In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
BLEAKEST
Adjective
bleakest
superlative form of bleak: most bleak
Source: Wiktionary
BLEAK
Bleak, a. Etym: [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. blac, bl, pale, wan; akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek, Dan. bleg, OS. bl, D. bleek, OHG. pleih, G. bleich; all from the root of AS. blican to shine; akin to OHG. blichen to shine; cf. L. flagrare to burn, Gr. to burn, shine, Skr. bhraj to shine, and E. flame. Bleach, Blink, Flame.]
1. Without color; pale; pallid. [Obs.] When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as one that were laid out dead. Foxe.
2. Desolate and exposed; swept by cold winds. Wastes too bleak to rear The common growth of earth, the foodful ear. Wordsworth. At daybreak, on the bleak sea beach. Longfellow.
3. Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast.
– Bleak"ish, a.
– Bleak"ly, adv.
– Bleak"ness, n.
Bleak, n. Etym: [From Bleak, a., cf. Blay.] (Zoöl.)
Definition: A small European river fish (Leuciscus alburnus), of the family Cyprinidæ; the blay. [Written also blick.]
Note: The silvery pigment lining the scales of the bleak is used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. Baird.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
5 November 2024
TEMPORIZE
(verb) draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time; “The speaker temporized in order to delay the vote”
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