WATERGATE

PRONUNCIATION: (WOH-tuhr-gayt)

MEANING: noun: A scandal involving abuse of office, deceit, and cover-up.

ETYMOLOGY: After the Watergate office and residential complex in Washington, DC. It was the site of a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 by people associated with US President Richard Nixon (1913-1994). The resulting scandal and cover-up led to Nixon’s resignation. Earliest documented use: 1972.

NOTES: Watergate, a scandal of mammoth proportions, has given us a useful suffix (-gate) for describing many a scandal including gategate.
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WAFERGATE - the current Vatican sex-abuse scandal

OATERGATE - Gene Autry couldn't sing; Rudolph was really lip-synched to a Frank Luther recording

WATERGAZE - Ahab looking for the White Whale