See Also: appropinquate(dictionary)

sparrow (iou) and appropinquate (iou)


sparrow (iou)



sparrow noun.

a. Any of various small Old World finchlike birds of the genus Passer and related genera (family Ploceidae); esp. the house sparrow. OE.
rock sparrow, tree sparrow, etc.
b. With specifying word: any of several Other small sparrow-like birds of the Old World which are unrelated to the true sparrows. M17.
hedge sparrow, java sparrow, reed-sparrow, etc.
c. Any of various small New World birds of the family Emberizidae, resembling sparrows or buntings. L18.
fox sparrow, savannah sparrow, song sparrow, etc.
A chirpy quick-witted person. Freq. in cockney sparrow. M19.
Comb.: sparrow-brain colloq. (a person of) limited intelligence or perception; sparrow-fart, sparrow's-fart dial. & slang daybreak, very early morning; sparrow owl = PYGMY owl; sparrow's-fart: see sparrow-fart above; sparrow-tail a long narrow coat-tail.
sparrow-like adjective resembling (that of) a sparrow E17.
sparrowy adjective (a) characteristic of or resembling a sparrow; (b) having many sparrows: L19.

appropinquate (iou)



appropinquate verb intrans. & trans. arch. L16.
[Latin appropinquat- pa. ppl stem of appropinquare to approach, from ad AP-1 + propinquus neighbouring, from prope near: see -ATE3.]
Approach; come near to.
appropinque verb trans. & intrans. (rare) = APPROPINQUATE M17.
appropinquity noun (rare) nearness M17.