superstition su-per-sti-tion / so͞o-pər-stĭsh-ən noun 1. excessive reverence for that which is unknown or mysterious Superstition is the religion of the feeble minds.  Edmund Burke, 1729 – 1797 2. an irrational belief that certain outcomes are caused by something that is not logically connected to the outcome According to a Russian superstition, bird poop that lands on you or something that belongs to you will bring... Read More

opinion o-pin-ion / ə-pĭn-yən noun 1. a belief stronger than an impression but not substantiated with proof The person who has no opinion will seldom be wrong.  French Proverb 2. the current, widespread or prevailing point of view A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.  Chinese Proverb 3. the judgement given by an expert If you have a doctor who would be... Read More

spooky spook-y / spo͞o-kē adjective 1. causing one to think of ghosts or phantoms; ghostly In Victorian Britain, spooky winter’s tales were part of the Christmas season, often told after dinner, over port or coffee. Michael Dirda, 1948 – 2. scary I’ve made up stuff that’s turned out to be real, that’s the spooky part. Tom Clancy, 1947 – 2013 3. nervous and jumpy; easily scared I was... Read More

cauldron or caldron caul-dron / kôl-drən noun 1. a large pot or similar vessel, often with handles, used for boiling A good word quenches more than a cauldron of water.  Portuguese Proverb 2. a condition of great distress, turmoil or agitation resembling a boiling pot He felt a breath of fear on his neck at the thought that he must take his army into that cauldron.  From “The... Read More

spook spook / spo͞ok noun 1.  a ghost or phantom When the spooks have a midnight jamboree They break it up with fiendish glee Ghosts are bad, but the one that’s cursed Is the Headless Horseman, he’s the worst  Lyrics from the song “The Headless Horseman” from the 1949 Disney movie “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” 2. a spy You don’t need to be a spook... Read More

moose moose / mo͞os noun (plural moose) 1. a very large North American deer of the Genus Alces, having a long rounded snout, humped shoulders and the males large flattened antlers; members of the same Genus are called elk in Europe I am as strong as a bull moose and you can use me to the limit. Theodore Roosevelt, 1858 – 1919 2. a member of the Loyal... Read More

rationalize ra-tion-al-ize / răsh-ə-nə-līz verb 1. to explain away, to make excuses, to justify one’s own or another’s attitude with logical or plausible reasons even if these are not true or appropriate Never rationalize anything that feels wrong. Louise Erdrich, 1954 – 2. to explain or think in a logical or sensible way Happiness is a mystery like religion, and it should never be rationalized.  G. K.... Read More

gender gen-der / jĕn-dər noun 1. the sex of a living thing; the state of being male or female The only ineradicable difference between men and women is gender.  From “The Co-Citizens” by Corra Mae Harris, 1869 – 1935           2. males or females as a group In parts of the world where sex education is beset with taboos — including the United States — it is still... Read More

lexicographer lex-i-cog-ra-pher / lĕk-sĭ-kŏg-rə-fər noun 1. a person who writes or compiles dictionaries Lexicographer: a writer of dictionaries, a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words.  Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784

louse louse / lous Noun (plural lice for definitions 1 and 2; plural louses for definition 3) 1. any of a number of small wingless parasitic insects that live on the skin of mammals and birds Sir, there is no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea. Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784 2. a small insect that feeds by sucking sap from plants... Read More