Word Nerd Confessions: August
August—I barely got to know July. August is the wind down month of summer. July is mostly vacationing and relaxing and reading and visiting–lots of ongoing “ing” things in July.
August whispers “school” a little bit louder as each calendar day flips by. I like school, teaching, my students–I just like summer vacation to last a bit longer.
This month’s words represent an assortment of ideas related to the last month of summer.
ken: knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perceptions (I have a ken that school is starting sooner than later at this point of summer).
tub-thump: to promote something or express opinions vociferously (There are those who tub-thump whether school should start in August or in September).
velitation: a minor dispute or contest (See above concerning school start times).
grok: to understand thoroughly and intuitively (This is from Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein–I grok that summer is special due to its ephemeral nature).
ferly: something unusual, strange, or causing wonder or terror (The August fair usually has a ferly–like those weird vegetables that show up in displays–you know, the zucchini that resembles Richard Nixon or the monstrously large rabbit in the 4H competition).
mump: to mumble; mutter (I’m trying not to mump about summer dissipating).
brontide: a rumbling noise heard occasionally in some parts of the world, probably caused by seismic activity (A brontide was reported last August on the 31 as families stampeded Walmart to purchase school supplies before started after Labor Day).
makebate: a person who causes contention or discord (Who wants to be the makebate who meets people in the store and says, “Only 9 days until our first staff meeting).
calescent: growing warm; increasing in heat (The first week of school usually produces calescent classrooms due to the school not bothering to install air conditioning because heat exhaustion helps retain information. At least that’s what the theory must have been when they built the school).
littoral: or or relating to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean (This is not to be confused with “literally,” as in “I will literally be littoral, grabbing last minute beach time before school starts).
prima facie: plain or clear; self-evident; obvious (Yes, my denial of the inevitability of school starting soon smacks of prima facie realization).
ineluctable: incapable of being evaded; inescapable (The ineluctable red calender circles indicate the end of summer and the start of staff meetings).
fillip: anything that tends to rouse, excite, or revive; a stimulus (Labor Day weekend is definitely a fillip, in terms of celebrating one last weekend without grading essays).
rutilant: glowing or glittering with ruddy or golden light (those rutilant summer evenings after the last rays of the sun radiates through the trees–*sigh*).
totsiens: until we meet again; goodbye (See ya, summer–totsiens, for now).
And what summer-flavored word might have been your favorite? Pick two or three…
Pam Webb 
Grok and ferly are just odd-looking words and kind of primeval-sounding to have such eloquent meanings. Calescent is the kind of word I would go searching for to use in a poem, just because. Enjoy your final days of summer!
These are amazing words. I always wish I could use them more often. Thanks for the visit.
Grok, Ferly and Mump should be the names of ogres.
Put them in your next Prince book. Better yet, make them three-headed ogres.
That’s a really good idea!
Thought you would jump at that.
or names of Rottweiler pups…..
An interesting correlation.
Rotties are wonderful…………
From a distance. And on a leash. Yes, I would agree.
Too bad you didn’t meet my baby. Up close, on your lap, and rubbing on you to pet him.
Wow! A cuddly one. Guess that blows my theory.
I should scan in that photo of the 135lb dog on Nick’s lap. Nick was 150lbs. LOL!!!
…………..and it’s the owner’s training or lack thereof that makes the dog. I have a boxer pitbull mix at my house I would trust with my g’daughter’s life.
That’s encouraging to hear.
I love littoral. What a superb word! 😃
It is!
I have a ken that I shan’t be using any of these anytime soon…
Not even mumps?
Perhaps if I engaged in more adult conversations.
Haha—your kids would no doubt like some of these words. Mike did😉
Thanks for the like on “Long Marriage” today. I’ve enjoyed my visit back with you.