Obama's speech at Connecticut vigil

Vocabulary from President Obama's speech at the vigil in Newtown, Conn. after the tragic shooting at the Sandy Hook elementary school (Dec. 16, 2012).

Transcript here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. community
    a group of people living in a particular local area
    To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests, scripture tells us, “Do not lose heart."
  2. clergy
    the entire class of religious officials
    To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests, scripture tells us, “Do not lose heart."
  3. scripture
    any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group
    To all the families, first responders, to the community of Newtown, clergy, guests, scripture tells us, “Do not lose heart."
  4. renew
    reestablish on an improved basis
    Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly, we are being renewed day by day.
  5. achieve
    gain with effort
    “For light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
  6. eternal
    continuing forever or indefinitely
    “For light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
  7. glory
    a state of high honor
    “For light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
  8. temporary
    not permanent; not lasting
    “For light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
  9. earthly
    of or belonging to or characteristic of this world
    “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven not built by human hands.”
  10. destroy
    do away with; cause the ruin or undoing of
    “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven not built by human hands.”
  11. gather
    assemble or get together
    We gather here in memory of 20 beautiful children and six remarkable adults.
  12. memory
    the power of retaining and recalling past experience
    We gather here in memory of 20 beautiful children and six remarkable adults.
  13. remarkable
    unusual or striking
    We gather here in memory of 20 beautiful children and six remarkable adults.
  14. adult
    a fully developed person from maturity onward
    We gather here in memory of 20 beautiful children and six remarkable adults.
  15. decent
    socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
    They lost their lives in a school that could have been any school in a quiet town full of good and decent people that could be any town in America.
  16. depth
    the extent downward or backward or inward
    I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts.
  17. sorrow
    an emotion of great sadness associated with loss
    I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts.
  18. wound
    hurt the feelings of
    I am very mindful that mere words cannot match the depths of your sorrow, nor can they heal your wounded hearts.
  19. grief
    intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one
    I can only hope it helps for you to know that you’re not alone in your grief, that our world, too, has been torn apart, that all across this land of ours, we have wept with you.
  20. measure
    how much there is or how many there are of something
    And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide.
  21. comfort
    a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
    And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide.
  22. provide
    give something useful or necessary to
    And you must know that whatever measure of comfort we can provide, we will provide.
  23. portion
    something determined in relation to a thing that includes it
    Whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it.
  24. sadness
    the state of experiencing sorrow
    Whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it.
  25. ease
    make less difficult
    Whatever portion of sadness that we can share with you to ease this heavy load, we will gladly bear it.
  26. difficult
    requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish
    As these difficult days have unfolded, you’ve also inspired us with stories of strength and resolve and sacrifice.
  27. inspire
    spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
    As these difficult days have unfolded, you’ve also inspired us with stories of strength and resolve and sacrifice.
  28. sacrifice
    a loss entailed by giving up something
    As these difficult days have unfolded, you’ve also inspired us with stories of strength and resolve and sacrifice.
  29. arrive
    reach a destination
    We know that when danger arrived in the halls of Sandy Hook Elementary, the school’s staff did not flinch.
  30. elementary
    of or pertaining to school for young children
    We know that when danger arrived in the halls of Sandy Hook Elementary, the school’s staff did not flinch.
  31. flinch
    draw back, as with fear or pain
    We know that when danger arrived in the halls of Sandy Hook Elementary, the school’s staff did not flinch.
  32. hesitate
    pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    They did not hesitate.
  33. respond
    show a reaction to something
    Dawn Hocksprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Russeau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy, they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances, with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.
  34. terrify
    frighten greatly
    Dawn Hocksprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Russeau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy, they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances, with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.
  35. circumstances
    one's overall condition in life
    Dawn Hocksprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Russeau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy, they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances, with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.
  36. courage
    a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain
    Dawn Hocksprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Russeau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy, they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances, with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.
  37. protect
    shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
    Dawn Hocksprung and Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Russeau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy, they responded as we all hope we might respond in such terrifying circumstances, with courage and with love, giving their lives to protect the children in their care.
  38. barricade
    prevent access to by blocking off with barriers
    We know that there were other teachers who barricaded themselves inside classrooms and kept steady through it all and reassured their students by saying, “Wait for the good guys, they are coming.
  39. steady
    securely in position; not shaky
    We know that there were other teachers who barricaded themselves inside classrooms and kept steady through it all and reassured their students by saying, “Wait for the good guys, they are coming.
  40. reassure
    cause to feel confident
    We know that there were other teachers who barricaded themselves inside classrooms and kept steady through it all and reassured their students by saying, “Wait for the good guys, they are coming.
  41. trauma
    an emotional wound or shock having long-lasting effects
    And we know that good guys came, the first responders who raced to the scene helping to guide those in harm’s way to safety and comfort those in need, holding at bay their own shock and their own trauma, because they had a job to do and others needed them more.
  42. instruction
    a message describing how something is to be done
    And then there were the scenes of the schoolchildren helping one another, holding each other, dutifully following instructions in the way that young children sometimes do, one child even trying to encourage a grownup by saying, “I know karate, so it’s OK; I’ll lead the way out.”
  43. encourage
    inspire with confidence
    And then there were the scenes of the schoolchildren helping one another, holding each other, dutifully following instructions in the way that young children sometimes do, one child even trying to encourage a grownup by saying, “I know karate, so it’s OK; I’ll lead the way out.”
  44. indescribable
    defying expression
    In the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you’ve looked out for each other.
  45. violence
    a turbulent state resulting in injuries and destruction
    In the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you’ve looked out for each other.
  46. unconscionable
    greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
    In the face of indescribable violence, in the face of unconscionable evil, you’ve looked out for each other.
  47. grace
    elegance and beauty of movement or expression
    This is how Newtown will be remembered, and with time and God’s grace, that love will see you through.
Created on December 16, 2012 (updated December 16, 2012)

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