The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
ASSASSINATE
assassinate
(verb) destroy or damage seriously, as of someone’s reputation; “He assassinated his enemy’s character”
assassinate
(verb) murder; especially of socially prominent persons; “Anwar Sadat was assassinated because many people did not like his peace politics with Israel”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
assassinate (third-person singular simple present assassinates, present participle assassinating, simple past and past participle assassinated)
To murder someone, especially an important person, by a sudden or obscure attack, especially for ideological or political reasons. [from 17th c.]
(figuratively) To harm, ruin, or defame severely or destroy by treachery, slander, libel, or obscure attack.
Noun
assassinate (plural assassinates)
(obsolete) Assassination, murder.
(obsolete) An assassin.
Source: Wiktionary
As*sas"sin*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assassinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Assassinating.] Etym: [LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.]
1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous violence. Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished, and like to be assassinated. Dryden.
2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic] Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden. Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and betrayed. Milton.
Syn.
– To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.
As*sas"sin*ate, n. Etym: [F. assassinat.]
1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.] If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson.
2. An assassin. [Obs.] Dryden.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
12 January 2025
HABIT
(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”
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