nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: selfishly Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English selfish Middle English -ly English -ly English selfishly From selfish + -ly. 1. In a selfish manner; with regard to private interest only or chiefly. Example: What emerges is a softly supernatural story about a futurist who behaved as selfishly as any retrograde male genius.
Word: surreptitiously Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English surreptitious Middle English -ly English -ly English surreptitiously From surreptitious + -ly. Pronunciation: /sʌɹəpˈtɪʃəsli/ 1. In a surreptitious manner; stealthily, furtively, secretly. Example: They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups. Example: Hiro and Chuck grab the closest thing they can find to a corner table. Hiro buttonholes a waiter and surreptitiously orders a pitcher of Pub Special, mixed half and half with nonalcoholic beer.
Word: mediocre Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”, from medius (“middle”) + ocris (“rugged mountain”)); compare mediocrely and mediocrity. Pronunciation: /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/, /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/, /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/ 1. Not excellent or outstanding, usually disappointingly so. Example: I'm pretty good at tennis but only mediocre at racquetball. Example: The standard ranges from runs that are almost sensational in the speed and brilliance of the work to the ultra-mediocre.
Word: mediocre Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From the late Middle English medioker, from the French médiocre, from the Middle French médiocre, from the Classical Latin mediocris (“in a middle state”, “of middle size”, “middling”, “moderate”, “ordinary”, from medius (“middle”) + ocris (“rugged mountain”)); compare mediocrely and mediocrity. Pronunciation: /ˌmiːdɪˈəʊkə/, /ˈmiːdɪˌəʊkə/, /ˌmidiˈoʊkəɹ/ 1. A person of minor significance, accomplishment or acclaim; a common and undistinguished person. Example: Of the hundreds of inferior poets, who are continually offering their sonnets and addresses to the Moon, (or to the public instead of that luminary,) Wade, Barton, Wiffen, and Bailey, are the most conspicuous. Wade is a new aspirant, but gives strong prognostications of genius. Barton and Bailey are above the mediocres, and Wiffen tolerable. Example: After this lecture, how do the mediocres feel? They probably feel indifferent or mad. Perhaps they were not even paying attention. The question is, are they more likely to be in the hallway tomorrow? Probably not. 2. A member of a socioeconomic class between the upper ranks of society and the agricultural workers. Labels: historical
Word: egoism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French égoïsme, from New Latin egoismus, from Latin ego. By surface analysis, ego + -ism. Pronunciation: /ˈi.ɡoʊˌɪ.zəm/ 1. The tendency to think selfishly with exclusive self-interest in mind. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. The belief that moral behavior should be directed toward one's self-interest only. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. Egotism (tendency to talk excessively about oneself). Labels: countable, nonstandard, uncountable
Word: LBW Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of low birth weight. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable 2. Initialism of leg before wicket. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable Example: The Authentic, getting in front of his wicket, to pull one of the simplest long-hops ever seen on a cricket field, missed it, and was l.b.w. 3. Lutheran Book of Worship (hymnal) Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: anal retentive Part of Speech: adj 1. Alternative form of anal-retentive. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: stun Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Inherited from Middle English stonen, stone (“to astonish, stun, numb”, also stoneyen), probably either directly or indirectly from Anglo-Norman estoner (“to stun, astonish”), from Late Latin *stunāre, from Frankish *stunōn (“to thunder, crash”) or perhaps from an unattested Latin *extonāre (“to thunder out, make a thunderous sound”), from tonāre ("to thunder"; compare Latin attonāre). An alternative etymology derives stonen from Old English stunian (“to smash, thunder”), from Proto-West Germanic *stunōn. See also astonish, astound. Compare Swedish stöna (“to moan, groan”), Danish stønne (“to moan, groan”), Icelandic stynja (“to moan”), Occitan estonar (“to surprise”), and French étonner (“to surprise”), and more distantly, Dutch steunen (“to groan; support”), German stöhnen (“to groan, moan”), German staunen (“to be astonished, be amazed, marvel at”), and Russian стонать (stonatʹ), стена́ть (stenátʹ, “to moan, groan”). Pronunciation: /stʌn/, /stʊn/ 1. To incapacitate; especially by inducing disorientation or unconsciousness. Labels: transitive Example: Bill tried to stun the snake by striking it on the head. Example: In many European countries cattle have to be stunned before slaughtering. 2. To shock or surprise. Labels: transitive Example: The celebrity was stunned to find herself confronted with unfounded allegations on the front page of a newspaper. Example: He stood there stunned, looking at the beautiful, breath-taking sunrise. 3. To hit the cue ball so that it slides without topspin or backspin (and with or without sidespin) and continues at a natural angle after contact with the object ball 4. To enter a stunned state. Labels: intransitive Example: The monsters stun when you jump on them. 5. To confiscate (an unguarded rifle, magazine, piece of equipment, etc.) from an unsuspecting soldier as punishment for neglect. Labels: Singapore, slang
Word: stun Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Inherited from Middle English stonen, stone (“to astonish, stun, numb”, also stoneyen), probably either directly or indirectly from Anglo-Norman estoner (“to stun, astonish”), from Late Latin *stunāre, from Frankish *stunōn (“to thunder, crash”) or perhaps from an unattested Latin *extonāre (“to thunder out, make a thunderous sound”), from tonāre ("to thunder"; compare Latin attonāre). An alternative etymology derives stonen from Old English stunian (“to smash, thunder”), from Proto-West Germanic *stunōn. See also astonish, astound. Compare Swedish stöna (“to moan, groan”), Danish stønne (“to moan, groan”), Icelandic stynja (“to moan”), Occitan estonar (“to surprise”), and French étonner (“to surprise”), and more distantly, Dutch steunen (“to groan; support”), German stöhnen (“to groan, moan”), German staunen (“to be astonished, be amazed, marvel at”), and Russian стонать (stonatʹ), стена́ть (stenátʹ, “to moan, groan”). Pronunciation: /stʌn/, /stʊn/ 1. The condition of being stunned. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. That which stuns; a shock; a stupefying blow. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A person who lacks intelligence. Labels: Newfoundland, countable, uncountable 4. The effect on the cue ball where the ball is hit without topspin, backspin or sidespin. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Williams will need a lot of stun to avoid going in the middle pocket 5. A low-range setting for an energy weapon that will stun its target but not injure or kill it. Labels: uncountable Example: Captain James Kirk: "Set your phaser on one quarter. I'll leave mine on stun."
Word: shun Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English schonen (“to decline to do, avoid, fear”), from Old English sċunian (“to shun, fear, avoid”), of uncertain origin, though probably ultimately connected to the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)kewH- (“to cover, conceal”) via Proto-Germanic *skunōną; see that entry for more discussion. Compare hide, shy, and Sanskrit स्कुनाति (skunāti, “to cover”). Pronunciation: /ʃʌn/, /ʃʊn/ 1. To avoid, especially persistently; ostracize. Labels: transitive Example: Acrophobes shun mountaineering. Example: British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far. 2. To escape (a threatening evil, an unwelcome task etc). Labels: transitive Example: I'll shun meeting them for as long as possible. 3. To screen, hide. Labels: transitive 4. To shove, push. Labels: transitive
Word: yarn Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English yern, yarn, from the Old English ġearn (“yarn, spun wool”), from Proto-West Germanic *garn, from Proto-Germanic *garną (“yarn”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰorn-, *ǵʰerH- (“tharm, guts, intestines”). Cognates Akin to West Frisian jern, Dutch garen (“yarn”), German Garn (“yarn”), Danish garn, Swedish garn (“yarn, thread”), Icelandic garn (“yarn”), Latin hernia (“rupture”), Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string”), Sanskrit हिर (hira, “band”). Compare also the obsolete doublet garn. Pronunciation: /jɑːn/, /jɑɹn/ 1. A twisted strand of fibre used for knitting or weaving. Labels: uncountable 2. Bundles of fibres twisted together, and which in turn are twisted in bundles to form strands, which in their turn are twisted or plaited to form rope. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A story, a tale, especially one that is incredible. Labels: countable Example: spin a yarn Example: I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite.
Word: yarn Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English yern, yarn, from the Old English ġearn (“yarn, spun wool”), from Proto-West Germanic *garn, from Proto-Germanic *garną (“yarn”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰorn-, *ǵʰerH- (“tharm, guts, intestines”). Cognates Akin to West Frisian jern, Dutch garen (“yarn”), German Garn (“yarn”), Danish garn, Swedish garn (“yarn, thread”), Icelandic garn (“yarn”), Latin hernia (“rupture”), Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string”), Sanskrit हिर (hira, “band”). Compare also the obsolete doublet garn. Pronunciation: /jɑːn/, /jɑɹn/ 1. To tell a story or stories, especially one that is lengthy or unlikely to be true. Labels: intransitive Example: "He yarns good," said Tom Platt. "T'other night he told us abaout a kid of his own size steerin' a cunnin' little rig an' four ponies up an' down Toledo, Ohio, I think 'twas, an' givin' suppers to a crowd o' sim'lar kids. Cur'us kind o' fairy-tale, but blame interestin'. He knows scores of 'em." Example: 1935, Christopher Isherwood, Mr Norris Changes Trains (U.S. title: The Last of Mr Norris), Chapter Thirteen, in The Berlin Stories, New York: New Directions, 1963, p. 152, “Well, well!” exclaimed Mr. van Hoorn. “Here are the boys! As hungry as hunters, I’ll be bound! And we two old fogies have been wasting the whole afternoon yarning away indoors. My goodness, is it as late as that? I say, I want my tea!”
Word: oriental Part of Speech: adj Etymology: See Oriental. 1. Alternative letter-case form of Oriental. Labels: alt-of
Word: oriental Part of Speech: noun Etymology: See Oriental. 1. Alternative letter-case form of Oriental. Labels: alt-of
Word: zoppo Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Borrowed from Italian zoppo. 1. Alternately with and without syncopation. Labels: not-comparable
Word: blueprint Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From blue + print. Introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842. Pronunciation: /ˈbluːˌpɹɪnt/ 1. A type of paper-based reproduction process producing white-on-blue images by means of a photosensitive ferric compound, used primarily for technical and architecture's drawings, now largely replaced by other technologies. 2. A print produced with this process. 3. A detailed technical drawing (now often in some electronically storable and transmissible form). Labels: broadly 4. Any detailed plan, whether literal or figurative. Labels: broadly, informal Example: Ain't got no blueprint, just a purpose and a wrecking ball! Example: This demonstrated serious intent, and the result is a report that should be a blueprint for subsequent assessments when road schemes are being put forward.
Word: blueprint Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From blue + print. Introduced by Sir John Herschel in 1842. Pronunciation: /ˈbluːˌpɹɪnt/ 1. To make a blueprint for. Labels: transitive Example: The architect blueprinted the renovation plan once the client had signed off. 2. To make a detailed operational plan for; to design or plan out. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: They blueprinted every aspect of the first phase of the operation.
Word: council Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Inherited from Middle English counseil (“meeting, conference, commune”), from Old French conseil (“advice, deliberation, thought”), from Latin cōnsilium (“plan, intention, design, purpose”), from cōnsulō (“consult, seek counsel from, take counsel from, deliberate, reflect”), from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁- (“take, grab”). Pronunciation: /ˈkaʊn.səl/, /ˈkuːn.səl/ 1. A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council). Example: He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site. Example: The comments were made at a council meeting last month, during which one councillor questioned whether changing the names would be pushing reconciliation efforts along too quickly. […] At a city council meeting on Oct. 8, Campbell River councillors discussed a letter sent by the B.C. Geographical Names Office inviting comments on the name changes. 2. A committee that leads or governs (e.g. city council, student council). Labels: UK, metonymically 3. Discussion or deliberation. Example: Satan […] void of rest, / His potentates to council called by night; Example: O great in action and in council wise. 4. Short for church council Labels: abbreviation, alt-of Example: the First Council of Nicaea
Word: fence Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens (“the act of defending”), from Old French defens, defense (see defence). The sense "enclosure" arises in the mid 15th century. Also from the 15th century is use as a verb in the sense "to enclose with a fence". The generalized sense "to defend, screen, protect" arises ca. 1500. The sense "to fight with swords (rapiers)" is from the 1590s (Shakespeare). Displaced native Old English heġe (compare Modern English hedge). Pronunciation: /fɛns/, [fɛns], [fɛnts] 1. A thin artificial barrier that separates two pieces of land or forms a perimeter enclosing the lands of a house, building, etc. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: There was a weak place in the fence separating the two inclosures Example: From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away. 2. Someone who hides or buys and sells stolen goods, a criminal middleman for transactions of stolen goods. Labels: countable, informal, uncountable Example: The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face. Example: The Finn was a fence, a trafficker in stolen goods, primarily in software. In the course of this business, he sometimes came into contact with other fences, some of whom dealt in the more traditional articles of the trade. 3. The place whence such a middleman operates. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable 4. Skill in oral debate. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. The art or practice of fencing. Labels: obsolete, uncountable Example: I bruised my shin th' other day with playing at sword and dagger with a master of fence 6. A guard or guide on machinery. Labels: countable, uncountable 7. A barrier, for example an emotional barrier. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: I was in your arms Thinking I belonged there I figured it made sense Building me a fence 8. A prohibition enacted to prevent violation of another more primary rule. Labels: Jewish, countable, uncountable Example: For quite other reasons Jewish religious authorities, too, restricted the size of the orchestra. They sought to erect a "fence" against hilarity and gaiety, out of respect for their ever remembered "Destruction." 9. A memory barrier. Labels: countable, uncountable 10. The boundary. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: fence Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English fence, fens, short for defence, defens (“the act of defending”), from Old French defens, defense (see defence). The sense "enclosure" arises in the mid 15th century. Also from the 15th century is use as a verb in the sense "to enclose with a fence". The generalized sense "to defend, screen, protect" arises ca. 1500. The sense "to fight with swords (rapiers)" is from the 1590s (Shakespeare). Displaced native Old English heġe (compare Modern English hedge). Pronunciation: /fɛns/, [fɛns], [fɛnts] 1. To enclose, contain or separate by building fence. Labels: transitive Example: […] pray you, if you know, Where in the purlieus of this forest stands A sheep-cote fenc’d about with olive trees? Example: […] O thou wall, That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth, And fence not Athens. 2. To defend or guard. Labels: transitive Example: Cosin, our hands I hope shall fence our heads, And strike off his that makes you threaten vs. Example: […] I have learn’t To fence my ear against thy sorceries. 3. To engage in the selling or buying of stolen goods. Labels: transitive Example: The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He'd never been in stir, the bulls had never mugged him, he didn't run with a mob, he played a lone hand, and fenced his stuff so that even the fence couldn't swear he knew his face. 4. To engage in the sport of fencing. Labels: intransitive Example: Challenges are flying right and left between these bully-swordsmen, these spadassinicides, and poor devils of the robe who have never learnt to fence with anything but a quill. 5. To jump over a fence. Labels: intransitive 6. To conceal the truth by giving equivocal answers; to hedge; to be evasive. Labels: intransitive Example: A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence. Example: You only give me ten minutes. If I am to put my case before you, Mr Carrados, we cannot fence with phrases...
Word: biochemical Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew- Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă) Ancient Greek χῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ία (-ía) Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)bor. Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)bor. Medieval Latin alchēmia ▲ Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ. New Latin chēmia Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus New Latin chēmicus English -al English chemical English biochemical From bio- + chemical. Pronunciation: /ˌbaɪəʊˈkɛmɪkəl/ 1. of, or relating to biochemistry Labels: not-comparable 2. characterized by, produced by, or involving chemical processes in living organisms Labels: not-comparable Example: In view of this biochemical diversity, the possibilities of interspecies hybridization in this genus are very interesting and worthy of attention.
Word: biochemical Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew- Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă) Ancient Greek χῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ία (-ía) Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)bor. Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)bor. Medieval Latin alchēmia ▲ Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ. New Latin chēmia Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus New Latin chēmicus English -al English chemical English biochemical From bio- + chemical. Pronunciation: /ˌbaɪəʊˈkɛmɪkəl/ 1. A chemical substance derived from a biological source. Example: Dr. Gwaltney sent nasal secretions from 40 volunteers with colds to Dr. Proud and Dr. Naclerio, who tested the secretions for the presence of these biochemicals.
Word: bare bones Part of Speech: noun Etymology: By metaphor with the skeleton versus the whole body including the flesh. 1. The essential elements of something; the minimum viable set of elements; especially when they are described without going into detail. Labels: plural, plural-only Example: He had only been taught the bare bones of the system, but carried on regardless. Example: The bare bones of a cookbook are its recipes, but as a genre it is so elastic and malleable that it can contain a range of other purposes and dimensions.
Word: dishabille Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French déshabillé. Pronunciation: /dɪsəˈbiːl/, /-ˈbɪl/ 1. Extreme casual or disorderly dress, for example, with the shirttail out, sleeves unbuttoned, etc. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: When I rallied him for viſiting me in ſuch a diſhabille, he ſtood a tiptoe to view himſelf in the glaſs; and owning I was in the right, ſaid that he would go and dreſs himſelf before dinner. Example: Wherever they went, some pattened girl stopped to curtsy, or some footman in dishabille sneaked off. Yet this was an abbey! 2. A loose, negligent dress. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: She wore a dishabille of mignonette-green silk and bead-diapered head-dress that added several inches to her height […]
Word: socialize Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *sokʷéh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ṓy Proto-Indo-European *sokʷh₂ṓy Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Indo-European *sokʷyós Proto-Italic *sokjos Latin sokios Latin socius Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin sociālisbor. Middle French socialbor. English social Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English socialize From social + -ize. Pronunciation: /ˈsoʊʃəlaɪz/ 1. To interact with others, especially personally, informally and off the clock rather than formally and officially. Labels: intransitive Example: hoping to socialize a bit at the company holiday party Example: When socializing it's important that you never talk business unless they bring it up. If you do, you'll find out quickly that you're no longer invited to any of the really good reindeer games. Rather, be a good listener. 2. To instruct (somebody), usually subconsciously and mostly by example, in the etiquette of a society. Labels: transitive Example: depending on how children are socialized regarding racial and ethnic biases Example: That is, by way of this initial imprinting the young animal becomes a socialized member of its species. Animals misimprinted to other species show a variety of abnormal social behaviors as adults. 3. To take something into collective or governmental ownership. Labels: transitive Example: Near-synonym: nationalize Example: fears about potential attempts to socialize medicine
Word: posture Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French posture, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra (“position, situation”). Doublet of positura. Pronunciation: /ˈpɒst͡ʃə/, /ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/, /ˈpɒst͡ʃɚ/, /ˈpɔst͡ʃə/, [ˈpɔ̟st͡ʃə] 1. The way a person holds and positions their body. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: As if that whatsoever god who leads him Were slily crept into his human powers, And gave him graceful posture. Example: […] walking in a most dejected posture, without a band, unbraced, his arms a-cross his open breast, and his eyes bent to the floor; 2. A situation or condition. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Even as I was reading these fables of my millions, there lay on the desk before me a statement of the exact posture of my affairs […] Example: Uncle Jim stopped amazed. His brain did not instantly rise to the new posture of things. 3. One's attitude or the social or political position one takes towards an issue or another person. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 1651, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan ...that is, their Forts, Garrisons, and Guns upon the Frontiers of their Kingdomes; and continuall Spyes upon their neighbours; which is a posture of War. Example: 1912, G.K. Chesterton, A Miscellany of Men But it is not true, no sane person can call it true, that man as a whole in his general attitude towards the world, in his posture towards death or green fields, towards the weather or the baby, will be wise to cultivate dissatisfaction. 4. The position of someone or something relative to another; position; situation. Labels: countable, rare, uncountable Example: 1661, Thomas Salusbury (translator), Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World The Moon beheld in any posture, in respect of the Sun and us, sheweth us its superficies ... always equally clear. Example: As for the guides, they were debarred from the pleasure of discourse, the one being placed in the van, and the other obliged to bring up the rear. In this posture they travelled many hours, till they came into a wide and well-beaten road […]
Word: posture Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French posture, from Italian postura, from Latin positūra (“position, situation”). Doublet of positura. Pronunciation: /ˈpɒst͡ʃə/, /ˈpɑst͡ʃɚ/, /ˈpɒst͡ʃɚ/, /ˈpɔst͡ʃə/, [ˈpɔ̟st͡ʃə] 1. To put one's body into a posture or series of postures, especially hoping that one will be noticed and admired. Labels: intransitive Example: If you're finished posturing in front of the mirror, can I use the bathroom now? 2. To pretend to have an opinion or a conviction. Labels: intransitive Example: The politicians couldn't really care less about the issue: they're just posturing for the media. Example: But these plays allow us to look beyond the posturing, punditry and angry speechifying, to really feel the painful, inescapable hardships of daily life as it is lived by increasing numbers of Americans. 3. To place in a particular position or attitude; to pose. Labels: transitive Example: to posture oneself; to posture a model Example: As pointed Diamonds being set, Cast greater lustre out of Jet, Those peeces we esteem most rare, Which in night shadows postur'd are.
Word: zufolo Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Italian zufolo. 1. A little flute or flageolet, especially that which is used to teach birds.
Word: zuppa Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Italian zuppa. Doublet of soup. Pronunciation: /ˈzuːpə/, /ˈtsuːpə/ 1. Any of various Italian soups.
Word: warfare Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From war + fare; perhaps a shortening of Middle English werre-faringe, werfarynge (“waging war, warfare”, literally “going to war”). Pronunciation: /ˈwɔɹfɛɹ/, /ˈwɔːfɛə/ 1. The waging of war or armed conflict against an enemy. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: The Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. 2. Military operations of some particular kind e.g. guerrilla warfare. Labels: uncountable, usually
Word: warfare Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From war + fare; perhaps a shortening of Middle English werre-faringe, werfarynge (“waging war, warfare”, literally “going to war”). Pronunciation: /ˈwɔɹfɛɹ/, /ˈwɔːfɛə/ 1. To lead a military life; to carry on continual wars.
Word: semoleon Part of Speech: noun 1. Misspelling of simoleon. Labels: alt-of, misspelling
Word: ichthyophobia Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From ichthyo- + -phobia. 1. The fear of fish. Labels: uncountable Example: Ichthyophobia, defined as the fear of fish, is especially strong in the Navajo Indians, who will not eat fish nor have anything to do with articles made in the shape of fish. Example: Such ichthyophobia occurred at the time of first European contact among the Tasmanian Aborigines.
Word: database publishing Part of Speech: noun 1. the production of catalogues, price lists etc, using data from a database Labels: uncountable
Word: descanso Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Spanish descansardeverb. Spanish descansobor. English descanso Borrowed from Spanish descanso (“place of rest, as of a funeral procession”). Pronunciation: /dɛsˈkɑːnsoʊ/ 1. A cross placed at the site of a violent, unexpected death, in memoriam. Example: The highways of the USA are littered with descansos, silent reminders of automobile accidents.
Word: in memoriam Part of Speech: adv Etymology: From Latin in memoriam (“into memory”). Pronunciation: /ɪn məˈmɔɹ.i.əm/, /ɪn məˈmɔː.ɹi.əm/ 1. In memory (of); as a memorial. Labels: not-comparable Example: An Enchanted Castle, and Other Poems, 1893, p. 72, prefaces the poem with this line, which suggests that the poem was written “in memoriam”: “[C. L. P., OB. JULY 18, 1884.]”. Example: The book can be divided into three main parts: chapters 1, 14 were written in memoriam; in the second part (chapters 2–7) Miller carries out a philosophical investigation of critical rationalism; the third part (chapters 8–13) […]
Word: in memoriam Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Latin in memoriam (“into memory”). Pronunciation: /ɪn məˈmɔɹ.i.əm/, /ɪn məˈmɔː.ɹi.əm/ 1. An announcement or composition etc. in memory of a deceased person.
Word: total Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English total, from Old French total, from Medieval Latin tōtālis, from tōtus (“all, whole, entire”) + -ālis, the former element of unknown origin. Perhaps related to Oscan touto (“community, city-state”), Umbrian 𐌕𐌏𐌕𐌀𐌌 (totam, “tribe”, acc.), Old English þēod (“a nation, people, tribe”), from Proto-Indo-European *tewtéh₂ (“people”). More at English Dutch, English thede. Pronunciation: /ˈtəʊ.tl̩/, /ˈtoʊ.tl̩/, [tʰoʊ̯ɾɫ], [tʰɔɾɫ] 1. An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts. Example: A total of £145 was raised by the bring-and-buy stall. 2. Sum. Labels: informal Example: The total of 4, 5 and 6 is 15.
Word: total Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English total, from Old French total, from Medieval Latin tōtālis, from tōtus (“all, whole, entire”) + -ālis, the former element of unknown origin. Perhaps related to Oscan touto (“community, city-state”), Umbrian 𐌕𐌏𐌕𐌀𐌌 (totam, “tribe”, acc.), Old English þēod (“a nation, people, tribe”), from Proto-Indo-European *tewtéh₂ (“people”). More at English Dutch, English thede. Pronunciation: /ˈtəʊ.tl̩/, /ˈtoʊ.tl̩/, [tʰoʊ̯ɾɫ], [tʰɔɾɫ] 1. Entire; relating to the whole of something. Example: The total book is rubbish from start to finish. The total number of votes cast is 3,270. Example: Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,[…]. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either. 2. Complete; absolute. Example: He is a total failure. Example: Air waid! Wights out! Total bwackout! 3. Defined on all possible inputs. Example: The Ackermann function is one of the simplest and earliest examples of a total computable function that is not primitive recursive. 4. Left total: Such that for every x in X there is a y in Y with x R y. Labels: broadly 5. Such that any two elements are comparable, i.e. for all a and b, either a ≤ b, or b ≤ a.
Word: total Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English total, from Old French total, from Medieval Latin tōtālis, from tōtus (“all, whole, entire”) + -ālis, the former element of unknown origin. Perhaps related to Oscan touto (“community, city-state”), Umbrian 𐌕𐌏𐌕𐌀𐌌 (totam, “tribe”, acc.), Old English þēod (“a nation, people, tribe”), from Proto-Indo-European *tewtéh₂ (“people”). More at English Dutch, English thede. Pronunciation: /ˈtəʊ.tl̩/, /ˈtoʊ.tl̩/, [tʰoʊ̯ɾɫ], [tʰɔɾɫ] 1. To add up; to calculate the sum of. Labels: transitive Example: When we totalled the takings, we always got a different figure. 2. To equal a total of; to amount to. Example: That totals seven times so far. 3. To demolish; to wreck completely. (from total loss) Labels: US, slang, transitive Example: Honey, I’m OK, but I’ve totaled the car. Example: He acted real funny / He hocked up a rock and / It totaled my car! 4. To amount to; to add up to. Labels: intransitive Example: It totals nearly a pound.
Word: great ape Part of Speech: noun 1. A large non-human primate, such as a gorilla, an orangutan, or a chimpanzee. Labels: archaic 2. Any member of the taxonomic family Hominidae, including gorilla, orangutan, chimpanzee, excluding Homo. Example: Long before people thought in terms of evolution […] great apes were often confused with humans. 3. Any member of the taxonomic family Hominidae, including Homo, and also many similar extinct species. Example: This wrinkled layer of gray matter that's highly developed in humans and other great apes, as well as whales, dolphins, and elephants, helps coordinate complex cognitive processes.
Word: filk Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Originally "filk music" was a typo for "folk music" in a never-published essay on the influence of Science Fiction and Fantasy on folk music. Its first known deliberate use was by Karen Kruse Anderson in Die Zeitschrift für Vollständigen Unsinn (The Journal for Utter Nonsense) #774 (June 1953), for a song written by science-fiction author Poul Anderson. Pronunciation: /fɪlk/ 1. About or inspired by science fiction, fantasy, horror, science, and/or subjects of interest to fans of speculative fiction; frequently, being a song whose lyrics have been altered to refer to science fiction; parodying. (However, much filk music is original rather than parodic.) Labels: not-comparable Example: The blame/credit (choose one) for the first filk song is a little dubious. Like the man who tried to sit on two stools, it falls in the middle, between Poul Anderson who wrote a filk song called Barbarous Allen and Karen Anderson who egged him on and published it in Zed #774. Example: And the permanent exhibit area offers a filk performance on a small stage so that neophytes can sample more esoteric interests.
Word: filk Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Originally "filk music" was a typo for "folk music" in a never-published essay on the influence of Science Fiction and Fantasy on folk music. Its first known deliberate use was by Karen Kruse Anderson in Die Zeitschrift für Vollständigen Unsinn (The Journal for Utter Nonsense) #774 (June 1953), for a song written by science-fiction author Poul Anderson. Pronunciation: /fɪlk/ 1. Filk music. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Filk turns commercial culture back into folk culture, existing as a mediator between two musical traditions. Its raw materials come from commercial culture; its logic is from folk culture. Example: The style of music generally used for creating filk is folk or popular music. That brings up one of the key points. Most, but not all, filk is created by "borrowing" the music of other songs and creating lyrics to fit the singer's particular circle of fandom. 2. Filk song. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Welcome to Harry Potter Filks, with nearly 3400 filks (including several dozen full-length musicals) by more than 250 authors from at least five continents, all on Rowling-related themes. 3. Filk song. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 2006, citation in the Filk Hall of Fame He has recently started to accompany himself on the piano, and created such wonderful songs as "The Soul" (filk of "The Ship") and "Internal Knight".
Word: filk Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Originally "filk music" was a typo for "folk music" in a never-published essay on the influence of Science Fiction and Fantasy on folk music. Its first known deliberate use was by Karen Kruse Anderson in Die Zeitschrift für Vollständigen Unsinn (The Journal for Utter Nonsense) #774 (June 1953), for a song written by science-fiction author Poul Anderson. Pronunciation: /fɪlk/ 1. To perform filk music. Labels: intransitive Example: I could have filked all night 2. To participate in a filk circle, including singing along. Labels: intransitive 3. To write a parody of (a song). Labels: transitive Example: 1997 (?: "July A.S. XXXI") Medieval Melodies for Filking However, the practice of filking, of taking an existing melody and providing new, usually topical and/or satirical, lyrics, is in fact the direct counterpart of the Medieval practice of writing contrafacta.
Word: back foot Part of Speech: noun 1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see back, foot. 2. The batsman's foot closest to the wicket.
Word: back foot shot Part of Speech: noun 1. A shot played by the batsman with most of his weight on the back foot.
Word: front foot shot Part of Speech: noun 1. A shot played by the batsman with most of his weight on the front foot.
Word: front foot Part of Speech: noun 1. The batsman's foot farthest from his wicket. 2. The width, in feet, of the front of a property. Example: Land is frequently sold by the front foot or by the square foot of land area. Example: Figures represent value of corners, for lot of average width and depth, in dollars per front foot. 3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see front, foot. Example: The hitter should be sure the front foot and front side are not open toward the pitcher. Example: The front foot main pad is broader on the leading edge, when compared with that of the hind foot. The front foot toes are slightly more splayed than those of the hind foot, where they are arranged more tightly together.
Word: Area 51 Part of Speech: name Etymology: Unclear, but perhaps from a grid numbering system of the area by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). While Area 51 is not part of this system, it is adjacent to Area 15. 1. A secret military facility, airport, and airbase in Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, United States. Labels: informal
Word: back up Part of Speech: verb 1. To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive Example: That beeping sound indicates that the truck is backing up. Example: We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine.[…]As we reached the lodge we heard the whistle, and we backed up against one side of the platform as the train pulled up at the other. 2. To move a vehicle backwards. Labels: idiomatic, transitive Example: Back up the car a little, you're blocking the driveway. 3. To undo one's actions. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive Example: I couldn't see how to finish the project, so I backed up and tried it another way. 4. To reconsider one's thoughts. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive Example: This isn't working. Let's back up and think about it. 5. To copy (data) so that it can be restored if the main copy is lost. Labels: idiomatic, transitive Example: Back up your documents folder before applying the update. 6. To provide support or the promise of support to. Labels: idiomatic, transitive Example: You should be careful. This guy is backed up by the local gang. Example: When he said I wasn't there, I told him I was, and my buddy backed me up. 7. For the non-striker to take a few steps down the pitch, in preparation to taking a run, just as the bowler bowls the ball. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive 8. For a fielder to position himself behind the wicket (relative to a team-mate who is throwing the ball at the wicket) so as to stop the ball, and prevent overthrows. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive 9. To halt the flow or movement of something. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive Example: When I flushed the toilet, the plumbing backed up and burst. 10. To fill up because of a backlog. Labels: idiomatic, informal, intransitive Example: WAITRESS: Hurry up with those drinks, Lucy. We're backing up. (Grabs the drinks LUCY has poured.) What are you doing? These are regular. They all ordered large. 11. To run a printing press in reverse. Labels: obsolete 12. If a property backs up to another property, that means it abuts or shares a border with another property. Labels: idiomatic, intransitive Example: We bought this house specifically because it backs up to our son's school.
Word: bad light Part of Speech: noun 1. A weather condition where the light is so poor that the umpires feel that to continue playing would be dangerous. 2. An unfavourable presentation. Labels: figuratively Example: to show something in a bad light
Word: offer the light Part of Speech: verb 1. To ask the batsmen if they wish to continue playing in conditions of poor light. If they do not, play is suspended for bad light. Labels: intransitive
Word: skulduggery Part of Speech: noun Etymology: An alteration of Scots sculduddery, sculdudrie (“adultery, unchaste behaviour; obscenity, lewdness”), of long-uncertain origin (probably a euphemism). Relation to skull is speculative at best and likely folk etymology. The American spelling skullduggery is in keeping with terms such as skillful and willful. Pronunciation: /skʌlˈdʌɡəɹi/, /skʌlˈdʌɡɹi/, /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡəɹi/, /ˌskʌlˈdʌɡɹi/, /ˌskəlˈdəɡ-/ 1. A devious device or trick. Labels: countable Example: A private company cannot get away with a skulduggery of that sort. Once it has paid out its money for taxes, it cannot reach into the public treasury and get it back and apply it on its amortization account. Example: And you, O student, might do worse than to investigate the assorted sculduggeries of this obscure trio: […] 2. Dishonest, underhanded, or unscrupulous activities or behaviour. Labels: uncountable Example: And I have another reason which I will express to my St Paul friends, and that is, that they have always been controlled in their political action here by a class of men who have always some traps set for the country members—by men who are always up to this border ruffian kind of trickery—this kind of skullduggery, as it is called in Minnesota. And now St. Paul allows herself to be controlled by these same border ruffian politicians. Example: How did Hercules (Herc. of antiquity) slay the Hydrant and cleanse the stables of Oregon? Did it all by main force, didn't he? Power? Shenanigan? Skulduggery? Of course he did.
Word: Andrea Part of Speech: name Etymology: Latinate feminine form of Andreas and Andrew. Pronunciation: /ˈændɹi.ə/, /ænˈdɹeɪə/ 1. A female given name from Ancient Greek. Example: There's not much you can do with a name like Andrea. "Call me And." I don't think so. "Call me Andy." You say that and people will start calling you Handy Andy, and before you know it, you'll be getting phones calls from people wanting you to come and get their drain unstopped. So I've been forced to have people call me Andrea, which sounds like a girl who takes ballet and is learning to play the cello.
Word: Andrea Part of Speech: name Etymology: Borrowed from Italian Andrea. Pronunciation: /ˈændɹi.ə/, /ænˈdɹeɪə/ 1. A male given name from Italian. Labels: rare
Word: dichotomic Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree English dichotomy Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English dichotomic From dichotomy + -ic. Pronunciation: /daɪkəˈtɒmɪk/ 1. In the form of a dichotomy; dichotomous. 2. Choosing between two antithetical choices, between two distinct alternatives. Classification based upon two opposites. http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0305-4470/27/14/016 3. That system of classification which pertains to two opposite criteria.
Word: islander Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From island + -er. Displaced Middle English insulane (“islander”), from Latin īnsulānus (“islander”). Pronunciation: /ˈaɪləndə/, /ˈaɪləndɚ/ 1. A person who lives on an island. Example: Susan happily introducing speaker Steve Smith, Channel Eleven’s newzanchor, ya’know, and an islandophile from wayyy back – and as of this writing, a newly retired islander and fisherman. Example: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has categorically ruled out any new negotiations saying the future of the Falklands can only be decided by the islanders themselves in accordance with the UN principle of self-determination.
Word: isle Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English ile, yle (with s added, similar to English island), borrowed from Old French ille, idle, isle, from Latin insula. Not related to island. Doublet of insula. Pronunciation: /aɪ̯l/ 1. An island, usually very small. Compare with islet.
Word: isle Part of Speech: noun 1. Obsolete spelling of aisle. Labels: alt-of, obsolete
Word: bobo Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Blend of bourgeois + bohemian, popularized by American journalist, commentator and editor David Brooks to describe the 1990s equivalent of the yuppie. Pronunciation: /ˈboʊboʊ/ 1. A materialistic person who affects an anti-materialistic persona. Example: The small things—an olive grove or a small chapel—take on greater meaning to a Bobo on vacation. Example: Peruse the Paris papers these days and you'll notice an obsession with bobos: no, they're not a team of cheerleaders or a troupe of clowns, but rich, artsy types known as bourgeois bohemians, who are now pretty much the tip of Parisian tastemakers. So when friends who were recently staying in Saint Germain des Pres asked me where to go to people watch, I told them to head for the Ninth Arrondissement citadel of bobo cool. […] The food’s better than might be expected at such a furiously fashionable address, and for an amusing eyeful of Parisian bobos in all of their splendor, this place can’t be beat. 2. A self-styled bodyguard or groupie of the nouveau riche (such as a professional athlete or musician). 3. An imitation of something, particularly a well known product, usually lower in quality than the original.
Word: bobo Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from French bobo (“boo-boo”). Pronunciation: /ˈboʊboʊ/ 1. A boo-boo (a minor injury). Labels: Louisiana, Montreal
Word: moving screen Part of Speech: noun 1. An offensive foul committed when a player executing a screen moves in order to block the defender and makes contact. Technically it is a block; in other words, there is no such terminology in most rulebooks using the phrase "moving screen." This means that, for it to be a foul, there must be contact (and illegal contact at that, meaning advantage-conveying). No illegal contact, no foul, no matter how much moving the screener does. Labels: informal
Word: dog shit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Compound of dog + shit. 1. Feces from a dog. Labels: uncountable, vulgar 2. Rubbish (trash). Labels: uncountable, vulgar 3. Rubbish (nonsense or lies). Labels: uncountable, vulgar 4. Nothing, or very little. Labels: uncountable, vulgar Example: Near-synonyms: shit, peanuts Example: Company working you 80 hours a week for dog-shit 5. Rigged (sometimes shortened to dog). Labels: Australia, New-Zealand, slang, uncountable, vulgar 6. Money. Labels: slang, uncountable, vulgar
Word: dog shit Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Compound of dog + shit. 1. Bad. Labels: vulgar Example: If anything Putin Is proving out that NATO is dogshit and alliances based on interests other than regions is without fruit Example: Decided to get into meal prepping and just made 7 days worth of the most absolute dogshit pasta I've ever tasted. Now I have to come home from my horrible minimum wage job everyday and sit down and forcefeed myself this slop like a good little slave. I'm 24 years old and I've never kissed a girl.