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SEHNSUCHT
PRONUNCIATION: (ZEN-zookht)
MEANING: noun: Yearning or longing.
PRONUNCIATION: (ZEN-zookht)
ETYMOLOGY: From German Sehnsucht (longing or yearning), from sehnen (to long or yearn) + Sucht (craving or addiction). Earliest documented use: 1847.
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SEIN SUCHT - 1. his needs; 2. I'm looking for that river through Paris
SEHN SUCH - they really want that kind of thing
SEHN AUCH "T" - they also crave those little golf-ball supports
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[In a foreign language these tend to be a little strained]
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LEI
PRONUNCIATION: (lay, LAY-ee)
MEANING: noun: A garland, typically made of flowers, or leaves, shells, nuts, feathers, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Hawaiian lei. Earliest documented use: 1843.
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ILEI - paralyzed intestines
LEIB - (German) body
LII - that new card game, named for the number of cards in its deck
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VERSTEHEN
PRONUNCIATION: (fuhr-SHTAY-uhn)
MEANING: noun: The use of empathy in understanding human actions and behavior, especially in interpreting sociological or historical events.
ETYMOLOGY. From German verstehen (to understand). Earliest documented use: 1934.
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VERSE HEN - she writes poetry
VERS THEN - toward that time, in Paris
OVER-STEHEN - to remain in Berlin for too long
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KAPU
PRONUNCIATION: (KAH-poo)
MEANING: noun: Taboo.
ETYMOLOGY: From Hawaiian kapu, from the Proto-Polynesian root tapu which also gave us taboo. Earliest documented use: 1933.
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OKAPU - more than one relatively long-necked African ruminants, akin to giraffes
KARU - a brand of sweet corn-sugar syrup, often poured over pancakes and waffles
KUPU - a small hand-sized vessel for tea, used in Japan
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WISSENSCHAFT
PRONUNCIATION: (VI-suhn-shaft)
MEANING: noun: Knowledge, learning, and science or their systematic pursuit.
ETYMOLOGY: From German Wissenschaft (science), from Wissen (knowledge) + -schaft (-ship, making). Earliest documented use: 1934.
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WISSENSCHRAFT - a former restaurant chain and manufacturer of candy, chocolates and cakes, since purchased by Pet Milk Company and broken into its several components
WISSENS CHAT - a conversation about human knowledge
WISSENS CHART - a graphic representation of same
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PALMATE
PRONUNCIATION: (PAL/PAHL/PA/PAH-mayt)
MEANING: adjective: Shaped like a hand with the fingers spread.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin palma (palm, palm tree), which also gave us palmer, palmary, and palmy. Earliest documented use: 1738.
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PSALMATE - lyrical and poetic
PALM DATE - a kind of tree tryst
DALMATE - to speckle a white dog with black dots
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TWO-FISTED
PRONUNCIATION: (TOO-fis-tuhd, too-FIS-)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Tough; aggressive.
2. Energetic; enthusiastic.
3. Using both hands.
ETYMOLOGY: The term describes someone using both hands, literally or figuratively, where a clenched fist alludes to vigor, resolve, etc. From two, from Old English twa (two) + fist, from Old English fyst (fist). Earliest documented use: 1774. Also see ironfisted, clutchfist, and hardfisted.
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TWO-FASTED - celebrating both abstinence-observing holidays on the same day
TWO-LISTED - a second-team player
TWO-FISHED - limited to only a couple of piscatorial species
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PUGILISM
PRONUNCIATION: (PYOO-juh-liz-uhm)
MEANING: noun: The hobby or sport of fighting with fists: boxing.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin pugil (boxer), from pugnare (to fight), from pugnus (fist). Ultimately from the Indo-European root peuk- (to prick), which also gave us point, puncture, pungent, punctual, poignant, pounce, poniard, oppugn, repugn, impugn, pugilist, repugnant, pugnacious, and propugnaculum. Earliest documented use: 1788.
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RUGILISM - a style of interior-decorating featuring small carpets in many places
PURILISM - childishness
BUGILISM - 1. government by insects; 2. government by horn-players
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CACK-HANDED
PRONUNCIATION: (kak-HAN-did, KAK-han-)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Clumsy; awkward.
2. Left-handed.
ETYMOLOGY: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps from cack (excrement), ultimately from the Indo-European root kakka-/kaka- (to defecate) which also gave us poppycock, cacophony, cacology, cacography, and cacoethes. Earliest documented use: 1854.
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BACK-HANDED - like "TNEMILPMOC"
CLACK-HANDED - a Flamenco castinet-player
LACK-HANDED - afflicted with phocomelia
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MANDUCTION
PRONUNCIATION: (man-yuh-DUHK-shuhn)
MEANING: noun:
1. The act of guiding, leading, or introducing.
2. Something that guides, leads, or introduces.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin manuduction, from manus (hand) + ducere (to draw, lead). Earliest documented use: 1505.
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SANDUCTION - the process whereby the beach under your feet at the waterline is washed away by receding waves
MANDICTION - using very clear enunciation to give a condescending (and perhaps unnecessary) explanation
MANDUCATION - teaching young Homo sapiens to be more mature
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APHRODITE
PRONUNCIATION: (af-ruh-DEE-zee-ak, -DIZ-ee-ak)
MEANING: noun: Something, such as a food or drug, that increases sexual desire.
adjective: Arousing sexual desire.
ETYMOLOGY: After Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty in Greek Mythology. Earliest documented use: 1710. Another word coined after her is hermaphrodite.
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ACHRODITE - any colorless individual
APHRODATE - an evening out with a goddess
APHORODITE - an ancient scholar given to uttering concise quote-worthy statements
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TITANIC
PRONUNCIATION: (ty-TAN-ik)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Of great power, strength, size, etc.
2. Relating to or made of the element titanium.
ETYMOLOGY: After Titan, any of a family of giant gods in Greek mythology. The element titanium is named after Titans because of its high strength. Earliest documented use: 1628; for sense 2: 1814. Another word coined after the Titans is titanism
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TRITANIC - containing tritium
TITANTIC - a step above belly-dancing
TISANIC - brewed from plant leaves and stems
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BORASCO
PRONUNCIATION: (buh/boh-RAS-koh)
MEANING: noun:
1. A sudden violent gust of wind, typically accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet. Also known as a squall.
2. A bad spell; something unproductive, especially a mine (the opposite of bonanza).
ETYMOLOGY: The term is also spelled as borasca or borrasca. It’s from Spanish borrasca (squall), from Latin borras (north wind), from Greek borras (boreas), after Boreas, the god of the north wind, in Greek mythology who also gave us boreal and hyperborean. Earliest documented use: 1686.
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BORISCO - Russia, Inc.
BORA'S C.E.O. - chief executive officer of half of a Tahitian island
BORASCH - beet soup from central Europe
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VULCANIC
PRONUNCIATION: (vuhl-KAN-ik)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Relating to volcanoes.
2. Fiery; explosive; full of anger, energy, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: After Vulcan, the god of fire and metalworking in Roman mythology. The word vulcanize is also coined after him. Earliest documented use: 1660. The word vulcanic is also spelled as volcanic.
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VULCAN - ICK ! - response of someone who finds Spock and his ilk to be repulsive
SULCANIC - full of grooves and furrows
VULPANIC - a stampede of foxes
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GORGONIAN
PRONUNCIATION: (gor-GOH-nee-uhn)
MEANING: adjective: Terrible; repulsive.
noun: Any of various corals having a hard, treelike skeleton.
ETYMOLOGY: After Gorgon, any of the three monstrous sisters in Greek mythology, who had snakes for hair: Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. Earliest documented use: 1616. See also, gorgonize.
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GORDONIAN - knotty
GOREGONIAN - from the bloody history of the US Northwest
ORGONIAN - like a device constructed of layers of wood and other materials, as tin, claimed by its inventor, Wilhelm Reich, to restore energy to persons sitting in it, thereby aiding in the cure of impotence, cancer, the common cold, etc; first postulated in the 1940s
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ANTRE
PRONUNCIATION: (AN-tuhr)
MEANING: noun: A cave, cavern, cavity, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Middle French antre (cave), from Latin antrum (cave), from Greek antron (cave). Earliest documented use: 1585.
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ANTARE - a singularly bright star in the night sky, 𝛂-Scorpius
ANTIE - a female protester
AITRE - high-falutin' pronunciation of the French verb "to be"
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REEVE
PRONUNCIATION: (reev)
MEANING: verb tr.: To pass (a rope or the like) through.
noun: A local official.
ETYMOLOGY: For verb: Of uncertain origin. Earliest documented use: 1600.
For noun: From Old English gerefa (high official). Earliest documented use: before the 12th century.
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PRE-EVE - the night before the night before a holiday
RÈVE - a French dream
PREEVE - slang for "to look at in advance"
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ANTRE
PRONUNCIATION: (AN-tuhr)
MEANING: noun: A cave, cavern, cavity, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Middle French antre (cave), from Latin antrum (cave), from Greek antron (cave). Earliest documented use: 1585.
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ANTARE - a singularly bright star in the night sky, 𝛂-Scorpius
ANTIE - a female protester
AITRE - high-falutin' pronunciation of the French verb "to be"
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VESTA
PRONUNCIATION: (VES-tuh)
MEANING: noun: A short wooden match.
ETYMOLOGY: After Vesta, the goddess of hearth and household in Roman mythology. Her temple had a fire tended by the vestal virgins. Earliest documented use: 1839.
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PESTA - an Italian bug
NESTA - what a swarm of pestas lives in
YESTA - 1) with "say," to agree; 2) the day before
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TALPA
PRONUNCIATION: (TAL-puh)
MEANING: noun:
1. A mole (the animal).
2. A cyst.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin talpa (mole). Earliest documented use: 1684.
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TALL P.A. - my Physician's Assistant's height is 2.5 meters
T-ALPHA - where I place my golf ball before driving on the first hole
TOLPA - the fee you pay to drive on the turnpike from Philadelphia to Pittsburg
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PAEAN
PRONUNCIATION: (PEE-uhn)
MEANING: noun: An expression of praise, joy, or triumph, typically in the form of a song.
verb tr.: To make such an expression.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin paean, from Greek paian (hymn of thanksgiving to Apollo), after Paian, Paion (epithet of Apollo in the hymn). Earliest documented use: 1592.
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P.A. DAN - few people know he was a Physicians Assistant before he became Doctor Dan, the Band-Aid Man
PANE AN - designating the top row, fourteenth window over
PRE-AN- - in the encyclopedia, that would be AM, yes?
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RUSTICATE
PRONUNCIATION: (RUS-ti-kayt)
MEANING: verb intr.: 1. To go to or live in the country.
2. To live or spend time in seclusion.
verb tr.: 1. To send to the country.
2. To suspend (a student) from a university as a punishment.
3. To make rustic or rural.
4. To make something, such as a masonry surface, rough, textured, jagged, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin rusticari (to live in the country), from rus (country). Earliest documented use: 1660.
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RUSTIC MATE - the farmer's wife
RUSTIGATE - that's why it squeaks
RASTICATE - to convert to a Jamaican religion
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FLAGELLATE
PRONUNCIATION: verb: FLAJ-uh-layt; adj.: FLAJ-uh-lit/layt)
MEANING: verb tr.: To punish, especially by whipping.
noun: An organism having a whip-like appendage that’s used for locomotion, such as swimming.
adjective: Relating to such an organism.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin flagellare (to whip), from flagellum (whip), diminutive of flagrum (whip). Earliest documented use: 1623.
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FLAG ELATE - rapturously patriotic
PLAGELLATE - like a stretch of French shoreline mostly covered by sandy beach
FLAG "EL LATTE" - to feature Starbuck's latest specialty coffee
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MOLLIFY
PRONUNCIATION: (MOL-uh-fy)
MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To pacify or appease.
2. To soften or reduce, as in intensity.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin mollis (soft). Earliest documented use: 1425.
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MOLL IFFY - gangster's girl is uncommitted
POLLIFY - to survey people's opinions
MALLIFY - to convert a neighborhood to a shopping center
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QUILLET
PRONUNCIATION: (KWIL-it)
MEANING: verb intr.: To quibble.
noun: A subtlety or quibble.
ETYMOLOGY: Of uncertain origin, perhaps short for quillity, an alteration of quiddity. Earliest documented use: 1576.
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QUIDLET - one Pound Sterling after dieting (or inflation)
QUILLETH - to write with a feather pen, 3rd person singular
SQUILLET - a small asparagus. (Per Wikipedia: "Squill · Drimia maritima, a medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean...," part of a genus of about 50 to 80 species of bulb-forming perennial herbaceous plants in the family Asparagaceae...)
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FLEER
PRONUNCIATION: (fleer)
MEANING: verb intr.: To laugh in a derisive manner.
noun: A mocking look.
ETYMOLOGY: Perhaps of Scandinavian origin. Earliest documented use: 1400.
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FLUER - chimney-sweep
GLEER - one who sings at parties
FLEVER - a febrile condition that makes you cry out loud
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DEFROCK
PRONUNCIATION: (dee-FROK)
MEANING: verb tr.: To remove from a position of authority, privilege, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From French défroquer (to defrock), from de- (away) + froc (frock, gown, coat), alluding to frock (habit) worn by members of the clergy. Earliest documented use: 1600.
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DEFLOCK - Bo-Peep was the victim of a scam
DE-FRACK - the aim of many environmentalists
DIE FROCK - an informal German dress, similar to a Dirndl
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DIVEST
PRONUNCIATION: (di/duh/dy-VEST)
MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To remove, give up, or sell off.
2. To take away or deprive.
3. To strip of clothing, ornament, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French desvestir (to undress), from Latin divestire, from di- (away) + vestire (to dress), from vestis (garment). Earliest documented use: 1616.
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D-INVEST - put the right money in
DI BEST - Italian superlative
DO I VEST? - Should I put on my waistcoat?
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TRAVESTY
PRONUNCIATION: (TRAV-uh-stee)
MEANING: noun: 1. Mockery.
2. A debased or grotesque imitation.
verb tr.: 1. To represent in a false or absurd manner.
2. To caricature or parody.
ETYMOLOGY: From French travesti (in disguise), past participle of travestir (to disguise, to cross-dress), from Italian travestire, from tra- (across), from Latin trans- + vestire (to dress). Earliest documented use: 1664.
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BRAVESTY - a Deed of Derring-Do
TRAVESTO - that fantastic new magician you've heard so much about
TRA-VESTRY - the room where members of the Choir put on their robes
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REVET
PRONUNCIATION: (ri-VET)
MEANING: verb tr.:
1. To cover a wall, embankment, etc., with masonry or other supporting material.
2. To recheck or reexamine.
ETYMOLOGY: For 1: From French revêtir (to dress), from Latin revestire, from re- (again) + vestire (to clothe). Earliest documented use: 1751.
For 2: From re- (again) + vet (to check), shortening of veterinarian. Earliest documented use: 1940.
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REVENT - put in another window
PREVET - planning on a career in animal husbandry
REVETO - to put the kibosh on for the second time
R.E.O. VET - having survived his encounter with Mr Olds's vehicle, he thought he'd be able to handle Mr Ford's without a problem
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INVESTITURE
PRONUNCIATION: (in-VES-ti-choor/chuhr)
MEANING: noun: A formal ceremony in which someone is given an official title, rank, honors, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin investire (to cloth, install), from vestis (garment). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wes- (to clothe), which also gave us wear, vest, invest, divest, travesty, and revet. Earliest documented use: 1387.
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INTESTITURE - having no Will
INVESTICURE - how to make money in the Pharmaceutical industry
INVESTITUTE - where one learns Wealth Management
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LITMUS TEST
PRONUNCIATION: (LIT-muhs test)
MEANING: noun:
1. A test in which a single indicator prompts the decision.
2. A test to determine if a solution is acidic or alkaline.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old Norse litmosi (dye-moss), from litr (dye) + mosi (moss). Earliest documented use: 1824.
NOTES: Litmus paper turns red when dipped in an acidic solution and blue when in alkaline. It’s a quick and easy test to determine the type of solution one has. Litmus is derived from moss and has been around since approx. 1300 CE...
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LITMUS ZEST - a lemon with red skin (from its citric acid content)
LIT-MUSKEST - the smelliest burning incense ever
I.T. MUST EST - Computer Nerds Oppose Daylight Savings Time!
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FLASHPOINT
PRONUNCIATION: (FLASH-point)
MEANING: noun:
1. The point at which a situation turns critical, for example, resulting in violence.
2. A location or situation where conflict, violence, etc., flare up.
3. The lowest temperature at which a substance’s vapors ignite in the presence of an ignition source.
ETYMOLOGY: From flash, of imitative origin + point, partly from Old French point and Latin punctum (point). Earliest documented use: 1878.
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FLESHPOINT - a cutaneous horn
FLASH-PAINT - paint mixed with lycopodium powder, for special movie effects
FLASK POINT - a clandestine liquor-holder that you can stand upright next to you on a lawn or on the beach
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CHAIN REACTION
PRONUNCIATION: (CHAYN ree-ak-shuhn)
MEANING: noun:
1. A series of events, each triggered or influenced by the previous.
2. A chemical or nuclear reaction that results in products that cause further reactions
ETYMOLOGY: From chain, from Old French chaine/chaeine, from Latin catena (chain) + act, from Latin actus (act). Earliest documented use: 1926.
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CHAI REACTION - being allergic to spiced Russian tea
CHAIN REDACTION - a panel of editors makes one change after another
CHIN REACTION - Tinea barbae [a skin condition on the face, from using the wrong kind or razor or having the wrong kind of beard. YCLIU.]
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BORAX
PRONUNCIATION: (BOR/BOHR-aks/uhks)
MEANING: adjective: Cheap and showy.
noun: A white crystalline compound, also known as sodium borate, used in manufacturing, cleaning, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French boras, from Latin borax, from Arabic buraq, from Persian burah (borax). Earliest documented use: 1920s.
NOTES: A century ago, cheap furniture was given as a premium for buying a box of borax soap. That, or borax soap was given away for buying cheap furniture. Either way, the word borax became slang for something cheap and poorly made.
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BOROX - what the pregnant beast of burden did
BOTAX - government-imposed fee for cosmetic wrinkle-removing skin treatment
BORA - half a Polynesian island
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2 |
BOILING POINT
PRONUNCIATION: (BOI-ling point)
MEANING: noun:
1. The point at which a situation turns into a crisis.
2. The point at which one loses one’s temper.
3. The temperature at which a liquid boils.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French boillir, from Latin bullire (to bubble), from bulla (bubble). Earliest documented use: 1773.
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BAILING POINT - the level above which most skippers decide to start emptying the water out of the boat
BOILING PRINT - a work of art with a bubbly appearance; often created using BOILING PAINT
FOILING POINT - the tip of the epeé
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2 |
PYRRHONISM
PRONUNCIATION: (PIR-uh-niz-uhm)
MEANING: noun: Extreme or absolute skepticism.
ETYMOLOGY: After Pyrrho, a Greek philosopher, c. 360-270 BCE. Earliest documented use: 1603.
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PYRO-RHONISM - igniting the polluted surface of a major European river
PYRO-HONISM - when sparks fly between you and your sweetheart
TYRRHONISM - The cult of Hollywood star Power
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2 |
MORPHETIC
PRONUNCIATION: (mor-FET-ik)
MEANING: adjective: Relating to sleep or dreams.
ETYMOLOGY: After Morpheus, the god of dreams in Greek mythology. He was the son of Hypnos, the god of sleep. The name of the drug morphine is also derived after Morpheus. Earliest documented use: 1788.
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MORPHETIN - a catalyst that triggers the change from caterpillar to butterfly
MOR-PHOTIC - an early scheme by Eastman Kodak to encourage picture-taking
MO-RHETIC - pertaining to the flow of the Missouri river
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2 |
ROTHSCHILD
PRONUNCIATION: (ROTH/ROTHS-chyld)
MEANING: noun: A very rich person.
ETYMOLOGY: After the Rothschild banking family that rose to prominence with Mayer Rothschild (1744-1812). He had his five sons expand business in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, and Naples. Earliest documented use: 1824.
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ROTHSCHILD - A nullity. The author of Portnoy's Complaint, said to be "Roth as a misogynist and control freak," had no children, though he did marry.
ROTH'S "CHILL" - Portnoy's Complaint (1969)
WROTH'S CHILD - Violence, a common consequence of anger
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,072 Likes: 2 |
ROORBACK
PRONUNCIATION. (ROOR-back)
MEANING: noun: A false story or slander, especially one spread for political purposes.
ETYMOLOGY: After Baron von Roorback, a fictitious author invented during the 1844 presidential elections in the US to discredit the Democratic candidate James K. Polk. Earliest documented use: 1844.
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ROORBANK - the shore of a German river. which flows through industrial Westphalia and empties into the Rhine
ROARBACK - if you're foolish, what you do when a lion roars at you
ROOKBACK - what you hope to take when you lose a knight or a bishop
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