Definitions

Here's a piece offering up some words you may not have known about, or have seldom heard, put into modern context. It's always good to expand your vocabulary, so drop on over and give it a read.

One jumped out at me and although I was already familiar with it, the definition struck a chord:

sangfroid |sä ng 'frwä|

noun

composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances

President Obama’s sangfroid in the face of economic collapse leads one to believe that controverting American exceptionalism is his goal.

To add to the definition, sangfroid is most easily achieved by closing ones eyes and turning up the volume on the MP3 player until the annoying sounds of people screaming and yelling is drowned out. Here's a reference:

The man at the wheel was made to feel
Contempt for the wildest blow-ow-ow
Tho' it often appeared when the gale had cleared,
That he'd been in his bunk below.