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 favorite new-to-me words from Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson. All definitions from Dictionary.com (except where noted).
1. carnelian. "Like every other boathouse in Hasselosund, ours was painted a carnelian red with an even darker red pitched roof and white trim around the eaves, doors, and windows."
noun
a red or reddish variety of chalcedony, used in jewelry.
And apparently "chalcedony" is a variety of quartz.
2. tastevin. "A sommelier with a sterling silver tastevin around his neck stood by the bar, ready to guide guests through the extensive French wine list."
noun
a small, very shallow silver cup or saucer traditionally used by winemakers and sommeliers when judging the maturity and taste of a wine.
I actually got this definition from Wikipedia, because dictionary.com didn't have it. A neat word for the wine lovers out there!
3. coffered. "Finally, we passed a dining room far more opulent than Belle Avenue's, with upholstered chairs and coffered ceilings, sparkling chandeliers, and columns carved from marble."
adjective
having coffers.
Not helpful, dictionary.com! "Coffers" are sunken panels seen in ceilings...had to look that one up.
The ceiling in our family room is actually coffered so I learned that word when we bought this house. The thing is, I know what it means when someone says it but I can never remember it when I want to use it. I'm showing my age! lol
ReplyI was only able to picture it thanks to the many hours I have watched HGTV. Haha.
I only new carnelian today.
ReplyWhen I saw both tastevin an coffered I thought I knew them. When I read the sentences, I realized I didn't. Thanks for the definitions. That's why I love to do this every week.
ReplyMe too! I learn so much from everyone's posts.
Love the wine word! Cool!
ReplyYes, that was my fave. :)
When I see coffered, I think of a woman with a very serious hair do- lots of spray. Not applicable here!
ReplyLOL good point! I could see why your mind went in that direction!
Carnelian's pretty known to me since it's part of my site, but I've never heard of tastevin (guessing it's 'taste-e-vin'?), and coffered I've heard of but didn't really know the meaning. These posts are a great way of expanding our vocabularies, too!
ReplyI was trying to find this meme last night, and couldn't remember where I'd seen it. Yay!! Sometimes I want to switch up between Waiting On Wednesday and something different.
ReplyMy new word this week is "rheostat" - like the thing that controls light dimmers. :)
Oooh cool word! I have lots of rheostats in my house but didn't know that was their official name. :)
tastevin is new for me.. i knew carnelian by context but did not know its exact meaning..
Reply