Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2012/February

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1

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a priori adj

(logic) Based on hypothesis rather than experiment. Self-evident, intuitively obvious (linguistics, of a constructed language) Developed entirely from scratch, without deriving it from existing languages

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dystopia n

A vision of a future that is a corrupted (usually beyond recognition) utopian society. A miserable, dysfunctional state or society that has a very poor standard of living. (medicine) Anatomical tissue that is not found in its usual place

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4

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sororate n

The custom of the marriage of a man to the sister of his wife, usually after the wife has died. A marriage according to this custom

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5

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inflicted insight n

(psychology) Unsolicited revelation of aspects of one’s character, usually as a result of a deceitful experiment that has psychological dimensions, and especially where this results in emotional trauma and prolonged anxiety

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11

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thin-film interference n

(optics) Interference of light caused by its reflection from both boundaries of a thin film of a transparent material

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14

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agape n

(Christianity) The love of God for mankind, or the benevolent love of Christians for others. Spiritual, altruistic, beneficial love which wills good for others

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heisenbug n

(computing) A software bug which fails to manifest itself during debugging; a problem that cannot be diagnosed in the debugger because it does not occur in that environment

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20

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slash fiction n

A work of fiction (frequently fanfiction) based on celebrities or fictional characters, usually of the same gender, involved in a romantic and/or sexual relationship

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25

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pipette n

A small glass tube, often with an enlargement or bulb in the middle, and usually graduated, used for transferring or delivering measured quantities of a liquid

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postremogeniture n

Inheritance by the last-born child of the entirety of, or of a privileged position in, a parent’s wealth, estate, or office

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28

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kettle of fish n

An awkward situation; a predicament. A situation which is recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation, and which is not necessarily unfavorable

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29

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unflappable adj

Remaining composed and level-headed at all times; unswayed by adversity or excitement; impossible to fluster; not becoming frustrated or irritated easily

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