azure-[azh-er]-adj.-
of or having a
light, purplish shade of blue, like that of a clear and unclouded sky.
He
was wearing an azure sweater and gray trousers.
Islamic-[is-lahm-ik,
iz-, is-luhm-ik, iz-]-adj.-anything derived from the Islamic
religion.
The Koran is the
Islamic book of scriptures.
sultan- [suhl-tn]-noun-
the sovereign of
an Islamic country.
The
state of emergency places few limits on the sultan's power.
artichoke- [ahr-ti-chohk]-noun-
a tall,
thistlelike composite plant, Cynara
scolymus, native to the Mediterranean region, of which the
numerous scalelike bracts and receptacle of the immature flower head are eaten
as a vegetable. The edible part of
the artichoke is the flower.
mummy-[muhm-ee]-noun-
the dead body of
a human being or animal preserved by the ancient Egyptian process or some
similar method of embalming. He
salvages and studies mummy organs
from around the world.
tarragon- [tar-uh-gon,
-guh n]-noun-
an Old World
plant, Artemisia dracunculus,
having aromatic leaves used for seasoning. Tarragon
brings a hint of sweetness to this frittata.
adobe- [uh-doh-bee]-noun-
sun-dried brick
made of clay and straw, in common use in countries
having little rainfall. Flat roofs are common on adobe houses and
those with a modern architectural style.
loofah- [loo-fuh]-noun- Also
called vegetable sponge. the dried, fibrous interior of this fruit, used as a
sponge. One of the round sponges has a
loofah surface on one side for scrubbing.
massicot-[mas-i-kot]-noun-
monoxide of lead,
PbO, in the form of a yellow powder, used as a pigment and drier. Massicot is also known by the chemically
descriptive term of "lead monoxide".
mohair- [moh-hair]-noun-
the coat or
fleece of an Angora goat.
Mohair
is one of the oldest textiles in use and is noted for it's high sheen.
borax-[bawr-aks, -uh ks, bohr-]-noun-
a white,
water-soluble powder or crystals, hydrated sodium borate, tincal: used as a flux, cleansing agent, in
the manufacture of glass, porcelain, and enamel, and in tanning. The refining of borax to boric acid is a straightforward procedure.
talc- [talk]-noun-(also
talcum) a green-to-gray, soft mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate,
Mg 3 (Si 4 O 10 )(OH) 2,
unctuous to the touch, and occurring usually in foliated or compact masses,
used in making lubricants, talcum powder,
electrical insulation, etc. One of
the uses of talc is to remove
impurities in medicines.
alidade- [al-i-deyd]-noun-
(in
plane-tabling) a straightedge having a telescopic sight or other means of
sighting parallel to the straightedge. Most
of the actual mapping was done by plane-table and telescopic alidade.
arsenal- [ahr-suh-nl,
ahrs-nuh
l]-noun-
a place of
storage or a magazine containing arms and military equipment for land or naval
service. The
developed world still has some powerful weapons in its arsenal.
lemon- [lem-uh n]-noun- the yellowish, acid fruit of a
subtropical citrus tree, Citrus limon.
Freshly
grated lemon peels add
incredible flavor to a wide range of foods.
tuna- [too-nuh, tyoo-]-noun-
any of several large food and game fishes of the family Scombridae, inhabiting temperate and tropical seas. The catch can include sailfish, marlin, tuna and many other species.
admiral- [ad-mer-uh l]-noun- the commander in chief of a fleet.
Surviving crewmen remembered an admiral that
was courageous.
hazard- [haz-erd]-noun-
an unavoidable
danger or risk, even though often foreseeable.
The
job was full of hazards.
apricot- [ap-ri-kot, ey-pri-]-noun- the downy, yellow, sometimes rosy
fruit, somewhat resembling a small peach, of the tree Prunus armeniaca. Apricots have
vitamin C, they taste delicious and they are also good for your eyes and heart.
carmine- [kahr-min, -mahyn]-noun- a crimson or purplish-red color.
My
carmine coat went well with my tan
pants.
monsoon- [mon-soon]-noun- (in India
and nearby lands) the season during which the
southwest monsoon blows, commonly marked by heavy rains; rainy season. Monsoon seasons can turn a year on the road into a year in the mud.
average- [av-er-ij, av-rij]-noun- a
quantity, rating, or the like that represents or approximates an arithmetic mean. My average in
science has gone from B to C this semester.
gazelle-[guh-zel]-noun- any small
antelope of the genus Gazella and allied genera, of Africa and Asia, noted
for graceful movements and lustrous eyes. The
gazelle travels
farther than the lion does in the first two seconds of the chase.
crimson-[krim-zuh n,
-suh n]-noun- a deep purplish-red color, pigment, or
dye. Its foliage is touched by red
all year and turns crimson in
winter.
orange- [awr-inj,
or-]-noun-
a globose,
reddish-yellow, bitter or sweet, edible citrus fruit.
The
citron is unlike the more common citrus species like the lemon or orange.
sequin-[see-kwin]-noun-
a former gold
coin of Turkey, introduced in 1478; or a small shining disk or spangle used for
ornamentation, as on women's clothing and accessories or on theatrical
costumes.
In
13th century Turkey they used a gold coin, called a sequin, to pay for things.
macrame- [mak-ruh-mey]-noun- an elaborately patterned lacelike
webbing made of hand-knotted cord, yarn, or the like, and used for wall
decorations, hanging baskets, garments, accessories, etc.
She
hung her best plant in the macrame.
algebra- [al-juh-bruh]-noun- the branch of mathematics that deals
with general statements of relations, utilizing letters and other symbols to
represent specific sets of numbers, values, vectors, etc., in the description
of such relations. The series moves
on to high school math, specifically algebra
and formulas.
guitar- [gi-tahr]-noun- a
stringed musical instrument with a long, fretted neck, a flat, somewhat
violin-like body, and typically six strings, which are
plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.
His interests
include playing the guitar and
computer games.
nabob- [ney-bob]-noun-
any very wealthy,
influential, or powerful person.
He was a nabob in the community and so no one
would dare accuse him.
giraffe- [juh-raf]-noun- a tall, long-necked, spotted ruminant,
Giraffa camelopardalis, of
Africa: the tallest living quadruped animal. In order for a giraffe brain to get blood, the
pressure must be high. mattress- [ma-tris]-noun-
a large pad for
supporting the reclining body, used as or on a bed, consisting of a quilted or
similarly fastened case, usually of heavy cloth, that contains hair, straw,
cotton, foam rubber, etc., or a framework of metal springs. Allergies to mites can be controlled
with a mattress cover.
elixir- [ih-lik-ser]-noun-
Pharmacology . a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol
and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances. Their
prescription is not a sugar-coated elixir
but a purgative tonic.
saffron- [saf-ruh n]-noun- an orange-colored condiment consisting
of its dried stigmas, used to color and flavor foods. Paella is a rice dish made with saffron with a distinct golden
color and spicy fragrance.
cotton- [kot-n]-noun-
a soft, white,
downy substance consisting of the hairs or fibers attached to the seeds of
plants belonging to the genus Gossypium,
of the mallow family, used in making fabrics, thread, wadding, etc. She
wore a brown, sleeveless cotton dress
and sloppy felt slippers.
albatross
-[al-buh-traws, -tros]-noun- something burdensome that impedes
action or progress.
Insurmountable
levels of debt are another albatross
around the neck of the Legacy Airlines.
zero- [zeer-oh]-noun-
the figure or symbol 0, which in
the Arabic notation for numbers stands for the absence of quantity;
cipher. The truth is there is zero reliable data to support
that conclusion.
safari - [suh-fahr-ee]-verb-
to go on a
safari. We went on safari in Africa.
magazine- [mag-uh-zeen, mag-uh-zeen]-noun-
a publication
that is issued periodically, usually bound in a paper cover, and typically
contains essays, stories, poems, etc., by many writers, and often photographs
and drawings, frequently specializing in a particular subject or area, as
hobbies, news, or sports. The
magazine cannot return or
respond to unsolicited manuscripts.
zenith- [zee-nith]-noun-
a highest point
or state; culmination. He was near
the zenith of his
influence as the war was planned.
alfalfa- [al-fal-fuh]-noun- a plant, Medicago sativa, of the legume family, usually having
bluish-purple flowers, originating in the Near East and widely cultivated as a
forage crop. Many dairy farms
also grow their own feed, typically including corn, alfalfa, and hay.
imam- [ih-mahm]-noun- Islam. the officiating priest of a
mosque. The imam cried while praying for
the dead and wounded.
mosque- [mosk, mawsk]-noun- a Muslim temple or place of public
worship. The
mosque was integral to
society, city planning and communal life.
alcohol- [al-kuh-hawl,
-hol]-noun- Also
called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, ethanol,
fermentation
alcohol. a colorless, limpid, volatile, flammable,
water-miscible liquid, C 2 H 5 OH, having an
ether-like odor and pungent, burning taste, the intoxicating principle of
fermented liquors, produced by yeast fermentation of certain carbohydrates,
as grains, molasses, starch, or sugar, or obtained synthetically by hydration
of ethylene or as a by-product of certain hydrocarbon syntheses: used chiefly
as a solvent in the extraction of specific substances, in beverages, medicines,
organic synthesis, lotions, tonics, colognes, rubbing compounds, as an
automobile radiator antifreeze,
and as a rocket fuel. Compare denatured alcohol,
methyl alcohol.
Insomniacs turn to alcohol for relief, but find
none.
tariff- [tar-if]-noun-
an official list
or table showing the duties or customs imposed by a government on imports or
exports. Once the quota is
filled, a higher tariff is
applied on additional imports.
lilac- [lahy-luhk, -lahk, -lak]-noun- any of
various shrubs belonging to the genus Syringa, of the olive
family, as S.
vulgaris, having large clusters of fragrant purple or white
flowers: the state flower of New Hampshire. The
lilac is an ornamental
shrub with showy, fragrant blooms in spring and early summer.
alcove- [al-kohv]-noun-
a recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room. There is a
sleeping alcove that
inspires tranquility.
massage- [muh-sahzh, -sahj]-noun- the act
or art of
treating the body by rubbing, kneading, patting, or the like, to stimulate
circulation, increase suppleness, relieve tension, etc. Her shoulders were tight, she needed a
massage.
henna- [hen-uh]-noun- a reddish-orange dye or cosmetic made
from the leaves of this plant.
Even
natural products, such as henna dye,
can cause an allergic reaction.
alchemy- [al-kuh-mee]-noun-
a form
of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced
in the Middle Ages
and the Renaissance and concerned
principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser
metals into gold and with finding a
universal solvent and an elixir of life. He
also has scores of old books, many on chemistry
and alchemy.
sugar- [shoo g-er]-noun-
a sweet, crystalline substance, C 1 2 H 2 2 O
1 1 , obtained chiefly from the juice of the sugarcane and
the sugar beet,
and present in sorghum, maple sap, etc.: used extensively as an ingredient and
flavoring of certain foods and as a fermenting agent in the manufacture of
certain alcoholic beverages; sucrose. Human milk contains more natural sugar than cow milk.
Taj Mahal- [tahzh muh-hahl, tahj]-noun- a white marble mausoleum built at
Agra, India, by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan (fl. 1628–58) for his favorite
wife. The
name Taj Mahal means “crown of palaces”.
khan- [kahn, kan]-noun- (in
the Altaic
group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or
tribal chiefs.
Unfortunately, Malik Raja Ibn Khan
could not start the work in his lifetime.
ghoul- [gool]-noun-
an evil demon,
originally of Oriental legend, supposed to feed on human beings, and especially
to rob graves, prey on corpses, etc. There's not a zombie, vampire or other ghoul in sight.
Challenge
muslin-[muhz-lin]-noun-
a cotton fabric
made in various degrees of fineness and often printed, woven, or embroidered in
patterns, especially a cotton fabric of plain weave, used for sheets and for a
variety of other purposes. Use
dried lavender and a small muslin bag
to form a sachet.
camphor-[kam-fer]-noun-Chemistry-
a whitish, translucent, crystalline, pleasant-odored terpene ketone, C 10 H
16 O, obtained from the camphor tree,
used chiefly in the manufacture of celluloid and in medicine as a
counter-irritant for infections and in the treatment of pain and itching. For added odor control, try adding camphor, juniper or rosemary essential
oils.
algorithm- [al-guh-rith-uh m]-noun- a set of
rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps, as for finding the
greatest common divisor. Hose chips temporarily hold data,
including the keys to modern data-scrambling algorithms.
minaret- [min-uh-ret, min-uh-ret]-
a lofty, often slender, tower or
turret attached to a mosque, surrounded by or furnished with one or more balconies, from which the muezzin calls the people to prayer. The fort has a three storied structure with slender minarets at the south gate.
tamarind-[tam-uh-rind]-noun- the pod of a large, tropical
tree, Tamarindus indica, of the legume family, containing seeds
enclosed in a juicy acid pulp that is used in beverages
and food.
We're fans of the tamarind-papaya-lime and
the banana-guava-pineapple smoothies.
carafe-[kuh-raf, -rahf]-noun- a wide-mouthed glass or metal bottle
with a lip or spout, for holding and serving beverages. While you contemplate your choices, a tower
of airy pita bread with a carafe of
olive oil appears on your table.
julep-[joo-lip]-noun-
a sweet drink,
variously prepared and sometimes medicated.
Guests sipped mint juleps on the Mark Twain riverboat.
marzipan- [mahr-zuh-pan]-noun- a confection made of almonds reduced
to a paste with sugar and often molded into various forms, usually diminutive
fruits and vegetables. Candy
molders and marzipanshapers form
sweets into fancy shapes by hand.
nenuphar-[nen-uh-far]-noun-
The great white water lily of Europe. The
nenuphar is a beautiful flower.
alcazar- [al-kuh-zahr,
al-kaz-er]-noun-
the palace of the
Moorish kings in Seville, Spain: later used by Spanish kings. Priests
swarmed in the Alcazar, and soldiers belonging to every branch of military
service, daily guarded or marched by the palace.
tahini- [tuh-hee-nee, tah-]-noun- Middle Eastern
Cookery- a paste made of
ground sesame seeds.
Reduce heat to low and stir in tahini and
lemon juice.
Qatari- [kah-tahr, kuh-tahr]-noun- an independent emirate
on the Persian Gulf; under British protection until 1971. 8500 sq. mi. (22,000
sq. km). Capital: Doha. Executions are “rare” in Qatar.
alkali- [al-kuh-lahy]-noun-
Chemistry- any of various bases, the hydroxides of the
alkali metals and of ammonium, that neutralize acids to form salts and turn red
litmus paper blue. Alkali in concrete can react with resins.
serendipity- [ser-uh n-dip-i-tee]-noun-
an aptitude for
making desirable discoveries by accident.
Serendipity arises
when people are in a situation that fosters creativity.
nadir- [ney-der, ney-deer]-
Astronomy -the
point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and
diametrically opposite the zenith.
Their usage is as much as three times
higher at its peak than at its nadir.
douane- [dwan]-noun-
a custom house;
customs. The crates had to wait in
the douane until cleared.
fennec- [fen-ek]-noun-
a small, pale
yellowish-brown fox, Fennecus zerda, of
northern Africa, having large,pointed ears. The fennec fox is also know as a desert fox.
hafiz- [hah-fiz]-noun-
a title of
respect for a Muslim who knows the Koran by heart.
Hafiz literally
means "guardian".
azimuth- [az-uh-muh th]-noun-
Astronomy, Navigation . the arc of the horizon measured
clockwise from the south point, in astronomy, or from the north point, in
navigation, to the point where a vertical circle through a given heavenly body
intersects the horizon. A
surface facing east has an azimuth
of 90 degrees.
bezoar- [bee-zawr, -zohr]-noun- a
calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals,
especially ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for
poison.
Harry
threw a bezoar down Ron's throat to save him.
halal-[huh-lahl]-adj.- (of an animal or its meat) slaughtered
or prepared in the manner prescribed by Islamic law. Kosher and halal foods are also increasing in popularity.
Swahili- [swah-hee-lee]-noun- a member of a Bantu people of Zanzibar
and the neighboring coast of Africa. He
was born a Swahili.
serdab- [ser-dahb]- noun-a chamber
inside a mastaba containing a statue of the deceased.
They wanted to visit a serdab in Egypt.
mihrab- [meer-uh b]-noun- (in a mosque) a niche or decorative
panel designating the kiblah.
The
prize of the collection is a large, exquisitely crafted mihrab, or prayer niche.
salaam- [suh-lahm]-noun- a salutation meaning “peace,” used
especially in Islamic countries.
Salaam
is a greeting of peace.
mukhtar-[muk-tar]-noun-
meaning "chosen" in Arabic
, refers to the head of a village or mahalle.
He was voted as the mukhtar for the village.
coffle- [kaw-fuh l,
kof-uh l]-noun- a line of
animals, prisoners, or slaves chained and driven along together.
The
traders removed the restraints when the coffle neared
the market.
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