nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: doorstep Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From door + step. Pronunciation: /ˈdɔː(ɹ)stɛp/ 1. To visit one household after another to solicit sales, charitable donations, political support, etc. Labels: intransitive 2. To corner somebody for an unexpected interview. Labels: transitive Example: Throughout her time in journalism, she doorstepped politicians, the child of a politician, crime victims, armed robbers, murderers, suspected murderers... Example: Surprisingly few people refused to talk, even those I doorstepped or telephoned out of the blue.
Word: colonialism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *kʷélh₁eti Proto-Italic *kʷelō Latin colō Latin colōnus Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin colōniader. Middle English colane English colony Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English colonial Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English colonialism From colonial + -ism. Pronunciation: /kəˈləʊ.njə.lɪ.zəm/, /kəˈləʊ.ni.ə.lɪ.zəm/, /kəˈloʊ.njə.lɪ.zəm/, /kəˈloʊ.ni.ə.lɪ.zəm/ 1. The seizure of geographical area to extract its natural resources or exploit the labor of the indigenous peoples to remotely benefit a distant country. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone. 2. The subjugation of a weaker country, population, or people by a dominant country, population, or people. Labels: colloquial, countable, derogatory, often, uncountable Example: It was the racist, settler colonialism that created whiteness, that created blackness, half-caste, quarter-caste, octoroon, that saw mixed-race people as a third race. 3. Any form of foreign influence seen as undesirable. Labels: broadly, countable, derogatory, uncountable 4. A colonial word, phrase, concept, or habit. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Although the settlement seems so far to have made but slow progress, there are many things which show that, to use a colonialism, "the place was going ahead." 5. Colonial life. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: cereologist Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English cereology Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English cereologist From cereology + -ist. 1. Someone who studies crop circles, especially one who believes that they are not man-made or formed by other terrestrial processes.
Word: orientalism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French orientalisme, from oriental (“eastern, Oriental”). In the sense “patronizing Western attitude” popularized by Edward Said's 1978 book Orientalism. Equivalent to Oriental + -ism. 1. The tendency to represent eastern subjects, to assume stylistical characteristics original of the East, especially in 19th century Europe. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Moreover, among the group that was associated with the short-lived Institut historique, of which Senancour was a member from 1834 to 1840, was Eugène Burnouf, the great orientalist, to whom much of the responsibility for the revived interest in orientalism of the mid-nineteenth century must be attributed. 2. An Eastern word, expression, or custom. Labels: countable Example: The Scriptural style and the Scriptural language are not meant for one age, but for all ages. Its orientalisms will grow in the west; its archaisms will be found still young in the nineteenth century. 3. A patronizing Western attitude towards Middle Eastern, Asian, and North African societies. Labels: capitalized, countable, uncountable Example: Unlike the Americans, the French and the British—less so the Germans, Russians, Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, and Swiss—have had a long tradition of what I shall be calling Orientalism, a way of coming to terms with the Orient that is based on the Orient’s special place in European Western experience. Example: But he [Robert Irwin] is more lucid and reliable when he sets out to demonstrate the complexity and diversity of Orientalism, to defend his profession from the charge of being a conscious or unconscious accomplice of empire, and to decry the damage done by those whose reading even of Orientalism was probably superficial.
Word: mannerism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man English man English -er English manner Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English mannerism From manner + -ism. Pronunciation: /ˈmænəˌɹɪzəm/ 1. A noticeable personal habit, a verbal or other (often, but not necessarily unconscious) habitual behavior peculiar to an individual. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The Inspector looked round. He knew well enough that they were alone in the study at The Turrets, but the action had become something of a mannerism with him. Example: In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned. But he had then none of the oddities and mannerisms which I hold to be inseparable from genius, and which struck my attention in after days when I came in contact with the Celebrity. 2. Exaggerated or affected style in art, speech, or other behavior. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: artists […] dabblingly pursuing a kind of formalist mannerism merely in the interest of careerism Example: He generally spoke without academic mannerism, though on occasion he dipped into the over-wrought thickets of eduspeak to find words like “antithetical” or “foci” or “interface.”
Word: mannerism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Italian manierismo, from maniera, coined by Luigi Lanzi at the end of the 18ᵗʰ century. Pronunciation: /ˈmænəˌɹɪzəm/ 1. In literature, an ostentatious and unnatural style of the second half of the sixteenth century. In the contemporary criticism, described as a negation of the classicist equilibrium, pre-Baroque, and deforming expressiveness. Labels: countable, uncountable 2. In fine art, a style that is inspired by previous models, aiming to reproduce subjects in an expressive language. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: roadrunner Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From road + runner, probably a calque of Spanish correcaminos (“roadrunner”), from correr (“to run”) + caminos (“roads”). Pronunciation: /ˈɹəʊdˌɹʌnə/, /ˈɹoʊdˌɹʌnɚ/ 1. Either of two species of fast-running bird in the genus Geococcyx of the cuckoo family native to North and Central America, the lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) and, especially, the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus).
Word: all systems go Part of Speech: phrase Etymology: Originally used in the aerospace industry to indicate a preparedness to launch. 1. Everything is ready. Labels: idiomatic, informal Example: All systems go, the sun hasn't died Deep in my bones, straight from inside
Word: secretary bird Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Probably so named because its crest of long feathers resembles quill pens stuck behind the ears of an office clerk. Alternatively, possibly from Arabic صَقْر اَلطَّائِر (ṣaqr aṭ-ṭāʔir, “hunter bird”), from صَقْر (ṣaqr, “falcon, hawk”) طَائِر (ṭāʔir, “bird”). Pronunciation: /ˈsɛkɹəˌtɛɹɪ bɜːd/ 1. A large terrestrial bird of prey, Sagittarius serpentarius, native to Africa with very long legs that preys on reptiles, especially snakes.
Word: LRA Part of Speech: name 1. Initialism of Lord's Resistance Army. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 2. Initialism of Land Registration Authority (Philippines). Labels: Philippines, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: LRA Part of Speech: noun 1. Initialism of locked rotor amp. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism 2. Initialism of last rate available. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: tags Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /tæɡz/ 1. plural of tag Labels: form-of, plural
Word: tags Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /tæɡz/ 1. third-person singular simple present indicative of tag Labels: form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Word: orbs Part of Speech: noun 1. plural of orb Labels: form-of, plural
Word: robs Part of Speech: verb 1. third-person singular simple present indicative of rob Labels: form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Word: spiritualism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys-der.? Latin spīrō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin spīritus Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Late Latin spīrituālisder. Old French spirituelbor. Middle English spiritual English spiritual Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English spiritualism From spiritual + -ism. In Allan Kardec's book The Spirits Book (1857) (Le Livre des Esprits in the original French), in which a distinction between spiritism and spiritualism is defined. Pronunciation: /ˈspɪɹɪtjuəlɪzəm/, /ˈspɪɹɪt͡ʃuəlɪzəm/, /ˈspɪɹɪt͡ʃəlɪzəm/ 1. A doctrine, opposing materialism, that claims transcendency of the divine being, the altogether spiritual character of reality and the value of inwardness of consciousness. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: What is called spiritualism should, I think, be called a mental species of materialism. 2. A belief that the dead communicate with the living, especially through a medium. Used in a broader sense than spiritism. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I wish it were possible to impress this truth upon people who rush into spiritualism from curiosity, or who try "table rapping" or some similar phenomenon "for fun". 3. The quality or state of being spiritual. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: shearwater Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From shear + water. 1. Any of the long-winged pelagic seabirds of the family Procellariidae in genera Puffinus, Ardenna, and Calonectris, that breed on islands and coastal cliffs. Example: At first I would not eat a frigate bird, a booby or a shearwater, but after a few months on the island I tried one broiled over coconut-shell coals, and I have never since missed an opportunity for such a feast. 2. Any of the entire family Procellariidae, including certain of the petrels. Labels: broadly
Word: provincialism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French provincialisme, equivalent to provincial + -ism. 1. The quality of being provincial; having provincial tastes, mentality, manners. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The blacksmith's provincialism showed in his speech and manner 2. A word or locution characteristic of a region or district. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Prose is allowed less liberty in this respect; but no one nowadays would maintain that the adoption of a provincialism into the literary dialect is absolutely prohibited. 3. Synonym of regionalism: belief in the superiority of one's regional government; the belief that most or nearly all political power should be decentralized to provincial governments. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: shoveler Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English schoveler, equivalent to shovel + -er. 1. One who, or that which, shovels. Example: The sand was loaded by 3 shovelers into wheelbarrows holding 3.6 cu. ft. each...
Word: shoveler Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English shoulere, shovellewre, shovelere, schoueler, alteration of earlier schovelerd, schulerde, schevelard (“shovelard”), from schovel (“shovel”), perhaps influenced by malard (“mallard”), on model of Middle Dutch lepelaar (“spoonbill”), with Middle English -ard replacing -aar and later itself replaced by Middle English -er, but not completely certain. Probably at least influenced by the shape of the bill and its feeding behavior. 1. Any of four species of dabbling duck, in the genus Anas, with distinctive spatulate bills.
Word: regionalism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English regional Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English regionalism From regional + -ism. 1. Affection, often excessive, for one's own region and to everything related to it. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Whereas organizations such as the WIFA and CU confirmed regional West Indian identifications and represented the connections between transnational West Indian organizations and black diaspora politics, the JPL, as a transnational Jamaican organization, demonstrates that the regionalism that took root among many West Indian expatriates in these years did not negate all expatriates' islandist perspectives and allegiances. 2. The belief that most or nearly all political power should be decentralized to regional governments. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A word or phrase originating in, characteristic of, or limited to a region. Labels: countable Example: ... the formal normative variety of the language as it is used today in formal writing by educated native speakers. As a result, we have eschewed dialectisms and regionalisms. The English variety employed in the book is formal British English, ... 4. Regional character, local color. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Director Deitch has filled the sountrack with country music classics […] and this adds to the regionalism of the film as well as to the feeling which buoys the movie up from simplistic formula to romantic reverie.
Word: smee Part of Speech: noun 1. The pintail, wigeon, pochard, or smew.
Word: floozie Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Corruption of flossy in the sense of showy. Pronunciation: /ˈfluː.zi/ 1. A vulgar or sexually promiscuous woman; a hussy or slattern. Example: A bunch of ugly-looking gangsters had taken the joint over for a big party, and they were all wobbling around the floor with their floozies, so drunk they could hardly stand. Example: «Sure thing. You going with that little Mexican floozy?» 2. A prostitute who attracts customers by walking the streets. Example: There are refugees and black marketers, defrocked bankers and resistance fighters, gamblers, floozies, French colonial policemen, American and Spanish entertainers, and, eventually, Nazi officers (who in reality never set foot in Casablanca).
Word: tin foil Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of tinfoil. Labels: alt-of, alternative, uncountable
Word: smew Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Origin unknown. In use since the 17th century. Pronunciation: /ˈsmjuː/ 1. A small compact diving duck, Mergellus albellus, that breeds in the northern taiga of Europe and Asia and winters on sheltered coasts or inland lakes.
Word: pintail Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From pin + tail. Pronunciation: /ˈpɪnˌteɪl/ 1. A pintail duck, a type of dabbling duck with a characteristic pointed tail. 2. A pintail duck, a type of dabbling duck with a characteristic pointed tail. 3. A pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura. 4. Any of various species of libellulid dragonfly of the genus Acisoma, endemic to Africa and Asia. 5. The end of a fastening pin or mandrel on a Huckbolt or pop rivet that is broken off when installation is complete. Example: The collar is placed over the fastener pintail and the installation tool is placed over the pintail. The tool pulls on the pin drawing the parts together until the collar is swaged into locking grooves. 6. A surfboard with a pointed back end.
Word: peregrine Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English peregrin, borrowed from Old French peregrin, from Latin peregrīnus (“foreign”). Doublet of pilgrim. Pronunciation: /ˈpɛɹəɡɹin/, /ˈpɛɹəɡɹɪn/ 1. Wandering, travelling, migratory. Example: The Romani are perpetually peregrine people. 2. Not native to a region or country; foreign; alien. 3. Lacking essential debility. 4. Extrinsic or from without; exotic. Example: peregrine and preternatural heat Example: As soon as she had smiled her face altered again, and the petulant expression peregrine to her features took control. 5. With "tone" Referring to the tonus peregrinus or 'wandering tone' in ecclesiastical chant and mode theory.
Word: peregrine Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English peregrin, borrowed from Old French peregrin, from Latin peregrīnus (“foreign”). Doublet of pilgrim. Pronunciation: /ˈpɛɹəɡɹin/, /ˈpɛɹəɡɹɪn/ 1. The peregrine falcon. 2. A foreigner; a person resident in a country other than his or her own. Labels: dated
Word: mandolin Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French mandoline, from Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola, a large stringed instrument. Pronunciation: /ˈmændə(ˌ)lɪn/, /ˌmændəˈlɪn/ 1. A stringed instrument of the lute family, having eight strings in four courses, frequently tuned as a violin, and with either a bowl-shaped back or a flat back. 2. A kitchen tool for julienning vegetables.
Word: mandolin Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From French mandoline, from Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola, a large stringed instrument. Pronunciation: /ˈmændə(ˌ)lɪn/, /ˌmændəˈlɪn/ 1. To slice using a madolin; to julienne. Example: One Monday night I peeled potatoes over the sink, ready to mandolin them into thin slices and bake on top of a pie I had a recipe for in the newspaper on Saturday.
Word: phalarope Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From New Latin Phalaropus, formed irregularly from Ancient Greek φαλαρίς (phalarís, “coot”) + πούς (poús, “foot”). Pronunciation: /ˈfæləɹəʊp/ 1. Any of three small wading birds in the genus Phalaropus, of the family Scolopacidae, that have lobed toes.
Word: bloodhound Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Inherited from Middle English blodhound, blodhond; equivalent to blood + hound. Cognate with Dutch bloedhond (“bloodhound”), Middle Low German blōthunt (“bloodhound”), German Bluthund (“bloodhound”), Danish blodhund (“bloodhound”), Swedish blodhund (“bloodhound”). The detective sense follows from the dog's ability to follow a trail. Pronunciation: /ˈblʌd.haʊnd/ 1. A large scenthound famed for its ability to follow a scent many days old, over vast distances. This dog is often used as a police dog to track missing people, fleeing suspects, or escaped prisoners. Example: Someone stole our bloodhounds, but we got the backup bloodhounds to chase the first tier of bloodhounds. 2. A detective or other person skilled at finding people or clues. Labels: figuratively, informal 3. A bloodthirsty person. Labels: archaic Example: For now the despot’s blood-hounds with their prey, Unarmed and unaware, were gorging deep Their gluttony of death; the loose array Of horsemen o’er the wide fields murdering sweep, And with loud laughter for their tyrant reap A harvest sown with other hopes; […]
Word: secret Santa Part of Speech: noun 1. A Christmas tradition where a group of people give anonymous gifts to each other, with each person randomly selected to give a gift to one other person. 2. The person who buys a present for another in a secret-Santa exchange. Example: I could tell Mary was my secret Santa.
Word: santa Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative letter-case form of Santa (noun). Labels: alt-of, informal
Word: noel Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English nowel, from Anglo-Norman noel, Middle French noel, a variant of nael, from Latin adjective nātālis (“natal, having to do with birth”). Pronunciation: /nəʊˈɛl/ 1. A kind of hymn, or canticle, of mediaeval origin, sung in honor of the birth of Christ; a Christmas carol. Example: The first Nowell the Angel did say / Was to three poor Shepherds in the fields as they lay[…]
Word: noel Part of Speech: intj Etymology: From Middle English nowel, from Anglo-Norman noel, Middle French noel, a variant of nael, from Latin adjective nātālis (“natal, having to do with birth”). Pronunciation: /nəʊˈɛl/ 1. A wish or expression of commemoration of Christmas. Labels: archaic Example: And may all my enemies go to hell! / Noël! Noël! Noël! Noël!
Word: mockumentary Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Blend of mock + documentary. Pronunciation: /ˌmɑkjuˈmɛn(t)əɹi/, /ˌmɔk-/ 1. A film or television programme presented as if it were a documentary but that is not factual and often a parody or satire. Example: “This Is Spinal Tap” is one of the most famous mockumentaries. Example: Perlman devised a format inspired by the seminal mockumentary Spinal Tap, where the spot started with an ESPN announcer speaking to camera in a serious, straight voice, framing the story as “real” documentary.
Word: situation comedy Part of Speech: noun 1. An episodic comedy radio or television program with a plot or storyline based around a particular humorous situation with the same set of characters. Example: […] in a time of peril and opportunity, the old complacent, unbalanced fare of action-adventure and situation comedies is simply not good enough.
Word: credentialism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English credential Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English credentialism From credential + -ism. Pronunciation: /kɹəˈdɛn.ʃə.lɪ.zəm/ 1. Excessive emphasis on the importance of educational, academic, legal, or regulatory qualifications. Labels: uncountable
Word: baby of the family Part of Speech: noun 1. The youngest member of an immediate family. 2. A member of an immediate family who behaves as, or is treated as though they were the youngest member of a family. 3. An adult member of an immediate family who is treated by others in the family, especially the parents, as though they were a child.
Word: immediate family Part of Speech: noun 1. A family unit consisting of a parent or parents and their children.
Word: all-seeing Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Indo-European *h₂elnós Proto-Germanic *allaz Proto-Germanic *ala- Proto-West Germanic *ala- Old English æl- Middle English all- English all- English see English -ing English seeing English all-seeing From all- + seeing. 1. Seeing everything. Labels: not-comparable 2. Having knowledge of all things said or done. Labels: not-comparable
Word: translating Part of Speech: verb 1. present participle and gerund of translate Labels: form-of, gerund, participle, present
Word: showstopper Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From show + stopper. 1. A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive audience reaction strong enough to pause the production. 2. Any impediment that prevents all further progress. 3. Any impediment that prevents all further progress.
Word: candle power Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative spelling of candlepower. Labels: alt-of, alternative, uncountable, usually Example: The electric light system at Paddington is a very large one. There are 101 of these big lights of 2.000 candle power each, 4,000 of 25, and 23 of 100 candle power respectively, […].
Word: minimal pair Part of Speech: noun 1. A pair of words differing by only one phonetic segment or suprasegment, used to prove the validity of a proposed phoneme, toneme, or chroneme.
Word: near-minimal pair Part of Speech: noun 1. A pair of words differing by a few (but more than one) phonetic segments or suprasegments, used to suggest a proposed phoneme, toneme, or chroneme may be valid.
Word: bootilicious Part of Speech: adj 1. Alternative spelling of bootylicious. Labels: alt-of, alternative Example: Beautiful Betty “BeBe” Brown. / Bamboozled, but bedazzled by big, / Bold, bodacious, bootilicious, boy bods / Became baby-bound. Example: Off the Hook is Friday's bootilicious Gatehouse hip hop night.
Word: Malé Part of Speech: name Etymology: Borrowed from Dhivehi މާލެ (māle). Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːlɛ/, /ˈmɑːleɪ/ 1. The capital city of the Maldives.
Word: Mendelism Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English Mendel Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English Mendelism From Mendel + -ism. 1. The whole body of principles of heredity, formulated by G. Mendel, that represent the basis of genetics. Labels: uncountable 2. The study of heredity of character. Labels: uncountable
Word: malevolence Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle French malevolence, from Latin malevolentia (“malevolence”), derived from malevolēns (“malevolent”). Pronunciation: /məˈlɛvələns/ 1. Hostile attitude or feeling. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: to show someone malevolence Example: He said it with malevolence. 2. Behavior exhibiting a hostile attitude. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: imposes Part of Speech: verb 1. third-person singular simple present indicative of impose Labels: form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
Word: imposes Part of Speech: noun 1. plural of impose Labels: form-of, obsolete, plural
Word: proficiency Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From proficient or its etymon, Latin prōficiēns (present participle of prōficiō), + -ency. Pronunciation: /pɹəˈfɪʃənsi/ 1. Ability, skill, competence. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: to attain (or to reach) proficiency Example: a test of proficiency in English
Word: dobra Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Portuguese dobra. Pronunciation: /ˈdəʊbɹə/, /ˈdɒbɹə/ 1. The official or principal currency of São Tomé and Príncipe, divided into 100 cêntimos.
Word: tuath Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Old Irish túath. 1. A tribe or group of people in Ireland, having a loose voluntary system of governance entered into through contracts by all members. Labels: historical Example: There was nothing fixed or enduring about many tuatha, and reflecting the itinerant character of much of Irish society, the Church developed the peculiar phenomenon of roving ecclesiastic families [...].
Word: heuristically Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English heuristic Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al Middle English -ly Middle English -ally English -ally English heuristically From heuristic + -ally. Pronunciation: /hjuˈɹɪstɪkəli/ 1. in a heuristic manner
Word: smalt Part of Speech: noun Etymology: A borrowing from Italian smalto, from Medieval Latin smaltum, from Frankish *smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smeltaną (“to melt, smelt”). A doublet of smalto. 1. A deep blue pigment made from powdered glass mixed with cobalt oxide. Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: irreducible complexity Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Coined by Michael Behe in his book Darwin's Black Box (1996). 1. The proposition that complex organs such as eyes and flagella must have started existing in their current form; i.e., that they cannot have evolved from previous, less complex stages. Labels: uncountable
Word: trug Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Compare trough. Pronunciation: /tɹʌɡ/, /tɹɐɡ/, /tɹʊɡ/, /tɾʌɡ/ 1. A shallow, oval basket used for gardening Labels: UK 2. A trough or tray. Labels: obsolete 3. A hod for mortar. Labels: obsolete 4. A concubine; a harlot. Labels: obsolete Example: the Tobacco seller, with their companion Trugs, must be coached to […]many other places, like wild haggards prancing up and down
Word: jiggery-pokery Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Scots joukery-pawkery (“trickery; deceit”) Attested in English since the nineteenth century. The earliest known use was in the Berkshire Chronicle in 1845. Pronunciation: /ˌdʒɪɡ.ə.ɹiˈpəʊ.kə.ɹi/, /ˌdʒɪɡ.ɚ.iˈpoʊ.kɚ.i/ 1. Trickery or misrepresentation. Labels: uncountable Example: 'Jiggery-pokery,' said Helena, 'you talk jiggery-pokery. Stop it, can't you?' Example: Much as 'off-balance sheet' jiggery-pokery and other 'creative accounting' allowed banks to get away with false impressions of their true financial position... 2. Manipulation. Labels: uncountable Example: ...under the present law, the averages were made up so faithfully and fairly as to prevent any jiggery-pokery. Example: ...what my friend Singleton calls "rigging, cornering, and general jiggery-pokery methods,"... 3. Sexual intercourse. Labels: euphemistic, uncountable Example: ...the males, like most birds, have no penis. But that doesn't stop a bit of gay jiggery-pokery.
Word: unilamellar Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ís? Proto-Indo-European *h₁óynos Proto-Italic *oinos Old Latin oinos Latin ūnus Latin ūni-der. English uni- English lamellar English unilamellar From uni- + lamellar. 1. Having a single layer or lamella. Labels: not-comparable
Word: unimpeachable 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 impeach Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin -ābilis Old French -ablebor. Middle English -able English -able English impeachable English unimpeachable From un- + impeachable. 1. Not able to be impeached or reproached. Example: a gentleman of unimpeachable integrity Example: “Patriotism” makes for a slogan that is so unimpeachable it’s arguably even manipulative; as a matter of strategy, it’s harder for opponents to vote against the USA PATRIOT Act than, say, the Enhanced Security Act. 2. Blameless. 3. Beyond doubt. Example: an unimpeachable alibi Example: On the previous day, the prisoner had purchased strychnine at the village chemist’s shop, wearing a disguise by means of which he hoped to throw the onus of the crime upon another man—to wit, Mrs. Inglethorp’s husband, of whom he had been bitterly jealous. Luckily for Mr. Inglethorp, he had been able to produce an unimpeachable alibi.
Word: uniquely Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Etymology tree English unique Middle English -ly English -ly English uniquely From unique + -ly. Pronunciation: /juːˈniːk.li/ 1. In a unique manner. Example: a uniquely gifted musician Example: components that are uniquely numbered for identification
Word: mendicity Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Old French mendicité, from Latin mendicitas. 1. the state of being a beggar; mendicancy or beggary Labels: countable, uncountable
Word: pseudologue Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Latin pseudologus (“liar”), from Ancient Greek ψευδολόγος (pseudológos, “speaking falsely, lying”). Equivalent to pseudo- + -logue. 1. A pathological liar Example: 1996, Charles V Ford Lies! Lies!! Lies!!! http://print.google.com/print?id=_FSc5C2bFYUC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&sig=65p2wlZfcRu3nutVAX-2YsZv2tk Unlike a delusional psychotic person, the pseudologue will abandon the story or change it if confronted with contradictory evidence or sufficient disbelief. Example: 1997, Alan J. Cunnien, “Psychiatric and Medical Syndromes Associated with Deception,” in Clinical Assessment of Malingering and Deception, Richard Rogers ed. http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&id=YZ6uK4Cjd_MC&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&sig=U2ylaYiNPRuZhU8c6xYEif8SV8E Unlike the common braggart, however, the pseudologue falsifies a substantial amount of information with bearing upon activities, acquaintances, or personal identity.
Word: admonition Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English amonicioun, from Old French amonicion, from Latin admonitio, stem of admonere. The -d- was restored in English in the 17th century. Pronunciation: /ˌædməˈnɪʃən/ 1. A rebuke by an authority that one has erred and should not persist in one's actions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: But modesty cannot be implanted by admonition only—the elders must set the example.
Word: GSTQ Part of Speech: phrase 1. Initialism of God Save the Queen. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Word: webcomic Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Web + comic. The word is first attested 2000, but websites titled "WebComics" existed previously (as early as 1995). 1. An online comic, especially one first published on the Internet. Labels: Internet Example: Webcomics certainly have their selling points. They are harder to censor and generally free from editorial meddling[…] Example: Weinersmith, who is best known for his webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, describes the polystate as a geopolitical entity in which multiple overlapping states exist — but each “state” consists of citizens who have agreed to the laws of a single non-geographic state; typical geographically-bound nations, or traditional “geostates”, would be replaced by “polystates”, which are collections of “anthrostates”.
Word: nonuplet Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From nonuple + -et. 1. A group of nine, particularly (music) a tuplet of nine notes. 2. One of a group of nine, particularly one of nine babies born from the same mother at one time.
Word: hxc Part of Speech: noun 1. Abbreviation of hardcore (music genre). Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, uncountable
Word: ballpark estimate Part of Speech: noun Etymology: See ballpark figure. 1. A ballpark figure; a very rough approximation. Labels: idiomatic
Word: bird of paradise Part of Speech: noun Etymology: The first Europeans to encounter their skins were the voyagers in Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the Earth. Antonio Pigafetta wrote that "The people told us that those birds came from the terrestrial paradise, and they call them bolon diuata, that is to say, 'birds of God"." "Bolon diuata" appears to be closer to Malay burung (“a bird”) and dewata (“a god”). 1. Any of various passerine birds of the family Paradisaeidae native to Oceania. In many of the species the breeding plumage of the males is brightly coloured. Example: She had a jonquil silk pelisse, a bonnet of the same colour, with a bird of paradise plume, looking very much like an illuminated butterfly. 2. A showy tropical flower of the genus Strelitzia, native to South Africa.
Word: turnstone Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From turn + stone. 1. Either of two species of coastal wading bird, Arenaria interpres and Arenaria melanocephala, that breed in the Arctic and readily turn stones or seaweed looking for hidden invertebrates.
Word: bluebird Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From blue + bird. Pronunciation: /ˈbluˌbɝd/ 1. Any of various North American birds of the genus Sialia in the thrush family. Their plumage is blue or blue and red. 2. Any of various African starlings of the genus Lamprotornis, family Sturnidae, having predominantly glossy blue plumage. 3. An unexpectedly profitable or large deal that comes to a salesperson with minimal effort.
Word: bluebird Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From blue + bird. Pronunciation: /ˈbluˌbɝd/ 1. Sunny and cloudless after a period of snowfall or rain. Example: We reached the top of the mountain, stepping out of the tram to the most bluebird day I had ever seen. I looked out onto Mineral Basin, to see miles and miles of gnarly snowcapped mountains and trees peppered across the landscape. Was I in heaven? Example: Nothing warms the soul like waking up to fresh powder and a bluebird sky on a cold November morning. 2. Sunny and cloudless generally.
Word: gey Part of Speech: adv Etymology: Originally a variant form of gay, now associated with distinct senses. 1. Very. Labels: Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland, not-comparable Example: I am nae believer in auld wives' stories about ghaists, though this is gey like a place for them - But mortal, or of the other world, here they come! - twa men and a light. Example: But I'll put a gold chain around his neck, An' a gey good chain it'll be.
Word: gey Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Originally a variant form of gay, now associated with distinct senses. 1. Fairly good; considerable. Labels: Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland Example: They were married next New Year's Day, and Ellison had begun to think himself a gey man in Kinraddie, and maybe one of the gentry.
Word: all square Part of Speech: adj 1. With all players or teams having the same score; tied, drawn. Labels: not-comparable, usually
Word: art form Part of Speech: noun 1. Any activity or piece of work that has artistic merit. Example: A race car is an art form. 2. A specific genre or medium of art. Example: Pottery is an art form.
Word: all-time Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From all + time. 1. Of all time; unsurpassed up to the present time. Labels: not-comparable Example: Sales have reached an all-time low, so the business may have to declare bankruptcy. Example: And the Premier League's all-time top-goalscoring midfielder proved he has not lost the knack of being in the right place at the right time with a trio of clinical finishes.
Word: all told Part of Speech: adv Etymology: From all + told (“counted”), from the original, now archaic sense [one] of tell. 1. With everything included, counted, or summed; in total. Labels: idiomatic, not-comparable Example: I think they had over 300 people there, all told.
Word: foison Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English foisoun, from Old French foison, from Latin fūsiōnem. Doublet of fusion. Pronunciation: /ˈfɔɪzən/ 1. An abundance, a rich supply of. Labels: archaic Example: The earth did never mean her foizon For those who crown life’s cup with poison Of fanatic rage and meaningless revenge— But for those radiant spirits, who are still The standard-bearers in the van of Change. 2. Harvest. Labels: archaic Example: Gon. […]Treaſon, fellony, / Sword, Pike, Knife, Gun, or neede of any Engine / Would I not haue : but Nature ſhould bring forth / Of it owne kinde, all foyzon, all abundance / To feed my innocent people. 3. Strength, power. Labels: Scotland
Word: spadework Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From spade + work. 1. Work done by digging with a spade. Labels: uncountable Example: It is this help that the present book attempts to give, and the moment of its appearance, during a partial lull of excavation, is an opportune one. There is a chance to take breath and gather up the threads, with the possibility that the next month's spade-work will not put us out of date. 2. Work done in preparation for something else. Labels: figuratively, uncountable Example: There's a lot of spadework to be done before the scheme can be implemented. Example: Removing a portion of chair which had got entangled in my back hair, I said with a candour that became me well: “I was looking for a mouse.” If she had replied, “Ah, yes, indeed. I understand now. A mouse, to be sure. Quite,” everything would have been nice and smooth, but she didn't. “A mouse?” she said. “What do you mean?” Well, of course, if she didn't know what a mouse was, there was evidently a good deal of tedious spadework before us, and one would scarcely have known where to start.
Word: almshouse Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English almeshous, almassehous, equivalent to alms + house. 1. A building of residence for the poor, sick or elderly of a parish. Originally founded by the Church, and usually funded by charitable donations. Example: Much they saw, and far they went, and many homes they visited, but always with a happy end. The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; on foreign lands, and they were close at home; by struggling men, and they were patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich. In almshouse, hospital, and jail, in misery's every refuge, where vain man in his little brief authority had not made fast the door, and barred the Spirit out, he left his blessing, and taught Scrooge his precepts.
Word: by no means Part of Speech: prep_phrase Etymology: From by + no + means (“condition or instrument to achieve a result”). Pronunciation: /baɪ nəʊ ˈmiːnz/, /baɪ noʊ ˈminz/ 1. Certainly not; definitely not; not at all. Labels: idiomatic Example: By no means am I suggesting that euthanasia should be outlawed, but rather that we should look at its inherent risks. Example: Is that all you’ve got to say? ―By no means. Let me explain further.
Word: by all means Part of Speech: prep_phrase 1. Emphatically yes; certainly; definitely. Example: By all means take as much salt as you need: that's what neighbors are for. Example: There is no danger to most people from taking a bath in a state of ordinary perspiration. But one should by all means avoid it if he is overheated or fatigued. 2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see by, all, means. Example: He vowed to attack her by all means possible, suggesting their war was only just beginning.
Word: by jingo Part of Speech: intj Etymology: Uncertain for a long time. Main theories include: * a minced oath of "by Jesus"; compare crikey, zounds, egads, etc. * a corruption ultimately of "by St. Gingoulph", in reference to Saint Gangulphus of Burgundy. * a borrowing from Basque Jainkoa (“god”); compare by Jove. Basque sailors ― a common famous occupation for their people, who often swore by their term for God ― travelled far through the seas for centuries, and often met Englishmen. 1. Used to express determination or surprise. Example: […] of all commend me to Ball, this is the Friar of the World, for my Money; you've heard how short, concise, and compendious he is in his Answers? Nothing is to be got out of him but Monosyllables; by Jingo, I believe he would make three bits of a Cherry. Example: “Yes, I'll make Simpledoria get out of the way. Come here, Simpledoria. Now, Bill, put your heels together on the edge of the walk. That's right. All ready? Now then! One for the money—two for the show—three to make ready—and four for to GO!” Another silence. “By jingo, Bill Hammersley, you've beat me! Ha, ha! That was a jump! What say?”
Word: leigh Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English legh, lege, lei (“clearing, open ground”) from Old English lēah (“clearing in a forest”) from Proto-Germanic *lauhaz (“meadow”), from Proto-Indo-European *lówkos (“field, meadow”). Akin to Old Frisian lāch (“meadow”), Old Saxon lōh (“forest, grove”) (Middle Dutch loo (“forest, thicket”); Dutch -lo (suffix forming place names)), Old High German lōh (“covered clearing, low bushes”), Old Norse ló (“clearing, meadow”). More at Waterloo. Pronunciation: /ˈliː/, [ˈlɪi̯] 1. A meadow. Labels: archaic
Word: butter bean Part of Speech: noun 1. Any bean of certain species, including: 2. Any bean of certain species, including: 3. Any bean of certain species, including:
Word: butterbean Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of butter bean. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: bushfire Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English bush Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥ Proto-Germanic *fōr Proto-West Germanic *fuir Old English fȳr Middle English fyr English fire English bushfire From bush + fire. 1. An uncontrolled fire in a wooded or grassy area; a wildfire. Labels: Australia, New-Zealand Example: 1985, Australian House of Representatives, Parliamentary Debates, House of Representatives, Weekly Hansard, Issues 4-6, page 1322, Many homes, a great deal of property and a number of lives were lost as a result of the bushfires in this country. Example: It should also be kept in mind that often bushfires start and move quickly and the information relating to their location and activity may take some time to assemble and make available.
Word: betaken Part of Speech: verb 1. past participle of betake Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: copyist Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree English copy Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek -ῐστής (-ĭstḗs)bor. Latin -istader. Old French -istebor. Middle English -ist English -ist English copyist From copy + -ist. Pronunciation: /ˈkɑpiɪst/, /ˈkɒpiɪst/ 1. A person who makes manual copies of works such as manuscripts or paintings.
Word: copyedit Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Back-formation from copy editor. 1. To correct the spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. of printed material and prepare it for typesetting, printing, or online publishing. Labels: transitive Example: Memoirs of a Bastard Angel contains so many amazing howlers that it seems barely to have been copyedited or proofread.
Word: copyedit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Back-formation from copy editor. 1. The process or act of copyediting a document. Example: A copyedit is the final type of edit performed on documents. Example: The copyedit may be strictly mechanical or may include stylistic changes. 2. The result of copyediting a document. Example: Your production editor will probably not contact you until the due date of the copyedit is established in-house. 3. A single change to the text of a document that is an instance of copyediting. Example: For example, if the author is responsible for inserting the copyedits into the source files, then there are repercussions later on when changes are made during the page formatting stage. Example: The copyedits in science.net — a game designed for middle school students — were somewhat less blunt, but they were supposed to retain the other salient features of the original.
Word: copyediting Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative spelling of copy editing. Labels: alt-of, alternative, uncountable
Word: copyediting Part of Speech: verb 1. present participle and gerund of copyedit Labels: form-of, gerund, participle, present
Word: copyeditor Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative spelling of copy editor. Labels: alt-of, alternative Example: Then it’s off to a copyeditor, who from my experience are these superhuman, eagle-eyed monsters that catch continuity errors unseen to the naked eye.
Word: copy edit Part of Speech: verb 1. Alternative form of copyedit. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: copy edit Part of Speech: noun 1. Alternative form of copyedit. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: copy editing Part of Speech: noun 1. The correction of the spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. of printed material and preparation of it for typesetting, printing, or online publishing. Labels: uncountable
Word: copy editor Part of Speech: noun 1. Someone who corrects printed material (copy) and prepares it for typesetting, printing, or online publishing.
Word: retype Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- English type English retype From re- + type. 1. To re-enter (text) using a keyboard. Labels: transitive
Word: holme Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English holm (“an island”), from Old Norse holmr, from Proto-Germanic *hulmaz. 1. Alternative form of holm. Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: vachery Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From French vacherie, from vache (“a cow”), Latin vacca. Compare vaccary. By surface analysis, French vache + -ery. Pronunciation: /ˈvæʃəɹi/ 1. A dairy, a vaccary. Labels: UK, dialectal, obsolete