Heartland English School – Word of the Day

Merry Christmas from

Heartland International English School!

http://www.heartlandenglish.com

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Theme: Jingle Bells
Word: bobtail (noun, adjective)
Meaning: a horse’s tail cut short
(160 years ago, when Jingle Bells was written, it was fashionable to
cut horses’ tails short. Bells were put on horses, not only on their
tails, but also on their heads and bodies, to alert pedestrians and
prevent accidents, so that is why bells on bobtail ring.)
Example from the song: Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open
sleigh. O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way. Bells on bobtail
ring…
Another Example: Many animals have natural bobtails, but it is cruel
to cut off an animal’s naturally long tail.

Theme: Jingle Bells
Expression: all the way   (adverb phrase)
Meaning: the entire time; the entire distance
Example from the song: Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open
sleigh. O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way…
Another Example: He ran all the way home.

Theme: Jingle Bells
Word: o’er   (contraction; preposition)
Meaning: over
(Older songs in English often contracted 2-syllable words like over in
order to fit the words into songs.)
Example from the song: Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open
sleigh. O’er the fields we go…
Another Example: O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so
proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes
and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we
watched, were so gallantly streaming? (from the American national
anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner)

Theme: Jingle Bells
Word: sleigh   (noun)
Meaning: a sleigh is a vehicle with runners (like skis) instead of
wheels, for traveling easily on snow.
(An open sleigh has no sides or roof, unlike a closed sleigh.  A
one-horse sleigh is pulled by one horse. There are also two-horse and
four-horse open sleighs.)
Example from the song: Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh…
Another Example: Santa Claus rides an eight-reindeer open sleigh.
Related Word: sled

Theme: Jingle Bells
Word: dashing    (gerund form of the verb dash)
Meaning: hurrying, going very fast
Example from the song: Dashing through the snow…
Another Example: I dashed to the bus stop.

Theme: Christmas & a Verb

Word:  ornament & sparkle

Pronunciation:  /or-næ-m∈nt/ /spαr-k∂l/

Meaning:  n. a decoration that you hang on the Christmas tree;  v. shine and reflect light

Examples:

• When the lights are on on the tree, all the ornaments sparkle. It’s beautiful!
• This year I bough a wooden snowflake Christmas ornament.
• Her diamond ring sparkles.

Theme: Christmas & a Verb

Word:  candy cane & nibble

Pronunciation:  /kæn-di ken/ /nI-b∂l/

Meaning:  n. a red and white striped candy in the cane shape;  v. eat a small amount of something

Examples:

• At Christmastime, people like to nibble on candy canes.
• Many people have candy cane Christmas lights.
• I nibbled on a carrot while I studied.

Theme: Christmas & a Verb

Word:  festivities & gather

Pronunciation:  /f∈s-tI-vI-tis/ /gæ-ð∂r/

Meaning:  n. celebration, fun times;  v. bring things together

Examples:

• During the holidays, people gather to enjoy the festivities.
• Heartland students will enjoy the festivities at today’s school Christmas party!
• After the children finished playing, I gathered the toys and put them in a box.

Associated word:  festive  (adj.)

Theme: Christmas & a Verb

Word:  carol & hum

Pronunciation:  /k∈-r∂l/ /hΛm/

Meaning:  n. a Christmas song;  v. sing without opening your mouth

Examples:

• I like to hum Christmas carols while I drive because they are so catchy.
• My grandpa used to hum when he was building something.
• At the Heartland Christmas party, we will sing carols.