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 propinquusnear; 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 dltordelayer, from dltus, past participle of differreto delay : d-, dis-,apart; see dis- + ltuscarried; 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 cnbiummarriage : com-com- + nbereto marry.]

con·nubi·al·ismcon·nubi·ali·ty (-l-t) n.
con·nubi·al·ly adv.

11 comments:

bermudaonion said...

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

Suko said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Louise said...

Thanks as ever Kathy.

Thanks so much Suko- your comment made my day!

Thanks for visiting Tribute Books Mama

Joy said...

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/

Kath Lockett said...

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

Unknown said...

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

Louise said...

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

Sherrie said...

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

Anonymous said...

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!

Louise said...

That's fantastic Sue- marriage by propinquity!