Percolate

Part of Speech: intransitive verb

1st Definition: to pass ( a liquid ) gradually through small spaces or a porous substance; filter

2nd Definition: to drain or ooze through; permeate

Source: Collins Dictionary

Found in the 7th line of ” Thirsting ” by Alicia Ostriker

I felt that it would be helpful to look up this word, because I myself was ignorant of it’s meaning. So I wanted to make sure that the rest of the class knew what it meant.

Edit: I had no idea that the actual definition didn’t go through, that’s embarrassing.

Disenchantment

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired; disillusionment

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in Success Story

I thought it would be help to look up this word, so that people could understand it’s context within the prose poem.

Untended

Part of Speech: adjective

Definition: not cared for or looked after; neglected

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” The Thirteenth Woman ”

I already knew the definition, but I usually see the word unattended in the place of untened, so I wanted to make sure people knew that it was basically the same.

Mainmast

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: The principle mast of a ship, typically the second mast in a sailing ship of three or more masts.

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Found in ” My Boy Willie ” Line 35

Looking up the definition of mainmast helped me understand the passage. I had never seen the word before, so at first I looked at and said to myself: ” What in the world is this ?”

Unerring

Part of Speech: adjective

Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Definition: always right or accurate

Found in Claude McKay’s America, line 13

Knowing the definition of unerring helped me understand the line better. Where it says: ‘ Beneath the touch of Time’s unerring hand, ‘

Damasked

Part of speech: noun

Source: English Oxford Living Dictionaries

Definition: A rich, heavy silk or linen fabric with a pattern woven into it, used for table linen and upholstery.

Found in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, line 5: My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun

Knowing the definition of damasked helped me to understand the line fully. A first I looked at ‘ I have seen roses damasked, red and white ‘ like what does that mean ? But now I see that the speaker is comparing his wife’s cheeks to the beauty of a tablecloth.