I love this word and want to use it more...

wheelhouse

In baseball this is the part of an individual's swinging range in which as a hitter they can make the best contact with the ball. If a pitch is right in your wheelhouse it is right where you want it, in the spot where you have the best chance of hitting it well.

The term is also often used to explain something that falls into a person's area of expertise.
ESPN: "Konerko can hit the ball 500 ft. if it's pitched right in his wheelhouse."

This definition was found on: www.urbandictionary.com

New York Documentary

Great words from the New York Documentary that I have been watching:

parochial

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈrō-kē-əl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English parochiall, from Anglo-French parochial, from Late Latin parochialis, from parochia parish — more at parish
Date: 14th century
1 : of or relating to a church parish
2 : of or relating to a parish as a unit of local government
3 : confined or restricted as if within the borders of a parish : limited in range or scope (as to a narrow area or region)

provincial

Pronunciation: \prə-ˈvin(t)-shəl\
Function: noun
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin provincialis, from provincia ecclesiastical province; in other senses, from Latin provincialis, from provincia province
Date: 14th century
1: the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order
2: one living in or coming from a province
3 a: a person of local or restricted interests or outlook b: a person lacking urban polish or refinement

pluralism

Pronunciation: \ˈplu̇r-ə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1818
1: the holding of two or more offices or positions (as benefices) at the same time
2: the quality or state of being plural
3 a: a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality b: a theory that reality is composed of a plurality of entities
4 a: a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization b: a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state

New Words from Webster!

pedagogical
Pronunciation: \ˌpe-də-ˈgä-ji-kəl, -ˈgō-\
Variant(s): also ped·a·gog·ic \-jik\
Function: adjective
Date: 1619
: of, relating to, or befitting a teacher or education

pellucid \puh-LOO-sid\ adjective

*1 : admitting maximum passage of light without diffusion or distortion
2 : reflecting light evenly from all surfaces
3 : easy to understand

Example sentence:
The coastal waters were clean and pellucid, allowing us to easily identify the marine life on the ocean floor.

Did you know?
"Pellucid" ultimately derives from the Latin "lucēre" ("to shine"), which in turn contains the root "luc-" ("light"). "Pellucid" is formed from "per" ("through") plus "lucidus" ("lucid, clear"). "Pellucid" has many shining relatives in English. Among the offspring of "lucēre" are "translucent" (essentially, "clear enough to allow light to pass through"), "elucidate" ("to make clear, explain"), "lucent" ("luminous" or "clear"), and of course "lucid" itself (which can mean "shining," "mentally sound," or "easily understood"). Another related word is "Lucifer" (literally, "light-bearer"). Other relatives — such as "lackluster" ("lacking brightness"), "illustrate" (originally, "to make bright"), and "lustrous" ("shining" or "radiant") — trace from the related verb "lustrare" ("to brighten"). Clearly, "pellucid" is just one of a family of brilliant terms.

Webster words of the day and Podcast

erudite \AIR-uh-dyte\ adjective

: possessing or displaying extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books : learned

Example sentence:
The university hosted an informative lecture given by an erudite scholar of Cold War history.

esoteric \es-uh-TAIR-ik\ adjective

*1 : designed for or understood by a small number of people; broadly: difficult to understand
2 : private, confidential

Example sentence:
Computer programming was once an esoteric subject, but beginner courses and how-to books have made it easier to grasp.

Ma·chi·a·vel·lian
Pronunciation: \ˌma-kē-ə-ˈve-lē-ən, -ˈvel-yən\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Niccolo Machiavelli
Date: 1572
1: of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism
2: suggesting the principles of conduct laid down by Machiavelli ; specifically : marked by cunning, duplicity, or bad faith

androcentric
Pronunciation: \ˌan-drə-ˈsen-trik\
Function: adjective
Date: 1903
: dominated by or emphasizing masculine interests or a masculine point of view
— an·dro·cen·trism \-ˌtri-zəm\ noun

facetious
Pronunciation: \fə-ˈsē-shəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French facetieux, from facetie jest, from Latin facetia
Date: 1599
1 : joking or jesting often inappropriately : waggish
2 : meant to be humorous or funny : not serious
synonyms see witty
— fa·ce·tious·ly adverb
— fa·ce·tious·ness noun

Good Words

emissary
Pronunciation: \ˈe-mə-ˌser-ē, -ˌse-rē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural em·is·sar·ies
Etymology: Latin emissarius, from emissus, past participle of emittere
Date: 1607
1 : one designated as the agent of another : representative
2 : a secret agent

limpid
Pronunciation: \ˈlim-pəd\
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French limpide, from Latin limpidus, perhaps from lympha water — more at lymph
Date: 1613
1 a: marked by transparency : pellucid b: clear and simple in style
2: absolutely serene and untroubled

A synonym of honesty and the popular Internet tool

pro·bi·ty
Pronunciation: \ˈprō-bə-tē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English probite, from Latin probitat-, probitas, from probus honest — more at prove
Date: 15th century
: adherence to the highest principles and ideals : uprightness

twit·ter
Pronunciation: \ˈtwi-tər\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English twiteren; akin to Old High German zwizzirōn to twitter
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1: to utter successive chirping noises
2 a: to talk in a chattering fashion b: giggle , titter
3: to tremble with agitation

Edgar Allan Poe's "Ligeia"

epithet
Pronunciation: \ˈe-pə-ˌthet also -thət\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin epitheton, from Greek, from neuter of epithetos added, from epitithenai to put on, add, from epi- + tithenai to put — more at do
Date: 1579
1 a: a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing b: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase c: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
2obsolete : expression

ethereal
Pronunciation: \i-ˈthir-ē-əl\
Function: adjective
Date: 1513
1 a: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth b: celestial , heavenly c: unworldly , spiritual
2 a: lacking material substance : immaterial , intangible b: marked by unusual delicacy or refinement c: suggesting the heavens or heaven
3: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical

lambent
Pronunciation: \ˈlam-bənt\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin lambent-, lambens, present participle of lambere to lick — more at lap
Date: 1647
1 : playing lightly on or over a surface : flickering
2 : softly bright or radiant
3 : marked by lightness or brilliance especially of expression


motley
Pronunciation: \ˈmät-lē\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from mot mote, speck
Date: 14th century
1 : variegated in color
2 : composed of diverse often incongruous elements

Poe is a bit flowery for me but his writing is full of great words and graphic descriptions.

Academy Awards Headlines and Buckner

posthumous
Pronunciation: \ˈpäs-chə-məs also -tə-, -tyə-, -thə-; päst-ˈhyü-məs, ˈpōst-, -ˈyü-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin posthumus, alteration of postumus late-born, posthumous, from superl. of posterus coming after — more at posterior
Date: 1619
1 : born after the death of the father
2 : published after the death of the author
3 : following or occurring after death

egregious
Pronunciation: \i-ˈgrē-jəs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin egregius, from e- + greg-, grex herd — more at gregarious
Date: circa 1534
1archaic : distinguished
2: conspicuous ; especially : conspicuously bad : flagrant

Example: Heath Ledger Wins Posthumous Award for 'Dark Knight'

Egregious is a word used commonly by President Buckner, the New York, NY Stake President.

Gabfest and TR

avuncular
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈvəŋ-kyə-lər\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin avunculus maternal uncle — more at uncle
Date: 1831
1 : of or relating to an uncle
2 : suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality

taxidermy
Pronunciation: \ˈtak-sə-ˌdər-mē\
Function: noun
Etymology: tax- + derm- + 2-y
Date: 1820
: the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals and especially vertebrates

I heard the first word on Slate's Political Gabfest Podcast and liked it.

I heard the second word a few weeks ago while visiting Theodore Roosevelt's birthplace on East 20th Street in New York. Young TR was fascinated by taxidermy.

Words that I want to use in conversation

red herring
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1: a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color
2 [from the practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs] : something that distracts attention from the real issue



didactic
Pronunciation: \dī-ˈdak-tik, də-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek didaktikos, from didaskein to teach
Date: 1658
1 a: designed or intended to teach b: intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment
2: making moral observations

These are some words that I wanted to memorize a few months ago but never did...

New York Documentary and Dad

disparate
Main Entry: dis·pa·rate
Pronunciation: \ˈdis-p(ə-)rət, di-ˈsper-ət, -ˈspa-rət\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English desparat, from Latin disparatus, past participle of disparare to separate, from dis- + parare to prepare — more at pare
Date: 15th century
1 : containing or made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
2 : markedly distinct in quality or character

ec·u·men·i·cal
Pronunciation: \ˌe-kyə-ˈme-ni-kəl, -kyü-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumenē the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house — more at vicinity
Date: circa 1587
1: worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application
2 a: of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches b: promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation

The first word was used multiple times to describe the people of New York in a documentary that I watched. The second was a word that my dad used when we were having a discussion about religion.

Bonus word that goes with ecumenical:

cath·o·lic
Pronunciation: \ˈkath-lik, ˈka-thə-\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English catholik, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French catholique, from Late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, general, from katholou in general, from kata by + holos whole — more at cata-, safe
Date: 14th century
1 aoften capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the church universal boften capitalized : of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it ccapitalized : roman catholic
2: comprehensive , universal ; especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests "a catholic taste in music"

Who knew?

Words in Obama's book

glib
Pronunciation: \ˈglib\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): glib·ber; glib·best
Etymology: probably modification of Low German glibberig slippery
Date: 1584
1 a: marked by ease and informality : nonchalant b: showing little forethought or preparation : offhand c: lacking depth and substance : superficial
2archaic : smooth , slippery
3: marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful

jerry–built
Function: adjective
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1869
1 : built cheaply and unsubstantially
2 : carelessly or hastily put together

These words were enjoyed while reading Obama's book "Dreams from My Father". In this well written memoir, Obama recounts some of his experiences while growing up in Hawaii, Indonesia, New York, Kenya, and Chicago. I was moved by the stories of his struggle to understand race and the other experiences that he had with his broken family. I recommend this book to everyone because it gives an inside look at the man that will be our President for the next four years.

Maxwell Words

Words from Neil A. Maxwell talks:
mirth
Pronunciation: \ˈmərth\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English myrgth, from myrge merry — more at merry
Date: before 12th century
: gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter
vaunt
Pronunciation: \ˈvȯnt, ˈvänt\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vanter, from Late Latin vanitare, frequentative of Latin *vanare, from vanus vain
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb
: to make a vain display of one's own worth or attainments : brag
transitive verb
: to call attention to pridefully and often boastfully

New words inspired by The Met and Podcasts

coup d'état
Variant(s): or coup d'etat \ˌkü-(ˌ)dā-ˈtä, ˈkü-(ˌ)dā-ˌ, -də-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural coups d'état or coups d'etat \-ˈtä(z), -ˌtä(z)\
Etymology: French, literally, stroke of state
Date: 1646
: a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics ; especially : the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group
Dulcet
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English doucet, from Anglo-French, from duz, douz sweet, from Latin dulcis; perhaps akin to Greek glykys sweet
Date: 14th century
1 : sweet to the taste
2 : pleasing to the ear "dulcet tones"
3 : generally pleasing or agreeable "a dulcet smile"
Alabaster
Main Entry: al·a·bas·ter
Pronunciation: \ˈa-lə-ˌbas-tər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English alabastre, from Anglo-French albastre, from Latin alabaster vase of alabaster, from Greek alabastros
Date: 14th century
1 : a compact fine-textured usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments
2 : a hard calcite or aragonite that is translucent and sometimes banded

I saw some fine Egyptian alabaster at the Met the other day. I liked the name and the look of Alabaster... quite dulcet

I heard the other words on podcasts and liked them. I am all about podcasts lately and some of my favorites are the BBC World News, Slate Political Gabfest, NPR's Fresh Air, BBC's Arts and Ideas Podcast, NPR's All Songs Considered, and many others that are FREE on itunes.