Day+3


 * October 14, 2009 (Wed)

1. Subconscious** (adj.) of or concerning the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware but still influences one's actions and feelings This word is subject to much dispute. The definition is imprecise and vague. But here is what I understand from the definition the dictionary gives us.

So, for instance, John and Alex are number 1 and 2 (respectively) in a school swim team. They are really good friends, and have never thought of themselves as rivals or anything. But during races, Alex is always aware of John's presence and wants to beat him. This would be called a subconscious rivalry.

Or, you may have witnessed a very violent crime scene as a firsthand witness. Although you don't remember the incident very well, whenever a person who resembles the criminal of that crime scene comes near you, you feel your chills. This would be denoted "subconscious" fear.

(adj.) Well, here, the dictionary gives us an awfully complicated definition. I'm going to give you mine. I'd say this words mean: beyond words, beyond anything... surpassingly wonderful, sad, whatever... but anything that is beyond one's normal expectations or what you're normally used to. I think you get what I mean.
 * 2. Transcendental**

Okay, so now on how to use this word. I once used this word in my poem, to describe the harmony of the world. I said, if everyone in the world united and cooperated, it would create a "transcendental" harmony, something simply unimaginable (in my case, unimaginably beautiful and ... amazing).

Like this, it would be describing anything that is just.... too great to explain, whether positive or negative (though I think the word has a somewhat positive connotation).

I am sorry, I tried looking this up and saw all these stuff about Kant... (and I guessed you probably learned this word while working on the s.s. project) but I don't really understand this concept very well yet. I'll work on it and read more and come back later.
 * 3. Noumenal**

(adj.) I think this means, beyond what the physical world can explain, or what the physical body can sense Thus, the discussion of God or heaven would be something metaphysical. ( ? ) I'll ask these stuff to any adult I know and come back on this too.
 * 4. Metaphysical**

I know I didn't really help much, I'm really sorry...

Some words I thought were challenging from today's PSAT:

(adj.) resistent, disobedient (defiance: resistence, disobedience) sentence: John defiantly shouted that he did not want to go to the baseball game.
 * 1. defiant**

(adj.) lacking in efficiency or vitality sentence: The young, bony girl sucked on her mother's bosom fecklessly; her parents looked upon her with pity and misery.
 * 2. feckless**

(adj.) creating unnecessary worry or panic sentence: Today's headline is quite alarmist - I personally think it misleads people into thinking that public school students are generally much less educated than private school students.
 * 3. alarmist**
 * For today, I won't add any more words, because we have some already up there. : )
 * And sorry for uploading this so late, I had to take care of some passport issues T-T.

(adj.) overally theatrical sentence: Mr. Hadley likes Andy's passion in acting, but he sometimes thinks Andy goes overboard and expresses his lines too histrionically.
 * 4. histrionic**

** : ) These are vocabs from today's PSAT and the practice packet! : ) emote** (v.) portray emotion in a theatrical manner Cinderella, after getting married with the prince, emoted over the beauties of life and parties.  **perfunctory** (adj.) (an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection sentence: My temperamental grandma finally resigned to take a walk; I weeped with gratitude when she gave that little perfunctory nod.  **derail** (v.) cause (a train as an e.g.) to leave its track accidentally sentence: The Hogworts train was derailed by Voldemort's malignant spell.  **levity** (n.) frivolous (not having any serious purpose or value) humor sentence: The speaker dropped his pants, which added a bit of levity to his dull, monotonous speech.  **obfuscate** (v.) render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible OR to bewilder someone sentence: The entire class was obfuscated by the teacher's long and sophisticated speech.
 * often used as a behavior that treats serious manner in a non-serious manner.