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Apr 6, 2021
This week’s themeEponyms This week’s words Apgar Pinkerton Yarborough Orwellism Oakley Photo: Mathew Brady
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu GargPinkerton
PRONUNCIATION:
MEANING:
noun: A detective.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884), a private detective, who started a
detective agency in 1850. Earliest documented use: 1874. Pinkerton may
also be the origin of the term fink.
USAGE:
“She had her chance due to the carelessness of a Pinkerton hired by
Flo’s mother to investigate her death.” Emily M. Danforth; Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel; William Morrow; 2020. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
We take our colors, chameleon-like, from each other. -Nicolas de Chamfort,
writer (6 Apr 1741-1794)
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