Noun

Definition: a person who does not like other people

I found this word on the 3rd page of “The Happiest and Saddest Places in New York City, According to Twitter.”

That was the first time I’ve heard of the word “misanthrope.” I now know what it means.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misanthrope

Adjective

Definition: very bright and attractive

I found this word in the beginning paragraph of “The Happiest and Saddest Places in New York City, According to Twitter.”

I knew the author of this article was complementing New York’s parks in that sentence, but I didn’t know exactly what he meant. Now I do.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resplendent?show=0&t=1387342259

Verb

Definition: to name (things) one after another in a list

I found this word in the first paragraph of “Who Knows Brooklyn?”

I had an idea of what the author meant by enumerate, but I wasn’t exactly sure, so I looked it up.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enumerate

Noun

Definition: a small round cap that is worn by some Jewish men

I found it on the 3rd page of “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.”

I had no idea what those caps were called. This is a completely new revelation to me.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yarmulke

Verb

Definition: to increase in value or amount gradually as time passes; to grow or build up slowly

I found this word on the second page of “Gotham farmers sprout cash crops.”

I couldn’t understand the sentence that I found this word in, so I looked it up and found out that accrue meant increase in that sentence.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrue

Adjective

Definition: existing in every part of something; spreading to all parts of something

This word was also found in the first paragraph of “Texting Shorthand Annoys Purists and May Have Lasting Impact.”

I didn’t know what the author of this article meant by “global pervasiveness.” I looked it up and I found out that he was talking about how texting is used all around the world.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pervasiveness?show=0&t=1387176702

Noun

Definition: a new word or expression or a new meaning of a word

I found this word in the first paragraph of the reading “Texting Shorthand Annoys Purists and May Have Lasting Impact.”

The word was defined in the context, but I still wasn’t sure so I looked it up anyway.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neologism

Noun

Definition: a divine imparting of knowledge or power; inspiration

This word was found on the 3rd page of “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.”

I didn’t know that the author was referring to inspiration when he used this word.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afflatus

Noun

Definition: an angry and usually long speech or piece of writing that strongly criticizes someone or something

This word is found in the first sentence of the reading “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.”

When the author of this reading mentioned a diatribe, I had no idea what that was, so I looked it up and found out that he was referring to a piece of writing.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diatribe