A Northern Lilt

November 18-24: This week's words are brought to you by The Story of Christianity by Justo Gonzalez

Promulgate - [prom-uhl-geyt, proh-muhl-geyt]

1. to make known by open declaration; publish; proclaim formally or put into operation (a law, decree of a court, etc.).
2. to set forth or teach publicly (a creed, doctrine, etc.).

July 1-7: This week's words are brought to you by Great Expectations by Charles Dickens


Ablution - [uh-bloo-shuhn]

1. a cleansing with water or other liquid, especially as areligious ritual.
2. a washing of the hands, body, etc.
3. The liquid used thus.

Gourmandize - [gawr-muhn-dahyz]

1. unrestrained enjoyment of fine foods, wines, and the like.
2. eat good food, especially to excess
3. to eat greedily or ravenously
4. the appreciation or consumption of good food

June 3-9: This week's words are brought to you by Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Yancey & Brand) and two friends who both said "wax eloquent" on the same day, independently of each other. 


Wax - [waks]

1. To increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.: Discord waxed at an alarming rate.
2. (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. Compare to wane.
3. to grow or become: He waxed angry at the insinuation.

Compendium - [kuhm-pen-dee-uhm]

1. a brief treatment or account of a subject, especially anextensive subject; concise treatise.
2. a summary, epitome, or abridgment.
3. a full list or inventory: a compendium of their complaints.

May 13-19: This week's words are brought to you by Surprised by the Voice of God and a lecture my mom was listening to in the car. 


Quiescent - [kwē-ěs'ənt]

1. Being quiet, still, or at rest; inactive.

Meliorate - [meel-yuh-reyt]

1. to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve;
2. Variant form of the the word ameliorate.

April 14-22: This week's words are brought to you by Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Brand & Yancey and a friend at school

Kamikaze - [kah-mi-kah-zee]

1. A person or thing that behaves in a wildly reckless or destructive manner: We were nearly run down by a kamikaze on a motorcycle.
2. (during World War II) A member of a special corps in the Japanese air force charged with the suicidal mission of crashing an aircraft laden with explosives into an enemy target, especially a warship.

Morose - [muh-rohs]

1. Gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood.
2. Characterized by or expressing gloom.

April 8-14: This week's words are brought to you by Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin


Succor - [suhk-er]

1. help; relief; aid; assistance.
2. a person or thing that gives help, relief, aid, etc.

Inviolable - [in-vahy-uh-luh-buhl]

1. prohibiting violation; secure from destruction, violence, infringement, or desecration: an inviolable sanctuary; an inviolable promise.
2. incapable of being violated; incorruptible; unassailable: inviolable secrecy.

April 1-7: This week's words are brought to you by Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin

Eulogiums - 

1. A eulogy.
2. eulogistic language. 

Jejune - 

1. without interest or significance; dull; insipid: a jejune novel.
2. juvenile; immature; childish: jejune behavior.
3. lacking knowledge or experience; uninformed.
4. deficient or lacking in nutritive value: a jejune diet.

Memory aid: junior, juvenile, jejunum (part of the small intestine believed to be empty after death; empty could also be construed as lacking, or deficient).