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coelostat (ˈsiːləˌstæt#pronListen("coelostat" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_coelostat.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- an astronomical instrument consisting of a plane mirror mounted parallel to the earth's axis and rotated about this axis once every two days so that light from a celestial body, esp the sun, is reflected onto a second mirror, which reflects the beam into a telescope Compare #velocityLinkStart("
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-coelostat_1.1-hom_-siderostat_1
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siderostat")siderostat#linkEnd
Word Origin
C19 coelo-, from Latin caelum heaven, sky + -stat
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j'adoube French (ʒadub)
Definitions
exclamation
- chess an expression of an intention to touch a piece in order to adjust its placement rather than to make a move
Word Origin
literally: I adjust
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masstige (mæˈstiːʒ#pronListen("masstige" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_masstige.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- the impression of exclusivity in goods that are affordable for many people
adjective
- (of goods) produced by a luxury brand but intended for the mass market
Word Origin
C21: from mass (market) + (pres)tige
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gandy dancer (ˈɡændɪ#pronListen("gandy dancer" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_gandhi.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- slang a railway track maintenance worker
Word Origin
C20: of uncertain origin
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cockatrice (ˈkɒkətrɪs#pronListen("cockatrice" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_cockatrice.mp3");-ˌtraɪs)
Definitions
noun
- a legendary monster, part snake and part cock, that could kill with a glance
- another name for #velocityLinkStart("
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-cockatrice_1.1-hom_-basilisk_1
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basilisk")basilisk (sense 1)#linkEnd
Word Origin
C14: from Old French cocatris, from Medieval Latin cocatrix, from Late Latin calcātrix trampler, tracker (translating Greek ikhneumon ichneumon), from Latin calcāre to tread, from calx heel
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cucking stool (ˈkʌkɪŋ#pronListen("cucking stool" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_cucking_stool.mp3"))
Word Origin
C13 cucking stol, literally: defecating chair, from cukken to defecate; compare Old Norse kúkr excrement
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morganatic (ˌmɔːɡəˈnætɪk#pronListen("morganatic" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_morganatic.mp3"))
Definitions
adjective
- of or designating a marriage between a person of high rank and a person of low rank, by which the latter is not elevated to the higher rank and any issue have no rights to the succession of the higher party's titles, property, etc
Alternative Forms
ˌmorgaˈnatically adverb Word Origin
C18: from the Medieval Latin phrase mātrimōnium ad morganāticum marriage based on the morning-gift (a token present after consummation representing the husband's only liability); morganātica, ultimately from Old High German morgan morning; compare Old English morgengiefu morning-gift
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zwitterion (ˈtsvɪtərˌaɪən#pronListen("zwitterion" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_zwitterion.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- chemistry an ion that carries both a positive and a negative charge
Alternative Forms
zwitterionic (ˌtsvɪtəraɪˈɒnɪk#pronListen("zwitterionic" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_zwitterionic.mp3")) adjective Word Origin
C20: from German Zwitter hermaphrodite + ion
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vug or vugg or vugh(vʌɡ#pronListen("" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_vug.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- mining a small cavity in a rock or vein, usually lined with crystals
Alternative Forms
ˈvuggy ˈvughy adjective Word Origin
C19: from Cornish vooga cave
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polysyndeton (ˌpɒlɪˈsɪndɪtən#pronListen("polysyndeton" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_polysyndeton.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- rhetoric the use of several conjunctions in close succession, esp where some might be omitted, as in the use of several conjunctions in close succession, esp where some might be omitted, as in he ran and jumped and laughed for joy
- Also called syndesisgrammar a sentence containing more than two coordinate clauses
Word Origin
C16: poly- + -syndeton, from Greek sundetos bound together
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zoomorphism (ˌzəʊəˈmɔːfɪzəm#pronListen("zoomorphism" "/media/sounds/e/en_/en_gb/en_gb_zoomorphism.mp3"))
Definitions
noun
- the conception or representation of deities in the form of animals
- the use of animal forms or symbols in art, literature, etc
Alternative Forms
ˌzooˈmorphic adjective
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