History

Definition of malon

The notion of malón, which comes from the Mapuche language, is used to refer to a sudden attack by indigenous people. Specifically, we can determine that it comes from the word “mapudungun”, which is synonymous with “making hostility to the enemy”. This word was also used to refer exactly to surprise attacks that […]

Definition of majesty

Before going into the meaning of the term majesty, we are going to proceed to know its etymological origin. It is a word that derives from Latin, exactly from «maiestas», which means «quality of great» and which is the result of the sum of two lexical components of said language: -The adjective «magis», which means «greatness» […]

Definition of great

With its etymological origin in the Latin magnus, magno is an adjective that describes that which is great (that is, that which manages to surpass what is usual or conventional). Many times the term is written with an initial capital letter to be used as an epithet and to describe a person. Alexander the Great, to cite one case, is […]

Definition of mafia

The term mafia is used to refer to a clandestine criminal group. At first, the term referred specifically to criminal organizations in Sicily (Italy), although it later began to be used to refer to any group of this type. The mafia, therefore, is a gang dedicated to organized crime. The relations between the gangs and the mafia are […]

Definition of Maestranza

The first meaning of the word “maestranza” mentioned by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) in its dictionary refers to the association of knights that promotes the practice of horse riding. In its origins, these entities had the purpose of teaching the use of weapons on horseback. The cavalry masterships arose so that the nobles could […]

Definition of McCarthyism

The term McCarthyism is used to refer to the tendency or doctrine based on accusations of subversion or disloyalty that are made without respect for the rights of the accused individual and without considering the development of a fair trial. The concept derives from McCarthy, the surname of an American senator. Joseph McCarthy […]

Definition of lustrum

A lustrum is a period of five years. The term comes from the Latin word lustrum and is linked to the lustratio, a ceremony that took place every five years in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. The lustratio involved a purification. In the case of the Romans, it was intended to ensure that the […]

Definition of lieutenant

We will begin this definition by proceeding to discover the etymological origin of the term lieutenant that we are now dealing with. Specifically, we can establish that it is a juxtaposed word formed by these two in turn: -Place, which derives from Latin. Exactly emanates from “localis”, which can be translated as “relative to the place” and which, in turn, […]

Definition of lord

A member of the nobility of the United Kingdom or a senior government official is called a lord. It is usually a title or recognition granted by the Crown. A lord is usually an aristocrat whose title was bestowed upon him or his family by a monarch. This title is usually a title that is […]

Definition of locomotive

The term locomotive can be used as an adjective or as a noun. In the first case, it refers to something linked to locomotion: the transfer from one place to another. Its most common use, however, is as a noun. A locomotive is the machine used to pull the wagons of a train.