Thursday, May 28, 2009


Word of the DayThursday May 28, 2009
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avoirdupois \av-uhr-duh-POIZ; AV-uhr-duh-poiz\, noun:
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1. Avoirdupois weight, a system of weights based on a pound containing 16 ounces or 7,000 grains (453.59 grams).
2. Weight; heaviness; as, a person of much avoirdupois.
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The B.O.'s glutenous budget could certainly shed some substantial fiscal avoirdupois!
--Spy Maker, JSA's Blog
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Avoirdupois is from Middle English avoir de pois, "goods sold by weight," from Old French aveir de peis, literally "goods of weight," from aveir, "property, goods" (from aveir, "to have," from Latin habere, "to have, to hold, to possess property") + de, "from" (from the Latin) + peis, "weight," from Latin pensum, "weight."

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