Word Nerds: Familiar Friends
While new words are appreciated finds, there are those favorites that are like old friends that I haven’t seen in awhile and suddenly pop up unexpectedly.
smithereens: small pieces; bits. I tend to associate this one with Yosemite Sam who I recall would now and then threaten to blow Bugs Bunny to smithereens.
copacetic: fine; completely satisfactory; okay. This is a great word to toss out when asked to describe how the meeting went.
morass: any confusing or troublesome situation, especially one from which it is difficult to free oneself. This is not how you want to describe the meeting.
egregious: extraordinary in some bad way. This one usually finds its way describing a mistake. All those “e” sounds make it worse than it probably is.
luddite: someone who is opposed or resistant to new technologies or technological change. Since learning about Luddites in English literature it’s fun to see how it is found in today’s world.
collywobbles: a feeling of fear, apprehension, or nervousness. Hah! Used this one the other day and stumped The Hubs—“this is a word?” Indeed it is.
brouhaha: excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamor attending some sensational event. This one is simply fun to say.
abscond: to depart in a sudden and secret manner. Chocolate tends to do this in our household.
twee: affectedly dainty or quaint. When it’s just too cute or trying to hard to be cute.
natter: to talk incessantly. Yes, this one is not far out of reach. It’s very appropriate in describing how some people like to have conversations in public with their phone speaker fully blaring.
ennui: a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom. Also found this one in English—from the short story “The Most Dangerous Game.”
Find any friends among the above?
Pam Webb 
Some words are just fun to write or say. Brouhaha falls into that category.
That is a good one!
Always loved “copacetic”. Seems politicians are always throwing out the word “egregious” and I am pretty certain “collywobbles” was a student at Hogwarts.
It is egregious how egregious is abused. You’re thinking of Holly Wobbes—happens all the time.
I’ve always loved learning new words. When I was younger, I would host spelling bees and force my family members to participate!
I actually knew all of these, except collywobbles–which for some reason gave me the creeps.
I know. That sounds like something growing on those forgotten leftovers in the back of the fridge.
;>)