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trencherman TREN-chur-muhn noun a person who eats heavily; a person who eats to the point of excess 1891VariousPunch (Vol. 100, May 23, 1891)Lower down sat John Tooker, 'Girt Jan Doubleface' he was ever called, not without a sly hint of increasing obesity, for John, though a mighty man of thews and sinews, was no small trencherman, and, as the phrase is, did himself right royally whenever porridge was in question.1930John Buchan Castle GayDougal, though very hungry and usually a stout trencherman, had not enjoyed his luncheon. 1997Nelson DemillePlum IslandDr. Zollner was arranging his large lunch in front of him with the expertise of a real trencherman.Labels: John Buchan, Nelson Demille, Various
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vade mecum VAY-dee MEE-kuhm noun a handy reference book; a manual; something carried around for convenience of reference 1829Various The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction (7 February 1829)To these are superadded the usual contents of a pocket book, so as to render the present volume a desirable vade-mecum for the operative, the manufacturer, and engineer.1910O. HenryStrictly BusinessSo, driven to the wall, we go for our subject-matter to the reliable, old, moral, unassailable vade mecum—the unabridged dictionary. 1978James A. MichenerChesapeakeAnd she handed him a small, poorly printed volume called The Industrious Boy's Vade Mecum.1990Robertson DaviesA Voice From the AtticThey share with a great part of literate mankind the dream of the Wondrous Book, the invaluable Vade Mecum, in which the answer to their special question is to be found.Labels: James A. Michener, O. Henry, Robertson Davies, Various
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naïf naw-EEF adjective, noun a naïve person; a credulous person 1860Various Atlantic Monthly (22 June 1860)There is something charmingly naïf in thus throwing in the company as a succedaneum to the dinner, and carefully segregating the widow from the rest of mankind as a distinct species. 1889Leo TolstoyFruits of CultureLEONÍD FYÓDORITCH: It is quite evident he also is a medium. Especially as he is very like Home in appearance. You remember Home—a fair-haired naïf sort of fellow?1935Hugh WalpoleThe Inquisitor...because of his physical size, his voice, his laugh and something attractively naïf in his personality people laughed at him indulgently.1992Martin Cruz SmithRed SquareA naïf might ask why Minin hadn't gone to the Lenin's Path Collective. Arkady knew from experience that there were two types of investigations: one that uncovered information, and the more traditional type that covered it up.2003Neal Stephenson QuicksilverHmm, you are well-informed, for a political naif.Labels: Hugh Walpole, Leo Tolstoy, Martin Cruz Smith, Neal Stephenson, Various
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Malthusian mal-THOO-zhuhn adjective relating to or conforming to the theory of Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) which holds: populations increase faster than the resources needed to support the increase, and, if unchecked, will result in all-pervasive poverty, disease, and starvation 1832Various The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction (29 Sept 1832)We have besides safety for danger—accelerated speed without inhumanity—gain of time—of accommodation—of money—and over and above all, as a non-consumer of food, we have by the substitution what will remove the host of Malthusian ills to a period of almost indefinite duration. 1899Charles Dudley Warner That Fortune Everybody knows that it is full of the most gamy and beautiful fish in the world—namely, the speckled trout, whose honest occupation it is to devour whatever is thrown into the pool—a body governed by the strictest laws of political economy in guarding against over-population, by carrying out the Malthusian idea, in the habit the big ones have of eating the little ones. 1988Robert Ludlum The Icarus AgendaIf it were otherwise, you'd be talking about another system of government that doesn't permit the Malthusian law of economic failure.1996Joyce Carol OatesWe Were the MulvaneysAs a Harvard Ph.D. I became a neo-Malthusian but I consider myself a revisionist neo-Malthusian.Labels: Charles Dudley Warner, Joyce Carol Oates, Robert Ludlum, Various
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orrery OR-uh-ree noun a model of the solar system that often operates using clockwork-like wheels and gears and which illustrates the relative orbits of the planets around the sun 1794Thomas PaineThe Age of ReasonAfter I had made myself master of the use of the globes and of the orrery, and conceived an idea of the infinity of space, and the eternal divisibility of matter, and obtained at least a general knowledge of what is called natural philosophy, I began to compare, or, as I have before said, to confront the eternal evidence those things afford with the Christian system of faith.1829VariousThe Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction (December 12, 1829)The mechanical ingenuity of Mr. Crawshaw has also been displayed in the construction of an orrery consisting of at least 1,000 wheels, which, by a single winch, turns all the planets in their respective periods…1897John MunroA Trip to Venus'We must consider their relative distances from the earth. By the way, I don't think you have seen my new electrical orrery.'1988Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry LeeCradleThe bright orb, the size of a giant beach ball, lifted itself into its proper place in the orrery and flooded the entire room with its radiance.Labels: Arthur C. Clarke, Gentry Lee, John Munro, Thomas Paine, Various
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avuncular a-VUNG-kyuh-lur adjective related to an uncle; characteristic of an uncle, especially kindness and tolerance 1858Various Atlantic Monthly (4 February 1858)Could from the dream of romance, from the fever of flushed adolescence, Look to escape and subside into peaceful avuncular functions. Nephews and nieces! alas, for as yet I have none! 1974Peter Benchley JawsBrody decided to be low-keyed—avuncular and nonetheless annoyed, but low-keyed, so as not to upset Ellen.Labels: Peter Benchley, Various
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tosticated TAW-sti-kay-tid adjective to be in a state of diminished mental capacity, usually as a result of consuming too much alcohol; confused; perplexed; befuddled 1682A. Marsh The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and the Confession of the New-Married CoupleAnd herewith those Gentile Pleasures, that have cost their Parents so much money, and them so much labour and time are kickt away, and totally abandoned that they may keep company with a painted Jezebel. They are then hardly arrived at this intitled happiness, but they must begin to chaw upon the bitter shell of that nut, the kernel whereof, without sighing, they cannot tast; having no sooner obtained access to the Lady, but are as suddenly possest with thousands of thoughts what they shall do to please the Sweet object. Being therewith so tosticated, that all their other business is dispersed, and totally laid aside. This is observable not only in youth of the first degree, but also in persons that have received promotion. 1766Jonathan Swift The Journal to StellaI don't know, this is not what I would say; but I am so tosticated with supper and stuff, that I can't express myself. 1855Thomas Chandler Haliburton Nature and Human Nature ''What,' said she, and she raised herself up off ob de pillar, and she larfed, and rolled ober and ober, and tosticated about almost in a conniption fit, 'you old goose,' said she, 'you onaccountable fool,' and den she larfed and rolled ober agin, I tought she would a tumbled off on de floor, 'do go way; you is too foolish to talk to, but turn my pillar again. Sorrow,' said she, 'is I showin' of my ankles,' said she, 'rollin' about so like mad?' 1891Various Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol 101, August 8, 1891 Judge ( angrily, to Second Q.C. ) So you! so everybody! ( With maudlin tenderness .) Must respect Court! ( Savagely. ) You are all disgusting—disgustingly—'tosticated! Adjourn—morrow mornin'. Usher, brandy sodah! [ Scene closes in—fortunately! Labels: A. Marsh, Jonathan Swift, Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Various
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anabasis e-NA-be-seez noun a military advance; literally: to go up 1853Thomas de QuinceyNarrative and Miscellaneous PapersThat of a great military expedition offering the same romantic features of vast distances to be traversed, vast reverses to be sustained, untried routes, enemies obscurely ascertained, and hardships too vaguely prefigured, which mark the Egyptian expedition of Cambyses—the anabasis of the younger Cyrus, and the subsequent retreat of the ten thousand to the Black Sea—the Parthian expeditions of the Romans, especially those of Crassus and Julian—or (as more disastrous than any of them, and in point of space as well as in amount of forces, more extensive,) the Russian anabasis and katabasis of Napoleon.1885VariousFive Years of Theosophy...the 'Anabasis of Alexander,' is 'the chief authority on the subject of the Indian invasion—a book unfortunately with a gap in its twelfth chapter'… 1982Daniel Da CruzThe Ayes of TexasBy midafternoon, their anabasis had carried the ten thousand from Chula Vista to Encinitas, from Coronado to El Cajon.2002Colleen McCulloughThe October HorseThe dioiketes of Arsinoë, one Socrates, was a great help, a treasure house of good advice. Scholarly and fair-minded, his imagination had soared the moment Cato told him what he intended to do. 'Oh, Marcus Cato, a new anabasis!' he squawked.Labels: Colleen McCullough, Daniel Da Cruz, Thomas de Quincey, Various
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prima facie PRAI-muh FAY-shee adjective valid; self-evident; a legally valid fact 1850Various Notes & Queries (7 September 1850)...I have prima facie proof that Sir Miles left no son. 1968John Le CarreA Small Town In Germany'A prima facie case,' Bradfield remarked, examining his notes once more. 'Grounds for reinvestigation, I grant you. At best, a public prosecutor might be persuaded to make an initial examination.'1971Hunter S. ThompsonFear and Loathing In Las VegasThe idea that two heroin pushers in a white Cadillac convertible would be dragging up and down the Strip, abusing total strangers at stoplights, was prima facie absurd.1996Bill BrysonNotes from a Small Island...there is a prima facie case to presume that they perform unnatural acts…Labels: Bill Bryson, Hunter S. Thompson, John Le Carre, Various
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zingaro ZIN-ga-ro noun a gypsy 1857George BorrowThe Romany RyeWell, if you will not consent to be an abbess, perhaps you will consent to follow this young Zingaro, and to co-operate with him and us.1859VariousThe Atlantic Monthly (Volume 4, No. 24, Oct. 1859)Zonéla was surely not of gypsy blood. That rich auburn hair, that looked almost black in the lamp-light, that pale, transparent skin, tinged with an under-glow of warm rich blood, the hazel eyes, large and soft as those of a fawn, were never begotten of a Zingaro.1934Maxwell GrantGypsy Vengeance (The Shadow Magazine, August 15, 1934)'Where did you come from in the first place?' asked the detective. 'Somewhere in Europe? Are you Zingaro?'Labels: George Borrow, Maxwell Grant, Various
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