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2021
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1

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2

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Word of the day
for August 2
Raj proper n (historical)
  1. Short for British Raj (“the period of colonial rule of the Indian subcontinent by the British Empire between 1858 and 1947”).
  2. (proscribed) The whole period of British influence or rule in the Indian subcontinent from the 1600s to 1947.

Raj n

  1. (by extension from the proper noun) A system of government where authority is exercised by a specific group.

The Government of India Act 1858 (21 & 22 Victoria, chapter 106) received royal assent on this day in 1858, ushering in the period of British rule in India known as the British Raj.

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3

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Word of the day
for August 3
feelgoodery n (derogatory)
  1. (uncountable) Behaviours performed with the purported purpose of promoting emotional happiness and/or certain cultural values; these behaviours may be seen as superficial or unimportant, or as a substitute for more meaningful action.
  2. (countable) A place where such behaviours are performed or taught.

The song “Feeling Good” by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse made its debut on this day in 1964 in the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd. It was later performed by, among others, Nina Simone, Michael Bublé, The Pussycat Dolls, and George Michael.

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4

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Word of the day
for August 4
forehold v
  1. (transitive, rare) To hold or believe (something) beforehand; to assume; to anticipate, to predict.

forehold n

  1. (nautical) The forward or front part of the hold of a ship.
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5

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6

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7

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8

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Word of the day
for August 8
Olympiad n
  1. (Ancient Greece, sports, historical)
    1. A period of four (or sometimes five) years by which the ancient Greeks reckoned time, being the interval from one celebration of the Olympic Games to another, beginning with the victory of Coroebus of Elis in the foot race which took place in 776 B.C.E.
    2. Synonym of Olympic Games (“a celebration of the ancient Olympic Games”)
  2. (by extension)
    1. (sports) A period of four years between occurrences of the modern Olympic Games.
    2. (sports) Synonym of Olympic Games (“an occurrence of the modern Olympic Games”)
    3. Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a competition or series of competitions involving an academic discipline (such as mathematics or science), game (such as chess), or sport.
    4. An occasion where some activity is participated in excessively or to a high level of achievement.

The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, end today after having been postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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9

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Word of the day
for August 9
folk medicine n
  1. (uncountable) Traditional medical practices developed and used by non-physicians, typically involving customary homespun techniques and medicinal remedies derived from native plants.
  2. (countable) A particular medicinal remedy used in such traditional medical practices.

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population, and to recognize their achievements and contributions to global issues such as environmental protection.

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10

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11

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Word of the day
for August 11
claque n
  1. A group of people hired to attend a performance and to either applaud or boo.
  2. (by extension)
    1. A group of fawning admirers.
    2. A group of people who pre-arrange among themselves to express strong support for an idea, so as to give the false impression of a wider consensus.
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12

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Word of the day
for August 12
man and boy adv
  1. (British) During one's manhood and boyhood; since one's childhood; all one's life.

Today is International Youth Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight issues faced by youth worldwide.

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13

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Word of the day
for August 13
cocktail fork n
  1. A small fork usually with two or three tines, used for eating dishes served as appetizers (such as fruit cocktails and shrimp cocktails), and for picking up olives and other small snacks.

To remember the American cooking teacher, author, and television personality Julia Child, who was born on August 15, 1912, and died on August 13, 2004, we are featuring a series of types of cutlery.

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14

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Word of the day
for August 14
egg spoon n
  1. A spoon, usually smaller than a teaspoon, which is used for eating a boiled egg from a hole made in the shell; the bowl of the spoon is shaped to make it easier to scoop out the contents of the eggshell.

To remember the American cooking teacher, author, and television personality Julia Child, who was born on August 15, 1912, and died on August 13, 2004, we are featuring a series of types of cutlery.

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15

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Word of the day
for August 15
pickle fork n
  1. A fork with a long handle and usually two or three tines, used for extracting pickles from a tall jar.
  2. A long-handled tool with two prongs used to unseat ball-and-socket joints.

To remember the American cooking teacher, author, and television personality Julia Child, who was born on August 15, 1912, and died on August 13, 2004, we are featuring a series of types of cutlery.

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16

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Word of the day
for August 16
grapefruit spoon n
  1. A spoon with a pointed and/or serrated tip designed for separating the flesh of a grapefruit from its rind.

To remember the American cooking teacher, author, and television personality Julia Child, who was born on August 15, 1912, and died on August 13, 2004, we are featuring a series of types of cutlery.

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17

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Word of the day
for August 17
emote v
  1. (transitive)
    1. To display or express (emotions, mental states, etc.) openly, particularly while acting, and especially in an excessive manner.
    2. To deliver (a speech), say (lines of a play, words), etc., in a dramatic or emotional manner, especially if overly so.
  2. (intransitive)
    1. To display (excessive) emotion, especially while acting.
    2. (Internet, text messaging) To express a virtual action, presented to other users as a graphic or reported speech, rather than sending a straightforward message.

emote n

  1. (Internet, text messaging) A virtual action expressed to other users as a graphic or reported speech rather than a straightforward message.
  2. (Internet, Twitch-speak) Short for emoticon.
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18

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19

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Word of the day
for August 19
a friend in need is a friend indeed proverb
  1. If a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend.
  2. If one of your friends is in need of help, help them because they are your friend.

Today is World Humanitarian Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the work of humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.

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20

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Word of the day
for August 20
dance card n
  1. (dance, dated) A card on which a person (usually a woman) lists those they have agreed to dance with.
  2. (figuratively)
    1. An appointment schedule.
    2. A list of items.

Australian director Baz Luhrmann’s film Strictly Ballroom premiered on this day 1992.

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21

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Word of the day
for August 21
on pain of prepositional phrase
  1. Used to warn of consequences if a specified act is done or not done: subject to the punishment of (some penalty); or (generally) subject to the circumstance of (some thing).
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22

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Word of the day
for August 22
spignel n
  1. Meum athamanticum, an ornamental plant in the Apiaceae family found in mountain areas in Central and Western Europe, with roots and feathery leaves used as food and for medicinal purposes.
  2. Preceded by a descriptive word: a plant resembling Meum athamanticum.
  3. (obsolete) The dried, powdered root of Meum athamanticum used as a cooking spice or a medicine.
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23

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Word of the day
for August 23
puny adj
  1. Of inferior significance, size, or strength; ineffective, small, weak.
  2. (chiefly Southern US, south Midland US) (Frequently) ill; poorly, sickly.
  3. (obsolete) Alternative spelling of puisne
    1. Inferior in rank; specifically, of a judge: junior.
    2. Coming later in time; secondary, subsequent.
    3. Not experienced; novice.

puny n

  1. (archaic) An inferior person; a subordinate; also, an insignificant person.
  2. (obsolete)
    1. A younger person; a junior.
    2. Alternative spelling of puisne
      1. A person who is not experienced; a beginner, a novice.
      2. (law) A puisne or junior judge.
    3. (university slang, law) A new student at a school, university, the Inns of Court, etc.; a junior.
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24

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Word of the day
for August 24
camerawork n
  1. Skill or technique involving the use of a camera, especially a video camera.

American filmmaker Ava DuVernay was born on this day in 1972.

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25

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Word of the day
for August 25
Paralympian n
  1. (sports) One who competes in the Paralympic Games.

Paralympian n (sports)

  1. Of or pertaining to a Paralympian (“one who competes in the Paralympic Games”).
  2. Of or pertaining to the Paralympic Games; Paralympic.

The 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, began yesterday after having been postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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26

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Word of the day
for August 26
pry v
  1. (intransitive)
    1. To peer closely and curiously, especially at something closed or not public.
    2. (figuratively) To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To peer at (something) closely; also, to look into (a matter, etc.) thoroughly.

[...] (transitive)

  1. To use leverage to open, raise, or widen (something); to prise or prize.
  2. (figuratively) Usually followed by out (of): to draw out or get (information, etc.) with effort.

pry n

  1. An act of prying; a close and curious look.
  2. A person who is very inquisitive or nosy; a busybody, a nosey parker.

[...]

  1. (East Anglia, US) A tool for levering; a crowbar, a lever.
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27

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Word of the day
for August 27
circle pit n
  1. (dance, music) A kind of mosh pit (“spontaneous dance floor in front of a stage when people mosh”) in which the participants follow a circular path, leaving the centre clear.

Ten, American rock band Pearl Jam’s debut studio album, was released on this day 30 years ago in 1991.

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28

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29

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Word of the day
for August 29
hot spot n
  1. A location which has a higher temperature or amount of radiation than surrounding areas.
    1. (firefighting, forestry) A part of a forest fire which is burning actively.
    2. (geology, planetology) The surface manifestation of a plume of molten material that rises from deep in a celestial body's mantle.
    3. (nuclear physics) An area of high radioactive contamination.
    4. (optics) Synonym of heiligenschein (“an optical phenomenon which creates a bright spot around the shadow of the viewer's head, when the surface on which the shadow falls has special optical characteristics”)
  2. (figuratively) A place notable for a high level of activity or danger.
    1. A dangerous place of violent political unrest.
    2. A lively and entertaining place, such as a nightclub.
    3. (computing)
      1. A part of an application that consumes a significant amount of execution time.
      2. (graphical user interface) A part of a control (“an interactive interface element”) that responds dynamically as a user moves a pointer over it (for example, a part of an image map that contains a hyperlink which can be clicked on with a cursor).
      3. (Internet, networking) A location in which Wi-Fi Internet access is available.
    4. (ecology) Short for biodiversity hotspot (“a place with a significant level of biodiversity, particularly if the flora and fauna are threatened with loss of their habitat”).
    5. (genetics) The region of a gene in which there is a higher than normal rate of mutation.
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30

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Word of the day
for August 30
heaven forfend interj
  1. (dated or humorous) Used to express that one hopes that something does not happen: God forbid, heaven forbid.
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31

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Word of the day
for August 31
ultramarine n
  1. In full ultramarine blue: a brilliant blue pigment that was traditionally made from ground-up lapis lazuli, and now usually either extracted from mineral deposits or made synthetically.
  2. A brilliant dark blue or slightly purplish colour like that of the pigment.

ultramarine adj

  1. (archaic) Beyond the sea.
  2. Of a brilliant dark blue or slightly purplish colour like that of the pigment (noun sense 1).
    ultramarine:  
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