a

give (someone) an acknowledgment. See also acknowledgment.

something said or done to inform another that his statement or action has been noted, understood and received.

love, liking or any other emotional attitude; the degree of liking. The basic definition of affinity is the consideration of distance, whether good or bad.

structure or the arrangement of the parts of something.

occurring along with something, or resulting or following from it.

c

literally, to throw something (especially something light in weight). Hence, turn or direct toward someone or something.

a cog is literally part of a cogwheel, a wheel that has teeth (called cogs) of hardwood or metal made to insert between the teeth of another wheel so that they mesh. When one cogwheel is rotated, the other wheel is turned as well, thus transferring the motion to drive machinery. The term cog can be used to describe an individual carrying out minor, automatic actions as part of a larger, uncaring “machine.”

increased, added to or intensified.

to face without flinching or avoiding. The ability to confront is actually the ability to be there comfortably and perceive.

had in one’s way, as a problem, difficulty, etc.

d

a single piece of information, as a fact; something known or assumed.

disturb the order or arrangement of; upset the normal condition or functioning of.

Charles Dickens (1812–1870), popular English author who wrote about nineteenth-century society and whose stories often depicted eccentric characters. See also “waiting for something to turn up.”

mastered or learned perfectly.

the worse an individual or situation gets, the more capacity he or it has to get worse. Spiral here refers to a progressive downward movement, marking a relentlessly deteriorating state of affairs, and considered to take the form of a spiral. The term comes from aviation where it is used to describe the phenomenon of a plane descending and spiraling in smaller and smaller circles, as in an accident or feat of expert flying, which if not handled can result in loss of control and a crash.

f

a medical officer in the armed services who is trained in aviation medicine.

falling down in a state of exhaustion, as if with so much impact one drops down through the floor.

laid the base of or supported, such as a conclusion, with evidence or reasoning. From Latin fundus “bottom, base.”

the foremost line or part of an armed force; the furthest position that an army has reached.

g

of tremendous size or volume. From a story by French writer François Rabelais about Gargantua, a giant noted for his size and huge appetite.

a reference to energy being gradually lessened, as when a battery is in contact with an electrical device and is drained by continual use.

actual or supposed circumstances regarded as just cause for protest.

in a manner that is firm and determined.

summoning up one’s strength to face unpleasantness or overcome a difficulty. Grit is used here in the sense of both clamping one’s teeth together and grinding them with effort.

h

from the phrase helping hand which means to give aid or assistance to someone. Hence, with a large hand is assistance of great quantity affecting many.

(of speech) that which is rude and offensive or criticizes rudely (and unfairly).

Adolf Hitler (1889–1945), German political leader of the twentieth century who dreamed of creating a master race that would rule for a thousand years as the third German Empire. Taking over rule of Germany by force in 1933 as a dictator, he began World War II (1939–1945), subjecting much of Europe to his domination and murdering millions of Jews and others considered “inferior.” He committed suicide in 1945 when Germany’s defeat was imminent.

i

accompanying something or occurring as a result of it.

make (something) invalid or erroneous. Cause something to be considered untrue or unimportant; make less of.

k

the central or most important point or theme of something.

m

the actual physical objects, the things of life.

n

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821), French military leader. He rose to power in France by military force, declared himself emperor and conducted campaigns of conquest across Europe until his final defeat by armies allied against him in 1815. Half a million men died in the Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815).

to deprive of value or effectiveness.

o

persons who seem fierce and cruel. The word comes from a fairy tale where a giant monster (ogre) eats humans.

p

acceptable or agreeable to the mind or feelings.

r

results or consequences of something.

proceeding, made or occurring without definite reason, method or pattern.

a method of getting a person familiarized and in communication with things so that he can be more in control of them.

an area or field of activity, thought, study or interest.

the part of a military force farthest from the fighting front.

fixed or held firmly.

to get rid of or exhaust the negative influence of something.

s

Scientology is a practical religion dealing with the study of knowledge, which through application of its technology can bring about desirable changes in the conditions of life. It was developed over a third of a century by L. Ron Hubbard. The term Scientology is taken from the Latin word scio (knowing, in the fullest meaning of the word) and the Greek word logos (study of). Scientology is further defined as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life.

most complete.

not able to see far.

drawing back or avoiding.

a unit in the air force which usually consists of twelve to twenty-four aircraft.

firmly established; solid; fixed. Stable derives from Latin stabilis meaning firm, steadfast.

walked angrily and stiffly.

a reference to the motion of a boxer hitting or punching with a swinging motion of the arm(s). Hence, to battle one’s way through something conceived of as threatening or attacking.

t

summoning up one’s strength to face unpleasantness or overcome a difficulty. Grit is used here in the sense of both clamping one’s teeth together and grinding them with effort.

uncontrolled outpouring, likened to a violent, swift-flowing stream.

lets go, releases.

v

to an extreme degree; in an intense manner.

special interest in something for particular personal reasons.

w

a reference to a philosophy of life displayed by the character Mr. Wilkins Micawber, from the well-known nineteenth-century novel David Copperfield, by English author Charles Dickens (1812–1870). Micawber, a friend of Copperfield’s, comes up with many ideas to bring about wealth, and although his attempts fail, he never gives up and remains certain something will “turn up.”

wake is the visible trail (of agitated and disturbed water) left by something, such as a ship, moving through water. Hence, a condition left behind someone or something that has passed; following as a consequence.

the accomplishment of any desired improvement. Examples of wins would be a person increasing his ability to communicate, experiencing an increased feeling of well-being or gaining more certainty about some area of his life.

from the phrase helping hand which means to give aid or assistance to someone. Hence, with a large hand is assistance of great quantity affecting many.

to an extreme degree; in an intense manner.

y

in the past, often a period with a set of values or a way of life that no longer exists.