climacteric cli-mac-ter-ic / klī-măk-tər-ĭk, klī-măk-tĕr-ĭk   adjective 1. critical; extremely important It is no cliché to argue that the terrorist attack that befell the United States in September 2001 was a climacteric event, a watershed in the post–Cold War world. Myron A. Greenberg, “Book Review – A New Disorder”, ‘Naval War College Review’, Volume 56, Number 1: Winter, Article 14   2. able to continue ripening after harvest,... Read More

climactic cli-mac-tic / klī-măk-tĭk adjective 1. relating to the culmination or climax I wanted to have a climactic scene that subverted those familiar ideas.  Scott Derrickson, 1966 – etymology Ultimately derived from a combination of the stem klimak of the Greek feminine noun klimax, klimkos (ladder, staircase) and the Greek adjectival suffix -tikos, -tika, -tikon (belonging to, related to, pertaining to) and indicating that something has reached its highest point. Thank you to... Read More

climatic cli-mat-ic / klī-măt-ĭk adjective 1. relating to or affected by the prevailing weather conditions of an area Pursuing employment or climatic relief, we live in voluntary exile from our extended families and our longer past, but in an involuntary exile from ourselves and our own past. John Thorn, 1947 –   etymology Formed by a combination of the English adjectival suffix -ic (belonging to, related to, pertaining... Read More

libel li-bel / lī-bəl noun 1. a published false statement or photo about someone, especially something harmful to his or her reputation; a slander A man is angry at a libel because it is false, but at a satire because it is true. Gilbert K. Chesterton, 1874 – 1936 2. the act or crime of publishing or broadcasting a degrading misrepresentation that is harmful to a reputation... Read More

liable li-a-ble / lī-ə-bəl adjective 1. accountable, legally responsible He is liable for direct damage both to your chimneys and any collateral damage caused by fall of bricks into garden, etc.  From “Actions and Reactions” by Rudyard Kipling, 1865 – 1936 2. likely, apt – generally used to indicate an adverse outcome All men are liable to error; and most men are, in many points, under... Read More

average av-er-age /  ăv-ər-ĭj, ăv-rĭj adjective 1. ordinary, usual, typical When you’re average, you’re just as close to the bottom as you are the top. Alfred North Whitehead, 1861 – 1947 2. pertaining to or estimated by the calculation of the arithmetic mean Calculating the average age of a group tells you what age most of the people fall closest to. Carter McBride, “How to Calculate Average... Read More

solitude sol-i-tude /   sŏl-ĭ-to͞od, sŏl-ĭ-tyo͞od noun 1. the state of being alone Solitude is enjoyed only when one is at peace with oneself.  Chinese Proverb 2. a secluded place or a place which is removed from civilization To sit in solitude, to think in solitude with only the music of the stream and the cedar to break the flow of silence, there lies the value of... Read More

incredulous in-cred-u-lous / ĭn-krĕj-ə-ləs adjective 1. skeptical; not believing or reluctant to believe The proof that this is the genuine spot where Noah was buried can only be doubted by uncommonly incredulous people.  From “The Innocents Abroad” by Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910 2. displaying or indicating disbelief ‘Try to forget them!’ he rejoined, raising his haggard face to hers, and regarding her with an incredulous stare. ... Read More

unexceptionable un-ex-cep-tion-a-ble /  ŭn-ĭk-sĕp-shə-nə-bəl adjective 1. perfect; beyond reproach or criticism Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable characters. Samuel Adams, 1722 – 1803 etymology A combination of the English negative prefix un- (not), akin to the Latin negative prefix in-, and the  adjective-forming suffix -able, which comes from a... Read More

soar soar / sôr noun 1. the act of gliding or flying through the air The soar of the eagle flying in the wind, As it glides through the air on its flight, It’s eyes piercing around looking far away, Ready to scoop down and take its prey From “The Eagles Flight” by Sharon Kemper, ? – 2. the altitude gained when flying through the air... Read More