Ernst Ferstl(*1955), österreichischer Lehrer, Dichter und Aphoristiker

noun: 1. Someone who likes to suck their thumb. 2. A journalistic piece that deals with the background and interpretation of events instead of hard news.

Definition: (adjective) Causing distress or worry or anxiety. Synonyms: distressful, disturbing, worrisome. Usage: The kindergarten teacher found her student's erratic behavior to be perturbing, and she resolved to consult with the child's parents. Discuss

«In tutti i parchi naturali vengono indicati da cartelli tutti i punti da cui si gode una bella vista, dove vale la pena di fotografare. Le inquadrature per le foto sono già pronte, affinché milioni di persone possano scattare le loro immagini che confermano l’immagine che viene già offerta.» (Wim Wenders)

Anke Maggauer-Kirsche(*1948), deutsche Lyrikerin, Aphoristikerin und ehemalige Betagtenbetreuerin in der Schweiz

adjective: 1. Prone to or skilled at stealing. 2. Having nimble fingers or having a light touch.

adjective: 1. Generous; liberal. 2. Delivered with an open hand, as a blow.

Joseph Joubert(1754 – 1824), französischer Moralist

noun: 1. A household. 2. A member of a household. 3. A servant. 4. A dependent.

Definition: (adjective) Characterized by quickness, lightness, and ease of movement; nimble. Synonyms: nimble, spry, quick. Usage: She moved quickly and was agile as a gymnast. Discuss

«Ho imparato molto presto che: "Senza una canzone, il giorno non ha fine… senza una canzone, un uomo non ha amici… senza una canzone, la strada non ha curve… senza una canzone." Per questo motivo io continuo a cantare una canzone.» (Elvis Presley)

Definition: (verb) To shrink back in fear; cower. Synonyms: cringe, flinch, recoil, wince. Usage: The little boy quailed at the teacher's angry voice. Discuss

«Svegliatevi italiani, brava gente, qua la truffa è grossa e congegnata, lavoro intermittente, solo un'emittente, pure l'aria pura va pagata.» (Mannarino)

«Quando pensi che a nessuno importa se sei vivo, prova a non pagare per due mesi la rata della macchina.»

Margarete Seemann(1893 – 1949), österreichische Roman-, Kinder- und Jugendbuchautorin, veröffentlichte auch unter dem Pseudonym Margarete Margmann

Definition: (noun) The distance around something; the circumference. Synonyms: circumference, perimeter. Usage: It was an enormous tree, its girth twice as great as what a man could embrace. Discuss

«Firenze spara i fochi quando arriva San Giovanni, noi si guardano e si dice: "gli eran meglio quegli altr'anni". » (Leonardo Pieraccioni)

Calvin Coolidge(1872 – 1933), US-amerikanischer republikanischer Politiker, 30. Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika

adjective: 1. Polysyllabic. 2. Relating to or using long words. 3. Long-winded.

Definition: (noun) A person who withdraws from the world to live in seclusion and often in solitude. Synonyms: solitudinarian, troglodyte, hermit, solitary. Usage: He was regarded by the townspeople as a recluse, since no one ever saw him receive visitors. Discuss

adjective: High-flown or pompous.

Anselm Vogt(*1950), deutscher Gymnasiallehrer, Essayist, Kabarettist, Jazzmusiker und Aphoristiker

adjective: Hard to understand; obscure.

Definition: (adjective) Having or showing penetrating mental discernment; clear-sighted. Synonyms: sagacious, sapient. Usage: She was much too perspicacious to be taken in by such a spurious argument. Discuss

“This world is given as the prize for the men in earnest; and that which is true of this world, is truer still of the world to come.”

adjective: Having stress on the third-from-the-last syllable. noun: Such a word.

Definition: (adjective) A light purplish blue. Synonyms: cerulean, lazuline, sapphire, sky-blue. Usage: The large silver kite gleamed against the azure expanse of sky. Discuss

«Questo è l'amaro della vita: che solo in due si può essere felici; e che i nostri cuori sono attratti da stelle che non ci vogliono. » (Edgar Lee Masters)

Ernst Reinhardt(*1932), Dr. phil., Schweizer Publizist und Aphoristiker

verb tr.: To convert into a verb.

«Questo è l'amaro della vita: che solo in due si può essere felici; e che i nostri cuori sono attratti da stelle che non ci vogliono. »

Definition: (verb) To impose (oneself or one's ideas) on others with undue insistence or without invitation. Synonyms: push out, thrust out. Usage: He never hesitated to obtrude his opinion on others, believing that everyone must value what he had to say. Discuss

«La cosa più difficile nella vita? Essere se stessi. E avere carattere a sufficienza per restarlo.»

Definition: (noun) Sudden impairment of neurological function, especially that resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage. Synonyms: stroke, cerebrovascular accident. Usage: The medical evidence showed conclusively that death was due to apoplexy. Discuss

«Ho imparato che la vita è una strada lunga e difficile da percorrere, ma non bisogna fermarsi o si rischia di rimanere ai margini.» (Steve McQueen)

Frank H. Sauer(*1964), deutscher Unternehmer, Autor, Herausgeber, Aphoristiker, Komponist, Mentor und Ausbilder als Experte zum Thema Wertearbeit

adjective: 1. Made up of parts that are very different. 2. Fanciful; imaginative; illusory.

Definition: (adjective) Of very poor quality; unequivocally detestable. Synonyms: hateful, odious, deplorable. Usage: The meal they were served was execrable from beginning to end, but they were too hungry to care. Discuss

«Ho imparato che la vita è una strada lunga e difficile da percorrere, ma non bisogna fermarsi o si rischia di rimanere ai margini.»

Friedrich Kayssler(1874 – 1945), Friedrich Martin Adalbert Kayssler, auch Friedrich Kayßler, deutscher Schauspieler, Schriftsteller und Komponist

noun: One who caters to the base desires, whims, or prejudices of others.

Definition: (noun) A great work, especially a literary or artistic masterpiece. Synonyms: masterpiece. Usage: <i>Paradise Lost</i> is generally considered to be Milton's magnum opus. Discuss

Lucius Annaeus Senecio(*1973), Philosoph und Autor

adjective: Relating to or caused by the wind.

Definition: (verb) To drive off or scatter in different directions. Synonyms: dissipate, spread, dispel. Usage: When it seemed that a riot was about to start, the police arrived to disperse the crowd. Discuss

noun: One who can easily change appearance, form, character, principles, etc.

Lukas Wolfgang Börner(*1987), Germanist und Dichter

adjective: 1. Melodious. 2. Enchanting. 3. In the manner of Orpheus’s journey to the underworld.

«La macchina da corsa perfetta è quella che si rompe un attimo dopo il traguardo.» (Enzo Ferrari)

Hans Ossenbach(1874 – 1945), deutscher Schriftsteller und Dichter

Definition: (noun) A social outcast. Synonyms: castaway, leper, untouchable. Usage: The rumors of his traitorous actions were enough to make him a pariah among his peers, though nothing was ever proven. Discuss

Gerhard Uhlenbruck(*1929), deutscher Immunbiologe und Aphoristiker

Definition: (adjective) Scorching; burning. Synonyms: fervent, fiery, ardent, burning. Usage: The torrid noonday sun shone down on the travelers in the desert. Discuss

Stefan Rogal(*1965), Autor, Herausgeber und Kolumnist

noun: The middle class.

Definition: (noun) The quality of appearing to be true or real. Synonyms: vraisemblance. Usage: While recounting the preposterous tale, he threw in a few convincing details to add verisimilitude to the narrative. Discuss

Max Verworn(1863 – 1921), Max Richard Constantin Verworn, deutscher Physiologe

adjective: Fashionable or stylish.

Definition: (adjective) Shining radiantly; resplendent. Synonyms: effulgent, radiant, beaming. Usage: Standing by the edge of the sea, they witnessed a refulgent sunset. Discuss

Martin Gerhard Reisenberg(*1949), Diplom-Bibliothekar und Autor

noun: 1. Rough treatment. 2. Severe beating.

Definition: (noun) A device, such as a formula or rhyme, used as an aid in remembering. Synonyms: aide-memoire. Usage: The students came up with a mnemonic to help themselves remember the colors of the rainbow. Discuss

noun: 1. A spare wheel or a spare tire. 2. Something or someone treated as a backup.

Definition: (adjective) Softening and soothing, especially to the skin. Synonyms: demulcent, salving, softening. Usage: In the winter, she applied emollient cream to her hands to prevent the skin from cracking. Discuss

«Se fossi un po' più gay di quello che sono, mi farebbe piacere essere accarezzato dalla volée di McEnroe.» (Gianni Clerici)

Salomon Baer-Oberdorf(1870 – 1940), deutscher Aphoristiker

adjective: Working-class.

Definition: (noun) A sticky substance used as an adhesive. Synonyms: glue, gum. Usage: They wanted to make a model airplane, but lacked the mucilage needed to hold the pieces together. Discuss

Nikola Tesla(1856 – 1943), serbischer Elektroingenieur, Physiker und Erfinder; erfand und entwickelte ein System zur elektrischen Energieübertragung durch Zweiphasenwechselstrom

Definition: (adjective) Relying on or derived from observation or experiment. Synonyms: objective. Usage: Scientists insist on empirical results, not mere speculation, to support their theories. Discuss

KarlHeinz Karius(*1935), Urheber, Mensch und Werbeberater

Definition: (noun) A blue pigment made from powdered lapis lazuli; a vivid or strong blue to purplish blue. Synonyms: indigo, French blue. Usage: She found a piece of fabric dyed ultramarine, which would make a perfect sash for the light blue dress she was making. Discuss

Theodor Fontane(1819 – 1898), dt. Schriftsteller, Journalist, Erzähler und Theaterkritiker

noun: A tall, glamorous, self-assured woman.

Definition: (adjective) Fat; oily. Synonyms: oily. Usage: His car was splattered with some sort of pinguid substance, and trying to wash it away only seemed to spread the mess. Discuss

«Quando il 2 giugno 1946 nacque la Repubblica, tutti avemmo la consapevolezza che conservare integri nel tempo gli ideali cui essa si ispirava, avrebbe comportato momenti di duro impegno ed anche grandi sacrifici.» (Giovanni Leone)

Grover Cleveland(1837 – 1908), Stephen Grover Cleveland, US-amerikanischer demokratischer Politiker, 22. und 24. Präsident der USA

noun: A collaboration between rivals.

noun: An assertion or hint that’s disparaging and suggestive.

Definition: (verb) To make soft, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result. Synonyms: soften. Usage: The stale bread was left to macerate in a bowl of milk for a few hours. Discuss

«Le sconfitte insegnano sempre. A capire l'errore e ad accettarlo. Solo così riesci a migliorare, a lavorare sui punti deboli. È sbagliato chiamarle sconfitte. Anche per i giovani, non è la terminologia giusta. Non sono sconfitte, sono tappe. Che inevitabilmente, in qualsiasi campo, devi affrontare. Nessuno vince subito nella vita.»