Introduction to Word of the Week: The Word of the Week is divined out of the dictionary. I started this exercise several years ago to help develop my intuitive abilities. I got the idea from Psychic Development For Beginners: An Easy Guide to Releasing and Developing Your Psychic Abilities. There are several exercises in the book, but I stuck with this one because it worked so well for me. For example, the day before the 35w bridge collapse I divined the word project. I have a collection of these words that I divined each week for The Bead Ladies. Sometimes the word turns out to be quite profound and sometimes quite mundane. Perhaps you would like to try it for yourself and see what comes up. Also, I would like to hear from you with your comments about the Word of the Week.

Word of the Week (7/26/10):  cross talk, interference by or reception of other sound, radio, or similar waves or frequencies on a telephone, radio, or other receiving apparatus. 

My comment:  Technology has given us so many new and different ways of communicating.  However, the more we are "communicating" the less we are really listening and "communing" with each other.  How many of us have seen couples out to dinner who are talking on their cell phones to other people instead of to each other?  Or how about those of us who rely solely on Facebook as a way to let your family and friends know what is happening in your life?  Haven't we gone to far?  As we increase the number of ways to communicate the quality of the communication has gone down.  Is anybody really listening?   

Word of the Week (7/19/10):  narthex  n.  Arch.  an enclosed passage between the main entrance and the nave of a church. 

My comment:  The means of belonging to a group is sometimes not as simple as it seems.  The entryway may appear to be welcoming and open to all.  However, often certain unspoken rules of behavior are expected in order to truly belong.  What is this group really about?  Do you want to be a part of it?  Are you willing to submit to the rules?  How much of your individuality are you willing to give up?  Is it worth it? 

Word of the Week (7/12/10):  icebound  adj.  1.  held fast or hemmed in by ice; frozen in: an icebound ship.  2.  obstructed or shut off by ice:  an icebound harbor.

My comment:  This hardly seems to be a meaningful word in the summer time.  Perhaps it is more of a comment about emotions and relationships.  Do you feel cut off from someone?  Are they giving you the cold shoulder?  Are they an Ice Queen?  Or perhaps it means that you have cut yourself off from your own feelings.  Maybe you are the one who is relating to others in an icy manner.  Spend some time alone to analyze the situation.       

Word of the Week (7/5/10):  sike n.  Scot. and North Eng.  1.  a small stream.  2.  a guily or ditch, esp. one that fills with water after a heavy rain. 

My comment:  On our trip back to Minnesota from Missouri today we passed many sikes.  With all the rain we had along the way, I'm sure many of them were filled with water.

Word of the Week (6/28/10):  desert1  n.  1.  a region so arid that it supports only sparse vegetation or none at all.  2.  any area in which few forms of life can exist because of lack of water, permanent frost, or absence of soil.  3.  any place lacking in something, usually as specified.  adj.  4.  of, pertaining or like a desert; desolate; barren.  5.  occurring, living, or flourishing in the desert.

desert2  v.t.1.  to leave (a person, place, etc.) without intending to return, esp. in violation of a duty, promise, or the like; abandon; forsake.  2.  (of military personnel) to run away from (service, duty, etc.) with the intention of never returning.  3.  to fail (someone) at a time of need.  4.  to forsake or leave one's duty, obligations, or the like. 

desert3  n.  1.  Often, deserts, reward or punishment that is deserved.  2.  the fact of deserving reward or punishment.  3.  merit or virtue.

My comment:  Your word is your honor.  Can you keep the promises that you make?  If not, have the decency to let the other person (people) involved know.  Otherwise be prepared to receive your "just deserts." 

Word of the Week (6/21/10):  other  adj.  1.  additional or further  2.  different or distinct from the one or ones mentioned or implied.  3.  different in nature or kind.  4.  being the remaining one of two or more.  5.  (used with plural nouns)  being the remaining ones of a number.  6.  former  7.  every other, every alternate.  8.  the other day (night, evening, etc.), a day (night, evening, etc.) or two ago; lately.  n.  9.  the other one.  pron. 10.  Usually, others, other persons or things  11.  some person or thing else.  adv.  12.  otherwise; differently (usually fol. by than).  

My comment:  Perhaps this week we need to consider what the other people in our lives want to do.  Instead of just focusing on yourself, try to look at it from someone else's point of view.  You might learn something important.   

Word of the Week (6/14/10):  Languedoc  n.  a former province in S. France.  Cap.:  Toulouse

My comment:  Is someone planning a vacation to Southern France?  Lucky you!  For the rest of us perhaps this is a sign that we need to relax and remember to appreciate the beauty in the world. 

Word of the Week (6/7/10):  crux  n.  1.  a basic or decisive point.  2.  a cross  3.  something that torments by its puzzling nature; a perplexing difficulty. 

My comment:  Are you having trouble deciding which fork to take in the road?  Will your life be completely different if you take road A rather than road B?  Perhaps it doesn't really matter.  The scenery will be different, the experiences and people you meet will be different, but could it be you will end up in the same place anyway?  Maybe the important thing is that you make a commitment no matter what it is. 

Word of the Week (5/31/10):  linear  adj.  1.  extended or arranged in a line.  2.  involving measurement in one dimension only; pertaining to length.  3.  pertaining to or represented by lines.  4.  consisting of using lines.  5.  having the form or resembling a line.  6.  Math.  a.  consisting of, involving, or describable by terms of the first degree.  b.  having the same effect on a sum as on each of the summands.  7.  threadlike; narrow and elongated.

My comment:   Life seems to move in a linear fashion.  We are born, we age, and we die.  Yet, underlying this structure is the cylical nature of life (as referenced last week with the prefix, gyro-).  What is time?  Is it linear, cyclical, or both?       

Word of the Week (5/24/10):  gyro-, a learned borrowing from Greek meaning "ring," "circle," "spiral," used in formation of compound words:  gyromagnetic. 

My comment:  As an astrologer I think of this prefix as a reference to the horoscope: the sacred circle that embodies information about this life and past lives.  It also represents to me the cyclical movement of life.  Spiral is another name for helix, which is the DNA structure for all life forms.  

Why did this prefix come up now at this time?  Probably because I just spent the past weekend at an astrology workshop.  It's a reminder to all of us about the cyclical nature of life.   

Word of the Week (5/17/10):  razzle-dazzle  n.  Informal  1.  confusion, commotion, or riotous gaiety.  2.  Chiefly Football, deceptive action, esp. when flashily executed.  3.  showy and diverting, but often meretricious activity.

My comment:  Who is doing the "razzle-dazzle?"  Is it you or are you the one on the receiving end?  Perhaps it just means a great party is in store this weekend.

Word of the Week (5/10/10):  Dudley  n.  1.  Robert, 1st Earl of Leicester, 1532?-1588, British statesman and favorite of Queen Elizabeth.  2.  Thomas, 1576-1653, English governor of Massachesetts Bay Colony 1634-35, 1640-41, 1645-46, 1650-51.  3.  a city in central England, near Birmingham.

My comment:  Whenever I hear the name Dudley I think of the cartoon character Dudley Do-right.  He was a Canadian Mountie.  He was a "do-gooder."  His counterpart was "Snidely Whiplash" and his girlfriend was "Little Nell."  So what does all of this have to do with what is to happen this week?  I don't know.  Perhaps it just means that the British will be central to the news this week.   

Word of the Week (5/3/10):  cytochemistry  n.  the branch of cytology dealing with the chemistry of living cells.

My comment:  What are you made of?  Are you what you eat?  If so, what is the chemistry of the foods that you eat?  Start a food log .  Do you eat mostly fresh food or is your diet filled with chemicals you can't even pronounce?   

Word of the Week (4/26/10):  corbeil  Fr.  n.  a sculptured ornament, esp. on a capital, having the form of a basket.

My comment:  Does this mean that appearances matter this week?  And what does it mean that it is in the form of a basket?  Perhaps you need to offer something in order to receive something in return.  No matter how trivial it may seem, such a gesture is of great importance.

Word of the Week (4/19/10):  Painted Desert, a region in North Central Arizona, East of the Colorado River:  many colored rock surfaces.

My comment:  Perhaps someone is planning a trip to this part of the country.  However, maybe we need to look at each word individually for the hidden meaning.  By definition a desert is dry without much vegetation.  Therefore it is not as colorful as a flowerfield.  However, this particular desert has rocks that are "painted."   We may be hot, dry, and hungry, yet our eyes have been given a feast of color.  Be thankful for what you have.         

Word of the Week (4/12/10):  Congress of Industrial Organizations, a federation of affiliated industrial labor unions, founded 1935 within the American Federation of Labor but independent of it.  Abbr.  C.I.O, CIO

My comment:  Perhaps the CIO will be in the news this week.  Does this have something to do with the economy?  What do you think? 

Word of the Week (4/5/10):  cafeteria  n.  a restaurant in which the patrons wait on themselves, carrying their food to their tables from counters where it is displayed and served. 

My comment:  There can be so many options in life.  It can be hard to decide what you want, especially when the choices seem so appealing.  However, once you have made your selection and paid for it, you still have to do all the work.  Hopefully your selection is fulfilling. 

Word of the Week (3/29/10):  Derby  n.  1.  a race for three-year-old horses run annually at Epsom Downs, near London, England.  2.  a race for three-year-old horses run annually at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky.  3.  any three-year-old horses.  4.  a race or contest, usually one open to all who wish to enter.  5.  Also called, esp.  Brit., bowler, a man's stiff felt hat with rounded crown and narrow brim.  (after Edward Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (d. 1834), who instituted the English Derby race)

My comment:  The Kentucky Derby is a whole month away.  It's always the first Saturday in May.  This year it is May 1st, May Day.  Why did this word come up now?  Perhaps the "powers that be" want me to help advertise the event.  They have been advertising it on TV recently.   I don't know when they hold the race in England.  Perhaps I should look that up.

Word of the Week (3/22/10):  fore1  adj.  1.  situated at or toward the front, as compared with something else.  2.  first in place, time, order, rank, etc.; forward; earlier.  3.  Naut.  a.  of or pertaining to a foremast.  b.  situated at or toward the bow of a vessel; forward.  adv.  4.  Naut.  at or toward the bow.  5.  Archaic.  before.  6.  Dial.  forward.  7.  fore and aft, Naut. in, at, or to both ends of a ship.  n.  8.  the forepart of anything; front.  9.  the fore, Naut.  the foremast.  10.  to the fore, a.  into a conspicuous place or position; to the front.  b.  at hand; ready; available.  prep., conj.  11.  Also 'fore, Dial.  before.  fore2  interj.  Golf, (used as a cry of warning to persons on a course who are in danger of being struck by the ball.)

My comment:  It's time to stand out in front and be counted.  Don't be shy.  Just make sure you heed to any warnings about a stray ball! 

Word of the Week (3/15/10):  glint  n.  1.  a gleam or glimmer; sparkle; flash.  2.  gleaming brightness; luster.  3.  a brief manifestation; inkling; trace.  v.i.  4.  to gleam or flash.  5.  to move suddenly; dart.  v.t.  6.  to cause to glint; reflect.

My comment:  Is it your turn to shine?  You'd better move quickly.  The opportunity may last for only a short while. 

Word of the Week (3/8/10):  cerussite  n.  a mineral, lead carbonate, PhCO3:  an important ore of lead.

My comment:  Cerussite is a stone of alchemy.  According to The Book of Stones, it "is ideal for those wishing to make career changes which will reflect their spiritual aspirations and their desire to be of service in the world."  It is also helpful to anyone who is experiencing sudden changes in their lives.  It is considered to be a stone of protection.  If you would like to see pictures of this stone, click on this site:  cerussite

Word of the Week (3/1/10):  euphuism  n.  1.  an affected style in imitation of that of Lyly, fashionable in England about the end of the 16th century, characterized chiefly by long series of antitheses, frequent similes relating to fabulous natural history, alliteration, etc.  2.  any similiar ornate style of writing or speaking:  high-flown, periphrastic language.  3.  an instance of such style or language.

My comment:  Do you need to speak more clearly?  Are you being understood?  If not, who are you trying to impress? 

Word of the Week (2/21/10):  half mourning  1.  a mourning garb less somber than full mourning.  2.  the period during which it is worn.

My comment:  I thought it was interesting that the word right above half mourning in the dictionary is half-moon.  We happen to be in the half-moon phase at this time.  To be more specific, the waxing half-moon in Gemini was exact at 6:42p.m. CST last night.  I believe these two words have something in common.  When we mourn we are allowing ourselves to express our feelings for the deceased.  In astrology the moon is a symbol for our emotions and feelings.  Therefore couldn't we say that the half-moon is a symbol for a person in half mourning?

I got the following description of half mourning from the MSU website:

"After the first year of mourning, a woman had more freedom choosing her clothing. During the following year which was known as "half-mourning," a woman could begin to wear hats again, unlike in deep mourning, when she would have only worn a simple bonnet with a long crape veil. Colors like grey and purple were also allowed."     

Word of the Week (2/15/10):  organize  v.t.  1.  to form as or into a whole consisting of interdependent or coordinated parts.  2.  to systematize  3.  to give organic structure or character to.  4.  to build a labor union among.  5.  to enlist the employees of (a business) into a labor union.  6.  Informal, to put (oneself) in a state of mental competence to perform a task.  v.i.  7.  to combine in an organization.  8.  to assume organic structure.

My comment:  This word could be my mantra.  It's not that I'm unorganized.  However, if I were more organized my life would be that much simpler.  I guess I need to accept that to be organized is an ongoing thing, not something that can be done once and for all.

Word of the Week (2/8/10):  shadoof  n.  a water bucket suspended on a weighted rod, used in Egypt and other Eastern countries for raising water, esp. for irrigation.  Also, shaduf. 

My comment:  Perhaps this is just a comment about the snowfall today.  Mother Nature is making sure that our land is being watered.  What do you think? 

Word of the Week  (2/1/10):  lake herring, a cisco or whitefish, esp. Coregonus artedii, of the Great Lakes.

My comment:  Is someone reading this ice fishing?  Perhaps the meaning is more esoteric.  The winter time is a time for contemplation.  We may need to "sit out in the cold" for a long time before we are able to fish out any food for thought or sustenance.  Yet, we must do it to survive and to grow.     

Word of the Week  (1/25/10):  cowpox  n.  Vet.  Path.  an eruptive disease of cows that forms in small pustules containing a virus used in smallpox vaccine.

My comment:  You hardly ever hear about smallpox anymore.  The vaccine was very effective in erradicating the disease.  However, sometimes we become complacient about such issues.  Does this word mean we need to pay more attention to the possibility of getting smallpox?  Or does it mean we can't afford to believe that any disease on this earth can be completely destroyed?   

Word of the Week  (1/18/10):  pout1  v.i.  1.  to thrust out the lips, esp. in displeasure or sulleness.  2.  to appear sullen.  3.  to swell out or protude, as lips.  v.t.  4.  to protude (the lips).  5.  to utter with a pout.  n.  6.  the act of pouting; a protusion of the lips.  7.  a fit of sulleness  pout2  n.  1.  See horned pout.  2.  a northern, marine food fish.

My comment:  What has put you in such a sour mood?  Is it the weather?  A friend?  Your job situation?  Whatever it might be, put your energy to better use.  All that negativity is sapping your energy, working against you.  Think more positively.  You'll feel better and your situation will improve.   

Word of the Week  (1/11/10):  porcelain enamel, a glass coating made to adhere to a metal or another enamel by fusion.

My comment:  Sounds like someone is taking a class in the art of porcelain enamel.  Nothing profound here! 

Word of the Week  (1/4/10):  genoa  n.  Naut.  a large jib for cruising and racing yachts, overlapping the mainsail.  Also called genoa jib.

Genoa  n.  a seaport in NW Italy, S of Milan.  

My comment:  Is someone planning a sailing trip, perhaps in Italy?  Or maybe you received some genoa sausage for the holidays.  "Bon voyage" or should I say, "Bon appetite?" 

Word of the Week  (12/28/09):  namby-pamby  adj.  1.  weakly sentimental, pretentious, or affected; insipid.  2.  lacking in character, directness, or moral or emotional strength.  3.  without firm methods or policy; weak or indecisive.  n.  4.  namby-pamby verse or prose.  5.  a namby-pamby person.  6.  namby-pamby sentiment.

 My comment:  Having a hard time making a decision?  Not sure what methods or policy to use or enforce?  Where's your backbone?  Get real.  Develop some character.  Make some New Year's resolutions and stick to them.   

Word of the Week (12/21/09):  harlequin  n.  1.  a comic character in commedia dell'arte and the harlequinade, usually masked, dressed in multi-colored, diamond patterned tights, and carrying a wooden sword or magic wand.  2.  a buffoon.  3.  any of various small, handsomely marked snakes.  adj.  4.  fancifully varied in color, decoration, etc.  

My comment:  The harlequin character is a type of fool.  To me the fool can be someone who is actually very wise, but just appears to be foolish.  Isn't it interesting that in the first definition, he is "carrying a wooden sword or magic wand?"  Which is it?  Or perhaps it is one and the same.  Who is really a fool, the person who is afraid to try new things or the person who doesn't care how he appears as long as he is living life to the fullest?  As we are approaching the new year, think about what you would like to try this year, but haven't because you were afraid of how you would appear.  Perhaps now is the time to become like harlequin and wave your magic wand. 

Word of the Week (12/14/09):  native adj.  1.  being the place of origin of a person or thing.  2.  belonging to a person at his birth or a thing of origin.  3.  originating in and being characteristic of a specified region.  4.  belonging to a people regarded as natives  5.  of or pertaining to such a person  6.  being so at one's birth  7.  belonging or pertaining to a person by reason of his birthplace  8.  remaining or  growing in a natural state; unadorned or unchanged  9.  originating naturally in a particular country or region as animals or plants  10.  found in nature rather than produced artificially, as a mineral substance  11.  occurring in nature pure or uncombined, as minerals  12.  Archaic  belonging to a person as a birthright  13.  Archaic  closely related, as by birth  (for more definitions, please refer to your dictionary)

 My comment:  In astrology the birth chart is referred to as the natal chart.  Hence, the owner of the chart is often called the native.  The fourth house represents the native's home, one's roots or clan, and the foundation of one's psychological self.  It also is considered the door from this life to the next, the entrance and the exit door.  With that in mind this word has special meaning for me this week.  I just learned this morning that my very dear and close friend Cindy died from pancreatic cancer shortly before midnight last night.  Her family planned on bringing  her home today, however I think she didn't want to wait to go Home.  Home to her place of origin, where we will all return one day.           

Word of the Week (12/7/09):  scintillation  n.  1.  the act of scintillating.  2.  a spark or flash.  3.  Astron.  the twinkling or tremulous effect of the light of the stars.  4.  Meteorol.  any small scale twinkling or shimmering of objects that are viewed through the atmosphere.  Physics.  a flash of light occurring as a result of the ionization of a phosphor when struck by an energetic photon or particle.

My comment:  This time of the year there is a lot of scintillation happening every night.  In almost every neighborhood homes are brightly lit with lights that twinkle and shimmer.  Enjoy the season! 

Word of the Week (11/30/09):  louse  n.  1.  any small, wingless insect of the order Anoplura, parasitic on man and other mammals having mouthparts adapted for sucking, as Pediculus humanus and Phihirius pubis.  2.  any insect of the order Mallophaga, parasitic on birds and mammals, having mouthparts adapted for biting.  3.  See plant louse  4.  Slang.  a contemptible person, esp. an unethical one.  v.t.  5.  to delouse.  6.  louse up, Slang. to spoil; botch; make a mess of.

My comment:  Well, I hope this week doesn't turn out to be lousy.  Beware of parasites, the human kind as well as the insect variety.  Make sure you delouse.  No  need to let unscrupulous people spoil your week.  (Your out-of-town guests aren't still at your house, are they?)  Take care.  
 

Word of the Week (11/16/09):  ducky1  adj.  1.  fine; excellent.  2.  dear; darling.  ducky2  n.  Brit. Slang. (used as a term of endearment or familiarity) dear; sweetheart; darling; pet.

My comment:  Well, I hope everything today turns out to be just ducky, my ducky. 

Word of the Week (11/9/09):  echinold  adj.  1.  belonging or pertaining to the Echinoidea.  2.  resembling a sea urchin.  n.  3.  any echinoderm of the class Echinoidea.  

My comment:  A trip to the ocean sounds nice.  Don't forget to observe the starfish, sand dollars, and sea urchins.  Enjoy walking along the beach barefoot.  If you can't afford a trip to the beach right now, why not enjoy the image?  Close your eyes and relax.  Feel the ocean breeze.  Hear the ocean waves and forget all your troubles.     

Word of the Week (11/2/09):  orthogonal  adj.  1.  Math.  pertaining to or involving right angles or perpendiculars.  2.  Crystall.  referable to a rectangular set of axes.  3.  (in drafting)  noting a projection in which the subject is placed with a principal face parallel to the picture plane and in which all rays from the subject are perpendicular to the picture plane, so that a scale drawing results; orthographic.

My comment:  Is this a lesson about math and the underlying structures of life, crystals, drafting, right angles, or all of the above?  You decide. 

Word of the Week (10/26/09):  entrain1  v.i.  1.  to board a train.  v.t.  to put aboard a train.  entrain2  v.t.  1.  Chem.  (of a substance, as a vapor) to carry along (a dissimilar, as drops of liquid) during a given process, as evaporation or distillation.  2.  (of a liquid) to trap (bubbles) produced either mechanically through turbulence or chemically through a reaction.

My comment:  Are you planning a trip?  Is it time to move on?  Either way, it's time for a change. 

Word of the Week (10/19/09):  tourmaline:  n.  a mineral, essentially a complex silicate containing boron, aluminum, etc., usually black but having various colored, transparent varieties used as gems.  

My comment:  Tourmaline can be black, pink, red, green, blue, golden, brown, and "watermelon."  Not only are they beautiful they also can be used for healing purposes.  The underlying healing energy for all the colors is cleansing.  You can refer to The Book of Stones by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian, listed under my Recommended Reading link, for the multitude of purposes. 

Word of the Week (10/12/09):  quality  adj.  1.  a characteristic, property, or attitude.  2.  character or nature, as belonging to a distinguishing thing  3.  character with respect to fineness or grade of excellence  4.  high grade; great excellence  5.  an accomplishment or attainment.  6.  high social position or status  7.  Accoustics.  the texture of a tone, dependent on its overtone content, which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch and loudness.  8.  Phonet.  the tonal color, or timbre, that characterizes a particular vowel sound.  9.  Logic, the character of a proposition as affirmative or negative.  adj.  10.  of or having superior quality.

 My comment:  I think this word has come up before, but it is always a good one to remember.   In today's economy we need to think more carefully about our choices.  Should we pick something that is of high quality and will last longer than the cheaper item?  Can we afford to wait until we can pay for the higher quality item?  These questions are not always easy to answer.  Does it pay to strive to be a person of excellence or do we justify cutting corners in order to get what we want?  Quality,  what does it mean to you and are you willing to work for it?   

Word of the Week (10/5/09):  prick  n.  1.  a mark or puncture made by something small and sharp.  2.  the act of pricking.  3.  the state or sensation of being pricked.  4.  the pointed end of a prickspur.  5.  Obs.  any pointed instrument or weapon.  6.  kick against the pricks,  to resist incontestable facts or authority.  v.t.  7.  to pierce with something small and sharp.  8.  to affect with sharp pain, as from piercing.  9.  to cause (someone) sharp pain, as from piercing.  10.  to urge on with or as with a goad or spur.  11.  to mark with a series of pricks.  12.  to cause to stand erect or point upward.  13.  to measure (distances or areas) on a chart with dividers.  14.  Hort.  to transplant a seedling into a container that provides more room for growth.  (due to the extensive meanings, please refer to your dictionary for the entire definition).

My comment:  Who or what is causing you pain?  What are you resisting?  Are you being stubborn or just plain lazy?  Perhaps it is time to get to work and make some changes in your life so that you can grow. 

Word of the Week (9/28/09):  spiritoso  It.  adj.  Music.  spirited; lively.

My comment:  Perhaps you will be attending a music concert this week that is spirited and lively. We are going to Orchestra Hall this Saturday to hear the Minnesota Orchestra play Wagner, Tchaikovsky, and Bartok.  Sounds spiritoso to me! 

Word of the Week (9/21/09): lorry  n.  1.  Brit.  a motor truck, esp. a large one.  2.  any of various vehicles running on rails, as for transporting material in a mine or factory.  3.  a long, low, horse-drawn wagon without sides, common in England.

My comment:  Is someone going on a trip to England or is this simply a reminder to "House" fans that the season premiere, starring the British actor, Hugh Laurie (sounds like lorry), starts tonight? 

Word of the Week (9/14/09):  section  n.  1.  a part that is cut off or separated. 2.  a distinct part or subdivision of anything, as an object, area or community, class, or the like  3.  a distinct part or subdivision of a writing, as of a newspaper, legal code, chapter, etc.  4.  one of a number of parts that can be fitted together to make a whole.  5.  (in most of the U.S. west of Ohio) one of the 36 numbered subdivisions, each one mile square, of a township.  6.  the act or an instance of cutting.  7.  Surg.  a.  the making of an incision.  b.  an incision.   8.  a thin slice of tissue, mineral, or the like, as for microscopic examination.  9.  a representation of an object as it would appear if cut by a plane, showing its internal structure.  (Due to the length of the description of this word, please refer to your dictionary for the remaining definitions.)

Word of the Week (9/7/09):  salpingectomy  n.  Surg.  excision of the Fallopian tube.

 My comment:  I have no idea why this word is coming up now.  Perhaps someone reading this is going to have this done or they know someone who is going to have this done soon.  In more esoteric terms it can mean that your creative endeavors are being cut off or at least severely limited. 

Word of the Week (8/31/09):  retirement  n.  1.  the act of retiring.  2.  the state of being retired.  3.  removal or withdrawal from service.  4.  the portion of a person's life during which he is retired.  5.  withdrawal into privacy or seclusion.  6.  privacy or seclusion.  7.  a private or secluded place.  8.  Mil.  orderly withdrawal of a military force according to plan, without pressure from the enemy.  adj.  9.  noting or pertaining to retirement.

My comment:  Are you thinking about retiring?  Planning a trip to a secluded place?  Or maybe you just want to take some time out from your busy day and relax in your secluded den.  Whatever it is, make the most of it.  You deserve some rest. 

Word of the Week (8/24/09):  occult:  adj.  1.  beyond the range of ordinary knowledge; mysterious.  2.  secret;  disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.  3.  of or pertaining to magic, astrology, and other alleged sciences claiming use or knowledge of secret, mysterious, or supernatural agencies.  4.  hidden from view.  n.  5.  occult studies or sciences 6.  the supernatural or supernatural agencies and affairs considered as a whole.  v.t.  7.  to block or shut off (an object) from view;  hide.  8.  Astron.  to hide (a body) by occultation.  v.i.  9.  to become hidden or shut off from view.

My comment:  It's interesting that this is the second week in a row in which the word either contains the word secret or has something to do with secrets.  Of course I object to the use of the word "alleged" in the definition, but what do you expect from a dictionary written in 1968.  (I really should use a more up-to-date dictionary.)  Perhaps this is just a reminder that we need to pay more attention to that which is hidden.  Don't take things at face value.  Be aware of the magic in your life.   

 Word of the Week (8/17/09):  secretarial:  adj.  noting or pertaining to a secretary or a secretary's skills and work.

My comment:  What struck me about this word just now is the fact that it contains the word secret.  If you have ever been a secretary you will probably understand the connection.  Often when you are a secretary you need to keep secret the plans of the group to which you belong, at least from competitors.  Also, doesn't it seem that the skills and work done by the secretary are not always that evident?  Often they are the ones that keep the whole operation running and yet that fact is not made known.  They have a lot more power than you would think.  The information that they are privy to as well as how they record and/or disperse that information is a lot more powerful than most people would consider. 

Word of the Week (8/10/09):  duodecillion:  n.  1.  a cardinal number represented in the U.S. and France by one followed by 39 zeros, and in Great Britain and Germany by one followed by 72 zeros.  adj.  2.  amounting to one duodecillion in number.

My comment:  Here's a word you don't see everyday, much less hear.  Is this in reference to our National Debt?  What do you think? 

Special Note:  Starting this week (8/3/09) I will no longer be storing the first  year of "Word of the Week" on this site.  However, I am storing it on my personal word program.  Therefore, if you wish to see the "Word of the Week" from that time period you will have to contact me.  I am making this change in order to comply with the terms of my web provider.  Thank you for your understanding.

Word of the Week(8/3/09):  pram1  n.  Chiefly Brit.  Informal.  perambulator (1.  a baby carriage.  2.  a person who makes a tour of inspection on foot.)  pram2  Naut.  a flat-bottomed lighter used in Dutch and German ports.  (lighter2n.  1.  a vessel, commonly an unpowered, flat-bottomed barge, used in lightening or unloading and in loading ships, or in transporting goods for short distances.)

My comment:  Perhaps this means there is a "new addition" to your family.  Or maybe you have a new idea or "baby" that you have been protecting.  Or maybe you feel like the second meaning, a mere vessel helping other people to lighten their "loads." 

Word of the Week (7/27/09):  diet1  n.   1.  food considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and effects on health.  2.  a particular selection of food, esp. as prescribed to cure a disease, gain or lose weight, etc.  3.  the usual or regular foods a person eats most frequently.  4.  food habitually provided.  5.  anything that is habitually provided or partaken of  v.t.  6.  to regulate the food of, esp. in order to improve the physical condition.  7.  to feed  v.i.  8.  to select or limit the food one eats to improve one's physical condition or to lose weight.  9.  Archaic.  to eat; feed.  

diet2  n.  1.  the legislative body of certain countries, as Japan.  2.  the general assembly of the estates of the former Holy Roman Empire. 

My comment:  Well, I guess I can officially take this as a sign that it is time for me to reassess my diet.  I've been eating too well lately.  I definitely want to improve my physical condition.  It has been almost 8 weeks since my  hip surgery and I feel great.  I have more energy now than I did several months before the surgery! 

Word of the Week (7/20/09):  determinism  n.  1.  the doctrine that all facts and events exemplify natural laws.  2.  the doctrine that all events, including human choices and decisions, have sufficient causes.

My comment:  Sure sounds like, "As above, so below,"  the mantra used by many astrologers.  This is exactly what we astrologers believe, that the movement of the heavens has an effect on us. 

Word of the Week (7/13/09):  bride1  n.  a newly married woman or a woman about to be married.  bride2  n.  a thread or threads for joining ornamental details in embroidery or lacemaking.  Also called tie.

My comment:  There are a lot of brides this time of year.  Perhaps this word is merely in reference to that.  Or maybe the second definition makes more sense to you.  Are you working on an embroidery piece?  However, I think the underlying meaning, the joining of one thing to another, has more significance to most of us.  How can you tie all the loose ends of your life together to make a more productive and meaningful whole?  Now that's something for all of us to think about. 

Word of the Week (7/6/09):  milage or mileage  n.  1.  the aggregate number of miles traveled over in a given time.  2.  length, extent, or distance in miles.  3.  an allowance for traveling expenses at a fixed rate per mile.  4.  a fixed charge per mile, as for railroad transportation.  5.  the number of miles or relative distance that a vehicle can travel on a quantity of fuel.

My comment:  So how much mileage have you been getting with your car lately?  Are you taking fewer trips because of the expense?  Personally I'm thinking about how far I can travel or walk with my new hip.  I am able to walk a little farther each day.  Yesterday I walked over a mile.     

Word of the Week (6/29/09):  idea  n.  1.  any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity.  2.  a thought, conception, or notion  3.  an impression  4.  an opinion, view, or belief.  5.  a plan of action; an intention  6.  a groundless supposition; fantasy.  7.  Philos.  a.  a concept developed by the mind.  b.  a conception of what is desirable or ought to be; ideal.  c.  (cap.)  Platonism, an archetype or pattern of which the individual objects in any natural class are imperfect copies and from which they derive their being.  8.  Obs.  a likeness  9.  Obs.  a mental image

My comment:  Well, if this isn't a very generic word.   Whose idea was this anyway?  Perhaps it's just reminding us that whatever you believe, is your reality.  Change your beliefs and change your reality.   

Word of the Week (6/22/09):  magnify  v.t.  1.  to increase the apparent size of, as a lens does.  2.  to make greater in actual size; enlarge.  3. to cause to seem greater or more important; attribute too much importance to; exaggerate.  4.  to make more exciting; intensify; dramatize; heighten.  5.  Archaic.  to extol; praise.  v.i.  6.  to increase or be able to increase the apparent or actual size of an object.

My comment:  Are you making something a bigger deal than it actually is?  Are you exaggerating your situation?  Perhaps you feel the need to praise someone.  Or maybe it just means that you are physically making something bigger than it was originally.  Perhaps my favorite definition is number four.  Why not make your life more exciting?  Go for the gusto! 

Word of the Week (6/15/09):  croupy  adj.  1.  pertaining or resembling croup.  2.  affected with croup.  (Here is the meaning of croup1  n.  Pathol.  any condition of the larynx or trachea characterized by a hoarse cough and difficult breathing  croup2  n.  the highest part of the rump of a horse.

My comment:  I am going to the doctor's office this week to have my stitches taken out on my right hip.  I suppose you could say that most of the stitches are located on my "rump."  What meaning does this word have for you? 

Word of the Week (6/8/09):  retract1  v.t.  to draw back or in:  to retract fangs.

retract2  v.t.  1.  to withdraw (a statement, opinion, etc.) as inaccurate or unjustified.  2.  to withdraw or revoke (a decree, promise, etc.  v.i.  3.  to draw or shrink back.  4.  to withdraw a promise, vow, etc.  5.  to make disavowal of a statement, opinion, etc. recant

My comment:  Perhaps you need to retract a statement that you made or perhaps someone wants to retract a statement that they made to you.  Don't be afraid to state how you feel.  Forgiveness may be in order.  

Word of the Week (6/1/09):  Star Chamber,  1.  a former court of inquisitorial and criminal jurisdiction in England, primarily composed of royal councillors, that sat without a jury and that became noted for its arbitrary methods and severe punishments:  abolished in 1641.  2.  any tribunal, committee, or the like, that proceeds by arbitrary or unfair methods.  

My comment:  Do you feel that you are being judged unfairly?  Who or what has too much power?  What happened to checks and balances?  What exactly is happening with the committee that is to decide who will be Minnesota's other senator?  Who will be watching them?  

Word of the Week (5/25/09):  brewis  n.  Dial.  1.  broth.  2.  bread soaked in broth, gravy, etc.

My comment:  Perhaps my finger slipped on this one.  The word above this in the dictionary is brewery.  Why do I think my finger slipped?  We are going to the Twins' game today.  There will certainly be a lot of different brews there.  And isn't beer a kind of broth?  Hmm, what do you think? 

Word of the Week (5/18/09):  duvetyn  n.  a napped fabric, in a twilled or plain weave, of cotton, wool, silk, or rayon.

My comment:  Fabric shopping?  I have been a sewer since I was nine and I have never heard of this word before.  Oh well, you learn something new everyday! 

Word of the Week (5/11/09):  remedy  n.  1.  something, as a medicine, that cures or relieves a disease or bodily disorder.  2.  something that corrects or removes an evil of any kind.  3.  Law, legal redress.  v.t.  4.  to cure, relieve, or heal.  5.  to restore to the natural or proper condition; put right:  to remedy a matter.  6.  to counteract or remove:  to remedy an evil.  

My comment:  I'm taking a class today at the hospital to prepare for my hip resurfacing surgery.  We'll also learn what steps to take to facilitate the healing process.  What does this word mean to you? 

Word of the Week (5/4/09):  evaporate  v.i.  1.  to turn to vapor; pass off in vapor.  2.  to give off moisture.  3.  to disappear; vanish; fade  v.t.  4.  to convert into a gaseous state or vapor  5.  to extract moisture or liquid from, as by heat , so as to make dry or to reduce to a denser state  6.  to cause to disappear or fade;  dissipate.

My comment:  Is something in your life vanishing?  With the state of our economy perhaps you feel that your money is disappearing.  Perhaps you have misplaced something or have lost contact with a friend or family member.  Maybe you can't seem to get a handle on reality.  Things that seem to be there vanish or fade away.  On a more positive note, this might indicate that your diet plan is finally taking effect and those extra pounds are disappearing.  What does this word mean to you? 

Word of the Week (4/27/09):  communion  n.  1.  the act of sharing, or holding in common; participation.  2.  the state of things so held.  3.  association or fellowship.  4.  interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication.  5.  a group of persons having a common religious faith;  a religious denomination.  6.  (often cap.)  Also called Holy Communion.  Eccles.  a.  the act of receiving the Eucharistic elements.  b.  the elements of the Eucharist.  c.  the celebration of the Eucharist.  d.  the antiphon sung at a Eucharistic service.

My comment:  May you have a feeling of communion this week, holy or otherwise. 

Word of the Week (4/20/09):  qualitative  adj.  pertaining to or concerned with quality or qualities.

My comment:  Do you value quality over quantity?  In general, we Americans appear to value quantity more.  In fact, sometimes it seems like our possessions own us rather than the other way around.  In view of our changing economy, perhaps this is a good time to value quality over quantity.  Having fewer things forces us to value what we do have more.  Certainly this is something we could all work on. 

Word of the Week  (4/13/09):  peregrinate  v. - v.i.  1.  to travel or journey, esp. on foot.  v.t.  2.  to travel over; traverse.

My comment:  This can mean quite literally, a physical trip or trek.  However, I think it also means a need to explore or take a journey in one's mind; to examine one's thoughts; be open to new ways of looking at things; and recording one's experiences.     

Word of the Week (4/6/09):  crutch  n.  1.  a staff or support to assist a lame or infirm person in walking, usually with a crosspiece fitting under the armpit.  2.  a forked support or part.  3.  a forked device on the left side of a sidesaddle for supporting the legs.  4.  the crotch of the human body.  5.  Also, crotch, Naut.  a forked support for a boom or a spar that is not in use.  6.  anything that serves to support or sustain artificially or as an expedient to supplement insufficient resources:  This works program is basically a crutch for the economy.  v.t.  7.  to support on crutches; prop; sustain.

My comment:  Obviously our economy is on crutches.  What else is on "crutches" in your life?  Is it a necessary part of your recovery or are you relying too heavily on others?  Perhaps it is time to become more self supportive. 

Word of the Week (3/30/09):  scamper  v.i.  1.  to run or go hastily.  2.  to run playfully about, as a child.  n.  3.  a scampering; a quick run.  

My comment:  Are you in such a hurry to make changes in your life that you are being careless?  Perhaps  you need to slow down a little bit or maybe it just means you need to make time for a little fun. 

Word of the Week (3/23/09):  cucurbitaceous  adj.  belonging to the Cucurbitaceae, or gourd family of plants, which includes the pumpkin, squash, cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon, etc.

My comment:  Are you planning what seeds to put in your garden this year?  Perhaps you have considered planting some seeds from the gourd family.  Make sure you have plenty of room.  The vines need a lot of space.  Perhaps it means that the creative ideas that you plant now have the potential for enormous growth later.  Just make sure that you have enough time or space in your life to keep up with it. 

Word of the Week (3/16/09):  scrim  n.  1.  a cotton or linen fabric of open weave used for bunting, curtains, etc.  2.  Theat.  a piece of such fabric used for creating the illusion of a solid wall or backdrop under certain lighting conditions or creating a semitransparent curtain when lit from behind.

My comment:  Do you feel the need to conceal your true self from the outside world?  Are you creating an illusion, either knowingly or unknowingly?  Who or what is glamorizing you?      

Word of the Week (3/9/09):  unbending  adj.  1.  not bending; rigid; inflexible.  2.  aloof; unsocial

My comment:  Are you being too rigid in your beliefs?  Do you need to bend, just a little in an argument?  Are you having trouble seeing other points of view?  This week try to be more aware of areas in your life where you need to be more flexible. 

Word of the Week (3/2/09):  pound1  v.t.  1.  to strike repeatedly and with great force, as with an instrument, the fist, heavy missiles, etc.  2.  to produce or effect by striking or thumping, or in a manner resembling this  3.  to force by battering; batter  4.  to crush by beating, as with an instrument; bray, pulverize, or triturate.  v.i.  5.  to strike heavy blows repeatedly  6.  to beat or throb violently, as the heart.  7.  to give forth a thumping sound  8.  to walk or go with heavy steps; move along with force or vigor  9.  the act of pounding.  10.  a heavy or forcible blow.  11.  a thump

My comment:  There are two other distinct definitions for pound, the unit of weight and a shelter for stray animals.  However, since my finger landed on the first definition (the one above) and it would take up way too much space to list all the various meanings of the other two definitions, I'm just going to focus on the first.  It is the one that has the most meaning for me at this time.  Feel free to check out all the meanings for this word in your own dictionary, as the other meanings may have more relevance for you.

Pound1 has meaning for me because I was searching on the web for a new drum teacher just before I divined the word of the week.  I was also drumming as I was looking.   

Word of the Week (2/23/09):  euplastic  adj.  Physiol.  capable of being transformed into organized tissue.

My comment:  Personally I feel that this word is in reference to my severely arthritic hip.  I believe I am being told that my hip is capable of being transformed either by surgery or other means.  Does this word have meaning for you?  What in your life needs to be transformed from disparate parts to a truly functioning whole? 

Word of the Week (2/16/09):  centripetal  adj.  1.  moving or directed inward toward a center or axis(opposed to centrifugal).  2.  pertaining to or operated by centripetal force. 3.  Physiol.  afferent.

My comment:  Perhaps this word is referring to looking within oneself for answers.  I'm taking a shamanistic journeying course.  Yesterday was the first class.  We journeyed inward to our lower or primal self and met one of our spirit animals.  

Word of the Week(2/9/09):  outstay  v.t.  1.  to stay longer than.  2.  to stay beyond the time or duration of:  to outstay one's welcome

My comment:  Have you stayed longer than you should have not only as a guest in someone's home, but longer than you should have in a relationship?  Is this relationship helping or hindering the person that you have become?  Perhaps you have stayed too long in a particular endeavor.  Maybe it is time to try something new.

My comment on last week's word:  

I just have to tell you about the synchronicity of last week's word, chateau.  On Wednesday of last week (2/4/09) on the front page of the variety section in the Star Tribune, appeared an article complete with pictures about a Wayzata family who is selling their home.  The home includes two rooms that were imported from  an 18th century French chateau.  To see more photos of the house you can go to startribune.com/homegarden

Late Friday afternoon (2/6/09) I was preparing dinner and thought it would be nice to have some red wine to go with it.  I went downstairs where we have a mini wine cellar.  The bottles of wine are concealed in the "wine bricks."  All you can see is the bottle top.  My husband keeps the white wine on the lower bricks, so I know where the red wine starts, but that is all.  I immediately was drawn to one of the bottles.  I pulled it out and I had to laugh.  It was a Bordeaux.  The name on the label was Chateau Lagrange Les Tours, 2005.  

Word of the Week (2/2/09):  chateau  n.  1.  a castle in a French-speaking country.  2.  a stately residence imitating a distinctively French castle.  3.  a European country estate, esp. in France.  4.  a vineyard estate in the Bordeaux wine region of France.

My comment:  Wouldn't it be nice to travel to a chateau in France?  If you can't afford that right now, why not have a glass of Bordeaux?  Afterall, it is Groundhog Day.  We have to chase the winter's blues away somehow.   

Word of the Week (1/26/09):  departure  n.  1.  an act or instance of departing.  2.  divergence or deviation, as from a standard, rule, etc.  3.  Navig.  the distance due east or west made by a vessel or aircraft.  4.  Survey.  the length of the projection, on the east-west reference line, of a survey line.  5.  Archaic.  death.

My comment:  Do you need to make a change from your usual routine?  Are you stuck in a rut?  Sometimes we have to let our old ways of doing things die in order to grow.  This week think about where you need to make a departure and move on to a whole new life. 

Word of the Week (1/19/09):  chance  n.  1.  the unpredictable and unwilled element in an occurrence.  2.  luck or fortune  3.  a possibility or probability of anything happening  4.  an opportunity  5.  Baseball,  an opportunity to field the ball and make a put-out or assist.  6.  a risk or hazard  7.  chances, probability  8.  Archaic, an unfortunate event; mishap  9.  by chance, without plan or intent  10.  on the chance, in the slight hope or against the possibility  11.  on the off chance, in the very slight hope or against the very slightest possibility.  v.i.  12.  to happen or occur by chance v.t. 13. informal, to take the chances or risk of  14.  chance on or upon, to come upon by chance adj. 15.  occurring by chance

My comment:  Sometimes in life we need to take a chance, to take a leap of faith in order to grow and move forward.  What have you always wanted to do but were afraid to take a chance?  Now is the time to make your move! 

Word of the Week (1/12/09):  perennial  adj.  1.  lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring.  2.  Bot.  having a life cycle lasting more than two years.  3.  lasting or continuing throughout the year, as a stream.  4.  perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.  n.  5.  a perennial plant.  6.  something that is continuing or recurrent.

My comment:  Perhaps this  word came up now as a reminder that spring does follow winter.  That which seems to have died is just dormant or has just changed  form.  Life is cyclical and everlasting.  

Word of the Week (1/5/09): dinnerware  n.  china, glasses, and silver used for service.

 My comment:  Perhaps I divined this word because I'm working at the dining room table, where the silver is still out from the holidays.  Is this a reminder that I need to put it away?    

Word of the Week (12/29/08):  split  v.t.  1.  to divide or separate from end to end or into layers  2.  to separate by cutting, chopping, etc.  3.  to divide into distinct parts or portions  4.  to divide into different groups, factions, etc., as by discord  5.  to divide between two or more persons, groups, etc.; share  6.  to separate into parts by interposing something  7.  Chem.  to divide (molecules or atoms) by cleavage.  8.  to issue additional shares of (stock) to stockholders, thereby dividing their interest into larger number of shares.  v.i.  9.  to divide, break, or separate.  10.  to become separated, as a part from a whole.  11.  to part or separate, as through disagreement.  12.  to divide or share something with another or others.  13.  Slang.  to leave; depart   (Due to the length of the definitions, please refer to your dictionary for the remainder)

My comment:  This seems to be a reiteration of last week's word, schismatic.  Therefore, perhaps we need to take a closer look at the message.  It is not always a bad thing to separate or split.  Sometimes it is necessary to let go of what is no longer useful or even harmful.  As we look upon the approaching new year we traditionally make New Year's Resolutions.  Essentially we are stating that we wish to make some changes or get rid of that which is not helpful or useful.  We wish to make a split from our old self in the hopes of becoming a newer and better self.  May you make a successful split from that which is holding you back from your ideals and have a Happy New Year!  

Word of the Week (12/22/08):  schismatic  adj.  1.  Also, schismatical, of, pertaining to, or of the nature of schism; guilty of schism,  n.  2.  a person who promotes schism or is an adherent of a schismatic body.

My comment:  In spirit of the season, let's try to see how we are alike, not different.  Let's promote unity instead of schism.  Happy Holidays to one and all. 

Word of the Week (12/15/08):  repository  n.  1.  a receptacle or place where things are stored.  2.  a burial place; sepulcher.  3.  a person to whom something is entrusted or confided.  4.  Chiefly Brit.  warehouse, that in which anything is placed.  

My comment:  Where are you hiding those gifts you've bought for the holidays?  Are they buried deep so others cannot find them?  Have you confided in a trusted friend as to where you have placed them?  Or are you planning to go to one of those big warehouses to purchase your gifts?  Better hurry.  You don't have too many shopping days left!   

Word of the Week (12/8/08):  expectation  n.  1.  the act of expecting.  2.  the state of expecting  3.  an expectant mental attitude.  4.  something expected; a thing looked forward to.  5.  Often, expectations, a prospect of future good or profit:  to have great expectations.  6.  the degree of probability of the occurrence of something  7.  Statistics.  See mathematical expectation.  8.  the state of being expected.

My comment:  This is an excellent word for the Holidays. Our expectations can be either positive or negative.  If our expectations are too high we will probably be disappointed.  Which gets us to our negative expectations.  Perhaps the reason we expect to be disappointed is because in the past our expectations were too high or we didn't work toward our goals or the timing was just wrong.    It's not that expectations are necessarily unreasonable.  It's just that they aren't a given.  Just because we expect something doesn't mean that we will get it or it will happen or that we are unworthy, unlovable, etc.  Maybe a better approach would be to be thankful for what we have and work for a better tomorrow.  Then we can be at peace and know that we did the best we could in order to make our expectations a reality.        

Word of the Week (12/1/08):  pastrami  n.  a highly seasoned cut of smoked or pickled beef, usually from the shoulder section.

My comment:  Could this be in reference to the beef sausage that is often included in the seasonal gift packages?  Perhaps you will be receiving a package this week which includes pastrami.  Or maybe you will be ordering this for someone on your list. 

Word of the Week (11/24/08):  melilot  n.  kind of clover

My comment:  Does this mean that this week will be filled with the sweetness of clover?  One can only hope.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Word of the Week (11/17/08):  toggle  n.  1.  a pin, bolt, or rod placed transversely through a chain, an eye or loop in a rope, etc.  as to bind it temporarily to another chain or rope similarly treated.  2.  a toggle joint, or a device having one.  3.  an ornamental, rod-shaped button for inserting into a large buttonhole, loop, or frog, used esp. on sport clothes.  v.t.  4.  to furnish with a toggle or toggles.  5.  to bind or fasten with a toggle or toggles.

My comment:  Earlier today I was working on attaching an ornamental piece to the rope ends of a necklace.  Perhaps I should use a toggle. 

Word of the Week (11/10/08):  Geryon  n.  Class.  Myth.  a monster who possessed a large herd of red cattle, the abduction of which was the 10th labor of Hercules.

My comment:  Could this be in reference to our economy? 

Word of the Week (11/3/08):  coenesthesia  n.  Psychol.  the aggregate of impressions arising from organic sensations that forms the basis of a person's awareness of body or bodily state, as the feeling of health, vigor, or lethargy.

My comment:  I have to admit that, like a lot of people, tomorrow's election is on my mind.  Therefore, looking at this word, I wondered if you could apply it to our country.  Are we, as a nation, aware of our bodily state?  Certainly the one thing we can agree on is that our nation needs to improve it's health.  If you care about this country and the individuals that comprise it, remember to vote tomorrow.  Don't let lethargy keep you from going to the polls.   

Word of the Week (10/27/08):  mid1  adj.  1.  being at or near the middle point of:  in mid autumn.  2.  being or occupying a middle place or position:  the mid East  3.  Phonet.(of a vowel) articulated with an opening above the tongue relatively intermediate between those for high and low:  the vowels of beet, bet, and hot are respectively high, mid, and low.  n.  4.  Archaic, the middle  mid2  prep.  amid.  

My comment:  We are approaching mid autumn.  To be more precise, mid autumn won't occur until next week (Nov. 6).  However, I do tend to be a little impatient.  It doesn't hurt to  plan ahead.  It's time to rake those leaves, put away the patio furniture, turn off the outside faucets, get ready for Halloween and prepare for Winter.  You know it's coming, so stop procrastinating! 

Word of the Week (10/20/08):  cruel  adj.  1.  willfully or knowingly causing pain or distress to others.  2.  enjoying the pain or distress of others:  the cruel spectators of the gladiatorial contests.  3.  causing or marked by great pain or distress:  a cruel remark.  4.  rigid; stern; unrelentingly severe.

 My comment:  What makes people cruel to others?  Is it their own pain?  Or do they just have a cold heart?  Perhaps one way to stop cruelty is to be aware not only of our own actions, but also why we feel compelled to act out.  Only then can we change our behavior.    

Word of the Week (10/13/08):  Dee  n.  1.  John, 1527-1608, British mathematician and astrologer.  2.  a river in NE Scotland, flowing East into the North Sea at Aberdeen, 90 mi. long.  3.  a river in N Wales and W England, flowing East and North into the Irish Sea, about 70 mi. long.

My comment:  I feel a need to Google John Dee.  I'll let you know what I find out.  I discovered some very interesting info about John Dee.  He was a well-respected mathematician and astrologer.  He was also a consultant to Queen Elizabeth I.  For more information about him go to John Dee   

Word of the Week (10/6/08):  kip1  n.  1.  the hide of a young or small beast.  2.  a bundle or set of such hides.  kip2  n.  a unit of weight equal to 1000 pounds.  kip3  n.  a paper money and monetary unit of Laos equal to 100 at, and equivalent to about .0126 of a U.S. dollar(At least that was true in 1968, when this dictionary was written.)

My comment:  In light of the state of our economy, is our current U.S. dollar worth only about a kip? 

Word of the Week (9/29/08):  quality  n.  1.  a characteristic, property, or attribute.  2.  character or nature, as belonging to or distinguishing a thing.  3.  character as respect to fineness or grade of excellence.  4.  high grade; great excellence.  5.  an accomplishment or attainment.  6.  high social position or status.  7.  Acoustics.  the texture of a tone, dependent on its overtone content, which distinguishes it from others of the same pitch and loudness.  8.  Phonet.  the tonal color, or timbre, that characterizes a particular vowel sound.  9.  Logic, the character of a proposition as affirmative or negative.  adj.  10.  of or having superior quality.

My comment:  Make sure whatever you do this week is quality work, even if it takes you a little longer to do it.  Pay attention to details.  The quality of your work reflects the quality of your character.  If you value your work, others will too.     

Word of the Week (9/22/08):  shear  v.t.  1.  to cut (something).  2.  to remove by or as by cutting or clipping  3.  to cut or clip hair, fleece, wool, etc.  4.  to strip or deprive  5.  Chiefly Scot.  to reap with a sickle.  6.  to travel through (air, water, etc.) by or as by cutting.  v.i.  7.  to cut or cut through something with a sharp instrument.  8. Mech.  to become fractured along a plane as a result of forces acting parallel to the plane.  9.  Chiefly Scot.  to reap crops with a sickle  n.  10.  Usually shears (sometimes construed as sing.)  a.  scissors of large size b.  any of various other cutting implements or machines having two blades that resemble or suggest those of scissors.  11. the act or process of being sheared  12.  the shearing of sheep.......etc.  (For more definitions please consult your dictionary)

My comment:  Fall is the time for farmers to shear their crops.  Perhaps some sheep are sheared at this time.  This is also a good time for artisans to cut wool in preparation for construction of Fall/Winter garments.   

Word of the Week (9/15/08):  presbytery  n.  1.  a body of presbyters or elders.  2.  (in Presbyterian churches) an ecclesiastical court consisting of all the ministers and one or two presbyters from each congregation in a district.  3.  the churches under the jurisdiction of a presbytery.  4.  the part of a church appropriated to the clergy.  5.  Rom. Cath. Ch.  a rectory.

My comment:  I'm not sure why this word has come up now.  Perhaps there's an important meeting of Presbyterian ministers this week.  If this word is particularly meaningful to you this week, please let me know. 

 Word of the Week (9/8/08):  salad  n.  1.  any of various usually cold dishes consisting of vegetables as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., covered with a dressing and sometimes containing seafood, meat, or eggs.  2.  any herb or green vegetable, as lettuce, used for such a dish or eaten raw.

My comment:  I can think of two possible reasons why this word was divined this week.  I got on the scale this morning for a reality check...I need to lose some weight.  Salads are usually a good diet food, as long as you are careful about what you add to the vegetables and make sure the dressing is low in fat and calories.  

However, this word is significant to me for another reason.  My youngest daughter, who is a college freshman in another state, calls me Salad.  I call her Dressing.  Salad is missing her Dressing!  I haven't heard from her for a while.  I hope to hear from her soon.  So this is a message to you, Dressing.  Can you hear me? 

Word of the Week (9/1/08):  coot  n.  1.  any aquatic bird of the genus Fulica, as F.  americana, of North America, and F.  atra, of the Old World, characterized by lobate toes and short wings and tail.  2.  any of various other swimming or diving birds, esp. the scoters.  3.  Informal, a foolish or crotchety old man.

My comment:  Since this week is the Republican Convention, could this be in reference to John McCain? 

Word of the Week (8/25/08):  colorado  adj.  of medium color and strength.

My comment:  Perhaps this has something to do with finding the balance in one's life.  Or maybe it's in reference to the state of Colorado where the Democratic convention is taking place this week. 

Word of the Week (8/18/08):  outshine  v.t.  1.  to surpass in shining.  2.  to surpass in splendor, excellence, etc.  v.i.  3.  Archaic, to shine out or forth.

 My comment:  It seems appropriate to divine this word during the Olympics.  This is definitely the time for some of the best athletes in the world to prove their excellence.  The best are truly outshining the rest with their medals of gold, silver and bronze. 

Word of the Week (8/11/08):  effector  n.  1.  Physiol.  an organ tissue or cell that carries out a response to a nerve impulse.  2.  a person or thing that effects.  Also, effecter.

My comment:  Are you an effector?  Do you have the power to get things done?  Surely we all have an effect on our environment and the people in our community.  Hopefully the impression we make is a positive one.  Try to be more conscious of your effect on others. 

Word of the Week (8/4/08):  brigadier  n.  1.  Brit. Army, a rank between colonel and major general.  2.  U.S. Army Informal, a brigadier general.  3.  Hist. a noncommissioned rank in the Napoleonic armies.

My comment:  Are you pulling rank?  Does something in your life demand that you show that you are in control?  Or is someone controlling you?   

Word of the Week (7/28/08):  method  n.  1.  a plan or system of action, inquiry, analysis, etc.  2.  order or system in one's actions.  3.  the manner in which one acts, esp. in conducting a business.  4.  an order or system, as of classification or arrangement.  5.  the Method, Also called Stanislavski Method, Stanislavski System, a theory and technique of acting in which the performer identifies with the character to be portrayed.

My comment:  Is there a method to your madness?  Do you have a plan of action? If not, maybe this is the time to get started.  It may make a big difference in your life. 

Word of the Week (7/21/08):  confidence  n.  1.  full trust; belief in the reliability of a person or thing.  2.  (esp. in European politics) the wish to retain an incumbent government in office, as shown by a vote of support.  3.  self-reliance,  assurance, or boldness  4.  certitude; assurance.  5.  a confidential communication  6.  Archaic, ground of trust  7.  in confidence, as secret or private matter, not to be divulged or communicated to others.

My comment:  May you have confidence in others and, perhaps more importantly, in yourself.