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…
Pam Webb 
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.”
Frisson sounds like a frothy topping for ice cream! I will look for it in my next mystery story.
Alameda is a lovely word!
It’s not one I see, but it conjures up a nice image.
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. 😀
Haha—I try not to guddle when I frisson.
😀
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.
Guddle definitely is a winner.
Still, not much chance I will be using that one any-time soon.
Next time you go fishing is the perfect time!