Word of the day

Tribology (noun)

1. (physics, engineering) The science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear.

Cuttlebone (noun)

1. Synonym of cuttlefish bone (“the calcareous, oval-shaped internal shell of a cuttlefish (order Sepiida), originally used in powdered form as an antacid and for absorbing moisture or polishing objects, and now chiefly as a dietary supplement for cage birds”).

Punch dialogue (noun)

1. Chiefly in a film: a retort or a witty line, commonly written to be spoken by the protagonist to excite fans of the actor delivering them.

Panathenaea (noun)

1. A festival formerly held annually in Athens to honor the city's patron goddess Athena, involving animal sacrifices, a grand procession, and, every fourth year, athletic and musical contests.

Asterisk (noun)

1. A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star.
2. The star-shaped symbol *, which is used in printing and writing for various purposes, including to refer a reader to a note at the bottom of a page or in a margin, and to indicate the omission of letters or words; a star.
3. Something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol.
4. Something which is of little importance or which is marginal; a footnote.
5. A blemish in an otherwise outstanding achievement.
6. An instrument with radiating arms resembling a star which is placed over the diskos (or paten) used during the Eucharist to prevent the veil covering the chalice and diskos from touching the host on the diskos.

asterisk (verb)

1. To mark or replace (text, etc.) with an asterisk symbol (*; noun sense 1.1); to star.

Mallgoth (noun)

1. Originally (derogatory), an ingenuine or trendy goth; now, a person who dresses in goth-inspired clothes, is interested in industrial metal and nu metal music, etc.
2. The culture or fashion style adopted by such a person.

Obituary (noun)

1. A brief notice of a person's death, especially one published in a newspaper or other publication; also (obsolete), the section of a newspaper where notices of deaths are published.
2. A brief biography of a person (especially one who is well-known) who has recently died, usually describing their life and achievements, particularly in the form of an article in a news publication or an item in a news broadcast.
3. An announcement or description of the end of something.
4. A register of deaths, especially one maintained by a religious institution; a necrology.

Circumlocution (noun)

1. A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.
2. A roundabout expression.

hell's bells (interj)

1. An expression of frustration, outrage, or surprise.

manifest (verb)

1. To show plainly; to make to appear distinctly; to display or exhibit.
2. To exhibit the lists or prepared invoices of; to declare at the customhouse.

Send-up (noun)

1. A satirical imitation of a work of art or a genre.

Obituary (noun)

1. A brief notice of a person's death, especially one published in a newspaper or other publication; also the section of a newspaper where notices of deaths are published.
2. A brief biography of a person (especially one who is well-known) who has recently died, usually describing their life and achievements, particularly in the form of an article in a news publication or an item in a news broadcast.
3. An announcement or description of the end of something.
4. A register of deaths, especially one maintained by a religious institution; a necrology.

Scriptorium (noun)

1. A room set aside for the copying, writing, or illuminating of manuscripts and records, especially such a room in a monastery.

Intersperse (verb)

1. To mix two things irregularly, placing things of one kind among things of other.
2. To scatter or insert (something) into or among (other things).
3. To diversify (something) by placing or inserting other things among (it).

Aprosdoketon (noun)

1. A figure of speech where an expected word in an idiom is replaced unexpectedly by an unusual one.

grandiloquent (adj)

1. Of a person, their language or writing: overly wordy, pompous, flowery, or elaborate.

Infix (noun)

1. A morpheme inserted in the body of a word.

front (verb)

1. To lead or be the spokesperson of a group.
2. To provide money or financial assistance in advance.
3. To assume a haughty manner, especially as a pretense.

Front (noun)
1. The side or part of an object that presents itself to view or that is normally seen or used first; the most forward part of something.
2. The foremost line or part of an armed force; the furthest position that an army has reached and where the enemy is or may be engaged.

front (adj)

1. Of or at the front.
2. Formed by raising the tongue, excluding the blade and tip, toward the hard palate.

jot (verb)

1. Typically followed by down: to write (something) quickly; to make a brief note of (something).

Jot (non)

1. The smallest letter or stroke of any writing; an iota.
2. A small, or the smallest, amount of a thing; a bit, a whit.
3. An instant, a moment.
4. A brief and hurriedly written note.

Flaneur (noun)

1. One who wanders aimlessly, who roams, who travels at a lounging pace.

Consternation (noun)

1. Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement.

Hexapod (noun)

Any organism or being with six legs.

Pyrrhic victory (noun)

1. A very costly victory, wherein the considerable losses outweigh the gain, so as to render the battle unfavorable.

iniquitous (adj)

1. Characterized by iniquity (“deviation from what is right”).
2. Morally objectionable; sinful, wicked.
3. Grossly unfair or unjust.

Stasiology (noun)

1. The study of political parties.

Mara (noun)

1. A nightmare; a spectre or wraith-like creature in Scandinavian folklore, especially one that causes terrifying visions or dreams.
2. A malicious or evil spirit.