noun
a kind of helmet without beaver or visor, worn by soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Word 2061: Morion
noun
a kind of helmet without beaver or visor, worn by soldiers in the 16th and 17th centuries
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Word 2060: Petite bourgeoisie
noun ( the petite bourgeoisie) [ treated as sing. or pl.]
the lower middle class
the lower middle class
Word 2059: Gudgeon
noun
1. a small, edible, European freshwater fish, often used as bait by anglers
2. a credulous or easily fooled person
1. a small, edible, European freshwater fish, often used as bait by anglers
2. a credulous or easily fooled person
Word 2058: Sine die
adverb
(with reference to business or proceedings that have been adjourned) with no appointed date for resumption
(with reference to business or proceedings that have been adjourned) with no appointed date for resumption
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Word 2057: Djellaba
noun
a loose hooded cloak, typically woolen, of a kind traditionally worn by Arabs
Word 2056: Bastion
noun
a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions
• a natural rock formation resembling such a fortification
• figurative an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities
a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions
• a natural rock formation resembling such a fortification
• figurative an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities
Word 2055: Réclame
noun
public acclaim; notoriety
• a hunger for publicity or flair for getting attention
public acclaim; notoriety
• a hunger for publicity or flair for getting attention
Word 2054: Synecdoche
noun
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”)
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”)
Word 2053: Matzo
noun ( pl. -zos or -zoth)
a thin, crisp unleavened bread, traditionally eaten by Jews during Passover
Word 2052: Wormwood
noun
1. a woody shrub with a bitter aromatic taste, used, esp. formerly, as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe and in medicine
2. figurative a state or source of bitterness or grief
1. a woody shrub with a bitter aromatic taste, used, esp. formerly, as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe and in medicine
2. figurative a state or source of bitterness or grief
Word 2051: Squib
noun
1. a small firework that burns with a hissing sound before exploding
• a short piece of satirical writing
• a short news item or filler in a newspaper
2. a small, slight, or weak person, esp. a child
3. Football a short kick on a kickoff
• Baseball (also squibber) a blooper or infield grounder that becomes a base hit
1. a small firework that burns with a hissing sound before exploding
• a short piece of satirical writing
• a short news item or filler in a newspaper
2. a small, slight, or weak person, esp. a child
3. Football a short kick on a kickoff
• Baseball (also squibber) a blooper or infield grounder that becomes a base hit
Word 2050: Turista
noun informal
diarrhea as suffered by travelers when visiting certain foreign countries
diarrhea as suffered by travelers when visiting certain foreign countries
Word 2049: Neem
noun
a tropical Old World tree that yields mahoganylike timber, oil, medicinal products, and insecticide
a tropical Old World tree that yields mahoganylike timber, oil, medicinal products, and insecticide
Word 2048: Rabbet
noun
a step-shaped recess cut along the edge or in the face of a piece of wood, typically forming a match to the edge or tongue of another piece
Word 2047: Diddle
verb informal
1. [ trans.] (usu. be diddled) cheat or swindle (someone) so as to deprive them of something
• deliberately falsify (something)
2. [ intrans.] informal pass time aimlessly or unproductively
• ( diddle with) play or mess with
3. [ trans.] vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with (someone)
1. [ trans.] (usu. be diddled) cheat or swindle (someone) so as to deprive them of something
• deliberately falsify (something)
2. [ intrans.] informal pass time aimlessly or unproductively
• ( diddle with) play or mess with
3. [ trans.] vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with (someone)
Word 2046: Sumi
noun
a type of black Japanese ink prepared in solid sticks and used for painting and writing
a type of black Japanese ink prepared in solid sticks and used for painting and writing
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