In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
PARAE
PARA
Par"a-. Etym: [Gr. for- in forgive. Cf. For-.]
1. A prefix signifying alongside of, beside, beyond, against, amiss; as parable, literally, a placing beside; paradox, that which is contrary to opinion; parachronism.
2. (Chem.)
Definition: A prefix denoting: (a) Likeness, similarity, or connection, or that the substance resembles, but is distinct from, that to the name of which it is prefixed; as paraldehyde, paraconine, etc.; also, an isomeric modification. (b) Specifically: (Organ. Chem.) That two groups or radicals substituted in the benzene nucleus are opposite, or in the respective positions 1 and 4; 2 and 5; or 3 and 6, as paraxylene; paroxybenzoic acid. Cf. Ortho-, and Meta-. Also used adjectively.
Pa*ra", n. Etym: [Turk., fr. Per. parah a piece.]
Definition: A piece of Turkish money, usually copper, the fortieth part of a piaster, or about one ninth of a cent.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
6 May 2025
HEEDLESS
(adjective) marked by or paying little heed or attention; “We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics”--Franklin D. Roosevelt; “heedless of danger”; “heedless of the child’s crying”
Coffee Trivia
