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

1

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desire line n

A path that pedestrians or vehicles take informally rather than taking a sidewalk or set route, for example, a well-worn ribbon of dirt cutting across a patch of grass, or a path in the snow.

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2

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wigwag v

To move gently in one direction and then another; to wig or wiggle, to wag or waggle. To oscillate between two states. (US, military, historical) To send a signal by waving a flag to and fro.

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3

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amateur hour n

(chiefly US) An event, particularly on radio or television, showcasing the talents of amateur performers. (chiefly US, idiomatic) A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism.

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4

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ghit n

(Internet) Contraction of Google hit: a hit obtained using the search engine Google. The American Internet technology company Google was founded on this day in 1998.

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5

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skitter v

(intransitive) To move hurriedly or as by bouncing or twitching; to scamper, to scurry. (intransitive) To make a scratching or scuttling noise while, or as if, skittering. (transitive) To move or pass (something) over a surface quickly so that it touches only at intervals; to skip, to skite.

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6

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trope n

(art, literature) Something recurring across a genre or type of art or literature, such as the ‘mad scientist’ of horror movies or the use of the phrase ‘once upon a time’ as an introduction to fairy tales; a motif. (rhetoric) A figure of speech in which words or phrases are used with a nonliteral or figurative meaning, such as a metaphor. […] (music) Musical senses. A short cadence at the end of the melody in some early music. A pair of complementary hexachords in twelve-tone technique. (Judaism) A cantillation pattern, or one of the marks that represents it. (Roman Catholicism) A phrase or verse added to the Mass when sung by a choir. […]

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7

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fester v

(intransitive) To become septic; to become rotten. (intransitive) To worsen, especially due to lack of attention. (transitive) To cause to fester or rankle.

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8

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split infinitive n

(grammar) An infinitive with one or more modifiers inserted between the to and the verb. The first episode of the original Star Trek television series aired in the United States on this day in 1966. A voiceover at the start included the phrase “to boldly go where no man has gone before”, which is often cited as an example of a split infinitive.

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9

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reinvent the wheel v

(idiomatic) To do work unnecessarily when it has already been done satisfactorily by others; to attempt to devise a solution to a problem when a solution already exists.

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14

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middling adj

Of intermediate or average size, position, or quality; mediocre. (colloquial, regional British) In fairly good health.

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15

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loll v

(intransitive) To act lazily or indolently; to recline; to lean; to throw oneself down; to lie at ease. (transitive) To hang extended from the mouth, like the tongue of an animal heated from exertion. (intransitive) To let the tongue hang from the mouth in this way.

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16

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hombre n

(chiefly US, in Spanish-speaking contexts, slang) A man, a chap, a guy; especially a Hispanic or Spanish man. Today is Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) in Mexico.

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17

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animadvert v

(intransitive) To criticise, to censure. (intransitive, obsolete) To consider. (intransitive, law, archaic) To turn judicial attention (to); to criticise or punish.

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18

19

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shiver my timbers interj

A mild oath expressing surprise, disbelief or annoyance. It is stereotypically regarded as being uttered by pirates. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur (‘Ol’ Chumbucket’) and Mark Summers (‘Cap’n Slappy’), of Albany, Oregon, USA.

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20

21

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olive branch n

A branch of an olive tree offered as an emblem of peace. (figuratively) Any symbol of peace, or a peace offering to an adversary to show goodwill and in the hope of securing peace. […] Today is designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Peace, which is dedicated to world peace.

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22

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imbongi n

(chiefly South Africa) A praise singer, a traditional bard in Zulu culture. ‘Shaka’ kaSenzangakhona, also known as Shaka Zulu, who was one of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu Kingdom, died on this day in 1828.

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25

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exemplary adj

Deserving honour, respect and admiration. Of such high quality that it should serve as an example to be imitated; ideal, perfect. Serving as a warning; monitory. Providing an example or illustration.

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26

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pie in the sky n

(idiomatic) A fanciful notion; an unrealistic or ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen.

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30

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bombast n

(archaic) Cotton, or cotton wool. (archaic) Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing for garments; stuffing, padding. (figuratively) High-sounding words; language above the dignity of the occasion; a pompous or ostentatious manner of writing or speaking.

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