Tutoring English, vocabulary is always interesting. The tutor mentions a word he recently noticed: obfuscate obfuscate: to make more confusing; to hinder understanding. Source: Barber, Katherine et al. Oxford Canadian Dictionary of Current English. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Tutoring English, new words emerge. The tutor mentions one. I heard someone say “decedent” recently, so wondered if it’s a word, which it indeed is. A “decedent” is one who is deceased. Source: Mish, Frederick C. (editor). Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Springfield: Merriam-Webster,…

Tutoring English, questions arise I’ve wondered about for years. Preventive or preventative? According to Merriam-Webster, they’re equivalent. Source: Mish, Frederick C. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004.

Tutoring English, surprises arise. The tutor mentions beeves. Beeves is plural of beef. It can refer to presented beef dinners or standing animals. I first read “beeves” in Shelby Foote’s The Civil War. I believe he was referring to cattle…

Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions definitions for pity and pithy. The “pith” of a sentence is its message. “Pithy” means abundant with meaning. Source:

Self-tutoring about English: the tutor recalls…. I remember, decades ago, hearing that august can be an adjective. I’m sure my sister told me so. What does it mean? august:impressive by way of grace, dignity, or greatness, and earning spontaneous respect…