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MACHIAVELLIANISM

PRONUNCIATION: (mak-ee-uh-VEL-ee-uh-niz-uhm)

MEANING: noun: The use of unscrupulous means, cunning, and deceit in pursuit of power, especially in politics.

ETYMOLOGY: After Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), Florentine statesman and author of The Prince, a political treatise describing the use of craft and deceit to achieve political power. Earliest documented use: 1607.
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PACHIAVELLIANISM - a man's use of unscrupulous means, cunning, and deceit in pursuit of power

MACHINAVELLIANISM - a robot's use of unscrupulous means, cunning, and deceit in pursuit of power

MAC HAVE "LILIANISM" - anyone named LILIAN has a head start up the management ladder at Macdonald's

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DON QUIXOTE

PRONUNCIATION: (don kee-HO-tee/tay, don KWIK-suht)

MEANING: noun: Someone who is unrealistic, naive, chivalrous, idealistic, etc. to an absurd degree.

ETYMOLOGY: After Don Quixote, hero of the eponymous novel by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616). Earliest documented use: 1644. Sometimes the term is used simply as Quixote. The adjectival form is quixotic.
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DONA QUIXOTE - early proposed title of "The Taming of the Shrew"

DONQUI GOTE - two commonly misspelled farm animals

DON QUI DOTE - reference to how Dulcinea was treated (in the French translation)

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THESPIAN

PRONUNCIATION: (THES-pee-uhn)

MEANING: noun: An actor.
adjective: Relating to drama.

ETYMOLOGY: After Thespis (c. 6th century BCE), Greek poet, who is considered the father of Greek tragedy. Earliest documented use: 1675.
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THE S-PIANO - the smallest one Steinway makes, a baby grand about 5'1" long

THESE, IAN - No, Mr Fleming, those are definitely not the ones I want

THE SPICAN - a (fictitious) inhabitant of the star system centered on Spica, in the constellation Virgo

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EPICURE

PRONUNCIATION: (EP-i-kyoor)

MEANING: noun:
1. A person with refined taste, especially in food or wine.
2. A person devoted to sensual pleasure.

ETYMOLOGY: After the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BCE), who advocated simple pleasures and a calm mind (ataraxia). With time, his teachings were distorted as focusing on sensual pleasures. Earliest documented use: 1450.
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EPIDURE - a popular form of anesthesia for use in childbirth

EPICUBE - synonym for tesseract

PI-CURE - a spurious panacea, claiming to be based on principles of numerology

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MOMUS

PRONUNCIATION: (MOH-muhs)

MEANING: noun: A carping critic.

ETYMOLOGY: From Latin Momus, from Greek Momos, the god of censure and ridicule in Greek mythology. He was expelled from Mount Olympus for mocking other gods. In Greek, the word momos literally means blame or ridicule. Earliest documented use: 1563.
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EOMUS - an extinct giant mouse, almost as big as a horse

MOMES - bipedal, flower-like armless creatures with googly eyes and fuzzy hair on their heads; visible only through a looking glass using a disney lens

MOMPS - a viral illness affecting your mother's salivary glands, often precipitating great disruption in the household

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