Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Wondrous Words Wednesdays (2)

vocabulary

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun. (Don’t forget to leave a link in your comment if you’re participating.)

From Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue by John McWhorter

1. "Voila, scads of new words, like army, apparel, and logic." Origin: Unknown

A great number or quantity. I figured that's what it meant from the sentence, but I'd never heard that word before!

2. "...moribund oddities like whom." Origin: Latin moribundus mori- dying, bundus- adjective.

In a dying state, on the verge of extinction. I think the first time I heard this word was in the movie Music and Lyrics uttered by Hugh Grant's character. So when I saw it again in this book I thought I would officially look it up! Glad I did. It's such a great word.

6 comments:

  1. I hope I don't have the opportunity to use moribund any time soon! Thanks for participating!

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  2. You've never heard of the word "scads?" I have used it scads of times. What is that word "unkown" that YOU just used :)
    Have a great day!

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  3. I LOVE the word moribund. I think it's up there with my favorite words, along with maniacal.
    I'm a new(ish) blogger, so please check out my blog and enter my contest! It would be so nice of you. :-)

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  4. Love the word scads. I need to use that one more often. Now moribund is not a word I was familiar with. Great words!

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  5. i like scads! fun to say.

    btw: an award to you
    http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/2009/09/honest-scrap-award.html

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  6. I love the words scads too. I used to use it more often. Thanks for reminding me.

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