The Fourth Essential of Life

Glossary

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Below are all the glossary words, with the user-added definitions at the end of the list. Just like the original definitions, the user-added definitions can be found throughout the site via pop-up windows.

a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q
r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | user-added definitions

Aa
Apollo: In Greek Mythology he was the god of prophecy, music, and poetry.
Asclepius: The son of the god Apollo. He is also god of medicine and music.

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Bb
Ballet: A classical dance form marked by grace and accuracy of movement and decadent formal technique.
Beat: A constant rhythmical measurement of time.
Brass: A section of the orchestra that is composed of only brass instruments.

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Cc
Castanets: An instrument similar to a gong or rattle.
Chant: A short, simple melody in which any number of syllables or words are sung to the same note.
Chromaticism: Chords or harmonies based on nonharmonic tones.
Clavichord: A keyboard instrument with a quiet sound which is produced by brass wedges striking horizontal strings.
Composer: An individual who composes music.
Cornet: A wind instrument from the trumpet class.
Culture: The learned behaviors of humans.

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Dd
Dionysus: In Greek Mythology he is the god of wine and orgiastic religion.
Disco music: A 1970s style music that is marked by strong repetitive bass rhythms.

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Ee
Endorphins: A group of peptide hormones that reduce the levels of pain and affect human emotions.
Enzyme: A protein that functions as a biochemical catalyst.

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Ff
"Feelingful": Full of feeling.
Fiddle: An instrument that is a member of the violin family and has similar markings.

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Hh
Harmony: A combination of sound produced by instruments that create pleasing sounds.
Harpsichord: A keyboard instrument, which has string that are plucked by quills.
Holistic: Emphasizing the whole rather then the part.
Homophonic: A melody that has the same sound.

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Ii
Improvise: To compose or create without any forethought.
Inuit people: People who are a member of the Eskimo people of North America.

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Kk
Kithara: An instrument similar to the lyre that was played by ancient Greek musicians.

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Ll
Linear: Moving in a straight and logical path.
Lyre: A stringed instrument that belongs to the harp family. This instrument was used by the ancient Greeks to accompany a reader or singer in poetry telling.

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Mm
Maraca: A percussion instrument that consists of a hollow-gourd rattle that contains such things as pebbles or seeds and is usually played in pairs.
Masses: Songs that were sung in Catholic churches by the church choir.
Melatonin: A hormone, which comes from serotonin that stimulates color change in animals such as reptiles.
Melody: A pleasing arrangement of sounds.
Minstrel: A musician who travels a country to sing and recite poetry.
Monophonic: A single melodic line.
Muses: In Greek Mythology they were the nine daughters of Minemosyine and Zeus who presided over the different arts or sciences.

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Nn
Neuron: An impulse-conducting cell that constitutes the brain, spinal column, and nerves. Neurons usually have one or more dendrites an a single axon.
Notation: A collection of figures or symbols that are used in specific areas to represent numbers, quantities, tones, notes, or values.

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Oo
Orchestra: A large group of musicians who play various instruments of the woodwind, brass, string, and percussion families together.

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Pp
Panpipe: An antique woodwind instrument made up of pipes or reeds for linear length wrapped together and are played by blowing over the openings of the pipes or reeds.
Plato: One of the greatest ancient Greek philosophers. He was one of Socrates' students who later created his own academy.
Polyphonic: Music that has two or more melodic parts blended together.
Pythagoras: An ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician who founded a school that dealt with the study of harmony and geometry. He believed that music could bring the soul into harmony with the universe and divine.

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Rr
Rhythm: A constant sound created by a series of notes differing only in duration and stress.

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Ss
SAT: The Scholastic Aptitude Test is taken every year by high school seniors who want to go to college.
Serotonin: A biological compound that is formed from tryptophan which is present in vasoconstriction, stimulation of the smooth muscles, sending of impulses from nerve to nerve, and regulation of cyclic body functions.
Sound box: A hollow chamber in the body of an instrument, such as a guitar or fiddle, that intensifies the resonance of the tone.
Spatial: Dealing with the nature of space.
Symphony: See orchestra.
Synthesizer: A computer that creates sounds from digital instruction instead of manipulation of a physical instrument.

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Tt
Timbre: A distinctive tone produced by an instrument of voice.
Tonality: A system of seven tones established on a tonic key.

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Ww
Waltz music: Music that is danced in triple time with a strong accent on the first beat.

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User-Added Definitions
ska: A popular music of Jamaican origin that combines elements of traditional Caribbean rhythms and jazz. (Added by bjshell@daylightdeco.com)
cocaine: A bitter crystalline alkaloid obtained from coca leaves that is used medically as a topical anesthetic and illicitly for its euphoric effects and that may result in a compulsive psychological need. (Added by gundoo@uclink4.berkeley.edu)
Web site review in \"Spot on\" magazine?: Hello, Would you like to see your Web work showcased in the international youth magazine \"Spot on\"*? I found your \"fourth essential of life\" web site through a link from thinkquest.org. Each month, in our \"Projects online\" column, a young person presents his/her web project in his/her own words. I have a free slot in the coming issue. Interested? Then e-mail me ASAP at l.legg@spotlight-verlag.com (NOT at the above address!). I\'ll send you details on what I need for the presentation. Best regards, Lonnie Legg Editor / Spot on P.S. \"Spot on\" is also interested in young articulate writers for our opinion column, \"My View\". Would any of your students be interested? Could you name a teacher to contact? P.P.S. Are any of your school classes interested in exchanging messages with German-speaking pupils? If so, our readers are always looking for pen/e-pal contacts. We\'ll be glad to post an ad--I\'d just need two lines with brief info about the classes involved. *\"Spot on\" is a monthly English-language magazine based in Munich, Germany. Our readers are 12 to 16-year-old Germans, Austrians and Swiss interested in improving their English. (To find out more about \"Spot on\", go to www.spoton.de.) In our \"Web World\" column, we regularly feature web projects by and for teenagers. Tel: +49 (89) 85 68 13 12 Fax: +49 (89) 85 68 13 20 Spotlight Verlag Redaktion \"SPOT ON\" Fraunhoferstr. 22 D-82152, Planegg, Germany http://www.spoton.de (Added by l.legg@spotlight-verlag.com)
CBD: The CBD is what we call the Central Business District which is made up of buildings and shoping centres. (Added by k.southgate@mweb.co.za)
transport: moving from point A to point B. (Added by k.southgate@mweb.co.za)
antonym: A word which is described as opposite in meaning eg. fat-thin. (Added by k.southgate@mweb.co.za)
goujons: narrow deep-fried strips of meat or fish. (Added by k.southgate@mweb.co.za)
Ezra: a Jewish priest and scribe of the 5th or forth century BC (Added by k.southgate@mweb.co.za)
penis: (Added by basketball_pimp_30@yahoo.com)

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