"Half of the workforce was laid off, but those whose roles turned out to be somewhat critical were then begged to return. Some unlucky engineers were dragooned [drəˈɡun] into launching the new Twitter Blue feature, which would charge users $7.99 per month for a 'verified' check mark; the rollout was catastrophic." — Sheon Han, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2024dragoon [drəˈɡun]
1) When used with into, dragoon means "to force or convince someone to do something."
2) WITHOUT into, dragoon means "to subjugate or persecute by harsh use of troops."
History has recorded the dragonish nature of the dragoons who persecuted the French Protestants in the 17th century during the reign of Louis XIV. English Mar 22, 2024, 9:19 AM cowpoke
The press secretary made a point at the briefing not to address the scurrilous [ˈskɜrələs] rumors surrounding the senator.scurrilous [ˈskɜrələs]
adj
1) Formal adjective that most often describes language that contains obscenities, abuse, or, especially, slander—that is, a false statement that damages a person’s reputation.
2) Scurrilous can also describe someone who uses or tends to use scurrilous language, or it can describe a person or thing as evil or vulgar.
from the Middle French word scurrile, which comes ultimately from the Latin noun scurra, meaning “buffoon” or “jester.” English Mar 21, 2024, 6:16 AM cowpoke
Consumer advocates allege [əˈlɛdʒ] that the company knew about the faulty switches but sold the product anyway.allege [əˈlɛdʒ]
verb
To allege something is to assert it without proof or before proving it.
from the Middle English verb alleggen, meaning "to submit (something) in evidence or as justification." (Alleggen traces back to the Anglo-French word aleger, meaning "to lighten, free, or exculpate.") English Mar 19, 2024, 6:54 AM cowpoke
Banc d'Arguin [bɑ̃k daʁ.ɡɛ̃] National Park - Mauritania (French)
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/506Fringing the Atlantic coast, the park comprises sand-dunes, coastal swamps, small islands and shallow coastal waters. The contrast between the harsh desert environment and the biodiversity of the marine zone has resulted in a land- and seascape of outstanding natural significance. A wide variety of migrating birds spend the winter there. Several species of sea turtle and dolphin, used by the fishermen to attract shoals of fish, can also be found. 2024-03-16 WHS Mar 16, 2024, 9:36 AM cowpoke
The young singer paid obeisance [əˈbeɪsəns] to Otis Redding while on tour in Memphis by singing “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.obeisance [əˈbeɪsəns]
noun
Obeisance is a synonym of homage that refers to an acknowledgement of another’s importance or superiority. Obeisance can also mean “a movement of the body (such as a bow) showing respect for someone or something.”
traced back to the Anglo-French word obeir, a verb meaning “to obey” that is also an ancestor of English’s obey. English Mar 10, 2024, 10:23 AM cowpoke
Manovo-Gounda St Floris [ma.no.vo ɡun.da sɛ̃ flɔ.ʁis] National Park - Central African Republic (French and Sango)
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/475The importance of this park derives from its wealth of flora and fauna. Its vast savannahs are home to a wide variety of species: black rhinoceroses, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, red-fronted gazelles and buffalo, while various types of waterfowl are to be found in the northern floodplains. 2024-03-09 WHS Mar 9, 2024, 8:48 AM cowpoke
Blenheim [ˈblɛnhaɪm] Palace - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/425Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, stands in a romantic park created by the famous landscape gardener 'Capability' Brown. It was presented by the English nation to John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his victory in 1704 over French and Bavarian troops. Built between 1705 and 1722 and characterized by an eclectic style and a return to national roots, it is a perfect example of an 18th-century princely dwelling. 2024-02-29 WHS Feb 29, 2024, 8:07 AM cowpoke
"Royal Island, a swanky Caribbean oasis in The Bahamas, awaits its next king or queen and their lucky retinue [ˈrɛt.ɪˌnjuː] of family and friends." — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Jan. 2024retinue [ˈrɛt.ɪˌnjuː]
noun
A retinue is a group of helpers, supporters, or followers.
Retinue comes via Middle English from the Anglo-French verb retenir, meaning "to retain or keep in one's pay or service." English Feb 26, 2024, 8:25 AM cowpoke
After a disastrous rafting trip, Robin emerged from the woods looking haggard [ˈhæɡərd] but otherwise unscathed.haggard [ˈhæɡərd]
adj
Someone described as haggard appears tired or thin especially as if because of hunger, worry, or pain. Haggard can also describe someone who looks wild or otherwise disheveled.
traditionally, falconers trained wild birds that were either taken from the nest when quite young or trapped as adults. A bird trapped as an adult is termed a haggard, from the synonymous Middle French word hagard. English Feb 22, 2024, 9:18 AM cowpoke
The exhibit chronicles the long history of lampooning [læmˈpun] public figures in cartoons.lampoon [læmˈpun]
verb
To lampoon someone or something is to ridicule that person or thing, especially through the use of harsh satire.
from the French word lampon, which likely originated from lampons, a form of the verb lamper, meaning "to drink to the bottom." English Feb 21, 2024, 8:34 AM cowpoke
Statue of Liberty - United States of America
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/307Made in Paris by the French sculptor Bartholdi, in collaboration with Gustave Eiffel (who was responsible for the steel framework), this towering monument to liberty was a gift from France on the centenary of American independence. Inaugurated in 1886, the sculpture stands at the entrance to New York Harbour and has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States ever since. 2024-01-31 WHS Jan 31, 2024, 8:53 AM cowpoke
Historic District of Old Québec - Canada
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/300Québec was founded by the French explorer Champlain in the early 17th century. It is the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts, together with the numerous bastions, gates and defensive works which still surround Old Québec. The Upper Town, built on the cliff, has remained the religious and administrative centre, with its churches, convents and other monuments like the Dauphine Redoubt, the Citadel and Château Frontenac. Together with the Lower Town and its ancient districts, it WHS Jan 30, 2024, 7:47 AM cowpoke
"An entity that feigns human emotions is arguably a worse object of affection than a cold, computational device that doesn't emote [ɪˈmoʊt] at all." — Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 26 Sept. 2023emote [ɪˈmoʊt]
verb
To emote is to express emotion in a very dramatic or obvious way.
Emote is an example of what linguists call a back-formation—that is, a word formed by trimming down an existing word. In this case, the parent word is emotion, which came to English by way of Middle French from the Latin verb emovēre, meaning "to remove or displace" (making the "removal" of the suffix -ion to form emote quite fitting). English Jan 29, 2024, 8:04 AM cowpoke
Vallée de Mai [vale də mai] Nature Reserve - Seychelles (French)
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/261In the heart of the small island of Praslin, the reserve has the vestiges of a natural palm forest preserved in almost its original state. The famous <em>coco de mer</em>, from a palm-tree once believed to grow in the depths of the sea, is the largest seed in the plant kingdom. 2024-01-20 WHS Jan 20, 2024, 9:43 AM cowpoke
Some of the exchange students were creeped out by all the gargoyles [ˈɡɑrˌɡɔɪl] they passed during their walking tour of the old European town.gargoyle [ˈɡɑrˌɡɔɪl]
noun
A gargoyle is a strange or grotesque human or animal figure that sticks out from the roof of a building (such as a church) and is used to cause rainwater to flow away from the building's sides.
came to Middle English from the Old French word gargoule English Jan 13, 2024, 10:02 AM cowpoke
Half-remembering a joke from her favorite sitcom, Ally mangled [ˈmæŋɡəl] the punch line, but honestly this made it even funnier.mangle [ˈmæŋɡəl]
verb
To mangle something is to ruin it due to carelessness or a lack of skill. Mangle can also mean “to injure or damage something or someone severely by cutting, tearing, or crushing.
This meaning comes from Anglo-French.
This other meaning: noun mangle (“a machine for ironing laundry by passing it between heated rollers”) or its related verb (“to press or smooth with a mangle”) English Jan 11, 2024, 7:59 AM cowpoke
We love having her in our study group because she's good at ferreting [ˈfɛrɪt] out the answers to the study guide.ferret [ˈfɛrɪt]
verb
To ferret means to find something, such as information, by careful searching. It is usually followed by the word out.
The word came to us by way of Anglo-French and can be traced back to the Latin word fur, meaning "thief." English Jan 8, 2024, 7:07 AM cowpoke
Palace and Park of Fontainebleau [fɔ̃.tɛ̃.blo] - France
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/160Used by the kings of France from the 12th century, the medieval royal hunting lodge of Fontainebleau, standing at the heart of a vast forest in the Ile-de-France, was transformed, enlarged and embellished in the 16th century by François I, who wanted to make a 'New Rome' of it. Surrounded by an immense park, the Italianate palace combines Renaissance and French artistic traditions. WHS Dec 27, 2023, 9:02 AM cowpoke
He displayed remarkable sangfroid [sɑ̃ˈfwɑːd] when everyone else was panicking during the crisis.sangfroid [sɑ̃ˈfwɑːd]
noun
Sangfroid refers to the ability to stay calm in difficult or dangerous situations.
Sangfroid comes from the French term sang-froid, which literally translates as “cold blood.” English Dec 27, 2023, 8:54 AM cowpoke
She envisages [ɪnˈvɪz.ɪdʒ] many positive changes and opportunities in the New Year.envisage [ɪnˈvɪz.ɪdʒ]
verb
To envisage something is to picture it in your mind, or to view or regard something in a particular way.
borrowed from French in the mid-17th century
Its near twin envision (“to picture to oneself”), which has been with us since the 19th century, is interchangeable with envisage in many contexts and is somewhat less formal. English Dec 25, 2023, 9:21 AM cowpoke