Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2025/January

2025
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1

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omnipotentiality n

(chiefly psychology, uncountable) The characteristic or feeling that anything is possible, and there are no limits on what may be achieved; (countable, rare) an instance of this. Here’s to a new year filled with promise—happy New Year from all of us at the English Wiktionary!

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2

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odour of sanctity n (British spelling)

(chiefly Christianity, historical, especially Middle Ages) A sweet smell, usually likened to that of flowers, said to be emitted by the bodies of saints during their life, or especially at or after death. (figurative) A person's reputation for, or state of, holiness. (chiefly humorous or ironic) A (supposed) general aura of goodness or virtue. The French nun Saint Thérèse of Lisieux was born on this day in 1873. At her death, she is said to have produced a strong scent of roses which was detectable for days afterward.

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3

4

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holy-water sprinkle n

(Christianity) Synonym of aspergillum (“an implement, in the form of a brush or of a rod with a perforated container, for sprinkling holy water”) (by extension, weaponry, historical) A 16th-century weapon consisting of a heavy ball set with spikes attached rigidly to a staff, used mainly in England; a morning star.

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5

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pigeonhole n

One of an array of open compartments for housing pigeons in a dovecote or pigeon loft. (archaic) A hole or opening in a door or wall for a pigeon to pass through. (by extension) One of an array of open compartments in a desk, set of shelves, etc., used for sorting and/or storing letters, papers, or other items. One of an array of open compartments for receiving mail and other messages at a college, office, etc. A compartment or cubicle in a room or other place, especially one which is (excessively) small. A small opening for looking or passing things through. (nautical, archaic) An opening in a ship for passing equipment such as an oar or rigging through. (historical, chiefly in the plural, also attributive) A form of stocks with openings for restraining a person's hands or feet; also, one of the openings in the device. (obsolete, theater) A seat in the top row of the gallery of a theatre. (figurative) A notional category or class into which someone or something is placed. (typography, archaic) A space between two words that is too wide. pigeonhole v (transitive) To construct pigeonholes (noun sense 1 or sense 3.1) in (a place); also, to subdivide (a place) into pigeonholes. To put (letters, papers, or other items) into pigeonholes or small compartments; also, to arrange or sort (items) by putting into pigeonholes. (figurative) To arrange (items) for future reference or use. To put aside (advice, a proposal, or other matter) for future consideration instead of acting on it immediately; to shelve. To place (someone or something) into a notional category or class, especially in a way which makes unjustified assumptions or which is restrictive; to categorize, to classify, to label. Today is National Bird Day in the U.S.A., which is promoted by the Avian Welfare Coalition to encourage the leaving of birds in the wild and to improve the welfare of birds in captivity.

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6

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incumbent adj

Chiefly followed by on or upon: leaning, or lying, reclining, or resting, on something else. (botany) Of an anther: lying on the inner side of the filament; also, of a cotyledon: having its back lying against the radicle. (zoology) Of a body part such as a hair, spine, or wing: bent downwards or otherwise positioned so that it, or part of it, rests on or touches something else; specifically (ornithology), of the hind toe of a bird: fully resting on a support. (figurative) Being the current holder of an office or a title; specifically (Christianity, obsolete), of an ecclesiastical benefice. Oppressive, pressuring. Followed by on or upon: imposed on one as an obligation, especially due to one's office or position. (poetic) Hanging or leaning over. (obsolete) Putting much effort into an activity or some work. (obsolete) Weighing on one's mind. incumbent n The current holder of an office or title; (specifically, Christianity) the holder of an ecclesiastical benefice. (business) A holder of a position as supplier to a market or market segment that allows the holder to earn above-normal profits. Today the votes of the Electoral College in the 2024 United States presidential election are being formally counted before a joint session of Congress; following this, the Vice President, as the president of the Senate, will announce the result of the election.

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7

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glebe farm n

(chiefly UK, Christianity) A home farm owned by a parish, assigned as part of a benefice to a parish priest, pastor, rector, or vicar to provide them with income.

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8

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shoop interj

(music) Used as a scat word in song lyrics. shoop n (slang, chiefly humorous) Used as a singular form of sheep: an individual sheep. [...] (Internet slang) An image that has been modified using Adobe Photoshop or similar image-manipulation software to produce a misleading impression; an instance of amateur, petty fauxtography. “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)”, written by Rudy Clark and sung by Merry Clayton, was first released this month in 1964.

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9

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bitcoin proper n

(uncountable, computing, finance) A decentralized cryptocurrency using blockchain technology. bitcoin n (countable, computing, finance) A unit of the bitcoin (proper noun sense 1) cryptocurrency. Bitcoin was first released on this date in 2009.

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10

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unravel v

(transitive) To cause (something) to no longer be ravelled or tangled; to disentangle, to untangle. To separate the threads of (something knitted or woven, such as clothing or fabric). (figurative) To separate the connected or united parts of (something); to throw (something) into disorder; to confound, to confuse, to disintegrate. (also reflexive) To clear (something) from complication or difficulty; to investigate and solve (a mystery, a problem, etc.); to unfold, to work out. (obsolete) To reverse or undo (something); to annul, to negate. (intransitive) To become no longer ravelled or tangled. Of threads: to become separated from something knitted or woven, such as clothing or fabric; also, of something knitted or woven: to separate into threads; to come apart. (figurative) Of a thing: to have its connected or united parts separated; to be thrown into disorder; to become confused or undone; to collapse.

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11

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fascine knife n

(military, weaponry, historical) A large, heavy knife or short sword used by 17th- to 19th-century artillery and infantry soldiers as a sidearm and a tool for cutting fascines (“cylindrical bundles of small sticks of wood, used for strengthening purposes”) and other things.

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12

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glean v

(transitive) To collect (fruit, grain, or other produce) from a field, an orchard, etc., after the main gathering or harvest. To collect fruit, grain, or other produce from (a field, an orchard, etc.), after the main gathering or harvest. (figurative) To gather (something, now chiefly something intangible such as experience or information) in small amounts over a period of time, often with some difficulty; to scrape together. To take away (someone's) possessions; to strip (someone) bare. (zoology) Of an animal, especially a bat or a bird: to feed by picking up or plucking (prey, mainly arthropods such as insects) from various places. (obsolete) To collect or gather (things) into one mass. (obsolete, military) To cut off (straggling soldiers separated from their units) during a conflict; to isolate. (intransitive) To collect fruit, grain, or other produce after the main gathering or harvest. (zoology) Of an animal, especially a bat or a bird: to feed by picking up or plucking prey, mainly arthropods such as insects, from various places. glean n (obsolete except UK, dialectal) A collection of something made by gleaning.

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20

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inaugurate v (transitive)

To induct (someone) into a dignity or office with a formal ceremony. To dedicate (something, as a building or a monument) for public access or use with a formal ceremony. To initiate or usher in (something, as a (significant) course of action, development, organization, or period of time) with a formal ceremony or in a ceremonious manner; also (loosely), to begin or commence (something); to start. (archaic, rare) To cause (something) to be auspicious or good-omened; also, to declare or make (something) holy; to consecrate, to sanctify. inaugurate adj (obsolete) Inducted into a dignity or office with a formal ceremony or in a ceremonious manner; inaugurated. The inauguration of the president of the United States following the 2024 presidential election takes place in Washington, D.C., today.

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