Framing The Dictionary / Framing the Dialogue

Framing The Dictionary

Comprehensive (kom – pri – hen – siv)

Comprehensive is defined as:

“So large in scope or content as to include much.”

Synonyms: complete, broad, wide, full, sweeping, exhaustive, extensive.

What does Wolf Blitzer think:

“I think what we try to do is bring the news to our viewers in a very comprehensive responsible way” This is CNN?

Can you use it in a sentence?

Politicians often use the word comprehensive when they introduce a piece of legislation when the want the American people to think they are being thoughtful and forward-thinking. Most citizens who pay attention know that when an elected official uses the word comprehensive to describe a bill, a rule, a policy, etc. that it actually means that it is full of things they do not want you to really know about. [Okay that is two sentences]

Insanity (in – san – i – tee)

Insanity is defined as:

the condition of being insane; a derangement of the mind.
such unsoundness of mind as affects legal responsibility or capacity.
extreme folly; senselessness; foolhardiness.

Synonyms: dementia, lunacy, madness, craziness, mania, aberration

What does Einstein think:

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.”

Can you use it in a sentence?

One needs to look no further than Washington D. C. for plenty of examples of insanity.

Hypochondria (hī′pə kän′drē ə)

Hypochondria is defined as:

“abnormal anxiety over one’s health, often with imaginary illnesses and severe melancholy.”

…or a more serious definition:

“A psychiatric disorder characterized by the conviction that one is ill or soon to become ill, often accompanied by physical symptoms, when illness is neither present nor likely.”

How about a quote?

“The best cure for hypochondria is to forget about your body and get interested in someone else’s.”

Goodman Ace

Can you use it in a sentence?

As I sit here suffering from the H1N1 flu and surrounded by used tissues watching daytime television I truly understand the beginning pangs of hypochondria.

Socialism (soh-shuh-liz-uhm)

Socialism is defined as:

“an economic system of government which advocates state ownership of the means of production with equal distribution of goods among the people.”

Socialist governments own the banks, car companies, farmlands, factories, and stores, and is the only employer and consequently owns the means of production. The government controls all investments, production, distribution, income, and prices, as well as all organizations, schools, news media and formerly private societies.
Socialism is the antithesis of capitalism, opposes private ownership of capital or land, and rejects the free market in favor of central planning.

Thinkpol (think – poll)

Thinkpol is defined as:

“Also known as the Thought Police in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four“

Synonyms: NHL, NFL, college speech codes, McCain-Feingold, ”Hate Crime,”

Can you use it in a sentence?

Thikpol use psychology and surveillance (even within homes) to seek out and destroy people who even think about challenging authority. The Thought Police are used to investigate and punish citizens who have committed “thoughtcrime.” The goal is to control speech.

Can you give me an example?

Procrastination (pro·cras·ti·na·shun)

A clever photograph will be inserted here eventually.

Procrastination is defined as:

“putting off to a future time; delay; behavior which is characterized by the deferment of actions or tasks to a later time”

Synonyms: “eating crow”

Can you use it in a sentence?

Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is burried. (author unknown).

Can you give me an example?

Ok, but later………………………………….

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Mea Culpa (mā’ə kŭl’pə)

Mea Culpa is is defined as:

“An acknowledgment of a personal error or fault.”

Synonyms: “eating crow”

Can you use it in a sentence?

meaculpa “Mr. Bush didn’t cough up his modified-limited mea culpa until he’d seen his whole administration flash before his eyes.” [This was the example actually used at Answers.com for the definition. The sentence is attributed to Frank Rich of the New York Times. This is also a good example of a reporter expressing his opinion in his writing. Calling a sitting president "Mr. Bush" is disrespectful. One must ask "Why so Vitriolic, Frank?"]

Czar (zar)

Czar us defined as:

“One having great power or authority.”

Synonyms: autocrat, despot, leader, ruler

Can you use it in a sentance?

“So in effect we have NON-ELECTED officials, who are backed by The White House, who are given the tools and resources to do the bidding of the President and they are accountable to NO ONE! These czar’s don’t have to undergo Senate Confirmation Hearings, they just get appointed.”

What does Charles Krauthammer think?

“More czars than you find at a Romanov wedding. What I don’t understand is why you want to call anybody a “czar.” The czars had a sorry history of success and achievement.”

Obfuscate (ob – fuh – skeyt)

Obfuscate is defined in as:

“To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand”

Synonyms: muddle, perplex, cloud

President Obama often starts his remarks with the statement “I want to be very clear” then obfuscates the topic. (this is a semi-quote from Rush Limbaugh. Since I was driving I have to rely on my memory as to the exact phrasing.)

Can you give me an example?

Update – Hubris (hew – bris)

Update July 14, 2009 – With the start of hearings for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotomayor, the hubris was on display. Contrast the behavior and words of leading Democrats as they smooth the way for Obama’s nominee. Apparently Judge Sotomayor is “the most experienced Supreme Court nominee in 100 years.” No word about how many times her rulings were overturned (Answer is 60% overturned). Maybe that is what make her so experienced. After all we learn more from our mistakes.

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