Wednesday 2 February 2011

Wondrous Words Wednesday 3/2/11



Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Bermuda Onion, where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading.  

I've recently read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Whilst thoroughly enjoyable, it wasn't quite the wordfest that I remember Pride and Prejudice being when I first read it . I did come across three interesting words though. 

1. propinquity- fairly obvious in context:

Mr Gardner expressed a wish of going round the whole park, but feared  it might be too dangerous given the propinquity of the herd. 

pro·pin·qui·ty  (pr-pngkw-t)
n.
1. Proximity; nearness.
2. Kinship.
3. Similarity in nature.
[Middle English propinquite, from Old French, from Latin propinquits, from propinquus, near; see per1 in Indo-European roots.]


2. dilatory- definitely a new usage for me

His family knew him to be a most negligent and dilatory correspondent; but at such a time they had hoped for exertion. 

dil·a·to·ry  (dl-tôr, -tr)
adj.
1. Intended to delay.
2. Tending to postpone or delay: dilatory in his work habits. See Synonyms at slow.
[Middle English dilatorie, from Latin dltrius, from dltor, delayer, from dltus, past participle of differre, to delay : d-, dis-,apart; see dis- + ltus, carried; see tel- in Indo-European roots.]
dila·tori·ly adv.
dila·tori·ness n.


3. connubial- also obvious in context:

But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was. 

con·nu·bi·al  (k-nb-l, -ny-)
adj.
Relating to marriage or the married state; conjugal.
[Latin cnbilis, from cnbium, marriage : com-, com- + nbere, to marry.]
con·nubi·al·ism, con·nubi·ali·ty (-l-t) n.
con·nubi·al·ly adv.
at

11 comments:

  1. bermudaonion2 February 2011 at 23:16

    Great words! I knew connubial, but I'm not sure why. Dilatory people drive me crazy! Thanks for playing along.

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  2. Suko3 February 2011 at 02:04

    Excellent words! I like how you set this post up. :)

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  3. Anonymous3 February 2011 at 05:25

    here's mine http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/02/wonderous-words-wednesday.html

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  4. Louise3 February 2011 at 06:11

    Thanks as ever Kathy.

    Thanks so much Suko- your comment made my day!

    Thanks for visiting Tribute Books Mama

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  5. Joy3 February 2011 at 09:58

    Great words. I kind of know all of them, but definitely ones I should look up -- thanks for doing it for me!
    http://www.joyweesemoll.com/

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  6. Kath Lockett3 February 2011 at 10:52

    Nice finds. I always found the word 'connubial' kind of naughty in a cute and cuddly kind of way.... :) A bit like 'canoodle.'

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  7. Unknown3 February 2011 at 17:02

    Love these words - although dilatory always sounds like it has unpleasant medical overtones....!

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  8. Louise10 February 2011 at 00:39

    I kept thinking medical overtures with dilatory too Fiona. I can see the canoodle connubial link there Kath. Thanks for visiting Joy.

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  9. Sherrie10 February 2011 at 05:33

    Hi!
    Great words. Thanks for sharing those meanings. Have a great day!

    Sherrie
    Just Books
    http://sherriesbooks.blogspot.com/2011/02/wondrous-words-wednesday.html

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  10. Anonymous5 March 2011 at 17:43

    Propinquity is a favourite word of mine ... I had a friend whom I said married as the result of propinquity. I won't give away her last name but the story is that she started her dental degree - back in 1972 - and on the first day was sat alphabetically next to a young man. And that, as they say, was that!

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  11. Louise5 March 2011 at 21:15

    That's fantastic Sue- marriage by propinquity!

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Thank you for commenting.