words

Beautiful Words

What makes a word beautiful?? Several weeks ago The Manofesto brought you, courtesy of Pinterest, a list of 100 Words Every High Graduate Should Know, and today, also via Pinterest, we are talking about beautiful words. As it turns out, there is an actual…science…that aims to tackle that question. The study of the inherent pleasantness or unpleasantness of the sound of words, phrases, & sentences is called phonaesthetics. Folks actually examine things like the implication of smallness in the close vowels of such words as “teeny weeny” or unpleasant associations of the consonant cluster sl in words like “slime”, “slug”, & “slush”. Euphony, or the quality of being pleasing to the ear, is contrasted with cacophony, or a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds. Beautiful words oftentimes have three or more syllables, an emphasis on the first syllable, and the presence of particular letters that we enjoy saying, such as “l” and “M”. Obviously a word’s meaning can affect the way we feel about it, although that isn’t always the case, and the connotation one connects with a word can have a positive or negative effect. I work with a young lady who hates the word “moist”, and from what I understand her disdain isn’t unusual. Conversely, I associate “moist” with a yummy cake that isn’t dry, therefore it isn’t a negative word for me. As an avid reader and an aspiring writer I have an appreciation for authors whose prose have an effortless lyricism. It takes more than a single word to achieve that kind of beauty, but it helps to begin with words that have such qualities. I’m not sure how this specific list was selected, but I tend to agree with most of the choices. As with the aforementioned list of words everyone should know I have included definitions for each word as well as the occasional pithy remark. Enjoy.

 

 

 

ailurophile           a cat lover

I’m a cynophilist (dog lover) myself, but to each their own.

 

assemblage        a collection or gathering of persons or things

 

 

becoming            attractively suitable

 

beleaguer           to exhaust with attacks; trouble, harass

 

brood                   to think anxiously or gloomily about; to sit quietly and thoughtfully; to dwell gloomily on a subject

Brooding seems kind of depressing. I much prefer to ponder.

 

bucolic                 relating to or typical of rural life

I’m a little torn on this one. It sounds a bit…medical, doesn’t it?? Perhaps it’s too close to “bubonic”. I much prefer the synonyms “idyllic” or “pastoral”.

 

bungalow            a small, cozy cottage

 

 

chatoyant           having a changeable luster or color with an undulating narrow band of white light

I’ve never heard the word. I need more information.

 

comely                pleasurably conforming to notions of good appearance, suitability, or proportion; having a pleasing appearance

 

conflate               to blend together

 

cynosure             a focal point of attraction or attention

I’ve never heard of this word.

 

 

dalliance             frivolous or trifling interaction

 

demesne             legal possession of land as one’s own

 

demure                shy & reserved; modest

 

denouement       the resolution of a mystery; the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work

If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan just think about the last couple of pages of every story. If you aren’t a Sherlock Holmes fan…what are you doing with your life?!?!??

 

desuetude                    discontinuance from use or exercise

Maybe this word should be desuetuded. I have no idea if I used it correctly, and I honestly don’t care.

 

desultory             marked by lack of purpose; disappointing in progress, performance, or quality

 

diaphanous        characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through; characterized by extreme delicacy of form; insubstantial, vague

 

dissemble           to hide under a false appearance

 

dulcet                  generally pleasing or agreeable; pleasing to the ear or sweet to the taste

I most often hear this word in relation to a good singer’s voice.

 

 

ebullience           lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings

 

effervescent        bubbly, lively, exhilarating

Ebullience is a noun, while effervescent is an adjective. See the difference??

 

efflorescence      the action or process of blossoming; fullness of manifestation; culmination

 

elision                  dropping a sound or syllable in a word

For example, “ne’er” is an elided form of “never” and similarly, “gonna” is an elision of the phrase “going to.” When we sing our national anthem we say “o’er the ramparts we watched” instead of “over”.

 

elixir                     a substance held capable of prolonging life; a sweetened liquid usually containing alcohol that is used in medication either for its medicinal ingredients or as a flavoring

I am reminded of two fantastic episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. In Alcohol & Old Lace two sweet little old ladies have a secret still in their greenhouse and sell what they refer to as elixir, but in reality it is pure moonshine. In Aunt Bea’s Medicine Man Aunt Bea buys some “miracle elixir” from a charlatan and ends up getting her entire ladies’ church group snockered.

 

eloquence                    beauty & persuasion in speech

 

embrocation       a liniment or lotion used for rubbing on the body to relieve pain

 

emollient             making soft or supple

 

ephemeral                    lasting a very short time

I really like this word a lot. It is much lovelier than “temporary” or “fleeting”.

 

epiphany             a sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something; an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure

 

erstwhile              at one time or for a time; in the past

 

ethereal               celestial, heavenly, unworldly, spiritual; invisible but detectable; lacking material substance

 

evanescent         vanishing quickly, lasting a very short time

I’m pretty sure this word was in the other list, although I’m too lazy to actually look.

 

evocative             tending to cause an emotional response; bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind

 

 

fetching               pretty, attractive, pleasing

Between “becoming”, “comely”, & “fetching” gentlemen in The Manoverse have learned some new ways to hit on women. You’re welcome.

 

felicity                  the quality or state of being happy; something that causes happiness; a pleasing manner or quality

 

forbearance        a refraining from the enforcement of something that is due; withholding response to provocation

The world would be a better place if more people were good at this.

 

fugacious           lasting a short time

Basically the same thing as evanescent.

 

furtive                  done in a quiet and secretive way to avoid being noticed; expressive of stealth; obtained underhandedly

I think I like the synonym “surreptitious” a little better.

 

 

gambol                to skip or leap about joyfully

I’d lean more toward the synonym “frolic”.

 

glamour               an exciting, often illusory romantic attractiveness

 

gossamer            something light, delicate, or insubstantial

 

 

halcyon               happy, sunny, care-free, calm, peaceful

Usually used while waxing nostalgic about a past time that we perceive as having been better.

 

harbinger             a person or thing that initiates a major change; something that gives an anticipatory sign of what is to come

 

 

imbrication                    overlapping and forming a regular pattern (as of tiles or scales)

 

imbroglio             an altercation or complicated situation; a confused mass

I think I ate some imbroglio with meatballs once.

 

imbue                  to infuse & instill; to permeate or influence

 

incipient               beginning to come into being or to become apparent

 

ineffable               unutterable, inexpressible; incapable of being expressed in words

 

ingénue               a naïve young woman

From the French “Aren’t you new??” (I’m kidding)

 

inglenook            a cozy nook by the hearth

But what about an inglecranny??

 

insouciance        blithe nonchalance

Not just nonchalance…BLITHE nonchalance lol. FYI…it means lighthearted unconcern.

 

inure                              to accustom to accept something undesirable

 

 

labyrinthine         twisting & turning

Ehhh…I don’t know. I feel like anyone using this word is just trying way too hard to make themselves seem intelligent.

 

lagniappe            something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure; a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase

I think I once bought a venti soy lagniappe at Starbucks.

 

lagoon                 a small gulf or inlet

You’re thinking about Brooke Shields now for the first time in 20 years, aren’t you??

 

languor                listlessness & inactivity

 

lassitude             weariness, listlessness

Well…now you know two fancy ways to say “lazy”. You’re welcome.

 

leisure                 freedom provided by the cessation of activities;

 

lilt                         a spirited & cheerful tune; a springy buoyant movement; a rhythmical swing, flow, or cadence

 

lissome                easily flexed

 

lithe                      characterized by easy flexibility and grace

I think I prefer “nimble” to either of these words.

 

love                      deep affection

 

 

mellifluous                     sweet sounding; having a smooth rich flow

I love this word. It should be used more.

 

moiety                 one of two equal parts

This was in the other list as well. I don’t find it particularly beautiful, I’ve never heard anyone use it, and I just think using “half” is simpler & more straightforward.

 

mondegreen       a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung

For example, “hold me closer Tony Danza”.

 

murmurous         low & indistinct

 

 

nemesis              a formidable rival or opponent

Nemesis was a Greek goddess who enacted retribution against those who succumbed to hubris.

 

 

offing                    the near or foreseeable future

 

onomatopoeia    a word that sounds like its meaning; the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it

I first learned about these when playing Scrabble with a co-worker several years ago (it was a boring job). Examples include “swoosh”, “meow”, & “buzz”.

 

opulent                lush; amply or plentifully provided

 

 

palimpsest                    writing material (such as a parchment or paper) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased; something having diverse layers apparent beneath the surface

 

panacea              a solution for all problems; a remedy for all ills or difficulties

FYI…no such thing exists on Earth.

 

panoply               a full suit of armor; a magnificent or impressive array

 

pastiche              a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work

I own a few Sherlock Holmes pastiches.

 

penumbra           a space of partial illumination (as in an eclipse) between the perfect shadow on all sides and the full light; a body of rights held to be guaranteed by implication in a civil constitution; something that covers, surrounds, or obscures

 

petrichor              the smell of earth after rain

Who knew there was a name for that smell?!?!??

 

plethora               a large quantity; abundance

Y’all know I love this word, right??

 

propinquity          the state of being close to someone or something; proximity

 

Pyrrhic                 successful with heavy losses; costly to the point of negating or outweighing expected benefits

The phrase “Pyrrhic victory” comes from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose army suffered irreplaceable casualties in defeating the Romans at the Battle of Heraclea in 280 BC & the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC during the Pyrrhic War.

 

 

quintessential     the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form; the most typical representation or example

 

 

ratatouille            a spicy French stew made of eggplant, tomatoes, green peppers, squash, & sometimes meat

 

ravel                    to separate or undo the texture of; disentangle

Point of clarification: no one really uses the word “ravel” anymore, while “unravel” is common.  Anything that is metaphorically a fabric can unravel…a relationship or an untrue story. A “ravel” is a loose thread that has “raveled out”.

 

redolent               fragrant or aromatic

 

riparian                relating to or living or located on the bank of a river, lake or, stream

 

ripple                    a very small wave

Also Fred Sanford’s favorite liquor.

Yes, I am aware that no one under the age of 45 will get that joke.

 

 

scintilla                 a spark or trace

 

sempiternal         eternal

Why not just use “eternal”??

 

seraglio               the rich, luxurious palace of a sultan

 

serendipity                    finding something nice while looking for something else; the phenomenon of finding valuable things not sought for

 

summery             light & delicate; warm & sunny; of, resembling, or fit for summer

 

sumptuous          extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent

 

surreptitious        done, made, or acquired by stealth; acting or doing something clandestinely

See, I told you!!

 

susurrous            whispering or hissing

 

 

talisman              a good luck charm

 

tintinnabulation   the ringing or sounding of bells

Think of this word at Christmastime when the Salvation Army is hanging out near your favorite retail outlet.

 

umbrella              a collapsible shade for protection against weather consisting of fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole

I never really thought of “umbrella” as a beautiful word, but I can kind of see it.

 

untoward             difficult to guide, manage, or work with; not favorable

 

 

vestigial               remaining as the last small part of something that existed before

 

 

wafture                the act of waving or a wavelike motion

 

wherewithal        means or supplies for the purpose or need with which to do something

 

woebegone        sorrowful, downcast; exhibiting great woe, sorrow, or misery

Author & humorist Garrison Keillor created the fictional Minnesota town of Lake Wobegon back in the 80’s. In his books & long running radio show A Prairie Home Companion it is described as “a town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve”.

Words 101

Big news y’all…I recently joined Pinterest. I had always believed that it was just a bunch of elderly ladies or bored housewives swapping recipes, but after talking with a co-worker I became intrigued enough to check it out, and I must say it’s rather cool in its own peculiar way. I have boards about God & The Bible, literature & writing, & just general, interesting knowledge or factoids that stimulate my curiosity. And yes, I have saved…I’m sorry…pinned…a few recipes. A man’s got to eat, right?? Anyway, I ran across a little ditty called 100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know (or something like that), and since words are kind of my thing I was hooked. I have always said both in this forum and on social media that I am here to educate as well as entertain, and I genuinely mean that, especially when I am being educated in the process. It is the mark of a well-rounded, well-read, well-educated individual to have an extensive vocabulary, and the world would be a better place if more folks fit the bill. So consider this my small contribution to the cause. I have included all the words from the original list and provided definitions as well as my own pithy remarks here & there. Several of these words were familiar to me, some were not, many are words that I want to make an effort to use more, and a few have me wondering why they were included at all.  That’s the neat thing about riffing on someone else’s concept…I am left with the easy task of handing out kudos or mockery as I see fit, which is right in my wheelhouse. Enjoy.

 

 

  

abjure                  to renounce, reject, or disavow a formerly held belief

 

abrogate             to abolish by authoritative action; to fail to do what is required by

   

abstemious                   marked by temperance or restraint

Those first three would really take some effort to incorporate into daily conversation.

   

acumen               discernment, shrewdness, or keenness of perception

   

antebellum          existing before a war (usually used specifically in relation to The Civil War)

You’re singing a country song right now, aren’t you??

   

auspicious           suggesting likely future success; indicating good fortune

I more often hear the term inauspicious. No I’m not going to define it for you. Don’t be lazy…do it yourself.

 

 

belie                     to present a false impression; to contradict

   

bellicose              inclined to start fights or showing a disposition to fight

No wonder my grandmother was in a bad mood sometimes. She had bellicose veins.

   

bowdlerize          to edit by omitting or modifying parts considered vulgar or offensive

You really should familiarize yourself with this one. It’s happening frequently in an America where someone is constantly offended by something.

   

chicanery            the use of tricks to deceive

One of my favorites.

   

chromosome      a threadlike strand of DNA that carries genes

   

churlish               having a bad disposition; marked by a lack of civility or graciousness

A churl was a medieval peasant but today is a term used for a rude or morose individual. Boom!! Dropping knowledge!!

   

circumlocution    an indirect way of expressing something; evasive speech

   

circumnavigate   to travel around instead of through

 

   

deciduous           shedding foliage at the end of the growing season

   

deleterious          subtly or unexpectedly harmful

I use this word occasionally.

   

diffident               reserved or unassertive; hesitant to act or speak

   

 

enervate              lacking physical, mental, or moral vigor

   

enfranchise         to set free; to grant rights or privileges

Today we more often hear the term disenfranchised, which means feeling deprived of rights or privileges.

   

epiphany             a divine manifestation; the sudden perception of meaning; a revealing moment

   

equinox               either of the two times each year (in late March…vernal equinox…& September…autumnal equinox) when the sun crosses the equator and day & night are of approximately equal length

A related term is solstice, meaning the two times each year at which the sun reaches its highest or lowest point. These are the longest (late June) and shortest (late December) days of the year.

   

euro                     the basic monetary unit of most members of the European Union (introduced in 1999)

 

evanescent                   tending to vanish like vapor

Just like the band!! (I know I know…that was Evanescence)

   

expurgate           to edit morally harmful, offensive, or objectionable parts before something is presented publicly

Similar to bowdlerize.

  

facetious             meant to be humorous or funny, oftentimes in a mischievous way

I use this word all the time!! Love it!!

    

fatuous                foolish or silly

   

feckless               incompetent, ineffective, weak; worthless, irresponsible

So if someone calls you feckless it’s NOT a compliment.

   

fiduciary              relating to or of the nature of a legal trust

   

filibuster               a tactic for delaying or preventing action by making long speeches

Politicians still do it, but I really don’t see the point. Seems like a waste of energy & taxpayer money.

   

 

gamete                a mature sexual reproductive cell

   

gauche                crude, lacking social polish

Typically people who use this word are arrogant assclowns who think just a little too highly of themselves.

 

gerrymander       divide voting districts unfairly to provide a group special advantage

   

 

hegemony          social, cultural, ideological, or economic dominance or influence of one social group over others

   

hemoglobin         a hemoprotein that gives red blood cells their color

 

homogeneous    of uniform structure or composition throughout; of the same or a similar kind or nature

Kind of like every town in America has the same chain restaurants, every shopping center has the same stores, and every car on the road looks the same.

 

hubris                  exaggerated pride, presumption, & self-confidence

An underrated word in my opinion.

   

hypotenuse        the side of a right triangle opposite the right angle

I haven’t had to know this word since high school. Kind of like the algebra educators swear up & down is useful.

 

impeach              to bring an accusation against

If you watch CNN or MSNBC you hear it every day. You really should shut off the TV and go outside.

  

incognito              without revealing one’s identity

  

incontrovertible   impossible to deny or disprove; indisputable

Why not just use indisputable?? It’s easier to say & spell.

   

inculcate              to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions; imbue, infuse, ingrain; to set permanently in the consciousness or saturate with a certain qualities or principles

I’ve never used this word in my life.

   

infrastructure      the underlying foundation or basic framework of a system or organization; the system of public works of a country, state, or region and the resources required for it

   

interpolate           to alter or corrupt by inserting words into text, often falsifying it thereby

  

irony                    incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs; the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning

   

 

jejune                   lacking interest or significance or impact

   

 

kinetic                  relating to the motion of material bodies and their forces

   

kowtow                to show fawning deference to

A really useful word from 2008-2016.

   

laissez faire         a doctrine opposing governmental interference in economic affairs beyond the minimum necessary for the maintenance of peace and property rights

   

lexicon                 the vocabulary of a language, an individual speaker, or group of speakers or a subject  

 

loquacious           given to excessive talk or trivial conversation

This one needs a boost!! Come one America!!

   

lugubrious           mournful in an exaggerated or dramatic way

 

 

metamorphosis  striking change in appearance or character or circumstances

   

mitosis                 the process by which a cell divides into two smaller cells

   

moiety                  one of two approximately equal parts; half

I’ll just stick with half.

 

   

nanotechnology engineering that involves manipulating atoms and molecules

   

nihilism                a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless; denial of objective and moral truths

Famous nihilists include Machiavelli, Andy Warhol, Ernest Hemingay, & Hunter S. Thompson.

 

nomenclature     a system of terms used within a particular science, discipline, or art

   

nonsectarian      not affiliated with or restricted to one group

   

notarize                to authenticate usually by someone empowered to witness signatures

   

 

obsequious                   marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness

   

oligarchy              a political system governed by a few people

What we Americans call “democracy”.

   

omnipotent                    having unlimited power, authority, & influence

   

orthography        the art of writing words with the proper letters according to standard usage; the part of language study that deals with letters and spelling

   

oxidize                 to into a combine with oxygen

   

 

parabola              a plane curve generated by a point moving so that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed line;  the intersection of a right circular cone with a plane parallel to an element of the cone

Yeah…I still have no clue what it means.

   

paradigm             an example, pattern, or archetype; a philosophical or theoretical framework

   

parameter            a limit or boundary

   

pecuniary            relating to or involving money

   

photosynthesis   synthesis of compounds in plants aided by radiant energy, especially light

   

plagiarize             to steal the ideas or words of someone else while passing them off as your own and not crediting the source

   

plasma                 the watery fluid in which blood cells are suspended

   

polymer               a naturally occurring or synthetic compound

   

precipitous           extremely steep

   

 

quasar                 a region at the center of a galaxy that produces an extremely large amount of radiation

I bet they used this word on Star Trek at some point.

   

quotidian             found in the ordinary course of events; commonplace, everyday

   

 

recapitulate         to summarize briefly

   

reciprocal            shared, felt, or shown by both sides

   

reparation            the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury; the payment of damages

Another word you hear a lot on the news. Again…turn off the TV…go outside!!

 

respiration           the act of breathing

   

 

sanguine             confidently optimistic and cheerful

   

soliloquy              the act of talking to oneself; a poem, discourse, or utterance of a character in a drama in the form of a monologue

If you’ve ever studied Shakespeare you’re already familiar.

   

subjugate            to bring under control; subdue or conquer

   

suffragist              an advocate of the extension of voting rights

Kind of an antiquated, historical reference. Heck, everybody votes now…even dead people.

   

supercilious        having or showing arrogant superiority

   

 

tautology             needless repetition of an idea, statement, or word

Not to be confused with tauntaunology, which is the study of the ice planet Hoth.

   

taxonomy            orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships

   

tectonic                pertaining to the structure or movement of the earth’s crust

  

tempestuous      turbulent, stormy; characterized by violent emotions or behavior

   

thermodynamics physics concerned with heat and other forms of energy

   

totalitarian            relating to centralized control by an autocratic leader or hierarchy; dictatorial   

 

unctuous             marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality

Another underrated word.

   

usurp                            to seize control without authority

   

 

vacuous              devoid of content; marked by lack of intelligence

Kind of like reality television.

  

vehement            intensely emotional; deeply felt; forcibly expressed; fervid

   

vortex                   a powerful circular current of water; resembling a whirlpool

   

 

winnow                to remove something undesirable or unwanted

   

wrought               beaten out or shaped by hammering

   

 

xenophobia        intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries

It should be noted that this dislike or concern isn’t irrational when those folks are ramming planes into buildings.

   

 

yeoman               a person attending to or assisting another

You remember the 80’s show The Love Boat?? They always said Gopher was the yeoman purser and I never knew what it meant. FYI…a purser is the person on a ship responsible for handling the money. It sounds so much cooler than treasurer.

   

 

ziggurat                a rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound