– Definition: adj. 1. strongly reminiscent or suggestive of 2. fragrant or sweet-smelling
– Used in a sentence: This halvah is redolent of faded rose-petals.
– Why: One can never have too many adjectives for describing the senses.
Tag: Words to Bring Back
Dust ’em off and sprinkle liberally!
Words To Bring Back: “Desultory”
– Definition: adj. marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose
– Used in a sentence: Except for my relatively brief writing career, my life has been a desultory yet full one.
– Why: It seems to characterize much of our post-Y2K (remember that?) popular culture. In the late 1990s, we had a nice fin-de-siecle sort of desperation. But ever since the Great Odometer rolled over, meh.
Words To Bring Back: “Trenchant”
– Definition: adj. 1. vigorous or incisive in expression or style. 2. sharply perceptive
– Used in a sentence: What we need is more trenchant male characters, unlike Peter Jackson’s Aragorn or the ubiquitous “Bumbling Dad.”.
– Why: These are not timid times, and our language should reflect that. It shouldn’t go so far in that direction as to become self-parodying, but I think it’s important to “stand for” something — and to understand as well.
Words To Bring Back: “Proffer”
– Definition: v. t. To offer for acceptance.
– Used in a sentence:To you the reader, I hereby and humbly proffer my Cook For Any Price stories.
– Why: It implies a social contract somewhat different from its rhyming synonym; I think of it as a kinder, genteeler sort of offer.
Words To Bring Back: “Cubit”
– Definition: n. A unit of measurement; the distance between one’s elbow and middle-fingertip (approximately 18 inches)
– Used in a sentence: My cat is almost exactly two cubits long, including his tail.
– Why: Sure, we could always double the distance and call it “a yard” — but cubit is more organic, deriving as it does from our bodies. And I think measuring the Universe using our bodies is both a good metaphor and a fine aspiration.
Words To Bring Back, Special Edition: “Wheeler”
– Definition: v. To unconsciously, persistently and innocently pocket other people’s stuff. Continue reading “Words To Bring Back, Special Edition: “Wheeler””
Words to Bring Back: “Ambit”
– Definition: n. A space surrounding a house, castle, town, etc. A precinct.
– Used in a sentence: It is my ambition to diligently guard my ambit against encroachment.
– Why: Where I live in semi-rural Northern California, such things are known as “open space,” “green space” or “urban growth boundaries” and are considered sacrosanct against development. But “ambit,” being more compact, sounds like something to strive for rather than something attained.And isn’t the journey always better than the destination?
Words to Bring Back: “Desuetude”
– Definition: n.; pronounced “DES-wuh-tude” or “de-SUE-uh-tude.” A condition of disuse.
– Used in a sentence: Unless we act to protect them, our Constitutionally guaranteed rights are apt to fall into desuetude.
– Why: It rolls nicely off the tongue. Besides, who actually says “disuse?”
Words To Bring Back: “Terrible”
– Definition: adj. Of a nature to excite terror; appaling
– Used in a sentence: “That’s the most terrible Hallowe’en costume I’ve ever seen.”
– Why: The current connotation of “terrible” as slipshod, sub-par, etc. really grinds my gears. Time to get back to roots and enjoy it as Webster and Funk & Wagnalls intended.
Words to Bring Back: “Artless”
– Definition: adj. 1. Lacking craft or deceit; guileless; naive. 2. Natural; simple
– Used in a sentence: Her whole manner, from clothes to attitude, was perfectly artless.
– Why: A useful antidote to the snarky, cynical-chic times in which we live; the world might well be a happier place for its actualization.
Words to Bring Back: “Rejoice”
– Definition: v.i. To feel joyful; be glad.
– Used in a sentence: Richard rejoiced when the Red Sox won the World Series.
– Why: It’s little used outside translations of the Bible, but addresses a HUGE part of life that we often take for granted. And the more we use it, the more it applies (one rejoicing leads to another).
Words to Bring Back: “Amateur”
– Definition: n one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession
– Used in a sentence: “He is a true amateur of cooking.”
– Why: What I would like to bring back is the usage “an amateur of _________,” which makes the word synonymous with “lover.” What I would like to get rid of is the connotation of “amateur” as “slipshod; half-baked; amateurish.” Continue reading “Words to Bring Back: “Amateur””