dose(1) (iou) and pivotal (iou)

dose(1) (iou)

dose noun. LME.
[French from late Latin dosis from Greek = giving, gift, portion of medicine (Galen), from didonai give.]
A definite quantity of a medicine or drug (prescribed to be) given or taken at any one time. LME.
a dose of one's own medicine: see MEDICINE noun1. a dose of salts a dose of laxative salts (like a dose of salts, very rapidly).
I. Murdoch With a large dose of sleeping pills and alcohol in his body. R. Macaulay I went and saw the camel, and gave it a dose of its sedative. M. Moorcock I was using cocaine in stronger and stronger doses.
b. An amount of ionizing radiation to which a person etc. is exposed. E20.
A definite quantity of something regarded as analogous in some respect to medicine. E17.
C. Merivale To repeat and daily increase the dose of flattery. L. Blue Occasional doses of solitude increase my pleasure.
An unpleasant experience; a bout of influenza etc. M19.
Washington Post A badly sprained wrist and a heavy dose of the flu have kept him out of uniform.
(An infection with) venereal disease. slang. E20.
Comb.: dosemeter = DOSIMETER.

pivotal (iou)

pivotal adjective. M19.
[from PIVOT noun + -AL1.]
Of, pertaining to, or acting as a pivot; central, crucial, vital. M19.
pivotal man Hist. a man considered to have an important role in the re-establishment of industry and commerce after the war of 1914-18, and hence eligible for early demobilization.
L. Appignanesi The pivotal commitment in his life. C. Heilbrun Montaigne, whose essay..is pivotal in any study.
Math. Constituting or involving the pivot of a determinant or matrix. E20.
Linguistics. Of, pertaining to, or based on pivot grammar or pivot words. M20.
pivotalism noun (Hist.) the policy of releasing pivotal men from active service before others E20.
pivotally adverb in a pivotal manner; as on a pivot: L19.

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