week 1: 2014/03/03 ~ 2014/03/07

week 1: 2014/03/03 ~ 2014/03/07

part 1: unit2 note - 羅馬數系統─學習看懂羅馬數字

• 羅馬數字系統源自伊特魯利亞文(Etruscan)，只用7個符號(並沒有0)：

I     1

V     5

X     10

L     50

C    100

D    500

M   1000

• 下面的規則可以表示任意自然數：

(1) 重複數次決定倍數：

1個羅馬數字重複幾次，就表示這個數的幾倍。

例如: ⅩⅩⅩ=30.

(2) 右加左減：

在一個較大的羅馬數字的右邊記上一個較小的羅馬數字，表示大數字加小數字。

在一個較大的數字的左邊記上1個較小的羅馬數字，表示大數字減小數字。

但是，左減不能跨越一個位數。比如，99不可以用IC表示，而是用XCIX表示。此外，左減數字不能超過1位，比如8寫成VIII，而非IIX。同理，右加數字不能超過3位，比如14寫成XIV，而非XIIII。

(3) 數字上加橫線乘千或乘百萬：

在1個羅馬數字的上方加上1條橫線或者在右下方寫M，表示將這個數字乘以1000，即是原數的1000倍。同理，如果上方有2條橫線，即是原數的1000000倍。

(4) 數碼限制：

同樣數碼最多只能出現3次，如40不能表示為XXXX，而要表示為XL。但是，由於IV是古羅馬神話主神朱庇特（IVPITER，古羅馬字母沒有J和U）的首字，因此有時用IIII代替IV。 一般大時鐘(不包刮英國大笨鐘)的時刻就以IIII代替IV，也可能是為了字體的對稱性。

part 2: vocabulary

day 1     03/03

affectionate     a.     \ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət\

sentence(in the article): Instead, he goes up to the roof and spends his days on his knees, affectionately caring for a filed of sweet potatoes fifty stories above the ground.                                 

meaning 1: showing, indicating, or characterized by affection or love; fondly tender: an affectionate embrace.

meaning 2: having great affection or love; warmly attached; loving: your affectionate brother.

meaning 3: Obsolete.

• strongly disposed or inclined.
• passionate; headstrong.
• biased; partisan.

simple sentence: She was very affectionate with children. 
part of speech:

• affectionately               a.
• affectionateness           n. 
• pseudoaffectionate       a. 
• pseudoaffectionately    a. 
• quasi-affectionate        a.

bloom     \ˈblüm\

n.  

sentence(in the article): Take the elevator down two floors, and you will see roses blooming, tomato seedlings climbing up their wire frames, and lettuces and pumpkins stretching their leaves toward lights in the ceiling.

meaning 1: a mass of wrought iron from the forge or puddling furnace

meaning 2: a bar of iron or steel hammered or rolled from an ingot

meaning 3: 

• flower
• the flowering state <the roses in bloom>
• a period of flowering <the spring bloom>
• a rapid and excessive growth of a plankton population (as of algae or dinoflagellates) — compare red tide

meaning 4:

• a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor
• a state or time of high development or achievement <a career in full bloom>

meaning 5: a surface coating or appearance: as

• a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leaves
• a rosy appearance of the cheeks; broadly :  an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigor
• a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquer
• a grayish discoloration on chocolate
• glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera

v.

meaning 1: to produce flowers

meaning 2: to change, grow, or develop fully

simple sentence: Their love was just beginning to bloom.

clamor      \ˈkla-mər\

sentence(in the article): When the sunlight fades into twilight, he changes his clothes and rides the elevator back down  to the bright lights and clamor of the big city.

n.

meaning 1: a loud continuous noise (such as the noise made when many people are talking or shouting)

meaning 2: a loud or strong demand for something by many people

v.

intransitive verb

meaning 1: to make a din

meaning 2: to become loudly insistent <clamored for his impeachment>

transitive verb

meaning 1: to utter or proclaim insistently and noisily

meaning 2: to influence by means of clamor

simple sentence: A clamor outside woke them in the night.

part of speech: 

• clamorous     a.
• clamorously    ad.
• clamorousness     n.

drudgery      noun      \ˈdrəj-rē, ˈdrə-jə-rē\

sentence(in the article): What is drudgery anyway?

meaning: dull, irksome, and fatiguing work :  uninspiring or menial labor

simple sentence:  He hated the drudgery of his job.

fade      \ˈfād\

sentence(in the article): When the sunlight fades into twilight, he changes his clothes and rides the elevator back down  to the bright lights and clamor of the big city.

v.

meaning 1: to lose strength or freshness : to become weaker

meaning 2: to disappear gradually

meaning 3: to become less bright : to lose color

n.

meaning: a gradual change from one picture to another in a movie or television program

simple sentence: Hopes for a quick end of the crisis are fading fast.

part of speech: 

• fadable     a.
• fadedly      ad.
• fadedness     n.
• prefade     vi.
• unfadable     a.

day 2:     3/4

self-sustaining     a.      \-sə-ˈstā-niŋ\

sentence(in the article): Tokyo's environmentally friendly governor shares the vision of a more self-sustaining urban agriculture.

meaning 1: maintaining or able to maintain oneself or itself by independent effort <a self–sustaining community>

meaning 2: maintaining or able to maintain itself once commenced

simple sentence: My goal was to make the habitat as self-sustaining  as possible and to maximize the use of the continuous solar exposure.

part of speech:

• self-sustained     a.
• self-sustainingly     ad.
• self-sustainment     n.

shade     \ˈshād\

sentence(in the article): The sweet potatoes across Kenji's roof garden provide food, and their broad leaves also provide shade, which keeps the roof cooler. 

n.

meaning 1: an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun

meaning 2: something that is used to block strong light

meaning 3: a darkened area in a drawing, painting, etc.

v.

meaning 1: to shelter (something) from strong light and especially from sunlight

meaning 2: to make an area in a drawing, on a graph, etc., darker than other areas

meaning 3: to change (something, such as the truth) slightly in order to deceive people

simple sentence: The article shaded the truth by revealing only one side of the story.

part of speech: 

• shadeless     a.
• shadelessness     n.
• intershade     v.
• semishade     n.
• unshade     v.

story      \ˈstȯr-ē\

sentence(in the article):   Instead, he goes up to the roof and spends his days on his knees, affectionately caring for a filed of sweet potatoes fifty stories above the ground.

n.

meaning 1: a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.

meaning 2: a fictitious tale, shorter and less elaborate than a novel. 

meaning 3: such narratives or tales as a branch of literature: song and story.

meaning 4: the plot or succession of incidents of a novel, poem, drama, etc.: The characterizations were good, but the story was weak.

meaning 5: a narration of an incident or a series of events or an example of these that is or may be narrated, as an anecdote, joke, etc.

meaning 6: a narration of the events in the life of a person or the existence of a thing, or such events as a subject for narration: the story of medicine; the story of his life.

meaning 7: a report or account of a matter; statement or allegation: The story goes that he rejected the offer.

meaning 8: news story.

meaning 9: a lie or fabrication: What he said about himself turned out to be a story.

meaning 10: Obsolete , history.

v.

meaning 1:to ornament with pictured scenes, as from history or legend.

meaning 2:Obsolete . to tell the history or story of.

simple sentence: As the series began to gather momentum, new story  arcs were introduced.

part of speech:

• storyless      a.

strain      \ˈstrān\

sentence(in the article): However, unlike those with whom he shares an elevator, Kenji doesn't spend his day straining his eyes in front of a computer screen.

n.

meaning 1:

• lineage, ancestry
• a group of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut physiological but usually not morphological distinctions <a high-yielding strain of winter wheat>; broadly :  a specified infraspecific group (as a stock, line, or ecotype)
•  kind, sort <discussions of a lofty strain>

meaning 2:

• inherited or inherent character, quality, or disposition <a strain of madness in the family>
•  trace, streak <a strain of fanaticism>

meaning 3:

• tune, air
• a passage of verbal or musical expression
•  a stream or outburst of forceful or impassioned speech

meaning 4:

• the tenor, pervading note, burden, or tone of an utterance or of a course of action or conduct
• mood, temper

meaning 5: an act of straining or the condition of being strained: as

• bodily injury from excessive tension, effort, or use <heart strain>; especially :  one resulting from a wrench or twist and involving undue stretching of muscles or ligaments <back strain>
•  excessive or difficult exertion or labor
•  excessive physical or mental tension; also :  a force, influence, or factor causing such tension <a strain on the marriage>
• deformation of a material body under the action of applied forces

meaning 6: an unusual reach, degree, or intensity :  pitch

meaning 7: archaic :  a strained interpretation of something said or written

v.

meaning 1: use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity

meaning 2: stretch or force to the limit

meaning 3: make tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious;

meaning 4: rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender

meaning 5: test the limits of

meaning 6: alter the shape of (something) by stress

meaning 7: remove by passing through a filter

meaning 8: separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements

simple sentence: I strained my back trying to lift the couch.

part of speech:

• strainingly     ad.
• strainless     a.
• strainlessly     ad.

sway     \ˈswā\

sentence(in the article): Another room has rice plants swaying in the breeze created by white-coated workers who wander back and forth between the room, pushing buttons and adjusting the climate.

n.

meaning 1: the act of swaying; swaying movement.

meaning 2: rule; dominion

meaning 3: dominating power or influence

v.

intransitive verb

meaning 1:

• to swing slowly and rhythmically back and forth from a base or pivot
• to move gently from an upright to a leaning position

meaning 2: to hold sway :  act as ruler or governor

meaning 3: to fluctuate or veer between one point, position, or opinion and another

transitive verb

meaning 1:

• to cause to sway :  set to swinging, rocking, or oscillating
•  to cause to bend downward to one side
•  to cause to turn aside :  deflect, divert

meaning 2: archaic

• wield
• govern, rule

meaning 3:

• to cause to vacillate
• to exert a guiding or controlling influence on

meaning 4: to hoist in place <sway up a mast>

simple sentence: She persisted in her argument, but I wouldn't let her sway me.

pat of speech:

• swayable     a.
• swayer     n.
• swayingly     ad.
• selfsway     n.
• unswayable     a.

day 3:     3/5

urban     a.      \ˈər-bən\

sentence(in the article): Now, when people say''farmer'', I think of young, cool, urban Kenji, a guy with a little dirt under his fingernails as well as a downtown address.

meaning : of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city

simple sentence: Many urban  and city areas have farmers markets as well.

part of speech:

• antiurban     a.
• nonurban     a.
• semiurban     a.
• unurban     a.

wander     v.      \ˈwän-dər\

sentence(in the article): Another room has rice plants swaying in the breeze created by white-coated workers who wander back and forth between the room, pushing buttons and adjusting the climate.

intransitive verb

meaning 1:

•  to move about without a fixed course, aim, or goal
•  to go idly about :  ramble <wandering around the house>

meaning 2: to follow a winding course :  meander

meaning 3:

• to go astray (as from a course) :  stray <wandered away from the group>
• to go astray morally :  err
• to lose normal mental contact :  stray in thought <his mind wandered>

transitive verb

meaning: to roam over <wandered the halls>

simple sentence: Before proceeding to the next paragraph, let your mind wander  wherever it wants   to go.

part of speech:

• wanderer     n.
• outwander     v.

weed     \ˈwēd\

sentence(in the article): Plants need to be fed and watered, and they need someone to pull weeds, so employees like Kenji are paid to help building owners set up and maintain farms on their roof as well as offer advice on what to plant.

n.

meaning 1:

• (1) :  a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially :  one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants (2) :  a weedy growth of plants
• an aquatic plant; especially :  seaweed
• (1) :  tobacco products (2) :  marijuana

meaning 2:

• an obnoxious growth, thing, or person
• something like a weed in detrimental quality; especially :  an animal unfit to breed from

meaning 3: garment —often used in plural

meaning 4:

dress worn as a sign of mourning (as by a widow) —usually used in plural

a band of crape worn on a man's hat as a sign of mourning —usually used in plural

v.

intransitive verb

meaning: to remove weeds or something harmful

transitive verb

meaning 1:

•  to clear of weeds <weed a garden>
•  (1) :  to free from something hurtful or offensive (2) :  to remove the less desirable portions of

meaning 2: to get rid of (something harmful or superfluous) —often used with out

simple sentence:

part of speech: This type is not valued for recreational use and is viewed as a weed  by farmers.

• weedless     a.
• weedlike     a.
• unweeded     a.

affair     n.      \ə-ˈfer\

sentence(in the article): It wasn't that I didn't care what my friend was saying; it's just that the garden, especially in summer, comes in and out of the mind like a love affair.

meaning 1: work or activities done for a purpose

meaning 2: commercial, professional, public, or personal business
meaning 3: a matter that concerns or involves someone
meaning 4: a secret sexual relationship between two people

simple sentence: After the war, the government focused on its own domestic affairs.

bring up     v.

sentence(in the article): You keep  bringing up little details and profound events, thinking that maybe this time the person will get it, will see what you see....

meaning 1: to care for during childhood; rear.

meaning 2: to introduce or mention for attention, discussion, action, or consideration.
meaning 3: to vomit.
meaning 4: to stop or cause to stop quickly: to bring up a car at the curb.
meaning 5:  Nautical . (of a vessel) to cause to halt, as by lowering an anchor or running aground; fetch up.

simple sentence: It takes an immense commitment and a lot of love to bring up a child properly.

day 4:     3/6

gorgeous     a.      \ˈgȯr-jəs\

sentence(in the article): And, there's this perennial I don't even know the name of that somebody gave last year, just a transplant, and now it's this wonderful huge gorgeous purple thing...

meaning 1: splendid or sumptuous in appearance, coloring, etc.; magnificent: a gorgeous gown; a gorgeous sunset.

meaning 2: Informal. extremely good, enjoyable, or pleasant: I had a gorgeous time.

simple sentence: Every one of those images is astonishingly gorgeous .

part of speech:

• gorgeously     ad.
• gorgeousness     n.

mineral     \ˈmin-rəl, ˈmi-nə-\

sentence(in the article): I was mulching my potatoes...and wondering if marsh hay was too salty or if those minerals from the sea would be good for them.

n.
meaning 1: a substance (such as quartz, coal, petroleum, salt, etc.) that is naturally formed under the ground

meaning 2: a chemical substance (such as iron or zinc) that occurs naturally in certain foods and that is important for good health
a.
meaning 1: of or relating to minerals; also :  inorganic
meaning 2: impregnated with mineral substances

simple sentence: See a simulated underground mining tunnel, rock and mineral  displays.

part of speech:

• nonmineral     a./n.
• semimineral     a.

dose     \ˈdōs\

sentence(in the article): I'd wandered by the parsley patch looking for my watering can, intending to give the potatoes a dose of sea kelp... before going to dinner.

n.
meaning 1: the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time

meaning 2: an amount of a substance
meaning 3: : an amount of something that a person experiences
v.
meaning 1: to give a dose of medicine to (someone or something)
meaning 2: to give an amount of a substance to (someone or something)
meaning 3: to add something to (something)

simple sentence: Most patients are dosed at 50 milligrams per day.

part of speech:

• doser     n.
• superdose     n.
• underdose     n./v.
• well-dosed     a.

profound     \prə-ˈfau̇nd, prō-\

sentence(in the article): But it also exists, in a more profound way, in my mind, where it has been growing for many years now...
n.
meaning: archaic
:  something that is very deep; specifically :  the depths of the sea
a.

meaning 1: having or showing great knowledge or understanding

meaning 2: difficult to understand : requiring deep thought or wisdom

meaning 3: very strongly felt

simple sentence: Her books offer profound insights into the true nature of courage.

part of speech:

• profoundly     ad.
• profoundness     n.
• unprofound     a.
• unprofoundly     ad.

recount     \ri-ˈkau̇nt\

sentence(in the article): I know they're recounting something passionate, something I even want to experience, but I can't relate to the words.
n.
meaning: a second or fresh count
v.

meaning 1: to relate in detail

meaning 2: to count again

simple sentence: The election was very close and the loser demanded a recount.

day 5:     3/7

settle for     v.

sentence(in the article): I'd given up on the parsley, a flavorful, singled-leafed Italian variety  I'd direct-seeded, and figured I'd have to settle for buying some plants at my local nursery.

meaning: to be satisfied with: to settle for less.

simple sentence: We should never settle  for saying that such-and-such is a brute fact so let's go home now.

shot     \ˈshät\

sentence(in the article): Her photographer's eye has a vision that reaches beyond the realities of rain or technical snags or falling off a wall and missing  the shot of a lifetime.

n.
meaning 1: an act of shooting a gun

meaning 2: the objects (called ammunition) that are shot from cannons and other old-fashioned weapons
meaning 3: a person who shoots a gun
a.

meaning 1:  in a very bad condition of a fabric
meaning 2: having threads of a different color woven in
meaning 3: having a particular color, quality, feature, etc., throughout

simple sentence: The tires on the car are shot.

trail 

sentence(in the article): My voice trailed off.

n.
meaning 1: a path through a forest, field, etc.

meaning 2: the marks, signs, smells, etc., that are left behind by someone or something and that can often be followed
meaning 3: a route that someone follows to go somewhere or achieve something
v.
meaning 1: to pull (something) behind you especially on the ground
meaning 2: to be pulled behind someone or something
meaning 3: to walk or move slowly as you follow behind (someone or something)

simple sentence: Stay on the trail if we get separated.

part of speech:

• trailingly     ad.
• trailless     a.
• nontrailing     a.
• untrailed     a.
• untrailing     a.

transplant

sentence(in the article): And, there's this perennial I don't even know the name of that somebody gave last year, just a transplant, and now it's this wonderful huge gorgeous purple thing...

n.     \ˈtran(t)s-ˌplant\
meaning 1: medical : a medical operation in which an organ or other part is removed from the body of one person and put into the body of another person

meaning 2: an organ, piece of skin, etc., that is transplanted

meaning 3: a person who has moved to a new home especially in a different region or country
v.     \ˌtran(t)s-ˈplant\
meaning 1: to remove (a plant) from the ground or from a pot and move it to another place
meaning 2: medical : to perform a medical operation in which an organ or other part that has been removed from the body of one person is put it into the body of another person
meaning 3: to move (a person or animal) to a new home

simple sentence: The doctors are trying to keep him alive until a liver can be found for transplant.

part of speech:

• transplantable     a.
• transplantation     n.
• transplanter     n.
• retransplanter     n.
• retransplant     v.
• retransplantation     n.

uncomprehendingly     ad.

sentence(in the article): She smiled, affectionately, but uncomprehendingly.

meaning 1: not understanding what is happening, being referred to, etc.

meaning 2: showing a lack of understanding or knowledge

simple sentence: When she finished her tirade, I smiled, but uncomprehendingly.