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Monday, February 28, 2022

In other words, proper nouns

  • Ananda, noun. A state of absolute bliss.
  • Ballyhack, noun. Hell.
  • Belsnickel, noun. In certain North American communities, esp. those of German origin: a person who goes about merrymaking at Christmas or New Year in disguise, often visiting the houses of neighbors, friends, and relatives to play pranks or beg for small gifts or refreshments.
  • Fourth Estate, noun. (sometimes in lower case) The journalistic profession or its members; the press (referring to it as the “fourth branch” of government, the term indicates the role and the importance of the free press in a democratic society).
  • Ginny Gall, noun. An imaginary place characterized as remote, unpleasant, or harsh; especially, a suburb or outer region of hell.
  • Gulag, noun. The penal system of the U.S.S.R. consisting of a network of forced labor camps. (Gulag is an acronym for Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei, or Main Camp Administration.)
  • May queen, noun. A girl or young woman chosen to be crowned in traditional celebrations of May Day.
  • Pater Noster (also paternoster), noun. (when capitalized) in the Roman Catholic Church the Lord’s Prayer, especially in Latin (from the opening words, in Latin, “Our Father”); or generically, a fixed recitation of prayer. Also, an elevator consisting of a series of linked doorless compartments moving continuously on an endless belt.
  • Porlock, noun. A person who interrupts at an inconvenient moment.
  • Potter’s Field, noun. (sometimes in lower case) A piece of ground reserved as a burial place for strangers and the friendless poor.
  • Puritan, noun. A member of a group in the 16th & 17th centuries within the Church of England, demanding the simplification of doctrine and worship, and greater strictness in religious discipline; (lowercase) a person who is strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so.
  • Queenborough mayor, noun. A mayor who is attended by the full ceremony of his office, but has no real power or authority (or any position of pomp without power).
  • Ramism, noun. (Philosophy) A philosophical system developed by Petrus Ramus, based on a controversial revised version of Aristotelian logic.
  • Scotch verdict, noun. A verdict of not proven: acceptable in certain cases in Scottish criminal law; any inconclusive decision or declaration.
  • Skil Saw, noun. A trademark name of a portable electric saw, often used generically for any portable circular saw.
  • The Academy, noun. A collective noun representing the aggregate of higher education as a single entity.

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