Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2020/August

2020
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1

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agbada n

A long, flowing robe with wide sleeves worn by men in some parts of West Africa, often decorated with embroidery. Today is the 60th Independence Day of Benin.

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3

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yardfowl n

A chicken raised in a yard. (Barbados, politics) A political sycophant. Today, the first Monday of August in 2020, is Kadooment Day in Barbados, which marks the traditional end of the sugar cane season.

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cringeometer n

(humorous, informal) An imaginary device that measures cringeworthiness (the extent to which something makes one cringe; that is, flinch or recoil with embarrassment).

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6

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hesternal adj

(archaic or literary, rare outside grammar) Of or pertaining to yesterday. The Beatles’ song “Yesterday” was released in the United Kingdom on this day 55 years ago in 1965, in their album Help!.

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8

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nocake n

Indian corn parched and pounded into meal (powder), used as food by Native Americans. Today is the start of the second weekend of August in 2020. The Narragansett tribe of Rhode Island, USA, traditionally holds its annual powwow during this weekend.

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9

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kampung spirit n

(Singapore) A sense of social cohesion in a community and a willingness of neighbours to co-operate with each other. Today is Singapore’s 55th National Day, which commemorates the nation’s independence in 1965.

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11

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Berytian adj

(historical) Of or pertaining to Berytus (“the ancient city of Beirut”). Berytian n (historical) A native or inhabitant of Berytus (“the ancient city of Beirut”). A week ago, on 4 August 2020, massive explosions at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, caused more than 200 deaths, thousands of injuries, and an estimated US$10–15 billion in property damage. The incident is believed to have been caused by the ignition of improperly stored ammonium nitrate.

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12

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baby face n

A face, often chubby, resembling that of a baby; a youthful face. (often derogatory) A person having such a face, especially a young man having a beardless appearance. (professional wrestling, slang) A headlining wrestler with a persona embodying heroic or virtuous traits and who is regarded as a "good guy", especially one who is handsome and well-conditioned. Today is the 20th anniversary of International Youth Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight issues faced by youth worldwide.

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13

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underfired adj

(comparable, ceramics) Fired at a low (or excessively low) temperature. (not comparable, cooking) Of a cooker: having a heat source that is underneath the food being cooked.

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14

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firmament n

(usually uncountable, literary, poetic, also figurative) The vault of the heavens, where the clouds, sun, moon, and stars can be seen; the heavens, the sky. (countable) The field or sphere of an activity or interest. (uncountable, obsolete, astronomy, historical) In the geocentric Ptolemaic system, the eighth celestial sphere which carried the fixed stars; (countable, by extension) any celestial sphere. (uncountable, obsolete except biblical) The abode of God and the angels; heaven. (countable, obsolete) A piece of jewellery worn in a headdress with numerous gems resembling stars in the sky. (countable, obsolete, also figuratively) A basis or foundation; a thing which lends strength or support. (countable, obsolete) The act or process of making firm or strengthening.

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15

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swadeshi n

(India, economics, politics, also attributively) A policy of nationalist self-sufficiency in India, involving the revival and promotion of domestic production and (originally) the boycott of British products. Today is India’s Independence Day, which commemorates the date when it ceased to be part of the British Empire in 1947.

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19

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humanitarian adj

Concerned with people's welfare, and the alleviation of suffering; compassionate, humane. (Christianity, rare) Of or pertaining to the belief that Jesus Christ is fully human and not divine. (philosophy, historical) Synonym of humanist (“relating to humanism”) Today is World Humanitarian Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the work of humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.

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20

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inglenook n (originally Scotland, architecture, chiefly historical)

A nook or corner beside an open fireplace; a chimney corner. (furniture) A bench or seat placed in a fireplace inglenook.

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21

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full-throated adj

(also figuratively of noises by objects) Using all the power of one's voice; communicated loudly or vociferously. (figuratively) Showing strong feelings. [...]

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22

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necropolis n

(chiefly historical, also figuratively) A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a city. (archaeology) An ancient site used for burying the dead, particularly if consisting of elaborate grave monuments.

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23

24

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sargasso n

A brown alga, of the genus Sargassum, that forms large, floating masses. (figuratively) A confused, tangled mass or situation. (biology, oceanography) A part of an ocean or sea characterized by floating masses of sargassos, like the Sargasso Sea. The Dominican-born author Jean Rhys, who wrote the novel Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), was born on this day 130 years ago in 1890.

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25

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nihilism n

(usually uncountable) The view that all endeavours are devoid of objective meaning. (usually uncountable) The rejection of, or opposition to, religious beliefs, (inherent or objective) moral principles, legal rules, etc., often due to the view that life is meaningless (sense 1). (usually uncountable, politics) The rejection of non-proven or non-rationalized assertions in the social and political spheres of society. (uncountable, psychiatry) A delusion that oneself or the world, or parts thereof, have ceased to exist. (uncountable, Russia, politics, historical) Alternative letter-case form of Nihilism (“a Russian movement of the 1860s that rejected all authority and promoted the use of violence for political change”) (countable, uncountable, philosophy) A doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; in particular, the view that nothing in the world actually exists. (countable) Something that is regarded as meaningless. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, known for his view that nihilism is a widespread phenomenon of Western culture, died on this day 120 years ago in 1900.

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27

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poisoned chalice n

(idiomatic) Something which is initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful; an apparently beneficial or benign instrument or scheme for causing death or harm.

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28

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emporium n

(also figuratively) A city or region which is a major trading centre; also, a place within a city for commerce and trading; a marketplace. (also figuratively) A shop that offers a wide variety of goods for sale; a department store; (with a descriptive word) a shop specializing in particular goods. (historical) A business set up to enable foreign traders to engage in commerce in a country; a factory (now the more common term). (by extension, obsolete) The brain.

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29

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pushbike n

(Australia, New Zealand, UK, informal) A pedal bicycle, as distinguished from a motorized bicycle. pushbike v (intransitive, Australia, New Zealand, UK, informal) To travel by pushbike. The Grand Départ or start of the Tour de France long-distance bicycle race is scheduled to take place in Nice, France, on this date in 2020, after being postponed from 27 June due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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30

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unmannerly adj

(also figuratively) Not mannerly (“polite; having good manners”). unmannerly adv (archaic) In a way that is not mannerly; discourteously, rudely.

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31

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peewah n (Trinidad and Tobago)

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes), a South American palm tree. The edible fruit of this plant, which has an orange or red skin when ripe, orange pulp which turns floury when cooked, and a single large seed. Today is the Independence Day of Trinidad and Tobago.

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