observer

camera lucida – An optical device consisting of an attachment that enables an observer to view simultaneously the image and a drawing surface for sketching it. More…

horoscope – Comes from Greek hora, “hour, time,” and skopos, “observer.” More…

obverse – Its first meaning was “turned towards or facing the observer.” More…

zenith, nadir – Zenith derived from Arabic samt ar-ras, “the way or road above one’s head”; zenith technically is the point directly above the observer and nadir is the point directly below. More…

Bureau of Indian Affairs Created (1824)

Though the Bureau of Indian Affairs was given jurisdiction over trade with Native Americans and was responsible for protecting them from exploitation, it had little success safeguarding Native American rights and, instead, evolved primarily into a land-administering agency. It now acts as trustee over Native American funds and lands, promotes development, and provides Native Americans with various social services. How was the Bureau involved in a class-action lawsuit against the US government? Discuss

Rupert Murdoch (1931)

Australian-American publishing magnate Rupert Murdoch established News Corporation as a holding company, but it has since developed into a worldwide communications empire. Included among the many assets of Murdoch’s News Corporation are powerful media holdings in Australia and New Zealand; the prestigious Times of London and other British papers; and the New York Post, TV Guide, and HarperCollins book publishers in the US. What scandal rocked Murdoch’s company in 2011? Discuss

Stockholm Syndrome

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which a hostage begins to identify with and grow sympathetic to their captor. Patty Hearst is a famous example of a person who suffered from this syndrome when she was kidnapped in the 1970’s and, subsequently, partnered with her captors in a bank robbery. The syndrome is named after what event? Discuss

rob

bribe – From Old French, it was originally a piece of bread given to beggars; the original sense of bribe is “extort, rob.” More…

clip joint – Based on clip, meaning “swindle, rob.” More…

pilfer – Originally, pilfering was a serious matter, synonymous with plundering, but it came to mean “stealing small things”; its source was Anglo-Norman pelfrer, “plunder, rob.” More…

plunder – Etymologically, it means “rob of household goods,” from Dutch plunde/plunne, “household goods.” More…