11/21 Notes11/21

‧See a movie: “The Great Gatsby” (old version)

‧Discussed

a. About "West Egg" and "East Egg": to the death

b. The name of "Myrtle": affair

c. 1925現代主義

‧Contrast about two versions: 

 

(old)

 v.s.

(new)

  I prefer the old version, because it more complete presented the novel's content. Though the new version had more gorgeous, luxury party and active music, but it's plot had lost many important keys, such as the cuff-links that Daisy gave Gatsby(he always keep it beside ) and his father appeared in Gatsby funeral. More over, my most favorite plot in the old version is young Gatsby first met Daisy. He is walking to a party and Daisy drived opposite direction. They seemed would miss each other, but Daisy drived back and accepted Gatsby invitation. The plot was beautiful and meanful, like a metaphor, told us what would happen to them.

- - - -

Words of a day

11/17

‧declarative  [adj.] 

a.      Of the nature of or making a declaration

e.g.: But to the best of my knowledge this is the first time we've heard this about Rice - certainly in so declarative and unambiguous a fashion.

‧painstaking  [adj.]  

a.       Done with or employing great care and thoroughness

e.g.: The secret of good tiling is painstaking preparation and accurate cutting and fixing.

‧ flush  [v.]

a.      (Of a person’s skin, face, etc.) become red and hot, typically as the result of illness or strong emotion

e.g.: Her skin reacted to the small touches, goose bumps jittering across her flesh as her face flushed hot.

‧ acquaintance  [n.] 

a.       Knowledge or experience of something

e.g.: Some had experience of Frankish Gaul and hence some acquaintance with Roman institutions and culture.

‧embed  [v.]

a.  Fix (an object) firmly and deeply in a surrounding mass

e.g.: He had an operation to remove a nail embedded in his chest.

11/18

‧grid  [n.]

a.       A framework of spaced bars that are parallel to or cross each other; a grating

e.g.: The rooftop water tank is supported by a dense grid of 1m thick parallel brick walls penetrated by arches to create a series of 4m wide vaults.

‧ devour  [v.]

a. Eat (food or prey) hungrily or quickly

e.g.: As we settled down to supper, devouring the food hungrily, the front door slammed open.

‧swiftly  [adv.]

a.   Happening quickly or promptly

e.g.: Her eyes quickly made a swift sweep of the people in the room.

‧ incorporate  [v.] 

a.    Take in or contain (something) as part of a whole; include

e.g.: He has incorporated in his proposals a number of measures.

‧procedure  [n.] 

a.   An established or official way of doing something

e.g.: The police are now reviewing procedures.

11/19

‧discreet  [adj.]

a.     Careful and prudent in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment

e.g.: A lot of their work is carried out in a very discreet and confidential manner.

‧prudent  [adj.] 

a.      Acting with or showing care and thought for the future

e.g.: With prudent money management you can beat the downward trend in rates and earn a good return on your savings.

‧ poignant  [adj.]

a.      Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

e.g.: The play follows the story of one man's fight to save his land, combining poignant drama with a sense of humour.

‧compensation  [n.] 

a.      Something, typically money, awarded to someone in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury

e.g.: He is seeking compensation for injuries suffered at work.

‧ tentative  [adj.] 

a.      Not certain or fixed; provisional

e.g.: It was a kind of empire built on very provisional and tentative things that might happen.

11/20

‧ provisional  [adj.]

a.      Arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later

e.g.: While my research into these matters is not yet complete, I would like to present my provisional conclusions.

‧ mortgage  [v.] 

a.      Convey (a property) to a creditor as security on a loan

e.g.: Mr. Aarts mortgaged this property to provide part of the funds used to purchase the home.

‧dice  [v.]

a.       (often as noun dicing) Play or gamble with dice.

e.g.: You are dicing with an unknown problem.

‧ transgress  [v.]

a. Go beyond the limits of (what is morally, socially, or legally acceptable)

e.g.: She had transgressed an unwritten social law.

‧ contentious  [adj.]

a.      Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

e.g.: The most contentious issue is likely to be a provision encouraging commissioners to facilitate voluntary co-operation by witness to be heard in private.

11/21

‧ cathartic  [adj.] 

a.      Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis

e.g.: Gullible by nature, they are easily swayed by catchy slogans and start seeking cathartic relief in communal frenzy.

‧ lobby  [v.]

a.      Seek to influence (a legislator) on an issue

e.g.: They insist on their right to lobby Congress.

‧scout  [v.]

a. Make a search for someone or something in various places

e.g.: I was sent to scout around for a place to park the camper.

‧ pour  [v.]   

a.      (pour something into) Contribute money to (an enterprise or project) in copious amounts

e.g.: And, by the by, he also pours his money into men's and women's hockey within his native community.

‧ignominious  [adj.]

a.      Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame

e.g.: Moreover, he ‘leads’ the team from ignominious to defeat to ignominious defeat.