Category Archives: Life as we know it

Word of the Day August 4, 2018

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pontificate

vb (intr)

1. to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner. Also (less commonly): pontify
2. (Roman Catholic Church) to serve or officiate as a pontiff, esp in celebrating a Pontifical Mass
n

(Roman Catholic Church) the office or term of office of a pontiff, now usually the pope

Word of the Day July 28, 2018

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widdershins

(wĭd′ər-shĭnz′) or with·er·shins (wĭth′-)

adv.

In a contrary or counterclockwise direction: “The coracle whirled round, clockwise, then widdershins” (Anthony Bailey).
[Middle Low German weddersinnes, from Middle High German widersinnes : wider, back (from Old High German widar; see wi- in Indo-European roots) + sinnes, in the direction of (from sin, direction, from Old High German; see sent- in Indo-European roots).]
CITE: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Word of the Day- July 14, 2018

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recalcitrant

adj.

1. resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant: a recalcitrant prisoner.
2. hard to deal with, manage, or operate.

n.

3. a recalcitrant person.
[1835–45; < Latin recalcitrant-, s. of recalcitrāns, present participle of recalcitrāre to kick back]
re•cal′ci•trance, re•cal′ci•tran•cy, n.

Word of the Day July 7, 2018

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compunction

n.

1. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of conscience for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
2. any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action; qualm.
[1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Late Latin compūnctiō remorse < Latin compung(ere) to prick severely (com- com– + pungere to prick; compare point)]
com•punc′tious, adj.
com•punc′tious•ly, adv.

Word of the Day, June 23, 2018

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idiomatic

(ĭd′ē-ə-măt′ĭk)

adj.

1.

a. Peculiar to or characteristic of a given language.
b. Characterized by proficient use of idiomatic expressions: a foreigner who speaks idiomatic English.
2. Resembling or having the nature of an idiom.
3. Using many idioms.
4. Peculiar to or characteristic of the style or manner of a particular group or people.

Word of the Day May 26, 2018

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Memorial Day

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Memorial Day or Decoration Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, will be held on May 28, 2018. The holiday was held on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. It marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. The holiday, from latest to earliest, is slightly more likely to fall on May 30, May 28 or May 25 than on May 27 or May 26, and slightly less likely to occur on May 31 or May 29.
CITE: Wikipedia.com