WORD OF THE DAY

verify

Pronounced: click here

Function: verb [with object]

Inflected forms:
verifies; verified; verifying

Meaning:
: to prove (something) is true or correct : confirm
Examples:
We could not verify the rumor.
She verified her flight number.

Note: Verify is often followed by that or whether.
Examples:
He verified that the item was in stock.
Can you verify whether I am scheduled to work or not?

Derived forms:
verifiable adjective
Example:
a verifiable claim

verification
Examples:
the verification of her password
He received verification of the deposit from the bank.

TRICK OR TREAT

Halloween is celebrated annually. But just how and when did this peculiar custom originate? Is it, as some claim, a kind of demon worship? Or is it just a harmless vestige of some ancient pagan ritual? The word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church. It comes from a contracted corruption of All Hallows Eve. November 1, "All Hallows Day" or "All Saints Day", is a Catholic day of observance in honor of saints. But, in the 5th century BC, in Celtic Ireland, summer officially ended on October 31. The custom of Halloween was brought to America in the 1840's by Irish immigrants and the Jack-o-lantern custom probably comes from Irish folklore. Nowadays, Halloween is celebrated as a holiday when young costumed children go from home to home “trick or treating”. It is customary to give them some kind of candy or snack. This is called a “treat”. “Tricks” or jokes can be played on others on Halloween evening. Most tricks are not harmful, but sometimes they can be quite damaging to people as well as to property.

References: Charles Panati, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things, 1987; and Dr. Joseph Gahagan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Personal Letter, 1997.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

THE PRICE OF GREATNESS IS RESPONSIBILITY.
Sir Winston Churchill

LAUGHTER'S THE BEST MEDICINE

A BLUNDER

Upon finishing examining his cute new patient thoroughly, the obstetrician smiles and says:

- "I've got good news for you, Mrs. Green." The young lady interrupted:

-"Pardon me, it's MISS Green."

- "I see, gulped the doctor, well, Miss Green, I've got bad news for you."

Teaching Tips & Ideas

MAKE GOOD USE OF "ONLY"

Watch These Examples:

ONLY the barber broke his leg.
The ONLY barber broke his leg.
The barber ONLY broke his leg.
The barber broke his ONLY leg.
The barber boke his leg ONLY.

What conclusion can we draw?

We drew the conclusion that, depending on the position of ONLY
in the sentence, it can alter the meaning completely.

SEE OTHER USAGES OF "ONLY:"
1 - Tomara, Oxalá - "If Only"
e.g. "If only I could bear a child," sighed the sterile woman.
"If only it would rain on my kitchen garden," wished the boy.

2 - Quando nada
e.g. I'll take it. I accept the challenge, "if only to retaliate."
She said she was going to gamble again, "if only to try to get her money back.

WORD OF THE DAY

OPPORTUNE

Function: adjective

Comparative and superlative forms: more opportune; most opportune

Meanings:

1 : fit or right for a purpose
Examples:

She was waiting for an opportune [appropriate, suitable] moment to ask for money.
There isn’t a more opportune time to invest in the stock market
an opportune location for the store

2 : done or happening at the right time

Example:
The book’s publication is opportune.[timely]