51吃瓜 of the Day
oligopoly
noun
the market condition that exists when there are few sellers, as a result of which they can greatly influence price and other market factors.
More about oligopoly
Oligopoly, 鈥渁 condition of the market in which there are few sellers, which grants sellers great influence over prices,鈥� is modeled on the familiar noun monopoly (via Latin 尘辞苍辞辫艒濒颈耻尘 鈥渟ole right to sell a commodity,鈥� from Greek 尘辞苍辞辫峁搇颈辞苍 鈥渞ight of monopoly, exclusive sale鈥�). Oligopoly is a compound of the combining form oligo– 鈥渇ew, a few, little鈥� (most often seen in oligarchy 鈥済overnment by only a few鈥�) from Greek 辞濒铆驳辞蝉, of uncertain etymology. The element –poly, common to monopoly and oligopoly, is a derivative of the Greek verb 辫艒濒别卯苍 鈥渢o offer for sale, sell.鈥� Oligopoly entered English towards the end of the 19th century.
how is oligopoly used?
U.S. housing debates rarely involve the 鈥淥鈥� word. But oligopolies, a cousin of monopolies in which a few powerful players corner the market, are emerging everywhere.
If she鈥檚 stressed and wants to relax outside the shadow of an oligopoly, she鈥檒l have to stay away from ebooks, music, and beer; two companies control more than half of all sales in each of these markets. There is no escape鈥攍iterally.
oligopoly
nonesuch
noun
a person or thing without equal; paragon.
More about nonesuch
The noun nonesuch (also spelled nonsuch), 鈥渟omeone or something without equal,鈥� is a compound of the pronoun none and the adjective such. The word鈥檚 earliest sense was as an impersonal term or neuter word meaning 鈥渟omething unparalleled,鈥� a sense it still has. By the mid-17th century, nonesuch came to mean 鈥渁 person without equal, beyond compare.鈥� Nonesuch entered English in the second half of the 16th century. Middle English had the compound word non-swich, an adjective meaning 鈥渘o such,鈥� and a pronoun meaning 鈥渘o such person, no such thing,鈥� but not 鈥渟omeone or something without parallel.鈥� Nonesuch entered English in the late 16th century.
how is nonesuch used?
She is a nonesuch, of course. No woman in England, or out of England like her.
I had a good look at the Indianapolis Union Station鈥攁 celebrated architectural 苍辞苍别蝉耻肠丑鈥�and then took a deep breath, crossed myself several times, and approached the man at the ticket window.
nonesuch
obnubilate
verb (used with object)
to cloud over; becloud; obscure.
More about obnubilate
The verb obnubilate, 鈥渢o cloud over; obscure,鈥� comes straight from Latin 辞产苍奴产颈濒腻迟耻蝉, the past participle of the verb 辞产苍奴产颈濒腻谤别 鈥渢o become cloudy, to darken (the mind),鈥� a compound verb formed from the prefix ob– 鈥渢owards, in the face of, against鈥� and the simple verb 苍奴产颈濒腻谤别 鈥渢o become cloudy, overcast, opaque,鈥� a derivative of the adjective 苍奴产颈濒耻蝉 鈥渃loudy, overcast,鈥� which in its turn is a derivative of the noun 苍奴产脓蝉 鈥渃loud.鈥� In Latin, 苍奴产– is a regular phonetic development from the Proto-Indo-European root sneudh– 鈥渕ist, cloud鈥� (sneudh– > snoudh– > 苍奴产-), the source of Avestan (the language of the Zoroastrian scriptures) snaodha– 鈥渃louds, cloud cover鈥� and Welsh nudd 鈥渇辞驳.鈥� Obnubilate entered English in the second half of the 16th century.
how is obnubilate used?
Dost thou think because a cloud sometimes may cover and obnubilate the Sun, that it will therefore shine no more?
It is the pity of the world, Dr Maturin, to see a man of your parts obnubilate his mind with the juice of the poppy.
obnubilate