CINXE.COM

Word origins | Oxford Dictionaries

<!DOCTYPE html><!--[if lt IE 7]><html class="no-js ie6 oldie" lang="en"></html><![endif]--><!--[if IE 7]><html class="no-js ie7 oldie" lang="en"></html><![endif]--><!--[if IE 8]><html class="no-js ie8 oldie" lang="en"></html><![endif]--><!--[if gte IE 8]><html class="no-js" lang="en"></html><![endif]--><head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins","20181004082835","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1538641715"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" /> <!-- End Wayback Rewrite JS Include --> <title>Word origins | Oxford Dictionaries</title> <meta name="description" content="What is the origin of ‘quiz’? Where did we get the term ‘flea market’? If you’ve ever asked similar questions, you’ll enjoy these word and phrase origins."/> <meta name="keywords" content="Word origins, reference content, English language usage, grammar questions, language questions, punctuation, spelling, language learning, writing help, word origins, english usage"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Word origins | Oxford Dictionaries"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="What is the origin of ‘quiz’? Where did we get the term ‘flea market’? If you’ve ever asked similar questions, you’ll enjoy these word and phrase origins."/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@OxfordWords"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/3316/original/tree-root-thumbnail.jpg?1473424085"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Word origins | Oxford Dictionaries"/> <meta property="og:description" content="What is the origin of ‘quiz’? Where did we get the term ‘flea market’? If you’ve ever asked similar questions, you’ll enjoy these word and phrase origins."/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Oxford Dictionaries | English"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/3316/original/tree-root-thumbnail.jpg?1473424085"/><meta charset="utf-8"/><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/><meta content="IE=edge,chrome=1" http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible"/> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"4df5d40850","applicationID":"9160590","transactionName":"cAlZFxRYCV9cFx9HUlQDREwKVgtXUAtXaENSAVI=","queueTime":3,"applicationTime":134,"agent":""}</script> <script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(e,t,n){function r(n){if(!t[n]){var o=t[n]={exports:{}};e[n][0].call(o.exports,function(t){var o=e[n][1][t];return r(o||t)},o,o.exports)}return t[n].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<n.length;o++)r(n[o]);return r}({1:[function(e,t,n){function r(){}function o(e,t,n){return function(){return i(e,[f.now()].concat(u(arguments)),t?null:this,n),t?void 0:this}}var i=e("handle"),a=e(2),u=e(3),c=e("ee").get("tracer"),f=e("loader"),s=NREUM;"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=s);var p=["setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","addRelease"],d="api-",l=d+"ixn-";a(p,function(e,t){s[t]=o(d+t,!0,"api")}),s.addPageAction=o(d+"addPageAction",!0),s.setCurrentRouteName=o(d+"routeName",!0),t.exports=newrelic,s.interaction=function(){return(new r).get()};var m=r.prototype={createTracer:function(e,t){var n={},r=this,o="function"==typeof t;return i(l+"tracer",[f.now(),e,n],r),function(){if(c.emit((o?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[f.now(),r,o],n),o)try{return t.apply(this,arguments)}catch(e){throw c.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,e],n),e}finally{c.emit("fn-end",[f.now()],n)}}}};a("setName,setAttribute,save,ignore,onEnd,getContext,end,get".split(","),function(e,t){m[t]=o(l+t)}),newrelic.noticeError=function(e){"string"==typeof e&&(e=new Error(e)),i("err",[e,f.now()])}},{}],2:[function(e,t,n){function r(e,t){var n=[],r="",i=0;for(r in e)o.call(e,r)&&(n[i]=t(r,e[r]),i+=1);return n}var o=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;t.exports=r},{}],3:[function(e,t,n){function r(e,t,n){t||(t=0),"undefined"==typeof n&&(n=e?e.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=n-t||0,i=Array(o<0?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=e[t+r];return i}t.exports=r},{}],4:[function(e,t,n){t.exports={exists:"undefined"!=typeof window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&"undefined"!=typeof window.performance.timing.navigationStart}},{}],ee:[function(e,t,n){function r(){}function o(e){function t(e){return e&&e instanceof r?e:e?c(e,u,i):i()}function n(n,r,o,i){if(!d.aborted||i){e&&e(n,r,o);for(var a=t(o),u=m(n),c=u.length,f=0;f<c;f++)u[f].apply(a,r);var p=s[y[n]];return p&&p.push([b,n,r,a]),a}}function l(e,t){v[e]=m(e).concat(t)}function m(e){return v[e]||[]}function w(e){return p[e]=p[e]||o(n)}function g(e,t){f(e,function(e,n){t=t||"feature",y[n]=t,t in s||(s[t]=[])})}var v={},y={},b={on:l,emit:n,get:w,listeners:m,context:t,buffer:g,abort:a,aborted:!1};return b}function i(){return new r}function a(){(s.api||s.feature)&&(d.aborted=!0,s=d.backlog={})}var u="nr@context",c=e("gos"),f=e(2),s={},p={},d=t.exports=o();d.backlog=s},{}],gos:[function(e,t,n){function r(e,t,n){if(o.call(e,t))return e[t];var r=n();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,t,{value:r,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),r}catch(i){}return e[t]=r,r}var o=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;t.exports=r},{}],handle:[function(e,t,n){function r(e,t,n,r){o.buffer([e],r),o.emit(e,t,n)}var o=e("ee").get("handle");t.exports=r,r.ee=o},{}],id:[function(e,t,n){function r(e){var t=typeof e;return!e||"object"!==t&&"function"!==t?-1:e===window?0:a(e,i,function(){return o++})}var o=1,i="nr@id",a=e("gos");t.exports=r},{}],loader:[function(e,t,n){function r(){if(!x++){var e=h.info=NREUM.info,t=d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(setTimeout(s.abort,3e4),!(e&&e.licenseKey&&e.applicationID&&t))return s.abort();f(y,function(t,n){e[t]||(e[t]=n)}),c("mark",["onload",a()+h.offset],null,"api");var n=d.createElement("script");n.src="https://"+e.agent,t.parentNode.insertBefore(n,t)}}function o(){"complete"===d.readyState&&i()}function i(){c("mark",["domContent",a()+h.offset],null,"api")}function a(){return E.exists&&performance.now?Math.round(performance.now()):(u=Math.max((new Date).getTime(),u))-h.offset}var u=(new Date).getTime(),c=e("handle"),f=e(2),s=e("ee"),p=window,d=p.document,l="addEventListener",m="attachEvent",w=p.XMLHttpRequest,g=w&&w.prototype;NREUM.o={ST:setTimeout,SI:p.setImmediate,CT:clearTimeout,XHR:w,REQ:p.Request,EV:p.Event,PR:p.Promise,MO:p.MutationObserver};var v=""+location,y={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-1071.min.js"},b=w&&g&&g[l]&&!/CriOS/.test(navigator.userAgent),h=t.exports={offset:u,now:a,origin:v,features:{},xhrWrappable:b};e(1),d[l]?(d[l]("DOMContentLoaded",i,!1),p[l]("load",r,!1)):(d[m]("onreadystatechange",o),p[m]("onload",r)),c("mark",["firstbyte",u],null,"api");var x=0,E=e(4)},{}]},{},["loader"]);</script><meta content="Oxford University Press" itemprop="copyrightHolder"/><meta content="2018" itemprop="copyrightYear"/><meta content="en" itemprop="inLanguage"/><meta content="Oxford Dictionaries" itemprop="publisher"/><meta content="8C014612B3E8D607B216A5788271D10B" name="msvalidate.01"/><link href="https://plus.google.com/107831092854065394120" rel="publisher"/><link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins/" rel="canonical"/><script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5KZRWMG');</script><meta content="live" itemprop="status"/><link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/web/20181004082835cs_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/application_monolingual-0b3594caaaaf9ac10d6525c5c2e423c1.css" data-turbolinks-track="true"/><!--[if lt IE 9] = javascript_include_tag 'ie', 'data-turbolinks-track' => true--><script src="/web/20181004082835js_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/head-bedb1cbb99f2545b0eadd1a118d870de.js" data-turbolinks-track="true"></script><script>head.load("/assets/application_monolingual-85acb2192a79fe382565ab24db39b603.js");</script><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png" rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/favicon-32x32.png" rel="icon" sizes="32x32" type="image/png"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/favicon-194x194.png" rel="icon" sizes="194x194" type="image/png"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/favicon-96x96.png" rel="icon" sizes="96x96" type="image/png"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/android-chrome-192x192.png" rel="icon" sizes="192x192" type="image/png"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/favicon-16x16.png" rel="icon" sizes="16x16" type="image/png"/><link href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/favicon.ico?v1" rel="shortcut icon"/><link href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/manifest.json" rel="manifest"/><link color="#5bbad5" href="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/safari-pinned-tab.svg" rel="mask-icon"/><meta content="#00bdf2" name="msapplication-TileColor"/><meta content="/mstile-144x144.png" name="msapplication-TileImage"/><meta content="#006cac" name="theme-color"/><meta name="csrf-param" content="authenticity_token"/> <meta name="csrf-token" content="bhsHGjjmqlEwUcowtmP4muycEJtHGtVbOL+aNMojT6mGl2rp0YPAYlqHgiFqL+88PzEuj/AgAZr3rSSNSoa5Bg=="/><script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835js_/https://js-sec.indexww.com/ht/p/186196-254398257609690.js"></script><script async="async" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835js_/https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"></script><script>var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 0], [728, 90]).addSize([0, 0], [320, 50]).build();googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_category_top_leader_default', [[728, 90], [320, 50]], 'div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-3').defineSizeMapping(mapping).addService(googletag.pubads());var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build();googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_category_sidetop_mpu_default', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-2').defineSizeMapping(mapping).addService(googletag.pubads());var mapping = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([0, 0], [300, 250]).build();googletag.defineSlot('/116097782/odo_en_category_sidebtm_mpu_default', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-1').defineSizeMapping(mapping).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().setTargeting('odo_status', "live"); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); });</script><link href="//web.archive.org/web/20181004082835cs_/https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400italic,600italic,700italic,400,600,700|Merriweather:400,700,400italic,700italic" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/><script>var controller = "pages"; var action = "landing_page"; var current_dictionary = "EN"; // Non Lex Page || Non Lex Cat Page || <empty> var page_category = "- Non Lex Cat Page ";</script></head><body class="controller__pages action__landing_page dictionary__odo dictionary__en category__page " data-no-turbolink="true" id="" lang="en"><noscript><iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5KZRWMG" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript><div id="wrapper"><header id="header"><div class="topHeader"><div class="container full"><nav class="nav"><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="DICTIONARY " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/">DICTIONARY </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="THESAURUS " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus/">THESAURUS </a></li><li class="drop "><span><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="GRAMMAR " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/">GRAMMAR </a></span><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="GRAMMAR - GRAMMAR A-Z " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/grammar-a-z">GRAMMAR A-Z </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="GRAMMAR - SPELLING " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/spelling">SPELLING </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="GRAMMAR - PUNCTUATION " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/punctuation">PUNCTUATION </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="GRAMMAR - WRITING HELP " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/writing-help">WRITING HELP </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="GRAMMAR - USAGE " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/usage">USAGE </a></li></ul></li><li class="drop mob"><span><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/">EXPLORE </a></span><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE - WORD ORIGINS " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">WORD ORIGINS </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE - LANGUAGE QUESTIONS " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions">LANGUAGE QUESTIONS </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE - WORD LISTS" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists">WORD LISTS</a></li></ul></li><li class="drop mob"><span><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="WORD OF THE YEAR" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year">WORD OF THE YEAR</a></span><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="WORD OF THE YEAR - CURRENT CHOICE" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year-2017">CURRENT CHOICE</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="WORD OF THE YEAR - PREVIOUS CHOICES" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year#hb-previous-words-of-the-year">PREVIOUS CHOICES</a></li></ul></li><li class="mob"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="FORUM" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://forum.oxforddictionaries.com/en/">FORUM</a></li><li class="mob"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="BLOG" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">BLOG</a></li><li class="drop more"><span>More</span><ul><li class="drop mob"><span><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/">EXPLORE </a></span><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE - WORD ORIGINS " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">WORD ORIGINS </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE - LANGUAGE QUESTIONS " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions">LANGUAGE QUESTIONS </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="EXPLORE - WORD LISTS" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists">WORD LISTS</a></li></ul></li><li class="drop mob"><span><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="WORD OF THE YEAR" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year">WORD OF THE YEAR</a></span><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="WORD OF THE YEAR - CURRENT CHOICE" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year-2017">CURRENT CHOICE</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="WORD OF THE YEAR - PREVIOUS CHOICES" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year#hb-previous-words-of-the-year">PREVIOUS CHOICES</a></li></ul></li><li class="mob"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="FORUM" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://forum.oxforddictionaries.com/en/">FORUM</a></li><li class="mob"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-menu" data-value="BLOG" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">BLOG</a></li></ul></li></ul></nav><div class="signIn"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-header" data-value="Sign in" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/a/auth/gds?signup_from=en"><i><svg enable-background="new 0 0 33 33" height="32" viewbox="0 0 33 33" width="32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M16.5,33C7.4,33,0,25.6,0,16.5S7.4,0,16.5,0S33,7.4,33,16.5S25.6,33,16.5,33z M16.5,1C8,1,1,8,1,16.5S8,32,16.5,32S32,25,32,16.5S25,1,16.5,1z" fill="#8ac1e1"/><g><path d="m24 23.1l-.7-2.4c-.5-1.6-2.5-5.2-4.5-5.2h-4.5c-2 0-4 3.5-4.5 5.2l-.8 2.4c-.1.3.1.7.3 1 .3.2.7.5 1.1.5h12.1c.4 0 .8-.2 1.1-.5.3-.2.4-.6.4-1"/><ellipse cx="16.6" cy="10.7" rx="3.5" ry="3.6"/></g></svg></i><span>Sign in</span></a></div><div class="sharing"><ul><li><a class="ico-fb" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - Facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 17 17" height="17" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" width="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-16.9 14h-15.1c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v15.1c0 .5.4.9.9.9h8.1v-6.6h-2.2v-2.6h2.2v-1.7c0-2.2 1.3-3.4 3.3-3.4.9 0 1.7.1 2 .1v2.3h-1.4c-1.1 0-1.3.5-1.3 1.2v1.6h2.5l-.3 2.6h-2.2v6.6h4.3c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-15.2c.1-.5-.3-.9-.8-.9"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-tw" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - Twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://twitter.com/@OxfordWords"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14" height="14" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" width="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-gpl" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - G+" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://plus.google.com/+Oxforddictionaries"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 22 14" height="14" viewbox="-33 14 22 14" width="22" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="m-26 20v2.4h4c-.2 1-1.2 3-4 3-2.4 0-4.3-2-4.3-4.4 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.4 0 2.3.6 2.8 1.1l1.9-1.8c-1.2-1.1-2.8-1.8-4.7-1.8-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7c4 0 6.7-2.8 6.7-6.8 0-.5 0-.8-.1-1.2h-6.6v-.1"/><path d="m-11 20h-2v-2h-2v2h-2v2h2v2h2v-2h2"/></g></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-in" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - Instagram" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://instagram.com/oxforddictionaries"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 17 17" height="17" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" width="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-30.8 14h12.6c1.2 0 2.2.9 2.2 2.2v12.6c0 1.3-1 2.2-2.2 2.2h-12.6c-1.2 0-2.2-.9-2.2-2.2v-12.6c0-1.3 1-2.2 2.2-2.2m10.2 1.9c-.4 0-.8.3-.8.8v1.8c0 .4.3.8.8.8h1.9c.4 0 .8-.3.8-.8v-1.8c0-.4-.3-.8-.8-.8h-1.9m2.7 5.3h-1.5c.1.5.2 1 .2 1.5 0 2.8-2.4 5.1-5.3 5.1-2.9 0-5.3-2.3-5.3-5.1 0-.5.1-1 .2-1.5h-1.6v7.2c0 .4.3.7.7.7h11.8c.4 0 .7-.3.7-.7l.1-7.2m-6.6-2c-1.9 0-3.4 1.5-3.4 3.3 0 1.8 1.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 1.9 0 3.4-1.5 3.4-3.3s-1.5-3.3-3.4-3.3"/></svg></a></li> </ul></div><nav class="nav right"><ul></ul></nav></div></div><div class="mainHeader"><div class="container"><div class="headerContent"><a class="logo" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Homepage anchor image" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/"><img alt="English logo" src="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/oup/logos/svg/en-5b11f3d55cda82ae72a6e4c725ec9fe3.svg"/></a><div class="searchField"><div class="powered"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-header" data-value="Powered by Oxford" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/"><img alt="Powered by Oxford logo" height="30" src="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/oup/logos/svg/powered-by-oxford-a0ebf36b07d4a4e1b5e6fb523272038e.svg" width="185"/></a></div><div class="searchMain" data-locale="en"><form class="search" action="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/search" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="get"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><select name="filter" id="filter" class="dictionary" data-ga-language-indicator="EN"><option value="dictionary">Dictionary</option> <option value="noad">Dictionary (US)</option> <option value="grammar">Grammar</option> <option value="thesaurus">Thesaurus</option></select><fieldset><input type="text" name="query" id="query" placeholder="Type word or phrase" autocomplete="off" maxlength="100" autocapitalize="none" class="autocomplete"/><div class="keyboard kBoxContent" data-behaviour="ga-event-search-scope" data-value="character keyboard"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 28 16.7" height="17" viewbox="0 0 28 16.7" width="28" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m26.5 0h-25c-.8 0-1.5.6-1.5 1.4v13.9c0 .8.7 1.4 1.5 1.4h25.1c.8 0 1.5-.6 1.5-1.4v-13.9c-.1-.8-.8-1.4-1.6-1.4m-10.1 2.8h2.9v2.8h-2.9v-2.8m4.3 4.1v2.8h-2.9v-2.8h2.9m-8.7-4.1h2.9v2.8h-2.9v-2.8m4.4 4.1v2.8h-2.9v-2.8h2.9m-8.8-4.1h2.9v2.8h-2.9v-2.8m4.4 4.1v2.8h-2.9v-2.8h2.9m-9-4.1h3.2v2.8h-3.2v-2.8m0 4.1h4.6v2.8h-4.6v-2.8m3.2 7h-3.2v-2.8h3.1v2.8zm13.1 0h-11.7v-2.8h11.6v2.8zm5.8 0h-4.4v-2.8h4.4v2.8m0-4.2h-2.9v-2.8h2.9v2.8m0-4.1h-4.4v-2.8h4.4v2.8" fill="#999"/></svg> <svg enable-background="new 0 0 14 7" height="7" viewbox="0 0 14 7" width="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M7 4.4 2.6 0 0 0 6.1 6.1 7 7 7.9 6.1 14 0 11.4 0z" fill="#989898"/></svg></div><button data-behaviour="ga-event-search-scope" data-value="Launch search" type="submit"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 22 22" height="30" viewbox="-0.5 -0.5 22 22" width="30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m21.8 19.6l-4.5-4.5c2.7-3.7 2.3-8.9-1-12.3-3.7-3.7-9.8-3.7-13.5 0-3.7 3.7-3.7 9.7 0 13.5 3.4 3.4 8.6 3.7 12.3 1l4.5 4.5c.4.4 1 .3 1.5-.2l.5-.5c.5-.5.5-1.1.2-1.5m-7.6-5.3c-2.6 2.6-6.8 2.6-9.4 0-2.6-2.6-2.6-6.8 0-9.4 2.6-2.6 6.8-2.6 9.4 0 2.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 0 9.4" fill="#f77941"/></svg></button><div class="autocompleteBox"></div><div class="keyboardBox"><div class="kBoxContent"><ul><li><span>à</span></li><li><span>á</span></li><li><span>â</span></li><li><span>ä</span></li><li><span>ã</span></li><li><span>ă</span></li><li><span>ā</span></li><li><span>ç</span></li><li><span>č</span></li><li><span>è</span></li><li><span>é</span></li><li><span>ê</span></li><li><span>ë</span></li><li><span>ē</span></li><li><span>ģ</span></li><li><span>ì</span></li><li><span>í</span></li><li><span>î</span></li><li><span>ï</span></li><li><span>ī</span></li><li><span>ķ</span></li><li><span>ļ</span></li><li><span>ñ</span></li><li><span>ň</span></li><li><span>ņ</span></li><li><span>ò</span></li><li><span>ó</span></li><li><span>ô</span></li><li><span>ö</span></li><li><span>õ</span></li><li><span>ş</span></li><li><span>š</span></li><li><span>ţ</span></li><li><span>ù</span></li><li><span>ú</span></li><li><span>û</span></li><li><span>ü</span></li><li><span>ū</span></li><li><span>ý</span></li><li><span>ž</span></li><li><span>æ</span></li><li><span>œ</span></li><li><span>ß</span></li></ul><i class="upper"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 16.8 16" height="16" viewbox="0 0 16.8 16" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m8.4 0l-8.4 8.4h5.1v7.6h6.6v-7.6h5.1z" fill="#2a2a2a"/></svg></i></div></div></fieldset></form></div></div></div></div></div><div class="shortHeader transition"><div class="container"><div class="headerContent"><a class="logo" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 55 55" height="55" viewbox="0 0 55 55" width="55" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>English logo</title><role>img</role><g fill="#fff"><path d="m36.7 27.5c0 5.1-3.4 9.4-9.2 9.4-5.7 0-9.2-4.4-9.2-9.4 0-5.1 3.4-9.4 9.2-9.4 5.7 0 9.2 4.3 9.2 9.4"/><path d="M55,27.5c0-8.2-3.4-15.7-9.2-20.7v20.7c0,10.1-6.8,18.8-18.3,18.8S9.2,37.6,9.2,27.5S16,8.7,27.5,8.7c3.5,0,6.6,0.8,9.2,2.2V1.5C33.8,0.5,30.8,0,27.5,0C11.4,0,0,12.5,0,27.5C0,42.5,11.4,55,27.5,55S55,42.5,55,27.5L55,27.5z"/></g><img alt="English logo" class="mobilelogo" height="42" src="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/oup/logos/svg/en-5b11f3d55cda82ae72a6e4c725ec9fe3.svg" width="209"/></svg></a><div class="searchField"><div class="searchMain" data-locale="en"><form class="search" action="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/search" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="get"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><select name="filter" id="filter" class="dictionary" data-ga-language-indicator="EN"><option value="dictionary">Dictionary</option> <option value="noad">Dictionary (US)</option> <option value="grammar">Grammar</option> <option value="thesaurus">Thesaurus</option></select><fieldset><input type="text" name="query" id="query" placeholder="Type word or phrase" autocomplete="off" maxlength="100" autocapitalize="none" class="autocomplete"/><div class="keyboard kBoxContent" data-behaviour="ga-event-search-scope" data-value="character keyboard"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 28 16.7" height="17" viewbox="0 0 28 16.7" width="28" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m26.5 0h-25c-.8 0-1.5.6-1.5 1.4v13.9c0 .8.7 1.4 1.5 1.4h25.1c.8 0 1.5-.6 1.5-1.4v-13.9c-.1-.8-.8-1.4-1.6-1.4m-10.1 2.8h2.9v2.8h-2.9v-2.8m4.3 4.1v2.8h-2.9v-2.8h2.9m-8.7-4.1h2.9v2.8h-2.9v-2.8m4.4 4.1v2.8h-2.9v-2.8h2.9m-8.8-4.1h2.9v2.8h-2.9v-2.8m4.4 4.1v2.8h-2.9v-2.8h2.9m-9-4.1h3.2v2.8h-3.2v-2.8m0 4.1h4.6v2.8h-4.6v-2.8m3.2 7h-3.2v-2.8h3.1v2.8zm13.1 0h-11.7v-2.8h11.6v2.8zm5.8 0h-4.4v-2.8h4.4v2.8m0-4.2h-2.9v-2.8h2.9v2.8m0-4.1h-4.4v-2.8h4.4v2.8" fill="#999"/></svg> <svg enable-background="new 0 0 14 7" height="7" viewbox="0 0 14 7" width="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M7 4.4 2.6 0 0 0 6.1 6.1 7 7 7.9 6.1 14 0 11.4 0z" fill="#989898"/></svg></div><button data-behaviour="ga-event-search-scope" data-value="Launch search" type="submit"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 22 22" height="30" viewbox="-0.5 -0.5 22 22" width="30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m21.8 19.6l-4.5-4.5c2.7-3.7 2.3-8.9-1-12.3-3.7-3.7-9.8-3.7-13.5 0-3.7 3.7-3.7 9.7 0 13.5 3.4 3.4 8.6 3.7 12.3 1l4.5 4.5c.4.4 1 .3 1.5-.2l.5-.5c.5-.5.5-1.1.2-1.5m-7.6-5.3c-2.6 2.6-6.8 2.6-9.4 0-2.6-2.6-2.6-6.8 0-9.4 2.6-2.6 6.8-2.6 9.4 0 2.5 2.6 2.5 6.8 0 9.4" fill="#f77941"/></svg></button><div class="autocompleteBox"></div><div class="keyboardBox"><div class="kBoxContent"><ul><li><span>à</span></li><li><span>á</span></li><li><span>â</span></li><li><span>ä</span></li><li><span>ã</span></li><li><span>ă</span></li><li><span>ā</span></li><li><span>ç</span></li><li><span>č</span></li><li><span>è</span></li><li><span>é</span></li><li><span>ê</span></li><li><span>ë</span></li><li><span>ē</span></li><li><span>ģ</span></li><li><span>ì</span></li><li><span>í</span></li><li><span>î</span></li><li><span>ï</span></li><li><span>ī</span></li><li><span>ķ</span></li><li><span>ļ</span></li><li><span>ñ</span></li><li><span>ň</span></li><li><span>ņ</span></li><li><span>ò</span></li><li><span>ó</span></li><li><span>ô</span></li><li><span>ö</span></li><li><span>õ</span></li><li><span>ş</span></li><li><span>š</span></li><li><span>ţ</span></li><li><span>ù</span></li><li><span>ú</span></li><li><span>û</span></li><li><span>ü</span></li><li><span>ū</span></li><li><span>ý</span></li><li><span>ž</span></li><li><span>æ</span></li><li><span>œ</span></li><li><span>ß</span></li></ul><i class="upper"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 16.8 16" height="16" viewbox="0 0 16.8 16" width="16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m8.4 0l-8.4 8.4h5.1v7.6h6.6v-7.6h5.1z" fill="#2a2a2a"/></svg></i></div></div></fieldset></form></div></div></div><div class="burger"><img height="18" src="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/oup/svg/hamburger-menu-2e320229b47a7e3573a2b48e41a5b8e2.svg" width="28"/><span>menu</span></div></div></div></header><div id="main"><div class="cookie-container"><div class="cookies-eu"><span class="cookies-eu-content-holder">We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. This website uses cookies that provide targeted advertising and which track your use of this website. By clicking ‘continue’ or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.</span><span class="cookies-eu-button-holder"><a class="cookies-eu-ok">Continue</a><a class="cookies-eu-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/http://global.oup.com/cookiepolicy/" target="_blank">Find out more</a></span><div class="clearfix"></div></div></div><div class="errors__container headerHead"></div><div class="category-ad-code-default" id="content"><div class="lex-container"><div class="banbox"><div class="container category-ban"><div class="banner "><div id="div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-3"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-3'); });</script></div></div></div></div><div class="main-content"><div class="container layout"><div class="lex-category"><div class="lex-filling"><div class="breadcrumbs layout"><p><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Primary breadcrumb" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/">Home</a><span></span> <a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="secondary breadcrumb" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore">Explore</a> <span></span> <a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="secondary breadcrumb" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">Word origins</a></p></div><div class="textBlock layout"><h1><span>Word origins</span></h1></div><div class="categories"></div><div class="categories pages"><section class="record" data-time="2016-10-07 12:29:47 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 1" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/was-the-first-computer-bug-a-real-insect"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2813/original/computer-bug-thumbnail.jpg?1471959675" alt="Computer bug thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>Was the first computer ‘bug’ a real insect?</h2><h4>The phrase &#39;computer bug&#39; has been around for a long time, but was it created due to an incident involving a real insect? Click through to find out.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:57:09 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 2" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/origin-of-dressed-to-the-nines"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/3085/original/tiara-thumbnail.jpg?1471959767" alt="Tiara thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the phrase &#39;dressed to the nines&#39;?</h2><h4>To be ‘dressed to the nines’ means to be dressed very smartly – but what is the origin of this phrase, and why is it ‘nines’ rather than ‘eights’ or ‘tens’?</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-29 13:50:28 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 3" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-hair-of-the-dog"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2833/original/dog-hair-thumbnail.jpg?1471959682" alt="Dog hair thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the phrase ‘hair of the dog’?</h2><h4>Most people have known somebody in need of the hair of the dog, but where did the phrase come from? Our short video explains everything.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:55:36 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 4" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-sleep-tight"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/3044/original/sleeping-baby-thumbnail.jpg?1471959756" alt="Sleeping baby thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the phrase ‘sleep tight’?</h2><h4>There are lots of parents out there that have said &quot;sleep tight&quot; when they put their kids to bed. But have you ever wondered where the phrase came from?</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:55:19 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 5" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-the-bee-s-knees"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2755/original/bees-thumbnail.jpg?1471959649" alt="Bees thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the phrase &#39;the bee&#39;s knees&#39;?</h2><h4>The bee&#39;s knees is usually said to describe something of outstanding performance, but have you ever thought where it came from? Our page has the answers.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:57:12 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 6" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-term-brass-monkey"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2952/original/monkey-thumbnail.jpg?1471959721" alt="Monkey thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the term &#39;brass monkey&#39;?</h2><h4>In some English-speaking parts of the world, the phrase &#39;brass monkey&#39; is used to describe cold weather, but where did it come from? Our video has the answer.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:57:19 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 7" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-term-flea-market"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2863/original/flea-market-thumbnail.jpg?1471959694" alt="Flea market thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the term ‘flea market’?</h2><h4>Most people will go to a flea market at some point in their lives, but where did the phrase come from? Watch our video to find out the answer.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:56:23 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 8" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/pros-and-cons-origin"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/3292/original/vintage-scales-thumbnail.jpg?1473345930" alt="Vintage scales thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the term ‘pros and cons’?</h2><h4>What is the origin of the term ‘pros and cons’? You may use this phrase often, but without realizing that you’re actually abbreviating Latin…</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:57:52 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 9" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-term-ufo"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/3107/original/ufo-thumbnail.jpg?1471959775" alt="Ufo thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the term ‘UFO’?</h2><h4>There are many theories about the existence of UFOs, but where did this initialism come from? Watch our video to find out the real truth.</h4></article></a></section><section class="record" data-time="2016-09-14 21:56:47 +0100"><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Story 10" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-berserk"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2756/original/bear-walking-thumbnail.jpg?1471959649" alt="Bear walking thumbnail"/></div><article><h2>What is the origin of the word ‘berserk’?</h2><h4>Where does the word ‘berserk’ come from, and what has it got to do with bears? We’ve got the unexpected answers, so you can stop going berserk!</h4></article></a></section></div><div class="load_more_container"><a class="load_more_button" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="load more" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">Load More</a><a class="seemore" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="see more in cat" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore">See more from Explore</a></div></div></div><aside class="sideBanner"><div class="sideBannerWrap"></div></aside><aside class="sidebar extend" id="sidebar"><div class="sidebar-content"><div class="dayword"><section><div class="daywordmain"><span class="wotd-title">Word of the Day</span><div><div><strong><a class="linkword" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="Word" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/nous" id="7855eae3-d6d5-42b8-a362-b9a764499048">nous</a><div class="rsbtn"><a class="voice" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="audio" onclick="document.getElementById('9ebad6b0-6bf9-4f7a-9bfb-340a01e22aff').play();"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 42 42" height="42" viewbox="0 0 42 42" width="42" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g class="orn"><circle cx="21" cy="21" r="21"/><circle class="wh-s" cx="21" cy="21" r="17" stroke-miterlimit="10" stroke-width="2"/></g><g class="wh"><path d="m14.3 18h-3.8v6h3.8l4.9 4c0 0 1 .9 1 .1v-14.2c0-.7-.9.1-.9.1l-5 4"/><path d="m27.3 29.7c2.6-2.2 4.1-5.4 4.1-8.7s-1.5-6.6-4.1-8.7c-.3-.3-.9-.3-1.1.1-.2.1-.2.3-.2.5 0 .2.1.5.3.6 2.2 1.9 3.5 4.6 3.5 7.5 0 2.9-1.3 5.6-3.5 7.5-.2.2-.3.4-.3.6 0 .2.1.4.2.5.2.4.8.4 1.1.1"/><path d="m28.1 21c0-2.4-1.1-4.7-2.9-6.2-.3-.3-.9-.2-1.2.1-.1.2-.2.3-.2.5 0 .2.1.5.3.6 1.5 1.2 2.3 3.1 2.3 5 0 1.9-.9 3.7-2.3 5-.2.2-.3.4-.3.6 0 .2.1.4.2.5.3.3.8.4 1.2.1 1.9-1.5 2.9-3.8 2.9-6.2"/><path d="m24.8 21c0-1.4-.6-2.8-1.8-3.7-.3-.3-.9-.2-1.2.1-.1.2-.2.3-.2.5 0 .2.1.5.3.6.7.6 1.2 1.5 1.2 2.5 0 1-.4 1.9-1.2 2.5-.2.2-.3.4-.3.6 0 .2.1.4.2.5.3.3.8.4 1.2.1 1.2-.9 1.8-2.3 1.8-3.7"/></g></svg></a></div><audio id="9ebad6b0-6bf9-4f7a-9bfb-340a01e22aff" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/audio.oxforddictionaries.com/en/mp3/nous_gb_1.mp3"></audio></strong><p class="find_what_it_is" style="display:none"><a class="callToAction" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="find out what it means" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/nous"><span class="eng">Find out what it means</span></a></p></div></div></div><div class="section sso_newsletter_holder" id="wotd_newsletter_manage_button"><div class="sso_newsletter"><a class="subscribe_button" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="subscribe" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://sso.oxforddictionaries.com/users/edit#manage_newsletter_preferences"><img class="newsletter_envelope" src="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/oup/svg/Wotd-email-white-59b5c9e44284c06d97b873885110d0a7.svg"/>Get word of the day by email</a></div><p class="privacy-policy-wotd"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://global.oup.com/privacy" target="_new">Click here to see our Privacy Policy.</a></p></div><div class="section" id="wotd_newsletter_form"><div class="wotd newsletters en_word_of_the_day"><form class="boxSizing newsletters" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/newsletters" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-remote="true" method="post"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><p class="word_of_the_day">Get word of the day by email</p><fieldset class="layout"><label><input value="1" type="hidden" name="newsletters[en_word_of_the_day]" id="newsletters_en_word_of_the_day"/><input value="en" type="hidden" name="newsletters[dictionary]" id="newsletters_dictionary"/><input placeholder="Enter your email address" required="required" class="boxSizing" type="email" name="user[email]" id="user_email"/></label><button name="button" type="submit" class="boxSizing transition" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="subscribe">Subscribe</button></fieldset></form><p class="privacy-policy-wotd"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://global.oup.com/privacy" target="_new">Click here to see our Privacy Policy.</a></p><h4 class="thanks">Thanks for subscribing. Please check your email and confirm your subscription</h4></div></div></section></div><div class="news layout"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 1" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/5168/original/woty-2017-530x226.jpg" alt="Woty 2017 530x226"/></div><article><span class="article-title">Discover the Word of the Year 2017</span></article></a></section><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 2" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://forum.oxforddictionaries.com/en/categories/grammar-punctuation-usage"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/5165/original/forum-sidebar530x226.jpg" alt="Forum sidebar530x226"/></div><article><span class="article-title">Ask the community</span></article></a></section><div class="banbox-mini"><div class="banner "><div id="div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-2"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-2'); });</script></div></div></div><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 3" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/foreign-words-and-phrases"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2474/original/inflatable-globes.jpg" alt="Inflatable globes"/></div><article><span class="article-title">Foreign words and phrases used in English</span></article></a></section><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 4" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/i-or-me"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2516/original/me-pointing.jpg" alt="Me pointing"/></div><article><span class="article-title">'I' or 'me'?</span></article></a></section><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Sidebar - story 5" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/british-and-american-terms"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="2.35" data-ratioy="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2763/original/british-american-flags-thumbnail.jpg" alt="British american flags thumbnail"/></div><article><span class="article-title">British and American terms</span></article></a></section></div><div class="quiz-panel-odo"><div class="quiz-panel"><div class="quizTitle">&#39;Bring&#39; or &#39;Take&#39;?</div><form class="simple_form new_quiz_response" id="new_quiz_response" action="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/quiz_responses" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-remote="true" method="post"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><input type="hidden" name="quiz_id" id="quiz_id" value="107"/><div class="questions"><div class="question first current"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5943" value="5943"/><span class="option_text">I brought down every word he said</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5942" value="5942"/><span class="option_text">I took down every word he said</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5954" value="5954"/><span class="option_text">The police took him away</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5955" value="5955"/><span class="option_text">The police brought him away</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5994" value="5994"/><span class="option_text">The matter is brought before a jury</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5995" value="5995"/><span class="option_text">The matter is taken before a jury</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5953" value="5953"/><span class="option_text">Wealth doesn't take happiness</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5952" value="5952"/><span class="option_text">Wealth doesn't bring happiness</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5976" value="5976"/><span class="option_text">Such headaches are brought on by stress</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5977" value="5977"/><span class="option_text">Such headaches are taken on by stress</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5946" value="5946"/><span class="option_text">He took me by the hand</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5947" value="5947"/><span class="option_text">He brought me by the hand</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5962" value="5962"/><span class="option_text">The band will bring out a new video in June</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5963" value="5963"/><span class="option_text">The band will take out a new video in June</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5939" value="5939"/><span class="option_text">I brought the ball away from him</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5938" value="5938"/><span class="option_text">I took the ball away from him</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5983" value="5983"/><span class="option_text">He was taken in to provide advice</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5982" value="5982"/><span class="option_text">He was brought in to provide advice</span></li></ul></div><div class="question"><p class="question-text">Which of the following is correct?</p><ul class="options"><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5964" value="5964"/><span class="option_text">She took a deep breath</span></li><li class="radio question_option" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="clicks"><input type="radio" name="quiz_option_id" id="quiz_option_id_5965" value="5965"/><span class="option_text">She brought a deep breath</span></li></ul></div><div class="question last"><h3 id="score-message">You scored <span class="final-score"></span>/10 practise again?</h3><button id="retry-quiz">Retry</button></div></div></form><button name="button" type="button" data-behaviour="ga-event-quiz" data-value="next question" id="next-question" html="{:disabled=>&quot;disabled&quot;}">Next</button><div class="score-counter"><span class="current-score">0</span>/10</div></div><br/></div><div class="trending-panel-odo sideTrendWrap"><div class="trend" lang="en"><section class="boxSizing"><span class="trend-title-wrapper"><span class="trend-title">Trending Words</span></span><div class="popular"><p><span>Most popular in the world</span></p></div><ol class="words_section"><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 1" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/monitum">monitum</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 2" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/low-carbon">low-carbon</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 3" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shoring">shoring</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 4" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pinkerton,_allan">Pinkerton, Allan</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-trending-words" data-value="word 5" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/be_like_piccadilly_circus">be like Piccadilly Circus</a></li></ol></section></div></div><div class="banbox-mini"><div class="banner "><div id="div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-1"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1467288879120-1'); });</script></div></div></div><div class="bluebox sidebar-newsletter"><div class="container newsletters en_dictionaries_news"><div class="signup"><h4>Sign up for our newsletter</h4><p>Stay up to date with our latest news and receive new words updates, blog posts, and more.</p><div class="section sso_newsletter_holder homepage_sso_newsletter_holder" id="news_newsletter_manage_button"><div class="sso_newsletter"><a class="subscribe_button homepage_subscribe_button" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Region 4 - newsletter - sign up" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://sso.oxforddictionaries.com/users/edit#manage_newsletter_preferences"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i> Sign up</a></div><p class="privacy-policy"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://global.oup.com/privacy" target="_new">Click here to see our Privacy Policy.</a></p></div><div id="news_newsletter_form"><form class="simple_form newsletters" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/newsletters" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-remote="true" method="post"><input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓"/><fieldset class="layout"><label class="input"><input value="1" type="hidden" name="newsletters[en_dictionaries_news]" id="newsletters_en_dictionaries_news"/><input value="en" type="hidden" name="newsletters[dictionary]" id="newsletters_dictionary"/><input placeholder="Enter your email address" class="boxSizing" type="email" name="user[email]" id="user_email"/></label><label class="select"><select data-placeholder="Choose your country" name="user[country_code]" id="user_country_code"><option value=""></option> <option value="GB">United Kingdom</option> <option value="US">United States</option> <option disabled="disabled" value="---------------">---------------</option> <option value="AF">Afghanistan</option> <option value="AX">Åland Islands</option> <option value="AL">Albania</option> <option value="DZ">Algeria</option> <option value="AS">American Samoa</option> <option value="AD">Andorra</option> <option value="AO">Angola</option> <option value="AI">Anguilla</option> <option value="AQ">Antarctica</option> <option value="AG">Antigua and Barbuda</option> <option value="AR">Argentina</option> <option value="AM">Armenia</option> <option value="AW">Aruba</option> <option value="AU">Australia</option> <option value="AT">Austria</option> <option value="AZ">Azerbaijan</option> <option value="BS">Bahamas</option> <option value="BH">Bahrain</option> <option value="BD">Bangladesh</option> <option value="BB">Barbados</option> <option value="BY">Belarus</option> <option value="BE">Belgium</option> <option value="BZ">Belize</option> <option value="BJ">Benin</option> <option value="BM">Bermuda</option> <option value="BT">Bhutan</option> <option value="BO">Bolivia, Plurinational State of</option> <option value="BQ">Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba</option> <option value="BA">Bosnia and Herzegovina</option> <option value="BW">Botswana</option> <option value="BV">Bouvet Island</option> <option value="BR">Brazil</option> <option value="IO">British Indian Ocean Territory</option> <option value="BN">Brunei Darussalam</option> <option value="BG">Bulgaria</option> <option value="BF">Burkina Faso</option> <option value="BI">Burundi</option> <option value="KH">Cambodia</option> <option value="CM">Cameroon</option> <option value="CA">Canada</option> <option value="CV">Cape Verde</option> <option value="KY">Cayman Islands</option> <option value="CF">Central African Republic</option> <option value="TD">Chad</option> <option value="CL">Chile</option> <option value="CN">China</option> <option value="CX">Christmas Island</option> <option value="CC">Cocos (Keeling) Islands</option> <option value="CO">Colombia</option> <option value="KM">Comoros</option> <option value="CG">Congo</option> <option value="CD">Congo, The Democratic Republic of the</option> <option value="CK">Cook Islands</option> <option value="CR">Costa Rica</option> <option value="CI">Côte d&#39;Ivoire</option> <option value="HR">Croatia</option> <option value="CU">Cuba</option> <option value="CW">Curaçao</option> <option value="CY">Cyprus</option> <option value="CZ">Czech Republic</option> <option value="DK">Denmark</option> <option value="DJ">Djibouti</option> <option value="DM">Dominica</option> <option value="DO">Dominican Republic</option> <option value="EC">Ecuador</option> <option value="EG">Egypt</option> <option value="SV">El Salvador</option> <option value="GQ">Equatorial Guinea</option> <option value="ER">Eritrea</option> <option value="EE">Estonia</option> <option value="ET">Ethiopia</option> <option value="FK">Falkland Islands (Malvinas)</option> <option value="FO">Faroe Islands</option> <option value="FJ">Fiji</option> <option value="FI">Finland</option> <option value="FR">France</option> <option value="GF">French Guiana</option> <option value="PF">French Polynesia</option> <option value="TF">French Southern Territories</option> <option value="GA">Gabon</option> <option value="GM">Gambia</option> <option value="GE">Georgia</option> <option value="DE">Germany</option> <option value="GH">Ghana</option> <option value="GI">Gibraltar</option> <option value="GR">Greece</option> <option value="GL">Greenland</option> <option value="GD">Grenada</option> <option value="GP">Guadeloupe</option> <option value="GU">Guam</option> <option value="GT">Guatemala</option> <option value="GG">Guernsey</option> <option value="GN">Guinea</option> <option value="GW">Guinea-Bissau</option> <option value="GY">Guyana</option> <option value="HT">Haiti</option> <option value="HM">Heard Island and McDonald Islands</option> <option value="VA">Holy See (Vatican City State)</option> <option value="HN">Honduras</option> <option value="HK">Hong Kong</option> <option value="HU">Hungary</option> <option value="IS">Iceland</option> <option value="IN">India</option> <option value="ID">Indonesia</option> <option value="IR">Iran, Islamic Republic of</option> <option value="IQ">Iraq</option> <option value="IE">Ireland</option> <option value="IM">Isle of Man</option> <option value="IL">Israel</option> <option value="IT">Italy</option> <option value="JM">Jamaica</option> <option value="JP">Japan</option> <option value="JE">Jersey</option> <option value="JO">Jordan</option> <option value="KZ">Kazakhstan</option> <option value="KE">Kenya</option> <option value="KI">Kiribati</option> <option value="KP">Korea, Democratic People&#39;s Republic of</option> <option value="KR">Korea, Republic of</option> <option value="KW">Kuwait</option> <option value="KG">Kyrgyzstan</option> <option value="LA">Lao People&#39;s Democratic Republic</option> <option value="LV">Latvia</option> <option value="LB">Lebanon</option> <option value="LS">Lesotho</option> <option value="LR">Liberia</option> <option value="LY">Libya</option> <option value="LI">Liechtenstein</option> <option value="LT">Lithuania</option> <option value="LU">Luxembourg</option> <option value="MO">Macao</option> <option value="MK">Macedonia, Republic of</option> <option value="MG">Madagascar</option> <option value="MW">Malawi</option> <option value="MY">Malaysia</option> <option value="MV">Maldives</option> <option value="ML">Mali</option> <option value="MT">Malta</option> <option value="MH">Marshall Islands</option> <option value="MQ">Martinique</option> <option value="MR">Mauritania</option> <option value="MU">Mauritius</option> <option value="YT">Mayotte</option> <option value="MX">Mexico</option> <option value="FM">Micronesia, Federated States of</option> <option value="MD">Moldova, Republic of</option> <option value="MC">Monaco</option> <option value="MN">Mongolia</option> <option value="ME">Montenegro</option> <option value="MS">Montserrat</option> <option value="MA">Morocco</option> <option value="MZ">Mozambique</option> <option value="MM">Myanmar</option> <option value="NA">Namibia</option> <option value="NR">Nauru</option> <option value="NP">Nepal</option> <option value="NL">Netherlands</option> <option value="NC">New Caledonia</option> <option value="NZ">New Zealand</option> <option value="NI">Nicaragua</option> <option value="NE">Niger</option> <option value="NG">Nigeria</option> <option value="NU">Niue</option> <option value="NF">Norfolk Island</option> <option value="MP">Northern Mariana Islands</option> <option value="NO">Norway</option> <option value="OM">Oman</option> <option value="PK">Pakistan</option> <option value="PW">Palau</option> <option value="PS">Palestine, State of</option> <option value="PA">Panama</option> <option value="PG">Papua New Guinea</option> <option value="PY">Paraguay</option> <option value="PE">Peru</option> <option value="PH">Philippines</option> <option value="PN">Pitcairn</option> <option value="PL">Poland</option> <option value="PT">Portugal</option> <option value="PR">Puerto Rico</option> <option value="QA">Qatar</option> <option value="RE">Réunion</option> <option value="RO">Romania</option> <option value="RU">Russian Federation</option> <option value="RW">Rwanda</option> <option value="BL">Saint Barthélemy</option> <option value="SH">Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha</option> <option value="KN">Saint Kitts and Nevis</option> <option value="LC">Saint Lucia</option> <option value="MF">Saint Martin (French part)</option> <option value="PM">Saint Pierre and Miquelon</option> <option value="VC">Saint Vincent and the Grenadines</option> <option value="WS">Samoa</option> <option value="SM">San Marino</option> <option value="ST">Sao Tome and Principe</option> <option value="SA">Saudi Arabia</option> <option value="SN">Senegal</option> <option value="RS">Serbia</option> <option value="SC">Seychelles</option> <option value="SL">Sierra Leone</option> <option value="SG">Singapore</option> <option value="SX">Sint Maarten (Dutch part)</option> <option value="SK">Slovakia</option> <option value="SI">Slovenia</option> <option value="SB">Solomon Islands</option> <option value="SO">Somalia</option> <option value="ZA">South Africa</option> <option value="GS">South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands</option> <option value="SS">South Sudan</option> <option value="ES">Spain</option> <option value="LK">Sri Lanka</option> <option value="SD">Sudan</option> <option value="SR">Suriname</option> <option value="SJ">Svalbard and Jan Mayen</option> <option value="SZ">Swaziland</option> <option value="SE">Sweden</option> <option value="CH">Switzerland</option> <option value="SY">Syrian Arab Republic</option> <option value="TW">Taiwan</option> <option value="TJ">Tajikistan</option> <option value="TZ">Tanzania, United Republic of</option> <option value="TH">Thailand</option> <option value="TL">Timor-Leste</option> <option value="TG">Togo</option> <option value="TK">Tokelau</option> <option value="TO">Tonga</option> <option value="TT">Trinidad and Tobago</option> <option value="TN">Tunisia</option> <option value="TR">Turkey</option> <option value="TM">Turkmenistan</option> <option value="TC">Turks and Caicos Islands</option> <option value="TV">Tuvalu</option> <option value="UG">Uganda</option> <option value="UA">Ukraine</option> <option value="AE">United Arab Emirates</option> <option value="GB">United Kingdom</option> <option value="UM">United States Minor Outlying Islands</option> <option value="US">United States</option> <option value="UY">Uruguay</option> <option value="UZ">Uzbekistan</option> <option value="VU">Vanuatu</option> <option value="VE">Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of</option> <option value="VN">Viet Nam</option> <option value="VG">Virgin Islands, British</option> <option value="VI">Virgin Islands, U.S.</option> <option value="WF">Wallis and Futuna</option> <option value="EH">Western Sahara</option> <option value="YE">Yemen</option> <option value="ZM">Zambia</option> <option value="ZW">Zimbabwe</option></select></label><div class="selectors"></div><label class="button"><button name="button" type="submit" class="boxSizing transition" data-behaviour="ga-event-wotd" data-value="subscribe">Sign up</button></label></fieldset></form><h4 class="thanks">Thanks for subscribing. Please check your email and confirm your subscription</h4><h4 class="error">Please make sure that your email address is correct and try again</h4><div class="sso_newsletter"><p class="privacy-policy"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://global.oup.com/privacy" target="_new">Click here to see our Privacy Policy.</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></aside></div></div></div><div class="violbox h-box lex"><div class="container full"><div class="further_reading"><span>Further reading </span></div><div class="quizzes layout"><div class="quizze"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-sleep-tight"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2613/original/sleeping-baby.jpg" alt="Sleeping baby"/></div><article><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-sleep-tight"><div><span class="further_reading_article_title">What is the origin of &#39;sleep tight&#39;?</span><p>One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.</p></div></a><a class="tertiary-link" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-sleep-tight">Read more</a></article></a></section></div><div class="quizze"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/regular-and-irregular-verbs"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2609/original/sharp-pencil.jpg" alt="Sharp pencil"/></div><article><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/regular-and-irregular-verbs"><div><span class="further_reading_article_title">Regular and irregular verbs</span><p>A glimpse at English verbs and their inflections.</p></div></a><a class="tertiary-link" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/regular-and-irregular-verbs">Read more</a></article></a></section></div><div class="quizze"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-better-writing"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2389/original/dartboard.jpg" alt="Dartboard"/></div><article><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-better-writing"><div><span class="further_reading_article_title">Top tips for better writing</span><p>Some advice to nail your writing assignments.</p></div></a><a class="tertiary-link" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-better-writing">Read more</a></article></a></section></div><div class="quizze"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/prepositions"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2308/original/arrows-graffiti.jpg" alt="Arrows graffiti"/></div><article><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/prepositions"><div><span class="further_reading_article_title">English prepositions</span><p>How to get prepositions right in a heartbeat.</p></div></a><a class="tertiary-link" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/prepositions">Read more</a></article></a></section></div><div class="quizze"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-cv-writing"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2386/original/cv.jpg" alt="Cv"/></div><article><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-cv-writing"><div><span class="further_reading_article_title">Top tips for CV writing</span><p>In this article we explore how to impress employers with a spot-on CV.</p></div></a><a class="tertiary-link" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-cv-writing">Read more</a></article></a></section></div><div class="quizze"><section data-fetch-wordpress="" data-wordpress-headword="" data-wordpress-id=""><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/archaic-words"><div class="box-img" data-ratiox="16" data-ratioy="9.5"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835im_/https://oup.useremarkable.com/production/images/uploads/2614/original/skull.jpg" alt="Skull"/></div><article><a data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/archaic-words"><div><span class="further_reading_article_title">Archaic words</span><p>Archaic words have a charm that never fades away, from French sounding to wondrously mysterious ones. </p></div></a><a class="tertiary-link" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Further reading - story 6" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/archaic-words">Read more</a></article></a></section></div></div></div></div></div></div><footer id="footer"><div class="container"><div class="footerWrap"><div class="footerNav" lang="en"><nav class="inlineBlock"><p>Find Out More</p><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="About " href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/about">About </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Contact us " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/contact-form/">Contact us </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Privacy policy" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://global.oup.com/privacy?cc=gb">Privacy policy</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Legal Notice" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/legal-notice">Legal Notice</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Cookie Policy" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://global.oup.com/cookiepolicy/?cc=gb">Cookie Policy</a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Help" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/help">Help</a></li></ul></nav><nav class="sharing inlineBlock"><p>Follow</p><ul><li><a class="ico-fb" data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="follow - Facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries"><i class="transition"><svg class="transition" height="12" viewbox="0 0 13.719 26" width="6" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m320.89 111.31h-2.5c-1.956 0-2.321.922-2.321 2.25v2.954h4.657l-.619 4.626h-4.04v11.857h-4.865v-11.86h-4.053v-4.626h4.053v-3.406c0-3.954 2.464-6.111 6.06-6.111a31.774 31.774 0 0 1 3.625 .188v4.125" fill-rule="evenodd" transform="translate(-307.16-107)"/></svg></i><span class="transition">Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a class="ico-tw" data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="follow - twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://twitter.com/@OxfordWords"><i class="transition"><svg class="transition" enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14" height="11" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" width="11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"/></svg></i><span class="transition">Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a class="ico-gpl" data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="follow - Google +" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://plus.google.com/+Oxforddictionaries"><i class="transition"><svg class="transition" enable-background="new -33 14 22 14" height="9" viewbox="-33 14 22 14" width="15" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="m-26 20v2.4h4c-.2 1-1.2 3-4 3-2.4 0-4.3-2-4.3-4.4 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.4 0 2.3.6 2.8 1.1l1.9-1.8c-1.2-1.1-2.8-1.8-4.7-1.8-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7c4 0 6.7-2.8 6.7-6.8 0-.5 0-.8-.1-1.2h-6.6v-.1"/><path d="m-11 20h-2v-2h-2v2h-2v2h2v2h2v-2h2"/></g></svg></i><span class="transition">Google+</span></a></li> <li><a class="ico-in" data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="follow - instagram" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://instagram.com/oxforddictionaries"><i class="transition"><svg class="transition" enable-background="new -33 14 17 17" height="11" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" width="11" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-30.8 14h12.6c1.2 0 2.2.9 2.2 2.2v12.6c0 1.3-1 2.2-2.2 2.2h-12.6c-1.2 0-2.2-.9-2.2-2.2v-12.6c0-1.3 1-2.2 2.2-2.2m10.2 1.9c-.4 0-.8.3-.8.8v1.8c0 .4.3.8.8.8h1.9c.4 0 .8-.3.8-.8v-1.8c0-.4-.3-.8-.8-.8h-1.9m2.7 5.3h-1.5c.1.5.2 1 .2 1.5 0 2.8-2.4 5.1-5.3 5.1-2.9 0-5.3-2.3-5.3-5.1 0-.5.1-1 .2-1.5h-1.6v7.2c0 .4.3.7.7.7h11.8c.4 0 .7-.3.7-.7l.1-7.2m-6.6-2c-1.9 0-3.4 1.5-3.4 3.3 0 1.8 1.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 1.9 0 3.4-1.5 3.4-3.3s-1.5-3.3-3.4-3.3"/></svg></i><span class="transition">Instagram</span></a></li> </ul></nav><nav class="inlineBlock"><p>More from Oxford Dictionaries</p><ul><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="OxfordDictionaries.com " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/">OxfordDictionaries.com </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="OxfordWords blog " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">OxfordWords blog </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Oxford Dictionaries Spanish " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://es.oxforddictionaries.com/">Oxford Dictionaries Spanish </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Oxford Global Languages " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ogl/find">Oxford Global Languages </a></li><li><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="Oxford Dictionaries Premium " href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://premium.oxforddictionaries.com/">Oxford Dictionaries Premium </a></li></ul></nav><span class="oxford"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-footer" data-value="OUP Logo" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/http://global.oup.com/"><svg enable-background="new 0 0 102.2 28.8" height="40" viewbox="0 0 102.2 28.8" width="142" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><title>Oxford University Press logo</title><role>img</role><path d="m8.5 0c2.7 0 4.8.8 6.4 2.5 1.4 1.5 2.1 3.4 2.1 5.7 0 2.6-.9 4.6-2.8 6.1-1.6 1.3-3.5 1.9-5.7 1.9-2.7 0-4.8-.8-6.4-2.5-1.4-1.5-2.1-3.4-2.1-5.7 0-2.6.9-4.6 2.8-6.1 1.5-1.3 3.4-1.9 5.7-1.9m-3.6 28.7c-.9 0-1.6-.2-2-.6-.3-.3-.5-.7-.6-1.4 0-.2-.1-.5-.1-1 0-.4-.1-.6-.1-.8-.1-.9-.3-1.5-.5-1.8-.1-.1-.4-.2-.9-.3v-.2c1.1 0 1.8 0 2.3 0 .1 1.8.2 3.2.3 4.2.1.9.7 1.3 1.7 1.3.6 0 1-.2 1.3-.5.3-.3.5-.9.6-1.9.1-.4.1-.9.1-1.3 0-.9-.4-1.5-1.1-1.5v-.2h3v.2c-.5 0-.9.2-1.1.6-.2.3-.3 1-.4 2.2-.1 1.1-.3 1.8-.6 2.2-.3.5-1 .8-1.9.8m3.8-13.2c1.9 0 3.3-.8 4.2-2.3.7-1.2 1.1-2.9 1.1-4.9 0-2.6-.7-4.6-2.1-6-1.1-1-2.3-1.5-3.6-1.5-1.9-.1-3.3.7-4.2 2.2-.8 1.3-1.1 2.9-1.1 5 0 2.6.7 4.6 2.1 6 1 1 2.2 1.5 3.6 1.5m.9 7.2h1.9c.3.4.9 1.2 2.1 2.3.1.1.4.4 1.1 1.1.3.4.6.6.7.8v-1.6c0-1-.1-1.7-.3-2-.2-.2-.6-.4-1.3-.4v-.2h3.1v.2c-.4 0-.6.2-.8.3-.2.2-.3 1.3-.3 3.2v2.1h-.3c-.7-.7-1.5-1.6-2.4-2.6-.6-.6-1.1-1.2-1.7-1.8v1.2c0 1.5.1 2.3.3 2.6.2.3.6.4 1.2.4v.2h-3.1v-.2c.4 0 .8-.2.9-.4.2-.3.3-1.2.3-2.7 0-.9 0-1.4-.1-1.5-.4-.4-.8-.7-1.3-.8 0 0 0-.2 0-.2m39.1-18.9h-.5c-.1-1-.6-1.7-1.4-2.1-.6-.3-1.6-.4-2.8-.4h-2.1v6.1h1.7c1.2 0 2.1 0 2.7-.1v3.6h-.5c0-1-.2-1.6-.5-1.9s-.9-.5-1.7-.5c-.8 0-1.3 0-1.7 0v4.1c0 1.2.2 2 .7 2.3.3.2 1.1.4 2.2.4v.5h-15l-4.1-6.5c-.5.6-1 1.4-1.8 2.4-.8 1.1-1.1 1.9-1.1 2.4 0 .7.6 1 1.7 1.2v.5h-6.5v-.5c1.3-.1 2.4-.4 3.1-1.1.4-.3 1-1.1 1.9-2.3l2.3-3.3-2.5-4.1c-1.3-2.2-2.9-3.3-4.7-3.4v-.6h5l3.8 5.9c.1-.1.3-.4.7-1 1.1-1.6 1.7-2.8 1.7-3.4 0-.6-.5-.9-1.6-1v-.5h6.3v.5c-1.3.1-2.3.5-3.1 1.1-.5.4-1.2 1.2-1.8 2.3l-1.7 2.6 3.2 5c1.3 2 2.7 3.1 4.2 3.1 1.6 0 2.8-.2 3.4-.5.9-.5 1.4-1.3 1.4-2.5v-8.3c0-1.1-.2-1.9-.6-2.2-.4-.3-1-.5-2.1-.5v-.6h11.7l.1 3.3m-27.3 24.5v.2h-3.4v-.2c.5-.1.8-.2.9-.4.2-.2.3-.7.3-1.4v-1.8c0-.8-.1-1.4-.3-1.5-.2-.1-.5-.3-.9-.3v-.2h3.4v.2c-.4.1-.8.2-.9.3-.2.2-.3.7-.3 1.4v1.7c0 .8.1 1.3.3 1.5.1.3.4.4.9.5m6.7-5.1c-.2.2-.6.9-1.2 2.2-.9 1.9-1.4 3.1-1.5 3.4 0-.1-.3-.6-.7-1.7-.3-.6-.5-1.1-.7-1.5-.1-.2-.2-.5-.4-.9-.2-.4-.3-.6-.4-.8-.2-.6-.6-.9-1.2-1v-.2h3.2v.2c-.6.1-.9.3-.9.5 0 .1.2.7.6 1.8.3.7.6 1.4.9 2 .3-.6.5-1.2.8-1.8.4-1 .6-1.7.6-1.9 0-.3-.3-.5-1-.6v-.2h2.7v.2c-.4 0-.6.2-.8.3m5.7 1.2v2.3h-.2c0-.4-.1-.7-.3-.8s-.4-.2-.7-.2h-.9v.8c0 .7.1 1.2.2 1.4.1.2.5.3.9.3.9 0 1.6-.6 1.9-1.8h.2c-.2.8-.3 1.5-.5 2.1h-4.9v-.2c.5-.1.9-.2 1-.4.1-.2.2-.7.2-1.4v-2.2c0-.6-.1-1-.3-1.2-.2-.2-.5-.3-.9-.3v-.2h4.9v1.6h-.2c-.1-.9-.8-1.3-1.9-1.3h-.7v2.3c.1 0 .2 0 .5 0 .6 0 1-.1 1.1-.1.1-.1.2-.3.3-.7h.3m8.2 4c-.4 0-.7-.1-1-.2-.3-.2-.7-.5-1.2-1.1-.1-.2-.5-.7-1-1.7.8-.2 1.2-.6 1.2-1.3 0-.8-.6-1.2-1.8-1.3v3.7c0 .7.1 1.1.3 1.3.2.2.5.3 1.1.3v.2h-3.5v-.2c.5-.1.8-.2 1-.4.1-.2.2-.5.2-.9v-2.6c0-.6-.1-1-.3-1.2-.1-.1-.5-.2-.9-.3v-.2c.6 0 1.4 0 2.4 0 1.8 0 2.6.5 2.6 1.5 0 .6-.4 1.1-1.2 1.4.2.4.5.8.8 1.3.7.8 1.4 1.3 2 1.4v.2l-.7.1m3.5.2c-.5 0-1.1-.2-1.7-.5v-1.8h.2c.2 1.3.8 2 1.6 2 .7 0 1.1-.4 1.1-1.1 0-.5-.4-.9-1.3-1.3-1-.5-1.5-1-1.5-1.7 0-.6.3-1 .8-1.3.4-.2.8-.4 1.3-.4.5 0 .9.1 1.4.4v1.5h-.2c-.3-1.1-.7-1.6-1.3-1.6-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.2.4-.2.6 0 .5.5 1 1.4 1.4 1 .5 1.4 1.1 1.4 1.7 0 .6-.3 1-.8 1.3-.5.4-1 .5-1.5.5m6.8-.3v.2h-3.4v-.2c.5-.1.8-.2.9-.4.2-.2.3-.7.3-1.4v-1.8c0-.8-.1-1.4-.3-1.5-.2-.1-.5-.3-.9-.3v-.2h3.4v.2c-.5.1-.8.2-.9.3-.2.2-.3.7-.3 1.4v1.7c0 .8.1 1.3.3 1.5.1.3.4.4.9.5m6.4-28.3c2.7 0 4.8.8 6.4 2.5 1.4 1.5 2.1 3.4 2.1 5.7 0 2.6-.9 4.6-2.8 6.1-1.6 1.3-3.5 1.9-5.7 1.9-2.7 0-4.8-.8-6.4-2.5-1.4-1.5-2.1-3.4-2.1-5.7 0-2.6.9-4.6 2.8-6.1 1.6-1.3 3.5-1.9 5.7-1.9m.2 15.5c1.9 0 3.3-.8 4.3-2.3.7-1.2 1.1-2.9 1.1-4.9 0-2.6-.7-4.6-2.1-6-1-1-2.2-1.5-3.6-1.5-1.9 0-3.3.8-4.2 2.3-.7 1.2-1.1 2.9-1.1 4.9 0 2.6.7 4.6 2.1 6 .9 1 2.1 1.5 3.5 1.5m-2.2 7.6v3.3c0 .8.1 1.4.3 1.5.2.2.5.3 1 .4v.2h-3.5v-.2c.4-.1.8-.2.9-.4.2-.2.3-.8.3-1.8v-3.1c-.9 0-1.4.1-1.6.2-.2.2-.4.6-.5 1.3h-.2c.1-.8.2-1.4.2-1.8.8 0 1.4.1 1.9.1h1.5c.9 0 1.5 0 1.9-.1v.2c0 .2 0 .5.1.8 0 .4 0 .6.1.7h-.2c-.1-.7-.4-1.1-.6-1.2-.2-.1-.6-.2-1.3-.2l-.3.1m8 .9c0 .1-.1.2-.2.4-.1.2-.2.4-.2.5-.4.8-.6 1.2-.6 1.3v.8c0 .4.1.8.2.9.2.2.5.3 1 .4v.2h-3.5v-.2c.6-.1.9-.2 1.1-.5.1-.1.2-.4.2-.8v-.8c-.3-.6-.6-1.1-.9-1.6-.6-.9-.9-1.4-1.2-1.6-.2-.1-.4-.1-.7-.2v-.2h3v.2c-.7.2-.9.3-.9.5 0 .2.2.6.6 1.1.1.2.2.4.5.7.2.2.3.4.3.5.2-.3.4-.7.6-1.2.3-.5.4-.9.4-1.1 0-.2-.2-.4-.6-.5v-.2h2.4v.2c-.7.2-1.2.6-1.5 1.2m6.2-8.3v-12.2c0-1.1-.2-1.8-.5-2.1-.2-.2-.7-.4-1.4-.4v-.4c1.6 0 3.5-.1 5.8-.1 4.2 0 6.3 1.2 6.3 3.6 0 1.1-.4 2-1.3 2.8-.7.6-1.5 1-2.5 1.3l.4.5c.9 1.1 1.8 2.1 2.6 2.9 2.4 2.4 4.1 3.6 5.2 3.6 1.1 0 1.8-.2 2.2-.7.4-.4.6-1.1.6-2v-8.2c0-1.3-.2-2.1-.6-2.5-.4-.4-1.1-.6-2.2-.8v-.4l5-.1h1.3c7 0 10.5 2.5 10.5 7.6 0 1.7-.6 3.2-1.8 4.6-1 1.1-2.3 2-3.8 2.4-1 .4-2.5.5-4.4.5h-7.1c-1.3 0-2.2-.1-2.7-.2-.6-.2-1.2-.5-2.1-1-1.1-.7-2.2-1.6-3.1-2.5-.6-.7-1.6-1.9-3-3.8 1.2-.2 2.2-.7 2.9-1.4.7-.7 1-1.4 1-2.2 0-.8-.3-1.5-.9-2.1-.9-.9-2.1-1.3-3.7-1.3h-.3v11.3c0 1.1.3 1.9.8 2.2.3.2 1.1.3 2.2.5v.5l-5.4.1m1.1 10.5v-1.2c0-1.2-.1-1.8-.4-2-.2-.1-.5-.2-.9-.3v-.2h2.4c.8 0 1.4.1 2 .4.6.3 1 .7 1 1.2 0 1.1-.8 1.7-2.5 1.8v-.2c.5-.1.9-.2 1.1-.4.2-.2.3-.5.3-1 0-1-.7-1.5-2.1-1.6v3.7c0 .7.1 1.1.3 1.3.2.1.5.2 1.1.3v.2h-3.5v-.2c.6-.1.9-.2 1-.5s.2-.5.2-1.3m11.1 2.2c-.4 0-.7-.1-1-.2-.3-.2-.7-.5-1.2-1.1-.1-.2-.5-.7-1-1.7.8-.2 1.2-.6 1.2-1.3 0-.8-.6-1.2-1.8-1.3v3.7c0 .7.1 1.1.3 1.3.2.2.5.3 1.1.3v.2h-3.5v-.2c.5-.1.8-.2 1-.4.1-.2.2-.5.2-.9v-2.6c0-.6-.1-1-.3-1.2-.1-.1-.5-.2-.9-.3v-.2c.6 0 1.4 0 2.4 0 1.8 0 2.6.5 2.6 1.5 0 .6-.4 1.1-1.2 1.4.2.4.5.8.8 1.3.7.8 1.4 1.3 2 1.4v.2l-.7.1m5.7-4v2.3h-.2c0-.4-.1-.7-.2-.8-.1-.1-.3-.2-.7-.2h-.9v.8c0 .7.1 1.2.2 1.4.1.2.4.3.9.3.9 0 1.6-.6 2-1.8h.2c-.2.9-.4 1.6-.5 2.1h-4.8v-.2c.5-.1.9-.2 1-.4.1-.2.2-.7.2-1.4v-2.2c0-.6-.1-1-.2-1.2-.2-.2-.5-.3-.9-.3v-.2h4.9v1.6h-.2c-.1-.6-.3-.9-.7-1.1-.6-.1-1-.1-1.5-.1h-.7v2.3c.1 0 .2 0 .5 0 .6 0 1-.1 1.1-.1.1-.1.2-.3.2-.7h.3zm2.9-23.1c-.2 0-.6 0-1 .1v11.3c0 1 .2 1.7.7 2 .4.3 1 .4 1.9.4 2 0 3.6-.7 4.7-2.2.9-1.2 1.4-2.7 1.4-4.5 0-2.4-.8-4.2-2.4-5.5-1.5-1.1-3.2-1.6-5.3-1.6m1.4 27.3c-.5 0-1.1-.2-1.7-.5v-1.8h.2c.2 1.3.8 2 1.6 2 .7 0 1.1-.4 1.1-1.1 0-.5-.4-.9-1.3-1.3-1-.5-1.5-1-1.5-1.7 0-.6.2-1 .7-1.3.4-.2.8-.4 1.4-.4.5 0 .9.1 1.4.4v1.5h-.2c-.3-1.1-.7-1.6-1.3-1.6-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.2.4-.2.6 0 .5.5 1 1.4 1.4 1 .5 1.4 1 1.4 1.7 0 .6-.3 1-.8 1.3-.5.4-.9.5-1.5.5m5.4 0c-.5 0-1.1-.2-1.7-.5v-1.8h.2c.2 1.3.8 2 1.6 2 .7 0 1-.4 1-1.1 0-.5-.4-.9-1.3-1.3-1-.5-1.5-1-1.5-1.7 0-.6.2-1 .7-1.3.4-.2.8-.4 1.4-.4.5 0 .9.1 1.4.4l-.1 1.5h-.2c-.3-1.1-.7-1.6-1.3-1.6-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.2.4-.2.6 0 .5.5 1 1.4 1.4 1 .5 1.4 1 1.4 1.7 0 .6-.3 1-.8 1.3-.3.4-.8.5-1.3.5" fill="#ffffff"/></svg></a></span></div><p class="copyright">&copy; 2018 Oxford University Press</p></div></div></footer></div><div id="autocompleteWrap"></div><div id="shortMenu"><div class="bg close transition"></div><div class="topHeader"><div class="topHeaderContainer"><div class="headerContent"><a class="logo" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/"><img alt="English logo" src="/web/20181004082835im_/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/assets/oup/logos/svg/en-5b11f3d55cda82ae72a6e4c725ec9fe3.svg"/></a></div><nav class="nav"><ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/">DICTIONARY </a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/thesaurus/">THESAURUS </a></li><li class="drop"><span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/">GRAMMAR </a></span><ul><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/grammar-a-z">GRAMMAR A-Z </a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/spelling">SPELLING </a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/punctuation">PUNCTUATION </a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/writing-help">WRITING HELP </a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/grammar/usage">USAGE </a></li></ul></li><li class="drop"><span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/">EXPLORE </a></span><ul><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-origins">WORD ORIGINS </a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/language-questions">LANGUAGE QUESTIONS </a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/explore/word-lists">WORD LISTS</a></li></ul></li><li class="drop"><span><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year">WORD OF THE YEAR</a></span><ul><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year-2017">CURRENT CHOICE</a></li><li><a href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/word-of-the-year/word-of-the-year#hb-previous-words-of-the-year">PREVIOUS CHOICES</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://forum.oxforddictionaries.com/en/">FORUM</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/">BLOG</a></li></ul></nav><div class="signIn"><a data-behaviour="ga-event-header" data-value="Sign in" href="/web/20181004082835/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/a/auth/gds?signup_from=en"><i><svg enable-background="new 0 0 33 33" height="32" viewbox="0 0 33 33" width="32" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M16.5,33C7.4,33,0,25.6,0,16.5S7.4,0,16.5,0S33,7.4,33,16.5S25.6,33,16.5,33z M16.5,1C8,1,1,8,1,16.5S8,32,16.5,32S32,25,32,16.5S25,1,16.5,1z" fill="#8ac1e1"/><g><path d="m24 23.1l-.7-2.4c-.5-1.6-2.5-5.2-4.5-5.2h-4.5c-2 0-4 3.5-4.5 5.2l-.8 2.4c-.1.3.1.7.3 1 .3.2.7.5 1.1.5h12.1c.4 0 .8-.2 1.1-.5.3-.2.4-.6.4-1"/><ellipse cx="16.6" cy="10.7" rx="3.5" ry="3.6"/></g></svg></i><span>Sign in</span></a></div><div class="sharing"><ul><li><a class="ico-fb" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - Facebook" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.facebook.com/OxfordDictionaries"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 17 17" height="17" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" width="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-16.9 14h-15.1c-.5 0-.9.4-.9.9v15.1c0 .5.4.9.9.9h8.1v-6.6h-2.2v-2.6h2.2v-1.7c0-2.2 1.3-3.4 3.3-3.4.9 0 1.7.1 2 .1v2.3h-1.4c-1.1 0-1.3.5-1.3 1.2v1.6h2.5l-.3 2.6h-2.2v6.6h4.3c.5 0 .9-.4.9-.9v-15.2c.1-.5-.3-.9-.8-.9"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-tw" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - Twitter" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://twitter.com/@OxfordWords"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 17.2 14" height="14" viewbox="-33 14 17.2 14" width="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-15.8 15.7c-.6.3-1.3.5-2 .6.7-.4 1.3-1.1 1.6-2-.7.4-1.4.7-2.2.9-.6-.7-1.6-1.1-2.6-1.1-2 0-3.5 1.6-3.5 3.5 0 .3 0 .5.1.8-2.9-.1-5.5-1.6-7.3-3.7-.3.5-.5 1.1-.5 1.8 0 1.2.6 2.3 1.6 2.9-.6 0-1.1-.2-1.6-.4 0 1.7 1.2 3.1 2.8 3.5-.3.1-.6.1-.9.1-.2 0-.4 0-.7-.1.4 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.3 2.5-1.2.9-2.7 1.5-4.4 1.5-.3 0-.6 0-.8 0 1.6 1 3.4 1.6 5.4 1.6 6.5 0 10.1-5.4 10.1-10.1 0-.2 0-.3 0-.5.6-.5 1.2-1.1 1.6-1.8"/></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-gpl" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - G+" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://plus.google.com/+Oxforddictionaries"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 22 14" height="14" viewbox="-33 14 22 14" width="22" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="m-26 20v2.4h4c-.2 1-1.2 3-4 3-2.4 0-4.3-2-4.3-4.4 0-2.4 2-4.4 4.3-4.4 1.4 0 2.3.6 2.8 1.1l1.9-1.8c-1.2-1.1-2.8-1.8-4.7-1.8-3.9 0-7 3.1-7 7s3.1 7 7 7c4 0 6.7-2.8 6.7-6.8 0-.5 0-.8-.1-1.2h-6.6v-.1"/><path d="m-11 20h-2v-2h-2v2h-2v2h2v2h2v-2h2"/></g></svg></a></li> <li><a class="ico-in" data-behaviour="ga-event" data-value="Header - Instagram" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://instagram.com/oxforddictionaries"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 17 17" height="17" viewbox="-33 14 17 17" width="17" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-30.8 14h12.6c1.2 0 2.2.9 2.2 2.2v12.6c0 1.3-1 2.2-2.2 2.2h-12.6c-1.2 0-2.2-.9-2.2-2.2v-12.6c0-1.3 1-2.2 2.2-2.2m10.2 1.9c-.4 0-.8.3-.8.8v1.8c0 .4.3.8.8.8h1.9c.4 0 .8-.3.8-.8v-1.8c0-.4-.3-.8-.8-.8h-1.9m2.7 5.3h-1.5c.1.5.2 1 .2 1.5 0 2.8-2.4 5.1-5.3 5.1-2.9 0-5.3-2.3-5.3-5.1 0-.5.1-1 .2-1.5h-1.6v7.2c0 .4.3.7.7.7h11.8c.4 0 .7-.3.7-.7l.1-7.2m-6.6-2c-1.9 0-3.4 1.5-3.4 3.3 0 1.8 1.5 3.3 3.4 3.3 1.9 0 3.4-1.5 3.4-3.3s-1.5-3.3-3.4-3.3"/></svg></a></li> </ul></div></div><span class="close"><svg enable-background="new -33 14 19.1 19.1" height="19" viewbox="-33 14 19.1 19.1" width="19" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m-13.9 16.1l-2.1-2.1-7.4 7.4-7.5-7.4-2.1 2.1 7.4 7.5-7.4 7.4 2.1 2.1 7.5-7.4 7.4 7.4 2.1-2.1-7.4-7.4z" fill="#fff"/></svg></span></div></div><script>head.ready("application_monolingual-85acb2192a79fe382565ab24db39b603.js", function () { (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20181004082835/https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-80727988-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); App.init(); App.initCore(); initOdoPage(); ahoy.trackView(); ahoy.trackClicks(); if (App.Lang_en) { App.Lang_en.initKeyboard(); }; initQuiz();var offset = 1; $('a.load_more_button').click(function (e) { e.preventDefault(); var link = $(this).toggleClass('in-progress'); $.ajax({ type: "GET", url: $(this).attr('href'), data: { page: offset }, dataType: "script", success: function () { link.removeClass('in-progress'); $(window).trigger('resize'); $('.box-img').find('img').resizeToParent(); } }); offset++; });initAutocompleteSearch();$('.cookies-eu-ok').on('click', removeCookieMessage); // Keyboard autoHighlightSearchTerm() // Sidebar specifics signUpToggle(); check(); showMobileSelector(); getRelatedWordpressPosts(); registerGAEvents(); resizeAds(); $('.banner.high_impact iframe').on('load', function() { resizeAds(); }); $(window).resize(function () { resizeAds(); }); $('body').resize(); // Newsletter management buttons if (false){ if(document.getElementById('news_newsletter_form')){ document.getElementById('news_newsletter_form').classList.add("dn"); document.getElementById('news_newsletter_manage_button').classList.add("db"); } if(document.getElementById('wotd_newsletter_form')){ document.getElementById('wotd_newsletter_form').classList.add("dn"); document.getElementById('wotd_newsletter_manage_button').classList.add("db"); } } });</script></body></html><!-- FILE ARCHIVED ON 08:28:35 Oct 04, 2018 AND RETRIEVED FROM THE INTERNET ARCHIVE ON 21:52:00 Nov 27, 2024. JAVASCRIPT APPENDED BY WAYBACK MACHINE, COPYRIGHT INTERNET ARCHIVE. ALL OTHER CONTENT MAY ALSO BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT (17 U.S.C. SECTION 108(a)(3)). --> <!-- playback timings (ms): captures_list: 0.516 exclusion.robots: 0.028 exclusion.robots.policy: 0.017 esindex: 0.009 cdx.remote: 18.138 LoadShardBlock: 315.597 (3) PetaboxLoader3.datanode: 131.918 (4) PetaboxLoader3.resolve: 230.274 (3) load_resource: 95.026 -->

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10