Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2019/August

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1

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Word of the day
for August 1
scouthouse n
  1. (scouting, US) A building where members of the Scout Movement hold their meetings.

The first Scout camp was held on Brownsea Island in Dorset, England, U.K. (now the site of the Brownsea Island Scout camp) starting on this day in 1907.

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2

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Word of the day
for August 2
hello girl n
  1. (telephony, informal, dated) A female telephone operator.

Scottish-born engineer Alexander Graham Bell, who is credited with inventing and patenting the first practical telephone, died on this day in 1922.

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3

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Word of the day
for August 3
kite v
  1. (transitive) To cause (something) to move upwards rapidly like a toy kite; also (chiefly US, figuratively) to cause (something, such as costs) to increase rapidly.
  2. (transitive, slang) To tamper with a document or record by increasing the quantity of something beyond its proper amount so that the difference may be unlawfully retained; in particular, to alter a medical prescription for this purpose by increasing the number of pills or other items.
  3. (transitive, video games) To keep ahead of (an enemy) in order to attack repeatedly from a distance, without exposing oneself to danger.
  4. (transitive, intransitive) To (cause to) glide in the manner of a kite (“bird”).
  5. (transitive, intransitive, banking, slang) To write or present (a cheque) on an account with insufficient funds, either to defraud or expecting that funds will become available by the time the cheque clears.
  6. (transitive, intransitive, US, slang, by extension) To steal.
  7. (transitive, intransitive, rare) To manipulate like a toy kite; also, usually preceded by an inflection of go: to fly a toy kite.
  8. (intransitive) To travel by kite, as when kitesurfing.
  9. (intransitive, figuratively) To move rapidly; to rush.
  10. (intransitive, engineering, nautical) To deflect sideways in the water.
  11. (intransitive, US, prison slang) To pass a (usually concealed) letter or oral message, especially illegally into, within, or out of a prison.
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4

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Word of the day
for August 4
Spidey-sense n
  1. (humorous) An intuitive feeling, usually of something being dangerous or risky; (more generally) instinct, intuition.

The fictional superhero Spider-Man made his debut this month in 1962 in the Marvel Comics comic book Amazing Fantasy #15.

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5

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Word of the day
for August 5
side-eye v
  1. (transitive) To look at out of the corner of one's eye, particularly with animosity, or in a judgmental or suspicious manner.
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6

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Word of the day
for August 6
planning permission n
  1. (British, construction, law) Legal permission granted by a government authority to construct on one's land, or to change the use of the land.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 of the United Kingdom, which was the foundation of modern land-use planning in the country, received royal assent on this day in 1947 and came into force on 1 July 1948.

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7

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Word of the day
for August 7
calabash n
  1. A tree (known as the calabash tree; Crescentia cujete) native to Central and South America, the West Indies, and southern Florida, bearing large, round fruit used to make containers (sense 3); the fruit of this tree.
  2. The bottle gourd (calabash vine, Lagenaria siceraria), a vine believed to have originated in Africa, which is grown for its fruit that are used as a vegetable and to make containers (sense 3); the fruit of this plant.
  3. A container made from the mature, dried shell of the fruit of one of the above plants; also, a similarly shaped container made from some other material.
  4. A calabash and its contents; as much as fills such a container.
  5. (music) A musical instrument, most commonly a drum or rattle, made from a calabash fruit.
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8

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Word of the day
for August 8
sidle v
  1. (transitive, intransitive, also figuratively) To (cause something to) move sideways.
  2. (transitive, intransitive, also figuratively) In the intransitive sense often followed by up: to (cause something to) advance in a coy, furtive, or unobtrusive manner.
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9

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Word of the day
for August 9
impeachment n
  1. (countable) The act of calling into question or challenging the accuracy or propriety of something.
    1. (countable, law) A demonstration in a court of law, or before another finder of fact, that a witness was ingenuine before, and is therefore less likely to tell the truth now.
    2. (countable, law, British) An accusation that a person has committed a crime against the state, such as treason.
    3. (countable, law, chiefly US) The act of impeaching or charging a public official with misconduct, especially if serious, often with the aim of having the official dismissed from office.
  2. (uncountable) The state of being impeached.
  3. (uncountable, archaic) Hindrance; impediment; obstruction.

On this day 45 years ago in 1974, the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, resigned before impeachment proceedings started against him by the House of Representatives were completed.

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10

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11

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Word of the day
for August 11
Weimarization n
  1. (politics, American spelling, Oxford British English) A state of economic crisis leading to political upheaval and extremism.

On this day 100 years ago in 1919, the national assembly of the German state met in Weimar to adopt a new constitution, leading to the formation of the unstable Weimar Republic.

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12

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Word of the day
for August 12
sericulture n
  1. (agriculture) The rearing of silkworms for the production of silk.

Queen Sirikit, the queen mother of Thailand after whom the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture is named, was born on this day in 1932. Her birthday is celebrated as a public holiday and also observed as National Mother’s Day in Thailand.

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13

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Word of the day
for August 13
meteorwrong n
  1. (humorous) A rock that is believed to be a meteorite, but is in fact terrestrial in origin; a pseudometeorite.

The Perseids meteor shower peaks on 12 and 13 August 2019.

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14

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15

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Word of the day
for August 15
neroli n
  1. More fully neroli oil or oil of neroli: an essential oil distilled from the blossoms of the bitter orange or Seville orange (Citrus × aurantium subsp. amara) used to make perfumes.

Today is Ferragosto, a public holiday in Italy. The term derives from the Latin feriae Augusti (holidays of the Emperor Augustus), and is said to have been introduced by Augustus after his victory at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE

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16

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Word of the day
for August 16
pie-eyed adj
  1. (informal, originally US) With one's eyes wide open and staring in an expressionless manner; wide-eyed.
  2. (informal, by extension) (Extremely) drunk or intoxicated.
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17

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18

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19

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Word of the day
for August 19
Palladian adj
  1. (Greek mythology, rare) Of or relating to Pallas, an epithet of Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
  2. (by extension, rare) Of or relating to knowledge, study, or wisdom. [...]
  3. (architecture) In the style of the Italian neoclassical architect Andrea Palladio.

Palladian n

  1. (architecture) An architect who designs buildings in the Palladian style.
  2. (architecture) A building or an architectural element (for example, a window) designed in the Palladian style.

The Italian architect Andrea Palladio, who is widely considered to be one of the most influential people in the history of architecture, died on this day in 1580.

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20

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Word of the day
for August 20
gamin n
  1. (dated, also attributively) A homeless boy; a male street urchin; also (more generally), a cheeky, street-smart boy.
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21

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Word of the day
for August 21
anhedonic adj
  1. (psychiatry, also figuratively) Showing anhedonia; having no capacity to feel pleasure.

American singer Usher’s song “Numb” was released on this day in 2012.

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22

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Word of the day
for August 22
lorry n
  1. (road transport, British) A motor vehicle for transporting goods, and in some cases people; a truck.
  2. (dated) A barrow or truck for shifting baggage, as at railway stations.
  3. (dated) A small cart or wagon used on the tramways in mines to carry coal or rubbish.
  4. (obsolete) A large, low, horse-drawn, four-wheeled wagon without sides; also, a similar wagon modified for use on railways.
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23

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24

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Word of the day
for August 24
bandura n
  1. (music) A Ukrainian plucked stringed instrument with a tear-shaped body, like an asymmetrical lute or a vertical zither, which is played with both hands while held upright on the lap.

Today is the Independence Day of Ukraine.

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25

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Word of the day
for August 25
or bust phrase
  1. (chiefly US, informal) Used to indicate one's intention to do everything possible to achieve a goal, with failure being the only alternative.
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26

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Word of the day
for August 26
doldrums n
  1. Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise.
  2. (nautical) Usually preceded by the: the state of a sailing ship when it is impeded by calms or light, baffling winds, and is unable to make progress.
  3. (nautical, oceanography, by extension) Usually preceded by the: a part of the ocean near the equator where calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds are common.
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27

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28

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Word of the day
for August 28
Faustian bargain n
  1. (idiomatic) An agreement in which a person abandons his or her spiritual values or moral principles in order to obtain knowledge, wealth or other benefits.
  2. (idiomatic) A deal in which one focuses on present gain without considering the long-term consequences.

German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose play Faust is widely regarded as his magnum opus and the greatest work of German literature, was born on this day 270 years ago in 1749.

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29

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30

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31

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