protest pro-test / prə-tĕst, prō-tĕst , prō-tĕst noun 1. a public gathering or march for people to express their opposition to something What makes America great is peaceful protests and exercising your constitutional rights. Matthew Dowd, 1961 – 2. an explicit, public announcement of opinion and usually of disagreement Sarcasm is the protest of the weak. John Knowles. 1926 – 2001 3. the act of making a strong objection... Read More

firework fire-work / fīr-wûrk noun 1.  an explosive device, for entertainment purposes, designed to produce sparks, colored lights and noise There was a young man of Herne Bay who was making some fireworks one day: but he dropped his cigar in the gunpowder jar. There was a young man of Herne Bay. Ogden Nash, 1902 – 1971 2.  (fireworks) a showy display of colored lights and noises created... Read More

patriot pa-tri-ot / pā-trē-ət, pā-trē-ŏt noun 1. one who loves and defends his country and supports its way of life Liberty is a constant battle between government; who would limit it, people; who would concede it, and patriots; who would defend it.  Samuel R. Young, Jr., ? etymology Derived from the ancient Greek noun patriotes (fellow countryman). Thanks to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.

realization re-al-i-za-tion / rē-ə-lĭ-zā-shən noun 1. the act of fully comprehending, an awareness, an understanding With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world. Dalai Lama, 1935 – 2. something that comes to fruition and is actual and real The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1882 – 1945 etymology... Read More

hone hone / hōn noun 1. a fine whetstone used to sharpen cutting tools The knife should be sharpened from time to time on the stone or hone.  From “The Book of Sports” by William Martin. 1950 – 2. a tool used to enlarge holes to an exact dimension In the automotive industry, for example, cylinder hones are often utilised for creating an effective surface finish... Read More

earn earn / ûrn verb 1. to gain or to get something through work or service You cannot stay out of trouble by spending more than you earn.  Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 2. to acquire or deserve through effort or action Unwilling service earns no thanks.  Danish Proverb 3. to gain a return on investment If you need to put your money in a safe and secure place and you... Read More

ignominy ig·no·min·y / ĭg-nə-mĭn-ē, ĭg-nə-mə-nē noun 1. personal disgrace; loss of respect; great humiliation Whatever ignominy or disgrace we have incurred, it is almost always in our power to reestablish our reputation.  Francois de La Rochefoucauld, 1613 – 1680 2. the cause of disgrace and humiliation They who load us with insults and ignominies give us the means of acquiring treasures more precious than any that man can... Read More

cognition cog-ni-tion / kŏg-nĭsh-ən noun: 1. the mental process of perceiving, learning and reasoning Cognition requires going beyond the information given, to make bets and therefore to risk errors. Gerd Gigerenzer, 1947 – 2. knowledge, acquired through, or based on, personal view or experience Forgetting your mistakes is a terrible error if you are trying to improve your cognition.  Charlie Munger, 1924 – etymology From the Latin noun... Read More

humility hu-mil-i-ty / hyo͞o-mĭl-ĭ-tē noun 1. a modest view of one’s own importance Too much humility is pride.  German Proverb 2. meekness, modesty; the quality of being humble Austerity is an ornament, humility is honorable. Indian Proverb

quiescent qui-es-cent / kwē-ĕs-ənt, kwī- ĕs-ənt adjective 1. inactive, still, quiet Water becomes clear and transparent when in a quiescent stage.  Zhuangzi, 369 BC – 286 BC 2. characterized by absence of turmoil or upheaval, tranquil A hungry animal is restless until it finds food; then it becomes quiescent.  From ‘The Analysis of Mind’ by Bertrand Russell, 1872 – 1970 3. astronomy, having no sunspot activity... Read More