Wondrous Words Wednesday

What new words have you learned this week? Join Kathy at Bermuda Onion to see more.

1. anomie
(n) [AN-uh-mee]

Definition—social instability caused by erosion of standards and values

Use—“Raymond Chandler may be recognized now as an important figure in twentieth-century American literature, an early voice describing the anomie of urban life in the years after World War II, but there are plenty of critics who will reject such a judgment out of hand.”
~ On Writing

2. Trollopian
(adj) [truh-LOP-ee-uhn]

Definition—alluding to the British novelist Anthony Trollope

Use—“I’ve written thirty-five or so—some of Trollopian length—and am considered prolific, but I look positively blocked next to Creasey.”
~ On Writing

3. barkentine
(n) [BAHR-kuhn-teen]

Definition—a sailing ship with from three to five masts of which only the foremast is square-rigged, the others being fore-and-aft rigged

Use—“She hadn’t thought how much four walls meant to her when she paid passage on a barkentine destined for California.”
~ Redeeming Love

4. linsey-woolsey
(n) [LIN-zee-WOOL-zee]

Definition—a coarse, woven fabric of wool and cotton or of wool and linen

Use—“Inside were two linsey-woolsey skirts, one faded brown, the other black.”
~ Redeeming Love

* * *

Which ones did you already know?