grum-ble / ˈɡrəmbəl   verb   to complain or mutter discontentedly To do nothing but grumble and not act – that is throwing away one’s life. William Morris, 1834-1896   to growl or rumble Since it was winter, the cows had little else to do but watch what was going on – and grumble. From ‘The tale of the Muley Cow’ by Arthur Scott... Read More

vi-cis-si-tude / vəˈsisəˌt(y)o͞od   noun   the state or quality of being changeable; mutability The greatest vicissitude in things amongst men, is the vicissitude of sects and religions. Francis Bacon, 1561-1626   plural, alternation; succession Such are the vicissitudes of the world, through all its parts, that day and night, labor and rest, hurry and retirement, endear each other; such are the changes that... Read More

mourning   mourn-ing  /  môr-nĭng   noun  (no plural)   the act of feeling or showing sorrow; grief I’m in mourning for my life. Anton Chekhov, 1860 -1904   a period of time or to grieve for and honor someone who died A wolf’s mourning is the fox’s feast. Spanish Proverb   an outward sign of grief for someone who has died Never dress... Read More

he-ro / ˈhirō   noun   a person who is noted for noble character or courageous acts The real hero doesn’t say that he is one. Filipino Proverb   a person who has special abilities or personal qualities which lead to others regarding them as role models or ideals A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in... Read More

lo-cate / lōˈkāt   verb   to identify, determine, or discover the exact position of When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable. Xun Kuang, c. 310 BC – c. 235 BC   to settle or fix a position The books or the music in which we thought the beauty... Read More

trade / trād noun   the business of bartering or selling and buying commodities; market There is no friendship in trade. Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1794-1877   a transaction It is foolhardy to make a second trade, if your first trade shows you a loss. Jesse Lauriston Livermore, 1877-1940   a craft or occupation My trade and art is to live. Michel de Montaigne, 1533-1592  ... Read More

re-cep-tion / rəˈsepSH(ə)n   noun   the act of accepting something given or being greeted There is something so amiable about the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions. Jane Austen, 1775-1817   a manner in which something is accepted or greeted I believe if you write a great book,... Read More

bam-boo-zle / bamˈbo͞ozəl   verb   to dupe or deceive through trickery It is well-known what a middleman is: he is a man who bamboozles one party and plunders the other. Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881   to confuse or throw off completely To fool a judge, feign fascination, but to bamboozle the whole court, feign boredom. From ‘Cloud Atlas’ by David Mitchell, 1969-

naval   na-val  /  nā-vəl   adjective   pertaining to ships; seafaring, nautical, maritime Plymouth harbor’s maritime and naval history is, however, interwoven with that of England. from “England, Picturesque and Descriptive” by Joel Cook, 1842 – 1910   pertaining to, or having a navy Without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive. George Washington, 1732 – 1799       navel... Read More

ses-qui-pe-da-li-an / ˌseskwəpəˈdālyən   adjective   containing many syllables Perhaps sesquipedalian chemical names just sound dangerous. Neil deGrasse Tyson, 1958-   prone to using long words …if you have difficulty deciphering my sesquipedalian language, then you must be even more intimidated by my magnitudinous appearance. Peggy Christian, ?-