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Word of the Day for Thursday, May 28, 2009avoirdupois \av-uhr-duh-POIZ; AV-uhr-duh-poiz\, noun: 1. Avoirdupois weight, a system of weights based on a pound containing 16 ounces or 7,000 grains (453.59 grams). Claydon . . . was happy to admit that he has shed some avoirdupois. Yet until middle age and avoirdupois overtook her, Mary was no slouch. Tired of putting on and taking off the same five pounds? Don't delay, buy this book today -- and watch yourself shed both respectability and surplus avoirdupois! Avoirdupois is from Middle English avoir de pois, "goods sold by weight," from Old French aveir de peis, literally "goods of weight," from aveir, "property, goods" (from aveir, "to have," from Latin habere, "to have, to hold, to possess property") + de, "from" (from the Latin) + peis, "weight," from Latin pensum, "weight." | |||||||
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