Word of the Day Archive
2000
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- segue: to proceed without interruption. (Saturday January 01)
- palimpsest: an object or place whose older layers or aspects are apparent. (Sunday January 02)
- bete noire: something or someone particularly detested or avoided. (Monday January 03)
- farrago: an assortment; a medley. (Tuesday January 04)
- expatiate: to speak or write at length. (Wednesday January 05)
- nadir: the lowest point. (Thursday January 06)
- protean: readily assuming different shapes or forms. (Friday January 07)
- fulsome: offensive from excess of praise. (Saturday January 08)
- constitutional: a walk taken for one's health. (Sunday January 09)
- quondam: former; sometime. (Monday January 10)
- sinecure: an office or position that involves little work or responsibility. (Tuesday January 11)
- vainglory: excessive pride or vain display. (Wednesday January 12)
- canard: an unfounded or false report. (Thursday January 13)
- gainsay: to contradict; to deny. (Friday January 14)
- portend: to foreshadow; to bode. (Saturday January 15)
- ratiocination: the process of reasoning. (Sunday January 16)
- equivocate: to be deliberately ambiguous or unclear. (Monday January 17)
- frisson: a brief moment of intense excitement. (Tuesday January 18)
- tchotchke: a trinket; a knickknack. (Wednesday January 19)
- inveigh: to rail (against some person or thing). (Thursday January 20)
- propound: to put forward for consideration. (Friday January 21)
- acrid: sharp and harsh; bitter. (Saturday January 22)
- lachrymose: given to causing tears. (Sunday January 23)
- fop: a man who is vain about his dress and appearance. (Monday January 24)
- defenestrate: to throw out of a window. (Tuesday January 25)
- brio: vigor; vivacity. (Wednesday January 26)
- supercilious: disdainfully arrogant. (Thursday January 27)
- gesticulate: to make gestures or motions. (Friday January 28)
- probity: complete and confirmed integrity. (Saturday January 29)
- inveterate: deep-rooted; of long standing. (Sunday January 30)
- Hobson's choice: a choice without an alternative. (Monday January 31)
- rebarbative: repellent; irritating. (Tuesday February 01)
- afflatus: a divine inspiration. (Wednesday February 02)
- comport: to behave (oneself) in a particular manner. (Thursday February 03)
- sunder: to break apart. (Friday February 04)
- espy: to see at a glance. (Saturday February 05)
- compunction: anxiety or unease from guilt; also, a scruple. (Sunday February 06)
- venial: capable of being forgiven; excusable. (Monday February 07)
- gimcrack: a showy but useless or worthless object. (Tuesday February 08)
- truculent: fierce; savage; ferocious. (Wednesday February 09)
- unctuous: marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness. (Thursday February 10)
- celerity: quickness; swiftness. (Friday February 11)
- vehement: marked by intensity of emotions or convictions. (Saturday February 12)
- putative: commonly thought or deemed; supposed. (Sunday February 13)
- wheedle: to entice by flattery. (Monday February 14)
- stolid: unexcitable; unemotional. (Tuesday February 15)
- lugubrious: mournful; gloomy; dismal. (Wednesday February 16)
- abjure: to renounce, reject, or shun. (Thursday February 17)
- vicissitude: a change in condition or fortune. (Friday February 18)
- redress: to set right. (Saturday February 19)
- ubiquitous: being everywhere. (Sunday February 20)
- propinquity: nearness. (Monday February 21)
- venal: capable of being bought; also, corruptible. (Tuesday February 22)
- obviate: to anticipate and dispose of or make unnecessary. (Wednesday February 23)
- mellifluous: flowing sweetly or smoothly. (Thursday February 24)
- prestidigitation: performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands; sleight of hand. (Friday February 25)
- gastronome: a lover of good food and drink. (Saturday February 26)
- exculpate: to clear from alleged fault or guilt. (Sunday February 27)
- diaphanous: allowing light to pass through. (Monday February 28)
- supernumerary: exceeding a necessary or usual number. (Tuesday February 29)
- indomitable: incapable of being subdued or overcome. (Wednesday March 01)
- argot: a specialized vocabulary peculiar to a particular group. (Thursday March 02)
- impugn: to call in question; to make insinuations against. (Friday March 03)
- lascivious: lewd; lustful. (Saturday March 04)
- parsimony: excessive sparingness in the expenditure of money. (Sunday March 05)
- atrabilious: irritable; ill-natured. (Monday March 06)
- peccadillo: a slight offense; a petty fault. (Tuesday March 07)
- logorrhea: excessive talkativeness. (Wednesday March 08)
- travail: painful, arduous work; also, agony, anguish. (Thursday March 09)
- acquiesce: to accept or consent passively or without objection. (Friday March 10)
- elucidate: to make clear or manifest. (Saturday March 11)
- recalcitrant: stubbornly resistant to and defiant of authority or restraint. (Sunday March 12)
- abstemious: temperate; abstinent; refraining from indulgence. (Monday March 13)
- gravitas: high seriousness. (Tuesday March 14)
- Ides: the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. (Wednesday March 15)
- mendacious: untruthful; also, untrue. (Thursday March 16)
- verdure: greenness. (Friday March 17)
- emblazon: to display pompously; to decorate. (Saturday March 18)
- collude: to act in concert; to conspire. (Sunday March 19)
- risible: exciting or provoking laughter. (Monday March 20)
- surcease: cessation; stop; end. (Tuesday March 21)
- adumbrate: to foreshadow; prefigure. (Wednesday March 22)
- Elysium: paradise. (Thursday March 23)
- demagogue: a leader who obtains power by means of appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. (Friday March 24)
- augury: an omen; prediction. (Saturday March 25)
- fulminate: to issue or utter verbal attacks or censures. (Sunday March 26)
- sycophant: one who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people. (Monday March 27)
- vitiate: to make faulty or imperfect. (Tuesday March 28)
- factious: addicted to form parties and raise dissensions. (Wednesday March 29)
- quiescent: at rest; still; inactive. (Thursday March 30)
- purblind: having greatly reduced vision. (Friday March 31)
- coxcomb: a vain, showy fellow. (Saturday April 01)
- chicanery: the use of trickery to deceive. (Sunday April 02)
- habitue: one who habitually frequents a place. (Monday April 03)
- pellucid: transparent, shining through; also, easily understandable. (Tuesday April 04)
- buss: a kiss; to kiss. (Wednesday April 05)
- factitious: artificial; not authentic or genuine. (Thursday April 06)
- profligate: shamelessly immoral; also, recklessly wasteful. (Friday April 07)
- bedaub: to besmear; also, to overdecorate. (Saturday April 08)
- bifurcate: to divide into two branches. (Sunday April 09)
- contumacious: obstinate; stubbornly disobedient. (Monday April 10)
- firmament: the sky; the heavens. (Tuesday April 11)
- arcane: understood or known by only a few. (Wednesday April 12)
- perfunctory: done routinely. (Thursday April 13)
- temerity: unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger. (Friday April 14)
- superannuated: old; discharged or disqualified on account of old age. (Saturday April 15)
- egregious: outrageously bad. (Sunday April 16)
- tutelary: guardian; protecting. (Monday April 17)
- condign: deserved; adequate. (Tuesday April 18)
- lambent: playing on the surface; flickering. (Wednesday April 19)
- confabulation: familiar talk. (Thursday April 20)
- expiate: to make amends for; to atone for. (Friday April 21)
- somniferous: causing or inducing sleep. (Saturday April 22)
- aubade: a song greeting the dawn. (Sunday April 23)
- cogitate: to think; to ponder. (Monday April 24)
- persiflage: frivolous or bantering talk. (Tuesday April 25)
- obfuscate: to make obscure or unclear; also, to darken. (Wednesday April 26)
- calumny: malicious misrepresentation; slander. (Thursday April 27)
- ablution: the washing of the body or some part of it. (Friday April 28)
- undulate: to move in waves. (Saturday April 29)
- cosset: to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper. (Sunday April 30)
- subterfuge: a deceptive device or stratagem. (Monday May 01)
- kismet: destiny; fate. (Tuesday May 02)
- turpitude: baseness; depravity. (Wednesday May 03)
- ephemeral: lasting a very short time. (Thursday May 04)
- inveigle: to persuade or obtain by ingenuity or flattery. (Friday May 05)
- portentous: foreboding; ominous. (Saturday May 06)
- facetious: playfully jocular; humorous. (Sunday May 07)
- deign: to condescend. (Monday May 08)
- restive: resisting control; stubborn. (Tuesday May 09)
- schadenfreude: a malicious satisfaction in the misfortunes of others. (Wednesday May 10)
- pari passu: at an equal pace or rate. (Thursday May 11)
- mawkish: sickly or excessively sentimental. (Friday May 12)
- panache: dash or flamboyance in manner or style. (Saturday May 13)
- adventitious: added extrinsically; not essentially inherent. (Sunday May 14)
- kvetch: to complain habitually. (Monday May 15)
- pejorative: disparaging; belittling. (Tuesday May 16)
- cognoscente: a person with special knowledge. (Wednesday May 17)
- alacrity: a cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptness. (Thursday May 18)
- bravura: a showy display. (Friday May 19)
- vivify: to endue with life; to enliven. (Saturday May 20)
- sonorous: yielding sound; impressive in sound. (Sunday May 21)
- anathema: a curse; a person or thing cursed, or intensely disliked. (Monday May 22)
- laconic: using or marked by the use of a minimum of words. (Tuesday May 23)
- deleterious: harmful. (Wednesday May 24)
- platitude: a banal, trite, or stale thought or remark. (Thursday May 25)
- quash: to annul; also, to crush; to subdue. (Friday May 26)
- meretricious: tawdry. (Saturday May 27)
- bumptious: crudely, presumptuously, or noisily self-assertive. (Sunday May 28)
- laudable: praiseworthy; commendable. (Monday May 29)
- inamorata: a woman whom one is in love with. (Tuesday May 30)
- penchant: a strong liking. (Wednesday May 31)
- disconcert: to disturb the composure of. (Thursday June 01)
- physiognomy: the face or appearance. (Friday June 02)
- masticate: to chew. (Saturday June 03)
- sempiternal: everlasting; eternal. (Sunday June 04)
- harangue: a speech addressed to a public assembly; also, a noisy or pompous speech. (Monday June 05)
- supernal: being on high; celestial. (Tuesday June 06)
- rubicund: inclining to redness; ruddy. (Wednesday June 07)
- moribund: dying. (Thursday June 08)
- apothegm: a short, witty, and instructive saying. (Friday June 09)
- wastrel: a person who wastes; a loafer. (Saturday June 10)
- malodorous: having a bad odor. (Sunday June 11)
- plangent: beating with a loud or deep sound; also, expressing sadness. (Monday June 12)
- immure: to imprison. (Tuesday June 13)
- rara avis: a rare or unique person or thing. (Wednesday June 14)
- scapegrace: one who is wild and reckless. (Thursday June 15)
- ruminate: to chew the cud; also, to ponder; to reflect. (Friday June 16)
- hirsute: covered with hair or bristles. (Saturday June 17)
- admonition: gentle or friendly reproof; friendly warning. (Sunday June 18)
- abrogate: to annul; to do away with. (Monday June 19)
- importunate: troublesomely urgent. (Tuesday June 20)
- kitsch: art in pretentious bad taste. (Wednesday June 21)
- monomania: obsession with a single subject. (Thursday June 22)
- ribald: characterized by, or given to, vulgar humor. (Friday June 23)
- febrile: feverish. (Saturday June 24)
- rapacious: grasping; greedy. (Sunday June 25)
- extirpate: to eradicate; to destroy. (Monday June 26)
- uxorious: excessively fond of or submissive to a wife. (Tuesday June 27)
- anodyne: serving to relieve pain. (Wednesday June 28)
- bootless: unavailing; useless. (Thursday June 29)
- flummox: to confuse; to perplex. (Friday June 30)
- concomitant: accompanying; attending. (Saturday July 01)
- busker: a street musician or performer. (Sunday July 02)
- turgid: swollen, bloated; also, bombastic, pompous. (Monday July 03)
- denizen: an inhabitant. (Tuesday July 04)
- peregrination: a traveling from place to place. (Wednesday July 05)
- tocsin: a warning. (Thursday July 06)
- palliate: to make an offense seem less serious; also, to relieve or lessen without curing. (Friday July 07)
- improvident: lacking foresight; negligent; thoughtless. (Saturday July 08)
- inimical: unfriendly; unfavorable. (Sunday July 09)
- halcyon: peaceful; undisturbed; happy. (Monday July 10)
- coeval: existing during the same period of time; also, a contemporary. (Tuesday July 11)
- obtrude: to thrust out; also, to impose on others. (Wednesday July 12)
- cozen: to deceive or obtain by deceit. (Thursday July 13)
- perfervid: ardent; impassioned. (Friday July 14)
- recrudescent: breaking out again. (Saturday July 15)
- deride: to laugh at with contempt. (Sunday July 16)
- billingsgate: foul, abusive language. (Monday July 17)
- factotum: a person employed to do all kinds of work. (Tuesday July 18)
- jejune: lacking in nutritional value; also, immature; also, dull. (Wednesday July 19)
- evince: to show in a clear manner. (Thursday July 20)
- cacophony: harsh or discordant sound. (Friday July 21)
- perfidy: faithlessness; treachery. (Saturday July 22)
- onus: burden; also, blame; stigma. (Sunday July 23)
- tergiversation: evasion; also, desertion of a cause, party, etc. (Monday July 24)
- opprobrium: reproach mingled with contempt. (Tuesday July 25)
- hoary: tedious from familiarity; stale. (Wednesday July 26)
- tractable: docile; manageable, governable. (Thursday July 27)
- recumbent: reclining; lying down. (Friday July 28)
- prevaricate: to depart from or evade the truth. (Saturday July 29)
- libation: the act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice; also, a beverage. (Sunday July 30)
- quandary: a state of difficulty or perplexity. (Monday July 31)
- obsequious: servilely attentive; fawning. (Tuesday August 01)
- simulacrum: a representation; an insubstantial or vague semblance. (Wednesday August 02)
- miasma: a thick vaporous atmosphere, often noxious. (Thursday August 03)
- ululate: to howl; to wail. (Friday August 04)
- toothsome: delicious; attractive; luscious. (Saturday August 05)
- asperity: roughness of surface, sound, or manner. (Sunday August 06)
- impervious: impenetrable; also, not capable of being affected. (Monday August 07)
- auspicious: favorable; also, prosperous; fortunate. (Tuesday August 08)
- puissant: powerful. (Wednesday August 09)
- otiose: ineffective; also, being at leisure; also, of no use. (Thursday August 10)
- lucubration: laborious work, study, thought, etc., esp. at night. (Friday August 11)
- quaff: to drink heartily. (Saturday August 12)
- perdurable: very durable; long lasting. (Sunday August 13)
- crapulous: sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking. (Monday August 14)
- equanimity: calmness; composure. (Tuesday August 15)
- megalomania: a mental disorder characterized by delusions of grandeur. (Wednesday August 16)
- verbose: wordy. (Thursday August 17)
- gauche: lacking social polish; tactless. (Friday August 18)
- euphonious: pleasing or sweet in sound. (Saturday August 19)
- fustian: pompous or pretentious language. (Sunday August 20)
- contradistinction: distinction by contrast. (Monday August 21)
- disparate: fundamentally different; also, composed of dissimilar elements. (Tuesday August 22)
- palaver: idle talk; also, to talk idly. (Wednesday August 23)
- malleable: capable of being shaped; also, adaptable. (Thursday August 24)
- termagant: a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman. (Friday August 25)
- consanguineous: related by blood; descended from the same ancestor. (Saturday August 26)
- verisimilitude: the quality of seeming to be true. (Sunday August 27)
- tendentious: marked by a strong tendency in favor of a particular point of view. (Monday August 28)
- avoirdupois: weight; heaviness. (Tuesday August 29)
- dudgeon: a state or fit of intense indignation. (Wednesday August 30)
- rusticate: to go or send to the country. (Thursday August 31)
- ascetic: one who practices extreme self-denial; also, austere, severe. (Friday September 01)
- excoriate: to express strong disapproval of; also, to flay. (Saturday September 02)
- dilettante: an amateur; also, an admirer or lover of the fine arts. (Sunday September 03)
- truckle: to act in a subservient manner. (Monday September 04)
- nugatory: insignificant; also, ineffectual. (Tuesday September 05)
- moiety: a half; a small part. (Wednesday September 06)
- variegated: having marks or patches of different colors; also, varied. (Thursday September 07)
- convivial: relating to feasting, drinking, and good company; festive. (Friday September 08)
- posit: to postulate; also, to suggest. (Saturday September 09)
- expunge: to strike out or erase; to obliterate. (Sunday September 10)
- largess: generous giving; also, gifts of money or other valuables. (Monday September 11)
- woebegone: woeful; also, run-down. (Tuesday September 12)
- milieu: environment; setting. (Wednesday September 13)
- accede: to agree or assent; also, to become a party. (Thursday September 14)
- salient: noticeable; also, projecting; also, leaping. (Friday September 15)
- wunderkind: one who achieves success or acclaim during youth. (Saturday September 16)
- obeisance: an expression of deference. (Sunday September 17)
- felicitous: apt or appropriate; also, delightful. (Monday September 18)
- grandee: a man of elevated rank or station; a nobleman. (Tuesday September 19)
- disconsolate: hopelessly sad; also, saddening; cheerless. (Wednesday September 20)
- malinger: to feign illness or inability. (Thursday September 21)
- credulous: inclined to believe too readily. (Friday September 22)
- tryst: an appointment (as between lovers) to meet. (Saturday September 23)
- paragon: a model of excellence or perfection. (Sunday September 24)
- inscrutable: difficult to fathom or understand. (Monday September 25)
- soporific: causing sleep; also, something that causes sleep. (Tuesday September 26)
- congeries: a collection; an aggregation. (Wednesday September 27)
- didactic: conveying instruction; teaching some moral lesson. (Thursday September 28)
- officious: meddlesome. (Friday September 29)
- flippant: showing inappropriate levity; pert. (Saturday September 30)
- castigate: to punish or criticize severely. (Sunday October 01)
- aver: to assert as true. (Monday October 02)
- callow: immature. (Tuesday October 03)
- lucre: money; profit. (Wednesday October 04)
- epigone: an inferior imitator. (Thursday October 05)
- imbue: to dye; to instill profoundly. (Friday October 06)
- concupiscence: lust. (Saturday October 07)
- irrefragable: impossible to refute. (Sunday October 08)
- rictus: a gaping grin or grimace. (Monday October 09)
- nostrum: a questionable remedy. (Tuesday October 10)
- scintilla: a tiny amount; a spark. (Wednesday October 11)
- ergo: therefore; consequently. (Thursday October 12)
- animus: a feeling of ill will; also, animating spirit; disposition. (Friday October 13)
- ignoramus: an ignorant person; a dunce. (Saturday October 14)
- interregnum: the interval between two reigns; also, any breach of continuity in an order. (Sunday October 15)
- lexicography: the writing or compiling of dictionaries. (Monday October 16)
- circumambient: surrounding; encompassing. (Tuesday October 17)
- purdah: social seclusion. (Wednesday October 18)
- proscribe: to forbid; to prohibit. (Thursday October 19)
- coquetry: flirtation. (Friday October 20)
- cadre: a core or nucleus of trained or otherwise qualified personnel around which an organization is formed. (Saturday October 21)
- titivate: to make decorative additions to; to spruce. (Sunday October 22)
- bromide: a commonplace or conventional saying. (Monday October 23)
- orotund: full in sound; also, bombastic. (Tuesday October 24)
- pertinacious: holding obstinately to a belief, purpose or design; also, stubbornly persistent. (Wednesday October 25)
- Promethean: of or pertaining to Prometheus; also, boldly original. (Thursday October 26)
- extraneous: coming from the outside; also, not essential; also, irrelevant. (Friday October 27)
- amity: friendship; friendly relations. (Saturday October 28)
- pettifogger: a petty, unscrupulous lawyer; also, who quibbles over trivia. (Sunday October 29)
- mountebank: a quack; also, a charlatan. (Monday October 30)
- apparition: a ghost; also, an unexpected appearance. (Tuesday October 31)
- perquisite: a benefit in addition to a salary. (Wednesday November 01)
- exigency: state of requiring immediate action; also, that which is required in a particular situation. (Thursday November 02)
- succinct: brief; concise. (Friday November 03)
- ineffectual: without effect; weak; useless. (Saturday November 04)
- sapient: wise; sage; discerning. (Sunday November 05)
- pugilist: a boxer. (Monday November 06)
- deus ex machina: an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an apparently insoluble difficulty. (Tuesday November 07)
- circumspect: cautious; prudent. (Wednesday November 08)
- tutelage: guardianship; protection; also, instruction. (Thursday November 09)
- visage: the face; also, appearance; aspect. (Friday November 10)
- introspection: the act or process of self-examination; reflection. (Saturday November 11)
- missive: a written message; a letter. (Sunday November 12)
- expropriate: to deprive of possession; also, to transfer (property) to oneself. (Monday November 13)
- malcontent: one who is discontented or dissatisfied. (Tuesday November 14)
- ukase: an edict. (Wednesday November 15)
- derogate: to deviate from expectation; also, to detract; also, to disparage. (Thursday November 16)
- raillery: good-humored banter or teasing repartee. (Friday November 17)
- neologism: a new word or expression; the use or creation of new words or expressions. (Saturday November 18)
- malaise: a condition of uneasiness or ill-being. (Sunday November 19)
- raffish: gaudily vulgar or cheap; also, characterized by a carefree or fun-loving unconventionality. (Monday November 20)
- parlous: fraught with danger; hazardous. (Tuesday November 21)
- querulous: habitually complaining; also, expressing complaint. (Wednesday November 22)
- cornucopia: the horn of plenty; also, an abundance. (Thursday November 23)
- panacea: a cure-all. (Friday November 24)
- sine qua non: an indispensable thing. (Saturday November 25)
- fractious: tending to cause trouble; also, irritable. (Sunday November 26)
- vim: energy; vigor. (Monday November 27)
- perambulate: to stroll; to walk through or over. (Tuesday November 28)
- wizened: shriveled; withered. (Wednesday November 29)
- modicum: a small or token amount. (Thursday November 30)
- oneiric: pertaining to or suggestive of dreams. (Friday December 01)
- execrable: detestable; extremely bad. (Saturday December 02)
- patina: a superficial layer. (Sunday December 03)
- provenance: origin; source. (Monday December 04)
- caveat: a warning or caution. (Tuesday December 05)
- nonage: a period of youth or immaturity. (Wednesday December 06)
- atelier: a workshop; a studio. (Thursday December 07)
- fetid: stinking. (Friday December 08)
- itinerant: traveling from place to place. (Saturday December 09)
- conurbation: an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities. (Sunday December 10)
- equipoise: equilibrium; also, counterbalance. (Monday December 11)
- coruscate: to emit vivid flashes of light; sparkle; scintillate; gleam. (Tuesday December 12)
- voluptuary: a person devoted to luxury and the gratification of sensual appetites. (Wednesday December 13)
- harridan: a scolding, vicious woman. (Thursday December 14)
- ambit: circuit or compass; also, sphere of action or influence. (Friday December 15)
- rapport: relation characterized by sympathetic understanding. (Saturday December 16)
- pandemic: affecting a whole people or a number of countries. (Sunday December 17)
- apocryphal: of doubtful authority or authenticity. (Monday December 18)
- cormorant: a gluttonous or greedy person. (Tuesday December 19)
- microcosm: a smaller, representative system having analogies to a larger system. (Wednesday December 20)
- harbinger: a precursor; one that presages what is to come. (Thursday December 21)
- censure: to criticize severely; also, an expression of disapproval. (Friday December 22)
- capricious: whimsical; changeable. (Saturday December 23)
- sporadic: occurring singly, or occasionally, or in scattered instances. (Sunday December 24)
- wassail: an expression of good wishes on a festive occasion, especially in drinking to some one. (Monday December 25)
- quidnunc: a gossip; a busybody. (Tuesday December 26)
- impassible: incapable of suffering; also, unfeeling or not showing feeling. (Wednesday December 27)
- gloaming: twilight; dusk. (Thursday December 28)
- manse: a large and imposing residence. (Friday December 29)
- Grub Street: the world or category of impoverished literary hacks. (Saturday December 30)
- Hogmanay: a gift given on New Year's Eve. (Sunday December 31)
