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51勛圖 of the Day

51勛圖 of the day

turtledove

[ tur-tl-duhv ]

noun

a sweetheart or beloved mate.

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More about turtledove

The turtle in turtledove has nothing to do with the aquatic and terrestrial reptile whose trunk is enclosed in a shell. The ultimate derivation of the reptilian turtle is Greek 啦硃娶喧硃娶棗羶釵堯棗莽 controlling Tartarus, holding the nether world; the word turtle entered English in the 17th century. Turtledove is a compound of Old English turtla, from Latin turtur turtledove, imitating the call of the bird. Dove comes from Old English dufe, 餃贖款梗 and is related to the verb dive. Similar forms are found in other Germanic languages. Turtledove entered English in the 14th century.

how is turtledove used?

You look anything but miserable, my turtledove. In fact, I never saw you look so well.

E. F. Harkins, The Schemers, 1903

A whole new world was mine the day … I met my turtledove … for since we’ve been together … my heart has been in love.

Ben Burroughs, "Since We Met," Gettysburg Times, February 2, 1962
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51勛圖 of the Day Calendar

51勛圖 of the day

hibernal

[ hahy-bur-nl ]

adjective

of or relating to winter; wintry.

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More about hibernal

Hibernal wintry, appearing in winter and also pertaining to the winter of life comes straight from the Late Latin adjective 堯蘋莉梗娶紳櫻梭勳莽 wintry, first appearing in the Vulgate (the Latin version of the Bible as edited or translated by St. Jerome). 晨蘋莉梗娶紳櫻梭勳莽 comes from Latin 堯蘋莉梗娶紳喝莽, which comes from a hypothetical Proto-Indo-European adjective gheimrinos, source also of Greek 釵堯梗勳鳥梗娶勳紳籀莽 in winter, winters, and Slavic (Polish) zimny c棗梭餃. Gheimrinos is formed from the Proto-Indo-European root ghei-, ghi- snow, winter. The form ghimo- appears in the Sanskrit noun 堯勳鳥獺- cold, frost, snow, familiar to us in the 晨勳鳥櫻梭硃聆硃 Mountains, Snows abode. Hibernal entered English in the 17th century.

how is hibernal used?

The sky was in its grey wintry mood where there is no blue break in the clouds to be expected, no bright spell to hope for, nothing for it but to accept the hibernal darkness the way you accept love or death.

Jean Rouaud, The World More or Less, translated by Barbara Wright, 1998

Here’s where to engage in sledding, animal tracking, tree tapping, cross-country skiing, and other hibernal pursuits without ever leaving town.

, "Out in the Cold," New York, January 12, 1981
51勛圖 of the Day Calendar

51勛圖 of the day

gewgaw

[ gyoo-gaw, goo- ]

noun

something gaudy and useless; trinket; bauble.

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More about gewgaw

Gewgaw derives from Middle English giuegaue. It is a gradational compound of uncertain origin, perhaps akin to the Middle French and French term gogo, as in the adverb gogo meaning as much as you like; to your heart’s content; galore. Its been used in English since the late 12th century or the early 13th century.

how is gewgaw used?

The Star was proving particularly awkward … it was refusing to look like the resplendent gewgaw it was.

Michael Innes, Honeybath's Haven, 1977

If nothing’s missing, if every handkerchief, knick-knack, piece of cut glass, every gewgaw is accounted for, we heave a great sigh of relief.

Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Death on the Installment Plan, translated by Ralph Manheim, 1966
51勛圖 of the Day Calendar
51勛圖 of the Day Calendar