Some words are serious, awkward or just plain interesting and funny to say. Since my Communication Arts and Literature Teaching major involves a lot of English classes, I have had a lot of exposure to unique words. I challenge each of you, in honor of this International English Language Day, to think about your favorite English words. In the meantime, here are 15 of mine!
*All definitions come from the Oxford English Dictionary*
1. Logophile
Noun
“A lover of words.”
Verb
“To put (a person) in such confusion that he does not for the moment know what to do or say; to astonish utterly, to confound.”
3. Lollygag
Verb
“To fool around; to ‘neck’; to dawdle, to dally. Also, as n., fooling around.”
4. Absquatulate
Verb
“To abscond, make off.”
5. Bumbershoot
Noun
“An umbrella.”
Noun
“A chattering or gossiping person.”
7. Misanthrope
Noun and Adjective
“A hater of mankind; a person who distrusts and avoids other people.”
8. Alliteration
Noun
“The commencement of adjacent or closely connected words with the same sound or letter.”
9. Loquacious
Adjective
“Given to much talking; talkative.”
10. Defenestration
Noun
“The action of throwing a person out of a window.”
11. Ethereal
Adjective
“Of or relating to heaven, God, or the gods; heavenly, celestial.”
12. Snickersnee
Noun
“A large knife.”
13. Petrichor
Noun
“A pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather in certain regions.”
14. Sacrifice
Verb
“To surrender or give up (something) for the attainment of some higher advantage or dearer object.”
15. Love
Noun
“A feeling or disposition of deep affection or fondness for someone, typically arising from a recognition of attractive qualities, from natural affinity, or from sympathy and manifesting itself in concern for the other’s welfare and pleasure in his or her presence.”
While some of these words are silly and others are close to my heart, they are all amongst my favorites. If you are truly bored or you have an affinity of words, like myself, then I suggest whipping out a dictionary and scavenging for new words; it can be a lot of fun!