April 14, 2010

• Wordy Wednesday

  I’ve decided to have a “regular”.  Hence, Wordy Wednesday.
  Who couldn’t use a little vocabulary expansion?

  Let’s get started. I’ve got three for you today.
  
  1. brackish
  This is a word that is just fun to say. I always thought it meant blackish….maybe because it rhymes….
  
  
  

  Main Entry: brack·ish

  Pronunciation: ˈbra-kish

  Function: adjective

  Etymology: Dutch brac salty; akin to Middle Low German brac salty

  Date: 1538

  1 : somewhat salty <brackish water>
  2 a : not appealing to the taste <brackish tea> b : repulsive

  — brack·ish·ness noun
  

  
  

  2. dank
  This is a word that when I use it, I always feel like I made it up. Like, “Is that really even a word?” It is.
  
  

  Main Entry: dank

  Pronunciation: ˈdaŋk

  Function: adjective

  Etymology: Middle English danke

  Date: 1573

  : unpleasantly moist or wet <a dank basement>

  synonyms see wet

  — dank·ly adverb

  — dank·ness noun

  3. juxtaposed
  
  Apparently, everyone knew this word before I did. My Dad knew it, my brother- in- law knew it, my husband knew it but my Mother (queen of words) did NOT know it. I heard it for the first time about a year ago and in the following month I heard it in a random conversation. Crazy. But what a fun word to say!

  Main Entry: juxtaposed

  Function: adjective

  Date: 1855

  : placed side by side : being in juxtaposition

  synonyms see adjacent

  If you find a way to work any of these words into conversation this week, type the sentence in a comment box. Would love to hear!
  

  “A powerful agent is the right word. Whenever we come upon one of those intensely right words… the resulting effect is physical as well as spiritual, and electrically prompt.”
  Mark Twain

  • 8:05 am
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