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Word of the dayPrevious Week Next WeekThursday, November 29, 2018
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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.See Full DefinitionWhat 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
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Word of the dayMonday, November 26, 2018
misinformation
noun [mis-in-fer-mey-shuhn]false information that is spread, regardless of whether there is intent to mislead: In the chaotic hours after the earthquake, a lot of misinformation was reported in the news.See Full DefinitionWhat is the origin of misinformation?
Misinformation simply means wrong or false information; it does not necessarily imply deception or lying. Indeed, it is often difficult to determine from the context whether the misinformation is simply a mistake or a deliberate lie. Misinformation is a compound formed from the Germanic prefix mis- (also miss-) “wrong, bad.” (Mis- does not occur in Latin or Greek: in Latin misinformation would be something like mala nuntiātiō; the Greek would be kakḕ angelía.) Information comes ultimately from Late Latin informātiō (stem informātiōn-), one of whose meanings is “instruction, teaching.” Disinformation on the other hand, is deliberately false and meant to deceive. English disinformation is a calque, a loan translation of Russian dezinformátsiya, which is based on the French verb désinform(er) “to misinform.” Misinformation entered English in the 16th century (disinformation entered English in the mid-20th century).Previous DayHow is misinformation used?
Facebook and other social platforms have been fighting online misinformation and hate speech for two years. Barbara Ortutay, AP News, November 3, 2018
We’ve got Pinkerton so full of misinformation now that he truly thinks General Lee has a million men under arms, and that we’re fixing to kidnap Lincoln. Gore Vidal, Lincoln, 1984
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Word of the daySunday, November 25, 2018
What is the origin of serry?
The uncommon verb serry has always had a military sense “to press close together in ranks.” Serry comes from French serré, the past participle of serrer “to press together, crowd.” French serrer comes from Italian serrare “to close ranks,” from Vulgar Latin serrāre, from Latin serāre, “to lock, bolt.” Serry entered English in the 16th century.Previous DayHow is serry used?
"Serry your ranks, there," said the Major amiably as they edged past. Edmund Crispin, The Glimpses of the Moon, 1977
Fish laid to serry like roofing tiles, glinting in their own oils. Gregory Maguire, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, 1999
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Word of the daySaturday, November 24, 2018
waggish
adjective [wag-ish]roguish in merriment and good humor; jocular; like a wag: Fielding and Sterne are waggish writers.See Full DefinitionWhat is the origin of waggish?
The origin of waggish is uncertain. It was first recorded in 1580–90.Previous DayHow is waggish used?
He was always ready for either a fight or a frolic; but had more mischief than ill will in his composition, and, with all his overbearing roughness, there was a strong dash of waggish good humor at the bottom. Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 1820
They had recognized the goodness of his heart, the charm of his glance, his waggish temperament. Fred Chappell, Look Back All the Green Valley, 1999
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Word of the dayFriday, November 23, 2018
doorbuster
noun [dawr-buhs-ter, dohr-]Informal. a retail item that is heavily discounted for a very limited time in order to draw customers to the store. b. the price of such an item.See Full DefinitionWhat is the origin of doorbuster?
Doorbuster originally (in the 1890s) meant “one who breaks into or forces his way into a room or building.” By the first part of the 20th century, doorbuster also meant “a retail item heavily discounted for a short time to attract customers,” and towards the end of the 20th century, a doorbuster meant “a tool or device to force doors open.” The words bust and buster arose in the mid-17th century as regional or colloquial pronunciations of burst and burster, as also happened with curse and cuss, arse and ass, and parcel and passel.Previous DayHow is doorbuster used?
At night, they slept in sleeping bags and hammocks as they prepared for the year's biggest competition: beating their neighbors to discounted doorbusters. Abha Bhattarai, "The Black Friday frenzy officially begins today. But many say the thrill is gone." Washington Post, November 23, 2017
Stores run “doorbuster” sales on the day after Thanksgiving, offering huge markdowns for a few hours, or “one-day sales” every day, because fostering a sense of time pressure, however artificial, makes shoppers more willing to buy. James Surowiecki, "A Buyer's Christmas," The New Yorker, December 24, 2007
