Emerge /əˈmərj/ Verb to come out or become visible Only through art can we emerge from ourselves and know what another person sees. – Marcel Proust (1871-1922)

Banana /bəˈnanə/ Noun a long, curved, yellow fruit that grows in tropical regions, with soft, sweet flesh Any ape can reach for a banana, but only humans can reach for the stars. – V. S. Ramachandran (1951-)

Excel /ikˈsel/ Verb to improve on, to be superior One who is persistent will excel. – Venus Williams (1980-)

Piano /pēˈanō/ Noun a musical instrument played by hitting its keys with fingers, which hit hammers which strike metal strings Life is like a piano – what you get out of it depends on how you play it.  – Tom Lehrer (1928-2025)

Forgery /ˈfôrjərē/ Noun 1. a false or altered document, art object, or other item, made for the purpose of fraud; a counterfeit A skeptic is a person who, when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it is a forgery. – Morris Bender (1905-1983) 2. the making of such an item While still a teenager, William Henry taught himself forgery and fabricated multiple... Read More

Invest /inˈvest/ Verb 1. to commit money or capital in order to earn a return, such as profit, interest, or appreciation in value Never invest in a business you cannot understand. – Warren Buffet (1930-) 2. to devote time, energy, or effort toward a goal with the expectation of future benefit. We must invest in our schools, not only with money, but with compassion... Read More

Foliage /ˈfōl(ē)ij/ Noun leaves Rise and put on your foliage, and be seen to come forth, like the springtime, fresh and green. – Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

Placebo /pləˈsēbō/ Noun a harmless medical treatment that has no direct physiological effect but may provide psychological benefits to the patient A placebo is a phony cure that works. – Charles Jencks (1939-2019)