Definition: (adjective) Not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed. Synonyms: genuine, true. Usage: I could tell from his unfeigned astonishment that he truly knew nothing about the robbery plans. Discuss

© peter e. schumacher(1941 – 2013), Aphorismensammler und Publizist

Definition: (verb) Cause to be confused emotionally. Synonyms: discombobulate, bewilder, throw. Usage: He finds it important not to bemuse readers with pompous language and is noted for his straightforward, uncomplicated writing style. Discuss

adjective: Relating to fortunate discoveries or happenings by chance.

Definition: (noun) The trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior. Synonyms: self-command, willpower, self-control, self-will. Usage: My life depended on my keeping my self-possession, and the desperate nature of the situation lent me a desperate courage. Discuss

Lucius Annaeus Seneca(ca. 4 v. Chr. – 65 n. Chr.), genannt Seneca der Jüngere; römischer Philosoph, Stoiker, Schriftsteller, Naturforscher und Politiker; Selbsttötung auf Geheiß seines ehem. Schülers Nero (Römischer Kaiser von 54 – 68)

verb tr.: To make complex, elaborate, or intricate.

Definition: (verb) Maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings). Synonyms: nurse, entertain, hold. Usage: I harbor a grudge for much longer than I should and am working on being more forgiving. Discuss

adjective: 1. Relating to Carthage. 2. Treacherous, faithless.

Definition: (verb) To consider (a person or thing) to be as specified. Synonyms: look upon, regard as, take to be, esteem, think of. Usage: He is reputed to be intelligent. Discuss

Aus Montenegro

noun: A vulnerability, especially in someone who seems otherwise unstoppable.

Definition: (adjective) Having a short and solid form or stature. Synonyms: stocky, thickset, compact. Usage: Although he was heavyset, he moved with surprising agility and speed and was a formidable opponent in the ring. Discuss

Otto von Bismarck(1815 – 1898), Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck-Schönhausen, ab 1865 Graf von Bismarck-Schönhausen, ab 1871 Fürst von Bismarck, ab 1890 auch Herzog zu Lauenburg, preußisch-deutscher Staatsmann und 1. Reichskanzler

noun: 1. A bargain in which the buyer is taken advantage of. 2. A marriage of convenience, especially for money.

Definition: (noun) A blemish on the skin that is formed before birth. Synonyms: nevus. Usage: They named their newborn daughter Daisy because she had a delicate little birthmark on her shoulder that resembled a flower. Discuss

« Smettila di mandare persone ad uccidermi. Ne abbiamo già catturati cinque, di cui uno con una bomba e uno con un fucile. Se non la smetti di mandarmi sicari, ne manderò io uno a Mosca, e non avrò bisogno di mandarne un secondo.» (Josip Broz Tito)

Nur wer den Menschen liebt, wird ihn verstehen. Wer ihn verachtet, ihn nicht einmal sehen. Christian MorgensternDeutscher Dichter, Schriftsteller und Übersetzer1871 – 1914

© Walter Jakoby(*1958), Wissenschaftler, Manager und Autor

Definition: (adjective) Extremely pleasing to the sense of taste. Synonyms: delectable, pleasant-tasting, yummy, toothsome, delicious, luscious. Usage: That was a scrumptious apple pie, but I ate so much of it that now I have a terrible stomachache. Discuss

«Gli uomini sono come l'acciaio. Quando perdono la loro tempra, perdono valore.»

© Walter Ludin(*1945), Schweizer Journalist, Redakteur, Aphoristiker und Buchautor, Mitglied des franziskanischen Ordens der Kapuziner

Definition: (adjective) Without reservation or exception. Synonyms: outright, unlimited. Usage: Bob's excuse for missing work was a straight-out lie, and his boss knew this and fired him for it. Discuss

«Mi han detto che il destino te lo crei soltanto tu Vai a tempo col respiro e se corri ne avrai di più Ma se morirò da giovane Spero che sia dal ridere Mi han detto se ti senti così vivo Non guardare indietro mai e vai uh uh Non guardare indietro mai e vai…

Die Gelassenheit ist eine anmutige Form des Selbstbewusstseins. Marie von Ebner-EschenbachÖsterreichische Schriftstellerin1830 – 1916

© Melanie Fechner(*1985), deutsche Philosophin

noun: One having an excessive enthusiasm for cats.

Definition: (verb) Sell or offer for sale from place to place. Synonyms: hawk, huckster, monger, vend, pitch. Usage: It is so hard to keep kids out of trouble and on the right track when dealers peddle drugs on every street corner. Discuss

noun: A short, light sleep, typically in the daytime. verb intr.: To sleep briefly or lightly. verb tr.: To steal a cat.

Definition: (noun) (KNO3) Used especially as a fertilizer and explosive. Synonyms: niter, potassium nitrate. Usage: Gunpowder was not invented by any one; it was the lineal successor of the Greek fire, which, like itself, was composed of sulfur and saltpeter. Discuss

«Se i presidenti non lo fanno alle loro mogli, lo fanno al paese.» (Mel Brooks)

noun: A lover of cats.

Definition: (noun) An armchair whose back can be lowered and foot can be raised to allow the sitter to recline in it. Synonyms: lounger. Usage: During football season, my husband plants himself in the recliner that faces the TV and does not budge for hours on end. Discuss

© Wolfgang Buschmann(*1943), Lehrer und Autor

noun: A watery drink, especially weak tea or milk.

Definition: (noun) A cave dweller, especially one of the prehistoric peoples thought to have lived in caves. Synonyms: caveman. Usage: These vile old troglodytes are no longer there; but into their deserted cave another terrible giant has thrust himself, and makes it his business to seize upon honest travelers and fatten them for his table….

«Per giustificare la guerra a Berlusconi, Gianfranco Fini ha rispolverato il suo passato giustizialista, messo in soffitta 15 anni fa per ragioni di convenienza, e lo ha sbattuto sul tavolo della maggioranza.» (Maurizio Belpietro)

noun: A cat lover.

Definition: (adjective) Occurring or operating at the same time. Synonyms: co-occurrent, concurrent, simultaneous. Usage: "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers." Discuss

Definition: (verb) To fail or end weakly, especially after a hopeful beginning. Synonyms: peter out, taper off. Usage: The music just fizzled out—there was no proper ending to the concert. Discuss

«Madonna, un bicchiere di talento in un mare di ambizione.» (Mick Jagger)

«La televisione è come una spugna: raccoglie tutto ciò che c’è sul pavimento. E quando la spremi ne fuoriesce il succo della società.»

Definition: (adjective) Of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion. Synonyms: sickly. Usage: His face was sallow and shiny with sweat. Discuss

An allem Unfug, der passiert, sind nicht etwa nur die schuld, die ihn tun, sondern auch die, die ihn nicht verhindern. Erich KästnerDeutscher Schriftsteller1899 – 1974

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749 – 1832), gilt als einer der bedeutendsten Repräsentanten deutschsprachiger Dichtung

exfoliate: To remove or shed dead cells, leaves, bark, etc.

Definition: (noun) The system of numbering pages. Synonyms: folio, paging. Usage: The editions of Holy Writ are so numerous that he could hardly suppose that two copies would have the same pagination. Discuss

Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues(1715 – 1747), französischer Philosoph, Moralist und Schriftsteller

agon: A conflict, contest, or struggle.

Definition: (noun) The act of expelling air from the lungs. Synonyms: breathing out, expiration. Usage: He drew the first whiff of smoke deep into his lungs and expelled it in a long and lingering exhalation. Discuss

Marcus Tullius Cicero(106 – 43 v. Chr.), römischer Redner und Staatsmann

pule: To whimper or whine.

Definition: (noun) A punishment or retribution that one deserves; one's just deserts. Synonyms: deserts. Usage: The central character is an evil man who gets his comeuppance in the end. Discuss

Wenn man die Natur wahrhaft liebt, so findet man es überall schön. Vincent van GoghNiederländischer Maler1853 – 1890

© Michael Scherr(*1973), Werbetexter und Aphoristiker

innumerate: adjective: Marked by ignorance of mathematical concepts. noun: A person who is unable to count or do simple mathematics.

Definition: (noun) A toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles. Synonyms: tubocurarine. Usage: The arrow was usually tipped with a poison, such as curare, which would stun or kill the struck prey. Discuss

Ich denke, also bin ich. René DescartesFranzösischer Philosoph und Mathematiker1596 – 1650

© Hermann Lahm(*1948), Texte in Gedichtform, Prosa, Aphorismen

noun: A fruit seller.

Definition: (adjective) Facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty. Synonyms: distressed, hard put, in a bad way. Usage: Hard-pressed consumers are spending less on luxuries. Discuss

Wozu ist Geld gut, wenn nicht, um die Welt zu verbessern? Elizabeth TaylorBritisch-amerikanische Schauspielerin1937 – 2011

© Manfred Hinrich(1926 – 2015), Dr. phil., deutscher Philosoph, Philologe, Lehrer, Journalist, Kinderliederautor, Aphoristiker und Schriftsteller

Definition: (adjective) (Used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held. Synonyms: deep-rooted, implanted, ingrained, planted. Usage: He divined the fanatical love of freedom in her, the deep-seated antipathy for restraint of any sort. Discuss

Definition: (adjective) Somewhat ill or prone to illness. Synonyms: ailing, peaked, poorly, under the weather, unwell, sickly, seedy. Usage: The princess is indisposed and has cancelled her engagements for the week to allow herself time to recuperate. Discuss

«Troppo spesso in una relazione di coppia ci si comincia a insultare come due vecchie comari. Ci vuole gentilezza, compassione, comprensione.»

noun: An imaginary or elusive goal whose pursuit may lead to ruin.

Definition: (noun) Someone making a search or inquiry. Synonyms: quester, searcher. Usage: A seeker of the truth, he never took things at face value. Discuss

© Erhard Horst Bellermann(*1937), deutscher Bauingenieur, Dichter und Aphoristiker

noun: 1. One who comes to the rescue of another. 2. A well-meaning but ineffective helper.

Definition: (noun) Peaceful resistance to a government by fasting or refusing to cooperate. Synonyms: passive resistance. Usage: Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., were two of the most articulate advocates of nonviolence. Discuss

noun: Nonsensical or wildly incoherent speech or writing. verb intr.: To speak or write in this manner.

Definition: (verb) Impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on. Synonyms: punish. Usage: The students were penalized for their tardiness and had to stay after school for detention. Discuss

Es wird niemals so viel gelogen wie vor der Wahl, während des Krieges und nach der Jagd. Otto von BismarckGründer und 1. Kanzler des Deutschen Reiches1815 – 1898

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

noun: Something existing only in name: an illusion or empty semblance.

Definition: (verb) To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral, or intellectual means. Synonyms: force, hale, pressure, squeeze. Usage: The lawsuit alleged that her boss had coerced her into resigning and that she therefore deserved compensation. Discuss

Man sollte alle Tage wenigstens ein kleines Lied hören, ein gutes Gedicht lesen, ein treffliches Gemälde sehen und, wenn es möglich zu machen wäre, einige vernünftige Worte sprechen. Johann Wolfgang von GoetheDeutscher Schriftsteller1749 – 1832

Unbekannt

noun: 1. A bizarre, confusing, or disorienting situation that’s hard to exit. 2. A lengthy and often unproductive detour, especially one involving a unexpectedly deep dive, whether into conspiracy theories, cat videos, or Wikipedia browsing.

Definition: (noun) Someone concerned with the science or art or business of cultivating the soil. Synonyms: agriculturalist, grower, raiser. Usage: He soon became a land-holder, then a prosperous cultivator of the soil, and shortly after a town-officer. Discuss

Definition: (adjective) Marked by a gradual progression as if step by step. Synonyms: bit-by-bit, in small stages, piecemeal, step-by-step. Usage: Quantum mechanics is a natural system of stepwise interactions that governs very small things. Discuss

August Pauly(1850 – 1914), deutscher Naturwissenschaftler, Philosoph und Aphoristiker

Definition: (adjective) Repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse. Synonyms: banal, old-hat, stock, threadbare, timeworn, trite, well-worn, tired, shopworn, commonplace. Usage: For God's sake do not thrust upon me your hackneyed remarks, repeated to nausea, that "I was only a dreamer," while they even then had an understanding of life. Discuss

«Tutti in realtà siamo attori anche nella vita e tutti possiamo farlo, infatti siamo in tanti. Ma se provi a contarli nel mondo, quelli bravi sono sulle dita di una mano.» (Giancarlo Giannini)

© Eugen Vinnai(1889 – 1961), deutscher Kunstmaler

Der Vorteil der Klugheit besteht darin, dass man sich dumm stellen kann. Das Gegenteil ist schon schwieriger. Kurt TucholskyDeutscher Schriftsteller1890 – 1935