The connection between gender and grammar is humorously illustrated in the two epigrams to this chapter […]

epigram (n) : an effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply expressed, whether in verse or prose – source: Communicating gender in context, p. 51

In fact, dressed in a casual short-sleeved shirt, with his beard and his big belly sticking out in front of him, he seems almost avuncular

avuncular (adj) : like an uncle in kindness or indulgence; ”showed avuncular concern” – source: Times Magazine 22.3.2002, p. 39

On top of the ziggurat, where the world’s first citizens surveyed sweet waters, date palms, canals, temples, gardens and palaces, the soldiers asked about my trip.

ziggurat (n) : a temple tower of the Babylonians or Assyrians, consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure, built in successive stages, with outside staircases, and a shrine at the top; – called also zikkurat – source: G2 25.03.2003, p. 4

Hence, some of the hitherto described and sometimes controversially discussed linguistic and interactional features, like interruption […] and other supposedly attenuating forms and strategies, as well as prosodic aspects like tempo and pitch, with their ascribed social meaning and their gender specific distribution (viz. gender stereotyped perception) might just correspond to these societies’ gender norms and types of arrangement […]

ascribe (v. t.) : to attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author – source: Communicating gender in context, p. 107

Knight’s Salvation Mountain is a monument of American folk art, hailed by congresswoman Barbara Boxer – who led the petition to have Salvation Mountain enshrined as such – as ’a unique and visionary sculpture encompassing five acres’, an ’iridescent fusion of doves, clouds, flags, flowers, hearts, streams and Biblical messages’.

iridescent (adj) : having colours like the rainbow; exhibiting a play of changeable colours; nacreous; prismatic; as, iridescent glass – source: Observer Magazine 23.3.2003, p. 26

A programme of this kind is only entertaining when the themes raised are not discussed in any great detail, but are dealt with by the participants in the form of a quick repartee.

repartee (n) : a smart, ready, and witty reply – source: Communicating gender in context, p. 380

Mr Straw said there was ”real concern that the west has been guilty of double standards – on the one hand saying the United Nations security council resolutions on Iraq must be implemented, on the other hand, sometimes appearing rather quixotic over the implementation of resolutions about Israel and Palestine”.

quixotic (adj) : like Don Quixote; romantic to extravagance; prone to pursue unrealizable goals; absurdly chivalric; apt to be deluded; not sensible about practical matters; unrealistic; ”as quixotic as a restoration of medieval knighthood”; ”a romantic disregard for money”; ”a wild-eyed dream of a world state” [syn: romantic, wild-eyed] – source: Guardian 28.3.2002, p. 20

Fine is no bluestocking, but her fury at Burgess for tackling the fantasies of adolescent boys so directly is coruscating.

coruscate (v) : to glitter in flashes; to flash; syn: To glisten; gleam; sparkle; radiate – source: Guardian 29.3.2002, p. 13

With Christopher Meyer installed today as press complaints commission chairman, acting chairman Prof Robert Pinker has produced a valedictory statement.

valedictory (adj) 1: of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell; ”a valedictory address”; ”valedictory praise for his uniformly manly course”; ”a suitable valedictory gesture” 2: of a speech expressing leave-taking; ”a valedictory address” [syn: farewell] – source: MediaGuardian 31.3.2003, p. 5

The black English vernacular of the United States presents especially vexed questions for the educational system and society as a whole.

vernacular (n) 1: a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); ”they don’t speak our lingo” [syn: cant, jargon, slang, lingo, argot, patois] 2: the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language) – source: A History Of The English Language, p. 309