Definition: (noun) The entire world; the universe.
Synonyms: cosmos, universe, world, existence, creation.
Usage: Astrophysicists are concerned with the macrocosm, while nuclear physicists focus their research on tiny atomic particles.
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Month: June 2021
stoppage
armistice – Comes from Latin armistitium—from arma, “arms,” and -stitium, “stoppage”—and means a temporary cessation from fighting or the use of arms, or a short truce. More…
solstice – Derived from Latin sol, “Sun,” and stitium, as the Sun appears to stand still on the first day of winter. More…
epoch – Pronounced EH-puhk, it is from Greek epokhe, “fixed point in time, stoppage,” and it was first the initial point in a chronology from which succeeding years were numbered. More…
stasis – A period of inactivity or equilibrium, from Greek histanai, “stoppage.” More…
Juneteenth
Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, it wasn’t until two years later that the word reached the slaves in Texas. General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 with the intention of forcing slave owners to release their slaves, and the day has been celebrated since that time in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and other parts of the Deep South under the nickname “Juneteenth.” Observed primarily in African-American communities, Juneteenth festivities usually include parades, picnics, and baseball games. Discuss
living the dream
Leading an extremely ideal life, especially in relation to one’s career. (Sometimes said ironically to mean the opposite.) Watch the video
Sharbat Gula, "Afghan Girl"
Sharbat Gula appeared on the iconic June 1985 cover of National Geographic magazine staring intensely with her striking green eyes. The haunting photo emphasized the suffering of Afghan refugees during the Soviet invasion. According to Gula, it was the only photo ever taken of her. Until photographer Steve McCurry located her in 2002, she was simply known as the “Afghan Girl” whose portrait he had captured at a refugee camp in Pakistan. How old was she in the famous photo? Discuss
cajolery
Definition: (noun) Flattery intended to persuade.
Synonyms: blandishment, palaver.
Usage: She used every possible means of cajolery to persuade her father to take her to the circus.
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proof
evidence, proof – Evidence—from Latin e-, “out,” and videre, “to see”— is information that helps form a conclusion; proof is factual information that verifies a conclusion. More…
proof in the pudding – A shortening of the saying “the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” i.e. a thing is tested by putting it to its intended use. More…
proof – The strength of alcohol. More…
adduce – To cite as an instance or as proof or evidence. More…
Cambodia Queen Sihanouk's Birthday
Her Majesty Norodom Monineath Sihanouk is the mother of King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. The birthday of the Queen Mother is a national holiday in Cambodia, with government offices, schools, and many businesses closed. The holiday is a relatively quiet one, with no lavish festivities normally planned. This is in contrast to the three-day celebration of King Sihanouk‘s Birthday, the former king and late husband of Queen Sihanouk. Discuss
live paycheck to paycheck
To spend all of the money one earns by or before the next time one is paid, thus saving none or very little in the process. Primarily heard in US. Watch the video
Wimshurst Machine
Used chiefly as a demonstration apparatus, the Wimshurst machine is an electrostatic device capable of generating high voltages. The device has two large glass or mica discs that rotate in opposite directions, and each disc is in contact with a thin metal wiper that produces a charge on the disc by induction. The machine was named for its inventor, British engineer James Wimshurst, who developed it in the early 1880s. What defect in earlier electrostatic generators did Wimshurst eliminate? Discuss