Author: Karen Cruz

The word quarrel means an argument or disagreement, typically between two people who are usually on good terms according to the dictionary. The word quarrel is found in the story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston on the bottom of page 277 when it states, “Delia was glad she did not have to quarrel before she hitched up her pony and drove four miles to Woodbridge.” Now knowing the definition of the word, I know that the author was saying that Delia was glad she didn’t have to get into an argument with someone, probably her husband, before leaving on her pony to Woodbridge.

ke•en (adjective)

According to the dictionary, the word keen means sharp or penetrating. This word is found in the story, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell on page 154 when it states, “He stopped and gave her a keen look”. Now knowing the definition of the word it helps better understand that the character gave the women a penetrating or sharp look.

muf•fled (adjective)

The definition of muffled is a sound that is not loud because of being obstructed in some way, muted according to the dictionary. This word is seen in the story, “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell when it states, “ Mrs. Peter had turned away. When she spoke, her voice was muffled.” Now knowing the definition of this word I know now that the author was stating that once Mrs. Peter was going to speak she was muted and couldn’t speak.

dis•may (noun)

The definition of dismay is a sudden disappointment according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary. This word appears in the story “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston on the second page when it states, “His wife gave a little scream of dismay, and quickly gathered them together again.” Knowing the definition of this word helps to better understand that the women screamed in a sudden disappointment after her husband made a mess of the clothes she was folding.

de·lib·er·ate (adjective)

The definition of the word deliberate is done consciously and intentionally according to the dictionary. In the article ” How to Help Kids Disrupt Bro Culture ” by Ana Homayoun, you come across this word when the author states, “A 2013 review article published in the Journal of Sports Medicine suggested that early and excessive emphasis on youth sports and early sport specialization – or participating in one sport year-round – can shift youth focus from fun or “deliberate play” to performance and has been linked to increased psychosocial problems, antisocial behaviors and negative peer interactions.”After now knowing what the word means, the author was saying that young kids that play sports can shift from having fun to then doing intentional actions to other peers in the game, which can cause psychological problems.

et•i•quette (noun)

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word etiquette means the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life. This word is found in the article “Teaching Men to Be Emotionally Honest” by Andrew Reiner when it states, “Dr. Kimmel came to my campus, Towson University, in 2011 to discuss the “Bro Code” of collegiate male etiquette.” Now knowing the definition of the word I know that the author was saying they were going to discuss about how males are observed in society and in their lives.

lan•guish (verb)

Languish is to be or become feeble, weak or enervated as stated in Merriam Webster Dictionary. This word is found in the article “The Boys At The Back” by Christina Hoff Summers when it states, “A few decades ago, when we realized that girls languished behind boys in math and science, we mounted a concerted effort to give them more support, with significant success.” Now knowing the definition, it helps to better understand that the author was saying that when girls were weak in subjects like math and science, they were given help to successfully learn these things.

tur•moil (noun)

Turmoil means a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion according to Merriam-Webester Dictionary. In the text “If Black Men Want To Heal Racism’s Wounds, We Can’t Pretend To Be Strong All The Time” by Mychal Denzel Smith, on page 99 it states, “ Generations of black boys and men are walking around with turmoil swelling inside of them, ready to explode any minute.” Knowing the definition of the word, it helps me better understand that the author is saying that black boys are filled with confusion and are agitated inside of them that is ready to explode and come out for others to see at any moment. Which means they walk around with emotions and thoughts that nobody has heard of and will be heard and seen once they let them out from bottling them up for so long.

emas·cu·late (transitive verb)

The word emasculate means to deprive strength, vigor, or spirit: weaken, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary. This word is found in “The Boys Are Not All Right” by Michael Ian Black on the first paragraph when it states, “If you want to emasculate a guy friend, when you’re at a restaurant, ask him everything that he’s going to order, and then when the waitress comes … order for him.” Now understanding the meaning of the word, I now know that what the author was trying to say is that if you want to take a guy’s strength or make him feel weak in a sense, you should ask him what he’s going to order and then order for him when the waitress comes since it’s usually the other way around or he orders for himself.