Author Archives: bethoffreshair

\IM-prest\ , noun:   an advance of money; loan. I didn’t need a loan, really.  I just didn’t want to pay $10 to get into the school play.  I showed my staff ID at the door and said, “is this a night I can get in free?” (there’s always a night we get in free).  “No,”Continue reading “imprest.”

/ TAHY-dingz\ , noun:   News, information, or intelligence: sad tidings. Not long ago, I was discussing people’s trademark sayings with a friend.  I know someone who can almost pull any corny saying off, because she’s confident and cool.  When I was leaving my favorite people at work after a lovely lunch, I decided to tryContinue reading “tidings.”

\dahy-uh-PEY-zuhn\  , noun: A full, rich outpouring of melodious sound. I do not know if this song is the most beautiful diapason in the world, or if it just means a lot to me. I was listening to Pandora one evening while reading.  The station was most likely Mumford & Sons or James Taylor andContinue reading “diapason.”

\kuhm-PEER\ noun. Close friend; comrade. An equal in rank, ability, accomplishment, etc.; peer; colleague. Want to know what my compeer did for my 27th birthday?  Sure you do! She had her middle school students fill out a page in a book titled “How To Have The Best Year Ever.” Now I know. And so shallContinue reading “compeer.”

REY-mohs\  , adjective: 1. Having many branches. 2. Branching. Dunedin, FL, 1995 John and Greg chase me around with lizards hanging from their pinched fingers, ready to tackle me and put the poor hopeless reptile on my ear, as if an earring.  They find this hysterical.  My bully brothers pinch their mouths and the lizardsContinue reading “ramose.”

 \ kon-KAT-n-eyt \  , verb; 1.      To link together; unite in a series or chain. adjective: 1.      Linked together, as in a chain. Suzanne Collins concatenates like a master.  I am only on the 2nd Hunger Games book and I’m utterly, I repeat, utterly amazed at how she links the plot, characters, andContinue reading “concatenate.”

\ FAN-tast \ , noun; 1. A visionary or dreamer. My new backyard view has the power, even at 6:45am, to turn me into a whimsical fantast.  The sun rises if I swivel my chair 30 degrees (rumor is the sun rises regardless of if I swivel my chair, I just mean that’s where IContinue reading “fantast.”

\mench\, noun: A decent, upright, mature, and responsible person. Is it too much to ask to read a craigslist ad written by a mensch?  The things people include have cracked me up.  If I were seeking a roommate, I think I would include the necessities.  I’d keep it short and include things that I wouldContinue reading “mensch.”

[hahy-pok-uh-riz-uhm, hi-]–noun a pet name. the practice of using a pet name. the use of forms of speech imitative of baby talk, esp. by an adult. I had a very appropriate pet name my freshman year of high school.  Simply “my pet.”  Though there was nothing ‘simple’ about the name giver.  I often heard hisContinue reading “hypocorism.”

/in-soo-see-uhnt/ adj.  1.  free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant.   I’m old enough now to call Book Club and decaf coffee a happenin’ evenin’.  We’re on our 3rd book.  Extremely Loud Incredibly Close left me extremely depressed and incredibly ready for The Help.  The Help left me awe-inspired.  The Forgotten Garden introduced meContinue reading “insouciant.”