grail or holy grail grail / grāl noun 1. Grail, the cup or chalice used by Christ at the last supper, according to medieval legend, and was long sought after by knights due to its purported powers The Grail was believed to have magic properties, although this idea was likely based on vessels from Celtic mythology that supposedly could satisfy the needs and wishes of anyone... Read More

foolery fool-er-y / fo͞o-lə-rē noun (plural fooleries) 1. behavior or speech that is silly or lacks good judgement Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun; it shines everywhere. From “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare, 1564 – 1616 2. an instance of silly or foolish behavior or speech; a prank My soul, never laugh at sin’s fooleries, lest thou come to smile at sin itself. Charles... Read More

embattle em-bat-tle / ĕm-băt-l verb 1. fortify against attack But after embattling his facts, an advocate who should wholly suppress a not unreasonable surmise, which might tell eloquently upon his cause –such an advocate, would he not be blameworthy? From “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville, 1819 – 1891 2. set in battle array; to arm and prepare for battle Where having followed it under vigilant eyes till... Read More

hypocrisy hy-poc-ri-sy / hĭ-pŏk-rĭ-sē noun (plural hypocrisies) 1. the practice of appearing to be what one is not, especially the false assumption of virtue or religion Hypocrisy is the audacity to preach integrity from a den of corruption. Wes Fesler, 1908 – 1989 2. an act or occurrence of publicly professing certain beliefs or feelings that one does not actually believe or adhere to Manners are the... Read More

anger an-ger / ăng-gər noun 1. feelings of hostility, rage or displeasure Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. Mark Twain, pen name of Samuel L. Clemens, 1835 – 1910 verb 1. to provoke feelings of hostility, rage or displeasure; to make angry He who angers you conquers you. Elizabeth... Read More

bask bask / băsk verb 1. to lay in the sun or otherwise be exposed to pleasant warmth While the sun is shining, bask in it. African Proverb 2. to take great delight or pleasure; to revel Smiling to yourself is like basking in love: you become your own best friend. Mantak Chia, 1944 –

hypochondriac hy-po-chon-dri-ac / hī-pə-kŏn-drē-ăk adjective 1. pertaining to or suffering from hypochondria, an abnormal or excessive anxiety about one’s health Doctors who have had experience with hypochondriac patients say one of the biggest challenges can be “organizing” the symptoms. Karlyn Barker, “The Whys and Hows of Hypochondria: Imagined Illnesses: They’re Enough to Make You Sick”, ‘Los Angeles Times’, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-09-25-me-127-story.html, September 25, 1989 2. in anatomy, pertaining to... Read More

petulance pet-u-lance / pĕ-chə-ləns noun 1. a scornful or disrespectful statement or action Every old man complains of the growing depravity of the world, of the petulance and insolence of the rising generation. Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784 2. the state of being irritable without good cause Always meet petulance with gentleness and perverseness with kindness. Zoroaster, c. 628 BC – c. 551 BC

bias bi-as / bī-əs adjective 1. in a slanting manner, obliquely, diagonally Bias cut tops and dresses accentuate body curves and drape beautifully with a few soft folds. Olga Balasa, “How to Cut Fabric on the Bias”, www.ageberry.com/how-to-cut-fabric-on-bias, January 3, 2023 noun 1. a diagonal line going across the grain of a woven fabric When a pattern is cut on the bias, it means that the pattern... Read More

hover hov-er / hŭv-ər, hŏv-ər verb 1. to remain suspended floating, flying, or fluttering in the air And to lose the chance to see frigatebirds soaring in circles above the storm, or a file of pelicans winging their way homeward across the crimson afterglow of the sunset, or a myriad terns flashing in the bright light of midday as they hover in a shifting maze above... Read More