Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2023/May

2023
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1

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dovetail n

The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail. (chiefly woodworking, often attributively) In full dovetail joint: a type of joint where adjoining components are fastened by multiple tenons cut into wedge shapes resembling a dove's tail, which interlock with mortises having corresponding shapes. A tenon cut into a wedge shape resembling a dove's tail so that it interlocks with a mortise having a corresponding shape in a dovetail joint. (heraldry) A line resembling a dovetail joint (sense 2.1). dovetail v (transitive) (chiefly woodworking) To unite (components) with a dovetail (noun sense 2.1) or similar joint. (figuratively) To combine or fit (things) together well. (computing) To interweave (a number of algorithms or subprograms) so that they can be run more or less simultaneously. (intransitive, figuratively) Of several things: to combine or fit together well. Today is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church as the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker; the earthly father of Jesus, he is regarded as the patron saint of workers and especially carpenters. Today is also marked as International Workers’ Day or Labour Day in many countries to recognize the achievements and contributions of workers.

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2

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coppish adj

(chiefly US, slang) Characteristic of or resembling a cop (“police officer”). [...] The Pennsylvania State Police, the first state police agency established in the United States, was founded on this day in 1905.

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3

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wordsmith n

One who uses words skilfully. wordsmith v (transitive) To skilfully compose or craft (something written). Today is World Press Freedom Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression. The Windhoek Declaration, a statement of press freedom principles by African newspaper journalists, was adopted on this day in 1991.

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4

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Jedi mind trick n

(idiomatic) A mental feat such as apparently inducing someone to act a certain way or reading someone's mind, achieved as if by magic or telepathy. May the Fourth—oops, the Force—be with you! Today is observed as Star Wars Day by fans of the franchise.

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5

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interior Mexican adj

(US, chiefly Austin, Texas) Especially of cuisine: of or pertaining to the country Mexico itself, in contrast to Tex-Mex (“a mix of Texan and Mexican”). Today is Cinco de Mayo (“Fifth of May”), which commemorates the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on this day in 1862.

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6

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coronation n

(also attributively) An act of investing with a crown; a crowning. (specifically, also attributively) An act or the ceremony of formally investing a sovereign or the sovereign's consort with a crown and other insignia of royalty, on or shortly after their accession to the sovereignty. (figuratively) A completion or culmination of something. A success in the face of little or no opposition. (board games, rare) In the game of checkers or draughts: the act of turning a checker into a king when it has reached the farthest row forward. The coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Queen Camilla takes place today.

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7

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man Friday n

A trusted man whose job is to assist and organize someone else's day-to-day business or personal tasks; a personal assistant, a right-hand man; also, a trusted male companion. [...] The English writer Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe, from which the term originates, was published on 6 May 1719 according to the Gregorian calendar.

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8

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autarky n

(uncountable) A personal condition or state of self-reliance; independence. (economics, politics, specifically) (uncountable) (A policy of) national economic self-sufficiency, aimed at ending reliance on foreign imports to sustain a domestic economy. (countable) A self-sufficient region or country which is not dependent on international trade to function economically.

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9

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terebrant adj

(entomology) Of an insect: that bores (“makes holes”); specifically, belonging to the Terebrantia suborder of thrips which bore using their ovipositors. terebrant n (entomology) An insect that bores (“makes holes”); a borer; specifically, one belonging to the Terebrantia suborder of thrips which bore using their ovipositors.

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10

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valence n

(countable, chemistry) The combining capacity of an atom, functional group, or radical determined by the number of atoms of hydrogen with which it will unite, or the number of electrons that it will gain, lose, or share when it combines with other atoms, etc. The number of binding sites of a molecule, such as an antibody or antigen. (countable, linguistics) The number of arguments that a verb can have, including its subject, ranging from zero to three or, less commonly, four. (uncountable, especially psychology) A one-dimensional value assigned by a person to an object, situation, or state, that can usually be positive (causing a feeling of attraction) or negative (repulsion). (uncountable, sociology) The value which a person places on something. [...]

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11

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cluster v

(transitive, chiefly passive voice) To collect (animals, people, or objects) into clusters (noun sense 1). To cover or provide (something) with clusters of things. (intransitive) To form a cluster or group; to assemble, to gather. To cover or provide with clusters of things.

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12

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largesse n

(uncountable) The trait of being willing to donate money, resources, or time; generosity, liberality. Often preceded by do, give, or make: the generous or liberal giving of gifts or money, especially by someone of high standing on a special occasion; also, excessive or wasteful giving. Money, etc., given in this way. (figuratively) Abundance of something (chiefly beneficial), regarded as having been given generously. (countable) An act of donating or giving generously. (also figuratively) A specific gift of money, etc., given in this way, specifically (historical) at harvest time; a donation, a gratuity.

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13

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passerine adj

Of or relating to the Passeriformes order of perching birds, which are generally anisodactyl (“having three toes pointing forward and one back, which facilitates perching”). (archaic) Chiefly in the former names of some birds: approximately the size of a sparrow. passerine n Any bird of the order Passeriformes, which comprises more than half of all bird species. Today, the second Saturday of May in 2023, is the first of the two World Migratory Bird Days in the year. These days were established by the Secretariats of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals to highlight the importance of protecting migratory birds and their habitats.

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14

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mother figure n

One (especially an older woman) who behaves as, is regarded as equivalent to, or represents a mother for another person or group of people. Today, the second Sunday of May in 2023, is celebrated in many countries as Mother’s Day.

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15

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once a man, twice a child proverb

A man is born as a child, grows to adulthood, and consequently enters old age, when he deteriorates and reverts to a childlike state. Today is the International Day of Families, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the demographic, economic, and social processes affecting families.

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16

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Eoan adj (archaic, poetic)

Relating to the dawn. Relating to the east; eastern. Today is the International Day of Light, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of light science and technology in sustainable development, and to celebrate the place of light in art, culture, and education. It marks the day in 1960 when the American engineer and physicist Theodore Maiman successfully fired the first laser.

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17

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internetted adj

Entwined or linked together so as to form a network; interconnected, networked. [...] (networking) Connected into a computer network. (specifically, Internet) Connected to, or able to access, the Internet. [...] Today is World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of the benefits to society of the Internet and other information and communication technologies, and the need to bridge the digital divide. It commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on this day in 1865.

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18

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limbo n

(Roman Catholicism, uncountable) The place, thought to be on the edge of the bottomless pit of Hell, where the souls of innocent deceased people exist temporarily until they can enter heaven, specifically those of the saints who died before the advent of Jesus Christ (who occupy the limbo patrum or limbo of the patriarchs or fathers) and those of unbaptized infants (who occupy the limbo infantum or limbo of the infants); (countable) the place where each category of souls exists, regarded separately. (by extension) (countable, uncountable) Chiefly preceded by in: any in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status. (slang, archaic, uncountable) Jail, prison; (countable) a jail cell or lockup. (uncountable, obsolete) Synonym of Hades or Hell (uncountable, obsolete) Synonym of pawn (“the state of something being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge”) (countable, military, nautical, weaponry) A type of antisubmarine mortar installed on naval vessels. limbo v (transitive, rare) To place (someone or something) in an in-between place, or condition or state, of neglect or oblivion which results in deadlock, delay, or some other unresolved status. [...]

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19

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involve v (transitive)

To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include. (specifically) To include (something) as a logical or natural, or necessary component, or consequence or effect of something else; to entail, to imply. To cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation. (specifically, also reflexive, chiefly passive voice) Chiefly followed by with: to engage (someone or oneself) in an emotional or sexual relationship. (figuratively) To entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); especially, to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation. (archaic) To cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround. To form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds; to entwine, to fold up, to roll, to wind round. (archaic or obsolete) To make (something) intricate; to complicate. (mathematics) To multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times; to raise to any assigned power.

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20

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cut of one's jib n

(idiomatic, dated) A person's general appearance, manner, or style. Today is European Maritime Day, which seeks to raise European citizens’ awareness of the seas and their importance.

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21

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caravanserai n

(chiefly historical) A roadside inn, usually having a central courtyard where caravans (see sense 3) can rest, providing accommodation for travellers along trade routes in Asia and North Africa. (by extension) A place resembling a caravanserai (sense 1) as being a place for resting temporarily, or a meeting place (especially one that is busy, or where people of different cultures encounter each other). (by extension) Synonym of caravan (“a convoy of travellers, their cargo and vehicles, and pack animals”) (by extension, archaic) A hostelry, an inn; also (humorous), an (upscale) hotel. Today is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development or Diversity Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight the value of cultural diversity and the need for people to live together in harmony.

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22

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biodiversity hotspot n

(ecology) A place with a significant level of biodiversity, particularly if the flora and fauna are threatened with loss of their habitat. Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity or World Biodiversity Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to promote awareness of the importance of biodiversity. The Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted on this day in 1992.

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23

24

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nacelle n

(aviation) The compartment that holds passengers on a dirigible, hot-air balloon, or other aerostat; a gondola. A separate streamlined enclosure mounted on an aircraft to house, originally, an engine, and now also cargo or crew. (archaic) The cockpit of an aircraft. (by extension) A hollow boat-shaped structure. An enclosure housing machinery or a motor. (electrical engineering) The part between the rotor and tower of a wind turbine. (nautical) The submersed providers of buoyancy of a SWATH-hulled boat. (road transport) A streamlined enclosure on the body or dashboard of a motor vehicle.

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25

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glance v

(transitive) To turn (one's eyes or look) at something, often briefly. To look briefly at (something). To cause (light) to gleam or sparkle. (also figuratively) To cause (something) to move obliquely. (ball games) To hit (a ball) lightly, causing it to move in another direction. (cricket) To hit (a ball) with a bat held in a slanted manner; also, to play such a stroke against (the bowler). (figuratively) To communicate (something) using the eyes. (obsolete) To touch (something) lightly or obliquely; to graze. To make an incidental or passing reflection, often unfavourably, on (a topic); also, to make (an incidental or passing reflection, often unfavourable). (intransitive) (also figuratively) To strike and fly off in an oblique direction; to dart aside. (cricket) To hit a ball with a bat held in a slanted manner. (ichthyology) Of certain juvenile fish, chiefly of the Cichlidae family: to rapidly touch the side of its parent's body, usually to feed on mucus. Of light, etc.: to gleam, to sparkle. Of a thing: to move in a way that catches light, and flash or glitter. (figuratively) Often followed by at: of the eyes or a person: to look briefly. Often followed by at: of a topic: to make an incidental or passing reflection on, often unfavourably; to allude to; to hint at. (obsolete) Followed by by: to pass near without coming into contact. To move quickly; to dart, to shoot. [...]

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26

27

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meld v (originally US)

(transitive) To combine (multiple things) together; to blend, to fuse. (intransitive) To combine, to blend, to fuse. [...] (card games) Especially in games of the rummy family: (transitive) To announce or play (a combination of playing cards) and thus score points. (intransitive) To announce or play a combination of playing cards and thus score points. meld n (originally US) The result of multiple things being combined together; a blend. [...] (card games) Especially in games of the rummy family: a combination of playing cards which is announced or played to score points.

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28

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aquaplane n

(originally US, water sports) A board on which a person stands to ride for leisure which is pulled on a water surface by a motorboat. aquaplane v (intransitive) To ride for leisure standing up on a board pulled on a water surface by a motorboat. (by extension, chiefly British, automotive) Of a car or other road vehicle: to lose traction with the road due to the vehicle's tyres sliding on a film of water on the road.

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29

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suborn v (transitive)

(also figuratively) To induce (someone) to commit an unlawful or malicious act, especially in a corrupt manner. [from early 16th c.] (specifically, criminal law) To induce (someone, such as a witness) to commit perjury, for example by making a false accusation or giving false evidence. To achieve (some result; specifically, perjury) in a corrupt manner. (archaic) To procure or provide (something) secretly and often in a dishonest manner. To make use of (something), especially for corrupt or dishonest reasons. (obsolete) To aid, assist, or support (something). To furnish or provide (something). To substitute (a thing) for something else, especially secretly and often in a dishonest manner.

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30

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caddy n

(also attributively) A small box or tin (can) with a lid for holding dried tea leaves used to brew tea. (by extension) A (usually small) box, chest, or tin with a lid, and often with partitions, used to keep things in. A movable tray or other mechanism for holding (sometimes within a piece of equipment or machinery), securing, and transporting a removable component. A lightweight wheeled cart; specifically, one attached to a bicycle as a conveyance for a child, or pulled by hand and used to transport groceries away from a shop. [...] The English merchant Thomas Twining, who founded the tea company Twinings, died on this day in 1741 according to the Gregorian calendar (19 May by the Julian calendar).

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31

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unctuous adj

Of a liquid, semisolid, or other substance: having the nature or properties of an unguent or ointment; greasy, oily. Having fat or oil present; fatty, greasy, oily. Of an aroma or taste, or a beverage (such as coffee or wine) or food (such as gravy, meat, or sauce): having layers of concentrated, velvety flavour; lush, rich. Of soil: soft and sticky. (figuratively) Of a person: Complacent, self-satisfied, smug. Profusely polite, especially in an insincere and unpleasant manner.

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