pertinent [ PUR-tn-uh’ nt ]
[adjective]
MEANING: relevant, applicable or directly connected to the current topic
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
A great thinker is pertinent to all ages.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Ritchie told CNN, “People seem to make films similar to my kind of films in New York, but they don’t seem to in London. My expression of London is illustrated in what I find to be pertinent within the culture at that time, so I try to put that in my films, and no one else seems to be doing that.”
beatitude [ bee-AT-i-tood, -tyood ]
[noun]
MEANING:
- utmost bliss, happiness or blessedness
- any of the declarations of bliss or blessedness that were pronounced by jesus christ in the sermon on the mount
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
Their marriage was one of beatitude.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
In some way, Sonny was a living beatitude, said Gingrich.
longevity [ lon-JEV-i-tee ]
[noun]
MEANING:
- a long life
- the duration of life or the length of a lifetime
- the duration of service
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
His death surprised the community as his family was famous for its longevity.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The tiny European principality of Andorra seems to have discovered the secret of longevity.
capricious [ kuh’-PRISH-uh’s ]
[adjective]
MEANING:
- whimsical or subject to whim
- erratic or impulsive
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
There was never a dull moment during the absentminded and capricious science professor’s class.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
The African National Congress in South Africa says a leaked report that accused the organisation of gross human rights abuses was capricious and arbitrary.
cameo [ KAM-ee-oh ]
[noun]
MEANING:
- the technique of engraving upon a gem or other stone so that an underlying colour is exposed as the background for a low-relief design of another colour or a carved precious stone with two layers of colours
- a gem or shell carved in relief, where the raised design and the background consist of layers of contrasting colors.
- a brief appearance of or a minor part played by a prominent actor in a single scene of a motion picture or a television play (called a cameo role).
USAGE EXAMPLE 1:
The cameos that she sold to the tourists were sculpted by her father.
USAGE EXAMPLE 2:
Classically the designs carved onto cameo stones were either scenes of Greek or Roman mythology or portraits of rulers or important dignitaries.