Historical Events Terminology

adjective extremely large; gigantic

• The company reported a colossal increase in profits this quarter.
• That new shopping mall is absolutely colossal!
• Did you see the size of that burger? It was colossal!
• The impact of the pandemic on the economy was colossal.

noun a previous time or circumstance

adjective existing or occurring before in time or order

adverb before or in front

• Prior to the meeting, please review the agenda and prepare any necessary materials.
• I need to finish this report prior to lunchtime.
• I gotta get my workout in prior to hitting the beach this weekend.
• He had to face his fears prior to achieving his goals.

noun the action of telling someone about something that happened; narrating or detailing

verb present participle of recount, which means to tell someone about something that happened; narrate or detail

• She spent hours recounting the events of the day in great detail.
• He kept recounting the story over and over again to anyone who would listen.
• I'm so tired of recounting the same old excuses for being late.
• The painting seemed to come to life, with each stroke recounting a different emotion.

adjective causing shame or disgrace; deserving of shame

• The company's unethical business practices were deemed shameful by the public.
• It's shameful how he never takes responsibility for his actions.
• That outfit is so shameful, you should change before we go out.
• The way she treated her friends was nothing short of shameful.

noun An event is a specific occurrence or happening.

• The assassination of President John F. Kennedy is often referred to as a flashbulb event, as many people remember exactly where they were when they heard the news.
• Do you remember when the power went out during the concert? It was a total flashbulb event!
• That party last night was a real flashbulb event - I'll never forget it!
• The moment she said yes to his proposal was a flashbulb event in his memory, forever etched in his mind.

verb to endure or remain relevant over a long period of time

• The ancient architecture of the city has proven to withstand the test of time.
• This old car sure has managed to withstand the test of time.
• Their friendship has really stood the test of time.
• The classic novel continues to withstand the test of time, remaining popular for generations.

noun a feeling of fear or dread; a state of being frightened or alarmed

• The sudden affrightment of the villagers was caused by the loud explosion.
• The affrightment on their faces told me they had seen something terrifying.
• I had never seen such affrightment on someone's face before, it was like they had seen a ghost.
• The affrightment in her eyes mirrored the fear in her heart.