words vs. wordless

It's been a few weeks since I've posted a Words on Wednesday, thanks to our malfunctioning computer. I'm afraid that means that I have quite a pile to post today. I wonder if there will ever come a week when I don't come across any new words. Unlikely.

*internecine-relating to struggle within a nation, organization, or group (from And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts)

*inveigh-to vehemently disapprove or protest (from And the Band...)

*melange-a mixture

*abstruse-difficult to understand

*treacly-overly sweet in speech or sentiment

*lavation-the process of watching

*hegira-a flight to avoid danger (from And the Band...)

*plenary-unlimited or full (from And the Band...)

*inimical-injurious or harmful (from And the Band...)

Notes:

---I apologize for not having a source for some of these words; I just can't remember in which book I encountered them.

---My ignorance continues to astound me.

---Make me feel a little better by letting me know if any of these words were new you you as well. Or in your case Jean, just amaze me once again with your outstanding vocabulary!

Okay, and for those of you who don't get all giddy over words, how about Wordless Wednesday (hope that link works...for whatever reason I can't seem to get there this morning)...

words vs. wordless

This week's words on Wednesday:

*habiliments-clothing (from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

*fulminant-developing or progressing suddenly (from And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts)

*peripatetic-wandering from place to place (from And the Band Played On)

I am simply amazed by just how many words there are out there that I don't know. How many of these are new to you?


And if you don't like words, there's always Wordless Wednesday:

words on Wednesday...

Three new words for me this week. #1 is a word I feel like I should have known. Like I've looked it up before, and then quickly forgot it. #2 is a word I feel I should have known because the Maxidoodle would qualify to have his picture beside it in the dictionary. And #3, though a fine enough word, is completely and totally new to me.

*nascent-coming into existence; emergent (from And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts)

*obstreperous-noisily and stubbornly defiant (from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

*philippic-a passionate speech intended to arouse opposition (again, from To Kill A Mockingbird)

Okay, I just realized what I said above needs amended...I have definitely run into the last two words before, because I've read this book before. Forgive me...I'm just not with it today. Anyway, which ones did you know?

words on Wednesday

If not for Melody, I think I would have forgotten all about this week's words. Though maybe that would have been for the best...I had so many new entries this week that I was left feeling a bit stupid.

*cytokine-any of various protein molecules secreted by cells of the immune system (I did know that cyto was cell, but beyond that I was clueless.)

*chiaroscuro-the technique of using light and shade in pictorial representation (Hmmm...probably should have know this as I did begin my college career majoring in art.)

*ataxic-lacking motor coordination

*coruscate-to sparkle and glitter

*cioppino-a stew of fish, shellfish, tomatoes, and white wine (Ewww.)

(All words this week came from Terminal Condition by David Shobin.)

As I said, not a terribly good showing this week. How many of them do you know?

words on Wednesday

I've got two weeks worth of words this week, since I somehow forgot last week. Guess it was the 4th of July and all. At least that sounds like a plausible excuse, huh? Better than admitting my brain just doesn't work like it used to.

*entrada-permission or the right to enter (from The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan)

*salubrious-conducive or favorable to health or well-being (also from The Worst Hard Time)

*ecchymosis-a contusion or bruise (from Terminal Condition by David Shobin)

And there you have it. How many of them did you know?

words on Wednesday

Well, I was getting a little cocky this week, thinking I was finally going to get through an entire week without running across a new word. Of course, I should have known better...stumbled on an unfamiliar word last night. I'm guessing there will be several out there who know this one. Let me know.

*abattoir-a slaughterhouse (from Kiss Me, Kill Me)

And that's all I've got for today. Any fellow word lovers out there might want to check out Melissa's blog, The Silver Tongue, as she posts a new word each day. And last week, Melody played along with the Words on Wednesday idea, too. Hope she will again this week!

words on Wednesday

Maybe I'm finally getting smarter (yeah, right)...only two words added to my journal this week. Of course, one of them came from Annie's vocabulary list, so I'm thinking that really doesn't have me looking all that smart, huh? So anyway, as usual, let me know if either of these are new to you.

*euphony-pleasant sounds, especially in writing or speech (from Annie's vocabulary list)

*calvarium-the upper domelike portion of the skull without the lower jaw or the lower jaw and the facial parts (from Kiss Me, Kill Me)

It nearly goes without saying by now that once again Jean was last week's winner. I'm willing to bet she knows both of these ones, but I'm guessing she won't be alone this week.

words on Wednesday

Ready to see how dumb I am this week? Seriously, I'm constantly amazed how many new and forgotten words I run across these days! But that's actually o.k., I suppose, because I just love learning new ones. Of course, I'm not very good at actually using them. Anyway, as usual, I'd love to hear if any of these are new to you.

*sibilant-of or producing a hissing sound (from The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles)
This is one of those "forgotten" words. I know that I used to know this word. Hopefully, this time around I'll actually remember it.

*chaffer-to bargain or haggle (from The Call of the Wild)

*pertinacity-stubborn persistence (from The Call of the Wild)
I love this one! It applies to the Maxidoodle on a daily basis, and unfortunately not always in a positive manner.

*ambuscade-an ambush or to ambush (from The Call of the Wild)

*stridulation-a shrill grating or chirping noise made by some insects by rubbing body parts together (I overheard Rich use this word when talking to the crickets. Yes, he talks to all our animals...even the crickets which we only have to feed to the tarantula. O.K., I talk to all the other animals, too...but not the crickets. I wouldn't want to get too attached, you know.)

--A few notes:
1. Jean was again last week's winner. No surprise there. She knew every single word last week. I'm in awe. My guess is she'll go 5 for 5 again this week.

2. Both Stacy and Twiga mentioned last week that they thought that brogue was a heavy accent. And of course, they were both correct. (Hard as it may be to believe, I knew that definition, too.) Anyway, I thought I should clarify...I only list the definitions for the words as they are used in my reading, as those are the definitions that are new to me. I'm not sure if I just explained that very well...I'm obviously not much better at writing than I am with vocabulary.

3. Any other word lovers out there should really check out Melissa's new blog, The Silver Tongue. She features a new word each day.

words on Wednesday

Well, I totally missed doing Tackle It Tuesday yesterday over at my "household crap" blog (cleaning up the sty). Not that I forgot about it, I just didn't get to it. But I didn't want to miss posting words on Wednesday this week. Why I'm so anxious to post my ignorance is anyone's guess. Just love words, I suppose.

Anyway, after I finished the Rwanda book last week, I got all cocky, thinking that now I wouldn't have nearly so many words to be adding to my journal. Wrong! Still added 5 new ones this week. I might need to have Annie start giving me vocabulary tests!

O.K.--so here are this week's words. Are any of them new to you?

*unwonted-not habitual or ordinary; unusual (from The Call of the Wild)
This is a word I know I've run across before, but couldn't really give a definition for.

*brogue-a strong oxford shoe (from The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles)
Probably should have known this, but didn't.

*papilionaceous-resembling a butterfly (from The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles)

*celerity-swiftness; speed (from The Call of the Wild)

*lugubrious-mournful or gloomy, especially to a ludicrous degree (from The Call of the Wild)
Another one I know I've seen before, but couldn't have told you what it meant anymore.

Well, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that once again Jean was the winner from last week! She's my vocabulary idol! Wonder if today's the day she'll bat 1000.

words on Wednesday

Feeling incredibly uneducated this week...with 9 new words added to my journal! I'm only posting 5 of them here, because the others came from the posts of some fellow word fanciers out here in the land of blog so you may have already read about them. But thanks for the great new words Stacy, Gail, and Melissa!

Anyway, here we go...are any of them new to you?

*pusillanimous-cowardly (I hate admitting this, but this came from one of Annie's synonym exercises. Now granted, Annie is doing these exercises at an 8th+ grade level, not a 4th grade level. But still, come on, if 8th and 9th graders are supposed to know this word, surely I should have known it.)

*maunder-to talk incoherently or aimlessly (from We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families: Stories from Rwanda)

*satrap-a subordinate ruler (from We wish...)

--These last two words are ones that I definitely knew one definition for, but from the context of my reading, it was obvious I didn't know "the appropriate" meaning. They are listed with the meaning for which they were used in my reading.

*cataract-a large waterfall (from We wish...)

*hydrophobia-rabies (from The Call of the Wild)

Once again, last week's winner was Jean. She knew two of the three words. And yes, I am quite envious of her incredible vocabulary!

words on Wednesday

Didn't run across nearly as many unfamiliar words this past week in my reading. No, I'm not getting any smarter...I think I just didn't get as much read. But in addition to the one word I acquired reading, I acquired two from A Silver Tongue (Melissa's new writing blog). She's started a fun "word of the day" thingie. Anyway, here are this week's words...are any of them new to you?

1. diaspora-any group migration or flight from a country or region (from We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families: Stories from Rwanda)

2. jackanape-a mischievous child (from The Silver Tongue)

3. serry-to crowd together (from The Silver Tongue)

The big winner last week was Jean...she knew 3 of the 4 words! Unfortunately for her, the only prize is the knowledge that she has an amazing vocabulary (and I'm sure she already knew that anyway). You know, I may have to cogitate on this a bit...maybe I can come up with some kind of prize.

Anyway, I suppose I should run here. Have a multitude of thoughts serrying in my brain. Need to get some lists made and put some order to them.

(Hope I used the word correctly, Melissa. Wish I would have seen yesterday's word in time...would have been easy to work jackanape into yesterday's post!)

words on Wednesday...

I used to think that I had a fairly decent vocabulary. Not that I never run across an unfamiliar word, of course. In fact, I keep a little journal in my nightstand to add my new vocabulary acquisitions to. But this past week, I've had my assumptions challenged. I'm no longer feeling all that confident. I've had to add four new words to my book in the past 7 days. Anyway, I thought it might be fun to see if any of these words are new to you...

1. inimitable-defying imitation (from "The Fiddler", a short story by Herman Melville)
--This really seems like a word I should have known, but I didn't.

2. hegemony-the dominance of one state over others (from We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch)

3. parastatal-working with the government in an unofficial capacity (again from We wish...)

4. hagiography-a worshipful or idealizing biography (again from We wish...)

**Sorry I couldn't come up with a more interesting post today...I think I'm still in shock. Sticker shock, that is. Had all three munchkins to the dentist today...just check-ups, cleanings, etc. Almost $600! And Annie has her first cavity (but luckily our insurance will pay for part of that, though they don't pay for any of the preventative stuff...how dumb is that?!!). Anyway, as if that $600 wasn't bad enough, Annie's in need of braces (which doesn't exactly come as a big surprise, but we didn't realize the day would come so soon). And where exactly the $4300 for that is going to come from is quite a mystery at the moment. Good thing Rich signed up for a heavy teaching load this summer!