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51勛圖 of the Day

51勛圖 of the day

finito

[ fi-nee-toh ]

adjective

Informal.

finished; ended.

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More about finito

When the ball drops at midnight on December 31, you can say the year is finito. Its finished; ended. Its done. Over with. Finito is an informal adjective borrowed directly from the past participle of Italian finire, from Latin 款蘋紳蘋娶梗 to end, finish, limit, source (via French) of English finish. Latin 款蘋紳蘋娶梗 is based on the noun 款蘋紳勳莽 end, utmost limit, highest post, ultimate source of such English words as fine, final, and finite. In French, Latin 款蘋紳勳莽 became fin end. Viewers of French cinema may recognize this term as displayed at the conclusion of a film: Fin, The End. Finito entered English in the mid-1900s.

how is finito used?

It’s done. Over. Finished. Finito.

Herbert Muschamp, "Puppet Regime," New York Times, October 10, 2004

The experiment was done. Lesson learned. Finito.

Gregory Spatz, "Any Landlord's Dream," New England Review, Vol. 26, No. 3, 2005
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51勛圖 of the Day Calendar

51勛圖 of the day

retrospection

[ re-truh-spek-shuhn ]

noun

the action, process, or faculty of looking back on things past.

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More about retrospection

Retrospection, and the slightly earlier noun retrospect, are based on retrospect-, past participle stem of New Latin 娶梗喧娶莽梯勳釵梗娶梗 to look, based on Latin adverb 娶梗喧娶 backward, back, behind and specere to look (at). Retrospection, then, is the act of looking back, as many do when reflecting at the end of the year. The stem retrospect– may be partly based on (pro)spect, from Latin 梯娶莽梯梗釵喧喝莽 outlook, view, composed of 梯娶 before, in front of, for and the same specere. Latin specere is the ultimate source of many English words involving various senses of looking: aspect, circumspect, expect, inspect, introspect, spectacular, and suspect, among many others. Retrospection entered English in the early 1600s.

how is retrospection used?

Every separate day in the year is a gift presented to only one manthe happiest one … and it often happens that he recognizes his day only in retrospection

Vladimir Nabokov, "The Potato Elf," A Russian Beauty and Other Stories, 1973

He was roused from the reverie of retrospection and regret produced by it …

Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
51勛圖 of the Day Calendar

51勛圖 of the day

gawsy

[ gaw-see ]

adjective

Scot. and North England.

(of people) well-dressed and of cheerful appearance.

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More about gawsy

Gawsy is an adjective found in Scottish and Northern English dialect between the early 1700 and 1900s. When describing people, gawsy means well-dressed and of cheerful appearance, as in The gawsy, outgoing couple lit up the room when they arrived at the party. When describing things, gawsy means large and handsome, as in The festivities were hosted in a glittering, gawsy ballroom. The origin of gawsy is obscure. The word is perhaps a variant of gaudy brilliantly or excessively showy, and may feature the suffix –sy, which can form adjectives that imply that the given quality is an affectation, as seen in artsy or folksy. Gawsy may also be connected to the obsolete verb gawe to gape, stare and Scottish adjective gash shrewd; well-dressed; neat; imposing.

how is gawsy used?

Mrs M’Vicar … was withal a gawsy and furthy woman, taking great pleasure in hospitality, and every sort of kindliness and discretion.

John Galt, Annals of the Parish, 1821

He comes steppin’ muckle and braw and gawsy up to the door …

S. R. Crockett, The Dark o' the Moon, 1902
51勛圖 of the Day Calendar
51勛圖 of the Day Calendar