MUCKRAKE

muckrake

(verb) explore and expose misconduct and scandals concerning public figures; “This reporter was well-known for his muckraking”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

muckrake (plural muckrakes)

A rake for scraping up dung.

Verb

muckrake (third-person singular simple present muckrakes, present participle muckraking, simple past and past participle muckraked)

(intransitive) To search for and expose corruption or scandal, especially as a form of investigative journalism.

Source: Wiktionary


Muck"rake`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -raked; p. pr. & vb. n. -raking.]

Definition: To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption, real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April 14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of corruption against public men and corporations. The phrase was taken up by the press, and the verb to muck"rake`, in the above sense, and the noun muck"rak`er, to designate one so engaged, were speedily coined and obtained wide currency. The original allusion was to a character in Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" so intent on raking up muck that he could not see a celestial crown held above him.

Muck"rake`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -raked; p. pr. & vb. n. -raking.]

Definition: To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption, real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April 14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of corruption against public men and corporations. The phrase was taken up by the press, and the verb to muck"rake`, in the above sense, and the noun muck"rak`er, to designate one so engaged, were speedily coined and obtained wide currency. The original allusion was to a character in Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" so intent on raking up muck that he could not see a celestial crown held above him.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

8 November 2024

REPLACEMENT

(noun) the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another; “replacing the star will not be easy”


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