rational

(adj) - Rational thoughts, decisions or ideas are based on reasons rather than emotions. A rational person is able to think calmly and sensibly.

• Synonyms: calm, sensible, realistic, thoughtful, sane, logical
• Antonyms: irrational, ridiculous, unreasonable
• Etymology: Late 14th Century Latin, from ratio meaning "calculation, reason"
• Morphology: ratio - n, ration - n,v
• Example: The Mysterious Benedict Society members were sent to Nomansan Island to determine whether there was a rational explanation for the "National Emergency."

Today is Pi Day!

Can you make rational decisions to solve the puzzles in the Pi Day Challenge?

Pi Day Challenge 2013

elated

(adj) - If you are elated about something, you are extremely happy and excited, especially because of something that has happened or is going to happen.
*This word could also be used as a verb.

• Synonyms: delighted, ecstatic, excited, exhilarated, joyful
• Antonyms: depressed, down, sad, unhappy, nonchalant
• Etymology: 1570s Latin, from elatus meaning "to raise, elevate, or uplift"
• Morphology: elation - n, elate - v
• Example: I was elated when I heard about all of the new technology we will be receiving!

convey

(v) - To convey a message is to communicate or express something, with or without using words. You can also convey a package or object by taking or carrying it from one place to another.

• Synonyms: carry, express, move, transport, send, transmit
• Antonyms: hold, keep, maintain, retain
• Etymology: 13th Century Latin, from com- meaning "with, together" + via meaning "way, road"
• Morphology: conveyor - n, conveyance - n
• Example: By doing WOD every single day, I hope that I can convey the importance of having and using a good vocabulary!

I think that by using this scene in their show, Drake and Josh are trying to convey the message that Lucille Ball really was the Queen of Comedy:

Click here to see the episode

abundant

(adj.) - Something that is abundant exists or is available in large quantities so that there is more than enough.

• Synonyms: filled, plenty, more than sufficient, overflowing
• Antonyms: lacking, insufficient, not enough
• Etymology: Late 14th century Latin, from ab- meaning "off" + undare meaning "rise in a wave," which comes from unda meaning "water, wave"
• Morphology: abundance - n
• Example: Andon's sister, Shayla, provides abundant examples of things that are abundant.

Pick-A-Pair Game

America's Heartland has more examples of things that are abundant:

Virtual Field Trip

quibble

(v) - If you quibble with someone, you argue over small, unimportant details or trivial matters.
*This word can also be used as a noun.

• Synonyms: bicker, argue, disagree
• Antonyms: agree, discuss
• Etymology: 1610s English, meaning "a pun, a play on words," which is probably from quib meaning "evasion of the point at issue"
• Example: It seems like there is a point in every year when students start to quibble about football at recess. 

tentatively

(adv) - If you do something tentatively, you do it without confidence or certainty, or because it may be changed later.

• Synonyms: conditionally, maybe, doubtfully, wonderingly
• Antonyms: certainly, surely, definitely
• Etymology: 1580s Latin, from tentare meaning "to feel, try"
• Morphology: tentative - adj, tentacle - n
• Example: Reynie knocked tentatively on Mr. Curtain's door.

melancholy

(adj) – If you are very sad, you are melancholy.
*This word can also be used as a noun.

• Synonyms: depressed, blue, down in the dumps, gloomy, glum
• Antonyms: cheerful, happy, joyful
• Etymology: 1520 Greek, from melankholia "sadness," but it literally means "black bile." This word’s roots come from the early 1300s: melanos meaning "black" + khole meaning "bile." Note: bile is a dark colored fluid, produced by your liver.
• Example: The gloomy weather we have been having lately is causing many people to feel melancholy.

Why is Mr. Amundson so melancholy? See for yourself.

conspicuous

(adj) – Something conspicuous is very easy to see or notice.

• Synonyms: obvious, clear, evident, noticeable
• Antonyms: inconspicuous, hidden, concealed, unclear, secret, unseen, clandestine
• Etymology: 1540s Latin, from com- meaning “with” + PIE *spek- meaning "to observe" + the Latin adjective-forming suffix -osus
• Example: When you choose your Heritage route, you want to make sure it's not too conspicuous.

improvise

(v.) - If you improvise, you do something without any preparation, usually because of unexpected events.

• Synonyms: make up, brainstorm, invent
• Antonyms: design, plan, prepare
• Etymology: 1826 Latin, from in- meaning "not" + provisus meaning either "foreseen" or "provided"
• Morphology: improvisation - n
• Example: I forgot to bring my notes, so I had to improvise when I gave my speech.

Click here for your chance to improvise!

nefarious

(adj) – Criminals are well-known for committing nefarious acts. Their deeds are bad and even downright horrible.

• Synonyms: bad, horrible, dreadful, evil, criminal, treacherous
• Antonyms: good, honorable, respectable, virtuous, worthy
• Etymology: 1600 Latin, from ne- meaning "not" (this is where we get the word nay) + fas meaning "right, lawful" which is related to fari which means "to speak" (this is actually where we get the word fame)
• Example: Mr. Curtain and his nefarious associates are always up to no good.