swaddle swad-dle / swŏd-l   noun 1. a long strip of cloth used to securely wrap around a someone I begged them to uncase me: no, no, say they; and upon that carried me to one of their houses, and put me to bed in all my swaddles. Joseph Addison, 1672 – 1719   verb 1. to wrap a newborn baby in long strips of fabric to provide... Read More

gift gift / gĭft   noun 1. a person’s inborn ability to do something well Geniuses themselves don’t talk about the gift of genius, they just talk about hard work and long hours. J. C. (James Cash) Penney, 1875 – 1971   2. a thing willingly given to someone without payment, a present The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits... Read More

reindeer rein-deer / rān-dîr   noun 1. a large deer, Rangifer tarandus, which inhabits the arctic regions, both male and females have large branched antlers; a subspecies native to North America is known as caribou The reindeer before the sledge were in a hurry to be off, and tinkled their silver bells right merrily. From “The Book of Stories for the Storyteller” by Fanny E. Coe, ?... Read More

spent spent / spĕnt   adjective 1. used; fully depleted Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity. Chinese Proverb   2. tired; thoroughly exhausted Fatigue, unexplained back and joint pain, distractibility, irritability, insomnia, and digestive problems leave many of us feeling spent--and there is no pill. From “Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again” by Frank... Read More

naught naught / nôt   adjective 1. (archaic) meaningless; useless Good impulses are naught, unless they become good actions. Joseph Joubert, 1754 – 1824   2. (archaic) corrupt; bad; ruined; worthless O it is a happy thing to feel ourselves helpless and naught, for then the presence of God is felt to wrap us about so lovingly! William Mountford, 1816 – 1885   adverb 1. (obsolete) not at... Read More

beget be-get / bĭ-gĕt   verb (past tense begot or begat; past participle begot or begotten; present participle begetting) 1. to produce offspring (particularly referring to a male parent); to procreate Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. Solomon, 990 BC – 931 BC   2. to cause; to give rise to; to produce as an effect Kindness... Read More

warmth warmth / wôrmth   noun 1. friendship, generosity, kindness, or affection Even more important than the warmth and affection we receive, is the warmth and affection we give. It is by giving warmth and affection, by having a genuine sense of concern for others, in other words through compassion, that we gain the conditions for genuine happiness. Dalai Lama, 1935 –   2. moderate or... Read More

sled sled / slĕd   noun 1. a small, light vehicle with runners on the bottom of a platform, used to travel over snow or ice High tax rates are followed by attempts of ingenious men to beat them as surely as snow is followed by little boys on sleds. Arthur Melvin Okun, 1928 – 1980   2. a vehicle with runners on the bottom, often drawn... Read More

crèche crèche / krĕsh   noun 1.  a representation or tableau of Christ’s Nativity, depicting the scene at the stable in Bethlehem, usually with statues or figurines During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. Nancy Pearcey, 1952 –   2. a hospital or home for abandoned babies They knew what Jasmin... Read More

thoughtful thought-ful / thôt-fəl   adjective 1. considerate; caring for the needs or happiness of others The kinder and more thoughtful a person is, the more kindness he can find in other people. Leo Tolstoy, 1910   2. displaying or demonstrating careful thought Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind. Theodore Roosevelt, 1858 – 1919   3. completely absorbed in... Read More