Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wondrous Words Wednesday (31)



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 Indiscretion by Charles Dubow.  
All definitions from Dictionary.com.

1. amanuensis. "And what of the third person in this drama? (Naturally I don't include myself.  I am merely the amanuensis.)"   

noun
a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another; secretary.

As in weeks past, I am just SO impressed by Dubow's vocabulary in this novel!!

2. puerile. "One night we go to a Broadway show.  Something puerile and entertaining."  

adjective
1. of or pertaining to a child or to childhood.
2. childishly foolish; immature or trivial: a puerile piece of writing.

I've heard this word spoken in conversation before, but was never totally sure of the meaning.

3. riposte. "'We always have had, darling,' she ripostes." 
noun
1. a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke: a brilliant riposte to an insult.
2. in fencing: a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge.
verb
3. to make a riposte.
4. to reply or retaliate.

I really like the use of this as a verb here.  Never seen it used that way.

What are your new words this week?

7 comments:

  1. All three of those are new to me as well. Great words!

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  2. I knew two of these, but the first was new. Lovely.

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  3. Puerile is the only word I've heard of, but I didn't know the definition. The other two, not a clue!

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  4. Wow, "amanuensis" - I've never even heard of this word. Now to figure out how to pronounce it!

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    1. True! I have to read it very slowly every time I see it...too many vowels!

  5. The last I know, but not the meanings of (roughly know, but wouldn't use them because I might get the meaning wrong). "Amanuensis" is a word and a half!

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    1. That's one thing this meme has shown me...how many words I've heard and THINK I know, but then when I look up the definition, realize I don't know them at all!

 
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