Thanks & Giving

asthma asthma  | ˈasmə |  noun  [ mass noun ]  a  respiratory   condition  marked by attacks of spasm in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It is  usually   connected   to   allergic  reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity . eczema eczema  | ˈɛksɪmə ,  ˈɛkzɪmə |  noun  [ mass noun ]  a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed with blisters which cause itching and bleeding .

takeoff means the moment when an airplane, helicopter, etc., leaves the ground and begins to fly "Despite much talk of the 'postgenomic' era, the publication of the human genome now appears to be a taking-off point in the demand for genome sequencing, starting with other yeasts, invertebrates, and mammals for comparative genomics." Brent, 2016 Trends in Genetics Also see another idea derived from economic usage of 'take-off point' from the American economic historian Walt W. Rostow's   Stages of Economic Growth   (1953) "take-off point."   A Dictionary of Sociology . . Retrieved November 10, 2016 from Encyclopedia.com:   http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/take-point

Elaboration  is the process of adding more information to existing, relatively simple information to create a more complex,  emergent  whole. 

euphemism  | ˈyo͞ofəˌmizəm |  noun a mild or indirect word or expression substituted  for one  considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to  something  unpleasant or embarrassing : “downsizing” as  a  euphemism   for  cuts .  The opposite of  dysphemism . dysphemism  | ˈdisfəˌmizəm |  noun a  derogatory  or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one, such as “loony bin” for “mental hospital.”  The opposite of  euphemism .

compass  | ˈkəmpəs | noun 1  ( also   magnetic compass ) an instrument containing  a   magnetized   pointer  that   shows   the   direction   of   magnetic north   and   bearings (orientations)  from it . The   use   of   the   compass   for   navigation   at sea   was  reported   from   China   c. 1100, western   Europe 1187,   Arabia   c. 1220, and   Scandinavia   c. 1300,  although   it   probably   dates   from   much earlier. Since   the   early   20 th   century   the   magnetic compass   has been   superseded   by   the  gyrocompass   as   primary   equipment   for ships and aircraft .

from Thesaurus CHOOSE   THE RIGHT   WORD rapture, bliss,  ecstasy , euphoria, transport Happiness is one thing;  bliss   is another, suggesting a state of utter joy and contentment ( marital bliss ).  Ecstasy   is even more extreme, describing a trancelike state in which one loses  consciousness   of  one's surroundings ( the ecstasy of young love ). Although  rapture  originally referred  to  being raised or lifted out of oneself by divine power, nowadays it is used in much the same sense as  ecstasy  to describe an elevated sensation of bliss ( she listened in speechless rapture to her favorite soprano ).  Transport  (usually in the plural form  transports ) applies to any powerful emotion by which one is carried away ( transports of joy ). When happiness is carried to an extreme or crosses over into mania, it is called  euphoria .  Euphoria  may outwardly resemble  ecs...

Any time two different genes contribute to a single phenotype and their effects are not merely additive, those genes are said to be epistatic. (ref:  http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/epistasis-gene-interaction-and-phenotype-effects-460) In  classical genetics , if genes A and B are mutated, and each mutation by itself produces a unique phenotype but the two mutations together show the same phenotype as the gene A mutation, then gene A is epistatic and gene B is  hypostatic .  (ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistasis)

ab initio  | ˌab əˈniSHēˌō | adverb from the beginning (used chiefly in formal  or  legal contexts) :  the agreement should be declared void ab initio . adjective  [  attrib.  ] starting from the beginning :  he was  instructing   ab initio  pilots . ORIGIN  early 17th cent. :  Latin .

temporary, ephemeral,  evanescent , fleeting,  transient , transitory Things that don't last long  are  called  temporary ,  which  emphasizes a measurable but limited duration ( a temporary appointment as  chief of staff ).  Something  that is   fleeting  passes almost instantaneously and cannot be caught or held ( a  fleeting  thought ;  a fleeting glimpse ).  Transient  also applies to  something  that  lasts  or  stays  only  a  short time ( transient   house guests ), while  transitory  refers to  something   that is  destined to pass away or come to  an  end ( the   transitory   pleasure  of eating ).  Evanescent   and   ephemeral   describe what is even more short-lived.  Ephemeral   literally   means  'lasting for  only   a   single  day,' but...

proposition  | ˌpräpəˈziSHən | noun 1  a statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion :  the proposition that all men are created equal . •  Logic  a statement that expresses a concept that can be true or false .

knell  | nel |  literary noun the sound  of  a bell, esp. when rung solemnly for a death or funeral . •  used  in  reference to an announcement, event, or sound that warns of the end of something :  the decision will probably  toll the knell for  the facility . verb  [  no  obj.  ] ( of  a bell) ring solemnly, esp. for a death or funeral . •  [  with  obj.  ]  proclaim (something) by or as if by a knell . ORIGIN  Old English  cnyll (noun),  cnyllan (verb); related to  Dutch  knal  (noun), knallen  (verb)  ‘ bang, pop, crack . ’  The current spelling (dating from the 16th cent.) is perhaps influenced by  bell 1 . toll  2  | tōl | verb ( with reference to   a  bell) sound or cause  to   sound  with a slow, uniform succession of strokes, as a  signal  or announcement :  [  no  obj. ...

contend  | kənˈtend | verb 1  [  no   obj.  ]  ( contend with/against )  struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger) :  she had to contend with his uncertain temper . •  ( contend for )  engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve (something) :  the local team should contend for a division championship  |  ( as  adj. contending )  :  disputes continued between the contending parties . 2  assert something as a position in an argument :  he contends that the judge was wrong . DERIVATIVES contender  noun ORIGIN  late Middle English  (in the sense  ‘ compete for (something) ’ ): from  Old French  contendre  or  Latin  contendere , from  con-  ‘ with ’  +  tendere  ‘ stretch, strive . ’ concede  | kənˈsēd | verb 1  [  reporting verb  ]  admit that something is true or valid after...

possible  | ˈpäsəbəl | adjective able   to be  done; within the power or capacity of someone or something plausible  | ˈplôzəbəl | adjective (of an  argument  or statement) seeming reasonable or probable Plausible  is referred to an explanation, an argument, or a statement, while  possible  is referred to a fact, or an event. For example, my explanation on how in future time traveling will be possible could be plausible, but that doesn't mean traveling through time will be possible.

refer  | riˈfər | verb  ( refers ,  referring ,  referred ) 1  [  no   obj.  ]  ( refer to )  mention or allude to :  the reports of the commission are often referred  to in the media  |  New York,  referred to as the Big Apple . •  [  with   obj.  ]  ( refer someone to )  direct the attention of someone to :  I refer my colleague   to   the  reply that I gave some moments ago . •  ( refer  to )  (of  a word  or  phrase ) describe or denote; have as a referent :  the term “rhetoric”  almost  invariably refers  to   persuasion . 2  [  with  obj.  ]  ( refer something to )  pass  a matter to (another body, typically one with more authority or expertise) for a  decision :  disagreement arose and the issue was referred back to the Executive Committee . •  ( refer ...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way  - in short,  the period was so far like the present period,  that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received,  for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. By  Charles Dickens

asset  | ˈasɛt | noun a useful or valuable  thing  or person :  quick reflexes were his chief assets  |  the school is an asset to  the community . •  ( usu.  assets )  an item of  property  owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to  meet  debts, commitments, or legacies :  growth in net assets . ORIGIN  mid 16th cent.  (in  the plural   in  the sense  ‘ sufficient  estate   to   allow discharge of a will ’ ): from an  Anglo-Norman French   legal   term , from  Old French asez  ‘ enough ’ , based on  Latin  ad  ‘ to ’  +  satis  ‘ enough ’ . asset 財產, 資產[P1] 同義詞 accounts , wealth , resources , property 變化形 名複 assets grit  | grɪt | noun  [  mass noun  ] 1  small loose particles of stone or ...

compelling  | kəmˈpɛlɪŋ | adjective evoking interest, attention, or  admiration  in a powerfully irresistible way :  his eyes were strangely compelling  |  a compelling film . •  not able to be refuted;  inspiring  conviction :  there is compelling evidence that the recession is ending  |  a  compelling  argument . •  not able to be resisted;  overwhelming :  the temptation to give up was compelling . inexorable  | ɪnˈɛks(ə)rəb(ə)l | adjective impossible   to   stop  or  prevent :  the  seemingly   inexorable   march  of  new   technology . •  (of a person) impossible to persuade; unrelenting :  the doctors were inexorable, and there was nothing to be done .