conscientious con-sci-en-tious / kŏn-shē-ĕn-shəs adjective 1. influenced by conscience or principals An intelligent and conscientious opposition is a part of loyalty to country.  Bainbridge Colby, 1869 – 1950 2. demonstrating great care and attention to details; diligent; careful He who has no taste for order, will be often wrong in his judgment, and seldom considerate or conscientious in his actions.  Johann Kaspar Lavater, 1741 – 1801 etymology... Read More

cult cult / kŭlt noun 1. a religion or religious group, often deviating from established religions and under the influence of a charismatic leader A cult is a religion with no political power.  Tom Wolfe, 1931 – 2. a group of followers that adhere to the rites and teachings of a religion considered to be extreme or false The less reasonable a cult is, the more men seek... Read More

gnocchi gnoc-chi / nyōkē, nyŏk-ē (plural, gnocchi) noun 1. a small Italian dumpling made from flour, semolina or potatoes, served as a garnish for soup or alone with sauce or grated cheese Even though you’ll see gnocchi or linguine everywhere in some of the regions of Italy, each of those chefs has their own expression of that which expresses more about the place they were exactly born... Read More

glimmer glim-mer / glĭm-ər noun 1. a faint or flickering glow of light A glimmer of light is better than no illumination at all.  John James Cowperthwaite, 1915 – 2006 2. a barely perceivable sign or manifestation; a trace You find a glimmer of happiness in this world, there’s always someone who wants to destroy it.  James M. Barrie, 1860 – 1937 verb 1. to shine faintly or twinkle Science... Read More

vulnerable vul-ner-a-ble / vŭl-nər-ə-bəl adjective 1. susceptible to or likely to experience physical or emotional harm To love is to be vulnerable. C. S. Lewis, 1898 – 1963 2. easily tempted; corruptible Nothing makes us more vulnerable than loneliness except greed. Thomas Harris, 1940 – 3. defenseless; at risk of being exposed to something detrimental If you will discipline yourself to make your mind self-sufficient you will... Read More

marginalize mar-gin-al-ize / mär-jə-nə-līz verb 1. to assign to a marginal or fringe status; to make it appear that some belong to a lower status of authority, importance, power, etc. I can only be the best version of myself and understand that the only way that we as a people can heal is to understand that the next person’s journey may not be your own, but it doesn’t... Read More

inspiring in-spir-ing / ĭn-spīr-ĭng adjective 1. motivating; providing inspiration; stimulating The moment an inspiring thought enters your heart, appreciate it as a dear guest visiting you that day. Rumi, 1207 – 1273 etymology The present active participle of the English verb inspire, which is derived from the Latin verb inspiro, inspirare, inspiravi, inspiratus (breathe into, excite) through the Old French verb enspirer/inspirer of the same meaning. Thank you to Allen Ward for... Read More

amulet am-u-let /  ăm-yə-lĭt noun 1. a charm thought to protect one from evil or disease; a talisman To love is the great amulet that makes this world a garden. Robert Louis Stevenson 1850-1894 etymology From the Latin noun amuletum (charm, talisman) through the French noun amulette of the same meaning. Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.

skunk skunk / skŭngk noun 1. a rodent from the family Mephitidae in the Americas, with black fur distinguished by a white strip that goes down its back and tail and sprays an awful smell when threatened You cannot catch skunks with mice.  Canadian Proverb 2. slang, a vile person And you say that the skunk means to set up in business as a pirate? From... Read More

immediate im-me-di-ate / ĭ-mē-dē-ĭt adjective 1. occurring right away, instant Though sin often brings immediate pleasure, it gives no lasting joy.  R. C. Sproul, 1939 – 2. directly following or preceding, with no time in between The immediate future is going to be tragic for all of us unless we find a way of making the vast educational resources of this country serve the true purpose... Read More