strife n. A condition of antagonism or discord; contention, dispute. Etymology: French: estriver (to quarrel) Synonyms: altercation, fracas Romeo and Juliet, Prologue: “A pair of star-cross’d lovers… / Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.” The New York Times, 7/24/2008: “After centuries of strife, the people of Europe have formed a Union of promise and prosperity.”

adversary n. One who, or that which, takes up a position of antagonism, or acts in a hostile manner. Etymology: Latin : advertere, from ad- (towards) + vertere (to turn) Related Forms: adversarial, adverse, adversity Synonyms: antagonist, enemy, foe, opponent Romeo and Juliet, I.i: “Here were the servants of your adversary, / And yours, close fighting ere I did approach.” The New York Times, 8/8/2007: “When Mr. Olbermann asked if China should be viewed as a friend or an adversary, most candidates said China was neither, but rather a competitor.”

augment v. To make greater in size, number, amount, degree, etc. Etymology: Latin: augmenta (to increase) Related Form: augmentation Synonyms: increase, enlarge, extend Romeo and Juliet, I.i: “With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew…” The New York Times, 3/7/2008: “Even the cleverest use of time- management techniques is powerless to augment the sum of minutes in our life (some 52 million, optimistically assuming a life expectancy of 100 years), so we squeeze as much as we can into each one.”

bliss n. Perfect joy or felicity; supreme delight. Etymology: Anglo-Saxon blíðs (related to blithe and bless) Related Form: blissful Synonyms: blitheness; ecstasy Romeo and Juliet, I.i: “To merit bliss by making me despair.” The New York Times, 7/13/2008: “Scalloped potatoes with a blistered topping of cheddar and Parmesan cheeses push the dish into a blissful zone in which you’ll feel well marbled, at least for the night.”

exquisite adj. Of such consummate excellence, beauty, or perfection as to excite intense delight or admiration. Etymology: Latin: exquirere (to search out) Synonyms: impeccable, refined Romeo and Juliet, I.i: Benvolio: “Examine other beauties.” Romeo: “’Tis the way / To call hers, exquisite, in question more.” The New York Times, 1/9/2008: “Looking at these exquisite scarlet plum-size strawberries gave me a Snow White moment. Would I slip into a magical coma after just one bite?”

languish v. To weaken or wither; to fail to make progress. Etymology: French: languir (to droop in spirits) Related Form: languid Synonyms: decline, stagnate, wallow Romeo and Juliet, I.ii: “Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning, One pain is lessen’d by another’s anguish; Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning; One desperate grief cures with another’s languish.” The New York Times, 12/24/2006: “Inmates convicted of petty crimes languish at the Freetown Approved School for juveniles in Sierra Leone.”

obscure adj. Of words, texts, or writers: difficult to grasp. Of a place: remote from observation. Of a person or group: not illustrious or famous. Of a thing: unnoticed, little known. v. To conceal from observation or analysis. Etymology: Latin: obscurus (dark, dim, hidden) Related Form: obscurity Synonyms: adj. cryptic, humble, inscrutable; v. blur Romeo and Juliet, I.iii: “And what obscured in this fair volume lies / Find written in the margent of his eyes.” The New York Times, 3/20/2008: “…federal figures obscure a dropout epidemic…”

boisterous adj. Abounding in rough but good- natured activity bordering upon excess, such as proceeds from unchecked exuberance of spirits. Etymology: Of uncertain etymology. Synonyms: rowdy, unrestrained, disorderly, unruly Romeo and Juliet, I.iv: “Is love a tender thing? / It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous / and it pricks like thorn.” The New York Times, 7/13/2008: “While the university crowd may have quit the boisterous MySpace for the wittier and more austere Facebook, bands don’t have that option; it’s imperative that they also have a MySpace presence.”

disparage v. To speak of or treat slightingly; to treat as something lower than it is. Etymology: French: desperager (to marry one of unequal rank); from des- (not) + parage (equality of rank) Related Form: disparagement Synonyms: slight, vilify Romeo and Juliet, I.v: “I would not for the wealth of all the town / Here in my house do him disparagement.” The New York Times, 2/1/2008: “He was careful not to disparage his former team, but his feelings were clear.”

profane adj. Characterized by a disregard or contempt for sacred things; offensive. v. To treat something sacred with disrespect. Etymology: Latin: pro- (before; thus outside of) + fanum (temple) Related Form: profanity Synonyms: adj. coarse, indecent; v. desecrate Romeo and Juliet, I.v: “If I profane with my unworthiest hand / This holy shrine…” The New York Times, 8/24/2007: “Their humor was rough and profane, locker room stuff but affectionate in a way.”