today ' s tweet : 170907 - 170913 [ Today ' s Latin ] - consilium : plan , advice - ex ) Malum est consilium quod mutari non potest . = A plan that cannot be changed is bad . [ Today ' s French ] - la vente aux enchères : auction - ex ) Nous avons décidé de vendre les meubles de ma grand - mère lors d ' une vente aux enchères . = We decided to sell my grandmother ' s furniture at auction . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 音 乐 : music - ex ) 我 常 听 古典 音 乐 。= I often listen to classical music [ Today ' s Japanese ] - リストラ : downsizing - ex ) リストラ された 。= I was downsized from my job . You ' re such a liar ! < Word of the day > - Robot Definition 1 a : a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts ( such as walking or talking ) of a human being ; also : a similar but fictional machine whose lack of capacity for human emotions is often emphasizedb : an efficient insensitive person who functions automatically 2 : a device that automatically performs complicated often repetitive tasks 3 : a mechanism guided by automatic controlsDid You Know ? In 1920 , Czech writer Karel Čapek published a play titled R . U . R . Those initials stood for " Rossum ' s Universal Robots , " which was the name of a fictional company that manufactured human - like machines designed to perform hard , dull , dangerous work for people . The machines in the play eventually grew to resent their jobs and rebelled — with disastrous results for humans . During the writing of his play , Čapek consulted with his brother , the painter and writer Josef Čapek , who suggested the name robot for these machines , from the Czech word robota , which means " forced labor . " Robot made its way into our language in 1922 when R . U . R . was translated into English . - propagateDefinition 1 : to reproduce or cause to reproduce biologically : multiply 2 : to cause to spread out and affect a greater number or greater area : extend 3 : to pass along to offspring 4 : to foster growing knowledge of , familiarity with , or acceptance of ( such as an idea or belief ) : publicize = spread , extend , disseminate / increase / transmit / reproduce in offspring - ex ) Television advertising propagates a false image of the ideal family - ex ) A media jackal always propogates a false image of the present government Did You Know ? The origins of propagate are firmly rooted in the field of horticulture . The word was borrowed into English in the 16 th century from Latin propagatus , the past participle of the verb propagare , which means " to set ( onto a plant ) a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting . " Propagare , in turn , derives from propages , meaning " layer ( of a plant ) , slip , offspring . " It makes sense , therefore , that the earliest uses of propagate referred to facilitating reproduction of a plant or animal . Nowadays , however , the meaning of propagate extends to the " reproduction " of something intangible , such as an idea or belief . Incidentally , propaganda also comes to us from propagare , although it took a somewhat different route into English . In question form , a Brit might say , “ Shall we go now ? ” while an American would probably say , “ Should we go now ? ” When Americans want to express a lack of obligation , they use the helping verb do with negative not followed by need . “ You do not need to come to work today . ” Brits drop the helping verb and contract not . “ You needn ’ t come to work today . ” The past tense of learn in American English is learned . British English has the option of learned or learnt . The same rule applies to dreamed and dreamt , burned and burnt , leaned and leant . In the past participle form , Americans tend to use the – en ending for some irregular verbs . For example , an American might say , “ I have never gotten caught ” whereas a Brit would say , “ I have never got caught . ” Americans use both got and gotten in the past participle . Brits only use got . modality – n . expressing ability , necessity , possibility , permission or obligationlexicographer – n . someone who writes dictionariesMan as an individual is a genius . But men in the mass form the headless monster , a great , brutish idiot that goes where prodded . - Charlie Chaplin disagree = dissent c h a u v i n i s t i c c onstitutionconstitutionIn 1963 , President John Kennedy gave a famous speech at American University . In the speech , Kennedy said the following lines : " Our problems are manmade ; therefore , they can be solved by man . And man can be as big as he wants . No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings . " Transition words that show a result include therefore and thus . A second use of transitions is to restate or clarify ideas . Common examples include in other words and i . e . A final group of transition words show that the writer is about to provide an example . Common words include for example and for instance . Consider how President Ronald Reagan uses for example in his address to the United Nations in 1988 : " That is why when human rights progress is made , the United Nations grows stronger - and the United States is glad of it . Following a 2 - year effort led by the United States , for example , the U . N . Human Rights Commission took a major step toward ending the double standards and cynicism that had characterized too much of its past . " * [ VERB ] If someone transitions from one state or activity to another , they move gradually from one to the other . The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just . - Abraham Lincoln decision - makingdepiction = description , portrayal , portrait , / description , narrationdetain = arrest , imprison , confine . < Word of the day > - extemporaneous Definition 1 : composed , performed , or uttered on the spur of the moment : impromptu 2 : provided , made , or put to use as an expedient : makeshift - ex ) The politician made some extemporaneous remarks before his formal speech - ex ) Because his extemporaneous remarks were misinterpreted , he decided to write all his speeches in advance . Did You Know ? Extemporaneous , which comes from Latin ex tempore ( " out of the time "), joined the English language sometime in the mid - 17 th century . The word impromptu was improvised soon after that . In general usage , extemporaneous and impromptu are used interchangeably to describe off - the - cuff remarks or speeches , but this is not the case when they are used in reference to the learned art of public speaking . Teachers of speech will tell you that an extemporaneous speech is one that has been thoroughly prepared and planned but not memorized , whereas an impromptu speech is one for which absolutely no preparations have been made [ Today ' s Latin ] - fortis : strong , brave - ex ) Fortes fortuna adiuvat . = Fortune helps the brave . [ Today ' s French ] - dans l ' ensemble : overall - ex ) Nous avons fait faire un devis et le coût dans l ' ensemble est bien moins cher que prévu . = We asked for a quote , and the cost overall is less expensive than expected . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 数 学 : mathematics - ex ) 我 的 数 学 很 好 。= I am good at mathematics . [ Today ' s Japanese ] - 選 挙 : election - ex ) 選 挙 が 始 まる 。= The election is going to start . I have nothing to lose . [ Today ' s Latin ] - putare : to think - ex ) Homo sum : humani nihil a me alienum puto . => a human I am : human affairs nothing to me alien I think => I ' m a human : I think nothing of human affairs is alien to me . [ Today ' s French ] - le commerce de gros : wholesale - ex ) Il s ' est lancé dans le commerce de gros il y a 3 ans et il n ' a jamais eu à regretter son choix = He went into wholesale three years ago , and never had to regret his choice . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 物理 : physics - ex ) 我 在中 学 学 了 物理 。= I studied physics in middle school . [ Today ' s Japanese ] - 投票 : to vote - ex ) 日本 では 、 18 歳 から 投票 できる 。= People can vote after they turn 18 years old in Japan . It ' s very hot in here * wait for backup = waitfor people to come Hope is a waking dream . - A r i s t o tlediscontinuedrawcouncil [ Today ' s Latin ] - - ex ) =[ Today ' s French ] - - ex ) =[ Today ' s Chinese ] - - ex ) =[ Today ' s Japanese ] - - ex ) =< word of the day > - disport Definition 1 : divert , amuse 2 : display 3 : to amuse oneself in light or lively fashion : frolic - ex ) Paul and his friends disport themselves with drinking - ex ) He disports himself the freedom of living in the countryDid You Know ? Geoffrey Chaucer was one of the earliest writers to amuse the reading public with the verb disport . Chaucer and his contemporaries carried the word into English from Anglo - French , adapting it from desporter , meaning " to carry away , comfort , or entertain . " The word can ultimately be traced back to the Latin verb portare , meaning " to carry . " Deport , portable , and transport are among the members of the portare family . When we do the best that we can , we never know what miracle is wrought ( = caused ) in our life , or in the life of another . - Helen Keller * This century wrought major changes in our society . d e v i a t e h y p o c r i t i calexceptionallyextensive * I live and let live . – I do my thing and I don ’ t bother other people . / Mine is mine and yours is yours . [ Today ' s Latin ] - quam : how - ex ) Quam bene vivas refert , non quam diu . = How well you live is important , not how long . [ Today ' s French ] - le horodateur : parking meter - ex ) Si tu ne mets pas d ' argent dans l ' horodateur toutes les deux heures tu auras certainement une amende . = If you don ' t put money in the parking meter every two hours you ' ll certainly get a fine . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 中 学 : middle school - ex ) 我 弟 弟 上 中 学 。= My younger brother is in middle school [ Today ' s Japanese ] - 一人 っ 子 : only child - ex ) 日本 では 一人 っ 子 が 増 えている 。= 日本 では 一人 っ 子 が 増 えている 。[ Today ' s Latin ] - aedificare : to build - ex ) Divina natura dedit agros , ars humana aedificavit urbes . = Divine nature gave us fields , human skill built our cities . [ Today ' s French ] - la tendance : trend - ex ) As - tu entendu parler de la dernière tendance ? C ' est une danse venue d ' Italie . = Have you heard about the new trend ? It ' s a dance that comes from Italy . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 教 育 : education - ex ) 美 国 的 大 学 教 育 很 好 。= American higher education is good . [ Today ' s Japanese ] - 候補 者 : candidate - ex ) 彼 は 有力 な 候補 者 だ 。= He is a strong candidateAll we could hear was the roar of the waterfallcatch up to - ex ) The international team tried to catch up to its opponentcatch up on - ex ) I have a lot of work to catch up on . [ Today ' s Latin ] - ridere : to laugh , to laugh at - ex ) Rident stolidi verba Latina . = Fools laugh at the Latin language . [ Today ' s French ] - majestueux : stately - ex ) La dernière œuvre de cet artiste est une sculpture majestueuse qui sera exposée dans le hall du palais de justice . = This artist ' s latest work is a stately sculpture which will be exhibited in the hall of the Court of Law . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 小 学 : primary school - ex ) 小 学 生 也 有作 业 。= Primary school students also have homework . [ Today ' s Japanese ] - 甘 えん 坊 : spoiled child - ex ) あの 子 供 は 甘 えん 坊 です 。= That child is spoiled . You can ' t see the forest for the trees . - accommodation = reconcilement What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil . - Friedrich NietzscheWe know what we are , but not what we may be . - William ShakespeareHere today , gone tomorrow . gradualexfoliatefondness ( be fond of ) exhaledismalfilmsyhave trouble withdiscord < word of the day > - conversant = to be are familiar with sth and able to deal with it . Definition : having knowledge or experience - ex ) You need to become fully conversant with the company ' s proceduresDid You Know ? The adjectives conversant and conversational are related ; both are descendants of Latin conversari , meaning " to associate with . " Conversant dates to the Middle Ages , and an early meaning of the word was simply " having familiar association . " one way to associate with others is to have a conversation with them — in other words , to talk . For a short time in the 19 th century conversant could mean " relating to or suggesting conversation , " but for the most part that meaning stayed with conversational while conversant went in a different direction . Today , conversant is sometimes used , especially in the United States , with the meaning " able to talk in a foreign language , " as in " she is conversant in several languages , " but it is more often associated with knowledge or familiarity , as in " conversant with the issues . "- bibelot = an attractive or curious trinket - A trinket is a pretty piece of jewellery or small ornament that is inexpensive . Definition : a small household ornament or decorative object : trinket - ex ) While the outside may be simple , the rooms inside are crammed with exotic bibelots , orchids , oriental rugs and textilesDid You Know ? Can you think of a six - letter synonym of bibelot that starts with the letter " g "? No ? How about an eight - letter one ? Crossword puzzle whizzes might guess that the words we are thinking of are gewgaw and gimcrack . Like these , bibelot , which English speakers borrowed from French , has uses beyond wordplay . In addition to its general use as a synonym of trinket , it can refer specifically to a miniature book of elegant design ( such as those made by Tiffany and Faberge ) . It also appears regularly in the names of things as diverse as restaurants and show dogs . - scour = to make a thorough search of it to try to find what sb is looking for . Definition 1 : to move about quickly especially in search 2 : to go through or range over in or as if in a search - ex ) We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent - ex ) I had to scour out the pans ( rub ) - ex ) The water had raced down the slope and scoured out the bed of a stream . Did You Know ? There are two distinct homographs of the verb scour in English . one means to clean something by rubbing it hard with a rough object ; that scour , which goes back to at least the early 14 th century , probably derives — via Middle Dutch and Old French — from a Late Latin verb , excurare , meaning " to clean off . " Today ' s word , however , which appears in the 13 th century , is believed to derive from the Old Norse skūr , meaning " shower . " ( Skūr is also distantly related to the Old English scūr , the ancestor of our English word shower . ) Many disparate things can be scoured . For example , one can scour an area ( as in " scoured the woods in search of the lost dog ") or publications ( as in " scouring magazine and newspaper articles ").* scout - ex ) They scouted the area for somewhere to stay the night - ex ) The kids were scouting around for wood for the fire - ex ) He scouts for Manchester United [ Today ' s Latin ] - feliciter : happily - ex ) Omnes sapientes feliciter , perfecte , fortunate vivunt . = All wise men live happily , completely , and fortunately . [ Today ' s French ] - chic : classy - ex ) Leur intérieur est très chic ; j ' aimerais bien savoir qui les a aidés à le réaliser . = Their interior is very classy ; I ' d really like to know who helped them to do it . [ Today ' s Chinese ] - 计 算 : to calculate - ex ) 他 要 计 算 一下他的收入 。= He wants to calculate his income . [ Today ' s Japanese ] - 鍵 っ 子 : latchkey kid - ex ) 鍵 っ 子 が 増 えている 。= The number of latchkey kids is increasing < word of the day > - prcocious = A precocious child is very clever , mature , or good at something , often in a way that you usually only expect to find in an adult . Definition 1 : exceptionally early in development or occurrence 2 : exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age - ex ) a precocious child who started her acting career at the age of 5 - ex ) From an early age she displayed a precocious talent for musicDid You Know ? Precocious got started in Latin when the prefix prae -, meaning " ahead of , " was combined with the verb coquere , meaning " to cook " or " to ripen , " to form the adjective praecox , which means " early ripening " or " premature . " By the mid - 1600 s , English speakers had turned praecox into precocious and were using it especially of plants that produced blossoms before their leaves came out . By the 1670 s , precocious was also being used to describe humans who developed skills or talents before others typically did . Enough already ! * sometimes I need a little solitude – at times I have to have some alone timeThere is no mistaking a real book when one meets it . It is like falling in love . - Christopher Morley dismiss an employeeexemptexertionI need a little rest