guru

gurus (plural)
guru (plural)
goru (alternative)
gooroo (alternative)
guroo (alternative)

From Hindi गुरु (guru) / Punjabi ਗੁਰੂ (gurū), from Sanskrit गुरु (guru, “venerable, respectable”), originally "heavy" and in this sense cognate to English grieve and, more distantly, brute. Doublet of grave. A traditional, though flawed etymology based on the Advayataraka Upanishad (line 16) describes the syllables gu as “darkness” and ru as “destroyer”, thus ascribing the meaning of “one who destroys/dispels darkness” to the word.

der

When the gooroo arrives at the house of a disciple, the whole family prostrate themselves at his feet, and the spiritual guide puts his right foot on the heads of the prostrate family.

1817, William Ward, History, Literature and Religion of the Hindoos, volume II:

The Baiga magicians derive from the old guru who succeeded Nanga Baiga. There is very great confusion about the original guru, and how he was actually related to Nanga Baiga, but there is general agreement that there were originally four great Baiga guru—Daugun, Nindhan, Danantar and Madhakawar, all four brothers.

1939, Verrier Elwin, “The Magician and His Control of the Natural World”, in The Baiga, London: John Murray, […], section II (The Magician’s Heritage), page 342:

These guru, third, were responsible for insuring that the populace would not be tempted to support heterodox world renouncers and their counter-patrimonial ideas. In contrast to the pre-classical Brahmin scholars, who serviced only their own and certain ruler and elite religion-social interests, the guru were the patronal guides of the masses, offering prebendal control of the deities through charismatic but morally expounded magic and psychological compensation as personal confessors, in return for popular willingness to conform to the dharmic rules, as interpreted by guru to be sure.

1989, Norman Jacobs, “The Classical Indian Society”, in Patrimonial Interpretation of Indian Society: Contemporary Structure and Historical Foundations, Delhi: Chanakya Publications, →ISBN, page 66:

Many of the deities and beliefs recorded by the guru are in fact unknown to the common people, and some represent the esoteric knowledge of only a few guru.

1994, Simon Rae, “Kiniteken Si Pemena: The Original Belief”, in Breath Becomes the Wind: Old and New in Karo Religion, Dunedin: University of Otago Press, →ISBN, part I (The Karo World), page 19:

Traditionally, a guru is a spiritual teacher who guides a student on the road to Enlightenment, or finding God.

2010 May 10, “Madonna is my guru”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-09-24:

In Indian traditions: a spiritual teacher who transmits knowledge to a shishya.

(India) Any general teacher (as a term of respect).

OPCA gurus are modern legal alchemists. They promise gold, but their methods are principally intended to impress the gullible, or those who wish to use this drivel to abuse the court system. Any lack of legal success by the OPCA litigant is, of course, portrayed as a consequence of the customer’s failure to properly understand and apply the guru's special knowledge.

2012, John D. Rooke (Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta), “Meads v. Meads, 2012 ABQB 571”, in CanLII:

(derogatory) A fraudster or conman relying on a projected air of confidence in an obscure field.


Hera

Borrowed from Latin Hēra, from Ancient Greek Ἥρᾱ (Hḗrā).

(Greek mythology) The queen of the gods, and goddess of marriage and birth; daughter of Cronus and Rhea, sister and wife of Zeus, mother of Hephaestus, Ares, Hebe, and Enyo.


mantra

Borrowed from Sanskrit मन्त्र (mantra, literally “instrument of thought”), from Proto-Indo-Aryan *mántram, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mántram, from Proto-Indo-European *mén-tro-m, from *men- (“to think”). Doublet of mind.

bor

This mantra is also known as Guru Mantra or Savitri Mantra. The mention of Gayatri Mantra is found in all the four Vedas where its essence has been explained repeatedly. The Rig Veda, the oldest of the Vedic scriptures, has mentioned about […]

2001, Gautam Chatterjee, Sacred Hindu Symbols, Abhinav Publications, →ISBN, page 36:

(Hinduism) The hymn portions of the Vedas; any passage of these used as a prayer.

However, the five-syllable mantra is unique, for according to Kukai, it unleashes the power of emptiness already impregnated in each letter as a primeval episode of the Dharmakaya's cosmic meditation in which he created all sorts of mantras […]

1999, Ryûichi Abé, The Weaving of Mantra: Kûkai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse, Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 300:

(originally Hinduism) A phrase repeated to assist concentration during meditation.

真言

a phrase repeated to assist concentration during meditation


pygmy

From Latin Pygmaeī, from Ancient Greek πυγμαῖος (pugmaîos, “a member of a race of dwarves”), from πυγμή (pugmḗ, “fist (as small as a fist)”).

der

Ctesias lived in Persia for several years, as the personal physician of King Ataxerxes II, and would have had contact with travellers to India, and Indian visitors to Persia. He describes dog-headed humans, pygmy men who grow their beards so long that they can be used as clothes, and affirms that it never rains in India.

2015, Sam Miller, A Strange Kind of Paradise: India through Foreign Eyes:

(Greek mythology) A member of a race of dwarfs.

джудже

a member of a mythological race of dwarfs


Cossack

Armeno-Kipchak
Cossack
George Turberville

Cossacks (plural)
cossack (alternative)
kozak (alternative)
Kozak (alternative)

From Middle French cosaque, from Middle Polish Kozak, from Old Ukrainian коза́къ (kozák), from Kipchak *qazaq (whence Armeno-Kipchak խազախ (xazax)), from Old Turkic 𐰴𐰔𐰍𐰸 (*qazǧaq, “profiteer”), from 𐰴𐰔𐰍𐰣𐰢𐰴 (qazǧanmaq, “to acquire”), from 𐰴𐰔𐰢𐰴 (qazmaq, “to dig out”), from Proto-Turkic *kaŕ-. Doublet of Kazakh. First appears c. 1587 in the writings of George Turberville.

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

A member or descendant of an originally (semi-)nomadic population of Eastern Europe and the adjacent parts of Asia, formed in part of runaways from neighbouring countries, that eventually settled in parts of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian tsarist Empire and constituted a military caste, particularly in areas now comprising southern Russia and Ukraine.


Daffy Duck

The first appearance of the character was in the short Porky's Duck Hunt in 1937; from daffy + duck.

A fictional anthropomorphic black duck in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of animated cartoons by Warner Bros.


Donald Duck

desc

دُونَالْد دَاك

→ Arabic: دُونَالْد دَاك (dūnāld dāk)

→ Arabic: دُونَالْد دَاك (dūnāld dāk)

→ Armenian: Դոնալդ Դաք (Donald Dakʻ)

→ Azerbaijani: Donald Dak

→ Bulgarian: Доналд Дък (Donald Dǎk)

→ Dutch: Donald Duck

→ French: Donald Duck

→ Georgian: დონალდ დაკი (donald daḳi)

→ German: Donald Duck

Ντόναλντ Ντακ

→ Greek: Ντόναλντ Ντακ (Ntónalnt Ntak)

→ Gujarati: ડોનાલ્ડ ડક (ḍonālḍ ḍak)

דוֹנָלְד דָאק

→ Hebrew: דוֹנָלְד דָאק (Dónald Dak)

→ Hindi: डोनाल्ड डक (ḍonālḍ ḍak)

→ Hindi: डोनाल्ड डक (ḍonālḍ ḍak)

→ Japanese: ドナルドダック (donarudo dakku)

ಡೊನಾಲ್ಡ್ ಡಕ್

→ Kannada: ಡೊನಾಲ್ಡ್ ಡಕ್ (ḍonālḍ ḍak)

→ Kannada: ಡೊನಾಲ್ಡ್ ಡಕ್ (ḍonālḍ ḍak)

→ Korean: 도널드 덕 (doneoldeu deok)

→ Latvian: Donalds Daks

ഡൊണാൾഡ് ഡക്ക്

→ Malayalam: ഡൊണാൾഡ് ഡക്ക് (ḍoṇāḷḍŭ ḍakkŭ)

→ Marathi: डोनाल्ड डक (ḍonālḍa ḍak)

→ Norwegian Bokmål: Donald Duck

→ Portuguese: Pato Donald (calque)

→ Romanian: Donald Duck

→ Russian: Дональд Дак (Donalʹd Dak)

→ Spanish: Pato Donald (calque)

โดนัลด์ ดั๊ก

→ Thai: โดนัลด์ ดั๊ก (doo-nalt dák)

→ Ukrainian: Дональд Дак (Donalʹd Dak)

Single-handed [sic] he swung the staid Western Union from its ordinary singing-telegram policy to the point where local patrons can request that their greeting be sung in Donald Duck voice.

1941 March 6, “Screwy Hall Of Fame Presents A Quack”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

And then the most Donald Duck-like screaming and jabbering you ever heard.

1945, Ernie Pyle, edited by David Nichols, Ernie's war: the best of Ernie Pyle's World War II dispatches, Touchstone Books, published 1987, page 399:

DSP can also eliminate ghost images from TV screens and banish those irritating Donald Duck squeaks and quacks from speeded-up playback of tape-recorded voice messages.

1992 April, Gene Bylinsky, “A U.S. Comeback in Electronics”, in Fortune, volume 125, number 8, page 77:

Perched securely in the rafters and using a walkie-talkie to communicate with colleagues on the airdock's floor, Lachenmeier was amused to find his voice had risen into the Donald Duck register due to the bubble of escaping helium spreading along the ceiling.

1992 May, Sturat F. Brown, “Earthwinds Waits on the Weather”, in Popular Science, volume 240, number 5, page 80:

One of the Disney cartoon characters, an anthropomorphic white-feathered duck who usually wears a sailor suit and is known for his voice especially in tantrums.

ഡൊണാൾഡ് ഡക്ക്

ḍoṇāḷḍŭ ḍakkŭ


superior

superiors (plural)
superiour (alternative)

/sʉːˈpɪə.ɹiː.ə/

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”).

(Scots law, historical) One who has made an original grant of heritable property to a tenant or vassal, on condition of a certain annual payment (feu duty) or of the performance of certain services.


Persephone

From Ancient Greek Περσεφόνη (Persephónē).

(Greek mythology) A minor deity, the queen of the Underworld/Hades, and goddess of the seasons and vegetation. Originally named Kore/Core, she is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter; and the wife of Hades. Her Roman counterpart is Proserpina.


Demeter

From Ancient Greek Δημήτηρ (Dēmḗtēr), from γῆ (gê, “earth”) + μήτηρ (mḗtēr, “mother”).

Coordinate term: (Roman counterpart) Ceres

(Greek mythology) The goddess of the fertility of the Earth and harvests, protector of marriage and social order; daughter of Cronos and Rhea, mother to Persephone.


pandemic

The meeting of Venus with Phoebe distinguishes her roles: the business of Venus in her pandemic form is to ensure the immortality of the kinds. Her Garden has the voluptuousness necessary to ensure this, and this is 'the first seminarie / Of all things that are borne to live and die / According to their kindes.' [Quoting from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene.]

1967, Frank Kermode, “World Without End or Beginning”, in The Sense of an Ending: Studies in the Theory of Fiction (The Mary Flexner Lectures on the Humanities; 1965), New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC; new edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2000, →ISBN, page 76:

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology, rare) Alternative letter-case form of Pandemic (“of Aphrodite Pandemos, the earthly aspect of the Greek goddess of beauty and love Aphrodite and her Roman counterpart Venus, as contrasted with the heavenly aspect known as Aphrodite Urania: earthly, physical, sensual.”)


panel

From Middle English panel (“piece of cloth, saddle pad, pane of glass, piece of ice, part, division, jury list, jury members”), from Anglo-Norman panel, panelle (“piece of cloth, saddle cushion”), from Vulgar Latin *pannellus, diminutive of Latin pannus (“cloth, rag, garment”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂n- (“fabric”). Cognate with Old English fana (“a piece of cloth, patch, banner, flag, vane”). Doublet of vane.

cog

[I]t remains only to examine the Relevancy of the two general exculpatory Defences pled for the Pannells.

1737, “Information for His Majesty’s Advocate, and Mr. Hugh Forbes, Advocate, Procurator Fiscal of the High Court of Admiralty, against Thomas McAdam, and James Long, Pannels”, in Extract of the Proceedings before James Graham of Airth, Esq; Judge of the High Court of Admiralty in Scotland, in the Action at the Instance of Duncan Forbes, Esq; His Majesty’s Advocate, and Mr. Hugh Forbes, Advocate, Procurator Fiscal of the Said High Court, against Thomas McAdams Souldier, and James Long Corporal, in the Regiment of Foot Commanded by Colonel —— Hamilton. Laid before the House Pursuant to Their Lordship’s Order April 18, 1737, London: Printed by John Baskett, […], →OCLC, page 12:

(Scots law) A prisoner arraigned for trial at the bar of a criminal court.


Orion

From Middle English Orioun, from Latin Ōrīōn, from Ancient Greek Ὠρίων (Ōríōn), speculatively from Akkadian 𒌋𒊒𒀭𒈾 (Uru-anna, “heaven's light”), though without any firm evidence.

der

(Greek mythology) A giant-hunter, pursuer of the Pleiades and lover of Eos, and killed by Artemis.


waldo

From the Robert A. Heinlein story Waldo, published in Astounding in 1940, derived from the name of the eponymous protagonist, Waldo F. Jones, who invented remote manipulators to overcome his own myasthenia gravis.

Waldo flexed and extended his fingers gently; the two pairs of waldoes in the screen followed in exact, simultaneous parallelism.


Disneyfication

From the US corporation Disney + -fication. Compare earlier Disneyfied and later Disneyfy.

disneyfication (alternative)
Disnification (alternative)

He may even be having his first doubts about the neon chrome artyfake Disneyfication of America.

1959, Lawrence Lipton, The Holy Barbarians, Messner, pages 143–44:

Cultural diversity mirrors the biological and geographical diversity of our planet. ’Disneyfication’, like economic globalization, tends to ride roughshod over local variety. So baseball hats, blue jeans and running shoes become the uniform of teenagers in both Budapest and Bangalore while Western TV shows promote the illusion of limitless wealth.

1998 December 5, “A Reader's Guide To Disneyfication”, in New Internationalist:

The Disneyfication of Tibet
How tourism has become a tool of occupation.

2014 January/February, Pearl Sydenstricker, “The Disneyfication of Tibet”, in Washington Monthly, archived from the original on 2014-01-01, heading:

Given that Onward itself is a family-friendly project, the film thrives on these self-aware digs at Disneyfication; any good D&D mission should have a sense of real danger, so it’s worth pointing out how that’s missing from so much mainstream entertainment.

2020 February 21, David Sims, “Pixar Needs to Make More Movies Like ‘Onward’”, in The Atlantic:

The act or process whereby something is Disneyfied.


minotaur

/ˈmɪnəˌtɔː(ɹ)/

/ˈmaɪnəˌtɑɹ/

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Μινώταυρος (Minṓtauros), from Μίνως (Mínōs, “Minos, king of Crete”) + ταῦρος (taûros, “bull”).

af

(Greek mythology) Alternative letter-case form of Minotaur

مَنْطُور

monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man


Morpheus

Borrowed from Latin Morpheus (possibly coined by Ovid in his Metamorphoses as the god is not mentioned in earlier works), from Ancient Greek Μορφεύς (Morpheús), from μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”) (alluding to the fact that Morpheus appeared in dreams in the forms of different people) + -εύς (-eús, suffix forming masculine nouns indicating persons concerned with particular things).

(Greek mythology) The god and personification of dreams; according to the Roman poet Ovid, one of the sons of Somnus, the god of sleep.


Aphrodite

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē) (see it for more).

bor+

Coordinate term: (Roman counterpart) Venus

In the "Iliad", Aphrodite is represented as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, the goddess of moisture, who, as the wife of the god of heaven, was held in high esteem among the old Pelasgians.

1877, Otto Seemann, The Mythology of Greece and Rome: With Special Reference to Its Use in Art, page 65:

(Greek mythology) The goddess of beauty and love, born when Cronus castrated his father, Uranus, and threw his genitalia into the sea.


hentai

en-noun

hentai (countable and uncountable, plural hentai or hentais)

→ Cebuano: hentai

→ Finnish: hentai

→ French: hentai

→ German: Hentai

→ Indonesian: hentai

→ Italian: hentai

→ Korean: 헨타이 (hentai)

→ Polish: hentai

→ Portuguese: hentai

→ Russian: хентай (xentaj)

→ Spanish: hentai

→ Swedish: hentai

→ Tagalog: hentai

→ Ukrainian: хента́й (xentáj)

Pseudo-Japonism, derived from 変態(へんたい) (hentai, “pervert”), short for 変態性欲者(へんたいせいよくしゃ) (hentai seiyoku-sha, literally “person with abnormal sexual desires”).

ja-r

へんたい せいよく-しゃ

There was a hentai video that I saw / I told you about the night that we first made love

2019, “Hentai”, in Cry, performed by Cigarettes After Sex:

X defines adult content as […]
This definition also applies to "AI-generated, photographic or animated content such as cartoons, hentai or anime".

2024 June 5, “Porn now officially allowed on X with safeguards for those under 18”, in Channel News Asia:

A work of anime or manga (or any similar medium) that contains heavily sexual or pornographic art.

hentai

a work of anime that contains sexual art (esp. manga or anime)


Europa

From Ancient Greek Εὐρώπη (Eurṓpē), a character name in Greek mythology.
Doublet of Europe.

(Greek mythology) Several characters, most notably a Phoenician princess abducted to Crete by Zeus.


Satnami

From Sat (truth) + Nami (named by follower), "follower of truth".


crave

From Middle English craven, from Old English crafian (“to crave, ask, implore, demand, summon”), from Proto-West Germanic *krafōn, from Proto-Germanic *krafjaną (“to demand”). Cognate with Danish kræve (“to demand, require”), Swedish kräva (“to crave, demand”), Icelandic krefja (“to demand”), Norwegian kreve (“to demand”).

inh

(Scots law) A formal application to a court to make a particular order.


Maggie

(informal) Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister.


Argus

(Greek mythology) A mythical being, also called Argos or Argus Panoptes, with many eyes, a watchman who served Hera; his eyes were later transplanted to the peacock's tail.


augur

Borrowed from Latin augur, of uncertain origin; akin to augurō (“interpret omens”).

It was an ancient tradition, that when the Capitol was founded by one of the Roman kings, the god Terminus (who presided over boundaries, and was represented, according to the fashion of that age, by a large stone) alone, among all the inferior deities, refused to yield his place to Jupiter himself. A favorable inference was drawn from his obstinacy, which was interpreted by the augurs as a sure presage that the boundaries of the Roman power would never recede.

1776, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Vol I, ch 1-pt ii:

(Ancient Rome) An official who interpreted omens before the start of public events.


boyar

boyars (plural)
boyard (alternative)
bolyard (alternative)

From Russian боя́ре (bojáre), plural of боя́рин (bojárin).

Boris had abdicated in 889, leaving the throne to his son Vladimir, who had immediately identified himself with the boyar aristocracy which Boris had done his utmost to crush.

1997, John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium, Penguin, published 1998, page 159:

A long series of wars was fought in the sixteenth century to keep Polish influence at bay in the West Russian lands, and prevent it from seducing Muscovy's restless boyars, the warrior-barons whose independence the grand dukes were determined to crush.

2007, John Darwin, After Tamerlane, Penguin, published 2008, page 68:

some of his family looked to Orthodox Christianity to sustain them, and not only many of his boyars but most of his subjects were Orthodox Christians.

2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 514:

(historical) A member of a rank of aristocracy (second only to princes) in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia and Romania.


corona

en-noun

corona (plural coronas or coronae or (obsolete) coronæ)

coronas (plural)
coronae (plural)
coronæ (obsolete plural)

→ Japanese: コロナ (korona)

The noun is borrowed from Latin corōna (“crown; garland, wreath”), from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “type of crown; curved object (door handle, tip of a bow, stern of a ship, etc.)”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”). The English word is a doublet of crown, korona, koruna, krona, króna, and krone.
The plural form coronae is borrowed from Latin corōnae.
The verb is derived from the noun.

laki

upper or crownlike portion of certain parts of the body

kruunu

appendage of an organism that resembles a crown or corona

From the remark of Servius [i.e., Maurus Servius Honoratus] (ad Aen. v. 269) it appears that coronae adorned with lemnisci were a greater distinction than those without them.

1842, Leonhard Schmitz, “λημνίσκος [lēmnískos, LEMNISCUS]”, in William Smith, editor, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: […] [Samuel Bentley] for Taylor and Walton, […], →OCLC, page 557, column 2:

Funerary inscriptions of soldiers under the Empire are frequently accompanied by representation of the dona militaria awarded during service. We instantly recognise depictions of torques, armillae, phalerae (often attached to a special harness), and various types of coronae.

1997 January, Lawrence Keppie, “Military Service in the Late Republic: The Evidence of Inscriptions and Sculpture”, in Journal of Roman Military Equipment Studies, volume 8, Ryton, Tyne and Wear: M. C. Bishop, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8, column 1:

Though men typically did not wear hats, they could wear a ceremonial form of headwear known as a corona, or crown. Like many areas of Roman dress, there were strict rules about wearing coronas.

2004, Sara Pendergast, Tom Pendergast, edited by Sarah Hermsen, Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages, volume 1, Detroit, Mich.: UXL, →ISBN, page 183:

(Ancient Rome, historical) A crown or garland bestowed among the Romans as a reward for distinguished services.


chiton

chitons (plural)
chitones (plural)
khiton (alternative)

From Ancient Greek χιτών (khitṓn, “tunic”), from a Central Semitic *kittan, from the Akkadian 𒌆𒃰 (kitû, literally “flax, linen”), from Sumerian 𒄑𒃰 (kitû [GIŠ.GADA]).

der

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

On the night of our first attempt, we simply overdrank and passed out in our chitons in the woods near Francis’s house.

She wears a diaphanous himation that covers her torso, over a floor-length chiton of heavier fabric.

1998, Colette Susan Czapski, “NM238: A Hellenistic Statue and Its Archaistic Support”, in Kim J. Hartswick, Mary Carol Sturgeon, editors, Stephanos: Studies in Honor of Brunilde Sismondo Ridgway, page 53:

She wears a chiton and himation, using both hands to hold the edge of the latter, in which she has gathered apples.

2002, chapter I, in Nikolaos Kaltsas, editor, Sculpture in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, page 156:

(historical) A loose woolen tunic worn by men and women in Ancient Greece.


duma

From Russian ду́ма (dúma, “elective legislative assembly”, originally: “thought”), Origin of the Slavic term is disputed. Either of Germanic origin. Doublet of doom. Or from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to smoke”), akin to Proto-Slavic *duti (“to blow"), *dymъ (“smoke”). The drink is named after the legislative assembly.

bor

Hence, while preserving his autocratic power, the Czar decrees a “Gosudarstvennaia Duma,” or State Council. The elections for this Duma will cover the whole territory of the Empire, ...

1905, “Russian Duma” in The Outlook Volume 80, 989

A Russian legislative assembly such as the historical duma of the Russian Empire or the modern lower house of the Federal Assembly (the Russian national parliament).

دُومَا

lower house of Russian national parliament


hetman

From Polish hetman, probably from Middle High German houbetman, heuptman (“commander”), from Old High German houbitman, from Proto-West Germanic *haubidamann. Compare modern German Hauptmann (“captain”), Haupt, Mann. The Polish e in hetman attests to a borrowing from an East Central German dialect, in which Middle High German -öu- gives -ē-. Doublet of head man.


mitre

From Middle English mytre, from Old French mitre, from Ancient Greek μίτρα (mítra, “headband, turban”). Its use in reference to a counterfeit coin derived from the bishop's mitre stamped upon it. Doublet of Mithras, Mithra, Mitra, and Mehr.

doublet

(historical, numismatics) A 13th-century coin minted in Europe which circulated in Ireland as a debased counterfeit sterling penny, outlawed under Edward I.


nereid

From the stem of Latin Nērēis (“sea-nymph”), from Ancient Greek Νηρηΐς (Nērēḯs), from Νηρεύς (Nēreús, “the sea-god Nereus”).

(Greek mythology) One of 50 sea nymphs who were attendants upon Poseidon (Neptune), and were represented as riding on sea horses, sometimes in human form and sometimes with the tail of a fish.


paean

paeans (plural)
pæan (alternative)
pean (alternative)

Brill
Charles Scribner's Sons
National Roman Museum
Phidias

From Latin paeān (“a hymn, especially a victory hymn, to Apollo or another god”), from Ancient Greek παιᾱ́ν (paiā́n, “a chant or song, especially a thanksgiving or victory hymn, to Apollo under the name Παιᾱ́ν (Paiā́n)”), from the phrase Ἰὼ Παιᾱ́ν (Iṑ Paiā́n, “O Paean!, Thanks to Paean!”). According to Homer, Paián or Paean was the name of the physician of the gods; its further etymology is unclear. It has been suggested that Παιᾱ́ν is derived from *παιάϝων (*paiáwōn, “one who heals illnesses through magic”), from *παῖϝα (*paîwa), *παϝία (*pawía, “to blow”), related to παίω (paíō, “to hit, strike”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pēu-, *pyu-, *pū- (“to hit; to cut”)), or from παύω (paúō, “to bring to an end; to abate, to stop”) (from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few, little; smallness”)), or that it may be a Pre-Greek word.
Compare Middle French and French paean (also French péan), Italian peana, Portuguese peã, péan.

der

a chant or song, especially a thanksgiving or victory hymn, to Apollo under the name <i class="Polyt mention" lang="grc">Παιᾱ́ν</i> (Paiā́n)

cog

In the mean time I am going to that part, whence I think it convenient for the battle to begin; and, as I paſs, ſhall consider how things are with reſpect to ourſelves. When I come there, and we are juſt ready to engage, I ſhall begin the Pœan;^([sic]) and do you follow.

1773, W[illiam] Cooke, “The Life of Cyrus the Great”, in The Way to the Temple of True Honor and Fame by the Paths of Heroic Virtue: Exemplified in the Most Entertaining Lives of the Most Eminent Persons of both Sexes: On the Plain Laid down by Sir William Temple in His Essay of Heroic Virtue. In Four Volumes, volume II, Devizes, Wiltshire: Printed and sold by T. Burrough, bookseller; sold also by L[ockyer] Davis, over against Gray's-Inn-Gate, Holbourn, London, →OCLC, page 64:

Oh, happy ſoldier! had thy worth been try'd, / In pious daring, on thy country's ſide! / Oh, had thy ſword Iberian battles known, / Or purple with Cantabrian ſlaughter grown; / How had thy name in deathleſs annals ſhone! / But now no Roman Pæan ſhalt thou ſing, / Nor peaceful triumphs to thy country bring, / […] Oh, hapleſs victor thou! oh, vainly brave! / How haſt thou fought, to make thyſelf a ſlave!

1795, Lucan, “The Pharsalia of Lucan”, in Nicholas Rowe, transl., The Works of the British Poets. With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical, by Robert Anderson, M.D., volume XII, London: Printed for John & Arthur Arch; and for Bell & Bradfute, and J. Mundell & Co. Edinburgh, →OCLC, book VI, page 797, column 1:

The pæans were songs, of which the tune and words expressed courage and confidence. […] Pæans were sung, not only when there was a hope of being able, by the help of the gods, to overcome a great and imminent danger, but when the danger was happily past; they were songs of hope and confidence as well as of thanksgiving for victory and safety.

1847, K[arl] O[tfried] Müller, “Earliest Popular Songs”, in George Cornwall [i.e., Cornewall] Lewis, transl., History of the Literature of Ancient Greece, to the Period of Isocrates. Translated from the German Ms. of K. O. Müller, Professor in the University of Gottingen (Library of Useful Knowledge), new corr. edition, London: Robert Baldwin, 47, Paternoster Row [published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge], →OCLC, pages 19–20:

(Ancient Greece, historical) A chant or song, especially a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance or victory, to Apollo or sometimes another god or goddess; hence any song sung to solicit victory in battle.

The dissolution of this great Republic, and the probable failure of the mighty experiments in government of which it has been the theatre, will be a fine subject for political parties to illustrate their various prejudices. The upholders of despotism will sing pæans over its downfall—the lovers of liberty will mourn over what appears to be the stern condition of man, to run alternately the career of improvement and of degeneracy— […]

1833 February, “The Present Crisis in the United States”, in The Monthly Magazine, of Politics, Literature, and the Belles Lettres (New Series), volume XV, number LXXXVI, London: Published by Charles Tilt, 86, Fleet Street, →OCLC, page 209:

Long before they reached this place, which was situated at the other end of the village, they heard the pæan of May carolled by a hundred voices; and, on entering the area, they immediately joined in the chorus.

1841, “The Journey”, in The Life and Times of Dick Whittington; an Historical Romance, London: Hugh Cunningham, St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square; Simpkin, Marshall and Co., Stationers' Hall Court; Edinburgh: Bell & Bradfute; Dublin: John Cumming; Glasgow: D. Campbell, →OCLC, page 57:

But what tribute shall we bestow, what sacred pæan shall we raise over the tombs of those who dared, in the face of unrivalled power, and within the reach of majesty, to blow the blast of freedom throughout a subject continent?

1843, Dawes, “Intelligence Necessary to Perpetuate Independence”, in John E[py] Lovell, editor, The United States Speaker: A Copious Selection of Exercises in Elocution; consisting of Prose, Poetry, and Dialogue: Drawn Chiefly from the Most Approved Writers of Great Britain and America: Including a Variety of Pieces Suitable for Very Young Readers: Designed for the Use of Colleges and Schools, rev. and imp. stereotype edition, New Haven, Conn.: Published by S. Babcock, →OCLC, page 27:

Butler’s wife and co-frontperson Regine Chassagne was a one-woman party, bringing sartorial sparkle, snippets of stylised choreography, her helium soprano and Caribbean fiesta spirit to the performance, skipping through the crowd back to the second stage to dance away troubles on top of the piano as she sang Haiti, her bi-lingual paean to her homeland.

2022 September 6, Fiona Shepherd, “Music review: Arcade Fire, Hydro, Glasgow”, in The Scotsman:

(by extension) Any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph.

պեան

any loud and joyous song; a song of triumph


soma

Transliteration of Sanskrit सोम (soma). Doublet of haoma.

Once he had drunk the intoxicating soma, he experienced an ascent to the gods without having to die a violent death, as in the old ritual.

2006, Karen Armstrong, The Great Transformation, Atlantic Books, published 2007, page 82:

(Vedic religion) A ritual drink in ancient Vedic culture, obtained by pressing the Soma plant.


sou

Borrowed from French sou. Doublet of sol, sold, soldo, solid, solidus, and xu.

doublet

He is grey, flat-footed and withered, with long, brittle nails that set your nerves on edge while he scrapes up your two sous.

1918 February (date written), Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Je ne parle pas français”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 73:

(historical) An old French copper coin equal to one twentieth of a livre or twelve deniers; one sou is to the livre as one shilling is to the pound.


swami

Borrowed from Hindi स्वामी (svāmī), from Sanskrit स्वामिन् (svāmín).

(often used as a title) A Hindu ascetic or religious teacher.


taler

From German Taler, (older) Thaler. Doublet of dollar.

(historical) Germanic unit of currency used between the 15th and 19th centuries.


Tory

From Irish tóraí (“pursuer”), from tóir (“pursuit”). The first recorded use in English is from a 1646 letter by James Butler ("Earl of Ormond") to a Colonel O' Brien, describing bandits and thieves on main roadways.

(UK politics) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party, which evolved from Royalist politicians; historically associated with upholding the rights of the monarchy and the privileges of the established Church.

консерватор

a member or supporter of the Conservative Party (UK, Canada)

The latest Tory budget continued the trend begun in 2000 by making further small cuts in family income taxes.

2008, David Mutimer, Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs 2002, page 220:

(Canadian politics) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada, one of that party's predecessors, or an affiliated provincial political party.

(US, historical) A Union sympathizer in the Confederate States during the American Civil War.


Tory

(UK politics) Of or belonging to the Tory Party or the Conservative Party.

(Canadian politics) Of or belonging to the Conservative Party of Canada, one of that party's predecessors, or an affiliated provincial political party.


troika

From Russian тро́йка (trójka, “a group of three”).

der

A great writer of the last epoch, comparing Russia to a swift troika galloping to an unknown goal, exclaims 'Oh, troika, birdlike troika, who invented thee!' and adds, in proud ecstasy, that all the peoples of the world stand aside respectfully to make way for the recklessly galloping troika to pass.

1880, Constance Garnett, chapter VI, in The Brothers Karamazov, book XII, translation of original by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, page 787:

When Gogol wrote his great passage on the troika speeding across the steppes, he likened it to Russia itself, advancing across the earth.

1960, Lesley Blanch, The Sabres of Paradise: Conquest and Vengeance in the Caucasus, Tauris Parke Paperbacks, published 2006, →ISBN, page 145:

Travelling part of the way by rail and the remainder by troika, he reached Orenburg shortly before Christmas.

1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia, Oxford University Press, published 2001, →ISBN, page 367:

A Russian carriage drawn by a team of three horses abreast.


yoke

From Middle English yok, yoke, ȝok from Old English ġeoc (“yoke”), from Proto-Germanic *juką (“yoke”), from Proto-Indo-European *yugóm (“yoke”), from *yewg- (“to join; to tie together, yoke”). Doublet of yuga, jugum, yoga and possibly yogh.
Senses 3.1 (“area of arable land”) and 3.2 (“amount of work done with draught animals”) probably referred to the area of land that could generally be ploughed by yoked draught animals within a given time.

poikkipuu

linking or supporting object that resembles a yoke

駕駛桿 /驾驶杆

device with crosspieces used to control an aircraft

iugum

unit of land area notionally equivalent to the area a team of yoked draft animals can work in a day

[H]is will and pleaſure was they ſhould paſſe all under the yoke or gallows: the maner wherof is this. They took three ſpears or javelins, and ſet two of them pitched in the ground endlong, and their overthwart faſtned unto the other. Under this kind of gallows the Dictator compelled the Æquians to go.

1659, T[itus] Livius [i.e., Livy], “[Book III]”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Romane Historie […], London: […] W. Hunt, for George Sawbridge, […], →OCLC, page 89:

[T]he Æqui being attacked on both ſides and unable to reſiſt or fly, begged a ceſſation of arms. They offered the dictator his own terms; he gave them their lives, but obliged them, in token of ſervitude, to paſs under the yoke, which was two ſpears ſet upright, and another acroſs, in the form of a door, beneath which the vanquiſhed were to march.

1769, [Oliver] Goldsmith, “From the Creation of the Tribunes to the Appointment of the Decemviri”, in The Roman History, from the Foundation of the City of Rome, to the Destruction of the Western Empire. […], volume I, London: […] S. Baker and G. Leigh, […]; T[homas] Davies, […]; and L. Davis, […], →OCLC, page 127:

Senses relating to a frame around the neck.

(Ancient Rome) Chiefly in pass under the yoke: a raised yoke (sense 1.1), or a symbolic yoke formed from two spears installed upright in the ground with another spear connecting their tops, under which a defeated army was made to march as a sign of subjugation.

ies

raised yoke, or a symbolic yoke formed from two spears installed upright in the ground with another spear connecting their tops, under which a defeated army was made to march as a sign of subjugation


victory

en-noun

victory (countable and uncountable, plural victories)

victories (plural)
victorie (alternative)

→ Maori: wikitōriatanga

The noun is derived from Middle English victory, victori, victorie (“supremacy, victory; a defeat or vanquishing, conquest; superior military force; might, power, strength; triumphal celebration or procession; monument commemorating a defeat; superior position, dominance; mastery; moral victory, vindication; success, triumph; redemption, salvation; resurrection of Jesus; means of achieving spiritual victory; reward for or token of perseverance in a spiritual struggle”) [and other forms], borrowed from Anglo-Norman victorie and Old French victorie, a variant of victoire (“victory, win”) (modern French victoire), from Latin victōria (“victory”), from victor (“champion, winner, victor; conqueror, vanquisher”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyk- (“to contain, envelop; to overcome”)) + -ia (suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). The English word is analysable as victor + -y (suffix forming abstract nouns denoting a condition, quality, or state), and displaced Middle English siȝe, sye.
The interjection is derived from the noun.
Cognates
* French victoire
* Italian vittoria
* Portuguese vitoria
* Spanish victoria
* Romanian victorie

nb...

victorye, viktori, vitorie, vittori, vittorie, vyctory, vyktorye, (Kent) fictorie, fyctorye, (Northern England) wictori, wictorie, wictorrie

suffix

snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory

All along the Champs Elysées were […] statues of plaster representing nymphs, triumphs, victories, and other female personages painted in oil so as to represent marble; real marble could have had no better effect, and the appearance of the whole was lively and picturesque in the extreme.

1841, M. A. Titmarsh [pseudonym; William Makepeace Thackeray], “Mr. Titmarsh to Miss Smith on the Second Funeral of Napoleon. Letter III. The Funeral Ceremony.”, in The Second Funeral of Napoleon: […] And The Chronicle of the Drum. […], London: Hugh Cunningham, […], →OCLC, page 63:

(Roman mythology) Alternative letter-case form of Victory (“(uncountable) the Roman goddess of victory, the counterpart of the Greek goddess Nike; also (countable), an artistic depiction of her, chiefly as a winged woman”)


superiority

en-noun

superiority (countable and uncountable, plural superiorities)

superiorities (plural)
superiourity (alternative)

From Middle English superiorite, from Old French superiorite, from Medieval Latin superioritas, from Latin superior.
Morphologically superior + -ity.

(Scots law, historical) The right which the superior enjoys in the land held by the vassal.


Charybdis

From Ancient Greek Χάρυβδις (Khárubdis).

(Greek mythology) A personification of the above whirlpool as a female monster.


chimera

chimeras (plural)
chimaera (alternative)
chimæra (alternative)
chimere (alternative)
chymera (alternative)
chemera (alternative)
chymæra (alternative)

monolith

antonym(s) of “anything composed of very disparate parts”

Variant of Middle English chimere, chymere, & chymera under renewed Latin influence from the 16th century, from French chimère, from Latin Chimaera, from Ancient Greek Χίμαιρα (Khímaira, “fire-breathing mythological monster, fire-spewing Lycian or Cilician mountain”), from χίμαιρα (khímaira, “she-goat”, from χίμαρος (khímaros, “male goat”) + -α (-a)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey-. In reference to the fish, directly from Latin Chimaera, used by Linnaeus. In reference to organisms with distinct areas of different genetic makeups, a calque of German Chimäre, used by Hans Winkler in 1907.

af

...beestis clepid chymeres, that han a part of ech beest, and suche ben not, no but oonly in opynyoun...

1382, John Purvey, Bible, Prologue, p. 31

Bellerophon was commanded to destroy this monster, and with the assistance of the flying horse, Pegasus, he slew the chimera.

1860, E. Cust, “The Chimeras: An Attempt to Show that the Compound Animals of the Assyrian Marbles are Representations of those Erected by Solomon and Jeroboam (Read 1st and 8th December, 1859.)”, in Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, volume XII, Liverpool: Adam Holden, →OCLC, page 99:

The game includes a bunch of chimeras, with the lion heads shooting fire and the snake tails whipping around trying to bite the player.

(Greek mythology) Alternative letter-case form of Chimera, a supposed monster in Lycia with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a dragon or serpent, killed by the hero Bellerophon.


decimation

en-noun

decimation (countable and uncountable, plural decimations)

/ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

Borrowed from Latin decimātiō, a punishment where every 10th man in a unit would be stoned to death by the men who were spared. Used by the Romans to keep order in their military. Compare septimation and vicesimation.

desimointi

creation of a new sequence comprising every nth element of the original

By decimation and a tythed death; / If thy Reuenges hunger for that Food, / Which Nature loathes, take thou the deſtin'd tenth, […]

c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 98, column 1:

(Ancient Rome, strictly) The killing or punishment of every tenth person, usually by lot.

desimaatio

selection of every tenth person for death or other punishment


hermetic

en-adj

hermetic (comparative more hermetic, superlative most hermetic)

more hermetic (comparative)
most hermetic (superlative)
Hermetic (alternative)
hermetical (alternative)
hermetick (alternative)

From Medieval Latin hermeticus, irregular derivation of Hermes Trismegistus, the god and mythological alchemist, said to possess a magic ability to seal treasure chests so that nothing could access their contents.

(chiefly capitalized, Greek mythology) Pertaining to ancient Greek Olympian God Hermes


mammy

That's what you for—to help white folks keep niggers down. That's why he sent you to me. They be calling you mammy in a few years. You be running the whole house when the old man dies.

(US, historical, often pejorative) In the southern United States, a black nanny employed to look after white children; or in the antebellum South, a female slave who was close to the household and looked after the children.


patrician

patricians (plural)
patritian (alternative)

Borrowed from Middle French patricien, from Latin patricius, derived from patrēs cōnscrīptī (“Roman senators”).

Noble Patricians, Patrons of my right, / Defend the iuſtice of my Cauſe with Armes.

c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 31, column 1:

(Ancient Rome) A member of any of the families constituting the populus Romanus, or body of Roman citizens, before the development of the plebeian order; later, one who, by right of birth or by special privilege conferred, belonged to the senior class of Romans, who, with certain property, had by right a seat in the Roman Senate.


patrician

patrician (comparative more patrician, superlative most patrician)

more patrician (comparative)
most patrician (superlative)
patritian (alternative)

It will speed the shrivelling of the patrician “one nation” Tories, who tried to curb the extremes of Thatcherism and ended by providing its veils.

Saint-Simon was certainly a radical, and hostile to inherited privilege, but his bourgeois 'socialism' was of a patrician kind. Science, being a firm and certain kind of knowledge, a 'religion of Newton' or 'cult of Reason' essentially plays the key role in his grand scheme for social engineering.

2013 July 18, Doctor Martin Parker, Valerie Fournier, Patrick Reedy, The Dictionary of Alternatives: Utopianism and Organization, Zed Books Ltd., →ISBN:

Where Ruskin's patrician socialism sought to create better conditions and 'higher' aspirations for the 'Workmen and Labourers of Great Britain', Sickert painted his working- and lower-middle-class subjects as if history, in the advance of mass culture and popular democracy, were on their side.

2022 September 8, Michael Bird, This is Tomorrow: Twentieth-century Britain and its Artists, Thames & Hudson, →ISBN:

Politically active to help people in lower classes, especially in a patronizing or condescending way.


Pegasus

From Late Middle English Pegase, Pegasus, from Latin Pēgasus, from Ancient Greek Πήγασος (Pḗgasos), traditionally associated with πηγή (pēgḗ, “spring, fountain, fountain fed by a spring”), especially used to denote springs of Ocean, where Perseus killed Medusa, from whose blood Pegasus sprang. Some have dismissed this as folk etymology and suggest a pre-Greek origin because of the -ασος suffix. First attested in the 14th century.

Pegasos (alternative)
pegasus (alternative)

Пегас

in Ancient Greek or other European contexts

(Greek mythology) A winged horse fabled to have sprung from the blood of Medusa when she was slain. He is noted for causing, with a blow of his hoof, Hippocrene, the inspiring fountain of the Muses, to spring from Mount Helicon. Bellerophon tamed and rode upon Pegasus when he defeated the Chimaera.

vernal equinoctial
vernal equinox#English

(astronomy) A constellation of the northern sky, near the vernal equinoctial point, representing the winged horse. Its three brightest stars, with the brightest star of Andromeda, form the asterism of the Great Square of Pegasus.


Pegasus

Pegasuses (plural)
Pegasi (plural)
Pegasos (alternative)
pegasus (alternative)

(originally Greek mythology, fantasy, occasionally proscribed) Any winged horse; pterippus.

Confidence in Corinthian Pegasi grew up in the Greek zone of the island in such a way that Pegasi became the accepted coin of the realm.

2007 February 15, R. J. A. Talbert, Timoleon and the Revival of Greek Sicily: 344-317 B.C., Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, →OL, page 167:

(historical) A coin of ancient Corinth with a winged horse depicted on the obverse.


Scylla

From Latin Scylla, from Ancient Greek Σκύλλα (Skúlla).

(Greek mythology) A personification of said rock as a ravenous monster.

Ah cease rash Youth! desist e'er 'tis too late, / Fear the just Gods, and think of Scylla′s Fate!

1714, Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, Canto III:

(Greek mythology) A princess, daughter of King Nisos of Megara, who fell in love with King Minos and betrayed her city to him.


Sisyphean

From Sisyphus, from Ancient Greek Σίσυφος (Sísuphos). Sisyphus was a Greek mythical figure who was doomed to endlessly roll a boulder up a hill in Tartarus, only to have it roll back down again.

Sisyphusean (alternative)
sisyphean (alternative)
Sisyphian (alternative)
Sysyphean (alternative)
sisyphic (alternative)
sisiphic (alternative)


sophist

Learned borrowing from Latin sophista, also sophistes, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek σοφιστής (sophistḗs, “pursuer of wisdom”), from σοφίζομαι (sophízomai, “to become wise”).

der

[T]hey have acted in this Calumny both the injuſtice of the Tyrant, and the forgery of the Sophiſt.

1699, Richard Bentley, “The Preface”, in A Dissertation upon the Epistles of Phalaris. With an Answer to the Objections of the Honourable Charles Boyle, Esquire, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for Henry Mortlock […], and John Hartley […], →OCLC, page iii:

(figurative, by extension) One who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument.

سَفْسَطِيّ

one who is captious, fallacious, or deceptive in argument


tanner

George II of Great Britain
John Sigismund Tanner
Royal Mint

Named after John Sigismund Tanner (1705–1775), who designed a sixpence for the Royal Mint during the reign of King George II.

[A]s you are so flash of your money, though you say you are poor, you may give me a tanner to buy a little baccy with; […]

1851, George Borrow, chapter III, in Lavengro; the Scholar—the Gypsy—the Priest. […], volume II, London: John Murray […], →OCLC, page 32:

They'd say hello, maybe slip you a tanner.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 469:

(British, colloquial) A former British coin worth six old pence.


toxotes

From Ancient Greek τοξότης (toxótēs, “bowman, archer”).

uder

(historical) A Greek archer armed with a short Greek bow and a short sword.


tracker

追踪器

computer program that monitors something

While she and Mr. Fetterman were often in different places, she would turn up at events early so she could shoot and post photos of the crowds, the lines, the people. At most events there was a tracker: a guy from the Oz team who monitored the goings-on.

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

agent noun of track; one who, or that which, tracks or pursues, as a man or dog that follows game.

(US politics) A person employed to follow and monitor a political rival.


treat

en-verb

treat (third-person singular simple present treats, present participle treating, simple past and past participle treated or (Northern England, Bristol, colloquial) tret)

treats (present singular third-person)
treating (participle present)
treated (participle past)
treated (past)
tret (Northern-England colloquial participle past)
tret (Northern-England colloquial past)
treat (infinitive)

From Middle English treten, from Anglo-Norman treter, Old French tretier, traiter, from Latin tractāre (“to pull", "to manage”), from the past participle stem of trahere (“to draw", "to pull”).

(UK politics, law) To commit the offence of providing food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence a voter.


triumph

en-noun

triumph (countable and uncountable, plural triumphs)

From Middle English [Term?], borrowed from Old French triumphe, from Latin triumphus (“triumphal procession”), ultimately from Ancient Greek θρίαμβος (thríambos, “thriambus”). Doublet of thriambus and trump.

der

(historical, Ancient Rome) a ceremony held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander.

voitonjuhla

ceremony to celebrate someone’s military achievement


centime

Borrowed from French centime. Doublet of centim, centimo, and santim.

(historical) A former subunit of currency equal to one-hundredth of the franc.


Sterculius

(Roman mythology) The god of manure or fertilizer.


mai

(anime, manga, fandom slang, Internet slang) Alternative form of my (used in the expressions mai waifu and mai husbando)


mohur

(historical) A gold coin of British India, worth from twelve to fifteen rupees.


Star Wars

[ˈstɑɹ ˈwɔɹz]

[ˈstɑ˞ ˈwɔɹz]

From the original name of the science fantasy motion picture Star Wars (1977).

Strategic Defense Initiative
Strategic Defense Initiative

(informal, military) The United States Strategic Defense Initiative.


TDS

“The mid-level stages of TDS have a profound effect on the victim’s vocabulary: Sufferers speak a distinctive language consisting solely of hyperbole.”

2018 July 20, Chris Cillizza, quoting Justin Raimondo, “What is ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ – and do you have it?”, in CNN:

Trump derangement syndrome
Trump derangement syndrome#English

(US politics, uncountable) Initialism of Trump derangement syndrome.

Trump delusional syndrome
Trump delusional syndrome#English

(US politics, uncountable) Initialism of Trump delusional syndrome.


diptych

From Late Latin diptycha, plural, from Ancient Greek, neuter plural of δίπτυχος (díptukhos, “folded, doubled”), from δι- (di-) + πτυχή (ptukhḗ, “fold, layer”).

(historical, Ancient Rome) Artistically-wrought tablets distributed by consuls, etc. of the later Roman Empire to commemorate their tenure of office; hence (transferred sense) a list of magistrates.


GOP

Initialism of Grand Old Party, a nickname for the Republican Party.

On their behalf, Reagan insisted (over the objections of the Ford forces) that the GOP platform declare that henceforth “the goal of Republican foreign policy is the achievement of liberty under law and a just and lasting peace in the world.”

2005, Jesse Helms, “Ronald Reagan, 1976”, in Here's Where I Stand: A Memoir, New York: Random House, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 103:

(US politics) The Republican Party, one of the two major political parties in the United States.


SF

(Ireland, UK politics) Initialism of Sinn Féin; an Irish political party.


From the date September 11 written in numbers according the format used in the United States, which puts the month before the day.

The date of the attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon in the USA (September 11th, 2001).

9·11事件

the attack on World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001

What is unbearable, in fact, is the feeling, 13 years after 9/11, that America has been chasing its tail; that, in some whack-a-mole horror show, the quashing of a jihadi enclave here only spurs the sprouting of another there; that the ideology of Al Qaeda is still reverberating through a blocked Arab world whose Sunni-Shia balance (insofar as that went) was upended by the American invasion of Iraq.

2014 November 17, Roger Cohen, “The horror! The horror! The trauma of ISIS [print version: International New York Times, 18 November 2014, p. 9]”, in The New York Times:


This was my 9/11.

This is 11 year olds' 9/11

9/11 for unfunny people

This is 9/11 for band kids

(humorous) A negative event that a person or a group of people have experienced whose impact is not actually comparable to that of 9/11's.


Mickey Mouse

From Mickey, a diminutive of the given name Michael, + mouse, referring to the species of the character. The name Mickey Mouse was coined by American animator Walt Disney in 1928 after his wife, Lillian Disney, persuaded him to change the character's original name Mortimer Mouse to Mickey, deeming the former too formal for the playful character. "Mickey" was suggested by Lillian, who preferred its more approachable and lively sound.
The adjective sense developed during the Second World War, after a large quantity of low-quality counterfeit Mickey Mouse watches flooded the UK.

"They are putting a Mickey Mouse operation on the ice," added Gretzky, who extended apologies to New Jersey goaltenders Ron Low and Chico Resch.

1983 November 21, “Rangers get past Quebec in Overtime”, in Miami Herald:

You mean, somebody who, for example, is a retired Army officer, has been teaching, as you do in the Army about half the time for about 30 years, you mean he couldn't go in and teach in the school' cause he didn't take some Mickey Mouse course in education at a state university?

California (78-67): This is no Mickey Mouse outfit, even though Disney is buying into the team. / The Angels didn't make many changes in personnel during the winter.

1996 February 11, Dave van Dyck, “Braves, Indians Are Teams to Beat Again; Series Repeat Appears Likely As Camps Open”, in Chicago Sun-Times, SPORTS, page 18:

(idiomatic) Of inferior quality, poorly-run; too easy to be taken seriously, trivial.


BNP

British National Party
w:British National Party

(UK politics) Initialism of British National Party.


gladiator

en-verb

gladiator (third-person singular simple present gladiators, present participle gladiatoring, simple past and past participle gladiatored)

gladiators (present singular third-person)
gladiatoring (participle present)
gladiatored (participle past)
gladiatored (past)
gladiatour (alternative)

From Latin gladiātor, from gladius (“sword”). See also English gladius.

He did his gladiatoring doubtless without malice, and from a purely sporting instinct — even as Mr. Punch gave the provocation.

1895, Athol Mayhew, A Jorum of "Punch" with Those who Helped to Brew it:

Quoting the accounts in both Time and Newsweek, they note that though the "defense attorney may have outwitted, outsparred, and even "out gladiatored" (another popular image in the trial coverage) his opponent, but he still lost the case.

1988, Bernard S. Jackson, Law, fact and narrative coherence, page 71:

It was all part of the gladiatoring: the true performer would argue each case to the utmost, like a debater or mooter in our own world.

2005, John K. Hale, Milton's Cambridge Latin: Performing in the Genres, 1625-1632:

Och! lave off your gladiatoring; sure it's took up I'd be if I did that!

2010, John O'Mahony, R. L. Praeger, The Sunny Side of Ireland, page 71:


GC

General Committee
w:Constituency Labour Party

(UK politics) Initialism of General Committee: the general management committee of a constituency party of the British Labour Party.


Bacchanalia

From Latin Bacchānālia (“feast of Bacchus”), plural of Bacchānal (“a place devoted to Bacchus”), from Bacchus (“the god of wine”), from Ancient Greek Βάκχος (Bákkhos).

(Greek mythology) A feast or an orgy in honor of Bacchus.


adduce

adduce (third-person singular simple present adduces, present participle adducing, simple past and past participle adduced)

adduces (present singular third-person)
adducing (participle present)
adduced (participle past)
adduced (past)

From Middle English adducen, from Latin addūcere, adductum (“to lead or bring to”), from ad- + dūcere (“to lead”). See duke, and compare adduct.

(transitive, Scots law) To produce in proof.


red state

From the color red representing the Republican Party of the United States, and being a state (“subnational division, province”) that votes Republican.

(US politics) A state of the United States voting Republican in a given election, tending to vote Republican in general, or having a typically conservative mindset.


blue state

Compound of blue + state. From the color blue representing the Democratic Party of the United States, and being a state (“subnational division, province”) that votes Democratic.

(idiomatic, US politics) A state of the United States voting Democratic in a given election, or tending to vote Democratic in general.


swing state

(US politics) A state which may vote Democratic or Republican, in a given election or generally.

وِلَايَة مُتَأَرْجِحَة

a state which may vote Democratic or Republican


purple state

Compound of purple + state, modeled on blue state and red state. From purple being a blend of blue and red colors, where the color representing the Democratic Party of the United States is blue and that representing the Republican Party of the United States is red.

“I have loved this purple state that I’ve grown up in,” said Mallerie Stromswold, a former Republican lawmaker who left the Legislature earlier this year after she clashed with party leaders over a series of proposed transgender bills and closed-door meetings, she said, devolved into yelling and name-calling.

2023 April 27, Jim Robbins, Mike Baker, Jacey Fortin, quoting Mallerie Stromswold, “A Transgender Lawmaker Is Exiled as Montana G.O.P. Flexes New Power”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:


Wookiee

What's this guy tryinna [sic] disappear behind you, a Wookie? [sic]

1985, Stephen King, Peter Straub, The Talisman, page 341:

I backed it out to the dirt road, and the door to the double-wide opened and a big guy, more Wookiee than human being, filled the doorway.

2009, Janet Evanovich, Plum Spooky, page 98:

Kevin whined, his Wookiee face showing hurt somewhere beneath the dark glasses.

2009, Jaqueline Girdner, Murder, My Deer, page 115:

A member of a fictional race of tall, hairy bipeds in the universe of the Star Wars motion pictures.


legion

Attested (in Middle English, as legioun) around 1200, from Old French legion, from Latin legiō, legionem, from legō (“to gather, collect”); akin to legend, lecture. Doublet of León, which was borrowed from Spanish.
Generalized sense of “a large number” is due to an allusive phrase in Mark 5:9, "my name is Legion: for we are many" (KJV).

Meronyms: cohort, maniple, century

(military, Ancient Rome) The major unit or division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 infantry soldiers and 100 to 200 cavalry troops.

legioen

the major unit or division of the Roman army


addict

addict (third-person singular simple present addicts, present participle addicting, simple past and past participle addicted)

addicts (present singular third-person)
addicting (participle present)
addicted (participle past)
addicted (past)

→ Cebuano: adik

→ Tagalog: adik

Borrowed from Latin addictus, past participle of addīcō (“deliver; devote; surrender”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + dīcō (“say; declare”)

get hooked

cause someone to become addicted, especially to a harmful drug

(transitive, Ancient Rome) To deliver (someone or something) following a judicial decision.


Tartarus

From Latin Tartarus, from Ancient Greek Τάρταρος (Tártaros).

[…] them with Fire and hoſtile Arms / Fearleſs aſſault, and to the brow of Heav'n / Purſuing, drive them out from God and bliſs, / Into thir place of puniſhment, the Gulf / Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide / His fiery Chaos to receave thir fall.

1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 50–55:

(Greek mythology, Roman mythology) A dark and gloomy part of the realm of Hades, reserved for the damned and the wicked, such as the Titans; an equivalent of hell in Greek and Roman mythology.


Hades

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

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek ᾍδης (Hā́idēs).

lbor

(Greek mythology) The god of the underworld and ruler of the dead, son of Cronus and Rhea, brother of Zeus and Poseidon.

(Greek mythology) The underworld, the domain of Hades, by transference from its god.


Ares

From Latin Arēs, from Ancient Greek Ἄρης (Árēs).

(Greek mythology) The Greek god of war, considered equivalent to the Roman Mars and usually described as a son of Zeus and Hera, companion of Eris and Enyo, and by Aphrodite father of Deimos and Phobos.


Jove

From Middle English Joves, from Latin Iuppiter, Iovis, from Proto-Italic *djowe-, ablative case of *djous, from Proto-Indo-European *dyḗws. Doublet of Dyeus and Zeus.

BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove’s roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. [Attributed to Roger L'Estrange (1616–1704).]

1781, [Mostyn John Armstrong], History and Antiquities of the County of Norfolk. Volume IX. Containing the Hundreds of Smithdon, Taverham, Tunstead, Walsham, and Wayland, volume IX, Norwich: Printed by J. Crouse, for M. Booth, bookseller, →OCLC, page 51:

(Roman mythology) Jupiter, god of the sky.


Jason

From the Ancient Greek Ἰάσων (Iásōn), from ἰάομαι (iáomai, “I heal”). The Jason mentioned in the New Testament (Acts 17:5-9, Romans 16:21) is probably a Greek rendering of Joshua.

I know he will be glad of our success: / We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.

(Greek mythology) The leader of the Argonauts, who retrieved the Golden Fleece from king Aeetes of Colchis, for his uncle Pelias.


Asclepius

Borrowed from Latin Asclēpius, from Ancient Greek Ἀσκληπιός (Asklēpiós).

Asclepios (alternative)
Asklepios (alternative)

We found religious medicine in the Homeric poems, and there was no century without healing cults. The cult of Asclepius was by no means the only one, but, for reasons that will be discussed later, it dominated the scene and set a pattern for the cults of other healing deities.

1961, Henry E. Sigerist, “A History of Medicine, Volume II: Early Greek, Hindu, and Persian Medicine”, in Paperback, Oxford University Press, published 1987, page 44:

The temple of Asclepius is located just inside the north wall (Fig. 5) and is referred to by Pausanias (p. 34), who notes that the site was a place of refreshment in summer.

2002, Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, St. Paul's Corinth: Texts and Archaeology, Liturgical Press, page 186:

The story of Tiber Island is similar: in 293 BC, the inhabitants of Rome started to fall sick and die from an unknown disease, and the city fathers sent an expedition to Epidaurus in Greece to retrieve one of the snakes sacred to Asclepius (Greek Asklepiós, Aesculapius in Latin), god of medicine and healing, thus bringing the god to Rome. The story told by Livy was that as the ship carrying this snake came up the Tiber, the snake escaped and swam to the island. The Romans immediately concluded that Asclepius wished to dwell there (it would appear that clever Asclepius had immediately recognised an excellent place of quarantine), and built a temple to the god on the island.

2015, Paula Landart, Finding Ancient Rome: Walks in the City, E-Book, page 16:

(Greek mythology) A Greek mythological deity, the god of doctors, medicine and healing; a son of Apollo and the Thessalian princess Coronis, husband to the goddess Epione and father of the Asclepiades; identified with the Roman god Aesculapius.

阿斯克勒庇俄斯

Āsīkèlēibì'ésī


Wonder Woman

All Star Comics
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo
DC Comics
Introducing Wonder Woman
William Moulton Marston
fi:Ihmenainen

From wonder + woman. The character, created by William Moulton Marston (1893–1947) and Harry George Peter (1880–1958), first appeared in the story “Introducing Wonder Woman” from DC Comics’ All Star Comics #8 dated December 1941.

It was just Wonder Woman whose secret identity threatened to overwhelm and swallow up the heroic reality. I think I was afraid that one day I'd innocently open that month's comic and find Diana Prince waking up to announce that Wonder Woman was only a dream after all.

2004, Lillian S[ara] Robinson, “The Book of Lilith”, in Wonder Women: Feminisms and Superheroes, New York, N.Y., London: Routledge, →ISBN, page 12:

Wonder Woman is a recognizable figure: gold tiara, invisible jet, fights bad guys, looks like Lynda Carter. She's a role model for many, and the most famous female superhero in a genre dominated by males. She's also been a feminist icon since Gloria Steinem put her on the first cover of Ms. magazine in 1972. […] Wonder Woman was created during the Golden Age of comics, before the temporary workplace gains of World War II, at a time when women were told that their only place was in the home. An Amazon princess and the most powerful warrior of her race, Wonder Woman ignored these expectations. Her comics didn't just suggest equality of the sexes; they flat-out demonstrated that every woman had innate power and that Wonder Woman was superior to her male counterparts.

2014, Tim Hanley, “Introduction”, in Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World's Most Famous Heroine, Chicago, Ill.: Chicago Review Press, →ISBN, pages x–xi:


IRA

In the September follow-up, those significant gains looked much more contingent. More than 80 percent of the potential emissions reductions from the I.R.A. would be lost, the report concluded, if the country continued to expand the electricity grid at only its recent pace of about 1 percent per year.

2022 October 5, David Wallace-Wells, “Progressives Should Rally Around a Clean Energy Construction Boom”, in The New York Times:

Inflation Reduction Act
w:Inflation Reduction Act

(US politics) Initialism of Inflation Reduction Act.


popular

en-adj

popular (comparative more popular, superlative most popular)

more popular (comparative)
most popular (superlative)

From Middle English populer, from Old French populaire and Latin populāris, from populus (“people”) + -āris (“-ar”).

As a work of popular science it is exemplary: the focus may be the numbers, but most of the mathematical legwork is confined to the appendices and the accompanying commentary is amusing and witty, as well as informed.

2009 April 8, “Meltdown”, in The Economist:

Aimed at ordinary people, as opposed to specialists etc.; intended for general consumption.


ostracize

en-verb

ostracize (third-person singular simple present ostracizes, present participle ostracizing, simple past and past participle ostracized)

term-label

(American spelling, Oxford British English)

ostracizes (present singular third-person)
ostracizing (participle present)
ostracized (participle past)
ostracized (past)
ostracise (alternative)

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

From Ancient Greek ὀστρακίζω (ostrakízō, “to banish from a city by ostracism”), from ὄστρᾰκον (óstrăkon, “earthenware vessel; fragment of such a vessel, potsherd”) (from the fact that when voting was held to decide whether to banish people, their names were inscribed on potsherds) + -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō, suffix forming verbs)). The English word is cognate with French ostraciser.

refn

From the collection of the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, Greece.

der

Republics have been accused of being ungrateful. Aristides was ostracised for being called the Just, and Themistocles banished, after saving his country from desolation.

1836 December 15, Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, “The President’s Message”, in Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Twenty-fourth Congress: […] (United States House of Representatives), volume XIII, Washington, D.C.: Printed and published by Gales and Seaton, published 1837, →OCLC, column 1097:

[T]he person who was ostracised was obliged to leave Athens within ten days after the sentence, and unless a vote of the people recalled him before the expiration of that time, to stay in exile for ten years.

1840, “OSTRACISM”, in [George Long], editor, The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, volumes XVII (Organ–Pertinax), London: Charles Knight and Co., […], →OCLC, page 55, column 2:

The Athenian Hyperbolus, who had been ostracized some years before by the coalition of Nikias and Alkibiades, together with their respective partisans—ostracized (as Thucydides tells us) not from any fear of his power and over-transcendent influence, but from his bad character and from his being a disgrace to the city—and thus ostracized by an abuse of the institution—was now resident at Samos.

[1849], George Grote, “Twenty-first Year of the War.—Oligarchy of Four Hundred at Athens.”, in A History of Greece from the Earliest Period to the Close of the Generation Contemporary with Alexander the Great. [...] In Four Volumes, 2nd edition, volume III, New York, N.Y.: W. L. Allison Co., publishers, →OCLC, part II (Continuation of Historical Greece), page 203:

(transitive, Ancient Greece, historical) To ban a person from a city for five or ten years through the procedure of ostracism.

verbannen

to ban a person from a city for five or ten years by the procedure of ostracism


genius

en-noun

genius (countable and uncountable, plural geniuses or genii)

From Latin genius (“inborn nature; a tutelary deity of a person or place; wit, brilliance”), from gignō (“to beget, produce”), Old Latin genō, from the Proto-Indo-European root *ǵenh₁-. Doublet of genio. See also genus.

bor

and the genius of the place: the growing enthusiasm for codified standards in the Army and Navy

1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “the unseen genius of the wood”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC:

We talk of genius still, but with thought how changed! The genius of Augustus was a tutelary demon, to be sworn by and to receive offerings on an altar as a deity.

1715, Edward Burnett Tylor, Primitive Culture:

An old sinner, in shape of a khansamah, is the genius of the place, and has rarely aught else to tempt the tired traveller with than a “sudden death”—a fowl caught running in the yard, and dished up forthwith; […]

1866, Frederick F. Wyman, From Calcutta to the Snowy Range, page 330:

(countable, Roman mythology, also figuratively) The tutelary deity or spirit of a place or person.


Artemis

From Ancient Greek Ἄρτεμις (Ártemis). Further etymology is uncertain.

(Greek mythology) The Greek goddess of the hunt, wild animals, and wilderness; the daughter of Leto and Zeus; the sister of Apollo. (Compare Diana.)


Athena

From Middle English Athena, from Latin Athēna, from Ancient Greek Ἀθηνᾶ (Athēnâ). Doublet of Athina.

(Greek mythology) The goddess of wisdom, especially strategic warfare, the arts, and especially crafts, in particular, weaving; daughter of Zeus and Metis. Her Roman counterpart is Minerva.


Oedipus

From the Latin Oedipus, from the Ancient Greek Οἰδίπους (Oidípous, “swollen foot”).

der

(Greek mythology) A son of Laius and Jocasta, who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother.


Clio

(Greek mythology) The goddess of history and heroic poetry, and one of the Muses; the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.


Cronus

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Κρόνος (Krónos), possibly from the Ancient Greek κραίνω (kraínō, “to accomplish or fulfil”).

der

Cronos (alternative)
Kronos (alternative)

The deal is: You post a photo from 10 years ago and one from now. It’s like viewing a painting of Cronus eating his children, but online.

2019 January 16, Alexis C. Madrigal, “Go Ahead, Post the Stupid Photo of Yourself From 10 Years Ago”, in The Atlantic:

(Greek mythology) The youngest of the twelve Titans, son of Uranus and Gaia; father to the first generation of Olympian gods and goddesses.


Khronos

(Greek mythology) Alternative spelling of Cronus

(Greek mythology) Alternative spelling of Chronos


Chronos

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Χρόνος (Khrónos), from Ancient Greek χρόνος (khrónos, “time”)

lbor

Chronus (alternative)
Khronos (alternative)

(Greek mythology) The personification of time.


Dionysus

Via Latin Dionȳsus, from Ancient Greek Διόνῡσος (Diónūsos).

All hail slain and risen God / All hail Dionysus / Come blessed Dionysus, various nam'd, bull-fac'd / Begot from the thunder, Bacchus fam'd

(Greek mythology) The god of wine, ivy and grapes, specifically its intoxication and social influence, but also the patron of agriculture and the theater. Also related to the mystery of religion, as in "spiritual intoxication".


mon

From Japanese 文 (mon). Cognate to wen, mun and van.

The shimonsen or shimon, originally worth four mon, but debased to two mon.

1902, Walter Del Mar, Around the World Through Japan, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., page 136:

(historical) The former currency of Japan until 1870, before the yen.


mon

From a dialectal variant of man; compare Western Middle English mon (alongside Eastern man).

Ee I'm allus glad to see a mon like thee. That's as welcome lad, as welcome as can be. Fotch thi cheer up t'table. Stop as long as th'art able. Fer I'm allus glad to see a mon like thee.

1974, “A Mon Like Thee”, in Best o't' Bunch, performed by The Oldham Tinkers:

I am a Black Country mon. Yow dow know and the Brummies woh understond.

2020, “Black Country Mon”performed by Johnny Cole:

(colloquial) Man; used in places such as Jamaica, and Lancashire, Shropshire and the Black Country in England.


mon

Clipping of monster, via Japanese モン (mon) in Pokémon, Digimon, etc.

Here they are, the fans voted for them, and here they are, the Mons that can...

2000 November 25, Thomas Conner, “Digimon Top Ten Choice List”, in alt.fan.digimon (Usenet):

When a mon attacks him, he returns the same strike with the world "Reflection" after it, double the original strength.

2003 February 15, sirSTACK, “Digimon #429”, in alt.fan.digimon (Usenet):

And thus did it come to pass that the boy and the two mons, after a brief final discussion began the training.

2011 June 6, Clayton, “PW! - Training Interlude”, in alt.games.nintendo.pokemon (Usenet):

(fandom slang) A creature in a video game, usually one which is captured, trained up and used in battles.

Pokemon, digimon and all other merchandised mons, what good parent will disagree with me that those little invading, mind rotting things should be tolerated... those should be illegal, too...

2001 May 27, Travis Anton, “Cigarette Smoke”, in alt.home.repair (Usenet):

And dont buy Pokemon or Digimon or any other bloody Mons or you will never hear the ned^([sic]) of it :-)

2001 May 24, Horace Wachope, “Kids Toys”, in alt.ozdebate (Usenet):

At any rate Digimon was the best mon/collector series we've seen yet, to the point its popularity was prolly bigger here than its marketing.

2003 December 9, tito, “Main difference between anime and U.S. cartoons?”, in rec.arts.anime.misc (Usenet):

(fandom slang) A video game or anime in which catching and battling creatures is an important element.


faculty

From Middle English faculte (“power, property”), from Old French faculte, from Latin facultas (“capability, ability, skill, abundance, plenty, stock, goods, property; in Medieval Latin also a body of teachers”), another form of facilitas (“easiness, facility, etc.”), from facul, another form of facilis (“easy, facile”); see facile. Doublet of facility.

der

(Church of England) A licence to make alterations to a church.


Varuna

(Hinduism) A god of the sky, of rain and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld.

(astronomy) A Kuiper belt object, once thought to be possibly a dwarf planet.


apartheid

en-noun

apartheid (countable and uncountable, plural apartheids)

Borrowed from Afrikaans apartheid (literally “separateness, apartness”) (1929 in a South African socio-political context), from Afrikaans apart (“separate”) + suffix -heid, cognate of English -hood.

bor

The premise of apartheid was that whites were superior to Africans, Coloureds and Indians, and the function of it was to entrench white supremacy forever.

1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, published 2010, pages 127-128:

(South Africa, historical) The policy of racial separation in South Africa from 1948 to 1990.


Narutard

Narutards (plural)
narutard (alternative)

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

For quotations using this term, see Citations:Narutard.

(Internet slang, fandom slang, derogatory) An obsessive fan of the Japanese manga series Naruto.


missive

15th century; from Medieval Latin missīvus, from mittō (“to send”).

(in the plural, Scots law) Letters sent between two parties in which one makes an offer and the other accepts it.


Battle of Britain

(historical) A series of air engagements between the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe during World War II for air superiority over southern England and the English Channel prior to any German invasion of the British Isles.

Slag om Brittanje

series of air engagements between the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe during World War II


CV

en-noun

CV (countable and uncountable, plural CVs)

CVs (plural)
C.V. (alternative)
C. V. (alternative)

Abbreviation
* (anime, Japanimation): From Japanese CV (CV), from English character+voice
* (aircraft carrier): Initialism of cruiser (“croiseur”) + French voler (“to fly”).

initialism of

(anime) character's voice (“voice actor”)


UDP

According to the most recent available disclosures, UDP has spent more than $910,000 backing Stevens. AIPAC, a hawkish pro-Israel group that supports both Democrats and Republicans, endorsed Stevens and has attacked Levin, who is Jewish and comes from one of Michigan’s most prominent Jewish political families, over his willingness to criticize some Israeli policy.

2022 July 12, Gregory Krieg, “Progressive pro-Israel group takes on AIPAC in Michigan Democratic primary fight”, in CNN:

United Democracy Project
w:United Democracy Project

(US politics) Initialism of United Democracy Project: a surrogate of AIPAC.


Xena

Possibly a variant of Xenia, from Latin Xenia, from Ancient Greek ξενία (xenía, “hospitable”), the assumed name of a fifth-century saint venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church, from ξένος (xénos, “foreign, strange”).

der

A female given name from Ancient Greek of modern usage.


equestrian

en-adj

equestrian (comparative more equestrian, superlative most equestrian)

more equestrian (comparative)
most equestrian (superlative)

Ultimately from Latin equester (“of or pertaining to equestrians/cavalry”) + -ianus (“-ian, related to”, adjective marker), from equus (“horse”).

der

(historical) Of or relating to the ancient Roman class of equites.


meh

en-adj

meh (comparative more meh, superlative most meh)

more meh (comparative)
most meh (superlative)

Popularized by the American television show The Simpsons; first used on the show in the episode titled "Sideshow Bob Roberts" (1994).
Possibly ultimately from Yiddish מע (me, “so-so”). First attested in 1928.

They redeemed themselves with this show. The first song or two was meh, but they were on fire after that.

2003, steve-o, “Jam On The River Mini-Review”, in rec.music.phish (Usenet):

The voice is excellent as always, but the overall effect was meh until the end, where he became a little bit awesome.

2006, Suzanne D., “Recaps: Finals Week 8 Performances, 5/2/2006”, in alt.tv.american-idol (Usenet):

Nothing that was supposed to be big and exciting came off as such and the rest was meh at best.

2006, FunkyM, “Turned on RAW for the first time in forever last night…”, in rec.sport.pro.wrestling (Usenet):

Mediocre; lackluster; unexceptional; uninspiring.

nic moc

mediocre; lackluster; unexceptional; uninspiring

Both shows left me feeling, meh.

2003, Dana, “10/18/03 Shows”, in alt.tv.trading-spaces (Usenet):

I’m a huge Clay fan, love Ruben’s voice, and have become quite a fan of Kelly’s, as well. Fantasia just leaves me feeling meh.

2004, jennifer, “The FANtasia thing: I don’t get it…”, in alt.gossip.celebrities (Usenet):

I liked it but I wasn’t feeling it for some reason that day, again, I was feeling meh toward video games in general.

2006, ettie...@hotmail.com, “Steve’s impressions on random Genesis games”, in rec.games.video.sega (Usenet):


meh

“What do you want for dinner?” — “Meh. I’m not really hungry.”

“That film was awesome!” — “Meh. I’ve seen better.”

Marge: [weaving on a loom] “Hi Bart, I’m weaving on a loom!”
Bart: “Meh”.

1995 March 19, “Lisa's Wedding”, in The Simpsons:

Scientists say that while the public may think of the moon as a problem solved and a bit retro – the place astronauts visited a half-dozen times way back before Watergate and then abandoned with a giant "meh" from mankind – in fact, lunar studies is a vibrant enterprise that is yielding a wealth of surprises.

2014 September 7, Natalie Angier, “The Moon comes around again [print version: Revisiting a moon that still has secrets to reveal: Supermoon revives interest in its violent origins and hidden face, International New York Times, 10 September 2014, p. 8]”, in The New York Times:

(slang) Expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm.

hm

slang: expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm


meh

(informal) A judgement marked by indifference; lack of impression.


meh

Really meh? ― Really? I don’t think so.

This one your one meh? ― Is this really yours?

You got send [e-mail] meh? I never receive leh.

2010 August 22, Fiona Chan, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page 13:

“Nice meh?” I would think sourly.

2013 October 7, Tee Hun Ching, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page 12:

"Huh? At this hour? Really meh?" He couldn't believe his own ears.

2020, Yasser Khan, Property Agent Secrets: The Underground Playbook For Growing Your Property Agent Business in 2021 & Beyond, →ISBN, page 123:

Not pain, meh. When you have eczema and do tattoos?

2024 March 28, Benjamin Tan, “In Their Own Skin: Portraits of Eczema in Singapore”, in ricemedia.co, archived from the original on 2024-11-26:

(interrogative) Final question particle expressing skepticism.


Perseus

Latin from the Ancient Greek Περσεύς (Perseús).

(Greek mythology) The mythological Greek warrior who slew the Gorgon Medusa by decapitating her. He married Andromeda after rescuing her from Ceto and founded Mycenae. He was the son of Zeus and Danae.


Krishna

en-prop

Krishna (countable and uncountable, plural Krishnas)

(Hinduism) A deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism.


shogunate

From shogun + -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office).

af

(historical, Japan) The office or dignity of a shogun.


Classical Greek

The form of the Ancient Greek language used during the classical period of Greek literature: approximately 600 to 300 BCE.


Ancient Greek

Any of the various forms of the Greek language of classical antiquity, particularly the classical Attic dialect used in Athenian literature.

اللُّغَة الْيُونَانِيَّة الْقَدِيمَة

Wiktionary’s coverage of Ancient Greek terms


Ancient Greek

Ancient Greeks (plural)
ancient Greek (alternative)

A native or inhabitant of Ancient Greece.


SDP

We believed that the Trots represented a mad, extreme form of Labour that was never going to do anything for anybody, yet we felt strongly that nothing would be achieved by jumping ship and defecting to the SDP.

2008, Cherie Blair, Speaking for Myself: My Life from Liverpool to Downing Street:

Social Democratic Party
w:Social Democratic Party (UK)

(UK politics, historical, 1981–1988) Initialism of Social Democratic Party, a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom.


hammer and sickle

en-noun

hammer and sickle (plural hammers and sickles)

The symbol was developed by Yevgeny Kamzolkin in 1917, based on antetypes like hammer and pick (symbol of mining). The hammer represents workers, while the sickle represents farmers.

He remembers the [train] journeys fondly—the vast expanses of the Soviet empire rolling by, the glasses of tea served in metal cup holders embossed with the hammer and sickle.

December 7 2022, Simon Shuster, “2022 Person of the Year: Volodymyr Zelensky”, in Time:

A depiction of a sickle crossed with a hammer, used as a symbol of communism and the Soviet Union.


Hollywood

en-proper noun

Hollywood (countable and uncountable, plural Hollywoods)

The name of the neighbourhood in Los Angeles (sense 1) was coined by real estate developer H. J. Whitley, from holly + wood. By metonymy, it became the name of the industry, and eventually also a name for decadence.

coin

Other places in the United States:
A town in Jackson County, Alabama.

Jefferson County
Jefferson County#English

A neighborhood and historic district in Homewood, Jefferson County, Alabama.

Other places in the United States:
A city in Broward County, Florida.

Habersham County
Habersham County#English

An unincorporated community in Habersham County, Georgia.

St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County#English

An unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, named for a large holly tree.

An unincorporated community and township in Carver County, Minnesota.

An unincorporated community in Tunica County, Mississippi.

An unincorporated community in Dunklin County, Missouri.

A neighborhood of Ruidoso, Lincoln County, New Mexico.

A neighborhood in north-east Portland, Oregon.

A neighborhood of Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Montgomery County
Montgomery County#English

An unincorporated community in Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Charleston County
Charleston County#English

A town in Charleston County, South Carolina.

A neighborhood in north Memphis, Tennessee.

Appomattox County
Appomattox County#English

An unincorporated community in Appomattox County, Virginia.

Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County#English

An unincorporated community in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

An unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia.

Former name of MacArthur, West Virginia.


Cupid

From Latin Cupīdō, personification of cupīdō (“desire, desire of love”), from cupidus (“eager, greedy, passionate”), from cupiō (“to desire”).

The myth of Cupid and Psyche was one of the most influential romances in European culture.

(Roman mythology) The god of love, son of Venus; sometimes depicted as a putto (a naked, winged boy with bow and arrow). The Roman counterpart of Eros.


not in Kansas anymore

From the film The Wizard of Oz (1939), in which Dorothy states, “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”

As soon as I walked into that party I thought, "I'm not in Kansas anymore."

John Crosbie? A Tory government? You could be forgiven if your first reaction was the feeling that you weren't in Kansas anymore.

1986 April, Gerald Hannon, “Leaving Kansas”, in The Body Politic, number 125, Pink Triangle Press, page 8:

The police action is rough and raw, like Hill Street Blues. But when a courtroom jury, asked for its verdict, breaks into song, we know we're not in Kansas anymore.

1990 October 1, “Critics' Voices”, in Time, archived from the original on 2013-03-05:

C++ meets all three of these classic criteria of object-orientedness, but once you really start to take advantage of them in your programs, you'll find you're definitely not in Kansas anymore.

1991 July, Ray Duncan, “Power Programming”, in PC Magazine, page 444:

(idiomatic, colloquial, US) No longer in quiet and comfortable surroundings.


Sinn Féin

From Irish Sinn Féin (literally “we ourselves”) from sinn (“we, us”) + féin (“-self, -selves”).

compound

Ireland’s largest party, Fianna Fáil, has said it will not consider going into government with Sinn Féin, a decision likely to prevent the leftwing nationalists from entering power for the first time.

2020 February 13, “Ireland: Fianna Fáil rules out coalition with Sinn Féin”, in The Guardian, sourced from Reuters, →ISSN:

(Irish politics) An Irish political party committed to the reunification of Ireland.


Taoiseach

en-noun

Taoiseach (plural Taoiseachs or Taoisigh)

Taoiseachs (plural)
Taoisigh (plural)
taoiseach (alternative)

Borrowed from Irish Taoiseach (“chieftain, leader; prime minister of Ireland”).
The plural form Taoisigh is borrowed from Irish Taoisigh.

bor

Article 28. […] 5. 1º The head of the Government, or Prime Minister, shall be called, and is in this Constitution referred to as, the Taoiseach. 2º The Taoiseach shall keep the President generally informed on matters of domestic and international policy.

1937 July 1 (date ratified), “The Government”, in The Constitution of Erin, Ireland, San Francisco, Calif.: Russell Quinn, published [1938?], →OCLC, page 22:

To cope with the situation created at home by the war so close at hand, an Taoiseach (Prime Minister [Éamon] de Valera) rearranged his cabinet and formed a Ministry of Supplies under one of his ablest men.

1940 December 7, Arthur W. Bromage, Mary C. Bromage, “Ireland—What Now?”, in The Michigan Alumnus: Quarterly Review: A Journal of University Perspectives, volume XLVII, number 10, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, →OCLC, page 208:

The only leader of the 1916 Easter rebellion to escape hanging, [Éamon d]e Valera lost the civil war, then won elections that made him taoiseach (prime minister) for 19 years.

1954 May 31, “The Taoiseach Falls: De Valera Nears the End of Long Political Trail”, in Henry R[obinson] Luce, editor, Life, volume 36, number 22, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 29, column 1:

The Constitution of Ireland, art. 13, requires that the President of Ireland, the formal head of state, appoints the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) on the nomination of the Dáil Eireann (a popular elected legislative Chamber of Deputies). Ther same provision also requires that the President appoints the other members of the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach with the previous approval of the Dáil.

1983 October, Law Library, Library of Congress, “Time Span between Election or Selection of an Official and the Subsequent Taking of Office in Various Foreign Countries [Ireland]”, in Commencement of Terms of Office of the President and Members of Congress: Hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-eighth Congress, Second Session on S.J. Res. 71: A Joint Resolution Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Relative to the Commencement of the Terms of Office of the President, Vice President, and Members of Congress […] (Serial No. J-98-113), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, published 24 April 1984, →OCLC, page 42:

So what if they didn't have their Christmas Eve drinks party with the two Taoiseachs? They would have the satisfaction of knowing they could have.

1993, Mary Breasted, chapter 12, in Why Should You Doubt Me Now?, New York, N.Y.: Farrar Straus Giroux, →ISBN, page 50:

Although Taoisigh insist that choices are based on merit and capacity, they show a remarkable tendency to surround themselves with loyalists.

1994, Brian Farrell, “The Political Role of Cabinet Ministers in Ireland”, in Michael Laver, Kenneth A. Shepsle, editors, Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Government (The Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 81:

Despite the attacks, 'the boss', as [Charles] Haughey was to become known, was elected taoiseach by 82 votes to 62. However, he was a taoiseach with strong opposition from within his own party.

2003, Dermot Keogh, “Ireland, 1972–84”, in J[acqueline] R. Hill, editor, A New History of Ireland, volumes VII (Ireland 1921–84), Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 379:

Under normal circumstances, when a Taoiseach 'advises' the President to dissolve the Dáil and thereby bring about a general election, the President is bound to accede to this. However, the President, in the words of Article 13.2.2 [of the Constitution of Ireland], 'may in his absolute discretion refuse to dissolve Dáil Éireann on the advice of a Taoiseach who has ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann'.

2010, Michael Gallagher, “The Oireachtas: President and Parliament”, in John Coakley, Michael Gallagher, editors, Politics in the Republic of Ireland, 5th edition, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Routledge in association with PSAI Press, →ISBN, part II (Representative Democracy at Work), page 200:

For three centuries, the fabled Round Room in Dublin's Mansion House has been the site of some of Ireland's most important gatherings. British monarchs and Irish taoiseachs, a Catholic pope and a Protestant terrorist, all have walked its halls.

2010, David J. Lynch, “Money is Just Evidence”, in When the Luck of the Irish Ran Out: The World’s Most Resilient Country and Its Struggle to Rise Again, New York, N.Y., Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, →ISBN, page 175:

He [Charles Haughey] was determined to seize the initiative, to paint a picture of a taoiseach forging ahead with a bold new strategy in relation to Northern Ireland – a leader, driven by an inner crusade to transform the landscape of Anglo-Irish relations.

2016, Stephen Kelly, “The Haughey—Thatcher Relationship: The Anglo-Irish Summit Meeting, May 1980”, in ‘A Failed Political Entity’: Charles Haughey and the Northern Ireland Question 1945–1992, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland: Merrion Press, →ISBN, page 149:

Everyone in the UK and Ireland should be afraid of a no-deal Brexit, the Irish taoiseach said, after he was accused of engaging in “Project Fear mark two”.

2019 August 1, Kevin Rawlinson, “Leo Varadkar: ‘We should all be afraid of a no-deal Brexit’”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-12-26:

Well, I was there from 1973 to 1993, working directly with five different taoisigh, at different times, of course, as secretary to the government, or Cabinet Secretary in Robert [Armstrong]'s terms—from Sunningdale to the Downing Street Declaration.

2020, John Coakley, Jennifer Todd, quoting Dermot Nally, “The Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985”, in Negotiating a Settlement in Northern Ireland, 1969–2019, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, page 173:

Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations

(Irish politics) The head of the government of Ireland, comparable to a prime minister of a Commonwealth of Nations country.