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Wondrous Words Wednesday

Wondrous Words Wednesday @ BermudaOnion

I continue to discover new words every time I open up The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. All three words today came from Ben’s rich vocabulary.

He has some super long sentences as well. They’re more like today’s paragraphs.

What new words have you learned this week? Join Kathy to share them and learn more.

1. Junto
(n) [JUHN-toh]

Definition—a self-appointed committee, esp. with political aims; cabal

Use“We had discuss'd this point in our Junto, where I was on the side of an addition, being persuaded that the first small sum struck in 1723 had done much good by increasing the trade, employment, and number of inhabitants in the province, since I now saw all the old houses inhabited, and many new ones building.”

2. probity
(n) [PROH-bi-tee]

Definition—integrity and uprightness; honesty

Use“…and I should, from this circumstance (there being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, states, and princes, who have need of honest instruments for the management of their affairs, and such being so rare), have endeavored to convince young persons that no qualities were so likely to make a poor man's fortune as those of probity and integrity.”

3. inimical
(adj) [ih-NIM-i-kuhl]

Definition—adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful

Use“And it shows how much more profitable it is prudently to remove, than to resent, return, and continue inimical proceedings.”

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Did you already know any of these? All of these?

2 comments:

bermudaonion said...

Those are all great words! Inimical just won't roll off of my tongue, so I don't think I'll be using it any time soon. Thanks for playing along!

Margot said...

All interesting words. I know what you mean when you speak of the very long sentences. I'm reading Mark Twain and he has some sentences that are also as long as a paragraph. Must have been the way to write in those days.

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