A gargoyle is a strange or grotesque human or animal figure that sticks out from the roof of a building (such as a church) and is used to cause rainwater to flow away from the building's sides.
// Some of the exchange students were creeped out by all the gargoyles they passed during their walking tour of the old European town.
a person of puzzling or contradictory character.
To mangle something is to ruin it due to carelessness or a lack of skill. Mangle can also mean “to injure or damage something or someone severely by cutting, tearing, or crushing.”
// Half-remembering a joke from her favorite sitcom, Ally mangled the punch line, but honestly, this made it even funnier.
to gather, summon, rouse (often followed by up).
imperturbable self-possession, poise, or assurance.
Retronym refers to a term (such as analog watch, film camera, or acoustic guitar) that is created and adopted to distinguish the original or older version, form, or example of something from others that are more recent.
// While ordering a regular coffee Sam started to tell the barista about how “regular coffee” is a retronym until the next person in line sighed with impatience.
reliance on temporary solutions rather than on consistent, long-term plans.
near in space, time, or relation.
Someone or something described as diligent is characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort.
// After many hours of diligent research, the students were ready to compile their results.
an image or other graphic representation that acts as a proxy for a person or is associated with a specific digital account or identity.