Welcome back, wordy friends!
Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by BermudaOnion each week. It's an opportunity to share new words you've encountered in your reading, or highlight words that you particularly enjoy.
Here are three of my favorites new-to-me words from some of my recent reads. All definitions from Dictionary.com.
1. ziggurat. "As we skirt the vast orange ziggurat of Sainsbury's, a man behind the wheel of a huge lorry waves his arms angrily, as if to sweep us out of his line of vision." (from The Uninvited by Liz Jensen)
noun
(among the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians) a temple of Sumerian origin in the form of a pyramidal tower, consisting of a number of stories and having about the outside a broad ascent winding round the structure, presenting the appearance of a series of terraces .
I believe the author was trying to convey how maze-like and confusing the area was.
2. internecine. "The internecine commenter strife fails to make me feel any better about the post, so I turn back to my final duties for the day." (from Sad Desk Salad by Jessica Grose)
adjective
1. of or pertaining to conflict or struggle within a group: an internecine feud among proxy holders.
2. mutually destructive.
3. characterized by great slaughter; deadly.
The character was referring to a battle going on between commenters on her blog post.
3. duiker. "Over her shoulder was slung a rough bag, made from the hide of a duiker." (from White Dog Fell From The Sky by Eleanor Morse)
noun
any of several small African antelopes of the Cephalophus, Sylvicapra, and related genera, the males and often the females having short, spikelike horns: some are endangered.
There's your African zoology lesson for the day!
What are your new words this week?
All new to me. Internecine is a word that I could use a lot. Thanks for sharing these.
ReplyI've looked up ziggurat before but it only came back to me as I read your definition. I don't think I'd want a bag made out of duiker. Thanks for playing along!
ReplyThere is a lot of internecine conflict in my minivan these days- thanks for sharing some unusual words, as well as your interpretation of how they fit the quotes! Have a great week.
ReplyAll new and interesting words today for me.
Replyhttp://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/02/wondrous-words-wednesday_20.html
LOL at Julia's "internecine conflict in my minivan". Love it!!
ReplyI haven't come across this feature before but it's a brilliant idea, I will have to try and join in if I can.
ReplyNow following your lovely blog and thank you for visiting and following mine!
Lindsay
http://thelittlereaderlibrary.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks for coming by, Lindsay! Yes, WWW is a very fun meme, hope you will join in the future :)
Reply