Category: Glossary

osmosis (n.)

the process of gradual or unconscious assimilation of ideas, knowledge

Merriam Webster definition, ” a usually effortless often unconscious assimilation”. I found this word in the text ‘How better photos can help you document, and shape, your neighborhood’ by Patrick Sission

“All of my writing and blogging is osmosis from my dad…”

this is when we hear something, or learn something new, and unknowingly incorporate it into ourselves, whether it be our dialogue,  habits etc.  this word could even be substituted for learned.

so this sentence now means “All of my writing and blogging, i learned from my dad…”

Cull (v.)

reduce the population of (a wild animal) by selective slaughter.

On Merriam Webster, meaning ‘to reduce or control the size of (something, such as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals’  “the tool, Wind Sand and Stars“, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

“…gentler than the culling of a flower…”

culling sounds a bit similar to killing, which this words definition closely resembles  , so the sentence means Killing a flower or a bunch of flowers.

Reflexive (adj.)

On Merriam Webster, meaning “marked by or capable of reflection”, I found this word in the passage “How better photos can help you document, and shape, your neighborhood” by Patrick Sission.

” Use the camera as a reflexive tool.”,

now understanding the meaning, the sentence becomes

“Use the camera as a means to reflect, or to look back on and see yourself”

Computations (n.)

On Merriam Webster, meaning ‘the act or action of computing: calculations’,  I found this word in the passage “the tool, Wind Sand and Stars“, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

“All of man’s industrial efforts, all his computations and calculations…”

i Understand this word as computer related, so it would be doing calculations via computer or even using a calculator.

so this sentence becomes “…all his computations (computer calculations) and calculations…”

Bungalow (n.)

On Merriam Webster, meaning “A one-storied house with a low-pitched roof,” i found this word in the passage ‘Here, Poverty and Privilege are Neighbors’,  by, Janny Scottmarch, in the sentence “…modest row houses, apartment buildings, dilapidated bungalows..”

this sentence now becomes “modest row houses, apartment buildings, dilapidated one story homes”, and because of it’s strange sound, i don’t think i’m going to forget it’s meaning.