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A.Word.A.Day--panopticon Pronunciation: WAV or RealAudio panopticon (pan-OP-ti-kon) noun A building, as a prison, hospital, library, or the like, so arranged that all parts of the interior are visible from a single point. [Pan- + Greek optikon sight, seeing (neuter of optikos).] "We know that they know they are being watched by a contemporary writer; but inside this careful panopticon they live and breathe fully as free fictional characters." James Wood, The Palpable Past-Intimate, New Republic, Mar 27, 2000. This week's theme: words that make one say, I didn't know there was a word for that. X-Bonus Avarice, envy, pride, / Three fatal sparks, have set the hearts of all / On Fire. -Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) [The Divine Comedy]

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