The Art of Stillness | Pico Iyer | TED

Important Vocabulary Words From The Video

candlelit

When something is candlelit, it's lit by candles. This usually means that the light is soft and gentle, and it's not very bright.

  • The restaurant was candlelit, which made the atmosphere romantic and peaceful.
  • The party was candlelit, which made it feel like a special occasion.
truest

The truest thing is the truth. The truth is what is real, what exists in reality.

  • The truest thing is that you should always be honest with your friends.
  • The truest thing is that you should always be truthful.
spokesmen

A spokesperson is someone who is chosen to represent a company or organization in public. They are usually chosen for their skills in speaking and writing.

  • The company chose a spokesperson to represent them in the media.
  • The spokesperson was called to speak on behalf of the company after the accident.
foisting

Foisting is when someone forces someone else to do something that they don't want to do. They might foist the responsibility of cleaning the house on their spouse, or they might foist their opinion on you.

  • He was foisting his weight on me, and I could feel his anger through the touch.
  • She was foisting her opinion on me, and I didn't want to hear it.
backstreets

The backstreets are the streets that run behind the main streets in a city. They are often quieter and less busy, and they are often used by the homeless, the drug addicts, and the criminals.

  • The backstreets were closed due to a riot.
  • The backstreets are a dangerous place to be, because the criminals live there.
encircled

When something is encircled, it is surrounded by something else. This can be a physical circle or an emotional one.

  • The city was encircled by the army.
  • The company was encircled by the investors.
veers

To veer is to move off course, to go off the path that you were supposed to follow. When you veer off the road, you can end up in a lot of trouble.

  • He veered off the road and crashed into a tree.
  • The politician veered away from the question and gave a long speech instead.
heartthrob

A heartthrob is a popular actor, singer, or sports player that everyone seems to be talking about. They are usually admired for their looks more than their talent.

  • He's considered a heartthrob because of his good looks and sexy smile.
  • She's a heartthrob because she's beautiful and popular, even though she doesn't have any acting ability.
unsexy

Unsexy is a word that is often used to describe things or people that are not very good or attractive. People often use the word to describe things that are not very helpful or polite.

  • The movie was not very unsexy, and it was not very good either.
  • The party was not very unsexy, and the majority of the guests were not very polite.