Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2024/December

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1

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tip of the iceberg n

(idiomatic) A small indication of a larger possibility; the first part encountered of a problem that is much bigger than it seems. On this day 65 years ago in 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed. The day was declared by Our Spaces as Antarctica Day to build awareness about Antarctica and to emphasize the importance of nations co-operating peacefully through science to make decisions about places beyond the boundaries of sovereign states.

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2

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pawternity leave n

Time off work granted to an employee to take care of a pet, especially a cat or dog. Today is one of two National Mutt Days in the year in the USA established by the American animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige.

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3

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ablenationalism n

The attitude that considers the qualifications of citizenship to be such that people with disabilities are exceptions. Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was first recognized in 1992 by the United Nations to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

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4

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to one's mind prepositional phrase (idiomatic)

From one's point of view, in one's opinion. (archaic) According to one's desire or preference.

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5

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turbary n (soil science)

(uncountable) Peatland from which peat or turf may be cut for fuel; (countable) a piece of such land; a peat bog. (uncountable, by extension) (law) In full common of turbary: the right to cut peat or turf from peatland on a common or another person's land. (obsolete) Material extracted from peatland; peat. Today is declared by the United Nations to be World Soil Day to recognize the importance of soil as a vital part of nature and a contributor to human well-being. It was first commemorated 10 years ago in 2014.

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6

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wham n

A forceful blow. The sound of such a blow; a thud. (figurative) An attempt. A great success. wham interj Used to indicate the sound of a forceful blow, an explosion, etc. Used to indicate something dramatic, sudden, and unanticipated has occurred. wham v (informal) (transitive) To smash or strike (someone or something) with great force or impact; to slam, to whack. To propel (something) with great force by kicking, striking, throwing, etc. (intransitive) To smash or strike with great force or impact. To move quickly or loudly. The song “Last Christmas” by the English pop duo Wham! was released 40 years ago on 3 December 1984.

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7

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condole v

(intransitive) Followed by with: to express condolence to, or sympathetic sorrow with, someone; to lament in sympathy with someone. (obsolete) To express deep sorrow; to grieve, to lament. (transitive) (archaic or obsolete except India, often formal) To express regret or sorrow over (an undesirable event or other misfortune); to bemoan, to grieve, to lament. (obsolete) To express condolence to, or sympathetic sorrow with (someone); to lament in sympathy with (someone). (reflexive) To express or feel sorrow for (oneself); to bewail, to mourn.

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8

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trinket n

A small, showy ornament, especially a piece of jewellery. (figurative) A thing of little value; a toy, a trifle. (obsolete) A small item of food; a small dainty. (chiefly in the plural) A small item forming part of a set of equipment; an accessory, an accoutrement. (figurative, religion, derogatory) An item used in a religious rite (also, a religious rite, belief, etc.) regarded as superfluous or trivial. trinket v (transitive, rare) Often followed by out: to adorn (someone or something) with trinkets (noun sense 1). [...]

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9

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ubicate v (formal, rare)

(transitive) To find and specify the location of (someone or something); to locate. (intransitive) To take up residence in a place; to lodge, to occupy.

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10

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maladministration n

(chiefly government, uncountable) Faulty, improper, or inefficient administration or management, especially by a government body; (countable) an instance of this. (Christianity, countable, obsolete) An act of incorrectly administering a religious rite; also, a religious group that permits such a practice. Today is Human Rights Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of human rights and to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global enunciation of such rights, on this day in 1948.

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11

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thirteener n

A child who is thirteen years old. (dated) A member of the 13th Gen; a Generation Xer or Gen-Xer. (card games, especially bridge) The last playing card of a suit left after the other twelve have been played. (cricket) A hit for thirteen runs. (numismatics, dated) A coin worth thirteenpence, especially an Irish shilling (as contrasted with a British shilling which was worth twelvepence). (poetry) A thirteen-syllable line or series of lines in a poem. (US, climbing) A mountain rising to more than 13,000 feet (about 4,000 metres) but less than 14,000 feet above mean sea level. Today is International Mountain Day, which was first recognized by the United Nations in 2003 to highlight the importance of sustainable mountain development.

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12

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murrain n

(archaic, uncountable) Infectious disease; pestilence, plague; (countable) sometimes used in curses such as a murrain on someone: an outbreak of such a disease; a plague. (countable, figurative, archaic) A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution; a plague. (countable, veterinary medicine, chiefly historical) Any of several highly infectious diseases of cattle or other livestock, such as anthrax, babesiosis, or rinderpest; or a particular epizootic thereof; also, an infectious disease affecting other animals, such as poultry. (countable, by extension, phytopathology) An infectious disease affecting plants. (obsolete) (countable) A poor-quality green-salted animal hide. (uncountable) Death, especially from an infectious disease. (uncountable) Rotting flesh, especially of an animal which has died from a disease; carrion. murrain adj (figurative, obsolete) Disgusting or offensive, as if having an infectious disease; contemptible, despicable, loathsome, plaguey. Used as an intensifier: to a great extent; extreme, intense. murrain adv (figurative, obsolete) Used as an intensifier: extremely, very. Today is International Universal Health Coverage Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize that everybody should have access to good quality, affordable health care. On this day in 2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution encouraging countries to strive towards universal health coverage.

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13

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free rein n

(equestrianism) A rein of a horse held loosely so that the animal can move more freely; also, the free condition that this gives to a horse. (figurative) The absence of constraints; freedom to act, decide, or speak. Today is celebrated in the United States as the National Day of the Horse, which recognizes the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of the country. It was established by a Senate resolution 20 years ago in 2004.

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14

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peevish adj

Constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters; fretful, whiny. Quick to become bad-tempered or cross, especially due to insignificant matters; irritable, pettish, petulant. (Canada, Northern England, figurative) Of weather: blustery, windy; also, of wind: cold and strong; bitter, sharp. (obsolete) Coy, modest. Foolish, silly. Harmful, injurious; also, mischievous; or malicious, spiteful. Impulsive and unpredictable; capricious, fickle. Obstinately in the wrong; perverse, stubborn. Out of one's mind; mad. Of a thing: evoking a feeling of distaste, horror, etc. (Northern England) Clever, skilful. peevish adv (obsolete) Synonym of peevishly (“in a peevish manner: whiningly; irritably, petulantly; etc.”)

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15

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bucket list n (idiomatic)

A list of tasks arising during a meeting that are put aside to be dealt with later. A list of things to accomplish before one's death. (by extension) A list of things to accomplish before a certain deadline or in a certain time period. (computer science) A data structure containing buckets used in a hashing algorithm. The comedy film The Bucket List, which popularized sense 2 of the term, premiered on this day in the United States in 2007.

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16

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liquidate v

(transitive) (archaic, rare) Synonym of liquefy (“to make (something) into a liquid”); to liquidize. (figurative) To make (a sound) less harsh. To use up (money or other assets) wastefully; to dissipate, to squander, to waste. (informal) To kill (someone), usually violently, and especially for some ideological or political aim; to assassinate, to murder; also, to abolish or eliminate (something); to do away with, to put an end to. (business, commercial law, finance) To convert (assets) into cash; to encash, to realize, to redeem. To settle (a debt) by paying the outstanding amount; to pay off. To settle the financial affairs of (a corporation, partnership, or other business) with the aim of ceasing operations, by determining liabilities, using assets to pay debts, and apportioning the remaining assets if any; to wind up. (obsolete) To make (something) clear and intelligible. To resolve or settle (differences, disputes, etc.). (chiefly law) To ascertain (an amount of money), especially by agreement or through litigation; also, to set out (financial accounts) properly. (intransitive, business, commercial law, finance) Of a corporation, partnership, or other business: to settle financial affairs with the aim of ceasing operations; to go into liquidation, to wind up. liquidate adj (law, archaic or obsolete, rare) Of an amount of money: ascertained, determined, fixed.

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17

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Wheel of Fortune proper n

(mythology, philosophy) The mythological wheel turned randomly by Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fate, fortune, and luck, to determine people's fortunes which were thus unpredictable. (by extension) (gambling) Synonym of Big Six wheel (“a game of chance consisting of a vertically mounted wheel divided into equal marked sectors; the winning sector is the one indicated by a pointer when the wheel stops turning”) (tarot) A tarot card with an image of Fortuna's wheel (sense 1), generally the tenth of 22 trumps of the major arcana in most tarot decks. The American novelist John Kennedy Toole was born on this day in 1937. In his book A Confederacy of Dunces (1980), which won a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the protagonist Ignatius Reilly repeatedly refers to the Roman goddess Fortuna having spun him downwards on her Wheel of Fortune.

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18

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Mameluke n

(historical) A member of various military regimes in the Middle East established and run by freed white slave soldiers, mainly from the Eurasian steppe or the Caucasus; in particular, those who formed a ruling caste in Egypt from 1250 until 1812 and in Syria from 1260 until 1516. (by extension) (derogatory) One who supports someone or something blindly or slavishly; specifically, one who supports the Roman Catholic Church in this manner. (obsolete) A slave (especially one who is a white European) in a Middle Eastern Muslim country. Today is UN Arabic Language Day, one of six such days established by UNESCO to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity and to promote the equal use of its working languages. The United Nations General Assembly approved Arabic as an official UN language on this day in 1973.

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19

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Electric Boogaloo proper n

(humorous) Used as the subtitle of an imagined sequel of a film, television show, etc. The film Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo premiered in the United States on this day 40 years ago in 1984.

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20

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condescend v

(intransitive) (obsolete) To come down or go down; to descend. (figurative) To come down from a superior position and do something; to deign; (with a negative connotation) to stoop. To treat someone as though inferior; to talk down to someone; to patronize. Chiefly followed by on or upon: to go into detail; to particularize, to specify. (obsolete) To agree to something; to accede, to assent, to consent; also, to reach an agreement. (obsolete) To give way or yield in a deferential manner; to be amenable or compliant. (obsolete) To graciously give; to vouchsafe. (obsolete) To reach a certain point; to settle on. (obsolete) To secretly make plans, usually to bring about a bad or illegal result; to conspire, to plot. (transitive) (nonstandard, rare) To treat (someone) as though inferior; to talk down to (someone); to patronize. (chiefly passive voice, obsolete) Often preceded by the dummy pronoun it: to agree to (something); to consent.

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21

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smoke wagon n (US, slang, archaic)

(rail transport, road transport) A vehicle that generates smoke; specifically, an automobile or a train. (weaponry) A handgun, especially a revolver.

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22

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elongate adj

Elongated, extended, lengthened; (especially biology) having a long and slender form. elongate v (transitive) To make (something) long or longer, for example, by pulling or stretching; to make (something) elongated; to extend, to lengthen. (obsolete) Followed by from: to move to or place (something) at a distance from another thing; to remove. (intransitive) To become long or longer, for example, by being pulled or stretched; to become elongated. (botany) Of a plant part: to grow long; also, to have a long and slender or tapering form. (obsolete) Followed by from: to be at a distance, or move away, from a thing; to depart; (specifically, astronomy) of a planet, star, or other astronomical object: to appear to recede from the sun or a fixed point in the celestial sphere.

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23

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double-jointed adj

Having one or more joints (usually those of the fingers, arms, or legs) able to bend more than is normal; possessing hypermobility of one or more joints.

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24

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snow n

(uncountable) The partly frozen, crystalline state of water that falls from the atmosphere as precipitation in flakes; also, the falling of such flakes; and the accumulation of them on the ground or on objects as a white layer. (countable) An instance of the falling of snow (sense 1); a snowfall; also, a snowstorm. (countable) A period of time when snow falls; a winter. (countable) An accumulation or spread of snow. Something resembling snow (sense 1) in appearance or colour. (countable, cooking) A dish or component of a dish resembling snow, especially one made by whipping egg whites until creamy. (uncountable) The white colour of snow. snow:   (figurative) Clusters of white flowers. (figurative) The moving pattern of random dots seen on a radar or television screen, etc., when no transmission signal is being received or when there is interference. (figurative) Sea foam; sea spray. (figurative) Also in the plural: white hair on an (older) person's head. (figurative, poetic) White marble. (figurative, slang) Money, especially silver coins. (figurative, slang, dated) White linen which has been washed. (chemistry) Chiefly with a descriptive word: a substance other than water resembling snow when frozen; specifically, frozen carbon dioxide. (marine biology) Clipping of marine snow (“sinking organic detritus in the ocean”). (originally US, slang) Cocaine; also (less frequently), heroin or morphine. snow v (intransitive, impersonal) Preceded by the dummy subject it: to have snow (noun sense 1) fall from the atmosphere. (also figurative) Of a thing: to fall like snow. (transitive) To cause (something) to fall like snow. To cover or scatter (a place or thing) with, or as if with, snow. (figurative) To cause (hair) to turn white; also, to cause (someone) to have white hair. (originally US, slang) To convince or hoodwink (someone), especially by presenting confusing information or through flattery. (poker) To bluff (an opponent) in draw poker by playing a hand which has no value, or by refusing to draw any cards. (US, slang, chiefly passive voice) To cause (someone) to be under the effect of a drug; to dope, to drug. [...] Have yourself a merry little Christmas Eve!

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25

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Christmas tree n

An evergreen tree (usually a conifer), or an artificial tree made to resemble this, which is typically decorated with lights and ornaments and often an angel or star at its tip, and used as a decoration during the Christmas holiday season. (by extension) Something which resembles a Christmas tree (sense 1) in appearance (for example, in having coloured lights) or shape. (informal) Something which is elaborately decorated. (bodybuilding) A pattern of muscles visible in the lower back, resembling in outline the shape of a conifer. (chiefly military) (aviation, nautical, slang) A panel of indicator lights in an aircraft or a submarine. (US, aviation, historical) An alert area at an air base with aircraft parked in stubs arranged at a 45-degree angle to a central taxiway to enable them to move rapidly to a runway; these were constructed by the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force during the Cold War (generally 1947–1991). (motor racing) A pole with lights, similar to a traffic signal, used for signalling the start of an automobile race. (oil industry, slang) A collection of gauges, valves, and other components installed at the top of wellhead to control the flow of gas or oil. (by extension) A Christmas party, especially one organized for (underprivileged) children by a charity, a school, etc. (Australia) Often with a descriptive word: any of several shrubs or trees native to Australia which bloom in summer at the end of the year around Christmastime, and so may be used as a Christmas decoration; especially the fire tree or moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda). (New Zealand) Synonym of pohutukawa (“a coastal evergreen tree, Metrosideros excelsa, native to New Zealand and producing a brilliant display of red flowers with prominent stamens around Christmastime”) Merry Christmas from all of us at the English Wiktionary!

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26

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eat away v (transitive, idiomatic)

To physically corrode or erode (something) gradually. (figurative) To destroy (something) gradually by an ongoing process. (specifically) Chiefly followed by at: of a circumstance, incident, etc.: to cause (someone) to feel guilty, troubled, or worried; to bother. Eat, drink, and be merry this Christmas, but don’t overdo it!

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28

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grande dame n (also attributive)

A woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character, especially one who is advanced in age and haughty. A woman who is accomplished and influential, and is a respected senior figure in a particular field; a doyenne. (figurative) A very highly regarded and well-known institution or structure, or large conveyance such as a ship. The English actress Dame Maggie Smith was born on this day 90 years ago in 1934; she died on 27 September.

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30

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just-so story n

A story which supposedly explains the beginning or early development of a current state of affairs; a myth, a pourquoi story. (literature) A story, especially one for children, featuring animals as characters. (social sciences, especially anthropology, philosophy, chiefly derogatory) An untestable explanation for something, such as a form of behaviour, a biological trait, or a cultural practice. The English writer Rudyard Kipling, whose series of short stories called Just So Stories (published in book form in 1902) gave rise to the term, was born on this day in 1865.

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