In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
MONOPOLY
Monopoly
(noun) a board game in which players try to gain a monopoly on real estate as pieces advance around the board according to the throw of a die
monopoly
(noun) exclusive control or possession of something; “They have no monopoly on intelligence”
monopoly
(noun) (economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller; “a monopoly on silver”; “when you have a monopoly you can ask any price you like”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
monopoly (plural monopolies)
A situation, by legal privilege or other agreement, in which solely one party (company, cartel etc.) exclusively provides a particular product or service, dominating that market and generally exerting powerful control over it.
Antonym: monopsony
Coordinate terms: duopoly, oligopoly
An exclusive control over the trade or production of a commodity or service through exclusive possession.
The privilege granting the exclusive right to exert such control.
(metonymy) The market thus controlled.
(metonymy) The holder (person, company or other) of such market domination in one of the above manners.
Synonym: monopolist
Proper noun
Monopoly
A board game in which players use play money to buy and trade properties, with the objective of forcing opponents into bankruptcy.
Source: Wiktionary
Mo*nop"o*ly, n.; pl. Monopolies. Etym: [L. monopolium, Gr.
1. The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of trading in some market; sole command of the traffic in anything, however obtained; as, the proprietor of a patented article is given a monopoly of its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies have sometimes had a monopoly of trade with remote regions; a combination of traders may get a monopoly of a particular product. Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly of sweet wines. Macaulay.
2. Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land. If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't. Shak.
3. The commodity or other material thing to which the monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a monopoly in France. [Colloq.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Word of the Day
13 January 2025
SOAK
(noun) the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid); “a good soak put life back in the wagon”
Coffee Trivia
