| Alacrity | eagerness; enthusiasm; quickness |
|---|---|
| Burgeon | grow; flourish; put forth new shoots |
| Deleterious | harmful |
| Euphemism | a polite phrase to cover something unpleasant |
| Hypocritical | insincere |
| Lethargic | tired; without energy |
| Ogle | stare at; observe in an obvious manner |
| Postulate | hypothesize; propose |
| Robust | strong; healthy; tough |
| Tractable | obedient; dutiful; polite |
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
New words!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Assortment!
| Alibi | an excuse that shows someone was not at a crime scene |
|---|---|
| Buttress | strengthen; support |
| Delineation | demarcation; explanation; definition; outlining |
| Evacuate | vacate; empty; abandon |
| Idiosyncrasy | a personal peculiarity; something unique to an individual |
| Libertarian | someone who opposes tyranny |
| Ominous | threatening |
| Potent | powerful; compelling; strong |
| Ruminate | think over something; ponder |
| Transcribe | copy |
Monday, April 26, 2010
Midsummer Night's Dream: Act 2 scene 1
dale(noun)-- valley
pale(noun) -- fenced in area, enclosure
pensioners(noun)-- gentleman of the royal bodyguard
changeling(noun)-- a child stolen by fairies, a stolen child
anon(adv)-- soon
shrewd(adj)-- mischievous
knavish(adj)-- dishonest
beguile(verb)-- hoodwink
dewlap(noun)-- fold of loose skin around the neck
forsooth(adv)-- in truth
tarry(verb)-- linger
amorous(adj)-- strongly moved by love(often sexual love)
margent(noun)-- edge, border
yoke(noun)-- a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals are joined at the heads or necks for working together
murrain(adj)-- infected with plague
rheumatic diseases(adj)-- with symptoms of watery discharge, cold-like
wonted(adj)-- accustomed, customary
progeny(noun)-- outcome, product
dissension(noun)-- disagreement
promontory(noun)-- prominent landmass that overlooks lowland or a body of water
dulcet(adj)-- pleasant, agreeable
leviathan(noun)-- sea monster
pale(noun) -- fenced in area, enclosure
pensioners(noun)-- gentleman of the royal bodyguard
changeling(noun)-- a child stolen by fairies, a stolen child
anon(adv)-- soon
shrewd(adj)-- mischievous
knavish(adj)-- dishonest
beguile(verb)-- hoodwink
dewlap(noun)-- fold of loose skin around the neck
forsooth(adv)-- in truth
tarry(verb)-- linger
amorous(adj)-- strongly moved by love(often sexual love)
margent(noun)-- edge, border
yoke(noun)-- a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals are joined at the heads or necks for working together
murrain(adj)-- infected with plague
rheumatic diseases(adj)-- with symptoms of watery discharge, cold-like
wonted(adj)-- accustomed, customary
progeny(noun)-- outcome, product
dissension(noun)-- disagreement
promontory(noun)-- prominent landmass that overlooks lowland or a body of water
dulcet(adj)-- pleasant, agreeable
leviathan(noun)-- sea monster
Midsummer's Night's Dream: Act 1 Scene 1
Nuptial (adj)-- Having to do with marriage
Yes, this word is still in use.
Apace (adv)-- quickly
No, this word is mostly used in archaic situations
Methinks (verb)-- it seems that...
No, this word is mostly used in archaic situations
Vexations (noun)-- something annoying
Yes, this word is still in use.
Nosegay (noun)-- a small bouquet of flowers usually with a pleasing scent
Yes, this word is still in use.
Notes:
Philostrate is the 'Master of Revels' in Theseus' Court. In other words, the manager of entertainment.
Bosum in this situation refers to Hermia's heart, not her cleavage.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
explosives
petard /puh-tarhd/ noun
a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
ex. The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored materials for making petards and firecrackers.
Claymore mine: noun
a usually electrically fired land mine containing steel fragments that are discharged in a predetermined direction.
*Important: Claymore and Claymore mine are 2 completely different words. One is a 2-edged blade and the other is an explosive.
ex. When the claymore mine was set off, it took out half of our unit.
TNT: noun
a flammable toxic compound C7H5N3O6 used as a high explosive and in chemical synthesis
Etymology: trinitrotoluene
ex. The TNT exploded, causing for the sides of the tunnel to collapse.
a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
ex. The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored materials for making petards and firecrackers.
Claymore mine: noun
a usually electrically fired land mine containing steel fragments that are discharged in a predetermined direction.
*Important: Claymore and Claymore mine are 2 completely different words. One is a 2-edged blade and the other is an explosive.
ex. When the claymore mine was set off, it took out half of our unit.
TNT: noun
a flammable toxic compound C7H5N3O6 used as a high explosive and in chemical synthesis
Etymology: trinitrotoluene
ex. The TNT exploded, causing for the sides of the tunnel to collapse.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky- (noun) Invented or meaningless language, nonsense
Term originated from Lewis Carroll's classic nonsensical poem, Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky, included in Lewis Carroll's well known story of Alice's Adventures through the Looking-Glass, is one of the most famous poems in recent history. Most of his words are nonsensical, yet from the mere context, we can derive those which are nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Some of these portmanteaus, or combined words, have been included in the modern dictionary.
Today, we ask you to find the words in the excerpts of this poem that have been adopted into the modern english language. More complicated words are emboldened, to make it easier. All the words you need to find will be within those that are bold.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Term originated from Lewis Carroll's classic nonsensical poem, Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky, included in Lewis Carroll's well known story of Alice's Adventures through the Looking-Glass, is one of the most famous poems in recent history. Most of his words are nonsensical, yet from the mere context, we can derive those which are nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Some of these portmanteaus, or combined words, have been included in the modern dictionary.
Today, we ask you to find the words in the excerpts of this poem that have been adopted into the modern english language. More complicated words are emboldened, to make it easier. All the words you need to find will be within those that are bold.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Eating Off of Words
pannikin- A small metal cup
Demitasse- A small coffee cup
Chalice- an ornate goblet cast from metal
Salver- A tray used in formal circumstances
Paten- a shallow plate or dish
Crock- A jug or jar
Porringer- a small bowl used for soups and stews
Antonyms
These terms are all antonyms of more common terms. Name the opposite term.
Estivate (verb)- (of a plant or animal) to spend a warm dry season in a state of dormancy
The Giant African Snail spends most of the hot summer in estivation to prevent it's soft body from drying out.
Vernal (adj)- In or relating to spring
The Vernal equinox takes place every year on March 21st.
Occidental (adj)- of or relating to western countries.
Immigrants to America are often overwhelmed by the occidental cultural practices.
Estivate (verb)- (of a plant or animal) to spend a warm dry season in a state of dormancy
The Giant African Snail spends most of the hot summer in estivation to prevent it's soft body from drying out.
Vernal (adj)- In or relating to spring
The Vernal equinox takes place every year on March 21st.
Occidental (adj)- of or relating to western countries.
Immigrants to America are often overwhelmed by the occidental cultural practices.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Architectural Components.
So today we take the liberty of swerving away from our mainstream synonym postings, and bring you a varied assortment of some possibly useful architectural terms. Each of these terms have an example that can be identified on our campus. See if you can point these out.
Cupola (noun)- A small dome atop a building, sometimes used for light or aeration.
He ran up the stairs to the balcony, swung off the wing of the gargoyle and landed on the stone cupola, refusing to come down.
Rotunda (noun) a small round building, sometimes attached to another building
The twisted politicians secretly met in the rotunda in the rose garden to plot the downfall of their libertarian opponents
Clerestory (noun) a raised section of roof in which short windows are placed.
She stood on her toes to reach the clerestory, desperate to catch a glimpse of the mysterious robber who had locked her in the attic.
Gable (noun) the pointed part of a wall that supports the peak of a sloped roof.
There was a small vine climbing up the gable of the country house.
Cupola (noun)- A small dome atop a building, sometimes used for light or aeration.
He ran up the stairs to the balcony, swung off the wing of the gargoyle and landed on the stone cupola, refusing to come down.
Rotunda (noun) a small round building, sometimes attached to another building
The twisted politicians secretly met in the rotunda in the rose garden to plot the downfall of their libertarian opponents
Clerestory (noun) a raised section of roof in which short windows are placed.
She stood on her toes to reach the clerestory, desperate to catch a glimpse of the mysterious robber who had locked her in the attic.
Gable (noun) the pointed part of a wall that supports the peak of a sloped roof.
There was a small vine climbing up the gable of the country house.
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