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Local doctors have given an update on Pope Francis' condition-- unfortunately, he is now in critical condition after being diagnosed with double pneumonia earlier in the week. Pope Francis is the presiding leader over the Catholic church, and he lives in the Vatican Palace within Vatican City. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936, he is now 88 years old and has been the Pope since 2013, when he was elected as the successor of Pope Benedict XVI after the latter's resignation. At 88 years old, his health had started to become a major concern. In 1957, when the Pope was in his early 20s, he was forced to undergo surgery to get part of one lung removed after a severe respiratory infection, and he has also experienced issues like sciatica, additional respiratory infections, and an abdominal hernia, the latter of which required surgery in 2023. Last week, the Pope was sent to the hospital with bronchitis, and he was later diagnosed with double pneumonia, also known as bilateral pneumonia, after a CT scan. Pneumonia is an illness where a virus or bacteria causes inflammation and swelling of the lungs, making it tough to breathe, and it can cause the lungs to fill up with fluid or pus. Unfortunately, doctors have confirmed that it is an extremely complex case because it is polymicrobial, meaning that there are different kinds of organisms causing the pneumonia. Nevertheless, the Pope was able to sleep well, sit up, and eat breakfast just a few days later, showing signs of improvement. The Vatican had kept extremely quiet about his condition, though, meaning that everyone did not have very many details on his health. However, that quickly took a downturn on Friday, when he experienced a "asthmatic respiratory crisis." Doctors confirmed that he was in critical condition, and he required extra oxygen to breathe better and a blood transfusion to treat his anemia. Anemia is where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to the body, and it is a side effect of severe pneumonia. Thankfully, he made it through the procedures, and is now alert and alive in his wheelchair. He is still in much worse condition than earlier, though, and his death is not out of the picture. If the Pope were to pass away from the illness, it would spark a conclave among the College of Cardinals, who would then choose a cardinal to become the next Pope. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Before 1920, some people used to send their children in the mail. There were several recorded instances of parents who were too poor to buy a train ticket packing their kids into a box and mailing them off, but the practice was quickly banned. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you. (B.B. King) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Astute (adj, uh-STOOT) - Someone or something described as astute has or shows an ability to notice and understand things clearly. In other words, they are mentally sharp or clever. Astute can also describe someone who is crafty or wily. In a Sentence: They made some astute observations about the movie industry.

We apologize that this article was published slightly late due to a scheduling issue. The latest hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas went smoothly today despite some recent hostility between the two sides. This week, Hamas was scheduled to send the remains of four people to Israel, consisting of two children, their mother, and an 85-year-old. The father of the two children, Yarden Bibas, had been recently released by Hamas, as he was also taken hostage in October 2023. Hamas claimed that the two children, Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas, and the mother, Shiri Bibas, were killed in an Israeli bombing back in November 2023. However, the remains were sent back on Thursday, and it sparked outrage across Israel. The autopsy done on the two children, who were 4 years old and around 10 months old, respectively, revealed that they had been "brutally murdered" by Hamas using their "bare hands." Meanwhile, the third body sent back turned out to be that of a Palestinian woman killed during the war, not that of Shiri Bibas. Her body was later returned, and the Israeli Institute of Forensic Medicine has confirmed her identity with a DNA test. The autopsy is still being completed, but it has been assumed that she was murdered in the same way as her children. Despite the incident, today, the latest hostage release went through. Hamas released five hostages and is expected to release a sixth later today, and Israel will hand over 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange-- this makes it the largest release of prisoners in the war so far. The current ceasefire, which is extremely fragile, has been up and down, but it is still holding for now. Unfortunately, tension between Hamas and Israel is continuing to rise, and this agreement will not last for much longer. The deal is beginning to come to an end, as the six-week ceasefire period ends on March 2, and the next phase must be confirmed before that date or the fighting will resume. No talks have taken place yet, though, as several members of the Israeli government are encouraging additional fighting. However, dozens of living hostages still remain in Gaza, and many Israelis see that as a priority over taking down Hamas. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): You can tell how old an egg is based on whether it floats or not. Old eggs will tilt upward or even float due to the expansion of the air cell inside the egg, meaning that it is too old to consume. However, fresher eggs will sink. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong. (Calvin Coolidge) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jabberwocky (noun, JAB-er-wah-kee) - Jabberwocky refers to meaningless speech or writing. In a Sentence: When the character gets angry or flustered, she talks in a sort of agitated jabberwocky that is really quite comical.

The United States Internal Revenue Service has cut over 6,000 jobs amid Trump's crackdown on government spending, and the layoffs are occurring in the middle of tax-filing season. The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, is a crucial organization that collects federal taxes from the entire American population. They also work on the implementation of benefit programs like the Affordable Care Act. The agency was created in 1862 and became more prominent after the passing of the 16th Amendment in 1913, which put income tax into the Constitution, and it operates under the Department of the Treasury. The IRS employs around 100,000 people across the country, making it a major provider of jobs to accountants, lawyers, and people in other professions. Meanwhile, Trump has been pushing forward with his spending cuts for the United States government with the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE is led by billionaire Elon Musk, who has been taking significant action in recent weeks. For example, he recently shut down the USAID program and eliminated the government's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, both of which were met with mixed reactions. Now, in Trump's latest move, he has announced that the government will be laying off over 6,700 IRS employees, which is over 6% of the agency's workforce. The move primarily works as a counter to actions taken by former President Joe Biden, who invested money into expanding the IRS during his term. Between 2021 and 2024, the Biden administration hired over 20,000 new employees for the IRS, aiming to bolster enforcement on wealthier taxpayers. However, Republicans opposed this idea, claiming that it would become a pain for many Americans, and they have now taken action against it. The layoffs of thousands of IRS employees may also have a substantial impact on tax-filing season, which is the busiest time of the year for the IRS. Over 140 million tax returns are expected to be filed by the deadline, which is April 15, and February is the busiest month for the IRS call center. The agency has been long known for being short-staffed, and tax filing is already a significant pain for many people who have to spend hours on the phone or send and resend mail-- and the latest layoffs could make tax processing even slower. Trump has maintained that the layoffs will mostly affect newer employees with less experience, but they will be spread out across all 50 states. The IRS, though, has confirmed that they will keep some employees that are absolutely necessary for tax-filing season, meaning that not all of the layoffs would occur immediately. However, it is still seen as a big win for Trump and his administration, who have been working towards lowering government expenses in an attempt to reduce the country's massive debt. They have set a goal to decrease spending by at least $1 trillion, though, which will be tough. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The novel Gadsby , written by Ernest Vincent Wright in 1939, is a lipogram, which is written without a certain letter or letters. Gadsby , which is over 50,000 words, does not contain the letter "e" at all. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. (William Arthur Ward) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Flounder (verb, FLOUN-der) - To flounder is to struggle, whether that struggle is about moving or obtaining footing (as in “horses floundering through deep snow”) or about knowing what to do or say. In a Sentence: Caught off-guard by the reporter’s question, the mayor floundered for a few moments before remembering the talking points he had rehearsed.

Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital with bronchitis last week, and local doctors have confirmed that he has pneumonia in both lungs, sparking concerns over the 88-year-old's health. Pope Francis is the leader of the Catholic church, residing in the Vatican Palace within Vatican City. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936, he is now 88 years old and has been the Pope since 2013 when he was elected as the successor of Pope Benedict XVI. As a Pope, he has numerous responsibilities-- the Pope is an extremely important position which many duties. The primary job of a Pope is to lead the Catholic church, which is a massive responsibility in itself-- the Catholic church has over 1.3 billion followers worldwide. The Pope also works as a mediator in negotiations between nations, makes crucial decisions on aspects of faith and morality, and much more. In recent years, Pope Francis' health has become a concern as he goes further into his older years, but this isn't the first time he's had such problems. In 1957, a severe respiratory infection in Argentina resulted in him having to get part of his lung removed, which has made it easier for him to contract viruses and other illnesses. He has also faced multiple other problems like sciatica, knee pain, and colon issues in the past few years, which are another sign of his deteriorating health. Now, after being sent to the hospital with bronchitis last week, he has been diagnosed with double pneumonia, also known as bilateral pneumonia. Pneumonia is an illness where a virus or bacteria causes inflammation and swelling of the lungs, making it tough to breathe, and it can cause the lungs to fill up with fluid or pus. This can cause life-threatening, critical conditions in some people, and unfortunately, the Pope has pneumonia in both lungs. The doctors have described it has a "polymicrobial infection," meaning that a combination of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are causing his pneumonia. While Catholics and others all over the world are now praying for him, many people in the Vatican have begun to prepare for his death, writing eulogies and rehearsing his funeral. Also, the Vatican has kept extremely quiet about his condition, but they have revealed some information. They stated that the Pope is stable and slightly improving, as he was able to sit up and eat breakfast this morning. If the Pope were to not survive this illness, there are a multitude of cardinals who could take over his position-- the College of Cardinals would make that decision and elect the next Pope. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The longest breath ever held underwater was 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds, with the record set by Budimir Šobat in 2021. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you want things to be different, perhaps the answer is to become different yourself. (Norman Vincent Peale) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Obtuse (adj, ahb-TOOSS) - Obtuse is a formal word that describes someone who is not able to think clearly or to understand what is obvious or simple. It can also suggest a refusal to see something apparent to others, or a willful ignorance of or insensitivity to the real facts of a situation. Obtuse can also describe something that is difficult to understand because it is unclear or imprecise. In a Sentence: They were too obtuse to take a hint.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been charged with attempting a coup to take down current President Lula de Silva, who took power from Bolsonaro in 2022. Bolsonaro took power in 2019, but he was an extremely right-wing politician and took steps that many Brazilians disliked. Despite greatly helping Brazil's economy by encouraging the opening of new small businesses, many of his policies were major detriments to the environment and the indigenous peoples of Brazil. In a country home to the Amazon Rainforest, which is disappearing at an unprecedented pace, Brazilians realized the need for protection of their wildlife and elected Lula de Silva in the 2022 election. Lula took power for the second time on January 1, 2023, as he had previously served as Brazil's president from 2003 to 2011 after winning two consecutive elections. Now, Brazil's prosecutor general, Paulo Gonet, has charged Bolsonaro of planning major actions to take down Lula's government and restore his power. Gonet claims that an organization consisting of 33 members in addition to Bolsonaro, created a dangerous plan by the name of the "Green and Yellow Dagger," referencing the green and yellow colors on the Brazilian flag. Allegedly, the plan involved attacking government offices, poisoning Lula, and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Justice de Moraes was known for his left-wing actions, which often included ordering probes into Bolsonaro's actions. Gonet also stated that the "Green and Yellow Dagger" plan was then brought to Bolsonaro himself, who accepted the idea. Bolsonaro and his defense team have strongly denied these claims, though, and his son, Flávio Bolsonaro, accused Gonet of working towards Lula's "nefarious interests." Bolsonaro has assured the public that it is all a scheme and there is no evidence to back up their case, but Gonet's team has confirmed that they have obtained a multitude of documents and online conversations that bolster their case. Now, Bolsonaro's case will head to the Supreme Court, where they will decide on the legitimacy of the indictment. If Bolsonaro is taken into court, he could face up to 20 years in prison, and he has already been banned from the 2026 election because he abused his power and diminished the public's trust in Brazil's electronic voting system. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): You’d think that the bigger the stomach, the more hot dogs would be able to fit, right? Not quite. Actually, lighter contestants in eating competitions can out-eat their heavier competitors because a skinny person has room for their stomach to expand without being blocked by a ring of fat. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence . (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Chutzpah (noun, KHOOTS-puh) - Chutzpah is audacious boldness often paired with reckless self-confidence. Someone with chutzpah dares to do or say things that seem shocking to others. In a Sentence: It took a lot of chutzpah to stand up to her boss the way she did.

Dozens of people were injured after a Delta plane crash-landed upside-down in Toronto, but miraculously, no one was killed. Delta Airlines Flight 4819, a 16-year-old CRJ900 aircraft, departed from Minneapolis on Monday with 80 people on board, and it traveled east for around two hours before making its descent into Toronto, which had been enveloped in a blizzard for the previous few days. The runway, located at Toronto Pearson International Airport, had been covered in snow, and weather conditions at the time had contributed to a tough landing. Just moments after the wheels touched the runway, the plane had skidded into a roll, and within seconds, the plane was smoking, upside-down, in the middle of the runway. All 76 passengers and four crew survived the crash, which had occurred at high speed and had resulted in the destruction of the plane, and quickly climbed out into the freezing weather as the plane began smoking from its belly. First responders rushed to the scene, with officials helping people evacuate the aircraft while firefighters doused the remains of the plane in water. An investigation quickly began taking place, and more information was found out after interviews with passengers and several expert analyses. Passengers told media that the plane had been coming in smoothly, but the moment it hit the ground, there was a large skid, presumably due to the slippery conditions on the tarmac. Others reported seeing fire outside the window before the aircraft went into a roll, skidding down the runway upside-down before screeching to a halt. Images showed the plane's body lying upside-down on the tarmac with the right wing mostly clipped off, while the left wing was battered but partly intact. Several analyses of the local weather conditions revealed that there were sustained winds of around 30 mph at the time of landing, along with gusts of an additional 8-10 mph. Due to the powdery snow on the ground, these winds may have affected visibility on the runway, obscuring the area in front of the pilot as snow blew across the ground. Investigations into the incident are still ongoing, and authorities will aim to find out more about how the crash happened in the coming days. For now, Toronto's airport remains open, but two of its five runways are closed. This will just pile up onto the airport's woes as winter weather sparks numerous delays and cancellations across the region-- less runways to execute takeoffs and landings will just exacerbate those problems. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Tuna fish can swim at a breakneck pace. The fastest speed a tuna can swim has been recorded at around 28 mph. By comparison, the fastest-ever human swimmer swam at a recorded speed of 5.05 mph. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen. (Michael Jordan) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Pertain (verb, per-TAYN) - To pertain to someone or something is to relate, refer, or have a connection to that person or thing. In a Sentence: That law pertains only to people who live in this state.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to offer British troops to Ukraine for protection if needed when a peace agreement has been reached, which the US and Russia are working on. United States President Donald Trump began negotiations over a peace deal last week, starting the process with a long phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated after the call that it had been "highly productive," and confirmed that Ukraine may need to give up some of the land it has lost to Russia in order to reach a peace agreement. This quickly sparked concern among several European countries, as the US seemed to be leaving them out of negotiations. Nations like France and the UK have maintained that they must be part of the talks, as they believe that Trump could foster the creation of a pro-Russia deal, and they have also stated that they need to be part of peace talks because their security is at risk. Additionally, these countries are urging the US to ensure that Ukraine is involved in talks, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that  "can be no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine." However, the US has forged ahead with their talks with Russia, and the two sides are expected to meet sometime later this week in Saudi Arabia, a neutral zone, to discuss further. In response to this, European leaders called for an emergency meeting today in Paris, during which they will talk about their exclusion from negotiations and express their concerns with the upcoming peace agreement. Now, the United Kingdom has taken their negotiations a step further by pledging support for Ukraine in the future. Starmer stated that any sort of ceasefire cannot be simply temporary, and he will be sending troops to Ukraine after a deal is agreed upon to discourage Russia from attacking again. This would help to guarantee that Russia would not invade after a ceasefire is established, as Ukraine would have more support behind them to defend against further attacks. Upcoming Events: Global Tourism Resilience Day (Monday, February 17) World Day of Social Justice (Thursday, February 20) International Mother Language Day (Friday, February 21) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): In the olden days, smiling in pictures was considered unsociable and a sign of poor behavior. However, similing in photos is said to have originated from a Kodak advertising scheme that focused on capturing moments of happiness with the product. Since then, it’s been normal to smile at the camera during photos. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things. (Joseph Pilates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Non sequitur (noun, NAHN-SEK-wuh-ter) - A non sequitur is a statement that either does not logically follow from, or is not clearly related to, what was previously said. In a Sentence: We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog.

Israel and Hamas have completed their next prisoner exchange, which confirms that their ceasefire deal is still going and will not be broken up. The current ceasefire deal was negotiated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in the Qatari capital of Doha, and it took effect on January 19. The deal  secured the release of 33 Israeli hostages from Hamas and over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israel, as well as establishing that Israel would need to remove all of their forces from the Gaza Strip. Now, only two weeks remain in the ceasefire, but hostage exchanges are continuing. Earlier this week, Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement and delayed the next hostage release, sparking outrage. The United States also stepped in, with President Donald Trump ordering Hamas to send all hostages back to Israel immediately, or else. Israel agreed with the statement but slightly changed it to say that they would resume their bombardment of Gaza if the next few hostages were not sent by Saturday-- Trump had demanded for all hostages to be sent back. Now, the sixth hostage exchange has gone through, restoring some confidence in the deal. Hamas gave three hostages to the Red Cross while Israel sent 369 prisoners of war back to Gaza. The Red Cross has acted as a neutral party to facilitate the exchanges throughout the agreement. However, there are still over 70 hostages in Hamas' possession, although Israel suspects that many of them could be dead. The ceasefire comes to an end in two weeks, meaning that many hostages will be left in Gaza. While the two countries were slated to begin negotiations over the next phase of the deal several days ago, Israel seems to be stalling for time until it is too late. If the second phase is not confirmed before the end of the current agreement, Israel will continue their strikes and invasion into Gaza, continuing the devastation of the strip. On the other hand, Trump's suggestion of the US taking over Gaza has been strongly rejected by Arab nations, as he would force all Palestinians to leave the region permanently. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The secret to pain relief may be in your backyard-- or not. For centuries, willow bark has been used as an alternative to aspirin. The active ingredient in the bark, salicyl, turns to salicylic acid and is more gentle on the stomach than over-the-counter aspirin. However, willow bark does not agree with some people, and it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, and allergic reactions. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is better to stand and fight. If you run, you’ll only die tired. (Viking Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Livid (adj, LIV-id) - Livid means "very angry, enraged, or furious." It may also describe things having a dark purplish or reddish color. In a Sentence: The teen's parents were livid when they discovered she had lied about her whereabouts.

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group has continued their invasion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the last few weeks, and they recently seized the second airport of their invasion. The rebels are a militia known as M23, which stands for March 23 Movement. The group is made up primarily of Tutsis, an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region who reside in the Rwanda-Burundi area. In 2012, they took control of the city of Goma, but were defeated by Congolese and UN forces just months later after losing some Rwandan support. M23 began their incursion earlier in January, invading the area north of Goma, before storming and taking control of Goma on January 27. Soon after taking over, they closed down Goma's airspace, trapping millions of people inside, and they established that they plan to hold the city for a long period of time. While Goma is located on the southern border of North Kivu, a province in the eastern part of the DRC on the border with Rwanda, the fighting has continued over the past few weeks, and M23 has made advances into the province of South Kivu. Both provinces border Lake Kivu, which has Goma on its north side and another city by the name of Bukavu on its south side. Just north of Bukavu is the area of Kavumu, which is home to the city's airport. Bukavu is one of the DRC's largest cities, home to over 1.1 million people. However, like Goma, it is located in the eastern portion of the country, which is a region that is extremely rich in valuable minerals. An abundance of materials like gold, bismuth, beryllium, and tin in South Kivu have led to countless conflicts over resources, with major armed groups attempting to exploit the local materials. Out of these groups, though, M23 is the strongest with its Rwandan backing. Now, M23 has taken control of Bukavu as well, and it maintains control over the entire area around Lake Kivu, which stretches into Rwanda. Overall, residents have not reported much fighting-- locals have stated that M23 seems to have stormed the city with minimal to no conflict. Congolese President Felix Tshesekedi has blamed Rwanda for the conflict, claiming that they maintain "expansionist ambitions," and he called for sanctions on the East African country during this weekend's Munich Security Conference. Similarly, the annual meeting of the African Union is taking place this weekend in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa to discuss how to halt the conflict. However, due to measures being taken to stop M23, Tshesekedi is not able to attend, so Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka will take his place at the summit. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Your skin constantly sheds. The current skin you’re in will be gone in a month-- our skin sheds 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells each day. In fact, over 100 of those cells probably flaked off while you were reading this sentence. However, it rejuvenates just as quickly as it deteriorates. In addition, regular exfoliation twice a week helps get rid of lingering skin cells to make room for a fresh layer. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you give your trust to a person who does not deserve it, you actually give him the power to destroy you. (Khaled Saad) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Billet-doux (noun, bill-ee-DOO) - A billet-doux is a love letter. The word's plural is billets-doux . In a Sentence: Since their relationship was long-distance, the couple thought it would be cute to send each other billets-doux on their anniversary.

Happy Valentine's Day! Dozens of people were injured yesterday after a car plowed into a crowd of people in Munich, Germany, just 10 days before the country's next election. The car ramming took place during a protest by a large labor union, meaning that there were over 1,500 people on the streets at the time of the attack. Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft, or ver.di for short, is Germany's second largest trade union with over 1.9 million members. Some of these members were rallying on local streets, and the group was crossing the intersection of Karlstrasse and Siedlstrasse at the time of the attack, which was around 10:30 am. Then, a Mini Cooper accelerated past local police and plowed into the back of the group, injuring over 30 people, at least two of which were critically injured. The suspect fired one gunshot before being arrested by police, and he was later confirmed to be a 24-year-old Afghan man who had been seeking asylum in Germany. The man's asylum application had been rejected by the government, but he had not been forced to return to Afghanistan yet due to the dangerous conditions in that region. However, the suspect does not have any criminal history, and seems to be a regular citizen with a proper work permit and house. The incident occurred just one mile away from the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, which is where the Munich Security Conference begins today. Many major world leaders, including Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President J.D. Vance, will be there for three days to talk about important international security challenges facing our world today, with the conference ending on Sunday. However, authorities do not believe that the location of the car attack has anything to do with the conference. They are currently investigating whether the attack was related to the rally in any way, though. Further investigations are also taking place, and the driver will appear in court today. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Our bodies lose a lot of water on flights, making it very important to stay hydrated. You lose about 8% of your body water while on a flight because the humidity in the climate-controlled environment can be as low as 10-15%. In fact, some studies show that you could lose as much as 1.5 to 2 liters of water on a 10-hour flight. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in. (Isaac Asimov) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gallant (adj, GAL-unt) - Someone or something described as gallant is very courageous and brave. Gallant is also sometimes used to mean “large and impressive” (as in “a gallant ship”), or to describe someone who has or shows politeness and respect for women. Ina Sentence: Though they failed to reach the summit, the mountaineering team made a gallant attempt.