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Nov 29, 2012 This week's theme Illustrated words This week's words bursiform concinnity lachrymal wassail phantasmagoria Illustration: Leah Palmer Preiss Discuss Feedback RSS/XML A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg wassail PRONUNCIATION: (WOS-uhl, wo-SAYL) MEANING: verb tr.: To toast. verb intr.: To go from house to house singing carols at Christmas. noun: 1. A toast to someone's health.   2. A festivity with much drinking.   3. A drink for toasting, especially spiced ale.   4. The singing of Christmas carols going from house to house. ETYMOLOGY: From Old Norse ves heill (be well). Earliest documented use: 1275. USAGE: "Cows and oxen used to be wassailed too for the same reason, to bring luck and encourage good health in the coming year." Days Lengthen, Cold Strengthens; Beverley Guardian (UK); Jan 16, 2012. Explore "wassail" in the Visual Thesaurus. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: When money speaks, the truth keeps silent. -Russian proverb

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