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APGAR

PRONUNCIATION: (AP-gar)

MEANING: noun: A method of assessing a newborn’s health. Also known as Apgar score.

ETYMOLOGY: After anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) who devised it. Earliest documented use: 1959.

NOTES: This is a judging world and we get evaluated right from birth (Apgar) to death (how many people came to the funeral). In 1953, Dr. Virginia Apgar devised a quick way to assess the health of a newborn child. She assigned 0, 1, or 2 points for each of the five criteria: heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, skin color, and reflex response. The score is typically calculated at one minute and five minutes after birth.

Ten years after the debut of the Apgar score, Dr. L. Joseph Butterfield introduced an acronym as a mnemonic aid for the term: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration. See backronym.

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A.P. TAR - a journalist in the Navy

ZAP-GAR - an electric fish

A-P GEAR - transfers power and/or rotation in the front-to-back direction

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PINKERTON

PRONUNCIATION: (PING-kuhr-tuhn)

MEANING: noun: A detective.

ETYMOLOGY: After Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884), a private detective, who started a detective agency in 1850. Earliest documented use: 1874. Pinkerton may also be the origin of the term fink.
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PINSKER TON - a rather nebulous measure of weight first described in southern Belarus, near the Ukranian border.

PINKEARTON - sound as heard by folks with colorful aural organs

PIN KARTON - where the seamstress or tailor keeps the sharp-pointed temporary fasteners

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YARBOROUGH

PRONUNCIATION: (YAHR-bur-oh/uh)

MEANING: noun: In a card game, a weak hand, especially one in which no card is above a nine.

ETYMOLOGY: After Charles Anderson Worsley, 2nd Earl of Yarborough (1809-1897), who is said to have bet 1000 to 1 against the occurrence of such a hand. The actual odds are 1827 to 1. Earliest documented use: 1900.
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YARD BOROUGH - a tiny British political division

YAR, BIRO - UGH - Right, it's one of those tiny ball point pens. Shameful, innit?

YARBOROUGH - Mr NASCAR. Nuff said.

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ORWELLISM

PRONUNCIATION: (OR-wuh-liz-uhm)

MEANING: noun: Something misleading, such as a word or phrase used euphemistically or ambiguously for propaganda purposes.

ETYMOLOGY: After George Orwell (1903-1950), whose novel 1984 depicted a futuristic totalitarian state employing misleading language for propaganda and control. Earliest documented use: 1970. Also see newspeak and Orwellian.
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OK, WELLISM - a debating technique of deflecting and changing the subject, sometimes called "but what about?"

OR CELLISM - encouraging a plea bargain by threatening with jail time

OR WELTISM - encouraging a plea bargain by threatening a beating;
compare OR CELLISM, above

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OAKLEY

PRONUNCIATION: (OHK-lee)

MEANING: noun: A complimentary ticket or pass. Also known as an Annie Oakley.

ETYMOLOGY: After the sharpshooter Annie Oakley (1860-1926) who was renowned for her skill, from association of the punched ticket with one of her bullet-riddled targets. Earliest documented use: c. 1910.
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OAKEY - quirky. [note - Oak (genus Quercus): any of about 450 species of ornamental and timber trees and shrubs constituting the genus Quercus]

ORAKLEY - Delphic

OARLEY - an airport in Paris

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VULNERARY

PRONUNCIATION: (VUHL-nuh-rer-ee)

MEANING: noun: Something used for the healing of wounds.
adjective: Useful in healing of wounds.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin vulnus (wound) + -ary (relating to). Earliest documented use: 1599.
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ULNERARY - pertaining to a forearm-bone

VULNECRACY - government by the wounded

FULNERARY - pertaining to our Administrator

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SOPORIFIC

PRONUNCIATION: (sop-uh-RIF-ik, suh-puh-)

MEANING: adjective: 1. Inducing sleep.
2. Sleepy or drowsy.
3. Dull or monotonous.
noun: Something that induces sleep.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin sopor (a deep sleep). Ultimately from the Indo-European root swep- (to sleep), which also gave us insomnia, hypnosis, soporose, somniloquy (talking while asleep), and somnambulate (to walk in sleep). Earliest documented use: 1690.
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SOUPORIFIC - Campbell's latest offering - have a bowl before bedtime and sleep like a log!

SORORIFIC - inducing female children

ISOPORIFIC - having microscopic openings of uniform shape

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MUMMERY

PRONUNCIATION: (MUHM-uh-ree)

MEANING: noun: An absurd, pretentious, or hypocritical performance.

ETYMOLOGY: From Middle French momerie (masquerade), from Old French mommer (to mum or to pantomime). Earliest documented use: 1465.
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MUMMERRY - enlivening the place with flowers

MUMMERCY - sparing the plants when the flowers finish blooming

HUMMERY - attempted intimidation by driving a powerful, armored vehicle

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INTRANSIGENCE

PRONUNCIATION: (in-TRAN-si-juhns)

MEANING: noun: Unwillingness to compromise, especially from an extreme position.

ETYMOLOGY: Via Spanish/French, from Latin in- (not) + transigere (to settle). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ag- (to drive, draw), which also gave us act, agent, agitate, litigate, synagogue, and ambassador. Earliest documented use: 1882.
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IN-TRANSIT GENCE - men between destinations

SINTRANSIGENCE - refusal to stop violating commandments

INFRANSIGENCE - membres de l'Académie Francaise

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DIFFIDENCE

PRONUNCIATION: (DIF-i-duhns)

MEANING: noun: Timidity or shyness.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin diffidere (to mistrust), from dis- (not) + fidere (to trust). Ultimately from the Indo-European root bheidh- (to trust), which also gave us abide, abode, fiancé, affidavit, confide, confident, defiance, fidelity, defy, infidel, and diffident. Earliest documented use: 1425
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DIFFIDANCE - uneasy at the school Prom

DIFF I.D., ONCE - You know, this isn't my original Social Security number

DIFFIDENCE - embarrassed about the appearance of one's teeth

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