1. 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.”

2. 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.”

3. 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.”

4. 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.”

5. 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?”

6. 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.”

7. 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…”

8. 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.”

9. 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.”

10. 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.”