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Showing posts from March 5, 2015

Today's word / phrase

EAVESDROPPER A person who listens secretly to conversation.The owners of private estates in Saxon times not  allowed to cultivate to the extremity of their possessions, but were obliged to leave a space for eaves.   This spaced was called the yfesd-rype (cavesdrop).  An eavesdropper is one who places himself in the eavesdrop to overhear what is said in the adjacent house or field.  Hence, it has come to denote any  stealthy listener  who listens to other's conversation