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, write a post and come back and add your link to Mr. Linky! All of my words this week come from my Word-a-Day calendar.
1. titivate – “Work could undoubtedly be done on the show to titivate it for Broadway — but the score will remain a problem if not a liability.” – - Clive Barnes, New York Post, August 13, 2000
Titivate is a verb that means to make or become smart or spruce. It often refers to making small additions or alterations in attire and can be used figuratively. I need someone to titivate me!
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2. rutilant – “The rutilant tint that infused our living from came from the Christmas lights on the neighbor’s lawn.”
Rutilant is an adjective that means having a reddish glow.
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3. probity – “The tale of young George Washington’s refusal to tell a lie after cutting down his father’s cherry tree is often told to grade schoolers in order to illustrate his probity.”
Probity is a noun that means adherence to the highest principles and ideals: uprightness.
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Have you come across any new words lately?
Nope, never head those before either
Good ones! Never heard “rutilant” before. Interesting – sort of similar to “ruddy” I guess.
“Probity” I already had. Forgive me for being juvenile, but before you told me their meanings, the other two just sounded positively indecent!
After reading the definitions, I feel like I should have recognized all three, but in truth I only understand rutilant. Thanks for sharing!
Great words! Now to just remember them!
Love titivate, but I agree with JNCL – sounds dirty! Great words today!
Rutilant doesn’t sound very Christmasy! LOL
I like the last one.
I did know probity. I love titivate- perhaps because it’s so near titillate?
Interesting words. You stumped me with titivate!
I liked the third one, and the reference to George Washington
Hi Kathy,
Titivate is a word that is used quite extensively here in the UK, but always seems to make youngsters laugh!
The only word that I haven’t come across before, is ‘Rutilant’. I still think that ‘Ruddy’ is a much more appropriate word though, ‘Rutilant’ somehow reminds me of ‘Rutting’ animals, which isn’t good!
Tititave is so funny ! I like it. Thanks !
I knew I recognized probity from somewhere, but had to google it to figure it out. I recalled “probity probe,” which also sounds dirty, but is from Harry Potter.
This meme seems like a great idea! So often when I read I come across a word I don’t know, or am not really sure of, but I don’t bother to stop and check it out. Writing it up once a week – and knowing that others are doing the same – would certainly incentivise me to check the dictionary more often. I’ll keep my eyes open this week see what I come up with for next Wednesday.
My mother and grandmother used to use “titivate herself” to mean a woman putting on make-up.
Your calendar gave you some great words this week. I’d like to see probity used more often, and I wouldn’t mind a little titivation myself.
I love the word titivate, and need to try to use that one in a sentence! Great words today!
All new to me, but I might be able to remember rutilant. I like that one.
Useful words here! I will try to use them soon.
These are all great words and new to me. I like the sound of titivate.
I feel so language challenged today… I have never heard any of those before.
Excellent words!!
You always do such a great job of expanding my vocabulary!
I like Probity.
All new words for me! These words definitely titivated my vocabulary (not sure if this is a right usage though!) I have my words up (this is the last time the words are from Cutting for Stone. I know I thought I will stop last week but I posted my review for the book and could not resist!)
I cannot tell a lie: I could also use someone to titivate me as well!
Titivate is an interesting word that doesn’t mean anything close to what I expected. I honestly thought it had something to do with sex, prostitutionor pornography! Nice, right?! To me it has a provocative kind of feel. Oy! I should probably stay away from this word!
Probity I’m familiar with because it and forms of it are used quite a bit in law. I love rutilant! I know exacly what it’s referring to but, until now, never knew what word described that glow was! Thank you!
Great words, Kathy! Sorry it took me a few days to get here.