Wondrous Words Wednesday
Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love. Feel free to get creative! If you want to play along, grab the button, write a post and come back and add your link to Mr. Linky!
My words this week come from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
1. ontological – “It is at any rate a pleasure to meet such ontologically improbable creatures.”
Even after reading the definition, I’m not sure I understand this word. Ontological means relating to or based upon being or existence.
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2.numinous – “Rudolf Otto said that if you had not encountered the numinous, if you have not experienced a nonrational encounter with the mysterium tremendum, then his work was not for you.”
Numinous means supernatural or mysterious.
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What words do you want to celebrate today?
Hi Kathy,
Both of your words are new to me today, as are the book and author, despite the many awards he seems to have won.
From your word quotes, I certainly wasn’t expecting the synopsis which came a long with the book.
This certainly sounds like a thought provoking and difficult read, if only for the language it is couched in … like yourself, I am still not really sure whether I understand that first word!!
Thanks for sharing and hosting,
Yvonne
I know I’ve come across ontological before, but it’s one of those words that I don’t really have a use for and so can never remember. I really, really must read The Fault in Our Stars!
When I took a biology course we all had to recite together: Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny. It means that as the individual develops, she recapitulates the history of the species. For example, the mammalian embryo has gills which then become something else. So ontogeny is the process of coming into being, into existence. Here is a Wikipedia reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recapitulation_theory which has a nice illustration of the various embryos.
Curiously Í recently read Fault in our Stars, but don’t remember those words! I may have skim read the bits when the Amsterdam author was speaking though as the word ‘wanker’ sprang to mind every time he appeared!
Oooh I like ontological. Great use of it in that sentence. Good words this week!
I am somewhat familiar with the first word but the second was definitely new to me.
Numinous is a neat word…think I might be able to use that one! I was hoping to post some words this week, but I didn’t have time to get it ready.
There is a famous [saying]: ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny – it can help you remember what it is! Here’s a quick explanation from answers.com: “Ontogeny is the course of development of an organism from fertilized egg to adult; phylogeny is the evolutionary history of a group of organisms. The phrase “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” originated with Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919). It means that as an embryo of an advanced organism grows, it will pass through stages that look very much like the adult phase of less-advanced organisms. For example, at one point each human embryo has gills and resembles a tadpole.”
Numinous I knew, but ontological had me baffled. Great words, Kathy!
I really need to read this book. I’ve been wanting to read it for so long. Great words today!
These are big words that I can barely comprehend, and they make me a little intimidated about reading this book, but since I have it in audio, I am going to go for it anyway!
I have seen numinous before, but not familiar with the other word.
http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2013/03/wondrous-words-wednesday_13.html
At first I thought the word was ornithological… bird science! Sometimes the eye sees what we want it to see.
Great words! Yes, yes everyone, read The Fault in Our Stars. Green’s characters are witty and intelligent (although I agree with Broma, not the author in Amsterdam. He’s a jerk.) I pulled other words from the book, but not these, so thanks for sharing Kathy. I’m planning to re-read TFIOS soon with my book club- now I’ll be prepared!
I thought I knew numinous but I didn’t! (Thought it could be a variation of numerous.) Excellent words this week! I posted a review today but will do this wonderful meme again soon as it’s a favorite.
Love these words, and the source material! Though I doubt I’ll use ontological much in everyday speech, I fully intend for numinous to make a splash in my vocab in the future.
Thanks for sharing!
I thought I knew the first but nope
I listened to the audio book of The Fault in our Stars.. so I missed those words. I now own the book, so I will re read it on day. It was my favorite read of 2012. I have just now posted my words, the day started with a trip to the ER with my MIL., so I missed my regular Blog Time. She is fine. So all is well.
I thought I knew the first word too. Hmm. I like the sound of numinous!
Great words this week, as usual. I especially love all the comments the first one generated.
That John Green…sneaking in the vocabulary words. Both of those sound like Peter Van Houten words
There are certain words that I just love the sound of…numinous is one of them!
I remember ontology from philosophy class! I can see why it would be confusing.
I love these words and could see myself using them!
Ontological is a big, hard word. Couldn’t we use a small, easy word for it? Maybe not. Maybe it represents a big, hard idea.