Blog — Page 26

A Rapscallion Lives On!

December 15, 2014 by Cool Word Club

The “Artful Dodger” is a fitting name for one of British author Charles Dickens’ many roguish characters.

The Dodger, who appears in the classic 1838 novel “Oliver Twist,” is a young thief who weaves through the streets, picking the pockets of wealthy Londoners.

This rapscallion (see definition and hear pronunciation below) leads a band of child criminals who befriend the book’s hero, Oliver, and try to lure him into a shadowy London underworld.

Though the character is fictional, the name “Artful Dodger” has remained a part of popular culture, appearing in everything from band names to restaurants to men’s fashion lines.

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: What other characters would you describe as rapscallions?

Rapscallion: A rascal; a mischievous person.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of rapscallion.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/rapscallion.mp3

Filed Under: Blog

Cool Word Challenge: Baronial and Mélange

December 12, 2014 by Cool Word Club

Cool Word Challenge: Just for fun, come up with one sentence that uses both of the cool vocabulary words that you learned this week.

Here are the words again:

Baronial: Stately; ample.

Mélange: A mixture of different things; medley.

Submit your sentence below. The most creative ones that we receive will be published on our site!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: baronial, cool word challenge, mélange

A Tasty Mélange for Cold Weather…

December 11, 2014 by Cool Word Club

During the cold months of winter, few meals are more appealing that a steamy bowl of spicy chili.

Sometimes known as chili con carne, it is a favorite of most Americans.

This thick stew contains a delicious mélange (see definition and hear pronunciation below) of chili peppers, meat, beans and tomatoes. For extra flavor, most cooks also add onions, garlic and cumin. You may even want to top it with a little cheese or cornbread.

So whether you’re watching a football game or just settling in for a satisfying meal on a cold winter’s night, chili is an excellent choice!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Can you think of another meal that contains a tasty mélange of ingredients?

Mélange: A mixture of different things; medley.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of mélange.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/mélange.mp3

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: mélange

Vocab Practice: Hapless

December 10, 2014 by Cool Word Club

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Dec. 4, 2014.

Let’s do a practice round!

Hapless means:

A) Unfortunate
B) Unrepentant
C) Unrefined
D) Unwieldy

VIEW ANSWER HERE

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: hapless, vocabulary practice

Vocab Practice: Efficacious

December 9, 2014 by Cool Word Club

This word appeared on the Cool Word Club website on Dec. 1, 2014.

Let’s do a practice round!

Efficacious means:

A)   Elegiac
B)   Effusive
C)   Effective
D)   Effortless

VIEW ANSWER HERE

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: efficacious, vocabulary practice

What a Baronial Building!

December 8, 2014 by Cool Word Club

Europe is well known for its magnificent ancient infrastructure, including many cathedrals and castles that can be found all over the continent.

One of the most famous is located at Mont Saint-Michel. A small island off the coast of France, it is home to a baronial (see definition and hear pronunciation below) monastery. Construction on this massive structure began way back in the 8th century.

Now, this spectacular building draws more than two million tourists each year from around the world. It is a perfect place to marvel at the beauty of the breathtaking views!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Can you think of any baronial buildings that are located near you?

Baronial: Stately; ample.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of baronial.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/baronial.mp3

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: baronial

Cool Word Challenge: Efficacious and Hapless

December 5, 2014 by Cool Word Club

Cool Word Challenge: Just for fun, come up with one sentence that uses both of the cool vocabulary words that you learned this week.

Here are the words again:

Efficacious: Able to produce a desired effect; effective.

Hapless: Unfortunate; unlucky.

Submit your sentence below. The most creative ones that we receive will be published on our site!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: cool word challenge, efficacious, hapless

So Long to a Hapless Situation!

December 4, 2014 by Cool Word Club

The “unemployment rate” gets mentioned on the news a lot these days. The term refers to the percentage of people who are not working but are eligible to do so.

Unfortunately, as a result of the 2008 recession, the US unemployment rate has been very high.

Not only did many people lose their jobs during the recession, but they also had difficulty finding new employment. This created a hapless (see definition and hear pronunciation below) situation for those who were out of work.

Luckily, recent reports indicate that the unemployment rate is now declining. Many previously unemployed individuals are now glad to be receiving steady paychecks once again so they can pay their bills!

Cool word vocabulary question of the day: Can you think of any other hapless situations that could occur for those in the labor force?

Hapless: Unfortunate; unlucky.

Click here to hear a pronunciation of hapless.

https://coolwordclub.com/wp-content/uploads/hapless.mp3

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: hapless