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I'm CJ Cooney, a writer on communication, ideas, culture and history. This blog is a chronicle of my adventures in lexicography.

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If reading were a sin, the average person today would be a saint.  And this dictionary in progress would be blasphemy. More...

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insouciance
abaft

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REFERENCEER
REF-ren-sear. Noun. 1. Anyone who enjoys reading or browsing dictionaries, thesauri, encyclopedias, and other sundry reference materials. 2. A publisher of reference material. 3. CJ's book blog adventure.

insouciance
in-SOO-see-uhns
noun
nonchalance; without due concern
1937Agatha ChristieDeath on the NileThere was now no insouciance, no malicious defiance, no dark flaming triumph.1959James A. MichenerHawaiiHis men also found him fun to be with, for he posed as having the insouciance that all young men in uniform like to think they have, and his company was one of the best.1971Frederick ForsythThe Day of the JackalIn a small office near the Porte des Lilas the insouciance did not penetrate.

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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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abaft
a-BAFT
adverb
towards the stern of the ship
1903Joseph ConradFalkOn these days you could make out that ship at a great distance by the multi-coloured grotesque riot going on abaft her mizzen mast.1939Robert A. HeinleinMisfitHis mate read the exterior dials of the stereoscope. 'Plus point two, abaft one point three, slight drift astern.' He shifted to radar and added, 'Range seven nine oh four three.'1943Curt Siodmak and Ardel WrayI Walked With a ZombieEXT. DECK OF SCHOONER - NIGHT Betsy is seated on the cabin top just abaft of the foremast. She is looking out toward the sea and her expression is ecstatic. She is completely lost in the beauty that she feels, sees and smells.1979Frederick ForsythThe Devil's AlternativeThe ship was heading east-northeast to clear Cape Ince, so that as he shielded his eyes and gazed abaft the beam, the noon sun was almost straight in his face.1998Patrick O'BrianThe Hundred DaysThe breeze is veering again, said the first. It will be abaft the beam directly.

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