Early in World War II, Germany relied heavily on the great striking power of its fast-moving tank formations. To defend against the threat, the Czechs lined their borders with large iron obstacles shaped like toy jacks. Though not immovable, they cause tanks to get stuck after driving over them. While the Nazis went on to annex Czech territory in the Sudetenland, these obstacles, known as “Czech hedgehogs,” caught on with other combatants and were later employed in what famous battle? Discuss
Month: August 2021
cacophonous
wandering
evagation – Means mental wandering or digression, also a digression in speech or writing. More…
mundivagant – Means “wandering around the world.” More…
vagation – The action of wandering, straying, or departing from the proper or regular course. More…
wanderjahr – Literally German for “wander year,” it refers to a year of wandering or travel. More…
Vulcanalia
Vulcan was the ancient Roman god of volcanic or destructive fire. The Vulcanalia, or festival in honor of Vulcan, was held on August 23, right at the time of year when forest fires might be expected and when the stored grain was in danger of burning. For this reason, Vulcan’s cult was very prominent at Ostia, where Rome’s grain was stored. At the Vulcanalia, which was observed in Egypt, in Athens, and in Rome, the priest or flamen Volcanis performed a sacrifice, and the heads of families burned small fish they had caught in the Tiber River. Discuss
make a run for (someone or something)
To run suddenly and at great speed toward someone or something. Watch the video
Kayfabe
Borrowed from carnival slang, “kayfabe” is a term used in professional wrestling to describe the portrayal of staged events as real. Breaking kayfabe is frowned upon, but it can occasionally be unavoidable, as when a wrestler suffers an unscripted injury. The line between reality and kayfabe is sometimes blurred, such as when real-life spouses “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth “wed” in the ring. What was the Montreal Screwjob, perhaps the most infamous kayfabe-breaking moment? Discuss
palpable
Definition: (adjective) Capable of being handled, touched, or felt.
Synonyms: tangible.
Usage: Every time she held the skimmer under the pump to cool it for the work her hand trembled, the ardor of his affection being so palpable that she seemed to flinch under it like a plant in too burning a sun.
Discuss
removal
beheadment – The removal of an initial letter of a word to form a new word (e.g. blather becomes lather). More…
curtailment – The removal of the last letter of a word to leave another word (e.g. goon becomes goo). More…
detail – Comes from French de-, “removal,” and tailler, “cut in pieces,” and means “to relate or describe minutely.” More…
water softening – The removal of calcium and magnesium ions from water, or their replacement with sodium, either by chemical reaction or by ion exchange. More…
Queenship of Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was identified with the title of “Queen” at least as early as the 13th century. On October 11, 1954, during the Marian year that marked the centenary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Pope Pius XII established the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31. After the Second Vatican Council, the feast (classified as an obligatory memorial) was changed to August 22 so that it would follow the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. Discuss
make a leg
obsolete To make a show of obeisance or fealty by bowing deeply (drawing one’s right leg back in the process). Watch the video