The Search for Meaning in Work

The Search for The Search for Meaning in WorkMeaning in Work

By: Paul StevensBy: Paul Stevens

Counsel:Counsel: n. n. advice or guidance, especially as advice or guidance, especially as

solicited from a knowledgeable solicited from a knowledgeable person; a lawyer or group of lawyers person; a lawyer or group of lawyers giving legal advice and especially giving legal advice and especially conducting a case in court conducting a case in court

e.g. a career counsel e.g. a career counsel in-house legal counsel in-house legal counsel

counselcounsel V. V. to give advice or guidance to to give advice or guidance to

Students will be counseled by their lecturers and required to attend smoking cessation programme.

Close to (Line 9)Close to (Line 9) close to someoneclose to someone friendly or intimate with someone. friendly or intimate with someone.

(*Typically: (*Typically: be ~; get ~.be ~; get ~.) ) She is very shy and really won't let She is very shy and really won't let

anyone get close to her.anyone get close to her. It is difficult to get close to a loner It is difficult to get close to a loner

like Wally.like Wally.

contemplationcontemplation Thoughtful observation or study Thoughtful observation or study

Contemplate: primary stress on Contemplate: primary stress on the first syllable the first syllable

a.a. GazeGazeb.b. ponderponder

ingredientingredient an abstract part of something; food that is a an abstract part of something; food that is a

component of a mixture in cooking component of a mixture in cooking

Synonyms: component, constituent, element, Synonyms: component, constituent, element, factorfactor

"jealousy was a component of his character"; "jealousy was a component of his character"; "two constituents of a musical composition are "two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony"; "the grammatical melody and harmony"; "the grammatical elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a speech" speech"

Foreign to respondents in Foreign to respondents in the surveythe survey

not familiar; strange not familiar; strange

Take pride in (Line 24)Take pride in (Line 24) to be proud of someone or to be proud of someone or

something. something. I take a great deal of pride in my I take a great deal of pride in my

children. children. She takes pride in her work and it She takes pride in her work and it

shows in her products.shows in her products.

Pay packet (Line 28)Pay packet (Line 28) pay packetpay packet – – wages enclosed in an envelope for wages enclosed in an envelope for

distribution to the wage earner distribution to the wage earner

PayslipPayslip

Fluctuate (Line 38)Fluctuate (Line 38) to change frequently and erratically: to change frequently and erratically:

share prices fluctuated wildly share prices fluctuated wildly throughout the daythroughout the day

Guidance (Line 49)Guidance (Line 49) help, advice, or instruction, usually help, advice, or instruction, usually

from someone more experienced or from someone more experienced or more qualified: more qualified: marriage guidancemarriage guidance

At odds with (Line 52)At odds with (Line 52) In disagreement; in conflict: In disagreement; in conflict:

Director Peckinpah and actor Scott were frequently at odds during filming Their views are frequently at odds with the perceptions of professionals.

drudgerydrudgery uninteresting work that must be uninteresting work that must be

done done

Gritty determination Gritty determination (Line 60)(Line 60)

courageous and tough courageous and tough

A deeply valued pursuit A deeply valued pursuit (Line 64)(Line 64)

11. the act of pursuing . the act of pursuing 22. . an occupation or pastime "they criticized the boy for his

limited pursuits" "the culprit started to run and the

cop took off in pursuit"

Setback (Line 65)Setback (Line 65) An unanticipated or sudden check in An unanticipated or sudden check in

progress; a change from better to progress; a change from better to worse worse

e.g. Our economy suffers a temporary setback and a slowdown.

Set aside (Line 69)Set aside (Line 69) to reserve something for someone or to reserve something for someone or

some purpose. some purpose. I will set a piece of cake aside for you. I will set a piece of cake aside for you.

Liz set aside some cake for Karen.Liz set aside some cake for Karen. to save something for a particular to save something for a particular

purposepurpose It's wise to set aside some money for It's wise to set aside some money for

unexpected expenses that may come up unexpected expenses that may come up in the future.in the future.

Synergy (Line 75)Synergy (Line 75) the potential ability for individuals the potential ability for individuals

or groups to be more successful or groups to be more successful working together than on their own working together than on their own

Authentic (Line 79)Authentic (Line 79) 11. of undisputed origin or authorship; . of undisputed origin or authorship;

genuine genuine 22. reliable or accurate . reliable or accurate

"an authentic account by an eyewitness"; "an authentic account by an eyewitness";

not counterfeit or copied; "an authentic not counterfeit or copied; "an authentic signature"; signature";

Beckon from other Beckon from other directions (L84)directions (L84)

11. to summon with a gesture . to summon with a gesture 22. . to lure: to lure: fame beckonedfame beckoned

Approval (Line 85)Approval (Line 85) 11. consent . consent 22. . a favourable opiniona favourable opinion "although she fussed at them, she "although she fussed at them, she

secretly viewed all her children with secretly viewed all her children with approval"approval"

33. . on approvalon approval (of articles for sale) with (of articles for sale) with an option to be returned without payment an option to be returned without payment if unsatisfactory: if unsatisfactory: each volume in the each volume in the collection will be sent to you on approvalcollection will be sent to you on approval

Pay one’s dues (Line 88)Pay one’s dues (Line 88) to have earned one's right to to have earned one's right to

something through hard work or something through hard work or suffering. suffering.

He worked hard to get to where he is He worked hard to get to where he is today. He paid his dues and did what today. He paid his dues and did what he was told. he was told.

I have every right to be here. I paid my I have every right to be here. I paid my dues!dues!

to pay the fees required to belong to to pay the fees required to belong to an organization. an organization.

If you haven't paid your dues, you If you haven't paid your dues, you can't come to the club picnic.can't come to the club picnic.

How many people have paid their How many people have paid their dues?dues?

Participate (Line 91)Participate (Line 91) 1. 1. To take part in something: To take part in something:

participated in the festivities.participated in the festivities. 2. 2. To share in something: To share in something: If only I If only I

could participate in your good could participate in your good fortune.fortune.

Grapple with (Line 96)Grapple with (Line 96) to deal with a problem; to get a to deal with a problem; to get a

"good hold" on a problem. "good hold" on a problem. I have enough to grapple with now. I have enough to grapple with now. No more problems, please.No more problems, please. I cannot I cannot

grapple with any additional grapple with any additional problems.problems.

Fit together (Line 102)Fit together (Line 102) to put the parts of something to put the parts of something

together. together. First you have to fit the pieces First you have to fit the pieces

together to see if they are all there.together to see if they are all there. I think I can fit the parts of the I think I can fit the parts of the

model airplane together.model airplane together. Do you Do you think you can fit together all the think you can fit together all the parts of the puzzle?parts of the puzzle?

fit togetherfit together [for things] to conform in shape to [for things] to conform in shape to

one another. one another. All the pieces of the All the pieces of the puzzle fit together. They really do.puzzle fit together. They really do. This nut and bolt just don't fit This nut and bolt just don't fit together.together.

Facilitate (Line 103)Facilitate (Line 103) to make easier the progress of: to make easier the progress of:

the agreement helped facilitate the agreement helped facilitate trade between the countriestrade between the countries

Dilemma (Line 108)Dilemma (Line 108) a situation offering a choice between a situation offering a choice between

two equally undesirable alternatives two equally undesirable alternatives USAGE: The use of USAGE: The use of dilemmadilemma to refer to refer

to a problem that seems incapable of to a problem that seems incapable of a solution is considered by some a solution is considered by some people to be incorrect.people to be incorrect.

Satisfactory (Line 114 )Satisfactory (Line 114 ) giving satisfaction; giving satisfaction; "satisfactory living conditions"; "satisfactory living conditions"; "his grades were satisfactory" "his grades were satisfactory"

meeting requirements; "the step meeting requirements; "the step makes a satisfactory seat" makes a satisfactory seat"

Commence (Line 117)Commence (Line 117) take the first step or steps in take the first step or steps in

carrying out an action carrying out an action

commence learning English commence learning English We commence building on March 18thWe commence building on March 18th

Interplay (Line 119)Interplay (Line 119) the action and reaction of things the action and reaction of things

upon each otherupon each other

the interplay of light and shadow the interplay of light and shadow

Multifarious analysis Multifarious analysis (Line 123)(Line 123)

many and varied: many and varied:

multifarious religious movements multifarious religious movements and political divisions sprang up and political divisions sprang up around this timearound this time

Irrevocable (Line 128)Irrevocable (Line 128) not possible to change or undo not possible to change or undo

Ordain (Line 129)Ordain (Line 129) order by virtue of superior authority; order by virtue of superior authority;

decree; decree;

"The King ordained the persecution "The King ordained the persecution and expulsion of the Jews"; and expulsion of the Jews";

"the legislature enacted this law in "the legislature enacted this law in 1985" 1985"

Rational (Line 131)Rational (Line 131) 1. 1. Having or exercising the ability to Having or exercising the ability to

reason.reason. 2. 2. Of sound mind; sane.Of sound mind; sane. 3. 3. Consistent with or based on Consistent with or based on

reason; logical: reason; logical: rational behaviorrational behavior

Glimpse (Line 137)Glimpse (Line 137) a brief view: a brief view: a glimpse of a rare a glimpse of a rare

snow leopardsnow leopard

A host of (Line 144)A host of (Line 144) 1. 1. An army.An army. 2. 2. A great number; a multitude.A great number; a multitude.

Variable (Line 144)Variable (Line 144) Something that varies or is prone to Something that varies or is prone to

variation. variation.

adj.adj. 1. a. 1. a. Likely to change or vary; Likely to change or vary; subject to variation; changeable.subject to variation; changeable.

b. b. Inconstant; fickle.Inconstant; fickle.

Have a bearing on (Line Have a bearing on (Line 153)153)

to have relevance to something.to have relevance to something. (Note the use of (Note the use of nono and and anyany in the negative.) in the negative.) I know something that has some bearing on I know something that has some bearing on

the issue you are discussing.the issue you are discussing. This has no bearing on anything that will This has no bearing on anything that will

happen today.happen today. This doesn't have any bearing This doesn't have any bearing on all that.on all that.

What bearing does John's decision have on What bearing does John's decision have on the situation?the situation?

Conform (Line 144)Conform (Line 144) to agree with or behave within to agree with or behave within

guidelines or regulations. guidelines or regulations. I hope that your policies will I hope that your policies will

conform to our guidelines.conform to our guidelines. Does my Does my casual dress conform to your casual dress conform to your regulations?regulations?

Set ourselves up (Line Set ourselves up (Line 166)166)

to help establish someone in to help establish someone in business; to provide the money business; to provide the money someone needs to start a business. someone needs to start a business.

My father set my sisters up in My father set my sisters up in business. He helped set them up so business. He helped set them up so he could keep the business in the he could keep the business in the family.family.

Debilitating (Line 177)Debilitating (Line 177) impairing the strength and vitality impairing the strength and vitality

Abdication (Line 181)Abdication (Line 181) the formal act by a regent of the formal act by a regent of

resigning from his position. resigning from his position.

Tapestry of life (Line Tapestry of life (Line 189)189)

a colourful and complicated situation a colourful and complicated situation that is made up of many different kinds that is made up of many different kinds of things:of things:

the rich tapestry of Hindustani musicthe rich tapestry of Hindustani music

A heavy cloth woven with rich, often A heavy cloth woven with rich, often varicolored designs or scenes, usually varicolored designs or scenes, usually hung on walls for decoration and hung on walls for decoration and sometimes used to cover furniture. sometimes used to cover furniture.

Bear up (Line 190)Bear up (Line 190) (under something) (under something) 1.1. Lit.Lit. to hold up under something; to to hold up under something; to

sustain the weight of something. sustain the weight of something. How is How is the new beam bearing up under the the new beam bearing up under the weight of the floor?weight of the floor? It isn't bearing up. It It isn't bearing up. It broke.broke.

2.2. Fig.Fig. [for someone] to remain brave [for someone] to remain brave under a mental or emotional burden. under a mental or emotional burden. Jill Jill did not bear up well under problems with did not bear up well under problems with her family.her family. Jill bore up quite well amid Jill bore up quite well amid serious difficulties.serious difficulties.