"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900)

sedition
Pronunciation: si-'di-sh&n
Function: noun
1. Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state.
2. Insurrection; rebellion.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

euphoria
Pronunciation: yu-'fOr-E-&, -'for-
Function: nounEtymology: New Latin, from Greek, from euphoros healthy, from eu- + pherein to bear -- more at BEAR
: a feeling of well-being or elation

"I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colours. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns." ~ Sir Winston Churchill, British politician (1874 - 1965)

moribund
Pronunciation: 'mor-&-(")b&nd, 'mär-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin moribundus, from mori to die -- more at MURDER
1 : being in the state of dying : approaching death
2 : being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence

"People look at you and me to see what they are supposed to be. And, if we don't disappoint them, maybe, just maybe, they won't disappoint us." ~ Walt Disney (American motion-picture Producer, pioneer of animated cartoon films. 1901-1966)

star-spangled
Pronunciation: 'stär-"spa[ng]-g&ld
Function: adjective: STAR-STUDDED

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important." ~ Bertrand Russell, Conquest of Happiness (1930) ch. 5British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)

coddle
Pronunciation: 'kä-d&l
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): cod·dled; cod·dling/'käd-li[ng], 'kä-d&l-i[ng]/
Etymology: perhaps from caudle
1 : to cook (as eggs) in liquid slowly and gently just below the boiling point
2 : to treat with extreme care : PAMPER
cod·dler 'käd-l&r, 'kä-d&l-&r/ noun

"There is only one thing people like that is good for them; a good night's sleep" ~
Edgar Watson Howe (American Editor, Novelist and Essayist, He was known as the Sage of Potato Hill, 1853-1937)

bedrock
n.
1. The solid rock that underlies loose material, such as soil, sand, clay, or gravel.
2a. The very basis; the foundation: Ownership of land is the bedrock of democracy.
2b. The lowest point: personal finances that were at bedrock.

"Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment" ~ Dale Carnegie (American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)

novocaine
Pronunciation: -"kAnFunction: nounEtymology: International Scientific Vocabulary novo- (from Latin novus new) + cocaine
: its crystalline hydrochloride used as a local anesthetic

"The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be" ~ Marcel Pagnol (French Writer, Producer and Film Director, 1895-1974)

retrofit
Pronunciation: 're-trO-"fit, "re-trO-'fit
Function: transitive verb
1 : to furnish (as a computer, airplane, or building) with new or modified parts or equipment not available or considered necessary at the time of manufacture
2 : to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed

"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting." ~ Russell H. Ewing

scrimmage (noun)
1. Football. The contest between two teams from the time the ball is snapped until it is declared dead.
2. Sports. A practice session or informal game, as between two units of the same team.
3. aA rough-and-tumble struggle; a tussle.
b. A skirmish.

"Laziness is often mistaken for patience." ~ French Proverb

bedfellow
Pronunciation: -"fe-(")lO
Function: noun
1 : one who shares a bed with another
2 : ASSOCIATE, ALLY

"There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot." ~ Plato (Ancient Greek Philosopher He was the world's most influential philosopher. 428 BC-348 BC)

sham
Function: adjective
1 : not genuine : FALSE, FEIGNED
2 : having such poor quality as to seem false

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." ~ Bertrand Russell (English Logician and Philosopher 1872-1970)

swank
Pronunciation: swngk
adj.
swank·er, swank·est
Imposingly fashionable or elegant; grand.
Ostentatious; pretentious.
n.
Smartness in style or bearing; elegance.
Swagger.
intr.v.
swanked, swank·ing, swanks
To act ostentatiously or pretentiously; swagger.

"The time is always right to do what is right." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. (American Baptist Minister and Civil-Rights Leader. 1929-1968)

newfangled
Pronunciation: 'nü-'fa[ng]-g&ld
Function: adjective
1 : attracted to novelty
2 : of the newest style or kind - new·fan·gled·ness noun

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. " ~ Eddie Rickenbacker, US WWI aviator & businessman (1890 - 1973)

balaclava
Pronunciation: "ba-l&-'klä-v&, -'kla-
Function: noun
: a knit cap for the head and neck -- called also balaclava helmet

"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." ~ Colin Powell

cavalier
Pronunciation: "ka-v&-'lir
n.
A gallant or chivalrous man, especially one serving as escort to a woman of high social position; a gentleman.
A mounted soldier; a knight.
adj.
Showing arrogant or offhand disregard; dismissive: a cavalier attitude toward the suffering of others.
Carefree and nonchalant; jaunty.

"Speak when you are angry - and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret." ~ Dr. Laurence J. Peter (American "hierarchiologist", Educator and Writer, 1919-1990)

ebullient
adj.
: Zestfully enthusiastic.
: Boiling or seeming to boil; bubbling.

"Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say." ~ Marketing executive of Citrix Corporation

afflatus
&-'flA-t&s
Function: noun
A divine imparting of knowledge or power

"One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory. " ~ Rita Mae Brown, US author and social activist

revue
Pronunciation: ri-'vyü
Function: noun
: a theatrical production consisting typically of brief loosely connected often satirical skits, songs, and dances