0%

15-letter words containing r, u, s, i, a, n

  • slumpflationary — of or relating to slumpflation
  • snafu principle — /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ [WWII Army acronym for "Situation Normal: All Fucked Up"] "True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." - a central tenet of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly: In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto their leader, saying: "It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer." And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project leader: "It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor thereof." And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying: "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it." The section head then hurried to his department manager, and informed him thus: "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." The department manager carried these words to his general manager, and spoke unto him saying: "It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong." And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President. "It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful." The Vice President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: "This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!" And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very good. After the subsequent disaster, the suits protect themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors are demoted or fired.
  • snapping turtle — either of two large, edible, freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae, of North and Central America, having a large head and powerful hooked jaws, especially the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina.
  • sodium arsenite — a white or grayish-white, water-soluble, poisonous powder, NaAsO 2 , used chiefly in arsenical soaps for hides, as an insecticide, and as a weed-killer.
  • southern paiute — See under Paiute (def 2).
  • spawning ground — a place where fish deposit their eggs for fertilization
  • spinach-rhubarb — an Ethiopian plant, Rumex abyssinicus, of the buckwheat family, having leaves that are sometimes used as spinach and leafstalks sometimes used as rhubarb.
  • stamping ground — a habitual or favorite haunt.
  • storm insurance — insurance cover against damage caused by windstorms
  • structural iron — iron shaped for use in construction.
  • sub-corporation — an association of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members. See also municipal corporation, public corporation.
  • subject-raising — a rule that moves the subject of a complement clause into the clause in which it is embedded, as in the derivation of He is likely to be late from It is likely that he will be late
  • sublapsarianism — infralapsarianism.
  • suborganization — an organization within a larger organization
  • subprofessional — being below professional standards: subprofessional health care.
  • subsidiary coin — a coin, especially one made of silver, having a value less than that of the monetary unit.
  • substitutionary — a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
  • subtrochanteric — Anatomy. either of two knobs at the top of the femur, the greater on the outside and the lesser on the inside, serving for the attachment of muscles between the thigh and pelvis.
  • suburbanization — to give suburban characteristics to: to suburbanize a rural area.
  • sulphinpyrazone — a uricosuric drug with molecular formula C23H20N2O3S, used in the treatment of chronic gout
  • summer triangle — a group of three first-magnitude stars (Deneb, Vega, and Altair) visible during the summer in the N skies
  • superexaltation — extreme or supreme exaltation; the act of superexalting; the process or condition of being superexalted
  • superexcitation — the act of exciting.
  • superficialness — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
  • supergiant star — Astronomy. an exceptionally luminous star whose diameter is more than 100 times that of the sun, as Betelgeuse or Antares.
  • superindividual — greater than the individual
  • superior planet — any of the five planets whose orbits are outside the orbit of the earth, namely, the planets Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  • supernaturalism — supernatural character or agency.
  • supernaturalist — supernatural character or agency.
  • supernaturality — the quality or state of being supernatural; supernaturalism.
  • supernaturalize — to make supernatural; give supernatural character or qualities to.
  • superordination — Logic. the relation between a universal proposition and a particular proposition of the same quality containing the same terms in the same order.
  • surface density — quantity, as of electric charge, per unit surface area.
  • surface tension — the elasticlike force existing in the surface of a body, especially a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface, caused by asymmetries in the intermolecular forces between surface molecules.
  • surface-ripened — (of cheese) ripened on the surface by molds or other microorganisms.
  • surgical needle — a needle for suturing.
  • sylvian fissure — lateral fissure.
  • tailor's bunion — a bunionlike enlargement of the joint of the little toe, usually caused by pressure from tight shoes.
  • tatra mountains — a mountain range along the border between Slovakia and Poland, extending for about 64 km (40 miles): the highest range of the central Carpathians. Highest peak: Gerlachovka, 2663 m (8737 ft)
  • teamsters union — the unofficial name of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen, and Helpers of America.
  • temerariousness — the state or condition of being audacious
  • tentaculiferous — having tentacles
  • tequila sunrise — a cocktail, usually consisting of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. The ingredients have different densities and settle into bands of colour that resemble the sky at sunrise
  • tetrasporangium — a sporangium containing four asexual spores.
  • theft insurance — insurance against loss or damage of property resulting from theft.
  • thursday island — an island in Torres Strait between NE Australia and New Guinea; part of Queensland: pearl fishing. 1½ sq. mi. (4 sq. km).
  • title insurance — insurance protecting the owner or mortgagee of real estate from lawsuits or claims arising from a defective title.
  • to err is human — If you say that to err is human, you mean that it is natural for human beings to make mistakes.
  • toucan crossing — a place where people who are walking and cyclists can both cross a busy road together. They press a button at the side of the road, which operates traffic lights to stop the traffic
  • training course — practical programme of study
Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?