Misunderstood /,misˌəndərˈsto̵od′/ verb: (past tense and past participle of misunderstand) 1. take (words, actions or behavior) in a wrong sense “No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749 – 1832 2. fail to correctly interpret (words, actions or behavior) “I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly... Read More

/rēCH/, noun: 1. a continuous stretch or expanse, especially a portion of land or a stream “He disdains all things above his reach, and preferred all countries before his own.” Thomas Overbury, 1581 – 1613 2. an obtainable distance “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Robert Browning, 1812-1889 “See not, my soul, the life of the... Read More

/rēCH/, verb: 1. to stretch out or extend “Where the lion’s skin will not reach, you must patch it with the fox’s.” Plutarch, 46 CE – 120 CE 2. to touch or grasp by extending a part of the body or an object “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul... Read More

/ˈrev(ə)rəns/, noun: 1. the state of being revered, or treated with the greatest respect; veneration “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” John Milton, 1608 – 1674 2. a feeling or attitude of deep and profound respect “Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the... Read More

/mis-ˈtir-ē-əs/, adjective: 1. exciting wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” Albert Einstein, 1879 – 1955 “A garden must combine the poetic and the mysterious with a feeling of serenity and joy.” Luis Barragan, 1902 – 1988 2. full of... Read More

/ návəɡādər/, noun: 1. a person skilled or engaged in navigation* “The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.” Edmund Gibbon,1737 – 1794 2. an explorer by sea example: Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama was the first person to sail directly from Europe to India. *navigation /navəˈɡāSH(ə)n/, noun: 1. the act or process of directing the course of... Read More

Complement /kämp-lə-mənt/ 1. noun: something that fills up, completes, or makes perfect “Constancy is the complement of all other human virtues.” Giuseppe Mazzini, 1805 -1872 2. verb: to add to (something), make complete or enhance, form a complement to “An America that inspires hope in its ideals must complement an America that inspires awe in its strength.” Adam Schiff, 1960 – Compliment /kämp-lə-mənt/ 1.... Read More

/pər-‘pleks/, verb: 1. a. to make difficult to grasp or understand clearly; puzzle, bewilder, or disconcert Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm. Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850 – 1894 1. b. to make intricate or involved; complicate The debates of that great assembly are frequently vague... Read More

məˈmôrēəl/ 1. noun: an object, institution, or custom established in memory of a person or event “Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749 – 1832 2. adjective: intending to commemorate a person or thing example: memorial service We hope you have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. We are grateful for the... Read More

/anˈtikwədē/, noun: 1. ancient times, especially the period before the Middle Ages “The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.” John Milton, 1608 – 1674 2. great age “All those things that are now field to be of the greatest antiquity were at one time new; what we to-day... Read More