MICROCOSM
Pronunciation - \MY-kruh-kah-zum\
Part of Speech - noun
1 : a little world; especially : the human race or human nature seen as an epitome of the world or the universe
2 : a community or other unity that is an epitome of a larger unity

MOE'S Example:

The excellent animated films,"Antz" and "A Bug's Life", both present the insect community as a MICROCOSM of the larger human world. Nor have they idealized humanity; rather we have the drudgery of the majority of common [read middle class] worker ants, the royal and political hierarchy, the military, all shown with the corruption alongside the loyalty, fear of war and death, the herd mentality, and the valor of certain individuals. This world within a world, or MICROCOSM, contains both comedy and tragedy which are the bipolar forces of human nature and life. MICROCOSMS are usually created by authors, film-makers, artists and the creative culture to hold a mimetic mirror up to nature for us that we may see ourselves in the much larger universal context and, in that process, perhaps catch a momentary glimpse of "truth", an epiphany, if you will.

A microcosm is a "little world" -- "mikros kosmos" in Greek. The Greek term was modified to "microcosmus" in Medieval Latin. When early medieval scholars referred to man as a miniature embodiment of the natural universe, they either employed the Latin word "microcosmus" or they used the English translation, "less world." "Man is callyd the lasse worlde, for he shewyth in hymselfe lyknesse of all the worlde," wrote John Trevisa when he translated the Latin text of Bartholomaeus Anglicus' encyclopedia in the 14th century. But by the 15th century scholars had adopted an anglicized version of the Latin word, the word we use today -- "microcosm."

CHARLATAN

Pronunciation - \SHAHR-luh-tun\
Part of Speech - noun
1 : quack
2 : one making usually showy pretenses to knowledge or ability : fraud, faker

MOE'S Example :

When I think of the word "charlatan", I usually visualize a "carnie", beckoning me to come throw some oversized basketballs into undersized hoops for an unwinnable stuffed animal. In other words, CHARLATANS are ethically challenged, but rather harmless, innocuous. Most psychics and fortune-tellers fall into this category. As long as they don't defraud some poor old lady or gentleman out of their life savings, these CHARLATANS are simply providing a little entertainment and a laugh. It is only when the CHARLATAN plies his trade to the point of serious felony that his behaviour becomes the business of law enforcement. Remember Millie Vanilli? Charlatans. I bought their most recent cassette tape just a few hours before hearing about their lip-synching scam and the great brouhaha that ensued. It seems odd, but I must confess that I would have purchased the music regardless of its fraudulent sources and connections. It was good dancing music. Of course, that does not absolve the people involved, the CHARLATANS and indicted felons. Am I trying to make a point? Nope. Just rambling...

In medieval times, people claiming medical skills they did not have roamed throughout Italy, selling "medicine" that was often completely without worth. Many of these pretenders reputedly came from a village called Cerreto, and as a result, "cerretano" (meaning "inhabitant of Cerreto") became an epithet for a quack physician. In addition, these frauds used a practiced patter used to attract customers, rather like the chatter of a circus barker. The Italian word for "to chatter" is "ciarlare," and chattering was so associated with the "cerretano" that the spelling of the word shifted to "ciarlatano." That word was in turn borrowed into French as "charlatan" and hence into English, where it was in use by the early 17th century.

PRATFALL
Pronunciation - \PRAT-fawl\
Part of Speech - noun
Definitions
1 : a fall on the buttocks
2 : a humiliating mishap or blunder

MOE'S Example:

Back in the 1970's, "streaking" was a popular trend. Young people would run nude in a public area, shocking onlookers and making them laugh. In fact, a streaker ran across the stage at the Academy Awards ceremony in 1975, and host David Niven delivered the perfect words that made this intruder's prank a PRATFALL. Niven, with fine timing, exclaimed, "Well he's rather proud of his shortcomings, don't you think?"

Another MOE Example: Even Wayne Gretzky, "The Great One", took a few falls on his behind when he was young and learning to skate. We all have our PRATFALLS in life, both the literal variety and in the more figurative sense. PRATFALLS provide us with the trial and error process of learning humility. As Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

The human posterior has been given a number of designations over the centuries, some not acceptable in polite company. "Prat," a slang term with only slightly indecorous overtones, has been referring to the backside since the 16th century. It wasn't until the 1930s, however, that falling on one's prat gave rise to the term "pratfall." The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine. It wasn't long before we gave the word its extended sense of "blunder." Now, with "prat" itself having fallen out of common usage, "pratfall" is as apt to suggest getting a pie in the face as landing bang on one's behind.

ANTITHETICAL
Pronunciation - \an-tih-THEH(th as in "thin")-tih-kuhl\
Part of Speech - adjective
1 : constituting or marked by the opposition or contrast of ideas
*2 : being in direct and unequivocal opposition

MOE'S Example: I've always admired Charles Dickens' amazing mastery of the language, particularly in his use of ANTITHETICAL phrases and sentences. Perhaps his best known use of this device comes from the literary masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities in which he uses the following parallel structures: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It was the spring of hope; it was the winter of despair. The Victorian author shows us the contradictory ANTITHETICAL nature of life in a society where the gulf between rich and poor is an unbridgeable abyss.   This social ANTITHESIS is made tragically clear in Oliver Twist when the gaunt young orphan dares to ask his slothful, rotund headmaster for a second bowl of soup. Like so many words which are initially used strictly in a specific genre or context, "ANTITHESIS" and its adjective "ANTITHETICAL" have come into more general usage, so that today one may hear the following: Harvey Base, a soft-spoken, taciturn man is the ANTITHESIS to his cousin, Tony Soprano, who is sociable, garrulous and likes to party whereas Harvey is a virtual recluse. Harvey, however, does like to play the horses and he does this quietly, without telling his wife, by making his daily wagers with his 'book", Tony. Inevitably, though, Harvey's debt mounted to some thity-thousand dollars, money which he did not have nor did he have any prospects of acquiring such a sum. Poor Harvey now mixes much more. He keeps company with the fishes who quite enjoy his company down in 'Davy Jone's Locker'. Harvey, in death, is the ANTITHESIS to his former loner image.

"Antithetical" and "antithesis" entered English in the 16th century. Their etymological paths pass through Late Latin and ultimately lead to Greek (the Greek verb "antitithenai" means "to oppose" and "antithesis" means "opposition"). The oldest sense of the English "antithesis" refers to a language pattern that contrasts parallel ideas, as in "action, not words" or "they promised freedom and provided slavery." "Antithetical" can mean "constituting or marked by such language patterns." For example, you could say "The phrase 'action, not words' is an antithetical construction." It is more common in current use, however, for "antithesis" to mean "the exact opposite" and for "antithetical" to mean "directly opposite," with special emphasis on the diametrical nature of the opposition.

FULGENTPronunciation - \FULL-junt\
Part of Speech - adjective
: dazzlingly bright : radiant

MOE'S EXAMPLE

I have seen the word "FULGENT" used in sonnets and love-poems to refer to the radiance of a woman's beauty or her light, cascading hair. These days, though, I would hesitate to tell my date, "you look absolutely FULGENT this evening, my dear.' She might think I was implying she needs to have a visit with Weight Watchers!

Although it is not a household term, I think it should be reserved for special duty. What I have in mind is the virtually indescribable brilliance of the light that is apparently experienced by people who have had "near death experiences." I do not speak from personal experience, but there has been a great deal of scientific study in the past two decades about individuals who have been pronounced dead by physicians, yet who survived after several minutes. During this limbo period, each person studied has described - with extreme difficulty for words are often woefully inadequate to capture a particular subjective experience - a beautiful, brilliant light. To this spiritual light, I would attach the word FULGENT. "Spiritual" is my personal interpretation of these experiences and, indeed, many of those who have had a near death, associate this light with God, or The One - choose your name for the highest form of being.

One of the first and most interesting books written on this topic is called Life After Life. What amazes me is the thread of visuals common to each person's near-death experience: the light is the central focus in each story. The light is unforgettable, indelible, and once it has been seen, one does not want to leave it, even though leaving it means returning to life as we know it. And despite its overwhelming brilliance, one can look right into it without blinding the eyes. The light is friendly, serene, loving, Love incarnate; one feels a strong need to move towards it. Although it is so bright no one can express with superlatives its degree of brilliance as it is beyond degrees. We cannot measure the other-worldly. We have no frame of reference. The best one can do is FULGENT. Well, from what I have read on the subject, that is the best I can do. I'll get back to you shortly, or, much later, after I buy the farm and cash in the chips. I fear it not for I know it will be a beautifully FULGENT moment.

Websters Example:
If you haven't seen the fall foliage of New England in all its fulgent glory, you are missing something extraordinary.... The autumn colors dominate the landscape, filling the crisp air with visual heat. (Colman Andrews, _Los Angeles Times_, September 13, 1998)

ETYMOLOGY

"The weary Sun betook himself to rest; -- / Then issued Vesper from the fulgent west." That's how the rising of the evening star in the glowing western sky at sunset appeared to 19th-century poet William Wordsworth. "Fulgent" was a particularly apt choice to describe the radiant light of the sky at sunset; the word derives from the Latin verb "fulgere," meaning "to shine," a root which is itself akin to the Latin "flagrare," meaning "to burn." English speakers have been using "fulgent" to depict resplendence since at least the 15th century.

DILATORY

Pronunciation -   \DIH-luh-tor-ee\  
Part of speech - adjective
Definition - 1 : tending or intended to cause delay
  *2 : characterized by procrastination : tardy

MOE'S Example:

Everyone knows someone who has a real problem being on time, no matter how important the appointment. How often have you heard the dark claim, "you'll be late for your own funeral." Procrastination is the DILATORY sibling of tardiness. If you tend to be late, you most likely also have a penchant for putting things off. Kudra is never on time, God bless her. She says she tries, but she has never been on time for anything in her whole life. She's the first to tell you so.

Kudra makes me look like Mr. Punctuality and I can tell you, although I usually manage to be on time, I battle constantly with procrastination, inevitably losing these scuffles. Getting the university writing projects on the prof's desk on the due date was a big problem for me. I was never satisfied with my own work and therefore I spent far too much time revising and editing, and was then forced to ask, hat in hand [actually, I don't wear hats but it serves my story] for an "extension", an extra few days beyond the deadline. After post-graduate studies, I was the one in a position to set deadlines for my students' projects. My personal experience and all the guilty feelings, however, influenced my decision not to penalize the DILATORY offenders for their late papers and, in fact, I allowed rewrites to students who wanted to try again for a higher grade. It was a pot and kettle thing. But enough of me. [Hmmm, that's what kudra always says, too...]

I have observed kudra's DILATORY dilemma over a 20-year period and I have some theories. Or, at least some suggestions on how she might tackle the problem. She gets sidetracked every time she has a deadline. That means every day. Then, one sidetracking chore leads to another, and another, ad infinitum, and before you know it - or should I say after - she's rushing out the door a half hour late for, say, her chiropractor. If you share this DILATORY tendency, here's a little list from MOE, which, if you hope ever to beat the tardy problem, you must follow to the letter. Once you have begun your routine in preparation for getting you to your appointment, you cannot allow yourself to get sidetracked. Don't sabotage your own time commitment. I'll bet psychologists will tell the procrastinator that he or she is deliberately behaving this way, perhaps to draw attention to themselves or, it's a subconscious thing - mommy never let them eat carmel corn! But I digress.

Do not answer the phone while readying yourself to go out to that meeting. The dog peed on the Persian rug? Good for the nap, leave it until you return. Your long lost son just returned from four years in an isolated Tanzanian village? Let's do lunch sometime, sonny-lad. The season finale of "The Sopranos" is on tonight and you forgot to set your VCR? Nighty-night, Tony, hope the hit-dude doesn't "make his bones." The priest is whispering the last rites over your poor old grandma? God forgive me, I'll plant flowers around you for the rest of my days, grandma. Gotta go. Buh bye. Dr. DILATORY is expecting me for my four o'clocker. Maybe he'll be late. Tsk tsk, some people are just so irresponsible!

Literary Example
"He was in a curious frame of mind, Mr. Pecksniff; being in no hurry to go, but rather inclining to a dilatory trifling with the time. . . ." (Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit)

Etymology

Slow down. Set a leisurely pace. What's the hurry? If procrastination is your style, "dilatory" is the word for you. That term has been used in English to describe things that cause delay since at least the 15th century, and its ancestors were hanging around with similar meanings long before that. If you take the time to trace the roots of "dilatory," you will discover that it derives from "dilatus," the past participle of the Latin verb "differre," which meant either "to postpone" or "to differ." If you think "differre" looks like several other English words, you have a discerning eye. That verb is also an ancestor of the words "different" and "defer."

ERGONOMIC

Pronunciation - \ur-guh-NAH-mik\
Part of Speech - adjective
1 : of or relating to the science of designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely
2 : designed or arranged for safe, comfortable, and efficient use

MOE'S EXAMPLE

The first time I encountered the word and the concept behind ERGONOMICS, was in the early 1980's. Although the word had entered the language long before this, it was not until the '80's that the media popularized the term. The reason for its sudden "popularity" had to do mainly with major advancements in technology, specifically computers. At the time, I was working for the new Center for the Oxford English Dictionary at the University of Waterloo. In the process of deciding upon a good design and layout for the Center's new suite of offices on campus, supervisors discussed the need for open spaces, good lighting, and most important, furniture which would be ERGONOMICALLY comfortable and healthy, and therefore conducive to a happy productive team of workers. [If you think I'm going to get sucked into a Marxist versus capitalist argument here, fuggedaboudid!]

Carpal tunnel syndrome and several other types of repetitive injuries were, in the 1980's, beginning to be recognized as a widespread problem among the growing workforce whose employment involved and depended upon computers, with employees often sitting and typing or keyboarding for many hours, day after day. The result of this problem can be seen in flexible-backed office chairs, with adjustable height, both for access to desks and for armrest comfort. Computer monitors were raised, and pull-out keyboard trays made keying easier and less painful over lengthy work projects. "White noise" was eliminated. There was a litany of other ERGONOMIC changes made, which today we take for granted.

The office environment had transformed radically in a short timespan. The new technology, chiefly the world of computers, caused a chain of rather interesting effects, both in the office and home environments. Hence, in response to the need, necessity being the mother, there was a rather speedy evolution from the traditional to the ERGONOMIC. Just picture the Victorian hunchback - Scrooge's impoverished personnel, stooped from long hours with the quill-pen in hand at their roll-top desks row upon row, each crunching numbers for his daily bread. Contrast this image now, with that of, say, Dilbert, our postmodern anti-hero in his cubicle tapping away at his keyboard...oops...things haven't changed all that much after all! I shall move on to safer ground.

In writing about ERGONOMICS, I started to think about how the Chinese art of FENG SHUI, an ancient Chinese concept [thought I was going to say "secret", did you, as in the old Calgon commercials - "ancient Chinese secret, huh?"], is actually an ERGONOMIC philosophy of design [and much more, but that is a story for another day], or, more accurate, ERGONOMICS borrows heavily from the Eastern art of FENG SHUI. One of the major ideas in feng shui is that human beings prefer to sit in rooms with a view to access points to their houses.

For example, the computer in my study faces a wall which puts my back to the front door of my house so that I cannot see who comes in the door without turning around. At first thought, one might consider this a trivial, unimportant matter. Such an arrangement, however, would be considered poor FENG SHUI by the Asian masters of that design theory and philosophy. Whether or not we are aware of the potential for stress or even - dare I say it - danger, and often we are not, this ill-conceived furniture arrangement can, indeed, cause serious stress. Sounds paranoid, doesn't it? My dog Benji is a master of feng shui. You will most often find him sitting with a full view to the front door of my house, yet out of sight to those who enter. What's more, he prefers a "roof" over his head; not simply the roof of the house, but a chair bottom or under a bed will suffice, thank you, as long as his fine furry self can provide a quick response to the inner command, "gimme shelter"!

I believe the idea arises out of the primitive and primary nature of all animals, including the human animal known lovingly as homo sapiens, one which might be summed up crudely as "watch your back." This instinctual tendency is nothing less than one of survival; remember Darwin's theory of the "survival of the fittest"? If you are not watching your back, or the front door, or the cave opening, your next door neighbor might konk you on the head with his trusty club and have you for dinner. Now, if that sounds far removed from the ERGONOMIC principle, then perhaps you might consider pondering it a bit more before making your final pronouncement. Human behaviour, as any psychologist worth his or her Freudian salt will tell you, is founded on many ideas which have primordial roots. We are not always conscious of the things we do, or the way we do them, why we tend to sit in the same place to eat, or where we sit in the classroom, or at theaters - for, as we evolved, certain behaviours became "natural", assumed, beyond question. Perhaps you will have perfectly valid answers to these specific examples, but you get the gist of my gibe.

Behaviors which we tend to take for granted are actually primitive instincts stored in our unconscious, but when triggered, the instincts 'wake up' and alert us when we are in danger. Feng shui. ERGONOMICS. The latter word should be the focus of a television commercial, perhaps featuring a computer nerd [the commercial works better if we have a nerd, so just sit down in your ERGONOMICALLY correct chair, ok:-), sitting at his postmodern workstation - inside a cave, but with his back to the cave opening. Anachronisms abound in the fantasy world of TV commercials so we can get away with such an outrageous scenario. Behind him, a fierce, gargantuan apeman creeps up, poised, his club raised above the little bald head of our unwitting Dilbertian, who is downloading "napster" instead of creating the boss's new database. The caption would read: "ERGONOMICS - more than just comfort and health - SURVIVAL!" MOE is expecting a call from a major advertising agency any day now:-)

Websters Example:
When Cheryl replaced her old keyboard with a more ergonomic one, she experienced almost immediate relief from the wrist pain that had been plaguing her.

Etymology

In 1969, a British publication assured the public that, although the word "ergonomics" looks forbidding, "All it means is the science of making things fit people, instead of asking people to fit things." The concept of ergonomic design goes back to the 1920s, when industry began to realize how an uncomfortable (or unsafe) work environment affected productivity, but back then it was known as "human engineering." The word "ergonomics" didn't debut until 1949. British scientist K.F.H. Murrell is credited with coining the word, which represents an efficient combination of the concepts of the Greek noun "ergon" (meaning "work") and "nomos" (meaning "law").