Universe
Universe /ˈyo͞onəvərs/ noun All of creation, the total world There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. – Aldous Huxley (1894 – 1963)
Mondegreen
Mondegreen /ˈmändəˌɡrēn/ noun A misheard or misinterpreted phrase, usually in a song. Mondegreens are funny, of course, but they also give us insight into the underlying nature of linguistic processing and how our minds make meaning out of sound. – Maria Konnikova, The New Yorker
Fossil
Fossil /ˈfäs(ə)l/ noun The impression or remains in a rock of a petrified organism or animal Every fossil tells a story, and it is our job to decipher it. – paleo-anthropologist Mary Leakey (1913 – 1996)
Saga
Saga /ˈsäɡə/ noun a legend, a long story or series. Star Wars is a saga of Good vs. Evil, divided into nine parts. – George Lucas (1944-)
Chortle
Chortle /ˈCHôrd(ə)l/ verb to make a chuckling or snorting noise There are five types of laughter to choose from. You can giggle, chuckle, howl, chortle, and, in extreme cases when you’re wearing a monocle, even guffaw. – Colin Nissan
Daisy
Daisy /ˈdā-zē/ noun noun a flower with a yellow or brown center surrounded by petals The Pyramids will not last a moment compared with the daisy. – D.H. Lawrence (1885 – 1930)
Esteem
Esteem /əˈstēm,eˈstēm/ noun/verb noun a favorable opinion or judgement The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently. – Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) verb to honor, to regard highly or favorably Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than... Read More
Spiritual
Spiritual /ˈspirəCH(əw)əl/ adjective airy, motivated by the soul, holy, religious. We need spiritual practices that not only cultivate inner peace and clarity, but that transform us to the the deepest level of our individuality— our motivations, will and character— enabling us to be truly enlightened actors working together for an enlightened future. – Chris Hamilton (1995-)
Geology
Geology /jēˈäləjē/ noun The science that studies the structure of the Earth, its physical changes, and the causes producing these changes Geology gave us the immensity of time and taught us how little of it our own species has occupied. – Stephan Jay Gould (1941-2002)
Commemorate
Commemorate /kəˈmeməˌrāt/ verb to honor, memorialize It is a great privilege to return here to our national sanctuary, this most hallowed ground, to commemorate Memorial Day with all of you. – Barack Obama, Memorial Day Speech, 2011