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spoonerism

n. a slip of the tongue in which two sound elements (usually initial consonants) are unintentionally transposed, resulting in an utterance with a different and often amusing sense. For example, a person might say sons of toil instead of tons of soil. [W. A. Spooner (1844–1930), British academic noted for slips of this kind]

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Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

rage

rage

n. intense, typically uncontrolled anger. It is usually differentiated from hostility in that it is not necessarily accompanied by destructive actions but rather by excessive expressions. In nonhuman animals, rage appears to be a late stage of aggression when normal deterrents to physical attack, such as submissive signals, are no longer effective. It generally includes rapid respiration; thrusting and jerking of limbs; and clawing, biting, and snarling.