Category Archives: Words

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.”

altruistic \al-troo-IS-tik\  , adjective: 1. Unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others. My altruistic Aunt Heather passed away almost two weeks ago.  What struck me is how quickly it all happened.  In mere seconds, my extraordinary Aunt Heather went from “is” to “was.”  I hated how fast this happened.  None of us were ready.  “Heather wasContinue reading “altruistic.”

\HOH-luhs-BOH-luhs\ , adverb; 1.      All at once; altogether. The class of 2015 moved to ‘The Hill’ last week.  I’ve been semi-pretending I am one of them, but I am too old to wander around campus at 2 am and I’m too tired to play ultimate frisbee for hours and hours.  I’m just not that ultimateContinue reading “holus-bolus.”

\am-uh-RAN-thin\ , adjective; 1.Unfading; everlasting. 2.Of or like the amaranth flower. 3.Of purplish-red color. To most who have had the pleasure of soaking up knowledge in Cornwell, climbing the walls of the infirmary, or eating a famous Miss Virginia omelet, Mars Hill College is a place full of people who leave an amaranthine mark onContinue reading “amaranthine.”

\GUHMP-shuhn\ , noun; 1.Initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness. 2.Courage; spunk; guts. Gumption can come and go.  I think some folks naturally have more spunk and courage, sure.  But I feel like my gumption has returned to me as of late.  Yesterday even, actually.  My initiative is through the roof, my optimism is leading me to be resourcefulContinue reading “gumption.”