svelte { \ˈsvelt, ˈsfelt\ } adjective svelt·er; svelt·est Etymology: French, from Italian svelto, from past participle of svellere to pluck out, modification of Latin evellere, from e- + vellere to pluck - more at vulnerable Date: circa 1817 1 a : slender, lithe b : having clean lines : sleek 2 : urbane, suave
du·plic·i·ty { \du̇-ˈpli-sə-tē also dyu̇-\ } noun du·plic·i·ties Etymology: Middle English duplicite, from Middle French, from Late Latin duplicitat-, duplicitas, from Latin duplex Date: 15th century 1 : contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action 2 : the quality or state of being double or twofold 3 : the technically incorrect use of two or more distinct items (as claims, charges, or defenses) in a single legal action
esprit d'escalier { \e-SPREE des-kal-i-YE\ } noun l'esprit de l'escalier Etymology: "The wit of the staircase." From French esprit de l'escalier, from esprit (wit) + escalier (stairs). Date: between 1773 and 1778 1 : Thinking of a witty remark too late; hindsight wit or afterwit. Also such a remark.
dol·drums { \ˈdōl-drəmz, ˈdäl-, ˈdȯl-\ } noun plural Etymology: probably akin to Old English dol foolish Date: 1811 1 : a spell of listlessness or despondency 2 : (often capitalized) a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds 3 : a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump
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svelt·er; svelt·est
Etymology: French, from Italian svelto, from past participle of svellere to pluck out, modification of Latin evellere, from e- + vellere to pluck - more at vulnerable
Date: circa 1817
1 a : slender, lithe b : having clean lines : sleek
2 : urbane, suave
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du·plic·i·ties
Etymology: Middle English duplicite, from Middle French, from Late Latin duplicitat-, duplicitas, from Latin duplex
Date: 15th century
1 : contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially : the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action
2 : the quality or state of being double or twofold
3 : the technically incorrect use of two or more distinct items (as claims, charges, or defenses) in a single legal action
Reply
l'esprit de l'escalier
Etymology: "The wit of the staircase." From French esprit de l'escalier, from esprit (wit) + escalier (stairs).
Date: between 1773 and 1778
1 : Thinking of a witty remark too late; hindsight wit or afterwit. Also such a remark.
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Etymology: Italian. No English word equivalent.
Date: unknown
1 : The mark left on a table by a cold glass.
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Etymology: probably akin to Old English dol foolish
Date: 1811
1 : a spell of listlessness or despondency
2 : (often capitalized) a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds
3 : a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump
Reply
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