gratification Pronunciation: \ ˌ gra-tə-fə- ˈ kā-shən\ Function: noun Date: : reward, recompense; especially : gratuityrewardrecompensegratuity 2: a source of satisfaction or pleasure A dull repetitious sound has no gratification.

barometer Pronunciation: \bə- ˈ rä-mə-tər\ Function: noun Date: circa : an instrument for determining the pressure of the atmosphere 2 : something that indicates fluctuations (as in public opinion)

biology Pronunciation: \bī- ˈ ä-lə-jē\ Function: noun Etymology: German Biologie, from bi- + -logie -logy Date: : a branch of knowledge that deals with living organisms and vital Processes 2 a: the plant and animal life of a region or environment After college, I / want to be a biologist.

reconnaissance Pronunciation: \ri- ˈ kä-nə-zən(t)s, -sən(t)s\ Function: noun Etymology: French, literally, recognition, from Middle French reconoissance, from Old French reconoistre to recognize Date: : a preliminary survey to gain information; especially : an exploratory military survey of enemy territory The advance scout team went on a reconnaissance mission deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia.

lucid Pronunciation: \ ˈ lü-səd\ Function: adjective Etymology: Latin lucidus, from lucēre Date: a: suffused with light : 2: having full use of one's faculties : 3: clear to the understanding : synonyms see clear intelligible sane luminousclearintelligiblesaneluminous

saunter Pronunciation: \ ˈ so ̇ n-tər, ˈ sän-\ Function: intransitive verb Etymology: probably from Middle English santren to muse Date: circa 1667 to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner : strollstroll

chronic Pronunciation: \ ˈ krä-nik\ Function: adjective Etymology: French chronique, from Greek chronikos of time, from chronos Date: : marked by long duration of pain or a recurrence of pain: suffering from a chronic disease or being habitually I have ________ ________ ; so I see my chiropractor twice a month. Unfortunately my chiropractor is also the state auditor.

antidote Pronunciation: \ ˈ an-ti- ˌ dōt\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English antidot, from Latin antidotum, from Greek antidotos, from feminine of antidotos given as an antidote, from antididonai to give as an antidote, Date: 15th century 1 : a remedy to counteract the effects of poison 2 : something that relieves, prevents, or counteracts The _________ for the bailout, of the giant Wall Street cooperation, AIG, is 700 billion dollars.

anthology Pronunciation: \an- ˈ thä-lə-jē\ Function: noun Etymology: New Latin anthologia collection of epigrams, from Middle Greek, from Greek, flower gathering Date: : a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art The Beatles __________ is a collection of number one hits.

so·nata Pronunciation (sə nät′ə) Function: Noun Eptomology: It, lit., a sounding < L sonare, to sound: orig., an instrumental composition as opposed to cantata, lit., something sungsoundcantata 1: a composition for one or two instruments, usually consisting of several movements: some modern sonatas have single movements