It's always a red-letter day when I encounter a previously unknown word. It is like discovering an unclassified shell on the beach, or finding a new star glittering in a familiar constellation. Today's word, courtesy of a blog by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in today's Telegraph, is 'nefaste'. I guessed it was something negative from its Latin affiliations, but rushed to my Chambers anyway. Surprisingly, Chambers hasn't got it, but it does have 'nefast' meaning abominable. That terminal 'e' has a Gallic smell about it: could it be the French version? Anyway, never mind. Thanks, Ambrose.
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