[‘ Originally: †a person who may go anywhere (obs.). Subsequently: a thing giving a person the right or opportunity to go anywhere; spec. a key that opens any or many doors, a master key; (occas.) a passport. Freq. in extended use and fig.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈpaspɑːtuː/, ˈpaspətuː, ˌpaspɑːˈtuː, ˌpaspəˈtuː, U.S. /ˌpɑspɑrˈtu/ Forms: 16 *paspartout*, 16–17 *passepartout*, 17 *passpartout*, 17– *passepartout*. Etymology: < French /passe-partout/ (1564 in Middle French in sense ‘person who may go anywhere’, 1567 in Middle French in sense ‘key that opens many doors’, 1677 in figurative use, 1690 in sense 2a, c/1830 in sense 2b) < /passe- (see pass- comb.

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[‘ Likely or able to destroy the world.'] Etymology: < classical Latin /mundus/ world (see mundane adj.) + -cidious (in homicidious adj., parricidious adj.).  /Obs./ /rare/.  Likely or able to destroy the world. 1647 N. Ward /Simple Cobler Aggawam/ (ed. 3) 20 A vacuum and an exorbitancy are mundicidious evils.

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[‘ A great deal in a small space.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˌmʌltəm ɪn ˈpɑːvəʊ/, U.S. /ˌməlt(ə)m ɪn ˈpɑrˌvoʊ/ Etymology: < post-classical Latin /multum in parvo/ (apparently not found earlier than in quot. 1653) < classical Latin /multum/ much, plenty, a lot, use as noun of neuter of multus much (see multi- comb. form) + in/ in prep.2 + /parvō, ablative of parvus little (see parvi- comb. form). Compare post-classical Latin /in parvo magnum/ (5th cent.

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[‘ Intellectual or social pretension or affectation; pseudo-intellectual speech, writing, debate, etc.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈs(j)uːd(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈsudəri/ Etymology: < pseud n. + -ery suffix. Compare pseudish adj.  /colloq./ /derogatory/.  Intellectual or social pretension or affectation; pseudo-intellectual speech, writing, debate, etc. 1972 /Guardian/ 24 Feb. 10/3 There’s nothing like an overt piece of pseudery to make one feel all lilywhite. 1975 /Daily Tel./ 30 Aug. 6/2 In another paper, a psychiatrist solemnly reported his finding that ‘in general fat people do not go to university’… These farragoes of improbable pseudery.

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[‘ /trans./ To defer until the day after tomorrow; to postpone for a day. /Obs./ /rare/—0.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /pəˈrɛndᵻneɪt/, U.S. /pəˈrɛndəˌneɪt/ Etymology: < post-classical Latin /perendinat-, past participial stem (see -ate suffix3) of /perendinare to defer until the day after tomorrow, to postpone for a day (6th cent.), to stay, sojourn (frequently from 9th cent. in British and continental sources) < classical Latin /perendinus/ (adjective) after tomorrow, usually in diēs perendinus the day after tomorrow (also perendinus (noun) the day after tomorrow), either < /perendiē/ on the day after tomorrow ( < a first element of unknown origin + classical Latin /diē/ on the day, ablative of diēs day: see diurnal adj.

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[‘ Practical deliberation or reasoning leading to choice; the power to choose or make a decision.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /prəʊˈɪərᵻsɪs/, prəʊˈɛrᵻsɪs, U.S. /proʊˈɛrəsəs/ Forms: 16 18– *proairesis*, 19– *proaeresis*, 19– *prohairesis*. Etymology: < ancient Greek /προαίρεσις/ choice of one thing before another, considered by Aristotle as characteristic of moral action < /προ-* pro- prefix2 + /αἵρεσις* choice (see heresy n.), after *προαιρεῖσθαι* to choose deliberately, to prefer. Compare post-classical Latin /prohaeresis/ (from 13th cent.

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[‘ Something resembling a skeleton; a framework or underlying structure. Also: a skeleton; the bones of the skeleton collectively (rare).'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈɒsətjʊə/, ˈɒsətʃə, U.S. /ˈɑsəˌtʃʊ(ə)r/, ˈɑsətʃər Etymology: < French /ossature/ (1801 in sense 1; 1803 in sense 2) < classical Latin /oss-, /os bone (see os n.1) + French /-ature/ -ature suffix, probably after French /musculature/ musculature n. Compare much earlier Italian /ossatura/ skeleton (/a/1529; 1550 in fig. use).

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[‘ A clever trick, ploy, or stratagem to achieve a desired end, esp. by unorthodox, irregular, or time-saving means; a dodge; a tip.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /kwɪf/, U.S. /kwɪf/ Forms: 18– *quiff*, 19– *queef* /Sc./, 19– *quift* /Eng. regional/ (Lincs.), 19– *whiff* /Eng. regional/ (Herts.). Etymology:Origin unknown.  /regional/ and slang (esp. Naut.).  A clever trick, ploy, or stratagem to achieve a desired end, esp. by unorthodox, irregular, or time-saving means; a dodge; a tip.

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[‘ The study or interpretation of physical proximity between people in various situations; the ways in which people interact spatially, esp. in maintaining a certain amount of space between themselves and others.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /prɒkˈsiːmɪks/, U.S. /prɑkˈsimɪks/ Etymology: < /prox-/ (in proximity n.) + -emics (in phonemics n., etc.); apparently coined by Edward T. Hall (see quot. 1963). Compare proxemic adj.  /Sociol./  The study or interpretation of physical proximity between people in various situations; the ways in which people interact spatially, esp.

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[‘ A snug nook; a sheltered or cosy location.'] Pronunciation: Brit. /ˈnʊk(ə)ri/, U.S. /ˈnʊkəri/ Etymology: < nook n. + -ery suffix, perhaps after rookery n.  /rare/.  A snug nook; a sheltered or cosy location. 1824 L. M. Hawkins /Mem./ I. 269 In this nookery were to be found..such men as the Rev. Mr. Cracherode, Mr. Southwell [etc.]. 1868 /Putnam’s Mag./ Feb. 184/1 One day, upon entering my nookery, I found Andrea poring over a trayful of goods and trumpery which he had just purchased.

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