Definition: coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language.
Quotation: “Billingsgate most foul issued forth from the one known as John Los upon espying Tyler of Hansbrough’s dunk on Hibbertroll’s head.”
Alright, maybe that didn’t come from a respected piece of literature, but I think it clearly elucidates the word’s meaning. Interestingly, I found a nice bit of [...]

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Definition: 1 : of or relating to an uncle 2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality
Quotation: “The young nephew he had warmly clasped to his bosom and who had promised to be guided by his avuncular wisdom had deserted him as soon as it suited his purpose to do so.” [...]

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Definition: 1 a: custom-made b: dealing in or producing custom-made articles 2 dialect : engaged
Quotation: “Unbuttoning my suit jacket, I took a cigar from the inner pocket of my coat. From a still smaller pocket I took out my cigar cutter and matches. Though it wasn’t after dinner, I lit the cigar–a Davidoff [...]

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Definition: transitive verb 1 : to travel over or through especially on foot : traverse 2 : to make an official inspection of (a boundary) on foot intransitive verb : stroll
Quotation: “As we perambulate the city, it’s grass-grown quays, shaded with trees, and the dull quietude of [...]

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Definition:having a healthy reddish color
Quotation: “The native is tall and well-made, very handsome, of a fine ruddy complexion in youth, but which changes to a deep red with advancing years.” from An Encyclopaedia of Occultism by Lewis Spence
Ruddy was a clue in this Sunday’s crossword puzzle that always gets me, but I’ve never before looked [...]

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Definition: used to describe one who worships fire.
Quotation: “That night they sat at the fire like ghosts in their dusty beards and clothing, rapt, pyrolatrous.” from Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.
That’s the kind of word that’ll make you sit up and pay attention. McCarthy seems to do this a lot in his book. [...]

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Definition: 1: causing contraction of soft organic tissues : styptic, puckery 2: suggestive of an astringent effect upon tissue : rigidly severe : austere; also : pungent, caustic
Quotation: “Alpine crows screeched overhead, torn in the wind; wind as cold as ice, as astringent as acid.” from The Magus: A Revised Version by John Fowles
Basically this [...]

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UNC soundly defeated the opponent du jour NC State 84-70. Roy didn’t bitch and moan about our players being hurt, he just went out and won the game. The same cannot be said for the King of Bitching, Coach K. His Blue Devils fell to an unranked Miami Hurricanes squad 96-95. It [...]

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Definition: the small dark globose astringent fruit of the blackthorn; also : blackthorn
Quotation: “Well I sipped along on that sloe gin fizz until I felt plumb drunk. I can’t hold liquor at all and that drink tasted more like Kool-Aid than liquor. Finally I said ‘I better have me another one of them [...]

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Definition: 1: a glazed or unglazed fired clay used especially for statuettes and vases and architectural purposes (as roofing, facing, and relief ornamentation); also : something made of this material. 2: a brownish orange
Quotation: “They rode on through sandstone cities in the dusk of that day, past castle and keep and windfashioned watchtower and [...]

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