Babbitt (noun)
A person likened to the character George Babbitt (Sinclair Lewis), especially a materialistic, complacent businessman who conforms unthinkingly to the views and standards of his social set. (OED)
A person and especially a business or professional man who conforms unthinkingly to prevailing middle-class standards. (MW)
A person likened to the character George Babbitt (Sinclair Lewis), especially a materialistic, complacent businessman who conforms unthinkingly to the views and standards of his social set. (OED)
A person and especially a business or professional man who conforms unthinkingly to prevailing middle-class standards. (MW)
A self-opinionated, self-satisfied small-town bourgeois, with all the prejudices of such a figure. (Green's)
Also: Babbittry (noun)
Also: Babbittry (noun)
bacchanalian (adjective and noun)
Characterized by or given to drunken revelry; riotously drunken. (NOA)
Especially of a party, involving a lot of drinking of alcohol, uncontrolled behavior, and possibly sexual activity. (CD)
Involves noisy and uncontrolled enjoyment and usually a lot of alcohol or sex. (MD)
Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus; relating to or given to reveling and drunkenness. (WUD)
bacchanalian or bacchanal (noun): A drunken reveler. (WUD)
bacchanalianism: The practice of bacchanalians; drunken revelry. (WUD)
bahala na (Filipino idiom)
Philippines
Expressing an attitude of optimistic acceptance or fatalistic resignation, especially in acknowledging that the outcome of an uncertain or difficult situation is beyond one's control or is preordained; que sera sera. Hence also as noun: An approach to life characterized by this attitude. (OED)
Whatever; We will see; Come what may; We'll see. (Tagalog.com)
Way of expressing a fatalistic attitude towards life. A way of taking risks under uncertainties. It can be translated as: Whatever happens, happens; Come what may; Things will turn out fine; Tomorrow will take care of us; Let me cross the bridge when I get there; I’m trusting my fate with my faith. (Osan Fernando)
Note: Fatalistic Filipino concept which seems to remove one’s own influence (and therefore efforts) over events, placing them rather in the hands of fate. Too often used as a rather flimsy excuse not to act or try. Most writings on this concept portray bahala na as a positive trait. I cannot share this attitude; if you leave it to God, so often nothing happens. I have written about bahala na here.
Grok offers a fair, and more balanced, summary.
See: inshallah
Chiefly Scotland, North England
A child. (NOA)
balderdash (noun)
Senseless talk or writing; nonsense. (NOA)
Senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; utter nonsense. (WN)
Something that is stupid or not true. (CD)
A child. (NOA)
balderdash (noun)
Senseless talk or writing; nonsense. (NOA)
Senseless, stupid, or exaggerated talk or writing; utter nonsense. (WN)
Something that is stupid or not true. (CD)
See: Note on Terms for Describing Nonsense
balikbayan (noun)
Philippines
Tagalog word for: A Filipino visiting or returning to the Philippines after a period of living in another country. (NOA)
A Filipino expatriate or former Filipino citizen who returns to the Philippines either for a visit or to permanently reside after having lived abroad. The term literally means returnee to one's country in Filipino, balik means return, and bayan means country or town. (Grok)
balkanize (verb)
To break up (a region, a group, etc.) into smaller and often hostile units. Divide, compartmentalize. (MW)
A Filipino expatriate or former Filipino citizen who returns to the Philippines either for a visit or to permanently reside after having lived abroad. The term literally means returnee to one's country in Filipino, balik means return, and bayan means country or town. (Grok)
balkanize (verb)
To break up (a region, a group, etc.) into smaller and often hostile units. Divide, compartmentalize. (MW)
To divide (a territory) into small warring states. To divide (a group or organization) into small factions. To break up into small, mutually hostile political units, as the Balkans after WWI. To divide (a country, territory, etc.) into small, quarrelsome, ineffectual states. To divide (groups, areas, etc.) into contending and usually ineffectual factions. (CDC)
noun: balkanization
noun: balkanization
balm and benison (idiom)
balm (noun): A healing, soothing, or softly restorative, agency or influence. (OED)
benison (noun): Blessing, beatitude. That blessing which God gives; a giving of blessedness. That which anyone receives; beatitude. (OED)
benison (noun): Blessing, beatitude. That blessing which God gives; a giving of blessedness. That which anyone receives; beatitude. (OED)
beatitude (noun): Supreme blessedness or happiness. (OED)
balm and benison:
The phrase conveys a sense of peace, relief, and divine favor. It might be used in poetic or literary contexts to describe something that brings both healing and good fortune. (ChatGPT)
Suggests a powerful source of comfort, healing, and divine favor. It evokes a sense of peace, restoration, and spiritual well-being. (Gemini)
Used to describe something that not only heals but also blesses or brings comfort and peace. It's often found in older literature or poetry where the language is more ornate or formal. An example usage might be in describing a serene landscape, a piece of music, or even a person's words or presence as providing both physical and spiritual relief. (Grok)
My own definition of the idiom, combining all of the above, with citations:
A soothing influence as if a beneficial and efficacious blessing; something that heals and blesses; comfort and blessing; comfort, healing, and divine favor; peace, relief, and divine favor. (RM)
Citations:
"I wonder whether some other boy will love them, and live to revive that grand old divinity which will yet be to England her balm and benison." Charles Spurgeon, Autobiography, 1898.
"The question was balm and benison to Barbara’s ears." Colin Dexter, The Jewel That Was Ours, 1991.
Note: As best I can find, originally from Charles Spurgeon’s Autobiography, 1898, referring to the divinity of old books. I quote the entire passage at the link. However, I suspect that there are earlier instances of this phrase. Also note that none of the major reference sites define the idiom. So here AI proves its usefulness for lexical purposes.
balter (verb)
To dance artlessly, without any particular grace or skill but usually with enjoyment. To dance or tread clumsily, though usually happily. (WN)
To dance or tread clumsily. (MW)
An obscure English verb meaning to dance clumsily or ineptly. It is not commonly used in modern English but can be found in some old dictionaries or texts. Essentially, it describes someone who is dancing without much grace or skill. (Grok)
bamboozle (verb)
To deceive by underhanded methods; dupe, hoodwink. To confuse, frustrate, or throw off thoroughly or completely. (MW)
To deceive by trickery, hoax. To mystify, perplex, confound. (OED)
To deceive or dupe; hoodwink. To confuse; bewilder. (AHD)
Fool or cheat (someone). Confound or perplex. (NOA)
banter (verb and noun)
verb:
To speak to or address in a witty and teasing manner. (MW)
Exchange remarks in a good-humored teasing way. (NOA)
noun:
Exchange remarks in a good-humored teasing way. (NOA)
noun:
The playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks. (NOA)
Good-natured and usually witty and animated joking. (MW)
Good-natured and usually witty and animated joking. (MW)
Conversation that is funny and not serious. To talk to someone in a friendly and humorous way. Conversation that is not serious and is often playful. (CD)
barangay (noun)
Philippines
Tagalog word for: In the Philippines, a small territorial and administrative district forming the most local level of government. (OD)
Note: Barangay is not quite equivalent to village; more like precinct or ward.
bedraggle (verb)
To make disheveled, wet, and dirty. (VC)
To make wet and limp. (AHD)
bedraggle (verb)
To make disheveled, wet, and dirty. (VC)
To make wet and limp. (AHD)
To wet thoroughly. (MW)
To make (hair, clothing, etc) limp, untidy, or dirty, as with rain or mud; to make wet, limp, and dirty, as by dragging through mire; to make limp and soiled, as with rain or dirt. (CDC)
bedraggled (adjective)
Soiled and stained by or as if by trailing in mud; left wet and limp by or as if by rain; dilapidated (e.g. buildings). (MW)
Wet, drenched, or messy (as in clothes); being in a condition of deterioration; dilapidated (as in buildings). (AHD)
Wet, dirty, and untidy; (of a person or a person’s appearance) messy, dirty, and often wet. (CD)
Dirty and disheveled. (NOA)
For instance: bedraggled cat, dog, commuters, etc.
bemuse (verb)
To make confused; puzzle, bewilder. To occupy the attention of; distract, absorb. To cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement. (MW)
bemused: Marked by confusion or bewilderment; dazed. Lost in thought or reverie. Having or showing feelings of wry amusement especially from something that is surprising or perplexing. (MW)
benign (adjective)
Gentle; kindly. Of a climate or environment: Mild and favorable. Not harmful to the environment. (NOA)
Of a mild type or character that does not threaten health or life, especially, not becoming cancerous. Having no significant effect; harmless. Of a gentle disposition; gracious. Showing kindness and gentleness; favorable, wholesome. (MW)
Having little or no detrimental effect; harmless. Of no danger to health; not malignant or disease-causing. Tending to exert a beneficial influence; favorable. Gentle or kind. Showing gentleness or kindness. (AHD)
benignity (noun): Kindness or tolerance toward others. (NOA)benignly (adverb)
best practices (noun)
Commercial or professional procedures that are accepted or prescribed as being correct or most effective. (OED)
Procedures that have been shown by research and experience to produce optimal results and that are established or proposed as standards suitable for widespread adoption. (MW)
Working methods that are officially accepted as being the best to use in a particular business or industry. (CD)
Note: I personally believe that best practices also encompass high competence, high integrity, and high ethical standards. It is quite interesting that the above definitions do not mention these desired qualities. In any case, Grok agrees with me.
bête noire (noun)
bête noire (noun)
A person or thing strongly detested or avoided. (MW)
One that is particularly disliked or that is to be avoided. (AHD)
A person or thing that you dislike very much or that annoys you. (CD)
A person or thing that you dislike very much or that annoys you. (CD)
Enemy or nemesis; a detested person or thing. (VC)
bien pensant or bien-pensant (adjective and noun)
As an adjective:
bien pensant or bien-pensant (adjective and noun)
As an adjective:
Conventional or orthodox in attitude. (NOA)
Right-minded; conventional in one's thinking. (MW)
Right-minded; accepting or based on ideas regarded as sound or correct; orthodox, doctrinaire, conventional, etc. (CDC)
As a noun:
A conventional or orthodox person. (NOA)
A correct-thinking person. (RM)
As a noun:
A conventional or orthodox person. (NOA)
A correct-thinking person. (RM)
Note: I have seen this spelled with and without the hyphen depending on whether or not you are using this as a noun or an adjective. For example, see the NOA definition. But this is not universal.
billet-doux (noun)
A love letter. (OD)
A sweet note. (WN)
billet-doux (noun)
A love letter. (OD)
A sweet note. (WN)
BIPOC (noun)
Acronym
BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Note: While this acronym is not conceptually ridiculous like the term cisgender, the same type of people, lefty bien-pensants, seem to flock to both terms.
black car (noun)
A vehicle used for pre-arranged, for-hire transportation services, with a driver. While a taxi has a license to pick up unscheduled fares on the street, black cars must be scheduled. Name derives from the fact that most of these vehicles used to be black sedans. Today, more likely to be black SUVs. (RM)
Note: This is the New York City terminology; may be different elsewhere. For instance, simply a car service.
blatherskite (noun)
A person who talks at great length without making much sense. (NOA)
A talkative silly or foolish person; a person given to voluble, empty talk. (CDC)
A babbling, foolish person. (AHD)
One who blathers. (RM)
blithe (adjective)
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper. (NOA)
Lacking due thought or consideration; casual, heedless. Of a happy lighthearted character or disposition. (MW)
One who blathers. (RM)
blithe (adjective)
Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper. (NOA)
Lacking due thought or consideration; casual, heedless. Of a happy lighthearted character or disposition. (MW)
Happy or satisfied and without worry. (CD)
Carefree and lighthearted. Lacking or showing a lack of due concern; casual. (AHD)
blithely (adverb)
blithely (adverb)
bolo knife (noun)
A large cutting tool of Philippine origin similar to the machete. The primary use for the bolo is clearing vegetation, whether for agriculture or trail blazing. The bolo is common in the countryside due to its use as a farming implement. Normally used for cutting coconuts, it is also a common harvesting tool for narrow row crops such as rice. (Wikipedia)
Bombay (city)
Former name (until 1995) for Mumbai. (NOA)
boobery (noun)
The action or fact of doing something foolish, especially making foolish mistakes; foolishness, stupidity. Also, an instance of this; a foolish act or thing. With the and plural: Foolish people considered as a class. (OED)
Foolishness; foolish individuals seen as a group. (Green's)
Example: The boobery who watch reality television.
bona fides (noun)
A person's honesty and sincerity of intention. Documentary evidence showing a person’s legitimacy; credentials. (NOA)
Evidence of one's good faith or genuineness; evidence of one's qualifications or achievements. (MW)
Example: The boobery who watch reality television.
bona fides (noun)
A person's honesty and sincerity of intention. Documentary evidence showing a person’s legitimacy; credentials. (NOA)
Evidence of one's good faith or genuineness; evidence of one's qualifications or achievements. (MW)
Good faith; sincerity. Information or evidence that serves to guarantee a person's good faith, standing, and reputation; authentic credentials. (AHD)
bonhomie (noun)
A pleasant and affable disposition; geniality. (AHD)
Good-natured easy friendliness. (MW)
Cheerful, friendliness; geniality. (NOA)
Cheerful, good natured, pleasant friendliness. (WN)
Good-natured easy friendliness. (MW)
Cheerful, friendliness; geniality. (NOA)
Cheerful, good natured, pleasant friendliness. (WN)
bovine (adjective)
Of a person or their manner, sluggish or stupid. (OD)
Of a person, slow-moving and dull-witted. (NOA)
Having qualities, such as placidity or dullness, characteristic of oxen or cows. (MW)
Slow or stupid in a way that a cow is thought to be. (CD)
brahmin or brahman (noun)
A member of the highest of the four major castes of traditional Indian society, responsible for officiating at religious rites. A member of a cultural and social elite, especially of that formed by descendants of old New England families. For example: A Boston Brahmin. (AHD)
A Hindu of the highest caste traditionally assigned to the priesthood. A person of high social standing and cultivated intellect and taste. (MW)
A member of the highest Hindu caste, or social group. A member of a group of people who hold a high social position and who are usually well educated, especially people from the northeastern states of the US. (CD)
EB: Highest ranking of the four social classes, in Hindu India. Since there has been no fundamental change in their relative position, the Brahmans still enjoy great prestige and many advantages, though their claim to tangible privileges is no longer officially admitted. The basis of the age-old veneration of Brahmans is the belief that they are inherently of greater ritual purity than members of other castes and that they alone are capable of performing certain vital religious tasks. The study and recitation of the sacred scriptures was traditionally reserved for this spiritual elite, and for centuries all Indian scholarship was in their hands. (EB)
Note: The Indian diaspora always bring their repugnant caste stratifications with them. You will certainly find these attitudes in Silicon Valley. Here is a Grok summary of the caste system there.
bread and circuses (political idiom)
Latin: panem et circenses
A diet of entertainment or political policies on which the masses are fed to keep them happy and docile. (NOA)
A diet of entertainment or political policies on which the masses are fed to keep them happy and docile. (NOA)
There are two OED entries:
panem et circenses: Bread and circuses or more generally food and entertainment, regarded as typically satisfying the desires of the mass of the people; hence used allusively of anything which pleases and pacifies the people, thus helping a government to further its political ends. (OED)
panem et circenses: Bread and circuses or more generally food and entertainment, regarded as typically satisfying the desires of the mass of the people; hence used allusively of anything which pleases and pacifies the people, thus helping a government to further its political ends. (OED)
bread and circuses: Food and entertainment provided for the public by a government, ruler, etc., especially in order to keep people happy and docile. (OED)
In a political context, the phrase means to generate public approval, not by excellence in public service or public policy, but by diversion, distraction or by satisfying the most immediate or base requirements of a populace – by offering a palliative: For example food (bread) or entertainment (circuses). (Wikipedia)
brief (noun)
An official letter or mandate; a specific instruction or responsibility. (MW)
brief (noun)
An official letter or mandate; a specific instruction or responsibility. (MW)
The instructions that are given to explain a task or assignment. (AHD)
A set of instructions given to a person about a job or task. (NOA)
A letter of authority. A writing issued by official or legal authority; a royal letter or mandate. (OED)
See: purview, remit
A set of instructions given to a person about a job or task. (NOA)
A letter of authority. A writing issued by official or legal authority; a royal letter or mandate. (OED)
See: purview, remit
See: Note on Terms of Responsibilities
brumal (adjective)
Of, belonging to, or characteristic of winter; wintry. (OED)
brumal (adjective)
Of, belonging to, or characteristic of winter; wintry. (OED)
Indicative of or occurring in the winter. (MW)
Characteristic of or relating to winter. (VC)
See: hiemal (winter), estival (summer), vernal (spring)
brumous (adjective)
Filled with heavy clouds or fog. Relating to winter and cold, sunless days. Foggy and wintery. (WN)
Filled or abounding with fog or mist. (VC)
See: hiemal (winter), estival (summer), vernal (spring)
brumous (adjective)
Filled with heavy clouds or fog. Relating to winter and cold, sunless days. Foggy and wintery. (WN)
Filled or abounding with fog or mist. (VC)
Poetic: Characterized by heavy mist or fog. (CDC)
bucolic (adjective)
Relating to or typical of rural life; idyllic; pastoral. (MW)
Of or characteristic of the countryside or its people; rustic. (AHD)
Relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life; pastoral; an idyllic rural life. (WN)
bumbledom (noun)
The actions and mannerisms of pompous but inefficient government officials. (MW)
bumbledom (noun)
The actions and mannerisms of pompous but inefficient government officials. (MW)
Self-importance in a minor office. (CDC)
Petty local bureaucracy; officious and pompous behavior by minor officials; officials of this type collectively. (OED)
Refers to the behavior or attitudes associated with officious, pompous, or inefficient bureaucracy. It often describes the self-important or overly formal conduct of minor officials who are more concerned with the trappings of their position than with effective administration. The term is derived from bumble, suggesting clumsiness or incompetence, combined with a suffix that evokes a sense of domain or realm. (Grok)
bumptious (adjective)
Presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive; obtrusive. (MW)
Petty local bureaucracy; officious and pompous behavior by minor officials; officials of this type collectively. (OED)
Refers to the behavior or attitudes associated with officious, pompous, or inefficient bureaucracy. It often describes the self-important or overly formal conduct of minor officials who are more concerned with the trappings of their position than with effective administration. The term is derived from bumble, suggesting clumsiness or incompetence, combined with a suffix that evokes a sense of domain or realm. (Grok)
bumptious (adjective)
Presumptuously, obtusely, and often noisily self-assertive; obtrusive. (MW)
Self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree. (NOA)
Crudely or loudly assertive; pushy. (AHD)
Unpleasantly confident. (CD)
burble (verb)
Make a continuous murmuring noise. Speak continuously and at length in an unintelligible or confused way. (NOA)
burble (verb)
Make a continuous murmuring noise. Speak continuously and at length in an unintelligible or confused way. (NOA)
To make a bubbling sound. Babble, prattle. (MW)
A gurgling or bubbling sound, as of running water. A rapid, excited flow of speech. To speak quickly and excitedly; gush. (AHD)
Typically: He burbled on about….
Typically: He burbled on about….
Burma (country)
Former name (until 1989) of Myanmar. (OD)
business model (noun)
A plan for the successful operation of a business, typically identifying sources of revenue, intended customer base, products, and details of financing. (OED)