contagious con-ta-gious / kən-tā-jəs   adjective 1. of a disease, capable of being transmitted through direct or indirect contact; communicable No company is far preferable to bad, because we are more apt to catch the vices of others than their virtues, as disease is more contagious than health. Charles Caleb Colton, 1780 – 1832   2. carrying or able to spread a disease Sleeping alone seemed unnatural... Read More

canine ca-nine / kā-nīn adjective 1. about, resembling or pertaining to dogs A dog is not almost-human, and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such. John Holmes, 1944 – 1988 2. pertaining to one of the four pointed, conical teeth located next to the incisors in the upper and lower jaws Because these tearing teeth are well developed... Read More

adamant ad-a-mant /  ăd-ə-mənt, ăd-ə-mănt adjective 1. inflexible, unyielding They are decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all-powerful to be impotent. Winston Churchill, 1874 – 1965 noun 1.  a legendary stone that was once considered so hard it was impenetrable, often identified with the diamond Habits, soft and pliant at first, are like some coral stones, which... Read More

palpable pal-pa-ble / păl-pə-bəl   adjective 1. tangible; capable of being touched or felt The world, this palpable world, which we were wont to treat with the boredom and disrespect with which we habitually regard places with no sacred association for us, is in truth a holy place, and we did not know it. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, 1881 – 1955   2. in medicine, able to... Read More

humiliate hu-mil-i-ate / hyo͞o-mĭl-ē-āt verb 1. to treat in a way that takes away a person’s pride, dignity or self-respect A second basic fact that characterizes nonviolence is that it does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929 – 1968

dumbfound also dumfound dumb-found / dŭm–found verb 1. to perplex with amazement; to confound; to shock and leave speechless It’s not easy to dumbfound a New Yorker. Taehee Kim, “Just Another Day on the Sidewalks of New York”, ‘Smithsonian Magazine’, May 1997 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ dumbfounded dumb-found-ed / dŭm–found-ĕd adjective 1. astonished; surprised; amazed I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe. Leo Rosten, 1908 – 1997

avoid a-void / ə-void   verb 1. to stay away from, to evade, to shun He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin. Spanish Proverb   2. to prevent from happening It is folly to fear what one cannot avoid. Danish Proverb   3. to abstain from doing Avoid what will require an apology. Arabian Proverb   4. (Law) to invalidate; to nullify The Principle provides the rather strict... Read More

democratic dem-o-crat-ic / dĕm-ə-krăt-ĭk   adjective 1. pertaining to or supporting a form of government where the people retain the power either directly or through elected representatives The best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation. Jimmy Carter, 1924 –   2. for the benefit of all Knowledge is the most democratic source of... Read More

gerund ger-und / jĕr-ənd noun 1. in Latin, a noun formed from a verb, used in all cases except the nominative, expresses generalized or incomplete action Latin gerunds are formed by taking the present base plus the thematic vowel, adding -nd- and first/second-declension neuter singular endings, for example, videndum, meaning “(the act of) seeing,” or credendum, meaning “(the act of) believing.” www.usu.edu/markdamen/latin1000/Presentation/transcriptions/39T.pdf, accessed July 29, 2022 2. a... Read More

belligerent bel-lig-er-ent / bə-lĭj-ər-ənt adjective 1. hostile, pugnacious, aggressive; ready to fight Peace as a goal is an ideal which will not be contested by any government or nation, not even the most belligerent. Aung San Suu Kyi, 1945 – 2. pertaining to or waging war My attempt and prayer are and will be for an honorable peace between belligerent nations in the least possible time. Mahatma Gandhi,... Read More