It’s by one of my favorite columnists, Andrée Seu, who is so insightful and pithy.
1. atavistic
(adj) [at-uh-VIS-tik]
Definition—reverting to or suggesting the characteristics of a remote ancestor or primitive type
Use—“The theology of ‘blessing’ and ‘cursing’ has become as atavistic as all that, it seems to me.”
2. effetely
(adv) [ih-feet-ly]
Definition—unable to produce; sterile
Use—“We bless and we curse effetely all the live-long day, vaguely cognizant of some long lost momentousness, too jejune in our materialism to believe in anything.”
3. jejune
(adj) [ji-JOON]
Definition—deficient or lacking in nutritive value
Use—[see above]
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What new words have you learned this week? Join Kathy at BermudaOnion to share them.
7 comments:
I've been reading some of Jane Austen's work. I definitely come across words that I'm not familiar with! But what a great exercise it is to pull out the dictionary and look up unfamiliar words!
You found some interesting words this week! Jejune really fascinates me. Thanks for participating today!
How interesting! I have always heard effete used as meaning decadent, but effetely is used very differently.
My words are here.
Hi!
All new words to me. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
http://sherriesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/03/wondrous-words-wedensday.html
Interesting words this week. The article sounds quite interesting as well. I've often wondered why curse words sound like prayers and/or blessings.
I knew of jejune from my health ordeal that started 2 years ago. I had a PEG tube which allowed feeding directly into my stomach, but I learned about a J-tube that allows feeding directly into the jejunum, which is part of the colon I believe (or where the small intestine dumps into the colon).
I'm wondering if there is a way to access that magazine article online. If it is as great as the words you posted, I'd love to read it!
Here are my words...
http://westietherapy.blogspot.com/2010/03/wondrous-words-die-for-you.html
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