Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

Archive for the tag “dictionary”

08 Apr 2026
9 Comments

Word Nerd: Guilty of Definitions


There are novels that are infused with such a delightful new-to-me words that I end up frequently interrupting my reading to look up the definitions. I am guilty of word collecting. I cannot do the Linus quirk of skipping over words I am unfamiliar with upon discovery.

Some authors like Mcall-Smith of The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency are quite adept at inserting the occasional stumper. It’s par for the course to come across a rich lexicon when reading classic novels such as Jane Eyre (I kept entire page dedicated to collecting her vocabulary).

Collecting words is what makes a Word Nerds heart go skippety skip and so it sheer delight to discover Susie Dent’s Guilty by Definition. The setting is a renowned dictionary establishment in Oxford (yes, it does ring a bell). It isn’t long before this band of erudite editors start sleuthing. Amateur detectives are not unique. What makes Dent’s book standout is her ability to surreptitiously weave in weighty words and archaic delights not only as chapter headers but within the text. They impressively serve as foreshadowing while providing a witty lexicon lesson.

Here are a few textual examples I jotted down while reading:

  • falsedict: an untrue utterance 
  • mountweazel: fictitious entry in a dictionary 
  • vellichor: the musty smell of old books 
  • apricity: the warmth of sun on a winter’s day
  • respair: recovering from despair 
  • kything: the recognition of old friends in a crowd 
  • bellywengins: a small beer
  • dallop: the missed patch of ground by the plow
  • rackups: consequences of ill-doing
  • sonder: the realization other people have rich and complicated lives we will never know
  • susurrus: low soft whispering or low rustling 
  • mubble-fubbles: eve of something unpleasant dose of the blues
  • tidsoptomist: a time optimist
  • finifugal: not wanting the story to end; stalling the ending; drawing it out

Aren’t they delightful?

Words by Definition absolutely created a feeling of finifugal. Fortunately, the dictionary detectives are rumored to appear in a sequel.

Can’t wait. My Word Nerd heart awaits in anticipation.

Posted in reflections and tagged , , , , , , , ,
10 Mar 2026
6 Comments

Word Nerd: What’s New?


Words are commodities that come and go in any language. Old words can take on new meanings. And some words get dropped, while others get inserted into the everyday lexicon. Below are some new entries to the dictionary. How many do you use? Or for that matter, how many do you see having validity?

For ease of assimilating the words are corralled into categories:

FANDOM

  • Trekkies: fans of the Star Trek universe (and has been around since William Shatner flexed his gold shirt)
  • Swifties: all those Tay-Tay fans proudly acknowledge this term
  • Janeites: those who favor Jane Austen

SCIENCE

  • nanoplastic: unfortunately, this is a reality because plastic really never goes away

FOOD

  • smashburger: plump is out and squashed is in

BUSINESS

  • purple squirrel: the ideal person employers are looking for, obviously hypothetical in existence

Apparently over 1,500 words have been added to the dictionary. If interested how a word earns that coveted placement read here.

What words have you heard being tossed about that you deem dictionary worthy?

Posted in reflections and tagged , ,
04 Apr 2022
15 Comments

Word Nerd: Places


Oh, the places you’ll go or at least get to know with this batch of terms.

firth: a long, narrow indentation of the seacoast.

wynd: a narrow street or alley.

Wind your way down a wynd

peregrinate: to walk or travel by foot; journey.

saltigrade: move by leaping.

Nothing like saltigrade by the sea

natant: swimming.

wampish: to wave about or flop to and fro.

estivate: to spend the summer, as at a specific place or in a certain activity.

Natant, wampish, estivate: water wonderful words
Posted in creativity, Expressions, humor, reflections, Words and tagged , , ,
10 Dec 2021
5 Comments

Word Nerd: December


It’s December, the last month of the year. Getting through another tough year might involve celebrating and celebrating might also involve some appropriate words.

nimiety: excess, overabundance

galimatias: confused or unintelligible talk

pharaonic: impressively or overwhelmingly large, luxurious, etc.

foozle: to bungle; play clumsily

effulgent: shining forth brilliantly; radiant

specious: apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible

brummagem: showy but inferior and worthless

encomium: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly

terpsichorean: pertaining to dancing

shivoo: a boisterous party or celebration

So, celebrate this last month of a challenging year, and let’s hope the new year brings new hope and healing.

Posted in celebrations, education, language, reflections, Words and tagged , , ,
17 Dec 2019
11 Comments

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 , ,

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