pa-ter-nal / pəˈtərnl   adjective   of, like, or relating to a father I always found something strangely paternal about the director-actor relationship. Adam Driver, 1983-   inherited from the male parent At anaphase one of each pair of chromosomes goes to each daughter cell, such that each daughter cell inherits one copy of the paternal chromosome, and one copy of the maternal chromosome.... Read More

bleat / blēt   verb   to utter the wavering cry of a sheep or goat The feeble howl with the wolves, bray with the asses, and bleat with the sheep. Madame Roland, 1754-1793   to talk with a whine in the voice The dull rhythmic tramp of the soldiers’ boots formed the background to Goldstein’s bleating voice. From ‘1984’ by George Orwell, 1903-1950... Read More

roar / rôr   verb   to utter a deep, loud cry in distress, anger, or excitement After the sharp-eyed jay and the roaring lion, peace will come on dove’s gentle wing. Erin Hunter, ?-   to laugh boisterously The fine line between roaring with laughter and crying because it’s a disaster is a very, very fine line. Roald Dahl, 1916-1990   to make... Read More

snarl / snarl   verb, sense 1   to growl in a threatening manner, as a dog That they may have a little peace, even the best dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally. William Feather, 1889-1981   to speak in a gruff, threatening way We are accustomed to see men deride what they do no understand, and snarl at the good and beautiful because... Read More

bark / ˈbärk   verb   to utter a short, sharp cry, as a dog Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. Dave Barry, 1947-   to snap; to speak in a curt tone Don’t waste yourself in rejection, nor... Read More

verb   to make a low-pitched, harsh sound The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart. From ‘The Last Unicorn’ by Peter S. Beagle, 1939-   to speak in a deep, throaty voice The Oldest Inhabitant croaks: “Well, of all… Things…Can it be…really!…No!…Yes!… From ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by T. S. Eliot,... Read More

re-sign / rəˈzīn verb   to renounce or give up a formal position CEOs resign when the internal dynamics of the company and the external dynamics of the company actually come together to say it is appropriate. Ursula Burns, 1958-   to yield or submit without resistance One has to resign oneself to being a nuisance if one wants to get anything done. Freya... Read More

re-venge / rəˈvenj noun   an act or instance of retaliation against someone for a wrong they committed Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury. Edwin Hubbell Chapin, 1814-1880   a desire for retribution Revenge is the easiest of emotions to understand and to manipulate. David Anthony Durham, 1969-   an opportunity... Read More

re-tort / rəˈtôrt   verb   to reply sharply or in kind A bird in the hand was worth two in the bush, he told her, to which she retorted that a proverb was the last refuge of the mentally destitute. From ‘The Painted Veil’ by W. Somerset Maugham, 1874-1965   to return or hurl back Someone described Providence as the baptismal name of... Read More

Revere   re-vere / rəˈvir verb to have great respect for; to hold in high regard All great thinkers are initially ridiculed – and eventually revered. Robin Sharma, 1964-     Reverence rev-er-ence / ˈrev(ə)rəns   noun honor and respect for something Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862   an... Read More