boast – First meant “threaten” or “threat.” More…
gunboat diplomacy – Foreign policy carried out with the backing of the threat or use of military force. More…
ostrichism – Self-delusion, a refusal to cope with something, such as a threat—figuratively hiding one’s head in the sand, as the animal is mistakenly thought to do. More…
The Oxford English Dictionary suggests that this day takes its name from a corruption of a derogatory term for Protestants who did not follow the doctrines of the Church of England. It was later applied to those who did not wear the traditional sprig of oak on May 29, or Royal Oak Day—the birthday of Charles II, and the day in 1660 on which he made his entry into London as king. Shick-shack has since become synonymous with the oak-apple or sprig of oak itself, and May 29 is celebrated in memory of the restoration of King Charles and his preservation in the Royal Oak. Discuss
A final effort or attempt, especially as before failure or defeat. Watch the video
Commissioned by Alfonso X of Castile and León, dubbed Alfonso the Learned, the Libro de los Juegos, or Book of Games, is an exemplary piece of the 13th-century king’s vast literary legacy and one of the most important historical documents on the topic of board games. Completed in 1283, the detailed manuscript explores a game of skill, a game of chance, and a game that relies on both—chess, dice, and backgammon respectively. What did Alfonso hope to learn by studying these games? Discuss
extemporaneous, impromptu – Extemporaneous means “prepared in advance and carried out with few or no notes,” while impromptu means “totally unprepared, performed on the spur of the moment”—but this distinction has been all but lost. More…
moment, momentum – Latin momentum, from movere, “move,” and -mentum, is the source of moment and momentum, which first meant “moving power.” More…
moment of truth – A translation of a Spanish expression referring to the time of the final sword thrust in a bullfight. More…
momentarily, presently – Momentarily means “in a moment”; presently means “soon” or “shortly.” More…
Artificial respiration, that is, the blowing into the mouth of a person who has stopped breathing so as to force air in and out of their lungs. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Watch the video
A relatively new medical discipline, nuclear medicine is a subspecialty of radiology that utilizes radioactive pharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat diseases. An important component of nuclear medicine is imaging. Whereas imaging technologies like X-rays pass external radiation through the body to form an image, nuclear medicine imaging relies on the detection of radioactive emissions released by radiopharmaceuticals that have been introduced into the body. What is the ALARA principle? Discuss
Definition: (adjective) Having many aspects.
Synonyms: multifarious, many-sided.
Usage: This is a multifaceted problem and cannot be solved by a singular approach.
Discuss
great circle – Any circle on the surface of a sphere that lies on a plane through its center, or a circle that divides into two equal parts—as the Equator. More…
quadrant – A quarter of a circle or sphere. More…
rhumb line – A line on a sphere that cuts all meridians at the same angle; the path taken by a ship or plane that maintains a constant compass direction. More…
diameter – From Greek, meaning “measure through” (a circle or sphere, etc.). More…