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 come from Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman.
1. gawmy – “She called out, ‘You look like a gawmy idiot, tiptoeing around like that.’”
Gawmy isn’t in my dictionary, but I found it on this list of “Maine-isms” and it means clumsy or awkward. I think it’s a fantastic word!
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2. epigrammatic – “Right now, for instance, recalling Mr. Kimmelbrod’s dry, epigrammatic dismissal of the audition tape, Iris found herself suddenly furious.”
According to wiktionary.org, epigrammatic means containing or using epigrams. An epigram is a brief or witty saying. I should have been able to figure this one out!
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3. purfle– “He traced the pearwood purfling of his violin with a trembling finger.”
Purfle means to ornament the border or the edges of.
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What new words have you encountered lately?
Wow…never heard of these words.
Great selections…..I want to read Red Hook Road…I guess I will need a dictionary handy.
THANKS, Kathy.
Gawny – … that is a good word!
I love gawmy! It sounds so typically Maine. Great words!
My words are here.
I love purfle. I’m going to have to figure out a way to use that one today.
Huh, and I was always told that there was no rhyme for purple. I adore purfle!
Great words … and purfle is my favorite too!
Here is mine
purfle is a grand word…I have to work that into a conversation…
These ones are new for me as well. I love purfle!!
My garden is purfled with stones. (I think I used that correctly!) (not sure though as my spell check is saying it is incorrect!)
Here is a link to my post http://lusravesandrants.blogspot.com/2010/09/wondrous-words-wednesday_22.html
I will be back to check out other commentors links later, as I am heading to the hospital for surgery this morning.
I never realized I’d need to learn a new language to visit Maine!
Purfle is the best one today! Love it.
I didn’t have any words to share today but I love the ones that you have here!
I like your use of a variety of dictionaries this week. I didn’t know there was one just for Maine.
I have some new words this week. I rather lowered the cultural bar but you can find them at Joyfully Retired.
I like purfling – it sounds made up!
Kathy, you always find the best words to highlight! Gawmy is my favorite of the three this week.
Great words this week!
Have you read Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King? FULL of amazing Wonderous Words!
Gawmy & Purfle are both really great words! They are completely usable & I’m going to try to use them!
~ Amy
I love regionalisms. Gawmy is a great one!
i also stumbled over gawmy while reading RHR a few months back! how did you enjoy the book overall?
I love gawmy! Maybe because I’m very gawmy myself. That’s a word I know I’ll be using a lot from now on!
Due to problems with my net connection I missed ‘Wondrous Words Wednesday’… And I’m reading the perfect book for this!
I also like ‘purfle’. It reminds me of knitting, or soft wool.
I can feel my brain getting smarter every Wednesday
Ditto… my new IT word is Gawmy!
Really like the sound and it rolls out so fine… gawmy.