Books were rare treasures in the Middle Ages, painstakingly copied out by hand. So how to protect them from theft? Scribes sometimes added a curse to the first page of those books that was supposed to keep thieves away — and some were as vicious as...
parkitecture n.— «The rustic, rock-and-timber buildings and massive lodges constructed by highly skilled artisans are now famously part of the national parks” visual style, often referred to as “parkitecture.” In parks...
scare word n.— Note: A boo word. «The worries are real—including, among some economists, about the risks of a depression, which despite its scare-word status is just another term for an especially long or deep recession.» —“izing Up...
vitamin P n.— «Considering her own history of depression—Vincent had been taking “Vitamin P” (better known as Prozac) for years—she anticipated her mental health might suffer.» —“Norah Vincent spent a year disguised as a...
self-embedding n.— «Health officials in Chicago are warning about a growing trend among teenagers who inflict pain on themselves by inserting foreign objects under their skin. The practice, called “self embedding,” is similar...
nature deficit disorder n.— «The increased activism has been partly inspired by a best-selling book, “Last Child in the Woods,” and its author, Richard Louv. Coining the term “nature deficit disorder,” Louv has...