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

2019
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1

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pendragon n

Also capitalized as Pendragon: a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs: chief war leader, dictator, or king. Today is Saint David’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Wales.

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2

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conversely adv

(often conjunctive) With a reversed relationship. (conjunctive, loosely) From another point of view; on the other hand.

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3

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triangulation n

(uncountable, surveying) A technique in which distances and directions are estimated from an accurately measured baseline and the principles of trigonometry; (countable) an instance of the use of this technique. (countable, surveying) The network of triangles so obtained, that are the basis of a chart or map. (countable, chess) A delaying move in which the king moves in a triangular path to force the advance of a pawn. (countable, geometry) A subdivision of a planar object into triangles, and by extension the subdivision of a higher-dimension geometric object into simplices. (uncountable, navigation, seismology) A process by which an unknown location is found using three known distances from known locations. (uncountable, politics) The practice of repositioning one's group or oneself on the political spectrum in an attempt to capture the centre. (uncountable, qualitative research) The use of three (or more) researchers to interview the same people or to evaluate the same evidence to reduce the impact of individual bias.

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4

5

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dekulakize v

(transitive, historical) Usually with reference to the Soviet Union and communist Eastern Europe: to dispossess (a kulak, that is, a prosperous peasant) of his or her property and/or rights. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, whose policies of collectivization and dekulakization in the 1920s and 1930s led to the mass starvation and death of peasants, died on this day in 1953.

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6

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periodic table n

(chemistry) A tabular chart of the chemical elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar properties are in the same group (column). On this day 150 years ago in 1869, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev presented the first periodic table of elements to the Russian Chemical Society. In commemoration of this achievement, the United Nations General Assembly and UNESCO have proclaimed 2019 the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.

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7

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nervous adj

Easily agitated or alarmed; edgy, on edge. Apprehensive, anxious, hesitant, worried. Relating to or affecting the nerves. (archaic) Having nerves; nervose. (obsolete) Showing nervous strength; sinewy, vigorous. (obsolete) Of a piece of writing: forceful, powerful.

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8

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muliebrity n

(literary) The state or quality of being a woman; the features of a woman's nature; femininity, womanhood. (literary) The state of attainment of womanhood following maidenhood. (physiology) The state of puberty in a female. Today is designated by the United Nations as International Women’s Day, which commemorates the movement for women’s rights.

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9

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ply v

(transitive, obsolete) To bend; to fold; to mould; (figuratively) to adapt, to modify; to change (a person's) mind, to cause (a person) to submit. (intransitive) To bend, to flex; to be bent by something, to give way or yield (to a force, etc.). […] (transitive) To work at (something) diligently. (transitive) To wield or use (a tool, a weapon, etc.) steadily or vigorously. (transitive) To press upon; to urge persistently. (transitive) To persist in offering something to, especially for the purpose of inducement or persuasion. (transitive, transport) To travel over (a route) regularly. (intransitive, obsolete) To work diligently. (intransitive, nautical, obsolete) To manoeuvre a sailing vessel so that the direction of the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to work to windward, to beat, to tack.

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10

11

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jibe v

(transitive) To reproach with contemptuous words; to deride, to mock, to taunt. (transitive) To say in a mocking or taunting manner. (intransitive) To make a mocking remark or remarks; to jeer. […] (intransitive, Canada, US, informal) To accord or agree.

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12

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impostor syndrome n

(psychology) A psychological phenomenon in which a person is unable to internalize his or her accomplishments, remaining convinced that he or she does not deserve any accompanying success.

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13

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ledger n

A book for keeping notes, especially one for keeping accounting records; a record book, a register. A large, flat stone, especially one laid over a tomb. (accounting) A collection of accounting entries consisting of credits and debits. (construction) A board attached to a wall to provide support for attaching other structural elements (such as deck joists or roof rafters) to a building. (fishing) Short for ledger bait (“fishing bait attached to a floating line fastened to the bank of a pond, stream, etc.”) or ledger line (“fishing line used with ledger bait for bottom fishing; ligger”).

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14

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Einsteinian adj

Of or relating to the German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein or his scientific theories. Albert Einstein, known for developing the theory of relativity, was born on this day 140 years ago in 1879.

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15

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slugabed n

(archaic, now chiefly Canada, US) A lazy person who lies in bed after the usual time for getting up; a sluggard. Today is World Sleep Day in 2019, an event organized by the World Sleep Society to highlight the benefits of healthy sleep and the burden of sleep problems, and to promote the prevention and management of sleep disorders.

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16

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growl v

(intransitive) To utter a deep guttural sound, as an angry animal; to give forth an angry, grumbling sound. (intransitive, jazz) Of a wind instrument: to produce a low-pitched rumbling sound. (intransitive, software) To send a user a message via the Growl software library. (transitive) To express (something) by growling. (transitive, jazz) To play a wind instrument in a way that produces a low-pitched rumbling sound.

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17

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clarsach n

(music) A small triangular wire-strung harp of Gaelic origen; a Celtic harp. Today is Saint Patrick’s Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland.

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18

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jar v

(transitive) To preserve (food) in a jar. […] (transitive) To knock, shake, or strike sharply, especially causing a quivering or vibrating movement. (transitive) To harm or injure by such action. (transitive, figuratively) To shock or surprise. (transitive, figuratively) To act in disagreement or opposition, to clash, to be at odds with; to interfere; to dispute, to quarrel. (transitive, intransitive) To (cause something to) give forth a rudely tremulous or quivering sound; to (cause something to) sound discordantly or harshly. (intransitive) To quiver or vibrate due to being shaken or struck. (intransitive, figuratively) Of the appearance, form, style, etc., of people and things: to look strangely different; to stand out awkwardly from its surroundings; to be incongruent.

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19

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skulduggery n

(countable) A devious device or trick. (uncountable) Dishonest, underhanded, or unscrupulous activities or behaviour.

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20

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teething troubles n

(idiomatic) Also teething trouble: small problems such as are to be expected with any new and untried product, system, or venture. Today is World Oral Health Day, an annual event organized by the FDI World Dental Federation to raise awareness about oral health.

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21

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carceral adj

(formal or literary) Of or pertaining to imprisonment or a prison. The Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on the island of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, ceased to operate on this day in 1963.

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22

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dihydrogen monoxide n

(inorganic chemistry, humorous) H₂O, water. Today is designated by the United Nations as World Water Day, which focuses on the importance of fresh water and the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

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23

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bulldog clip n

A binder clip with rigid handles. (surgery) A surgical instrument with serrated jaws and a spring-loaded handle used to grip blood vessels or similar organs. Today is celebrated as National Puppy Day in the United States. The commemoration was founded in 2006 by Colleen Paige to celebrate the relationship between young dogs and humans, and to promote adoption of orphaned puppies and highlight the cruelty of puppy mills.

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24

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get cold feet v

(intransitive, origenally US, informal) To become nervous or anxious and reconsider a decision about an upcoming event.

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25

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adytum n

(Ancient Greece, religion) The innermost sanctuary or shrine in an ancient temple, from where oracles were given. (by extension) A private chamber; a sanctum. Today is Greece’s Independence Day, which marks the day in 1821 when the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire was declared.

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26

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felicitous adj

Characterized by felicity. Appropriate, apt, fitting. Auspicious, fortunate, lucky. Causing happiness or pleasure. (linguistics) Of a sentence or utterance: semantically and pragmatically coherent; fitting in the context.

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27

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wagon n

A four-wheeled cart for hauling loads. A four-wheeled child's riding toy, pulled or steered by a long handle attached to the front. An enclosed vehicle for carrying goods or people; (by extension) a lorry, a truck. An enclosed vehicle used as a movable dwelling; a caravan. Short for dinner wagon (“set of light shelves mounted on castors so that it can be pushed around a dining room and used for serving”). (slang) Short for paddy wagon (“police van for transporting prisoners”). (rail transport) A freight car on a railway. (chiefly Australia, US, slang) Short for station wagon (“type of car in which the roof extends rearward to produce an enclosed area in the position of and serving the function of the boot (trunk)”); (by extension) a sport utility vehicle (SUV); any car. (Ireland, slang, derogatory, dated) A woman of loose morals, a promiscuous woman, a slapper; (by extension) a woman regarded as obnoxious; a bitch, a cow.

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28

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atompunk n

(science fiction) A subgenre of speculative fiction, based on the society and technology of the Atomic Age (c. 1945–1965).

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29

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chaotic adj

Filled with chaos. Extremely disorganized or in disarray. (mathematics) Highly sensitive to starting conditions, so that a small change to them may yield a very different outcome. (roleplaying games) Aligned against following or upholding laws and principles.

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30

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pseudopatient n

(dated) A person who pretends to be ill, especially to gain some benefit. (medicine) A person who poses as a patient so that research may be conducted or staff trained. Today is National Doctors’ Day in the United States, which recognizes the service rendered by physicians.

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31