virid

Definition:	(adjective) Bright green with or as if with vegetation.
Synonyms:	verdant
Usage:	The lake was virid with bright algae on the surface. Discuss.

hieratic

Definition:	(adjective) Of or associated with sacred persons or offices.
Synonyms:	priestly, sacerdotal
Usage:	The laws did not apply to the heratic class, whose members were held as nearly gods. Discuss.

WORD: pastoral

pastoral

Definition:	(adjective) Idyllically rustic.
Synonyms:	arcadian, bucolic
Usage:	Last I heard he bought a cottage on farmland and now leads a perfectly pastoral existence. Discuss.

word: amatory

amatory

Definition:	(adjective) Of, relating to, or expressive of love, especially sexual love.
Synonyms:	amorous, romantic
Usage:	She showed her friends the stack of old love letters and read the

baneful

Definition:	(adjective) Causing harm, ruin, or death; harmful.
Synonyms:	pernicious, pestilent, deadly
Usage:	He instructed him in the poisonous qualities of arsenic, and furnished him with an ample supply of that baneful drug. Discuss.

word: captious

captious

Definition:	(adjective) Marked by a disposition to find and point out trivial faults.
Synonyms:	faultfinding
Usage:	She found the new professor to be captious, marking all the grammatical errors in her essays while ignoring the points she had tried to make. Discuss.

QUOTATION: P. G. Wodehouse

Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed.P. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) Discuss

word: insouciant

insouciant

Definition:	(adjective) Marked by blithe unconcern.
Synonyms:	casual, nonchalant
Usage:	He showed an insouciant disregard for cold weather, wearing only a T-shirt in the show. Discuss.

Definition:	(adjective) Marked by blithe unconcern.
Synonyms:	casual, nonchalant
Usage:	He showed an insouciant disregard for cold weather, wearing only a T-shirt in the show. Discuss.

word: circumspect

circumspect

Definition:	(adjective) Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent.
Synonyms:	discreet
Usage:	Because the drug was shown to have adverse side effects, physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use. Discuss.

Quotation: Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact. George Eliot

Quotation of the Day
Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.George Eliot (1819-1880) Discuss

WORD: favored

favored 

Definition:	(adjective) Preferred above all others and treated with partiality.
Synonyms:	best-loved, pet, preferred, favorite
Usage:	My sister is clearly the favored child—she has a later curfew and gets away with things I never could! Discuss.

word: edacious

edacious 

Definition:	(adjective) Characterized by voracity; devouring.
Synonyms:	ravenous, voracious, wolfish, esurient, rapacious, ravening
Usage:	The edacious vultures soon devoured the animal’s remains. Discuss.

word: fugacious (add to your writer dictionary – and it’s not even a new word)

fugacious 

Definition:	(adjective) Passing away quickly; evanescent.
Synonyms:	ephemeral, passing, short-lived, transitory, transient
Usage:	Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side. Discuss.

impracticable

Definition:	(adjective) Not capable of being carried out or put into practice.
Synonyms:	unfeasible, unworkable
Usage:	Refloating the sunken ship intact proved impracticable because of its fragility. Discuss.

word: huffy

huffy 

Definition:	(adjective) Quick to take offense.
Synonyms:	touchy
Usage:	I tried to give my coworker some advice after the meeting, but she perceived it as criticism, got all huffy, and stormed away. Discuss.

Related articles

• Warning: This Starbucks ‘exorcism’ video will put you off your coffee
• Slot Game History

word: ken

ken 

Definition:	(noun) Range of what one can know or understand.
Synonyms:	cognizance
Usage:	This level of mathematics is beyond my ken. Discuss.

word: Innocuous

Innocuous 

Definition:	(adjective) Having no adverse effect.
Synonyms:	harmless
Usage:	That mushroom may look innocuous, but it is in fact deadly. Discuss.

Related articles

• word: profligate
• word: flippant

Word: ephemeral

ephemeral 

Definition:	(adjective) Lasting a very short time.
Synonyms:	fugacious, passing, short-lived, transitory, transient
Usage:	Spare me in my ephemeral happiness, leave it to me for a few days, for a few minutes. Discuss.

Related articles

• Word of the Day- Ephemeral
• ADJECTIVE. Ephemeral

cacophonous

cacophonous 

Definition:	(adjective) Having a harsh, unpleasant sound; discordant.
Synonyms:	jarring, grating, raucous, strident, dissonant, inharmonious
Usage:	The school’s cafeteria was as cacophonous as a hen yard. Discuss.

word: cantankerous

cantankerous 

Definition:	(adjective) Ill-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable.
Synonyms:	bloody-minded
Usage:	I am an extremely considerate neighbor, yet the cantankerous old lady next door is constantly lodging complaints about me with our landlord. Discuss.

word: canorous

canorous 

Definition:	(adjective) Richly melodious.
Synonyms:	songful
Usage:	When I sing in the shower, my off-key caterwauling takes on a surprisingly canorous tone. Discuss.

word: alacrity

alacrity 

Definition:	(noun) Cheerful willingness.
Synonyms:	briskness, eagerness
Usage:	Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face, but alacrity in his heart. Discuss.

word: extemporaneous

extemporaneous 

Definition:	(adjective) Carried out or performed with little or no preparation.
Synonyms:	impromptu, off-the-cuff, offhand, unrehearsed, ad-lib
Usage:	Though she had not practiced for some time, Mary’s extemporaneous piano recital wowed her dinner guests. Discuss.

word: admonitory

admonitory 

Definition:	(adjective) Serving to warn.
Synonyms:	cautionary, exemplary
Usage:	Bella, entering with a raised admonitory finger, kissed Lizzie softly, but said not a word. Discuss.

ARTICLE: MAKEUP: FROM KOHL TO COSMECEUTICALS

Makeup: From Kohl to Cosmeceuticals

Cosmetics have been used for millennia to simulate or enhance the appearance of youthfulness, health, and beauty—eye makeup and scented creams were used by the ancient Egyptians as early as the 4th millennium BCE—but they have not always been viewed favorably. In the 19th century, for example, Queen Victoria publicly declared the use of makeup by anyone other than actors to be improper and vulgar. Today, however, the cosmetics industry is thriving. How much is spent on cosmetics each year? More…Discuss

ARTICLE: LA FLORIDA

La Florida

In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León set out from Puerto Rico, sailing northeast through the Bahamas. He soon sighted the Florida peninsula, which he believed was actually an island, and in early April, he became the first European to reach it. His discovery coincided with the Easter feast, Pascua Florida, and is perhaps the reason why he named the land he claimed for Spain “La Florida.” What legendary site do many believe the explorer was searching for when he found Florida? More… Discuss

Related articles

• Juan Ponce de Leon; 1474 – 1521
• OUT OF THE PAST: Ponce de Leon died from infection
• Tall Tale of Ponces Fountain
• Ponce De Leon Never Searched for the Fountain of Youth

 

ARTICLE: THE LINGAM

The Lingam

The lingam is a Hindu symbol of the god Shiva and of generative power. Fashioned from wood, gems, metal, or stone, lingams are common in family shrines throughout India. Historically, the lingam was a representation of the phallus, and a sexual dimension is apparent today as the yoni—symbol of the female sex organ—often forms the base of the lingam to emphasize the male and female aspects of existence. What did British missionary William Ward say about lingams in his 1815 book? More…

 

WORD: CONCORDANT

concordant 

Definition:	(adjective) Being in agreement: harmonious.
Synonyms:	accordant, agreeable, consonant, conformable
Usage:	No one was surprised that the candidate’s views were concordant with those of the outgoing mayor, as the mayor had long been his mentor. Discuss.

 

ARTICLE: THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN

The Lost Boys of Sudan Since the 1980s, when the Second Sudanese Civil War broke out, more than 20,000 of the nation’s boys have been displaced or orphaned. Most of these “Lost Boys”—separated from their families when government troops attacked villages in southern Sudan—walked for years in search of safety, traveling over a thousand miles to refugee camps. More than half died along the way. Many of the survivors have since been resettled in the US. What happened to Sudan’s “Lost Girls“? More…Discuss

Related articles

• PHOTOS: ‘Lost Boy of Sudan’ graduates from Lackland as an American soldier
• Lost Boy of Sudan, a former FSCJ student, killed in recent fighting in South Sudan
• South Sudan: ‘Lost Boys’ of Sudan Cry for Peace

HIDEBOUND

Definition:	(adjective) Stubbornly conservative and narrow-minded.
Synonyms:	traditionalist
Usage:	It is no use trying to reason with your grandfather, he is a hidebound old man who will never understand your position on the matter. Discuss.

Related articles

• Romanian Orthodox and #39;priests and #39; strip off for gay calendar they say will bring and #39;hope, joy and comfort and #39;

 

ARTICLE: THE STEAM DONKEY

The Steam Donkey

The steam donkey is the strangely named auxiliary steam engine used for hoisting or pumping, especially on a ship. The name “steam donkey” comes from its origin in sailing ships, where the “donkey” engine was typically used to load and unload cargo and raise the larger sails. Patented in 1882, the steam donkey became a key tool for the logging industry as well, but its popularity waned with the advent of diesel-powered equipment. At what amusement park can you find a steam donkey on display? More… Discuss

Related articles

• Steam engine enthusiast taken to Bournemouth funeral by traction engine driven by son
• A DONKEY IN THE WELL… Motivating story…..
• The Donkey and the Well ~ Unknown
• Vapor Drive: “The Little Engine That Could” … revolutionize power equipment
• tigers or donkeys- comments needed

 

WORD: CONTRARIOUS

contrarious 

Definition:	(adjective) Difficult to deal with.
Synonyms:	cross-grained
Usage:	I do not know how people tolerate teenage girls; they are the most contrarious creatures ever to walk the Earth! Discuss.

 

Word: ASEPTIC

aseptic 

Definition:	(adjective) Free of or using methods to keep free of pathological microorganisms.
Synonyms:	sterile
Usage:	The use of aseptic instruments in the operating room has significantly reduced the incidence of postsurgical infections.Discuss.

CLAPHAM JUNCTION RAIL CRASH (1988)

 

<

p>Near London on the morning of December 12, 1988, the driver of the 7:18 train from Basingstoke to Waterloo saw a signal in front of him abruptly change from green to red. He stopped his train and called the signalman, who told him to proceed. Before he could, however, the 6:14 from Poole rammed into his train’s rear at about 40 mph (64 km/h). Then, an empty train traveling in the opposite direction hit the wreckage. The crashes killed 35 and injured hundreds more. What caused the signal failure? More… Discuss

Near London on the morning of December 12, 1988, the driver of the 7:18 train from Basingstoke to Waterloo saw a signal in front of him abruptly change from green to red. He stopped his train and called the signalman, who told him to proceed. Before he could, however, the 6:14 from Poole rammed into his train’s rear at about 40 mph (64 km/h). Then, an empty train traveling in the opposite direction hit the wreckage. The crashes killed 35 and injured hundreds more. What caused the signal failure? More… Discuss

Word: FROWSTY

frowsty 

Definition:	(adjective) Stale and unclean smelling.
Synonyms:	fusty, musty
Usage:	As a college student, all I could afford was a frowsty basement apartment, but it served its purpose. Discuss.

 

ICU STAYS LINKED TO LONG-TERM COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

Patients who spend time in an intensive care unit (ICU) are known to be susceptible to delirium that is thought to stem not from their illnesses but from the unique ICU environment: the 24/7 activity, harsh stimuli, unfamiliar people, uncomfortable procedures, and overwhelming technology. Doctors have long believed that this mental confusion disappears when patients are discharged from the ICU, but that may not be the case. Researchers have found that even a year after leaving the hospital, many patients who suffered delirium in the ICU continued to exhibit cognitive deficits similar to someone with moderate traumatic brain injury or even Alzheimer’s disease.More… Discuss

Word: ANTEDILUVIAN

Definition:	(adjective) So extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period.
Synonyms:	antiquated, archaic
Usage:	My grandfather’s antediluvian ideas about relationships and marriage are frequently at odds with my views. Discuss.

 

CERAMIC KNIVES

Ceramic knives provide certain advantages over metal blades. They are harder than steel and hold their edge longer. On the rare occasion when a ceramic knife needs sharpening, a grinding wheel coated in diamond dust must be used. Their nonconductive, nonmagnetic properties make them useful in bomb disposal, and their resistance to corrosion is ideal for scuba divers. However, ceramic knives are also more brittle and shatter more easily than metal ones. Why is metal often used in their handles? More… Discuss

 

THE CHEERIO EFFECT

Have you ever wondered why bits of cereal floating in milk tend to clump together or cling to the sides of a bowl? In fluid mechanics, this phenomenon is humorously called the “Cheerio effect,” though it applies to any small, wettable object that floats, not just breakfast cereal. It is caused by a combination of buoyancy—the upward force a fluid exerts on an object of lower density—and surface tension—the elastic-like property of a liquid’s surface. Where else might one observe this effect?More… Discuss

A Word Each Day: HO-HUM

ho-hum 

Definition:	(adjective) So lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness.
Synonyms:	boring, deadening, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome,dull, slow
Usage:	Lectures on human psychology always pique my interest, but this ho-hum speaker put me right to sleep. Discuss.

MARGERY KEMPE: MOTHER, MYSTIC, MADWOMAN

Dating to the 15th century and discovered in its entirety in 1934, The Book of Margery Kempe is perhaps the first autobiography in the English language. Dictated to a scribe by the apparently illiterate Kempe, it chronicles her travels as a religious pilgrim and provides an in-depth account of a middle-class woman’s experience in the Middle Ages. The mother of 14 claims that after the birth of her first child, she fell into a bout of madness and had a vision that called on her to do what? More… Discuss

 

LOST FILMS

When not a single copy of a film is known to exist in any archive, it is considered lost. An estimated 90% of all American silent films and 50% of American sound films made before 1950 are believed to have been lost, in part because early nitrate film was chemically unstable and prone to rapid decomposition. Early film was highly flammable too, and fires claimed more than a few archives. While many of Charlie Chaplin’s films survived, he sought to destroy his own A Woman of the Sea. Why? More… Discuss

 

A Word Each Day: NETTLESOME

nettlesome 

Definition:	(adjective) Causing irritation or annoyance.
Synonyms:	annoying, bothersome, galling, irritating, pesky, pestering, vexatious, plaguy, teasing, pestiferous
Usage:	As punishment, I was given the nettlesome task of filling out each of the forms in triplicate. Discuss.

A word Each day: foppish Definition: (adjective) Affecting extreme elegance in dress and manner. Synonyms: dandyish

foppish 

Definition:	(adjective) Affecting extreme elegance in dress and manner.
Synonyms:	dandyish
Usage:	Though not foppish, he appreciated fine clothes.