Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                                   

 

 

 Word:  Nucleus

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: The central and most important part of an Object, group, or movement, forming the basis for its activity.
• Example: To preserve nature and the Land, they donated the nucleus land for the expansion of the National Park

 

Word: Tenuous

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Very weak or slight.
• Example: Never been brave enough to chance it, not alone, not with such a tenuous hold on her disguise.

 

Word: Conscripted

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: enlist someone compulsorily, typically into the armed services.
• Example: They were conscripted into the army.

 

Word: Flourish

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A bold or extravagant gesture or action made especially to attract the attention of others.
• Example: He sets the cups between them with a flourish, turning the handles just so, as he tells her, it is coffee.

 

Word: Sheaf (Sheaves: Plural Noun)

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A bundle of objects of one kind, especially papers.
• Example: Pass sheaves of paper back and forth.

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References

Book: 

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                     

 

 Word: Redaction

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: The process of editing text for a publication.
• Example: The author himself never chose to establish a definitive redaction.

 

Word: Earnest

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Serious and Sincere.
• Example: I will take an earnest person over a hip person every time, because hip is short-term. Earnest is long-term. 

 

Word: Parody

• Parts of Speech: Noun / Verb
• Meaning: An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.
• Example: “Hip” people love parodies. But there’s no such thing as a timeless parody, is there? 

 

Word: Masquerade

• Parts of Speech: Noun / Verb
• Meaning: A false show or pretense.
• Example: Fashion, by the way, is commerce masquerading as hip.

 

Word: Abhor

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Regard with disgust and hatred.
• Example:  And that may be why I rejected it and abhorred it.

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References

Book: 

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                           

   

 

 Word: Perforate

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance.
• Example: Perforate the sheets of paper.

 

Word: Concisely

• Parts of Speech: Adverb
• Meaning: In a clear and brief manner, In a concise manner, in a few words.
• Example: The history is summed up concisely in this book.

 

Word: Framework

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Set of ideas from which more complicated ideas will be developed; The underlying structure.
• Example: Providing a factual framework for future speech.

 

Word: Aspect

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Parts, features, or characteristics. 
• Example: You should first learn about the various aspects of her agenda.

 

Word: Objective

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Based on the facts rather than feelings or opinions. 
• Example:  If your objective is to learn a new word, you have succeeded.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                              

 

 Word: Personified

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: To give human characteristics to something that is not human.
• Example: The two of us personified the mix of arts and technology.

 

Word: Divergent

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Differing from Others.
• Example: The result was that students often got the best of our divergent approaches.
• The triplets may look alike, but they have divergent personalities.

 

Word: Chutzpah

• Parts of Speech: Informal Noun
• Meaning: Extreme self-confidence, Impudence, shameless audacity.
• Example: And if you have large ambitions and a measure of chutzpah, you can attempt to do it on a grand scale.

 

Word: Dissertation

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A long piece of writing on a specific subject, particularly one written for a university degree.
• Example: For her phD dissertation, she built a system called “Storytelling Alice."

 

Word: Peeved

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: To be annoyed or irritated.
• Example: I was completely peeved at the camp directors.  

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References

Book: The Last Lecture

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

  

 

 Word:  Wary

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems.
• Example: I’m a bit of an acquired taste in that sense, and after only one semester, some were still noticeably weary of me.

 

Word: Decree

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: An official order issued by a legal authority.
• Example: I issued that decree mostly because those things have been done in computer games only about a zillion times, and I was looking for original thinking.

 

Word: Stupefy

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Make someone unable to think or feel properly.
• Example: His answer left me stupefied. 

 

Word: Disservice

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A harmful action.
• Example: I’d only do them a disservice by putting it anywhere.

 

Word: Existential

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Relating to existence.
• Example:  Some of my students created completely unlikely existential worlds populated by lovable 3-D creatures they first dreamed about us kids.

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References

Book: THE LAST LECTURE

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                

 Word:  Unfazed

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Not disconcerted or perturbed.
• Example: He saw the data ranking him in the bottom quartile and remained unfazed. 

 

Word: Visceral

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Instinctive, Innate, gut, deep-down, deep-rooted, emotional, inward.
• Example: I had this visceral urge to grow up and create those kinds of rides. 

 

Word: Pitting

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Someone or something in conflict or competition with.
• Example: There was an incredible fifteen minute battle scene on a rocky red planet, pitting clones against droids. 

 

Word: Quirky

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Eccentric, Idiosyncratic, Unconventional.
• Example: I’d been my usual self - a tough teacher with high expectations and some quirky ways - and they weren’t at the point where they appreciated that.

 

Word: Pegged

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Fix, Pin, Attach, Fasten, Hold down, Keep down.
• Example: People who know me say I’m an efficiency freak. Obviously, they have me pegged.  

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References

Book: The Last Lecture.

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                             

Word: Stroke

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: An act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow.
• Example: I think one key factor is that there is too much stroking and too little real feedback. 

 

Word: Pragmatic

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
• Example: That was a pragmatic, statistically valid way to look at themselves.

 

Word: Peers 

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Fellow, colleague, partner, co-worker.
• Example: Did his peers think he was working hard?

 

Word: Quartile

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Each of four groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values according to a particular variable.
• Example: For one course I taught, I’d had the students assess each other in the same way, but only let them know the quartile in which they ranked. 

 

Word: Obnoxious

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Extremely unpleasant.
• Example:  I remember a conversation, I had with one student whom others found particularly obnoxious.

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References

Book: The Last Lecture

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                               

 Word: Apt

• Parts of Speech: Adjective / Noun
• Meaning: Appropriate or suitable in circumstances.
• Example: You are more apt to speed things along.

 

Word: Delegate

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Representative, spokesperson, A person sent or authorized to represent others.
• Example: It’s never too early to delegate.

 

Word: Cliche

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays the lack of original thought, stereotype.
• Example: It is an accepted cliche in education that the number one goal of teachers should be to help students learn how to learn.

 

Word: Exert

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Apply or bring to bear a force, influence, or quality.
• Example: We need to make sure that our students are exerting themselves.

 

Word: Resort

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Recourse to, turning to, the use of.
• Example:  When they talk of building self-esteem, they often resort to empty flattery rather than character-building honesty.

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References

Book: The Last Lecture

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                             

Word:  Fixation

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: An Obsessive interest in or feeling about someone or something.
• Example: I firmly believe that one of my appropriate fixations has been to manage time well. 

 

Word: Railed

• Parts of Speech: Noun / Verb
• Meaning: Begin behaving in a strange, abnormal, or wildly uncontrolled way.
• Example: I’ve railed about time management to my students.

 

Word: Banister

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: The structure formed by the uprights and handrail at the side of the staircase.
• Handrail, railing.
• Example: “It doesn’t matter how well you polish the underside of the banister." 

 

Word: Naive

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Showing lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement.
• Example: I once put “get tenure” on my to-do list. That was naive. 

 

Word: Compulsive

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Resulting from or relating to an irresistable urge, especially one that is against one’s conscious wishes.
• Example: She said I sounded way too compulsive for her tastes.

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References

Book: The Last Lecture.

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                    

 Word:  Flatly

• Parts of Speech: Adverb
• Meaning: Showing little interest or emotion.
• Example: “So you’ve got cancer,” he said flatly.

 

Word: Brazen

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Bold and without shame.
• Example: And if by some chance I was the most brazen con man he’d ever stopped, well, he wasn’t taking this any further. 

 

Word: Trot

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Proceed or cause to proceed at a pace faster than a walk, lifting each diagonal pair of legs alternatively.
• Example: As he trotted back to his police car, I had a realization. 

 

Word: Chirp

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Utter a short, sharp, high-pitched sound.
• Example: The machine chirped, beeped and said I owed $16.55, but issued no receipt.

 

Word: Ordeal

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A painful or horrific experience, especially a protracted one.
• Example: The whole tedious ordeal could have stretched to ten or even fifteen minutes.

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References

Book: The Last Lecture

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                     

 

 Word: Court

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Be involved romantically, typically with the Intention of marrying. Pay special attention.
• Example: When I was courting her, I sent her flowers once a week. 

 

Word: Scribble

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Write or draw something carelessly or hurriedly.
• Example: Before she starts scribbling in her journal, I owe it to her to straighten up my mess.

 

Word: Drift

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Be carried slowly by a current of water or air.
• Example: I had drifted a few miles an hour over the speed limit. 

 

Word: Cocked

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Tilt something in a particular direction.
• Example: The Officer Cocked his head and squinted at me.

 

Word: Squint

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light.
• Example: The Officer cocked his head and squinted at me.  

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References

Book: The Last Lecture

Word Meanings: Google Search, Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, Apple Lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                             

Word: Dread  

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Anticipate with great apprehension or fear.
• Example: "It’s not helpful if we spend every day dreading tomorrow,” she says.

 

Word: Bittersweet

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Sweet with a bitter aftertaste.
• Example: This last New Year’s Eve, though was very emotional and bittersweet in our house.

 

Word: Slam

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Shut forcefully and loudly.
• Example: If my life were a movie, this scene of me and Dylan would get slammed by critics for over-the-top-shadowing.

 

Word: Meticulous

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Showing great attention to detail, Very careful and precise.
• Example: Rather than showing Dylan and Logan the proper way to do it - carefully and meticulously - I just let them have at it haphazardly.

 

Word: Haphazard

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Lacking any obvious principle of organization, unplanned, unsystematic, random, unmethodical.
• Example: Rather than showing Dylan and Logan the proper way to do it - carefully and meticulously - I just let them have at it haphazardly.

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References

Book: The Last Lecture

Word Meanings: Google Search and Vocabulary.com, apple lookup.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                          

 

 Word: Valor

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: Great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.
• Example: In recognition of this, my dad, then twenty-two years old, was issued the Bronze Star for valor.

 

Word: Vicinity

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: The area near or surrounding a particular place.
• Example: He commenced treating wounded men while shells continued to fall in the immediate vicinity.

 

Word: Relent

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Abandon or mitigate a harsh intention or cruel treatment.
• Example: Presented with the data, I relented.

 

Word: Prognosis

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: The likely course of a disease or ailment.
• Example: At the same time, given my prognosis, Jai says she’s learning to let some of the little stuff slide.

 

Word: Calibrate

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Adjust or correlate the readings of an instrument with those of a standard in order to check the instrument’s accuracy.
• Example:  Dr. Reiss has a gift for helping people to recalibrate their home lives when one spouse has a terminal illness.

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                         

Word: Accordion

• Parts of Speech: Noun 
• Meaning: A portable musical instrument with metal reeds blown by bellows, played by means of keys and buttons.
• Example: I found photos of him as a young man playing an accordion.

 

Word: Clutch

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Grasp or sieze something tightly or eagerly.
• Example: And as an older man, clutching a stuffed bear bigger than he was.

 

Word: Grin

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Smile broadly, especially in an unrestrained manner and with the mouth open.
• Example: He had this great grin on his face. 

 

Word: Flourish

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Grow, thrive, prosper, do well, develop, proliferate.
• Example: He would present them with a flourish, building a bit of drama. 

 

Word: Leap

• Parts of Speech: Verb
• Meaning: Jump over or spring in a long way.
• Example: Paush leaped from a covered position and commenced treating the wounded men.  

Lexicon Lift: 5 Daily Words (Are you familiar with these? And how do you use these words?)

                                                                    

 

 Word: Staccato

• Parts of Speech: Adjective/ Adverb / Noun
• Meaning: A series of short, sharply separated sounds or words.
• Example: I was gasping out of fear in staccato. 

 

Word: Incubator

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: An enclosed apparatus providing a controlled environment for the care and protection of premature or unusually small babies.
• Example: He’d been in a so-called “closed-air bassinete,” which is a more benign description of an incubator.

 

Word: Hysterical

• Parts of Speech: Adjective
• Meaning: Feeling or showing an extreme and uncontrolled emotion.
• Example: She could have gotten so hysterical that she’d thrown herself into shock.

 

Word: Stricken

• Parts of Speech: Verb / Adjective
• Meaning: Seriously affected by an undesirable condition or an unpleasant feeling.
• Example: I could have been so stricken that I’d have been no help in the surgery room. 

 

Word: Ordeal

• Parts of Speech: Noun
• Meaning: A painful or horrific experience, especially a protracted one.
• Example: Through the whole Ordeal, I don’t think we ever said to each other.