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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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auto-da-fé
popinjay
sagacious

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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.

auto-da-fé
aw-to-duh-FAY
noun
execution of a heretic; burning at the stake; death sentence levied by the Spanish Inquisition
1932John SteinbeckThe Pastures of HeavenFor a moment I thought this auto-da-fé was serious.1989Gore VidalHollywood...I shall ask the governor, most respectfully, to refrain from his auto-da-fé until there is a new trial…1991James P. HoganEntoverse They're rounding up all the heretics for the great auto-da-fé.

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popinjay
PAW-puhn-jay
noun
a vain or self-important person given to blathering
1958John SteinbeckOnce There Was A WarOr if you meet an ill-mannered, surly popinjay of a British officer, the British are expected to deny that he exists.1965Frank HerbertDune'This Imperial popinjay. Count Fenring, came as official observer…

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sagacious
suh-GAY-shuhs
adjective
very discerning; keen perception; keen judgment
1895R. S. BallGreat AstronomersOn his return to England, he spoke highly of the skill which Hevelius exhibited in the use of his antiquated methods, but Halley was nevertheless too sagacious an observer to be shaken in his preference for the telescopic method of observation.1929John SteinbeckCup of GoldYou are brave, you are sagacious, and you are my friend.1978Alexander GrinCrimson SailsIf Caesar considered that it was better to be the first in a village than the second in Rome, Arthur Gray did not have to envy Caesar as far as his sagacious wish was concerned.2000Eric Flint 1632Wilhelm, unlike his younger brother, is sagacious enough to realize that being the duke of a petty principality is not, all things said and done, the highest goal to which a man might aspire in this new world.

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