xenial
[ zee-nee-uhl, zeen-yuhl ]
/ ˈzi ni əl, ˈzin yəl /
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adjective
(in ancient Greece) of or relating to the relation between host and guest, especially those from different places of origin: In Greek myth, the Cyclops is a monster who shamelessly breaks the sacred xenial laws, and feasts upon men.
warm, welcoming, and hospitable: Here are five xenial destinations in the world for tourists, based on the ratio of tourists to locals, availability of accommodation, and other factors.
Botany. of or relating to the influence of pollen on a structure other than the embryo, as on the seed or fruit: Free pollination yielded the highest weight of the berry, revealing strong xenial effects in the studied grape cultivars.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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