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 present sex-abuse scandal among Catholic clergy

WATERGAZE - Ahab looking for the White Whale

OATERGATE - Flash! Gene Autry couldn't sing! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was really lip-synched to a Frank Luther recording!