Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. It means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free. Frederick Douglass, 1818 – 1895   emancipation e-man-ci-pa-tion / ĭ-măn-sə-pā-shən noun 1. the act of freeing or being freed from legal, social or political restraint or oppression Freedom is the emancipation from the... Read More

valuable val-u-a-ble / văl-yo͞o-ə-bəl, văl-yə-bəl adjective 1. precious; having considerable monetary worth A clear conscience is far more valuable than money. Filipino Proverb 2. having great importance; useful To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life. Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784 3. deserving of great respect or high regard; worthy A valuable friend is one who’ll tell you what you should be told, even... Read More

thralldom or thraldom thrall-dom or thral-dom / thrôl-dəm noun 1. the state of being under another’s control; servitude; slavery I love thee, my darling, both now and forever, My heart feels the thralldom of love’s mystic spell, ‘Tis fettered with shackles which nothing can sever, To the heart which responds to its passionate swell. From “Love’s Plea.” by Alfred Castner King, 1874 – 1941

insignia – also insigne in-sig-ni-a / ĭn-sĭg-nē-ə also in-sig-ne / ĭn-sĭg-nē noun (plural insignia or insignias – also insignes) 1. an emblem; a symbol; an object that represents something else through association A thoughtful mind, when it sees a nation’s flag, sees not the flag only, but the nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the government, the principles, the... Read More

sustenance sus-te-nance / sŭs-tə-nəns noun 1. something that supports life or health; nourishment God, provide me with enough sustenance that my family is taken care of, that neither I remain hungry, nor does my guest go unfed. Kabir, 1440 – 1518   2. something that provides a means of support; livelihood When more of the people’s sustenance is exacted through the form of taxation than is necessary... Read More

sarcastic sar-cas-tic / sär-kăs-tĭk   adjective 1. marked by or given to using irony in order to ridicule, mock or convey contempt A sarcastic person has a superiority complex that can be cured only by the honesty of humility. Lawrence G. Lovasik, 1913 – 1986

condiment con-di-ment / kŏn-də-mənt noun 1. a relish, sauce or seasoning used to enhance the flavor of food Americans can eat garbage, provided you sprinkle it liberally with ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, or any other condiment which destroys the original flavor of the dish. Henry Miller, 1891 – 1980

parsimonious par-si-mo-ni-ous / pär-sə-mō-nē-əs adjective 1. excessively frugal; stingy The brave are parsimonious of threats. Lajos Kossuth, 1802-1894

aliment al-i-ment / ăl-ə-mənt noun 1. something that provides nourishment or sustenance I have lived temperately, eating little animal food, and that not as an aliment, so much as a condiment for the vegetables, which constitute my principal diet. Thomas Jefferson, 1743 – 1826 2. something that is necessary or supplies necessities for continuance As the fire gained strength and heat, it began to spread on three sides,... Read More

oracle or-a-cle / ôr-ə-kəl, ŏr-ə-kəl noun 1. (often from ancient times) a shrine consecrated to a prophetic god There are two sentences inscribed upon the Ancient oracle… “Know thyself” and “Nothing too much”; and upon these all other precepts depend. Plutarch, 45 – 120 2. (often from ancient times) the instrument such as a priest or priestess, used by a god to transmit a prophecy In ancient... Read More