原文链接 原文链接 Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for August 18, 2020 is: braggadocio • \brag-uh-DOH-see-oh\ • noun 1 a : empty boasting b : arrogant pretension : cockiness 2 : a person given to arrogant boasting : braggart Examples: “The musical numbers, all penned by Miranda, slide easily from the braggadocio of ’90s rap to the lilt of Harlem jazz and beyond. Miraculously, nothing sounds excessively show-tuney.” — Stephanie Zacharek, Time , 30 June 2020 “It’s the first time in his life that Jack has hit anyone, but there are a lot of intangibles behind it (all those fake fights and phantom punches thrown, all that idle braggadocio from stunt men between takes), and with a beginner’s luck it lands just right on the side of Petty’s face….” — Daniel Pyne, Twentynine Palms , 2010 Did you know? Though Braggadocio is not as well-known as other fictional characters like Pollyanna, the Grinch, or Scrooge, in lexicography he holds a special place ...
原文链接 原文链接 Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for December 26, 2019 is: whipsaw • \WIP-saw\ • verb 1 : to saw with a whipsaw 2 : to beset or victimize in two opposite ways at once, by two-phase operation, or by the collusive action of two opponents Examples: The community has been growing steadily safer and more prosperous after years of being whipsawed by climbing crime rates and plunging employment. “In a study that is bound to be controversial—and confusing for consumers who feel whipsawed by conflicting nutrition advice—researchers from seven countries have reported finding few health benefits associated with cutting back on red or processed meats.” — Mari A. Schaefer, The Philadelphia Inquirer , 30 Sept. 2019 Did you know? A whipsaw is a type of hand-powered saw worked by two people, one of whom stands on or above the log being sawed and the other below it, usually in a pit . The tool dates back to the 15th century, but it was not until the 19th century that an...
原文链接 原文链接 Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day for July 4, 2020 is: aphelion • \af-EEL-yun\ • noun : the point farthest from the sun in the path of an orbiting celestial body (such as a planet) Examples: “Our planet reaches aphelion only once a year, and the event typically falls approximately 14 days after the June solstice, which marks the first day of summer for the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter for the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, perihelion happens two weeks after the December solstice.” — Hanneke Weitering, Space.com , 4 July 2019 “Currently about 34 AU from the Sun, Pluto is still slowly approaching its aphelion , the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun, where it will lie nearly 50 AU from our star.” — Alison Klesman, Astronomy , 3 Apr. 2020 Did you know? Aphelion and perihelion are troublesome terms. Which one means a planet is nearest to the sun and which means it is farthest away? An etymology lesson may help ...
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