Having to do with curing diseases.

Medical researchers are finding curative substances in places that surprise them. Folklore has led to some “new” *cures* of old diseases, and natural substances never before tried have often proved effective. Quinine, which comes from a tree in the Andes, was the original drug for malaria; aspirin's main ingredient came from willow bark; and Taxol, a drug used in treating several cancers, was originally extracted from the bark of a yew tree. The curative properties of these natural drugs are today duplicated in the laboratory.

Someone in charge of something where things are on exhibit, such as a collection, a museum, or a zoo.

In a good-sized art museum, each curator is generally responsible for a single department or collection: European painting, Asian sculpture, Native American art, and so on. *Curatorial* duties include acquiring new artworks, caring for and repairing objects already owned, discovering frauds and counterfeits, lending artworks to other museums, and mounting exhibitions of everything from Greek sculpture to 20th-century clothing.

To get possession of; obtain.

While *procure* has the general meaning of “obtain,” it usually implies that some effort is required. It may also suggest getting something through a formal set of procedures. In many business offices, a particular person is responsible for procuring supplies, and government agencies have formal *procurement* policies. When teenagers use an older friend to procure the wrong kind of supplies for their parties, they often risk getting into trouble.

A job or position requiring little work but usually providing some income.

*Sinecure* contains the Latin word *sine,* “without,” and thus means “without care.” In some countries, the government in power may be free to award sinecure positions to their valued supporters; in other countries, this would be regarded as corruption. The positions occupied by British royalty are called sinecures by some people, who claim they enjoy their enormous wealth in return for nothing at all. But their many supporters point to the amount of public-service, charitable, and ceremonial work they perform, not to mention the effort they put into promoting Britain to the world.

The boundary or distance around a body or figure.

The perimeter of a prison is ringed with high walls and watchtowers, and the entire perimeter of Australia is bounded by water. In geometry, you may be asked to calculate the perimeter of various geometrical shapes. In basketball, the perimeter is the area beyond the free-throw circle; a “perimeter player” tends to stay outside that circle. Try not to confuse this word with *parameter,* which usually means a rule or limit that controls what something is or how it can be done.

Concerning or affecting the tissues around the teeth.

In dentistry, cavities are important but they aren't the whole story; what happens to your gums is every bit as vital to your dental health. When you don't floss regularly to keep plaque from forming on your teeth and gums, the gums will slowly deteriorate. Dentists called *periodontists* specialize in the treatment of periodontal problems, and when the gums have broken down to the point where they can't hold the teeth in place a periodontist may need to provide dental implants, a costly and unpleasant process. But even a periodontist can't keep your gums healthy; that job is up to you.

(1) Having to do with walking. (2) Moving or traveling from place to place.

The philosopher Aristotle had his school at the Lyceum gymnasium in Athens. The Lyceum may have resembled the Parthenon in being surrounded by a row of columns, or colonnade, which the Greeks would have called a *peripatoi*. Aristotle was also said to have paced slowly while teaching, and the Greek word for “pacing” was *peripatos*. And finally, *peripatos* meant simply “discussion.” Whatever the source of the word, Aristotle and his followers became known as the *Peripatetics*, and the “pacing” sense led to *peripatetic*'s English meaning of traveling or moving about. Johnny Appleseed is a good example of a peripatetic soul, and peripatetic executives and salespeople today stare into their laptop computers while endlessly flying from city to city.

(1) Having to do with the outer edges, especially of the field of vision. (2) Secondary or supplemental.

Your peripheral vision is the outer area of your field of vision, where you can still detect movement and shapes. It can be very valuable when, for instance, you're driving into Chicago at rush hour, especially when switching lanes. When people call an issue in a discussion peripheral, they mean that it's not of primary importance, and they're probably suggesting that everyone get back to the main topic. *Peripheral* is now also a noun: computer peripherals are the added components—printers, webcams, microphones, etc.—that increase a computer's capacities.