“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.” 
― Pema Chödrön

WORDS OF THE DAY (from exhume to prepossessing -- 11/29/12 to 1-4-13)

exhume (v):  to remove from a grave; to bring to light
intractable (adj):  hard to manage, stubborn, not responsive to discipline
adumbrate (v):  to foreshadow vaguely; to give a sketchy outline or to disclose partially
verdant (adj):  green in tint or color; immature in experience or judgment
nefarious (adj):  wicked, depraved, devoid of moral standards
murky (adj):  dark, gloomy; lacking in clarity and precision
viscous (adj):  having a gelatinous or gluey quality; lacking in easy movement or fluidity
piquant (adj):  stimulating to the taste or mind; spicy, pungent, appealingly provocative
primordial (adj):  developed or created at the very beginning; going back to the most ancient times or earliest        stage
unwonted (adj):  not usual or expected; not in character
utopian (adj):  founded upon or involving a visionary view of an ideal world; impractical
propinquity (n):  nearness in place or time; kinship
atrophy (n):  the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure
bastion (n):  a fortified place; a stronghold
verbiage (n):  language that is too wordy or inflated in proportion to the sense of content
asseverate (v):  to affirm earnestly and with emphasis
concord (n):  state of agreement, harmony
grouse (v):  to complain or grumble
disarray (n):  disorder and confusion
flotsam (n):  floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
consummate (adj):  complete or perfect in the highest degree
glean (v):  to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left by reapers
exigency (n):  urgency, pressure, a pressing need
frenetic (adj):  frantic, frenzied, highly agitated
incarcerate (v):  to imprison, to jail, to confine
ludicrous (adj):  ridiculous, laughable, absurd
mordant (adj):  biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
jocular (adj):  humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
nettle (v):  to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
pusillanimous (adj):  contemptibly cowardly 
recumbent (adj):  in a reclining position
pecuniary (adj):  consisting of or measured in money
stratagem (n):  a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain a desired result
prepossessing (adj):  pleasing; tending to create a favorable impression

Period 1
Grade 12AP

We have begun Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury Tales.  Today we discussed physiognomy and body humors like choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholy.  For homework, you must read the brief introductory notes that I gave you this morning.  You also have a copy of James Lipton's introduction to An Exaltation of Larks that you must read by Monday.  You will be responsible for all content.  There is also a word quiz on Monday, 1-7-13 from exhume to flotsam.

Periods 3 and 4
Grade 12CP

Rough drafts of research papers are due tomorrow, Friday, 1-4-13.  We are currently studying the sonnets of William Shakespeare.  You are responsible for knowing the form of a Shakespearean sonnet.  Today, we read Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?")

Have a most productive night!  I hope to see you all tomorrow!!