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

overcome o-ver-come / ō-vər-kŭm verb (overcame, overcome, overcoming, overcomes) 1. to surmount; to accomplish successfully When difficulties are overcome they begin blessing.  Traditional Proverb 2. to be victorious in competition; to conquer in conflict The way to overcome the angry man is with gentleness, the evil man with goodness, the miser with generosity and the liar with truth.  Indian Proverb 3. to be overwhelmed by emotions I was... Read More

obstacle ob-sta-cle / ŏb-stə-kəl Noun 1. something that stands in the way or prevents or hinders progress The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. Molière, 1622 – 1673 Etymology An Old French noun from the Latin noun obstaculum (obstacle) derived from the verb sto, stare, steti, status (stand) and the prefix ob– (against). Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.

job job / jŏb noun 1. a task or assignment Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. Aristotle, 384BC – 322BC 2. a single piece of work done for a contracted fee A leak of air conditioning fluid may be the symptom of an expensive repair job but it isn’t dangerous to wait while you comparison shop.  Cia McAlarney, “5 Ways to Avoid a... Read More

euphoria eu-pho-ri-a / yo͞o-fôr-ē-ə noun 1. a feeling of great joy, vigor, well-being; high spirits It’s not possible to experience constant euphoria, but if you’re grateful, you can find happiness in everything. Pharrell Williams, 1973 – etymology A Neo-Latin word made up from the Greek prefix eu (well) and the verb phero (bear, carry). Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.

crucial cru-cial / kro͞o-shəl adjective 1. extremely important One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.  Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 1947 – 2. vital; essential to the determination of a crisis Self-discipline is crucial to a simpler, more contented life. Dalai Lama, 1935 – etymology A French adjective from the Latin noun crux, crucis (cross, torture, misery) and Latin adjectival suffix -alis (belonging... Read More

paper pa-per / pā-pər adjective 1. made of the material known as paper To read a paper book is another experience: you can do it on a ship, on the branch of a tree, on your bed, even if there is a blackout.  Umberto Eco, 1932 – 2016 2. extremely thin or flimsy The line between education and brainwashing is paper thin.  Yana Toboso, 1984 – 3. pertaining to office... Read More

embezzle em-bez-zle /ĕm-bĕz-əl verb 1. to steal or misappropriate money or property that one has been entrusted with I like to think of it less as embezzling and more as an involuntary goodwill contribution. From “Cold Days: The Dresden Files, Book Fourteen”, by Jim Butcher, 1971 – etymology From the Old French verb besillier (destroy, pillage) plus the intensifying prefix en through the Anglo-Norman verb embesilier, embesillier, embesellier (steal, destroy) and... Read More