aisle aisle  /  īl   noun   the passageway between seats, shelves, counters, etc. such as in a bus, auditorium, store or warehouse The excitement spread through the train, and men, and even women, left their seats, overflowing the aisles. From “The Escape of Mr. Trimm” by Irvin S. Cobb, 1876 – 1944   a long, narrow passageway Up and down the long grassy... Read More

ver-ba-tim / vərˈbādəm   adverb   in the exact same words I will never repeat something verbatim on the air unless I know it’s accurate. Al Michaels, 1944-   adjective   word-for-word; corresponding to the exact same words being quoted True art selects and paraphrases, but seldom gives a verbatim translation. Thomas Bailey Aldrich, 1836-1907   skilled at recording or remembering words or events... Read More

Sis-y-phe-an / ˌsisəˈfēən   adjective   of or relating to a task that seems endless or as if no progress will be made; in reference to the mythological character Sisyphus Life is a Sisyphean race, run ever faster toward a finish line that is merely the start of the next race. Matt Ridley, 1958-

pe-dan-tic / pi-ˈdan-tik   adjective   of or relating to a person who makes a show of knowledge Facts are what pedantic, dull people have instead of opinions. A.A. Gill, 1954-2016   ostentation in one’s learning Slothful, feeble, pretentious, pedantic, elitist – these are some of the epithets that eventually become associated with the absent-minded scholar, the poor sighted reader, the book worm, the... Read More

con-vi-vi-al / kən-ˈviv-yəl   adjective   friendly; agreeable It is a curious truth that many cats enjoy warmer, more convivial, even affectionate relationships with humans than they could ever do with fellow felines. Bruce Fogle, 1944-   jovial; fond of merrymaking When you’re younger, you go out and you’re convivial because you have to be. Jim Shaw, 1952-   of or related to merrymaking... Read More

fat-u-ous / ˈfa-chü-əs   adjective   foolish or inanely silly No mistake is more common and more fatuous than appealing to logic in cases which are beyond her jurisdiction. Samuel Butler, 1835-1902   unreal; illusory Everybody who’s been on television more than once wears in public an expression of fatuous affability. Quentin Crisp, 1908-1999

dam   dam  /  dăm   noun   a wall built across a river or lake that controls water flow Words, like tranquil waters behind a dam, can become reckless and uncontrollable torrents of destruction when released without caution and wisdom. William Arthur Ward, 1921 – 1994   a barrier controlling the flow of liquids or other matter Law and order exist for the... Read More

so-lip-sism / ˈsō-ləp-ˌsi-zəm   noun   the theory that only the self exists or can be proven to exist I discover in my experiential space evidence for the wrongness of solipsism, and this evidence is called beauty. Timothy Morton, 1968-   extreme self-absorption If the concept of identification suggested that an individual experiences a work as a mirror in which he might recognize himself,... Read More

qui-et / ˈkwīət   adjective   making little to no sound You must keep quiet or say only things that improve silence. Greek Proverb   having little to no motion; calm The heart of the wise man lies quiet like limpid water. Cameroonian Proverb   free from sound or extraneous noise There comes a time in every life when the world gets quiet and... Read More

pic-ture / ˈpik(t)SHər   noun   a visual representation of something or someone, like a painting, photograph, etc. A picture can hide as much as it reveals. Alexandra Petri, 1988-   a vivid description that triggers a mental image It is too easy to say ‘what if’ and paint a picture of a perfect world. Darren Shan, 1972-   a copy or example Justice... Read More