Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2021/September

2021
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1

2

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elven adj

Belonging or relating to, or characteristic of, elves; elfin, elflike. elven n Originally, a female elf, a fairy, a nymph; (by extension) any elf. [...] (Kent, Sussex, Warwickshire, Worcestershire) An elm (a tree of the genus Ulmus, particularly the wych elm or Scots elm (Ulmus glabra)). The English author and philologist J. R. R. Tolkien, best known for his works The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955), died on this day in 1973.

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3

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fridge n

(informal) A refrigerator. fridge v (transitive, informal) To place (something) inside a refrigerator to chill; to refrigerate. [...] (transitive, fandom slang) To gratuitously kill, disempower, or otherwise remove (a character, usually female) from a narrative, often strictly to hurt another character (usually male) and provide him with a personal motivation for fighting the antagonist(s). [...] (transitive, archaic, chiefly British, dialectal) To chafe or rub (something). (intransitive, obsolete) To chafe or rub. Synonym of fidge (“to jostle or shake; to fidget, to fig, to frig”) The Scottish-Australian engineer, newspaper printer, and politician James Harrison, who invented the first practical mechanical refrigerator and was often called the “father of refrigeration”, died on this day in 1893.

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4

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jovially adv

(astrology, obsolete) Under the astrological influence of the planet Jupiter. (by extension) In a jovial (“cheerful and good-humoured”) manner; jollily, merrily.

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5

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Paralympiad n

(sports) An occurrence of the Paralympic Games. (sports, rare) A period of four years between occurrences of the Paralympic Games. (by extension) Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a competition or series of competitions for disabled participants involving sports or other activities. The 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, also known as the Games of the XIV Paralympiad, end today after having been postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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6

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working stiff n

(originally US, informal) An ordinary person who works in a non-management position, especially one who works for wages rather than a salary. Today, the first Monday of September in 2021, is Labor Day in the United States, which honors the labor movement and the contributions of laborers to the nation’s development.

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7

8

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winged word n

(idiomatic, literary, chiefly in the plural) A word or statement which is very apt for an occasion, or memorable. Today is recognized by UNESCO as International Literacy Day to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies.

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9

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finger-lickin' good adj (US, colloquial)

Of food: very delicious; delectable, scrumptious. (figuratively) Extremely good; superb. Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder and later brand ambassador of the U.S. fast-food restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (now KFC), was born on this day in 1890.

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10

11

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ground zero n

Originally, the point on the land or water surface below which a nuclear bomb detonates in the air; now also the point on such a surface at or above the detonation. (by extension) The location of any disaster or violent assault. (figuratively) The point at which something begins. The September 11 attacks took place in the United States on this day 20 years ago in 2001.

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12

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forhold v

(transitive, archaic, rare) To detain, hold back, or hold up (someone or something); also, to retain or withhold (something).

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13

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inflood v

(transitive) Of a river, water, etc.: to flood or flow into (a place). (intransitive) To flood or flow in; to inflow. inflood n The act or process of flooding or flowing in; an inflow or influx.

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14

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petrodollar n

(oil industry, chiefly in the plural, also attributively) Money (either notionally or specifically in dollars or other currencies) earned from the sale of oil. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded on this day in 1960.

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15

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democratic adj

Pertaining to democracy; constructed upon or in line with the principle of government chosen by the people. Exhibiting social equality; egalitarian. (US, politics) Alternative letter-case form of Democratic (“of, pertaining to, or supporting the Democratic Party”). democratic n (chiefly in the plural, dated) Synonym of democrat (“a supporter of democracy; an advocate of democratic politics (originally (historical) as opposed to the aristocrats in Revolutionary France)”) Today is the International Day of Democracy, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote and uphold the principles of democracy.

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16

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wantok n

(Melanesia, Papua New Guinea) A close comrade; a person with whom one has a strong social bond, usually based on a shared language. Today is the Independence Day of Papua New Guinea.

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17

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abate v

(transitive) To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate. To reduce (something) in amount or size. To cut away or hammer down (material from metalwork, a sculpture, etc.) in such a way as to leave a figure in relief. To lower (something) in price or value. (archaic) To demolish or level to the ground (a building or other structure). To give no consideration to (something); to treat as an exception. (chiefly figuratively) To dull (an edge, point, etc.); to blunt. (law) To make (a writ or other legal document) void; to nullify. To put an end to (a nuisance). (chiefly US) To dismiss or otherwise bring to an end (legal proceedings) before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits. (obsolete) To curtail or end (something); to cause to cease. To give (someone) a discount or rebate; also, to relieve (someone) of a debt. To bring down (someone) mentally or physically; to lower (someone) in status; to abase or humble. Chiefly followed by from, of, etc.: to omit or remove (a part from a whole); to deduct, to subtract. Chiefly followed by of: To deprive (someone or something of another thing). (intransitive) To decrease in force or intensity; to subside. To decrease in amount or size. To lower in price or value; (law) specifically, of a bequest in a will: to lower in value because the testator's estate is insufficient to satisfy all the bequests in full. (archaic, chiefly figuratively) Of an edge, point, etc.: to become blunt or dull. (law) (chiefly historical) Of a writ or other legal document: to become null and void; to cease to have effect. (chiefly US) Of legal proceedings: to be dismissed or otherwise brought to an end before they are completed, especially on procedural grounds rather than on the merits. (obsolete) To give a discount or rebate; to discount, to rebate. To bow down; hence, to be abased or humbled. Chiefly followed by of: to deduct or subtract from. [...] (ambitransitive, law, chiefly historical) To enter upon and unlawfully seize (land) after the owner has died, thus preventing an heir from taking possession of it. abate n (obsolete, uncountable) Abatement; reduction; (countable) an instance of this. (obsolete, uncountable) Deduction; subtraction; (countable) an instance of this. [...] An Italian abbot or other member of the clergy.

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18

19

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skull and crossbones n

A depiction of a human skull and two crossed femurs (thighbones), a symbol of death traditionally used on the Jolly Roger, but now as a warning of toxicity or other dangers. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur (‘Ol’ Chumbucket’) and Mark Summers (‘Cap’n Slappy’), of Albany, Oregon, USA.

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20

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fetch and carry v (idiomatic)

(intransitive) To serve obsequiously. (dated) To carry gossip, news, etc., from one person to another; to bear tales, to gossip. (transitive, dated) To carry or convey (gossip, news, etc.) from one person to another; to bear (tales).

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21

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mooncake n

A rich, dense Chinese pastry traditionally filled with lotus seed paste and nowadays with a variety of other fillings, usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival (on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar; early September to early October). 中秋節 / 中秋节 (Zhōngqiūjié) or the Mid-Autumn Festival, during which mooncakes are traditionally eaten, falls on this day in 2021.

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22

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suburbia n

(originally British) The suburbs as a whole and all that characterizes or pertains to them; (derogatory) the suburbs as encapsulated or represented by the typical characteristics or qualities of the people living there, especially complacency, conformity, conservativeness, dullness, etc. The song “Suburbia” by the English synthpop duo the Pet Shop Boys was released as the fourth single from their debut studio album Please on this day 35 years ago in 1986.

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23

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like it's going out of style prepositional phrase

(simile, informal) Of engaging in an activity: enthusiastically; to an excessive degree.

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24

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sward n

(uncountable) Earth which grass has grown into the upper layer of; greensward, sod, turf; (countable) a portion of such earth. (countable) An expanse of land covered in grass; a lawn or meadow. (countable, obsolete) The upper layer of the ground, especially when vegetation is growing on it. (countable, obsolete except British, dialectal) The rind of bacon or pork; also, the outer covering or skin of something. sward v (transitive) To cover (ground, etc.) with sward. (intransitive) Of ground, etc.: to be covered with sward; to develop a covering of sward. [...]

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25

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unloose v

(transitive) (also figuratively) To loosen or undo (something that entangles, fastens, holds, or interlocks). (also figuratively) To relax or slacken (something that clasps or grips, such as the arms or hands). To free (someone or something) from a constraint; (figuratively) to release (something which has been suppressed, such as emotions or objectionable things). (archaic) To remove or take off (especially something undesirable). (intransitive) To become loose or come off. (also figuratively) To free from a constraint.

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26

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gravamen n

A grievance complained of. (Anglicanism) A document sent by the Lower House of Convocation to the Upper House to inform the latter of certain grievances in the church. The essence or ground of a complaint. (by extension) The essence or most important aspect of a piece of writing, a point of argument, etc; the gist. (obsolete) A formal charge or complaint.

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27

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psychocentric adj

(philosophy) Primarily focused on the mind or spirit, especially as opposed to the body. (psychology, tourism) Of a tourist: tending to avoid adventures and risks, preferring the familiar; self-inhibiting. psychocentric n (psychology, tourism) A tourist who tends to avoid adventures and risks, preferring the familiar. Today is World Tourism Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness about tourism’s role in the international community and to demonstrate how it affects cultural, political, social, and economic values worldwide.

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28

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infobesity n

(informal) Synonym of information overload (“the availability or supply of too much information, or a state of stress which results from it”) Today is the International Day for Universal Access to Information, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of public access to information.

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29

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ischemia n

(cardiology, pathology) Local disturbance in blood circulation due to mechanical obstruction of the blood supply (for example, embolism, thrombosis, or vasoconstriction). Today is World Heart Day, which was established by the World Heart Federation to highlight the fact that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading causes of death, and the importance of heart health.

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30

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coaster n

A person who originates from or inhabits a coastal area. (slang, dated) A prostitute, especially a white woman, plying her trade in Chinese port towns. (nautical) A sailor (especially the master or pilot of a vessel) who travels only in coastal waters. A merchant vessel that stays in coastal waters, especially one that travels between ports of the same country. (Canada, US) Ellipsis of coaster trout (“the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Lake Superior and Maine”). [...] Agent noun of coast: one who coasts. (Australia, slang) An itinerant person who shirks work but still seeks food and lodging; a loafer, a sundowner. (US, winter sports) A person who uses a sled or toboggan to slide down a slope covered with ice or snow; a sledder, a tobogganist. Something that coasts or is used to coast. (dated) A small stand or tray, sometimes with wheels, used to pass something such as a decanter or wine bottle around a tabletop. (by extension) A small, flat or tray-like object on which a bottle, cup, glass, mug, etc., is placed to protect a table surface from drink spills, heat, or water condensation. (computing, slang) A useless compact disc or DVD, such as one that was burned incorrectly or has become corrupted. (US, informal) Ellipsis of rollercoaster. (US, winter sports) A sled or toboggan. Today, the last Thursday of September in 2021, is World Maritime Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight the work of the International Maritime Organization and emphasize the importance of shipping and other maritime activities.

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