paltry pal-try / pôl-trē adjective 1. worthless; petty; trivial; inconsequential When I first tried to write, I had nothing to write about except a few paltry experiences which I neither understood nor appreciated. From “Martin Eden” by Jack London, 1876 – 1916 2. extremely small in amount; negligible; inadequate If a man borrows a paltry sum of money, there must needs be bonds and securities, and every... Read More

mantel (also spelled mantle, primarily in American English) man-tel / măn-tl noun 1. the decorative facing around a fireplace; also called a mantelpiece A broad window with leaded panes looked out upon the moor; and over the mantel was another portrait of the stiff, plain little girl who seemed to stare at her more curiously than ever. From “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett,... Read More

tangle tan-gle / tang-gəl noun 1. a confused mass of intertwined threads, hair or similar strands; a snarl Overhead, tangles of wires knotted together in a grand display of unplanned infrastructure. From “Molly Fyde and the Parsona Recue” by Hugh Howey, 1975 – 2. a confused or complicated state or situation It is such a comfort to drop the tangles of life into God’s hands... Read More

livid liv-id /  lĭv-ĭd adjective 1. discolored as though bruised; black and blue His captor was Burton Duff, the jailer, as white as death and bearing upon his brow the livid mark of the iron bar. From “Present At A Hanging And Other Ghost Stories” by Ambrose Bierce, 1842 – 1914 2. very angry; furious Milady opened the letter with eagerness equal to Kitty’s in... Read More

alarm a-larm / ə-lärm noun 1. a sudden feeling of fear or danger; apprehension We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties. James Madison 1751-1836 2. something that alerts or warns of approaching danger We live in the midst of alarms; anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read. Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 3. a device used... Read More

cooperation co-op-er-a-tion / kō-ŏp-ə-rā-shən   noun 1. the act of working together toward a common goal Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. Alexander Graham Bell, 1847 – 1922   2. the association of people or businesses for mutual benefit Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Monday held a meeting with his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts in Baghdad to discuss economic cooperations between... Read More

cooperation co-op-er-a-tion / kō-ŏp-ə-rā-shən noun 1. the act of working together toward a common goal Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. Alexander Graham Bell, 1847 – 1922 2. the association of people or businesses for mutual benefit Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Monday held a meeting with his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts in Baghdad to discuss economic cooperations between the three... Read More

hither hith-er /  hĭth-ər   adjective 1. closer; on this or the nearer side Here between the hither and the farther shore While time is withdrawn, consider the future And the past with an equal mind. From “The Dry Salvages” by T. S. Eliot, 1888 – 1965   adverb 1. to this place Learn to commend thy daily acts to God, so shall the dry every-day... Read More

virtue vir-tue / vûr-cho͞o noun 1. behavior showing high moral standards; uprightness; righteousness The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature. Marcus Aurelius, 121 – 180 2. a type or instance of moral excellence The virtue of prosperity, is temperance; the virtue of adversity, is fortitude;... Read More

detour de-tour / dē–to͝or, dĭ-to͝or noun 1. a circuitous, indirect route, particularly one caused by a temporary blockage of the main route The really happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery, even when they have to take a detour. Sir James Jeans, 1877 – 1946 2. a change from a planned course of action that is generally less direct One of the major keys... Read More