I have a fairly extensive vocabulary. Granted, I don't employ it nearly enough; at least I know what odd words mean. Perhaps my large vocabulary can be attributed to my voracious reading habit. I think so. However, there are some words that have just never made it into everyday speaking--for one reason or another. Here, for you, are thirteen of those words:
- pulchritudinous--Her pulchritudinous face always leaves me breathless. Yes, pulchritude means physical beauty or comeliness. Not in everyday speech.
- viands--The viands you have prepared for our enjoyment are quite delectable. Just a fancy way to say: Hey, dinner tastes great!
- dab--Didn't expect this word after the previous two, did you? The word dab makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I loathe this word.
- mulatto--I never could figure out how to say this word. I have always heard it pronounced: muh-la-duh. When I finally saw the word in print, I was at a loss as to its pronunciation.
- chat--I dunno. I just don't like it.
- nix--Can you see a trend? I'm not fond of slang-y words.
- Mucus--I would rather say snot.
- Tomfoolery--I like this word. I really do. However, it has never made its way into my everyday speech.
- Fortitude--another great word. Sometimes I say it in my head, but usually not in my conversation
- Fortuitous, gratuitous and propitious--I love these words. I like how they sound and what they mean: lucky (happening by chance), extra, indicative of favor
- Auspicious--I recently devoured the book Spring Moon by Bette Bao Lord. I highly recommend it. The word auspicious (attended by favorable circumstances) was fairly prevalent in this book. Go figure.
- Prevail--I must prevail over this list. Will not succumb to the pressure of procrastination!
- Ramifications--The ramifications of not finishing this project can now be forgotten. Consider it done. Okay, so maybe I say this word sometimes. Here's one I never use: truss. I have been hearing a lot of it in staff meetings. I should make a note of how many times it is said in the course of two hours.
14 comments:
Way to edumacate the masses out there ;p. Great list.
I love myself some words too. Fun list.
my favorite word: onomatopoeia. I love saying it.
Lol @ pulchritudinous.....I'm thinking that doesnt sound so romantic.
Happy tt!!
You educate so well, most of those words do not make it into my daily vocabulary but I will admit they slip out once in awhile.
A few I don't know but most I do. I'm not much for the slang-y words either. Have a great TT and Valentine's Day. :)
I use most of these words... but not those first two. Nope. Not them.
Um... I take it you don't use "nope" either.
How about "vicissitudinous"? My niece teaches university students in Seoul, South Korea and was surprised when an advanced English class student used this word. She was familiar with the noun form, but upon consulting the dictionary found this is the perfectly acceptable adjective.
@anonymous: beautiful! What a word...I would add it to the list but then that might appear vicissitudinous.
Good stuff! Happy Valentine's Day!!
Truss? Do they make trusses anymore?
I enjoy coming out with the odd word now and again. Keeps people on their toes. If I can pronounce them correctly, that is.
Happy TT!
Great list, but what's wrong with dab? It's a kind of fish, among other things.
@Nicholas: I must admit, the aversion to "dab" is a personal prejudice. I am not able to disclose more than that at this time...:-)
Great word list. I want to throw one of these out to someone at work and see the reaction on their face.... : )
Sean
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