This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Jan. 6, 2014.
Let’s do a practice round!
Riposte means:
A) A lawful statement
B) A political strategy
C) A quick, often witty reply
D) An accumulation of ashes
Vocab Practice: Riposte
January 14, 2014 by
A Kerfuffle Over History…
January 13, 2014 by
Should old houses be preserved because of their age? That’s a question that often divides the residents of cities and towns.
On one side of the issue are preservationists. These are people who believe that many older buildings should be preserved as important reminders of the past.
Developers, on the other hand, often want to demolish older buildings so that they can rebuild newer structures, such as condominiums or shopping centers.
The two opposing sides sometimes become embroiled in a kerfuffle (see definition and hear pronunciation below) that must be resolved through public hearings.
If you’d like to learn more about historically significant buildings, read here for some remarkable stories: www.PreservationNation.org
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: What do you think is the best way to resolve a kerfuffle over a historic building?
Kerfuffle: A commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views.
Click to hear the pronunciation of kerfuffle:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/kerfuffle.mp3
Can You Become Inured to the Cold?
January 9, 2014 by
Brrr! When skiers step outside during particularly frigid days of winter, the chill often hits them right in the face.
Even with their warm boots and thick layers of clothing, skiers sometimes shiver in the biting cold, especially as they ascend higher and higher up the mountain.
By the time the chairlift has ferried them to the top of the mountain, however, their attention begins to shift to the glittering, fresh snow that awaits them.
Once they start making their way down the slopes, they’ve usually become so inured (see definition and hear pronunciation below) to the cold that they hardly notice it at all!
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: What’s something to which you’ve become inured?
Inure: To become accustomed to something unpleasant over a period of time so that you are no longer bothered or upset by it.
Click to hear the pronunciation of inure:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/inure.mp3
Vocab Practice: Miasma
January 8, 2014 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Dec. 19, 2013.
Let’s do a practice round!
Miasma means:
A) A very deep hole
B) An unpleasant smell or vapor
C) An extreme elevation
D) A heavily populated urban area
Vocab Practice: Crepuscular
January 7, 2014 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Dec. 16, 2013.
Let’s do a practice round!
Crepuscular means:
A) Prone to twitching movements
B) Much smaller than normal
C) Marked by a creaking sound
D) Active at twilight
A Witty Riposte From Abe…
January 6, 2014 by
At some point, most people find themselves on the receiving end of an unflattering remark.
Oftentimes, a clever reply doesn’t come to you until it’s too late.
With a bit of quick thinking, however, you can deliver the perfect riposte (see definition and hear pronunciation below) at just the right moment.
Consider Abraham Lincoln. When campaigning for political office, he thought of an appropriate zinger after being called “two-faced” by his opponent in a debate.
Always one to joke about his quirky appearance, Lincoln replied: “I leave it to my audience. If I had another face, do you think I would wear this one?”
Way to go, Abe!
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: What’s an example of a riposte that you have come up with, or wish you had come up with?
Riposte: A quick reply, especially one that’s clever in response to an insult or criticism.
Click to hear the pronunciation of riposte:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/riposte.mp3
Vocab Practice: Conviviality
January 2, 2014 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Dec. 24, 2013.
Let’s do a practice round!
Conviviality means:
A) Contrived conversation
B) Joyful or festive activity
C) Convoluted explanation
D) An honest disagreement
Happy New Year from the Cool Word Club!
January 1, 2014 by
Here’s Wishing You a Wonderful, Word-Filled 2014!
Before we embark on cool new words for 2014, here are the top 10 picks of 2013 from your friends at the CWC:
Cool Word #1: Quiescent: https://coolwordclub.com/quiescent/
Cool Word #2: Venerable: https://coolwordclub.com/venerable/
Cool Word #3: Feral: https://coolwordclub.com/feral/
Cool Word #4: Adumbrates: https://coolwordclub.com/adumbrates/
Cool Word #5: Somnolent: https://coolwordclub.com/somnolent/
Cool Word #6: Visage: https://coolwordclub.com/visage/
Cool Word #7: Wizen: https://coolwordclub.com/wizen/
Cool Word #8: Osculate: https://coolwordclub.com/osculate/
Cool Word #9: Sublingual: https://coolwordclub.com/sublingual/
Cool Word #10: Picayune: https://coolwordclub.com/picayune/
To read all the cool words from 2013, go to the home page of www.CoolWordClub.com and click on “CWC Blog.”
We’ll be sending cool new vocabulary words and vocab practice posts starting Monday, January 6, 2014.
Vocab Practice: Splenetic
December 31, 2013 by
This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Dec. 23, 2013.
Let’s do a practice round!
Splenetic means:
A) Related to one’s spleen
B) Marked by difficulty breathing
C) Bad-tempered, spiteful
D) Exuberant, joyful
Some Christmas Conviviality!
December 24, 2013 by
Imagine, for a moment, a war zone filled not with gunfire and artillery but with candles and songs.
It seems unbelievable, but it occurred for a brief moment on December 24, 1914, during World War I.
In honor of the Christmas holiday, German and British troops fighting on the Western front in France called a ceasefire. They decked the top of their trenches with candlelit trees and exchanged souvenirs, sang carols to each other in different languages and even played a game of soccer.
The conviviality (see definition and hear pronunciation below) of the peace was short-lived, however. Once the holiday was over, soldiers on both sides resumed their battle.
Cool word vocabulary question of the day: How do you think the nature of war might change if opposing sides shared more conviviality?
Conviviality: Joyful or festive activity, the quality or state of being social.
Click to hear the pronunciation of conviviality:
https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/conviviality.mp3
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