June 26, 2025
journey
noun: an act of traveling from one place to another
As we journeyed south, the landscape became drier and rockier.
(Cambridge)
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said; “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”
June 27, 2025
nascent – being born or beginning
The word traces back to the Latin verb “nasci” which means “to be born”.
nascent technologies, nascent industries
the nascent stages/phases of something are the very beginning stages, when something is just starting to exist / be born
June 28, 2025
newfound – newly found
“her newfound confidence”
“his newfound fame”
“the experience gave me a newfound respect for plumbers”
June 29, 2025
resourceful
able to find and use different ways to help achieve your goals (CAM)
: able to meet situations : capable of devising ways and means (MW)
“Think of resourceful people as “full of resources,” or tools for coming up with solutions. They adapt well to new or difficult situations and they are able to think creatively.” (VOC)
June 30, 2025
enterprising
good at thinking of and doing new and difficult things, especially things that will make money:
The business was started by a couple of enterprising young women
The word is related to word enterprise: an organization, a company, or a business (CAM)
“The word is often used to describe people who set up businesses to fill a need, enterprising can be used for any kind of display of creative initiative”
“marked by imagination, initiative, and readiness to undertake new projects” (VOCAB)
I like the definition that Epigeum (an educational institution in London, England) provided for the word:
“Being enterprising means having the resourcefulness, initiative and drive to recognize opportunities, and the motivation to make the most of them.”
July 1, 2025
determined: wanting to do something very much and not allowing anyone or any difficulties to stop you:
“I’m determined to get this piece of work done today.“
determination: the ability to continue trying to do something, although it is very difficult:
“a man of fierce/ruthless determination“
“You can’t help but admire her determination to succeed.” (CAM)
determined: having a strong feeling that you are going to do something and that you will not allow anyone or anything to stop you (BRIT)
“Her early failures made her even more determined to succeed.”
determination: a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult (BRIT)
“What he lacked in talent he made up for in determination.”
July 2, 2025
diligent / diligence
characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort (MW)
steady, earnest, and energetic effort : devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking (MW)
“constant in effort to accomplish what is undertaken” from latin diligere ” value highly, esteem, prize” ( etymology.com)
My skincare routine: Differin Diligently – I use it every day instead of it sitting underneath my sink
July 3, 2025
devour
to eat eagerly and in large amounts, so that nothing is left:
“He devoured the entire plate of spaghetti.“
to read books or literature quickly and eagerly:
“She devoured (= read eagerly and quickly) the novels of Jane Austen.” (CAM)
If you devour a book, you read it in a day or two
July 4, 2025
patriotic , patriotism , patriot
patriotic (adj) showing love for your country and being proud of it
patriotism (noun) : the feeling of loving your country and being proud of it
patriot (noun): a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors (CAM)
July 5, 2025
savor :
to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to appreciate it as much as possible (CAM)
Latin sapor, from sapere ‘to taste’.
“Savor The Summer” = enjoy it, appreciate it, make the most of it
“Geneva, finish your pizza.” , “I’m savoring it”
July 6, 2025
paramount
superior to all others : supreme
“a matter of paramount importance“
“Unemployment was the paramount issue in the election.” (MW)
more important than anything else:
“Everybody agrees that education is the paramount issue.” (CAM)
July 7, 2025
tantamount
: equivalent in value, significance, or effect (MW)
etymology: “amount to as much” from Italian tanto montare
tantamount to something
being almost the same or having the same effect as something, usually something bad:
“Her refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt.” (CAM)
July 8, 2025
akin
kin means family – you hear the word in the old Christmas song:
“Good tidings we bring to you and your kin, We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
akin means similar in quality or character
“If two things are akin, then they’re similar or related. A cupcake is akin to a cake and relatives are akin to each other.If you know the word kin — a relative — then you have a clue to the meaning of akin. People who are related are akin, but the word goes beyond blood relations. Football is akin to the sport of rugby; baseball is akin to the British sport cricket… Things that are akin are alike.” (VOCAB)
July 9, 2025
kindred spirit
person who has the same opinions, feelings, and interests as you:
We recognized each other as kindred spirits as soon as we met. (CAM)
“I feel like I’ve found a kindred spirit!”
July 10, 2025
kudos
praise and honor received for an achievement
compliments or congratulations
“kudos to everyone who put the event together” (OX)
The word comes from Greek kydos “glory, fame , especially in battle”
The word is found The Odyssey: “May the gods give you glory [κῦδος].”
Modern Use:
Heard on House Hunters: “Kudos to the previous owners for this crown moulding!”
A conversation I overheard:
“What’s your major?”
“Nursing”
“Kudos!”
July 10, 2025
anecdote
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person (OX)
“The roots of anecdote lie in the Greek word anekdota, meaning “unpublished.” The word’s original sense in English was “secret or private stories” — tales not fit for print, so to speak. It can still have connotations of unreliability, as in the phrase “anecdotal information.” But the most common sense today is that of “a funny story about something that happened.” (VOCAB)
“Anecdotally, what are the hardest years of marriage and why?” -redditor care_all asked
“Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit.” – Austen
July 11, 2015
bane
a cause of great distress or annoyance (OX)
archaic something, typically poison, that causes death.Old English bana ‘thing causing death, poison’, of Germanic origin.
The noun bane refers to anything that is a cause of harm, ruin, or death. But we often use it for things that aren’t that bad, just feel like it. You might say mosquitoes are the bane of your existence. The source of this word is Middle and Old English bana, meaning “destroyer, murderer.” The now obsolete meaning of “deadly poison” is seen in the names of poisonous plants such as wolfsbane and henbane. The “bane of my existence” is a commonly heard phrase (VOCAB)
“Printers are the bane of my existence”
“The Best of Lupin – a selection of classic stories featuring France’s answer to Sherlock Holmes: a brilliant master criminal with a mischievous sense of humor—Arsène Lupin is a gentleman and a thief, a world-famous master of disguise and a planner of elaborate heists. A bane to the powerful and generous to the powerless, Lupin is exceedingly witty, marvelously clever, and always a gentleman. The twenty-two delightful stories in The Best of Lupin, drawn from five collections published nearly a century ago by Maurice Leblanc, have stood the test of time and are ripe for rediscovery.”
July 12, 2012
comeuppance
a punishment or some bad luck that is considered to be fair and deserved punishment for something bad that someone has done: “He’ll get her comeuppance, don’t worry.” (CAM)
Comeuppance describes a fate or punishment that’s deserved. Comeuppance began as a term that meant “present oneself for judgment by a tribunal.” That was in 1859. You can picture an accused person approaching a judge, or “coming up” to the front of a courtroom. (VOCAB)
The word “comeuppance” originates from the phrase “come up,” referring to appearing before a judge or tribunal, combined with the suffix “-ance,” which forms nouns from verbs. It signifies a deserved reward or punishment, often negative, for one’s actions. The term first appeared in the mid-1800s with early uses in American English. (AI)
July 13, 2015
just deserts – : the punishment that one deserves (MW)
The phrase “just deserts” originates from the Old French word “deservir,” meaning “to deserve.” It’s not related to “dessert” (the sweet treat) or “desert” (the arid landscape), despite the similar pronunciation. The phrase “just deserts” is correctly spelled with one “s” and means “what someone deserves, especially punishment”(AI)
comes from deservir” meaning “to deserve” – they should say “just deservs” – less confusing, more related to original
The concept of “just deserts” refers to a philosophy within criminal justice that emphasizes the idea of proportionality in punishment, asserting that individuals should receive consequences that are commensurate(corresponding in size or degree) with the crimes they have committed. (EBSCO)
July 14, 2025
Poetic justice implies a sense of fitting retribution or a morally satisfying outcome where characters get what they deserve based on their actions
Poetic justice, in its simplest form, means that characters in a story receive deserved fates, where good is rewarded and evil is punished, often through unexpected or ironic twists. The term was coined by English drama critic Thomas Rymer in the late 17th century, who used it to describe how stories should inspire moral behavior by showing the triumph of good over evil. While initially used in the context of literature, the concept of poetic justice can also be applied to real-life situations, according to a Reddit thread.
Thomas Rymer, in his work The Tragedies of the Last Age Consider’d (1678), used the phrase to advocate for stories that reward virtue and punish vice, emphasizing the moral function of literature (AI)
July 15, 2025
egalitarian
relating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.”a fairer, more egalitarian society” (OX)
The root word of “egalitarian” is the French word “égal”, which means “equal”. This French word, in turn, comes from the Latin word “aequālis”, also meaning “equal” (AI)
July 16, 2025
iota
an extremely small amount
“nothing she said seemed to make an iota of difference”
etymology: iota is the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet
July 17, 2025
inkling – a slight knowledge or vague notion , a slight indication or suggestion (MW)
“had not the faintest inkling of what it was all about” —H. W. Carter
“did not give the slightest inkling that he was planning to quit”
“The first inkling that something was wrong came on a bus ride in 2012.”
— New York Times, 2 Dec. 2020
“And suddenly I had an inkling of what it must feel like to be mad” – Aldous Huxley
July 18, 2015
meticulous
showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise (OX)
“he had always been so meticulous about his appearance”
Latin meticulosus, from metus ‘fear’. The word came to mean ‘overcareful about detail’, hence the current sense
giving or showing careful attention to every detail (CAM)
a meticulous housekeeper
meticulous research
meticulously – “The information was meticulously checked and re-checked for accuracy.“
July 19, 2015
in jest – intended as a joke and not said seriously (CAM)
“The radio station argued that these comments were clearly said in jest.“
“Surely you jest” is an idiom used to express disbelief or indicate that someone is joking or teasing. It implies that the speaker finds the statement being made to be unbelievable, absurd, or humorous. Essentially, it means “you must be joking”. (AI)
July 20, 2025
inane : silly, stupid
“he wrote seven inane articles”
“Must we continue with this inane conversation?” – Catcher in The Rye
July 21, 2015
the rose has lost its bloom
“The phrase “the bloom is off the rose” means that something has lost its initial appeal, freshness, or charm. It implies that the novelty or excitement that once surrounded a person, situation, or object has diminished. The idiom likely originated in the 19th century during the Romantic era, drawing inspiration from the natural process of a rose’s bloom fading over time” -AI
July 22, 2025
everything’s coming up roses – idiom
The phrase “coming up roses” is an idiom that means everything is going well, often describing a situation that has turned out positively
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” is a song from the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy
Everything is coming up roses for Hannah Brown! Although she didn’t end up finding love on her season of The Bachelorette, she recently married Adam Woolard in a beautiful wedding that took place in France + has a book deal writing romance novels “Mistakes We Never Made” and “The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain”
“While humans effortlessly grasp such phrases, AI models face challenges because idioms’ meanings differ significantly from their literal interpretations.” (AI)
July 23, 2025
get your goat
To get one’s goat” means to annoy or irritate someone. It’s an idiom, an expression whose meaning isn’t immediately obvious from the individual words. The origin of the phrase is somewhat unclear, but one popular theory suggests it comes from horse racing, where goats were sometimes used to calm nervous racehorses. Stealing a rival’s goat could be a way to unsettle their horse and give their own a competitive edge. (AI)
In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the phrase “get your goat” appears in a conversation between Atticus and his children: “No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ’em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change.” This idiom means to irritate or annoy someone. The context is Atticus teaching Scout about courage and how to handle insults, particularly those related to his decision to defend Tom Robinson. He encourages her to not let the taunts provoke her into a fight.
July 24, 2025
If you catch my drift
“If you catch my drift” is a colloquial phrase used to indicate that someone understands the underlying or implied meaning of what is being said, even if it’s not explicitly stated , It’s a way of saying, “Do you understand what I’m getting at?” The phrase suggests that the speaker is hinting at something without being completely direct. (AI)
used to say that you have left out information or your opinion from what you have just said, but that you expect the person listening still to understand it (CAM)
“She’s married, but she doesn’t act as if she is, if you get my drift.”
July 25, 2025
bury the hatchet
Burying the hatchet means to end a conflict or disagreement and become friendly again. It implies making peace and letting go of past grievances . The phrase originates from a time when warring groups would literally bury their weapons as a symbol of reconciliation. (AI)
People use “burying the hatchet” to describe situations where they reconcile with someone they were previously in conflict with
July 26, 2025
reconcile, reconciliation
restore friendly relations between, to settle a disagreement (OX)
from Latin re- ‘back’ + conciliare ‘bring together’
“Here, a therapist shares the indicators you could be ready to reconcile with an estranged family member you haven’t talked to in a while.” (wondermind.com)
“T-Pain reconciles with Usher after Auto-Tune feud, T-Pain has patched things up with Usher” (nme.com)
reconciliation: the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement
“Signing the trade agreement was praised as an act of reconciliation between the two countries.”
“He contacted us in hopes of a reconciliation.” (britannica)
July 27, 2025
hindsight
the ability to understand an event or situation only after it has happened (CAM)
“In hindsight, it would have been better to wait.“
“Being wise is very easy in hindsight.“
Hindsight is like looking behind you to see what just happened (behind sight, get it?)…Hindsight often refers to a lesson learned from something going wrong. Billy Wilder, the American movie director, once commented wistfully, “Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.” (VOCAB)
July 28, 2025
in lieu of – instead of, in the place of
Old French as lieu (or leu), retaining the meaning of “place” or “position”
“in lieu of flowers, please send donations to ..”
July 29, 2025
likewise
the same; in a similar way (OX)
“Her second marriage was likewise unhappy.“
used to show that you feel the same towards somebody or about something
‘Let me know if you ever need any help.’ ‘Likewise.’
“It was nice to meet you” “Likewise”
July 30, 2025
chivalry / chivalrous
polite and kind behavior that shows a sense of honor, especially by men towards women
(in the Middle Ages) the religious and moral system of behavior that the perfect knight was expected to follow (OX)
“The word chivalrous originally described gallantry, valor, honor, and courtesy, associated with the medieval code of knighthood. Medieval knights are no longer with us, but chivalrous has survived in modern usage, usually to describe a man — or a behavior — showing courtesy or attentiveness toward women. So the guy holding the door open for you with a flourish may or may not be your “knight in shining armor,” but his chivalrous act gives him something in common with the medieval knights of lore.” (VOCAB)
“How very chivalrous of you!”
July 31, 2025
regale
entertain or amuse someone with talk (OX)
“he regaled her with a colorful account of that afternoon’s meeting”
to entertain someone with stories or jokes (CAM)
“My Grandpa would regale us with tales of his adventures in childhood.“
“She was lively and would often regale us with tales about her dating life”
August 1, 2025
bells and whistles
special features that are added to a product or system to attract more buyers (CAM)
“Manufacturers still build luxury cars with all the bells and whistles.“
August 2, 2025
chastise
to criticize somebody for doing something wrong (OX)
“He chastised them for being late”
August 3. 2025
commend – to praise , to say good job!
“She was commended on her handling of the situation.” (OX)
“I commended her on all her hard work.”
“He is very involved with his daughter’s school and often volunteers to chaperone field trips, which I think is very commendable.”
August 4, 2025
condone – to accept or allow behavior that is wrong (CAM)
accept and allow behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive to continue (OX)
“That kid has always been jerk and his parents condone it”
August 5, 2025
conducive
providing the right conditions for something good to happen or exist
Such a noisy environment was not conducive to a good night’s sleep (CAM)
conducive: tending to promote or assist the development of something – Something conducive “leads to” a desirable result. A cozy living room may be conducive to relaxed conversation, just as a boardroom may be conducive to more intense discussions. Particular tax policies are often conducive to savings and investment, whereas others are conducive to consumer spending. Notice that conducive is almost always followed by to. (MW)
“Europeon cities were built before the invention of the automobile and are more conducive to a walkable lifestyle”
August 6, 2025
“living in your head rent free”
when you’re always thinking about someone – they’re occupying your mental space in an unhealthy way
This phrase has become popular in teenage / internet slang , I believe it has its origins in this quote from advice columnist Ann Landers:
“Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head.”
August 7, 2025
ruminate
having repetitive, negative thoughts , that loop continuously in the mind
The first and most important step in stopping these unhealthy thought patterns is noticing when you’re doing it
so often we are lost in the maelstrom of our thoughts without realizing it
August 8, 2025
maelstrom
a powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river
a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil (OX)
A maelstrom is a powerful often violent whirlpool that sucks in objects within a given radius. Maelstrom is also often used figuratively to refer to a situation resembling the turbulence of a maelstrom, as when there are a lot of confused activities, emotions, etc. (MW)
August 9, 2025
cockamamie –
ridiculous, crazy, implausible
“He thought up a cockamamie plan to switch identities with another prisoner.” (CAM)
“Anything cockamamie is ridiculous and far-fetched. A cockamamie plan is not likely to work.
This is a silly-sounding word for things that are silly, ludicrous, foolish, and impractical. Faking your own kidnapping to get out of a math test is a cockamamie plan” (VOCAB)
“He came up with some cockamamie excuse for why he was late”
August 10, 2025
inordinate
much more than usual or expected (CAM)
“Margot has always spent an inordinate amount of time on her appearance.“
August 11, 2025
inadvertently
without intention; accidentally (OX)
“Inadvertently” is about having an unintended consequence or unplanned result.” (studywithalex)
“If you break down the adjective inadvertent you find the word vert, from the Latin vertere, meaning “to turn.” Advertent comes to mean “turning the mind to,” and as the prefix in- means “not,” inadvertent means “not turning the mind to,” or “not intending to.” (VOCAB)
August 12, 2025
hence
for this reason; therefore (CAM)
“His mother was Italian, hence his name – Luca.“
“The prime minister was attending the conference, hence all the extra security.”
“The firm is owned by Mark Atkins, hence the name – MA Advertising.”
August 13, 2025
gregarious
of a person fond of company; sociable (OX)
“he was a popular and gregarious man”
“If you know someone who’s outgoing, sociable, and fond of the company of others, you might want to call her gregarious. The word was originally used to describe animals that live in flocks — it’s from the Latin word grex, meaning “herd.” Not surprisingly, people began using it to describe humans who liked being in groups.” (VOCAB)
August 14, 2025
egregious – this word also uses that grex / greg
literally ‘standing out from the flock’, from ex- ‘out’ + grex, greg
something egregious stands out from the flock in a bad way
extremely bad in a way that is very noticeable is how CAM defines it – “an egregious error”
August 15, 2025
idiosyncrasy
idios “one’s own” krasis “mixture” – the elements in one person that makes up his character and personality (etymonline)
If a person has an idiosyncrasy, he or she has a little quirk, or a funny behavior, that makes him or her different. (VOCAB)
One of my grandma’s little idiosyncrasies is that she returns basically everything she buys or gift that’s given to her
a strange or unusual habit, way of behaving, or feature that someone or something has (CAM)
one of her little idiosyncrasies is that she likes words and has a large vocabulary
August 16, 2025
eccentricity
an eccentric act, habit, or thing
“her eccentricities were amusing rather than irritating”
From the Greek ekkentros, “out of the center,” this word originally had to do with the orbits of planets that were observed to be slightly out of whack. Eventually it came to describe people who were a little kooky, both as an adjective and as a noun, too: an eccentric is an unconventional, odd person. Think of them as following a slightly different orbit from the rest of society. (VOCAB)
August 17, 2025
allegedly
the word is used when something is said to be true but has not been proved
“She was arrested for allegedly stealing a car.“
“and according to reddit, he’s bisexual, allegedly”
“This is precisely what was on my father-in-law’s mind when one of my daughters brought home her alleged “boyfriend” to the house for a family dinner.” – Steve Harvey, in his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like A Man
August 18, 2025
peccadillo – a small sin
peccadillo is based on the Spanish word peccado, meaning “sin,” with a diminutive added, making peccadillo a small sin (VOCAB)
“the peccadillos of celebrities”
“the man has done so much good in the world, I’ll forgive his peccadilloes”
August 19, 2025
affable – being pleasant and at ease in talking to others
Affable comes from Latin affārī, meaning “to speak to” – an affable person is easy to talk to
August 20, 2025
distinguish
to recognize or understand the difference between two things (CAM)
: to perceive a difference in : mentally separate ; to mark as separate or different (MW)
“a policy that distinguishes him from other candidates”
from French distinguer or Latin distinguere, from dis- ‘apart’ + stinguere ‘put out’
“How Men Distinguish Between the Marrying Types and the Playthings” – Steve Harvey , Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man
August 21, 2025
discerning / discernment
“It takes discerning taste buds to distinguish between Coke and Pepsi”
Old French from Latin discernere, from dis- ‘apart’ + cernere ‘to separate’.
showing insight and understanding a discerning critic (MW)
Discerning is an adjective that comes from the Old French discerner, meaning to “distinguish (between), separate (by sifting)” — which makes sense, because someone with discerning tastes or a discerning eye is good at distinguishing the good from the bad and sifting out the gems from the junk (VOCAB)
discernment: the ability to judge well
“I, who have prided myself on my discernment!” Elizabeth Bennet says in the novel
August 22, 2025
euphemism
A euphemism is a polite word or expression that is used to refer to things that people may find upsetting or embarrassing to talk about, for example sex, the human body, or death. “The term “early retirement” is nearly always a euphemism for layoffs nowadays. ” (COLLINS)
A euphemism is a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive. (MW)
“Baking cookies” is Mojo in The Morning’s euphemism for sex, “the cookie” is what Steve Harvey uses, claiming: “there are only three things that pretty much every man needs— support, love, and “The Cookie.”
August 23, 2025
decipher
to decipher something is to convert something written in code into normal language , or to succeed in finding the meaning of something that is difficult to read or understand (OX)
a cipher is a secret or disguised way of writing – to decipher is to interpret it , crack the code, and understand it
“The Secret History of the Female Code Breakers Who Helped Defeat the Nazis – The Navy and Army recruited more than 10,000 women as ‘cryptanalysts’ to decipher enemy codes during World War II” – Politico Article
“Native American Tribal Elders Help Archaeologists Decipher Ancient Rock Art In Missouri Cave” – Headline IFL Science
“Luckily, my daughter had her granddad and me to help her decipher her man’s plan.” – Steve Harvey
August 24, 2025
exemplary
very good and suitable to be copied by other people (CAM)
“His tact was exemplary, especially considering the circumstances.“
“Exemplary people excel at what they do and are excellent examples to others. Something exemplary is so good that it is an example for others to follow. When something is the best it can be or reaches the highest point, it is exemplary and thus worth imitating. Exemplary comes from the Latin exemplum, meaning “sample” or “example.” (VOCAB)
“even if you make every effort to be an exemplary housekeeper, he’ll still want a ho behind closed doors” – Why Men Love Bitches
“And what excellent boiled potatoes. It’s been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.” – Mr. Collins
Related: exemplar – a person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model (OX)
“Notice the similarity between the words exemplar and example. This word can mean both “perfect example” and “typical example.” A fireman can be an exemplar of courage, and a building can be an exemplar of the architecture from a certain period.” (VOCAB)
“354 West 11th Street: An Exemplar of Greek Revival Architecture” – village preservation. org headline
August 25, 2025
exemplify – : to show or illustrate by example (MW) “anecdotes exemplifying those virtues”
“The city’s economic growth is exemplified by the many new buildings that are currently under construction.”
“Historic Jeddah’s wooden doors exemplify traditional Hijazi architecture” – Arab News Headline
August 26, 2025
tact
delicate perception of the right thing to say or do without offending; skill in dealing with people (COLLINS)
the ability to deal with difficult or embarrassing situations carefully and without doing or saying anything that will annoy or upset other people (OX)
“Their host, who was the soul of tact, never mentioned the incident again”
‘Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.’ – Winston Churchill
“Everybody liked her, for among her good gifts was tact. She had an instinctive sense of what was pleasing and proper, always said the right thing to the right person, did just what suited the time and place, and was so self-possessed” – Little Women , Louise May Alcott
August 27, 2025
personable – friendly and easy to get along with (MW) “He is a personable young man.”
Synonyms: pleasant, friendly, amiable
August 28, 2025
affable : being pleasant and at ease in talking to others (MW)
Affable comes from Latin affārī, meaning “to speak to” – an affable person is easy to talk to
August 29, 2025
cordial
friendly, but formal and polite (CAM)
“Relations between the two leaders are said to be cordial.“
“The meeting was cordial but businesslike.“
“Use cordial to describe a relationship that is friendly and sincere but not overly close. A cordial greeting is perfectly pleasant but doesn’t involve lots of hugging or excessive emotion.” (VOCAB)
Cordial implies polite, but not overly close – if you say you’re cordial with your colleague, you’re polite with them, but you’re not besties
If your neighbor sends you an email about a noise complaint , you may reply “Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate your cordial communication.”
August 30, 2025
sincere
free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings (OX) “they offer their sincere thanks to Paul”
from Latin sincerus ‘clean, pure’ – it implies honesty and genuineness
(of a person, feelings, or behavior) not pretending or lying; honest (CAM) “a sincere apology“
“Give honest and sincere appreciation” – Dale Carnegie
August 31, 2025
perfunctory
characterized by routine or superficiality : mechanical
lacking in interest or enthusiasm (MW)
“done mechanically or without interest or zeal and merely for the sake of being rid of the duty of doing it”
literally “like one who wishes to get through a thing” – per “through” fungi “perform” (etymonline)
“But before leaving us, the President looked for the mechanic, shook his hand, called him by name, and thanked him for coming down to Washington. And there was nothing perfunctory about his thanks. He meant what he said. I could feel that… I taught President Roosevelt how to handle a car with a lot of unusual gadgets, but he taught me a lot about the fine art of handling people.” – Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends and Influence People
September 1, 2025
forgo
to not have or do something enjoyable (CAM)
“I will have to forgo the pleasure of seeing you this week“
“I’m trying to lose a bit of weight so I’ll have to forgo dessert tonight”
Checking out at every retailer nowadays : “Would you like to join our membership rewards program?”
“I think I will forgo the membership rewards program”
September 2, 2025
je ne sais quoi
French, literally, “I know not what” / first known use circa 1656
something (such as an appealing quality) that cannot be adequately described or expressed (MW)
“a young actress who has a certain je ne sais quoi”
French for ‘I don’t know what’: a pleasing quality that cannot be exactly named or described (CAM)
“Although he’s not conventionally attractive, he has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes him popular with the ladies.“
“Je ne sais quoi is a French expression that translates to “I don’t know what.” It implies “that something special” that there aren’t words for. It is that elusive charming quality you just cannot put your finger on. What does this quality boil down to? A woman who is comfortable in her own skin and cannot be made to feel bad about herself.” – Sherry Argov tells us in Why Men Love Bitches
September 3, 2025
clamor
(of a group of people) shout loudly and insistently, make a vehement protest or demand (OX)
from Latin clamor, from clamare ‘cry out’
If people are clamoring for something, they are demanding it in a noisy or angry way (COLLINS)
“Here’s a guy who was used to women clamoring to be with him, but with Kelly, he was presented with a challenge to pursue a woman who let him know she won’t be so easily won over.” – Why Men Love Bitches
“Lindsay Lohan’s ‘Fresh Face’ Post Has Fans Clamoring For Her Secrets” – Yahoo Entertainment Headline
“Nobody Is ‘Clamoring’ for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Actually” – National Review Headline
September 4, 2025
foray
an initial and often tentative attempt to do something in a new or different field or area of activity – “For centuries, foray referred only to a sudden or irregular invasion or attack, but in the late 19th century it began to venture into gentler semantic territory. While the newer sense of foray still involves a trek into a foreign territory, the travel is figurative: when you make this kind of foray, you dabble in an area, occupation, or pastime that’s new to you.” (MW)
“the novelist’s foray into nonfiction”
“Louis Vuitton Makes Its Foray Into Cosmetics With La Beauté”- Haute Living
“From the beginning of his foray into politics, Trump has been profoundly fortunate in his opponents, and, evidently, his luck has not yet expired.” National Review
September 5, 2025
terra incognita
unknown or unexplored territory (OX) Latin, ‘unknown land’
a place, subject, or situation that you are not familiar with , “Dealing with children is terra incognita to me.” (CAM)
September 6, 2025
stagnant
(of a body of water or the atmosphere of a confined space) having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence /
showing no activity; dull and sluggish (OX)
“What do you do when you’re feeling stagnant in life?” was a question redditor Swimming-Rough-9514 posed
“I feel so stagnant, passionless, and completely void of direction. Could really use some advice. ” -redditor romanticheart
September 7, 2025
void
without; lacking in: “He’s completely void of charm as far as I can see.” (CAM)
“A void is empty space, nothingness, zero, zilch. A place that’s void of all life forms has no sign of animals, plants, or people. You may recognize void from the Old Testament passage describing creation: “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” In other words, nothing was there: pure emptiness. When you void something or make it void, you make it legally invalid, and that kind of void often goes with null. You might tell Cinderella, “If you’re not back by midnight, that arrangement with the pumpkin and the mice is null and void.” (VOCAB)
“Screaming into the void” is a metaphorical idiom for expressing intense emotion or frustration, often in a futile or hopeless manner when one feels unheard or ignored (AI)
September 8, 2025
futile
having no effect or achieving nothing, “a futile attempt “ (CAM)
incapable of producing any useful result; pointless, ineffective (OX)
“a futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage”
In the Star Trek universe, “Resistance is futile” is the famous catchphrase of the Borg, a cybernetic collective. It signifies their belief that any attempt to resist their assimilation is pointless due to their superior technology and numbers. The phrase has become a widely recognized cultural reference, often used to express a sense of overwhelming power or inevitability. (AI)
September 9, 2025
assure
to tell someone confidently that something is true, especially so that they do not worry (CAM)
“Don’t worry, your car will be ready tomorrow,” the mechanic assured him.“
“She assured him that the check was in the mail.”
“But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them” – Pride and Prejudice
“He smiled understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced—or seemed to face-the whole external world for an instant, and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.” – Great Gatsby
September 10, 2025
variety
the quality or state of being different or diverse; the absence of uniformity, sameness, or monotony.
“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” – Great Gatsby
“A Guide to Banana Varieties Around the World – There are thousands of banana varieties to know and love—here are a few.” – Serious Eats Headline
similar: various – different from one another; of different kinds or sorts
“dresses of various colors”
from Latin varius ‘changing, diverse’
September 11, 2025
paradox
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true (OX)
“The paradox of emotions:
What we suppress, lingers – what we allow, moves.
The more we fight anxiety, sadness, or fear, the more they persist.” Instagram account @RUTHILLGER_EFT tells us, about process our emotions
“fire needs air” – separateness is necessary for connection: this is a essential paradox of intimacy” Belgian psychotherapist Esther Perel tells us about maintaining separate identity, sense of self in our relationships
Nikola Tesla stated, “It is paradoxical, yet true, to say, that the more we know, the more ignorant we become in the absolute sense, for it is only through enlightenment that we become conscious of our limitations” – when we begin down the path of knowledge, we begin to understand the vastness that remains unknown
September 12, 2025
“to clip one’s wings” – idiom
To restrict one’s freedom, power, or full potential – a reference to the practice of clipping a bird’s wings to prevent it from flying
“The kids need to be able to explore the world around them—don’t clip their wings.” (the free dictionary)
“It’s a great opportunity for her! Why are you trying to clip her wings?”
There’s a country song on the radio that uses this idiom:
“So, if you got a fire, don’t lose it
If you got a do-or-die dream, do it
If you got something to prove, go on and prove it
Don’t let nobody clip your wings
Keep your head down, keep on the blinders
Tune out the doubters and all the closed minders
If it’s in your blood
Fallin’ down ain’t enough to change who you were born to be
Gettin’ back up, that’s the only backup plan you need”
-Bailey Zimmerman with Luke Combs – Backup Plan
September 13, 2025
“spread your wings” – idiom
to begin using one’s talents or abilities to their full potential ( the free dictionary) – like a bird spreading their wings and flying
“I know you’ve got what it takes, so start spreading your wings and see where your talents take you.”
September 14, 2025
“bird’s eye view” – idiom
a broad, elevated perspective
a view looking down at an area from a high elevation (as if from the perspective of a bird in flight) (the free dictionary)
“Looking out the window, we got a bird’s-eye view of New York City as the plane began its descent.“
“From his penthouse, you get a bird’s eye view of Los Angeles.“
September 15, 2025
“a little bird told me” – idiom
(referring to a secret source of information) = said when you don’t want to reveal who told you
said when you cannot or will not identify who gave you the information (the free dictionary)
as in “How did you learn they were getting a divorce?” — “Oh, a little birdie told me.”
September 16, 2025
“kill two birds with one stone” – idiom
to accomplish two aims by a single action – the free dictionary
“let’s go to the dog park when babysit the kids, the kids have fun there, and we can kinda kill two birds with one stone”
September 17, 2025
vocation
an occupation, especially one for which a person is particularly suited or qualified
an inclination or aptness for a certain kind of work: a vocation for medicine
(thefreedictionary)
you might say a vocation is a calling, in fact that’s in the etymology – it comes from vocare, to call
‘Vocation does not mean a goal that I pursue. It means a calling that I hear” – Parker J. Palmer
“When vocation was first used in English in the 15th century it referred specifically to a summons from God to perform a particular task or function in life, especially a religious one. This meaning is no surprise given the word’s source: it comes from Latin vocation-, vocacio, meaning “summons,” which in turn comes from vocāre, meaning “to call.” Vocation also has a secular position in the English language as a word for the strong desire to do a certain kind of work, or as a word for the work itself, making vocation a synonym of the words calling and occupation.” (MW)
“Teaching is more than a noble profession. It is a vocation, a calling.. The teacher is the most important person in any civilization, as on him depends the molding of the nation.” -Randall Butisingh
September 18, 2025
vice
a bad habit; serious moral failing: “Drinking too much is a vice.”
a failing or imperfection in character, conduct, etc: “smoking is his only vice” (TFD)
“A vice is a practice, behaviour, habit or item generally considered morally wrong in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhealthy habit” (WIKI)
it traces back to the Latin word vitium, meaning “defect,” “blemish,” “imperfection,” or “offense”
“Diet Coke is my vice”
September 19, 2025
circa – around – notice it’s similarity it circle -it comes from the Latin circā, meaning “around” or “about”
It’s most commonly used before dates – around / approximately that date
“the cathedral was built circa 1400”
“this picture is of my mother circa 1975”
September 20, 2025
hubba-hubba – an exclamation of admiration, approval, or enthusiasm, used especially by G.I.’s of World War II as a shout in appreciation of a pretty girl (dictionary.com)
It’s a funny phrase that can be used to express approval of someone’s appearance “Wow! Look at your dress – hubba hubba!”
“A delirious delight in language making,” Mencken calls the coining of hubba-hubba. The expression was ubiquitous during World War II, made famous by a leering Bob Hope, the linguistic equivalent of a wolf whistle that was uttered lasciviously when an attractive woman walked past a group of men. Sexual but highly complimentary, it was often hubba bubba hubba, the third awesome hubba thrown in for added emphasis if body language warranted it. Anyway, we’re told that the term originated with “flyboys,” U.S. airmen who got it from Chinese airmen being trained at a Florida air base early in World War II. Supposedly it is a corruption of the familiar Chinese greeting how-pu-how.” – Robert Hendrickson Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins
September 21, 2025
humdrum – another humdrum day at the office
“another humdrum day at the office” / “the movies were an escape from my humdrum life”
September 22, 2025
penchant
a strong and continued inclination , liking
“A penchant is a strong preference or tendency…Penchant borrows from French, in which penchant literally means inclined.” (VOCAB)
“Elle Woods has a penchant for pink.”
“a child with a penchant for mischief”
September 23, 2025
epitome
Epitome means “a perfect example.” It is usually used in the phrase “the epitome of,” as in “the epitome of elegance.” (MW)
Epitomize is the corresponding verb – to be the perfect example of – “the author excels at characterization, and this book epitomizes that”
September 24, 2025
validate
To validate something is to show that it is real or correct. Validate can also mean “to state or show that something is legal or official,” “to put a mark on something to show that it has been checked and is official or accepted,” and “to show that someone’s feelings, opinions, etc., are fair and reasonable.” (MW)
“To validate is to prove that something is based on truth or fact, or is acceptable. It can also mean to make something, like a contract, legal.You may need someone to validate your feelings, which means that you want to hear, “No, you’re not crazy. It’s acceptable to be angry about that.” Or you may need someone to validate your parking ticket — which means you have to prove that you bought something, so you can get parking for free. Whatever it is you are seeking to validate needs the added support or action from someone else to make it valid.” (VOCAB)
You can validate your parking , you can validate your friend’s emotions :
“I don’t blame you for being upset, I would be too if that happened to me” / “It totally makes sense you feel that way” / “I can see why you’re angry”
September 25, 2025
justified
having a good reason for something (CAM)
“I think you were quite justified in complaining.”
On an episode of Catfish, the contestant person was upset when they found out the the person they had been talking to was not the person in the pictures, and Nev said “He’s upset, and I think that’s justified.”
September 26, 2025
“in cahoots with”
colluding or conspiring together secretly (OX)
If you say that one person is in cahoots with another, you do not trust the first person because you think that they are planning something secretly with the other (COLLINS)
On another episode of Catfish, Nev’s wife Laura said something like “Maybe Antoni is in cahoots with Candace” = maybe they’re working together to Catfish this person, that does happen sometimes
September 27, 2025
“it dawns on me”
“It dawns on me” means you suddenly realize or understand something you didn’t before, similar to how the sun’s first rays of light become visible. The phrase compares the dawning of understanding to the actual dawning of the day, and it’s most often used in the past tense, as in “It dawned on me”. (AI)
“It dawns on me that the only way I can lift this curse, is I’m going to have to do it myself, and the only way I can do it myself is, I’m going to have to become a witch”
– Dame Wilburn “The Curse” Moth Story
September 28, 2025
savvy –
“Savvy” describes someone with sharp practical intelligence and good judgment, making them shrewd, knowledgeable, and well-informed, especially in practical matters (AI)
“a savvy investor” “political savvy”
Dame Wilburn describing why fundraisers can be a challenge in the pagan / wicca community:
“These are not the most financially savvy people in the world” “This isn’t like fundraising in Ann Arbor”
September 29, 2025
prowess
great ability or skill (CAM)
“athletic prowess” / “my shopping prowess”
Spetember 30, 2025
lexicon (word)(book)
the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge (OX)
“the size of the English lexicon”
A lexicon is the vocabulary of a language or subject. “No-hitter,” “go-ahead run,” and “Baltimore chop” are part of the baseball lexicon.Lexicons are really dictionaries, though a lexicon usually covers an ancient language or the special vocabulary of a particular author or field of study. In linguistics, the lexicon is the total stock of words and word elements that carry meaning. Lexicon is from Greek lexikon (biblion) meaning “word(book),” ultimately going back to legein, “to speak. (VOCAB)
October 1, 2025
Not a word today, but a quote
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”
is a quote from L.M. Montgomery’s novel Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908
October 2, 2025
foliage
plant leaves collectively “fall foliage”
foli=leaf
October 3 ,2025
autumnal – related to autumn / fall – may you appreciate the “autumnal sunshine” this season
The quote “I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air” – Nathaniel Hawthorne comes from his American Notebooks
October 4, 2025
regret: a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and a wish that it could have been different and better (CAM)
“Is there anything you’ve done in your life that you regret?” “She ended up being a total nightmare, i regret the night I mer her”
“Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life become a beautiful success, in spite of poverty.” – Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
October 5, 2025
“Tend to your own garden”
“Tend to your own garden” is a phrase that means to focus on your own personal well-being, growth, endeavors, goals and happiness instead of obsessing about others – it’s not good to be self absorbed, but it is good sometimes to be “self focused” as Harriet Lerner a relationship therapist wrote – instead of obsessing about / thinking about them all the time , place 100% focus on the quality, direction of your own life – the best way to improve your relationship might just be to improve yourself – What passions can you cultivate? Goals do you have? Ways you can improve your life , lifestyle, maturity, self ?
- The phrase comes from 18th-century French writer and philosopher Voltaire, It appears at the end of his satirical novel Candide, where the character Candide concludes that happiness comes from tending to his own plot of land instead of focusing on all the problems of everyone else and his chaotic, calamitous world —the phrase encourages you to tend to your own “plot of land”—your life, your choices, and your reactions, personal growth etc.
“A well-cultivated garden reaps a bountiful harvest. When that harvest is our life, is our happiness, our joy, what should demand more attention?”
Life Lessons From Voltaire: Cultivate Your Garden , Medium Article
I have Candide on my Semester 2 Curriculum
October 6, 2025
the Latin phrase “in memoriam”
“Memoriam” as in the Latin phrase “in memoriam,” means “in memory of” or “to the memory of” it was used in obituaries or poems etc. to honor someone who has died
In Memoriam, Alice Winn is also on my Semester 2 Curriculum
“Alice Winn has written a devastating love story between two young men that moves from the sheltered idyll of their public school to the unspeakable horrors of the Western Front during the First World War. Gaunt and Ellwood will live in your mind long after you’ve closed the final pages.” —Maggie O’Farrell, author of The Marriage Portrait
“I can’t tell you how much I loved this novel . . . Various elements reminded me of A Little Life, Birdsong and All Quiet on the Western Front, but even though the content is heart-wrenching in so many ways, it remains an easy, engrossing read—I’ve already recommended it to all my friends.” —Stylist
Review/Recommendation from redditor laurenkd89 :
“In Memoriam: one of the best books I’ve ever read
I have to come here to recommend In Memoriam by Alice Winn, a new literary historical fiction with a gorgeous, written in the stars MM romance. It’s an extremely powerful and devastating book about the horrors of World War One, told through the perspective of two best friends – hopelessly and secretly in love with each other – in an English boarding school who enlist in the army. The beautiful romance between Ellwood and Gaunt is what keeps you going through all of this meaningless loss. Perhaps not a typical recommendation, but I can’t overstate how much I loved this book!”
October 7, 2025
recommend / recommendation
: to endorse someone as fit, worthy, or competent (MW)
Her previous employer recommended her for the position.
Basically – to say something is good, you should try it
Can you recommend a good restaurant?
Any good movie recommendations?
—sometimes used in phrases like have little to recommend it or have much to recommend it
… the village had little to recommend it other than the panoramic view …—Paul L. Hall
… this style of travel has much to recommend it.—Doug and Bobbe Tatreau
“They have none of them much to recommend them, they are all silly and ignorant like other girls… .” – Mr. Bennet, describing his daughters
Recommendations:
Novel: The Heart’s Invisible Furies , John Boyne
Face wash : pink cream mousse foam cleanser from Clinique
Shoe brand: Rothy’s shoes – cute, very comfortable, i get a lot of use out of mine
Podcast: This American Life – 129 cars might be my favorite episode, so well produced, I also like “24 Hours at the Golden Apple” – They just sit at this 24 Hour Diner in Chicago and record conversations with the people eating there, I’m amused at these peoples existences , I find it humorous ,
“I know one past life, I was a cowboy and I was shot by accident. And I’ve met two of my four buddies that I was with together here at– we– we agreed to come back on some kind of subliminal basis. So yeah, I was a cowboy in one lifetime, probably right before the turn of the century. And my other lifetime, I really don’t know, but I know I was crushed. And I don’t know by what, but probably a large building. I haven’t identified the time yet. I’m still working on that. Can I have can I have a short stack, please? That’s all. Thank you.”
October 8
thought provoking
stimulating interest or thought
a thought-provoking article
this book is on my semester 2 curriculum – thought provoking
Sudden-Database6968 reddior:
Contact by Carl Sagan: A Brilliant Novel
“Carl Sagan is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant minds I’ve had the pleasure of exploring through his writing. Earlier this year, I embarked on a journey through Sagan’s works—a decision that came about almost on a whim. I had made a New Year’s resolution to read more non-fiction, and in January, I picked up Cosmos. I was blown away.
From there, I read Pale Blue Dot, followed by The Dragons of Eden, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, and Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. Each book left me more enamoured than the last. Sagan’s ability to convey dense, complex concepts with such eloquence and clarity is nothing short of brilliant.
Initially, I didn’t plan to immerse myself so deeply in Sagan’s catalogue. But as I turned the final pages of Cosmos, I couldn’t resist diving headfirst into more of his work. His voice, his ideas—they simply resonate with me. When I picked up Contact, it was no different. I wasn’t surprised at all by how much I loved it. The book feels like a culmination of his non-fiction and essays, woven into a scientifically rich work of fiction.”
Carl Sagan was an astrophysicist – a great science educator during his lifetime – this novel he wrote imagines what it would be like for humanity to make contact with other life forms / aliens
The Universe is a pretty big place… And the one thing I know about nature is it hates to waste anything. So I guess I’d say if it is just us, an awful lot of space is going to waste. The earth is not alone, it is not like a single apple on a tree; there are many apples on the tree, and there are many trees in the orchard.”
October 9 2025
provoke
from pro- ‘forth’ + vocare ‘to call’
stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone
“the decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations”
to cause a reaction, especially a negative one (CAM)
“It was a vicious-looking dog and I didn’t want to provoke it.“
“the movie provoked a lot of discussion”
October 10, 2025
provocative
“If something is provocative, it provokes a reaction. A provocative book might get people talking about a controversial idea, This adjective was borrowed from French provocatif, from Late Latin provocativus “calling forth,” from Latin provocare “to call forth”
arousing sexual desire or interest, especially deliberately – “a provocative dress” ” a provocative photoshoot”
October 11, 2025
affinity
a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc. (COLLINS) ” a strange affinity” “she felt a natural affinity for the arts”
“I might be slightly biased, as I have a tattoo dedicated to Ophelia; this is a song I claimed when the album was first announced. Personal affinities aside, this song expertly sets the tone of the album. It’s lovesick pop reminiscent of reputation but more mature.” – Our Ranking of Every Song on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ The EveryGirl
October 12, 2025
reminiscent
tending to remind one of something , Latin reminiscent- ‘remembering’ – “the song was reminiscent of my childhood” “the novel is a witty social satire reminiscent on Austen”
October 13, 2025
à la
“If you do something à la a particular person, you do it in the same style or in the same way that they would do it.” (COLLINS)
“a crisp, tailored dress à la Audrey Hepburn” ‘ – ‘afternoon talk shows à la Oprah’. – ‘ a pixie cut à la Maria in Sound of Music’
À la, borrowing from French, means “in the manner of” or “in the style of”. It is used to indicate that something is done in a way that is characteristic of a specific person, place, or tradition. – “I already know I’ll be listening to this on repeat a la “I Did Something Bad”
October 14, 2025
audacious / audacity
The noun audacity is a noun that comes from the Latin verb audēre, meaning “to dare” or “be bold”
The adjective form audacious is an adjective that describes something that is bold.
It can carry either a positive or a negative connotation depending on the context.
In a positive sense, audacious can describe a person or act that is fearless and bold.
“It took enormous audacity for the fledgling startup to challenge the industry’s most established players”
“The Audacity of Hope” is a book Barack Obama wrote – perhaps in a climate where it’s easy to be pessimistic / negative it’s audacious to be hopeful
In a negative sense: “He had the audacity to show up late and then demand a raise”
“20 Horrifying Dishes People Had The Audacity To Serve At A Potluck” – Buzzfeed
October 15, 2025
Repertoire
Repertoire typically refers to a list or supply of plays, songs, dances, etc. that a company or person is prepared to perform
The Late Latin noun repertorium, meaning “list” – the list of things that someone or something can do (MW)
a musician’s repertoire is the songs they know how to play / a chef’s repertoire is the dishes they know how to make
October 16, 2025
Remiss
Careless, neglectful, or not doing something that should have been done. The phrase “it would be remiss of me” means that you would be failing in your duty or responsibility if you did not do a particular thing. It is a polite and formal way of saying “I would be wrong or careless if I did not…”. The word remiss means “careless and not doing a duty well enough”. (Ai)
“I would be remiss if I did not warn you about the potential risks”.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the excellent service we received at the hotel”.
October 17, 2025
exhilaration
: very happy and excited or elated (MW) “I felt a kind of exhilaration when I reached the top of the mountain.”
“Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory” – George Patton
exhilarating: making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling (OX) “an exhilarating two-hour rafting experience”
October 18, 2025
jubilant: feeling or expressing great happiness, especially because of a success
From Latin jubilare meaning “to shout for joy”
“Jubilation in the streets of Argentina after World Cup Win”
October 19, 2025
dainty: delicately small and pretty (OX)
“a dainty lace handkerchief” “a dainty gold necklace”
“When I was dainty enough for a plane to lift, they didn’t have them.” – A Long Way From Chicago
October 20, 2025
idiom “I’ve got a $20 bill burning a hole in my pocket”
If money is burning a hole in your pocket, you are very eager to spend it (CAM)
October 21, 2025
ignorant -The word “ignorant” comes from the Latin, meaning “not knowing” or “unaware” , it is formed from in- (“not”) and gnarus (“aware”)
ignoramus – a person who is ignorant
Pride and Prejudice, Mr Bennet on his wife: “To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.” On his daughters “They have none of them much to recommend them, they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something
more of quickness than her sisters.”
October 22, 2025
frivolous
(not having serious value)
Latin word frīvolus, which means “silly, empty, trifling, or worthless”
“The court dismissed the frivolous lawsuit”
“frivolous spending on clothing and makeup”
“Some people think mythology is frivolous,
and I love all things frivolous”
frivolity is related noun – “a night of fun and frivolity”
October 23, 2025
flounder
“struggle awkwardly” influenced by Dutch flodderen “to flop about,” expressing clumsy motion. Figurative use is from 1680s.”act of struggling,”
to struggle, to behave awkwardly or without direction
probably from the Dutch word flodderen, “to flop about”
“This guy is a total mama’s boy, she always praised him to
the high heavens, and did everything for him, and now he’s
out in life as an adult and he’s floundering”
October 24, 2025
fledgling
a fledgling is a young bird that has recently grown its feathers and is learning to fly. It is also used metaphorically to describe a person, organization, or project that is new, inexperienced, or just starting out
October 25, 2025
flourish comes from the Latin word for “flower” and arrived in English via Old French. Its meaning evolved from the physical act of blooming to include the concepts of thriving and prospering. (Ai) “one day you’ll be flourishing”
October 26, 2025
thrive: to do well, to prosper, to flourish
“their business is thriving” “she’s thriving, and it’s so fun to watch”
“imagine: it’s a few years into the future, and your hard work paid off, and you’re thriving”
October 27, 2025
prosper
“As any fan of Star Trek knows, “live long and prosper” is good advice. The verb prosper means to do well, succeed, or thrive.The verb prosper commonly means to generate wealth, as in “she hopes to prosper from her new investments.” But more generally it means “grow stronger” or “flourish” — crops will prosper when they have adequate sun and water, and rescued animals can prosper in a loving home. You can also prosper from good advice or a wise decision: for example, “cheaters never prosper” (VOCAB)
prosperity – “the peace and prosperity of the nation” – Use prosperity to refer to the state of being successful. In the US, the decades following World War II were characterized by rising prosperity, with large numbers moving into the middle class. Prosperity usually means the type of success that comes from having a lot of money. Our modern English word derives from Middle English prosperite, borrowed through Old French from Latin prosperus “favorable.” The Latin word also means “fortunate,” and the word prosperity does have an element of good luck. (VOCAB)
October 28, 2025
“Vision” refers to the ability to see, a complex process where the eyes and brain work together to interpret light , It can also mean a forward-looking idea, a mental image, or a goal for the future – visio Latin sight , act of seeing (ai)
Vision Insurance would cover things like glasses, contact lenses – things having to do with the eye
“set a goal, make a plan – you need to have have vision and determination”
October 29, 2025
Menagerie refers to a collection of animals kept especially to be shown to the public, as well as a place where such animals are kept. (MW) Middle French, ménagerie meant “the management of a household or farm” or “a place where animals are tended.” muh-NA-juh-ree
“The aviary featured a menagerie of exotic birds.” “we have cats, a dog, hamsters and a ferret – basically a menagerie“
October 30, 2025
To frolic is to play and move about happily (MW) “frolicking in a field”
to be merry, have fun, romp playfully – “the children frolicked in the snow” “Dogs Frolicking In A Meadow” – YouTube Video
“she spends her days frolicking around“
October 31, 2025
festive festus (“of a feast”) – something festive is joyous and probably related to a holday
“Easy Ripped Paper Pumpkins – Celebrate the Season with these Easy and Festive crafts!”
“Downtown Fall Festival – Music, Crafts, Food, Fun!”
November 1, 2025
bungle – to fumble, to mess something up
“I had a bungled attempt at making conversation today”
to make mistakes in doing (something) : to not do (something) well or successfully (BRIT)
“a bungling attempt at humor”
“The police bungled the investigation and the crime was never solved.”
November 2, 2025
“don’t pay it any mind” – an idiom, means don’t think about it
ai says that it is considered “old-timey” and is used to advise someone to disregard a person, comment – For example, one might say, “Don’t pay the critics any mind”
November 3, 2025
“Your guess is as good as mine” – means you have no more information than the other person does / i don’ t know
“What is he doing?” “Your guess is as good as mine.”
November 4, 2025
sedentary
Something described as sedentary does or involves a lot of sitting. Sedentary can also mean “not physically active” (as in “a sedentary lifestyle”) Sedentary comes from the Latin verb sedēre, meaning “to sit” “a 21st century 9-5 sedentary lifestyle”
November 5, 2025
muse
musings , one’s thoughts or written reflections – “the author’s musings on sex and politics”
“her blog contains her daily musings about her cat” – nothing wrong with that, we love our pets!
or, a source of inspiration – “Taylor’s boyfriends are often her muses”
As a verb, to muse is to consider something thoughtfully. As a noun, it means a person — especially a woman — who is a source of artistic inspiration. In mythology, the Muses were nine goddesses who symbolized the arts and sciences. Today, a muse is a person who serves as an artist’s inspiration. Often filmmakers talk about a certain actor being a muse — meaning the actor inspired a movie. Writers, painters, musicians, and other artists have muses. Muse can also refer to thinking deeply. If you muse about something, you’re giving it serious thought. (VOCAB)
In Greek Mythology – the nine sister goddesses who presided over specific arts and sciences, such as epic poetry (Calliope), history (Clio), music (Euterpe)The word “museum” is also etymologically linked to the Muses, as it originally meant “seat of the Muses”
November 6, 2025
hiatus- a temporary break
“the podcast returns after a long hiatus”
“Max is on hiatus” – Catfish “Max in back from his hiatus”
A temporary gap, pause, break, or absence can be called a hiatus. When your favorite TV show is on hiatus, that means there are no new episodes — not forever, just for a little while.Even things that go on for a long time take a break once in a while: one kind of break is a hiatus. If someone has to leave her job for a time, she’s going on hiatus. A touring band will need to take a hiatus if the lead singer gets in an accident. The key thing about a hiatus is that it’s an interruption of something that was happening, but it’s not a permanent break. (VOCAB) The word “hiatus” originates from the Latin hiātus, meaning “opening” or “gap,
“I’m on hiatus from the online chatroom for a little while, trying to regain my sanity and work on other projects”
November 7, 2025
oeuvre
French, literally ‘work’
the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively
“the complete oeuvre of Mozart”. ‘the oeuvre of Natalie Babbitt”
November 8, 2025
“If I had my druthers…” = if I had things the way I want them , If i had my preference
“If I had my druthers, we’d be on the way to Florida right now…”
“If the President had his druthers, you’d pay taxes on fresh air…”
November 9, 2025
obsolete – no longer in use or no longer useful, typically because it has been replaced by something newer and better; out of date or old-fashioned (ai)
: no longer in use or no longer useful (MW) “phone booths are obsolete , remnants of a bygone time”
“whom” is used for subject / object of a sentence- nobody can keep track – the word is obsolete, but you can use it if you like the sound of it
November 10, 2025
remnant – something that remains from an earlier time
The origin of the word might help you remember this, more all-purpose, meaning — it comes from the French remanant, which means “to remain.” Think of it this way: a remnant is something that remains, or is left behind. For example, the remnants from the ancient battle gave archaeologists clues from which to infer what had happened. (VOCAB) “These ancient ruins are the last surviving remnants of a great civilization.”
November 11, 2025
bygone – from an earlier / gone time “the book features pictures from a glamorous, bygone era”
November 12, 2025
the days of yore – from an earlier time – usually said in a nostalgic way , like you miss the good ole days
“Cary Grant – a suave, well-dressed gentleman – men of the days of yore were better”
“Back in the days of yore, children played outside and read books instead of staring at screens.”
November 13, 2025
yesteryear- referring to previous years
“The music of yesteryear had a charm that modern pop songs lack.”
“The novel was about rural life in yesteryear” or “he reminisced about the good times of yesteryear”
November 14, 2025
reminisce – Latin verb reminisci, which means “to remember”
to talk or think about past experiences or events, typically with pleasure or nostalgia (ai)
“My grandparents love to reminisce over old photo albums whenever we visit”
“We were reminiscing about the summers went spent at the lake house growing up”
November 15, 2025
Heyday refers to the period of one’s greatest popularity, vigor, or prosperity (MW) “In its heyday, the circus was a major form of entertainment for the small town.”
When the Going Was Good: An Editor’s Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines – Editor of Vanity Fair Graydon Carter’s memoir is about the glamorous heyday of print magazines – probably around the 1990’s
November 16, 2025
Zenith means the high point — it comes from astronomy, where it describes the highest point in an arc traveled by a star or a planet or another celestial body. The sun reaches its zenith when it is as high in the sky as it is going to go on that day. Zenith — and its opposite, nadir — have been appropriated by non-astronomers and are used to describe high and low points in non-astronomical contexts. (VOCAB)
‘with her record-breaking The Era’s Tour, Taylor Swift hits the zenith of her career”
“the Roman Empire was at its zenith during…”
November 17, 2025
nadir – the opposite of zenith – the low point
“The football team lost every single game in their season – it was the absolute nadir of their 100 + year history”
“with this generation, the family’s political dynasty has definitely hit a nadir”
November 18, 2025
rock bottom – rock bottom refers to the lowest possible level or point in a situation, state, or person’s life, from which no further decline is possible. It is often a turning point that can lead to recovery or change (ai) “rock bottom will teach you lessons that mountain-tops never will”
“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” — J.K. Rowling
November 19, 2025
earnest- sincere and serious
“it will be my earnest endeavor”
“He certainly looked at her friend a great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she often doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence of mind.”
Please check out my Elephant Vocabulary Worksheet – uploaded around / circa this date
November 20, 2025
circa – around
“a picture of my my mom circa 1970” – redditor “this cathedral was built circa 1500 AD” – tour guide
November 21, 2025
elegance is a noun that describes the quality of being gracefully and stylishly refined in appearance, manner, or design. It is often associated with a sense of sophisticated simplicity and good taste. The word “elegance” originates from the Latin term elegantia, meaning “taste, propriety, or refinement,” which is derived from the verb eligere, meaning “to choose”. This connection highlights that elegance is fundamentally a result of making careful, deliberate choices in taste and style. (Ai) “elegant” is an adjective implies a balance of beauty, grace, and subtle refinement that avoids being gaudy or overdone “she wore a very elegant black dress’
“Elegance is not catching somebody’s eyes, it’s staying in somebody’s memory.” — Quote by Giorgio Armani
November 22, 2025
epitome – the perfect example of something
“your lovely wife is the epitome of a perfect hostess”
“This book epitomizes his talent at characterization”
“the epitome of elegance” “the couple was the epitome of glamour as they arrived at the event”
November 23, 2025
enamored – literally “in love” Amor Latin Love
“He met this new girl – he’s just enamored with her”
“Some people were less enamored with the new President..”
November 24, 2025
edify – “edify” comes from the Latin aedificare, meaning “to build” – to “build up” someone’s character, intellect, or morality, often through instruction and spiritual improvement (ai)
Edifying – related-
“A guy I dated very briefly took me to a Professional Wrestling WWE event – it was not the most edifying of experiences”
Reading is among the most edifying of activities:
“I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
November 25, 2025
eloquent – using language to express ideas or opinions clearly and well, so that they have a strong effect on others (CAM)
If you’re eloquent, you’re good with words
“200 + years later, Jane Austen is one of the most eloquent authors who ever wrote fiction – a true prose stylist”
one way to be more eloquent – expand your vocabulary
Venus Vocabulary is about expanding vocabulary , teaching empathy through fiction , mythology , a beacon for the Language Arts , Literacy Advocate
November 26, 2025
brio – In Italian, brio means ” fire or life”
“she told the story with brio”
energy and confidence (CAM)
“David Arnold combines brio with compassion in this captivating first novel” – The Washington Post on MosquitoLand
November 26, 2025
gusto
enjoyment or vigor in doing something; zest (OX) “she sang it with gusto”
: enthusiastic and vigorous enjoyment or appreciation (MW)
“reread Pride and Prejudice with gusto”
“after hearing about their success, I started meditating / visualizing with gusto”
“Since the 17th century, gusto has been helping English speakers describe things that are done with vigor and enthusiasm. Gusto is Italian for “taste,” and its Italian origins are evident both in its spelling, with its “o” ending, and its sense of “a taste for life.” Use this word to describe vigorous activities — you probably wouldn’t “take a nap with gusto,” even if you really enjoy napping. You’re more likely to cheer on your favorite team or dance the tango with gusto.” (VOCAB)
November 27. 2025
engrossing, engrossed having all one’s attention or interest absorbed by someone or something (OX)
“they seemed to be engrossed in conversation” “a very engrossing book”
November 28, 2025
esteem – respect and admiration
“he was held in high esteem by colleagues”
“Dating an OnlyFans model kind of sinks you in my esteem”
November 29, 2025
enthusiast – a person who is enthusiastic about something
“I’m a law of attraction enthusiast, because I have seen it work in my life!”
“He’s a real fitness enthusiast, always running, at the gym, CrossFit“
November 30, 2025
exemplify – to be an example of something
“I share photos that exemplify my statements – like if I say someone had charisma, I would share photos that I think exemplify that”
December 1, 2025
elan – spirit , style, confidence
“Bro had elan” “he played with elan”
“I must say, she did it with elan”