Part of Speech-Noun

Definition-Someone or something that is getting started in a new activity

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fledgling

Encountering of Word-I read “Federalists and Republicans threatened the very existence of the fledgling american republic”

Understanding-I now understand that the author was using this word to describe how the United States was practically new and these government parties were already threatening its existence.

Part of Speech-Noun

Definition– The act of saying something in a public, official, or definite way

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proclamation

Encountering of Word-Abraham Lincoln set forth the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War and i always knew what emancipation meant but never proclamation.

Understanding-Now i understand that this document was Abraham Lincoln publicly emancipating the slaves from the crucial act of slavery.

Part of Speech-Geographical Name

Definition-hypothetical land area believed to have once connected nearly all of the earth’s landmasses together

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pangaea

Encountering of Word-In history class, i heard this word being mention for the first time as i learned that this is where many people believed that history began.

Understanding-I know understand that this was basically an area and time in which all of the continents were once connected into one grand continent.

Part of Speech-Noun

Definition-a genus of the family Equidae that comprises the horses, asses, zebras, and related recent and extinct mammals

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/equus?show=0&t=1387334176

Encountering of Word-I was beginning to read a book by the name of “Equus” and i did not know the meaning of this tittle.

Understanding-I know see that this meaning of the word goes hand in hand with what the book is about, which is horses.

Part of Speech-Noun

Definition-An aggressive or truculent attitude,atmosphere or disposition

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belligerence?show=0&t=1387333661

Encountering of Word-In a reading, i read “British belligerence withered the cause of reconciliation with congress and the colonies.”

Understanding-I know see that this meant that the British people’s aggressive attitude prevented them from making amends with congress and the colonies.

Part of Speech-Noun

Definition-A situation in which people do not have enough food to eat

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/famine

Encountering of Word-While reading a textbook i came upon: “White immigrants were fleeing lives torn by famine, warfare, and religious persecution.”

Understanding-I see that the authors were stating that the lack of food was one of the causes to why the white immigrants had to flee from their normal original lives.

Part of Speech-Noun

Definition-Something or someone that is useful or valued

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commodities

Encountering of Word-“..this existing slave culture by turning captives into prized commodities.”

Understanding-I know see that the textbook was stating that slaves were of great valued to the traders as they were clearly of value to them.

Part of Speech-Noun

Definition-The act of keeping someone or something

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retention

Encountering of Word-In our speech class, we learned that we used to visual aids to aid in retention for our audience.

Understanding-Now i understand that this means to keep the visual aid/message in the audiences memory basically.

Part of Speech-Adjective

Definition-Made up or done without special preparation

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extemporaneous

Encountering of Word-We learned that being extemporaneous was an effective way of public speaking. This was said to be conversational.

Understanding-Now i understand that we were actually learning that to be effective we have to be conversational with the audience instead of reading straight off manuscripts during speeches.

Part of Speech-Adjective

Definition-Not using or giving a lot of something

Source–http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sparingly

Encountering of Word-I was reading a history book about Frederick Douglass and came upon this: “..he dealt sparingly with his words, and bountifully with his whip,”

Understanding-I know understand that he was using this word to characterize the character as someone who didn’t use his words a lot, instead he used his violence.