VOCABwords.

Apocryphal: doubtful authenticity, although it is widely circulated as being true was an apocryphal story about the President.

Venal: corrupt, able to be bribed or involving bribery

Canonical; pertaining to, established by, or conforming to a canon or canons

Gambit: scheme, tactic, plan

Inveterate: having a particular habit, activity or interest that is long established and unlikely to change

Pinguid: nature of resembling fat; oily or greasy "The guy staring at us from across the bar is so pinguid," whispered Julie to her friend.

Teleological: moving forward in a purposeful manner, or known way. A Wanderer in the Valleys is a very teleological story. What happens in the beginning of the story foreshadows what happens in the end. Although the widow was kind to let a stranger in her home, she took advantage of the stranger by making her drink with strange men for her own profit. Also, she smiled and walked away when she heard her son raping the stranger. Because of the situations the stranger was placed in by the widow and her son, the reader can sense that something bad will in turn happen to the widow and her son.

Sophism: a fallacious argument, especially one used to deliberately deceive The entire story of Tlon represents sophism. The story is about an unknown and mythical country known as Uqbar. The intellectuals imagine and therefore create a world. By presenting these ideas through the encyclopedia, Tlon becomes a real place to the reader.

Please correct the following sentence: The Boston Common, a public area in downtown Boston, is the main setting for the short story "The Patriot", which is about a man who argues to such an extent that it became venal.

9/14/09 -The idea that homosexuality is an unspeakable act is endemic to the religious fundamentalists of the United States.

Castration Inculcate The idea of male superiority over woman has been inculcated into the minds of the masses since the beginning of time. Although it is not as apparent, this ideal still shapes the cultures of modern society in various ways as it effects movies, music and sports. In movies, it is the always the men that have the power and take control of the situation. Women are depicted as an "erotic object"-something that simply holds the attention of the leading male and the audience-like eye candy. How many movies have you seen where the leading female saves the male character?

Diaphanous **:** characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through Rapacious: excessively grasping (ravenous, voracious)

Although he was known as a pinguid man, he was praised as bold **emissary** for peace. The code that held the bank robber's **gambit** together was so cleverly designed that the police had trouble **ciphering** the code.

-- 1/11/09 The only thing that people involved in such an evil gambit would want: money.