cstr/en-wiktionary-extracted-all huggingface dataset:
stomp
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /stɒmp/
ipa: /stɑmp/
rhymes: -ɒmp
Forms: form: stomps
form: stomping
form: stomped
form: stomped
Etymology: 1803, variant of stamp. Compare German stampfen (“to stomp”). More at stamp.
Senses: examples: text: The customer stomps toward the double doors, drawn in by hypnotic organ strains.
ref: 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 182:
text: Everybody clap your hands
Get up and dance
We're gonna stomp all night now
Everybody move your feet
Get up and feel the beat
We're gonna stomp all night now
ref: 2000, Mark Topham, Karl Twigg, Rita Campbell, “Stomp”, performed by Steps:
glosses: To trample heavily.
glosses: To stamp (one’s foot or feet).
glosses: To severely beat someone physically or figuratively.
topics: games
gaming
glosses: To completely defeat or overwhelm an enemy, to win by a large lead over someone
synonyms: tread
glosses: To crush grapes with one's feet to make wine
Synonyms: sense: to severely beat someone
word: crush
Derived terms: stomp clap hey
stomp for
stomp off
stomp on
stomp out
timestomp
waffle-stomp
waffle stomp
stomp
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /stɒmp/
ipa: /stɑmp/
rhymes: -ɒmp
Forms: form: stomps
Etymology: 1803, variant of stamp. Compare German stampfen (“to stomp”). More at stamp.
Senses: examples: text: She obliterated the cockroach with one stomp.
glosses: A deliberate heavy footfall; a stamp.
examples: text: Well, let's dance, well let's dance.
We'll do the twist, the stomp, the mashed potato too
Any old dance that you want to do
But let's dance.
ref: 1962, “Let's Dance”, Jim Lee (lyrics), performed by Chris Montez:
glosses: Any of various dances incorporating repeated heavy, rhythmic steps.
glosses: A style of jazz music for stomp dances of the early twentieth century.
examples: text: King Porter Stomp.
glosses: A piece of music in this style.
examples: text: We’re going to a stomp tonight.
glosses: A social gathering where dancing is the main activity; a dance.
Derived terms: comp stomp
curb stomp
stomp clap
stomp pad
stomp rocket
symbolical
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more symbolical
form: most symbolical
Etymology: From Latin symbolicus + -al.
Senses: glosses: Synonym of symbolic.
synonyms: word: symbolic
seriation
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: seriations
Etymology: From seriate + -ion.
Senses: glosses: the arrangement of things in a series
glosses: the relative dating of archaeological artifacts in a chronological order
Related terms: serial
seriate
seriatim
series
swungen
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: examples: E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io,
By priest and people sungen: - Ding dong! Merrily on High
glosses: Archaic form of swung.
sungen
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: examples: Ding dong! Merrily on High
E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io,
By priest and people sungen.
glosses: Alternative form of sung.
septo-
Language: English
Part of speech: prefix
Senses: glosses: septum
glosses: seven
Derived terms: sense: seven
word: septoic
sense: septum
word: septomarginal
sense: septum
word: septomaxillary
sense: septum
word: septonasal
sense: septum
word: septoplasty
sense: septum
word: septorhinoplasty
word: Septoria (1 or 2?)
septoic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Senses: topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: heptoic
heptoic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Senses: topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Formally derived from heptane or from heptoic acid.
heptoic acid
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: heptanoic acid
heptanoic acid
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
organic-chemistry
physical-sciences
glosses: the aliphatic carboxylic acid having seven carbon atoms, CH₃(CH₂)₅COOH; enanthic acid
Related terms: heptanoate
enanthic acid
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
organic-chemistry
physical-sciences
glosses: heptanoic acid
Derived terms: enanthate
heptanoate
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: heptanoates
Etymology: From heptanoic acid + -ate (“salt or ester”).
Senses: topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: Any salt or ester of heptanoic acid.
icehouse
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈaɪsˌhaʊs/
Forms: form: icehouses
Etymology: From ice + house.
Senses: glosses: A deep cellar or outdoor building used for the storage of ice or snow; sometimes also used to store food at low temperature.
glosses: An ice hockey rink.
topics: climatology
natural-sciences
antonyms: greenhouse
hothouse
glosses: A cold state in global climate.
glosses: A convenience store.
Icehouse
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Senses: glosses: a game of strategy played with pyramidal pieces
typist
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtaɪpɪst/
Forms: form: typists
Etymology: From type + -ist.
Senses: examples: text: During that Sunday 42 typists in the Traffic Manager's office at Glasgow were working long hours to produce the staff duty diagrams and new timesheets for the improvised Airdrie-Helensburgh and Coatbridge-Balloch services; ...
ref: 1961 March, “Talking of trains”, in Trains Illustrated, page 131:
glosses: A person who types, a clerical worker who writes letters, etc., using a typewriter.
Derived terms: audio-typist
copy typist
shorthand typist
touch-typist
Related terms: clerk
data entry
stenographer
tyrannize
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtɪɹ.ən.aɪz/
Forms: form: tyrannizes
form: tyrannizing
form: tyrannized
form: tyrannized
form: tyrannise
Etymology: From Middle French tyranniser, equivalent to tyranny + -ize.
Senses: examples: text: In truth he was the type of man who is spoilt by the submission of weaker people than himself. There are such men, who must either be tyrannized or be tyrants […]
ref: 1929, Edgar Wallace, “The Tyrant of the House”, in The Iron Grip, London: George Newnes:
text: 2001, Breena Clarke, “Roots of Success” (review of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker by A’Lelia Bundles), Chicago Tribune, 18 February, 2001,
I spent the first 18 years of my life tyrannized by a red-hot hair-pressing comb. Well, maybe tyrannized is an exaggeration. But covering your ears while hot grease sizzles nearby is not a young girl's idea of a fun time.
glosses: To oppress (someone).
examples: text: The prince tyrannized over his subjects.
text: What? will they tyrannize vpon the Church?
ref: 1594, Christopher Marlow[e], The Troublesome Raigne and Lamentable Death of Edward the Second, King of England: […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Henry Bell, […], published 1622, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
text: Ah, Rome! Well, well; I made thee miserable
What time I threw the people’s suffrages
On him that thus doth tyrannize o’er me.
ref: c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
text: […] lest som should perswade ye, Lords and Commons, that these arguments of lerned mens discouragement at this your order, are meer flourishes, and not reall, I could recount what I have seen and heard in other Countries, where this kind of inquisition tyrannizes […]
ref: 1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 24:
text: Parental affection, indeed, in many minds, is but a pretext to tyrannize where it can be done with impunity, for only good and wise men are content with the respect that will bear discussion.
ref: 1791 (date written), Mary Wollstonecraft, “Parental Affection”, in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1792, →OCLC, page 344:
text: General Secretary Xi is not destined to tyrannize inside and outside of China forever, unless we allow it.
ref: 2020, Michael Pompeo, “Communist China and the Free World’s Future”, in U. S. Department of State:
glosses: To rule as a tyrant.
tyrannise
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: tyrannises
form: tyrannising
form: tyrannised
form: tyrannised
Etymology: From Middle French tyranniser, equivalent to tyranny + -ise.
Senses: examples: text: And, above all, no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. Weak or strong, clever or simple, we are all brothers.
ref: 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:
glosses: Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of tyrannize.
Tyrol
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /tɪˈɹoʊl/
ipa: /ˈtɪɹˌoʊl/
ipa: /taɪˈɹoʊl/
ipa: /ˈtaɪ.ɹoʊl/
rhymes: -əʊl
Forms: form: Tirol
Etymology: Maybe ultimately from Celtic *tir (“land”), from Proto-Celtic *tīros from Proto-Indo-European *ters- (“dry”), i.e. "dry land".
Senses: glosses: A state in western Austria. Capital: Innsbruck.
glosses: A geographic region in Central Europe including the state of Tyrol in Austria and the regions of South Tyrol and Trentino in Italy.
Derived terms: South Tyrol
East Tyrol
Tyrolean
tyrolite
Tyrolean
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: /tɪˈɹoʊl.i.ən/
/taɪˈɹoʊl.i.ən/
Forms: form: Tirolean
form: Tyrolian
form: Tirolian
Senses: glosses: Of, from or relating to the state of Tyrol, Austria.
glosses: Of, from or relating to the autonomous province of South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
Derived terms: Tyrolean hat
Tyrolean runway
Tyrolean
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: /tɪˈɹoʊl.i.ən/
/taɪˈɹoʊl.i.ən/
Forms: form: Tyroleans
form: Tirolean
form: Tyrolian
form: Tirolian
Senses: glosses: A native or inhabitant of the state of Tyrol, Austria.
glosses: A native or inhabitant of the autonomous province of South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
glosses: A zipline.
Synonyms: Tyrolese
Tyrolese
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: /tɪɹ.əˈliz/
Forms: form: Tirolese
Etymology: From Tyrol + -ese.
Senses: glosses: Of, from or relating to the state of Tyrol, Austria.
glosses: Of, from or relating to the autonomous province of South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
Synonyms: Tyrolean
Tirolean
Tyrolian
Tirolian
Tyrolese
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: /tɪɹ.əˈliz/
Forms: form: Tyroleses
form: Tyrolese
form: Tirolese
Etymology: From Tyrol + -ese.
Senses: glosses: A native or inhabitant of the state of Tyrol, Austria.
glosses: A native or inhabitant of the autonomous province of South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
smurfs
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: enpr: smûfs
ipa: /smɜːfs/
enpr: smûrfs
ipa: /smɝfs/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)fs
Senses: glosses: plural of smurf
smurfs
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: smûfs
ipa: /smɜːfs/
enpr: smûrfs
ipa: /smɝfs/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)fs
Senses: glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of smurf
horsewhip
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: horsewhips
form: horse whip
form: horse-whip
Etymology: From horse + whip.
Senses: examples: text: He had told his wife that he would ask Fletcher to give up the borough, and that he would make that request with a horsewhip in his hand. It was too late now to say anything of the borough, but it might not be too late for the horsewhip. He had a great desire to make good that threat as far as the horsewhip was concerned,—having an idea that he would thus lower Fletcher in his wife’s eyes.
ref: 1876, Anthony Trollope, “The Silverbridge Election”, in The Prime Minister. […], volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 234:
glosses: A whip for use on horses.
Hypernyms: whip
horsewhip
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: horsewhips
form: horsewhipping
form: horsewhipped
form: horsewhipped
form: horse whip
form: horse-whip
Etymology: From horse + whip.
Senses: examples: text: [T]heir children were horsewhipped by the grieve when found trespassing; […]
ref: 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter VII, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC, page 110:
text: "Dangerous things, sir—dangerous things!" exclaimed Mr. Lintot, drawing a deep breath of air from the open window: "do you know, sir, Curl published a lampoon on Lord Hervey the other day, who said that he would have horsewhipped him if he could have found his way into the city. Only think, sir, of horsewhipping a publisher!" and Mr. Lintot grew pale with excess of horror.
ref: 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Alteration”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 22:
text: Of course he would be justified in horsewhipping him. But there were difficulties. A man is not horsewhipped simply because you wish to horsewhip him.
ref: 1876, Anthony Trollope, “The Silverbridge Election”, in The Prime Minister. […], volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 235:
text: [H]e horsewhipped Sam Brewer, the well-known Curzon Street moneylender, on Newmarket Heath. He nearly killed the man.
ref: 1927 March 5, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place”, in The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, published June 1927, →OCLC, page 277:
text: Ten years ago, with the secret out, they and South African judge James Harkess arrived back in London, with the husband/father saying he wanted to have Mr Clark horsewhipped.
ref: 2004 June 12, Vikram Dodd, “Coven's footnote to Clark diaries”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Sep 2014:
glosses: To flog or lash (someone or something) with a horsewhip.
Derived terms: horsewhipper
hilltop
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈhɪltɒp/
Forms: form: hilltops
Etymology: From hill + top.
Senses: examples: text: The territory should be small enough to be surveyed in its entirety from a hilltop.
ref: 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.21:
text: After crossing the flatlands Lincoln, with its magnificent hilltop cathedral, comes into view before we pull into the station, with its lovely Tudor revival-style buildings.
ref: 2024 October 30, Paul Bigland, “The heat is on... and will the railway fray?”, in RAIL, number 1021, page 48:
glosses: The peak or crest of a hill.
Derived terms: hilltopper
hilltop youth
Kayang Hilltop
tinker's damn
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tinker's dam
form: tinker's darn
Etymology: Merriam-Webster finds tinker's damn in print since 1839 and suggests that it derives from tinkers' reputation for swearing. The spelling tinker's dam is attested since 1858, and phrases.org.uk notes the disagreement over whether the term originated from tinkers' swearing or instead from their use of small, single-use dams to hold solder. The latter explanation has been offered since 1877; on the other hand, the phrase tinker's curse is attested since 1824 and the phrase worth a tinker's cuss is attested since 1854, for which reason Etymonline considers the "dam" derivation an "ingeniously elaborate but baseless" invention of later writers.
Senses: examples: text: […] is not worth (to use expression excited by honest indignation) a tinker's damn : and if Mrs. Chatterly has no other salvo for her precious reputation. […]
ref: 1 May 1823, Mrs Chatterly, Anon in Ramblers Magazine, Vol 2 No 5, p. 216
text: So now, stimulated by some further experience with that world which does not care a tinker’s damn whether a verb agrees with its subject in number and person or not, she permitted the taxicab to jounce her smile out of all semblance to anything calmly superior and into a very unschoolmarmish grin.
ref: 1921, Harvey Wickham, “Introducing the Garden of Eden”, in The Clue of the Primrose Petal, New York, N.Y.: Edward J. Clode, page 9:
text: […] and I wouldn't sell you a tinker's damn.
ref: 2012, Django Unchained:
glosses: An insignificant or worthless amount or thing.
Synonyms: word: tinker's cuss
word: tinker's toot
Derived terms: not give a tinker's damn
tinker's cuss
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: glosses: A tinker's damn.
Synonyms: sense: lack of interest or concern
word: I don't give a rat's arse
sense: lack of interest or concern
word: I don't give a monkey's
sense: lack of interest or concern
word: I don't give a tinker's
sense: lack of interest or concern
word: I don't give a shit
sense: lack of interest or concern
word: fuck
sense: lack of interest or concern
word: I don't give a fig
Derived terms: english: expressing lack of interest
translation: expressing lack of interest
word: not give a tinker's cuss
word: concern
give a tinker's damn
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: gives a tinker's damn
form: giving a tinker's damn
form: gave a tinker's damn
form: given a tinker's damn
Senses: examples: text: I don't give a tinker's damn about your opinions, I'm doing it my way.
synonyms: word: becare
word: bother
word: care
word: concern oneself
word: mind
word: reck
word: trouble oneself
word: worry
glosses: To be interested in something; to give a shit
raw_tags: in negative constructions
give a tinker's cuss
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: gives a tinker's cuss
form: giving a tinker's cuss
form: gave a tinker's cuss
form: given a tinker's cuss
Senses: examples: text: I don't give a tinker's cuss about your opinions, I'm doing it my way.
synonyms: word: becare
word: bother
word: care
word: concern oneself
word: mind
word: reck
word: trouble oneself
word: worry
glosses: to be interested in something; to give a shit
raw_tags: in negative constructions
plates
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /pleɪts/
rhymes: -eɪts
Senses: glosses: plural of plate
plates
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /pleɪts/
rhymes: -eɪts
Senses: glosses: third-person singular simple present indicative of plate
plates
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /pleɪts/
rhymes: -eɪts
Senses: glosses: Synonym of number plate.
synonyms: word: plate
illeism
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɪliːɪzəm/
ipa: /ˈɪliɪzəm/
Forms: form: illeisms
Etymology: From Latin ille (“that man; he”) + -ism, modelled on egoism.
Senses: examples: text: […] "[I]lleism with a difference" occurs when a character, speaking in the first person, refers to himself by name (not simply by a pronoun, which is illeism proper). [William] Sh[akespeare] makes significant use of the device in only four "middle plays." […] This sort of illeism enriches the dramatic context […]
ref: 2002, Lewis Walker, comp., “General Works (Items 0067–1154)”, in Shakespeare and the Classical Tradition: An Annotated Bibliography 1961–1991, New York, N.Y.; London: Routledge, →ISBN, page 300:
text: In origin, the device of ‘illeism’ is a joint legacy to Elizabethan drama of the native English medieval stage tradition and of the Senecan translations, and one already used before [William] Shakespeare by [Thomas] Kyd, [George] Peele, and [Christopher] Marlowe. Also, this ‘illeism’ was a mannerism of the historical Julius Caesar as in evidence in his Commentaries; […]
ref: 2005, S. Viswanathan, “‘Illeism with a Difference’ in Certain Middle Plays”, in Exploring Shakespeare: The Dynamics of Playmaking, New Delhi: Orient Longman, →ISBN, page 5, footnote 12:
text: [F]or some reason, illeism is especially attractive to professional sports players. The award for the best display of illeism has to go to baseball player Rickey Henderson, who left this message on his manager's voice-mail: "Kevin, this is Rickey, calling on behalf of Rickey" (quoted in Sports Illustrated).
ref: 2007, Anu Garg, “Words to Describe People: Insults”, in The Dord, the Diglot, and an Avocado or Two: The Hidden Lives and Strange Origins of Words, New York, N.Y.: Plume Book, →ISBN:
text: It seems likely that Isabella's 'how she treads the air' is the kind of illeism that Franciscus uses later in this scene at l[ine] 216: 'He handles him like a feather. Hey!' […] It should be noticed that some editors are confused by Franciscus's illeism as well, and give his line to Lollio.
ref: 2007, Douglas Bruster, “The Changeling [1653; by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley]”, in Gary Taylor, John Lavagnino, editors, Thomas Middleton and Early Modern Textual Culture: A Companion to the Collected Works, Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN, annotation of Act IV, scene iii, line 107, page 1100, column 2:
topics: human-sciences
linguistics
sciences
glosses: The practice of (excessively) referring to oneself in the third person.
wikipedia: Commentarii de Bello Gallico
Dodd, Mead and Company
Farnese collection
Julius Caesar
Derived terms: illeist
Related terms: illeity
nosism
tuism
illeist
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɪliɪst/
Forms: form: illeists
Etymology: From Latin ille (“that man; he”) + -ist.
Senses: glosses: Someone who refers to themselves in the third person.
illeist
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɪliɪst/
Forms: form: more illeist
form: most illeist
Etymology: From Latin ille (“that man; he”) + -ist.
Senses: glosses: Involving illeism.
Related terms: illeity
illeism
gargle
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɡɑːɡəl/
ipa: /ˈɡɑɹɡəl/
ipa: /ˈɡɐːɡəl/
rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)ɡəl
homophone: goggle (non-rhotic, father-bother merger)
Forms: form: gargles
form: gargling
form: gargled
form: gargled
Etymology: From French gargouiller (“to gargle”), from Old French gargouille, gargole (“gutter, throat”). Compare gargoyle and Spanish garganta. Displaced non-native Middle English gargargisen (“to gargle”) from Latin, and native Old English swillan (“to gargle”) (ancestor of English swill).
Senses: examples: text: She hated the poisoned feeling in her throat, and no matter how often she gargled she felt unclean and disgusting.
ref: 1915 October, Willa Sibert Cather, chapter V, in The Song of the Lark, Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton Mifflin Company […], →OCLC, part III (Stupid Faces), page 285:
glosses: To clean one's mouth by holding water or some other liquid in the back of the mouth and blowing air out from the lungs.
glosses: To make a sound like the one made while gargling.
examples: text: They don't gargle their throats with anything stronger than coffee at this tavern.
ref: 1893, Gilbert Parker, Mrs. Falchion:
glosses: To clean a specific part of the body by gargling (almost always throat or mouth).
examples: text: Every morning he gargled a little cheap Scotch.
glosses: To use (a liquid) for purposes of cleaning one's mouth or throat by gargling.
examples: text: I'd like to gargle his marbles.
ref: 2004 December 1, “Stupid Spoiled Whore Video Playset”, in South Park, season 8, episode 12:
glosses: To perform oral sex on (a person or genitals).
Derived terms: Garglegate
gargler
ungargled
gargle
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɡɑːɡəl/
ipa: /ˈɡɑɹɡəl/
ipa: /ˈɡɐːɡəl/
rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)ɡəl
homophone: goggle (non-rhotic, father-bother merger)
Forms: form: gargles
Etymology: From French gargouiller (“to gargle”), from Old French gargouille, gargole (“gutter, throat”). Compare gargoyle and Spanish garganta. Displaced non-native Middle English gargargisen (“to gargle”) from Latin, and native Old English swillan (“to gargle”) (ancestor of English swill).
Senses: examples: text: But the case was pressing, and the nearest medical practitioner was sent for. On examining the throat, he expressed his desire that a physician should be called in, and accordingly a gentleman, duly authorized, made his appearance, and prescribed gargles and diluents secundem artem.
ref: 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXIV, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 230-231:
text: Take of borax 1 drm., tinc. of myrrh 1/2 oz., clarified honey 1 oz., rose or distilled water, 4 oz.; mix. To be used as a gargle or mouth wash in sore mouth or affection of the gums.
ref: 1861, Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets:
glosses: A liquid used for gargling.
glosses: The sound or act of gargling.
glosses: Lager or other alcoholic drink.
Synonyms: mouthwash
Derived terms: gargle-factory
gargle
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɡɑːɡəl/
ipa: /ˈɡɑɹɡəl/
ipa: /ˈɡɐːɡəl/
rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)ɡəl
homophone: goggle (non-rhotic, father-bother merger)
Forms: form: gargles
Senses: glosses: Obsolete form of gargoyle.
throw a spanner in the works
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: throws a spanner in the works
form: throwing a spanner in the works
form: threw a spanner in the works
form: thrown a spanner in the works
form: throw a spanner into the works
Senses: examples: text: Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he had expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.
synonyms: word: throw a wrench in the works
word: throw a wrench in the gears
word: throw a monkey wrench in the works
word: gum up the works
glosses: To introduce a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.
Related terms: word: throw a wrench in the works
word: put a spoke in someone's wheel
word: monkey wrench
word: spanner in the works
flustered
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more flustered
form: most flustered
Senses: examples: text: The speaker became quite flustered when she dropped all her notes.
text: Behind the scenes, Truss's camp feel positive too—claiming that while she stayed calm Sunak was “flustered”.
ref: 2022 July 26, “Tory leadership: Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss in fiercest clash yet over tax”, in BBC News:
text: I ring her bell and I’m buzzed in. My Spanish teacher, Miss P – Ali – is standing in the doorway, looking flustered.
ref: 2023 July 8, Joe Gibson, “‘I can’t believe Miss P is naked in front of me’: the affair with a teacher that changed my life”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
synonyms: fluttered
glosses: Confused, befuddled, in a state of panic by having become overwrought with confusion.
glosses: Emotionally overwhelmed or visibly embarrassed, especially in a sexual or romantic context.
glosses: Emotionally overwhelmed or visibly embarrassed, especially in a sexual or romantic context.
Turned on, horny.
Derived terms: flusteredly
flusteredness
flustrated
unflustered
flustered
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: glosses: simple past and past participle of fluster
Related terms: fluster
catch off guard
tyiyn
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tyiyns
form: tyiyn
Senses: glosses: A unit of currency in Kyrgyzstan, one hundredth of a som.
tylectomy
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: -ɛktəmi
Forms: form: tylectomies
Senses: topics: medicine
sciences
surgery
glosses: The surgical removal of a tumour or cyst, especially from the breast; a lumpectomy. It was used recently to represent removing active retinoblastoma tumors from the eye.
Tylenol
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtaɪləˌnɑl/
Etymology: Clipping of para-acetylaminophenol.
Senses: examples: text: Top U.S. health officials urged pregnant women not to use acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, claiming it could cause autism, though studies have been inconclusive.
ref: 2025 September 22, Azeen Ghorayshi, “Trump Issues Warning Based on Unproven Link Between Tylenol and Autism”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 23 Sep 2025:
topics: medicine
pharmacology
sciences
glosses: A brand of acetaminophen (“paracetamol”).
Coordinate terms: Aspirin
Derived terms: tylenol
Tylenol
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtaɪləˌnɑl/
Forms: form: Tylenols
Etymology: Clipping of para-acetylaminophenol.
Senses: glosses: Alternative form of tylenol (genericized trademark) (the pharmaceutical drug acetaminophen (“paracetamol”))
glosses: Alternative form of tylenol (a tablet containing this drug)
Synonyms: word: acetaminophen
word: paracetamol
gelcap
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈd͡ʒɛlˌkæp/
Forms: form: gelcaps
Etymology: clipping of gelatin + capsule
Senses: glosses: a pill where the medicine is held inside gelatin capsules
tylose
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tyloses
Senses: glosses: A balloon-like growth in a plant cavity; a tylosis.
tylosis
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tyloses
Etymology: From tylo- + -osis.
Senses: glosses: a thickening of the skin, especially of the eyelids
glosses: a balloonlike growth in a plant cavity; a tylose
tylosin
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tylosins
Senses: glosses: A veterinary antibiotic obtained from the actinomycete Streptomyces fradiae.
tymbal
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tymbals
form: tymbales
Etymology: Variant of timbale, from French timbale.
Senses: topics: biology
entomology
natural-sciences
glosses: One of a pair of specialised sound-producing structures located below each side of the anterior abdominal region of various species of cicada.
tymbal
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: tymbals
Senses: glosses: Alternative spelling of timbal.
timbal
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: timbale
Forms: form: timbals
form: tymbal
Etymology: Probably from French timbale.
Senses: topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: A kettledrum.
timbale
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: timbales
Etymology: From French timbale.
Senses: glosses: A drum-shaped mould used to cook food.
synonyms: timpano
timballo
glosses: A dish of food cooked in such a mould.
synonyms: timpano
timballo
glosses: A dish of food cooked in such a mould.
A dish of poultry or fish pounded and mixed with egg white, cream, etc., poured into a mould.
timbale
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: timbales
Etymology: Borrowed from Spanish timbal, through the plural timbales.
Senses: glosses: A type of resonant drum, similar to a timpani but higher in pitch, used in Latin music.
for Pete's sake
Language: English
Part of speech: intj
Etymology: Euphemistic variant of for Christ's sake, for God's sake; "Pete" either invoking Saint Peter or influenced by for pity's sake.
Senses: examples: text: For Pete's sake, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!
synonyms: word: FFS
word: for Christ's sake
word: for cripes' sake
word: for crying in the beer
word: for crying out loud
word: for fucking out loud
word: for fuck's sake
word: for Fuck's sake
word: for God's sake
word: for goodness' sake
word: for heaven's sake
word: for mercy's sake
word: for Pete's sake
word: for pity's sake
word: for the love of all that is holy
word: for the love of Betsy
word: for the love of God
word: for the love of Mike
word: for the love of fuck
word: for the love of Fuck
glosses: Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance
glosses: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see for, Pete, sake.
Y2K bug
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Senses: glosses: the millennium bug
for goodness' sake
Language: English
Part of speech: prep_phrase
Pronunciation: ipa: /fɔɹ ˈɡʊdnəs seɪk/
ipa: /fə ˈɡʊdnəs seɪk/
Forms: form: for goodness sake
Etymology: A Minced version of for God's sake.
Senses: examples: text: For goodness' sake, get off the computer! You've been on there for ages!
text: You're 47, for goodness' sake. Too old for this!
ref: 2015 April 28, Tracey Spicer, “Taming tiny terrors: How to have a happy family holiday”, in The Press:
text: She's 1.98m for goodness sake! How can you not find her!?
ref: 2017 May 1, Dana Johannsen, “What happens when you watch six hours of ANZ Premiership netball?”, in New Zealand Herald:
glosses: Used to express frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
examples: text: For goodness' sake, I spelled that word correctly. I never knew I could do that.
text: No salesman is ever a bore if he can make us throw up our hands and say, "Well, for goodness' sake! What do you know about that ?" Yes, surprise is the thing.
ref: 1921, Printers' Ink Monthly - Volumes 3-4, page 42:
text: “For goodness' sake,” Einstein exclaimed. “So that was the famous caviar!" He paused for a moment, then added, "Well, if you offer gourmet food to peasants like me, you know they won't appreciate it."
ref: 2008, Walter Isaacson, Einstein: His Life and Universe, →ISBN:
text: For goodness' sake, we go to Spain for a week and get new next-door neighbors! How lovely!
ref: 2014, Louise Millar, The Hidden Girl: A Novel, →ISBN, page 179:
text: I thought, for goodness' sake, fancy them being the same!
ref: 2016 November 24, Te Ahua Maitland, “Woman celebrating 100th birthday receives 50 double-ups on cards”, in The Southland Times:
glosses: Used to express surprise or amazement.
examples: text: They'll try all they can to deceive and to cheat, But for goodness sake don't say I told you.
ref: 1888, Harrison and Morton, The Tippecanoe Campaign Songster:
text: Well, for goodness sake let me know if I can do anything.
ref: 2012 -, Hazel Holt, No Cure for Death, →ISBN:
text: I am not normally a stickler for tradition – I had a baby out of wedlock, for goodness sake – but for some reason I want Harry to be my husband.
ref: 2013 August 26, Bryony Gordon, “'I am not normally a stickler for tradition – I had a baby out of wedlock, for goodness sake'”, in The Telegraph:
text: But for goodness sake, please review the plan and come up with detail that distinguishes each groups cultural identity and is something that the players can own.
ref: 2017 May 9, “Time for former champions to start again”, in Taranaki Daily News:
text: These young women are busy, for goodness' sake, tired and overworked, stressed, trying to find time for themselves in days that have too little.
ref: 2017 May 14, Susan Estrich, “Mothers and memories”, in The Exponent Telegram:
glosses: Used for emphasis
Synonyms: word: for God's sake
word: for Christ's sake
word: Jesus Christ!
word: Christ almighty!
word: for fuck's sake
word: FFS
word: for crying out loud
word: for Pete's sake
word: for the love of God
concha
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkɒŋ.kə/
ipa: /ˈkɑŋ.kə/
rhymes: (Received Pronunciation) -ɒŋkə
rhymes: (General American) -ɑŋkə
Forms: form: conchae
form: conchæ
Etymology: Borrowed from Late Latin concha (“a mussel shell”). Doublet of conch.
Senses: examples: text: In Virginia, gone are the weekly outings to Walmart to stock up on provisions; to El Ranchito, the Mexican convenience store, to buy shell-shaped concha pastries; and to the laundromat to machine wash heavily soiled garments.
ref: 2020 October 19, Miriam Jordan, “Migrant Workers Restricted to Farms Under One Grower’s Virus Lockdown”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 19 Oct 2020:
glosses: Any shell-shaped structure
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
glosses: Any shell-shaped structure:
The deepest indentation of the cartilage of the human ear, attaching to the mastoid bone and leading to its central opening.
topics: anatomy
medicine
sciences
glosses: Any shell-shaped structure:
Alternative form of nasal concha.
topics: architecture
glosses: An apse, or the plain semidome of an apse.
Derived terms: conchal
inferior concha
inferior nasal concha
superior nasal concha
concha
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkɒŋ.kə/
ipa: /ˈkɑŋ.kə/
rhymes: (Received Pronunciation) -ɒŋkə
rhymes: (General American) -ɑŋkə
Senses: glosses: Alternative form of kankar.
concha
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkɒŋ.kə/
ipa: /ˈkɑŋ.kə/
rhymes: (Received Pronunciation) -ɒŋkə
rhymes: (General American) -ɑŋkə
Forms: form: conchas
Senses: glosses: Alternative form of concho (“type of ornament”).
flashback
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈflæʃ.bæk/
Forms: form: flashbacks
Etymology: From flash + back.
Senses: topics: authorship
broadcasting
communications
film
journalism
literature
media
publishing
television
writing
synonyms: analepsis
glosses: A dramatic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological flow of a narrative.
topics: human-sciences
psychology
sciences
coordinate_terms: reminiscence
glosses: A vivid mental image of a past trauma or other sensation that the trauma is happening in the present, especially one that recurs.
examples: text: Maude Lebowski: What do you do for recreation? / The Dude: Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback.
ref: 1998, Joel and Ethan Coen, The Big Lebowski (motion picture):
glosses: A similar recurrence of the effects of a hallucinogenic drug.
glosses: The condition of the flame propagating down the hose of an oxy-fuel welding system.
examples: text: As noted, that method provides limited support for multi-table flashbacks.
ref: 2004, Kevin Loney, Oracle Database 10g The Complete Reference, page 497:
text: […] less used and specialized types of queries, including composite queries, hierarchical queries, version flashbacks, and parallel queries.
ref: 2004, Gavin J. T. Powell, Carol McCullough-Dieter, Oracle SQL: Jumpstart with Examples, page xxv:
topics: computing
databases
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: A query that operates against data from an earlier time, before it was changed.
Derived terms: sense: flame
word: flashback arrestor
word: antiflashback
word: Vietnam flashback
flashback
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈflæʃ.bæk/
Forms: form: flashbacks
form: flashbacking
form: flashbacked
form: flashbacked
Etymology: From flash + back.
Senses: glosses: To undergo a flashback; to experience a vivid mental image from the past.
Synonyms: flash back
Related terms: flashforward
inside-the-park homer
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: inside-the-park homers
Senses: topics: ball-games
baseball
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A home run that does not leave the stadium.
dimmer
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈdɪmɚ/
ipa: /ˈdɪmə(ɹ)/
rhymes: -ɪmə(ɹ)
Forms: form: dimmers
Etymology: From dim (verb) + -er.
Senses: glosses: A rheostat that is used to vary the intensity of a domestic electric light
glosses: A switch used to select between the low and high headlamp beam on a road vehicle. (usually as "dimmer switch", primarily in North America; elsewhere "dipswitch" or "dipper switch")
Related terms: dimmer switch
dipswitch
dipper
dimmer
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈdɪmɚ/
ipa: /ˈdɪmə(ɹ)/
rhymes: -ɪmə(ɹ)
Etymology: From dim (adjective) + -er.
Senses: glosses: comparative form of dim: more dim
xerosere
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: xeroseres
Senses: topics: biology
ecology
natural-sciences
glosses: The succession of ecological communities which originated in an extremely dry habitat such as a desert or sand dunes.
Related terms: xerarch
two a penny
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Senses: glosses: very common; cheap
Related terms: word: common as muck
word: bog standard
word: a dime a dozen
wwwww
Language: English
Part of speech: phrase
Forms: form: W⁵
form: WWWWW
Senses: topics: mathematics
sciences
glosses: Abbreviation of which was what we/was wanted (used at the end of a proof).
Synonyms: alt: quod erat demonstrandum
word: QED
roman: quod erat demonstrandum
alt: quod erat demonstrandum
word: Q.E.D.
roman: quod erat demonstrandum
alt: quod erat demonstrandum
word: Q. E. D.
diocesan
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /dʌɪˈɒsɪsən/
ipa: /daɪˈɑsɪsən/
Etymology: From Middle French diocesain.
Senses: examples: text: Diocesan bureaucracies were both symptom and cause of this.
ref: 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 378:
glosses: Pertaining to a diocese.
Synonyms: diocesian
Derived terms: inter-diocesan
nondiocesan
diocesan
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /dʌɪˈɒsɪsən/
ipa: /daɪˈɑsɪsən/
Forms: form: diocesans
Etymology: From Middle French diocesain.
Senses: glosses: The bishop of a diocese.
examples: text: The bishop of Chartres indignantly informed the king that his diocesans were dying like flies and eating grass like sheep, and indeed both the king and Fleury got a fright when their coaches were stopped in the Paris countryside by peasants crying out ‘Famine! Bread!’ rather than ‘Vive le Roi!’
ref: 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 121:
glosses: An inhabitant of a diocese.
archdiocese
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɑːtʃˈdaɪ.ə.sɪs/
ipa: /-siːz/
ipa: /ˌɑɹt͡ʃˈdaɪəsɪs/
ipa: /-siːz/
Forms: form: archdioceses
form: ad.
Etymology: Ultimately from Medieval Latin archdiocesis, variant of archidioecēsis, from archi- (“chief, main”) + Late Latin dioecēsis, q.v., equivalent to arch- + diocese.
Senses: topics: Christianity
glosses: A group of dioceses administered by an archbishop
Related terms: archbishop
archdiocesan
archdiocesan
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɑɹt͡ʃˌdaɪˈɑsɪsən/
Etymology: From archdiocese + -an.
Senses: topics: ecclesiastical
lifestyle
religion
glosses: Of or relating to an archdiocese.
babalaas
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: babalaases
form: babbelas
Etymology: Borrowed from Afrikaans babalaas, from Zulu ibhabhalazi.
Senses: glosses: A very bad hangover.
funtastic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: /fʌnˈtæstɪk/
Forms: form: more funtastic
form: most funtastic
Etymology: Blend of fun + fantastic
Senses: examples: text: But mom! Can't I go to the fair? The others say it will be funtastic!
text: The game becomes more “funtastic” if the teacher not only calls out the name of a line or space but adds a novel way of getting there or something novel to do once the players arrive at the designated line or space.
ref: 1960, Eloise M. Jaeger, Harry Leighton, Teaching of Tennis: For School and Recreation Programs, Burgess Publishing, page 58:
text: Comedy: The comedy scene here is funtastic – check out Club Jongleurs and the Leicester Comedy Festival which is the biggest in Britain, attracting over 40,000 people a year.
ref: 2005, Ruth Bushi, Dan Jones, Anthony Leyton, The Push Guide to Which University 2006, Nelson Thomses, →ISBN, page 336:
text: I turned thirteen the week after school got out (and had a slumber party that even Fiona called “oh-so funtastic”).
ref: 2009, Sydney Salter, Jungle Crossing, Harcourt, →ISBN, pages 16–17:
glosses: Funly fantastic.
itchy feet
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: glosses: A strong desire to travel; wanderlust.
glosses: Restlessness.
Synonyms: sense: strong desire to travel
word: travel bug
sense: strong desire to travel
word: wanderlust
inflammatory
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɪnˈflæmət(ə)ɹi/
ipa: /ɪnˈflæməˌtɔɹi/
Forms: form: more inflammatory
form: most inflammatory
Etymology: From inflame + -atory.
Senses: examples: text: Sam posted an inflammatory comment to the newsgroup.
text: Even in MAGA circles, Loomer is regarded as a loose cannon who loves to get attention from inflammatory comments that undermine the Republican Party.
ref: 2024 September 13, Jeet Heer, “How Donald Trump Got Loomered”, in The Nation:
glosses: Tending to inflame or provoke somebody.
examples: text: As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels. The reason plaque forms isn’t entirely known, but it seems to be related to high levels of cholesterol inducing an inflammatory response, which can also attract and trap more cellular debris over time.
ref: 2013 July-August, Stephen P. Lownie, David M. Pelz, “Stents to Prevent Stroke”, in American Scientist:
glosses: Relating to, causing, or caused by inflammation.
Derived terms: angioinflammatory
antiinflammatory
anti-inflammatory
autoinflammatory
counterinflammatory
fibroinflammatory
hyperinflammatory
hypoinflammatory
immunoinflammatory
inflammasome
inflammatorily
inflammatoriness
inflammatory bowel disease
infliximab
microinflammatory
necroinflammatory
neuroinflammatory
noninflammatory
oncoinflammatory
parainflammatory
pelvic inflammatory disease
pelvic inflammatory disorder
postinflammatory
preinflammatory
proinflammatory
pro-inflammatory
subinflammatory
thromboinflammatory
uninflammatory
inflammatory
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɪnˈflæmət(ə)ɹi/
ipa: /ɪnˈflæməˌtɔɹi/
Forms: form: inflammatories
Etymology: From inflame + -atory.
Senses: glosses: Any material that causes inflammation
cakewalk
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkeɪk.wɔk/
Forms: form: cakewalks
Etymology: From cake + walk. Originally an African-American form of dance and music that developed after the Civil War, later popularised by minstrel shows. It was danced at social events, with the best dancers often receiving cake as a prize. It derives from dance competitions by plantation slaves in which the style of dance lampooned the ballroom dances of the slaveowners. Slaveowners seem to have found the competitions entertaining and the habit of offering cake may originate from this period. The name is sometimes also applied to the dance's precursor on the plantations. Doing the cakewalk well required virtuosity, and a major esthetic aspect of that virtuosity was the apparent ease with which the dance was performed. This gave rise to the idiom as easy as a cakewalk, which in turn led to the sense of cakewalk as something that is easy.
See the linked Wikipedia article for more.
Senses: glosses: A contest in which cake was offered for the best dancers.
topics: entertainment
lifestyle
music
glosses: The style of music associated with such a contest.
qualifier: performing arts
glosses: The dance, or strutting style of dance, associated with such a contest.
examples: text: Just as common as she is, a cakewalk sort of a name.
ref: 1899, Willa Cather, The Westbound Train:
text: Nah. The first step’s a cakewalk. We can beat the hell out of a developing infant, in any case.
ref: 1995, Richard Powers, Galatea 2.2, New York, N.Y.: Farrar Straus Giroux, →ISBN, page 88:
synonyms: word: bagatelle
word: breeze
word: cake and gingerbread
word: cakewalk
word: child's play
word: cinch
word: doddle
word: doss
word: duck soup
word: easy pickings
word: gimme
word: layup
word: low-hanging fruit
word: no-brainer
word: open and shut case
word: picnic
word: piece of cake
word: piece of piss
word: plain sailing
word: plane sailing
word: slam dunk
word: snap
word: walk in the park
word: walkover
glosses: Something that is easy or simple, or that does not present a great challenge.
cakewalk
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈkeɪk.wɔk/
Forms: form: cakewalks
form: cakewalking
form: cakewalked
form: cakewalked
Etymology: From cake + walk. Originally an African-American form of dance and music that developed after the Civil War, later popularised by minstrel shows. It was danced at social events, with the best dancers often receiving cake as a prize. It derives from dance competitions by plantation slaves in which the style of dance lampooned the ballroom dances of the slaveowners. Slaveowners seem to have found the competitions entertaining and the habit of offering cake may originate from this period. The name is sometimes also applied to the dance's precursor on the plantations. Doing the cakewalk well required virtuosity, and a major esthetic aspect of that virtuosity was the apparent ease with which the dance was performed. This gave rise to the idiom as easy as a cakewalk, which in turn led to the sense of cakewalk as something that is easy.
See the linked Wikipedia article for more.
Senses: glosses: To perform the cakewalk dance.
anacusis
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Etymology: From an- + -acusis.
Senses: topics: medicine
sciences
glosses: Total deafness.
Synonyms: cophosis