precisely

precisely (comparative more precisely, superlative most precisely)

more precisely (comparative)
most precisely (superlative)

I always try to express myself precisely.

He says he will vote against Donald Trump “precisely because I’m conservative.”

2024 August 19, David French, “David French on the Pro-Life Case for Kamala Harris”, in The New York Times:


churchward

From Middle English cherche ward, chercheward, chircheward, churchewarde, chyrche-ward, chyrcheward, kirkeward, kurk-ward, kurkward, kyrkward; equivalent to church + -ward.


pari passu

From Late Latin pari passu, from Latin parī, ablative of pār (“equal”) + passū, ablative of passus (“step”).

Will container development merely bring about a substitution for the body of the covered wagon? Probably not, in his view, but he believes that the size and tonnage of the container are likely to increase pari passu with the lifting capacity of handling appliances.

1963 April, “Beyond the Channel: France: Freight stock of the future”, in Modern Railways, page 269:

Pari passu with Marechal Bugeaud's ‘pacification’, French colonisers steadily took root in Algeria.

1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 30:

A subsequent coolness, pari passu with the dotcom billionaire's revenue growth no doubt, is said to've developed.

2013, Thomas Pynchon, Bleeding Edge, Vintage, published 2014, page 54:


mucho

And this makes sense because, as with Burchill, Amis’s philosemitism is quasi-sexual and mucho ridiculous.

2014 November 7, Hadley Freeman, “God save us from the philosemitism of Burchill, Amis and Mensch”, in The Guardian:


to boot

From Middle English to bote (“something added to, addition”), from Old English tō bōte (“to boot, besides, moreover”). See boot (“profit, gain, remedy”).

inh

My boyfriend is funny, and a pretty good cook to boot.

Among the people (of Rome) beſide x. modij of corne, & as many pints of oyle, he diſtributed & dealt 300 Seſterces alſo by the poll, vvhich hee had in times paſt promiſed, vvith an overdeale of 100. a peece to boote, for time.

1606, C[aius, i.e., Gaius] Suetonius Tranquillus, “The Historie of Caius Iulius Cesar Dictator”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of Twelve Cæsars Emperours of Rome. […], London: […] [Humphrey Lownes and George Snowdon] for Matthew Lownes, →OCLC, section 38, page 16:

(idiomatic, informal) in addition, besides, also.


flush

Same as Etymology 3, according to the American Heritage Dictionary.

I landed flush on the couch.


collectively

In a collective manner; viewed together as a whole; to be treated as a single unit, rather than the items that make up the collection separately.


perdurably

en-adv

perdurably (comparative more perdurably, superlative most perdurably)

more perdurably (comparative)
most perdurably (superlative)

From Middle English pardurableliche, perdurable, perdurablely, perdurably; equivalent to perdurable + -ly.


furthermore

/ˈfɜː(ɹ).ðə(ɹ)ˌmɔː(ɹ)/

/ˈfɝ.ðɚˌmɔɹ/

From Middle English furthermore, forthermore, forthermar (also as forther mo), equivalent to further + -more.

He skillfully took charge of the event, and furthermore, he stayed late after it to clean up.

He claimed further(more) that he was not even in town the day the murder occured.

Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.

2013 July-August, Philip J. Bushnell, “Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance”, in American Scientist:

In addition; besides; further; what's more (i.e. to denote additional information).

апро́ч таго́

In addition; besides; what's more; used to denote additional information


homeward

From Middle English homward, from Old English hāmweard, from Proto-Germanic *haimawarda, equivalent to home + -ward. Cognate with Dutch heimwaarts, German heimwärts (“homeward”).

I am homeward bound.

There Enoch spoke no word to any one, / But homeward—home—what home? had he a home? / His home, he walk'd.

1864, Alfred Tennyson, “Enoch Arden”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, pages 36–37:


mildly

mildly (comparative more mildly, superlative most mildly)

more mildly (comparative)
most mildly (superlative)

a mildly amusing joke


openly

openly (comparative more openly, superlative most openly)

more openly (comparative)
most openly (superlative)

Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer;

1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:

The openly ridiculous plot has The Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) scheming to win the Pirate Of The Year competition, even though he’s a terrible pirate, far outclassed by rivals voiced by Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek.

2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, in The Onion AV Club:

We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.

2017 January 20, Donald Trump, “The Inaugural Address”, in The White House, archived from the original on 2020-03-28:

When a column of smoke appeared on Thursday over the Sitong Bridge overpass in the Haidian district of Beijing, it drew attention to a protester who had hung banners openly bashing China’s top leader by name and criticizing the country’s “zero Covid” policy, including one calling for “freedom and not lockdowns.”

2022 October 14, Daisuke Wakabayashi, Claire Fu, “China’s Internet Censors Race to Quell Beijing Protest Chatter”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-10-14, Asia Pacific:

açıqca

in an open manner, visibly, not covertly


with one's pants down

caught with one's pants down
caught with one's pants down#English

Alternative form of caught with one's pants down


instantly

When the neighbours' dog barked, ours instantly replied with a howl.

Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. His ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.

2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:

But signalman Bridges was never to answer driver Gimbert's desperate question. A deafening, massive blast blew the wagon to shreds, the 44 high-explosive bombs exploding like simultaneous hits from the aircraft they should have been dropped from. The station was instantly reduced to bits of debris, and the line to a huge crater.

2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 43:

Sir, my lord would instantly speak with you.

c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

Theoxena although she were instantly urged thereunto, could never be induced to marry againe.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 27, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

As if he mastred there a double spirit
Of teaching, and of learning instantly

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:


mentally

mentally (comparative more mentally, superlative most mentally)

more mentally (comparative)
most mentally (superlative)

mentally capable

mentally ill

This is a problem that needs to be solved mentally, not with brute force.

In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally.


day after tomorrow

վաղը չէ մյուս օրը

vaġə čʻē myus ōrə


purely

purely (comparative more purely, superlative most purely)

more purely (comparative)
most purely (superlative)

I am fascinated by the entire scene, I purely am.

(now US regional) Wholly; really, completely.

The IRA should "lead by example" and "unilaterally" abandon paramilitary violence and adopt a purely political strategy, a leading Sinn Féin MP urged yesterday.

8 April 2005, Owen Bowcott, The Guardian:

"But this meal tonight is not a date, not in the traditional sense. It's purely platonic, I assure you."

2007, Helen Brooks, His Christmas Bride:

faith and troth, / Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing: / Bids thee with most diuine integritie, / From heart of very heart, great Hector welcome.

c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]:

Chastely, innocently; in a sinless manner, without fault.

By some means or other the water flows purely, and separated from the filth, in a deeper and narrower course on one side of the rock, and the refuse of the dirt and troubled water goes off on the other in a broader current [...].

1823, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Table Talk:

(now rare) Without physical adulterants; refinedly, with no admixture.


tandem

PIE word
 *téh₂m
The noun is borrowed from Latin tandem (“of time: at last, at length, finally”), applied humorously in English to two horses harnessed “at length” (that is, in a single line) instead of side-by-side. Tandem is derived from tam (“so, to such an extent”) + -dem (demonstrative suffix).
The adjective, adverb, and verb are derived from the noun.

bor

Coordinate term: abreast

The horses were harnessed tandem.

to ride tandem on a bicycle built for two

There was nothing too exotic about the ground-car. There were two seats in tandem, each of which could hold three.

1956 October, Isaac Asimov, chapter II, in The Naked Sun, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company, published 1957, →OCLC, page 27:

(figurative) In close collaboration; collaboratively, cooperatively.


underneath

From Middle English undernethe, undernethen, from Old English underneoþan (“underneath”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *underniþer.

connected with it underneath, you see a very fine hair-spring.

1825, Isaac Taylor, Scenes of British Wealth: In Produce, Manufactures, and Commerce, for the Amusement and Instruction of Little Tarry At-home Travellers:

No insects exhibit, like them, what may be termed four net-work eyes. It is very easy to perceive them in looking at the animal from above, and then examining it underneath

1832, Georges Cuvier, translated by Edward Griffith, edited by Georges Cuvier, Edward Pidgeon, and Edward Griffith, The Animal Kingdom: Arranged in Conformity with Its Organization, volume 14, published 2012, →ISBN:


from the ground up

A bright, ambitious kid just out of technical school, learning railroading from the ground up.

2014, Maxwell Grant, The Pooltex Tangle:

(idiomatic) From the beginning; starting with the basics, foundation, or fundamentals.


contemporaneously

From contemporaneous + -ly, from Latin contemporāneus, from co- (“together”) + tempus (“time”).


precious

From Middle English precious, borrowed from Old French precios (“valuable, costly, precious, beloved, also affected, finical”), from Latin pretiōsus (“of great value, costly, dear, precious”), from pretium (“value, price”); see price.

der

There is precious little we can do.

precious few pictures of him exist


cryogenically

en-adv

cryogenically (comparative more cryogenically, superlative most cryogenically)

more cryogenically (comparative)
most cryogenically (superlative)

carried out at very low temperatures, near absolute zero.


filmically

filmically (comparative more filmically, superlative most filmically)

more filmically (comparative)
most filmically (superlative)


astronomically

astronomically (comparative more astronomically, superlative most astronomically)

more astronomically (comparative)
most astronomically (superlative)

(not comparable) Of or relating to astronomy.

The calculated answer was astronomically large.

(comparable, degree) In the extreme, very (typically very large).


not at all

[ˈnɒtʰəˈtʰɔːɫ]

[ˈnɔɾəˈɾoːɫ]

He's not at all friendly towards his ex-wife.

Now all this was very fine, but not at all in keeping with the Celebrity's character as I had come to conceive it. The idea that adulation ever cloyed on him was ludicrous in itself. In fact I thought the whole story fishy, and came very near to saying so.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter III, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:


a fortiori

a fortiori (comparative more a fortiori, superlative most a fortiori)

more a fortiori (comparative)
most a fortiori (superlative)

/ˈɑː fɔːɹtɪˈoʊɹiː/

/ˈeɪ fɔɹʃˈjɔˑɹaɪ/

From Latin ā (“from”) and fortiōrī, comparative of fortis (“strong”).

Now starting and stopping cannot themselves have starts or stops, or, a fortiori, middles either.

1954, Gilbert Ryle, “dilemma vii: Perception”, in Dilemmas: The Tarner Lectures, 1953, The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press, page 103:

We're bound to accept an a fortiori claim because of our prior acceptance of a weaker application of the same reasoning. Frank can't run to the store in less than five minutes, and the restaurant is several blocks further away than the store. Thus, a fortiori, Frank can't run to the restaurant in less than five minutes.

2011, Mortimer Jerome Adler, How to Prove There Is a God:

With stronger or greater reason; as a corollary implied by a stronger claim.


constantly

constantly (comparative more constantly, superlative most constantly)

more constantly (comparative)
most constantly (superlative)

From constant + -ly. Displaced native Old English singallīċe.

Agrippa and the rest of his weeping friends earnestly besought him […] not to offer violence unto himself, ‘with a settled resolution he desired again they would approve of his good intent, and not seek to dehort him from it’; and so constantly died.

(archaic) With steadfastness; with resolve; in loyalty, faithfully.

ininterrottamente

obsolete: with steadfastness, in loyalty

In a constant manner; occurring continuously; persistently.

I find that I am constantly reminding you to feed your pets.

Japanese retail stores have strove to, and have succeeded in, fulfilling these severe demands, and in doing so, have constantly had to innovate both technologically and institutionally in order to keep up with the competition.

2013 February 6, Hideo Otake, “Revising the Interpretation of the Japanese Economy”, in Michio Muramatsu, Frieder Naschold, editors, State and Administration in Japan and Germany: A Comparative Perspective on Continuity and Change, page 319:

In an unchangeable or invariable manner; in every case.


freely

freely (comparative freelier or more freely, superlative freeliest or most freely)

freelier (comparative)
more freely (comparative)
freeliest (superlative)
most freely (superlative)

From Middle English frely, freliche, from Old English frēolīċe (“freely, readily, as a festival”), equivalent to free + -ly. Compare Dutch vrijelijk (“freely”), German freilich (“certainly, of course”).

cog

Wine was flowing freely.

talk freely

I found that the Chapelon steamed almost too freely, because on a strange locomotive and road one usually tends to overfire a little through a natural lack of confidence.

1961 February, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives - Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 110:

I will freely help you.


come to think of it

Come to think of it, it's curious that nobody was there.

(idiomatic) by the way; now that I think about it; indicates something brought to mind.


absentmindedly

en-adv

absentmindedly (comparative more absentmindedly, superlative most absentmindedly)

more absentmindedly (comparative)
most absentmindedly (superlative)


abdominally

I have never in my life seen someone so abdominally strong.

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles

Oxford University Press
w:Oxford University Press


absorbingly

absorbingly (comparative more absorbingly, superlative most absorbingly)

more absorbingly (comparative)
most absorbingly (superlative)


abstemiously

abstemiously (comparative more abstemiously, superlative most abstemiously)

more abstemiously (comparative)
most abstemiously (superlative)

He lived abstemiously for his entire life, eschewing pleasure for purity.

Marked by abstinence or restraint, especially in relation to food or drink.


compulsorily

compulsorily (comparative more compulsorily, superlative most compulsorily)

more compulsorily (comparative)
most compulsorily (superlative)

Soldiers were drafted compulsorily.

These Governments [of Ireland and Northern Ireland] have now announced their intention to introduce measures enabling them compulsorily to purchase the railway.

1951 April, “Notes and News: The Fate of the G.N.R. (I.)”, in Railway Magazine, number 600, page 281:


extensively

extensively (comparative more extensively, superlative most extensively)

more extensively (comparative)
most extensively (superlative)

He has read and traveled extensively.

լայնորեն

in an extensive manner; having great range; having wide breadth and depth

He became more extensively involved than he intended.

The White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, has cooperated extensively in the special counsel investigation, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Trump obstructed justice, […]

2018 August 18, Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman, “White House Counsel, Don McGahn, Has Cooperated Extensively in Mueller Inquiry”, in The New York Times:


bodkin

From Middle English boydekin (“dagger”), apparently from *boyde, *boide (of unknown [Celtic?] origin) + -kin. Cognate with Scots botkin, boitkin, boikin (“bodkin”).

to sit bodkin

He's too big to travel bodkin between you and me.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “In Which Becky Is Recognised by the Family”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 366:

Either he must come between us and be what is known as bodkin, or some one must get out and walk; and the bodkin solution not commending itself to me it was plain that if some one walked it must be myself.

1904, Elizabeth von Arnim, The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rügen, MacMillan, published 1904:

Moreover, Mr. Jorrocks insisted upon riding bodkin — a very awkward-sized bodkin he was — especially as he would have all three to sit back, so that the conversation might be general.

2018, Delphi Complete Works of R. S. Surtees (Illustrated)


hella

Related to "a hell of a". Originally Northern California slang. Compare helluv, helluva.

I can't tell you how much I hella love the new track.

Jane was driving away, and the door was open, so I hella ran for it.

Oh, today's Cyrell's bday. We hella sang her happy birthday at the spot.

You’re right. We hella deserve it. Splish splash!
Did you actually just say "hella"? I think I’m a good bad influence on you.

2016, Life Is Strange, spoken by Chloe Price (Hannah Telle as Max Caulfield and Ashly Burch), Square Enix, via Dontnod Entertainment:

(slang, chiefly Northern California) Intensifier, modifying verbs; to a large extent; totally; very much.

I guess she seems hella stoned in her commercial.

I've been a Star Wars fan since I was hella young.

"And to the fella over there / With the hella good hair / Won't you come on over, baby / We can shake, shake, shake"

2014, Taylor Swift (lyrics and music), “Shake It Off”:

The storm got hella crazy and... and you said we would be safe at the lighthouse.

2016, Life Is Strange, spoken by Chloe Price (Ashly Burch), Square Enix, via Dontnod Entertainment:

(slang, potentially considered vulgar, chiefly regional US, African-American Vernacular and Internet slang) Intensifier, modifying adjectives; to a large degree; extremely; exceedingly.

potentially considered vulgar; African-American Vernacular and Internet slang; potentially considered vulgar; African-American Vernacular and Internet slang


nose to the grindstone

From the literal action of intensely working a grindstone, whether powered by a treadle or waterwheel. The expression initially implied punishment or abusive management, forcing the worker into intense work, and was used in the anonymous 1557 translation of Erasmus's Merry Dialogue as a hyperbolic punishment threatened for an abusive husband. It was later adapted to forcing oneself into similarly intense effort.

Nose to the grindstone, he was up all night.


incognito

/ˌɪnˈkɒɡnɪtoʊ/

Borrowed from Italian incognito, from Latin incognitus (“unknown”), from in- (“not”) + cognitus (“known”), perfect passive participle of cognoscere.

The prince royal of Prussia came thither incognito.

1709 May 30 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Richard Steele et al.], “Thursday, May 19, 1709”, in The Tatler, number 17; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume I, London: I. Walker and Co.; […], 1822, →OCLC:

"But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you."

1891 June 25, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Adventure I.—A Scandal in Bohemia.”, in Geo[rge] Newnes, editor, The Strand Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly, volume II, London: George Newnes, Limited, […], published July 1891, →OCLC, page 65, column 2:


soever

How long soever it hath continued, if it be against reason, it is of no force in law.

1669, John Owen, A Practical Exposition on the 130th Psalm:

For, by the fundamental Laws of the Realm, it is Capital in any Perſon, of what Quality ſoever, to make water within the Precincts of the Palace.

1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author by an Extraordinary Stratagem Prevents an Invasion. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 91:

And in the meanwhile, Society shivered a little feverishly, filled now with the scions of those who had come over with the Jewish and American Conquests. Escutcheons were becoming valueless, how sinister soever the blots and clots upon them.

1922, Michael Arlen, “1/5/1”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:

For quotations using this term, see Citations:soever.

(archaic) In any fashion, of any kind; used for emphasis after words such as how, what, which etc.


anisotropically

When heated, vermiculite expands anisotropically.

in an anisotropic manner; in such a way as to depend upon direction


nowhere else

Nowhere else will you find such skillful craftsmanship.


anywhere else

I wouldn’t be anywhere else on your birthday.

Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:


every so often

Check on the houseplants every so often to see if they need watering.

Occasionally; intermittently; irregularly; now and then; once in a while.


fearful

fearful (comparative more fearful, superlative most fearful)

more fearful (comparative)
most fearful (superlative)

From Middle English ferful, fervol, equivalent to fear + -ful.

“He is fearful handsome, as you know,” she said remorsefully, “you cannot imagine, Georgiana, the joy when I first fell in love with him.”

2009, Juliette Shapiro, Mr. Darcy's Decision: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice:

“It's a fearful strong charm needs dragon's blood,” he said plaintively.

2014, Diana Wynne Jones, The Chrestomanci series:

His Dardanelles expedition gave the Turk a fearful long start.

2014, Michael Brock, Eleanor Brock, Margot Asquith's Great War Diary 1914-1916:


in order

in order (comparative more in order, superlative most in order)

more in order (comparative)
most in order (superlative)

In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. The welfare state is dismantled. […]

2013 May 17, George Monbiot, “Money just makes the rich suffer”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 23, page 19:

She stood in order to see over the crowd. / She stood to see over the crowd.

(not comparable, idiomatic, with to) Emphasizes that what follows immediately is the purpose of the preceding or the beyond.

She stood in order for her husband to see her. / She stood for her husband to see her.

(not comparable, idiomatic, US, with "for") Emphasizes that what follows immediately is the purpose of the preceding or the beyond.

They sang in order, ending with a basso profundo.


scary

At 199 centimetres and a hundred kilos going up, he was scary big and he found work as a bouncer and enforcer[.]

2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 117:

[T]he main reason I don't want to give her a GA is she's so scary fat!

2020, S. Clarence Dodge, Beyond Blood: Inside the Mind of an Anesthesiologist, Xlibris Corporation:


reportedly

Other opposition forces have reportedly pushed to Ajdabiya, west of Benghazi […]

2011 February 25, “Building a new Libya”, in The Economist:

Nintoku, the pseudolegendary emperor of the fourth century, reportedly enjoyed falconry.

2015, Morgan Pitelka, Spectacular Accumulation:

According to reports or rumors; supposedly.


istid

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling


ardently

ardently (comparative more ardently, superlative most ardently)

more ardently (comparative)
most ardently (superlative)

From Middle English ardauntly; equivalent to ardent + -ly.

All scandals aside, Jewish establishment donors and leaders obsessed not only with Jewish continuity but the right kind of continuity—ardently pro-Israel children of two Jewish parents—have failed on their own terms.

2019 August 7, Marissa Brostoff, Noah Kulwin, “The Right Kind of Continuity”, in Jewish Currents:


neck and crop

Uncertain, but crop may refer to the backside of a horse, so that a horse that fell neck and crop had both its neck and backside hit the ground.

She turned him neck and crop out of the house.

"She was a governess in the family of some Roman prince, and the son of the house seduced her. She thought he was going to marry her. They turned her out into the street neck and crop. She was going to have a baby, and she tried to commit suicide. Stroeve found her and married her."

1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 41”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

"In Peter Harrigan's mines! Don't you realise that he'll pick them up and throw them out of here, neck and crop--the whole crew, every man in the town, if necessary?"

1917, Upton Sinclair, King Coal, chapter 12:

"Have it out with him to-night. Fair and square. Out he goes, Edmund, neck and crop. Out, by thunder."

1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 76:

In the darkness he fell on him, dragged him to the back gate, and flung him out neck-and-crop.

1938, Xavier Herbert, chapter II, in Capricornia, page 24:


inward

From Middle English inward, from Old English inweard, corresponding to in + -ward.

So much the rather, thou Celestial Light, / Shine inward.

1667, John Milton, “Book III”, 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:

You also may experience feelings of guilt, which is anger turned inward on yourself.

2005, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, David Kessler, On Grief and Grieving, →ISBN, page 16:

Towards one’s mind, thoughts, or internal self.

(obsolete) On the inside, within, inside.

(obsolete) In one’s mind, thoughts, or internal self.


lowest

Whoever bends lowest will will the limbo tournament.


wider

From Middle English widder, widdur, widere, from Old English widdra; equivalent to wide + -er.


over the top

over the top (comparative more over the top, superlative most over the top)

more over the top (comparative)
most over the top (superlative)

The men were sent over the top to their certain death.

(not comparable, from World War I) Over the parapet of a trench, especially at the start of a futile attack.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see over, the, top.


badly

badly (comparative worse, superlative worst)

From Middle English badly, baddely, baddeliche, equivalent to bad + -ly.

Things are going badly for her: she did badly in her exams owing to a badly designed studying schedule.

Don't think badly of me, give me the benefit of the doubt.

I want it so badly.

Look at these split ends! You badly need a haircut!

Everything went badly wrong.


head and shoulders

She was head and shoulders better than any of her rivals.

He was head and shoulders above the others in the law firm.

Both the New York Central and Pennsylvania systems, which in speed tower head-and-shoulders over other American lines, have added substantially to their high speed mileage between 1939 and 1940, [...].

1941 March, Mercury, “American Express Train Services in 1940”, in Railway Magazine, page 99:

to drag somebody head and shoulders

They bring in every figure and scheme of speech, head and shoulders.

1711, Henry Felton, Dissertation on Reading the Classics:


somewhere else

But I get slightly crazy when I'm working on something. I zone out and get lost watching scenes play out in my head. That's why I won't have lunch with friends when I'm writing. My head is somewhere else and they naturally take it personally.

1996, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Emmy, volume 18, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, page 38:

Hearing the laughter of his sons, Alf grinned. But he was somewhere else, thinking of the woman moving through the dim house behind him.

2013, John Bemrose, The Island Walkers: A Novel, page 3:

(figuratively) Distracted; in a daydream, (of the mind) unable to interact with events in the here and now


notorious

notorious (comparative more notorious, superlative most notorious)

more notorious (comparative)
most notorious (superlative)

From Late Middle English notoryous, from Medieval Latin nōtōrius (“evident, known; famous, well-known; infamous”), from Latin nōtus (“known, recognized; familiar, widely known; famous, well-known; infamous”) + -tōrius (suffix forming adjectives). Nōtus is the perfect passive participle of nōscō (“to become acquainted with or learn about (something); (rare) to be familiar with, recognize”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (“to know; to recognize”).
cognates
* Catalan notori (“well-known”)
* Middle French notoire (Anglo-Norman notoire, notoir, notore, notorie, modern French notoire (“notorious; well-known”))
* Italian notorio (“notorious; well-known”)
* Portuguese notorjo (obsolete), notório (“illustrious; open, public; notorious”)
* Spanish notorio (“apparent, clear, obvious; well-known”)


welly

From welne, a dialectal variant of well-nigh.

A person exceedingly hungry says, "I'm welly clem'd; I'm almost or well-nigh starved." It is the ordinary appeal of a beggar in the streets, when asking for food.

1853, Notes & Queries, volume 8, page 64:

(obsolete, UK, Ireland, dialect) Almost; nearly.


back to basics

You can't teach them calculus when they can't add up; let's get back to basics.

While Strachan’s men have succeeded in adopting a more expansive, fluid style of play in recent times, it was very much a case of back to basics for this one.

2014 November 14, Stephen Halliday, “Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero”, in The Scotsman:


quote unquote

From quote + unquote, a spoken equivalent of air quotes, used to express satire, sarcasm, irony or euphemism, analogous to scare quotes in print.

Adam Smith claimed that a capitalist is, quote, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention, unquote.

So you quote love unquote me / Well, stranger things have come to be

2004, “I Don't Believe You”, performed by The Magnetic Fields:

quotation marks
Wikipedia:Quotation mark

Used in spoken language to delimit a quotation in the same function as quotation marks.


borderline

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

He is borderline hypoglycemic and needs to monitor his sugar intake.

I expected him to be super boring but he was actually borderline funny!

Nearly; not entirely but nevertheless to a great extent.


Shirley

A pun on surely and the name Shirley; probably inspired by the 1980 comedy film Airplane!, which has the exchange: "Surely you can’t be serious." "I am serious — and don’t call me Shirley."

Shirley the pepper mills are whipped away by the peppier after use, so no danger there. But what about the candles?

2001 February 18, Tim Hall, “Spilero 15/2”, in uk.media.radio.archers (Usenet):


pro rata

/ˌpɹəʊ ˈɹɑːtə/

From Latin prō (“according to”) + ratus (“calculated”).

Tenants who have given 30 days' notice who do not leave on the last day of the month will be charged on a pro rata basis.

The workers' overtime is calculated on pro rata basis.

(of an allocation) In proportion to some factor that can be exactly calculated.


for the most part

She talked about her kids, for the most part.

O, it offends mee to the Soule, to ſee a robuſtious Pery-wig-pated Fellow, teare a Paſſion to tatters, to verie ragges, to ſplit the eares of the Groundlings: who (for the moſt part) are capeable of nothing, but inexplicable dumbe ſhewes, & noiſe:[…]

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 266, column 2:

Such souls can with assistance rise to better things, but it is a very arduous task and for the most part they remain rejoicers in evil.

1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 276:

For the most part they were small standard gauge 0-6-0 side tanks of the type illustrated, with long tapered chimneys and an unusual feature for the Continent in the shape of domeless boilers, the protuberance just behind the chimney being a sandbox.

1941 August, “Notes and News: The Swiss South Eastern Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 376:

With half-time approaching, England rather switched off, but for the most part it was an improved first 40 minutes from Johnson's side, which came in for much criticism following stuttering displays in their first two games.

2011 September 24, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania”, in BBC Sport:

(idiomatic) Mostly; in general; usually.


arguably

en-adv

arguably (comparative more arguably, superlative most arguably)

more arguably (comparative)
most arguably (superlative)

As can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty.

按理說

as can be supported or proven by sound logical deduction, evidence, and precedent, but without absolute certainty


unbeknownst

He went home early, unbeknownst to his mother.

Theon’s redemption scene convincingly threatens to kill him right there on the beaches of Dragonstone, dying for a good cause unbeknownst to anyone but the rapscallions who watched him die, but at last it swerves into something genuinely heroic.

2017 August 27, Brandon Nowalk, “Game Of Thrones slows down for the longest, and best, episode of the season (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:

(followed by to) without the knowledge of


eo ipso

/ˌeɪəʊ ˈɪpsəʊ/

Borrowed from Latin eo ipso, ablative form of id ipsum (“that (thing) itself”).

Coordinate term: ipso facto

When we demand an object from somebody, its “use value” (the fact that it serves to satisfy some of our needs) eo ipso becomes a form of expression of its “exchange value”; the object in question functions as an index of a network of intersubjective relations.

1998, Slavoj Žižek, chapter 1, in Looking Awry: An Introduction to Jacques Lacan through Popular Culture:

For example, Jim Ruben's remarks are illustrative of neofuturist thinking in which technologies eo ipso impact favorably the political process: “democracy itself . . . is due for a retooling to function in a different world” (1983, 59).

2000, Anthony G. Wilhelm, Democracy in the Digital Age: Challenges to Political Life in Cyberspace, Routledge, →ISBN, page 20:

Through or by that very act or quality; thereby.


noisily

noisily (comparative more noisily, superlative most noisily)

more noisily (comparative)
most noisily (superlative)

They talked noisily and long into the night.

Wembley was noisily registering its unrest with Capello and England when Johan Djourou's foul on Jack Wilshere gave Frank Lampard the opportunity to pull a goal back from the spot before the interval and provide the foundations for a second-half recovery.

2011 June 4, Phil McNulty, “England 2 - 2 Switzerland”, in BBC:

in a noisy manner; in such a way as to create a great deal of noise or sound


kinda

Written form of a reduction or pronunciation spelling of kind of.

I kinda hafta do this right now.

That’s kinda funny.

But when I spoke about it he just smiled and shook his head, and started whistling to himself kinda soft.

1912 October 12, Courtney Ryley Cooper, “Somewhere Safe to Sea”, in Collier’s, volume 50, Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, page 18:

… He got on Forty-second Street, and he was kinda fresh from the start. At Sixty-sixth he came sasshaying^([sic]) right down the car and said ‘Hello, patootie!’ Well, I drew myself up …

1920 April 10 – August 28, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, chapter 11, in The Little Warrior [Jill the Reckless], New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 8 October 1920, →OCLC, section 1, page 194:

In those days, flour sacks was kinda purty. They might come printed up with flowers on em, or birds.

2006, Ron Hall, Denver Moore, Lynn Vincent, Same Kind of Different as Me, page 13:

The facial expression on my mask kinda looks like Han Solo in the carbonite …

2010, Eric Anthony Galvez, Reversal: When a Therapist Becomes a Patient, page 37:


catch-as-catch-can

catch-as-catch-can (comparative more catch-as-catch-can, superlative most catch-as-catch-can)

more catch-as-catch-can (comparative)
most catch-as-catch-can (superlative)


sufficiently

sufficiently (comparative more sufficiently, superlative most sufficiently)

more sufficiently (comparative)
most sufficiently (superlative)

Once we had eaten and drunk sufficiently, we padded off to sleep.

Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.[…]A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

I prefer to think that birds have a sufficiently developed sense of humour to enjoy the spectacle of a human being hunched beneath a bush kissing the back of their hand.

1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 112:

(manner) In a sufficient manner; enough.

We wanted to build a tepee, but we couldn't find sufficiently long sticks.

There are those who value a seat sufficiently highly that they prefer to make their daily journeys by the Western Region Vine Street line.

1952 March, R. K. Kirkland, “The Railways of Uxbridge”, in Railway Magazine, page 150:

Attempts by Waterloo signalmen to clear the points by power operation eventually exhausted point motor batteries, which are fed by trickle chargers, and a blown fuse accentuated the problem; thus, even when the points had been cleared of ice, no power was available to operate them until the batteries were sufficiently recharged.

1962 March, “The New Year Freeze-up on British Railways”, in Modern Railways, page 159:


potentially

potentially (comparative more potentially, superlative most potentially)

more potentially (comparative)
most potentially (superlative)

Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.

2013 September-October, Michael Sivak, “Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?”, in American Scientist:

In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way.

potencialment

in a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way

I freely assert, that the cosmopolite philosopher cannot, for his life, point out one single peaceful influence, which within the last sixty years has operated more potentially upon the whole broad world, taken in one aggregate, than the high and mighty business of whaling.

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:


downward

His position in society moved ever downward.

The natural disasters put downward pressure on the creditworthiness of the nation’s insurance groups.

[A] ring the county wears, / That downward hath succeeded in his house / From son to son, some four or five descents

c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vii]:

They call her Daffadill: / Whoſe preſence as ſhe went along, / The prety flowers did greet, / As though their heads they downward bent, / With homage to her feete.

1606?, Michaell Drayton [i.e., Michael Drayton], “The Ninth Eglog”, in Poemes Lyrick and Pastorall. […], London: […] R. B[radock] for N[icholas] L[ing] and I[ohn] Flasket, →OCLC; republished in Poemes Lyrick and Pastorall (Publications of the Spenser Society, New Series; 4), [Manchester: […] Charles E. Simms] for the Spenser Society, 1891, →OCLC, page 94:

Novv you muſt bee ſure […] to carry the point or top of the Rod dovvnevvard; by vvhich meanes the ſhadovv of your ſelfe, and Rod too vvill be the leaſt offenſive to the Fiſh, for the ſight of any ſhadovv amazes the fiſh, and ſpoiles your ſport, of vvhich you muſt take a great care.

1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], chapter IV, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN, page 109:

[T]heir Sight was so directed downward, that they did not readily see Objects that were above them […]

1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 71:

Down, downward they went, and yet further down—their descent at each step seeming to outmeasure their advance.

1878 January–December, Thomas Hardy, “The Halt on the Turnpike-road”, in The Return of the Native […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], published 1878, →OCLC, book I (The Three Women), page 73:

Toward a lower level, whether in physical space, in a hierarchy, or in amount or value.

Dagon his Name, Sea Monster, upward Man / And downward Fish […]

1667, John Milton, “Book I”, 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 462–463:

If we turn to the New World, we find that among the American Indians, from the Eskimo of Alaska downward to Brazil and still farther south, homosexual customs have been very frequently observed.

1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, volume 2:


internationally

internationally (comparative more internationally, superlative most internationally)

more internationally (comparative)
most internationally (superlative)

Internationally, the shipping container had already proven its worth, and by the early 1960s battles were being fought over what their standardised dimensions would be (their expected proliferation was not in question).

2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 48:


sidearm

sidearm (comparative more sidearm, superlative most sidearm)

more sidearm (comparative)
most sidearm (superlative)

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

With one's arm roughly parallel to the ground.


chancery

/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹɪ/

/ˈt͡ʃænsəɹɪ/

/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹi/

From French chancellerie, from Late Latin cancellaria, from Latin cancellarius, from Latin cancellus (“lattice”) (English chancel), from Latin cancelli (“grating, bars”), from the lattice-work that separated a section of a church or court.
See related chancellor and chancellery, and the more distantly related incarcerate (“put behind bars”), from carcer (“prison”).
The adverbial form is an allusion to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court.

[Round] 9. This was a scientific round on both sides; Acton got away well; and also parried some tremendous blows. The latter, however, received a chancery nobber; but he contended every inch of ground till he went down.

1823 May 14, “Sporting Intelligence”, in The Literary Humbug, number 1, page 15, Between Peter Crawley and Dick Acton:

15th round. Chancery. Fibbing. Biggs makes dreadful work with his left. Break away. Rally. Biggs down. Betting still six to four on the gown-boy.

1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “The Fight at Slaughter House”, in Men's Wives, page 17:

(boxing) With the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will.

(figurative) In an awkward situation; wholly under the power of someone else.


slick

From Middle English slicke, slike, slyke, from Old English slīc (“sleek, smooth; crafty, cunning, slick”), from Proto-Germanic *slīkaz (“sleek, smooth”),
from Proto-Indo-European *sleyg-, *sleyǵ- (“to glide, smooth, spread”). Akin to Dutch sluik, dialectal Dutch sleek (“even, smooth”), Old Norse slíkr (“sleek, smooth”), Old English slician (“to make sleek, smooth, or glossy”).

cog

We're just following a couple of crooks who've got slick away in that two-funnelled boat yonder, and we mean to keep in touch with them till they land.

(colloquial) Alternative form of sleek (“with ease and dexterity”)


interchangeably

Traditionally, 'ticket office' seems to have been the preferred term in America, with Britain using the term 'booking office' (as an 1881 edition of The Railway Age Monthly and Railway Service Magazine explains). Today, the two are often used interchangeably (as the recent 'Save our ticket offices' campaign shows), with the term 'ticketing' perhaps capturing more of the point-of-sale transaction and issuing of tickets within stations.

2024 March 6, Dr Joseph Brennan, “England's booking offices of distinction”, in RAIL, number 1004, page 56:

With the ability of being interchanged or swapped.


downtown

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

You need to go downtown four blocks.

When you're alone and life is making you lonely / You can always go downtown

1964, Tony Hatch (lyrics and music), “Downtown”, performed by Petula Clark:

In or towards the central business district.

keskustassa oleva

in, or towards the central business district

That shot came from way downtown!

(basketball) Outside the three-point line, or generally far from the basket.


unevenly

en-adv

unevenly (comparative more unevenly, superlative most unevenly)

more unevenly (comparative)
most unevenly (superlative)


fsr

(Internet slang) Initialism of for some reason.


haphazardly

haphazardly (comparative more haphazardly, superlative most haphazardly)

more haphazardly (comparative)
most haphazardly (superlative)

Sorcery is not the exclusive prerogative of the fetish-man, but is practised haphazardly by anyone who wishes to cast a spell upon another.

1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 178:

“This claim, like Frankenstein’s Monster, has been haphazardly stitched together,” wrote Brann.

2020 November 22, Jan Wolfe, Tom Hals, quoting Matthew Brann, “U.S. judge calls Trump claim challenging Biden win in Pennsylvania 'Frankenstein's Monster'”, in Reuters, retrieved 2020-11-29:

In a haphazard manner; in a random, chaotic, and incomplete manner.


solely

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

From Middle English soly, sooly, soolly, equivalent to sole + -ly.

The new chef was solely responsible for attending the grill.

This week, officials closed all evacuation centers but two on Staten Island. Now they plan to rely solely on hotels, even as they brace for a new wave of people displaced from storm-damaged housing where they are facing winter without heat or hot water.

2012 November 20, Nina Bernstein, “Storm Bared a Lack of Options for the Homeless in New York”, in New York Times:


tête-à-tête

Borrowed from French tête-à-tête (“head-to-head”).

Swankey of the Body Guard himself, that dangerous youth, and the greatest buck of all the Indian army now on leave, was one day discovered by Major Dobbin tête-à-tête with Amelia, and describing the sport of pig-sticking to her with great humour and eloquence […]

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

In particular his tête-à-tête luncheons were described, to which, as it now turned out, practically every journalist listening had at one time or another been invited.

1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 10:

In private, between two people; head-to-head.


topless

'I saw her,' said Neptune, 'sunbaking topless.'

1985, Joan Morrison, Share House Blues, Boolarong Publications, page 43:

Not wearing any clothes on the upper body.

yläosattomana

not wearing any clothes on the upper body


then again

I think I'll take three pairs of shoes. Then again, I only plan to stay two days.

(idiomatic, informal) From another point of view; on the other hand; on second thought; again.


ninefold

From Middle English *nynefold, *niȝenfald, from Old English niġonfeald. Equivalent to nine + -fold.


haphazard

haphazard (comparative more haphazard, superlative most haphazard)

more haphazard (comparative)
most haphazard (superlative)

From archaic hap (“chance, luck”) + hazard.

"[...] I suspect that it mostly happens haphazard, though afterwards various noble reasons are invented. About marriage I am cynical.”

1924 June 4, E[dward] M[organ] Forster, chapter XXIX, in A Passage to India, London: Edward Arnold & Co., →OCLC:


mayhap

I'm one that has spoken to a King, I am: mayhap you'll never see such another […]

1871, Lewis Carroll, chapter VI, in Through the Looking-Glass:

Then I heard the rush, the stamping and neighing, of some young mares, pasturing there, as they raced to and fro, bewildered or mayhap only in play.

1895, Fiona Macleod, “The Sin-Eater”, in The Sin-Eater, The Washer of the Ford and Other Legendary Moralities, New York: Duffield & Co., page 12:

"If you're after some money," said the millionaire, "move that cat out of the way." Catweazle shook his head. "Mayhap 'tis a fetch."

1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 80:

Who would not adore Mom and admire old Ma Pettigrew? There is one of each on your street, the younger mayhap heading for the tribulations already unmurmuringly borne by the older.

1983, Peter De Vries, chapter 4, in Slouching Towards Kalamazoo, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., page 50:

(archaic, rare) Maybe; perhaps; possibly; perchance.


now and then

Compare Dutch nu en dan, West Frisian no en dan.

Call your mother now and then and let her know you care.

I'm a writer first, but I do have my HGV licence, and I use it every now and then.

2024 March 6, Pip Dunn, “Freight's future is in ISO containers”, in RAIL, number 1004, page 36:

(idiomatic) Synonym of occasionally, sometimes, intermittently.

af en toe

(idiomatic) sometimes; occasionally; intermittently


out of hand

out of hand (comparative more out of hand, superlative most out of hand)

more out of hand (comparative)
most out of hand (superlative)

The questions covered ranged from those that could be answered out of hand, through those requiring some thought and at least a second interview, to those which presented matters for further research in theoretical statistics.

1948, University of Michigan Official Publication., UM Libraries, page 175:

I still think that advice is sound, because, if justices do decide a case out of hand on the complainant's case, it is argued, as in the present appeal, that they have ruled, as a matter of law, that there was no case to answer.

1954, Justice of the peace and local government review reports.:

Without (further) thought or consideration.

без раздумий

Near-synonym: offhand

He bad to open wyde his brazen gate, / Which long time had bene shut, and out of hond / Proclaymed ioy and peace through all his state [...].

1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.xii:

Now any Man finding in hot Blood, one who with a fore-thought Felony hath murthered his Daughter, may, without tying himself to the Formalities and Circumstances of a Legal Proceeding, kill him on a sudden, and out of hand, without incurring any hazard of being attainted and apprehended by the Officers of Justice for so doing.

1653, Francois Rabelais (tr. anon), The works of Mr. Francis Rabelais, doctor in physick, volume 2, Navarre society, London:

(now rare) Immediately, forthwith, or incontinently.


topsy-turvy

topsy-turvy (comparative more topsy-turvy, superlative most topsy-turvy)

more topsy-turvy (comparative)
most topsy-turvy (superlative)

The origin of the adverb and adjective are uncertain. Topsy is probably derived from top or tops though this does not explain the -sy ending; it has been suggested that the latter comes from so (thus, top so) or from top-set or top-side, modified to match the -y ending of turvy. The term topside-turvy is mentioned in the Anglo-Irish writer Laurence Sterne’s novel, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759–1767).Turvy is probably derived from terve, turve (“to be thrown down; to fall; to dash down; to cast, throw; to turn back or down; to fold or roll over”) (obsolete) + -y (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of; inclined to’), with turve inherited from Middle English terven (“to throw (something) down; to throw (something) into confusion; to level; to resort or turn (to something); to go, move; to turn; to collapse, fall”) […], perhaps from Old English *tierfan (compare Old English tearflian (“to roll over, wallow”)) or from Old English torfian (“to launch, throw; to shoot missiles at; to stone; to be tossed”), from Proto-Germanic *turbōną (“to fling, hurl”), *turbijaną (“to turn, twist”) (whence Old English ġetyrfian (“to assail with missiles; to assault, attack”)), from Proto-Indo-European *derbʰ- (“to spin, twist”). Thus, the term as a whole may literally mean “having the top side thrown or turned down”.
The noun and verb are probably derived from the adverb and adjective.

nb...

terve, tirue, tirve, tirven, tyrve, tyrwe

der

Thou toyl'ſt in perrill, and the vvindie ſtorme, / Doth topſide-turuey toſſe thee as thou floteſt.

[1594, Robert Garnier, translated by Thomas Kid [i.e., Thomas Kyd], Pompey the Great, His Faire Corneliaes Tragedie: […], London: […] [James Roberts] for Nicholas Ling, published 1595, →OCLC, act I, signature A2, verso:

If we without his helpe can make a head / To puſh againſt a kingdome, with his helpe / We ſhal oreturne it topsie turuy down, [...]

c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

China, and Ganges, and Japan, / Are Words my Papa taught my Pen. He ſays, they're Countries to be found, / In a ſtrange World, below the Ground; / Where Folks with Feet erected treat, / And diſtant, downward hang their Head; / Fearleſs they topſy turvy run, / With naught beneath—but Skies and Sun.

1742, John Winstanley, “A Child’s Answer to an Invitation; Done by His Father”, in Poems Written Occasionally […], Dublin: […] S. Powell, for the author, →OCLC, pages 31–32:

[A]s the Parſon told us laſt Sunday, nobody believes in the Devil now-a-days; and here you bring about a Parcel of Puppets dreſt up like Lords and Ladies, only to turn the Heads of poor Country Wenches, and when their Heads are once turned topſy turvy, no wonder every thing elſe is ſo.

1749, Henry Fielding, “From which it May be Inferred, that the Best Things are Liable to be Misunderstood and Misinterpreted”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume IV, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XII, pages 231–232:

[...] Maggie [...] had stolen unperceived to her father's elbow again, listening with parted lips, while she held her doll topsy-turvy, and crushed its nose against the wood of the chair— [...]

1860, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “Mr Riley Gives His Advice Concerning a School for Tom”, in The Mill on the Floss […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book I (Boy and Girl), page 35:

Backwards or upside down; also, having been overturned or upset.

Diuilliſh it is to deſtroy a cittie, but more then diuilliſhe, to euert citties, to betraye countreies, to cause ſeruaunts to kyll their maiſters, parentes theyr children, children their parentes, wiues their huſbandes, and to turne all things topſy turuy, and yet it doth ſo, as ſhalbe declared.

1576, T[homas] R[ogers], “Of Loue”, in A Philosophicall Discourse, Entituled, The Anatomie of the Minde. […], London: […] I[ohn] C[harlewood] for Andrew Maunsell, […], →OCLC, folio 22, recto:

(figurative) Not in the natural order of things; in a disorderly manner; chaotically.

в безпорядък

not in the natural order of things; in a disorderly manner — see also chaotically


def

i can def sneak out tn. where should i meet u?

And focus on cleaning the park. But we should def get waffle fries after.

2022 Barbie: It Takes Two, episode 7 “Start Small“ at 15 minutes, Malibu to Brooklyn

Not to toot our own horn, but we def had Austin Powers on VHS. This fun pop culture costume for couples may require some planning in advance to come up with these unique costumes, but trust us—it’ll pay off!

2023 September 19, Chaise Sanders, “50 Best Halloween Costumes of All Time, From the Classics to the Truly Unique”, in Cosmopolitan:

While deets on her earnings aren't really public, we can def assume that Billie raked in a ton of dough from her Nike deal alone since each pair retails for a decent amount of $$$.

2024 September 4, Mehera Bonner, Samantha Olson, “Behold, A Breakdown of Billie Eilish's Massive Net Worth”, in Cosmopolitan:


vis-à-vis

Borrowed from French vis-à-vis (“face-to-face”).

[…]turning the seat in front so we could sit vis-a-vis

1883, William Wallace Cook, “Aquastor”, in Overland Monthly, page 14:

(archaic) In a position facing a specified or implied subject.


alphabetically

en-adv

alphabetically (comparative more alphabetically, superlative most alphabetically)

more alphabetically (comparative)
most alphabetically (superlative)

In alphabetically written languages the conventions governing the graphemic system G are intimately connected with those governing the phonemic system P

1978, Hans H. Wellisch, The conversion of scripts, its nature, history, and utilization, page 65:

(sequence) Arranged in the order of the alphabet.

أَبْجَدِيًّا

arranged in the sequence of the alphabet


trim

From Middle English trimen, trymen, trümen, from Old English trymman (“to make firm; strengthen”), from Proto-West Germanic *trummjan, from Proto-Germanic *trumjaną (“to make fast; strengthen”), from Proto-Germanic *trumaz (“firm; strong; sound”).

der

(nautical) In good order; properly managed or maintained.


when Hell freezes over

"Will you go out with him?"
"When Hell freezes over!"

"When will the sun shine in Dunedin?"
"When Hell freezes over!"

(idiomatic, slang, informal, hyperbolic) Never; not in this lifetime or a time in the unforeseeably distant future; not a chance.

wanneer Pasen en Pinksteren op een dag vallen

als Pasen en Pinksteren op een dag vallen

wenn Ostern und Pfingsten auf einen Tag fallen


full and by

We sailed full and by for quite a while before getting down to serious navigation.

(nautical) Keeping the sails full and steering by the wind.


nights

From Middle English nightes, from Old English nihtes (“at night, by night”), equivalent to night + -s (adverbial genitive suffix). Cognate with Old Frisian nachtes, Old Saxon nahtes, German nachts (all “nights, at night”).

inh

I work nights.

at night (during night-time, especially on a regular basis)


flexibly

en-adv

flexibly (comparative more flexibly, superlative most flexibly)

more flexibly (comparative)
most flexibly (superlative)


AOD

Initialism of above Ordnance Datum. Used to specify heights above mean sea level on General Arrangement and other technical drawings. Usually specified in metres, eg +62.0m.


independently

independently (comparative more independently, superlative most independently)

more independently (comparative)
most independently (superlative)

Both teams worked out the answers independently.

The business partners had radically different ideas for the company, and each decided to work on a project independently of the other.

The most likely conclusion, the researchers say, is that the Levallois method was not taken to Eurasia by African migrants, but evolved there gradually and independently.

2014 September 29, Douglas Quenqua, “Toolmaking May Have Risen Independently”, in The New York Times:


supplely

supplely (comparative more supplely, superlative most supplely)

more supplely (comparative)
most supplely (superlative)


overhead

overhead (comparative more overhead, superlative most overhead)

more overhead (comparative)
most overhead (superlative)

From Middle English owerheved, over-hed, over hede (adverb), from Old English oferhēafod (adverb), equivalent to over- + head. Compare German Low German overhoopt, överhoopt, German überhaupt.

birds flying overhead

Now we plunged into a deep shade with the boughs lacing each other overhead, and crossed dainty, rustic bridges over the cold trout-streams, the boards giving back the clatter of our horses' feet: or anon we shot into a clearing, with a colored glimpse of the lake and its curving shore far below us.

1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

[…] the influence of the minister's week-day attentions, first in creating, and afterwards in keeping up among the people of his parish their habit of Sabbath attendance. So indispensable in towns is the connexion between these two things, that were seat-rents let down at this moment to two shillings overhead, or even annihilated, so as to throw open the whole of the church room at accessible prices to the lowest of the people, we shall greatly mistake the result if we look for a great and visible increase of attendance per saltum on the part of the parish families.

1838, Thomas Chalmers, On Church Extension, page 194:

(archaic) Per head; for each individual.


separately

We've been living separately for three years.

Tackle the different parts of the climb separately before attempting the whole thing in one go.

In a separate manner; not together; apart.


in vain

in vain (comparative more in vain, superlative most in vain)

more in vain (comparative)
most in vain (superlative)

[…]that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain[…]

1863 November 19, Abraham Lincoln, Dedicatory Remarks (Gettysburg Address)^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address_(Bliss_copy)), near Soldiers' National Cemetery, →LCCN, Bliss copy, page 2:

19th c., Friedrich Nietzsche
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain.

For some time Grannie tried in vain to comfort her.

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 46:

All these great plans were in vain, however, for in the cold dawn following the "Mania" years of 1845–46 the M.B.M. & M.J.R. project was truncated to an 11+¹⁄₂-mile line from Ambergate to Rowsley.

1960 March, J. P. Wilson, E. N. C. Haywood, “The route through the Peak: Derby to Manchester. Part One”, in Trains Illustrated, page 149:

(idiomatic) Without success or a result; ending in failure.

Thou ſhalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine:[…]

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 20:7, column 2:

Methinks I see him even now in my mind's eye;— the firm and upright figure,— the step, quick and determined, — the eye, which shot so keen and so penetrating a glance,— the features on which care had already planted wrinkles, and hear his language, in which he never wasted word in vain, expressed in a voice which had sometimes an occasional harshness, far from the intention of the speaker.

1817, Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy, published 2015, page 4:

A fetishist regime attempts to annul the separation of image and spectator, to reinstall an immediate relation that promises (in vain) to provide satisfaction to desire itself.

2013, Mandy Merck, The Sexual Subject: Screen Reader in Sexuality:

This petition is the reverse side of the commandment against taking God's name in vain.

2015, Kent Gramm, The Prayer of Jesus: A Reading of the Lord’s Prayer, page 69:

McLaren's task, it seems, is to set Jesus in a more appropriate and biblical context so that we won't use his name “in vain.”

2015, Jimmy R. Watson, Big Jesus: A Pastor’s Struggle with Christology, page 119:

That's fine. I know you won't engage your word in vain.

2016, Alexandre Dumas, translated by Frank J. Morlock, The Count of Monte Cristo, Part IV (play), page 247:

(idiomatic) In a disrespectful manner, without honoring the proper meaning; insincerely or without proper respect.


serendipitously

serendipitously (comparative more serendipitously, superlative most serendipitously)

more serendipitously (comparative)
most serendipitously (superlative)

And that was a few years before the serendipitously named American politician Anthony Weiner reminded us once again that a high-powered job is no guarantee of knowing what to do with your penis, through his "sexting" use of Twitter (Snapchat hadn't been invented yet.)

2013 September 20, Holly Baxter, The Guardian:

And then unexpectedly, and serendipitously, Mr. Trump won the White House. Ending legal abortion appeared within their reach.

2019 December 1, Elizabeth Dias, Lisa Lerer, The New York Times:

By serendipity; by blind luck in combination with wisdom; by fortunate accident.


when pigs fly

Referencing the fact that pigs do not have wings and cannot fly.

List of idioms of improbability
when pigs fly

فِي الْمِشْمِش (fī l-mišmiš, literally “in the apricot [season]”)

إِذَا حَجَّتِ الْبَقَرَة عَلَى قُرُونِهَا (ʔiḏā ḥajjati l-baqara ʕalā qurūnihā, literally “when the cow goes on pilgrimage on its horns”)

لَمَّا يَنْوَر اَلْمِلْح (lammā yanwar al-milḥ, literally “when salt blossoms”)

երբ խոզը բարձրանա ծառը (erb xozə barjrana caṙə, literally “when the pig climbs up the tree”)

на святыя ніколі (na svjatyja nikóli, literally “on Saint Never[’s day]”)

на куково лято (na kukovo ljato, literally “in a cuckoo’s summer”)

猪乸会上树 (zyu¹ naa² wui⁵ soeng⁶ syu⁶, literally “when pig sows climb up the tree”)

马生角 (thiⁿ lo̍h âng-hō͘, bé seⁿ/siⁿ kak, literally “when rain is red and horses grow horns”)

烏頭白，馬生角 (wū tóu bái, mǎ shēng jiǎo, literally “when crows have white heads and horses grow horns”)

天雨粟，馬生角 (tiān yù sù, mǎ shēng jiǎo, literally “when it rains millets and horses grow horns”)

除非太阳从西边出来 (chúfēi tàiyáng cóng xībiān chūlái, literally “when the sun rises in the west”)

wanneer Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen

כשחזירים יעופו (k'shekhazirím ya'úfu, literally “when pigs fly”)

सूरज पश्चिम से उगेगा (sūraj paścim se ugegā, literally “when the sun rises in the west”)

majd ha cigánygyerekek potyognak az égből

ᑐᓗᒃᑲᑦ ᖃᑯᖅᓯᒃᐸᑕ (tolokkat qakoqsikpata, literally “when the ravens turn white”)

枯れ木に花咲く (kareki ni hana saku, literally “dead trees blossom”)

കാക്ക മലന്നു പറക്കും (kākka malannu paṟakkuṁ, literally “the crow will fly upside down”)

وقت گل نی (vaght e gol e ney, literally “when the reed plant blossoms”)

когда́ рак на горе́ сви́стнет (kogdá rak na goré svístnet, literally “when a crayfish whistles on the mountain”)

по́сле до́ждичка в четве́рг (pósle dóždička v četvérg, literally “after a small rain on Thursday”)

جب زمین اور آسمان ایک ہونگے (jab zamīn aur āsmān ek hōngē, literally “when the sky and the Earth meet”)


als

From Middle English als, variant of alse, alsa, also, from Old English eallswā, from Proto-West Germanic *allswā. More at also.


whiles

From while (noun) + -s (adverbial suffix); compare whilst.

Man, I've diverted myself whiles with the science of the stars, and can make a shape at calculating a nativity.

1927, John Buchan, Witch Wood, published 1988, page 14:

(archaic or Scotland) sometimes; at times

the good knight whiles humming to himself the lay of some majored troubadour

1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:


inexorably

inexorably (comparative more inexorably, superlative most inexorably)

more inexorably (comparative)
most inexorably (superlative)

We watched as the storm clouds advanced inexorably closer to us.

The strange group of villagers shuffled inexorably forward.

2000, Mark Gatiss, chapter 27, in Last of the Gaderene:

While it remains a burden assiduously avoided, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you, inexorably, here.

Later, they all felt guilty about having laughed, especially when it looked as if she might not be able to walk again. But she did, eventually—implacably, inexorably—with a slight limp, perhaps, although this was barely noticeable, not noticeable at all, really, unless you knew the story, unless you were watching for it.

The fact that the juggernaut of Indian English rolls inexorably on, largely unconcerned by the academic arguments taking place about it, is in itself an indicator of an endonormative force in the variety, and this can be traced historically.

2014, James Lambert, “Diachronic stability in Indian English lexis”, in World Englishes, page 114:

This magnificent picture really stopped me in my tracks when I stumbled across it. I was drawn inexorably and immediately into the compelling detail discernible on this top-quality image.

2021 December 1, Nigel Harris, “St Pancras and King's Cross: 1947”, in RAIL, number 945, page 36:

The creative commons of the internet has been gradually and inexorably enclosed, much as agricultural land was by parliamentary acts from 1600 onwards in England.

2024 May 4, John Naughton, “The internet is in decline – it needs rewilding”, in The Guardian:

In an inexorable manner; without the possibility of stopping or prevention.


all right

That went all right, I suppose.

You taught them a lesson all right! They won't be back.


aslope

From Middle English aslope, probably from or akin to Old English āslopen, past participle of Old English āslūpan (“to slip away”), from a- + slupan (“to slip”).

But the Flemynges with theyr arbalasters and theyr longe mareys pykes set aslope before them wounded so theyr horses, that they lay tumbelynge one in the others necke […]

1516, Robert Fabyan, Fabyan’s Chronicle, London: William Rastell, published 1533, Part 7:

The Bishop walks always in the same colour of the field that he is first placed in, forward and backward asloap every way as far as he lists;

1674, Charles Cotton, chapter 5, in The Compleat Gamester, London: R. Cutler, page 55:

Brisk Susan whips her Linnen from the Rope,
While the first drizzling Show’r is born aslope,

1710, Jonathan Swift, “A Description of a City Shower”, in Miscellanies, volume 4, London: Benjamin Motte, published 1733, page 141:

While the two crews were yet circling in the waters […], while aslope little Flask bobbed up and down like an empty vial, twitching his legs upward to escape the dreaded jaws of sharks;

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 134, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 617:

His wicked fortune, that had turnd aslope

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 459:

[…] On mee the Curse aslope
Glanc’d on the ground, with labour I must earne
My bread; what harm?

1667, John Milton, “Book X”, 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:

(archaic, figurative) In an unintended or unfavourable direction.


bis

Learned borrowing from Latin bis (“twice”).

lbor

(music) Twice; showing that something is, or is to be, repeated, such as a passage of music, or an item in accounts.


litro

Audio (US)

Clipping of literally + -o (diminutive suffix). Literally is pronounced (in British English) with a reduced or completely absent ⟨e⟩, which may explain the syncope of the ⟨e⟩ in this term.

yh bro i litro used a cosine graph for that q


steady

From Middle English stedy, studi, stidiȝ, perhaps continuing Old English stæþþiġ, ġestæþþiġ (“steadfast, stable, firm, staid”), equivalent to stead + -y; or calquing Middle Low German or Middle Dutch stēdig. Cognate with Saterland Frisian stoadig (“constant, continual”), West Frisian stadich (“slow”), Danish stedig, stadig, steeg, Swedish stadig, Icelandic stöðugur, German stätig, stetig.

cog

After the sprint pieces, we rowed steady for the rest of practice.

(rowing, informal) To row with pressure at a low stroke-rating, often 18 strokes per minute.


pitiful

en-adv

pitiful (comparative more pitiful, superlative most pitiful)

more pitiful (comparative)
most pitiful (superlative)

From Middle English pityful, piteful, piteeful, equivalent to pity + -ful.

‘She followed ’em, cryin’ pitiful, to the old boat on the Wall[.]’

1906, Rudyard Kipling, Puck of Pook's Hill, London: Penguin Books, published 1994, page 194:

(colloquial, dialect) In a pitiful manner; pitifully; piteously; pathetically.

mitleidig

in a pitiful manner; pitifully; piteously; pathetically


stat

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

TBH, I’d get to shopping STAT because these hoodies will for sure sell like hotcakes once season 2 premieres on June 28. So make sure to snag one for yourself before they sell out and mark your calendar for the big day!

2022 June 27, Megan Uy, “Where to Get That Cute Tie-Dye Hoodie on ‘Only Murders in the Building’”, in Cosmopolitan:


No

Variant of No., from the scribal abbreviation for Latin numero (“in number, to the number of”).


rn

(informal, Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of RN (“right now”)


sm

Lucky for the memories BMHS, thanks sm

2018, Kaleigh Lawson, “Senior Portraits”, in Billerica Memorial High School 2018: Make Your Mark, page 20:

Omg, thank you. Thank you sm. Can send smthng rn.

2019, Gemma Files, “The Puppet Motel”, in Ellen Datlow, editor, Echoes: The Saga Anthology of Ghost Stories, New York, N.Y.: Saga Press, →ISBN, page 327:

I commented, Miss you guys sm! XOXO[…]She used to hate when I texted her ILY SM!

2020, Eileen Moskowitz-Palma, The Popularity Pact (Camp Clique, book one), Philadelphia, Pa.: Running Press Kids, →ISBN:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of so much.


withershins

Alteration of widder- in widdershins (a borrowing from Middle Low German) after the English cognate form wither- (“against, anti-”).

Boils up their Livers in a Warlock's pow, Rins withershins about the Hemlock low

1763, Allan Ramsay, The Gentle Shephard:

The intellectual sweetness of those lines / That cut through time or cross it withershins.

Alternative form of widdershins (“anticlockwise”)


mn

(Philippines) Alternative form of MN (“midnight”).


sincerely

en-adv

sincerely (comparative more sincerely, superlative most sincerely)

more sincerely (comparative)
most sincerely (superlative)

From sincere + -ly, from Latin sincērus (“pure, clean, sound”).

I sincerely hope they make it home safely.

In a sincere or earnest manner; honestly.

искрено

Please consider the proposal carefully and let me know what you decide.
Sincerely,
Fred

(US) A conventional formula for ending a letter, used when the salutation addresses the person for whom the letter is intended by his or her name.


empirically

empirically (comparative more empirically, superlative most empirically)

more empirically (comparative)
most empirically (superlative)

I have no idea why this works, but empirically, it works.

Based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge.

empíricament

based on experience as opposed to theoretical knowledge

We need to test this idea empirically instead of just speculating about it.

(sciences) Based on data gathered in the real world.

실험적으로

based on data gathered in the real world


pianississimo

pianississimo (comparative more pianississimo, superlative most pianississimo)

more pianississimo (comparative)
most pianississimo (superlative)

(music) The musical notation indicating that the piece should be played quieter than pianissimo. Abbreviation: ppp.


espressivo

(music) To be played in an expressive manner.


à la carte

/ˌæ.ləˈkɑːt/

/ˌæ.læˈkɑːt/

/ˌɑ.ləˈkɑɹt/

/ˌɑ.lɑˈkɑɹt/

Unadapted borrowing from French à la carte (“on the menu; according to the card”).

ubor

There were two divisions in the restaurants I used to visit. One division, which was patronized by fairly well-to-do people, provided any number of courses from which one chose and paid for à la carte, each dinner thus costing from one to two shillings. The other division provided six-penny dinners of three courses with a slice of bread. In my days of strict frugality I usually dined in the second division.

1925-29, Mahadev Desai (translator), M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Part I, chapter xvii

By ordering individually priced items from the menu.


overboard

/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌbɔː(ɹ)d/

From Middle English overbord, overborde, equivalent to over- + board.

It was their practice to throw the scraps overboard.

Theon Greyjoy is the most well developed character on that stage, and the action comes down to him. Euron, with Yara underneath his ax, goads Theon into attack. But Theon is overwhelmed by the violence all around him, and instead he jumps overboard.

2017 July 23, Brandon Nowalk, “The great game begins with a bang on Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:

Afore we got to the shanty Colonel Applegate stuck his head out of the door. His temper had been getting raggeder all the time, and the sousing he got when he fell overboard had just about ripped what was left of it to ravellings.

1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VIII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

Over the edge; especially, off or outside of a boat.

They really went overboard with the party preparations.

In reality, brains go overboard with this sort of fear validation. They love any chance to prove a fear is valid while ignoring all the reasons it's not.

2021, Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, “What is... jealousy?”, in Let's Talk About It, →ISBN, page 190:


deiseal

Borrowed from Irish deiseal, from Old Irish dessel, from dess (“right, south”) + sel (“turn”).

Deshil Holles Eamus.

1922, James Joyce, Ulysses, section 366:

In the eyes of our early forefathers the daily course of the Sun, bringing about the alternation of light and darkness and the regular succession of the seasons, was the most striking example that man had of that divine order of the universe which served as a model for order and justice in terrestrial affairs. Hence to go dessel or righthandwise, thus imitiating the course of the sun, was not only the right way to make a journey, but was likewise beneficial in other affairs of life, and was likely to lead to a prosperous result; whereas to go in the contrary direction (tuaithbel) would be a violation of the established order and would lead to harm.

1946, T. F. O'Rahilly, Early Irish History and Mythology, Dublin, pages 296–297:


fortississimo

(music) The musical notation indicating that the piece is played louder than fortissimo.


afar

From Middle English afer, equivalent to a- (“for, on, or of”) + far.

He was seen from afar.

He loved her from afar.

At, to, or from a great distance; far away.


indiscriminately

en-adv

indiscriminately (comparative more indiscriminately, superlative most indiscriminately)

more indiscriminately (comparative)
most indiscriminately (superlative)

Travel is enlivened not only by the mixed company of French, Berbers, Arabs, and descendants of the Mediterranean-Corsairs who sit together indiscriminately, but also by itinerant vendors of macaroons, sweetmeats and the like, who, as long as they have a travel ticket, ply their wares unhindered by the [ticket] collectors.

1950 May, “A Tunisian Electric Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 335:

It was a very private thing, they felt, and not to be tossed indiscriminately about.

1968, Carl Ruhen, The Key Club, Sydney: Scripts, page 78:


needless

en-adverb

needless (comparative more needless, superlative most needless)

more needless (comparative)
most needless (superlative)

From Middle English needlees, nedelees, nedeles, equivalent to need + -less.


pillion

From Scottish Gaelic pillean (“little rug”), from Latin pellis (“animal skin, pelt”).

Riding behind the driving rider, as when positioned on the rump of a mount.


head on

While he is reasonably effusive about inter-city travel, he is heavily disparaging of all types of stopping service, including those on otherwise busy main lines. His analysis is not entirely unsound, and he tackles some of the questions head on.

2023 March 8, Gareth Dennis, “The Reshaping of things to come...”, in RAIL, number 978, page 47:


flagrante delicto

But there was still a pretty show. A thief's hand struck off flagrante delicto; a murdered woman's hair; the Abbot's axe, and other tools of crime.

1861, Charles Reade, chapter XXXVII, in The Cloister and the Hearth; or, Maid, Wife, and Widow. A Matter-of-Fact Romance., New York, N.Y.: Rudd & Carleton; London: Trübner & Co.:

And just then there came a knock and a scurrying; the police, so lamentably absent from the Calton Hill, appeared upon the scene; and the party, taken flagrante delicto, with their glasses at their elbow, were seized, marched up to the police office, and all duly summoned to appear as witnesses in the consequent case against that arch-shebeener, Colette.

1887, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 2, in The Misadventures Of John Nicholson, New York: John W. Lovell, page 13:

in flagrante delicto
in flagrante delicto#English

Alternative form of in flagrante delicto


drop-dead

My date was drop-dead gorgeous!

Carmiesha "Lil' Muddah" Vernoy had been with me since back in the day. She was more than a dime piece. She was drop-dead gorgeous and had the best pussy in the world.

2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 21:

(informal) Very impressively or spectacularly.

drop-dead date

The intruding investor (VC #2) makes an offer at a pre-money valuation of $15 million, subject to due diligence, and the expiration of the "drop dead" date, meaning the date in the initial investor's term sheet when exclusivity expires.

2003, Joseph W. Bartlett, Ross Barrett, Michael Butler, Advanced Private Equity Term Sheets and Series A Documents:

As the drop-dead date approaches, my mind becomes more focused.

2010, Richard L. Daft, The Executive and the Elephant, page 96:

If the assets [of a steel mill] were not sold by a fixed date, […]the “drop-dead” provision of the settlement agreement would take effect. Under that provision, the mills would be closed, the stay would be lifted, and the secured creditors would take possession. Probably neither the debtor nor the secured creditors believed that a sale could be completed before the drop-dead date.

2019, Lynn M. LoPucki, Elizabeth Warren, Robert M. Lawless, Secured Transactions: A Systems Approach, page 107:

(informal, not comparable, business, law) Absolutely final; being the deadline, especially in relation to a date set out in a contract upon which adverse consequences will flow if the contract has not been fulfilled.


P

(chiefly US) Alternative spelling of P.M. (“post meridiem”) or PM


clandestinely

en-adv

clandestinely (comparative more clandestinely, superlative most clandestinely)

more clandestinely (comparative)
most clandestinely (superlative)

In another moment, Louisa's arms were around her also, welcoming her to Violet Lodge, and pouring on her a thousand thanks, yet asking, with trepidation, "have you brought the dear girls clandestinely?"

1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 211:

In an illicit way, i.e. not permitted by the law or regulations.


mickle

mickle (comparative more mickle, superlative most mickle)

more mickle (comparative)
most mickle (superlative)

From Middle English mickle, michel, mikel, mochel, muchel, mukel (“much; many; large, tall; great”), from Old English miċel, myċel (“big, large; great; much”), from Proto-Germanic *mikilaz (“great, large; many, much”), from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“big, great”). The word is cognate with Faroese mikil (“large, great, much”), Icelandic mikill (“large in quantity or number; much; great”). Doublet of much and muckle.
For the adverb and noun forms, compare Middle English muchel (“extensively, greatly, much”, adverb) and Middle English muchel (“large amount”, noun).
The noun sense “a small amount” was due to the proverb many a little makes a mickle being incorrectly rendered as many a mickle makes a muckle, leading to mickle being thought to mean “a small quantity” and muckle to mean “a large quantity”, even though muckle is a variant of mickle and both mean “a large quantity”.

cog

They ſay here, […] that ye deſired not the king and England to agree, becauſe it would rack the noblemen, […] I anſwered in your name that I was aſſured you had never ſpoken it. Mr. Archibald [Douglas] is the ſpeaker of it, who I aſſure your lordſhip has been a poiſon in this matter, for they lean very mickle to his opinion.

1586 January 12, the Master of Gray [i.e., Patrick Gray, 6th Lord Gray], “[Appendix to the Second Volume] To the Right Hon. My Lord Chancellor and Secretary to His Majesty, from the Master of Gray”, in William Robertson, The History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and of King James VI. till His Accession to the Crown of England. […] In Two Volumes, 4th edition, volume II, London: Printed for A[ndrew] Millar, […], published 1761, →OCLC, page 445:

[…] I livd in a house by the Tower, which has not been repaird since Robert Consull of Gloucester repayrd the castle and wall; here I livd warm, but in my house on the hyll the ayre was mickle keen, […]

1778, Thomas Warton, “Section XXVI”, in The History of English Poetry, from the Close of the Eleventh to the Commencement of the Eighteenth Century, London: For, and sold by, J. Dodsley [et al.], →OCLC; republished as The History of English Poetry, from the Eleventh to the Seventeenth Century. […], London: Ward, Lock, and Co., […], 1875, →OCLC, page 424:

[…] I am without fenzeitnes of hart and ſpreit; and of gude reſſoun, thocht [though] my meritis were mickle greiter than of the maiſt profit that ever was, […]

1790, John Whitaker, chapter VI, in Mary Queen of Scots Vindicated. … In Three Volumes, 2nd enlarged and corrected edition, volume I, London: Printed for J[ohn] Murray, […], →OCLC, § IV, page 478:

That I wad wi' a' my heart; and mickle obliged to your honour for putting me in mind o' my bounden duty.

1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], chapter XIX, in Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 282:

(archaic, now chiefly Scotland) To a great extent.


lak

Pronunciation spelling of like, representing African-American Vernacular English.


head-on

Wave direction and frequency (period) are two factors that influence the effect of waves on a moored ship. Whether the ship responds by surging, swaying or yawing will depend on whether the waves are striking the moored vessel head-on, beam-on or quartering, the frequency of the waves and the manner in which the tanker is moored.

2015, Duncan Bruce, Tanker Jetty Safety – Management of the Ship/Shore Interface (1st 2015 ed; second ed. January 2022), 1st edition, Witherby Seamanship International, →ISBN, 3.1.2:

During the day conditions worsened quickly—for example, a 2-6-0 on the Uckfield line suddenly encountered flood water high enough to enter its ashpan and extinguish its fire—until lock gates up-river at Barcombe gave way and a tidal wave rolled down the valley meeting head-on a spring tide rolling up from the coast.

1961 January, “Talking of Trains: Flooding at Lewes”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:

And there is little research to address the issue head on. A previous study, published in 2000, surveyed doctors and found that three quarters of them said some patients addressed them by their first name.

2022 October 13, Gina Kolata, “‘Kind of Awkward’: Doctors Find Themselves on a First-Name Basis”, in The New York Times:


sine die

/ˈsʌɪni ˈdʌɪiː/

Borrowed from Latin sine diē (literally “without a day”).

bor+

Years ago […] he might have retrieved his position; but he had done what most people will do in such cases—put off the evil day sine die, and gone on increasing his enormous list of debts.

1860, Ellen Wood, East Lynne, Penguin, published 2005, page 6:

In anticipation of Dr Hassiem's release the inquest of Mr Ngubene's death, originally scheduled for 13 April, was postponed sine die.

1979, André Brink, A Dry White Season, Vintage, published 1998, page 105:

In accordance with the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council, I now adjourn the Council, sine die.

1997, Andrew Wong, “Official Record of Proceedings—27 June 1997”, in Official Record of Proceedings of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, page 1407:

Without specifying a date (for a future event); indefinitely.


H

(calendar terms) Synonym of AH: in the year of the Hegira, used to mark dates employing the Islamic calendar.


muchly

Finally he partially unbuttoned his muchly-braided coat and drew forth a package done up neatly in white tissue paper.

1912 September, Roubaix l’Abrie-Richey, “The Webfoot”, in Overland Monthly, volume LX, number 3, San Francisco, Calif., page 241, columns 1–2:

Respectable girl meet after mass. Tanks awfully muchly.

1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 11: Sirens]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 253:

Their pleasantly risque jokes were muchly enjoyed by their set of friends.

1958, Lee Forney Crawford, William Webb Crawford, Dean of Birmingham Bankers, and Family Sketches, Genealogies, Birmingham, Ala.: Roberts & Son, →OCLC, page 104:


gingerly

en-adv

gingerly (comparative more gingerly, superlative most gingerly)

more gingerly (comparative)
most gingerly (superlative)

/ˈd͡ʒɪnd͡ʒɚli/

The adverb is possibly derived from Anglo-Norman gençur and Old French gençor, gensor (“more beautiful; more polite”) [and other forms] + English -ly (suffix forming adverbs). Gençor is the comparative form of gent (“beautiful, fair, handsome; high-born, noble; of a person: pleasant, polite; of language: courteous, eloquent; courteously; elegantly, tastefully”), from Late Latin *gentus, a variant of Latin genitus (“(well-)begotten”), the perfect passive participle of gignō (“to bear, beget, give birth to; to cause, produce, yield”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (“to beget, give birth to; to produce”).
The Oxford English Dictionary notes there is a gap of a few centuries in written works between the Anglo-Norman and Old French words which date from the 12th century, and the modern French word which is only attested after the end of the 13th century. Thus, if the modern English word is derived from the Anglo-Norman and Old French words, it must have been transmitted orally or in writings now lost, perhaps as a technical term in dancing.
The adjective is derived from the adverb, possibly because -ly is also a suffix forming adjectives.

der

He placed the glass jar gingerly on the concrete step.

In an other corner, Mistris Minx, a marchants wife, that will eate no cherries, forsooth, but when they are at twentie shillings a pound, that lookes as simperingly as if she were besmeard, and iets it as gingerly as if she were dancing the canaries, […]

1592, Thomas Nash[e], Pierce Penilesse His Supplication to the Deuill. […], London: […] [John Charlewood for] Richard Ihones, […], →OCLC:

[E]nter you the chambers peaceably, locke the dores gingerly, looke vpon your vviues wofully, but vpon the euill-doers, moſt vvickedly.

1604 (first performance), Tho[mas] Dekker, Iohn Webster [i.e., John Webster], West-ward Hoe. […], London: […] [William Jaggard], and to be sold by Iohn Hodgets […], published 1607, →OCLC, Act V:

Prithee, gentle officer, / Handle me gingerly, or I fall to pieces, / Before I can plead mine.

1624 November 3 (first performance), Philip Massinger, “The Parliament of Love”, in W[illiam] Gifford, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, […], volume II, London: […] G[eorge] and W[illiam] Nicol; […] by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co. […], published 1805, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 307:

[…] Sir W. Pen made a formal speech in answer to a question of the King's, whether the lying of the sunk ships in the river would spoil the river. But, Lord! how gingerly he answered it, and with a deal of do that he did not know whether it would be safe as to the enemy to have them taken up, but that doubtless it would be better for the river to have them taken up.

1667 July 13 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “July 3rd, 1667”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VII, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1896, →OCLC, page 5:

My mother was going very gingerly in the dark along the paſſage which led to the parlour, as my uncle Toby pronounced the word wife.

1762, [Laurence Sterne], chapter V, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume V, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], →OCLC, page 37:

Purchasing a snowplow transforms Homer [Simpson] into a new man. Mr. Burns' laziest employee suddenly becomes an ambitious self-starter who buys ad time on local television at 3:17 A.M^([sic]) (prime viewing hours, Homer gingerly volunteers, for everyone from alcoholics to the unemployable to garden-variety angry loners) and makes a homemade commercial costarring his family.

2012 June 3, Nathan Rabin, “The Simpsons (Classic): ‘Mr. Plow’”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2020-10-27:

[Martin Luther] King [Jr.] was later said to have been within a sneeze or a jolt of extinction. Were it not for the pair of cops who gingerly carried him from Blumstein’s department store and the pair of surgeons who performed lifesaving surgery at Harlem Hospital there would have been no "I Have a Dream" speech and likely no national holiday honoring him.

2014 January 20, Michael Daly, “The Black and White Men who Saved Martin Luther King’s Life”, in The Daily Beast, published 14 April 2017 (update), archived from the original on 2021-01-18:

When we got there and went to our room he undressed and shut off the light as I was still doing so, and I got into bed gingerly, facing his turned back, and reached out to touch him.

2021, Megan Nolan, Acts of Desperation, Random House, →ISBN:

In a cautious and delicate manner; (very) carefully or cautiously.

предпазливо

in a cautious and delicate manner — see also carefully, cautiously

Oh! ſhe lookes ſo ſugredly, ſo ſimpringly, ſo gingerly, ſo amarouſly, ſo amiably. […] [She] is ſuch an intycing ſhee-vvitch, carrying the charmes of your Ievvels about her. Oh!

1604 (first performance), Tho[mas] Dekker, Iohn Webster [i.e., John Webster], West-ward Hoe. […], London: […] [William Jaggard], and to be sold by Iohn Hodgets […], published 1607, →OCLC, Act II:

(obsolete) Chiefly of dancing or walking: done with small, dainty steps; daintily; also, with excessive delicacy; affectedly, mincingly.