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

rapacious ra-pa-cious / rə-pā-shəs   adjective 1. extremely greedy To presume a want of motives for such contests . . . would be to forget that men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious. From “The Federalist Papers” by Alexander Hamilton, 1757 – 1804   2. of animals, surviving through the killing of prey; predatory The rapacious coyotes and buzzards had finished their gruesome work, and the sun had bleached these bones white... Read More

voracious vo-ra-cious / vô-rā-shəs, və-rā-shəs adjective 1. having a large appetite for food; always hungry; ravenous, gluttonous Ego has a voracious appetite, the more you feed it, the hungrier it gets. Nathaniel Bronner Jr., 1946 – 2009 2. having a strong eagerness or desire; insatiable; unremitting Develop into a lifelong self-learner through voracious reading; cultivate curiosity and strive to become a little wiser every day. Charlie Munger, 1924 –

chagrin cha-grin / shə-grĭn   noun 1. a feeling of annoyance or embarrassment because one has failed Physical pain is easily forgotten, but a moral chagrin lasts indefinitely. Santiago Ramon y Cajal, 1852 – 1934   verb 1. to make someone feel embarrassed or humiliated If the good people, in their wisdom, shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments... Read More

sunshine sun-shine / sŭn-shīn adjective 1.  pertaining to law requiring public access to official government meetings and records Open meeting laws, also called sunshine laws, require that, with notable exceptions, most meetings of federal and state government agencies and regulatory bodies be open to the public, along with their decisions and records.  Alex Aichinger, “Open Meeting Laws and Freedom of Speech”, www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1214/open-meeting-laws-and-freedom-of-speech, accessed May 25, 2022... Read More

fur fur / fûr   adjective 1.  pertaining to or made from the soft, thick hairy coat of some mammals A man does not buy his wife a fur coat to keep her warm, but to keep her pleasant. Seymour Hicks, 1871 – 1949   noun 1. a soft, thick hairy coat on some mammals Don’t judge the dog by its fur. Danish Proverb   2. the... Read More

mourn mourn / môrn   verb 1. to express or feel grief or sadness at a loss or the death of someone The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha, 563 BC – 483 BC   2. to display grief for... Read More

kilt kilt / kĭlt noun 1. a knee length pleated skirt, often made of tartan wool, worn by men in traditional Scottish Highland dress attire On came the gallant Scotch Brigade, Their kilts in the wind were blowing None of them knew where the wind came from, But they all knew where it was going! From “Napoleon” a monologue by Billy Bennett, 1887 – 1942 2. a skirt worn... Read More

peach peach / pēch adjective 1. having a pinkish yellow to light orange color A peach dress and gold shoes make a fab combination. All the Best Color Shoes to Match Peach Dresses – 10 Great Pairings”, Shoe Tease, www.shoe-tease.com/what-color-shoes-to-match-peach-dress-outfit, accessed May 25, 2022 noun 1. a small, fruit bearing tree (Prunus persica) in the rose family, which is cultivated in temperate areas When peaches flower and ripen,... Read More

antithetical also antithetic an-ti-thet-i-cal / ăn-tĭ-thĕt-ĭ-kəl or an-ti-thet-ic / ăn-tĭ-thĕt-ĭk adjective 1. completely opposite Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929 – 1968 2. marked by direct opposition What an antithetical mind! — tenderness, roughness — delicacy, coarseness — sentiment, sensuality — soaring and groveling, dirt and deity — all mixed up in that one compound of inspired clay!  Lord Byron, 1788- 1824