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

euphoric eu-pho-ric / yo͞o-fôr-ĭk, yo͞o-fŏr-ĭk adjective 1. characterized by or feeling great joy or excitement; elated When we feel joyful, euphoric, happy, we are more open to life, more capable of seeing things clearly and handling daily tensions. Leo Buscaglia, 1924 – 1998

dung dung / dŭng noun 1. the excrement of animals; manure Dung is no saint, but where it falls it works miracles. Spanish Proverb 2. something that is revolting or disgusting One had better not rush, otherwise dung comes out rather than creative work. From a Letter to A. S. Suvorin from Anton Chekhov, 1860 – 1904 verb 1. to apply manure to soil to fertilize There,... Read More

senectitude se-nec-ti-tude / sĭ-nĕk-tĭ-to͞od, sĭ-nĕk-tĭ-tyo͞od noun 1. old age The play opens as Lear, the King of Britain, now aged and willing to enjoy a nice and peaceful senectitude, decides to step down and share his kingdom evenly among his three daughters depending on the love they profess for him. Sara Moldoveanu, “‘Doth any here know me? Who is it that can tell me who I am?’... Read More

proffer prof-fer / prŏf-ər noun 1. an offer or the act of making a formal offer or presenting for acceptance Instead of cutting a deal before information is divulged, a prosecutor will almost always insist on scheduling a “proffer of information,” where the target and his attorney will meet with the prosecutor and investigating agent so that the target can set out what he knows. Mark Osler,... Read More

malfeasance mal-fea-sance / măl-fē-zəns noun 1. a wrongdoing or behavior that is improper or illegal, particularly when done by a public official Public records are one portal through which the people observe their government, ensuring its accountability, integrity, and equity while minimizing sovereign mischief and malfeasance. Sandra Day O’Connor, 1930 –

deduction de-duc-tion / dĭ-dŭk-shən noun 1. the act of subtracting or reducing Any violation of this policy will result in the deduction of three points from your final class average. “Math 355 Course Information”, ‘Calvin University’, www.sites.calvin.edu/tmk5/courses/m355/S13/info.pdf, accessed April 12, 2023 2. an amount that is used to reduce something No matter how bad a child is, he is still good for a tax deduction. American Proverb 3. the... Read More

qualm qualm / kwäm, kwôm, or kwälm noun 1. remorse; a feeling of regret for a wrongdoing King David and King Solomon Led merry, merry lives, With many, many lady friends And many, many Wives; But when old age crept over them— With many many qualms, King Soloman wrote the Proverbs And King David wrote the Psalms. James Ball Naylor, 1860 – 1945 2. misgiving; a sudden feeling... Read More

perturb per-turb / pər-tûrb verb 1. to trouble or disturb; to make anxious or agitated A woman is perturbed by what a man forgets—a man by what a woman remembers. Arch Ward, 1896 – 1955 2. to throw into a state of chaos or confusion; to disorder; to cause a disturbance in the normal motion, cycle, etc. The fact that we have been able to perturb the... Read More

sugarcoat sug-ar-coat / sho͝og-ər-kōt verb 1. enclosed in sugar or other sweet substance To sugarcoat cranberries, moisten them in frothy egg white and then dip in sugar. From “The Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook” by Mary Corpeining Barber and Sara Corpening Whiteford 2. to make superficially attractive or more appealing The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat pain and suffering; it gives you something to move past it.... Read More