Author: Karen Cruz

has·ten (intransitive verb)

The word hasten was found in the story, Brave We Are by Tahira Naqvi in class on September 13. What this word means is to move or act quickly as stated in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. On the last page of the story, on the last paragraph from the left column, it states, “No!” I hasten with denial.” Now knowing what the word means, I understand now that the women acted quickly to say no to her son with denial. Which also helps to picture how and in the tone she said it as well.

sul·try (adjective)

The definition of sultry according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is hot and humid or burning hot. I came across this word in the story “The Turbid Ebb and Flow of Misery” by Margaret Sanger on page 107, top right paragraph when it says, “The sultry days and nights were melted into a torpid inferno.” Now knowing the definition of the word it helps me better understand that she was saying the days and nights were as hot and humid as hell, or in this case inferno. As well as the days and night were so hot that they melted and turned into hell.

in·ev·i·ta·ble (adjective)

In the text, “Coming to an Awareness of Language Malcom X”, I came across the word inevitable. What this word means is something that is certain to happen or something that is unavoidable, as stated in oxford dictionaries. I encountered this word on paragraph 17 of the text on the day of August 30. It states, “I suppose it was inevitable that as my word-base broadened, I could for the first time pick up a book and read and now begin to understand what the book was saying.” Now knowing the definition of this word, i can now understand that was Malcom was saying is that he couldn’t avoid knowing that now he could understand everything he was reading in prison. As well as all this new vocabulary and words he has learned was meant to happen the whole time he was locked up in there.

Karen Cruz