Zaftig -- Mom

zaf·tig or zof·tig (zäftk, -tg) adj. 1. Full-bosomed. 2. Having a full, shapely figure. [Yiddish zaftik, juicy, from Middle High German saftec, from saft, juice, from Old High German saf.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

Mom doesn't seem interested in being a zaftig lady; she is more interested in being thin.

maw --Mom

maw (mô) n. 1. The mouth, stomach, jaws, or gullet of a voracious animal, especially a carnivore. 2. The opening into something felt to be insatiable: "I saw the opening maw of hell" (Herman Melville). [Middle English mawe, from Old English maga.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

When Mom tried to spank our dog Tripper, she faced his growling maw.

Diffidence -- Ann

dif·fi·dence (df-dns, -dns) n. The quality or state of being diffident; timidity or shyness.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

Ann creates space in her classes for her most diffident students to feel like part of the community.

perspicacity -- Kristin

per·spi·cac·i·ty (pûrsp-ks-t) n. Acuteness of perception, discernment, or understanding.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

Kristin's perspicacity in all things related to art will guide her in her new business.

piebald -- Rosie and the Turchettas

pie·bald (pbôld) adj. Spotted or patched, especially in black and white: a piebald horse. n. A piebald animal, especially a horse. [pie + bald.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

The Turchetta's Burnese Mountain dog Rosie is not piebald, probably because she is the size of a bear and does not need to camouflage herself from the ravenous deer that frequent their yard.

screed -- Sister Jen

screed
.

1. A long monotonous speech or piece of writing.

2.

a. A strip of wood, plaster, or metal placed on a wall or pavement as a guide for the even application of plaster or concrete.

b. A layer or strip of material used to level off a horizontal surface such as a floor.

c. A smooth final surface of a substance, such as concrete, applied to a floor.

---

[Middle English screde, fragment, strip of cloth, from Old English scrade, shred.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

Sister Jen knows good speeches and literature: though she'll read a long novel, she won't read screed.

promulgate --Kristin and Little Brother Matt

prom·ul·gate (prml-gt, pr-mlgt) tr.v. prom·ul·gat·ed, prom·ul·gat·ing, prom·ul·gates 1. To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially. See Synonyms at announce. 2. To put (a law) into effect by formal public announcement. [Latin prmulgre, prmulgt-.] promul·gation (prml-gshn, prml-) n. promul·gator n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

 

I'm not sure if it's Kristin or Little Brother Matt who promulgates rules for the cildren at their house, but I can imagine that the announcer needs a gavel (and maybe one of those 18th century powdered wigs) to get everyone's attention.

Conundrum -- Isabella

Conundrum co·nun·drum (k-nndrm) n. 1. A riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun. 2. A paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma: "the conundrum, thus far unanswered, of achieving full employment without inflation" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.) [Origin unknown.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

Isabella's conundrum: How do I have a lot of fun in the final high school years AND get into the university where I'd like to go?