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A.Word.A.Day--peccavi

peccavi (pe-KAH-vee) noun

An admission of guilt or sin.

[From Latin peccavi (I have sinned), from peccare (to err).]

The story goes that in 1843, after annexing the Indian province of Sind, British General Sir Charles Napier sent home a one word telegram, "Peccavi" implying "I have Sind." Although apocryphal, it's still a great story.

"Rabbi Yosef's peccavi had a certain dignity, unlike the cringing surrender of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz."
N.D. Gross; Two Sinners; Jerusalem Post (Israel); Aug 18, 1989.

This week's theme: Words from the 2005 Spelling Bee

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