#31 akimbo

akimbo- adjective, adverb- with hands on hips and elbows projecting outwards

- C15 in kenebowe, keen bow, sharp curve

Robert at once placed his arms akimbo, and, looking his tutor sternly in the face, replied: "Sir, I came here to have something beat into my brains, not into my knuckles." — Great Fortunes and How They Were Made

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#30 aikido

aikido- a Japanese system of self-defence, employing similar principles to judo

- from Japanese, ai- to harmonize +ki- control, breath+do-way

-He has a black belt in jujitsu and is a grand master in aikido.

-Her aikido sensei had taught her to have respect for those who could beat her. — The White Ninja

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#29 agnostic

agnostic, agnosticism- a person who holds that only material phenomena can be known and knowledge of a Supreme Being, ultimate cause is impossible
- a person who claims, with respect to any particular question, that the answer cannot be known with certainty

- C19, 1869 coined by T.H. Huxley

I thought then, and have often thought since, how far the principle of moderation might be extended, and whether you could be a moderate agnostic or a moderate fatalist or a moderate logician. — The Adventure of Living

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#28 affinity

affinity - noun- a natural liking, taste, or inclination for a person or thing

- C14 from Latin- affinis- bordering on, related

The good, by affinity, seek the good; the vile, by affinity, the vile. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

A pair of like-minded lovers belonging together by natural affinity were separated by artificial barriers.

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#27 affable

affable - adjective- showing warmth and friendliness, kindly, mild, easy to converse with, approachable, amicable

-C16 from Latin affabilis- easy to talk to

- affability, noun; affably, adverb

He was of an affable, sweet disposition, generous in his temper, and pleasant in his conversation.

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#26 aesthetic

aesthetic- adjective- relating to pure beauty rather than to other considerations, artistic or relating to good taste

- aesthetician, noun, aestheticism, aesthetics (the study of such concepts as beauty, taste, etc.

- from the Greek, aisthetikos- perceptible by the senses

For the philosopher the whole matter of aesthetics is a subjective matter.

Leonardo Da Vinci combined art and science and aesthetics and engineering; that kind of unity is needed again. ~ Ben Shneiderman

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#25 advocate

- advocate - verb - to support, plead or speak for, a person who upholds or defends a cause, supporter
- advocacy - noun

- C14 from Old French - Latin - advocatus - to call, witness

He played many parts at Herod's court, as diplomatist, advocate, and minister. — Josephus

Advocates are necessary for those with little power or influence. Who will speak for them?

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#24 adroit

-adroit - adjective - skilful, dexterous, quick in thought or reaction

- adroitly, adverb, adroitness, noun

- from C17 French - a droit - according to right, rightly

He was an able lawyer, a fluent orator, a persuasive debater, an adroit parliamentarian.

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#23 adjudicate

- adjudicate - verb - to serve as a judge or arbiter in a competition
- also adjudicator - noun

- from C18 Latin - judicare - to act as judge

An adjudicator's comments of a science poetry competition: 'The writers of free verse and acrostic poems need to work on creating an image--or picture--with their writing.'

I have distinct memories as a child of music adjudication during music festivals.

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#22 adamant

- adamant - adjective - unshakable in purpose, determination, or opinion, unyielding

- from Greek - adamas - unconquerable

My father was adamant in his disapproval of my interest in show business. ~ Paul Lynde

Is it wise to be adamant? The word carries a negative connotation for me.

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#21 acumen

acumen - the ability to judge well, keen discernment, insight

- from C16 Latin - acuere - to sharpen

You have to combine instinct with a good business acumen. You just can't be creative, and you just can't be analytical. ~ Andrea Jung

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#20 acrobat, acronym, acrophobia

acrobat, acronym , acrophobia, acropolis ...

- acro denotes something of a height, summit, top, tip, beginning, or end

- from Greek akros - extreme, topmost

One can see the definition of acronym by understanding the root. Acronyms provide an all encompassing understanding of a concept, organization, ...

acronym - a pronounceable made up of a series of initial letters or part of words: UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

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#19 Acrid, acrimony

acrid (adjective) - unpleasantly pungent or sharp to smell or taste, sharp or caustic in speech or nature

- from Latin acer - sharp, sour

-from same root acrimony - bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper

David M. Herzenhorn of NYT writes an article, "Acrimony and Poetry in the Senate."

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#18 acquiesce

acquiesce - verb - to comply, assent to without protest

- also acquiescence, noun; acquiescent, adjective; acquiescently, adverb

- C17 from Latin acquiescere - to remain at rest

Acquiescence carries a negative connotation in the western world. Whereas, in the east it may, under the right conditions, be considered wisdom.

The strongest and most effective force in guaranteeing the long-term maintenance of power is not violence in all the forms deployed by the dominant to control the dominated, but consent in all the forms in which the dominated acquiesce in their own domination. ~ Robert Frost

Did you get that?

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#17 acoustic

acoustic or acoustical - adjective - related to sound , the sense of hearing, acoustics, designed to respond to, absorb, or control sound, an acoustic tile

- C17 from Greek akoustikos, from akouein - to hear

Acoustic consideration is an important criteria of architectural design.

There are poets who call themselves the Acoustic Boogaloos and read acoustic sound poems.

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#16 acme

acme - the culminating point, as of achievement or excellence; summit, peak

- C16 from Greek akme

I am somewhat wary of an acme in accomplishments. There is always something more to learn, another challenge to encounter.

For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.

To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence. ~ Sun Tzu

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#15 acerbate

acerbate - verb - to embitter or exasperate, to make sour or bitter

- C18 from Latin acerbatus - to make sour

-also acerbic - adjective - harsh, sour - acerbus
- acerbity - noun - vitriolic or embittered speech

Poem: Black is Beautiful

Every morning in the deep woods of the concrete jungle
With my near and dear ones I sing a coarse musical,
Humans raise from their good night sleep with a frown of unpalatable
They call me ‘Crow’ and express their acerbity with a scowl,..

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#14 accolade

accolade - strong praise or approval, acclaim, an award, honour

-Latin - French - accollare - to hug

President Obama enjoyed many accolades during his first year in office such as receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

From the poem 'The Accolade' by Gilbert Parker,

Men of brave stature came and placed their hands
Upon my head, and, lifting shining swords,
Drew through the air signs mightier than words,
And vanished in the sun upon the sands...

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#13 a cappella

a cappella - adverb - without musical accompaniment

- Italian - the style of the chapel

Watch the spelling of this word~ two p's, two words...

I have vivid memories of singing and enjoying a cappella music in chapels. It is the true test for a choir to sing on key and blend in four part harmony.

- also Italian musical term accelerando - to be performed with increasing speed

Why are there so many Italian musical terms?

I did this one song that was just kind of a cappella, and I did it for this art piece I did where people could come and play music to go with a voice. ~ Kim Gordon

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#12 absurd

absurd (adjective)- at variance with reason, incongruous, ridiculous,

- in philosophy - the notion, chiefly in existentialist thought, that the world is neither designed nor predictable, but is irrational and meaningless

- C16 via French from Latin absurdus - dissonant, senseless

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd. ~ Voltaire

I am amazed about how everyone wants to know about my love life. They whisper to me, 'Tell me the truth? Is it true?' Who cares? Because we have this job, we are to say to everybody what we do, or with whom we sleep? It's a bit absurd, but that's why everybody lies so much. ~ Penelope Cruz

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#11 abstain

abstain (verb) - to refrain from alcohol, voting, acting...

- abstemious (adjective), abstention (noun), abstinence (noun)

- from Latin abstinere - to hold, keep

Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation. ~ Saint Augustine

There is a great deal of political pressure to only talk about abstinence, and to deny support for condoms and education on using them. This policy will lead to the unnecessary deaths of many people. ~ Hillary Clinton

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#10 abscond

abscond - to run away secretly, especially from an institution to avoid persecution or punishment

- from Latin C16 abscondere - to hide away

One thinks of the plight of refugees and individuals who live in fear, who have no liberties.

Silently slipping slowly to the unknown.
Knowingly thrown away what was my home.
As these eyes age away from innocence,
and further pull towards mindlessness...
~from poem 'Abscond' by Cesar Capistrano

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#9 abrade

abrade - to scrape away, wear down by friction, erode

- also abradant, abrader (nouns)

- from Latin C17 - abradere - to scrape away

Time abrades talent. Some poets don't seem to notice this and continue to make the same ever-thinning sound right on into oblivion. Others lapse into embittered silence. In some, though, the abrasions bloom... ~Christian Wiman

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#8 abracadabra

abracadabra - a spoken formula, used especially by conjurors, an incantation of magical powers

- from Latin C17 - magical word used in certain Gnostic writings, related to Greek abraxas

I love the playful, rhythmical cadence of the word.

I heat up, I can't cool down
You got me spinnin'
'Round and 'round
'Round and 'round and 'round it goes
Where it stops nobody knows

Every time you call my name
I heat up like a burnin' flame
Burnin' flame full of desire
Kiss me baby, let the fire get higher

Abra-abra-cadabra
I want to reach out and grab ya
Abra-abra-cadabra
Abracadabra

You make me hot, you make me sigh
You make me laugh, you make me cry
Keep me burnin' for your love
With the touch of a velvet glove...
~ song Abracadabra, Steve Miller Band

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#7 aborigine

aborigine- an original inhabitant of a country or region

from Latin - aborigines - inhabitants of Latium in pre-Roman times, ab origine - from the beginning

'There should be reconciliation, recognition, and respect of aboriginal rights.' ~ Gordon Campbell

An Aboriginal Poem

I'm stepping out, don't mess about.
Don't tell me to be patient.
I've been wedded, enslaved, white washed, and saved,
But now, I'm liberated.
I've been patted, and moulded, and shaped, and scolded
And I learned real fast how to please `em,..
~Maureen Watson

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# 6 abject

abject - (adjective) - utterly wretched or hopeless, miserable, forlorn, dejected

-C14 Latin abjectus thrown or cast away, from abjicere - ab - away +jacere - to throw

This is a powerful word to convey total depravity.

The Abject Bed ~ Joshua Mehigan

She couldn't do a thing, could only stare
as the white frocks carried her husband out,
up from the abject bed at last. Nowhere
were friends so kind, she heard herself declare
before the costly funeral; though, throughout
she couldn't do a thing, could only stare...

(Readers, recommend words you have found meaningful lately.)

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# 5 abhor

abhor - to detest vehemently; find repugnant; reject

Also abhorrence (noun), abhorrent (adjective)

From C15 Latin: ab - away from, horrere - bristle shudder

I abhor grades - if a child does his best, that's all that should be asked. ~ Richard Dawson

I abhor a hoe. I am fond of flowers but not of dirt, and had rather buy them than cultivate them. ~ Lyman Abbott

(Readers, recommend words you have found meaningful lately.)

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#4 aberration

aberration - deviation from what is normal, expected, or usual, departure from truth, morality, displacement of a celestial body...

Also adjective - aberrant

From the Latin aberrare to wander away

History and to the present day provide vivid examples of regimes and societies which define what is normal and aberrant. Much human grief therein reside.

The greatest minds as they are capable of the highest excellencies are open likewise to the greatest aberrations. ~ Rene Descartes

Of all the sexual aberrations chastity is the strangest. ~ Anatole France

(Readers, recommend words you have found meaningful lately.)

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#3 abbey

abbey - a building inhabited by a community of monks or nuns governed by an abbot or abbess

- 13th century, Old French Abeie, Latin abbatia

The word carries a certain mystique of a life from the Middle Ages, when a faith based community devoted the whole day to prayer and contemplation. I know of several who have spent a week in an abbey meditating and seeking spiritual connection. There is also the famous poem by William Wordsworth, "Lines composed a few miles from Tintern Abbey."

What metaphorical abbeys are there today where people might find nurture?

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#2 abattoir

abattoir /ˈæbəˌtwɑr, ˌæbəˈtwɑr/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ab-uh-twahr]

- a slaughterhouse, 1810–20, from French abattre to fell

A word which connotates blood and gore. Where would we be without one? More are asking how animals can be herded and slaughtered as humanely as possible. The other option is to forgo the abattoir and meat consumption entirely.

Spelling: One 'b', two t's. A good spelling bee word.

It has been said the front page was a virtual abattoir of murder most foul. ~ Lee Israel

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#1 abalone

abalone - [ab-uh-loh-nee]
-a large mollusk of the genus Haliotis, having a bowllike shell bearing a row of respiratory holes, the flesh of which is used for food and the shell for ornament and as a source of mother-of-pearl.

From: 1840–50, Americanism; taken as sing. of California Sp abulones, pl. of abulón

Mnemonic (Learning Aids):

Abalone is far from baloney. Everything about it is beautiful: its soft vowel sounds, the rhythmic flow, its metaphorical possibilities in poetry with respect to its life and aesthetic dimensions. It's spelled pretty well as it sounds.

The Abalone Song by Jack London

Oh, some folks boast of quail on toast
Because they think it's toney,
But I'm content to owe my rent
And live on abalone.
Oh! Mission Point's a friendly joint,
Where ev'ry crab's a crony,
And true and kind you'll ever find
The clinging abalone...


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#367 droll

droll- amusing in a quaint or odd manner; comical

C17 from French drole scamp

Companion site: quoteflections- a regular, eclectic mind fix

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#61 animosity

#61 animosity- a powerful and active dislike or hostility, enmity

- C15 Latin animositas- spirited

Animosity, fear and hate between nations, between people, need to be evaluated.

Is animosity the same as aggressiveness?

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