Word Nerd Confessions: December

17 Dec 2019

Word Nerd Confessions: December

‘Tis December and 2019 is rapidly diminishing. Time to air out the Word Bin and see what needs clearing out to make room for next year’s batch of dictionary delights.

1. nugacity: triviality; insignificance

2. librate: to remain poised or balanced

3. neoteric: new or recent

4. facetiae: witty or amusing remarks or writing

5. obscurantism: the opposition of the spread of knowledge

6. anthophobia: an unnatural fear of flowers

7. frisson: a sudden thrill of emotion

8. guddle: to catch a fish with one’s hands in a river or stream

9. bombinate: to make a humming or buzzing noise

10. perspicacity: a keenness of mental perception

11. alameda: a public walk shaded with trees

12. otiose: indolent; idle; being at ease

13. Delphic: obscure; ambiguous

14. nebulated: having distinct markings as in a bird or animal

15. orgulous: haughty or proud

Now that the Word Bin is a bit tidier I look forward to filling it full once again. Honestly, I’m not sure how some of these words snuck into the company of the others. Guddle? Librate? Frisson? Not sure when those will come up in conversation. Then one never knows. Excuse me while I go chase down these liberated diction.

Come back…I didn’t mean it…

Posted in humor, Reflections, Words and tagged dictionary, lexicon, Word Nerds

11 thoughts on “Word Nerd Confessions: December”

Becky Ross Michael on December 17, 2019 at 7:40 am said:

Great selection of words, Pam! I’ve actually seen “frisson” used a few times in mysteries, such as, “He felt a frisson of fear at the sound of footsteps from above.”

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- Pam Webb on December 17, 2019 at 9:55 am said:
  
  Frisson sounds like a frothy topping for ice cream! I will look for it in my next mystery story.
  
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Cathy746books on December 18, 2019 at 1:58 am said:

Alameda is a lovely word!

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- Pam Webb on December 18, 2019 at 4:59 am said:
  
  It’s not one I see, but it conjures up a nice image.
  
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oneta hayes on December 19, 2019 at 4:43 pm said:

Oh, Pam, didn’t you ever frisson as you librated intently while waiting with excitement for the fish to swim within reach so you could guddle a few of them. 😀

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- Pam Webb on December 19, 2019 at 5:57 pm said:
  
  Haha—I try not to guddle when I frisson.
  
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  - oneta hayes on December 19, 2019 at 8:42 pm said:
    
    😀
Ste J on December 22, 2019 at 2:26 am said:

Guddle is a brilliant word. I love ogrulous as well but Delphic has to be the pick of the bunch, ambiguous indeed were those oracles.

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- Pam Webb on December 22, 2019 at 4:18 am said:
  
  Guddle definitely is a winner.
  
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  - tref on December 28, 2019 at 9:58 pm said:
    
    Still, not much chance I will be using that one any-time soon.
  - Pam Webb on December 28, 2019 at 10:06 pm said:
    
    Next time you go fishing is the perfect time!