noun
(in film or television) an abrupt transition from one scene to another
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Word 164: Quittance
noun poetic/literary
a release or discharge from a debt or obligation
• a document certifying this; a receipt
a release or discharge from a debt or obligation
• a document certifying this; a receipt
Word 163: Uraeus
noun ( pl. uraei)
a representation of a sacred serpent as an emblem of supreme power, worn on the headdresses of ancient Egyptian deities and sovereigns
a representation of a sacred serpent as an emblem of supreme power, worn on the headdresses of ancient Egyptian deities and sovereigns
Word 162: Theodolite
noun
a surveying instrument with a rotating telescope for measuring horizontal and vertical angles
Word 161: Palimony
noun informal
compensation made by one member of an unmarried couple to the other after separation
compensation made by one member of an unmarried couple to the other after separation
Word 159: Vomer
noun Anatomy
the small thin bone separating the left and right nasal cavities in humans and most other vertebrates
the small thin bone separating the left and right nasal cavities in humans and most other vertebrates
Word 156: Seppuku
noun
ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword, formerly practiced in Japan by samurai as an honorable alternative to disgrace or execution
ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword, formerly practiced in Japan by samurai as an honorable alternative to disgrace or execution
Word 154: Halyard
noun
a rope used for raising and lowering a sail, spar, flag, or yard on a sailing ship
a rope used for raising and lowering a sail, spar, flag, or yard on a sailing ship
Word 153: Remuage
noun
the periodic turning or shaking of bottled wine, esp. champagne, to move sediment toward the cork
the periodic turning or shaking of bottled wine, esp. champagne, to move sediment toward the cork
Word 150: Crèche
noun
a model or tableau representing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth, displayed in homes or public places at Christmas
Word 149: Ylem
noun Astronomy
(in the big bang theory) the primordial matter of the universe, originally conceived as composed of neutrons at high temperature and density
(in the big bang theory) the primordial matter of the universe, originally conceived as composed of neutrons at high temperature and density
Word 148: Imprest
noun
a fund used by a business for small items of expenditure and restored to a fixed amount periodically
• an advance of money made to someone engaged in some business with the state, enabling them to carry out the business
• a sum of money advanced to a person for a particular purpose
a fund used by a business for small items of expenditure and restored to a fixed amount periodically
• an advance of money made to someone engaged in some business with the state, enabling them to carry out the business
• a sum of money advanced to a person for a particular purpose
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Word 145: Dashiki
noun ( pl. -kis)
a loose, brightly colored shirt or tunic, originally from West Africa
Word 144: Gage
noun
a valued object deposited as a guarantee of good faith
• a pledge, esp. a glove, thrown down as a symbol of a challenge to fight
a valued object deposited as a guarantee of good faith
• a pledge, esp. a glove, thrown down as a symbol of a challenge to fight
Friday, November 27, 2009
Word 143: Millefiori
noun
a kind of ornamental glass in which a number of glass rods of different sizes and colors are fused together and cut into sections that form various patterns, typically embedded in colorless transparent glass to make items such as paperweights
Word 141: Adaptogenic
noun
(in herbal medicine) a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes
(in herbal medicine) a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes
Word 140: Netsuke
noun ( pl. same or -kes)
a carved buttonlike ornament, esp. of ivory or wood, formerly worn in Japan to suspend articles from the sash of a kimono
Word 139: Prosopagnosia
noun Psychiatry
an inability to recognize the faces of familiar people, typically as a result of damage to the brain
an inability to recognize the faces of familiar people, typically as a result of damage to the brain
Word 137: Tummler
noun
a person who makes things happen, in particular a professional entertainer whose function is to encourage an audience, guests at a resort, etc., to participate in the entertainments or activities
a person who makes things happen, in particular a professional entertainer whose function is to encourage an audience, guests at a resort, etc., to participate in the entertainments or activities
Word 135: Legman
noun ( pl. -men)
a reporter whose job it is to gather information about news stories at the scene of the event or from an original source
• a person employed to do simple tasks such as running errands or collecting information from outside their workplace
a reporter whose job it is to gather information about news stories at the scene of the event or from an original source
• a person employed to do simple tasks such as running errands or collecting information from outside their workplace
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Word 131: Petitio principii
noun Logic
a fallacy in which a conclusion is taken for granted in the premises; begging the question
a fallacy in which a conclusion is taken for granted in the premises; begging the question
Word 130: Éclaircissment
noun poetic/literary
an enlightening explanation of something, typically someone's conduct, that has been hitherto inexplicable
an enlightening explanation of something, typically someone's conduct, that has been hitherto inexplicable
Word 127: Yantra
noun
a geometric diagram, or any object, used as an aid to meditation in tantric worship
a geometric diagram, or any object, used as an aid to meditation in tantric worship
Word 126: Nidus
noun ( pl. -di or -duses)
a place in which something is formed or deposited; a site of origin
• Medicine a place in which bacteria have multiplied or may multiply; a focus of infection
a place in which something is formed or deposited; a site of origin
• Medicine a place in which bacteria have multiplied or may multiply; a focus of infection
Word 125: Xeroderma
noun
any of various diseases characterized by extreme dryness of the skin, esp. a mild form of ichthyosis
any of various diseases characterized by extreme dryness of the skin, esp. a mild form of ichthyosis
Word 124: Mahout
noun
(in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) a person who works with, rides, and tends an elephant
(in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) a person who works with, rides, and tends an elephant
Word 122: Woopie
noun ( pl. -ies) informal
an affluent retired person able to pursue an active lifestyle
an affluent retired person able to pursue an active lifestyle
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Word 120: Ocarina
noun
a small egg-shaped wind instrument with a mouthpiece and holes for the fingers
Word 118: Ignotum per ignotius
noun
the action of offering an explanation that is harder to understand than the thing it is meant to explain
the action of offering an explanation that is harder to understand than the thing it is meant to explain
Word 117: Ex libris
adverb
used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner
used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner
Word 113: Zakat
noun
obligatory payment made annually under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes
obligatory payment made annually under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Word 109: Premier cru
noun ( pl. premiers crus)
(chiefly in French official classifications) a wine of a superior grade, or the vineyard that produces it
(chiefly in French official classifications) a wine of a superior grade, or the vineyard that produces it
Word 108: Grubstake
noun informal
an amount of material, provisions, or money supplied to an enterprise (originally a prospector for ore) in return for a share in the resulting profits
an amount of material, provisions, or money supplied to an enterprise (originally a prospector for ore) in return for a share in the resulting profits
Word 105: Foley
noun
relating to or concerned with the addition of recorded sound effects after the shooting of a film
relating to or concerned with the addition of recorded sound effects after the shooting of a film
Word 104: Ombré
adjective
(of a fabric) having a dyed, printed, or woven design in which the color is graduated from light to dark
Monday, November 23, 2009
Word 103: Ecbolic
adjective Medicine
inducing contractions of the uterus leading to expulsion of a fetus
inducing contractions of the uterus leading to expulsion of a fetus
Word 102: Mediocracy
noun ( pl. -cies)
a dominant class consisting of mediocre people, or a system in which mediocrity is rewarded
a dominant class consisting of mediocre people, or a system in which mediocrity is rewarded
Word 100: Houri
noun ( pl. -ris)
a beautiful young woman, esp. one of the virgin companions of the faithful in the Muslim Paradise
a beautiful young woman, esp. one of the virgin companions of the faithful in the Muslim Paradise
Word 99: Wet-nurse
verb [ trans.]
act as a wet nurse to
• informal look after (someone) as though they were a helpless infant
act as a wet nurse to
• informal look after (someone) as though they were a helpless infant
Word 98: Impasto
noun Art
the process or technique of laying on paint or pigment thickly so that it stands out from a surface
the process or technique of laying on paint or pigment thickly so that it stands out from a surface
Word 96: Lewis
noun
a steel device for gripping heavy blocks of stone or concrete for lifting, consisting of three pieces arranged to form a dovetail, the outside pieces being fixed in a dovetail mortise by the insertion of the middle piece
a steel device for gripping heavy blocks of stone or concrete for lifting, consisting of three pieces arranged to form a dovetail, the outside pieces being fixed in a dovetail mortise by the insertion of the middle piece
Word 95: Vinify
noun
the conversion of grape juice or other vegetable extract into wine by fermentation
the conversion of grape juice or other vegetable extract into wine by fermentation
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Word 93: Jeu d'esprit
noun ( pl. jeux d'esprit)
a lighthearted display of wit and cleverness, esp. in a work of literature
a lighthearted display of wit and cleverness, esp. in a work of literature
Word 90: Nef
noun
an elaborate table decoration in the shape of a ship for holding such things as table napkins and condiments
Word 89: Epergne
noun
an ornamental centerpiece for a dining table, typically used for holding fruit or flowers
Word 88: In flagrante delicto
adverb
in the very act of wrongdoing, esp. in an act of sexual misconduct
in the very act of wrongdoing, esp. in an act of sexual misconduct
Word 87: Zorbing
noun
a sport in which a participant is secured inside an inner capsule in a large, transparent ball that is then rolled along the ground or down hills
a sport in which a participant is secured inside an inner capsule in a large, transparent ball that is then rolled along the ground or down hills
Word 84: Hypnopompic
adjective Psychology
of or relating to the state immediately preceding waking up
of or relating to the state immediately preceding waking up
Word 83: Lichen
noun
a simple slow-growing plant that typically forms a low crustlike, leaflike, or branching growth on rocks, walls, and trees
Word 82: Bier
noun
a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave
a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave
Word 80: Gavage
noun
the administration of food or drugs by force, esp. to an animal, typically through a tube leading down the throat to the stomach
the administration of food or drugs by force, esp. to an animal, typically through a tube leading down the throat to the stomach
Word 76: Agave
noun
a succulent plant with rosettes of narrow spiny leaves and tall flower spikes, native to the southern US and tropical America
Friday, November 20, 2009
Word 75: Memento mori
noun ( pl. same)
an object serving as a warning or reminder of death, such as a skull
an object serving as a warning or reminder of death, such as a skull
Word 73: Vigorish
noun informal
the percentage deducted from a gambler's winnings by the organizers of a game
the percentage deducted from a gambler's winnings by the organizers of a game
Word 72: Akrasia
noun chiefly Philosophy
the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through weakness of will
the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through weakness of will
Word 70: Shame culture
noun Anthropology
a culture in which conformity of behavior is maintained through the individual's fear of being shamed
a culture in which conformity of behavior is maintained through the individual's fear of being shamed
Word 69: Sherwani
noun ( pl. -nis)
a knee-length coat buttoning to the neck, worn by men from the Indian subcontinent
Word 68: Wigwam
noun
a dome-shaped hut or tent made by fastening mats, skins, or bark over a framework of poles, used by some North American Indian peoples
Word 67: Ingravescent
adjective Medicine
(of a condition or symptom) gradually increasing in severity
(of a condition or symptom) gradually increasing in severity
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Word 62: Zygoma
noun ( pl. -mata) Anatomy
the bony arch of the cheek formed by connection of the zygomatic and temporal bones
Word 61: Mahlstick
noun
a light stick with a padded leather ball at one end, held against work by a painter or signwriter to support and steady the brush hand
Word 55: Esker
noun Geology
a long ridge of gravel and other sediment, typically having a winding course, deposited by meltwater from a retreating glacier or ice sheet
Word 54: A posteriori
adjective
relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes
relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes
Word 53: Lithotomy
noun
surgical removal of a calculus (stone) from the bladder, kidney, or urinary tract
surgical removal of a calculus (stone) from the bladder, kidney, or urinary tract
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Word 50: Letter bomb
noun
an explosive device hidden in a small package and sent to someone with the intention of harming or killing them
an explosive device hidden in a small package and sent to someone with the intention of harming or killing them
Word 48: Bouquet garni
noun ( pl. bouquets garnis)
a bunch of herbs, typically encased in a cheesecloth bag, used for flavoring a stew or soup
a bunch of herbs, typically encased in a cheesecloth bag, used for flavoring a stew or soup
Word 47: Pergola
noun
an archway in a garden or park consisting of a framework covered with trained climbing or trailing plants
an archway in a garden or park consisting of a framework covered with trained climbing or trailing plants
Monday, November 16, 2009
Word 41: Prisoner's dilemma
noun
(in game theory) a situation in which two players each have two options whose outcome depends crucially on the simultaneous choice made by the other, often formulated in terms of two prisoners separately deciding whether to confess to a crime
(in game theory) a situation in which two players each have two options whose outcome depends crucially on the simultaneous choice made by the other, often formulated in terms of two prisoners separately deciding whether to confess to a crime
Word 39: Wolf whistle
noun
a whistle with a rising and falling pitch, directed toward someone to express sexual attraction or admiration
a whistle with a rising and falling pitch, directed toward someone to express sexual attraction or admiration
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Word 37: Jumar
noun Climbing
a clamp that is attached to a fixed rope and automatically tightens when weight is applied and relaxes when it is removed
Word 36: Qibla
noun [ in sing.]
the direction of the Kaaba (the sacred building at Mecca), to which Muslims turn at prayer
the direction of the Kaaba (the sacred building at Mecca), to which Muslims turn at prayer
Word 35: Reiki
noun
a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being
a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being
Word 32: Étagère
noun ( pl. étagères)
a piece of furniture with a number of open shelves for displaying ornaments
Word 31: Kettledrum
noun
a large drum shaped like a bowl, with a membrane adjustable for tension (and so pitch) stretched across
Word 30: Caster
noun
each of a set of small wheels, free to swivel in any direction, fixed to the legs or base of a heavy piece of furniture so that it can be moved easily
Word 26: Tilak
noun
a mark worn by a Hindu on the forehead to indicate caste, status, or sect, or as an ornament
Friday, November 13, 2009
Word 23: Sitzfleisch
noun informal
a person's buttocks
• power to endure or to persevere in an activity; staying power
a person's buttocks
• power to endure or to persevere in an activity; staying power
Word 22: Nooner
noun informal
an event that occurs in the middle of the day, esp. an act of sexual intercourse
an event that occurs in the middle of the day, esp. an act of sexual intercourse
Word 21: Inverted snobbery
noun derogatory
the attitude of seeming to despise anything associated with wealth or social status, while at the same time elevating those things associated with lack of wealth and social position
the attitude of seeming to despise anything associated with wealth or social status, while at the same time elevating those things associated with lack of wealth and social position
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Word 19: Clevis
noun
a U-shaped or forked metal connector within which another part can be fastened by means of a bolt or pin passing through the ends of the connector
Word 18: Neuston
noun Biology
small aquatic organisms inhabiting the surface layer or moving on the surface film of water
small aquatic organisms inhabiting the surface layer or moving on the surface film of water
Word 17: Kazachok
noun
a Slavic dance with a fast and typically quickening tempo, featuring a step in which a squatting dancer kicks out each leg alternately to the front
Word 16: Mammon
noun
wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship and devotion. It was taken by medieval writers as the name of the devil of covetousness, and revived in this sense by Milton
wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship and devotion. It was taken by medieval writers as the name of the devil of covetousness, and revived in this sense by Milton
Word 14: Clerical collar
noun
a stiff upright white collar that fastens at the back, worn by the clergy in some churches
a stiff upright white collar that fastens at the back, worn by the clergy in some churches
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Word 11: Lex talionis
noun
the law of retaliation, whereby a punishment resembles the offense committed in kind and degree
the law of retaliation, whereby a punishment resembles the offense committed in kind and degree
Word 10: Agogo
noun
a small bell made of two metal cones, used as a percussion instrument in African and Latin music
Word 9: Dieback
noun
a condition in which a tree or shrub begins to die from the tip of its leaves or roots backward, owing to disease or an unfavorable environment
a condition in which a tree or shrub begins to die from the tip of its leaves or roots backward, owing to disease or an unfavorable environment
Word 8: Nebulizer
noun
a device for producing a fine spray of liquid, used for example for inhaling a medicinal drug
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Word 7: Hypnopedia
noun
the act or process of learning during sleep by listening to recordings repeatedly
the act or process of learning during sleep by listening to recordings repeatedly
Monday, November 9, 2009
Word 6: Feu de joie
noun ( pl. feux de joie)
a rifle salute fired by soldiers on a ceremonial occasion, each soldier firing in succession along the ranks to make a continuous sound
a rifle salute fired by soldiers on a ceremonial occasion, each soldier firing in succession along the ranks to make a continuous sound
Word 4: Massé
noun [ usu. as adj.] Billiards
a stroke made with an inclined cue, imparting swerve to the ball
a stroke made with an inclined cue, imparting swerve to the ball
Word 3: Shoji
noun ( pl. same or -jis)
(in Japan) a sliding outer or inner door made of a latticed screen covered with white paper
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Word 2: Havelock
noun
a cloth covering for a military cap that extends downward to protect the neck from sun and weather
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