leprechaun lep-re-chaun / lĕp-rĭ-kŏn, lĕp-rĭ-kôn noun 1. a mischievous elf-like creature, from Irish folklore, who, if captured, is said to grant wishes or reveal the location of a hidden pot of gold Imagine if we were all magical leprechauns, and every wish ever made on a four-leaf clover obliged us to help others obtain their wishes. Richelle E. Goodrich, ? –

drizzle driz-zle / drĭz-əl noun 1. a very light, gentle rain of minute droplets of water Let your love be like drizzle: it comes softly, but still swells the river. Madagascan Proverb verb 1. to rain lightly It began to drizzle rain and he turned on the windshield wipers; they made a great clatter like two idiots clapping in church. From “Wise Blood” by Flannery O’Connor, 1925 –... Read More

punctual punc-tu-al / pŭngk-cho͞o-əl adjective 1. arriving, observing or done at the exact time arranged; on time; prompt Sir Walter Scott, in lending a book one day to a friend, cautioned him to be punctual in returning it. From “Life and Literature” by J. Purver Richardson, ? – ?

deign deign / dān verb 1. to condescend to give, permit, provide, etc.; to vouchsafe Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, ‘Wait and Hope. From “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, 1802 – 1870 2.... Read More

elementary  el-e-men-ta-ry / ĕl-ə-mĕn-tə-rē, ĕl-ə-mĕn-trē adjective 1. pertaining to the most basic or fundamental part Language is the most elementary aspect to our humanness, probably. George Carlin, 1937 – 2008 2. pertaining to the first or most basic facts or principles; rudimentary The most elementary of good manners . . . at a social gathering one does not bring up the subject of personalities, sad topics or unfortunate... Read More

readjust re-ad-just / rē-ə-jŭst verb 1. to adapt; to adjust or change again, particularly after an initial failure Disappointment is just the action of your brain readjusting itself to reality after discovering things are not the way you thought they were. Brad Warner, 1964 –

synonymous syn-on-y-mous / sĭ-nŏn-ə-məs adjective 1. meaning the same or nearly the same thing Earnestness and sincerity are synonymous. Corita Kent, 1918 – 1986 2. suggestive of the same thing or idea Believe me, when an actress is told that her very name is synonymous with bad acting, she’s had it. Piper Laurie, 1932 –

foster fos-ter / fô-stər, fŏs-tər adjective 1. giving or receiving parental care, even though not related legally or by blood My riches are my family and my foster children. S. Truett Cathy, 1921 – 2014 verb 1. to rear; to raise and care for (such as a child) Foster a raven and it will peck out your eyes. Spanish Proverb 2. to further the growth and development The... Read More

juxtapose jux-ta-pose /  jŭk-stə-pōz verb 1.  to place side by side or close together, particularly in order to compare or contrast Thus it happened that in Eustacia’s brain were juxtaposed the strangest assortment of ideas, from old time and from new. From “Return of the Native” by Thomas Hardy, 1840 – 1928

you you / yo͞o pronoun 1. used to refer to any person in general; one You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803- 1882 2. used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing It only takes one person to change your life — you. Ruth Casey 3. (archaic,... Read More