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

incursions: a sudden attack

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incursions

” protected from alien incursions”

purists: a person who has very strong ideas

” texting shorthand Annoys purists”

It’s saying that people who don’t use big words a lot annoys others who uses big words.

luminaries : A traditional Mexican Lantern

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luminaria

‘ Attempted and failed by Luminaries…”

trough ; a long low area between waves and hills

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trough

‘ No more rough, trough, thought, through…..”

The way it is spelled they are using it in a short word form.

realignment : to change the position or direction

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realignment

‘ The realignment of spelling with a sound ‘

Changing the position of the way it is spelled.

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Moral integrity

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

Encountered: In the article “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. “If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie.”

Understanding: I understand him saying that there is nothing morally correct about a true war story.

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Harmony

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

Encountered: In the article “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. “In the midst of evil you want to be a good man. You want decency. You want justice and courtesy and human concord.”

Understanding: I understand what he’s explaining a soldier wants after a violent firefight. He has a new view on life, a immense pleasure of aliveness, and hopes for harmony.

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: The unusual attitude, mood, or behavior of a person or animal

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temperament?show=0&t=1387337342

Encountered: In the article “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. “It’s always a woman. Usually it’s an older woman of kindly temperament and humane politics.”

Understanding: I understand what the word means and the type of women that may like his story.

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A usually artificial lake that is used to store a large supply of water for use in people’s homes, in businesses, etc.

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

Encountered: In the article “City Limits” by Colson Whitehead. “That Bryant Park used to be a reservoir”

Understanding: I understand what Bryant Park used to be and Whitehead’s point about everyone has their own New York.