Transcript TIH and WOD
Today in History and Word of the Day December 2016 December st 1 1862 Abolish (verb) • President Abraham Lincoln sent his Second Annual Message to Congress, which called for the abolition of slavery. • To do away with; to get rid of. December nd 2 1823 Bluff (verb) • President James Monroe outlined his doctrine opposing European expansion in the Western Hemisphere (“Monroe Doctrine”). • To frighten someone by pretending to be stronger or beter than one really is. December th 5 1901 Zoanthropy (noun) • Walt Disney, the pioneer of animated cartoon films and founder of the Disney theme parks, was born in Chicago. • A mental disorder in which one believes oneself to be an animal. Dec th 6 1973 Ellipsis (noun) • House minority leader Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew, who had resigned because of income tax evasion. • Omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences. … Dec 1941 • Japanese warplanes attacked the home base of the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, drawing the USA into World War II. More than 2,300 Americans were killed. th 7 Cryptic (adj) • 1. having a secret or hidden meaning. • 2. of an obscure nature. Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Destruction of the Battleships FDR’s War Message to Congress USS Arizona Memorial Dec th 8 1941 Infamy (noun) • The United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Japan one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. • Extremely bad reputation or strong public reaction as the result of a shameful, criminal, or outrageous act. Dec th 9 1940 Theater of War (noun) • British troops opened their first major offensive in the North African theater during World War II. • The entire area in which ground, sea, and air forces may become directly employed in war operations. Dec th 12 1870 Equity (noun) • Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina took his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first black congressman. 1. conformity with rules or standards to all persons 2. the ownership interest of shareholders in a corporation Dec th 13 1862 Cynosure (noun) • Confederate forces dealt Union troops a major defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg in Virginia. • A center of attention. Dec th 14 1946 Paladin (noun) • The United Nations General Assembly voted to establish the U.N. headquarters in New York City. • A champion of a cause. Dec th 15 1938 Allay (verb) • Ground was broken for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. • Lessen the intensity of or calm (as in fears). Dec th 16 1773 Cringe (verb) • The Boston Tea Party took place as American colonists boarded a British ship and dumped more than 300 chests of tea overboard to protest tea taxes. • 1. draw back, as with fear or pain • 2. show submission or fear Dec th 19 1843 Yuletide (noun/adj) • Charles Dickens' Yuletide tale, "A Christmas Carol," was first published in Britain. • The Christmas season or things relating to the Christmas season. Dec th 20 1989 Eccentricity (noun) • The US sent troops into Panama to topple the government of Manuel Noriega. • Strange and unconventional behavior. Dec st 21 1620 Procellous (adj) • Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth, Mass. • Stormy, as the sea. Dec nd 22 1864 Chutzpa (noun/slang) • Civil War Union Gen. William T. Sherman sent a message to President Lincoln from Georgia, saying, "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah.“ • Someone who is bold and has nerve; being brash. Dec 2003 • The government announced the first suspected case of mad cow disease in United States rd 23 Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (noun) • a fatal disease of cattle that destroys brain tissue in humans (Mad Cow Disease).