Merle (noun) (Scots) (archaic)
mu-rl
A blackbird
Late Middle English via Old French from Latin merula.
Example sentences
“The merle upon the branch.”
Effrontery (noun) e-frun-ter-ee Insolent or impertinent behaviour. Late 17th century from French effronterie, based on late Latin effrons, effront- ‘shameless, barefaced’, from ex- ‘out’ + frons ‘forehead’. (more…)
Bansuri (noun) ban-soo-ree A bamboo transverse flute, popular in northern India. (more…)
Ecumenical (adj) eek-yu-men-i-kal Representing a number of different Christian Churches. Late 16th century (in the sense ‘belonging to the universal Church’): via late Latin from Greek oikoumenikos from oikoumenē ‘the…
Temperance (noun) temp-er-uns Abstinence from alcoholic drink. Middle English from Anglo-Norman French temperaunce, from Latin temperantia ‘moderation’, from temperare ‘restrain’. (more…)
Juxtaposition (noun) juk-sta-pos-ishun The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. Mid 19th century (earlier (Middle English) as juxtaposition): from French juxtaposer, from Latin…
Sully (verb) sul-ee Damage the purity or integrity of. Late 16th century perhaps from French souiller ‘to soil’. (more…)
Vicarious (adj) vik-air-ee-us Experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person. Mid 17th century from Latin vicarius ‘substitute’ (see vicar) + -ous. (more…)
Quotidian (adj) kwot-id-ee-an Occurring every day. Middle English via Old French from Latin quotidianus, earlier cotidianus, from cotidie ‘daily’. (more…)
Bacchanalia (noun) bak-an-ay-lee-a 1. (historic) The Roman festival of Bacchus. 2. Drunken celebrations Late 16th century from Latin bacchanalia, neuter plural of the adjective bacchanalis (see (more…)