u-bi-qui-tous / yü-ˈbi-kwə-təs   adjective   ever present; widespread Helping children to face up to a certain amount of drudgery, cheerfully and energetically, is one of the biggest problems that teachers, in these days of ubiquitous entertainment, have to face in our schools. from ‘Chronicles of Fairacre, Comprising Village School, Village Diary, and Storm in the Village’ by Miss Read (Dora Jessie Saint MBE),... Read More

boun-ty  /  boun-tē   noun (plural bounties) generosity All that is good is ours not by right but by the sheer bounty of a gracious God.  Brennan Manning, 1934 – 2013   something that is given generously For here lies the pleasure of living: In taking God’s bounties, and giving The gifts back again.  Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 1850 – 1919   an incentive or... Read More

en-nui / ˌän-ˈwē   noun   a feeling of dissatisfaction or boredom To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight. Baron de Montesquieu, 1689-1755

sweat-er / ˈswe-tər   noun   a knitted garment, usually with long sleeves My mother, for as long as I could remember, made at least one sweater every month…She would give us each a hand-knit sweater every Christmas. Until she died, those zipper sweaters that I wore on the Neighborhood were all made by my mother. Fred Rogers, 1928-2003   a person that perspires... Read More

mer-ri-ment / ˈmer-i-mənt   noun   gaiety; laughter Cultivate solitude and quiet and a few sincere friends, rather than mob merriment, noise and thousands of nodding acquaintances. William Powell, 1892-1984   lively celebration or festivities Christmas is more than a time of music, merriment and mirth it is a season of meditation, mangers and miracles. William Arthur Ward, 1921-1994

holy   ho-ly  /  hō-lē   adjective (holy, holier, holiest)   sacred; divine; pertaining to God or a deity O Holy Spirit, descend plentifully into my heart. Saint Augustine, 354 – 430   regarded with reverence or designated for religious use They are not all saints who use holy water. English Proverb   godly; filled with spiritual devotion and high morals Holy wisdom confounds... Read More

gar-land / ˈgär-lənd   noun   a wreath or other ornament made from flowers, leaves, etc., used for decoration or bestowed as an honor To have ideas is to gather flowers; to think is to weave them into garlands. Sophie Swetchine, 1782-1857   (archaic) a collection or anthology of literary works The editors subject the Garland of Philip – an ancient anthology represented in... Read More

me-no-rah / mə-ˈnȯr-ə   noun   a candelabrum with between seven and nine arms, used for worship in Judaism In terms of my religious preference, if a year goes by and I don’t have a Seder or I don’t light the menorah, I feel a loss. Jason Robert Brown, 1970-

naugh-ty / ˈnȯ-tē   adjective   ill behaved Once you begin being naughty, it is easier to go and on and on, and sooner or later something dreadful happens. Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867-1957   in poor taste Don’t write naughty words on the wall if you can’t spell! Tom Lehrer, 1928-   archaic, wicked So shines a good deed in a naughty world. from... Read More

nice / nīs   adjective   pleasant It is sad to grow old but nice to ripen. Brigitte Bardot, 1934-   kind Nice words are free, so choose ones that please another’s ears. Vietnamese Proverb   executed in a good manner A lot of hard work is hidden behind nice things. Ralph Lauren, 1939-   fine; fancy We need to steer clear of this... Read More