complain com-plain / kəm-plān verb 1. to express unhappiness, grief, pain or dissatisfaction No attention is paid to him who is always complaining.  Kenyan Proverb 2. to make a formal accusation of wrongdoing Any person aggrieved by such disturbance of the peace may complain to the Police about such unreasonable or excessive noise.  Noise Control Ordinance § 16-26.6 Disturbing the Peace., Boston, MA etymology Through the Old... Read More

shade shade / shād noun 1. no plural, shelter from the sun or light Great trees give more shade than fruit.  German Proverb 2. diminished light; partial darkness Theory is continually the precursor of truth; we must pass through the twilight and its shade, to arrive at the full and perfect day. James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, 1286 – 1330 3. a slight variation in the intensity or... Read More

Polish Po-lish / pō-lĭsh adjective 1. referring to someone or something from Poland This homage has been rendered not to me – for the Polish soil is fertile and does not lack better writers than me – but to the Polish achievement, the Polish genius.  Henry Sienkiewicz, 1846 – 1916 noun 1. the official language of Poland, it is a Slavic language To be a Pole does... Read More

epic ep-ic / ĕp-ĭk adjective 1. pertaining to a long poem known as an epic, that portrays heroic or legendary tales Considered subjectively, philosophy always begins in the middle, like an epic poem. Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel 1772-1829 2. resembling a long poem portraying heroic or legendary feats God is telling an amazing, glorious, epic story. Steven Curtis Chapman, 1962 – 3. greatly heroic, courageous or otherwise impressive More... Read More

epoch ep-och / ĕp-ək, ē-pŏk noun 1. a date marking the beginning of a new or unique period of time That the publication of the “Origin of the Species” marked an epoch in the development of the natural sciences is well known to the layman. From “The Essential Dewey, Volume 1” by John Dewey, 1859 – 1952 2. a time period characterized by a distinctive development;... Read More

fox fox / fŏks noun 1. a carnivorous mammal of the dog family Canidae and genus Vulpes, with a pointed muzzle and bushy tail The fox will catch you with cunning, and the wolf with courage.  Albanian Proverb 2. the fur from a member of the genus Vulpes You look fat in fox anyway, so if you start fat, you only look a little fatter. Totie Fields,... Read More

position po-si-tion / pə-zĭsh-ən noun 1. a job A great position entails great responsibility. Spanish Proverb 2. a posture, an attitude, a point of view Leadership is action, not position. Donald H. McGannon. 1920 – 1984 3. a place where something or someone is located Those in a high position can be seen from far away. German Proverb 4. the correct or usual location; the proper place Heaven gives its... Read More

surgery sur-ger-y / sûr-jə-rē noun (plural surgeries) 1. a division of medicine which uses instruments to diagnose and treat injuries, diseases, deformities, etc. Medication, surgery and radiation are the weapons with which conventional medicine foolishly shoots the messengers called symptoms. Mokokoma Mokhonoana, ? – 2. the act or practice of treating an injury, disease, deformity, etc. by cutting into a person’s body with instruments Preventive medicine isn’t part... Read More

consonant con-so-nant / kŏn-sə-nənt adjective 1. in agreement Nature is very consonant and conformable with herself.  Isaac Newton, 1643 – 1727 2. sounding harmonious A consonant interval or chord is one which sounds stable and pleasant. “Consonance and Dissonance Facts for Kids” ‘Kiddle’, https://kids.kiddle.co/Consonance_and_dissonance, May 22, 2020 3. of words or syllables, having the same sound that repeats For instance, the words chuckle, fickle, and kick are consonant... Read More

weekend week-end / wēk-ĕnd noun 1. generally Friday evening through Sunday night, used as a time of relaxation away from work Wherever you go on this beautiful relaxing weekend, make sure that you always remember to bring the happiness of your own sunshine with you, so that you may spread that happiness to all of the people you encounter. Anonymous verb 2. to spend Saturday and... Read More