Friday, May 27, 2011

4 More Days/I Have Been Studying Everyday!/School, Summer, and more Challenges

The Bee is very close! Too close, that I am too excited! I have mentioned this before, but after my loss at the 2010 Salt Lake Valley Spelling Bee, I never had a day off from studying. I still am studying no matter what. Whenever there is a day when there is complete ennui (a good word to add to your spelling list), I study up to twenty hours that day. My record for a month is 510 hours, and that was in July 2010. For a week, it was 100 hours, and I did that twice!

Every year, there is always a certain subject or origin I pay attention to most. Food, German, and musical terms come up every year. Here they are from 2005-2011:

2005: Science and Medical
2006: Clothing
2007: Religion and Tradition
2008: Slavic Languages
2009: Portuguese
2010: French, French, and more French. A lot are ballet terms, which are very fun to do, because I teach myself dance. I want to eat a beignet or a noisette!
2011: This year is basically a review of everything.

The Bee needs to be extended to high school.

Some of the Words from the 2007-2010 Preliminaries Test:

  1. icicle
    ice resembling a pendent spear, formed by the freezing of dripping water
  2. hawthorn
    a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus
  3. bizarre
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
  4. colossus
    someone or something that is abnormally large and powerful
  5. tarantula
    large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)
  6. ciao
    an acknowledgment that can be used to say hello or goodbye (aloha is Hawaiian and ciao is Italian)
  7. malocclusion
    (dentistry) a condition in which the opposing teeth do not mesh normally
  8. demur
    take exception to
  9. solmizate
    sing by the syllables of solmization
  10. mien
    dignified manner or conduct
  11. Ananias
    a habitual liar (after a New Testament character who was struck dead for lying)
  12. Tetrazzini
    a pasta dish with cream sauce and mushrooms
  13. haricot
    a French variety of green bean plant bearing light-colored beans
  14. vernier
    a small movable scale that slides along a main scale; the small scale is calibrated to indicate fractional divisions of the main scale
  15. noesis
    the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
  16. ylem
    (cosmology) the original matter that (according to the big bang theory) existed before the formation of the chemical elements
  17. harassment
    a feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented
  18. epilepsy
    a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions
  19. syringe
    a medical instrument used to inject or withdraw fluids
  20. avarice
    reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)
  21. loquacity
    the quality of being wordy and talkative
  22. midriff
    the middle area of the human torso (usually in front)
  23. cygnet
    a young swan
  24. tremolo
    (music) a tremulous effect produced by rapid repetition of a single tone or rapid alternation of two tones
  25. Caribbean
    an arm of the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America; the origin of the Gulf stream
  26. beignet
    a deep-fried, yeast-raised doughnut dusted with confectioners' sugar
  27. eidetic
    of visual imagery of almost photographic accuracy
  28. illegible
    (of handwriting, print, etc.) not legible
  29. mustard
    any of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica
  30. guernsey
  31. homage
    respectful deference
  32. miscible
    (chemistry, physics) capable of being mixed
  33. sinecure
    a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached
  34. nonpareil
    eminent beyond or above comparison
  35. cacoethes
    an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
  36. intermittence
    the quality of being intermittent; subject to interruption or periodic stopping
  37. Pyrrhic
  38. altogether
    to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (`whole' is often used informally for `wholly')
  39. Appaloosa
    a hardy breed of saddle horse developed in western North America and characteristically having a spotted rump
  40. secede
    withdraw from an organization or communion
  41. Micawber
    fictional character created by Charles Dickens; an eternal optimist
  42. verbiage
    overabundance of words
  43. cubicle
    small room in which a monk or nun lives
  44. affluent
    having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value
  45. decor
    decoration consisting of the layout and furnishings of a livable interior
  46. isthmus
    a relatively narrow strip of land (with water on both sides) connecting two larger land areas
  47. warrant
    a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
  48. limousine
    large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur
  49. asylum
    a shelter from danger or hardship
  50. rebuttal
    the speech act of refuting by offering a contrary contention or argument
  51. calque
    an expression introduced into one language by translating it from another language
  52. arrogance
    overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
  53. mores
    (sociology) the conventions that embody the fundamental values of a group
  54. cemetery
    a tract of land used for burials
  55. parody
    a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
  56. congenital
    present at birth but not necessarily hereditary; acquired during fetal development
  57. thorough
    painstakingly careful and accurate
  58. abyss
    a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)
  59. scalene
    of a triangle having three sides of different lengths
  60. sabbatical
    a leave usually taken every seventh year
  61. misoneism
    hatred of change or innovation
  62. obstacle
    something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
  63. anecdotal
    having the character of an anecdote
  64. penance
    remorse for your past conduct
  65. regimen
    (medicine) a systematic plan for therapy (often including diet)
  66. tocsin
    the sound of an alarm (usually a bell)
  67. callous
    emotionally hardened
  68. agape
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
  69. amateur
    someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
  70. tetanus
    an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages
  71. refuse
    show unwillingness towards
  72. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
  73. ingratiate
    gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
  74. unequivocal
    admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; having only one meaning or interpretation and leading to only one conclusion
  75. surrogate
    someone who takes the place of another person
  76. remittance
    a payment of money sent to a person in another place
  77. limerick
    a humorous verse form of 5 anapestic lines with a rhyme scheme aabba
  78. tutelage
    teaching pupils individually (usually by a tutor hired privately)
  79. pusillanimous
    lacking in courage and manly strength and resolution; contemptibly fearful
More Words:

Sis·y·phe·an, adj.    |sisə|fēən
  1. of or relating to Sisyphus
  2. both extremely effortful and futile
  • Etymology: Latin sisypheius, sisyphius sisyphean (from Greek sisypheios, sisyphios, from Sisyphos Sisyphus, in Greco-Roman mythology the cruel king of Corinth whose punishment in Hades was to roll up a hill a heavy stone that constantly rolled down again) + English -an
Brob·ding·nag·ian, adj.  |bräbdiŋ|nagēən
  1. huge; relating to or characteristic of the imaginary country of Brobdingnag
  2. unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
  • Etymology: Brobdingnag, imaginary country inhabited by giants in Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift died 1745 English satirist + English -ian
glogg, n.  'glʊg, 'gləg
Scandinavian punch made of claret and aquavit with spices and raisins and orange peel and sugar
  • Etymology: Swedish glögg, from glödga to burn, mull, from Old Swedish, from glödhoger, adjective, glowing, from glöth ember, glowing coal; akin to Old English glēd ember, glowing coal
flib·ber·ti·gib·bet, n.  |flibə(r)dē|jibət
a light-minded or silly restless person; especially : a pert young woman with such qualities
  • Etymology: alteration of Middle English flepergebet, flypyrgebet
goo·san·der, n.  gü'sandə(r)
common merganser of Europe and North America
  • Etymology: alteration of earlier gossander, probably from gos- (as in gosling) + bergander
cwm, n.  'küm
a steep-walled semicircular basin in a mountain; may contain a lake
  • Etymology: Welsh, valley; akin to Greek kymbē drinking cup
chthon·ic, adj. 'thänik
of the underworld
  • Etymology: chthonic from Greek chthon- earth + English -ic
neb·bish, n.  'nebish
(Yiddish) a timid unfortunate simpleton
  • Etymology: Yiddish nebech poor thing (used interjectionally), of Slavic origin; akin to Czech nebohý wretched, Polish nieboe poor creature
pae·an, n. 'pēən
  1. (ancient Greece) a hymn of praise (especially one sung in ancient Greece to invoke or thank a deity)
  2. a formal expression of praise
  • Etymology: Latin paean, hymn of thanksgiving especially addressed to Apollo, from Greek paian, from Paian, epithet by which Apollo was invoked in the hymn
zeug·ma, n. 'zügmə
use of a word to govern two or more words though appropriate to only one ("`Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave' is an example of zeugma")
  • Etymology: Latin zeugmat-, zeugma, from Greek, literally, juncture, joining, from zeugnynai to yoke, join
pan·jan·drum, n. pan'jandrəm
an important or influential (and often overbearing) person
  • Etymology: from Grand Panjandrum, burlesque title of an imaginary personage in some nonsense lines by Samuel Foote died 1777 English actor and playwright
pog·o·nip, n. 'pägəˌnip
a dense winter fog containing ice particles
  • Etymology: Southern Paiute, from pagina- cloud, fog + -pi, n. suffix
ro·co·co, n./adj.: rə'kōkō
  1. n. fanciful but graceful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture that originated in France in the 18th century
  2. adj. having excessive asymmetrical ornamentation ("An exquisite gilded rococo mirror")
  • Etymology: French, irregular from rocaille; from the prevalence of rocaille ornamentation in 18th century France
jack·a·napes, n. 'jakəˌnāps
someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous
  • Etymology: Middle English Jack Napis, Jac Napes, nickname for William de la Pole died 1450 4th earl and 1st duke of Suffolk
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wl/2020/

I admit that I am one of the students who really enjoys school. If I was going to a regular public school here in Utah, I would have one more year of junior high (Here, it's 7th-9th grade). Since I am in a charter school, I will be in high school!

I am ready for all the challenges, and hopefully go to Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton, University of Utah, Yale, Ohio State University, Texas Christian University, Julliard School of Music, or Liberty University. I will still love spelling, and hopefully have my spelling bee club. Please email me at spellingchamp135@gmail.com if you want to help.

Today was my last day of school, so I am going to start coaching my sister. Hopefully, I will watch the Bee in person!

Word of the Day
jackanapes (look above Visual Thesaurus link)

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