prodigiousadj. Causing wonder or

amazement; Of great size, extent or amount.

Etymology:Latin: prodigium (extraordinary thing) + -ous (of the nature of)Related Form:prodigySynonyms:colossal, extraordinary

Romeo & Juliet, 1.5: “Prodigious birth of love it is to me,/ That I must love a loathed enemy. ”

The New York Times, 1/8/2008: “A white marble bust, complete with prodigious whiskers (this was an age of big facial hair), stares at us. It’s Herbert Spencer, autodidact…”

Herbert Spencer’s prodigious whiskers.

discoursen. Verbal expression or exchange.

v. To communicate thoughts orally.

Etymology:Latin: dis- (division in two) + currere (to run)Related Form:discursiveSynonyms:discussion, dialogue

Romeo & Juliet, 2.2: “Her eye discourses; I will answer it.”

The New York Times, 11/21/2007: “…childishness infects a lot of political discourse.”

enmityn. Feelings characteristic

of an enemy.

Etymology:French: enemestie (like an enemy)Synonyms:hatred, rancor

Romeo & Juliet, 2.2: “look thou but sweet / And I am proof against their enmity.”

The New York Times, 11/27/2007: “As they expand their facilities, he explained, many wealthy people with friends on both sides of the ‘rivalry, even enmity,’ have had difficulty choosing where to donate.”

chidev. To scold, rebuke, or find

fault with; to express disapproval of.

Etymology:Anglo-SaxonSynonyms:reprove, rebuke, blame

Romeo & Juliet, 2.3: “I pray thee chide me not.”

The New York Times, 5/25/2008: “Some of my blog’s readers were my friends in real life, and even the ones who weren’t acted like friends when they posted comments or sent me e-mail. They criticized me sometimes, but kindly, the way you chide someone you know well.”

rancorn. Inveterate and bitter

ill-feeling.

Etymology:Latin: rancorum (rancidity)Related Form:rancorousSynonyms:animosity, spite

Romeo & Juliet, 2.3: “…this alliance may so happy prove, / To turn your households' rancor to pure love.”

The New York Times, 2/7/2008: “By a single vote, Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a bill championed by Democrats, as partisan rancor engulfed the effort to inject a quick burst of spending into the slowing economy.”

feignv. To make a show of, put on

an appearance of.

Etymology:Latin: fingere (to form or mold)Synonyms:pretend, simulate

Romeo & Juliet, 2.5: “But old folks, many feign as they were dead; / Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.”

The New York Times, 7/23/2006: “While it may be tempting to feign illness for a day at the beach, lying isn’t a skill you should practice at work.”

unwieldyadj. Difficult to control, guide, move,

manipulate, etc., by virtue of size, shape, or weight; clumsily massive, awkwardly large; unmanageable.

Etymology:Anglo-Saxon, possibly related to Latin: valere (strength)Synonyms:awkward, cumbersome

Romeo & Juliet, 2.5: “But old folks, many feign as they were dead; / Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.”

The New York Times, 7/29/2007: “In much the same way, the robots being built today, still unwieldy and temperamental even in the most capable hands, probably offer only hints of the way we might be using robots in another 30 years.”

dexterityn. Skill in using the hands,

body or mind.

Etymology:Latin: dexter (right-handed)Related Form:dexterousSynonyms:agility, cunning, deftness

Romeo & Juliet, 3.1: “(Mercutio) with one hand beats / Cold death aside, and with the other sends / It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, / Retorts it…”

The New York Times, 7/19/2008: “Performed by João P. Pereira Dos Santos, an acrobat and Chinese-pole master, the solo showcased his astounding Spider-Man dexterity.”

amorousadj. Of persons: inclined to love; Of action: showing love or fondness.

Etymology:Latin: amor (love) + -ous (full of)Related Form:enamored (of)Synonyms:affectionate, loving, fond

Romeo & Juliet, 3.2: “Lovers can see to do their amorous rites / By their own beauties.”5.3: “Shall I believe / That unsubstantial Death is amorous…”

The New York Times, 4/6/2004: “The plot is a classic tangle of amorous attachments. King Xerxes and his brother, Arsamene, love the same woman, Romilda.”

garishadj. Obtrusively or

vulgarly bright in color; tastelessly showy

Etymology:Uncertain– possibly from ME gaure (to stare)Related Form:garishnessSynonyms:gaudy, showy

Romeo & Juliet, 3.2: “…he will make the face of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in love with night / And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

The New York Times, 2/3/2008: “The carnations and zinnias were mismatched and garish, the cheapest arrangements on the market in a budget-cutting age.”