DATE	WORD	PRONUNCIATION	PART OF SPEECH	DEFINITION	SYNONYM	SAMPLE SENTENCE
12/1/06	Archetype	AHR kuh type	Noun	An image, plot pattern or character type that occurs frequently in myth, folklore or literature	Model Epitome Prototype	What do Arthur Fonzarelli (the "Fonz" on "Happy Days") and Danny Zuko ("Grease") have in common?  Both characters are 1950's rebels who are based upon style and character of James Dean, the original archetype for the "rebel without a cause".  The word archetypal means original.  The popular MTV program "Laguna Beach" deliberately uses characters that archetypes.  For example, Kristin Cavallari plays the "Dumb Blonde"
12/4/06	Imperious	im PEER ee us	Adjective	Extremely domineering; Overbearing; Arrogant	Authoritative Commanding	Both George Steinbrenner (the owner of the Yankees) and Donald Trump (the owner of Trump Tower) are well-known for their imperious win-at-all costs style of management.
12/5/06	Chagrin	shuh GRIN	Noun	The feeling of distress caused by humiliation, failure or embarrassment	Mortification Vexation Disappointment	In the movie "Anchorman" Brian Fontana is chagrined when he discovers that his cologne is so foul smelling that it repels Veronica and everyone else in the newsroom.  In the movie "Pretty Woman" Vivian is deeply chagrined when arrogant clerks in a fashionable Beverly Hills clothing store refuse to help her because of the way she is dressed.
12/6/06	Evocation	ee vo KAY shun	Noun	Suggestions Remembrance	Aura Hint	What do the novel Gone With The Wind and the TV program "Happy Days" have in common?  Both are evocations that summon memories of a lost era.  Gone With the Wind evoked the antebellum South and "Happy Days" evoked the mid-1950's when we loved Lucy, liked Ike and wanted to look like James Dean.
12/7/06	Hybrid	HI brid	Noun	A blend of mixture of two diverse cultures or traditions	Cross Mix Amalgam	When he first burst onto the scene, Elvis Presley was a hybrid whose blended Black rhythm and blues and the raw hillbilly style popular in Memphis.  As performed by Aerosmith and Run-D.M.C., the classic song "Rock With Me" is a hybrid or blend of rock and rap.
12/8/06	Obsequious	ub SEE kwee us	Adjective	Characterized by acting in a submissive, fawning, ingratiating manner	Servile Flattering Toadying Sycophantic	In the "Simpsons" Smithers is known for the obsequious manner in which he fawns on Mr. Burns.
12/11/06	Bolster	BOWL ster	Verb	To support, reinforce, hold up	Boost Strengthen Encourage	The colonists used the theory of natural rights to bolster their argument that King George III was a tyrant who had abused his power.
12/12/06	Panache	pah NAHSH	Noun	Dash and flamboyance in style and action; amazing flair	Elan Confidence Elegance	Johnny Depp has been widely praised for the panache with which he portrayed Captain Jack Sparrow ("Pirates of the Caribbean") and Willy Wonka ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory").  At Disneyland cartoon characters such as Captain Hook, Prince John and Sir Hiss have a certain panache that makes them appealing to character actors.
12/13/06	Prolific	proh LIF ik	Adjective	Very productive	Creative Fertile Inexhaustible	Jay-Z is a prolific recording artist, having released 10 albums that have sold 33 million copies.  J. K. Rowling is also prolific having written six large books in the Harry Potter saga.
12/14/06	Unflappable	un FLAP a bul	Adjective	Not easily upset or excited	Composed; Calm; Unflustered; Collected:	The policeman ws unflappable; he never lost control even though he was provoked by the demonstrators.
DATE	WORD	PRONUNCIATION	PART OF SPEECH	DEFINITION	SYNONYM	SAMPLE SENTENCE
12/15/06	Tepid	teh PID	Adjective	Lukewarm; Mild; Half-hearted; Little enthusiasm	Indifferent Apathetic Lackadaisical	The word tepid originated in the Roman baths.  Bathers soaked in the hot waters of the caldarium, took a cool dip in the frigidarium and finished their day with a refreshing bath in the lukewarm waters of the tepidarium..   Critics gave "The Dukes of Hazard" a tepid overall rating of "C".
12/18/06	Ostentatious	ahs ten TAY shus	Adjective	Showy; Intended to attract notice; Pretentious	Affected Brazen Grandiose	Wearing ostentatious jewelry has a long history.  Egyptian Pharaohs, European rulers and Mughal sultans all enjoyed wearing ostentatious jewelry.  The passion for wearing ostentatious jewelry has not gone out of fashion having become a hallmark of the rap music culture.  Nelly is well known for sporting ostentatious jewelry.
12/19/06	Idiosyncrasy	id ee oh SINK ruh see	Noun	A trait or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual or group.	Quirk Foible Eccentricity	Austin Powers archenemy Dr. Evil has a number of highly visible idiosyncrasies.  For example, the nefarious villain often bites the nail on his little finger   Can you name any of your personal idiosyncrasies?
12/20/06	Belie	bih LYE	Verb	To give a false impression or show something to be false	Contradict Disprove	In the movie," Ten Things I Hate About You" the words in Kat's poem actually belied her true feelings about Patrick.
12/21/06	Austere	aw STEER	Adjective	Strict; Severe; Bare; Characterized by few adornments	Stern Grave Sober Ascetic	During the Middle Ages, the Cistercians of "White Monks" practiced an austere code of discipline. Which included hard work and a diet of two simple meals a day.
12/22/06	Alacrity	uh LAK ri tee	Noun	Great promptness; quickness; cheerful eagerness or readiness to	Eagerness Enthusiasm Readiness	David could hardly wait for his parents to leave; he carried their luggage out to the car with great alacrity. UPS delivers their packages with great alacrity.
Root Family of the Month
THE FLU FAMILY				TO FLOW	Fluent Confluence Mellifluous Affluent Superfluous