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Apr 30, 2019
This week’s themePeople who became verbs
This week’s words
haussmannize
MacGyver
Angus MacGyver
Played by the actor Richard Dean Anderson
Painted woodcut on cherry
Played by the actor Richard Dean Anderson
Painted woodcut on cherry
Art: Lisa Brawn
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu GargMacGyver
PRONUNCIATION:
(muh-GY-vuhr) 
MEANING:
verb tr.: To improvise an ingenious solution using whatever is available at hand.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Angus MacGyver, a secret agent in the television series MacGyver, who was known for improvising ingenious solutions to the problems he faced. He carried a Swiss Army knife and duct tape. Earliest documented use: 1992. Some related terms, though not synonyms, are kludge and jury-rig.
USAGE:
“Check out our suggestions of how to MacGyver a few starter snacks from leftovers you might have from Christmas Day.”
Myffy Rigby; Hit a New Year’s Eve Bullseye at Home; Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Dec 27, 2016.
“So in the mid-2000s, scientists began to MacGyver a telescope out of previously existing infrastructure.”
Sarah Kaplan & Joel Achenbach; A New Horizon; The Washington Post; Apr 11, 2019.
Myffy Rigby; Hit a New Year’s Eve Bullseye at Home; Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Dec 27, 2016.
“So in the mid-2000s, scientists began to MacGyver a telescope out of previously existing infrastructure.”
Sarah Kaplan & Joel Achenbach; A New Horizon; The Washington Post; Apr 11, 2019.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you. -Annie Dillard, author (b. 30 Apr 1945) Join the discussion about today's posting here.
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