Gossamer
Gossamer gos·sa·mer /ˈɡäsəmər/ Adjective sheer, like cobwebs “The gossamer web of life, spun on the loom of sunlight from the breath of an infant Earth, is nature’s crowning achievement on this planet.” – Preston Cloud (1912 – 1991)
Obsolete
Obsolete ob·so·lete /ˌäbsəˈlēt/ Adjective no longer in use, outdated “What’s the difference between obsolete and cutting edge? Obsolete works.” – Nicholas Negroponte (1947 – )
Berserk
Berserk ber·serk /bərˈsərk/ Adjective frenzied, crazy “If you want to win anything – a race, your self, your life – you have to go a little berserk.” Dr. George A. Sheehan (1918 – 1993)
Neuron
Neuron neu·ron /ˈno͝oˌrän/ Noun a type of cell in the nervous system that transmits information via electrical and chemical signals “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” – Donald Hebb (1904 – 1985)
Annunciation
Annunciation an·nun·ci·a·tion /əˌnən(t)sēˈāSHən/ Noun 1. the announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear Jesus “The Annunciation reminds us that God is always with us, even in the most ordinary moments of our lives.” – Father James Martin, S.J. (1960 – ) 2. an announcement, a declaration “Nostalgia is not an immersion in the past, nostalgia is the... Read More
Propagation
Propagation prop·a·ga·tion/ˌpräpəˈɡāSHən/ Noun 1. the act of spreading ideas, knowledge, or beliefs to a wider audience “The great work of the present for every man, and every organization of men, who would improve social conditions, is the work of education — the propagation of ideas.” – Henry George (1839 – 1897) 2. breeding plants or animals to create new specimens from the originals “Once... Read More
Lifeblood
Lifeblood life·blood /ˈlīfˌbləd/ Noun the essential force that keeps something alive or thriving “Respect is the lifeblood of progress, and the safe harbor of humanity’s great aspirations.” – Bryant H. McGill (1969- )
Pun
Pun pun /pən/ Noun clever or humorous wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a word or similar-sounding words with different meanings “Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.” – Edgar Allen Poe (1809 – 1849)
Slang
Slang slang /slaNG/ Noun very informal vocabulary, used by certain groups of people, which is more appropriate for speaking than writing “What is slang in one age sometimes goes into the vocabulary of the purist in the next.” – Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836 -1907)
Betterment
Betterment bet·ter·ment/ˈbedərmənt/ Noun the act of improving something “Every life is meant to help all lives; each man should live for all men’s betterment.” – Alice Cary (1820-1871)