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busy
bus·y / ˈbizē/ • adj. (bus·i·er , bus·i·est ) having a great deal to do: he had been too busy to enjoy himself. ∎ occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention: the team members are busy raising money. ∎ (of a place) full of activity. ∎ excessively detailed or decorated; fussy: they papered the bedroom with a busy pattern of satyrs and dryads. ∎ (of a telephone line) in use. • v. (bus·ies, bus·ied) [tr.] (busy oneself) keep occupied: she busied herself with her new home. DERIVATIVES: bus·i·ly / -lē/ adv. bus·y·ness n. |
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Cite this article
"busy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "busy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-busy.html "busy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-busy.html |
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busy
busy constantly or fully occupied OE.; officiously active XIV; marked by activity XVI. OE. bisiġ, later bysiġ (ME. büsi, besy, bisy) = MLG., MDu. besich (Du. bezig), of unkn. orig.
Hence busybody XVI. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "busy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "busy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-busy.html T. F. HOAD. "busy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-busy.html |
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busy
busy busy bee an industrious person; an expression deriving from the bee taken as the type of a busy worker.
See also busiest, if you want something done, ask a busy person. |
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "busy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "busy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-busy.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "busy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-busy.html |
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busy
busy
•jazzy, snazzy
•palsy-walsy • Ramsay
•pansy, tansy
•Anasazi, Ashkenazi, Ashkenazy, Benghazi, Ghazi, kamikaze, khazi, Stasi, Swazi
•prezzie
•frenzy, Mackenzie
•Bel Paese, Buthelezi, crazy, daisy, Farnese, glazy, hazy, lazy, Maisie, mazy, oops-a-daisy, Piranesi, upsy-daisy, Veronese
•stir-crazy
•breezy, cheesy, easy, easy-peasy, Kesey, Parcheesi, queasy, sleazy, wheezy, Zambezi
•teensy • speakeasy
•busy, dizzy, fizzy, frizzy, Izzy, Lizzie, tizzy
•flimsy, whimsy
•Kinsey, Lindsay, Lynsey
•poesy
•Aussie, cossie, mossie
•Swansea • gauzy • causey
•ballsy, palsy
•blowsy, Dalhousie, drowsy, frowzy, housey-housey, lousy
•cosy (US cozy), dozy, Josie, mafiosi, mosey, nosy, posey, posy, prosy, Rosie, rosy
•Boise, noisy
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Cite this article
"busy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "busy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-busy.html "busy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-busy.html |
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