Word of the Day: Quisling

(Noun)Pronunciation: ['kwiz-ling]

Definition: A traitor who turns against his or her own country to serve an invader.

[@more@]

Usage: This is a relatively new word so far without lexical offspring. The adjective would be "quislingly" which sounds odd. Better use the compound "quisling-like." It sounds queer as a verb, too, though its meaning lends itself readily to verbalization in the sense of "betray to an invader."

Suggested Usage: For those of us who remember World War II, today's word is a powerful condemnation in its literal sense, "The French partisans were always at risk of betrayal by quislings in their area." But as time scrapes on, "quisling" will no doubt take on a more general, diluted sense, "I knew the issue was dead when the new manager and his gang of quislings entered the conference room."

Etymology: A commonization of the last name of Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945), head of Norway's government during the Nazi occupation of World War II. Of all the heads of European states who chose to subserve the Nazi regime in World War II, Quisling was the misfortunate one commemorated for his weakness throughout the European languages.
请使用浏览器的分享功能分享到微信等