- aggiornamento, n. (from Italian) - the act of bringing something up to date to meet current needs.
- alpenglow, n. - a reddish glow often seen on the summits of mountains just before sunrise or just after sunset.
- apricate, v., trans. & intrans. (c. 1690) - to bask in the sun
- athleisure, n. /'æθ liʒər/ - a trend in fashion in which clothing designed for workouts and other athletic activities is worn in other settings, such as during work, trips to school, or other casual or social occasions. Example outfits may include yoga pants, tights and leggings that "look like athletic wear" and are characterized as "fashionable, dressed up sweats and exercise clothing.
- beastie, n. /bi.sti/ (c. 1775) - a small animal, especially one toward which affection is felt.
- ex: "Imhotep and Prissy are mommy's little beasties ♡♡♡~"
- boilerplate, /ˈbɔɪlərˌpleɪt/ n. - the detailed standard wording of a contract, warranty, etc.
- boustrophedon, n., adj., adv. - (of written words) from right-to-left and from left-to-right in alternate lines.
- cauchemaresque, adj. //kɔʃ.maʁ.ɛsk// ★ (French) - literally, "nightmarish." (encountered in The Eye by Vladimir Nabokov) (1930, trans. to Eng. by author 1965)
- Cimmerianism, adj. /sɪˈmɪər i ən/ - Classical Mythology. of, relating to, or suggestive of a western people believed to dwell in perpetual darkness; very dark; gloomy.
- citronella, n. - a fragrant grass, Cymbopogon nardus, of southern Asia, cultivated as the source of citronella oil.
- cri de coeur, n. (French) /kridə ˈkœr/ - an anguished cry of distress or indignation; outcry. Literally, a cry of (the) heart
- cruciverbalist, n. - a designer or aficionado of crossword puzzles.
- datemate, n. - A gender neutral term to describe your partner before you're engaged or married.
- dayglow, n. - a dim light from the upper atmosphere caused by emissions from atoms and molecules ionized by solar radiation, seen during the day (a type of airglow, distinct from nightglow and twilight glow )
- engild, v. - to brighten with or as with golden light.
- epexegetical, adj. /ɛpˌɛk sɪˈdʒɛt ɪ kəl/ (c. 1615-1625) - of or relating to epexegesis, a rhetorical device wherein additional words, descriptions (definite and otherwise), etc., are added to a previously spoken word, such as with apposition.
- ephemeris, n. /əˈfɛm ər ɪs/ (Greek) - a table showing the positions of a heavenly body on a number of dates in a regular sequence
- filigree, n., adj. - delicate ornamental work of fine silver, gold, or other metal wires, especially lacy jewelers' work of scrolls and arabesques. (x)
- gentile, /ˈdʒɛn taɪl/, adj. & n. - of or relating to any people not Jewish; (n.) such a person, especially a Christan.
- heart-whole, adj./ˈhɑrtˌhoʊl/ - 1. not in love; 2. wholehearted, sincere
- hyponym, n. /ˈhaɪpənɪm/ - a term that denotes a subcategory of a more general class. For example, “chair” and “table” are hyponyms of the general class “furniture.”
- kibitzer, /ˈkɪbɪtsər/ n. - a spectator at a card game who looks at the players' cards over their shoulders, especially one who gives unsolicited advice; a giver of uninvited or unwanted advice; a person who jokes, chitchats, or makes wisecracks, especially while others are trying to work or to discuss something seriously
- literatim, adv. (new Latin, probably Erasmus) - letter-for-letter; literally.
- locus classicus, n. /ˈloʊkʊs ˈklɑsɪkʊs/ - classical source: a passage commonly cited to illustrate or explain a subject or word.
- middlesence, n. - the middle-age period of life, especially when considered a difficult time of self-doubt and readjustment.
- nibling, n. - a neologism suggested by Samuel Martin in 1951 as a cover term for "nephew or niece"; it is uncommon outside of specialist literature.
- nonbook, n. - a book without artistic or literary merit or substance, especially one that has been developed primarily to exploit a fad or make a profit quickly.
- nudiustertian, adj. - of or relating to the day before yesterday.
- oceanicity, n. - the degree to which the climate of a place is influenced by the sea.
- opporobrium, n. (Latin) /ə.ˈproʊ.bri.əm/ - the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy.
- petiole, n. - the slender stalk by which a leaf is attached to the stem; leafstalk; a stalk or peduncle, as that connecting the abdomen and thorax in wasps. (x)
- poisson d'avril, n. (French) - literally, a "Fish of April;" an expression children yell on April Fool's day. Context: paper fish are used to play an April Fools trick, involving sticking a paper fish onto the back of as many adults as possible, then running away yelling “Poisson d'Avril!”
- promulgate v. - to make known by open declaration; publish; proclaim formally or put into operation (a law, decree of a court, etc.)
- recuse, v. (usually intrans.) - to withdraw from a position of judging so as to avoid any semblance of partiality or bias.
- Troubling linguistic usage: used as a transitive, reflexive verb. Example: "Jess Sessions recused himself."
- rewild, v. -to introduce (animals or plants) to their original habitat or to a habitat similar to their natural one:
- rizzar, v. (prob. orig. French) - to dry or cure (meat, fish, etc., especially haddock) in the sun.
- sedge, /sɛdʒ/ n. - any rushlike or grasslike plant of the genus Carex, growing in wet places.
- Sexagesima, n. (from Latin) - Sexagesima Sunday is the name for the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday in the Gregorian Rite liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, and also in that of some Protestant denominations, particularly those with Anglican and Lutheran origins.
- shofar, n. (from Hebrew) - a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, sounded in Biblical times chiefly to communicate signals in battle and announce certain religious occasions and in modern times chiefly at synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
- smaragdine, adj. /sməˈræg dɪn/- of or relating to emeralds; emerald-green in color. Also, rarely: n. in ref. to smaragd.
- smaragd, n. /sməˈɹæɡd/ (obsolete) - an emerald.
- statecraft, n. /steɪtˌkræft/ (c. 1635-45) - the art of government and diplomacy.
- sundog n. - a small or incomplete rainbow.
- turnsole, n. - any of several plants regarded as turning with the movement of the sun.
- wabi-sabi, n. (Japanese, 侘寂) - a concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics constituting a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.
- Wanderjahr, n. (German) /ˈvɑn/dərˌjɑr/ - a year or period of travel, especially following one's schooling and before practicing a profession.
- white night, n. - a sleepless night; a summer night in high latitudes when it is not fully dark.
- zugzwang, n. - a situation in which a player is limited to moves that cost pieces or have a damaging positional effect.
feb 20 2017 ∞
jan 18 2018 +