Sunday, August 10, 2008

Umbra


um·bra /ˈʌmbrə/ [uhm-bruh]
–noun, plural -bras, -brae /-bri/ [-bree]
1. shade; shadow.
2. the invariable or characteristic accompaniment or companion of a person or thing.
3. Astronomy.
a. the complete or perfect shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the direct light from the source of illumination is completely cut off. Compare penumbra (def. 1a).
b. the dark central portion of a sunspot. Compare penumbra (def. 1b).
4. a phantom or shadowy apparition, as of someone or something not physically present; ghost; spectral image.

Peripeteia


per·i·pe·tei·a /ˌpɛrəpɪˈtaɪə, -ˈtiə/ [per-uh-pi-tahy-uh, -tee-uh]
–noun
a sudden turn of events or an unexpected reversal, esp. in a literary work.

an·ag·no·ri·sis /ˌænægˈnɔrəsɪs, -ˈnoʊr-/ [an-ag-nawr-uh-sis, -nohr-]
–noun, plural -ses /-ˌsiz/ [-seez]
(in ancient Greek tragedy) the critical moment of recognition or discovery, esp. preceding peripeteia.

Pantheon


pan·the·on /ˈpænθiˌɒn, -ən or, especially Brit., pænˈθiən/ [pan-thee-on, -uhn or, especially Brit., pan-thee-uhn]
–noun
1. (capital) a domed circular temple at Rome, erected a.d. 120–124 by Hadrian, used as a church since a.d. 609.
2. a public building containing tombs or memorials of the illustrious dead of a nation.
3. the place of the heroes or idols of any group, individual, movement, party, etc., or the heroes or idols themselves: to earn a place in the pantheon of American literature.
4. a temple dedicated to all the gods.
5. the gods of a particular mythology considered collectively.

Cervine


cer·vine /ˈsɜrvaɪn, -vɪn/ [sur-vahyn, -vin]
1. deerlike.
2. of deer or the deer family.
3. of a deep tawny color.

Zephyr



zeph·yr /ˈzɛfər/ [zef-er]
–noun Also, zephryian, zephyrean, zephyrous.
1. a gentle, mild breeze.
2. (initial capital letter) Literary. the west wind.
3. something that is airy, insubstantial, or passing.
4. any of various things of fine, light quality, as fabric, yarn, etc.

Alar



a·lar /ˈeɪlər/ [ey-ler]
–adjective
1. pertaining to or having wings; alary.
2. winglike; wing-shaped.
3. Anatomy, Botany. axillary.

a·late [ey-leyt]
–adjective Also, alated.
1. having wings; winged.
2. having membranous expansions like wings.
–noun
3. the winged form of an insect when both winged and wingless forms occur in the species.