Words we don't know

**bdcharles** · January 21st, 2021, 09:12 PM

Erstwhile (or is it erstwile?) - I always thought, till about two months ago, that it actually didn't mean anything. I thought people - perhaps even erstwhile people - put it in there just to fill space with something fruity-sounding. But it has a specific meaning - the previous occupant of a post.

**EternalGreen** · January 21st, 2021, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Taylor

Ok learned some new ones here, but Acerbic and Aquiline are two of my favourites.

Acerbic is so much better than mean or nasty. The word itself has such a visual connotation, I picture acid or sour lemons.

And I use Aquiline to describe a certain type of nose, it is slightly hawked. I have always wanted one myself, so I use it as a favourable feature.

The acidic connotation of "acerbic" did pop out at my after I learned it. That makes it easy to remember, I suppose.

**Llyralen** · January 21st, 2021, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by SueC

I was reading an article in the Guardian on President Trump this morning and along came this word:

perspicacity

It means: Perspicacity is a penetrating discernment —a clarity of vision or intellect which provides a deep understanding and insight. It takes the concept of wisdom deeper in the sense that it denotes a keenness of sense and intelligence applied to insight. It has been described as a deeper level of internalization.

The author said that Trump did not posses this quality, so I had to look it up. I agreed with his assessment, but I wondered - how many of you look up words that you don't know when you see them in print or on the Internet, or do you just read on hoping you'll get the gist eventually? Are you compelled sometimes to use unusual words in your stories, just for the fun of it?

How interesting to draw attention to a word hardly used. I really enjoy that meaning. The whole description sounds like more than astute or shrewd and kind of combines both perception and appropriate action.

I’m thinking of other times certain authors drew attention to a word.
I’m recalling something a high school professor said about the word epiphany and James Joyce... that Joyce had brought epiphany back into discussion and that before Joyce it was archaic and not in use. I’m glad Joyce brought it back into use if this is true. After I send I will look this is, so this post will likely be edited.

Edit: Joyce re-purposed the word. Here’s an article:
https://jamesjoyce.ie/epiphanies/

**EternalGreen** · January 21st, 2021, 11:09 PM

I use blue if I personally think the word would be handy for creative writing and useful for showing.

Blanch (to turn pale as if in fear)

This one could be helpful for creative writing.

Blandishment (false praise meant to persuade)

This is not too helpful for creative writing.

"He supplemented his blandishments by offering us a nice meal."

IDK, it seems a bit dry to me.

Blasé (to be jaded)

If you want your characters to sound obnoxious, use this word in dialogue.

Bowdlerize (to censor in an effort to create G-rated content)

I've never even heard this word in my life.

Bucolic (very rustic in a picturesque manner)

"The houses were weathered grey, wearing shredded paper with company names in place of paint. Crumbling silos, unkempt pastures surrounded them. Their impression, however, was not bucolic."

Conciliatory (willing to cede)

I mention this one because I thought it had something to do with consolidation or concentricity. Nope! It's it's own word.

Confluence (a place where two things flow together)

A beautiful word. Think about ". . . a confluence of emotions."

Deleterious (harmful to living things)

How hard can this one be to remember? It has "delete" in it.

Diaphanous (so thin as to be transparent)

This could be very useful for writing. "A diaphanous pink membrane."

Dilettante (a neophyte, someone who does something like a craft or sport for fun but not seriously)

Dissimulate (to hide one's feelings. Surprisingly non-transitive)

ALTERNATE DEFINITION OF Dissipated (consumed by the pursuit of pleasure, usually to some kind of detriment)

Weird how that word also has that other meaning. English is arbitrary sometimes.

Distend (to swell from the inside)

Ebullient (an adjective meaning "to be full of jubilee," basically)

Eclectic (having style based on a wide variety of tastes, cultures)

This is an honorable mention because I learned it yesterday.

Effervescent (to be in high spirits)

I thought this one meant something like "brightly glowing," which it does . . . in a metaphorical way pertaining only to attitude.

Evanescent (behaving like a vapor, vaporous in a way that tends to disappear)

Extirpation (complete destruction beginning from the "roots")

Filial (relating to the offspring of the parent generation)

Foible (a little weakness of character)

Fracas (a boisterous argument)

Fulsome (displaying a disgusting excess of fawning or flattery)

Gamut (range or scope, but it must be abstract)

Garrulous (full of trivial conversation)

Genuflect (to kneel before a king or religious item)

Gossamer (delicate and thin, such as with food)

Gourmand (a glutton, a pig)

Gustatory (relating to taste)

That's all for now.

**SueC** · January 21st, 2021, 11:16 PM

Can you pronounce the word I posted? I can't get my tongue around it. At least we can say epiphany. I like epiphany... thank you James Joyce.

and you!

**EternalGreen** · January 22nd, 2021, 01:06 AM

Per- pi - ca - si - tee ?

**ArrowInTheBowOfTheLord** · January 22nd, 2021, 02:05 AM