This week’s theme
Words that aren’t what they appear to be

This week’s words
plutography
miniate
irredentist
recurse
decalcomania

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(ir-i-DEN-tist)

MEANING:

noun: One advocating the restoration of territory that earlier belonged to one’s country.

ETYMOLOGY:

During the late 1800s and early 1900s in Italy, an irredentist was someone who advocated for restoration of Italian-speaking districts in other countries to Italy. The word is from Italian irredentista, from the phrase Italia irredenta (unredeemed Italy), from Latin redimere (to redeem). Earliest documented use: 1882. See also: lebensraum.

USAGE:

“Many products ... featured a map of Greater Hungary, the larger, pre-World War I territory whose restoration is the ultimate aim of the country’s irredentists.”
Jacob Mikanowski; The Call of the Drums; Harper’s (New York); Aug 2019.

See more usage examples of irredentist in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: