Category: Glossary

Reminisce(verb)

To recall past experiences, events, etc; to indulge in reminiscence

In ” the way we live now; 11-11-01 Lost and Found by Colson Whitehead”, the author says, “we see ourselves in this city everyday when we walk down the sidewalks and catch our reflections in the store windows, seek ourselves in this city each time we reminisce about what was there 5, 10, 40 years ago because all our old places are proof that we were here”.

Colson Whitehead is saying that because they’re old stuff is still there, they’re able to remember the stuff around town that was there years ago.

Predominate (verb)

*have or exert control or power / to exert controlling power or influence

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/predominate

In the article “Here, poverty and privilege are neighbors; income gaps are a source of resentment and guilt” on page 5/7 2nd paragraph the author states “Professionals, predominate; most Manhattan Beach adults have college degrees ”

The author used predominate in this sentence to make it clearer to the reader that this class of people own certain stuff and shows the difference between others who don’t have as much money or” power “.

 

 

 

sabbatical (noun)

a break, paid leave

In the article “How better photos can help you document, and shape, your neighborhood”, the word sabbatical is used in this sentence: “In monkey see, monkey do fashion,  was able to follow him around when he as on sabbatical, or working on a Fulbright opportunity abroad, or even here in the Seattle area..” The author Patrick Sisson is saying that he was able to travel with his father around the world when he was on a break from work.

Synonyms: recess, leave, break, holiday, vacation

Source: Merriam-Webster

Noun

a statue of gigantic size and proportions

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/colossus

In, “The Way We Live Now 11-11-01; Lost and Found” by Colson Whitehead, the author states ‘who is starting her first week of work at a Park Avenue South insurance firm, that colossus squatting over Grand Central is the Met Life Building, and for her it always will be’.

The author Colson Whitehead meant that the Met Life Building is a huge building that towers over New York City, and is one of many tall buildings in NYC that are notoriously noticeable.

Osmosis: (Noun)

1. Movement of a solvent (such as water) through a semipermeable membrane (as of a living cell) into a solution of higher solute concentration that tends to equalize the concentrations of solute on the two sides of the membrane.
2.  a process of absorption or diffusion.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osmosis

In the article, “How better photos can help you document, and shape, your neighborhood” by Patrick Sissons, the author states “all of my writing and blogging is osmosis from my dad, over and above my practical experience in the field as a lawyer”.

The author uses the word “Osmosis” in this sentence to say that he inherited all of his writings and blogging from his dad even though he is a lawyer.

 

Resole (verb)

• to sole (something) again

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resoled

In the article “The Way We Live Now: 11-11-01; Lost and Found” the author Colson Whitehead says, “That before the internet cafe plugged itself in, you got your shoes resoled in the mom-and-pop operation that used to be there. You are a new yorker when what was there before is more real and solid than what is here now.”

In other words, Colson Whitehead uses the word resoled in this sentence to tell us how technology is changing over time. Mr. Whitehead is referring to how years passed by technology is getting more advanced than usual. Before the advance technology or even good looking shoes, the mothers have to resole the shoes since most of them can’t afford to buy new shoes.

Premise (noun)

• something assumed or taken for granted

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premise

In the reading, “How better photos can help you document, and shape, your neighborhood” the author, Patrick Sisson said: “It’s premised on the notion summarized by a quote from Jonathan Raban, that, “the city as we imagined it, the soft city of illusion, myth, aspiration, nightmare, is as real, maybe more real than the hard city we can locate on maps.””

In other words, Patrick Sisson is trying to refer to a quote from Jonathan Raban who once said the city meaning New York could be a nice place based on people who travel here. However, what they don’t know is that this world the world we live in is an “illusion, myth, aspiration, nightmare” and it is true.

Juxtaposition – (Noun)

Definition 1: The act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect

Definition 2: The state of being so placed 

Sentence: “I tell people to look for overlaps and Juxtapositions, such as old versus new, dense versus non-dense, to tell a story

Drab (Adjective):

• dull; cheerless; lacking in spirit, brightness, etc.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/drab

In the article, “The Way We Live Now: 11-11-01; Lost and Found” the author, Colson Whitehead said, “ The city also puts a lot of effort into making your hometown look really drab and tiny, just in case you were wondering why is such as drag to go back home sometimes.

 

Colson Whitehead uses the word drab in this sentence to support his sarcasm. In this sentence, the author was really trying to say that there are so many things to do in New York, and the city is so big that it makes other places look boring and arid.