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

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1

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glogg n

A Scandinavian version of vin chaud or mulled wine; a hot punch made of red wine, brandy and sherry flavoured with almonds, raisins and orange peel

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intersperse v

To mix two things irregularly, placing things of one kind among things of other; specifically: To scatter or insert (something) into or among (other things), as Nature interspersed dandelions among the petunias, or To diversify (something) by placing or inserting other things among (it), as Nature interspersed the petunias with dandelions

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5

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archeress n

A female archer, a woman who shoots an arrow from a bow: Elizabeth deigned to show her skill as an archeress, to the detriment of the dappled deer in the wide park beyond (John Berwick Harwood)

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blunderbuss n

An old style of muzzleloading firearm and early form of shotgun with a distinctive short, large caliber barrel that is flared at the muzzle, therefore able to fire scattered quantities of nails, stones, shot, etc. at short range: Timothy was excited to find a toy blunderbuss waiting under the Christmas tree

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9

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pass muster v

(idiomatic) To meet or exceed a particular standard. (idiomatic) To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection. Every year children hope they pass muster with Santa Claus and make it onto his "nice" list

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10

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canary in a coal mine n

(idiomatic) Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early indicator of such conditions; something which warns of the coming of greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare

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12

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tin anniversary n

The tenth anniversary (yearly recurrence) of an event, especially a wedding. Today, 12.12.12, is the tin anniversary of Wiktionary's founding. Happy Wiktionary Day! In the past, it was customary to give a couple gifts made of tin for their tin anniversary

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14

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instar n

Any one of the several stages of postembryonic development which an arthropod undergoes, between molts, before it reaches sexual maturity: the hopper was placed in a box in its first instar. An arthropod at a specified one of these stages: first and second instars of this species are more susceptible to H. bacteriophora than later instars. A stage in development: "photographs of the landlady’s children in all their instars" (Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita)

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16

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tergiversation n

The act of abandoning something or someone, of changing sides; desertion; betrayal. The act of evading any clear course of action or speech, of being deliberately ambiguous; equivocation

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solstitial adj

Pertaining to a solstice: a solstitial point, the solstitial meridian plane, avenues with a solstitial orientation. Occurring on a solstice: the solstitial half-moon, a solstitial event

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22

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rebirth n

Reincarnation, new birth subsequent to one's first: rebirth of the soul in a new body. Revival, reinvigoration: the rebirth of feminism, the rebirth of the Handelian oratorio. Spiritual renewal: rebirth in Christ, the doctrine of rebirth through baptism

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23

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relict n

Something which, or someone who, survives or remains after the loss of others (compare relic). (archaic) The surviving member of a married couple; a widow or widower. (biology, ecology) A species, organism or ecosystem which was once widespread but which is now found only in a few areas: some think the Loch Ness monster is a relict from the age of dinosaurs. (geology) A structure or other feature which has survived from a previous age: dark rims are a relict of a primary interaction between basalt and seawater. (linguistics) A word or language which survives as an archaicism

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nobble v

(UK, Australia, slang) To injure or obstruct intently; batter. (UK, slang) To gain influence by corrupt means or intimidation

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