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Spectator

The Spectator (1828–).
The 86th most frequently quoted source in the OED, with a total of 3520 quotations (about 0.11% of all OED quotations).

Total number of quotations3520Find quotations
Quotations providing first evidence of a word143Find quotations
Quotations providing first evidence of a particular meaning545Find quotations
LemmaDefinitionDate
ad eundemTo the same degree, rank, or status at another university or institution; by virtue…1711Go To Quotation
admiralingThe action of admiral v.; the activities of an admiral.1838Go To Quotation
agnosticA person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of immaterial things, especially…1869Go To Quotation
agnosticismThe doctrine or tenets of agnostics with regard to the existence of anything beyond…1870Go To Quotation
agrémentIn pl. Agreeable qualities, circumstances, etc.; = agreement n. 7. Now rare.1711Go To Quotation
alarmismA persistent tendency to exaggerate potential dangers, esp. in political, social…1858Go To Quotation
alertnessThe quality or condition of being alert; quickness in attention, action, or intellect; vigilance; liveliness.1714Go To Quotation
alimentationIn France and French-speaking countries: a grocery shop. Elsewhere: a shop specializing…1958Go To Quotation
anglicizationThe action or process of making something or someone English (or British) in…1847Go To Quotation
AsquithianPertaining to, resembling, or supporting Asquith as leader of the Liberal party or…1910Go To Quotation
atrabiliousnessThe quality of being atrabilious.1882Go To Quotation
babysittingThat babysits (in various senses).1958Go To Quotation
backveldIn S. Africa, the primitive or unprogressive rural districts lying away from the towns. Also attrib.1905Go To Quotation
beadinessThe quality of being beady.1873Go To Quotation
beerishlyIn beerish or beery fashion.1865Go To Quotation
bonelessnessBoneless condition. Also transf. and fig.1885Go To Quotation
bonhomousFull of bonhomie or good-fellowship.1905Go To Quotation
borroweeOne from whom something is borrowed.1885Go To Quotation
brain wave(a) A (supposed) telepathic wave emanating from the brain (cf. brain vibration n. (a) at brain…1869Go To Quotation
bricksetter= bricklayer n. (In midlands and north.)1865Go To Quotation
cache-sexeA covering for the genitals.1926Go To Quotation
calculiformPebble-shaped.1900Go To Quotation
campy= camp adj. n.1959Go To Quotation
cellarlessThat has no cellar or cellars; esp. that is without a wine cellar.1847Go To Quotation
chatteeThe person to whom one chats.1886Go To Quotation
chippinessState of being chippy, or ‘dry as a chip’; shortness of temper.1887Go To Quotation
ciréHaving a smooth polished surface. Also short for ciré silk, etc.1921Go To Quotation
clyse= clow n.1882Go To Quotation
companionabilityCompanionableness.1889Go To Quotation
companionmentThe action of companioning; accompaniment.1881Go To Quotation
CongressistThe member of a congress (annual or periodic).1888Go To Quotation
consensusPhysiol. General agreement or concord of different parts or organs of the body in effecting…1854Go To Quotation
criminaldomCriminal society, the underworld; criminals collectively.1887Go To Quotation
crookishPertaining to or characteristic of a crook (crook n. 13) or crooked behaviour, dealings, etc.1927Go To Quotation
delimitativeHaving the function of delimitation.1887Go To Quotation
denazifytrans. To (attempt to) detach (Nazis, or their adherents) from Nazi allegiance, or connection; also transf.1944Go To Quotation
disqualificationThat which disqualifies or prevents from being qualified; a ground or cause of incapacitation.1714Go To Quotation
dithyrambistA composer or utterer of dithyrambs.1885Go To Quotation
domaine-bottled= estate-bottled adj. at estate n. 2). So domaine-bottling.1960Go To Quotation
doryphoreA person who draws attention to the minor errors made by others, esp. in a pestering manner; a pedantic gadfly.1952Go To Quotation
drillableCapable of being drilled.1889Go To Quotation
dustingThat dusts: see dust v.1890Go To Quotation
dynamiteur= dynamiter n.1883Go To Quotation
emenderOne who emends.1885Go To Quotation
employéOne who is employed. (In French use chiefly applied to clerks; in English use gen. to…1834Go To Quotation
EuropeanizingThat Europeanizes (in various senses of the verb).1852Go To Quotation
euthanatizetrans. To subject to ‘euthanasia’.1873Go To Quotation
faddismFondness for fads; a disposition to pursue fads.1885Go To Quotation
fantasizeintr. = fantasy v. 1c.1926Go To Quotation
FenianismThe principles, purposes and methods of the Fenians.1866Go To Quotation
film noirA cinematographic film of a gloomy or fatalistic character.1958Go To Quotation
fingeringThat fingers (an instrument); also, addicted to ‘fingering’ or petty manipulation.1712Go To Quotation
GeorgianaThe poetry published in the anthologies Georgian Poetry (see Georgian adj. 2b). nonce-use.1962Go To Quotation
governessyHaving the characteristics of a governess.1872Go To Quotation
hinterlandThe district behind that lying along the coast (or along the shore of a river);…1890Go To Quotation
humilificHumiliating, self-depreciating, that humiliates or tends to humble; also as n., a humble expression. (Opp. to honorific.)1892Go To Quotation
implementationThe action of implementing; fulfilment.1926Go To Quotation
indexationAn adjustment in rates of payment in money (e.g. wage-rates, bond prices, etc.) to…1960Go To Quotation
ingerenceBearing in upon; intrusion; interference.1886Go To Quotation
institutionalismThe system of institutions; spec., (a) the principles of institutional religion; (b) the…1862Go To Quotation
internmentThe action of ‘interning’; confinement within the limits of a country or place.1870Go To Quotation
irreceptivityThe quality of being irreceptive; incapacity to receive; unreceptiveness.1881Go To Quotation
JapanolatryExcessive devotion to or worship of Japanese art and customs.1890Go To Quotation
lemurine= lemuroid adj. n.1864Go To Quotation
loppingOf the sea: Rising and falling in short waves.1887Go To Quotation
LowryUsed attrib. or absol. to designate a figure, scene (esp. an urban industrial…1945Go To Quotation
MacaulayanRelating to or modelled on Macaulay's method or style.1887Go To Quotation
Macaulayish= Macaulayan adj.1865Go To Quotation
magazinismThe profession of writing for magazines.1882Go To Quotation
maxi-Forming nouns denoting things which are very long or large of their kind. Freq.…1961Go To Quotation
McLuhaniteOf, relating to, or characteristic of McLuhan or McLuhanism.1967Go To Quotation
megadollarHugely expensive; extremely rich or profitable.1963Go To Quotation
megalopsychicMagnanimous.1896Go To Quotation
mickey-takingThe action or process of ‘taking the mickey’; mocking, teasing, satirizing.1967Go To Quotation
minimizedMade as small as possible; reduced to a minimum.1844Go To Quotation
muzzintr. To study hard or intently; to pore over. Now rare.1744Go To Quotation
mythoclasticThat destroys or discredits a myth or myths; devoted to the destruction of myths.1881Go To Quotation
naggerA person who nags; something which nags at or bothers one continuously.1881Go To Quotation
NederlandsThe Dutch language of the Netherlands.1926Go To Quotation
negrophobeA (white) person with an intense dislike or hatred of black people.1900Go To Quotation
neo-CatholicismA new, modern, or revived form of Catholicism.1851Go To Quotation
nitpickingPedantic; fault-finding; pernickety, fussy.1948Go To Quotation
noctuaryAn account of what happens during a particular night or particular nights.1714Go To Quotation
non-enforcementLack of enforcement of a law, threat, etc.; unwillingness or failure to enforce a rule or law.1848Go To Quotation
non-nationalThat is not national; that consists of or represents more than one nation; that is not a citizen of a (usually specified) state.1852Go To Quotation
nutatingUndergoing or exhibiting nutation (in various senses).1881Go To Quotation
officialismThe mode of action seen as characteristic of officials; perfunctory and literal discharge…1849Go To Quotation
Old TestamentismThe religious doctrine of the Old Testament; excessive or inappropriate adherence to such doctrine.1900Go To Quotation
omnilateralFacing or directed all ways; representing all points of view; having all or very many aspects or components.1852Go To Quotation
onomatous= onymous adj.1869Go To Quotation
outarmtrans. To possess a more powerful weapon than; to exceed in possession or acquisition of…1866Go To Quotation
out-loudAloud, audible.1899Go To Quotation
overexpressionThe excessive or exaggerated expression of feelings, an opinion, etc.1869Go To Quotation
over-informedThat has been over-informed; esp. having too much knowledge of a particular subject…1884Go To Quotation
PalmerstonianOf, relating to, or suggestive of Lord Palmerston or the forceful diplomacy associated with him.1846Go To Quotation
panningOf a camera, etc.: that pans (pan v.); making use of panning (esp. as panning shot).1937Go To Quotation
paraA paratrooper; (Brit.) spec. a member of the Parachute Regiment.1958Go To Quotation
patriarchically= patriarchally adv.1887Go To Quotation
perorationalOf, relating to a peroration; characteristic or suggestive of a peroration.1868Go To Quotation
Peter-PanneryImmaturity, childishness; behaviour characteristic of a Peter Pan.1960Go To Quotation
philobiblic= philobiblian adj.1885Go To Quotation
phoneticizationPhonetic spelling or representation; an instance of this. Also: (greater) correlation of symbol and sound in a writing system.1915Go To Quotation
pit yackerA coal miner.1961Go To Quotation
populationalOf, relating to, or based on population.1855Go To Quotation
portmantologismA portmanteau word (see portmanteau n. 2a).1887Go To Quotation
prestigey= prestigious adj. 2.1963Go To Quotation
prodnoseAn inquisitive or nosy person. Also: spec. a detective.1965Go To Quotation
ProtestantizationThe action or fact of making Protestant; conversion to Protestantism.1866Go To Quotation
ramilliesObs. a method of cocking, or turning up the brim, of a hat.1711Go To Quotation
resistentialismThe theory that inanimate objects are hostile to humans; hostility manifested by inanimate objects.1948Go To Quotation
resistentialistOf a person: that advocates or believes in resistentialism (resistentialism n.); (of an inanimate object) hostile to humans.1948Go To Quotation
reviseeA person whose work is subjected to revision. Usu. contrasted with reviser.1884Go To Quotation
roofscapingThe creation of a planned roofscape; the landscaping of rooftops.1962Go To Quotation
routouslyIn a disorderly or tumultuous manner; (later also) in such a manner as to form a rout (rout n. 4).1615Go To Quotation
RuskineseLanguage or literary style characteristic of Ruskin.1863Go To Quotation
saunterA sauntering manner of walking; a leisurely, careless gait.1712Go To Quotation
screamyGiven to screaming; having a screaming voice or sound; fig. characterized by…1882Go To Quotation
scrumbletrans. To produce a smeary or grainy effect on (paint).1921Go To Quotation
sinifytrans. To sinicize.1900Go To Quotation
smudginessThe state, character, or quality of being smudgy.1864Go To Quotation
snippetinessThe state or condition of being snippety; scrappiness.1878Go To Quotation
snippetyOf the nature of, suggestive of, a snippet or snippets; composed of snippets or scraps.1864Go To Quotation
snozzleintr. = snuzzle v. 1.1881Go To Quotation
SpartacusUsed attrib. in Spartacus group, Spartacus league, the Spartacists.1918Go To Quotation
speculativismExcessive exercise of, or leaning towards, speculation.1865Go To Quotation
splutterySuggestive of spluttering.1866Go To Quotation
sprawlinglyIn a sprawling manner.1921Go To Quotation
startleAn experience of being startled; a start or shock of surprise or alarm. Also (predicatively), something that startles.1714Go To Quotation
SuaedaA plant of the genus Suæda (N.O. Chenopodiaceæ), which comprises herbaceous or…1901Go To Quotation
superpersonalityA superpersonal being; an extraordinary or superior personality. Also: the quality, character, or fact of being superpersonal.1882Go To Quotation
trashedBungled, spoiled; ill-treated or injured; run-down. Freq. with advbs.1926Go To Quotation
tropicanaWith pl. and occas. sing. concord. Things associated with or characteristic of tropical regions; objects from the tropics.1960Go To Quotation
TsinandaliA dry white wine produced in the Tsinandali district of the Republic of Georgia.1961Go To Quotation
TsongduThe Tibetan National Council or Assembly.1905Go To Quotation
unco-ordinated(un- prefix 8.)1892Go To Quotation
unformulated(un- prefix 8.)1866Go To Quotation
unsectarianism(un- prefix 12; cf. unsectarian adj. n.)1866Go To Quotation
unshocked(un- prefix 8.)1712Go To Quotation
unthinkPassive acceptance; failure to use logical reasoning.1958Go To Quotation
upmanship= one-upmanship n.1962Go To Quotation
vacillatorOne who vacillates or wavers.1890Go To Quotation
vaudouism= voodooism n.1884Go To Quotation
WilsonianRelating to or characteristic of Wilson or his policies, style of government, etc. Also as n., a follower of Wilson.1963Go To Quotation

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