X is for Xanthicus

My favourite letter of the Alphabet - or rather, the one that gives me the most challenge! 😀

Xanthicus (noun): the name of the sixth month of the Macedonian calendar of the Seleucid Syrians. It corresponds with Nisan in the Jewish calendar or April in the Gregorian calendar.

Of course. At least I didn't pick xenophobia again ...

W is for Witness

witness (noun):

1. a person who sees an event first-hand or provides evidence
2. someone who has personal knowledge of something, or someone
3. someone who is asked to be present at a particular event and sign their name in order to prove that things have been done correctly

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

V is for Vindication

vindication (noun): the fact of proving that what someone said or did was right or true, after other people thought it was wrong.

The earliest known use of this English word was from the Middle Ages (1150—1500).

Psalm 17:2 (NIV)

Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.

U is for Unobtainium

Unobtainium (noun):  a fictional material which would be ideal for a particular application however it is impossible to obtain. To clarify, it describes "a material that would be perfect for our purposes, if we could get it, but we can't".

First coined in the 1950s, aerospace engineers used the term when referring to unusual or costly materials, or when theoretically considering a material perfect for their needs in all respects, except that it does not exist. It often pops up in science fiction as a MacGuffin. 

(n.b., a MacGuffin is a plot device in fiction—an object, person, or secret—that motivates the characters and drives the narrative).

T is for Theology

theology (noun): the study of religious faith, practice, and experience, especially focusing on God and of God's relationship to the world.

The term originates from the Greek words theos (meaning God) and logos (meaning word, reason, or study). Therefore, it is the human effort to understand and articulate the meaning of faith, spirituality, and existence.

Even if you don't possess a faith, it's only by trying to studying the effects of the Christian faith on human history, ethics and culture that you will start to understand our contemporary world.

S is for Serenity

serenity (noun) : a state of peacefulness and calm; tranquillity; unruffled repose or quiet.

In a biblical context, this refers to a profound inner peace and tranquillity rooted in faith, surrender, and trust in God's sovereignty. It indicates a calmness of spirit that transcends human understanding, even in the midst of life's challenges.

In a science fiction context, it's the name of the spacecraft that appears in Joss Whedon's Firefly TV series and related works.

If you want an interesting discussion, ask me which one of these three I most need in my life.

R is for Robot

robot (noun) : a programmable machine designed to automatically carry out complex tasks. Such a machine is controlled by a computer. Robotic characters have become a staple of science fiction, however robots are now increasingly part of our modern lives.

The word was coined by Czech writer Karel Čapek—and suggested by his brother Josef Čapek—in the 1920 science-fiction play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots). It derives from the Czech word robota, which translates to "forced labour" or "drudgery".

Calling someone by this name implies they act like a robot; that they are someone who does things in a very effective way but never shows their emotions. 

Q is for Quatermass

The Quatermass Experiment was a British science fiction serial written by Nigel Kneale and broadcast by the BBC during the summer of 1953. It told the story of the first crewed flight into space, supervised by Professor Bernard Quatermass of the British Experimental Rocket Group (played by Reginald Tate)

It was the first science fiction production to be written especially for a British adult television audience, and  was transmitted live from BBC's studios at Alexandra Palace.  Only two episodes survive in the archives, the other four were not recorded during their live broadcast.

P is for Poppycock

poppycock (noun):  nonsense, foolish talk.

A lovely word, with a whole string of lovely synonyms:  hogwash, bunk, balderdash, malarkey, and codswallop.

The term actually originated from America in the mid-19th century and was derived from the Dutch word poppekak, which means “doll’s excrement”. 

It is also the name of a premium brand of gourmet candied popcorn sold in North America (often featuring almonds and pecans). 

O is for Omnipresent

omnipresent (adjective): present in all places at all times.

The prefix omni means “all”.

God the Father is usually associated with omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, so this can be paraphrased by saying that God is “all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present.” 

• An omnipresent god has the ability to be everywhere all at once. See Psalm 139:7 - Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
• An omniscient god knows everything. Such a god would have the power to know the future, the present, and the past. See 1 John 3:19-20 - This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
• An omnipotent god has unlimited power. God created the universe and there is nothing that he cannot do. See Matthew 19:26 - Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

All scripture quotes from the NIV translation.