Most of mine are from Life of Pi.
1. penury
(n) [PEN-yuh-ree]
Definition—scarcity; dearth; inadequacy
Use—“Or, as I struggle ‘against the thought of acedia that sets before [my] eyes a lengthy period of old age, a bitter penury that goes unrelieved, and illnesses capable of killing the body,’ Evagrius recommends this cold plunge into Job.”
~ Acedia & Me
2. canton
(n)
Definition—a small territorial division of a country, especially one of the states of Switzerland
Use—“They only rid the canton of its few half-wild dogs.”
~ Life of Pi
(n)
Definition—leavened bread baked in a clay oven in India; usually shaped like a teardrop
Use—“They looked like three-day-old nans. Who would eat these, I wondered.”
~ Life of Pi
4. ineluctably
(adj)
Definition—by necessity; not to be avoided or escaped
Use—“…a realization that the founding principle of existence is what we call love, which works itself out sometimes not clearly, not cleanly, not immediately, nonetheless ineluctably.”
~ Life of Pi
5. pandit
(n)
Definition—a man in India esteemed for his wisdom or learning: often used as a title of respect
Use—“Your son has gone Muslim,” said the pandit.”
~ Life of Pi
* * *
Which ones did you already know?
3 comments:
I knew canton because we lived close to Switzerland when we were in France, but the rest were new to me. Thanks for participating and have a Merry Christmas!
Life of Pi gave you some very interesting words. I like the pictures that go with the words, especially for cans. I get it now.
We do have nan here. I didn't know ineluctably.
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