perspicacity per-spi-cac-i-ty / pûr-spĭ-kăs-ĭ-tē noun 1. the intellectual ability to keenly perceive, discern or understand I intend to bring you strength, joy, courage, perspicacity, defiance. André Gide, 1869 – 1951

defend de-fend / dĭ-fĕnd verb 1. to fight to protect something; to guard against attack or harm Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it. Pericles 495 BC -429 BC 2. to stand up for something in the face of criticism; uphold; justify Venture not to defend what your judgment doubts of. English Proverb 3. in an oral examination, to provide... Read More

brittle brit-tle / brĭt-l adjective 1. easily broken or snapped; fragile Man is harder than a stone and more brittle than an egg. Bulgarian Proverb 2. lacking compassion or sensitivity; cold “Now, my boy, times have changed,” Del Mar addressed him in cold, brittle tones. From “Michael, Brother of Jerry” by Jack London, 1876 – 1916 3. irritable; rudely brusque Bush gave a brittle reply, calling such remarks... Read More

philanthropic phil-an-throp-ic / fĭl-ən-thrŏp-ĭk adjective 1. showing concern for mankind; marked by charitable actions or assistance; benevolent We cannot preserve philanthropic and charitable values if we detach them completely from our fundamental personal beliefs and convictions. Robert L. Payton, 1926 – 2011

colonel colo-nel / kûr-nəl noun 1. a commissioned officer in the US Army, Air Force or Marine Corps, ranking above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general or a similar rank in other countries When we find him again, his mustachios and the title of Colonel on his card are the only relics of his military profession. From “Vanity Fair” by William Makepeace Thackeray, 1811... Read More

unselfish un-self-ish / ŭn-sĕl-fĭsh adjective 1.  generous; concerned about others more than oneself; altruistic Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another. Erma Bombeck, 1927 – 1996

wonky won-ky / wŏng-kē adjective 1. unsteady; wobbly; shaky That thought made Ki-jeong want to straighten out the rumpled bed sheets and make the bed up neatly, fold a thick piece of paper and stick it beneath the wonky chair leg to balance it, attach a deadbolt to the flimsy goshiwon door, and take the purple trench coat off of the dingy wall, place it in a... Read More

fecund fe-cund / fē-kənd, fĕk-ənd adjective 1. able to produce fruit, offspring, etc. in abundance; fruitful; fertile  The rain, the humid flux descending from heaven for both man and animal, for both thick and strong, germinated the wheat, swelled the furrows with fecund mud and brought forth the buds in the orchards. Aeschylus, c. 525 BC – c. 456 BC 2. very productive intellectually; prolific A sterile mind... Read More

death death / dĕth noun 1. the end of life Every man goes down to his death bearing in his hands only that which he has given away. Persian Proverb 2. the end of something, termination The fear of God is the death of every other fear; like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it. Charles Spurgeon, 1834 – 1892 3. murder; the act of... Read More

nightmare night-mare / nīt–mâr noun 1. a bad dream that produces feelings of terror or distress Just because you have a nightmare doesn’t mean you stop dreaming. Jill Scott, 1972 –  2. something that produces a feeling of fear or distress Vision with action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare. Japanese Proverb 3. an evil spirit that was thought to suffocate or cause suffering in... Read More