behemoth [bih-hee-muhth, bee-uh-]

noun:
1 a mighty animal described in Job 40:15-24 as an example of the power of God
2 any creature or thing of monstrous size or power

Examples:

He praised the Strand for "standing up against a behemoth like Amazon. I mean, the fact that they still exist is impressive." (Micah Hauser, Is the Strand a ( Read more... )

Job's comforter [ johbz kuhm-fer-ter]

noun, idiom:
(Biblical) a person who unwittingly or maliciously depresses or discourages someone while attempting to be consoling; someone who discourages or depresses while seemingly giving comfort and consolation

Examples:

Maurice is Tom's sausage-maker, but he has now emerged as a truly biblical figure, ( Read more... )

epistolary [ih-pis-tl-er-ee ]
adjective:
1 (of a literary work) in the form of letters.

2a of, relating to, or suitable to a letter

2b contained in or carried on by letters

3 a lectionary containing a body of liturgical epistles

Examples:

The epistolary format of Semple’s book (piecing together emails, diary entries, memos, and the like) is ( Read more... )

shibboleth [shib-uh-lith, ‐leth]
noun1 a A custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important' a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning ( Read more... )

maun·dy [ˈmȯndē]:
origin: unknown, possibly latin

nounMaundy Thursday a.k.a. "Holy Thursday" is assigned the tradition of washing the feet of the poor (literally or symbolically) as done by Jesus in the bible for his disciples [John 13:3]. No one is certain about the origin of the word though ( Read more... )

In honor of the famous Chinese New Year parade -- bringing in the Year of the Ram -- taking place in San Francisco this weekend, let us learn words pertaining to that celebration & culture.

ni·an gao [nyan-gow]:
origin: [722-481 BC] Chinese; "nin gou" in Cantonese; similar sound= "year high" (年高), symbolizing higher income/position/success/health. ( Read more... )

jer·e·mi·ad [ˌjer-ə-ˈmī-əd]:
origin: [biblical] Hebrew; ירמיה= "Jeremiah"

e•po•nym [ˈe-pə-ˌnim]:
origin: [1770-80] Greek; epōnymos,= epi-= "upon" + onyma= "name"

nouns
A jeremiad is a prolonged, seriously-worded, angry, and impassioned list (or account) of woes; a cautionary verse or prophecy of doom; the sort of thing that can get you labeled ( Read more... )

o·nan·ism [ˈōnəˌnizəm]:
origin: [Genesis 38:9], coined 1741, New Latin; onanismus= from the son of Judah

noun (onanistic, adjectiveSomewhere between pleasuring yourself and being intimate with someone is "coitus interruptus" (yes, that is a technical term) -- although some also consider onanism a form of the former and use it to mean chronic ( Read more... )

gird [ˈgərd]:
origin: (1200's) Old English; geard= "yard", Hebrew; חָגַר = "a primitive root"

verb
1. To wrap firmly around.
2. To surround.
3. Tie a belt or rope around the waste for easy access to a weapon.
4. To adorn with a sword, particularly within knighthood; to arm.
5. Preparing oneself for battle.

( An Illustrated Guide from The Art of Manliness )

Apologies for my absence these past weeks, was utterly swamped at work, but I'm back with extra words to make up the difference!

a·bu·gi·da [ˌɑːbuːˈɡiːdə]:
origin: (1864) Ethiopian; from Ge'ez (a-bu-gi-da), the first four structures in the language, borrowed from the Greek idea of alpha-beta for alphabet.

nounWe tend to think in terms of our own ( Read more... )