Wondrous Words Wednesday
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. If you want to play along, grab the button, and join the fun! (Don’t forget to leave a link in the comments if you’re participating.) All of my words this week came from Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
1. scarificator – “It’s called a scarificator, Hammond replied.”
This wasn’t in my dictionary, but according to answers.com, a scarificator is a surgical instrument with several spring-operated lancets, used to scarify the skin. In the book, it was used for blood-letting.
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2. febrifuge – “As soon as Sebastian gasped for air, she poured thick febrifuge down his throat.”
According to my dictionary, febrifuge means antipyretic. Since I didn’t know what antipyretic means, I looked that up too, and it means an agent that reduces fever.
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What new words have you encountered lately?
the scarificator sounds painful! you learn something new evety day
Oooh, good words! Medical words are so interesting.
My words today are medieval and clerical and I now have a new favorite put-down!
The medical words were the interesting ones in that book. I had that gross one last week!
oh, both good ones! While I can’t ever imagine working ‘scarificator’ into my vocab for any reason (!) , ‘febrifuge’ is fun to say, isn’t it?!
I have several this week, and all from only one book! (and look at me, 1st to post for a change! lol)
Happy Reading, everybody!
LoL…see, it *is* early! (sorry about that; my link is -> here
Wow! The bloodletting word really caught my attention. I always feel happy we no longer use bloodletting in our Medical Science. The picture of the scari…..is interesting too.
http://readwithtea.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words.html
Great words…I didn’t have any words that stumped me this week but am going to visit blogs that did so I can ncrease my vocabulary.
CMashLovesToRead
Hi Cheryl,
Just wanted to speak anyway. The smallest word can blow me away. I wish you had a word.
http://readwithtea.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words.html
Whoa, those words are kind of crazy! Here are mine: http://wordlily.com/2010/02/10/words-from-my-reading-35/
I’d have been stumped, too.
Well I wouldn’t have guessed those words in a million years! My words this week are here:
http://jo-jolovestoread.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words-wednesday-feb-10.html
Both these words are new to me. This weekly post of yours helps me a lot .. I really wish to join this meme some day
What a good word scarificator is – expressing by the word its meaning, in a way.
I am with you…all three of those words are new to me too. Here are my words this week…
http://westietherapy.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words-fatal-deduction.html
Wow, a couple of dandies this week. That must be some story.
Sounds as if your two new words gave you a bit of an education. And, now, me too.
I have some new words to share. You can find them HERE.
Yikes. I think I might have guessed the scarificator. Sounds hideous though.
Two more terrific words for my list!
I’ve just posted an interview on my blog, so I won’t be doing this great meme this week, but will do it soon (it’s so much fun).
Thanks for hosting this, Kathy.
Great words!
http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words-wednesday_09.html
Scarificator sounds truly scary! I would have had to look up febrifuge and antipyretic as well. I love learning new words.
Here are mine: http://www.winterwrite.com/archives/1330
Both those words (three actually) are entirely new to me, and very interesting!
Your words this week make me wonder about the content of the book.
I’m wondering if it’s violent or medical.
Gotta say, I like ‘antipyretic’ the best, but I tend to like all the words with ‘pyr’ in them.
http://dustandspores.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-word-wednesday-snow-day.html
The first one is a scary contraption!!!
Isn’t that frustrating when you have to look up a word in the definition? Good word though! Here are mine:
http://carolinebookbinder.blogspot.com/2010/02/wondrous-words-wednesday_10.html
something i love about my kindle is the built-in dictionary feature…but now i don’t write down the words i need to look up anymore.
here’s one for wondrous words: i was explaining the word ‘dawdle’ to my 9th grade class this week (a few of them are a bit dim) and after discussing the definition, one little darling raised her hand and said (in earnestness) ‘i thought it had something to do with drawing!”
gotta love my job!
Never heard of either before. I’m so glad that people don’t use scarificators any more.
I love “febrifuge”! So unusual. Too bad it’s not really a word you can easily use in a conversation
So now I can tell the kids, “Straighten up or I’ll get my scarificator” – mom of the year.
febrifuge- related to febrile. interesting!
I learned something new again this week!