This week's theme
Words borrowed from German

This week's words
gemeinschaft
strafe
gleichschaltung
sitzkrieg
leitmotif

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(strayf)

MEANING:

verb tr.:
1. To attack with machine-gun fire or bombs from a low-flying aircraft.
2. To criticize severely.

noun:
1. An attack from a low-flying aircraft.
2. A severe criticism.

ETYMOLOGY:

From the German slogan "Gott strafe England!" ([May] God punish England!) during WWI. From German strafen (to punish). Earliest documented use: 1915.

USAGE:

"Alanis is strafed with scorn no matter what she does, and her attachment parenting style is often derided on Internet sites."
Bruce Ward; Alanis at 40; Ottawa Citizen (Canada); May 21, 2014.

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

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: