Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2017/May

1

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ergonomics n

The science of the design of equipment, especially so as to reduce operator fatigue, discomfort and injury. (economics, rare) Political economy. Today is International Workers’ Day, marked in some countries as Labour Day.

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2

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punch above one's weight v

(idiomatic) To achieve or perform at a higher level than would be expected based on one's preparation, attributes, rank, or past accomplishments.

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3

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Fortean adj

Of or pertaining to anomalous phenomena. Of or pertaining to Charles Fort. Charles Hoy Fort, an American writer and investigator of anomalous phenomena, died on this day in 1932.

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4

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lightsaber n

(science fiction) A sword having a blade made of a powerful beam of light. May the Fourth – oops, the Force – be with you! Today is observed as Star Wars Day by fans of the franchise.

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5

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galeanthropy n

(rare) A mental condition of thinking that one has become a cat, which is usually manifested in the adoption of feline mannerisms and habits.

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6

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measly adj

Particularly of pigs or pork: infected with larval tapeworms or trichinae (parasitic roundworms). Of a person: infected with measles. Small (especially contemptibly small) in amount; miserable, paltry, trifling.

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7

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epitrachelion n

(Eastern Orthodoxy) The liturgical vestment worn by priests and bishops of the Eastern Orthodox Church as the symbol of their priesthood, corresponding to the Western stole.

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8

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macron n

(orthography) A short, straight, horizontal diacritical mark (¯) placed over any of various letters. It usually is used to indicate that the pronunciation of a vowel is long; in Mandarin Pinyin (Chinese), it indicates the first tone, e.g., chūzūchē.

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9

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anuran n

(batrachology) Any amphibian of the order Anura; a frog, a toad. On this day in 1955, the TV show Sam and Friends, which introduced Kermit the Frog, was first broadcast.

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10

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Amitābha proper n

(Buddhism) The name of a buddha; an artistic depiction of this buddha. In Pure Land Buddhism, a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism, the name of the principal buddha regarded as of celestial origin. In Vajrayāna Buddhism, the name of the western buddha, one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas representing the five qualities of the Buddha. (Hinduism) A class of deities. Today is Vesak or Vesākha, a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.

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11

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hold the ring v

(sports, theater, obsolete) To maintain order among spectators encircling participants in a prizefight or a performance and keep them from coming too near the participants; to keep the ring. To be a spectator at a fight; (figuratively) to watch other people argue. (British, idiomatic) To oversee a situation while attempting to remain uninvolved in it. (sports) Of a prizefighter: to hold one's own during a fight; to continue winning a series of fights.

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12

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bahuvrihi n

(linguistics, also attributive) A type of nominal compound in which the first part modifies the second and neither part alone conveys the intended meaning.

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13

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prahok n

A salted and fermented fish paste used in Cambodian cuisine. Today is the start of the three-day national holiday in Cambodia that marks the birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni.

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14

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matriotism n

School, hometown, or parish pride or loyalty, as opposed to nationalism or patriotism. [from 19th c.] Love or celebration of a woman's influence upon society; the female equivalent to male patriotism. Love of the motherland, as opposed to patriotism as love of the fatherland. Pacifist patriotism; love of society as opposed to love of the state. Devotion to Mother Earth, ecology, sustainability, peace, and the survival of the human species for as long as possible. Today is celebrated as Mother’s Day in 2017 in many countries.

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15

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parentcraft n

The skills and knowledge used by parents in raising children. Today is designated by the United Nations as International Day of Families.

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16

17

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jotun n

(Norse mythology) A member of a race of giants who usually stand in opposition to the Æsir and especially to Thor. Today is Norwegian Constitution Day, which celebrates the signing of the Constitution of Norway in Eidsvoll on this day in 1814.

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18

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under the weather adj

(idiomatic) Somewhat ill or gloomy. (idiomatic) Somewhat intoxicated or suffering from a hangover. (idiomatic, obsolete) Experiencing adversity.

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19

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chimera n

(Greek mythology) Alternative letter-case form of Chimera (a flame-spewing monster often represented as having two heads, one of a goat and the other of a lion; the body of a goat; and a serpent as a tail). (mythology) Any fantastic creature with parts from different animals. Anything composed of very disparate parts. A foolish, incongruous, or vain thought or product of the imagination. (architecture) A grotesque like a gargoyle, but without a spout for rainwater. (genetics) An organism with genetically distinct cells originating from two zygotes. Usually chimaera: a cartilaginous marine fish in the subclass Holocephali and especially the order Chimaeriformes, with a blunt snout, long tail, and a spine before the first dorsal fin.

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20

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catchment n

(often attributive) Any structure or land feature which catches and holds water; the collection of such water. A catchment area, or the people it serves.

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21

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smudge attack n

(computing) A method used to crack the password of a touchscreen device by analysing the oily smears left on the device's screen by the user's fingers.

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22

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tram n

(Australia, British, rail transport) A passenger vehicle for public use that runs on tracks in the road (called a streetcar in North America). A similar vehicle for carrying materials. (US, rail transport) A people mover. (US) An aerial cable car. (US) A train with wheels that runs on a road; a trackless train. […] Benjamin Outram, an English pioneer in building canals and tramways, died on this day in 1805.

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23

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defenestration n

The act of throwing something or someone out of a window. (British) The high-profile removal of a person from an organization. (computing, neologism, humorous) The act of removing the Microsoft Windows operating system from a computer in order to install an alternative one. The Second Defenestration of Prague took place on this day in 1618. Three Roman Catholic regents of Ferdinand II, the Holy Roman Emperor, were thrown out of a third-floor window by Protestant subjects who accused them of suppressing their rights. The regents survived the fall, but the incident precipitated the Thirty Years’ War.

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24

25

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sand boil n

(geology) An eruption of water through a bed of sand due, for instance, to seismic activity, or to differences in water pressure on two sides of a levee which causes water to penetrate beneath the levee. (pathology, rare) A boil which forms when sand particles enter and irritate the skin.

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26

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khachapuri n

A cheese pastry from the country of Georgia in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Today is Independence Day, the national day of Georgia.

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27

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silly season n

(idiomatic, journalism) A period, usually during the summertime, when news media tend to place increased emphasis on reporting light-hearted, offbeat, or bizarre stories. (idiomatic) A period of time, as during a holiday season or a political campaign, in which the behavior of an individual or group tends to become uncharacteristically frivolous, mirthful, or eccentric. Today is the start of the Memorial Day weekend in the United States in 2017, which is traditionally regarded as the beginning of summer.

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28

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vardapet n

(ecclesiastical) A highly educated archimandrite in the Armenian Apostolic Church tradition who holds a Doctorate in Theology. Today is Republic Day in Armenia, which commemorates the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia.

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29

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duodenum n

The first part of the small intestine, starting at the lower end of the stomach and extending to the jejunum. Today is designated as World Digestive Health Day by the World Gastroenterology Organisation to commemorate its founding on this date in 1958.

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30

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nature-deficit disorder n

(psychology) A disputed class of behavioural problems in modern children, ascribed to the fact that they spend little time outdoors.

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31