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.
