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Nov 29, 2012
This week's theme
Illustrated words

This week's words
bursiform
concinnity
lachrymal
wassail
phantasmagoria

wassail
Illustration: Leah Palmer Preiss

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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

wassail

PRONUNCIATION:
(WOS-uhl, wo-SAYL)

MEANING:
verb tr.:To toast.
verb intr.:To go from house to house singing carols at Christmas.
noun:1. A toast to someone's health.
 2. A festivity with much drinking.
 3. A drink for toasting, especially spiced ale.
 4. The singing of Christmas carols going from house to house.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Old Norse ves heill (be well). Earliest documented use: 1275.

USAGE:
"Cows and oxen used to be wassailed too for the same reason, to bring luck and encourage good health in the coming year."
Days Lengthen, Cold Strengthens; Beverley Guardian (UK); Jan 16, 2012.

See more usage examples of wassail in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
When money speaks, the truth keeps silent. -Russian proverb

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