Compromise on the Budget, but Don’t Expect Them To Compromise on the Debt Ceiling
Eleanor Clift
December 17, 2013

Historical Examples

Garson, however, was unconvinced, notwithstanding his deference to the judgment of his leader.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

Yes, sir; but not my anxiety for your approbation, and my deference for your opinion.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth

Anagram

deer fence

24 November 2017

whelp

[hwelp, welp]

noun

1. the young of the dog, or of the wolf, bear, lion, tiger, seal, etc.
2. a youth, especially an impudent or despised one.
3. Machinery.
any of a series of longitudinal projections or ridges on the barrel of a capstan, windlass, etc.
any of the teeth of a sprocket wheel.
verb (used with or without object)
4. (of a female dog, lion, etc.) to give birth to (young).

Origin of whelp

Middle English, Old English

900 before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwelp (cognate with German Welf); (v.) Middle English whelpen, derivative of the noun

Related forms

whelpless, adjective
unwhelped, adjective

Synonyms

2. brat, urchin, whippersnapper.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for whelp

Historical Examples

For as the lion’s whelp may be called a lion, or the horse’s foal a foal, so the son of a king may be called a king.
Cratylus
Plato

“It seems you love that— whelp, that thing that was my brother,” he said, sneering.
The Sea-Hawk
Raphael Sabatini

Give the whelp a couple of half-crowns, Halkett, and send him adrift.
Confessions Of Con Cregan
Charles James Lever

How came you here, you vagabond Irish whelp, in this company?
Sir Ludar
Talbot Baines Reed

The Lioness came up, and bitterly lamented the death of her whelp.
Aesop’s Fables
Aesop

The whelp of a Wolf was brought him, with a request that he would feel it, and say what it was.
Aesop’s Fables
Aesop

When we came in together to look at the English whelp the drawer was open.
Across the Spanish Main
Harry Collingwood

But it was provoking to be flouted, so politely too, by that whelp of the Golden Dog!
The Golden Dog
William Kirby

You’ve done your work and that whelp shall not keep you out of its results.
Frenzied Finance
Thomas W. Lawson

23 November 2017

Thespian

[thes-pee-uh n]

adjective

1. (often lowercase) pertaining to tragedy or to the dramatic art in general.
2. of or characteristic of Thespis.
3. of or relating to Thespiae.
noun
4. (sometimes lowercase) a tragedian; an actor or actress.

Origin of Thespian

1665-1675 First recorded in 1665-75; Thespi(s) + -an
“of or pertaining to tragedy or dramatic acting,” from Greek Thespis, poet of 6c. B.C.E., the traditional father of Greek tragedy. The names is literally “inspired by the gods.”

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for Thespian

Contemporary Examples

In the installation, the British Thespian would sleep in a glass box in the museum with nothing but pillows and a water jug.
Lady Gaga, John Lennon & More Celebs Doing Performance Art (VIDEO)
Rachel Osman , Victoria Kezra
August 8, 2013

Brooding British Thespian Henry Cavill (famous to Showtime fans of The Tudors) is on tap as the new Superman.
Invasion of the Bodybuilders
Chris Lee
June 5, 2011

His sublimated rage at Madonna notwithstanding, he is happy to defend her as a Thespian.
The New Adventures of Guy Ritchie
Jacob Bernstein
December 20, 2009

Anagram

ashen pit
hasten pi
heap nits
heat spin

22 November 2017

exult

[ig-zuhlt]

verb (used without object)

1. to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant:
They exulted over their victory.
2. Obsolete. to leap, especially for joy.

Origin of exult

Latin

1560-1570; < Latin ex(s)ultāre to leap up, equivalent to ex- ex-1+ -sultāre (combining form of saltāre to leap)

Related forms

exultingly, adverb
self-exulting, adjective

Can be confused

exalt, exult.

Synonyms

1. delight, glory, revel.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for exult

Historical Examples

I exult in my freedom from a self-reproach, which would have been altogether insupportable under the kindness of which you speak.’
The Secret Memoirs of Louis XV./XVI, Complete
Madame du Hausset, an “Unknown English Girl” and the Princess Lamballe

But we would he knew that the strong do not exult in their strength, nor the wise in their wisdom.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani

The big woodsman, his rebellion once started, seemed to exult in it.
The Rainy Day Railroad War
Holman Day

For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
Personality in Literature
Rolfe Arnold Scott-James

They are desperate, then, and seem to exult in devilry of all kinds.
A Final Reckoning
G. A. Henty

Inhuman methods for inhuman foes, Who feed on horrors and exult in woes.
Custer, and Other Poems.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

But I shall not let you exult over my falling into one of these well-laid traps.
Fairy Fingers
Anna Cora Mowatt Ritchie

It is a joyous spirit which causes “the bones of man to exult.”
Spontaneous Activity in Education
Maria Montessori

Yon demon,” cried he, “shall at least not live to exult over our death.
Wood Rangers
Mayne Reid

But the Incorruptible, ever envious and jealous, would not allow him to exult too soon.
The Elusive Pimpernel
Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Anagram

El Tux

21 November 2017

prattle

[prat-l]

verb (used without object), prattled, prattling.

1. to talk in a foolish or simple-minded way; chatter; babble.
verb (used with object), prattled, prattling.
2. to utter by chattering or babbling.
noun
3. the act of prattling.
4. chatter; babble:
the prattle of children.
5. a babbling sound:
the prattle of water rushing over stones.

Origin of prattle

Middle Low German

1525-1535; < Middle Low German pratelen to chatter, frequentative of praten to prate; see -le

Related forms

prattler, noun
prattlingly, adverb

Synonyms

1. gab, jabber, gabble, blab.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for prattle

Contemporary Examples

Then, since the Battleground states are something about which the Talking Heads like to prattle.
The Prattleground States
Megan McArdle
November 6, 2012

Historical Examples

You know how readily we get into prattle upon a subject dear to our heart: you can excuse it.
The Letters of Robert Burns
Robert Burns

As for all the prattle about pre-Raphaelitism, I confess to you I am weary of it, and long have been.
Recollections of Dante Gabriel Rossetti
T. Hall Caine

The boy had pattered French with the former since he had first begun to prattle at all.
Billy Topsail & Company
Norman Duncan

He listened to people’s talk as though it had been children’s prattle.
Romance
Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer

Her prattle seeped in and he became aware of it and what she was saying.
Life Sentence
James McConnell

His prattle was the prattle of an unsophisticated maiden lady.
The O’Ruddy
Stephen Crane

The prattle of lovers and the sober wisdom of experience blended.
Charles Carleton Coffin
William Elliot Griffis, D. D.

She paid as little heed to my words as a nurse to the prattle of a child.
Dross
Henry Seton Merriman

Mr. Draconmeyer smiled with the air of one listening to a child’s prattle.
Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo
E. Phillips Oppenheim

Anagram

let rapt
pelt art

20 November 2017

ardent

[ahr-dnt]

adjective

1. having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent:
an ardent vow; ardent love.
2. intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous:
an ardent theatergoer. an ardent student of French history.
3. vehement; fierce:
They were frightened by his ardent, burning eyes.
4. burning, fiery, or hot:
the ardent core of a star.

Origin of ardent

Latin

1325-1375; < Latin ārdent- (stem of ārdēns, present participle of ārdēre to burn), equivalent to ārd- burn + -ent- -ent; replacing
Middle English ardant < Middle French

Related forms

ardently, adverb
ardency [ahr-dn-see] (Show IPA), ardentness, noun

Synonyms

1. fervid, eager, impassioned. 2. avid.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for ardent

Contemporary Examples

The outré character is sure to throw even the most ardent fans of the Golden Globe winner for a loop.
Michael C. Hall on Going Drag for ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ and Exorcising ‘Dexter’
Marlow Stern
December 3, 2014

The pathetic dives and writhing on the field is a turn off to the most ardent American fan.
What Hillary Clinton Can Learn From Portugal, Costa Rica, and England in the World Cup
Nathan Daschle
June 30, 2014

No one agreed more than the members of an ardent and motivated fan base within the CIA.
Why the CIA Loved ‘Doctor Zhivago’
Kevin Canfield
June 25, 2014

Anagram

ranted
red ant
art den

19 November 2017

lamster

[lam-ster]

noun, Slang.

1. a fugitive from the law.

Also, lamister.

Origin of lamster

1900-1905 First recorded in 1900-05; lam2+ -ster

Dictionary.com

Slang definitions & phrases for lamster

lamster

noun

An escaped convict

[1904+ Underworld; fr lam]

The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.
Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.

Anagram

Ms Alert
Mr Slate
Mrs Teal
Tsar Elm
rest lam
let Mars
armlets

18 November 2017

kalsarikännit

[cal-sar-y-cuhn-eet]

noun

1. the feeling when you are going to get drunk home alone in your underwear — with no intention of going out.

Source

Finnish

Example

Sorry, friends. Tonight calls for a kalsarikännit. I literally cannot wear pants a minute longer. I have only the physical strength to hold a glass of wine. You can find me on my couch. Bye.

https://www.popsugar.com/food/Finnish-Word-Drinking-Home-Your-Underwear-43182383

Anagram

snail rank kit

17 November 2017

deflagrate

[def-luh-greyt]

verb (used with or without object), deflagrated, deflagrating.

1. to burn, especially suddenly and violently.

Origin of deflagrate

Latin

1720-1730; < Latin dēflagrātus (past participle of dēflagrāre to burn down), equivalent to dē- de- + flagr(āre) to burn + -ātus -ate1

Related forms

deflagrable, adjective
deflagrability, noun
deflagration, noun

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for deflagrate

Historical Examples

The case is the same when this Salt is alkalizated by deflagration.
Elements of the Theory and Practice of Chymistry, 5th ed.
Pierre Joseph Macquer

deflagration is the burning of a substance with explosive violence, generally due to excess of oxygen.
The Elements of Blowpipe Analysis
Frederick Hutton Getman

It seems to me that the deflagration, by the intense brilliancy of the substances in combustion, is produced in pure oxygen.
From the Earth to the Moon, Direct in Ninety-Seven Hours and Twenty Minutes: and a Trip Round It
Jules Verne

The story of the prints and their deflagration may be true, but it is very questionable if they were for royal use.
The History of Prostitution
William W. Sanger

The thin wires are stretched between the balls, and the lower one is in course of deflagration.
The Boy’s Playbook of Science
John Henry Pepper

Anagram

fatal greed
federal tag
after glade

16 November 2017

ramekin or ramequin

[ram-i-kin]

noun

1. a small dish in which food can be baked and served.
2. a small, separately cooked portion of a cheese preparation or other food mixture baked in a small dish without a lid.

Origin of ramekin
Middle Dutch, French

1700-1710; French ramequin < dialectal Dutch, Middle Dutch rammeken

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for ramekin

Historical Examples

Anything used in a scramble or an omelet may be placed in the bottom of the ramekin.
The Myrtle Reed Cook Book
Myrtle Reed

Sometimes Roquefort is added, as in the ramekin recipes below.
The Complete Book of Cheese
Robert Carlton Brown

A “left-over” which is otherwise hopeless may often be used advantageously in a ramekin with an egg.
The Myrtle Reed Cook Book
Myrtle Reed

Put a tablespoonful of the sauce into a ramekin, add a small peeled tomato, and cover with the sauce.
The Myrtle Reed Cook Book
Myrtle Reed

Put in ramekin and bake 20 or 30 minutes in slow oven until well browned.
Dietetics for Nurses
Fairfax T. Proudfit

Some ramekin dishes are made so exquisitely that they may be collected like snuff bottles.
The Complete Book of Cheese
Robert Carlton Brown

anagram

mean irk

15 November 2017

pomace

[puhm-is, pom-]

noun

1. the pulpy residue from apples or similar fruit after crushing and pressing, as in cider making.
2. any crushed or ground, pulpy substance.

Origin of pomace

Medieval Latin

1545-1555; perhaps < Medieval Latin pōmācium cider, derivative of Latin pōmum fruit; see pome

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for pomace

Historical Examples

In Europe, the seeds are separated from the pomace and used in various ways.
Manual of American Grape-Growing
U. P. Hedrick

They will be dark in proportion to the length of time the pomace stands.
Soil Culture
J. H. Walden

Anagram

me capo
eco map

14 November 2017

ducat

[duhk-uh t]

noun

1. any of various gold coins formerly issued in various parts of Europe, especially that first issued in Venice in 1284.
Compare sequin (def 2).
2. any of various silver coins formerly issued in various parts of Europe.
3. Slang. a ticket to a public performance.
4. ducats, Slang. money; cash.

Origin of ducat

Middle English, Middle French, Old Italian, Medieval Latin

1350-1400; Middle English < Middle French < Old Italian ducato < Medieval Latin ducātus duchy; probably so called from the L words dux or ducātus, which formed part of the legends of such coins

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for ducat

Historical Examples

It was to no purpose that Sambuc appealed to ducat and Cabasse to confirm his statement.
The Downfall
Emile Zola

I set a ducat on the table, and going to the door I called my hostess.
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini

And with a splendid gesture I pointed to the ducat gleaming on the table.
The Shame of Motley
Raphael Sabatini

The pathic took my ducat, kissed my hand, and they all departed.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

This did not inspire me with confidence, so I only punted a ducat at a time.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt

An ounce of Barbary is worth about 6d., and a ducat is worth about 5s.
An Account of Timbuctoo and Housa Territories in the Interior of Africa
Abd Salam Shabeeny

So they gave the old woman a dish full of gold, but she took only one ducat.
Russian Fairy Tales
W. R. S. Ralston

If his grandmother sent him a ducat Crisenius pocketed a florin.
History of the Moravian Church
J. E. Hutton

He had put in six hundred dollars when every dollar was a ducat.
The Spirit of Sweetwater
Hamlin Garland

At midnight I walked away with George Lamb, and went—where for a ducat ?
Life and Letters of Lord Macaulay
George Otto Trevelyan

13 November 2017

brad

[brad]

noun

1. a slender wire nail having either a small, deep head or a projection to one side of the head end.
verb (used with object), bradded, bradding.
2. to fasten with brads.

Origin of brad

Middle English, Old Norse late Middle English
1425-1475; late Middle English brad, dialectal variant of Middle English brod(d) sprout, shoot, nail < Old Norse braddr, cognate with Old English brord spike (see braird )

11 November 2017

munificent

[myoo-nif-uh-suh nt]

adjective

1. extremely liberal in giving; very generous.
2. characterized by great generosity:
a munificent bequest.

Origin of munificent

Latin

1575-1585; back formation from Latin mūnificentia generosity, munificence, equivalent to mūnific(us) generous ( muni-, combining form of mūnus gift + -ficus -fic ) + -entia -ence

Related forms

munificence, munificentness, noun
munificently, adverb
unmunificent, adjective
unmunificently, adverb

Can be confused

beneficent, munificent.
magnificent, munificent.

Synonyms

1. bountiful, bounteous, lavish.

Antonyms

1. niggardly.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for munificent

Contemporary Examples

We remain a people powerful with ideas and capable of munificent grace.
The True State of Our Independence: What Does America Stand For?
Benjamin Busch
July 3, 2012

Historical Examples

I paid him over the munificent sum you intrusted to me for him.
Victor’s Triumph
Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth

Joe disposed of that consideration by a munificent wave of the hand.
David Dunne
Belle Kanaris Maniates

And then he might not choose to accept her munificent offer!
Lippincott’s Magazine, Vol. 20, August 1877
Various

We do hear of munificent donations by benevolent millionaires now and then.
The Lock And Key Library
Various

Poor Gustavo saw a munificent shower of tips vanishing into nothing.
Jerry
Jean Webster

As was usual when he or any other servitor was in attendance on Waring, the reward had been munificent.
Waring’s Peril
Charles King

The settlements which he has spoken of, too, are most munificent.
Anna the Adventuress
E. Phillips Oppenheim

One of us is bidden to the court of our most munificent patroness to educate her only son.
Peter the Priest
Mr Jkai

I was so astonished at your munificent offer, Sir, that I could not well speak.
The Privateersman
Frederick Marryat

Anagram

unfit mince
mint ice fun
feint cumin


10 November 2017

cairn

[kairn]

noun

1. a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, tombstone, etc.

Also, carn.

Origin of cairn

1525-1535; earlier carn < Scots Gaelic: pile of stones; perhaps akin to horn

Related forms

cairned, adjective
cairny, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for cairn

Historical Examples

Clawbonny and Bell walked to the cairn with picks in their hands.
The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras
Jules Verne

He would begin to-morrow with the cairn for the rock-plants.
Deerbrook
Harriet Martineau

 

9 November 2017

toper

[toh-per]

noun

1. a hard drinker or chronic drunkard.

Origin of toper
1665-1675 First recorded in 1665-75; from tope!, exclamation used in drinking (1650s), from French or Italian, originally a word of acceptance in a wager, etc. Cf. tope (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for toper

Historical Examples

The din of the drinkers subsided at length, and toper after toper was helped to his bed.
The Shadow of a Crime
Hall Caine

She burst open his door while he was still dressing: ‘Well, toper !’
The Crimson Fairy Book
Various

Ben the toper loved his bottle,—Charley only loved the lasses!
Paul Clifford, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

“He ain’t no boy o’ mine,” said the toper, with no little indignation in his tones.
Little Bobtail
Oliver Optic

Squire Simonton renewed his efforts to secure the reform of the toper.
Little Bobtail
Oliver Optic

By the beginning of his second session he was as able a toper as a publican could wish.
The House with the Green Shutters
George Douglas Brown

Anagram

re opt
per to

8 November 2017

demerara

[dem-uh-rahr-uh, -rair-uh]

noun, ( often initial capital letter)

1. a light brown raw sugar grown in Guyana and used especially in the country’s rum-making industry.
2. a highly flavoured rum used mainly for blending purposes

Word Origin

named after Demerara, a region of Guyana

Related forms

demeraran, adjective

Anagram

a dreamer
dearer ma
made rare

7 November 2017

mosaic

[moh-zey-ik]

noun

1. a picture or decoration made of small, usually colored pieces of inlaid stone, glass, etc.
2. the process of producing such a picture or decoration.
3. something resembling such a picture or decoration in composition, especially in being made up of diverse elements:
a mosaic of borrowed ideas.
4. Also called aerial mosaic, photomosaic. Surveying. an assembly of aerial photographs matched in such a way as to show a continuous photographic representation of an area (mosaic map)
5. Architecture. (in an architectural plan) a system of patterns for differentiating the areas of a building or the like, sometimes consisting of purely arbitrary patterns used to separate areas according to function but often consisting of plans of flooring, reflected ceiling plans, overhead views of furnishings and equipment, or other items really included in the building or building plan.
6. Also called mosaic disease. Plant Pathology. any of several diseases of plants, characterized by mottled green or green and yellow areas on the leaves, caused by certain viruses.
7. Biology. an organism exhibiting mosaicism.
8. Television. a light-sensitive surface in a television camera tube, consisting of a thin mica sheet coated on one side with a large number of small globules of silver and cesium insulated from each other. The image to be televised is focused on this surface and the resulting charges on the globules are scanned by an electron beam.

adjective
9. pertaining to, resembling, or used for making a mosaic or mosaic work:
a mosaic tile.
10. composed of a combination of diverse elements.
verb (used with object), mosaicked, mosaicking.
11. to make a mosaic of or from.
12. to decorate with mosaic.

Origin of mosaic

Middle English, Middle French, Medieval Latin, Italian
1350-1400; Middle English < Middle French mosaïque < Italian mosaico < Medieval Latin musaicum, re-formation of Late Latin musīvum (opus), Latin musēum, musaeum mosaic work (quantity of u uncertain), of obscure origin; variants may show an assumed relationship with Greek mouseîon shrine of the Muses, museum, by analogy with archī(v)um (see archive ), though classical Gk word is not attested in sense “mosaic”

Related forms

mosaically, adverb
premosaic, adjective
Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for mosaic

Contemporary Examples

The Lennon Wall in Admiralty is a mosaic of Post-It notes, each square a scribbled wish.
The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong
Brendon Hong
December 3, 2014

The mosaic too looks to her eyes more like a work of the 1st than the 4th century B.C.
Amphipolis Tomb Yields Amazing Finds But Mysteries Linger
James Romm
October 16, 2014

The result is a mosaic of spectra, covering up to 60 different regions.
SAMI Is Like Google Earth for the Universe
Matthew R. Francis
July 26, 2014

This is what has created the mosaic of plots that we know today, and that was pretty much already in place a thousand years ago.
The Next UNESCO World Heritage Site: Burgundy’s Pinot Noir Country?
Jordan Salcito
May 30, 2014

6 November 2017

moot(1)

[moot]

adjective

1. open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful:
Whether that was the cause of their troubles is amoot point.
2. of little or no practical value, meaning, or relevance; purely academic:
In practical terms, the issue of her application is moot because the deadline has passed.
3. Chiefly Law. not actual; theoretical; hypothetical.
verb (used with object)
4. to present or introduce (any point, subject, project, etc.) for discussion.
5. to reduce or remove the practical significance of; make purely theoretical or academic.
6. Archaic. to argue (a case), especially in a mock court.
noun
7. an assembly of the people in early England exercising political, administrative, and judicial powers.
8. an argument or discussion, especially of a hypothetical legal case.
9.Obsolete. a debate, argument, or discussion.

Origin of moot(1)

Middle English, Old English
900 before 900; Middle English mot(e) meeting, assembly, Old English gemōt; cognate with Old Norse mōt, Dutch gemoet meeting. See meet(1)

Related forms

mooter, noun
mootness, noun

Can be confused

moot, mute.

Synonyms

1. disputable, disputed, unsettled. 4. debate, dispute, discuss.

Antonyms

1. indisputable. 4. agree.

moot(2)

[moot]

noun

1. a ring gauge for checking the diameters of treenails.
verb (used with object)
2. to bring (a treenail) to the proper diameter with a moot.

Origin

1805-15; special use of dial. moot tree-stump, block of wood; cognate with Dutch moot piece

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for moot

Contemporary Examples

But the positives are moot if people fail to recognize the problem of eWaste and to realize they can do their part to reduce it.
ecoATM offers consumers a new way to sell used cell phones and electronic devices
Sarah Langs
August 31, 2013

The question of whether the story is fit for publication is now moot.
Tech Crunch Founder Denies Allegations
Howard Kurtz
April 8, 2013

The etymology of the word koldun is still, I believe, a moot point.
Russian Fairy Tales
W. R. S. Ralston

5 November 2017

disinterested

[dis-in-tuh-res-tid, -tri-stid]

adjective

1. unbiased by personal interest or advantage; not influenced by selfish motives:
a disinterested decision by the referee.
2. not interested; indifferent.

Origin of disinterested

1605-1615 First recorded in 1605-15; dis-1+ interested

Related forms

disinterestedly, adverb
disinterestedness, noun
nondisinterested, adjective

Can be confused

disinterested, uninterested (see usage note at the current entry)

Synonyms

1. impartial, neutral, unprejudiced, dispassionate. See fair1.

Antonyms

1. partial, biased.

Usage note

Disinterested and uninterested share a confused and confusing history. Disinterested was originally used to mean “not interested, indifferent”; uninterested in its earliest use meant “impartial.” By various developmental twists, disinterested is now used in both senses. Uninterested is used mainly in the sense “not interested, indifferent.” It is occasionally used to mean “not having a personal or property interest.”
Many object to the use of disinterested to mean “not interested, indifferent.” They insist that disinterested can mean only “impartial”: A disinterested observer is the best judge of behavior.However, both senses are well established in all varieties of English, and the sense intended is almost always clear from the context.

Examples from the Web for disinterested

Contemporary Examples

If our school system fails to teach how our country works, should we be surprised so many are disinterested ?
Baseball’s Problem Is Politics’ Problem
Doug McIntyre
November 3, 2014

Edge, one of the most inventive guitarists in rock history, comes off as disinterested.
U2 Generously Gives Us a Lousy Album, Sucks at the Corporate Teat
Hampton Stevens
September 12, 2014

Add to that a disinterested public that fails to turn out on Election Day, and citizens are getting the government they deserve.
Powerbroker Richard Ravitch Thinks New York Might Be Doomed
Josh Robin
April 25, 2014

Neither he nor the Sanford Police Department were disinterested observers.
George Zimmerman Video Outrage: Where Are Injuries From Travyon Fight?
Jesse Singal
March 28, 2012

Historical Examples

In all this he has been upright, disinterested and conscientious in word and deed.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook

She knew, only too well, that Althea’s invitation to dinner had not been disinterested.
Grace Harlowe’s Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower

Anagram

sit tenderised
dissented tier
dissident tree

4 November 2017

fortuitous

[fawr-too-i-tuh s, -tyoo-]

adjective

1. happening or produced by chance; accidental:
a fortuitous encounter.
2. lucky; fortunate:
a series of fortuitous events that advanced her career.

Origin of fortuitous

Latin

1645-1655; < Latin fortuitus, fortuītus, equivalent to fortu- (u-stem base, otherwise unattested, akin to fors, genitive fortis chance, luck) + -itus, -ītus adj. suffix (for formation cf. gratuitous ); see -ous

Related forms

fortuitously, adverb
fortuitousness, noun
nonfortuitous, adjective
nonfortuitously, adverb
nonfortuitousness, noun

Can be confused

felicitous, fortuitous, fortunate (see usage note at the current entry)

Synonyms

1. incidental.

Usage note

Fortuitous has developed in sense from “happening by chance” to “happening by lucky chance” to simply “lucky, fortunate.” This development was probably influenced by the similarity of fortuitous to fortunate and perhaps to felicitous : A fortuitous late-night snowfall made for a day of great skiing.

Many object to the use of fortuitous to mean simply “fortunate” and insist that it should be limited to its original sense of “accidental.” In modern standard use, however, fortuitous almost always carries the senses both of accident or chance and luck or fortune. It is infrequently used in its sense of “accidental” without the suggestion of good luck, and even less frequently in the sense “lucky” without at least a suggestion of accident or chance: A fortuitous encounter with a former schoolmate led to a new and successful career for the artist.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for fortuitous

Contemporary Examples

“It was a fortuitous discovery,” Bruenn told The Daily Beast last week.
Ebola’s Roots Are 50 Times Older Than Mankind. And That Could Be the Key to Stopping It.
Michael Daly
October 19, 2014

But all kinds of fortuitous circumstances—important people “seeing that”—led him to getting cast in Inside Llewyn Davis.
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ Star Oscar Isaac Is About to Be a Very Big Deal
Kevin Fallon
December 4, 2013

All of which is why the juxtaposition of these two cases is fortuitous.
Mumbai Massacre Perpetrator’s Sentence Affirmed
Dilip D’Souza
September 2, 2012

And 1968 was a fortuitous year to become European Champions: it was the year that defined an age.
A Manchester United Fan Defends His Faith
Peter Pomerantsev
May 25, 2011

It was a fortuitous decision, because the plaza’s roof happened to be crammed with several hundred refugees.
The Extinction Parade: An Original Zombie Story by Max Brooks
Max Brooks
January 13, 2011

Historical Examples

Nor would the treasure ever have been found but for a most fortuitous accident.
Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates
Howard Pyle

Invention was no longer the fortuitous result of a happy chance.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice
Stephen Leacock

This was not the proportion that there should have been if the mortality had been fortuitous.
The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4)
J. Arthur Thomson

Yet we find a few fortuitous circumstances that favored his evolution.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great – Volume 14
Elbert Hubbard

There are difficulties as to minute modifications, even if not fortuitous.
On the Genesis of Species
St. George Mivart

Anagram

furious tot
tofu suitor
our outfits
if tortuous

3 November 2017

peruse

[puh-rooz]

verb (used with object), perused, perusing.

1. to read through with thoroughness or care:
to peruse a report.
2. to scan or browse:
The shoppers perused the magazines near the cash register while waiting to check out.
3. to read.
4. to survey or examine in detail.

Origin of peruse

1470-1480in sense “use up, go through”; 1525-35 for current senses; per- + use

Related forms

perusable, adjective
peruser, noun
preperuse, verb (used with object), preperused, preperusing.
quasi-perusable, adjective
reperuse, verb (used with object), reperused, reperusing.

Can be confused

peruse, pursue.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for peruse

Contemporary Examples

Copies of a 53-page strategic plan are on the coffee table in her office for visitors to peruse.
Obama’s Hidden Power Player
Eleanor Clift
May 11, 2014

Then I peruse my RSS feeds for Red Sox stories by my competitors.
Opening Day 2013: How to Write About Baseball in the Big Leagues
Noah Charney
March 30, 2013

Historical Examples

Let no man thinke this to be strange, but peruse and consider the reason.
A New Orchard And Garden
William Lawson

He took it hastily, and drew nigh to the lantern to peruse it.
Maurice Tiernay Soldier of Fortune
Charles James Lever

With a feeling of dread for which I could not account, I hastened to peruse it.
Frank Fairlegh
Frank E. Smedley

Anagram

rupees

2 November 2017

literal

[lit-er-uh l]

adjective

1. in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical:
the literal meaning of a word.
2. following the words of the original very closely and exactly:
a literal translation of Goethe.
3. true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual:
a literal description of conditions.
4. being actually such, without exaggeration or inaccuracy:
the literal extermination of a city.
5. (of persons) tending to construe words in the strict sense or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; prosaic.
6. of or relating to the letters of the alphabet.
7. of the nature of letters.

noun

10. a typographical error, especially involving a single letter.

Origin of literal

Middle English, Late Latin

1350-1400; Middle English < Late Latin litterālis “of letters.” See letter1, -al1

Related forms

literalness, noun
nonliteral, adjective
nonliterally, adverb
nonliteralness, noun
overliteral, adjective

Can be confused

literal, littoral.

Synonyms

3. truthful, exact, reliable.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for literal

Contemporary Examples

I never hear a Democrat talk about these goods, which are, in the literal sense, indivisible—for us all.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It
Michael Tomasky
December 30, 2014

So is the literal “turkey point of view” offered by the GoPros attached to the turkeys as they run around the coop.
A Turkey’s View of Thanksgiving
The Daily Beast Video
November 25, 2014

“The amount of literal brainwork needed to do his job too such a toll on him that it sent him to an early grave,” Goode says.
From ‘The Good Wife’ to ‘The Imitation Game’: Matthew Goode Wages His Charm Offensive
Kevin Fallon
November 23, 2014

“Air refueling and airlift assets were the literal pinch I am describing here,” the official said.
First U.S. Stealth Jet Attack on Syria Cost More Than Indian Mission to Mars
Dave Majumdar
September 23, 2014

Then the director, Penny Marshall, encouraged him to drop some of the literal behavior and put more of himself into the character.
The Stacks: Robin Williams, More Than A Shtick Figure
Joe Morgenstern
August 15, 2014

Historical Examples

No one will claim that it is used in its literal sense of “seed,” in the text.
Life: Its True Genesis
R. W. Wright

This lyrical vision restores it, whole, complete, and literal.
Shelley, Godwin and Their Circle
H. N. Brailsford

This literal quotation from the frank Mr. Calvin caused a sensation.
Cap’n Dan’s Daughter
Joseph C. Lincoln

Anagram

lilt era
let rail
all tier

1 November 2017

enormity

[ih-nawr-mi-tee]

noun, plural enormities

1. outrageous or heinous character; atrociousness:
the enormity of war crimes.
2. something outrageous or heinous, as an offense:
The bombing of the defenseless population was an enormity beyond belief.
3. greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity:
The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.

Origin of enormity

Latin late Middle English Middle French
1425-1475; late Middle English enormite < Middle French < Latin ēnormitās. See enorm, -ty2

Can be confused

enormity, enormousness (see usage note at the current entry)

Synonyms

1. monstrousness, heinousness. 3. hugeness, vastness.

Usage note

3. Enormity has been in frequent and continuous use in the sense “immensity” since the 18th century: The enormity of the task was overwhelming.Some hold that enormousness is the correct word in that sense and that enormity can only mean “outrageousness” or “atrociousness”: The enormity of his offenses appalled the public. Enormity occurs regularly in edited writing with the meanings both of great size and of outrageous or horrifying character, behavior, etc. Many people, however, continue to regard enormity in the sense of great size as nonstandard.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for enormity

Contemporary Examples

To look at her in tears was to behold the enormity of her loss.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss
Michael Daly
January 5, 2015

It was an objective test that, for the first time, let the enormity of the drug problem in America rear its ugly head.
Gov’t Abandons Best Survey for Counting U.S. Drug Users
Abby Haglage
April 8, 2014

A real-life drama proving the enormity of what just one bullet can do continued to unfold.
The Movie Murder 911 Tape: Victim’s Last Breaths, With Shooter Nearby
Michael Daly
January 25, 2014

Even if it was a crutch, the Biblical language in these older writings did justice to the enormity of the forces at play.
Polar Explorer vs. Reality TV Crew: Tim Jarvis in the Footsteps of Shackleton
Darrell Hartman
January 12, 2014

And what better way to rally the troops (and they’re all troops, in a pinch) than by pointing out the enormity of the enemy?
North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un’s Game of Thrones
Kevin Bleyer
December 15, 2013

Historical Examples

His pessimism about his play caused him to exaggerate the enormity of his offences.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine

These chaps seemed to value a man by the enormity and number of his crimes.
Ned Myers
James Fenimore Cooper

Until now the enormity of his offence had not penetrated her understanding.
Meadow Grass
Alice Brown

I never dreamed of any enormity greater than I have committed.
Mountain Meditations
L. Lind-af-Hageby

Jon stood motionless, his head reeling at the enormity of what he had done.
The Velvet Glove
Harry Harrison

Anagram

toy miner
my orient

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