low-water mark
noun
the lowest point reached by a low tide.
something indicating the bottom of a decline.
the lowest or least admirable level: the low-water mark of political chicanery.
QUIZZES
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We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
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Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of low-water mark
First recorded in 1520–30
Words nearby low-water mark
low-ticket, low tide, lowveld, low-velocity zone, low water, low-water mark, low wine, lox, loxodont, loxodrome, loxodromic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for low-water mark
I'm at low-water-mark myself—only one bob and a magpie; but, as far as it goes, I'll fork out and stump.
Oliver Twist, Illustrated|Charles DickensWhen did he ever go down to low-water-mark, to make an ousting of tide-waiters?
The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1|Daniel Webster
British Dictionary definitions for low-water mark
low-water mark
noun
the level reached by seawater at low tide or by other stretches of water at their lowest level
the lowest point or level; nadir
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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