praline- [prah-leen, prey-, prah-leen]-noun- a French confection consisting of a caramel-covered almond or, sometimes, a hazelnut. If you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the crispy pecan waffle, dressed with a pecan praline syrup.
magnolia- [mag-nohl-yuh, -noh-lee-uh]-noun- any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia, having large, usually fragrant flowers and an aromatic bark, much cultivated for ornament. The native magnolias bloom from late spring to summer.
boysenberry- [boi-zuh n-ber-ee, -suh n-]-noun- a blackberry-like fruit with a flavor similar to that of raspberries, developed by crossing various plants of the genus Rubus; named after R. Boysen, 20th-century American botanist, who bred it. A boysenberry is a cross between a raspberry,and the pacific blackberry.
hosta- [hoh-stuh, hos-tuh]-noun- any of various plants belonging to the genus Hosta, of the lily family, which includes the plantain lily. Hosta and violets are particularly attractive to slugs.
poinsettia- [poin-set-ee-uh, -set-uh]-noun- a plant, Euphorbia ( Poinsettia ) pulcherrima, of the spurge family, native to Mexico and Central America, having variously lobed leaves and brilliant scarlet, pink, or white petal-like bracts; named after J. R. Poinsett (1799–1851), American minister to Mexico, who discovered the plant there in 1828. Don't toss out your poinsettia plants with the holiday tree.
macadamia- [mak-uh-dey-mee-uh]-noun- any Australian tree of the genus Macadamia, especially M. ternifolia, having whorled leaves and elongated clusters of pink flowers; named after John Macadam (1827--1865), Australian chemist. Garnish with more toasted coconut flakes, caramelized macadamia nuts and mint.
Apgar- [ap-gahr]-noun- 1909–74, U.S. physician: developed test to evaluate health of newborns; Apgar score. The apgar test checks every child for the coloration of their skin, heart rate, reflex, muscle tone, and their respiration.
salmonella- [sal-muh-nel-uh]-noun- any of several rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacteria of the genus Salmonella, as S. typhosa, that may enter the digestive tract of humans and other mammals in contaminated food and cause abdominal pains and violent diarrhea; after Daniel E. Salmon (1850–1914), U.S. pathologist. Because of the risk of salmonella and other nasty bugs, it is against the law to sell raw milk across state lines.
newton- [noot-n, nyoot-n]-noun-Physics- the SI unit of force, equal to the force that produces an acceleration of one meter per second per second on a mass of one kilogram. Newton came to calculus as part of his investigations in physics and geometry.
saxophone- [sak-suh-fohn]-noun- a musical wind instrument consisting of a conical, usually brass tube with keys or valves and a mouthpiece with one reed; named after Adolphe Sax (1814--94), Belgian musical-instrument maker, who invented it (1846) He also loves listening to music and playing his saxophone.
tortoni- [tawr-toh-nee]-noun- ice cream made with eggs and heavy cream, often containing chopped cherries or topped with minced almonds or crumbled macaroons; said to be after an Italian café owner in Paris in the 18th century. Biscuit tortoni makes a wonderful dessert that can be prepared ahead of time.
Beaufort-[boh-fert]-noun- an international scale used to measure wind. The bottom of the scale is 0, which is calm air. The top of the scale is 12, which is hurricane wind; The scale is named after its creator, Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort of the British Navy. The Beaufort scale is a scale for measuring wind speeds.
greengage- [green-geyj]-noun- any of several varieties of light-green plums, as Prunus insititia italica; after Sir William Gage, 18th-century English botanist who introduced such varieties from France circa 1725. Greengages are a sweet and juicy type of dessert plum that range in colour.
angstrom- [ang-struh m]-noun- a unit of length, equal to one tenth of a millimicron, or one ten millionth of a millimeter, primarily used to express electromagnetic wavelengths; named after A. J. Ångström. An angstrom is a unit of length, used mostly in measuring wavelengths of light.
gardenia- [gahr-dee-nyuh, -nee-uh]-noun- any evergreen tree or shrub belonging to the genus Gardenia, of the madder family, native to the warmer parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, cultivated for its usually large, fragrant white flowers; after Alexander Garden (1730–91), American physician. The ceremony took place on a gardenia -scented mezzanine overlooking the hall.
melba- [mel-buh]-noun- in various food preparations, esp. peach Melba (1905) and Melba toast (1925) is in honor of Nellie Melba, stage name of Australian-born operatic soprano Helen Mitchell. Peach melba is a dish made up of peaches that have been poached in vanilla, vanilla ice cream and a raspberry coulis.
Avogadro- [ah-vuh-gah-droh]-noun- 1776–1856, Italian physicist and chemist; developed Avogadro's number, is 6.022 X 10^23, which is the number of molecules of any gas present in a volume of 22.41 L. It is the same for a heavy gas, such as carbon dioxide, as it is for the lightest, hydrogen. Avogadro's number is a key component in the study of chemistry.
tantalize- [tan-tl-ahyz]-verb- to torment with, or as if with, the sight of something desired but out of reach; tease by arousing expectations that are repeatedly disappointed; from the punishment of Tantalus. Plan meals that tantalize taste buds, provide balance in your diet and promote well-being.
zinnia- [zin-ee-uh]-noun- any of several composite plants of the genus Zinnia, native to Mexico and adjacent areas, especially the widely cultivated species Z. elegans, having variously colored, many-rayed flower heads; named after J. G. Zinn (1727–59), German botanist. It means cleaning up the winter detritus and planning ahead and wondering if it is the right time to plant the zinnia seeds. quisling-[kwiz-ling]-noun- a person who betrays his or her own country by aiding an invading enemy, often serving later in a puppet government; fifth columnist; after Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), pro-Nazi Norwegian leader. A quisling is a traitor, more specifically a traitor who collaborates with the enemy to promote occupation and suppression of a native people.
begonia- [bih-gohn-yuh, -goh-nee-uh]-noun- any tropical plant belonging to the genus Begonia, including species cultivated for the handsome, succulent leaves and waxy flowers; named after Michel Bégon (1638–1710), French patron of science. The only native begonia is found in wet ravines often by waterfalls.
samaritan- [suh-mar-i-tn]-noun- one who is compassionate and helpful to a person in distress; from the Good Samaritan. A copy of the story of the good Samaritan is something everyone should have.
Panglossian- [pan-glos-ee-uh n, -glaw-see-, pang-]-adj.- characterized by or given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity; after Pangloss, an optimistic character in Voltaire's Candide. Panglossian is defined as being blindly or naively optimistic.
quixote- [kee-hoh-tee, kwik-suh t]-noun-an enthusiastic but impractical and idealistic person; for Don Quixote of Cervantes' novel. Quixotic means someone who loves the idea of being the hero of the day, but is impractical.
jeremiad- [jer-uh-mahy-uh d, -ad]-noun- a prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint; in reference to Jeremiah's Lamentations. The jeremiad will always have its place in such a course.
hector- [hek-ter]-noun- a blustering, domineering person; a bully; from the eldest son of Priam and husband of Andromache: the greatest Trojan hero in the Trojan War, killed by Achilles. A hector is a a blustering, domineering person like a bully.
Geronimo- [juh-ron-uh-moh]-noun- a battle cry used by paratroopers, especially during World War II, on jumping from a plane; 1829–1909, American Apache Indian chief. Aubrey Eberhardt attributes the first shouting of Geronimo, to a group of parachutists who saw a movie featuring Geronimo the night before a big leap.
shrapnel-[shrap-nl]-noun-Military-a hollow projectile containing bullets or the like and a bursting charge, designed to explode before reaching the target, and to set free a shower of missiles; named after Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, its inventor. With dozens of bullet and shrapnel wounds, he knew he was lucky to have survived.
vulcanize- [vuhl-kuh-nahyz]-verb- to treat (rubber) with sulfur and heat, thereby imparting strength, greater elasticity, durability, etc; from Vulcan, the name of the Roman god of fire. These compounds reduce the time to vulcanize rubber from several hours to a few minutes.
Frankenstein- [frang-kuh n-stahyn]-noun- a person who creates a monster or a destructive agency that cannot be controlled or that brings about the creator's ruin; after a character in Mary Shelley's novel of the same name (1818). Victor Frankenstein is the creator of the monster Frankenstein in the work by Mary Shelley.
Boswell- [boz-wel, -wuh l]-noun- any devoted biographer of a specific person; James, 1740–95, Scottish author: biographer of Samuel Johnson. Ever wish you had a boswell who would keep track of all your research, writings, notes, appointments, contacts, instant messages, and e-mail so you wouldn't have to.
ampere- [am-peer, am-peer]-noun- Electricity- the base SI unit of electrical current, equivalent to one coulomb per second, formally defined to be the constant current which if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross section, and placed one meter apart in vacuum, would produce between these conductors a force equal to 2 × 10 −7 newton per meter of length; for An·dré Ma·rie -1775–1836, French physicist. Parks often base the charge of the site upon the electrical ampere hookup.
coulomb- [koo-lom, -lohm, koo-lom, -lohm]- the SI unit of quantity of electricity, equal to the quantity of charge transferred in one second across a conductor in which there is a constant current of one ampere; by French physicist Charles Augustin de Coulomb. The units of electric field are volts per meter or newtons per coulomb.
Fibonacci-[fib-o-nach-i]-noun-Leonardo-1170-1250, Italian mathematician; Italian mathematician who popularized the modern Arabic system of numerals in the western world and discovered the Fibonacci sequence of integers. Fibonacci was known as the Leonardo of Pisa.
Cupid- [kyoo-pid]-noun- Also called Amor. the ancient Roman god of love and the son of either Mars or Mercury and Venus, identified with Eros and commonly represented as a winged, naked, infant boy with a bow and arrows. Cupid is often pictured with a bow and arrow, used to inspire love.
Fletcherism- [flech-uh-riz-uh m]-noun- the practice of chewing food until it is reduced to a finely divided, liquefied mass; advocated by Horace Fletcher, 1849–1919, U.S. nutritionist. It is a good habit to practice Fletcherism.
yahoo- [yah-hoo, yey-, yah-hoo]-noun- an uncultivated or boorish person; lout; philistine; yokel; coined by Swift in Gulliver's Travels (1726). That yahoo came in and completely destroyed the party and embarrassed the host.
diesel- [dee-zuh l, -suh l]-noun- noting a machine or vehicle powered by a diesel engine; after R. Diesel, the engine's inventor. Newer kinds of combines are self-propelled and use diesel engines for power.
bandersnatch- [ban-der-snach]-noun- an imaginary wild animal of fierce disposition; coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass (1871). The name Frumious Bandersnatch comes from the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.
Crusoe- [kroo-soh]-noun-Robinson- the hero of Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe (1719), who survived being shipwrecked on a desert island. Robinson Crusoe is a middle class man who is yearning for a life at sea.
mentor- [men-tawr, -ter]-noun- a wise and trusted counselor or teacher; (in the Odyssey ) a loyal adviser of Odysseus entrusted with the care and education of Telemachus. Unlike teachers or advisors, mentors often share a personal relationship with their students.
Dracula- [drak-yuh-luh]-noun- Count, the central character in this novel: the archetype of a vampire; a novel (1897) by Bram Stoker; It was a nickname of Prince Vlad of Walachia (d.1476). Dracula is the kind of the vampires.
Challenge Words
forsythia- [fawr-sith-ee-uh, -sahy-thee-uh, fer-]-noun- a shrub belonging to the genus Forsythia, of the olive family, native to China and southeastern Europe, species of which are cultivated for their showy yellow flowers, which blossom on the bare branches in early spring; after William Forsyth (1737–1804), English horticulturist. The forsythia and honeysuckle in the wooden boxes at either end are showing signs of spring.
madeleine- [mad-l-in, mad-l-eyn]-noun-French Cookery- a small shell-shaped cake made of flour, eggs, sugar, and butter and baked in a mold; after Madeleine Paulmier, French pastry cook. The look and taste of these classic molded madeleines is anything but basic and they're sure to impress your guests.
bromeliad- [broh-mee-lee-ad]-noun- any of numerous, usually epiphytic tropical American plants, having long, stiff leaves and showy flowers, and including the pineapple, Spanish moss, and many species grown as houseplants or ornamentals; the type genus of the family named after Olaus Bromelius (1639–1705), Swedish botanist. If you have bromeliad plants, regularly rinse them out with a garden hose.
mercerize- [mur-suh-rahyz]-verb- to treat (cotton yarns or fabric) with caustic alkali under tension, in order to increase strength, luster, and affinity for dye; named after John Mercer (1791–1866), English calico printer, the patentee (1850) of the process. John Mercer created the process of how to mercerize material.
Fahrenheit- [far-uh n-hahyt]-noun-Gabriel Daniel (1686-1736), German Physicist, who invented the mercury thermometer and devised the Fahrenheit temperature scale that bears his name. It is 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hot but not too uncomfortable.
narcissistic- [nahr-suh-sis-tik]-adj.- Psychoanalysis- tending to derive erotic gratification from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes; from Narcisis of Greek Mythology. From my perspective he is narcissistic, abrasive, and whiny.
Lamborghini-[lam-bor-gee-ni]-noun- Ferruccio Lamborghini- an Italian manufacturer of luxury sports cars which is owned by Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary Audi. He loved the speed of the Lamborghini.
dahlia- [dal-yuh, dahl- or, esp. British, deyl-]-noun- any composite plant of the genus Dahlia, native to Mexico and Central America and widely cultivated for its showy, variously colored flower heads; named after Anders Dahl (died 1789), Swedish botanist. When your flowers are up and ready to cut, see our dahlia cutting tips.
Baedeker- [bey-di-ker]-noun- Karl, 1801–59, German publisher, notably of guidebooks for travelers. She sold him a Baedeker to the restaurants of the region.
philippic- [fi-lip-ik]-noun- any speech or discourse of bitter denunciation; from any of the orations delivered by Demosthenes, the Athenian orator, in the 4th century b.c., against Philip, king of Macedon. A philippic is a fiery speech, or tirade, delivered to condemn a particular political actor. mendelevium-[men-dl-ee-vee-uh m]-noun-chemistery-a transuranic element; named after D. I. Mendeleev. Mendelevium is a synthetic element with the symbol Md.
guillotine- [gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-; esp. for v. gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-]-noun- a device for beheading a person by means of a heavy blade that is dropped between two posts serving as guides: widely used during the French revolution; named after J. I. Guillotin (1738–1814), French physician who urged its use. He barely escaped the guillotine, probably due to an administrative error.
Bobadil-[bahb-uh-dil]-noun- a cowardly braggart; after Captain Bobadil, a character in Every Man in His Humor by Ben Jonson †1637 Eng. dramatist. A Bobadil is a military braggart of the first water.
mesmerize- [mez-muh-rahyz, mes-]-verb- to hypnotize; to spellbind; fascinate. The images are beautiful enough, to mesmerize any who view them.
gnathonic- [na-thon-ik]-adj.- sycophantic; fawning; from Gnathō, such a character in the Eunuchus, Roman comedy by Terence. We found 14 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word gnathonic.
Pulitzer-[poo l-it-ser, pyoo-lit-]-noun- Joseph- 1847--1911, US newspaper publisher, born in Hungary. He established the Pulitzer prizes. In drama, the Pulitzer went to Alfred Uhry for Driving Miss Daisy. pasteurize- [pas-chuh-rahyz, pas-tuh-]-verb- to expose (a food, as milk, cheese, yogurt, beer, or wine) to an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy certain microorganisms, as those that can produce disease or cause spoilage or undesirable fermentation of food, without radically altering taste or quality; after Louis Pasteur (1822-95), Fr. chemist and bacteriologist. The milk is graded and tested to make sure that the milk is clean enough to pasteurize in the first place.
Croesus- [kree-suh s]-noun- a very rich man; for the last king of Lydia (560--546), noted for his great wealth. The expression 'as rich as Croesus' is used today to mean fabulously rich.
braggadocio- [brag-uh-doh-shee-oh]-noun- a boasting person; braggart; after Braggadocchio, boastful character in Spenser's Faerie Queene (1590). No one likes a braggadocio.
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