cstr/en-wiktionary-extracted-all huggingface dataset:
backstairs
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: back-stairs
Etymology: From back + stairs.
Senses: examples: text: Here I diſcovered the ſecret Cauſes of many great Events that have ſurprized the World, how a Whore can govern the Back-ſtairs, the Back-ſtairs a Council, and the Council a Senate.
ref: 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “A Further Account of Glubbdubdrib. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), page 111:
text: 1905, Ernest William Hornung, “The Spoils of Sacrilege” in A Thief in the Night,
Other feet were already in the lower flight of the backstairs; but the upper flight was the one for me, and in an instant we were racing along the upper corridor […]
glosses: A staircase at the rear of a building or one normally only used by servants and tradesmen.
examples: text: The straight-forward course, they say, would be to proclaim outright, instead of trying to bring it in by the backstairs.
ref: 1934 March 27, “De Valera Move Hits Dignity Of Governor-General”, in Christian Science Monitor:
glosses: An indirect or furtive means of access or intercourse.
backstairs
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more backstairs
form: most backstairs
form: back-stairs
Etymology: From back + stairs.
Senses: examples: text: […] if some peers (I am very sorry they are not as many as they ought to be) set themselves, in the great concern of peers and commons, against a back-stairs influence and clandestine government, then the alarm begins; then the constitution is in danger of being forced into an aristocracy.
ref: 1770, Edmund Burke, Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents:
text: The danger of the situation was increased by the mischievous conduct of Alderman Townshend, who had been brought down to the House, pale and bandaged from a recent surgical operation, in order to pour forth a diatribe against female caprice and backstairs influence; […]
ref: 1880, George Otto Trevelyan, chapter 8, in The Early History of Charles James Fox, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1881, page 364:
text: This backstairs visit was all about sex […]
ref: 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 3, in The Line of Beauty […], London: Picador, →ISBN:
glosses: Secret or furtive.
glosses: Scandalous.
Synonyms: backstair
backstair
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Etymology: From back + stair.
Senses: glosses: clandestine, secret or furtive
Synonyms: backstairs
backstair
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: backstairs
Etymology: From back + stair.
Senses: glosses: The backstairs (stairs at the rear of a building).
complacence
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: /kəmˈpleɪsəns/
Forms: form: complacences
Etymology: From late Middle English complacence, from Medieval Latin complacentia, from Latin complaceō (“I please”).
Senses: examples: text: [T]he inward Complacence we find in acting reaſonably and vertuouſly, and the Diſquiet we feel from vicious Choices and Purſuits, is protracted beyond the Acts themſelves from whence it aroſe, and renewed often upon our Souls, by diſtant Reflections; […]
ref: 1703 June 10 (Gregorian calendar), Francis Atterbury, “A Sermon Preached at St. Paul’s before the Lord Mayor. May 30, 1703”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Sermons on Several Occasions. […], volume II, London: […] George James […]; and sold by C. Davis, […], published 1734, →OCLC, page 106:
glosses: Being complacent; a feeling of contentment or satisfaction; complacency.
examples: text: O thou, my sole complacence.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
glosses: Delight, pleasure.
examples: text: He told his sister, if she pleased, the new-born infant should be bred up together with little Tommy; to which she consented, though with some little reluctance: for she had truly a great complacence for her brother […]
ref: 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
glosses: Complaisance; a willingness to comply with others' wishes.
Synonyms: self-complacency
self-satisfaction
sciolto
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Etymology: Borrowed from Italian sciolto, from sciogliere (“to set free”).
Senses: topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Light, free and easy; without strictness or legato.
sciolto
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Etymology: Borrowed from Italian sciolto, from sciogliere (“to set free”).
Senses: topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: Played in such a manner.
sciolto
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: scioltos
Etymology: Borrowed from Italian sciolto, from sciogliere (“to set free”).
Senses: topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: A directive in a score specifying that the music is to be played in this manner.
lockstitch
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɑkstɪt͡ʃ/
Forms: form: lockstitches
form: lock stitch
Etymology: From lock + stitch.
Senses: topics: business
manufacturing
sewing
textiles
glosses: A stitch made by a sewing machine in which two threads are interlocked.
lockstitch
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɑkstɪt͡ʃ/
Forms: form: lockstitches
form: lockstitching
form: lockstitched
form: lockstitched
form: lock stitch
Etymology: From lock + stitch.
Senses: topics: business
manufacturing
sewing
textiles
glosses: To use this kind of stitch.
presser foot
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: presser feet
Senses: topics: business
manufacturing
sewing
textiles
glosses: The part of a sewing machine which rests on the fabric and presses it down upon the table of the machine and against the feed dog.
spelling bee
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: spelling bees
Etymology: From spelling + bee (“get-together, (social) gathering, contest”) (The earliest known evidence of the phrase in print dates back to 1850).
Senses: glosses: A spelling contest or competition where contestants, usually children, are asked to spell out words (orally, letter by letter); the individual or team spelling the most words correctly wins.
Synonyms: word: spelldown
english: earlier term, traced back to 1808
translation: earlier term, traced back to 1808
word: spelling match
Related terms: apple bee
geography bee
husking bee
quilting bee
sewing bee
kaalgat
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Etymology: Borrowed from Afrikaans kaalgat.
Senses: glosses: stark naked.
gatvol
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more gatvol
form: most gatvol
Etymology: Borrowed from Afrikaans gatvol.
Senses: examples: text: I have had it up to here! I am gatvol. If you don't tidy your room, you are grounded.
text: Yoh! I'm so gatvol of this tjoekie and need a zol to handle these moggy people.
ref: 2025 March 26, Khanyisile Ngcobo, “'Yoh! You're in the OED' – South Africa makes its linguistic mark”, in BBC:
glosses: Completely fed up; very upset.
just now
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Senses: examples: text: I was talking to my friend on the phone just now.
text: I('ve) just now noticed what the bread run out.
qualifier: set phrase
glosses: Very close to the present moment; just a moment ago.
examples: text: We do not have that item in stock just now.
glosses: At present; now.
examples: text: I'll be coming just now.
glosses: In a little while.
Synonyms: sense: just a moment ago
word: just then
word: recently
sense: at present
word: currently
word: right now
word: currently
sense: in a little while
word: imminently
word: shortly
word: soon
science fair
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: science fairs
Senses: examples: text: Hungry for fame and the approval of rare-animal collector Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton), Darwin deceives the Captain and his crew into believing they can get enough booty to win the pirate competition by entering Polly in a science fair. So the pirates journey to London in cheerful, blinkered defiance of the Queen, a hotheaded schemer whose royal crest reads simply “I hate pirates.”
ref: 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, in The Onion AV Club:
glosses: A competition in which contestants, usually children, create science-related projects or demonstrations.
black slug
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: black slugs
Senses: glosses: An omnivorous slug found in Europe and the Pacific Northwest, Arion ater, not always black, despite the name.
LFSR
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: LFSRs
Senses: glosses: Initialism of linear feedback shift register.
eina
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈeɪnə/
rhymes: -eɪnə
Etymology: Borrowed from Afrikaans eina, from the Khoekhoe people of the Kalahari Desert: é + ná.
Senses: examples: text: Eina! I hit my thumb with the hammer!
glosses: Ouch! (an exclamation of pain)
buzz off
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Senses: examples: text: The bouncer shouted “Buzz off!” and kicked me out of the establishment.
qualifier: dismissal
glosses: go away.
Synonyms: beat it!
get lost!
shove off!
buzz off
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: buzzes off
form: buzzing off
form: buzzed off
form: buzzed off
Senses: examples: text: The bee was flying around my head, but then it buzzed off.
glosses: To leave with a buzzing sound.
examples: text: “Where's Daddy?” Phyllis asked. “He suddenly decided to go to London,” said Bobbie. “To London?” “That's what he said.” “Why?” “He didn't tell me.” “I must go and see him,” said Phyllis, and buzzed off. [...] “He's asking for his dinner, the sweet little angel. All right, darling, Mother's coming,” she fluted, and buzzed off on the errand of mercy. [...] “That's life,” she said, and buzzed off to keep her vigil, leaving me kicking myself because I'd forgotten to say anything about the quality of mercy not being strained.
ref: 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “V, XIII, AND XX”, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
glosses: To leave (especially busily), take off, go away.
examples: text: He went to this talent show, but they buzzed him off after twenty seconds.
glosses: To interrupt and/or disqualify (someone) by means of a buzzer.
collect dust
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: collects dust
form: collecting dust
form: collected dust
form: collected dust
Senses: examples: text: The trophies on his wall reminding him of his heyday are now just collecting dust.
glosses: To remain untouched and unused for a long period of time.
Synonyms: catch dust
gather dust
third hand
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: third hands
Senses: glosses: A tool used to squeeze caliper brakes against the rim of a wheel, as on a bicycle, thereby allowing adjustments to the brake cable.
glosses: A source two steps removed from direct communication.
third hand
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Senses: examples: text: I heard the story from someone who got it from the horse's mouth. You're getting it third hand.
text: So I have to find out my child is alive third-hand from the Alliance brass? Where the hell have you been?
ref: 2010, BioWare, quoting Mom, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: You're alive???:
glosses: Having been relayed by two intermediate sources.
glosses: Not new, having more than one previous owner.
Related terms: second hand
third leg
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /θɝd ˈlɛɡ/
Forms: form: third legs
Etymology: Suggesting a penis as long as one's leg.
Senses: synonyms: word: cunt buster
word: donkey cock
word: donkey dick
word: horse cock
word: horse dick
word: monster cock
word: monsterdick
word: supercock
word: superdick
word: superpenis
word: third leg
glosses: A penis; specifically a long one.
straitjacket
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈstɹeɪtˌd͡ʒækɪt/
Forms: form: straitjackets
form: strait jacket
form: strait-jacket
form: straightjacket
Etymology: From strait (“restrictive”) + jacket.
Senses: examples: text: There’s a couple of people actually wearing duct-tape straitjackets.
ref: 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 243:
synonyms: word: straitwaistcoat
glosses: A jacket-like garment with very long sleeves which can be secured in place, thus preventing the wearer from moving his or her arms. Often used in psychiatric hospitals to prevent patients from injuring themselves or others.
examples: text: our ever-increasing bureaucratic straitjacket of regulations
text: [I]f we remain in one discipline, we remain in a straitjacket; an adequate theory of language evolution requires a lot of interdisciplinary work.
ref: 2009, Michael Giffin, Quadrant, November 2009, No. 461 (Volume LIII, Number 11), Quadrant Magazine Limited, page 99
glosses: Any situation seen as confining or restricting.
Related terms: strait-laced
Scotia
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈskoʊ.ʃə/
ipa: /ˈskəʊ.ʃə/
Etymology: From Latin Scotia (Scotland, lit. "Land of the Scots")
Senses: glosses: a constituent country of the United Kingdom.
examples: text: 1958 - Scotia Plan Loans [...] The Bank of Nova Scotia becomes the first Canadian bank to promote lending to the average consumer.
ref: 1958, “Scotiabank Timeline”, in Scotiabank Canada, retrieved 20 Jun 2023, page 2:
text: Just listen how the flow sounds / And you gon' learn quick I represent Sco-town (Scotia) / Illville to be exact / Shout out to Uniacke / Straight up to w:North Preston and back
ref: 2009, “I'm So Scotian”performed by Hellafactz:
text: At Scotia Dental in Halifax, our dentists [...]
ref: 2023 June 20 (last accessed), Scotia Dental:
glosses: Nova Scotia
glosses: A census-designated place in Humboldt County, California, United States.
glosses: A village in Nebraska.
glosses: A village in New York.
glosses: A town in South Carolina.
endureth
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: examples: text: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, James 1:12:
glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of endure
goeth
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: examples: text: And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 19:13:
glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of go
keepeth
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Etymology: keep + -eth
Senses: examples: text: He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul.
ref: Proverbs 19:16, King James Version
glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of keep
knoweth
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Etymology: know + -eth
Senses: examples: text: And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
ref: Ecclesiastes 2:19, King James Version
glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of know
loveth
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: /ˈlʌv.əθ/
/-ɪθ/
Etymology: From love + -eth, the archaic third-person singular present tense suffix.
Senses: examples: text: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 21:17:
glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of love
searchlight
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsɜːtʃˌlaɪt/
Forms: form: searchlights
Etymology: From search + light. Compare West Frisian sykljocht (“searchlight”), Dutch zoeklicht (“searchlight”), Danish søgelys (“searchlight”), Swedish sökarljus (“searchlight”).
Senses: glosses: A light source that projects a bright beam of light in any direction, generally for military use.
glosses: The light from the above source.
Hypernyms: light
searchlight
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈsɜːtʃˌlaɪt/
Forms: form: searchlights
form: searchlighting
form: searchlighted
form: searchlighted
form: searchlit
form: searchlit
Etymology: From search + light. Compare West Frisian sykljocht (“searchlight”), Dutch zoeklicht (“searchlight”), Danish søgelys (“searchlight”), Swedish sökarljus (“searchlight”).
Senses: examples: text: A dozen air corps of fireflies searchlighted the spot for an instant.
ref: 1937, L. Ron Hubbard, All Frontiers Are Jealous:
glosses: To scan or sweep across like a searchlight.
seeth
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: examples: text: […]the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 16:7:
glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of see
whereto
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Etymology: From Middle English wherto, equivalent to where + to.
Senses: glosses: To what; to which place, whither?
glosses: To what end; wherefore?
examples: text: According whereto Xenophon describeth his gallant plantation at Sardis, thus rendred by Strebæus.
ref: 1658, Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus:
glosses: To which.
Synonyms: whereunto
whither
Related terms: —
henceafter
henceforth
henceforward
henceforwards
hencefrom
hereabout
hereabouts
hereabove
hereafter
hereafters
hereagainst
hereamong
hereanent
hereat
hereaway
herebefore
hereby
herefor
herefore
hereforth
hereforward
hereforwards
herefrom
herehence
hereinabove
hereinafter
hereinbefore
hereinbelow
hereinelsewhere
hereinsoever
hereinto
hereinunder
heremid
hereof
hereon
hereout
hereover
herethrough
herethroughout
hereto
heretofore
hereunto
hereupon
herewith
herewithal
herewithin
herewithout
hitherto
hitherunto
hitherward
hitherwards
howbeit
however
howso
howsoever
howsomedever
howsomever
thataway
thatwise
thenceafter
thenceforth
thenceforward
thenceforwards
thencefrom
thenceout
thereabout
thereabouts
thereabove
thereacross
thereafter
thereafters
thereagain
thereagainst
therealong
thereamong
thereamongst
thereanent
therearound
thereat
thereaway
therebefore
therebeside
therebetween
therebeyond
thereby
therever
therefor
therefore
thereforth
therefrom
therehence
thereinabove
thereinafter
thereinbefore
thereinbelow
thereinto
thereinunder
theremid
thereof
thereon
thereout
thereover
theresoever
therethrough
therethroughout
thereto
theretofore
thereunto
thereup
thereupon
therewith
therewithal
therewithin
therewithout
thisaway
thiswise
thitherinsoever
thitherto
thitherward
thitherwards
whatever
whatso
whatsoever
whatsomedever
whatsomever
whatwise
whenabout
whenabouts
whenas
whenever
whenso
whensoever
whensomever
whenceafter
whencever
whenceforth
whenceforward
whencefrom
whenceward
whencewards
whereabout
whereabouts
whereabove
whereafter
whereafters
whereagainst
wherealong
whereamong
whereamongst
whereanent
wherearound
whereas
whereat
whereaway
wherebefore
wherebeside
wherebetween
wherebeyond
whereby
wherever
wherefor
wherefore
whereforth
wherefrom
wherehence
whereinabove
whereinafter
whereinbefore
whereinbelow
whereinsoever
whereinto
whereinunder
wheremid
whereof
whereon
whereout
whereover
whereso
wheresoever
wheresomever
wherethrough
wherethroughout
wheretofore
whereunto
whereup
whereupon
wherewith
wherewithal
wherewithin
wherewithout
whitherever
whitherinsoever
whitherso
whitherto
whithertofore
whitherward
whitherwards
whyever
whyfor
whyso
whysoever
1. Scottish2. from Middle English mid3. old dialectal form
whoso
Language: English
Part of speech: pron
Forms: form: whomso
form: whoseso
form: who so
Etymology: From Middle English hoe so, hoo so, hoo-so, hos, hose, ho so, ho-so, hwao-se, hwa se, hwase, hwa swa, hwo se, hwo so, oso, qhooso, qua sa, qua-so, quo so, quo-so, quuo-so, qwa se, wah-swa, wea swa, whas, whasa, whase, wha so, wha-so, wha sua, wha swa, wha-swa, whoo so, whos, whose, who so, who-so, whoso, wos, wo-se, wose, wo so, woso, wua sua, from Old English hwā swā; equivalent to who + so.
Senses: examples: text: Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 23:20-21:
text: And whoso findeth by the sea
Blown dust of bones will hardly say
If this were that Aholibah.
ref: 1866, Algernon Swinburne, Aholibah, lines 148-150:
text: Whoso raises his hand against you must answer to my sword.
ref: 1898, Andrew Lang, Arabian Nights:
text: And whoso kisseth those apples high, Who kisseth once is a king, Who kisseth twice shall never die, Who kisseth thrice--oh, were it I.
ref: 1896, Richard Le Gallienne, The Quest of the Golden Girl:
text: Whoso would be a man would be a nonconformist.
ref: 1963, Martin Luther King, quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance", quoted in "Strength to Love":
glosses: whosoever, whatever person
Related terms: whomso
whosoever
Welshwoman
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: Welshwomen
Etymology: From Welsh + -woman.
Senses: glosses: A woman who is a native or inhabitant of Wales.
Hypernyms: Welshman
shouldst
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ʃʊdst/
ipa: /ʃʊtst/
ipa: /ʃədst/
ipa: /ʃətst/
Forms: form: shou'dst
form: should'st
form: shouldest
Senses: examples: text: Doth it ſeem good to thee that thou ſhouldſt calumniate me, and oppreſs me, the work of thy own hands, and help the counſel of the wicked?
ref: 1750, The Holy Bible […] Newly reviſed, and corrected according to the Clementin Edition of the Scriptures. (Douay–Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision), Job 10:3, page 15:
glosses: second-person singular simple past indicative of shall
calumniate
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /kəˈlʌmni.eɪt/
Forms: form: calumniates
form: calumniating
form: calumniated
form: calumniated
Etymology: First attested in 1554; borrowed from Latin calumniātus, perfect passive participle of calumnior (“to blame, cavil at; to accuse falsely”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Senses: examples: text: Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings.
ref: a. 1555, John Hooper, A Brief Treatise respecting Judge Hales:
text: I missed her when she was not on the stage, in spite of the absorbing interest of that most calumniated and ill-used person, the Jew. (Speaking of Fanny Kemble as Portia)
ref: 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Romance and Reality. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 229:
text: There are adherents of each of the four French parties—Legitimists, Orleanists, Imperialists, and Republicans—in this little mountain-town; and they all hate, loathe, decry, and calumniate each other.
ref: 1905, Robert Louis Stevenson, “chapter 1”, in Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes:
glosses: To make hurtful untrue comments about.
glosses: To levy a false charge against, especially of a vague offense, with the intent to damage someone's reputation or standing.
Synonyms: sense: to make hurtful untrue statements
word: slander
Derived terms: uncalumniated
Related terms: calumniation
calumniator
calumniatory
calumnious
calumny
platanna
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: platannas
Senses: examples: text: […]leading medical pathologist, Dr Louis P. Bosman, became so concerned at the depletion of the local platanna population that he petitioned the Provincial Administration to introduce protective legislation and to investigate the possibility of the artificial culture of these animals at the Jonkershoek Hatchery.[…]For many years scientists observed that there was only one species of platanna, Xenopus laevis. Dr Walter Rose, who devoted many years of study to the amphibians of the Western Cape, had questioned this, and had eventually became convinced that there was another species, similar in appearance, but smaller, shyer and less aggressive. This he named X. gilli after Dr L. Gill, director of the South African Museum.
ref: 1977, Douglas Hey, Water: Source of Life, Oxford University Press, pages 109–110:
text: Some frogs, like the Platanna (Xenopus laevis), are wholly aquatic, living, feeding and breeding under water.
ref: 1990, Louis Liebenberg, A Field Guide to the Animal Tracks of Southern Africa, David Philip Publishers, page 81:
text: Platannas are found almost permanently in water and can remain submerged for hours without needing to surface.
ref: 2008, Rael Loon, Hidden Wonders: The Small 5005 of Southern Africa, Insects, Spiders, Frogs, Reptiles, Jacana Media, page 269:
glosses: Any of several clawed frogs of the genus Xenopus which spend most of their time in water and rarely emerge onto land, especially the common platanna, Xenopus laevis.
Derived terms: taxonomic: Xenopus gilli
word: Cape platanna
taxonomic: Xenopus laevis
word: common platanna
alt: = Cape platanna
word: Gill's platanna
taxonomic: Xenopus fraseri
word: Fraser's platanna
taxonomic: Xenopus petersii
word: Peter's platanna
Related terms: taxonomic: Xenopoclinus kochi
word: platanna klipfish
taxonomic: Xenopoclinus leprosus
word: leprous platanna-klipfish
begot
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: rhymes: -ɒt
Senses: synonyms: begat
glosses: simple past of beget
examples: text: Good my Lord,
You haue begot me, bred me, lou'd me.
ref: c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 284, column 1:
text: This day I have begot whom I declare / My onely Son, and on this holy Hill[…]
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
text: […]for the most part empires have begot hybrid civilisations that absorbed much from their subject peoples.
ref: 2014 September 4, Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Random House, →ISBN, page 166:
glosses: past participle of beget
get to grips with
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: gets to grips with
form: getting to grips with
form: got to grips with
form: got to grips with
form: gotten to grips with
Senses: synonyms: come to grips
glosses: To deal (with something) decisively, or to confront (it) head on.
examples: text: Estonia were struggling to get to grips with the game while Ireland were showing a composure and guile that demonstrated their experience in play-off ties.
ref: 2011 November 11, Rory Houston, “Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland”, in RTE Sport:
glosses: To battle (with something).
examples: text: […] autism is the integral explanation of the phenomenon Kafka in all its expressions, and autism can explain the mystery of Kafka like no other of the interpretations proposed by literary scholars and critics in the history of Kafka research. […] The search by Kafka in his writing was for the unknown perspective in his fellow human beings which could put him at ease but he never managed to find it. He intuited this other state of mind and his writing is a testament of his search for this alien state of mind or self-consciousness which he tried to describe via parables, animal stories, aphorisms and images. His problem was that he could not get to grips with reality, more specifically his own reality, because he could not live with it.
ref: 2017 May 16, Jerry Stuger, “Kafka and Autism. The Undisclosed Logic Behind Kafka’s Work”, in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, volume 47, →DOI, pages 2336–2347:
glosses: To gain an understanding (of something).
Related terms: lose one's grip
exceptio non numeratae pecuniae
Language: English
Part of speech: phrase
Etymology: Latin phrase.
exceptio (“an exception”) + non (“not (having)”) + numero - atis ("to count") + pecunia (“money”).
Senses: examples: text: In my opinion a defendant in an action for provisional sentence on a mortgage bond who has renounced the benefit of the exceptio non numeratae pecuniae is not debarred either in the provisional case or in the principal case from raising the defence that he did not receive the money in respect of which he had acknowledged his indebtedness. The benefit of the exception is to enable a defendant to place upon the plaintiff the onus of proving that the money was paid; by renouncing the benefit, the defendant takes the onus of proof upon himself.
ref: COHEN v LOUIS BLUMBERG (PTY), LTD AND ANOTHER 1949 (2) SA 849 (W)
topics: law
glosses: An exception whereby a defendant can claim that the plaintiff has not paid the money to him and that therefore the obligation is not owing.
notched
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: -ɒtʃt
-ɔːtʃt
Senses: glosses: simple past and past participle of notch
notched
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: -ɒtʃt
-ɔːtʃt
Forms: form: more notched
form: most notched
Senses: synonyms: toothed
serrated
jagged
erose
glosses: Having notches
Synonyms: word: dentate
word: dented
word: dentilated
word: erose
word: gimped
word: gnawed
word: indented
word: jagged
word: jaggy
word: nicked
word: notched
word: notchy
word: saw-toothed
word: serrate
word: serrated
word: serriform
topics: biology
natural-sciences
word: toothed
Hypernyms: word: rough
Hyponyms: word: escaloped
word: scalloped
word: raffled
Derived terms: unnotched
nonny
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈnɒni/
rhymes: -ɒni
Forms: form: nonnies
Senses: glosses: A fool.
nonny
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈnɒni/
rhymes: -ɒni
Senses: examples: text: Then sigh not so,
But let them go,
And be you blithe and bonny,
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into Hey nonny, nonny.
ref: 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
glosses: A meaningless word used in refrains, especially in old English ballads and glees.
nonny
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈnɒni/
rhymes: -ɒni
Forms: form: nonnies
Etymology: Diminutive of anonymous with -y.
Senses: topics: lifestyle
glosses: A user who posts anonymously on the Internet.
newsgroup
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈnuzˌɡɹup/
Forms: form: newsgroups
Etymology: From news + group.
Senses: examples: text: Some of the users are 'old timers'; they have been around in the newsgroup for several years[…]
ref: 2003, Sven Junghagen, Henrik C. J. Linderoth, Intelligent Management in the Knowledge Economy:
glosses: A repository on a computer network where people can post messages, usually about a single subject.
Synonyms: word: froup
word: newsfroup
word: Usegroup
Derived terms: newsfroup
newsgrouper
newsgroupie
Related terms: Usenet
puna
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: rhymes: -uːnə
Forms: form: punas
form: Puna
Etymology: From Spanish puna, from Quechua puna.
Senses: examples: text: The overwhelming majority of maca roots are dried after harvest. In the cold, dry atmosphere of the puna the dried roots remain edible for several years. A minor proportion of the freshly harvested roots are roasted in huatias, earthen ovens […]
ref: 2009, M. Hermann, T. Bernet, The transition of maca from neglect to market prominence, page 18:
glosses: An alpine biological community in the central portion of the Andes in which short, coarse grass supports a Native American population.
Derived terms: taxonomic: Asthenes wyatti
word: puna canastero
taxonomic: Muscisaxicola juninensis
word: puna ground tyrant
taxonomic: Plegadis ridgwayi
word: puna ibis
taxonomic: Geositta punensis
word: puna miner
taxonomic: Anarhynchus alticola
word: puna plover
taxonomic: Gallinago andina
word: puna snipe
taxonomic: Scytalopus simonsi
word: puna tapaculo
taxonomic: Spatula puna
word: puna teal
taxonomic: Asthenes helleri
word: puna thistletail
taxonomic: Tinamotis pentlandii
word: puna tinamou
taxonomic: Sicalis lutea
word: puna yellow finch
virial
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Etymology: From Latin vīs (vīs has a hidden "r" that shows in forms such as the genitive plural, vīrium).
Senses: topics: engineering
mechanical-engineering
mechanics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Of or pertaining to the interactive forces between molecules or particles.
virial
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: virials
Etymology: From Latin vīs (vīs has a hidden "r" that shows in forms such as the genitive plural, vīrium).
Senses: examples: text: The quantity 1/2 Rr, or half the product of the attraction into the distance across which the attraction is exerted, is defined by Clausis [Prof. Clausis of Bonn] as the virial of the attraction. (In the case of pressure or repulsion, the virial is negative.)
ref: 1875, James Clerk Maxwell, “On the Dynamical Evidence of the Molecular Constitution of Bodies”, in Nature, 11 (1875), 357-359, 374-377:
topics: engineering
mechanical-engineering
mechanics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: One-half of the product of the stress of attraction or repulsion with the distance between two particles.
Derived terms: virial coefficient
virial theorem
virialize
virialization
Related terms: vis
vim
virial
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Senses: glosses: Misspelling of viral.
discalceation
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin discalceatus (“unshod”).
Senses: glosses: The act of removing footwear.
Word
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /wɜːd/
enpr: wûrd
ipa: /wɝd/
ipa: /wəɹd/
ipa: [wɚ(ɹ)d]
ipa: /wʌrd/
ipa: /wøːd/
note: Liverpool, fair–fur merger
ipa: /weːd/
note: Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
ipa: /wɛːd/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)d
homophone: word
homophone: whirred (wine–whine merger)
homophone: wared (fair–fur merger)
Forms: form: the Word
Etymology: Semantic loan from Koine Greek λόγος (lógos).
Senses: examples: text: In one of our first meetings, I explained to President Jiang that faith was a vital part of my life and that I studied the Word every day. I told him I planned to raise freedom of worship in our conversations. "I read the Bible," he replied, "but I don’t trust what it says."
ref: 2010, George W. Bush, Decision Points, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 428:
text: Mad Prophet: Repent! Repent and restore your souls to glory before it is too late! This great station has fallen, and all within shall fall with it!
Mad Prophet: For the blight that is humanity stains all within its path, and the only chance at redemption lies in the Word!
ref: 2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3: Omega (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Gozu District:
glosses: Scripture; the Bible.
examples: text: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
ref: John 1.1
text: And so the Word had breath, and wrought
⁠With human hands the creed of creeds
⁠In loveliness of perfect deeds,
More strong than all poetic thought; […]
ref: 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 56:
glosses: The creative word of God; Logos.
Related terms: Word of God
Word
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /wɜːd/
enpr: wûrd
ipa: /wɝd/
ipa: /wəɹd/
ipa: [wɚ(ɹ)d]
ipa: /wʌrd/
ipa: /wøːd/
note: Liverpool, fair–fur merger
ipa: /weːd/
note: Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
ipa: /wɛːd/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)d
homophone: word
homophone: whirred (wine–whine merger)
homophone: wared (fair–fur merger)
Etymology: Ellipsis of Microsoft Word; from word.
Senses: examples: text: You have to type that up in Word.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
software
glosses: Microsoft Word, word processor software developed by Microsoft.
no thank you
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Forms: form: no, thank you
form: NTY
Etymology: From earlier no, thank you.
Senses: examples: text: “Do you want all the strawberries we didn't eat?” “No thank you, I'm full.”
text: ‘Have some tea?’ ‘No, thank you.’
ref: 1970, Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat, London: Chatto & Windus, published 1979, →ISBN, page 357:
text: Fallon: David Blaine is eating nails right now. This is insane. This is...this is all real. This is crazy.
Blaine: You want some?
Fallon: No thank you, I don't want to eat...how? How?
ref: 2022 September 15, 9:20 from the start, in David Blaine Freaks Jimmy Out with a Terrifying Card and Nail Trick The Tonight Show (Comedy), spoken by David Blaine and Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, archived from the original on 16 Sep 2022:
synonyms: no thanks
thanks but no thanks
antonyms: yes please
glosses: A polite way of saying no in response to an offer.
declines
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: glosses: plural of decline
declines
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of decline
time off
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: examples: text: I've got some time off next week, so maybe we could meet up then?
text: Many feel they cannot take time off as this would only serve to make things financially worse, and so they plough on.
ref: 2024 January 10, Jo Kaye, “Greater support for the railway family”, in Railway Magazine, number 1000, page 50:
topics: business
qualifier: human resources
glosses: A period of time where one is not required to work.
Synonyms: holiday
vacation
Related terms: day off
tough luck
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: synonyms: word: ill luck
word: unluck
word: adverseness
word: adversity
word: bad luck
word: hard luck
word: ill luck
word: mischance
word: misfortune
word: mishap
word: misluck
word: tough luck
word: unfortunateness
word: unluck
word: unluckiness
glosses: Bad luck.
tough luck
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Senses: examples: text: Your car broke down? Well, tough luck, you're due at work in 15 minutes. Better run.
glosses: Bad luck (often an unsympathetic retort to someone who is suffering a misfortune).
the way to a man's heart is through his stomach
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Senses: examples: text: Who invented that mischievous falsehood that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach? How many a silly woman, taking it for truth, has let love slip out of the parlour, while she was busy in the kitchen.
ref: 1899, Jerome K. Jerome, “On the Preparation and Employment of Love Philtres”, in The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow:
text: I have often heard it said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but every time I ever seen men and women keep waiting for their eats it was always the frail sex that give the first yelp, and personally I've often wondered what would of happened in the trenches Over There if ladies had of been occupying them when the rations failed to show up.
ref: 1921, Ring Lardner Sr., chapter 1, in The Big Town:
glosses: Cooking food for a man is a good way to win his affections.
a miss is as good as a mile
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Senses: synonyms: almost doesn't count
close, but no cigar
close only counts in horseshoes
glosses: A failure remains a failure, regardless of how close to success one has actually come.
actions speak louder than words
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Pronunciation: enpr: ăk′shənz spēk loud′ər thăn′ wûrdz
enpr: -thən-
ipa: /ˈak.ʃənz spiːk ˈlaʊ̯d.ə ˌðan wɜːdz/
note: conservative
ipa: /ˈæk.ʃənz spiːk ˈlaʊ̯d.ə ˌðæn wɜːdz/
ipa: /-ðən-/
ipa: /ˈæk.ʃənz spik ˈlaʊ̯d.əɹ ˌðæn wɜɹdz/
ipa: /-ðən-/
ipa: /ˈæk.ʃənz spiːk ˈlæɔ̯d.ə ˌðæn wɜːdz/
ipa: /-ðən-/
ipa: /ˈɛk.ʃənz spiːk ˈlæʊ̯d.ə ˌðɛn wøːdz/
ipa: /ˈɛk.ʃənz spiːk ˈlæʊ̯d.ɐ ˌðɛn wøːdz/
ipa: /ˈɛk.ʃənz spiːk ˈlæʊ̯d.a ˌðɛn wøːdz/
ipa: /-ðən-/
ipa: /ˈak.ʃənz spik ˈlʌʊ̯d.əɹ ˌðan wʌɹdz/
ipa: /-ðən-/
ipa: /ˈak.ʃi̯onz spiːk ˈlawɖ.əʳ ˌd̪an wəːʳɖz/
ipa: /-d̪an-/
Senses: antonyms: the pen is mightier than the sword
glosses: It is more effective to act directly than to speak of action.
glosses: An individual's actions indicate their true sentiments more reliably than their claims do.
Related terms: by their fruits you will know them
facts speak louder than words
money talks, bullshit walks
suit the action to the word
talk is cheap
talk the talk
a fool and his money are soon parted
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Forms: form: a fool and his money
form: a fool and his money are easily parted
Etymology: First appears c. 1587 in the publication Defense of the Government of the Church of England as If they pay a penie or two pence more for the reddinesse of them..let them looke to that, a foole and his money is soone parted. An earlier 1573 quote by Thomas Tusser reads "A foole and his money be soone at debate: which after with sorow repents him too late."
Senses: glosses: It is easy to obtain money from foolish people.
glosses: It is difficult or unlikely that careless and irresponsible individuals will maintain their hold on acquired wealth.
Related terms: nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people
there's a sucker born every minute
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈbjuːti ɪz ɪn ðiː aɪ əv ðiː bɪˈhəʊldə/
Forms: form: beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
Etymology: First use appears c. 1630 or c. 1642.
Senses: examples: text: He is referring to the relativity of "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" an idea that became popular in the 18th cent.
ref: 1642, Charles Sorel, La Maison des Jeux, page 57:
glosses: Different people have different views on what is beautiful; beauty is subjective.
Related terms: beauty is in the eye of the beer holder
eye of the beholder
different strokes for different folks
fine words butter no parsnips
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Etymology: Attested as early as 1639 as faire words butter noe parsnips, alluding to the English habit of buttering foods to make them more palatable. It was found in the 17th century in various forms with the first and last word being different, thus allowing combinations of fine/fair/soft with parsnips/cabbage/fish/connie before becoming standardized in the form fine words doth butter no parsnips.
Senses: glosses: Nothing is achieved by empty words or flattery.
Related terms: actions speak louder than words
if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Etymology: Attributed to Harry S. Truman, coined in a July 1942 newspaper.
Senses: glosses: If you cannot handle the pressure, you should not remain in a position where you have to deal with it.
wikipedia: Harry S. Truman
free-thinker
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: free-thinkers
Senses: glosses: Alternative spelling of freethinker.
no time like the present
Language: English
Part of speech: proverb
Senses: glosses: Clipping of there's no time like the present.
vociferously
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Forms: form: more vociferously
form: most vociferously
Etymology: From vociferous + -ly.
Senses: examples: text: He won that night. All were for him, the lubras vociferously in his favour.
ref: 1931, Ion L. Idriess, Lasseter's Last Ride, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 131:
glosses: In a vociferous manner.
vociferousness
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Etymology: From vociferous + -ness.
Senses: glosses: The state of being vociferous.
account statement
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: account statements
Senses: glosses: A record of transactions and their effect on bank account balances
Synonyms: bank statement
statement of accounts
feeble-minded
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more feeble-minded
form: feebler-minded
form: most feeble-minded
form: feeblest-minded
Etymology: Etymology tree
Anglo-Norman feblebor.
Middle English feble
English feeble
English mind
English -ed
English minded
English feeble-minded
Senses: examples: text: Wading through history, he noted that some eugenicists believed that the “distinction between the fit and the unfit could be drawn along racial lines,” and others would define a person as “feeble-minded.”
ref: 2019 May 28, Ariane de Vogue, “Why Clarence Thomas wrote over a dozen pages on eugenics”, in CNN:
synonyms: irresolute
vacillating
imbecile
glosses: Weak in intellectual power; lacking firmness or constancy; lacking intelligence
Derived terms: feeb
Related terms: feeble-mindedly
feeble-mindedness
carbonaceous
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /kɑːbəˈneɪʃəs/
rhymes: -eɪʃəs
Forms: form: more carbonaceous
form: most carbonaceous
Etymology: From carbon + -aceous.
Senses: glosses: Of, relating to, rich in, or yielding carbon, or a compound of carbon.
Derived terms: carbonaceous chondrite
noncarbonaceous
semicarbonaceous
ultracarbonaceous
carbonaceous chondrite
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: carbonaceous chondrites
Senses: glosses: A chondrite which contains a high level of organic matter.
chondrite
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒndɹaɪt/
Forms: form: chondrites
Etymology: From Ancient Greek χόνδρος (khóndros, “grain”) + -ite.
Senses: glosses: A meteorite consisting of rock containing chondrules.
Derived terms: carbonaceous chondrite
chondritic
enstatite chondrite
E-type chondrite
Related terms: nonchondrite
achondrite
scenarios
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: /sɛˈnɑːɹi.əʊz/
Senses: glosses: plural of scenario