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A.Word.A.Day--umpire

umpire (UM-pyre) noun

1. Sports. A person appointed to rule on plays.

2. A person appointed to settle a dispute that mediators have been unable to resolve; an arbitrator.

verb tr.

To act as referee for; rule or judge.

verb intr.

To be or act as a referee or an arbitrator.

[Middle English (an) oumpere, (an) umpire, alteration of (a) noumpere, a mediator, from Old French nonper : non-, + per, equal, even, paired (from Latin par.]

"Let me be umpire in this doubtful strife." Shakespeare, William, King Henry VI, Part I: Act IV, Scene I.

This week's theme: words created by false splitting.

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