

Nov 15, 2012 This week's theme

Words borrowed from German



This week's words

wunderkind

gemutlichkeit

blitzkrieg

kulturkampf

kaffeeklatsch



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RSS/XML Words borrowed from German A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg



kulturkampf PRONUNCIATION: (kool-TOOR-kahmpf)

MEANING: noun: A cultural conflict, especially one religious in nature.

ETYMOLOGY: From German Kulturkampf, from Kultur (culture) + Kampf (conflict). Earliest documented use: 1879.

NOTES: The original Kulturkampf took place in the 1880s between the German government and the Roman Catholic Church over control of education, laws related to marriage, etc.

USAGE: "Rabbi Michael Melchior: 'The settlers have succeeded in making [the withdrawal] a story of Judaism versus emptiness. They have turned it into a Kulturkampf.'"

Waiting for a Miracle; The Economist (London, UK); Aug 15, 2005.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: To learn who rules over you, simply find out whom you are not allowed to criticize. -Voltaire, philosopher (1694-1778)





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