Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2025/February

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1

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A-list n

The first of a number of lists, especially lists arranged in order of importance or preference. (originally and chiefly US) An informal list of people (especially in the entertainment industry, or professionally or socially prominent) who are the most admired or desirable, or likely to bring success. A-list adj (originally and chiefly US) Of or relating, or belonging, to an A-list (noun sense 2). (by extension) Best of a group; first-class, pre-eminent, top. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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2

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Boaty McBoatface v

(transitive, humorous, neologism) To hijack or troll (a vote, especially one held online; or an organization conducting such a vote), by supporting a joke option. Boaty McBoatface proper n An autonomous underwater vehicle launched in 2017, currently in service with the British Antarctic Survey to study the polar oceans. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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3

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camel case n

(typography, often programming) Especially in computer programming, and in the names of brands and organizations: a style of typography in which several words are concatenated together without any spaces between them, with the first letter of each word (sometimes excluding the first word) capitalized. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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4

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daisy-chain v

(transitive) (business) To artificially increase (the price of a commodity; originally crude oil, especially in a single shipment) by a group of dealers buying and selling it among themselves before it is sold to a party outside the group. (chiefly computing, electronics) To connect (several computer devices or peripherals, or other components) in sequence with each other, usually such that the output of one component forms the input of another; also (followed by to), to connect (a computer device or peripheral, or other component) to another component in such a sequence. (intransitive) Of people, animals, etc.: to position in a line and move like a chain. (business) To artificially increase the price of a commodity (originally crude oil, especially in a single shipment) by a group of dealers buying and selling it among themselves before it is sold to a party outside the group. (chiefly computing, electronics) Especially of a computer device or peripheral, or other component: to be capable of being connected with other components in sequence. [...] We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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5

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electrolier n

(dated) A fixture, usually hanging from a ceiling, for holding electric lamps; specifically, a chandelier lit by electricity rather than with candles or gas. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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6

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F in the chat n

(idiomatic, Internet slang, figurative) An expression of condolences, regret, or sympathy. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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7

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Godzone proper n

(New Zealand, informal) New Zealand. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)! Yesterday was Waitangi Day, the national day of New Zealand. It marks the anniversary of the initial signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is regarded as the founding document of the nation, 185 years ago on 6 February 1840.

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8

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happily ever after adv

(idiomatic) Chiefly preceded by he, she, they, etc., lived: often used as a formulaic ending in fairy tales, stories for children, and similar works: in a state of happiness for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives. happily ever after n (idiomatic) (narratology) A story, or a conclusion to a story, in which all the loose ends of the plot are tied up, and all the main characters are left in a state of contentment or happiness. (by extension) A happy period of time which is imagined never to end; specifically, the state of happiness in which one or more people (typically a loving couple) dwell for the rest of his, her, their, etc., lives. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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9

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intertwingle v (intransitive, informal, rare)

To confuse or entangle together; to enmesh, to muddle. (computing, information science) Of documents, information, etc.: to interconnect or interrelate in a complex way. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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10

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jackanapes n

(obsolete) (A proper name for) an ape or monkey, especially a tame one kept for entertainment or as a pet. (by extension) (derogatory, dated) (A proper name for) a person thought to behave like an ape or monkey, for example, in being impudent, mischievous, vain, etc.; specifically (chiefly humorous), an impudent or mischievous child. (obsolete, Christianity, derogatory, rare) A crucifix. (obsolete, mining) A small pulley which keeps a rope in line when lifting ore, water, etc., from a mine. [...] We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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11

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kleptoparasitism n

(zoology) The parasitic theft of captured prey, nest material, etc., from animals of the same or another species. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)! Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which was established ten years ago in 2015 by the United Nations to highlight the critical role that women and girls play in science and technology communities.

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12

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leonine adj

Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a lion; lionlike. (pathology) Of a facies (“a person's facial features”): resembling those of a lion as a result of some disease, especially a form of leprosy which causes leontiasis (“a medical condition characterized by an overgrowth of the cranial and facial bones”); also, of leprosy: causing a lionlike facies. [...] Of or pertaining to one of the popes named Leo; specifically (in Leonine City), to Pope Leo IV (790–855) who ordered the building of a wall around Vatican Hill to protect what is now Vatican City, or (in Leonine Prayers) to Pope Leo XIII (1810–1903). (poetry) Being or relating to a kind of medieval Latin verse, generally alternative hexameter and pentameter, with rhyming at the middle and end of a line (that is, internal rhyme); also (by extension), of or relating to modern verse having internal rhyme. leonine n (poetry) Chiefly in the plural: synonym of Leonine verse (“a kind of medieval Latin verse, generally alternative hexameter and pentameter, with rhyming at the middle and end of a line (that is, internal rhyme)”) [...] We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)! In addition, the English biologist, geologist, and naturalist Charles Darwin, who is best known for his contributions towards the science of evolution, was born on this day in 1809.

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13

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modulation n

(uncountable) Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this. (art, uncountable) Variation (especially softening or toning down) of brightness, form, etc.; (countable) an instance of this. (biology, uncountable) Variation in the activity or form of a cell in response to changes in the environment; (countable) an instance of this. (engineering, physics, uncountable) Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: modification of an electromagnetic wave or other oscillating carrier wave to apply a signal to it; (countable) an instance of this; also, the extent to which such a wave is modified; and the modified wave or signal. (music) (uncountable) Variation of the intensity, pitch, and tone of the sound of a musical instrument or voice; inflection; (countable) an instance of this. (uncountable) Changing of the key in a piece of music; also, the effect achieved by this as an element of harmony; (countable) an instance of this. (typography, countable) The contrast between the thick and thin parts of the strokes of a typeface. (uncountable) Changing of a thing from one form to another; (countable) an instance of this. (obsolete) (uncountable) Harmonious use of language in poetry or prose. (architecture, uncountable, rare) Modification of the parts of a classical Greek or Roman building to achieve appropriate proportions by measuring in modules (“standard units of measure, usually the diameter or radius of a column at the base of a shaft”). (music) (countable, Christianity) Any of the musical notes in ecclesiastical modes of music on which a melodic phrase had to begin and end. (uncountable) Arrangement or composition, or performance, of music in a certain key or mode; also (countable) a series of musical notes, chord, or tune analyzed according to a key or mode. (uncountable) Making music or singing; (countable) a melody, a tune; also (chiefly in the plural), a musical note. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)! Today is World Radio Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to highlight the importance of radio for sharing information, promoting diversity of ideas, and reaching remote communities and vulnerable people, and its role in emergency communication during disasters. United Nations Radio was established on this day in 1946.

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14

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now or never adv

(idiomatic, set phrase) At this sole opportunity or time, or not at all. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)! Today is also Valentine’s Day.

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15

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overset v

(transitive) To knock over or overturn (someone or something); to capsize, to upset. (figurative) To physically or mentally disturb (someone); to upset; specifically, to make (someone) ill, especially nauseous; to nauseate, to sicken. To throw (something, such as an organization, a plan, etc.) into confusion or out of order; to subvert, to unsettle, to upset. (rare) To translate (a text). (journalism, printing) To set (copy or type) in excess of a given space. (Lincolnshire, Scotland) To recover from (an illness). (obsolete) To cover (the surface of something) with objects. To oppress or overwhelm (someone, their thoughts, etc.); to beset; also, to overpower or overthrow (someone, an army, a people, etc.) by force; to defeat, to overwhelm. To press (something) down heavily; to compress; also, to choke (a plant). To put too heavy a load on (something); to overload. (rare) To come to rest over (something); to settle. (figurative, rare) To impose too heavy a tax on (someone); to overtax. (uncertain) To recover (money) given in an exchange. (uncertain, nautical) To coil or stow away (a cable, a rope, etc.). (intransitive) (archaic) To turn, or to be turned, over; to capsize; to, or to be, upset. (obsolete) Of a person or thing (such as an organization or plan): to become unbalanced or thrown into confusion; to be put into disarray. [...] We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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16

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pythonic adj

Of or pertaining to, or resembling, a python (“large constricting snake of the family Pythonidae”); pythonlike. [...] Of or pertaining to an oracle or prophet, or to the telling of prophecies; oracular, prophetic. [...] Alternative letter-case form of Pythonic (“of or pertaining to, or resembling, the Python in Ancient Greek mythology, a serpent which lived at Delphi (regarded as the centre of the Earth) until it was killed by Apollo; (figurative) enormous; monstrous”) [...] (programming) Alternative letter-case form of Pythonic (“using the idioms of the Python programming language”) We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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19

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serotinal adj

(biology) Synonym of serotine (“developing at a later time or later in a season, especially than is customary with allied species; specifically (botany), of a plant: flowering late in a season”) (often ecology) Occurring in or pertaining to late summer. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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25

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yelm n

(UK, dialectal) A bundle of straw laid out straight, chiefly to be used for thatching; a helm. yelm v (transitive, intransitive, UK, dialectal) To choose and lay out (straw) straight to be used for animal fodder or thatching; to helm. We are having a holoalphabetic month—each day features a term starting with a different letter of the alphabet (and two numbers)!

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