Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wondrous Words Wednesday - December 30, 2009

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy aka Bermuda Onion where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. Feel free to join in the fun.

I probably could have listed dozens of new-to-me words from THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery, but here are a few:

eructation - There he stood, the most recent eructation of the ruling corporate elite -- a class that reproduces itself solely by means of virtuous and proper hiccups -- beaming at his discovery, sharing it with me without thinking or ever dreaming for a moment that I might actually understand what he was referring to. (p.17)

eructation: The act or an instance of belching.

opprobrium - In rich people's apartments everything is clean, smooth, healthy and consequently safe from the tyranny of flyswatters and public opprobrium. (p.62)

opprobrium: the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy.

abnegation - I have always been fascinated by the abnegation with which we human beings are capable of devoting a great deal of energy to the quest for nothing and to the rehashing of useless and absurd ideas. (p.247)

abnegation: to refuse or deny oneself (some rights, conveniences, etc.); reject; renounce.

What new words did you discover this week?

4 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I'll need a dictionary if I ever read that book! Thanks for participating!

Lisa notes... said...

I love books with lots of new words. I'm reading "Life of Pi" right now,and am seeing many words I don't know there. Thanks for your list!

Margot said...

I like the new words you picked from the book. It does look like a challenging book, word-wise.

The Westie Loving Therapist said...

I agree with the other posters, that this book seems very challenging word wise, but interesting. I especially enjoyed abnegation. Thanks for sharing!

I wish I would have had your self-control. I added about 20 words to my post this week!