short / SHôrt adjective lacking length or height The wise person has long ears and a short tongue. German Proverb   brief Life is short but a smile takes barely a second. Cuban Proverb   quick As long as you don’t fly openly in the face of society, society doesn’t ask any inconvenient questions; and it makes precious short work of the cads who... Read More

yule / yo͞ol noun an antiquated term for Christmas and the Christmas season Here we have battle and blazing eyes, And chance and honour and high surprise, But our homes are under miraculous skies Where the yule tale was begun. from ‘The House of Christmas’ by G.K. Chesterton, 1874-1936   It’s getting on to the Yule Tide The one that comes every year Where... Read More

cheer / CHir noun a shout of joy or encouragement So two cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism. E.M. Forster, 1879-1970   a state of mind or heart After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem, there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer. William R. Alger,... Read More

hol-i-day / ˈhäləˌdā noun holy day Christmas is a holiday that we celebrate not as individuals nor as a nation, but as a human family. Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004   a day of exemption from work After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working. Kenneth Grahame, 1859-1932... Read More

car-ol /  kăr-əl noun 1. a song of joy, especially at Christmas I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807 – 1882   2. a round folk dance with singing It is thought that carols were danced to ballads during medieval times... Read More

splen-dor / ˈsplendər noun brilliancy; luster or intense brightness Time will bring to light whatever is hidden; it will cover up and conceal what is now shining in splendor. Horace, 65 BC- BC   magnificence; grandeur The fire that burns a royal palace only enhances its splendor. Nigerian Proverb   an instance or display of pomp It is neither wealth not splendor[,] but tranquility... Read More

won-der-ful / ˈwəndərfəl adjective astonishing; excellent; marvelous Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale. Hans Christian Andersen, 1805-1875   admirable Do something wonderful, people may imitate it. Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965   of a sort causing amazement How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Author Unknown; often attributed to Anne Frank, 1929-1945

co-coa / ˈkōkō noun a powder made from roasted, husked, and ground seeds of a cacao plant [M]ake sure to use non-alkalized cocoa powder or dark chocolate containing more than 70% cocoa if you want to maximize health benefits. Elise Mendl, ?- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cocoa-powder-nutrition-benefits   a beverage made by mixing cacao powder with water or milk; served hot Animal crackers and cocoa to drink, That... Read More

lost / lôst,last adjective 1. no longer possessed Count not what is lost but what is left. Chinese Proverb   2. not claimed or made use of Hours once lost cannot be regained. Yugoslavian Proverb   3. desperate; morally or physically ruined or destroyed Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862   4. having gone astray... Read More

mis-take / məˈstāk noun an error; an incorrect answer or decision Failure is the way to success; each mistake teaches us something. Morihei Ueshiba, 1883-1969   a judgment proven wrong due to inattention or lack of knowledge The biggest mistake of past centuries in teaching has been to treat all students as if they were variants of the same individual and thus to feel... Read More