Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2019/July

2019
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1

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motlopi n

The shepherd tree or shepherd's tree (Boscia albitrunca), an evergreen tree native to southern and tropical Africa which is one of the most important forage trees of the Kalahari. Today is Sir Seretse Khama Day in Botswana, which commemorates the birthday of Sir Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana, on this day in 1901.

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2

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tinge v

(transitive) To add a small amount of colour; to tint; (by extension) to add a small amount of some other thing. (transitive, figuratively) To affect or alter slightly, particularly due to the actual or metaphorical influence of some element or thing. (intransitive) To change slightly in shade due to the addition of colour; (by extension) to change slightly in quality due to the addition of some other thing.

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3

4

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all-American adj

Comprising things that are wholly from the United States of America; completely made in the United States. Regarded as embodying the ideal qualities of the United States; (specifically) of a person: courageous, heroic; honest, wholesome, etc. (US, chiefly sports) Of a person or a team, or some other thing: regarded as the best in the United States. Today is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States.

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5

6

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ensorcell v (British spelling)

(transitive) To bewitch or enchant. (transitive, figuratively) To captivate, entrance, fascinate.

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7

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hebdomad n

(obsolete) A group of seven. A period of seven days; a week. (Gnosticism) A group of seven world-creating archons (supernatural beings) often regarded as somewhat hostile; also, a term of address for the Demiurge (“a being sometimes seen as the creator of evil”).

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8

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pessimize v

(transitive) To take a pessimistic view of; to speak of in a negative or pessimistic way. (transitive) To make (something) pessimal or the worst; (in a weaker sense) to make (something, such as a computer program) less efficient. (intransitive) To think like a pessimist; to believe the worst. (intransitive) To become pessimal or the worst.

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9

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hyperparasite n

(biology) Any parasite whose host is a parasite. (entomology, specifically) An insect that parasitizes another parasitic insect.

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10

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gorge v

(intransitive, reflexive) Often followed by on: To stuff the gorge or gullet with food; to eat greedily and in large quantities. (transitive) To swallow, especially with greediness, or in large mouthfuls or quantities. (transitive) To fill up to the throat; to glut, to satiate. (transitive) To fill up (an organ, a vein, etc.); to block up or obstruct; (US, specifically) of ice: to choke or fill a channel or passage, causing an obstruction.

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13

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calvous adj

(formal, medicine, rare) Lacking most or all of one's hair; bald, hairless. (botany, rare) Lacking bristles or pappuses. The calvous British actor Sir Patrick Stewart was born on this day in 1940.

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14

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l'esprit de l'escalier n

The phenomenon when a conversational rejoinder or remark only occurs to someone after the opportunity to make it has passed. Today is Bastille Day, which commemorates the storming of the Bastille that took place on this day 230 years ago in 1789.

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15

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kombu n

Edible kelp (“a type of brown seaweed”) (from the class Phaeophyceae) used in East Asian cuisine. Today, the third Monday in July in 2019, is 海の日 (Umi no Hi) or Marine Day in Japan, a public holiday for giving thanks for the ocean’s bounty and for recognizing its importance to Japan as an island nation.

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16

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wristlet n

An elastic band worn to keep a glove from slipping off the wrist. A decorative band or bracelet that encircles the wearer's wrist; especially, a closely knitted one to keep it warm; a muffetee. A small handbag with a short strap for attaching it to the wearer's wrist. A handcuff.

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17

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chancellor n

A senior secretary or official with administrative or legal duties, sometimes in charge of some area of government such as finance or justice. The head of the government in some German-speaking countries. (Christianity) A senior record keeper of a cathedral; a senior legal officer for a bishop or diocese in charge of hearing cases involving ecclesiastical law. (education) The head of a university, sometimes purely ceremonial. (British, government) Short for Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Scotland, law) The foreman of a jury. (US, law) The chief judge of a court of chancery (that is, one exercising equity jurisdiction). Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, was born on this day 65 years ago in 1954.

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20

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lunar adj

Of, pertaining to, or resembling the Moon (that is, Luna, the Earth's moon); Lunar. Shaped like a crescent moon; lunate. (chiefly historical) (Believed to be) influenced by the Moon, as in character, growth, or properties. (alchemy, chemistry, historical) Of or pertaining to silver (which was symbolically associated with the Moon by alchemists). (astronomy) Of or pertaining to travel through space between the Earth and the Moon, or exploration and scientific investigation of the Moon. On this day 50 years ago in 1969, Apollo 11 became the first space mission that landed human beings on the Moon.

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21

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aventurine n

A kind of brownish glass containing gold-coloured spangles. (mineralogy, by extension) A variety of translucent quartz, spangled throughout with scales of yellow mica.

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22

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radiole n

(zoology) The spine of a sea urchin. (zoology) A heavily ciliated feather-like tentacle occuring in clusters on the crowns of certain tubeworms, especially those of the order Canalipalpata (the fan-head worms), used for feeding and respiration.

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23

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churchical adj

(Christianity, informal) Pertaining to or characteristic of church; ecclesiastical. (chiefly Jamaica, music) Belonging to a style of Reggae music that reflects a spiritual sensibility. (chiefly Jamaica, Rastafari) Pertaining to the strain of Rastafarian culture that emphasizes a traditional theocracy. Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, was born on this day in 1892. He is worshipped as a deity and messiah by Rastafarians.

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24

25

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aspheterism n

(dated, rare) The view that all property should be in common ownership and that no individual should benefit from private possession. The English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who coined the word in a 1794 letter to fellow poet Robert Southey, died on this day 185 years ago in 1834.

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26

27

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carrier wave n

(physics) A wave that can be modulated, either in amplitude, frequency, or phase, to carry or transmit images, music, speech, or other signals. Italian electrical engineer and inventor Guglielmo Marconi, who is credited with inventing the radio, made the first public transmission of wireless signals on this day in 1896, from a site in London, UK, now occupied by the BT Centre.

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28

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brawl v

(intransitive) To engage in a brawl; to fight or quarrel. (intransitive) To create a disturbance; to complain loudly. (intransitive) Especially of a rapid stream running over stones: to make a loud, confused noise. (transitive) To pour abuse on; to scold. [...] (intransitive, obsolete) To move to and fro, to quiver, to shake.

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29

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smocking n

(sewing) An embroidery technique in which the fabric is gathered and then embroidered with decorative stitches to hold the gathers in place; the product of the use of this embroidery technique.

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30

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tajine n

(cooking) An earthenware cooking pot of North African origin, consisting of a shallow, round dish without handles and a tall, conical or dome-shaped lid. (by extension) A stew, originally from Morocco, the ingredients of which are traditionally cooked slowly in such a pot; the dish is normally served with couscous. Today is Eid Al-Ârch or the Festival of the Throne in Morocco, which commemorates the enthronement of King Mohammed VI on this day 20 years ago in 1999.

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