gesture ges-ture / jĕs-chər noun 1. a movement of the hand, body or face that expresses ideas or feelings We see that every external motion, act, gesture, whether voluntary or mechanical, organic or mental, is produced and preceded by internal feeling or emotion, will or volition, and thought or mind. H. P. Blavatsky, 1831 – 1891 2. an act or something that is said as a formality... Read More

prior pri-or / prī-ər adjective 1. occurring earlier in time or order Prior to any questioning, the person must be warned that he has a right to remain silent, that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed. Earl Warren, 1891 – 1974  2. preceding; existing or... Read More

spurious spu-ri-ous / spyo͝or-ē-əs adjective 1. counterfeit; not real or genuine America overflows with specious “victims” demanding redress for spurious grievances. George Will, “Reform in Baseball as In Life”, www.sfgate.com. April 2, 2001 2. untrustworthy; invalid; incorrect Correlations are not explanations and besides, they can be as spurious as the high correlation in Finland between foxes killed and divorces. Gunnar Myrdal. 1898 – 1987 3. in plants, having a... Read More

salsa sal-sa / säl-sə noun 1. a spicy sauce usually made from chopped raw vegetables or fruit, particularly tomatoes, onions and peppers Over the past decade, Americans have grown to love salsa on everything from scrambled eggs to the more traditional dishes of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage. Julie Garden-Robinson, “From the Garden to the Table: Salsa!”, www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/garden-table-salsa, accessed April 26, 2023 2. a type of music originating... Read More

largesse (also largess) lar-gesse / lär-zhĕs, lär-jĕs, lär–jĕs noun 1. the generous giving of gifts, favors, etc., often as if to an inferior Big-government proponents embrace both the power of the federal government and the idea that millions of Americans ought to be dependent on its largesse. Gary Bauer, 1946 – 2. a gift or money that has been given, often in a showy way The... Read More

wretch wretch / rĕch noun 1. a person who is miserably unhappy or unfortunate Hatred, in the course of time, kills the unhappy wretch who delights in nursing it in his bosom. Giacomo Casanova, 1725 – 1798 2. a vile, despicable person Hell is crowded with ungrateful wretches. Italian Proverb

evince e-vince / ĭ-vĭns verb 1. to display or demonstrate clearly; to make evident or clear Deep joy is a serene and sober emotion, rarely evinced in open merriment. Madame Roland, 1754 – 1793

munificent mu-nif-i-cent / myo͞o-nĭf-ĭ-sənt adjective 1. extremely generous; freely giving If riches increase, let thy mind hold pace with them; and think it not enough to be liberal, but munificent.  Thomas Browne, 1605 – 1682 2. generous or abundant in amount or quantity While so engaged at Greenbush, now East Albany, N.Y., he [Herman Melville] received the munificent salary of ‘six dollars a quarter and board.’ From “Introduction... Read More

longanimity lon-ga-nim-i-ty / lŏng-gə-nĭm-ĭ-tē, lông-gə-nĭm-ĭ-tē noun 1. patience or self-control in times of suffering or hardship; forbearance; long-suffering In the midst of uncertainty, we can pray for the virtue of longanimity to strengthen our souls and guard us against despair. Theresa Smart, “Longanimity: The virtue of waiting for God”, McGrath Institute Blog, www.mcgrathblog.nd.edu/longanimity-the-virtue-of-waiting-for-god, February 11, 2019

epithet ep-i-thet / ĕp-ə-thĕt noun 1. a descriptive, characterizing word or phrase used as a nickname or to refer to a person Husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, and son of Laërtes and Anticlea, Odysseus is renowned for his brilliance, guile, and versatility, and is hence known by the epithet Odysseus the Cunning. www.amazon.com/Odysseus-Ithaca-Bronze-Oddysey-Mythical/dp/B00O8281W0. Accessed April 25, 2023 2. a word or phrase that is defamatory, abusive or... Read More