kowtow kow-tow / kou-tou, kou–tou   noun 1. an act of fawning; an act showing compliance or submission The WHO’s [World Health Organization’s] continued exclusion of Taiwan is a kowtow to the Chinese Communist Party, who refuse to acknowledge Taiwan as the independent nation that it is. “Carter pens letter calling for Taiwan to join the WHO”, buddycarter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=9209, May 20, 2022   2. the former Chinese custom of... Read More

sledge sledge / slĕj   noun 1. a conveyance or vehicle, mounted on runners, drawn by draft animals, used to transport people or goods across snow, ice or rough ground During the winter, when the trains are blocked up by the snow, these sledges make extremely rapid journeys across the frozen plains from one station to another. From “Around the World in Eighty Days” by Jules Verne,... Read More

resolute res-o-lute / rĕz-ə-lo͞ot   adjective 1. determined, purposeful, unwavering Achievers are resolute in their goals and driven by determination. George S. Patton, 1885 – 1945   2. characterized by determination and steadfastness It is wonderful what great strides can be made when there is a resolute purpose behind them. Winston Churchill, 1874 – 1965

timber tim-ber /  tĭm-bər   noun 1. wood that can be used as a building material; lumber; hardwood There is a frightful interval between the seed and the timber. Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784   2. trees or an area of growing trees An acorn costs nothing, but it may spread into a prodigious timber. William Makepeace Thackeray, 1811 – 1863   3. a prepared piece of... Read More

reflect re-flect / rĭ-flĕkt   verb 1. to think or meditate If one does not reflect, one thinks oneself master of everything; but when one does reflect, one realizes that one is master of nothing. Voltaire, 1694 – 1778   2. embody or represent something in a faithful or appropriate way; to make apparent We must reflect the light of Christ through lives of prayer and... Read More

annual an-nu-al / ăn-yo͞o-əl   adjective 1. yearly; occurring or done once a year or every year There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves. Joe L. Wheeler, 1936 –   2. based on or lasting for a year Anyone who has to ask about the annual upkeep of a yacht can’t afford one. J. P. Morgan, 1837 – 1913  ... Read More

turpitude tur-pi-tude / tûr-pĭ-to͞od, tûr-pĭ –tyo͞od   noun 1. depravity; moral corruption; vileness The moral turpitude of the boys of today appears to center in their failure to concentrate on any particular objective long enough to obtain their maximum results. Major Taylor, 1878 – 1932   2. a depraved act or practice Multiple turpitudes were committed but in the dark. From “Historia Amoris: A History of Love, Ancient and Modern” by Edgar Saltus,... Read More

ruminate ru-mi-nate / ro͞o-mə-nāt verb 1. to chew the cud When cows ruminate, feed particles are broken down into smaller pieces; this not only allows rumen bugs (microbes) to do a better job at digesting that feed, but also helps assist in moving the material from the rumen once digested. Trevor DeVries, “Give cows the time they need to eat and ruminate”, ‘Progressive Dairy’, www.agproud.com/articles/45430-give-cows-the-time-they-need-to-eat-and-ruminate, February... Read More

mottle mot-tle / mŏt-l   noun 1. a spot or splotch of color Interestingly, as the chicken ages, its mottles tend to increase in size and quantity, often referred to as “going gray.”  gilmoresinc.com/best-egg-laying-chickens-breed-about, accessed December 20, 2022   2. a streaky pattern of different shades or colors Typically, leaves of infected plants develop a mottle or mosaic with dark-green vein banding. www.vegetables.bayer.com/th/en-th/resources/disease-guides/pepper-eggplant/chilli-veinal-mottle.html, accessed December 20, 2022  ... Read More

frequent fre-quent / frē-kwənt   adjective 1. happening often The key to wisdom is this – constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth. Peter Abelard, 1079-1142   2. done regularly and repeatedly; habitual; constant The frequent employment of one’s will power masters all organs of movement and trains them to perform feats which otherwise... Read More