Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2024/December

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1

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tip of the iceberg n

(idiomatic) A small indication of a larger possibility; the first part encountered of a problem that is much bigger than it seems. On this day 65 years ago in 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was signed. The day was declared by Our Spaces as Antarctica Day to build awareness about Antarctica and to emphasize the importance of nations co-operating peacefully through science to make decisions about places beyond the boundaries of sovereign states.

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2

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pawternity leave n

Time off work granted to an employee to take care of a pet, especially a cat or dog. Today is one of two National Mutt Days in the year in the USA established by the American animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige.

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3

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ablenationalism n

The attitude that considers the qualifications of citizenship to be such that people with disabilities are exceptions. Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which was first recognized in 1992 by the United Nations to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

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4

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to one's mind prepositional phrase (idiomatic)

From one's point of view, in one's opinion. (archaic) According to one's desire or preference.

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5

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turbary n (soil science)

(uncountable) Peatland from which peat or turf may be cut for fuel; (countable) a piece of such land; a peat bog. (uncountable, by extension) (law) In full common of turbary: the right to cut peat or turf from peatland on a common or another person's land. (obsolete) Material extracted from peatland; peat. Today is declared by the United Nations to be World Soil Day to recognize the importance of soil as a vital part of nature and a contributor to human well-being. It was first commemorated 10 years ago in 2014.

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6

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wham n

A forceful blow. The sound of such a blow; a thud. (figurative) An attempt. A great success. wham interj Used to indicate the sound of a forceful blow, an explosion, etc. Used to indicate something dramatic, sudden, and unanticipated has occurred. wham v (informal) (transitive) To smash or strike (someone or something) with great force or impact; to slam, to whack. To propel (something) with great force by kicking, striking, throwing, etc. (intransitive) To smash or strike with great force or impact. To move quickly or loudly. The song “Last Christmas” by the English pop duo Wham! was released 40 years ago on 3 December 1984.

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7

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condole v

(intransitive) Followed by with: to express condolence to, or sympathetic sorrow with, someone; to lament in sympathy with someone. (obsolete) To express deep sorrow; to grieve, to lament. (transitive) (archaic or obsolete except India, often formal) To express regret or sorrow over (an undesirable event or other misfortune); to bemoan, to grieve, to lament. (obsolete) To express condolence to, or sympathetic sorrow with (someone); to lament in sympathy with (someone). (reflexive) To express or feel sorrow for (oneself); to bewail, to mourn.

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8

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trinket n

A small, showy ornament, especially a piece of jewellery. (figurative) A thing of little value; a toy, a trifle. (obsolete) A small item of food; a small dainty. (chiefly in the plural) A small item forming part of a set of equipment; an accessory, an accoutrement. (figurative, religion, derogatory) An item used in a religious rite (also, a religious rite, belief, etc.) regarded as superfluous or trivial. trinket v (transitive, rare) Often followed by out: to adorn (someone or something) with trinkets (noun sense 1). [...]

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9

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ubicate v (formal, rare)

(transitive) To find and specify the location of (someone or something); to locate. (intransitive) To take up residence in a place; to lodge, to occupy.

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10

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maladministration n

(chiefly government, uncountable) Faulty, improper, or inefficient administration or management, especially by a government body; (countable) an instance of this. (Christianity, countable, obsolete) An act of incorrectly administering a religious rite; also, a religious group that permits such a practice. Today is Human Rights Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of human rights and to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global enunciation of such rights, on this day in 1948.

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11

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thirteener n

A child who is thirteen years old. (dated) A member of the 13th Gen; a Generation Xer or Gen-Xer. (card games, especially bridge) The last playing card of a suit left after the other twelve have been played. (cricket) A hit for thirteen runs. (numismatics, dated) A coin worth thirteenpence, especially an Irish shilling (as contrasted with a British shilling which was worth twelvepence). (poetry) A thirteen-syllable line or series of lines in a poem. (US, climbing) A mountain rising to more than 13,000 feet (about 4,000 metres) but less than 14,000 feet above mean sea level. Today is International Mountain Day, which was first recognized by the United Nations in 2003 to highlight the importance of sustainable mountain development.

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12

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murrain n

(archaic, uncountable) Infectious disease; pestilence, plague; (countable) sometimes used in curses such as a murrain on someone: an outbreak of such a disease; a plague. (countable, figurative, archaic) A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution; a plague. (countable, veterinary medicine, chiefly historical) Any of several highly infectious diseases of cattle or other livestock, such as anthrax, babesiosis, or rinderpest; or a particular epizootic thereof; also, an infectious disease affecting other animals, such as poultry. (countable, by extension, phytopathology) An infectious disease affecting plants. (obsolete) (countable) A poor-quality green-salted animal hide. (uncountable) Death, especially from an infectious disease. (uncountable) Rotting flesh, especially of an animal which has died from a disease; carrion. murrain adj (figurative, obsolete) Disgusting or offensive, as if having an infectious disease; contemptible, despicable, loathsome, plaguey. Used as an intensifier: to a great extent; extreme, intense. murrain adv (figurative, obsolete) Used as an intensifier: extremely, very. Today is International Universal Health Coverage Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to emphasize that everybody should have access to good quality, affordable health care. On this day in 2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution encouraging countries to strive towards universal health coverage.

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13

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free rein n

(equestrianism) A rein of a horse held loosely so that the animal can move more freely; also, the free condition that this gives to a horse. (figurative) The absence of constraints; freedom to act, decide, or speak. Today is celebrated in the United States as the National Day of the Horse, which recognizes the contribution of horses to the economy, history, and character of the country. It was established by a Senate resolution 20 years ago in 2004.

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14

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peevish adj

Constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters; fretful, whining. Quick to become bad-tempered or cross, especially due to insignificant matters; irritable, pettish, petulant. (Canada, Northern England, figurative) Of weather: blustery, windy; also, of wind: cold and strong; bitter, sharp. (obsolete) Coy, modest. Foolish, silly. Harmful, injurious; also, mischievous; or malicious, spiteful. Impulsive and unpredictable; capricious, fickle. Obstinately in the wrong; perverse, stubborn. Out of one's mind; mad. Of a thing: evoking a feeling of distaste, horror, etc. (Northern England) Clever, skilful. peevish adv (obsolete) Synonym of peevishly (“in a peevish manner: whiningly; irritably, petulantly; etc.”)

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15

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bucket list n (idiomatic)

A list of tasks arising during a meeting that are put aside to be dealt with later. A list of things to accomplish before one's death. (by extension) A list of things to accomplish before a certain deadline or in a certain time period. (computer science) A data structure containing buckets used in a hashing algorithm. The comedy film The Bucket List, which popularized sense 2 of the term, premiered on this day in the United States in 2007.

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18

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Mameluke n

(historical) A member of various military regimes in the Middle East established and run by freed white slave soldiers, mainly from the Eurasian steppe or the Caucasus; in particular, those who formed a ruling caste in Egypt from 1250 until 1812 and in Syria from 1260 until 1516. (by extension) (derogatory) One who supports someone or something blindly or slavishly; specifically, one who supports the Roman Catholic Church in this manner. (obsolete) A slave (especially one who is a white European) in a Middle Eastern Muslim country. Today is UN Arabic Language Day, one of six such days established by UNESCO to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity and to promote the equal use of its working languages. The United Nations General Assembly approved Arabic as an official UN language on this day in 1973.

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19

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Electric Boogaloo proper n

(humorous) Used as the subtitle of an imagined sequel of a film, television show, etc. The film Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo premiered in the United States on this day 40 years ago in 1984.

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28

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grande dame n (also attributive)

A woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character, especially one who is advanced in age and haughty. A woman who is accomplished and influential, and is a respected senior figure in a particular field; a doyenne. (figurative) A very highly regarded and well-known institution or structure, or large conveyance such as a ship. The English actress Dame Maggie Smith was born on this day 90 years ago in 1934; she died on 27 September.

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30

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just-so story n

A story which supposedly explains the beginning or early development of a current state of affairs; a myth, a pourquoi story. (literature) A story, especially one for children, featuring animals as characters. (social sciences, especially anthropology, philosophy, chiefly derogatory) An untestable explanation for something, such as a form of behaviour, a biological trait, or a cultural practice. The English writer Rudyard Kipling, whose series of short stories called Just So Stories (published in book form in 1902) gave rise to the term, was born on this day in 1865.

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