Words of the day

2/28(Fri.)

1. impulsive[adj.]/ ɪmˋpʌlsɪv /

Definition: (of people or their behavior) marked by sudden action that is undertaken without careful thought

Origin: early 15c., originally in reference to medicine that reduces swelling or humors, from Middle French impulsif or directly from Medieval Latin impulsivus

Sentence: They are still emotional, impulsive, and curious little creatures who have always needed training to become productive members of society.

Part of speech: impulse [n.], impulsion [n.]

 

2. manipulate[v.]/ məˋnɪpjə͵let /

Definition: control or handle (sth) with skill

Origin: 1827, "to handle skillfully by hand," a back-formation from manipulation.
c.1730, a method of digging ore, from French manipulation, from manipule "handful" (a pharmacists' measure), from Latin manipulus "handful, sheaf, bundle,"

Sentence: At the age of two or three, they also develop skills for manipulating adults.

Part of speech: manipulation [n.], manipulative [adj.]

 

3. proceed[v.]/ prəˋsid /

Definition: go to a further or the next stage; go on
make one’s way

Origin: late 14c., "to go on," also "to emanate from, result from," from Old French proceder (13c., Modern French procéder) and directly from Latin procedere (past participle processus) "

Sentence: The minute they sit down at the table, they proceed to scream.

Part of speech: proceeding [n.]

 

4. reinforce[v.]/ ͵riɪnˋfɔrs /

Definition: give more support to (sth); emphasize

Origin: c.1600, originally in military sense, from re- "again" + enforce (compare re-enforce).

Sentence: It just reinforces the bad behavior.

Part of speech: reinforcement [n.]

 

5. wail[v.][n.]/ wel /

Definition: cry or complain (about sth) in a loud (usually shrill) voice

Origin: c.1300 (intransitive); mid-14c. (transitive), from Old Norse væla "to lament," from væ "woe".

Sentence: They wail loudly to call for food when they are hungry, and they writhe and kick when they are in pain.

Part of speech: wailful [adj.]

 

3/3(Mon.)

1. writhe[v.]/ raɪð/

Definition: (of sb or sb’s body) twist or roll about, esp because of great pain
suffer metal agony

Origin: Old English wriðan (transitive) "to twist or bend," earlier "to bind or fetter".

Sentence: They wail loudly to call for food when they are hungry, and they writhe and kick when they are in pain.

Part of speech: writhen [adj.]

 

2. authoritative[adj.]/ əˋθɔrə͵tetɪv /

Definition: having authority; that can be trusted; reliable
official

Origin: c.1600, "dictatorial" (a sense now restricted to authoritarian), from Medieval Latin authoritativus (see authority). Meaning "possessing authority" is recorded from 1650s; that of "proceeding from proper authority" is from 1809.

Sentence: I steady my voice and reach for a low, authoritative octave.

Part of speech: authority [n.], authorize [vt.]

 

3. moan[n.]/mon/

Definition: long low mournful sound, usually expressing regret, pain or suffering

Origin: c.1200, "lamentation, mourning, weeping; complaining, the expressing of complaints; a complaint; lover's complaint; accusation, charge," probably from an unrecorded Old English *man "complaint," related to Old English mænan "complain, moan," also "tell, intend, signify".

Sentence: I start to chase her as she chases him, but give up when he looks pleadingly into my eyes, moaning ”STOaaaooop.”

Part of speech: moanful [adj.]

 

4. pleadingly[adv.]/ˋplidɪŋlɪ /

Definition: in a begging or an imploring manner

Origin: mid-13c., "make a plea in court," from Anglo-French pleder, Old French plaidier, "plead at court" (11c.), from Medieval Latin placitare, from Late Latin placitum (see plea). Sense of "request, beg" first recorded late 14c.

Sentence: I start to chase her as she chases him, but give up when he looks pleadingly into my eyes, moaning ”STOaaaooop.”

Part of speech: plead [v.], pleadable [adj.]

 

5. poll[n.]/pol/

Definition: survey of public opinion by putting questions to a representative selection of prople

Origin: Meaning "collection of votes" is first recorded 1620s, from notion of "counting heads;" meaning "survey of public opinion" is first recorded 1902.

Sentence: I consider taking a playground poll as to whether I should” get out ” and, if I choose not to , does this , in fact, make me a “bad woman ”?

Part of speech: none

 

3 / 4(Tue.)

1. propel[v.]/ prəˋpɛl /

Definition: move, drive or push (sth)

Origin: mid-15c., "to drive away, expel," from Latin propellere "push forward, drive forward, drive forth.

Sentence: She propels him forward with ease, though he can’t be a light load with his sand toys, and school stuff…

Part of speech: propellent [adj.]

 

2. remedy[n.]/ ˋrɛmədɪ /

Definition: means of countering or removing sth undesirable

Origin: c.1200, "cure for a disease or disorder; means of counteracting an evil," from Anglo-French remedie, Old French remede "remedy, cure" (12c., Modern French remède) and directly from Latin remedium "a cure, remedy, medicine, antidote, that which restores health."

Sentence: Mrs. X ships out her keys and proceeds to remedy the situation.

Part of speech: remediable [adj.], remediation [n.]

 

3. sob[v.]/ sɑb /

Definition: draw in breath noisily and irregularly from sorrow, pain, etc

Origin: c.1200, "to cry with short breaths," probably of imitative origin, related to Old English seofian "to lament," Old High German sufan "to draw breath," West Frisian sobje "to suck."

Sentence: He throws himself onto the floor sobbing, lost in grief.

Part of speech: none

 

4. steady[adj.]/ ˋstɛdɪ /

Definition: supported or balanced; not shaking, rocking or likely to fall over

Origin: 1520s, "firmly fixed in place or station" (replacing earlier steadfast), from stead + adjectival suffix -y (2), perhaps on model of Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stadig.

Sentence: I steady my voice and reach for a low, authoritative octave.

Part of speech: steadiness [n.], steadily [adv.]

 

5. straighten[v.]/ ˋstretn /

Definition: (cause sth to ) become straight

Origin: 1540s (transitive), from straight (adj.1) + -en (1). Intransitive sense from 1891. The Middle English verb was simply straight (late 14c.).

Sentence: Mrs. X bends down, as if about to hold him, then straightens up.

Part of speech: Related: Straightened; straightening
 

3 / 5(Wed.)

1. assume[v.]/əˋsjum /

Definition: accept (sth) as true before there is proof
pretend

Origin: early 15c., assumpten "to receive up into heaven" (especially of the Virgin Mary), also assumen "to arrogate," from Latin assumere, adsumere "to take up, take to oneself, take besides, obtain in addition."

Sentence: Scientists assume that at one time a redwood giant reached 400 feet and lived for 4,000 years, but they have yet to find one.

Part of speech: assumed [adj.], assumedly [adv.]

 

2. meteor[n.]/ˋmitɪɚ /

Definition: a piece of rock or metal that floats in space

Origin: late 15c., "any atmospheric phenomenon," from Middle French meteore (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin meteorum (nominative meteora).

Sentence: Ancient survivors in a world in which change can happen suddenly, these tall trees survived the fall of a giant meteor that left a hole that was miles wide in diameter and may have killed the last of the dinosaurs.

Part of speech: meteoric [adj.], meteorite [n.]

 

3. emerge[v.]/ɪˋmɝdʒ /

Definition: come out or up (from water, etc)
come into view or prominence

Origin: 1560s, from Middle French émerger, from Latin emergere "rise out or up, bring forth, bring to light."

Sentence: The dead places become gardens where new plants emerge.

Part of speech: emergence [n.]

 

4. frontier[n.]/frʌnˋtɪr /

Definition: man living in the frontier; one of the first settlers of an area.

Origin: c.1400, from Old French frontier "prow of a ship, front rank of an army" (13c.), noun use of adjective frontier "facing, neighboring."

Sentence: The area where they start, called the crown, is a new frontier for scientists.

Part of speech: frontiersman [n.]

 

5. limb[n.]/lɪm /

Definition: main branch of a tree
leg, arm or wing

Origin: "part or member," Old English lim "limb, joint, main branch of a tree."

Sentence: Now, mountain climbing techniques and tools allow them to climb into the trees to study the various species of plant and animal life that make their homes in the trees’ limbs.

Part of speech: limber [adj.]柔軟易曲的

 

3/6(Thu.)

1. penetrate[v.]/ˋpɛnə͵tret /

Definition: make a way into or through sth
see or show a way into or through (sth)
understand or discover (sth)

Origin: 1520s, from Latin penetratus, past participle of penetrare "to put or get into, enter into," related to penitus "within, inmost," penus "innermost part of a temple, store of food," penates "household gods."

Sentence: The dead branch is still part of the tree, but as it rots, insects and other plants penetrate the dead wood and complete the process of creating a soil-like environment full of minerals.

Part of speech: penetrable [adj.]可透入的, penetration [n.]穿入, penetrative [adj.]能貫入的

 

2. rot[v.]/rɑt /

Definition: decay naturally through the action of bacteria, fungi, etc

Origin: Old English rotian "to decay, putrefy," from Proto-Germanic *rutjan (cognates: Old Saxon roton, Old Norse rotna, Old Frisian rotia, Middle Dutch roten, Dutch rotten, Old High German rozzen "to rot," German rößen "to steep flax"), from stem *rut-.

Sentence: The dead branch is still part of the tree, but as it rots, insects and other plants penetrate the dead wood and complete the process of creating a soil-like environment full of minerals.

Part of speech: none

 

3. cylinder[n.]/ˋsɪlɪndɚ /

Definition: solid or hollow curved body with circular ends and straight sides

Origin: 1560s, from Middle French cylindre (14c.), from Latin cylindrus "roller, cylinder," from Greek kylindros "a cylinder, roller, roll," from kylindein "to roll," of unknown origin.

Sentence: The trunk was a thick cylinder that grew straight up for about 20 feet and then sent out broad limbs that reached to the edge of the clearing.

Part of speech: cylindroid [adj.]

 

4. desperately[.]/ˋdɛspərɪtlɪ /

Definition: feeling or showing great despair and ready to do anything regardless of danger

Origin: early 15c., "despairing, hopeless," from Latin desperatus "given up, despaired of," past participle of desperare (see despair (v.)).

Sentence: Desperately, I grabbed at it and tried to hang on, but her weight ripped it out of my hand.

Part of speech: desperation [n.]

 

5. foliage[n.]/ˋfolɪɪdʒ /

Definition: (all the) leaves of a tree or plant; leaves with their stems and branches

Origin: mid-15c., from Middle French feuillage, from Old French feuille "leaf" (see foil (n.)). The form has altered by influence of Latin folium.

Sentence: Branches were hitting me in the face leaving buts of foliage in my hair.

Part of speech: foliate [adj.] [v.]