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Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2009/January

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(Recycled December)

January

(Recycled January)

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(Recycled February)

Day: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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{{wotd | theWord | p.o.s. | Definition | month | day | audio=En-uk-{{subst:PAGENAME}}.ogg }}

When the words for a given month have all been replaced (or whatever) then subst: the sub-templates in on this page. That will preserve this month's archive, leaving the entries in the "Recycled" monthly pages to be (optionally) reused next year.

1

Word of the day
for January 1
newel n
  1. A central pillar around which a staircase spirals.
  2. A sturdy pillar at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail
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2

Word of the day
for January 2
fubsy adj
  1. (UK) Short and stout; low and wide
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3

Word of the day
for January 3
reminisce v
  1. To recall the past in a private moment, often fondly or nostalgically.
  2. To talk or write about memories of the past, especially pleasant memories
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4

Word of the day
for January 4
affable adj
  1. Friendly, courteous, sociable; receiving others kindly and conversing with them in a free and friendly manner.
  2. Mild; benign
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5

Word of the day
for January 5
pannier n
  1. A large basket or bag fastened, usually in pairs, to the back of a bicycle or pack animal, or carried in pairs over the shoulders.
  2. A decorative basket for the display of flowers or fruits.
  3. One of a pair of hoops formerly used to expand the volume of a woman's skirt to either side
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6

Word of the day
for January 6
interject v
  1. To insert something between other things.
  2. To interpose oneself; to intervene
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7

Word of the day
for January 7
nephric adj
  1. Relating to or connected with a kidney
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8

Word of the day
for January 8
camber n
  1. A slight convexity of the surface of a road, ship's deck, etc., so that liquids will flow off the sides.
  2. The slope of a curved road, such that the outside is higher than the inside
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9

Word of the day
for January 9
Luddite n
  1. Any of a group of early 19th century English textile workers who destroyed machinery because it would harm their livelihood.
  2. (by extension) Someone who opposes technological change
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10

Word of the day
for January 10
sibilant adj
  1. Characterized by a hissing sound such as the "s" or "sh" in sash or surge
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11

Word of the day
for January 11
actuate v
  1. To activate, or to put into motion; to animate.
  2. To incite to action; to motivate
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12

Word of the day
for January 12
demure adj
  1. Quiet, modest, reserved, or serious
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13

Word of the day
for January 13
go the extra mile v
  1. (idiomatic) To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job
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14

Word of the day
for January 14
photogenic adj
  1. Generated or caused by light.
  2. Producing or emitting light, phosphorescent.
  3. Looking good when photographed
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15

Word of the day
for January 15
brigand n
  1. An outlaw or bandit
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16

Word of the day
for January 16
Philistine n
  1. A person from ancient Philistia.
  2. A person who lacks appreciation of art or culture
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17

Word of the day
for January 17
errhine adj
  1. Causing an increase in mucus within the nose, and hence causing one to sneeze
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18

Word of the day
for January 18
virgule n
  1. The diagonal slash character: /
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19

Word of the day
for January 19
belittle v
  1. To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is
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20

Word of the day
for January 20
rational adj
  1. Reasonable; not absurd, foolish, emotional, or fanciful.
  2. Capable of reasoning.
  3. (arithmetic) Capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers
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21

Word of the day
for January 21
conniption n
  1. (informal) A fit of anger or panic; conniption fit.
  2. A fit of laughing; convulsion
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22

Word of the day
for January 22
tout v
  1. To flaunt; to publicise; to boast or brag; to promote
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23

Word of the day
for January 23
googol num
  1. The number 10100, written as 1 followed by 100 zeros
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24

Word of the day
for January 24
overstate v
  1. To exaggerate; to state or claim too much
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25

Word of the day
for January 25
statutory adj
  1. Of, relating to, enacted or regulated by a written law
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26

Word of the day
for January 26
eager beaver n
  1. One (especially a child) who is very excited or enthusiastic to begin a task
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27

Word of the day
for January 27
circumnavigate v
  1. To travel completely around somewhere or something, especially by sail.
  2. To circumvent or bypass
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28

Word of the day
for January 28
humdrum adj
  1. Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring
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29

Word of the day
for January 29
waddle v
  1. To walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side
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30

Word of the day
for January 30
mansuetude n
  1. (archaic) gentleness, meekness
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31

Word of the day
for January 31
dilapidate v
  1. To fall into ruin or disuse.
  2. To cause to become ruined or put into disrepair.
  3. To squander or waste
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