English: aphorism
Tutoring English, new words and ideas always arrive. The tutor mentions “aphorism.” aphorism: a brief comment that observes a truth or gives apt advice. Don’t get in over your head is an example. Source: lexico.com
Category: english
English: what is a “thing”?
Tutoring English, new ideas surface about literal vs figurative. The tutor mentions one. People commonly say ideas such as “One thing to remember is that the store closes at 10pm.” For a few years now I’ve wondered, “Is the fact …
English: contractions
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions an idea his wife mightn’t appreciate. I’ve heard of could’ve…what about couldn’t’ve? I’ve never seen it in print, but why not, in casual writing? In formal writing – essays, for instance – I was …
English: whensoever
Tutoring English, surprises happen. The tutor mentions whensoever. I’ve never heard whensoever, but I discovered it today. In meaning, it’s similar to whenever, but seems more to suppose an event may happen numerous times. Whensoever it does, another event should …
English: vocabulary: loggia
Self-tutoring about vocabulary: the tutor mentions the word loggia. loggia: a room open to the outside, but still having a roof. It may, for instance, have windows with no panes in them. If ground level, it may have an entryway …
English: what does refactor mean?
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions refactor. refactor: to alter a program’s presentation to make it more human-consumable without changing its function. Source: yourdictionary.com
English: recalcitrant
Self-tutoring about vocabulary: the tutor mentions recalcitrant. recalcitrant (adj): defiant of authority or duty. Hilariously, as a kid, I was called recalcitrant by someone who truly was. Perhaps it “takes one to know one:)” I hear recalcitrant rarely nowadays. Source: …
Spelling: adapter or adaptor?
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor checks a fact. Adaptor or adapter? Either one, apparently: both are correct and have the same meaning. Source: Mish, Frederick C. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004.
Vocabulary: surveil
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor “unveils” a word that’s indeed real: surveil. surveil: verb form of noun surveillance. To surveil is to carry out surveillance. Source: merriam-webster.com
English: scofflaw
Self-tutoring about English: the tutor mentions a word he’s never known. scofflaw: a habitual, unrepentant law breaker. Source: Mish, Frederick C. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2004. Barber, Katherine et al. Oxford Canadian Dictionary of Current English. Don Mills: Oxford University …