The Daring Book for Girls - Andrea J. Buchanan [96]
luculent
(LOO-kyoo-luhnt) easily understood; clear or lucid
Sometimes Brianna’s homework needed to be a little more luculent.
mellifluous
(muh-LIF-loo-uhs) flowing with sweetness or honey; smooth and sweet
Anna always enjoyed chorus; she knew her voice was mellifluous.
miasma
(mahy-AZ-muh) foul vapors emitted from rotting matter; unwholesome air or atmosphere
Emi held her nose as she passed the miasma of what her little brother referred to as “the stinky parking garage.”
natalitious
(nay-tuh-LIH-shis) pertaining to one’s birthday
Mary designed elaborate invitations to announce her natalitious festivities.
nemesis
(NEM-uh-sis) a source of harm; an opponent that cannot be beaten; mythological Greek goddess of vengeance
On a good day, Christina’s brother was her ally; on a bad day, he was her nemesis.
obsequious
(uhb-SEE-kwee-uhs) fawning; attentive in an ingratiating manner
Eager to win her parents’ approval, Vanessa was polite to the point of being obsequious.
persiflage
(PURR-suh-flahzh) light banter; frivolous discussion
“We must be careful to keep our persiflage to a minimum,” Nola whispered to Margot during class.
quiescence
(kwee-ES-uhns) stillness, quietness, inactivity
Esme reveled in the extraordinary quiescence of early morning when she awoke before anyone else.
quotidian
(kwoh-TIHD-ee-uhn) everyday, commonplace, ordinary; recurring daily
Dana sighed, bored by the quotidian sameness of it all.
rapprochement
(rap-rohsh-MAHN) reconciliation; the reestablishing of cordial relations
After holding a grudge against him for so long, Eleanor felt it was almost a relief to have reached a rapprochement with her brother.
risible
(RIZ-uh-buhl) laughable, causing laughter
The girls knew they could always count on Jasmine for a risible remark.
sesquipedalian
(SESS-kwih-puh-DAY-lee-un) characteristic of a long word; given to using long words
Daring girls are not shy about their sesquipedalian abilities.
sprezzatura
(SPRETTS-ah-TOO-ruh) nonchalance, effortlessness
After reading The Daring Book For Girls, Erin was able to cartwheel with sprezzatura and verve.
Truculent
(TRUCK-yuh-lunt) pugnacious, belligerent, scathing
When Nancy was pushed too far, she became truculent.
ultracrepidarian
(ull-truh-krep-ih-DAIR-ee-uhn)
giving opinions or criticizing beyond one’s own range of expertise
“I’d tell you what I think about your outfit, but I don’t want to be all ultracrepidarian,” said Karen.
vitiate
(VISH-ee-ayt) to weaken, impair, or render invalid
Penelope’s debate in class vitiated Rob’s argument.
winsome
(WIN-suhm) sweetly or innocently charming
Surya was too busy building her tree fort to act winsome.
xenophobe
(ZEE-nuh-fohb) a person who fears or hates foreigners
It was a nerve-racking moment at the potluck picnic, when the neighborhood xenophobe showed up with potato salad.
yawl
(Yawl) a ship’s small boat; a yowl or howl
Lanie let out a loud yawl as the boat tipped over.
zaftig
(ZAHF-tik) having a shapely figure (From the Yiddish word zaftik, “juicy.”)
Beyonce was proud of her strong, zaftig figure.
zeitgeist
(TSIYT-giyst) the spirit of the time; the outlook of a particular generation
Shonda was convinced the latest pop star embodied the zeitgeist of middle school.
Tree Swing
WHAT YOU NEED
♦ Wood, 2 × 8, 2 ″ long
♦ Rope
♦ Two eyebolts, 8″ long, with a 3/8/3/8″ thread, two nuts and four washers
♦ A tennis ball, a sock, and some twine
♦ Drill with 3/8/3/8″ bit
THE HARDEST PART of building a tree swing is finding a well-suited branch. We can tell you that a tree-swing branch should be at least 8 inches in diameter, but on a tree tall enough for a swing, that can be difficult to measure precisely. You’ll also need a strong rope long enough to get around the branch and down to the ground and back up again.
Your swing should not be on a white birch, because those rubbery branches readily bend. Look for a hardy oak or maple. The spot on the branch where you hang your swing should be far enough from the trunk so no one is hurt when they