balk
1. to stop, as at an obstacle, and refuse to proceed or to do something specified (usually fol. by at)
2. (of a horse, mule, etc.) to stop short and stubbornly refuse to go on.
: He balked at making the speech.
exegesis
critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, esp. of the Bible.
:The goal of Biblical exegesis is to find the meaning of the text which then leads to discovering its significance or relevance.
hoary
1. gray or white with age
2. ancient or venerable
3. tedious from familiarity; stale
: an old dog with a hoary muzzle.
: hoary myths.
: Please don't tell that hoary joke at dinner again tonight.
rebuff
1. a blunt or abrupt rejection, as of a person making advances.
2. a peremptory refusal of a request, offer, etc.; snub.
3. a check to action or progress.
:He was surprised by her quick rebuff to his proposal.
remiss
1. negligent, careless, or slow in performing one's duty, business, etc.
2. characterized by negligence or carelessness.
3. lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.
: He's terribly remiss in his work.
:The burglar gained entrance because the security guard, remiss in his duties, forgot to lock the door.
ineffable
1. incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible
2. not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable
: ineffable joy.
: the ineffable name of the deity.
respite
1. a delay or cessation for a time, esp. of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief
2. temporary suspension of the execution of a person condemned to death; reprieve.
: to toil without respite.
dilatory
1. tending to delay or procrastinate; slow; tardy.
2. intended to cause delay, gain time, or defer decision
: a dilatory strategy.
sinecure
1. an office or position requiring little or no work, esp. one yielding profitable returns.
2. an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls.
diurnal
1. of or pertaining to a day or each day; daily.
2. of or belonging to the daytime (opposed to nocturnal ).
maudlin
1. tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
2. foolishly or mawkishly sentimental because of drunkenness.
: a maudlin story of a little orphan and her lost dog.
:Although many people enjoy romantic comedies, I usually find them maudlin and shallow.
toady
an obsequious flatterer; sycophant.
:The bad poet is a toady mimicking nature.
egregious
extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant
: an egregious mistake; an egregious liar.
:The student has made egregious errors on the examination.
tremulous
1. (of persons, the body, etc.) characterized by trembling, as from fear, nervousness, or weakness.
2. timid; timorous; fearful.
3. (of things) vibratory, shaking, or quivering.
4. (of writing) done with a trembling hand.
elicit
to draw or bring out or forth; educe; evoke
: to elicit the truth; to elicit a response with a question.
mordant
1. sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or a speaker; biting.
2. burning; corrosive.
3. having the property of fixing colors, as in dyeing.
:Many of the speaker's comments were thought to be merely mordant, so they were not considered to be important.
trenchant
. incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting
2. vigorous; effective; energetic
3. clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.
: trenchant wit.
: a trenchant policy of political reform.
encomium
a formal expression of high praise; eulogy
: An encomium by the President greeted the returning hero.
pertinacious
1. holding tenaciously to a purpose, course of action, or opinion; resolute.
2. stubborn or obstinate.
3. extremely or objectionably persistent
: a pertinacious salesman from whom I could not escape.
vestige
a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence
: A few columns were the last vestiges of a Greek temple.
timorous
1. full of fear; fearful
2. subject to fear; timid.
3. characterized by or indicating fear
: The noise made them timorous.
: a timorous whisper.
Dec 31, 2009
Random words from readings: "Embracing the Wide Sky"
plaudit
1.an enthusiastic expression of approval
2.a demonstration or round of applause, as for some approved or admired performance.
: Her portrayal of Juliet won the plaudits of the critics.
idioglossia
1. a private form of speech invented by one child or by children who are in close contact, as twins.
2. a pathological condition characterized by speech so distorted as to be unintelligible.
"The phenomenon-known as 'idioglossia'- is rare but provides further insight into the contribution biology makes to rare forms of creative talent."
plaudit
1.an enthusiastic expression of approval
2.a demonstration or round of applause, as for some approved or admired performance.
: Her portrayal of Juliet won the plaudits of the critics.
idioglossia
1. a private form of speech invented by one child or by children who are in close contact, as twins.
2. a pathological condition characterized by speech so distorted as to be unintelligible.
"The phenomenon-known as 'idioglossia'- is rare but provides further insight into the contribution biology makes to rare forms of creative talent."
Dec 30, 2009
Vocabulary: Of Prostitutes
hegemony
1. leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.
2. leadership; predominance.
3. (esp. among smaller nations) aggression or expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve world domination.
ask.com: The two political parties battled viciously for hegemony.
Mex: Why would several states battle for hegemony over a territory full of meretricious courtesans?
littoral
of or pertaining to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean.
Mex: The littoral area of that territory is a place for tourist to encounter meretricious prostitutes.
meretriciuos
1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.
3. pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute.
Mex: One could assume that escorts have a meretricious lifestyle.
morass
Any confusing or troublesome situation, esp. one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement.
Mex: Being seduced by a meretricious courtesan is an embarrassing morass.
percolate
1. to cause (a liquid) to pass through a porous body; filter.
2. (of a liquid) to filter through; permeate.
3. to brew (coffee) in a percolator.
Mex: Through media reports it percolated to the surface that the senator likes attractive call boys.
poignant
1. keenly distressing to the feelings: poignant regret.
2. keen or strong in mental appeal: a subject of poignant interest.
3. affecting or moving the emotions: a poignant scene.
4. pungent to the smell: poignant cooking odors.
Mex: The escort wears a poignant perfume to make himself memorable to clients.
poltroon
- a wretched coward; craven.
- marked by utter cowardice.
Mex: I was poltroon to walk by the littoral area where escorts frequent the establishments.
hegemony
1. leadership or predominant influence exercised by one nation over others, as in a confederation.
2. leadership; predominance.
3. (esp. among smaller nations) aggression or expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve world domination.
ask.com: The two political parties battled viciously for hegemony.
Mex: Why would several states battle for hegemony over a territory full of meretricious courtesans?
littoral
of or pertaining to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean.
Mex: The littoral area of that territory is a place for tourist to encounter meretricious prostitutes.
meretriciuos
1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.
3. pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute.
Mex: One could assume that escorts have a meretricious lifestyle.
morass
Any confusing or troublesome situation, esp. one from which it is difficult to free oneself; entanglement.
Mex: Being seduced by a meretricious courtesan is an embarrassing morass.
percolate
1. to cause (a liquid) to pass through a porous body; filter.
2. (of a liquid) to filter through; permeate.
3. to brew (coffee) in a percolator.
Mex: Through media reports it percolated to the surface that the senator likes attractive call boys.
poignant
1. keenly distressing to the feelings: poignant regret.
2. keen or strong in mental appeal: a subject of poignant interest.
3. affecting or moving the emotions: a poignant scene.
4. pungent to the smell: poignant cooking odors.
Mex: The escort wears a poignant perfume to make himself memorable to clients.
poltroon
- a wretched coward; craven.
- marked by utter cowardice.
Mex: I was poltroon to walk by the littoral area where escorts frequent the establishments.
Vocabulary: Of What Happened To A Prosaic Submarine
forensic
pertaining to, connected with, or used in courts of law or public discussion and debate.
Mex: The forensic data have been declassified for use in the public court.
quagmire
a situation from which extrication is very difficult
Mex: The quagmire was that, they were stuck in the seafloor and nobody knew where.
extricate
To release from an entanglement or difficulty; disengage.
get out of situation; relieve of responsibility
Mex: They had to be extricated from the eldritch seaweeds all over the submarine.
preclude
1.to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible
2.to exclude or debar from something
: The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction.
: His physical disability precludes an athletic career for him.
Mex: The lack of knowledgeable engineers precludes the crew from fixing the submarine.
prosaic
1. commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative.
2. of or having the character or form of prose rather than poetry.
Mex: Most submarines are of rather prosaic design.
abstruse
hard to understand; recondite; esoteric
The submarine's machinery design is too abstruse for the neophyte technicians to fix it.
recondite
1. dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter: a recondite treatise.
2. beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; esoteric: recondite principles.
3. little known; obscure: a recondite fact.
Mex: Only the chief engineer knows the submarines recondite repair schematics; He's dead.
suffuse
to overspread with or as with a liquid, color, etc.
Mex: The chief engineer's body was found dead, suffused with strange goo all over his body.
forensic
pertaining to, connected with, or used in courts of law or public discussion and debate.
Mex: The forensic data have been declassified for use in the public court.
quagmire
a situation from which extrication is very difficult
Mex: The quagmire was that, they were stuck in the seafloor and nobody knew where.
extricate
To release from an entanglement or difficulty; disengage.
get out of situation; relieve of responsibility
Mex: They had to be extricated from the eldritch seaweeds all over the submarine.
preclude
1.to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; make impossible
2.to exclude or debar from something
: The insufficiency of the evidence precludes a conviction.
: His physical disability precludes an athletic career for him.
Mex: The lack of knowledgeable engineers precludes the crew from fixing the submarine.
prosaic
1. commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative.
2. of or having the character or form of prose rather than poetry.
Mex: Most submarines are of rather prosaic design.
abstruse
hard to understand; recondite; esoteric
The submarine's machinery design is too abstruse for the neophyte technicians to fix it.
recondite
1. dealing with very profound, difficult, or abstruse subject matter: a recondite treatise.
2. beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; esoteric: recondite principles.
3. little known; obscure: a recondite fact.
Mex: Only the chief engineer knows the submarines recondite repair schematics; He's dead.
suffuse
to overspread with or as with a liquid, color, etc.
Mex: The chief engineer's body was found dead, suffused with strange goo all over his body.
Dec 29, 2009
From random web readings and videos:
erudite
learned, scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books.
Mex: Bede is considered an erudite scholar of his time.
sapient
having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment.
Mex: Aristotle, a most sapient philosopher.
palpable
readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, etc.; obvious;
Mex: Thirsty, the soda is palpable in my imagination.
inebriate
1. to make drunk; intoxicate.
2. to exhilarate, confuse, or stupefy mentally or emotionally.
Mex: I don't like the feeling of being inebriated.
precarious
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control;
uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
Mex: Economic depression brings precarious jobs to those who have any at all.
precocious
1. unusually advanced or mature in development, esp. mental development: a precocious child.
2. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
3. of or pertaining to premature development.
Mex: Celebrities from their childhood can come across as precocious.
*Mex - My example sentence.
erudite
learned, scholarly, with emphasis on knowledge gained from books.
Mex: Bede is considered an erudite scholar of his time.
sapient
having or showing great wisdom or sound judgment.
Mex: Aristotle, a most sapient philosopher.
palpable
readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived, etc.; obvious;
Mex: Thirsty, the soda is palpable in my imagination.
inebriate
1. to make drunk; intoxicate.
2. to exhilarate, confuse, or stupefy mentally or emotionally.
Mex: I don't like the feeling of being inebriated.
precarious
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control;
uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
Mex: Economic depression brings precarious jobs to those who have any at all.
precocious
1. unusually advanced or mature in development, esp. mental development: a precocious child.
2. prematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
3. of or pertaining to premature development.
Mex: Celebrities from their childhood can come across as precocious.
*Mex - My example sentence.
Dec 28, 2009
saccade
rapid intermittent eye movement
intermittent
stopping and starting at intervals
lagniappe
- a small gift presented by a storeowner to a customer with purchase
- an extra or unexpected gift or benefit
jeremiad
a literary work or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom.
Oh foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes and see not, which have ears and hear not.
dissent
- to differ in opinion; disagree
rapid intermittent eye movement
intermittent
stopping and starting at intervals
lagniappe
- a small gift presented by a storeowner to a customer with purchase
- an extra or unexpected gift or benefit
jeremiad
a literary work or speech expressing a bitter lament or a righteous prophecy of doom.
Oh foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes and see not, which have ears and hear not.
dissent
- to differ in opinion; disagree
Dec 27, 2009
abrogate
to abolish, to beg off, to do away with.
aficionado
a fan or a devotee
apparently derived from the same Latin word that gives affection.
bucolic
rustic, pastoral, country-styled
dearth
scarcity
ecumenical
world-wide, as opposed to parochial
mendicancy
beggary; begging.
recalcitrant
calx - heel
Marked by stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority or guidance.
inculcate
1. To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill: inculcating sound principles.
2. To teach (others) by frequent instruction or repetition; indoctrinate: inculcate the young with a sense of duty.
decalcomania
1. The process of transferring pictures or designs printed on specially prepared paper to materials such as glass or metal.
2. A decal.
subterfuge
A deceptive stratagem or device: "the paltry subterfuge of an anonymous signature" (Robert Smith Surtees).
to abolish, to beg off, to do away with.
aficionado
a fan or a devotee
apparently derived from the same Latin word that gives affection.
bucolic
rustic, pastoral, country-styled
dearth
scarcity
ecumenical
world-wide, as opposed to parochial
mendicancy
beggary; begging.
recalcitrant
calx - heel
Marked by stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority or guidance.
inculcate
1. To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill: inculcating sound principles.
2. To teach (others) by frequent instruction or repetition; indoctrinate: inculcate the young with a sense of duty.
decalcomania
1. The process of transferring pictures or designs printed on specially prepared paper to materials such as glass or metal.
2. A decal.
subterfuge
A deceptive stratagem or device: "the paltry subterfuge of an anonymous signature" (Robert Smith Surtees).
Dec 25, 2009
Dec 24, 2009
Dec 23, 2009
Dec 22, 2009
De Lo Que Aconteció ... (2)
Un dÃa el mancebo vino a su padre y le dijo que se daba cuenta de lo pobre que eran y como no le agradarÃa pasarse su vida en tal pobreza, ni tampoco marcharse fuera de su aldea para ganarse la vida, él preferirÃa casarse con una mujer rica. El padre estuvo de acuerdo. Entonces el mancebo propuso casarse con la hija de mal genio del hombre rico. Cuando su padre oyó esto se asombró mucho y le dijo que no; pues ninguna persona inteligente, por pobre que fuese, pensarÃa en tal cosa. "¡Nadie," le dijo, "se casará con ella!" Pero el mancebo se empeñó tanto que al fin su padre consitió en arreglar la boda.
----------------------------------------
Of What Happened ... (2)
One day the young man went to his father and told him that he realized how poor they were; and as he did not relish spending his life in such poverty, or leaving his village to earn a living, he would prefer to wed a wealthy woman. The father agreed. Then the young man proposed to marry the rich man's bad-tempered daughter. When his father heard this, he was much amazed and said no: for no person of intelligence, however poor he might be, would dream of such a thing. "No one," he told him, "will marry her!" But the youth was so insistent that at last his father agreed to arrange the weeding.
Un dÃa el mancebo vino a su padre y le dijo que se daba cuenta de lo pobre que eran y como no le agradarÃa pasarse su vida en tal pobreza, ni tampoco marcharse fuera de su aldea para ganarse la vida, él preferirÃa casarse con una mujer rica. El padre estuvo de acuerdo. Entonces el mancebo propuso casarse con la hija de mal genio del hombre rico. Cuando su padre oyó esto se asombró mucho y le dijo que no; pues ninguna persona inteligente, por pobre que fuese, pensarÃa en tal cosa. "¡Nadie," le dijo, "se casará con ella!" Pero el mancebo se empeñó tanto que al fin su padre consitió en arreglar la boda.
----------------------------------------
Of What Happened ... (2)
One day the young man went to his father and told him that he realized how poor they were; and as he did not relish spending his life in such poverty, or leaving his village to earn a living, he would prefer to wed a wealthy woman. The father agreed. Then the young man proposed to marry the rich man's bad-tempered daughter. When his father heard this, he was much amazed and said no: for no person of intelligence, however poor he might be, would dream of such a thing. "No one," he told him, "will marry her!" But the youth was so insistent that at last his father agreed to arrange the weeding.
De Lo Que Aconteció A Un Mancebo Que Se casó Con Una Mujer Muy Fuerte Y Muy Brava
Por Don Juan Manuel
Hace muchos años viviá en una aldea un moro quien tenÃa un hijo único. Este mancebo era tan bueno como su padre, pero ambos eran muy pobres. En aquella misma aldea vivÃa otro moro, también muy bueno, pero además rico; y era padre de una hija que era todo contrario del mancebo ya mencionado. Mientras que el joven era fino, de muy buenas maneras, ella era grosera y tenÃa mal genio. ¡Nadie querÃa casarse con aquel diablo!
------------------------------------
About What Happened To A Young Man Who Married A Very Wild, Unruly Wife
By Don Juan Manuel
Many years ago there lived in a certain village a Moor who had an only son. This young man was as good as his father, but both were very poor. In that same village there lived another Moor, who was also very good, but rich besides; and he was the father of a daughter who was completely unlike that youth. While the young man was courteous, and had the best of manners, she was crude and had a wicked temper. No one wanted to marry that devil!
Por Don Juan Manuel
Hace muchos años viviá en una aldea un moro quien tenÃa un hijo único. Este mancebo era tan bueno como su padre, pero ambos eran muy pobres. En aquella misma aldea vivÃa otro moro, también muy bueno, pero además rico; y era padre de una hija que era todo contrario del mancebo ya mencionado. Mientras que el joven era fino, de muy buenas maneras, ella era grosera y tenÃa mal genio. ¡Nadie querÃa casarse con aquel diablo!
------------------------------------
About What Happened To A Young Man Who Married A Very Wild, Unruly Wife
By Don Juan Manuel
Many years ago there lived in a certain village a Moor who had an only son. This young man was as good as his father, but both were very poor. In that same village there lived another Moor, who was also very good, but rich besides; and he was the father of a daughter who was completely unlike that youth. While the young man was courteous, and had the best of manners, she was crude and had a wicked temper. No one wanted to marry that devil!
Dec 21, 2009
Dec 20, 2009
Dec 19, 2009
How to Build a Better Vocabulary
Maxwell Nurnber and Morris Rosenblum
I've read this book when I was 16 but I saw it in the bookstore and found that there are words that I haven't really familiarized with. I bought it really cheap because there's a sale at Newport Mall in that bookstore that is going to close on January 16.
Maxwell Nurnber and Morris Rosenblum
I've read this book when I was 16 but I saw it in the bookstore and found that there are words that I haven't really familiarized with. I bought it really cheap because there's a sale at Newport Mall in that bookstore that is going to close on January 16.
Dec 18, 2009
Dec 17, 2009
Dec 15, 2009
Dec 14, 2009
Function / BPI / Percentile
Speed 1637 (99%)
Memory 1567 (98%)
Attention 1420 (99%)
Flexibility 1608 (99%)
Problem Solving 1427 (90%)
Overall 1532 (97%)
Three new top scores!
Top Chimp - 120
Memory Match Overload - 11540
Brain Shift Overdrive - 6575
Big drop in Flexibility due to new BPI on Brain Shift Overdrive coming into effect
Speed 1637 (99%)
Memory 1567 (98%)
Attention 1420 (99%)
Flexibility 1608 (99%)
Problem Solving 1427 (90%)
Overall 1532 (97%)
Three new top scores!
Top Chimp - 120
Memory Match Overload - 11540
Brain Shift Overdrive - 6575
Big drop in Flexibility due to new BPI on Brain Shift Overdrive coming into effect
Dec 11, 2009
Dec 6, 2009
Function / BPI / Percentile
Speed 1623 (99%)
Memory 1565 (98%)
Attention 1425 (99%)
Flexibility 1620 (99%)
Problem Solving 1427 (90%)
Overall 1532 (97%)
1699 - Response Inhibition
1684 - Task Switching
1665 - Spatial Orientation
1663 - Focus
1582 - Information Processing
1576 - Working Memory
1479 - Arithmetic
1479 - Verbal Fluency
1555 - Spatial Recall
1445 - Logical Reasoning
1357 - Quantitative Reasoning
1188 - Visual Field
Speed 1623 (99%)
Memory 1565 (98%)
Attention 1425 (99%)
Flexibility 1620 (99%)
Problem Solving 1427 (90%)
Overall 1532 (97%)
1699 - Response Inhibition
1684 - Task Switching
1665 - Spatial Orientation
1663 - Focus
1582 - Information Processing
1576 - Working Memory
1479 - Arithmetic
1479 - Verbal Fluency
1555 - Spatial Recall
1445 - Logical Reasoning
1357 - Quantitative Reasoning
1188 - Visual Field
Dec 5, 2009
Dec 4, 2009
Dec 3, 2009
blase adj.
(blah-ZAY)
adjective
Indifferent, bored, uninterested, unimpressed, or apathetic, from an excess of pleasure and enjoyment.
Etymology
From French, past participle of blaser, to cloy, perhaps from Dutch blasen to blow.
Usage
"It was a new and exciting experience for me to be with that audience at the biggest show of the season. Adolph was blase about it. As soon as the lights dimmed and the orchestra struck up the overture, Adolph turned to me and said, `Akio, goodnight.'"
These definitions are taken from www.answer.com btw.
(blah-ZAY)
adjective
Indifferent, bored, uninterested, unimpressed, or apathetic, from an excess of pleasure and enjoyment.
Etymology
From French, past participle of blaser, to cloy, perhaps from Dutch blasen to blow.
Usage
"It was a new and exciting experience for me to be with that audience at the biggest show of the season. Adolph was blase about it. As soon as the lights dimmed and the orchestra struck up the overture, Adolph turned to me and said, `Akio, goodnight.'"
These definitions are taken from www.answer.com btw.
Some things I've learned from Jericho.
I haven't verified them yet.
- EMP missiles.
- creating ice without use of appliances.
- some things about nuclear attacks and fallout.
- a certain FEMA notation.
- about a use of intravenous antiseptic as oppose to non-intravenous.
- reverse emergency system calls.
- a clue to determining a fake FBI badge.
- radiation effects on the body.
- a certain political scenario in the absence of central government.
etc. I'll add more later.
I haven't verified them yet.
- EMP missiles.
- creating ice without use of appliances.
- some things about nuclear attacks and fallout.
- a certain FEMA notation.
- about a use of intravenous antiseptic as oppose to non-intravenous.
- reverse emergency system calls.
- a clue to determining a fake FBI badge.
- radiation effects on the body.
- a certain political scenario in the absence of central government.
etc. I'll add more later.
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