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On 31 July 1931, Austin M. Patterson, the dictionary's chemistry editor, sent in a slip reading "D or d, cont./density." This was intended to add "density" to the existing list of words that the letter "D" can abbreviate. The phrase "D or d" was misinterpreted as a single, run-together word: Dord. This was a plausible mistake because headwords ...
Stationary is an adjective meaning "not moving"; stationery is a noun meaning office supplies. Standard: The train remained stationary for a few moments, before lurching forward along the track. Standard: We can pick up more paper and pens at the stationery store. Non-standard: Let's go buy some stationary at the department store.
In 1770, the phrase "agree to disagree" appeared in print in its modern meaning when, at the death of George Whitefield, John Wesley wrote a memorial sermon which acknowledged but downplayed the two men's doctrinal differences: There are many doctrines of a less essential nature ... In these we may think and let think; we may 'agree to disagree.'
Fallacy of accent – changing the meaning of a statement by not specifying on which word emphasis falls. Persuasive definition – purporting to use the "true" or "commonly accepted" meaning of a term while, in reality, using an uncommon or altered definition. (cf. the if-by-whiskey fallacy)
As an idiom, leap of faith can refer to the act of believing something that is unprovable. [1] The term can also refer to a risky thing a person does in hopes of a positive outcome. [ 2 ] Moreover, leap of faith may also refer to a mechanic in videogames in which the player is forced to jump to a platform or location that cannot be seen from ...
An idiom is a common word or phrase with a figurative, non-literal meaning that is understood culturally and differs from what its composite words' denotations would suggest; i.e. the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words (although some idioms do retain their literal meanings – see the example "kick the bucket" below).
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A aggravate – Some have argued that this word should not be used in the sense of "to annoy" or "to oppress", but only to mean "to make worse". According to AHDI, the use of "aggravate" as "annoy" occurs in English as far back as the 17th century. In Latin, from which the word was borrowed, both meanings were used. Sixty-eight percent of AHD4's usage panel approves of its use in "It's the ...