nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: staple Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English stapel (“staple, pillar, post”), from Old English stapol (“post, pillar”), from Proto-West Germanic *stapul, from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”). See also Old English steppan (“to step”) and Old French estaple (“post”). Consider also stapes (“stirrup”), from Latin. Doublet of étape and etymology 1. Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪ.pəl/ 1. Any of several types of fastener comprising a bent piece of wire. Example: They stapled the documents with an office stapler, putting a staple in the top left corner of each one. 2. Any of several types of fastener comprising a bent piece of wire. Example: They stapled the housewrap with a staple gun firing large staples. 3. Any of several types of fastener comprising a bent piece of wire. Example: The rancher used staples to attach the barbed wire to the fence posts. Example: Esther's wrists were firmly tied, and the twisted rope was fastened to a strong staple in a heavy wooden joist above, near the fire-place. Here she stood, on a bench, her arms tightly drawn over her breast. Her back and shoulders were bare to the waist. 4. One of a set of U-shaped metal rods hammered into a structure, such as a piling or wharf, which serve as a ladder. Example: Fortunately, there were staples in the quay wall, and she was able to climb out of the water. 5. A shaft, smaller and shorter than the principal one, joining different levels. 6. A small pit. 7. A district granted to an abbey. Example: [Henry II] also granted liberty of coyning to certain Cities and Abbies, allowing them one staple and two puncheons at a rate, with certain restrictions. 8. A post; prop; support Labels: obsolete
Word: staple Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English stapel (“staple, pillar, post”), from Old English stapol (“post, pillar”), from Proto-West Germanic *stapul, from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”). See also Old English steppan (“to step”) and Old French estaple (“post”). Consider also stapes (“stirrup”), from Latin. Doublet of étape and etymology 1. Pronunciation: /ˈsteɪ.pəl/ 1. To secure with a staple. Labels: transitive
Word: staples Part of Speech: noun 1. plural of staple Labels: form-of, plural
Word: staples Part of Speech: verb 1. third-person singular simple present indicative of staple Labels: form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Word: interlinear Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *n̥ter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Proto-Indo-European *līnomder. Proto-Italic *līnom Latin līnum Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Indo-European *-éyos Proto-Italic *-ejos Proto-Italic *-eos Latin -eus Latin līneus Latin līnea Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin -āris Latin līneārisbor. English linear English interlinear From inter- + linear. 1. inserted between the lines of a text Labels: not-comparable 2. having alternate lines of text in different languages Labels: not-comparable
Word: interlinear Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *n̥ter Latin inter Latin inter-bor. English inter- Proto-Indo-European *līnomder. Proto-Italic *līnom Latin līnum Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Indo-European *-éyos Proto-Italic *-ejos Proto-Italic *-eos Latin -eus Latin līneus Latin līnea Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin -āris Latin līneārisbor. English linear English interlinear From inter- + linear. 1. A translated text having alternate lines in different languages. Example: I've been reading a lot of graded readers and interlinears lately.
Word: chockablock Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From chock + -a- + block. Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃɒkəˌblɒk/ 1. Having the blocks drawn close together so no further movement is possible, as when the tackle is hauled to the utmost. 2. Jammed tightly together, jam-packed; very crowded; completely filled or stuffed. Labels: broadly Example: Dance music is chockablock with anonymous artists, but few have concealed themselves with quite the dedication of the Knife. Example: Haberman’s book is chockablock with scoops, comprehensively leaked to the press before publication, but what singles it out from the competition is its perceptiveness about Trump’s character and the way his private vices became public menaces.
Word: chockablock Part of Speech: adv Etymology: From chock + -a- + block. Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃɒkəˌblɒk/ 1. In a crowded manner; as completely or closely as possible. Example: His study had books stacked chockablock on every shelf. Example: The meeting hall was chockablock full of angry citizens.
Word: hoose Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From a dialectal spelling of house, from Middle English hous, hus, from Old English hūs (“dwelling, shelter, house”), from Proto-Germanic *hūsą (“house”). Compare Scots hoose. Pronunciation: /huːs/, /hus/, /hʉs/ 1. house Labels: Northumbria, Scotland
Word: flamewar Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative spelling of flame war. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: spirited Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /ˈspɪɹɪtɪd/ 1. simple past and past participle of spirit Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: When I was young and full of grace I spirited a rattlesnake
Word: spirited Part of Speech: adj Pronunciation: /ˈspɪɹɪtɪd/ 1. Lively, vigorous, animated or courageous. Example: November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk Remarkably United’s 10 men almost salvaged an improbable draw during a late, spirited challenge. They showed great competitive courage in that period and there were chances for Robin van Persie, Ángel Di María and Marouane Fellaini to punish City for defending too deeply and not being more clinical with their opportunities at the other end. Example: But the Danes remained resolute in defence - largely thanks to a spirited display by captain Daniel Agger - and they went ahead with their first meaningful attack.
Word: hyphenation Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Ancient Greek ῠ̔πό (hŭpó) Ancient Greek ῠ̔πο- (hŭpo-) Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Indo-European *sḗm Proto-Indo-European *sémsder. Proto-Hellenic *hens Ancient Greek εἷς, μῐ́ᾰ, ἕν (heîs, mĭ́ă, hén) Ancient Greek ῠ̔φ’ ἕν (hŭph’ hén) Ancient Greek ῠ̔φέν (hŭphén)bor. Late Latin hyphenlbor. English hyphen Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English hyphenation From hyphen + -ation. Pronunciation: /ˌhaɪfəˈneɪʃən/ 1. The inclusion of hyphens; especially, the correct locations of hyphens. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Print the article without hyphenation if you're not sure where to put them.
Word: savory Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From the Middle English savory, savourie, from Old French savouré, from Old French savourer, from Late Latin sapōrāre, from Latin sapor (“taste, flavour”), from sapiō, sapere (“taste of, have a flavour of”). Pronunciation: /ˈseɪ.və.ɹi/, /ˈseɪv.ɹi/ 1. Tasty, attractive to the palate. Labels: US Example: The fine restaurant presented an array of savory dishes; each was delicious. 2. Either salty or spicy, but not sweet. Labels: US Example: The mushrooms, meat, bread, rice, peanuts and potatoes were all good savory foods. 3. Umami. Labels: US Example: The savory rabbit soup contrasted well with the sweet cucumber sandwiches with jam. 4. Morally or ethically acceptable. Labels: US, figuratively Example: Readers are to be warned that quotations in this chapter contain some not so savory language. Example: The ruthless practices of the Ontario Film Censor Board are by now the laughing stock of most of the world. Scenes that contain more flesh or affection than they find savoury are simply hacked out of the film before it is released.
Word: savory Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From the Middle English savory, savourie, from Old French savouré, from Old French savourer, from Late Latin sapōrāre, from Latin sapor (“taste, flavour”), from sapiō, sapere (“taste of, have a flavour of”). Pronunciation: /ˈseɪ.və.ɹi/, /ˈseɪv.ɹi/ 1. A savory snack. Labels: US Example: On Friday the pastry chef Pichet Ong will open his own cafe, with sweets and savories served at tables and a counter.
Word: savory Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English saverey, possibly from Old English sæþerie, from Latin satureia, influenced by or via Old French savereie. Pronunciation: /ˈseɪ.və.ɹi/, /ˈseɪv.ɹi/ 1. Any of several Mediterranean herbs, of the genus Satureja, grown as culinary flavourings. Labels: US, countable, uncountable Example: There are some who advise taking the noxious herb savory; in my judgment it is poison. 2. The leaves of these plants used as a flavouring. Labels: US, countable, uncountable
Word: Breeden Part of Speech: name Etymology: Variant of Breedon or Bredon. 1. A surname. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. An unincorporated community in Marlboro County, South Carolina, United States. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. An unincorporated community in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: metamorphose Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From French métamorphoser, from Old French metamorphose, from Latin metamorphōsis; see metamorphosis. Pronunciation: /ˌmɛtəˈmɔːˌfəʊz/, /ˌmɛtəˈmɔɹˌfoʊz/, /ˌmɛtəˈmɔɹˌfoʊs/ 1. Of a moth or insect, to undergo metamorphosis. Labels: intransitive 2. To undergo some transformation. Labels: broadly, intransitive Example: In fact, perhaps this is the pure and perfect incest: the brother realising that the sister’s virginity must be destroyed in order to have existed at all, taking that virginity in the person of the brother-in-law, the man whom he would be if he could become, metamorphose into, the lover, the husband; by whom he would be despoiled, choose for despoiler, if the could become, metamorphose into the sister, the mistress, the bride. Example: Environmental problems are not objectively existing physical phenomena amenable to reliable analysis and diagnosis. They are social constructions whose meaning and significance metamorphose and wax and wane according to changeable human interest. 3. To transform (something) so that it has a completely different appearance. Labels: transitive
Word: dholak Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Hindi ढोलक (ḍholak). Pronunciation: /ˈdəʊlək/, /ˈɖʰoːlək/ 1. A North Indian hand drum. Example: The men make a circle around the musicians, cheering and whistling with the beat of the dholak.
Word: intracase Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Indo-European *h₁énterosder. Latin *interus Latin intrābor. English intra- English case English intracase From intra- + case. 1. Within a single case. Labels: not-comparable
Word: opportunity cost Part of Speech: noun 1. The cost of an opportunity forgone (and the loss of the benefits that could be received from that opportunity); the most valuable forgone alternative. Example: Thanks to business school, I can understand how I've actually paid for this time at home with my family—the opportunity cost of my time, my forgone income, etc. Example: Implicit in this fixation with time is the thesis that the opportunity cost of regular shopping is too high – that the hours spent driving to the better bookstore in the next town can be spent doing something more valuable. […] But as our urban lives have grown more pressed for time, we have diced our opportunity costs finer and finer; from budgeting days or slabs of hours, we have come to rationing minutes.
Word: bicycle kick Part of Speech: noun 1. A form of exercise in which one lies on one's back and makes cycling motions with the legs. 2. A kick in which the kicker leans backwards and kicks the ball back over his head. Example: Yaya Toure sent over a hopeful cross-field pass that Warnock attempted to clear with a bicycle kick, only to calamitously set Johnson up for a low finish past Given.
Word: bicycle kick Part of Speech: verb 1. To perform a bicycle kick. Labels: intransitive
Word: kicker Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From kick + -er. Pronunciation: /ˈkɪkɚ/, /ˈkɪkə/ 1. One who kicks. 2. One who takes kicks. 3. One who takes kicks. 4. The kicking strap. 5. An outboard motor. Labels: informal 6. An unexpected situation, detail or circumstance, often unpleasant, serving as a punchline or clincher. Labels: colloquial Example: John wants to climb the wall, but the kicker is that it is thirty feet tall. Example: Tuition is free; the kicker is that mandatory room and board costs twice as much as at other colleges. 7. An enticement for investors, e.g. warranty added to the investment contract. 8. An unpaired card which is part of a pair, two pair, or three of a kind poker hand. Example: Jill's hand was two pair, aces and sevens, with a king kicker. 9. Small text above a headline that indicates the topic of the story. Example: Hammers are, in essence, reverse kickers. Instead of being set in smaller type like kickers, hammers are set in larger type than headlines. 10. The last one or two paragraphs of a story. 11. Synonym of lead-in (“start of photo caption”). 12. A lighthearted or humorous item used to round off a news broadcast. Example: […] international news and politics, and heavy on the light stuff: local news, entertainment and merry little kickers […] Example: Instead, a reporter can carve out a niche as an entertainment/community reporter, thus concentrating their efforts on filing feature stories for the E block, where the kickers are slated. Kickers are feel-good pieces placed at the end of the newscast to leave viewers in a good mood […] 13. A device that periodically displaces a newspaper from the print production line, to aid in gathering the newspapers into fixed-size bundles. Example: In a printing machine, the combination of a kicker mechanism for displacing a newspaper […] 14. A launch ramp. 15. The fermenting mass of fruit that is the basis of pruno, or "prison wine". Labels: slang 16. A relaxed party. Labels: informal 17. A backlight positioned at an angle. 18. A rubber pad that propels the ball away upon impact, like a bumper, but usually a horizontal side of a wall. 19. A practitioner of the kicking performance art. 20. A complainer. Labels: US, archaic, slang
Word: kicker Part of Speech: noun Etymology: The southern-U.S. sense referring to a person derives from shitkicker, referring to a cowboy with boots used to kick away cow manure. Pronunciation: /ˈkɪkɚ/, /ˈkɪkə/ 1. A particular type of Texan who is associated with country/western attire, attitudes, and/or philosophy. Labels: Southern-US, slang
Word: kicking strap Part of Speech: noun 1. A piece of rope that connects the lower end of the mast and the boom in order to provide a means for exerting downward force on the boom and thus controlling the shape of the sail.
Word: gybe Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Probably from Dutch gijben (obsolete), gijpen; cognate with Danish gibbe, German gieben, giepen, Swedish gipa, gippa. The noun is derived from the verb; compare Dutch gijb (obsolete), gijp (“act of gybing; a boom”). Pronunciation: /d͡ʒaɪb/ 1. To shift a fore-and-aft sail from one side of a sailing vessel to the other, while sailing before the wind. Labels: transitive 2. Of a fore-and-aft sail or its boom: to shift, often forcefully and suddenly, from one side of a sailing vessel to the other. Labels: intransitive Example: […] I had my Man Friday to teach as to what belong'd to the Navigation of my Boat; for though he knew very well how to paddle a Canoe, he knew nothing what belong'd to a Sail and a Rudder, and was the moſt amaz'd when he ſaw me work the Boat too and again in the Sea by the Rudder, and how the Sail gyb'd, and fill'd this Way or that Way, as the Courſe we ſail'd chang'd: […] 3. Generally of a small sailing vessel: to change tack with the wind crossing behind the vessel. Labels: intransitive 4. Often as gybe at: to balk, hesitate, or vacillate when faced with a course of action, plan, or proposal. Labels: broadly, obsolete
Word: gybe Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Probably from Dutch gijben (obsolete), gijpen; cognate with Danish gibbe, German gieben, giepen, Swedish gipa, gippa. The noun is derived from the verb; compare Dutch gijb (obsolete), gijp (“act of gybing; a boom”). Pronunciation: /d͡ʒaɪb/ 1. The act of gybing. 2. The act of gybing. Example: The key to a good gybe is to bring the spinnaker round to the old weather side before you begin, and then to steer to keep some wind in the kite. 3. A sudden change in approach or direction; vacillation. Labels: broadly
Word: gybe Part of Speech: noun Etymology: See jibe. Pronunciation: /d͡ʒaɪb/ 1. Alternative spelling of jibe (“taunt”). Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: gybe Part of Speech: verb Etymology: See jibe. Pronunciation: /d͡ʒaɪb/ 1. Alternative spelling of jibe (“taunt”). Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: windward Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree English wind Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English windward From wind + -ward. Pronunciation: /ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/, /ˈwɪnə(ɹ)d/ 1. Towards the wind, or the direction from which the wind is blowing. Example: The windward boat must give way to the leeward boat. 2. On the side exposed to the wind. Example: the windward bedroom 3. In a position of advantage or superiority. Labels: figuratively Example: […] but while they own what G. Fox hath written, and that he writ it with a perfect spirit: I say untill they do make some Recantation or Retractation: or shew the Reasons why they doe not, H. Norton who keeps more plainly to his Principles is to windward of them, and the Foxians do but strip themselves naked to be more derided and scorned as the more notorious Juglers and Dissemblers .
Word: windward Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English wind Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English windward From wind + -ward. Pronunciation: /ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/, /ˈwɪnə(ɹ)d/ 1. In a direction from which the wind blows, against or towards the wind. Labels: not-comparable Example: We beat our way windward.
Word: windward Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English wind Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English windward From wind + -ward. Pronunciation: /ˈwɪndwə(ɹ)d/, /ˈwɪnə(ɹ)d/ 1. The direction from which the wind blows. Example: A vessel has the weather gage of another when she is to windward of her. A weatherly ship is one that works well to windward, making but little leeway. 2. The side receiving the wind's force.
Word: tiller Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English tilier; equivalent to till + -er. Pronunciation: /ˈtɪlə/, /ˈtɪlɚ/ 1. A person who tills; a farmer. Example: In France, Europe's most fertile and cultivated land, the tillers of it suffered more and more hunger. 2. A machine that mechanically tills the soil.
Word: tiller Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English telȝre, telgra, from Old English telgor, telgra, telgre ("twig, branch, shoot") (also telga, telge (whence tillow)), from Proto-West Germanic *telguʀ, from Proto-Germanic *telguz (“twig, branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *delgʰ- (“to split, divide, cut, carve”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tälge (“sapling”), Dutch telg (“descendant, scion, offshoot, shoot”), Dutch Low Saxon telge (“twig, branch”), German Zelge (“twig, branch, bough”), Swedish telning (“branch, scion, sapling”), Icelandic tág (“willow-twig”). Pronunciation: /ˈtɪlə/, /ˈtɪlɚ/ 1. A young tree. Labels: obsolete Example: first you must provide you of a Ladder to ascend the top of your Pit : this they usually make of a curved Tiller fit to apply to the convex shape of the heap 2. A shoot of a plant which springs from the root or bottom of the original stalk; a sapling; a sucker.
Word: tiller Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English telȝre, telgra, from Old English telgor, telgra, telgre ("twig, branch, shoot") (also telga, telge (whence tillow)), from Proto-West Germanic *telguʀ, from Proto-Germanic *telguz (“twig, branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *delgʰ- (“to split, divide, cut, carve”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tälge (“sapling”), Dutch telg (“descendant, scion, offshoot, shoot”), Dutch Low Saxon telge (“twig, branch”), German Zelge (“twig, branch, bough”), Swedish telning (“branch, scion, sapling”), Icelandic tág (“willow-twig”). Pronunciation: /ˈtɪlə/, /ˈtɪlɚ/ 1. To produce new shoots from the root or from around the bottom of the original stalk; stool. Labels: intransitive
Word: tiller Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English teler, from Anglo-Norman telier (“beam used in weaving”), from Medieval Latin telarium, from Latin tēla (“web”). Pronunciation: /ˈtɪlə/, /ˈtɪlɚ/ 1. The stock; a beam on a crossbow carved to fit the arrow, or the point of balance in a longbow. Example: You can shoot in a tiller. 2. A bar of iron or wood connected with the rudderhead and leadline, usually forward, in which the rudder is moved as desired by the tiller (FM 55-501). 3. The handle of the rudder which the helmsman holds to steer the boat, a piece of wood or metal extending forward from the rudder over or through the transom. Generally attached at the top of the rudder. 4. A steering wheel, usually mounted on the lower portion of the captain's control column, which is used to steer the aircraft's nosewheel or tailwheel to provide steering during taxi. Labels: broadly 5. A handle; a stalk. 6. The rear-wheel steering control, aboard a tiller truck. 7. A small drawer; a till. Labels: UK, dialectal, obsolete Example: But search her cabinet, and thou shalt find Each tiller there with love-epistles lin'd
Word: tiller extension Part of Speech: noun 1. An attachment to the tiller that enables the helmsman to steer from further forward on the boat.
Word: man overboard Part of Speech: intj 1. A cry used to announce that one of the crew or passengers has fallen over the side of the vessel. Example: Hazel Strong was looking from her darkened port across the dark sea. Suddenly a body shot past her eyes from the deck above. It dropped so quickly into the dark waters below that she could not be sure of what it was—it might have been a man, she could not say. She listened for some outcry from above—for the always-fearsome call, “Man overboard!” but it did not come. All was silence on the ship above—all was silence in the sea below.
Word: signifier Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From signify + -er. Pronunciation: /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪɚ/, /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪə/ 1. Something or someone that signifies, makes something more significant or important. Example: If commentators have concurred on the characterization of Reagan as a synecdoche, they have also noted his status as a signifier. 2. Something or someone that signifies, makes something more significant or important. 3. A sign, such as a written or spoken word, which refers to some concept, object or person, the signified. Example: Here things are getting better and better for women and people of color, and gay men and lesbians, more and more integrated and open, and all you can think about is some stupid, lame problem with signifiers and signifieds.
Word: unfurl Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-West Germanic *anda- Old English and- Old English on- Middle English on- English un- English furl English unfurl From un- + furl. Pronunciation: /ʌnˈfəːl/, /ʌnˈfɝl/ 1. To unroll or release something that had been rolled up, typically a sail or a flag. Example: They unfurled the flag at the start of the festival. Example: BEHIND him lay the gray Azores, / Behind the Gates of Hercules; / Before him not the ghost of shores, / Before him only shoreless seas. // The good mate said: “Now must we pray, / For lo! the very stars are gone. / Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?” / “Why, say, ‘Sail on! sail on! and on!’” “My men grow mutinous day by day; / My men grow ghastly wan and weak.” / The stout mate thought of home; a spray / Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. // “What shall I say, brave Admiral, say, / If we sight naught but seas at dawn?” / “Why, you shall say at break of day, / ‘Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!’” They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow, / Until at last the blanched mate said: / “Why, now not even God would know / Should I and all my men fall dead. // These very winds forget their way, / For God from these dread seas is gone. / Now speak, brave Admiral, speak and say”— / He said: “Sail on! sail on! and on!” They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate: / “This mad sea shows his teeth to-night. / He curls his lip, he lies in wait, / With lifted teeth, as if to bite! // Brave Admiral, say but one good word: / What shall we do when hope is gone?” / The words leapt like a leaping sword: / “Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!” Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck, / And peered through darkness. Ah, that night / Of all dark nights! And then a speck— / A light! A light! A light! A light! // It grew, a starlit flag unfurled! / It grew to be Time’s burst of dawn. / He gained a world; he gave that world / Its grandest lesson: “On! sail on!” 2. To roll out or debut anything. Labels: figuratively Example: When will we be unfurling the new feature? Example: Befitting the gray-brown clothes, bagged eyes, and licorice hair of its figures, Memoir Of A Snail unfurls the spiraling tale of two orphans persevering on Australia’s fringes. 3. To open up by unrolling. Labels: intransitive 4. To turn out or unfold; to evolve; to progress. Labels: figuratively, intransitive
Word: mainsheet Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From main + sheet. Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪnʃiːt/ 1. The rope connected to and controlling the mainsail. Example: Push the rudder down to a vertical position, then tighten the green line and place in the same cam cleat on the tiller shaft; be careful not to wrap or foul the mainsheet traveler line.
Word: centreboard Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From centre + board. 1. The adjustable keel on a small yacht or dinghy that acts, among other things, as ballast and to counteract the sideways force of the wind. Labels: UK
Word: ready about Part of Speech: intj 1. Used by the helm announcing to the crew that (s)he is ready to change tack.
Word: dog-tired Part of Speech: adj 1. Exhausted. Labels: figuratively, idiomatic, not-comparable
Word: land ahoy Part of Speech: intj 1. Shouted by the ship's watch to inform the crew that land has been spotted.
Word: americano Part of Speech: noun Etymology: 1970s, from Italian (caffè) americano or American Spanish americano (“American (coffee)”). Cocktail sense from Italian americano. 1. A drink made of espresso coffee diluted with hot water. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Bond ordered an Americano and examined the sprinkling of over-dressed customers, mostly from Paris he guessed, who sat talking with focus and vivacity, creating that theatrically clubbable atmosphere of l'heure de l'apéritif. Example: “No, the coffee. Do you want a cup of Americano?” I groaned. Welcome to Europe. “Can't I just get a cup of regular coffee? A little cream, a little sugar?” […] “An Americano is a shot of espresso with hot water added.” “I don't know why they call it Americano. No one in America drinks espresso and hot water.” 2. A cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The waiters wore striped waistcoats and green baize aprons. Bond ordered an Americano and examined the sprinkling of overdressed customers, mostly from Paris he guessed, who sat talking with focus and vivacity, creating that theatrically clubbable atmosphere of l'heure de l'aperitif. Example: An Americano is made of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water over ice in a highball glass. […] The drink was so popular among Americans visiting Italy at the turn of the last century that it was named after them.
Word: FQT Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of formal qualification testing, used to determine whether an item will be acceptable to a customer. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
Word: dog tired Part of Speech: adj 1. Alternative spelling of dog-tired. Labels: alt-of, alternative, not-comparable
Word: colombo Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of calumba. Labels: alt-of, alternative, uncountable
Word: FRIM Part of Speech: name 1. Initialism of Forest Research Institute of Malaysia. Labels: Malaysia, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: tailor's chalk Part of Speech: noun 1. A chalk-like material used for marking alterations on fabric in tailoring and dressmaking. The marks are brushed or washed off the material when no longer needed. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: Vasey Part of Speech: name Etymology: Of Old French origin. 1. A surname from Old French. 2. A locality in the Shire of Southern Grampians, south western Victoria, Australia.
Word: catnap Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From cat + nap. Named in reference to the feline habit of taking multiple, brief, and light naps throughout the day to conserve energy, rather than sleeping for one long, uninterrupted block. Pronunciation: /ˈkætˌnæp/ 1. A brief, light sleep, usually during the daytime. Example: Besides, I reflected, Joe might easily have become a catnapper, as so many millions of other Americans had become since Sarah Perkins, during the campaign, had made it so widely known that although the incumbent President slept in a bed with the covers over him for three and sometimes four hours a night, she herself never slept at all except for the catnaps. Example: A toddler who is still having two day sleeps will generally have one good sleep and one catnap, and a toddler who is around three years of age and getting close to dropping her day sleep will catnap.
Word: catnap Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From cat + nap. Named in reference to the feline habit of taking multiple, brief, and light naps throughout the day to conserve energy, rather than sleeping for one long, uninterrupted block. Pronunciation: /ˈkætˌnæp/ 1. To take a catnap (short sleep or nap). Labels: intransitive Example: A toddler who is still having two day sleeps will generally have one good sleep and one catnap, and a toddler who is around three years of age and getting close to dropping her day sleep will catnap.
Word: catnap Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *kattuz Proto-West Germanic *kattu Old English catt Middle English cat English cat English -nap English catnap From cat + -nap. Pronunciation: /ˈkætˌnæp/ 1. To kidnap a cat. Labels: transitive Example: When you suspect your cat's up a tree because he was chased or now locked up in the parked car because someone conspired to catnap him (he is quite the personality), what economic scales could they employ to set ransom? Example: The man thought, if she refuses, I could catnap it early one Wednesday afternoon while she's dozing. Leave a bogus ransom note?
Word: United States minor outlying islands Part of Speech: noun 1. A collection of islands and archipelagos, consisting of various dependent territories of the United States, including: Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, the Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Palmyra Atoll, and Wake Island. Labels: plural, plural-only
Word: invertase Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English invert Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwísder. Ancient Greek διά (diá) Ancient Greek δῐᾰ- (dĭă-) Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti Proto-Hellenic *hístāmi Ancient Greek ῐ̔́στημῐ (hĭ́stēmĭ) Ancient Greek δῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ) Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) English diastase English -ase English invertase From invert + -ase. 1. An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose (invert sugar), used by bees to produce honey and in the food industry to soften chocolate. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: The costs incurred for the processing of sucrose with invertase could be considerably reduced with the introduction of immobilised invertases, by adopting technology similar to that developed for glucose isomerase. Example: The disaccharide sucrose and the trisaccharide raffinose are both substrates of invertase. Invertase is encoded by the SUC genes from which six unlinked loci have been identified (SUC1-SUC5, SUC7), which are dipersed through the yeast genome (Lampen, 1968; Ouwehand and van Wijk, 1972; Ottolenghi, 1971).
Word: three card brag Part of Speech: noun 1. A card game somewhat like a simplified form of poker, and one of poker's several ancestors Labels: UK, uncountable
Word: prile Part of Speech: noun Etymology: A corruption of pair royal. 1. a hand of three cards of the same value in three card brag Example: A prile beats a running flush.
Word: running flush Part of Speech: noun 1. a hand containing three cards of consecutive value and the same suit in three card brag; equivalent to a straight flush in poker Example: A running flush can only be beaten by a prile.
Word: Ariah Part of Speech: name Etymology: From Hebrew אַרְיֵה (“God has promised. Also, lion of God”). 1. A male given name from Hebrew. 2. A female given name from Hebrew. Labels: rare
Word: AE Part of Speech: name 1. Initialism of American English. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 2. USPS military code of Armed Forces – Europe. Labels: US Example: • APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 — Space Available Mail, Nov. 26; Parcel Airlift Mail, Dec. 3; Priority Mail, Dec. 10; First Class Mail Letters and Cards, Dec.10 and Express Mail Military Service, Dec. 18. • APO/FPO AA ZIP 340 — Space Available Mail, Nov. 26; Parcel Airlift Mail, Dec. 3; Priority Mail, Dec. 10; First Class Mail Letters and Cards, Dec. 10 and Express Mail Military Service, Dec. 18. • APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 — Space Available Mail, Nov. 26; Parcel Airlift Mail, Dec. 3; Priority Mail, Dec. 10; First Class Mail Letters and Cards, Dec. 10 and Express Mail Military Service, Dec. 18. 3. Initialism of Armenian Era. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: AE Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of active euthanasia. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
Word: nene Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Hawaiian nēnē, which is imitative of the bird’s call. Pronunciation: /ˈneɪneɪ/, /ˈneɪˌneɪ/ 1. The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957. Example: Ohelo Vaccinium reticulatum (and V. peleanum) and kukaenene Coprosma ernodeoides […] are the most important berries in the Nenes’ diet, and it is probably from such juicy fruit that much of their water intake comes. Example: Today, both wild and domestic dogs are a serious threat to Hawai‘i's native wildlife. The dogs prey on both seabirds and open country birds, especially the Hawaiian goose, nēnē. However, feral dogs aren't all bad, because one of their favorite foods is rats.
Word: USPS Part of Speech: name Pronunciation: /ˌju ɛs pi ˈɛs/ 1. Initialism of United States Postal Service. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism Example: In a letter DeJoy sent to Congress on Thursday, he said DOGE teams will “assist us in identifying and achieving further efficiencies,” saying the Elon Musk-led agency will focus on improving the management of USPS retirement assets and the Workers’ Compensation Program, as well as addressing the agency’s legislative mandates and regulatory requirements.
Word: typographical error Part of Speech: noun 1. A mistake made during the process of typing, especially one caused by a slip of the fingers. Example: We're talking high-nitrogen compounds here ... and the question is not whether such things are going to be explosive hazards. (That's been settled by their empirical formulas, which generally look like typographical errors). 2. A mistake made during the process of typesetting.
Word: Book of Mormon Part of Speech: name 1. A sacred text of the Latter-Day Saints movement, published in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. Labels: Mormonism
Word: armageddon Part of Speech: noun Etymology: A generalization of Armageddon. Pronunciation: /ˌɑː(ɹ).məˈɡɛ.dn̩/, /-ˈɡɛ.dən/, /ɑː(ɹ).məˈɡɛd.ʔn/, /ˌɑɹ.məˈɡɛ.dn̩/, [ˌɑɹ.məˈɡɛɾ.ʔn] 1. The scene of a decisive conflict on a great scale. 2. Any great and crucial conflict. Example: In comparison to Nixon-Mao, terrorism and armageddon, Anna Nicole Smith may seem lightweight, but it could prove an inspired choice. 3. A type of game, usually played when a match would otherwise end in a draw, where black wins drawn games and white is given more time as compensation.
Word: devil's advocate Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Calque of Latin advocātus diabolī (“the devil’s advocate”), a popular title given to the officer dealing with the canonization process in the 16th c. 1. One who debates from a viewpoint which one may not actually hold, usually to determine its validity or simply for the sake of argument. Labels: idiomatic Example: I don't really believe all that – I was just playing devil's advocate. Example: Now, play devil's advocate. Can't you live 20 years on $145,000 if you're living out of a motor home and just eating and painting and writing books? I mean, this is what we talked about when we were 19. Remember, we kept saying, "Let's find ourselves," but we didn't have a dollar! So, we watched television instead. 2. A canon lawyer appointed by the Church to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate. Labels: historical
Word: devil's advocate Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Calque of Latin advocātus diabolī (“the devil’s advocate”), a popular title given to the officer dealing with the canonization process in the 16th c. 1. To play devil's advocate. Labels: informal, intransitive Example: Disclaimer: people shouldn't take things I say too personally, I'm often a bit blunt and like to devil's advocate and debate things (another part of this is that I've typically not bothered to post on things that are correct, but to correct things when they're wrong... if you take everything I don't respond to as an affirmation, I'm extremely nice:) Example: I don't want to get bogged down devil's-advocating for a position I don't personally hold (I think a government worker should not be allowed to bring religious beliefs into the job, just to be clear), but her position is a little different than the absolute you're making it into.
Word: taco Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Mexican Spanish taco, of uncertain origin; see the Spanish entry for more. Pronunciation: /ˈtɑkoʊ/, [ˈtʰɑkoʊ], /ˈtɐːkəʊ/, /ˈtækəʊ/, /ˈtakəw/ 1. A Mexican snack food made of a small tortilla (soft- or hard-shelled) filled with ingredients such as meat, rice, beans, cheese, diced vegetables, and salsa. 2. The vulva. Labels: US, slang Example: […] while grinding her pink taco into my groin as if trying to gain even more of my sizable ... Example: […] zombies have to eat and the best place to on any female is the pink taco. 3. A yellow stain on a shirt's armpit caused by sweat or deodorant. Labels: US, slang
Word: taco Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Borrowed from Mexican Spanish taco, of uncertain origin; see the Spanish entry for more. Pronunciation: /ˈtɑkoʊ/, [ˈtʰɑkoʊ], /ˈtɐːkəʊ/, /ˈtækəʊ/, /ˈtakəw/ 1. To fold or cause to buckle in half, similar to the way a taco is folded. Labels: ambitransitive, slang Example: The boat tacoed — the front and rear bent in — and I was holding onto a strap on the frame, sitting more on the tube than the frame, and I was catapulted forward. Example: J.T. was in full scoop mode and whaling down the descent and he creamed into the dude, tacoed his front wheel, sheared off his front brake, and came as close to cursing as he ever has.
Word: extortion Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Anglo-Norman extorcion, extorcioun, extorsioun, from Late Latin extortiō, from extorqueō. By surface analysis, extort + -ion. Pronunciation: /ɪkˈstɔːʃən/, /ɛk-/, /ɪkˈstɔɹʃən/ 1. The practice of extorting money or other property by the use of force or threats. Example: Heck, what's a little extortion among friends?
Word: Grammy Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From gramophone. 1. Any of the statuettes awarded by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in the music industry.
Word: All Hallows' Day Part of Speech: name 1. A Christian feast day, 1st November, honouring the saints (or, as the name implies, "hallows"); the day after Halloween.
Word: Halloween Part of Speech: name Etymology: From a Scots shortening of Allhalloweven, from Allhallowmas (the obsolete earlier name of All Saints' Day) + even (an archaic or poetic variant of eve; see also een). For the American pronunciation with /ɑ/, compare the Southern English traditional dialect pronunciations fallow /ˈfɒ.lə/ and tallow /ˈtɒ.lə/. Pronunciation: /ˌha.ləˈwiːn/, /ˌha.ləʊˈiːn/, /ˌhæ.ləˈwiːn/, /ˌhɑ.ləˈwiːn/, /ˌhæ.loʊˈiːn/ 1. The eve of All Hallows' Day; October 31st; celebrated (mostly in English-speaking countries) by children going door-to-door in costume and soliciting candy with menaces. Example: They all get dressed up in scary costumes at Halloween. Example: 1987, Kai Hansen, "Halloween", Helloween, Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part 1. Black is the night full of fright / You'll be missing the day / What will be here very soon / Changing your way / A knock at your door / It is real or is it a dream / On trembling legs you open the door / And you scream... on Halloween
Word: trick-or-treat Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From trick or treat, the phrase stated as a greeting when accosting a household. 1. To go door-to-door requesting candy on Halloween night while wearing a costume. Labels: intransitive
Word: unfavourable Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English favourable English unfavourable From un- + favourable. 1. Serving to hinder or oppose; adverse, disadvantageous, inconducive, unsuitable. Labels: UK Example: The shade of a dense pine wood, is more unfavorable to the springing up of pines of the same species than of oaks within it. Example: About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings. 2. Not auspicious; ill-boding. Labels: UK Example: Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot. Example: The fact that the bride went through the ceremony without her bridal bouquet is looked upon by many as an unfavorable omen. 3. Of a belief, state of mind, etc.: not favourable; disapproving. Labels: UK Example: [Y]et the thing she most dreaded was to offend the gypsies, by betraying her extremely unfavourable opinion of them, [...] 4. Of wind or weather: causing delay or obstacles; not conducive to travel or work; inclement. Labels: UK Example: The wind was right under the land, the tide unfavorable.
Word: contra Part of Speech: prep Etymology: Ultimately from Latin contrā. Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntɹə/, /ˈkɑntɹə/ 1. Against; contrary or opposed to; in opposition or contrast to.
Word: contra Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Ultimately from Latin contrā. Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntɹə/, /ˈkɑntɹə/ 1. Contrary to something. Example: […] it is useless to pray “Thy kingdom come” and vote contra or stay away from the polls; […]
Word: contra Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Ultimately from Latin contrā. Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntɹə/, /ˈkɑntɹə/ 1. A deal to swap goods or services. 2. A conservative; originally tied to Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries. Labels: derogatory 3. An entry (or account) that cancels another entry (or account). Labels: attributive, often Example: a contra position; a contra entry Example: The sum for each contra account is shown in the last column. 4. Any of the musical instruments in the contrabass range, e.g. contrabassoon, contrabass clarinet or, especially, double bass. Labels: informal 5. A contra dance. 6. A country dance. Labels: New-England, US, obsolete Example: Folk histories record that contras were gradually displaced by the introduction of the quadrille and the new couple dances.
Word: contra Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Ultimately from Latin contrā. Pronunciation: /ˈkɒntɹə/, /ˈkɑntɹə/ 1. To undo; to reverse. Labels: no-past, no-present-participle, participle, past Example: to contra a position (an entry)
Word: percussion Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English percussioun, from Middle French, Old French percussion, from Latin percussiō (“striking”), from percutiō (“to strike”). Pronunciation: /pɚˈkʌʃən/ 1. The collision of two bodies in order to produce a sound. Labels: countable 2. The sound so produced. Labels: countable 3. The detonation of a percussion cap in a firearm. Labels: countable 4. The tapping of the body as an aid to medical diagnosis. Labels: countable, uncountable 5. The section of an orchestra or band containing percussion instruments; such instruments considered as a group; in bands, may be separate from drum kits. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. The repeated striking of an object to break or shape it, as in percussion drilling. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Moreover, a perfect Medal has its Profile and out-ſtroaks ſharp (Nummus aſper) and by no means rugged; the Figures clean and well poliſh'd; the Contours neatly trimm'd, and exactly round and carefully preſerv'd; that the Extancy and Relievos correſpond with the Ingraving, and have not ſuffer'd in Percuſſion; in all which, there is a certain Spirit of Antiquity and Excellency to be diſcern'd in Antient Medals almoſt inimitable. 7. The outer side of the hand. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: criticize Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From critic + -ize; first element from Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós, “of or for judging, able to discern”), from κρίσις (krísis, “decision, judgement”). Pronunciation: /ˈkɹɪtɪsaɪz/ 1. To find fault (with something). Labels: British, English, Oxford, US, ambitransitive, transitive Example: They criticized him for endangering people's lives. Example: Homophobia is based on criticizing any sexual expression outside of procreational sex. 2. To evaluate (something), assessing its merits and faults. Labels: British, English, Oxford, US, ambitransitive, transitive
Word: signify Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Inherited from Middle English signifien, from Old French signifier, from Latin significare. Pronunciation: /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ/ 1. To create a sign out of something. 2. To give (something) a meaning or an importance. 3. To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce, or portend. Example: I’ll to the king; and signify to him / That thus I have resign’d my charge to you. Example: For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him. 4. To mean; to betoken. Example: Life’s […] a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing. Example: Mrs Varden was a lady of what is commonly called an uncertain temper—a phrase which being interpreted signifies a temper tolerably certain to make everybody more or less uncomfortable. 5. To make a difference; to matter (in negative or interrogative expressions). Example: To be but in the company of those we love, satisfies us: it does not signify whether we speak to ’em or not, whether we think on them or on indifferent things. To be near ’em is all. Example: VVell ſays I, and are you thus eaſy? ay, ſays ſhe, I can’t help myſelf, vvhat ſignifyes being ſad? If I am hang’d there’s an End of me, ſays ſhe, and avvay ſhe turns Dancing, and Sings as ſhe goes, […]