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

2024
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1

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healthspan n
The length of time in one's life where one is generally in good health. Today is the International Day of Older Persons, which is recognized by the United Nations to appreciate the contributions that older persons make to society, and to raise awareness of issues affecting them.
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2

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paroxysm n
(countable, medicine) A period (especially one of several recurring periods) during the course of an illness when symptoms worsen; a sudden attack of a disease symptom, such as a bout of coughing or a seizure. (by extension) (countable) Chiefly followed by of: a sudden outburst of violent activity or feeling; also, the most severe part of an activity or incident; the climax. (countable, archaic) An outburst of a violent argument or disagreement. (countable, chiefly geology) A violent occurrence of a natural phenomenon, such as an earthquake, thunderstorm, or volcanic eruption; specifically (volcanology), the most explosive event during a series of volcanic eruptions. (uncountable, rare) Disastrous or sudden change.
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3

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verboten adj
(often emphatic or humorous) (Strictly) forbidden or prohibited. Today is Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day), which commemorates the anniversary of German Reunification in 1990.
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4

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pomace n
The pulp or pulplike matter remaining from a substance pressed to extract its juice or oil. Such residue from apples used in the process of cidermaking; also, a mass of crushed apples before the juice is pressed out. Such residue from grapes used in winemaking. (historical) Such residue (especially castor bean cake or fish scrap) used as fertilizer. (UK, regional, archaic) Synonym of pulp (“a soft, moist mass formed by mashing something”) (by extension, obsolete) Sheep offal.
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5

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formative adj
Capable of forming something. (biology) Capable of producing new tissue. (linguistic morphology) Pertaining to the formation of words; specifically, of an affix: forming words through inflection. Of or pertaining to the formation and subsequent growth of something. (education) Of a form of assessment: used to guide learning rather than to quantify educational outcomes. formative n A thing which causes formation to occur. (linguistic morphology) A language unit, typically a morph, that has a morphological function (that is, forming a word from a root or another word). Synonym of derivative (“a word that derives from another one”) Today is World Teachers’ Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight the rights and responsibilities of teachers around the world. It marks the adoption by states of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers on this day in 1966.
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6

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weaksauce adj
(originally and chiefly US, informal) Lacking in interest or substance; boring, disappointing, lacklustre. weaksauce n (originally and chiefly US, informal) (countable) Someone or something that is lacking in interest or substance. (uncountable) The quality or state of lacking in interest or substance; boringness, disappointment. Synonym of weak tea (“weak or feeble arguments, efforts, or proposals”)
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7

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Art Deco proper n
(architecture, art, also attributive) A style of decorative art (often used in household objects) and architecture originating in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by bold geometric forms, strong contrasting colours, and simple composition. Today, the first Monday of October in 2024, is designated by the United Nations as World Habitat Day to encourage reflection on the state of towns and cities, and on people’s basic right to adequate shelter. It is also marked as World Architecture Day by the International Union of Architects.
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8

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secular arm n
(Christianity, law, historical) The lay or temporal authority of a secular court to pronounce punishment (particularly capital punishment) of an offender tried by an ecclesiastical court.
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9

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glimpse v
(transitive) To see or view (someone, or something tangible) briefly and incompletely. (figurative) To perceive (something intangible) briefly and incompletely. (intransitive) Chiefly followed by at or upon: to look at briefly and incompletely; to glance. To shine with a faint, unsteady light; to glimmer, to shimmer. (archaic or poetic) To appear or start to appear, especially faintly or unclearly; to dawn. (rare) Sometimes followed by out: to provide a brief and incomplete look. glimpse n Chiefly followed by of: a brief and incomplete look; a glance, a peek. (archaic) A brief, sudden flash of light; a glimmer. (figurative) A faint or imprecise idea; an inkling. (rare) A brief, unspecified amount of time; a moment. (obsolete) A faint (and often temporary) appearance; a tinge, a trace. Today, the day before the second Thursday of October in 2024, is the eve of World Sight Day, which is coordinated by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organization to draw attention to blindness and vision impairment, and to emphasize the importance of eye care.
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10

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breakdown n
(countable) A failure, particularly one which is mechanical in nature. (physics, uncountable) The sudden (and usually damaging) transition of an electrical insulator to a conductor when subjected to a sufficiently strong voltage, caused by the partial or complete ionization of the insulator; (countable) an instance of this; also, the minimum voltage at which this occurs. (countable) Something, such as a vehicle, that has experienced a mechanical failure. (uncountable) Separation of a thing into components; decomposition, fragmentation; (countable) an instance of this. (uncountable) Detailed categorization, or itemization or listing, of the components of a thing; (countable) an instance of this. (chemistry, uncountable) Breaking of chemical bonds within a compound to produce simpler compounds or elements; (countable) an instance of this. (film, television, countable) A detailed description of a forthcoming project or screenplay which identifies all the required elements, such as the cast, costumes, equipment, props, and special effects. (figurative) (countable) A failure in a relationship; a failure or loss of organization in a system. (uncountable) (Sudden) worsening of physical health or (more commonly) mental stability, resulting in an inability to carry on normal activities; (countable) an instance of this. (veterinary medicine, uncountable) Injury to a horse's leg causing lameness; (countable) an instance of this. (originally and chiefly New Zealand, countable, chiefly attributive) An act of splitting logs of wood using a large saw in a sawmill; also, the saw used; or (rare) the building in which the process is carried out. (music, countable) A part of a piece of music or a song which differs from the other parts in that it features improvisation or is stripped down (for example, played by fewer instruments or a solo performer). Synonym of percussion break (“a percussion-focused segment of a song, chosen by a hip-hop DJ to manipulate through cutting, mixing, and other techniques in order to create rhythmic music”) (chiefly Southern US, countable) (dance, dated) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a number of individuals or pairs in succession, common among African-Americans from the Southern United States; also, a lively event, chiefly in a rural setting, at which such dancing is done; a hoedown, a shindig. (music) A piece of music played for such a dance, especially a rapid bluegrass tune featuring a five-string banjo. (obsolete, countable) An act of a structure or other thing breaking and collapsing. Today is World Mental Health Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness about mental health and to advocate against the stigmatization of people experiencing mental health issues.
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11

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Heinz 57 n (US, humorous, informal, also attributive)
(countable) A thing comprising parts from many different sources; a complete mix; a hodgepodge, a mishmash. An animal (chiefly a dog) of mixed breed or uncertain origin; a mongrel, a mutt. (sometimes derogatory) A person of mixed ethnic or racial ancestry. (uncountable, poker) A variety of draw poker in which the five and seven playing cards are wild cards. The American entrepreneur Henry John Heinz, who founded the Heinz food processing company, was born on this day 180 years ago in 1844.
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12

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lass n (archaic except UK, dialectal, informal or poetic)
A girl; also (by extension), a young woman. (specifically) A female member of the Salvation Army; a hallelujah lass. (especially Geordie, Wearside) A sweetheart. (Northern England, Scotland) A female servant; a maid, a maidservant. (Scotland, familiar) A term of address for a woman, or a female animal. Yesterday was the International Day of the Girl Child, which is recognized by the United Nations to increase awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide and to support greater opportunities for them.
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13

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overegg v
(transitive, idiomatic, originally UK, regional) Chiefly in over-egg the pudding: to spoil (something) by exaggerating it, or an aspect of it; to overdo. The second Friday of October, 11 October in 2024, was established as International Egg Day by the International Egg Commission to raise awareness about the benefit of eggs as an inexpensive and nutritious food source.
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14

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vinok n
A traditional Ukrainian wreath chiefly decorated with flowers and other plant parts, which is worn by women and girls as a headdress. Today was formerly Defenders Day in Ukraine, which was first celebrated in 2015 following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity to honour the defenders of the nation. The date was shifted to 1 October following a calendar reform in 2023.
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15

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diaeresis n
(linguistics, prosody) A separation of one syllable (especially a vowel which is a diphthong, that is, beginning with one sound and ending with another) into two distinct syllables; distraction. (orthography) The diacritical mark consisting of two dots (¨) placed over a letter (especially the second of two consecutive vowels) to indicate that it is sounded separately, usually as a distinct syllable. An occurrence of separate vowel sounds in adjacent syllables without an intervening consonant; a hiatus. (figurative, rare) A division, a separation. (prosody) A natural break in rhythm when a word ends at the end of a metrical foot in a line of verse. (surgery, archaic) An act of separating body parts or tissues which are normally together. The American lexicographer Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758. To mark this day, which is celebrated by some as National Dictionary Day in the United States, we are featuring a series of language-related words.
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16

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cryptolect n
(linguistics) A secretive language form used by a subculture; an arcane cant. The American lexicographer Noah Webster was born on this day in 1758. To mark this day, which is celebrated by some as National Dictionary Day in the United States, we are featuring a series of language-related words.
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17

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genitive adj
(archaic) Of or pertaining to the generation of offspring; generative, procreative, reproductive. (grammar) Of a grammatical case: in an inflected language (such as Greek or Latin), expressing that a thing denoted by a word is related to a thing denoted by another word as its origin or possessor; and in an uninflected language (such as English), expressing origin or possession; possessive. Of, pertaining to, or used in the genitive case. genitive n (grammar) (countable, uncountable) Short for genitive case (“a grammatical case used to express a relationship of origin or possession”). (countable) A word inflected in the genitive case, and which thus indicates origin or possession. The American lexicographer Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758. To mark this day, which is celebrated by some as National Dictionary Day in the United States, we are featuring a series of language-related words.
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18

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superplural n
(grammar, metaphysics (ontology), also attributive) A term, word, etc., that describes a plurality greater than another plural. The American lexicographer Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758. To mark this day, which is celebrated by some as National Dictionary Day in the United States, we are featuring a series of language-related words.
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19

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knap v (UK, dialectal, except for sense 1.1.1)
(transitive) To break (something) into small pieces with a cracking sound; to fragment, to smash; also, to break (something) apart sharply; to snap. (specifically, especially archaeology) To break away flakes from (a brittle material which fractures conchoidally (“with planar concentric curves”), usually a mineral such as chert, flint, or obsidian), often to form a tool with a sharp edge or point. To strike (something) sharply; to knock, to rap. Followed by off: to break (something) away from another thing by striking or tapping sharply. (figurative) To say (something) crisply or sharply. (intransitive) To break or fracture suddenly; to snap. To make a cracking or snapping sound; to crack, to snap. To strike sharply. (figurative) To speak crisply or sharply. (gambling, chiefly dice games, obsolete) To cheat while gambling, especially at a dice game. knap n (chiefly archaic or obsolete except UK, dialectal) A sudden, sharp blow, knock, or slap; a rap, a whack. The sound made by such a blow, knock, or slap. (agriculture) Synonym of chattering damsel (“a component of a traditional mill which creates a vibratory motion to impel portions of grain toward the millstone; a clapper”) (figurative, gambling, chiefly dice games, obsolete) A method of cheating at a dice game. [...] Today, the third Saturday of October in 2024, was established by the Archaeological Institute of America as International Archaeology Day to celebrate archaeology and its contributions to society.
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20

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queen cake n
(cooking, dated) A soft, muffin -sized, often heart-shaped cake, particularly popular in the 18th century, containing currants and flavoured with mace and sometimes lemons or oranges, which may be topped with chocolate or shredded coconut. Yesterday, the third Saturday of October in 2024, was celebrated as Sweetest Day in parts of the United States, a day to share romantic expressions, and acts of charity and kindness.
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21

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apple n
A common, firm, round fruit produced by a tree of the genus Malus. The fruit of the tree Malus domestica, chiefly with a green, red, or yellow skin, cultivated in temperate climates for cidermaking, cooking, and eating. Often with a qualifying word: any fruit or vegetable, or any other thing (such as a cone or gall) produced by a plant, especially if from a tree and similar to the fruit of Malus domestica (sense 1.1). Something which resembles the fruit of Malus domestica (sense 1.1) in shape (such as a ball, breast, or globe) or colour. Short for Adam's apple (“the lump in the throat, usually more noticeable in men than in women; the laryngeal prominence”). Short for apple-green (“a bright green colour with a light tint of yellow, like that of a Granny Smith apple”). apple: (historical) Short for apple of the eye (“the pupil, or pupil and iris, of the eye, originally believed to be spherical; also, the eyeball”). (informal) The round, fleshy part of a cheek between the eye and the corner of the mouth when a person is smiling. (geometry) The surface of revolution of a circular arc of an angle greater than 180° rotated about the straight line passing through the arc's two endpoints. (smoking) In full apple bowl: a round bowl of a tobacco pipe; also, a tobacco pipe with such a bowl. (obsolete, baseball, slang) In full old apple: a baseball. (Christianity) According to postbiblical Christian tradition, the fruit of the tree of knowledge which was eaten by Adam and Eve despite God commanding them not to do so; the forbidden fruit. (obsolete, botany) Synonym of pome (“a type of fruit in which the often edible flesh arises from the swollen base of the flower and not from the carpels”) A tree of the genus Malus; especially Malus domestica which is cultivated for its edible fruit; the apple tree. Synonym of applewood (“the wood of the apple tree”) [...] apple v (transitive) To make (something) appear like an apple (noun sense 1.1). (intransitive) To become like an apple. (UK, dialectal, rare) To collect fir-cones. (obsolete except UK, dialectal) Of a flower bud or vegetable (especially a root vegetable): to grow into the shape of an apple. Today is Apple Day in the United Kingdom, which celebrates apples and orchards. It was first organized by Common Ground, a charity encouraging people to engage with their local environment, on this date in 1990.
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22

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aldermanic adj
Of or pertaining to an alderman (“member of a municipal legislative body in a city or town”) or group of aldermen. (figurative) Having the (supposed) lifestyle or qualities of an alderman. Of a person or animal's body, girth, etc.: fleshy, plump, rotund. Of a thing: extravagant; sumptuous.
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23

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woodsy adj
Of, relating to, or suggestive of a wooded area. Of a place: having many trees. Today is World Wilderness Day, which was established by the European Wilderness Society to promote appreciation and protection of wilderness areas.
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24

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neoimperialism n
(politics) A contemporary form of imperialism; modern imperialistic practices by a country, such as using influence and power to dominate smaller countries.
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25

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embarrassingly parallel adj
(programming) In parallel computing, of a particular problem: very easy to separate into a number of parallel tasks.
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26

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fain adj (archaic)
(chiefly UK, dialectal, or poetic) Often followed by of: glad, well-pleased. Glad, contented, or satisfied to do something in the absence of a better alternative. (by extension) Compelled or obliged to. (UK, dialectal) Chiefly followed by to, or (obsolete) for or of: eager or willing, or inclined. (obsolete) Except in fair and fain: favourable, well-disposed. Accustomed, apt, wont. fain adv (archaic or obsolete) Chiefly preceded or followed by would. With joy or pleasure; gladly. By choice or will; willingly. [...]
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27

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smell-o-vision n
(originally and chiefly US, film, television, humorous) A (supposed) technology consisting of cinematography with the addition of olfaction, often portrayed as far-fetched or futuristic. Today is the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, which was established by UNESCO to raise awareness about the significance and preservation risks of recorded audio and audiovisual materials. It commemorates the adoption of the Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images by UNESCO on this day in 1980.
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28

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xenelasy n
(Ancient Greece, historical) The practice of expelling foreigners in Doric Crete and Lacedaemonia. Today is Ohi Day (Anniversary of the “No”) in Greece, which marks the rejection by Ioannis Metaxas of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s ultimatum in 1940 during World War II to allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory.
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29

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cathead n
(nautical) A heavy piece of timber projecting somewhat horizontally from each side of the bow of a ship on which an anchor is raised or lowered, and secured when not used, from its stock end. A decorative element at the end of such a timber that often depicts a cat's head. (technology, chiefly mining) A (small) capstan (“vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, used to apply force to cables, ropes, etc.”) or windlass (“type of winch”) forming part of hoisting machinery. (UK, dialectal) A nodule of ironstone containing fossil remains. (US) Short for cathead biscuit (“a large fluffy biscuit, typically served with gravy”). cathead v (transitive, nautical) Synonym of cat (“to hoist (an anchor) so that it hangs at the cathead (noun sense 1.1)”) Today is National Cat Day in the USA, which was established on this day in 2005 by the American animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige with the support of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to encourage people to celebrate the companionship provided by cats, and to be aware of the need to rescue and adopt them.
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30

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scurvy adj
(obsolete) Affected or covered with scurf (“skin disease causing flakes of skin to fall off”) or scabs; scurfy, scabby; also, of or relating to a skin disease causing scurf or to scurvy (noun sense 1). (by extension) Of growths on plants: resembling scurf; scurfy. (figurative, archaic) Of a person or thing: disgustingly mean; contemptible, despicable, low. Of the way someone is treated: poor, shabby. scurvy n (uncountable, pathology) A disease caused by insufficient intake of vitamin C, leading to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and bleeding into the skin and from almost all mucous membranes; (countable, obsolete) an occurrence of this disease. (countable, figurative, derogatory) A contemptible or despicable person. (uncountable, by extension, veterinary medicine, obsolete) A cattle disease, perhaps affecting the skin.
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31

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witching hour n
(chiefly literary or poetic) Often preceded by the: midnight, when witches and other supernatural beings were thought to be active, and to which bad luck was ascribed; also (generally), the middle of the night, when unfortunate things are thought more likely to occur; the dead of night. (by extension) A time of day, usually in the early evening, when babies and young children are more fretful and likely to cry or fuss. (originally and chiefly US, stock market) The final hour of trading each month during which certain stock options expire, leading to a higher trading volume and greater price volatility. (occult, less common) The hour between 3:00 and 3:59 a.m., associated with demons. Boo! Happy Halloween!
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