Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2018/September

1. (US, informal, somewhat derogatory) A child or young adult from a wealthy family, especially one who flaunts his or her wealth or privilege.

The comic character Richie Rich, created by Alfred Harvey and Warren Kremer, first appeared in Little Dot (issue 1) this month 65 years ago in 1953.

1. (dated) Final, last.

1. (dated) Three times.

1. (Ancient Rome, historical) An emperor who seized power by virtue of his command of the army.

The Western Roman Empire is conventionally regarded as having fallen on this day in 476 C.E., when Odoacer deposed the 16-year-old Emperor Romulus Augustulus.

1. Unimpressed with something because of over-familiarity.

1. (Greek mythology, Roman mythology) A mythological shield associated with the Greek deities Zeus and Athena (and their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) shown as a short cloak made of goatskin worn on the shoulders, more as an emblem of power and protection than a military shield. The aegis of Athena or Minerva is usually shown with a border of snakes and with the head of Medusa in the center.
2. (figuratively) Usually as under the aegis: guidance, protection; endorsement, sponsorship.

1. (Exmoor) Synonym of bad-tempered.

1. (countable) A pidgin.
   1. (uncountable, specifically, historical) A pidgin spoken by French and First Nations people in the 17th century in the region of North America now called Montreal.
2. (uncountable) Unintelligible speech; gibberish, jargon.

Today is recognized by the United Nations as International Literacy Day to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies.

1. (military) The rank or office of a colonel.

Colonel Harland David Sanders, who founded the fast food chicken restaurant chain KFC (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken), was born on this day in 1890.

1. (transitive) To make necessary; to require (something) to be brought about.

1. The act of hiding, often unsuccessfully, by ducking one's head out of view.
2. (derogatory) A policy of burying one's head in the sand, that is, ignoring the reality of a situation.

1. Full of nits.
2. (chiefly British, slang) Foolish, inane.
3. (Excessively) detailed, specific; fastidious, fussy, nit-picky.
4. (poker slang) Of a poker player: playing in an overly cautious and reactive manner.
5. (obsolete, rare) Shining; elegant, spruce.

1. (US, rail transport) An accidental head-on collision or near head-on collision of two trains.

1. (Eastern Orthodoxy) A ritual sprinkler used in some Christian rites.

Today is celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-creating Cross (or Feast of the Cross), which commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena in 326 C.E. and its recovery from the Persians in 628 C.E.

1. Especially large or powerful.

The African elephant Jumbo purchased by American showman P. T. Barnum for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus died on this day in 1885 after being accidentally hit by a locomotive.

1. (fashion) A broad sash, especially one that is pleated lengthwise and worn as an article of formal dress, as around a man's waist together with a tuxedo or dinner jacket.

1. (transitive, obsolete) To protect, keep safe (from danger).
2. (transitive, obsolete) To give (someone) an assurance or guarantee (of something); also, with a double object: to guarantee (someone something).
3. (transitive) To guarantee (something) to be (of a specified quality, value, etc.).
4. (transitive) To guarantee as being true; (colloquial) to believe strongly.
5. (transitive) To authorize; to give (someone) sanction or warrant (to do something).
6. (transitive) To justify; to give grounds for.

1. (British, informal) A Scottish nationalist who takes part in Internet activism.

The Scottish independence referendum, 2014, took place on this day four years ago.

1. The traditional flag used on European and American pirate ships, often pictured as a white skull and crossbones on a black field; the blackjack.

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, a parodic holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur (‘Ol’ Chumbucket’) and Mark Summers (‘Cap’n Slappy’), of Albany, Oregon, USA.

1. To treat with affection, care, and tenderness; to nurture or protect with care.
2. To have a deep appreciation of; to hold dear.
3. (obsolete) To cheer, to gladden.

1. One who describes a utopia.

The English writer H. G. Wells, who probably coined the word in his 1927 novel Meanwhile: The Picture of a Lady, was born on this day in 1866.

1. (transitive) To lower, as in condition in life, office, rank, etc., so as to cause pain or hurt feelings; to degrade, to depress, to humble, to humiliate.
2. (transitive, archaic) To lower physically; to depress; to cast or throw down; to stoop.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To lower in value, in particular by altering the content of alloys in coins; to debase.

1. The characteristic of being raunchy; sleaze, titillation.

1. One of several species of trees of the genus Garcinia found in South and Southeastern Asia, especially Garcinia xanthochymus.
2. The resin of the gamboge tree; a preparation of the resin used as a pigment or for medicinal purposes.
3. A deep yellow colour.

   gamboge:  

Today is Constitution Day in Cambodia. The Constitution was signed by King Norodom Sihanouk on this day 25 years ago in 1993.

1. (countable, often hunting, archaic, rare) A turning or doubling back, especially of animals to get out of the way of hunting dogs.
2. (countable, by extension) An action intended to deceive; a trick.
3. (uncountable) Cunning, guile, trickery.

1. (intransitive, rare) To bask in the sun.
2. (transitive, also figuratively, rare) To disinfect and freshen by exposing to the sun; to sun.

The song “Here Comes the Sun” by the English rock band The Beatles was released on this day in 1969.

1. A small two-masted, and later three-masted, Mediterranean transport ship with an overhanging bow and stern.

Today, the last Thursday of September in 2018, is World Maritime Day, an official United Nations day that highlights the work of the International Maritime Organization and emphasizes the importance of shipping and other maritime activities.

1. Greater in number than.
2. Beyond the prescribed or standard amount or number; excess, extra.
   1. (biology, specifically) Of an organ or structure: additional to what is normally present.
3. Beyond what is necessary; redundant.

1. (idiomatic) A slight problem; a small predicament.

1. (idiomatic, often computing) It may work differently in your situation, or be different in your experience.
2. (idiomatic) Used to express a possible difference in taste: this is just my opinion, your opinion may be different.

Today is the eve of the day when the first Ford Model T was produced by the Ford Motor Company 110 years ago, on 1 October 1908. The Model T is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile.