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Word of the dayPrevious Week Next WeekMonday, December 03, 2018
beanfeast
noun [been-feest]Chiefly British Slang. (formerly) an annual dinner or party given by an employer for employees.Look it upGet to know dictionary.com
What is the origin of beanfeast?
Beanfeast is a perfectly ordinary compound of the humble bean and feast. A beanfeast was originally an annual dinner given by employers for their employees, but the word acquired the sense “festive occasion” by the end of the 19th century. Beanfeast entered English in the early 19th century.Previous DayHow is beanfeast used?
In August the annual outing, or, as it was called, the bean-feast, at the works took place. G. A. Henty, Sturdy and Strong, 1888
Why do we come? ... Simply from the primordial love of a bean-feast! W. W. Blair-Fish, "Because We Are Conventional," The Rotarian, June 1930
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Word of the daySunday, December 02, 2018
candelabrum
noun [kan-dl-ah-bruhm, -ab-ruhm]an ornamental branched holder for more than one candle.Look it upWhat is the origin of candelabrum?
Candelabrum comes straight from Latin candēlābrum, formed from the noun candēla “a candle, taper” (from the verb candēre “to shine, gleam”) and -brum, a variant of -bulum, a suffix for forming neuter nouns for tools or places. English candle (Old English candel, condel) had already been in Old English long enough to become part of its poetic vocabulary, e.g., Glād ofer grundas / Godes condel beorht “God’s bright candle glided over the grounds” in the magnificent poem “The Battle of Brunanburh” recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (c. 955). Candelabrum entered English in the 19th century.Previous DayHow is candelabrum used?
The menorah is an eight-branched candelabrum that is symbolic of the celebration of Hanukkah. José Antonio Burciaga, "An Anglo, Jewish, Mexican Christmas," Weedee Peepo, 1988
... I bade Pedro to close the heavy shutters of the room ... to light the tongues of a tall candelabrum which stood by the head of my bed--and to throw open far and wide the fringed curtains of black velvet which enveloped the bed itself. Edgar Allan Poe, "The Oval Portrait," Graham's Magazine, April 1842
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Word of the daySaturday, December 01, 2018
What is the origin of shrievalty?
Shrievalty, “the office, term, or jurisdiction of a sheriff,” is a rare word. Shrieve is one of many, many spelling variants of the Late Middle English compound noun shire-reeve. A shire is “the office of administration, jurisdiction of an office or county,” and a reeve is “a high official in charge of an administrative district.” Sheriff is an ordinary outcome of shire-reeve. The suffix -alty is taken from such political and legal terms as mayoralty (from mayoral and the suffix -ty, from Old French -tet, ultimately from Latin -tās, a suffix for forming abstract nouns from adjectives). The equally rare but more transparent noun sheriffalty was also formed from sheriff and -alty. Shrievalty entered English in the 16th century.Previous DayHow is shrievalty used?
You must give up your shrievalty immediately and I will get the Shire Court to appoint a caretaker sheriff in your place until the will of the King is known. Bernard Knight, Witch Hunter, 2004
Judges, small magistrates, officers large and small, the shrievalty, the water office, the tax office, all were to come within its purview. Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914
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Word of the dayFriday, November 30, 2018
What is the origin of modish?
The adjective modish is formed from the noun mode “fashion, current fashion” and the suffix -ish. Modish, very common in the 17th and 18th centuries, entered English in the 17th century.Previous DayHow is modish used?
It’s a work both modish and antique, apparently postmodern in emphasis but fed by the exploratory energies of the Renaissance. James Wood, "'Flights,' A Novel That Never Settles Down," The New Yorker, October 1, 2018
Describing hairstyles is not my forte, I lack the vocabulary, but there was something of the fifties film star to it, what my mother would call 'a do', yet it was modish and contemporary too. David Nicholls, Us, 2014
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Word of the dayThursday, November 29, 2018
What is the origin of keek?
Keek “to peep” is a verb used in Scotland and northern England. It does not occur in Old English but is related to, if not derived from, Middle Dutch and Middle Low German kīken “to look.” Keek dates from the late 14th century, first appearing in The Canterbury Tales.Previous DayHow is keek used?
I will be near by him, and when he keeks round to spy ye, I will bring him such a clout as will gar him keep his eyes private for ever. Alfred Ollivant, "Danny," Everybody's Magazine, Volume 6, January to June, 1902
And at that he keeks out o' the wee back window, plainly fearing that old Hornie himself was on the tracks o' him. Michael Innes, From London Far, 1946
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Word of the dayWednesday, November 28, 2018
atelier
noun [at-l-yey, at-l-yey]a workshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer.Look it upWhat is the origin of atelier?
The English noun atelier, not quite naturalized, comes from French atelier “workshop,” from Old French astelier “pile of wood chips, workshop, carpenter’s workshop,” a derivative of Old French astele “chip,” which comes from Late Latin astella “splinter,” a variant of astula, assula “splinter, chip,” diminutives of Latin assis, axis “plank, board.” Atelier entered English in the 19th century.Previous DayHow is atelier used?
Upon his arrival she began by introducing him to her atelier and making a sketch of him. Kate Chopin, The Awakening, 1899
The secret atelier is the pezzo forte of the place, a beautifully cluttered warren of objects, art pieces and ephemera. Chiara Barzini, "The Secret Atelier Behind a Roman Boutique," New York Times Style Magazine, May 16, 2018
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Word of the dayTuesday, November 27, 2018
What is the origin of tsuris?
Tsuris is from Yiddish tsures, tsores. This, in turn came from Hebrew ṣarā, plural ṣarōth meaning “troubles.” Tsuris entered English in the 1970s.Previous DayHow is tsuris used?
Graham, I want Jack's work in the show, don't give me any tsuris on this. Marc Olden, Wellington's, 1977
Initially, the series only broadly winked at the reasons for Jack’s slow-burning tsuris. Manohla Dargis, "Patriarch Faces Future: Who to Lead Nutty Clan When He Is Gone?" New York Times, December 21, 2010
