Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2012/February

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1

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a priori adj
(logic) Based on hypothesis rather than experiment. Self-evident, intuitively obvious (linguistics, of a constructed language) Developed entirely from scratch, without deriving it from existing languages
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2

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be mother v
(idiomatic, UK) To pour out tea for others
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3

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dystopia n
A vision of a future that is a corrupted (usually beyond recognition) utopian society. A miserable, dysfunctional state or society that has a very poor standard of living. (medicine) Anatomical tissue that is not found in its usual place
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4

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sororate n
The custom of the marriage of a man to the sister of his wife, usually after the wife has died. A marriage according to this custom
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5

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inflicted insight n
(psychology) Unsolicited revelation of aspects of one’s character, usually as a result of a deceitful experiment that has psychological dimensions, and especially where this results in emotional trauma and prolonged anxiety
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6

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acculture v
To familiarize oneself with, and adopt a new culture, especially by an immigrant
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7

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senescence n
The state or process of ageing, especially in humans; old age
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8

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hypocoristic adj
Pertaining to a nickname, usually indicating intimacy with the person
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9

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twitcher n
(informal) A compulsive bird watcher, travelling long distances to see rare species
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10

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love goggles pl n
(idiomatic, plurale tantum) Blindness to criticism or objectivity directed at a person that one is in love with
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11

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thin-film interference n
(optics) Interference of light caused by its reflection from both boundaries of a thin film of a transparent material
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12

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plutodemocracy n
A deceptive pseudodemocracy government that is in fact a hopeless hypercapitalist plutocracy
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13

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ventripotent adj
Having a big belly. Gluttonous
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14

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agape n
(Christianity) The love of God for mankind, or the benevolent love of Christians for others. Spiritual, altruistic, beneficial love which wills good for others
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15

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Cisatlantic adj
Situated on the same side of the Atlantic Ocean
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16

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dandification n
The condition or state of a man who is overly concerned about his clothes and appearance
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17

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ultracrepidarian adj
Of a critic, giving opinions on something beyond his or her knowledge
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18

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commiserate v
Feel or express compassion or sympathy for (someone or something)
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19

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heisenbug n
(computing) A software bug which fails to manifest itself during debugging; a problem that cannot be diagnosed in the debugger because it does not occur in that environment
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20

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slash fiction n
A work of fiction (frequently fanfiction) based on celebrities or fictional characters, usually of the same gender, involved in a romantic and/or sexual relationship
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21

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homoglyph n
A character identical or nearly identical in appearance to another, but which differs in the meaning it represents
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22

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rheum n
(physiology) A watery or thin discharge of serum or mucus, especially from the eyes or nose
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23

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petrology n
(geology) The study of the origin, composition and structure of rock
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24

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vulcanize v
To treat rubber with heat and (usually) sulphur to harden it and make it more durable
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25

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pipette n
A small glass tube, often with an enlargement or bulb in the middle, and usually graduated, used for transferring or delivering measured quantities of a liquid
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26

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apologia n
A written defense of a position or belief
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27

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postremogeniture n
Inheritance by the last-born child of the entirety of, or of a privileged position in, a parent’s wealth, estate, or office
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28

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kettle of fish n
An awkward situation; a predicament. A situation which is recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation, and which is not necessarily unfavorable
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29

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unflappable adj
Remaining composed and level-headed at all times; unswayed by adversity or excitement; impossible to fluster; not becoming frustrated or irritated easily
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