Trumpian

en-adj

Trumpian (comparative more Trumpian, superlative most Trumpian)

more Trumpian (comparative)
most Trumpian (superlative)

Good times … but then, a couple of weeks ago, Daffy was suddenly sputtering at us again. Such a magnificent Trumpian performance, such an unexpected gift, such bliss. The venue, of course, was “Page Six.”

2006 December 14, Kurt Andersen, “Because . . . Trump!”, in New York, volume 39, page 41:

Operating in a command climate of Trumpian instability, the most senior and public White House officials are party to profoundly destabilizing acts.

China is internationally much more accepted as being in the top league and is calling the shots … In Trumpian terms, he’s managed to make China look great again.

2017 October 14, Tom Phillips, quoting Steve Tsang, “Chairman Xi crushes dissent but poor believe he’s making China great”, in The Observer:

The made-up "bible verses" were of course in the form of Trumpian tweets.

2018, David Brody, Scott Lamb, The Faith of Donald J. Trump: A Spiritual Biography, →ISBN:

Beyond that, Schumer’s threat was Trumpian—a judge who displeases me will pay a price. His retraction was equally Trumpian: I didn’t threaten anyone. It would be okay if I had because in Brooklyn we threaten people all the time, but those aren’t threats, and anyway I would never, ever do what I just did.

2020, Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, Chuck Schumer Needs to Watch Himself, 6 March

Both, in true Trumpian fashion, refused to concede.

2022 August 24, Alex Shephard, “Two of the GOP’s Worst Ghouls Lost Their Primaries”, in The New Republic, retrieved 2022-08-24:

And he’s dismayed that Mr. Biden has resorted to what he sees as Trumpian tactics to shut down dissenting voices in his party.

2024 July 10, Cameron Joseph, Story Hinckley, “With no clear path forward, more Democrats affirm support for Biden”, in The Christian Science Monitor:

Resembling or pertaining to the philosophy, rhetoric, and style of Donald Trump, President of the United States from 2017 to 2021.

تِرَمْبِيٌّ

resembling or pertaining to the philosophy, rhetoric, and style of Donald Trump


Trump

en-proper noun

Trump (countable and uncountable, plural Trumps)

⇒ Translingual: donaldtrumpi

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-trump.wav

The surname has two sources.
* English (Devon): an occupational name for a trumpeter, from Middle English trumpe (“trumpet”).
* German (Bavaria): from German Trump, possibly an occupational name for a drummer, from Middle High German trumbe (“drum”), although the alternative forms Trumpf, Drumpf cannot be derived from this (except by postulating them to be hypercorrections)
* The place in Baltimore county was named after settler Simeon Van Trump.

During their interview, Shahidi asked Clinton about the uncomfortable second presidential debate, during which Trump stalked her around the stage.

2017 December 3, Kayleigh Roberts, “Yara Shahidi Just Asked Hillary Clinton About That Very Uncomfortable Trump Debate”, in Harper's BAZAAR:

Donald Trump (b. 1946), a businessman, television personality and former president of the United States of America (2017-2021).

A ghost town in Park County, Colorado, United States.

Baltimore County
Baltimore County#English

An unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.


Genghis Khan

/ˈɡɛŋɡɪs ˈkɑːn/

/ˈd͡ʒɛŋɡɪs ˈkɑːn/

Italian romanization of Mongolian ᠴᠢᠩᠭᠢᠰ
ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ (činggis qaɣan), Чингис хаан (Čingis xaan)

der

ᠴᠢᠩᠭᠢᠰ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ

[...]the Founder of that Family, who took the Name of Yuen, and who is known in Europe by the Name of Zing hi, or Zing his kan, but whom the Chineſe Hiſtory calls Tchin bi ſe, and Tai tſou, after he had conquer’d the King had thoughts of carrying the War into Corea: His General, called Leou co immediately made himſelf Mafter of the Towns ſituated upon the Eaſt of the River Ya lou;[...]

[1739 [1735], P. Du Halde, “Geographical Obſervations on the Kingdom of Corea”, in The General History Of China, 2nd edition, volume IV, →OCLC, page 391:

The founder and first ruler (khan) of the Mongol Empire.


unbirthday

From un- + birthday, coined by English writer Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) in Through the Looking-Glass (1871).

"They gave it me," Humpty Dumpty continued thoughtfully, as he crossed one knee over the other and clasped his hands round it, "they gave it me⸺for an un-birthday present." / "I beg your pardon?" Alice said with a puzzled air." / "I'm not offended," said Humpty Dumpty. / "I mean, what is an un-birthday present?" / "A present given when it isn't your birthday, of course."

1871 December 27 (indicated as 1872), Lewis Carroll [pseudonym; Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], “Humpty Dumpty”, in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, pages 121–122:

Hunting for treasures on any special day (like Easter, Christmas, birthdays or unbirthdays) can be fun for children and parents alike.

1995, Terry Orlick, Nice on My Feelings: Nurturing the Best in Children and Parents:

Another way to look at unbirthdays is as an opportunity to celebrate every day of life. You can throw a party for no particular reason, except for FUN!

1998, Alison Molinare Boteler, Matthew Klein, The Disney Party Handbook: 14 Fun Filled Parties:

Make an unbirthday cake and wear party hats when you blow out the candles together.

2006, Sheila Ellison, 365 Games Smart Toddlers Play: Creative Time to Imagine, Grow and Learn:

I got some great photos with the unbirthday camera you left for me in the suitcase. Thanks.

"This is just an unbirthday party. Wait till you see your birthday party. When is your birthday, Peg?"

A day that is not one's birthday but is celebrated as though it were.


Terah

And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

(very rare) A male given name from Hebrew


Wren

Originally a nickname from Middle English wrenne (“wren”).

"What's ironic," Alexandra said, "is that Mother named her Wren because as a newborn she reminded Mother of a shy bird. Little did she know."

2000, Rebecca Wade, A Wanted Woman, Avon Books, →ISBN, page 53:

(rare) A male or female given name from English from the noun wren.


Macbethian

en-adj

Macbethian (comparative more Macbethian, superlative most Macbethian)

more Macbethian (comparative)
most Macbethian (superlative)

This is a Macbethian Gothic, a subtype of the shilling shocker designed to thrill the reader with gory supernatural spectacle.

1998, Syndy M. Conger, Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture, Volume 26:

The fitful gleam of the glowing flame gave a Macbethian tinge to the weird scene and brought into bold relief the grim outlines of the cliffs […]

2001, Peter Cozzens, Eyewitnesses to the Indian Wars, 1865-1890: The army and the Indian:

Of or pertaining to William Shakespeare's play Macbeth (circa 1603-1607) about a regicide and the supernatural.


Reuel

These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 36:10:


Sweet Swan of Avon

(poetic) William Shakespeare, a playwright and poet.


Ike

A diminutive of the male given name Isaac.


Hatshepsut

From the short form of her birth name, Egyptian HAt:t-A51-t:Z2ss (ḥꜣt-špswt, “Hatshepsut”, literally “Foremost of Noblewomen”), from ḥꜣt (“front”) + the plural of špst (“noblewoman”).

bor

An ancient Egyptian queen (1508–1458 BCE).


Baruch

Borrowed from Hebrew בָּרוּךְ (Barukh, “blessed”). Cognate with Arabic بَارَك (bārak, “Barak”).

A book of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canon of the Old Testament, considered apocryphal by Protestants.


Gershom

From Hebrew גֵּרְשֹׁם (gershóm, “Gershom”), found in Exodus.

And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 2:21-22:


Liszt

en-proper noun

Liszt (countable and uncountable, plural Liszts)

(astronomy) An asteroid in Asteroid Belt, Solar System, discovered in 1988 and named for the composer. Official name: 3910 Liszt. Provisional name: 1988 SF.


Uncle Joe

"Of course, it's just the thing for the Russians. They couldn't want anything better. Unconditional surrender," he repeated, thoughtfully sucking a tooth. "Uncle Joe might have made it up himself."

1943, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, quoted in, 1974, Elliott Roosevelt, As He Saw It

"It won't get that far. The Politburo is is too circumspect," said the DDI.[…]
"Tell that to Leon Trotsky," Ritter said sharply.
"That was personal. Stalin wanted to eat his liver with onions and gravy," Greer replied. "That was pure personal hatred, and it achieved nothing on the political level."
"Not the way Uncle Joe looked at it. He was genuinely afraid of Trotsky—"

After officially entering the Democratic primary last month, Biden smashed records with a $6.3 million first-day fundraising haul and has led the crowded pack in recent polls. His familiarity and name recognition with voters are frequently cited as reasons for his early success, and while it’s impossible to quantify how many conflate the “Uncle Joe” meme with the real-life Biden, watching his campaign take off has left Garden with some regret.

2019 May 17, Antonia Noori Farzan, “The Onion turned Joe Biden into a lovable meme. Now one writer is apologizing.”, in Washington Post:


JBiebs

Blend of J(ustin) + Biebs (from Bieber), modelled on other abbreviations such as J-Lo.

blend

from <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">Bieber</i>

(slang) The Canadian singer Justin Bieber.


Cheshire cat

the Cheshire cat (canonical)
Cheshire cats (plural)

/ˌtʃɛʃə ˈkat/

/ˌtʃɛʃɚ ˈkæt/

Term attested since at least the 1780s in the expression grin like a Cheshire cat. The reason why Cheshire was combined with cat is disputed: see here for more information.

CHESHIRE CAT. He grins like a Cheshire cat; said of any one who shows his teeth and gums in laughing.

1788, Francis Grose, A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue, 2nd corrected and enlarged edition, London:

“Please would you tell me,” said Alice, a little timidly, for she was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to speak first, “why your cat grins like that?” “It’s a Cheshire-Cat,” said the Duchess, “and that’s why.”

1865, Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland:

‘It’s almost as if we’ve gone silly with happiness,’ said Marcus two days later. ‘Everyone in the house going round grinning like a lot of Cheshire Cats! The family I mean.’ ‘And Jess,’ said Kitto quickly. ‘Oh well, Jess is as good as family,’ said Fanny comfortably. Jessamy said nothing, but she looked up quickly and her smile would have rivalled any Cheshire Cat.

1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 127:

A fictional cat with a broad fixed grin, made popular by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).


Wittgenstein

Ludwig Wittgenstein, an Austrian-born twentieth-century philosopher noted for the idea of "family resemblance" as that which individual objects of a sense of a term have in common.


Ebenezer Scrooge

en-noun

Ebenezer Scrooge (plural Ebenezer Scrooges)

After the character in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.


Jacob Marley

A fictional man who appears as a ghost in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, warning his former business partner Ebenezer Scrooge against being greedy and selfish.


Romeo and Juliet

From a tragedy, written by Shakespeare, about two young lovers named Romeo and Juliet whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families.

Unlike cynical you, however, I do believe a Romeo and Juliet love is possible.

1996, Katherine Stone, Rainbows, page 73:

We all married—well, most of us married—for love, for some version of Sinatra and Casablanca love, for a love that would light up our lives and cast out fear, for a Romeo and Juliet love (except with a better ending), for a love that the poet John Donne once wrote "makes one little room an everywhere."

2008, Judith Viorst, Grown-Up Marriage: What We Know, Wish We Had Known, and Still Need to Know, page 6:

A pair of lovers, particularly if they are young, visibly enamored, and come from families or groups that are on opposing sides of a dispute.


Ghost of Christmas Future

the Ghost of Christmas Future (canonical)

The character first appeared in the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, written in 1843, and called Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. The name Ghost of Christmas Future was coined by analogy with Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of Christmas Present.

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come#English

Synonym of Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come


Ghost of Christmas Past

A fictional ghost in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, who visits Ebenezer Scrooge in order to show him his past, especially certain events of past Christmases that contributed to his later distaste for Christmas.


Ghost of Christmas Present

the Ghost of Christmas Present (canonical)

A fictional ghost in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, who visits Ebenezer Scrooge accompanied by a great feast in order to show him events of the current Christmas.

duch teraźniejszych świąt Bożego Narodzenia


Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (canonical)

A fictional ghost in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; it visits Ebenezer Scrooge in order to show his impending fate of death and loneliness in a future Christmas that is ultimately avoided.


Nobel

A surname from Swedish, especially referring to Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and philanthropist.


Tiny Tim

The crutches on the bottom look like the Tiny Tim model, while the top sports stainless steel walkers and canes and a few crutches that look like they are made from the same stuff as fancy tennis rackets and golf clubs.

2006, Brendan Halpin, Long Way Back, Random House, published 2008, →ISBN, page 67:

A poor disabled boy whose death is ultimately averted by Ebenezer Scrooge in the classic tale A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.


Hitchcock

en-proper noun

Hitchcock (countable and uncountable, plural Hitchcocks)

From Hitch + -cock as a medieval male diminutive suffix.

Washington County
Washington County#English

A number of places in the United States:

An unincorporated community in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana.

Galveston County
Galveston County#English


Billary

(US, slang, sometimes derogatory) The political union of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.


Alice band

From Lewis Carroll's fictional Alice, often depicted wearing the headband in Through the Looking-Glass.


Nun

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.


birtherism

/ˈbɝθɚˌɪz(ə)m/

But Obama's plunge into the fever swamp of birtherism was just the latest detour on what had already been a long, strange trip—with many miles still to go.

2013, John Heilemann, Mark Halperin, Double Down, →ISBN, page 12:

United States of America
United States of America

(slang, often derogatory, US politics) A movement in the United States of America that doubts or denies that the 44th President, Barack Obama, is a natural-born U.S. citizen, thus implying that he is ineligible to be President.

Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories


Hitler mustache

en-noun

Hitler mustache (plural Hitler mustaches)

Named after German dictator Adolf Hitler.

named-after

toothbrush mustache
toothbrush mustache#English


Belieber

Blend of Bieber (“Justin Bieber”) + believer.

blend

A Belieber is sustained by the hope of someday being followed by, and receiving a direct message from Justin on Twitter.

2010 August 13th (3:21pm), “Twitchell” (user name), alt.gossip.celebrities (Usenet newsgroup), “Inside the Weird World of Justin Bieber Micro-Gossip”, Message ID

There is simply nothing you can say that could make me feel remorse. If Justin sings Christmas, then for the duration of the track I am a Belieber.

2011 December 12, Marina Hyde, “Whether it's Justin or Cliff, I'm a Belieber in Christmas songs”, in The Guardian:

(informal) A fan or supporter of Canadian singer Justin Bieber (born 1994); a Justin Bieber fanatic.


Biebs

Clipping of Bieber + -s (hypocoristic suffix).


Queen of Hearts

en-noun

Queen of Hearts (plural Queens of Hearts)

At eighteen she was the Queen of Hearts and conscious of the fact: an exacting, dictatorial, haughty woman...

Extravagantly pretty, with a delicate figure and great dark-blue eyes, cordial, charming and a winning hostess, she was the Queen of Hearts in Weimar...

1956, Eliza Marian Butler, Byron and Goethe:

A woman who has gained the adoration of the public.


Tolkienite

A person who has an extended knowledge and is also a fan of the works and fantasy world (Middle-Earth) of J. R. R. Tolkien; used especially when referring to a fan of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.


Alice in Wonderland

en-adj

Alice in Wonderland (comparative more Alice in Wonderland, superlative most Alice in Wonderland)

more Alice in Wonderland (comparative)
most Alice in Wonderland (superlative)

Derived from the children's fantasy story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

It is an Alice in Wonderland question. Let me answer it this way: To design a car, you must — emphasize must — have restrictions to guide you.

1978 Apr, Popular Mechanics, volume 149, number 4, page 204:

The law-making affair often has an Alice in Wonderland touch. Terms are defined by law, and if the law says black is white, then for the purpose of the law, black is white.

IBM's current system and network management story has an Alice in Wonderland touch to it, with incongruity as the prevailing theme. Just as it is in Wonderland, most things in IBM's management story are not what they appear to be.

1992 September 7, Network World, volume 9, number 36, page 37:

What makes this debate an Alice in Wonderland debate is that the people who support this bill are the very people who will benefit from taking the American people out of the debate by limiting the ability of people to put up their time.

2001, Phil Gramm, Congressional Record-Senate, March 29, 2001, page 5053:

It became more Alice in Wonderland all the time: was I now to navigate as well?

2002, Alan Stripp, Codebreaker in the Far East, page 35:

This is all a little more Alice in Wonderland than I had expected.

2008, Lisa Margonelli, Oil on the Brain: Petroleum's Long, Strange Trip to Your Tank, page 68:

Herzog further noted that the United Nations developed an Alice in Wonderland perspective on Israel.

2012, Danny Danon, Israel: The Will to Prevail, page 69:

Tautology is not a problem in an Alice in Wonderland world in which a junior official can be said to coordinate the work of the Secretary of State.

2014, L. Pope, The Demilitarization of American Diplomacy:

As in a surreal fairy tale where things work at odds to the way they do in the real world.


Alice in Wonderland

en-noun

Alice in Wonderland (plural Alices in Wonderland or Alice in Wonderlands)

Alices in Wonderland (plural)
Alice in Wonderlands (plural)

After three years of meeting in a tiny room in the student center, we were stunned that we could all get in one room and move around without stepping on each other. It wasn't crowded; and besides that, it was beautiful. We felt like 50 Alices in Wonderland.

1965, Alpha Omicron Pi, To Dragma - Volume 56, Issue 11, page 24:

But I do not live in a riding that represents the Alice in Wonderlands of the world, Mr. Speaker.

1980, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, House of Commons Debates, Official Report - Volume 3, page 3251:

I'm giddy. I haven't even stopped to notice my surroundings. I'm not much of an Alice in Wonderland.

2014, Jane Peranteau, Jumping: A Novel, page 189:

Brackett views the community rather as might an Alice in Wonderland according to the entries in his diaries, although the same diary entries do not reflect his later claim that he “was assigned to twelve different stories in my first year."

2014, Anthony Slide, It's the Pictures That Got Small, page 4:

An observer of strange, incomprehensible or disorienting situations.

I think it is an Alice in Wonderland to say we are going to approve another drug, yet the whole fundamental thing is we still have exactly the same mortality and nobody has anything that impacts on it.

2012, J. Morganroth, E. Neil Moore, Congestive Heart Failure:

Sgt. Pepper seemed to be nothing less than an Alice in Wonderland for the brave new psychedelic world.

2014, Penelope Rowlands, The Beatles Are Here!::

Some context: The Aviary is like the Alice in Wonderland of cocktail bars, a place where drinks are served in porthole vessels or in sphere/foam/gelee form (there’s an outpost in New York City, but the original is in Chicago).

2019 June 26, Kevin Pang, “Eric Trump went to a fancy Chicago cocktail bar and got spat on”, in The Takeout:

A strange, fantasy-like creation or situation that follows its own bizarre logic.


Schütz

* As a German and Jewish surname, variant of Schuetz. Found in several other countries such as the form Slovene Šuc.
* Also as a German surname, from Schutz in Vulkaneifel.
Compare Sic, Shutz.

Heinrich Schütz (18 October 1585 – 6 November 1672), a German composer and organist.


Nancy Reagan gaze

Nancy Reagan gaze (plural Nancy Reagan gazes)

From the attentive look Nancy Reagan was noted for fixing on her husband, Ronald Reagan, U.S. President from 1981 to 1989, when he made public appearances.

Pat Nixon held the title for most stoic [Washington] wife until Maureen Dean gave an Oscar-winning performance during her husband's Watergate testimony, sitting primly behind him, blond hair pulled back, holding the Nancy Reagan gaze before there was a Nancy Reagan gaze.

1989, Margaret Carlson, "I'M Nobody, Who Are You?", Time, May 8, 1989, ISSN 0040-781X

Peter Chernin, the head Fox TV programmer, … will titularly replace Roth and serve as Murdoch's malleable functionary. He looks at his boss with a sort of adoring Nancy Reagan gaze.

1992, Laureen Hobbs, "The Industry & The Webs", Spy, December 1992/January 1993 p. 18 ISSN 0890-1759

Joan’s attention appeared to be wandering from her leader. Instead of fixing him with the requisite Nancy Reagan gaze, she kept sneaking glances out the window.

2011 February 12, Miriam Lord, “Hard to keep up the Nancy Reagan gaze when a rugby hero undresses”, in The Irish Times:

A transfixed look upon a person taken as showing absolute devotion or affection.


JPY

(Australia, dated) Initialism of John Paul Young. (singer).


reductio ad Hitlerum

reductio ad Hitlerum (plural reductio ad Hitlerums)

Coined by Leo Strauss in 1951, by analogy with reductio ad absurdum.

Just on Twitter alone, there were too many arguments, too many reductio ad Hitlerums for me to handle alone.

2018, Carl Miller, chapter 7, in The Death of the Gods […] , William Heinemann, →ISBN:

An attempt to invalidate someone else's argument on the basis that the same idea was promoted or practiced by Adolf Hitler or the Nazi Party.


Alice in Wonderland syndrome

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (uncountable)

After Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865; often known as Alice in Wonderland), in which the protagonist changes size after consuming a potion and a cake.

Three cases of "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome (metamorphopsia) are presented and described as a presenting symptom of infectious mono nucleosis in a preadolescent male and in two late teenage females.

1977 February, Stuart M. Copperman, “" Alice in Wonderland" Syndrome as a Presenting Symptom of Infectious Mononucleosis in Children: A Description of Three Affected Young People”, in Clinical pediatrics, volume 16, number 2, page 143:

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is characterized by visual hallucinations and bizarre perceptual distortions.

1998 August, Yung-Ting Kuo, Nan-Chang Chiu, Ein-Yiao Shen, Che-Sheng Ho, Ming-CheWu, “Cerebral perfusion in children with Alice in Wonderland syndrome”, in Pediatric neurology, volume 19, number 2, page 105:

After all, Alice in Wonderland syndrome was, until recently, believed to be so rare that most university courses in medicine, psychology and the neurosciences did not even bother to address it.

2019, Jan Dirk Blom, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome:

(medicine, neurology) A disorienting neurological condition involving micropsia, macropsia, or size distortion of other sensory modalities.

Alice in Wonderland syndrome
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll

syndrome d’Alice au pays des merveilles

neurological condition affecting the perception of size

síndrome de Alice no país das maravilhas


Juliet cap

Named for the character in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

A round shaped tight-fitted cap worn by brides etc.


Dahl

From Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Dahl. Doublet of Dale and Dell.


Theotokos

/θiːˈɒtəˌkɒs/

Borrowed from Koine Greek Θεοτόκος (Theotókos, “the God-bearer”), from Ancient Greek Θεός (Theós, “God”) + τόκος (tókos, “childbirth”). First attested in 3rd–4th century. Cf. Christotokos.

bor+

It is then an integral portion of the Faith fixed by Ecumenical Council, a portion of it which you hold as well as I, that the Blessed Virgin is Theotocos, Deipara, or Mother of God; and this word, when thus used, carries with it no admixture of rhetoric, no taint of extravagant affection,—it has nothing else but a well-weighed, grave, dogmatic sense […]

1866, John Henry Newman, D.D., A Letter to the Rev. E. B. Pusey, D.D. on His Recent Eirenicon, London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, page 66:

(Christianity, chiefly Orthodoxy) Synonym of Mary, mother of Jesus, in particular reference to her role giving birth to God.

Hyjlindëses

Mary, mother of Jesus, as God-bearer — see also Mary, Mother of God
Note: Only titles directly borrowed from the Greek or that literally mean "God-bearer" should go here. Translations that simply mean in the language in question should go at that entry.


Gazza

From Gareth (or any personal name starting Ga-) + -zza.

A nickname of the given name Gareth or Gary.


warg

Learned borrowing from Old Norse vargr (“wolf”), reintroduced by J. R. R. Tolkien; compare also Old English wearg.

lbor

But even the wild Wargs (for so the evil wolves over the Edge of the Wild were named) cannot climb trees. […] Every now and then all the Wargs in the circle would answer their grey chief all together, and their dreadful clamour almost made the hobbit fall out of his pine-tree.

1937 September 21, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel] Tolkien, “Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire”, in The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again, revised edition, New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, published February 1966 (August 1967 printing), →OCLC, page 105:

My question is do all of the executable versions for PC compatibles have the color option enabled? If so, what am I missing to not get say yellow for a hill orc, grey for a goblin, white for my pet, red for a wolf, brown for a warg, etc?

1993, jbatka, “Multiple colors for PC compatible”, in rec.hack (Usenet):

He'd bought a ton of silver to forge magic swords that would slay the Stark wargs.

1999, George R. R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 462:

The monsters are identified not as trolls, a word apparently not available in English at the time, but (among other things) as wargs, whatever that means; Grendel is called a heoro-wearh at line 1267 and his mother a grund-wyrgen at line 1518.

2007, Stephen O. Glosecki, Myth in Northwest Europe:

(fantasy, mythology) A type of particularly wild or hostile wolf.


Kitchener

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Kitchener.wav

A surname originating as an occupation for someone who worked in a kitchen.

Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, British field marshal in the First World War

A small town in the City of Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia.


HillaryCare

Blend of Hillary + healthcare, after Hillary Rodham Clinton, chair of the task-force that developed the plan.

(US politics, chiefly derisive) The Clinton health care plan of 1993.


Zacchaeus

From Late Latin Zacchaeus, from Ancient Greek Ζακχαῖος (Zakkhaîos), from Hebrew זכי (zakkay), literally "pure, innocent", which came from זכה (zacha, “be clean, pure”).

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 19:8:


Avicenna

From Medieval Latin Avicenna, from Arabic اِبْن سِينَا (ibn sīnā).

der

اِبْن سِينَا

Arabic اِبْن سِينَا (ibn sīnā)

Auicen saythe; There be certeyne medicins... which wyl not suffre poyson to approche nere the harte, as triacle and Metridate.

1528, Joannes de Mediolano, translated by Thomas Paynell, Regimen Sanitatis Salerni, page 33:


Sakyamuni

Borrowed from Sanskrit शाक्यमुनि (śākyamuni, “sage of the Śākyas”).


Talitha

From Aramaic טליתא (ṭalyəṯāʾ, “female child, girl, maiden”). From a passage in the New Testament (Gospel of Mark) in which Jesus restores to life a little girl.

der

Talitha Bateman

Talitha Getty

Talitha Washington

A female given name from Aramaic of biblical origin.


Cephas

Borrowed from Latin Cephas, from Ancient Greek Κηφᾶς (Kēphâs), from Aramaic כֵּיפָא/Classical Syriac ܟܐܦܐ (kēp̄ā, “stone, rock”).

Aramaic כֵּיפָא

And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

The apostle Peter, using the name given to him by Jesus.


Zhuangzi

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 莊子／庄子 (Zhuāngzǐ).

An influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BCE during the Warring States Period.


Erdoğan

Unadapted borrowing from Turkish Erdoğan.


Lucretius

From Latin Lucretius, name of a patrician and plebeian Roman gens, possibly from lucrum (“profit”).

A male given name from Latin of mostly historical use in English.


mad hatter

The term is attested since at least the 1790s. See mad as a hatter.


Jung

Borrowed from German Jung. Doublet of Young.

Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology.


Protagoras

From Ancient Greek Πρωταγόρας (Prōtagóras).

man is the measure of all things
man is the measure of all things

A pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, who famously said "man is the measure of all things".


Wrighty

Nickname of Steve Wright (1954–2024), English radio broadcaster.


Arminius

From Latin Arminius, probably from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz, but has been associated, at least since the 16th century, with the name Herman, German Hermann.

(history) A chieftain of the Cherusci (an ancient Germanic tribe) who defeated the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.


speak softly and carry a big stick

Popularized by and often attributed to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) as an expression of his view of foreign policy, possibly of earlier, West African origin according to his account, but with a probability of he himself having coined it. The full version is “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

1903 April 3, Theodore Roosevelt, President Roosevelt's Speech on the Monroe Doctrine," Arizona Journal-Miner, p. 4 (retrieved 19 Dec 2011)

Under any governmental auspices, as the modern world knows governments, the keeping of the peace comes at its best under the precept, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

1917, Thorstein Veblen, The Nature of Peace, Introductory:

When it comes to China, we have gone from "Speak softly and carry a big stick" to "Take the fifth and carry a toothpick". (from a Congressional speech by Rep. James Traficant, June 22, 1998)

1999 January 17, Tom Kuntz, “Word for Word/Representative James A. Traficant Jr.”, in New York Times, retrieved 2011-12-19:

Do not boast or utter verbal threats, but do make others aware that you are prepared to use physical or military force if necessary.

溫言在口，大棒在手

do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force

you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone


Heartbreak Kid

Nickname for professional wrestler Shawn Michaels.


Giggsy

A nickname for the footballer Ryan Giggs.


El Tel

(slang) Nickname of Terry Venables (1943–2023), English footballer and football manager.


Scholesy

A nickname of the English footballer Paul Scholes.


Le God

(informal) A nickname for Matthew Le Tissier.


Becks

A diminutive of the female given name Rebecca

A nickname for the footballer David Beckham.


Correus

CÆSAR thought he had done enough for the ſeaſon of the year, in diſperſing the enemy’s forces to prevent a war; but conſidering how much it imported him to take care that the rebels ſhould not be able to make any conſiderable head the next ſummer, left C. Trebonius, with two of the legions he brought along with him, at Orleans: and being informed by ſeveral meſſengers from Rheims, that the people of Beauvois (who are more renown’d for warlike virtue than any other ſtate of the Belgæ) with ſome of their neighbours, under the conduct of Correus of Beauvois, and Comius of Arras, were raiſing a conſiderable army, and marching to a general rendezvous, in order to invade the borders of Soiſſon, which belonged to the country of Rheims; he thought it did not only concern his honour, but intereſt, not to permit ſuch faithful allies as thoſe of Rheims to ſuffer, who had merited ſo well from the Roman empire.

1737, Aulus Hirtius Pansa (author) and Martin Bladen (translator), “A Supplement to C. J. Cæſar’s Commentary of his War in Gaul”, book VIII of Julius Caesar’s Commentaries of his Wars in Gaul, and Civil War with Pompey. (sixth edition), chapter II, page 179

The general who led the Bellovaci against Julius Caesar in 57 BC during the latter's conquest of Gaul.


Unas

2004: "The passages were eventually separated and categorized, as well as illustrated and eventually evolved into the Book of the Dead, or more properly, 'The Book of the Coming forth by Day'. The oldest of these text come from that Pyramid of Wenis, or more popularly these days, Unas at Saqqara." — Ancient Egyptian Texts

2005: "Unas (Wenis) reigned at the end of Dynasty V, for a period of up to 30 years." — Pyramid and mortuary temple of Unas

An Egyptian pharaoh of the fifth dynasty


Ejaculation Proclamation

the Ejaculation Proclamation (canonical)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Ejaculation Proclamation.wav

Rhyme with Emancipation Proclamation, a proclamation issued by US President Abraham Lincoln.

And we now have a title to Clinton's speech to the nation last Monday night: The "Ejaculation Proclamation."

1998 August 19, basch, “An Look at the Speech”, in alt.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):

I accepted it as the 'momentary lapse of judgment' before posting a 'not appropriate' message to the newsgroup of a person who merely 'volunteered' to articulate a scenario that may have been on some Americans' minds in the hours following their watching of the Ejaculation Proclamation.

1998 August 19, Colin M. Alberts, “Hitler 1933”, in soc.history.what-if (Usenet):

This would be the Ejaculation Proclamation, eh?

1998 August 19, endPC, “My Fellow Americans”, in alt.fan.regular-guys (Usenet):

the curtain jet up later rather than sooner Monday fo' Slick's Ejaculation Proclamation.

1998 August 20, Bob Kemp, “Theatre of the Absurd”, in alt.personals.intercultural (Usenet):

Not sure what nation you're from or the nature of its legal system, but would you and your countrymen be concerned if serious allegations arose causing your leader of perjury, subornation of perjury and obstruction of justice? The great misperception is that it's about sex. Anyone who saw the "Ejaculation Proclamation" speech Monday night should know that's exactly what the Prez wants us to think -- it's between him, Hillary and his God. It's not.

1998 August 20, Scott Sprintz, “Embassy Bombs Retaliated”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.flight-sim (Usenet):

(humorous, uncommon) US President Bill Clinton's admission that he had had an "improper physical relationship" with Monica Lewinsky.

Abraham Lincoln
Emancipation Proclamation
Lewinsky scandal


Agrippina

(in Ancient Rome) The mother of Caligula; the mother of Nero.


Chaplin

An occupational surname for a chaplain, from Middle English and Old French chapelain.

An unincorporated community and coal town in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States.

Monongalia County
Monongalia County#English


roughrider

noncommissioned officer
noncommissioned officer

(military, dated) A noncommissioned officer in the British cavalry whose duty is to assist the riding master.


hopium

Blend of hope + opium, as though it were a drug; likely modelled after copium; regarding the surface analysis as hope + -ium, see copium § Etymology.

Hopium can make you see potential in the grimmest set of circumstances.

2016, Tracy Schorn, Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life: The Chump Lady's Survival Guide, Hachette, →ISBN:

This way, we might avoid depression, panic, denial, and hopium for good or bad news, any of which renders us more unrealistic, unprepared, and unwell.

2020, Jack Adam Weber, Carolyn Baker, Climate Cure: Heal Yourself to Heal the Planet, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN:

(colloquial, derogatory) A clinging to unreasonable or unfounded hopes.


Poe

en-proper noun

Poe (countable and uncountable, plural Poes)

A nickname from Old Norse pái (“peacock”). This surname is also well established in Ireland.

Edgar Allan Poe, an American author and poet of the 19th century, known especially for his dark themes.

An unincorporated community in Allen County, Indiana, United States.

An unincorporated community in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States.


Kipling

Kipling (countable and uncountable, plural Kiplings)

An unincorporated community in Ohio, United States.


Epictetus

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἐπίκτητος (Epíktētos).


Obaman

en-adj

Obaman (comparative more Obaman, superlative most Obaman)

more Obaman (comparative)
most Obaman (superlative)

(US politics) Of or pertaining to Barack Obama or to his ideology or policies.


Whitewatergate

From Whitewater + -gate, influenced by the original Watergate scandal.

(informal) The Whitewater controversy, a US political scandal that began with the real-estate investments of Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates in the Whitewater Development Corporation.


Bharata

A legendary emperor of India, and is referred to in Hindu and Jain theology. He was son of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala.


Hitlerlike

Hitlerlike (comparative more Hitlerlike, superlative most Hitlerlike)

more Hitlerlike (comparative)
most Hitlerlike (superlative)

It is not up to the United Nations to say just what the German schools of the future should teach, and we do not want to be guilty of a Hitlerlike orgy of book burning.

1971, Henry Agard Wallace, Christian Bases of World Order, page 14:

He's the master of adult corruptions—not all adult corruptions—but it's funny how Hitlerlike most people are.

Resembling Adolf Hitler (genocidal dictator of Germany) or his actions or policies.


Obamatard

This collective mindset could be seen in the 2008 election, where it was discovered that trying to argue with Obamatards was futile.

2010 November 17, Dänk 666 [username], “Re: The Primary Aim Of Modern Warfare - George Orwell”, in alt.politics (Usenet):

(US, slang, derogatory) A supporter of Barack Obama.


Hooverian

Hooverian (comparative more Hooverian, superlative most Hooverian)

more Hooverian (comparative)
most Hooverian (superlative)

(economics) Of or relating to the politics or economics of Herbert Hoover.


Godwin's Law

Alternative letter-case form of Godwin's law.


Biden

Ultimately from Old French bouton (“button”), metonymic surname for a button-maker, of Germanic origin. See button.

Heading into 2016 and 2020, if you told the hotshots from Obamaworld that you thought Biden would be a good candidate, they would uniformly offer a look of infinite patience, tolerance and condescension and say something like, “Well, I could understand how someone would think that.”

2021 March 20, Maureen Dowd, “Old Pol, New Tricks”, in The New York Times:

Joe Biden, 46th and current president of the United States (2021–present).


Thatchernomics

(economics) The economic policies followed by Margaret Thatcher, British prime minister.


Clintonite

A political supporter of Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinton.


Clintonization

November 10, 2016, David French, "What Comes Next for Never Trump" in National Review Online https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/11/never-trump-movement-future-trump-presidency/
It's imperative that conservatives continue to resist the Clintonization of the GOP.

Adoption of the policies or attitudes of Bill Clinton's American presidency.


Roosevelt elk

Named after US president Theodore Roosevelt.

Cervus canadensis roosevelti, the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk in North America.


BBM

(Philippine politics) Initialism of Bongbong Marcos, 17th President of the Philippines


Nero

Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last Emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

An agnomen first held by Tiberius Claudius Nero, an ancestor of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.

Any male member of the family Claudii Nerones, within the gens Claudia into which emperor Nero was adopted by emperor Claudius.

"Nero Wolfe. It's his house and he lives here." "That's an odd name. Nero Wolfe? What does he—Is he a lawyer?"

1963, Rex Stout, Trio for Blunt Instruments, Random House LLC, published 2010, →ISBN:

A male given name from Latin, more common in fiction than in real life.


Obamaton

I loved it when the Obamatons started chanting "Yes we can yes we can yeswe can" in the middle of it as if it were some sort of religious ritual.

2008 November 5, Rabid Weasel Lawson [username], “Re: O'bamma gives acceptance speech”, in rec.martial-arts (Usenet):

Rather than following the MSM lead and merely parroting the Obamatons' talking points after the release of previously-classified memos this week, Thiessen actually examined the documents.

2009 August 27, Obama Nation Is An Abomination [username], “Re: America's Top 10 Enemies' List”, in alt.non.racisml (Usenet):

You just know the Obamatons will blame Bush.

2010 July 2, Frogwatch [username], “Lost hope, No Change”, in sci.military.naval (Usenet):

(US, slang, derogatory) A person who follows U.S. president Barack Obama blindly.


Balaam

The Biblical miracle of Balaam's ass speaking (Numbers 22:27-30); see talk out one's ass.

(slang, archaic, journalism) A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column.


Ophelian

Ophelian (comparative more Ophelian, superlative most Ophelian)

more Ophelian (comparative)
most Ophelian (superlative)

From Ophelia + -an. Compare French ophélique, ophélien.

the Ophelian scene


Bird

* As an English and Scottish surname, from the noun bird.
* As an Irish surname, Anglicized/translated from several names erroneously thought to contain the element éan (“bird”) such as Ó hÉinigh (see Heagney), Ó hÉanna (see Heaney), Ó hÉanacháin (see Heneghan) and Mac an Déaghanaigh (see McEneaney).
* Similarly translated from several other languages containing the word bird, such as German Vogel, French Loiseau, Czech Ptáček see Ptacek), Pták, Polish Ptak.
* This also extends to Native American names, such as Lakota ziŋtkala (“bird”). Compare Eagle, Hawk; Blackbird, Kingbird, Redbird, etc.

When Bird played like that, it was like hearing music for the first time. I'd never heard anybody play like that. Later Sonny Rollins and I would try to do things like that, and me and Trane, those short, hard bursts of musical phrases. But when Bird played like that, he was outrageous…

2012, John Szwed, quoting Miles Davis, So What: The Life of Miles Davis, arrow books, →ISBN:

(jazz) Charlie Parker (1920–1955), Jazz saxophonist.


Hamletian

Hamletian (comparative more Hamletian, superlative most Hamletian)

more Hamletian (comparative)
most Hamletian (superlative)

Of or pertaining to William Shakespeare's play Hamlet (circa 1600), with themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.

hamletovský

of or pertaining to William Shakespeare's play Hamlet


Burns

en-proper noun

Burns (countable and uncountable, plural Burnses or Burns)


Nietzsche

You would not like Nietzsche, sir. He is fundamentally unsound.

A surname from German, most famously borne by Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), German philosopher.


Valmiki

A member of any of various Indian communities claiming descent from the poet Valmiki.


Aditi

From Sanskrit अदिति (aditi, “having nothing to give”); ultimately from अ- (a-) + दिति (diti).

bor

A female given name from Sanskrit mainly used in India.


Spartacus

A Thracian name, notably borne by a gladiator who was one of the slave leaders in a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic.


Sister Souljah moment

en-noun

Sister Souljah moment (plural Sister Souljah moments)

Referring to presidential candidate Bill Clinton publicly criticizing activist Sister Souljah for her statements about the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The embodiment of the no-compromise style the public disdains, Bachmann seems congenitally incapable of such a move unless it's a reverse Sister Souljah moment, where she castigates her party for being insufficiently beholden to its base.

2011 October 19, Robert Schlesinger, “The GOP Needs to Escape the GOP”, in U.S. News & World Report, volume 3, number 33, page 18:

Determined to get that office, to get that house, he's shown not a single "Sister Souljah" moment, not a moment of independence from the people to whom he's sworn his allegiance.

2012 September 17, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Chris Matthews (actor), via MSNBC:

But this wasn't some sort of Sister Souljah moment, where Romney called out his fellow conservatives in order to curry favor with the center.

2012 October 6, Ross Douthat, “It Could Be His Party”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US politics) A politician's public repudiation of extremism perceived to be allied or associated with them or their political party.

1992 Los Angeles riots
Bill Clinton
Sister Souljah


(theater) Initialism of Henry VI, Part 1, by William Shakespeare.


(theater) Initialism of Henry IV, Part 1, by William Shakespeare.


Berner

From Bernie + -er. Named after American politician Bernie Sanders.

named-after

Leaving City Hall with a smile, he mirrored the Berner’s excitement, but for Hillary. “She has the strongest record,” he said.

2016 June 6, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, “As SF ‘feels the Bern’ and touts #ImWithHer, turnout numbers strong”, in SF Examiner:

Nick Merrill, Clinton’s press secretary, issued this response on Twitter, citing the words of Mike Casca, Sanders’ deputy communications director and a “die-hard” Berner.

2016 October 1, Reena Flores, “Hillary Clinton comments on Bernie Sanders supporters in leaked recording”, in CBS News:

Some, like the Indivisible network that has spawned more than 5,000 chapters nationwide, have tapped into the same organizational formula the Berners did.

2017 April 11, Joe Garofoli, “Fueled by Trump resistance, Sanders’ influence grows with Dems”, in San Francisco Chronicle:

"We have almost enough Berners to hold the majority. It's real close," he said.

2017 July 21, Eric Bradner, Gregory Krieg, “Sanders' Iowa roots continue to bloom -- whether or not he runs in 2020”, in CNN:

(US politics) A supporter of Bernie Sanders.


Lewinsky

From a Slavic language, which added a patronymic suffix to the ultimately Hebrew root לוי (leví, “priest”), an occupational surname.


Hitler Channel

From the large number of World War II documentaries aired on the channel before the creation of the sister network Military History.

Whenever Martin was home, he’d flip around and invariably end up on the History Channel, watching some World War II documentary. I called it the Hitler Channel, since it always featured a Nazi rally or tanks moving on Poland.[…]When we got back to our fairy-tale building in Brooklyn, I cooked and worked and made our bed after we made love in it. I didn’t even mind when he played his music too loud. I didn't mind the Hitler Channel, really.

2004, Helene Stapinski, Baby Plays Around: A Love Affair, with Music, Villard Books, →ISBN, pages 93 and 99:

The children were all tucked in, the dog had been taken for his walk, he was just going to settle down and watch the Hitler channel, (his pet name for The History Channel.)

2009, Hubert L. Bird, chapter 8, in The Temple of Solomon, Dog Ear Publishing, →ISBN, page 101:

“My grandma had the TV set permanently on the Hitler Channel this summer,” she told me. “I didn’t have a choice.” Erin called the History Channel the Hitler Channel, because every time she switched it on, they were showing a program about World War II.

2012, Anna Jarzab, The Opposite of Hallelujah, Delacorte Press, →ISBN, page 50:

“And, as we are speaking of weapons, the last operational Spitfires should join them.” “Are you certain?” I asked, thinking of a previous age when we watched the Hitler Channel together in the afternoons.

2018 November 3, Ian Jack, “British icons to throw off the white cliffs: what’s on your list?”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 2018-11-03:

(informal, derogatory or humorous) The American television channel History.

History (American TV network)
Military History (TV network)


Phlegyas

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Φλεγύας (Phlegúas).


Gainsborough

A town and civil parish with a town council in West Lindsey district, Lincolnshire, England (OS grid ref SK8190).


Malebranche

/ˌmæləˈbɹɑnʃ/

/ˌmɑləˈbɹɑnʃ/

Unadapted borrowing from French Malebranche.

ubor

Nicolas Malebranche (1638–1715), a French philosopher.


Tully

A town in the Cassowary Coast Region, northern Queensland, Australia, named after the Tully River.

A commune in Somme department, Hauts-de-France, France.

A village in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.

A town and village therein, in Onondaga County, New York, United States.

Two townships in Ohio, United States, in Marion County and Van Wert County.


Thatcherian

en-adj

Thatcherian (comparative more Thatcherian, superlative most Thatcherian)

more Thatcherian (comparative)
most Thatcherian (superlative)

Of or relating to Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), British prime minister.


Jinnah

Borrowed from Urdu جِناح (jināh), from Gujarati ઝીણા (jhīṇā).

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, lawyer, politician and the founder of Pakistan.


Cumberbitch

But Rik, for the legion of Cumberbitches out there, the sight of Sherlock in his sheet makes up for any plot inconsistencies!

2012 January 8, Judith Brenan, “Re: New series of Sherlock”, in rec.arts.mystery (Usenet):

He [Cumberbatch] was with friends, and we debated going over to congratulate him on his performance but deemed it "too stalkery". How we rue the day. She and I were two of the original Cumberbitches, in what is now a nation of Cumberbitches.

2012 January 20, Rosamund Urwin, “The Benedict Cumberbatch band wagon”, in London Evening Standard:

Sherlock star Cumberbatch – who also appears as villain John Harrison in JJ Abrams' upcoming Star Trek sequel Into Darkness – has a fervent female following but it's possible even the most die hard Cumberbitch will think twice before pinning this photo to her bedroom wall.

2013 January 22, Paul Jones, “First look at Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate”, in RadioTimes:

(slang, vulgar, fandom slang) A female fan of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.


Cumberbabe

So is the fantasy to put warmth and cuddly love into this weird detective's life - or is Benedict such a Cumberbabe magnet because he's just a brilliant actor and easy on the eye?

2012 March 29, Beverley Watts, “Calling all Cumberbitches! Is it Benedict Cumberbatch who's irresistible or is it Sherlock?”, in Now:

Cumberbabes: brace yourselves. Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed that some of his Star Trek Into Darkness costumes are so tight that, in his words, “you can almost see what religion I am.”

2013 March 8, Tom Cole, “Benedict Cumberbatch's Star Trek costumes are so tight 'you can almost see what religion I am'”, in Radio Times:

2013, Liz Ferguson, "Twenty years of Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock! What do you think, Cumberbabes?", The Gazette (Montreal), 13 March 2013 (only used in title)

(slang, fandom slang) A female fan of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.


Hindenburg

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Hindenburg.wav

Paul von Hindenburg, German field marshal in the First World War and second President of the Weimar Republic.


Agron

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Ἄγρων (Ágrōn).


Reaganian

en-adj

Reaganian (comparative more Reaganian, superlative most Reaganian)

more Reaganian (comparative)
most Reaganian (superlative)

Of or relating to Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911–2004), 40th president of the United States (1981–1989) and 33rd governor of California (1967–1975).


Eldar

→ Russian: Эльда́р (Elʹdár)

Coined by J. R. R. Tolkien as Quenya Eldar, plural of Elda.

(science fiction) An elflike race of aliens from Warhammer 40,000, now known as Aeldari.

Эльда́р

magical humanoids from Tolkien's writings


Ramesses

From Ancient Greek Ῥαμέσσης (Rhaméssēs), itself from Egyptian rꜥ-ms-sw,
ra-ms-sw

Name of several pharaohs of 19th and 20th dynasty of Ancient Egypt, 13th to 10th century BC.


Pricasso

Timothy James Francis Patch is a crazy Australian artist who specializes in penile art. Penile art is exactly what you imagined it would be, "Pricasso" uses his member as his brush.

2008 February 25, Ubiquitous, “Pricasso”, in alt.tasteless (Usenet):

"There are Millions of Artists in the World, but only one who paints with his Penis." Actually, that's not true; clearly, Mr. Pricasso doesn't know where the word "penis" comes from, and what other words derive from that base.

2008 August 20, Richard Bos, “Not quite finger painting”, in uk.rec.sheds (Usenet):

"Pricasso". What can you say about a guy who wears a huge silver hat and boots (and nothing else), and paints your portrait while you wait? Oh, and he uses part of his anatomy as his paintbrush! Unique.

2008 November 20, Solar West, “Sexpo Progress Reports”, in Solar West Public Group (Usenet):

speaking of pricks, did you order any pricasso paintings? don't forget they come complete with a video showing the artist in action...imagine the awe and oh's you'll hear christmas time.

2009 October 26, eastsidelar, “On Cars & Driving”, in alt.society.boomers (Usenet):

Tim Patch, an Australian artist known for painting with his penis.


Cumbermania

While he's grateful for his fans' support since the phenomenal success of Sherlock, Benedict is also very forthright about some of the more intrusive aspects of Cumbermania.

2012 October 3, Paul Simper, “'People thought I was dead'”, in The Sun:

None more so than that of Cumberbatch – since Cabin Pressure was last on Radio 4, series two of Sherlock has put Cumbermania at an even higher pitch.

2013 January 9, Jack Seale, “Cabin Pressure writer John Finnemore on the joy of radio, crafting comedy - and Benedict Cumberbatch”, in Radio Times:

Sherlock and Cumbermania may cause women to go mad, but what do the guys think of it all?

2013 August 22, Emma Daly, “Sherlock: Why we love Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, by the fans”, in Radio Times:

(informal) Enthusiasm for actor Benedict Cumberbatch.


Cumberfan

Cumberfans from all around the globe donated money in Cumberbatch's name, with the total raised entirely exceeding expectations.

2012 July 19, Ellie Walker-Arnott, “Benedict Cumberbatch's birthday raises thousands for charity”, in Radio Times:

Cumberfans would not have long to wait for their next fix as their idol unveiled his new role in Parade’s End, one of the classiest drama’s of 2012.

2012 December 21, Isobel Finblow, “Review of the year 2012: February”, in Radio Times:

Sadly for the many Cumberfans, neither he nor Martin Freeman were available for an appearance (watch their special video message below), but co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss plus producer/Moffat better half Sue Vertue did have the time to talk about the show in general and series three in particular.

2013 July 19, James White, “Comic-Con 2013: The Sherlock Series 3 Panel”, in Empire:

(slang) A fan of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.


Cumberbatch

en-verb

Cumberbatch (third-person singular simple present Cumberbatches, present participle Cumberbatching, simple past and past participle Cumberbatched)

Cumberbatches (present singular third-person)
Cumberbatching (participle present)
Cumberbatched (participle past)
Cumberbatched (past)

Add *those* topless pictures of him on the beach that we published in Now last week to the mix, and I think I'm starting to get where all you women who want to be Cumberbatched are coming from...

2012 May 29, Victoria Kennedy, “OK, I get it now. Benedict Cumberbatch looked hot on the Bafta red carpet”, in Now:

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way: If you're a die-hard Sherlock fan, you're probably not going to be enthusiastic about another Sherlock Holmes series. Once you've been Cumberbatched, you don't go back.

2012, Heather Croteau, "A Guide to Fall TV", Relevant, Issue 59, September/October 2012, page 32

The Toronto International Film Festival is about to get Cumberbatched.

2013 July 28, Linda Barnard, “Toronto, prepare to get Cumberbatched: Benedict Cumberbatch in three TIFF films”, in Toronto Star:

(slang) To expose to actor Benedict Cumberbatch and/or his work.


Cervantes

Borrowed from Spanish Cervantes; see there for more.


Caravaggio

/ˌkæɹəˈvædʒiəʊ/

/ˌkæɹəˈvɑd͡ʒ(i)oʊ/

/ˌkɑɹəˈvɑd͡ʒ(i)oʊ/

From Italian Caravaggio, his family's place of origin.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), an Italian painter known for the dramatism of his style and subjects.


Masaccio

/məˈsɑːt͡ʃioʊ/

Borrowed from Italian Masaccio, from Maso (diminutive of Tommaso) + -accio (pejorative suffix).

af

diminutive of <i class="Latn mention" lang="it">Tommaso</i>

Around 1425, the Florentine artist Masaccio painted the first major works in one-point perspective. That revolutionized what artists could do ever after.

2022 March 3, Blake Gopnik, “One Year After Beeple, the NFT Has Changed Artists. Has It Changed Art?”, in The New York Times:

An Italian painter (born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone; 1401–1428) of the Quattrocento period.


Lollobrigida

en-proper noun

Lollobrigida (countable and uncountable, plural Lollobrigidas)

Gina Lollobrigida (1927–2023), Italian actress and sex symbol.


Defoe

An English surname originating as a patronymic.

Daniel Defoe (c. 1659 to 1661 – 1731), English trader, writer, journalist and pamphleteer best known for writing Robinson Crusoe


Gay-Lussac

Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, French chemist and physicist


Othello syndrome

After Shakespeare's character Othello, who kills his lover after becoming falsely convinced that she is unfaithful.

delusional jealousy; a psychiatric disorder in which a person holds a strong delusional belief that their spouse or sexual partner is being unfaithful


SBY

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
w:Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

(Indonesian politics) Initialism of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former president of Indonesia


Bushbama

Blend of Bush + Obama, from surnames of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

(US politics, derogatory) George W. Bush and Barack Obama, seen as a continuation of the same political agenda.


Dogberry

From Dogberry, the name of a character in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1600).

It would be interesting to know how many village Dogberries there were like Thomas Law, the constable of Quendon, Essex, whose reaction in 1651 on being informed of a robbery was to call on the astrologer, William Hills, ‘with an intent to hear what he might say, so that he might make his search accordingly’.

1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 333:

A pompous, foolish or self-important official.


Cheops

Borrowed from Latin Cheops, from Ancient Greek Χέοψ (Khéops), from Egyptian ḫw.f-wj.

Great Pyramid of Giza
Great Pyramid of Giza

a pharaoh of Egypt, who ruled in the first half of the Old Kingdom period (26th century BC) and is renowned as the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza


SBF

The grisly details of what SBF is alleged to be guilty of will emerge in forthcoming criminal proceedings. But already expectations are high: Amazon has announced that it is working on a series about the scandal in partnership with the Russo brothers, the makers of Marvel movies.

2022 December 17, John Naughton, “Why were the media hypnotised by Sam Bankman-Fried?”, in The Observer, →ISSN:


Belisarius

From Latin Belisarius, from Byzantine Greek Βελισάριος (Belisários).

(history) a general of the Byzantine Empire, who was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously


Herostratus

Learned borrowing from Latin Hērostratus, from Ancient Greek Ἡρόστρατος (Hēróstratos).

lbor

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

an Ancient Greek arsonist who destroyed the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in order to become famous


Zerubbabel

Borrowed from Hebrew זרובבל / זְרֻבָּבֶל (Zərubbāḇél).

he-m

זרובבל / זְרֻבָּבֶל (Zərubbāḇél)

(biblical) a governor of the Persian Province of Judah, who led the first group of Jews returned from the Babylonian Captivity.


Red Queen hypothesis

An allusion to a remark by the Red Queen in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass: "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place." The hypothesis was advanced in 1973 by American biologist Leigh Van Valen, who called it the Red Queen's hypothesis.

Stenseth and Maynard Smith (1984) reformulated this hypothesis by including the idea of evolutionary lag and dismissing Van Valen's zero-sum assumption. They contrast the Red-Queen hypothesis with the stationary hypothesis, q.v. Hoffman and Kitchell (1984 in Lewin 1985a, 400) offer some support for the Red-Queen hypothesis.

2000, Edward M. Barrows, Animal Behavior Desk Reference, 2nd edition, CRC Press, page 358:

We extend the Red Queen hypothesis, a mechanism proposed to maintain genetic diversity at the population level, to explain diversity at the community level.

2008, Keith Clay et al., “Chapter 7: Red Queen Communities”, in Richard S. Ostfeld, Felicia Keesing, Valerie T. Eviner, editors, Infectious Disease Ecology, Princeton University Press, page 145:

The Red Queen hypothesis defines evolution as a kind of arms race, in which species must constantly evolve and adapt merely to survive.

2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 219:

(evolutionary theory) An evolutionary hypothesis which proposes that organisms must constantly adapt, evolve, and proliferate not merely to gain reproductive advantage, but also simply to survive while pitted against other evolving organisms in an ever-changing environment.

Leigh Van Valen
Lewis Carroll
Red Queen (Through the Looking-Glass)
Through the Looking-Glass


Gaddafi

Muammar Gaddafi, former leader of Libya.


Tesla

From Serbo-Croatian Tesla/Тесла, from Proto-Slavic *tesla. Cognate with German Dechsel, Dutch dissel, Russian тесло́ (tesló), Polish ciosła, Latin tēla. Doublet of tela and toile.

Inventor and physicist Nikola Tesla (1856–1943).

battery electric vehicle
battery electric vehicle

(automotive) Tesla, Inc.: a battery electric vehicle (BEV) automaker founded in 2003.


Tolkienologist

One who studies Tolkien and his creations.


Gandalfesque

en-adj

Gandalfesque (comparative more Gandalfesque, superlative most Gandalfesque)

more Gandalfesque (comparative)
most Gandalfesque (superlative)

Gandalf + -esque, with the name having been taken by J. R. R. Tolkien from the Old Norse Gandálfr, from gandr (“magic staff”) + alfr (“elf”).

[…] there is radical Evil here (distilled in its purest form in Lord Voldemort), as much as there is Good (figured in the Gandalfesque Dumbledore).

2007, William MacNeil, Lex Populi: The Jurisprudence of Popular Culture, page 25:

With qualities resembling those of Gandalf, a wise old wizard in The Lord of the Rings with a long white beard.


Bilboesque

Bilboesque (comparative more Bilboesque, superlative most Bilboesque)

more Bilboesque (comparative)
most Bilboesque (superlative)

At the same time, Bilboesque proverbs like "Every worm has his weak spot" and "Never laugh at live dragons" use the familiar proverb form to make the unfamiliar inhabitants of the secondary world seem more matter-of-fact.

1981, Katharyn W. Crabbe, J. R. R. Tolkien, Frederick Ungar Publishers, →ISBN, page 60:

So here goes: much as Alex Ferguson and Manchester United could not afford to let their Bilboesque, talismanic striker leave the football club, Key and New Zealand could not afford to let this production take flight.

2010 October 29, Toby Manhire, “The Hobbit hullabaloo”, in The Guardian:

“He’s Bilbo-esque,” the filmmaker said. “You might not always want to say that about you, right? But seriously he has the essential features of this little English gent, this country gent who is slightly old-fashioned and has to go around in the world and try to cope with it. That’s not exactly who Martin [Freeman] is as a person, but as an actor he does that so well. […]

2011 August 23, Geoff Boucher, “‘The Hobbit’: Peter Jackson and the one true Bilbo Baggins”, in Los Angeles Times:

Of, relating to, or reminiscent of the character Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.


Nazgul

From nazgûl (“ringwraith”) in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional language Black Speech, a compound of nazg (“ring”) and gûl (“wraith; spirit”).

The West Hampstead studio flat looks like the Nazgul have just thundered through it […]

The last thing she wanted was for Zach to come storming out of the house like a Nazgul, telling her to get the hell away from his daughter.

2011, Kristin Hannah, Night Road, page 282:

There's three blokes who look like the Nazgul in pinstripes, and a skinny hatchetfaced bird who keeps saying “Well?” at me every time she asks me a question and I don't answer her inside half a second.

2012, Tom Holt, You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But it Helps, page 133:

(fantasy) An evil force which heedlessly destroys everything in its path, and appears like a horseman dressed all in black.


Mordor

Chinese: 魔多

Polish: Mordor

Russian: Мо́рдор (Mórdor)

Ukrainian: Мо́рдор (Mórdor)

/ˈmɔːdɔː(ɹ)/

J. R. R. Tolkien
Middle-earth
Mordor
Sauron

From Mordor, a bleak realm ruled by the dark lord Sauron, in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth. Tolkien created the name in his constructed language Sindarin, from morn (“dark, black”) and dôr (“land”).
Compare with Old English morþor (“murder”), murder, Greek μαυρός (mavrós, “dim”) and Latin mors (“death”).
Sense 2 is a semantic loan from Ukrainian Мо́рдор (Mórdor) or Russian Мо́рдор (Mórdor), both of those from the English word, alluding to it being the land of orcs.

semantic loan

It is a “Mordor” sort of anthropology, dark rather than light, swampland rather than solid ground.

2007, Paul F. M. Zahl, Grace in Practice: A Theology of Everyday Life, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., published 2007, →ISBN, page 94:

Nevertheless, this book is about the truth, the good and the bad, so I will tread into the forbidden territory, the Mordor of motherhood.

2007, B. Erin Wylde, Where Did I Go?, →ISBN, page 100:

“OK, can we go back now?” asked their guide and expert on the underground, whose restless eyes implied that he was on the edge of panic. “I for one am not venturing a step further into this Mordor.”

2012, Zygmunt Miłoszewski, A Grain of Truth: A Second Case for State Prosecutor Teodor Szacki, Bitter Lemon Press (2012; original Polish book published 2011), page 290

It’s impossible to find harmony in an outfit when you have to schlep five kilos of kit with you in order to manage the post-workout transformation. Of course, I could change at work. But this would entail using the office showers. And I would sooner venture into Mordor.

2017 November 16, Jo Ellison, “Help: the gym has turned us into slobs”, in Financial Times:

“I fled from Moscow, which has turned into Mordor.[…]”

2022 April 17, Pjotr Sauer, Andrew Roth, quoting Antonina Baever, “Empty galleries and fleeing artists: Russia’s cultural uncoupling from the west”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

They are out in nature for hours a day – despite the fact that the weather’s terrible (we’re talking Mordor from October to March).

2024 February 25, Helen Russell, “Play outside and sing together: what living in Denmark taught me about raising ‘Viking’ children”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

An area of peril, darkness, or evil, which people fear to visit or explore.


Sauronesque

en-adj

Sauronesque (comparative more Sauronesque, superlative most Sauronesque)

more Sauronesque (comparative)
most Sauronesque (superlative)

This crew faces the Sauronesque embodiment of evil, the Shadow, its minions, the savage Reavers, and treachery in the usurper of Arlen's throne.

1984, Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, volume 104, numbers 10-14, page 146:

And it's not the only Sauronesque Bush program

2003 January 2, Noah Shachtman, “Bush's Year of U.S. Surveillance”, in Wired:

Their Sauronesque motto—Join us, and we can rule the Middle East together—doesn't have quite the catchy ring it once did.

Having similar traits to the fictional character Sauron from the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, including evilness, tyrannicalness, or all-seeingness.


Frodoesque

Frodoesque (comparative more Frodoesque, superlative most Frodoesque)

more Frodoesque (comparative)
most Frodoesque (superlative)

The young Bates embarks on a Frodoesque mission to reclaim the kingdom of Middlefinger, of which he is the rightful heir.

2003 December 1, “Names & Faces”, in The Washington Post:

It doesn't have a schoolboy wizard, hobbits or a talking lion but ticks most of the genre's boxes with its tale of friendship between the Frodoesque Eragon (Edward Speleers) and his dragon (voiced by Rachel Weisz).

2006 December 22, “FILM ; ARTS & BOOKS REVIEW”, in The Independent:

One Web site, www.ourhobbithole.com, charts the progress of a Frodoesque fantasy.

2009, Ethan Gilsdorf, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms, The Lyons Press, →ISBN, page 131:

Having similar traits to the fictional character Frodo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings, such as unexpectedly being sent on a quest.


Gandalfian

Gandalfian (comparative more Gandalfian, superlative most Gandalfian)

more Gandalfian (comparative)
most Gandalfian (superlative)

Weary Betsy blew a Gandalfian smoke-ring.

2002, Glen Duncan, I, Lucifer, Scribner, →ISBN, page 123:

Above the beard his face was unmasked and very thin, concave cheeks falling away from jutting bones, his eyes sunken deep in their sockets under tufted Gandalfian brows.

2007, Amanda Hemingway, The Poisoned Crown, Del Rey, →ISBN, page 291:

A giraffe-like man, Gandalfian, nearly ninety, Uncle Leo wore his summer uniform, madras shorts and a polo shirt.

2011, Patricia Henley, Other Heartbreaks: Stories, Engine Books, →ISBN:

Of, related to, or characteristic of the fictional wizard Gandalf from the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.


Sauron

From the Quenya name of the dark lord Sauron in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, whose name Tolkien created in his constructed language Quenya, from saura (“foul, putrid”).


Abu Qasim

Borrowed from Arabic أَبُو الْقَاسِم (ʔabū l-qāsim, “father of al-Qasim”).

bor+

أَبُو الْقَاسِم


Gandalfish

en-adj

Gandalfish (comparative more Gandalfish, superlative most Gandalfish)

more Gandalfish (comparative)
most Gandalfish (superlative)

It has an Aragorn figure called Gwydion, a Gandalfish wizard called Dallben, a dwarf named Doli, […]

1980, Brian Attebery, The Fantasy Tradition in American Literature: From Irving to Le Guin, Indiana University Press, →ISBN, page 156:

The archetypical instance is Ralph Bakshi's film Wizards, in which, at the final duel between the Disneylike good wizard and the Gandalfish evil wizard, […]

1986, Jan Hokenson, Howard Pearce, editors, Forms of the Fantastic: Selected Essays from the Third International Conference on the Fantastic in Literature and Film, Greenwood Press, →ISBN, page 36:

IMHO it would be a disaster to make a sort of Gandalfish wizard out of Sauron, with black robes and all the other Evil Accessories (tm).

1999 September 16, Ola Lundgren, “Re: The Character of Sauron?”, in alt.fan.tolkien (Usenet):


Sexgate

(chiefly US) Any sex-related public scandal, especially the Monica Lewinsky scandal.


HRC

Gibbs saying that the reason HRC delayed releasing her sked was that she was “hiding” something, […]

2008 March 20, Ana Marie Cox, “Obama Conference Call”, in Times, retrieved 20150315:

Hillary Rodham Clinton
w:Hillary Clinton

During that march, my queerdar was on full throttle. I saw HRC equality and rainbow stickers all over the place.

2004, Rick Hoffman, account of the March for Women's Lives, Memorandum from the Pro-Life Alliance of Gays and Lesbians, Number 46, Summer 2004, page 3

Human Rights Campaign
w:Human Rights Campaign

(usually preceded by the) Initialism of Human Rights Campaign.


HRC

(materials) Abbreviation of hardness on Rockwell scale C.


Gaddiel

A character in the Bible; the son of Sodi of the house of Zebulun, sent as a scout to Canaan prior to the crossing of the Jordan River, according to Numbers 13:10.


Petrarch

From Petrarcha, Latinized version of Italian Petrarca.

Francesco Petrarca (1304–1374), Italian scholar and poet.


Dubyaphobia

A new disease of the nervous system is afflicting millions of voting-age Americans: Dubyaphobia.

2000 October 29, Jeff Cramer (quoting Michael Betzold of Common Dreams), “Dubyaphobia And It's Cure”, in alt.politics (Usenet):

If Dubyaphobia does not become widespread and cause Bush to be defeated in the upcoming presidential election, Hillary will be running against a republican nobody in the 2008 election year, and might actually win.

2003 September 17, GRaleigh345, “Re: True lies”, in alt.religion.mormon (Usenet):

The _Jewish Post_ webmonger didn't put a date on that piece that I can find, but it must have been published before Mr. Soros succumbed to acute dubyaphobia: there is no mention of his latest mental illness.

2004 May 20, John H. McCloskey, “Re: Why Soros Hates Bush”, in alt.current-events.clinton.whitewater (Usenet):

(informal) The fear or hatred of George W. Bush.


Dogberryism

From Dogberry + -ism, after Shakespeare's character in Much Ado About Nothing.


Putinland

(derogatory) Russia under the presidency of Vladimir Putin


Putinstan

(derogatory) Russia under the government of Vladimir Putin.


Putler

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Putler.wav

Borrowed from Russian Пу́тлер (Pútler), otherwise a blend of Putin + Hitler. Compare English Xitler.

(slang, derogatory, offensive) Vladimir Putin (president of Russia).


Desdemona

Coined based on Ancient Greek δυσ- (dus-) + δαίμων (daímōn), hence "ill-fated, unfortunate".

As I looked out of the corner of my eye at this savagely picturesque fellow, wondering where was his Desdemona, a dainty and remarkably pretty piece of femininity entered the car, advanced to our table and sat herself beside Othello.

1919, Lee Meriwether, The War Diary of a Diplomat:

On the first of these days' amusements ( I know not what year ) Frank took offence at some attentions paid his Desdemona, and walked away next morning to London in wrath.

1848, James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, page 77:

Luria, the Moor of Florence, is a sentimentally magnanimous Othello without his passions and without his Desdemona.

2005, Boyd Litzinger, Donald Smalley, Robert Browning: The Critical Heritage, page 260:

Devastated by early losses, the narcissistic lover is unable to live with his Desdemona because he is unable to live without his idealization of her.

2012, Alvin O. Korte, Nosotros: A Study of Everyday Meanings in Hispano New Mexico:

Othello's wife in Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, noted for being a victim of jealousy.


Thyone

(astronomy) One of the moons of Jupiter.


Saladin

From Arabic صَلَاحُ الدِّين (ṣalāḥu d-dīn).

der

صَلَاحُ الدِّين

Arabic صَلَاحُ الدِّين (ṣalāḥu d-dīn)

(history) First sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, who led the Muslim opposition to the European Crusaders in the Levant.

صَلَاح الدِّين

first sultan of Egypt and Syria and the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty


Obama phone

Coined during the Obama administration, which conservatives believed was giving minorities free Lifeline Program phones.

Here's Emmett's mother touting the virtues of her "Obama phone"

2012 September 29, [Tor] Sir Gregory Hall, Esq., “Emmett's "Obama phone"”, in alt.usenet.kooks (Usenet):

Outside / brown & broken teeth / gasp out brainless twaddle. / into their Obama phones.

2013, Steve De France, Because I Can’t Whistle, Xlibris, page 102:

“[…]. Get yourself one of those Obama phones, Romeo,”

2014, Darlene Pollock, Logan Pollock, Invasive Species, Part I, Trafford Publishing, page 31:

(US) A cellphone provided as part of the United States Lifeline Program.


Swiftie

Today was the day, and it hadn't fully hit me till that very moment when the doors opened and I was rushing to the front of the stage and standing amongst the thousands of fellow Swifties.

2012 April, Ina Esclamado, “Taylor Swift”, in Cord Music Magazine, page 26:

Even for devoted Swifties, it's hard to deny that her surrealist nightmare of a Grammy performance was a definite miscalculation.

2013, Sean Keeley, "Grammys: the good, the bad and the ugly", The Heights (Boston College), Volume 94, Number 8, 14 February 2013, page B4

“RED” makes you think of Taylor Swift, so maybe we can get some confused Swifties to buy our album.

2013, Colin Orthmann, "Party Animals", Sound, Phrase & Fury, Volume 1, Issue 5, September/October 2013, page 35

Fresh off a frantic election cycle, the former Fetterman campaign social media producer — and dedicated Swiftie — takes time to shake it off.

2022 December 17, Judith Newman, “John Fetterman’s TikTok Whisperer”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(slang) A fan of American singer-songwriter and actress Taylor Swift.


Bieberite

Few male fans were on hand Tuesday night, which according to Bieberites is purely due to envy.

2010 September 15, Jen Skerritt, “OMG!”, in Winnipeg Free Press:

It's a movie created solely for the legions of teen and younger Bieberites (or whatever they call themselves), and a chance for them to see their icon in all the glory of three-dimensions.

2011, Justin Souther, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never", Mountain Express, Volume 17, Issue 30, 16 February 2011 - 22 February 2011, page 56

The two momentary stars were then mobbed by the Bieberites looking to debrief them for any intel they could supply on the singer’s movements inside the hotel, and possible points of entry to the safe zone.

2011 April 12, Ben Hartman, “Bieber loyalists keep vigil outside the pop star’s TA hotel”, in Jerusalem Post:


Winnie the Pooh

en-proper noun

Winnie the Pooh (plural Winnie the Poohs)

From a bear cub named Winnie, short for Winnipeg, and a swan named Pooh.

No amount of Winnie the Poohs on the wall could distract you from seeing the huge bloodstain on the carpet.

2004, John A. Miller, Jr, The Victorian Mansion Murders, Pima Books, →ISBN, page 40:

Even in Europe, where killer bees are not much a menace, we have developed a kind of Winnie-the-Pooh attitude to the bees: they are dangerous, they are unpredictable, and they are usually acting to thwart us.

2007, Bee Wilson, The Hive: The Story of the Honeybee and Us, Macmillan, page 221:

The Stop commander was one Colonel Zimin, a loud, round, cheerful Winnie the Pooh type, who was always in excellent spirits, always joking and liked to pat the soldiers affectionately on the cheek when talking to them.

2009, Arkady Babchenko, “The Diesel Stop”, in Jeff Parker, Mikhail Iossel, editors, Rasskazy: New Fiction from a New Russia, Tin House Books, page 160:

Awake each day with excitement; there are pirates to fight, a yellow brick road to find, and new parts of Winnie the Pooh's forest to explore.

2011, Mark Grant, Out of the Box and onto Wall Street, John Wiley & Sons, page 375:

Winnie the Poohs can be a little smug and take great pride in the fact that while the rest of us are spinning like crazy tops, they're walking calmly through life.

2012, Kay Warren, Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough, Baker Books, page 44:

They had all, to a man and woman, been rumbled, like so many Winnie The Poohs with their hands in Rabbit's honey pot.

2013, Douglas Lindsay, The End Of Days, Blasted Heath Ltd, page 11:

Like the time Mum made the Winnie the Pooh chocolate lollies for the cake sale, before cakes got banned. And I COULDN’T WAIT for them to set and go hard, so I could have one. So I kept taking them out of the fridge and drinking a bit out of the mould. And then when Mum went to get them in the morning, none of the Winnie the Poohs had any legs, and Eeyore didn’t have a head.

2014, Pamela Butchart, The Spy Who Loved School Dinners, Nosy Crow, →ISBN:

Censored photos included one of Winnie the Pooh in a car (Internet users in China have long likened Mr. Xi to images of the pudgy bear) and another of the Obama family purportedly watching the parade on television.

2015 September 3, Patrick Boehler, “Trending on Chinese Social Media: Xi’s Salute, an Autocrat’s Son and Winnie the Pooh”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-01-31, World:

When I returned, I said, “My daughter’s doing the nursery in Winnie the Pooh.” “Pooh?” she said. “Yes,” I said. “Winnie the.” “Pooh,” she repeated. I sensed that she wasn’t happy with me for some reason or another. “Pooh,” I reiterated. She said (very patronizingly, I might add), “Sir, we have at least four different Winnie the Poohs in our collection. You have your classic Pooh, your Disney Pooh …”

2016, Gene Perret, New Tricks for Old Dogs: 28 Laughable Lessons for People Too Stiff to Change … or Bend … or Move, Familius LLC, →ISBN:

A talking bear from an English children's book series carrying the same name, noted for his sweet, simple nature, and his love of honey.

Joanica-Puff (Portugal, Terramar's book translation)

Winny de Puh m (1980's book translation)

Winnie-the-Pooh

A. A. Milne used hyphens, while the Disney version does not


Ælfric

Learned borrowing from Old English Ælfric. Doublet of Alberic and Aubrey.

lbor

the name of several historically significant men in tenth- and eleventh-century England

A Dictionary of First Names
Oxford University Press
Patrick Hanks


Ringnut

From ring + nut, by analogy with wingnut.

27. Sit next to a ringnut and ask "so what's the deal with the ring?" every time it comes on the screen

2003 December 22, toto, “Fun for non-Tolkien fans (was Re: DON'T PUT SPOILERS IN SUBJECT LINES)”, in misc.kids (Usenet):

And to borrow a LotR reference for a moment -- and forgive me, 'cause I'm just a casual fan of the LotR movies, not a Ringnut -- Emily is Bilbo to Lorelai's Frodo and Rory's Sam.

2004 March 18, Rob Jensen, “Re: Yesterday episode”, in alt.tv.gilmore-girls (Usenet):

And I'm sure I'll get plenty of hate mail for single-handedly declaring all Ringnuts and Jackson fanboys are losers when I'm the guy spending time writing a review to post on the Internet, but hey, I never said I wasn't a hypocrite.

2006 August 26, webmaster@themovieaddict.com, “Retrospective: Dead Alive (1992)”, in rec.arts.movies.reviews (Usenet):

(slang, humorous or derogatory) A fan of the novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien and/or the film trilogy based on it.


Tolkiendil

From Tolkien and dil (“lover”), a word in Tolkien's constructed language of Quenya, notably used in the name of the character Eärendil.

Here's a competition for all German-speaking Tolkiendili who agree with me that this is a flaw of the translation (given that the English scans and rhymes perfectly): Come up with a better translation of the second stanza. (Or the whole poem, if you feel like it.)

1994 October 25, Ivan A Derzhanski, “A competition (Re: Don't need poem ...)”, in rec.arts.books.tolkien (Usenet):

The whole Balrog wings and Wheel of fire discussions are really about reading things literally or not. Those who think the ring is speaking and that Balrogs have wings take the literal word as gospel. They are the Fundamentalist Tolkiendili so to speak.

1999 August 30, Gordon Nash, “Literalists VS Nonliteralists”, in rec.arts.books.tolkien (Usenet):

Role Paying^([sic]) is something, a book like LOTR is something else. Tolkien never wrote a GAME, he wrote a book(s). These are two different worlds. So, beware of the MERP if you are a real Tolkiendil.

2002 August 4, discouraged. [username], “Re: MERP & Tolkien”, in alt.fan.tolkien (Usenet):

constructed language
constructed language

(fandom slang) A fan of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, especially one interested in his constructed languages.


Eumolpus

Translingual: Eumolpus

(Greek mythology) The son of Poseidon and Chione, who became one of the first priests of Demeter and one of the founders of the Eleusinian Mysteries.


Irangate

With warships facing off in the Persian Gulf, the Irangate Follies smearing itself across the network airwaves and puppet Contra leaders laughing openly at Americans stupid enough to send them money, there is a good deal to be angry and concerned about.

1987 August 22, Tom Grabosky, “Who Hears an Orton?”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 6, page 7:


McCartney

An unincorporated community in Waterloo, Grant County, Wisconsin, United States.


Chimpy

From chimp + -y, comparing Bush's appearance or facial expressions to a chimpanzee's.

I wonder how all those testosterone-laden combat virgins feel now, after supporting a scumbag like Chimpy and then watching him cut funding for vets....

2003 June 17, Hoss Cartright, “Chimpy and Veterans”, in az.politics (Usenet):

The day that George W. Bush first slimed his way into the Oval Office must have been a happy one indeed for the radical Iranian handlers behind Chalabi's INC operation. They knew Chimpy was exactly the sort of sucker they needed: Intellctually lazy and stupendously vain.

2004 May 23, Doctoroe, “Re: How many Bushies does it take to change a lightbulb?”, in talk.politics.misc (Usenet):

Bush would've told Murkins they were traitors for not wanting his bailouts, CEO Bonuses, Wars, Cheney and Jebya's conflicts of interests and exposing spies who refused to lie for Chimpy.

2010 January 12, Palin On Beaver News, “Nobody Voted For it. Nobody Wants it. He campaigned AGAINST it.”, in talk.politics.misc (Usenet):

(US politics, derogatory) George W. Bush (born 1946), the 43rd president of the United States (2001–2009).


Cumberperson

In your quest to get a regular Sherlockfix, hundreds of thousands of 'Cumberpeople' have been switching over to Alibi on Thursday nights to watch repeats of the first series of Sherlock.

2013 May 24, Ellie Walker-Arnott, “Sherlock almost doubles Alibi viewing figures”, in Radio Times:

Who plays this epic villain? That would be one Benedict Cumberbatch, an English actor who refers to his ever-growing legion of fans as Cumberpeople. Well, sign me up, because I think I am a Cumberperson. I’ve tasted the Kool-Aid, and it’s good.)

2013, Sasha McBrayer, "Latest 'Star Trek' is otherworldly good", Coastal Courier (Hinesville, Georgia), 24 May 2013

He may be one of the most famous actors on the planet, with scores of fervent Cumberpeople in every port, but even Benedict Cumberbatch didn't get to where he is today without a significant amount of hard work.

2014 November 1, Guy Kelly, “7 Benedict Cumberbatch performances you haven't seen but should”, in The Telegraph:

(slang) A fan of actor Benedict Cumberbatch.


Putinesque

en-adj

Putinesque (comparative more Putinesque, superlative most Putinesque)

more Putinesque (comparative)
most Putinesque (superlative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Putinesque.wav

Appointed foreign minister in 2004, he has since then through successive US administrations developed a Putinesque revulsion for all western ideas, if not all western consumer durables. At one point, he said all the ills of the 20th century colonialism, two world wars and the cold war lay at the door of American arrogance.

2022 November 15, Patrick Wintour, “Sergei Lavrov, a fixture of Russian diplomacy facing his toughest test in Ukraine”, in The Guardian:

Reminiscent of the beliefs or policies of Vladimir Putin (born 1952), President of Russia since 2012.

putinmainen

reminiscent of the beliefs or policies of Vladimir Putin


Vilna Gaon

Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kremer, a famous rabbi from Vilnius


Obamageddon

It is still very possible that he will surprise us and develop into a great leader, the chosen one we so desperately seek to lead us from the darkness of Obamageddon, the Barracolypse.

2011, Mark Easely, "President Perry", The Observer (Notre Dame and Saint Mary's), Volume 45, Issue 4, 26 August 2011, page 10

He has turned American tax policy in the direction that Europe's been going for the past fifty years. Great Obama Depression, here we come. We're one step closer to Obamageddon.

2013, Wayne Root, The Ultimate Obama Survival Guide: How to Survive, Thrive, and Prosper During Obamageddon, Regnery Publishing, →ISBN:

I remain deeply skeptical of people amassing weapons against a coming Obamageddon.

2013 June 6, Christopher Swindell, “Can We Put Guns Down and Talk?”, in The Charleston Gazette:

(US politics, derogatory or humorous) The decline or fall of the United States caused by the presidency of Barack Obama.


Obamanation

Beck has become the chronicler of all that the Tea Party sees is wrong with the 'Obamanation' that is America today.

2012, Michael Brissenden, American Stories: Tales of Hope and Anger, University of Queensland Press, →ISBN, page 11:

Recovery from the national emergency of these Obama years will require a huge amount of careful decision making, from domestic to international, unwinding the Obamanation the USA has been saddled with.

2012, Dan S. Wible, Halftime in America: The Challenge Years: Fighting to Stop Progressive Tyranny in the United States, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 393:

However, if four years of Jimmy Carter did not destroy our nation, four years of Obamanation won't either.

2013, Frank A. Kaye, Red Gray and Blue, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 5:

(US politics, derogatory) The presidency of Barack Obama, viewed as detrimental to the United States.


Hitleresque

Hitleresque (comparative more Hitleresque, superlative most Hitleresque)

more Hitleresque (comparative)
most Hitleresque (superlative)

Reminiscent of German dictator Adolf Hitler (1889–1945).


secondary world

en-noun

secondary world (plural secondary worlds)

Coined by J. R. R. Tolkien in his 1947 essay "On Fairy-Stories".

What really happens is that the story-maker proves a successful 'sub-creator'. He makes a Secondary World which your mind can enter. Inside it, what he relates is 'true': it accords with the laws of that world. You therefore believe it, while you are, as it were, inside. The moment disbelief arises, the spell is broken; the magic, or rather art, has failed. You are then out in the Primary World again, looking at the little abortive Secondary World from outside.

1947, J.R.R. Tolkien, “On Fairy-Stories”, in Essays Presented to Charles Williams, page 60:

From beginning to end of the fiction we are in the secondary world.

1982, Frederick M. Burelbach, “An Introduction to Naming in the Literature of Fantasy”, in Literary Onomastics Studies, volume 9, number 11, archived from the original on 2021-05-16, page 133:

The girls stress the internal logic of the Secondary World as the crucial point for fantasy pleasure. Mastering the elaborate structure of the Secondary World is part and parcel of the reader's quest to experience a text such as Harry Potter, although the central hero would identify the text as masculine.

2004, Holly Virginia Blackford, “It's Like a Fantasy World”, in Out of this World: Why Literature Matters to Girls, Teachers College Press, →ISBN, page 48:

The world to which the protagonist belongs is the 'primary' or 'domestic' world. The secondary world is often a binary opposite of the primary world; an inverse, or mirror-image of the consensual reality of the text.

2012, Jane Suzanne Carroll, “The Sanctuary Topos”, in Landscape in Children's Literature, Routledge, →ISBN, page 26:

(fantasy) An internally consistent, fictional, fantasy world or setting that is different from the real "primary world".


primary world

Now, this secondary world can be made to stand entirely on its own, so that there is no primary world in the fiction and the only reference points to the real world are those the reader brings with him or forges for himself. This is generally the case with what is commonly called "high" fantasy, such as J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

1982, Frederick M. Burelbach, “An Introduction to Naming in the Literature of Fantasy”, in Literary Onomastics Studies, volume 9, number 11, archived from the original on 2021-05-16, page 132:

Fantasy fiction has been categorized and described in different ways. One classification divides fantasy into two major types:¶ low fantasy, which takes place in the primary world (our world);¶ high fantasy, which takes place in alternative worlds.

2008, Nikki Gamble, Sally Yates, “Fantasy and Realism”, in Exploring Children's Literature, →ISBN, page 120:

(fantasy) The real world of the reader or viewer, as opposed to the imaginary "secondary world" of a work of fiction.


Plotinus

From Latin Plōtīnus, from a Late Latin variant of Plautus + -īnus (diminutive suffix).

Roman philosopher 205–270; father of Neoplatonism


Obomber

This was definitely staged event intended
to show how caring Obomber is..

2013 October 25, seth...@aol.com, “Re: Phony business: Obama's fainting woman a hoax”, in independent-progressives (Usenet):

(slang, derogatory, US politics) An epithet of Barack Obama.


Hamletism

Hamletism (countable and uncountable, plural Hamletisms)

At last, out of sheer Hamletism, he kills himself, leaving Marianne to Solomine, whom he feels that (despite her promise to him) she has began to look on with an admiration very much akin to love.

1885, The London Quarterly Review, volume 63, page 47:


Ruskin

John Ruskin (1819 – 1900), a major English writer and critic.


Othello

The title character in Shakespeare's tragedy Othello.


Hogarth

Of Dutch origin, hoog (“high”) + aard (“nature or character”).


Hogarth

(informal) A painting by William Hogarth.


Crassus

(historical) Marcus Licinius Crassus, a Roman general.


Disraeli

en-proper noun

Disraeli (countable and uncountable, plural Disraelis or Disraelies)

Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister.


Balfour

Balfour (countable and uncountable, plural Balfours)

From Scottish Gaelic baile (“village, town”) + pùir, genitive form of pór (“pasture, grass”).

census-designated place
census-designated place

Henderson County
Henderson County#English

A census-designated place in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States.

A city in McHenry County, North Dakota, United States.

A habitational surname from Scottish Gaelic.


Lear

The name of a legendary early king of Britain, the central character in Shakespeare's King Lear.


Woz

Norton snapped his fingers. Monday's Warren's birthday. That's what I'll do. We'll get a couple of sheilas and I'll shout Woz out for dinner.

2016, Robert G. Barrett, The Boys from Binjiwunyawunya:


Woz

(informal) Nickname for a person with the surname Wozniak.

(informal) American inventor Steve Wozniak.


Mazdak

Ultimately from Middle Persian mzdk, of uncertain pronunciation (and thus of uncertain etymology). Arabic reports and translations (9th-century onwards, e.g. al-Muqaffa) have mazdak. Sources in New Persian first appear two centuries later, and have mizdak, muzdak in addition to mazdak. Conventional European language spelling is informed by Theodor Nöldeke's late 19th-century studies of the primary sources.

5th-century Iranian social reformer and religious activist.


Camões

From Portuguese Camões, from a Galician habitational surname originating in Camos (spelled Camões and Camones in Medieval Galician), a parish in southern Galicia.


Bull Moose

Journalists quoted Roosevelt saying "I feel like a bull moose" shortly after the new party was formed.

(historical) A member of the Progressive Party (United States, 1912), an American political party formed by former President Theodore Roosevelt after a split in the Republican Party.


Bull Moose

A township in Cass County, Minnesota, United States, named after the Bull Moose Party.


Bard

We have previously traced Shakespeare from his Birth-place to the Grammar School, and we shall now glance at his career as a lover, and in so doing propose a pleasant walk of a short mile to Shottery, a rural hamlet in the parish of Stratford, where Anne Hathaway resided, to whom the Bard became affianced at a very early period in his life.

1854, Edwin Lees, Stratford as connected with Shakespeare; and the bard's rural haunts, page 46:

It evidently needs no effort on the part of Mr. Booth to put himself en rapport with the ideal of the great Bard.

1866, The Albion, quoted in, Arthur W. Bloom, Edwin Booth: A Biography and Performance History, McFarland →ISBN, page 207

Nearly a dozen such enterprises now struggle each summer against the vagaries of rough weather and mosquito swarms to bring the Bard to the nation.

2002, Diana Brydon, Irene Rima Makaryk, Shakespeare in Canada: A World Elsewhere, University of Toronto Press, →ISBN, page 108:

I hope that the selection of stories is illuminating for those who have never thought about what happened after the death of the immortal Bard.

2009, Jack Lynch, Becoming Shakespeare: The Unlikely Afterlife That Turned a Provincial Playwright into the Bard, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, →ISBN, page 8:

“We are going to undertake an exploration of the Bard's poetic structure and language,” Mom went on.

2010, Erin Dionne, The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, Penguin, →ISBN:

(usually with "the") William Shakespeare.