Becoming a Better Logophile

A new word a day keeps the doctor away. Or something like that.

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 20, 2013 / trousseau

Word: trousseau

Pronunciation: \TROO-soh\

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: The personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares.

Example: I am fortunate to be in possession of various family heirlooms, including several items from my great-grandmother's trousseau.

Thoughts: Whoa, this word sounds pretty cool. Troo-soh. Troo-soh. Troo-soh. One day, hopefully, I will have a trousseau. I'm not sure where this word would come up in your daily life but, hey, it sounds pretty cool.

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 19, 2013 / white elephant

Word: white elephant

Pronunciation: \WYTE-EL-uh-funt\

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A property requiring much care and expense and yielding little profit. An object no longer of value to its owner but of value to others. Something of little or no value.

Example: The town's white elephant is the run-down but historic theater, which has been closed for several years but still requires thousands of dollars in maintenance costs.

Thoughts: Personally, I think this is sort of like cheating since it's two words and I've always thought of it more so as a phrase than a single word, but Merriam-Webster can do as they please. It's a good word/phrase to know about. I'm sure you've been to or at least heard of white elephant gift parties (which can be quite fun.)

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 18, 2013 / portend

Word: portend

Pronunciation: \por-TEND\

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To give an omen or anticipatory sign of. Indicate, signify.

Example: In the short story, the appearance of a black cat portends danger for the protagonist.

Thoughts: I'm pretty sure that this was a vocabulary word I had to know in high school but (no surprise here) I forgot the meaning of it. My logic is, if it's a vocabulary word in high school, you probably should know it.

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 17, 2013 / clamant

Word: clamant

Pronunciation: \KLAY-munt\

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Clamorous, blatant. Demanding attention; urgent.

Example: Clamant students gathered outside the college president's office, protesting the denial of tenure for the popular professor.

Thoughts: I have never heard of this word before and I actually misread at first, thinking it was "claimant." Anyways, I was surprised at the definition because I thought of the word 'clammy' which is not really related to 'clamant' at all. It's a good word to know, though. I could see it popping up in a reading or perhaps even a good word to use in creative writing.

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 16, 2013 / espouse

Word: espouse

Pronunciation: \ih-SPOWZ\

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: Marry. To take up and support as a cause; become attached to.

Example: The new theory has been espoused by many leading physicists.

Thoughts: Hmm, you would think that this word would have been the word after Valentine's Day. Anyways, I've never heard of this word before but it seems pretty guessable with the word 'spouse' in it. It's probably one of those words you should know for the SAT.

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 15, 2013 / intemperate

Word: intemperate

Pronunciation: \in-TEM-puh-rut\

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Not moderate or mild; severe. Lacking or showing lack of restraint. Given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages.

Example: The journalist eventually apologized for her intemperate rant against the governor.

Thoughts: I find it kind of funny that this is the word of the day after such a lovely one for Valentine's Day. It's almost like, sure, yesterday you were attached most definitely to my heartstrings but today, you're just intemperate.

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 14, 2013 / heartstring

Word: heartstring

Pronunciation: \HAHRT-string\

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: The deepest emotions or affections

Example: "Thou touchest my inmost centre, boy; thou art tied to me by cords woven of my heart-strings." -From Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick, 1851

Thoughts: What a cute word for Valentine's Day! This word will be great for creative writing!

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

New Follower: pegdesait8422

Hello! Thanks for following!

[becomingabetterlogophile]

February 13, 2013 / companionable

Word: companionable

Pronunciation: \kum-PAN-yuh-nuh-bul\

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Marked by, conducive to, or suggestive of companionship; sociable.

Example: I've come to enjoy sharing a dorm room with Brad; he's a companionable roommate and we get along well together.

Thoughts: I have heard of this word before. Seems like a pretty straight-forward word to figure out its meaning (relation to 'companion.') This sounds like a better alternative when describing a friendship. Some words, such as 'friendly,' can get a tad boring. I'll have to remember this for creative writing!

Credits: Word

[becomingabetterlogophile]

i'm sooooo happy that i've found your blog. :) coolest! words.. words.. words... "A new word a day keeps the doctor away. Or something like that." rad!

Aw, this makes me sad that I have abandoned the blog due to no time! I've been really busy lately, but I will try to start over and begin to blog daily again. Thanks for the ask. :]

[becomingabetterlogophile]

September 13, 2012 / undulate

Word: undulate

Pronunciation: \UN-juh-layt\

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To form or move in waves; fluctuate. To rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence. To present a wavy appearance.

Example: From the window of our bed-and-breakfast, we had a gorgeous view of the green hills undulating into the distance.

Thoughts: I don't know why, but I've just always associated this word with waves and whatnot, so I can't really think of a good mnemonic device. Anyways, it's a good word to know and I've always loved its pronunciation. So smooth and flowing.

Credits: Word / Picture

[becomingabetterlogophile]

New Follower: jiemame

jiemame started following becomingabetterlogophile

Hello, new follower! Thanks for following!

[becomingabetterlogophile]

September 12, 2012 / peripatetic

Word: peripatetic

Pronunciation: \pair-uh-puh-TET-ik\

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Of or relating to the Greek philosopher Aristotle or his philosophy; Aristotelian. Of, relating to, or given to walking. Moving or traveling from place to place; itinerant.

Example: I was peripatetic throughout my twenties, but in my thirties I bought a house and began putting down roots in the community. 

Thoughts: I've actually heard of this word before because of Merriam-Webster's lovely green vocab book, as I've come to call it after my years in high school of using it. However, I never knew that this word also had something to do with Aristotle. (Actually, I think the word 'Aristotelian' is a way more interesting choice of word to use as a Word of the Day, Merriam-Webster, cough cough.) I think this word would be really great to know for any type of writing and I also think that it sounds really cool. I never would have guessed its definition from the way that it is pronounced, which as you all probably know, always fascinates me.

PS, shout-out to my newest follower, oh-jensen. He has a pretty cool blog and you should go check it out! He wants to enrich his vocabulary and so should you!

Credits: Word / Picture

[becomingabetterlogophile]

New Follower: oh-jensen

oh-jensen started following becomingabetterlogophile

Hello, new follower! Thanks for following!

[oh-jensen]

No, thank you for enriching my vocabulary!

[becomingabetterlogophile]

Aaah! You're the first follower to actually say something back. This is so exciting for me. :]

[becomingabetterlogophile]

New Follower: oh-jensen

oh-jensen started following becomingabetterlogophile

Hello, new follower! Thanks for following!

[becomingabetterlogophile]

September 11, 2012 / stravage

Word: stravage

Pronunciation: \struh-VAYG\

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: To roam.

Example: "I was living at Gray's Inn in those days, and we stravaged up Gray's Inn Road on one of those queer, unscientific explorations of the odd corners of London in which I have always delighted." — From Arthur Machen's 1922 novella The House of Souls 

Thoughts: Huh, this definitely sounded like a made-up word, but I think it's interesting and I originally pronounced it as "strah-vuhg", going off of "ravage", but its actual pronunciation is pretty cool. It's really fascinating how some words work, y'know?

Credits: Word / Picture

[becomingabetterlogophile]

September 10, 2012 / nuance

Word: nuance

Pronunciation: \NOO-ahnss\

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A subtle distinction or variation. A subtle quality; nicety. Sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value.)

Example: The movie's dialogue didn't sound convincing, partly because none of the characters had mastered the nuances of a Midwestern accent.

Thoughts: This is a really good word to know. I remembering hearing it a countless amount of times during my high school English classes and it's a great word for essays. I've always loved this word's meaning and its pronunciation. I'm so happy we have a word for something like this in the English language.

Credits: Word / Picture