I’ve talked about this before. Now, I believe it deserves a
post of its own.
As a writer, I know why there are twenty different words to describe afraid, happy, sad, surprised,
etc. After all, if there was only one word to describe a feeling or situation most books would end up sounding
like a first grade reader.
Let me turn to my thesaurus…okay, here
we go: characterize, define, depict, illustrate, portray, all to describe
the word describe….get the picture?
After a day of writing I go back and try out my own narration. That’s
the best way for me to see if the sentences flow. Sometimes, when reading out loud, I find myself
ending a sentence different from what I’ve written (that’s how I know it doesn’t
sound like I talk.)
Also, this process helps me catch where I have used the same word a
couple of times in the same paragraph. Believe me, the way I write, that
happens a lot (see paragraph above), mostly because I have to give myself
permission to just write and not edit at the same time. If I did, I’d never get
past the first paragraph. That’s when I use the thesaurus…such a handy tool for
a writer.
But the point of this post is about words themselves. Who
comes up with them? Who gave the Oxfords and Websters the thumbs up to say what
becomes a word? There are some weird ones out there.
For example, the other day
a friend of mine on Facebook posted this word:
Ultracrepidarianism - Luckily he was kind enough
to give the meaning - the habit of giving
opinions and advice on matters outside of one’s knowledge or competence.
He also added: “A condition I sometimes suffer from.” (which
I found amusing)
Here are a few others:
Tmesis – the sole
term in the English language to begin with tm – the insertion of one or more
words between the words that make up a compound phrase, as in “what-so-ever”
inserted in the middle of “whatever.” (I thought it was a dash…)
Deipnosophist – a
person skilled in the art of dining and dinner-table conversation (a host?)
Mumpsimus – a traditional
custom or notion that is adhered to although it has been shown to be
unreasonable (over-kill?)
Floccinaucinihilipilification – the action or habit of estimating something as worthless (a snob?)
Presenteeism – the
compulsion to spend longer at work than is required or to continue working
despite illness (martyr? germ-spreader?)
Spaghettification – the process by which (in some theories) an object would be stretched
and ripped apart by gravitational forces on falling into a black hole (the
big oops? – actually thought for sure this word would have something to do with
meatsauce)
Spitchcock
– an eel, split, then grilled or fried
(really?)
Triskaidekaphobia
– extreme superstition about the number
thirteen (paranoid?)
See what I mean? Okay, I’m done, oh, except for this last one. Kerfuffle.
Have any weird words to
share? I’ve got more, but I’m gonna stop.
You’re welcome...
