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46 Cards in this Set
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palisade (pal-uh-SADE) noun
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1. A fence of stakes forming a defense.
2. A line of steep cliffs, especially along a river. [From French palissade, Latin palus (stake).] |
From Latin
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palisade (pal-uh-SADE) verb tr.
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To fortify with palisades.
[From French palissade, Latin palus (stake).] |
From Latin
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bagatelle (bag-uh-TEL) noun
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1. Something unimportant.
2. A kind of pinball game in which balls are struck with a cue to send them to holes at the other end. 3. A short, light piece of verse or music. [From French bagatelle (trifle), from Italian bagattella (trifle), possibly from Latin baca (berry).] |
From French
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mulligrubs (MUL-i-grubz) noun
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1. Grumpiness; colic; low spirits.
2. An ill-tempered person. [From mulliegrums, apparently from megrims (low spirits).] |
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clerisy (KLER-i-see) noun
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The well-educated class; the literati; the intelligentsia.
[From German Klerisei (clergy), from Medieval Latin clericia, from Late Latin clericus (cleric), from Greek klerikos (belonging to the clergy), from Greek kleros (inheritance).] |
From Greek
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putsch (pooch) noun
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A secretly plotted, sudden attempt to overthrow a government.
[From Swiss German Putsch (thrust, blow).] |
From Swiss German
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zeitgeber (TSYT-ge-buhr) noun
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An environmental cue, such as light, that helps to regulate the biological clock in an organism.
[Coined by 1954 by Jürgen Aschoff (1913-1998), from German Zeit (time) + Geber (giver).] |
From German
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gegenschein (GAY-guhn-shyn) noun
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A faint oval patch of light directly opposite the sun in the night sky, caused by reflection of sunlight by dust particles. Also known as counterglow.
[From German Gegenschein, from gegen (against) + Schein (glow).] |
From German
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weltschmerz (VELT-shmerts) noun
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World weariness; pessimism, apathy, or sadness felt at the difference between physical reality and the ideal state.
[From German Weltschmerz, from Welt (world) + Schmerz (pain).] |
From German
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duodecennial (doo-uh-di-SEN-ee-uhl, dyoo-) noun
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A twelfth anniversary.
[From Latin duodecennium (a period of twelve years), from duodecim (twelve) + annus (year).] |
From Latin
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duodecennial (doo-uh-di-SEN-ee-uhl, dyoo-) adjective
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Of or pertaining to a period of twelve years.
[From Latin duodecennium (a period of twelve years), from duodecim (twelve) + annus (year).] |
From Latin
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duodenum (doo-uh-DEE-nuhm, doo-OD-n-uhm, dyoo-) noun
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The first portion of the small intestine (so called because its length is approximately twelve fingers' breadth).
[From Medieval Latin, short for intestinum duodenum digitorum (intestine of twelve fingers), from Latin duodeni (twelve each), from duodecim (twelve).] |
From Latin
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dodecagon (do-DEK-uh-gon) noun
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A polygon having 12 sides and 12 angles.
[From Greek dodekagonon, from dodeka- (twelve), duo (two) + deka (ten) + -gon (angled).] |
From Greek
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duodecimal (doo-uh-DES-uh-muhl, dyoo-) adjective
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Of or relating to the number twelve.
[From Latin duodecimus (twelfth), from duodecim (twelve), from duo (two) + decem (ten).] |
From Latin
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duodecimal (doo-uh-DES-uh-muhl, dyoo-) noun
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A twelfth.
[From Latin duodecimus (twelfth), from duodecim (twelve), from duo (two) + decem (ten).] |
From Latin
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unciary (un-SEE-uh-ree) adjective
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Equal to a twelfth part.
[From Latin unciarius, from uncia (a twelfth part) which is also the source of the words ounce and inch. An inch is one twelfth of a foot but what about the ounce? The original pound was the troy pound having 12 ounces.] |
From Latin
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Pyrrhic victory (PIR-ik VIK-tuh-ree) noun
eponym |
A victory won at too great a cost.
[After Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who suffered staggering losses in defeating the Romans.] |
Eponym
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casus belli (KAY-suhs BEL-i, rhymes with eye, BEL-ee) noun plural casus belli
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An action or event that causes or is used to justify starting a war.
[From New Latin casus belli, from Latin casus (occasion), belli, genitive of bellum (war).] |
From Latin
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fetial (FEE-shuhl) adjective, also fecial
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Relating to declarations of war and treaties of peace.
[From Latin fetialis, a member of the Roman college of priests, who performed the rites in such matters.] |
From Latin
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polemology (po-luh-MOL-uh-jee) noun
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The science and study of human conflict and war.
[From Greek, polemos (war) + -logy (study).] |
From Greek
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spoliation (spo-lee-AY-shun) noun
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1. The act of pillaging and plundering.
2. Seizure of neutral ships at sea in time of war. 3. The deliberate destruction or alteration of a document. [From Middle English, from Latin spoliation- (stem of spoliatio), from spoliatus, past participle of spoliare (to spoil).] |
From Latin
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Parthian shot (PAR-thee-uhn shot) noun
toponym |
A hostile remark made in departing.
[After the natives of Parthia, an ancient country in southwest Asia.] |
Toponym
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fletcher (FLECH-uhr) noun
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A maker of arrows.
[From Middle English fleccher, from Old French flechier, from fleche (arrow).] |
From French
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bull's-eye (bulz eye) noun
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1. The center of a target.
2. A direct hit. 3. A convex lens or a lantern with such a lens in it. [Origin unknown.] |
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toxophilite (tok-SOF-uh-lyt) noun
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One who is fond of or expert at archery.
[Coined by Roger Ascham (1515-1568), scholar and writer, as a proper name and the title of his book Toxophilus, from Greek toxon (bow) + -philos (loving).] |
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best gold (best gold) noun
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The shot nearest the exact center of the bull's-eye.
[The centermost circle (also known as bull's-eye) in a target is yellow or gold, hence the shot nearest to it is called the best gold.] |
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apparatchik (uh-pah-RAH-chik) noun
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Member of the (Soviet) bureaucracy; now extended to apply to any inflexible organisation man, particularly in a political party.
[From Russian apparat (apparatus, the government machine or structure) + chik (agent).] |
From Russian
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au contraire (oh kon-TRAIR) noun
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On the contrary.
[From French au contraire (on the contrary).] |
From French
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feng shui (fung SHWAY) noun
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Describing the network of intangible influences, positive and negative, that some believe to operate in a place, knowledge of which is necessary in discovering the most propitious site for putting up a building, staging an event, etc.
[From Chinese feng (wind) and shui (water).] |
From Chinese
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gestalt (gesh-TALT) noun
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Shape or pattern; most often used in psychology to describe a theory or approach which aims to see something as a whole rather than breaking it into separate parts
[From German gestalt (form, shape).] |
From German
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papabile (pa-PA-bi-lay), also papable adjective
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Eligible or suitable to become a pope; fitted for high office.
[From Italian papabile (worthy to be pope), from papa (pope) + -bile, equivalent to -ble (able).] |
From Italian
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publican (PUB-li-kuhn) noun
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1. A tax collector.
2. An owner or manager of a pub or hotel. [From Latin publicanus, from publicum (public revenue), from publicus (public), from populus (people).] |
From Latin
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thanatopsis (than-uh-TOP-sis) noun
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A reflection upon death.
[From Greek thanatos (death) + -opsis (appearance, view).] |
From Greek
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impost (IM-post) noun
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1. A tax or a similar mandatory payment.
2. The weight a horse must carry in a handicap race. 3. The top part of a pillar of a wall, usually projecting in the form of an ornamental molding, on which an arch rests. [From Latin imponere (to impose), from ponere (to place).] |
From Latin
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anabiosis (an-uh-bi-O-sis) noun
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A return to life after death or apparent death.
[From Greek anabiosis (coming back to life), from anabioun (to return to life), from ana- (back) + bio- (life).] |
From Greek
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capitation (kap-i-TAY-shuhn) noun
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1. A counting of heads.
2. A uniform tax assessed by the head; a poll tax. 3. A fee extracted from each student. [From Late Latin capitation- (poll tax), from caput (head).] |
From Latin
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belles-lettres (bel-LET-ruh) noun
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Literary works valued for their aesthetic qualities rather than information or instruction.
[From French belles (fine) + lettres (letters, literature).] |
From French
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orihon (OR-ee-hon) noun
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A book or manuscript folded like an accordion: a roll of paper inscribed on one side only, folded backwards and forwards.
[From Japanese, ori (fold), + hon (book).] |
From Japanese
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amphigory (AM-fi-gor-ee) noun, also amphigouri
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A nonsensical piece of writing, usually in verse form, typically composed as a parody.
[From French amphigouri, of obscure origin.] |
From French
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conspectus (kuhn-SPEK-tuhs) noun
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A general survey, synopsis, outline, or digest of something.
[From Latin conspectus, past participle of conspicere, from con- (complete) + spicere (to look).] |
From Latin
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magnum opus (MAG-num OH-puhs) noun (plural magnum opuses or magna opera)
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A great work of literature, music, art, etc., especially the finest work of an individual.
[From Latin magnum, neuter of magnus (large), opus (work).] |
From Latin
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oniomania (O-nee-uh-MAY-nee-uh, -MAYN-yuh) noun
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Compulsive shopping; excessive, uncontrollable desire to buy things.
[From Latin, from Greek xnios (for sale), from onos (price) + -mania.] |
From Greek
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garbology (gar-BOL-uh-jee) noun
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The study of a society or culture by examining what it discards.
[From garbage (which was originally the word for offal from fowls) + -logy (study).] |
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onychophagia (on-i-ko-FAY-juh, -jee-uh) noun
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The practice of biting one's nails.
[From Greek onycho-, from onyx (nail) + -phagia (eating).] |
From Greek
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philography (fi-LOG-ruh-fee) noun
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The practice of collecting autographs.
[From Greek philo- (loving) + -graphy (writing).] |
From Greek
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theophany (thee-OF-uh-nee) noun
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An appearance of a god to a person.
[From Medieval Latin theophania, from Late Greek theophaneia, from Greek theo- (god) + -phaneia (to show).] |
From Greek
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