staid staid / stād adjective 1. sober; sedate; serious; conforming to proper, conventional standards Madame Reuter looked more like a joyous, free-living old Flemish fermiere, or even a maitresse d’auberge, than a staid, grave, rigid directrice de pensionnat. From “The Professor” by Charlotte Brontë, 1816 – 1855 2. permanent; stationary There is nothing settled, nothing staid in this universe. From “The Waves” by Virginia Woolf, 1882 –... Read More

nostalgic nos-tal-gic / nŏ-stăl-jĭk, nə-stăl-jĭk adjective 1. homesick; having a deep longing for things or people from one’s past; sentimental There’s something about the sound of a train that’s very romantic and nostalgic and hopeful. Paul Simon, 1941 –

xenophobia xe-no-pho-bi-a / zē-nə-fō-bēə, zĕn-ə-fō-bēə noun 1. fear or hatred of anything foreign or strange The library card is a passport to wonders and miracles, glimpses into other lives, religions, experiences, the hopes and dreams and strivings of ALL human beings, and it is this passport that opens our eyes and hearts to the world beyond our front doors, that is one of our best hopes... Read More

usefulness use-ful-ness / yo͞os-fəl-nəs noun 1. the quality of having a practical purpose or use; helpfulness The sweetness of life lies in usefulness, like honey deep in the heart of a clover bloom. Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1867 – 1957

zoonotic zo-o-no-tic / zō-ə-nä-tĭk adjective 1. (pertaining to a disease) having the ability to be transmitted between animals and humans Zoonotic pathogens, such as coronaviruses and avian influenza viruses, are more likely to infect people in crowded, unsanitary settings, where multiple animal species from a wide geographic area intermingle. In general, the risks of a human outbreak increase when zoonotic pathogens are novel—because of a lack of... Read More

esoteric es-o-ter-ic /  ĕs-ə-tĕr-ĭk   adjective 1. belonging to a select few Greatness is not this wonderful, esoteric, elusive, god-like feature that only the special among us will ever taste. Will Smith, 1968 –   2. designed or intended only for a group with specialized knowledge: difficult for the general public to understand The grain of real knowledge is concealed in a vast deal of... Read More

aardvark aard-vark / ärd–värk noun 1. a medium sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal with a long snout, Orycteropus afer, that feeds on ants and termites and is native to Africa The aardvark gets its name from a South African word meaning “earth pig.” Although the aardvark looks like a pig, especially with its body and snout, aardvarks actually share common ancestors with elephants and golden moles.... Read More

disingenuous dis-in-gen-u-ous / dĭs-ĭn-jĕn-yo͞o-əs adjective 1. having secret motives; insincere; not forthright Mr. Elliot is evidently a disingenuous, artificial, worldly man, who has never had any better principle to guide him than selfishness. From “Persuasion” by Jane Austen, 1775 – 1817

yearn yearn / yûrn verb 1. to long for, to strongly desire In all ranks of life the human heart yearns for the beautiful; and the beautiful things that God makes are his gift to all alike. Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1811 – 1896 2. to be affected by emotionally; to feel affection or sorrow The heart of the whole country yearns toward the beleaguered city with intense solicitude,... Read More

impoverished im-pov-er-ished / ĭm-pŏv-ə-rĭsht, ĭm-pŏv-rĭsht adjective 1. poor, without the basic necessities of life, destitute Has he not also another object, which is that they may be impoverished by payment of taxes, and thus compelled to devote themselves to their daily wants and therefore less likely to conspire against him? From “The Republic” by Plato, 427 BC – 347 BC 2. lacking strength or vitality; depleted... Read More