cstr/en-wiktionary-extracted-all huggingface dataset:
scandal
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈskændəl/
rhymes: -ændəl
Forms: form: scandals
form: scandaling
form: scandalling
form: scandaled
form: scandaled
form: scandalled
form: scandalled
Etymology: From Middle French scandale (“indignation caused by misconduct or defamatory speech”), from Ecclesiastical Latin scandalum (“that on which one trips, cause of offense”, literally “stumbling block”), from Ancient Greek σκάνδαλον (skándalon, “a trap laid for an enemy, a cause of moral stumbling”), from Proto-Indo-European *skand- (“to jump”). Cognate with Latin scandō (“to climb”). First attested from Old Northern French escandle, but the modern word is a reborrowing. Doublet, via Old French esclandre, of slander.
Sense evolution from "cause of stumbling, that which causes one to sin, stumbling block" to "discredit to reputation, that which brings shame, thing of disgrace" is possibly due to early influence from other similar sounding words for infamy and disgrace (compare Old English scand (“ignominity, scandal, disgraceful thing”), Old High German scanda (“ignominy, disgrace”), Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌰 (skanda, “shame, disgrace”)). See shand, shend, shonda.
Senses: examples: text: I do fawn on men and hug them hard
 And after scandal them.
ref: 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
glosses: To defame; to slander.
examples: text: A propensity to scandal may partly proceed from an inability to distinguish the proper objects of censure
ref: 1855, Robert Potts, Liber Cantabrigiensis:
glosses: To scandalize; to offend.
legacy
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɛɡəsi/
note: some US dialects
ipa: /ˈleɪɡəsi/
ipa: /ˈleɡəsi/
Forms: form: legacies
Etymology: From Middle English legacie, from Old French legacie and Medieval Latin lēgātia, from Latin lēgātum.
Senses: topics: law
glosses: Money or property bequeathed to someone in a will.
examples: text: John Muir left as his legacy an enduring spirit of respect for the environment.
text: During the first year or so of British Railways, some of the simpler and more obvious inter-regional transfers of outlying sections were effected, such as those of the London, Tilbury & Southend Railway from the London Midland Region to the Eastern Region; the South Wales lines of the former L.M.S.R. to the Western Region; the Carlisle-Silloth branch (an L.N.E.R. legacy of a North British "border raid") to the London Midland, and so on.
ref: 1951 April, D. S. Barrie, “British Railways: A Survey, 1948-1950”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 224:
text: And judging by how well the progressive and youth-favoured party did, many observers suspect this latest round of legal charges are a response to Future Forward's commitment to undo the legacy of military rule and undertake democratic reforms.
ref: 2019 April 6, Caleb Quinley, “Thailand: Anti-military party leader faces sedition charges”, in Al Jazeera, Doha: Al Jazeera, retrieved 06 Apr 2019:
text: As the country reckons with how to prevent more children from being killed at school, the legacies of the Parkland victims live on.
ref: 2023 February 14, Holly Yan, “5 years after the Parkland school massacre claimed 17 lives, here’s what has changed (and what hasn’t)”, in CNN:
synonyms: heritage
glosses: Something inherited from a predecessor or the past.
examples: text: Because she was a legacy, her mother's sorority rushed her.
topics: education
glosses: The descendant of an alumnus, given preference in academic admissions.
legacy
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɛɡəsi/
note: some US dialects
ipa: /ˈleɪɡəsi/
ipa: /ˈleɡəsi/
Etymology: From Middle English legacie, from Old French legacie and Medieval Latin lēgātia, from Latin lēgātum.
Senses: examples: text: They have no idea what occurs in the network or its topology, and all of the services remain dependent on it — a very legacy approach to creating services in the optical network.
ref: 2000, International Engineering Consortium, The Emerging Optical Network, →ISBN, page 75:
text: However, pre-relational DBMS are legacy.
ref: 2003, Carlo Zaniolo, Peter C. Lockemann, Marc H. Scholl, Advances in Database Technology - EDBT 2000, →ISBN:
text: Finally, the organisation ends up with an expensive ERP of which it uses only part because of divergent evolutionary directions and a set of new systems fast becoming legacy.
ref: 2006, Anne Gams Steine Asserson, Eduard J. Simons, Enabling Interaction and Quality: Beyond the Hanseatic League, →ISBN, page 118:
text: There was talk in the past that ERP systems were legacy, lacked the agility and flexibility, and did not support interoperability.
ref: 2008, CIO - 15 Feb 2008 Vol. 21, No. 9, page 49:
text: Because most of these HALs are legacy and only used on aging or outdated hardware, chances are that you do not have any in your lab and must be creative in procuring one from an active user.
ref: 2009, Kerrie Meyler, Byron Holt, Greg Ramsey, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 Unleashed, →ISBN:
text: In practice, there are legacy or mature, domain specific, off the shelf (i.e. software that other software projects can reuse and integrate into their own products) tools that are used regularly by modeleres (e.g., for testing purposes, for communication and collaboration).
ref: 2013, Management Association, Software Design and Development, →ISBN:
text: Legacy acts won't stop releasing music
ref: 2024 February 24, “Outtakes or must-haves? Legacy acts won't stop releasing music - have we reached Peak Archive?”, in The Independent, The Independent, retrieved 07 Mar 2025:
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: Left over from the past; old and no longer current.
Derived terms: demonstrative legacy
legacy code
legacy-free
legacy hunter
legacy media
legacy Oscar
legacy student
legacy system
nonlegacy
unlegacied
arguably
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɑːɡjuəbli/
ipa: /ˈɑɹɡjuəbli/
Forms: form: more arguably
form: most arguably
Etymology: From arguable + -ly.
Senses: examples: text: In the early 1770s the bogey figure for opposition politicians was arguably not so much North in the Commons as Mansfield behind the curtain, the country's greatest lawyer (and another Caledonian to gratify the Scotophobes) keeping an irresolute Cabinet committed to waging war in America.
ref: 2004, Barry Coward, Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theory in Early Modern Europe: From the Waldensians to the French Revolution:
text: To exploit travel economies of scale, RAIL buys a four-in-eight-day Rail Rover. This is now known as the 'Spirit of Scotland Travelpass', although older users may remember it as the 'Freedom of Scotland' - arguably a better name.
ref: 2025 March 5, “Ayr miles with a 'Spirit of Scotland'”, in RAIL, number 1030, page 43:
synonyms: possibly
defensibly
disputably
glosses: As can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty.
Related terms: debatably
disputably
demonstrably
implementation
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɪmplɪmənˈteɪʃn/
ipa: /ˌɪmpləmɛnˈteɪʃən/
ipa: /ˌɪmpləmənˈteɪʃən/
rhymes: -eɪʃən
Forms: form: implementations
Etymology: From implement + -ation.
Senses: examples: text: Now that the requirements are complete we can move on to implementation.
text: The Group has recently concentrated on two main objectives, the implementation of a Code of Practice on minor station improvements and the preparation of a stock list of approved items of equipment for railway stations.
ref: 1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 252:
glosses: The process of moving an idea from concept to reality. In business, engineering and other fields, implementation refers to the building process rather than the design process.
examples: text: His implementation works, but it needs some fine-tuning.
topics: business
electrical-engineering
electricity
electromagnetism
electronics
energy
engineering
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
physics
glosses: A result of implementing something; a finished product, system or device.
Hyponyms: reference implementation
model implementation
sample implementation
Derived terms: implementational
misimplementation
postimplementation
preimplementation
reimplementation
stubborn
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈstʌbɚn/
ipa: /ˈstʌbən/
ipa: /ˈstʊbən/
rhymes: -ʌbə(ɹ)n
Forms: form: stubborner
form: stubbornest
Etymology: From Middle English stiborne, stibourne, stoburn, stoburne, styburne, stiborn, of uncertain origin; one hypothesis is that it may be from Old English *stybbor, from Old English stybb (“a stump, stub”) + -or (adjective-formation suffix, as in bitor, whence English bitter).
Senses: examples: text: People are pretty stubborn about their political beliefs, so why bother arguing?
text: Blood can make a very stubborn stain on fabrics if not washed properly.
glosses: Refusing to move or to change one's opinion; obstinate; firmly resisting; persistent in doing something.
glosses: Of materials: physically stiff and inflexible; not easily melted or worked.
Synonyms: willful
headstrong
wayward
obstinate
obdurate
contrary
disobedient
insubordinate
undisciplined
adamant
unyielding
rebellious
perseverant
persistent
enduring
Derived terms: stubborn as a mule
stubbornly
stubbornness
stubborn up
stubborn
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈstʌbɚn/
ipa: /ˈstʌbən/
ipa: /ˈstʊbən/
rhymes: -ʌbə(ɹ)n
Etymology: From Middle English stiborne, stibourne, stoburn, stoburne, styburne, stiborn, of uncertain origin; one hypothesis is that it may be from Old English *stybbor, from Old English stybb (“a stump, stub”) + -or (adjective-formation suffix, as in bitor, whence English bitter).
Senses: examples: text: But I have to say that one thing you inherited from your mother is a whole lot of stubborn.
ref: 2003, Dana Stabenow, A Grave Denied, →ISBN, page 86:
text: That takes a lot of stubborn for a seventy-something man.
ref: 2014, Victoria Hamilton, Muffin But Murder, →ISBN:
text: Stubborn is not eating pizza out of a square pan because you know it won't taste as good as a round one. Stubborn is spending twelve thousand dollars to fix a five-hundred-dollar truck just because it's “your baby.”
ref: 2016, Ken Robert Baugh, Just Passing Time, →ISBN:
glosses: Stubbornness.
examples: text: With evidence that the causal agent of stubborn is spread by insects, control or prevention of this disease will prove more difficult than formerly thought to be.
ref: 1967, Walter Reuther, The Citrus Industry, Volume IV, →ISBN, page 129:
text: Sectorial infection of stubborn could be stable for long periods, but may be manifested once the trees are severely pruned, this causing the system spread of S. citri to other non-infected parts.
ref: 2012, Vincenzo Vacante, Uri Gerson, Integrated Control of Citrus Pests in the Mediterranean Region, →ISBN:
glosses: Ellipsis of stubborn disease (“a disease of citrus trees”).
arguable
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɑːɡjuəbl/
ipa: /ˈɑɹɡjuəbl/
Forms: form: more arguable
form: most arguable
Etymology: From argue + -able.
Senses: glosses: That can be argued; that can be proven or strongly supported with sound logical deduction, precedent, and evidence.
examples: text: This led to a set of rules (play cannot begin before crossing East Blithedale Avenue), then subrules ("crossing" means reaching the always arguable halfway point of the avenue) […
ref: 2009 January 8, Michelle Slatalla, “Two Can Play That Game”, in The New York Times:
synonyms: disputable
glosses: Open to doubt, argument or debate.
Derived terms: arguably
inarguable
unarguable
up to snuff
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more up to snuff
form: most up to snuff
Senses: examples: text: About 40% of U.S. counties lack full-time public-health service. . . . Many registered hospitals are not up to snuff.
ref: 1945 January 15, “State of the Nation's Health”, in Time:
glosses: Adequate; of acceptable quality; satisfying an appropriate standard.
examples: text: "Dombey," says the Major, with appropriate action, "that is the hand of Joseph Bagstock: of plain old Joey B. . . . a rough and tough, and possibly an up-to-snuff, old vagabond."
ref: 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, chapter 31, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:
text: But the people, who prided themselves on being what they called üppen zie schnuffen, or, as we should say, "up to snuff," and equal to every occasion, had already seen a way out of the difficulty.
ref: 1904, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 7, in William Tell Told Again:
glosses: Mentally alert, shrewd, savvy.
Synonyms: up to par
up to scratch
Related terms: cut the mustard
make the grade
pass muster
not bad
treatise
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtɹiːtɪs/
ipa: /ˈtɹiːtɪz/
rhymes: -iːtɪs
Forms: form: treatises
Etymology: From Middle English tretys, from Anglo-Norman tretiz and Old French traitis (“treatise, account”), from traitier (“to deal with, treat”).
Senses: examples: text: "As you cannot make a speech, you must," said Henrietta, "put it into a treatise."
ref: 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “An Act of Parliament”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 191:
text: “[…] We are engaged in a great work, a treatise on our river fortifications, perhaps ? But since when did army officers afford the luxury of amanuenses in this simple republic ?[…]”
ref: 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
text: And if someone wants to know how to make objections to actual craftsmen themselves on the subject of art in general or any particular art, there are published treatises available, as you know.
ref: 2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 232d:
text: Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes.
ref: 2013 July-August, Sarah Glaz, “Ode to Prime Numbers”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:
glosses: A formal, usually lengthy, systematic discourse on some subject.
Synonyms: word: tractate
word: dissertation
word: disquisition
word: monograph
english: informal explanation, usually in essay form
translation: informal explanation, usually in essay form
word: treatment
Derived terms: learned treatise
Related terms: treat
treaty
duffer
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈdʌfɚ/
ipa: /ˈdʌfə/
rhymes: -ʌfə(ɹ)
Etymology: Cognate with duff, which see (origin is uncertain).
Senses: glosses: comparative form of duff: more duff
ecumenical
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌiːk.jʊˈmɛ.nɪ.kəl/
ipa: /ˌɛk.jʊˈmɛ.nɪ.kəl/
ipa: /ˌɛk.jʊˈmɛ.nɪ.kəl/
Forms: form: œcumenical
form: oecumenical
Etymology: From ecumenic + -al. By surface analysis, ecumene + -ical.
Senses: examples: text: Within Europe, the church's ecumenical partnerships have demonstrated that ecclesial unity may have political resonances.
ref: 1999 June 5, Martyn Percy, “St Albion's Utd”, in The Guardian, London, retrieved 29 Jan 2022:
text: Nicaea has always been regarded as one of the milestones in the history of the Church, and reckoned as the first council to be styled ‘general’ or ‘oecumenical’.
ref: 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, Penguin, published 2010, page 215:
text: Rather touchingly, an ecumenical mass of reparation for the victims of the massacres was held on October 29, in the very English village of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. The service was led by the Catholic bishop of Northampton, with Archbishop Metropolitan Stres from Ljubljana and the Anglican bishop of Buckingham.
ref: 2010 October 30, “Britain's Ancient Shame in Slovenia”, in The Economist, London:
topics: ecclesiastical
lifestyle
religion
glosses: Pertaining to the universal Church, representing the entire Christian world; interdenominational; sometimes by extension, interreligious.
synonyms: universal
worldwide
coordinate_terms: cosmopolitan
international
glosses: General; universal; catholic; worldwide.
Derived terms: ecumaniac
ecumenical council
ecumenicalism
ecumenically
ecumenical movement
Ecumenical Patriarch
ecumenicism
ecumenicist
ecumenicity
ecumenism
nonecumenical
protoecumenical
unecumenical
up to scratch
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Etymology: From scratch in the sense of a starting line, as in boxing.
Senses: examples: text: They decided that his performance was not up to scratch.
text: But the new trains form just one part of Metro Flow. It's no good having new trains if the network itself isn't up to scratch.
ref: 2023 November 29, Richard Foster, “Tyne & Wear Metro goes with the flow”, in RAIL, number 997, page 32:
glosses: sufficient; adequate; of acceptable or satisfactory quality
Coordinate terms: cut the mustard
make the grade
pass muster
up to par
up to snuff
Related terms: toe the line
hebbosome
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: hebbosomes
Etymology: From Hebb + -o- + -some; named after Donald Hebb by Professor Seth Grant.
Senses: topics: biology
natural-sciences
glosses: A multiprotein complex responsible for the detection of patterns of neuronal activity, and the conversion of the information represented by this activity into biological changes within the cell (neurone).
Related terms: Hebbian learning
focal length
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: focal lengths
Senses: topics: engineering
natural-sciences
optics
physical-sciences
physics
glosses: A measure of how strongly an optical system converges or diverges light, the inverse of optical power. In the simple case of a single convex lens, it is the distance along the optical axis from the principal plane of the lens to the lens's focal point (where, for instance, the film would be placed in a camera). For more complex or multi-element optical systems, focal length need not correspond to any obvious measurable physical distance.
Derived terms: calibrated focal length
how-d'ye-do
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: how-d'ye-dos
Senses: examples: text: Her abrupt departure from the wedding ceremony was a fine how-d'ye-do.
glosses: A troublesome state of affairs.
how-d'ye-do
Language: English
Part of speech: phrase
Senses: examples: text: “How-d’ye-do, Jewel, how-d’ye-do?” asked the visitor, with that graceful freedom which distinguishes the truly well-bred.
ref: 1836 June, Douglas William Jerrold, “Job Pippins, the Man Who ‘Couldn’t Help It’: Chap. IX”, in Blackwood’s Magazine, volume 39, number 248, page 746:
text: Taking him by the hand in his usual familiar manner, Mr. H. said, ‘How-d’ye-do? How-d’ye-do?[…]’
ref: 1854, John Neal, One Word More: Intended for the Reasoning and Thoughtful Among Unbelievers, page 178:
text: […] but still, you know, you could recall yourself to my memory, and we could shake hands, say ‘How-d’ye-do?’ and think of—to-night.
ref: 1874, Christian Reid, A Daughter of Bohemia: A Novel, page 159:
glosses: Alternative form of how do you do (greeting).
coat check
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: coat checks
Senses: examples: text: There was no coat check / So we wore our dreams out on the dance floor
ref: 2025, “Farmers Market”, in Jarvis Cocker (lyrics), More, performed by Pulp:
synonyms: cloakroom
checkroom
coatroom
glosses: A service provided at certain businesses which allows one to check one's coat for safekeeping while inside.
charity
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈtʃæɹɪti/
ipa: /ˈt͡ʃɛɹəti/
ipa: [ˈt͡ʃɛɹəɾi]
ipa: /ˈt͡ʃæɹəti/
ipa: [ˈt͡ʃæɹəɾi]
Forms: form: charities
Etymology: From Middle English charite, from Old French charité, cherte, chariteit, cariteit, from Latin cāritās.
Senses: examples: text: ‘[…] I remember a lady coming to inspect St. Mary's Home where I was brought up and seeing us all in our lovely Elizabethan uniforms we were so proud of, and bursting into tears all over us because “it was wicked to dress us like charity children”.[…]’.
ref: 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 6, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
text: The event raised money for local charities.
text: He donated half his earnings to charity.
text: give to charity
text: registered charity
glosses: An organization, the objective of which is to carry out a charitable purpose.
glosses: The goods or money given to those in need.
examples: text: act of charity
glosses: Benevolence to others less fortunate than ourselves; the providing of goods or money to those in need.
examples: July 20, 1677, John Mitchell Mason, letter to a friend
Judge thyself with the judgment of sincerity, and thou witl judge others with the judgment of charity.
glosses: In general, an attitude of kindness and understanding towards others, now especially suggesting generosity.
examples: text: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5:
topics: Christianity
synonyms: agape
glosses: Christian love; representing God's love of man, man's love of God, or man's love of his fellow-men.
topics: ball-games
basketball
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: A free throw.
Synonyms: topics: organization
word: charitable organization
Derived terms: anticharity
charidee
charitable
charitarian
charity begins at home
charity box
charity boy
charity case
charity girl
charity label
charityless
charity mugger
charity shop
charity stamp
charity stripe
charityware
chug
chugger
cold as charity
discharity
incharity
kiss of charity
metacharity
principle of charity
Roman charity
sharity
uncharity
gray matter
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: glosses: Alternative spelling of grey matter.
Harriet
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: /ˈhæɹiɛt/
Forms: form: Harriets
Etymology: Anglicized form of French Henriette, feminine form of Henri (“Henry”), popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Senses: examples: text: Harriet, by the way, is a very sprightly name. It is the female of Harry, and is identified in my imagination with I know not what of the power of being lively and saucy, without committing the sweetness of womanhood.
ref: 1833, Leigh Hunt, A Year of Honey-Moons, Court magazine and monthly, E. Bull, published 1833, page 33:
text: I found myself wanting to explain it to her, this middle-aged woman with the kind of haircut you call a hairdo, which needed to be set in rollers every night, who had a name like Agnes or Harriet, a name that even predated my mother's generation.
ref: 1995, Elizabeth Wurtzel, Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America, Riverhead Books, published 1995, →ISBN, page 14:
glosses: A female given name from the Germanic languages.
Related terms: Hallie
Hattie
Henrietta
Harry
Henry
circumpolar
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: rhymes: -əʊlə(ɹ)
Etymology: From circum- + polar.
Senses: glosses: Located or found throughout a polar region.
examples: text: a circumpolar star
topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
glosses: Of a celestial body, continually visible above the horizon during the entire 360 degrees of daily travel.
Derived terms: noncircumpolar
AFDC
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Senses: glosses: Initialism of Aid to Families with Dependent Children.
cowcatcher
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: cowcatchers
Etymology: From cow + catcher.
Senses: examples: text: With its long tapered cowcatcher, massive headlamp and enormous diamond smokestack behind, wagon-top boiler, high running-plate above the driving-wheels reached from a front door in the square side-window cab, cylinders with slide valves mounted on top, and double bogie tender, General in its present form is typical of much earlier American locomotive practice.
ref: 1942 February, “Notes and News: An Historic American Locomotive”, in Railway Magazine, page 56:
text: The locomotive was black, an ungainly contraption led by the triangular snout of the cowcatcher, though there would be few animals where this engine was headed.
ref: 2016, Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, Fleet (2017), page 83:
text: It was a rural railway that served the fertile Fens of Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. But because it flanked public roads and was unfenced (to save costs), it was deemed a tramway and its locomotives had to be fitted with a cowcatcher.
ref: 2023 January 11, Richard Foster, “British Rail's weirdest railways...: Wisbech & Upwell Tramway”, in RAIL, number 974, page 46:
topics: rail-transport
railways
transport
synonyms: pilot
qualifier: principally US
glosses: A plough-shaped device affixed to the front of a locomotive (or other large vehicle), usually wedge or V-shaped so as to push or deflect objects on the tracks out of the way, to clear out the train's path and prevent the risk of derailment or major damage to it.
examples: text: Hitchhiker and cowcatcher plugs will be considered.
ref: 1945, Broadcasting, volume 29, page 55:
text: National advertisers have probably been major contributors to this practice through the use of so-called hitchhike and cowcatcher announcements.
ref: 1945, Charles Harold Sandage, Radio Advertising for Retailers, page 185:
text: Sometime in the mid-40s, the Hummerts canceled Mr. Keen and Easy Aces from their early evening periods on CBS, which also killed my cowcatchers and hitchhikes.
ref: 2009, George Ansbro, I Have a Lady in the Balcony, page 138:
topics: advertising
broadcasting
business
marketing
media
radio
coordinate_terms: hitchhiker
glosses: An advertisement at the start of a programme.
Related terms: fender
lifeguard
snowplough
polythetic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Forms: form: more polythetic
form: most polythetic
Etymology: From poly- + Ancient Greek θέσις (thésis, “arrangement”) + -ic.
Senses: examples: text: A polythetic taxon is one where the constituent organisms share a large number of characteristics.
glosses: Having many, but not all properties in common.
raw_tags: of a class of things
Related terms: monothetic
pedagogue
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɛdəɡɒɡ/
Forms: form: pedagogues
form: pædagogue
form: pedagog
form: paedagogue
Etymology: From Middle English pedagoge, from Middle French pedagogue, from Latin paedagōgus, from Ancient Greek παιδαγωγός (paidagōgós), from παῖς (paîs, “child”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”) (from ἄγω (ágō, “lead”)). By surface analysis, ped- (“child”) + -agogue.
Senses: examples: text: Jones chid the pedagogue for his interruption, and then the stranger proceeded.
ref: 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
text: "No, that won't work." Reynders sighed, not in frustration — she was an excellent pedagogue, and never got frustrated while instructing — but in mental exhaustion. This project was testing the limits of what she could handle, in her state, though that was nothing compared to the number it was doing on Udo's head. "But it doesn't need to work. ATCP doesn't ossify, that's why it's armageddon-proof. We'd never be able to make this function if we were using standard protocols."
ref: 2023 September 24, HarryBlank, “Working Wonders”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 25 May 2024:
glosses: A teacher or instructor of children; one whose occupation is to teach the young.
examples: text: And novv I have gone thus far, perhaps you vvill think me ſome pedagogue, vvilling, by a vvell-timed puff, to encreaſe the reputation of his ovvn ſchool; but ſuch is not the caſe.
ref: 1759 November 21 (Gregorian calendar), [Oliver] Goldsmith, “On Education”, in The Bee, a Select Collection of Essays, on the Most Interesting and Entertaining Subjects, […], new edition, number VI, London: […] W[illiam] Lane, […], published c. 1790, →OCLC, page 177:
glosses: A pedant; one who by teaching has become overly formal or pedantic in his or her ways; one who has the manner of a teacher.
qualifier: Ancient Greece
glosses: A slave who led the master's children to school, and had the charge of them generally.
Derived terms: pedagoguese
pedagoguette
Related terms: pedagogic
pedagogical
pedagogically
pedagogy
cholagogue
demagogue
galactagogue
ochlagogue
pedagogue
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɛdəɡɒɡ/
Forms: form: pedagogues
form: pedagoguing
form: pedagogued
form: pedagogued
form: pædagogue
form: pedagog
form: paedagogue
Etymology: From Middle English pedagoge, from Middle French pedagogue, from Latin paedagōgus, from Ancient Greek παιδαγωγός (paidagōgós), from παῖς (paîs, “child”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”) (from ἄγω (ágō, “lead”)). By surface analysis, ped- (“child”) + -agogue.
Senses: glosses: To teach.
remiss
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɹəˈmɪs/
rhymes: -ɪs
Etymology: From Middle English remisse, remysse, from Latin remissus (“languid, negligent”), perfect passive participle of remittere (“remit”).
Senses: examples: text: It would be remiss of me, in my duties, if I did not give credit where credit was due.
glosses: At fault; failing to fulfill responsibility, duty, or obligations.
examples: text: Thou never waſt remiſs, I bear thee witneſs:
ref: 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 21, line 240:
text: Its motion becomes more languid and remiss.
ref: 1695, John Woodward, “(please specify the page)”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: And Terrestrial Bodies, Especially Minerals: […], London: […] Ric[hard] Wilkin […], →OCLC:
glosses: Not energetic or exact in duty or business; careless; tardy; slack; hence, lacking earnestness or activity; languid; slow.
Synonyms: sense: at fault
word: at fault
sense: at fault
word: blameworthy
sense: at fault
word: lash
sense: at fault
word: lax
sense: at fault
word: negligent
sense: at fault
word: reprehensible
sense: not energetic
word: careless
word: tardy
word: slack
word: languid
word: slow
word: apathetic
Related terms: remise
think twice
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: thinks twice
form: thinking twice
form: thought twice
form: thought twice
Senses: examples: text: Think twice before you go, since it could be dangerous.
text: When your rooster crows at the break o' dawn
Look out your windo' and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm a travelin' on
But don't think twice, it's all right.
ref: 1962, Bob Dylan, Don't Think Twice, It's All Right:
glosses: To reconsider, use judgement; to proceed with caution or thought.
Related terms: have another think coming
have another thing coming
makes you think
think again
think better of
food for thought
give someone pause
give thought
grist for the mill
native resolution
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: native resolutions
Senses: glosses: The normal, out-of-the-box preset resolution for a computer monitor or projector.
ADT
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Forms: form: ADTs
Senses: glosses: Abbreviation of Adult.
topics: astronomy
education
natural-sciences
glosses: Initialism of astronomy diagnostic test.
qualifier: audio recording
glosses: Initialism of Automatic Double Tracking.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: Initialism of acknowledged data transfer.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
glosses: Initialism of advanced DRAM technology.
topics: government
healthcare
glosses: Initialism of admissions, discharge, transfer.
qualifier: hiking
glosses: Initialism of American Discovery Trail.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: Initialism of accumulated deployed time.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: Initialism of active duty for training.
topics: government
military
politics
war
glosses: Initialism of ative duty tour.
topics: engineering
government
military
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
politics
tools
war
weaponry
glosses: Initialism of Active Denial Technology.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
programming
sciences
glosses: Initialism of abstract data type.
topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
programming
sciences
glosses: Initialism of algebraic data type.
qualifier: research
glosses: Initialism of accelerated degradation testing.
topics: information
traffic
transport
glosses: Initialism of Average Daily Traffic.
topics: medicine
sciences
glosses: Initialism of androgen deprivation therapy.
inadvertent
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɪnədˈvɜːtn̩t/
ipa: /ˌɪnədˈvɝtn̩t/
Etymology: Borrowed from Medieval Latin inadvertēns.
Senses: examples: text: We check everything because an inadvertent error could be disastrous.
glosses: Not intentional; not on purpose; not conscious.
examples: text: The Sharpers about Town very ingeniously understood themselves to be the undesigning Part of Mankind what Foxes are to Lambs, and therefore used the Word Biting to express any Exploit wherein they had over-reach'd any innocent and inadvertent Man of his Purse.
ref: 1712 October 8, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 504, page 119:
glosses: Inattentive.
Synonyms: sense: not intentional
word: designless
word: unintended
word: accidental
word: unintentional
sense: inattentive
word: absent-minded
sense: inattentive
word: distracted
Related terms: advert
inadvertently
advertent
keep faith
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: keeps faith
form: keeping faith
form: kept faith
form: kept faith
form: keep the faith
Senses: glosses: To retain one's faith.
examples: text: It capped the perfect night for manager Southgate, who opted to restore Saka and keep faith with Foden, leaving out Marcus Rashford despite his two goals in the win over Wales.
ref: 2022 December 4, Phil McNulty, “England 3-0 Senegal”, in BBC Sport:
glosses: To continue to have confidence in someone or something, and to support them or it.
Related terms: servabo fidem
lege
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɛd͡ʒ/
rhymes: -ɛdʒ
homophone: ledge
Senses: glosses: Clipping of legislature.
lege
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɛd͡ʒ/
rhymes: -ɛdʒ
homophone: ledge
Forms: form: leges
form: leging
form: leged
form: leged
Etymology: Abbreviated from allege (“to assert”).
Senses: examples: text: Not onely he legeth his mercy to bynde his reason, but also his wysdome.
ref: 1508, John Fisher, Treatise concernynge ... the seven penytencyall Psalms:
glosses: To allege; to assert.
lege
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈlɛd͡ʒ/
rhymes: -ɛdʒ
homophone: ledge
Forms: form: leg
form: ledge
Etymology: Clipping of legend.
Senses: synonyms: ledgebag
glosses: A legend; colloquially used to describe a person who is held in high regard.
Related terms: nulla pœna sine lege
emerge
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ɪˈmɜːd͡ʒ/
ipa: /iˈmɜːd͡ʒ/
ipa: /ɪˈmɝd͡ʒ/
ipa: /iˈmɝd͡ʒ/
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)dʒ
Etymology: First attested in the late 16th century. Borrowed from Middle French emerger, from Latin ēmergō (“to rise up or out”), from ē- (a variant of ex- (“out, forth”)) + mergō (“to dip, to sink”)
Senses: glosses: Alternative spelling of emerg.
make-work
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈmeɪkwəːk/
Forms: form: makework
Etymology: From make + work.
Senses: examples: text: I once described this rather vulgarly as a Euro-wanking make-work project and I do not resile from that.
ref: 2011 November 10, Lord Gilbert, House of Lords Hansard:
text: They are more sympathetic to immigration, free markets, and free trade, and less sympathetic to protectionism, make-work policies, and government intervention in business.
ref: 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 802:
text: In that COVID era, in June of 2020, I interviewed the anthropologist David Graeber, author of Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, a few months ahead of his untimely death. His book had suggested that many modern jobs were make-work, created out of “managerial feudalism,” where bosses needed minions around to feel important and signal their importance to other bosses. Graeber felt vindicated by the revolution in working life triggered by COVID, which had exposed some jobs as “essential”—while others were not. Those nonessential workers, he concluded, never needed to clog highways, or sit through meetings where, one by one, people would update the boss while everyone else stared off into space, contemplating what they’d rather be doing with their brief time drawing breath, aka office life.
ref: 2025 February 12, Dan Vergano, Jeanna Bryner, “Return-to-Office Demands Don’t Benefit Employees or Businesses”, in Scientific American:
glosses: An activity or task assigned or undertaken for the sake of activity or busy-ness, rather than because of a particular need.
Related terms: activity trap
busy work
makework
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Senses: glosses: Alternative form of make-work.
brush up
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: brushes up
form: brushing up
form: brushed up
form: brushed up
Senses: examples: April 10, 1706, Alexander Pope, letter to William Wycherley
You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best to brush you up like your neighbours.
glosses: To paint, or make clean or bright with a brush.
examples: text: I'll need to brush up (on) my Greek before my trip to Athens.
text: How many will be rich enough to travel in style is difficult to know—but already 30% of the guests at the very expensive Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong are from mainland China. Reception staff around the world had better start brushing up their Mandarin language skills.
ref: 2010 December 7, J.A., “Travel in style”, in The Economist:
synonyms: rub up
glosses: To review; to improve an existing but rusty or underdeveloped skill.
glosses: To beat up, annoy or insult (someone).
gravitate
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɡɹævɪteɪt/
Forms: form: gravitates
form: gravitating
form: gravitated
form: gravitated
Etymology: Back-formation from gravitation. Or borrowed from New Latin gravito, gravitatus.
Senses: examples: text: Theſe, who have nature's ſteps with care purſued,
That matter is with active force endued,
That all its parts magnetic power exert,
And to each other gravitate, aſſert.
ref: 1712, Sir Richard Blackmore, Creation; a philosophical poem in seven books, book II:
topics: astrophysics
glosses: To move under the force of gravity.
examples: text: Children naturally gravitate to such a big, friendly man.
text: The guests slowly gravitated to the kitchen.
text: The natural price, therefore, is, as it were, the central price, to which the prices of all commodities are continually gravitating.
ref: 1776, Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations:
text: As the presence of any considerable number of priests on an ocean steamer is supposed to bring rough weather, so the addition of a few hundred parsons to the population of Edinburgh is believed to induce rain,—or perhaps I should say, more rain.
ref: 1898, Kate Douglas Wiggin, chapter 8, in Penelope’s Progress […], Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC:
text: Responsibilities gravitate to the person who can shoulder them.
ref: 1923, Elbert Hubbard, J.B. Runs Things:
text: A considerable amount of new rolling stock has been built for the main line services during recent years, and the older stock has gravitated to the secondary and branch lines.
ref: 1940 May, “The Irish Railways Today”, in Railway Magazine, page 296:
text: I lingered with seven new friends from Chicago on a back balcony, where concert attendees waiting to be convinced traditionally congregate. The more we drank, the farther up front we gravitated. I finished the show a few feet from the stage.
ref: 2012 March 30, Joe Levy, “Rockers at Sea”, in The New York Times:
glosses: To tend or drift towards someone or something, as though being pulled by gravity.
Derived terms: antigravitate
degravitate
gravitative
nongravitating
selfgravitating
crack down
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /kɹæk ˈdaʊn/
Forms: form: cracks down
form: cracking down
form: cracked down
form: cracked down
Senses: examples: text: The authorities are trying to crack down on drunk driving during the holidays.
text: At this point they're hoping that the government will crack down and will put an end to deceptive rental offerings.
text: He wished he had tens of thousands more troops under Andez's control so he could round up every one of these demonstrators. But it was futile to continue cracking down. The stunnings, beatings and arrests had only inflamed them further.
ref: 2009, Kevin J. Anderson, The Ashes of Worlds:
coordinate_terms: clamp down#Verb
glosses: To take harsh action (against), as when enforcing a law more stringently than before.
raw_tags: with 'on'
Derived terms: word: crackdown
equatorial
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɛkwəˈtɔːɹiəl/
rhymes: -ɔːɹiəl
Forms: form: more equatorial
form: most equatorial
Senses: examples: text: That plant is best suited to equatorial climates.
topics: geography
natural-sciences
glosses: Of, near, or relating to the equator.
glosses: Relating to the midline of any approximately spherical object.
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
organic-chemistry
physical-sciences
glosses: of a bond, lying approximately in the plane of a ring, perpendicular to its axis
Derived terms: amphiequatorial
antiequatorial
circumequatorial
diequatorial
Equatorial Guinea
equatorially
equatorial plane
French Equatorial Africa
nonequatorial
paleoequatorial
postequatorial
preequatorial
pseudoequatorial
retroequatorial
subequatorial
trans-equatorial
transequatorial
equatorial
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌɛkwəˈtɔːɹiəl/
rhymes: -ɔːɹiəl
Forms: form: equatorials
Senses: topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
glosses: A kind of telescope mounted so as to have two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them parallel to the axis of the Earth, and each carrying a graduated circle, one for measuring declination, and the other right ascension, or the hour angle, so that the telescope may be directed, even in the daytime, to any star or other object whose right ascension and declination are known.
pier
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /pɪə(ɹ)/
enpr: pîr
ipa: /pɪɹ/
rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)
homophone: peer
Forms: form: piers
Etymology: From Middle English pere (“bridge pillar”), from Medieval Latin pera, from Old Northern French pire (“breakwater”), from Vulgar Latin *petricus, from Latin petra, from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra, “stone”).
Senses: examples: text: Your boat is docked at the pier.
glosses: A raised platform built from the shore out over water, supported on piles; used to secure, or provide access to shipping; a jetty.
examples: text: There is a gaming arcade on the pier.
text: A fresh breeze comes off the water and down the pier.
ref: 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 234:
text: Ryde Pier's claim to fame is being the world's oldest seaside pleasure pier, with construction starting in 1813.
ref: 2023 March 22, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Island Line to reopen to Ryde Pier in June... possibly”, in RAIL, number 979, page 24:
glosses: A similar structure, especially at a seaside resort, used to provide entertainment.
examples: text: The force of the explosion demolished one pair of piers and two spans of the bridge crashed down into the river on top of the barges.
ref: 1961 January, “Talking of Trains: The Severn Bridge disaster”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:
glosses: A structure supporting the junction between two spans of a bridge.
topics: architecture
coordinate_terms: pile
glosses: A rectangular pillar, or similar structure, that supports an arch, wall or roof, or the hinges of a gate.
Derived terms: abutment pier
Brighton pier
chain pier
end-of-pier
end-of-the-pier
finger pier
gatepier
pierage
piered
pier glass
pierhead
pierless
pierlike
piermaster
pierside
pier table
pierwise
rocking pier
take a long walk off a short pier
take a long walk on a short pier
you don't fish off the company pier
Related terms: jetty
mole
wharf
pliable
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈplaɪəbəl/
rhymes: -aɪəbəl
Forms: form: more pliable
form: most pliable
Etymology: From Middle French, from Old French ploiable, from ploiier (“to fold”). By surface analysis, ply + -able. Compare pliant.
Senses: examples: text: You will find the clay perfectly pliable as long as it stays moist.
glosses: Soft, flexible, easily bent, formed, shaped, or molded.
glosses: Easily persuaded; yielding to influence.
Synonyms: sense: flexible
word: lithy
Derived terms: impliable
nonpliable
pliableness
pliably
unpliable
Related terms: pliability
pliancy
pliant
ply
confection
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /kənˈfɛkʃən/
Forms: form: confections
Etymology: From Middle English confescioun, borrowed from Old French confeccion (French confection), borrowed from Latin cōnfectiōnem, from confectus, past participle of conficere (“prepare”), from com- (“with”) + facere (“to make, do”). Originally "the making by means of ingredients"; sense of "candy or light pastry" predominant since 1500s.
Senses: examples: text: The table was covered with all sorts of tempting confections.
glosses: A food item prepared very sweet, frequently decorated in fine detail, and often preserved with sugar, such as a candy, sweetmeat, fruit preserve, pastry, or cake.
glosses: The act or process of confecting; the process of making, compounding, or preparing something.
examples: text: The defense attorney maintained that the charges were a confection of the local police.
glosses: The result of such a process; something made up or confected; a concoction.
glosses: An artistic, musical, or literary work taken as frivolous, amusing, or contrived; a composition of a light nature.
examples: text: She found a sexy, lacy confection in a lingerie drawer and quickly slipped into it.
ref: 2007, Susan Sizemore, Primal Desires:
glosses: Something, such as a garment or a decoration, that is very elaborate, delicate, or luxurious, usually also impractical or non-utilitarian.
topics: medicine
pharmacology
sciences
glosses: A preparation of medicine sweetened with sugar, honey, syrup, or the like; an electuary.
A medicinal preparation of any kind, a compound of drugs.
examples: text: Was it not a goodly poison that he gave!
Why, he's as well now as he was before.
It shuld have been some fine confection
That might have given the broth some dainty taste
ref: 2007, Unknown, edited by White, Martin and Lockwood, Tom, Arden of Faversham, 2nd edition, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 20, Scene 1, ll. 421–425:
topics: medicine
pharmacology
sciences
glosses: A preparation of medicine sweetened with sugar, honey, syrup, or the like; an electuary.
A deadly poison.
Related terms: confect
confectionary
confection
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /kənˈfɛkʃən/
Forms: form: confections
form: confectioning
form: confectioned
form: confectioned
Etymology: From Middle English confescioun, borrowed from Old French confeccion (French confection), borrowed from Latin cōnfectiōnem, from confectus, past participle of conficere (“prepare”), from com- (“with”) + facere (“to make, do”). Originally "the making by means of ingredients"; sense of "candy or light pastry" predominant since 1500s.
Senses: glosses: To make into a confection, prepare as a confection.
Derived terms: confectioner
confectioners' sugar
confectionery