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JadziaDax · 08-26-2003, 03:42 AM

The Word of the Day for August 26 is:

ukase • \yoo-KAYSS\ • (noun) 1. a proclamation by a Russian emperor or government having the force of law; 2a : a proclamation having the force of law; 2b. order, command

A little more information about today’s word:
English speakers adopted "ukase" more or less simultaneously from French ("ukase") and Russian ("ukaz") in the early 18th century. The word can be traced further back to the Russian verb "ukazat'," meaning "to show, order," and its ultimate source is an ancient root that led to similar words in Latin, Sanskrit, and Old Church Slavonic. A Russian ukase was a command from the highest levels of government that could not be disobeyed. But by the early 19th century, English speakers were also using "ukase" generally for any command that seemed to come from a higher authority, particularly one that was final or arbitrary.

My sentence (using definition #2b):
"The professor's first instruction to the [playwriting] class was a ukase: Never begin a play with a telephone ringing."
-- Bruce McCabe, The Boston Globe, June 23, 2000

Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition.

Next sentence?

08-26-2003, 03:42 AM	#148 (permalink)
JadziaDax Loser Location: who the fuck cares?	Word of the day August 26 The Word of the Day for August 26 is: ukase • \yoo-KAYSS\ • (noun) 1. a proclamation by a Russian emperor or government having the force of law; 2a : a proclamation having the force of law; 2b. order, command A little more information about today’s word: English speakers adopted "ukase" more or less simultaneously from French ("ukase") and Russian ("ukaz") in the early 18th century. The word can be traced further back to the Russian verb "ukazat'," meaning "to show, order," and its ultimate source is an ancient root that led to similar words in Latin, Sanskrit, and Old Church Slavonic. A Russian ukase was a command from the highest levels of government that could not be disobeyed. But by the early 19th century, English speakers were also using "ukase" generally for any command that seemed to come from a higher authority, particularly one that was final or arbitrary. My sentence (using definition #2b): "The professor's first instruction to the [playwriting] class was a ukase: Never begin a play with a telephone ringing." -- Bruce McCabe, The Boston Globe, June 23, 2000 Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 10th Edition. Next sentence?